Part III

He pauses a moment then continues, "Now would you mind if I asked you some questions? Some of the things you have said has either left me puzzled or peaked my curiosity."

"Ask anything." Jade and Jessica said in unison, and then they both laugh slightly. Jade looks at Jessica then continues. "Really Professor ask away we will try to answer anything that we can."

"First of all, may I ask what has happened to Mr. Bennish?" The Professor asks.

"That Professor is the one thing in my life I am not proud of. I was pretty mad the week that Maxilliam and Quinn died. We found out what realm he slid onto, and tracked his location for a couple of days. I had also programmed the MACRO to alert us if he slid to a mostly lifeless uninhibited realm. On the second day he slid to such a realm, and I shorted out his tracker before he could slid again. I’m afraid he has been stuck there ever since. At least as far as I know he is still there. I knew if he came back here he would never stand trial. He probably would have gotten credit for Maxilliam and Quinn discovery, and the murders would have been forgotten. I’m ashamed of myself for taking justice in my own hands." Jessica bows her head a moment then looks back up at the Professor.

"Given the unique nature of our same circumstances, I’m not so sure one of my group would not have done the same thing in your place. Besides, it is not for me or others to judge what another person does in a crisis or impaired state of mind." Professor reaches over and pats Jessica hand slightly.

Jade looks at the Professor then looks at Jessica, "Jess you the way Jim and I feel about that issue. We agreed with your decision 100% honey. If he killed two people he would probably be willing to kill more. He was a danger to both us and others." She looks at Professor again and thinks, I still don’t trust him.

"I agree with Jade on this he was a danger to other worlds." Professor shakes his head. "Well I have quite a few other things I would like to find out about. Like, Terra 5, Bio-something, scanning me, security system, what kind of technology do you have on this world? And that contraption in the basement looks like it could be a computer, but not any computer I’ve ever seen before. Is your technology here more advanced than on other worlds?"

"Slow down, Professor, we have plenty of time to explain and show you everything we have. Hopefully, you will be able to help us out more with the quantum aspects of sliding." Jade tells him. She continues, "The two of us have had to relay on Quinn and Max’ notes on the actual sliding equipment. As for the rest, I have a degree in MACRO tech, but Jess has her doctorates in MACRO tech, Bio-tech, and Physi-tech. I help out with what I can, but Jess is the expert in most everything else. So I defer to her to explain to you most of what you just asked about so far. Jess." She points to Jessica.

"Jade you make me sound like some Einstein or something." Jessica says shaking her head. "Really, Professor it runs in the family, my grandfather was the one who discovered MACRO tech. MACRO tech is Mechanically Advanced Cybernetic Rote Operative. It’s a cyber brain that performs the routine functions programmed and updated daily tasks used in most scientific areas, government, IMN, and everyday life. Bio-tech is an extension of MACRO tech it uses a scanning meter eye to read the body functions and parts to find abnormalities, diseases, breaks, malfunctions, etc. We’ve also discovered that each realm has a key HBF-Harmonic Band Frequency that resonates in everything on each particular realm. That is were Physi-tech comes in. The security system I’ll show you later. Terra 5 is the realm that you and your friends came from; yours is one of the ones that we shortened to abbreviated name instead of your realm's HBF signature. Yours was one of the first realms we discovered that was technology wise, comparable to our own. We actually have seven realms programmed in the MACRO to keep track of or to slide there easily. We are T-1, yours is T-5, there is also ST-1for the Steal Techers, K-1 for the now Kromagg home realm, V-1 for the Vylkara home realm, E-1 for Eden realm, and A-1 for an advanced realm whose technology is far more advanced than most realms we’ve encountered so far. They are the only realms so far that have been able to block or divert our slides so far. We believe that Kromaggs originated on the same world, but for some reason there was a war and they were able to run the Kromaggs off their realm. Unfortunately, for the rest of us. Sometimes I wonder if the realize what they unleashed on the rest of the realms. Has your group encountered the Kromaggs yet Professor?"

The Professor looks at them in disbelief.

"My word, and I thought we had encountered some strange worlds. It sounds like your experiences with sliding have been far more interesting then ours. And I do believe that I would not have thought that possible."

"We are very interested in hearing about your experiences, Professor. Also on your opinion of sliding, and of others that slid themselves. Have you encountered other sliders?" Jade says looking from him to Jessica. Fortunately, Professor has been looking at Jade and does not catch the look Jessica is giving her.

<<That was uncalled for Jade. I heard the tone in your voice. Snide does not suit you. >> Jessica says crossly.

<<You open the can of worms Jess; I’m just following through. >> Jade retorts.

"Well…" He begins. "I’m not exactly sure where I would start, but if we had had time. And I would have obtained a copy of Miss Welles’ diary back on the world you found me. Then you both could have read her first hand account from the beginning." He pauses a moment to eat some more soup.

<<Good answer, and good idea if that is true. Jade I think a trip back is in order. Tomorrow after dad comes over, I think you, the Professor and I here should take a trip back there. >> Jessica says to Jade as she eats some bread.

<<Actually, I believe that would be a good thing also. He won’t be able to lie about a thing that way. >> Jade agrees.

Max looks at both women eating their soup and bread. He has noticed an exchange of looks and emotions between them not corresponding to the current conversation. The both appear deep in thought, but not sure exactly what about. Jessica is the first to notice Professor out of the corner of her eye. She takes another bite of soup, and goes into a coughing fit.

