by Scott Rhine
****
Mira rode the elevator down to the sublevel with Zeiss at her side. “Are you sure?” he asked. “This seems kind of personal.”
She nodded. “I plan to be overwhelmed with emotions. That’s why I want someone to hold my hand who will remember what she says verbatim.”
“Whatever you need me for,” he said, his eyes fixed on her face.
When they reached the room, the young woman punched the word ‘Miracle’ into the safe. What she found inside wasn’t a simple data disc, but a large platter.
Zeiss grinned. “This is an old 3D recording. Wait. There’s a player on this rack over here.” He blew off the dust, plugged the cord in, and pushed the ON button. A slot opened in the front. “My lady,” he gestured, stepping aside.
Reverently, she slid the large disk into the machine. A grainy, six-inch image of Jezebel’s face appeared on top of the device. “Happy Birthday, Mira, my best gift to the world. I’m so sorry my body didn’t last long enough. I wanted to be here for you, but there were seven billion other demands on me.”
Her daughter was already misting up as the holographic woman continued. Jezebel started crying as well. “I know I’m close to the end because I’ve been talking to Sensei more and more lately. That’s what I call the intelligence on the artifact. He assures me that when we get our inheritance—your inheritance, Mira—our people won’t need pages anymore. The pages are temporary help until we learn what we were meant to be. You were the first proof of that, born with the talents that others dream of. The skills you took for granted even as a child awed me.
“When you punished the Somalians, you frightened us all. It wasn’t just the power you exhibited, but none of us in the collective even saw it coming. You’re the future of mankind, and it scares us.”
Her mother swallowed hard. “I know it seems harsh, but I couldn’t tell you how to use your strongest abilities until you learned to be more . . . human. It’s my fault for raising you around scientists and bodyguards. Your father was the only warmth in your life after the kidnapping attempt. I should have let you spend more time with him, but I was selfish. I know I won’t have you for long, and I’m greedy.”
The young woman was sobbing openly as her mother said, “Even if we speak the tongues of angels and have not love, we are the clanking of a cymbal.”
Mira hit pause and whipped her head around to face Zeiss. “Did you listen to this before now?”
He shook his head. “Never. These discs are read-once. They’re used for passing top-secret messages. They melt as you watch them, erasing the evidence.”
“Then how did you know the saying for the start of your dissertation?”
“It was my mother’s favorite Bible verse. She didn’t want me to end up like my father.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Listen to your mother,” he said warmly, indicating the controls.
She pressed play and the image warped a bit as Jezebel resumed. “I sincerely hope you find someone to love, someone who teaches you the heights and depths. There’s nothing to compare to it.
“I’ve given Trina my annotations on the twenty-seven pages. The one page not mentioned there is the Index. With me dead, you are the only Index surviving. The only one of my gifts I withheld from you was Ethics, because I wanted you to be able to hide your secrets. By concentrating, an Index can tell what talents another person would be best suited for. But more importantly, an Index can choose to share gifts with another person. That person has to have a very intimate connection: a child, a best friend, a lover. It works best when you touch them on the temple, open to them, and offer.”
Her mother asserted, “There must always be a choice. I gave Trina Simplification to help protect us better, but we never told anyone what I could do. If I did, people would hound me to pass out talents all day. That’s not what it’s for. The Index isn’t for teaching like the other pages. It . . . you are designed to get us to Sirius. The entrance will open only for an Index.”
Jezebel spent the next few minutes discussing favorite memories of her daughter: firsts, triumphs, and moments of surpassing beauty. “You are one of a kind, even without your talents. Never settle for anyone who doesn’t see that. I made time for your father every day. It’s how I lasted as long as I did. Think half as much—you’ll be twice as happy.” Then her mother’s image shifted through the rainbow and vanished with a flash.
Mira wept to see her mother disappear again. Zeiss held her close as she vented. Half an hour later, when she calmed, the young woman gazed at her boyfriend and asked, “I need to know. Am I really your first?”
He blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Vanessa.”
“You don’t need to be jealous,” he stammered. “We kissed for an hour but never . . . finished.”
She unzipped her flight suit. “I want you to do to me what you did to her, offer me everything you offered her.”
He devoured her naked body, bringing her to the edge of ecstasy with kisses alone. When he paused, she begged him to go on, to push her over. He smiled and took a seat in a chair. “That’s about when we had to go to the emergency room.”
In answer, she straddled him on the chair, with his shorts the only barrier between them, and kissed him on the mouth. She touched his temple, establishing a mental connection and sharing her overwhelming excitement. He struggled briefly but the motion served to push both of them over.
Chapter 35 – Prospects
Zeiss awoke in a clinic bed three days later wearing a new medical alert bracelet. It had instructions for dealing with quantum comas and overexertion. After days of odd dreams, he took this in stride. However, what he saw in the chair next to him shocked him. Mira’s hair was styled, and she was wearing a Caribbean blue dress. He blinked a few times and smiled. Even asleep, she was radiant. The air conditioning vent was aimed at her bare shoulders and might cause muscles to cramp. He had to disconnect an IV and numerous wires attached to his forehead and chest before he could cover her with the spare blanket from the foot of his bed.
