Chapter 4: Act!, while in delirium (part 3)

Blur Tree Research Laboratories, location unknown, United States;

—Because I could never avoid it, okay?. It's the security measures, now block the teleportation chamber.— IA says.

—You are right, blocking chamber.— Replies one of the scientists.

We all observe and work from an upper room that overlooks the teleporters.

Since the accident that occurred about 8 years ago, the security measures have been much stricter by orders of Hans, one of the administrators.

To be honest, if something like that were to happen again, there would be no way to survive...

In total, we have two teleporters, they are exactly the same, but both are necessary to receive or send matter.

—Bring the organism up.— IA says.

Since she came back we have been successful with inorganic matter, but there are still drawbacks for living things, they leave, but they don't come back...and we don't know where..

—Bringing up the organism.— Says one of our colleagues.

In the room, there are only about 5 people, including IA and me.

—Judy, open the doors.— IA says.

—Doors open, we're bringing the organism in for the jump.— I say.

—Energy levels are normal, turn on the receiver— IA says.

—Receiving teleporter activated, energy is stable.—

The Blur Tree Corporation doesn't disclose where they get so much energy from. Transporting matter from one point to another requires staggering, unimaginable amounts of energy, and the strangest thing is that, according to the records I've read, secretly... that amount of energy has no comparison anywhere in the universe.

It means there's nothing like it, as if they were using the energy that sparked life in the Big Bang, no, this is even greater.

—It disappeared, stay alert to the readings from the receiver and the state of the organism.— IA says.

—The organism's cells are responding well, but we still don't have data from the receiver.— I check the computer inputs, but there are no variations from previous tests..

—The teleporter is demanding more energy than usual.—Says one of the scientists.

We're losing it, wherever it's going, it doesn't seem to be working..

—If the energy requirements keep increasing, it means the cells are mutating.— IA says.

—IA, we can isolate the cabin and force it. No matter how it arrives, as long as it can come back.— I say.

—You're right, Judy, isolate the cabin.—

—Cabin isolated… But the cells can't withstand the mutation, it's disintegrating.— Says one of the scientists.

—We've lost contact with the organism, but the teleporter is still stable, it fulfilled its function..— I say.

—...Ahh.. it just left again and didn't come back..— IA sighs.

—Turn both off...— She adds, approaching the window overlooking the teleporters.

When the metal plates contract, you can see the lower room better.

Both look rectangular, about 3 meters high by 2 meters wide. You can enter from one side, but the other is blocked by the same technology that makes it work. It's a bit rustic, but it's part of an experiment, it's normal that we haven't invested in appearance.

Currently we use frogs, before, we were successful but with non-living materials. Something is missing for us to take the next step, an essential piece... and we don't know what it is.

—I wonder, why isn't it working yet, IA?.—

I walk towards her, approaching the window.

—At least it didn't come back in pieces... The adjustments are fine, we did what was necessary to adapt it to living beings, and it always ends up the same way. It makes me wonder if it's really our problem. I'd say the teleporter is fine, so what's happening?.— IA says.

—I hope you're wrong and one of our engineers or physicists finds the problem that we're not seeing.— I say.

—If we continue like this, it's most likely that we'll try dozens of times, and it'll end up the same, we're just wasting time. I want to believe there's a variation we overlooked.— IA says.

—Part of our work is done, we had partial success, and without being able to move forward for now... aahh!, I have no more ideas..— I say.

—Everything is still thanks to you, IA. I can't deny I'm a bit envious, but you're the only one who knows how to build that... giant apparatus over there.— I add.

—Hahah..but I don't work alone, there are over 20 people involved.—

We keep looking at the teleporter from above. It's fascinating to know that we created something like this.

—Mmmh!.. I'm hungry and sleepy.— I say suddenly.

—You can go if you want, Judy, I'll stay a bit longer.—

—What do you mean a bit longer?, how long have you not slept?.—

—A couple of hours?.— She asks.

—A couple of hours?, it's been almost 2 days since you've been awake. Come on, you'll still have problems with management, and I don't want to hear any more excuses.—

I push IA from behind to get out of the control room.

—You're not eating very well either, are you?. What's going on with you, IA?, I didn't know you were a masochist.—

—I'm not a masochist, time passes too quickly when we're here.—

Together we reach the dining area of our section in this large underground complex.

—You mean time passes quickly when you're doing equations non-stop to get that thing going.— I say.

—Mmmmh...— IA admits I caught her.

—Anyway, I'm worried, IA. I was very happy when you came back and agreed to work with me. Blur Tree may have its ways, but they give us everything we ask for. The problem is, if you continue like this, the project will lose its leader.—

We sit at the table, facing each other.

—If you think about it, the project is almost finished. We can move any object, even a radio, a phone, we just need a little more for the rest.— IA says.

I don't know to what extent I show my happiness that she is here and my concern for her actions.

—How long did it take us?.— I ask, resting my chin on one of my hands on the table.

—1 year and 5 months.— IA replies with a slight smile.

