Humans Don't Hibernate [Part 25/?] (Patreon)

The projection of the satellite hovered over the command table like a specter of a bygone era. An era that had, in human terms, long since passed into the dusty annals of history. Like a cornerstone memory however, it could not be erased. Like the fundamental building blocks of who we are, it remained present, looming over the evolution of humankind even as it strayed further and further from what it once was. Even as humanity  diverged into two distinct camps, the spirit of humanity, that  letter in a bottle untouched by time lives on. As a time capsule into perhaps a more idyllic age of humanity, or perhaps even, as a window into what humanity once was and still could possibly regain.

I didn’t know what brought on this sense of existential thoughtfulness, heck I wasn’t even human, nor was Vir. Yet recent events had more or less entrenched me in the affairs of a species that I’d seen start off as a fledgling race barely clinging on to life with scarcely a chance for civilization. Perhaps it was that tenacity that I was so enamored with, proven time and time again by monitoring them for tens of thousands of years, until I eventually became a pawn in one of their grand games. Perhaps it was the recent turn of events that rekindled my faith in humankind even more so, with humanity in one form or another existing and persevering despite the cosmic horrors that had otherwise held every other sapient race in existence in a stranglehold.

There was something about the human spirit that was so incredibly… alluring, addicting in a sense. In that it not only refuses to die or bend the knee, but is able to transcend time and space itself. Clinging onto any hope of rekindling as the satellite here demonstrated.

“Lysara.” Vir began, gently nudging me with an outstretched hand. “You okay?” He spoke, as gentle and caring as he had been throughout this journey with me.

“Yes.” I answered plainly.

“Then it’s time you step up to the plate. You know the drill, the satellite doesn’t recognize me or any other human. It recognizes you.”

That mystery still hadn’t been solved. Despite knowing now what was at stake, despite knowing now what had to be done, the mystery of the satellite’s programming and intentions still weren’t clear. That fact alone bothered me to no end, but now wasn’t the time to be focusing on that. Now was the time to push forward to realize what it was that had been lying in wait for all these millenia.

With a single affirmative nod from me, Vir promptly pinged the satellite, which brought up the same command line from the first satellite.

MISSION PROFILE: CLASSIFIED. BIOCODED TO LYSARA TA EL PARFUN DAENIR. SPECIES: VANARAN.

Following this, and a brief scan by the ship’s scanners, the prompt blinked out of existence. With the screen now displaying a simple ‘IDENTITY CONFIRMED’ alert, and the contents within siphoned in a matter of seconds onto our ship.

Attention. Data-package download from satellite: README_2, initiating. Running executables… standby…

Priority Order 1: Autoplaying Message 2 for Lysara Ta El Parfun Daenir.

“This is Director Vanessa Banes. Date of recording: November 7 4191. Time since Hibernation Conduit 27a’s hibernation: 599 years. This will be the second in the handful of recordings we’ve collectively decided to send to you, Lysara Ta El Parfun Daenir. I can only hope that this message finds you well. If you are listening to this on your own volition without your human minders, then it is clear that the 52nd Special Operations Unit no longer exists in an operational capacity. However, this does not mean that the primary objectives of the 52nd Special Operations Unit have failed, far from it. It simply means we will have to become more… creative in our endeavors to free the local cluster from the clutches of the Interlopers. An objective which is becoming decidedly more difficult in my current political climate, but one that I am certain will be accomplished in due time.”

“If any human minders are present, please acknowledge so now.”

I remained silent, the ship’s scanners seemed to be working in overdrive in such a way that even Vir seemed visibly concerned as his internal sensors were suddenly taken away from him for a split second. Yet after a few moments, things seemed to have returned to normal, as the message effortlessly swapped to another, probably one recorded for this very eventuality.

“Alright. This makes things difficult, but not impossible. This satellite and its recordings were prepared in such a way that even without the aid of official support, its goals will be seen through. Lysara, Vir, you’re going to be in for a longer journey than should be expected. But I promise you that at the end of it you’ll be the ones to bring about a truly free galaxy.” The recording continued, as several files were quickly being downloaded onto our ship from the satellite.

“There is no doubt in my mind that another satellite will have been launched and should probably exist somewhere out there in the greater galaxy. While I cannot say this for certain, what I can say is that considering the lack of any human presence in the Hibernation Conduit to accompany you, that the command structure of the UN as I know it has fundamentally changed. For you see, the 52nd Special Operations Unit has been operationally organized in such a way that barring a fundamental paradigm shift in the United Nations military and civilian command structure, it should remain completely impervious to the ebbs and flows that are to be expected in human politics. For you two to be here alone and without explicit aid means that the United Nations as I know it is no more, and you two are all that’s left of the goals of the 52nd.” The human’s voice never once faltered despite what was more than certainly a recording made under great stress. To be discussing matters millenia ahead in the future with an assurance of what amounts to the potential destruction of centuries of work would be disheartening to anyone. Yet the Director remained confident and unphased. She really was Elijah’s descendant. “This brings us to the pertinent issues at hand, which should have been covered in README_1. I’m going to need to scan your records to confirm if this is indeed the case. If not, then we’ll have a lot more to discuss.”

