Another Excerpt from A New Face Chapter 31

 

(An excerpt from A New Face: A Time Traveler's Companion Chapter 31)

Juggling school and work is challenging enough, but traveling with Mr. Smith takes it to a whole new level of exhaustion. We explored multiple worlds, and it was during our visit to one particular planet that everything shifted dramatically. He took me to a planet named Vygel, its landscape was beautiful and rich with scattered crystals all over the soft lithe, rust colored sands. The crystals were red in color too. They reminded me of the crystal pendant Melanie had around her neck the day we went to the nightclub in the year 2315.

 Every time I think about it, I shudder because Mr. Smith was there and saw me with them. That is why he was upset with me and tried to show me why he wouldn’t possess my body if I was alive but, in a way, I am glad he did because I learned something profound about him. His time is coming, and he will need another body, but I feel he has one in storage already. I plan on venturing to that room, with the man size glass cylinder ominously sitting at the center. I will look and see if any of those other containers have bodies too. He won’t die, his body will decay, and he’ll be forced to discard it eventually. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, while he moved the crystals on the matrix table, switching their positions. A holographic projection hovered above the matrix table, displaying a map of the galaxy. He turned to me, noting my deep contemplation and pressed, “You seem lost in thought,” he remarked, eyeing the hologram with interest, “What’s on your mind?”

 “You,” I replied, casting him a loving gaze.

“I trust those thoughts are pleasant,” he said with a playful wink, tilting his head toward the corridor leading to his bedroom. I chuckled softly, feeling a mix of amusement and longing. “Um, I was thinking about what would happen if,” I paused, leaning my back against the pillar with my arms crossed, I continued, “What if you got hurt to a point that you will have to discard your body?” He sighed, “Don’t think about it, I am fine. We have been careful, and I don’t want you to worry,” he said with a wistful smile. I nodded but little did I know that venturing to Vygel was going to change everything. We stumbled upon a local creature that caught our attention. It had vibrant green and yellow scales, a snake-like head, yellow eyes, sharp teeth, claws, and a long tail. The creature could move on all fours and can stand upright as well to a height of about 7 feet if it wanted to. As we gathered the crystals, it had been quietly tracking us. While scanning the surroundings, I caught sight of something creeping closer, almost hidden from view. Its camouflage made it hard to detect, revealing only a glimmer when sunlight struck its scales. In a panic, I abandoned the scanner and sprinted toward Mr. Smith.

“Mr. Smith, something unknown is coming!” I yelled, but my warning came too late. The creature ran in full throttle on all fours toward us, and Mr. Smith stood between me and the creature.

It knocked him down, tearing away at his protective suit. The armor he was wearing wasn’t enough to shield him from the long, five-inch-thick claws the creature had; it ripped through the armor like butter. I screamed and I got its attention, long enough for Mr. Smith to take out his weapon and fire. He stunned it long enough for him to summon the monolith. He fell to his knees because the reptile humanoid creature bit him several times and no doubt the poison was running fast into his blood stream. I ran to him and helped him inside the monolith. The monolith created a shield around itself so that nothing can penetrate it while Mr. Smith was incapacitated. I waited outside of the infirmary, much like before when he was shot in the 1930s. I paced back and forth, anxiously awaiting the results of his condition. “Is he doing, okay?” I asked the AI. “Yes. He will be fine. But he should take another body soon.”

“No, he doesn’t want to,” I said, in protest. I pondered, “He will eventually take a new body, it’s inevitable.” I gulped and sighed. I thought about my birthday and the times we shared together. I wiped tears from my eyes and exhaled. He told me that he is prepared for every contingency that might arise but just like the attack by that creature, I’m wary

and ambivalent of his decisions. He is careless and yet he shows no fear of the unknown.

“Can I see him?”

“No,” the AI responded. I wandered around the corridors and rooms. Some were furnished and others weren’t. I went to the pool room. I smiled, remembering when we first dipped our naked bodies into the warm water. I chose to step inside, hoping it might ease my angst. I removed the black bodysuit, boots, and pendant, laying my clothes on a nearby pool chair and delicately placing the pendant on top. The poolroom features black walls decorated with geometric patterns, similar to those throughout the monolith, complemented by a few black lounge chairs. The ceiling light casts shimmering reflections on the water's surface. I dived in, feeling the warm water against my skin, soothing my nerves, and relaxing my senses. I closed my eyes, and imagined him with me, touching my body: kissing me. Then a holographic image appeared a few feet above me, I swam backwards to take a better look at what the AI was showing me. On the screen, it flashed images of the first time Mr. Smith and I were together in the pool. It was like watching a movie. Ethereal music played in the background to heighten the mood; I gulped and stared in awe. I know that the AI records

everything so it’s safe to say that it recorded us in our most intimate moments as well. My forehead creased in confusion, and I winced at the idea, responding with a frown, “Please stop showing me that.”

 “Why not? It will help clear your mind and boost your sexual desire.”

“Why do you want me to feel sexually excited?” I questioned, my suspicion growing. “Mr. Smith has requested it. His healing is nearly finished,

and he needs your sexual energy to rejuvenate himself. I proposed he use your body, but he declined. Still, he’s on his way to the regeneration chamber as we speak.”

“Wait, what?” I exclaimed. There was a heavy silence between us for a moment.

“What do you mean?’ I pressed.

“The healing process is complete but now he must go to the regeneration chamber.” I swam toward the edge of the pool and hoisted myself out. I stood there, naked and I dried myself with a towel that was set on one of the lounge chairs. I picked up my clothes and went to his bedroom. There was a black robe folded nicely on the bed, so I slipped it on. After that, I left his room and headed toward the regeneration chamber. But the AI had locked the door and wouldn’t let me in.

“Why won’t you let me in?” I questioned. 

“It’s for your own safety. You need to understand that.” it responded. I sighed in frustration and said, “Alright, I’ll just head back to his room then.” As I entered his room, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and thoughts of Mr. Smith and our magnetic relationship swirled in my mind. “Is he just using me for a boost of sexual energy whenever he needs it? No, he truly loves me; I can sense it. That foolish

sense it. That doubt crept in. My gaze drifted to his bed, and I sighed, reminiscing about the countless moments we had shared there. “Mr. Smith, I hope you recover soon. I miss you,” I whispered to myself. Time passed and I was becoming restless. “I want to know how he is doing?”

“You must be patient,” the AI responded. I huffed, “No, I am going to go see him.” I exited his room and with determination I made my way to the regeneration room. I pounded at the door, “Let me in,” I said, a frown creased my face. Suddenly the AI let the door slide open. The lighting was dim inside giving off that dark sinister vibe. I cautiously approached the towering glass cylinder; its interior shrouded in a fog that blurred my view of whatever lay within. As I reached out to touch the surface, a chilling cold shot through my fingers, prompting me to pull my hand away. Stepping back, I surveyed the room and noticed an unusual bio-skin material spread across the floor. It looked fresh and it was similar to the strange bio-skin that wrapped my body when I was injured. I gave a nervous sigh and started to walk out of the room when suddenly I was shot by some kind of electricity that knocked me out. I woke up on the bed in the infirmary. 

“Damn it,” I muttered. I was paralyzed from the waist down; I took a deep breath.

“What happened to me,” I whispered to myself.

“You will be fine; Mr. Smith wants to keep you from moving. You must sleep now.” And with that, everything went black due to the AI rendering me unconscious. 

(images are for the readers entertainment.)

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 Part 3-Chapter 16