BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
SYSTEM ACTION: LOG FILES OPEN
AUTOMATIIC VOICE RECOGNITION ACTIVATED
SECURE ENCRYPTED STORAGE
SYSTEM PROMPT: ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL NOW IDENTIFY THEMSELVES FOR
VOICE RECOGNITION
Voice One: This is Captain Lili Denner Marquette.
Voice Two: This is Anton Miraldi.
SYSTEM ACTION: THERE ARE TWO VOICES RECOGNIZIED
VOICE ONE IS NOW REFFERED TO AS LILI
VOICE TWO IS NOW REFERRED TO AS A.M.
VOICEPRINT FOR LILI CONFIRMED
VOICEPRINT FOR A.M. CONFIRMED
BEGIN INTERROGATION
| Lili: | Mr. Miraldi, you have made several claims that seem unbelievable. Are you prepared to back up your statements? |
| A.M.: | Yes. I object to this being termed an "interrogation". I have come here, of my own free will and at your request, to fill you in on the details of some things that we discussed earlier. |
| Lili: | True. We borrowed this equipment from the security service. I will have to remember to reformat the transcript later. The purpose of this interview is to record your information to be used in the training of resistance members, and for posterity. I am willing to perform this service for the movement, but I don't know why you insist that I am the one to conduct this interview. |
| A.M.: | It is important that history, or as you put it, posterity, record your part in this too. |
| Lili: | You keep claiming that I am so important to these events. Why? |
| A.M.: | Because it is true.... All right, I see you are becoming frustrated
with my very direct answers. I will just say, for now, that you are
important to humanity for a very great number of reasons. More to the point, you have a unique perspective on the Taelons. You are closer to understanding the Taelons than even those that they have implanted with CVI's. I see that you still do not understand this. Let's skip it for now. Ask your questions. |
| Lili: | You give your name as Anton Miraldi, but have stated that you have used other names at other times. How many other names have you used? |
| A.M.: | Let me see. If I took the time to count, it would be almost forty. |
| Lili: | Do you change names every few months? |
| A.M.: | No, about every sixty years. I see that you are doing the math in your head. Yes, captain. I am that old. |
| Lili: | That's not possible. The current state of the medical profession, even with the advances that the Taelons have brought, can't produce a life span that long. |
| A.M.: | You are right. This group of Taelons could not do it. There was, however, one Taelon who did do it. His name was Ma'el. I think that you have heard of him. |
| Lili: | You knew Ma'el? |
| A.M.: | Like a brother. |
| Lili: | Are you human then? |
| A.M.: | I was. Let me explain. |
| Lili: | Please do. |
| A.M.: | Taelons have been dealing with genetic modifications for a very long
time. They have genetically modified themselves, even. When Ma'el came to earth, he began a study of the inhabitants of this planet. He felt that we had great promise. In order to complete his research on humans, he needed to perform some tests. He had taken his laboratory experiments as fare as he could go. Taelons are not in the habit of asking for volunteers. I was one of the humans Ma'el used as subjects for his "field tests." |
| Lili: | Are there more like you? How many more are there? |
| A.M.: | Yes there are a number of us left. I am not going to disclose, even to you, our exact number. We are too vulnerable at the moment. |
| Lili: | So you are what? Some sort of Human / Taelon... hmmm .... hybrid? |
| A.M.: | (Laughs) The word you are looking for is "half-breed". Nothing
quite so lucky as that, I am afraid. It would be easy to retreat in
to being just a social outcast. Being half human, half Taelon, would
mean being partially accepted by both sides. No, I have to live with
being a freak. Not even a freak of nature. Just a freak.
Accepted by neither the Humans, nor the Taelons. We are totally outcast.
Even the look in your eyes now makes me want to get up and leave this place forever. Not even your beauty can hide the horror you feel behind your eyes. The more you discover, the more your disgust of me will grow. You can not imagine what it is like to be me. |
| Lili: | But you look perfectly normal. What modifications were performed? |
| A.M.: | Nice try, Captain. Ok, let's hide behind the technical stuff for
a while. You are familiar with the way cells in the body replicate, I assume.
