Human Sister

convictions. Our hearts aren’t in it. You know that.”
    Grandpa wiped tears from his eyes. “We don’t belong; yet here we are in this mess, and I don’t see a way out.”
    “You need to come home where you’re loved,” I said. “You need to get out and get out now. We might become victims of what’s brewing, but I’d rather we be victims than participants in the kinds of things you’ve described.”
    “I agree,” Michael said. “General Renner should be able to find someone, or perhaps a couple of scientists if necessary, who are younger and know as much as you do about how androids operate. I can’t believe you’re so indispensable to their schemes.”
    Grandpa took the slight without a wince. “You’re probably right. There are people who know much more about android mechanisms than I do. But none of these younger, smarter people have decades of experience interacting socially with androids. One can know everything there is to know about how androids function without having the foggiest idea of how one will respond if someone screams ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater. But having said that, we can hope others will share your feeling and will simply think ‘Good riddance!’ if I leave.”
    “So, you’re leaving?” I asked.
    “Before we jump to that conclusion, let me present more of the case for continuing my association with the project. I’ve already told you that I have very little constructive input to the plans to launch an attack against the androids. As for the surprise attack against China, our partner in crime, how can we be sure it’s the wrong thing to do? Isn’t it plausible that certain technologies are too dangerous to be in the hands of contending parties who, in their struggle for supremacy, might unleash such devastating technologies against each other? If history is any guide—if what I’ve heard our generals and senators crow about in private for decades is any guide—our government will use any horror available to it to prevent its defeat by another government. My guess is that the Chinese government thinks the same way.”
    “What’s going to keep the Chinese from destroying us in retaliation?” I asked.
    “I’m not privy to all the details, but in summary it goes like this: The surprise first strike will, in a matter of minutes, take out most if not all of their satellites, missile bases, submarines, communication centers, and androids. There is high confidence that our defenses will be able to handle any aggressive threat remaining after that first strike. Our European and Asian allies will be given a warning to go on full defensive alert as the strike begins. The Cinnamoids, supported by Marines and massive air cover, will then secure most Chinese facilities involved in strategic technologies. We will immediately announce a generous sharing of the fruits of these and future technologies with everyone in the world—including the Chinese, if they are cooperative. We will also announce the creation of an international science council. The job of this council will be to fund and govern strategic technologies for the benefit of all humankind.”
    “Sounds awfully risky to me,” I said. “And who’s going to believe that the Americans will be so generous?”
    “I have to admit that what I’ve told you is the story, the promise. What will be the practice may be another matter. But I do believe we humans have been fortunate to have survived on the brink of self-inflicted destruction for as long as we have. If we continue along the same path, with contending nation states just one command, one mistake, away from annihilating everyone, it probably isn’t a question of whether we will end it all, but a question of when.
    “The military strategists believe we have a window of opportunity right now, a window that may soon close forever, to create global cooperation over dangerous technologies under one governing body in which all states can participate and benefit. People have explored the diplomatic route to internationalize strategic technologies for generations, but the powerful sovereign states have never been able to agree. Perhaps where diplomacy has failed, military cunning and power will succeed. Can any of us here, ignorant as we are of the whole picture, be certain that our generals and their geniuses are wrong? Of course, there will be casualties; we will be labeled a duplicitous aggressor; there will be denunciations and difficulties. But look at