Part 11 Metamorphosis

So begins a new journey for Jason and his companions. Jason has defeated Tyco to become the prime mover of the Android Collective, which consists of all of the Phoenix Project androids, plus Scath, Myst and proto-human based androids, as well as several robotic species. The question is: did he actually destroy Tyco?

There are 11 human-based androids.
Jason Star is the prime mover. He is an engineer.
Molly Fields is his partner from the beginning and is an astrophysicist.
Marie Star is Jason's former wife. She is an accomplished astronaut.
Margaret Foster is a planetary astronomer.
Alexa Williams is an exo-biologist.
Alicia Hunter is Jason and Marie's daughter and a Health expert.
Alex Star is Jason and Maire's son and also an engineer.
Vincent Fields is Molly's brother.
Victoria Knight is an exo-archeologist.
Bernard Wilson is a former Space Command member.
Valery Star is Jason's sister.

Chapter No,101. Consensus

Ruling is not always easy.

After the Tyco incident, things have settled down. I decided that it was time to begin a reconciliation and a new beginning. I decided to do this after our communal supper and gathering in the living area of my quarters.

"We have several crucial problems to solve," I began. "First and foremost, we have no idea how many intelligent species are out there in our universe. We also have no idea if there are other android-like or robotic species causing trouble. Secondly, we must determine if Tyco left any poison pills in our collective computer system and if there are any more antimatter nanobots in our circulatory systems. Then, we should determine what the multiverse system being is and what its plan for us is."

"We also have the question of whether we should produce more android children," Molly said. "How could we introduce more diversity?"

"There is more human female data in the android data stack," I replied. "We should decide if we want to resurrect some of them."

"What about the pure androids?" Margaret asked. "Should we have them produce more android babies?"

"I think those reproductive questions should be answered by you women," I said.

"If we make more androids, we're going to run out of room," Marie said.

I waved a dismissive hand. "That's no problem. We have room for at least a hundred humans on this ship and there are plenty of room on the other ships. If not, we can build more ships."

"You're the prime mover," she reminded me. "You should make those decisions."

"I'm not a despot. I think that we should come to a consensus about these questions and decide who's best to answer them."

"You're just passing the buck!" she said.

I smiled. "Yeah, that's what being the leader is good for."

They laughed.

"I think we should go back to Earth and bring all the ships together to decide some of these issues," Molly said.

"Good idea," I said before turning to Alice. "Tell Judy to take us back to Earth."

Within a few minutes, we were there. Alice smiled. "Done, Jason."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"The entire fleet has been recalled, Jason," Alice informed me.

"Good. It's time that we determine how safe we are from Tyco's debasement of our collective."

"How are we going to do that?" Molly asked.

"I think that the androids will know if there are any other surprises," I replied.

"It's the androids that have deceived us the entire time," she pointed out. "Can we trust them now?"

"I think that it was Tyco's infusion into the collective that caused all of the deception. I don't think that's the case now."

No one objected, so we dispersed for the evening.

Alex, Vince, Barney and I went to the Black Hole bar on the agricultural/recreation deck where we found Ben and Jerry there. As soon as we settled into chairs around a table, the barmaids served us beer.

The first thing that I noticed was that their costumes were not quite as skimpy as they were before. Could this be a result of Tyco's departure?

"Well, Jason," Barney said after taking a sip of his beer. "It seems that you've come out on top of this menagerie."

I smiled. "I had help."

"I'm surprised that you've decided to delegate decisions to us peons. You could easily have relegated us to mere slaves."

"You're right, I could have. But I don't like that idea because it inevitably leads to failure. Think of all the dictators in Earth's history that ended up being destroyed along with many of their subjects. If Tyco would have been successful in killing me, he would have eventually met with a foe he couldn't defeat and might have taken all of you along to his catastrophe."

"So, our survival depends upon your ability to overcome any foe we encounter?"

I shook my head. "There are no guarantees, but I believe that I have the ability to do it as long as I have all of you helping me."

"You have the ultimate power. All we have is our lives."

"You also have your knowledge and skills. As long as we function in unison, we should be able to defeat any foe."

"Well," Barney said, raising his glass. "I'm satisfied with your performance so far. At least you're not an asshole like that Tyco bastard."

I raised my glass. "I thank you for your confidence in me."

The others raised their glasses before we clinked them together in a toast.

"Now that we took care of that, let's discuss the important things."

"And, they are?" I asked.

Barney grinned. "How we're going to enjoy the women."

"I think they're enjoying us," Alex said.

We laughed.

"I believe that we should leave the reproductive choices as well as the sexual requirements up to them," I said. "They are the ones who will have to deal with the consequences."

"Don't worry," Alex told him. "You'll get plenty of action. They'll let you know when they want you to perform."

Barney smiled. "So, what you're suggesting is that the women rule the roost when it comes to sex."

"Yep."

He shook his head. "I can't make up my mind if this is heaven or hell."

"I think it's more like hell," Alex said.

We laughed again.

Barney held up his glass of beer. "Well, at least we have beer to drink here. I'm not sure that would be the case in heaven."

"There was a song about that very question that went 'There's no beer in heaven, that's why we drink it here.'"

We laughed again, and the android barmaids joined in our mirth.