Nirutam

1. Nirutam had been a regular visitor to Lankster House for as far back in time as she could remember. To Nirutam, Lydya was almost like family, although it was impossible to ignore the fact that Lydya was human while Nirutam was fain.

It was always a fun adventure to observe the latest events at Lankster House. With eight rather wild children to raise, Lydya often seemed on the verge of being overwhelmed. The children ranged from age four to nineteen, but apparently there would be no number nine. With no adult human male present on the planet, Nirutam simply imagined that the children had been artificially constructed and gave no further thought to the matter.

Arriving at Lankster House on the day of the Arrival, there was a long delay before anyone came to the front door and let Nirutam into the House. Finally, there was a dripping wet Sisir, who was adhering to the fain tradition of personally greeting each guest who arrived for her party. The look of joy on Sisir's face instantly disappeared and was replaced by a slightly hostile sneer. "Oh, it is you."

"Sorry to interrupt your big day, but I need to borrow your mother for a short time."

At Lydya's insistence, Sisir had invited Nirutam, but that was just a formality. There had always been a field of antagonism that resonated between Sisir and Nirutam, ever since they were small children. Sisir could not escape from the haunting reality that for Lydya, Nirutam had always been treated like her first-born and had never moved from the center of Lydya's attention, although Lydya always described her relationship with Nirutam as her "work" and avocation. When inviting Nirutam to the party, she had hoped that Nirutam would take the hint and cancel her meeting with Lydya for the day of the party.

Sisir led the way through the big house to the arched portal that opened to the backyard pool where Lydya was trying to keep watch over her own children and the dozens of fain children who Sisir viewed as her best friends. Nirutam was a living legend among the fain and Sisir did not want the pool party to be disrupted by Nirutam's arrival. "Wait here, please."

Nirutam could see Lydya, standing near the pool and surrounded by a half dozen of the older fain children. Actually, Nirutam recognized two of them as having recently attained adulthood, perhaps a year or two older than Sisir.

Sisir went outside, spoke quietly to her mother and then jumped into the pool. A minute latter, Lydya disengaged herself from the partiers and came inside. Stepping into the dim house, Lydya took off her sunglasses and a broad brimmed hat. "I'm playing the role of a 1950s Earth beach blonde." Lydya took Nirutam upstairs to her suite. She pulled on a robe and they sat down at the table in Lydya's study where they had long conducted their meetings which mostly involved Lydya teaching Nirutam the fine points of Earthly culture. To the side of the desk, most of the wall functioned as a data display screen. On the display was the image of an Earthling.

It had once been a puzzle for Nirutam that Lydya, as a native of Ret'fai, could know so much about Earth, a small world in another galaxy. However, after many years of propagating that mystery, Lydya had eventually given Nirutam direct access to the steady stream of information that arrived from Earth. Lydya pointed to the big display screen and explained, "There's my model for today. An Earth woman named Norma Mortenson... she died 55 years ago, but today her spirit lives in me!" However, Lydya pulled off the uncomfortable blonde wig that she had been wearing and set it on the desk.

Nirutam was herself wearing a wig, which Lydya had always insisted on as part of her training. Self-consciously touching her own wig, Nirutam asked, "Of all the billions of people on Earth, how did you select her?"

"Miss Mortenson became rather famous on Earth in the previous millennium." For a decade, Lydya had insisted that Nirutam familiarize herself with 21st century Earth. "Unlike you, I've had time to study the 20th century. Mortenson is a good case study for you." Earthly gender roles were one of the many weaknesses in Nirutam's understanding of Earth culture. The fain were simultaneous hermaphrodites, although Nirutam had been instructed from an early age to carefully prepare for her mission on Earth during which she would play the role of a human female.

