Fantasy Journey to Year 1,000,000,000

Suddenly her lips were no longer cold and firm, but yielding and soft. He pressed against them and for a moment, just a moment, could imagine that it was the real Pam. When he pulled back he said, "How was that?"

Pam thought about it. "This body... this body liked it."

"And you?"

Pam shrugged. "I noted it. Are you going to teach me how to drink, now?"

"Of course," Taylor said, showing no emotion.

Once Taylor had taught Pam how to eat a salad, he thought it was only fair that Pam reveal the mysteries of the universe to him. Pam agreed.

Victor had prepared a long list of questions he eagerly wanted answered. Taylor had waved them off, asking Victor to pare them down to a handful.

"A handful?" Victor had said. "Michael, there are so many questions to ask! How big is the universe? Where did it begin? When? And how? And how do we-"

"She's not going to tolerate a hundred questions, Victor," said Taylor. "Never mind, I think I know the most important ones to ask."

And so Taylor turned to Pam, and looked into her beautiful green eyes, and said, "Show me how big the universe is."

And suddenly they were flying, in outer space, without a spaceship or spacesuit or any kind of protection, as far as Taylor could tell. He held Pam's hand tightly as they whizzed by planets and stars and galaxies. As they flew it all got smaller and smaller; the universe seeming to shrink in size as they moved faster and faster, so they could see more and more of it.

"The universe, as you call it, is endless," said Pam.

"Endless?" said Taylor. "How could it possibly be endless?" he asked, as he watched a galaxy sail by.

"Perhaps you should ask yourself, how can it not?" said Pam. "If the universe were limited in size, it would have to have a boundary, would it not?"

"Yes," said Taylor.

"And what would be beyond that boundary? More of something, would it not?"

"Yes," said Taylor.

"The universe is endless, Michael Taylor," she stared, staring at him dreamily.

Taylor found himself struggling with the conception of it. How could anything be truly endless? It was too grand an idea to even grasp.

But slowly he nodded. "All right. Say the universe is endless. But where did it start? How did it begin?"

And suddenly they were somewhere else. They were surrounded by one thing. Blackness.

"Where are we?" Michael asked. The only thing he could see was Pam. The light source shining on them was not immediately evident.

"At the dawn of what you call the universe," said Pam. "Look carefully, or you will miss it."

She pointed, and Taylor stared. Suddenly, there was a spark. The spark turned into a flash of light. The light turned into a small explosion, and then a large one, and then a much larger one that radiated outwards at an accelerated pace. Taylor imagined that he was watching time, speeded up at an incredible rate. He watched as the explosion emitted gas and other matter.

"Look there," said Pam. There was another flicker in the blackness, and another explosion. "And there, and there, and there."

There were more and more explosions. More stars were being created. "These energy sources eventually became what you call suns. The suns emitted smaller blocks of energy which eventually turned into matter and became what you call planets," said Pam. "I believe this answers your question. Shall we go back and eat more salad?"

"No! I'm not nearly done," Taylor cried, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "All right. Even our scientists understand how planets can be formed from stars. But where did the stars come from? Where did the first big explosion come from which created all the stars in our galaxy?"

"From nothing," said Pam. Her face was impassive.

"How could stars be created by nothing?"

"Quite simply," said Pam. "All you have to do is to understand that nothing is still something."

"Nothing is something?" said Taylor, looking pained as he tried to understand.

"Your language is so limited, which so necessarily limits the explanation. You cannot expra. You cannot trista. You cannot shursta. You have no understanding of Tisson Crae. You cannot even screan, which is quite primitive by our standards. So I must explain crudely in words." She looked into his eyes. "Taylor, you must understand that however much nothing, pure nothingness, is nothing, that nothing, to a small degree, is also something."

"Something? You mean matter or energy?"

"Simply something. Nothing is the complete absence of matter or energy, and other elements you are unaware of, and yet, even with the total absence of all of these, nothing is still something. Even the vacuum of space around us is something," said Pam. She lifted her elegant arms. "Now imagine an endless universe of nothing."

"I'm trying," said Taylor, though he really couldn't imagine it.

"Try harder," said Pam. "In all the endless universes of nothingness, imagine that some of that nothing, a tiny percentage, is unstable."

"Unstable nothing?"

