She sometimes wished she could just be an ordinary girl, attending school with her friends and having fun, instead of feeling like a pawn in a game of players, some of whom she didn’t know. Today, in particular, having knowledge and gifts greater than other humans was weighty for her. She wondered if what she’s going through would be worth it. Her inner voice whispered peace and comfort.
Corona relaxed.
Beings appeared from the corner of her room. Corona was calm and accepting, recognizing the scent and eyebands of the ones gliding to her bedside.
She greeted Flora and Fancy.
The two In Situs looked at their charge as if reassuring themselves she was all right.
You’re worried, Corona communicated. What’s wrong?
We’re not sure, Flora said. Both of us felt something terrible had happened, although we didn’t know what it was. Fancy thought it might have something to do with you and insisted we pass over here for assurance of your safety. Have you noticed anything? Are you all right?
Yes, I’m fine. Corona looked pensive. I, had a sense of some awful event, too. That’s what awakened me. As if something bad had happened and I couldn’t stop it. And I had the feeling, right before you appeared, that there was another someone or something in the room before you entered. An unfriendly other.
She reached for the framed photographs of her mother and grandparents and pulled them to her chest for comfort.
I don’t know what’s going on, Flora said. Maybe we imagined it. Try to think, Corona. Think hard. With your abilities, you might be able to discover what’s happening.
They waited for what would come next. Would this Hybrid expose a covert operation or is she still at a base level, with limited skills?
Corona waited to hear something from her inner voice. Nothing happened. She searched her thoughts. Her brain chemistry was active, flashing and synapsing influences across her thirteen cranial nerves. Her corpus callosum burned high with energy, looking for pathways to answers, advanced mirror neurons glowing.
The young girl held her hands up to her head in an attempt to calm the barrage of information tumbling about and being sorted through.
Nothing.
She was getting nothing concrete. All that was before her were terrible feelings of danger and dread coming on undulating swells. Then, faint surges of something unnerving drifted her way. Intuition induced the veil to cover the deepest recesses of her feelings and thoughts, depriving the In Situs of access. The source of her concern was something happening in Flora’s dimension. She began receiving feelings of dread and death, relating to Flora. Corona abruptly lifted her head to look into the bluish eyeband of the In Situ. I can’t read their thoughts, I’m too upset.
Flora appeared to not notice the way Corona was staring at her.
Fancy sensed it and looked at her companion.
Just as quickly as all that had happened, it was gone.
Flora asked, What do you think? What’s going on?
I’m not sure, Corona answered. But whatever it is, isn’t happening here. It’s back in your space. I’m sure of it. Whatever it is, it’s big. I feel it.
Fancy became uncomfortable and questioned if, since Corona is okay here, they should return to their dimension to see what could be wrong.
Flora disagreed, saying she wanted to show Corona something. I think we could use this opportunity to give Corona some additional lessons, she said, pulling a transport device out from a sack. Maybe introduce her to our transportation methods. She might need that information during one of her crossings with us. Besides, this one understands our writings and language so the training time will be short.
Fancy weighed the urgency of returning against using their presence now to educate Corona. You’re right. We might as well take care of that while we’re here.
Flora began to show Corona how the transport device worked.
How is it possible to ride the energy transit around In Situ? What makes that possible? Corona asked.
As you know, there’s a constant flow of energy from us and around us all the time; quarks, atoms, whatever terms your world uses to explain them. An energy field connects each of us to the other and then on to everything else. The Valers taught us how to use that energy to get around and send goods and information over the waves. That’s how our postings work. We write or speak them into the communication board and they travel instantly over the energy matrix. If you want to travel, any of our transports will take you where you want to go,” Flora said. “They’re fitted with matrix-compatible intelligence. All you have to do is sit down in it, activate this device and wait to reach your destination.
It must be fun for you to ride around in the transport, Corona said.
None of us has a transport vehicle for ourselves, Flora said. We’re not permitted. Only the All have their own. If anyone else needs to go somewhere, there’s usually one parked somewhere nearby. If not, you use the board to order a transport that’s not in use. When you’re done with it, you let it almost anywhere. Sooner or later, someone else will need it and will use it, or the board will send it to someone who has none nearby.
What about collisions? Corona said. People here have accidents in our vehicles a lot. They get hurt and even killed.
Fancy had begun to relax and snorted in amusement at the question.
Corona struggled to read the beings’ minds. Each time she tried, the transport device emitted a glow.
We don’t have transport accidents, Flora said. Each of the transport devices can access all other devices in use and adjust their energy ride accordingly. On your next visit with us, we’ll let you try it out if you want.
Yes, I do want to try it. Legally, I can’t drive here until I pass the exams and get a permit. It would be great to drive in your dimension.
Fancy began to feel uneasy again about what it was that had bothered them earlier. I think we should go now, she said.
Just a little longer, Flora said. I can explain to Corona exactly how we order personal items for our homes and how they’re delivered.
Corona was getting the feeling that Flora was stalling for more time although she didn’t know why.
