The Portal
Disclaimer: The standard words that someone else owns all of the main characters in this story.
Rating: R (Where's the fun, if you can't push the boundaries a little further.)
Chapter Twelve
Chloe's original estimate of four hours to reach Narbo and the Mediterranean Coast had been a little optimistic. Even with two changes of horses, it had taken closer to six hours. By the time they arrived it was early afternoon and everyone was ready for lunch and a break.
Nicholas knew of a little cafe right on the beach where they could get some mouthwatering seafood. While they waited for their lunch to be prepared, Clark and Lana dipped their feet in the water. The beach was covered with small three to four inch diameter stones rather than the sand they had been expecting, but neither Clark or Lana were world travelers like Lex or Chloe, so getting their feet wet in the Mediterranean was still a novelty.
The food was soon ready and the five sat down to eat. As they dug into the food, which Lex thought was surprisingly similar to a shrimp Po'boy you would get in New Orleans, Chloe began to speak; "We are not maintaining the pace I had hoped. To reach my estate before nightfall we need to eat fast, hit the road and pickup the pace a little more."
"Pick up the pace?" asked Lex. "I was going to suggest we slow the pace down. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am not use to traveling by horseback and my butt is killing me. Plus I am starting to understand the term 'saddle-sores'."
Lana nodded, "I have to agree with Lex. I thought I rode a lot and could handle it, but six hours in these saddles is more than enough for me, too. I think it would help if I had my normal riding pants instead of this toga thing. Perhaps we need to discuss a change in strategy."
Chloe looked over to Clark to get his reaction. While his body was immune to the effects Lex and Lana were feeling, he was discovering he was not a natural horseman. He even briefly toyed with the idea of letting the others in on his secret so he could just run along side rather than have to continue riding the horse. "I am not enjoying this mode of transportation very much either. Even if we could maintain the pace, what are the odds of us catching the Professor anytime soon with his day and a half head start? What's the point of rushing, if some of us are going to be seriously hurting by then?"
Chloe studied their faces for a couple of minutes before replying. "Okay, you're right about catching the Professor. The odds are slim. Perhaps it is better if we proceed slower and use the time to work on Clark's and Lana's Latin skills. How about this, we stop here for the day and continue on to my estate tomorrow? I will have Nicholas see if he can locate a coach we can hire."
The look of relief on the other's faces was more profound than she was expecting. Since she had let the others in on her secret and found out about Clark's abilities, she had let their differences slip from the front of her thoughts. With her 'bots doing their job, Chloe felt just as fresh and ready to continue as she had first thing in the morning. But Chloe had been a leader many times in the past and understood there were times when you needed to pace yourself based on the weakest member of the team, not the strongest.
After the decision to stop for the day was made, the mood of the group lightened considerably. Lana turned to Chloe, "Since we have some time, how about a story from your life?"
Chloe shook her head. "We really should focus on the Latin lessons."
"Oh, come on," said Clark. "We spent hours working on it this morning. My brain is hurting more than my body. Let's have a story and then later this afternoon we can get back to the lessons."
Chloe looked over at Lex. He smiled and said, "I have to admit, I would like to hear more about your life, too." He pointed to a group of shade trees on a small bluff off to their right. "Let's go stretch out under those trees."
Chloe bowed to the group's wishes and as they gathered up their belongings, she tried to decide on an appropriate story.
When they reached the bluff, Clark selected a spot with a couple of closely spaced trees that provided a good view of the water and from which the pounding of the surf provided relaxing background music. Clark sat down with his back against one of the trunks and Chloe stretched out with him, resting her head on his shoulder. Surprisingly, when Lex leaned back against the next tree, Lana assumed a position similar to Chloe's with her head resting on Lex's shoulder.
Lana turned and looked Lex in the eye. "This may not be an appropriate thing to ask, but could you put your arms around me and hold me for awhile? The last couple of days have been really hard and some human contact would be nice."
Lex nodded and shifted his position so that he could wrap his arms around her. As she leaned her head back, Lex leaned his head over and rested his cheek against her hair. It is amazing, Lex thought, how good she smells considering we have been in the saddle for six hours. I guess I need this human contact as much as she does. Sometimes I wish the tough, strong, self-reliant Lex everyone else sees was more than just a facade.
As everyone got comfortable, Lex asked, "So what story are we going to get today, Chloe?"
Chloe had been thinking about this for the last ten minutes. Based on Clark's reaction yesterday, he probably wasn't ready for one that involved husbands or boyfriends or children. So she decided on something different.
"I think a story from a long time ago would be good for today. This story starts 12,309 years ago. Well, 12,309 years from when we left Smallville anyway," began Chloe.
"Exactly 12,309 years ago, Mr. Spock?" asked Lana.
