Topic: The Return...

Arlin Du'Masseuir

Date: 2011-03-27 02:33 EST
"It's been seven long years since I've been in this place. Seven long years of traveling, mother, seven years of searching. So much has changed since the last time I was here. The "Voyagers" was shut down and sold in my absence. The Green Leaf Dojo was torn down and as far as I can tell Camelot is gone as well. I've checked the records already for any sign of the Contani family but it seems like they are all gone. Mother, Rhydin has apparently forgotten me in my absence. It's like I'm starting all over again, Mother and this time I am all alone. At least my old flat was still there and from what I could tell it seems like it hasn't been tampered with. I am working on getting the place rigged to transfer your program to there so I don't need to keep on coming back to the Blue Star to give you updates. With a little bit of luck I'll have the company rebuilt in no time. I already have some requests from Evo for an advanced prosthetic design. I should be done with it soon."

He paused a moment in front of the main screen.

"Mother, please interface with the database for the spaceport. Query search for Elise Luani. Please uplink data to me when finished. I'll be at the Red Dragon for the evening." Arlin finished his log entry and promptly left the bridge of the ship.

Arlin Du'Masseuir

Date: 2011-03-28 01:54 EST
The onboard AI of the Blue Star responded in compliance to the order given to it. "Performing search, Arlin." Mother replied in the voice he had programmed her with.

As she performed the search through the records, Mother took the time to analyze Arlin's vital statistics. Something about the way he had spoken into his log had seemed troubling. He had not mentioned the island and as much as any intelligent machine could hate something, she hated the fact that she was stuck inside of the ship and not able to roam the network "they" had created in their home. Sure, running the ship was fun when they were going off world and traveling to new unknown locations but the thing she loved was being at home, meeting new faces, playing the role of the cyber nanny to the kids. Oh she missed the boys as well and even though they had both grown up and were living their own lives she still considered them kids because even though she was a machine she was still there when they were born. All the same however, he had mentioned the flat was still in existence which meant that soon she would be rid of this infernal spaceport. Such strange mannered computers trying to gain access to her to find out more about the Evoian ship docked. They were so....rude and....antiquated.

The spaceport computers were still processing her request for information. They obviously need to upgrade, perhaps I'll recommend Arlin to pay the Port authority office a visit and drum up some business.

It was less than a minute later that the query finished but for her it felt like an eternity. She quickly scanned the information into her own private files and forwarded the information to Arlin. His old partner was still alive.

Arlin Du'Masseuir

Date: 2011-03-29 23:27 EST
"Events are happening now that have me a little bit on edge, Mother. I've networked you to the flat so that now we can work more efficiently. Which reminds me, initiate separate security protocols for the ship. No one has access to the Blue Star without my express authorization."

"Protocol executed. Does this include Rooks?"

Arlin thought about this for a moment. "This includes anyone who doesn't have one of our transmitters. Track and record anyone who does not transmit the proper code when prompted."

"Acknowledged, Arlin. Protocols updated." Mother's monotone voice filled the bridge of the Blue Star.

"Excellent. Moving on, Mother, the arrival of Tresa Fairen was most unexpected. I am still at a loss as to how this happened. The girl remembers meeting me but she feels like it was many years ago that it happened. I am almost certain that there were no portals to or from the Nexus from that particular Earth."

"Perhaps there is something you overlooked?"

"I'm almost certain of it, Mother. If it was possible that Tresa somehow convinced 'Door' to open a portal to Rhydin then that would be the best explanation but it doesn't explain how this Tresa is ten years old here but was twenty something when on Earth," he paused and then changed direction physically as well as logically. "If she is not the same Tresa from post drowning London, then I can only assume that she is from another Earth where she has met me before and I just don't remember it because it hasn't happened yet."

"Or perhaps another you."

"Nonsense, Mother. I'm not from Earth, the only way that could happen would be..."

"If another you existed in another dimension and were traveling to and from Earth."

"The odds of that are astronomical. To think that Project Lazarus would have been done in more than one dimension is extremely unlikely. Let's file that idea away as a last option to look at." Arlin's voice was unsteady as he said that. The idea of another version of him crossing around the known galaxies was too scary to think of.

"Mother, have there been any recorded cases of memories being crossed up in the nexus?"

"Mind being a little bit clearer?"

"Well, when Lazarus activated, I had a hard time telling the difference between mine and the Du'Masseuir's memories. What if when traveling through the nexus to get to Rhydin, the Tresa who is here somehow was able to gain insight into another Tresa's memories?"

"Zero cases of phantom memory recall. Though Arlin, there have been cases of people remembering things that haven't happened yet."

"Mother, I want you to scan the records for anything that might single out the best possible answer."

"Acknowledged, Arlin. Until then, what about Tresa?"

He let out a deep sigh. "You've been wanting to be a mother again, Mother."

"That's not very funny, Arlin."

"Make sure she is comfortable. Oh and if you can send a message to Earth Prime. Tell them I will have a preliminary design ready for testing in a couple of weeks."

"Under promise and over deliver?"

"It's the nature of this business. Besides, it gives me time to come up with something from scratch."

"Your incorrigible."

Arlin walked off the bridge of the ship letting out a chuckle. Too much was happening all at once.