The Slabs: Rome's Revelation, Part 2

Yesterday, I gave you the first half of what I called tongue-in-cheek Rome's Revelation, a play on the title of the whole series. But this is actually serious stuff. For the first time, in the most visceral way, Rome now understands why the Essessoni would always survive and why the Vuduri were ultimately doomed. She is trying to explain this to OMCOM in the beginning of The Ark Lords. Here is the second half of her revelation:

     “You are saying that the Essessoni are not lazy intellectually?”
     “They cannot be!” Rome said forcefully. “They must think for themselves. Every one of them is their own samanda.” She sat back in her chair. “No wonder the Vuduri never had a chance. The very design of the Overmind is a negative feedback loop. If they were to continue along the path they designed, they would spiral down into stupidity and sloth. They would become human robots.”
     “I do not need to remind you that this was MASAL’s master plan. This was how he was going to take over the human race.”
     “Yes, but MASAL is gone. And so is his plan. Thank goodness there are people like Ursay and Pegus who will force the Vuduri back to independent thinking.”
     “Technically, they are your disciples,” MINIMCOM interjected. “It was you who charted this new course.”
     “My part does not matter. This does,” Rome said, pointing at the viewscreen. “It is time for all Vuduri to learn each thing by themselves. That is what I am going to do.” She pounded her fist gently on the console. “I will become Essessoni! No more kitchen fires for me.”
     “Well, this is an excellent start,” OMCOM said with the slightest hint of impatience. “However, I am ready for the next slab.”

What a downer! But the Library OMCOM's indifference cannot dampen Rome's mood. She has to think a little further but look how she has already connected the dots. She realized that had she been truly thinking for herself, she would not have set fire to the kitchen. And even if she had, she would have figured out how to deal with it rather than cowering in a corner.

The girl has come a long way. Pretty cool, huh? Tomorrow, Rome's mind is jolted into an even higher state of mental acuity.