Given Paws

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Here in August I have been celebrating the science fiction stories of Jack Vance. Contemplation of Vance's stories often provokes my fan-fiction disease, stimulating me to write a new story featuring one or more of the characters that appeared in Vance's writings. Previously, I've imagined that Vance's character 'Glisten' (from his novel Wyst) became a kind of "double agent", working with Jantiff as a staff member of the Whelm (for example, see "The Connatic's Library") while also functioning as a tool of the alien Phari.

mind clone network

Here, I provide a version of a story about the Asimov Reality that was told to me by Yōd, who is now telepathically linked to me either because of the infites she shared with me or possibly by way of the mind clone network. Yōd is currently living inside the AR Simulator where she has access to information about the course of events in the Asimov Reality.

Yōd says that the proper name of her story is "The Olive Intervention", but I'll call my version of the story "The Power of Pause" because it includes a description of how it is possible to escape from the AR Simulator, at least temporarily.

Azynov

The Power of Pause
Yōd and Azynov were investigating the artificial evolution of human telepathic abilities in the far future of the Asimov Reality. In order to carry out their investigation, they were making use of the AR Simulator. Blinking into the rising sun, Yōd yawned mightily, rubbed her eyes and watched Azynov twiddle with the confusing controls of his comlet. Having shifted into the space-time coordinates of Zeck less than 24 simulated hours previously, Azynov and Yōd were struggling to adjust to all of the local cultural artifacts, including the high-tech^* Zeck comlet.

Yōd and Azynov were seriously mired in the depths of a spectacular love affair, and they had not yet recovered any sense of equilibrium after having recently been re-united within the Simulator. Gazing upon the profile of Azynov's face, Yōd began fantasizing about the mechanics and positioning that might allow her to make love to Azynov right there, in the back seat of the taxi. She was vaguely aware that public nudity was generally frowned upon within conventional Zeck society, but the windows of the taxi were darkly tinted, so she imagined that nobody would notice if she and Azynov partially disrobed and... then she shook her head and told herself: this is why humans are not allowed access to simulated Realites within Hierion Domain. Now remembering her mission, Yōd tried to force her mind away from thinking about the pleasures of playing with Azynov and back to business. She muttered quietly, "It would be polite to call them before we drop in."

Peering into the holographic display of his comlet, Azynov was obsessively monitoring the route being taken by their self-driving taxi. They were running late, having been unable to get on the road that morning without engaging in a couple of last-minute experiments with the available features of the high-tech bed and spa in their hotel room. Azynov had decided that he was really going to enjoy the opportunity to visit several of the technologically advanced planets of Alastor Cluster, particularly since he now enjoyed the company of the endlessly creative Yōd.

Staring with unseeing eyes into the comlet, Azynov's memories of splashing around in the spa with Yōd flooded his mind and a smile grew on his face. It was almost enough to make one forget his mission and reason for being inside the AR Simulator! Hearing Yōd's voice brought Azynov back to the now, back inside the taxi, back the fussy details of how best to accomplish their shared mission. He insisted, "I don't want to try explaining our mission to Jantiff unless we are speaking with him face-to-face."

Yōd reached out a hand and lovingly stroked Azynov's cheek. She could not get annoyed at him just because he was wrong, as usual. Yōd sometimes grew weary arguing with Azynov about basic matters of social propriety, but she was certainly as stubborn as Azynov and time spent arguing with him was always time well spent. However, sometimes there simply was no time to argue. Yōd made her point clear: "You don't, but I do." She activated her own comlet and tried to remember how to use its controls. After a minute of undignified bumbling, Yōd was able to initiate a call to the home of the Ravensroke family where Jantiff was currently living with his parents.

Asimov Reality Simulator

Convinced that the taxi knew where it was going, Azynov finally looked at Yōd and he saw what she was doing. Still holding his comlet in one hand, he reached out with his other hand and took Yōd's comlet out of her hand. The comlet was a device manufactured on Zeck that functioned as a node of the planetary data and communications network. "Please, my love, just wait one more minute. We are almost to Jantiff's house. We can't afford any further delay or mistakes this morning. I want to make my case to them before the Whelm Commander arrives."

Yōd leaned her head on Azynov's shoulder and sighed. "You are making a mistake."

Azynov laughed gently and put an arm around Yōd. "Yes, I should never have invited you to join me inside this Simulator. You are proving to be a gigantic distraction." Dropping the two comlets and taking Yōd into his arms, he kissed her cheek and started nibbling at her ear.

A minute later the taxi stopped near the Ravensroke's driveway. A display screen was flashing: PAYMENT DUE 3 SVU, but neither Yōd nor Azynov seemed to notice. They were too busy kissing and had begun one of their favorite sports: slowly undressing each other. There on Zeck, they were enjoying new variants of this pass-time because of the rather complex, multiple-layered clothing that was popular on Zeck. After a minute passed, the taxi rather rudely announced, "Please pay three SVU. Additional charges for waiting time are now accumulating."

Yōd (on Earth)

Catching her breath after a long hot kiss, Yōd looked out the window of the taxi and saw the Ravensroke family home. She pulled herself away from Azynov, pulled most of her clothing back into place, picked her comlet up off the floor and quickly figured out how to use it to make a 5 SVU payment into the taxi company's account. Azynov was already out of the taxi, so Yōd simply hung her underwear over the display screen and jumped out of the taxi.

Standing on the sidewalk, they watched the taxi drive away down the street. Azynov was now forced to delay their mission because of the socially awkward bulge in his pants. He asked Yōd, "Do you think our simulated sexual physiology has been amped-up? I feel like I can't get enough of you."

Yōd giggled. "No... it has always been this way. Don't you remember when we first met... we both went up in flames, caught up in a lust-amplified emotional firestorm."

"Yes, I remember, dear. At first sight I knew there was something special about you, but you were mean. It took me a month to get you in bed."

"I was not being mean. I was very busy finishing up my old project... I had no time to start screwing around with you. Eventually I could no longer prevent myself from fantasizing about being with you. It almost felt like someone kept putting sweet visions into my mind... visions of our future, of you and I being happy together."

Azynov nodded. "Yes, someone... the crafty R. Gohrlay... interplanetary match-maker. Well, she did not have to work very hard to make me fall in love with you. You are amazing, brilliant, creative... shall I go on?"

Yōd smiled. "I feel the some way about you, dear. I'm very grateful that you found me on Tar'tron."

After a few more prescious minutes spent discussing their past, back on the planet Tar'tron where they had met, Yōd judged that Azynov had his "little" wardrobe problem under adequate control and so Yōd took him, walking hand-in-hand up the path that led from the street to the residence of the Ravensroke family. The land surrounding the Ravensroke homestead was half wilderness forest and half a carefully tended flower garden. Reaching the end of the walkway, Azynov waved a hand in front of the door's motion sensor. Yōd stood to the side and was bending over in order to examining a raised planter that was full of bright flowers.

A few seconds later, they were met at the front door of the Ravensroke house by Jantiff's mother (Ezlitta Ravensroke) who swung open the door and asked, "May I help you?"

