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    Knapp 32. Synthetic adventures.Written by Alfredo Juillet Frascara

    From the 24 September 2012. Finished the 8 October.(13 days).

    Typed: From the 16 October to 03 November 2012.

    Revision 1.:

    Words 19214

    Date of the narration 4.364 E.C.

    Places: Spoon 6.2, Erina, Ultor, Knapp.

    Personages: Parker Oberion, technical operator at Easy People Co.; Judefo, antiquary; Dr. AB 631;

    Median AB 397 ; Gretchen AB 730; Manuses the crook; Lamarque (Technical operator); Shumoi,

    owner of Parasymbolic Co.; Gobod (Lamarques assistant); Gudria the old; Rafren Technical

    operator); Drigua (daughter to Rafren). And others.

    18 October 2012 3:19:52 AM 2592 words

    18 October 2012 10:00:54 PM 6299

    19 October 2012 1:00:14 AM 8957

    20 October 2012 10113

    24 October 2012 11385

    26 October 2012 13989

    28 October 2012 15296

    29 October 2012 15479

    30 October 2012 16644

    3 November 2012 19218

    Chapters:

    1.- The old synthetic brains.

    Chapter 1: The old synthetic brains.

    The antiquary finished the attendance of a client to attend the recently arrived man, a person he

    had seen looking at the showcase before, asking for prices and looking at objects without buying.

    Now the vendor believes, in his inner self, that the same performance was going to happen, so he

    barely salutes the client.

    Good afternoon, Sir. Did you find s

    omething that interests you the most?

    The man, in his forties, signaled to the showcase and said: Those hard drives you have in there

    do you main if I take a look at them- closer?

    Judefo the vendor sighed briefly and opening the showcase, he puts the objects on top of a table

    and said: These are old cybernetic brains of old. They were brought by someone not two weeks

    ago.

    The man observed those three metallic boxes and handling them he realize they weight no morethan half a kilogram each. The dimensions were 25 centimeters long, 20 centimeters wide and

    three centimeters thick. He asked: And how much do you ask for the three of them?

    Judefo looks at the positron brains and said. 250 Sopes for the lot.

    All right, I take it.- The client said, much to the surprise of the Vendor, who takes the money,

    thinking he could had asked for more money

    The client was Mr. Parker Oberion, one of the technicians at the Easy People Company

    2

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    Oberion walks to his office at the Easy People Co., at the Oredloro city north side.

    His working hours were from eight to sixteen hours, six days a week. Of course, he can change the

    hour of arrival, only if he goes out finishing his eight hours period, so he had the routine to arrive

    at eleven hours and leaving at nineteen hours.

    In this day, he was going in at fourteen hours, so he was obliged to abandon work at 22.00 hours;

    the work was already on his bench, and he begin working immediately, placing the synthetic

    brains on a drawer. Later in the day, he checked the circuits on those old machines, finding they

    were in working order, but somewhat obsoletes for this day and age. When his shift was over, he

    went downstairs, where he knew there were old damaged synthetic bodies to repair- or dump. He

    inserted those brains , in turn, on one of the best preserved bodies and he realize they could open

    eyes, move limbs and legs and in general, gives sign of life, whatever that meant.

    The first tested memory brain was the serial number AB 730, and when talking, the synthetic

    person said it could hear, see and feel with ease. The other two synthetic brains, serial number

    #631 and # 397 did also worked fine.

    At the end of his shift, Mr. Parker takes those three brains on a bag and carried them to his

    apartment, and placed them on his work bench. Next to it he has the only synthetic body he own,

    a repaired model ready to work and that he uses to test artifacts when needed. Now he inserted

    the serial number 631 Artificial brain (AB), and waits to the mechanism to gain control of thatbody. Soon it moves, opens the eyes and said: Where am I?

    At my laboratory.- Parker replied, with a smile.

    Really? Im astounded! What happened to meIm recalling to have seen you not so long agoin

    another place.- The synthetic brain was remembering the test Mr. Parker did at the Easy People

    Company cellar

    Yes, I tested you not two hours ago. Butrelax and tell me more about you.- Mr. Parker asked of

    him

    I am recalling scenes of violence from naturals the annihilation of my group is my body

    lost?- Model # 631 asked.

    I presume so. I found your only remains at an antique shop. Nothing but your positron brain is

    what was left of your body.- Parker said, with a yawn.Are you bored or sleepy, master?- Model # 631 asked.

    Bot bored at all! Im talking with a sentient being a hundred and eighty years old! But really, Ill

    be getting some sleep, now. I get to work in some more hours.- Parker said.

    Dont bother about me! Ill be as silent as a rat.- Model # 631 said, hoping the man didnt

    disconnect him.

    Well I guess I can trust you for a night!- Parker said, not without some apprehensive second

    thought

    He went to bed, and model #631 waits until he hear snoring. Then, he searches at the laboratory

    for interesting things, finding the other two cybernetic brains and looked at them for a while. He

    was sure the technician was only testing the brains and that afterwards he was going to dump

    them on a drawer or sell them to earn some money

    5

    They can go the way they came- to a storage cellar?

    AB # 631 decided it was as good a time as any to run out. He uses some of Parkers clothes to put

    it on- because if he waits for misericord he was lost: he was now only a small obsolete object

    brought from a pawn shop!

    With the other two brains in a bag, he stepped out of that apartment, and using the pneumotube,

    he went as far as it was possible from Parkerss whereabouts without leaving town.

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    Again at the street, he notices he was now in a rather filthy side of Oredloro, while he was forever

    hearing news and gossip through the in-built radio.

    He was also penniless, and in need of lots of things, if he wants to fulfill his desires: to give the

    other cybernetic entities some suitable bodies where to live.

    At another pawn shop he saw several rundown synthetic bodies for sell- they were not fancy (out-

    modeled, really) and the value of each one was a hundred thousand sopes.

    8

    He stands there for a quarter of an hour, thinking in what to do next, so the owner of the shop

    went out. He was a yellow skinned man, of small height, decided to shoo him out of there.

    Sir!Are you interested in something, or just idling there?

    Yes, I am interested in a couple of synthetic models, but I

    Come inside to talk! I took you for a drug addict! So many people drugged each day that you

    cannot count them all!- The little man said with a chuckle.

    Model AB 631 went inside- fortunately for him, the sense of smell was failing in that borrowed

    body, so he didnt feel the stench of the place, with all those desiccated animals standing on the

    corners It was a stench that only routine could make it bearable for his owner

    The bodies lack their batteries, of course! Thats why Im selling them cheap!- The vendor

    explained.What a shame! I have two cybernetic brains right here to use, but without batteries there is no

    way they could handle those bodies._ AB 631 said, losing interest and walking out the door

    9

    At the street, he saw two men fighting each other: one of them was thin but brave- the other was

    beating him big time, as he was a bull of a man.

    Without hesitation, AB 631 takes advantage of to be a complete foreigner to both of them, and

    swings a leg unto the big brute, sending him to the floor.

    What the heck?- The big man said, while the smaller guy thanks the newcomer by saying:_

    Thanks you, friend! Did somebody sent you here to help me?

    Nobody! I just detest fights- injures could occur.- AB 631 said.

    The big man grabs the AB 631s neck with one paw , trying to choke him out of conscience, but thedoctor didnt breath at all, and instead of it, he sent a 350 volt discharge unto the mans hand,

    that returns to the floor , this time passing out.

    What did you do to him? Do you kill him?- The thin man asked, very concerned.

    No! Hell be all right in a couple of minutes! So, why dont we go somewhere else, before this

    man returns to his evil senses?- AB 631 suggested.

    10

    The thin looking man accented with a nod, and they take the nearer pneumotube - while they

    were traveling, AB 361 said:- I am Doctor Abelard, new in town.

    The man looks at him scornfully and said: I am just a plain and simple Yellobin! And I debt you

    one, doc!- And he blinks an eye.

    I am penniless in the city. I was robbed.- Dr. Abelard explains.

    Sorry to hear that! But you are a doctor! Where did you work, doc?- The man asked.

    Really I am not from this city. Lets say I must start anew.- Dr. Abelard said.

    Yellobin leads the way to a Bar, and inside he signaled to a table, saying:- Seat at that table, doc!

    And ask for anything you want to drink or eat. I will be saying you are my uncle.

    All right,nephew!. Dr. Abelard said, collaborating with what Mr. Yellobin was saying.

    He looks how Yellobin walks and went inside another room, and when asked by a waiter about

    what was going to drink, he said: Bring me a beer, please!

    11

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    Of course, he could pretend to eat or drink, and that was because he was not going to do it but

    only pretends. When the glass was in front of him, he pretends to drink but didnt, and half an

    hour later, Yellobin returns, saying: O.K. , pops! Lets get out of here!

    He was certainly looking very troubled.

    Once in the street, he said: Well be going to some other place! Take this!- And he produced a

    parcel. The doctor takes it and pocketed it without any question- he was sure it was something

    illegal, most certainly drugs.

    They used the pneumotube, and descended in a very exclusive environ: every house has a lawn in

    front, and turbo Fliers were parked in every corner.

    See that cream colored house over there, pops?

    I see it, son.- Doctor Abelard replied.

