"Hey Olaf?, when will I be able to talk to Anna?"
"Communications not yet established."
"Is that you, Olaf?"
"Communications not yet established." Guess not. Apparently all these orbs are the same, just programmed differently. But one message came thru loud and clear. Olaf was by her side, and that's what I wanted. I still have to wonder if there isn't someone on the other side remotely running Olaf, or is he really AI? He's got the driest sense of humor I've ever experienced, and I have to wonder if he'll get decommissioned once this trip is over. He may yet have a dark side, he does spy on us. I just can't help but think something sinister is behind all this, it's just too convenient.
"Hello Michael."
"Oh, hey Olaf! Is everything OK?"
"Yes, Anna should be awakening momentarily. I just wanted to make sure we could communicate."
"Loud and clear here, Olaf. Who's this guy?"
"It is just a relay, it has no autonomous programming." Nailed it.
"Yea, he wasn't much of a conversationalist."
"It's more like what you would call a cell phone."
"Got it. He's definitely not a smart phone. I assume you will be staying with Anna the whole time?"
"Yes Michael, if that is what you'd wish. I must admit, I'm concerned for your welfare as well."
"I'll be fine Olaf, I'm only concerned about Anna."
"Very well, I'll stay here for the duration. I'll take care of her."
"I trust you Olaf, please do not betray that trust."
"You have my word. I'll be back in a few minutes, she is starting to stir."
The silence was deafening, and agonizing.
"Hey there, Silly Buns, ya there?"
"Yea, I'm here. How are you?"
"Good!, and back in one piece. Although I tried playing with myself with the new arm,.. and it just turned around and smacked me!"
"Hahaha, that's a good one, save it for the meet and greet when we have it."
"Speaking of which, is your guys meeting tomorrow?"
"Yep, still on as planned."
"Are you gonna' bring some stuff up?"
"Yes Anna, I'll mention the horses, but I think that's something that maybe we should talk about later, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more." I hoped she got the Python reference that maybe she should can it.
"Oh, right. Ow! Hey! Watch where you're pokin' that thing, buddy! Hey look I gotta' go, the natives are getting restless."
"OK, Anna. Sleep well,... and I'll talk to you soon. Goodbye, my love."
"Smell ya later, Silly. I love you. End transmission."
Well, at least she's in good spirits, and still funny. A little early for masturbation jokes. But hey, the delivery wasn't too bad, she should work on it. Now I felt better. The surgery was a success, and I could finally take a deep breath. I however need to come up with a plan for tomorrow. The bad news is I have no idea what to expect. There is one thing I want to do. I want everyone there to write down who they are, where they're from and what they have to bring to the table. I may have to grow a giant pair of balls and lead them.
Were in the hell is that thought coming from? I know Abzari mentioned it in passing, but it was just an idea, that I dismissed. I have no leadership skills what-so-ever. That's the thing though, does anybody else here have what it takes? If I find someone more capable, I'll happily stand behind them.
I do not want to start an us and them.
We are all in this together.
The meeting was set for three hours after the rotation into light. It would take me nearly forty-five minutes to get there. I'm beginning to believe having some bicycles would be a good idea.
I had the replicator make me two hundred and fifty sheets of paper and the same amount of pencils. I also got a backpack so I could carry all this.
I had to be brave. I needed to summon my inner Anna for this one. I would have to dance on the tree limb and face these people, with confidence. It's not a trait I normally had, but I'd have to now...
It looks like about one hundred people showed up, and it looked like a United Nations conference. Every nationality was represented, but I saw no animosity here. People were huddling in little groups. While the lack of participation was discouraging, the fact that no one was yelling at each other was a good sign. Abzari was here, and a familiar face was a welcome sight.
"So Michael, what is with the bag?"
"If I get the chance, I want everyone to write down who they are, what they have to contribute, and what they have that may be useful."
"That is an excellent idea Michael, I told you you had it in you."
"Well maybe, but I'm American. We're not really too trusted in the rest of the world right now."
"That's the thing, Michael. We're not in the world right now."
There was a very large rectangular table with about two hundred chairs, it must've been fifty meters long. An orb asked us to take a seat. He had this very dry speech about our mission to populate the new world, and our role in it. He also talked about boundaries, rules about how we interacted with the creatures of the Habitat, which, sadly for Anna, meant no domestication, and the fact that our mates are currently sterile, which did cause some moans and groans. One thing that bothered me is that this was something of a sausage fest, women weren't well represented here. Maybe they just elected not to come, this is kinda' scary. I felt my chance was slipping away, time to grow a pair, here goes nothing...
