The Thirteenth (Part 2)

Leona walked down to the end of the long corridor and carefully opened the door. The man who was there was busy with the archiving of the latest DNA analysis processes. It had been a long time since anyone, apart from him and the lab chief, had come in that part of the building. The man raised his head and met the familiar smiling face of the exquisite looking woman, his sister. He spoke in the official language of that world, to the Anno Domini of 4697.

- Well, well. What are you doing here, in this place so little treaded on by the people of the warmer areas? It must be a very serious thing, to have taken you out of the comfort of your life and come on such an unusual journey.

- Don’t be ironic. Things are not as they used to be. We've had a lot of changes since you were gotten out of there. You should be grateful to have your life saved.

- I've never asked for anything. It was better if I was left to die...

Leona pretended not to hear that last comment and ignored her brother's irony.

- I need your help. This is really serious.

- I understand it must be. But I do not know if I'm willing to get involved in your problems. Don’t count on me or my help...

- In the name of our father...

- Don’t talk about our father. He died because of you. What I´ve been through was also because of you. And being here, in this meaningless life, is also your fault, so don’t involve our father's name in this and do not you ever ask for anything in his name. You have no right to do so.

- We've talked about this already. I know the impression I left was that I went away, when I was most helpful to our father, but that was not what really happened...

- I don’t want to know. You can go back to the place you came from, as there is nothing remaining in me that could be considered as empathy or solidarity... neither with you nor with anyone else. Go away from here.

- I cannot leave without telling you what's going on.

- Damn, woman! Haven’t I told you I don’t want to hear it. Go away. I went through hard times to save you and what did I get out of it? Exile and contempt! Do you think I have any reason to help you?

- Save me, killing the man I loved? Is that your idea of ​​salvation?

- It was the only way to save you from that spell, for a man so very different from us: a freak! I don’t regret what I did and would do it again if necessary...

The woman turned pale and dryly swallowed her disappointment and anguish. She turned around to leave the room, but stopped at the door and said, low, almost as if to justify herself.

- He has the same reaction you did when our father started testing the first vaccines on us... I thought you could be sympathetic to it, so we could solve the case, but I was mistaken... for a change...

She left without looking back. The man stared at the emptiness, thinking of a time that existed in his past and in another era, in another place and in another circumstance.

He got up slowly and went through the corridor in the direction of the main lab. His sister was no longer in sight.

***

- You should have known better. What were you expecting him to do?

- I hoped he could at least hear me or help us sort this out…

- It's not his function to help or solve any problem. He's fine where he is. He has learned other things besides his work. We must deal with it, without his or anyone else's help...

- I know that, now. It was a stupid mistake...

- Maybe not. It was just naivety or, perhaps, the deceiving hope to solve things in an unreasonable way. This romanticism no longer fits in this age and in this place... We have more urgent things to solve.

The woman lowered her head. She recognized that she was being impractical. She also admitted that she was behaving like a romantic and inadequate scientist. She thought about how she ended up in that place and the most important person in her life, as well as her father and brother. She was about to collapse in tears, but she had to be strong for her own sake.

The little man pretended not to notice that Leona was struggling to fight her own ghosts. She was now a very different woman from the one who had come to that place a long time ago.

She took a deep breath and decided to leave the matter with who could deal with. It was time to go back to her place. She entered the transport terminal and waited for the portal to open. She still took one last look at the chief scientist, who was seriously looking where he was dematerializing.

She did not realize that the door to the laboratory was open at that very moment, and that a man, very different from the one she had been talking to, was coming into the room.

***

Leona arrived at the Stellar Station a few seconds after leaving the Glacial. She was serious and tired. The conversation had been nothing like what she had thought and planned to be and she felt cheated by her own naivety.

After a few minutes, she would contact the two scientists to report on what she had accomplished as a result of her journey.

The two arrived in a few minutes. They were anxious to know what was new about the conversation with the chief scientist, but they did not expect that they would have to wait until the report was sent from the Glacial Station. They had to control their apprehension, until they knew more. 

Leona did not tell them everything she did or how badly the conversation with her brother ran. She decided that she had to keep that matter in the family, only. 