"I am trying to vesper as best I can, using your language," said Pam. "Of the infinity of nothingness, imagine that a tiny percentage of nothingness is unstable. It changes, due to its instability. Nothing becomes... something. A spark of matter. A spark of energy. The energy is unstable, and it ignites."

"Creating an explosion," said Taylor. "Like our big bang theory."

"Yes," said Pam. "You have to understand that such explosions are extremely rare. Most nothing remains... nothing."

"Then why are there so many stars, so many galaxies?"

"Because there is simply so much nothing out there," said Pam, spreading her hands. "And with an eternity of time, it is inevitable that more and more of nothing will become something."

Taylor stared out at the stars in wonder, and then looked at Pam's face. "You've just explained to me the origins of the universe, and all life in it." He realized that he had just learned more than any member of the Survey Service who had ever existed or ever would.

"Does this mean I have earned more salad?" Pam asked.

"You have earned more than that. You have earned dessert."

Taylor felt a chill down his spine as he spoonfed flavored gelatin into Pam's mouth. She was capable of feeding herself now, but he enjoyed putting the spoon to her mouth. The way she looked at him as he fed her--the look in her eyes, the looking of wanting, of needing--was he seeing what he wanted to see? Or was Pam actually beginning to have feelings for him?

As he was feeding her, Elizabeth entered the cafeteria. She took one look at what was happening and stomped out. It wasn't merely that Taylor was feeding Pam; she saw the look on Pam's face, and the look on his.

"She is unhappy again," Pam noticed, between spoonfuls. "Does she expect you to feed her as well?"

"In a way," said Taylor. "Elizabeth expects me to feed her something else."

"You are referring to reproduction."

Taylor stared at her. "You understood what I was referring to?"

"Yes," said Pam.

"You are starting to become human," said Taylor.

"Good. My research function is being fulfilled."

"Tell me about God," Taylor asked suddenly.

"God?" She stared at him intently. "A being of vast powers. A being who you believed created you, and has certain requirements of you."

"Yes," said Taylor. "Does God exist?"

Pam stared at him for a long moment. "I do not know."

"You do not know?"

"In your mind, I can see that you and your people have many different beliefs about God. What his purposes and intentions are. His method of functioning and influencing your lives. Your beliefs are too contradictory to reconcile. I cannot give you a definitive answer as to whether the being you refer to as God exists."

"Well, that's a relief," said Taylor.

"And why is that?" Pam asked.

"Because there are some things even you do not know."

Pam moved closer to Taylor. "And why does that comfort you?"

"Because not being totally omniscient makes you a little more like us. A little more... human," he said, leaning closer to her.

This time Pam took the hint, and she leaned over and kissed him. He felt her lips pressing against his. She felt soft, and wonderful, like the woman he loved.

"How was that?" she asked, after she pulled back.

"That was better," said Taylor. "How was it for you?"

"This body enjoyed it," said Pam. "Would you make love to this body now?"

"No," said Taylor, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

Taylor had a flash of memory, of being forced to make love to Jennifer Hale. As he pounded between her legs, he remembered looking at her eyes, cold, hard, and alien. The soft roughness of her vagina was in vivid contrast to the hostile nature of the intelligence which controlled her body.

"I... I was compelled to make love to someone once. Someone who did not love me," said Taylor. "It is not an experience I want to repeat."

"But... this body desires you. I can feel it," said Pam, rubbing a hand over her chest.

"This body," said Taylor. "But not you."

"I am a research and diagnostic tool. I have no feelings for you of any kind," said Pam.

"And that's why I can't make love to you," said Taylor.

"Amazing!" said Victor. "The Universe is endless? And it all started from... nothing! Elizabeth, can you imagine it?"

"No," said Elizabeth, her arms folded and facing away.

"Incredible," said Vincent. "Even nothing is something. If only we had the senses she did. What did she call it, expra?"

"Expra, and a few other words that didn't translate. One of them she kept referring to was something like Tisson Crae, but I'm not sure what that meant either," said Taylor.

"And you actually saw the creation of the universe?" Victor asked.

"I think so, yes."

"Oh... how I would have loved to have seen it," said Victor. "Do you think you could ask her-

"I don't think she will do it for you, Victor. Only Michael," said Elizabeth, suddenly turning to face them.

"Elizabeth, I never meant to hurt you," said Taylor.

"I understand, Michael. Believe me, I understand completely," said Elizabeth. "You were so much in love with Pam that even this... alien device, which sounds and talks like her, is preferable to me."

