You can't reconnect a person who is already connected. The signs are there. Estar just chooses to ignore them:
“You have spent too much time with the Essessoni,” Estar said with disdain. “You have lost the ability to think clearly. Your words are just ranting and mean nothing.”
One of the technicians came over with a syringe filled with a fluorescent yellow fluid. The other tech was tapping on the view screen mounted within the equipment rack. He was tracing one squiggly line with his finger.
Estar turned to look at the technician who seemed confused. She looked down at Rome then back at the screen. The tech holding the syringe stood in place while Estar walked over to the panel. Estar studied the readouts but their patterns were inconsistent. From the sensors mounted to Rome’s temples, it looked like she was emanating a low level of gravitic energy via PPT resonance. Yet Estar had been physically present when Rome was cast out. The readings made no sense. There was a certain amount of synchrony with the blinking block of lights mounted within the panel. Estar concluded the blips must be due to the interference caused by their jamming equipment and decided to ignore it.
Meanwhile, Rei struggled in place furiously but between the restraints and the gag, he was completely helpless. His utter inability to do anything caused a tear to come to his eye.
Rome turned her head to the side. She saw Rei thrashing about and winked at him. Rei stopped resisting the restraints, giving her a quizzical expression. Rome motioned to where Estar was standing and raised her eyebrows and then Rei understood. He relaxed. Rome knew what she was doing.
Rome certainly did know what she was doing. That squiggly line was her already-active PPT transducers emanating gravitic fluctuations. Estar ignoring it? Another mistake. MASAL's prosthetic 24th chromosome would only work on someone who is mind-deaf, someone mandarsurte. Someone like Rei? Uh-oh.
Entry 4-057: February 22, 2016
Mind zapping bookends
I am so lazy that sometimes that I amuse myself. Yesterday, I showed you the little scene where Estar decided she was going to reconnect Rome via an injection containing prosthetic 24th chromosomes. To describe the scene, I simply went back to the original scene on Deucado in the middle of Rome's Revolution. Here is that first scene:
The two technicians walked over to a rack and each removed a rather sizeable copper plate with wires trailing from it. In his entire year with the Vuduri, this was the first time Rei had ever seen a wire. He assumed it was because there was a current or signal that could not be sent wirelessly as was their penchant. The technicians went on either side of Rome and knelt down to plug the dangling wires into a small box that was underneath the table where Rome was lying. They stood up and held the plates about 15 centimeters from her temple, one on each side. With no fanfare, the box began to hum and suddenly, Rome stiffened and shrieked a bloodcurdling yell.
So here is Estar's attempt at reconnecting Rome:
I do not care,” Estar said out loud. The situation must have been supremely frustrating for her to break down and speak to another Vuduri out loud. She angrily motioned to the tech standing by the rack. He came over and he and the other technician drew out two large copper plates from beneath the table, each with a wire dangling from it. They inserted the free end of the wire into a small black box that was mounted underneath the exam table. They placed the copper panels near Rome’s temples and there was a humming noise. Rome grimaced but that was all.
Estar’s eyes grew wide. “Again,” she said, speaking out loud for the second time.
The technicians pressed the plates directly against Rome’s head and again the box hummed. This time, Rome did not even grimace. In fact, a smile crept across her lips as if she had not a care in the world.
“What is wrong with you, you half-breed mosdurece?” Estar said angrily. “Are your mother’s genes so weak that they cannot be reconnected again?”
“As I told you before, I do not wish to be connected,” Rome said calmly. “That should be reason enough.”
“This is not possible,” Estar said. She looked at each of the two techs. Both shrugged.
Similar procedures but decidedly different outcomes. The first ended with a bloodcurdling scream. The second ended with a smile. Estar is getting pretty frustrated but Rome cannot be broken. She needs another mandasurte to try this procedure on. Who could it be??
Entry 4-058: February 23, 2016
The evil grin
In the world of Rome's Revolution, we have a multitude of characters, each with their own agenda. Although he was mentioned by name in the beginning, MASAL was not considered to be relevant to Rei and Rome's plight until near the end of the book. Other than the Vuduri banning all robots and forbidding computers to ever have access to Casimir Pumps, MASAL and the Robot War had faded into the past.
However, MASAL's ultimate goal for the 24th chromosome was to turn mankind into living robots, obeying his will. The Reonhe, the Onsira queens, were half-way there. The Zengei, the worker bees, were all the way there. They had no real ability to think on their own. But the Reonhe had at least half a brain. One part was ruled by the Overmind and the other part was controlled by MASAL but they still were capable of forming an original thought.
So it was that Estar, who in reality was only 12 years old, was stuck as she was unable to reconnect Rome (or so she thought) but yet she was under direct orders to connect somebody so that MASAL's version of the Overmind could ferret out the truth. Here is the 35th century version of the light bulb going off inside of Estar's head:
“As I told you before, I do not wish to be connected,” Rome said calmly. “That should be reason enough.”
“This is not possible,” Estar said. She looked at each of the two techs. Both shrugged.
