Yerophet

This blog post has Part 6 of Yōd's account of the adventures of Colleen and Lakum in the Asimov Reality (that part of Deep Time also known as the Phari Reality). Living in the Final Reality, Azynov and Yōd had been given access to the Asimov Reality Simulator so that they could investigate the origins of human telepathy.

In Part 1 of the story, Azynov and Yōd traveled to the Planet Triskelion A in Alastor Cluster where they learned about the "Colleen Model" of human cognition. Colleen was one of the few humans who was aware of the fact that human bodies contain a zeptite endosymbiont. Those invisibly small endosymbionts were used to strictly control human behavior in the Phari Reality, preventing most productive scientific research and blocking nearly all new technological advances during the Space Age.

The 5 most recent Realities of our Reality Chain.

The only exception to that zeptite-mediated block of technology development occurred at Central University on Triskelion A. There, Dr. Ektenor and his robotic collaborators had devised a sophisticated micro-hierion field. The lucrative practical use of hierion fields was in the mining operations of Triskelion B, but a hierion shield had also been deployed around the University in an attempt to keep its scientists free of zeptite-mediated mind control.

Unbeknownst to Colleen or any human, the pek had (in the Foundation Reality) devised the G-sym method for human telepathy which allowed the Kac'hin to take control of Eternity. However, the Kac'hin were not exactly human.

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Kac'hin telepathy is powered by zeptites which are composed of sedronic matter. Humans knew almost nothing about sedrons. However, Colleen had traveled to the far future and obtained a set of infites from the last Prelands. Knowledge encoded in those infites made Colleen the galaxy's leading expert in how to use hierion fields to control sedrons; in particular, Colleen could now use a type of micro-hierion field (devised on Triskelion in Dr. Ektenor's laboratory) to shield the human settlers of Yerophet from telepathic signals emanating from the Kerub.

During the Trysta Truce, the bumpha were helping R. Nyrtia develop human telepathy (in the far future, that effort culminated with creation of the tryp'At) while the pek developed the Ek'col (a human variant that was used to end Trysta's mission on Earth and allow for the Trysta-Grean Pact and an end to the Time Travel War). In the time when Azynov and Yōd visit Triskelion, a Phari endosymbiont is being developed by the pek in Alastor Cluster which will adapt the G-sym telepathy system for use with femtobots.

Yerophet

On the various planets of Alastor Cluster, humans are being subjected to artificial selection through interactions with native creatures. In this way, humans are evolving who can use femtobot endosymbionts as adapters for their zeptite endosymbionts, but that is a slow process and so far, only weak, mostly subconscious forms of human telepathy exist.

On Yerophet, the Kerub are being retro-evolved by the Phari in an attempt to provide a model of a femtobot endosymbiont that, if transferred to humans, could achieve R. Nyrtia's goal of human telepathy, but the pek are subverting that effort in order to advance their own goal of crafting the Ek'col human variant. To craft the Ek'col, the pek have long been inserting Asterothrope gene patterns into the human population of the galaxy.

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To speed up progress on the development of human femtobot endosymbionts, Colleen's partner, Lakum, was given access to mind clone technology by the pek. By using the micro-hierion field generators of Triskelion, Colleen and her daughter Kresso could share a powerful form of technology-assisted telepathy. The pek intend that this technology would, in the future, be gradually transferred into femtobot-endosymbiont form allowing them to create the Ek'col. However, it can also be used to allow study of the Kerub femtobot endosymbiont, the gift from the Phari that will become a prototypical model that aids in the development of functional tryp'At and Ek'col endosymbionts.

The pek plan is proceeding on schedule until Azynov and Yōd arrive in Alastor Cluster and begin to use the AR Simulator to reveal the origins of human telepathy. The pek want to hide their role in creating human telepathy from the Editor. The pek worry that they have violated the Rules of Intervention and they don't want that revealed (by the Editor or anyone else) to the Huaoshy. However, the pek have another even more pressing reason for keeping secret the existence of robot telepathy on Triskelion.

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The pek have long had an effort on Triskelion to use that world as their access point in Alastor Cluster for reverse-engineering the sedron-based G-sym telepathy system and adapting it for use with hierions and Phari endosymbionts. The pek have been trying to selectively allow progress towards development of human telepathy based on hierions and femtobot endosymbionts, but without allowing other types of research and technological developments. On Triskelion A, to limit research in other areas, the pek have adopted the "Grean method": using telepathic (G-sym) robots to distract researchers and deflect them from "dangerous" research.

With Yōd present as an "outside" observer on Triskelion, the secret of how the pek use robots to control human behavior is in danger of being revealed. In Part 2 of the story, Azynov and Yōd meet Vyky, a robot that was carefully trained by Dr. Ektenor to think and behave like a human.

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In particular, Dr. Ektenor took pains to endow Vyky with a sophisticated understanding of his own sexual preferences and fetishes. Within a day of reaching Triskelion, Yōd had already experimented with human-robot sex. Now, upon meeting Vyky, Azynov begins to wonder what it might be like to see Vyky in action, using her extensive training to bring sexual pleasure to a human.

As described in Part 3 of The Yerophet Experiment, on the last evening of Azynov and Yōd's visit to Triskelion, Dr. Ektenor attends a dinner party hosted by Lakum and he brings along his "personal" robot, Vyky. Also present at the party are Azynov and Yōd and the three children of Colleeen and Lakum: Sherylyn, Kresso and Myquena. The young girl, Kresso, has recently begun experiencing a strange type of periodic "seizure".

Part 3. Kresso's telepathic connection to Colleen.

Vyky's presence at the dinner party unexpectedly allows Kresso to discover that the robots of Triskelion have telepathic abilities. This startling discovery has been made possible by Shery, a talented mathematical genius who recently devised a new type of experimental hierion field. Kresso can achieve simultaneous telepathic communication with both her mind clone, Colleen, and Vyky.

In an effort to counter the danger that Yōd will tell the Editor about pek use of telepathic robots in Alastor Cluster, the pek send Nirutam's selfie, Maturin into the AR Simulator.

Yōd on the Litless Toru.

