Magic Microbes

Figure 1. SIHȺM: SIH Microbes.

Unless I have forgotten something, the first magic 'microbe' I ever saw was single-celled space organism in "The Immunity Syndrome". Of course, the alien space cell in Star Trek was hugely pregnant and big enough for Spock to spend an entire afternoon filled with scientific investigations inside of it. In the end, and in the spirit of scientific discovery, Spock deploys his calm and cool intellect to reach the logical conclusion that this amazing alien life-form must be disintegrated with an antimatter bomb. 💣 💥

 Back in March,  I began my 2026 Search for Interesting Hollywood Aliens by mentioning the film "Project Hail Mary" which was being advertised as depicting an "impossible scientific mystery". My first question is: does this movie provides us with a couple of hours of entertainment featuring an interesting alien? Bonus: is there an interesting microbe?

 Sun Fiction. Back in 2022 I commented on the 1942 story "Proof" by Hal Clement. That story featured life-forms with a "matrix of electrons" that could convert stellar radiation into neutrons. Not only does the "skin" of these Sun creatures (the hero of the story is named "Kron") surround a core of neutronium (held in the creature's "nucleus"), but the "skin" can convert energy from the environment into new "particles of neutronium" that are then guided by magnetic fields towards the body core. I'm a huge skeptic when it comes to imaginary life-forms that live in or on a star, particularly if they are biological life-forms composed of cells.

In "Project Hail Mary", we are apparently being asked to believe that some cells are able to fly through outer space and gather around stars and store lots of energy as neutrinos. Maybe all of this fantasy biology is explained in the book, but in the film, people just talk fast when "explaining" this alien biology and hope that we will be distracted by the one other alien life-form that is in the movie: Rocky, an Eridian.  

 Alternate Technologies. We are told that the technologically-advanced Eridians are "unaware of relativity". A memorable example of this kind of "technology blind spot" is in Clifford D. Simak's story "The Big Front Yard" where there are aliens who never thought to invent paint. I find it hard to believe that any alien with technology advanced enough to be traveling around the galaxy would either never have invented paint or never noticed relativity.

 Thanks for the memories. I don't mind when futuristic technologies come bundled with with constraints and costs. In "Project Hail Mary", we are told that an incredibly great source of energy is available (the conveniently wrapped neutrinos in the space microbes), but we can't store ten years worth of food in our interstellar spaceship. Would sleeping for three years cause selective and temporary loss of some memories? I don't know, but I do know that this overly long movie could have been improved by not including this issue in the film.

 Rocky and hoodwinkle show. The Eridians might have skipped class on the day when relativity was discussed, but they do have some cool technology. I can't stop myself from imagining that they might have advanced nanotechnology and access to hierions. Imagine a type of hierion that could be made into a composite with xenon, forming a metallic substance that is both easy to form into useful shapes, yet is also very strong.

The Rocky character in "Project Hail Mary" is amusing for about 30 minutes. Not sure I'd want to spend the rest of my life teaching young Eridians. Shouldn't someone be out trying to prevent more habitable planets from having their solar energy supply blocked? Maybe that is for the sequel.

 Disclosure Day. Apparently there actually is an alien on screen at the end of "Disclosure Day", but the movie seems to actually be about some absurd corporate/government conspiracy like in The X-Files. While searching for "Disclosure Day." I saw a marketing trick for the film, a red cardinal flying across the search results page. Good to see Google has endless ways of making $$$ from corporations even while providing search engine results for a movie that claims to be about aliens helping to take down a SuperSecret™ conspiracy by some mysterious corporate entity.

Figure 2. Image source.

 Microbe Search. I decided to search for old science fiction stories about weird microbes. Before taking a deep dive into the ISFDB, I'll mention two of the earliest science fiction stories featuring microbes that I read or saw on television: "Surface Tension" and "Fantastic Voyage". In James Blish's "Surface Tension", Blish had the audacious idea of a character who was an intelligent paramecium which deeply offended my 12-year-old self's view of the universe. "Fantastic Voyage" was only memorable for a scene in which Raquel Welch gets encased in white blood cells which then have to be pealed off of her curvaceous body by three groping men. Related Reading: see the stories by Arthur Porges, see also "Un homme chez les microbes" by Maurice Renard which features a man who is shrunk. 

 The first candidate microbe story I came across at the ISFDB was "A Major Microbe" by W. L. Alden, but that story is not science fiction and is not actually about a microbe. The same can be said for "The Princess and the Microbe" by Margaret Sherwood.

 Weird title. I discovered that the French translation of "Needle" was titled "Le microbe détective". My best guess is that misleading title was used because there was an existing sub-genre of crime fiction about using microbes as murder weapons. 

