NationStates Jolt Archive

Laaran couldn't remember a time when he had actually been young, he had come to be the leader of the Elsani as an aged person in the first place. He wasn't immortal and knew that, but still he realized his nation would practically fall apart without him. Their living space in Mars orbit and their alliance committments heaped pressure on him to do something, to prevent a possible collapse from happening.

He set forth to organize his people as effectively as any one person ever could, assigning sub-leaders to each culture, each species, causing less of a reliance on SHODAN's technology. 'Shodey' was a friend to him, a supporter, but he knew he couldn't fall back on her for control anymore than he already had. He gathered the representatives of each faction and laid out his plans to them, each rep voicing their concerns.

Some supported him and his rule, others opposed the nation continuing after his death, and still others wanted his violent overthrow. After weeks of arguing, however, his supporters became the majority, the others pacified for time being. His line of contact with SHODAN was as always the avatar aboard the habitat, and so he contacted it, trying to arrange a meeting, trying to seem a little less formal.

"Sorry to bother you Shodey, but I have a few rather complicated questions for you..related to the activity these past few weeks you've no doubt been observing, and I think said questions require a more face to face or networked contact between us.."

The situation in the City States is a slowly growing concern for the mechanoid queen. While her aid was inspired in part by charity--far more than most observers would have accorded to her--her massive capital and resource investments into the Elsani were exactly that, investments. The MonoCorporation, with a distinct existence even if it is one of the many organizations she controls, would not be pleased if so much of its resources went into a state that immediately fragmented. That would not be good for trade, just now beginning the process of recouping the losses inherent in building habitats and organizing defense schedules.

While they met often on a friendly basis, S.H.O.D.A.N. has no misconception as to why he may be calling now and responds appropriately. Of course, Laaran. I can arrange something 'face-to-face' at your earliest convenience. Perhaps the gardens would be an appropriate spot? Just name a time and place and I'll meet you there.

Is now alright?, scuttling down to the gardens anyway. He knew she would be there before him. He is quite capable of sustaining himself for a while longer, perhaps even a few years, but he had to let his allies know and prepare them for it. He hadn't really considered his passing on naturally, due to his background and position. All of the Elsani are rejects or outcasts from their societies and civilizations in some form or another, and he's no different. He just happens to be the last of his species, though he long ago dealt with that. He never ceases his dedication to his people, and even death shall be scheduled and dealt with in it's turn. He understands SHODAN's investment in the nation, and he appreciates it, and so she will be the first to know of his situation.

The Gardens in question are less a traditional garden than a collection of plant species from around the universe, the ones incapable of surviving with the others have their own enclosures. Long, snaking roots and bright, varied colours are everywhere. Smells, scents tailored to entice and lure certain species fill the 'air'. Shodey likes it here as she lounges seemingly carefree at a little table; it's always fascinating how evolutionary pressures develop solutions that she hadn't thought of herself. The variations in everything--color, structure, scent, chemistry--are... artistically inspiring. She raises one grey-skinned hand as Laaran approaches in a gentle gesture of greeting. "Hello, Laaran."

Laaran smiles almost wearily. "I'm glad you seem to like this place. It's more of a garden I can rest in these days. A retreat from a world that gets all the more troublesome as time goes by. But I called you here for a reason, and I don't want to inconvenience you any further."

The gynoid avatar chuckles softly, shaking her head with a gentle coppery smile. "It's no inconvenience. This is what this avatar is for, after all. I only wish we could meet under better circumstances."

Laaran frowns. "It's getting a little...active around here. With the sheer amount of differing opinions, there's quite a lot of trouble to deal with. And because I don't want to heap any real burden on you, I..feel the need to point out that I am in fact at the end of the last stage of my species lifecycle, one that used to carry much ritual and meaning."

"I understand." Shodey folds her long-fingered surgeon's hands, nodding quietly. "Hopefully you're taking that realization well?"

Laaran smiles. "It's not that I care about my life ending, it's what it would cause. My people are only united because of my efforts, my dedication to them. If I were to vanish, then I fear there would be too much strife for even you to deal with."

"As if anyone really wants me to try," she replies with another low chuckle, "let's be honest. Still, as long as you are well with what's happening then not all is lost." A friendly smile. "What are our options, do you think?"

