A Time Traveler's Companion: Chapter 19: Another Secret-Excerpt

 

(Excerpt from Chapter 19: Another Secret)

Trigger warnings: Sexual content

In the previous chapter, Mr. Smith sustained injuries during their latest adventure on another planet and was recuperating in the infirmary. Meanwhile, Remi, feeling restless, decided to explore the intriguing yet peculiar rooms and corridors of the monolith. As she wandered through the vast time ship, she stumbled into the main control room and inadvertently touched one of the crystals on the matrix table, resulting in a powerful shock that knocked her out. When Mr. Smith finally emerged from the infirmary, he discovered her unconscious on the floor and promptly carried her to his room, laying her on his bed until she regained consciousness. Although she had been traveling with him for weeks, once he returns her home, it will feel as if she never left at all.

I would like to mention that Remi is currently 18 years old and approaching 19. It seems important to provide this information for context. Also she still lives with her parents.

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    I found myself lying on his bed. Rubbing my eyes, everything looked blurry then as my vision cleared, I looked around. My clothes were neatly folded on the sofa in his room. I lifted the sheets and discovered I was completely naked, I gasped.

 “What happened?” I said to myself.

“Mr. Smith will be in to explain,” said the AI.

“Oh great,” I paused and realized that I might’ve been here for a few days, well it kinda felt like it.

 “No, oh shit, my parents are going to lose their minds.” Mr. Smith walked into the room, his attire incomplete. He had black cotton pajama pants but was shirtless, and I found myself unable to look away; his face was etched with unmistakable indignation. Gradually, I pushed myself up and leaned against the headboard, wrapping the sheets around me for warmth. He came closer and sat down next to me on the bed. “Remi, do you recall when I warned you about the crystals?” I nodded, feeling like a reprimanded child. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, pressing my lips together and gently biting my lower lip. He let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. “You’ll be okay,” he said, then hesitated.

 “But what?” I asked. He shook his head, “It’s nothing, but please don’t let it happen again.” He smiled and kissed my lips. I got the distinct impression that I should be worried, but I decided not to ask him for more information. He stood up. “There is something else,” he said. I gulped, “What is it?”

“When you touched the crystal, the AI scanned your memories.” His brow furrowed, and a flush of anger crept across his face. My eyes widened in realization; he didn’t have to utter a single word. He had pieced together everything about seeing Melanie at the nightclub in 1936 and not telling him and going with her on another time travel escapade, which I had kept from him. I exhaled deeply, “I made a mistake, just try to see it from my perspective,” I implored. He turned his gaze away, clearly let down, before meeting my eyes once more. Rising to his feet, he faced me with his arms folded.

 “You’re not going anywhere,” he said, taking a moment. “I need to think about what to do next, alright?”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, but he just stayed quiet, which made me restless.

“Hold on, why?” I paused choosing my words carefully, “Okay, I went with her, but you’re the one I choose to travel with, don’t you get it? And what’s the big deal about traveling with Melanie? What are you not telling me?”

“Do you really want to know the truth?” I nodded. “She’s only interested in you as a potential companion because she’s checking you out,” he replied.

“What do you mean?” He settled back on the bed next to me, his face close to mine. “She’s probably after another body, and I think she picked you just because you’re with me. We’re not a couple anymore; we’re rivals now,” he paused, “well I see it that way. I fear that she’s trying to snatch you from me out of spite. I shook my head and said, “You’ve got it all wrong.” Then a thought hit me, and I asked, “So, am I just your possession, like a pet?” He stared at me without saying a word. “So, it’s true, I am his pet, his plaything, maybe his next body, I thought to myself. I trembled. “She is afraid,” the AI interjected.

