by M. Modak
Rana sat up with a zombie expression on her face. She slowly turned her head, looked at the clock then returned her open mouth gaze on Joshua, “You ok honey?”
“Yes baby,” he replied as he wondered what this could mean.
She hugged him for a long moment then let go, pulled the covers off the floor and back onto the bed then lay down with a flop. She was asleep in seconds.
His heart was still racing from the feel of the dream, of all the dreams. The last two weeks had been surreal. These dreams of late were more than just his imagination, and more like a past life asserting its memories into the wrong consciousness.
Then it hit him, today was special for him too. He applied for several different kinds of jobs over the last week and a half. Luckily, he had landed an interview with the owner of a strange but well respected company, The Adison Group.
He wasn’t sure what they had noticed in his resume but he wasn’t going to pass this up. Strangely enough, it was the dreams over the last two weeks that had inspired him to try something new.
He rolled his eyes at that and reached for the Dream Journal on the nightstand. He flipped to the last entry in the Smartpaper and watched as it began to self-illuminate. The words on the page quickly adjusted to his eye’s focal length and the darkness of the bedroom. He wished he could remember everything from that last dream. The one dream he did fully remember was the latest addition to same dreams he’d been having about John and Aughra.
He began writing a brief outline of people, places, and ideas from his dreams. Later he would use the highlights to remember everything fully, and then fill in the blanks. After a few minutes of writing he put the journal down and glanced over at the clock, noticed he had ten more minutes and went back to sleep.
Music started playing loudly forcing his eyes open. He could hardly believe he had shut them. He got up and walked to the bathroom, found it occupied by Rana and decided to start a pot of coffee while he waited. After the loud music had done its work on him the smart-media player sensed he was fully awake and began to search through all his favorite news programs until he said, “Stop,” settling for the usual public news channel.
The program music faded and a reporter’s voice spoke in a deep clear tone, “This is Tom Brady with, Today in Science: The Gravitational Lab Works Project or GLWP will be aligning the gravity antennas with its target nebulaXJ842 today starting at dusk. It has taken 100,000 years for Earth to be positioned directly in-between the sun and this far-flung nebula. Now with more detail than ever before, scientists at GLWP expect they will be able to study gravity’s unusual effects as it links everything to everywhere.
“This unique positioning of our planet allows for a type of, “gravitational-look,” into the past of our sun, and if all goes as planned, Earth’s distant history. Joining us today from Lab Works is Dr. Simon Peterson.”
A jovial though academic sounding voice replaced the reporter’s voice. “Thank you Tom, ever since CERN started smashing its particles back in the first decade of this century we soon gained a new tool for listening to the vibrations originating from the most fundamental levels of our universe. We have built a new atom smasher since then, here in the U.S., and confirmed the existence of higher dimensions. We have even glimpsed into possible parallel universes; so long speculated to exist from the old models of quantum physics.
“What is unique about today is the gravitational alignment within our solar system and NebulaXJ842. Because of the extremely unusual gravitational lens that has formed around this nebula, we will be able to use the last of our special material, discovered over a decade ago, to have-a-listen into our own ancient history.
“Due to the abnormal amount of dark energy around the nebula it can bend light and gravity waves that originated from our own solar system, 100,000 years ago, and send them back to us. When this aliment is at its peak tomorrow night, I believe, it will focus our gravity antenna to the highest resolution possible allowing us to receive the clearest information to date.
With this heightened clarity, we will hear-the-Earth around the time humanity was first painting on cave walls…” he paused, “It’s a time machine.”
“We’ll see Earth as it was 50,000 years ago?” Tom asked.
“No and yes,” Dr. Peterson replied, “We‘ll hear the static noise of our solar system in general at first, and then, as the nebula comes into full alignment we’ll clearly hear both the solar system and Earth. Our computers will be working out the data to create physical models and render them into a visible image. We’ll be posting the results on our web page later, but even at the level of our supercomputer’s processing power, the task can take weeks to fine tune. We hope that our network of gravitational antennas, stationed near the islands here along the Florida Keys, will give us a clear picture of an Earth when modern man is believed to have taken its latest evolutionary steps.”
“You believe we’ll be able to see humans?” Tom asked.
“In short, yes. However, we won’t actually see anything at first. The computers will be turning the data into visual pictures. But that’s not why this project is so important.”
“What could be more important than seeing humanity’s first modern steps?” Tom asked.
“Multiple Earths, existing in multiple universes,” There was an unusually long moment of silence.
“We heard rumors of this… possibility, but no one has confirmed it,” Tom said.
“We’ve been working out the gravitational details for a long time so I haven’t allowed any discussion outside the lab. I’m reasonably sure now that we’ll confirm multiple universes, not through disappearing particles in an accelerator but as real images from Otherspace,” Dr. Peterson replied.
