„Why do I have the feeling you are not ready to let this one go?" Jason asked Froggy directly at dinner. Neri, Mera, Brett, Lena, Anja, Froggy and Jason sat together at the small table in the Bates' suite.
"Come on," Froggy mourned, his mouth full of ice cream, "can't I just finish dessert in peace?"
"Not until you told me exactly what you did."
Froggy swallowed, sighed and pushed the rest of his ice cream away from him. "I didn't do anything." When Jason didn't react, he made the oceanic promise gesture. "I swear," he insisted. "I was just playing around with an idea but I don't have access to the Pyramid." He sounded mournful.
"You tried, didn't you?" Mera asked but it was not a question.
Froggy shrugged than nodded. "H.E.L.E.N. got very angry with me after I repeatedly asked her to help me. She refused to talk to me for two days. I should be the one pouting."
Lena's and Jason's eyes met. They both tried to hide their smile.
"And what's the idea?" Lena wanted to know.
"I thought, we could access the Pyramid's programming through H.E.L.E.N. as a dynamic interface," Froggy explained. "So far, we only saw the Pyramid react but otherwise, it never communicated except through H.E.L.E.N.. I thought, if we knew how it worked, we could use this somehow."
"The Pyramid is designed to obey members of the royal family and anyone with the key," Mera explained. "When Neri asked how to get in back then, it followed her orders. It did not think for itself or about the consequences."
"The power of the Pyramid is dangerous," Neri said. "Even though, Malakat cannot command it any more, I am still afraid of it. We should put our hope in people, not in machines."
She looked at Jason who hid the lower part of his face behind his right hand. When he didn't respond, one by one his friends turned their attention to him, waiting for his answer. Not long ago, he had enjoyed being reunited with old friends. Now, every conversation felt like a war council. He dropped his hand. "I agree."
Neri smiled and Froggy's face fell.
"With both of you," Jason added.
"What do you mean?" asked Lena confused.
"What do we know about the Pyramid, or its power? First," he tipped his thumb, "it's able to manipulate matter. It managed to partially melt the ice caps."
"Electromagnetic radiation," Froggy guessed. "Microwaves."
Jason nodded. "Yes, but only directed at water molecules in open seas. Otherwise, all sea life would have been boiled, as well. Malakat needed intact fishing grounds for his people. So, did he order the Pyramid to spare the living creatures, did the Pyramid decide on its own, or is it in fact limited by its programming or capabilities?"
"Wait." Lena stood up, looked quickly around and went to the living room. Shortly after, she returned with a writing pad and sat down again, already scribbling down notes. Finally, she looked up to Jason and nodded. "Continue."
"Second," Jason tipped his index finger, "it's able to open wormholes in the shape of water tunnels."
"Are these really wormholes?" Anja asked. "In theory, wormholes are supposed to be limitless and yet, from what you told me, you were only able to travel between certain points on Earth."
"Yeah," Brett agreed, "I mean, why would you need space ships if you could just those water tunnels between the planets? The ocean people traveled per space ship for centuries, not just after Mera blew up the main Pyramid on the Oceanplanet."
"I didn't blow it up," Mera reminded him. "The councilors did. But I get your point. We have to find out more about the nature of these tunnel networks."
"Maybe, the Pyramid just manipulates water molecules," Brett guessed. "Our bodies consist mainly of waters. Like beaming."
"You mean, the water molecules were disintegrated and set back together on arrival?" Jason shook his head. "That's a little farfetched, even for our standards."
Brett looked disappointed. "Yeah," he said grimacing, "would be nice, though."
"I'll write it down," Lena suggested and Brett's face lit up. "Just in case. What else?"
"Third," Jason continued, "Shersheba told us, that Malakat used it to find a cure. So, it's able to analyze chemical compounds and manipulate it."
"Using computers for analyzing and creating chemical products is already standard procedure" Lena interjected. "That's not an advanced technology anymore."
"Still, couldn't hurt to put it on the list," Anja replied.
"Fourth," Mera said before Jason could go on. "Neri and me were able to communicate while I was near the Pyramids core."
"Mera looked like a picture in the mirror. But it was weak. I could see through her," Neri tried to explain.
"You mean, she looked transparent?" Froggy asked and Neri nodded.
"Your father left you holographic messages," Jason remembered.
"But this looked different. There was … more light."
A deep winkle appeared on Froggy's forehead. "Where were you? Near water somehow?" Neri nodded. "I was at the waterfall."
"Maybe," Froggy said slowly, "the Pyramid used the water around you to break the light in a certain way. Like a rainbow, just way more refined."
"Well, so far it looks like the Pyramid really does manipulate water molecules," Lena summed up. "The questions remain, if that is how it was designed, limited to or how it chooses to act."
"Hey, we are forgetting something important!" Brett fell in. "The Pyramid brought Neri back to life. It healed her. Do you think that was just water manipulation, as well?"
"No," Neri said firmly, "healing is said to be part of the Gift."
"Ok, now I'm confused." Anja crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. The others looked just as puzzled.
The Gift again.
Jason rubbed his aching forehead. The Gift was essential in the culture of the oceanic people. Somehow, everything always led back to it. A unique healing capacity carried by a few individuals who charged the synchronium which then acted as a catalyst to heal on a bigger scale. And now the Pyramid, as well?
Neri suddenly sat up straight, watching him. Somehow, she must have picked up his notion, as well as Mera who looked up.
Their reaction didn't go unnoticed, as the others kept looking back and forth between them.
"Guys? What is going on?" Froggy wanted to know.
Jason leaned forward. "The Pyramid was designed by the same people who created the synchronium. It means, that it's built on the same basis, fed the same way – with emotions, thoughts, with the essence of every single individual in possession of the Gift."
"Where are you going with this?" The wrinkle on Froggy's forehead grew deeper.
"Remember what Shalamorn said? That the oceanic people don't trust emotionless machines? So, why would they create one in the first place?"
Mera looked skeptical. "The Pyramid is ancient. Our mother told us that there was a time when our people struggled with violence and destruction. Culture is a dynamic concept. It changes. Maybe, the Pyramid was built long before we grew into the peaceful society, we are today."
"If the Pyramid was a relict of those times, why didn't they destroy it?" Froggy continued, picking up Jason's line of thought. "If your people really were afraid of the Pyramid, why keep it?"
"You didn't think twice and used the synchronium," Brett said thoughtfully. "And you plan to use it again, although you can't see its heart, either."
"No one ever provided proof that human beings have a soul, and yet, we all take it for granted." Jason turned to Froggy. "Maybe, there is some truth to what you said about A.I.s.. That they learn from their environment, the people around them and if they learn from people with the Gift – ," he took Neri's hand, "I would trust them with anything. Look," he went on after exchanging a smile with her, "I'm not saying we should unshackle it because whatever the limits, they are there for a reason. But if a charged synchronium can heal a planet, maybe a charged Pyramid can heal its people."