As he finished, a strange woman stepped into the doorway of the room. She had long, black hair and looked vaguely familiar. A trim sixty, she wore a designer pantsuit and a Fortune Multimedia access badge with a red border—a board member. She crooked her finger to beckon him out of the room. He felt awkward in his hospital gown and briefs, but followed nonetheless. From the small window he could tell it was night, and he didn’t want to wake Mira.
When they reached the deserted waiting room, he had a seat and whispered, “How can I help you, Ms. Fortune?”
“Considering the circumstances, you should call me Grandma Claudette,” the mature starlet said wryly. Her voice had a melodious southern US drawl. Even at this age, she could’ve been on the big screen.
“Most people here call me Z. Your son, Daniel, calls me Conrad.”
“Did you see God the last three days, Conrad?”
He considered the question several seconds. “Not God himself, but his mark is unmistakable, like the signature Sojiro puts on his code.”
“How so?” She focused a penetrating gaze on him, letting him know that every word would be scrutinized.
“Primes built from other primes, for example. I’ve been mentally reviewing every math and physics book I’ve ever read.”
“Now that you have the decoder ring?”
“I wish. I don’t have the Theory of Everything, but I see the same material from a better perspective now. There are things we teach that don’t jibe, things we’ve skewed.”
“It’s a frightening thing to know what you’ve founded your life and career on is flawed,” Claudette sympathized.
“I don’t have a career now.”
“Then why do you get up each morning?” His eyes flicked down the corridor toward Mira. The former starlet smiled. “Good answer. She’s not the prettiest girl on this island. Why choose her?”
“Are you kidding? Mira’s the whole package: the eyes, the min
d, the behind—” He stopped himself, embarrassed by the lewd gushing.
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling. “Connections are still forming in your mind. If it helps, you’re the most polite and philosophical drunk I’ve met. And you’re right: Miracle’s very special.” The woman glanced back toward the hospital room. “I haven’t seen her in a dress since she was six. Is that your doing?”
When he raised an eyebrow, she added, “I thought maybe since you were her teacher, this was some sort of Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady thing.”
“Nobody makes Red do anything. At best, you learn to think like her and move all the breakables out of the way ahead of time.”
The starlet whooped with laughter. “Hon’, you’re obviously in love. I’ll bet you do anything she wants when she bats those eyes.”
“I want to, ma’am, but sometimes I have to protect her from herself. It’s not easy; she fights dirty.”
“Well, boy, she’s ridiculously wealthy; why haven’t you done the only sane thing and proposed?”
Zeiss looked down at his feet. “Because a man should be able to provide for his family. As the British say, I have no prospects. My career is ruined and I’m attending a school that I can’t pay for. Most of the money I still have is promised to someone else.”
“An OB-GYN specialist for Mira, I hear.”
He nodded.
Rummaging in her handbag, the Claudette pulled out a letter. “This is addressed to you. Given the security implications, we opened it first.”
He shrugged. “I signed those rights away the moment I accepted the job with Daniel.”
“That’s just it, dear. You don’t work for him; you’re a free agent now.” Handing the letter to him, she said, “This could solve your problems.”
The letter was from Mr. Mori. The center two paragraphs cut to the heart of the matter:
Mori electronics recently prototyped the quantum cryptography invention you proposed five years ago. To secure the sole rights to this intellectual property and avoid contention, we wish to offer you the sum of five million US dollars. Looking at your accomplishments and portfolio at so young an age, you would be an asset to any technology company. Mori Research is prepared to offer you a substantial annual salary if you would consent to aid us in the development of your other scientific proposals.
My wife tells me from your last meeting that you are of fine moral character and an outstanding Go strategist. You’ve made such an impression that she invites you to our home when you next visit Tokyo. My daughter can give you directions. Kaguya is a fine tour guide and eager to show you the fine temples we have to offer. It is her hope that you will make our home your own.
Zeiss closed his eyes—one blatant bribe and the promise of another. He handed the letter back. “Keep it. I have nightmares about that woman.”
“The Bermuda Triangle?”
“No. K . . . K . . . the daughter,” he said trembling. “You have no idea what she does to people.”
“Darlin’, I’m afraid I do. I’ve met people like her. But the money for your invention is fair. No one could fault you.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t. It’s blood money.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Then I have no choice but to match our competitor’s offer in order to keep you.”
When he hesitated, Claudette whispered, “You could ask her tonight if you said yes.”
“You’re very persuasive,” he noted. “However, I can’t take money for the cryptography idea even if I wanted to. The paper was published in the CERN journal while I worked for them. They own the rights.”
“Interesting! We never would have known. That means we need you even more as consultant in several areas: security, physics, talents, and doing computations for us.”
“Yes, if you’ll help me with the other problem—the ring. My mother’s wedding was wiped away as if it never existed. I don’t want that symbol for us. Plus, Red isn’t really a jewelry person. She’d break a diamond off or slice someone’s jaw with it. I need to pay for it myself, but I want it to be more appropriate, something like tungsten carbide—harder than titanium and won’t dent in a car door.”