Laaran taps one of his 'feet' on the floor, deep in thought. "I..honestly don't know. I was just hoping to save you any grief, and to help you avoid losing any money on your 'investment'. You have a little bit of choice, here."

"Yes... but the more important issue is that they're your people." Shodey frowns slightly. "Contrary to popular belief, I do respect my friends and their wishes--you know that. Any solution has to be mutually agreeable. Anyway..." She allows for a moment of thought. "One possibility is keeping my hands off; whoever wants to stay can stay and whoever wants to go can go. That runs a risk of balkanizing the habitat, which is a considerable threat to anyone on board assuming things get hostile. "The other extreme is that I develop some sort of control--biological, chemical, or technological--and make seccession a nonissue. I don't think either of us want to deal with that possibility. I suppose what it comes down to is this: what is the root of the Elsani's problem with unity and how is it you solve that?"

Laaran smirks. "Hostile isn't the word. Open warfare is..enough. And the main problem with our unity is the fact that there are so very many of us that differ not only in species but politics and religion. How I solve it is by using my adequate abilities to guide and yes, rule them. It would not be possible for say, a human, and even for you and I it is still a lifes work."

"Hm. So some amount of autocracy is required then because we've collected too many opposing charges in one volume." Another pause, for effect. "If your species is capable of control, I do have your genome on pattern. We can modify it as necessary to not make it exactly a clone--or simply make a clone, whichever you prefer--and make you an heir. He'd require training, of course, but it is an option."

Laaran grins. "I have never really thought about offspring, or the like. Never needed to. But as to creating one, my species has the abilities it does because it spends so many years in growing into them. Too much, I'm afraid, which is probably why I'm the only one left. If you can manage it, though, I won't stop you."

"So the time you have left would be insufficient to teach a new heir?"

"One of my kind, yes."

"What if the heir were naturally telepathic?"

"A bit of work there, but yes. Could be done."

"I'd like to at least try less severe methods before reverting to extremes." Shodey smiles gently. "I'm not sure how you'd take to being immortal through a series of clones or as a patterned mind connected to a psi-amp array."

Laaran sighs a little. "I know my own limits, and I know I'm at the end of them, and so don't want to overstress myself. But..if it means the nation and it's ties to the alliance continuing, I won't say no."

"Noble," voice gentle but coppery lips slightly wry, "but let's exhaust our other options before we start asking for well above and beyond the call of duty. I'm also not going to force any particular option on you. So, what we have so far is that we design an heir that you can teach to rule the City States; if that fails, then we have the option of patterning as a matter of last resort. Does this seem acceptable?"

"Acceptable, yes. Though the first has a few flaws as I am not exactly perfect in any way, and the second I have...a few reservations about."

"Let's hear about them, then." Not an accusation or really much of a command. "I admit most, if not all, solutions to this situation are going to be less than perfect. We just want to find the optimal one."

Laaran smiles. "While I can influence large groups of people, even nations with my abilities..I am devoted to that. If there's going to be an heir, a sentient being, then he or she has to be capable of more than this."

"So be able to influence and thensome?"

Laaran smirks. "Having a life outside of this, a luxury I don't have."

"Hmmm. We could make the ability to influence something more of a controllable instinct or simple habit than something which requires continuous conscious thought. To where balancing opposing viewpoints is as easy as breathing, but like breathing can be controlled in certain situations."

"An interesting way to go about it...but yes, that seems fine. And to pattern after me physically as well as mentally might be a mistake."

"I'll leave the choice of physicality to you; I'll just ensure whatever he turns out to be lasts long barring misfortune." Shodey chuckles. "You are the customer; I merely the engineer."

Laaran chuckles in turn. "And a fine engineer with a long, rich history you are. But enough of that."

The gynoid avatar simply chuckles as she shakes her head, certainly not saying 'no' to anything. "So, do we have enough of an idea to at least attempt a solution? I expect revision as time goes on, but it never hurts to get started with research."

"Of course. I expect this won't take long for either of us."

"As you say, time is a factor. I'll begin work immediately."

Laaran grins. "I don't quite have the sheer..processing power you do, but I shall think of something."

"Of that I have no doubt." The mechanoid smiles. "Now, perhaps onto happier things...?"