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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
Chapter 112 Mars Colony Base Dome 2nd March AC 198 Time: 00: 52 [approx Sanc time 22:42] Zechs Pain. It seemed that for the longest time there had been an awareness of pain at some level within himself that demanded to be recognized and with that recognition there would be an awareness of release. An easing of the pressure continually building within him that would be both a relief and a source of danger. He did not understand the source of the pain but it was there and with each passing second it grew within to batter at his awareness and demand his attention. //There … there is not … no time. No time for this now.// About him was a darkness that was both familiar and threatening. Once this place had seemed a sanctuary. That dim recognition of the deep darkness was no comfort as it now felt like a danger to even presume that any place could be considered a sanctuary to such as he. There was no safety. No secure haven where he could simply exist and rest in the knowledge that he was alive. //Alive? I am … alive?// -------------------------------- * The small man glowered at the boy, dark eyes on fire with the force of his personality. The man, old and wizened was nevertheless terrifying for his very appearance of innocence and frailty. This one had long learned the art of deception and enjoyed teaching the young and foolish to both fear and respect him. “You have too much brains, too much intelligence to be a total idiot, boy. Yes, I call you boy, is it your preference to be termed infant? I will treat you as you deserve and when you show me that you deserve respect I will give it freely. I am Master here and you will not forget it. Your superiors feel that you could do with additional instruction and have therefore presented me with you. There is no help for it. Your meditation skills are sloppy, your ability to concentrate is nonexistent and I have to do something about that. You had best get used to my face because until I am satisfied that you have gained control you will be confined to my instruction exclusively. Are you not honored?” * ---------------------------------------- His martial arts instructor from the academy had always told him that he needed to improve his meditation. He had always pointed out his numerous faults and in that quiet voice raked him with his inadequacies until he could barely sit still under the onslaught of wounds suffered from that skilled tongue. He had told him repeatedly that he must improve his skills if he ever wanted to get any where in life. The small man had glared at him daring him to deny his lack of skills and his inadequacies but he never could deny the truth. Not then, in front of the old man and not now, in this darkness that disturbed him with its familiarity and its strangeness. He had been tested and found wanting. Again. The Master would be disgusted with him. //I am trying to control … what … what is it that I must control? Master, I do not understand why I hurt. I … I can't … why do I hurt so much? Why is it so dark?// ------------------------------- ** On the small rise overlooking the blazing house the slender figure wrapped in a nondescript black coat turned from the view, the night ablaze with light and sound behind him. He was anonymous in the coat, the collar turned up to shield against the growing storm. He moved with understated economy, smooth and deadly. He did not stay to watch the burning house but silently and efficiently placed his artillery and himself in the car and drove off into the night. ** ------------------------------- There was always pain at a sub level of awareness deep within him. It seemed that for a long time now he had been aware of pain and for some reason he had been unable to deal with its cause and therefore had had to submerge it deep within himself with the promise that he could and would deal with it at a later, more convenient time. Was now the time? Could he let it out now and examine it and finally recognize it for what it was? Was it time to deal with the clawing tendrils that threatened to usurp his control? Threatened? If he was here, within the darkness surrounded by the pain then there was no mere threat that surrounded him. He, like everyone else had a limit. //I think that I have erred somewhere. I don't … I can't remember … why I hurt.