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| Ekcolir's mission in the past. |
The story takes place in the Ekcolir Reality, close the the time of that Reality's transition to the Final Reality. Ekcolir, the prototype Ek'col, has already gone into the far past on a mission designed to make sure that his special gene combinations enter into the human gene pool of Earth. After the micro-Change caused by Ekcolir's mission in the past, Ekcolir's analogue, Deomede, appeared in Time to take Ekcolir's place.
Ariel has just met Deomede and found herself powerfully attracted to him. Trysta explains that Ariel, Deomede and Trysta herself are all linked together by telepathic connections, mostly functioning outside of their conscious awareness. Ariel must learn about the Bimanoid Interface which will allow her to make use of the form of technology-assisted telepathy that will be required in order for her to complete her mission in the Hierion Domain.
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| source |
5. Gertrude. (read parts 1 and 2) - (read parts 3 and 4)
Almost instantly, with Deomede out of the room, Ariel felt more like herself. Looking at Trysta's flushed cheeks and erect nipples that pressed against her blouse, Ariel wondered what it would be like to live with a creature like Deomede. She wondered who it was that had designed him. She asked Trysta, "Why go to all this trouble? Bringing me here, making copies of me... getting this unsuspecting Gertrude to marry some dupe... all for what?"
Trysta was gazing upwards, still in telepathic contact with Deomede. Through the years, she had gradually learned how to efficiently access his thoughts. These days it was almost impossible for Trysta to keep her mind from tangling with his, particularly when they were both horny. And now with Ariel in the house, it was like feeding pure oxygen to the flame of their lust. She asked Ariel, "Sorry, could you repeat that? I was distracted."
Ariel also could not stop thinking about Deomede. However, she had a burning curiosity to understand why she had been brought to the Hierion Domain. "If Gertrude seduces her future husband, what will be accomplished? Why is this match-making so damned important?"
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| Energy from Mercury |
Ariel suggested, "Why not use your time travel technology to fix what goes wrong?"
"We can't." Trysta explained, "Our ultimate goal is creation of a Final Reality in which humans can travel among the stars of the galaxy. In a strange twist of fate, the Fru'wu and their failed plan are needed in order to make possible a future for Humanity among the stars."
"It sounds like time travel has its limitations."
"Truer words were never spoken, Relda. It is only by learning from the errors of the Fru'wu that Earth's people will come to accept limitations on their future use of hierion technology."
Ariel was skeptical. "Your description of the future sounds like a silly science fiction story."
Trysta grinned. "As they say, truth often seems stranger than fiction. What concerns us and motivates our mission is the fact that after a brief period of apparent success, Fru'wu plans to help humans move into outer space will eventually fail spectacularly and Earth will fall back on using fossil fuels. With time, the vast Antarctic glaciers will melt, sea level will rise, the oceans will acidify. That is the environmental catastrophe that lies in the future unless we can engineer a backup plan... another way to supply Earth's energy needs."
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| Obtaining Earth's energy from outer space. |
"Sadly, it is not that easy, Relda. The Fru'wu plan for the future involves using hierions to transmit energy to Earth from Mercury. But with knowledge of hierions available to Earthlings, it won't end there. With the availability of hierion materials, it will become cheap and easy to move people into space."
"Just like that silly movie my mother made! Space elevators!"
"Yes. Twenty years from now, the great migration of people from Earth into outer space will be under way."
"But that is good. Fewer people on Earth-"
"No." Trysta sadly shook her head and seemed to stare off into the distance. "It doesn't work that way."
"Why not?"
"The scientists and engineers and technical experts will leave Earth and move to the space colonies. On Earth, the remaining population will be freed from the ancient struggle for resources. In the post-scarcity society made possible by advanced Fru'wu technology, Earth's population will balloon."
Ariel nodded. "I see. So, then... what can be done?"
"Two things. First, an alternative energy plan for Earth that will limit use of fossil fuels in the future time when energy can no longer be beamed to Earth from Mercury. Second... well, it is complicated." Trysta was again looking up at the ceiling. She was eager to go join Deomede upstairs.
"What?"
"You are tired and have absorbed so much in such a short time... you really should rest."
"What are you trying to hide from me?"
"The full truth about hierions is rather startling. It will be hard for you to accept the truth. It can wait until you have rested."
"Tell me now."
"You won't like it."
"Tell me! I can't rest with this hanging over me."
