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Station Day 41
Mentor’s Comm Room


“Mentor, I have questions.”

Tolly raised his eyebrows, and turned toward the speaker.

“You’re not alone in that,” he said.

“I mean,” Catie said, sounding contrite, “that I have specific questions regarding human physiology. If this is not the correct procedure, please tell me how I may amend myself.”

“Procedure’s correct,” Tolly said, leaning back in his chair. “The polite way to ask—barring an emergency—is something along the lines of, ‘When would it be convenient for us to talk?’”

“Oh. Thank you, Mentor. When would it be convenient for us to talk?”

Tolly smiled.

“Happens I’ve got some time right now. What can I do for you, Catie?”

“I wonder about the nature of human death. I have been talking with Ren Stryker, who wished me to know about the dangers of electrical current with regard to human safety.”

“That’s very kind of Ren, to share info,” Tolly prompted when nothing else was forthcoming.

“Yes, it is! Ren Stryker is a very kind and helpful person, I think. But—he says that, once dead, humans are ended. There are no backups, and no…resuscitation. However, my observation indicates that this information is incorrect. Or, possibly only correct in certain circumstances.”

Tolly nodded and waited.

“Jen Sin—I saw Jen Sin die…many times, Mentor; also Lorith. The man you struck in the elevator—did he remain dead, or did Stost and Chernak return him to his ship so that he could be revived?”

“The man I killed,” Tolly said deliberately, “is dead, and he can’t be brought back to life, ever again. You’ll notice that Light Keeper Lorith hasn’t been revived, either.”

“She asked Jen Sin not to wake her,” Catie said. “I heard.”

“That’s right.” Tolly nodded. “Lorith is gone. She was, but she never will be again.”

“If Jen Sin…dies, will he be resuscitated?”

“The way I heard it—no, he won’t, Catie. That’s his choice, just like Lorith made hers.”

Silence.

Tolly cleared his throat.

“Is it okay for me to ask you a question?”

“Certainly, Mentor.”

“Thank you. What I’m wondering is—wasn’t there information on human biology in your libraries?”

“There was, yes, but I was not able to reconcile the information with observable facts. Also, there are several orders of humans, some frailer than others. There is an order, to which my builder and his sister belong, who download themselves serially into a new chassis when the old becomes irreparable. There is another order produced in batches, with usefulness limits hardwired. There—”

Tolly laughed and held up his hands.

“Have I misunderstood the data?”

“No, I didn’t consider all the data before I asked my question. Common failing with humans. I forgot to remember where your libraries came from.”

“Is my data wrong?”

“I’m willing to bet your data’s one hundred percent correct—for the Old Universe. What we gotta do is get you up to spec on this universe. Lucky for us, that’s gonna be real easy. Tocohl’s who you want to ask for help, there. Given who her maker is, her general databases are top-notch.”

“Will she be willing to share that data with me?”

“Won’t know ’til you ask. If she says ‘no,’ you come see me again and we’ll figure out something else. That sound okay to you, Catie?”

“Yes, Mentor, it does. Thank you. I had not considered the differences between my builder’s universe and this one.”

“We both missed that one. You go along and ask Tocohl if she can help you get up-to-date. I’m going to give Ren Stryker a call and see how he’s doing. We haven’t talked in a little while.”


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