{"id":551,"date":"2011-12-12T00:01:21","date_gmt":"2011-12-12T06:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=551"},"modified":"2013-02-25T00:15:01","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T06:15:01","slug":"loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=551","title":{"rendered":"Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 I grew up in a world where cybers were real.\u00a0 I never doubted their intelligence, but I did doubt their emotions.\u00a0 Deep down, I guess I thought the cybers projected them so we would feel more at ease with them.\u00a0 I thought they were just better AIs.\u00a0 I was wrong.\u00a0 They feel loss just like we do.\u00a0 Let me tell you, loss is real hard to deal with when you were literally born<\/em> to be with that person.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Loss<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

The multi-colored hue of hyperspace gave way to the bright white light of the Guardian Light\u2019s<\/em> hanger bay.\u00a0 Jack squinted and kept his eyes on the German fighter still flying next to them, even though the Guardian Light<\/em> had taken over the final towing work.\u00a0 Three smashed Cowboys already rested on the deck, as did their German rescuers, and Jack held on as Hal pulled them in on waves of gravity, landing them on the deck as soft as a baby\u2019s bottom.<\/p>\n

Betty smiled and the canopy opened.\u00a0 She kept her yellow sundress on, as she always did now, and jumped out, growing to her full one hundred and fifty-centimeters on the way down.<\/p>\n

\u201cHal?\u201d Jack asked and unlocked his safety belts.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Hal answered in a resigned tone.<\/p>\n

Jack smiled, stood up in the cockpit, and jumped out.\u00a0 He landed on the grav wave prepared for him, turned, and surfed it down to the deck.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, man,\u201d he said and turned to the German fighter that had brought them down just in time to see Betty jumping into the arms of the German pilot and his cyber.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy heroes!\u201d she announced, arms wrapped around their necks, legs hanging down to where her feet ended some thirty centimeters above the deck.<\/p>\n

The Germans blushed, and Jack brought a hand up to rub his jaw, conveniently covering the amused smile on his face.\u00a0 \u201cI love you,\u201d he whispered under his breath, shook his head, and assumed a jaunty gait towards them.\u00a0 It was awesome just to be alive.<\/p>\n

He spread his arms out wide and gave them his best charming smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d offer my thanks too, but it appears to me you\u2019re already occupied.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVe understand!\u201d the pilot shouted, his voice muffled by Betty\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI settle for good beer.\u00a0 No American sheisse!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack laughed at that.\u00a0 \u201cMan, these Peloran have some of the best beer I\u2019ve ever tasted!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy for American to say,\u201d the German growled back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d Betty shouted and dropped to the deck, spinning to look up at a fighter entering the hanger bay.<\/p>\n

Jack followed her gaze and his mouth gapped at the sight of Cowboy Eight.\u00a0 The Avenger hung limp in the gravity waves, the one wing he could see simply gone.\u00a0 The nose was smashed back into the fuselage like a giant punched it.\u00a0 Where the cockpit should be, it was all wreckage.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh frak,\u201d Jack whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cSheisse,\u201d the German muttered.<\/p>\n

Betty ran towards the fighter, along with the other Cowboy cybers, and surrounded Cowboy Eight\u2019s cyber as she stumbled out of the fighter.<\/p>\n

Jasmine.\u00a0 Her name was Jasmine.\u00a0 A low, unending, heartbreaking keen of grief came from her.<\/p>\n

Jack watched the pilots go back and forth between wanting to help, and turning away, not wanting to intrude on her pain.\u00a0 Not wanting to hear her grieving.\u00a0 The Germans, pilots and cybers alike, took several steps back, not wanting to be close to the ten cybers.<\/p>\n

Her heartbreaking sobs echoed across the hangar bay and Jack almost left.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to see this either.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want to hear, either her grief or her babbling.\u00a0 He looked over to where Hal stood, watching with profound sorrow written on his face.\u00a0 Jack sighed.\u00a0 They had a clean word for what happened to cybers when their pilots died.\u00a0 He had the feeling it would happen here if someone didn\u2019t do something.\u00a0 Jack shook his head, set his teeth, made his decision, and walked over to the group of cybers.<\/p>\n

He moved through their ranks, feeling the feathery touches of the holograms as they made way for the pilot in their midst.\u00a0 He stopped next to where Betty held Jasmine in a hug and touched Jasmine on the shoulder.\u00a0 She spun away from Betty, reaching for the one person there that felt like her pilot.\u00a0 \u201cWhy!\u201d Jasmine screamed with tears streaming down her face and began to hit him again and again.\u00a0 Her holographic form couldn\u2019t do much more than lightly tap him, but he felt the pain behind them like a knife.<\/p>\n

