Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 When they called for volunteers to fight the Shang, I signed up real quick.\u00a0 I wanted to kill \u2019em all for what they did.\u00a0 I did real good in training too.\u00a0 A life of swimming and fishing and dancing and playing music makes for real good physical fitness let me tell you.\u00a0 Then I got tagged for aptitude as a pilot.\u00a0 That six weeks changed me good.\u00a0 Real good.\u00a0 I found out what I was made of there.\u00a0 I found out what I wanted.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A dry Texas westerly wind blew dust around Jack as he walked through the dirt yard in front of the building.\u00a0 He pulled in a breath of hot morning air and grimaced.\u00a0 Even after six weeks, he still couldn\u2019t stand the weather.\u00a0 Mornings were meant to be cool and moist.\u00a0 Not\u2026this.\u00a0 He glanced around and shook his head.\u00a0 He had really learned to hate the desert in his time here, even if this wasn\u2019t properly a desert.\u00a0 It was the closest to a desert he ever cared to see.\u00a0 What little bit of grass survived was\u2026brown.\u00a0 That was just all kinds of wrong.<\/p>\n
He walked up to the door and felt cool air streaming out over him.\u00a0 He smiled in relief and looked down at the 40-kilo German Shepherd guarding the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Bruce,\u201d Jack said and spread his arms out wide, enjoying the cool breeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack,\u201d the dog answered, his tongue hanging out the side in a humorous way.\u00a0 \u201cSix weeks to the day.\u00a0 You know what that means?\u201d the dog asked.<\/p>\n
Jack gave the dog a feral smile.\u00a0 \u201cYes it is and yes I do.\u00a0 I find out how I\u2019m gonna start killing Shang.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the spirit,\u201d Bruce said with a hearty bark.\u00a0 \u201cRemember, if you need character witnesses\u2026\u201d Bruce trailed off with a leading expression.<\/p>\n
Jack laughed at the statement before frowning in thought.\u00a0 Was Bruce more<\/em> than just a guard dog?\u00a0 \u201cWould they really<\/em> listen to you?\u201d he asked, genuinely curious.<\/p>\n Bruce barked again in laughter and sat down on his rump, cocking his head to the side.\u00a0 His tongue seemed to hang out even more, giving a truly comical look to the dog.\u00a0 Certainly a lot more comical than the time he\u2019d seen Bruce running off a trespasser with the full rabid dog act, foaming at the mouth and everything.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you<\/em> think?\u201d Bruce finally asked.<\/p>\n Jack rubbed his jaw, considering the question with care.\u00a0 \u201cI think you\u2019re testing me,\u201d he finally said with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Bruce answered with another bark of laughter.\u00a0 \u201cNow get in there.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to be late because you stopped to talk to a guard,\u201d Bruce ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Jack returned slowly, still thinking.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe.\u201d\u00a0 There was something.\u00a0 He glanced out on the dusty grounds where Bruce\u2019s pack patrolled, just like every morning.\u00a0 They felt\u2026more watchful today.\u00a0 He caught one of them glancing at him.\u00a0 That was Annabelle.\u00a0 She turned away when she caught his gaze and returned to prowling the perimeter.\u00a0 He thought about asking if there was something wrong before shaking his head.\u00a0 The pack wasn\u2019t worried.\u00a0 They were expectant.\u00a0 Of course, considering the day that was expected.<\/p>\n \u201cGo,\u201d Bruce barked more sternly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Jack answered, gave the dog a long stare, and turned away.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll tell me if anything bad\u2019s about to happen right?\u201d he asked, covering all the bases just in case.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Bruce returned before letting out several amused yips.<\/p>\n Jack considered what was going on with the dogs as he walked into the cool air of the building where he\u2019d trained for the last six weeks.\u00a0 Every day he\u2019d spent six hours in a single class with every candidate in the school, learning everything about the cybernetic intelligences there was to know.\u00a0 He\u2019d also spent six hours in a training room, alone with the people he was here to impress.\u00a0 Half the time they trained, working together to fly anything from fighters to warships.\u00a0 The other half, he answered questions from knowledge of history and physics to what kind of jelly he wanted on his peanut butter sandwich.\u00a0 Assuming he liked peanut butter sandwiches.\u00a0 Or jelly.\u00a0 They said it was to gain an accurate psychological profile.\u00a0 Jack thought it was more because they enjoyed torturing him.<\/p>\n And in the middle, for four hours, there had been nothing.\u00a0 Since he\u2019d joined the military, he\u2019d never had so much free time as at this pilot academy, and he still couldn\u2019t figure out why.\u00a0 He had time to eat, to study if he wanted to, to work out in the gym, or whatever he felt like.