Journey to Year 1,000,000,000 Ch. 13

"Well, try to think of something."

"I do have another idea, another way of trying to reach them," said Victor. "But I think the chances of success may not be very high. "

********

Elizabeth, the other Elizabeth, was painting.

And so was Victor.

This was not the modern method, using holographic canvases and paint wands; this was the old fashioned ways, using a physical canvas and pigments and real brushes.

Victor was painting rapidly, with relish. It had been a long time since he had done anything like this, not for years, since he had joined the Scientific Branch.

But Elizabeth had barely painted anything. In fact, she had stopped, the moment she had begun to put her brush to the canvas.

"What's wrong?" said Victor.

"I do not know what to paint," said the other Elizabeth.

"That's easy," said Victor. "You paint what you feel."

Elizabeth looked at Victor with dead eyes. "I do not feel."

"Well, that is a problem, isn't it?" Victor tried to hide his growing panic within him. If she sensed that, he was done. "Why don't you paint something at random, then?"

"At random?" said Elizabeth.

"Yes. Surely you are capable of doing that," said Victor, glad to put her on the defensive, however momentarily.

"Yes, but...." she looked uncertain. "What is the purpose?"

"Because whatever you draw at random may reveal something about yourself. A new kind of screaning."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. "How could truly random motions of a paint brush produce screaning?"

"Paint for yourself and see," said Victor. He wondered how far away he was from the decision to give him the isotope. While he kept the United engaged, he knew, they would leave him as he was. But once they decided all his value was gone....

Elizabeth started to paint, jerkily, mechanically. She did so rapidly, her hand moving almost quicker than the eye could see. In less than two minutes she pulled back and announced, "Done."

"That was quick," said Victor, willing himself to be calm. He had doubted that this was going to work, and now his doubts were only magnified. He looked over at Elizabeth's canvas. "What do we have here?"

He saw a wild assortment of shapes and lines, in all different colors.

"What do you see?" Elizabeth asked.

Victor bit his lip. He had no idea what he saw.

"What do you see?" she insisted.

"Well, I see a lot of complexity," said Victor.

"Complexity," said Elizabeth, in a voice which sounded vaguely dissatisfied.

"Well, this line here, could indicate your interest in the universe-"

"You are making it up," said Elizabeth. She turned towards him now, her face cold and threatening. "This is purely fiction. You are attempting to delay us."

"I am attempting-"

"I know what you are attempting," said Elizabeth curtly. "Now let us look at your painting."

She turned to Victor's canvas. It featured a series of ovals. The most prominent of which was a silver oval which was partially overlapping a smaller beige oval. "What is the significance of this?"

"Well, it could be interpreted in any number of ways," said Victor.

"How do you interpret it, Victor?" Elizabeth, her eyes cold, demanded of him.

"Well," Victor studied the painting. "That big silver oval. That could symbolize the United. It is, after all, your color in your natural form."

"And the beige oval, which is partially overlapping?"

"The beige oval might be us, humanity," said Victor.

"And the significance of the one overlapping the other?"

Victor looked up at her. "It signifies one is trying to absorb the other."

She stared at him with an unreadable expression. For a long moment, Victor worried that she was going to give him the isotope. And then her hand darted out, almost more quickly than his eye could see.

"This is probably a better representation, Victor Berman."

Victor looked at the painting. The smaller beige oval was now the same silvery color as the larger one.

********

"I'm so sorry."

Taylor said nothing.

"I'm so very sorry," Jennifer repeated. She, like him, was wearing her Survey Service finest.

Taylor looked away. But there wasn't much to see. Everything around them was black.

"I don't believe you," he said.

"You have to believe me," Jennifer insisted.

Taylor gave a curt laugh. "Do I? First of all, you're not really you. This is a dream. I'm asleep."

"Correct," said Jennifer. "But it really is me."

But Taylor wasn't done. "Second of all, even in my dreams, you are still not really you. You are the other Jennifer, performing another experiment on me. We know you can invade our minds."

"That's true, Michael. But this is the real me. You have to believe me." She came over to him, and put her arms around him, and gave him a kiss. "Believe me."

As she pulled back, Michael said, "But you're dead."

"Yes," said Jennifer. "The woman you knew as Jennifer Hale died when she was given the isotope."

"So... how can you be here, at a point in time after you died?"