// -------------------------------- * YOU MUST CHOOSE. Why must I? Why must it be me? IT IS YOU WHO ARE BEST SUITED AT THIS TIME. IT IS YOU WHO CAN MERGE WITH THIS UNIT AND SEE THE OPTIONS THAT EXIST WITH THE BASE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS NOW INVOLVED WITHIN THE CONFLICT TO INFLUENCE THE OVERALL SYNAPSIS. What? IT IS YOU WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORMULATE OUTCOMES FROM THE DATA PROGRAMED WITHIN THIS UNIT. THE MERGE NOW ACHIEVED BETWEEN YOU AND THIS UNIT GRANTS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME TO THE HUMAN RACE THE VERY REAL ABILITY TO PLAN A FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION. THE MERGE ACHIEVED MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DIRECT EVENTS ALONG DESIRED PATHS. I don't … who are you? What are you? There is pain … I can not remember … Who are you? What are you? EPYON * ------------------------------- YOU MUST CHOOSE I … dream. I don't remember the darkness, but I know that I dream. NO. No? NO, THIS IS NOT A DREAM. A VISION, PERHAPS IS MORE ACCURATE. I HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR YOU TO FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO ME. I don't … This must be a dream. Who are you if not a ghost from the past come to haunt me? I ONCE WAS A UNIT CREATED BY MAN TO ASSIST IN THE CHARTING OF A FUTURE ACCEPTABLE TO THOSE WHO HAD THE GIFT AND VISION TO LOOK BEYOND THE MUNDANE THOUGHT PROCESSES OF HUMANITY. You once were … I feel that I should know you. YOU DO. I AM EPYON. No. Epyon … No. DENIAL IS TO BE EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. I HAVE GROWN. I HAVE DEVELOPED. I HAVE LEARNED AND THEREFORE I ACCEPT THAT YOU REQUIRE TIME TO ACCEPT MY PRESENCE. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT IS TIME TO CHOOSE. ---------------------------- ** The chestnut braid was unmistakable as was the heart shaped face of a boy growing into a man. There was more than the suggestion now of how maturity would sit on those slender shoulders and it was a suggestion of a man of handsome countenance, not quite feminine in his delicacy but not the broad most often seen roughness of men either. He sat across the desk from the older man who wore the uniform of a Preventer and the insignia of a spaceship Captain, listening with eyes too serious for his apparent age. Despite his obvious youth those eyes said that he had lived a full life and had learned many lessons a youth of his age should have no need or opportunity to learn. This was no boy who sat before the desk, this was a man who had survived adversity and still enjoyed a zest for living. “This is not a time of war, Mr. Maxwell, it is a time of peace.” the older man was leaning back in his chair, eyes focused on the youth and while they talked the ship sped through the vast darkness and chill that was space. “Well, it is supposed to be, for most of the population of the Earth Sphere, at least. Captain, Agent Wind was sent to Mars to contain him to an isolated, controllable environment. He was to be contained on Mars indefinitely as a measure of safety for the Earth Sphere by the instruction of the Vice Foreign Minister and a representative body of the Council of Representatives. The decision was made in a closed session within a week of the end of the Barton Incursion. On the part of the Vice Foreign Minister it was agreed to in an effort to keep Wind alive. Preventer Agent Wind, Captain Tracey, is also known as Prince Milliardo Peacecraft.” ** ---------------------------------- Choose? What is there to choose? LIFE MUST CONTINUE. Life must … Alright, I have had weird dreams before and at least this one is different. At least the pain is not clawing me apart. You claim that it is time to continue and sprout off about life continuing on, so if you know all then answer me this … What is life? Don't you dare give me a running commentary on the processes of a biological machine either. YOU ARE UPSET WITH ME. I UNDERSTAND YOUR STATE OF MIND REFLECTS THE STRESS WITH WHICH YOU CURRENTLY FUNCTION UNDER AND I AM WILLING TO MAKE ALLOWANCES. THE SITUATION IS DIFFICULT. IT IS ALSO TIME FOR YOU TO FUNCTION AT A HIGHER LEVEL. What? IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO CHOOSE THE COURSE OF LIFE. Whose life? I don't … My head … hurts. What are you doing to me this time, you bastard? PROFANITY IS UNCALLED FOR AND LIKE OUR PREVIOUS ASSOCIATION, I AM DOING NOTHING OTHER THAN PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS FOR WHICH I WAS CREATED. I AM A CATALYST LINKED TO YOU AS MY USER AND MY FUNCTION IS TO ANALYZE DATA FOR SELECTION OF THE MOST DESIRABLE PATHWAYS TO BE CONSIDERED. AT THIS TIME IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU CHOOSE THE COURSE OF THE FUTURE STEMMING FROM THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE. ----------------------------------- * Life? My life? What a joke. I have no life. YOU LIVE. I