“Damn that AI,” I mused and frowned. Letting out a deep sigh I asked, “Can I go home?” He responded with a weary sigh, “Not at this moment,” before rising to his feet and exiting the room without a backward glance. Left in solitude, I turned to the AI, seeking to uncover the events that transpired between him and Melanie, leading up to the moment he crossed paths with me. At first, the AI seemed reluctant to share any information, but after a brief pause, a holographic screen materialized in front of me, coming to life and showcasing the moments of their last day together. I won’t sugarcoat it; my heart ached as I witnessed the tender moments they shared. The scene shifted to when Melanie entered his room, taking a portion of the money from every era known to man, before slinging the brown leather messenger bag over her shoulder. I spotted the quantum time manipulator strapped to her wrist. She probably acquired it without his knowledge, clever. In a flash, Melanie sprinted out of the room toward the main control room. Meanwhile, Mr. Smith was oblivious, enjoying a shower and unaware of the unfolding chaos. “Why didn’t you stop her?” I questioned the AI.

“I had no directive to do so,” it responded. My brow furrowed as my suspicion deepened. The AI displayed the location from which Melanie had escaped from Mr. Smith. It turned out they were in the 1950s, which explained the vintage attire she was wearing at the time. As soon as she exited the monolith, she activated the quantum time manipulator and disappeared. "I can't believe she actually pulled that off," I exclaimed. The AI then displayed the moment Mr. Smith encountered me. At that point, he had been on a quest through time to find Melanie. The AI revealed to me, "Mr. Smith had been searching for Melanie for quite some time, but she managed to stay one step ahead. It appears she found someone to help her remain concealed from him." I gasped and whispered, "Jack."

"When Mr. Smith found you, he had tracked her to that spot using the device implanted in her. However, she quickly caught on to his pursuit. With the quantum time manipulator, she transported onto her companion's ship, who was tasked to kill Mr. Smith. He was the man you saw on the hill." I was in shock, struggling to absorb this revelation.

"No," I breathed. A hush fell over the conversation before the AI resumed, “Her new companion took aim at Mr. Smith, but you stepped in front of him and Jack couldn’t get a clear shot. In response, Melanie communicated with him through an earpiece, instructing him to hold off. When you looked back up at the hill before entering the monolith, the man disappeared because he too has a quantum time manipulator.” I remained silent, pondering, then I asked, “Wait a minute. I do remember that moment and Mr. Smith had told me that the man I saw on the hill was coming toward the monolith and then he asked me to make a choice, to go with him or not.”

“Correct,” it replied. With a deep sigh escaping my lips, I found myself momentarily speechless, but eventually I whispered, “Thank you for sharing the truth with me.” At the time, the AI only revealed a portion of the truth. Tears began to stream down my face just as Mr. Smith entered the room. He looked at me, taken aback by my tears, unaware of the reason behind them. I doubt the AI was meant to unveil what it did. “I regret what I said Remi," he hesitated, "My love for you is so deep that I fear you might abandon me, just like Melanie did." In that instant, it dawned on me that his actions were rooted in his own insecurities. How could someone so strikingly handsome and full of life experience such doubt? I wiped my tears and said, "I love you too." 

He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine with a gentle urgency, and soon we were wrapped in each other’s arms, with an intensity that ignited every nerve of my being. He made love to me, his arms enveloping me tightly as if I were the very air he breathed. When he entered me, it was with a powerful thrust, dominant and passionate. His thick member stretching me in ways that sent waves of pleasure coursing through my body. Each thrust was deep and relentless, igniting a fire within me that left me breathless, teetering on the edge unconsciousness. Afterwards we lay in each other’s arms, enjoying the afterglow. As time passed, we journeyed to two different worlds. One was a desert planet, its crimson sands stretching endlessly. The beauty was breathtaking, with the winds carving serpentine patterns across the dunes. Scattered throughout the sands were numerous quartz crystals, but Mr. Smith was on the hunt for something very specific. “Mr. Smith, where are we headed?” 

“Ah, Butterfly, I’m on the hunt for an entrance to a tunnel that leads to an underground chamber housing an artifact that I’ve been seeking,” he answered with sincerity. I couldn’t help but smile and let out a sigh. He scoffed and chuckle softly, “What was that sigh about?” He shot me a quick look as he filled a small glass vial with sand and tucked it away in the pocket of his bodysuit. He stood up. I held the magnetic wave scanner firmly in my hands, my mind drifting back to thoughts of home. It was evident that he had no intention of returning me home—not yet, and a surge of anxiety flooded over me as memories of my family and friends filled my thoughts. As he stood before me, I asked with worry, “Will you ever take me back home?”

