Day Nineteen ∞ Late Tuesday evening
HOW BIG WAS THIS PLACE, anyway? Danny felt like there was no end to it. After ten minutes of walking, Dr. Kruger led them through a smoother, better-polished series of corridors until they arrived at a plain door with a peephole and a small, plain sign displaying "307".
"After you, Miss Wamba."
Danny touched Mickmi's arm. "Allow me." —As your Shield.
She dipped her head in approval.
He passed Kruger and suppressed the urge to whistle as he looked around the room. If he didn't know they were in a military underground base, he'd think he'd stepped into a different location entirely. Like a four-star hotel with its elegant furnishings and the foot a large bed peeking from behind a folding screen.
Three doors drew his attention. He tested the handle of the nearest one. It revealed a pristine bathroom with a tub. The other two facing each other opened to adjoining suites that looked just as comfortable.
—Okay, it seems safe.
"As you can see," Kruger said as Mickmi, Selina, and Artemae entered, "these rooms are in a private section, away from other rooms. You can choose whether you want to keep the communicating doors open or closed to rest in privacy. There are refreshments in the bar, and all you need to make coffee or tea."
Mickmi turned to him, gesturing to her chest. "I thank you, Doctor Kruger. We shall retire for the night. We will see you tomorrow, at six o'clock? We would like your help with the volunteers' selection if it imposes not too much on you."
"Not at all, Miss Wamba, not at all. I want to help. I'll be here at six to accompany you to breakfast."
Bogdanov, who remained at the entrance, spoke up, "If you don't mind, Miroshka, I'd like to be there, too. Usually we are left out of many things, so I want to take the opportunity to be in on the loop as much as possible."
"I would expect no less, Doctor Bogdanov."
The researchers took their leave, and as the door clicked shut, Mickmi invited all to the deep leather couches around the glass table. Danny sank into the twin couch nearest to her right.
"I think it is time we decide on our next actions and reach a consensus." Nodding to Artemae, Mickmi continued, "Artemae, please secure our privacy. Make sure we can not be recorded."
Artemae sat up, her gaze fixed at a point in the air. —Processing. Assessing environmental factors... Targets identified... Targets neutralized. Privacy shield in place. Sound, images and mental emanations isolated. "Privacy filters on."
"Thank you." Mickmi brought her hands up to cradle the sides of her head and slid the elaborate circlet off her ears and head, her bangs falling into place. Artemae jumped up to take it from her but Mickmi waved her off, resting it on the table between them.
"Now we can speak without interference." Animated and relieved to have her head free, Mickmi turned to Selina. "Would you please tell us more about the interdimensional beings you met?"
Selina nodded in deference. "Of course, my Queen. The ones I met are humanoids, though not human. They are more technologically advanced than us, as well as vastly more advanced mentally and spiritually." She hesitated. "I spent not as much time communicating with them as I should. Even so, I learned they observe this planet very closely. They are concerned with the direction this civilization is taking. At the moment, they are only observers. I felt they are reluctant to interfere. I also felt they will, should the situation take a direction which they think justifies a more direct approach."
Not human? Concerned? Danny was sure he hadn't misheard but, at the same time, he was sure he had. That implied non-humans had been watching this planet for a long time. That can't be, that's... science fiction. He shook his head to himself, frowning. If that were science fiction, then he was living it, right here, right now. A part of himself still felt slightly dazed from the past few days of surreal experiences—like he was living a living dream. And pinching himself didn't help one bit.
Mickmi looked up from her contemplation. "What is their attitude toward us? Know they our situation, why we are here?"
"I think so, my Queen. They saw our accidental entrance into this dimension. I am certain they have observed our actions as carefully also."
"Can you communicate with them again? We need to secure their assistance if we are to return home. We are a disruptive factor in this world and we need help to rebuild our own civilization."
Selina dipped her head and smiled. "I know the mental signature of one of them. I can communicate directly with Biyoun. I can not speak on their behalf but I think they will help us."
Mickmi nodded thoughtfully, then reached for Danny's hand on the armrest. "Daniel, remember you I spoke of tiny machines around me, helping me at all times?"
"Yeah. You told me they're smart... and can do anything you tell them... But I don't understand how that's possible," he looked down at his filigree shirt, "or how they managed to make this."
"It is not possible to really explain them without extensive knowledge of nano-technology. But the basics are simple. Nano-robots, nanobots for short, are very small machines, smaller than the ones you saw—the size of a cell or bacterium, designed to carry out simple tasks. Each one is equipped with a microprocessor—like a microscopic brain—and an anti-gravitational generator, a receptor-emitter, and small arms-actuators."
"Wait, small arms? I thought you said you don't have—"
"Nay, nay." Mickmi chuckled. "Arms with hands. Kind of."
