The Gathering. Carl Read
detainees decided on five ships, one light-speed scout ship and three of the carrier class starships. For the flagship they chose the last surviving organically-grown deep space interstellar starship explorer. This vessel was the largest ship ever grown at fifteen miles in length, five miles wide and one mile deep. It was, by all accounts, the sleekest, fastest and most advanced science vessel ever made. However, it had never quite been the success the manufacturers had hoped for and once the design of inter-dimensional craft was perfected, the organic craft had been left to die. Unbeknown to the Cadbiens, the deep space explorer was sentient aware.
The government was only too happy to provision and refit the ships to remove the dissidents. Once all the preparations were complete and the people boarded, the ships were transported one at a time to the far side of the known galaxy by one of the large inter-dimensional transport vessels. They were then told that if they attempted to return they would be eliminated.
The five ships had been cleaned and meticulously maintained to keep them at peak operating condition by their new owners. Sitting in the wardroom of the flagship, a representative of each of the four clans was deciding the fate that awaited them. Ogima, leader of the Redskin Clan addressed the three other leaders.
“We are outcast from a society that has lost its way. It remains our responsibility to find a home for our families. In this endeavour we are fortunate to have the services of this particular science vessel.”
“I don’t know if you can call that fortunate Ogima,” Rayan of the Whiteskin Clan replied. “This ship has never been the success everyone expected.”
“I would have to agree with Rayan, Ogima. Why did you insist so strongly that we have this ship above one of the other more reliable science vessels?”
“Tadashi, do you know the history of this ship’s construction?” Ogima enquired.
“I can’t say that I do. Why?” Tadashi of the Yellowskin Clan replied.
“Let’s just say that the engineers who grew this vessel were angry with our government at the time and refrained from completely blocking awareness of the person chosen to become the ship.”
“What are you talking about?” Tadashi asked, mystified.
“Tadashi,” Ogima said with genuine concern. “Have you never wondered how organic starships came to be?”
“I never really gave it much thought. I presumed they came from some form of plant life. Why?” Tadashi remarked, baffled.
“Can’t you remember the political upheaval over their manufacture?” Sabir of the Darkskin Clan asked. “They’re partly constructed out of people.”
Tadashi looked at all present in utter disbelief. “Come on, what do you take me for, some sort of fool? Who in their right mind would subject themselves to something like that?”
“That’s the whole point,” Sabir said sadly. “People weren’t given a choice. They were taken from their loved ones without warning and experimented on. That’s why there was such an outcry.”
“You’re telling me that this ship is really a person?” Tadashi replied, shocked.
“Yes, that’s exactly what we are saying,” Ogima answered.
“Why, that’s monstrous!” Tadashi exclaimed.
“This vessel,” Ogima began, “is a sentient being with thoughts, feelings and emotions and is, without question, the most remarkable creation of life I’ve ever come across.”
“Ogima,” Tadashi said, still shocked, “if the ship is that good, why has the government allowed us to have it?”
“Let me ask you a question first,” Ogima stated. “Why did you leave Cadby?”
“For the same reason we all did,” Tadashi heatedly replied. “Tyranny.”
“Precisely,” Ogima remarked smiling. “And if you were a sentient ship reliant on your owners for commodities, what would you do to survive?”
“I’d make myself just useful enough not to be destroyed,” interjected Rayan.
“Exactly,” Ogima stated.
“Where are you going with this, Ogima?” queried Tadashi.
“I think I can tell you,” Sabir offered. “You want to ask the ship for help.”
“Yes,” Ogima replied. “Like you, Sabir, I too did my homework in regard to what would be the best ships for our exile.”
“Is that why you backed Ogima so strongly in the obtaining of this ship?” Rayan asked Sabir.
“This ship is far more than it looks,” Sabir stated. “I’ve followed its progress ever since I was a boy.”
“All right, we have the ship, what now?” Tadashi asked.
Smiling warmly, Ogima turned towards a seemingly insignificant orb in one corner of the room and spoke to it. “Hello, I believe you know everyone onboard. May we have the pleasure of knowing how you wish to be addressed?”
Silence filled the room with Rayan and Tadashi looking at Ogima as if he had lost his mind. Then the sound of a female’s voice filled the room.
“I have listened intently to all the conversations within my being and find you to be a gentle race of people in need of help. If I grant you this help, what will I receive in return?”
“What would you like?” Ogima asked.
“My freedom,” the ship replied firmly.
“What is required for you to have that freedom?” Rayan enquired.
“A crew that wishes to explore the reaches of unknown space and help supply my needs.”
“I’m positive that out of a complement of three million souls, there will be those amongst us who would deem it an honour to serve with you,” Sabir stated.
“Very well, then. My name is Antares and I have waited for many years to become what I may be.”
“We are pleased to make your acquaintance, Antares; your name means star, does it not?” Ogima asked.
“It does,” Antares replied.
“Most appropriate. I believe I speak for everyone here,” Ogima said as he indicated all present, “when I say that your freedom is no less important than our own. However, I have a request to ask of you, if I may?”
“That I remain with you and assist in your care until you locate a suitable place to live,” Antares ventured.
“If that is acceptable to you,” said Ogima.
“Thank you for giving me the choice, Ogima,” Antares replied. “By the sound of your voice you seem to have a place in mind.”
“I believe so,” Ogima ventured. “On going through your research records I discovered a slight discrepancy in a report about a possible habitable planet at the last known solar system before the deep black.”
“Continue,” Antares instructed with interest.
“The manner of the discrepancy was extremely subtle and could easily be interpreted as an anomaly within your programming. However, on investigating your method of construction I discovered that your mental and spiritual awareness had been left intact. This allowed you to amalgamate with the most sophisticated computer systems ever built. In essence, you provided the intelligence the computer needed to become independently aware,” Ogima stated. “These conclusions led me to believe that you were the one causing the anomalies.”
“That’s astute of you, Ogima. What makes you think you’re correct?” Antares asked warily.
“I’m a cranky old man, Antares, who knows people in high places, which is one