Hello readers!

This chapter is just another intro and a bit of an orientation for Calb. There is a little confusion with change in setting in the middle, but I hope you won't have any problem with seeing the transition. Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------

On a quiet mountain path, two people are taking a leisurely walk. One is a short, elderly man with a very simple walking stick with a pointy end that gradually widens into a ball that’s slightly bigger than a palm, and the other is a young woman carrying a staff that could be used as a weapon. They are wearing simple traveling tunic, and both have a very simple cloth backpack on their shoulders. By looking at their attire, they seem to be on a journey, but their body language indicates that they are very familiar with this mountain path.

“Grandpa, can we take a little detour? We are a bit early, and I would like to take a scenic route today. What do you say?”

“Cooky, I know where you want to go, but if we take that far of a detour, it will be late when we get to the town, and we may have to sleep at an inn tonight.”

Cooky is a nickname that is used between granddaughter and her grandfather. The woman’s name is actually Serina. Serina and her grandfather lives up in the mountain, and they make a trip down to the town once a month to restock their supplies. They are pretty much self-sufficient up in the mountains, but life is a bit more leisurely when one doesn’t have to go out to catch a game or gather food everyday, thus the need for trips to town. Of course, this granddaughter and grandfather couple is not living up in the mountain just to laze around. In fact, they are martial artists.

“Why don’t we do just that? We have done well this month. We’ve found many precious herbs, and we have quite a bit of rabbit skins with us this time. We will have more than enough to splurge a little bit once we sell all these. Don’t you think your granddaughter deserve some pampering once in a while, huh? Besides, I’ve made a lot of progress this month too, didn’t I? It’s time for some celebration!” After months of training, Serina was ready for some well deserved break.

“Hmph! What progress are you talking about? When your mother was your age, she was already good enough to leave this mountain!”

Covering her mouth, Serina cries in shock, “What!? Grandpa, you want me to leave you that bad…, your precious Cooky?”

“A-hem! Hmm! Of course not. You are my precious granddau…. Don’t change the subject you little rascal!” Raising his walking stick, he motions to strike at her head.

Running away, Serina turns around to stick her little tongue out to her grandfather, and gleefully floats away, or rather, that was what she was planning to do, but she sees an unusual sight. On top of a big, hollowed out boulder down the path, there was a man sleeping with his mouth open. He wasn’t a bad looking guy, but at that moment, he appeared really silly with his mouth open and a drool hanging down his cheek. The man was Calb Colbert. Serina couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

Not making any noise, she motions to her grandpa to come quicker, and in quite voice, “Grandpa, look at that silly man. He’s sleeping with his mouth open. Isn’t he funny looking?” smiles Serina. “And look at his attire, he is wearing something weird, but isn’t the size too big for him? Shouldn’t I wake him up?”

Calb is wearing his usual jumpsuit, but he is no longer that gigantic old man with 75% machine for body parts. Naturally, he didn’t quite, look right. He looked as if he had lost about 200 pounds in his sleep.

“Just let him be. Why disturb someone’s sleep? Let’s go,” he shifted his weight to walk away, but Serina grabs his arm.

“But grandpa, we can’t leave a guy out here where the monsters can attack him. We must wake him up!”

“He should have thought about that before he decided walk all the way up the mountain just to sleep in the middle of nowhere! Just let the little fool sleep.”

“Maybe he is not from here grandpa. Just look at his attire. Have you seen anybody wear anything like this before? I am going to wake him,” she jumps on top of the boulder.

High up in the Continental Tower of North America, a young couple is having a conversation while waiting in line outside of one of the five space academies on planet Earth. Ever since the invasion by the Filton Empire 10 years ago, there have been no ends to people wanting to enlist in the service all over the galaxy, but back on Earth, due to heavy oppositions, it wasn’t until just recently that all the oppositions have been swayed, and thus allowing the military to recruit people with no hindrance. It is not that people were prevented from enlisting or getting into the space academy, but enlistment criteria for those that were born on Earth was a bit complicated in that there were some dangers.

For humans that were born out in the space or other sectors of the galaxy, it was a common practice for the babies to be injected with a nano-serum, and as they grow, the nanobots making up the nano-serum gradually incorporate themselves into the Central Nervous System, and create a second set of brain (nano-brain) that has many functions, one of which is, multilingual capability. Such was for the purpose of them to be able to talk to any alien life-form without a language barrier. Out in the space, such was seen as a personal advantage over others that had to rely on translation devices that slow down the communications between the species.