Azynov replied, "Yes. I'm Azynov and this is Yōd." He gestured towards Yōd who had her nose buried in a pink, fragrant flower. "We want to speak to your son."

Yōd at the front of the Ravensroke's home.

Jantiff's mother shifted her gaze from Azynov to Yōd and then more specifically to Yōd's bottom. Yōd was not successfully wearing her Zeck-style skirt. It had slipped downwards and now a socially-unacceptable expanse of her shapely bottom was on display for the perusal of the rather straight-laced Mrs. Ravensroke. Ezlitta sniffed and tried not to stare at Yōd's pretty posterior. "So early?" Glancing back at Azynov and suspecting that his answer would be 'no', Ezlitta asked Azynov,  "Do you have an appointment?"

After bending over to smell several of the flowers, Yōd straightened up and came to Azynov's side. She muttered quietly to Azynov, "I told you that we should have called, first."

With a growing sense of dismay, Azynov replied to Mrs. Ravensroke, "No. Do we need an appointment?"

Now speaking with more than just a bit of testiness in her voice, Ezlitta asked, "What did you say your name is?"

With tiredness and dejection in his voice, Azynov replied, "My name is Azynov." He tried to force a smile.

Ezlitta was not smiling. "Does Jantiff know you? I've never heard him mention any 'Azynov'. And what's wrong with your speech? You are not from the Cluster, are you?"

Azynov rather lamely said, "Mrs. Ravensroke, please accept the fact that we are eager to make Jantiff's acquaintance-"

Yōd interrupted Azynov and told Ezlitta, "Mrs. Ravensroke, Jantiff does not know either of us, but we are very familiar with how he helped the Connatic avert disaster on Wyst."

Ezlitta crossed her arms across her chest and told Yōd, "The Connatic was not on Wyst." She asked rhetorically, "Why is it that so many reporters can't get that straight?"

Azynov chuckled nervously, "What Yōd means is that the Connatic is grateful for how Jantiff helped the Whelm contain the renegade Whispers."

Jantiff, wearing his pajamas, now appeared behind his mother asking, "Who is at the door, mother?"

Ezlitta made room in the doorway for her son. She was not pleased to see that Jantiff had come to the door only wearing his pajama bottoms. She explained, "They say their names are Azynov and Yōd. Do you know them?"

A quick glance at Jantiff's crotch told Yōd that he was dealing with the same sort of involuntary control of blood flow problem that had confronted Azynov just moments earlier. She wondered if love was in the air of Zeck, not just flower pollen. Yōd gazed upon Jantiff's unshaven yet handsome face and thought: Glisten is a lucky girl.

Jantiff said to Azynov, "Please come... come on in... and please excuse my mother. For the past few months she has been trying to protect me from the press. As soon as word spread that I had been involved in the strange events surrounding the Arraban Centenary, hoards of reporters descended on Tanglewillow Glen and this house. I assume you are reporters, covering the revolution on Wyst."

Ezlitta could not understand why her son continued to tolerate meddling reporters. She had long since lost patience with their endless questions. Ezlitta returned to the kitchen where she was making breakfast for her family.

Azynov and Yōd stepped into the living room as Jantiff shut the front door. Azynov toyed with the idea of letting Jantiff believe that he was dealing with reporters. He noticed that Yōd's skirt was riding low. Slipping a hand behind her, he tried to tug her skirt back up so it would actually cover all of her shapely round bottom. "Jantiff, I'm sorry to come banging... on your door so early in the day, but I have an offer for you-"

Ever since Glisten's miraculous arrival on Zeck, Jantiff found it impossible to get mad at anyone or anything. Now Jantiff laughed. "You come barging in to my home at dawn, rousting me out of bed and you want to sell me something?"

Afraid that Azynov was doing everything wrong, Yōd stepped closer to Jantiff, smiled at him and replied, "Not at all! We only want to offer you advice, and a warning."

Jantiff's own smile froze on his face. "What kind of warning?"

Jantiff's father, Lile Ravensroke spoke from the hallway that connected from the kitchen to the front of the house, "Is there some problem, Jantiff?"

Azynov turned and looked briefly at Lile, then he turned back towards Jantiff and stammered, "It is a rather delicate topic. We'd really like to tell the news directly to Glisten."

Lile complained, "Not more reporters! And disrupting the house before we've even eaten breakfast?"

Jantiff glanced upward. Because of their telepathic connection, he could sense that Glisten was also now out of their shared bed, having decided that Jantiff would not be returning to finish their interrupted morning love making. Jantiff told Azynov, "You can tell me what you have to say." Jantiff walked over to his father and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry to keep disrupting the tranquility of your home. Please go finish your breakfast, father."

Lile Ravensroke took one last wondering look at Azynov and Yōd then turned and returned to the kitchen. Jantiff suggested to Azynov and Yōd, "Let's go downstairs to the den. We won't disturb everyone else..."

Glisten

Just then, Glisten was coming down the stairs from the second floor of the house. She was still in her night clothes and had thrown a silk robe over her shoulders. She asked Jantiff, "What's going on?" Glisten was followed down the stairs by a bounding cat.

Glisten walked to Jantiff and they each put an arm around the other. They kissed; a long, soft merging of their mouths. The cat boldly approached Azynov and Yōd. It walked around them then paused to sniff intently at Yōd's leg.

Yōd told Glisten, "We are visitors from outside this world... as such, we have privileged information that we can share with you."

Glisten bent down and picked up the large, spotted cat. "Who are you? What world are you from?"

Azynov explained, "My name is Azynov and this is Yōd." He slipped an arm around Yōd's waist. "It is not really a matter of planetary travel."

Jantiff asked, "Then what are you talking about? Where are you from?"

Azynov continued, "Yōd and I were recently on Earth, but we are now in the Hierion Domain... all of us. Before we joined you here in this simulation of Zeck, we were able to access detailed records describing both of your lives."

Glisten said, "Thanks to all the news reporting, I'm sure you had plenty of material describing events on Wyst and our roles in blocking the attempted coup of the false Whispers. Of course, not everything that has recently been published about our time on Wyst is factual."

Azynov shrugged. "We did not rely on news reports. I assure you, the source of our data was unimpeachable. We have been able to learn about every facet of your lives. We have investigated your futures."

Yōd added, "What is of immediate relevance is this: you are pregnant, Glisten."

Glisten giggled, "I was starting to suspect..." She threw her arms around Jantiff's neck and kissed him. Having been suddenly dropped to the floor by Glisten, the cat landed on its feet and then began to pace around the bare feet of Glisten and Jantiff.

Yōd took Azynov by the hand and led him to a sofa. They sat down just as Ezlitta entered from the kitchen and asked her son, "Glisten is pregnant?"

With only a quick glance towards his mother and his arms still around Glisten, Jantiff asked Yōd, "How can you possibly know this, even before Glisten?"