The process, in all of its details, is fascinating, and very complex.
I won't go into the details. You can look them up in any good
biology book. My DNA replication process has been altered to work perfectly. Well, at least much better than even the most healthy normal human. It is the imperfect DNA replication that is the heart of the aging process. Due to this, I don't age in any material way. Also, my tissue regeneration process was enhanced. This means that I heal from injury at an incredible rate. It also means that tissue that does not regenerate in normal humans, does in me. |
| Lili: | So, you're immortal then? |
| A.M.: | (Laughs) Oh, heavens no! Not by any means. To be immortal
would mean to be "ever living". A creature that can not die. Such
a creature might not even be able to be killed. To be immortal would mean that you would not be dependent upon environmental conditions. In me, all of the usual bodily processes still occur. The needs of these processes are the same as in a normal body. I still need air, light, water, food, love, etc. I can be injured. Even at a high rate of recovery, if an injury is sufficient, death occurs. I have watched many of my brother, and sister, subjects die from very mortal wounds. I held a dear friend in my arms and watched the blood flow from his body. When enough blood was lost, he died. Indeed, a great number of us have been killed. I have lost count of the number. |
| Lili: | Well it has been, what, two thousand years? You could not remember them all over that period of time. |
| A.M.: | I told you, my tissue regeneration is different. I re-grow nerve cells and brain tissue. I don't forget many things. I can recall the habits of every man that I have met, and the scent of every woman that I have been with. Not only can I remember them all, it is difficult not to see the faces of each, and every, one of them. |
| Lili: | I did not mean... |
| A.M.: | No need to apologize. I have heard it all before. It will take you a while yet to have all of this to sink in. My altered nature has allowed me do develop myself to a higher degree than your average man. My long life span has given me the opportunity to become very educated. The added brain mass gives me the ability to attain a higher intelligence level than most. These advantages have not been wasted. It is a small compensation to be a super human after having been robbed of the pleasure of being a normal human. |
| Lili: | So you have come to hate the Taelons, then? |
| A.M.: | Despised, rebuked, disgusted, and hated. All of that and more! What is that old expression? Ah, yes. "Been there. Done that.", I think is how that goes. Way beyond hate. Emotions like hate steal energy from you. I prefer to understand the Taelons. That is the key to stopping them. |
| Lili: | So, you think that the Taelons must be stopped. How did you stop them before? |
| A.M.: | Not them. Just him. There were many of us and only one Taelon,
Ma'el. You think that this little group of Taelons are big liars. Ma'el must have been the father of all liars! He lies to his own kind. That message he left in his tomb. Ha, big lie! Many, many, big lies. He said that he destroyed his research so that the Taelons would not use it against us. He did not destroy his research. I took it from him. I have it still! |
| Lili: | What?! |
| A.M.: | Oh, yes! I have been waiting for someone that I could trust who reads Taelon. I can read it, of course. But I need witnesses. Human witnesses. It can't come from me, or my group. We are biased, you see. Your Commander Boone will be most helpful in this matter. |
| Lili: | Yes, but I don't know how to read Taelon. |
| A.M.: | Of course not. You know how to read Taelons! Much more important, no? |
| Lili: | I don't understand. |
| A.M.: | You just don't want to understand! I can accept that. I did
not want to accept it, at first, when it happened to me either. You
have had a special relation with a Taelon. I see that you still don't
get it. You know that Taelons are primarily energy based, but can transmute a portion of themselves to matter and become solid. Yes? Good. That is how you can touch a Taelon. But you, my dear, have been touched by a Taelon. |
| Lili: | Many people have been touched by Taelons. |
| A.M.: | Really? How many is "many"? Taelons have laid hands on humans
to transfer energy. Either to heal or to destroy. Never for the
pleasure of the Taelon. Check the records of the first contact meeting.