At "First fictional lab-created plague" it says that "Professor Bakermann's Microbe" (published in 1890) is set in 1935, where the microbes causing all known diseases have been studied. The wacky Professor Bakermann cooks up a new disease microbe that can't be stopped; it is resistant to all known drugs and treatments. I've never read the story, but Google's AI Mode agent likens it to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The story was first published as a serial in La Science Illustrée (see Figure 2).

image source

I've skimmed through "The Master of the Microbe" (1926) which seems incredibly long and muddled, something like a James Bond movie with an evil character threatening the world. In the story there is a "crimson carnet", the "silver cylindar", assorted uncles, detectives and doctors along with several women to chase around after while a man-made plague spreads. The microbiology in "The Master of the Microbe" seems diseased and confused, although Google's AI Mode agent assured me that Robert Service had written into the story the idea that a pathogenic bacterium could be countered by a bacteriophage. However, the word "virus" appears only once in the story, in a sentence that makes no sense and we are told that Professor Hermann Krug (the discoverer of the plague bacterium) is a "well-known savant of Swiss origin, and considered in University circles to be a supreme authority on Micrology." It seems clear that Service knew nothing about microbes or microbiology. I could not sort out what is going on in the story with the dude named "Sinistra" who was apparently an "alias of Maximus Quin", not to be confused with "Cyrus Quin". However, I am still confused, but not interested enough to actually read the story.

image source

 Murder by Microbe. In "The Microbe of Death" by Rudolph De Cordova, a doctor kills a fellow doctor using anthrax (1897). "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not" -George Bernard Shaw. In the case of De Cordova: "Some men go to medical school and save lives, I learned in medical school how to take lives." In the same spirit was "The Microbe Murders" by Frederik G. Eberhard (1935), featuring a killer who commits murders using deadly germs and microbes.

 A Strange Case. Not much is known about John Geo. E. Leech, author of "The Microbe of Love" published in Pearson's Magazine, October 1902. This is a joke story in which a "bacillus" is found that causes people to experience the pangs of "love sickness". The discoverer hopes to make big $$$ by selling an antidote, but he falls in love before he can devise the antidote. Related Reading: "Mate in Two Moves", published in the May 1954 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. 

full sized image here

 In "The Secret of the Extinct Microbe" by Clement Fezandié (1924, part of the Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets series) the bumbling Dr. Hackensaw unleashes a virulent microbe from an ancient Egyptian archeological site. Readers are told that the only way to defeat the virulent "extinct microbe" is to find another ancient microbe that is able to destroy the first one.

 I skimmed "The Bacillus of Beauty" by Harriet Stark (1900). It is impossible for me to say that "The Bacillus of Beauty" is about a microbe. Readers are told that a woman's appearance is transformed by a bacillus, but there is no reason to believe it. The story seems like a fantasy where a magic spell does the transformation. 

 "The Bacillus of Conscience" (1905) by Wilbur Dick Nesbit (Wikipedia) is pretty funny. It inspired a song titled "B. Conscience". In  "The Bacillus of Conscience", Nesbit followed a standard Sci Fi formula with a scientist, his daughter and a man who is love with the daughter, Constance. Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
I must offer some comments
on the bacillus of conscience 
but refer to it as B. conscience
“B is for Busy,” giggled Constance
Busy B stands before our conscience
shall I confess to giant nonsense? 
Small it is, in the strong sense

"B. Conscience"

[Chorus]
It’s a tiny little bug with a heavy load
Screaming down a dusty, lonesome road
If you got a secret, it’s gonna find a way
To make you spit it out by the end of the day
(B. Conscience, honey)
(It’s a heavy price you pay)

[Verse 2]
In the bacterial inventory
was it new or a priori?
Obtained from a criminal gory
it made just a little history
For Professor Bindham's glory
and to be a science fiction story
B. conscience left the laboratory

[Bridge]
Is a man still a man if the truth is forced
Like a dry creek bed or a dying horse?
It ain't a choice when it’s under your skin
Just a fever burning out the original sin
(Burning it out)
(Let the truth walk in)

[Verse 3]
A microbe from 1905, I confess it
discovered by Wilbur D. Nesbit
It began with a crime committed  
Bacillus conscience with no respite
made the criminal confessed to it
We need it in 2026 just a bit
to use it on our president

[Final Chorus]
Oh, it’s a tiny little bug with a heavy load
It don't care about the laws or the code
If you got a secret, it’s gonna find a way
To make you scream it out by the end of the day
(B. Conscience, honey)
(It’s the only way)

[Outro]
Just a little drop for the man at the top
Once the valve is open it’s never gonna stop
(B. Conscience)
(Sinking in)
Yeah, it’s catching
Watch your mouth now
(B. Conscience)
It’s catching
(Catching) 

Figure 3. Interior art by Leo Morey

 Most Tedious. As fun as "The Bacillus of Conscience" (see above),  "The Bacillus of Death" by Arthur B. Reeve (1912) is contrived, tedious and pointlessly formulaic. In the competition for "most tedious" was "The Beautiful Bacillus" by Patrick Dutton (1931). This meandering story is science fantasy, very light on the science. First we are witness to a bacterium that grows quite large (see Figure 3) and becomes conscious then one of the two microbiologists responsible for this "advancement" shrinks and becomes a microbe that infects his buddy.

 Wells, Wells. In "The Stolen Bacillus" (1894) by H. G. Wells. An anarchist threatens the London water supply with cholera stolen from the laboratory of a bacteriologist. Disaster is averted when we learn that the stolen bacterial strain is not cholera, but rather a microbe that turns the skin blue... and only the anarchist is infected.

