Time is an Illusion: The Ptolemy Expedition (Carina Book 1)

by Ruairí Cinéad Ducantlin

  At the time when everyone began to feel the conversations beginning to ebb, Tarunik and Tarmish appeared. Tunellish, the humans from K’an, and Corb all stood, in reverence. The crew of the Jeanette delayed standing before realizing remaining seated was awkward. The entire Jeanette crew stood. Telepathically, Tarunik thanked everyone for the warm reception and kindness shown to the visitors. Nodding to Gio, then the room, Tarunik teleported away.

  Gio stood and ushered everyone along.

  “We will now adjourn to the common area. We have planned a reception. An Earth style reception, with a band!”

  Everyone gets up and begins to exit the dining hall through four massive doors which appeared in the wall.

  Corb and an entourage consisting of NT, Michelle, Cassandra, Lucinda, Nick, Janish, Himari, and Tunellish remained. The group remaining had heard Corb ask them to remain behind.

  “You spoke to us telepathically. Initially, I thought I heard you speaking but then I realized I was too far away to hear you over the commotion.”

  “Yes, Cassandra, everyone, I asked you to remain. Tunellish taught me how to communicate telepathically, like this, while we were sitting at the table.”

  “You did it selectively, no one else heard the request?”

  “Correct. I learned from Tunellish, communication is closely tied to thoughts and emotions. I thought about this group, when I had the group in my mind, I asked you all to remain behind.”

  “Hearing Cassandra speak, and Corb in my mind, is… it is like… it feels like I have always been able to hear telepathically.”

  “Exactly right Himari. Humans have always had the ability to telecommunicate. The telepathic abilities were lost over time. We are reawakening the lost abilities.”

  “Thank you, Corb. Why did you ask me to stay?”

  “All will become apparent in a few minutes. Tunellish, are we ready?”

  “Yes, Mister Johnson.”

  As Tunellish’s sentence ended, the remaining group teleported to a large conference room.

  Tarunik and Tarmish were seated when the group arrived. The remaining seats matched the number of people in the group. Everyone took a seat and waited, silently, for Tarunik or Corb to speak. Nick was unable to wait patiently.

  “Where the heck are we now? It is unbelievably disorienting moving from place to place and not knowing where you landed.”

  “Please accept out apologies Mister Davies. The Ch’en accept moving from place to place as common. This may help.”

  Tunellish waved her hands and the walls became transparent. Looking around, the group realized they were atop the building they had walked to earlier. The group could see the suspended passageway many floors below where they were seated. Being so high up, with a transparent floor and walls, was disorienting and little nauseating for the crew. Sensing the discomfort, Tunellish waved her hands. The walls and floor remained see-through but became more solid in appearance. The crew’s stomachs began to settle.

  “Enlightened One, your companions were chosen wisely. They have kind hearts, strong spirits, and possess a joy in learning new things.”

  “Thank you Tarunik, those are generous words. There are some of us who are not kind.”

  “Those who are not kind of heart and strong of spirit are of little consequence.”

  “Yes Tarunik. Thank you again. I believe Himari has a question for you.”

  Surprised to hear her name, Himari looked rapidly from Corb to Tarunik and back.

  “Please, Miss. Tanaka, your questions are always welcome.”

  “Thank you, Tarunik. Corb, how did you know?”

  “I sensed your curiosity, Himari.”

  Looking around, obviously embarrassed at being in the room, and to be called out, Himari eventually continued.

  “Um. Oh. Okay. Well, my question is simple. How is it I hear you in my native language?”

  “That, Miss. Tanaka, is an exceptionally good question and is why Corb asked for your participation in this discussion. I am speaking to you, to all of you, in the native language of the Ch’en. Your mind is doing the translation. My mind is presenting the thoughts and emotions I wish to convey. Your mind receives the thoughts and emotions and translates them to a form, to a language, you can assimilate and comprehend.”