I think we should go now, Fancy said. She glided away from the bed.
Yes, you’re right, Flora said. She followed her companion.
Please let me know if you learn anything about my family, Corona said as the In Situs crossed their arms over their chests.
“Of course we will. You can count on it. We’ll get back to you on that,” Flora replied. Then she and Fancy were gone.
In Situ
“Today,” Fancy said, “Corona expressed dread and jeopardy from something we don’t even know about. I think she knew what it was, but didn’t want to tell us.”
“I agree,” Flora said. “She has talents she hasn’t shared with us. And I think today she was having difficulty reading our thoughts. She was highly anxious about whatever event had taken place and couldn’t seem to concentrate. Corona tapped into a real threat while most humans are busy worrying about an invasion from other countries and what they call outer space. They don’t recognize the dangers in their midst, occupying the same space, but in other dimensions. Their eyes have been focused above, looking for signs of life and good fortune. They spend billions competing to be the first to reach one rotating rock after another with the hopes of glory and knowledge. All for a few rewards of this and that to enrich their lives and the glory of being first. I dread to think what would happen if their leadership ever figured out that, what they call planets, meteorites and eroding star-forming regions with high-energy radiation are the least of their worries. They might start supporting the studies of those who suspect our existence - the ones who know how their blundering would impact on the sparse order already in place from one universe to another.”
Fancy listened to Flora but her thoughts were of how Corona was becoming more of a problem.
“I’m also concerned about her continued cooperation
with us if she becomes more knowledgeable about us and the methods used at the Ward,” Flora said. “If we have to give an explanation of the policies of harvesting the perfect and culling the defective little ones, it may be unacceptable to her. Most humans develop feelings for their young. I’m so glad the All helped us overcome such nonsense and made us realize our young belong to the collective, so they’re not really ours. We’re not responsible for their successes, the community is. Corona doesn’t know how our little ones are made here. Nor does she realize her connection to our Hybrid genetic pool through the material we took from her.”
“The rest of the Passers were in agreement that Corona should be prevented from viewing and understanding the Ward,” Fancy said. “I agree with them.”
The group at Flora’s home were abuzz with their concerns. They’d all been alerted to the suspicion of a terrible happening, both actual and pending. One by one the group members had come from nearby or by riding the energy matrix. All were intent on discovering what had happened and what was going to happen that had alerted them - something inevitable which seemed to demand action on their part. What it was, they didn’t know. Because they were ignorant of the events, speculation abounded.
“We should contact the All,” one of them said.
There were murmurs of agreement.
“Our leader and her supporters would’ve told us if they knew anything,” another said. “Or they would’ve called Flora in. Let’s try again to tap into the non-local memory stored in the energy matrix. Surely one of us may be able to pluck the memories of the event from those who participated.”
“None of us have been able to engage memories that exist outside of one’s brain and are stored within the matrix,” Flora said. “Perhaps one of our future Hybrids will be able to retrieve non-local past and present memories at will. That’ll be a valuable gift to us. They’d be worth a great deal to whomever finds them. Maybe even Corona has that gift and doesn’t know it.”
At the Human Camp
Raney and Sondo, the only twins ever to survive in the Ward, dressed exactly alike as twins often do. They rode the matrix to the Human Camp to deliver supplies that had been ordered by the human population.
Earlier this day, larger vehicles had brought to the camp requisitioned supplies. This visit by Raney and Sondo supposedly was to supplement the order with a few items the humans were told had been accidentally left off of the earlier delivery. It was a ruse that was used once in awhile when they had something else in mind for the inhabitants of the camp. Lying was permitted and utilized when it was to advance their cause.
“Look at them,” Raney said, motioning to the humans in the yard. Her blue eyeband glowed with agitation. “They can’t use their thought waves like us. They smell terrible when they need a cleaning and I find them repugnant to look at. And they talk about missing animals and birds. The way they talk about their pets is nauseating - like they were friends or family members.”
Sondo, repulsed by the humans, too, had no trouble putting her distaste into words. “I don’t want to look at them. Looking at them is the hardest part for me, she said. Those two seeing things in their heads are so ugly. When one goes bad, they only have one remaining to use. If part of our eyeband has problems we can use the rest of it until we get to the Healing Room.” She snorted in appreciation of their superiority.
“And the way they make more humans is offensive. They actually carry the little one inside them for months until it comes out. It makes me wonder when they’ll learn that the decent way to procreate is our way - to scrape a few skin cells from the body and put them in a container until they mature into another being,” Raney said. “With the growth enhancer, we only have to wait a short time until the Ward has ours ready. Not months and months like they do.” She scoffed at their repugnant methods.
“Enough about that. The whole pregnancy thing is making me sick. They talk about loving each other and how it helps them overcome almost anything in their meager, worthless lives. I could talk on and on about how vulgar they are, but we’re here to see they no longer drain our resources or threaten our ways. Let’s get going,” Sondo said.
Raney touched the transport device and it glided them to the back of the camp at the receiving end of the building.