In Part 4 of the story, Sherylyn, Kresso, Azynov and Yōd travel to Yerophet. During that journey through outer space, first Yōd and then also Azynov are "attacked" telepathically. They experience first-hand how the pek make use of telepathic robots to control human behavior on Triskelion. However, since they are no longer on Triskelion, Azynov and Yōd turn their suspicion towards Sybski, a medical robot who has come on the space flight to Yerophet in order to monitor Kresso's 'seizures'.

Below is Part 6 of the story of Colleen and Lakum's adventures in Alastor Cluster as told by Yōd to the Editor. When Kresso arrives on Yerophet she meets a tragic fate, but the Fates are no match for Azynov's resourceful lover, Yōd and Colleen's assistant, Maturin (the selfie of Nirutam).

The Yerophet Experiment
Part 1  -  Part 2  -  Part 3  -  Part 4  -  Part 5

Last day on Litless Toru.

Part 6, Maturin
Now less than 12 hours from Yerophet, Yōd insisted on having her breakfast by the pool, which onboard Litless Toru meant a simulated tropical beach with a wave machine creating gentle waves that tickled Yōd's feet while she ate.

Azynov had mistakenly worn long sleeves and long pants to breakfast. Wiping a trickle of sweat from his brow and looking past Yōd, Azynov watched the two girls. Shery and Kresso had finished eating and now they were walking together along the simulated ocean shore, showing off their long legs to some boys who were playing volleyball on the beach. Azynov commented to Yōd, "Yesterday mini-skirts, today short-shorts, what is planned for tomorrow when we are on Yerophet and the temperature is well below freezing?

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Dreading the coming cold on Yerophet, Yōd was wearing as little clothing as possible, specifically, a bikini swimsuit that she had bought the previous day. Her first idea had been to eat breakfast in the little hot tub that was in the master bath, attached to their bedroom. Azynov had pointed out that the hot tub was not really large enough to hold 4 people. Yōd had said, "I was only planning to invite you."

Azynov marveled at Yōd's one-track mind, which had become captivated by thoughts of pleasure and playing sexual games. Feeling regret for his own behavior on the Observation deck, Azynov tried to remind Yōd about their mission and goals. "When convenient, I'll make love to you in a hot tub, but today might not be the day. We have to get ready for the frigid conditions on Yerophet."

Dreading to cold climate of Yerophet but also recognizing her responsibility to care for Shery and Kresso, Yōd had then requested breakfast in the ship's restaurant that gave its guests the warmth of simulated tropics. Yōd decided that a worthy goal for the last few hours before their arrival on Yerophet was to store up some pleasant memories of being hot enough to sweat.

Now Yōd looked away from her breakfast plate and glanced at Shery and Kresso. Her thoughts now back on clothing, she explained to Azynov, "Shopping for Kresso was easy; she simply wants to duplicate Shery's wardrobe. Kresso is in a hurry to grow up and be just like her big sister, but her mother has been getting in the way of those aspirations."

Azynov laughed. "So you are spoiling the girl and giving her everything she wants." Yōd was biting into an orange slice and juice dripped on her chest. Azynov leaned forward, "Let me clean you up." He stuck out his tongue.

Yōd laughed, "The other guests are watching... I'm not going to let you lick my breast." Azynov handed her a napkin, but she did not bother using it. "I'll leave the sweet drippings there and you can take care of them later, in private."

Azynov sighed contentedly, "Just as you say, sugar tits." The girls had reached the wall at the far edge of the beach simulation and were now coming back towards the table. Azynov watched Kresso splashing playfully in the water. "I'm surprised to see you competing with Kresso and acting like a school girl yourself."

"Why not? I never got to attend school. Anyhow, when I act wild and crazy it distracts Kresso from her worries and the fact that she's a telepathic freak. Suddenly discovering her telepathic powers has been an unsettling experience for the poor girl." There was something else that Yōd wanted to tell Azynov... it was on the tip of her tongue but... she again glanced over her shoulder at Kresso. "You know Azynov, she does not need to be with us on Yerophet. We'll be able to test Shery's new shield without any help from Kresso."

Azynov shrugged, "That is true for you too, particularly since you despise cold weather. If you are worried about Kresso then we can put you two on a return flight to Triskelion as soon as we reach Yerophet. Even better, you two could simply stay on Litless Toru. After three stops on other planets, this ship will be back on Triskelion and ready to start the loop again." Azynov felt a powerful feeling of déjà vu. There was something else he wanted to say about the idea of a return flight to Triskelion, but the thought refused to bubble up to the surface of his conscious thoughts.

Yōd covertly glanced towards the entrance to the beach where she had asked Sybski the medibot to wait. "I'm most worried about that meddling robot. Kresso and I could take that monster machine back to Triskelion and keep it out of your hair."

"Sybski?" Azynov looked towards the robot. "I'd prefer a more direct solution: turn of the robot's power source." Azynov placed a hand on Yōd's bare arm. "Call me selfish, but I'd prefer to have you with me while on Yerophet." Yōd leaned across their little table towards Azynov and now they kissed and competed to slip their tongues into each others mouths. Yōd had her hand under the table, resting on the growing warm lump in Azynov's pants. Yōd's mind was simmering with a fantasy vision of making love to Azynov on the beach, but there was something nagging at her... something she had planned to do today... yes, she could take Kresso back to Triskelion, but the idea of being apart from Azynov was painful. No, there was no need for that... Kresso hadn't had another of her strange seizures during the trip. There was no good reason to rush her back home...

Shery and Kresso had returned and were standing beside the table. Shery wiped some sweat from her brow and told Yōd, "I thought you bought breast shields."

Yōd pulled her tongue out of Azynov's mouth and looked down at her erect nipples where they protruded against the thin fabric of her bikini top. She asked Kresso, "Have you been telling Shery all of my secrets?"

Kresso replied, "Of course." Then she moved very close to Yōd and whispered, "Well, there is that one thing you warned me not to talk about."

Shery had moved to the opposite side of the little table and, standing close beside Azynov she was telling him, "You know, people at the other tables can see that Yōd is stroking your-"

Yōd took her hand off Azynov and told Shery, "Don't go sticking your cute nose into other people's business."

