Chapter 1

It was uncomfortably hot in the school gymnasium as Phoebe waited for the last interview of the day. Nervously twirling a clump of her hair, she congratulated herself for picking up on many human nuances since she arrived. The time limit for her assignment neared its conclusion, and she feared failure was imminent.

The governing committee had long given up interest in Earth, but Phoebe convinced them to allow her to carry out her experiment. She had observed this planet with her mentor for the last several hundred Earth years and was confident that she had a solution to correct the current course. Her species were long-lived and had evolved from their original weaker, physical forms long ago. The nanites flowing through her body had taken over a month to transfer her form to appear human.

Her thesis proposed that the problems on this planet emanated from the inability to detect the difference between vocal speech versus their true intentions. Inhabitants with less than honorable intentions had repeatedly misled the population to fulfill their selfish agendas. She concluded that if they could read the thoughts of others like her species, their true motives would be more visible.

After thoroughly analyzing the human brain, she discovered very little of its potential was utilized. Eventually, they would advance as a species but not before they self-destructed. She successfully convinced her superiors she could accelerate their evolution. Thinking it would be easy to find a test subject at a university, she decided a position as a career counselor would be the best approach.

When she arrived six months ago, she immediately deployed the AI that would aid her. The AI quickly encompassed the globe using energy streams humans had not discovered. Its advanced design was beyond existing detection capabilities. Phoebe had even considered allowing it to assume control of the planet to alter its course but the committee strongly objected. They argued that humans should be in control of their destinies. Hesitant to enact her original plan, they decided there was no other option and finally approved it.

Phoebe envisioned her implementation would be simple to initiate but was shocked when she first encountered humans. Their thoughts were unorganized and routinely composed of complete fantasies rather than their true feelings. She eventually decided to cease probing minds; instead, she reverted to her experienced instincts. Unsuccessful in finding a test subject at the university led her to a high school. It was sponsoring a scholarship fair a month after graduation. The event was for students accepted by several universities, but they were still undecided.

Eighteen-year-olds were outside the original parameters, but the dossier of one applicant had caught her attention. He was gifted at understanding advanced scientific principles and exhibited the appropriate moral qualities.

Phoebe’s attention was so focused on her paperwork. she didn’t notice him approaching. Glancing up, she was startled to see him standing in front of her table. Immediately she was dismayed to observe a young woman accompanying him. A romantic partner might interfere with her plan’s success, but she felt compelled to follow through with the interview.

Before she could speak, he introduced himself, “Hi. I’m Joshua Matheson, but everyone calls me Josh.”

Phoebe smiled tentatively, responding, “Hello, Josh. I’m Phoebe, and I’m representing State University. I realize we don’t have the resources the larger institutions possess, but we have improved over the years and hope to strengthen our science department shortly.”

She continued interviewing him and was pleasantly surprised by the young man’s insightful responses. She knew he would be perfect, except for the relationship with his girlfriend. Surprisingly, his female companion hadn’t uttered a word the entire time.

Phoebe decided it was time to investigate how serious they were. Shifting her attention to the attractive woman, she asked, “Will your girlfriend also be applying to our university?”

The lady quickly quipped, “I’m not his girlfriend. I’m his mother. I apologize that my son didn’t have the good manners to introduce us. I’m Mary, by the way. A pleasure to meet you.”

Josh’s face turned red following his mother’s reprimand. Phoebe’s nanites quickly retrieved the information from the AI, stating that Mary had given birth to Josh when she was eighteen. She needed to verify her other information, ensuring there was no father. More than two people would complicate the process.

Focusing on Mary’s youthful, pretty face, Phoebe stated, “You and your husband must be proud of your son’s successful progression through school.”

Mary quickly retorted, “We’re a single-parent family; it’s only Josh and myself. And yes, I’m extremely pleased by how well he did in school.”

Phoebe’s confidence grew with how things were shaping up. After talking to Mary for several minutes, she was elated to discover his mother had the exact attributes Phoebe required. Having made up her mind these two would be perfect, she pressed on.

Turning to Josh, she queried, “It would be inappropriate for me to ask what the other universities proposed, but what did you have in mind for a scholarship?”

Without hesitating, Josh handed Phoebe several written offers he had received. Reviewing them, she was surprised at the stiff competition. The other schools were more sports-oriented, and she wondered why they were so interested in someone not involved in athletics. Phoebe knew her university’s limited resources couldn’t match them and quickly devised another plan. Before proceeding, she had to discover and target Josh’s desires.

Apprehensively, she asked, “Josh, what are some of the more important features you’re looking for in a school?” Mary turned her attention to Josh to hear what they had never discussed. She had never brought up the subject, hating to interfere with his future. She wanted him to pursue the career he desired most.

