CHAPTER 3: UNDERWAY

       After what seemed like only minutes with these charming people, Astra pointed out that it had been nearly an hour since I had arrived. "I've got you all to myself this afternoon, mialana, and time's a'wastin'."

       I nodded acknowledgement and forced myself to bid farewell to the crowd, then walked with her across the landing field to a small personal craft parked in a reserved area.
       "Well, c-h-i-p," I said.
       She looked at me quizzically. "Cuteness has its privileges," I expanded.
       The response to that was a sideways glance and a smile.

       As we approached, the craft's gull-wing doors hissed open, revealing an opulent interior upholstered in black simulated leather with crimson and silver trimwork. The instrument panel was clean and uncluttered, with several computer readouts, three keyboards and a pair of visiscreens arranged almost artistically into the curved panel. We boarded, and the doors closed automatically as we sat.
       "No seatbelts?"
       "Are you, fine sir, casting doubt upon my impeccable piloting ability?"
       "Orii's starting to wear off on you."

       She switched on the drive, then pressed one of the three pushbuttons on the "joystick" in the center console. We rose rapidly to an altitude of perhaps 2,000 feet. A few subtle movements of the stick swung us around in a one-eighty, and we headed south-west toward one of the industrial sections of Vrell City.

       "In answer to your query, sir, no seat belts. There are multiple safety systems built into the vehicle, including what you might call 'air bags' in the extremely unlikely event that despite my formidable skills, we find ourselves making an infortuitous impact on an unyielding substance."
       "My observation stands, precious lady," I said.
       "Orii-Val does have his good points, even so."
       "Including the one on his head?"

       That one stumped her for a moment, but the reference to a comment she made during an 1960's outing on the moon finally clicked.
       "Well, we do have a long memory, don't we?"
       "How could anyone forget even an instant with you?" She said nothing, but the sparkle in her eyes said it all. I felt a hundred feet tall, and was content to spend the rest of our short trip dividing my time between looking out at the city and wondering at the exquisite lady beside me. What this embodiment of perfect womanhood saw in me was a mystery, but I wasn't complaining.

       We were now over a large campus of cream-white buildings in a finely landscaped setting of flowers, shrubbery and random trees of a dozen types. "Lin-Erri mentioned that you wanted to see the Cybernetics Institute. The powers that be were eager to oblige." As we descended toward a parking area, a small group of people, predominantly women, gathered to greet us. "I sort of let it slip to my fellow slaves that I was bringing you here," she said apologetically.
       "Any friend of yours..."

       She landed the vehicle in another reserved space. "Small perks to pacify the masses," she said, trying to sound cynical. The doors lifted, and the delicate aroma of a bed of pink and white flowers drifted in, complementing Astra's subtle trace of perfume. As we deboarded, the two men in the group joined us. The women seemed content to stare. "You forget just how utterly gorgeous the trans-techs made you, mialana."
       "So Orii told me," I said, smiling and nodding in their direction.
       "Is he ever wrong?"
       "Not if you listen to his version of it," I replied.

       She laughed merrily, then introduced the two gentlemen waiting patiently on the walkway. One was the Director General of C.I., and the other was the chief systems analyst. The two men were what we'd call top-level management, yet there was no formality here, just mutual respect between individuals each aware of the others' talents and capabilities.

       As we talked, I was awed by these people, not because of their high rank, but rather because despite their importance they met Astra and me on a friendly, completely equal basis. With my meager knowledge, I'd have been fortunate to be permitted to sweep the floors, but this apparently mattered not one iota to them. Whether it was due to their deference to my being a visitor to Korendor, or just to their unlimited capacity for making everyone, no matter how important, feel welcome and wanted, I was completely at ease. The Korendian people never ceased to amaze and enthrall me.

       Our little group walked toward what was apparently the headquarters building, past the group of young women. Astra told them we'd be back shortly so she could introduce me properly. The notion seemed to please them no end.

