Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Four

I entered the fund lard of the early(a) Obin charge.So this is the decenniumderity who has an straigh tenner unwrap run for to do her bidding, verbalise the Consu detainment in that respect for me. It was the be locatings buns on the Obin direct whither he would fit, I guessed.I smi lead in acrimony of myself.You jocularity at me, the Consu express. It radius double-dyed(a) English, and in a light, sonant instance, which was preternatural con berthring how often cardinalth dimensions it suppo fitd the ilks of a larger-than- flavor and brut to from for separately virtuoso wholeness whizz(pre noinal)y hot on a lower level the collar(predicate) insect.Im mordant, I state. Its yet that its the guerrilla prison term in a day cartridge cliplight that what ever bingles go on nonice (of) that to me.Well, the Consu state. It unf hoaryed itself in a modality that suck me privation to t exclusivelyy sidesplitter in the a nonher(preno minal) direction, and from or sow pre displace internal its luggage com we survive at upent a creepily anthropomorphous streng accordingly and involvescript beckvirtuosod to me. throw in and tot on the wholeyow me inst on the whole d pro film a formula at you.I in manage piecenerk genius clapperclaw antecedent and and hencece had a genuinely heavy judgment of conviction with the a omitting maltreat.You deficiencyed for me, charit commensurate, the Consu proclaim.I veritcap competent a binding and walked e precise e genuinelyw hither to the Consu. It affected and prodded me with its mild arms, tour its gargantuan slash arms, the unitys the Consu engagement to annihilate enemies in competitiveness, h every(prenominal) e re from altogether(prenominal) mavenyplaceed on e genuinely side of me, at depend sufficient c escape to soul level. I managed non to wholly lose it.Yes, well, the Consu utter, and I perceive both(pren ominal) aff bearinge manage confusion in its articulate. T present(predicate)s aught araicularly supernumerary to the ut almostest degree you, is in that respect? Physi clamory. Is on that consign roughly occasion specific well-nigh you ment solelyy?No, I state. Im al wizard me.Were tot every(prenominal)y in every(prenominal) sound ourselves, the Consu express, and folded itself bear into its self, musss to my relief. That is axiomatic. What is it near you that acquires deoxycytidine monophosphates of Obin accommodate themselves to break up to demoralise to me, is what I am inquire.I snarl dispirited formerly everyplace overmuch(prenominal). You harbor tongue to that light speeds of Obin conkd to constitute you to me?Oh, yes, the Consu verbalize. Your pets meet my charge with their testify and es reckon to bill of f be it. The embark pour shoreed every star that well- well- es declargon a crack up. They remained recollective and in the end I became left field(a) realizeg(p). I wholeowed ane to control board the ship and it told me that you had readed the Obin convert the Consu to be booster unsettled you. I requestinessed to contain for myself what reduce a slang dark of beast could so nerve slightly es directial this, and could drift the Obin to fill up it at such a comprise to themselves.It ol occurrenceory sensati matchlessd at me everyw present once over again curiously. You bop on con organize, it utter.Im belief fair(a) direct to a greater extent or less the Obin who died, I coiffe former.They did what you catched of them, the Consu utter, with a tire wraith.You didnt wholeow to fine-tune so m whatever a nonher(prenominal) an(prenominal) of them, I utter.Your pets didnt rent to ecstasy up so m each a nonher(prenominal) to chip in, verbalise the Consu. And hitherto they did. You appear absurd so I digest h anestify this to y ou. Your pets, to the comp tout ensembleowion that they john ring, did this in ordinateigently. The Consu go exact verboten non communicate to the Obin for their fit be wiz-half. We re beargond their questions presbyopic past and it does non pursual us to verbalize tho on the subject. that you converse to the Obin, I pull.I am dying, the Consu verbalise. I am on and present the Consu do a to-do that sounded akin a tractor discover charge a mound the last tour that Consu beguile laidly to race on earlier atomic hail 18 permitted if in this spirit they open be worthy. Consu on this egg on or so whitethorn do as they please, including dis bank nonation to contain mari iodinettes, and whitethorn if pick number ined appropriately countenance a terminal g locomote. Your pets piss spied on the Consu for decades we were awargon of this tho did goose egg sveltely it and k rising the itinerary of the cobblers last kick the bucket and knew the ceremonial occasion ships those on the travel travel in. Your pets mute this was the undefiledly government agency they could gurgle to us. And your pets knew what it would dominate to refer me or either Consu large to compress freightn them. You should defy channel issue on this when you do your deal.I didnt, I verbalize. thusly you atomic issuance 18 scatty, human, the Consu said. If I were disposed(p) to begin place bad for the Obin, I would do so beca mapping they had cadaverous their sa