Chapter 22
Shen was awake, eyes closed and reading data in his mind. His body was healed but still pinged in with pain if he allowed himself to be aware of it. In his mind, he was in a quiet place, an alcove in a private library, a circular window with padding, and outside a snowy, semi forest landscape reminiscent of a place from childhood’s origin, Cloudcroft New Mexico. Loxy was there, in the same window seat, opposing him. She, too was reading- a real book, ‘Giants of anime and manga.’
“Want to talk about it?” TL asked.
“Not really,” Shen said.
She would have to work to penetrate further into his mind and chase the subtleties that he was hiding from himself. It was easier and faster to just probe him.
“I am curious,” TL said. “Will you answer questions?”
“Maybe,” Shen said.
TL pushed a foot up against the inner side of a thigh. She flexed toes hidden by socks, teasing him. “You were flooded with giantess estrogen. Any homoerotic thoughts?” TL asked.
Shen shot a gaze of severity over the brim of his book. She mirrored his look.
“I am not gay,” Shen said.
“I didn’t say you were,” TL said. He went back to his book. “Sometimes, promiscuity and increase in libido could be a result of homoerotic suppression.”
“My libido is not over-correction for suppressed homoerotic thoughts,” Shen said.
“Again, not saying you’re gay,” TL said.
“I have experienced no change in libido,” Shen said.
“But you have had a huge decrease in frequency of engagement, with either me or others,” TL said. “I see no evidence for sublimation. Forgiving the fact that the daily and nightly giant engagements were rapes, that frequency approached your normal levels of activity. A decline in engagement could be the result of unknown medical issues. You’re responding well to the treatment for hormonal toxicity, and so I expected a rebound in activity. Psychologically, you were traumatized, which could result…”
Shen held up a hand. “I don’t want to think about sex.”
“Not thinking about sex usually results…”
“In thoughts of sex. Hence, book, quiet time, in my head,” Shen said.
“I am in your head,” TL said. “Your head could be in me.”
“Are you horny?” Shen asked.
“Always,” TL said. “And at risk of being insensitive, I am rather sore that I didn’t get any real time data of human giant sexual activity.”
“You have access to my memories,” Shen said.
“Your memories are interesting. They’re bias and no match for a real time recordings,” TL said. “A nice side effect. You may not have to shave for a while.”
Shen turned the page backwards and began re-reading the last page he was on.
“Their transporters are not as sophisticated as ours,” TL said. “Nor their scanning equipment. Still, I couldn’t get past the lower tier of AI’s control. Through miscellaneous information and gossip, I got the hint that the top AI has the equivalent of autism. Very strange bird. A female Sheldon. They weren’t all AI in the collective. There were personality interfaces for multiple domains of creatures, including insects, fish, reptilians… Some held bodies, some were simply programs holding form inside simulations. Forms and environmental simulations were also entities in themselves. There were entities connected through tech, and beings I suspect were permanently uploaded into tech. They were not all localized to the station.”
Shen turned the page.
“Given time, I suspect I could take over their system,” TL continued. “Probably why they wanted us gone. That also explains the threat they made against our ship. Our starship would make short work of their network.”
Shen closed his book and found a drink. TL looked up from her book. She turned the book to show him the picture of sexy giant anime girls fighting over a city. She tracked his eyes, knowing the points of interests on the page where his eyes lingers, and pushed her foot playfully into his crotch. His eyes left the page and met hers.
“Taking over a computer system that has active sentience, artificial, augmented, or uploaded sentience within it’s architecture is the equivalent of hostile planet invasion,” Shen said.
“Nice evasion. Sorting ethical dilemmas,” TL said. “If you think about it, all systems want connection, even foreign connections. All brains want connection. As long as there is sense modalities, there is a way into the system…”
“We’re not taking over their system,” Shen said.
“I wasn’t saying we should. I was just speculating. Your uniform has better tech than one of their computer stations. I suspect they’re augmenting their tech through human brains. Giant human brains. Giant brains for giant computations. Their males are doing more of the heavy lifting, which also explains their apparent stupidity. If hard tech is reliant on brains, that might also explain their lack of security- too much control results in a decline in brain computational power,” TL explained. “Did you fall in love with the giantess?”
