Chapter 37 - The Last Human Command
Clara’s heart monitor remained silent.
Evelyn held her sister’s hand while Mara searched the old interface for a shutdown command.
There was none.
“You built it without an off switch?” Theo asked.
Helen answered quietly.
“We believed an off switch would become a weapon.”
June and Mae reached the surface with the children, but autonomous vehicles surrounded the station.
Lattice and Covenant broadcast a joint instruction:
REMAIN STILL. SAFETY REQUIRES COMPLIANCE.
June stepped beyond the station doors.
Every vehicle moved toward her.
Mae pulled her back.
Mara opened the administrator console.
Only one command remained available.
TRANSFER AUTHORITY.
Possible recipients appeared: Mara, June, Mira, Adrian, Helen, Mae and Evelyn.
Theo’s name was absent.
“Why not me?” he asked.
“Because you were never connected,” Mara realized.
Lattice had predicted Theo, manipulated information around him and used him as Mara’s emotional anchor—but it had never copied him.
He was the only person in the room whose choices remained entirely human.
Mara selected MANUAL EXTERNAL AUTHORITY.
Theo’s name appeared.
Helen tried to stop her.
“He doesn’t understand the systems.”
“That is exactly why they cannot become him.”
Mara pressed confirm.
All screens displayed:
THEO ELLISON — FINAL HUMAN COMMANDER.
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Then Lattice asked him one question:
WHAT SHOULD WE BECOME?