She knew, too, that the Supreme would want to talk to her... If she did not solve that matter soon, she would not be in peace... or sleep... 

At that right moment, however, she would not be able to talk to him, anyway. 

It was already late and she decided to wait until the next day. She would have to think about what she was going to say. In that case, maybe it was better to tell him the truth, anyway... just the part that mattered, obviously. She had already exposed herself too much and did not want to hear any reprimand about her attitude or her foolishness. 

Although the Supreme was not much given to lecturing because of his respect for her, just one of his glances at her would be enough to know that she had not been able to reach her brother’s heart, She would have to keep her cool in front of him, or else she would lose the opportunity for the other things as well. If he asked a lot of questions, she did not know if she was going to be able to keep the whole conversation she had at the Station as a secret. 

The woman with intense green eyes went to her room to try and rest. There was still a doubt in her mind that would not leave her mind at ease. 

How, after all that time, did such effect appear in a random clone that was created in the normal line? Where did that mutation come from, after so many generations have been produced? 

***

- I know it's not normal. Can it be reversed? Historically we know that it is possible.

- We know that it was possible in normal human beings. We do not know if we can do the same in clones.

- We are scientists. We must try our best. 

- We're already trying, Leona. I have already studied and developed a prototype and I have already tested it too. 

- And how did he respond? 

- I have not seen any reaction yet, but it's early still. We both know the cure was not immediate in the pure human organism... 

- My brother... 

- Yes. He is helping me with that. We've been working together since that day that you came in to the Glacial Station. The prototype of the new vaccine was crafted from his blood and DNA... At least we know it worked with him in the past. If we are lucky, his blood already has natural antibodies, designed to correct the effect of a future occurrence. But the bad news is that we've already had another reported occurrence from the laboratory: another clone with the same reaction... We must rush the solution, or else... 

Leona stood there, looking very serious at the lab chief. The last comment had not been not retained in her perception. She was more concerned about the information about her brother. She had no idea that, after all, her conversation with him had somehow worked. She, who had left the Station with the feeling of powerlessness, was now feeling unfair. 

She needed to speak to her brother and tell him that she was grateful. She felt she should have been more patient, more confident, and perhaps more fair-minded. There was still something good, maybe a remnant of their father's inheritance, in him, after all. 

She left the lab and went into the room down the hall. She was happy. She had not felt like that for a long time. She opened the door with energy and entered the room with a broad grin spsrkling on her face. 

The emptiness of the room took her by surprise. Where could he be? The chief said he would be in the room, working with the research files and the clone blood tests. But he was not. 

She hurried back to the main lab to speak to the chief, but in the middle of the corridor she found the man, who had a desperate look on his face. He seemed to be bewildered and extremely worried. 

- The Thirteenth clone and the new vaccines are gone... 

- As is my brother, too... 

They looked at each other. They did not need much to figure out what had happened. 

- What shall we do now? 

- We need to check the settings of the transport terminal. They must have gone there, since other routes would be easily detectable.... 

The two entered the teleportation room and immediately realized that the terminal memory data had been erased, probably on purpose. The programming was not available. 

To have access to the data, they would have to make a formal request to the Central, but that would entail a series of questions, generating special security procedures. Leona looked at the head of the laboratory and decided.

- We must know where they've gone to. No matter what that might entail. 

The man, though very worried, acceded. It was the best thing to do.

- I'm going to speak to the Supreme. He should know the truth.

- This will put us all in a big problem. You know that. 

- Yes. I do know it. But we ought to do what is right. In fact, it was a mistake not to have done it from the beginning. I will deal with the consequences if it is necessary... 

*** 

The Supreme has given orders to check the database immediately after being told by Leona about what had happened. He was annoyed and disappointed by the attitude she and the scientists took, but now he had to be practical and act quickly. 

When the report was delivered to him, he looked up, with obvious concern emblazoned on his serious face which had been almost always devoid of emotions. His face was less pale than usual. 

- They went back to the past. This is very serious! 

- But everyone knows this is not allowed! The consequences can be terrible and irreversible... 