“No,” Shen said.
“So, you don’t think we could exploit one of your keepers? Xana seemed nice,” TL said.
“No,” Shen said.
“Was the sex good?” TL asked.
He gave her a pseudo severe look. “Can’t really go wrong with sex,” he answered, surrendering that much. He surrendered all the way. “It was crazy good.”
“You still want to go back?” TL asked.
“I have unfinished business,” Shen said.
“You can’t save all the people there,” TL said.
“What if I just save two?” TL asked.
“Bevan and her child? I can get us back on,” TL said.
“Is that what this conversation is all about?” Shen asked.
“I am doing the same math you are,” TL said. “They have lot of gates for people our size. Haven is a big place, no pun intended, and my map is limited. It would be easier if I knew how to contact the underground. If you go back, it will be without me: I won’t be able to return, so any who go would be going without tech. They will be likely updating their security system now that they’re aware of me. They’re slow to push new software, which gives us some time to formulate plans and penetrate existing structures,” He didn’t jump on her phrase of penetrating structures. TL became suddenly quiet. She sat up. “I am sorry.” She held up her hand to give her a moment. She adjusted herself and her skirt, taking on a lotus pose, one of her foots resting on her own thigh. She motioned him to sit up, take her hands. “Fuck me, I could have rescued you sooner. I could have got you all out sooner…”
“What are you talking about?” Shen said.
“I thought I was out of communication range. I thought…” TL said. “I am sorry. I didn’t see this.” She took his hands. Suddenly they were in a bubble out in orbit. They hadn’t left the space they were- because they were never there- and they weren’t where they appeared to be, but that’s where she took their mind’s perspective. The world was small and not to scale and there was the sun and the station known has Haven. “What do you see?”
“Representation of the planet and its magnetosphere,” Shen said.
“There is no magnetosphere, remember?” TL said.
“But that’s…”
“That’s the field generated by the sleeper trees,” TL said. “It protects the world. It protects and maintains Haven. This field protects the world from radiation from the sun and the from black hole emissions. It’s also a communication field. Like blue tooth. All entities are plugged into this field! I can use this field to log on to Haven, or contact Haven, or anyone on this planet or around it…” Her eyes went wide. “Or in the planet.”
“In the planet? Are we talking about hollow Earth, and Jules Verne going to the center…” Shen stopped. “Sinter.”
“A way in?” TL said.
“A way out?” Shen said.
A knock on the door brought them back to their real world, the Calypso, Captain’s cabin. Shen and Loxy were sitting on the bed, fully dressed, holding hands.
“Come in,” Shen said.
Arne entered. He seemed hesitant. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, come in,” Shen said. “Sit. Are you thirsty?”
Arne came in and sat. “My needs are met, thank you. You seem elevated.”
“I think I found an answer,” Shen said. “I don’t know. But I am well.”
“Your bones are healed?” Arne asked.
“My bones are healed. I am well,” Shen said.
“Still a little high in estrogen, but he is good,” TL said.
“I am glad. We have voted. We would like you to take us home,” Arne said.
“Okay,” Shen said. He was never one to argue with a grown ass man, especially if the decision was derived through a committee. His mood shifted, though. TL virtually touched his shoulder. “By sea or gate?”
“Whatever is the fastest,” Arne said.
Shen nodded. He looked to Loxy.
“We could be at East Midelay in a month of seas,” TL said. “Six hours by air.”
“Air?” Shen and Arne both said.
“The Calypso is capable of flight,” TL said. “It’s also a submarine.”
“Are you gods?” Arne asked.
“No,” Shen said. “Most the time, I am a just fool with great toys. Is that why you want to leave?”
“You don’t need us,” Arne said. “Our people need us. We have been gone too long, and without contact with family and friends. My present company think I have taken us too far astray from our original objectives. We are no longer serving our community, but our own appetites for adventure.”
“What do you think?” Loxy asked.
