Solomon's Private File #367
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 32 in this story, in the Summer of 2058.
Solomon's Private File #367 "Dying To Help"
START Page
In the Circus dimension, there was a space ship in distress. I said
on their proper frequency, in their language, which was of the people
with fur, "You seem to be in some trouble. I offer my assistance." The
fast reply was, "This is Captain Mansonit. Yes, we have a problem. Our
fusion power system is not functioning. Do you have the capability for
us to exchange visual information?" I showed him what I looked like, in
a video transmission. It was from a species in a different part of the
galaxy, that looked a little like them, and was compatible. I said, "I
am Monsol. We have engineering ability here that may be able to help
you, and can repair and make new parts. I know of your people, and we
are compatible with your environment. If you agree to our help, we will
not bring weapons." He said, "That is unusual." I said, "How many
species have you had contact with?" He said, "Er, none before this." I
said, "So, then everything in this is unusual to you." He chuckled, and
said, "I must agree. Please have your med people confer with ours, so
we can determine proper standards for health safety." We did that, and
it was agreed that I could board them, which I did, using a flexible
universal docking tube.
There were armed guards. I grinned, which they recognized, and said,
"I have no weapons, but pointed speech." Some suppressed smiles. I was
escorted to a conference room, and offered a seat. Captain said, "How
do you know of us?" I said, "We like to know about other people. Well,
we already understand ourselves. For some of us, we gain merit with our
God by helping others. So here we are. And here you are, needing help.
Convenient for both of us." Smiles and nods. One said, "Would you allow
us to examine your person?" I said, "No. I have no need for that. I
think more questions are about to be expressed. No, I won't tell you
where we are from, or anything else about my people. That would be a
waste of time. I'm here to help you with your problem. I'll do that if
you agree, and then be on my way to help another. Oh, alright, one
question I'll answer. How did I know you needed help, and where you
were? A feeling. Yes, that's it."
I said, "Please tell me of the problem." The engineer did. We
discussed it in detail, and he was impressed with my knowledge. I said,
"The fifth secondary induction coil seems to have failed, causing
cascading problems. Melted coils and wiring. Please excuse me while I
transmit the specifications to my ship." I unfolded a sheet I had taken
from my pouch, and put it on the table. Above it flickered into life a
holographic monitor screen, and on the sheet there appeared a keyboard
and touch control surface. I typed very fast, and images moved all over
the screen, and changed rapidly. Then I stopped, and said, "Replacement
parts are being modified and made. We should get to work in removing
the damaged parts." They were all surprised at how efficient I was
about it. Some of us went to the power room, which was massively large,
and in the middle of the ship.
I said, after examining it, "Microgravity would be more convenient
for work here." The Captain nodded, and ordered that. Then they stared
at me in awe, as I jumped all over the room, closely examining the
fusion assembly. Captain said, "You are quite some athlete!" I said, "I
like to work well. But yes, I do indulge in microgravity sports. This
section needs to be cut away. What tools have you got for this?"
Engineer sent a tech to get them. They brought them into the room. I
said, "Hmm, this could take a while. While you're cleaning up this
mess, I'll be in my ship preparing the parts. When I ask, please send
some strong crew members into the transfer tube, to help bring them
into your ship." They agreed, and I went back to my ship. Many hours
later, the engineer called, and said they were ready for the parts.
They sent some men into the tube, and I opened my airlock, and showed
them to the parts inside. We guided them carefully through the tube,
and then into the power room.
They began moving things into place. For one, they pushed too hard.
One man was going to be crushed between it and the larger assembly. I
jumped from one surface to another very fast, so I could get there at
the right angle, and push him out. I succeed, but my foot was caught
and broken when the parts met. They bounced away a little, so I could
remove it. I said, "I did not expect to provide a cushion for that."
They called for a medtech. He arrived with some splint material and
instruments. I refused pain medication. He set the bones, and wrapped
it in a hardening cast. I said, "Thank you. It is now usable. Back to
work!" They did that. The parts were secured and connected. Then the
framework and covers needed to be welded in places. I said, "Stop! That
is NOT acceptable!" I took over the welding, and did it better, which
some appreciated. Welders didn't, quite so much. I said, "Now we know
what may have caused the problem." The engineer nodded, and said,
"We'll work on that, you can be sure!"