Chloe grinned. "Okay, 12,309 years, 10 months, and 4 days to be precise. I didn't have time to describe things in detail at the temple yesterday. So before we start the story, let me explain a couple of things. My body contains about three quadrillion 'bots. Each one alone has very limited computer processing power or memory storage capacity, but they are all networked together into one massive three-dimensional array. Even with significant redundancies so that I won't permanently lose any data with a significant injury this works out to . . . Well, you've heard of people with 'photographic memories'? I have perfect recall of every sight, sound, smell, taste, and sense of touch for the last 17,000 years. So far this has used up about 3% of my total memory capacity. I guess in about 500,000 more years I will have to start deciding what memories to sacrifice."
Lex started to get a little pale at this point, as he was the only one with even the smallest inkling of magnitude of numbers Chloe was talking about.
Chloe continued, "Now all of this storage capacity wouldn't do any good if I didn't have a way to interface with it. Here's where the early activity of the computer gamers in the nanotech field back in my original era comes into play. The gamers developed the technology to place a 'bot at every synapse of every neuron of every brain cell. These 'bots could either pass any existing signal between brain cells or block the existing signal and initiate their own signal. The ultimate result was that the gamers brains could be total isolated from the real world and a signal from an outside computer would seem perfectly real. Not just to look at, but taste, smell, sound and touch too. The games seemed like reality, you could walk, run, even make love and it felt completely real.
"The gamers version needed an external computer to do the processing, however mine was the first system of 'bots that had sufficient processing power to be completely self-contained. Hopefully this isn't too scary to hear, but my memory works differently from everyone else's. You may remember some important event in your life from five or ten years ago, but I can completely relive any moment in my past and it seems as completely real as the first time. This is handy when you need some detail like an address or phone number from 30 years ago, but it is a lifesaver when you are locked in a dark dungeon for thirty or forty years. Being able to perfectly relive happy times definitely holds off the insanity. Anyway, that's how I can definitively say this story starts 12,309 years ago."
Chloe paused and looked at the others. Both Clark and Lana had this glazed look in their eyes that said they really didn't understand what she had said yet. Looking at Lex she could see the wheels and gears in his head turning so fast it looked like his brain was about to explode. With a small smile, Chloe wondered how long it would take for Lex to guess at some of her true capabilities.
"Yesterday you were asking if I was ever someone famous. This story reaches the farthest back in time, while still involving the 'famous' Chloe. Of course, the story has been completely lost in time and thanks to an arrogant Pharaoh named Khafre even my face has been lost. If you haven't yet guessed, this is the story of how I was the original face on the Sphinx."
End of Chapter Twelve
Disclaimer: The standard words that someone else owns all of the main characters in this story.
Rating: R (Where's the fun, if you can't push the boundaries a little further.)
Chapter Twelve
Chloe's original estimate of four hours to reach Narbo and the Mediterranean Coast had been a little optimistic. Even with two changes of horses, it had taken closer to six hours. By the time they arrived it was early afternoon and everyone was ready for lunch and a break.
Nicholas knew of a little cafe right on the beach where they could get some mouthwatering seafood. While they waited for their lunch to be prepared, Clark and Lana dipped their feet in the water. The beach was covered with small three to four inch diameter stones rather than the sand they had been expecting, but neither Clark or Lana were world travelers like Lex or Chloe, so getting their feet wet in the Mediterranean was still a novelty.
The food was soon ready and the five sat down to eat. As they dug into the food, which Lex thought was surprisingly similar to a shrimp Po'boy you would get in New Orleans, Chloe began to speak; "We are not maintaining the pace I had hoped. To reach my estate before nightfall we need to eat fast, hit the road and pickup the pace a little more."
"Pick up the pace?" asked Lex. "I was going to suggest we slow the pace down. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am not use to traveling by horseback and my butt is killing me. Plus I am starting to understand the term 'saddle-sores'."
Lana nodded, "I have to agree with Lex. I thought I rode a lot and could handle it, but six hours in these saddles is more than enough for me, too. I think it would help if I had my normal riding pants instead of this toga thing. Perhaps we need to discuss a change in strategy."
Chloe looked over to Clark to get his reaction. While his body was immune to the effects Lex and Lana were feeling, he was discovering he was not a natural horseman. He even briefly toyed with the idea of letting the others in on his secret so he could just run along side rather than have to continue riding the horse. "I am not enjoying this mode of transportation very much either. Even if we could maintain the pace, what are the odds of us catching the Professor anytime soon with his day and a half head start? What's the point of rushing, if some of us are going to be seriously hurting by then?"
Chloe studied their faces for a couple of minutes before replying. "Okay, you're right about catching the Professor. The odds are slim. Perhaps it is better if we proceed slower and use the time to work on Clark's and Lana's Latin skills. How about this, we stop here for the day and continue on to my estate tomorrow? I will have Nicholas see if he can locate a coach we can hire."
