Home and Beyond (Final)
a human woman goes home, after nearly 500 years. Does she achieve her goals however?
"Home and Beyond"
I finally made it. Hankering for years, I pined to return to the lands I was born in; my home nestled within the lap of the highlands of green. Landing onto the tarmac, I looked around and knew in an instant. I was home. The trip was done at great cost, with storms threatening to stop me. But I pushed though by a single-minded determination. I wasn't young anymore, and because of that, parts of me begged to sleep. But no, sleep would not be coming. Not now, not after all this. All I fought, worked for, and gave to this one final trip. The final destination was ahead, and I smiled. Frankie, the owner of the house greets me, and asks if I want to come in. With an amused look upon my face, I look at the black haired man, short with a slight paunch. His quizzitive look I dismiss with a laugh for I was thinking how "Frankie" looks like the second owner of my old house, and the name was quite ironic. "All you remember, Jerri?" He asked. I smile, from memories coming from a little girl who still ran around the house, holding a doll I still had. Yes it was, and yet it wasn't. An odd memory nagged at me like a gnat. An e-mail from the owner in 2033 complete with photos of the smoldering ruins, and words of regret. "Musta been a dream memory." I assured myself. For on either end, strong smelling Hemlock torrents reaching almost to the eves, complete with a laser straight wall of Junipers. The center of this green wall, broken in half by brick covered planters abutting a stoop. Two short torrents of yews ablaze with their incubus berries. Behind those shrubs, from prying eyes, it was my secret entrance to the treasured lands; Oz, or Middle-Earth, or Laputa, the location fluid at the time. Wide picture windows which flooded the living room with natural light with it's marble window stills in which I fell and ripped my forehead open. I knew this was the old house, for on the end; instead of the old one car attached garage which I could only faintly remember. It was the converted family room, the garage doors replaced with glass sliders. Frankie touches my shoulder and points out someone wanting to meet me. From nowhere, comes a piebald patterned cat. Pete's tail held up straight, he slowly trots in his hefty size made him a bit slow. He goes limp, and purrs loudly as I pick him up, and stroke over the downy coat. That music he made begin to erase any doubts of why and how I appeared here. Doubts do start to fade. Especially looking over the two lane ribbon of harden tar and pebbles. My vision is drawn up the verdent hills. Ending on the ridge as though the sky had sliced the tops off. My eye is guided to the right. One hill had a power line tower, but this one was ruddy colored, not silver-grey, with the wires missing? I found this odd, as even at this distance wires was visible. Even stranger, I seemed to blink, and the tower looks new. The rust-red now replaced with silver-grey, and power lines stretch for a kilometer to the other tower on the adjoining hill. Memories come to the surface now. I was younger; a stubborn, determined teen girl, with heart hammering in my chest, and lungs burning as I fought my way up the hill to that tower. The denatured ground slipping under my feet, sticky brush scratching and grabbing at my clothing, and the steep hill. An antagonist determined to stop me from reaching that tower, much like the recent one tried it's best to stop me from returning home... one last time. A crackle of leaves under one of the shrubs, then two brilliant emeralds with vertical slits, and a silky, and ivory pelt contrasting against the green of the trees, is an indication of another old friend. "Of course, if Pete is here, his mother Cassi has to be close behind." Without even thinking I squat down to entice the lovely queen to come to me, forgetting what this will cost me. However since Pete is so generous in size it's impossible for me to hold both. Sitting him down I pick her up, running my fingers though her silky soft fur, and she parrots her son's actions. The price I was concerned about never even appears as I stand and straighten. I smile to Frankie, who returns one of his own. "How do you feel?" Normally such a question wouldn't even be a thought. But the way he asked it. That look in his eyes, his expression on his face. I had to stop and think for a moment, before stating truthfully. "Young..." But then the answer raised more questions in my mind. Frankie and I start a conversation, when I hear a bark. Down the road comes yet another old friend. The black mask, and spotted white coat of my first dalmatian. "Dot!" I cried out, and she answered me with barks. She stops only long enough to sniff my legs then she's on me, her long tail wagging so hard, her butt sways. I just laugh as I hug her to me, greeted with licks, and whimpers. After the reunion of old friends, I'm lead into the house. Frankie took my hand, guiding