    Well, you just go there and ask for Valentin! You give the parcel just to him: nobody else serves,

    you dig it?

    Yes, Sir. Mr. Valentin or Ill come back with the packet.

    Right! Ill be looking at you. Dont fail me on this, or else.

    Stay calm! Or some of your eyes will pop out with so much pressure!- Dr. Abelard

    recommended, and starts walking. He looks around, and there were no guys peeking on him

    except Yellobin but above the cream colored house there were two Fliers at high altitude-possibly spying on the owners- so he decided he was not going to deliver any parcel there. When

    in front of the house, he keeps on walking, and fast- to the corner, and from then on, running

    blocks after blocks, zigzagging until he was sure no natural could had been following him no

    matter how strong a runner he could be.

    He opened the parcel and yes! It was a strong drug known as Crocodile- dangerous and evil as the

    animal he was portraying. At the least, a million sopes could be earned, dealing with that drug

    Instead of to sell it, he walks into a Police Station and explained, to an open eyed policeman, what

    was trying to deliver there.

    Do you have drug on that parcel? And you dont know who was the producer?-

    13

    I know only the mail man! And where he gets it- and where he was told to deliver it!- The doctorAbelard said.

    After a few minutes, he was talking with the Chief of police, at that station.

    As you are an old fashioned synthetic man, I am sure you are acting honestly- if I may use that

    word on a machine.- The Chief of Police said, rubbing his chin.

    The doctor gives much information , so the policemen soon were arresting not only Mr. Yellobin,

    but also his boss, Guloj Sanjan.

    The news media shows the Police during the operation, and ended by interviewing the strange

    synthetic that spill the beans.

    And tell us, once again: why did you give away that drug dealer at the first occasion? Did you now

    wanted the drug for yourself? A woman reporter asked him.

    Of course not! Have you seen a Synthetic in high?- The doctor replied.

    Hours later, the Chief of police said: You made a great contribution to the community, and I thanks

    you for that!

    All right! I assume you did not need me anymore around here? Because I must get going.- The

    doctor said, very aware he had two other synthetic wanting new bodies.

    Sorry, but you are in a big mess. A person called Parker recognized you as his property: so I get to

    let him takes you in his custody.- The Chief of police said.

    What? He doesnt own me!- The doctor said, feeling he was going to be again the the hands of

    the technician.

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    He presents the proof: that body you are using was bought by Mr. Parker for technical research.

    And your own brain was also purchased by him at a store.- The policeman said.

    Soon Mr. Parker was in the same office, saying: This is it! I recognize my synthetic body! and the

    brains were three: I assume this entity has the other two brains in his bag!

    Searched, the other two brains were found, and handled to Mr. Parker, who said: sorry not, but I

    will not risk my properties for a second time!- And he removed the brain of Dr. Abelard from that

    body.

    15

    Manuses the Crook.

    In a Flier taxi he carried the body and the three synthetic brains. It was on working hours, so he

    just closes the door and went back to work, leaving the objects at his workbench. He was feeling

    happy- his lost pertinences were again at home.

    A crook was searching for cheap ways to earn money, so he was searching what to rob- Finding an

    easy lock to open was his goal, and Mr. Parkers apartment had the standard lock he knows how

    to open. Manuses , looking at both sides of that corridor, produces his tools and opens the lock in

    half a minute. He gets inside the place and begins searching for valuables without wasting time.

    He search on drawers, and takes pieces of equipment inside a bag- in a closet there was a full

    plastic looking body- so he wrap it on a blanket, grabs the bag with items and walked out of theapartment in just twenty minutes time.

    As usual, he uses only the moving ways, and where not present, he just walks to the next section.

    In that way, he arrives to his shack, near one of the bridges that supports the pneumotube

    locomotion system.

    16

    He had no electricity, so he looks the objects under a flashlight while the rasping of rats was

    heard- he said: Damned rats, go away!

    The rats kept silence for half a minute, but then they started anew. Manuses has no great

    knowledge on cybernetic parts, but he knows when a machine was old or new. So he was happy

    with his last foraging.

    He takes his cellphone and called Mr. Vinegre, who was a black looking guy, a meter with eightycentimeters in height, and with a bad temper.

    Vinegre?

    Yeah, whats this?

    Im Manuses! I have something for you to see.

    Right now I cannot go there! Why dont you come to my office? Ill be there for the rest of the

    afternoon.- Vinegre said.

    All right! I will carry the small stuff.- Manuses said, but Mr. Vinegre had hanged on already.

    Manuses was not going to wait, so he takes the bag- and leaving the body at his bedroom, he went

    out to the street.

    17

    He walked eight blocks , third floor on a small shop building, and enters the crammed place of Mr.

    Zarihuen, who uses to be there all day long , there he was, talking with a man.

    Mr. Manuses!- Zarihuen said, stopping his talk with his client.

    Hello, Zarihuen! How are you?- Manuses said, knowing that to talk business with an unknown

    person wasnt wise. He pretends to look something around the items in display and walked,

    almost out of the shop- to give time to both persons to finish their deal- if any.

    Some five minutes later, the man went out the shop, and Manuses walks in, saying: and how are

    you, friend?

    Nice and cool. What are you carrying in that bag, buddy?

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    Oh, a couple of things!- Manuses said, and placed the twenty two items on the glass top of that

    table Mr. Zarihuen uses as his workbench.

    Wow! What a lot of items that you have here! All related with cybernetics.- Zarihuen said,

    glancing briefly to Manuses.

    Oh, yes! I stumbled on this on my way to church- Manuses joked.

    Right! Well, here we have this three old cyber-brains- hardly working, I suppose?- And he

    handled it, as if weighing the objects. Manuses was now very excited- when Zarihuen saw cheap

    items, he said that and offers small quantities of money, but now he was having his time with the

    items

    Oh! A pair of eye sockets a transformer, possibly for temperature purposes not cheap, I tell

    you. So you had it on your way to Church!- Zarihuen said, smiling: as a buyer, he was very

    agreeable not as Mr. Vinegre, who always seemed to be in a terrible hurry.

    And the rest.. I dont know but I will give you seventy five sopes in all. I dont know if you are

    going to sell it somewhere else if so desired, I will be here if you dont find someone who pays

    you more.- Zarihuen said.

    Please, buddy! You know that you are my best option! We are like brothers, now. But seventy

    five sopes are terrible low payment for this electronic devises: make it a hundred sopes!-

    Manuses said.19

    Zarihuen looks again at the items, and said: Because you consider me as a brother, I will give you

    a hundred sopes!

    And he takes the bag, poured the items inside and walked to a corner, where he has a chest. He

    puts it inside, produced a hundred sopes bill and pay.

    Thanks! Well be going.- Manuses said, walking out the door, but then he remembered the

    synthetic body and returns to say:- Oh, I forgot! I have a full cybernetic body you could be

    interested in!-

    Zarihuen laughed and said: Please! I buy things but now whole bodies! I have no clients

    interested in them!

    All right! At last I try to interest you.- Manuses said, returning to the street.He uses his earned money eating at a cheap restaurant, whit a couple of red wine at the side.

    At twenty hours, he was at home, showing Mr. Vinegre the body.

    Brand new and not a scratch!I am sure youll be making a good buy.- He said.

    Vinegre growled something and touched the body. Then he said: Seems its in working order. Old

    but in order- a new one costs seventy eight thousand sopes- this could cost forty five thousand

    sopes.

    Oh, good to hear!-

    But I will give you twenty five thousands! Not a sopes more.

    You really? Well! I cannot pretend to earn forty five thousand, but certainly twenty five thousand

    its too small a quantity!- Manuses was trying to bargain.

    Take it or leave it, pal! I cannot waste any more time here! Do you want the twenty five thousand

    sopes or not?- Vinegre said, looking fierce.

    I will think it over twenty five thousands! Too little amount.- Manuses repeats, while Vinegre

    was walking out the door and slammed it afterwards.

    Really!- Manuses said, seating in a run-down sofa. He has no more buyers in his list. He will be

    offering himself on a flea market near his place dangerous of the original owner pops up there

    That night he roamed by the streets, trying to find a gain- new laws forbid to be idling places far

    from the proper address ,except if with some plausible explanation (like going or coming from

    some relatives home or friend acquaintance.)

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    He found a small boat near the entrance of a building, with nobody in sight; he takes the cord, and

    pushed the boat, that was of the gravitational kind that begin following him like a dog- no natter it

    weights at least four hundred and fifty kilograms!

    Four blocks away, he saw a Police car parked on a corner. He stop as if beaten by a spider, and

    leaves the boat where he stands; then he went inside the nearest building, and climbs to the top

    through the elevator- as usual, there was cold up there, the wind blows, and he then waits on a

    corner for the light of the new day.

    He awakes, hours later, and descends to the ground floor- at the street, the cops were gone and

    with them, the boat.

    Damn it!- Manuses said, walking to Mr. Vinegres abiding place. He rings the bell, and the owner

    appears, dressed in a black coat.

    21

    What do you want? My mother haddied!

    Sorry to hear that! I come to say yes!- Manuses said.

    Oh, the old woman was so sick that shes better off! Come back tomorrow!- Vinegre said, closing

    the door.

