6
Shisk
Peter opened his eyes and realized he was in some sort of car or train moving quickly along the ground. The ride was quiet and smooth like an airplane. There were several others with him, but he couldn’t remember getting on the vehicle. The last thing he could remember was meeting with Sam at his orientation meeting. Turning to the boy next to him, he asked. “Where are we going?”
“To Shisk,” he replied. “Weren’t you paying attention?”
“Ah. I must have fallen asleep. What kind of vehicle are we on?”
“It’s a subtram—like a subway but it runs through tubes that run above ground. Isn’t it cool?”
Peter nodded and then felt the subtram slowing down. A few seconds later they were at their destination. The subtram door opened on a street corner in downtown Shisk. Peter was awestruck by the strange city that stood before him. His group were escorted by a Seafolken man to a tall building that looked like a giant crystal stalagmite. Peter gasped at the beautiful structure that towered above him. He wondered how something so magnificent had been built. Its surface was so irregular and design so complex that Peter thought it must have been molded into its shape. He couldn't imagine it having been transported, so he wondered if a giant mold had been built on site and filled with the hot crystal. He marveled at the incredible sight.
Inside was even more amazing. The lobby was carved right out of the crystal. There were no beams, sheet rock, ceiling tile, or flooring. The crystal had been perfectly formed to create each room in the building. He ran his hand across the surface of the crystal. It was very hard and perfectly smooth. The furniture in the lobby was white and of a simple and functional design. The temperature of the room seemed quite comfortable. A tall, young, slender woman wearing a silver skirt, white blouse, and grey sandals met the group in the lobby. She was accompanied by many similarly dressed assistants both male and female called guides. In fact, there seemed to be as many guides as there were guests. She said her name was Lucinda Dimitri.
Lucinda called out each name and one guide of the opposite sex led each guest to an elevator. Peter was the last one so Lucinda escorted him to where the others were standing. While they were waiting for the elevator, Peter asked, "How did they build this place? It's amazing."
She gave him an amused look and replied, "It wasn't built in the traditional sense, Mr. Turner. It was sort of grown."
"Grown? You grew a building?"
"Well, the Nanomites built it, but if you were watching the construction it would appear to grow a little each day."
"What? I don't understand. Who are the Nanomites?"
"They are a life-form here on Tarizon. They live in swarms. Each swarm is controlled by a swarmmaster who communicates and controls all of the individual Nanomites. They are very small by themselves but together in a swarm they can be quite large. Still, you couldn't see them with the naked eye as they usually live inside a solid object. The building was designed by our architects and then their design was communicated to the swarm through the swarmmasters who control them."
"Wow. That's bizarre. . . . How does the swarmmaster communicate with them?”
“I don’t know. It’s kind of similar to the way our human brain controls the cells of our body, except the Nanomites don’t have to be connected. They only have to be in the swarm field to be under the control of the swarmmaster. This gives them the ability to avoid barriers and slip through cracks and voids in an object they are penetrating.”
“Amazing. So you don't need construction workers, building materials, nothing?"
"No. It takes many people to culture and nourish the Nanomites swarms and care for them between building projects. And the Nanomites still need raw materials to work with."
"I see."
Peter looked around again in wonder. How can a microscopic life-form build something so immense and complex? The elevator door opened and they stepped in.
"So it takes months for the building to grow into fruition?" Peter continued.
Before Luci could reply the door opened again. They got out of the elevator and stepped into a long corridor with many doors. It was almost like a futuristic Hampton Inn.
"Yes, sometimes more than a cycle."
Luci led Peter down the hallway and stopped near the end. She said something in her native tongue and the door clicked open. She stepped inside and Peter followed her in. The room was identical to every other part of the building—cold crystal walls with white and grey furniture. There was what looked like a flat screen TV on one wall, a sofa, coffee table of sorts, and a built-in bar. A door led into a kitchen area complete with table, four chairs and a built-in hutch.
"Do you think this will do, Mr. Turner?" Luci asked.
Peter nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, quite nicely. Is there a bedroom?"
She nodded and pointed to another door. Peter walked over and opened it. It was a spacious room with a king size bed, beige headboard and a large window overlooking the city. Peter went to the window, looked out over the city and his breath was taken away. Lucinda came up behind him, put her hand on his shoulder, and said, "Do you like our city?"
Peter turned and looked at her surprised that she'd touched him. She was older than he—maybe in her early 20s. She had black hair, brown eyes, and her skin was white as a dove. His pulse quickened. "Yes, I've never seen anything like it."
"They say it's even more beautiful when the sun shines. Of course, I've never seen the sun. I've seen stills and flashbacks, of course."
"Stills? Flashbacks?"
"What do you call them—pictures?"
"Oh, photographs and movies—got it."
"Yes, I hope one day to get a suntan."
Peter laughed. He suddenly realized why her skin was so fair. "Yeah, well they're overrated. If you're not careful you can end up with a sunburn that will hurt like crazy. Besides, your skin is so perfect, you wouldn't want to take a chance on damaging it."
"No. I suppose not," Luci admitted. “So, if you need anything I will be in the next room. Just call out and I will hear you.”
“You’ll be in the next room?” Peter asked.
"Yes, I will be your guide until you are given a permanent assignment," Luci replied.
"You mean you’re going to live with me?"
Luci laughed. "Yes. How can I take care of you if I don’t live with you?"
Peter raised his eyebrows. "Wow, my own personal guide."
She nodded and walked over to a control panel near the door and pushed some buttons. Peter admired her svelte physique as she worked. A smile crept over his face. When he left Earth, he was a junior at Hillcrest High School. He'd dated a little, but had never actually been with a woman. He'd thought about it a lot and, like most teenagers, was somewhat obsessed with sex, but this was unreal. To live with a woman like Luci was unimaginable.
In his mind’s eye, Luci gave him a seductive smile, and moved toward him. As he looked in her eyes she slipped her arms around him, drew him to her bosom, and kissed him gently. Her lips felt soft and sweet and the scent of her body was dangerously intoxicating. Then he heard the door close to Luci’s room. He blinked, looked around, and realized he’d been daydreaming. He was alone. Alone for the first time since he’d landed on Tarizon millions of miles from Earth.
He looked around at the strange room. It was deadly quiet. Panic came over him suddenly. He curled up on his bed and began to quiver. I’m on another planet! Oh, God! How can that be! How could you have done this to me, God? What did I do wrong? Then he remembered she’d said he could summon her at any time. That possibility gave him comfort even though he knew he’d never take her up on it. She’d think he was weak if he did and he couldn’t have that. He wanted her to like him, to be attracted to him, so someday she might be more than his guide. He rolled onto his back, stretched out, and yawned. He was soon asleep and erotic dreams of Luci got him through his first night on another world.