The Yurahs Stress Test

Below on this page is Part 4, the last chapter of the science fiction story "The Prisoner of L2". Yōd and the Editor have come to the L2 space station community in order to investigate the possibility that R. Nyrtia provided advanced teleportation technology to humans in Alastor Cluster.

Previously, a story called "The French Notebook" was discovered inside the archives of the Writers Block. That story was full of technical details about the purification of iridium and the challenges of engineering a functional teleportation device. "The French Notebook" rather casually mentioned both a woman named Nyrtia and the L2 community near Numenes.

In the Final Reality, teleportation technology is no longer available to humans. Previously, the teleporter at Observer Base could be used to move people between Earth and the Eternity space-time bubble in the Hierion Domain. The Editor has speculated that since the alien Huaoshy changed the Dimensional Structure of the Universe, some advanced technologies such as time travel and teleportation might no longer be possible.

the original Dimensional Structure of the Universe

Iridium Processing Station #1 (IPS1) and IPS2 are two asteroid ore processing centers located inside the L2 community. In hope of learning the secret of how Nyrtia influenced the development of teleportation technology, Yōd has provocatively tried to attract the attention of the chief scientists at both the IPS1 teleportation research center and the new telepathy research project at IPS2. For the past several years, Yōd and Azynov have been investigating the origins of human telepathy in the Asimov Reality. As told in Part 3, a new, experimental type of teleportation technology (code named J7) has been developed at IPS1 and is in use at the telepathy genetics research center in IPS2. 

By using her nanites to alter the fine structure of Dr. Norberek's brain, Yōd has forced Norberek to consider an unlikely hypothesis. Now, Dr. Norberek, head of teleportation research at IPS1, fears that the Connatic's daughter, Yurahs, is trapped inside a J7 teleportation buffer. The events in Part 4 of The Prisoner of L2, below, take place immediately after the end of Part 3.

Part 4 of The Prisoner of L2 (Part 1)(Part 2)(Part 3)

Dr. Norberek ran out of the room. Captain Derskyt spoke into a microphone, "Put two guards on Norberek. Start rounding up everyone in his research team." Derskyt told Yōd and I, "I'm going to have to hold you in the brig."

Dr. Chalmert told the Captain, "Don't be a fool. We need to figure out what happened to Yurahs. We can't learn anything if you go into some absurd security lock-down."

Captain Derskyt asked Evy, "Tell me, Doc, have you ever seen Norberek acting like this? Is he having a nervous breakdown?"

Evy Chalmert shook her head. "He's obviously under a lot of pressure, but I can't identify the source of that pressure." Evy looked at Yōd speculatively. "Even the most powerful telepath couldn't break Dyna or reduce Norberek to a quivering..."

Yōd began exerting the full force of her mind-control nanites and her telepathy on Captain Derskyt. "Captain, I want to make a deal. Take us to see the J7 teleporter in Dr. Norberek's lab and I'll identify the person who abducted Yurahs."

Captain Derskyt demanded, "What are talking about? You know the identity of the traitor?"

"No, I don't know. Not yet. But I can find out who it is."

"How will you do that?"

"Captain, we are inside a Simulation. I can look into the future. Now that we've narrowed the search parameters, I'm sure that I can crack this case. Let's do it the easy way."

Derskyt asked Evy, "Are these two a security risk? What does your telepathic sense tell you?"

Evy said, "I'm slowly synchronizing with Yōd's mind. I think she's telling the truth about everything."

"You believe this simulation nonsense?"

"I don't want to believe it. I can't believe it. But it is the only way to explain all the things that Yōd knows about."

Captain Derskyt slumped over and fell out of his chair. Evy rushed forward to check on him. 

Yōd told me: I'll get us an escort. You get Derskyt on his feet. Yōd stepped out in the hallway. I could hear her talking to someone. I picked up Derskyt, but he was no lightweight. I told Evy, "Help me!" With both of us holding on to him, we could just keep the Captain balanced between us, much like a 200 pound wet noodle. Yōd came back into the office with a soldier. It was Jayn. 

Captain Derskyt's eyes opened and his legs stiffened. Yōd saw that Derskyt was recovering his motor control. She said, "Jayn, please take us to Dr. Norberek's research lab... quickly."

Jayn looked dubiously at Captain Derskyt. Evy took Jayn's arm and insisted, "Hurry now, let's catch up to Dr. Norberek!"

As we walked out of Captain Derskyt's office, Jayn asked, "What's going on?"