me up the stoop to the foyer. While Dot, Cassi, and Pete walk, investigating the house. Quiet from my confused thoughts, he looked surprised at my inquiry. "I have this strange thought that this house burned down in 2033..." and he laughed. "Well we have plenty of time, Jerri. After all, it's only 1997." The answer confused me no end. But I kept quiet, to avoid an argument, or worse; to be considered of having a 'senior moment' The first room we came into was the living room. It's light blue carpet, the sheer white drapes, and the floral patterned couch. I looked at him thoughtfully, then remembered when I was last in the room. My old boyfriend and I use to sit on the couch and talk without the distractions of TVs. It still felt the same; a rough pebbly texture but as I tried to remember his name; a face floated in front of me. "Charles" appeared in my mind, then oddly an image of - I was guessing - a jaguar appeared for a brief second. Only the head looking at me with those round eyes, and rosette patterns in his fur..."His?" for some reason I knew it was male. My attentions returned to Frankie, and I laughed, "Senior Moment" I joked with him, in which he just smiled, "Your a lot more lucid than I am on my best days, Jerri." he assured me. We continued the tour. Though the old kitchen down into the converted garage, which as a young girl the family converted into a family room. With the dark Grey paneling, and a huge wall mounted air-conditioner which continually froze up. Bubbling in a fish tank to my left had a black molly slowly swimming in circles. Three meters above, the ceiling with it's brown stained 'faux' wood beams looked far higher when I was younger. A faux fireplace complete with it's little heater that mother used on cold winter nights. Especially one cold night; pushing aside the tacky gold colored black-out curtains that blocked the sliding glass doors. 30cm of snow was already down, and heading up to the legendary two meters just days later. I amusingly looked at the old cabinet model TV. A CRT type, with a slightly grainy and fuzzy screen. I stopped in my tracks then laughing softly at a huge and jovial Orsen Wells clowning from a podium. The stunningly handsome and laughing Dean Martin holding his best prop in his hand, while the camera panned the line-up. Suddenly it hit me. A CRT TV? Only what - I looked closely, and guessed 50 cm, and not a holovid? I searched at Frankie questionably but he just shrugged. The old questions and doubts started coming back now. As we started to go back into the house, I happen to glance at the fish-tank. The molly was still swimming in circles...the same circle, over and over again. No variation, no difference in speed, like in a loop. Also there was no gill movement as well. "Hang on, Frankie" I requested. He granted with a nod and smile. "Take your time, Jerri" On a whim I remembered there was a small utility room behind the fish tank. The swinging doors squeaked on, then I peeked in, and gasped softly. Frankie looked at me a bit concerned, "Are you ok?" I make a quick smile, and take his arm for illusion. "Afraid age'd is making itself known again." I lead him away. What I didn't say however I couldn't For what I saw in that back room was - nothing. No brown freezer, no door to the outside, no concrete step, no little work bench. It was blank....Inside I was nervous now. I felt their was something going on. I felt something when I came here, and thought nothing of it. But now. I was a bit hungry, so in the kitchen we shared a bit of tea, and toast. Rambling about his family, my mind really wasn't here. The smell of the toast brought me back to my grandmother's home. In the even older kitchen which was brightly lit from the abundance of windows. The kitchen table that held cooling pies, and that old white wood cabinets, that I used to look into for cans of pineapple. Grinning, I placed ring after ring of the tangy and sweet smelling yellow fruit onto my plate. Another plate held toast for me to scratch real butter thickly over each slice. Topping the buttered toast, with a pineapple ring an intense scent of fruit, melting butter, and caramelized bread was the harbinger of an almost painful flood in my mouth. I was having problems even coming to the top of the tables my little legs swung far above the wood floor. But I didn't care for my grandmother's face and her silver hair framed her gentle face as she smiled down at me. Then I was back with Frankie. I blinked a bit "Am I boring Jerri?" he asked, good naturally. I quickly laugh to distract him, "Oh no it's not that. Maybe I am tired." He smiled, giving a nod "It was a long trip, 100 parsecs can take sometime." I looked at him oddly, "100 parsecs?" The thought was broken when a loud, clear bell-like ringing started. Not the electronic types that no matter what they did, it always sounded artificial. No, this was physical, like a small hammer was hitting a metal bell. I turned quickly to the sound. Right beside the refrigerator, and anchored