    Manuses was now looking at the wood grain of that door- half enraged with Vinegre and half

    enraged with himself for not to grab whatever money they offer. He turns around and went home.He looks unto that body- it was as if was alive- but lacking batteries and synthetic brain, it was just

    a pile of junk.

    At his place, Parker was very upset; again eh was robbed of his possessions. He was confiding in

    the Police again

    By his part, Zarihuen already had sold the stuff to Shumoi, one of the owners of Parasimbolic

    Synthetics Company, who was forever searching for cheap spare parts, one of his ways to

    compete with powerful industries.

    Shumoi of course, has people that bought those spare parts for him. At his desk, the following day,

    he was saying: Old cybernetic brains! What is the use of those things?- Mr. Shumoi said, looking

    at the flat black boxes

    Lamarque, his counselor, said: You dont know this AB brains? One of them seems to be anadvanced prototype! We could learn something from it!

    Lamarque twisted his moustache, looking at the black box.

    Oh, do you think those are worthwhile a couple of sopes?- Shumoi asked, looking dubious.

    Of course, Shumoi! Let me work with these for a week, and well see.- Lamarque said.

    All right! I confide in your skills. I get to bang on the table once in a while hope this could do the

    trick. Shumoi said.

    At his laboratory, Lamarque has every kind of new appliances the industry produces- soon the

    three synthetic brains were inserted on new bodies.

    24

    The seven assistants Lamarque had in his laboratory , were amazed to see those creatures

    opening their eyes and taking possession of their new bodies.

    Like witchcraft, eh? It chills the bones.- Lamarque remarked, for the benefit of his Assistants that

    nodded in approval.

    Welcome to life! You had been revived by the Parasymbolic synthetic Co.! I am Lamarque, a

    technician, and these are my collaborators.

    Which planet?- Gretchen asked.

    Knapp. The city is Oredloro.

    We were made here by the Easy People Co., and our owner is dead.- She said.

    How do you feel in that body?- Lamarque asked her.

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    It itchs!

    And the rest of you?

    Its fine.- The doctor AB 631 replied.

    I havent moved yet.- Median said.

    That will be possible now I see you can talk. I will let you use your bodies right now. Follow me.

    Lamarque said, guiding them to a testing ground near the building: all sorts of simulated terrains in

    a hundred meters long site: ditches, horizontal beams, wires, nets, mounds and a pond. The three

    new bodies were seeing now running; now climbing, jumping and swimming. They return with

    mud dripping from their legs (they were using standard clothes and sandals).

    I see you passing the test in two minutes! Now to the showers- they are over there!- Lamarque

    indicated to an entrance on the building.

    While they were bathing, the doctor said: I was awakening before! I escape with your brains, but I

    get caught! Now this fellow bought us, I dont know to whom.

    No matter that! This is a factory! I am pretty sure they will study us, takes what is worth and

    dumped the rest.- Gretchen said.

    Why so a darker picture? Perhaps they could improve us and sold the product with a profit.-

    Median said.

    They return to that patio, where Mr. Lamarque was waiting to ask: Now we will talk aboutyourselves. Follow me.

    43

    At a new place a room with armchairs, a holographic set, a table- Lamarque seats and said:

    Pleasebe seated.

    No matter the Synthetic beings needs not to seat, they did as told for sociability purposes.

    Gretchen said: I wonder what are you going to do with us.

    Lamarque lit a cigarette and expelling the smoke, said: By the time being, nothing but study your

    memories, see how you react to situations. Physically, I already see of what you are capable of.

    And did we pass the exam?- Median asked with a grin on her face.

    With honors! Hope you pass the psychological and behavioral too! If you lack skills, we will

    provide. Of course, to some extent. We make skilled persons here, but cannot make miracles!-Lamarque said, and called his assistants, saying to them: See these three persons are examined in

    full. I want their memories and personal capacities in detail.

    Come with us, please! One of the assistants said to Gretchen, median and the Doctor, whom

    followed suit.

    During that day and the next, the technicians worked pumping out as much as they could from the

    three synthetic brains. At the third day, the reports come to Lamarques desk- he reads it. There

    were the personal information (what they had done and witnessed in their lives) , people they had

    met, inventions, lectures, procedures, landscapes, etc.)

    Then, Lamarque reads the technical data- what makes them tick. Of the three, one was a

    prototype- with new enhancements and discoveries make to work. Pitifully, all of this was now

    old history.

    Lamarque sighed. Once again, the wonders of old looks like pitiful attempts to reach an excellence

    that never arrives.

    He calls on Gobod, the best of his assistants, and asked him: What do you make about the three

    old brains recently studied?

    Old stuff, chief! Not serviceable nowadays.

    And what do you recommend to do with those antiques?- Lamarque asked, with a wave of his

    hand.

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    Albeit old, they still are capable of to be of service- as a second or third brain power in machines .

    Just taking care of a section of the job.

    Really. Well, lets put them for good use! Take them out of those humanoid bodies and make the

    necessary arrangements to get them inside complicated machinery.- Lamarque remarked. Gobod

    sighed- Lamarque noticed it and asked: What troubles your mind?

    To think they are like people, and now they will be switching orders without feeling , seeing or

    hearing! Its awful , dont you think?- Gobod asked.

    You are a sentimental man! Not good for our Company!- Lamarque growled out.

    I know. Its my heritage- too many artists in my family.- Gobod said, retiring from his presence.

    Lamarque was human, and he also resented this shielding of conscience he was promoting- but it

    was that or to lose money. And money was moving the world.

    Gobod went to the place where the three entities were washing artifacts (one of the jobs given to

    them when not in the examination chamber) and said: Good news! You are not to be

    disassembled! My boss just told me to assign you new posts! Follow me!- Gobod said, showing

    himself assertive and joyful- both things he wasnt really feeling.

    When arriving to the plant where big machines were being made, Gretchen radioed: This si

    where we are going to lose our independence! Well be a part of a machine, just to keep an eye on

    a couple of things!Oh, no! A simple gadget!- Median said, horrified- because she knew of machines governed by

    several synthetic brains, screwed in place like switches.

    We get to escape!- Doctor AB 631 said, that forever was the most independent, perhaps

    because she was assembled not in Earth but in Ronule.

    Saying this, the doctor hits Mr. Gobord, sending him to the floor; Gretchen tied it ripping his old

    clothes.

    Median begins to run by the corridors, followed by Gretchen, and the doctor- soon they were out

    of the building and climbing on a busy pneumotube.

    What next?- Median asked.

    We must take us into the air! A vessel of any kind will serve.- Gretchen said. They descended

    from the pneumotube , and walked by a street , searching for a private Flier.They are not more common than in the old times! Now the collective locomotion has improved

    and people could do their bidding in a cheap and secure way. Look! Theres a Flier!- Gretchen

    said, pointing to a recently landed vehicle- its owner was opening a gate to enter; Median sprinted

    there, going inside the apparatus and moving it towards Gretchen and the doctor.

    They climb inside, while the owner runs to and fro, trying to stop them. The vehicle soared over

    the city roofs and to the south side, and soon they were in open country.

    Well be disposing this vehicle at the first opportunity; there are gadgets into it that are able to

    signal its position. Gretchen said, while Median was flying the vehicle closer to the mountains

    that appeared after 20 minutes of flight. The marshes stretch at their feet, extending their green

    surface up to the horizon.

    No towns in here! But theres a city close to a river. Soon we will be finding both things. Median

    informed- later, a silvery streak shines ahead, and it was a wide river , with lots of vegetation at

    each side.

    They found the city but they landed far from it; Gretchen said: Well walk to the city without this

    stolen property. Lets assume we are farmers.

    The first road they find was almost desolate-. Only one land vehicle passed when they were

    walking by it, and later on, nothing. The ten kilometers to the city was walked in just one hour; the

    first building was a warehouse of indefinite color- old by the time and bad weather. Other houses

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    were lined up to the left and right. In one of those they find a man, who was staring at them while

    seating on a porch.

    Gretchen approaches him, saying: We are new in town and searching to be of help. Have you any

    idea of to where our services could be of help?

    The man, eighty years old, chuckled a little and said: I guess that you are runaway synthetics

    trying to find a hideout! But dont worry by me! Here on Dirno city, populace eight thousand,

    nobody will open the mouth to help the law!

    All right with it! That gives us a respite._ Doctor AB 631 said.

    Me, I dont mind to give you shelter! There are plenty of rooms in my cottage! Perhaps you could

    repair the roof- there are some tools on the cellar to work with.- The old man said

    Well see to it.- Gretchen said, and went upstairs- the old man had tools and tiles, gloves and

    dusty overalls to use, so they climb the roof and replaced broken beams and tiles with new ones.

    At dusk, they seat on the porch, with the old man to see the stars in an open sky.

    I wonder what is on other planets! I had spent my whole life at the mills, not going anyplace.-.

    the old man said.

    We had visited other planets- there are wonders out there, but this planet is one of the most

    interesting.- Dr. AB 631 said.

    Yes. I knew you were from very far!Not originally far- except the Doctor! I and she were made here on Knapp.- Gretchen revealed.

    Hope you dont get caught!- The old man said.

    We were threatening to be inserted in a big machine as third class computers!- The Dr. AB 631

    said.

