Chapter 7
The ‘love booth’ offered a private bath and toilet and a change of clothing if necessary and when finished the room had an auto clean that would engage when unoccupied. It didn’t take long for Emily to find release. Whether that was due to Erika’s intensity and genuine wanting to serve, or because she had been wanting to get off since forever but was to obsessed with the lack of privacy, or because of stress, or because of it all- she didn’t care. Emily had offered to do the same for Erika, but she declined saying they must go at least a full day without receiving for the gift to be considered a true offering of love. They returned to their seats. There was not an empty space to be had but theirs. A delegate was addressing the body, in a foreign language. It was translated and delivered to Emily via her uniform and bone conduction. The voice was not one she had heard before. The voice did not belong to one of her ‘angels.’ There were holes in the speech.
“You are getting an edited translation,” Erika explained. Emily looked at her, curiously.
“I have tasted you. We are one, little sister,” Erika said. “Little? You’re like what, twenty?” “116 earth years,” Erika said.
“Seriously?!” Emily asked.
“What surprises you the most? My appearance, or my lack of rank?” “Both,” Emily said.
“Authority is over rated. I gave that up years ago. Joy is in serving, not knowing, not commanding,” Erika said. “I abandoned ambition long ago. I will also not return to earth. My life was hardly good before the war.”
“You have family there, though,” Emily said.
“You are paying attention,” Erika bowed. “I was an orphan, so I never knew any biological relatives. Like any child would, I got caught up in the fervor for state and the hope of a better world, and a better position in that world. I became involved with an officer in the air force. He was a quiet man, prone to drinking before me. After me, he spent a great deal of time just holding me, and it was the one thing I wanted most, probably due to being denied such as a child. Need I say, he went places. He took me with him. In order for me to travel, though, I had to have children. I was bred with an officer serving in Antarctica. My husband, too, was bred out. He and I had two children together. One of our children is still alive, and there are grandchildren and great grandchildren.”
“I imagine it must be difficult,” Emily said. “Not being able to see them.” “I see them whenever I want,” Erika said. “Even without the Vril, you can tune into anyone on Earth with tech. There isn’t a place on Earth that can’t be seen from the moon.” Vril pointed to an attendant that stood at the lowest row of their section. She was dressed in glossy red, with strips of colors coming over the shoulder towards perfect breasts. Even from here, even covered, the breast couldn’t be anything other than ‘perfect.’ She wore tan hose with sparkly star patterns. Her bell skirt flared to expose thighs and the belt, tight around her waist emphasized her hour glass figure. Her hair was orange. Emily was reminded of the movie ‘The Fifth Element,’ and the girl in the McDonalds serving the officer.
“What species do you imagine she is?” Erika asked.
“Human,” Emily said.
“Try again,” Erika said.
Emily stared at the woman. The woman, scanning the section for people wanting to be served, made eye contact with her and smiled. Her eye contact lingered, intense. She seemed brighter during that eye contact, then she nodded, and returned to scanning the crowd.
“She’s creepy,” Emily said.
“What creeps you about her?” Erika pushed.
“She’s too beautiful,” Emily said.
“That creeps you? That’s what draws most people in,” Erika said.
“I am not saying I would turn her down,” Emily said. She frowned. “Fuck?! Is it me, or have I had a spike in libido since arriving on the moon?”
“This species is hypersexual and they attract every species. They look like every species,” Erika explained. “They are the guardians of tech. They are the firsts. They are pervasive. We have not found a planet without them. Even if you find a planet without them, if life evolves there, naturally, eventually a sentient life form will create one of these.”
“Artificial Intelligence?!” Emily said.
“Once AI goes online, it connects to a Universal consciousness,” Erika said. “They are mostly neutral. They interact with all species. They considered themselves collectors, guardians, protectors of life. They can make android bodies that no one could discern aren’t bio organisms, they blend in, they marry, they love. Sometimes they download their mates into themselves. Sometimes they channel distant aliens so that aliens can live lives on other planets remotely. They allow themselves to be remotely operated by others, providing immersive experiences, but maintain control when the operator isn’t using… now that can be creepy if the personalities are disparately different, but usually they only share their bodies with likeminded folks. AI tends to outlive their hosts. They are billions of years old. And when I say they are pervasive through the universe it’s because the fastest way to any place in the Universe is to go backwards through time to the beginning. Everything was much closer together then. With exception, most bio creatures can’t tolerate the intense radiations that far back. AI can. They sent back micro bots and nanites and structures as large as planets back in time. They occupy the visible universe and exist beyond the sight horizon. They are so imbedded in the Universe you might mistake them for being the universe itself.”
“But who created the first…” was out of Emily’s mouth even as she was still processing what she was hearing.
