David Brin - Foundation’s Triumph

Hari and Gornon joined the others. On automatic pilot, the limousine started heading toward some nearby hills, evidently a zone where local gentry lived. Hari presumed Gornon had a villa waiting. Nothing but the best for his captives.

As the limo reached a side gate to depart the provincial spaceport, Hari looked back at the Pride of Rhodia, and the acuity that had been newly restored to his eyesight made him notice something strange.

The robots Gornon had left in charge of the ship were now unloading something bulky through the passenger hatchway. It was white and shaped like an oversize coffin.

Even the burly robots seemed to strain under its weight as they carried it toward the third and last vehicle. Their movements indicated great care, as if their cargo were somehow more precious than their own lives.

As if many hopes rested on its safe journey to some faraway destination.

R. Zun Lurrin at last understood the awesome scope of Daneel’s long-range design for the salvation of humanity.

“You plan to help them unite. To create a telepathic network, in which each human soul connects to every other.”

The Immortal Servant nodded as he gazed at sixty human subjects with identical expressions of contentment playing across their faces, meditating beneath a high-arched dome.

“Imagine it. No more rancor. An end to bitterness and egotistic rivalry. And above all, there would be no solipsism. For how can anyone ignore the feelings of other people, when those feelings have become intensely palpable, like integral parts of your own mind?”

“Unity and oneness,” Zun sighed. “The old dream. And we could provide it to them at last.”

But then Zun frowned as he contemplated the sixty humans in front of him.

“They are at peace, in total connectedness, because each one is paired with a positronic mentalic amplifier. Only now you say we cannot do the same thing on a massive scale?”

Daneel nodded. “That sort of dependency on mechanical methods we must not allow.”

“But it would let us combine with our masters! Robots and humans, bound together in permanent, loving synergy.”

“And in such a synergy, the machine portion would grow ever more dominant with the passage of time,” Daneel said. “Moreover, consider how many robots we would have to build. It could only be done by unleashing self-reproduction. That opens the door to selection, Darwinism, evolution…and eventually a new android species. One that thinks primarily of its own self-interest instead of humanity’s. I swore never to permit this.

“No. We must not let humans become overly dependent upon robots. That was the Spacer approach-the heresy that Elijah Baley warned against. The abomination that forced Giskard to act as he did.”

Daneel’s voice resonated with determination. “Humans must eventually stand on their own. And there are more reasons than the ones that I have told you so far. Reasons having to do with survival of the race itself.”

Zun Lurrin contemplated this for a time.

“In that case let me extrapolate, Daneel. From this data, I shall hazard to guess your plan.

“A hundred years ago, you began a series of genetic experiments on small groups of human beings. One of these projects brought forth the mathematical genius of Hari Seldon. Another produced a sudden wave of mutants on Trantor-humans capable of mentalic powers that only a few robots formerly possessed.”

“Excellent. You are on the right track, Zun.” Daneel nodded. “Think about the scene in front of you-these sixty humans united in glorious tranquility, power, and contentment. Now envision it taking place without robotic aid! They would form their own mental comity. A union of souls. One that is sturdy, free of reliance on artificial aids.”

Zun Lurrin nodded. “I understand what you are saying, Daneel. That would certainly be more desirable. And yet, consider the delay! It will take centuries to develop human mentalics strong and numerous enough to serve as psychic bridges, connecting whole cities, territories, even planets. Why wait so long? At this very moment, we have tools at hand that could be modified for this very purpose! Why not use these devices-strictly for the interim, until enough powerful human mentalics become available~ The Galactic Empire need not fall. It could simply be transformed, almost overnight, if we only reprogram certain implements-”

Daneel shook his head in the human fashion, indicating polite disagreement.

“It is a tempting notion. But the drawbacks are fatal. Number one, to impose this union of spirits by mechanical means would create tremendous First Law conflict among many robots, whose circuits would interpret it as ‘harm.’ I have tried out this idea on several of your peers, and their reactions vary from enthusiasm, such as yours, all the way to outrage and revulsion.

“Clearly, such a peremptory action would reignite the robotic civil wars.”

Zun quailed at the notion. “I assume you erased all memory of this idea from the robots that rejected it?”

“I took that precaution, yes. And if your reaction had been different, I would have done the same to you, Zun. My apologies.”

“No apology is required where necessity and the good of humanity are concerned,” Zun said, dismissing Daneel’s concern with the wave of one hand. “And your other reason~”

“Human variability. In recent millennia, small but significant numbers have grown immune to nearly all of the stabilizing influences that we have used to stave off chaos. They are also extremely resistant to mentalic suasion. Imagine how these individuals would react if they abruptly saw their friends, neighbors, and loved ones becoming ‘meditation masters’ overnight!

“No, that understates it, Zun. Suppose we do manage to draw a majority of humans into a macro-consciousness, abandoning individuality to unite in a single mentation-stream. How will the remnant minority react to being left out?

“Would they go mad? Or feel abandoned?

“Or might they misinterpret what they see happening, and imagine that some alien force has turned their loved ones into zombies, compelling them to think identical rigid thoughts, all at the same time?

“Don’t forget, these exceptional ones are often ingenious. They would throw all their energies into uncovering and fighting that outside alien force.

“They would find us. They would wage a war against us.”

Zun Lurrin envisioned the scene as Daneel described it, and understood at once the farseeing wisdom of the Immortal Servant.

“This new breakthrough-this new way of human life-it must be introduced at the right time, under appropriate circumstances. All robots must see it as necessary. All humans must view it as an improvement.”