"That you've been fighting each other forever?" I asked.
"We once lived in harmony. In a symbiotic relationship. That means—"
"I know what that means." Something about his choice of words made me pause. "Wait. What do you mean?"
"A symbiotic relationship is when two species have a mutually beneficial long-term biological interaction."
"I know! But between Chimerics and Mekanics?"
Impossible! Zoe took a step away from Garvek. Her claws had dug into the carpet, leaving behind gouges.
Zoe?
Garvek glanced down, shaking his head at the damaged carpet. "The Chimerics would never admit it, but it's true." He spoke more softly. "Mekanics and Chimerics once bonded, as you now do with your Avatar. Of course, our two races can no longer bond."
Something about the way Garvek said that made me think he was spreading a dirty rumor or piece of juicy gossip. Chimerics and Mekanics used to hook up? "Okay, so what…"
No! That can't be!
I winced at Zoe's mental cry of surprise. Zoe?
There were rumors…but…but… Zoe stood up, knelt down, then stood up again. He has to be lying!
I reached out to steady Zoe. It took me a moment to realize why she was so upset. I had only been in the crazy world of Beastmasters for a month. When everything surprised you, nothing did. This robot was overturning Zoe's whole life, though, if he was right.
Garvek nodded gravely. "Many Mekanics deny what happened eons ago as well. But you'll change that."
"Uh, I will?"
Zoe, any idea where he's going?
I have no idea. Zoe had gotten over her initial shock. A quiver of curiosity passed through our mental bond.
"We Mekanics have lost touch with our biological heritage. We can't replicate like you do anymore."
"You can't reproduce?" I frowned. "Then, why aren't you extinct?"
"Our numbers are shrinking. We've only managed to survive for this long because our minds can outlive our long-gone bodies. Of course, we need to reboot our minds every couple hundred years or so when things start to crack. Keeps us fresh and sane."
This…this is amazing. We know so little about them. We have little direct contact, outside of their war machines. We weren't even sure if they had any organic forms left.
Why's he sharing his people's deepest secrets with us?
Likely to gain our trust. He could still be lying. Or omitting key details.
I nodded as if I wasn't completely overwhelmed about everything I had just heard. "Maybe Zoe or I could help with Chimeric stuff. But I don't know anything about making a new you."
"Mekanics labored for ages to solve the problem of what it takes to birth a new mind. The answer's simple, really. It takes a body." He clanked a fist against his metal chest. "Alas, this one won't do."
"I still don't get it."
"When Mekanics and Chimerics could bond, they shared everything, mind and body, as you do with your Avatar. They could even breed together. One bonded pair would couple with another to conceive a new bonded offspring. The pinnacle of perfect co-evolution. The truest symbiosis." Garvek's lone black eye closed briefly for the first time since meeting him. It was unnerving. "They say such a four-way coupling was the greatest pleasure the universe had ever seen."
Wait, did he wink at me?
Forget that, Dustin. How does he know all this? All records of our far history, the kind he's talking about, are lost to time. We have rumors and stories, nothing more. I'm not sure I believe him.
"You'll have to pardon her, but Zoe doesn't quite believe you."
Garvek gave a hearty laugh. "Some of my own people don't believe me, but I've researched this thoroughly. Look at the Mekanics and Chimerics of today. Why do you think only higher Chimerics can reproduce? And they can only breed through parthenogenesis. Mekanics have lost the ability to reproduce altogether. Your Beastmasters become sterile after bonding. All of this is linked. Mekanics and Chimerics were meant to live, breed, and die together."
"That's a nice theory, but what does that have to do with blowing up the Academy?" I asked. "Is that supposed to prove you're right?"
"That wasn't my decision," Garvek replied in a more surly tone. "I can prove I'm right. Select humans can bond with Chimerics to create your Beastmasters. But humans are unique, the most powerful hosts Chimerics have ever found. It doesn't have to stop there. Mekanics can bond with human Beastmasters." Garvek pounded one fist into another. "Don't you see? Humans can serve as a bridge to bond Mekanics with Chimerics once again."
"And let me guess, all this only works with higher Chimerics, and we're the only one," I said. "Where have I heard that before…"
"Exactly!" Garvek nodded furiously.
I shook my head. "Seriously? First Dr. Preston and Dr. Hill. Now you? Aren't there a ton of higher Chimerics, I don't know, back on Chimeria? And what's with the Second Strain? How's Staccato and them mixed up in all of this?"
"Now, now. We can't give up all of our secrets, can we?" Garvek made a tutting sound at me. "But do you know how hard it is to get our hands on higher Chimerics? And convince them to bond with a human? Your situation is very rare. As for Dr. Preston, who do you think gave him the idea in the first place?"
"Dr. Preston's working for you?" He was a traitor? Fucking hell, that would explain a lot.
Garvek chuckled. "This whole time he's been working with incomplete samples. Imagine what we can do once you're a complete specimen."
Would that explain why Dr. Preston was extra creepy? Were Mekanics some kind of mental magicians? I suddenly remembered the mood-altering device Dr. Hill had recovered from Staccato's old room.
Shit! Are they doing anything to us?
Not that I can detect. But you're right. If they can influence minds…we'll have to be extra cautious.
"Why do you even need Dr. Preston's help?" I asked. "Didn't you say humans were dumb?"
Garvek rubbed the back of his geometrically square head with a blocky hand. "Biology is infuriatingly imprecise. Our expertise is in software and hardware, for the most part. In any case, humanity's creativity in the face of danger has been quite productive for us."
I stared at Garvek. Zoe? Did you hear that? He made it sound like they were leading us on the whole time, so that they could snatch up whatever we came up with in desperation. Like they might be doing now.
This…this can't be.
"And what about Cody and Staccato?" I asked. "I sure as hell won't help them."
Garvek sighed. "Early projects that didn't live up to their potential. They're still valuable assets, so do try to get along with them." Garvek clapped his hands together with a finality. "That's enough answers for today. Please enjoy your stay and get some rest. Tomorrow is the start of your integration program."
"Integration program?"
"I'll want to perform a basic evaluation. I also suspect a higher evolution level will give more robust results. Then, we need to test your compatibility with Mekanic technology."
"Wait, what—"
The large metal man spun on his heels and moved swiftly towards the door. "Have a pleasant evening."
The door slammed shut, leaving me and Zoe with more questions than when Garvek had arrived.
CHAPTER 16
Do you believe him? Zoe asked.
I blinked. Zoe was asking me? Aren't you the expert on Mekanics? Damn, this was crazy. I looked around the room in a daze. Hold on. I'm starving.
I headed to the kitchen area and spotted one of those instant pizza machines. I had learned my lesson from Drake. When life gives you a pizza maker, you make pizza.