Tales of the Courier – Slipstream Blues
Friends and not friends. That one is age old. Finding a friend in an unexpected place is rare, and not unwelcome. He considers this as they stare at one another. She is obviously surprised, and visibly shaken, but anger flashes across her eyes as she stares at him.
The dark highway is deserted, and the ride crawls to a stop along the edge of the highway. HQ was going to have to travel to get this ride back. He studies the AI’s expression, trying to determine how much cheeky there is in this new, this new what? Human? Humans aren’t new, AI’s aren’t new, but this being sitting in the seat next to him, is definitely new.
An era from long ago floats across his mind, and emotions of loss and sadness accompany these images. The effect the oddly shaped and slightly heavy package is having on his sanity, is worsening. If not for the emotions and deep feelings of connection, it would be like one of those old movies that used to broadcast on public airwaves. Abstract and flat, scenes that play forward, revealing a story.
Slipstream
Cheeky slaps him across the face. Hard. Now things are more in focus, and he grins, it’s definitely cheeky. She uses the voice next, but there’s no steel timbre in this voice, it’s cool and calculated, with a melodic feel, and a healthy dose of pissed off, ” You were babbling, 1courier, and you are late!” she glares at him, “Explain this, …this…What Has Happened?”
It seems he’s not the only one struggling with unexpected feelings, and he grins again, this day has red letter, written all over it. A slight tremor, passes through the ride as the road takes on a brief, bright sheen, and then becomes road again. Self renewing roads, a 2universe feature, cool stuff. He decides to keep the direct approach with the AI, ” don’t you know?”
Her eyes widen in surprise and she quickly looks away into the night beyond the stalled ride. Her voice is still calm and cool, but he detects a waver. ” I don’t know anything at this point, though I suspect you do.” 1courier nods and reaches into the back of the ride, grabbing the package and shouldering his door, he steps out of the ride into the cool night air.
He hears the passenger door open, then slam, as she gets out of the ride. Then he hears the sound of her falling, as she trips over her own new feet. It would probably be funny, in another universe at another time, but today had too much at stake. He walks to the passenger side and offers a hand up. She accepts, and once up, steadies herself and takes stock of her in body experience.
New Form
He watches her closely as she reasons through this new reality,” I prefer my original form”, she looks around and gazes skyward before continuing,” there is no precedent for this occurrence, in any universe discovered so far.” she moves and flexes her arms, focusing on the fingers of her new hands. ” it has everything to do with that package, explain this, 1courier.”
He looks around at the dark and cool night, surveying their surroundings, their location would be compromised soon, time to go. He considers her request carefully, “yes, it’s this key, and no, I don’t know what it’s up to, time to go.” Turning from her, and moving towards the dark horizon, he shoulders the package and begins walking. She walks beside him, her command of the new body, expanding quickly.
They walk in silence for a time, one with images and emotions, from another era and universe, coursing through the mind. The other with more human things, on the mind. Both dealing with a ‘new normal’. 1courier checks the m-com and sees their location is now known. Without the assistance of a ride, their getaway would be a slow one.
Courier
The oddly shaped and slightly heavy package has started the humming again, and the vibrations from it have intensified, he’s no longer worried about their getaway. He has a hunch the ride they need is about to show. Deciding to follow along with this key and it’s strange origins, wasn’t difficult. Some decisions do the choosing, and this one was no exception. He grins, the AI would love that one. He looks at her, before deciding maybe not, this time.
Walking along comfortably, she appears to have mastered the new transport system of legs. Speaking quickly, she makes the obvious leap, “we are leaving 2universe soon, this is apparent. Any insight into the next destination?” It’s a good question, one he would like to know as well, as all things begin to take on an ethereal shine. He notices she has become a glow of that ethereal light too, and knows it’s a part of this as he blinks, and opens his eyes on a brightly lit, and intensely cold, new universe.
The AI speaks first as they arrive in 3universe. “The effect the key has when it phases is intense, in human form.” He spots an interesting tell at these words, and files it for later examination. They have arrived in 3universe on the outskirts of Timblerain, one of the largest cities in 3universe’s most populous planets. This is not good.
Blues
He has time to think this before the world explodes in a raging war that destroys civilizations, and countless lives are lost, as the civilizations fall, leaving ruin and destruction. The visions are becoming all consuming now. He stops walking and stares straight ahead. The AI pauses beside him. Now the fun starts.
A large freight vehicle is approaching from the north as they stand at the edge of the highway. It’s mass equivalent to the freight trains of 1universe. It slows as it nears their location, 1courier knows it’s their ride. The AI speaks quickly, her words more certain now,” I am still able to communicate internally with other AI, the one piloting this freighter is benign, we are expected to board.”
The immense freighter eases to a stop beside them, and the large bay doors open. The m-com link pulses rapidly, emitting warning sounds, HQ has arrived in 3universe. Time to go. They board the freighter, one real AI and one ethereal courier, on the run, with a delivery to make. They are another universe, in and of themselves, expanding rapidly. The package hums and flashes bright, as the freighter doors close behind them.