—It went by so fast. How much longer will it take us to adapt that machine for conventional use?. We'll teleport goods from one end of the world to the other in just 1 second. Most cars, planes, ships will disappear. Everyone will use them to move... what an ambitious idea.— I say.

I must have a big smile on my face, I can't hide my happiness..

—What do you want to eat?.— I ask.

—Mmmh, to be honest, now I'm more sleepy than hungry.— She says.

—I told you!, you need to rest, but first you must eat something. If you don't mind, I'll choose for you, or you'll surely tell me "I'm fine with just an apple", all girly..—

In this complex, we have machines that can prepare food in seconds. The tables have a voice control where you order your menu, and it arrives from the lower floor in less than a minute. There's no need to get up, they were created so we wouldn't waste our break time, so we wouldn't wait, and to limit personnel to only field scientists and some security guards.

The facility is self-sufficient, also in energy, ventilation, and cleaning.

The guards are not primarily for us, we all undergo psychological tests to determine how potentially exposed we are to losing our sanity, so there's no one to fear.

But you never know, our superiors are very aware of this and have taken appropriate measures in case something happens. Playing with teleporters is serious.

—Here you go, IA, chicken, salad, eggs, fruit, cheese, quite a spread. Now I want to see you eat.—

—I will, I will..— IA smiles..

My concern must reflect in my seriousness as I look at her.

—As a mustachioed man once said, "imagination is more important than knowledge" because knowledge is limited to what we know or can know, while imagination has no limits. That's what we're missing in our team, someone with the imagination necessary to advance beyond what we've achieved based on an idea and logic.— I say.

—But someone who meets such conditions could be a danger, he would probably destroy humanity.— I add with a serious tone. IA looks at me carefully without saying anything for a moment.

—But in that case the three of us would be scientists working in the same lab, so you and I would control such a crazy guy. Maybe we will find him, patience is a virtue, I heard once.— IA smiles slightly, stroking my head.

—Virtue is my beauty!. I won't live forever, and I want those organisms to move from one place to another before I die... Unless I make myself immortal... or maybe I already was from the beginning?, hahah.—

—For humans, death is part of life, Judy. Anyone would go mad if they lived forever, the pain they would feel and the stress would drive them to madness, making their mind fade and transform into an immortal plant, a vegetative state. I can hear how they long for immortality, escaping death, but I also hear how they would scream if they couldn't die, haha.—

—I think we both need to sleep..— I say, touching my face. My tiredness is evident and we only stay awake to eat.

IA returned a year ago, and since then, she hasn't stopped working, sometimes I worry too much.

She never told us why she returned so suddenly, I felt happy, but her look, her expression wasn't exactly what I would have liked to see.

It's ironic how I had someone in front of me whom I truly wanted to work with, and seeing her like that didn't let me enjoy the moment.

—This tastes very good, taking a bite one realizes that they needed to eat something.— IA says.

—True, I love the food from these machines, and seeing how they work is even more interesting.—

***

—I'll pick up the plates.— I say, although in reality, you just have to slide them to the center of the table and the machines sort them for cleaning... the advantages of this place.

—IA, today I want to sleep with you!.—

—Again?, is that why you were so helpful just now?. Besides, aren't we a bit too old for that?, I'm already 30 and you're about 25..—

—Old?...what do you mean by old?... is it because of my height?!.— I haven't grown since I was 10 years old, so my colleagues often tease me about it..

—Fine, fine, don't get upset, we'll sleep together..—

There are behaviors of Judy's that I don't understand, but I'm used to people like her so it certainly doesn't bother me how impulsive she tends to be.

We walk towards our rooms, after a bath, our clothes and robes will be washed, dried, and ironed. I think there's nothing that hasn't been automated here. In the vastness of this complex, there's no corner where there isn't a machine, they control the place and everything that happens.

—Don't fall asleep in the shower like you usually do, IA!.—

—I've never fallen asleep in the shower..—

—You're right, it's not you, it's one of our colleagues with long, very long white hair. She worked overtime and fell asleep, I almost broke my back trying to get her out of the shower... but I won't say her name..— I say sarcastically.. as we walk through the hallways.

—They should create a device that measures tiredness and puts us to sleep with an electric shock, that way everyone would get 8 hours of rest.— IA says.

—Haha... That's scary... and I really wonder if it's possible to stop you when you're writing formulas..—

—True... see you in a moment.— IA says, smiling.

—Don't take too long.— Judy says with a smile.

Upon reaching the door to our rooms, Judy walks away from me.

Now I don't hear anything.

..Little by little I have begun to hate the silence.. it reminds me that I'm tired, in many ways, I'm tired..

***

After a shower and putting on my pajamas, I stand in front of the mirror in my room... Delicate features, blue eyes, smooth white skin, hair white down to my feet, a one-piece dress of the same color... and a gray necklace with a strange cross-like shape.

—Eh?, you're done already, I thought it would take you longer, IA.—

—...IA...IAAAAA….!—

Suddenly I hear Judy's voice, she's wearing her beautiful pink pajamas with butterflies.

—Sorry, I was distracted.— I say.