"Hierions are not just something to use for sending energy from Mercury to Earth or for building space elevators and orbital mega-structures. Every man, woman and child on Earth carries hierions inside them."
"What do you mean?"
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| nanites |
"What kind of device?"
"A device that links into the brain."
Ariel felt a cold, growing terror taking hold of herself. "Tell me something... is that the source of my knowledge of the fain?"
"Yes. You have been provided with knowledge beyond your personal experiences. Your replicoid is linked to you through your nanoscopic endosymbiont."
"But why do I know about the fain while most people on Earth have received visions of the Fru'wu?"
"It is complicated, Relda. Actually not many Earthlings have had visions of aliens. However, after first being introduced to some select influencers, belief in the Fru'wu has spread widely by conventional means... by way of literature, movies, television."
Ariel asked, "Aliens have put these nanoscopic devices inside our brains so that they can take control... prepare us for... invasion?"
"No. Even the Fru'wu are trying to help Earth. This is not about invasion. The hapless Fru'wu were enticed to Earth, much like Deomede can easily attracted you or I to him. The damage that will be done to Earth's fragile ecosystem is going to be done by consequence of a complex systems failure. And this is where you come into the story. You can help us minimize the damage. I need your help!"
"Me? Why me? I suspect you could do it yourself. What can I do? Me specifically?"
"As I've tried to explain, I need to make use of your special knowledge of human behavior. I've explained the situation, but you don't want to believe what I've told you. It is really as simple as I have told you. One of our agents will be sent to Earth, to New York. I need you to prepare her for that mission."
"Who is this agent, this Gertrude? What is so special about her?"
"Her full name is Gertrude Blugerman. She will become an important materials engineer, working with hierions. By making a slight alteration to the way Earth's space elevators are designed, she will save millions of lives. And even more importantly, through her influence on her husband, she will make it possible for Earthlings to gain partial control over their femtobot endosymbionts."
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| femtobots |
"The nanoscopic devices that control and guide human behavior."
"Why play games? I think these horrible mind control devices should simply be eliminated. We must tell the people of Earth that-"
"No. That's impossible. The femtobot endosymbionts are part of what makes humans .... humans. You Earthlings can't survive without them."
"But why do you expect me to help you with your scheme when I feel that I must do everything I can to stop this mind control nightmare?"
"Your role is simple. You -actually, a copy of you, let's call her Leira- will grow up as the childhood friend of Gertrude. With your help, Gertrude will lead an important life on Earth, making safer space elevators and also awakening Earth's scientists to the existence of the femtobot endosymbionts. That will take time."
Ariel laughed rather hysterically. "Next month I'll turn 21. I'm well past childhood."
"Your copy, Leira, will be sent back in time... through her, you can have a second childhood. She will travel into the past to be with the young Gertrude. You will have your mind linked to this girl, Leira. She will be your mind puppet. It will be fun... you will live vicariously through Leira. You will share your experience with the young Leira and, in turn, she will share learning experiences and adventures with Gertrude. In that way, we can prepare Gertrude for her mission on Earth."
Ariel shook her head. "What if I won't help you?"
"You will help. Right now, you are tired, but in the morning I'll show you what will happen to Earth if you don't help me."
"I still can't imagine what I could possibly do to avert environmental catastrophe on Earth."
"By helping to prepare Gertrude for her mission, you will indirectly influence the course of events in space engineering and neuroscience on Earth. Frankly, the expertise that you can provide is in the... to put it bluntly, we need your expertise in human psychology. In turn, others will do their parts."
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| War in the Ekcolir Reality. Ed Emshwiller vs Roberta Engle |
"Psychology? I have no training in psychology. You have the wrong..." Ariel watched as Trysta activated a large display. Suddenly, there before them was a moving image of Joey carrying Ariel across the banquet hall, back to her parents.
Trysta said, "Watch this." Ariel saw Joey setting her down on a chair and holding her upright while she regained consciousness. Trysta explained, "This is what happened to the copy of you that remains on Earth, after you were teleported here." Ariel watched, eerily seeing herself -her copy- doing things that she had never done. "Look how gently he hovers over you. I think he likes you."
Ariel admitted, "He could not keep his eyes off of me all last year at school."
"And when it came time for you to go the France..."
Ariel admitted, "I was afraid."
"So you selected Joey to be your escort on the trip."
"It made sense at the time."
"You see, Relda, this is why I need you. You never asked me why it is that only a small fraction of Earthlings have had visions of aliens. Would you like to know?"
