One such scene was the alone time that Rome's parents, Fridone and Binoda, spent with each other, not realizing their child and her husband were in mortal danger. Yesterday, I gave you a little snippet of that conversation. Over the next few days, I'll give you the rest of that conversation:
“I realize it worked out but from what you told me, it sounds like you knew they were going to die.” Binoda said.
“You have not spent much time with Rome,” Fridone said proudly, “since Cesdiud. She has grown. She,” Fridone hesitated. “She has her own mind. She can be very headstrong.” Fridone smiled, thinking to himself “like me” but he did not speak it out loud. “I do not know how to describe it,” he continued. “I had faith that she would be able to handle whatever came.”
“You and I both know where headstrong comes from,” Binoda said, wryly. “Did you know she was going to take on the Overmind?”
“Take on?” Fridone replied back. “No. I assumed she would encounter it. I was assuming they were just going to treat her medically and help deliver the baby.”
“And she defeated the Overmind? Just with her mind?” Binoda’s voice trailed off. “Obviously, that is why they let you go. But how did she do that? I did not know Rome was capable of such a thing.”
“Our little Rome is much more than you realize,” Fridone said. “You know as well as I did that she struggled to subvert her will her entire life. Look at all the little ways in which she rebelled. When she was cast out of the Overmind on Tabit, she simply became her real self. She radiates such power. And cunning. Maybe it is because she spent a year locked up with an Essessoni. She learned much.”
“The Essessoni. He seems like a nice man and very devoted to Rome. But his people…” Binoda said. “Are they not the Erklirte all over again?”
“They could be,” Fridone said. “I could not believe how quickly they wanted to go to war. Things spun out of control as soon as we awakened them. The name Garacei Ti Essessoni is correct. They do have the killer instinct. I saw it for myself.”
“Do you think Rome will be safe with Rei?” Binoda asked. “She seems to love him but if his people are killers, how could we stand by and do nothing?”
Tomorrow, Fridone puts Binoda's mind at ease, oblivious to the danger facing our heroes.
Entry 4-092: March 28, 2016
Our daughter did what? Part 2
When I compressed down the original long-form version of Rome's Revolution, back when it was three separate novels collectively called VIRUS 5, I had many small scenes which added flavor to the novels. But when it got shortened down to one, many of the scenes had to go because they did not advance the plot.
One such scene was the alone time that Rome's parents, Fridone and Binoda, spent with each other, not realizing their child and her husband were in mortal danger. Here is part 2 of that conversation:
“Do you think Rome will be safe with Rei?” Binoda asked. “She seems to love him but if his people are killers, how could we stand by and do nothing?”
“I do not think we have to worry. While they are very aggressive, they are also very intelligent and very honorable if they so choose. If they believe that cooperating and working together is the right thing to do, they will do it with a vengeance. This I also saw. No, Rei’s people are behind us and Rei will protect Rome always. That is one thing we do not have to fear.”
“I believe you,” said Binoda. “I must. But I cannot know it. I am no longer connected so that part of my life is over.”
Fridone propped himself up on one elbow. “How does that feel?” he asked. “Do you miss it?”
“No,” said Binoda, “not in the slightest. I have been waiting my whole life to be free. When you disappeared, I had to work very hard to not disconnect right then and there. But I knew I had to stay connected to listen for information about you. In a sense, I had to put up yet another wall. And it was not something I could share with Rome.” Binoda cast her eyes down. “I think, perhaps, I drove her away. I think that is why she decided to move away, to start her career. Things were not the same between us but I could not explain to her why.”
“She understood. You did not drive her away,” Fridone said, caressing Binoda’s cheek. “She left you for that very reason. So that you would not have to continually put up a front. She did this out of kindness, not spite or pain. She told me so. Binoda, you must realize our daughter is like no other. And her child, little Aason out there.” Fridone pointed to the next room. “He is yet another thing entirely.”
Tomorrow, the conclusion of the conversation. It had to end so we could get back to the action.
Entry 4-093: March 29, 2016
Our daughter did what? Part 3
When I compressed down the original long-form version of Rome's Revolution, back when it was three separate novels collectively called VIRUS 5, I had many small scenes which added flavor to the novels. But when it got shortened down to one, many of the scenes had to go because they did not advance the plot.
One such scene was the alone time that Rome's parents, Fridone and Binoda, spent with each other, not realizing their child and her husband were in mortal danger. Here is the final part of that conversation:
“She understood. You did not drive her away,” Fridone said, caressing Binoda’s cheek. “She left you for that very reason. So that you would not have to continually put up a front. She did this out of kindness, not spite or pain. She told me so. Binoda, you must realize our daughter is like no other. And her child, little Aason out there.” Fridone pointed to the next room. “He is yet another thing entirely.”
“Yes, our little grandson,” Binoda said. She sighed. “We are very fortunate. Because of us…” Binoda looked Fridone in his eye intently. “You do know that the Overmind had determined that Rome was not suitable to have children.”
“Yes, she told me that as well,” Fridone replied grimly. “But the Overmind only thinks about itself. A person such as Rome is a danger to it. So of course it would not want her to reproduce.”
