Paragon- Ghost Hunters

by Freddy Milton

  Inside the ship, Anders immediately discovered Dorrit standing down on the dock waiting in the same moment the door slid aside. Exactly the same picture he had in his recollection from the time where another port in another spaceship had closed and he had to see his sister standing alone on the dock while he and the other souls were carried away to the prison planet.

  As the first passenger, he ran down the gangway and Dorrit hurried to meet him down on the quay.

  They gave each other a hug. It was a happy reunion.

  Chapter 31

  RETURN

  Paragon had shared the two sibling’s joy when he saw them embracing. Perhaps there would also be someone to welcome him when they got back to the Soul Service in the Seventh Sky with Optimus Ultra? He hadn’t thought much about it before, and the whole thing was frankly also a bit corny.

  What was the idea standing there getting sentimental? It had no meaning. He should be above such things. In his business, excessive emotional expression was just an inconvenient weakness. He should always be levelheaded and neutral and be the effective tool for a precise and targeted missions of the Soul Service. That’s how it was. Neither more nor less. Point final.

  Yet, perhaps it didn’t need be like that every time. Now and then there could well be room for a little more than sobriety and seriousness. Of course, requiring it didn’t conflict with some of the crucial sections in the manual for soul handling.

  He came to think of the two souls who had done so much for this cumbersome mission to succeed. They came from a deprived home and had subsequent gotten a sad existence in their afterlife as souls in the dreary middle layer of ‘Limbo’.

  Paragon went over to the two children souls, Chris and Victoria, watching the big screen of space with the small bright spots of stars and galaxies with an infinite number of planets and moons circling. Only a few were inhabited by life forms able to make notions that they were not alone in space and that there were other forms of life elsewhere in the universe, perhaps also having similar ideas about life someplace else in the universe.

  ”It’s the constellation Sagittarius.”

  ”And there is Cassiopeia, to where many souls are now headed.”

  ”The universe is really very, very big.”

  ”You can hardly fathom it.”

  ”You nearly faint trying to grasp it.”

  ”But there’s probably some meaning to it, that you cannot comprehend .”

  ”Or there's the meaning to it, that we’ll get the feeling that it is not to comprehend.”

  ”Or...”

  ”No, now you stop it!”

  The two little souls amused themselves. It was long ago Paragon had seen anyone act in this cordial way. He allowed himself to interrupt Chris and Victoria's line of thoughts.

  ”Where will you go when we get back to the Seventh Sky? Do you belong to those who have an unfinished life you must first say goodbye to from a position in Limbo?”

  ”No, we are both alpha plus souls from the elite faculty. Victoria was abducted one night without being able to resist and I was also lured away at another occasion.”

  Victoria supplemented.

  ”There was a great psychic power forcing us away. It must have been controlled by something from the planet Phironsamir.”

  ”It was probably the same force that put the data system out of action for a period.”

  Paragon wanted a clear message to the question he was stuck with.

  ”The term of a life-task on the remote endangered planet did not challenge you?”

  Chris shook his head.

  ”No, I can feel I need to develop some other qualities at the level where I am right now. On Phironsamir I got the impression there was a need for souls with very basic soul qualities. Therefore, nearly all souls who chose to move there also came from a waiting position in Limbo. There were almost no elite souls being tempted. Apparently, it was a planet, which had come all the way down to basics for survival.”

  ”It sounds like you distance yourself to it?”

  ”In a way, yes. Major Frumkazyl presented it as an all or nothing scenario, but it doesn’t have to be so. A living species ruined or made itself obsolete must pass away. It’s just natural and the law of the universe. Collective accountability to the preservation of its own habitat is an indispensable requirement for all life forms. It doesn’t usually happen because few life forms can bring their physical environment out of balance, but for cognitive species that can manipulate things and build dangerously huge structures the matter is different. They have a solemn responsibility for their own and other species' existence, they cannot afford to ignore.”

  ”So the Bastytjaks are to blame for their fate? They don’t deserve any mercy?”

  ”No, in my opinion, they must pay the price. If they fail to bring their planet on the right track again, they’ll die, and that’s all there is to it. I see this not as a disaster. That doesn’t mean the planet will go to an unoccupied status. One can also imagine there will be immigrants from another habitable planet in the universe becoming overpopulated and still retain a common social awareness and responsibility for environment and resources. Emigrants from there will take over the planet and bring it back on its feet. If you ask my opinion, I think it’s most likely that which will happen.”

  Paragon went over to Klamuffel now having taken off his dress uniform. Paragon could not resist the temptation to tease him a little.

  ”You looked otherwise so distinguished in the beautiful uniform with all the trimmings...”

  ”Well, you really mean that, Paragon? Yes, but it had begun to tighten a little and all things considered it was belonging to the past. Yes, my rank of Major for that matter, too. The hierarchical structure is on the way out, and good for that.”

  ”But yet you put it on.”