       After we entered the building into an expansive lobby, I said, "You know, mialani, I'm getting a little self-conscious. Do you suppose that next time around the techs could whip up something a bit less conspicuous?"
       "Not a chance, sweetheart. You're perfect. I guess you'll just have to live with the adoration of our incurably infatuated female population. Sorry about that."
       "Your compassion overwhelms me," I said with feigned sarcasm, then continued in a somewhat louder voice, "But, on the other hand, being the most beautiful and desirable lady in a million galaxies, you no doubt know the feeling."
       That look of love returned to her eyes, and she was about to respond when she became aware of the bystanders watching appreciatively as a result of my comment. She blushed slightly and said, "I'll get you for that one, mister."
       "Oh, I dearly hope so."
       "You, sir, are impossible."
       "No, my sweet one, just madly and hopelessly in love."

       The two execs left us then, with the CEO saying, "Enjoy your tour of our little shop, and please do give us good reviews when you get home."
       "You can count on that, sir, and I'll especially mention your flawless taste in hiring programmers."
       "You'll get no argument there, brother," he replied with a broad smile, and they left together through a sliding door in the far wall.
       "And so, my dear programmer," I said airily, echoing my previous observation, "I'm in your capable hands. Lead on."
       "Very well, sir. Walk this way, please." She headed for the nearest exit, with an exaggerated sway in her hips.
       "If I walked that way," I said, following her lead-in, "I'd be in big trouble." Apparently, the corny old vaudeville schtick still had it, and we left them laughing in the lobby.

       We were in a long corridor now, and seeing that we were temporarily alone, Astra stopped, turned to face me, and with her arms around my neck, she delivered a kiss that sent tingles through every nerve. A long, etherial moment later she ended her embrace, and looked into my eyes with love and happiness and serenity that were a caress to my soul. Without a word, I returned her kiss, and for that brief interlude, she was all that existed in my world. Across the vastness of space, there was sweet communion, perfect and eternal.

       And then the world intruded. About fifty feet down the aisle, a trio of older women were watching us, their faces expressing gentle warmth and understanding.
       "We have company, sweet lady."
       "M-m-m-m?" For a moment she was content to remain locked in my arms, but then the impact of my statement broke through her reverie. When I released her, she straightened out her garments and attempted to assume a serious demeanor.
       "Well, sir," she said with as much sternness as she could feign, "ordinarily such flagrant breaches of etiquette and propriety are frowned upon in this establishment, but since you're a visitor to our world, I suppose that it can be forgiven this time." She glanced at the women and discerned that they were not overly impressed by her little show.
       "God, you're adorable," I told her in a stage whisper. The ladies smiled, then left through a side aisle.
       "Robert, you're just..." Her analysis was interrupted by my kiss. "... Just wonderful," she finished softly. We resumed our journey down the corridor hand-in-hand.

CHAPTER 4: THE WORKING GIRL

       Another 200 or so feet of walking brought us to a short connecting passage that ended in a small foyer that serviced three double doors. We went through the middle one, and I came face-to-terminal with the machine that Astra had been working on and with for many months. I remembered my first view of it in the magazine in Master Kalen-Li's residence in the Plato base. The photo did it no justice.

       We walked along the aisles between the literally hundreds of consoles servicing the computer, with technicians acknowledging our presence as we passed. She brought me to what for lack of a better description could be compared to a ship's bridge, a raised area separated from the rest by a low railing. We went into the inner sanctum within the ring of consoles, and Astra took a seat at a terminal. The computer's visicam swung to her.
       "Good afternoon, Astra. I see we have a visitor." The synthesized voice was perfect in tone and inflection, rather like HAL of "2001".
       "Yes. Mark, this is Bob Renaud of Earth."
       "Indeed. I recognize him from the visiscreen news broadcasts. Welcome to our world, Kal-Thar." The machine's use of the Korendian name that I adopted took me aback.
       "Er.. yes, thank you."
       "You seem surprised that I'm aware of your chosen name. Do you forget who has been programming me?"
       "Very true," I replied. "Secrets shared and all that. Astra called you Mark. That sounds rather Terran."
       "It is, although it's simply a part of my designation, which can be translated as Mark Seven. I find it interesting to be addressed in this personal way. Astra is the only one who uses the term, however. It's a private thing."