Shery asked, "Is it only robots like Vyky who get to stick their noses in your-"

Azynov placed a hand over Shery's mouth, "Am I going to have to separate you two again today?"

Yōd tried to clear her mind of a vision of Vyky's head between her legs and the feel of the robot's tongue... Yōd said, "We all need to get along together today and do our clothing shopping for Yerophet. Most of the time we will be in heated spaces, but we must be prepared for the freezing conditions that we will face when outside."

Azynov said, "I don't want to scare any of you, but after we reach Capetown, we will head out the the Kerub frontier. Colleen had been staying in a place called Frost Hills. The average temperature there this time of year is forty below zero."

Yōd moaned. "Why didn't Colleen delay going to Yerophet until summer arrived?"

Azynov explained, "Yerophet has an extremely eccentric orbit... the next summer is still about 800 Earth days away."

Shery asked, "What do people do during the endless winters?"

Yōd's mind filled with fantasy thoughts of staying warm on Yerophet with Azynov in hot tubs and beds piled high with blankets, Azynov told Shery, "Outdoors sports a very popular such as snow biking, ice fishing and ice sailing."

Kresso said, "I'm with Yōd. I hate cold. I'll just sit inside by the fireplace, thank you."

"If you want to make friends among the settler children, you'll go outside and play. They know how to dress for cold days." Azynov added, "And out in Kerub frontier districts like Frost Hills, every village has a statue of Forgetful Francesca."

Shery looked at Azynov to see if he was going to give details. She prompted, "That poor girl who froze to death?"

"That is the legend from hundreds of years ago. One of the first settler girls, a member of the Tuntoci sect who awoke late and tried to walk to morning services without putting on coat, gloves and scarf."

Yōd added, "And now in the past two years, many other settler children have done the same sort of thing. At first the phenomenon was called mass hysteria, a kind of death cult, but Colleen is certain that Kerub telepathy is the cause."

There inside the Litless Toru restaurant that simulated a tropical shore, talk of the cold climate on Yerophet could not actually cool anyone down and even the lightly dressed Yōd had become over-heated. She glistened with sweat and Azynov thought he had never seen her looking more beautiful.

Yōd finally led Azynov, Shery and Kresso back to their suite of rooms. Walking along the promenade deck inside Litless Toru dressed only in her swimsuit, Yōd was quickly cooling down. Upon returning to the suite, Yōd slipped on a silk robe and soon then they were off to the market deck to do their shopping. She announced, "I'm going to get one of those fancy thermkyrt suits."

Sybski the medibot followed along for the shopping expedition and was soon being used to carry a large number of bags full of the clothing purchases.

When it looked as if Sybski could not possibly hold any more and they were going into another footwear shop, Azynov suggested to the robot, "Why don't you take that load back to our rooms?"

The machine replied, "I'm not even close to reaching my carrying capacity. And, besides, it is my main duty to keep an eye on Kresso."

Kresso stared speculatively at Sybski for a minute then asked her sister, "Shery, is there a way to modify your hierion field so that it might not put me to sleep?"

Shery was trying on a pair of insulated boots with thick soles. She stood up and now towered over her younger sister even more than usual. "There are an infinite number of ways to modify the field, each corresponding to a solution for the hierion field equations. I'm simply using the first real root which requires the least complex frequency modulation pattern."

Azynov suggested, "Isn't there something like a volume control for your field generator? Maybe if you reduced the power slightly..." Azynov fell silent. He had no idea how Shery's little field generator actual worked.

Shery laughed and took off the big boots. "I can't change the physical laws of the universe. What you are suggesting would be like asking me to reduce the gravitational constant."

Yōd asked Shery, "Why do you think the hierion field knocked Vyky unconscious?"

Shery shrugged and looked at Sybski. She handed the boots to him and then ordered the robot to take all the new clothing back to their suite of rooms. Sybski tried to argue with Shery but she was firm. After the robot was out of sight and Yōd was paying the shop-keeper for the boots, Shery finally replied to Yōd's question. "The first thing I want to ask my mother about is the possibility that it was she who inactivated Vyky. There was a very real danger that Vyky would notice Kresso's telepathic touch and then warn the robots of Triskelion that their secret telepathic abilities had been revealed."

Kresso objected, "I told you, the robots knew that Colleen and I were able to learn that secret from Vyky's memories. I did not understand what was happening at the time, but think about it. Vyky was not only linked to my mind, but she was also linked telepathically to other robots!"

The boot-seller looked quizzically at Kresso and in an uncertain voice told her customers, "Enjoy your visit to Yerophet."

Walking down the main causeway of the market deck, Yōd held out her hand to Azynov, "I'm running out of money."

Azynov pointed to a cash exchange kiosk. "Let me get some smaller bills." Reaching into his pocket, he headed for the machine.

Shery went with Azynov and Yōd asked Kresso, "I thought we were going to keep robot telepathy secret."

Kresso shrugged, "It is not easy for me to keep secrets from Shery. Anyhow, it is best if she knows what is going on."

Azynov must buy lo'Whots

Azynov stood in front of the kiosk and fed a 100,000 Ozol note into the slot. He used the controls to request a set of smaller denomination bills.

Shery was at his elbow and commented, "Wow, you must be rich. I suppose everyone on Earth is wealthy."

Azynov shrugged. "Don't believe what you see in the fantasplays about Earth." He slid open the door of the kiosk and pulled out 8 10,000 Ozol notes, 10 1,000 Ozol notes and 100 of the 100 Ozol notes that were the highest denomination most of the Litless Toru shop keepers would accept. Azynov handed Shery a 10,000 Ozol note, two of the 1,000 Ozol notes and 20 of the smaller denomination notes, "Here is some spending money for when we are on Yerophet. If your sister needs anything, just buy it for her."

Shery put the money into her pocket, "I'm not used to carrying so much money. We use electronic exchange on Triskelion."

Azynov gave Yōd half of the remaining money. Next, they walked towards a shop that specialized in self-heating thermal long-johns. Azynov was still thinking about the mystery of why Vyky had been inactivated by Shery's hierion containment field. He suggested, "Let's not make wild guesses and give voice to speculative theories. I'm willing to wait until we can talk to Colleen and find out from her directly what she was able to accomplish upon being telepathically linked to Vyky."