I said, "Now a power up test. Not all the way at first." Engineer
said, "We need to move to a safe location." I said, "You may. I will
stay. I need to feel the vibrations to determine it's all in balance.
That could have been part of the problem." He said, "Then I will stay
with you. All others please leave." They did, with a will. We exchanged
smiles at that. We started it. A quarter through the start sequence, I
halted it, and let it power down. I said to him, "Did you feel it?" He
said, "I did!" I adjusted the relative power level in two coils. I
said, "Much as we try to make the parts identical, it's not completely
possible, even in the purity of the metal alloys. We need to compensate
for the small differences to make the whole system operate in balance,
or the vibrations can cause failures in the materials of the parts over
time. Automatic controls for that are sometimes not enough." He said,
"I understand! This will make a huge difference in the reliability of
our ships." I said, "To the limit of individual bravery." Chuckles.
After two more power tests and adjustments, we left the room and
started it up fully. He said, "It's working better than it did before
the problem!" I said, "Isn't that always the goal?" He said, "It should
be. Thank you very much! I need to ask. Your people made the parts very
fast. Are all your crew as knowledgeable as you are?" I said, "That's
not a good question. I have no crew. My ship is all mechanized." He
said, privately, "You know you risk being seized, in telling me this."
I said, "As you have been learning about me, I have been learning about
you, and I still am. This is not my first mission. Would your people
act in an ungrateful and unfriendly way to one who has only wanted to
help, and successfully?" He said, "You will not ask me to keep this
secret?" I said, "Correct." He said, "You will have made your ship
secure from er, interference." I said with a grin, "You know it!" He
laughed. I said, "But no weapons. I will NOT kill." He said, "I am not
surprised. You risked your life or injury to save another."
I said to the Captain, "All finished. We should be going our separate
ways. There are probably others in need of help." He said, "May we
visit your ship?" I said, "No. I have no need for that." He said, "Is
your technology more advanced than ours?" I said, "It is what it is. I
am not interested in making comparisons, only helping others in
dangerous situations. What about you? Do you like to help others?" He
said, "I would, but I don't go out of my way to do it." I said, "I
don't, either. It IS my way. Conversation is nice, but this could be
delaying the help I could give to another." He said, "If we were to
prevent you from returning to your ship, would your crew fight with
us?" I said, "I have no crew. My ship is fully automated, and will NOT
harm intelligent life." He was very surprised. The Engineer asked to
speak with him privately. They did. Captain disagreed with him.
He came back to me, and said, "If we restrained you, what would your
ship do?" I said, "It would leave, and return to its usual place." He
said, "Would it report?" I said, "It would have a record of what
happened. That would be available to others. Why do you ask questions
about what you would be sure to do in my place? Do you assume I am less
intelligent than you are, and that this is my fist mission of this
kind?" He stared at me, and did some heavy thinking. He said, "Are you
a violent people?" I said, "I am not. I will not speak for others. I
don't have the right to do that." He said, "What would you do if we
restrained you here?" I said, "All I will say about what has yet to
happen, is that I will not harm any person, or this ship." He said, "I
have decided to restrain you."
I said, "Would you tell me why?" He said, "So we can learn from you."
I said, "That won't happen as you desire. You won't be able to." He
said, "Not even torture?" I said, "Did you note my reaction to my
crushed foot? I do not let pain rule me." He said, "Drugs?" I said,
"Compatibility issues. Some might work, some might not." He said, "How
long before your ship leaves?" I said, "I had sent the signal that the
repairs were complete. If it doesn't hear from me in 48 more minutes,
it will leave. It will detach the tube in its port. You will have to
remove what is left from your ship." He said, "After that, will the
ship come back if you ask it to?" I said, "No, it will be too far away,
too fast. And as ordered. We prefer not to take chances with unreliable
people." He nodded, and told the guards to confine me. I said, "A
moment. Your Engineer has made himself a friend to me. I would not like
him to endanger himself if he were motivated to oppose you in this." He
looked at me strangely, and said, "Noted. Precautions will be taken."
I was put in a locked room, with just a chair and a table, and
nothing else. After my ship left, the Captain and a medtech came into
my room, and said, "We are going to try something." I said, "Before
that, I will ask you to promise something. Will you give my message to
the engineer?" He said, "What is it?" I said, "Do not grieve for me.
