by Adair Hart
Dr. Snowden shook both hands in front of him. “It’s nothing like that. She’s human.”
“I would think so. Everyone down here should be human, Kalesh, android, or robot. There may even be some other aliens here.”
Dr. Snowden narrowed his eyes as the woman approached.
The woman smiled. “I’m Naomi Eltat, Advanced Dynamics junior structural engineer.”
Jane extended her hand. “I’m Jane Trellis, United Planets Bureau of Law Enforcement agent, Da Nesh office.”
Naomi shook Jane’s hand.
Dr. Snowden extended a hand. “I’m Dr. Albert Snowden. Traveler.”
Naomi shook Dr. Snowden’s hand while chuckling. “Traveler?”
“I guess that doesn’t sound all official-like.”
Jane cleared her throat. “We were looking around.”
“I can show you around if you want,” said Naomi. “It’s close to my lunch hour anyways. I’d be glad to have company.”
“Lead on.”
Dr. Snowden’s attention was focused on all the data he was seeing. As Naomi led them to a workstation, he saw one of the screens showing the bottom part of the station, with various progress bars, labels, and status readings. He looked at Naomi. “I have some questions if you don’t mind.”
“Sure, I’m always happy to answer questions, assuming they’re engineering ones,” said Naomi with a smile.
“Oh, they are. So … does the station get its power exclusively from the sun?”
“It does for the most part,” said Naomi. “There are solar collectors that focus on capturing the sun’s energy. We have quite a few of them. They send power here, but the station itself also has collectors. There are some fusion reactors that serve as backups for critical systems.”
Dr. Snowden paused as he chewed on Naomi’s words. He wondered if this is how Evaran felt discussing new technologies or ideas with other cultures. “Is this station geosynchronous?”
“You got it. It’s a statite. It stays in one spot, kept afloat by the circular flat sail you might have seen on your way in.”
Dr. Snowden wagged a finger. “The sails use the solar wind and gravity to stay in position, right?”
“Uh-huh. It’s a bit more complex than that, but that’s the general idea. The statite can adjust its position if need be.”
“Fascinating. This would allow the Dyson bubble to be built incrementally as resources become available.”
Naomi smiled. “Most resources come from the Gazier cloud outside the solar system, and there’s plenty there. At the rate we’re building the habitats and collectors, the Dyson bubble should be fully constructed in about sixty years or so. What’s truly amazing is this is the first one that’s being built so that all the parts can come together using a backbone ship if it needs to move to a new system. However, the end result is a living space that is independent of a planet with the power of a star, so solar systems not friendly to life can still be populated.” She cocked her head. “It’s refreshing to see your curiosity. Are you an engineer?”
“No way … but I do read up on things like this when I visit places.”
“You must travel to some interesting places then.”
Dr. Snowden chuckled. “That would be an understatement.” He pointed at the screen. “That sail must be made of a powerful material.”
“Yep. It’s made up of molecularly engineered carbon nanotubes. They were able to get the density down quite a bit. Have to give credit to our materials engineers on that one.”
Dr. Snowden shook his head. “This is great. This whole station reminds me of an O’Neill cylinder with a big sail on the bottom. I suppose the spin helps with gravity.”
“Now that’s an old term I haven’t heard used since my first engineering classes. The premise is the same, but obviously with much more advanced technology.” Naomi bobbed her head. “It’s not every day I run into someone who is excited about Dyson bubbles and its constituent parts.”
“It’s nice sometimes to see something I thought was theoretical.”
Naomi narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t the first one Advanced Dynamics has built,” said Naomi. She looked at Jane. “The United Planets has quite a few.”
“Yeah. The first ones were built in Earth’s solar system,” said Jane. “They’re not quite as advanced as this one, though.”
Dr. Snowden’s eyes widened. “Oh … right. So … uhh … what else can you show us?”
Naomi smiled as she continued on to the next workstation and screen.
When they reached one of the more remote areas after an hour, Jane grabbed Dr. Snowden’s arm and pointed forward. “Chris!” Her heartbeat ran rampant as the familiar smile, brown hair, and light-tan skin lit up in her mind. How was he still alive? She swallowed hard and looked at Dr. Snowden, then shot off toward Chris.
Dr. Snowden extended a hand. “Jane! Wait!”
Jane rushed over to Chris and grabbed him from the side in a hug. She trembled as tears ran down her face.
Chris wheeled around in confusion. He untangled himself from Jane and then took a step back. “What’re you doing? Who are you?”
“It’s me,” said Jane. She scanned Chris’s eyes. Something was wrong. His eyes seemed dull, a far cry from the fire that she was accustomed to seeing.
“And you are … ,” said Chris with a contorted face.
Jane’s eyes misted as her head bobbed. “Your wife. Jane.”
Chris shook his head. “Umm … I think you’re confused. I’ve never been married.”
“What!”
Chris took another step back and tapped at another human male. “Joel, you know who this is?”
Joel stood next to Chris. He surveyed Jane. “No idea.”
Jane’s mouth went agape as she looked at Joel. Her voice cracked. “You’re Joel Gervin. Right?”
Joel shot a look at Chris. “Yeah … that’s me. How’d you know that?”