—..I hate seeing that expression, I hate seeing you sad.— Judy says distressed..

—You should dry your hair, or you'll catch a cold, come on..— She adds.

Judy is smaller than me, much smaller, so she stands on a chair to dry my hair with the hairdryer.

—Is something wrong, IA?.—

—I was thinking we're close to success.— I reply.

—True, thanks to you.— She says.

—Thanks to a whole team.— I say.

—You must be an impostor, that doesn't sound like something IA would say, could you be an android in her form?.—

Judy touches my cheek with her finger as if checking if my skin is synthetic or real.

Then she finishes drying my hair with care and gentleness.

—Done, now you won't catch a cold when you go to bed!.—

—Thanks, Judy. Do you really want to sleep together again?.—

—Yep.—

Judy smiles, getting off the chair and putting away the hairdryer.

—Haha.. you've never told me why.—

—Just want to, that's all.— Judy says.

—Suspicious..— I say..

—Don't make it sound weird... physical contact is important, even deities are a sociable and affectionate species among themselves, hahah.— Judy says, pulling me towards the bed with her hand.

—Between war and mercy.— I say..

—Why do you ruin the moment, IA?..—

Judy reminds me of Henrietta, as if she's trying everything to make me feel a little better, it's as if wherever I go, someone is always willing to protect me.

I came back to this place in search of answers for a dream I didn't understand, a dream where I saw him.

When the project concludes as the result of so much work over the years, I wonder if I'll find the end to my questions, or if I'll only feel like I've lost my role in this place, just like my sanity, questioning why I'm here, where my true home is, my family... the one I love.

—Don't make that face!... you know I hate it..— Judy says somewhat angrily as we move the sheets to get into bed.

—I'm sleepy..— I try to change the subject.

—I hope so!.—

I think she understands it better than anyone here, it bothers her when I feel bad.

—IA, you have an email.—

—It's probably from the administrators, another congratulatory message.— I say.

—Another one?, maybe they want a new report, we're not doing it now, let someone else do it. Reply quickly and let's go to sleep.— Judy says.

—Sure, let's see...—

I walk to the screen on the wall...

—What does it say?.— Judy asks from the bed.

—Mmmh... it's not an address I have saved... There's a compressed file.. and the message only says "your creator."..some kind of joke?.—

—..Judy!...you scared me...—

Suddenly Judy is by my side, she got out of bed without me hearing her...

—Judy?..—

She doesn't answer, just stares at the screen intently..

—...her letter was telling the truth... we're his daughters..— Judy says, although I can barely hear her voice..

—What do you mean by daughters?.—

I should think it's some internal joke from the place, but Judy looks too serious..

—Forget it, IA, time is a synonym for origin.— Judy smiles and hugs me.

That phrase means, among other things, that it's not the right time or place.

She turns off the screen and the light, takes my hand, we walk to bed and cover ourselves with the sheets ready to sleep. Judy always hugs me when we do this, even though it's a big bed for two people.

—IA, do you remember my face when we met at the airport?.— Judy asks

—Mmmh, not very well..— I reply.

Do you at least remember something that might help you find your house?, better yet, do you have any identification with your address?.— Razar asks me in the middle of this somewhat dark park..

—I forgot.— I say.

—Your ID?.—

—Yeeeah... I don't carry it every day, this isn't like the city..—

—...Well, tell me what your house is like.—

—It has doors... windows... and a very pretty girl lives in it..—

—All houses have doors and windows..—

—But mine is the only one with such a pretty girl in it... understand?!.. or are you looking for a fight, Razar?!..—

—…..I get it... don't get mad, I already realized that you are an aggressive drunk..—

—I'm just speaking the truth!. And I'm not drunk, it's the ground's fault for moving so fast..—

—Ehhh..I don't like climbing stairs, so it doesn't have a second floor.— I add..

—It's rare to see a simple house these days, I only know one near this park.— He says.

—How do you know where I live?, have you been stalking me?, eh?!. I felt like you were a pervert or something!..—

—….And to think you're a teacher... I just know the area, I used to live here a while ago. Plus, we met today, remember?, how could I become a stalker in just one day?.—

—...That's what stalkers say, "I'm not one of them" and before you know it, you have to fill them with lead because they get too close... Where's my gun?...—

I look to my sides, but it's been a while since I carried a firearm with me.

My body is leaning against his, struggling to stay upright... I think I drank too much..

—I guess I'll have to carry you, or we'll arrive when it's already dawn..—

Razar takes my briefcase and leans down for me to hop on his back. I suppose I don't have a choice, he's right, if I want to return quickly, I have to let him help me...

Without saying anything, I climb on and try to hold on to not fall..

—IA..—

—Yes, pervert?..—

—….If you hold onto my eyes, I won't be able to walk very well..—

—.....— Without saying anything, I lower my hands, leaving his eyes free so he can stand up..

—Mmmh.. you're a bit..—

—Do you want to die, boy?!.—

—I mean, you're very light..—

—Of course I am!!!.—

And so we leave the park.