Michael appraised the young jazz singer, ''Nice, that trio of blonde ladies weren't bad, either'' But the next noisy song caused him to flee. ''Sorry, this old fart is leaving!'' Seb then made Goldie move over into the spot Michael vacated, and took the middle position. Seb laughed, ''I'm not an 'old fart' I'm a young thing!'' as he stuck his chest out, preening.
While everyone was absorbed in the awards, cheering when their favorites won, Goldie became distracted with a 'bad feeling'. It sounded such a loud alarm in her, she could not ignore it, and went outside to find Michael and told him about it. While she gesticulated wildly, she was startled to see an old bald man descend upon them.
Lucius was visiting them, and what could it mean? He led Michael and Goldie to their house, and the TV was turned off for his announcement. ''An emergency has occurred. I've been informed to bring with me two of the youngest among us. Goldie and Sonya, your presence is requested. I shall first transport you to the lair of the sacred vessels, and from there, we shall proceed as we need.''
Both Goldie and Sonya were speechless with curiosity and surprise. When they arrived at the vessels' lair, they were shocked to see Zaksher, one of the sacred vessels, lying on his reclining chair, catatonic. Sonya declared, ''He looks like a biomechanical android shut down!''
The other sacred vessel, golden haired Irisena, was frantic, ''One moment, he was fine, and the next, he was out. I thought he'd been feeding regularily, but I went to my small elephant zoo, siphoned a pint, and brought it before him, dripping a few spoonfuls down his throat. BUT NOTHING HAPPENED! No swallowing, NONE! I called an emergency meeting of the Elders, and we received a communication from the home world. 'Gather together three hosts, two of your youngest, and one quite experienced, but not more than 2000 years old. We will be coming to get Zaksher and the three hosts!
''They have landed in my zoo, and are waiting for you. Here is Alexander Shumarian to join you''
Alexander was short and slender, with closely cropped dark curly hair and jet black eyes. He waved to the young ones, and they followed Irisena to her zoo, where a small blue being waited for them. The being may have been small, but his eyes weren't. They were enormous, huge biological camera eyes taking everything in. Alexander carried Zaksher, and they all followed the blue being. ''Tweeron, my name is Tweeron'' they each heard him say in their minds.
Once led aboard the spaceship, all the human hosts passed out, to awaken a few minutes later, after their blood bits adjusted them for the Telestrian air which is very different.
Tweeron must have learned English, for they understood him perfectly. Or had he merely sent them the meanings telepathically, and their minds provide the translation? Either way, the three conscious humanoids were being evaluated for suitability for their required task.
Goldie was highly rated. She was over her depression of her youth, and learned of it, not only a resilency, but also compassion for the suffering of others. Also her psychic sensitivity was noted with great favor.
Sonya also passed, but for very different qualities. She possessed determination, strong will, and the ability to not panic in a crisis. Alexander was also well received for his flexibility of mind and ingenuity. Everyone having passed, they were taken to the home world of Telestra in a matter of minutes.
Zaksher was put on special machine, into which his blood drained. The visual on the small screen was explained, ''Each blood bit is having its generator removed and replaced with a new powerful one.'' Sonya burst out, ''What happened? Is Zaksher past the 6000 year warranty?''
Tweeron patiently explained, ''No, it is hard to say when the generators give out. Remember, each new being that is spawned requires a sacrifice on the part of the sire's blood bits, for to make the embryros that are inserted into the fledgling, their own blood bits must undergo a mitosis, and thus are left with half a generator in those bits that undergo this mitosis. A host from a lineage of often breeding sires will have blood bits with generators that die sooner than one of a lineage of rare breeders.
''But now that the first human host has encountered this problem, there's no telling how quickly others may follow, therefore thorough training must be given in this process.
''Two generator replacing units will be given to you humans, one for the sacred vessels' lair, and one which will be hidden on Michael's farm, to be disguised as farm equipment. You will buy up the surrounding land to ensure privacy, and will be given the means to do this.
