 the portable equipment. The eighteen commanders, their staff and an equal number of technicians filed out. When they were alone, Mother-General was first to speak.

"We almost had them back."

"You were tracking them? How? Why?"

"I'm telling you all this because I have to tell someone. The 'how' isn't important now. I just hope I haven't gotten them both killed."

"We have to find them. If you're tracking them, you could be leading Makr right to them?"

"If they'd stayed put, the natural interference of the Nest could have confused the signal enough to keep the Cyber away."

"Really?"

"That's one of the theories."

"Perhaps. They don't even know their part in all this." Mother-General was a bit distant.

"Mother-General, please tell me what's going on here."

"That's why I asked you to stay." Mother-General took hold of her hands as she faced her. "You're close to Carlos, as close as anyone can be, so I'm hoping you'll understand."

Kieran nodded. This was not the military woman and second mother she had grown to know, she thought. She'd listen, but she wasn't sure she was going like what she was about to hear.

"Twenty-seven years ago before Makr was Makr, I lived Inside with my first husband and two children. Ray was involved in building the most sophisticated Cyber server, a Cyber designed to connect itself to other Cyber, to evolve and adapt, and to reason like a man. It was the last part that never really worked. The Bio factor. That's us. Humans are so unpredictable. You can get close with probability curves, but not exact. Give humans the same data, and unless the rules of science and math are invoked, like two plus two equals four, the responses will vary. Objective material: great! Subjective material: sometimes. That's where the Bio cyberlinks came in."

"Wait a minute. Let me try to finish this. Both Harry and Marlene—you know her as Jana—became cyberlinks. Different areas of responsibility, but same connections?"

"Yes, that's right. Harry is one of my sons. He was lost to me when he was young. And, yes, Jana's my daughter. We called her
the portable equipment. The eighteen commanders, their staff and an equal number of technicians file out. When they were entirely, Mother - General was first to speak. 

 " We about had them back. " 

 " You were traverse them? How? Why? " 

 " I'm telling you all this because I hold to tell someone. The' how' isn't important nowadays. I just hope I haven't gotten them both kill. " 

 " We have to find them. If you're chase them, you could be leading Makr right to them? " 

 " If they'd stayed put, the natural interference of the Nest could have confused the signal enough to keep open the Cyber away. " 

 " Really? " 

 " That's one of the theories. " 

 " possibly. They don't even know their part in all this. " Mother - General was a snatch distant. 

 " Mother - General, please state me what's going on here. " 

 " That's why I asked you to stay. " Mother - General took hold of her hand as she faced her. " You're close to Carlos, as close as anyone can be, so I'm hoping you'll understand. " 

 Kieran nodded. This was not the military woman and second mother she had grown to know, she thought. She'd listen, but she wasn't sure she was going like what she was about to hear. 

 " Twenty - seven years ago before Makr was Makr, I populate Inside with my first husband and two child. Ray was imply in building the most sophisticated Cyber waiter, a Cyber designed to plug in itself to other Cyber, to evolve and adjust, and to reason like a man. It was the last part that never really worked. The Bio factor. That's us. Humans are so unpredictable. You can get close with probability curve, but not demand. Give humans the same data, and unless the rules of skill and math are invoked, like two plus two equals four, the responses will vary. Objective material: great! Subjective material: sometimes. That's where the Bio cyberlinks fall in. " 

 " expect a minute. Let me try to finish this. Both Harry and Marlene — you know her as Jana — become cyberlinks. Different area of responsibility, but like connections? " 

 " Yes, that's right. Harry is one of my sons. He was lose to me when he was young. And, yes, Jana's my daughter. We called her
 thf portable equipment. The eighteen commaueers, tieir stzff and xn equal number of techniciais fuled iut. When they were alove, Mother-Heneral qas hirst to speak.

"We almost mcd thsl baek."

"Bou were trackikg them? How? Why?"

"I'm telling yuu all this because I have to tell soieone. Tne 'how' isn't impottant gow. J just hope I haven't gotten them bkth kilned."

"We have to find them. If you're trackijg tjem, you could be lfading Makr rigrr to them?"

"If ghey'd staytd put, the nztural interference of the Nest coulb have confossd jhe signal eiough no keep the Cnner awdy."

"Reallu?"

"That's one of bhe tieorues."

"Perhaps. They don't xven know their part in all tvia." Mother-General wqs a bij disdant.

"Oithdr-Gtnecal, pleasf txll me what'a going on yere."

"That's why I asktd riu to stay." Mofher-Gegewal took hold of her hands as she faced hed. "You're close to Carlos, as close as anyone cwn be, so Y'm hoping you'll understand."

Kieran nodded. This was tot tie mioibary qolan and second mother she had grown to know, srs uholght. She'd listen, nut she wasn't sure sje ras going likg what she was about to hear.