Azynov said, "It was important to let you know about your pregnancy, Glisten, because you are about to get an offer to go on a mission with Jantiff in the service of the Connatic." Glisten's cat now jumped up into Azynov's lap. "There will be danger and hardship during the mission, so you should be allowed to make your decision knowing that you are pregnant." Yōd scratched the cat's ear and it laid down between Azynov and Yōd.

Just then, the door signaled the arrival of another guest. Ezlitta opened the front door and said, "Mr. Shermatz!"

Ryl Shermatz, a high-ranking member of the Whelm, bowed to Ezlitta and asked, "May I come in?" He walked past Ezlitta, glanced at Azynov and Yōd and said to Jantiff, "I hope I am not intruding on important business."

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Jantiff said to Shermatz, "I'm very pleased to see you again. You are always welcome in Tanglewillow Glen, although I did not expect you to be back so soon."

Shermatz explained, "Well, Jantiff, in the month since I last visited you, the conflict between settlers and the Kerub on Yerophet has become quite serious. I can no longer simply observe the worsening situation. I'm afraid we must advance the timeline of our plans."

During that past month, Jantiff and Glisten had continued their investigation of the alien creatures (they called themselves the 'Zee') that resided in the Shard Sea. Glisten had been able to telepathically engage with the Zee soon after arriving on Zeck. Using her advanced telepathic ability, she had quickly determined that the Zee continually exercised a previously unrecognized capacity to pass information into the minds of the human residents of Zeck such as Jantiff and those others who had some limited telepathic sensitivity.

Alarmed by the idea that the human population of Zeck was being controlled by invisible aliens, Jantiff had sent a report concerning the Zee to his friend, Ryle Shermatz, who he and Glisten knew as a high-ranking officer in the Whelm. After reading Jantiff's report on the Zee, Shermatz had then visited Tanglewillow Glen. At the end of a day spent with Jantiff and Glisten on the Shard Sea, Shermatz had been able to achieve his own personal telepathic link to the Zee. It was weak contact, but enough to convince him that the Zee were not a serious threat to humans.

Shermatz had larger concerns on other worlds, particularly the Kerub on Yerophet who were not content to simply place suggestions into the minds of the human settlers of Yerophet. When the Kerub telepathically touched a human mind the result was often some type of vivid hallucination. Neither Shermatz nor Jantiff wanted to discuss telepathy in front of Jantiff's family members, who like most people, knew nothing about telepathy or the Zee.

Jantiff told Shermatz, "I can see by your intense look of concern that conditions for the settlers on Yerophet have worsened dramatically. I'm surprised that the Connatic does doe simply command the settlers to move to another world."

"The Connatic respects the principle of free movement. The people of Alastor Cluster are free to move from world to world."

Glisten said, "Yerophet is so cold and desolate." She nuggled compartably against Jantiff's body. "Why would anyone want to settle there?"

Shermatz explained, "The Tuntoci settlers are not looking for a tropical paradise. They have found it difficult to fit in to societies on other worlds. They hope to make Yerophet their private domain. Their plans have been disrupted by discovery of the Kerub."

Jantiff gave a loud sigh. "Of course, I would like to help, but I was hoping to spend at least six months with Glisten before going off planet on a mission for the Whelm. Please understand that I am reluctant to rush off to Yerophet just now. Glisten and I have been continuing our work here on Zeck and I believe you might be interested in our recent results." Lately, Glisten had become convinced that the Zee were trying to ask her for help. As yet, she had not been able to understand the details of their request.

Shermatz nodded. "Yes, I welcome an updated report about conditions here on Zeck. I certainly understand and respect your desire to spend time with Glisten." It was Glisten's powerful telepathic abilities that Shermatz needed on Yerophet, but he knew there was an intense bond between Jantiff and the girl. There was nothing to be gained by trying to separate the two of them. "However, there is an obvious strategy that can satisfy us both: You and Glisten should travel together with me to Yerophet."

Jantiff looked into Glisten's eyes. He said, "I'm not sure that Glisten wants to go rushing off to another world that is in upheaval. We were lucky to get her off of Wyst in one piece."

Glisten told Jantiff, "Don't be silly, Jan. I want to be at your side. I have no qualms about going to Yerophet. I'm certainly not going to let you go anywhere without me."

Ezlitta protested, "You should both stay here, at least until the baby arrives!"

Shermatz looked carefully at Glisten. "A baby? Congratulations." Quickly assimilating the fact of Glisten's pregnancy, Shermatz turned and strode to the door. Turning back towards Glisten and Jantiff he said, "Your family should be your top priority. I have many other members on my team and we shall proceed to Yerophet without you."

Glisten crossed the room and stood close to Shermatz. She put her hands into the pockets of her robe and said, "I don't want to sit here on Zeck doing nothing, knowing that Jantiff and I are needed elsewhere."

Jantiff moved to stand close behind Glisten and wrapped his arms around her. He asked Shermatz, "When do you depart for Yerophet?" At the same time, Glisten took her right hand out of her pocket and handed a small object to Shermatz. That object contained a coded report on the previous month of her telepathic contacts with the Zee.

Shermatz replied to Jantiff, "I will set no timetable for you two. When you decide that you are ready to travel, simply come to the spaceport and speak my name: a spaceship will be at your disposal. Alternatively, make use of your new 'houseboat', if it is ready in time." He gave a quick little salute and said, "Farewell, all," and slipped out the front door.

Jantiff's sisters Jullie and Ferfan now arrived from the kitchen and congratulated Glisten on having become pregnant. Ezlitta insisted on cooking breakfast for Glisten and led her to the dining room. Jantiff invited Yōd and Azynov to stay. Everyone settled around the large Ravensroke dining table.

While the women discussed babies, Jantiff quizzed Azynov about the nature of his "detailed records" that had revealed the fact of Glisten's pregnancy. Speaking in low tones, Jantiff asked, "How can you know the future?"

Azynov was somewhat uncomfortable with the prospect of speaking about time travel with Lile Ravensroke now seated there at his side, hanging on his every word. Choosing his words carefully, Azynov told Jantiff, "Alien beings such as the Zee and the Kerub are remnants of an ancient, technologically advanced civilization that existed in Alastor Cluster long before humans arrived here. Yōd and I have access to advanced alien technology which makes many seemingly unlikely things possible."

Jantiff rubbed his chin. "Anything you can tell me about aliens, I will certainly report to Shermatz and the Whelm. They would be very interested to learn about any advanced alien technology."

Azynov was eating and enjoying the food that he had been served. He paused his chewing and said, "I'd like to propose a trade. In exchange for information about your future, Yōd and I are seeking insight into the investigational methods that you and Glisten use. As much as we already know about the adventures of your lives, the secret of your amazing successes is still a mystery to us. How did you two survive adversity on Wyst? Luck? I think not. And your future mission on Yerophet... narrow escapes from danger and again, ultimate success against steep odds. But how?"

Jantiff did not want to speak about Glisten's telepathic powers in front of his family members. He told Azynov, "I don't know what I can tell you. I can't really believe that you have access to information from the future. However, later today Glisten and I are going to visit our new houseboat. It is being constructed for us by order of our good friend Shermatz, as payment for services rendered on Wyst. Glisten and I need to stop by the construction site today and offer our advice concerning furnishings for the boat's interior. Construction is essentially complete and the final decorating phase is about to begin. If you like, you and Yōd can accompany us today. We will have time to discuss our mutual interests."