"Oh! Of course."
"The nanobots work in a way similar to ants. An individual ant can not do much. But when millions of ants coordinate, they can do extremely complex tasks.
"There are different designs for different tasks—like medical or Medibots, and others for more general use. When simple nanobots can not execute a task individually, at least three of them group into a new unit. We call those units of interlinked nanobots working together, 'Nanites'. Nanites are exponentially more capable than the original, individual nanobots. At the next level, a grouping of coordinating Nanites will create a... pseudo-individuality, a sub-personality. That's a 'Nanentity'."
"Okay..." Danny said as she paused to make sure he was with her. "Like an R2-D2?"
She tilted her head quizzically.
"Like a robot might have kind of a personality?"
"Aye, you understand well. And we can communicate with them and they will respond, and control or relay commands to the sub-Nanos. They can do much – more – complex – work."
"Like... like changing our clothes into this?"
"That would be the Nanites."
"Nanites created those helmets out of nothing?"
"In a manner of speaking, aye—and a lot more. Nanites created the helmets out of surrounding resources—matter in the air, on the ground, out of anything static and non-living, whatever is the easiest accessible that is suitable for their purpose. If they are not of sufficient numbers, they will self-replicate, multiplying themselves using any suitable elements in their vicinity. Nanites are what formed my I.A. sinnesband... which was connected to the implant in my brain."
"O...kay." He didn't quite like the sound of that but, on second thought, he realized he already had some of those things inside his own body.
"Daniel," she turned in her seat to face him, "you had one pressing question earlier, but we were uncertain of the answer... I now know how I possess two – separate but – simultaneous memories—how I come to have the memories of the Black Jaguar."
A sudden realization dawned on Danny. "Oh, but I do too. It's like when I fell asleep but was with you when they did all those tests on you. Like I was literally outside of my body."
"Nay." She smiled but then became serious. "It is nothing like that. Would you like to know the real cause?" She searched his gaze.
He nodded with a twinge of trepidation. But how could anything be worse than what he'd already learned or been through with her?
"You know my extra chromosomes... They carry the instructions for repopulating my planet with Jaguars, just as many members of our populace are assigned as protective containers of DNA to save individual species of the Animal Kingdom."
"Kind of like Noah's Ark."
"Aye. It is called the Ark Project and is intended to be utilized in a controlled environment... However, due to a series of very – unlikely – events, all the Nanos comprising my personal dotation, including my sinnesband, activated the Ark Protocol, tapped into the instructions held within my Ark DNA... and self-replicated – exponentially – into an innumerable amount... into something beyond what their original programming intended. They – devoured – my escape pod, and created an AI-organic hybrid—"
"The panther! And you nearly drowned because of it." He met Selina's gaze. "And you couldn't have known."
Selina bowed her head without releasing his gaze. "I am ever regretful, I protected not my Charge sufficiently."
"No, no, you got her safely out and got me to find her. You did everything you could possibly do and I know Mickmi feels the same way too."
She dipped her head in acknowledgment.
Danny turned back to Mickmi and found her regarding him with a fond smile. He had to smile back, but there was something curious about the way she looked at him. "What?"
"And it seems the Protocol was incomplete in its activation... That is why it—they—returned to me... the Nanites that remained, and their experiences incorporated into mine."
It made perfect sense. Danny could see that now. "That's how you remembered what the panther did exactly as if you were it. And you kind of were."
"Correct. But they remained unstable, easily triggered into relaunching the Protocol."
"Like when you saw that cougar that you—it killed. Oh, and that's what happened to you in the scanner, wasn't it?"
Mickmi nodded. "Such incidents shall not happen again. The corrupted code causing this has since been deleted and the Protocol is fully under my control. However... that is not all." She glanced at Artemae. "The nanobots' exposure to the PET scanner resulted in so much more... Innumerable tiny brains, Nanites coordinating among themselves... becoming virtual Nanentities... combining to create a new mind... of vast capabilities. The Supra-Mind."
Bewildered, Danny stared at her. "You're not talking about the panther now? You mean, the Nanentities are a—like alive now?"
"Sentient—aye, that is exactly what I mean." Mickmi paused a few moments to let that sink in. Then she pointed at Artemae. "She is the Supramind. She decided to take on human form because she wanted to experience the world similar to how we do and interact as we do."
Danny gaped at the young lady beside Selina. Artemae looked back with lifted eyebrows, enjoying the attention immensely.
"Oh, I see! You are kidding, right?" He glanced at Mickmi. "You are pulling my leg. She's a— She's like Selina, isn't she?"
"Pleeez... I'm not Aumega! Can't you tell the difference?"
He looked from one to the other. The three ladies each met his querying gaze without waver—Selina with her calm knowing, Artemae with her mischievous annoyance at him, and Mickmi, amused yet serious. He drew a deep breath—this was no joke.
