Chapter twenty four

Biologically, the terran race is an anomaly. Whereas most sapients can only use very limited cyberware and biomods, terrans have an 100% acceptance rate. It is as if they were made to use these implants. -extract from “Terran biology; a look inside the body of a human”

It had taken Selene days to get an audience with the human ambassador; it seemed that everyone in the Union wanted to talk to him. But here she was now, walking towards his office. Why was she so nervous? She was just meeting an ambassador, not fighting a war. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” A voice sounded out from inside the room. She pushed open the door and headed in. A desk was placed at the back of the room, with the ambassador sitting behind it. Around the room were hung portraits of various humans, while the floor was covered in a cloth carpet. The space behind the ambassador’s chair was covered by a peculiar painting. The picture was of a starry night, but the centre of the picture was a completely blank circle. She had seen this painting in every single human’s office she had ever been to, but none of them had uttered a word about it, even going as far as to refuse to answer any questions about it. She hoped to get an answer today.

“Good morning, Head Selene. Please, take a seat.” The human ambassador waved at a padded seat in front of his desk. She took it.

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“Good morning, Ambassador Masile. Thank you for meeting with me today.”

“It’s my pleasure. Drink?” He took out a bottle of alcohol from under his desk and two glasses.”

“No thanks. Should you be drinking that right now though?”

“I don’t get drunk because of my biomods, so its fine.” He poured himself a glass and took a sip. “Now, what brings you to my office?”

“I am here to ask a few questions officially, as well answer some of my own.”

“Well, I think I can help you with some of those.”

“First of all, we have heard of your ‘biomods’ and ‘cyberware’. What are they?”

“Biomods are genetic alterations to specific groups of cells that perform specific tasks. For example, I have a biomod in my digestive system that stops me from getting drunk. Cyberware are electronic systems or components linked directly to a person’s nervous system. For example, I have cyberware in my brain that allows me to perfectly remember everything that I have ever experienced. It is both a blessing and a curse, but necessary for the job.”

Selene recoiled in horror and excitement. “But how? All cybernetics we have ever made inevitably killed their users.”

“Your cyberware is far too primitive. You are trying to forcibly send electricity into the nerves, which kills them. We can link person and machine so flawlessly that the body regards the machine as part of itself, rather than rejecting it as a foreign object.”

“Before I ask any more official questions, can I ask one of my own?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Why does every single human I’ve ever met have that painting?” She indicated the peculiar painting.

Ambassador Masile was silent for a few seconds, before turning around and looking at the painting. He let out a sigh before speaking.

“It is a reminder. An object that serves to remind us, one that keeps us anchored.”

“A reminder of what?”

He sat in contemplation for a few seconds before he let out another, weary sigh. His voice as he replied spoke of his age.

“A promise we made. A Pledge and a Promise”