Josh remained silent for a minute while he thought of a proper response. “I’m looking for a school that can accommodate a flexible schedule so I can continue my volunteer work. Keeping that in mind, it would be best if I could spend as much time as possible in the immediate vicinity.” His voice cracked as he continued, “My preference would be remaining at home and commuting to school. As long as Mom doesn’t mind.”

Mary couldn’t hide her wide smile when she realized Josh wanted to continue living at home. It mirrored her desire, but she had never tried to convince him, fearing she would ruin his chance of a better school. She quickly replied, “Of course, you can live at home while you attend college.”

Phoebe realized she now held the advantage. The other schools were hours away; her university was a short forty-minute drive. Capitalizing on her newly discovered information, she pronounced, “Your plan sounds solid. I see you do a lot of work for Habitat for Humanity. It’s impressive that you’d like to continue volunteering. Sadly, I don’t think our university can match the other offers.”

Signs of disappointment swept through the faces of both mother and son. Before they could say anything, Phoebe continued, “However, I know of a benefactor who may be able to meet or exceed the other proposals, enabling you to remain in the area while attending class.”

Josh perked up at the news and smiled, now that his dream of living at home with his mother was becoming a reality. He carefully replied, “It sounds good. What are the requirements of this agreement? I’d hate to run up too much debt. I might have to decline if the loan interest is too high.”

Phoebe tried to reassure him, answering, “I’ll have all the details in a day or two. Please don’t commit to any other offers before I make my presentation. Will Wednesday at ten in the morning be okay to meet? I have your address and would like to talk to both of you where you’re the most comfortable.”

Before Josh could answer, Mary chirped, “It’s perfect. We both took the week off, so we can meet anytime. We look forward to talking to you.”

After ten more minutes of conversation, they all departed.

The following day, Phoebe worked tirelessly, preparing to implement her experiment. Two subjects isolated from other people would be ideal. It didn’t take her long to instruct the AI to produce the thousands of nanites required to aid her. She giggled as she referred to them as nanites. They were much smaller than the comparable Earth device and much more sophisticated. Humans wouldn’t even have the technology to discover them for several more centuries.

Mary and Josh worked at home without further discussion concerning the upcoming meeting with Phoebe. The offer was good for Mary, but she worried it was not the best choice for her son. It was early afternoon when Mary decided to tackle the uncomfortable situation head-on. She asked her son to take a walk with her down to the park. Mary waited until the return trip to bring up the topic. Moving close to Josh, she intertwined her arm with his and firmly held his hand.

Afraid he’d pull back, she tightened her grip and was relieved when Josh squeezed her hand. He grew suspicious of her rare affectionate action. She only held his hand when she had to disclose bad news, but the close contact sent warm shivers through his body. He had no intention of releasing her.

“Josh, I want you to know I’ll respect any decision you make concerning your school. If you think the other venues will be the best choice for your future, you should attend one of them and not worry about staying home. I can obtain loans to ensure we do what’s best for you.”

She immediately regretted saying it, in case he took it the wrong way. What if he thinks she doesn’t want him to stay home? She wanted him to remain more than anything but couldn’t let it sway his decision.

“It’s fine, Mom. Everything will work out. Let’s see what Phoebe has to offer before making any decisions. I don’t want to, but I might have to forgo my volunteer work. It’ll be a tough decision if the other choices are scholastically and financially better.”

His answer didn’t set her at ease. She was afraid he was already thinking about moving away. She held his hand tighter and pulled him closer to her, careful not to reveal her despondency.

Josh loved the feel of their arms touching. He had made his decision long before the initial interview with Phoebe. He wasn’t about to alert her and give her the chance to talk him out of it.

Phoebe arrived on time and was soon seated comfortably in a stuffed chair. After talking with Josh and his mother to put them at ease, she presented her offer.

“I’ve had several electronic meetings with the benefactor I talked about, and I believe we’ve come up with a great opportunity for you. All your college expenses, including tuition, books, and incidentals, will be covered as long as you adhere to a scientific curriculum and continue your volunteer work.”

Mary was suspicious of the overly generous offer and was hesitant to question, “This person doesn’t want anything in return? We’ll need to review the acceptance forms to see if any adverse restrictions or requirements exist.”

Josh sat silently and couldn’t think of anything to add. It did seem a little too good to be true, and he was worried that his mom was distrustful of the offer. Fear swept through him, thinking she might have objections.

Phoebe replied, “First, I don’t know whether the benefactor is a he or a she. We’ve only communicated through texting and email. There aren’t any forms to sign except for the usual ones to sign up for college. The benefactor’s law firm will handle all the financial transactions.”

Mother and son both showed signs of skepticism. Phoebe thought she knew how to convince them this was the right path. She met Josh’s eyes and said, “One of the conditions is that you’ll have to reside at home while attending.”