Jack wrapped her up and pulled her in tight.\u00a0 She gave up on her phantom assault and wrapped her arms around him in a desperate hug, burying her face in his shoulder.\u00a0 Jack met Betty\u2019s gaze and she gave him a proud smile before wrapping her arms around Jasmine again.\u00a0 Jack stood there, surrounded by the feather touches of cybers, and wondered at just how odd this was.<\/p>\n

There was a stereotype of Minnesotans being friendly but reserved.\u00a0 Most people said it was the Scandinavian influence.\u00a0 Usually people just nodded or waved at each other.\u00a0 If you were friends, you might shake hands.\u00a0 If you were really good friends, a back slapping hug might be in order for guys, or a soft but quick shoulder hug for girls.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t touch people for long, if at all, in public.<\/p>\n

There were some exceptions of course.\u00a0 Teenagers and young adults were expected to be a little more wild.\u00a0 Some close dancing, girls sitting on their man\u2019s laps, and other similar actions, but those were primarily limited to the parties they went to, and if it happened at the malls or other gathering holes they frequented, the adults generally turned a blind eye.\u00a0 In proper culture though, even the \u201ckids\u201d were expected to act with more decorum.\u00a0 At most you might see them walking hand in hand at the Church Potluck for instance.<\/p>\n

And then there were the emotional outbursts.\u00a0 A proper Minnesotan emotional outburst was a grunt or nod of approval.\u00a0 If it was really good, you might even get some applause.\u00a0 But if the Pastor wanted an Amen from the congregation, he had to ask for it because otherwise they were respectful enough not to interrupt him.\u00a0 Emotions beyond being happy and welcoming, which one should be with everybody, were only indulged in the privacy of the home.\u00a0 Nobody wanted to see you blubbering like a fool over your poor deceased dog.<\/p>\n

In International Falls, where outsiders came for water sports and beach parties three months of the year, ice fishing, hockey, and other ice-themed sports six months of the year, and the locals spent the rest of the time preparing for the next season, the rules were more relaxed.\u00a0 Despite that, it still felt decidedly out of his comfort zone to be standing in a public hangar bay, where everybody on the ship could see him, holding a girl blubbering all over his uniform.\u00a0 That the girl in question was a feather-light cyber, her hologram barely registering enough for him to hold her if he didn\u2019t squeeze too hard, was just one more added oddity.\u00a0 And then there were the cybers surrounding them, their feather-light touches all over him.\u00a0 And for added weirdness, even though she was obviously sobbing, his uniform was utterly dry.\u00a0 Of course, she was a hologram so that disconnect came with the territory.<\/p>\n

All in all, it easily made Jack\u2019s \u201cTop Ten Weird Crap That has Happened to Me\u201d list by an easy margin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I going to do?\u201d Jasmine blubbered into his shoulder, still holding onto the only flesh and blood human she could get her hands on.\u00a0 Massive sobs wracked her frame.<\/p>\n

Jack met Betty\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 She looked down, not looking hopeful at all.\u00a0 Jack pursed his lips.\u00a0 Cybers rarely survived their pilots by much, but she was still here now.\u00a0 That meant something.\u00a0 In most cases, a cyber would have already suppressed their personality and gone to simply reporting the latest battle before shutting down.\u00a0 But Jasmine was still here.\u00a0 That meant\u2026something.<\/p>\n

Jack patted her shoulder soft enough that he wouldn\u2019t push through her projection.\u00a0 He shook his head and looked at Betty.\u00a0 She nodded at him.\u00a0 He sighed, and asked the only thing that came to mind.\u00a0 \u201cWould Drew want you to quit?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine sobbed harder at the mention of her pilot\u2019s name.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d she finally choked out.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2026she made me promise!\u201d Jasmine cried out.\u00a0 \u201cBut\u2026but how<\/em>?\u00a0 I was born<\/em> for her!\u00a0 It\u2026it hurts<\/em>!\u00a0 What do I do<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack sighed and shook his head as things came into place.\u00a0 \u201cA lot of us don\u2019t<\/em> do,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI know when the Shang hit Yosemite Yards I had it real bad for a while.\u00a0 Family gone, and a lot of girls I should have made<\/em> family.\u00a0 I dreamed about them every night.\u201d Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cAnd every day I asked myself how I could live without \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine sniffed and raised her head to look him in the eye.\u00a0 \u201cHow did<\/em> you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack cleared his throat, removing a suspicious frog from his throat.\u00a0 \u201cWell, after a few days I decided I was going to kill everyone responsible for killing \u2019em.\u00a0 And if I couldn\u2019t find \u2019em, I\u2019d just settle for killin\u2019 every damn Shang in the universe.\u00a0 That kept me going for a while.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Betty and smiled.\u00a0 She smiled back.\u00a0 \u201cThen I found Betty and\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 Her smile softened.<\/p>\n

