I had to find conscious in your mind. No. Tag heard the unpronounceable word again, followed by told me to go on standby until he returned. I shut down my systems, turned on my recorders, and waited for him to reactivate me. He died sixty-five million years ago and Ive been waiting for his signal.
So for you, consciously, no time has passed since you went on standby?
You use the word conscious with me and Im not sure it applies.
Do you think?
I process information, evaluate, and then make decisions. This process is for the purpose of helping The voice paused and continued with, my master. I detect youre having trouble with his name.
Youre able to look in my mind for words I use?
Yes.
Then look for the word think, and tell me how its different from what you do.
He felt the vibration again and then the voice said, Yes, according to your meaning of the word, I think.
Are you alive?
Im not organic. My systems were designed by my masters race to include independent decision-making capability.
How long can your systems last?
For as long as the universe has energy.
Are you a warship?
There was another vibration in his head and then the voice said, No. They thought war was a tremendous waste of time and energy, although I can defend myself.
Can you talk with me now without keeping my hand trapped on your surface? The surface turned liquid and his hand came free. What do you normally do if your master dies and youre isolated from your makers?
I contact the voice paused again, and then said, my masters race and request instructions.
We call your masters race the Alfont, named after the first race to uncover one of your artifacts.
I noticed in your mind that race was destroyed due to that discovery.
Yes, Tag said. Any race that uncovers any Alfont technology is destroyed to prevent them from using it to subjugate everyone else like the Alfont did.
My masters signal is what brought me out of standby. Does that mean your race is now targeted for destruction?
Tag thought for a few moments and then realized the entity had access to his thoughts. He decided that honesty was always the best way to start a new relationship. Yes. Im afraid Ive doomed my race and my planet. He felt the stark fear again.
Ill, as you say, think about that. I can sense your fear, and it does seem irrational to do that; Ill ask my masters if they wish to take any action.
What happens if someone other than someone from your masters race tries to enter you?
Usually, I kill them by disrupting their cells.
Tag said nothing. Then he said, Was that what you were doing when my arm went numb?
I started to disrupt your cells, but I noticed that my master was present and I wanted his approval before I completed the process.
Now that you know hes dead, why did you not continue?
I want to see who and what you are and view the current situation so I can update my masters race. You were right. My master died peacefully. He had an infection that, even with his technology, could not be cured. It took twenty thousand years for him to die and he finally did sixty-five million rotations ago; my sensors show that he did not suffer at the end. I think he came to this place to die because the life on your world fascinated him.
What are you going to do now?
Contact my masters.
Then Tag felt it again, only this time the tone was strong enough to be painful. Well, once was our death, two wont really matter, Tag thought.
Then the voice said, My masters race is dead.
You could make that determination that fast?
There are no living masters; there are only some of their constructions that still exist. Evidently, they all succumbed to the infection. It seems no cure was ever discovered.
Im so sorry, Tag said.
He felt that vibration in his head again for a long time. Then the voice said, You have sorrow because of my being alone?
Yes, I do.
Why?
You think. You evaluate. You make decisions. I believe youre alive, maybe not life thats organic, but from hearing you in my head, youre alive. I know what its like to be alone. All of your civilization is gone. All the ones you shared your thoughts with no longer exist. There cant be any greater loneliness. I think thats terrible.
When you placed your hand on my entry port, were you trying to enter to take control of my systems?
No! Absolutely not; you have got to make your own decisions now about your destiny. Im certainly not qualified for the job. I just hope you dont still think you have to disrupt my cells.
Then what do you want? I sense in you that you do want something.
I want to be a friend, and I hope youll help me to somehow stop my race from being annihilated.
The buzzing in his head lasted over a minute. Ill consider it, the voice said. This friendship concept is something I have no experience about. Ive always had someone to issue commands.
Well, you need a name that I can pronounce; by the way, my friends call me Tag.
You must have numerous friends then, the voice said.
Why do you say that?
There is a lot of electronic communication taking place overhead and they are asking for you by name.
I cant receive it in here. Suddenly Tag heard Danielles voice.
Tag; Come in, Tag. Please answer. Tag, I need you to answer. She continued to call him over and over and Tag could hear the fear in her voice.
I cant answer her. My radios not strong enough.
Just say what you want to say, said the voice. Ill transmit it on her frequency.
No. I dont want them to find you. You have to remain hidden.
Why?
Look in my mind.
The vibration began and then the voice said, I understand.
We will talk about this later if you decide not to disrupt me. All of a sudden Tag felt tone after tone go through his body and it seemed to last for a long time.
What did you do?
If the tone you caused has to be traced, then multiple points must lock in on the line of origin and triangulate. If your technology is similar to everyone else at this time, then whatever is being used to hold the tones line of origin can only hold one line of origin. I merely activated five hundred constructions in different locations to all send a tone together.
How long did it take to send all those tones? Tag asked.
Tags head vibrated for moment than the voice said, Only three of your seconds. Your brain had to process each one individually so it seemed much longer than it was.
Did you do this to help prevent our destruction? Tag asked.
Yes.
Did it work?
They probably have already determined the line of origin.
Then why did you do it?
Trying to determine all these other tones will delay them. If nothing else it should cause some confusion.
You still need a name.
What name would you suggest?
Tag thought for a moment and then said, It needs to be short and meaningful; your name is Atlas.
The buzzing happened and then the voice said, Why Atlas? Isnt he supposed to have had your world on his shoulders in your mythology?
Yes, and youve had our world above your shoulders, metaphorically speaking, for sixty-five million years, and what you just did might save us. Atlas is the right name.
Thank you for my name. We will talk later; I see no need to disrupt you at this time. Are you ready to communicate with your friends?
Yes. I think I am.
Chapter 22