resembles food anymore, that has been bioengineered to reduce waste. We even clone people and animals.”
“Yes, but cloning is just making copies to make up for the time it takes to do things naturally. And we keep track of those copies just in case any problems crop up so we can eliminate all traces of it. But this …,” I snort, “shadowing people … that’s not right.”
Jeffers folds his hands in front of him and takes up a school teacher’s posture. “Did Tam or Gus tell you why he was shadowed?”
I feel defensive for some reason. “Not really. Kind of, I guess. Maybe that he was murdered and it wasn’t fair.” I shrug. “Not that I believe him.” My own denial is sounding weak now. When Jeffers talks about how unnatural our lives are, it does make shadowing seem not as crazy as it did five minutes ago.
“I see.”
“But people are murdered every day, practically. That’s just the way life goes.” I don’t know who I’m arguing with now. Myself?
“But does it have to go that way?”
“Uh, yes?” I can’t believe he’s asking me this question. This is basic stuff. “We’re born, we live, we die. No one gets to have a choice in any part of it. Life is finite. Death is final. No one decides when it happens for them, and that’s it. If someone causes it, and they don’t have the right to do that, they’re punished, plain and simple. We don’t get to break those rules. Breaking those rules means bad things for all of humankind. Haven’t we learned that lesson once already?” It was, after all, the search for the holy grail of immortality that started us on the path that led to all humans having to live on these ships floating in the Dark. Am I the only one who remembers those nightmares from our past?
“But death is not always final. The AI that is sometimes used to extend life is proof of that, and it’s fully sanctioned by the OSG.”
I hate that he’s right. I hate that every time I come up with what sounds like a good reason for this not to happen, he shoots me down with an even better reason that it should be happening. “Yeah, well, the OSG is not known for making the best decisions for our people, is it?”
Jeffers nods. “That is true. In some cases.”
I throw my hands up. “So, you’re perfectly fine with a shadow waltzing around on the ship, just doing whatever the hell it wants, is that what you’re telling me?”
He shakes his head. “Not necessarily. I would say that I’m more open-minded about the idea than you are, but I would want to have more information before I made my decision about what I am, or am not, comfortable with.”
I sigh in annoyance. “Ever the politician, aren’t you?”
“I’m just trying to be fair.”
I turn around to go, pausing at the portal. “I would just love it, one time, if you could be on my side and agree with me.” Frustration with feeling alone is apparently fueling my thought process now. I hate that I sound so needy, but the words are out, and now I want to know what his response will be.
“I am on your side, Cass. I wish you could see that.”
I hiss out my annoyance as I leave the room. I’m getting nowhere with this guy, and I want some answers. But before I go after them, I need my right-hand man with me. The one guy I can count on to be there for me.
“Adelle,” I say out into the corridor.
“Yes, Captain. How may I help you?”
“Tell Baebong to meet me in the brig. Tell him it’s urgent. And I need to know how you’re doing with that sweep.”
“Yes, Captain. Baebong will be notified. My earlier estimate for sweep completion was inaccurate. The sweep shall be finished in approximately five minutes.”
“If you’ve found or find any listening devices, jam their signals immediately.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“And Adelle?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“What’s Gus doing right now? Where is he?”
“He is in the engine room. He is sitting at his workbench.”
“Is he working on