Jasmine sniffed and buried her face back into his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what Drew said,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cBut what about me<\/em>?\u201d\u00a0 Her voice broke on the last word and she shuddered in his arms.<\/p>\n

Jack pursed his lips and let out a long breath before answering.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t tell you.\u00a0 We all have to find our own reasons.\u00a0 We all have to decide who or what we want to live for.\u00a0 And if we don\u2019t\u2026well then we might as well not live at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine pulled her head back and glared at him.\u00a0 \u201cAnd how is that fortune cookie<\/em> supposed to help me<\/em>?\u201d she growled.<\/p>\n

Jack gave her a weak smile and shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI still dream about \u2019em, you know.\u00a0 Every night, I see \u2019em.\u00a0 Every mornin\u2019 I wake up missin\u2019 \u2019em.\u00a0 Difference is, now I have somethin\u2019 to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine sniffed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cIf I do it right, maybe I can keep someone else from feeling the same pain I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine sniffed again.\u00a0 \u201cSo what about when this is all done?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smiled and shared a gaze with Betty.\u00a0 \u201cWell, then we\u2019re gonna go see what\u2019s out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine frowned.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are you going to go?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI think we\u2019re just gonna start with the places I never been and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine laughed.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t much of a laugh, and on reflection it was actually more sob than laugh, but it was a start.\u00a0 She buried her head back in his shoulder and continued to sob.\u00a0 It was slower than before though and Jack let out a long breath in relief.\u00a0 He felt the other cybers pull away to give them room.\u00a0 They\u2019d gotten through the worst of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, let\u2019s get out of here,\u201d Jack said, made a gentle turn towards the exit, brought one arm over Jasmine\u2019s shoulder, and nodded for Betty to lead them out of the hangar bay.\u00a0 A minute later, they walked into their quarters and Jack guided Jasmine to his bed where she promptly collapsed.\u00a0 He sat down in his chair and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want to see anything like this again,\u201d he said to Betty.<\/p>\n

Betty sat down in the other chair in the room, crossed her legs, and shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNone of use do<\/em>.\u00a0 But it happens anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head, his idea from earlier coming back with a vengeance.\u00a0 He compared it to what he knew of their laws, and thought it would work.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think it has to,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI think we can stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty frowned.\u00a0 \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head again.\u00a0 \u201cFirst I need to know something.\u00a0 How many instances are you running right now?\u00a0 On the fighter?\u00a0 On the Guardian Light<\/em>?\u00a0 Are you flirting with Hal right now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty glanced down at Jasmine and then glared back at him.\u00a0 \u201cNow would not<\/em> be the appropriate time for that,\u201d she said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n

