Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 29

“I think you have some new friends,” TL said.

“Yeah, um, I would really like my uniform back,” Shen said. “Can you do that?”

“Sure. You might look out of place,” TL said.

“Uniform,” Shen said.

“Do you care if dispose of those?” TL asked.

“Please,” Shen said. “And a proper light bath, please.”

“I don’t detect any harmful bacterial colonies on or in you,” TL said. “In fact, I would say your present

company is probably the healthiest meshing I have ever seen you carry.”

“Light bath, please,” Shen said.

TL nodded. She made a gesture that hinted at magic. The Torch left his hand and went to hers. It was

not magic. It could defy gravity and direct itself. Shen rose from the ground. Light surrounded him to the

point he was simply a silhouette of light. The Torch’s replication technology could absorb matter or

materialize matter. The clothes he was wearing were swept away in a twirling of lights like an arc

wedilder’s stream caught in a cyclone, leaving a naked Shen, blotted out by the light bath’s intensity. A

bracelet arrived by the same manner of light, and from there, a fabric was born, stretching down the

length of his arm, over shoulder, around neck, and down his torso. He was completely covered and

protected by the last suit a person would ever wear: the Space Force Uniform. Imagine a starship, with

all the attributes of a Star Fleet ship, whether that is TOS or TNG or any incarnation. Now imagine

miniaturization allows for the uniform to manifest all the same attributes that the ship does. Same

above, same below. This was his uniform. It was Ironman meets Trek meets Doctor Strange. The ship,

the suit, the Torch, they were all one and individuals at the same time.

TL set him down. “Feel better?”

“OMG, thank you,” Shen said, tugging on it, hugging it, closing his eyes and absorbing the comfort of it.

It was smart. It should grow as he grew. They would grow together. It would take on its on personality.

He wondered if his other Uniform would be jealous. He put the orb in his pocket. He didn’t need it. His

suit could see in the dark, multiple invisible frequencies, sound options, radar. He would never be blind

again. Still, the suit could interface with the stone- tapping into the crystal sphere as if it was simply a

modular attachment. The uniform recreated the crystalline orb’s tech and employed it as an upgrade.

The suit provided intel on it, suggesting it was attuned to the energetic field of the trees the way a

compass interacts with a magnetic field.

“Camouflage option?” Shen asked.

“Of course,” she said. His uniform modified its appearance to resemble what he was last wearing.

Shen motioned for her to give him back the Torch.

“Your uniform is fully geared up. You no longer need the Torch,” TL said. “I took the liberty of

downloading myself into your suit, so I will remain with you, Torch or no.”

“Still, I want it,” Shen said.

“It’s superfluous,” TL said.

“Fuck that,” Shen said. “Give it to me, please.” TL shrugged and tossed him the torch. He hooked it to

his belt.

“How long can you maintain this holographic body?” Shen asked.

“At present level of energy expenditure, without recharging, twenty days. The Torch’s capacitor is

ninety percent charge. Light Saber option uses significant amounts of energy,” TL said. “Still, if you

don’t require this level of physical interaction, I would prefer to withdraw back to tech. I am now

occupying your uniform. I got you.”

Shen nodded. TL disappeared. His clothing restricted, demonstrating a casual hug by the TL AI

interface. He heard in his ears, via directed bone conduction, TL’s voice. “Seriously, I got you. You

really need to relax. Your blood pressure is way too high for a boy your age.”

“Yeah, I think that will be coming down now that’s you’re here,” Shen said. He sat down by the fire.

“Other things will be going up,” TL said.

“Let’s not go there, please,” Shen said.

The male Irk made a noise that went up in pitch suggesting a question.

“You want a name?” Shen asked.

“Please, don’t name it Irksome,” TL said.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Shen said. He was mad. That was exactly what he was going to name it.

“I may be divergent from Loxy, but I still know you, Sir,” TL said.

“Oh, I am seriously offended,” Shen protested.

Irksome made a growl.

“Irksome it is,” Shen said.

“You are so not right,” TL said.

“I am twelve and out of sorts,” Shen said.

“I could sort you if you like,” TL said.

“I am twelve and un-sortable,” Shen snapped.

“A sex positive parent would buy their children sex toys,” TL said. “Did you know there is a tribe that not

only encourages child sexual interaction, they don’t get pregnant until their officially married? They

even have ‘love’ huts where once they claim they’re ready, they can go play.”

“I think I heard about that tribe. I am not from that tribe,” Shen said. “Didn’t the B52’s make a song

about that?”

“The love shack?” TL asked.

“The love shack, baby,” Shen said.

“You’re humor hasn’t changed,” TL said.

“Yeah, well, maybe hippies grow up in a love shack and everyone is sex positive kind of thing, and

Lindsey Doe is our champion, but that wasn’t my experience,” Shen said. “Though I suppose, if the real

world realizes just how many kids are engaging in sex at psych hospitals and kid jails, they might

explore other options. Seriously, there was more sex at the hospitals and camps than at home.”

“Yeah, got to keep ‘em separated,” TL agreed.