Shery said, "If you three were not such frightened little pussies we could activate the containment field and let Nyky telepathically link to Colleen right now."

Yōd put her arm around Shery and said, "Go ahead and call me a pussy, but I promised your mother that there would be no more use of your telepathy-amplifying field until we reached Yerophet and had a chance to consult with Colleen about the safest way to use the field."

Shery laughed, "I'm an adult. I respect Lakum's advice, but I'll use my hierion containment field as I see fit."

Kresso asked Shery, "You are not worried that Sybski might..." She fell silent and looked at Yōd.

Shery asked, "What?"

Kresso replied, "Nothing." She looked away.

Shery looked back and forth between Yōd, Kresso and Azynov. "What is going on? Apparently I'm no telepath, but I can tell that you three are not telling me something."

They had reached the thermal underwear shop. Yōd took off her robe and handed it to Azynov. She started pulling on a tight-fitting thermal top. She suggested to Shery, "I would not be surprised if you have some weak telepathic connection to Kresso. You two often seem to know what the other is thinking."

Shery pulled off her blouse, tossed it to Azynov and slipped into thermals. Her head emerged and then she tugged the tight-fitting fabric down over her perky breasts. She told Yōd, "Don't try to distract me with talk about telepathy. What is the big secret about Sybski?"

Azynov said to Shery, "Don't try to distract me by flashing your-"

original cover art by Edward Valigursky

Just then, Sybski came into the shop. Azynov fell silent.

Yōd asked the robot, "Back so soon? How did you find us?"

The robot replied, "It was not difficult; I systematically visited all the shops selling winter clothing."

Kresso and Azynov were pulling on thermal pants. When Kresso got hers pulled up over her shorts, she looked at herself in a mirror and complained, "Why is thermkyrt so clingy? I look like a skinny boy."

The shop's owner explained, "Thermkyrt if very expensive... I charge by the square centimeter. Most people prefer to pay for as few cms as possible, but if you are going to Yerophet I advise you not to skimp."

Azynov told Kresso, "Money is no object."

Eventually, Yōd bought Kresso a set of thermals that was several sizes too large, with a muttered comment to Azynov, "The girl is growing like a weed. We can't risk her out-growing her thermals while on Yerophet."

Azynov shrugged, "I'm sure they stock and sell plenty of thermkyrt on Yerophet."

Exiting from the shop, Yōd handed the bag full of thermals tho Sybski and said, "Take these back to our rooms. Launder all of the new clothing. We'll meet you back at the suite after we eat lunch." Again Sybski argued, but eventually he did as he was ordered to do.

After visiting two more shops to buy enough luggage to hold all their new cold climate clothing, Yōd then selected a restaurant and they settled in for their noon time meal. A waitress seated them in a booth. Shery had a newly purchased scarf around her neck. She stroked the soft fabric of the scarf and asked again, "What is the secret about Sybski that you are hiding from me?"

Yōd was snuggled up against Azynov on their side of the booth. Her silk robe had worked its way open revealing her red bikini top. She told Shery, "I'm certain that Sybski had been using his telepathic ability to play with my emotions."

Shery grinned and asked, "Old Sybski? He knows nothing about human emotions. He's old school... as cold as a fish... not at all like the newer sexbots that have become so popular."

Azynov suggested, "The older model robots of Triskelion might not have been designed so as to express human emotions, but that does not mean that Sybski can't manipulate human emotions. In fact, it might explain the brutal aggressiveness of Sybski's efforts."

Yōd smiled at Azynov and nodded. "Exactly. And the worst part is, he does not hesitate to use his telepathic ability on us even when he can't see our reactions. He just keeps pushing the same emotional button, again and again. I would not be surprised if Sybski does not even know how his telepathic powers are being deployed... it is almost as if someone else might be using his pre-programmed robotic circuits to attack us."

Shery asked, "Someone else? What are you talking about?"

Yōd told Shery, "For example, last night..." For a moment, Yōd drifted into her own sweet memories from when Azynov has swept her off her feet and taken her to their cabin. Yōd put her face close to Azynov's. It seemed like he was lost in his own remembrance. Then Azynov and Yōd shared a quick little closed-mouth kiss.

Shery and Kresso both asked simultaneously, "What about last night?"

When she was done kissing Azynov, Yōd replied, "Oh come on, Shery, you know... when you got so horny that you had to run off to your cabin and push that big vibrator up your-"

Shery said, "Hey! I used my little vibrator last night."

"Okay, so I don't have a telepathic link to your mind. But you get the point. I would have used the big one. Anyhow, Sybski, or somebody using Sybski as a tool, has been activating our sexual desires in an attempt to keep us confused and unable to think straight. And it goes beyond just amplifying my emotions. I have the feeling that he made me forget something important."

Azynov asked, "Forget what?"

Yōd shrugged and kissed the tip of Azynov's nose, "Of course, I can't remember. But I know there was something important I was going to tell Kresso or do with her today."

Kresso said, "During this trip, you've done everything that I've asked you to do for me. I've been wondering if that was simply because you are nice or if there is another reason for it."

Yōd thought about the special relationship between Sybski and Kresso. Yōd asked bluntly, "Kresso have you ever used any of the household robots for..."

Kresso said, "Ew! Are you asking if I've had sex with Sybski? That's disgusting. He's such an old model, I doubt if he even has a penis."

Shery said, "Oh, he has one. Or at least he used to. I checked, back when I was 12 or 13."

Azynov asked Shery, "You let that robot-"

"No. Lakum is opposed to human-robot sex. She passed her biases on to both Kresso and I. However, I was curious."

Yōd said, "I believe I've been the center of Sybski's attention, but as soon as I told Azynov about the robots of Triskelion having telepathic powers, he was also attacked."

"Attacked? Sybski assaulted you two?"

Yōd replied, "Not Physically."

Shery was growing impatient. "Yōd, what exactly are you talking about?"

Yōd shrugged. "There seems to be no limit to what Sybski will do. He just keeps pushing at me until I give in..." She glanced at Azynov and he nodded. "If you must know the worst, Sybski made me give Azynov a blow job in public."

