Embrace the Fog

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Sago - English Translation

At the convention of Year 674.658 of The Meeting it has been agreed by all participating life identities that the intelligent species of the known galaxies shall be divided into four categories. These are solids, androids, gaseous or organic intelligent species, henceforth known as s**o.

Individual life forces can select the category they wish to be incorporated into. However, for simplicity's sake it is not recommended that more than one category per life force is selected. In stating this, the Federated Council is prepared to recognise the rights of individual species to abstain from being included in any category and to also amend the categories, if or when new life forces not yet contacted or known in our universes, wish to be known as intelligent identities.

Earlier agreements of mutual respect for each intelligent species' right to be alive are not altered by this classification nor are the agreed protocols of what intelligent species are.

*

Kevin Petersen rolled the epaper up, tossed the rubberised cylinder aside and stared at his companions, partner Susan Roden, her brother Nick and sisters Jacey and Azaria who were all sitting across the evacuation chamber. "Didn't work, did it? The war is all but lost and humans will be superseded by androids, either by mass g******e or compulsory electronic genetic modification."

"Does it matter now?" Susan whispered. "With more important things happening I don't know why you waste your time going back over those ancient historical papers, anyway."

Kevin glanced up. "Because finding out about the past may have stopped us from repeating our ancestors' mistakes."

"Where did you get this old script anyway?" Nick appeared to be the only other person really interested. Perhaps it was a gender thing.

Kevin shrugged. "By mistake actually. My pack originally held stuff I was studying at the university. In haste, I shoved my clothes on top and it ended up coming with me." He grinned. "Better reading than playing those mental warp games you do all the time, Nick."

"Oh leave him alone, Kevin," Jacey cut in. "At least he followed your advice and doesn't get high on hallucinatory pops most of the other teenagers on the ship have become addicted to." She reached over and affectionately squeezed her brother's arm. He was the youngest in their family and was almost mothered by his three sisters.

Nick grinned and turned back to Kevin. "I've talked to the fog and they hinted that they would watch over us."

"Didn't you mean you used telepathy" Jacey replied. "How can a fog talk?"

"By taking over a human body for a few moments."

Jacey laughed. "I think your imagination is going too far, Nick."

Nick grinned. "So I was talking to you?"

"Me?"

"The fog took over your body. Said you were asleep and wouldn't need it for a few moments."

Jacey paled. "I did fall asleep," she gasped.

"Don't worry Jacey, no harm came out of it," Susan said. "You know how mysterious these gaseous life forms are, don't you?"

Kevin frowned. Two gaseous intelligent forms were aboard Starcruiser 164 to help them get through the android blockade around Planet Gamma 6, one of the last human outposts to surrender to the enemy. However, even with their help after the destruction of the planet their escape had been followed. In his opinion, the fogs were dubious allies at the best.

*

Without warning, a siren shrieked and flashing blue and red lights lit up the chamber. There wasn't even an electronic announcement into their minds. This was bad!

After five seconds of dead silence a metallic voice, like those used in ancient craft from a museum, echoed through the tiny space, "Life support and artificial gravity are off line. Your air supply cannot be replenished. Your personal time/space continuum codes have been activated. You have five minutes to use them or risk expiry."

At the same time gravity disappeared and only his restraining belt stopped him from floating towards the ceiling. Everyone looked scared.

"We were told never to use the codes unless it was a life or death situation," Susan gasped as she floated ten centimetres above her seat.

"And this isn't?" Azaria yelled.

"We have to do it together." Kevin moved his tongue across to his right wisdom tooth. It felt loose and warm just as he had been told in the original instructions. All he had to do was to push it.

"I'm ready," Susan reached out and gripped his hand.

"Me, too," Nick sounded nervous.

"Mine's loose," Azaria added.

"Do it on three, Kevin," Jacey whispered.

Kevin nodded and looked at the intense expressions of those around. He loved Susan and her family. They had come through so much together.

"On three!" he said. "One… two … three."

He pushed his tooth forward and felt agonising pain as the evacuation chamber exploded and disappeared. The last thing he remembered was that Susan's hand wasn't holding his any longer.

*

Kevin felt terrible with the world spinning around, his teeth aching and stomach queasy. Slowly he managed to focus on the surroundings. He was lying on a bed in a small room with pale blue walls and a curtain across the front. A tube was connected to his right arm. He was in some sort of medical room but the various items around looked strange and antiquated.

Beside the bed was a small cabinet with a flask of water and tumbler on top. He lay there for a moment until the nausea subsided before he continued his inspection. A small window showed a hillside of old houses outside while to the left there was a small corkboard with notices attached. They were the usual list of institute instructions and rules but to the left was a black and white calendar with a drawing of a kitten at the top. The month on display was March but the date beside it made him gasp.

It stated 1951!

He spied a red button attached to a tube beside the cabinet so reached out and pressed it. Within seconds, a nurse in white uniform and starched cape rushed in. She stared at him with an astonished look on her face that changed to a smile.

"Hello," she said. "I am Sister Wallace. I see you are awake … err… sorry we have not been able to find out your name."

"Kevin, Kevin Petersen. Where am I?"

"Wellington Hospital. You've been here three days. You were involved in a traffic accident and have been in a coma. I'll get the doctor."

"No wait," Kevin said. "Was there anyone with me? My family…" He stopped and attempted to gather his thoughts. Vague images filtered through his mind of an attractive woman smiling at him. In the background were two younger women and a teenage boy.

Sister Wallace picked up a clipboard attached to the end of the bed, flicked back two pages and read through the first notes. She wrote Kevin's name down after asking him how his surname was spelt and read silently for a moment before glancing up,

"No. You were found unconscious beside the highway, a victim of what the police believe was a hit and run incident. As far as I know, there were no witnesses to the accident and nobody has come forward about it. Police are making inquiries and have asked to speak to you if you regained consciousness." She grimaced. "We thought you might not awaken."

Kevin nodded. "Can I have a drink of water, please?"

"Of course." The nurse poured some from the flask into the tumbler and handed it to him. "Now, if you can tell me the name of your wife or family I'll contact them. They must be worried about you."

Kevin frowned. The vision in his mind sort of quivered and faded, He knew he should know who they were but no name came to him. "I don't know," he gasped. "I can see her in my mind." Panic rose and his voice with it. "Please Nurse Wallace, can you help? The only thing I remember is my name. That's it! Just my name. Nothing else. I don't even know what country I'm in."

Nurse Wallace nodded. "You are in Wellington, New Zealand, Kevin and you speak without any accent so are definitely a New Zealander. Please don't worry about the memory lapse. This often happens in cases like yours. I'm sure everything will come back to you within a few hours." She placed the clipboard back. "I'll get the doctor. He's a specialist and will be able to explain things better than myself."

"Thank you." Kevin lay back and attempted to remember but if anything his memory had faded. What was it that he was thinking about before? Was there a… damn… he had no idea. The taste of blood in his mouth didn't help the situation. He was sure some of his teeth were missing.

*