He sighed deeply, “Remi, I will. I just want you here with me right now. Remember, I can return you to the exact moment we left.” I nodded, feeling a sense of defeat. He motioned for me to pass him the gun and began to survey the area around us. Our helmets crackled with the AI's voice through the intercom, stating, “The entrance is thirty feet to the south.” The winds howled a bit, but thankfully our environmental bodysuits protected us from both the gusts and the intense heat of the dual suns overhead. And yes, this system has two suns. We’ve finally found the way into the tunnels. Initially, it felt like a cave, but as we moved deeper, it changed dramatically; stone steps wound downwards, and to our astonishment, large glowing crystals were set into the walls, lighting our way as we went down. Once we reached the final staircase, we emerged into another tunnel, where more of those radiant crystals adorned the walls, and the floor was lined with cobblestone path that we treaded on with caution. Then we faced a metal circular door. “What now?” I asked.

“I’ve got a way to open it,” he replied, pulling out an unusual gadget that resembled

a handheld scanner, measuring about six inches long and two inches wide. It was sleek and black, adorned with a gold stripe running through the middle. He positioned the device above the lock, and I could hear a series of beeps each time the key materialized on the scanner. The door opened and my eyes caught sight of another long tunnel. “Mr. Smith, where are we headed?” 

“I adore your curiosity, my dear. The AI will lead the way,” he replied.

 I held the magnetic wave scanner gun. He nonchalantly brought up that the large device is known as the MR-649. While it bears some resemblance to a weapon, it is more like a metal detector, well sort of. It functions on a significantly more sophisticated level, though. Mr. Smith keeps his pistol securely holstered at his waist. He said that one day he will show me how to use one of those sci-fi looking pistols of his, one day. The AI's voice echoed through the intercom, "You're almost there."

Mr. Smith exhaled deeply, and relief washed over him. As we rounded the bend, the rough granite walls of the tunnel gave way to a smooth, unfamiliar metal surface. A strange blue glow illuminated our path from above, guiding us toward a circular metal door that was securely locked. Mr. Smith activated the scanner to gain access, and with a careful nudge, he opened the door slightly and gestured for me to stay back while he assessed the area for any potential threats. Just as he stepped inside, a series of lasers shot out, illuminating the space. He quickly leaped back. “Damn it,” he exclaimed. 

“Will we be able to enter without getting killed?” I asked him, clearly worried about this venture.

“Yes,” he replied and called on the AI for assistance. The AI sent him a layout of the chamber and informed him of any booby traps that might be present.

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A Time Traveler's Companion: Chapter 12 Excerpt

 

(This is an excerpt from Chapter 12: Traveling with Melanie)

It was September, and I was sitting in my room, completely absorbed in my laptop and the class assignments I had to finish. Out of nowhere, a portal popped up right where the monolith usually sits, catching me completely off guard. To my astonishment, Melanie stepped out of it. My heart raced, and I could hardly believe my eyes.

 "What are you doing here? My parents are downstairs, and as for my brother—well, forget him; he’s not around," I exclaimed, a hint of irritation creeping into my voice as I pondered his mysterious whereabouts. It was puzzling how he had spent nearly the entire summer out with friends, while I had been preoccupied with Mr. Smith and now this surprise visit from Melanie. It seems we both have secrets.

   “Have you thought about my offer?” I shut my laptop and pivoted my chair to face her, contemplating the proposal she had just laid out. With my arms crossed, I responded, “Alright, I’ll join you this one time, but I can’t shake the feeling that Mr. Smith might catch wind of this,” casting her a concerned glance. “You don’t need to fret about that,” she replied with a casual shrug. “Now, come here, little Bird, and take my hand.” She had a medium brown leather messenger bag slung across her chest, and from it, she retrieved another quantum time manipulator.

With a swift motion, she slapped it onto my wrist and secured it tightly. “So, how does this thing work?” I asked as I rose to my feet, curiosity piqued.

 “You just have to hold my hand while we travel,” she explained, her tone both reassuring and excited. “And where exactly are we headed?” I pressed, eager to know what awaited me on this unexpected journey.