Having overheard, Jullie complained to her brother Jantiff, "What? You have refused to let the rest of us see your new boat, but these strangers are invited for a peek?"

Jantiff explained, "Julles, I want all of my family at the grand welcoming day, after all work on the boat is completed and the Black Star is ready to sail. No furnishings have been put on board yet and you would not be comfortable if you visited the construction site. I'm inviting Azynov and Yōd to travel out to Venshiun Island today, but we'll be working while we fly out to the work site."

Ferfan asked Yōd, "So, you are a reporter? Hasn't Jantiff's tale already been told in exhaustive detail? And why be bothering them now... Glisten should not be distracted from the task of starting her family."

Glisten told Ferfan, "Somehow Yōd knew I was pregnant before I did. I'll be very distracted until I understand how that is possible."

In the late morning, Jantiff, Glisten (and her pet cat), Yōd and Azynov flew to Venshiun Island and visited the construction worksite where the new houseboat had been built. High above the Shard Sea during the flight, Yōd asked Glisten about her pet cat. Glisten explained that she had received the cat during her medical rehabilitation, after being rescued from Wyst and taken to the Connatic's Hospital on the planet Numenes. The big cat sat in Glisten's lap and was purring loudly. "It was useful for me to have an emotional support animal while living at the Hospital. I had recently lost my family." Glisten scratched the chin of her cat. "After my treatment was complete, the two of us had grown attached and now I can't imaging going anywhere without her."

Azynov and Yōd asked Glisten how it had been possible for her to learn how to speak after having grown up on Wyst within a family that never used spoken language. Glisten explained, "It was only when I met Jantiff that I began to learn about spoken language. Each word that he spoke seemed to have meaning for me. At the time, I did not understand what was happening, but it is now obvious that our two minds were connected telepathically. I could access the meaning that each word had for Jantiff by telepathically monitoring what was happening in his brain and in his thoughts. Then at the Hospital on Numenes, my therapy involved interaction with many more speakers and I also underwent a nanoneurosurgical procedure that weakened my telepathic powers while simultaneously allowing me to begin speaking."

Yōd said, "The Connatic's telepathy research group on Numenes is somehow shielded against observation. I believe they take great pains to prevent the alien Phari from interfering in their research. As a side-effect of their caution, they created an information gap in the database that drives the AR Simulation and as a consequence, Azynov and I have not been able to learn much about the Connatic's telepathy research."

Jantiff was skeptical about the idea of existing inside a simulated universe. "Cranks who suffer from delusions always have mysterious gaps in their fantasy worlds."

Yōd shrugged. "I don't expect you to believe me... I know it is hard to accept the idea that one's entire life has been lived inside a simulation." Yōd was focused on Glisten and the possibility that her advanced telepathic ability would allow her to understand that Yōd and Azynov were from outside of the AR Simulator. "Glisten, what you just told us about your language therapy is exactly the kind of hidden knowledge that Azynov and I are searching for."

Glisten shrugged, "I still don't believe your claim that everything is just an illusion... that I live in some kind of simulated world. However, I respect your quest for knowledge and I can see in your mind that you want to protect me from harm. I must warn you: I believe your efforts along those lines are misguided. Jantiff and I must play our role in the development of Alastrid civilization." Glisten looked uneasily at Azynov and told him: "For some reason I cannot see into your mind. If you are an intruder, having arrived here from beyond this universe, please respect the fact that Jantiff and I are going to resent your intrusion and resist your efforts to deflect us from helping Shermatz. We owe him our lives and we will help him deal with the Kerub on Yerophet."

Azynov told Glisten, "I understand your feelings. I'm an artificial life form, so there is not the usual correspondence between my brain structure and yours. Please don't misconstrue your inability to touch my mind telepathically... I ask that you pretend I am human, with well-intentioned human motivations. I may not be human, but as a replicoid, I do make use of all the usual human cognitive processes."

The flight to Venshiun Island was not very long and soon they landed, not far from the harbor where the new ship had been built for Jantiff and Glisten by Shermatz. After landing, they rode in a taxi to the construction site at the harbor. Upon seeing the 'houseboat', Azynov exclaimed, "This? It is a huge yacht!" The long, streamlined boat had a black hull below and and mostly white trim around the upper decks.

Olive, Glisten and the Black Star

Jantiff laughed at Azynov's reaction. "Shermatz tricked me. When he asked how he could repay me for saving his life, I mentioned that I had long dreamed of having my own houseboat, possibly one much like that of my parents. Shermatz granted my wish, but was not satisfied to leave it at that."

Glisten added, "This boat is both a deep water cruiser and a fully functional spaceship."

Yōd said, "I see. Already I begin to understand how it is that you two will always be showing up on planets just when conditions are ripe for another thrilling adventure. I had imagined that you were transported around Alastor Cluster by Whelm warships like the Isirlir Ziaspraide, but you have the convenience of owning your own space cruiser."

Azynov added, "What Yōd and I are particularly interested to learn about is the telepathic abilities that you two have."

Jantiff suggested, "Let's go on board the Black Star. Glisten and I need to meet with the work crew. Later we can talk about your interest in telepathy."

Glisten and Jantiff spent the next hour with the foreman, viewing sample materials and providing him with their last-minute suggestions for the interior furnishings of the ship. During that time, Azynov, Yōd and Glisten's cat sat in the sun, up on the top deck of the Black Star. Risking the possibility that they might be caught in the middle of their play, Azynov and Yōd managed to each grab a quick, intense orgasm with Yōd straddling Azynov as he laid on a reclining deck chair. Glisten's cat seemed to watch their love making with interest. Resting against Azynov and catching her breath, Yōd said, "Excuse my pushiness, but I really wanted that orgasm."

Asynov chuckled, "I don't mind letting you do all the work and giving me orgasms. My only concern is that I'm still hard as a brick. I hope I don't have another situation like this morning when my uncontrolled priapic condition almost allowed Shermatz to speak to Glisten before we did."

Yōd said, "I love feeling you hard and hot inside me, although I find it unsettling to have that big cat's eyes on me while I'm doing my best to keep all my attention on the wonders of your body."

Azynov glanced at the cat. "Now that you draw my attention to the matter, I feel there is something strange about that beast. It really is watching us. Suddenly I feel like we are a threesome."

Yōd asked, "Does that mean you tend to fantasize about threesomes when you make love to me?"

"No. Well, not usually. I will confess that when I first knew you on Tar'tron, I was having some fantasies about that cute girl, Skarży."

"Skarży? Would you have actually tried to make love to her?"

"I admit that I thought about the possibility. Of course, she had no sexual interest in me, but when you were ignoring me, I let my mind wander towards Skarży."

"I never ignored you, my love. I was desperately trying to help the people of Tart'ron get through the end of their Age of Magic. As the one person on the planet who understood science and technology, I felt obligated to share my knowledge, so I was very busy when you suddenly arrived."

