I did as he said. He brought his right-hand pointer over my left temple. I saw a vision created by ZA-vi from his recordings. I saw Shelly’s back and Von’s face towering over his head.
VON: “Rick (Shelly’s nickname)! I have received reports from 23-Artemesia (A sister ship) geneticists have recorded genetic mutations there too. The experiments were never thought of producing such heinous results. The last testing on their own brought forth atrocious results.”
SHELLY: “No Lex (Von’s nickname)! It is not about what we are facing today, it is what some people chose earlier. The worst point is that they do not learn from mistakes but are sick to the level of getting them repeated till date. I have always been an antagonist to such kinds of experiments, especially when we don’t get enough bodies and volunteers these days. One must not choose something which has shown only negative results. And replicating human race in-vitro scares me. Even if all goes well corruption seeks in to play spoilsport. Not good in the times such as now!”
VON:”Yes, you are probably right. It is about the same as playing with fire. But since they have got a monopoly over all the available technical know-how, we only have ashes in our hands.”
SHELLY: “Nobody believed me then, nobody does now. They don’t believe in giving time to ourselves. They just want to create a race which doesn’t know where they have been born, as quickly as could be. But I say real evolutions and discoveries happen in ships deficient in technology as this. We work with more traditional technology here and we don’t put to risk what we have. We try to rinse, salvage and resuscitate whatever little we can from what we have. I am proud to be a small unknown doctor trying here rather than play doctor Doom in the land.”
VON: “But it’s really sad that the constant ‘Contamination’ is taking away whatever is left. They will now focus on feasting upon the leftovers. They won’t leave one little chunk for anyone.”
SHELLY: “(Sighs)! We hold on to the mast of hope and confidence. We never say it’s over because it’s over only when we have given up.”
Then after hearing beep sounds,
VON: “It’s ready!”
ZA-vi: “It’s all, for now, Case. Also, these talks are also not allowed much in here. They are under strict surveillance. So what you saw was conversation only in code words.” ZA-vi then removed his finger from my temple and the vision was gone.
I said: “They were mentioning Contamination………..No, you are right. If I waited dead for 431 years I still can and must wait for one month more. I am certainly curious, but I will keep patience from now on, actually saying, for me it’s a hard world to understand.”
Though, I had understood how to tackle with the robot guy. I had learned that he wasn’t impossible. He will only take some emotional drama and will yield information. Important were the others, yet to be confronted. And who is ‘The Navigator’? A newly introduced filthy character, unsuited to the story? Let us just keep sneaking in with the help of ZA-vi and find as much vital information on my own as possible. Then when I will be passed with a mark of 100% in fitness and medical tests, then I will have my knowledge brushed up and upgraded. But I knew before being smart I have to disconnect ZA-vi from accessing my mind through this telepathy thing. It is awkward that he is still listening to my thoughts.
Soon enough ZA-vi left and I was left alone free to chalk out my next strategy.
Chapter 6: The next day of adventure: Sneaking into the ship