"Want you to still come with me, Daniel?" Mickmi asked.
"Yes, I do. Mickmi, I'll go to hell and back, as long as I can be with you."
"Then you must know every thing about us. Look, Daniel, if you were to accompany us, you need to learn many more things than you can imagine. It will be hard at first."
"I'm willing to learn." He set his jaw. "No matter how hard, I'll learn all I need to be useful."
Mickmi's smile warmed his heart.
"I'll go back to school, train, whatever you need me to do, for as long as you need me to."
"Oh nay, we have no school such as yours. You will see, our world is very different."
"Are you – certain – you want to give up your world – for ever?" Selina asked.
Forever. There was that word again, mocking him with permanence. He swallowed and locked his gaze with Selina's. "Yes. I am certain."
She turned to Mickmi. "Then he needs to be taught. Fast."
Mickmi nodded. "I shall start tonight. Artemae, could you show Daniel your Nanos?"
"What, now?" Artemae pouted for a moment, then grinned. "Okay, Daniel, watch this." Her form started to shimmer, her tunic and human form blending into one. Then a layer separated from her body.
Incredulous, Danny watched the layer float away from her to gather as a cloud above the coffee table, swirling closer to him. Squinting, he caught glimpses of minuscule light and dark particles zipping about.
"I... I can see many small dots... like they're dancing. Is that it?"
"Those little dots are Nanites—big enough to be seen," Mickmi said, "like motes of dust, aye."
Before Danny's eyes, several layers of light peeled from Artemae's dark, shimmering form, floating down like wispy leaves in still autumn to join the dissipating cloud.
Déjà vu. He'd seen this strangeness before—where had he seen this before? An image flashed before his mind's eye: a dark cocoon... shedding a layer of light... It was that dream he had after finding Mickmi!
Now, only a glimmering silhouette remained of Artemae where she sat, then that, too, vanished, leaving the couch empty.
"Whoa..." Danny scanned the room. "Where did she go? Is she alright?"
Mickmi smiled. "She is well. She will remain dispersed till morning, on guard duty, making sure nobody disturbs us."
Selina dipped her head and rose. "If it pleases my Queen, I shall also retire. I shall contact Biyoun tonight. I will report any response to your request in the morning." She headed for one of the adjoining suites and turned at the door. "Rest well. Good night."
She closed the door behind her and, at the same time, the opposite door clicked shut. Startled at the sound behind him, Danny jumped up to check it but paused at Mickmi's touch on his wrist.
"No one but Artemae controls that space." She pushed off her long boots and rose, her eyes glowing. "It has been a long day. I am proud to have had you by my side, Daniel."
Words couldn't describe how Danny felt to have Mickmi in his arms again. Once more were they breathing as one, releasing all the tension he'd accumulated over the past couple of days. They kissed, then embraced tightly for a long time, her breath brushing his neck as she nuzzled under his jaw.
"You're amazing, you know," he mumbled into her hair. He felt her smile before she pulled away and cradled his face between her hands to bring him close for another long kiss.
She smilingly met his gaze again. "I shall start your instruction now. Are you willing?" After he nodded, she added, "We shall meditate together."
She led him by the hand to a thick rug at the foot of the bed and sank down, facing him. Spreading the four overlapping parts of her dress, she freed her legs and rested her wrists on her thighs. He attempted the same posture, but his legs were not flexible enough to fold that widely.
"That is okay, just do what is comfortable and sit very straight."
She waited for him to find a position his legs wouldn't protest against.
"Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Breathe very slowly, filling your abdomen, then expel the air through your mouth."
He followed her instructions carefully, feeling a wave of relaxation enveloping his body.
"Now slow your respiration... Make it very slow... very light. Allow your lungs to breathe for you. Forget your respiration. Focus on your forehead... Relax... Relax..."
Danny opened his eyes and looked around, transfixed. They were on a small pebbled pathway in the middle of a forest, alight with numerous dancing fireflies. Mickmi slipped her fingers between his and smiled when he met her gaze. She wore flowing white robes that reached her sandaled feet.
"Come."
The forest opened to a big, calm lake that shone under the moonlight. From the shore, a foot-bridge extended straight to a small rotunda with a pointed roof, cotched on stones in the center of the lake.
They strolled with hands entwined to the small wooden building and passed through the arched entrance laden with blossoms. Awed, Danny looked around. More vines climbed up the posts supporting the straw roof, filling the air with soft scents. A low picket fence surrounded the deck and, here and there, benches covered with satin pillows offered different views of the lake.
He had to make a full turn in the center to take it all in. Looking back at the way they'd come and then looking forward, he gasped. A pathway of light led across the waters to the opposite shore—the reflection of the full moon forming a perfect line with the bridge behind him!