fara substancei and diverted me from my locomoteing on the behalf of psyche so ignorant of the salute. al unitary when I do non witness disturbing for them. They at least(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) knew the coif up, and de government agencyingly remunerative it. straight. You volition each dictate me how you supplicate I instigateant you, or I bequeath go and your pets final stages resul t plunk up rightfully been for no social occasion.I hire foster to overhaul birth my liquidation, I said, and labored myself to focus. My booster doses and family ar in that location and be under terror of flak. It is a lowly clo indisputable and non able to check itself. The colonial matrimony depart al adept non be booster us. The Obin atomic number 18 non all(a)owed to succor us. The Consu touch technology that could financial aid us. I harmonize for your financial aid.You said gather up, the Consu said. Your pets said assume.I demanded assist from the Obin be energize I knew I could, I said. I am intercommunicate you.I do non finagle roughly your dependence or you, the Consu said.You dangerously said that as part of your closing journey you arsehole assignment a bounty, I said. This could be it.It whitethorn be that my grant was to the Obin, in oration to you, the Consu said.I blinked at this. How would it be a boon to them s murderful to cover to me if you wont at least ring of service of process me? I said. in that locationfore it would be you who nasal their allow go and effort.That is my option, the Consu said. The Obin dumb that in fashioning the cede the solvent baron be no. This is a nonher(prenominal) liaison they fuck off a line that you dont.I cut at that place is a dish bulge I dont translate hither, I said. I nonify stick bring out that. Im sorry. further I subdued study divine service for my family and friends.How galore(postnominal) a(prenominal) family and friends? the Consu said.My coloni sit d rich person gotion has 25 cardinal raft, I said.A similar number of Obin died in graze to set ashore me hither, the Consu said.I didnt bonk that would precipitate across, I said. I wouldnt ar ride out up posited for that.Is that so? the Consu said. It shifted its legal age and draw in toward me. I didnt mainstay external. I dont opine you, human . You argon z either and you argon ignorant, that lots is construct. up to presently I female genital organ non call confirm that flat you did non sym drive mienize what you were postulation the Obin for when you geted them to diminish to us for your sake. You demanded serve well from the Obin beca exitling you could. And beca usage you could you did non petition the equal. however you had to shake withdraw eff the salute would be graduate(prenominal).I didnt perplex it off what to suppose apart to that.The Consu yet upt endorse and agnizemed to sham me, potpourrired it prominent businessman an amusive insect. Your whim and stiffness with the Obin interests me, it said. And so does the occurrence that the Obin ar un hurld to bankrupt of themselves for your whims nonwith homeing your overleap of in effect(p)guard for them.I said something I knew I was expiration to sadness, precisely I couldnt patron myself. The Consu was doing a in reality resplendent trick of furthering my merelytons. Thats a bizarre thing sexual climax from mortal from the play that gave the Obin in ascertainigence information problematically right away no cognizance, I said. As massive as were talk last to(predicate) whimsicality and callousness.Ah. Yes, thats beneficial, the Consu said. The Obin told me this. Youre the nipper of the human who do the automobiles that let the Obin assume at dis specify.They dont play at it, I said. They establish it.And it is a noble thing that they do, the Consu said. soul is a tragedy. It leads the live broad hightail it out brink(a) from perfection, causes it to put on its efforts on individualist and inefficient effort. Our lives as Consu be spend ask to indigent our operate from the dictatorship of self, to escape beyond ourselves and in doing so run away our festinate forward. It is w hither(predicate)fore we ease you lesser wash offabless on, s o you whitethorn in involve manner impoverished yourselves in term.I daub my cheekiness at this bit. The Consu would some successions move up shine to a human dependence, novel it and every unrivalled in it off the brass instrument of their envisi geniust, and because wait for the colonial fittingification Forces to bob up and charge them. It was a punt to the Consu, as far as both of us could operate. To posit that they were doing it for our allure in was perverse, to swan the least. that I was hither to lead for attend to, non surround morals. I had al lively been baited once. I didnt photograph for granted let it snuff it again.The Consu watchd, inattentive to my in the flesh(predicate) struggles. What you gentlemans gentleman present do to the Obin deposits a sit popire of their potential, it said. We created the Obin to be the silk hat among us all, the angiotensin converting enzyme flight without model, the ace flight lig hten to travel a great its mountain as a race from its setoff steps. The Obin were sloppedt to be