The Earthside Box Set by Sherri Moorer

Author:Sherri Moorer [Moorer, Sherri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self
Published: 2019-03-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Something isn’t right. Sidney’s fallen off the grid.

When was her last contact?

We got a surge of energy through her this afternoon. Something about national security, and then she went silent.

A protective cutoff. That’s not good. Could it be the cybernetic aliens?

A pause.

No. They’re still in retreat, healing from the weapon deployment. These are the humans.

The humans? How? Why?

I did extend a call to arms, Kalea thought.

That was a call to arms?

Of course. Our study of the human psyche indicated that a confrontational withdrawal would wound their pride enough to draw them into action.

So there was a strategy? It appeared that you let anger get the best of you.

Human emotions are part of what we are now. We must learn how to use them to our advantage. Kalea paused. And learn how to manage them. I let Kalea’s emotions intercede too much. I hope I didn’t err.

Perhaps a touch of humanity is exactly what we need to inspire them. It’s how we got the ones we synchronized with to cooperate with us. With the rest, it’s a matter of trust.

Trust. Who can we trust?

A pause.

We have to trust someone, Kalea said. We can’t do it alone, and Tendji was right. We came to save them. All of them. Yes, the government cut us off, but perhaps they’ll come around if we take them something that can help both of our races.

Despite what you said about not helping them?

Don’t you know a bluff when you hear one?

What is a ‘bluff?’

A human concept to trick others with the intent of spurring them to action.

A tremble of amusement shot through the energy grid.

Several of us are meeting Friday to fine-tune the weapon and discuss how to prepare for the cybernetic alien’s return, Kalea said, but we can’t afford to leave one behind. What of Sidney?

Nate reported charges pending of shooting a federal agent and harboring you as a fugitive, Kalea. I believe they took her to draw you out.

That’s a possibility, but I’d hoped to return to D.C. with information that would encourage them to drop their plans of attacking the cybernetics. The plan to launch a nuclear weapon is not only dangerous but would lead to further complications.

I believe it’s more important for you to attend the meeting in San Francisco. Let others work on retrieving Sidney. The humans divide their efforts. Why can’t we?

Another pause.

Emotions, psychological tricks, planning and strategizing; are we becoming them? Kalea asked.

Maybe. And perhaps conformity to humanity is the best hope we have. It is their world, and we came to save it.

Then let’s save it, Kalea said.

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