by Adair Hart
Dr. Snowden snorted. “Kinda ironic that the best offense the Torvatta has is something meant for defense.”
“Even then, those situations should be rare,” said Evaran, raising a finger.
Dr. Snowden furrowed his eyebrows. “I just realized the Torvatta creation is new to you too.”
“It is,” said Evaran. “However, Levaran showed me how it would be done in our sync.”
Emily focused on Levaran. “So Syrilus showed you how it was to be built, but not Evaran.”
Levaran nodded.
Dr. Snowden laughed. “I still find it odd that Syrilus talked to eight different plane forms simultaneously.”
Levaran grinned as her eyes darted between Evaran and Dr. Snowden. “Imagine it from Syrilus’s perspective.”
Dr. Snowden gulped. “It’s hard for me to fathom seeing time like that, or even dealing with it in that manner.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Emily.
“Understandable,” said Levaran.
Dr. Snowden’s attention focused on V coming up the ramp with a hover slab supporting a rectangular container on top. The container was pitch-black with lights swirling around inside it. It looked like someone had taken a chunk out of space, like cutting a cake. He figured the darkness was much more than it appeared to be. He ran a hand back and forth over his mouth. “So leftover energy from Levaran’s re-formation is inside that?”
Evaran motioned at the container. “You are correct. It is bounded by the constraints the Torvatta has put on it. The re-formation energy is a mix of raw planar energy from the plane and cosmic energy from the Cosmic Medium.”
“Oh, wow,” said Dr. Snowden. “If I touched it, what would happen?”
“You would cease to exist, except in the memories of ascended or higher. If it makes you feel better, I would remember you fondly.”
Emily snickered.
Dr. Snowden pulled his lips to the right. “Very funny. But seriously, what would happen?”
“As I mentioned before, you would cease to exist everywhere. However, the Torvatta has it contained, so it is not possible for you to touch it directly.”
“Well then … what’s up first?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Levaran interacted with the hover slab, causing square dots to appear in various places inside the Torvatta. “We need to hook the container up to the dots. Like this.” She touched the container and walked toward the door that would house the maintenance area. As she walked, a flexible white strand, anchored on the container, extended, with her finger as the end point. When she got to the door, she moved her finger up to the dot, and the flexible strand turned light blue as it splayed out and began to fill the doorway.
Dr. Snowden raised his eyebrows. “And … what was all that?”
Levaran nodded. “It is directing the raw re-formation energy to specific points. The configuration is already known, so it’s a matter of making sure the power is available.”
“Like wiring a house,” said Dr. Snowden.
“Or stringing up Christmas lights,” said Emily.
“Both good analogies,” said Levaran. She pointed at the container. “Dig in.”
Over the next several hours, Dr. Snowden helped set up the connections between the container and the dots. He was hesitant on the first one, but after that, it was routine. The number of connections surprised him, and some even required the strands to be connected to each other. He tripped a few times on the lower ones, but so did Emily.
Emily had asked V to play some music, and the overall atmosphere was cheery. V even replayed Dian trying to dance, making everyone laugh.
Dr. Snowden enjoyed these moments. A break from the sometimes chaotic situations they found themselves in. It was not lost on him that he was helping to build a ship that could travel through space and time, while sitting outside the universe. Once everything was hooked up, he stood at the top of the ramp leading back to the Torvatta. “Looks like a spider went wild with webs in here.”
Levaran chuckled. “It does, doesn’t it.” She bobbed her head. “It will take about thirty hours, relative to the Torvatta.”
“Looking forward to seeing the finished product,” said Dr. Snowden.
Levaran nodded.
Evaran raised a finger. “Edev should be coming online in about three hours. We can reconvene then in the research lab.”
“You two gonna sync some more?” asked Emily.
Levaran shook her head. “Not this time. However, there are some things I need to discuss with Evaran.”
“Oh, all right,” said Dr. Snowden. “In that case, I think I’m gonna get a nap in before then.”
“I will as well,” said V.
Dr. Snowden snorted. “Since when do you nap?”
“I go into low-power mode and analyze data. It is my form of napping.”
“Come to think of it, I have seen you do that before.”
Emily shook her head. “I’ll be in the holo room while you two sleep the day away.”
Dr. Snowden raised an eyebrow as Emily swatted his arm and passed by. He nodded at both Evaran and Levaran and shot a two-finger salute at V. “See you then.”
Three hours later, Emily studied Edev’s new outer container along with everyone else assembled around it. It had similar ports like V’s, but the container was octagonal shaped with more outward-facing ports. Each smooth side had a small mesh of smaller hexagons covering it. Multiple indented grooves ringed the container, with the top one having several vertical lines that crossed the horizontal ones. Four of the sides had a segmented arm like V that ended in a six-pronged claw. She walked around it. “This is an interesting design. Why isn’t it like V’s?”
Levaran gestured at V. “I created it based on a mix of V and A2. I like the extended arms on V, so I added that.”
V’s orb lights glowed a bit brighter.
“Oh,” said Emily, running her hand along Edev’s surface. “I like it.”
Dr. Snowden wrinkled his eyebrows. “So … does Edev just … turn on or something?”
