A Time Story

Chapter 9- part 2

[Continued from Chapter 9- part 1]

Rylan enters behind Theo and is awed by her new surroundings. The tiled flooring, rug steps, and chandelier are all alien to her. It is so colorful, and fresh, a far cry from the station back home. It has this homely fragrance as a nice bonus. It makes Rylan want to run around it in circles a billion times.

"Looks nice, don't you think," Theo senses Rylan's amazement. "Would you like a tour?"

"First I'll show them how to access the meta-shelter so we fulfill safety protocol," Soma interjects as her and Zoe walk inside, "In order to access the meta-shelter you need your omnisphere. Zoe, since yours is disabled you need to pound the top of your sphere with your palm. Theo will help you. The rest of us can access it by going to the Time Agent app on our wristwatch, open the meta-shelter tab, and pounding the screen. Rylan, follow my lead."

Soma morphs her dragon bracelet into a wristwatch and slams the screen hard. Her omnisphere disappears and her body shuts down like a robot. It reboots and Soma aimlessly meanders into the kitchen.

"Follow Rylan. Do I have to show you again?" Soma's voice comes from Rylan's watch instead of her mouth. How spooky. Rylan pounds her wristwatch like Soma and before her eyes, the house transforms into a metallic grey and white. The walls and floor are fused together just like the time station, yet everything is in its proper place, just made of metal. Rylan hair is red again and she wears her silver jumpsuit instead of her earth clothes. Soma stands in front of her, with the same red hair and silver suit.

"Glad you could follow basic instructions," she says. This was probably the first complement Soma gave her, or half-complement. Rylan sees a green hologram in the kitchen that looks like Soma, and another that looks like her.

"Our android duplicates are set on free roam by default," Soma educates. "They'll be preforming basic routines while we're in the meta-shelter. Eat, drink, sleep, enough to fool any resident that looks through the window. This top section is designed as a metal replica of the camo-shelter, and we monitor the activity using these holograms. Our androids will appear green. Time agents, like you and I, will appear blue. Foreign entities, like the locals or wildlife, will appear red."

Rylan turns around and sees Theo and Zoe as blue holograms. Zoe becomes solid when she slams her omnisphere. Theo follows shortly after.

"Woah, this is freaky. It's like we're back on the Time Station. Where'd my clothes go? And what are those?" Zoe ran to the green holograms. "That one looks like Rylan, and Soma! What's that one?! It looks just like me," Zoe turns around and waves her hand inside.

"Ask Theo," Soma scoffs and crosses her arms. "I'm not in the habit of repeating myself."

"Maybe we should become settled in our bedrooms before we establish our waypoint," Theo suggests.

"Bright idea. Can you see that the newborns are settled in theirs?" Soma opens her porb container and hands Theo Rylan and Zoe's porbs. "I'm going to check if C-5 gave me a bed to sleep in."

Theo takes Rylan and Zoe upstairs, across the balcony, and opens a sliding door. It reveals a room resembling a Time Station apartment except with different furniture. There's a bunkbed on the righthand side and a large window on the back wall.

"This is where you will be staying for the duration of our mission," Theo explains. "Your bedroom comes equipped with a bunkbed, dresser, mirror, desk, closet, the essentials to feel alive and fresh."

"What about showers and food?" Zoe asks.

"Showers can be found in the two bathrooms while sinks and toilets can be found in all three. There is a food materializer embedded in the kitchen's refrigerator and refilling cups in the cabinets."