    Worse than death, I suppose.- The old guy said.

    Worst if you previously were travelling through the stars.- Median said, adding: We were

    more there were more of us. Who knows where they are now, if ever.

    A person approaches and she was a woman.

    Good evening, Mr. Gudria! I see you have visitors.- Said she.

    Yes, they are my nephews.- He said, smiling.

    Well, nice to meet you.- Drigua said, looking at those men in overalls: her eyes looks like slots bya couple of seconds

    She is Drigua, the daughter o f my neighbor Rafren! She also looks at the stars.- Mr. Gudria said.

    Gretchen gives their names, politely.

    My father wants your cooperation, Mr. Gudria. He sent me to ask your preference for tomorrow

    at eight. I know you wake up early.- Miss Drigua said.

    Tell your father Ill be going with these people here! Perhaps some extra hand could do the job in

    less time.- Mr. Gudria said, coughing.

    Soon afterwards, lady Drigua departed, and Mr. Gudria said:- His father is an old man like me!

    And he has a crazy project! But, tomorrow you will see with your own eyes.

    That night, old Mr. Gudria slept better than he had been doing in a lot of time-. He felt more

    secure with those people around.

    At the second floor, in a bedroom, Gretchen and the doctor AB 631 were listening to Media, who

    said: Well see what they want of us tomorrow; if minor work is on Mr. Rafrens mind for us, I

    suggest developing a better plan of activities.

    I am very uncomfortable of this mans envelope Im wearing! They look at me as a man!-

    Gretchen said.

    I suppose I feel like you did: I am missing my female body, also.- Median said.

    Well, I have nothing to complain myself! This body is exactly what I was requiring.- Dr. AB 631

    said, smiling to them.

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    At the next day, they went to Mr. Rafrens house- that was part of a warehouse.

    Thanks for coming! I am stuck on some circuits I must to repair! I thought you could be of help.-

    Mr. Rafren said.

    My skills are limited! But I brought with me some persons that surely could be of more help.-

    Mr. Gudria said.

    Gretchen was looking at the machine in question: it was a Beamer, one of the now not so new

    way to travel des- integrator system.

    Model BB III! A nice example of efficiency!- Mr. Rafren announced.

    Twenty four years old! Not in the general use by now.- Gretchen said, fully up to-date by the

    Synthetic radio communication system.

    Well, yes! But some private organizations still uses it! This belongs to Upper Mail, one of the

    leaders of this community.- Mr. Rafren said, knitting his brow.

    Mr. Gudria coughed- in Dirno city the Upper Mail was the only mailing system available

    I will show you wheres the problem.- Mr. Rafren said to the newcomers, and for two hours

    Gretchen and Median were rearranging items and replacing others.

    Ready! Test it- it has a range of forty three Astronomical Units related distance.- Median

    announced, realizing that the male body she was using has more possibilities and it was quicker

    than the one she misses so much37

    Mr. Rafren smiled and said: I cannot test it in here! I will call the Mail Company to take his

    repaired machine, to start working again! I am sure you had done a really good job.

    Thanks for your confidence! We are sure this machine is working fine.- Gretchen said.

    At the near warehouse, Gretchen finds several broken artifacts, pieces of mining equipment,

    disabled weapons, and asked Mr. Rafren about it.

    Oh, there are from some travels I had donned in the past! Now theres no commercial value for

    them. Or do you find some? He asked.

    Not much.

    If you want try to repair them! And if you do, we sell it and split the earnings.- Mr. Rafren offers.

    I will think about it.- Gretchen replied, but she wasnt a bit interested in garbage.They return to Mr. Gudrias home, and then at the porch the man said: Mr. Rafren gives you an

    option- to repair some of his stuff. But I tell you: nobody in this town is going to buy a thing!

    38

    I see no use repairing obsolete things.- Gretchen commented.

    You choose a bad spot here, lady! There is no future at all in here.- Mr. Gudria sadly said.

    That night Gretchen talk with the others: We cannot stay here forever! But if we stick out our

    noses too soon, its possibly we get caught.

    And what do you suggest?- Dr. AB 631 asked her.

    We must leave poverty. We must acquire new clothes, and especially new bodies: I personally

    dont want to look like a man.- Gretchen replied, thinking how similar was her life to some

    Naturals in the city.

    Next stop: Rixiaberg?- Median asked, mildly.

    Yes, Rixiabergwill be fine. But we need a vehicle or tickets for the ride on an aerial vehicle.-

    Gretchen said, and at the next day she went to see what the citizens uses when needing to travel

    far.

    At a building, she finds advertisements. A governmental passenger airplane makes trips to

    Oredloro once a week.

    39

    The cost of each ticket was of a hundred sopes- three hundred sopes were needed.

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    Later, she asked the old man for a loan, but the poor fellow has only seventy five sopes in all.

    You know , I live on the welfare- a hundred and twenty sopes a month! I really never economize

    for the old times, so now I am in the open. But I will give you fifty sopes! Just because you mended

    my roof.- Gudria said.

    Gretchen accepted it, saying: We will come back to refund your loan! Im sure we will.

    Never mind! I am old and in any day I will stretch the leg, for sure.- Mr. Gudria said, laughing.

    Miss Drigua knew of the problem and visited them to say:- Good news! I have permission from

    my father to work at Rixiaberg! Want to join me in your trip?

    Gretchen smiled and replied: We are short of funds! But somehow we will accompany you in

    spirits!-

    Oh, no! You wont. I will be lending money for you all! I have a thousand sopes my father gives

    me! More than enough to start my career on Rixiaberg!- Drigua said.

    40

    CHAPTER

    IN RIXIABERG

    Drigua rented a flat on Rixiaberg, and the three Synthetics works with her at a Restaurant. In the

    first months, the money was scant, because they were just beginning, but with the passing oftime, Gretchen gets a job at a Flier constructing plant, and soon she was the manager at the

    Assembly plant, with a nice salary.

    Same thing happens with Dr. AB 631, who was now a doctor at the Privilege Clinic Inc.-, a place

    for the very rich people- worthless is to say that his wages were ridiculously high.

    Media worked at an office, at the Brondix lawyers, earning a fortune each time a case was won

    by the company.

    Seems we can switch to female bodies- we are rich enough now.- Gretchen said, one night at

    the dining table.

    One problem bothers me! The jobs we have our chiefs knows us as men. When appearing as

    females, possibly will get fired.- Median said.

    Drigua eats a piece of roasted Coelophysis with some peas, and said:- You could use your newbodies at home- and in weekends! I say not to forget how different a woman moves around.

    Gretchen believed that was the best way to postpone the solution of the problem.. And she

    accepted the suggestion.

    Very well, I assume we must buy first and way to change personalities later. There are four

    different qualities.- Gretchen said.

    We deserve the best!- Median said, adamantly.

    I pass. I am accustomed to this body.- Dr. AB 631 said, and nobody contradicts him. He was

    (originally) made to be a man; he was using a mans body.

    The models were bought- two fine specimens of women bodies-, they had the possibility to

    change of appearance, weight, light, color among other interesting things.

    Gretchen and Median use it the next time they have duty free- they smiled, happy to be in

    command of those fine machines.

    42

    I can see, hear, feel, smell a lot more than with the other envelope.- Gretchen said.

    Me, too! This is very gratifying! Guess I will quit at the office and start all over again- as the cousin

    of Mr. Justo Median !- Median announced, mockingly.

    Those two days passed very quickly and they did resign, saying their cousins will apply for their

    jobs Their chiefs proved the new elements and find them as good as the precedent members of

    their staffs so they keep on working for the next seven years.

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    In those seven years, Drigua became the owner of a small but sophisticated Restaurant.

    We have a good life in here! But we had responsibilities- far from here. I had been looking for a

    suitable spaceship, able to take us to Erina.- Gretchen announced.

    Drigua was puzzled. She had never heard that name before, so she asked: And where is Erina?

    What is in there?

    42

    Erina is very far from here, and it has dinosaurs in it they were brought from here by our former

    boss, Ultor.- Gretchen said.

    I cannot believe it! Was his ship enormous?- Drigua asked, while polishing her finger nails.

    Not so enormous! We carried them as eggs and newborns.- Median said, remembering the

    works they went through.

    The best starship costs as much as the budget of a nation, so I ruled that out. Nethe cargo-

    shipsand then he private space yachts. Every one of those costs more than we could earn in

    twenty years.

    43

    We could wait that long: clients will never stop coming at the lawyers office- Median said.

    For you twenty years is just a blink of an eye! You almost live forever!- Drigua said, not without

    some envy.We could search for used spaceships-! Must be someone who could be bought.- Doctor AB 631

    said.

    I already did that; I stumbled on a relic: a Sphere. Have you heard of those kinds of spaceships?-

    Gretchen asked of Drigua.

    Never.

    Well, they were the bestof the best in the far past. Possibly this is one of the few remaining.

    Gretchen said.

    Lets take a look at it!- Dr. AB 631 said, walking to the holographic set- they studied it, finding

    several modifications from past owners.

    Look! It has fins! Certainly that wasnt the original intention!- Median said.

    We should go where the spaceship is located- and see it in real.2- Dr. AB 631 said.Ill go with you!- Drigua said.