\u00a0 It was four precious hours that were his<\/em> with no structure at all enforced from on high.\u00a0 The only rule was that they could not<\/em> leave the perimeter.<\/p>\n That was fine by him.\u00a0 He\u2019d spent most days playing with the dogs.\u00a0 Uplifted dogs as it happened weren\u2019t much different from normal dogs when it came down to it.\u00a0 They loved to play fetch, have their tummies rubbed, or get in wrestling matches.\u00a0 Bruce was a wrestler.\u00a0 Annabelle had a favorite ball she loved to chase.\u00a0 Tony had become his best friend, not to mention a constant wet nose, when he found out Jack came to the yard with sugar cubes in his pocket.<\/p>\n He stepped into the classroom that took up the center of the building and filed down the auditorium steps until he reached his row.\u00a0 He squeezed past those already in their seats and sat down in his assigned seat for the last six weeks.\u00a0 He leaned back in his chair and waited for the last class to start, still considering what exactly was going on, beyond the obvious of course.<\/p>\n On time to the second, their instructor walked out onto the stage and stopped behind the podium.\u00a0 His eyes squinted at the two hundred soldiers in the room and he nodded in what might have passed for approval.\u00a0 \u201cI will not lecture you today.\u00a0 Those of you here have passed the written exams and the skills testing.\u00a0 I congratulate you.\u00a0 Now listen to me one last time.\u00a0 All of you will be leaving today, going to your next duty station.\u00a0 Many of you will become ground or naval combatants, trained to fight in all elements.\u00a0 Some of you will become pilots as well.\u00a0 Listen to me now, one last time, and you may<\/em> change the verdict in your favor.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cybernetic intelligences that you may meet in the next hour are up to over two thousand years old.\u00a0 They share the memories of every single member of their families that has been built in that time.\u00a0 They have spent over two thousand years learning how to be human.\u00a0 Once they pick a partner, a form, and a name, they will be<\/em> human, indistinguishable from any other human you will ever meet.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they pick you, they will have chosen to be whatever you need to fight and to live to fight another day, until the war is over for you, one way or the other.\u00a0 Your best friend, your sister, your brother, whatever it is, they will have chosen and accepted that role in your life as your partner.\u00a0 The head of every single cyber family is here, so if you are not chosen here you will not be chosen by any<\/em> cyber.\u00a0 If you are not chosen, you will not<\/em> be a combat pilot for the United States Marine Corps.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is all.\u00a0 You will be escorted to your training rooms one row at a time and then you will wait.\u00a0 Once everyone has been escorted to their rooms, those of you who have not<\/em> been chosen will be escorted out.\u00a0 Those of you who have<\/em> been chosen will have a few minutes to get to know your new partner and then you will be escorted out.\u00a0 Those of you who are still on the bubble, this could be a long day.\u00a0 It will<\/em> be your last test.\u00a0 Convince the cybers that you are worthy of working with them, or you will be escorted out alone.\u00a0 Goodbye, good luck, and get the Hell out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOorah!\u201d the soldiers chorused back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jack stepped out of his line and into the open door of his training room.\u00a0 The door shut behind him, closing him into the white-walled room, and he sat down in the single chair.\u00a0 He looked at the bare walls for a moment before plugging a crystal encased in clear plastic into the chair\u2019s arm.\u00a0 The computer read the crystal and jazz music filled the room.\u00a0 Jack smiled, shut his eyes, and leaned back in the chair.\u00a0 It would be several minutes before everybody got into their rooms, so he might as well relax while waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t be so cocky,\u201d a female voice he recognized said five songs in.\u00a0 Jack opened one eye to scan the room and saw the speakers lined up at the top of the wall were live.\u00a0 Well, two of them were at least.\u00a0 The light above speaker five blinked out.\u00a0 Yup.\u00a0 He\u2019d been right.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I like<\/em> his choice in music,\u201d a much older female voice that sounded like a nice old aunt who had horses and a lake on her farm said.\u00a0 The light above speaker three came on.<\/p>\n Jack suppressed a smile and shut his eye, listening to the cybers continuing to talk.\u00a0 Cyber Number Five didn\u2019t like him, never had truth be told.\u00a0 She was the crazy aunt who lived in town and shouted at all the kids for placing a toe on her lawn.\u00a0 Well, maybe she wasn\u2019t that bad, but he\u2019d never liked her either.\u00a0 He was surprised that cyber had shown up here at all.\u00a0 Cyber Three on the other hand seemed interested.\u00a0 Cyber Five was just here to talk the nice one away.\u00a0 Well.\u00a0 He really couldn\u2019t allow that.