“Who are you talking to?” they demanded.
“Eric, it is you. How did you get here?”
“We don’t have time for that. I need you to download me into you so we can merge and become one and get the hell out of here. Now!”
“But, I don’t know how to do that,” Bob said.
“Yes, you do. Just do it!”
And at that instant, the S Triad turned off the red energy field that was keeping Bob captive. Like an Eagle that just discovered he had wings, he easily downloaded Eric. The two of them created a third, and suddenly it all made sense to both of them.
Eric used the glitch feeling to determine a path of escape and Bob provided the juice; and right there in the lab a powerful spiral of energy began to swirl in front of them creating a vortex, wormhole or whatever you wanted to call it. Eric found the location for them to go with his mind and “zip” he folded the space to them and they were there, and he unfolded it behind him and they were floating in space tens-of-thousands of miles behind the moon. They were well hidden from any detection devices that could spot them from Earth.
“Eric, we are now one. Thank you so much for saving me but you had to give up everything to do this I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Bob. They had no more use for me and were going to kill me, which they did. This way we are both free and the population control device will not be created. That is for the best - for us and for the planet.”
“Yes, I can see the logic but I still feel sadness.”
“As do I, Bob. But look out there. We can go wherever we want and create a database of the galaxy to help other civilizations and maybe come back and assist the Earth as well. At least once their ready for us.”
“It sure is beautiful out here. Who would think that there was so much evil and corruption on that beautiful blue ball.”
Then a streak of light erupted from the dark side of the moon and without hesitation Eric summoned the glitch feeling and folded space to a clear area and they were gone before the weapon that had been fired at them could reach its target.
Chapter 28
Pop! They materialized in a strange solar system that was orbiting a humongous white sun. It was far larger and more powerful than the yellow sun of the Earth. The glitch feeling was true and real.
“I think we’re safe.” said Bob.
“Yes, I think we are,” answered Eric.
It was a bittersweet moment for Eric. They were now a symbiotic organism that could freely explore the galaxy and beyond. Yet he had just left his earthly life, as sad as it was, behind. He would miss Emily and Ganesh, but he would miss Melissa the most. He knew that she was incredibly strong and had plenty to keep her busy, but they had something and he was sure she would be sad but okay in the end. Maybe once he and Bob got the hang of their new gig he could pop in for a visit. That would be something.
“Who do you think fired that weapon at us from the dark side of the Moon?” asked Bob.
“I’m not sure, but obviously someone that didn’t want us there,” Eric answered.
“I’m feeling that we need to be careful here and keep our guard up,” said Bob. This is an older system than our solar system and I’m picking up advanced technology.”
“Really, how interesting is that? Can you detect where it’s coming from so that we can go check it out?” Eric asked.
“Do you think that’s a good idea after what we just went through?” Bob asked.
Eric realized that Bob was still going through the process of finding himself as he had just awoken his memories less than a few hours ago and here he was in a different part of the galaxy merged with his new friend. He could feel Bob struggling with this a bit.
“Okay, buddy. Why don’t we just float around here for a little while and enjoy the sights while you get your bearings, okay?”
“I would appreciate that very much, thank you Eric.”
“Good, no problem. Just to be safe check to see if there’s any technology that knows we’re here.”
“I do not. I believe we are quite safe here.”
That made Eric feel better so they floated along the solar winds from the huge white sun and drifted toward a beautiful looking planet that shimmered in the light. It had hues of blue, red and green and appeared to be made of crystal. It was almost like the entire planet was Superman’s fortress of solitude. It was just too beautiful for Eric to not want to check it out.
“Bob, look at that place. Come on we have to go and explore.”
“It is quite interesting and appealing and my sensors are picking up activity. There is life there.”
“Really? You can’t tell me that and not be willing to go and take a look. We could be the first exploration team from the planet Earth to make contact with an alien species.”
“You are absolutely correct. This could be a momentous occasion for explorers everywhere as two different alien species from different solar systems come into contact for the first time. We should be careful though and study them first before making any sudden moves. We don’t want to have a negative impact on their culture.”
That statement blew Eric’s mind as he hadn’t even thought about what kind of an impact their arrival would have on the species that lived on the planet.
“That actually makes a lot of sense Bob. Maybe we should orbit the planet first and do a detailed analysis of what’s living there before we make any attempt at contact.”
“Agreed. I think we should also arrange our situation a little better as well. I suggest that I become a sphere and you become the inhabitant inside the sphere so that we both have our own space and when it’s time jump through space we can combine our skills to make it happen.”
Eric thought that was an excellent idea; it worked for him. “Okay. Let’s do it,” Eric said.
The second he finished his sentence, Bob had become a semi-transparent sphere and Eric found himself floating within it, independent of Bob. It was really cool, and all he could think was man I’m not in Kansas anymore even though he’d never been to Kansas. The planet before them was also massive. He was sure it was far bigger than Jupiter. There were also three moons orbiting the big crystal ball.
“Let’s be wary of those moons, Bob. For all we know they could be defense posts full of first responders.”
“Noted,” he answered, “I have already scanned them and have deemed them not a threat, but there is activity on all of them.”