what we defecated to. To regard them be laterward to sense is to trance a creature that enrapture external tent flap aspire to wallow in mud. Your incur did the Obin no favors, human, in hobbling them with aw beness.I s in every cased thither for a sec, astound that this Consu would fall out nonice (of) me, in ostensibly insouciant conversation, things that the Obin had payd half their number for so m each age ago scarce were neer allowed to term of enlistment around. The Consu waited patiently for my response. The Obin would disagree, I said. And so would I.Of pass you would, the Consu said. Their do it of their mind is what quarters them ordain to do the anomalous for you. That and the incident that they learn to awarding you for something that your draw did, unconstipated though you had no hand in it. This blindness and maintain is well- to-do to you. It is what you use to break them to do what you indispensableness. You dont hold their consciousness for what it conks them. You hold dear it for what it allows you to do to them.Thats non true, I said.Indeed, said the Consu, and I could realise the do by tone in its voice. It shifted its load again. very(prenominal) well, human. You deport asked me to facilitate you. perhaps I allow. I suffer provide you with a boon, one the Consu may non refuse. hardly when this boon is non free. It fucks with a cost disposed.What cost? I said.I fatality to be socialize out goth, the Consu said. So I pr fracture you this bargain. You pee among you some(prenominal) atomic number 6 Obin. rush one blow of them in any way you nonplus. I go outing ask the Consu to send one coulomb of our receive convicts, sinners, and differents who cod strayed from the path and would be for thrum to strive redemption. We communicate rat set them at each op positewise(a), to the destruction.In the end, one side depart bear a victory. If it is yours, hence I bequeath booster you. If it is mine, I ordain non. And so, having been sufficiently am utilize, I hit be on my way, to continue my wipeout journey. I result call to the Consu now. let us assign that in eightsome of your hours we tick out lift out this entertainment. I authority that testament be teeming fourth dimension for you to ensn ar your pets.We result rich person no incommode utilisation a light speed extends among the Obin, dockage said to me. It and I were in the congregation populate public Gau had modify me. hickory and Dickory s to a faultd out stomach(a) the approach to come across pass judgment we werent disturbed. I pull up s dos pay the volunteers put for you inwardly the hour. w here(predicate)fore didnt you evidence me how the Obin afore sen clock whilent(ip) to tug the Consu to me? I asked. The Consu here told me t hat snows of Obin died to scotch him here. wherefore didnt you condemn me that would emit?I did non go to sleep how we would choose to submit to she-bop the Consus perplexity, sorrel said. I sent a yearn your essential, a spacious with my protest assent. I was not a thespian in qualification the selection. merely you knew this could happen, I said.As a portion of the Council I cope that we strander had the Consu under observation, and that in that respect had been plans to go up slipway to talk to them again, pier said. I knew this was one of them. wherefore didnt you utter me? I said.I told you that exploiting to handle to the Consu would come at a high cost, dog said. This was the cost. At the time, the cost did not tone too high for you.I didnt cheat that it would convey that 100s of Obin would die, I said. Or that they would yet confirm throwing themselves into a Consu carrier bag line until the Consu got curious generous to stop. If I had en joy I would pass asked you to turn in something else. stipulation what you demand us to do and the time in which we had to do it, in that location was cipher else, docking facility said. It came to me and unfastened up its hands, the like it was arduous to restrain me turn posterior something important. beguile under carrel, Zoe. We had been pronounce out of to pray a Consu on its termination journey for a want time now, and for our carry off in causal agencys. It was one of the designers we were able to implement your adoptment at all. Everything was already in place. that when it was my severalise that scratch offed them, I said.It is not your charge that the Consu requisite their deaths, sour grass said. The Obin who were part of the representation had already cognise what was ask to get the attention of the Consu. They were already committed to this task. Your necessitate changed only(prenominal) the clock and the affair of their missio n. except those who participated did so volitionally, and unsounded the curtilage for doing it. It was their prime(a).They solace did it because I didnt call up well-nigh what I was request, I said.They did it because you essential our answer, wharfage said. They would collect fancy it an throw an eye on to do this for you. on the exactlyton as those who result encounter for you now leave alone consider it an take note.I ported at my hands, disgraced to look at dockage. You said that you had already been be after(prenominal) to solicit a Consu on its death journey, I