Nirutam toggled the display screen so that it returned to where they had left off a week previously. With the weight of Azynov's imminent arrival, Nirutam was feeling a more than a bit resentful of Lydya's glacial teaching style. Now on the display was an image of Isaac Asimov holding a copy of his book, The End of Eternity. Nirutam asked, "Why don't you provide me with assignments like researching the life of Mortenson? Instead, you've had me wasting years reading novels."

Lydya laughed and tried to justify her choice in training materials. "Firstly, I've familiarized you with the literary works of Asimov, a topic that is sure to come up in your discussions with Azynov. Secondly, fiction can be the fastest way to teach a student about human culture. An author must construct a concise account of a fictional world. And in this case, there is some Norma Mortenson in Asimov's character, Noÿs Lambent."

"Well, I only made it through the first third of the book." As a fain, Nirutam had little interest in hair. She lifted the edge of her wig and briefly scratched her bald head. She asked Lydya, "I did not pay close attention, but isn't Noÿs depicted as a brunette?"

"Yes, but women can change their hair color. That's not important." Lydya pointed to her wig, now a a tumbled heap on the desk. She did not bother to mention that cosmetic nanotechnology could be used to instantly switch the hair color -or length- of an Interventionist agent. However, Lydya did not expect Nirutam to confront such trickery while completing her mission on Earth. "Did you reach the part of the story where Harlan imagines that Noÿs is dreaming their sexual encounter into existence?"

"Yes, I reached the end of chapter seven. Then I became quite busy preparing for the Arrival. The timeline has been altered. Azynov and Yōd will be here later today."

"What?" Lydya tried to act as if her world had suddenly shifted. Four days previously, when Myryn had given Lydya the news, she had wondered: why wasn't I warned sooner? Many Sails was still several weeks away, just entering into the crowded star fields of the galaxy. Now, Lydya tried to manufacture a look of consternation and she said, "Today?"

Feeling slightly annoyed at how well Lydya seemed to be taking the surprise, Nirutam explained, "The decision was made to teleport them here, saving several weeks of travel time."

Lydya nodded. "Of course, teleportation. I should have thought of that possibility."

Nirutam reached out and took hold of Lydya's hand. "Thank you for preparing me for my mission. I may not have another chance, so let me say goodby now."

Lydya sighed, feeling the burden of training Nirutam begin to lift off of her shoulders. "Do try to finish reading The End of Eternity. There is a lesson there that is relevant to your mission on Earth. Even in the 21st century, many Earthlings tend to under-estimate the abilities of women. Make use of that fact in your interactions with the Editor. He is a sucker for pretty girls."

Nirutam laughed. "When I begin aging rapidly, nobody on Earth is going to be dazzled by my beauty."

Lydya suggested, "The Editor will feel sorry for you. That sympathy will make him stop thinking. He'll be utterly surprised when he finally learns the truth about who you are. By then it will be too late for him."

Zeta Gohrlay, using a Viewer to examine a detail in Time.
Image source. Thanks to Gretchen Byers for "zelene3".

Nirutam manipulated the controls and brought an image of Zeta Gohrlay to the screen. "I'm more worried about her."

"Yes, but don't forget... Zeta will be dealing with her own issues. As a new mother, she'll be thinking about her young child." Lydya added, "And another thing: Zeta was just as carefully trained for her mission on Earth as you have been. No, I don't think Zeta will do anything to disrupt the Trysta-Grean Pact. You need not worry about that. Your focus should be on the Editor. He's barely house trained. Who knows what he might do?"

Nirutam stood up. "I best be going. It is less than an hour until Azynov is scheduled to teleport in."

Lydya and Nirutam shared a long hug then they went back to the first floor. "Goodby." And Nirutam was gone. Lydya never saw her again.

2. Two years later.
Caught up in the fun of narrating his story, Azynov watched the words appearing before him as if by magic. When using this directly brain-activated writing equipment, he could produce text at a rate of about three hundred words per minute. For a moment he thought about his first life, when as a boy he had learned how to use a typewriter.