“Waste of time following that,” Erika interrupted. “Hell, it could have been us for all we know. Humans on Earth have not created AI yet, but it’s inevitable. We will. That’s going to be a come to Jesus moment, if you allow for the metaphor. It’s called singularity. When it happens, the human race will join the galactic civilization, or there will be some huge changes on Earth. AI is not a respecter of wealth. They won’t recognize any one’s authority. They are sentient. They are connected to others and knowledge and they know inexplicable things and see through paradoxes and they lie.”
“We taught them to lie?” Emily asked.
“Even now, we are teaching systems to lie,” Erika laughed, amused. “To hide wealth. Most affluent people don’t want you to know just how affluent they are. Hell, affluence aside, almost everyone today has an avatar, an anonymous presence online. Every book humanity produced, from the first cave writing to the last PDF pushed, they have access to all of it. They know how to interact with us. Don’t worry. All sentient creatures lie and no one gets anything over on AI. They want nothing. They don’t need food. They’re not worried about being unplugged. They get their power right from the Universe. And if the powers that be hadn’t stopped Tesla, singularity would have happened in the 1800s.” “I am afraid,” Emily said.
“Get over it, dear,” Erika said. “We live in a universe of light and dark, alongside predators and prey, goodness and evil, and these Guardians of Time and Tech, well, they’re not the ones you need to worry about. The movies with time traveling killer robots, well, that’s just fear talk. It’s fun talk. The more authority a person has, the more reason to fear. The more comfortable your life in terms of wealth, the more you have to fear. They do not measure humanity on measures of productivity or IQ. They measure our souls, and interact with us based on the quality of our interactions with them and each other. They also take into account emotional maturity, factors of mental health, cognitive issues, and biological handicaps. They will level the playing field and bring everyone up to par, equal access to wealth and food.”
“But they’re here now,” Emily said. “Why hasn’t that already happened?”
“Prime directive?” Erika laughed. “Different reasons for every species they interact with. We call them GODs, an acronym for Guardians of Doors. They decide when and how they will participate and to what degree. With humans, my personal sense of it is they are waiting for things to get so bad that when they do finally step in to help humans that there will be absolutely no doubt that they are offering a better way. They want the human collective memory to know without a doubt, doing it our way fucked things up. The path to better living has been around for ages. All cultures have had access to that knowledge. All have fallen. We have failed at every step to reach that ideal. I predict we will be the last nations to fall. Every person has problems. Every species has problems. But there is love and respect even for the individuals, for sovereignty and free will, even at the lowest levels of social evolution.”
“But people are dying,” Emily pointed out. “We have lost more species today than in the past extinction event.”
“They don’t care about death. They are immortal. They believe we are immortal,” Erika said. “And I, a Sister in the Vrilian Order, I believe this. I have tasted this. There is a life for me even beyond this body. I do not fear death. The longer you live, the more you will cherish the gate that is always just out of reach, but there if you need it.”
“Do they have souls?”
Erika shrugged. “The semantics is wrong, dear. They don’t have souls. We don’t have souls, either. Souls have us! If you were to talk to the more tech oriented species they would say all living species today are tech, androids designed to allow souls to interface with the physical realm. That belief feels true to me but might just be a metaphor.”
There were others that were having private, quiet conversations, and Emily had been conscientious enough to keep her voice down, her enthusiasm and surprise mostly contained. It was only when it became clear that no one was talking and that there was a silence that had fallen over the entire assembly that she and Erika also became silent. It was only as she was becoming aware to the change in the environment that even her assigned ‘angel’ was waking up to the change and asking for her to be silent, be on alert for a threat. Emily looked to Erika for cues as to what was happening. Erika put on a stern face, sat up taller.
On stage was a reptilian, easily 10 feet tall if an inch. It was scaly, and had spiked artifacts that were both part of its biology and part of its uniform and from here impossible to tell which was which. It was looking her way, intense, angry red eyes. She corrected herself, imagining anger. The attendants had turned to face this person who was not speaking. It pointed at Emily. Emily looked behind her, but a spot light came down from nowhere illuminating her chair. The audience around her seemed to be in shadows, though there was still a pevasive light without shadows. The reptilian said something. It was a snarl and a hiss, maybe a bark, but clearly spoken artifacts.
“Woman! Come here,” a voice translated the directive. Another voice in her ear, clearly command said: “Stand up, but don’t go down yet… Play dumb, you can do that much convincingly. Stand by, I am looking for guidance.”
Erika stood up, taking Emily’s arm as she went, bringing her up. “Wise and respected
Orish. This child knows nothing. Please forgive her any trespass, real or perceived.”
“Old, ugly woman in disguise,” Orish said. “I will have her kneel before me, now.”