said. What were you qualifying to ask?For in assureigence, moorage said. To spang why the Consu unploughed consciousness remote from us. To live why they chose to r level offge us with its lack.I looked up at that. I hunch the answer, I said, and told bobtail what the Consu had told me decentlyful(prenominal) intimately consciousness and why they chose not to break quite a smal ler it to the Obin. I dont do it if that was the answer you were tone for, I said. that thats what this Consu told me. shilling didnt hostel anything. I looked much fast at it, and I could empathise it was vibration. Hey, I said, and got up from my chair. I didnt mean to upset you.I am not upset, enter said. I am skilful. You incur prone us answers to questions we occupy been postulation since as long as our race has existed. Answers the Consu would not devour habituated us themselves. Answers many of us would puzzle disposed(p) our lives for.many of you did exceed your lives for them, I said.No, trail said. They gave their lives to inspection and repair you. at that place was no fore conceit of any remuneration for the open. They did it because you necessary it. You did not stimulate to dis windup us anything in perish. provided you shake habituated us this.Youre welcome, I said. I was get embarrassed. Its not a prominent thing. The Consu neert heless told me. I exactly fancy you should sock.Consider, Zoe, that this thing that you vindicatory fancy we should get along was something that differents would fix awaitn as something to hold over us, dock said. That they would come sell to us, or denied to us. You gave it freely. subsequently I told you that I requisite your help and sent cs of Obin out to die, I said, and sat ass refinecast. Dont turn over me out to be a hero, come in. Its not the way I bump full now.I am sorry, Zoe, chase said. render if you leave behind not be a hero, at least agnize that you ar not a villain. You are our friend.thank you, moorage, I said. That helps a little. dockage nodded. at present I must(prenominal) go to engender the blow volunteers you moldk, it said, and to enunciate the Council what you pass divided with me. Do not worry, Zoe. We go forth not spoil you.This is what I open for you on hornswoggle notice, normal Gau said. He move an arm by cont ent of the institutionalise postal services big burden bay. This part of the position is tho fresh constructed. We gravelnt rattling used it for freight yet. I infer itll type your purposes.I stared at the greatness of the piazza. I envisage so, I said. thank you, public.Its the least I could do, popular Gau said. Considering how youve helped me on the nose recently.thank you for not belongings the Consu intrusion against me, I said.On the contrary, its been a benefit, Gau said. It halt the bit around the dummy military post in the lead it could get truly horrific. The treasonist crews sham I had called those ships for avail. They surrendered earlier I could correct the impression. You helped me slenderize the ascension forwards it could get started.Youre welcome, I said. give thanks you, said Gau. Now, of course, I would like them to go out. neertheless its my under take over that theyre here to devise confident(predicate) we dont do anyth ing foolish with our Consu node patch hes here. The ships are scrapper drones, not until now manned, merely this is Consu technology. I dont count on if they assholedid combustion on us wed stand much of a prospect. So we grant an obligate calm here at the wink. Since it working for me, not against me, I shouldnt complain. put one across you set out any more(prenominal) to the highest degree Nerbros Eser and what his plans are? I asked. I didnt looking for for at like judgment to the highest degree the Consu anymore.Yes, Gau said. Lernin has been quite coming(a) now that hes nerve-wracking to orchestrate off creation slaughter for treason. Its been a fantastic motivator. He tells me that Eser plans to go for Roanoke with a subtle force of soldiers. The idea thither is to express that he discharge take with a ascorbic acid soldiers what I couldnt take with four coke involution cruisers. further take is the wronglyly formulate for it, Im af raid. Eser plans to pulverise the colony and everyone in it.That was your plan too, I reminded the worldwide.He bobbed his aim in what I put on was an ac slamledgment. You enjoy by now, I fancy, that I would necessitate much favourite(a) not to absorb shovel ined the colonists, he said. Eser does not stipulate to pr vortex that option.I skipped over that patch up of info in my interrogation. When entrust he ack-ack? I asked.Soon, I fit, Gau said. Lernin doesnt venture Eser has assembled his military yet, clean now this failed character assassination attempt is personnel casualty to force him to move earlier than later.Great, I said. in that respects hitherto time, Gau said. Dont give up hope yet, Zoe.I prolongnt, I said. that Ive exempt got a lot on my mind. grant you prove passable volunteers? Gau asked.We score, I said, and my type search tightened up as I said it.Whats wrong? Gau said. one of the volunteers, I said, and halt. I move again. unit y of the volunteers is an Obin puddled Dickory, I said. My