on the wall, the old rotary phone. I looked at Frankie, and felt as though something was odd here. I remember clearly the phone but yet it didn't feel right. Still I watched as Frankie got up. "Probably someone for me. Be right back." I could see the evidence of weight from the handset as he answered it. Listening, he finally nodded "Ok, one sec." Then after he fingered the handset hanger down - I remember that broke the connection - he dialed another number. Again, not electronic at all; the whir of the gears, was clear and unmistakable. Finally I understood why this felt so strange; Rotary phones went out in the early 1980s, 70s even. Now it's vidphones, so why is this antique here? While Frankie talked to the person on the other end, rhythmic tics of claws and thumps of paws introduced Dot to the room. Without even thinking of it, I reached down and pulled her up into my arms and lap, and she greeted me with licks and soft grunts. Her rump swaying back and forth in her happiness. As I snuggled with the dog, I thought "Dot weighted 36kg." But now she felt very light. The more I held her, the lighter she felt, then grew limp in my arms. As I buried my head into her soft fur, the slight scent of dog, dog shampoo, and doggy breath filled my nose. I started crying a bit, and she whimpered softly. This had triggered yet another odd memory. An impossible memory, of Dot's last days. Days of pain, and suffering. Instantly I was a lioness protecting her cubs I fought tooth and nail to keep those memories, or images or what ever it was, and reached for the good ones. This was Dot now, in her prime! Still strong, loving as always, sweet, healthy. I held onto her as though she was going away, and this is where I wanted to be for eternity. When I held my friend, I felt a bit lightheaded. Then suddenly my vision faded, all sensation disappeared very briefly. For just a second I felt something odd. My vision cleared to a soft bright white glow, and Frankie's one side conversation was replaced by a strange sound; wheezing of pumps, with a soft beep, then someone - not Frankie - said "Transmission...Tachyon stream..." Then everything was the same. Dot sat heavily in my lap; her rump jerking with each swing of her long tail. I got a big slobbery kiss suddenly that took all my attention, and I couldn't help but to laugh. At this point the only thing that mattered was in my lap. But Frankie finally got off the phone, "Some folks are coming over, and we'll meet in the pool." He held out a hand "Come with me, Jerri?" Dot squirmed a bit wanting down. So she went down and I got up; feeling tons lighter now. This trip was helping me, for I remembered "I'm an old woman.". Yet I was feeling younger. Slight pains had disappeared and I moved like I was a young girl again. "It had to be Dot doing it." I knew - intellectually - that it was a pseudo effect. Masking the pain from my joints, a bit of adrenalin is all. But to hell with reality. For now I wanted to enjoy it! Stepping out of the old patio doors, and right onto the concrete deck, and the old inground pool. It's lazy-L configuration leaning to the right pointing to the old red wood outbuilding which was a fort, starship, and castle to the kids of the neighborhood. Dot, Pete and Cassi now outside, ran down the 300 by 100 meter lot. At the time I hated to mow it, but now, I would have mowed it until it was shaved bare to see what I saw now, my three best friends playing on it. Another old friend of mine, an ancient gum tree towered still over me. When I was a young girl, my Tarzan swung from it, or it was my refuge when I was sad. It was my white tree as I ruled over the great white city of Gondor. Below, a set of tulips; dark reds, and lemon yellows reached for the sun. I never could figure how this happened. Tulips grew mostly from bulbs, not seed. But every spring, up popped these flowers, in a random fashion. Much like the faire mushrooms appeared overnight one year. It was as if faires had linked their hands and danced; round in circles and in rows. "Jerri?" Frankie asked; seeming to know what I was thinking. I dismissed him with a wave of my hand for I didn't care; I wasn't old anymore, Something inside of me said, "You can do it." I reached for that first branch, and as I pulled myself up, my strength returned. My weight started to disappear. I was getting younger by the branch. The scabby bark pulled at my skin, but it gave me an iron grip. When old memories took over, I knew exactly where each branch was. Which was strong enough to take me, and the others too small. Up, up I climbed until I felt that unease at the feeling of that great tree slowly swaying back and forth from the breeze. I looked over the fields behind my house. To the hills, just a couple of kilometers away. I giggled like a school girl, for I was a twelve year old queen again in Gondor. Looking down the long boardwalk of the plow of the city where fiery Denethor jumped to his death. Dot appeared below me, looking up with her black masked face. She