by Tom Hoffman
Orville was completely baffled. “What just happened?”
Proto was staring blankly at the blue creature. “I’m afraid I have no idea.”
Sophia pointed at the mysterious blue entity. “Orville, its eyes aren’t white anymore, they’re gold.”
“The marble made its eyes turn gold?”
The creature walked back to Orville, staring at him with its golden glowing eyes. When it was only a few feet away it touched a long hand to Orville’s mouth.
“What? Why is he doing that? Does he want something to eat?”
The creature nodded emphatically.
Orville was still unsure what the creature wanted. “Are you hungry? Do you need food?”
Reaching out with one hand the creature gently moved Orville’s lower jaw up and down, then let out a number of warbling bird like sounds.
“I think he wants you to talk! He’s trying to communicate.”
“He wants me to talk? About what?”
Sophia shrugged. “Anything, maybe he’s trying to learn our language.”
Ten minutes later Orville was telling a highly embellished version of his escape from the terrifying horde of vicious purple flowers when the creature held up his paw. It rapidly spoke a string of peculiar words, words which held no meaning for Orville. “I don’t know what you’re saying.”
The creature spoke again. The language was different, but just as incomprehensible. Orville shook his head.
The creature’s golden eyes flickered. He spoke for the third time. “How is this? Can you understand what I’m saying now?”
“Yes! I understand you now!” Orville nodded his head up and down and grinned.
“Excellent. Difficult time accessing archaic language. Peculiar set of algorithms. Your first form is familiar to me. I believe I spent two years in your home. Very blurry since the attack. Thought processes were functional but I was unable to move unless drawn toward a shard of first form. Perception of outer world distorted due to impaired external sensory input system.”
Sophia couldn’t take her eyes off the strange creature. “What are you?”
The creature gave Sophia a quizzical look. “What am I? I’m an Abacus.”
Sophia smiled politely. “I’m afraid I’m not entirely familiar with that term.”
“Understand. Your language indicates your origin is the planet Earth, hidden in far corners of little galaxy. Off the beaten path, as you say.” The blue creature made an odd choking sound.
Orville frowned. “I still don’t know what you are.”
“I am Abacus, named after a primitive wooden calculator invented by my creators, the Mintarians. I am the highest form of artificial engineered intelligence ever devised by the Mintarian race. I am Chief Navigator and Master Pilot Commander of the MV Bermitar, my second form. I am indestructible with an undetermined lifespan. To clarify, I am impervious to all forces other than a direct hit from an Anarkkian heavy beam pulsar weapon. My EI and my Universal Mapping System were unharmed in the attack.”
“Your what?”
“The two small blue spheres you found. Curious how they both arrived into your possession. I lay on the crash site for centuries until a mouse picked up my EI and transferred me to your possession. One would expect such existence to be painfully dull, but I wandered in thoughts. I do not know how you obtained my Universal Mapping System. Events connected, each affecting the others across time.”
Proto looked startled. “You were aware of your surroundings even after being hit by the heavy beam pulsar?”
“Vague awareness. My consciousness is contained within the Engineered Intelligence sphere, undamaged in the attack. I was unable to communicate, but I had a degree of awareness regarding my surroundings.”
“The war ended soon after your ship was destroyed by the Anarkkians. What are you going to do now? How will you get home?”
“You are incorrect regarding the MV Bermitar. It was not destroyed, only the bridge was lost, hit by the pulsar beam. More specifically my Master Pilot and Navigational control center. That is the wreckage you see before you. Crew exported in dimensional escape pods and my second form passed through Spectral Entry Nine Six Zero One to a world specified by the Captain.” Abacus looked away for a moment. Sophia could see his golden eyes flashing rapidly.
“You talk about your second form. What does that mean?”
Abacus pointed to himself. “This is my first form, what your language calls a body. MV Bermitar is my second form, my second body.”
“Oh, I see.” Orville gave Sophia a sideways glance. She looked just as puzzled as Orville.
Abacus turned to Sophia. “We must locate the MV Bermitar. It is running out of power, less than one-half percent remaining. If it is destroyed I shall cease to exist. There will be dreadful consequences for the world of Spectral Entry Nine Six Zero One. I am uncertain how I have become aware of this.”
Sophia gave low gasp. “Time will stop.”
“How can you know this? Are you Mintarian Engineered Intelligence Service? Have you been sent to retrieve me?”
“No, I’m a mouse, but a mouse who understands the ways of the universe. I am also a mouse who knows what planet lies on the other side of Spectral Entry Nine Six Zero One.”
“I will activate my Universal Mapping System.” Abacus stood motionless, his eyes sparkling brightly. “A startling coincidence, Spectral Entry Nine Six Zero One leads to Earth, the planet of your origin.”
“How much time do we have until the MV Bermitar runs out of power?”
“Many variables to consider, the current circumstance of the ship, the amount of power being consumed on a daily basis, but I would estimate we have one Mintarian dacturn remaining.”
“How long is that in Earth time?”
“Thirteen days.”
Orville said, “I don’t understand how the ship losing power would cause time to stop.”