  "How about we take a trip to the 1920s?" she suggested, her finger dancing over the button of her quantum time manipulator. In an instant, we found ourselves standing in a vast, desolate field.

  "What just happened? Where are we?" I stammered, a wave of nausea washing over me as I fought the urge to be sick. 

"Welcome to April 1926," she replied with a grin. As I looked around, a wave of confusion washed over me; this was supposed to be my hometown, but it felt completely foreign, stripped of the familiar homes and buildings that wouldn’t be built for another seventy-five years.

 “So, there’s absolutely nothing here, where do we even go?” She pressed another button and grabbed my hand, and suddenly we found ourselves standing right in front of the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles.

Once a posh spot, it fell from grace during the Great Depression and turned into a rundown hotel notorious for all sorts of shady dealings. The hotel boasts seven hundred rooms and three hundred one suites, a massive space that holds a lot of stories from its colorful past. “Wow, I can’t believe we’re in the 1920’s,” I paused and added, “But our clothes?” I looked at my clothes. “Yeah, they do stand out,” she said and added, “We will go to the nearest boutique clothing shop and buy clothes that fit this era.” She waved down a taxi. The man driving the taxi looked at us skeptically.

  “Take us downtown,” Melanie said and gave him an extra fare. "How did you manage to get that cash?" I murmured, settling into the seat beside her in the taxi. With a playful wink, she replied, "Zyrius always said to be ready for anything," and she squeezed my hand gently. “I took some of the money from every era that he had stashed hidden in one of his drawers.” I glanced over at her and couldn’t help but think, “Hmm, perhaps that’s why he’s so mad at her, aside from the fact that she managed to slip away from him.” When the taxi pulled up in downtown Los Angeles, Melanie and I stepped out and began to wander the streets in search of a boutique. After a short stroll, we discovered one that caught our eye and decided to enter. As we walked in, the woman at the cash register looked us over with a puzzled expression and asked, "Can I assist you with something?"

   “Yes, we need clothes to wear can we browse to see what there is?” Melanie asked. The woman who was dressed in 1920’s clothes gave us a nod and smiled. The boutique seemed very elegant. I mentioned to Melanie, "Mr. Smith typically keeps clothes in the monolith, all set for wearing." Melanie replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Yes, Zyrius is always ready, isn't he?" Her eye roll suggested a complicated past between them, possibly one tinged with resentment. We selected several outfits from the racks and headed to the dressing room to try them on. Most of the clothes suited me well, and Melanie looked stunning.

   “Can we wear what we got on?” She asked the clerk. “Sure, as long as you pay.” Melanie pulled out money from her messenger bag, it was 1920’s money. The woman’s eyes widened; she is overwhelmed by the amount of money Melanie is carrying. “Um, I am an explorer; archeologist, and this is my assistant,” Melanie told the cashier as she gestured toward me. The woman breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, of course that is why you both were wearing those other outfits.” She smiled and accepted the money. We walked out wearing fine 1920’s attire. Melanie waved down a taxi and we went back to the Cecil Hotel.

 “We’ll get a room here,” Melanie said. We walked into the lobby; it was very distinguished and classy. Melanie paid for one guest room, one bed and we went upstairs.

  "What are your thoughts on this place?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. I found myself captivated by the vintage charm that surrounded us, despite everything being brand new.

  "This is really impressive," I responded, my voice filled with enthusiasm. “But in my time, the Cecil Hotel is rather rundown and has a dark history,” I added. As I approached the ornate mirror, I realized my hairstyle clashed with the historical ambiance, prompting me to quickly roll my hair up and secure it with pins to achieve a more fitting look. Turning back to her, I nodded appreciatively and said, "It's truly lovely. I really enjoy it." A broad smile spread across my face, and Melanie's eyes lit up with delight at my reaction. She let out a playful scoff, her own smile mirroring my excitement.

   "I think I know why Zyrius, or rather Mr. Smith, finds you so captivating." I looked at her and asked, "Why do you think?" I sat beside her on the bed.