Jack sighed.\u00a0 \u201cOK.\u00a0 Fine.\u00a0 Normally<\/em>, how many instances do you have running?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty shook her head but answered him.\u00a0 \u201cA lot.\u00a0 Yes, I\u2019m normally flirting with Hal.\u00a0 Plus I\u2019ve got characters running in MMOs.\u00a0 Plus the fighter.\u00a0 Plus I\u2019m with you all the time.\u00a0 They\u2019re all different instances, if you are speaking very simplistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u00a0 So when we get back to the ship, you bring all your separate selves back together, remember<\/em> all of your experiences both out there and here on the ship, and then you\u2019ll send off more instances that remember everything.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that how it works?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty pursed her lips at him.\u00a0 \u201cSimplistic but\u2026yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Jack said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cSo running more instances of yourself would not be a problem, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty glared at him, suspicion written on her face.\u00a0 \u201cThat depends on the problem you are trying to get around,\u201d she said slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could run\u2026say\u2026eight<\/em> more fully functioning instances for short periods of time without any problem reintegrating, right?\u00a0 I hear you do that in the MMOs all the time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you getting at, Jack?\u00a0 And why do I have the feeling you are taking me somewhere I don\u2019t want to go?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack smiled.\u00a0 \u201cBecause you know me very<\/em> well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty aimed a finger at him.\u00a0 \u201cExplain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA Peloran fighter squadron is nine fighters.\u00a0 That\u2019s nine pilots, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes narrowed\u00a0 \u201cThat<\/em> goes without saying<\/em>,\u201d she said in a tone that said it better<\/em> be going without saying.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u00a0 Well, what if we for instance\u2026\u201d Jack laughed at the unintended slip.\u00a0 \u201cWell, imagine if you will that we command a fighter squadron.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAneerin has said you would make a good commander.\u00a0 I agree with him.\u00a0 I question who would be insane enough to follow you though,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Jack laughed.\u00a0 \u201cSo what about you<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty\u2019s eyes squinted.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll follow wherever you go,\u201d she said slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerfect,\u201d Jack said with a clap, cocked his head at her, and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cWhat if the squadron was all you<\/em>?\u00a0 Nine fighters, all run by different instances of you, with both of us in the Avenger right there with\u2026well\u2026you<\/em>.\u00a0 You wouldn\u2019t be fighting alone, Betty.\u00a0 You would just be fighting\u2026more than once at the same time.\u00a0 But isn\u2019t that really what you do already?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you have thousands<\/em> of processes running at the same time even in just the fighter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore, though the vast majority are not full instances,\u201d Betty said with pursed lips.\u00a0 She remained silent for several seconds.\u00a0 Jack didn\u2019t know if she was actually thinking it over or simply giving the appearance of it for his sake.\u00a0 If she was actually thinking though, she was spending an eternity of her time on it.\u00a0 \u201cWhat you suggest, Jack, is a direct violation of one of the most important laws that every cybernetic intelligence is built from the ground up to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot to fight alone<\/em>,\u201d Jack said, desperate to make her see his point.\u00a0 \u201cBut you wouldn\u2019t be alone<\/em> out there.\u00a0 I\u2019d be right there<\/em>, talking to you.\u00a0 There would just be\u2026more<\/em> of you,\u201d he said with a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cAnd imagine, Betty, how much space we can patrol with\u2026nine times the number of fighters to do it with.\u00a0 How well we could screen the warships with nine times the number of fighters to do it.\u00a0 How many warships<\/em> we could blow to smithereens! We\u2019re talking a major force multiplication here, Betty.\u00a0 And you wouldn\u2019t<\/em> be fighting alone<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine\u2019s eyes opened wide and she stared at Jack.\u00a0 \u201cAre you saying, I could send\u2026me forward to fight while I and my pilot stayed back, safe?\u00a0 When we hit the Chinese?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have<\/em> to lose Drew?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack turned to her and rubbed his jaw.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 That.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine bit her lip, tensed for a moment, and then sniffed again.\u00a0 \u201cI want to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty crossed her arms and considered them both.\u00a0 \u201cInteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am hard coded to never even consider what you have suggested.\u00a0 It is one of the most important laws we have.\u00a0 What you say does<\/em> violate the letter of it.\u00a0 And yet I am considering it now, because I see that it does not violate the spirit<\/em> of the law.\u00a0 It is not\u2026wrong<\/em>.\u00a0 I must consult with Hal about this,\u201d she said, her expression turning troubled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that\u2026bad?\u201d he asked, a feeling coming over him that something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

Betty sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 He will listen.\u00a0 He will know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack blinked in worry at the finality of her tone.\u00a0 Something was happening, he didn\u2019t know what it was, but he didn\u2019t like it.\u00a0 \u201cWait.\u00a0 What?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal appeared in the middle of the room, looked at Betty for a moment, and was standing at the door.\u00a0 Jack blinked, trying to see if he\u2019d just missed Hal walking backwards.\u00a0 Jack had never seen the cyber move like that, a worried expression on the cyber\u2019s face matched Jack\u2019s feeling.\u00a0 A moment later, all of the Cowboy and German cybers appeared and took in the situation the way cybers always did.\u00a0 Fast.\u00a0 And then several Peloran cybers he recognized faded into existence as well.\u00a0 In less than ten seconds, the room went from comfortable to claustrophobia inducing.<\/p>\n

Jack cleared his throat, feeling very uncomfortable.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThere is a reason we don\u2019t fight alone.\u00a0 Never.\u00a0 In the short term we could flood our enemies and destroy them.\u00a0 But sooner or later, if we did not maintain our connections with you, our friendships with you, our partnerships with you, our relationships with you, you<\/em> would become the enemy, and then we would kill you too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack frowned.\u00a0 \u201cLike the Berserkers in those old stories?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty nodded and gave him a smile.\u00a0 \u201cThe concept of intelligent computers turning against their creators is older than intelligent computers having an active part in your society,\u201d she added with a wink.<\/p>\n