Yōd replied, "We found Yurahs. She's trapped in Dr. Norberek's lab."

Jayn complained, "You must be crazy. We searched... we tore apart that entire quadrant of the station."

After another tram ride and the use of another elevator, we finally reached the lab. Norberek was with a group of technicians, but when he saw us he said, "There is something in the buffer."

The room was crowded with soldiers and Whelm officers. Captain Derskyt asked, "Yurahs?"

______________

Yōd grabbed my hand and suddenly we were popped out of the simulation and were back with Azynov at his little workstation in the middle of what looked like a gray cloud. There with him was a woman holding a small child in her arms. Yōd and Azynov embraced. I asked the woman, "Who are you?"

She replied, "I'm Yurahs." She handed the toddler to Yōd.

The little girl said, "Na, Mommy." Yōd sat down in the chair beside the data console and began nursing the little girl who I realized must be Roxzel.

I mumbled, "But..."

Azynov told Yōd, "I found out that Yurahs is a pretty good telepath."

Yōd asked Yurahs, "Well, can you tell us..." Yōd fell silent.

Yurahs was emphatically shaking her head. "I don't know any of the technical details of how I was duplicated."

Azynov said, "I'm not sure that anyone in the royal family truly understands teleportation technology."

I asked, "Duplicated?"

image credits

Azynov explained, "There are now three copies of Yurahs. Two are inside the Asimov Reality Simulation. The original copy is inside the teleportation buffer. The teleportation duplicate has gone to the Connatic's Palace on Numenes." He pointed at the copy who was standing beside me and said, "I made this copy of the copy and popped her out of the AR Simulation."

Yōd asked Azynov, "You want to try a trance?"

Azynov nodded, "I've explained everything to Yurahs."

Yurahs told Yōd, "I want to solve this mystery. Who duplicated me? And how? I can't believe that someone... from outside... can control events in the Cluster!" Yurahs moved close to me and took hold of my arm. "I'm ready..." She glanced over her shoulder at Azynov and asked, "You are sure that this is the original Eddy?"

Suddenly. I knew what Azynov was scheming. I told Yurahs, "I'm a married man. And if I know my history, you and Heshlo are..."

Yurahs giggled, "Azynov told me all about your problem. It took me two weeks to break down the will of your duplicate." I was still trying to speak, but Yurahs put a finger on my lips. "Hush! Don't over-think this. It is very simple. Let's just do it!" She put her arms around me. "Please trust me, lover."

I saw Azynov wave his hand and suddenly we were back inside the Simulation. Yōd was sitting on the end of a bed. Azynov told me, "This is your suite at the hotel." He pointed towards the door of the bedroom and said, "You have two reasonable choices... the couch or the hot tub." 

Two robots came into the bedroom and one of them took Roxzel from Yōd. I immediately noticed that the robot looked quite distinctly female with large breasts. That first robot took Roxzel out of the bedroom. The other robot was turning down the bed and started plumping the pillows. Azynov and Yōd were undressing each-other and kissing each new patch of skin that was uncovered.

Yurahs took my hand and pulled me out of the bedroom. She asked, "Which do you prefer, the couch or the hot tub?"

I suggested, "The robot... you and the robot could..."

Yurahs laughed and then said, "Don't be mean. These robots are disgusting." She took me to the hot tub and then she started pulling off her clothing. The second robot turned on the water jets of the tub and then Yurahs pointed at me and told the machine, "Undress him." Now naked, she climbed into the tub.

I could find no fault in the physical appearance of Yurahs. She was lovely and I was wondering if I was going to be able to resist making love to her. Strangely, the idea that she was the Connatic's daughter made me reluctant to even gaze upon her sexy curves.

Azynov called from the bedroom, "Hurry up you two. We have to synchronize our orgasms."

Having undressed me, the robot took my arm and pulled me towards the tub. Yurahs reached out and took hold of my penis. Now the robot got undressed and the she picked me up and set me in the tub. I say 'she' because like the other robot, she looked like a she. Not quite human, but close. I asked, "Fortran?"

The robot replied, "Yes, I'm the robot you named Fortran."

"I didn't recognize you." Yurahs was wasting no time and had taken the sensitive tip of my penis in her mouth.

Fortran sank under the surface of the water and moved between the legs of Yurahs. Yurahs pulled her mouth off of me and asked, "Are you really going to let Fortran give me an orgasm? Her tongue work is not bad, but I'm spoiled." She tugged on my erection. "I want you inside me. Now!"

I called to Azynov, "What's the big rush?"