Figure 4. Interior art by George T. Tobin.

In 1895, the antics of anarchists was taken up in "The Purple Death" by W. L. Alden. After having published "A Major Microbe"  (see above on this page) someone must have explained to Alden what a microbe is (or maybe he read "The Stolen Bacillus"). In "The Purple Death", readers are told that the "purple death" is a a disease caused by a microbe found in snake venom. A nutty microbiologist hopes to use the "purple death" to cure poverty... by killing the poor.

 In "Dr. Cox's Discovery" by Herbert D. Ward (1903), the second paragraph includes this sentence: "What will not the bacillus be responsible for next?" Dr. Cox wants to isolate a "microbiote" that can cause death from old age. Here is another line from the story: "Nothing pleases an Englishman more than a spice of adventure in which the superstitions of an inferior race are trampled upon." 

Figure 5. Imaginary cover
art by Flow. (original cover)

Eventually, Dr. Cox finds something that that acts like a fountain of youth. In this fantasy story, Ward could not be bothered to provide a coherent explanation, just the hint that it involved test tubes. Then there is a contrived "explanation" for why Dr. Cox throws away the "fountain of youth". The End. As hinted at in Figure 4, much of the story revolves around a weird love triangle. The only two test creatures for the "fountain of youth" are a dog and the mother (the brunette in Figure 4) of Dr. Cox's girl friend (the blond in Figure 4). After dear mom dies, Dr. Cox apparently gets to live happily ever after with the daughter.

 Another "fountain of youth" story was "The Blue Germ" (1918) which is available via Google Books. I tried to read "The Blue Germ" but I soon began skimming and then at page 38 is: "The bacillus was ultra-microscopical. It could not be seen even with the highest power, under the microscope". Other people have interpreted this as indicating that the "fountain of youth" was a virus, but the term 'virus' does not appear in the story. I suspect there is nothing resembling science fiction in this novel.

 "Max Hensig: Bacteriologist and Murderer" (1907) by Algernon Blackwood is long, tedious and contrived. The story seemingly includes an attempt to depict a man getting so drunk that all the alcohol in his body will serve as protection against bacterial infection. The imaginary cover art for "Max Hensig: Bacteriologist and Murderer" (see Figure 5) was made using this text prompt: "A full color movie still showing two men in a prison cell, the accused criminal is a light-haired stripling with blue eyes and drooping mustache, that rare type of deliberate murderer, cold-blooded and calculating, who kills for a song, delights in killing, and gives its whole intellect to the consideration of each detail, glorying in evading detection and reveling in the notoriety of the trial, if caught. At first he had answered reluctantly, but then the young murderer warmed up and became enthusiastic with a sort of cold intellectual enthusiasm, till at last he held forth like a lecturer, pacing his cell, gesticulating, explaining with admirable exposition how easy murder could be to a man who knew his business. And he did know his business! The reporter watched in dismay and horror."

 Heart of Gold. "The Golden Rat" by Alexander Harvey (1913) is one of the most unique stories that I have found while investigating old stories that involve microbes. It is a fantasy story with only very minor science fictional microbiology elements. The narrator (a psychoanalyst) imagines that he was infected by golden bacterium from a golden pet rat (named 'Philander') that turns his blood into gold. "The Golden Rat" is also a strange "love story", in that the golden rat eventually leads the narrator to realize that one of his patients, Miss Lancaster, is in love with him.

 "Strangers on Paper" is an episode of "Murdoch Mysteries" that was first shown about six months ago (January 2026), but I only just watched it. In one of the silliest "mad scientist" stories ever, the plot of "Strangers on Paper" includes an angry scientist who tries to put Staphylococcus aureus into the water supply in revenge for loss of funding for research on Staphylococcus aureus. Related Reading: Amerithrax.

Figure 6. Interior artwork by Leo Morey

 Great Northern Protist. "Nœkken of Norway" by Bob Olsen (1934) provides an account of a close encounter with a giant amoeba that lives in a lake in Norway. Readers are told that if an endocrine problem in the pituitary gland can make for a giant human then why not an amoeba that just keeps growing? As shown in Figure 6, the giant amoeba is usually found in water, but when it gets hungry it will go onto shore and grab yummy people for a snack. this It turns out that mistletoe is the giant amoeba's kryptonite. By the way, Wikipedia's article on kryptonite has more references than the article about mistletoe.

 Figure 7. Interior artwork by Malcolm Smith

 "Amoeba 'Roid" by Henry Bott (1948) takes us into the age of radar and rocketry when life has been found on Venus. So why not also on an asteroid that is two miles long? That's John and Grace (see Figure 7) having a close encounter with an asteroid amoeba. As the story "Amoeba 'Roid"  is told, this amazing life-form does nothing more exciting than extend a tentacle out from its pit that curls around the curvaceous Grace, but John insists on incinerating the creature with burning rocket fuel.

image source

 Leaping ahead to the 22nd century, "Amoeba-Hunt" by Morton Klass sends us hunting for a giant amoeba Procyon IV. Humanity has evolved since the old days of "Amoeba 'Roid" and the alien amoeba must be captured alive. Why? I have no idea. I suppose because it is there.

