43 The Proposal (1/2)
The white walls of immersive mode are almost blinding. Unlike Sia's immersive mode, Dernel has combined all the rooms to occupy one space. He sits on a white platform in the middle of a large room. The walls come up and meet to form a dome. The ceiling is black and accented with small red and blue dots.
Behind the platform, a spout sticks out the ground and constantly sprays water out into the room. The ground is wet with several inches of water. Dernel's legs hang off the side of the platform as the water pools around his ankles. The lukewarm water calms his spirit.
The room resembles his old classroom setup. During his imprisonment, rooms like these were what kept him sane for so long. During times of great hardship, the device handpicked the most cherished of Dernel's memories to simulate.
Taste, touch, sight...all of those things were simulated here. Senses that were cut off by the ExplorerTech scientists quite some time ago. Now that his energy levels have recovered S.I.D can remain online for longer periods of time within Dernel's mind, but their current standard of life can't be sustained forever.
Dernel is looking at a virtual screen. The top of the screen reads: Chen, Sia, and below that it reads: Age 6.
Dernel goes over Sia's memories within the immersive mode. He watches her as a small child. He watches how she interacted with other humans and her family. How she acted when totally alone. She is a fairly innocent individual.
'Why is this distance acceptable for her people? Their mental handicap must make alienating each other unavoidable.'
”Apex to S.I.D”
S.I.D TO APEX
”I think I figured out a way to improve our relations.”
Dernel pauses the projection of memories at a scene in Sia's past where she experienced a betrayal.
”This...”
The screen shows a fifteen-year-old Sia crying in a bathroom, flushing jewelry down a toilet.
S.I.D IS UNAWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUBJECT 001'S MEMORY
TO ASSESS THE RELEVANCE OF THE INFORMATION VIEWED
FACTS THAT ARE ---
”I'll explain.”
...
”Her progenitors abandoned her for outsiders that they were fond of. Such actions that would be viewed as dishonorable before the council. She stayed in the abode of one of her progenitors, but the betrayals continued. One of the outsiders that her male progenitor grew infatuated with was deceitful and wrongfully accused her of unscrupulous behavior. Stealing, malicious gossip, lying, and other unsavory things. All things that Sia herself was not partaking in, but her progenitor did not take her word for it. In the end, she allowed her emotions to rule her. She discarded items that the individual used to frame her as a criminal. It's off-putting how easily it all could have been solved with a pod's connection. Our blessing puts aside many hardships.”
Dernel waves his hand and the projections disappear.
”She was attached to ”Puter” in much of the same way I am attached to you. Except I have always had my pod alongside me. That new connection quenched a need she'd always had. Now she is abandoned and betrayed all over again. We have to make her see that we are all on the same side.”
...
”I think our best plan is to meld with her. It's the only way for her to see why things became the way they are. Why she was put in this vulnerable position. If we don't take the chances we have now she may seek to cut ties completely and run straight into our enemies hands.”
DEEP AND EXPLORERTECH PERSONNEL
WOULD HAVE NUMEROUS RESOURCES
USED TO MONITOR THE POPULATION AND ANY
ANOMALOUS BEHAVIOR
”Exactly, and if she starts looking for a doctor to cut us out of her head. We'll never get out of here.”
AFFIRMATIVE
PREPARE FOR MELDING
AT WHAT JUNCTURE
”Soon. While she is resting.....then she can meditate on it while out of danger.”
ASSEMBLING POTENTIAL MELDING
SEQUENCES
”Yeah, let's go over what memory would be most efficient. I don't want to overwhelm her.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16 years ago...
A large brown megalodon streamed past a large cargo ship and then dipped back underwater. Its passenger held tightly to its dorsal fin. He noted the numbers on the side of the boat.
The megalodon dived deep into the ocean until it approached a green force field. The barrier encompassed a large underwater civilization. Each building was carved into the rock, coral, and the ground. Inhabitants swam or skittered across the ground passing through seaweed and schools of fish. Nature and technology coexisted there. As technology continuously increased, the council were kept busy evaluating what technology brought more advantages to their society than damages.
Usually, the proposals brought forward were for the betterment of their own people or entertainment, but nothing that would be shared with the outside world.
The megalodon accelerated forward into the barrier and was welcomed easily into the Treading Port. Its rider released his grip on the megalodon and rubbed a hand underneath the creature's eyes and snout. It raised its head and opened its jaw in enjoyment. Its rider placed his head next to the jaws of the creature and smiled while hugging as much of the behemoth as he could reach.
”Essic, I'll see you later. Go chill in the Depths Depot until I put out a ping.” Dernel told his Escort.
The megalodon sent a series of images into Dernel's mind: the cargo ship, humans, and trash floating on the top of ocean water.
”I'll report the location of that cargo ship we saw as well. I know you worry about any taints. They wouldn't dare drop waste around these parts. Additionally, they saw you. I'm sure they'll know better than to break any maritime laws while monitored.”
An image of a goldfish popped into Dernel's mind.
”Yeah, they might be dumb. I'll report it. I won't forget.”
The megalodon rumbled for a moment, and then pulled away to swim to the large cavern that leads to the Escort Depot. It had reserved space for large aquatic Escorts.
The Treading Port is a series of floating platforms over the city. The platforms were made from black volcanic stones. Only Escorts stopped in those areas to drop off their pod mates.There are several ways to exit the port platforms.
An Underling could drop off a corner that is positioned over a tube that would slide the occupant to their destination. An Underling could ”fly” off to their destination. Many Underlings have pectoral fins or propulsion abilities. Those with such talents usually only use Escorts for long distance travel. Lastly, an Underling could hop off and climb down the long ribbons of braided kelp that were positioned near the platforms. Not all Underling could swim, so these varied exits were appreciated by the 30% that were limited in their travel.
Each kelp had a different color along their tops to aid an Underling in finding out which sector was in which direction.
Dernel untwined his arms into their separate appendages and lept off of his platform. One of his flexible limbs shot out and grasped an orange-tipped brown rope of kelp. All four of his tentacles rapidly worked together and lowered Dernel to the reef below. The coral poked at his scaled feet and signaled the end of the descent. Dernel then spun away from the rope of kelp and swam toward his destination.
A cloud of bubbles was left behind after his speedy departure.
He passed by natural bridges and swam through rocky passages to reach one of the many subterranean caverns used for social activities. In order to be admitted into the cave, Dernel had to first pass through a thick halocline and navigate to the correct passage without the help of his eyes.
The halocline was dyed orange to notify the citizen of the zone they were traveling in. The orange color denoted that the specific cave system had fresh water compartments. Some Underlings had adverse reactions to such things, so the warning was appreciated. Dernel, his pod mates, and his friends did not have any reaction to the change in salinity, thus the current meeting was booked for this area.
It was a joyous occasion. When Dernel broke free of the thick orange fog of the halocline, he could see several individuals waiting for him. The freshwater area was so clear it was as if they were sitting topside.
His pod mates, his brother and sister, were chatting together beside two large stalactites protruding from the roof of the compartment. They leaned back against the rocky structures like horizontal lawn chairs. Their limbs were comfortably tucked around themselves.
He was meeting with his friends as well. Five Underlings he communicated with regularly or worked within the research halls.There was one unfamiliar Underling, Carmel's pod mate, but they were invited to come along as well.