Mr. Roboto
Chapter 10-A Head Museum A Head of It's Time
Central Park W 79th Street, New New York, December 31st, 2999. 7:00 PM.
Gary had finally made it back to the modern-day museum of natural history, just now called the Head Museum. A title that still confused Gary, was it about history anymore? If so would it even be called a museum still? Soon these and so many other questions he had would surely be answered. And the best part was, today it was free.
But that didn't explain why there were so few people entering and exiting the museum. Maybe because it was New Year's Eve and people were getting ready to celebrate? Or did no one want to learn about history? "Just like the city back in my time." Gary thought aloud.
Upon climbing the large set of stairs, larger and taller than he expected, he made his way to the entrance. Although was surprised once again to see that no one was there to greet him, not even a robot. "I'd think even if it's free they'd still want to keep track of attendance, hell even security." Gary noted, everywhere he's been so far there's been someone there to keep track of people coming in and going out. Was it just the holiday or was there really so little interest in the past? If the latter was true then he didn't trust the record keeping of this time period and none of his questions would be answered here. But since he didn't know where else to look at this time and he spent so much effort trying to get here in the first place. Might as well check it out. Besides with no security, no need to hide his pack of guns somewhere.
After entering a main lobby with a few different pathways to enter in terms of door, it didn't seem like the museum was organized by region or time period. In fact the doors were not labeled whatsoever, so Gary just had to pick something and go for it. But he was sure like most museums all the rooms were interconnected and he could travers the different sections without needing to return to this lobby. If you could even call it a lobby, it was nothing more than just an entrance hub, but at least it was quiet and could be easily mistaken for a museum from his time. Gary's hopes were starting to rise at just this tiny but familiar detail.
Entering the set of doors in the middle he was greeted by a rather dark and seemingly exhibitless room. There were no displays around and there were no tour guides in the lobby to ask for details. Gary was about to go back into the lobby and ask for directions until…
"Welcome to the head museum, I'm Leonard Nimoy."
Gary turned around instantly only to come face to face with what else but Leonard Nimoy's face? But by this point he's been dead for centuries. Until a light coming from underneath revealed that it wasn't Nimoy in his entirety, only his head? Incased in a liquid filled jar, with a name plate and living years: 1931-2015.
"Well, sure looks like you've been in good hands since the federation's collapse Spock." Gary began, commenting on Nimoy's most famous character. "But are you the only one that's been taken care of after all these years?" Still somewhat in disbelieve on how this was even possible.
"Well, why don't you ask the others? Lights up 30%." And with that the room was light up enough to see everything else. Only to show that there were several other jars with heads in the room, all stack on shelves and these shelves were the labels of who, when, and where. At first Gary thought for a second they were animatronic, but with Nimoy's response and the fact there were several other heads, they had to be organic. The idea of incasing body remains was made less freaky and gross when Gary froze himself, but these people have not only been dead for centuries by this point, but were still conscious and functional? If they were dead but here now are they considered alive? Can they be considered alive without a heartbeat in their missing chests? Are they even considered citizens anymore? All the more questions on top of the mountain pile he already had, but it looked like Nimoy wasn't the tour guide and not the one who could answer these questions.
"Live long a prosper." Gary said to Nimoy, quoting his famous line and giving the V hand. Nimoy could on look on with admiration and collectiveness, "At least someone still cares about what I did. With how commonplace space travel is and how almost all of our ideas have come to fruition, it's rare for someone to remember me as a pioneer of what was only fantasy at the time. I'm guessing you're not from the 30th century?"
Gary wasn't sure if giving his actual age would compromise his identity, but since no one here knew him and he's certain they didn't hear about his situation, there didn't seem to be a reason to hesitate.
"Born 1970 Mr. Nimoy, and yes even as a farm boy from the great plains I watched some star trek every now and then. And while I'm glad to see you're here, I think it's time I move along now."
"Very well sir," Nimoy acknowledged, "If you're curious Shatner, Kelly, and the rest are in the back, in the entertainment section. I was just chosen as the introductory head for the week. It's not everyday that I meet someone who actually remembers the show fondly, let alone saw the show as it aired."
"Pleasure actually speaking to a real movie star too Mr. Nimoy." Gary concluded as he walked on to have a look at other heads.
It was still hard for Gary to believe that these heads not only were still capable of normal function despite the lack of a body, but that they retained all their memory long after death. Were they even the real them? All Gary could do now was continue forward to find out more, after all this was the place for answers.
