Page 203 - TruthAboutLyingFinal

Nicholas Boothman
“We are the Consortium. Four hundred and twenty-two species that survived their developmental crises and joined together. We explore. We create. We preserve. We are what consciousness becomes when it learns to cooperate instead of compete.”
“How many fail?” Henry asked.
The holographic display shifted, showing thousands of data points where the vast majority glowed a terminal red. Of the seven thousand four hundred and twelve preserves monitored, the Curator revealed that only four hundred and twenty-two had successfully graduated. Jinji’s hands went perfectly still as she stared at the rotating data.
“Six percent,” Jinji said. “We have a six percent chance.”
“You have the chance you create,” the Curator corrected. “The statistics describe the past. You determine the future.”
“What happens to the ones that fail?” Henry asked, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
The holographic display shifted, showing different colored pathways.
“It depends on the nature of the failure. Some species destroy themselves through war. Some through environmental collapse. Some through technological singularities they cannot control. Each failure mode requires a different intervention.”
“Intervention,” Vincent repeated. “You mean you do not just let them die.”
“We preserve what we can,” the Curator said. “There are three standard protocols.”
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