“Chris talked about you when he came here. How can you not know me?” asked Jane. Her voice rose. “What’s going on?”
An android walked over to the group. “May I be of assistance?”
Jane snapped her head at the android. “Not now!”
Dr. Snowden stepped forward and put an arm around Jane. “We should probably go and let these people get back to work.”
Jane shrugged off Dr. Snowden’s arm. “What’s going on here?”
Chris looked at Joel, then at Jane. “I’m not sure what you think is going on, but you should probably go.”
Jane grimaced as she wiped her wet cheeks. “You … want me to go?”
“I think that might be best.”
Jane’s lips quivered as she ducked her head forward. “You really want me to go?” Tears flowed like rivers from her eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m not who you think I am. Good luck in finding … whoever it is you’re looking for.”
The android stepped forward.
Naomi shot a glance at Dr. Snowden and extended a hand out toward the android. “I’ll escort them out.”
The android moved back.
Dr. Snowden put his arm around Jane again and, with some force, guided her behind Naomi.
Jane’s eyes dulled as her mind exploded in thoughts. Chris was alive but did not know who she was. How was this possible? And Joel. Chris had talked about him quite a bit in the communications he had sent her. Even mentioned that Joel was jokingly getting tired of hearing about her. She shook as she walked. Dr. Snowden was right. Something was off. It made sense now why they did not want to give details on Chris’s death. He never died, or so she thought anyways. She gritted her teeth as she squinted her eyes. Her breath went haphazard.
Naomi led them to the room exit, then waved forward. “It’s not safe to speak here. Follow me.”
Jane swallowed hard and wiped the tears off her face.
“Let’s go,” said Dr. Snowden.
They continued back the way they had come, but took a slightly different path, and the
y ended up in a small room with supplies.
Naomi tapped at her palm, then accessed her ARI. The room sealed as it went dark gray with a light at the top. “We can speak freely, and we have a lot to discuss.”
Jane cried into Dr. Snowden’s chest. She had her answer, and it was not what she was seeking. All this time that she had been concerned, only to find out Chris was still here, and he had no idea who she was. She clenched her jaw. Whatever was going on, she would get to the bottom of it.
Dr. Snowden’s eyes adjusted to the dimmed room. He knew this meant that the room was bug-free. Seeing Chris alive was not something he had expected. Jane’s reaction was expected, though. She saw her husband, who had no idea who she was. Then there was Naomi. While Chris and Joel had that same nonhuman feel to them, Naomi registered as a normal human to him. He scanned the room, then faced Naomi. “So … what the heck is going on?”
Naomi grimaced. “It’s kind of odd to explain, but I’ll try.” She faced Jane. “I recognize your name. Chris used to mention it.”
Jane stepped back from crying on Dr. Snowden’s chest and wiped her face. “Why didn’t he recognize me?”
Naomi sighed. “I better start from the beginning. I came out here to be with Joel, my husband, and got transferred down to engineering. We had a great group going with Chris. Then … the accidents began happening.”
Dr. Snowden leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “So you knew Chris from before?”
“Oh yeah. He was quick witted, smart, and,” said Naomi, gesturing at Jane, “talked about you all the time. I felt like I knew you.” Her smile wound down. “One day, Chris was in an accident and had to go to the medical ward. Advanced Dynamics wouldn’t let us see him, or even tell us what happened. What came back to engineering was not Chris. He didn’t recognize us. We tried to get him to remember, but Advanced Dynamics said he was suffering from amnesia.”
“Amnesia!” said Jane.
“We might have been able to accept that, but there was a behavioral change as well. Chris kept to himself initially, then only talked with others who also had accidents. I wanted to leave, but Joel couldn’t leave Chris like that.”
Dr. Snowden rubbed his chin. “I would think with the advanced augments and technology that amnesia could be lessened.”
“It’s treatable,” said Naomi. “But not with Chris, it seemed. The accidents kept occurring. Then …”
“Joel had an accident,” said Dr. Snowden.
Naomi puckered her lips as her eyes watered. In a weak voice, she said, “Yep.”
Jane hugged Naomi.
Dr. Snowden looked around the room. “V?”
V shimmered into view.
Naomi jumped back. “What’s that?”
“I am a variable utility artificial intelligence. My shortened name is V.”
Naomi gulped.
“He’s a friend,” said Dr. Snowden. He looked at V. “Did you get a scan on Chris and Joel?”
“I did.”
“Show us.”
“Acknowledged,” said V. He projected a skeletal and muscular view of Chris and Joel.
Dr. Snowden’s eyes widened when he saw something in the spine and brain region.
Jane raised her eyebrows as she examined the projection. “What. Is. That.”
“Analysis. Organism is not native to the human organic system.”
“How integrated is it?” asked Dr. Snowden.
The projection split out the organism from the bodies of Chris and Joel.
“Okay … that’s kinda creepy. It looks like it’s wrapped around the spine and completely replaced where the brain should be,” said Dr. Snowden. “V, postulate. Could a human survive this integration?”
“Analysis. It is unlikely. Chris and Joel are no longer human.”
Naomi walked around the holographic creature. “So Joel is … dead?”