Yurahs put her hands on my hips and looked at me. She gave a sad shake of her head and looked past me, speaking to someone else, "I thought I'd figured out your favorite kind of sexplay, but Azynov was right... he told me that this would not work."

I heard a voice behind me say, "I'll take over." It was me. A copy of me. He got into the tub, pushed away Fortran, grabbed Yurahs' hips from behind, and began to energetically thrust his penis in and out of her vagina.

I muttered, "What's going on?" I felt my mind telepathically synchronizing with that of my copy. Fortran had shifted around and got her tongue back on the stiff glans of Yurahs' clitoris.

Yurahs was bent over Fortran and had her hands resting on the edge of the tub. She told me, "I've been living with you... your copy... for the past three months. He knows how to satisfy my desires."

I felt a strange kind of jealousy directed at my duplicate as I turned away from the tub and wandered out of the spa room and into the living room. There was Basic, sitting in an armchair and nursing Roxzel. 

I went on to the dining room and sat down in a chair. A moment later, Fortran was there. She said, "Allow me, sir." The robot took my penis in her mouth. I closed my eyes and could feel my copy's penis inside the hot, tight vagina of Yurahs. With Fortran's tongue tickling the sensitive tip of my penis, I started to ejaculate and found myself in a shared telepathic mind space with my copy, Yurahs, Yōd and Azynov. 

There was another mind there, too, and after a while I realized that it was Roxzel.

Yōd told me: Back to the lab!

I was enjoying the feel of Yurahs' vagina, but I knew that Yōd was right. I had come to the Asimov Reality Simulation in order to investigate Nyrtia, not have telepathic group sex with a robot. I pushed out of my thoughts the sensation of Yurahs' silky soft vagina and then the feel of Fortran's tongue on my penis. I pictured the teleportation research lab at IPS1 and reached out telepathically, sampling the mind patterns of the scientists and technicians while trying to avoid the looming thoughts of all the Whelm officers and soldiers that had crowded into the laboratory. Dr. Chalmert was there, but her telepathic mind was like a bright beacon, clear and open, and not of interest. There was one other mind there that stood out. I felt Yōd's mind jump into synchrony with... her name was Tyffany.

Tyffany Maysel. She was a secret agent working for the Connatic himself. She'd been trained to play the role of a teleportation engineer, but her real job was to make teleportation duplicates for the Connatic. And I could sense that she was not the first to have that assignment. This had been going on for- 

Suddenly, my brief experience of powerful telepathic clarity came to an end.

As I emerged from the orgasm trance, I found Fortran in my arms. She was sitting in my lap with her artificial vagina tightly clasping my erection. I said, "That's enough, Forty." The robot stood up and glanced over my shoulder. I turned my head and saw Yōd in the next room. I could still sense what my copy was doing with Yurahs in the hot tub as they worked diligently towards another orgasm.

With the eerie robot there watching me, I quickly lost my erection. I had to agree with Yurahs. The sex bots of L2 were not quite human in appearance and Fortran was definitely in my uncanny valley. Still, the machine had worked with professionalism and had successfully given me an orgasm at just the right time to synchronize my mind with that of Yōd. "Forty, bring me by clothes." I went into the living room and asked Yōd, "Do you know this woman, Tyffany Maysel?"

Yōd was again nursing her daughter. She replied to my query, "I can tell you this; Tyf was on Azynov's short list of suspects."

Fortran brought me my clothes and I started to dress. I asked Yōd, "How can you and Azynov know so much and also so little?"

Yōd giggled. "This is the way Azynov always works. By Viewing the Simulation from outside, we first nose around and get a general idea of the problem and then we are quick to jump into the Simulation. Yes, sometimes we have to backtrack and try something else, but eventually we get there..."

I sighed. "From what I saw in her mind during that trance, I have feeling about Tyffany... she's a very shallow well. I doubt if she knows anything at all about Nyrtia."

Yōd shrugged. "It is hard to say. I only had time to sift through a small part of her memories during that orgasm trance. However, it is clear that both the Connatic and General Tomlyn know all about her special role."

I asked, "General Tomlyn?"

Yōd explained, "He's head of security at IPS1... you haven't met him, but he's Captain Derskyt's boss." 

Azynov came into the room, his erection barely concealed by the robe he was wearing. He stood by Yōd's chair and she reached out to lovingly stroke his penis. Azynov told me, "I'd sure like to keep Yōd here for a day or two, but I'm also curious about the Connatic's special agent, Maysel. So, back to work!" He asked Yōd, "Are you ready to get back into the hunt?"