barked, to coax me back down. Giddy with excitement, I started down. But I misjudged a branch, and my foot slipped. I looked up in terror as my hand desperately gripped only air, and waves of of icy fear flooded me. I screamed as my leg was entangled on a branch, and I fell backwards! I could see the tree receding, branches swishing by at high speeds and the green carpet of fear rushing up toward me. I didn't feel the landing. Instead, I nearly jumped off the bed. If that was even possible, given the current state I was in now. For a moment, I wasn't sure wither to cry, or be relieved. But in a moment I knew where I was; The heaviness in my limbs, the difficulty breathing was lessened by the wheezing of the pumps filling my aging lungs with oxygen, but I could still think clearly - as clear as any 482 year old human could. Yes, I was old; unimaginatively old. I had no clue, when I was in that old home that I would be alive by this time. However even with the advances in nanotechnology, bionics, anti-senescence treatments, human life could only be extended to around 500 years. I was reaching that limit and Mortason's syndrome certainly wasn't extending my life. I, at least thankful my fall only happened once. Then I heard my companion growling at the others. "I knew I should have taken her closer, the hyperspace storms nearly stopped us the first time." That deep baritone voice could be only one person now. "Don't matter now" Dr. Mark Tomolson noted as he looked at the monitor floating in front of him. "readings are normal, and Gramma's awake." He looked over to me and smiled a bit. "Can you take care of her, while I see if I can't do something about the tachyon connection?" My head felt so heavy as I turned it slowly; focusing upon the one with the deep baritone voice. Complete with a powerfully built body, russet colored, and black rosettes intermixed throughout the visible fur. "Yeah....keep it going, she deserves it." "Charles..." I weakly ask, and he turned immediately. The dangerous jaguar face which could turn a harden jar-head into a whimpering crying boy turned soft. Rounded triangular ears pointed first to me then relaxed. With soft clicks of his claws on the metal floor he ran to me, then embraced my hand so gently with his huge meaty paws, I could barely feel it. But I gripped them with my hands as strongly as I could. "It's ok Charles. Don't growl at him. He's doing a wonderful job." He purred and rubbed his face upon my hand, and I smile. Feeling tons lighter by his presence. "Is...everything still going to plan?" He just nodded, "yeah. " the black lines around his small orange eyes was perfect round circles. The black nostrils flaring at times as he took in my scent. I could see it in his concern for me, in his elliptical spotted face. "I just don't know why you'd want your old body back. When you could have any species or even any type of body you'd desire." My hand glided slowly over the short peach-fuzz of fur upon his muzzle, the whiskers tickling it, then I smiled at him though the oxygen mask. "Charles, you are already young and handsome, born in that magnificent body." Then I softly giggled, for I swear if he wasn't an Olmec he'd blush. I continued. "But you must remember, dear. I was born long before your kind even existed, it's all I knew. " With black lined lips pulling back and bright pointed teeth appearing. I knew that face, and I wasn't a bit intimidated by him. The open-mouth smile that all Plentycaels made, this was was his happy smile. He purred in pleasure, rubbing his cheek against my hand firmly, "Grandmother, we're re-established the connection with Earth. We've also was able to route around the hyperspace storm by going though the Sector 16 relay station." Dr. Pete Tomolson told us, as he walked up to my bed. "Thank you, son." "Grandma Jerri..." I smiled, for I knew what he was going to ask. "Charles, just activate the ending please. I want to do the final sequence while I can, encase another storm interrupts me. If I pass on without the transfer, at least I can wait for you with these final memories." He grimaced a bit but nodded. Putting my hand on my stomach, I heard him say as I closed my eyes... "Mark, start the final sequence of her simulacra." A dark night; In the days before the U.S. fell into a feudal state, and reformed into provinces. The skies over the foothills of Appalachia was dark. Now with no humidity to speak of, the skies blazed with the estuary of the Milky Way. I could make out Sagatta, forever arching over the north pole. The brilliant reds of the Lagoon nebulae glowed right in front of me. I smiled as I made out the pink spot on the scabbard of the great hunter. The dull red dot on his left shoulder and dazzlingly blue of Rigel on his right knee. I remembered at this time how I longed to not only see the stars, but to travel to them. Visiting the planets I somehow knew existed around them. To meet strange people, plants, animals and what ever else appeared on those those invisible