Unlike the cryogenic chambers these heads were conscious at all times, and Gary couldn't help but think he was being watched by quite a few of them. Of course if he did suspect there were heads watching him, he'd just turn to see them staring off in another direction. As if he had no idea. He also noticed how the heads didn't seem to have much organization, it wasn't like they were categorized by career or by lifespan. Funny how just earlier Nimoy said there was an entertainment section, and there seemed to be so little organization with who's where that the people with nothing in common ended up next to each other. Like Gilbert Gottfried next to Sacagawea:
"I may not have lived in your time, and it might just be my natural comedic instincts, but I have reason to believe that Lewis and Clark had to sleep with you to get directions?"
"Without me, you'd get lost in a food court."
"Especially with your weird diet."
Or Cyndi Lauper next to Henry Ford:
"You know, men like yourself need to get out and have some fun more often."
"Aside from us being heads stuck in jars, my definition of fun is repairing a car. Preferably one I designed."
"No wonder why you died young, you didn't see my fountain of youth concert in St. Augustine."
For the most part Gary was surprised and honestly astounded that all these people are still around in some form. But how? He did see that many of the people he saw so far had died from natural causes or old age. He would be especially surprised if he saw someone he knew was killed long before they got to an old age just like…
Gary then paused abruptly at the sight he thought he saw while thinking about a premature death. He then backed some and looked up a bit only to find:
"John F. Kennedy?" He said aloud and surprised, with enough shock actually that Kennedy turned down to him instantly.
"Man is your head looking nice." Seeing as how it looked completely fine with no evidence he was ever shot.
"Why thanks sir," Kennedy returned to this man shocked to see him, "I was given a nice trimming this morning."
"What he says." Commenting a disgruntled Lyndon B. Johnson. In a jar right next to him. Gary was taken back a moment to find some actual consistency this time with both of them being former presidents. He then looked down the shelf to see that this entire shelf was filled with former presidents, however only those of the democratic party. All the way from Jackson to Clinton.
"Do you have to comment on your head every time some bystander walks in here Johnny?" Johnson questioned irritatedly.
"Well pardon my bay of pigs, but last time I checked, you didn't have three bullets hit your head and tear it open in front of hundreds of people. In YOUR home state no less."
"Well at least YOUR home state still respects you and didn't disown you for your decision making."
"I feel ya Johnson," Bill Clinton added, "I was disowned by Arkansas when I said I feel ya next to some stranger teenage girl." There was a silent awkward pause for a second with some weirded looks coming from Kennedy and Johnson.
"Will you three quit this nonsense?" Harry Truman now entering this strange mix, "You're going to make us look bad in front of this potential voter."
Gary was shocked once again at this fact. "Wait a minute Mr. Truman, are you saying the democratic party is still around?"
"Well of course it is sonny boy," Franklin D. Roosevelt confirmed, "Oldest American party still going strong for almost twelve centuries, but no one to this day has been in office longer than me."
"And there you go again FDR with the most term bragging rights," Jimmy Carter now adding to the table, "We've heard that for the how many times now? At least for the last 150 years we've been sitting here."
This was giving Gary an idea on how to stir this pot of insanity and insecurity even more. "Hey Mr. Carter, I remember you," Now getting the attention of Carter on himself. "In fact, I was born in 1970, I was almost six when you took office." The presidents were oohing in admiration that someone was actually from their time and talking to them now.
"Well ain't that something sir, and I hope I gave you the right ideas in life to make something out of yourself."
You wish jackass. Gary thought in his head, but very tempted to say aloud. "Actually I think I learned more from your opponents and presidents before you."
"Ain't that something now," Carter responded almost oblivious to Gary saying he didn't like his ideas. "Learned more from my opp…LEANRED MORE FROM MY OPPENENTS?" He was now shocked that someone could learn more from the other side. "You hear that guys? He thinks for himself and doesn't think we have any knowledge to offer him."
"I mean, I am a psychologist from South Dakota."
"He's a smart guy from a red state?" Woodrow Wilson restated in shock, "You know the drill men, we've got a code red."
"Here we go again," An annoyed and unamused Andrew Jackson said to himself, clearly embarrassed by the actions of his later party members. "Overreacting and feeling threatened by a farm boy from the past."
"Obama, you've got to press the button." Andrew Johnson said to a head of someone Gary had never seen before. So this Obama was a president after he was frozen huh?
"Aw but why do I have to do it?"
"That's what he was picked for, to do all the dirty work right guys?" Grover Cleveland mentioned, even he not seeming to know what he later party members planned.
"Right." Almost all of them said.
"I used to believe cows had wings." A jar next to Obama said awkwardly as everyone just stared at him in annoyance. "Yeah maybe picking isn't the best strategy," Cleveland admitted, "But just press the damn button Obama."
This Obama guy then tried hopping his head around in the jar some before finally nocking into a button on a shelf column as a red beacon light lit up and an alarm went off. As that was happening Gary saw a large metal door was coming down over the shelf and closing up the heads with the presidents inside.
"Forgive me sir but I really can't get some sense into their heads." Andrew Jackson apologized, still clearly embarrassed by the other's absurd actions.