Mary had to conceal her excitement upon hearing this requirement and was about to follow up with another question when Josh moved near Phoebe and extended his hand. “I’ve made up my mind. I’ll attend your university. You’re right. It sounds like a good deal, and I’m convinced it’s the correct course of action.”

Phoebe smiled at his cheerful demeanor. Gripping Josh’s hand tightly enabled thousands of the programmed nanites to flow through her pores into his body. He wouldn’t feel anything since the nanites were undetectable by his body’s defenses.

Releasing his hand, she stood and approached Mary to congratulate her. Nanites poured into the mother’s body while they shook hands. Phoebe sighed inwardly; the first phase of her plan was complete. They discussed the details, and before Phoebe left the couple, she handed them a business card.

She instructed, “Art Bahn, the name on the card, will be waiting to fill you in on everything you need to know at the address listed. Meet with him this afternoon. Good luck to both of you!”

Before Phoebe had driven a block, Mary and Josh were on their way to meet the representative of the mysterious benefactor. They would never see Phoebe again, but she would be closely monitoring them through their embedded nanites.

The trip took longer than they desired since it was in the middle of the city. After finding a nearby parking garage, they walked to the address on the card. When they arrived, Mary looked up at the name on the building and asked, “Josh, are you sure this is the correct place?”

“Positive, Mom. The names are the same as on the card, Law Offices of Melchorsky, Gaspart, and Balthis.”

Mary laughingly stated, “Well, there can’t be too many of those names around. Let’s locate our contact, Art Bahn.”

After checking in with the receptionist, a tall man strolled down the hall to greet the couple. With a big smile, he welcomed them and said, “Hi folks, I’m Art Bahn. I’ll fill you in on all the details. Let’s go to my office and get comfortable.”

After several minutes of becoming acquainted, Mary asked, “This whole deal seems a little too generous. Is there any way we can meet this benefactor in person? We’d like to determine there is no ulterior motive.”

Art smiled and replied, “I understand your concerns, but there is nothing to be worried about in the proposal. You aren’t required to sign anything and can discontinue our alliance whenever you desire. Regarding meeting the responsible person, I’m afraid that isn’t possible. Even the partners haven’t seen the benefactor. What I do know, this firm has thrived since this person invested with us. The partners are impressed at how substantial their funds have appreciated. They highly value this person’s integrity and intelligence. They are three of the wisest men I’ve ever met, and I inherently trust their judgment.”

Josh couldn’t have been happier, seeing his wishes turn into reality. He barely listened to more details, focusing on the glass-encased, blood-red ruby on the edge of the large, oak desk. Art noticed his interest and said, “That’s quite a gem, isn’t it? It’s an endowment for someone that keeps eluding me. Someday I’ll gift it to the appropriate recipient.”

Josh blushed when he realized Art had caught him ignoring his dialogue. He apologized, “Sorry, I was distracted. Its beauty hypnotized me. Good luck with your journey.” He turned his attention back to Art’s discussion.

For the next hour, Art detailed the process to them. Mary and Josh felt at ease when he finished as it appeared to be a legitimate and genuine offer. When they rose to depart, Art handed a black credit card to each of them. He explained, “This is for incidentals, as previously mentioned. Use them as needed. It was a pleasure meeting both of you.”

After shaking Mary’s hand first, he extended his arm to congratulate Josh. A warm feeling of fulfillment flowed through Art when he physically connected with Josh. His smile broadened, knowing the young couple was an inherent part of his destiny.

Phoebe grinned, remotely monitoring their progress. They couldn’t possibly meet the benefactor as it was an alien AI. It had already amassed assets worth billions to assist them if the experiment proved successful.

Mother and son rehashed all they had learned, on the long drive home. They were both famished and prepared dinner together. Once they were eating, Josh took some time to recollect his good fortune.

Appraising his beautiful mother, he admired her silky, shoulder-length, brunette hair framing her face. He wondered why she had never dated anyone. Maybe it was because it would have made him extremely jealous. She must have sensed his protectiveness and didn’t want to put any stress on their relationship. His eyes drifted down to her smooth neck, and he dreamed of pressing his lips to her succulent skin. Over the last year, his love for his mother had ascended to wanton lust.

His mother knocked him out of his trance. “Josh! Eat your food. It’ll get cold.”

He stuttered, “Sorry, Mom. I was thinking about everything we learned today. It was a lot to take in.”

Mary smiled, realizing her wish that her son would remain at home had come to fruition. Their interactions had transformed from the normal mother-son relationship during the last year. They had become adult partners, sharing and enjoying their free time together.

