Chapter 20:
So, the Cosmos is not the only thing there is?
Daniel:
“Wow,” the twins say, as one. There is a screen made from light, and I can see the surface of a planet in it. There are no trees, or grass. Rather, crystals made from ore as far as the eye can see.
“If he can teach the others how to do this,” Agafia says, as she eyes me from head to toe. “Do you know how you are doing it?”
“I just tried to create a screen of light in the mirror,” I say. I wonder if I just shot myself in the foot.
“Well, we offer you the position as Chief Dimensional Explorer,” Nahndor says. “You will get full health benefits, a nice retirement plan...how many years do you have left in you?”
“Nahndor,” Rhea chastises him. “You know that humans are touchy about their short lifespans.”
I resist the urge to wince. I know she was trying to take my feelings in mind, but she just called everyone on Earth short-lived.
Something tells me that I will get that a lot.
“Forgive me for my wording. Still, it would be nice, if you answer the question,” Nahndor says.
“I am forty, so, maybe another forty years?” I say. The tall Naga sighs.
“That is barely enough time to get the funding we need,” he says. I feel like they might not want to risk me dying halfway through, and that I have just lost my chance. “You will have to imprint on a Naga.”
“What?” I ask. What does that even mean?
“We know that asking you to link your soul with someone is a big thing to ask of you, but think: You can advance the science of the Cosmos, and pave the way to many resources, which will allow us to preserves the ones in Dimension Alpha,” Agafia says.
“I think it was written in your file, that you lived with a Naga? A bottler of happiness? They are a good sort,” Rhea says, and winks at me.
“Wait, lifespans can be extended?” I ask. They all share a look. Agafia shakes her head.
“Ah, humans,” she murmurs. “We should really send you to evening school. We have a lovely online program for emigrants. Granted, it is not made with humans in mind, but it has a high integration rate.”
“I will become younger, or...” I ask because I can’t wrap my mind around this whole imprinting thing.
“Oh, no. You will remain at your age. When the lifespan of the Naga, you imprint on runs out, you will age. Around the same time, when he begins to,” the twins say at the same. One of them has a slightly lighter shade of green eyes. I file that information for later, so I can tell them apart, if I am given the chance to corner them when they are separate.
“If you don’t imprint, you won’t get the job,” the twins speak again, and I blink.
“A job where you have to get married, to take the spot?” I ask. There is a silence stretching in the room. Rhea coughs in her hand.
“You must understand. Before you showed us the screen, the Dimensional Theory was just that. A theory,” she says.
“I take it, you have a hard time getting funding. If you bank on someone, who will live for only forty years, then you won’t be able to get a good enough fundraising campaign?” I ask. They all nod at me. “Can I speak with my friend about this? I mean, I think he will be understanding, but.”
The memory of the orange potion with the red bubbles comes back to my mind.
If I word it correctly, he’ll be more than understanding. He’ll be on board.
“We’ll give you a week. Ask your friend to show you the videos on Interspecies Integration. It is an Ursula Web channel,” Agafia tells me. I blink, and then remember that this is their version of YouTube. And that they even have access to YouTube.
This is all so weird.
“The job is yours, as soon as you get married,” Rhea gives me the thumbs up, and I shift in my spot.
“Can I go, now?” I ask.
“Sure. Don’t forget to grab your welcoming package on the way out,” Nahndor says, and then points at a bag with goodies that hangs from a rack.
“Uhm, does that mean I am hired?” I ask.
“Not yet. Although, you are approved. Hence, you get a welcoming package. You’ll get used to our customs, don’t worry,” Agafia gives me a bright smile. I take the bag, and open the door. The elf lady who led me into the meeting room is waiting for me outside.
“Come along, the corridors switched up. Stay close to me,” she says, and then takes a hold of the safety railing. I wonder what she means by switching corridors, when I see that a painting that used to hang right next to the door is no longer there. I blink at that.
“Uhm, how did the walls move?” I ask.
“Well, this building is a piece building,” she says, as if that explains everything.
“A peace building?” I ask her, thinking I misheard her.
“No, a piece building. A giant robot, that is made from different rooms and parts, that move. Tomorrow, the building will be in another parking place. It is so hard, to find permanent parking, you know?”
“I understand,” I say, even though I am even more confused. Is Constantine’s house one giant robot? Does he have a permanent parking? It looks like it is made from bricks. Then again, this building seems like it is made from bricks, too.
“Piece buildings are similar to what you humans call trailers,” she clarifies. Turning around, she pats me on the shoulder. Then, she points behind me.
“The corridors were moving as we walked. We need to turn around,” she says. I look around, and see that I don’t recognize this corridor. For a long time, I just gape at her.
How didn’t I notice anything?
I should add this to my book!
“Come along — now. Before the building leaves the parking, and you end up lost,” my guide urges me, and we are off again.