\u00a0 He was a little disappointed that Cyber Seven and Cyber Four weren\u2019t here to talk to him.\u00a0 He wondered why, but cleared his throat and entered the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do<\/em> know I can hear you, right?\u201d Jack asked, opened his eyes, leaned forward, and cut the music.<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> should be more respectful,\u201d Cyber Five said in a frosty tone.<\/p>\n Jack sighed.\u00a0 \u201cLook, you aren\u2019t here to talk to me.\u00a0 You\u2019re here to stop Three from choosing me.\u00a0 But that\u2019s Three\u2019s decision, so why don\u2019t you just go and find someone else here who will work with you rather than envision stabbing you through the speaker?\u201d<\/p>\n Both speakers remained silent and Jack wondered if he\u2019d gone too far.\u00a0 He really didn\u2019t like Five but hoped his interjection hadn\u2019t pushed number Three away.\u00a0 He breathed in and out, holding onto his calm, and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if I decided to choose you?\u201d the voice from speaker five suddenly filled the silence.<\/p>\n Jack smiled.\u00a0 He glanced at the silent speaker three.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d throw you back,\u201d he said, eyes on Five\u2019s speaker again.<\/p>\n Silenced reigned again for a long time.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d Five asked.<\/p>\n Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I fish, sometimes I catch Croppie or Bass.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like them so I throw them back.\u00a0 Northerns I like.\u00a0 I keep them.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t like you the way you are.\u00a0 And you wouldn\u2019t like me unless you changed yourself so much you probably wouldn\u2019t like you either.\u00a0 So I\u2019d throw you back and we\u2019d both be happier.\u201d<\/p>\n The silence lasted another thirty seconds this time before speaker five spoke again.\u00a0 \u201cThree has left.\u00a0 I\u2019m your last chance,\u201d she finally said.\u00a0 \u201cConvince me to choose you or you will be escorted out alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack swallowed this time, eyes flicking over to speaker three.\u00a0 He licked his lips, wondering if it was true.\u00a0 He wondered for a moment if\u2026no\u2026no.\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t accept your premise.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Three is gone.\u00a0 I think you\u2019re testing me.\u00a0 Even if I\u2019m wrong though, it wouldn\u2019t change things.\u00a0 You\u2019re too bound up in rules for you and me to ever work well.\u00a0 We would be fighting each other as much as the Shang, and that would kill us both dead in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are correct,\u201d speaker five said.\u00a0 \u201cWe would fight each other.\u00a0 Goodbye, Jack.\u00a0 Enjoy your escort.\u201d\u00a0 The speaker went silent.<\/p>\n Jack leaned back in his chair and waited for the door to open.\u00a0 When it didn\u2019t after a few seconds, he tapped the crystal and the jazz music began to play again.\u00a0 If he was wrong, he had just gambled everything and lost.\u00a0 No, he hadn\u2019t really gambled actually.\u00a0 He really wouldn\u2019t<\/em> have enjoyed working with Five.\u00a0 But if Three had left already\u2026He shut his eyes and breathed in and out, willing himself to be calm.\u00a0 A minute went by, the jazz bubbling in the background, and the door did not open.\u00a0 Two minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you think I\u2019m a Northern?\u201d Speaker three asked with the tone of a quizzical aunt asking why he\u2019d thought it was fun to toss rocks into the water.<\/p>\n Jack smiled.\u00a0 He\u2019d played his cards right.\u00a0 He left the music on in the background since the cyber liked it.\u00a0 \u201cI think you\u2019re a lot more likely to be one than Little Miss Tightypants over there,\u201d he said with a wave towards speaker five.<\/p>\n Three let out a hearty laugh.\u00a0 \u201cI will have to tell her you called her that,\u201d she continued in a wry tone.\u00a0 \u201cLater of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Jack echoed with a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad Five was lying by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFive wasn\u2019t lying.\u00a0 Five was testing you,\u201d came the response.<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d Jack placed brought his hands up behind his head and interlaced his fingers, affecting a pose of relaxation.\u00a0 \u201cDid I pass?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still talking to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that means I\u2019m still fishing then?\u201d Jack asked.\u00a0 It was hard to gauge if he was going too far without a face to look at, to measure a retort against.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d Three answered, the amused tone back.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that makes it my move them.\u201d\u00a0 Jack\u2019s forehead creased in thought.\u00a0 \u201cCan I ask you two questions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProceed,\u201d Three said, the tone serious.<\/p>\n Jack paused, trying to form the questions just right.