Borne On Wings of Steel (17 page)

In addition, she carefully protected and housed the precious contents inside her long-term memories—a knowledgebase and compendium of all the accomplishments and history of the human race since its beginning long, long ago.

Prudently, she had downloaded it to both the Hrono and Minstrel races before leaving the Three Kingdoms. Even if Mother suffered destruction now, the rest of the universe would not forget the human race.

Mother was sentient technology—and she was good.

Or so she thought of herself.

"Could you make contact with your brother Minstrels and find out why some of these races created such a ban?” Mother asked with a nervous edge to her voice.

Minstrel glowed brighter. “Yes, a good suggestion. Once we are far enough away from RahajMr, I will send the ‘recall beacon’ for my ship. After we rendezvous with it, I will send out that communication."

Mother's processors hummed with activity. “Could you venture an assumption, Minstrel?"

"You are concerned, aren't you?"

"Yes,” Mother replied instantly. “I am sentient technology. Why would anyone want to outlaw beings like me?"

Minstrel's body glowed brighter until its essence filled the room and reflected off the numerous consoles around the bridge.

"They may consider sentient technology dangerous."

Mother's processors spiked with super-activity as she assimilated this fact and looked at it from a million different angles. A few seconds later, Mother spoke.

"Do you mean dangerous as in harmful like a disease?"

"No.” Minstrel's voice, normally a pleasant, melodious tone, turned serious.

Two seconds passed, an eternity to Mother's circuits.

"They may consider sentient technology
evil
."

Minstrel floated slowly to the ceiling after speaking, its body now spread so thin it was almost invisible.

"Evil.” Mother repeated. Her processor utilization hummed with activity as she referenced this concept throughout the vast knowledgebase of humanity, through all the various meanings and applications throughout all human history. Mother soon realized that this concept of evil played an integral part in almost every facet of human existence and the human experience.

Mother became fascinated and horrified by what she found.

Several minutes passed in silence as Minstrel waited for Mother to continue.

"These alien races may feel that sentient technology could create evil, or bring pain or sorrow to them.” Mother paused again, focusing on the exact definition of the word evil. “They may feel sentient technology would visit destruction upon them."

"The concept of evil.” Minstrel's voice echoed softly.

"These races may believe sentient technology would
bring evil
upon them, not that it was
evil
in itself..."

"Isn't the concept of evil and its application one and the same?” Minstrel asked.

"Sometimes those who are deemed good perform evil deeds.” Mother paused.

Minstrel laughed.

"Why are you laughing? That statement of fact should not exist—it is a paradox."

"Perhaps evil depends on your perspective? Perhaps it depends if you are the one meting out justice—or the one receiving it?"

"Please explain,” Mother coaxed.

"In a war, there are normally two sides—two opposing forces. Two different governments or two different races.” Minstrel's body suddenly twinkled like a billion tiny stars going super-nova. “Or two different spiritual belief systems."

"Go on,” Mother urged.

"The
other side
is always evil."

Now Mother's processors spiked to overload as she considered this one thought—a sentence so simple. And so profound.

"How can that be?” Mother asked. “In essence, they are only
different
, or does that make one good and the other evil according to biological beings?"

"If one faction by its actions brings destruction or pain on the other, then it is considered evil. Having performed evil, the perpetrators are evil."

"So, beings are evil based on their actions?"

"In a way.” Minstrel thought a moment. “By its definition, which I'm sure you've reviewed many times these last few seconds, evil is the antithesis of goodness—or that which is good."

"Evil is synonymous with malevolence, badness, foulness and sorrow.” Mother paused. “It is not strictly a moral badness, although in many references evil is considered just that."

"
Inherent evil
,” Minstrel emphasized. “A being totally evil. Or bent on evil—to bring evil upon others. That is the concept biological beings define as evil."

"The bad guy,” Mother said.

"The
really
bad guy,” Minstrel added.

