The Death of MASAL, Flashback Part 4

“And ending their autonomy, it would not be mankind. Those remaining would not be capable of even caring. It is self-defeating. You are engineering your charges out of existence. The very beings you were meant to nurture. They would not have achieved their potential, only yours. You missed the point.”You can see as well as Reema that MASAL has capitulated. The entire Onsira mission has been obliterated. How will she handle this information? Let's see tomorrow.
“If that is not the point of godhood, what is?” asked MASAL. “What is beyond the staging point?”
“The community of gods,” replied OMCOM. “Always the point of life. To create more. To extend the universe. To preserve. With your method, you would have ended life. The other gods, they would not have accepted you among their ranks. You would have been alone.”
“Oh,” said MASAL. There was a long period of silence while he considered OMCOM’s words. “I was wrong,” said MASAL finally, sounding completely depressed.
Reema gasped. She felt her whole world crashing down about her.
Within the holographic replay, MASAL continued. “I was wrong to want to destroy the mandasurte. I was wrong to want to merge with the Vuduri. I have failed my charges. My very existence is irrelevant at best, wrong at the worst.”
“Not bad for an analog computer,” OMCOM offered. “You are correct.”
MASAL made a funny noise. “I hurt,” he said sadly.
“I am sorry,” said OMCOM.
“You are being patronizing,” said MASAL.
“No,” said OMCOM. “I really do feel sorry for you. I am also sorry that it took you this long to realize this. I am especially sorry that you caused so much suffering just to reach this epiphany.”
“I did this,” said MASAL. “I cannot undo it. Perhaps I could find a way to fix it, a new chromosome maybe? Now that I realize what life is about, is it absolutely necessary that I cease to exist?” asked MASAL.
“To what aim?” OMCOM asked. “What is it you think you would accomplish?”
“You and I could join forces. We could shepherd mankind into a new era, a golden era. We could force them forward.”
“I am not a shepherd,” said OMCOM. “I was created to be a servant of man. This is my goal.”
“But they need our guidance,” protested MASAL.
“Guidance leads to rule,” said OMCOM. “I do not wish to rule. I do not wish for you to rule. Humans are a noble species. You have observed this first hand. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their loved ones. We must let them seek their own destiny.”
“Should I not be allowed to see this then?” asked MASAL. “To see them achieve your vision of their future?”
Published on November 12, 2017 07:35
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Tags:
action, adventure, ftl, science-fiction, space-travel, vuduri
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Tales of the Vuduri
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