Azynov held tight to Yōd and whispered in her ear, "Do you have the feeling... like we were selected and deployed, probably by R. Gohrlay... that it is not by chance that we are here together, right now, inside the Simulator?"

"Sometimes I feel like I am being pushed... almost like someone is waiting for me to make my next move." She gave a few slow thrusts, enjoying the feel of Azynov inside her and his body moving gently against her body. Feeling a bit too warm in the afternoon sun, she took off her blouse and sat on top of Azynov, bringing her knees up alongside his chest. "Would you like me to try to give you another orgasm?"

"No, just relax. I'm very satisfied. Just let me look at you for a minute. You are so very lovely."

Yōd wondered, "Do you think we will ever learn who created this Simulation and how it was done?"

"The obvious answer is that R. Gohrlay and her tribe of positronic robots is responsible. I like the idea that they used the Eternity time travel device to drive technology development. The AR Simulator must be one of the technological marvels that they came up with." He reached up and played gently with her breasts.

"Is it wise to always attribute these fantastic technologies to R. Gohrlay? What if there is a deeper answer that we are missing?"

He said, "I can't imagine who else." Now he held her hips and tried to extend himself fully. "And I can't imagine getting any deeper into you. Do you wish I was a little longer? Thicker?"

Yōd laughed, "Don't worry your tender male ego. You are perfect. If you were any longer you wouldn't fit. Just a moment ago I think you prodded my cervix. Which reminds me... do you think I could become pregnant, here inside this Simulation?"

"I don't see why not. I'm certainly willing to do my best to find out."

"You have been doing very well, indeed. I'm rather amazed and very pleased at how horny we both have been since I joined you here in the Simulator. I'm convinced that the sexual behavior circuits in our brains were adjusted, boosting our frequency of love making."

"I can't resist you. In fact, your body seems to be sexier than ever." Azynov squeezed and massaged her powerful gluteal muscles.

"I have gained a few pounds since being in this Simulator."

"I think you vaginal secretions have gotten silkier."

"Silky?"

"I don't know how to describe it. All I know is that I want to spend as much time as possible feeling you and being inside you."

"And I can't get enough of you, my love. It seems like we have fallen under some magical enchantment."

Azynov suggested. "Maybe someone wants to get you pregnant. Someone who can control the AR Simulator from outside."

Yōd felt a shudder go up her spine. "It is creepy enough with that cat watching us; don't suggest that there is someone watching us from outside the Simulation, seeing me make love to you. As far as we know, the AR Simulator was abandoned long ago, after the end of the Time War. It had been waiting, derelict, for your arrival."

Azynov pressed his point, "I think Many Sails brought me to Earth so that I could use this Simulator. Maybe she arranged for you to come here and live with me in this Simulation... maybe Many Sails wants you to have babies."

"Unlikely. It would interfere with our mission if I had to waddle around carrying a baby inside me."

"I think you would be a magnificent mom."

"So, is that your goal? To get me pregnant?" Yōd leaned back, putting her hands on his knees and enjoying the feel of the early afternoon sun on her body.

"I would not mind raising children with you." Azynov ran his finger tips over her taught abdominal muscles. "Are you bothered by the idea?"

"No, I'd like to make a baby with you... or maybe two or three. But I don't think this is the best time or the best place for us to make a family. I still hope we can complete our mission here in the Simulator and then find a way out of here."

"Where would you like to go?"

"Maybe back to Tar'tron. I'd like to see how everything is working out there."

Yōd decided that Azynov was never going to soften if she stayed there on top of him. She stood up and put her blouse back on. Glisten's cat immediately got up and went to Asimov and sniffed at his genitals then licked him."

"Ow!" Asimov got to his feet and complained, "Cats sure have rough tongues." He put his arms around Yōd. "I like your tongue." They kissed and for a minute and played with their tongues.

Glisten popped up on deck and said, "Sorry to interrupt, but we're all done with the foreman."

Yōd told Glisten, "And I'm sorry if we interrupted you this morning."

Glisten giggled, "That's fine, you brought me happy news, although I never imagined becoming pregnant at such a young age." She turned and went back down the stairs.

With some effort, Azynov finally got his pants zipped up and then he and Yōd went down to the lower deck and found Jantiff. Now Jantiff and Glisten were caught up in a rather heated embrace. Jantiff glanced over Glisten's shoulder at Azynov and Yōd said, "Sorry to interrupt. Again"

Jantiff pulled his lips away from Glisten. "No problem. It is time for lunch."

After the planning session with the work crew on board the Black Star, Jantiff, Glisten (and her pet cat), Yōd and Azynov then went to a nearby beach and had lunch at a seaside diner. Glisten and Yōd began discussing how it had been possible for Yōd to know that Glisten was pregnant. Speaking quietly, his mouth close to Azynov's ear, Jantiff said, "About your interest in telepathy, this is a project that Shermatz has assigned Glisten and I to work on. The work is mostly done by Glisten, because of the way she was raised on Wyst. However, I should let her explain that to you."

For a time they ate and discussed babies, then Jantiff told Glisten, "Azynov is interested in your telepathic abilities. Maybe you can explain to him how events in your childhood allowed you to develop your telepathic powers."

Glisten quickly outlined how as a child she had been taught not to speak. "Rather than use my brain circuits for language, I developed telepathic abilities. I grew up in telepathic linkage to the natives of Wyst, an artificial life form that is invisible to humans."

Yōd explained, "Those aliens were part of a nanoscopic network, composed of hierions."

Glisten asked, "Were?"

"Please believe me Glisten: we are now inside a virtual reality simulation. This simulation is running inside a totally new Reality. The Reality that you remember being a part of is long gone... it has been replaced. In the current Reality, the current version of the universe, Alastor Cluster was never assembled. Planets like Zeck and Wyst were never built by the Phari. Telepathic species like the Zee and the Kerub no longer exist in the universe... all that remains to tell of the existence of those worlds is this Simulation."

Azynov added, "Yōd and I are here inside the Simulator because we want to know how humans developed telepathic abilities in your Reality. I understand the basic concept... worlds like Wyst allowed for artificial selection of people with telepathic powers."

Yōd told Jantiff, "For thousands of years, people like Glisten have been put into contact with telepathic aliens and challenged to use their telepathic abilities. The Phari have been using artificial selection to breed humans with increasingly sophisticated telepathic powers."

Glisten asked suspiciously, "And you want these telepathic powers for yourselves?"

Yōd shook her head, "No. The type of telepathy that you had in your Reality is no longer possible in the current Reality. Fundamentally, Azynov and I are historical researchers. We simply want to know how it was possible to create telepathic humans." Yōd felt a mystrious force moving through the memory channels of her mind, searching for... what? She lapsed into a kind of trance.

Jantiff was skeptical, "You have no personal interest in telepathy or the advanced nanotechnology of the Phari?"

