Dysautonomia (continued) Part III – Mitosis “What a strange revelation of self-esteem it is when people only love those who think and feel as they do - an extension of themselves, in fact! Even Christianity does not cure us, since one cannot feel right without assuming that the rest must be wrong. Personally I would rather feel wrong with everybody else than right all by myself: I like people different, and agree with the man who said that the worst of the human race is the number of duplicates.” Freya Stark – Baghdad Sketches

“You can't always expect that things will work out as you hope or feel they aught to.” Professor Madison was addressing an unknown audience, or rather his holographic image was there, on stage, in front of a large green screen.

“You are seeing me now because... and I am genuinely sad about this, but because what we hoped for did not work.”

They had watched the entire story unfold, right up until now, until this moment. It had been entertaining, although that is the wrong word to describe something as catastrophic as the near end of the human race, the end of a planet.

Everybody referred to that planet – Earth – as their home, just like everybody referred to them as the survivors. But like the professor was explaining things don't always work out as expected. They were human, they had come from that planet called Earth, which was 4.89 light years away, but that was a thousand years ago. The planet was destroyed along with the solar system it was in.

6985 looked over at his human friend alpha 8u. “Do you think it is sad that I am not human like you?”

Alpha 8u thought about the question before making his reply. “Do you think it is sad that all the humans are males born artificially, that there are no females?”

“I could respond to your question with emotion or logic, what would you prefer?” 6985 watched the human.

He had no understanding of emotion, he could exhibit and mimic, and he knew what the humans enjoyed, but he did not experience what they felt. It was alien that this human boy, alpha 8u, was attached emotionally to him. He could satisfy those human desires, to all intents he was a replica bodily, but not mentally. It was always such a fine balance between running the planet and allowing the humans to live and breed. They, the humans, thought that the replicas were some kind of human substitute, a sort of copy, but they were not.

“You know I love only emotions. Let's finish the history. I don't know why you always jump forward to the end.”

“That's easy, because I hate the sad bits and because I can't wait to get into bed with you!”

Alpha 8u could see that was true, the second part anyway. He saw the erection 6985 was displaying. Was it true he hated the sad bits? That he doubted, it was much more that 6985 was reacting emotionally. None of this really mattered, the numbers as they were called, were experts at the game, and fantastic sex partners. The numbers taught the human boys everything about sex and were more than able to fulfil any desire.

“Yes, I can see that, but I want to continue up to the end. I hate not seeing the end of stuff.”

□□□□□

“How does Kado have all this info?” Joel was thinking out loud.

The car had brought them to this mansion house overlooking the ocean. The doors were open, the sound of the sea crashing onto the beach was a constant background noise. The water had a sombre appearance, a sort of sad grey mixture of rolling waves and pouring rain. The big difference was the temperature. It was less cold than in the mountains, almost but not quite, warm.

“That is one impressive house!” Mark exclaimed.

Jack felt tired, he was worried about Grif, didn't trust Kado’s plan about finding the professor, whatever it was. No, he looked at the ocean, feeling uninspired and pervaded by a sense of gloom.

“Kado knows people who know people,” Jack replied.

The house was big, modern and occupying a fantastic position affording super ocean views for what that was worth nowadays when visibility was reduced mostly to peering into a wet misty fog. A light was on inside, in one of the rooms, like a beacon set against the gloom.

“Let's get moving,” Joel told them as he headed off towards the steps that curved up to a terrace on one side of the building.

Once at the door, it was Jack who asked, “What now?”

Mark pressed the round yellow ball on the wall before Joel could reply. Well, he told himself, they were here to see the professor and if he was here he's going to be inside, no point getting soaked.

The door opened with a click of the lock and they stepped inside. So far so good, Jack thought. As they were admiring the sleek modern interior of the house, a woman approached from a hallway off to the right.

“Professor Madison is busy right now,” she addressed Joel. “He asked me to find a room for you and your friends and he will be along to see you later.”

“Uh, okay, but how did he know it was me.” Joel was a bit taken aback by things. More specifically by the fact that his uncle was acting like they were expected.

The women smiled and pointed to two video cameras, one on each side of the room. No one had noticed these before, they were discrete, not hidden, but you needed to look.

They followed her up the staircase to the next level and along to a door which opened to reveal a large bedroom with one of those super king size beds in it.

“Great!” Mark exclaimed jumping onto the bed as soon as they were left alone.

□□□□□

“I know your brother Joel,” Steve told the boy who was looking at him through the slight opening.

“You do?”

“Yeah. Listen, is your mom there?”

Charlie pondered whether or not to give that information to this stranger, but he seemed okay. “Nah, she went out.”

“Oh. You wouldn't let me come in and wait for her would you?”

“I’m not supposed to answer the door,” Charlie told him.

“So why did you?”

“I dunno. It's kinda boring here alone. Guess I was curious.”

“I guess you was. So you gonna let me in?”

“I might get into trouble.”

“I reckon it won't be the first time you've gotten in trouble. Anyway, I'll explain to your mom when she gets back. I'll say it was all down to me.”

“Hm, okay then. Wait, I have to close the door first, to take off the chain.”

“I'm waiting then,” Steve smiled. He thought that Charlie was a bit like his big brother, mischievous.

Steve heard the door click shut, then almost immediately open again, this time without the chain.

“Come in then,” Charlie stood aside.

“So where's Joel?” Charlie asked.

“I don't rightly know exactly where he is now, but I was asked to find you and your mom. I'll explain it all when your mom gets back.”

“We had to move here cos of my uncle. He didn't want us going with him. I know that, I heard him tell my mom. She didn't know I was there.”

“That's kinda sneaky,” Steve told him.

“Guess,” Charlie grinned sheepishly, then looked at the floor.

“Hey, I won't say a word. You can trust me,” and he put a finger to his lips.

Charlie's grin changed into a full on smile. “I like you.”

“I like you too.”

They spent the next couple of hours talking and playing games. It was some time before Steve heard the front door open and Charlie rushed out to greet his mom.

“You were long, why'd you take so long? Where'd you go? You said you’d be back soon."

Charlie bombarded her with questions, but she looked right past him at Steve. If she was surprised or shocked she didn't show it. Instead she asked casually, “Who have we got here then?”

“This is Steve,” Charlie told her with some pride. “He's a friend of Joel's.”

“Hello Steve,” she looked in his direction, then back down to Charlie. “I thought I told you not to answer the door?”

“Yeah, but...” Charlie's answer faded when he realised he didn't know what to say.

“I think we should all sit down and Steve here can explain.” She smiled at Charlie then returned her gaze to Steve. “How about I make us all a nice hot chocolate. Would you like one Steve?”

“Yes thank you, and I'm sorry for pushing my way in. It really was me responsible, not Charlie.”

“I'm sure, but I also know my son.”

She put her things down and went to make the hot chocolate. Then after handing a mug to each of them and warning that it was hot, she listened as Steve explained about Kado and bringing them with him to Mount Columbus.

Had he worried over nothing? They were there and they would be coming back with him. There was really no problem, at least he couldn't see any.