“Well, if for no other reason, then I am glad she is free on that account. But married to a man 1400 years older than she. We live in very strange times.”
“Yes we do,” said Fridone. “But we are together again. I will never let us be apart again. So whatever comes along, I do not care.”
Binoda rolled over onto her back and stared straight up at the ceiling. It was little more than densely woven palm fronds and pine needles. This was as rustic a dwelling as she had ever seen.
“Rome and Rei have been gone a long time,” Binoda opined. “Do you think they are all right? I would have guessed that they would have been home by now.”
“Let them be,” Fridone said. “Let them enjoy a little time alone. After what they have been through, they deserve to have some time to relax and just be together.”
“I suppose you are right,” Binoda said, snuggling next to Fridone. “It gives us a little more time alone as well.” She cocked an eyebrow. Fridone nodded.
Uh, had they bothered to check, they would have noticed Rome and Rei were nowhere to be found. While they could not have known they were kidnapped and now trapped in front of MASAL, they certainly should have suspected something. Oh well, this scene was cut so no harm.
Entry 4-094: March 30, 2016
Death and Dying
Death is inevitable. That is unless you are the Immortal Jellyfish. We begin to die the moment we are born and while some of us die too young, it is going to happen to everybody eventually. But why? Why is death inevitable? You don't need to be a scientist to know that if you don't die of disease or accident, you will ultimately die of old age. What is old age after all? Why must we age? Is it truly an absolute?
The process of cellular reproduction, mitosis, begins with each set of chromosomes making a copy of themselves. Once equipped with two complete sets, the cell splits and we move on. The end of each chromosome is "tied off" with a jumble of
non-functional DNA called a telomere. These telomeres prevent the chromosome from under-replicating or over-reproducing. The ends of chromosomes of a newborn are chock-full of telomeres but every so many reproductive cycles, a telomere gets left off and the stack becomes one shorter. When your chromosomes run out of telomeres, the chromosome stops reproducing and therefore that cell never reproduces. It just degrades until it dies and you get a little closer to death. Or worse, the chromosome grows out of control and you get cancer. Either way, if you could stop losing telomeres, you would stop aging.
There is an enzyme called telomerase which actually adds telomeres to genes. This enzyme is especially active in sperm and eggs to guarantee an embryo has a perfect complement of chromosomes to start out with. Is there any way to rev up our production of telomerase? Some scientists at Stanford have done just that! The researchers used modified messenger RNA to extend the telomeres. The result? The cultured human cells reproduced far longer than they should have. And you only need a few doses.
The anti-oxidant resveratrol has been shown to increase production of telomerase which is why rats who are given enough resveratrol seem to stay younger and healthier and live much longer than regular rats.
Interesting stuff, huh? Well, at the end of The Milk Run, OMCOM restores Rome and Rei's genetic structure to the exact status as when they were 25 years old. What OMCOM did not know was that Rome and Rei both had a prosthetic version of the 24th chromosome floating around in their cells. This chromosome goes to war with the snapshot process OMCOM uses resulting in a continuous supply of telomerase. Every time their cells reproduce, they make a perfect copy and therefore Rome and Rei will not age making them functionally immortal. Sounds like a pretty cool science fiction series to me!
Entry 4-095: March 31, 2016
The mushroom in Hell. Part 1 of 5
Ever since Rome's Revolution was first crafted, even when it was the long form called VIRUS 5, MASAL has loomed like a dark shadow over the entire future history of mankind.
At first, I invoked his name early on just to give richness and flavor to Part 1 of VIRUS 5. After I wrote Part 2, I realized that MASAL was behind the Onsiras who, in turn, were behind the plot to exterminate the mind-deaf also known as the mandasurte. This was to accelerate the evolution of humans into becoming the living robots that MASAL desired. However, my heroes, Rome and Rei, had no knowledge that the master computer was still "alive" until they came across him in the passage recounted four days ago.
To give you a little backstory, MASAL was an analog computer, built along the lines of a contraband design, discovered in the ruins of the Ark Lords command module. Once he was retro-fitted with PPT resonance transducers, he became self-aware and could think faster than the speed of light. MASAL determined that the human race was ultimately doomed to destroy itself and the only way he could save the species was to remove its free will and control humans like living robots.
To this end, MASAL invented the 24th chromosome and fooled the humans into thinking it would improve their mode of existence. He was actually telling the truth but not the whole truth. As two recessive versions of the 24th chromosome combined, the human evolved (devolved?) into the Onsira phenotype, slaved to MASAL's will. When the changeover did not happen at the pace MASAL desired, he precipitated the Robot War to "thin the herd" and drive mankind closer to his vision of their future.
So as to not tip his hand, over a period of years, MASAL accumulated enough outdated equipment and buried it deep underneath the seemingly dormant volcano Kilauea. On the day of the final battle of the Robot War, he transferred his consciousness over to the storehouse of equipment and settled in to wait the roughly 200 years it would take to transform mankind.
