Zimuel stepped over to a smaller door and opened it. Paul glanced inside the tube. He looked down and could see some kind of power generating device. Zimuel told him it was the antigravity reactor. But, when he looked up all he could see was side walls with dimly lit strobes at what he assumed was each floor. Zimuel touched him on the shoulder and replied, “It’s a lot more unnerving coming down. Just step in and don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights.” Paul took a deep breath, swallowed and stepped out into the open tube. Immediately, he was moving up at an incredible rate of speed. There didn’t seem to be any wind resistance, but he could see the strobes on each floor moving by at an amazing rate. He looked down and saw that Zimuel was only about 10 feet below him looking up. Paul could see that they had already passed hundreds of floors. In minutes he was coming to a stop, suspended in the air 500 floors above the ground with Zimuel beside him. Zimuel reached for the door and they simple stepped through onto the shiny marble floor.
As they entered the hallway, Paul couldn’t help but notice the magnificence of his surroundings. Twenty-five foot ceilings, marble floors, arched doorways with ten foot high solid brass doors. The lighting was provided by floating orbs positioned overhead about 15 feet apart. They were connected to nothing; no wires, or chains or cables, yet they held their position perfectly and became brighter as Paul and Zimuel approached them, then dimming as they passed. The halls were void of any decoration; however the beauty of the stone work, archways and carved metal doorways gave off a strong and powerful since of wealth coupled with total confidence in what had been created. There was no need to add anything ornate that may distract from the simple elegance. As they walked down the long corridor, the only sound was Paul’s Sidi motorcycle boots on the marble floor and their breathing. It gave a sort of sacred feeling to the surroundings. Paul hesitantly asked, “So this is home?” Zimuel nodded, then added, “Your actual rooms will be one floor below, but you will share the top five floors with me and the other 23 Elders.” As they reached the end of the hall Zimuel spoke the word “open” and the massive brass doors began to slide back into the walls on either side. What Paul saw took his breath away and he had to pause a moment to get it back in perspective. Off in the distance he could see an incoming storm, below him. As far as his eyes could see there were massive buildings. None looked to be lower than 100 stories; most were much taller, and there were hovercraft flying between and above them in what appeared to Paul as organized chaos. The sun looked as if it would be setting soon, so people were probably headed home from work. The skies looked like they were swarming with locust there were so many vehicles in the air. Paul looked at Zimuel and asked, “Do you get a lot of accidents?” Zimuel chuckled and replied, “Everything is so computerized here that people really don’t operate the vehicles. The computers do an excellent job of keeping everything moving with no problems. The passenger simply tells the craft where he wants to go then sits back and relaxes, the computer does the rest. It’s illegal to initiate the manual override inside the city limits of any city on Xhondar I and only those with proper permits are allowed to do it outside. With over 40 billion people on this planet it would be a disaster if we did it any other way.”
Paul looked around the large room in which he was standing. It was appointed with lush sofas and chairs; there was a fire in a fireplace that was at least 12 feet wide, there was a large oval table at one end next to the window surrounded by chairs. As Paul looked closer, it appeared like the huge table was made of a single piece of wood. He nodded toward the table and Zimuel, as if reading his mind said, “That comes from a Gwonle tree on the planet Salenzo. They grow to be as large as 100 feet in diameter and can mature to be as tall as 500 feet. I’ll try to take you there for a short visit while you’re here.” Zimuel pointed toward a wide stairwell to his right and motioned for Paul to follow, saying, “Let me show you to your rooms. It’s been a long day for you and you may want to clean-up and take a rest before we come back to this room to have dinner with the rest of the Elders. I’ve taken the liberty to have suitable clothes delivered to your room and there will be an Xhondar made watch on you nightstand. The one you have will be of little use since we have 30 hour days here. They walked down the stairs and took another corridor past numerous rooms. About three doors from the end of the hall Zimuel opened the double brass doors and indicated for Paul to enter. Paul was staggered by the opulence of what was to be his quarters. He replied, “This is no Motel 6,” only to receive a blank stare from Zimuel. Zimuel, not understanding the sarcastic comment asked, “Are you not satisfied with the suite? We could arrange something else if you like.” Paul smiled at Zimuel and responded, still with a cruel smile, “Well, I guess it will just have to do.” Then he added more seriously, “I have really never seen anything like it. This place is big enough for a family of 8. How big is it, 4000 square feet? Zimuel shrugged and answered, “It’s closer to five. There’s a large bedroom, and master bath, an office, a large gym, kitchen and a learning center. We will be spending a lot of time in the gym and the learning center during your stay here. Now let me show you the master suite and let you get settled. We are supposed to meet the others in 3 hours. I have programmed the computer to respond to English so you can access everything that you will need. You will learn Xhondarian soon and you won’t need it, but until then we want you to be as comfortable as possible.”