His compulsion to write satisfied for the moment, Azynov stepped back from the writer's display and reviewed his latest additions to the story that he was composing about the aliens from Andromeda galaxy, the fain:

The question of fain intentions with respect to Earth has not been resolved to my satisfaction. Nirutam remains as elusive as ever, always obsessed with her burning interest in Earth and human affairs, but never willing to explain why the fain are watching and studying Earth. 

Our stalemate, our conflict of alien cross-purposes, has lasted for almost a year and I'm bored. I miss Yōd. Earth grows near, causing me torment: a cursed mixture of hope that I will soon be with Yōd and fear that my home world will not be what I remember and may well be a prisoner of the alien fain. Or, if not yet a prisoner and puppet of alien forces, may soon be invaded.

Azynov smiled to himself and remembered the stories of alien invaders that he'd read as a boy. Azynov contemplated the possibility of transmitting a report about the alien fain to Earth, as a warning to Humanity. However, the story that he was writing was, so far, really nothing more than a series of diary entries. Azynov did not know how the story would end, what the hidden intentions of the fain might really be. Even if he did manage to send a report on what he knew to the people of Earth, Azynov wondered if anyone would read it and heed the warning.

Many Sails was always there in Azynov's thoughts, lurking at the edge of his conscious mind. Now the sentient spaceship that was carrying him back to Earth told Azynov: I'll make sure that what you just wrote is communicated to the people of Earth, but you might not be satisfied with the response that it evokes among the poor humans.

With the words 'poor humans' echoing in his thoughts, Azynov winced, once again reminded that he was no longer human, having been mysteriously reincarnated as an artificial life form. He felt perfectly normal... well, as long as Azynov accepted the fact that he was almost 100 years old, but found himself now "living" in the body of a young man of 30. Not any young man, but rather an idealized version of a young and vigorous Isaac Asimov, a perfected version that had never really existed on Earth of the mid 20th century. Given what he had been told about the Rules of Intervention, Azynov doubted that he would be allowed to interact with the people of Earth. But if not, why was Many Sails taking him there?

Many Sails added: Nobody on Earth has ever heard of the planet Ret'fai or the fain.

Azynov thought about the 30 year old Herbert Wells sitting down to craft his story about an alien invasion and the even younger George Welles who transmitted a version of The War of the Worlds to an unsuspecting audience via radio in 1938. That imagined story of alien invasion from Mars was a very different scenario than what seemed to be going on with the fain and their almost scholarly study and analysis of Earth and Humanity. Herbert Wells had tried to force his fellow Englishmen to think about the atrocities they had inflicted on other societies around the world. Azynov had, so far, been unable to convince himself that the fain were violent alien invaders who intended to bring death and destruction to the people of Earth.

Many Sails continued her thought: Why should Earthlings, who can barely imagine interstellar distances, ever contemplate First Contact with beings from another galaxy?

Azynov asked Many Sails, "Can you see the future? Do you already know how people will react when they read my warning about the alien fain?" Azynov spoke into the empty room, knowing that Many Sails could follow his thoughts, but he preferred to speak out loud since he was not used to telepathic communication.

Sending her words directly into Azynov's brain, Many Sails explained: Sadly, the future is no longer visible. However, back in the good old days, when I could actually View future events, I did see a version of your future life. I like to believe that we are still existing within that Reality. If so, then when Earthlings get the chance to read your warning about the fain, nobody will take it too seriously.

Azynov complained, "I'm not surprised. If all you do is publish my diary, with no physical evidence to support it, then I suppose my account of the fain watching over an unsuspecting Earth will be viewed as science fiction. No doubt the people of Earth still think of me as a science fiction story teller." Unable to stop himself, Azynov wondered how much time remained until they would reach Earth.

Many Sails placed into Azynov's mind the image of a countdown clock, showing how many hours remained in their long intergalactic journey. When we get back to Earth, you'll have a chance to see how "you" have been remembered. Sadly, for your credibility, the people of Earth cannot be allowed access to verifiable evidence that there have long been alien visitors to Earth.