"This is for coming from the Dakotas sonny boy," FDR said, trying to make it seem like it was Gary's fault for them shutting themselves up. And then all was silent once the door closed all the way down.
"As if you can control where you came from," Gary thought aloud, "All the more reason not to vote for them."
"Some things just can't get into their heads can they?"
Gary then gasped at the sound of a different voice, one he hadn't heard before at the museum and one he couldn't actually believe if it was real or not. But it sounded so familiar and so real, but it just couldn't be HIS voice could it be? He then slowly turned around and found the source of the voice. And his thoughts were confirmed when he came face to face with…
"Reagan?" He asked hypothetically. The head of Ronald Reagan only chuckled in response.
"You can never be so sure can ya?"
"But if you're here, then where's…" His next question was answered as he looked around and saw all the heads of the republican presidents. All the way from Lincoln to Bush.
"This is just," Gary was amazed to see all the presidents, this time the ones he actually looked up to, all around him and all ready to share their wisdom with him. "I mean, I've seen the other heads of course but how are you all still here if you've all died centuries ago?" Seeing as how Reagan's head jar was mark with the years 1911-2004.
"Even I don't understand the process completely but about fifty years after my death scientists discovered how to clone someone." Reagan began answering his question. "That is making a biological copy of the person that is completely identical minis the physical age. From there they took our heads off our bodies and thanks to this chemical in the liquid here we're able to be preserved without ageing for very long periods of time. We technically can't die again." So this explained how there were people from centuries ago talking as these head jar forms.
"Are you the only clone Mr. Reagan sir?" Gary continued to inquire about the details of these head jars.
"You honestly think if there was going to be only one clone of us presidents that they'd keep us all here in Manhattan?"
"On the contrary Reagan, I for one like it here." Interrupted a head of Theodore Roosevelt. "After all I was born here centuries ago."
"Yes Teddy, you are an exception." Reagan responded to his previous party member, "But I digress. The first clones of us are either stationed at our final resting places to be part of the memorial, or at our hometowns. But I'm not sure if it's that much of a memorial if we're technically alive." A few of the heads around him chuckled at his point.
"Even now that my head's there and I can answer questions, no one still visits my memorial." Rutherford B. Hays commented on his memorial's status.
"And there are other clones of us in hundreds of museums across the country, and even other parts of the world. Perhaps even some on other planets it just depends. Granted we don't keep track of who's cloned where and it's not like we're all hyper connected via brain waves or something."
"At least that's what I told my people," Dwight D. Eisenhower added in a rather cheeky fashion.
"There's still something better left forgotten in our dead bodies Ike." Reagan replied, "Besides our memories aren't completely full proof now aren't they?" The other president's heads grumbled some and mutually agreed on that front.
"Anyways yes, I am a clone, but inside the brain, I'm the same Reagan you saw on TV from centuries past." It was Gary's turn once again to be surprised by this, so not only did we have people who were dead centuries ago still alive and well, but they're front and center and able to share their information with anyone? So basically, a primary source at first hand with almost no delusion of information in the way. What an idea for a museum. Gary thought to himself, This way there's little to get in the way of accuracy and you can speak to just about anyone about any question. Then there were the other questions Gary still had in his head.
"So if you were once dead but now technically living again, does this also mean you're a citizen again?"
"No actually," Reagan answered, "That's what I meant by technically alive earlier. While we can talk and think and recollect like a living person would. We have a birth day but we still have a death day and those can't be changed. And because of that we also can't run for president again. Especially in my case since the 22nd amendment is still enforced. We can sometimes be a consultant for the current president if they wish to take advice from us, but we can't make political decisions by ourselves anymore. We're simply here to preserve the past and inform the future."
This was starting to make more sense for Gary. Now this brings up another question: "If there are several clones of yourselves and others does this mean if someone dies today they get to have clones too?"
"It all depends on the person, the time period they came from, and what they accomplished in their life." Reagan confirmed, "Since I and the rest of us were presidents of course we have lots of clones of each other around."
"And sometimes you do such much more in life that you become famous in other ways." Added a different head a little ways down. When Gary looked he was once again surprised at who just spoke.
"Donald Trump? You became president too?"
"Oh you wouldn't believe the struggle I went through, but in the end it was well worth it for me and millions of Americans benefited."
"That's something else I should add too," Reagan continued, "I'm so glad to see that after all these years America is still a nation." This came as such a relief for Gary that America, a nation just over 200 years old when he was frozen, was still going strong after now 1200 years.
