|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- THE CARBONIZE NEIGHBOR--CUP 8--"DRIFTING" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  The Carbonize Neighbor  ||  -------> (Cup SRcn008, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Grant sighed as the two were overcome by the silence and calm of the place. Nothing but the ocean and the light of the moon and the lapping of water against the booth... After a while, Fife spoke. "So what do you think?" "Let me ask you about Jake first. What was the problem with her that you mentioned before?" "Well--when she departed there was one of her, but when she returned, there were two of her. Apparently you had been having some sort of wild party." "I was with two girls, yes." "So somehow, when the process inserted Jake into your P-Vest, it wanted put her where your lover was--only thing is, there were two lovers, and hence, two Jakes." "So she remained split when she returned?" "Yes. It's pretty scary. One of her was more than enough!" Grant laughed, but then got serious again. "What is she going to do? Are both copies the same person, totally?" "I don't know. We're doing some tests, but both of them feel that they are the real Jake, and as far as I know, they are. But only one can continue on in her P-Vest capacity. So I'm afraid we're in for some difficult times with her--or rather, them." "It's weird." "Yeah. And I wanted to ask you--was there anything strange about the girls you were with? Also, I'd really like to meet them and--if it's possible--test them." "Well, they were definitely into fun. Booze and drugs and sex every which way. But beyond their low character, they didn't seem particularly interesting." "I see." "Sorry for causing all this mess." "No, no. After saving your nation from almost certain defeat, you're entitled to some fun. Heck, I've done it--had orgies I mean. When you have the power, you make it happen. But you just gotta remember to keep it under control, only do it occasionally, or else you'll start sliding down that slippery slope where it takes more and more to get you off. I've seen it happen, and it's not pretty. When you combine the hypernatural nature of Aconck with sexual perversity, you can find yourself in some pretty horrific situations." "Huh, yeah. And what is Aconck--another Earth?" "Oh no--it's the overall name we use for the universe composed of all the different editions of Earth we can visit." "I see." The two were silent for a few moments, then Granticaine spoke. "So what happens when I leave? Am I still the Primate, or does the Earth choose someone else?" Fife nodded. "We've been looking into that. It seems that different Earths deal with it differently. On a few Earths, we have gotten others into a P-Vest, but on most, the P-Vest is gonna be empty--or just pull our Primate back if he's on Earth. It's an interesting field of study." Granticaine nodded. "It's nice here." "Well, it's not so nice in certain parts of this Earth, but right here it's nice. But are you okay? Aren't you freezing?" "I'll be fine. I'm made of pretty tough stuff." Fife nodded. They drifted some more. "So Granticaine--what do you think--does Aconck seem like a place for you?" "Yes. I do agree to join your organization, pursuant to all the details being as you've represented them, and no other details getting in the way." "Agreed. So do you want to get back, or just hang out here for a while?" "It's nice here." Grant said. "I'd just like to drift for a little while more. It feels so good, after the life I've been leading after the end of the war." "Fine with me." Fife said. "Just remember, as we drift here, we're tracking an analogous location back on your Earth. So we could wind up anywhere in the vicinity--a building, a busy highway, more water, railroad tracks, you name it." "I'll be able to deal with it, whatever it is." "I can see you're going to be an essential addition to my company." "Indeed." Grant said, and they continued drifting. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----