Chapter 21

24 hours later, Adventure woke Scientist Gary up from his hypersleep. As his eyes opened and the canopy withdrew, Major Jake and Captain Amelia stood at the side of the ship waiting for him. Caleb was wrapped in a sling around Amelia’s torso.

“Scientist Gary, how are you feeling?” Amelia asked, making sure to use the local language and not her old language.

He smiled and sat up. “Surprisingly good.” he said, then reached up and stretched.

Major and Amelia stepped back from the craft allowing him to exit the craft. Scientist Gary stopped next to the craft and took a deep breath, smelling the air.

“What is that smell?” he asked, taking a deep breath in through his nose.

Amelia and Major did the same thing wondering what he was smelling. “I don’t smell anything.” Major said, which Amelia mirrored moments later.

“Well, I suppose it is actually the absence of an odor. I don’t smell anything.”

All of them stood around for a minute, then started leaving, all coming to the conclusion that the lack of smells was a good thing.

As they entered the building and started down to the lobby, Major and Amelia both noticed that Scientist Gary forgot what he was wearing. His half shirt showed off his chest and stomach. His shorts were loose and his manhood swung freely as he walked. They entered Major’s office and took a seat around the table.

“Major Jake” Scientist Gary started, but Major stopped him.

“First things first. On this world, everyone has a first name and a family name. Where we came from, your job title was your family and then your first name was spoken when addressing someone. From now on, please do this. My name is Major al-Hubb. Major is my first name and al-Hubb is the family I joined when I bonded with Amelia al-Hubb. A government friend of mine is coming with your new ID papers which we need in order for you to be part of this world.”

Gary nodded his head listening intently.

“You will meet my twin from this world pretty soon. His name is Jake Cook and his mate Sarah Cook. They are expecting their first child pretty soon.”

“About two weeks from now if I remember correctly.” Amelia said.

“Yes, thank you honey. In about two weeks.” he said, touching her hand to show affection. “As I said before, this world is a parallel to our own so there is a chance that you may meet yourself from this world. If you do, just go with it and don’t fight it. At worst, you may have to get the HBI involved. Most likely, they will hardly notice and the two of you will just walk past each other and not even notice.” Major said with a laugh.

“Who is the HBI?”

“The government law enforcement here. Heartland Bureau of Investigations. The man I first met when I landed here is Special Agent Ethan Parker and his partner Olivia Cruz. They took me to their office where I gave them the debrief of who I am and where I’m from and they believed me and set me up with my twin from this world. He took me in and got me set up with the tools I needed for this world and I did the rest.”

Scientist Gary thought for a minute, then asked the big question. “So, what name will I be given? Something horrible most likely?”

Major laughed but it was Amelia that spoke first. “No. Not even close. We are using Gary for your first name but the family you are joining is al-Hakim.”

“Oh.” Gary said. “Does that name mean anything?”

Amelia looked over to Major, “Yes, what does it mean? I didn’t even get a chance to ask.”

“It means ‘knowledgeable.’ Since you are a scientist, I thought it was fitting.”

“Hmm, Gary Knowledgeable. Very nice.”

“Gary al-Hakim, officially and you will have the paperwork to prove it as soon as Ethan arrives with the papers.” Major said confident with the plan to integrate Gary in this world.

Major then tried to explain the permissions app and what people do with it.

Needless to say, he was shocked.

“They do that here?” he exclaimed, still shocked by the news.

“Yes they do and it is wonderful.” Amelia said, smiling. She then reached over and took Major’s hand in hers.

Gary paused for a minute, “Will I be expected to do this as well? Who would I do it with? What if I’m no good at it? I don’t even know how to, be with anyone. I never had a mate back home. I don’t even know how to touch a woman. What if I hurt her? How will I know how to...” he said in a rush, then fell silent and looked down at his hands. “Look at me. I’m a nobody. I don’t have a good body like you test pilots. I was made to think and create, not do or use.” he said, standing and showing off his skinny and white body with no muscle tone or definition.

Major raised his arm, and curled it flexing his bicep. It bulged out from his arm. “Yes, I see where this could be a problem, but not really.” Major said with a smile of confidence.

“How so?”

“All you need to do is be outside in the sunshine to tan your skin and work out in my gym to get those muscles to toned up. You spent your life inside, so here you get a new lease on life and you are going to do it differently. Exercise, spend time outside and you will tone up just fine.”