He realized it was probably true. Breeding led to commitment, and while love normally preceded breeding, the two were interactive, and those who bred did normally come to love each other. "It is too much of a gamble," he said.
"I stand to risk too much, and the price of you is too great. But there is a third alternative for you: return to your people without success here, and regroup for an effort elsewhere. I will let you go."
"That is not an option for me. I already love you, and must have you or die."
"You do not know me!"
"I do know you. I have studied you. I know your ways. I value your competence and integrity, and your extraordinary capability. You are ideal for me, and I will do my best to be ideal for you."
He studied her face. "I decline. What is now your course?"
Weft sighed. "I regret this. I must take you by force."
"How could you do such a thing? I inquire as a matter of curiosity."
She stepped toward him moving her hands. Something filmy settled around him. Then the film coalesced, and he found himself bound in place. He struggled, but could not move. He could not even speak; film had fastened his mouth closed. He could only breathe, and watch her.
"It is a passive restraint," she said. "It will not hurt you if you don't fight it." She addressed his clothing, somehow managing to take it off him despite the film. There was evidently a technique.
When she had him naked, she adjusted his chair to lean back and make him effectively lie on his back. She straddled him, her thighs outside his, her knees beside his hips. She put her face down and licked his penis, which quickly stiffened. When it was turgid, she lifted her cleft over him, then guided his member as she lowered her body.
The head of his penis nudged her vagina, about to penetrate.
"Havoc." It was Ennui on the intercom. "An hour has passed without notice from you. Are you alert?"
"Frustration!" Weft said, holding her position. "You must answer. You can report me and end this now, or you can allow me to continue. The choice is yours." She reached across to touch the intercom switch as her other hand touched his mouth, dissolving the film there.
"I am alert," Havoc said. "I will be through soon. Carry on."
Weft turned off the intercom. "So I called your bluff," she said, and lowered herself the rest of the way. "I have dissolved all the film; you may move freely."
He did so, bucking to thrust strongly into her, jetting his passion. As he did so, he felt the surge of feeling. He was indeed coming to love her. This was a hormonal thing, but effective. "I had already decided," he gasped as his orgasm ran its course."
She kissed him. "Then why did you make me force you?"
"I wanted to verify that you had what it takes to fulfill your mission. It is evident that you do."
She laughed. "I don't believe it."
"Observe." He made no signal, and gave no audible command, but abruptly six armed men appeared in the office. "They have been watching all along. They interceded only when I chose. Ennui, too, was aware throughout."
Weft looked around, remaining on him, surrounding his penis. "I think I have been a fool."
"No. You made your case and acted as you saw fit. You are the woman I want, with the challenge I want, and I will join your mission. Now that I am sure that you are up to it."
"But if you could have stopped me any time—"
"A leader does not leave his personal safety to chance. I see that your group will need some instruction there. I will see to it. You do need me. But your mistake does not detract from your other qualities. You are worthy, and your mission is worthy."
"So you will let us take the ship?"
"It is being arranged now. You will need more supplies, so can't leave immediately, but it will happen."
"More supplies?"
"You surely have food, construction equipment, fuel, entertainment. You will also need an advanced technological and magical library."
"We won't make machines!"
"We won't make the kind of machines you oppose. We will need tools to accomplish our larger purpose."
"Larger purpose?"
"We are a type 2.5 culture, devolving. We need to advance. Otherwise the machines will come after us and catch us. We have to have information to build on."
She looked around. "But these men—they know. It can't be secret."
"These are robots. They don't care."
"Ennui isn't a robot."
"She will come too. You have room?"
"Yes." Weft finally thought to lift herself off him, clean up, and dress.
Havoc went to the console. "Now for those supplies," he said, touching buttons. "And some privacy."
The animation ended. Havoc was lying in the chamber. He climbed out as Iolo Ifrit condensed.
"Why did it stop?" he asked Caterpillar.
"The recording stopped there. The governor stopped it."
"Did the ship take off?"
"There is no record."
This was a low level machine. He rephrased the question. "Is there record of a missing ship?"
"Yes."
"Is there any further record of the governor, or of the woman?"
"No."
That spoke for itself. The escape mission had succeeded. "When did this happen?" Weft asked, joining them.
"Approximately fifty thousand years ago."
"And the machines set off after them?" Havoc asked. "When they discovered the governor and the ship missing?"
"Yes."
"But why?" Weft asked. "Since there was no machine revolt. Were they afraid the Makers would return to wipe them out?"
"No."
"Then why did they pursue the Escape group?" Havoc repeated, realizing that the simple machine had answered only the second question. Lower level machines were not great on context, as they had discovered before.
"To serve them."
Havoc and Weft exchanged a look of surprise.
"Not to destroy them?" Weft asked.
"Machines do not destroy Makers."
"But those Makers don't want to be served," Havoc said.
"Our prime directive is to serve."
"Even though this would destroy their initiative, making them slugs like those who remained here?"
"Our prime directive is to serve."
Machines were not much on reason, either. They simply followed their directive, regardless of the long-range consequences.
"But then why are the machines wiping out all other living cultures?" Weft asked.
"To find the Makers."
"Why not just ignore them?"
"They might be the Makers."
This required some discussion. It turned out that the machines were not sure they could recognize the escaped Makers, so they were conquering and studying other cultures to make quite sure they were neither the Makers nor capable of hiding the Makers. A destroyed culture could not hide any Makers. The machines were making a clean sweep, ensuring that in time they would locate the missing Makers without inadvertently destroying them. The rest of the galaxy might be extinct, but they would find and serve the Makers, completing their directive.
And the final question: "Why have you shown us this?"
"So you will help us find the Makers."
"We won't do that!" Weft exclaimed.
"Then we will continue our search."
A search that was destroying all other living cultures. The machines did not care what damage was done; they merely honored their prime directive.
"Suppose the Makers returned, so you could serve them?" Havoc asked.
"Then our search would be over."
And the rest of the galaxy would be saved.
Chapter 25 Filia
Opaline went out to her private place in the forest. She closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she could.
Havoc! I need you.
Havoc appeared. "You suffer from a lack of passion?"