globes. Then it dawned upon me. I chuckled softly seeing the winter and summer constellations. The central computer's simulacra wasn't fully accurate. Which is why the molly was swimming in one precise loop, and the back room was a blank. It wasn't worth the precious resources the server was expending. After all it had more important things than an old woman's simulacra. Such as life support, scanning, and connecting with the receiver bot on Earth. My second telescope; the 4" bright red Astroscan gifted to me at Christmas in 1980 was right by my lap as I sat on the stoop. It brought images to me that I could not see in this time. Saturn and it's brilliant rings, Jove with it's belts and four bright moons. Moving to the Ring nebulae, it was like the universe was proposing to me with it's all-white ghostly doughnut. For a moment I wondered why only white; till I remembered this scope wasn't quite large enough to see colors. The image brought forth memories. Memories of one night on a planet just a few parsecs from the ember of that dying star, and only three short years ago. A routine examination caught the first stages of Mortosen's syndrome. The death sentence that jump-started research into the cutting edge experiment I, my children, and grandchildren was about to do. Then the night sky brightened, and I heard whispers of. "Increase dosage she..." I awoke with a yawn and a stretch then my old room appeared. I must have fallen asleep by the scope and my parents brought me in. My old bed against this huge all-wall mural appearing to be a window onto the surface of the moon. The posters of Davy Jones of the Monkey's on one wall with his boyish smile. The telescope on the floor along with dolls gathering dust. The closet's door with the poster of Dirk Benedict decked out in his Lt. Starbuck costume, chiseled good looks, and his devil-may-care attitude, I remember well. Silhouetted in the streaming sun at the window, Cassi sat there waiting patiently for me to let her in. She jumped in, rubbed my ankles giving me her signature chirp of a greeting. The carpet in my room, ended on vinyl in the hall. Ticks and clicks of claws; slight thumps of Dot's heavier weight. I paused only at the sliding glass door, for my third friend, Petey. I fought the door as it stubbornly stuck and jumped as I pulled it open. But the large tom walked in then he looked up, and meowed softly. I grinned as I thought, "A kitten in a lion's body" Oddly after he walked in, rub my legs, he just turned and walked back out. I was only a second behind, but he was gone. "Pete?" I asked. When I walked out looking for him, the cold concrete of the deck bit at my bare feet, "Petey?" Nothing... Uneasy I ran onto the grass. Instinctively watching for bees, and thistles. Dew had coated the lawn overnight and my feet was wet and ice cold in no time. As I went to the left around the house I stopped by the house' heat pump. Dot appeared and looking up at me. I don't know exactly how, but I knew she was depressed. Her head and tail was down, ears folded back. She stood on her back feet, and licked my face. Then she walked around the corner and like Pete she was gone. "Dot?, Pete?" Nothing. I rounded the corner and met Frankie. In his arms, Cassi was limp and didn't move. I looked down at her, then to him in which he announced. "I'm sorry, they're gone.' He hugged me softly with one arm telling me with a whisper. "and I must go too." "No!" I bellowed. I tried to follow but I was rooted to the ground. I could do nothing but reach for him, and watch as he walked up the steps of the stoop, and with a shimmer my childhood home disappeared replaced with two stories of uninviting, unitarian metal. The house that was built centuries later. I turned, and cried. My three friends was gone. But before I fell into despair I heard that deep baritone voice behind me, then turned to face Charles. I knew then this was the simulacra, not realty. That would explain what the whispers meant only a short time ago when the sky turned white briefly, whispers of increasing dosage; the stimulator was too high. Then I remembered the reasons why I was here, within this simulacra. Briefly I thought "would it matter if I slipped down to the deepest levels?" I was starting to see why vid-ads could do this for years. Spending all their money and lives for these wonderful commedia dell'arte "Living deaths" it was called; people hovering on the edge of consciousness and death alive only via life-support. Such thoughts was a horror that kept me grounded now. Now I wasn't old, I was in my prime; young, beautiful. Just as my first husband saw so many centuries ago. My feet wasn't cold, nor did I even feel the grass; only air as I started moving forward. Faster, and faster still. Kilometers disappeared until I stood in front of the hill. I started crawling up the hills. Hands grabbing grasses as I leaned forward, soil crumbling under my new hiking boots. Although it was slow going, the passage bled away. Then the loose rock on the path slipped