  "It's because you perceive the world with such innocent and refreshing eyes," she replied, a hint of admiration in her voice. A gentle smile crept across my face as my brown eyes locked onto hers, filled with curiosity. "I hope it's not too forward to ask, but what happened between you and Mr. Smith? What led you to part ways with him and how did you acquire the body?" She took a deep breath, her expression turning serious as her brow furrowed. "Are you certain you want to hear this?" I affirmed with a nod. She gulped, “As you already know, I was with him from the start. When he took on a physical form in the 1500s, his desire was to find me a vessel of my own. Unlike him, I was not inclined to inhabit a body, yet he was insistent on the matter. Our journey through the ages brought us to the late 1800s, where we found ourselves on a sprawling farmland in the United States, in Montana. Melanie, the person whose body I now share, used to call that place home. It was in that very spot that we first crossed paths. At just 23 years old, she was on her way back home from a day in town, strolling along a dusty road. She was balancing a canvas bag filled with groceries, her long blonde hair dancing in the warm summer breeze, while her ankle-length dress flowed gracefully around her. Her feet were clad in well-worn black shoes, a testament to her humble lifestyle. The young woman was minding her own business, probably thinking about her husband or someone that she loves, then suddenly the monolith appeared a few yards away from her,” Melanie paused as her mind remembered that faithful day.

“It horrified the poor woman, the sound that the monolith made was otherworldly; she turned to run but suddenly Zyrius touched a crystal on the matrix table and the woman froze, she couldn’t move. Suddenly, she collapsed to the ground, as if an invisible force was pulling her legs down, making it impossible for her to stay upright. 

Zyrius had completely transformed his appearance; he wasn't in those old 1500's clothes anymore. We had made our way to Tarislee, where he picked out a whole new wardrobe, got rid of his beard, and even had a fresh haircut. The change was striking, he looked nothing like the disheveled peasant he used to be.”

  “I imagined he had treated himself at the day spa, where he was groomed and pampered,” I said to myself. Melanie gave me a nod, “You’re right,” she said and continued her story, “He emerged from the monolith and approached the terrified woman. Tears streamed down her cheeks; she pleaded for mercy. “Hello, I’m Mr. Smith,” he said, pausing to kneel beside her. “Are you interested in joining me on an adventure through time and space?”

 His gaze lingered on her, thoughtfully assessing her, while his fingers gently caressed her flowing, curly locks. I was observing from within the monolith on the screen, noting how his eyes glowed with a predatory allure, suggesting a desire that was far from innocent. Paralyzed with fear, she could only stare at him in confusion, yet her hands remained free to resist as Zyrius seized her by the hair, forcefully pulling her into the depths of the monolith.” Melanie released a deep, weary sigh, and an uncomfortable silence enveloped us. I remembered that Mr. Smith had mentioned the same thing when we first met. It makes me wonder, if I had turned him down and not gone with him, would he had taken me anyway?

I heard cheerful sounds floating up to the room, it’s probably in one of the rooms, next to the lobby. I think in later years, they ended up getting rid of that party room. I wasn't sure if it was a private event going on, but I had a feeling Melanie would be interested in joining the fun.

 To fill the void, I asked, "What happened after he took her inside?" She let out another heavy sigh before replying, "After he brought her inside, the AI recommended that he examine her body. He gently stroked the woman’s cheek, then hoisted her over his shoulder, carrying her into his room while she screamed in protest. The AI revealed the horrifying details of his actions to me by showing me on the holographic screen," she paused, taking a moment to collect herself, a pained expression crossing her features, a blend of grief and distress. 

"He raped that poor woman." My jaw dropped in disbelief; I was stunned that he could commit such an atrocity. “After he was done with her, he turned to the screen on the wall and asked me, "So, what do you think, Ona? She has a body that’s just perfect," he said, his eyes glued to her while a chilling smirk played on his lips. “Ona, come to my room,” he demanded. I found myself standing in his room, revealing my true form to the poor woman. He forced the woman to look upon me," Melanie hesitated, shifting uneasily on the bed. 