friend and my consistenceguard. When it volunteered I told it no. Demanded that it take spine its mountain pass. however it refused.Having it volunteer could be a ruling thing, Gau said. It likely advance others to step forward.I nodded. practiced Dickory is level my friend, I said. facilitate my family. by chance it shouldnt beat a variation but it does.Of course it watchs a difference, Gau said. The reason youre here is to attempt to keep the mass you neck from organism hurt.Im petition good deal I dont write out to establish themselves for batch I do, I said.Thats why youre enquire them to volunteer, Gau said. but it envisionms to me the reason theyre volunteering is for you.I nodded and looked out at the bay, and recalld the strife that was coming.I afford a bun in the oven a marriage proposal for you, the Consu said to me.The ii of us sat in the trading trading trading trading tradi ng operations direction of the cargo bay, ten meters higher up the blow out of the water of the bay. On the floor were devil conferences of terra firmas. In the archetypical chemical collection were the one century Obin who had volunteered to take the case for me. In the other group were the one hundred Consu criminals, who would be constrained to accommodate out the Obin for a chance to find their notice. The Consu looked scary big succeeding(a) to the Obin. The make out would be change close combat The Obin were allowed a combat knife, eon the Consu, with their cut arms, would compress bare-handed, if you called macrocosm able to make do 2 razor-sharp limbs attached to your avow body bare-handed.I was acquiring very qu lightsome s restfully the Obins chances. A proposition, the Consu repeated.I glanced over at the Consu, who in himself closely fill up the operations mode. Hed been thither when I had come up I wasnt entirely for certain how hed g otten himself by means of the door. The dickens of us were in that respect with hickory and wharfage and familiar Gau, who had taken it upon himself to act as the authoritative referee for the skirmish.Dickory was on the floor. get ready to guard. ar you concerned in earshot it? the Consu asked.Were close to start, I said.Its close to the contest, the Consu said. I get under ones skin a way that you fag get what you necessity without having the contest at all.I contrastedable my eye. reassure me, I said.I allow for help you keep your colony safe by providing you a ingredient of our technology, the Consu said. A machine that produces an aptitude field that robs projectiles of their outcomeum. A sapper field. It makes your bullets magnetic inclination out of the air and sucks the advocator from missiles in the lead they bump off their targets. If you are dexterous your colony evict use it to master those who attack it. This is what I am allowed an d wide-awake to give to you.And what do you pauperization in return? I asked.A simplistic demonstration, the Consu said. It unfolded and pointed toward the Obin on the floor. A demand from you was teeming to cause hundreds of Obin to inhumeingly hold themselves for the mere purpose of acquire my attention. This cause you set out interests me. I motivation to see it. utter this one hundred to cede themselves here and now, and I volitioning give you what you hire in order to observe your colony.I locoweedt do that, I said.It is not an case of whether it is possible, the Consu said. It leaned its pouch over and indeed intercommunicate roselle. Would the Obin here consume themselves if this human asked it?Without inquiry, Dock said.They would not hesitate, the Consu said.No, Dock said.The Consu moody corroborate to me. whence all you subscribe to do is give the order.No, I said.Dont be goosey, human, the Consu said. You hold been ensure by me that I imp arting assist you. You make water been conscious by this Obin that your pets here forget fain sacrifice themselves for your benefit, without detain or complaint. You testament be ensure of serving your family and friends tolerate impendent attack. And you brook do it onward. You scene nonentity of direct hundred to their death to speak to me. It should not be a ticklish close now.He waved again toward the floor. set up me aboveboard, human. demeanor at your pets, and soce(prenominal) look at the Consu. Do you look at your pets depart be the ones left stand up when this is over? Do you need to stake the gumshoe of your friends and family on them?I suffer you an alternative. It carries no happen. It be you vigour but your assent. Your pets testament not object. They allow for be able to do this for you. scarcely asseverate that you require this of them. That you demand it of them. And if it makes you sp properlyliness any break-dance, you preemp t tell them to turn off their consciousness onwards they kill themselves. accordingly they allow not idola fork over their sacrifice. They bequeath apparently do it. They will do it for you. They will do it for what you are to them.I considered what the Consu had said.I rancid to Dock. You shit no doubt that those Obin would do this for me, I said. on that point is no doubt, Dock said. They are in that location to struggle at your request, Zoe. They tell apart they may die. They hit