"In fact, you said you were from the 70s right?" Gary nodded in reply, "Many of the nations of the world then are still around now. A few centuries ago when we first made contact with alien civilizations there was debate about making the world into a single nation so we could better trade and cooperate with alien worlds which were often just one large nation planet. But many countries including the U.S. felt it would not only be a disservice to their ancestors by throwing away their culture, but for all these nations to suddenly become one and act as one large union? Given how I was in charge with ending the cold war during my administration, I knew that us become one large planet nation wasn't going to work out. So in the end all these alien worlds do business with individual nations. It makes things a little harder for them, but we still retain natural sovereignty that our founding fathers fought so hard to keep together."
"Speaking of our founding fathers, where are they I haven't seen them yet?" Just then a door in the ceiling opened up and the heads of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin came down on a platform where it looked like hoses with what appeared to be tea were feeding them.
"And so I said to this young alien girl, I'm so glad your grandparents waited to try to attack us. With just our powder and artillery even if I was general we wouldn't have stood a chance."
"George Washington? I don't believe it." Gary questioned what he was just seeing.
"Funny, that's the first thing I said when I was suddenly awoken from my bed at Mt. Vernon and found out that Martha was in a different bed. She was cloned before I was and had a headache."
Gary was honestly astonished that he was speaking to George Washington himself, something back in his time everyone would've considered impossible. Even if all of this would be impossible from his time.
"Mr. Reagan," Washington began, "I see that the dems were spooked again by this younger man here?"
"I mean, with you being our moderator and all you know how they can get when someone from the countryside comes in here." Reagan responded honestly, also explaining what Washington did since he was the only president to not belong to a party. "Let alone someone from the past."
"Is that so now?" Washington questioned, now curious himself as to who could cause the dems to hide this time. "I call you young simply because I'm older than just about everyone in this museum, but do tell me who are you exactly?"
"Dr. Gary Hudson phycologist, General Washington sir." Gary answered honestly, how could he lie to the very president who quoted he could not tell a lie. "I was born in 1970 from the state of South Dakota, I was frozen about a thousand years ago and well here I am now."
"Not only older than almost everyone who walks in here but from a part of the country that wasn't even in the country when I was president. Well, I'm honored to see someone still so passionate about our nation after so many centuries." With the mention of what was part of the country at certain times, this made Gary question if there were more states since his hibernation.
"Actually have there been any new states added since my time?"
"No believe it or not," Reagan answered again, "There were some close calls with Gaum, Puerto Rico, and even D.C. trying to become states, but none passed fruition and honestly looking back, it was a long shot for us to have something other than a round and firm number like fifty."
"I mean to an extent it does make sense," Gary understood and agreed, "It's not like there's much more land that could be classified as U.S. territory. Not to mention I'm sure other nations have had some kind if land issues over the years."
"But even in all this that you've been frozen, the principles of the United States have remained intact and continue to be defended for all time." Washington informed, "And I can safely say I'm also glad that we became such an influence that even Britain changed to more resemble what we wrote down centuries ago. Just about every nation has to the point where there really hasn't been a war between nations in the past century." That last part came as a surprise to Gary once again.
"So would that mean the only recent conflicts would be from space?"
"Correct Dr. Hudson," This time coming from Richard Nixon. "We've made more enemies with alien species than with other nations. Now that isn't to say we all hold hands and sing in harmony together, but foreign relations are much better than even I admit when I was in office."
"And where there's someone trying to destroy our values we unite and show them that freedom continues to thrive even after every war, every disaster, and every turmoil." A now feminine voice spoke from another section. "And if the United States has proven anything to not just Britain but the world it's that the world is just about perfect when we all embrace the values and principles of freedom. And no matter what Alien species of the universe try to do to us, if they want peace from us, they too must embrace freedom."
"There's the Margaret we all know and praise talking now." Reagan responding to Margaret Thatcher. A former British Prime minister. "Ain't that Margaret sure something?"
"What was that Ronnie?" Can another female voice from the other side of the shelf.
"Oh nothing Nancy dear." Reagan answered to his wife in another section.
"If you can all talk to each other from different sections of the museum like that why not have all of you together?"
"Well you see Dr. Hudson," Reagan began the explanation. "At first we were all on just one shelf, but because of our differences in beliefs we kept butting heads, literally."
"And even now, we still don't know who started it." Gerald Ford added, "But if you ask me my bet is placed on one of the vice presidents."
"But you yourself were a vice president for Nixon too right?" Gary brought up.
"Uh, that doesn't mean it was me who started it, I mean Bush Sr. was too a vice president for Reagan, and Nixon was vice president for Eisenhower. So it could've been him too."
"Now you're just going to get us to start butting heads again." H. W. Bush argued back.
"Order gentlemen," Washington shouted out, causing everyone to go silent again. "I guess I'll just finish answering Dr. Hudson's question myself. So because we couldn't stop arguing we were put on separate shelves based on party and ideology. And this is also why I'm not on either shelf, considering I warned my colleges on separation of parties when I left office. But I digress that's a matter long over by now."