    They end the dinner reunion, and at the next day, they all went to see the artifact. It was at a local

    spaceport , in a site where old models were resting- some of them possibly forever!

    The Vendor was a Synthetic lady, very useful to learn about the spaceship.

    Good morning! We have this sphere model for sell in two million sopes! First things first: the

    engines are not in proper state: must be made adequate with some repairs.

    Why?

    They were failing for space travels, and the last owner just reduce its functions to travel between

    cities.- The attendant explained.

    Inside there were wraps, sacs, grains spilled everywhere, the hammock were ragged, instruments

    cracked.

    This spaceship is a mess!- Median said, seeing that one of her shoes was smeared with some

    glue.

    its a junk!2- Dr. AB 631 said.

    We are in a hurry to buy a spaceship, but this is no spaceship: its a cane of dung.- Gretchen said.

    The Vendor didnt change her smile, and said: A million and a half sopes could do.

    Half a million sopes is what is worth! And Im offering that.- Gretchen said, adding: To repair

    this spaceship, a person must expend more than a million and a half sopes!-

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    She said so, because she has being taking note of the visible damages, and she knows that there

    could be more bad surprises when really working at the vehicle.

    I will talk with the owner. Which is your offer?- The Vendor asked.

    Half a million sopes.- Gretchen replied.

    Calling. Wait for a minute.- And the Vendor was talking with the owner by radio. Afterwards, she

    said: The owner said seven thousand and fifty hundred sopes is the least he could accept for this

    vehicle. He adds that he could send some spare parts and stuff he had at his place that belongs to

    the vehicle.

    All right, seven thousand and five hundred sopes it is! But until we dont see that stuff, we arent

    paying.- Gretchen said.

    Of course. Return tomorrow, same time of the day, or later. I will see that the other objects will

    be here for you. The Vendor said.

    Gretchen went to work at the Flier Factory, the Doctor to the hospital and median to the

    Attorneys office

    At the next day, only Gretchen went to the private spaceport, where the vendor shows her the

    new objects- that roughly offer the possibility of to economize some reduced quantity of money in

    repairs.

    I assume we must to move this sphere from here, to make repairs. Do you have a crane or a truckto do that?

    better than that! We have a super Het- 30, that is a wagon flier capable of to lift this vehicle as a

    feather - The Vendor said.

    Very well, lets legalize our transaction right away.- Gretchen said, and in scant minutes the

    documents were storage electronically on the National Register of Properties.

    You dont need to show anything: with only the serial number they will know to whom belongs

    this sphere. In this case, to Gretchen De Ultor!- The vendor said.

    And Gretchen was very proud of her (newly invented) second name

    Now, every second after working hours were spend on repairs. Gretchen and Media were using

    the male bodies to do the job, more to the laugh of the Doctor, who said. And you were the ones

    complaining of male bodies!To change of bodies, the method was very easy: just to insert the electronic brain in the interior of

    the chests- of course. Someone get to do the manipulation: in this case, the Doctor did it.

    First, they clean the rooms and corridors of garbage, then they scrub stairs and handrails, later

    begins the replacement of instruments, machines, hoses, cables, and at last the engines: there

    were two different kinds: a Warp drive engine to attain up to warp 4.0 , and another engine

    capable of to make Brana jumps.

    We get to pay rent! The place where this vehicle stands belongs to the Spark Spaceport, entity

    that is asking a hundred sopes per week to stay. And this is the third month already.- Dr. AB 631

    said.

    Really! I assume this vehicle will be standing on the ground for more than six months more.-

    Median said.

    When disassembling the Brana engine, they found it fused beyond repair.

    That a thing! Good bye to Brana jumps in this vehicle!- Doctor AB 631 said, in sad tones.

    Why? Were you willing to travel to Vulcan or Earth?- Median asked him.

    Of course! To see the cradle of Federation lore! But, never mind! We dont need Brana jump

    when going to Erina.- He said, moving his head on the affirmative.

    The warp engine has a very small amount of energy, and Gretchen said:-Fortunately, we could

    buy energy for this mechanism, but its going to cost us dearly. A year putting half our wages in

    the Bank, and well be having enough for a round trip to Erina.

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    49

    Are you planning to come back?- Dr. AB 631 asked.

    Of course! We need gold to fix this spaceship anew- or buy another. I wonder where they have

    our special Fliers and the NB 4419!- Median said.

    Its going to be esy to know. But we are working hard on the Sphere! One thingor the other!-

    Gretchen said.

    Median didnt think like that, and from that day on, she was asking permission at her work, to

    went out early: just to visit every space field on town and also junkyards and private sites as well.

    At last, on a trip to a retired place, twenty kilometers from the nearest house of the city of

    Rixiaberg, he found the NB 4419 next to a barn.

    As he was using a personal Flier, she just descends and walked around. It looks older, dustier but

    in one piece.

    There was nobody around. To get inside, she had to pull a ladder next to the door, and opened it

    easily, knowing how to do it from memory.

    The interior was dark and smelling to oil. The cabin and the seats with a lot of dust: nobody was

    using them, since at least a couple of months.

    She opens the circuits, and revised the fuel- as the Sphere, just a little amount of energy was left.

    Median started the engines and hovering over the place, tested the rest of the indicators. Then,she flew where the Orb was being repaired.

    That night they all revised the instruments and Gretchen said: We had not sold this machine. It

    was stolen from us in Oredloro! Somebody taks it from there!

    A thief!- Median said.

    Right! Now is ours! Thanks for your work!- Gretchen said.

    I was searching for the Fliers Gusoffas well.

    We understand you! Now we must camouflage this spaceship! A new coat of mineral paint! That

    will do the trick.- Doctor AB 631 said, but believing that they were going to need some more

    luck

    They clean the NB 4419 the same way they had donned with the Sphere: six months later, they

    bought fuel for both spaceships, and again more fuel six months later.We are ready to depart. Gretchen said, after all of that time.

    Our bosses will surely miss us.- Median said.

    The Hospital will lose his best medic. Doctor AB 631 said.

    And I cannot lose my three best friends! I will sell the Restaurant!- Drigua said.

    Gretchen embraces the natural woman, saying- Think it over, friend of us! The voyage will take

    thirty or more years- and the same amount of time , if we come back here some day!

    There are hibernating chambers at both vessels! Surely I will be safe from the passing of the years

    inside one of them!3- Drigua stated out.

    Of course, and we are not a suitable couple for you- at Erina there are men- but they are thirty

    years in the future!- Gretchen remembered her.

    I am not horny!- Drigua said, laughing.

    Very well, I see you are very decided to accompany us. I will help you sell the Restaurant.

    Median said, embracing the noble young woman.

    Four weeks later, the Restaurant was already sold and the money on Driguas hands. She said: As

    its very possible that I will not return here to find things as they look today, I will use my money

    right away!

    And she bought more food, wine, clothes and shoes for her and the rest.

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    A lovable morning they departed, with the Sphere inside the NB 4419. From one of the Orbital

    Stations they ask identification, and Gretchen told the officer the old designation of that

    spaceship. And they was no problem

    I wonder if the sphere could depart so easily!- Dr. AB 631 said.

    Of course! It has the documentation they require! Pity its an old model! Now well be traveling

    at Warp 6. The sphere cannot run past the Warp 4.- Median said.

    They worked their way out of the populated lines. The traffic was heavy at the kingdom of Knapp.

    This is pure beauty! I am glad to be doing this marvelous trip!- Drigua exclaimed, while looking at

    the planets and the unlinking stars.

    One week later, she was cryiogenized for the rest of the trip.

    Gretchen was missing the cleverness of the original main NB 4419 computer- it was severely

    damaged- somebody hast taken important pieces from it, leaving only the essentials.

    Pity of burglars and common people! They see the little picture! How they dare to take so

    important pieces of equipment from this spaceships brain?- One day Gretchen complained

    loudly.

    Pity we dont replace those parts when at Rixiaberg! We were in such a hurry to depart!2-

    Median said.

    At least we recovered the NB 4419! Pity on the Gusoff Fliers But with the Sphere we will replacethem, by scouting at the planets.- Dr. AB 631, conciliatory.

    The thirty years gets them to Ultor planetary System- balls of gas and balls of rocks, and the blue

    shiny gloss of Ultor III receiving them as always, with clouds of pale blue color.

    They landed where the old cavern was dug The old gate opens at their command, and young

    Drigua was happy to see their friends were showing her their most cherished secrets.

    It was in this cave that we had several Gusoff fliers, almost a century ago!- Median said, and her

    voice resounds hollowly in that empty place.

    Its nice! Outside the wind blows, but here only the cloud could enter. She said.

    Pity we cannot show you more. Mankind was very cruel to us, robbing us in Oredloro, years ago.

    Median explains her.

    From there to the spaceship. The temperature was roughly minus twenty Centigrade and Driguawas using thermo clothes- that means she had some twenty degrees inside them, but the face was

    not protected, so they let her go outdoors just for scant minutes at a time.

    Sorry! We have o helmets for that kind of garment! But you could use a spatial suit- I tell you its

    very cumbersome.- Gretchen said (they had just three older versions of them.)

    No, thanks you! Im very comfortable with this thermo- clothes!- She replied, handsomely.