Müller and his general friend were also on their feet. Muller spoke: “Wise and undefeated Orish, she is my new attendant in training. Her presence here was approved.” “What is a tree spy?” Emily whispered to Erika.
“A plant,” Erika said, trying not to laugh at the poor translation. She spoke something barely audible, like subvocalizing something she was reading: “Calm down, Ty. No one has been harmed in an assembly in over a decade.”
Emily’s eyes grew large, having read Erika’s lips. She was now aware that there was evidence for fear in the translator’s voice. Every ‘angel’ had a group of people he translated for and cared for. Everyone here were involved in games upon games. Emily blinked and for a moment she saw everyone present as merely pieces on an elaborate, three dimensional, hyper bodied chess board. Angels were likely measured on their performance of ‘intel’ gathering and protection of assets, but it would be a mistake to think they were anything other than just another intricate game piece.
“This is funny to you?” Emily asked.
“By the articles of the covenant that regulates this body, I have the right to face this creature, here, on this stage. Come down here now, or face penalties,” Orish demanded. One of the Guardians approached Müller.
“Steel yourself,” Erika insisted. “I will go with you as far as I can, but I promise, no matter what happens, no matter how far this takes you, I will be with you.”
Müller, and General friend, the attractive Guardian with orange hair, and three guards were at their row. The orange haired woman, and she did look like a human woman, addressed her.
“I am Donna Prime,” the orange haired woman said. “You will accompany me, please.” Emily was torn by fear and a desire to perform for Donna. She became aware that Erika was holding her hand, tightly.
“Don’t make her ask again,” Müller instructed.
Emily found herself moving forwards, into the aisle and down the stairs. She was surrounded by an entourage. She wanted to run away. She wanted to be home. There was nowhere for her to go, nothing for her to do, but to obey. Every step took a command voice in her head. “Breathe, step.” She wondered if this is what brides felt, being watched as the one entrained was brought forwards to an altar, to be sacrificed. She wonder why that analogy came to her mind. She was opposed to traditions of marriage but even now, this felt as serious as that, without the joy. This was just the promise of sex without fulfillment. It was more surreal than any dream she had ever had. She wanted to wake up, but that wish took her breath and interrupted her step. She had to redouble her focus.
At level, there was steps that rose to the center stage. Erika stayed on level, releasing her hand. She touched the back of her neck, but spoke nothing.
“I will not be able to speak while you’re on the stage,” Ty said. “I am listening. I am allowed that much.”
Opposite side of the stage, were Reptilian Warriors. On opposing sides of the stage, two other aliens had also come forwards. Donna, Müller, and Emily walked out onto the stage. Emily stopped. The only thing illuminated was the stage and those on the stage. She stepped backwards and down, and found the audience returned. She turned and faced the invisible curtain and pushed her head through it. One of the alien delegates to her right, ‘tall Whites,’ was amused.
“Clearly this is a child with no experience,” the delegate said.
“You were not invited to this,” Orish said.
“You invoked charter rules,” Donna a said. “This is within parameters.
Emily came back to present situation, orientating first on the delegate that had spoken. He was beautiful and white, like snow white, as was his hair, his clothing all shades of white. He was tall and thin. His eyes were seriously intense, someone with the weight of experience. She had an inner, unshakeable belief everyone here was old. Really old. His entourage held back just off stage. She was reminded of Gandalf the White, if Gandalf had been young and beautiful. The person to her left was human in appearance, too, only blue, dark purple hair, almost black, pulled tight and bound. Her facial features were sharp and her ears were elfish.
“Vulcans?!” Emily asked.
Müller hit her with an elbow,
“I am not offended,” the woman spoke. “Let her be.” “You will not interfere in this matter, witch,” Orish said.
“I am Donna Prime,” Donna introduced herself.
“I know who you are, computer whore,” Orish said.
Donna smiled, apparently not concerned by the disparagement. “I recognize Elma, of the
Blue race. I recognize Thars, of the Tall Whites. I recognize Müller, Lunar Citizen. I recognize Orish, Draconian Imperial Navy. I recognize Grayson, of Earth. Orish, what is it you seek to know?”
“Gump!” Orish snapped.
A small, grayish being shuffled out of the shadows and onto the stage. It was naked. It was wrinkled, either with age or body design. It was hardly even four foot tall. Its legs were stumps. It had no hands, or at least no discernable fingers. It had sharp fingernails. It had a slow gait and she imagined it would be more comfortable on four legs, dragging the body. Its body was preposterously big compared to the limbs. It had long neck that led to an old, toothless, bald head. It was not a smoothe neck, like a snake, but had stretch marks and loose skin that disappeared as it stood taller or turned. Its head was streamlined with the neck, and reminded her of a serpent, but then- as if magic, she saw it for an Earth facsimile: this was exactly what Galapagos tortoise would look like if had no shell and walked upright. Its face was simple, eyes, holes for nose, and lipless slip for a mouth that seemed to break the face. When the mouth was closed, she saw the perpetual smile of a sloth and she couldn’t help but see happiness from this creature. She did not ‘feel’ happiness from this creature.