Michael, one of the camp humans, saw them coming and waved to the deliverers.
“The rest of our supplies,” Michael called to a friend leaning against the building. “You need a rest, buddy. Go on inside and sit down. I’ll take care of it.”
“Hi, you two,” Michael said to Raney. “How are you today?” He smiled broadly. “It’s my turn to handle the deliveries.” He was in good spirits as always.
“Good,” Raney said. Through her thoughts she transmitted to Sondo, It’s a good day because we won’t have to look at this one anymore, either. He’s always smiling and friendly. Her hatred of his cheerful disposition was immense.
“I’m glad,” Michael said. “What do you have for us there?” He bent down to retrieve a package from the shelf behind the transport chair. He grunted. It was troublesome for him to move about, with the extra fluid he was carrying in his body.
“Just a few things that were missed on your earlier delivery,” Sondo said. And your death decree is being delivered, too, she signaled to Raney.
Raney snorted in reply.
“Thank you for bringing it,” Michael said. “That’s so kind of you.” He smiled politely at them. “We’ll see you next time,” he said, waving goodbye. “I’ve gotta go. It’s almost time for our weekly gathering and they want all of us there for it.”
Michael’s respirations became labored from talking so much. In the last stages of arterial collapse, fluid was building up in his thorax and pooling throughout his body wherever spare compartments were available.
“We’ll be stopping for a minute at the office,” Raney said, pointing to a door leading into the main hall.
“See you later,” Michael said through moist breaths. He shuffled past the doorway to the Meeting Room.
All the camp’s occupants, young and old alike, were required to be at the weekly meeting. They eagerly attended because it was the only place and time they got to use and observe the communication board.
Twelve thousand people crowded, two thousand each, into six main rooms at various locations about the camp. There were no In Situs in the area at this time except Raney and Sondo. The rest were at their homes or in meeting rooms at their own gatherings. It was perfect timing for the final stage of the plan, it being the only time until next week that all the humans and In Situs would be separate and isolated in their own particular zones.
“That was easy enough,” Raney said to Sondo. “Now, to present the extra something for today’s assembly.”
“The little extra something,” Sondo echoed.
The twins glided through the doorway into the control room of the camp. They had a short time to accomplish what they’d been sent to do and didn’t waste any of it. Equipment was pulled from sacks and the conspirators moved quickly.
Raney pulled a vial from under her shift where it had been secreted in an inside pocket. She held it up for Sondo’s inspection. “The last and largest dose of their Curmonin,” she said proudly. “The humans have had small doses of it, but today will be the bolus to finish them off. The Homeling’s should get rewarded for their part in making this happen.”
“Causes a gradual breakdown of the lining of the arteries in humans,” Sondo said. “It takes all the plaque and any clots with it. And, when the lining goes, the vessels fail. Such minute targeting causes the downfall of the larger organism. Brilliant. I love talking about it. I wish I’d have thought of it myself. Let’s see if we can’t make something even better to use.”
“Good idea. Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to make this a standard tool when we take over the humans’ world,” Raney said. “It’d be great to use on the Hybrids. A weapon like this, which is impossible to track, is invaluable. We could get
rid of the pesky, inadequate Hybrids and their families, too.”
“That idea is excellent,” Sondo replied. “Although I’d like to use some of our kill toys on them, too.”
The malevolence they felt toward anyone not like them, was entwined with a militant fervor for the righteousness of their cause - serving their own through the eradication of the human influence. Hybrids had to be destroyed just like everything else that wasn’t In Situ. The rewards were enormous that they expected to share for their participation. Whatever extra reward one got, the other got half of it.
Raney opened a communication board for a final count of attendees in the Meeting Rooms. She manipulated the screen. “They’re all there,” she said. “Do it.”
Spying a crawling insect on the floor, Raney curled her lip and brought her hands up in front of her as if to fend it off if needed. She watched the disgusting trespasser getting sucked up into the filtering system.
Sondo looked around to see if there were any other bugs in need of exterminating. She saw a roach and stepped on it.
The assassins pulled head coverings from their shifts to supply them with enough clean air to sustain their lives until they were away from the camp. Each double-checked the others’ equipment.
Sondo took the vial from Raney’s hand, adjusted the container’s cap and placed it against a bladder in the main element-dispensing tubing on the wall. She manipulated the oxygen and other gaseous flow to allow the contents of Curmonin vial to disperse into the indoor environments.
Raney smiled and programmed the unit to return to its original settings once the gas went through the tubing. As this was the main line for air in all six of the meeting rooms, the lethal drug would be dispensed to every camp room simultaneously
The In Situs glided toward their transport chair and smiled at each other, confident the drug would take care of their assignment.
“We’re so good at what we do,” Sondo said. “Being twins has helped us become the best.”
“The best,” Raney replied.
Sondo pressed the transport device around her neck and they happily rode the energy matrix out of the camp for the ride to Golden’s home.
WATCHING CORONA: From Our Dimension to Yours Page 16