Shery laughed. "Where was this?"

"In one of those little alcoves on the observation deck."

"Nobody saw you?"

"No. But we ran into an alien right after..."

"Big deal." Shery was not impressed "That's kid's stuff on Triskelion."

Kresso added, "In sex ed, they tell us that oral sex is a good way for two horny kids to experiment before moving on to vaginal sex."

Yōd sighed. "Listen, the people on Triskelion do not have a typical human society. The population is dying out and some desperate actions are being taken by the government in order to prevent human extinction. All that to the side, my point is, I would never have behaved the way I did on the observation deck unless Sybski had been at me for hours, making me think about sex and making me burn with unnatural desire."

Shery was skeptical, "So you say. I've seen how you and Azynov behave. You are totally in love. Just this morning at breakfast you were giving him a hand job under the table. I would not be surprised if you are at it again as we speak. That's just the way you two love birds behave, all the time."

Yōd placed both of her hands where they could be seen. "That's not the point, Shery. Sybski is still at it. I'm getting better at resisting the sexual impulses that he forces upon me, but it is a relentless attack. And if he has made me forget something important then there could be disastrous consequences once we reach Yerophet."

Their lunch arrived and was placed on the table before them. Shery said, "Even if you are right, Yōd, what can we do about it? I'll tell you what I'm going to do. If Sybski makes me get sexually aroused I'm going to relax and enjoy it. There simply are not enough orgasms in the world."

Yōd laughed, "I'm not trying to convince you that Sybski is a threat to our safety. You asked what the secret was and I told you." Yōd was ready to drop the discussion and eat.

Shery could not leave it there. "And I'm telling you that I'm pretty horny most of the time. I often fall asleep with a vibrator between by legs. The only thing special about last night was the display that you and Azynov were putting on... the two of you there in your skimpy robes, cuddled up together. The sight of you two got me sexually aroused. And what did you expect?"

Kresso said, "Sounds like I went to bed just a little too early."

Yōd told Kresso, "You didn't miss anything. And besides, I'm sure that Azynov and I couldn't show you anything that you have not already seen in you sex education class."

Conversation turned to plans for Yerophet and Azynov explained to the girls how they would travel by air from the spaceport to Capetown. After their meal was completed, they carried their empty luggage back to the suite, packed and then went to the debarkation deck of Litless Toru.

Everything went smoothly; they first debarked from Litless Toru and then caught their flight to Capetown. About halfway through the flight, Yōd got up to stretch her legs and saw that one of the passengers was an Iidi. She looked carefully and thought: Surely this is the Iidi who was on the Litless Toru.

Returning to her seat, Yōd told Azynov about the Iidi. He shrugged, "I'm taller than you. I saw the Iidi when we were boarding this flight." Azynov and Yōd speculate on why the Iidi might be interested in Yerophet.

In the Capetown airport, while collecting their luggage and loading it all on a cart, a heavily dressed woman approached them and spoke to Kresso, "You must be Colleen's daughter, Kresso."

Kresso nodded. "And you must be Maturin." Kresso introduced Maturin to her sister and then to Azynov and Yōd.

After exchanging greetings, Maturin explained, "Colleen sent me to collect you. She had planned to be here for your arrival, but she was forced to go downtown to the provincial police headquarters."

Shery asked, "Mom was arrested?"

Maturin explained, "No, I did not say that. It is rather complicated." Maturin elbowed Sybski out of the way with a muttered, "Get out of my way, bot. I'm taking over." She grabbed on to the cart and asked, "This is it?"

Yōd nodded, "Yes, but maybe we should open up these two big bags and get out our coats."

They moved away from the baggage outshoot with Sybski trailing along behind. Pausing just inside the doorway that led to the parking structure, they could feel cold air coming through the doors every time they opened. Yōd, Azynov, Shery and Kresso pulled their heavy winter coats out of the suitcases and put them on. Maturin said, "The aircar is heated, but it will be best if each of you can individually adjust your own clothing to assure comfort."

Kresso was looking out the window at the blue sky of Yerophet and pressing her hands against the sides of her head. Yōd asked, "Are you alright?"

Kresso lowered her arms and replied, "I can feel Colleen's mind."

"Can you speak to her telepathically?"

"No, not at this distance, at least... and..."

"And what?"

Kresso said enigmatically, "Something is in the way."

They exited from the climate controlled airport terminal and entered a large parking complex that was partially open to the outside air. Yōd checked the air temperature and found it was slightly below freezing. Soon they we aboard the aircar and Maturin flew them out of the airport. Warm air circulated through the interior of the aircar, but that moving air was only slightly above freezing.

Yōd looked out the window at the frozen landscape of fields and forests passing below. Settlement of Yerophet had begun about two hundred hears previously after introduction of a type of wheat that could grow and ripen rapidly during the short summer thaws of equatorial Yerophet. The airport fell behind and ahead could be seen the tall buildings of Capetown. To the far north, the frozen ocean glittered white and it was partially obscured by low clouds. Yōd tried to ignore the frozen sea and thought longingly of her fantasy: making love to Azynov on a warm tropical beach. She imagined some hot oral-genital contact and then imagined being able to push Sybski out of her mind.

Briefly, Yōd looked at Sybski, who as usual seemed to be intently watching Kresso. Internally repeating the mantra: Sybski can't control me, Yōd managed to think for a time about her past study of Yerophet history. The earliest human settlers on Yerophet followed a religious ritual of purifying their food. By sect law, they were required to grow their own food. Only the first generation of settlers depended on a variety of wheat that could grow quickly on the planet's surface. After that, underground farms were constructed and provided most of the food. However, the religious fanatics still performed their ancient food purification ritual, which included subjecting all foods to intense gamma ray bombardment. Their belief was that foods were contaminated with invisibly small parasites. To stay free of the parasites, the food purification ritual must be carefully adhered to, including a set of blessings for the purified food.

