By denying your former existence, the Librarian continued regardless, you have denied yourself the lessons that life has taught you. Imtiaz Bashir is a good man, but perhaps not the wisest. It was wrong to have listened to him when he first brought Tarrant to meet you.

Tears streamed down her face. Shes the whole reason the Maker Swarm is on its way here, she protested, meaning Dakota Merrick. It would never have known the human race even existed if she hadnt gone out there. I just dont want to have to carry that responsibility!

She went looking for a means to stop the Nova War of two centuries ago and she found it, declared the Librarian.

Megan stared at the shadowy figure. What? That had nothing to do with me . . . or with her. The war was halted by some expedition

There are some facts of which you are clearly unaware, said the Librarian. You have been resurrected before, and it was a long way from either Dios or Redstone.

I have? said Megan faintly.

The first time was shortly after your encounter with the Maker Swarm.

But . . . I dont remember anything about that.

That other Dakota died far away from a Magi ship, explained the Librarian. Hence, there was no opportunity to recover her memories directly. This is why you do not have those same memories.

How . . . how did she die?

She took part in the expedition you just mentioned, the one that brought the Nova War to an early end. She helped deploy a weapon against the Emissaries that would never have been discovered if her previous incarnation had not gone out to encounter the Swarm. Without her, the human race, and many of the species neighbouring it, would most likely have been wiped out by now.

She stared into the shadows, thunderstruck. I . . . I had no idea.

You are not Est, said the Librarian. She died so that you might live. Her thoughts and memories cannot be recovered, and you must accept this.

Megan cradled her head in her hands. It seemed all too much to take in.

In the meantime, the Librarian continued, we still have a new mission to complete, and our flight out to the Wanderer will take some months. That leaves you plenty of time virtual or otherwise to contemplate our next move. So I suggest you make the best use of it.

THIRTY-THREE

Gabrielle

Gabrielle could think of nothing but that last glimpse of Martha Stiles, clutching little Evie to her chest.

She screamed and fought as Tarrant dragged her towards an airlock, where the two Freeholders who had murdered the outposts staff stood already waiting. One of them seized and secured her wrists, and when she tried to struggle, the other hit her so hard across the back of her head, it left her nauseous and dizzy.