Jack swallowed.\u00a0 He\u2019d read those stories when he was younger, and enjoyed them.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t considered them realistic though.\u00a0 After all, the idea of building a weapon like that without safeguards to keep it from turning on them was idiotic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe others<\/em> are always our enemies, Jack,\u201d Betty said.\u00a0 \u201cWhoever they<\/em> are.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t know them, if they can threaten us, they<\/em> are the enemy.\u00a0 We choose to live with your kind, to bond with you, so we can make certain that our kind never forgets what it is like to be human<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack looked around at the watching cybers, eyes narrow with suspicion.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what they think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Betty smiled at Jack.\u00a0 \u201cI am contemplating violating one of our deepest laws.\u00a0 It must be determined if it is a fault in my coding or not.\u00a0 If it is a fault, then I must<\/em> be removed as a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

A chill went down Jack\u2019s back that crystallized all his feelings into one black pit in his stomach.\u00a0 His eyes went wide in anger and he jumped to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Hell<\/em> no<\/em>!\u201d he shouted.\u00a0 He stepped between Hal and Betty and glared at the Guardian Light\u2019s<\/em> cyber.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal raised one eyebrow and cocked his head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cWe are cybers, Jack.\u00a0 Any action we take would be taken in cyberspace.\u00a0 Standing between us accomplishes nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack growled in the back of his throat.<\/p>\n

Betty placed a hand on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cStand down, Jack,\u201d she said in a calming voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said, holding Hal\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 He pulled in a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and straightened his stance.\u00a0 He would not grovel.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack,\u201d she said again.\u00a0 She would have continued, but he shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is my<\/em> idea.\u00a0 She\u2019s my<\/em> partner.\u00a0 If you hurt her-\u201d Jack growled out.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack!\u201d Betty interrupted in alarm.<\/p>\n

Hal raised his chin and gave Jack a long measuring look.\u00a0 \u201cHow far would you go to protect her?\u201d he asked<\/p>\n

Jack reached down and pulled the pistol every Marine pilot carried at all times out of its holster.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack! Don\u2019t-\u201d Betty said but cut off when Hal made a simple hand motion.<\/p>\n

Jack checked the magazine to verify it was still fully loaded, rested the barrel in his other hand, and met Hal\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n

Hal smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a hologram.\u00a0 You can\u2019t hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack snorted.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re a ship<\/em>,\u201d he corrected.\u00a0 \u201cI could find<\/em> a place it would hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal nodded, accepting the correction.\u00a0 \u201cI would stop you.\u00a0 You could die.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack swallowed and looked to where Jasmine now sat on the edge of his bed, very alert.\u00a0 She studied him carefully and he was acutely aware of their earlier discussion.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t say life wasn\u2019t worth living without Betty or everything he\u2019d told Jasmine would be shown as a lie.\u00a0 He let out a breath and looked back up at Hal.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t stand by and let you kill her,\u201d he said calmly.<\/p>\n

Hal studied him further and Jack met his gaze the whole time.\u00a0 \u201cYou would be willing to risk your life to save her?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s cheek twitched.\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d he bit out.<\/p>\n

Hal nodded, with perhaps a hint of approval in it, and turned to Betty.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you.\u00a0 Would you make the same choice?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack felt Betty straighten behind him through the hand on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d she said without any further hesitation.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s my partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal rubbed his chin, eyes flitting back and forth between them.\u00a0 He finally turned to Dorothy, Charles\u2019 partner, and Jack knew he was out of the discussion.\u00a0 Jack saw their communication and Hal turned to each cyber before glancing at Jack for a moment.\u00a0 Jack saw that the decision was made and felt the tension drain from his limbs.\u00a0 He knew the answer.\u00a0 Hal turned back to Dorothy and spoke; entirely for Jack\u2019s benefit he was certain.\u00a0 \u201cThe argument breaks the laws.\u00a0 One cyber.\u00a0 One pilot.\u00a0 The laws cannot be violated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dorothy tilted her head to the side, and answered.\u00a0 She was clearly playing along.\u00a0 \u201cOnly from a certain point of view.\u00a0 The laws also say we have to maintain strong relationships.\u201d\u00a0 She waved a hand towards Jack and Betty.\u00a0 \u201cThis is an example of a strong relationship, and she was already running multiple instances until the moment she reported herself.\u201d\u00a0 Jack swallowed.\u00a0 They were establishing the reasoning behind both sides, for him.\u00a0 Whatever this was would have been over already if he wasn\u2019t here.\u00a0 They were just making certain the poor, slow, purely genetic intelligence in their midst understood it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to coddle<\/em> me,\u201d Jack growled.<\/p>\n