 Yōd's thoughts shifted to a little ritual that she liked to perform with Azynov. It involved taking advantage of his early morning erections. There was a saying she had learned on Tar'tron: morning wood is mighty good. She closed her eyes and fantasized about waking from a sweet dream and finding an early morning Azynov erection warm between her legs. But in her fantasy, it was not Azynov who had awoken her, but rather a buxom woman who had her powerful tongue pushing creatively and methodically at Yōd's genitals. Then, frustrated with the persistence of Sybski in forcing her to endlessly think about sexual pleasures, Yōd popped her eyes open.

Yōd noticed that Kresso seemed pale and had closed her eyes. She asked the girl, "Are you getting motion sickness?"

Kresso did not open her eyes. "I'm trying to contact mom."

After glaring at Sybski for a minute (the robot ignored her) Yōd asked Maturin, "Where are we going?"

"We are going to the condo. You can unpack and-"

Kresso spoke with a firm, clear voice, "No! You will take us directly to the police building. Mom needs help."

Maturin did not change course. "It would be best to wait at home while Colleen completes her business downtown. She will call me if she needs anything."

Yōd told Maturin, "I agree with Kresso. We will got directly to Colleen's current location. Either take us there or drop us off so that we can hail an aircab."

Relenting, now Maturin requested clearance to enter the crowded downtown air space. Traffic Control took control of the aircar and the autopilot activated. The aircar tipped and entered into a sharp turn towards downtown. Maturin sat back in the pilot's seat and turned towards Azynov who was in the adjacent seat. "The autopilot is showing a 12 minute ETA for arrival at the police building."

Yōd asked Maturin, "You could call Colleen by phone right now?"

Maturin looked over her shoulder to where Yōd sat in the rear passenger compartment. "No. Colleen turned her phone off when she reached the police headquarters. She would call me if she wanted to. However, may I suggest that we all sync our comdevs?"

Azynov, Yōd, Shery and Kresso all pulled out their datapods and allowed them to sync with Maturin's phone. "I've also shared with you Colleen's personal code number, the one she has for use in the Yerophet communications network."

The aircar tipped to the side again and took a curving path down into the core of the city. Giant looming buildings now surrounded them. Azynov asked, "What is the population of Capetown?"

Maturin gave some numbers, "The city is currently over the design capacity of five million. During the past six months, two million refugees have come in from the surrounding rural districts. The migration has been on-going since the start of the troubles, but Colleen and I only moved into the city yesterday. Colleen had become adamant about not having guests out at the ranch."

Yōd asked, "Ranch?"

"My ranch out in Goslewenn, where Colleen stayed after her arrival on Yerophet."

Shery asked, "Where is Goslewenn?"

"It is a tiny hamlet right on the border of Kerub territory, on the fringe of Frost Hills District." Maturin added, "There are several Kerub villages conveniently close to my ranch. One is the home of lo'Whots, a native who agreed to help Colleen with her work."

Azynov asked, "How did Colleen get in trouble with the police?"

"When we moved into the city, Colleen insisted on bringing along lo'Whots. However, the police don't want any Kerub in the city."

The aircar ducked into the government parking structure at the City Center. In front of a gate, a man in uniform approached the hovering aircar. Maturin opened her side window and cold air blew into the car. The parking attendant asked, "How long will you be here? The fee for this size vehicle is 100 Ozols an hour or 1000 a day, paid in advance."

Maturin asked, "100 an hour? That's insane."

"We are out of room. Just wait until after all of the hicks have come to town. You should have taken public transportation."

Azynov leaned across Maturin and handed a 1000 Ozol certificate to the attendant. The man put a parking sticker on the side of the aircar, opened the gate and waved them inside the parking facility. However, there were no available parking spots for the rather large aircar.

After five minutes of searching through the multi-level labyrinth for a place to park, Yōd told Maturin, "Stop here by this elevator and let us out."

Maturin asked Sybski, "Can you drive this car?"

The robot nodded and replied, "The controls are standard."

Maturin gave her phone to the robot, "Call Azynov when you find a parking space." Maturin ran to join the others in the elevator. Soon they were inside the crowded police building, in a large lobby that was overflowing with refugees on top of the usual tide of business. Maturin explained, "After there were deaths out in the country side, the flow of refugees began. It just keeps getting worse. Last week there were 25 people struck down out in Frost Hill District."

Yōd asked, "Struck down by what?"

"Cold. The question is, why are settlers going outside without their cold climate gear and freezing to death?"

Azynov looked at Kresso and asked her, "Is this why Colleen wants Shery's new shield? To stop these deaths?"

Kresso nodded. "It is some kind of te-" She looked uneasily at Maturin and fell silent. Then she said, "It is a problem with the natives, the Kerub."

Finally making their way the the head of a long line of grumbling people, Maturin asked one of the office attendants where Colleen was. Maturin was told that they could wait in the lobby until Colleen had completed her police business, or better, go home. The office official puffed out her chest and pointed at the crowded lobby, "Please, be seated."

Azynov pushed forward past Maturin and then leaned across the counter towards the woman and whispered, "We are needed inside, in order for Colleen to conduct her business." He read the woman's name off of her badge, "Officer Rartee, we have come all the way from Triskelion to-"

"Triskelion? Are you rich?"

Azynov smiled and pushed a 1000 Ozol certificate into Rartee's hand, "Just tell me where to find Colleen Taddarro."

Officer Rartee checked the datapod at her side and told Azynov, "Floor 361. It is some kind of immigration case. I'll clear you through security Mr... ?"

"Azynov."

"What is your ID number?"

"I'm just in from Triskelion. I don't have a Yerophet ID."

Rartee gave Azynov a visitor's pass. "Okay, this will get you past security if you tell them your name is Azynov."

Azynov said, "All of us." He looked over his shoulder at Maturin and Yōd. "Including those two girls. They are Colleen's daughters."

Rartee muttered, "Bloody refugees. Listen, Azynov, this could earn me a reprimand. You have to make it worth my risk. The chief doesn't want me waving foreigners and children into the upper floors."

Azynov pulled the 1000 Ozol certificate out of Rartee's hand and gave her a 10,000 Ozol certificate. "Thank you for your flexibility."

Azynov turned away from the service window and pushed Maturin and Yōd towards the elevator. "Immigration department, floor 361." The electronic passcard activated the elevator for access to the upper floors, but Azynov could not enter in 361 with the elevator car's datapanel. A voice said: Immigration Department, floor 360.

