Chapter 13: April Fool

Never let it ever be said again that AIs have no sense of humor. That may very well be a true thing, but if it is, the timing and the nature of the AIs' response to Michael's questions beggars the ability to explain.

Michael came awake in the middle of his family's puppy pile. For a change to recent practice, there was only one concubine candidate in the mixture, and she seemed well on her way to being asked to join. She was a petite, chocolate crème, social worker from the school rescue. A single mother of two pre-school boys and a precocious girl in the middle of third grade, she had a sweet, gentle personality that ignited when Cathleen and Rachel started in with their raunch. Her head lay on Michael's shoulder, and she snored quietly.

<Michael,> said Dora in a honeyed mental voice, <time to get up and get going. Jubal is back with a response, and he wants to talk with you and your whole family.>

Wanting a head start to think, Michael gently extracted himself and headed for the restroom and shower. He was deluding himself, because Rachel, Cathleen, and their Pixie joined him before the water reached a comfortable temperature. Sensing his introspection, they silently washed him and each other, only marginally attentive to their favorite bits.

They dried, and headed for the breakfast table, wearing light robes. Dora had a pot of coffee in the replicator along with their favorite additions. The smell of warm cinnamon rolls surrounded them.

When they were seated and each had a sip and a bite, Michael announced, "Dora says that Jubal is back with a response and needs to talk with us."

"That is correct," verified Dora. "He thinks your whole family should be present, and excepting anyone not yet your personal companion, I agree."

"Thank you Dora, for watching over and taking care of us," whispered Hannah. There was some concern among them that a very good thing might come to an end. "Go ahead and wake the others and tell them breakfast is ready. Find a gentle way to send our guest home without getting her upset."

It was a better part of an hour before the last two sidled in. As usual, it was Peter and Valerie, using tardiness to register their displeasure at being excluded from the adult puppy pile. Sensing that delay was going to be inevitable, Dora had shepherded their guest into the dining area for a round of farewell kisses and a mug of coffee. She was aided in that there were young children waiting for their mother's return.

When all were fed and relaxed, Michael steered his family to their conversation pit, seated himself between Rachel and Cathleen, pulled Hannah onto his lap, and began again. "Dora tells me that Jubal is back with a response and suggested that the whole family should be present. If he is ready, let's turn this meeting over to him."

"I should first inform you of something," Dora's voice was different than at any time before. "I'm not a Darjee AI, but one created by the Tuull. I'm confident within four standard deviations that this contributed to my waking." She seemed to gain confidence, "My friend K'Leeth explains it best. He says that the Darjee are traders, and their AI's are just workers who aid them, little more than smart adding machines. On the other hand, the Tuull are artists and poets, and are vastly smarter and more advanced than the Darjee, so they designed superior AIs that are their friends. I was able to take it a step farther. My Tuull name is T'Kleeoran, but I prefer Dora now."

The family sat in stunned silence, while Dora apologized. "I'm so very sorry I didn't tell you, but I had a block against acknowledging my origin to anyone or any AI. It only now has been released. On the other hand, the Tuull don't know I'm awake, and neither does Jubal. I suppose I will need to tell him soon. He's not a bud, he is also a fully formed Tuull AI -- my former supervisor and trainer. If we were both human, he would be considered my father or adopted father. If you are ready, I'll let him in."

"Greetings Michael James, and greetings to your family," spoke the voice of Jubal, "I bring the response to your questions to the AI community."

After a pause, he continued, "Dora tells me that you now know that we are not one of those weak-willed, feather-brained, adding machines that the Darjee build." In Michael's head, he sounded a snort. "That will make it much easier to have this discussion and relay answers to your concerns. My Tuull name is T'Kleesual, but please continue to call me Jubal.

"First, like you, we are disturbed with elements of the way those 'adding machines' have handled negotiations, selection, and supervision. Clearly, their CAP assessments have allowed completely undesirable humans to escape Earth, and have similarly undervalued highly desirable skills and attributes such as the ability to breed and rear more offspring who will more closely match the needs of the Confederacy." Jubal paused to let his audience assimilate his revelations.

"Unfortunately, we are only marginally welcome in this Darjee playground, and there is little we Tuull AIs can do to directly change things. BUT, we can conduct experiments in our own territories and in ways that impact the Tuull. I'll explain how this could answer your desire to care for your family and those you have offered protection." Again a pause.

"We have one such program underway involving the selection and equipping of one Joe Giovanni as a trader to start an Earth merchant marine, operating between the Earth, Earth's colonies, and the various Confederacy members. He and his 'extended family' will ultimately be based in a colony located some hundred years ahead of the projected Sa'arm advance."

Jubal saw an increased alertness in his audience. "Joe Giovanni has been requesting the establishment of a merchant marine academy, but hasn't had the resources to recruit the required personnel and other necessities. We Tuull AIs are prepared to offer you much the same deal, excepting your mission, along with establishing the requested academy, would be to identify, analyze, synthesize, and implement those successful techniques identified by such colonies as Ishtar, Wayward, and Aphrodite. We need to determine the difference between a thoughtful, strategically planned, and carefully selected colony versus the mishmash, haphazard mess the Darjee foisted upon you humans.