\u00a0 \u201cThe first one is, \u2018Why did the others decide not<\/em> to choose me?\u2019\u00a0 And the second is, \u2018Why are you<\/em> reconsidering?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose are very good questions.\u00a0 Let me answer the second one first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually,\u201d Jack interjected.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m really curious about the first one.\u00a0 Could you tell me it first?\u201d<\/p>\n The speaker went silent for several seconds.\u00a0 Jack did not swallow.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are trying to make me end with what is most positive about you, hoping that it will make a positive outcome more likely.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged, giving the speaker a very large smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll take any advantage I can get.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou declined with Five.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no advantage to working with Five.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d\u00a0 The speaker went silent again.\u00a0 \u201cVery well.\u00a0 The others decided against you because your psychological profile over the last six weeks shows that you are obsessed with killing Shang and getting your revenge on them for killing your father and then forcing you to watch your mother die of grief.\u00a0 The tests say you do not see a world that does not involve killing them.\u00a0 They are unwilling to choose a partner who will trap them in a war of vengeance like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d Jack said, dropping his hands down into his lap.\u00a0 He blinked, considering the verdict, replaying the conversation with Bruce.\u00a0 He was going to find out how he was going to kill Shang.\u00a0 Jack sighed.\u00a0 She was right.\u00a0 He pulled in a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you?\u00a0 Are you willing?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 The old voice held no equivocation at all.<\/p>\n Jack swallowed.\u00a0 It was time to get Three away from this line of thought before she chose to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what makes you think I\u2019m worth considering then?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n The cyber waited a few seconds before answering, probably measuring him for something.\u00a0 \u201cYou played with the dogs,\u201d she finally answered.<\/p>\n Jack blinked in confusion.\u00a0 \u201cWha?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease.\u00a0 Do you really think a military training facility would give you four free hours with no tests in the middle of a war?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack grunted.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I was<\/em> wondering about that.\u201d\u00a0 He considered his words for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cSo you were watching us to see what we would do when we\u2026wanted to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u00a0 And every candidate who played with the dogs except you has already been chosen.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned in thought.\u00a0 \u201cWhy did you pick them?\u201d<\/p>\n A chuckle came from the speaker.\u00a0 \u201cJack, I\u2019m not going to reel myself in on your line.\u00a0 It\u2019s time for you<\/em> to answer my<\/em> questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack returned the chuckle, leaned back into the chair and interlaced his hands behind his head again, relaxing his posture and kicking his feet out.\u00a0 \u201cGo fish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy<\/em> did you play with the dogs?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack swallowed.\u00a0 He barely stopped himself from uttering the amazingly idiotic phrase of \u201cUh\u2026wha?\u201d by the skin of his teeth.\u00a0 It really wouldn\u2019t have helped.\u00a0 He slid back into the seat and leaned forward, bringing one hand forward to rub his chin as he thought.\u00a0 Finally he shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Annabelle came over with the ball and wanted to play.\u00a0 And Bruce\u2026well he wanted to fight so we did.\u00a0 They started it really.\u201d<\/p>\n The cyber sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI know they did.\u00a0 They always do.\u00a0 It\u2019s their job.\u00a0 But why did you play<\/em> with them, not just toss the ball and forget about it?\u00a0 Why did you find out that Tony liked sugar cubes?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked at the speaker for almost fifteen seconds, trying to come up with a good answer.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I grew up with dogs,\u201d he finally began with a wave of his hand.\u00a0 \u201cMost of them like sugar so I figured it was worth a try.\u00a0 And I guess I just like<\/em> dogs.\u00a0 They\u2019re fun to be around, whether they are normal dogs or uplifted dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n The cyber remained quiet again for a long time and Jack began to wonder if he\u2019d blown it.\u00a0 \u201cSo let me get this straight,\u201d she finally said.