Head Trip – Chapter 16 "Seduction"
They were in a lush, green garden. Sam never looked more beautiful. She was dressed in a flowing, diaphanous gown which reached to her bare feet. Sunlight framed her long golden hair and emphasized her electric blue eyes. She took his hand, and they walked through a vivid landscape of colorful flowers. There was a feeling of tranquility – so different from the urgency and speed of his pursuit.
With that one kiss, his rage had dissolved. In awe of her beauty, Fifth allowed himself to be led. His senses came alive to the fragrance of the flowers, the sounds of the birds and insects, the feel of her hand in his …
Sam continued to concentrate on creating this one idyllic scene, this one landscape of peace and trust, where she could capture Fifth in her mind. She did not waver in her intention to focus solely on winning his heart.
Hand in hand they walked, and, then, Sam turned and embraced him. He felt safe in her arms; he felt wanted. As she looked into his eyes, she kissed him once again. He could feel the press of her lips and the beating of her heart as they held each other close.
He knew that First was wrong, that he was right. If this be humanity, then he celebrated these emotions of the heart. He wanted to be human. Now, more than ever, he wanted this woman at his side.
Sam could feel his surrender. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and whispered "I will not leave you this time." And, then, enticingly, "There are so many worlds to conquer."
Fifth was beside himself with joy. She wanted to be with him as much as he desired her. Yes, they would conquer brave new worlds together!
"Show me your world." The intensity of her words drew him back to her face.
Now, he took her hand and led her into his mental landscape of reality.
It was a sterile, monochromatic world filled with images of his brethren, both mechanical and human, busily organizing and gathering themselves in what seemed to be some type of laboratory. There were rows of cube-like containers. Briefly, she saw an image of herself – her replicated self – stepping forth. Then she saw a large map of many planets, many galaxies, along with scrolls of codes and gate addresses. Next, she saw the original elders as they welcomed First and Fifth into their circle of wisdom. What came afterwards seemed a kind of holocaust: the mechanical replicators swarming out and over the planet, hoarding its human inhabitants into a citadel where human-form Replicators selected and stored prisoners behind row upon row of building blocks. She saw mechanical replicators transforming into ships of strange configurations, then dispersing and flying off into the distance ….
Sam met Fifth's eyes as she reaffirmed "There are so many worlds to conquer."
Clutching her to himself, Fifth released both of them from the probe. They slid down the walls of the cell, and collapsed, exhausted, in each other's arms.
Fifth knew that his beloved would be unconscious for some time. He gently placed Sam on her side, brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, and caressed her cheek. He remembered what he had told her when he she resisted him on Orilla. He thought he could make her love him by pretending to be someone else. He tried to create a world that she wanted badly enough, a world with him in it. He did not understand fully the ways of the human heart. But he was learning. She could not conceal her true feelings for him now, and she wanted to be in his world, not hers.
He would let her rest and recover. And, then ….
Fifth felt a new passion, a new sense of purpose, stir within him. But, before he could share new worlds of conquest with his beloved, he had to remove First from power.