Paul shook his head and said, “Wait a minute, you never said anything about me learning another language. I’m horrible with foreign languages. I have enough trouble with English.” Zimuel shrugged as if unconcerned and answered, “There are a lot of things you will be expected to learn that we did not discuss. You will undergo more changes in the next few months than you have in your entire lifetime, but don’t worry, we have ways of teaching, training and learning that is like nothing you’ve ever seen. I may as well prepare you now. Within the next month you will become 30 years younger, ten times stronger and a hundred times smarter than you are today, your high blood pressure will be gone, your arthritis cured and that prostate cancer you are totally unaware of will be in total remission, besides that, you will in the not too distant future be able to master multiple languages complete with the proper dialect.” Zimuel turned to walk away as Paul stared at him in questioning anxiety. As Zimuel walked away he laughed, “We are going to have such fun!” Then the door closed behind him. Paul lay back on the bed looking up at the ceiling, wondering just what he had gotten himself into then slowly drifted off to sleep.
“You need to wake up and get ready. You have thirty minutes to be upstairs for your meeting with the Elders.” Paul sat up groggily, looked around to see where the sweet sounding female voice was coming from, but saw no one. “Who’s there?” he asked as he looked around the room. “It was me: Computer.” Paul shook his head in disbelief, and asked, “Exactly what is your name Computer?” “Why, my name is Computer; what else would it be since that is who I am?” came the reply. Paul sat up and smiled at the fact he was talking to a machine then commented, “I can’t believe I’m carrying on a conversation with a machine.” “You better get used to it since I am the highest form of artificial intelligence in the known universe; not just a machine. I will be responsible for most of what you will be learning during your stay here.” Paul smiled and headed toward the bathroom to get a shower. As he opened the shower door he realized he had no idea how to turn on the water. He looked around and asked, “With all your superior intelligence do you think you could teach how to turn on the shower?” Before he finished his sentence the water came on as Computer said, “Is 105 degrees satisfactory?” Paul stepped into the shower and asked jokingly, “Do you lay out my clothes as well?” Computer replied, “When you finish your shower, open the drawer under the vanity mirror and everything you should need for tonight will be there for you.” After a warm and relaxing shower, Paul went to the drawer and realized he had no idea how to put on the clothes provided. He held them up in the air and said, “A little help!�
�� Instantly a hologram appeared before him that was his perfect likeness. Slowly and meticulously the hologram dressed itself, carefully showing Paul exactly how to zip, buckle and fasten the strange looking clothes. As he finished his last snap, combed his short hair and took one last look in the mirror, Computer told him, “It’s time to leave. Do you remember how to get to the rooms upstairs?” Paul replied, “Thanks for all your help, but I am perfectly capable of finding my way to one floor above us.” Paul then stepped into the massive hallway, turned right and headed down the marbled corridor. After about 20 feet he heard a soft voice say, “It’s the other direction.” Paul’s face reddened from embarrassment as he quickly rotated 180 degrees and without comment, proceeded down the hall.