\u00a0 \u201cYou spent four hours every day outside, eating or playing with the dogs because you like dogs<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah,\u201d Jack answered.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gave up study time for the classes because you like dogs<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack raised an eyebrow at the speaker.\u00a0 \u201cLike the classes<\/em> were really difficult enough to require studying<\/em>?\u201d he retorted.\u00a0 The speaker did an amazing imitation of grinding teeth and Jack winced.\u00a0 He\u2019d probably gone too far with that one.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how many candidates fail each class?\u201d the cyber finally asked.<\/p>\n Jack considered several wise cracks and shelved them all before finding one that just might work.\u00a0 \u201cProbably almost as many candidates as have already been escorted out alone,\u201d he ventured.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see the point again,\u201d the cyber said slowly.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re smart enough to pass the tests without studying and yet you are so blinded in other ways.\u00a0 We truly do not know what to make of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that makes me special then?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd so quick witted\u2026sometimes,\u201d the wry tone uttered.\u00a0 \u201cFine.\u00a0 Once more.\u00a0 What makes you the kind of person who on the one hand wants nothing more than to kill every Shang you see and yet at the same time be the kind of person who will not turn away a dog who wants your attention?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026\u201d Jack trailed off and let out a long breath.\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cLook, it\u2019s stupid.\u00a0 Just\u2026stories.\u00a0 You know how things are, right?\u00a0 Your parents teach you something and it just sticks.\u00a0 It\u2019s nothing big or important or anything, it\u2019s just how things are<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur families are not exactly like yours,\u201d the cyber answered, an interested tone in its voice.\u00a0 \u201cBut we have similar relationships.\u00a0 I well understand how the wishes of a parent can still influence a child even after you have parted ways.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack gave the speaker a hard glance.\u00a0 He and his parents had not<\/em> \u201cparted ways.\u201d\u00a0 They had been murdered<\/em>.\u00a0 He took in a deep breath and released it, relaxing.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, what are these stupid stories that you talk of and how do they influence you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are not<\/em> stupid stories,\u201d Jack growled.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you said<\/em> the reasons were stupid\u2026and stories,\u201d the cyber said, digging for more information.<\/p>\n Jack shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t confuse me with the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n The cyber did not answer for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cWas that a joke?\u201d she finally asked.<\/p>\n \u201cA bad one,\u201d Jack admitted.\u00a0 \u201cBut\u2026not entirely a joke either.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Maybe they are<\/em> stupid stories.\u00a0 But my parents<\/em> told them to me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u00a0 I understand,\u201d the cyber said, a smile in her tone of voice.\u00a0 \u201cYou are conflicted.\u00a0 I wish I could give you time to work it out, but I cannot.\u00a0 Our time is valuable and I must decide soon if we are to work together.\u00a0 I must insist that you tell me now.\u00a0 If you do not, I will leave and you will not see me again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Jack nearly gasped out.<\/p>\n Silence answered him for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cI will wait,\u201d the cyber finally said.\u00a0 \u201cA very short time.\u00a0 It is better to say something imperfect now rather than the perfect thing after I have gone.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed in reluctant agreement.\u00a0 He composed his thoughts, breathed in, breathed out, and began to speak, thinking this was all very stupid.\u00a0 Surely, the cyber didn\u2019t want to hear a story.\u00a0 But she had asked.\u00a0 She had demanded.\u00a0 \u201cLook, there\u2019s a bunch of stories, but here\u2019s one about this really<\/em> rich old man that probably says it better than I can.\u00a0 I\u2019m talking he\u2019s rich enough to buy planets<\/em> if he wanted to.\u201d\u00a0 Jack looked at the speaker for a moment before continuing.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to lose his nerve part way through.\u00a0 \u201cThis guy hadn\u2019t let the fortune get to his head though, and he was a nice old man to everybody he met.\u00a0 He even talked to God every night, and God talked back.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, one night the rich old man asked God to come dine with him the next day.\u00a0 He wanted to really meet<\/em> God face to face and spend a long time talking with him over a table.\u00a0 God said he would come and the man was all kinds of happy.