  “I see… That means… In my mind, what I think is the Japanese language, or the English language, is actually…”

  “Please, continue Miss. Tanaka, you will understand.”

  Himari thought for a moment then, unknowingly, began to broadcast her thought process telepathically.

  “Our minds all communicate telepathically at a fundamental level, regardless of language or species. Language… Language as humans understand language, is, essentially, audio based… Our minds translate the audio we hear by assessing the thoughts and emotions presented telepathically. Oral language… Audio language evolved when the human telepathic ability de-evolved. Oral communication is necessary because telepathic communication was lost. Telepathic communication is based in emotional thoughts. Emotions are easily understood. Translating emotions and thoughts into language is a natural process. Our minds communicate, not because there is a special gland… Our minds communicate because it is natural. Or, was natural… The gland focuses the incoming emotions and thoughts. The mind, my mind, is translating the emotions and thoughts… I am receiving the translation in native Japanese because Japanese is what I expect… If I wanted English…”

  Himari stopped thinking, refocused, looked around the table, realizing they had all heard her thought process.

  “Please, Miss. Tanaka, you have revealed the true nature of the ability. Please continue.”

  “Tunellish, are you guiding me?”

  “No, Miss. Tanaka. I am monitoring your thoughts. We have experienced humans who were unable to understand what you now know and understand. It was unfortunate.”

  “I understand, thank you. Everyone, please nod if you are receiving my voice.”

  The humans all nodded to Himari.

  “Our minds are communicating at a basic level based in the nuance of emotions. We hear English, or Japanese, or Kannada, because it is easy for our intellect to comprehend the specific language or dialect. However… However, what we now accept as a new paradigm for human communication will not be universally received on earth. I mean…”

  Himari stopped thinking, stopped telecommunicating, and looked to Tarunik with a questioning facial expression. Tarunik responded.

  “We should not have allowed humans to lose the ability to communicate telepathically.”

  “Oral communication is a barrier?”

  “Correct, Miss. Brady.”

  “Bloody bonkers. What does that mean?”

  “Thank you Tarunik. Nick, oral communication, is non-linear, imprecise, not easily translated, and intentionally manipulated for the benefit of the sender. Communicating, directly, on an emotional and intellectual level, removes the vagaries and nuances of oral communication.”

  “Okay, but what does that mean?”

  “Based on what Himari outlined, Cassandra is saying human evolution has been slowed by oral communication.”

  “It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands, and they'll do practically anything you want them to.”

  “Good one, Nick. Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger. The movie or the book?”

  “What NT? Oh. What’s a book?”

  The humans in the room all giggled and smiled. Janish reached over and took Nick’s hand in hers.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Should I stay, or should I go, now?

  “The frontiers we broke into in the '60s are still largely unexplored.” – Ken Kesey

  The conversation continued for another two hours. Tarunik, Tarmish, Tunellish alternated between answering the group’s questions. Tarunik responded to the questions about K’an, the Ch’en people, authority, governance, and trade. Tarmish responded to questions of societal harmony and compliance. Tune
llish respond to questions of an educational nature or were based in a query regarding societal norms. Tarunik began to wind-down the meeting.

  “Enlightened One, we have reached the time to conclude this discussion.”

  “Rightly so! By my calculation it is well into oh-dark, half-passed, should have been in the kip already!”

  “Mister Davies, your turn of phrase is a joy to behold.”

  “About time someone recognize my genius. Took an enlightened new species to recognize my brilliance but I’ll take what I can get.”

  Initially shocked by Nick’s irreverence toward Tarunik, the group’s tension eased when they noticed Tarunik’s posture.

  “What? Ya bunch of gobshytes. He told me to be myself.”

  “Mister Davies is correct, I gave him permission to be as he is. Please, all of you, be yourselves. In public, among the Ch’en, Tunellish will guide you. Here, with us, be yourself. Did I use the correct phrase Mister Davies?”

  “Spot on!”

  “We must finalize the business. Enlightened One, you are aware of the parameters?”