I suggested, "Before we go after Maysel, maybe you should tell me what you know."

Azynov sat on the arm of the chair. "Not very much. We still need to find out if it was Nyrtia that gave the Connatic access to the advanced technology that is needed to duplicate humans."

I was having trouble paying attention to Azynov and Yōd. My copy was close to achieving another orgasm and because of the strong telepathic link that we shared, his sexual pleasure was filling my mind. I asked, "Is that all this 'French Connection' is about... making copies of people?"

the Connatic

Yōd sputtered, "All? What more do you want?"

"Well, if Nyrtia is behind this, then the important question becomes... why?"

Azynov added, "And when? How long has this been going on? A thousand years? To get the answers that you want, we may have to take our enquiries all the way to the Connatic himself."

Roxzel had fallen asleep at Yōd's breast. Yōd was still playing with his erection, but she told Azynov, "I'm ready."

Azynov kissed Yōd on the lips then suddenly, Roxzel and Azynov disappeared and I lost my telepathic connection to my copy. Yōd and I were still in our hotel suite, apparently at another time point of the Simulation. Yōd took one of her breasts in her hand and shook it, drying off the nipple. "You are so stubborn! Azynov gave you a chance to make love to the Connatic's sexy daughter and you chose to take a blow job from a crappy L2 sex bot." Still glaring at me, Yōd buttoned up her blouse.

I was a bit disoriented. I had two layers of over-lapping memories. In one run through the Simulation, Yōd and I had visited IPS1, but in another iteration, we had come up to our hotel suite without Yōd even asking Fortran about how we could obtain a flitter. Those two sets of memories were all jumbled together along with the little orgy that had been orchestrated by Azynov, featuring roles for Yurahs and my copy. Rubbing my spinning head, I asked Yōd, "Where is my copy now?"

Yōd got out of her chair. I suddenly remembered that upon going to the suite, she had immediately tried to talk me into some sexplay in the hot tub. I had refused and went to sit in the living room. Pushing away sweet thoughts of the sexy Yurahs splashing in the tub, I now remembered that Yōd had asked Fortran to bring us some hot tea. 

Now, Fortran came into the living room carrying a tray. Yōd took a steaming cup of tea off of the tray and then Fortran came over to me where I sat on the couch. I took a cup of tea and told Fortran, "Thank you." Fortran was back in her utilitarian body form with no breasts and a kind of silly half-hat, half-fake hair piece thing on her head. I could not decide which was better, this neutered form or Fortran's female sex bot version. Both were fairly creepy approximations of the human body form.

Yōd sipped her tea then said, "We need to figure out a way to get to Tyffany."

I asked, "Can't Azynov just pull her out of the simulation, the way he did with Yurahs?"

"He already tried that, but we need to fight fire with fire." I could telepathically sense that Yōd was deep in thought.

I was rather angry about Azynov's refusal to brief me on what he had been able to learn. I decided there was no use in getting mad at Azynov. Maybe he had reasons for his failure to communicate effectively. Maybe there were some things I was better off not knowing. I asked Yōd, "What does that mean?"

"Tyffany seems to have a swarm of mind control nanites in her brain. If she is yanked out of the simulation, her nanites activate and start destroying her brain. That's part of their programming. The nanites are programmed to prevent Tyffany from telling anyone how to teleport a person... or even that it is possible."

"So, Azynov does not have any clue how Yurahs was duplicated?"

"Not really. I suspect that Tyf used the J7 in Dr. Norberek's lab, but it is hard to see how she did it. There was a big crowd of people there in the lab."

I was thinking about what Evy had said. If additional J7 units were over at IPS2, why couldn't there be additional J7s inside IPS1? But then why a power surge in the lab's J7? Fortran was standing there holding her serving tray which had a plate of biscuits on it. I said, "Forty..."

Fortran took a stop towards me and held out the tray. I still had not felt hungry since entering into the Asimov Reality Simulation. I waved him back, "I don't want any food... but tell me... you are linked into a central computer?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where is Basic?"

The other robot stepped into the room and said, "I'm here."

"You were listening to us?"

"And waiting for an order from either you or Yōd. Or I can help Fortran if she needs assistance."

"Basic, go to the four-door flitter in the parking garage and get my datpax." Basic turned and departed from the suite.

Fortran said, "I left you two with Elyas for just a short time... I... did Master Elyas show you the flitters? Did he give you a datpax?"