The look of relief on the other's faces was more profound than she was expecting. Since she had let the others in on her secret and found out about Clark's abilities, she had let their differences slip from the front of her thoughts. With her 'bots doing their job, Chloe felt just as fresh and ready to continue as she had first thing in the morning. But Chloe had been a leader many times in the past and understood there were times when you needed to pace yourself based on the weakest member of the team, not the strongest.
After the decision to stop for the day was made, the mood of the group lightened considerably. Lana turned to Chloe, "Since we have some time, how about a story from your life?"
Chloe shook her head. "We really should focus on the Latin lessons."
"Oh, come on," said Clark. "We spent hours working on it this morning. My brain is hurting more than my body. Let's have a story and then later this afternoon we can get back to the lessons."
Chloe looked over at Lex. He smiled and said, "I have to admit, I would like to hear more about your life, too." He pointed to a group of shade trees on a small bluff off to their right. "Let's go stretch out under those trees."
Chloe bowed to the group's wishes and as they gathered up their belongings, she tried to decide on an appropriate story.
When they reached the bluff, Clark selected a spot with a couple of closely spaced trees that provided a good view of the water and from which the pounding of the surf provided relaxing background music. Clark sat down with his back against one of the trunks and Chloe stretched out with him, resting her head on his shoulder. Surprisingly, when Lex leaned back against the next tree, Lana assumed a position similar to Chloe's with her head resting on Lex's shoulder.
Lana turned and looked Lex in the eye. "This may not be an appropriate thing to ask, but could you put your arms around me and hold me for awhile? The last couple of days have been really hard and some human contact would be nice."
Lex nodded and shifted his position so that he could wrap his arms around her. As she leaned her head back, Lex leaned his head over and rested his cheek against her hair. It is amazing, Lex thought, how good she smells considering we have been in the saddle for six hours. I guess I need this human contact as much as she does. Sometimes I wish the tough, strong, self-reliant Lex everyone else sees was more than just a facade.
As everyone got comfortable, Lex asked, "So what story are we going to get today, Chloe?"
Chloe had been thinking about this for the last ten minutes. Based on Clark's reaction yesterday, he probably wasn't ready for one that involved husbands or boyfriends or children. So she decided on something different.
"I think a story from a long time ago would be good for today. This story starts 12,309 years ago. Well, 12,309 years from when we left Smallville anyway," began Chloe.
"Exactly 12,309 years ago, Mr. Spock?" asked Lana.
Chloe grinned. "Okay, 12,309 years, 10 months, and 4 days to be precise. I didn't have time to describe things in detail at the temple yesterday. So before we start the story, let me explain a couple of things. My body contains about three quadrillion 'bots. Each one alone has very limited computer processing power or memory storage capacity, but they are all networked together into one massive three-dimensional array. Even with significant redundancies so that I won't permanently lose any data with a significant injury this works out to . . . Well, you've heard of people with 'photographic memories'? I have perfect recall of every sight, sound, smell, taste, and sense of touch for the last 17,000 years. So far this has used up about 3% of my total memory capacity. I guess in about 500,000 more years I will have to start deciding what memories to sacrifice."
Lex started to get a little pale at this point, as he was the only one with even the smallest inkling of magnitude of numbers Chloe was talking about.
Chloe continued, "Now all of this storage capacity wouldn't do any good if I didn't have a way to interface with it. Here's where the early activity of the computer gamers in the nanotech field back in my original era comes into play. The gamers developed the technology to place a 'bot at every synapse of every neuron of every brain cell. These 'bots could either pass any existing signal between brain cells or block the existing signal and initiate their own signal. The ultimate result was that the gamers brains could be total isolated from the real world and a signal from an outside computer would seem perfectly real. Not just to look at, but taste, smell, sound and touch too. The games seemed like reality, you could walk, run, even make love and it felt completely real.
"The gamers version needed an external computer to do the processing, however mine was the first system of 'bots that had sufficient processing power to be completely self-contained. Hopefully this isn't too scary to hear, but my memory works differently from everyone else's. You may remember some important event in your life from five or ten years ago, but I can completely relive any moment in my past and it seems as completely real as the first time. This is handy when you need some detail like an address or phone number from 30 years ago, but it is a lifesaver when you are locked in a dark dungeon for thirty or forty years. Being able to perfectly relive happy times definitely holds off the insanity. Anyway, that's how I can definitively say this story starts 12,309 years ago."
Chloe paused and looked at the others. Both Clark and Lana had this glazed look in their eyes that said they really didn't understand what she had said yet. Looking at Lex she could see the wheels and gears in his head turning so fast it looked like his brain was about to explode. With a small smile, Chloe wondered how long it would take for Lex to guess at some of her true capabilities.
"Yesterday you were asking if I was ever someone famous. This story reaches the farthest back in time, while still involving the 'famous' Chloe. Of course, the story has been completely lost in time and thanks to an arrogant Pharaoh named Khafre even my face has been lost. If you haven't yet guessed, this is the story of how I was the original face on the Sphinx."
End of Chapter Twelve