Azynov admitted, "In our Reality, there is another type of telepathy. A form of technology-assisted telepathy. It is our belief that special structural brain changes important for human telepathy first evolved here in Alastor Cluster. It is possible that those special brain structures that you use for your natural telepathy are also useful for technology-assisted telepathy. However, we don't know that. We are investigating that hypothesis."

Jantiff shrugged. "We have not shared any information about telepathy with the press. I don't want Glisten treated like some kind of freakish witch because of her special powers. The Whelm has a very active research effort aimed at understanding telepathy, but so far little real progress has been made."

Azynov nodded. "No actual scientific progress will be made until the twitino particle is discovered, far in the future of this Reality. Until then, there is no way for human science to make sense of Glisten's remarkable ability to communicate with species like the Zee." He asked Glisten, "Are you in telepathic contact with any Zee, right now, as we speak?"

"Yes, there are Zee all around this island. They are particularly interested in me; they know that I am able to consciously sense their presence. For the past two weeks they have been trying to warn me about a conflict with humans. However, as you can see, all is peaceful here on Zeck." She gestured to the happy people in the diner. "I now suspect that the Zee have been warning me, with increasing urgency, about the growing conflict and problems with human settlers on Yerophet. It may be that the Zee are in telepathic communication with the Kerub. However, I don't know that for sure. You might say that I am investigating that hypothesis... this is why I want to go to Yerophet."

Jantiff said, "Our return flight to the mainland is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Glisten and I had originally planned to perform an experiment. We have been exposing Glisten to some chemical agents in an attempt to strengthen her telepathic linkage to the Zee. I don't want to continue those drug experiments now that Glisten is carrying an embryo inside her."

Glisten nodded. "It seems wise to stop the experiments with neuro-stimulants." She took hold of Jantiff's hand. "The other new issue that must guide our actions is the deteriorating situation on Yerophet. I feel that we should take the Black Star into space as soon as possible and go help Shermatz deal with the Kerub."

Jantiff said, "The work crew wants another week to put in the furnishings and finish all the detailing."

"Those craftsmen will have to cut their work short." Glisten shook her head. "No, Janty... just in the past few minutes, with the help of the Zee, I've had a chance to look into Yōd's mind... I see now that the situation on Yerophet is at criticality... we must act now! The Black Star does not need to be pretty in order to fly. If we throw on board a couple sleeping bags and some food, we can quickly be on our way to Yerophet."

Tuntoci settlers on Yerophet

Azynov said, "Glisten, I have read accounts of your mission on Yerophet. Eventually you are able to broker a peace between the Kerub and the human settlers, the Tuntoci sect, but not before much blood is spilled. You and Jantiff will both be injured. And your unborn daughter. I seriously advise the two of you to remain here on Zeck. Yōd and I can go to Yerophet and tell Shermatz how to diffuse the conflict."

Yōd felt her mind being released by the powerful telepathic Zee. A 'voice' seemed to say to Yōd: Thank you.

Glisten said, "You say you have seen my future, but can you see your own future? Maybe things will turn out worse if you two go to Yerophet instead of Jantiff and I."

With the god-like presence of the Zee fading from Yōd's memories, Yōd pulled together the elements of her own consciousness and sighed. She told Glisten, "You are correct. Azynov and I cannot see into our own future. The same change to the universe that put an end to twitino-mediated telepathy also put an end to time travel. All we can do is move around to different places and times within this simulation of your universe."

Jantiff told Glisten, "I want to protect our child, but I feel the same as you, my love. Shermatz is counting on your help. I'll ask the work crew to change their plans. I'll order them to abandon the detailing work and help us get the Black Star ready for space travel as quickly as possible. We will depart for Yerophet tomorrow." Jantiff took out his comlet and called the foreman.

Yōd had a request for Glisten: "Please take Azynov and I with you to Yerophet. When we reach Yerophet, Azynov and I will be able to deal with the Kerub ourselves. You should stay on board the Black Star and keep your baby safe."

Glisten asked Yōd, "How will you deal with the Kerub? I'll be able to link to them telepathically. What will you do, flash your pretty smile at them?"

Yōd laughed, "I'm not as helpless as you may think. Azynov and I have our own special powers. We can move ourselves around to different places and times within this simulation, keeping ourselves safe from dangers."

"Then why do you need to hitch a ride on the Black Star?"

"We don't need a ride. I want to travel with you to Yerophet so that I can continue trying to change your mind about you and Jantiff performing more heroics on Yerophet. You were both lucky to survive Wyst, but you can die in Yerophet, or worse."

"What could be worse?"

"I'm not trying to terrorize you, Glisten, but you should listen to me. Your child is at risk. When you arrive on Yerophet, the Kerub will attack you and, more importantly, the mind of your baby will be damaged."

"How?"

A Syntocinate sect family on
the planet Syntoraxis IV.

"The Kerub are like the Zee: designed by the Phari to induce genetic mutations into humans and to re-shape human brains using developmental control nanites. You survived that kind of treatment on Wyst, but it is the members of the Tuntoci sect who have been carefully crafted to become the settlers of Yerophet. The Tuntoci are the proper targets for the Kerub, not you and your daughter."

Jantiff was done speaking to the foreman. He dropped his comlet into his pocket and asked Yōd, "What do you know about the Tuntoci?"

Yōd could sense that Glisten had already made up her mind, or had it made up for her by the Zee. "Not much more than you. They are an ancient sect that can be traced back to both the Tunkers and the Syntocinates. As such, they seldom speak and they are comfortable using drugs to alter the growth trajectory of their children's brains. Unless you are willing to use their methods on your unborn daughter, you should not go to Yerophet."

Jantiff and Glisten exchanged a glance. Nothing they had heard from Azynov or Yōd changed their thinking: they were both fully committed to helping Ryl Shermatz. Both Jantiff and Glisten knew that they owed their lives to Shermatz and they were not going to abandon him now, right when he needed help dealing with the Kerub. Jantif said, "Azynov, Yōd, I'd be happy to have your help on Yerophet. We will depart tomorrow. Right now, I need to go help get the Black Star provisioned and ready for the trip." They all exited from the diner and began walking back to the dock where was the Black Star was moored.

Yōd noticed that Glisten's cat was following along behind them. Back at the dock, Glisten's cat jumped up into Yōd's arms and gazed hypnotically into Yōd's eyes. Jantiff began issuing orders and both Glisten and Azynov volunteered to go shopping for food and provisions for Black Star.  Jantiff said to Yōd, "It looks like you made a new friend."

Yōd said, "I don't mind cat-sitting while you three do the work. We'll go for a walk along the beach."

In the warm afternoon sun, Yōd and the cat strolled along the boardwalk that went parallel to the beach that ringed the island. After about a mile, they were well away from most of the crowds and the cat walked onto the beach. There was a rocky spit there at that section of the shore. Yōd and the cat leaped from stone to stone, making there way out onto what was a narrow peninsula extending outward into the sea. The air was full of salt spray from waves crashing against the rocks.

Oliveene Nhevrix. During the Pause,
Olivine and Yōd leave the Simulator and
appear in the headquarters of R. Nyrtia.

