Chapter 9: ROBOT DREAMS

“What drones? Oh! You mean that SOUND of a multitude of drones approaching? Just one drone with a powerful PA system. A sound byte of a single drone, folded back on itself ten times, sounds like 1024 drones. Let’s have some more fun. Let’s go visit your ranch.”

Wati is agreeable.

“Hi, Nana. I believe you have a pair of twins in your care? Curly dark haired cute girls? About three years old? One is named Susan. The other has certainly changed her name to an unknown alias. I noticed them with you, the last time I was here. Actually, the only other time I’ve been here. Could I speak with them, please?”

“Now I REMEMBER YOU! Linda, right? You were here about a dozen years ago, asking about wormholes.” Nana scratches her head to assist her memory.

“Surely not. Not a dozen years ago, surely, just earlier this year, but my name and inquiry, yes you remember correctly.” Linda is gentle with the old woman.

“However long ago it was, it’s long enough they’ve growed quite a bit. They live in the big house with their mistress, Dama Julia now.”

“Thank you, Nana. Let’s go, Linda. I’ll take you up to the big house.” Wati offers his arm and leads her off.

A shock awaits. Suityou and Susan are now fourteen year old débutantes and nothing like Linda could imagine or expect.

Time apparently flys at different rates in different universes or dimensions. Runs pretty fast in this one here. She meets them.

“Well, I have information that may mean nothing to you two, but I think it might be important. We located a crashed ultralight aircraft last seen with two little girls aboard. Abundant predator tracks makes finding any human remains highly unlikely. The case is closed. Nobody is looking for them anymore. Also, you are both at least a decade older than those twins would be. Just in case there’s anybody you would like to visit back in my world, no one would confuse you two with those little girls.

Well, that’s all I came to say. You both have grown into very lovely young ladies. Good luck, hope to see you below on a holiday visit.”

Months passed before Suityou and Susan elected to visit. Part of the delay was necessary for the Duende milk treatment to rid their bodies of nanobots. Like Erik before them, they elected to visit the Goblins for the cure. Breast milk from either Duende or Goblins works equally well. They are related branches, members of the Wee.

Susan has no wish to see Ann. Linda tries encouraging her to at least speak with Ann, and forgive if possible. One long range view of the drunken slovenly bloated slob Ann has become, convinces Susan there is nothing to say, and she turned on her heel and walked away.

Linda arranged for a plane to fly them to the Franklins. They tried to teleport, but magic doesn’t work in Linda’s world. Unless it’s nanobot magic, which is only an advanced technology.

Enjoying the visit with the Franklins, also had a sad side. Susan has only a dim memory of Morgan, as a big strong kindhearted boy. Seeing him wasting away, his muscles atrophied, tugs at her heart. She is certain he can be made whole, with a nanobot infestation.

The Franklins don’t want to risk moving him. Susan doesn’t understand such reasoning. What sort of life does he have, is he living now? What’s the risk compared to the potential reward? Susan argued for her idea so hard and so relentlessly, the Franklins in consternation and with exhausted patience, eventually told her to shut the fuck up about it, and warned her to never mention it again. Susan spends all day, everyday, sitting by Morgan’s bed, and staring hollow-eyed at him, chin on fist, thinking furiously.

Grief? Perhaps some. What is she thinking about? How to steal Morgan and smuggle him away to her own better world. None of her fantasy schemes are workable. She grieves for her failed before they hatch, DOA, dead-on-arrival plans. There must be a way. Some way!

Suityou enjoys the Franklin visit, in particularly the nursery. She is designed as a nanny and many years have passed since she had an opportunity to practice her calling. There are aready plenty of caregivers in the nursery. Alma is the wet nurse, and five clones assist her with the five infants. One is her own child and Morgan’s. A little boy. Skeet delivered a daughter, and visits for an hour at a time, many times everyday. The other three belong to Phil and Alice, three girls, but only Phil visits. Being a daddy delights Phil, in theory. He doesn’t have to walk the floor with the inconsolable babies all night.