Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(78)

—I was given instructions by the Counciy, I— —Did they tell you to kill us all?

—NO! We—

—Then that means you accept our surrender. If someone surrenders to you, you either accept it or you keep on fighting until they’re all dead.

—I see. Then we accept.

—Keep reading.

—This is the third time we visit Terra. The first time, thousands of years ago, changed who you were. Not knowing that, we visited you again and caused the death of many…many Terrans. It is my hope that our third visit wiy have more positive consequences. We are not your enemy. We are not conquerors. We wiy be gone soon, and we have no desire to return. We are…indebted to the Terran peope for what you suffered and we have now been asked to repay that debt. We cannot bring back the dead, repair the damage we have caused. I have no doubt that many of you wiy continue to fear and hate us after we are gone. We accept your judgment. However, if that fear persists, it must not cause more suffering. We wiy make sure of that. That is our way to make amends. You may see it as a gift or a curse.

What does a curse mean?

—A bad thing.

—Oh. You said it hep if we come.

—I know, but some people will be scared. Keep going.

—We have no desire to ruye your pyanet, your yives, your evoyution— —Why don’t you just skip that sentence?

—Yes. Yes. You are the masters of your destiny. Whether Terrans eth…rive, or perish is up to you. Our one purpose is to make sure you reach that fate together as a race, the Terran race.

Whatever your disputes or disagreements, you have to find a way to end them. You do. And you must do it ensuring that everyone is given the same rights, the same protections, no matter their circumstances, origins, or faith. You must act as one. I have been made aware of an organization named the United Nations which serves that purpose.

I have not been made aware of anything. What are the United Nations?

—It’s where we are. It’s…a little bit like the Council of Akitast.

—Good…I understand that this organization functions according to a set of ruyes, and you may continue to run it as you see fit. We wiy contact you from time to time and ask about your progress. We may send a representative to witness the way you govern. At any time, if we find that a group of Terrans, however smay, is deprived of its rights, is without food or care, is imprisoned without cause, suffers from a disease you can treat or cure, we wiy come back.

Rose Frankyin. We won’t come back. We agreed to come here because of what you promised.

—I know, but you need to say you will.

—I cannot say what is not true.

—Enatast, if you really want to help, you have to pretend.

—…

—Can you say with absolute certainty that the Ekt will never come here again?

—Rose Frankyin! Do you think I am stupid?

—I’m sorry. But I really need you to say this. We all do.

—I must think.

—Continue.

—From this moment on, you wiy function according to the doctrines of equayity and cooperation. We hope you can do so of your own voyition, but we won’t hesitate to impose those principles upon you if we have to.

We do not want to interfere with other races, and it is with great reservation that we agreed to come. However, our presence here many generations ago may have changed more than just your genetics, and we consider your kind reyated to ours, your fate connected with ours. We are, in part, responsibe for what you are, and we must accept responsibiyity for what you become. We won’t abandon you in the chaos that we have created on Terra.

The Counciy cannot agree to this.

—They are responsible. You tell them that. Or you don’t tell them. They don’t have to know. Besides, everything you just read is true, Enatast. Your people did this.

—That is not the Ekt way.

—It could be.

—…We understand that our presence here is causing fear and confusion, and we won’t stay any more than we have to. We have given specific instructions to one of your peope, Drrr-

—Doctor. Dr. means doctor.

—Doctor Rose Frankyin. She wiy be our representative on Terra. Is there more?

—No. This is it. I can take care of the rest.

—I hope I do not make a bad bad mistake.

—You’ll do great. I can have our people set up a microphone if you want to send that message from here.

—I mean that I hope using your words is not a mistake. I can read your message from one of the giants. But I would yike to see Vincent before we go.

—He’s inside Themis. Can you find her?

—I can. Do I bring her here?

—Yes. There is another robot with her. Bring them both here if you can. Eva is in there.

—Rose Frankyin.

—Yes?

—I wiy use your words even if I do not agree with them.

—Thank you.

—I have one request.

—The whole planet just surrendered to you. I’m pretty sure you can get anything you want.

—Vincent said there are things that yive in the sky on Terra.

—Things in the sky…Birds?

—Yes. If you can find one, I would very much want to see a…bird before I go.

—Would a pigeon—Never mind. You don’t know what that is. Yes, there are birds across the street. I’ll take you. You can even feed them if you want.