Page 61 of The Space Traveller's Lover
Shaillah’s utter frustration rattles her mind, but she manages to stay calm and composed. “There is no need for any more destruction!” she says in an unyielding tone. “We will prevail in the end, we know that. But let me go and convince them to stop. I’m sure they’ll want to hear what I have to say.”
Rothwen’s stern expression eases. He is so impressed by Shaillah’s impulse that he even lets an approving look flash through his face. “That’s precisely what I thought you would say. You don’t give up, do you?”
“I am sure I’ll convince them,” she replies firmly.
“Well, let’s do this. If you can convince the humans to retreat by talking to them, not by manipulating their weak brains, I will show mercy. Can we get the humans to listen and cooperate? Let’s see.”
“Show me the ARA headquarters,” she prompts him as she inspects the underwater scenes in more detail.
“Here it is. We constantly monitor it,” Rothwen says as the ARA’s central operations room in LA immediately comes into view.
Her heartbeat momentarily jolts as she recognises Sam talking to General Stewart, pleading with him.
“Your friend Sam is obviously worried, quite rightly,” Rothwen notes.
“I’ll take one of our scouting-crafts and fly to talk to the ARA generals,” she declares.
“You won’t get there in time that way. Our soldier robots are programmed to step out very soon, in fact, T-300” (seconds).
“Can’t you stop the robots?” she pleads with him.
“I could … but I’d only consider it if they withdraw first.” Rothwen smirks.
“I’ll go there with my body copy. No need for time-consuming travel,” Shaillah replies, undaunted.
“I thought you would say that. And that’s why I brought you here.”
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath as she turns around, pressing her back against the fuzzy edge of the inner chamber’s until herbody merges into the medium. In her mind, she goes through the chain of commands to activate a swift discharge of entangled virtual particles. Like a rising wind, the particles revolve around her body in increasing numbers until they completely cover her.
Soon, she feels as if her entire skin is slowly detaching and flowing away, and a mirror image of herself emerges a short distance in front of her. Through the hazy cloud encircling her, she examines her body copy as it replicates every move she makes.
Shaillah closes her eyes as she focuses her mind inward, on her deepest thoughts and fleeting sensations. At first, it’s all a confusing mangled ball of chaotic signals. But soon, every thought and feeling separate into two distinct compositions, two independent realities of herself. She thinks of it as if two distinct bodies are waiting for her command.
When she reopens her eyes, Rothwen is smiling at her in anticipation.
Now, I’m sending my duplicate to the ARA headquarters, Shaillah thinks while watching her body copy vanishing in a flash and re-emerging at her chosen destination.
As she focuses her mind on a particular version of herself at will, she either hears the voices of the ARA generals arguing in their headquarters or feels the presence of Rothwen standing by her side. Soon, she can sense and react to both realities simultaneously with each side of her brain.
She revels in her ability to control her body in such a way, thinking in two distinct thought-spaces and having the power of precise distant control. It’s as if she’s playing a virtual reality game but with the difference that every move is very real.
CHAPTER 26
THE FATAL DECISION
The last thing they will burn is my dignity.
At the ARA’s central operation room, the generals and high command officers double-check the readiness of their action plan. At the same time, they watch in horror as the robots demolish everything in their paths. Professor Khan and his team sit around Sam at the opposite table, reviewing and analysing every detail of what they know about the aliens’ abilities. Yet the more questions they ask, the less they understand.
“Stop everything. Stop!” Shaillah’s voice resonates across the room, drawing everyone’s attention as she suddenly appears in front of them.
“Erin!” Sam shouts, startled.
But Shaillah does not seem to be listening to him. She stares at the generals and starts shouting even louder. “Stop everything now or there’ll be a catastrophe!”
General Stewart manages to overcome his bewilderment and walks towards Shaillah while dismissively staring at her.
“What do you mean, stop everything?” he fumes.