As he neared the top of the stairs, Paul could hear several conversations going on at the same time in a language he couldn’t understand even a little. It was obviously Xhondarian, their native language. He stepped into the room and the conversations stopped abruptly as all eyes turned toward him. Paul, refusing to be intimidated, commented, “Don’t stop talking on account of me. But, it would be nice to know what’s being said. That is of course, if you want me to know what you’re saying.” A very tall lady, who looked to be about fifty-years-old, dressed in an elegant but plain blue gown approached Paul with her hand extended, saying in a perfect British accented English, “Elder Yadvega; soon you will be able to speak Xhondarian like it’s your native tongue just like I speak English as if it were mine. In fact, when I’m finished with you there will be few languages you can’t speak.” As Paul shook her hand, noticing her firm grip, he asked, “Just how many languages do you speak?” “Why, all of them of course,” she answered as if it was a dumb question. Paul replied, “All of them meaning…” She shook her head in disbelief and realized Paul really could not grasp the enormity of her statement. Elder Yadvega looked around the room at the other elders and then explained, “Paul, I’ve been around for over 40,000 years. I’ve had plenty of time to learn the 14,978 languages and various dialects of the known universe. I have no doubt there are many yet to be learned. Most of the people in this room can do more or less the same thing. We will start you off with Xhondarian and then move on to the Earth languages and then teach you the other languages as you need them. I know it sounds impossible, but I assure you that after you go through the enhancements we have planned for you, you will be capable of doing anything we can do.” Paul looked around the room at the other 23 Elders as they nodded their affirmation.
One by one they began to introduce themselves and the role they would play in his development. They used terms Paul could comprehend for processes that were way beyond his understanding: Rejuvenation, Regeneration, Muscle and Bone Density Enhancement, Brain Mass Enhancement, Optical and Neurological Implants. They explained all this would be done before they even began his education in languages, astrophysics and astronomy, advanced weapons technology, advanced unarmed combat, galactic spaceship combat maneuvers… Zimuel held up his hand to the other elders and said, “Please, we don’t want to scare Paul away before he even gets started. Let’s have a nice dinner and get to know who Paul is now, before we begin to tell him what we are going to do to change him.” The Elders smiled and nodded in agreement. Zimuel motioned Paul over to a seat toward the head of the dinner table and indicated the man beside him. Unlike everyone else in the room, this man looked really old; or at least much older than the others, yet exceptionally healthy and robust, with erect, solid posture, squared shoulders, a lean and almost athletic body and green eyes that were clear and bright. The man stood almost a foot taller than Paul and extended his hand as Zimuel said, “Allow me to introduce Chief Elder Mahala, he is the Senior Elder of the Council and the oldest living Xhondarian.” Paul asked, “How old are you?” Mahala replied with a sly smile, “Since I’m not a lady I guess that isn’t considered a rude question. To help you comprehend my age I will try to do it in Earth years. I am the only living pre-flood Xhondarian. I never had a chance to meet Noah because I was too busy trying to find and remove all alien life-forms, but I knew who he was. It was a real mess, I’ve never seen anything like it before and I hope I never will again. I just barely got out and back to Xhondar I before God sent the flood. I had retrieved everyone and everything that it was possible for me to find. It looks as if God took care of the rest. I went back to Earth a few more times, once during the time of Job. He was a good sort, but we weren’t close enough for me to be one of those who came by his home to straighten him out. I guess the last time I was there was with Zimuel here when we went to clear out the last of the dragons, unicorns and wizards. Anyway, I’ve spent the rest of my years charting various galaxies and identifying those with sentient life-forms. I will have a great deal to teach you. I look forward to it. No one around here shows the least interest in anything but Xhondar I.” Paul smiled at the dignified bearing of Xhondar I’s oldest citizen and replied, “I look forward to learning, but I will have to admit that all this is very intimidating. I know this is changing the subject, but you call this place Xhondar I. Is there more than one?”
Before Zimuel could answer, a broad shouldered bearded man that looked to be about 35 answered the question, “My name is Bhlani; to answer your question there are three. Xhondar I is the original and oldest home planet and now has a population of approximately 40 billion, Xhondar II is the nearest to us at about 500 million miles and has now reached a population of 20 billion. Xhondar III is the newest, with only 10 billion or so, and is right at 4 light-years away. All together we represent three solar systems and some 70 billion citizens. I say citizens because not everyone on Xhondar III is human.”