Chapter 20:
So, the Cosmos is not the only thing there is?
Daniel:
“Wow,” the twins say, as one. There is a screen made from light, and I can see the surface of a planet in it. There are no trees, or grass. Rather, crystals made from ore as far as the eye can see.
“If he can teach the others how to do this,” Agafia says, as she eyes me from head to toe. “Do you know how you are doing it?”
“I just tried to create a screen of light in the mirror,” I say. I wonder if I just shot myself in the foot.
“Well, we offer you the position as Chief Dimensional Explorer,” Nahndor says. “You will get full health benefits, a nice retirement plan...how many years do you have left in you?”
“Nahndor,” Rhea chastises him. “You know that humans are touchy about their short lifespans.”
I resist the urge to wince. I know she was trying to take my feelings in mind, but she just called everyone on Earth short-lived.
Something tells me that I will get that a lot.
“Forgive me for my wording. Still, it would be nice, if you answer the question,” Nahndor says.
“I am forty, so, maybe another forty years?” I say. The tall Naga sighs.
“That is barely enough time to get the funding we need,” he says. I feel like they might not want to risk me dying halfway through, and that I have just lost my chance. “You will have to imprint on a Naga.”
“What?” I ask. What does that even mean?
“We know that asking you to link your soul with someone is a big thing to ask of you, but think: You can advance the science of the Cosmos, and pave the way to many resources, which will allow us to preserves the ones in Dimension Alpha,” Agafia says.
“I think it was written in your file, that you lived with a Naga? A bottler of happiness? They are a good sort,” Rhea says, and winks at me.
“Wait, lifespans can be extended?” I ask. They all share a look. Agafia shakes her head.
“Ah, humans,” she murmurs. “We should really send you to evening school. We have a lovely online program for emigrants. Granted, it is not made with humans in mind, but it has a high integration rate.”
“I will become younger, or...” I ask because I can’t wrap my mind around this whole imprinting thing.
“Oh, no. You will remain at your age. When the lifespan of the Naga, you imprint on runs out, you will age. Around the same time, when he begins to,” the twins say at the same. One of them has a slightly lighter shade of green eyes. I file that information for later, so I can tell them apart, if I am given the chance to corner them when they are separate.
“If you don’t imprint, you won’t get the job,” the twins speak again, and I blink.
“A job where you have to get married, to take the spot?” I ask. There is a silence stretching in the room. Rhea coughs in her hand.
“You must understand. Before you showed us the screen, the Dimensional Theory was just that. A theory,” she says.
“I take it, you have a hard time getting funding. If you bank on someone, who will live for only forty years, then you won’t be able to get a good enough fundraising campaign?” I ask. They all nod at me. “Can I speak with my friend about this? I mean, I think he will be understanding, but.”
The memory of the orange potion with the red bubbles comes back to my mind.
If I word it correctly, he’ll be more than understanding. He’ll be on board.
“We’ll give you a week. Ask your friend to show you the videos on Interspecies Integration. It is an Ursula Web channel,” Agafia tells me. I blink, and then remember that this is their version of YouTube. And that they even have access to YouTube.
This is all so weird.
“The job is yours, as soon as you get married,” Rhea gives me the thumbs up, and I shift in my spot.
“Can I go, now?” I ask.
“Sure. Don’t forget to grab your welcoming package on the way out,” Nahndor says, and then points at a bag with goodies that hangs from a rack.
“Uhm, does that mean I am hired?” I ask.
“Not yet. Although, you are approved. Hence, you get a welcoming package. You’ll get used to our customs, don’t worry,” Agafia gives me a bright smile. I take the bag, and open the door. The elf lady who led me into the meeting room is waiting for me outside.
“Come along, the corridors switched up. Stay close to me,” she says, and then takes a hold of the safety railing. I wonder what she means by switching corridors, when I see that a painting that used to hang right next to the door is no longer there. I blink at that.
“Uhm, how did the walls move?” I ask.
“Well, this building is a piece building,” she says, as if that explains everything.
“A peace building?” I ask her, thinking I misheard her.
“No, a piece building. A giant robot, that is made from different rooms and parts, that move. Tomorrow, the building will be in another parking place. It is so hard, to find permanent parking, you know?”
“I understand,” I say, even though I am even more confused. Is Constantine’s house one giant robot? Does he have a permanent parking? It looks like it is made from bricks. Then again, this building seems like it is made from bricks, too.
“Piece buildings are similar to what you humans call trailers,” she clarifies. Turning around, she pats me on the shoulder. Then, she points behind me.
“The corridors were moving as we walked. We need to turn around,” she says. I look around, and see that I don’t recognize this corridor. For a long time, I just gape at her.
How didn’t I notice anything?
I should add this to my book!
“Come along — now. Before the building leaves the parking, and you end up lost,” my guide urges me, and we are off again.
