Penticore Prime

by Mark Chevalier

“I suppose so, Candor.”

  The use of his name felt empty. Candor could tell that somewhere deep inside of Jeremiah, there existed some miniscule level of regret. Perhaps a small bit of empathy, he thought.

  Trent stepped over the rail to make sure the deed was done, and Jeremiah smiled.

  “Don’t bet on it, Candy-ass. My empathy is the figment of your imagination, not me.” With that said, Jeremiah promptly shot Trent. It was a quick death, as he put a bullet directly into the center of his forehead. Candor recoiled at the heartless way that Jeremiah kicked Trent into the river, like the carcass of a deer on the highway. It was a coldblooded act, as if he were trying to prove to both himself and Candor that he was nothing but a murderer.

  “Sorry Trent,” Jeremiah added as he threw the gun in the river. “But you know how this works, no witnesses. I can’t have Candy-ass teaching class one bright summer’s day, only to have the police show up and arrest him. After all, he won’t remember this, and just imagine the stir that it would cause on campus. All those fresh young minds corrupted forever…what a scandal! And let’s not even talk about the faculty.”

  What are you saying? Candor asked as he tried to put the pieces together. Is that why I forget? Is that why I can’t remember anything after I wake up? Are you a defense mechanism?

  “That,” replied Jeremiah, “and more than you could consciously handle knowing, at this point. Because if we ever get caught… Well then, we are truly a dead man.”

  I don’t understand?

  Jeremiah negotiated the guardrail and was headed for the car when he told Candor. “Didn’t you ever wonder why you had an eidetic memory? Didn’t you ever wonder why you did so well in school that even though our captors tortured us, you showed such intellect that they turned us over to the foster care system early, and saw to it that you got the scholarships that would take us to where we are now? It was me, asshole! And I’m willing to bet you still don’t understand, do you? Hell, I was only trying to warn you anyway. Go…go back to your dreams. You’re better off there anyway.”

  Candor protested, his desire for answers outweighing his disdain for Jeremiah. Yet it was too late, the walls were beginning to close inside his mind, and the vault door slammed shut as the metal tumblers locked into position. A fog surrounded Candor, as he drifted into an uneasy sleep and dreamt of things that were, and never should have been.

  Candor Shuveen opened his eyes and stretched. The golden rays of the evening sun reached through the clear crystal windows of his bedroom, and he breathed in the rich carbon dioxide through his skin. A peaceful calm washed over him, drowning the restlessness of his dreams in a cloak that pushed them beyond recollection. Today marked eight months since his rejuvenation, and after each new day he felt more at home as a Penticorian. Basking in the love of his mother and father was a salve that eased the turmoil of the life he remembered as a human. Even though his memory had not returned, he was hopeful that given enough time, it would. More than that, he now had an entirely different perception of time. While eight months was an eternity to a human being, that same measurement was little more than a day to a Penticorian.

  Ah, he thought as he stretched once again, but what a day it’s been.

  He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he thought about all the amazing things he’d experienced. He remembered the Great Hall of the Senedos Seiss, and the miraculous incarnation of Shajin Kythonia, and the deep bonds of loyalty and friendship that he forged with Zyphon and Jinx. Yet at the forefront of his mind was the beautiful and graceful Thalia. Candor only saw her twice, once in the shop, and then again in her family’s manor. Yet thoughts of her always returned. The gentle curves of her face, her deep black hair, and her golden eyes, were etched indelibly into his memory. He laughed as he thought of how foolish it was to be drawn to her. Even after the incarnation of her mother, Thalia remained cool towards him. Of course, she thanked him and was gracious, but Candor could see the disdain behind those glimmering eyes. It both confused and compelled him, not to mention providing some excellent new material for his movie.

