Part 21

I watched as Malloy’s heart rate continued to drop. It wouldn’t be long before the automatic warnings would cut in. It was time to tell Sarah.

“So, how long’s he going to be in there?” Sarah asked. “I’ve a strange feeling that there are more scurge on the way.”

“Forever.” I replied.

“What?” Sarah stood up. “What do you mean forever? He’s coming back, right?”

“No.” The heart rate dropped below the threshold and the machine began to beep.

“Why is that thing beeping? What’s going on?” She walked over to me.

“In order to save the world he has to stay there.” I said, kneeling down. “Because he’s its father.” I switched off the heart-rate monitor. “He’s going to stay and teach it. Grow up with it.” I stood back up.

The slap caught me clean across the left cheek. “You fucking bastard.”

“Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Not you - him! But I can’t slap him. Fucking bastard. Why didn’t he tell me?” A single tear streaked down her cheek.

“I don’t think he could face it.” I took hold of her. She leant into me and I squeezed her. “If it’s any comfort, he’s effectively immortal. The lunar platform is solar powered. He’ll out-live us both in one sense. It’s just...”

“Just what?”

“His body will be dead and...” There was a loud thump. And then another. “What was that?” Sarah asked. “That was some of the scurge warriors sent to get us. Malloy has severed the connection between the hive-mind and Earth. None of them can survive without the network being maintained by the hive-mind. I guess we’ve won.”

Sarah looked down at the heart monitor. It was flat lining. “Some victory. And what...?” She said.

“And because he’s severed the connection to Earth he can never come back. And we won’t even be able to communicate with him. Not for a while, anyway. Not until we have communications again and that won’t be for a long time.”

“Fuck.”

We made our way out of the complex. It took a long time, but we were in no hurry. Eventually we reached the lobby. Sarah got into the Jeep, but I headed outside.

It began to rain. Lightly at first, but then steadily heavier until it was almost like a monsoon.

I began to laugh. It felt un-natural, somehow.