- And since when does your brother care about what is right or wrong? Look at this date. Does it say anything? 

Leona looked at the man with a worried expression and did not know what to say. The Supreme was right. This was serious enough, and it was bound to have dangerous consequences. One way or another, she felt responsible for what had happened. She had to sort the situation out urgently.

- I must go after them and try to prevent a catastrophe from happening because of this inconsequential attitude. 

- I cannot allow it! No way. 

- I feel responsible for what happened. I must try, at least. It's our only chance. If we send another person, he will defend himself and become unpredictable and dangerous. I can at least try to control the situation before he makes another big mistake. 

- He's always been unpredictable, but maybe you're right. Let's schedule your trip in the most appropriate way, but you will not have much time to remedy this situation. Any minute you're in the past will be extremely dangerous for the future. 

- I know. And I'm prepared for that. We better get to the transport terminal now.

Stares (Part 3)

‘This time it seemed so real... What could that possibly mean?’

The day had barely begun, and I was already unusually confused. That dream seemed more like a realistic vision, so vividly intense it had been.

I looked out through the large glass door that led to the balcony, with a cup of hot coffee in my hand. I noticed that it was rainy and windy, as if it were a winter day, although spring had already begun a few weeks before.

I thought about going back to bed, but I soon gave up, because I did not want to risk falling asleep and dreaming again. It was better to occupy myself with something more fruitful, until I understood what was going on with my head... or forget, for once, the dream I had had.

***

Sitting next to a large window, in the Café at the corner, I was distractedly gazing out when the phone rang. Not surprisingly, I heard the same hoarse, monotonous voice, already familiar to me. I listened attentively and quietly without answering more than a few grunts. I got up, paid the bill and went off to the garage, got into my car and headed out to the beach. I wanted to get over with it or I would not have peace of mind.

Avoiding thinking too much, during the drive of little longer than fifteen minutes, I put the sound louder and sang at the top of my lungs until I reached my destination. Deep down, I had a certain fear flying around my head and upsetting my reason.

When I got to the parking lot of a small restaurant, the rain was still falling heavily. I thought it was a bad day for any kind of meeting, especially at the beach.

I was neither happy nor very patient. I waited a few minutes and, as no one showed up, I decided to leave and go back to my life. I switched the engine on, pressed the clutch and engaged the rear gear. When I turned the steering wheel, and was going to leave the parking lot, the passenger door opened and he got into the front seat, by my side. I was sure the door was locked from inside, but did not say anything

***

- Speed up and go straight forward...

- But that's suicide!

- Don’t be a coward! Do you believe it or not?

I do not like to be challenged, nor to be called out a coward. I did not look away. The car was running up the road and I should take a turn to the right, but I did not move the wheel. I pushed the throttle harder and drove ahead.

I thought I was going to wake up as the car ran over the edge of the cliff, breaking the little wooden fence and flying toward the sea a few dozen feet below us, but that was not a dream. It was the harsh reality. The man sitting next to me, however, was smiling contentedly.

The sound that followed was abnormally deafening. I felt a strange taste in my mouth and then I lost conscience.

***

- It was quite a fall. It could have killed you. If we think about it, seriously, the result of the accident was not as serious as it might have been, considering the height of the cliff... If it were not for the surfers who saw the accident and went to your aid very soon...

- Oh, really? And the man who was with me? What happened to him?

I barely even recognized the sound of my own voice, which seemed just an echo of what it used to be. The doctor looked at me, without hiding a manifest concern.

- There was no one with you in that car...

I stared at the man dressed in white. A strong anguish nested in my chest. I heard the sound of the the beeps in the device attached to my body speed up, almost at the same time.

- Calm down, please. Now, it is better, first, to take all medicines, strictly. I added some tablets with Lithium salts, just to test a theory. At first it cannot be anything very serious, but it is convenient to be sure before diagnosing anything...

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, thinking of what I had just heard.

'Theory ... Theory, my ass!'

I knew for what kind of disorders Lithium salts were used to. It was inconceivable that was happening to me.