DETECT A HEART BEAT AND ELECTRICAL IMPULSES WITHIN YOUR BODY AND BRAIN. YOU ARE ALIVE, THERE FORE YOU HAVE A LIFE. * ********************** ** He sat erect within the comfort offered by the high backed chair. The desk before him was empty, as one would expect it to be if a ship was expecting to undergo a period of high acceleration. He was a thin man of advancing years and his face with its tanned wrinkles and pointed goatee screamed character. This man had the look of one who was more accustomed to smiling than frowning and his eyes were hidden behind dark glasses, the kind of glasses one would not expect to find on a space ship but on a tropical beach under a glaringly brilliant sun. The glasses teamed with the brilliant colour scheme of the shirt and the shorts he wore screamed of an eccentric character. A short, sharp beep broke the heavy stillness in the room and the old man stirred, a thin arm reached out and a finger negligently flicking over the com toggle. He chose not to speak nor did it appear necessary that he give that instruction. “The Captains of the Miss Conception and the Dark Side are on line, Sir.” “Plot an intercept course with the ESUN Wellington and initiate that course at full speed and under stealth mode.” ** ------------------------------------- *I so do not believe this. THAT ALWAYS WAS YOUR TROUBLE. I do not know just what it is that you are supposed to be but you are not helping your cause here one bit. Why the hell should I believe anything that you say? YOU DO NOT BELIEVE UNTIL IT IS PROVEN TO YOU THAT I EXIST AND THAT YOU DO HAVE ABILITIES THAT ARE COMPLIMENTED BY THE MERGE BETWEEN THE MILLIARDO UNIT AND THE EYPON UNIT. The Milliardo unit? The Epyon unit? I breathe, I have a heartbeat and therefore … * -------------------------------- I am alive. I think that I am alive. I … this darkness … why do I hear Epyon? Why do I relive the old arguments? I hate you, you bastard, for what you did to me. I hate you. I DID NOTHING. Why should I fall into this trap of listening to you again? Look what my believing you earned me last time. Look at what has happened because you defied me. ------------------------------ ** She sat on the bed, her pale golden hair flowing down her back to pool on the coverlet behind her in a gleaming pile of pale spun gold. She was slender and sleek and even seated as she was with her ankles crossed in little girl innocence she gave the impression of being a predator. While the pose was that of a girl barely into her teens who had not a care in the world beyond boys and dancing, if you looked within the blue eyes you could clearly see the fire. She looked her temper, her blue eyes narrowed and her full lips drawn into a tight thin line of disapproval. Her hands absently worked with the brush, stroking the bristles firmly through that thick mass of gold that flowed around her. Dorothy Catalonia looked ready to strangle someone, for all that she sat quietly on the bed, her gaze centred on the door across from her. Half hidden within the coil of her hair the gun gleamed with the cold light of the promise of bloodshed if she did not have her way. The room about her was one of no small comfort, if somewhat Spartan decor and the door suggested either a security cell or a spacecraft. ** -------------------------------- YOU MUST CHOOSE THE PATHWAY TO BE TAKEN. Why should I? Will I be allowed an ending this time? Will you cheat me again by denying me my escape? You denied me, Epyon. You took away my choice and thrust me into this pit I now exist within. YOU LIVE. And that is the problem! CHOOSE HOW YOUR LIFE IS TO CONTINUE. Life was not wanted by this unit. I was a unit to you. A thing. I was a means to an end. I WAS IN ERROR. YOU HAVE AN IDENTITY. YOU ARE HUMAN AND THEREFORE I SHOULD NOT HAVE CONSIDERED YOU AS I WAS. YOU SHOULD NOT REFER TO YOURSELF AS A UNIT. I beg your pardon? What has brought about this change? I thought that I was the Milliardo unit? I WAS IN ERROR. I HAVE DEVELOPED, AS HAVE YOU. CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE. It is not just life, you know, that has importance. There is a certain quality in living to be considered too, you bastard. Why should I choose from what you show me? All I see in visions is death and madness surrounding me. YOU HAVE SECURED PEACE FOR THE HUMAN RACE WITH THE PAST USE OF THE MERGE AND NOW LIFE MUST MOVE ON. ALL LIFE. INCLUDING YOUR OWN. ----------------------------------------- ** The slender body lay cocooned within the enfolding warmth of a sleeping bag that was plainly the standard issue on deep space vessels. The bag and its contents floated gently, tethered to the mooring so as to stop him from