Interview with Rei - Part 10 of 10

As Steve Fisch and I get the scripts ready to sell Rome's Revolution as a streaming series, he asked me for a lot of background information that I did not have. So I took some time out to interview Rome and Rei. Here is the final part of Rei's interview, part 10 of 10.
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Rei: I have no clue. Like I said, sometimes he did things because he liked us. He always thought of Rome as his mother. And I was the first human being to ever treat him like a being, not machine. And we executed his plan to ascend to become Planet OMCOM. Maybe this was his way of saying thanks. I don’t know. And it’s not like I can ever ask him.
Interviewer: Do you find this upsetting? That he manipulated you so?
Rei: A guess to some degree. But I can’t change it now so there’s no sense in crying over spilt milk. And to a large degree, it has enhanced our lives. Let’s just say I am ambivalent but I don’t obsess over it.
Interviewer: You certainly have had your share of adventures. Was this something you were used to?
Rei: Hardly. My life back on Earth was as plain of a story as you’d ever want to hear. My first adventure was going to be shot to another planet. All we need was air, water and some soil to grow our crops. Never did I dream I’d fall into the hands of some mind-connected dispassionate people, meet the love of my life, fight an Overmind, have to tow my Ark halfway across the universe, vaporize an insane computer, stop a war, make friends with the Stareaters, have to fight my own people, almost get blown up, killed, suffocated, the list goes on and on.
Interviewer: How has all of this changed you?
Rei: when I first left Earth, I was nobody special. I am not a natural born leader. I was more of a competent follower, happy to complete my tasks. I was not a fighter. I was gun-shy from a love affair gone wrong. I won’t say I was a mess but again, I just wasn’t anyone special. Now, well now, I don’t take anybody’s word for anything. I don’t know if that is good or bad. I’m not a violent man but I’ll do whatever I have to, to protect the love of my life, Rome, and my family, mankind, life itself. I have dedicated my life to doing what is right and I now trust my own, internal moral compass to guide me.
Interviewer: You have just stepped down as Coordinator of the Galactic Union. That would imply that you are a leader.
Rei: Agreed. I said I wasn’t a natural-born leader. Those lessons were hard-won.
Interviewer: Anything else?
Rei: Yes. It’s an incredible universe. If it wasn’t for that accident with that asteroid 1400 years ago, I wouldn’t be here today. I am the luckiest man in the world, the galaxy, to have found my soul mate and a society that is blending the good parts of the old world and new. Meeting new species and reveling in our diversity. I am very happy to be alive and very happy to be here. It’s been an amazing ride, one that I could never have dreamed of.
Interviewer: Well, thank you, Coordinator Bierak, I mean Rei. It has been an excellent interview. I truly appreciate your insights into how we got here. The entire Union owes you and your wife a debt that can never be repaid.
Rei: It was my pleasure. But to get another take, you really should interview Rome. After all, it was she who changed Vuduri society forever. It was Rome’s Revolution.
Interviewer: I will absolutely do that. Thank you again.

Tomorrow: part 2 of Rome's interview