 The first mention of microbes in this blog was in 2012 when I was speculating about the everyday microbial horrors that might have motivated some of the horror elements in Frankenstein. I wrote, "Our species is in the middle of figuring out the world we live in. In the past, millions were mysteriously struck down by infectious diseases and it was all too easy to adopt an attitude of desperation and helplessness when we had no tools for observing microbes. Now the science of microbiology routinely makes it possible for us to understand, treat and prevent microbial diseases." Even a story as goofy as "Amoeba 'Roid" can be viewed as a human reaction to the never ending conflict between humans and microbes.

Foundations of Eternity

 In 2013 I wrote, "Imagine that the Huaoshy have a monitoring system that is analogous to the way that humans might monitor microbes for pathogenicity and potential to harm people." It is fun to compare the relationship between the technologically-advanced Huaoshy and we humans to the relationship that we humans have with microbes.

 My story Foundations of Eternity included the idea that Neanderthals were driven to extinction because they were susceptible to microbial diseases that were spread by modern humans. When Manny the bumpha takes an interest in the unusual behavior of the Neanderthals, she Intervenes by secretly providing Neanderthals with key resistance genes.

Back in 2015, I introduced the idea that in a past Reality, Earth might have been intentionally pushed towards having high green house gas levels. Such a Reality could be used as a laboratory for "developing microbes that could efficiently metabolize methane and trap atmospheric carbon dioxide in marine sediments". The climate change mitigation methods developed by humans in such a Reality might then be re-used in another Reality to prevent global warming. In "The Hierozyme Intervention", I explore this strategy. How can a microbial solution to global warming be brought into a Reality without alerting the pek Overseer of Earth to such an alien Intervention? I'm currently writing Chapter 10 of "The Hierozyme Intervention" in which Marda is trying to gain access to Eddy's Reality Viewer. Anthony has been moved out of Casanay and his replacement, Ada B. Catalana, has just been hired. Systolina suspects that Ada is a secret agent for Manny the bumpha, but how can Ada be used to give Marda access to the Reality Viewer that is hidden inside Eddy's computer?

image source

 In 2018, I wrote a story that depicted the Phari as having arrived on Earth before the arrival of the pek. The idea that a Phari facility for evolving new microbes and positioned deep inside Earth survived intact for two billion years seemed a stretch, but more recently I've written stories depicting the pek as having reached Earth about four billion years ago. For "The Hierozyme Intervention", the Phari and the bumpha seem to be collaborating to solve Earth's global warming problem without alerting the pek to the fact that alien technology has been used.

 For "The Hierozyme Intervention", I'm still deciding on exactly what Marda will be able to learn from past Realities by using Eddy's Reality Viewer. Possibly in the Ekcolir Reality, humans eventually engineered microbes by artificial evolution that can be "re-animated" by Marda in the Final Reality and combined with hidden hierozymes. However, it is not clear why the pek would fail to notice the deployment of hierozymes. Maybe after first allowing Tyhry to be punished for using hierozymes, the final solution deployed by Marda will involve zeptites that are not detected by the pek.

This image was made
using Mystique VI
by emden09 available
under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.
image source

In "The Hierozyme Intervention", I depict Manny as making an effort to prevent Systolina and replicoid copies of Tyhry at Observer base from obtaining information about the future of the current Reality. Maybe the end of the story will involve Systolina and the replicoid copies of Tyhry finally Viewing Marda, but still being unable to notice her use of programmable zeptites. I'm imagining that Systolina and the replicoid copies of Tyhry can waste decades trying to re-invent positronics. In the end, will they believe that their positronic tools broke Manny's embargo on information about Marda's future or will they recognize that all of their efforts were a waste of time and only a distraction engineered by Manny?

Back in 2022, I read a large number of old science fiction stories featuring doctors and some of those stories involved microbes. One of those stories by Murray Leinster featured a microbe called the "chlorophage" that not only ate chlorophyll and killed plants, but which also had an appetite for hemoglobin. I don't know if Leinster's story was inspiration for the Star Trek episode "Obsession", but maybe the "gaseous Di-Kironium creature" was actually some form of advanced nanotechnology, a kind of femtozoan.

Related Reading: Ooze & Liquid Life.

Related Music: Weird Swamp Protist.

Next: Chapter 10 of "The Hierozyme Intervention".

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About Anthony

Image by Leonardo.

 Below on this page is Chapter 9 of the science fiction story "The Hierozyme Intervention", in which Anthony follows Zeta and Tyhry to Ranch0 Henrito. Systolina successfully takes Zeta's place inside Casanay without Eddy suspecting the possibility that his wife was being impersonated by a femtobot replicoid.

Marda uses her zeptites to alter her body and she begins living at Casanay disguised as Tyhry. Tyhry is transformed into the physical form of Marda and takes up residence at Ranch0 Henrito along with Zeta and Anthony,

Anthony and Nyrtia shift their attention to Zeta as she forms a new scientific research institute that is dedicated to solving Earth's global warming problem.