"Time. Space. Matter. Physicality. Beginnings. Ends. You have such a limited understanding of all of them."

Taylor's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that you're a ghost?"

"A ghost. A word for something you do not understand."

Taylor nodded. "All right. Assume you are, somehow, the Jennifer Hale I knew."

"And loved."

"Yes, and loved," said Taylor, looking pained. "Why are you here?"

"To ask for your forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?"

Suddenly, they were both in the cave, on the second moon of Sirius IV. They saw another Taylor and another Jennifer. The other Jennifer leaned over the other Taylor, who was burning up with fever. "I love you, Michael. I really do."

"That's where it all started, isn't it?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes," said Taylor. "But not where it ended."

And then, somehow, he controlled the narrative. He and Jennifer, this Jennifer, jumped to scene after scene on the Westerner.

The time when....

"You're so clever, Michael," Jennifer said, touching him on the arm.

And the time when....

They were both running on virtual treadmills in the ship's gym. Jennifer was wearing a tight top that made her breasts stick out. Taylor couldn't help but watch them bounce up and down as she ran. Jennifer saw Taylor's gaze, and smiled slyly at him.

And the time when....

They were eating in the cafeteria, sitting opposite each other. Taylor was telling her how Pam was complaining that she didn't see him nearly enough.

And then Taylor felt a foot brushing his leg, and Jennifer smiled. "I don't see how she can complain, when she has access to the sexiest man in the fleet."

........

Taylor looked at Jennifer, or Jennifer's ghost, or whoever she was.

"I was just flirting with you, Michael," she said.

"No, that was more than just flirting," said Taylor. "You were toying with me. Teasing me. After what you said to me in the cave, you knew where my mind was. You were playing a game. You enjoyed feeling wanted, being pursued by a man who could never have you."

"I... I don't know," said Jennifer suddenly. "I thought... I thought I was just being playful. But was there something more? I don't think so."

"And then there was this."

Babangida smacked Taylor in the face. He went sprawling to the ground. Then Babangida turned to Jennifer, mounted her, and slowly entered her.

Taylor started to get up.

"No, Michael!" she shouted. "Stay down! Just let it happen! Just let it all happen!"

And then Babangida started to make love to her.

Taylor had an incredibly hurt look on his face. And then Jennifer turned to face him, and she had a smug smile on her face.

"You weren't just happy that Obongo was fucking your brains out," said Taylor. "You were happy that I got put down."

"No, Michael."

"You were happy that I was lying there, helpless, watching the woman I loved get the fucking of her life."

"No, Michael!"

"It's all so clear now. It added spice to the whole thing. That whole year you spent teasing me, leading me on... you finally got the chance to have another man fuck you, and to make me watch. You're just like them, Jennifer. You feed on lust. You feed on envy!"

"No, Michael! It's not true!" Jennifer cried.

"It is true," said Michael. "And I was so blinded to it, that I didn't realize until now what was really going on. "

"Michael, I realize I was wrong. I love you!" said Jennifer.

"Do you?"

"Yes. I just needed more time to figure it out!" said Jennifer. "If I hadn't taken the isotope. If I had lived longer, I would have come around. I would have fallen in love with you. I know it! I feel it!"

"And so we have Jennifer, even beyond the grave, trying to pull off one last cock tease," said Taylor. "You know I can never have you, so you're trying for one last pull of affection. Even after death, you still want to feel desired, to feel lusted after." He stared at her coldly. "You've lost your power over me. Goodbye, Jennifer."

"Michael!" She cried out his name, as she faded into blackness.

********

"It is time for more of you to express your affection," said Jennifer, grinning at the trembling crew. The crew had shrunk radically in size; of the original 60, only 42 remained. The rest had been given the isotope and either perished, or changed.

"No it isn't," said Taylor, stepping forward.

"Why Captain Taylor, are you volunteering to go another round with me?" Jennifer asked. She raised an eyebrow cockily. "I must warn you that for a rematch, my standards will be even higher."

"I am not going to have sex with you," said Taylor. "I have important information for you to screan." He saw her eyebrows go up, both of them this time.

"And what would that be?" She looked intrigued.

"Take me to a private place, and I will show you."

*******

"Repeat after me," said Taylor. "I, Second Lieutenant Jennifer Hale."

"I, Second Lieutenant Jennifer Hale."

Taylor and Jennifer were watching slightly younger versions of themselves, in dress uniforms on the Westerner.