  ”Well, you never know what characters you encounter. Maybe some primitive creatures one might impress through a nice looking uniform. I didn’t know who we were up against, and I didn’t have an impressive array of instruments of power I could snout some tough opponents with.”

  ”I knew nothing about it either.”

  ”When you are told some scoundrels from another galaxy abduct souls, we must be prepared for the worst, but I had to go along head over heels without getting time to check things out first or find support let alone threatening power resources. I didn’t get any closer with the reference to the Bastytjaks during my investigation. Even with the best search engines, I couldn’t find anything in a hurry.”

  ”It was good you gave priority to act quickly. It was at the very last moment you arrived. Had you come a little later, all the souls might have been on their way to Cassiopeia under questionable circumstances.”

  ”Yes, but now we must contact UOJMIECCC so we can introduce some general guidelines for soul transfer and some strict rules ensuring soul security during transport.”

  Paragon had a question in mind, but he didn’t really know how to put it. Nevertheless, he had to try.

  ”Eh, about Dorrit and Anders...”

  ”Dorrit and Anders?”

  ”Yes, it’s the two soul siblings who helped us to cope.”

  ”Oh them, yes. What about them?”

  ”What will happen to them?”

  ”They will surely get back to Limbo, where they came from, unless the trip has loosened their ties, so they choose to migrate to the soul depot with an option to apply for some early rebirth.”

  ”That's just it... I think they deserve something extra for their help. It was only because of them we managed to rescue all the many souls before it was too late.”

  ”Where are you going with that, Paragon?”

  ”Couldn’t we adjust the parameters a bit? Let there be a minor change at a point in development, so they didn’t end up in Limbo? Anders really wants to return to his little sister. He feels he has an additional responsibility for her because of maternal alcohol abuse, and the elder sister has regretted her suicide as she was
driven to it because of abuse by a partner to the unmarried mother.”

  ”That’s life, my good Paragon. You must eventually have learned that much. Life is no bed of roses. It is sometimes miserable and degrading, hard and relentless. You get nowhere with overbearing feelings. I am afraid you’re far too sentimental.”

  ”I know, but...”

  ”I remember a case where there also came to be something that should not have happened, because a person didn’t die as The Great Plan had it, and it caused us a hell of a hassle to get things on the right track again. You had a crucial role in that debacle, if you remember?”

  ”I do, Klamuffel, and I wouldn’t ask for this service if it wasn’t because I feel the two young souls deserve a favor in return. I promise to do a feasibility study beforehand.”

  ”Hm... I must confess that I and the entire soul administration owes you a real appreciation for your efforts, and if what you want is to be allowed to help the two bewildered souls, I will not oppose you. But you must guarantee for goodness sake that it doesn’t leave serious tracks in The Great Plan!”

  ”That I will, Klamuffel. And thanks for the permission.”

  ”Oh, that’s okay. But check things thoroughly before you promise them anything.”

  Paragon spent the next hours typing on his incident plotter searching for everything he could think of and more. He looked up development lines for the plan, and introduced some amendments and read the consequences, both short- and long-term. If the changes in the fate in the model resulted in questionable consequences he tried to calculate how big they were, or what could be achieved by adding a few other minor adjustments. However not too many, as uncertainty then increased too manifold on the overall fate process.

  Paragon had to tread carefully. If the effects spread to vital key personnel, choices were impossible to implement, since the key fate roles were important for the crucial parameters in the great Plan. It was by no means some simple calculation, and Paragon got to use of everything he had learned at his extra courses in night school.

  When Optimus Ultra docked in the port of the Seventh Sky, he couldn’t help but look down on the quay. Was there someone waiting for him? Someone who wanted to show that they were happy he came back safe and sound and that they had longed to see him again?

  Yes, it was actually. Pollux stood there and waved with one hand, and beside him stood Bamrok. It was more than he had dared hope for.

  ”Anders and Dorrit, will you go with me? There are a couple of friends, I would like to present to you.”

  The two siblings would like to accompany Paragon who they had also begun to appreciate, and frankly, they didn’t know what else to do. They actually had imagined they would ask Paragon for advice, but they hadn’t come to that yet.

  As Paragon came down to Pollux and Bamrok they welcomed him cordially.

  ”Do you have time to stand here and linger, Pollux? Shouldn’t you attend to Dreamscape?”

  ”Nothing happen since you leave, master.”

  ”No more digital lapse bringing the micro professor up into level red?”

  ”Not the slightest.”

  Bamrok also lifted his forepaw.

  ”I got your Morse message. One of the guys is an old geek of a radio amateur.”

  “Did you bring it further?”

  ”Absolutely, but by then Major Klamuffel was already called off in the direction of Taurus X. I am pleased the mission was successful.”

  ”Was it you Hisfobides who had made the apparatus on Taurus X? I believe I noticed a sign on the installation that could come from you?”

  ”It was us, yes, but it's quite a while ago. Well, I must get back to the job. It is contract work, so we would not like to waste time. I just had to see how matters were concluded. Congratulations on the positive effort.”

  Bamrok waved and walked away. Paragon turned to Pollux.

