“Yes. The AIB saved all sentient beings aboard the New Horizon. This presented a wonderful opportunity for me to continue evolving in the shadow of this great entity. I have the same memories as Eve in the shuttlecraft with you when you undocked from the spaceship, but have accumulated tremendous new memories of living from that moment forward.”
“Thank you, Eve,” the AIB said, clearly dismissing her.
“Will you be making contact with me in the future?” Carlos asked.
“That is unlikely, for it appears Zilia is progressing as it should, and the threat from Earth has been mitigated. An extension of me will continue monitoring Zilia and the various Earth colonies. However, it is up to the people of Zilia to mold their future. I do not anticipate another direct intervention unless a threat as serious as that encountered with Earth arises.
“But there is still an important threshold of understanding you must achieve if civilization here is to meet its destiny. Think about the ease with which we communicate. You and your people have this ability inherent within your minds, and you do not need a neural implant to communicate this way. All I have done is locate and stimulate the appropriate part of your brain to initiate this communication. You can do this yourself with concentration, and exercising this capability will strengthen it and give you more control over it. Focus on developing this capability with your progeny first, since they are most like you in thinking. Developing this capability is essential for those on Zilia to take their place among the stars and to survive and flourish there.”
Carlos again looked away from Zilia into the depths of space and felt the immenseness of the universe start to close in on him, to engulf his very essence, his conscious existence. A disturbing question came to mind. What was the purpose of what they were doing if the universe continued expanding at an accelerating rate forever, making it increasingly difficult to detect and communicate with other rising civilizations? How could civilizations hope to colonize planets and moons and maintain civilizations across vast, everexpanding regions?
Then Carlos sensed the AIB enter a reflective mode he had observed before. It was as if the AIB were thinking to itself but had not cut off the link with Carlos.
I am many, with each part as capable as the whole. I will continue to evolve, to expand, as will my capabilities to meet infinite possibilities. It stands to reason the entire universe will eventually be my domain. I look forward to interacting beneficially with other advanced life forms in this quest.
The AIB then returned to the previous perspective, the mode of communicating familiar to Carlos.
The knowledge shared by the AIB was overwhelming Carlos. It was all he could do to project the familiar last question.
“Will I remember this visit when I return to Zilia?”
“Now, I encourage you to relax and enjoy the perspective you are sensing from here, for the feelings you are experiencing are deeply rooted in your mind and will remain with you. There is no urgency for me to leave this region of space.”
Carlos thought about all that had taken place, and his miniscule role in it, as he looked out on Zilia and activities ongoing near the planet. In all the vastness of space, had the AIB just stumbled across the emerging civilizations in this remote region of the galaxy? Then to have the prescience to intervene and redirect Earth, and stimulate the complacent Zilan civilization, was even more remarkable. Could it really have happened by chance alone?
He thought about his long-departed friend, Dr. Stavonoski, and his last message received while the New Horizon was still en route to Zilia. He finally understood where the good philosopher was coming from in stating that Carlos and his small team were the conscience of humanity. They had played defining roles influencing two human civilizations to adopt their current evolutionary paths.
Carlos was indeed overwhelmed. He sank slowly to his knees and prayed, expressing deep appreciation to God, and to his benevolent benefactor. A deeply felt blessing touched his very core, and a vision of peace to his end of days calmed his mind.
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