I laughed. "Relax Fortran... don't try to understand the silly things that people do. Tell me! Just tell me, can you still communicate with Basic, right now?"

"Of course. We are linked through the central computer."

"Okay, that's what I wanted to know." I approached the robot and put a hand on her shoulder. "I lied to you, Forty. There is no datpax inside the flitter. Tell Basic to come back here."

Yōd asked Fortran, "Can you communicate with any other robot within L2?"

Fortran asked, "For what purpose?"

"Oh, I don't know. Let's say that I wanted to get in touch with Bey. Can you contact Bey's helper robot?"

Fortran pointed to the data console on a table in the corner of the room. "Just place a videocom call to Bey."

I suggested, "What if I left my datpax at Bey's house? In a drawer in the guest bedroom. Can you call Bey's helper robot and have it look for the datpax?

Basic came back into the suite. Fortran asked me, "What datpax?"

"It is a hypothetical datpax. All I want to know is if you can contact other robots elsewhere in L2."

Fortran explained, "I could, in an emergency."

image credits

"Can you contact the helper robot of Tyf Maysel? Tyffany."

"Is there an emergency?"

Yōd set her empty tea cup on the serving tray, then grabbed hold of Fortran's arm and cried out, "Help me Fortran! Tyffany is in danger! She is going to be arrested for abducting Yurahs." Yōd had tears running down her cheeks.

Fortran went to the data console and set the tray down on the table. "I'll call Tyffany so that you can warn her."

I told Fortran, "Stop! No calls. Tyffany is being watched. Everyone in Dr. Norberek's lab is under suspicion. Contact Tyffany's helper robot. Have Tyffany's helper robot get Tyffany out of IPS1 as soon as possible, but quietly... without attract the attention of Whelm security. Tyffany must come here, to this suite, so that Yōd and I can help her."

Yōd tried to stifle a giggle. She placed a hand on my arm and told me, "I don't think it will work, but nice try."

I wiped the tears off of her cheeks and told Yōd, "You're quite an actress, but I don't think tears are very effective against robots." Then the data console was buzzing. A voice said, "Eddy Torus?"

A video image of Tyffany appeared on the vidcall screen. I said, "Yes, this is Eddy. Thank you for calling."

She asked, "Do I know you?"

"We have not met."

"What's this nonsense about you wanting me to come over to Brynkly station?"

"We need to meet."

"Why?"

"Tell me, do you think your calls are monitored? By the military?"

Tyffany laughed. "I get it. This is a security test."

"So, I'm not in the Whelm. Listen, when the Connatic has a job for you, how do you communicate?" Tyffany's face turned grave and the call was terminated.

Yōd told me, "Azynov can reset the Simulation. We can try that again. In fact, Azynov can go back months and introduce us to her... send Tyf our names."

I shook my head. "The problem is, I'm sure that everyone involved in that teleportation research project is constantly watched by the Whelm security agents. How can we contact Tyf in such a way that she won't come under suspicion?"

"Unfortunately, she's not in a position like Dyna."

"Maybe there is some other way to communicate with her that we are not thinking of." I finished my tea. 

I set the cup on the tray and Fortran took the tray to the kitchen, over her shoulder she asked us, "More tea?"

Yōd said, "No, thank you."

I glanced at Basic who was standing by the front door of the suite. I said, "Sorry for sending you on a wild goose chase."

Basic said, "Ah... geese are a bird on Earth. But why a goose chase?"

I told the machine, "It is an old phrase... ancient Earth idiom. I'd explain it, but I doubt if you know what a horse is."

Basic seemed to pause for a few seconds while accessing the central computer. "Horse; another animal of Earth. Four legs. Is the datpax in the four-door flitter?"

"Please forget about the datpax. I lied to you." I laughed. "You are very creative, Basic. I should not have named you Basic."

Fortran came back into the room. I started fantasizing about the two robots in their female forms and Fortran sucking on my penis. Yōd told me telepathically: If you are that horny, go ahead and play with the robot, but remember, you'd have a much better time with me.

Don't distract me. Pushing away my memories of the robots in female form, I tried to think of some other way to contact Tyffany, some way to gain her trust without attracting the attention of the military agents that had to be watching her.

Yōd said, "If General Tomlyn is aware of Tyffany's special relationship with the Connatic..."

I suggested, "Maybe we should go through Tomlyn to get to Tyf."

Yōd went to the data console and spent a half hour trying to get a call through to General Tomlyn. She came closest by first calling Chief Engineer Rahwel, but Dyna could only get Yōd as far as Captain Derskyt. Derskyt told Yōd, "I'm looking at the Whelm report on your telepathic ability. Impressive! We get nervous when powerful telepath's visit the mining station. Do you really intend to meet with Dyna?"