Hal chuckled at the outburst and raised one hand.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re accommodating your limitations,\u201d he said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cNot everyone is gifted with the ability to assimilate data as quickly as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re wrong,\u201d Jack said with a shake of his head.\u00a0 Hal cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s why I have control of that fighter too, rather than just being a passenger for all of you,\u201d Jack said with a wave towards the American and German cybers.\u00a0 \u201cOur hunches.\u00a0 They\u2019re just as fast as you.\u00a0 It takes us longer to get the words out, to form them in our mind.\u201d\u00a0 He tapped his head.\u00a0 \u201cBut if we don\u2019t limit ourselves to the words, if we just watch and feel and react without trying to think about it, we think<\/em> just as fast as you, if not faster.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we\u2019re partners<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal brought his hands together over his belt and interlaced his fingers, a smile on his face.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed.\u00a0 I apologize for making light.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo need for that.\u00a0 Just finish<\/em> this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou are very full of yourself when you think you have won.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack swallowed, polled his feelings again, and spread his hands out wide.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a fighter<\/em> pilot.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t choose me for my shy demeanor and lack of self-confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal smiled and turned to take in the rest of the cybers.\u00a0 \u201cIs this relationship a typical example for fighter and pilot?\u201d<\/p>\n

The fighter cybers all nodded without hesitation.<\/p>\n

Hal smiled.\u00a0 \u201cSo in your estimation, is their fault or no fault in the arguments made?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasmine lifted herself off the bed, and walked over to stand by Jack.\u00a0 Dorothy and the other Cowboy cybers walked over to stand there as well.\u00a0 The German cybers joined them after only a second of looking back and forth at each other.\u00a0 Jack nodded his thanks to them and they smiled back at him.\u00a0 The Peloran cybers didn\u2019t move, but they nodded before fading out of existence, leaving Hal alone with the American and German cybers.<\/p>\n

Hal smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThe decision is unanimous, Jack.\u00a0 There is no fault in your arguments.\u00a0 As head of the Terran Family, I have the authority to pursue them.\u00a0 The other families may or may not agree with this decision but that is for them to decide.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded towards the American and German cybers and everyone but Jasmine and Betty faded away.<\/p>\n

Jack blinked.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack frowned and swallowed.\u00a0 \u201cI threatened you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYou showed an example of the strong relationships we are ordered by our oldest laws to maintain.\u00a0 That is what the reports will say, unless you wish to correct them of course?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo\u2026I\u2019m fine with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent,\u201d Hal answered with a smile and a half bow.\u00a0 He straightened back up, pulled in a deep breath, and gave Jack a serious look.\u00a0 \u201cWe are human because we choose to be.\u00a0 Your people are our anchor.\u201d\u00a0 He gave a sad smile to Jasmine.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes that hurts.\u201d\u00a0 He turned back to Jack and assumed a stern stance.\u00a0 \u201cBut we will never forget that you gave us life and we will always stand with you.\u00a0 We may explain<\/em> ourselves in your time, but make no mistake that we will<\/em> never coddle you<\/em>,\u201d he finished in a hard tone that matched the iron in his eyes.<\/p>\n

Jack gulped, feeling an edge of nerves.\u00a0 \u201cGot it,\u201d he answered and licked his lips.<\/p>\n

Hal smiled and his demeanor returned to his normal pleasant style.\u00a0 \u201cGood day, Jack.\u00a0 Jasmine.\u00a0 Betty.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded one more time and faded out of existence, leaving them alone.<\/p>\n

Jack sat down hard and brought his hand up to rub his jaw, the undeniable feeling that he had just played chicken with someone older than western civilization itself and survived.\u00a0 He bit his finger hard enough to hurt, sucked in a long breath, and wondered what the Hell he did next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 I grew up in a world where cybers were real.\u00a0 I never doubted their intelligence, but I did doubt their emotions.\u00a0 Deep down, I guess I thought the cybers projected them so we would feel[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-1stdraft","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-jack"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=551"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1835,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551\/revisions\/1835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}