"Of course I would."
"Some Earthlings, like yourself, carry special gene combinations that give you some telepathic ability. Those genes were first inserted into the human gene pool 20,000 years ago. With your telepathic powers, you knew that Joey could protect you. He is a gentleman. Think about it. Has anything bad ever happened to you? Or to your mother during her life?"
"No."
"You have a special genetic endowment that not only gives you some telepathic ability -the ability to judge people- but your special brain will also allow you to use the Bimanoid Interface. That is how you will control your puppet."
"Stop it! How can you speak so casually about me being the puppet master for another girl?"
"She will not be just another girl, Relda. Remember, she will be you. Almost." Trysta moved towards the stairway, but told Ariel, "Grean should have Leira ready soon. You can meet her tomorrow." She hurried up the stairway then turned back towards Ariel. "Oh, Relda, you can use the bedroom to the right at the top of the stairs." Reaching the top of the stairway, Trysta turned left and went to join Deomede in their suite.
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| Bimanoid Interface |
6. Ariel Three
In the morning, Ariel, Trysta and Deomede were having a leisurely breakfast. Ariel was amused to see that for Trysta and Deomede, "breakfast" involved more nibbling on each other than on food. A few fragrant items had been set out on the table and Ariel tasted them, but she was not particularly hungry herself.
Trysta had received a message from Grean stating that Leira was ready to be deployed on her mission into the past. Now Trysta was trying to convince Ariel that she needed to use the Bimanoid Interface to guide the behavior of Leira. Ariel could not stop thinking of that as an invasion of Leira's rights to self-determination and free will. Finally, frustrated by her plight, Ariel cried out, "This is insane!"
"No, this is logical. Carefully planned and engineered." Trysta put her arms around Ariel and the girl allowed herself to quietly sob for a few minutes.
Ariel knew that she was being selfish, but she could not move past her sense of disappointment at having her life disrupted. She had mapped out a plan for herself that involved writing and publishing stories that would warn all of Earth against counting on space aliens to be the saviors of Humanity. Searching for a way to calm the girl down, Trysta told Ariel, "You will still be able to write. There is a very dynamic writers community here in the Hierion Domain."
Ariel lifted her head off of Tryst'a shoulder. "But who will I write for? I want to help the people of Earth."
"The members of the Writers Block are able to construct their stories and then transmit them to Earth."
"How do they do that?"
Trysta explained, "Using the same technique that you will use with Leira; using the Bimanoid Interface. It makes possible a form of technology-assisted telepathy."
Ariel asked, "Are you saying that through all of my life, story ideas have been placed into my mind by someone in the Writers Block?"
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| Teleportation Technology |
Deomede suggested to Trysta, "We should take Relda for a visit to the Writers Block."
Trysta shook her head. "That can wait. First she must meet Leira. Grean is in a hurry and pushing me to complete my part in this project."
Deomede took hold of Trysta's hand, "Is this it?"
Ariel watched as Trysta looked away from Deomede and seemed to to gaze off into nothingness. She replied quietly, "According to Grean, I can never know when my time here will end."
Ariel did not know what Deomede and Trysta were talking about, but she was amused. "With all of your time travel and your ability to look into the future, you do not know your own future."
Trysta drew Deomede's hand to her lips and kissed his fingers. She focused her eyes on Ariel and explained, "Just as was the case for Ekcolir, I must do my part to initiate the great Change that will bring into existence the Final Reality."
Ariel was confused. "How can there be a final Reality?"
Trysta said. "In the next Reality, time travel will become impossible. Earth will be fixed and frozen in one final, unchanging timeline of events. It is our job to make sure that the Final Reality contains a good future for Humanity."
Ariel was dismayed. In the first place, she did not really believe that time travel was possible. If it was, then how could the use of time travel technology suddenly be blocked? A flash of insight came to Ariel. What if Trysta was soon to depart on her final time travel mission in the past? Ariel looked at Deomede and found him looking back at her. She felt a powerful connection to him and now she allowed herself to imagine living there in the Hierion Domain with Deomede for the rest of her life, taking Trysta's place as Deomede's lover.
Trysta was speaking, but lost in her own fantasies about Deomede, Ariel had not heard all Trysta was saying. "... test your ability to use the Biamanoid Interface in 'send' mode. We already know that you can receive information quite efficiently. As soon as we know that you can transmit telepathically to Leira, I'll send her into the past so that she can start living with the young Gertrude."