“How long will the alignment last?” Tom asked.
“We should be receiving high quality data for the next two days and three nights starting tonight at sun down eastern time, with its peak centering late tomorrow night and fading out the next evening,”
“Thank you Dr. Peterson. I know you need to get back to the lab, but please keep us informed of your progress.”
Joshua spoke in his Tek Voice, “Media player, turn to the HipRock-Oldes Channel.” The news turned to a music channel, playing an old 311 song. He heard, “All mixed up, don’t know what to do, next thing you turn around and find that person is you…”
The coffee maker told him his drink was ready, he got up and poured himself a cup, sat back down and his thoughts returned to the last dream still fresh in his mind.
Rana walked in and the music automatically lowered. Her hair was all done up and she was still dabbing makeup around her eyes. “Honey,” she said, “can you make me a cup of coffee to go, I have to be at work in an hour?” She turned, went back into the bathroom as the music returned to its previous volume. Joshua robotically moved back to the coffee pot and retrieved a Togo Mug. He poured her a cup, and fixed it just the way she liked it. He went ahead and made a Belgium waffle, piled on the butter and syrup, then placed everything in a Hold Warm container and sat it on the dining room table, feeling a little more awake. Making breakfast is a good way get the mind to wake up, Joshua thought to himself. “Honey, take the Hold Warm container when you go.”
“Okay my love,” she said from inside their bathroom.
He went into the bedroom and retrieved his dream journal. John’s world seemed so real to him now and it made him wonder how John knew about his interview today. As he walked back into the living room he said, “Media Player, off,” and the music died. He sat down on the couch and started filling in the rest of the details from his dream last night.
Before he knew it, he had written four pages and he felt he had another ten to go. Rana burst through the bedroom door, snatched the Hold Warm container off the table, walked over to the couch and kissed him tenderly. She looked stunning!
“I love my love,” she whispered into his ear.
He smiled, looking up into her dark brown eyes, “I love my love too, with all
my heart.” The last part was her favorite. He had to say it or she would just stare at him until he did. It was adolescent, but it was their thing and he loved it. She gave a quick smile as she turned to go. He reached up and gently pinched her butt. She yelped, laughing as she jumped away quickly, leaving him with an exaggerated look of revulsion as she reached for the door.
She paused, “Good luck with your interview today hun. I have a good feeling about this one. I know they’ll love you.”
“Thanks baby and you look gorgeous,” he said. Her eyes brightened as a big smile spread across her face, she turned and left, allowing the door to close behind her with a click.
He returned his attention to the journal lying on his lap, hoping he could finish the last part. He remembered watching John reading the private letter that the White House had sent him. It was a speech dealing with the, “deep feelings,” and, “Stretching space and time… not fully break it but pulling it apart enough to be measured, quantifiably, before it collapsed back in on itself again,” most of all, “Stay calm,” was the overall message.
He snorted, “Stay calm, the world’s about to end.” He put the journal down; he could not remember any more. Rana had interrupted him a moment ago, just at the time he was remembering the last parts of the speech. He let his anger go, Rana isn’t to blame. It’ll come back later.
He had strange dreams over the years, but the ones he was having now were just weird. He stood up, walked back into his room and returned the journal to the top of the nightstand.
He paused for a moment as he reflected on his dreams from the past weeks. Them, and many other recorded dreams from over the years were contained in that scrolled up journal. One day he would make sense of it all, and then maybe he would arrange it into a book. He wondered what he would title it.
He let the thoughts go and he got his clothes out of the closet, put them in the bathroom and took a shower. His interview wasn’t for another two hours, but he wanted to be sitting outside in the parking lot of what he hoped to be his new place of employment, 30 minutes before it was show time.
*******
The lower parking lot was full, but he had arrived early, so he decided to wait and see if anyone would leave. After a few minutes, a young woman came out of the building. He put the car in parking mode and designated her as his target. The car slowly followed her like a cat stocking its prey until it knew which car she was getting into. His car stopped and he patiently waited as she took her time to adjust her belongings, fix her hair and makeup, then finally, after allowing the automatic safety restraints to adjust to her body; his car received a departure message.
He accepted it and watched as her car’s exiting procedures began. When the space cleared, his car’s auto-drive took over showing that it was going to park in the now vacant lot. Then it performed a perfectly executed reverse drive into the empty spot and stopped gracefully.
He got out of the car, taking with him only a small scrolled up flexphone that rested in a sleeve at his hip. It contained all his work since his late teens.
He barely noticed the car door closing itself as he cleared his mind of all expectations and walked toward the entrance of the Addison Group.
Well, he thought to himself, I’m on my way… anything can happen.