Yōd replied, "Yes, my husband, a writer, is doing research for his novel. I don't see how that concerns the Whelm."

"Our security is extra tight since the dust up on Yrinna. It would be a fine trick for the space pirates to use a science fiction writer as cover for infiltrating an economically important space station."

"You have quite an imagination, Captain. Do you write fiction, yourself?"

During the call to Derskyt, Yōd had her blouse strategically unbuttoned, but at this distance she had no telepathic link to the Captain. And with no nanites performing nanosurgery on his brain, Derskyt was not going to be seriously distracted by Yōd's breasts. Derskyt laughed politely. "I personally approved a visit between your husband and our chief engineer. Come on out to the station. Maybe I'll see you then." The call was disconnected. Yōd turned away from the data console.

I was gazing at the pretty parts of Yōd's chest that I could see through the gap in her unbuttoned blouse and I was speculating on exactly where Tyffany lived when there was a knock on the door. Basic told us, "The main desk sent Tyffany up. Should I let her in?"

Yōd and I looked at each-other. I had not expect this, and I could telepathically sense surprise in Yōd's mind. I told Basic, "Yes! Let her in."

When the door opened, Tyffany came into our suite, closely followed by a tall man. Both Yōd and I shook her hand and Yōd blurted out, "You're a telepath."

"Sadly, not quite on your frequency. Our telepathic minds won't synchronize." Tyffany placed a hand on Yōd. "What are you?" She glanced at me and said, "You both have such strange minds!"

Human teleportation.

I explained, "Neither of us is quite human. My brain was warped into the form of a tryp'At brain. The tryp'At are a human variant. And Yōd is half Neanderthal. But thank you for coming over." I was looking suspiciously at the man, suspecting that he was a military agent assigned to provide security for Tyf.

Tyffany told me, "That's Anthony, my helper." Anthony looked perfectly human, unlike the other robots at L2.

Yōd asked Tyf, "Would you like some tea, or maybe something more interesting?"

Tyffany replied, "No, I'm fine. Frankly, I'm a bit confused. My relationship with the Connatic is supposed to be a big secret."

Yōd explained, "Well, we're from outside this Simulation. So you see, we have special sources of information."

"Simulation?"

We spent 20 minutes telling Tyf all about the Asimov Reality Simulator. I used my recall function to briefly pop out of the Simulation. Zeta was there in our living room. I said, "Hi!"

Zeta rushed into my arms and asked me, "How did it go?"

Zeta was looking quite radiant in her skimpiest swimsuit. I suppose she had been in our hot tub with Nora. "Things are getting interesting, now... I'll tell you all about the J7 teleporters when I return. I have to go beck to the Simulation. Bye." I returned to L2.

Tyf rubbed her eyes then found her voice. She told me, "That was an impressive disappearing act. So, you two have a teleporter?"

"No." Yōd shook her head and said, "About teleporters... how did you make Yurahs disappear? Did you use the teleporter in the lab or maybe another-"

Tyf nodded, "You guessed it. I have my own private teleportation unit, in my office. However, I tried to make it look like the J7 in the lab was used right about the time when I converted Yurahs into hierions."

I said, "I don't quite get it. You copied Yurahs and sent one copy home... all without anyone else noticing. Then why create all the ruckus at IPS1?"

Tyf laughed. "Oh, military games, as usual. General Tomlyn wanted to do another stress test... try to flush out any disloyal folks or infiltrators that might have been sent into L2 in an attempt to get at the special equipment at the new telepathy research center."

"Isn't security at IPS2 the responsibility of General Wylys?"

Tyf shrugged. "Oh, I suppose the two Generals are working this stress test together, as a team. I don't pay much attention to such nonsense. I just did Tomlyn a favor and put the Yurahs copy where it could be found. Now he has an excuse to interrogate all the scientists."

Yōd nodded. "I begin to understand."

Tyf shook her head. "Well, I don't understand. Are you trying to tell me that..." She paused then asked, "Me and my teleporter are not needed anymore? You two are going to be taking over my job?"

I said, "No, that's not true. Yōd told you the truth. We're just here to learn. Tell me, how can you be the only person who can teleport humans?"

"I'm not the first person in this role. I hold the rank of Major in the Whelm, but I don't know the history of this project for preserving the integrity of the royal family. I suspect this has been going on for centuries. The Connatics always make backup copies of their family members. That's how the royal family is so stable, even when they routinely go out from the Palace in their various roles, sometimes taking extreme risks."