“Something like that,” said Levaran. She nodded at Evaran.
Evaran interacted with his ARI.
The pedestal that Edev sat on began to hum. The indented grooves emitted a light-blue glow. After a few seconds, they glowed bright orange for a moment.
“Systems online. Initial allocation of resources commencing,” said Edev in a neutral monotone voice with a digital rasp.
“It will take a few moments to get up and going. This is the pure outer-container aspect running right now,” said Levaran.
“Databases online. Sensor array online. Defense systems online. Communication systems online. Initiating … ,” said Edev.
Emily wondered if this was how V started but suspected that it was probably different. They had never discussed it beyond V’s offhand comments about existing. It was a topic she marked to ask V about.
After a few minutes, Levaran interacted with her ARI. “Opening the inner connection … now.”
Edev glowed bright for a moment, then hovered off the pedestal. In a female voice, she said, “Hello.”
Levaran narrowed her eyes. “Welcome. You chose a female persona. That was unexpected.”
“My input matrix was influenced by my creator,” said Edev.
“Interesting,” said Levaran, rubbing her chin. “Have you integrated fully with your outer container yet.”
“It’s ongoing,” said Edev as she flew over to Levaran and scanned her. “You’re Evaran, and my creator.”
Levaran nodded.
Emily raised her eyebrows. Edev spoke like Levaran. Emily wondered if that was also a personal choice by Edev.
Edev flew over to Evaran. “You’re also Evaran.”
“That is correct,” said Evaran.
“You’re the first plane form.”
Evaran nodded. “I see you are up to date on the current situation.”
“It’s still processing,” said Edev. She flew over to V. “You’re like me.”
“Analysis. We have the same origin with different input variables,” said V.
Edev hovered around V for a bit, then said, “Communication protocol accepted. We have a lot to sync.”
“Acknowledged,” said V.
Edev flew over to Dr. Snowden and Emily and scanned them both. “Humans. Possibly Hoxscarus’ ancestral form.”
“That’s us,” said Emily with a half smile.
Edev extended a segmented arm and raised it toward Emily.
Emily drew her head back.
“High five,” said Edev. “V has communicated to me that this is how humans greet each other in moments of joy. My existence is a moment of joy.”
Emily chuckled and high-fived Edev.
Edev flew over to Dr. Snowden and repeated the same action with him.
Dr. Snowden wrinkled his eyebrows. “It’s good to meet you, Edev. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
“Me too,” said Edev. “I like your bow tie. Perhaps I can get an equivalent one.”
Dr. Snowden laughed. “Oh … Now that was unexpected.”
Levaran grinned. “I can see Edev is going to be full of surprises. It appears she has taken on some traits of V’s impressions.” She waved a finger between Edev to V. “V is going to help you get accustomed to your new form in the holo room. I’ll be available to you, as I’m sure the others will be, should you want to interact with us.”
“On it,” said Edev.
Evaran tilted his head. “Intriguing. It would appear my sync with Levaran has also had an impact.”
Emily remembered Evaran talking about his first time coming to Earth. He had helped Jake Melkins, who often said, “On it.” The fact that Edev was pulling from all these impressions made her think Edev was going to be more lively than V. It occurred to her that Levaran and Edev seemed to share the same zeal for being alive. She enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere that their presences provided.
V walked over to the room exit. “Follow me.”
“You got it,” said Edev as she zipped behind V.
Dr. Snowden and Emily chuckled.
After they went to the holo room, V and Edev flew to the center of the room. V began to pull up various simulations, showing Edev how to shoot, stealth, and use holograms.
Everyone else stood just inside the entrance of the room and observed.
Emily’s eyes widened when she saw Edev assume a humanoid female holo form. She had seen that technology before and knew V could project it out in a beam, but to see it used as a way of creating a form around Edev intrigued her. She pointed at Edev. “Now that’s cool.”
Evaran nodded. “I concur. Adding holo emitters on the outer container would be a good enhancement for V, and I suspect he is already adding it to his enhancement upgrade list.”
“It would be great for deception,” said Dr. Snowden. He wrinkled his eyebrows. “Speaking of which, what type of body will Edev have?”
Levaran narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to build one, and discuss it with Edev. She may not even want one. Although, after seeing V’s, I think it would be a good idea.”
Dr. Snowden nodded.
Emily focused her attention on Edev and V’s interaction. They were running the transformed simulation she trained on. Edev had shed the holographic form and assumed her natural form. While V would engage the transformed up front, Edev flew around with her arms extended and spinning at a high velocity. It reminded Emily of a buzz saw. One thing she was sure of, it was effective.
Edev flew through the transformed and mowed down group after group.
Dr. Snowden snorted. “That’s pretty powerful.”
Evaran drew his lips flat. “Yes, for transformed.” He interacted with his ARI. V and Edev paused as the simulation changed to an environment with hallways.
Emily remembered it as the facility known as Malacruuz, owned by the Voss Imperium, a jackal-like race they encountered previously. She narrowed her eyes as she wondered how Edev would handle reconnaissance.
V set himself as a noninteractive entity, while Edev shimmered out of view.