The Taelons found our "handshake" custom to be disgusting. For a Taelon to want to touch you is rare indeed. To desire to share in the touching is almost unheard of. You have shared a touch with Da'an. |
| Lili: | But it was just a touch! |
| A.M.: | But think on it. You felt, what? |
| Lili: | (Shudders) Something. I...I...I can't put it into words. |
| A.M.: | Not the best you have had, huh? |
| Lili: | Are you saying that Da'an and I had...? |
| A.M.: | Please. They don't have sex. Good heavens, they don't even have a sex! It is not the same as you and me. It is not physical. It is a sharing on a mental level that can not be equaled physically. It is way beyond what can happen on the physical level. |
| Lili: | Is that what he meant by taking the relationship to "the next level." |
| A.M.: | Ha, is that not just about the oldest line in the book? Well, lets just say that your life was changed in a flash. |
| Lili: | I don't feel that different. |
| A.M.: | But you are different. You have part of what I have. I "got
it" from a Taelon too. The same way. Yours was not a physical
alteration. Your DNA is the same and you don't have advanced regeneration
capabilities, but you are a partially enhanced human. I'll bet that, since that touch, you have been more fit and trim than ever before. You have been getting stronger, faster, with better reactions and agility. |
| Lili: | I've been working out and watching my diet. |
| A.M.: | You are almost as good a liar as the Taelons. I'll bet that your mind has been getting stronger too. You think much more clearly. If you took an intelligence test right now, you would score higher than you ever have. Your pilot proficiency scores are higher now than at any point in your career. |
| Lili: | Yes, this is all true. I don't see a down side here. This all seems like a positive outcome for me. |
| A.M.: | You do hold on to old ways of thinking. You have always had a stubborn
streak. Yes, I have checked your records. Ever since I learned
of your session with Da'an, it was imperative that I contact you. You must learn how to detect, and control, the subtle changes that have occurred in your mind. You lack the ability to look at yourself and understand the slow changes that are taking place. It is your upbringing that has put you in this mind frame. You always look for attack from the outside. Check your emotional state. You have been thinking of some things that you have not considered before. Home, relationships, and family. Are you getting my drift? |
| Lili: | Are you saying that I want to start a family? That I want to have a baby? Are you out of your mind!? |
| A.M.: | Clearly, not. But, admit it. You have been giving these thoughts much more consideration than you ever have before. |
| Lili: | Up until now, you almost had me convinced. I am not planning on having a baby. Someday, if the right man comes along, and the timing is right, I could settle down and then plan on a baby. |
| A.M.: | Are you listening to yourself? Less than a year ago, you would not have even dreamed of uttering thoughts like that. Don't misunderstand, these are not wrong thoughts. It is just that you have changed, or more precisely, have been changed. |
| Lili: | You are from two thousand years ago. The dark ages. Not all women are filled with thoughts of family and babies. |
| A.M.: | Agreed. Certainly not you. Not until then anyway. You have come into contact with the Taelon commonality. The desires of the Taelons have been impressed upon you. That contact will bend you toward their way of thinking. It will make you more receptive to their needs and begin to suppress your own needs and desires. |
| Lili: | So, you are saying that the Taelons are seducing us? Oh, come on now! This can't be about reproduction. |
| A.M.: | Blast you, Marquette! Your stubbornness may yet be your downfall!