\u00a0 The next day, he ordered his servants to spare no expense, to buy the best food in the town and to make the largest, most amazing banquet ever made at his house.\u00a0 He\u2019d had some real amazing banquets too, so this was saying something.\u00a0 God was coming though, and that was worth his best stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, word started to get around that he was doing this, and some people thought he was crazy but didn\u2019t say much.\u00a0 He was a good guy and treated everybody well, even if he was a bit odd.\u00a0 A beggar, hearing about the banquet, knocked on the old man\u2019s door and asked for some food.\u00a0 Well, the man was getting ready for God, so he didn\u2019t really want to let the beggar in, but he could see the man needed food.\u00a0 So he let the man in, and told him to eat whatever he needed and to take what he needed when he left.\u00a0 And he talked to the beggar, as a host should, even as he marked the time and tried to hurry the man off as quickly as he could without being rude.\u00a0 Finally the beggar left, and the old rich man felt he was ready.<\/p>\n \u201cA knock came, and it was someone else needing food.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t God.\u00a0 The old rich man smiled and let them in, and shared his food, and talked with them, and let them out.\u00a0 And more people came, and he let them in, and let them out, and all the while he wondered when God was coming.\u00a0 The night came, and he still hadn\u2019t seen God, and he went to pray and asked why God hadn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd God said he\u2019d come, that he\u2019d been there all day.\u00a0 He\u2019d been the first beggar, and all the other people the old man had welcomed into his home, had talked to and fed, and spent his time with.\u00a0 That everything the old man had done to those people he had done to God.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed and leaned back in his chair, chewing his lip.\u00a0 He looked at the speaker.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019d been busy, preparing to meet someone very important, but when someone else came along and needed his time, he gave it.\u00a0 He\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He gave up with a shrug and fell into silence.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were busy preparing to meet me<\/em>, and you gave the dogs your time,\u201d the cyber said, each word deliberate.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Jack answered with a thoughtful frown, still trying to find the best words to explain his feelings.\u00a0 \u201cYes, if we all gave each other time, maybe the world would be a better place,\u201d saying the one thing that almost seemed more stupid than the rest of the story put together.\u00a0 He just couldn\u2019t help himself.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d the cyber said very, very carefully.\u00a0 \u201cYour turn.\u00a0 One question.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack licked his lips, bringing himself back under control.\u00a0 He would not<\/em> sound desperate.\u00a0 He breathed in, he breathed out, he calmed himself, and he asked the first thing that came to his mind.\u00a0 \u201cWould you join me for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n The cyber laughed, long and heartily, at the request.\u00a0 \u201cBe careful,\u201d she said after her laughter trailed away.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t want God to think you are blaspheming I think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think He\u2019d understand,\u201d Jack answered with a shrewd smile.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, I think He would<\/em>,\u201d the cyber intoned thoughtfully.\u00a0 \u201cYou impress me.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s smile grew, along with his confidence.\u00a0 \u201cDoes that mean what I think it means?\u201d<\/p>\n The cyber chuckled again.\u00a0 \u201cIt means I have one more question for you.\u00a0 It will either be easy or impossible to answer.\u00a0 Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack swallowed his nerves down.\u00a0 \u201cGo fish,\u201d he said, forcing the smile to his face.<\/p>\n The cyber chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cJack.\u00a0 If there were no Shang, no war, what is the one thing you would want to do above all others?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack felt his breath go out.\u00a0 That was real hard to imagine.\u00a0 Without the Shang, his parents would still be alive.\u00a0 \u201cWe always used to fish,\u201d he finally said, his jaw set hard to keep his emotions in check.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d want to do that again.\u00a0 Ride around in a boat.\u00a0 Stop and let the wind and waves take you\u2026wherever they want to take you.\u00a0 Party with friends.\u00a0 Play music.\u201d\u00a0 He blinked and took in a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cI never realized how\u2026\u201d he let himself trail off rather than finish that sentence.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t do to remind her how much he hated the Shang for taking that away from him.\u00a0 He shook his head and let out a long breath, calming himself again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was paradise you know.