to the sides as I pushed myself up the hill. I saw Charles making the same trip but his foot-paws walked on the same rocks as though it was solid, textured and level metal. While I struggled he just causally walked. I gave him a firm stare of annoyance; this was his doing I'm sure of it. But he knew I would not wanted it easy. I kept looking up at the silvery-Grey power tower; the same destination as it was centuries before. Then brush - thick and unforgiving - tried to block my way. Of course the brush bowed to Charles as though he was intimidating it into submission. I instead with my arms and legs aching, pushed though like a bulldozer. The tower slowly came into view as we came upon a leveling plateau. I re-gained my strength by causally walking along. A bit more of a sloped trail, then at long last, through a set of trees the feet of the tower greeted us. We looked down toward that ribbon of asphalt. Cars looking like toys drove by. I could hear the humming of the thousands of volts of electricity going though the lines only meters above me. The ground denuded of trees centuries ago, to make a clean straight path right to the road and back up the other hill. I panted loudly catching my breath, and looking at Charles. The humanoid jaguar wasn't even breathing hard, but standing there, felt that long, thick tail bumping on me as it swung back and forth. I leaned against him and squeezed him firmly. "Thank you, Charles." He looked at me a smile upon his face. With his paw he pointed over to a set of large animals coming out of the brush. A white-tail deer with his large crown of antlers would normally be very aggressive. Then following closely; a doe. But both just laid within arms length of us. I scratched his head then over the doe's back who both appeared to enjoy. From behind came a nicker, looking over my shoulder, this huge black and white painted Cobb horse walked in slowly. He pressed his huge head against my hand as I whispered to him. Charles; as though he was reading my mind produced a sugar-cube. I lifted it up and the horse lipped it up and crunched on it quietly. The deer wasn't about to be denied as two black noses sniffed around me. I swear in a very human gesture, Charles eyes rolled. But good naturally he brought out some acorns which I gave to the deer and both ruminated happy. "Charles." I started, and he looked down at me. "In the last twenty years you've grown so much. From that angry and hungry kitten found on the streets to the gentle, and protective adult." He purred loudly at me then took my hand into his paw once again. "Yeah... I still miss my queen." That protective adult coming from the traumatize Olmec kitten is indeed a miracle. It angered me even to this day of how the government had to be taken down by a rioting mob. The same government who unleashed a biological, and chemical nightmare upon his own people at the climax. Yes I can imagine how he misses her, but we did our very best. Above all, I was angry at the alien microbes that was slowly killing me. "Charles, this damned disease is taking me away so if we're not successful promise me. You, and my other children, and grandchildren will continue the research to help others. " "Gramna Jerri..." he started, but I looked at him. "Promise me, Charles." He nodded looking down. I could ask him for Luna, and with his strength he could probably pull the moon down and put it in my lap. But it wasn't a metaphysical item I wanted now, it was something practical. For if this worked, he and the entire family would be considered heroes, and well compensated. Mortason's syndrome was like many of the old neurological diseases of earlier times. It destroyed the body and left the brain perfectly intact, a perfect prisoner in your own body. A simulacra allowed the victim to circumvent their slowly dying body but still it was a simulacra; not reality. But in my case, at least allowed me to visit my old home and my friends once last time. The current owner of the land where my house was centuries ago will be well compensated by allowing the bot to roam the house one last time. While we both was ruminating, a very short being; Grey skinned, a large head and disproportionately large black eyes appeared. Walking slowly up the hill it bows it's head. Even though it has only two slits for a nose on a nearly smooth and featureless face complete with a line for a mouth we could hear it speak. "Mrs. Leiberi, Mr. Leiberi." Not exactly speaking, as it stares at us, it's head making gentle motions. we could easily understand him. "I have come to say that when you are ready, Mrs. Leiberi, we can begin your transference." I look at Charles, and squeeze his paw with my hand. "Thank you, Alpha" The Grey tilts his head slowly and fades away. "I have faith, Charles. If it wasn't for the Grey's knowledge, experience and assistance I wouldn't even give it a chance. This is so incredibly advanced technology. " he nods softly, "Yes it is, and I'm still..." his voice drops to a whisper, where I could