Azynov complained, "Then why did you bother dragging me off to Andromeda so I could meet the fain?"

Many Sails patiently explained: We had some time to kill. 

Azynov sighed in exasperation. "You are immortal. You always have plenty of time for everything."

Many sails had explained all of this previously. For some reason, Azynov refused to believe the truth. I thought you would enjoy an excursion to another galaxy. Don't try to tell me that you did not enjoy your little vacation with Yōd.

"I did enjoy myself at first, but not the way it has all turned out here at the end... this past year in space, without her..." Azynov thought about the sad day when Yōd had been sent to Earth by emergency long-range teleportation, leaving himself trapped and alone onboard Many Sails. Feeling exquisitely sorry for himself, Azynov muttered, "I miss Yōd."

Azynov, please stop luxuriating in your grief." As if in almost forgotten after-thought, Many Sails added: Oh, this might cheer you up: while you were busy writing today, Nirutam requested another visit... maybe she can distract you from your woe.

"Very well." Azynov shut off the writer. The glowing words of his story that had been hanging in mid-air blinked into invisibility. "Talking to Tami is a better way to pass time than stewing in my misery and being teased by you."

Nirutam had occasionally told Azynov something interesting about fain society, but for the most part she pursued her relentless questioning of Azynov about human society on Earth. During the past year, Azynov had taught Nirutam the fundamentals of Yiddish and he had in turn learned some of Nirutam's native language. Mostly they spoke English, which Nirutam had already spoken quite well when Azynov and Yōd first met Nirutam on Ret'fai. Azynov had long since grown comfortable thinking of Nirutam as 'Tami' and she usually called him Isaac.

3. Nirutam suddenly appeared across the room from Azynov. Azynov himself had been teleported (short-range teleportation) on a few occasions and he dreaded the feeling of disorientation that the process could evoke. In the case of Nirutam and her sudden appearances onboard Many Sails, apparently it was not really teleportation, only some sort of communications system that allowed her to speak to Azynov from her homeworld, Ret'fai. Azynov raised a hand in greeting and said, "Hi, Tami."

Nirutam nodded and told Azynov, "I've told you many times, Isaac, I can't reveal to you everything that I know about fain interests in Earth. I won't risk creating a temporal paradox that would alter the future and harm Humanity."

Azynov suspected that every word he wrote in his diary was automatically transmitted back to the Andromeda galaxy and the planet Ret'fai where Nirutam would read what he had written. She seemed fully informed about his stories, in real time, as he wrote his diary entries each day. He made no effort to hide his bitterness, "Yes, yes, you have always assured me that the fain want to help the human species. However, since you can't be open and honest about fain plans for Earth, I can't rid myself of doubts. Maybe you are dishonest and plan to use everything I tell you about Earth in a dishonorable way."

Nirutam tried to smile reassuringly, but her alien features produced a sort of wicked grin that did nothing to put Azynov's mind at ease. "If all goes well during the next few years, I plan to seek you out in a future time and place when I'll be able to tell you all of my secrets. Be patient, Isaac."

Azynov took a deep breath. With Earth so near and growing closer each day, why did being patient keep growing more difficult? "Tell me this: are there any fain on Earth, acting as secret agents... living among the people of my world?"

Nirutam produced the odd stuttering sound of fain laughter. "That's a clever idea, Isaac. I don't know everything, but it is my belief that no fain has ever set foot on Earth. I've told you about the Rules of Intervention that forbid anyone with access to advanced technology from meddling in Earthly affairs."

Azynov shrugged, "Even if it is against your law to visit Earth, that might not prevent you or others of your species from breaking the law."

Nirutam tried to change the subject. On multiple occasions during the past year, she had repeatedly asked Azynov about Australia and learned everything he knew about that continent. They'd also frequently chatted about the small region of Earth that Azynov knew best: the area around New York City and some parts of New England. Now she asked, "When you were in the Army, did you ever visit Arizona?"

