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“Cooperation?” Drake said. “But you did all this by force!”

“It was necessary in the beginning. Otherwise, how would other creatures have known about the Great Cooperation?”

“Would they stay if you released your control over them?” Drake asked.

“That is a meaningless question. We form a single indivisible entity now. Would your arm return to you if you cut it off?”

“It isn’t the same thing.”

“It is,” Eakins’ voice said. “We are a single organism. We are still growing. And we welcome you wholeheartedly into the Great Cooperation.”

“To hell with that,” Drake said.

“But you must join,” the Quedak told them. “It is the Quedak Mission to coordinate all sentient creatures into a single collective organism. Believe me, there is only the most trifling loss of the individuality you prize so highly. And you gain so much more! You learn the viewpoints and special knowledge of all other creatures. Within the Quedak framework you can fully realize your potentialities—”

“No!”

“I am sorry,” the Quedak said. “The Quedak Mission must be fulfilled. You will not join us willingly?”