Claudette covered her mouth to hide the smile. “I understand. Though I would emphasize the ‘safer in a space suit’ and ‘symbol of enduring love’ aspects. I’ll pick out a set and have it shipped from Australia. We can probably arrange it while I’m here.”
Zeiss held up a finger. “Wait, I want to fly there with her myself to pick up an emergency part. We can have dessert afterwards, maybe a waterfall tour . . . No, we’re too far south.” The two quickly became co-conspirators. He paused in the excitement to ask, “Do you really think she’ll say yes?”
“Darlin’, the moment she gave you that talent, she committed to you. Now go kiss her awake. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
****
Trina sat in the new cell of the brig with Kaguya Mori. “Our final offer is this—truce with Mori, no charges. You’ll stay here the rest of the school year to finish your degree, but you’ll do it from this room.”
“As a hostage?”
“Call it what you will. If you write a public letter admitting to being the infamous O, we’ll give you access to recording equipment. Your former team members won’t be expelled if you give us their hypnotic keys. If you turn over a list of all converts, we can negotiate for other concessions. Dr. Zeiss says that all you really wanted to do was ensure that you led the team that reached the artifact.”
“I wish to speak to Conrad-san.”
“He has declined your father’s generous offer; the Fortune board has endowed Dr. Zeiss as a consultant on the new near-light-speed communications project. He’s happy here.”
Kaguya smiled. “One phrase from me or my phone, one touch and he’d be the happiest man in Ward Seven, moaning praises to me till he dies. He won’t eat or drink; he’ll be useless to anybody else.”
“Threaten one of my friends again, and I’ll reformat you with the Ethics page myself.”
“No judge would authorize that; I’ve done nothing to violate the treaty. Only rogues have committed violence, some of it intended for me. As an Empath, I’m incapable of harming others.”
“You turned men into sex addicts!”
“You did the same to my mother,” Kaguya accused. “Where do you think we learned our techniques? Let me talk to Conrad, or he’ll never be able to answer another phone or email without turning into a vegetable.”
Trina grew cold. “Unless you turn over a list of accomplices and cooperate with us, no human will touch you or speak to you this year. You won’t even see pictures or a mirror.”
“I hear Daniel-san can’t get it up on medication or when he’s in pain. Is that why you screw the help?” Kaguya taunted.
“Write when you surrender,” Trina said, leaving.
Chapter 36 – Emergency Mission
Friday afternoon, on the ‘emergency’ trip to Sydney, Mira and Zeiss practiced the odd call-and-response pattern that crews used, recording everything for later analysis. Their rhythm evolved. They were flying lower than normal so that he could feel the dolphins and whales they passed and call in pod coordinates.
“Thunderheads,” he called. “Adjust heading approximately 15.5 degrees north.”
She chuckled, taking the craft up a little to anticipate the choppy air. “15.5 degrees north. I wouldn’t call that approximate.”
“I didn’t adjust for crosswinds and the geodesic but at this speed we’d be off by more if I waited to compute the precise value. 15.59 exact.”
“15.59 exact,” she echoed, making the adjustment.
“I appreciate your patience, Mira. I’m new at this, but I think we’ll make good partners.”
She smiled. “I’m not used to people calling me that anymore.”
“Do you need me to call you Red in public for your cover?”
“No. I like when you use my name.”
After several minutes of silence, Mira said, “
Daniel told me you had some ideas to change the composition of the team based on your dissertation. Would you care to discuss them with me like adults rather than trying to trick me into doing them?”
“What’s the current gender balance of our Sirius team?” he asked.
“Well, assuming you don’t piss me off too much, I suppose I have to keep you onboard. You’re the only Quantum Computer the Academy has, and Lou said he’d join if we aced leadership training. That makes ten men and three women. Why?”
“Well . . . if we don’t come back from the trip for twenty years, we’re going to want the balance of the genders more even. You know, for . . . group harmony.”
“So now we’re the Love Boat? Toby and Yvette didn’t work out.”
“Yet. And there are still seven other guys she might choose. I don’t promise other people eternity, just opportunity.”
“And how do you suggest we provide this opportunity to others? I’m not lowering my standards for team members.”
“I’m only asking you to widen the pool. Recruit professional women with appropriate scientific and military experience. Start with those from classes that have graduated.”
“Isn’t that pimping?”
“Pandering? No. I’m giving them a chance to be happy like we are. You can use the same search algorithms; just include the forty-two women who already made the cut for the mission.”
“Wait; there have been about eight graduating teams of over thirty each. The number of women seems awfully low.”
“That’s one sixth of the total. Military team leaders don’t tend to pick women. Not counting the one I ‘forced’ you to take, your team only had one in nine.”
“Are you saying I’m more sexist than the mils?” Mira asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Your team has noted that you’re more competitive than normal in that area.”
“Oh my God, you think I’m a bitch.”
“No, it’s natural queen-bee behavior. Kaguya had the same—”