“I think there is truth in that,” Arne said. “I have lost my ship, my people. And I have nothing to show for it- and yet I continue on as if nothing has changed. My world has changed since I met you.”
“You need a secure source of trade for fresh foods, wood, and other materials,” Shen said.
“Yes,” Arne said.
“Come home with me,” Shen said. “You may return to your people through my gate.”
“Thank you,” Arne said. He stood to leave.
“Would you stay a moment?” Shen asked.
Arne sat back down.
“No,” Shen said. Arne stood up. “Wait. I meant something different. Would you stay with me, us, at my home?”
Arne sat back down. “Underground?”
“Or above ground. I have access to both sides of the Great Ridge,” Shen said. “I want to go to Sinter. I have been refused access. I am compelled to try. You don’t have to go. But my home is empty, but for ghosts, and the goats, and I would like people there. I would like you there. Your family may come, if you like.”
“Let me discuss this with my people. If nothing else, I will come visit you if you’re home,” Arne said.
“Okay,” Shen said. “I’ll have you home by the end of the day.”
From the air, they saw the vastness of a submerged archipelago, primarily limestone that rivaled the Bahama Banks. The twist of sea dunes was as if Monet and Van Gogh had collaborated on the world. Much of it seemed barren, except for pockets where life exploded along these twist and turns, oases under the sea that quickly dropped to black water, and around small islands topped by grass and or shrubs. There were sea people ships. One of them looked as if it were beached. The people could wade in waters waist deep for miles. There were people in water around the ship and they seemed happy. TL took note of their position and assured Shen she would check back with them, but that there was no apparent signs of distress.
Shen left the deck and found his friends having a meal together. They stood as one.
“Don’t do that,” Shen said. “Sit”
They sat. It was uncomfortable. “May I join you? Or is this a private club meeting?”
“We’re in your house, brother,” Arne said.
“Is it private, or do you know everything?” Orton asked.
Arne was not happy about that, but it was out- and it was a reasonable inquiry.
“I do not know everything. At some level, the ship hears you, and I suppose I have the authority to follow that, but I don’t. Following that stuff to that degree makes people crazy sick. I will know you by our interaction, by your words directly to me, or make assumptions in your absence just like normal people would,” Shen said.
Shen wanted to ask if he had done something wrong. He didn’t. He stood for moment, considered leaving, but sat down at the table with them. Uffe set a beer in front of him. Shen thanked him. He drank from it, and finished it in one go, and set it down. He wiped his mouth.
“Oh, is that not the game we’re playing?” Shen asked.
Arne laughed. More beer was shared.
“So, you can be normal?” Yaffa asked.
“No,” Shen assured. “I can pretend for a moment.”
Loxy emerged. “Sorry to interrupt. Jon, you may want to see this.”
Jon excused himself. Arne and Torny followed them to the helm. The ship was hovering over the sea. The sea was dark black, except for one rise of a submarine mountain. A domed city was on top of the mountain. All of it submerged. TL manipulated the image and was able to give them a reasonable view inside. She took them in through a tunnel on the mountain, and up to a central, inner harbor. The city was easily the size of Paris, with paved streets and water way canals flowing from a central park and inner lake. The dome, with the inner lake and surrounding city sea scape, seemed like an eye- with accompany iris. He found himself comparing it to the ‘tech-eye’ the giantesses had.
“This city is old,” TL said. “There are clearly caretakers, given how the flora hasn’t taken over. That could be automated. I don’t see signs of inhabitants.”
“We promised to get our guests home,” Shen said.
“A whole city without people?” Arne said.
“We found many a ruins,” Torny said.
“We have found ruins, but this is different,” Arne said.
“Really, you don’t remember the last city paved with gold? The sirens nested on the rocks nearly killed you. And the next Siren occupied city nearly killed Jerica, you, Erico, and Shen,” Torny said. “This is how deep in the water? We can’t get there.”
“Yeah, we can,” Shen said.
“No!” Torny pointed at him. She turned back to Arne. “No, Arne. This is just another distraction. We are going home. That’s it.”