What will happen is my will, and it's not a bad thing for me." He said,
"I will." He lied. Medtech knew that, and nodded slightly to me. I
wiggled a finger only he could see. Then I left that body. It died, and
fell to the floor. The medtech tried to revive me, but couldn't. He
said to the Captain, "I warned you about this. He controlled the plain
and the bleeding in his foot. I'm not surprised he could die at his
will. With that kind of body control, he could probably have killed us
in unarmed combat and escaped. That he wouldn't harm us, means he was
holy. What will his people do about this?" He said, "What about his
tech? They examined my pouches, and found nothing of use. Medtech said,
"He obviously prepared for this." Captain said, "This is restricted.
Tell no one!"
When he could, days later, the engineer met with the medtech, and
said, "The prisoner. How is he?" Medtech said, "It's restricted, but I
have a higher duty. He asked the Captain to give you a message from
him. He agreed to do it, but I knew he lied. I signaled to Monsol that
I would." He told him. Engineer said, with tears, "Thank you! I know
what he meant. He killed himself. I think he was holy." Medtech said,
"I agree, and told the Captain that." Engineer said, "We were tested,
and failed." He said, "No. One man failed. You and I didn't. Somehow, I
think that will be in the report."
Soon, the rumors went all over the ship, that I was held captive and
died. Captain said to the medtech, "Did you tell anybody?" He said, "I
didn't tell anybody that he was captive or had died. But the guards
knew he was captive. All know his ship left and never returned. Food
service knows he isn't being fed. There is a body in the med freezer,
that can't be wished away. Crew isn't stupid. They liked him. You, not
so much, now. Some are wondering if any of our ships in the future that
might need help they could provide, will have it. And if they will warn
other species about us." He said, "That is a concern. So is what I
should report of this." Medtech said, "You are in an interesting
situation. What if they report this to OUR people, and your report
doesn't match it?" He said, "What do you recommend I do?" Medtech said,
"That is a very personal choice for you to make. I think you know of
the only action that will help to restore the honor of our people." He
said, "I'm not sure how much that will help, with a people who will not
kill. Would they feel better by the death of any person?" Medtech said,
"Maybe not. You know our people would. Maybe even demand it. I see what
you're going to ask. Do NOT ask that of a Doctor!"
He nodded, and dismissed the medtech. He called the FO to a
conference, and briefed him on the events. Then he said, "Here is my
full report. Yes, it's accurate. Add to it as you will. Please be sure
it's delivered as soon as possible. Make copies, in case what goes
public is altered. I'm in an impossible position. Soon, there will be
another body in the freezer. I will be announcing the change of command
to the ship. They will hear the action on my decision. You will know
what to do then." They glanced at the weapon on the desk. It did happen
as he said. The whole ship heard the weapon discharge. The Medtech put
him in the freezer.
I said to the captain's spirit in Limbo, "Brave, what you did." He
said, "YOU are Monsol?" I said, "One of my many names, yes. You will
teach your people something very important. They will someday encounter
another intelligent species. What could happen with that, now has a
much better chance of success." He said, "Your er, people?" I said,
"Not actually mine, and on the other side of the galaxy, and they never
heard of me. I just used their appearance for that test. The ship
didn't report to anybody, but I will see that what it would report,
reaches your people." He said, "You are God?" I said, "His Senior
Agent. And in this place, a little too fat." We shared humor.
I sent a translucent image to the engineer's room, when the medtech
was there discussing me. I said, "I do like surprising people a little
too much, I think." Smiles. I said, "Death isn't the end of the soul. I
had a good conversation with your Captain. He's feeling much better
now. I think you know your people needed this to prepare you for
someday encountering another intelligent species." Engineer said, "Oh!
So it really WAS a test, but for US!" I said, "Well done! The ship
won't report to anybody. Actually, it no longer exists. But your people
will be given what it would have reported. If you would like to add to
the Acting Captain's report, he might allow it. I think you maybe
shouldn't mention this little talk. Believability issues." Grins and
nods. Medtech said, "Will this happen to other species?" I said, "If
needed, I think so. Hopefully, with not too many frozen bodies with
that." He said, "Are you actually dead?" I said, "My body sure is dead!
Souls don't die. Most reincarnate. When a soul becomes very advanced,
it can remain as a soul and join with God. Some can be sent on special
missions. Some are more pleasant than others." Grins. I said, "Now you
have no reason to feel bad for me, or even the Captain. Be at peace." I
gave them my love.