    The views were great; the sandy shore had lots of shells from mollusks; some of them fifty

    centimeters long: and there was nobody who could collect then, or study, because Ultor planet

    has no people.

    55

    Ultor V.

    The ice covered huge portions of the planet- snow was falling everywhere, and icebergs were

    everywhere.

    The animals were mainly seals, huge fishes and mollusk. In the land, mammals of small size.

    A little blue planet! Guess people accustomed to ice and the cold would love this planet. Drigua

    said.

    Your father wishes no people arriving here to stay. Median remembered.

    Oh? Perhaps an hotel for choosy tourists? Probably they could be indoors due to the climate.

    She said, smiling.

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    Yes, now that scant people wants to colonize, tourism is the next thing. Dr. AB 631 said,

    grinning.

    You should think about how to bring here and backthere in less than sixty years elapsing time

    Median pointed out.

    Yes, I guess its not the dream of a tourist! When returning, they could find half of their friends

    are already passed away. Gudria said, and then she remembered about his father (87) but she

    was sure he could live past his three hundred birthdays, if only attending the Clinic where all old

    timers must go once a couple of months, to be revised and medicine if necessary.

    Are you reminding your father? I am sure he will be nice threated by the medical institution he

    must be attached with.- Median said.

    Yes! By law, every person with more than seventy years must be signed to a clinic, or hospital net

    to their address.

    Father is already taken care of by the Perennial Clinic. Guess he chooses it by the name.

    >Perennial means Drigua was saying.

    Eternal.- Gretchen interrupted her.

    Yes! Of course, the life of a person in our kingdom is of three hundred years, roughly. Guess at

    Earth is five hundred years.- Drigua indicates.

    A thousand and five hundred, actually. Dr. AB 31 said, who was on top of those information .A thousand and five hundred years! Well, I guess we are living in a cave, at Knapp!- Drigua said.

    Yes, but everyone could go to the solar system to beguine living for centuries on end the

    problem is that the non-solar born needs to pay for the treatment. And its highly prohibitive just

    the very rich could go there with a smile.- Doctor AB 631 said.

    57

    Guess 300 years for a common person its more than enough!- Drigua said.

    From there, they visit the poles, where terrible winds were blowing with force. Evidently, a very

    hostile place for mammals.

    Frigid and windy! No animals in sight!_ Drigua said.

    Gretchen piloted the big spaceship up and away.

    Now, we met search for the wormhole!- Median said.Oh, and its too far from here?-

    Very close! In hours well be looking at it. Gretchen informed her. Drigua was now tierd, and

    went to rest at a cabin. Hours later, the Doctor knocks in her door.

    Yes doctor? She said, opening the door.

    We are in full view of the wormhole! We think youll be interested in to see it before we attempt

    to go through it!- The doctor AB 631 said.

    They walked by the corridors and she asked: and is it not dangerous to go by it?

    58

    Everything we do outside a planet is dangerous! And this traversing has its dangers. Not always

    the electromagnetic waves act exactly in unison._ He said.

    Drigua was not too confident in her near future now, and said to Gretchen, who was at the

    controls: Where is the wormhole?

    Right ahead, Drigua! Do you sleep well?- She answered.

    Yes, thanks you! Oh, but it looks rather small!!- - She said.

    Gretchen smiled and replied:- Wormholes comes in a lot of sized! I would say that this is a

    medium sized one!- And noticing the young female was jumpy, she added:- Hope you are not

    afraid?

    Oh, no! But what are the chances we could bump on a wall, once traveling through it?- She

    asked.

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    A very remote possibility! You know, those walls of pure energy rejects solid matter. In principle,

    we cannot bump on a wall, even if we try!- Gretchen informs her. Drigua looks at the doctor,

    who just rise his shoulders

    59

    Approaching the multicolored veil of electromagnetic matter, the NB 4419 was put in position by

    Gretchens dexterous hands; soon it was speeding up, approaching the rays that soon enveloped

    the craft.

    Wow! This is wonderful! How much time are we spending here?

    The enough time to traverse it in full.- Median said, sensing the tremor in Driguas voice.

    Hours later, they were out and away of the wormhole, that was like a rainbow of colors with the

    form (or design) of an infundibulum.

    That was great! Driguas said, half of his afraid of wormholes already gone.

    That star is our destination!- Gretchen indicates with his hand pointing to the main screen.

    Erina.- Median said, like a summon.

    60

    They descended in the Sierra continent, at the oriental hemisphere; at the same spot they were

    ninety years ago.

    There is scant oxygen at this planet, youll get accustomed in time, with the help of an oxygentank. But the weather is fine.- Gretchen told to Drigua.

    So, when they went out, the woman was using a small plastic mask, attached to a cylinder at her

    back with a transparent hose.

    Its really beautiful! - She said, enchanted to see forest everywhere. The light of the principal star,

    Erina, was brilliant, the breeze moving the leaves and a sweet perfume to vegetation coming in

    gusts of wind.

    Yes, its a nice spot. In fact, almost this entire planet is a beautiful garden- there is also fruit

    trees.- Median said to her.

    Gretchen and the Doctor begin revising systems at the Sphere, and in the afternoon they take it

    out of the NB 4419 for a test.

    You better stay here with Median! We dont know how it will function in here!- Gretchen said,so she and the doctor were soon traveling on the Sphere, testing the repairs they had donned

    while in transit from one star to the other.

    Twice they landed to perform repairs, and eight hours later they were back at the side of the NB

    4419.

    And how it was your test flight?- Drigua asked the couple.

    Just fine! A few adjustments and now its as reliable as it could be! Tomorrow we will take you in

    it: did you want to see herbivores or carnivores first?- Dr. AB 631 asked her.

    Both! They are both so much interesting!- Drigua said.

    Very well, but one thing at a time! So well go to see herbivores first! Some other day and well

    travel where the others are!- Gretchen said, quenching her interest into see it all at once.

    In the Sphere they went to the West. They traveled at a slow pace, in low altitude, in fact for to let

    Drigua see the forests, rivers, lagoons of the Sierra continent. Large herds of deer were seen

    moving by the sides of the mountains. Hippopotamus were seen on lagoons, flocks of cranes flying

    above rivers.

    Then they traverse above the sea; the Girardot Island was seen to the south the ocean of

    Elocutrix and their great expanse. At last, the continent of Jarena. On the plains, several >Licorinos

    were grazing under the star rays. Those were green in color, with streaks of coffee color running

    over their loins.

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    Gretchen keeps on searching, and near a river they saw Hepstasteornio, Ammosaurus and

    Criocophosaurus in peaceful harmony.

    We brought many species here, with our chief Ultor. There are lots of other animals that must be

    scattered throughout this land to see.- Gretchen said.

    63

    Im proud of you! Your work has transcended time and space!- Drigua said, absorbed in the

    contemplation of those giants.

    They landed near a group of Kotasaurs; Drigua walks out of the _Sphere, accompanied by Median.

    They found some Avalonias eggs, and Median said: Those eggs are very resistant! You can seta

    on one of them, and it didnt crack!

    And the mother?- Drigua asked, looking around.

    Must be at the river! This animal needs lots of water to survive.- Median said, knowingly.

    Drigua takes a deep breath of oxygen, and said: Pity theres not much oxygen here! I would be

    better without the oxygen tank.

    Bear with it! Its your life support.- Median remembered her.

    Two hours later, they returned to the Sphere, and Gretchen said: I receive a radio transmission

    from the Sierra Continent: the Glockians wants to meet us.

    Of course. We help them before, against some miners from outer space.- Median explains toDrigua, who was ignorant of it.

    64

    They landed at the open space in front of the rocky wall of the center of the city. Hundreds of

    people were running and yelling of anxiety and emotion- to see again a big aerial ship was, for

    them, the best hoped event in their lives.

    When the Sphere was landed, Gretchen appears on the threshold of the gate, and the multitude

    yelled and applauded.

    We are back! We are back!- Gretchen said, using double volume.

    A hastened group of surprised functionaries appears, and after some struggle, welcomed her and

    the crew, inviting them to descend.

    Gretchen, seeing no guards around to make way, replied: You are invited to our spaceship to talk!Please come inside, that later well descend!

    The group climbs by the ladder, and once inside, the lock was closed.

    Welcome to Glocke city! I am Tyren Burr, the Major; this are Councilors from the Municipality!

    Sorry we have no preparations to receive you in a proper form! We saw your flying vehicle in the

    sky, and that was all the time we had for preparations!- The Major said.

    I am Gretchen, she is Median, and there the doctor! And one more person, Miss Drigua, who is

    happy to be here! Gretchen said, while guiding the visitors to the dining table.

    Once seated, Median serves soft drinks, while the Major said: We werent expecting you! Some

    of us believe you were not to return again! But here you are , to show the people with lack of faith

    how they were wrong!

    Thanks for your honesty! Things had happened in our worlds, that were preventing to come, but

    we overcame all odds, and here we are!

    I thanks you for that! We lack of a number of things you could provide.- A man on the group

    said.

    Of course. We will see how to help as much aswe could.- Median said.

    All your people are very excited with your presence. Albeit that, I think not advisable that you go

    outside right now! We must prepare! A security area for your spaceship, a guard of honor must be

    set!- The Major said, hastily.