The elevator shot upwards then slowed. Kresso said, "Colleen is nearby." The elevator door slid open and they stepped out into the lobby of the 360th floor. They had to get into another long line. While they waited, Maturin asked Azynov, "How did you talk that police officer into letting us come up here?"

Azynov laughed. "I have great personal charm. The ladies usually do anything that I ask." Yōd was holding onto Azynov's arm and leaning against him. She had taken off her winter coat and had it flung over her shoulder.

Maturin looked back and forth between Azynov and Yōd and looked carefully at Yōd's abdomen. "You two have a family?"

Yōd could see the Maturin was looking at her belly. "We have a baby on the way. How did you know?"

Maturin ignored Yōd question and said, "It is not wise to bring young people here. Almost all of the deaths out on the Kerub frontier have been children who go outside to play and freeze to death."

Yōd asked Maturin, "Exactly what is your relationship with Colleen?"

"I've been paid as Colleen's guide. Paid well. Colleen found what she was looking for."

"What was that?"

Maturin replied, "lo'Whots."

"The Kerub?"

"A very special Kerub."

They had reached the front of the line and Maturin said, "We are here to help with the Colleen and lo'Whots case."

The officer behind the counter barely looked up. He slid a datapad across the counter and said, "Full names and planetary ID codes." They entered the data into the device then pushed the datapad back across the counter. The officer pushed a passkey across the counter. "One floor up."

They returned to the elevator and with the new passkey the datapanel now accepted floor 361 as a valid input when Azynov entered that number. The door closed and the elevator car gave a tiny shimmy of motion. The door opened again. Yōd asked Azynov, "Did we just go down?" Kresso nodded.

They stepped out of the elevator car. On the wall it said: Floor 361", but this floor of the building was different than the other floors they had seen. A long empty corridor stretched before them. They took a step down the hallway and suddenly a yellow line appeared on the floor. They followed the line to a door. Maturin lifted her hand to knock on the door, but then the door slid open. Inside was Colleen and the Kerub, lo'Whots.

Colleen sprang to her feet and embraced Shery and Kresso. Maturin asked lo'Whots, "How are you doing?" Shery and Kresso both stared at the alien.

The alien replied in a language that Maturin seemed to understand. Maturin said, "Elts tet teyn olrey."

Colleen turned to Maturin and said, "Don't make any promises. We've made no progress against the bureaucratic tide."

Colleen finally shook Azynov's hand and told Yōd, "Thank you for delivering my children."

Yōd asked, "Are you sure it is safe for the children to be here?" She rested her hand on her abdomen.

Colleen explained, "Lakum and I know that this world is safe for mind clones, otherwise I would not be here and we certainly would not have allowed Kresso to come here."

Yōd was skeptical. "How can you know? You have an explanation for the strange deaths that have struck the settlers?"

Colleen began to speak but then a plainclothes officer came into the interrogation room through the back door. This was Officer Aerfete, who was handling lo'Whots' immigration case. Aerfete acknowledged the presence of the new arrivals from Triskelion. Looking into Azynov's eyes, she said, "Normally we punish rich folks from Triskelion who bribe police officers, but in this case your presence might be beneficial." She gestured towards lo'Whots and told Colleen, "We've checked your story. As a fellow human, I believe your account of the situation, Colleen, but the Kerub are making difficulties. According to the parents of Miss lo'Whots, she was abducted by you. They are not happy and they say that they want their daughter back with the tribe."

lo'Whots spoke in the pidgin language that had come into use on Yerophet, "Ne, be wid Colleen hefsith anaber."

Officer Aerfete nodded to lo'Whots. "And I believe that you are with Colleen voluntarily. That does not make your immigration any easier, particularly at this time. Turning her attention back to Colleen, Aerfete asked, "I also confirmed that you recently rented an place to live in the Bailisbury District. May I ask how you managed to get such a nice place in the middle of this crazy housing crisis?"

Colleen sighed. "Officer, I'm sure you are perfectly well acquainted with the concept known as 'money talks'. Maturin has deep connections here on Yerophet and I provided a bit of money..."

Officer Aerfete gazed speculatively at Maturin. Just then, Azynov's datapod signaled an incoming call. It was Sybski. "Sir, I've parked the aircar and I'm on my way into the station."

Azynov nodded and told the robot, "Thank you for letting us know, Sybsky. Just wait in the main lobby." He broke the connection.

Officer Aerfete asked, "Who is this Sybski?"

Colleen replied, "One of my household robots from Triskelion."

Aerfete sprang out of her chair and exploded, "Another robot?" In a calmer voice she said, "We don't have enough room for all the people crammed into Capetown, so it is not happy news to have anyone arriving from off planet, but why must you be importing robots?"

Colleen said, "My robots will not get in anyone's way. They are members of my household."

"I understand things are different on Triskelion, but here, robots are not trusted for anything but seafarm work and mining." Aerfete pulled her phone out of her pocket, looked at the data screen, then glanced at Maturin. "That call was made using your phone?"

Maturin nodded. Aerfete made a call of her own, "Rartee, listen carefully. There is a robot in the building. Should be coming into the lobby right now."

Rartee said, "You must be joking."

"No, this is the Colleen case, trying to spin out of control. The robot's name is Sybski and it is using the phone of a Frost Hills resident named Maturin. Don't let that robot mingle with the refuges. Hold Sybski in the back offices." Aerfete ended the phone call and looked at Maturin. "And so we come to the issue of Maturin, who I have also investigated. Long-time resident of Frost Hills District, recently move to Bailisbury. Do I have that right?"

Tired of holding her heavy coat in her lap, Maturin tossed it on the table. "Officer Aerfete, I respectfully suggest that we stay focused on the matter of lo'Whots' request to live in Capetown. It is a simple immigration case that a year ago would not have attracted police attention."

"Perhaps not, but things have changed during this past year."

Colleen said, "Let's not let anti-immigrant prejudice interfere with this case. Let's follow the written law."

"Even the laws against bribery?" Aerfete looked back and forth between Colleen and Azynov. She asked Colleen, "How long have you known Maturin?"