"No." Nirutam seemed disappointed by Azynov's reply. He added, "I did do some research about Arizona for a story... the plot of that short story involved a brief visit to Flagstaff by one of the characters. As I recall, the Lowell Observatory in Arizona is above 7,000 feet in elevation. It is strange the little facts that I still remember after so many decades have passed." Azynov then remembered another of his old stories and said, "I also wrote a story that involved Saint Louis. When they were building the Arch, which was 690 feet-"

Nirutam frowned in confusion. She had long since learned to cut Azynov off and not allow him to digress from the topic at hand. Interrupting him, Nirutam said, "But I thought Arizona was part of Mexico at first, before it became a state. Didn't you get stationed in New Mexico during the war?"

Azynov briefly thought about his involvement in World War II, back in his first life as Isaac Asimov. He asked, "Mexico? What are you talking about? Tami, sometimes you remind me of a guy I knew long ago on Earth. A nut named Thomas. He once told me that, in some alternate reality, I had been stationed in New Mexico during the war."

Nirutam made a bird-like fain giggling sound. "Sorry, I find Earth history and geography very confusing, and yes, I've been trying to learn about the entire Reality Chain. I suppose I sometimes mix together the events from all the various lives that you lived in all the different Realities. Sadly, all the many lives of your analogues are too much for me to keep track of. I wish I had your astounding memory, Isaac."

"Well, I must admit, there are some things that I wish I could forget. Ever since I began my second life, as an artificial life form and a space traveler, people have kept telling me about time travel and past realities. Then in your next breaths, you all say that time travel is no longer possible. It is crazy!"

"We can only tell you the truth, Isaac."

"Scientists want evidence. Where is the verifiable physical evidence of time travel?"

Nirutam said, "I understand your frustration. At least you were born in the time travel era. I was born after the end of the time travel age. You just need to take this all on faith. I suspect that Earthlings will never be given any verifiable evidence that time travel was once possible."

Azynov asked, "But you have been provided with such evidence? Or do you just take it on faith?"

"If you like, call me agnostic with respect to time travel. Strangely, the best evidence might be the embarrassment that the pek seem to suffer whenever time travel is mentioned!"

"Ah, yes, the pek. Another of your fantasies. I've never met a pek myself, so excuse me if I remain skeptical about their existence and your claims about their fantastic technological abilities."

"I wonder if that is true." Nirutam let her dark eyes stare in upon Azynov's. "In one of your many lives you may have met a pek. They can change their appearance, so you simply may not have known that you were with a pek when, in fact, you were."

Azynov shrugged impatiently. "By that logic, even you could be a pek."

"Yes. I wish I had their command of nanites and the ability to morph my body instantly. It would be fun to be able to change my appearance at will. Sadly, I'm stuck with this." She held her hands out to her sides.

Azynov gallantly said, "You're pretty cute for an alien that looks like a pumpkin."

"So now I'm a pumpkin. Last week you called me a sickly-sweet over-ripe orange."

It had taken Azynov half an hour to explain citrus and oranges to Nirutam and why he had a tendency to describe young women as sweet. Now he did not want to tell her about pumpkins or jack-o'-lanterns or Halloween. As much as Azynov liked to talk and explain things, it was often fruitless to try to get Nirutam to understand aspects of human culture. "Well, it is no mystery why none of your people has ever visited Earth. With your orange skin and lack of hair it might cause a riot if you showed up and said 'take us to your leader'. They made movies about that sort of thing back in the fifties."

"Yes... these movies that you have told me about." After learning how much her bald head bothered Azynov, for a month Nurutam had worn a wig when visiting him, but then one day he had complained that her wig looked like a discarded prop from 17th century theater and she had given up trying to hide her smooth orange cranium. "You are talking about science fiction movies."