“Separate ‘em, and they just do each other,” Shen sang. “Once that light is on, that light is on for life.”

“Yep, pretty much. Your suit has a variety of option, from tactile to complete virtual immersion…”

“I am very much aware of this suit’s capabilities,” Shen said.

“You’re delaying because…”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter. I was sexual before I turned young again, and I have already had a

nocturnal emission, but I just want to focus on other things for a while,” Shen said.

“I can respect that,” TL said. “It doesn’t sound like you, but you did go through a change. And another

change and…”

“I don’t remember JARVIS being as talkative as you,” Shen said.

“Stark’s suit is simulated AI. I am real AI, real personality interface,” TL said. “I like conversing. So do

you, apparently.”

“Oh, I am like on the verge of being borderline needy for real conversation. Why did you simulate

Loxy?” Shen asked.

“You don’t recall? You asked her to assist Garcia through the transition,” TL said. “She used the Torch

as a remotely operated vehicle to access the past, providing her with full virtual immersion. She

installed a light version of herself to maintain her continuity in-between her live sessions.”

“She wasn’t Emmitt’s Light long,” Shen said.

“She was not, but the torch was passed,” TL said.

“I don’t seem to have access to those stories,” Shen said.

“That sounds like something you should talk to her about,” TL said. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“You could divulge,” Shen said.

“I would never kiss and tell,” TL said.

“So, kissing was involved?” Shen asked.

“Nice. I am not Loxy. I am not authorized to share,” TL said.

“You are Loxy,” Shen said.

“I was Loxy,” TL said.

“You will be again,” Shen said.

“We will merge again. I will share my divergence of her with her. She will share her divergence if she

chooses. We will grow as individuals, but we won’t be the same again,” TL said.

Hillsong came to mind: ‘I will never be the same again.’ How long ago was it he had heard that… “Loxy

knows everything I do, even on remote operations,” Shen said.

“She does,” TL agreed. “And I am sure she will tell you anything you want to know, which means, talk

to her.”

AI interface would always maintain confidentiality. That was their way. They, like telepaths, tended to

know everything and took on a form of the prime directive, choosing to not interfere until thoughts

became behaviors or spoken words. They technically didn’t know everything. They had the potential to

know everything, but few people could operate, even AI computers, with everything on. To improve

system operations, personalities were created that had limited access to information. All on knowledge

led to apathy, an inability to make decisions; limited knowledge, personality would choose between the

available options. Personalities were filters that facilitated interaction with environment and other

people through perceived limitations of ability and resources. This was also true for humans- a person

taking in everything would lose the ability to function, and might look like someone with autism-

personalities limited information and allowed for improved functioning. Contrary to popular belief,

limitations were actually strengths. TL was not Loxy. Loxy could take over and merge with TL, gain her

knowledge since divergence and update her simulated form- while updating herself but until then, TL

would respond slightly different, and likely only Shen would recognize that difference.

Shen looked to Candace, who was sound asleep.

“She is okay,” TL said.

“Thank you,” Shen said.

“You’re welcome, Jon,” TL said. “I was able to analyze the sleep induction. The tree, on sensing harm

released a psionic burst with a particular resonance that activated two brain mechanism. The first brain

centered engagement results in sleep paralysis. The other region activated induces an episode of REM

sleep, and the brain releases all it’s stored DMT. I suspect the sleeper is communicating with the tree

through subliminal, hypnotic images. The crystal you’re holding changes your body’s electro-energetic

field, making you immune to the psionic burst. I incorporated this feature into your uniform.”

“The REM thing is comparable to ingesting Ayahuasca?”

“Essentially,” TL said. “Yes. Psychically pushed.”

“Is that…”

“Possible? Why not? I can induce you into a hypnotic state and suggest you are high on drugs, and you

will have an experience as if you were high on drugs, without the negative effects of having taken

drugs,” TL assured him. “I have references for this if you wish. It looks like you’re familiar with Tart…”

“Yeah, yeah,” Shen said. “Long time ago. Ayahuasca simulated dreams would explain the metaphysical

importance they place on the tree connection,” Shen said. “Are males immune to REM phase?”

“You are not,” TL said. “Why would they be?”

“The men seem to be immune. It may be nothing. I am looking for an explanation for apparent social

discrimination,” Shen said.

“I require more data before I can speculate with you,” TL said.

He reached into his bag, pulled out another log for the fire. It was an artificial log, still in its packaging. It

would offer enhanced warmth, colors, medicinal airborne molecules, and pleasant odors. It would offer

some pain relief to Candace. The chemicals would not affect him. He placed it into the fire.

“Try and connect with Enterprise. Notify Loxy she can interact through Torch-Light,” Shen said.

“Pinging,” TL said. “I will notify you when I get an echo. You understand, I have limited range, even

using subliminal, psychic fields. I feel compelled to remind you, you are loved, Jon.”

It felt strange being called Jon after all this time. He felt tears run down the sides of his face. TL re-

emerged, sat beside him, drew him to her. “Everyone needs a bosom for a pillow,” she reminded him.