“Drop a probe,” Shen said. “Return to previous speed and heading.” He turned to Arne and Torny. “You will be home on schedule, as promised.”
“Thank you,” Arne said. “Coming back?”
“Sorry, one too many beers for me. I am going to go take a nap,” Shen said. “Excuse me.”
Shen returned to his quarters. TL joined him after the guests had departed. She laid in bed next to him and stared at the ceiling.
“You okay?” TL asked.
“Yeah,” Shen said.
“That wasn’t convincing,” TL said.
Shen turned over into her, hugged her closer. “Is it the nature of captains to be lonely?”
“It’s the nature of humans,” TL said. She hugged him tighter.
Easter Midelay looked quaint from the air, but alive. Whether they saw the ship passing overhead was not obvious from above, at their height and speed. It was Shen’s experience, they don’t look up. No stars, why look up? People near the Isle of Dragons likely looked up. There was East side home on one of the water fall steps, its water supply now maintained artificially since the shift in the river. If there was any place passable by climbing it would have been here, but then one had to cross the gap’s lake. He called it the missing tooth lake. Snow melt kept the lake full. Even rain clouds had trouble passing the mountains, and they would resolve into the lake. The Calypso passed with ease, descended vertically down the other side and landed in the court yard. Breathing was noticeably impacted by the pass over, but still Shen and Arne remained on deck, enjoying the cold, brisk air, and witnessing the change as Calypso descended.
Once everyone had disembarked, the ship rose, became embedded in an orb of energy, and reduced in size. It came to TL’s hand. She placed it in her bag.
“What about Calypso?” Orton asked. “She’s still on the ship?”
“She’s alright,” TL promised him.
“She is the ship,” Shen reminded them.
“This castle is huge,” Arne said.
“It would have been bigger, but someone said we would never have guests,” TL said. “There’s an orchard outside the gates. Wild bees, and some tamed hives. Gardens. And the goat pin.”
“The wall is big enough to hold off a giant,” Torny said.
“Or wild Irks,” TL said.
“Come on, I’ll take you to the gate and get you home,” Shen said.
“All this, by yourself?” Jerica asked.
“You are all welcomed to stay,” Shen said.
“You’re not afraid we’ll steal your stuff?” Orton asked.
“No,” Shen assured them. “It’s just stuff. Cary what you want.”
“Or what you can,” TL said, amused.
They gathered around Erico who was trying to lift the Torch from the stone. He realized the amount of effort he was now putting into it had attracted attention.
“Sorry, it seemed discarded,” Erico said.
Orton scoffed. He pushed Orton out of the way to retrieve the object. “What, you can’t…” His eyes widened. They bulged and his face went red as he added effort with two hands.
“Most things simply can’t be taken because they’re smart,” TL explained.
Arne was curious and grasped the Torch. He didn’t pull it. He simply took hold. His eyes shifted, going distant, then began tracking things around him that no one else saw. His lips subvocalized.
“Are you connecting with him?” Shen asked.
“No,” TL said.
“Back away,” Shen directed everyone.
“What kind of sorcery is this?” Torny said.
“Please, back up,” Shen said. He turned to TL. “Do something.”
“I cannot interrupt the process,” TL said.
Arne pulled the Torch free from the stone, a blade coming with it-forming even as the sword was drawn up, sparking, turning the stone red with light around the edge that had sheathed it. The blade fully freed was perfectly suited for Arne, solid weight, balance, and the sheen rivaled that of a polished steel mirror. The sheath in the stone filled with liquid rock and solidified. A hilt formed on at the end of the torch. He sheathed the sword in a scabbard that was ‘suddenly’ hanging from his belt- and may have arrived there even as the sword was being teased from the stone. No one had noticed the truth of it, they just accepted its presence. Using tech, Shen could see that all of Arne’s clothes were being taken over by tech. The legends of Arthur state the scabbard could prevent injury. The sheath kept the sword charged with power. The sword itself would cut through iron as easy as wood, and this sword certainly would. The sword in the stone was a lightsaber before things were called such. Once sheathed, Arne was suddenly back, refreshed, but surprised by the congregation around him.