A knot formed in my throat as I asked, "What happened?" I took her hand in mine. Deep down, I was reluctant to hear her response, leaving the air thick with unspoken tension. “The moment her eyes fell upon my true form, she was struck blind, a piercing scream escaped her lips. The AI embedded within the monolith revealed to Zyrius the course of action he needed to take, and I doubt I need to elaborate further; the outcome is already clear to you.” An uneasy quietness enveloped us, and I could sense the discomfort she felt as the memories of that incident resurfaced. “The experience of merging into her body was excruciating, a sensation that pierced through me like a thousand needles. Though her physical form lay lifeless, I could feel a surge of my own energy intertwining into her body, as if I were trying to breathe life back into a shell that had long since departed. The struggle was palpable, a haunting reminder of the thin veil between existence and oblivion, as I fought to connect with something that was no longer there yet still resonated within the depths of my being.” 

I interrupted, “I hate to bring this up, but when you took her body, did you find it difficult to adapt?" Melanie let out a soft scoff, a subtle smile gracing her lips.

   "It was tough, but Zyrius was there to help; he had more experience in his body," she said, her eyes wandering as she reminisced about their cherished moments together. “How did you manage to restore the woman’s sight?” I asked her. “The AI handled that in the infirmary,” she replied. A sigh escaped me, a blend of understanding and frustration rising within. "Ah, I understand," I said quietly. 

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A Time Traveler's Companion: Chapter 7 Excerpt

 

(An excerpt from Chapter 7: Something Unexpected Happened)

Despite their numerous arms, the mysterious starfish also bore two shadowy spheres that eerily resembled eyes on their forms.  "What in the Hell are those?" I asked, my eyes wide with a mix of amazement and dread as I watched them leap in and out of the water. Mr. Smith calmly aimed the scanner in the direction of the enigmatic creatures. "Fascinating. It appears that these peculiar creatures are some kind of parasite,” his brow furrowed, while he pondered the situation. “It would be wise to avoid this area. “Let’s go girls," he declared, turning to lead the way.

I watched in awe as the strange creatures glimmered under the rays of sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of the forest. In an instant, Leila's piercing scream shattered the tranquility, prompting me to turn and discover one of the creatures leaping toward her, striking her arm with surprising force. Without hesitation, Mr. Smith reached into his well-worn leather messenger bag and pulled out a futuristic handheld taser and with a swift press of a button, he touched the creature, it then collapsed to the forest floor, rendered motionless by the device's powerful jolt. The underbelly of the creature was exposed, revealing rows of sharp hooks resembling teeth scattered among the numerous writhing tendrils. It was a sight that sent shivers down my spine.

“Those things are not starfish,” I commented as I gulped. He kicked it back into the pond. The creatures were all in a frenzy as though we disturbed them in some way.  “I feel that they are attracted to our body heat, we should go,” he said. 

Just as we were ready to depart, I glanced back at the pond, only to be seized by a man in armor who yanked my hair and forced my face perilously close to the water's edge. Leila's scream pierced the air, followed by Mr. Smith's frantic shout as he fired his weapon at the shadowy figure. Desperate to escape, I attempted to stand, but then one of those grotesque starfish-like creatures lunged at me, latching onto my face, and darkness enveloped me.

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A Time Traveler’s Companion 

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Excerpt from Chapter 12

Excerpt from Chapter 19

Excerpt Chapter 20: The AI & Me Part 3

 

Mr. Smith's face changed and instantly he yelled, “Run!” He snatched the urn, feeling a surge of electricity that almost knocked him off his feet, but he fought hard to stay upright. I dashed toward the exit, with the android hot on our heels as we sprinted through the tunnel. It fired its weapon at us several times, but each shot went wide.

"Is it possible for you to teleport the monolith into the tunnels?" he asked the AI. Our breaths matched the frantic pace of our racing hearts, a shared panic settled, as we realized the danger we were in. The monolith appeared a few yards away, however as we neared, I suddenly felt a searing blast go through me, like fire consuming my very body. The next thing I remember waking up in the infirmary. I scanned my surroundings and realized that I was wrapped in that peculiar bio-skin substance that I had to apply to Mr. Smith’s body during his last injury back in the 1930s. I felt completely immobilized, as if I were frozen in place, yet I could still speak and shift my gaze. I shut my eyes, attempting to piece together the events that led me here. 