<<Jade, he was studying us while we were mindspeaking. I don’t think he suspects anything, but we have got to be more careful. >>

"Jess are you all right? I’ll get you some more water." Jade grabs Jessica’s nearly empty glass and goes to the kitchen.

<<Your right he has that "Something’s up look" Maximilliam always gave us. Almost errie, Jess, too much like Maximilliam. >>

Jade returns and hands the now full glass to Jessica. She has also brought the pitcher with her to fill the other glasses.

"Here, Jess."

After taking a few drinks, Jessica composes herself enough to speak.

"I think the soup went down the wrong pipe." She says hoarsely, then continues.

"Professor, I do believe we should go back there. To retrieve your friends diary account and to possibly find out what else your double was doing. Slide travel should not be left in the hands of just anyone. There might be some evidence of sliding we don’t want left behind." Jessica looks at him to see his reaction.

He ponders only a moment. "I agree with you most definitely. If he was capable of kidnapping me, and lying to my friends, he was capable of plotting much worse. Mr. Mallory and I have discussed many times the effect on the universe if sliding technology were to land in the wrong hands. We should make sure that no notes or equipment are left there for others to find. When do you think we can return there, the sooner the better I think."

Jessica and Jade look at each other in surprise. "Tomorrow at the earliest Professor. I will have to call my father to come over to monitor the slide, and to watch Quinn James for us. I really think the three of us should go back together." Jessica replies.

"Then I think I should get some sleep, I have not had a restful night sleep in about two weeks." He yawns and stands. He picks up both his bowl and utensils. "Where would you like me to put these?"

"You can leave them Professor, we can clean up." Jade stands.

"No, my dear if you are going to help me, then I should help the two of you. That is one thing I’ve learned since we left on this little ride." He tells Jade.

"OK, follow me Professor." Jade picks up her things and the bread plate. Then she goes into the kitchen. Jessica follows with hers and returns to the dining room.

"Shall I wash or dry?" Professor asks.

"Neither actually, we have a dish washer." Jade opens a lower cabinet door near the sink. She pulls forward the dishwasher and opens the door. " Just rinse your bowl and spoon and put it in."

Jessica returns with the glasses and pitcher. She brings the glasses to the sink and places them on the counter.

"When we finish Professor we’ll show you where you will be sleeping, and we will have to have dad get you a change of clothes. I think we should take some cash with us tomorrow. So we can buy you some clothes, etc." Jade comments while loading the dishes as Professor rinses and hands them to her.

"I should probably accompany your father, Jessica to get some clothes." Professor says.

Jade puts in the last dish and closes the door. Then pushes the dishwasher back into place and closes the cabinet door.

"Actually, that’s not a good idea. First you are suppose to be dead here. Second it’s not safe out there. We rarely go out anymore ourselves. But I think we should cover that in the morning." Jessica tells him.

"I forgot about that." He yawns again. "OK, a shopping trip after we clean up after that coward." He wipes his hands off on the towel Jade hands him.

"OK, I think we should all turn in. We have a busy day tomorrow." Jessica says.

They all leave the kitchen, and go through the dining room to the front room and up the stairs. They turn right and go down the hall to the second to last door on the right. Jade turns on the light just inside the door. There is a dresser to one side, and opposite the dresser is a desk. A double bed is in the middle of the wall opposite the door.

"There are various night clothes in the dresser. We have already gotten rid of most of the rest of Quinn and Maximilliam’s clothes. I believe that some of the things left in the dresser did belong to Maximilliam though. You are welcome to help yourself to anything that fits. The clock radio on the stand next to the bed works, and has an alarm. You are welcome to use that also. The bathroom is across the hall back one. Jess and my room are the second ones left and right as you come up the stairs. Quinn James is next to Jess first door on the left as you come up the stairs. I should warn you though his playroom is the last room across the hall. He usually is quiet but you never know with kids. If you need anything Professor just come get us. Have a good sleep." Jade turns to leave. Jessica is already in the hallway waiting. "Thank you very much for your kindness and generosity. I know having me around must be hard for the two of you." Professor tells the two of them.

The two women smile at him and say thank you and good night. Jade closes the door, and the two of them walk down the hall to their rooms. Jade taps Jessica. <<My room>> she says. Jessica follows her through the door.

<<Well what do you think so far Jess? >>

<<He is so much like Maximilliam. It is uncanny. I can’t help feeling a connection with him. Does that seem weird to you? >> Jessica questions.

Jade walks over to Jessica and hugs her. <<No, I feel it too. He surprised me a few times tonight. He thinks like Maximilliam did, but I still don’t trust him. Let’s get some sleep it’s been an exhausting day that didn’t go exactly as planned. >> Jade steps back as Jessica yawns. She can tell Jessica is starting to feel the exhaustion of the quick multiple slides of the day.

<<Go get some sleep, I’ll get up with Quinn James in the morning and call Jim. >> Jade turns Jessica to the door and mock shoves her.

<<OK, OK no protest from me. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t let Quinn James get to loud, and remember to ask Dad for a change of clothes for the Professor. >> She yawns again. <<Boy, I really am tired. Night Jade. >>

Jessica crosses the hall to the first door and checks on Quinn James. Then she goes to her room, and goes to bed.

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