Contents
III. Stoicism — Interlude
Overview
Atlas visits his ailing mother and rationalizes a plan to exploit Dalton’s abilities by concealing parts of Dalton from the archives. He frames the choice as a trolley problem and accepts moral compromise. Atlas recommits to his covert partnership with Ezra and decides to place a minder over his mother.
Summary
Atlas Blakely, shortly after completing his fellowship, establishes a recurring ritual of visiting his cognitively diminished mother. He talks to her about Dalton, believing Dalton could achieve something extraordinary if parts of his mind are hidden from the archives. He frames their scheme as defying natural limits, convincing himself the convergence of talents is meaningful.
Atlas cites Camus’ The Fall to justify inaction becoming a fall, but he wavers, seeking validation. His mother briefly appears lucid only to slap him, accusing him of making her a liar, which punctures his self-pity. The incident underscores Atlas’ moral isolation and the cost of his choices.
Rationalizing further, Atlas weighs the trolley problem: saving a few by risking many. He decides that sealing away parts of Dalton might win the archives’ favor and ultimately let Atlas use Dalton’s power to “save” others, despite legitimate warnings this could destroy everything. He accepts the ethical burden as necessary.
Atlas recalls remarks from Alexis and reflects that Parisa is the only one who might have understood his self-mythologizing, hinting at his secrecy with her. He plans to reassure Ezra that their plan is working, while avoiding stripping Ezra of agency by overexplaining the risks.
Before leaving, Atlas resolves practicalities: arranging care for his mother by appointing someone to watch her. He concludes that there is such a thing as too much power—and that he already knows it—yet chooses to proceed, reaffirming his path with Dalton and Ezra.
Who Appears
- Atlas BlakelyCaretaker; visits his ailing mother, justifies sealing Dalton from the archives, reaffirms plans with Ezra.
- Atlas’s motherCognitively impaired; briefly lucid to rebuke Atlas, catalyzing his renewed, conflicted resolve.
- Dalton EllisonSubject of Atlas’s plan to hide parts of him from the archives to leverage his power.
- EzraAtlas’s co-conspirator; Atlas intends to update him while preserving Ezra’s agency.
- Parisa KamaliMentioned in reflection; the one Atlas thinks might have understood his self-mythologizing.
- AlexisRecalled in an aside, teasing Atlas about his self-mythologizing and moral turpitude.