  “I am, thank you. I have also informed Miss. Raitt of the planning and requirements. We will meet with the crew of the Jeanette in the morning and begin the departure planning.

  “Thank you Enlightened One. Truly, you are worthy.”

  Tarunik, Tarmish, Tunellish, all disappeared.

  “That’s grand, how do we get back to our rooms?”

  “Nick, we teleport.”

  “Corb, how is it you can dematerialize and not rematerialize in a wall?”

  “Everyone, hold hands, close the loop. Janish, Lucinda, I need your help.”

  “Sure, Corb.”

  “Ready when you are.”

  In an instant, the group was back in the foyer of the floor where they had been assigned rooms. The clearing, where the band had played, was empty. No food or drinks where visible. The rest of the crew of the Jeanette were strewn across the room, filling the sofas, many were asleep.

  “About time! We were starting worry.”

  Ragnar’s loud tone woke the rest of the crew. Standing, Ragnar walked over to Cassandra, embarrassing both himself and Cassandra.

  Before Nick or NT could chime in, and embarrass Ragnar and Cassandra further, Lucinda, using telepathy, spoke to the crew.

  “Everyone, get some sleep. We have plenty to discuss in the morning.”

  Flipping to oral communication, Lucinda continued.

  “Room?”

  “Yes, Miss. Raitt?”

  “Communicating like this feels odd, calling out to the room. Room, how do the Ch’en refer to the building controls?”

  “In your language, I am referred to as Computer.”

  Incredulous, the crew looked at each other until Nick broke the silence.

  “Computer, can you stream Star Trek? The movies, not the television shows? Also, can you assume a female human’s voice?”

  The computer responded in a female voice eerily like the old Star Trek series’ computer voice.

  “Yes, Mister Davies. We have all of earth’s recorded entertainment available. I would recommend the Ch’en serial programming titled My Soul Midst the Stars. You will find it to your liking.”

  “Okay. Okay. Enough. Computer, please wake the crew of the Jeanette seven hours from now. Nine hours from now, please have an Earth breakfast ready, here in the lobby.”

  “Confirmed, Miss. Raitt.”

  “Everyone, meet here for breakfast. We will discuss our plans.”

  “Hey, Doc! Where ya going now? Back to the future? Nope. Already been there."

  “That’s a classic, Nick. Back to the Future!”

  “NT, I will stump you yet. This is not over!”

  At breakfast, everyone ate and either sat in silent contemplation or chatted softly. Eventually, Lucinda stood, waited for everyone’s attention, then began the de-brief.

  “The people of Ch’en have offered us the ability to return to earth. Before we get too far into this discussion, the Jeanette will be destroyed.”

  Lucinda raised her hand to silence the three people who were speaking at once. Lowering her hand, she pointed to Captain Moody.

  “You can’t be serious. We can’t let them destroy the only interstellar craft Earth has ever constructed. I won’t permit it.”

  “Captain Moody, you are in no position to make demands. You are in no position to negotiate. This is not a debate. The Jeanette will be destroyed by the Ch’en.”

  Captain Moody stood, started toward Lucinda, and began a verbal barrage about “I am the Commander”, but was mostly unintelligible. Before his second step, Captain Moody teleported from the room.

  “As I was saying…”

  “Hold up Lucinda, who removed MooMoo from the room?”

  “Mister Brooks, I removed Mister Moody.”

  Everyone turned to see Tunellish was standing to the rear of the crew. Realizing they were being monitored, everyone returned their attention to Lucinda’s de-brief.

  “We will be returning to the Jeanette this afternoon. We will collect our belongings and the ship’s logs. The Jeanette is not safe and will be destroyed.

  Now for the good news. The Ch’en people have agreed to bestow upon us two spaceships. Two spacecrafts capable of interstellar travel.

  The first is an older, slip-space capable, spacecraft we would call a freighter. It will be used to return to Earth anyone who is permitted to, and is willing, to return.