The elevator opened to the top level. The floor was set with wide dark cherry hardwoods that extended down the hall to his left as far as he could see.
Thick casing bordered the reception desk and large crown framed the ceilings. He thought he could smell the faint remnants of incense in the air. The sound of pleasant atmospheric music came from somewhere above him.
He stood in front of a large elegantly handcrafted, oak reception desk. Beautiful images adorned its front and sides. On it was a scene showing elephants helping the town’s people erect large pillars for a temple under construction.
A single light shone down on a young man with long dark hair. He looked up with a warm smile and said, “Hi Joshua, can I help you?”
“I’m here for an interview with Michael,” He said as he returned the smile.
The young man nodded as he touched the pad in front of him. A hologram of him and today’s schedule appeared in the space between them.
He offered another generous smile, “Thanks for coming early. Michael can be a little… spontaneous with his schedule.”
Joshua looked at the time at the bottom of the hologram. He was ten minutes early.
The young man continued, “You can have a seat in the lounge, and please help yourself to anything at the refreshment stand.”
Joshua smiled and said, “Thanks,” before walking the short distance to the waiting area on his right. Then in a moment of pure surprise, he looked at the elegant refreshment stand resting against the wall, complete with a waiting table next to it filled with rolls, bagels, and mugs.
He could tell the old espresso machine was still hot. It was the exact stand the man in his dreams, John, stood behind each morning as he served his incoming team members breakfast.
A loud, cheerful voice boomed from behind him. “Joshua!”
Joshua jerked with a start and turned half expecting to see John standing there extending him a cup of coffee.
It was a bright looking man; he guessed this was Michael. They were the same height though Michael had long sandy blond hair. He was wearing a sports jacket over a light sweater and he had a genuine smile.
“Sorry to scare you. Did you have too much caffeine this morning? I heard too much of that stuff can kill you.”
“Déjà vu,” Joshua blurted.
Michael’s smile turned serious, “That’s a good sign, I think. Are you superstitious?”
“I believe things happen for a reason, if that’s what you mean, but I’m not one to look for ghost behind every door that moves on its own.”
“All the doors can move automatically these days, so that makes sense. But you do look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
Joshua smiled at that and it broke the tension. He said, “I don’t believe that’s the case. It’s the refreshment stand. I think I’ve seen it before, arranged exactly the way it is here but in a completely different… environment.”
Michael looked passed him as if to locate anything unusual about the stand’s setup. Then he returned his attention to Joshua and said in a joking manner, “It looks like we forgot the vacation brochures we regularly sit on the corner over there.” He pointed to a location on the stand with his raised eyebrows and pursed lips. Joshua looked back at the table, having a hard time finding the place where vacation brochures may have been. He looked back to Michael and could tell by the smile on his face that there were never any brochures on that table.
The man stretched out his hand and Joshua took it and gave a hardy shake, “I’m Michael,” he said, “Now that we’ve broken the ice there’s no need to go back to my office and waste time chatting about nonsense.” Joshua nodded his agreement. Michael turned and waved him in front, “This way. You lead and I’ll direct.”
Joshua walked ahead as the sound of their footsteps echoed off the walls. Just before the hallway opened into a large atrium, Michael said with a hint of laughter, “You are aware of our lounge back there.” He pointed ahead to a room marked, “Quiet, were sleeping in here.” He whispered, “That’s the sleeping room. Most people take advantage of it, after lunch. The Massage Therapist comes in at two.”
They continued into the foyer. Joshua looked up into a 20 foot domed ceiling supported by four arches that rested on columns of cream-colored marble. High inside the dome were many carvings of Greek gods looking down on a mythical seine. Above the entrance to the hallway, in front of him, was Peruses riding Pegasus into the face of the Kraken. He was holding the head of Medusa. Zeus sat on his thrown above the entrance to his left. A large, crystal chandelier hung from the room’s center sending shards of dancing light across the carvings.
Michael noticed Joshua staring at the carvings on the ceiling and waited as he
took in the whole room. Then he said, “From here we’ll be going through the Peruses hallway around in a large circle and returning under Zeus’s exit, after we’ve seen the rest of the offices.” With another wave of his hand, Michael indicated that they were going forward. Joshua led the way with his eyes still wide open, taking in every detail. They had spared no expense.
Michael opened the first office door on the right with a wave of his hand, walked in and waited for Joshua to follow. The hardwood floor continued in from the hallway and spread throughout the room. The far wall was glass through which he could see the vast outlying cityscape of Atlanta below. The view was breathtaking. Indirect lighting steadily grew in intensity as they stood there. An empty glass desk, sitting in the middle of the moderately decorated office, began to glow a soft blue giving the room a feel of elegance.