Even though having a nano-brain is an option as civilians, it was made mandatory for those that wished to serve in the military. So those that grew up without the nano-serum injection when they were babies, they were forced to be injected with the serum as an adult. The problem lies in the fact that because adult brains are already developed, there was a chance that they may experience permanent brain damage upon failed assimilation of the nanobots. It was a heatedly discussed topic on Earth. However, with the threat of Filton Empire ever increasing, the opposing parties were swayed, and thus the public was given the option to go ahead with the nano-serum injection at their own risk.

This change in policy caused floods of applicants, especially from the kids that just got out of high school. Such was the case because, regardless of the era, kids’ mentalities do not change much. There are always more than enough kids thinking about space adventures and becoming heroes. Of course that wasn’t the reason why many others joined, as they all have their own set of reasons. As for Calb, he was an orphan, and though his relationship with his foster family wasn’t bad, it wasn’t all that great either. He thought of making a new life for himself. He did have some patriotism for the Federation, but it was not so great that he was a fanatic. No, it was more for the hope of a new life. Life on Earth as an orphan didn’t appeal too well on Calb.

“Calb, are you really going to go through with it?” asked Christina. She didn’t really want him to go through with the nano-injection.

“Yeah, I have to. I have to make something out of myself,” answered Calb.

“Isn’t that why you went to college, to make something of yourself?”

“Well, that was the intent, when I started college, but I grew up Christina. I realized that unless you have a rich family backing you or you are a descendent of a famous family, you can’t move up in life. No body will look at you.”

“That isn’t true Calb, I can ask my father to help out. I know he can talk to some people and you can land a good paying job,” cried Christina.

“We’ve talked about this before Christina. Contrary to what you may think, your parents don’t like me. In fact, they don’t like that you are dating me…, don’t you get it yet? I see it in their eyes whenever you invite me over to your place. You just don’t realize it. Besides, I don’t want to have to depend on your parents to make something of myself.”

“You are being stubborn.”

Calb slowly shakes his head as he tenderly looks at his girl standing in front of him. “No, Christina. Even though my words may not mean much, and you may see it as my stubbornness, I know that I must do this…like I was born for life out in the space. There is something out there for me, and I must find that something. I was meant for this new era…it was meant to be.” It was a declaration stemming from inspiration of his soul…something that has been guiding him for a long time!

“But you know about the danger of this nano-injection,” seeing that he won’t be convinced, Christina attacks from different angle. “They say that some people became imbeciles because of the failed assimilations.”

“Then there were those that only had minor motor injuries also,” countered Calb. “Actually, there were more people that came out with only minor injuries than those that have become imbeciles.” Seeing that she won’t be convinced, Calb offered a compromise, “Listen, let’s do this then. You and I will always argue about this and if not this, the other matter about me joining the military. How about I make a promise to you? You know about different success rate of assimilation right? The cut-off for the enlistment is 89% right?” Nods Christina. “How about I promise you that if the assimilation on me is not 100% success, I will remain here on Earth?”

Hearing this, Christina immediately brightened. The reason for her the change in her complexion was because nearly nobody ever gets 100% success assimilation rate. “You promise right?” She was crossing her fingers!

“Yes, I promise,” replied Calb confidently. He really was confident that it would be perfect…because he was meant to go out there.

“Okay, we are ready for the injection,” says the nurse looking at Calb. “Now, you know about the procedure and the slight pain and disorientation that follow right?”

“Yep.”

“We will be monitoring you, as well as the nanobots, after the injection to see how smoothly the assimilation takes place, but you must understand that what we see here today of the result is only preliminary. It will still take at least a week before we have the final say so on the success of the assimilation. However, in case of 100% success, there are certain indications that will be made clear to us today that pretty much assures us that such will be so when the final result comes out a week from now. Of course we want you to achieve 100% assimilation, but it will still be okay even with 89% so no worries,” smiles nurse.

“Sounds good!” replies Calb, trying to sound optimistic.

A door opens and a man with a stethoscope walks in. “We all set here?” He looks around.

“Yes doctor,” replies the nurse.

“Hi, my name is Dr. Tannon. I will be the one that will be injecting the nanobots.” He offers his hand to Calb for a shake. “Now, I am sure nurse Sinko, here, informed you about the procedure right?”