"Do you remember that?" Taylor asked.

"Yes," said Jennifer stiffly.

They wanted the ceremony unroll.

"What was happening here?" Taylor asked.

"I was being promoted to full Lieutenant."

"Why?"

"For my bravery in battle during our skirmish with the Ramadan pirates."

"And how did this ceremony, your promotion, make you feel?"

Jennifer's face was blank.

"How did it make you feel?" Taylor repeated.

"Proud. I was... proud," said Jennifer, as if the word was unfamiliar to her.

The scene changed. They saw Taylor, burning up with fever in the cave. They saw Jennifer, looking at him longingly, saying, "I love you."

"Do you remember that event?"

"I have all of Jennifer Hale's memories," said Jennifer.

"Do you remember how it made you feel to say that?"

"Yes."

"How did it make you feel?"

Jennifer strained for a moment. "Concerned. Happy. Many conflicting emotions."

The scene changed again. It was Jennifer, in a wedding dress. Michael, the other Michael, stood next to her.

"I do," said Jennifer smiling.

The minister smiled. "Then by the standards of the munificent World Government, I now consider you, Jennifer Hale, and you, Michael Dellingrod, to be man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The audience cheered as Michael, the other Michael, kissed Jennifer.

"And do you remember that?" Michael asked.

"Yes."

"You were getting married to Michael, your Michael. How did you feel?"

"I felt... excited. Very excited," said Jennifer.

The scene changed again.

Obongo was pumping between Jennifer's legs. Jennifer was groaning and smiling. Taylor, laying in a heap some distance away, watched with hurt and pain in his eyes.

"Do you remember that event?"

"Yes."

"How did you feel?"

"Excited. Very excited," said Jennifer.

"Excited how?"

"Sexually. And...."

"And what?"

Jennifer turned to him. "Happy that you were there. Happy that you were watching."

I knew it.

The scene faded.

Jennifer turned to him. "What is the significance of these events?"

"The significance?" Taylor had thought it would be self evident. "You're looking for motivations for existence. Look at all the motivations I just showed you."

"Those were the motivations of a small minded animal being," said Jennifer. "They do not resonate with the United."

And then Taylor looked at her, at her stone cold face, and he realized that Jennifer, the Jennifer he knew, was truly gone forever.

********

They were back in the main chamber. Suddenly, there was a flash, and Suki was there as well.

"Hello, Captain," said Suki coolly.

Taylor gave her a hard look.

"We will now resume our experiments," said Jennifer. "Doctor Norman Thompson, you will now make love to me. You will experience the full male orgasm. You will give me the full female orgasm. If you fail to be sufficiently stimulating, I will give you the isotope."

"No... no... please, not me," said Thompson, as an invisible force dragged him forward.

"Yes, you," said Jennifer, with a wicked smile.

"Ensign Eugene Torrence," said Suki. "You will now make love to me. You will experience the full male orgasm. You will give me the full female orgasm. If you fail to be sufficiently stimulating, I will give you the isotope."

"No!" said Taylor. "Not two at a time! Not you too, Suki!"

Suki gave him a cool look. "Why not?"

"It's not right!" said Taylor. "Try to remember who you are!"

Suki looked a little confused.

"Try, Suki try."

Suki frowned for a moment. But then Thompson and Torrence reached the stage, and her attention was drawn elsewhere. Suddenly both men were nude, and Suki and Jennifer were as well. Jennifer smiled as she wrapped her arms around Norman Thompson; Suki's was blank as she kissed Eugene Torrence.

The crew were forced to watch as Thompson and Torrence, against their will, were coerced into making love to Jennifer and Suki on the bed in the center of the room. Thompson and Torrence knew they had no choice. They had to try, or else they would be given the isotope. In seconds they were all nude, and hugging and kissing frantically, trying to arouse their partners as well as themselves. Jennifer smiled as Norman Thompson got between her legs, and inserted himself into her. Suki's grin was especially wide as Eugene Torrence carefully inserted himself between her nether lips. The yellow light of the molten core of Corta washed over their bodies as the men pumped hard between their legs.

"Michael, we have to find a way to stop this," said Elizabeth, grabbing his arm.

"I wish I could," said Taylor. "I tried to reach Jennifer, but I couldn't. There simply isn't enough left of her." But had there been something in Suki? Something about her expression?