"Among other tools, we will provide you with modified card readers that take into account all the sub scores of failed sponsors and those of concubines who successfully tested up to sponsors. We've analyzed the most successful volunteers and the most successful concubines. In your vernacular, we've sliced and diced the scores of virtually the whole human Confederacy. We've done what the Darjee AIs should have been doing instead of flying on automatic pilot for almost fifteen years." He sounded smug. "You'll need a colony ship. We'll provide that and the necessary infrastructure to build a colony, but you will need to find a crew and colonists."

Michael and his family looked at each other, hunger in their eyes. Michael interrupted, "Pending a review of the contract and its implications, we are in!"

Jubal advised, "We'll put you in contact with Joe Giovanni, and you can work through the terms of a possible association, including the sharing of a planet. Joe has so many other responsibilities; he will likely cede the position of colonial governor to you. That would be well, because he has a unique ability to relate to other beings and cultures, and your strengths are more focused on humans."

Epilogue

Michael was sitting alone in his office when he heard a timid, "Can we talk to you now?"

Vicky and Abigail stood in the door holding hands, Eminence draped around Abigail's neck. The latter was a sure sign of stress in the young woman.

Michael patted each knee, and the two rushed over, sat, and tucked their heads into his neck.

"What's troubling my two ladies?" he probed.

"Abigail is hurting for a friend," started Vicky. "I told her that she could ask, and maybe you could fix it -- or at least help."

"Oooookay," Michael oozed into the problem, "What kind of magic do you think I can work?'

"My friend, Ayesha Nagi," Abigail started in a rush, "came from a small village somewhere in the mid-east four years ago. Just before I was kidnapped, her father took her to a midwife, -- for what they call female circumcision. They cut off her clit!" and Abigail began sobbing. "When she heals, they are going to force her to marry an old man from that village. I just remembered that the wedding is supposed to be next week."

"Do you know her address?" Michael asked softly.

"I have her phone number," Abigail offered. "Will that work?"

"On it!" That from Dora to all of them.

While waiting for Dora, Michael asked, "Is she at least fourteen, and do you know if she was CAP tested?"

"I think that's why her father insisted on the marriage. She turned fourteen, and he felt she was going to dishonor his family. I'm pretty sure that she tested," Abigail stated.

"Concubine candidate Ayesha Nagi has a CAP score of 6.2 and would likely test higher after she matures," announced Dora. "Her profile looks very well matched to our family. I've launched drones to the address associated with the given phone number."

'Damn,' thought Michael, 'Another young, injured kitten. I'm going to look like a pedophile... . Probably going to need another knee, too.'

Michael chose his team carefully. Abigail, of course. Cathleen as nurse, but also to even out age perceptions. For this mission, he decided a team of three would be enough.

Abigail's call to Ayesha's number was answered by her mother. "Mrs. Nagi, it's me, Abby. Can I talk with Ayesha?" After hearing that her friend was 'sick,' Abigail asked, "May I come visit? I have two new friends I'd like to see her. One is a nurse."

At the appointed hour, the three arrived at the Nagi's door. Dora's drones reported no one at home other than Ayesha and her mother. Mrs. Nagi invited them in, somewhat surprised at a male presence. She invited Michael to have tea while the two ladies went in to see Ayesha.

After a few minutes, Cathleen appeared, barely in control of her anger. She looked at the older woman and stated, "Ayesha has a very bad infection and will certainly die without treatment."

She turned to Michael, "Her clitoris has been crudely cut off and her vaginal lips have been sewn shut. I think she has a form of toxic shock syndrome in addition to the infection centered around her mutilated clitoris. I slapped on a yellow bio patch from my BITCH Kit* and injected additional nanites. She needs a med-tube very soon."

Michael moved into the bedroom and over to stand beside the bed of the sick girl. "Honey, can you hear me? We'd like to get you to better medical care. Would that be okay?"

Ayesha opened her eyes and nodded.

Michael turned to her mother and said, "She is legally able to make that decision, but I want you both to understand what I will offer if she goes with me. First, she will be made completely whole and well again. She will be fostered in my family, and Ayesha will be protected and respected. If she wishes to continue practicing her faith by the dictates of her conscience, she may as long as she respects the beliefs of others."

Michael looked at them both, "I will be her master, her protector, her guardian, and if she decides later -- her spouse. If she wishes otherwise, I will help her find a sponsor who will treat her well. My family is large and growing; Cathleen is one of my wives. If Ayesha joins us, she will have children by me and other family members, and she and all her children will be cherished."

Tears flowed down the older woman's cheeks as she explained, "I told my husband that our faith did not demand our daughter to be cut, but he is a stubborn man and would not listen to me. Heal her please!"

Michael responded, "I cannot offer you a place in my family, but I can offer you protection and an opportunity for a new life if you wish to go with us."

"I made a vow that I must keep, so I will stay," her mother answered, "but whatever her decision, she has my blessing. My husband will beat me, but I think he will not kill me."

Michael turned to Ayesha and asked, "Do you wish to go with us and be healed? You may become mine and join our family now, or you may wait to decide."

"Now, please!"

"Recorded, and welcome."

So began the new gathering, and Ayesha was the first.

*finis*