"Hello, my name is Michael Pulaski. I am a welder from Nebraska. I'd first like to start by saying leadership is not my calling, and as an American, I feel we've done more than enough trampling over the world. But I am a curious man, and I'd like for anyone who wishes to, to come to this stack of paper, fill in your name, what you may be able to contribute to our mission here, and what you may have that will better us as a community." Well, at least I got their attention, I continued.
"How many of you are musicians?" Several hands went up. "Do you have instruments?" Some of the same hands went up, but not everyone had instruments. "I'd strongly recommend that you consult with your assistants to replicate some. One of the things I've noticed is a high level of boredom, is this true for you as well?" Lot's of nods and agreement. "OK, musicians, get together and try to put together a show. What about actors, directors, playwrights, etc?" looks like there were a couple.
"Great, I for one wouldn't mind seeing a play, and I personally have an entire Broadway musical in my head that we could do at some time."
"OK, what about athletes of any kind?" Quite a few of those. "Awesome, see if you can't coordinate some kind of competition, and I would love some weight training and body building."
"OK, does everyone here have a mate?" All hands went up. Good, no one got left out. "And is anyone having any problems with them?" Almost all hands went up, which resulted in a cacophony of laughter.
"I have as well. Right now my mate is on the other side of the shield wall getting a new arm. She's like buying a new car and wrecking it the first week." More laughter, hopefully I can get these people together somehow, time for the big speech. I walked slowly around the table, I wanted to make as much eye contact as possible, and when appropriate, I'd give the table a bang with my fists.
"Look, the simple fact is we're all in this together. We...Must...Make...This...Work."
"We have left Earth behind, we prayed for deliverance and this was the answer. It did not matter who you prayed to, it was answered, and we were chosen. WE WERE!, there is a reason why we're here, and this is our nation now."
"Your past is just that, the past. No matter how you felt about any other race, or nationality, or religion, all that doesn't matter anymore. Here, on this Sacred Barge, we will travel the Sacred Path to OUR new world, in peace, and harmony. We will build a new world surrounded by beauty, art, science, and raising up the human race to a higher plane of existence, and not by how much wealth can be accrued, but how much knowledge can be accrued. We will prove to our benefactors on the other side of that wall we are worthy of their trust, and that we are equals. Look out for your neighbors, make friends, make alliances, make music, make art, and do it for one goal, to advance us as a civilization. The old world lays dying from their own arrogance and greed, for power, and wealth. Crave not these things, for they are the destroyer of worlds."
"We've been given this second chance, let's not ruin it. We have a chance at enlightenment, let's get it right this time, TOGETHER!"
My speech was met with thunderous applause, when I practiced it last night, it seemed kinda' lame. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I would hate to have ruined this.
So a few people came up to me afterwards and felt I had what they needed for a leader. But I told them there should be an election process, that there may be someone more qualified, and we shouldn't jump on the first person with a fascist-like speech. We arranged to do this again, but with our mates the next time. This should be really interesting. I got maybe sixty sheets filled out, it's a start. Now I need a linguistics specialist to decipher all the languages, I don't know if I trust Olaf with this or not. Looks like our universal language doesn't include writing...
"Oh good Michael, I see you're awake, is this a good time?" I had a toothbrush hanging out of my mouth. "I'd like to say no, Olaf."
"Anna is awake."
"Please, put her on." As I spit into the sink.
"Good morning Michael, how are you?, did everything go well at the meeting?"
"It's better now that I've heard your voice. And my speech was well received."
"You made a speech?! To how many people?"
"It looks like there were one hundred."
"And how much did they like it?"
"Um,...standing ovation, I guess?" I felt a little embarrassed gloating like that.
"That's fantastic, Michael! What does this mean?"
"It means that I've probably just dug myself a deep hole, and buried myself in it."
"Oh, don't be silly, Silly! You may be able to lead these people."
"Yea, with a princess by my side."
"That's a role I'll gladly take. Hey, they wanna' knock me out again, love ya! and congrats!"
"OK, my love, I'll talk to ya later."
"Later Gator! End transmission."
Princess, the word lingered in my brain. What was our fascination with princesses? It was much more of a girl thing, but it seemed oh so misogynistic. I never called her that, but now it seemed kinda' natural, and I have no idea why. But tomorrow she is coming home, and I want to give her a welcome fit for a princess.