THE REPLICATOR - AGE UNKNOWN
There was once a long lost stone known as Curest. It has the power of concealing and transforming into any object it touched. An emperor in Africa used it to conquer almost the entire world until he was in Rome. He laid Rome siege for two years, in the process he met a roman princess disguised as a run-way slave and he fell in love with her. He was so in love with her that he couldn't hide the source of his strength from her. So he told her, and was disarmed by the Spartans; who instantly killed him. The senate in Rome decided that the stone must be destroyed because whoever had it could conquer the world, become uncontrollable and immortal. As time went on the Curest developed further powers and qualities. And since the stone was indestructible, early romans banished it to an unknown destination called the end of the earth – Sussex England.
****
Dave was walking to his house at Lavenra Avenue; crestfallen with his suitcase in one hand and his suit dangling from his left shoulder. As he went close to the front door, he could hear the sound of music blaring from inside the house. He opened the door and found charlotte swaying her waist to the rhythm. He walked close to a sofa unnoticed by her and slumped. She was absent minded of his presence; she continued dancing, humming along the lyrics of the song and then she took a twerking position – she twerked and tries to have a view of her buttocks bounce and her attention caught Dave.
She quickly stopped, reached for the remote and put the music off.
"Honey – you are back! I didn't even know. How was work today?" Charlotte asked after she has clumsily kissed Dave and then she sat close to him.
"Fine!" Dave said looking away.
"Fine? And you are this moody. Common on talk to your baby; you know your secrets is save with me. Did you hear any terrible news or …"
"Babe; I just lost my job!" Dave said.
"You what? How?"
"You know the guy – pilot – who I told you steal the company's gasoline along with a handful of engineers?"
"Yes! What about him?"
"He was caught today along with other culprits."
"But, what does that has to do with you being fired?" Charlotte blurted.
"He told the management that I was aware of his heinous activities. So the manager got me fired!" Dave said remorsefully.
"Uh! Is that why they fired my baby?" Charlotte said coquettishly.
Dave nodded and placed his face on his palms.
"Ok – baby! Come! Let's go inside let me teach you some bed moves!" Charlotte said pulling Dave along; who slogged behind.
***
Two weeks later; Dave was lying on a sofa in the sitting room watching the T.V when charlotte emerged from the grocery store.
"Ain't you going out today?"
"Nope! Why?" Dave asked.
"This is the second week and all you do is lie around and watch TV. Won't you go out and get another job?"
"Come on – Babe! We have been through this before!" Dave sighed.
"Oh – I know! Dad and mum are looking for one! Oh – come on, grow up! You are no longer a baby; you are now a man!" Charlotte shouted pointing at the ring in her middle finger.
"But you know; Dad and Mum know best!" Dave retorted.
"For a baby or a boy! Obviously not for a fully grown man who has tasted pussy!" Charlotte yelled
"This was the same attitude that made you lose your job. You just couldn't stand up and be a man!"
"You know I couldn't do that to my colleague? It would be snitching!" Dave said.
"Oh, damn! You don't have the balls. I have had your childish game up here!" Charlotte said pointing at her throat.
"Babe! Please don't yell too loud; the neighbours might be listening!"
"Oh – you care about them now? You are so annoying and such a pathetic sisi! I am so happy that I haven't gone into the ditch with you. Just know that if you continue to act like a pussy; then I would have to end this relationship!" with that charlotte stamped into the kitchen with the provisions.
Dave just lean back resting his head on the sofa with his eyes wide opened as he bites his fingers.
****
Early the next morning, as Dave was returning from the backyard; he met Charlotte in the sitting room pulling her luggage;
"Hey babe! What are you doing?" Dave said running towards her and seizing the luggage.
"Stop it Dave! I am sick and tired of being the only adult in a supposed to be matured relationship!" Charlotte said folding her arms with her facing away from Dave.
"Babe, please stay! Everything would soon be fine!"
"I am not leaving because things are hard – hell no! I am leaving because you don't listen to me. How can a relationship work that way?" Charlotte said dropping on the closest sofa, gesticulating with her hands in rage, while Dave stood holding the luggage in disbelief.
"You said I don't listen? Who did I listen to, to leave England and relocate to America? Or who told me to leave my inheritance and fend for myself! Or who did I heed to cut-off my parents for over two years? Of course you! Now you say I am insensitive!" Dave said fuming.
