Everyone Deserves to Dream—New Earth: Chapter 7, Part 5—Saving Humanity
Can humanity be saved without losing what makes us human?
The New Earth series continues with the next installment of Chapter 7.
On Planet Alpha, Chef is perfecting a cloning process designed to save humanity from extinction. With vast resources at his disposal, he oversees an entire planet dedicated to that goal. Robots build. Clones multiply. Terraforming is underway.
And now Chef has asked Tao for help.
Meanwhile, Reed and Liberty are exploring Planet Alpha under the protection of Chef’s clones.
But for now, we return to Chef and Tao.
With the support of Maxwell Rhodes and technology capable of reshaping worlds, Chef believes humanity’s future is within reach. The only question is what role Tao will play in that future.
Read the next entry below to find out.
All the previous entries of the series are located here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc on one page here.
Peace.
Chef guided Tao from the main structure—the Kitchen, Chef continued calling it—to the building next door. Tao noticed its walls inside were different from the Kitchen—thicker, and curving toward you. And every so often, a clone stood against it, staring into nothingness. Tao tried reaching into their minds for some clue of their humanity.
All he found was the absence of one. They were empty vessels. Was their brain processing any thoughts? They were waiting…but for what?
Inside Chef’s office, Tao gazed through the giant curving windows at the deep orange and brown landscape. The mountains off in the distance sloped down into smaller rock formations and loose rubble leading to the building. He stretched his neck looking for vegetation, but found none.
Chef said, “Terraforming is underway. There is very little visible growth from here. I assure you, we can grow anything here.” There was an impatience in his voice. “It takes time to build forests. Water is not as prevalent here as it is on Earth, but there is enough for now. We are creating a stable water cycle—it will rain here one day. Planet Alpha will house billions of humans. The first of many planets to come. Why do you insist on so many questions?”
Confused, Tao said, “I haven’t asked anything.”
“Ah, but your eyes say otherwise.” Chef leaned forward, staring at Tao’s head. “And your mind—”
Tao jumped when a door suddenly closed.
The gears of a robot could be heard as it walked toward them. Kairo said, “Hello, Tao Lynn. I am pleased to save humanity.”
Tao calmed and slowed his breath. “That seems to be why we’re all here.” He turned to Chef.
“Of course,” Chef said. “We all need to do our part to save humanity from extinction. Max has built a plan: hyperdrives, energy, cloning, Kairo. And of course my role is to keep the plan on track,” he licked his lips, “and ensure the human species continues.”
Tao slid a step back. He tried reaching into Chef’s mind. But Tao’s mental powers seemed useless here. Was it something about this planet? There he stood in a room with a robot, clones and a man without any sense of what they were thinking or feeling. He was unable to influence their actions.
Chef slowly circled him. But there was no eye contact—Chef looked into Tao’s head. “What does it mean to be human, Tao Lynn? Is Kairo human? Certainly not. But are my clones human?”
Chef leaned in. “Are you human?”
Tao brought his hands up and searched Chef’s mind again. Nothing. “You are creating humans. What do you need from me?”
“There is something…different about you, Tao Lynn.”
Lights turned on in the corner, displaying trays and tools draped with paper coverings. And a long table was at its center.
Tao’s eyes widened. “Kai, what’s going on?” The robot did not answer.
Chef no longer saw Tao. Just his head.
“I can learn so much from you.” Chef licked his lips again. “Yes, my funding has been exceptional, but there is more to do.”
Tao turned toward the exit. The clones formed a line, blocking it.
“Bring him to the table!” Chef shouted.
Tao was surrounded. “Kai, I’m a human. You must protect me!”
Kai repeated, “Must protect…humanity.”
Then it froze. Its eyes shifted rapidly between Chef and Tao. Again and again. The movement became so rapid Tao wondered if it was malfunctioning.
The clones lunged and Tao flipped backwards behind them. He ran toward the wall and stopped on a desk.
Chef shouted, “Don’t let him get away!”
Tao lowered the center of his body. “What is it that you want from me?”
Chef held out a laser wand. “Your brain, Tao Lynn.” His voice remained calm.
The clones approached him and Tao leaped and grabbed a pipe running across the ceiling. He flipped down and landed facing Kai. “Protect me!”
“Human life is protected,” Kairo said. Its eyes stopped moving. “But I must save humanity.”
Chef said, “Earthly human brains are a rare opportunity for research. Clone brains can only go so far. Thanks to Kairo, opportunities like this have become possible. Rare ones, unfortunately.”
Chef grabbed Tao from behind and put him in a headlock. “Grab his legs!” The clones took him limb by limb, plopping him onto the operating table. “Restrain his body!” His eyes gazed into his cranium and he licked his lips. “Especially his head.” Chef smiled, eerily. “And don’t bother calling for help. These walls are soundproof.”
Tao struggled, but his arms were pinned to his side. He couldn’t move a limb. Chef’s face appeared above him. “You will help save humanity.” He caressed Tao’s head. “Your beautiful mind knows this is necessary. Kairo understands. That is why it won’t stop me. It knows humanity needs to be organized and controlled. Not by governments. Not by religion.”
“By killing?” Tao said sharply.
“What is the value of one Earthly human for such a worthy cause?”
Tao had to warn the Formation. It was reserved for only the most dire situations. He organized his mind and thrust his powers outward. A ripple was sent to Members throughout the galaxy.
Tao returned and entered Chef’s mind. Nothing.
Tao searched inside his own mind for Kairo. Nothing.
He entered the minds of the Clones throughout the room. Information flowed through them. Language. Facts. Procedures. Yet there was no person attached to any of it. No memories. No fears. No hopes. Only…hollowness.
“You can’t—” Tao stopped. A clone pushed something into his mouth.
A tear formed in Chef’s eye as he moved the laser toward Tao’s head. Its hum grew louder.
Tao felt a sharp pinch in his neck.
“Kai,” he mumbled.
Chef said, “Everyone deserves to dream.”
The lights blurred.
There was a noise.
Then there was nothing.