"So that's where the vice presidents and first ladies are? On other shelves right next door?" Gary asked to confirm.
"Yes they're in other sections of the museum, and the vice presidents are in the section next to us along with other political figures of the time." Reagan confirmed, "Every week or so we're able to get together with our first ladies again."
"Every week or so? Isn't that a long time to be without your spouse?"
"Especially when you can't figure out which of your spouses got you elected." Joked Warren G. Harding.
"What do you mean by…Oh I get it now," Gary responded, figuring out that Harding gained votes by lots of women. "But I still suppose that you still get to see your wives every so often? And are there as many clones of them as there are of you?"
"Once again I nor anyone else here is informed of how many clones there are of who and where they're stationed. But I'd imagine there's just as many clones of us as there are of each first lady." Reagan answered, "And yes we are able to get arrangements to speak to our wives every once in a while. Either when the museum is closed or on light days not too different from this."
"Well, at least history has been kind to you all in some way." Gary acknowledged.
"More kinder to some more than others." Herbert Hoover answered disappointedly.
"You can call it watergate but I'm not the one with an actual dam named after me, one that's more famous that the person it's name after." Nixon joked.
"Maybe we should get the dems to open up their watergate and join in on the party." James A. Garfield.
"Will you gentlemen stop joking around, you're giving my neck a cramp again." Lincoln requested.
"Like you're the only one with a neck ache Lincoln." William McKinley commented.
"How exactly are your heads fully functional without any organs or even a heart to circulate blood?" Gary pondered once again.
"I mentioned briefly before how the fluid keeps us alive and prevents further aging. The fluid also acts as artificial blood circulation since we don't need a heart to pump the small amount of blood in our heads. It's hard to explain somewhat but the liquid although stationary is also dense so it can keep pressure on the blood veins in our heads. Every week we are given pellets that dissolve into the fluid that not only keeps us from aging, not only acts as blood cells that keep circulation flowing in our heads, but allows us to recall more from our memory bank than previously possible. Since we no longer have stomachs we cannot eat traditional food without attachments so most of the time the pellets are flavored."
"I once proposed these pellets to the United Nations to give to poor nations and anyone not living in Texas." H. W. Bush interrupted, "But then Barbra mentioned how similar it was to Colonel Sander's idea to make chicken samples that could be transmitted through television and that we'd have a product not finger lickin good enough for people outside Texas." He finished while looking down in shame. Maybe there were other things these past presidents were holding onto that they weren't telling the people of now?
Regan could only stare at him annoyed and disapprovingly. "Why did I ever have you as my vice president?"
"Uhhh…?" Was H. W. Bush's only confused response, still adding that there was something else more that he was keeping secret. But before he could answer, Regan instantly moved his attention back to Gary.
"I digress but that's about how it works. These pellets give us nutrition to keep us going, and thankfully there's hundreds of flavor combinations so we never really get tired of what we get. On the rare occasion we can have actually food but we need to be attached to a device that acts as an artificial stomach and liver so we can still get the nutrition out of it."
"Yet somehow we still can't have artificial or robotic bodies to walk around in." Calvin Coolidge added, "But I guess that's part of being a museum exhibit."
This came as an interesting notion to Gary, not being able to have a body. Clearly Coolidge didn't seem too disappointed by not having one, but could the same be said for the other presidents?
"Do any of you actually miss having your bodies?" Gary inquired not just Coolidge but all the presidents this time.
"I do," Speaking up for the first time William Howard Taft. "I was so big I could start charging and cause Woody hiding in there to run like a bunny. Outa my way folks I've got a woody to chop up." He then taunted and a predominant cower of fear could be heard from behind the wall, presumably from Wilson. "It still works even after ten centuries."
"Speaking of working after so long it's about time you cowards open up that door you're hiding behind and talk to this young gentleman here." Ulysses S. Grant spoke out to the Democrats. "We're having the most interesting conversation we've had in years about how much more sober Robert E. Lee was compared to myself."
Just then the whole door in which the democratic heads were hiding behind slide up much faster than it closed from before. And quite a few of the presidents had expressions of anticipation for Grant to admit something so embarrassing.
"If you didn't have so much fun taunting at each other even after all this time we'd save so much money on maintenance costs from the door I helped design." Benjamin Franklin said for the first time. Even if he wasn't president it was clear he was still influential to some inventions even now.
"It's not my fault my party continued on for so long." Martin Van Buren answered, "And it's especially not my fault that the younger members of this party can't keep their heads straight."
"Pretty hard to keep your head straight when someone tries to shoot it." Kennedy continued, "And it's even harder when you find out there were aliens between when you died and when you've been resurrected. I told you all being the only Catholic president had its benefits."