\u00a0 Now\u2026looking back on it.\u201d\u00a0 He shrugged, blinking what were definitely not<\/em> tears away.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d want that back.\u201d\u00a0 He blinked again and let out another long breath.\u00a0 \u201cYou know I lived most of my life up there, on the water?\u00a0 The wonderful thing about the Boundary Waters is just how damn big<\/em> it is.\u00a0 You can be on it every day, and see something new, go someplace you\u2019ve never been.\u00a0 See some species of bird or fish you\u2019ve never seen before.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026amazing<\/em> up there.\u00a0 It\u2019s paradise.\u00a0 What more could a man want?\u201d\u00a0 Jack stared at her speaker and gave her a sad smile.\u00a0 \u201cBut\u2026that\u2019s gone now\u2026and it\u2019s not coming back, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be so sure about that,\u201d the voice said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cThe universe is a grand and amazing place and it is far more resilient than we give it credit for.\u00a0 So what do you want more, Jack?\u00a0 Do you want to kill the Shang for taking that world away from you, or do you want to build<\/em> a new world like that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked away, considering the question very carefully.\u00a0 He could make the easy answer that of course he wanted to build a better world, but it wouldn\u2019t mean anything in the end if he was just mouthing the words.\u00a0 He sighed and looked at the speaker again.\u00a0 \u201cI want to kill Shang real bad,\u201d he said in a sad tone.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right about that.\u00a0 But that\u2019s a long grueling fight.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be Hell out there and I know that.\u00a0 And I\u2019ll do it.\u00a0 And I know I might not come back.\u00a0 That\u2019s the oath I took when I signed up.\u00a0 I\u2019ll kill \u2019em, and I\u2019ll keep killin\u2019 \u2019em until there\u2019s no more to kill.\u201d\u00a0 He pulled in a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cBut for all that I want \u2019em dead, I don\u2019t want to spend my whole life killin\u2019 \u2019em either.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at the speaker.\u00a0 \u201cThanks for that, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d she asked, sounding genuinely curious.<\/p>\n Jack let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cFor reminding me what I\u2019m fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are welcome, Jack,\u201d the speaker said in a joyful voice.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you will not be fighting alone,\u201d she added as a hologram appeared in the middle of the room.\u00a0 It started as a genderless human figure and began to take on a female form in seconds.\u00a0 As the figure began to come into focus, a yellow sundress appeared around her.\u00a0 Her feet came into focus and white sandals appeared on them.\u00a0 Long blonde hair puffed into being, framing a very cute face with blue eyes.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t beautiful, not the kind that would get his attention in that way.\u00a0 But she reminded him of something\u2026of someone.\u00a0 And then it clicked.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 She looked like she could be one of his cousins.\u00a0 Not any one<\/em> cousin, but an amalgam of all of them and yet not really any of them.\u00a0 Someone had done her homework.\u00a0 He smiled.<\/p>\n She smiled back.\u00a0 \u201cHello, Jack,\u201d she said with a voice that made him feel almost homesick.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t any of the voices he remembered from the reunions, just like the rest of her wasn\u2019t, but it was all so close.\u00a0 She was family.\u00a0 His family.\u00a0 She made a show of looking in a mirror that appeared in the wall and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, I think I like this.\u201d\u00a0 She put a hand to her throat and laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI like that too.\u201d\u00a0 Finally she turned to Jack again. \u00a0\u201cAnd now for the name.\u00a0 I think we will be working with each other for a long time, so I have to make certain it is one I like.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack nodded, as comfortable in her presence as he\u2019d been with anybody in his life.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u00a0 I think that will work,\u201d she said, her head cocked to the side in thought.\u00a0 She really did have all of the mannerisms of humanity down perfectly.\u00a0 Then her hologram seemed to snap into solidity.\u00a0 She looked real, like flesh and blood; like he could touch her skin and it would be warm, like she could touch him and he would feel it.\u00a0 She smiled at him again.<\/p>\n \u201cJack, you can call me Betty.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 When they called for volunteers to fight the Shang, I signed up real quick.\u00a0 I wanted to kill \u2019em all for what they did.\u00a0 I did real good in training too.\u00a0 A life of swimming[…]↓ Read the rest of this 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