  Candor got out of bed and approached the window. As Eos drifted below the glistening ocean waves, he saw hundreds of transports buzzing around the city. He loved the musical rhythm of Tulacoss, adoring the dynamic and colorful citizens that comprised its beating heart. Penticorian life was not perfect, certainly far above that of his human experiences, but flawed nonetheless. The In-World and Out-World factions continued to bicker over his father’s creation, the quantum singularity. And while arguing over the necessity to power their space vessels, and move through time, a more pressing problem emerged. An issue that caused some tension between Candor and his father, something he deeply regretted.

  A few days following the incarnation of Shajin Kythonia, Zyphon performed the procedure again. Without hesitation, he transformed Seiss Theniass, Thalia’s father, and leader of the Out-World faction, into a young and vibrant Penticorian. The Senedos Seiss took no issue with the incarnation of Shajin Kythonia, they all agreed that she was in the arms of the Goddess. In fact, Zyphon had done both her, and the citizens of Penticore Prime, a great service. What sparked the debate was Zyphon’s second incarnation, because Seiss Theniass was not near death, and suffered no affliction other than old age. So, the argument began in earnest because now Penticorians had a choice. And not just to live, but to live forever. Immortality was something tangible, and it frightened many who believed that it was against the doctrine of the Goddess. Still others believed that Zyphon had not transferred the fadosh, but a mirror image, or a copy, of Shajin Kythonia. Zyphon revealed his procedure to the Senedos, while Shajin Kythonia presented herself for scrutiny and testing. Eventually the issue of transference was laid to rest, while the issue of immortality took center stage. Population control was already in effect, and now the possibility existed that the petition process would have to be halted altogether. That alone generated tension, as the citizens of Penticore Prime struggled with the realization that from this moment on, the very nature of their civilization was in question.

  Eight months later, incarnation was still being debated, along with Zyphon’s role in essentially ending the body of Seiss Theniass. Yet Candor hoped that everything would turn out for the best. After all, Penticorian civilization had endured for over a million years. In his mind, this turn of events was as predictable and inevitable as the drastic changes to Penticore Prime’s atmosphere. It was more nature than science, as they advanced toward an evolutionary adaptation that struck at the heart of who they were as a species. Even now, Penticorian scientists, enamored of Zyphon’s transference process, were constructing vast computer systems. Entire cities and worlds were being coded, right down to blades of grass, rain, and towering buildings that swayed gently under the influence of randomly generated breezes. These systems would be structured with sets of immutable rules such as gravity, and limits on physical parameters. Yet the meaning was clear, and weather by choice or by law, it was possible for citizens to live forever, by simply downloading themselves into these systems.

  Zyphon’s process also solved a key problem for the Out-World faction. Prior to his invention, space travel included storing and growing vast amounts of food, carbon dioxide, and other resources. Now, however, some of them would download into a world-replicant-system, or WRS. Once they arrived at their destination, they could then grow new bodies, and colonize freely, having vastly reduced the amount of energy and resources required to make the trip. And if, by some dire miscalculation, they found their world to be wholly inhospitable, they could simply stay in the WRS as they continued their search for a suitable planet.

  “And there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Candor quoted the human scripture, as he headed to the cleansing unit.

  A smile touched his lips as he thought about tonight, the eve of the premiere of his new movie, Earthly Light. Yet even that didn’t capture the reason why he was so
happy.

  Thalia will be there, and I can’t wait to see her.

  He could accept it if she didn’t like him, so long as he could be in her presence. To gaze into her eyes, to watch the seductive curves of her body in motion, and to admire her lustrous blue-gray skin, was all that he wanted. As he disrobed, Candor admitted to himself that he loved her. Yet more importantly, tonight he intended to find out why she looked at him with disdain, especially since she didn’t even know him.

  It was odd that his human memories held nothing of a mate, or love. In fact, that life was hazy and dim, lost in the reality of his Penticorian heritage. For some strange reason, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Thalia was his soulmate. There simply was no other explanation for the feelings churning inside of him. He wanted her, needed her, and would love her dearly every day for the rest of his life. If only she would give him the chance. As the cleansing cycle began, Candor checked the time on a small photonic projector in the corner of the room.