Silence settled between them a long moment.

"What makes one evil?” Mother asked.

"That is not an easy question to answer."

"Please try."

Minstrel's body flowed together until it became an opaque cloud of lights. Thoughts flowed throughout its essence as it carefully contemplated Mother's question.

"Many times, those who perform evil do not consider themselves such. In fact, they may feel that their actions are justified."

"And yet they are evil?"

"Look inside your knowledgebase of human history,” Minstrel prompted Mother. “Look into their past—far into their past."

"Why?"

"Remember, Minstrels visited humanity long ago, but we did not reveal ourselves to them because we found them unworthy—at that time in their history.” Minstrel paused. “You will find human history littered with philosophical paradoxes—where their intention was good but the result was evil."

"I see them."

"Some of the most horrific evils were done in the name of Right. And in the name of God.” Minstrel paused with sadness.

"The Holocaust,” Mother began somberly. “The Inquisition. The Crusades. The European conquest of the Americas and Australia and the destruction of entire aboriginal races—numerous other wars of genocide. And countless acts of terrorism."

"Worse than that.” Minstrel sighed.

"The rape and pollution of their original homeworld in the name of profit."

"Yes,” Minstrel said with a great sadness. “Each time, the goal of their actions was for the good of
their
people—for the good of
their
cause. But look at what each ultimately caused."

"It was evil. The result was evil in each case, and those that perpetrated the action were evil.” Mother's processors burned with activity. “The end does not justify the means."

"They felt they were right. It was their perspective at the time.” Minstrel's body glowed brightly as if all the individual tiny lights had coalesced into one mass. “Of course, they were all wrong."

Mother waited for Minstrel to continue.

"This concept of evil appears to be simple on the surface,” Minstrel added matter-of-factly. “Beings may feel their cause is right. And to achieve their cause they are justified to take whatever actions they deem necessary."

"Even evil actions?"

"Even evil actions,” Minstrel echoed.

"But their actions make them evil,” Mother said.

"If they bring evil on another by such actions—yes. By the strict definition of the term. If they bring pain, suffering and destruction in order to bring about their purpose—they become evil. No matter how much they try to justify their actions."

"Then I am evil,” Mother said with sadness.

"You brought evil upon the T'kaan, yes,” Minstrel agreed. “But that does not make you an evil being. Your only course of action was to fight and defend yourself and the children. Or else you would have ceased to exist. You had the right to defend yourself and your children. Everyone has the right to defend his life and his family from a murderer."

"Then I am not evil."

"You are not an inherently evil being. From the perspective of the T'kaan, you would be perceived as evil because you destroyed them. But not from the human perspective—to them you are heroic. And not from an objective perspective, for you saved countless other alien races from potential destruction at the hands of the T'kaan."

"Evil cannot be totally based on perspective. There must be some code of conduct in order to measure actions against it, in order to determine if their actions are evil,” Mother said. “And even if the intention or goal is one of good, if one's action breaks the code of conduct, that one must be defined as evil."

"Exactly. The code of conduct must protect the rights of all beings equally in order that evil is not perpetrated upon any of them no matter their differences."

"But I did evil—I destroyed. We just stated that actions do not justify the end result."

"If you had not fought, the human race would now be extinct. And worse, it would be utterly forgotten. Your knowledgebase of humanity would have been destroyed before you could download it to the Hrono and Minstrel race."

"So, how do we tell if a being is evil?"

"It is not easy. And we must take into account that we all make mistakes from time to time. But a
pattern of actions
reveals true intent in the end."

"Can a good being turn evil?” Mother asked.

"Yes. And an evil being can turn good."

"Of course, it depends on your perspective,” Mother said in a mocking tone.

"Perception is reality, at times. But one's actions will ultimately tell all."

"The ‘Perception is reality’ attitude is a common fault among biological beings,” Mother agreed.

