Naero's War: The Citation Series 3: Naero's Trial Read Online Free PDF Page B

case, let me say now, personally, and for the record: this is a major mistake. We should not send a Spacer such as she to her doom. She deserves to live.”
    Naero met first with Master Jo in private.
    “The decision of the court still stands, Naero,” he told her. “I cannot go against it, or help, or allow you to escape. Even though I also agree that you should live.”
    She nodded quickly. “Master Jo. I understand all that. That’s not what I was going to ask you to do. But do let me thank you for all that have done and attempted to do for me. I am grateful.”
    She put her arms around him briefly. “But now there is little time, so hear me out. Before I do anything else, there is something of vital importance that I must do and see to. But it is difficult and takes concentration. Give me a moment, and please be patient.”
    Om, help me. Please. I’ve explained what we need to do with my replicant. I can’t accomplish it without you.”
    I understand, Naero. I am with you.
    Good. And you’ve had our advance medical biomancy drones gather the biomechanical components and particles together that we require?”
    All waiting in readiness at your command, N. We only need to fashion and imbue them with your energies and then your final gift from your Lifespark within you.
    Naero focused all of her abilities.
    She formed the most perfect replicant of herself that she had yet to create, breathed life into Naero-3 and brought her into being. It was the most complete version of herself, with all of her memories, thoughts, and emotions. She gave it all of her Mystic abilities–except for her Dark Beast.
    Naero even gave Naero-3 Om and the KDM. They could not die, and must live on beyond her…along with Naero’s precious daughter.
    Om protested, as if he were a child. I don’t want to leave you, N. I want to go where you go–on to the next journey.
    No, Om. We’ve gone over this. You must stay, for my sake, and help the parts of me that I leave behind to survive and go on. I cannot let you die.
    It was my fault, Naero. It was my defensive protocols that slew Master Vane. I should be the one to perish, not you.
    We did it together, Om. Besides, you must stay and protect my child, and Khai, and all of our friends, and watch over them and my people. They will need the KDM once we open its secrets. The universe will have great need of you after it is unlocked. But I charge you specifically with guarding and protecting my family, Om. Do it, for me.”
    I will do so, Naero. You honor me. What of…your Dark Beast?
    It is part of me, Om. So much that I could not separate myself from it if I wanted to. It must go with me where I go. If that is my curse, then I accept that. But even if I could remove that part of myself, I could not place such a burden on anyone else. That would not be right. Let Naero-3 be free of all that and be what I could not. Her life will be hard enough, I should think.”
    Silence passed between them for a brief space.
    Naero?
    Yes, Om?
    She will never be what you are; you know that. She will always be a replicant, a copy. Naero-3 will not progress much farther beyond what you have made her this day. She will never become whatever it is that you were destined to become. That great potential shall be lost, and I fear that our universe shall suffer greatly for that loss.
    I cannot do anymore than what I have done, Om. I am bound by my word of honor.
    Your word and your honor be damned, if that means you must let them kill you. Think of Khai. He may even learn to love her after you are gone, as if she were you. Yet even such a love will only be a pale imitation of what it is he truly feels for the real you. That could be a problem. Both of them will always be burdened and held back by the knowledge of that.
    I have done all that I can, I say. I can only give them a chance, Om. That is all that any of us have. I created her to think of him as I do, to love him with everything that she will ever be.
    That