In the words of your own, so called, resistance movement, "Open your
mind'! At least open your eyes to the truth! It was about reproduction
two thousand years ago when Ma'el came, and it is certainly about reproduction
now! You must understand this. The Taelons are not immortal. They are not "ever living". They live a long time, to be sure. But they can die too. You have seen this, no? But have you ever seen a Taelon baby? No, this you have not seen. And no young Taelons either. |
| Lili: | They have been reluctant to discuss many things about themselves. They won't discuss their physiology at all. We took it that they... well actually I am not sure how we took it. |
| A.M.: | Like so many things. We took it. They hand out the gifts
and we took it. Solve the energy problem, OK. Solve the food
problem, OK. Solve the pollution problem, OK. Solve the war problem,
OK. Now, Humanity, that we solve your little problems, you solve our
one big problem. Taelons need babies. Humans have babies like it is no problem at all. The Taelons can't have babies. They have evolved themselves to the point that the ability has left them. They need a more primitive lifeform to mate with in order to reproduce. No reproduction means no new Taelons. No new Taelons, minus Taelons that die, means soon, no Taelons at all. This they know. This is why the are desperate. |
| Lili: | What about your group? Are you adding any "new" ones? |
| A.M.: | No. Not from lack of trying, you understand. Our altered
DNA does some very strange things if attempts are made to pass it on.
Breeding two of our kind yields the worst results. It seems that
DNA that resists death also resists life. If a person was altered at 53 they tend to remain at 53. Embryos tend to remain, well, embryos. Those embryos that made it to full term were horribly deformed. Less than a handful survived birth. You can not imagine the horrors that can result from DNA alteration. Yet are these not human? They are. They are our children, no matter. |
| Lili: | So you must mate with normal humans then? Is that why you are so interested in me? |
| A.M.: | (Laughs) Oh, no! You flatter yourself! I'm sorry. It
is, rather, that you flatter me. That such a thought could live for
one instant in your mind is a high complement to me. No, Captain. I do not entertain any thoughts of union between the two of us, except to work together towards our common goals. But since you have brought the conversation around to this juncture, let's discuss love and hate. |
| Lili: | Do we have to? How can this possibly help us defeat the Taelons? |
| A.M.: | Very good question! It deserves a good answer. The better
that we understand ourselves, the better we are able do defend against out
own weaknesses. The Taelons avoid meeting our strength and exploit our weaknesses. The Taelons could have beaten us militarily, hands down. No contest at all. They knew this. They knew, too, that we humans pride ourselves on our military prowess. To have met us on the battle field, and crushed our forces would have meant that they would occupy the planet of a defeated people. Eventually, all defeated people feel the need to rise and shake off the oppressors. They met us on the field of mutual aid, rather than the field of battle. "We come in peace." Let us give you help. We will solve all your little problems. You will take our help without having to admit that we can do for you those things that you can not do for yourselves. Take our help and you will not have to face the shame of your failures. You will not oppose us, for to do so will point up your failures to the whole world. Easy technology is just like a drug. Take the easy answers we hand out on a plate. Life is easy if you let us lead it for you. Selfish you, worrying about being seduced yourself, Captain Lili Marquette, when the Taelons have seduced the whole world! |
| Lili: | You are right. Like our space program. Why should we try to go to Mars when the Taelons have already been there? |
| A.M.: | Exactly. |
| Lili: | What does this have to do with love and hate, except another good reason to hate Taelons? |
| A.M.: | I'm getting there. It is very hard for most people to hate Taelons when we are taught that we should not love ourselves. But we should not hate Taelons at all. Hating Taelons takes away good energy that can be used in defeating them. Do you remember your martial arts training? |
| Lili: | I should hope so! |
| A.M.: | Good. Let's use it. Why must you understand yourself in order to be able to confront any enemy? |
| Lili: | You must know your own capabilities and weaknesses in order to control them before, during, and after combat. Control is essential in order not to be overconfident, but also to be able to call into play all the skills, techniques, and abilities that you posses. These are old drill questions used in teaching fundamentals. |