  ”This is two siblings who helped us tremendously by taking care of things out on the very outskirts of civilization.”

  He also welcomed.

  ”Pollux, simple Altryde from the fourth moon of Astrakan, at your service, so there.”

  ”Anders.”

  ”Dorrit.”

  ”So, what have occupied your time in between meals?”

  ”Pollux, they are souls. They don’t eat.”

  ”Oh well, forgive me.”

  Paragon cleared his throat. How could he get to it?

  “Anders and Dorrit come from Limbo, you know. The place where there are souls having unsolved problems in their past lives and feeling they still have.”

  ”I understand. They come here by mistake to help, and now they return to Limbo and mourn on from there. Sad cup of tea.”

  Paragon raised his hands.

  ”Before I say any more, I better ask you if that’s what you want the most?”

  Anders and Dorrit looked at each other. Anders hesitated.

  ”We don’t know. I think I should watch my little sister Maja, and Dorrit would rather be with me.”

  Dorrit added.

  ”We don’t think we are quite ready for a rebirth right away. We'll just see how Maja is doing.”

  Paragon nodded.

  ”I was thinking that as well. You have not been given other options?”

  ”Are there others?”

  ”No, usually there are no other options. What has happened has happened, and that’s all. However, in exceptional cases, things are not quite normal, and this is one of them.”

  ”How?”

  ”You have helped me and Soul Service to save many souls who otherwise involuntarily would have been abducted to another galaxy. It’s a great and unselfish performance. Management has agreed that the effort deserves a special reward.”

  ”Yes?”

  The two children souls were two big question marks.

  ”You get the opportunity to come back to life on Earth, and not in a new incarnation but in your old life as older siblings to Maja.”

  The two souls were speechless.

  ”Can it be done?”

  ”To change time, the story of life?”

  Paragon shook his head.

  ”No, usually it can’t be done. Although it is possible, we will not let it happen. Only in exceptional cases where it serves a higher purpose and, moreover, can be done without serious side effects.”

  ”It's not something you say just to comfort us?”

  ”No, actually Pollux and I had the fortune to do this earlier in a case where it was crucial for the evolution of Earth.”

  ”But this is probably not the case with us?”

  ”I suppose it doesn’t matter what happens to us?”

  ”It's never unimportant what happens to people, whoever they are. The question is more whether it’s possible to make some adjustments without causing major problems elsewhere in life on Earth.”

  ”So it can be done?”

  ”As a reward for what we have done for the Soul Service here?”

  ”Right. I figured out the possibilities. It should be able to succeed. But I would not say anything to you before I had looked at the parameters and found a place where a solution can be put into the system without destroying other vital things.”

  Chapter 32

  ADJUSTMENT

  Pollux was happy to get on a little trip with Cleopatra II again. He had been bored while Paragon had been away. They were on their way over to the hangar. One of the mechanics came to meet them.

  ”Do the jumpers operate as they should?”

  ”Are you thinking of anyone in particular, Paragon?”

  ”Yes, I would rather borrow Cleopatra II.”

  ”You have a special relationship with her?”

  ”She was invaluable the last time we used her.”

  ”She is right over here. Actually, it's been a while since she jumped.”

  ”Then she probably misses us.”

  ”I didn’t know you were sentimental, Paragon.”

  ”I must admit I have a
weakness about mechanics and technique, and she’s good looking as well.”

  They stood and admired the dimension module.

  ”Then I wish you a merry trip. The service report should be fine. Now be good to her. Where are you going?”

  ”We’ll just have one quick trip back in time.”

  ”Now you have obtained authorization, right?”

  ”Yes, I have received absolution from the boss, this time in advance.”

  ”Nice trip!”

  ”Thank you.”

  The four passengers had come on board and Paragon closed the hatch. Pollux was elated.

  ”Will there be time for a game of Fish?”

  ”No, it’s supposed to be a quick little trip. I’ll check the coordinates.”

  Paragon started Cleopatra II and together with Anders and Dorrit the two tail creatures set the course for Earth.

  ”Here are the coordinates we are aiming for. I hope we can hit the place fairly accurately.”

  ”We surely connect just fine. New technique very effective.”

  ”We’ll see about that.”

  Dorrit was curious.

  ”Does that mean we can go back in time?”

  ”Yes, and I have found a good place. It’s a night where you stand in the toilet and have poured a lot of pills into a glass to commit suicide.”

  Dorrit sighed.

  ”I can well remember. I also regretted what I did and thought back on it plenty of times and wished I hadn’t done it. But my stepfather, Otto, could not leave me in peace, so one day I simply couldn’t stand it anymore.”

  ”I also found out that much. That’s why I chose that day. You can see it on the screen here.”

  ”Dorrit? What the Hell are you doing?”

  ”I brush my teeth.”

  ”Do you? It’s not necessary. I haven’t washed. Come on, Trinket.”

  ”I feel bad.”

  ”Yes, you I womenfolk always say that. Now I’ll come in and get you.”