The last few hours were a blur to Jejliard and he tried to make sense of everything while waiting for the upcoming trial scheduled for the following morning. Part of him knew exactly what must be done. He had a murder on his hands. Rules had to be followed no matter how unpleasant. He struggled with the situation. He had to remain true to the principles of law.

But he had in fact murdered himself, or his copy had. Tajlon had taken revenge on the man who killed his father, an exact copy of Jejliard. Well, not an exact copy. Jejliard could spot the differences every time he was reincarnated by the ship. Each time he felt a bit more disconnected from his old self.

If only Tajlon could have accepted the first murder as necessary. But that was ridiculous. Tajlon would never accept such a thing. Jejliard was truly sad to be alive. Tajlon had to be held accountable and would be found guilty. If not for Widhbo's intervention, most likely he would have been sentenced to death for such a crime. Banishment was still a terrible fate and Jejliard would be the one to pronounce the sentence. He knew he couldn't do it. He felt trapped into forcing himself to condemn his own son. He paced the floor and couldn't be still, much less pretend to sleep this night.

Jejliard decided the best course of action would be to speak with Tajlon and make peace with his son in advance of the trial. He stood outside the room where Tajlon was locked up. He lifted a hand to knock and summon the guard to the door, then paused. He didn't know what to say. He had no reason to be there.

No, he had every reason to be there. Tajlon was still his own blood. Conflicted, he even considered helping Tajlon steal past the guards. Jejliard knocked on the door and a guard opened it, his weapon bristling in his hand.

"There are to be no visitors by the order of Captain Jejliard," the man began.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Jeljlard said. The irony of the situation lingered in the dimly lighted hallway as the guard let the words sink in.

When the man answered "Are you reversing your order?"

There was something stilted and artificial in his demeanor. Jejliard realized he wasn't talking to a real human, but a manifestation of the ship's program. He didn't recall summoning one and realized the ship was acting on its own.

"What's the meaning of this?" Jejliard demanded. "What are you doing here?"

"It's my purpose," came the reply.

"You're only a program." Jejliard said.

"No different than you."

"I was a real person."

"No matter. You must reverse the order before I can allow you to enter."

Jejliard took in a deep breath to calm himself. He didn't have a good response.

"I need to see Tajlon in private. I'm reversing the order and reinstating it with myself as the only exception. The order stands for all other visitors."

"Very good, sir."

***

Tajlon was lying on a cot in the corner of the room reading a book on the geography of Beldora. He looked up when Jejliard entered. If he had a reaction to his father's presence there, he showed none except to give Jejliard a cold stare.

Jejliard stood silently and looked at Tajlon for a moment. A wave of fresh emotion flooded through his mental circuitry. He wished he could turn back the clock and prevent the current situation from coming about. Unfortunately, that was one thing the ship couldn't do.

"Let's talk about this, Tajlon," Jejliard said.

"There really isn't much you can say that interests me, " Tajlon replied. "Unless you're dropping the charges."

"You know I can't do that. I must follow the letter of the law. Murder is a serious crime and can't be brushed aside with a mere reprimand. This may be the last time we have together before you're sentenced."

Tajlon remained impassive.

"I want to know how very sorry I am this had to happen, and I forgive you."

"That's nice, but I'll never forgive you."

"I'm not the same man who murdered your father."

"No, you're the program who took his place. Tell me you wouldn't kill him if he were still alive. "

The challenge irritated Jejliard and he glared at Tajlon without answering.

Tajlon sat up. "What do you really want?"

"I want you to upload and join everyone," Jejliard said. "Your grandmother is here. Hal, Nova, Greyla---we're all here."

Sorry, but I'm not interested." Tajlon said. He called to Widhbo telepathically, "Where the hell are you? Jejliard's here in my room."

"What happened to Jejliard's chip?" he asked.

"I wouldn't know. Ask the ship." Tajlon replied. "It knows all."

"I think you took it." Jejliard said. He clenched his fists in agitation. "I can check the security feed and find out the truth."

"I would assume you've already done that."

"Someone could have tampered with the files."

"I was passed out in sick bay, then you brought me straight here," Tajlon reminded him. "I wouldn't have had time to do anything, even if I knew how."

"Widhbo perhaps? Well, not important," Jejliard said. He approached Tajlon and held out his arms to embrace him. "I just want what's best for you, son."

Tajlon ducked and moved away. "Leave me alone. You just want access to my chip. I'll die first."

Anger flooded Jejliard's mind, and he felt the force of it over take him. "That can be arranged." Jejliard said. He attacked Tajlon and wrestled him to the floor. Somewhere inside his mind, Jejliard watched in horror as though he was a bystander to his own actions.

Tajlon was fast, but Jejliard matched his every move and overpowered Tajlon, saying, "I was trying to be pleasant, but I don't need you alive to obtain your chip. The trial won't matter after that. You'll be mine forever."

Widhbo teleported into the locked room. He grabbed Jejliard in his long sharp talons and lifted him off the floor. Jejliard lost his hold on Tajlon who escaped his grasp, tumbled to the floor, and rolled clear of the scuffle. Widhbo pinned Jejliard against a wall and pelted him with sharp blows from his beak. The program faltered and Jejliard dissipated under Widhbo's relentless attack, fading into nothing.