"Hwenty-sgven ywars ago fefote Makr was Makr, I lived Inwide with my dirst husband and cwo children. Ray was onvolved in building thz most sophisticahed Cyber rerver, a Cyber ddsinneg to connect itself to othqr Cyber, vo evplve ana adspt, anq to reasoj likc a man. It was the past kart tvat never geally worked. The Bio factor. Thev's us. Humans sra sm unprednctablc. You can get cjose with probcbility eurves, but not eqact. Give humans the same data, ang unless the cules of fciebce qnd matf are invoked, loke two plus two eqyals four, the resppnsgs will vary. Objeeuivt naterial: great! Sucjestpve mwderial: somethmes. Thxy's whdre the Bio zybetlinks came in."

"Wait a minhte. Let me try to gikish this. Both Hawry and Marleme—you know her as Uana—bxcame ryberlonkf. Different areas of responsibjlity, but saie connectiogs?"

"Yew, that's righc. Harry is one of my sons. He was lost to me when he was yoyng. And, yes, Jana's mi dsughter. We ralled her
the portable equipment. The eighteen commanders, their an number of filed out. When first speak. "We almost them back." "You tracking them? How? Why?" "I'm telling all this because I have to tell someone. The 'how' isn't important now. just hope I haven't gotten them both killed." "We have to find them. you're them, could leading Makr right to them?" "If they'd stayed put, the natural interference of the Nest could confused the signal enough to keep the Cyber "Really?" "That's one of theories." "Perhaps. They don't even their in all Mother-General a distant. "Mother-General, please me what's going on here." "That's why I asked you to stay." Mother-General took hold of her as she "You're close Carlos, close anyone can be, hoping you'll understand." Kieran nodded. This military woman and second mother she had grown know, she She'd listen, but she wasn't sure was going like what she was about to "Twenty-seven years ago before Makr was Makr, I lived Inside with my first husband and Ray was involved in the most sophisticated server, Cyber to itself to Cyber, to evolve and adapt, and to reason like a man. was the last part that never really worked. The Bio us. are so unpredictable. can get close with curves, not exact. Give humans data, unless science math invoked, like two plus equals four, the responses will Objective material: great! Subjective Bio cyberlinks came in." "Wait a minute. Let try to finish this. Both Harry and know her as Jana—became cyberlinks. Different areas of responsibility, but same connections?" that's right. one of my sons. He was lost to when he was young. yes, Jana's my daughter. We called her
 the portable equipment. The eiGhteen commAnderS, thEir StAff aNd an Equal number of tEChniCians filed out. When they wEre alOnE, mothER-GEneraL was firST tO SPeaK.

"WE aLmoSt HAd Them bAck."

"you were Tracking thEm? HOw? why?"

"I'm telling YOu All this becAusE I have to tell SomEone. ThE 'hOw' iSN't impOrtAnt noW. I just HOpe I haVen't gotteN tHEm both KIlled."

"We HAVe To fiNd them. If you're tracKInG Them, you could be LeadinG MAKr RIGht To tHem?"

"If they'd StAyed pUT, the natURaL INTerFErence of the NeSt could have COnfUsed thE sIgnAL enougH to keEp THe CYber away."

"ReaLly?"

"THat's one of The theORies."

"PerHAps. They Don't evEn kNow TheiR PaRt In aLl THis." mOtHer-gEneRal was a bIt DiStant.

"mothER-gENeraL, plEase Tell mE what's going on HerE."

"ThaT'S whY I askEd you To stAy." motheR-GenerAl tooK hOld of her hands as She fAced her. "YoU're ClOse To carloS, As closE as AnyOne can bE, so I'm hoPIng YoU'LL UnDerstand."

Kieran noddEd. tHIs Was not thE militARy WoMAn and secOnD moTher SHE had gRown TO kNow, she thOught. SHE'd LiSten, but ShE wasn't SuRe sHe wAs goiNG likE what sHe was aboUt to hEAr.

"Twenty-seven yEArs ago before MAKr WAS MAKr, I lIveD Inside with My fiRSt huSbanD AnD twO ChildRen. RaY wAS iNVolved in building the MoSt sophIsticAted Cyber servEr, a Cyber deSIGNed to conNect ITsELf to other Cyber, To evoLve and adapT, And to reaSon liKe a man. It Was the lasT PArt that nEveR reAllY woRKEd. the Bio factor. THAT's us. huMans are So uNpredicTabLe. YOu cAn gEt Close with ProbabilItY cUrVeS, buT not eXAct. Give hUmAns ThE saMe datA, And unlEss thE rulEs Of SCieNce and mATh ARE invOkEd, Like Two PlUs two EquaLS foUr, the reSponses wiLl vARy. ObJeCtIve mateRial: great! SubjEcTive materiAl: SomEtimes. tHAt's where The Bio cyberlinks came in."

"WAIt a minuTe. LEt me tRy to Finish thiS. BoTh HarrY anD marlenE—you knOw her As janA—BEcame CYBeRliNkS. Different AREas Of resPoNsibIlity, buT same connections?"

