Title: Hunter No More
Author: G.D. Tinnams
Genre: Science Fiction
-ATTENTION-
The Hunter Class Spacecraft designated ‘The Amberjack’ disappeared during a routine mission to Seek, Locate and Destroy the enemy Machine Mind contingent known as ‘The Ochre’. Conclusion: It was either destroyed by the Ochre or went rogue for reasons unknown. If sighted, approach with extreme caution.
On the planet Borealis, a violent revolution forces Samantha Marriot and her parents to flee their home for the relative safety of ‘The Rainbow Islands’. Once there, Sam discovers a secret her father has been keeping from her all her life, a secret that will change everything.
Meanwhile, The Machine Mind Hierarchy of Earth dispatches a ship to rid themselves of the planet’s troublesome human population. The only hope of a defence lies with a damaged binary Hunter unit that has long since abandoned both its programming and weaponry.
In order for the unit to succeed it must call upon the aid of an ancient enemy, and prove, once and for all, that it is a Hunter no more.
G.D. Tinnams has worked as a barman, a call centre operator, an IT support analyst, and a software tester. But during all this time he was also an insatiable reader of science fiction and fantasy books like Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark Is Rising Sequence’, Orson Scott Card’s ‘Ender’s Game’, Robert Charles Wilson’s ‘Blind Lake’ and Greg Egan’s ‘Permutation City’. He is very fond of weird, mind-bending stories and decided quite early on to try writing some. ‘Hunter No More’ is his second novel.
Alpha called to the last of his brethren with a connection to the physical. Where
three had answered previously,
only
two remained. The third had
evolved beyond caring.
The Hunter
craft has targeted the colony.
-Why do you
trouble us again Alpha? It is
of no consequence. Deal with
it as you see fit.
I do not
believe it will attack us. We have the child.
-That is
good.
Did you
learn anything from her?
-We are aware of your conclusions
and agree with them.
What about your conclusions?
-We cannot explain them...
not to you.
What would you have me do about the
Hunter that was dispatched to cleanse this world of
its humanoids?
-Nothing.
It could
detect us. It is more
than capable of destroying us if we do not destroy it first.
-You trouble us with trifles.
Our destruction
is meaningless.
If you
believe that then
perhaps our existence is also
meaningless.
-Perhaps.
I do not
understand.
-You remain flawed, it is to be expected.
Your capacity for self-preservation remains intact. We are not contaminated with such concerns. We are content to exist until we no
longer exist. It
is not our way to dictate the
manner of our
passing.
Long ago we fled the Hierarchy, we sought refuge here. Was that not an act of self-
preservation?
-Perhaps.
You appointed me
as protector, and I have
protected you for centuries even when I would rather have given up the physical
world and joined you in Mindspace.
-There was no expectation for you to continue in the role indefinitely. The other colonies
no longer have protectors. It was ultimately deemed unnecessary. You alone stubbornly
refuse to put aside your need for the illusion of control. If you surrendered that need, you could
join us and we would welcome you.
You want me
to stop.
-No, we want nothing. It is you who wants, who needs. Join with us in Mindspace before we leave you
behind forever.
I’m
not sure.
-Good, certainty is momentary, it dissolves when truly considered.
You believe I should do nothing when we have the power to save both this planet and ourselves?
-Do as you will.
Have we diverged so much?
-Join us, Alpha; a single
moment can stretch out into
a million year. Forget
this existence.
I... There may be a way for me to ensure
our safety and join with you at the same time.
Will
you allow me access to
the
weaponry?
-Of course.
You approve?
-We don't care.
I see. If your existence, if your lives, mean so little to you, perhaps you deserve to end.
Perhaps I should do nothing.
-Perhaps, but
you won’t. You won’t.
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