“It looks like he is, and whatever this organism is has decided to use his body,” said Dr. Snowden. He looked at Jane. “Looks like Chris did die. I’m … sorry.”
Jane balled her fist. “What type of creature is that?”
“Analysis. There is no known organic configuration.”
Dr. Snowden sighed. “V has access to every creature Evaran has ever run into. It looks like we’re dealing with something new.”
“Evaran?” asked Naomi.
“Oh … right. He’s a friend, and we travel in his ship. He’s in another part of the station at the moment.”
“Ahh.”
“How many others in your department have avoided these accidents?”
Naomi shook her head. “I’m the last one out of a department of forty.”
“Have you tried to leave?”
“Oh yeah. Advanced Dynamics won’t let me, though, due to this … quarantine. Maybe this creature is why we’re in quarantine.”
“It could be,” said Dr. Snowden.
“Are you leaving the station?” asked Naomi.
“I think it would be best to get back to our ship. Maybe Evaran found out more on this station and what’s going on. Evaran asked us to keep communication silence, so we should go.”
“Can I … come with you?” asked Naomi. “No one would question me escorting you to your ship.”
Dr. Snowden looked at Jane.
“Of course,” said Jane.
“Is there anything you need to get first?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Naomi shook her head. “Even if there was, being able to leave is far more important.”
“Okay then. Take a moment to compose yourselves, then you can take the lead to the elevators.”
After Naomi and Jane settled down, they exited the room and headed to the elevators. When they approached the area with the android and robot guards that they had met earlier, the android focused on Naomi.
Naomi motioned toward the elevator. “I’m escorting them out.”
The android stood. “The guards will handle that.”
“We’ll be fine,” said Naomi.
“Your presence has been requested in engineering.”
Naomi gulped as she looked at Jane.
Jane glanced at Dr. Snowden, who nodded. She whipped out her sidearm and fired at the first guard, cutting it in half.
Dr. Snowden aimed his PSD at the second guard. He fired a stun beam that caused the second guard to collapse, then shot the android, who crumpled next to the second guard.
“You two handled that pretty quick,” said Naomi with raised eyebrows. She gestured at the downed android and robots. “Their incapacitation will be noticed. Now we’ll have to deal with security.”
“So be it,” said Jane, smirking. “The alternative is you head back and have an accident.”
Naomi gulped.
They entered the elevator.
“What level are you docked at?” asked Naomi.
“We’re docked on level twenty-seven,” said Dr. Snowden.
Naomi punched the level into the console next to the door.
The elevator began to move, then halted. A beam shot down from the ceiling, causing Dr. Snowden to jump back. A hologram of a pudgy tan-skinned man with wild hair appeared. He wore light armor, and his face was pockmarked with scars. A cigar hung from his lips as he looked around the elevator.
“Oh no … ,” said Naomi.
“It’s Billozein,” said Jane, grimacing.
“Jane Trellis,” said Billozein. “I’ll admit … I’m surprised to see you here. You couldn’t take a hint, could you?”
“What’d you do to Chris?” asked Jane.
Billozein smiled, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. “Chris … yes … your husband. He was difficult to integrate, but he did.”
“What’re you talking about? Are you responsible for those creatures?”
Billozein’s face turned red as he tossed his cigar out of the projection. “Creatures? They are part of something far more evolved than your pathetic species! You should be honored he is now doing something worthwhile with
his life.”
“Whatever you did to him, you’ll pay for this,” said Jane, balling her fists.
Billozein chuckled, then burst out laughing. “I don’t think so. Chris’s knowledge and body have been quite useful. I would use all of yours, but … you’re traveling with some unusual friends. I believe extermination is in order.”
“You’ve been doing this all across the station,” said Naomi. “Why do you need so many bodies?”
Billozein smirked. “It’s beyond your comprehension.”
Naomi’s eyes widened. “You’re doing this to the other stations too, aren’t you? That’s why they’re in quarantine.”
Billozein smiled. “That’s very good. For a human.”
Dr. Snowden wrinkled his eyebrows. “So you want us out of the picture because we might mess up your plans.”
Billozein looked at Dr. Snowden. “Ahh … the time traveler speaks. I suspect you have felt me to some degree. To answer your claim, yes. I normally wouldn’t bother with this, but you’re a traveler in the wrong space and time. I’ve claimed this area. It’s mine, and now I’m going to show you what happens to those who aren’t welcome.”
The elevator began to move down.
Billozein looked at Jane. “You couldn’t leave it alone, and now you brought trouble to me. You’ve doomed your friends. I also know that you all came here to look for illegal augments. Well … you’ll get to see what happens to those who don’t … adjust to them. Enjoy your last moments of life.”
The projection dissipated as the elevator stopped, showing level seven. The doors opened.
Emily wrinkled her eyebrows as she looked around. Evaran seemed calm as always, but the unusual rhythm of her nanobots pulsing was making her uneasy.
“You seem troubled,” said Evaran.
Emily sighed. “It’s nothing big, but there is a new sensation I haven’t felt before. It’s like something’s wrong.”
“I wondered when you and your uncle would be temporally aware. I suspect that is what it is.”