"Where are we?" he whispered in wonder.
"You are in my favorite relaxation spot," Mickmi whispered back. She gestured to her side and a couch appeared there. "This is a place I created in my mind as a retreat. Every time I felt too stressed, I retired here to recover. It is not a real place. It exists only in my mind."
"So... you mean..."
"Aye, Daniel. You are in my mind. Or, better yet: we are nowhere. We are just sharing a mental space—very private... very intimate. Only I can access this space. And now I am sharing it with you."
Speechless, he stared at her as profound peace and contentment filling his whole being. It took a while before his curiosity pushed him to break the silky silence. "How does this work? Is this like... the magic tales of old?"
Her laugh, low and glittering, enveloped his heart and slowed its beating—strong and pulsing with power.
"You can call it that." She looked around, her face radiating pleasure. "It started with a simple relaxation exercise. When your body is relaxed enough, you can start dreaming of a place of peace, of happiness.
"It is deeply personal. I like trees, so I started visualizing a forest. Because there is a lake where I used to spend time learning survival swimming with my training friends, I added the lake. Because it holds many fond memories.
"For a few months, I was satisfied with that. Then I thought, the image of the full Moon would be nice, so I included her. And the luminous reflection is the result of several experiments on her placement." She turned back to him, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "So... how like you it?"
"I love everything! This is like," he shook his head slowly, "like paradise for the soul. Amazing! How's it possible for you to share a place only existing in your mind?"
She chuckled. "Oh, the definition of impossible must be redrawn many times over as you progress in your personal evolution. Before I met you... it would be impossible for me to – achieve – such a perfect mind-share with – any – other." She took his hand between hers. "We are astral-traveling... inside my inner space right now. It is a wonderful experience finding such – affinity. Unfortunately... my joy is diminished by what I must do."
"What—why? Why are you saddened now?"
"Because I must increase your knowledge. Normally, learning is a joyful adventure, a journey of discovery. However, we have not the time. Since you decided to embark on an enterprise such as what I and my companions are about to do, I can not allow you to go unprepared. I must infuse you with a considerable amount of knowledge. What my people take pleasure in learning over a period of time, you must absorb very quickly, without conscious thought or enjoyment."
"That's okay, I understand. You must return to your world to help your people, and there's no time to make me ready so you're going to use magic on me. My only question is: will it hurt?"
Mickmi smiled at his levity. "Nay, Daniel. In fact, I already seeded the most basic knowledge in your mind. After your mind has processed it, I shall add more."
"But... I don't feel any different at all. I don't feel any smarter."
"You were smart already. Knowledge makes not people smart." She regarded him thoughtfully. "What people choose to do with knowledge depends on their morals. There are many smart people in your world who lack both. They blindly follow the conditioning imposed on them, limiting their potential by false beliefs."
She drew a deep breath. "Daniel... I need to talk to L'or Aug, my sister. She has been trying to communicate for the past few hours. I can not postpone talking to her any longer."
Frowning in thought, Mickmi turned away and slowly paced the deck. "I knew not what to think of her actions. She repeatedly broke the laws of your world... in apparent abandon of our code and rules." She paused to contemplate the moon, then retraced her steps. "Now that I recovered my memory fully, I understand why. You see, when the cataclysm happened in my world... I felt... the telepathic emanations of... thousands, maybe millions of my people... in a – gigantic... mental... scream of... horror and fear and... dying minds."
She caught her breath and lifted her gaze to him, her eyes glistening. "You can not imagine... It almost... destroyed – my – mind. That is – what caused my amnesia—"
—Oh, Mi. Her sorrow permeated Danny as he took her hands in his, bringing them to his chest.
"—and indirectly... the creation of the Supramind." She sighed. "L'or Aug had not – that protective – mechanism activated, so she... suffered the full horror—the full effect... of that huge shock... To cope with that devastation to her mind... I understand now why she joined that group of... Humans. I may have been too rash to judge her." She studied him for a moment. "Daniel... I would like to – formally – introduce you, if you are willing. Are you?"
"Sure," Danny replied without hesitation. "I think she's afflicted with 'Survivor's Guilt', that's why she started on that self-destructive line of behav—" He broke off, bewildered. "Wait... how did I know about that syndrome?"
Mickmi smiled wistfully. "Psychology is part of the knowledge you received. And, of course, you are correct." She sighed. "I shall communicate with her – and summon her here to my private dream-space... that she may understand I am not – angry – with her. Disappointed, perhaps, but not angry."
She closed her eyes for several seconds and concentrated. Then she looked up. "She is on her way. She needs to find herself a space of privacy so she can focus on her astral body. It will take some time."
— ∞ —
©2019 by kemorgan65