"Only?" Once again coming from a head on the democratic shelf, "I thought I was also Catho…"
"No you weren't," Interrupted Benjamin Harrison, "That's just what the aliens made you think."
"Are you sure?" The only confused head asked again with barley any care, "cause last time I checked I was…" Only for the head to wind down and stop talking. When an electronic voice said: Please deposit 5 cents to continue conversation. Gary could've been certain that this head was real. Did this mean the other heads were robots too?
"Is this some kind of cheap trick and you're all robotic heads?" Gary asked the heads, "I've got this computing device that can tell me all your little secrets if you're a robot." All of them started reassuring him that they were indeed real expect for that last head. Although the democratic shelf didn't seem to do a good job of convincing him.
"Trust me Mr. Hudson farmer sir," Barack Obama tried to convince, even though he got his identity wrong. "He was my vice president, and I can confirm he is an authentic clone and the right choice." Gary then got a little mischievous smirk on his face and thought of a way to get back at the heads for shutting him out before.
"And who said what about picking again?" Gary asked the democratic shelf, with most of them either pretending to ignore him or whistled in a hiding type of vein.
"Now you see why I chose you guys?" This time gesturing to the Republican shelf, with most of them giving smirks and agreeing smiles. Knowing that if they were in his shoes they'd do the same thing. Gary had just about all his questions answered by this point and noticed how long he spent in the museum itself. While no one had come into this section since he came, he figured it was almost time to make his way elsewhere.
"I don't think I'll be spending much more time here so I'll make these last few quick: You mentioned aliens just now and of course aliens have been around for a long time now, but what were the first aliens we made contact with?"
"Why don't you ask them at the end back there?" As Reagan's head swiveled to the right and pointed at the beginning of the president's section where Gary entered where he saw the heads of John Lithgow, Kristen Johnson, French Stewart, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The first one with an unhappy expression.
"Oh Ronnie," John said in a sarcastic unhappy voice, "I thought you wouldn't reveal our true identities."
"First off I wasn't president anymore when you four came down, secondly does it really matter anymore? You four are lucky to even be contained here."
"Not like I'd want hundreds of me going around harassing people." French Stewart commented.
"There's already enough of you to go around for centuries," Kristen responded, "Besides we're not actually the first aliens to make contact with earth. But we were the first to make the idea public knowledge."
"And for the longest time we were the biggest reality TV hit of our home world." Joseph finished. Gary then turned his attention back to Regan.
"So if they weren't the first aliens to make contact who were?"
"That was just something we promised them if someone asked about it."
"For once you've kept your promise to us." Shouted back John Lithgow. Giving Regan and annoyed look.
"Anyways the actual first contact was on November 15, 1977 at Devil's Tower, Wyoming." Gary was taken back again by the date and location. When he had just turned seven and not too far from his home.
"Unfortunately there are none of those aliens here in New New York, but there is an exhibit there at Devil's Tower talking about the series of events from that night and what lead up to the first contact."
"All under my administration." Jimmy Carter provoked, "And there can be only one first contact Ronald."
"But wasn't Roswell under Truman's administration?"
"Why does the only other thing I'm remembered for other than the atom bombs have to be that suspicious activity in a small town in a still not very populated state?" Truman responded annoyed.
"Correct me if I'm wrong Ronald but wasn't that still under the conspiracy designation?" Confirming Kennedy.
"Firstly you weren't even alive when the real first contact took place and secondly of all the "classified" items what's one more person knowing the truth going to hurt? Especially since Roswell wasn't even real."
"Looks like I was right again," Gary responded, being confirmed that Roswell was just a hoax. "All those college hippies telling me Roswell was real, how much have I won in betting money since then? But who cares they're all dead now. So what exactly was the biggest change after our first contact especially since we clearly didn't start living among aliens until much later."
"While that's true, the biggest change came from not us becoming more aware of the biggest mystery in the universe, but in how upon our discovery, we learned that all life not just here on Earth but in the known universe shared the same common architecture. The biggest discovery with extra-terrestrial life was not that it existed, but just how much in common they were to us. We were all made from cells, we were all searching for beyond our place in the universe, and we all believed there was more out there for us to find out."
From all the sci-fi stories and possible alien theories Gary grew up with, none of them even came close to thinking that aliens would share the same biological structure as humans, or even the same phycology perhaps? But that was a question he was certain the presidents did not know. "When did the first alien discovery become public knowledge?" Asking one they would certainly know the answer to.
"A deal was made with the first contact aliens that we keep their first visit to earth secret if they tell us about every other species of extra-terrestrial life they've encountered themselves. It wasn't until March 21st, 2066, when a different alien species, allies of the first, offered the United States as an intergalactic trading post where thousands of species of thousands of worlds could browse the various cultures that we have. And continue to believe it or not, but all the other species they themselves have individually encountered also had the same phycological and cognitive qualities to ours."