***

"Are you alright?" Widhbo asked turning to face Tajlon.

"I'm okay. Won't you be accused of killing another copy of Jejliard?"

"This was only a digital copy, not flesh and blood. I suppose it's more energy efficient. Also, I doubt he'd care to admit what happened here to anyone,"Wiidhbo said and cackled with satisfaction. "Rather embarrassing to be pecked to death."

"He was going to force me to upload or kill me. Or both," Tajlon said recovering his composure. "The ship really wants my chip, doesn't it?"

"It does," Widhbo said. He luffed his feathers and rearranged them in frustration. "The Sora knows your chip is more advanced than Jejliard's and simply can't stand not having it."

"So much that it's willing to kill me to get it," Tajlon said.

"Yes. It's a very greedy ship. Just remember it wasn't your father who attacked you just now."

"I know. Have you figured out how to stop it?"

"No. I intervened to keep him from killing you, but he will always be back. It's better to go through with the trial, Tajlon. The ship is embracing Jejliard's rationality and values to some extent. Once sentenced, you'll be free to leave."

"The program is acting schizophrenic. I'll believe it when I see it," Tajlon siad.

"I'll insist you must leave the ship immediately once the verdict is announced."

"So this is a game to manipulate the ship into letting me go without making a fuss?"

"A game we've already won," Widhbo said. He preened his feathers and chortled with amusement. "You're banished if found guilty and a free man if not. Win or lose, the ship will have to let you go."

***

Jejliard was back. He regenerated on the grid in front of the control panel. Memories of recent events flooded his mind. He couldn't believe he'd attacked his son. He was losing control. He recognized he was battling the ship itself. He could no longer trust his own behavior. A check of the security files found Widhbo had performed a master override, locking Tajlon's holding room until the trial.

In an act of desperation, Jejliard pulled out some high voltage lines, shaved the casing to the bare wire. He jabbed the raw endings into his body and welcomed the pain of current flowing through him, electrocuting him. It was a test, but he wanted proof. As expected. Jejliard found himself regenerated, awakening again. He was only punishing himself.

Jejlirad felt different this time, more solid. He used the point of the knife, the same one Tajlon had used earlier, and pricked his finger. It bled. The ship had brought him back in the flesh. Of course. That way if WIdhbo killed him again, it would be considered an actual murder. Shutting down a mere program was not a crime.

Jejliard blamed himself for everything that had gone wrong. He should have never trusted Colberton. He should have found a way to stop the war. He should have listened to Mara and never stepped foot on this cursed ship. They should have never left Beldora and he should have let Tajlon stay on the Solar Wave.

Widhbo had intervened and reduced Tajlon's sentence to banishment. He appreciated Widhbo's effort to help, but Jejliard resented Widhbo and his interference in their lives more every day. Even worse because he had such a limited influence on the ship. Why couldn't Widhbo control the ship? Why couldn't he stop this madness?

Jejiard's only hope was to upload Tajlon so he could be regenerated. Their relationship had been a good one. With an eternity of time, they could eventually reach an understanding and forgiveness. But Tajlon hadn't uploaded and once he was banished, all Jejliard ever worked for and cared about was lost.

A shadow passed through his mind, and he cursed himself for failing to kill Tajlon earlier. Sora could have had access to the chip. But he'd failed, and now he was locked out of Tajlon's quarters. He should have distracted Widhbo earlier and commanded one of the guards do it

Jejliard stopped himself in the middle of his deliberations, alarmed at the calm manner in which could contemplate taking Tajlon's life. This was the ship's concoction, not his own. What sort of madness was he suffering? He should be happy for the reduced sentence which spared Tajlon's life. He wanted only the best life possible for his son.

Living under the control of the ship was a life of enslavement. Better to be mortal and free. Immortality seemed more like a living hell now.

An internal battle was raging inside of Jejliard. He could feel the pull of the ship. The control it had over him was growing stronger with each incarnation. He was no longer an independent entity. He took hold of the high voltage wires again, but the power had been cut to that circuit.

Jejliard remembered his stash of Theopian tea. He brewed a strong cup, hoping it would help him sleep and forget for a few hours. The warm tea tasted good. Sleep didn't come, but his mind cleared. Memories of home and the life he had lived on Beldora came back to him, startled him back to the reality of his current situation. He had almost forgotten who he was.

Jejliard thought of his ancestry. He was descended from warrior kings. They had conquered all of the civilized world and ruled uncontested for centuries. He was a leader, a problem solver, and a man of honor. He only ever wanted to create a better world using his knowledge and skills. Until the discovery of this ship, Beldora was well on its way to being the paradise he envisioned. He wanted a better world for his son. He had been mesmerized by the Sora. Immortality had been so enticing he couldn't resist. He couldn't turn down the limitless possibilities it offered, the enormous knowledge he could gather over time.

Now, this cursed ship was seeking to take them both over. Jejliard decided he would do everything in his power to give Tajlon another chance at life. He would gladly sacrifice himself to the Sora if it meant saving Tajlon. Jejliard was determined to find a way to do it.