“Besides,” Rome continued, “we both know you were never very good at anything. I do not know who you serve but by now, they must know you are incompetent.”
“No more!” Estar said, holding her hand up. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes again and stared at Rome but her eyes took on a defocused look. As if in slow motion, Estar lowered her hand then she bowed her head and her breathing slowed. Her shoulders slumped. Estar stayed motionless for several minutes until a small shiver went down her back. She lifted her head up and looked at Rome with an evil grin on her face.
Immediately, the technicians moved forward and removed the cuffs from Rome’s arm and leg and the sensor pads from her head. They released the restraints.
“Get up,” Estar said to Rome. “Go sit on the bench.” She pointed to a spot next to Rei.
During her moment of mediation, did someone or something make a suggestion? The evil grin tells me she came up with the thought all by her lonesome. Estar is quite pleased with herself. She thinks she has come up with an idea that will please MASAL no end. Boy, did she make a mistake!
Entry 4-059: February 24, 2016
The experiment
In the year 3240AD, the people who would eventually come to be known as The Vuduri invented the Casimir Pump and then the PPT tunnel right on its heels. PPT transducers allowed them to build a computer which could form thoughts well faster than the speed of light. That computer, the center piece of the denouement of Rome's Revolution, became known as the Master Logical Entity or MASAL in the Vuduri language.
Once he became self-aware, MASAL quickly came up with a plan to phase out the current version of humans and replace them with living robots. He invented the 24th chromosome to begin this transition although he thought of it as evolution. The 24th chromosome was introduced into the human population by injection. Once it took hold and produced PPT resonance, the Overmind sprang up and eventually, MASAL and the Overmind came to blows. But during that initial period, all the previously ordinary human beings had to get used to this new thing in their system.
To summarize, you take a regular 23 chromosome human being and give them an injection and they qui
ckly become a 24 chromosome human of the future, a Vuduri. So if Rome could not be reconnected, why wouldn't this work with Rei?
“What are you going to do?” Rome asked, her eyes widening in fear.
“We are going to try an experiment,” Estar said.
“I’m not interested in any experiment,” Rei said and he started to get up. The guard pushed him back down. One of the technicians came over to help restrain Rei.
“Hey!” Rei shouted and the two men slammed him back against the table. He struggled, punching at the technician but the soldier hit him across the side of the head with the butt of his hand weapon. While Rei was dazed, the two men took the opportunity to push him down flat and they strapped the restraints onto his wrists.
The other technician came over with a fresh syringe, filled once again with fluorescent yellow-green fluid.
“No,” Rome called out. “Do not do this.”
“If we cannot connect you, then we will try to connect the Essessoni,” Estar said. “I must learn the truth.”
“You cannot do that,” Rome shouted. “He is not like us. You will kill him.”
“I do not think this will not kill him,” Estar said. “But even if it does, so what? He should have died on Tabit. It was only luck that he did not.”
“I knew it,” Rei said, weakly. “Why? Why did you want to kill me? I never did anything to you.”
“All the Essessoni must die before the Erklirte arise again,” Estar growled. “You are taint to the ultimate degree. You are not even human.”
“We are human. We are the same as you,” Rei said forcefully. “You just have one extra chromosome. So what?”
“That is exactly it. You are not the same as us,” Estar hissed. “You are all animals. You do not have the ability to be civilized. Your genetic structure is incomplete.”
“Estar, please,” Rome begged. “If he does not have the genetic structure, then his body cannot absorb the assault.”
“Perhaps,” Estar said, not looking at Rome, “perhaps not. That is why I call it an experiment. This may work or it may not. I admit it is possible it will destroy his mind in the process but this is a chance we are willing to take. I want the truth.”
“No,” Rome said, jumping up. The guard standing next to her pulled out his hand weapon. Estar walked over to where Rome was standing and took the weapon from the soldier, placing it under Rome’s chin.
Seriously, Rome, chill. As I said, everybody was a regular 23 chromosome person before MASAL came along. There was nothing particular about Rei's genetics that would put him in mortal danger. Quite the contrary. By bringing Rei into the collective consciousness, Estar was opening up a huge can of psychic worms.
Entry 4-060: February 25, 2016
Ray guns
What would a good science fiction story be without little green men, rocket ships and ray guns? Well, there were no little green men in Rome's Revolution, that would have to wait until the novel The Milk Run. There were no rocket ships in this book but we had starships so that's good enough. But what about ray guns? Up until now, I had not really shown you any weapons of the future, at least not in the modern version of the novel.
I decided that since we were making Estar out to be an evil villain, hidden in her evil person's lair under a seemingly dormant volcano, it was time to haul out the ray guns. I mean, why not?
“No,” Rome said, jumping up. The guard standing next to her pulled out his hand weapon. Estar walked over to where Rome was standing and took the weapon from the soldier, placing it under Rome’s chin.
“This is a plasma projector with a controllable electromagnetic containment. With it, I can vaporize your skull completely,” she said. “Or more importantly, a small portion of it. A very painful portion. You choose. Sit down now or burn.”