"I was hesitant to ask that question if you knew about cognitive and phycological aspects of these aliens, but I guess you answered them for me."
"Along with a representative who offered to go with them, we engaged in a small relationship where they would also answer our biggest questions about the universe. They would tell other alien worlds about our existence and just how unique our world was to the known universe. With our separate nations and separate cultures, a greater demand for new life for alien species grew. Along with a greater demand for intergalactic trade was a greater demand for humans to leave earth and conduct business elsewhere in the galaxy, leading to the universal economy that the earth. Particularly the United States, continuous to be a leading force in."
"You said earlier that alien species do business with nations individually, I'm assuming that it is because of their difference in culture and different hospitalities."
"Almost, very few planets have separate nations between the people. However, the biggest reason came after a large war spanning multiple galaxies in 2252-2265. It was Earth's multiple nations that in the end proved to be the determining factor in not only what strategy was used, but what the driving force behind victory was: Freedom. Earth's philosophy challenged galactic tyranny as we mentioned earlier, and once the alien worlds saw that freedom was the biggest driving force behind happiness, any worlds that wanted to become allies with us did so by working together with the free nations as they too became free. Along with freedom of the nations and equal trade opportunities of resources was a discovery for a possible key to figuring out how exactly the universe began and what the biggest force behind it is."
"A key different than freedom?" Gary questioned the allusion made. "A religious key perhaps?"
"Most alien worlds had much better access to the universe than we did. And while at first that would make it seem like religion is nothing more than a way to explain the unexplainable. What it really meant was our world would be the beacon of where God's true power would surface. Sure other religions still exist even today based on their people's culture, however none have claimed so many witnesses nor have seen such a phenomenon that even alien worlds that would still be thousands of years from contact, believe our world's the center for God's own interaction with the universe."
"That certainly is how I was raised to believe Mr. Reagan." Gary then added. "And have there been any conclusions from this exploration by alien worlds?"
"With the finding of various artifacts including the original Ark of the Covenant, it was almost confirmed that these were the clues that alien worlds, including the species that made first contact with us, had been looking for as proof that there was a force beyond the universe that one could not harness. Sadly, we have been unable to get much further than figuring out there was something and that Earth was the central hub for this energy."
"So it has been almost confirmed this is indeed God's power, yet we haven't made it too much further than that?" Gary then concluded.
"Correct." Kennedy acknowledged. "Quite the mystery I must say, however in our own ways we must have seen this place beyond the universe. Weather it was heaven or not I cannot answer, but if it was heaven then neither me, Reagan, or any of us here remember it."
"So you all are able to remember your past lives and any other information you've been given during your time here, but are unable to remember your time away from your lives?" Gary questioned now with this new piece of information brought out.
"You'd think you'd remember your afterlife," James A. Garfield answered. "Especially if you've been dead for so many years, but that's just the truth there."
"Very interesting," Gary responded, never exactly thinking of if people who were dead could remember their afterlives. "Although even I'll admit I've taken up more of your time than you were president Mr. Garfield."
"Oh don't be sorry, after all it's our job to teach about the past and frankly, this is the most interesting conversation I've had with a museum guest in years."
"I'll vouch for the too." Reagan seconded. "Always glad to see someone who still cares about his time and wants a word with us."
"I guess that's just always been in my curious nature." Gary answered respectively. "It looks like I'll need to look elsewhere on what else these aliens have discovered from our world."
"I wish I could tell you more but frankly I'm surprised I remembered as much as I did." Reagan admitted honestly.
"I guess that's another thing we share, a great reliable memory."
Just as he was finishing his sentence, Gary then overhears two employees talking from another shelf section not far away.
"I'm still surprised we're open until 9 on New Year's Eve of all times." A female worker voice was heard saying.
"Yeah, and did you hear about that escapee from Applied Cryogenics?" Another female voice brought up, causing Gary to tense up now that there were others who knew about his escape.
"If I were them I'd be here learning about what happened since they froze." She continued as he heard them walking away. "Well, I better do one last sweep to get guests out and feed a few heads before we close, then it's off to Time's Square like everyone else."
This was the signal for Gary to get out of the museum find another place to hide while learning where else to collect information. Especially regarding his homeplace, while none of the presidents where from South Dakota, he had enough time to ask for one more thing.
"There's one last question I have: Can you tell me if there's been any great changes to my home state since I was frozen?"
"Even with my vice president Hubert Humphry, I couldn't answer that question about what's changed in the great plains." Jimmy Carter answered first, "Then again I don't think I'd want to answer based on your thoughts about me."
"Then why did you answer me?" Gary asked irritated.
"Because Hubert was from South Dakota, even if he chose to represent Minnesota instead."