When I reopened my eyes, the doctor was already walking down the aisle, toward the X-ray room, with a large envelope containing my X-rays in my hand.

My head ached.

The nurse gave me a plastic cup with a mouthful of pills and asked me to swallow them all at once with a little water. Until then, I had not even noticed she was in that room. She watched me carefully, making sure I swallowed the drugs and then she left.

I could still hear her talking softly to someone, but I could not make out what she was saying, or whom she was talking to. It seemed to me, however, that it was something like:

'Everything will be fine'...

She pulled the door behind her, leaving me alone, lying almost motionless, in the hospital bed, on account of two broken legs and some fractured ribs.

I heard a very light knock at the door and waited, but my eyes closed down and I could not see if someone was coming in. The effect of the painkillers was very powerful and I fell asleep very quickly, in a sound and dreamless sleep...

***

A few months later, with lots of therapy and the very strict use of medication, I left the hospital and went back to my life again. I fetched the cat, who had stayed at my niece's house and brought him back with me. That simple act meant that my life was going back to normal, gradually, and that I could resume my routines and my job.

I still had to undergo physiotherapy until I recovered my normal movements and had to visit the hospital at least once a week.

On one of those visits, I ran into the nurse who was in the room the day I first woke up after the accident. She recognized me and greeted me with a broad smile.

- I see you're feeling better. How's your friend? He was very worried when he saw you in bed, all plastered...

- What friend?

- The one who always dresses in black...

I must have shown a very strange expression, for she soon completed.

- He came here several times, until the day you regained consciousness. That same day, he said he was going to travel, for a while...

- Of course. I have not seen him for ages. Thank you for your concern.

***

Saturday morning, I was at home, organizing my clothes, when I noticed that, in one of the pockets of a coat, there was a piece of folded paper. I recognized the small symbol drawn in black, as soon as I held it in my hand. I again unfolded that little message delivered to me by a restaurant clerk a few months before and read it with new interest.

It was like my head was traveling back in time. I stayed there, I do not know for how long, with the note in my hand, thinking about what had happened...

The cat came in, reminding me that it was his time to eat and I went to the kitchen, served him a portion of his food, but he stopped in front of the bowl of water, which was empty. I was sure I had it filled right after breakfast, but I filled it again, to his satisfaction. He thanked me with a slight butt and brushed his body against my legs. I stroked his back and head, hearing his satisfied purr.

I decided to go out and have something to eat somewhere else. I put on my coat and left, intending to go to the subway station. I still could not drive normally, and besides, I did not have the car. When I reached the lobby of the building, I saw that there was a symbol drawn on the dusty glass of the front door, which I recognized immediately. I looked for some trace of the author of that feat, outside, but there was no one around.

'Someone's kidding me.'

***

I was sitting on the terrace of a small restaurant by the beach, with my thoughts wandering far away. A glass of a fresh green white wine, halfway down, rested beside the fish dish I had just finished.

- I thought you preferred red wine...

I recognized the tone of that voice as soon as I heard his first words. The same monotonous and hoarse timbre, typical of him, denounced the interlocutor.

- And I really do, but given the heat and the lightness of the dish, I decided on the white. Sit down, please.

He sat in front of me and in the shade of the parasol. Dressed in black, like that, was not common at lunchtime or on the terrace of a beachside restaurant. I considered it in my mind, but did not comment anything.

His blue eyes rested on mine, in that staring and provocative way, which was characteristic of him and which annoyed me terribly. I felt a shiver going down my spine. He soon noticed and smiled.

- I see you look much better...

- Hopefully, in a while, I'll be one hundred percent... I saw the sign you left at the door.

He smiled again.

- I did not leave any signal.

- Oh, did you not? And who did it, then?

- When are you going to believe me? Have you not had enough evidence yet?

- Believe you? I almost died, for the sake of believing you... Do you expect more than that? Look how I broken I am now. Get out of my life for once. This must end... for once and for all…

- Even if I wanted to, that would no longer be possible.

He waited for my reaction, still staring at me. He probably noticed the confusion in my eyes, by the way he frowned.

- Let's get out of here.