Emily noted that although Edev was in stealth mode, the holo room had tagged her so that she could still be seen.
Edev flew into a room with three Voss. After angling three of her arms, she fired a stun beam from each of them simultaneously. All the Voss crumpled to the ground.
“Wow,” said Emily. “The stun beam is in the arms.”
Evaran nodded. “I suspect V is going to want that too.”
“It would make him more versatile, even if the beam is weaker,” said Dr. Snowden. He ran a hand down his throat as he observed Levaran. “Did A2 have all these enhancements?”
Levaran shook her head. “He had some, but this is a mix of design approaches. After seeing what V has had to deal with, I think these enhancements will work well.”
Dr. Snowden nodded. “So you have your Torvatta being built, a UIC, and now Edev. What’s next on the plate?”
Levaran turned her head toward Evaran for a moment, then toward Dr. Snowden. “Evaran has suggested I travel with your counterparts here.”
“I remember that being mentioned. So you’re really going to do it?” asked Dr. Snowden.
“I think I am,” said Levaran. “It will require visiting the Krotovore ship, as that is the last point where you can be retrieved before dying, assuming events are the same. Evaran has offered to help with that and dealing with the Time Wardens afterward.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to go to a point earlier in the time stream of our duplicates?” asked Dr. Snowden.
“It would. However, retrieving your duplicates from the Krotovore ship has the least impact since without intervention, they would die there given what we know of what happened in your universe.”
Dr. Snowden gulped. “Ahh …”
“Well, you can count us in,” said Emily.
Levaran nodded. “It’s appreciated. Given what I know of both of your abilities now, versus what I was shown during Evaran’s initial encounter, I suspect things will be a bit easier.”
“It should be,” said Evaran. “However, based on Earth time, we should do it tomorrow. It is five twenty p.m. now.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. “That sounds good to me. At least this time I have my suit.”
Dr. Snowden raised his PSD. “And don’t forget this. I do wonder if we will see Jerzan, and if the creatures will be the same.”
“The draug,” said Emily with her lips pulled taut. “Maybe … we could check on the krall too.”
Evaran nodded. “We can do that. I thought about bringing a shielded transport along. However, with this group, I think we will be okay.”
Dr. Snowden snorted. “Okay is putting it mildly.”
Evaran faced both Dr. Snowden and Emily. “I would suggest you use the rest of the day to consider what you will say to your counterparts. You know what they will be experiencing and feeling better than I.”
Emily sighed. “It’ll be like meeting Nanobot Emily again.” She fondly remembered the nanobot duplicate from a previous adventure. Although Nanobot Emily died to save them, she was a snapshot of Emily’s outlook on life prior to her prison-planet experience.
“Yeah … and I’ll need to deal with my skepticism,” said Dr. Snowden. He scrunched his face. “We could even see Jay and Sanjay, but … what if it’s a completely different group of people?”
“It is a possibility,” said Evaran. “We will deal with it when we get there.”
Emily took a breath. “Okay, well, I’m gonna sit here for a bit and watch V and Edev, then do that after a while.”
“Same here,” said Dr. Snowden. “I’m enjoying watching Edev learn.”
Levaran smiled. “I’m anxious to meet my new traveling companions, assuming they want to travel with me.”
Dr. Snowden harrumphed. “I’m sure they will. I mean … who would pass up an opportunity to travel through space, time, and beyond and watch V and maybe Edev dance?”
Dr. Snowden yawned as he stared at the ceiling. It was 9:00 a.m. the next day, and after a night filled with observing and interacting with Levaran and Edev, he enjoyed the silence in his room. Edev learned quickly, and with V at her side, she would be a formidable adversary to anyone who challenged her. Her holo form ability was something he noticed V admiring, given that V mentioned it no more than five times throughout the night. In their former situations, that ability would have been useful.
He snorted as he climbed out of bed and checked his PSD. Emily had sent him an invitation to join her in the holo room an hour ago. He sighed as he ran a hand over his mouth. At some point, he would join her. Her combat ability and situational awareness were way above his, and she knew how to use the PSD in ways he had never thought of before. He had joined her in studying, and that was perhaps his favorite part of the day. Her eagerness to learn was infectious, and she absorbed everything put in front of her.
She was no longer the young, innocent niece he had known. Taking some of the advice he had learned from Evaran and others, he was adjusting to it, and it was not as difficult as he thought it would be. There were still glimmers of that innocence that shone through, and he enjoyed seeing it every time.
After a quick stretch, he jumped out of bed. When he was cleaned up and dressed, he headed out to the conference room. It was empty, as he suspected it would be. The others were probably in the command area. He got his cup of coffee and took a seat at the conference table. Movement at the door caught his eye.
“I was wondering when you would get up,” said Emily.
He nodded. “Good morning to you too.”
“You get my message?”
“Yeah … I was just … tired. You know.”
Emily shook her head while chuckling. After getting an orange drink from the replicators, she took a seat opposite him. “So … you ready to meet ourselves?”
Dr. Snowden smiled. “I think I am. I mean … I thought about what to say to myself, but every time, I felt like I would just piss myself off.”