Written in 365 Parts: 108: Tell Them or Don't Tell Them

“What do you intend to tell them?”

“Him?”

“Pardon?”

“He has made it clear that he is more comfortable with being referenced, and identified, as him for the moment. There were still strong socio-cultural distinctions concerning biology and identity from the period in history that he is familiar with. I think some more time to adjust and reframe concepts is required. It’s understandable, the technology to allow the fluidity we all enjoy wasn’t as readily available, and I imagine in many groups acceptable. So using a singular pronoun is more familiar.”

“Good to know. For now. I guess that request was made explicitly.”

“Yup, right after I kicked his ass in the simulator for, I don’t know, something like the fortieth time.”

“So, how do you intend to tell him?”

“What, that his life is a lie? That he is a really expensive clone? That he is not the first one? That he has been imprinted repeatedly for centuries? Or that his mother, their mother, and that’s not a genderless their, it’s the fact that there has been many of him. Their mother is outside and dying? Well, I thought I’d just say; hi Marsh, you’re a clone and your dying mother wants to say hello. She’s in the next room!”

“That seems rather abrupt?”

“Honestly Krennar, you think?” Drick let out a sigh, “I honestly don’t know how to tell him. I am not sure I believe it myself. I have Rodero running checks but so far what they have told me pans out. The person identifying as Marsh’s mother is who she says she is. She has the resources to be able to do a lot. We are going to have to check out the whole story. I would like more information before I let them talk to Marsh, but they are becoming increasingly intransigent. Added to that, I am not sure how much longer I want to keep Marsh in the dark. I also have a raid to plan. And I haven’t heard from two of my most important contacts. So, I have no idea how the rest of this job is progressing.”

“Well it seems you are in a little bit of a quagmire.”

“Do you have any helpful advice?”

“Yes. Invest in time travel technology and go back to a point before you started this stupid enterprise and stop yourself getting involved.”

“Anything a little more achievable?”

“Not really. There really is only one choice. Tell them or don’t tell them is just a scale. Once you are committed to this path it is a choice of how much you say and what level of truth it contains.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. How is his training coming along? Will you be taking him with you?”

“I don’t want to, but I think that I have to. And his training is coming along very well. In fact better than I could have ever hoped. He is a fast learner and he is very enthusiastic.”