Yōd said, "Well, thank you for telling us. I guess we will have to search further back into the past to get the to bottom of this."

"Time travel?"

"No, not really. We can enter into this Simulation at any time point."

Tyffany asked, "So what happens now? You just turn off this simulation. Me and my world will be erased?"

"No, nothing is erased."

Tyffany looked a bit irritated. "Well, it is going to be maddening. Living the rest of my life knowing this secret... that I exist inside a simulation... and not being able to do anything about it. If I try to tell anyone what I've seen and heard here, they'll call me a nut."

Yōd suggested, "Maybe you'll meet other visitors from outside."

Tyffany moved to the door. "I should be getting back. The entire security team is in a tizzy. I'll have to go through special questioning about this jaunt over here to the Brynkly."

Yōd showed Tyf and her robot Anthony out through the doorway. "Thanks again." Yōd closed the door and then leaned her back against it. "We'll, that was refreshing. I had the feeling that she's long wanted to tell her story to someone."

I asked, "You didn't used your nanites to make her talk?"

"Oh, no. Her brain is full of defensive nanites... I suppose planted there by Nyrtia. I was afraid that if I touched her mind it would trigger an auto-destruct program."

"How far back in time do you think this duplication of people goes?"

Yōd sighed. "This is the kind of dreary mop-up work that annoys me. You are free to continue the investigation, but I want to get back to Roxzel."

Azynov walked into the room carrying their daughter. He handed Roxzel to Yōd and Yōd went off to the bedroom carrying Roxzel. Azynov told me, "I hope you're satisfied."

I could sense some biting sarcasm in his voice. "Thank you for sorting all this out. I am tempted to go back a thousand years and meet Dr. Frenchyhysur. I might run into Nyrtia, but I doubt if she would even give me the time of day. The Nyrtia of this Reality, that is."

Azynov shrugged. "You may be right. Nyrtia seems to operate on a whole other level from us mortals. Still, I can't help suspecting that she planted the "French Notebook" at the Writers Block just so that you'd come visit Yōd. And then you never laid a hand on her."

"No, she's all yours, Azynov. I really don't understand why she taunts me with all of her sexual teasing."

"It is simple. She's jealous of Zeta."

I shook my head in wonder at the ways and mysteries of Yōd. "She does not need me. I have to say, she really seemed to enjoy her romp with Bey."

Azynov nodded. "I don't try to get in the way when Yōd finds a sweet young thing to cuddle with. She grew up with her female lovers on Tar'tron and she'll never change. I'm just lucky to get my turn with Yōd. I suspect that Nyrtia may have planned this whole visit to L2 just as a way give Yōd a chance to meet Bey."

"Why do you say that?"

"Bey was selected for her position as chief of police because she is particularly susceptible to telepathic mind control. That made it very easy for Yōd to sexually excite Bey. And so now Yōd gets a little vacation from the monotony of motherhood."

I asked, "Do you intend to vacation here for a while?"

"Why not? As you say, Yōd really seems to like Bey. Although, we may just return to Zeck."

"But what about the stress test? Didn't Bey get into trouble for making love to Yōd in her office?"

Azynov laughed. "No, that's her job. Bey flagged Yōd as a risk... an apparently super-powerful telepath. Think about it, Eddy, that's why Bey was installed as the police chief. She's a honey pot."

I sighed. I was tempted to demand that Azynov call me by my real name, but I let it go. There was no point in antagonizing Azynov over something so trivial. "I feel like dupe. All this just so that Yōd can get some hot sexplay with Bey..."

Azynov put a hand on my shoulder. "Well, who knows. It looks like Nyrtia put a copy of "The French Notebook" into the archives of the Writers Block, knowing that Yōd and you would not be able resist investigating. However, there may be more to it than a few scintillating orgasms."

"Like what?"

"We learned that by telepathically linking you, Yurahs, Roxzel, Yōd and I, it is possible to amplify our telepathic powers to a remarkable degree. I suppose the next time we have a tough nut to crack over here in this Reality, Yōd will be inviting you to return and help us out."

"Maybe next time I can bring Zeta along." While we talked, Azynov had slowly wandered down the hallway and was standing just outside the bedroom. He gave me a mock salute, turned and went into the bedroom.

I glanced at Fortran and Basic and briefly fantasized about inviting them to join me in the hot tub. Then I activated my recall nanites and returned to the Final Reality.