  “Wow,” he said to no one, “I’d better get ready.”

  He and Jinx worked into the early morning hours, making certain that everything was perfect for the opening. Candor didn’t mind, in fact he did his best work at night. It was a silent and thoughtful time where he was free of distractions, and could channel his imagination. The only drawback was that now he had less than three hours before the opening. Jinx did an exceptional job of spreading the word throughout Tulacoss, and the fifteen cities, so Candor knew that the lines outside his home would be filled.

  A chime sounded, and the photonic image of Jinx appeared behind him. “I’m pleased to see that you are awake, Candor.”

  “Wide awake, Jinx. Is everything ready?”

  “Yes,” Jinx replied, excitement radiating from every syllable. “Four-hundred and thirty-seven citizens have arrived. I am currently entertaining a portion of them in the dining hall. Can I bring you something to eat?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  Jinx canted his head, and then smiled. “It is my duty to offer. So, tell me, are you certain that you wish your seating to be with the patrons?”

  On that detail, Candor was certain. In fact, he removed the large area at the front of the theater and replaced it with standard seating. The pretentious nature of who he was before his rejuvenation never left his thoughts. His past was behind him, and he was determined to eradicate his old reputation. Sitting with the crowd was the perfect way to demonstrate his newfound humility. Not to mention that he thought it would be fun.

  After all, he thought, I can’t read the reactions of the crowd, if I’m not actually in the crowd.

  Plus, he wanted to share this moment with his friends and family. But most of all, he wanted to be near Thalia. He admitted how selfish he was in ensuring that the family of Theniass Nassvhedt would attend the opening. Candor personally handed the invitation to Thalia’s mother, Kythonia, and insisted that they come. Of course, the matriarch agreed with great affection. Yet somewhere in her demeanor he believed that she identified his true motives. As though he was as transparent to her as a pane of glass, and knew that Candor longed to be near her daughter.

  “It certainly was easy for her to figure it out. You were looking around for Thalia the entire time you were there,” he mumbled to himself.

  “Candor?” said Jinx, “I must apologize for missing a critical piece of the conversation. What did you say?”

  “Sorry, Jinx, I lost myself for a minute. The answer is yes, I’m sure. Don’t change a thing.”

  “Will you be joining your guests in the dining hall before the opening, or would you prefer to wait?”

  “I’ll be right down. It’s a good idea if I mingle before the opening. Is Zyphon here yet?”

  “No, although I did receive word from him. He should arrive shortly.”

  “Good, Jinx, very good. I’ll see you shortly.”

  The image of Jinx bowed, and then disappeared. Candor stepped out and began to dry himself. At one end of the room was a long mirror, one that he passed every day. He stopped to look, and a sudden chill passed through his spine, making him shiver as he beheld his reflection. For staring back at him was not the image of Candor Shuveen, but the human, Candor Shubin! His reflection smiled wickedly, and Candor knew that something…was different.

  “What is it, my fadosh, you look troubled?” Janesska said as she placed a delicate hand on her husband’s shoulder.

  Sador kissed her tenderly on the forehead, and then went to fix himself a drink. Finishing it almost immediately, he poured himself another before he sat down. Janesska had never seen him so agitated, and it worried her. Sador was always the pillar of strength in their relationship. To see him on the verge of an emotional outburst was disturbing to say the least.

  “Preparations for our journey through time are going well. So, I decided to look at the continuum in more detail. I could not help but to think that something more was going on regarding our son. Since all our attempts to understand the nature of the anomaly have met with failure, I searched for a more systemic explanation.”

  Janesska approached Sador, sitting next to him as she took his hands in hers. “And I take it from your reaction that you found something?”

  He looked down at her with eyes that made her long to comfort him. For Sador, legendary scientist, and savior of Penticore Prime, was frightened.

  The moment that Candor arrived, Jinx could tell that something was wrong. And although he did his best to hide it, he could see the tension on Candor’s face.