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    I accept your suggestion. We will give you some presents, and you will disembark. Tomorrow

    well return; pay attention to the radio: well advice when nearing the city.- Gretchen said.

    One of the men said:- I wish I could go with you! I had always wanted to be in one of these ships.

    Herrera! How do you dare molest our visitors like this! What a shame! The Major said,

    blushing.

    Never mind, Major Burr! It will be of interest for us to take him aboard.- Gretchen said, and

    gives the visitors sonic shavers, cellphone radios to communicate, perennial jackets, and lanterns.

    We remember small vehicles and a big one. Do you arrive here in this one, or there are others?-

    The Major asked.

    This is our scout ship, the Sphere. The bigger one is on another place at the present.- Median

    replied.

    When going out, the people cheered again; Gretchen close the lock gate and afterwards they get

    back by another aerial route, to the Sierra Continent mountain ridge.

    A nice trip! Very amusing!- Drigua said, yawning.

    You better go to sleep! Tomorrow well visit the Glockians again.- Drigua said.

    very well, but not until late!- Gretchen said, and guided them to the hall of the stargazer, where

    they seat while looking at some recorded scenes taken while approaching the planet, so Mr.

    Herrera was able to see his own world from the distance. Median come to the room, and seatsnext to Drigua, saying:- probably we had lots of questions to make Mr. Herrera, but he had asked

    to be with us to make his own questions, so why dont you ask first, Mr. Herrera? Later, well

    question you in which interest us.

    68

    Herrera, 45 years, married to Janet Rubon, two sons (eight and twelve) was especially interested

    on life span, and said so.

    Life span- Median replied- its different on the different planets and societies. Earth of Sun, its

    a thousand five hundred and three years. In planet Knapp, roughly three hundred years, while at

    Nulcan its three thousand two hundred and two years. I can enumerate other life spans, like the

    Oladorians, that lives thirty Earth years and die.

    Here the life span seems to be seventy years.- Mr. Herrera confided.As well as the science develops, life keeps on for more years. Naturally, a body could live a

    hundred years, but with serious hindrances and lack of mental efficiency. Gadgets, by the other

    hand, improves efficiency.- Median said.

    I understand. We lack the technology.- Mr. Herrera said.

    But that is remediable! In the long run, we all will achieve the goal: a person able to live as many

    years as he likes.- Drigua said.

    Possibly so.- Median said, making some calculus with the limited information that she has.

    Where were you, while not in our planet?- Mr. Herrera asked.

    69

    From here we went to the Ultor planetary system, to Aurea VI- 2, to Knapp planetary system,

    where we were robbed and stripped over. Some of us may have ceased to exist. Pity on them.-

    Media remembered.

    And who administrate your city?

    Rastrasse. He is a man in his fifties, related the late Kinaber, the old Administrator. He was at the

    fields at your arrival- thats why the Major and us takes the responsibility of to come to you in the

    first place!- Mr. Herrera said.

    And which post do you have in the government?- Drigua asked him.

    Councilor.

    How many people has your city?

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    Three hundred thousand people. But there had been some splitting: people that prefers to live at

    the beach. People that prefer to live on the woods. In any case, they are the minority.- Herrera

    said.

    And your coinage, whats the name of it?

    Sopes: in your memory we called it when we decided the monetary system was the only way out

    to have a sound society.- Herrera said, looking at Median.

    Good to know it! Perhaps in the future people from Knapp could come here to visit , and using

    the same coinage will help things go smooth.- Drigua stated.

    70

    Median said: And what kind of help do you need the most?

    Energy! We cling to electricity, but the means to obtain it are difficult to maintain. Perhaps you

    could help us find something else apart than burning oil to spin the electromagnets.- Herrera

    said.

    Of course. There are so many other ways, but some of them needs technology of a certain kind,

    plus lots of work. Median said, looking at Drigua and adding:- Any more questions?

    Drigua smiled to both of them and said: Yes, I had a few more, but those can wait until the

    morning.

    All right, then! I will show you where to sleep, Mr. Herrera! Come with me.- Median said, leadingthe man to a cabin.

    Drigia looked at the night sky for another minute and she , also, went to sleep at a nice chamber.

    Gretchen reminds at the NB 4419 spaceship while Median did the same at the Orb; only Dr. AB

    631 could rummage around the place.

    They talked by radio

    This Herrera is a fine man. He asks nothing for himself.- Median said.

    How do you know? Perhaps tomorrow hell ask something. Ill give some gadgets. Doctor! Go

    check his AND, the state of his health, teeth, you name it.

    The Doctor , who was now at the pope of the NB 4419, replied:- Could I sedate him first? Not too

    polite to awake him now he barely takes his sleep.

    Do as necessary not to raise comments on our behavior! And give me results!- Gretchen asks.All right- Dr. AB 631 said, while he walks to the Infirmary. He looks at the shelves, and decided

    for a shot of gas- no marks to show after its use.

    He enters at Herreras cabin and closed the door, sprayed the place with the solution and seconds

    later, Mr. Herrera was inconscient for at least the next two hours. But the doctor needs less than

    that. He takes the body with care and transported to the Infirmary, where he puts on the stretcher

    and produces several syringes, taking samples from that body and inserting the liquids into

    ampules, in order to study them later. He also takes samples of his hair, nails, while a machine

    takes record of his pumping heart and breathing lungs. He also takes samples of the lungs, kidneys

    and reproductive organs, storing them into small vials.

    The electroencephalographic examination takes only ten minutes, and then he carried Mr. Herrera

    back to his bed, closing the door after him- at his laboratory he examined the samples and hours

    later, he said to Gretchen:- We need a dentist! Also, the man has seven infections, most of them

    in a latent state- perhaps the medicines in his society arent properly identifying the source of

    their illnesses.

    I assume we are here to help them fix those problems, Doctor! I can work as a dentist, if needed

    be.- Gretchen declares, by radio transmission.

    They kept talking until the problems were coped, albeit in theory.

    At the next day, Gretchen puts the orb inside a chamber on the NB 4419 and departed to the

    Glocke city, after call the Major by radio, announcing their arrival.

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    When they arrive to the site, there was ample room for the landing of the medium sized cargo

    vessel.

    After the landing, Gretchen opened the gate and descended with Mr. Herrera, who was already

    treated of his teeth. Drigua , in a soft pink dress, followed them, while the Doctor walks at her

    side. The lock was shut, and Median stays inside- for precaution.

    The governor, Mr. Rastrasse, was there to welcome them, with some of his assistants and their

    spouses. The crowd was then meters away from them, restrained to approach more by some low

    barriers made of wood, and guards. As Mr. Herrera had told them that same morning, the Guards

    were here the Police as well at the Military, in one unique organization, and the commander in

    chief was the Governor himself.

    Welcome to Glocke city! How nice to meet you all! The man said, handshaking them one by

    one.

    Thanks you! Here we are, after so many years! We came to help and be of guidance to your

    people.- Gretchen said, and her voice boomed by the loudspeakers.

    Mr. Rastrasse has a paper in his hands, so he reads it for all to hear:

    Ninety two years ago, Mr. Ultors assistants , who are here with me, found us living in huts, and

    help us build a stone place where we lived and thrive, and in the process we expand over the

    terrain ending by having a nice city, that we call Glocke.You, my valuable visitors, brought us technology and science. You helped us against a race of

    miners that were threatening our future with their excavations. You left us aerial vehicles able to

    fly and explore this and other continents, expanding our knowledge of this planet.

    In the years of your absence, we had tried hard to advance in sciences and architecture. We had

    tried to develop medicines. We are eager to show you our advances, and learn from your

    experience. During your stay here with us, that we expect to be long, we will try to lean as much as

    we are able to. Welcome, brothers and sisters from the space!

    They all applauded and cheered them. A woman approaches the visitors, saying>: our governor

    expects you to visit the seat of government! A vehicle is provided.- And they climb on a bus, that

    has wide windows to see and be seen. After the vehicle was rolling the governors car, with him

    and his wife, plus some relatives.The Government House was located some eight blocks away from the landing site. By the street,

    the people were acclaiming them as heroes: they were taught to do so- from childhood.

    Inside a nice hall of reunion, they received more applause and some speeches from people in the

    Administrative sector.

    Gretchen was sure they really were needing advice to fasten the pace in sciences, for their

    collective welfare, so he told Median, who was at the NB 4419:- We are receiving much attention

    . How are things going at your place?

    The people hasnt moved and are singing and expecting for me to show out.

    Show yourself but with precautions! Remember our bad experience at Knapp! I guess theres no

    danger to be friendly- from some distance.- Gretchen recommended her.

    I had been showing myself before! But all right, Ill show myself once more- from the door.-

    Median said.

    Gretchen, the Doctor, and Drigua were invited to a lunch party; the only person eating from the

    visitors were Drigua, who said. Its very cumbersome to breath by a tube and then to eat! I

    wonder how this people, that are human like me, could breath this thin atmosphere!

    Look at their chests! They are wider than the common people youhad seen at your world! And I

    assume their red globules are more per square inch than the ones you have.- Doctor AB 631 said.