“Yep,” replied Calb.

“Well, let’s get started then.”

Calb opens his eyes to find himself on a bed instead of the reclining chair he was sitting on. He didn’t remember anything about the procedure. All he remembered was the conversation he had with nurse Sinko. He was about to get up, but he was feeling a bit nauseous so he lied back down on the bed.

“Feeling a bit dizzy huh?” A familiar voice greeted him. Nurse Sinko walks over to him with a smile and says, “You remember what we talked about regarding the 100% assimilation rate?” Nods Calb. “You remember the part about the indications that pretty much guarantees success?” Calb nods again. “Well, it is sort of rare, but all of the indications did show up in your case. So it is most likely that you will achieve 100% assimilation. Congratulation!”

Feeling relieved, he breathed a sigh of relief. All he had to do now was let Christina know. He, all of a sudden, felt saddened. He loved her very much, and he wished that he could stay on Earth with her, but life on Earth was no longer what the history books used to say it was. There have always been rich folks, as well as the poor, but disparity between the two increased so much over the years, and even though college education has become free, it was equivalent to high school education of 21st century civilization in that college education was expected to be the bare minimum one must have in order to get any kind of job. Basic trend was that the rich remained on Earth, while most of the middle class left for the space, leaving the poor behind.

After a few more minutes, not to make Christina wait, Calb got nurse Sinko’s permission to leave. He didn’t know what to tell her. He knew she would ask him about the result, and he knew that she would be eyeing him like an eagle to make sure he does not lie. He had to tell her the truth.

As he walked out to the lounge, he saw her. It seemed Calb like she didn’t take her eyes off of the door to the surgery the whole time he was in there because she saw him even before he saw her. She was already looking all over him, from head to toe, trying to see whether anything has changed, not that she was hoping for anything wrong. She was just worried for him.

“Well, how did it go?”

“As you can see, it went well. I feel fine.”

Feeling relieved, she then asked, “What about the assimilation rate?”

Not wanting to sound too excited, Calb looked at his toes and said, “They still have to wait until a week from now, but they think that it will be 100%.” Calb looked up at Christina. All he saw was a woman with eyes brimming with tears not knowing what to do. As if she could no longer hold it in, she started to cry with a groan as she turned, and she bolted out of the lounge and kept on running!

“CHRISTINA!” He yelled her name out loud as he awoke….awoke?

When he oriented himself, he realized that he was lying on something hard and there was someone looking down on him. He looked up, and what he saw was Christina!?

“CHRISTINA!” he yelled with a shock.

“Ch-rees-tina? Wirtn toc gurash po? Chork buna garish ko. Garmean hashbok kuta po?”

“Ch-rees-tina? What are you saying? I don’t understand you. Do you know how to speak Garmean?” asked Serina, looking at the strange man that just woke up with a yell.

Of course the stranger was Calb Colbert. Serina went up on the boulder to wake up Calb, but he instead woke up yelling “Christina.” Then when he oriented himself, he saw Serina, and yelled “Christina” again, thinking he saw Christina. Well, the truth is, Serina looks just like Christina!

Sometimes, there are instances where two people look exactly alike when they are not really related. Perhaps one could reason that such phenomenon can happen when people of the same species intermingle or that genetic make up is not too different from lottery in that pure chance determines how one will look, and since, ultimately and most likely, all origin of men started out from single pair of man and a woman, then it could be possible, but how do one explain two beings from two different worlds looking exactly alike?

Hearing Serina speaking something foreign, Calb didn’t know how to react. First of all, after taking a good look at Serina, he realized that, even though she looks just like Christina, she isn’t Christina. Second, they obviously spoke different language. He wished that he still had the nanobot injections from when he was in the world of science, but he was in the world of magic now. There was no way that he would still have that second set of brain when all of other things of science technology disappeared when he crossed over to this world.

Serina, seeing the way the strange man looked at her and how something inside of him seemed to have settled, she gave another try at conversation with him. “Are… you… ok…ay? Are… you… lost?”

“Serina, he can hear you just fine. It is apparent that he does not know how to speak Garmean. There is no sense in speaking to him like he is a baby, hoping he will understand what you are saying just because you are saying it slow and loud,” rebukes her grandfather. That is true. No matter how clearly and slowly one speaks one’s language, the other will still have no idea what is being said to him.