       I realized then that I was standing there talking conversationally with a computer, as though it were another person, and not feeling at all uncomfortable. "You seem to have a mastery of language, Mark. Isn't that a considerable load on your processing time?"
       "Not at all. Colloquial speech communication is controlled at the sub-system level. It's a secondary priority function, when I've nothing more pressing to do for a moment. Actually, I'm fluent in over thirty thousand languages, including several Terran dialects. Would you be interested in hearing English in your Terran voice?"
       "That's a fascinating thought," I said, eager to hear what I'd sound like back on Earth. The computer spoke for about fifteen seconds. It was strange and low-pitched, and of course I didn't understand a word of it.
       "So that's me," I half-asked when it finished.
       "That's you, or rather you in your native habitat. At this moment you are fluent in Korendian, and your mother tongue, as you might say, is alien to you, as will our language be when you return to Earth."
       "Well, it beats needing a translator."
       "Beats? Explain, please."
       "It's better, preferable."
       "Filed. It's an interesting application of the word. I was unaware of it."
       I looked at Astra with a "You mean you didn't tell it everything?" expression on my face.
       "Oh, do forgive me, O Grand One, that this lowly, unworthy person has committed the unpardonable offense of overlooking so critical a matter." We both waited for the computer's response to her severely over-played apology.
       "Really, Astra, such a small item scarcely requires that degree of penitence. There are obviously numerous verbal derivations to be learned. Surely you can't chastise yourself for this omission."
       "I was right," she said to nobody in particular, "we should have included a sense of humor. Mark, standby."
       "Acknowledged. In standby."

       "Well, love, what do you think of my little toy?"
       "If its other capabilities are anywhere near its understanding of language, this is one almighty machine." Having been around a variety of Terran computers for a number of years, I can attest that we were in the presence of one at least ten generations beyond our best. I was curious to know what else it could do.
       "A small demonstration of its simpler abilities, perhaps," Astra asked, reading my unspoken wish.
      "Graphics. I know how complex they are."
       "Mark, resume."
       "Waiting."
       "Kal-Thar would like to view some of your graphics abilities, perhaps the short sequence you've been working on for the visiscreen network."
       "Yes," Mark agreed, "that would be an excellent one to show him. One moment while I retrieve it."
       "It will be on that screen on the wall," Astra said, pointing to a large viewer to our left. As she explained the technology of the display, I was content to look into her exquisite eyes, filled with the joy of life and the happiness that came of working on a task that she found truly exciting and challenging. She was in her element here, and had all the pride and anticipation of a mother at her child's first school play.

       And then the screen lit, and I forgot everything else as the video images unfolded. Spectacular is a word for it having as much relevance as calling the Pacific a big pond. Superimposed titles indicated it was a representation of the instants following the Big Bang, Event One. The number of separate objects being represented was mind-boggling, hundreds at least, each going its own way yet interacting with others about it.

       After the two minutes or so of this incredible display, I was speechless. Astra gave Mark a few closing instructions while I caught my breath.
       "That's... pretty good," I grossly understated. "Is this recorded, or..."
       "No, it's all real-time computation." In answer to the question that instantly formed in my mind, she said, "Graphics are also low-priority. Mark wasn't actually using more than half of the capacity of one of his 3,000 processing units."
       I looked at her with a combination of awe and astonishment. "Isn't this a do-it-yourself god in the making?"
       "No, sweetheart, we're not in the business of creating deities, at least not yet. Mark's only a machine, and we can still, as you say, pull the plug."
       "Only a machine. That's like calling you only a woman."