“Do not hurt her,” Rei shouted. “She will cooperate. Rome, please,” he said plaintively.
“I cannot let them do this to you, mau emir” Rome said, starting to cry.
“Rome, do you remember what you promised me? The ring favor?” Rei asked. “This is what I want. I want you to do as she says.”
Rome sank back in her seat. “Rei,” she said helplessly, not knowing what to do.
“It’s OK, sweetheart,” he said in English. One technician set about hooking up the monitoring sensors to Rei’s head then placed cuffs on his arms and legs. The technician with the syringe held it over Rei’s arm.
These pistols are pretty cool. They shoot plasma which burns through pretty much anything and since they are powered by Casimir Pumps, they never run out of ammunition. Good thing they don't really exist!
Entry 4-061: February 26, 2016
The truth will out
Rome and Rei had taken a lot of time to construct "The Big Lie" in the early portions of the latter third of Rome's Revolution. While it wiggled and jiggled a few times, it never really crumbled. But now that Estar was holding them hostage beneath Kilauea and threatening to kill or wipe Rei's mind, Rome decided it was time to tell the truth.
“No,” Rome gasped. “Wait.”
“Wait what?” Estar asked.
“I will tell you everything,” Rome said, sobbing.
“This is your last chance,” Estar said.
“All right,” Rome said, resignedly. “Here is the truth. We actually did make it to Deucado but there was a space battle. MINIMCOM used it to evolve into a giant invisible spaceship who could travel at 1000 times the speed of light. He transported us here in eight days. He was the one who crippled the engines to make it look like it took longer.”
“Eight days?” Estar said, incredulously. “And then crippled your ship? Why would he do that?”
“To hide the fact that I had the baby and he is still alive,” Rome said.
“This baby of yours,” Estar said with disgust. “Where is it?”
“He is invisible, too,” Rome replied. “He is wearing a cloak given to us by the Erklirte who have been living on Deucado for the last five hundred years.”
“You are not a very good liar,” Estar spat. “Your story is beyond ridiculous. It is preposterous. That or being mandasurte has driven you insane.”
“I am not lying,” Rome protested.
The technician holding the syringe made a motion toward Rei.
“No,” Rome called out.
“You had your chance,” Estar said. With that, the guard injected Rei who responded with an ouch.
“No!” Rome sobbed. “No.”
“Romey, you tried,” Rei called out to her in English. “I’ll be all right, honey.”
It is said that the truth is stranger than fiction. I guess in Rome's case, the fictional truth was stranger than the fictional fiction. Huh? Oh well, Estar did not believe her. So it was time to get on with the show. Like I said the other day, boy would she come to regret this.
Entry 4-062: February 27, 2016
Blue Crystal Reader kicks in
To understand this scene, you have to go way back to the beginning of Rome's Revolution when Rei visited OMCOM's long-term holographic chamber. Clearly Rei was mesmerized and he muttered something about hearing OMCOM murmuring to him but he didn't know what OMCOM said. It was a post-hypnotic suggestion.
Later, when Rome was in the shack on the beach on Maui, MINIMCOM told her to whisper the words "blue crystal reader" if she needed to save Rei's mind. At the time, that seemed like nonsense. But way beneath the seemingly dormant volcano Kilauea, it suddenly clicked in for Rome what the heck he was talking about:
“Listen carefully, Erklirte so you will know what is happening,” Estar said. “The process itself is very simple. We are giving you an infusion of genetic material via an artificial virus. They will insert an analogue to the 24th chromosome directly into the nuclei of your cells. Once they are in place, your cells will quickly build prosthetic PPT transceivers within your neural system and brain.”
Estar glanced back at Rome then back
to Rei. “Once we apply an electrogravitic field, the resonance will start and you will enter into our samanda. I acknowledge that it has never been tried on an Essessoni, however, it is supposed to be fairly painless,” she said sardonically.
Rei felt a burning sensation creeping up his arm. “Ow!” he exclaimed, “Painless my ass,” he said, in English. “Ow!”
Rome snapped her head up. “Rei Bierak, listen to me,” she shouted out in English, “Blue crystal reader.” Rei cocked his head at her and started blinking rapidly then he became very still.
Estar whipped her head back to Rome. “What does that mean?” she asked.
Through her tears, Rome just smiled at Estar but did not answer. Estar looked back and forth from Rei to Rome and back again. She slid one foot forward and then looked back at Rome then she took one more step. One of the technicians lifted Rei’s head up and looked into his eyes. While Rei was aware of his presence, he could no longer see anything. In his ears, he heard a low rushing sound, like that of the ocean. Then he was no longer even in the room with Rome and those other people. As far as he could tell, he was back on Skyler Base, back in OMCOM’s long-term memory storage room: the ultraviolet lasers crisscrossing, pulsating. The beautiful, deep purple lights and glinting crystals called to him.
“Pretty,” he said out loud. “So, so pretty… Why does it have to be so pretty?” he murmured dreamily.
“What is wrong with him?” Estar said, turning to Rome.