It turned out to be a much longer evening than Paul had expected. He got introduced to each of the Elders, but could only remember about six or seven names. Each had a unique story to tell and specialized in one particular skill or another. Paul soon realized that there was going to be 24 teachers and only one pupil, the exact opposite of the typical student teacher ratio. All these Elders made Paul understand just how little he knew and what an incredible challenge lay ahead. The meal was almost over when Paul grasped just how unpleasant the food had been. It was tasteless, texture-less and almost odorless. As he watched the Elders eat like they hadn’t had a meal all day, he wondered just what it was he was eating. As the wait-staff was bringing out what was supposed to be desert, he asked Zimuel, “Just what exactly is this stuff?” Zimuel proudly responded that they were eating the finest genetically engineered meats and vegetables from Xhondar III and that it took them years to mass produce foods that supplied 100% of all daily nutrition in such quantities as needed to feed their population. Paul quietly whispered to Zimuel, “I hate to seem ungrateful, but it has no taste. Does everything you eat come from a test-tube?” Zimuel shook his head as he replied, “You’ll get used to it and soon find that it is much healthier than what you’ve been eating. Besides, we have no land available to breed cows, pigs or chickens and our oceans have been fished into extinction. We hope you will soon be able to help solve some of our problems, but that’s a discussion for another day.”
As they were saying their goodnights for the evening a very attractive women, who looked to be about 40, told Paul, “I will see you first thing in the morning. I do hope you’re not claustrophobic, since you will be spending the next several days under my care and the tanks tend to be rather confining.” Paul could feel his heart rate go up as he began to perspire. Ever since he had been trapped in a small cave as a child, while exploring in the woods with his older brother, he was extremely claustrophobic. Zimuel could see Paul go pail and spoke out on Paul’s behalf, “Master Tlase, don’t you normally put people to sleep before placing them in the tanks? No one can spend 8 to 10 days in the tanks any other way, correct?” Paul couldn’t decide which sounded worse, being in the tanks or being unconscious for 8 to 10 days. He felt completely helpless and wondered just what he had gotten himself into, but was not about to let them know just how terrified he was. Zi
muel patted Paul on the back as he escorted him toward the stairs and informed Master Tlase, “Paul will be there before first light, I’ll show him the way myself.”
Zimuel and Paul excused themselves and headed back to Paul’s rooms. As he dropped him off at his door Zimuel told Paul, “I could tell the thought of over a week in the enhancement tank made you nervous. Let me assure you, you’ll never even know you’re in them other than the first 10 minutes and the day you come out. These next 10 days will give you the foundation you will require for everything else we will do. I’ll be honest. There will be days you’ll regret having ever agreed to come with me, but in the end I have no doubt you will be very satisfied with the final results. See you at 0400 Xhondar time. And Paul; thanks for coming!”
Paul entered his room and prepared for bed with his head in a cloud of confusion and doubt. He had such mixed feelings about the people he had just met and their reaction to him. Most seemed warm and friendly enough, but there were quite a few who seemed cold and indifferent, like they really didn’t want him here and resented his presence. He was physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. He fell across his bed knowing it was going to be a very restless night. Tears began to flow as he prayed, “Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? Or maybe I should ask, “What have you gotten me into?” I was just beginning to get my life together and feel comfortable and secure again, I thought I was living in obedience to You and doing what I was called to do. It’s pretty obvious You had other plans; but why me? In everything that I consider myself good at, there are millions who can do it better. Tonight I was in a room with two dozen people who were older, wiser, smarter and healthier than me, with power that I can’t even begin to comprehend. Any one of them is more qualified to serve you, and already greater leaders than I will ever be. I’m still not completely sure that I understand what it is I am supposedly called to do. You never have been real good about letting me in on Your plans, so forgive me if it seems like I am questioning Your will for me. God, there’s no point in trying to deny the truth. I’m scared to death. From what little I do understand; there are a lot of people whose lives are soon to be very dependent upon the things I do and the decisions I make. There is no way I can do this without You. If ever I needed You to be in complete control of my life it’s now. Give me the strength and perseverance I need to do whatever it is I’m going to be doing Your way, ‘cause God, I’ll make a mess of it if I do anything on my own. Lord, here I am on a planet with 40 billion people, in a building housing 100,000 people and I feel totally isolated and alone. Maybe it’s just because I’m the only Earthling within several hundred thousand light-years. Oh, yeah, God, one more thing. Don’t let me freak-out when I have to be put in whatever those tank things are they are talking about. It seems I’m going to be faced with my greatest fear on my second day here, so much for easing me into this whole thing slowly. God, look after my Mom and loved ones while I’m away. Now Lord, I really need some sleep. May the words of mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You and give me a heart of obedience to Your will, whatever that may be. Use me! In Jesus name Amen.” Paul fell asleep still lying across the bed as he imagined what his friends and family back on Earth were doing. Would they even miss him? Some wouldn’t even realize he was gone.
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