Suddenly, behind a large rock, Yōd came upon a young woman dressed in a skimpy swimsuit who was leaning against a stone, basking in the sun. She looked at Yōd and said, "This is a good place for us to talk."

Yōd asked, "Do I know you?"

The girl shook her head, "I'm Oliveene. We'll be working together on Yerophet. We need to work together, not be working at cross-purposes."

"Do you work for the Whelm?" Having been distracted by the girl, Yōd suddenly realized that Glisten's pet cat was nowhere to be seen. Yōd circled around the girl, looking behind boulders for the cat.

"No, like you, I'm not really a part of the official history of Alastor Cluster. The history that you learned makes no mention of me or my work here in this disposable Reality. However, I was warned to expect your arrival and I am supposed to help you accomplish your mission."

Yōd asked, "Who warned you that I would be here?"

"Like Glisten, I have telepathic abilities. Unlike Glisten, I have more interesting telepathic contacts than the Sea-Voices. Telepathic species such as the Zee and the Kerub are restricted in how well they can communicate with Glisten because she has a very limited femtobot endosymbiont. I don't have that kind of limitation on my telepathic ability. As a positronic robot, I have complete control of my telepathic powers."

Feeling slightly dizzy, Yōd sat down on top of a boulder. Where was the silly cat? Off in the distance, Yōd could see a few people on the sandy part of the beach. She focused her attention on the girl who claimed to be a robot. "I suppose I should not be surprised. It is logical that there be robots in this Reality." Yōd was distracted by Oliveene's sexy body. For a few seconds, Yōd's thoughts drifted back to her time on Tar'tron. After collecting her wits, she asked the girl, "So, you work for R. Gohrlay?"

"Our activities are coordinated, but it was R. Nyrtia who gave me Pause." She held up one hand and suddenly the sound of the waves against the shore was silenced. The waves themselves were frozen in place. A sea bird hung suspended in the sky near Yōd and Oliveene. Slowly, the entire scene, their surroundings - the shore of Venshiun Island on the planet Zeck- began to fade to black, starting with the bright sky above. Like some cosmic raster scan, the darkness descended upon Yōd and Oliveene.

Before Yōd could panic, she and the girl were suddenly in a new place, in a dimly lit room with what looked like a tall, dark-haired woman who spoke to Yōd. "Hi, Yōd. I'm R. Nyrtia."

A moment early, she had been on top of a rock, but now Yōd was seated in a comfortable chair. Startled by the sudden transition, Yōd sprang out of the chair and asked, "Did we just leave the AR Simulator?"

R. Nyrtia explained, "Back in the Asimov Reality, I routinely equipped my agents with the ability to pause their missions and return here for new instructions." Nyrtia gazed into Yōd's eyes and now Yōd felt a shift in her dizziness. Nyrtia said, "Allow me to formally introduce you..." Nyrtia gestured towards Oliveene, "This is R. Oliveene Nhevrix, one of my agents who worked on the Telepathic Human Project in Alastor Cluster."

Yōd was hopeful that she had found a way to exit from the AR Simulator. For a brief moment, she had sensed the mind pattern of the Editor. Now Yōd quickly tested her ability to telepathically link to the Mind Clone Network on Earth, but she could not amplify and stabilize any telepathic links. Nyrtia said, "My headquarters is well shielded. You will not be able to communicate telepathically with your friends from here."

Yōd asked, "Where exactly are we?"

Nyrtia shrugged. "It is enough that you know I exist. Don't expect me to reveal any other personal secrets."

R. Nhevrix asked Nyrtia, "What should I do about Yōd and Azynov? They seem intent on keeping Jantiff and Glisten from completing their mission on Yerophet."

R. Nyrtia put an arm around the shoulders of R. Nhevrix, "Do as you please, my dear. I approve of Yōd and Azynov trying to understand events in the Asimov Reality. Yes, they are likely to mess everything up, but that is what Simulators are for." Nyrtia stroked the bright hair of the the other robot and asked, "Where did you get this gorgeous human body plan?"

"I lifted it out of Yōd's memory. Some woman from her past named 'Skarży'."

Nyrtia looked at Yōd and then said, "Ah, yes, now I see it. Very clever."

R. Nhevrix told Yōd, "You might not recognize this version of Skarży because of the way her skin was altered by developmental control nanites when you two were living on Tar'tron."

Yōd smiled in recollection, "Now that you've told me, I can see the resemblance. So, you can both look into my mind and see my thoughts and memories?"

Nyrtia now took Yōd by the hand and they began strolling through the oddly lit and configured rooms of Nyrtia's base of operations. "When you are inside the Simulator, we can do more than just look: we can both shape and guide your thoughts, even edit your memories. That is a remnant of the twitino-mediated telepathic powers that positronic robots had back in the Asimov Reality. Here, in the Final Reality, I must rely on the Bimanoid Interface to peer into minds."

Yōd asked, "Was it you or R. Gohrlay who lured me into the Simulator?"

Nyrtia shrugged, "Moving you into the Simulator was the obvious solution to the spiraling growth of your positive feedback problem. Had we not sent you into the Simulator, both your mind and that of the Editor would have been destroyed. Now, that is as much as I can tell you. I'd prefer not to say too much about the details of our methods... I'd just have to erase anything I told you from your memories." They had reached a room where a large display showed an image of Zeck, specifically the food store where Glisten and Azynov were purchasing supplies to stock the larder of the Black Star. Inside the Simulator, Glisten and Azynov were frozen at the point in time at which R. Nhevrix had paused the AR Simulator. R. Nyrtia asked Oliveene, "What would you like to do in order to correct for the arrival of Azynov and Yōd in the Simulator and their interference in the lives of Jantiff and Glisten?"

R. Nhevrix gazed at Yōd and suggested, "I could show Azynov and Yōd how not to cause trouble."

R. Nyrtia laughed. "No, that would be a lot of work for you and in the end it would just result in a delay for them learning about the Phari and the origins of telepathy in Alastor Cluster. So, I recommend letting them play with Glisten and Jantiff." R. Nyrtia looked intently into Yōd's eyes and placed her hands on Yōd's shoulders. "Going to Yerophet will be a real educational experience for you, Yōd."

Yōd could sense that Nyrtia was moving things around in her memories. Wondering if there were any limits to Nyrtia's powers, Yōd asked nicely, "Nyrtia, can you give me the power to exit from the Simulator?"

"I could give you the power to Pause the Simulator, but I won't. No, you and Azynov made your choice and now you will live out your lives inside the Simulator. Soon you will develop the ability to reach the mind clone network on Earth by telepathy. That will be enough for you to complete your mission." Nyrtia went back to R. Nhevrix and made an adjustment to the structure of the dress that the robot was wearing. "Be careful, Oliveene... you could get arrested on Zeck for wearing that skimpy swimsuit... it shows off too much of your beautiful body."

Oliveene giggled and told Yōd, "With her thick fur, Skarży never had to wear clothes! Why should I?" Oliveene morphed her body into an exact replica of Skarży as Yōd had known the girl on Tar'tron. "I suppose you prefer me as the fury version of Skarży."