"Of course you listened half-heartedly. But who chose this apartment – oh, sorry pays for this apartment? Who has the mini-aircraft at the backyard? Who gave you your previous job or who is looking for the next one?" Charlotte inquired feigning an animated puzzling face.
"Of course – Dad and mum!" Charlotte shouted out to the face of Dave.
"Who knows if they have a say in the way you handle me in bed – always starting with foreplays!" Charlotte said deridingly.
"Babe – just stop!"
"Stop what? Telling you the truth! Grow up Dave and be a man!" Charlotte yelled with her hands akimbo and her head in full swing.
"Babe – but I love you!" Dave muttered.
"I know you do; but I can't continue in such a relationship! So hand me my bags before I call the cops!" Charlotte said.
Dave reluctantly handed her the luggage and was about trailing her to the door;
"Hey! You better don't follow me or even attempt to call me because the dude who is waiting outside now; has already taken your place!" Charlottes jibed before picking up her phone.
Dave accompanied her long enough to the door and as she slammed it to his face. He moved to the window, there he peeped and saw Charlotte kissing and hugging a Blondie.
After Charlotte had fraternized with the Blondie; they drove off.
*****
With rage; Dave entered the cockpit, switched the plane on with the caution sign beeping on the dashboard. He flashed a quick glance at the sign and held the lever and the plane was in the air.
As he was getting close to his destination – Kent – before the channel; at Sussex, the plane was unresponsive, all his frantic switch-on's didn't remedy the situation as the plane blared with red alarm; the most visible and audible sign giving a warning of possible explosion of the plane.
Dave quickly reached for his parachute; kept the plane stationary and dived out of the window. In mid-air at the appropriate height, he triggered the parachute. At that instant, the plane nosedived; swirling erratically and its propeller caught hold of Dave's parachute, tore it and Dave descended under enormous gravitational pull; plunging into the sea. At the bottom of the sea, his head struck a golden piece of stone and his skull fractured. At that instant, the plane exploded into pieces close to the sea's surface with a splash down.
****
After some hours, Dave was lying lifeless at the bottom of the sea, with blood gushing out from his head onto the stone. Then; a handful of fishes came pecking his closed eyes.
Then the stone glowed, instantly a fraction of the stone dissolved and flowed through Dave's porous head and his eyes opened. The fishes dashed off and Dave rose up. He looked at the chipped stone and pondered.
"Where am i? How am I able to survive at the bottom of the sea?" he said wearingly.
Then, he felt his organs being light like an aquatic animal and he experienced buoyancy.
At the top of the sea, he swam to the shore and as he stood, he found that his forehead ached and he rubbed it; instantly his physical body transformed into a liquid and he could see through. He was puzzled. He walked close to a large boulder and tried to feel it. His touch spilled on the boulder's surface and as he tries to pass, the boulder went through him. Then he touched his forehead again and his true outfits became visible. He unstrapped the chute and noticed that his cloth was a wreck.
He sat on the seashore, staring at his raised hands and instantly yelled with joy; hopping and dancing. As he stopped, he smiled mischievously.
****
At doorway lane, south of Kent; the doorbell rang.
"Who is there?" Frank asked cheerfully as he rushed to get the door.
"Dad! Good afternoon!" Before Dave could continue, Frank embraced him warmly and shouted;
"Honey! Lizzy – our son is home!"
"Who – Dave?" Elizabeth dashed out of the kitchen with her apron on; hugged and kissed Dave joyfully.
"Son you look good! Nice watch!" Frank said winking at Dave.
"That must cost quite a fortune!" Frank joked.
Dave smiled with a sphinx-like look as he was pulled to a settee by Elizabeth. As Dave sat close to Elizabeth;
"Son, you came alone, even without your aircraft?" Frank asked inquisitively.
"Oh – come on! Frank – forget about that. What of Miss. Oliver – your fiancé? How is she doing?"
"Dad and mum – take it easy; one question at a time. Which am I supposed to answer first now?" Dave vibed.
"Mine!" Frank said raising his hands playfully.
"Ok – Dad! I sold my plane!" Dave said.
"You what, why – son?" Frank asked.
"Things haven't been good for me for a while, so I sold the plane …"
"And Miss Oliver? How about her?" Elizabeth cuts in.
"Mum – Charlotte broke up with me!"
"Oh – come here my boy! I am so sorry. It must be really hard on you." Elizabeth said placing Dave's head on her chest and stroking his hairs tenderly.