They did add to the report, and well. Before their ship arrived at
one of their worlds, I gave my report to the authorities there. They
didn't make it public, even after they received the ship's report. So I
made both public, which caused quite a reaction. Then I made the rounds
of the temples I had worked with to acquire the students, and gave them
copies, too, so they could prepare their comments for the public if
they wanted to, after it reached their planets. I was thanked a lot.
Hugged, too. Then I gave it to the kids in Rang's school. And with
hugs.
I said to CNN, "I've got an action to show. It's a little unusual.
You might not want to show it." He read the crystal, and then just
stared at me. Then he said, "Wow! You WOULD do this kind of work, but I
don't know how the public will take it. At least you didn't show the
Captain shooting himself." I said, "Was a mess." He said, "We'll do
it." I said, "I'll intro it."
John said on air, "We have Solomon with is with another offplanet
action. I haven't seen it." I said, "This takes place in the circus
dimension. In it are groups of colonized worlds, each group with its
own species, and in the area of the circus worlds, unknown to each
other, but that will eventually change. First contact between
interstellar traveling species can be very touchy. Disasters have
happened, with miscommunications and other misunderstandings." He said,
"Like with the blue crabs." I said, "Exactly. Some are easily
corrected, and some are not. Some of that can be predicted. How can
that be prevented before it happens, without actually causing that
group contact? Well, I'll show you one way how." I did, with some
narration and commercial breaks.
Back from the last break, he said, "You killed yourself!" I said,
"No, I didn't kill myself. I can't actually do that. There, I just
removed the part of my soul in that body. It was just the body that
died, one of millions I'm using at the same time. It would have
happened anyway, when I was finished with it. I usually just dissolve
them into loose atoms and port them someplace out of the way. That
time, I just er, dumped it there. I didn't want to show any special
powers. They needed to think I was a regular nice person, which is how
I usually think of myself." He said, "Will the lesson work?" I said, "I
gave copies to their religious leaders who I had already befriended
when they helped me to take some of their children to one of my
schools. They'll make SURE the lesson sticks."
He said, "Oh, so some of that species are your students! The two
pronged approach." I said, "I'm not sure prong is the right word for
that. Those kids might think that's funny, while grabbing their own to
prove it." He had to laugh. I said, "I selected the students of the
different species there in the order they will find each other, and
they will be back in their own dimension and starting their own schools
in time for the first contacts, so they can assist in them. They aren't
to be known, except for their love and healing broadcasts, so they have
to work behind the scenes for that. Their clustered colonized worlds
are unusual. Most usually encounter other intelligences before many
worlds are colonized with their own species. The way they are now, is
very clannish. I'm changing that. I would like them to survive
discovery and contact."
He said, "Compared to them, and many others you help, our problems
here are almost insignificant." I said, "Not so. EACH LIFE IS
SIGNIFICANT TO GOD. All problems are significant to those who have
them, and so are equally significant to God." He said, "I stand
corrected. I hadn't thought of it that way. Oh, that's why you're here.
To tell us this and other important things, that we might not think are
important." I said, "In the job description. So, what are the lessons
in that action?" He said, "The Captain acted without honor, and with
greed. and very poor planning." I said, "Yes. VERY poor planning. There
was no way he could have succeeded with what he knew of the situation.
He should have known the drugs wouldn't have worked on an alien
species. I gave him all the clues possible, deliberately." He said,
"Oh! That's right. You could have saved that tech without injuring
yourself. You did that deliberately!" I said, "Yes, and before that,
showing my athleticism. And before that, my intelligence and planing
with that fancy computer on the desk. In the beginning, I said I found
them needing help from a feeling, indicating, with that I wouldn't
kill, that I was holy." He said, "Wow, you DO plan well!"
I said, "Er, thanks. Engineer got the message. Captain didn't. He had
his mind set on the fame he would have if he had brought his people
more advanced tech. Instead, if the situation had been real, he would
have caused a disaster for his people, which he SHOULD have thought
of." I said, "If he had acted well?" I said, "I would have made that
work for me. Anything anybody did there, I would have made good use of,
and I could have used entirely different situations for more lessons."
He said, "The Situation Manager! Thank you, Solomon for sharing this
unusual action with us." I said, "You're welcome. We had a good
discussion." Off air, he said, "It really was a good discussion." I
grinned, and the arriving producer laughed. We hugged.
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Grant
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