barely hear him say "afraid." I knew what it took to even say that from him then I hug him, my eyes closing with wetness, his huge arms wrap around me. I can feel his claws poking into my skin on my back as well. "Oh Charles. I HAVE to come back. That is why I'm so damned angry at this disease. You gave my life purpose and new priorities now I can't just leave!" The huge Olmec just rumbled softly as the simulacra disappeared around us, and I returned to my old body. With Charles holding my hand in his paws, one of my grandsons comes up. "Everything checks out perfectly, Grandma." He looks to Alpha Grey who just met us; again his lips don't move but we all hear him. "Mrs. Leibri. We have not transferred a human mind into a humiform and positronic brain robot before. It may work, or may not work fully. You do understand the risks?" I nod to the Grey. "I know...that's why I wanted the full immersion treatment before the end. At least I will have wonderful memories to take with me." He just bowed his head slightly as a couple of other diminutive Greys rolled in a gurney. Complete with a naked, near perfect replica body. The humiform robot simulated what I looked like when I was 30 years old. Right when humans are grown and their brains fully formed. Although it would be impossible for me to become pregnant; after four children and two husbands I was little concerned about that. The two Grey's was already hooking up the devices to copy my mind from this aging, and dying body into the robot. Mind transference into robots or computers was a dream even when I was little; stories like "Mind Transference by Janet Asimov was still on my mind even now. Now thanks to our extrasolar friends, and the intense research I started three years ago, the first test will take place. I knew just before I went into the simulacra that the grays had conducted thousands of tests, and have hundreds of virtual copies of my mind in several systems scattered across the galaxy. Still this was the final goal, and I couldn't help but to be frighten. If my plentycael friend was frighten, shouldn't I be? One of the Grey's thin fingers tapped a control. There was a soft click, and a multitude of machines, and computers came to life. "Grandma" my grandson Mark smiled as he looked at me. "We're ready to begin." He ran down the list for me. "A) All of us including our Grey support staff is now in their own life pods stationed one hundred miles outside the ship, and connected wirelessly encase of a catastrophic event." then noted; I'm also there; this is a photonic of me." then smiled when his 'arm' disappeared and reappeared to demonstrate it. Then pointed to another line, "B) Every vital component has five redundant systems from life support to generators, and communication. Lastly; C) The life-pods, and ship now have an Alpha Gold connection to your other virtual brain copies on the systems in this star cluster. We're going to simultaneously copy your mind into the humiform, as well as the computers in this star cluster." he took a long breath. "are you ready then?" Charles growled a bit at him, "Just make sure it works, or your meat to be wasted." I couldn't help but to reach up and weakly smack his arm. Which the big, evil looking humanoid feline turns into a kitten, "Charles! Enough!" He drops his head, "Sorry..." then I smile. "I trust you, sons. Then looking at the Greys, I extend the same to them. Which both just bow their heads lightly without saying a word. I return to my grandsons, "You two as well. I'm sure we're all just nervous. "Grandmother, thank you..." I just smiled to Peter. He was the quiet, but the brilliant one. The one I gave an opportunity, when no one else would. If this work corporations and medical labs would be fighting each other to give him a job. I finally reach up, and stroke his arm, "Charles, I'll see you in a few hours." He almost cries...if that was possible for him. But he takes my hand in his big meaty paw and purrs as he holds it to his cheek. "Return to me, Gramma Jerri...Please." Although everyone else was in life pods I said nothing. He would not leave my side, even if it meant his life. Just before the final trip I look up into his face, apologizing to him. "Humans uplifted the twelve animals into the plentycael class, including your ancestors, Charles. I'm sorry they did that, but thank you for being my friend and I am proud to have adopted you as my grandson. You have been a trusted and wonderful companion, and I so want to come back to you..." Charles just goes down to a knee, and lays his huge head on my belly. That is the last thing I remember as everything grows dark. I hear another click, and the Grey's soft voice saying. "Transfer commissioning."
What happens next, I won't know until about three hours later, and I pray it works. Now five hundred years is not long enough.
"Home and Beyond" By Kantuck Nadie Nata-Akon Editor: Hyratel (http://hyratel.deviantart.com/) Stage 5 Draft (FINAL)
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