They weren't forced to watch, but somehow they had to. Taylor watched as Thompson and Torrence hungrily kissed their partners, as their asses moved up and down as they pumped in and out vigorously.

No... that's not the way, Taylor instinctively knew. But he was powerless to intervene or help his crewmen.

And then, the inevitable occurred as both men climaxed. It could hardly have been otherwise. Despite the tension, despite who and what they really were, Jennifer and Suki had very sexy bodies. Thompson couldn't help but spill his seed inside Jennifer as he stared at her sparkling green eyes and thick black hair. Torrence found he had no choice but to come inside of Suki as her tight passage stimulated his penis to completion. They both cried out, and collapsed on top of their partners.

But the United were not satisfied. Moments later, both men screamed as they were given the isotope, and Doctor Thompson turned into a pile of liquid. Torrence, however, turned into one of the United, a giant one eyed silvery squid.

Taylor turned to Victor, with agony on his face.

"I'm all out of ideas, Michael! I just don't know what to suggest," he said.

********

Captain Audrey Spaulding was in her full dress Survey Service uniform. So was Taylor. Both were surrounded by blackness.

"Let me guess. You're the ghost of the real Captain Spaulding."

"I am the real Captain Spaulding," she said. "By your time standards, I died nine years and seven days ago."

"So what are you doing here?"

"Time and space are not as linear as you think, Captain," said Spaulding. "Neither is physicality. Do you not remember the virtual layer?"

"Are you telling me that dreams are a kind of virtual layer?"

"I could say yes, but the real answer is much more complicated than that," said Spaulding. "I understand your pain, Michael."

"Do you?" said Taylor. "You know, I just realized, we never even met. Unless... the United who seduced me was originally you?"

"No... not me," said Spaulding.

And suddenly the blackness around them disappeared, replaced by a different scene, of Spaulding and the crew of Exeter, held captive in a very similar looking room, with the yellow light of the molten core of the planet shining on them.

"We will not cooperate," said Spaulding.

"Cooperation is irrelevant," came the words of the United in their heads. "You will be used and experimented on and will serve us."

And then Spaulding watched as, one by one, her crew were taken away and used in various experiments. Some were used in pain tests; others were forced to make love to United, under threat of the isotope.

Spaulding watched helplessly as her first officer, Commander Bill Dey, was forced to make love to a United in human form. "No, Bill, no!" She cried.

She saw Bill looking at her, as he pumped between the legs of a United in human form, the form of Ensign Susie Hayward. Ensign Hayward, the original Ensign Hayward, was a cute blonde with plump breasts. Bill knew he wouldn't last long. He gave Spaulding a pained look, but he gritted his teeth and kept pumping. Then he suddenly stiffened, his back arched up, and he cried out as he released into her.

Bill pulled out after a moment and sat there, momentarily exhausted. The United female gave him a blank look. Bill turned to Spaulding and gave her a cautionary smile. It seemed he had passed the test.

But as he smiled, his body started to shudder.

"No!" Spaulding yelled. But before her very eyes her first officer turned into one of the United.

Spaulding turned to Taylor. "I had to watch my crew, taken one by one, right before my eyes."

"It must have been terrible for you."

"As terrible as it is for you," she said, with sympathy in her eyes. "They saved me almost until they end, when there were only six of us left. They even used Bill against me."

"No, Bill, no," said Spaulding, as she was pulled up to the bed.

"It is either this, or the isotope," said the creature in Bill's form.

Spaulding, holding back tears, nodded. Suddenly, Bill's clothes disappeared, as did her own. Bill gave an inhuman smile and held out his hand. Spaulding took it.

"I had to try," she told Taylor. "Even though I knew my chances of surviving were slim, I had to try. We're Survey Service officers, and we don't give up, do we?"

She seemed to be looking desperately at Taylor for something, something to justify the decision she made.

"Of course," said Taylor, realizing that he was worrying about the feelings of a ghost. If she was a ghost.

Bill, or the creature which assumed the form of Bill, lay back on the bed. He was already erect. He looked at Spaulding expectantly.

With horror, Spaulding realized that she was not only expected to cooperate and have sex with this creature, but she was required to be the initiator. She looked at Bill's handsome hairy chest, and his large erect penis. She had admired his physique ever since he had been assigned to the Exeter. Sometimes in a wild fancy she had even daydreamed about-