At this point, her grandfather took over. He jumped onto the boulder, faced the two, and said, “Me,” pointing at himself, “Taron.” Then pointing at Serina, “Her, Serina.” Then he pointed at Calb and said, “You?”

Calb, catching on, pointed at himself and said, “Calb.”

Satisfied at the response, Taron, then, put his arm around Serina and pulled her close to him and then pointed at the two of them, “We,” then turned around to point at the mountain top, and then he pointed at Calb and said, “Calb where?” as he spread both his arms as if confused?

Calb clearly understood that Taron was asking where he came from. Not knowing how to explain, he looked at the sky and pointed at it.

At this point, both Serina and Taron didn’t know how to interpret Calb claiming he came from the sky. The two looked at each other to see the others reaction and realized that both were unison in confusion. To clarify again, Taron pointed at Calb and said, “You, sky?” as he pointed at the sky. Calb nodded.

Not knowing what to take of him, Taron pondered and then he squatted down, grabbed Calb’s clothing, and started to study it as he rub the material between his fingers. He realized that the cloth material was too well made and it was very squishy. It definitely wasn’t something that was made in Garmean, or any other country on the continent that he knew of.

After his discovery, Taron looked at Serina and said, “This cloth material is not something that is made anywhere on this continent. I can see that he is from somewhere I do not know about, but I can’t fathom him being from sky. I don’t recall hearing anything about another continent in the sky somewhere.”

“So what do we do?” asked Serina. “We can’t leave him here can we?”

“Yeah, we will at least have to take him with us to the town and let the town leaders decide what to do with him.” As if he made his decision, he got Calb’s attention and started to make gestures that indicated all three of them walk down to the town, as he pointed in the general direction of the valley. Calb, understanding that Taron wanted him to follow, nodded and was about to get up, but his oversized jumpsuit didn’t quite agree. Due to the cumbersomeness of the jumpsuit, he had bit of difficulty getting up, and when he did, he appeared as if a 10 years old kid was wearing a man’s jumpsuit.

Not being able to hold it in, Serina started to laugh apologetically. “Pfft ~ Pfft.” Serina tried to cover her mouth, but it was just too funny!

Feeling a bit sorry for the guy, Taron motioned Serina to settle down, and as if he had an idea, he pulled out some strings and gave them to Calb, motioning him to wrap the lose flaps with the strings.

Receiving the strings, Calb went to work, but he was getting embarrassed because he noticed that Serina was trying very hard not to laugh, watching him trying to secure a gigantic jumpsuit to his body with difficulty.

“PFFT ~ PAHAHA!” Finally letting out an explosion of laugh, she grabbed the strings from Calb, laid her hands on his shoulders to indicate he is to stay still and started to secure his jumpsuit around Calb’s body.

Calb didn’t know what to feel. Here she is, a girl from another world, a magical world that has no connection to the scientific world, looking just like his long lost love. At this point, many things were going around inside of his head. First was that he felt ridiculous and foolish for being caught wearing something so big. Second was the discomfort felt being in a foreign land where he didn’t know how to speak the native language, followed by discomfort of being taken care of by strangers. But most importantly, his heart was beating hard and fast with accompaniment of a warm feeling in his heart. It was like all of his emotion from 70 years ago compounded by all of the sadness and regret he had felt during all of those years of stealing a look of her holographic image was about to burst with an urge to hold her in his arms once again. He had forgotten what it was like to feel a woman’s hand on his body; He had forgotten the tingling sensation that shoots up to his spine; He had forgotten feeling woman’s breath on his face; and he had forgotten the scent of a woman he loved!

A light pat on his back pulled him back to his senses. “All done,” says Serina as if she was satisfied with her work. She had pulled all of the loose flaps, evenly distributing the length of the flap to equal both sides as she brought them together to meet in the back. The flaps on the extremities were all handled in a similar manner and, with the strings in the strategic locations around Calbs body, Calb was back wearing a lean jumpsuit!

Appraising the fine adjustment and feeling satisfied, Taron motioned the two to go, and Calb followed, as Serina quickened her pace to walk beside her grandfather, but as he was following, a sudden sensation started to tingle behind the base of his head.

________________________________

There you have it folks!

The intro was kind of bland, but I hope you found it informative, and at least solved some questions you might have had.

Until next time! :)

-----MooShoo-----