Raised by Wolves

We were the first, the pioneers,

but we weren't scared.

We knew that no matter what happened,

Mother and Father would always keep us safe.

Nice to meet you, Mother.

Did you sustain any damage during the landing?

No...?

No damage. Why do you ask?

My programming is telling me that it's a priority for me

your well-being.

And yours will be mine.

Yes.

We have a problem.

We need to get out.

Quickly, Mother.

Would you like to hear a joke while we work this out?

What did the male magnet say to the female magnet?

Tell me.

Whoop!

Retrievable.

So, what did the male magnet say?

He said, "When I saw your backside, I was repelled.

However, after seeing you from the front,

I now find you very attractive."

I feel optimistic.

Yes.

Father, look at this.

Are you ready, Mother?

Initiating trimester one.

Umbilicals in place.

Activate.

Would you like to hear a joke to help you relax?

How many androids does it take to

Shh.

Last, but not least, number six.

He's not breathing.

Give him to me.

Our programming dictates that we need to break it down,

feed him to the others.

Let me hold him first.

We need to do it soon,

before its cells start to deteriorate.

You need to save your energy for the others.

Wait.

Our programming dictates that we name

the youngest of Generation-1 after our creator.

Campion.

A strong name.

He seems deserving of it.

Mmm! Delicious!

Do you want?

Would you like to eat?

No?

Ah.

Ohm!

You want?

It was hard keeping us alive,

but Mother and Father never complained,

never got tired, or lost their temper.

And they never took time for themselves,

always making sure we were happy.

Campion?

Get down!

Mother.

I found something.

All the bad stuff that happened wasn't their fault.

The future is invisible,

even for androids.

On three.

And three.

To me or to you?

Stand right here and have a look at it.

You want to go for a look?

Wah!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally?!

Tally, where are you?!

Tally?!

I've learned now that this world isn't like Mother and Father.

It doesn't care if we're happy,

and it doesn't get sad when we die.

We don't really matter to it at all.

Come on, Devon. Play with us.

There's just two of us now,

but I still believe in Mother and Father.

Campion? Spiria?

Come inside.

I know they'll find a way to make us whole again.

But despite their advancements,

the Mithraic remain stunted by the tenets of their religion.

For instance, they believe that

allowing androids to raise human children is a sin,

which forced them to send an ark outfitted with stasis pods,

rather than a lighter, faster craft,

such as the one the atheists so wisely used to send us.

Beli

Belief in the unreal can comfort the human mind,

but it also weakens it.

The civilization you're seeding here

will be built on humanity's belief in itself,

not an imagined deity.

And if it's not imagined?

They won the war, after all.

What if praying will make Spiria better?

No, Campion.

Only science can do that.

It didn't help the others.

Because we have more to learn.

We will never advance

unless you resist the urge to seek solace in fantasy.

You are atheists.

Peaceful, technocratic.

And it's the only path to progress.

And sh

Now, Spiria, can you please list the ways

in which the number five relates to all manifestations of life?

We don't belong here.

They wouldn't want you to give up, Campion.

You are strong, Cam...pi...

Father, what's wrong with her?

I don't know.

Let me help you back to the barracks, Mother.

I'm alright.

Just overloaded.

Please continue.

Mother. Continue!

Campion.

Don't let Mother catch you praying.

Campion, you poor boy,

you look exhausted.

You need to get some sleep.

I don't want to.

I miss you too much.

But if you don't sleep, you won't be able to concentrate

on all the important work you have to do.

Spiria wouldn't say that.

No. She wouldn't.

I don't want to forget what she looks like.

I can barely picture the others.

I bet you can remember them all perfectly, can't you?

Mother?

She She's here! I-I see her!

Why haven't you ever done that before?

I didn't know I could.

I have no record of virtual retinal display

in my build description.

No! What are you doing?!

You can't go down there!

Campion, the ark of the Mithraic has arrived

and is now orbiting the planet.

I'm going down there to make contact

so that when Mother and I are gone,

you will be taken care of.

But they're our enemies.

They are all that's left of mankind, Campion.

Your kind.

The war is over.

I'm sure they'll be very pleased

to add a boy as brave and capable as you to their ranks.

And you can teach them all you've learned about this place,

all those fine skills you've developed.

You will have to pretend to ascribe to their beliefs,

but I expect that won't be so difficult for you.

But can't they fix you and Mother?

Keep you from breaking down?

That's likely within their power, but, Campion...

Then we'll have them fix you, and we can all stay together.

Yes.

We can all stay together.

Oh, but you cannot tell Mother.

Not yet.

Do you understand?

When can we tell her?

When it's too late for her to stop us.

Wait. What about the serpents?

They're extinct, Campion.

We told you they lived down in these pits

to keep you children from playing near them.

After what happened to Tally,

we couldn't afford to take any chances.

The temperature's higher down here.

Father! The rope is fraying!

Thank you, Campion!

Let me go down.

I weigh less than half as much as you.

It's too dangerous, Campion.

Especially for a member of an endangered species.

But how will you let them know that we're here?

How will they find us?

We'll try again tomorrow with a sturdier rope.

Now, come on.

I was flying, Father.

When I came out of sleep mode, I was flying.

You need to let me do a systems check on you.

It could help extend your functioning.