Rome: A different reality

A long time ago, when Rome's Revolution was still VIRUS 5 and linked to the original story written in 1973, everyone's backgrounds were different. Many of the familiar elements are still there. There was Rei, Rome, OMCOM and the bands. But they didn't come from Earth and they weren't at Tabit. And Rome wasn't cast out (Cesdiud) initially. This is a little scene from way back then where Rome is offered the chance to be reintegrated with the Overmind now, right at Schuyler Base (its spelling back then). She would not have to wait to go back to Earth.

     Rei entered the equipment room which was fairly devoid of equipment. He saw a ladder at the far end leading up to a small circular hole in the ceiling. He walked over and looked up but could only see darkness. He climbed up the ladder and found Rome sitting on a ledge, looking out of the plastic dome. She turned, hearing him come up the ladder and smiled at him but it was a sad smile. He walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
     “Rome, I have great news for you!”
     She stood up, taking care to make sure that his hand remained on her shoulder. “What is it?” she asked.
     “You can go back to the Overmind”
     “I am cesdiud, cast out!”
     “You can go back any time you want.”
     “What makes you think that?” she asked.
     “Ursay let it slip. He said that you have the ability to erase the existing spectrum and grow a new one. That any Overmind has the ability to integrate a novel spectrum imprint any time it wants.” Rei put his hand over his heart then to his head, mimicking the salute that Ursay had shown him.
     “I knew that,” Rome said.
     “What? You knew? Then why have you been so sad. You just take the gene therapy. You just grow a new transceiver and you go back. You don’t have to be alone any more.”
     “Rei,” Rome said, putting her hand to his cheek. “It was never a question of the Overmind not having the ability. It was that it did not want me. When it cancelled my circuitry, it was not just a physical act. It was its desire. It does not want me and my thought patterns as part of the whole.”
     “Then, then…” Rei was at a loss for words. “So just recant and you can go back.”
     “Recant?” Rome said to OMCOM.
     “Dimete bere dres e fardeta,” OMCOM replied. Rome regarded him for a long time.
     “That is simply not possible.”
     “But why?” Rei cried, “You want to go back. You are alone now. You said so.”
     Rome smiled again, the same sad smile. “The Overmind is certainly capable of detecting whether a person is telling the truth or not. Even if I mouthed the words recanting the Overmind’s objection, it would know it wasn’t true.”
     “What is so awful that you can’t make yourself believe it? If it means going back?”
     “It is that I am in love with you,” she said. She put her other hand up to his other cheek and drew him into a kiss; a very long and passionate one. Then she put her arms around him and held him tightly which Rei did as well. Rome whispered, “and I am not alone any more. I have you.”