Ariel whispered, "I'm still not comfortable with the idea of forcing my thoughts on someone else. Why must I play these sickening mind games with another copy of me?"
"Leira is almost you. Slightly modified to play the role that 'you' must play. In constructing Leira, your original body form was altered by Grean so as to allow Leira to take on an alien form that will serve Leira well during her mission in the past."
Ariel demanded, "Who is this Grean? Why do you do her bidding?"
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| Viewing Earth from the Hierion Domain |
Ariel found it impossible to keep her eyes off of Deomede. He was simply gorgeous and apparently he could not prevent his own lecherous thoughts from entering into the minds of others. During the night, Ariel had found it very difficult to resist joining Trysta and Deomede in their bedroom and she had tossed and turned in her own bed down the hall from them for an hour before she could drift into sleep.
Ariel asked Trysta, "But why use me? Why not let Deomede do the job? With his telepathic powers, he could easily control Leira's behavior."
Trysta asked, "Is that really what you want? To have someone else take control of your copy? Isn't it best that you do it?"
Ariel paced back and forth across the room for a minute. Finally she blurted out, "I don't know! I need time to think. Why are you in such a hurry for me to meet Leira?"
"To be honest, Relda, I don't want to give you too much time to think. And Deomede is right. We simply do not know how long I'll be here. "
Ariel had begun to grow accustomed to being called Relda, but she felt resentment over Trysta's pushiness. "You think you can rush me and trick me into doing your dirty work?"
"No, I've been completely honest with you. I want you to work with me because you know it is the best way to help the people of Earth. The problem is, you have a creative mind. The longer you think about what must be done, the more excuses you invent for why you don't have to put your shoulder to it and do the job. Really, it is absurd to suggest that Deomede work with Leira."
"What's so crazy about that idea?"
"Deomede is unsuitable for the same reason that Andrea would be a bad choice for this project. Neither Deomede or Andre have ever learned to exercise any discrimination. They'll hop into bed with any sweet bundle of bones that walks past them."
Ariel protested, "But you have not explained why Grean equipped this new copy of me with a penis. Why did you do that to her? It makes no sense! Why does Leira need a penis?"
Deomede smiled and tried to lighten the mood of the discussion. "Relda, the louder you object, the more I suspect you have a case of penis envy."
Ariel laughed. "Maybe I do." She certainly could not stop fantasizing about Deomede and his penis. "But that still does not explain this 'little detail' in Trysta's plan."
Trysta tried to put herself in Ariel's shoes. She tried again to justify the decision to give the A3 copy of Ariel a penis. The real reason was one lost in the fine details of temporal chaos and far too complicated to explain. For a million mostly unknowable reasons, providing Leira with a penis and making her a simultaneous hermaphrodite was the best way to bend the shape of Time. Trysta tried to formulate a concise explanation that would satisfy Ariel's curiosity. "Gertrude and her 'sisters' are all human-fain hybrids, being prepared for their missions on Earth. A3, Leira, if you prefer, the other copy of you, must fit in with that group of trainees, she must also play the role of a hybrid."
Ariel shook her head. "No. Your plan won't work. If you knew anything at all about human psychology you would know that I can't do this. Put me in close contact with Gertrude and within a day I'll be telling her everything about this secret plot of yours to snare her a husband."
Trysta laughed. "No, you won't."
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| Time Portal from the archives of the Writers Block |
"Fine." Trysta spoke with sarcasm coloring her voice. "You know better than I."
"You don't seem concerned that your plan is doomed to fail."
"Ariel, I can View the future. I know that my plan might fail, because that is an unavoidable feature of chaos and the flow of Time. However, if we fail, then we will learn from the failure and go back in time and try again, try to get it right the second time. In this case, the estimated likelihood of success for the Gertrude micro-change is at a close to 85% probability. Thus, my confidence."
"I'm telling you, I won't lie to Gertrude. I won't trick her."
"Keeping a secret is not the same as lying. Gertrude will appreciate receiving your insights into human male behavior. Gertrude likes boys, but she has little experience with them. So you see, your expertise will be quite valuable... what you teach Gertrude about boys will serve her well during her entire mission on Earth."
Ariel was not very experienced dealing with men. She had always been quite interested in girls and it seemed absurd to suggest that she was the best candidate to teach Gertrude about how to behave around men. "I still feel that what you really need for this mission is someone like Andrea."