"Almost a month. I hired her as my guide soon after I arrived from Triskelion."

"And during most of that month, you lived at Maturin's ranch out in Frost Hills?"

"That was our base of operations for our trips into Kerub territory. Why do you ask?"

Aerfete explained, "It is my job to investigate unusual immigration cases."

"There nothing unusual about-"

Aerfete asked pointedly, "Who is Riqi?"

Colleen replied, "My household servant."

Aerfete added, "And a robot. When you arrived on Yerophet, why didn't you declare to the immigration officials that you were bringing a robot on planet?"

Colleen shrugged, "Nobody asked, so I said nothing. Look, why are you pretending that this is an immigration case? Why can't we-"

Aerfete interrupted, "Tell me, Colleen, how many Kerub do you think have applied for immigration during the past month?" Colleen said nothing. "I'll tell you: one. Your friend lo'Whots here. I've worked Immigration for ten years, and I've never heard of a Kerub coming into a human city." Aerfete turned back to Maturin, "And then there is Maturin, a long time resident of Frost Hills who has no record at all of being on Yerophet until she bought an expensive ranch out on the frontier less than a year ago." Aerfete asked Maturin, "What planet are you from?"

Maturin said, "Why do you ask? I doubt if I can provide you with a satisfactory answer."

"The truth will suffice."

"Birth records out in the Kerub frontier are notoriously bad. I wasn't born in a city hospital, so you have no record of my origin. I can't prove I was born on Yerophet."

Colleen said, "Look Aerfete, we are drifting away from the case at hand. I believe that lo'Whots has submitted a valid immigration request. Her request was already approved by the immigration office. Why is the police department holding everything up?"

"I explained that to you six hours ago, Colleen, but I'll repeat what I said for the benefit of refreshing your memory and for the new arrivals." Aerfete glanced at Azynov, "I could throw you in jail for bribery in the case of your purchase of the Bailisbury condominium. The real-estate agent has confessed to taking a bribe. He foolishly deposited the money in a bank account which got flagged for police review."

Colleen laughed. "You can't throw me in jail because nobody has filed a compliant. Part of Yerophet law is the principle of 'no harm, no crime'."

"Still, it offends the Yerophet sense of justice that a rich foreigner from Triskelion can buy a fancy condo while millions of refugees struggle to find warm places to sleep each night."

"And I told you, Officer Aerfete, that I'm here on Yerophet to help with the problem that is creating this flood of refugees. But instead of letting me get on with my work, you have me sitting here in the police station."

"Ah, yes. The hierion fields." Aerfete took out her phone again and looked at the data screen. "I've checked on what you told me... all that mumbo-jumbo about hierion particles and fields." Aerfete looked up from the little display screen, "Tell me, what is a femtobot? What is a zeptite? Nobody at Capetown University seems to be familiar with these terms."

Shery spoke impatiently, "I'm a physics student. I study hierions. School children on Triskelion learn about hierions. I'm sure you learned from your research that hierion fields are used to mine Triskelion B. Just because there are no physicists on Yerophet does not mean that hierions don't exist. Femtobots are nanoscopic devices composed of hierions. Zeptites are similar, but they have sedron components."

Aerfete complained, "Unfortunately, I have not found an expert on Yerophet who shares your belief in zeptites."

Sherry pulled out of her pocket a small device, her personal hierion shield. "We take zeptites seriously enough to shield ourselves from their damaging effects."

Aerfete took a similar device out of her pocket and tossed it to Colleen. "My technical advisor told me that this is harmless, so you may take it back."

Colleen stowed her shield in her pocket. She told Aerfete, "Your ignorance is a poor excuse for abusing your police powers."

Aerfete shrugged. "Your point is well taken. Why should Colleen be held for questioning simply because Inspector Aerfete has never heard of sedrons? However, in these times of crisis, I can't totally ignore the bizarre nature of this case and I exercised due diligence by having your belongings studied." Aerfete focused her attention on Colleen. "Let's cut to the final act. Allow me to propose a compromise. Rather than throw you, Azynov and lo'Whots in jail, I'll send you home with a police escort and subject you to house arrest. I have a list of demands, Colleen, so tell me, will you agree to 1) run a small housing project, keeping everyone in this room at your Bailisbury condo, 2) don't let this robot Sybski run around and incite any conflicts, and 3) don't allow anyone to know that you have a Kerub living with you?"

Colleen laughed, "You want to place me under house arrest? My dear Aerfete, it sounds like you are trying to place everyone here under these stay-at-home restrictions."

"No not everyone, just the known felons. Your daughters can go out, I suggest you send them food shopping so that you need not leave your condo."

Colleen asked, "What crime has lo'Whots committed?"

"I don't know. Her parents assured me that she is a terrible criminal, and that either she must return to her tribe for punishment... or... we here in Capetown must pay reparations."

"Reparations? For what?"

"I can't explain Kerub laws and customs. Apparently lo'Whots recently gave birth to a child, so there is a small baby who she abandoned when she went off to live with Colleen. The Kerub consider the theft of lo'Whots a horrible crime, although I must say, they seem to blame lo'Whots as much as anyone. However, I've been told that in order to avoid a planetary scale diplomatic crisis, either Miss lo'Whots must return home or the reparations must be paid."

Colleen asked, "The Kerub are putting a price on lo'Whots?"

"They are. And apparently the parents of lo'Whots feel that she is worth a lot to them. Their price is 25,000,000 Ozols."

Colleen laughed. "I don't have that kind of money."

Next: The Yerophet Telepathy Experiment

Azynov said, "Inspector Aerfete, I'm from Earth. I would like to speak to you, in private."

"Earth... yes, I noticed that you claim to be from Earth. Why are you here on Yerophet and what makes you think that you can bribe police officers?"

Azynov got to his feet, went to the back door of the interrogation room and opened it. "Let's step into your office and I'll tell you."

Aerfete went into her office and leaned against her desk. Azynov closed the door, turned to face Aerfete and asked, "How much cash do you want?"

Aerfete repeated the price, "25,000,000 Ozols."

Next: Part 7 of The Yerophet Experiment, "Frost Hills to Bailisbury".

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