Another pause descended on us as Vir’s platform visibly shuddered. His ‘eyes’ narrowed as it was clear that the satellite was doing some massive data-sweep of the systems as it had warned.

In a matter of seconds though, the data sweep was done, and the recording continued.

“This recording was made in the event that README_1 was indeed incapable of conveying all the pertinent information regarding the nature of the 52nd Special Operations Unit and your mission profile. The shortcomings of the forefathers become the responsibilities of the children as they say…” The Director sighed, before continuing. “The purpose of the 52nd Special Operations Unit has been, and shall remain: the complete liberation of every sapient species from Interloper control at any cost. At our height, during Elijah’s time, the 52nd was embedded in several forward operating groups, acting akin to an attached scouting and reconnaissance unit with the expressed purpose of uncovering everything even remotely tangential to what we referred to as the Hibernation Question. That term may be misleading however, as it encompasses far more topics relating to the nature behind the Interloper-Subject relationship. There were four distinct phases made to address the Hibernation Question, that being Data Analysis and Gathering, Engineering and Prototyping, Limited Implementation, and Full Implementation. The first and second of which was spearheaded by Elijah himself, with the result being you, Lysara. The first and second phases were expedited by the war, as Central Command poured resources into the 52nd in an attempt to better understand the enemy. After the war’s end however funding to the 52nd was drastically slashed. Seeing as the Interlopers no longer existed as a proper threat, and with policy shifting to the elimination of the Interlopers placed before the liberation of their subjects, Limited and Full implementation was never followed through. There was a fear that if unforeseen circumstances were to prevent a full scale victory, or a radical internal conflict were to drastically alter the fundamental structure of the UN, that the 52nd’s goals may be hampered. This is why we established Operation Enduring Justice. This is why you are most likely using a single ship requisitioned from the UN’s surplus fleet. This is why you’re listening to this now, from a satellite rather than within the great war rooms of the UN Central Command. Enduring Justice’s goals are predicated on the complete loss of the 52nd, and the necessity to ensure the Hibernation Question is addressed now and forever. With this in mind, I have attached the appropriate plans and files necessary to accomplish this mission.”

Another ping indicated that a series of data transfers had been commenced. The recording seemed to have gone silent during this, but resumed quickly soon after.

“With the appropriate documents having been transferred, my job here is done. I will ensure that Hibernation Conduit 27a and its AI carer shall remain supplied with the appropriate materials necessary for long term sustainability. After my death, I assume that another in my line shall continue this legacy. It’s become… a strange tradition now, and one that has remained firmly entrenched in my family line. I understand that the other sapients in the galaxy are bestowed with eternal life in exchange for submission to the Interlopers. Humanity has yet to achieve immortality on our own terms. We, however, have achieved immortality by other means. I believe the existence of this satellite, and your very freedom speaks volumes about what I am implying here. Humanity has achieved immortality through the creation of tradition, ideologies, and legacies. I, as my mother, and my grandfather, and my great grandmother and great great grandfather before me, have maintained the same singular objective throughout our entire lives. An objective started by Elijah Skylar Banes, and one that will die only after the mission is seen through. Because even if every single member of the Banes family is dead and reduced to dust, our legacy lives on through these satellites, through the studies conducted on Hibernation Conduit 27a, and ultimately through you, Lysara.”

With that final message, the satellite began to power down, perhaps for the last time. I didn’t know how to feel about what amounted to yet another series of reality shattering revelations being unveiled to me one after another. What’s more, I felt like I should’ve been overwhelmed with this new burden that had suddenly been thrust upon me. With an entirely alien reality and a goal loftier than what the entirety of the Vanaran race could accomplish flooding my reality, I felt… nothing. Nothing but a sense of complete and utter emptiness. How could one feel about being made into what was in effect the centerpiece of a millenia long game? How could one even react to having generations upon generations worth of sacrifices being placed on your shoulders?

I felt alone, but my thoughts were quickly pushed to the wayside with a firm sensation on my shoulder, as Vir’s platform stood next to me with a confident smile plastered across his faceplate.

“Hey. You heard the human. This isn’t just your journey, it’s mine as well. We’re in this together, partner. We’re in this to the very end, whatever that may be. You aren’t alone in this Lysara. No matter what happens, we’ll have each other.” The AI spoke reassuringly, which strangely enough put a lot of my anxieties at ease.

A renewed sense of purpose flooded me as I stared at the lifeless satellite with a determined gaze. My earfrills rose, as I turned towards Lysara. “Let’s carry on the legacy and finish this fight, together.”