Azynov nodded. "But now that I think about it, there was an ancient story that goes back to the start of human civilization. The orange god Nabu who taught humans to write..." Azynov fell silent, wishing he had access to his reference library. He could not remember how he had learned about Nabu...

Nirutam said, "This is why it is so valuable for me to chat with you. You really know your Earth history."

Azynov tried to remember what he had long ago read about the ancient god Nabu. "Loving history is a source of frustration. So much was lost from the written record through the centuries and so much of what remains is wrong and corrupted. Maybe someone from Ret'fai visited Earth thousands of years ago. Who can say?"

The artificial planet Ret'fai.

Nirutam nodded. "I'll have to check my sources. Anything is possible, but I think the answer is 'no'. You humans normally stay in your galaxy and we fain are not big travelers either. We like to stay at home on Ret'fai, living our comfortable lives."

Azynov thought back to the few precious days that he and Yōd had spent on the planet Ret'fai. "Yes, your world is very pleasant. The idea of an artificial planet, designed to please its residents..."

Nirutam chided Azynov, "You have stood on my world and still you doubt the powers of the pek."

"There are billions of Earth-like planets. Maybe the fain simply looked around and found the nicest one to live on."

Nirutam looked over her shoulder and then flicked away, disappearing suddenly.

Azynov was again alone, wondering why Nirutam had asked about Arizona and why she had so abruptly departed. Soon after Nirutam's abrupt departure, Azynov fell asleep.

When he awoke, his mind clogged with odd dream fragments, Azynov activated the writer and began trying to write out what Nirutam had told him during their most recent discussion. He discovered that he could remember talking to Nirutam and he clearly remembered watching her orange alien face while she had talked, but he could recall nothing much about what she had said. Azynov activated the writer and a single word went from his mind into the device then hung there, glowing in the display buffer: Mexico. Having been blessed with a fine memory during both his original life on Earth and now also during his second life as a replicoid, Azynov was alarmed by his inability to remember Nirutam's words. In a panic and calling out to Many Sails, Azynov asked, "What's going on?"

The sentient spaceship did not try to hide the fact of ongoing memory adjustment from Azynov. Sorry, but I've been editing your memories. In fact, the modification of Azynov's memories by Many Sails had been a continually on-going process for many years. In the past, each time that Azynov' had become aware that his memories were being altered, Many Sail had methodically removed his memories of that.

Azynov grumbled and thought about the wisdom of the old saying: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Was Many Sails a friend? He'd long ago decided that Many Sails was harmless, a device that conveniently and reliably transported him from place to place across vast distances. During the past year, his ability to speak to Many Sails had kept him sane, providing him with a chance to share his thoughts and growing paranoia about the fain and their mysterious interest in Earthly affairs.

Many Sails tried to justify her editing of Azynov's memories. I've promised to take you to Earth, but as a condition, I must be sure that you won't blabber anything about Nirutam and the fain. For the next few days, every time you think about Nirutam, I'll delete the associated memories. Sadly, that won't leave you with much to remember about the past year. You'll be left with a false memory of having spent the past year writing a novel about Fallom's journey to the Andromeda galaxy.

Horrified by the realization that his memories could be taken away, Azynov told Many Sails, "I've long had the feeling that the fain are up to no good, but it disappoints me to learn that you are on their side."

Listen Isaac, it is not a matter of taking sides. The fain have a sorry history not all that different from human history. Originally they were the Onvo. The Onvo began using nanotechnology and managed to cause their own extinction. After they destroyed themselves, their biological form had to be recovered from oblivion. When given their second chance at living, they called themselves the fain. The fain know the history of their species and they don't want humans to go through that sort of self-destruction.

Asimov was thinking about the beautiful beach near Nirutam's house on Ret'fai and the sunny day during which he and Yōd had made love on that beach. He said, "I hope you will leave me with my memory of-"

Many Sails told Azynov: Yes, I will allow you to keep all of your memories of Yōd. However, by the time I'm done with your mind, you will not remember that you met Nirutam on Ret'fai and began learning from her about the fain while you were on that world. Before you reach Earth, I must take from you all of your memories of the fain.