“Are you having trouble recalling what transpired?” the AI asked.

“Yes, could you please explain what happened?” My voice came out faint and fragile. The AI began to reveal the events on the holographic screen above me. It appeared that the AI had been capturing nearly everything occurring around and within the monolith, which unsettled me. I watched as Mr. Smith, and I raced through the tunnels. Just as we approached the monolith, a sudden jolt of pain shot through my back, courtesy of the android's weapon. The impact was overwhelming. Mr. Smith quickly yanked me inside, and in an instant, the monolith disappeared. I was lying on the operating table in the infirmary, blood seeping from my wound. Mr. Smith looked terrified, his eyes brimming with tears.

 “Can you save her?” he asked the AI, his voice trembling with dread. 

“Yes, but she will need to undergo the same procedure you have experienced each time you were gravely injured,” It paused, “Maybe it’s time to consider letting her go, and possess her body,” it stated bluntly. Mr. Smith’s face turned crimson, “How could you even propose that?” he shouted, his anger palpable. “I already have a new body prepared.” He exhaled deeply, his voice firm as he commanded, “Make her better.” I appeared lifeless on the bed, which was hardly surprising given that I was teetering on the edge of death once again. He exited the room, and suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped my body.

High-tech medical devices descended from the ceiling, beginning the intricate process of mending the wound in my abdomen, where the blaster burned right through me. I observed as the AI worked, injecting nanites into my body that swiftly mended my injury. They resemble tiny mites, bustling around and fixing the damaged tissue. The holo-screen turned off. I closed my eyes; I believe I was unconscious again. An unexpected memory surged into my mind—-I recall having a face-to-face conversation with the AI.

 It was in its true form, it appeared as a black humanoid figure, akin to a mannequin yet possessing the fluidity of human movement. Its eyes were mere slits, glowing with an eerie crimson light. It loomed in front of me as we stood face to face within the wall of the monolith. 

"How can I be here while my body is there?" I questioned, my voice trembling as I gazed at it in terror. 

"Am I... dead?" I asked. It came closer, moving deliberately as it extended a hand toward my cheek. I instinctively recoiled. As it shifted, the AI's movements echoed those of the android from Terminator 2, particularly the police officer in his authentic state. Upon closer inspection, the AI’s skin resembled a dark liquid, shifting and flowing as it changed position. However, there was an unsettling shadow, a foreboding presence surrounding the AI that sent a shiver down my spine. 

“No, you are not dead, I brought your mind to this place while your body undergoes repair,” it replied.

 “Are you really female?” I asked.

“Absolutely, I can be whatever he desires. Since he wished for me to embody Melanie’s image, I appear as her on occasion,” it paused then added, “Eventually, I will take on your likeness, one day.”

Its words sent a chill through me, but I managed to ask, “What makes you say that?”

“Do you not grasp the situation? You won't live forever, but he will and when your time comes, your very essence will merge within these walls. Just like what occurred with Melanie, the woman whose body Ona now possesses.”

 Hearing this from the AI left me in a state of shock and fear. "Let me out of here at once," I insisted. I pressed my hands against the dark glass. Mr. Smith walked into the infirmary, and he stood over my body. I banged on the surface of the glass wall, but he couldn't hear my cries for help.  

“Mr. Smith, please help me! I’m stuck in here,” I shouted. The AI hovered closely behind me, its fingers brushing through my hair with an odd sense of curiosity.

 “It appears he’s more taken with you than I thought,” the AI remarked. I instinctively moved away from it. 

In an instant, I found myself back in my own body. Mr. Smith had just stepped out of the room as my eyes shot open, I gasped for air. I was staring up at the ceiling in confusion. Hours passed, and as my body regained strength, I noticed that the bio-skin substance had melded seamlessly into my own skin. Mr. Smith entered and gently lifted me, carrying me to his room for some much-needed rest.  

“Remi, I promise to take you home after our final adventure. We’re heading to the 1800s, but for now, just rest my love,” he said, kissing me deeply and covering my naked body with the soft, comforting sheets.

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Excerpt from Chapter 6

Remi & Mr. Smith in the 1930s

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A New Face Chapter 1 excerpt