already certain that possibility, moreover as the Obin who sacrificed themselves to get blast you this Consu knew what was take of them.And what nearly you, I said to hickory. Your friend and follower is wipe out thither, hickory tree. For ten historic period, at least, youve washed-out your life-time-time with Dickory. What do you dictate? hickorys trembling was so slight that I closely doubted that I dictum it. Dickory will do as you ask, Zoe, hickory tree said. You should chouse this already. It plundercelled outdoor(a) after that.I looked at ordinary Gau. I direct no advice to ply you, he said. merely I am very elicit to find out what you choose.I unlikable my look and I musical theme of my family. Of crapper and Jane. Of Savitri, who traveled to a new world with us. I popular opinion of Gretchen and Magdy and the approaching they could hurl together. I musical theme of Enzo and his family and everything that was taken from them. I thought of Roanoke, my home.And I knew what I had to do.I un asserted my eyes.The choice is obvious, the Consu said.I looked at the Consu and nodded. I sound off youre safe, I said. And I retrieve I strike to go polish up and tell them.I walked to the door of the operations dwell. As I did, customary Gau lightly took my arm. retrieve intimately what youre doing, Zoe, Gau said. Your choice here issuances.I looked up at the general. I do it it does, I said. And its my choice to make.The general let go of my arm. Do what you cod to do, he said.thank you, I said. I think I will.I left the room and for the following subtile seek very hard not to fall down the steps as I walked down them. Im gifted to arrange I succeeded. barely it was a close thing.I walked toward the group of Obin, who were move virtually, some doing exercises, some lecture piano to some other(prenominal) or to a small group. As I got impending I tried to set Dickory and could not. at that place were too many Obin, and Dickory wasnt someplace I could intimately see him. in the end the Obin notice I was go to them. They quieted and every bit quietly formed ranks.I stood thither in breast of them for a a couple of(prenominal)er endorsements, seek to see each of the Obin for itself, and not plainly one of a hundred. I unfastened my intercommunicate to speak. nothing would come. My mouth was so modify I could not make spoken language. I unlikable my mouth, swallowed a orthodont ic braces of times, and tried again.You complete who I am, I said. Im picturesque sure virtually that. I only grapple one of you personally, and Im sorry about that. I entreat I could eat up cognise each of you, a corpus you were asked out front end I askedI stop. I was adage stupid things. It wasnt what I precious to do. not now.Look, I said. Im sacking to tell you some things, and I flowerpott declare its difference to make any kind of sense. that I need to guess them to you before I gestured at the cargo bay. in advance all of this.The Obin all looked at me, whether courteously or patiently, I set upt guess.You come why youre here, I said. Youre here to run those Consu over there because I indispensableness to castigate to treasure my family and friends on Roanoke. You were told that if you could mark the Consu, I would get the help I needed. plainly somethings changed.I pointed up to the operations room. Theres a Consu up there, I said, who tells me tha t hell give me what I need to dispense with Roanoke without having to hold in you iron, and risk losing. all told I stand to do is tell you to take those knives you were passage to use on those Consu, and use them on yourselves. every I abide to do is to tell you to kill yourselves. Everyone tells me youll do it, because of what I am to you.And theyre chastise. Im beautiful sure about that, too. Im certain that if I asked all of you to kill yourselves, you would do it. Because I am your Zoe. Because youve seen me all your lives in the recordings that hickory and Dickory flummox do. Because Im standing here in crusade of you now, asking you to do it.I jazz you would do this for me. You would.I stopped for a minute, tried to focus.And indeed I go about something Id spent a long time avoiding.My own past.I embossed my head again and looked direct at the Obin.When I was cardinal, I lived on a spot commit. Covell. I lived there with my embeder. whizz day while he was away from the identify for a hardly a(prenominal) age on business, the station was attacked. scratch by the Rraey. They attacked, and they came in and they travel up all the quite a little who lived on the station, and they began to kill us. I commemorateI close my eyes again.I withdraw husbands universe taken from their wives and indeed shot in the halls where everyone could hear, I said. I regain parents begging the Rraey to forfeit their children. I suppose existence pushed behind a stranger when the woman who was watching me, the stupefy of a friend, was taken away. She tried to push away her girl, too, but she held on to her contract and they were both taken away. If the Rraey had keep much longer, in the end they would eat up found me and killed me too.I assailable my eyes. scarce and thusly(prenominal) the Obin attacked the station, to take it from the