still.
“We named this life form from Earth dicit - E. We found it to be ninety-seven percent alike to the biologically engineered dicit on Hakilam. So we differentiated it from the Hakilam complexity which we now name dicit - H. Had we stumbled upon the prime whence ours was fashioned?” Sateron paused as though to gather his thoughts.
“We were perplexed. With our technology, there would be no need to engineer a compound if a living form existed for we could have set up entire colonies—planets, even—to grow amounts sufficient for our needs. Further experimentation proved that, though there remained less than three percent difference between dicit - E and dicit - H, the percentage held unaccountable dissimilarities. Thus, our first conclusion: dicit - H was not the biologically engineered adaptation of dicit - E . ” His narration slowed so the Three could digest the information just presented.
“The question then: if dicit - E from Earth was not the prime of dicit - H from Hakilam, whence the prime for both? And, most importantly, why no extensive data?”
Chapter 11
Sateron stopped and looked to Aleris, not wishing to continue if his colleague felt a need to expound. Receiving a nod to continue, he drew in a deep breath and turned back to the humans, his expressive face a study in frustration and anger.
“As you are aware, the Min’yel’os control all fabrication ofdicit - Hwhich is designed to regenerate cells and extend Anorasian life. But in extending life, little evolution occurs. Why would the governing body of the Empire wish to hinder the growth and adaptation of its most highly evolved species?”
The humans had previously learned that ten members of the Synadracus, the official governing body of Hakilam, had their essence infused into a controlled intelligence environment, the objective being immortality. Idealistically, this assemblage reasoned that, if free from the constraints of a corporeal body and from emotional entanglements associated with a finite existence, a ruling body could govern more logically and dispassionately.
“Dicit - H has a measurable span, as you have learned. Each time it is teleported into our vital fluid, the effect is less than the previous. And the teleportation is mandatory, first introduced into every Anorasian’s system at the age of three hundred years, some one to two hundred years prior to a natural demise.
“The first introduction extends life approximately fifteen hundred years; the next teleportation, possibly thirteen hundred. And so on. Eventually the cells will no longer regenerate at approximately three thousand years old ... and death occurs.” Sateron seethed through nearly clenched teeth. “To the Min’yel’os, dicit - H alone was not deemed sufficient to slow evolution. Geneticists were tasked with creating an ultimate population controller. And thus was evolved a seminal hormone disrupter administered to every male each time it receives dicit - H. The disrupter has a twelve-hour delay: it allows the dicit to regenerate cells prior to the hormone’s destruction of sperm. If They need another Anorasian born, a male Anorasian is not given the hormone disrupter and an appropriate female is provided.”
His jaw rigid, he grated, “If an Anorasian has value to the Min’yel’os once its cells can no longer be rejuvenated, his or her essence is transmigrated into a clone. Aleris and I have been cloned twice. However ... if They so determine ... that an Anorasian is of no further use to them ...” Sateron drew in a shaky breath, pain etching his features, his voice tight and low ...“dicit - H is withheld and the Anorasian dies slowly, painfully. No better way to control a populace than by holding out everlasting life as a reward or threatening it with an agonizing, undignified termination.” With eyes unfocused, Sateron stared over their heads as he vainly attempted a professorial monotone.
“Thus our descendants have not differed from our
“We named this life form from Earth dicit - E. We found it to be ninety-seven percent alike to the biologically engineered dicit on Hakilam. So we differentiated it from the Hakilam complexity which we now name dicit - H. Had we stumbled upon the prime whence ours was fashioned?” Sateron paused as though to gather his thoughts.
“We were perplexed. With our technology, there would be no need to engineer a compound if a living form existed for we could have set up entire colonies—planets, even—to grow amounts sufficient for our needs. Further experimentation proved that, though there remained less than three percent difference between dicit - E and dicit - H, the percentage held unaccountable dissimilarities. Thus, our first conclusion: dicit - H was not the biologically engineered adaptation of dicit - E . ” His narration slowed so the Three could digest the information just presented.
“The question then: if dicit - E from Earth was not the prime of dicit - H from Hakilam, whence the prime for both? And, most importantly, why no extensive data?”
Chapter 11
Sateron stopped and looked to Aleris, not wishing to continue if his colleague felt a need to expound. Receiving a nod to continue, he drew in a deep breath and turned back to the humans, his expressive face a study in frustration and anger.
“As you are aware, the Min’yel’os control all fabrication ofdicit - Hwhich is designed to regenerate cells and extend Anorasian life. But in extending life, little evolution occurs. Why would the governing body of the Empire wish to hinder the growth and adaptation of its most highly evolved species?”
The humans had previously learned that ten members of the Synadracus, the official governing body of Hakilam, had their essence infused into a controlled intelligence environment, the objective being immortality. Idealistically, this assemblage reasoned that, if free from the constraints of a corporeal body and from emotional entanglements associated with a finite existence, a ruling body could govern more logically and dispassionately.
“Dicit - H has a measurable span, as you have learned. Each time it is teleported into our vital fluid, the effect is less than the previous. And the teleportation is mandatory, first introduced into every Anorasian’s system at the age of three hundred years, some one to two hundred years prior to a natural demise.
“The first introduction extends life approximately fifteen hundred years; the next teleportation, possibly thirteen hundred. And so on. Eventually the cells will no longer regenerate at approximately three thousand years old ... and death occurs.” Sateron seethed through nearly clenched teeth. “To the Min’yel’os, dicit - H alone was not deemed sufficient to slow evolution. Geneticists were tasked with creating an ultimate population controller. And thus was evolved a seminal hormone disrupter administered to every male each time it receives dicit - H. The disrupter has a twelve-hour delay: it allows the dicit to regenerate cells prior to the hormone’s destruction of sperm. If They need another Anorasian born, a male Anorasian is not given the hormone disrupter and an appropriate female is provided.”
His jaw rigid, he grated, “If an Anorasian has value to the Min’yel’os once its cells can no longer be rejuvenated, his or her essence is transmigrated into a clone. Aleris and I have been cloned twice. However ... if They so determine ... that an Anorasian is of no further use to them ...” Sateron drew in a shaky breath, pain etching his features, his voice tight and low ...“dicit - H is withheld and the Anorasian dies slowly, painfully. No better way to control a populace than by holding out everlasting life as a reward or threatening it with an agonizing, undignified termination.” With eyes unfocused, Sateron stared over their heads as he vainly attempted a professorial monotone.
“Thus our descendants have not differed from our
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