Chapter No.46 Unknown

Maybe the theories were right.

Molly and I looked at the main screen and it made our mouths gape.

"What in the hell is that?" Molly said.

"It looks like some sort of storm," I said, pointing. "Look at those flashes. They look like lightening."

Molly sat down at her astronomy station and began running scans.

I sat down at my engineering station and checked out ship's status. I turned to Judy. "I would keep a safe distance from that. Is it moving?"

"No, Jason. It appears to be stationary relative to the galaxy.

"It's not a nebula," Molly announced. "It appears to be more like a void but with lots of energy."

"That doesn't make sense. Why would a void pop up here at the edge of our galaxy?"

After some time, Molly turned to me. "I think this is much more than a simple void. I am getting readings that indicate that there is an almost infinite amount of space inside that . . . whatever it is."

I scratched my head. "What do you mean? Is this another universe?"

"That's what I'm thinking," she said. "There's another universe bumping against ours."

"I hope it doesn't get in," I said.

"I don't think that would be possible. The vacuum energy-state force from both universes would oppose and prevent that."

"I have detected three vessels coming out of warp," Judy said.

"Put us in full cloak, Judy."

"Yes, Jason"

Molly was able to monitor their approach on her screen. "They're Scath ships, and they're headed directly into the parallel universe portal."

I smiled. "Now that is really interesting. It means that the Scath are coming from a parallel universe. If they are related to the reptilians, then it would indicate that our doubles could be there too."

"I don't think it would be wise to go in there," Molly said.

"I totally agree," I replied.

After several minutes of observing the portal, Molly sat up straight in her chair. "That's interesting!"

"What?"

"The portal is shrinking,"

I looked at the main screen. "Yes, it certainly is. I wonder if the Scath are able to open and close portals into that universe?"

"I doubt that. It would require a humongous amount of negative energy to do that," Molly said.

"They must have known that it was open," I said. "The question is; when does the portal open and close?"

"Good question," Molly said. "I suppose one could scan for the energy profile."

I turned to Judy. "Launch a Stationary probe and program it to remain at this location. Oh, and connect it to this vessel with entanglement communication."

"Yes, Jason."

"We'll remain here for a day or so and then go back to Earth."

Molly nodded her agreement.

The portal didn't open again, so we returned to Earth. After we settled into a geosynchronous orbit over Hawaii, Molly ran some scans.

"Both colonies are intact," she reported. "It appears that the women that had the embryos implanted have all given birth."

"I suppose we should go down and check them out."

"I'm curious as to what they look like. They're not really related at all to the women. They're the product of two real humans."

"Yes, and that's important, because the other colony is not quite human."

"That's true," she said. "But no one will ever know what they should have been."

I smiled. "You're right. We're the only ones who realize what happened."

She chuckled.

We landed near the Maui colony and walked up to the hut complex. The women came out to meet us, holding their babies."

"How are you doing?" I asked.

"We are fine," one of them replied. "We have our children now. We are grateful for what you have done for us."

"We are pleased to see that you have managed well here. It is our hope that your children will grow up and mingle with the children from the other colony on the large island to create a new combined colony."

I realized that they didn't quite understand what I was saying, but with time it would work out.

We spent the rest of the day putting paver stones around their huts and showing them how to build cribs and beds for their children. We also improved their source of water supply and their septic system.

When we got back up to the ship it was time for supper and this time, Molly made her appearance wearing a towel.

"Sorry," she said. "I was late getting out of the shower."

I served her a plate with my version of a casserole composed of tuna and vegetables fresh from Maui.

She took a bite of it. "Wow! This is delicious!"

"It should be. I made it from stuff I got from Maui."

"I sometimes wonder why we can still enjoy real food," she said after taking a sip of white wine.

"Well, I think it's because part of us is still trying to hang onto our human side."

She smiled. "Yes, we have these beautiful bodies and can't do anything with them."

"That's true, but these bodies of ours will never age or deteriorate."

I shook my head. "It's a shame in a way. It must be our punishment for defying nature."

"Nature seems to have revolted against itself."

There was a lot of truth is what she said. In every way we looked human but were not. It was as if we had been transformed into what the androids considered to be mechanical perfection while still retaining some slight hold to our fleshy origins.

After supper we retired to my living area. I think she was teasing me by giving me more provocative glimpses of her magnificent body. I simply smiled and behaved in a civil manner. I had twelve thousand other magnificent bodies to admire if I so wished. However, I realized that she was of same essence as I am, and that made her more interesting.

She rubbed her right hand along her outstretched leg while staring at me. "I think this new flesh of ours is very interesting. It never seems to show signs of wear and tear. It's totally unaffected by anything."

"Yes, it's the same as what the androids wear."

She smiled. "Ah, I see that you appreciate the true nature of your assistants."

I decided to taunt her. "Yes, they are magnificent in all their pristine glory."

"Do I measure up to your high esthetic value?"

I contemplatively rubbed my jaw. "I'm not sure. I would have to see you in your pristine condition."

I could see that I had gotten to her. She stood up and unwrapped the towel and allowed it to fall. "Now, what do you think?"

I looked her up and down and gave her a subtle smirk. "Yes, I would rank you up there with the very best."

She reached down and picked up the towel and tossed at me. "You nut, you!"

We laughed before I stood up and we merged our lips into a long kiss. When we broke, I returned her towel and she wrapped it around her magnificent body.

We exchanged a quick kiss before she sauntered out of my quarters, swaying her caboose in a teasing manner.

Her behavior was not in keeping with her professional demure and age, but it did indicate that she has a playful nature. More importantly, it demonstrated that she had gotten over her tryst with the android collective.