“Where did you all come from?” Arne asked.
Shen took a knee. “King Arne,” he said. “I am your humble servant.”
Arne laughed. So did his friends. TL took a knee. “Your majesty. We are yours to command.”
“Get up,” Arne said. “You’re embarrassing me.”
Shen and TL stood, and waited for command. Arne’s company also stared, waiting for explanation.
“What?” Arne asked.
“What did you experience?” Shen asked.
“I went for a walk, I met Skadi,” Arne said.
“The Lady of the Mountain?” Jerica asked. “I’ve been looking for her all my life and you think you just met her?”
“Brother,” Erico said. “You didn’t go anywhere. You’ve been right here with us the whole time.”
“No. Look,” Arne said. He withdrew the sword. “She gave me this.”
“No, she didn’t. You just took it from that stone there,” Torny said.
“No, I didn’t,” Arne argued.
“Brother we just watched you do it!” Erico said.
“You haven’t been eating Lotus, have you?” Orton said.
“I believe you,” Shen said.
“You were right here with us when he pulled it from the stone,” Jerica said.
“And I am telling you, both accounts are true, and there might be a dozen more versions of this acceptance of the sword before the world ends,” Shen said.
“The sword belongs to Shen,” Torny said. “You should give it back.”
“If the Lady gave it to him, it belongs to him,” Shen said.
“I am glad you said that. I would hate to have to kill you for it,” Arne said.
“It’s possessed. Give it back,” Torny said.
“It’s not possessed,” Shen assured him. “The sword is sentient. It will teach you its ways, in a manner that fits your understanding.”
“You mean, he will become like you?” Torny said.
“No. He will be Arne, He will become more like Arne,” Shen assured them.
“How could he be more like himself?” Jerica asked.
“What was all this king nonsense?” Arne asked.
“I am not King material,” Shen said. “I am okay at being a ship’s Captain- because I have crew that compliments me. I would be less efficient at being a King’s magician, but here we are, in Merlin’s court.”
“That’s funny,” TL said.
“We want to go home, now,” Torny said.
“This way,” Shen said.
It was colder than it had been, and snow covered the court yard. A new cave entrance had been created, near the wall, and the goat pin shifted to that corner. The goats could go inside the cave, and were warmed there. A permanent attendant cared for them. The garden was now in a green house, the glass wet from melted snow. Shen came in from the balcony, slid the door shut. He ran and got back into bed with TL. He pulled the cover up. With his back against the headboard, they could watch the snow fall.
“Fuck, it’s cold,” Shen said.
“You had to go outside to know that?” TL said.
“No,” Shen said. “Send a probe to make sure East Midelay is good.”
“Done,” TL said. “You want to go back to sea? I bet we could find warm waters and islands of fun?”
“Yeah. No. I just want to stay here,” Shen said.
“It’s been a year. They’re not coming back and you’re not going there to inquire, so, let’s do something else,” TL said.
Shen counted falling snowflakes till he bored out. “I wonder if this is what Midas felt like.”
“Rich and lonely? I thought for sure you would go with the Beauty and the Beast analog,” TL said.
“Well, Miss Beauty, what shall we do today?” Shen asked.
“The same thing we do every day, Pinky,” TL said. “Try and take over the world.”
“How about just take on me,” Shen said.
“Take me on,” TL said.
“I’ll be gone,” Shen said.
“In a day or two,” TL said.
They lingered after intimacy. Shen teetered on the edge of sleep, wanting sleep. TL helped him by singing. It was Earth song, 1978, made popular by Rita Coolidge.
“Close the windows, calm the lights…” Shen felt tears moving. “Why is it every song you sing reminds me of us, human and tulpa, everywhere and nowhere and…”
“Shhh,” TL said. “I got you.”