"Don't worry son, I would put a call across to my friends; surely you would get a new job soon. Cheer up son!" Frank said touching Dave's shoulders.
"I better go and check the kitchen. I know you boys have a lot to catch up on." Elizabeth said, stood up and leaves for the kitchen.
Then Frank rushed and sat close to Dave, poked him and they both started chatting.
****
News of an American domestic plane crash at the sea at Sussex prompted the American government to send rescue teams to the site.
The head of the naval unit and also a diver was Captain Alvin Cooper; after robotic surveillance, he dived into the sea in company of two other divers. At the bottom of the sea, they saw a golden stone chipped on one side and smeared with fresh human blood. So Captain Alvin Cooper scooped it and placed it in his bag. After a long search for the black box; they returned back to their waiting ship.
****
Captain Alvin Cooper was being led to Dr. Albert Aberdeen – CEO – of space Hi-tech firm, Arizona. On getting there, he presented the stone;
"Good morning Doc.!" Captain Alvin said.
"Good morning Captain! How are you?" Dr. Albert inquired.
"Star-struck! It is not every day one gets to meet a human with a brain smarter than Einstein's." Captain Alvin sheepishly replied awkwardly reaching for a handshake.
"Thank you! I love your sense of humor!" Dr. Albert said exchanging a warm handshake with Captain Alvin.
"So what do we have here?"
"This, it looks like stone with chromatophores! It changes to whatever object I place before it. Doesn't it seem weird?" Alvin asked.
"Ok. Let me see! The blood on it; whose is it?" Dr. Albert asked.
"I don't know. Maybe that of a human or an aquatic!"
"Sarah! Take it to the Lab and run some tests – I would join you in a minute." Dr. Aberdeen said handing the stone to Sarah Ross.
"Doc. Any idea what the stone is?" Captain Alvin inquired.
"Yes. It's a Curest. A long lost stone feared to come from space that has the power to make it possessor invincible and immortal. It has numerous uses but attracts great evil!"
"Like what Doc.?"
"Before it existed on Earth or was found on earth, only one colony in the universe is believed to have such rare stone. And this stone is part of the large part in that colony and it is believed that under extreme gamma radiation – the stone would explode and can destroy the universe with it."
"But doc. Which colony, If I may ask?"
"The colony is called Galaxy Nimbus!" Dr. Aberdeen said.
"I hope we are all ready for this gift from an unknown age!" Dr. Aberdeen said exhaling.
Then, he and Captain Alvin walked through the corridor of the firm to the lift …
****
Dave was walking along the road with uncertain steps staring at each sign post hung at the front of the stores and then his eyes brightened as he read – "Lady Liz Seams" then he smiled and walked straight to the door and he was welcomed by a nubile damsel.
"Hello, I am Dave. How are you?"
"Fine. Can I help you sir?" the young girl asked.
"Yes. Is this Mrs. Westwood's fashion home?" Dave asked.
"Yes – and who … Oh! You must be Dave, Madame's son from America! Come in please!" she said pointing at a chair.
"Let me go and tell Madame!" the young girl ran joyfully through a lobby and after some minutes returned with her faces beaming with smile.
"She said you can come in; the last door by your left sir!"
"Thank you very much!" Dave said walking away with the young girl resting her chin on her clasped palm staring at Dave with dreamy eyes.
Dave tapped the door twice;
"Come in Dave – no need for that!" Elizabeth's voice echoed.
"You don't know whose wife might be undressing!" Dave coaxed as he shut the door.
"Not this room. This is mine alone but the one opposite; don't even dream of touching the door knob because English women and full nakedness in a seamstress home is inseparable!" Elizabeth laughed.
"Mum, I never knew you had it this big!" Dave said looking around.
"Because you never wanted to visit! This must be your first time here – I guess!" Elizabeth teased.
"No – mum. I think second!"
"I know Frank's note must be buried deep in that pocket of yours."
"Come on Mum. I found my way here all by myself. Dad didn't give me a hand."
"You want anything to drink?"
"Nope; I just wanted to move around."
"In search of a lass? What do you make of her?" Elizabeth asked.
"Who mum?" Dave seemed puzzled.
"Come on! The beautiful lass that you met her name are Doreen Walters and ever since she saw your pictures on my phone and she has fallen head over heels for you. Not a day slips by without her asking about you after she found out that you are in town."
"Mum her! She is quite beautiful but not my type of girl. She has a coquettish attitude and I don't intend having another heartbreak any time soon!" with that Dave and Elizabeth burst out laughing.