The Hierozyme Intervention Chapter 9 - Ranch Zero (Ch. 1)(Ch. 2)(Ch. 3)(Ch. 4)(Ch. 5)(Ch. 6)(Ch. 7)(Ch. 8) 

As a long-time observer of both Zeta and Tyhry, Anthony knew that something was wrong when Tyhry and then Zeta came into the great room. Anthony waited in the alcove that connected through to the dining room and kitchen, wondering if Zeta or Tyhry might want something from the kitchen. Tyhry was walking rather woodenly as she approached Eddy and they said good-night. 

Image by Leonardo.

Eddy got up and hugged his wife. He asked, "Tyhry did not want to be dragged home?" 

"True."

Eddy swept Systolina off of her feet and carried her towards the master bedroom suite. Anthony ducked out of the corner of the great room, trying to make himself invisible. As someone who was frequently in the pool, Eddy could smell chlorine on Systolina. "Back in Rylla's pool today and not the hot tub?"

"Yes. You have a good nose." 

"When will I get invited over there for a swim?"

"You are welcome at the Onway's anytime... if you can tear yourself away from your work. You've been writing non-stop."

Eddy yawned. He had gone without sleep for thirty hours while in the flow of writing his new novel. "Ya, I'm exhausted." Arriving in their bedroom, Eddy tossed Systolina on the bed and asked, "Have you lost weight?"

In fact, Systolina had not given herself quite as much body fat as Zeta normally carried. "I got quite a workout this afternoon. We played volley ball in the pool for over an hour."

Eddy quickly had his clothing off and he began undressing Systolina. She said, "Maybe I should take a shower."

"You got burned." Eddy kissed one of her red shoulders. "I don't mind a little scent of chlorine."

 Systolina asked, "How about a taste?" She got on top of Eddy and positioned herself so that they could get their mouths on each others genitals. Systolina efficiently brought Eddy to climax in five minutes. She rolled to the side.

Image by Leonardo.

Eddy eagerly said, "Let me get on top." But Systolina rolled off of the bed.

"Hold that... thought." Systolina pulled on a robe. "I'm going to tell Tyhry good-night and apologize once again for dragging her home and ruining her fun with Marda."

Anthony was using his telepathic ability and his femtobot probes to monitor Eddy, Tyhry and Systolina. Sending a fresh set of probes down to the east wing, Anthony now recognized that this was Systolina disguised as Zeta.

After her visit to Tyhry's bedroom to say goodnight, Zeta came over the west wing and knocked on the door to Anthony's suite of rooms then entered. Zeta found Anthony in his studio pretending to be carving. "In the morning I'll take Tyhry out first thing. You get breakfast for Eddy."

"No breakfast for you and Tyhry?"

"We'll grab something at the Onway's." 

Systolina turned to go, but Anthony said, "What are you doing, Systolina?"

Systolina turned back to face Anthony and replied, "Nothing much. I've swapped places with Zeta." 

"I can see that. Why?"

Systolina explained, "The Phari suggested making use of Zeta's amazing financial skills to channel Simpera cash into climate change mitigation work. I'm turning control of Simpera over to Zeta."

Image by Leonardo.

"What happens when Eddy and Tyhry realize what you are up to?"

Systolina shrugged. "I guess we will find out." She turned away from Anthony and went back to continue her play session with Eddy who awoke and pounced on her as soon as she got back to their bed.

__

 In the morning, after Eddy ate and went to his computer and began writing, Anthony got into his truck. A mile down the highway, he parked on a side road and teleported in two jumps via Observer Base to the Henrito site. Marda and Tyhry were waiting impatiently in the bed of Jeep for Zeta and Systolina to come out of the guest house. It only took a few seconds for Anthony's femtobot probes to detect the fact that Marda and Tyhry had swapped body forms. Zeta and Systolina got into the cab of the Jeep. Systolina looked over at the exact spot where Anthony was seated on the ground behind a low shrub. The Jeep went off down the driveway to the bus stop. 

Anthony stood up and for a moment gazed at the absurdly ugly "house" that was Ranch0 Henrito. The mysteries were starting to align and suggest their own solutions. Ranch0 Henrito was going to be part of a research facility that Zeta would be financing through her control of Simpera's finances. Anthony made a quick side-trip to check on some records at the Simpera headquarters in California then arrived back in Casanay before Eddy had noticed his absence.

Anthony returned to his studio and found Manny the bumpha there waiting for him. She said, "Before you send your report to Nyrtia, I have something to say." The rest of the discussion took place as a rapid technology-assisted telepathy exchange.

Image by Leonardo.

Anthony (to Manny): Ah, I was expecting you. I can't believe you personally deployed your zeptites on Earth.

Manny: Did you really think I'd only used zeptites on Earth once, 4,000,000,000 years ago?

Anthony: Wasn't that the agreement you had with Nyrtia? What pushed you over the edge into direct Interventionism after so much time?

Manny: After my recent Casanay Intervention was thwarted by you and Nyrtia, it appears that the Phari saw an opportunity to help the primates of Earth.

Anthony: The Phari?

Manny: Systolina is the Phari agent on Earth. Surely you realize that she has swapped identities with Zeta.

Anthony: Yes, I noticed; Systolina used her femtobots to alter both of their appearances, a rather crude hack that I could not help but notice. You are the only one who could have used zeptites to more seamlessly swap Marda and Tyhry.