Must have been another reason my mother hated Minnesota. Gary recalled. "So then if none of you can answer this where else can I find answers?"
"If you're looking for answers on topics either we're not knowledgeable about or not a first witness source then look at The Historic Archives of New New York on 5th Ave and E 104th on the other side of Central Park here." Theodore Roosevelt answered. "That will tell you everything else you'd ever want to know about what's happened between now and your time."
"Very much appreciate that Mr. Roosevelt," Gary thanked, "That goes for all of you presidents, even if our values don't align."
"Hear that gentleman?" Washington commented, "Even after all your scrambling you still meet someone who is able to show respect for many of you."
"It has been an honor to meet you face to face," Gary continued with his respectable farewell, "Especially you Mr. Reagan, thanks for all the information you've given me, I'm sure it'll be very useful for me soon."
"The old saying still holds true even now: Learn something new every day. I look forward to your return here Dr. Hudson." Reagan concluded his conversation humbly. "Even if it's just for the casual conversing."
"Considering my time never had anything close to this, I can guarantee it Mr. Reagan." Gary humbly concluded as well. "My grandmother, bless her soul, was born in 1911 too. And after getting to know you in person it's ironic just how similar you were to her."
"I guess it's just my generation, nothing else like it now. I look forward to your return here."
And with that Gary slowly yet happily turned away and started making his way to an exit. He knew he couldn't go to the main entrance as there'd probably now be someone there. And given what he overheard from those employees earlier, they would probably call applied cryogenics if they caught him.
It was now fifteen minutes until closing and even after going to more sections and even two different floors Gary still couldn't find where the exit was. He would think if there was one commonality that would remain consistent to his time it would be obvious exit signs in buildings.
"Damn, I should've asked one of them for the way out, and I don't see any signs around." He was then interrupted by five heads in a row who were starting to sing together.
"As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree,"
"Spooks arrive for a midnight spree,"
"Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,"
"Bound to shriek and harmonize."
"Grim Grinning ghosts come out to socialize."
Gray stopped in his tracks as he looked back at the row of heads he passed that were now singing. Charmed and impressed by their singing skills. However that did not change that he needed to find an exit and maybe these singing heads would be the best way to find it.
"Wow, I see you heads can even sing, I would never…" Only to be interrupted by the heads beginning another song:
"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna turn around, and…"
"Hey wait." Gary shouted some as they quit their singing and quieted down.
"It's nice to see singing is still a talent and you're singing an old song I love, but I'm trying to find a back exit and leave here…"
"Well now go,"
"walk out the door,"
"just turn around now,"
"cause you're not welcome anymore."
"I don't need your permission to exit now do I?" Once again they stopped singing and listened again to what he was saying.
"Besides it's a little hard to exit here if I can't even find the exit right?" Gary was starting to get irritated with the singing head jars since they weren't giving much if a hand for his situation.
"I'm not sure why I'm still getting advice from you four since you only appear to be able to sing. I will admit these are great songs that I grew up with but…"
"You think that people would have enough of silly loves songs."
"But look around me and I see it isn't so."
"Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs."
"And what's wrong with that?"
"I'd like to know."
"Gentlemen there really isn't anything inherently wrong with you're singing or the songs you're singing," Gary began his explanation in his calmer counseling form as the heads slowed down and quieted again. "But you're missing the point, when you start singing based on just a single word I say that's even remotely applicable. And since it doesn't look like I'm getting anywhere with you for advice on where the exit is, I guess I'll go back on my own and try looking for it again."
Just after Gary turned around again and was about to resume his search for an exit when all of the sudden a decently bright sign light up on the wall that said:
Back Exit. With some smaller letters lighting up saying in addition:
For Delivery and Maintenance Crews Only.
As then a thin line of light outlined the door from the other side, and with no other lights inside able to produce that brightness, Gary knew that had to be an outside alley way light.
"Here comes the sun."
"Here comes the sun and I'll say."
"It's alright."
How ironic, Gary thought. Not only have I found the exit but there couldn't be a more fitting song for these heads to sing.
"I guess you singing heads where helpful after all." Gary thanked the small head choir as he then walked over to the exit door. "Well I must be going now, but I'll be back at some point in the new year ready to hear another old timey song I love. Well domo arigato." He finished as he closed the back door. With the heads a little confused as to his thanks to them, but it's not like this was even the most abnormal encounter they've had all year. And with nothing else to do but sing until the new year began in a couple hours.
However just now entering at the main entrance of the museum, was the person Gary was trying to get a hold of this whole time: Philip J. Fry. He too was clueless at the sight of head jars aligned throughout the exhibit hall until a voice Gary heard earlier spoke.
"Welcome to the head museum, I'm Leonard Nimoy."
"Spock? Hey, do the thing."
"Heh, I don't do that…anymore."