"Ok then. Give me some time and I will be done with this dress – I am almost done – and we will go out to eat!"
"Ok – Mum!" Dave said walking hypnotically towards Elizabeth and placed his hands on her shoulder as she worked on the dress with the electric sewing machine.
"Dave – Dave; Dave!" Elizabeth yelled jerking a transfixed Dave.
Dave quickly recollected;
"Mum – sorry; I am just lost without Charlotte! I feel empty. That's why I …"
"Hush! Don't worry son, you would soon get over it." Elizabeth said embracing Dave tapping the back of his head tenderly.
After some time, they freed;
"Mum can I get a sewing machine? I would want to use one?"
"You kidding right!" Elizabeth said laughing.
THE REPLICATOR – AGE UNKNOWN
"No – mum. I want to make a dress for myself."
"I can't remember any time you sow your clothes. You were allergic to sowing!" Elizabeth said as she and Dave burst out laughing.
"Mum – you never forget!"
"That's what you said when you were fifteen!"
"Yes – but people change!"
"Yes – they really do!" Elizabeth said smiling while staring at Dave.
"So can I have one?"
"Yes, there is one at the store room close to the lobby leading to the basement!"
*****
After the AI convention held in Coventry; Dr. Aberdeen was leaving with his team of Sarah Ross James and Oscar Lamb, when he heard the voice of Dr. Robert Dexter of Stardust;
"That was quite a lecture on the new found stone – revolutionary – you gave there! No doubt your brain articulates things faster than any man alive!" Dr. Dexter flattered.
"Oh, thank you! Just some late night research and help from my team here." Dr. Aberdeen said winking at Sarah and Oscar.
"But your stance on the usage of the Curest is too conservative. I must confess!"
"That is why the union of first class scientist trusts his judgment more than anyone else alive." A random professor walking by chipped.
"Prof. Ruipert Samuel – head of Transmutation and genetic implant at New Delhi University and silicon valley AI boot camp!" Professor Samuel said offering a handshake. Dr. Aberdeen reciprocated warmly while Dr. Dexter snubbed him; he smile and walked away.
"What do you mean by conservative?" Dr. Aberdeen asked.
"We already know what Curest can do for the whole earth. Why can't we simply put it to use rather than wait for god knows how long before we take action!"
"But we only know the bright spots. What about the dark spots? We need to know everything about it before we can use it at its optimum else, we would be playing with billions of life."
"Oh – come on! Aberdeen; you know better than being chicken hearted. Science is meant to revolutionize the world not to revert or keep the world same. That is what we at Stardust is known for!"
"With all due respect Dr. Dexter; your emotions is getting the best of you. So, I would take my leave. It was nice talking with you!" Dr. Aberdeen said as he walked away along with his team.
"He thinks he is smart! Mane, who was in charge of the expedition at Sussex?" Dr. Dexter yelled.
"Captain Alvin Cooper – a naval chief – Sir!" Anthony mane replied.
"Get me to him. I must have my own Curest and then I would do with it as I please!" Dr. Dexter voice crescendos as he grinned mischievously.
******
Dave was working on a garment at the store room, when the door swung opened and Elizabeth entered.
"You mind?"
"No – mum; come in!"
Elizabeth walked towards Dave and marveled.
"Wow, you are good at sowing – impressive! Let me see!" Elizabeth took the clothes and inspected it.
"Double running stitch. If not that you are working on it right now; I would simply argue that this was done by me. Every apprentice at my shop would concur to it also. You never took time to learn it from me; so where did you pick it up from?"
"Mum – blood is thicker than water!"
"True. But …"
Elizabeth taught for a while and said;
"Who are you making it for?"
"It is my costume for my part time job!"
"Job at where?"
Dave's countenance fell.
"Son, don't feel bad. You would get a new job soon."
"Mum – you know what? Charlotte said that I am still a boy! Am I really?" Dave asked.
"Never has me or your dad doubted you for once; not even the day you chose Engineering over Medicine or turning down your father's offer to succeed him at his pharmaceutical company. In my eyes you would always be a man!"
"But mum – what if I don't believe in myself!"
"Times of self-doubt are common to all, but a man is made by two things – his decisions and the responsibility to bear the consequences of his decisions.
But a man who is true knows it in his heart as he always makes decision that favours the good of the greater majority." With that Elizabeth blew a good night kiss to Dave and left him as Dave pondered on her words.