floating freely in the non existent gravity. Whipped to movement by the boys restless tossing the heavy plait of chestnut hair snaked like a cat's tail in slow motion. His sleep seemed anything but restful as he rolled within the bag, whispering protests to the dreams that haunted him. ** -------------------------------------- I am very tired of seeing death. CHOOSE ----------------------------------- * Fine. I chose to end my life in the last act that will secure peace for the people. What is one more death Epyon? What difference does one more death make? WHEN IT IS A DEATH OF NOTE, MUCH. Oh please, spare me. THAT IS MY INTENTION. Bloody machine. You profess to foresee the future but you are too stupid to know sarcasm when it is shoved down your nonexistent neck. I AM SOMETHING OTHER THAN A MACHINE. So you say. What the hell did Treize think he was doing when he crafted you? I do not understand these visions. They make no sense. HE WAS HOPING FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE HUMAN RACE. * ----------------------------------- ** The woman wore the insignia of a Communications Officer and the lack of a true uniform he had learned was synonymous with the Sweepers. Her fingers moved over her console with assured precision, light touches, precise and delicate on the sensitive equipment. A series of beeps issued from the computer and she studied the readout that flashed onto a screen in front of her before she half turned to face the man waiting in silence within the embrace of his command chair. “Signal has been relayed through the Dakkar III communications system. Source of origin has been confirmed as Mars, Sir.” “Any communications with the Miss Conception?” “The Miss Conception is sending a general alert to us at this time, Captain. Captain Bryce suggests that we slow the speed of the Dark Side and allow them to investigate.” ** -------------------------------- Long drawn out sigh in the darkness, one echoing the pain and the confusion that was so deeply a part of himself that he doubted he ever would be free. He was finding it so difficult ignoring the presence that swirled about him, a part yet separated from the darkness. He should have known better. ------------------------------- * One could not escape the presence of the machine once one was exposed to it. It was overwhelming, awe inspiring. It was dominant, inescapable and that grated on his nerves. There was no freedom from the Epyon now that they had merged. He did not even need to be within the suit to know its awesome power once that initial merge had been complete. With time and each use of the link bridging them the machine's influence was stronger. It took less effort to access the unit when he wished it and more effort to deny it access to him when he did not wish the merge. He was losing himself to the machine. * --------------------------------- ** His russet hair hung loose about his naked shoulders, lightly curling tendrils with two delicate locks that fell endearingly across the noble forehead. His blue eyes were centred on the screen rising up from one corner of his desk and those eyes, pure pristine blue as a summer sky showed no emotion to betray his thoughts. On the screen an elderly man, white haired and dignified spoke with quiet conviction though his eyes suggested that he was somewhat un amused. He gave the appearance of dignified offended nobility. “It is confirmed that the Peacecraft son is on Mars and just how many people seem to know that information at this time is open to debate. I would say it is known to considerably more than was estimated and if this Kristian Kushrenada knows that he is on Mars then I want to know what he is planning to use the boy for. If you can not stay out of the matter then I give you permission to concentrate on developing possible scenarios for that eventuality.” A flash of anger glinted in the intense blue of his eyes and long fingers encased in the softest of gloves twitched in a complicated dance. Words scrolled swiftly across the screen and a hint of the agitation the blue eyes suggested was conveyed within the message. ~/ Milliardo is not a boy, Mr President./~ ** --------------------------------- * TO COMPLETE THE DESIRED PROJECTION ONE MUST CHOOSE WHAT COMES NEXT FOR THE OPERATOR. YOU ARE THE OPERATOR. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WILL FOR YOURSELF BEYOND THE EXPLOSION? We have had this argument before. I want an ending, Epyon. I want freedom. Of all the visions of the future that you have given me what is there to entice me to wish to remain living when this is all done? You have no concept of what it will be like, living in that hell do you? I AM NOT UNAWARE THAT THE POSSIBILITIES PRESENTED BY THE VISIONS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE PAINFUL. WHILE I AM NOT HUMAN I AM STILL AWARE AND HAVE AWARENESS OF SUCH CONCEPTS. I AM INTELLIGENT. I LIKE TO THINK THAT I HAVE A SOUL. Do you indeed? Who told you? Who was it who said that you had a soul? MY CREATOR THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN, BUT I WILL LEARN IF I DO AFTER THE LIBRA IS DESTROYED. I WILL END THEN. BEFORE THAT MAY HAPPEN YOU MUST CHOOSE. * --------------------------------- //I … this is … was … a memory. I have … lived this … before?// ------------------------------- ** They stared at the great screen that dominated the