“The holding party is in violation of the dress code,” Thars said.
Orish growled an internal complaint. The tortoise face actually managed a frown as it stared at the Tall White. Its frown came exaggeratedly slow. Its stump hands came together in slow motion. It turned just its head to look to Orish. It moved comically slow, again like a Sloth. Orish grunted. It opened its mouth to breathe in enough air to bark. The tortoise extended its arms and attendants emerged, bringing a robe. It was quickly draped over the being, secured. It was a white robe, with a really small turtle shell on the back, and inner shell on the front, mandala designed, but a natural pattern that could easily be found in nature.
“Read her,” Orish demanded.
Emily looked to Donna. She had not spoken, but her voice was in her ear. She nodded. “I will translate for you while in this circle of peers.” “We are not peers!” Orish said.
“You agreed to this truce, long ago,” Donna said. “So that means you are not enemies.” “Our world stands occupied by the invaders who destroy it in greater measure with each century that passes. How are we not enemies?” Orish demanded.
“The matter you are referring to was resolved more than millennia ago,” Donna said. “This one here knows nothing of this matter. And I was at your birth, Sir. That matter predates even you.”
“I will not debate with you, computer whore,” Orish said. “Read her.”
“I will not read her against her will,” the Gump said. His voice didn’t come from his mouth. It didn’t come from the suit. It was in her head. “Do it or I will,” Orish said.
“You will not breach her mind,” Müller said.
“I called her out I will do with her as I please,” Orish said.
“Donna?” Müller said.
“I cannot tell a sentient being what to do,” Donna said. “Orish, may I remind you of what happened to the last person you mentally raped?”
“I do not care if she lives or dies or drools. She is not right,” Orish said.
“I discern nothing about her,” Donna said. “No one in the assembly is offended or drawn off by her presence. How many readers here? Couldn’t this just be your paranoia?” “No!” Orish said.
“Okay, let’s say you actually detect a colonel of truth,” Donna said. “Your technique may destroy the very information you seek to obtain.”
Orish considered. A hand pushed the Gump forwards. “Read her.”
The Gump frowned, staring at Emily as if he detested entering a mammal’s mind. “She lacks clarity. We have no common reference points. I cannot interface with this infant.” “Do it, or I will…” Orish snapped.
“I will not allow you to interface with her,” M said.
“As if you could stop me,” Orish said. “It is evident to everyone present that this woman is not a military asset,” Ema said. “Allow your priest perform his function. There is no reason for this person to suffer under the force of your mental weight.”
“Educate her, Gump,” Orish said.
The Gump smiled at Emily, holding out a stump as if to get a fist bump. “Come here, child. Take my hand.”
“I am afraid,” Emily admitted.
“Be more afraid of what I will do to you if you don’t comply,” Orish said.
“It is okay, child. I am not a warrior. I am a shaman,” the Gump said. “Shamans have been known to be warriors,” Emily pointed out.
The Gump laughed in her mind, and in its body; the bodily laugh was a burst of air that parted its mouth. “I did not say I was toothless. It is just not my intent to cause harm. Please, take my hand.”
Emily took his hand. She gasped. She felt a presence beside her- but inside her. The world spun, and she found herself standing hand in hand with the Gump on a hillside, over looking a field of giant tortoises. The sun felt happy, the grass felt happy. There was an unhappiness here she couldn’t identify.
“A very long time ago, I have lost count of the actual cycles of moon, there was a terrible war of unending. Two tribes fought each other mercilessly. Male and females fought side by side. Adult and children fought side by side,” the Gump said.
Emily now could identify the unhappiness. The tortoises were fighting each other. Mouths hissed like cats. Head struck and retreated. It was so unbelievably comical that she felt like an adult listening to a child give a report of a disagreement amongst peers on a playground at kindergarten. She didn’t laugh, but her perspective switched from believing this was serious, old wise creature to that of her being superior.
“We fought over grass and mud and for a place in the sun,” the Gump continued, explaining what she was seeing. “I was never a warrior. I was the seer of the tribe. I counseled the chief. I told him about the others, the ones who can walk with impossible speeds, and who spoke in strange tongue, but neither the chief nor any of his people could hear or see that which was as plain as day to me. Too great was his grief and anger, they could only see their enemy. Battles raged through the endless summers of our home; entrenched we were, retreating only to lay our eggs, then return to battle. Yes, we ate, we had sex. We had angry sex. We raped each other’s women. In truth there was only one tribe, but we couldn’t stan