  Both of the spacecraft we are being given can make the slip-space event horizon without intervention. Meaning Corb and Janish were needed to make the journey K’an in the Jeanette. Corb and Janish are no longer a requirement for slip-space travel.”

  “Sorry, hold up again. Why are the Ch’en being so magnanimous?”

  “Corb, would you care to answer NT’s question?”

  “Lucinda’s review is accurate. The ships will not require Janish or me to reach the slip-space event horizon. The reason the Ch’en are giving to us, what is to us highly advanced technology, is simple. The Ch’en believe they inadvertently hindered humanity’s natural development. They now believe humans are ready to accept the reality: Humans are not alone in the universe.”

  “Lucinda, you said there are two ships?”

  “NT, there are two ships. The first, the freighter, is easily capable of supporting a trade route between Earth and K’an. We can create a trade route between Earth and almost all the Carina star system. We can send the ship to Earth and, using the new ship to establish trade routes, we will inaugurate Earth’s place in this region of space.”

  “You speak as if the other ship is not capable of reaching Earth. What is unique about the other ship?”

  “Everyone, NT is asking these questions for the benefit of those who did not attend yesterday’s meeting with the Ch’en leaders. If you have questions, now is the time to ask. The other spacecraft is a small hauler. It is something we would call a scout ship with defensive armaments.”

  Lucinda paused, collected her thoughts, received a nod of approval from Corb, then continued.

  “The Ch’en are offering us the opportunity to explore the galaxy. What humans refer to as The Milky Way galaxy. Not all of us, some of us are being given the opportunity to explore. The freighter is capable of supporting hundreds of humans during interstellar flight. The small hauler is only capable of supporting about ten humans.”

  The realization of the Jeanette’s crew being split-up fell on the crew like a lead weight. It was NT’s turn to wax philosophical.

  “The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it for the first time with a sense of hope. Because if we can learn the value of human life, maybe Earth can too."

  Everyone looked to NT, a little stunned by the profound nature of his comment. Nick was not buying it and responded, cracking-up everyone.

  “Oh bollocks. NT’s about as deep as the bowl in the loo. He paraphrased his attempt at being cool from Terminator Two, Judgement Day.”


  After the giggling died down, Nick chirped.

  “A bad choice bucko.”

  “Why is that, Nick?”

  “Today is not Judgement Day. Today, Earth got a whole lot better.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Stay, enjoy the differences.

  “But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?” – Albert Camus

  “We will take a break, meet back here after lunch. If you want to chat privately, Corb and I will remain, here in the lobby, to take your questions.”

  At Lucinda’s closure comment, she and Corb moved to a table in the far corner of the lobby, sat, and waited. Not surprisingly, everyone stayed. Several moved their seats to ensure Corb and Lucinda had created a small distance for privacy. Corb broke the stalemate of no one wanting to be the first to ask questions.

  “We’ll start on my left, everyone who wants to, one at a time, can come forward with your questions.”

  After several hours of conversations Corb and Lucinda were relieved when the last person, Brando, sat across from them.

  “So, I bet you’ve had some fun. Some long discussions, some short discussions, some pleasant, some not so pleasant, but all good conversation. I bet, I can guess… Everyone from the Jeannette’s crew wants to become the new crew of the small hauler? Is it a hauler or a scout craft?”

  “It is a small scout craft. And, yes, they all asked to join the crew of the scout ship. I expect you will ask to join the crew of the small ship also?”

  “You guessed wrong Lucinda.”

  “Oh?”

  “Corb, what do you think is best?”

  Corb grinned at Brando before speaking.

  “The only person I can’t give you is the Chief.”

  “Deal.”

  “Would you two be so enormously kind to fill me in? I am, after all, the Captain.”

  Lucinda’s tone was dripping with good natured contempt.

  “Brando is volunteering to Captain the freighter back to Earth. Moody will remain confined. What I don’t know yet is: Brando, what do you want in return?”