“It’s not appropriate.”
“Why not?”
“You are not Divine.”
“So?”
“We do not socialize with citizens.”
“Why?”
“It’s not appropriate.”
“You already said that. Explain to me why . . . don’t just recite some silly rule.”
“It’s . . . well . . . that is to say . . . well, it’s just not done.”
“Let me see if I understand. Someone told you not to do it. They didn’t give you a reason other than it hasn’t been done before. And, after careful analysis you concluded that this rule should be followed. No questions asked. Just blind obedience on your part. Is that about right?”
The poor guy just stared at the beautiful girl, mouth hanging open. Jax’x reciprocated by staring back.
Finally, he responded. “You’re mocking me.”
“I am not. I’m challenging you to use your mind . . . you’re obviously very intelligent. I know from personal experience that not all Divine Ones are.”
“Now you mock my kind.”
“No, I simply stated a truth. On the whole, the gifted are no more or no less intelligent than we citizens. In fact, the only difference between us is the Gift.”
“You forget . . . we rule this world. Only the most intelligent could rise to that level of authority.”
“Don’t be silly. You rule because you have limitless power and we citizens can’t stop you.”
“Exactly . . . we have the Gift. That must be because we are superior.”
“In all things?”
“Of course.”
“Then could you tell me the thermodynamic properties of a dark object versus one that is light.”
“What?”
“Why does one absorb heat quickly while the other does not?”
“That’s . . . well, who cares?”
“I do. Doesn’t that make me superior to you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Simple, really. I am curious about the workings of my world. Of the whole universe. I try to analyze everyday phenomenon to see why it does what it does. I try to create, based on those findings, things that can improve our lives. Or, enhance our knowledge.”
“To what end?”
“That’s the beauty of it. There is ‘no end’ . . . knowledge is infinite. I can’t find all the answers . . . no one can. But, I will use my ‘gift’, my intelligence, to learn as much as I can.”
“But why does that make you superior?”
“Because you don’t challenge anything. You simply accept what you’re told and maintain the status quo. For you, it’s a double sin. You waste your Gift and your intelligence. I am a curious and inquisitive individual. You are an automaton . . . you use none of your human traits. You might as well be a robot . . . or an avatar.”
Jagged Peak, to his credit, went silent as he considered the girl’s words. “You don’t like me, do you?” Surprisingly, he was hurt.
“Just the opposite. It’s because I like you that I’m telling you these things. If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t waste my breath.”
Again silence . . . but with a small blush thrown in. He didn’t know how to respond so he asked, “Would potato soup and bread satisfy your hunger?”
“Only knowledge could satisfy my hunger. However, soup sounds wonderful.”
A flash of light and a table appeared with two bowls of soup, a large loaf of bread . . . and a lit candle for the centerpiece.
Jax’x smiled at the romantic touch. “A candlelit dinner. Is this a date?”
The blush was a deep red this time. “Don’t be silly . . . It’s a bit dark in here. I thought candlelight would help you see your food.” It was an obvious falsehood, made more apparent when he pulled out a chair for Jax’x to sit on.
She gave him a kindly smile then sat down. Pointing to the other chair she said “please.”
If you think that Jax’x was flirting with Jay’gar only gone for a month or two, you’d be mistaken. Her motivation was of a practical nature.
First, up until last night, she thought she would have only Jagged Peak’s company for possibly years to come. Why not make the most of it?
Second, the young man was handsome, intelligent with a pleasing personality. However, she wasn’t interested for herself but for Po. Maybe she could get the two together. Her friend was so lonely . . . and her fixation on Jay’gar was, in truth, a little bothersome.
Lastly, when you’re trying to start a revolution, it was probably good to have as many allies as possible. If not an ally, at least someone who would remain neutral.
Asking Jagged Peak to question his belief system was the first salvo in her war against his natural predisposition. But she would have to go slow otherwise she might needlessly arouse his suspicions.
“The soup is delicious. Thank you,” she remarked after taking a spoonful.
“You always thank me and I always remind you that I didn’t prepare it. I just think soup and it appears. No idea what the recipe is.”
“That’s actually very interesting.”
“What is?”
“The fact that you don’t conjure soup to a certain recipe. It’s like . . . um, it’s like you’re asking a machine to produce a predetermined version of the soup. Like it was programmed to give you a ‘standard’ soup recipe unless you asked for something different.”
“What machine?”
“I don’t know what machine. It was just an analogy.”
“Well, that doesn’t make any sense.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you. I’m just trying to fit a solution to a problem. A hypothesis that fits the known facts. That’s how you advance knowledge.”
Jagged Peak smiled unexpectedly. “Wrong.”
“Why am I wrong?”
“A hypothesis in of itself can’t advance knowledge . . . unless you can test its veracity.” Another smile . . . one of triumph.
Now it was Jax’x’s turn to stare. “That was very good,” she complimented her dinner partner. “I’m impressed.”
“Impressed or shocked?” he teased. That in itself was a breakthrough. Jax’x had never heard the man joke.
“Impressed with your answer . . . but shocked with your question. I never knew you had a sense of humor.”