''Our blood bits are biomechanical only in the generator, and a small computer program educating the bit on the process of cell rejuvation. The rest of the bit's advancement, which enhances the host's skills, is done by the intelligent self conscious blood bit, through a normal process of growth. The blood bits are not aware of the generators that maintain them in the same way that the HOST is not aware of the blood bits that maintain him.
''The initial programming is designed to only allow enhancement of the five senses. No changes are ever made to the host's exterior. Thus, what ever the host looked like at time of making can not be changed. In addition to preventing changes going amok, this insures the host passes undetected in their society, which is important for survival of both host and blood bits.
''A message will be given from all sires to their fledglings, so that all may know, consisting of a moratorium on making new hosts, and warnings about possible breakdowns. If you feel strange, light headed, or vacant, make sure you are in a place of safety. A host outdoors when the breakdown occurs and close to time of the rising sun will most likely incinerate before help comes.
''The three to be trained in the art of host rescue will be able to pick up the signal given by the broken down blood bits. This is what Golden sensed Grammy night, and why her sensitivity is of such value. She could tune into it prior to training.
''The three of you will be given the port ability ONLY for these distress calls, to summon yourselves to the host in need, and to port the host and yourselves back to the generator replacement machine.''
All of this was explained while each watched a small computer screen on the machine. The generator replacement process was visible, greatly magnified, on the screen. The blood bits looked curious, circular beings with two little hooks on each. Goldie remarked, ''I've seen a symbol like that, but where have I seen it?''
After Zaksher's process was almost complete, he woke up, startled, ''Where am I? Last I knew, I was watching the Grammy awards, and next I know, I'm here on the spaceship!''
Goldie assured him, ''You've been fixed, you're well now!'' Zaksher gesticulately wildly, ''I was waiting for them to tell me who won 'album of the year', and then, BAM! I'm here.'' Zaksher's consciousness had simply ceased in the interim. ''Who won?'' He begged to know.
Sonya smiled and said, ''Norah Jones, the mellow jazz singer!'' Zaksher looked relieved, ''Oh good, I didn't want the rap crap to win! I like her voice!''
Goldie beamed with the thought of the ancient sacred vessels keeping up with modern music trends. It made them seem 'more human'.
Tweeron resumed his lesson, ''Now that you've observed the process on your own Zaksher, I want each of you to follow through on a generator exchange of your own. There are three Telestrians waiting for the process. Don't worry, the process is the same, the blood bits are the same, do not worry about the blue blood.
''As those blood bits inhabiting a human host require human type blood, I believe you call it 'mammalian', in order to complete the biological end of things, so the blood bits inhabiting the Telestrian hosts require Telestrian blood. No, we do not have any mammals on the spaceship, but you will be returned to earth in due time before you have need.''
Each had their opportunity to learn what dials to turn and buttons to push and when, and how to interpret the visual screen. The process for the smaller Telestrian hosts went more quickly, as they required fewer blood bits. Each of them, however, woke up in the same startled fashion as did Zaksher.
Later, once everyone was teleported home, the machine was safely placed, with a stable built around it, and air conditioning unit added, the same as that which cooled the storage unit housing refrigerators for the milk. The machine was housed in what appeared to be another large refrigerator. Only Goldie and Sonya knew how to open it, to prevent anyone else discovering it.
As Michael beheld this process, and the machine before it was inserted, he marvelled on how he was 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. This was a Biblical passage that came to him, from his days of seeking sun safety on Sundays in church. In his early days, often churches were the only buildings open on Sunday.
Goldie and Sonya explained their inner workings, which Michael found fascinating. He'd long studied scientific writings to learn such facts in the past. He looked down at his hands, turning them this way and that, and considered himself, ''I am indeed a complex creature!'' He smiled as he said it, grateful for the rare miracle that had happened to him.
Go to Chapter 15, Pleased
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