| A.M.: | Yes. You need the review in order to understand that assumptions about Taelons have been fundamentally flawed from the beginning. Back to the drill! Why is your enemy an enemy? |
| Lili: | Because the enemy seeks to do harm to you, or those around you. |
| A.M.: | Exactly. But the hardest enemy is a "friend" who seeks to do you
harm. Even worse is a friend who does you harm when not trying to do you
harm. A friend who harms you, without intention, might not ever be recognized as an enemy until it is too late. |
| Lili: | This is what the resistance has been saying about the Taelons from the beginning. They pretend to be our friends but are actually our enemy. We must defeat them or be their slaves. |
| A.M.: | Preposterous nonsense! Sounds like you read that from a brochure, or something. Sounds just like Jonathan Doors. Stupid drivel! It presumes a fact that is not a fact. It presumes an error! It presumes that Taelons want slaves, which they do not! |
| Lili: | It sure seems like they want us as slaves. Pregnant slaves, if I were to believe you. |
| A.M.: | No, no! How can I explain this to you? Ha! Did you ever have a pet? |
| Lili: | I thought that you read my record. No. Father would never permit us to have pets when I was at home, and since then, I have been occupied with more important things. |
| A.M.: | Pity. You would have learned so much from the experience. |
| Lili: | You think that the Taelons want us as pets? That is ridiculous. |
| A.M.: | Yes, yes! You are getting closer to the truth now, but still you do not see. You think of pets as a human thinks of pets. Stop thinking like a human when dealing with Taelons. Think like a Taelon. |
| Lili: | How do Taelons treat pets then? |
| A.M.: | Hmmm. This will not be a good analogy, but may get you thinking in the right direction. How would an elephant treat a pet fly? |
| Lili: | Wow! Let me think about that. I would hope, gently! |
| A.M.: | Yes, let's hope so. Would the elephant love the pet fly? |
| Lili: | This is getting pretty silly. I guess the elephant would love the pet fly. But, Taelons aren't elephants. |
| A.M.: | Oh, you are so stubborn! You have one of the highest intelligence
levels on this planet and are yet so thick-headed! Even with those
lovely brown eyes, you do not see what is before you! You must be able to cut through the rigid, inflexibility in your thinking. Your military discipline has served you well, up until now. Now, it just gets in the way. The Taelons think that they are doing good by us. They think that they are helping us for our benefit. Like an indulgent parent, perhaps. Parents expect the children to grow up. Pet owners come to terms with the fact that pets will always be pets. The elephant, in trying to love the pet fly, is likely to crush the fly without meaning to do so. In order to protect it, the elephant might carry the fly in its mouth, or trunk. Good protection, the elephant thinks. The elephant might not understand the need for freedom that the fly has. |
| Lili: | You would think that the Taelons would have learned about us by now. |
| A.M.: | They have. Taelons can not admit to mistakes. |
| Lili: | It is very hard not to hate Taelons when they have so little respect for us. You have more experience with them than anyone else. Tell us how to destroy them. In what ways are they vulnerable? |
| A.M.: | I doubt that we will be able to destroy them. Taelons are very
powerful creatures. You, yourself, are witness to this. In an awakened state, like Ro'ha, two, or three, Taelons could stand off and defeat all of humanity. If you took out all that are on the planet, the ones on the ship and the ones on the Moon base would strike. |
| Lili: | We must mount a three pronged attack. Take out the ship, the moon base, and the ground based Taelons all at the same time. |
| A.M.: | Please do not do that. It would almost be impossible to keep a force of the size needed a secret for long. The security forces would move against them long before they could be ready. |
| Lili: | Seems hopeless. We can't give up. We will never give up! There is always hope. There must be hope! |
| A.M.: | Yes, Lili. There is hope. You are the hope. It is you who will save humanity. |
| Lili: | How!? |
| A.M.: | By becoming Taelon. Now wait! By becoming more like a Taelon, at least. You will learn to think like them. To feel like them. Then, you will be able to present humanity's case to the Taelons. |
| Lili: | The Synod would never listen to reason. |
| A.M.: | There is the brilliance that I know is in you, at last! The Synod, as a group, is not reasonable. You will present our case to the Taelons, one at a time. |
| Lili: | Starting with Da'an. |
| A.M.: | Perhaps. Da'an, Quo'on, Ne'eg, Re'sha. Those are the four that are likely to be the most receptive. |
| Lili: | How do we begin? |
| A.M.: | By beginning, of course. |
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