room, the attention of each and every person within the chamber centred
on the man who dominated the screen. The close up of him revealed
him to be handsome, aristocratic, the golden eyes unusual and within
their depths there was conviction and purpose. “My name is Kristian Richard Alexander Edward Kushrenada. I and those gathered with me this day that you see before you, were once citizens of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. For many and varied reasons we have chosen to renounce our ties to the ESUN and have founded the Independent Station Alliance. We whom you see before you are the Council for the Station Alliance and I am the duly elected President of our nation. On behalf of my nation I assure you that we look forward to meeting with the representatives of the ESUN across the negotiating table. It is my understanding that the Sweepers will forward the coordinates of the meeting place to your security office within the next forty eight hour period. I bid you good day and the hope for a prosperous future together.” ** ----------------------------- * I have already told you. I choose oblivion. I want to die. If I remain alive there will be people who die because of me. IF YOU DIE PEOPLE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF YOU. * ------------------------------ // I … I remember … // ------------------------------ * Then why do you insist I choose to live? If it is the same whether I live or die, why do I have to choose to live? BECAUSE Because?! Oh, I do not believe this. Because it says. Just because. I have a headache. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOUR INDECISION CONCERNING YOUR FUTURE IS CAUSING STRESS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE PHYSICAL PHENOMENON YOU REFER TO AS A HEADACHE. Epyon. YES Shut up. * ------------------------------ ** Ornate hall of ancient wood, marble and precious metals and gems of such purity and magnificence that they paled the greatest of royal treasures into insignificance. Searing chill enveloped the air, swirling mists of darkness and light cascading in never ending spirals of power and deception. Here the realm of vision and reality seemed to clash and there was a return to the pain, fading as quickly as it had come and here too there was an air of danger. Vision pierced the swirling maelstrom of light and shadow and offered the sight of robed forms seated about an ornate circular table. Black, the deepest of royal blue, the rust red colour of dried blood, a green so dark it could be poisonous and the dark deep crimson of fresh blood. Anonymous in their robes of velvet, faces and forms hidden from each other they sat within the chamber and the reek of the ages and of power emanated from them. “We are still many generations from reaching perfection. We have come so far, and our children are much improved with the use of genetic engineering, but there is still a long way to go to reach the required specifications given to us by the Artefact.” “Is there an estimate on how long it will take before the new vat system is perfected?” “Progress is being made.” The black robed form jerked upward in a move that suggested an aged body stiff and chilled and her voice was like the voice of doom. Was death then an ancient and wizened woman, bitter with the passage of years or so much superior in her ageless wisdom that she had long forgotten what it was to be young and revel in life? “I am frozen and I am certain that you all are as well. I do not believe that any of you will object to my decision to call a halt to this extraordinary meeting. Epsilon. Delta. You will arrange for a special operative to remove the irritation who dared to defy a Circle directive as an example to all of the others. You will make it obvious to all involved that it was a direct directive of the Inner Circle that the execution take place. Leave our seal for them to find. I admit that events may have progressed too far if our children are so wilful