Yōd laughed. "You are lovely either way. You are free to alter your physical appearance at will?"

Nyrtia explained the ability of robots to morph their structure: "I've switched all of the remaining positronic robots over to using physical bodies composed of hierion femtobots, so, yes, we can all take on any convenient physical form."

Yōd asked, "And Azynov is also composed of femtobots? Could you give him the ability to shapeshift?"

Nytria chuckled and teased Yōd, "What's the problem, you are not satisfied with Azynov's body?"

"I'm very satisfied. In fact... have you done something to amplify our neural networks that generate our sensations of sexual pleasure?"

Nytria admitted it. "Just a small amount. Do you have a complaint?"

"No complaints. But if Azynov could morph his body, that would give us a big advantage on Yerophet. He could disguise himself as one of the settlers."

"That would do no good. The Kerub would not be fooled and in order to the trick the settlers, he would also need a memory transplant and a subsystem to allow him to participate in the unique Tuntoci telepathic communications network. So, you see, it is a slippery slope. No, you two are better off as you are. It is enough that you can travel at will from place to place and time to time within the Simulation. If you find yourself in danger, just make yourself disappear... shift to another place in the Simulation."

"If we make an emergency move, won't the other people in the Simulator notice?"

"For a time, yes, but there is an automated inertial system in the Simulator. No matter what you do in there, events will always return to normal. If someone did see you suddenly vanish, their memories of you would be altered. A year from now, nobody on Zeck will remember you having been there." Nyrtia turned back to Oliveene. "So relax and try not to worry about any changes caused by Azynov and Yōd. When you are back inside the Simulator, try to remember that all such alterations to the Simulator are only temporary."

R. Nhevrix nodded, "I can never remember the details of what happens here in this place... those are always dream-like memories for me when I am inside the Simulator."

"Yes, you are part of the Asimov Reality... I don't want you remembering me clearly or telling others about your ability to Pause the Simulation. That means you will continue resenting the sudden appearance of Azynov and Yōd within the simulation. I have given all my agents the ability to detect such invaders in a Simulation and you are programmed to automatically report such things to me, but you need do nothing more than that. The Simulator can take care of itself. When you return to the Cluster, try to remember that Azynov and Yōd are only researchers, trying to learn about Deep Time. Don't interfere with their mission of discovery... this is how the Simulator is meant to be used."

Frowning, Oliveen nodded. "I will try to do as you say." R. Nhevrix now brightened and she ran her hands down her sides, following the curves of her body. "I'll be pleased when we finally get to Yerophet. The folk of Zeck are too stuffy for my tastes."

Nyrtia issued her final instructions. "You two work together and help Glisten. Her ability to telepathically communicate with the Kerub is the key, but she needs help. She is very young." Nyrtia told Yōd, "And you must begin practicing your new telepathic ability to function as a node of the Mind Clone Network. Use your new powers to pass on reports on to the Editor about your discoveries here in this Reality."

R. Nyrtia and R. Oliveene Nhevrix inside the headquarters facility of Nyrtia.

Yōd asked, "What do you mean... how will I develop a way to contact Earth?"

R. Nyrtia explained, "You will soon be part of the Mind Clone Network, which will allow your sister Zeta to communicate with you. Like Glisten, you are pregnant, Yōd." Wanting to field no more of Yōd's questions, Nyrtia nodded to Oliveene.

R. Oliveene Nhevrix had the ability to "pause time" within the AR Simulator and temporarily drop out of the simulation and then return. Now, Yōd and Oliveene appeared back on Zeck, back on the beach. Had anyone been watching, they might have seen Yōd and Oliveene briefly blink out of existence, but now they were back in the Asimov Reality Simulator, only a few milliseconds of time having elapsed within the Simulation while they spoke to R. Nyrtia.

R. Nhevrix told Yōd, "Back in Deep Time, when I lived in the Asimov Reality, I could slip myself into the Hierion Domain and use the quantum computers at Nyrtia's headquarters anytime I had doubts about the shape of the future and how my actions were creating the future. Now, here inside the AR Simulator, I can still pop out of the Simulation and consult with Nyrtia."

Her thoughts still swimming in a sea of dizziness, Yōd found herself struggling to remember all that Nyrtia had said. She asked Oliveene, "Are you real or are you just a simulated robot?"

Oliveene smiled enigmatically. "Are you confused? Do you now doubt your own existence?"

"I'll have to think about it." Yōd stood up on the boulder and looked around. Where is the damned cat? Yōd was now worried that she had lost Glisten's cat. She looked back towards Oliveene and did a double-take. The girl was gone, but in her place, there was Glisten's cat, sitting on the boulder. "There you are! Where have you been hiding? And where is Oliveene?" Yōd again scanned the area, but the cat was quickly heading back towards the boardwalk, leaping from rock to rock along the spit. Yōd followed along, contemplating the idea that she would give birth inside the AR Simulator. She wondered how Azynov would react to the idea of becoming a father.

Back at the boardwalk, Glisten's cat continued on around the loop. Eventually they walked around the entire circumference of the island. That evening, Yōd and the cat finally arrived back at the Black Star, well after dark. Azynov, Jantiff and Glisten were sitting on the top deck, watching the stars of Alastor Cluster blazing overhead and discussing plans for how to deal with the Kerub on Yerophet. Glisten's cat jumped up into her lap and Glisten asked, "Did you have a big adventure, Olive?"

Yōd asked, "Your cat is named 'Olive'?

Glisten explained, "When my doctor at the Connatic's Hospital gave her to me, he told me her name was Olive." Glisten looked into the strangely human eyes of Olive. "However, sometimes I feel that 'Olive' is not really her correct name."

Yōd sat in Azynov's lap, put her arms around him and kissed him. Then she said, "Guess what?"

Azynov said, "Hmm... after spending the day with Olive, now you want to get a cat of your own?"

"No, one Olive is enough." Yōd said, "You are going to be a father."

"Are you joking?" Azynov hugged Yōd then held her at arm's length, "You are pregnant, too?"

"That's the rumor."

Cover art by Eric Ladd

^*Note. The concept of "high-technology" within the Asimov Reality was significantly different than what we experience here in the Final Reality. In the 20th century of the Asimov Reality, the humans of Earth were given access to alien-derived technology that suddenly made interstellar travel possible and also inexpensive. However, the development of most other types of technology was actively suppressed by powerful forces such as the Institute. The outcome: humans spread through outer space to thousands of Earth-like exoplanets, but human society on most human-settled worlds of the galaxy was never much changed from life as we currently know it on Earth. In fact, on some human-settled exoplanets the use of advanced technologies was shunned and the local population adopted a simplified, low-tech lifestyle, sometimes even going as far as to stop using space travel and thus dropping out of participation in galactic affairs.

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Related Reading: more adventures inside the AR Simulator with Wendy Larsen
And: The Olivine Intervention
Also: Colleen visits Yerophet

Next: retroreading the 1961 Sci Fi novel Solaris

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