“My second form is a private supply vessel retained by the Mintarian military. MV Bermitar is carrying a payload of over nineteen thousand time throttles. A collision with Earth will activate some or all of the throttles. Time will stop on your planet and nothing will be able to start it again.”
Orville turned to Sophia. “How do we get back to Earth?”
Sophia motioned toward the floaters. “We’ll take the floaters back through the spectral doorway to Mt. Ianua and find The Dragonfly. Abacus, do you know the MV Bermitar’s current position on Earth?”
“Not at this moment. When we arrive I shall be able to locate my second form.”
“You’ll come with us then?”
“The ship is my second form. If the ship is lost, I am lost, my first form is lost. This is what the creators have told us.”
“I’m glad you’re coming. We’ll need your help locating the MV Bermitar. I’m afraid our Dragonfly will seem like ancient technology to you, but it’s the fastest ship we have. I only hope we can reach the MV Bermitar before she goes down.”
Orville hopped onto his floater. “We’d better go. Abacus, you can ride with me.”
Minutes later the adventurers were streaking across the surface of Varmoran toward the shimmering spectral doorway which would carry them back to Mt. Ianua.
Proto kept glancing over at Abacus, an ambiguous expression on his face.
Chapter 23
The Search Begins
“Down there! What is that?” Orville slowed his floater to a crawl, scanning the foothills of the towering mountain range near the spectral doorway.
“You mean that cave?”
“I thought I saw something moving down there. There’s a large group of caves running along the base of the mountain. They might be lava tubes.”
Sophia gave a shout. “I saw something move just inside the entrance.”
“I’m going in for a closer look.” Orville twisted the grips on his floater and shot down toward the cave.
Abacus tapped Orville’s shoulder. “I will search the cave. I am quite indestru
ctible.”
Proto overheard his suggestion and frowned. “I am also quite indestructible and possess the most advanced optical and auditory sensory input system ever designed by the Elders. Perhaps I should search the cave instead, just to be on the safe side.”
Abacus’ eyes flickered rapidly. “I am quite familiar with Rabbitons and all their abilities. I saw thousands of them during the Anarkkian wars. They were effective in their way, but certainly nowhere near as advanced as a Mintarian Abacus.”
Proto glared at Abacus. “You must be referring to the early Rabbiton models who came before me. As it happens, I am the most advanced model ever created by the Elders, the Prototype Model Deluxe Rabbiton with the Expanded L7 Sincere Friendship Simulation Package.”
“I do not wish to denigrate the abilities of your first form, but prototypes often have significant design flaws which are not corrected until the mass produced models come online. I am a ninth generation Synthatonic Universal Abacus, my Universal Mapping System containing real time detailed holo charts of the entire known universe.”
“It must be quite difficult to fold and unfold such a very large map, especially in confined spaces.”
Orville intervened before Abacus could make a reply. “Perhaps you could both take a quick peek inside the cave. Each of you has skills vital to the success of this mission. Sophia and I will wait here for you.”
Proto gave a little sniff. “Very well, Abacus may accompany me on my floater.”
Abacus strode onto Proto’s floater and the two automatons soared down toward the tunnel, landing twenty feet from the cave’s entrance. Proto hopped off. “I would be happy to go in first, if that would make you more comfortable. Unlike Orville, caves such as this hold no fear for me.”
“I am incapable of experiencing fear. Perhaps we should walk in together, side by side.”
“An acceptable compromise. Shall we go?”
The two automatons strode into the cave. Proto gazed into the blackness. “It’s quite dark in here. Under normal circumstances I would utilize my enhanced narrow line optical night vision, but out of consideration for you I shall activate my ear lights instead. That way we will both be able to view the interior of the cave.”
“I do appreciate your concern, but there is really no need for such a noble gesture. I am perfectly capable of illuminating a dark cave, I assure you.” Abacus glowed brightly, the interior of the cave instantly bathed in daylight.
Proto gave a curt nod. “You make an excellent flashlight.”
“I have been told I am quite brilliant.”
Proto snorted, then burst out laughing. “Perhaps I have misjudged you. Your clever play on words is similar to a joke Orville might make, and he has assured Sophia on many occasions that he has an extremely evolved sense of humor. Shall we proceed?”
The two automatons strode deeper into the tunnel. Proto stopped, holding up one hand. “I am sensing a unique and pungent smell, but one I instantly recognize from my adventures in the east Symocan jungle. This cave is inhabited by giant anteaters.”
Abacus’ reply was cut short by a horrendous shrieking sound which echoed through the tunnel. “I do not possess your advanced sense of smell, but I am rather good with languages. One moment please.” He seemed to stiffen, his golden eyes flashing brilliantly. “I have identified it. The creature is native to Varmoran, it’s language a relatively simple one.”
Abacus opened his mouth and emitted a dreadful discordant shrieking sound. Moments later three giant anteaters came loping down the long tunnel. The largest one stopped in front of them, staring curiously at Abacus. It let out a long shrieking wavering wail. Proto had to dial down the sensitivity of his audionic sensors.