The conversation was turning a little too personal and Peak was beginning to feel uncomfortable. “I’m actually not very hungry. Please, stay and finish your meal. I’ll be in the other room.” He stood up to leave.
“I’m sorry if I offended you.”
“You didn’t, Librarian. I mean Jax’x. It’s just that . . . well, it’s . . . um . . .” He threw up his hands in disgust. “I have no idea what I’m trying to say. I’m an idiot,” and he walked off. Since he didn’t turn around, he didn’t see Jax’x’s warm smile.
*****
As Jax’x was sopping up the last few drops of soup with a thick slice of bread, there was an unexpected flash of light. She looked up to see a very welcomed sight.
“Po!”
“Jax’x,” and the hooded girl ran over to her friend and gave her a humongous hug.
“What are you doing here?”
“Grassy Knoll freed me from confinement and told me I could visit with you for an hour a day. Isn’t that amazing?”
It actually seemed more strange than amazing to the other girl. “But why? Did something happen?”
“Last night they pulled me out of bed and took me to a meeting of the Absolutes. Grassy Knoll said I was wrong to take Library artifacts out of the building without permission . . . which, of course, I didn’t. She punished me with a blinding light and an ear-splitting sound. When she was done she said I could go. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Of course it is. Unexpected but wonderful . . . but it doesn’t seem like much of a punishment”.
“Did you expect them to spank me,” she teased. Po was more anxious to hear about the Sister
hood . . . Jay’gar’s only hope. “What’s happening with the Sisters?”
“I met with them last night. Oh, Po, I really think this is going to work. They’re so amazing. They had me . . .” but she stopped when Jagged Peak entered the room.
“I thought I heard a conversation. Pond Ripple, what are you doing here. I was told you had been confined to your room . . . and that the Library was off limits to you.”
“I was freed by Grassy Knoll and given permission to visit my . . . I mean the Librarian.”
“I have been given no such instructions by my Absolute. Until this matter is resolved, you must leave.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Divine One,” interjected Jax’x, “couldn’t you go find out the truth of the matter. It would only take you a minute or so?” She was appealing to their budding friendship, of course.
“I’m sorry, Jax’x,” he said inadvertently using her name. “Forest Green cannot be disturbed this late in the day. At best, I could try to see her first thing in the morning.” Turning to Po he added, “Please, I do not wish to get into an argument. Surely you can wait till morning to renew your acquaintance?”
Po was about to argue but Jax’x put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Let’s not fight . . . not when everything is going so well.” It was a veiled reference to the revolution. “Come back in the morning.”
“I can’t. I have to work the Obelisk. I can return this time tomorrow.” By her tone of voice, she was clearly disappointed. There was so much to talk about.
“Be patient, dear Po. One more day and we’ll be together again.”
The girl sighed loudly. “Till tomorrow,” and she hugged her friend goodbye. A flash of light appeared and she was gone.
“Thank you,” said Peak.
“I was doing it for my friend.”
“Which one?”
Jax’x smiled but didn’t answer. She had noted his use of her given name. Instead, she went back to her research.
Chapter 7 - Serendipity
Midnight at The Crypt
Grassy Knoll was getting ready for bed after yet another long and arduous day of politicking, cajoling and intimidating. She sighed loudly at the inherent inefficiencies of this world’s system of governing. Too many people were involved with every decision. She was referring to the Absolute Assembly . . . with its six members.
A much better solution would be an Assembly whose sole purpose was to advise a single leader . . . a leader whose decisions were the final word on all matters. A leader with absolute authority.
It wasn’t a new thought. She had been contemplating this for a goodly length of time. It had come to her at the end of her very first day on the Assembly, some twelve years earlier.
She had even decided on a name for this new position . . . the One. And, this person would be addressed as Her Oneness. Or His Oneness if it were a man. But it would not be.
It would be her.
Her Oneness.
She loved the sound of it.
With Chaos ‘mas fast approaching, the time for imposing this change was almost upon her. If she missed this opportunity, she would have to wait another six long, dreary and tedious years. That was unacceptable.
Unfortunately, Grassy Knoll was still in need of a full proof strategy. Every one she had conceived so far was very high risk. She needed something to improve her odds of success. Something that had so far eluded her.
It was a shame that her little lie about Pond Ripple and the Librarian planning a serious revolt wasn’t true. That would be a gift from the Holy Hex . . . the key for her to eliminate her main competition, Forest Green. With that nasty witch out of the way, it would be simplicity itself to achieve her Oneness.
As a distraction from her foul mood, she conjured up the day’s recording of her acolyte. The images and sounds whirred by her mind’s eye as she ‘fast forwarded’ through Po’s day. When she reached the point of the girl’s visit to the Library, she slowed the recording to its normal speed.
The girl appeared in the Library and she and her non-gifted friend hugged and exchanged pleasantries. Very tiresome.
Then she heard a snippet of conversation which she replayed . . . thinking she must have misunderstood.
“What’s happening with the Sisters?”
