Six
Laurena was led to a small room in one of the northern buildings in the citadel precinct. There she stayed for several days and nights learning much more about the real world beyond that told by the Interface. The process was incredibly slow compared to the instantaneous knowledge that the Interface had provided, but incredibly fast compared to what Laurena had relied upon for the last few years. For the first time in her life she learnt what a perfect harmony between a computer and human might feel like, how instinctive human abilities could be enhanced rather than replaced by machines, and how computers could aid imagination, knowledge and reasoning rather cause laziness, disinterest and conformity.
The range and breadth of the real world begun to make it known to her, and Laurena was amazed by the amount of knowledge that she had taken for granted had, in fact, been entirely wrong. The Interface, she realised, did not always tell the truth. It lied and misdirected. But more than that, the questions necessary to know about the real world had been beyond her comprehension to ask.
On the fourth night as Laurena looked out of a balcony window up toward the hazy stars above and the glittering lights of the buildings towering above, there was a chime at her door.
"Come in" Laurena called out. The door hissed open and she heard firm footsteps, a pause, and then more movement. From her obscured view from the balcony Laurena couldn't see who it was at first but then the silhouetted shadow showed her that it was Kril. The elongated fingers, which Laurena had now learnt was a distinctive genetic feature of humans hailing from Gliese VI, provided a dead giveaway to her identity.
"Hello Kril" Laurena said pleasantly. In the four days that she had resided in the citadel, Laurena had learnt to trust and even like many of the Learners (although, she now knew that Learner was not their real title - they were scientists, engineers, and managers amongst much else).
"Hello Laurena" Kril replied as she emerged from the room to join her on the balcony. "You look relaxed?" it was a question, not a statement. Laurena nodded. She believed herself to be happier than she had ever been in her entire life.
For some minutes they talked together, mainly about how Laurena had found life in the citadel and about what she had learnt in her short time there. It was the first time that they had talked since their first meeting, although Laurena had passed Kril in corridors and the streets from time to time. In that time Laurena had met others. They each had given themselves titles such as psychologist, medical doctor, and social mediator. A legal administrator had also talked with her at length and on several occasions trying to find out if she understood her situation and the legal ramifications of it. Laurena did not. Each meeting gave her greater confusion and uncertainty but it also gave her greater confidence as she began to express herself better and work out ways to argue and discuss. The many fears that she had initially felt upon entering the citadel had been all but alleviated.
On a certain level at least, all of these encounters prepared Laurena for her next proper meeting with Kril. She had known that it would come eventually, she had also realised what the meeting would be about and what that would mean for her future. After a short time of friendly informal discussion Kril did, indeed, turn to the discussion Laruena had been expecting. They then came to the serious part of the meeting: the decision of the Learners about Laurena's future.
"We have made that decision" Kril confirmed "I'm afraid it will mean leaving this planet. Are you okay with that?"
Laurena thought for a moment and nodded silently. The only person that had really mattered to her in all of her life had been Jerry and he was now at peace.
"I have nothing here" Laurena added after a moment. Kril nodded.
"You will be taken by hypership to a space station. There you will be greeted by a team of medical professionals who are much better able to handle your rehabilitation into society. How does that sound?"
"How long will I be on this space station?" Laurena asked.
"That depends on your progress. A standard year at least, perhaps two"
Laurena nodded "and they will treat me well there?"
"Yes, most definitely. That I promise you Laurena"
"And afterwards?"
"After, you will be free to choose. There are hundreds of planets and civilisations that make up the Great Alliance. You can go to any of those and join their societies. There are also roles that you could take up that require you to travel from place to place. My role, for example, has taken me to many worlds. It can be a little lonely, but it's certainly a rewarding existence. Basically, Laurena, when the time is right, you can determine your own future."
"Then" Laurena started before allowing a long pause to gather her thoughts "Then I can make a difference"
Kril smiled "Yes, if you wish to do so."
"Good" Laurena grinned widely "that is all I have ever wanted"
The following day, while Laurena waited for the hypership to arrive she looked down from the citadel towards her old town of Kar'mot. She had believed humanity lost and trapped by their own invention and tendency toward laziness. Her view of the world had now changed. There was more to humanity than she had given it credit. The temptation for a life of leisure had been overthrown by a greater need to strive and seek and to learn.
"What is it to learn?" Laurena whispered to herself, repeating her question for the last time. She smiled "it is to be human". With that thought Laurena Tyall turned her back on her old life and looked around herself and at the Citadel of NuMort itself. Where once Laurena had seen only pomposity and hypocrisy as its defining features she now looked upon its spires in a new light. It was the light of hope and beauty, and endurance. NuMort was indeed the most beautiful place in the world, for it was the place that had granted her hope, freedom, and relevance. She smiled inwardly, and walked away from the balcony, out of her temporary room, and into the hallway and to her future far, far away. And so it came to pass, that Laurena saw the world differently, became the only person in the entire universe to view NuMort as a special place. All this because she had asked a question that others thought impossible for her to ask.
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About the author:
I was born in Kent, England thirty years ago and have always taken an interest in writing fiction. Although it has taken this long for me to publish my first short story I first began to take the work seriously in 2003 when I joined a Writing Fiction class whilst study History at the University of Hull. I now work in the digital industry and spend much of my spare time writing stories and trying to make my life all the more self-reliant.
Other titles forthcoming
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