Abacus translated the anteater’s response. “He wants to know where I learned to sing like that.”
Twenty minutes later the two automatons were standing outside the cave entrance, saying their good byes to a throng of giant anteaters. Proto and Abacus hopped onto their floater and with a farewell wave to their new friends soared up the mountain to Sophia and Orville.
Proto waved to the waiting adventurers, calling out, “You were quite correct about Arthur Anteater being from Varmoran. There is a thriving community of anteaters living in the lava tubes. Arthur disappeared through the blue spectral gateway a year ago and his family has been worried sick about him. My friend Abacus, who is a skilled linguist, assured them we would do everything in our power to bring Arthur back home.”
A smile crossed Sophia’s face. “That’s wonderful! All Arthur has to do is jump into the volcano and he’ll be home again. Wonderful job, Proto and Abacus. Together you have helped Arthur Anteater find his way home. Can you imagine how happy his family will be to see him? You should both be very proud.”
Proto gave Abacus an amicable nod. “Well done, sir. The skills you possess were indeed vital to the success of our mission.”
“As were yours. Your sense of smell is quite remarkable, your memory equally so.”
Orville gestured toward the towering snowy peaks above them. “We should get moving. We have to find the MV Bermitar.”
The three floaters soared up the mountainside, and with a little help from Abacus they located the spectral gateway leading back to Mt. Ianua.
Orville hovered his floater in front of the forty foot tall glimmering spectral doorway. “Everyone go through slowly. Arthur said he emerged in the old lava tunnels below the volcano and I don’t want to crash into a volcanic glass wall.”
“Lead the way, Captain Orville!”
Orville eased his floater through the shimmering blue gateway, emerging seconds later into a large cave. “Black lava rock. This is where we’re supposed to be.” He guided his floater across the glimmering cavern, Sophia and Proto flashing into view behind him. With a flick of his paw a bright glowing orb appeared, filling the cave with a lovely warm light.
Abacus gave a start. “You are a shaper? I had no idea. Shapers are revered on Mintari. Their skills were invaluable during the war. Mintari would have fallen to the Anarkkians without their assistance. Every spectral gateway the Anarkkians opened to our world was immediately closed by the Advanced Mintarian Shaper Service.”
“My two dear friends Orville and Sophia are not only powerful shapers, but also highly respected members of the Metaphysical Adventurers.”
“I am very impressed. It is an honor to be in the company of such an elite cadre. I foolishly underestimated both you and your companions. I would like to clarify my previous statement regarding the nature of prototypes by saying although a few may have minor design issues, they also have remarkable skills which earlier models could never have dreamed of.”
“I appreciate your kind comments, and will add that although my Interworld Positioning System is adequate for my purposes, it does not compare to your astonishing Universal Mapping System and your stellar linguistic capabilities.”
Sophia grinned. A bright pink thought cloud emerged from her ear and darted over to Orville. “Our two bickering automatons seem to be getting along quite famously now, don’t they?”
Orville snickered. “I need to leave a note for Arthur.” He flicked his paw and large glowing letters appeared on the wall, detailed instructions for Arthur’s return to Varmoran. “It looks like he’s still living here. Look at all the fresh fruits and vegetables piled in the corner. Soon he’ll be back with his family.”
“Time to go!” Sophia twisted the grips of her floater and shot forward into a winding tunnel. Less than three minutes later the group emerged from the base of the volcano and soared up into a brilliant blue east Symocan sky. “Don’t forget we can’t go back to Tatuid Village. The prophecy said we were never seen again.”
“True, but remember Myrmac said the villagers would see three black circles flashing across the sky above their village. We’re riding on those black circles.”
“You’re right! We’ll make a pass over the village then head for The Dragonfly.”
The four advent
urers ducked down low as they streaked through the sky above Tatuid Village. Sophia could hear the excited shouts of the villagers below. Ten minutes later they landed next to The Dragonfly.
Orville stepped off his floater onto the jungle floor. “I love these floaters. Proto, can you convert them back into cylinders so we can take them with us?”
“Certainly, it’s a very simple process. When the floater is sitting on the ground, remove your paws from the grips, press the gold circle for three seconds, then step off the craft.”
Soon all three floaters had been converted back to their original cylindrical form and were safely stowed in the tail of The Dragonfly.
“I’m tired, let’s camp here for the night.” Orville slumped down on the ground, leaning back against a gnarled tree. Sophia flopped down next to him.
“Good idea, Varmoran was exhausting. We jumped through your dream volcano, sent the last mechanic and his silver spiders home, escaped the purple flowers, found the source of the blue stones, helped Abacus reassemble, and made it safely back to Mt. Ianua. We even solved one of your famous puzzles along the way.”
“Are you referring to... The Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus?” Orville deepened his voice, dramatically raising one eyebrow.
Sophia laughed. “I like it, it sounds mystifying and a little spooky. When I think about it, your puzzle won’t be completely solved until we get Abacus safely back to his ship.”
“I just thought of something, how are we going to restore power to the ship?”
“First we have to find it.”