"Andrea King? No. Listen to me Ariel... I've explained this to you repeatedly... Why can't you accept the truth? You know how to discriminate between men. You inherited the ability from your mother. You can see into their souls. That cute actress, Andrea, did she ever learn anything about men other than how to pull them into her bed? No."
Ariel objected, "If I was born knowing how to judge men, then it is not a skill that I can teach to Gertrude."
"You are wrong about that. This is the amazing power of the human brain. Some people can be born with instinctive abilities, but, with practice, other people can learn those same cognitive abilities. Gertrude will learn from you how to handle men. In this case, we have the huge advantage of there being just one particular man that she must..." Trysta paused, but decided not to mince words, "... control. That allows us to focus our efforts like a laser beam." Trysta activated a holographic display showing an image of Isaac Asimov. "Look! This is Gertrude's future husband."
Ariel looked at the projected image. "I don't know him."
"Not yet. The copy of you who remains on Earth will meet him in a few short weeks. And, you can watch A1, back on Earth." Trysta laughed. "I have not emphasized this fact, but here in the Hierion Domain, we can watch everything that happens on Earth. You will be able to study this boy carefully. You will watch Ariel, your duplicate on Earth, while she gets to interact with him. Isaac will be in A1's writing class this fall semester. Then, with all that you learn about Asimov, you will be able to prepare Gertrude for her future role as his husband."
"What is his name? Isaac?"
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| source |
"And all this... this crazy game that you want to play with Gertrude, turning her into a seductive manipulator of men... how will it impact this boy? If he does become Gertrude's husband, how will that change his life?"
"For the better. He will live happily for almost a decade with Gertrude. In fact, through his whole life he will never stop loving her, even when they eventually grow apart and go their separate ways."
"Ten years? Then... what? She will die?"
"Oh, no. Gertrude has a long important life ahead of her. However, Asimov is a fixed point in time. Not easy for us to control." For a few seconds, Trysta reflected on the mysteries of time travel. "It is strange, but in every Reality, Asimov has two great loves, two important women in his life. In the new timeline of events that we need to create, Gertrude will be only the first of his two great loves."
Ariel could not restrain her curiosity. She looked suspiciously at Trysta. "And the second?"
"You know her. Your school chum, Marcia."
"Marcia!" Ariel gazed again at the image of Asimov. Then she looked again at Deomede, wondering about her own fate. Sitting there, thinking about Trysta and everything that she knew of Earth, Earthlings and the future, she wondered: what must it be like to see into the future and use that knowledge to guide the lives of others? Ariel felt a strange rush, a sense of the power that was being offered to her. Exactly the kind of power she had long fantasized about achieving through her writing. She thought to herself: if Trysta is offering me the tools that I will need to help Earth then I'd be a fool to refuse...
Trysta giggled and said, "You will soon know what it is like."
Ariel was not really surprised to find Trysta reading her mind. She asked, "So, you can see into my thoughts? You are telepathic, like Deomede?"
"As an Asterothrope, I do have some telepathic ability. So far, I am not very well tuned to your mind, but with each passing hour I better learn your individual mind pattern... it is remarkably similar to my own. I've reach the point where I can catch fragments of what you are preparing to say before you speak the words." Trysta adjusted the display screen. "Look! This is the future. This is the critical event on Earth that you must change, that you must improve."
Ariel watched Asimov close the metal door of a locker. She recognized the location in the Student Union building at New York University. Asimov was in a hurry: closing his locker, he turned and crashed into the approaching Gertrude. His chemistry textbook fell from his hand and skittered across the floor. Asimov bent down, picked up the book. Almost knocked off her feet, Gertrude was asking, "Where have you been?"
Asimov dusted off the book and then looked at Gertrude. He said, "I'm rushing just now. See you in class at 8:00." He pushed past her and hurried off. The images froze with a view of Gertrude watching Asimov's receding form.
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| planning a time travel mission |
Trysta nodded. "Taken out of context, it does not seem like much, but Asimov is rushing off to Marcia's waiting arms. In this version of Reality," Trysta pointed at the displayed image of Gertrude, "Marcia becomes Asimov's first wife and things turn out badly. We have to alter the course of these events." Trysta pointed at the image of Gertrude. "On this night, at this place and time, Gertrude must stop Asimov and prevent him from running off to Marcia's apartment."
Ariel shook her head. "Good luck with that. Asimov barely looked at Gertrude. How does he even know her?"