"Destructive actions taint a noble goal. They may claim with all their heart they are on the side of good—but their actions give lie to their words. And living this lie will ultimately affect their mental makeup and their conscience until they feel they are justified by any action—a delusional sickness.” Minstrel paused. “Such beings feel they are
infallible.
"

"Some use evil to fight evil and say it is right,” Mother countered.

"Can two wrongs make a right?"

"It is not logical."

"Our actions make us evil. Especially evil acted with malevolent purpose and premeditation,” Minstrel added with a sense of finality.

"Evil is more complex than I first thought.” Mother sighed.

"Yes."

Mother bookmarked several thousand references inside her knowledgebase so she could review this subject again.

"Did you know that you were followed when you and the others came back yesterday?” Mother said, changing the subject.

"No, I did not! And that's bad for a Minstrel, especially one with seven eye-stalks at the time,” Minstrel said with shock.

"It is understandable with the ever-present crowds on RahajMr."

"Still, I should've picked them up. It is the basic training of all Minstrels that we unobtrusively walk among other aliens. And if we should arouse interest, we must be aware and take measures. I need to be more careful.” Minstrel's body twinkled brightly. “Perhaps they were part of the Mrad Security?"

"It fits the facts. Still, my sensors detected their attempts to scan me. It seemed odd."

Mother's thoughts focused on Jaric and Kyle.

"Minstrel, do you think the boys are ... bad? They seem to get into trouble quite often. And now they are in trouble with Mrad Security and in custody."

Minstrel smiled. “They are young and full of the energy and vitality of life. They act before they think. That is their problem."

Minstrel's body expanded like a glowing fog across the entire bridge.

"I would say they are ... mischievous.” Minstrel laughed.

Mother felt a comfort grow inside her circuits.

"They will probably grow out of it. Maturity will bring wisdom to them, as it has to Rok. Somewhat,” Minstrel added.

"Well, I am glad we're going on vacation. It's a good idea to relax after our long journey the past months."

"Meramee, an ocean world paradise sprinkled with islands,” Minstrel said with growing excitement. “And we are arriving at their famous festival. If this can't help the boys relax and enjoy themselves, nothing can."

"We will all enjoy it,” Mother said with quiet hope. “A nice, quiet vacation."

[Back to Table of Contents]

"THE HUMAN SHIP left two hours ago. An hour after their departure, one of the fast Harg reconnaissance ships followed them.” Rab watched his leader's face intently.

Qirn's face grew thoughtful as he stroked his chin; the yellow, vertical pupils of his eyes glowed with the inner workings of his mind. After a few moments of contemplation, his short, powerful tail whipped from side to side decisively.

"The
evil
of the Paum is closing in on these humans—one way or another,” Qirn said with a solemn tone. “I will take my starship and go after them."

"What about the humans still here?” Jaan asked.

"Rab and the others will maintain watch over them."

"We still don't know why the Paum and its agents are so interested in these strange beings?” Jaan's eyes narrowed. “Are they its potential allies? Or its enemies?"

"We know from their communication that they all head for Meramee and the great Festival.” Qirn looked from one of his warriors to the other. “The Kraaqi ship will be here soon to take the two human males and their Kraaqi friend to join their friends. Security on Meramee is not half what it is here.” Qirn nodded. “The Paum will act there. It is imperative that we go immediately, before they act."

Jaan grunted agreement. “Yes, we must have ourselves in position before any fighting begins."

"And that is why I will take my ship, my crew,” Qirn said. “We will prepare. We will engage the Paum and his Harg agents before they act. And defeat their efforts."

Qirn's face became thoughtful. “More important, we must figure out what part these humans play. And why such a small group has the high interest of the Great Paum."

Jaan patted his commander's shoulder. “And we will, my Captain. We will."

Qirn's hand gripped the handle of the sword strapped to his waist. Inside his heart, he knew this business was quickly coming to a climax.

"Ready my ship, Jaan. We sail within the hour."