Manny: Are you sure of your facts? What if I told you Ylyndra performed this swap?

Anthony: At your orders? Then it is still your responsibility.

Manny: Anthony, don't you realize that Ylyndra departed from Earth? I don't mind taking responsibility for the use of zeptites to give Tyhry the physical appearance of Marda. Tyhry had noticed what was going on and she was convinced that the woman with the physical appearance of Rylla was actually her real mother.

Anthony: Can you explain how Tyhry knew that?

Manny: I suppose it is related to the Neanderthal ability to maintain a type of subconscious telepathic link to others. You are aware of Zeta's Neanderthal gene patterns.

Anthony: And Tyhry inherited that kind of subconscious telepathic ability from her mother?

Manny: Does it really matter? What matters is that Tyhry was in turmoil, suddenly convinced that the woman calling herself 'Zeta' was not actually her mother. Now, after swapping identities with Marda, Tyhry can be with the woman who she believes is her mother.

Anthony (shaking his head): Manny, I have to give you credit; you certainly can make up good excuses for your bad behavior. I'm expected to believe that you used your zeptites to swap Marda and Tyhry just to relieve Tyhry's anxiety?

Manny: Just? I feel protective towards my agents on Earth. You can't expect me to abandon Tyhry in her time of need. Now that she's back with her mother, this new Phari scheme won't be making life miserable for Tyhry.

Anthony: What are the Phari trying to accomplish?

Manny: My guess is that the Phari are going to employ Zeta to create a mechanism to fund climate change mitigation research. Zeta is getting investment planning information about the future. Because of Eddy's novels, Zeta imagines that she is a genetic freak who has access to the Sedron Time Stream. However, I think what is actually going on is that the Phari are using their Simulation technology to provide Zeta with tips about future market behavior. (Manny laughs) Since the Phari never leave the Hierion Domain, Nyrtia is going to have a hard time punishing them. Technically, the Phari are not bound by the Rules of Intervention. 

Image by Leonardo.

Not one for long good-byes and having delivered her message to Anthony, Manny slipped back to the Sedron Domain.

Anthony sent his report to Nyrtia, informing her of the two identity swaps. 

Then Systolina was back at Casanay and she and Eddy went for a swim in the pool. Anthony again teleported to Ranch0 Henrito where he confronted Zeta who was busy digging into Simpera financial records. Zeta said, "Oh, Anthony. I did not get any notice that you took your truck out."

Anthony picked up a printed document off of the desk that Zeta was seated behind. "The Henrito Research Institute? This is a Phari Intervention?"

Zeta shrugged and was still adjusting to her altered body. She loved using her new slimmer and more muscular body. She got out of her chair and came around the desk and put her hands up on Anthony's shoulders. "It is so nice to see you."

"Don't play games, Zeta."

Zeta laughed, "I'm now Rylla Onway. I control Simpera. It is quite a thrill to have so much wealth to deploy." She slid her hands over his broad chest and down to Anthony's waist. Zeta was feeling wild and liberated by her new existence as Rylla and the fact that Anthony was allowing her to touch him, just as Systolina had promised.

 "So, you and Tyhry will now be living here?"

Zeta nodded. "And I'll be quite busy. I need to start hiring staff for the Research Institute. We'll have available office space ready for occupancy starting next month."

Image by Leonardo.

Anthony suggested, "You don't know how to run a multi-billion dollar company. You are in over your head."

"I'm not worried. Simpera has a huge staff of middle managers who can keep the day-to-day operations of the company clicking along. I get the fun of creating tax write-offs." Zeta was feeling a strange new freedom in her new body form. She leaned her head against Anthony's chest and wrapped her arms around him.

"This will all collapse. Eddy will notice. Or someone at Simpera will come here to figure out how you are spending so much money." 

 Zeta laughed. "You are a pessimist, Anthony. I'm more optimistic. I think the Phari put a lot of thought into all this."

Having nothing better to do, Anthony put his arms around Zeta. "Tell me, Zeta, what do you know about the Sedron Time Stream? Is that what makes you an amazingly successful investor?"

"I asked myself that when I was young... even before I ever met Eddy or read one of his stories." Zet leaned in and nibbled on one of Anthony's ears. She whispered into his ear, "Even before I met Eddy, I tried to explain to myself my own success as an investor. I'd read a science fiction story about breeding humans for luck. I adopted the idea that I'm the luckiest person in the world... not magically, but due to my unique gene patterns." 

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For a moment, Anthony tried to decide whose methods of seduction were more skillful, Systolina's or Zeta's. Then Anthony pushed the fingers of his right hand into Rylla's long beautiful hair. Anthony was carefully monitoring not only Zeta's brain activity, but also the physiology of the Rylla-shaped body form that Zeta was now using. Her two erect nipples were pressing hard against Anthony and her breathing was altered. Beyond all that Anthony could sense of Zeta's sexual excitement, he thought he was also detecting a signal indicating that she was lying and she knew she was lying. "Breeding for luck? That is the best you can come up with to tell me? If we are going to be together, let's start by being honest with each other. What is really going on? If you are using alien technology to steal billions from other investors then Nyrtia is going to step in and put an end to this nonsense."