    After the ceremony, the governor Rastrasse said:- Perhaps our reunions must continue. There are

    many questions to debate.

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    I understand! Well be coming to see what is the more urgent situation where to help.- Gretchen

    replied.

    In the next days, they begin to visit >Hospitals and electric plants, where they introduce new

    engines, providing power to machines and lamps.

    Half of the city has no electric light! Well see to it, how to give them the opportunity to live with

    comfort!- Median said, and they enlarged the electric emissions to forty kilometers around the

    pole where the electricity was irradiated. Several camps with metallic wires were capturing energy

    from the upper atmosphere.

    76

    Every building has an antenna to grab the electric current- no wires were needed.

    Many manual labors are now being replaced by machines.- Gretchen said to the governor

    Rastrasse.

    We work in the fields, in the mines, in the sea as fishers. Our city will increase its power in the

    future, but for now we are few people to think about it happening soon.- Rastrasse said.

    We could build an army of workers! A synthetic army.- Gretchen said, and Rastrasse was amazed

    by the projection of her words, so he said: For that matter to be accomplished we will be needing

    a factory, laboratories, high-tech!

    Well provide! Give me a hundred workers, and Ill work with them to provide indefatigableworkers who will improve the quality of life in this community.- Gretchen said.

    I will give you the workers, that will need tools and nourishment.

    Ill provide both. Also medicines if necessary, and lessons to use the tools Ill give them.-

    Gretchen announced.

    Drigua was courted by Loman, a technician who was working at the new plant- soon they were in

    love, much to the surprise of the Doctor.

    But how did this happen? She was so shy and obedient, and now she laugh and stand her points

    as best as a lawyer could do!

    Love changes everything!- Median said, remembering Ultor in his best moments.

    As times goes by, a child was born from them, and Drigua said: Well call her Astria! Because I

    want you to take her away from here- to the stars! Perhaps she becomes some famous spaceshipcaptain.

    Ill teach her Astrometrics!- Median said, immediately : the baby was white and with green eyes.

    The first electromagnetic plant begins working a year and a half later, and it gives light and heat to

    five hundred homes and two factories. Then, a flier vehicle factory was started to be built- the first

    vehicle was produced two years after the electric plant, and at the first month, thirty units were

    built. This show how dearly were needed more skillful workers, and Gretchen said to the governor

    Rastrasse:- As we are way behind the necessary technology, a mechanical assistant could be

    built.

    But could he comply with the basic requirements?

    Exactly. He will obey orders, and stand to reason- when out of its depth, he will ask for more

    information. If that is not available, he either stop or keep on with another order.- Gretchen

    explains.

    Very well! Metal will be required.

    And technological equipment Ill built with the aid of Media and the Doctor. Sorry! We cannot

    give you Model AB for now. Gretchen excuses herself.

    The construction of metallic workers takes half a year. Three hundred prototypes were built in

    that period, with a big sized one was produced first, thinking in the work at the mines.

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    In five months they have produced the equivalent of two years using natural miners! This shows

    we re in the correct path! The industrialization of our country is a must!- Rastrasse assured

    everyone that nears him.

    Certainly an increase in population would boost the colonization of Erina! But really we cannot

    be thinking in the missing of the races!- Gretchen said.

    The mixing of the races produces a people who dont know wheres north!- Dr. AB 631 said.

    In Earth and in other places the mixing of races had induced fight and violence.- Median said.

    Its not the external appearance that only changes! Its also the brain! Different attitudes finds

    face to face and the person dont know what to do in that inner battle! One minutes hes

    accepting something ,a and t the next moment hes rejecting it- a race like that its split in two and

    have real problems to find their way. Gretchen assured them both.

    As I calculate with the data we have, there are eleven thousand men and fourteen thousand

    women. The rate of birth its 3.4 per year.- Doctor AB 631 said.

    We should increase that rate, by propaganda! The government has a holographic channel running

    eight hours a day. We should ask Rastrasse to promote births. The state must provide medicines,

    medical care, clothes to those who born. A plus could be half price in _Fliers and houses.

    Gretchen said.

    80And perhaps a pinch of hormones in the water supply. The doctor express.

    I Know you are unsurpassable in those matters, doctor .Perhaps Ill ask the governor to promote

    you to the post of Minister of Health. In that way, you will have the means and toe control to

    make things to our way.- Gretchen said, and implicit in her words were the idea they know best

    than the rest of the people at Erina planet.

    That is for their own benefit.- Median pointed out.

    I assume it is .- Doctor AB 631 said.

    We could take the government in our hands. Median said.

    I guess the naturals must govern themselves. Of course, we must get into the scheme we must

    not be something remote and untouchable. We must have force. We must be feared- in a sense,

    we must show ourselves transcending their scale of values.- Gretchen said.And how do you think that could be achieved?- The doctor asks her.

    By control of the Army! We must have the key: the Army is the key.- Gretchen said.

    So you think youmust have the Ministry of the Army Forces on your lap?- Median asked her.

    81

    I guess we must be in charge of the Army Forces. Today, the Glocke Army forces is a joke; ten

    Fliers using LASER cannons, forty soldiers and two officers!- Gretchen said.

    The governor has a hundred and fifty personal guards! Surely he has his personal guard for his

    own sake, because they take no orders from anyone in the Army but him!- Doctor AB 631

    explains.

    We must leave his little Army intact! In that way, hell be not feeling theres a threat for him

    occupying the principal post in the city. And I assume hell give me the Ministry of the _Army

    Forces because there are only forty men in there.- Gretchen said.

    And you are thinking to increase their number.- Median said.

    Of course. Ill increase it with natural who volunteered and with synthetics specially made.-

    Gretchen said.

    One thing is obvious: Rastrasse will be your Chief: a Ministry could be deposed.- Dr. AB 631 said.

    That is where I will expect some changes! I will cat in an independent way, Ill answer to nobody!

    But I get to start slow.- Gretchen said.

    Do your own way! Well support you.- Median said, immediately.

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    82

    Gretchen presents herself with the Doctor and Median at the Governors office, after asking for an

    audience, that was immediately given.

    Good morning, Miss Gretchen, Miss Media, Doctor! Nice day, eh? Please, take a seat!- Rastrasse

    said.

    Thanks you, governor.- And she and her companions seats, for social intercourse matters.

    I had a reunion today with several school Directors! I had that job, because I dont want to create

    another Ministrymoney trickles in, and swooshed out.- Rastrasse said.

    Pity to hear that! But the economy must keep on having money to interchange goods! In the high

    civilized societies, money is only used to buy what the government didnt provide! But in here,

    starting from a fruit up, this coinage must keep on.- Gretchen teaches him

    Oh, I wonder how those civilizations out there could provide so much to the people!- Rastrasse

    said.

    High economics and lots of Synthetic people doing their jobs!- Median said.

    But we are here to ask you for something very important: lets talk about your Army forces,

    governor.- Gretchen said.

    83

    You frighten me! You know how many men are in the Army?Forty two?

    Exactly! Armed with LASER rifles and single LASER cannon!.

    Very feeble Army Forces that you have here.- Median interceded.

    AirForce? Marine? Spatial Force?- The doctor AB 631 asked.

    Please! We have eighteen Fliers, counting the last the Flier Factory had delivered to us recently!

    None of them its armed.- Rastrasse said, moving his eyes from one to the other.

    I come here to ask the ministry of the War! All Army Forces in one hand: mine. That means I will

    see that the Army grows and gets strong as it must be.- Gretchen said.

    Rastrasse paled a little, and said: I see not a problem! The Ministry of the War is my cousin

    Palerm. I know hell understand that you could do a better job than him.

    I know Ill do a good job there! Of course, well be using technological advanced means toachieve our goal: an Army capable to fight against aliens if they show their spaceships in this

    planet once again.- Gretchen said.

    84

    The governor made a ceremony to change the former Ministry and appoint the new one. Everyone

    were very surprised to see that Gretchen, who assumedly was very superior than everyone in the

    government, takes only a title of Minister, but said nothing publicly.

    In the days after the nomination, Gretchen visited the garrison, to know the personnel, the place

    where they had the offices, the warehouse, the vehicles, the weapons.

    He finds that all kind of run-down with the soldiers using worn shoes, patched clothes and

    suffering cold at their barrack.

    She makes them attend her, while in position, saying: I am the new Ministry of the Army Forces!

    Well modernize everything! Ill bring synthetic people to clean and repair everything! I will repair

    Fliers and weaponize them in full! Well make more land vehicles.

    They heard and just a few believed her. She replied her performance at the Naval quarters, near

    the sea- just two boats, armed with cannons that uses gunpowder was all the navel ofrc of the city

    : perhaps the long distance between the city and the garrison at the coast was responsible for

    that.

    Gretchen calls the fifteen Marines to attend her speech, and when they were at attention, in a log

    cabin that was barrack and office in unison, she said:

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    Good day, men! I am the new commander of the Naval Forces! We have nothing sort of a fleet!

    We have no Marines, no guns, nothing! But Ill make submarines, boats and Ill rise an Army of

    Synthetic metallic people, and every one of you will be in command, of a ship, a submarine or a

    platoon! Just obey orders, stay in place and I assure youll be proud to serve in the new Navy!

    They cheered her, half believing what she was saying was true.