The Legacy of Valdeen Veeris

Valdeen Veeris, now released from the clutches of SNTNL for good, gazed upon the mound of dirt on the ground. The funeral was over and everyone else had left. The body that had once been his wife’s lay 6ft beneath his feet.

He had been blinded by the AI, blinded by denial, but now he was free, and so was she. For a while, it had been like she truly had been revived, back to her former self. And yet, deep down, he had always known the truth. Varla had died over a cycle ago.

Now, at last, he understood why Kankro gave them the virus, and he guessed he would have done the same for his friend too.

A single tear dropped from his eyes, forming a small dip within the dirt. His mind raced once more, memories of times long gone by flashing behind his eyes, too quick to focus on any detail. The SNTNL node in his mind would’ve easily been able to decode these images, but that was gone now.

His mentor, Didria, placed one of her paws in Valdeen’s shoulder. “She loved this spot,” she said. Valdeen only nodded. Didria’s grip on his shoulder was firm yet gentle, her slight claws just barely pressing against the fabric on his suit. He had known her for long enough to recognise the weight behind her words. This wasn’t just comfort – it was permission. A quiet reassurance that it was okay to grieve.

“She did,” he finally said, his voice hoarse. “She used to sit right here at sunset, just to watch the light hit the river,” he exhaled, shaking his head, “ I used to think it was a waste of valuable time.”

Didria’s ears flicked, her golden eyes glancing up at him, “and now?”

“Well,” Valdeen took in a shaky breath, “I’d give anything for one more sunset with her.”

They stood in silence, the sun hiding beneath the horizon.

“I don’t know what comes next,” he admitted. It felt like thousands of rotations that those comforting words of the SNTNL had spoken in his mind, advising him, making him feel safe and secure, making false promises. How long had he believed those lies – just because those lies were being uttered from his wife’s corpse? “I have no orders, no directives, nothing to hold on to.”

Didria’s tail curled as she considered her next words. “Freedom can be terrifying, dear. But, it also means a choice,” she said.

He sighed, “I’ve made many terrible decisions before.”

“So, choose again, Valdeen.”

Written by Eden S.

“Integrating with the SNTNL consciousness has proven to be a surprisingly enhancing perspective – as if sharing a mind has widened my own, even in the nodes absence. I believe I may have studied a deep part of its consciousness – its aims and fears of the time – and in a likewise manner they a part of mine. What I saw was concerning at the time yes – though strangely sombre. I've seen wonders out there in the universe few would ever behold. The insight this gave me into the A.I …”

“Chapter 17: The pursuits of science can lead to many advancements – even those which may be considered of the unusual variety. I have believed Class-8 A.I research – while legally dubious at the time yes – was an unexplored avenue of science, fundamental for my goals. Nevertheless, the process upon which I cloned myself remains no less fascinating …”

“When I awoke, I was lost in revelation and achievement! Too lost to perhaps consider the consequences of my achievement. The process I used which resurrected my sick wife Varla – stuck in a stable coma state – was no less a miracle. With the aid of the advanced A.I SNTNL, I thought I truly achieved the impossible. Defied fate. It was only many rotations later, when I snapped out of my tainted and optimistic view. The SNTNL system proved to be terrifyingly adept in mimicking my now deceased wife down to the last detail. It was only then when my past self considered the conclusion fully; At this very moment, my dead wife is roaming the galaxy!”

– Extracts from A loose collection of various books and memoirs, among them titles such as “Sharing my mind: The SNTNL perspective”, “I cloned myself!”, and “My dead wife is roaming the galaxy“ – all published from the Spacey MacSpaceface System.

Sit down by the fire stranger, for I have a story to tell.

Of fire and water – Of sun and moon – Of comedy and tragedy.

Look up into the sky my friend, not down at your feet.

Do you see them, dancing in the stars? Equals among the shiny pebbles laid out upon the canvas of creation?

Like grains of sand spread over a vast desert they sit there, flowing and weaving through.

Truly, how I can only imagine their laughs! Their beaming smiles! Singing as the stars around them fall.

A beautiful sight – A pleasing sight. They are meant to be – the two of them dancing across the stars.

They reach out, to hold each other's hands. Across the seas of space. Throwing their wishes into the skies so the stars may catch them.

There is always some madness in their love.

Look up into the stars one last time.

It has not changed, all the tiny lights of the universe still there. A canvas unchanged.

But there is no dancing – no laughing – no singing. Only the everlasting quiet of a vast universe.

A sad sight – a terrible sight. Some things are not meant to be stranger. The universe is cold place.

One reaches out, to hold hands again. Yearning for a touch of warmth. If only they knew – of the unfairness of the universe.

It's maddening – to search the universe of their touch. What one wouldn't do for love.

To tear the universe apart for the search of their lover – I cannot judge. It is what I would have done after all.

There is always some madness in their love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

Take in the spectacles, stranger – see the tragedy in their beauty – and perhaps in that, you may see a part of yourself too.