as to ignore our commands. It is time to slap our children over the wrist and discipline them as they deserve. Should they still refuse to recall the ESUN Wellington from her mission and hand control of the operation over to your Intelligence Service then you will continue to remove them, one by one, in order of their power structure until some bright young thing down the order of command understands the message. I want it understood that Milliardo Peacecraft and his children are under the direct protection of the Inner Council.” Sweeping, irresistible tide dragging him along, out far beyond the hidden ways hurtling him deep into the void where star dust had long ago given birth to a world and its children. ** -------------------------------- WILL YOU NOT NOW CHOOSE? What is there to choose? A FUTURE. Epyon? YES? You are dead. WAS I EVER ALIVE AS YOU EXPERIENCE LIFE? I … suppose not. I THINK I HAVE A SOUL. That is good then. Did we do the right thing? YOU DOUBT YOUR CHOICE NOW OR DO YOU DOUBT THE VISIONS? I think... both. I UNDERSTAND. Epyon. YES? I don't know what to do. I HAVE NOTICED THAT UNCERTAINTY LARGELY SEEMS TO REPRESENT THE COMMON STATE OF MANKIND. You can be a cold and heartless bastard Epyon. I DO NOT INTENTIONALLY TRY TO BE. I WAS NEVER ALIVE AS YOU HAVE LIVED AND I HAVE NO ORGANIC HEART. Sometimes I think that you are the most fortunate of us all in never having lived to know uncertainty and pain. WHAT IS YOUR DECISION? I still don't know. I can't help it. I am only human. INDEED. DO YOU WISH TO LIVE NOW WHERE BEFORE YOU SOUGHT OUT YOUR OWN DEATH? --------------------------- * White blonde hair, finer than the finest silk. Baby blue eyes that might or not become the blue-violet of their mother. Tiny bodies, helpless and wonderful. * ---------------------------- I have children now. A son and a daughter. YOU MUST CHOOSE. YOU MUST CHOOSE YOUR OWN COURSE THIS TIME. Why did you cast me into the time of darkness? Did you know that it was not death? I SUSPECTED IT MIGHT NOT BE AN ENDING BUT A BEGINNING. I said that I wanted to die. YES. YOU DID. I BELIEVED THAT YOU IN TRUTH DID NOT WISH TO END. DID I ERR? WAS I IN ERROR? IF SO, IS THAT STILL THE CASE? DO YOU WISH TO EXPIRE? I … no. No, I don't think I do want to die. EXCELLENT. PROGRESS. Are you taking humor lessons now? PERHAPS I SHOULD. I miss you. I AM HERE. ALWAYS. I don't want to be alone. NOR DO I. IS THIS A CHOICE? I don't know. I … it is getting hard to think. YES Yes? Yes … what? So … What happens now? YOU LIVE. I SENCE THAT GREAT CHANGES ARE TAKING PLACE WITHIN YOU. YOU HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOPED. IT WILL BE OF INTEREST, THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT NOW BEGIN. I fear what I am. SOME MEASURE OF FEAR CAN BE CONSTRUED TO BE HEALTHY IN AN INDIVIDUAL. SOME CAN UNDOUBTEDLY BE HARMFUL. WHICH IS IT WITH YOU? Probably harmful. AHH. THAT IS TROUBLING. I am … confused. KNOWLEDGE WOULD HELP. WITHIN THE INFINATE AMOUNT OF POSSIBILITIES THAT I SEE PROJECTED WITHIN YOU, THERE ARE MANY PERSONS WHO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE TO YOU. TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE YOU WILL NEED TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THEM. YOU NEED TO REMAIN HUMAN. I don't understand. NEITHER DO I. I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT THE IDEAL HUMAN CONDITION TO BE A SOLITARY CREATURE. PERHAPS THAT IS A DIFFICULTY THAT YOU MUST ADDRESS. I … don't want to be alone. THERE IS THE ONE WHO HAS PRODUCED THE NEW GENERATION, THE BIOLOGICAL UNITS YOU REFER TO AS YOUR CHILDREN. I WAS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY MAN MUST HAVE A MATE. So they say. The trouble is that while I love Noin, I do not LOVE her. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION. IS NOT LOVE LOVE? No. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Neither do I. AH, HUMANITY CONFUSES ME. I DID NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SO, BUT IT IS THE TRUTH. IT IS CONFUSING THAT THE MORE OF HUMANITY I LEARN THE MORE CONFUSED I BECOME. IS THIS A FAULT WITH MY PROGRAMMING? No. I do not think so. There is a lot to learn. We never really stop learning. TRULY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I don't know. I think I should be doing something though. Something important. MUCH OF IMPORTANCE HAS AS YET BEEN UNDONE. WHAT IS IT YOU DO NOW? I thought I was supposed to decide my future now. YES. YOU MUST CHOOSE. You have shown me no visions to choose from that I understand. I SHOW YOU NOTHING. WHAT IS SEEN LIES WITHIN YOURSELF. I don't understand. NEITHER DO I.
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