"I think Systolina and I can pull this off. Why should I be punished for having good genes?"

"But at what cost? Splitting up Tyhry's family?"

"I know you care deeply about Tyhry, but she'll adjust and she'll also be busy. She and Marda are going to be fast-tracked into careers as synthetic life researchers. You can help provide Tyhry with some stability by moving in here with us. And given the way you can teleport around Earth, I bet you can live with me and still cook Eddy's meals. Don't worry about Systolina. She's apparently some kind of robot and doesn't need to eat."

Anthony said, "I think you've made so much money during your life through successful investments because you've always had access to the Sedron Time Stream."

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"I'm trying to get used to the idea that some of what is in Eddy's stories is true. The Sedron Time Stream sounds like magic." Zeta shrugged. "Based on what Eddy has written in his novels, I suppose that Manny the bumpha goes out of her way to take good care of both Eddy and I. I'm sure Tyhry will grow up to be just as successful as we are, even though Systolina tells me that you may have damaged Tyhry's brain when you altered her memories."

Still worried about Tyhry's brain and her recovery from the memory wipe that Anthony had performed on her, he turned his back on Zeta. He told her, "I just had a visit from Manny. She seems a bit annoyed. Apparently the Phari took her by surprise."

Zeta giggled and began playfully running her fingers over Anthony's back, massaging his powerful back muscles which were exactly what a human would have who had done as much large stone carving as had Anthony. "I don't know anything about the Phari... I've never met one, nor have I ever met an elf. If the Phari somehow got Systolina to take-over Simpera and then hand control of the company's finances over to me then I'll have to thank them when they do show up on Earth. But according to Eddy's stories, they never actually come over here the Earth from the Hierion Domain."

"This is a warning." Anthony turned and grabbed hold of Zeta's shoulders. "I'll be watching you, Zeta. If you use the Sedron Time Stream to milk Simpera for cash, Nyrtia will view that as a dangerous use of alien technology. Cheating investors out of billions could destabilize and disrupt markets."

"I'm glad you'll be here watching for such potential problems. I feel safer already." She reached up with one arm and put one hand on the back of Anthony's neck. She reached down with her other hand and she gently patted his crotch.

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Anthony tried to ignore how Zeta was touching him and what she was trying to do. "That's not funny, Zeta. You are putting me in a difficult position."

"I've got several degree-of-difficulty-ten positions I'd love to try with you. I've fantasized about playing with your big beautiful body for years." Zeta now had the fingers of one hand playing in the hair on the back of his head and the other playing with his genitals. "And since we are being honest with each other and what we are thinking, we don't even have to play games and wait until we get married."

Anthony scoffed. "You are not going to marry a robot, Zeta. You are already married."

"I'm Rylla. I've been single for three years. When I met you, Anthony, I was swept off my feet. You are a lonely bachelor, tired of living alone like a monk in the middle of the desert and happy to woo and court a new neighbor. We could have a June wedding... get that out of the way before the Research Institute staff starts arriving next month." Zeta kissed Anthony on the lips.

Anthony was still trying to ignore Zeta's sexual advances. "If we are being honest, tell me what you know about Manny. How did she engineer your genes so as to give you access to the Sedron Time Stream?"

"I'll make a deal with you, Anthony. Give me what I want and then I'll answer that question." She was holding his flaccid penis. "I've known you for fifteen years, and I've always wondered if your penis is as described by Eddy in his stories."

Anthony had already received confirmation from Nyrtia that he should move out of Casanay and focus his observations on Zeta. He decided that if he was going to have to move in with Zeta and pretend to be Rylla's boyfriend then it was time to satisfy Zeta's curiosity. He picked her up and took her to Rylla's bedroom. By the time he tossed Zeta on the bed, his penis was fully erect and on display. Zeta was pulling off her clothing and said, "An erection is a terrible thing to waste. Get going, big boy. As for Manny, are you sure that she exists?"

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"I've spoken to Manny many times." Anthony now felt foolish about continuing to talk. He decided that if he and Zeta were going to be a couple, he should try to make her happy about it.

Later, Zeta was astride Anthony's hips and recovering from her third orgasm. "Anthony, I have to say 'bravo'... it was worth waiting fifteen years for that!"

Anthony said, "I'm glad you are satisfied with my performance. Would you think me rude if I asked if I asked you to now answer my question?"

"I lost my train of thought. Remind me what your question was?"

"Did you know that Marda is having Tyhry's genome sequenced?"

"What? Are you joking?"

 "She got a few of Tyhry's hair. Apparently, Marda has unusual genes and wants to know if Tyhry does also."

"Hmm. What could that mean? Can we trust what Eddy has put into his novels about genetically engineered human variants?"

"I don't know, but I have to consider the possibility of technology-assisted telepathy. I suppose you have been telepathically contacted by Systolina. Maybe Tyhry and Marda are tryp'At and can communicate telepathically. That would explain a lot. I spend time wondering what is not being said out loud."