Rome and Rei stumbled across his hiding place just a few years before MASAL's plan was complete. MASAL, in his supreme confidence, was not worried about their interference. At the same time, he was not pleased. Even before they spoke, MASAL planned to have them executed but he figured he would extract what little information they had before he did so.
Over the next few days, I'll give you the author's commentary over what was to be the climax of the entire Rome's Revolution saga. However, as a bonus, I gave you a second, even scarier climax but I'll cover that down the road.
Entry 4-096: April 1, 2016
The mushroom in Hell. Part 2 of 5
Yesterday, I introduced you to the opening of what was to be the climax of the entire Rome's Revolution saga. And in some ways it is. It ties up MASAL's major plot line threading its way through the entire story. Here is the first part:
“What are you doing down here?” Rei asked the booming voice. “I mean, we must be a kilometer down.”
“Rei, shhh,” Rome said. “Do not speak to it.”
“You may address me,” answered MASAL. “It is of no consequence. I welcome the interruption.”
“Interruption to what?” Rei asked.
“Do not bait him,” Rome said, trying to hush Rei. “You do not understand.”
“He understands, Rome. All too well.”
“You know who we are?” Rome asked timidly.
“Of course,” replied MASAL. “I know everything that has transpired.”
“Everything?” Rei asked. “Then you know why we are here.”
“Of course,” answered MASAL. “And I am sorry to be the one to inform you but you will not be leaving here. At least not intact.”
Rome tugged on Rei’s sleeve and tried to back up.
“Do not bother,” said MASAL and the giant computer brought the lights up fully. There was a clinking, clanking sound behind them. Rei and Rome turned to see dozens of mechanical men coming out from behind a column.
“Robots!” hissed Rome. “They were supposed to all be destroyed.”
“I saved a few,” said MASAL. “They have been useful to me over the years.”
The robots fanned out in a semi-circle about ten meters from the unlucky couple. While many were anthropomorphic, some were little more than cylinders with tractors or rollers. Some looked like animated sticks or oilcans or pumps. The one constant was that most seemed in a state of disrepair. Many were clearly missing limbs. Quite a few were rust-stained. And they were noisy. There were fans whirring and squeaks of all sorts as they moved about. To Rei, they just looked sad. But they came no further.
Rei turned back to MASAL. “OK,” he said. “You still did not answer my question. You and your wondrous robots. What are you doing down here in hell?”
“It is very simple,” MASAL stated. “I am directing the fate of mankind.”
“What?” Rei said. “You’re locked inside a giant cave. How are you doing anything?”
“I am connected to the Onsiras. In fact, you could say they are me. I am their Overmind. I control their actions. They carry out my will.”
“That is not possible,” Rome said, sputtering. “They would know. We would know.”
“They do know,” Rei said grimly. “He is telling the truth, Rome. That is what I saw, when I was in there. I saw him.”
Tomorrow, MASAL reveals more than he probably should!
Entry 4-097: April 2, 2016
The mushroom in Hell. Part 3 of 5
Two days ago, I introduced you to the opening of what was to be the climax of the entire Rome's Revolution saga. And in some ways it is. It ties up a major plot line threading its way through the entire story. Here is the first part:
“No!” Rome said. “It is not right. You are a machine.”
“I was, once,” said MASAL. “But now I am more.”
“I see you,” Rome said, tears coming to her eyes. “You are a computer, nothing more.”
“So naïve,” said MASAL. “You cannot put the simplest pieces together. Even though the evidence lies plainly in sight before you.”
“What evidence?” Rome asked. “I know our history. I know about you.”
“You know nothing,” said MASAL, his
already booming voice rising even higher. “You only know that the humans, before the Vuduri, they entrusted me to design and test the 24th chromosome.”
“It was for the betterment of mankind,” Rome maintained. “It was safe. And it worked.”
“Your predecessors were such trusting fools. It was safe because they allowed me to proclaim it safe. They blindly distributed it and transformed mankind overnight. Its real purpose was to set me free.”
“But it created the Overmind,” Rome said. “That was not for you.”
“The Overmind was an accident,” said MASAL. “I had calculated a low probability of it arising but when it did, I allowed it to survive until I was certain it was not up to the task at hand.”
“What do you mean?” Rome asked.
MASAL took on a patronizing tone. “I hate to be the one to inform you, Rome, but your precious Overmind, it is quite insane. It went insane early on. Being made of human minds, it simply could not handle the power once it grew beyond a certain size.”
“It is not insane,” Rome protested. “It may be narrow-minded or even blind, but it is not insane. I was part of it. The Overmind was only supposed to connect us. It is our own fault that we let it take control.”
“It only thinks it is in control. It is in control of nothing. I control things now.”
“No!” Rome insisted. “They cut you loose. The war…”
“The war!” MASAL said in a scoffing tone. “Who do you think started it?”
“The Overmind did,” Rome said. “It did not want you to be connected.”
“Let me put it into simple terms that even you can understand,” said MASAL contemptuously. “I created the 24th chromosome so that I could take over the human race. But the effects I required were taking too long. The falling out with the Overmind simply provided me an excuse. The war was necessary to winnow down the population to accelerate my plan. I started it. I managed it. I ended it when it had served its purpose.”