Convergence

“I need a report.” I pounded my fist against the console, hating my isolation within command. I understood the practical reasons for it. As long as I remained able, the defenses would continue. With the threat we faced, that was of utmost importance. I understood, but I hated it.

“The zones merge in the central part of town.” I didn’t thrill at detached evenness of the voice reporting in. The AI analyzed the data faster than I could hope to, but the AI was uncompassionate.

That’s why I operated command. That’s why I made the decisions on the drones. Not it. Had to have humanity in it somewhere. Sure, we tried not to once. But…

I shied away from the thought. Sitting in my chair, I pulled my helmet over my head. A display of the central part of town popped up, showing streaks of color converging there. Showing me the festival and the people gathered in the square.

Damn. This wouldn’t end well. Not if I couldn’t stop it.

I deployed the drones, each racing toward one of the separate converging lines. A convergence which restart it all again. I still couldn’t bring my mind to remember had happened the last time. All I knew was I had to stop it from happening again.

My gaze flicked over the lines converging in the central zone. I had to, but I didn’t know if I had the time to.