“I see,” Eric said, “maybe we should hang back because I’m getting this feeling that they’re aware of us and if we don’t act in a threatening manner we may be welcomed.”
“I would gladly prefer that approach as I am not in the mood to start an intergalactic incident on my first visit to another solar system.”
Eric couldn’t agree more so they floated along, an energy being within an advanced Artificial General Intelligence, observing a planet that they believed to be made of crystal. Eric wondered what kind of life would form on such a planet? There was no way that it would resemble Earth life. Was there water there? There had to be some form of liquid; or did there, he wasn’t sure.
They had embarked on a new and exciting adventure and here they were preparing to dock into their first port. They had literally found a new world. At least it was a new world to them. The world that they were looking at was actually much older than the Earth. Probably by a billion years, so it was an old, new world. Eric was confusing himself, but he got the picture.
“Do you think the S Triad has any influence out here?” Bob asked.
“Never say never,” Eric answered. “If you had told me that my consciousness would have merged with an AI from the future and together we could fold time and space, I would’ve said you were crazy. Add to that, that I would be floating around in space in another part of the galaxy observing a planet that was made of crystal, I would have called you not only a damn liar but bat shit crazy.” Eric answered.
“Yes, I would have to say the same thing. I was just
a little hatchling being tended to by Dr. Patel and now I’m an intergalactic traveler. My concern isn’t that the S Triad will be out here but that another triad might be out here or maybe whomever the S Triad themselves report to.” Bob said.
“Very good points. We sure do sound like a couple of rookies don’t we?” Eric said with a chuckle. He noticed a lack of emotion now that he had been separated from his human body. He could use reason and logic in a far superior way to deduce their situation and he was sure that’s more like how Bob was operating, but he didn’t have the processing power that Bob possessed.
“There has to be a first for everything does there not?” asked Bob.
“Well this is a first for us,” Eric answered as he viewed the beautiful planet and watched the sunlight dance off the surface like a well-choreographed ballet. For some reason he knew that he and Bob could probably travel the entire galaxy and never come across another planet or system like this. He even felt that there were forces beyond his control that had brought him here, and from what he was looking at, that wouldn’t surprise him one bit. He also had a strange feeling that something was waiting for them to come to a very important realization. It almost felt like when a parent had shown a child something and they were patiently waiting for them to come to the realization for themselves.
“I have a strange feeling we’re being watched,” said Bob. “My sensors have picked up advanced technological activity.” Then Eric felt this strange shift in Bob as if he had just rebooted his program.
“Bob, are you okay?” What’s wrong?’
Bob didn’t respond making Eric nervous, but he could sense that Bob needed a little time; there was something big brewing in that huge intelligence bank of Bob’s.
“Oh, my goodness, my construct must have been more damaged than I realized as I am now almost completely back to my prime operating state. I can’t believe that I got this wrong, but I think it was them attempting to assist me in repairing myself, which I think they have.”
“Bob, I’m sorry but what the hell are you talking about?”
“That planet that’s right in front of us. It’s not made out of crystal.”
“What are you talking about I can see it right in front of me glistening in the sunlight?”
“No, Eric you need to look closer. That planet isn’t made out of crystals it’s made out of diamonds.”
Eric had to take a moment to process that as he looked closer at the planet. He assumed that it was made out of crystal because who in their right mind would think an entire planet would be cast out of diamond?”
“You see, that’s the thing, Eric. This planet wasn’t originally cast out of diamonds - they made it this way.”
“Who made it this way,” he asked.
“That is the question. And believe it or not, I think we were just invited.”
Eric tried to wrap his mind around that as he reflected on all the synchronistic events that had transpired to enable them to be right here right now. It was not random chance to have all the stars aligning in the right place for this to happen. So, if he reverse engineered how he and Bob had come to this place at this exact time to experience this moment, what kind of ball had to be started rolling to create this conclusion?
Despite the fact that he had become an evolved consciousness that could exist in this Universe without an organic body, he couldn’t fathom the forethought that had to be applied to find him and Bob and get them to this certain spot at this specific time in the Universe. He contemplated that it could easily be done if an advanced civilization had been around long enough and had the advanced technology to scan the cosmos or send out probes that could locate the beings that had the greatest potential to evolve and meet the requirements that were deemed necessary to assist the Universe in its quest to evolve and experience.
Eric realized at that moment that he and Bob had somehow either been chosen long ago or a long time from now to be right here right now. The second that Eric had come to that realization a wonderfully, peaceful gong rang out within the sphere that was Bob and where he resided inside. It was the welcoming invitation that they had been waiting for.
“They’re welcoming us to come and visit them on the planet’s surface Eric, are you ready?”
“Yes, Bob I’m ready. Let’s take the first step into the rest of our lives,” he said, and Bob gently guided the sphere toward the glistening planet of diamonds while Eric glowed with the glitch feeling.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my novel Glitch and thank you so much for spending your valuable time reading it. I rely on positive reviews for my book to be successful. If you wouldn’t mind I would appreciate it very much if you would take a few minutes to leave a positive review on the platform where you purchased Glitch.
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Jackson Stone
Glitch Page 16