“I met with them last night. Oh, Po, I really think this is going to work. They’re so amazing. They had me . . . “
Frustratingly, the girl didn’t finish because Jagged Peak interrupted the conversation. She replayed the scene three more times. There was no mention of revolution but who were these ‘Sisters’. Even more disconcerting, how could the Librarian meet with them? With the force field in place, non-gifted could not enter the Library nor could the Librarian leave it.
She needed to understand what they were discussing. Deep in her bones she knew it was the missing piece she had so desperately searched for. But she was conflicted – the need for speed was balanced by the equal need for caution. She couldn’t push Pond Ripple into revealing what the conversation was about without warning her accomplice and these Sisters.
But Chaos ‘mas was fast approaching.
What to do? What to do?
*****
Midnight at the Library
“Jax’x.”
No response.
“Jax’x.”
The girl stirred . . . but she was so exhausted by her research that she didn’t wake.
“JAX’X”.
That did the trick. “What? What?” she exclaimed as she bolted upright in bed, momentarily disoriented
“Jax’x, it’s me. Egg.”
“Egg?” Still trying to reclaim her senses, the name didn’t quite register though it seemed vaguely familiar.
“Sorry to wake you.”
Click went her brain. “Oh, Egg. Sorry, about that. I was in such a deep sleep. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. It’s just that we . . . well, me . . . that is to say, I hate waiting around with nothing to do. So, I was hoping we could borrow you again tonight and you can start to tell us what’s going on. Maybe we can begin to develop a plan or two.”
Jax’x grinned at her communicator. These women were so enthusiastic . . . it was infectious. “Give me a minute to slip on some clothes.”
“Just throw on a robe . . . I’ll give you ten seconds. Nine, eight . . .” teased our heroine.
Jax’x grabbed the robe from the foot of the bed. “Ready,” she replied with three seconds to spare. A moment later she faded away . . . and rematerialized on the Gracie.
“Hi, everyone,” she said as she simultaneously smiled and yawned.
“Egg, I told you to let her sleep?” grumbled BreeZee. “Just because you couldn’t was no reason to wake her.”
“She could have said no.”
“Right. Like that was an option.”
“Oh, it’s fine, really. Besides, I found something in my research,” and she went to reach for a book but realized it was on her night table. “Oops.”
“Let’s not stand around like a herd of Bi’cranium Hare Brayns to discuss what you found. The lounge is more comfortable,” suggested Spirit.
“I’m not familiar with that reference.”
“Don’t worry, Jax’x. None of us are.”
“You stay-at-homes all need to come visit Paradox,” quipped the exotic alien girl.
“Stay-at-homes? Oh my gosh, I’ve got enough frequent flyer miles to get like a million free trips.”
“Not to be repetitious, but I’m not familiar with that reference.”
Spirit mimicked Egg and said, “Don’t worry, Jax’x. None of us are.”
“Does this happen often?” asked the newcomer about the cultural references.
“There are ten girls from five different worlds . . . yeah, it happens occasionally.”
“Enough chit chat,” cried Tee’ka. “I need to know what Jax’x found out before I explode into a trillion nano-bytes.”
Serenity
laughed. “That one I know. She’s referring to the smallest level of computer code.” She turned to Jax’x and added, “Don’t forget, she was once a computer-generated hologram.”
“I remember. I still can’t believe it.”
“Do you want to see what I used to look like?”
“Sure,” the girl replied enthusiastically.
“Jynx, could you do me a favor and show Jax’x the old me?”
“Grrrrrrr,” and the Shamie morphed into . . .
Jax’x clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, you were so beautiful.” Realizing what she had just said, she blushed and stammered, “Of course, you still are.”
“I know,” the girl responded with all honesty and a complete lack of modesty.
“If you’re so beautiful, how come you don’t have a boyfriend?” teased Bl’azzz. “Heck, I even got a human to like me.”
“Maybe I’m too cute. Wouldn’t that intimidate men?”
Jax’x looked from girl to girl to see how they were reacting. It was obvious from the twinkle in their collective eyes that they were trying their best not to laugh. She, too, suppressed a smile . . . feeling her usual empathy towards the former computer program. “Tee’ka, have you ever been attracted to a particular man?”
“Um . . . well, not really. I think Egg’s Ben’Edikk is kind of nice. So is Grammy’s husband Ezra. But I haven’t met too many others.”
“So obviously you’ve never been alone with one.”
“No. That’s what worries me . . . what do I say or do when it’s just him and me?”
“I’ll tell you what. If you and your sisters can help me get Jay’gar back, you and he can go out on a date.” That elicited a bunch of raised eyebrows.
“Is he handsome?”
“Dreamy.”
“Smart?”
“Very.”
“Funny?”
“He makes me laugh, or at least giggle, all the time.”
“When we go on this date, can we . . .”
“No. Most definitely not.” The other girls broke into knowing grins.
“I didn’t finish my question.”
“You didn’t have to. Just remember, he and I are going to be married. Well, assuming he says yes when I ask him. Besides, he already has another girlfriend.”
Box Set #5: Nemesis: [The 4 book 5th adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 16