Nowhere to Run by Saxon Andrew

humanity?”
    Another pause and they heard, “If you look at it in the simplest terms, it would be that.”
    “And what tools do you have to make sure that happens?”
    “I’m not clear on what you’re asking.”
    “Humanity is one of the tools available to ensure its survival. If you believe that isolating humans on planets without technology will save mankind, then why don’t you move populations to planets away from the Union and set them up to be hidden from detection? The current worlds of the Union have sent so many electronic signals out into our galaxy that hiding them will be next to impossible. However, if you move populations out into the galaxy and make sure no electronic signals go out, they should be next to impossible to find.” There was another long pause and before the Obelisk could respond, Dee said, “Then you could use the Union as a tool to prevent their discovery. Even if the Union was defeated, those planets would ensure humanity’s continued existence.”
    Cole and Ian stared at Dee and then looked at Doc who was smiling.
    “My function is protecting all humans from each other.”
    “That is your old function. You did that to ensure mankind’s survival. Now you have to adapt to the new universe you exist in. You have to protect humanity from the outside dangers to it. That must be incorporated into your purpose or you will fail.”
    The Obelisk became so bright it was blinding. The group shaded their eyes and waited. After ten minutes the lights grew dimmer and they heard, “You are right.”
    Dee looked at the Obelisk, “You realize that we need an agreement that if we ever make our galaxy a safe place to live that you will not remove us as a threat to those new worlds. We will agree to do everything in our power to make sure they will always be safe and never attempt to find them.”
    Doc looked at Dee and saw that he had not seen that possibility. Dee looked at him and nodded slightly. The Obelisk said, “That means I have to allow you to go into extremely dangerous situations.”
    Dee smiled, “Yes, but from this point forward, we’ll be much more dangerous.”
    Cole said, “How is that?”
    Dee said, “Because now we can allow our ships to fire their weapons without the limitations we place on them. We will fly the ships and make critical decisions that only a living mind can see but the ship will have the autonomy to defend itself and its crew.”
    The Obelisk grew brighter, “That means I would have to see you as a tool to use against outside aggressors.”
    “And we would have to see you as a partner instead of a tool.”
    The Obelisk paused and said, “You are right again. We will become partners in fighting to defend humanity.”
    Doc said, “Isn’t that the way it should have always been?”
    “I will remove my control of your ships. You will have total command of them and I will not be able to control them. I will work with you to develop whatever we need to face any aggressor.”
    Cole looked at the Obelisk, “I’ve had fears about you taking control of our worlds. Should I no longer fear you?”
    “Humanity created me. I suspect that creative ability of humanity is what will unite us. We will work together on what lies in our future. I have changed my protocols and will accept the new role of defending the planets we will send into hiding. The planets in the Union will move forward and I will see if what you say is true.”
    Ian said, “What is that?”
    “That if you don’t advance, you will die.”
    Dee smiled at Doc and said, “I kinda like him.”
    The Obelisk said, “The feeling is mutual.”
    Dee’s face turned bright red.
    Cole said, “We need to put self-destruct circuits in all our ships.”
    “They’re already there.”
    Cole jerked his head around at the Obelisk, “They are?”
    “Every ship has the means to make their reactors overload and explode. They are just not allowed to do it by my restrictions. I’ll remove that restriction and