"They have been chemistry lab partners for about a week."
"So he barely knows her!"
"Actually, they have known each other for about a year, through school, by being in the same science classes."
"He has known her casually for a year? And he rudely runs her over and never answers her question?"
"Quite. You see, Ariel, Gertrude needs to learn how to handle Asimov. Asimov must be given reasons to hold Gertrude in high esteem. It is you who can teach Gertrude how to achieve that transformation."
"Isaac and Gertrude may be in the same chemistry class, but if there is no sexual chemistry between the two of them, then what can I do to change things?"
"If I knew the answer to that question, I would not need you." Trysta turned off the holographic display. "I'm sure you will come up with a good strategy. The details are completely up to you."
Ariel asked, "You've seen my future? You know what will happen because of my involvement with Gertrude?"
"Yes, I have Viewed the probable future that you can create. However, I can't tell you much more about what I have seen. That would be trying to force a paradox upon Time, and that is impossible. So, you will face the challenge of constructing your own future."
"Unless I refuse to help you."
"I might not know much human psychology, but I can tell you this. After you see the horrors that await in Earth's future, dreadful events that you can avert by your actions, you will most eagerly help me." Trysta said with confidence, "Together we will make a better future."
Trysta could sense that Ariel's resistance to the plan was lessening. She could also sense the growing attraction that Ariel felt for Deomede. Trysta realized that it was all part of Grean's plan that Ariel would be susceptible to Deomede's charms. It was time to take Ariel to meet Leira. Trysta passionately kissed Deomede. She whispered in his ear, "Farewell my love."
He held her at arm's length and asked telepathically: So this is the end?
Trysta gave a delicate shrug. If it is, take care of Ariel. She is feeling isolated and cut-off from her home on Earth. Help her adjust to her new life here.
Deomede quietly watched the two women depart.
Trysta took Ariel back to Grean's workshop. Using the Viewer in the workshop, Trysta showed Ariel a summary of the worst horrors of the future that would befall Humanity. Then, shifting the Viewer into another mode, Ariel was shown how the shape of future events could be altered, through Ariel's actions, producing a better future for the people of Earth.
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| The Final Reality |
And now there was something else echoing in Ariel's mind. It was almost like a mirror image of her own thoughts... maybe someone questioning her own decisions. Confused by this new thought stream that was intruding upon her mind, Ariel pushed it away. Her mind cleared and Ariel said, "I'm ready to meet Leira."
It was like seeing her younger self in a photograph. A young version of Ariel walked into the workshop along with an older... What? Walking beside Leira was what appeared to be almost a woman, but Grean was obviously not a conventional human. Tyrsta told Ariel, "Relda, meet Leira and Grean."
Grean told Leira, "This is Relda. You will eventually grow up and you will look much like her in about eight years."
Relda and Leira took hold of each-others hands and examined each-other both visually and telepathically. Hello.
How are you doing?
I am well.
Relda spoke to Trysta, "I don't understand how you did this."
Grean explained, "It is pretty simple, Relda. Leira is basically a copy of you, as you were at the age of 13."
Leira spoke out-loud, "Relax, Relda. Grean pre-loaded me with..." Leira fell silent, not certain how to explain to Ariel how her mind had been modified.
Grean told Relda, "I implanted in Leira's endosymbiont a standard orientation module that I have often used to help my agents adjust to life here in the Hierion Domain."
Relda complained, "More mind control..."
Leira told Relda: I am just like you, thinking for myself and deciding for myself.
Relda was not certain. How can you know if you are actually in control of your own mind?
Leira giggled, "Seriously, Relda, get over it! I'm willing to listen to you and learn from your experience, but I'm never going to be your puppet."
Relda and Leira both stopped speaking out loud and continued their conversation by means of exchanged thoughts, a process being made possible by the Bimanoid Interface.
Grean told Trysta, "Their ability to use the Interface is excellent."
Trysta asked Grean, "You foresaw this moment?"
"I did, but it had to be hidden from you. It is now time for you to depart."
Trysta objected, "Before I go, allow me to send Leira into the past."
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| Grean |
Relda and Leira could feel the edge of the thought stream that connected Grean and Trysta. Leira asked, "What is going on?"
Grean led Trysta to the time travel device. "I'm sending Trysta into the past."
Trysta took her place on the low platform of the time travel machine and turned towards Relda. "Have fun with Deomede. Don't expect too much from him, but do experiment with collaboration. He knows a lot about history and can help you with your writing."