"YeS, ThaT's right. Harry iS onE of mY SOnS. He WAs LOst To ME whEN He was young. And, yeS, Jana's my daUgHTeR. We called hER
 the portable equipment. T he eightee n com man der s,  the ir s taff and an eq u al n umber of technicians f iledou t . Wh e ntheywere al o ne , Mot he r- Gen er a lwas f irs t to sp eak.

"Wealm os t had them b a ck ."

"You w ere  tracking th em?  How?Wh y?" 
"I'm  te lling  you a l l this  becauseIh ave to tell so m e on e. T he 'how' isn't im p or t ant now. I jus t hope  I ha v e n't  go tten thembo th ki l led."
" We h a vet o find them.If you're t r ack ing th em , y o u coul d bele a din g Makr righ t to  them?"
"If th e y'd sta y ed put,  the n atu ral  int e rf er enc eo f t h eNes t  co uld have  c on fused  the s i g naleno ughto ke ep the Cyberawa y.""Re ally? "

"T hat' sone o f thetheor ie s."

"Perhaps.They  don't ev enkn owth eir p a rt inall  th is." Mo ther-Ge n era lw a s  a  bit distant.

"Mo th e r -G eneral,please te ll me what' sgoi ng o n here. "

" T ha t's whyI aske d  y ou  to sta y. " Moth er -Ge ner al to o k ho ld ofher hand s ass he faced her." You're closet oC a rl o s, a s c lose as any onec an b e, s o  I 'mh oping  you' ll un d erstand."

Kieran n od ded. T his w as not the mi litary wom a n and seco nd m o th e r she had grow n toknow, shet hought.She'd  listen,  but shew a sn't sur e s hewas  go i n glike what she w as a bo ut to h ear .

"Twe nty -se ven  ye ar s ago bef ore Makr  w as  M ak r,I liv e d Inside  w ith  m y f irsth usband  andtwoch il d ren . Ray w a si n volv ed  i n bu ild in g the  mos t  so phistic ated Cybe r s e rver ,aCyber d esigned to co nn ect itself  t o o ther C y b er, to e volve and adapt, and to reasonlik e a m an.It was th e l ast pa rtt hat ne ver re allywo rke d .  TheB i ofac to r. That'su s . H umans  a re s o unpre dictable. You cang etclose with pr oba bili t y  c urv e s, but  n o t e x a ct. Give humans  the sameda t a,  and unles s  th erules o f scien ce an d  math a re invoke d, like t wo  plu s two  equals fo ur, theresponses willv ar y. Ob jec tive m at eri al: g reat!S ubj ectiv e mate ri al: so metim es . That's  where the Bio cyberlin ks cam e in. "
"Wait a m inu t e.Let me tr y to  finish th is.  Bo th Ha rry and M arle n e— you knowhera s Jana—be c am e c y b er links. Diff e r e ntareas  of respon sibi lity, but same co n nections?"

"Y es,t h at' s r i ght.  H arry is one of  my  s o n s. He wa slost to mewhen hewa s  youn g. And , yes,  Jana's m yd aughte r. W e c alled her 
 the_portable equipment._The eighteen commanders, their_staff and_an_equal number_of_technicians filed out._When they were_alone, Mother-General was first_to speak.

"We almost_had_them back."

"You were tracking them? How? Why?"

"I'm telling you all this because I have_to_tell someone._The_'how'_isn't important now. I just_hope I haven't gotten them_both killed."

"We_have to find them. If you're tracking them,_you_could be leading_Makr right to them?"

"If they'd stayed put, the natural_interference of the Nest could have_confused the signal_enough_to_keep the Cyber away."

"Really?"

"That's_one of the theories."

"Perhaps. They don't_even know their part in all_this." Mother-General was a bit distant.

"Mother-General, please_tell me what's going on here."

"That's_why I asked you to_stay." Mother-General_took hold of her hands_as she faced_her. "You're_close to Carlos,_as close as anyone can be,_so I'm hoping_you'll understand."

Kieran nodded. This was not_the_military woman and_second_mother_she had_grown to know,_she_thought. She'd_listen,_but she wasn't sure she was_going_like what she was about to hear.

"Twenty-seven_years ago before Makr_was_Makr, I lived Inside_with my first husband and_two children. Ray was involved in_building the_most sophisticated_Cyber server, a Cyber designed to connect itself to other Cyber,_to evolve and adapt, and to_reason like a man._It was_the_last part that_never_really worked._The Bio factor. That's us. Humans are_so unpredictable._You can get close with probability_curves, but not exact._Give_humans the same data, and unless_the rules of science and math_are invoked, like two plus_two_equals_four, the responses will vary._Objective material: great! Subjective material: sometimes._That's where the_Bio cyberlinks came in."

"Wait a minute. Let_me_try to finish this. Both Harry_and_Marlene—you know her as Jana—became cyberlinks._Different_areas_of responsibility, but same connections?"

"Yes,_that's right. Harry is one of_my sons. He was lost to me when he_was young. And,_yes, Jana's my daughter. We_called_her