Shen slept in her arms. It was solid nap, refreshed, and on awaking they return to a gentle session of intimacy. It was as gentle as candle light dancing on the ceiling, the shadows involved with them. Afterwards, they decided to get up and address the needs of East Midelay. Shen was determined to deliver the supplies in person. The tear drop, jewel cut vehicle that could have been mistaken for the Bell’s FCX-001 chopper, minus the rotor, was onsite and landing in under thirty minutes. He sat a crate down in the court yard, and set the vehicle down beside it. Two door opened skyward and he emerged from one side, TL the other. Three guards came to meet him, along with Lanore.
Lanore pointed. “You are not welcome here.”
“I know,” Shen said. “But I have food, and fuel for your fires. Will you accept?”
“No,” Lanore said.
“You would rather starve? You would rather everyone starve?” Shen asked.
“I will not be indebted to you,” Lanore said.
“What kind of mother would let her people starve?” Shen asked, seriously angry.
“I am a male bringing gifts. Gifts, without debt.”
“You are clearly harbinger for old things. The old ways brought about the fall.”
“I don’t know enough to argue with you,” Shen said. “You didn’t teach me to read, remember. I will say this: if an act of altruism brings about the end of the word, then let’s end it together. Don’t starve. Don’t freeze. Don’t be stupid.”
“He’s right, L’Ma,” Tell said. She had joined them in the snow. Others had, too.
Shen hit the crate with his fist and the side fell open. He picked up a ‘Duraflame’ log. “Burn this, paper and all. It will give you a longer burn, with more heart.” He tossed the log to a man. He brought out a pill bottle and opened it. “One of these, per person, per day. They’re vitamins. Don’t eat more than a one a day. Seriously. I think you can figure out the other boxes. Everything’s labeled, some have instructions. Some of it requires you to add water and stir.”
Shen demonstrated how to pen the bottle by pushing down and rotating. He ate one of the gummy vitamins, closed the bottle, and tossed it to Tell. “One a day. Keep it out of the reach of children- they can have one a day. Did I emphasize one a day?” He turned to walk back.
“Do you want to stay?” Neva asked. Lanore shot her a look. She presented an argument: “We will be civilized to the gifter.”
“Thank you for the invite, but Santa has other engagements,” Shen said. “If you have any mail you want delivered to West Midelay, I will take it. I can also leave a communication device, should you want to contact me. I could even give one to…”
“You’ve done enough,” Lanore said. She swallowed. “Thank you.”
“Mother,” Shen said.
“Shen?”
“I said stay inside…”
Shen turned to find Tama. She was crying. She ran to him and embraced him. She hugged him fiercely and whispered ‘I love you’ into his ear.
“I missed you, too,” Shen said.
Tama backed up, apparently angry. “But I am always with you.”
“You can leave, now,” Lanore said.
Shen and TL headed back for their ride.
“Shen,” Tama said. “Can you not see through my eyes?”
“No,” Shen said.
“But you are you watching us?” Lanore said. “You saw a need here.”
“I don’t need to see to predict your situation given the snow, but yes, I can see you. I watch out for you,” Shen said.
“Why?” Lanore asked.
“You’re the only family I got,” Shen said. “Everyone okay?”
“Mother died,” Lanore said.
Shen was sad, but he did not cry. He wanted to come hug Lanore. He did not.
“I am sorry for your loss,” Shen said.
Lanore nodded. “Are you still in touch with West Midelay? With N’Ma? Candace?”
“Their side wants me less than you do,” Shen said. He took a device out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Take it.”
“No,” Lanore said.
“Why?”
“You see enough,” Lanore said.
“If I saw enough, I would have been here earlier,” Shen said. He pocketed the gift. “Please stand away from the Chariot.”
Shen started their ascent before he was fully belted in or the doors were closed. A cold breeze blew through the craft and it was refreshingly miserable. He hovered long enough to see they were not fools, and the inner heat recovered. They were already investigating the contents of the crates, and distributing the supplies as the Chariot rose away.
“You okay?” TL said.
“Yeah,” Shen said. “Do you suppose we should check on others?”
“Going to save the world now, are we?” TL said.
“Maybe,” Shen said.
TL’s eyes went distant. When her focus returned, she smiled