When finished, Josh rose and carried his empty plate to the dishwasher. Mary began to help when he stopped her. “Mom. Let me clean up. Take your shower, and I’ll meet you in the living room. We’ll finish watching the documentary we started last week. Since I’ll be staying here in the foreseeable future, I need to pull my weight and do more.”

“Thanks, Josh. You already do so much around here. I appreciate all of your help, but a long shower does sound good. This sticky, hot weather we’ve been having is uncomfortable.”

Stepping out of her stall, Mary toweled off and slipped on her undies. They usually dressed in sweats in the evenings, but the temperature was too warm. It wasn’t hot enough to turn on the air conditioner but too warm for heavy clothes. She decided on a short robe to enable cool air to blow on her bare skin. Looking in the mirror, she admired her exposed legs. She ran her hands up her freshly shaved calves, stopping a few inches above her knees at the bottom of her robe.

She wondered if Josh appreciated her legs –- and hoped he did. Goosebumps appeared when she imagined it was his hands running up her leg. Before progressing further down the illicit, dangerous mental path, she walked out to the living room.

She sat on the end of the couch, waiting for her son to finish his shower. The show started, so she pressed the pause button to wait for him to appear. Her mind flashed with memories of the times they shared over the years. She surmised the last few day’s events had triggered a nostalgia flare-up.

Phoebe knew this was the moment to implement the next phase of her experiment. Once she signaled the nanites in Mary’s body, they quickly opened up the pathways in her brain to access the latent ability to read nearby minds. Her brain automatically adapted and began displaying the thoughts of the closest human, her son Josh.

Mary was still reliving memories when she noticed an image of the living room and the back of her head. Josh moved by her and sat on the other end of the couch. Now she could see her face in the reflection. Mary didn’t know what was happening. Somehow, she was looking through his eyes. She closed hers in an attempt to clear her head. The image remained.

“Mom. Anything wrong? It looks like you suddenly drifted off.”

Mary opened her eyes and was able to mentally shift the other image to the side so it wouldn’t distract her as much. “No. I’m fine. I had something in my eye, but I’m okay now. Let’s watch the show.”

For the next twenty minutes, she experimented with her newfound ability. She learned how to reduce the extra image and remove it entirely. She practiced turning it off and on. It seemed easier to control with her eyes closed. Not wanting to alarm her son again, she warned her son. “Josh, this show is a little boring. Don’t be concerned if you see me dozing off.”

“It is a little drawn out without a lot of action. Do you want me to switch to something else?”

“No. It’s fine. Keep watching.”

She leaned back and closed her eyes to resume testing. Before long, she noticed Josh’s thoughts weren’t on the show. He was staring at her bare calves. Her heart fluttered with excitement, knowing that he was checking her out. His eyes traveled up and down her exposed flesh.

Sleeping late, Mary woke up to the smell of coffee. Josh must already be in the kitchen. She threw on her robe and strolled out to prepare breakfast.

Her fragrant scent made Josh smile when it wafted by him. “Good morning, Mom. Have a good night’s sleep?”

“Evidently. You’re rarely up before me. How about some pancakes this morning?”

“Sure, Mom. Want me to help?”

“No. It’s a one-person job.” While mixing the ingredients, she shifted her mind to display Josh’s thoughts. She wasn’t surprised to witness that he was leering at the backs of her exposed legs. She whipped the batter harder, causing her body to move around, exposing more skin. She enjoyed putting on a show for her son.

She poured the mix onto the griddle and soon had a stack of hotcakes ready. When she placed the plate in the middle of the table, her mind displayed Josh staring at her front. During the frantic batter mixing, her robe had parted. The insides of her meaty mounds were on display for her son. Quickly sitting down, it was her turn to blush. The gap closed, and they finished without further mishap.

Josh cleaned up while Mary went to her room to dress. They had agreed to split up their chores for the day. She cleaned the house while he worked on the gutters. After several hours in the heat, Josh retreated to the kitchen in a sweat-soaked shirt. Taking off his top, he sat at the table and gulped down a glass of cold tea.

Mary entered and couldn’t help but stare at his upper, muscled body. She had seen his naked torso before when he came home from a hot day of carpentry work but never tired of eyeing her hunk of a son. Her eyes automatically locked onto his defined chest and broad shoulders. Now she understood why he stared at her. It was natural for the opposite sexes to admire the bodies of their counterparts. She rationalized that his behavior wasn’t necessarily sex-driven — it was instinct.

Another vision materialized in her view. It was a scene from a restaurant. She realized she could see more than her son’s line of sight. She could visualize his thoughts. She explored the pictures in his mind using her new ability. The gutters he had cleaned and a plate filled with some version of pasta were the only images she could decipher. He must be hungry and was thinking of what he’d like.

Thinking of a way of testing her theory, she asked, “Hey, Josh. How about you take me to the Italian restaurant you like, and we’ll see if our new credit cards work?”