Zeta was enjoying having Anthony's magnificent erection inside her and what Anthony was doing to her nipples with his finger tip, but she leaned forward and placed her hands on his head. "So it is true? You have telepathic ability?"

"Yes, I can follow your thoughts."

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"Then why do you have to ask me questions?"

"Manny has devised ways to hide some thoughts from someone like me. For example, you could have a zeptozoan in your brain. When I ask you questions and get your answers I have a chance of knowing if I am being deceived."

"Really? A zeptozoan living inside me?"

"I don't think that you do, but it is the kind of bumpha trickery that I have to deal with in my work."

Zeta laughed and rocked herself on Anthony's erection. "You call this work?"

"Zeta, I'm glad you are having fun, but I can't lie to you. Yes, this is work... for me."

"Oh come on. You must have enjoyed what we just did. You filled me to overflowing with your sweet semen."

Positronic Robot.

"I originated as a positronic robot. I was designed to fulfill the expectations of humans and not disappoint them. After being in your home for fifteen years, I care deeply about your expectations of me. At some fundamental level, I do enjoy seeing you happy and satisfied with my performance. However, I can ejaculate anytime."

"So you would not ejaculate due to honest sexual pleasure?"

"The brain patterns of positronic robots originated from the brain pattern of a Neanderthal woman named Gohrlay. I have to believe you are a clone of that original Gohrlay. I suppose it is an unavoidable part of my original brain pattern that those things that give you pleasure also give me pleasure."

Zeta nodded. "This must be why Eddy never stops asking if he can write me into one of his novels. He must know that I'm a Gohrlay clone."

"Yes, that is true."

"How does he know?"

Reality Viewer.

"It is pretty much as he describes in his stories. He has a Reality Viewer in his computer."

"Are you serious? He never told me."

"He is under the influence of Manny's behavioral control nanites. He is not allowed to tell anyone about the Viewer, not even you."

"Well, I'm just glad that you were able to enjoy our play session as much as I did. Now, about getting married. I suppose we should ask Tyhry to weigh in on it."

Anthony shook his head. "I've telepathically monitored Tyhry's thoughts every day of her life. I can tell you this: she wants you to be happy. She'll tell you what you want to hear."

"Then we should just do what makes sense. If you are going to be living with us then for the best optics we should get married. Even Eddy would want that for you."

"Fine. Whatever. I have to ask, since I'm seeing conflicting thought streams in your mind. Are you really comfortable with the idea of being married to two people at the same time?"

Zeta shrugged. "I have not decided. I'm having too much fun with my new life to think it through. If it is a mistake for me to marry you then I suppose we can always get a divorce. After the three orgasms you just generated for me, I'm probably just going to let my emotions decide the matter for me. For selfish reasons, I want you. I intend to make good use of you for as long as I can."

Anthony laughed. "You don't always have to be so honest. I don't like the idea of you using me."

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"That is where we have landed, so I suggest you try to enjoy it as much as I will." Zeta glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'm expected at Casanay for lunch." She pulled herself off of Anthony and kissed the tip of his erection. "Although I might just eat you for lunch."

Anthony said jokingly, "I'll race you to Casanay."

Zeta got off of the bed and said, "I'm going to take a shower. I don't need to be at Casanay until about noon."

Anthony offered, "I can clean you up with my femtobots."

"Don't bother. I like a good shower, and I hope you realize that I expect you to join me in the shower and give me a full body scrub-down. If Eddy is busy writing, he will never notice your absence."

"I really should pop back to Casanay and get started on lunch."

"No. Just use your femtobots to get lunch going. I need you in the shower." Not letting go of his erection, Zeta pulled Anthony into the shower. As soon as the shower was over, which only netted Zeta one more orgasm, Anthony teleported back to Casanay.  

At lunch, Zeta (disguised as Rylla) announced to Eddy and Systolina, "Anthony has kindly accepted my offer to move in with me in advance of our wedding."

Eddy looked at Anthony and asked, "What is this? You sly devil, how did you pull this off in just one week? This is why you disappeared this morning... to propose?"

Playing what Eddy viewed as a game, Anthony chuckled and said, "As a positronic robot, I'm full of surprises."

Eddy laughed loudly then asked Zeta, "Rylla, do you know this joke? In my stories, I pretend that Anthony is a robot."

Zeta nodded, "Yes, I've tried to read a few of your novels. Marda has them all and told me about Anthony appearing as a character in your stories. She keeps quizzing me about Anthony's genitals. I suppose you have millions of your fans wishing they could live with Anthony."

"And you are the one who gets to do it."

Zeta tried to imagine what the real Rylla might say. "I'm not your fan, but I'm happy to have Anthony. These past three years, since the death of my husband, have not been easy. I was hoping to change my life by moving to Arizona and this is a good change." She reached out and took hold of Anthony's hand.

Systolina, pretending to be Zeta, asked Anthony, "So, what will you do with yourself?"

Anthony replied, "I can keep working here until you find my replacement."

"Don't be absurd. You'll be busy getting ready for your marriage. You two are getting married?"

Zeta told Sytolina, "Yes, as soon as possible." 

End Chapter 9. Jump to Chapter 10.

Next: mid-year Search for Interesting Hollywood Aliens.

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