42 No one, outside yourselves, are to see these other
Officers. They are not under arrest and are to be treated with all
courtesy. Secure that body in a safe place, and see that it has an
Honor Guard. We'll bury it in the Hashon manner later."
43 As the body was taken out, North could not bring himself to look at
it. It was still too much as
if it was Morn they were carrying out. Unknown to North, Morn had just
felt his counterpart's death, and would not understand the strange
occurrence for years, until the full facts of this incident were made
known to him.
44 When the women were all off the command deck, North turned to the
Priest. "An explanation," he requested, "would be appropriate."
45 "While you were unconscious," explained the Priest, "you came to me.
As sure as I'm talking to you now you came to me and told me you'd been stunned, and that they
were deactivating your implant. It took me a while to convince the Officers I hadn't gone out of my mind. We
started moving in as soon as we could throw everything together."
46 North sat down on top of one of the consoles. "Damn!" he gasped, "I
didn't know I could do that!"
47 "Neither did she!" laughed North 2.
48 "Now it's time for YOU to do some explaining," continued North. "Why
did you turn on her?"
49 "She tried to make a duplicate of you," North 2 replied, "she never
realized she succeeded TOO well! She not only duplicated you
physically, but mentally! I have the same distaste for tyranny that you
have, the same hatred of slavery.
50 She had some control of me at first, but every time I got near you
to pick up your thought pattern and study your nature, that control
ebbed away. The moment we came face to face it was completely gone!
51 I could no more tolerate her tyranny than you