Embers of Empire... Part Four
"STOP!" the Reapers chorused. As the alien killing machines immediately reconfigured to attack mode, one of them stated: "Human detected. Arming weapon systems! Initiating termination sequence!"
Sun Min dropped her bamboo staff to the ground and bowed before the Reapers. "Kill me if you wish. I bear no weapons... no technology. I surrender to the superior foe."
The Reapers paused in uncertainty. "Voice stress analysis detects no duplicity from this human," one of them said.
"Statement accurate within nine decimal places," another added. "Fascinating."
One of the Reapers turned to Helen Dahl. "Why did you bring a human to this place? Humans are violent. Illogical. Irrational."
"Humans are not like machines," another one said. "Humans are flawed. Imperfect. Incapable of logical behavior."
"Yes, we have our flaws," Min replied sadly. "But we learn from our mistakes. We try to improve ourselves. And not all humans are violent and irrational. I am a Zen Buddhist. I have sworn to fight only in self-defense, and to bring peace, justice, and order to the universe."
"Interesting philosophy, human. We have downloaded files on Earth religions, but none of them make any sense to us. But how does fighting only in self-defense allow one to win the game?"