I was losing my trust in Belthasar.
It all started when he told me about the Time Devourer. Apparently, when my friends and I had defeated Lavos, the alien bent on destroying our planet, we had shunted it into the Darkness Beyond Time. This Darkness was essentially a wastebasket for discarded timelines- anything that ceased to exist was sent there. But Lavos hadn't been dormant in the Darkness. Instead it had evolved to a new and higher form- the Time Devourer, a being capable of destroying all time-space. Belthasar claimed that he had the threat under control, but I was skeptical.
"How can you prove that the Time Devourer is a threat in the first place when it doesn't technically exist?" I would say.
"And I suppose you want it back then, Miss Ashtear? A being consumed with annihilating the entire space-time continua?" Belthasar lectured. "No, young lady, I stopped it and my institution will continue to safeguard against such threats!"
That was the way he addressed me when I disagreed with him; I was 'Miss Ashtear' or 'Young lady.' Usually we were on a first name basis, but more and more often I found myself at odds with him.
As I stood in his office, I was determined that today would not be one of those days. Today was the day I was to showcase my project of the past several months for Belthasar. It was a day that would test both mine and Melodyne's patience, as he was the underlying cause for the project having taken place at all.
"What is your designation?"
Melodyne coughed delicately to hide her surprise. Although I had told her that Belthasar was not quite past the antiquated customs of a robot always responding with "Sir" or "M'am," having a designation instead of a name- that seemed like objectifying her somehow.
"My name," Melodyne answered, giving the second word a slight emphasis, "is Melodyne. Sir," she barely remembered to tag the title onto the end of the sentence.
Belthasar frowned, as though unsure of what to make of this. "And you are…?"
"I am a blend of organic and synthetic life in the form of human brain scans transformed into A.I. and housed in a-"
But it was unnecessary to explain what her chassis was made from when Belthasar was ignoring her completely to ask me, "Human brain scans? So the experiments worked?"
With no small amount of pride, I answered, "Yes."
"So there's a person in there?"
I was ready with the cover story. "A volunteer for the project who was killed in a jetbike accident recently."
"I seeeee," Belthasar was rubbing his chin. "So, how much does she remember of her previous life?"
"Everything that was scanned, sir." Melodyne spoke up.
"And before that?"
"I have residual 'memories of memories' so to speak, so my human past remains intact-"
"Remarkable, remarkable! And is she forming new memories all the time?"
"Yes," I answered and gave Melodyne a confidential eye-roll behind Belthasar's back.
"Incredible! Lucca, do you see what you've done? You hold the keys to potential immortality for every man, woman and child on the face of this planet! Once they've outgrown their old bodies, their brain scans can be transferred to synthetic beings like this one. And I, for one" he said, patting me on the back jovially, "would like to volunteer to be a candidate."
I'm sure you would, I thought.
"Impressive work. I couldn't be more pleased with you."
"Sir. Sir?" Melodyne couldn't quite get Belthasar's attention as he bustled out of the room.
"What were you going to ask him?" I inquired, draping an arm around Melodyne's waist.
"I was going to request formal permission to be your lab assistant."
"Well, I hereby formally promote you. I have every right has much as he does to say who my lab assistant is. "
Melodyne smiled in satisfaction as I guided her out the doorway of Belthasar's office. "So when do I start work?"
"Now," I stated as I steered Melodyne down a corridor toward my own private laboratories. As Melodyne filed away the route in her memory banks for reference later, she happened to notice something out of place.
"I don't think that person has the security clearance for this level," she noted, spotting a tall man in a suit carrying- of all the outdated things! -a briefcase. Everyone she knew simply used a handheld device to store their documents.
"That is strange," I remarked, "I don't think I've seen him around the labs before. Excuse me, sir?" I stepped up to the strange man and was paralyzed by his predatory stare, like a cobra might give a mouse right before it struck. He never glanced away as he adjusted his tie, brushed off his lapels, and intoned in a formal, somewhat mocking voice, "Congratulations, Miss Ashtear."
I blinked and stammered, "Wh-what?" but the strange man with the intimidating glare was gone. I looked back at Melodyne, who seemed just as stymied. "Did you see where he went?"
"He vanished."
"Very funny. Which way did he go?"
"I just told you, he didn't; he just disappeared."
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. "People don't just 'disappear,' Melodyne, there has to be a scientific explanation for what we saw!"
Melodyne sighed. "This IS a research facility for multi dimensional and time travel, isn't it? Couldn't people be popping in and out of here all the time?"
"NOT without proper monitoring or consent." I shivered. I ought to tell Belthasar. I ought to. And yet…
There had been something about the look in his eyes when he mentioned "potential immortality" that I didn't like. Something almost manic. Was it safe to let him claim such untapped power?
"Come on, I said, mentally shaking myself, "We'll figure this out ourselves."
The first thing I did upon entering the lab was run a search on all Chronopolis personnel to see if I could identify the man she had met in the corridor. The search turned up negative. I nearly pounded the console in frustration. My trust in Belthasar was starting to dissolve with every advance I made in my research, and now unidentified strangers were popping up in the facility. Was there anything I could rely on anymore?
"Lucca?"
The soft inquiry snapped me out of my reverie. Melodyne was looking at me with concern.
"Are you all right? Your heart rate has increased and your breathing is becoming shallow and rapid… What I mean," she continued when I gave a quiet laugh, "is you don't look so good."
"Mel, you need to learn not to sound so...robotic," I smiled wanly.
"I know." Melodyne ducked her head shyly.
"You're my creation, but not my servant. I don't want you to sound like…"
"A machine?"
"Right."
There was a moment of silence, and the Melodyne asked, "Lucca, what is she like?"
"You mean...Melody?"
"I can only remember so much, and every decision, every action I've taken from the moment you woke me up has only taken me further from where I...where she started."
"Then I have a feeling you're going to like your assignment as my lab assistant."
"What is it?" Melodyne asked, curiosity and hope both piqued.
"I'm technically not supposed to affect Melody's sphere of influence on this dimension, at least not directly. But Belthasar said nothing about my lab assistant monitoring things."
"You mean…"
"Melodyne, I want you to review Melody's incoming brain scans and report whatever you find to me."
"What kinds of things did you want me to report on, exactly?"
"I just…" My gaze dropped. "I need to know if I made the right decision. Leaving her with GLaDOS."
I had modified my helmet further to make an interdimensional tele-empathic receptor, which I now handed over to her. "Is this…?" Melodyne asked.
"My helmet? Yeah. Like the new design?"
"I thought Belthasar had forbidden contact…"
My eyes filled with regret. "I have to have some secrets, don't I? I already have you."
She laid a hand on my shoulder, smiling wanly. She said nothing as she took the modified helmet.
I didn't ask what exactly transpired during the monitoring, but I think it was the most at peace I'd seen Melodyne since I'd created her. She seemed serene, content, and utterly engrossed in whatever was happening. I watched fond smiles, broad grins, and even modest blushes chase themselves across her face as her eyelids fluttered and danced with images only she could see. At last, she disengaged from the receptor with a happy sigh. "Lucca," she announced, as she began her report, "You definitely made the right decision."
A.N: Yes, in case the Half-Life fans haven't already guessed it, that was the infamous G Man. I'm not sure exactly what role he'll be playing in the story other than that of 'creepy stalker,' but if I receive suggestions I may implement them.