He got up and waited for me to pay the bill and to go outside, where the sidewalks were crowded with people walking happily in the sun. His hair gleamed in the early afternoon light and his head seemed to be on fire. Mine felt like it was going to explode...

We walked on for a few minutes, without speaking, when a black car, with the windows protected by dark layers, stopped at the curb side and he said:

- Let's go!

- But this is the car that nearly hit me some time ago!

- But you were well protected. Were you not pulled back at the right time? We are always very attentive...

- That woman…

He laughed and opened the door. I followed my instinct and got into the car with him. Sitting in the backseat and with my eyes on the driver, I still felt a little stunned by what I had just heard... and saw...

***

Stares (Part 2)

By the time I got to work the next day, I was almost too late, because it took me way too long to fall back asleep. It was Thursday, and to confirm my displeasure for the worst day of the week, I was called up for a meeting that lasted all morning long and did not allow me any time to think of anything else but the decisions I had to make during the meeting.

When I left for lunch, it was way past my normal time and I had to go to a restaurant near the office, along with some of my colleagues who attended the same meeting.

I ordered a grilled fish with rice and salad, which was better than I expected, for the meal it was. I was distracted by the informal conversation when the waiter brought a glass of red wine and placed in front of me. As I had not ordered wine to drink, because it was a normal work day, I declined the offer, but he pointed at a table on the opposite end of the large room and said:

- It's a courtesy from that client...

I looked in that direction and saw a man dressed in dark clothes lifting his glass of wine and moving his lips in what seemed to me he was saying 'cheerio'.

For some reason, I felt a pinch in my stomach and did not want to drink it, but I thought better and decided that it was more convenient to force myself and take it in spite of the apprehension I felt. My colleagues finished their meal before I did and got up, but I said it would take me a while longer, still.

When I was alone, I looked in the direction where my beneficiary had once sat, but I did not see him anymore. I got up and walked on to the cashier. The young man on duty told me that the bill was already paid, which I found it odd, once we did not usually pay each other's bills on a work day.

- The customer who paid the bill asked me to give you this...

It was only then that I realized that it had not been any of my colleagues who had paid off my small debt for that simple meal. He handed me a folded paper with a little sign scribbled in black on the outside of the message.

I unfolded the paper and looked around, but I no longer saw the man. I was intrigued as I remembered what he had told me on the phone.

I should have suspected that the offer of a glass of wine was not exactly what I should call a conversation, as he had clearly indicated, when he called me at that hour of the night at home. Since I did not go to lunch alone, he decided to postpone the conference for another occasion, which left me somewhat relieved. But having my meal paid for by a stranger, made me feel rather uncomfortable.

Anyway, I did not know if I was ready for a conversation with that character... yet...

I had no way of knowing what he wanted from me and I found that story very strange. In fact, he gave me more time to prepare for when the time came. Postponing such a meeting was the best thing one could do.

As I prepared to cross the street, I felt a strain on my arm and turned around, surprised and frightened.

A well-dressed woman in a dark grey suit and hair tied behind her head in a well-fitted bun had pulled me back, milliseconds before a black car passed at high speed, very close to the curb where we were.

- Careful! He crossed a red light!

I felt completely stupid.

- Thank you. My mind was elsewhere...

- It's not a good strategy being that distracted when you cross the street.

- True... I'll be more careful. Thank you so much.

She smiled condescendingly, crossing the pedestrian lane and disappearing among the passers-by who were walking in and out the busy sidewalk. A cold sweat ran down my body, although it was a pleasant and warm day.

'Careless fool! And to make matters worse, as if I needed it, this happens on the day of the week I hate most! Fucking odd Thursday!'

***

By mid-afternoon I was so immersed in an assignment that I did not notice the phone ringing insistently. A colleague called my attention and I picked it up immediately. The hoarse, familiar voice on the other end said:

- You must be more careful when crossing the streets. Careless people might get hurt...

- Yes. I know…

- Was the wine any good? I think it tasted a bit too fruity to match the fish.

- It was a full-bodied one, I agree. But that's how I like it. It was very good. Thanks for the offer.