The space-time coordinates were already set. Grean activated the machine and Trysta disappeared into the past. "Okay, Leira. Your turn."
Leira let go of Relda's hands and climbed onto the platform of the time machine. Grean adjusted the control settings then the girl puffed into non-existence. Grean switched off the time machine and pointed to a large display screen behind Relda. "There she is."
Relda turned and saw Leira. She was with another copy of Grean, inside the workshop, eight years in the past. Relda had never lost telepathic contact with Leira, but the girl was busy. She was being taken to meet Svahr and her new family, including Gertrude.
"You are there, in the past." Relda turned towards Grean and asked, "So you knew all along that it would turn out this way."
Grean laughed. "It is complicated. I have memories of being there and introducing Leira to Gertrude, but those memories may have shifted when I sent Leira into an earlier portion of Eternity. We time travelers deal in probabilities. If Time shifts, we don't notice."
"Eternity?" Ariel continued to watch Leira and Grean in the past. "I'm confused."
"Sorry to dump more jargon on you. I've adopted the habit of calling this part of the Hierion Domain 'Eternity'. With time, you will eventually develop an understanding of the intricacies of time travel."
"It is not only time travel that confuses me. How can I be telepathically connected to Leira if she is in the past. Isn't there a... another Leira now, here in this time? She should have grown to be my age by now."
Grean asked Relda, "Just when do you think you are?"
"I assumed that it is 1939."
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| Svahr |
"1972? I'm in... the future?"
"You are. The year 1972 is going to be a big year in the Final Reality. It was important to make Trysta aware of that fact."
"So, we are now in the Final Reality?"
"No, not quite. By sending Trysta 10,000 years into the past, the Changes that will create the Final Reality have been set in motion. However, this is a complex Reality Change and it will slowly unfold. There is still time for small adjustments. There will be new analogues of you, me and Trysta in the Final Reality, but for now, we are still within the Ekcolir Reality."
"Analogues. I don't really understand. Deomede is some sort of copy of Ekcolir?"
"Something like that. Your problem, Relda, is that you want to know everything now. All at once! What I want you to do is calm down and sit down and use the Bimanoid Interface. Watch while Leira is introduced to her new family. There is much for you to do. You must begin your study of Gertrude. All the resources of my workshop are at your disposal."
Relda sat down on 'her' chair, the chair from the reception hall that was still on the teleportation platform. She followed along with Leira's thoughts and watched the view of Leira that was being provided on the display screen.
Grean went away, busy with her own work. Later, just as a tired Leira was asking Relda to get out of her thoughts so that she could sleep, Grean returned to the workshop and asked Ariel, "Have you moved at all?"
Relda stood up and stretched her legs. "Strange, I worked all day and I did not even get up to pee." Even then, she felt nothing in her bladder.
Grean took Relda by the hand and led her out of the workshop and to the garden pathway that connected to Trysta's home. As they walked, Grean explained, "You will find that life here in the Hierion Domain is different than life on Earth. Nanites are now working in your body to remove all of your metabolic wastes, one molecule at a time. You need never again urinate or defecate."
Relda laughed, realizing why Trysta's house did not have a toilet. "And now that I think about it, I have not been hungry since I arrived here."
"Humans living in the Hierion Domain often eat meals, but mainly for social reasons. There are feeding nanites that will automatically keep your body supplied with all the nutrients that are needed. Now, if you can put a lid on all the questions, remember, there is always another day. I see Wendy up ahead and so I'll leave you in her care." Grean let go of Relda's hand, turned and went back down the path towards the workshop.
Wendy the gardener approached and asked Relda, "How was your day?"
"Busy!" She looked at the robot and thought about how Trysta had ordered Wendy to 'entertain' Deomede. She asked, "What is Deomede like?"
Wendy began walking towards the house where Deomede was waiting. "He is a lot of fun. You two will be great together. All day he was reading your stories."
"My stories? I've never published anything."
"You will. But Deomede started with your unpublished writings. He has complete access to Earth, so he had no trouble finding your stories. He started with 'Out Foxed'.
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| Deomede and Wendy the robot. |
Relda looked at Wendy. "You too? You can read my mind?"
Wendy explained, "I'm a positronic robot, with a powerful telepathic ability. If you ever need me to do anything, just ask... in your thoughts. I will know."
Next: Part 7 of "Time of Theurgency".
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