Jace’s mind flashed to the way the It had to act because it knew she wouldn’t bring a baby into the ship.
Yes, I think it did just that, she agreed.
He wondered at the cold, precision of the Osiris’ thoughts. Was it thinking now? It must be.
So is the Osiris an AI, too, like you? he asked.
No, not like me. Nothing is quite like me, she said the last almost sadly. But it is very smart. Clearly, it can strategize.
Yeah, he agreed. But you were able to stop it. In the end, you stopped it.
Yes, but the cost was high. You’ve been paying for it all your life, she told him. It had begun the process but not completed it.
Jace thought of his migraines, the auras, the tinnitus, the weakness, the months in hospital, the drugs, the lack of a life, the lack of a future.
But now I do have a future...
He should be furious with her. He was… and wasn’t. Because yes, she had taken a normal life from him. But he thought about what he had been able to do against the Khul. If he had been normal, he likely wouldn’t have worked at the Con-Ve. He wouldn’t have been there today to save Walter and all those other people. He wouldn’t have had the ability to do it.
No one can do what you’ve done, Jace, or what you’re going to do, Gehenna said. The Osiris chose you. I don’t believe now that Dr. Rancic would have been… accepted as a Pilot. There have been countless others that have entered the Osiris and it didn’t react to them. But it did to you. I don’t say this to try and escape my responsibility for what happened to you--
If I connect, I can help people, right? He interrupted her.
Yes, more people than you can imagine, Gehenna’s voice grew excited. She tamped down on that. Once you truly understand what the Khul do, you’ll see how necessary it is that they be stopped. I tried to help once, well, it doesn’t matter. You’re the one that will do it. With Khoth’s help.
Khoth?
Jace hadn’t heard from the Thaf’ell Commander in some time. He heard the clank of his boots and Khoth’s legs came into view.
He’s special too, but in a different way. At least according to the Exarch, she murmured. But now… now the choice is before you. Will you become the Pilot?
Jace saw the coils in the pool starting to stir.
It’s either die or connect, right? Not much of a choice, he pointed out to her dryly.
No, and you--you probably hate me, Gehenna said uncertainly. But we’ll be connected for life, too.
You should know how I’m feeling, he told her.
I’m not looking. I don’t want to know, she admitted, sounding small and uncertain.
I’m not sure how I feel, Gehenna, he confessed. I used to think I wanted a normal life, but now, seeing all of this… maybe I wouldn’t change much. Not for himself anyway. But for others like his mom and Dr. Rancic, he wouldn’t have had them hurt. Yet that was in the past. That was unchangeable. Only the future was in flux. I want to be the Pilot.
Good, because it’s clear the Osiris wants that, too.
Khoth’s voice rose up, “Gehenna, the system appears to be activating.”
Jace drew in a deep breath, What’s it going to do to me?
A lot of very technical things, Gehenna said. You’ll be made stronger, faster, and, of course, you’ll be completely connected to the Osiris and… well, so much will change, Jace. Now, prepare to get wet.
The coils lowered him tenderly into the pool of electric blue water. Except it wasn’t water. It was thicker than water. Almost like a gel. The things that held him, that were carrying him--tentacles, except made of chitin or metal or I don’t know--released him fully into the pool. They were still above him, like those hanging bead curtains so he really couldn’t see what they were attached to. He floated on the surface. He imagined himself as a raft left in a pool after the kids had gone inside to have lunch, just floating aimlessly. He couldn’t move at all.
“This will complete the connection?” Khoth asked. The Thaf’ell paused and then said, “His body will be transformed? How? In what way?” Another pause, and Jace realized that he was hearing only half of a conversation.
Forgive me, Jace. I did not mean to exclude you, Gehenna said. I have so little energy, but we’ll both be better soon.
Jace wanted to say something to Khoth. He wasn’t sure what, but something, anything, to hear his own voice. He hardly felt real. But his mouth didn’t even open. That was actually a good thing, because then he began to sink.