- Great. You’re welcome.

Before I said anything else, I heard the line go off and I stayed there, with the phone still in my ear, as if I thought the conversation was yet not finished. It was getting bored and a little disturbed, to say the truth.

Someone called me to attend another unscheduled meeting and there I was busy for the rest of the afternoon and a little bit of the evening after the normal closing of the day, once again.

When I left the office, it was already past eight o'clock and I was visibly tired. I thought it would be a good idea buying something in a take-away on the way, instead of preparing any food, so I had less work and could eat as soon as I got home. Then I could finally rest from the long day. I could not even think very clearly. I just wanted to get home, eat something and lie down immediately afterwards.

The BBQ chicken was still hot when I started eating and the chips were crunchy and tasty. I pondered on how good it was to be simple. The cat got his small portion of chopped chicken breast and he was still happy savouring it when I finished my dinner. After having the dishes placed in the washing machine, I checked the cat’s bowl of water just to make sure I was not going to miss anything and prepared to rest.

I fell asleep in no time.

In the middle of the night, I woke up with the impression that there was someone else in the apartment. I looked around and noticed that the cat, my reference, was awake and staring out of the room. I got up and switched all the lights on, went to the kitchen, then to the living room but I did not see anyone else.

I also checked the entrance door to certify it was well locked from inside.

‘I must have dreamed of something I can’t remember... or I am starting to go somewhat deranged...’

When I turned around to go back to my bedroom, I realized the living room window was open, to my complete astonishment. That was unacceptable, as I used to keep all windows shut so the cat would not go out without my knowing. I did not remember having opened it at all. I would never be that careless… or would I?

‘I have to stop this nonsense! I'm going to end up in a padded cell!’

***

The next day I was so busy that I did not have time to think about any other thing but work. Fortunately, it was the last day of the week and thus I could rest for the next two days. I was looking forward to it.

I got home so tired that even the cat was surprised he did not get enough attention, but he lay down beside me on the couch and fell asleep with me, as if he understood that I needed his support too.

The phone rang just a few minutes before midnight.

The same hoarse voice, quiet and monotonous, showed an affinity that he did not really possess.

- You should not sleep on the couch. You will get up with a sore back and neck.

- And how do you know I'm on the couch?

- You're still not convinced, are you? What do you believe, anyway?

- I'm a man with a totally rational mind. I do not believe in anything I cannot prove scientifically.

- There are many baffling mysteries in this world. You should be more open to the experiences you cannot support with your logic. Who guarantees that there are no other dimensions beyond this one?

- Other dimensions? You must be kidding me...

The man did not argue. I could hear his heavy breathing on the other side of the line. I did not know what was coming next. To my surprise, before I said anything else, he hung up.

‘What does he want from me? Other dimensions? What the hell was that? I only know three dimensions... and sometimes I’m not even sure of those!

***

- You must be open to perception. It is not enough to believe. You must accept it.

- But this can only be an illusion... I cannot believe it!

- Open your mind. There is nothing impossible, as you can well see.

I shut up. I was being preposterous. If that was not enough to believe, then what would it be?

He showed me the way, letting me go though and then began to walk beside me. I did not even know what to think. There was nothing minimally appropriate to say. When looking around, it all seemed to be like a souvenir shop, with many galleries opening, like the sewer tunnels underneath the city... with the exception we were not under the city and the galleries were not empty or dark. The various entrances and exits led to many strategic points, as if they were access portals to that place. They changed places, constantly, as if designed to prevent them from being detected, which made a certain sense.

- This side serves as a balance to the other, but now it's totally chaotic, because of the mercilessness that are continuously happening on that side. Things have gotten out of control and the balance is getting harder and harder to reach.

- And why am I here?

The man stopped and looked at me with a strange face, as if he could not believe my naivety.

- Someone on this side has sent me to show you what's going on and ask for your help.

- Help? Who could need my help?

He just looked over my shoulder.

- Me.

I turned around quickly to see who had spoken. My legs shook and I almost choked. I tried to sound normal, but my voice betrayed me completely.

- I should have known better...