"Elizabeth, maybe we should talk in private-"

"Why?" She smiled bitterly. "There are only six of us left. We don't have secrets from one another. You told me you loved me. You used me, when I was convenient, and now that you have shacked up with an alien with the most superficial resemblance to your dead girlfriend, you've tossed me aside. What is there to talk about?"

"Elizabeth-"

She ran out of the lounge, sobbing.

Taylor looked down. "I never meant to hurt her."

"Of course, Michael," said Victor. "You shouldn't be ashamed at all. You're doing important work."

"I am?"

"You've discovered the true nature of the universe! I'd say that's worth a few women's' tears," said Victor. He paused. "It's a pity she didn't know about God, though."

"She says I gave her too much contradictory and non-specific data," said Taylor. He paused a moment. "I also asked her about life after death, Victor."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"And?"

Taylor paused again. "She said that for higher beings, such as herself, what we call death is simply a transition from one state to another. When a being dies, they are transmuted to one of many other dimensions, where they exist in other forms. Apparently they are multidimensional beings, having distinct but connected existence in each dimension. When one ends, it simply switches to another."

"But what about for us, Michael?"

"Not for finiterals like us, Victor."

"No?"

"No," said Taylor.

"How very disappointing," said Victor.

"I'll say," said Taylor.

Victor paused. "What will happen when she's done examining us, Michael?"

"We will all be killed, or turned off, as she said."

"Why not simply return us to our time?"

"I don't think they care enough to send us back, Victor. They don't really see us as sentient beings."

"Then make her see, Michael. Make her understand. I've seen the two of you together. Even I can see she's beginning to develop feelings for you," said Victor.

"The body is, Victor. The human body she inhabits like a puppet," said Taylor. "Every time we kiss, she tells me that her body enjoys it. But I never hear that she enjoys it."

"Try to get through to her, Michael. You can do it," said Victor. "And don't worry about Elizabeth. I'll talk to her."

Taylor paused. "I did tell Elizabeth I loved her, Victor."

"You did?" said Victor. He looked surprised.

"But I didn't," said Taylor. "Just like Jennifer did to me." And then, despite everything happening around them, he sat down and explained the situation between him and Jennifer, starting with their experience in the cave. Then he explained how and why he had told Elizabeth he loved her.

When he was done, Victor shook his head. "What a tangled web Survey Service Captains weave, Michael." He paused for a moment, then said, "Your relationship with Elizabeth is nothing like the one you had with Jennifer. For once in your life, Michael, give yourself the benefit of the doubt."

"Survey Service Captains don't usually have the luxury of giving themselves the benefit of the doubt."

Victor clasped him on the shoulder. "In this case, make an exception."

When Taylor went back to his quarters, he found Pam there.

"Hello," said Taylor.

"Hello," said Pam. She frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"I feel.. pressure, down there," she said, rubbing her groin and ass.

Oh no.

"Do you remember, after we examined consumption, we also looked at excretion?" Taylor asked.

"Yes," said Pam. "So is it time for me to excrete?"

"I believe it is," said Taylor.

And so, seconds later, Taylor was treated to the sight of Pam sitting down on his toilet, her dress mysteriously vanished, and her legs obscenely spread. She looked up at him for guidance, like a baby.

"Ah... squeeze, I guess," said Taylor.

"Squeeze what?" Pam asked.

"Squeeze... inside you," said Taylor.

Pam tried to concentrate. Nothing happened. "I need a frame of reference," she said.

Suddenly an image of Taylor appeared, standing in front of the very same toilet. His penis was painfully erect, and he was releasing into it. "Aaaaah," he said with a smile, as a golden arc connected the head of his penis with the toilet. The atomizer inside the toilet vaporized the stream the minute it landed.

"Aaaaah," said Pam, in the same exact tone, screwing up her face.

Nothing happened.

"I am not vespering. I need a better frame of reference," said Pam.

Suddenly the image of Taylor disappeared, to be replaced by one of Elizabeth.

"No, oh no," said Taylor

Elizabeth had her pants and Survey Service panties down to her ankles as she sat on the toilet. As she excreted, Elizabeth idly played with her pubic hair, twirling it between her fingers.

Pam started to do the same.

"Aaaahhh," said Elizabeth, and a stream of urine started to come out of her unruly, brown, furry bush, going straight down into the bowl. Suddenly the image of Elizabeth changed, and they could see the muscles and organs inside her body.