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Arriving back in my home, I found Zeta and Nora cuddled up together on the couch in the living room. Zeta detected my mind pattern, rolled off the couch and have me a hug. Pausing only to pick up her discarded swimsuit from where it had landed on the floor, she took me down the hallway to our bedroom and made love to me. Later, we talked and I told her about my simulated visit to the Asimov Reality. She commented, "So, Yōd is still up to her usual tricks."

"Even more so. She's learned how to deploy her medical nanites inside the brains of other people."

"That's nothing new. How do you think she was always sending me off to the Hierion Domain so that she could make love to you?"

"Wait, you mean..."

"And there was nothing I could do about it."

"But you knew what was going on?"

"Eventually I did, after Grean took pity on me and explained everything. Actually, I'd have been happier not knowing the truth."

I told Zeta: I was always making love to you, not Yōd.

"It was my body being animated by Yōd's telepathic mind, so you get off on a technicality." I telepathically searched Zeta's mind for hints of jealousy and found none. She asked, "So, how do you think that Yurahs disappearing act was accomplished?"

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"That's still a bit of a mystery. The Connatic, Yurahs, General Tomlyn, General Wylys and Tyf must have planned it out. I suppose it was time to make one of the periodic backup copies of Yurahs. They could kill two birds with one stone. Rather than quietly send Yurahs to IPS1 to be duplicated, they planned a big public display. The faked disappearance of Yurahs created a pretext for a big security sweep. The focus may have been on Bey and anyone who might have tried to make use of her as a week link in L2 security. For a time, Yōd and I got caught up in that sweep with our telepathic abilities making us seem like a threat."

"But how did they solve the atomic scrambling problem?"

"I could see that in Tyf's mind. The atomic scrambling isn't really due to cosmic rays disrupting the hierion beam during transmission of a teleportation signal. The J7 units don't transmit anything, but they still suffer from the atomic structure scrambling. The J7s only make a hierion copy of the target and then that's it. No, the atomic scrambling is a fundamental quantum effect, that can only be over-come by the vast computational power that is only available in the sedron domain. Tyf's teleporter was unique and it must have been linked to the sedron domain... call it TMT; the Tyf Maysel transporter, for lack of a better name. Later, if needed, the saved copy of a person stored in Tyf's TMT buffer can be duplicated again. That kind of duplication of a person would take huge energy resources, but I suppose it rarely ever happened. Only if a member of the royal family was killed."

"I don't get it. The J7s in the genetic archive project... they still scrambled atoms... so why bother making the archive?"

"Well, there was something special about Tyf's teleporter. Yōd and I never found that TMT, although we deduced its existence. I suppose Tyf would have died if we had pressed her to reveal the hidden location of her secret TMT. Still, it must be there in IPS1... maybe a the room next to that restroom from which Yurahs disappeared. Probably a thousand years before the birth of Yurahs, Nyrtia helped Dr. Frenchyhysur build that special teleporter, the only one that is linked to the sedron domain. However, there must be some leaks... rumors about a way to solve the atomic scramble problem. Hoping to discover that solution, the genome archive folks went ahead with their work. But Azynov looked ahead in time. Apparently, there was only ever that one TMT, a special gift from Nyrtia to the Connatic." I fell silent. For the first time since going into the AR Simulator, I felt tired. I was back in my old man's body.

Zeta was telepathically skimming thoughts off the top layer of my mind. She asked, "Why are you thinking about that robot, Anthony?"

"Ah, Tony!" Because of my recent opportunity to meet Nyrtia inside the First Reality simulator, I can now recognize the unique pattern of a mind being generated by a positronic brain. "Anthony was a positronic robot."

"No!" Zeta must have initially thought I was joking, but then she could telepathically sense that I was telling the truth. "A positronic robot in Alastor Cluster?"

R. Nyrtia and R. Nahan; First Reality

"Yes, I was also very surprised... until I thought it through. Anthony could keep watch over Tyf and use his telepathic powers to keep her from telling anyone about her role in duplicating members of the royal family. I suppose Tony was the only one at IPS1 who actually had the ability to activate that special teleporter... the TMT."

"So, Tyf did not really do anything?"

"Oh, I suppose she was the human face of the duo, dealing with the Connatic and General Tomlyn. And the way she looked at Anthony I could sense that she was quite happy with him as her..." I was tempted to say 'sex bot', but I said, "Helper."

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Above on this page is the last part of "The Prisoner of L2".

Next: The Frenchyhysur Process

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