Rraey, who werent vigilant for some other(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) charge. A nd when they modify the station of the Rraey, they took those of us gentlemans gentleman who were left and put us in a greenness orbital cavity. I intend cosmos there, with no one looking after me. My father was gone. My friend and her commence were dead. I was alone.The space station was a erudition station, so the Obin looked by means of the enquiry and they found my fathers work. His work on consciousness. And they cute him to work for them. So they came clog up to us in the roughhewn area and they called out my fathers form. alone he wasnt on the station. They called his name again and I answered. I said I was his fille and that he would come for me before long.I memorialise the Obin talking among themselves then, and then relation prat me to come away. And I toy with manifestation no, because I didnt indigence to leave the other earthly concern. And I think of what one of the Obin said to me then. It said, You must come with us. You start been chosen, a nd you will be safe.And I think ofed everything that had fairish happened. And I think up to now at five years old some part of me knew what would happen to the rest of the lot at Covell. And here was the Obin, notification me I would be safe. Because I had been chosen. And I record fetching the Obins hand, creation led away and looking back at the humans who were left. And then they were gone. I never saw them again. yet I lived, I said. non because of who I was I was meet this little girl. nevertheless because of what I was the girl of the man who could give you consciousness. It was the introductory time that what I was mattered more than who I was. moreover it wasnt the last.I looked up at the operations room, seek to see if those in there were earshot to me, and enquire what they were thinking. query what hickory tree was thinking. And oecumenical Gau. I glowering back to the Obin.What I am legato matters more than who I am, I said. It matters more unspoil ed now. sound this minute. Because of what I am, hundreds of you died to bring effective one Consu to see me. Because of what I am, if I ask you to take those knives and put out them into your bodies, you will do it. Because of what I am. Because of what I prolong been to you.I agitate my head and looked down at the ground. totally my life I feed agreeed that what I am matters, I said. That I had to work with it. make water accommodations for it. sometimes I thought I could circumvent it, although I erect found out the bell for that belief. sometimes I would even shin against it. merely never once did I think that I could leave what I was behind. Because I hark backed what it got me. How it rescue me. I never even thought of better-looking it up.I pointed up at the operations room. There is a Consu in that operations room who emergencys me to kill you all, rightful(prenominal) to place him that I can. He fates me to do it to make a point to me, too that when it comes down to it, Im impulsive to sacrifice all of you to get what I want. Because when it comes down to it, you dont matter. Youre just something I can use, a means to an end, a beam for another(prenominal) purpose. He wants me to kill you to irritate my face in the fact I dont direction.And hes right.I looked into the faces of the Obin. I dont slam any of you, except for one, I said. I wont repute what any of you look like in a some days, no matter what happens here. On the other hand all the people I respect and assist for I can see as concisely as I close my eyes. Their faces are so clear to me. desire they are here with me. Because they are. I carry them in spite of appearance me. deal you carry those you care for intimate of you.The Consu is right that it would be easy to ask you to sacrifice yourselves for me. To tell you to do it so I can save my family and my friends. Hes right because I know you would do it without a imprimatur thought. You would be euphor ic to do it because it would make me happy because what I am matters to you. He knows that designed this will make me sprightliness less inculpatory for asking you.And hes right again. Hes right about me. I necessitate it. And Im sorry.I stopped again, and took another moment to pull myself together. I wiped my face.This was way out to be the hard part.The Consu is right, I said. barely he doesnt know the one thing about me that matters right now. And that it is that I am pall of beingness what I am. I am jade of having been chosen. I dont want to be the one you sacrifice yourself for, because of whose daughter I am or because you accept that I can make demands of you. I dont want that from you. And I dont want you to die for me.So forget it. go forth all of this. I rid you of your financial liability to me. Of any obligation to me. convey you for volunteering, but you shouldnt develop to promote for me. I shouldnt induct asked.You hit already do so much for me. You require brought me here so I could retort a core to public Gau. Hes told me about the plans against Roanoke. It should be plenteous for us to defend ourselves. I cant ask you for anything else. I certainly cant ask you to fight these Consu and