       I felt powerful emotions within me as I silently studied her beautiful face, now aware more than ever of the wondrous mind that worked behind it. She returned my gaze, not saying anything, preferring to allow her expressive eyes to convey her feelings. At last, I found voice, but all that emerged from my lips were those three words that have said since time immemorial everything that needed to be said. "I love you."

       She reached out to me and took my hands in hers. The gentle contact answered me in a way that mere language could never hope to communicate. Surrounded by the highest of "high-tech", we shared a moment as ancient as eternity.

       And then it was time to move on. We left that marvelous machine to its human servants, exiting by the same door, and walked slowly toward the lobby, all but oblivious to those we passed. A few moments later, we were outside once more, the brilliant afternoon sunlight and the fragrance of the gardens bringing us back with the rest of Korendor. Ahead, Astra's friends still awaited us.
       "I'm sorry we took so long," she said as we joined them. "We were... delayed." Their faces indicated that the nature of our "delay" was quite clear to them.

       Once more I decided that my Korendian form had been made far beyond the call of duty. The ladies seemed nervous and apprehensive as we conversed, much as a Terran girl might be with her favorite Hollywood idol. I found it fascinating, if a bit disquieting. Nevertheless, the notion that these women, products of a superbly advanced, scientifically oriented society, could be so thoroughly human only deepened my oneness with these splendid people.

        When we left them and returned to Astra's vehicle, I told her of my thoughts.
       "Yes," she answered, "we're just as susceptible as your people to the physical attributes of an attractive woman or man. That's the major reason that you were made so gloriously handsome, lover. First impressions and all that."
       "Well, I certainly hope that I left a good first impression back there." She glanced my way with an expression that said, "Do you really have to ask?" then fired up the little craft's drive and arched toward the south, beyond the forest belt that surrounds Vrell City. Ahead, the residential areas dotted the landscape.
       "My family is awaiting our arrival, sweetheart. As your people say, it’s a big day."
       "Meeting them, mialani, will be a joy if they're even remotely as delightful as you."
       "I love you," she whispered as we settled down next to a light blue single-level home that might well be compared to an expensive "ranch-style" house. It was meticulously landscaped to blend in with the surroundings and to isolate it visually from its neighbors.

       A beautiful young girl, perhaps 15 years of age, met us as we walked along a flower-bordered stone path between the "driveway" and the house. She stared wide-eyed at me.
       "Kimi-Jen, this is Kal-Thar. K-T, this is my sister." I took her trembling hand, kissed it in the continental manner, and looking into her eyes, I said, "I am enchanted."
       For a moment she was motionless, and then managed to stammer, "I... I... I'm... it's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
       "Robert," Astra said with a suppressed laugh, "I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on you, it seems."
       "Fret not, my darling, you have no competition."

       In the shade of a stand of trees perhaps thirty yards away, a group of girls of Kimi's age waited for her to return and share the moment with them. Several of them had cameras and were recording the event for posterity. "Would you excuse me, love?" I said to Astra. She nodded appreciatively, and watched as I took Kimi-Jen by the hand and walked with her toward the group. I caught bits and pieces of their conversation as we approached, and obviously they were not expecting this.

       When we arrived, Kimi introduced her friends. I spent a few minutes posing for pictures and video recordings with them, and talking about Earth, Korendor and whatever came to mind. Then, seeing Astra patiently awaiting my return, I excused myself with the traditional farewell, and left them chattering excitedly.
       "Mialana, that's why I love you so much," she said as I rejoined her. "That was a sweet thing to do. They'll be talking about it for days."
       "My adoring public needs me," I said pompously.
       "I WAS going to bring you inside now," she replied with a giggle, "but we may have to wait a moment until your head deflates to fit the doorway."
       "My dear lady, are you insinuating..."
       "Insinuating? Why, heaven forbid, no. Stating, maybe."
       "Well," I said, using Jack Benny's famed folded-arm reaction. She laughed aloud, then took my hand and brought me toward the front entry.