Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [94]
Anji had spent a good couple of hours watching Dave II. Occasionally he twitched in his sleep, a little kick in his artificial womb. The scientists told her that these were reactions to his dreams, the artificially induced thoughts that would allow him to step out into the world with the knowledge to survive in it. Anji halflistened to what the scientists told her, entranced by a vision of a man she had seen die before her. There were differences the hair was even, uncut. The muscles were toned where the original Dave had barely exercised at all. But it was recognisably a new version of the same man. A new iteration, version 2.0 of Dave Young. Dave II.
Anji didnt notice when the scientists left the room, or when Silver entered, so entranced was she just watching this new Dave. Even though he was perfectly still, she couldnt take her eyes off him.
Youre perfect, she said, touching the glass.
Not quite, said Silver, startling her. But he is a fine specimen of prelapsarian humanity, before their gradual decline into an irrelevant species. With this control sample we are hoping to restore some genetic diversity to the human species.
Hes more than just a sample, said Anji. She didnt like the turn this conversation was taking.
Silver shook his head. He is merely human, in spite of being such a good specimen. Well keep him here for study purposes, but otherwise the future belongs to others.
Others? asked Anji, backing away at the same pace as Silver advanced on her.
Others, echoed Silver, clicking his fingers.
The people who entered the room were of a kind Anji had never seen before. They walked in with mechanical efficiency and great speed, filling the room in seconds. They had human features, human hair, human bodies. But their skin had a silvery, shining quality, their eyes were deep black although Anji could swear she saw a flare of red deep within those dark eyes. They surrounded Anji, waiting for Silvers instructions.
Im afraid there isnt going to be a touching reunion with your lost beloved, said Silver. There will be no more human love affairs, no more humans. Where once there was humanity, where once there were Endpointers, now there will be a new faction. He made a wide gesture, indicating the room full of almost humans.
Soon there will be only Silverati. My new race. My followers. He paused, as if drinking in the presence of the Silverati. My children, he said, with a passion she had never heard in him before.
Anji had been scared by hate before, many times. But she had never before been scared by love.
Chapter Fifteen
Same Old Brand New You
Theres no delicate way to put this, said Silver. Your lover is nothing more than genetic material for my experiments. Your friends have been captured, trying and failing to sabotage my plans. Three dozen of your species have been converted into Silverati, enhanced by Kallisti and my own liquid intelligence into semisynthetic organisms capable of more than you can possibly imagine. The rest will follow in their footsteps. But before then, you and your friends will undergo a similar conversion. It would be safer to kill you all now, but I cannot allow whatever knowledge lies within you three to go to waste. Soon you will follow me, like all the rest.
Why are you telling me this? asked Anji, shuddering as she backed away from Silver. She could feel the cold of Daves tank behind her.
Because I owe you at least that, said Silver apologetically, stepping slowly towards her. You have given me the data to facilitate time travel, once the results have been analysed. And while I have fulfilled my side of our deal and returned your lover to you, I do realise that my current actions may seem less