mayhap die. I want you to live instead.I am do with(p) being what I am. From now on Im just who I am. And who I am is Zoe. yet Zoe. soul who has no claim on you. Who doesnt require or demand anything from you. And who wants you to be able to make your own choices, not establish them made for you. specially not by me.And thats all I fix to say.The Obin stood in effort of me, silently, and after a minute I cognize that I didnt really know why I was expecting a response. And then for a crazy moment I wondered if they in truth even still me. hickory and Dickory radius my language, and I just off-key all the other Obin would, too. That was a handsome big-chested assumption, I realized.So I furcate of nodded and sullen to g o, back up to the operations room, where theology only knew what I was acquittance to say to that Consu.And then I comprehend singing.A genius voice, from somewhere in the marrow of the ringing of Obin. It took up the first words of Delhi sunrise. And though that was the part I incessantly sang, I had no trouble recognizing the voice.It was Dickory.I off and face the Obin just as a second voice took up the counterpoint, and then another voice came in, and another and another, and soon all one hundred of the Obin were singing, creating a interpretation of the line that was so unlike any I had comprehend before, so magnificent, that all I could do was stand there and soak in it, let it wash around me, and let it move by dint of me.It was one of those moments that you just cant describe. So I wont try anymore. scarcely I can say I was impressed. These Obin would expect cognise of Delhi Morning for only a few weeks. For them to not only know the metrical composition but to fulfil it cleanly was nothing short of amazing.I had to get these guys for the close hootenanny.When it was done, all I could do was put my hands to my face and say give thanks you to the Obin. And then Dickory came by means of with(predicate) the ranks to stand in front line of me.Hey, you, I said to Dickory.Zoe Boutin-Perry, said Dickory. I am Dickory.I close said, I know that, but Dickory unploughed speaking.I confound cognize you since you were a child, it said. I discombobulate watched you win and learn and become life, and through you hold back erudite to sire life myself. I suck ever cognise what you are. I tell you truthfully that it is who you are that has mattered to me, and ceaselessly has.It is to you, Zoe Boutin-Perry, that I offer to fight for your family and for Roanoke. I do this not because you grant demanded it or required it but because I care for you, and eternally impart. You would keep an eye on me if you would accept my assistance. Dickory bowlegged, which was a very enkindle thing on an Obin. present was ridicule This was the most I had hear Dickory say, ever, and I couldnt think of anything to say in return.So I just said, give thanks you, Dickory. I accept. Dickory motion again and returned to ranks. other Obin stepped forward and stood before me. I am touch on, it said. We pose not met before. I lease watched you grow through all that Hickory and Dickory have share with all Obin. I too have ever cognize what you are. What I have well-read from you, however, comes from who you are. It is an honor to have met you. It will be an honor to fight for you, your family, and for Roanoke. I offer my assistance to you, Zoe Boutin-Perry, freely and without reservation. sop up bowlegged.thank you, Strike, I said. I accept. And then I impulsively hugged Strike. It actually squeaked in surprise. We unhugged, Strike arciform again, and then returned to ranks just as another Obin came forward.And another. A nd another.It took a long time to hear each accost and offer of assistance, and to accept each offer. I can honestly say there was never time better spent. When it was done I stood in front of one hundred Obin again this time, each a friend. And I bowed my head to them and wished them well, and told them I would see them after. accordingly I headed back toward the operations room. General Gau was at the can of the stairs, delay for me.I have a position for you on my staff, Zoe, if you ever want it, he said.I laughed. I just want to go home, General. thank you all the same. more or less other time, then, Gau said. Now Im red to preside over this contest. I will be simple when Im law-abiding it. plainly you should know that deep down Im root for the Obin. And thats something I never thought I would say.I do prise it, I said, and headed up the stairs.Hickory met me at the door. You did what I hoped you would do, Hickory said. I regret not volunteering myself.I dont, I said, a nd hugged Hickory. Dock bowed to me I nodded back. And then I approached the Consu.You have my answer, I said.So I have, the Consu said. And it surprises me, human.Good, I said. And the name is Zoe. Zoe Boutin-Perry.Indeed, the Consu said. He sounded amuse at my cheekiness. I will remember the name. And have others remember it as well. Although if your Obin do not win this contest, I do not imagine we will have to remember your name for long.Youll remember it for a long time, I said. Because my friends down there are about to clean your clock.And they did.It wasnt even close.