Pam studied it closely. "The female said aaaaaah, while that muscle clenched just like... that," said Pam, as a stream of urine started to come out of her. Pam raised her eyebrows and looked triumphant. Taylor smiled at her encouragingly and tried not to watch as liquid came out of the bottom of the glistening slit at the bottom of blonde-brown pubic triangle, to be atomized instantly.

"Am I doing it right, Taylor? Aaaaah," she said again, as the golden stream continued to flow from her blonde brown bush. Her fingers were vividly twirling her pubes as she smiled at him.

"You did it really well," said Taylor. He was a little unnerved how Pam smiled at him while urinating without shame right in front of him. For an emotionless diagnostic tool, she seemed to have emotions of some kind!

Pam seemed disappointed when the liquid stream ended. "It is finished?" she said, with the expression of a child on a suddenly stopped ride.

"For now," said Taylor. "Don't worry, there will always be more."

Pam smiled up at him again, making him feel warm and uncomfortable. "We must do the other part now," Pam announced.

"The other part?"

"Er.. err... errr.... Aaaaah!" said Pam, emulating Elizabeth perhaps a bit too closely as she excreted solid waste, her internal muscles coaxing slimy brown ovals to slide out her rectum into the atomizer. Pam even imitated Elizabeth's expression, the vague, glassy eyed look upwards, the look of one who was living in the moment of feeling feces evacuating from their buttocks.

"Oh, that felt so good," the image of Elizabeth said, in the mistaken belief that she was not being observed and imitated.

"Oh, that felt so good, Michael," said Pam, grinning up at him.

Taylor taught Pam how to use the sonic cleaner, and then to his relief she was suddenly clothed again.

Pam raised an eyebrow and smoothed the part of her fuck-cation dress around her ass. "It is done, but I still feel the sensation of being... stretched."

"That's normal," Taylor assured her. So much thinking about excretion!

But Pam wasn't done. She looked at the atomizer and then back at him. "So that is how excretion was handled. And you do it several times a day! Isn't it a constant distraction?"

"You get used to it," said Taylor. He yawned, and quickly changed the subject. "I'd like to get a few hours rest. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," said Pam. "We can resume once you are rested."

"I can't wait," said Taylor, getting into his bed.

"Neither can I," said Pam, also getting into bed.

"What are you doing?" Taylor asked.

"What are you doing?" Pam asked.

"Sleeping," said Taylor.

"Then I am sleeping too."

Taylor's eyes narrowed. "You're a research and diagnostic tool-"

"Currently in the body of a human female. This body needs to eat and excrete. Does it surprise you to learn it also requires rest as well?"

"I can get you quarters down the hall," said Taylor.

"But your bed is big enough for two, Michael. Did you not sleep in the same bed with your Pam?"

"I did," said Taylor.

"And did it not assist in your human bonding?"

"It... it did."

"Then let us do the same. I wish to observe all the human rituals."

"All right," said Taylor. "But just sleep."

"Just sleep?" said Pam. "Is there another component I am unaware of?"

"Sometimes in my culture when one asks to sleep in the same bed, they are also asking for sex. Sometimes."

"How do you know when someone is asking for sleep, or sex and sleep?" Pam asked.

"You just know. You can see it in their eyes," said Taylor.

"What do my eyes tell you, Michael?" she asked.

Taylor stared into them. His heart beat rapidly. They were looking more and more lifelike. The research probe he had met was rapidly changing before his eyes. As he stared at her, he saw the hunger and need in her eyes.

"Just sleep," he said, lying down and closing his eyes.

"You must not be very good at doing expra for the eyes, Michael," said Pam.

She was flirting with him! A diagnostic program--she was becoming more and more human by the moment. Maybe, there was hope.

He felt the warmth of her body as she lay next to him. "There is always hope. Isn't that what you say to yourself in the Survey Service, Michael?"

"It's not polite to read my mind all the time," said Taylor. He looked at her and she smiled.

"I will try not to do it all the time," Pam promised. She smiled at him. "Goodnight, Michael Taylor." She closed her eyes.

Taylor watched her for several minutes. She seemed to actually be sleeping. She even breathed like a human. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful, even with her eyes closed. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulders majestically. Her long slender arms were wrapped around a pillow.

And her face... was she smiling? Was that just a hint of a smile? Taylor couldn't be sure.​