  “Can I offer you a drink?”

  Candor glanced at the tray Jinx presented. “What is it?”

  “Some are drinking sok-ta. But for you, I thought something a little stronger might be in order.”

  “Yes,” replied Candor, “jenjiss.”

  Candor lifted the glass and drank all of it, while reaching for a second serving with his free hand.

  “What is wrong? I know you well enough to know that it has nothing to do with the opening.”

  Candor set the empty glass on the tray. Now that he had sufficiently anesthetized his nerves, he was content to linger over his remaining drink. Taking Jinx by the shoulder he pulled him closer, so that only he could hear him. “I’ve told you stories about my dreams and memories, the ones before my rejuvenation.”

  Jinx nodded. Although he knew that Candor wasn’t asking him a question, just confirming their collusion in the matter. In fact, much of Candor’s first movie was based on those memories.

  “Up to now I ascribed it to static memories, or errant thoughts that were nothing but the byproduct of the rejuvenation process. But I’m starting to think there might be more to this.”

  “Something changed?” asked Jinx.

  “Before I got dressed, I walked past the mirror and I saw me! I saw the version of me that was a human, but it…it wasn’t right.”

  Jinx saw the strain building on Candor’s face. It was a look that was deeply concerning. “I don’t understand,” Jinx said.

  Candor pursed his lips. “I don’t understand it myself. Even though the reflection looked like me, it wasn’t me, it was different. The eyes were cold and lifeless, and the grin it gave me was demented, almost arrogant. Then it crossed its arms and it spoke, and I could hear the voice in my head!”

  “What did this reflection say to you?”

  Taking a sip from his drink, Candor was both worried and embarrassed. “He called me ‘Candy-ass’.”

  “What is a ‘Candy-ass’?”

  “In the vernacular, candy, refers to sweets made from sugar, and primarily given to young ones as a treat. The word, ass, refers to a four-legged mammal called a donkey, or the posterior of the body. But I doubt that’s what my reflection was inferring. From the context, I think he was goading me or making fun of me, and not in a good way.”

  The simulacrum failed to see the connection, other than the sound being similar to Candor’s name. Truthfully, Jinx still had a hard time grasping the concept of sarcasm. For
the most part, Penticorians always said what they meant. There were the common intonations that included humor, yet to employ the same meaning in the context of insincerity made no sense to him whatsoever. He probed deeper and asked. “Did this reflection say anything else? Did you converse with it?”

  “No and no, to both questions,” he replied while taking another sip of his drink. “I turned away, and when I looked back the reflection was gone.”

  “So, what do you think it means?” Without realizing it he leaned down, intensely interested in what Candor had to say.

  “I don’t know! Perhaps the Goddess did something to me when I was dead. Perhaps she revealed something to me, something important to our race. We are at a monumental time in our history, and our lives will be altered forever. But if that’s the case, then why did she choose me? Why not one of the Senedos, or Sentak Seiss? Jinx, I’m nobody. What could I possibly have to offer the citizens of Penticore Prime, other than some entertaining distractions?”

  Jinx smiled as the thought occurred to him. “If you think on the matter, then you know that you can reach the citizenry. You are the voice they listen to, and you can relay a message from the Goddess in a manner that will be real to them. Realistically, you are a perfect choice.”

  Candor straightened as he realized that Jinx was right. He still didn’t know what was going on, or where these visions were leading him. Yet he was certain that something more insidious was at work. For the first time, he began to contemplate the possibility that his dream of being a human was more than just a nightmare. His faith in the Goddess began in earnest since that day in the Great Hall, and now it thundered in his temples as he felt the touch of the divine.

  Or am I lying to myself? he thought. Am I grasping for meaning where there is none?

  “What are you two conspiring about?”

  They turned to find Zyphon standing behind them. Candor laughed, his worries forgotten as he embraced his friend. “Zyphon, it is good to see you! I’m so glad that you could attend!”