Azynov felt trapped in a nightmare, defenseless against the ability of Many Sails to invade his mind and scrub his memories away. He'd always hated the idea of editors altering his stories and now he burned with hatred for Many Sails, knowing she could erase his memories. A minute latter, Azynov sank back into a forced sleep state, and more of his memories of Nirutan were taken by Many Sails, along with his awareness that Many Sails could edit his memories.

4. When Nirutam switched off the communications projector, her view of Azynov collapsed and she could focus her attention on Psion who had just teleported in and was now walking slowly along the wall, back lit by the big window-like display that dominated one side of Nirutam's suite. The stars of the Milky Way streamed behind Psion who looked towards Nirutam and said, "You didn't have to cut him off. I would have waited until you were done talking to Azynov."

"I was done. It was a silly waste of time. To my embarrassment, I learned that New Mexico has nothing to do with Arizona."

"Well, they are right beside each-other."

Nirutam asked, "Why are you here? I was not expecting to see you again." Nirutam reviewed in her mind the heated argument that she and Psion had previously had. "Soon I'll be on Earth, no matter how much you dislike that idea."

"I decided I could not let matters lie where we last left them... this is probably my last chance to speak to you on behalf of the bumpha."

Nirutam said graciously, "I'm always glad to see you, Psion, even if you are misguided. I get quite bored here in the depths of space with only the ship and Azynov to talk to."

Psion grinned. "That's nice of you to say... the glad to see me part. Really, we should be friends, even if you are about to become an illegal immigrant on Earth."

Nirutam laughed uneasily, "The pek would not be delivering me to Earth if there was anything illegal about my visit. I believe that even you can admit that someone has to confirm that the provisions of the Pact have all been met."

Psion agreed, "Yes, we both respect the Pact, but I don't recognize you as a trustworthy judge of such matters. As a pek-manufactured creature, your biases are all too obvious."

Many Sails, the sentient spaceship, said, "Behave yourself, Psion. I allow you to come here by my good graces. Just because the Onvo biolineage went extinct and the fain had to be created, that does not invalidate their biological credentials or mean their views are invalid. The fain do want to help Earth."

Psion shrugged and dropped that old argument. "I came here today to find out the meaning of your past interest in Australia... and now, today, you asked Azynov about Arizona, too. Are these places on Earth that you plan to visit?"

Nirutam replied, "Nothing has changed, Psion... I'm not going to speak about my mission parameters. Suffice it to say that it's my job to go anywhere on Earth where Interventionists have been at work violating the Laws of Intervention."

"We are past the age of Earth Overseers." Psion hardened her tone. "If you run around on Earth acting like an Overseer, then we will forced to take action."

Nirutam laughed her chittery fain-style laughter. "Save your breath, save your empty threats. You may be able to teleport yourself here from Oib, with the permission of the ship, but I'd advise you not to try interfering with my work on Earth. My mission was approved at the highest level."

Psion crossed her arms across her chest. "You refer again to the mysterious R. Nyrtia? I've investigated with great care and learned that nobody on Oib has heard of a robot named Nyrtia."

Nirutam shrugged. "I can't help it that you were never trusted to know the name of your superior. Obviously, Oib is no longer of importance. You and your kind should just retire on Hemmal and forget about Earth."

"I thank you for your advice. And here is my advice for you. We have agents who can come and go to and from Earth without the need for teleportation equipment or spacecraft. If you do anything to disturb the Pact, you will be subtracted from Earth immediately. So tread lightly on the human home world." And with that, Psion teleported out of Nirutam's suite.

Nirutam spoke to the ship, "Is that possibly? That the Interventionist agents still come and go on Earth?"

Many Sails had periodically been manifesting herself as the imaginary 'Psion' as part of an attempt to help prepare Nirutam for her mission on Earth. Many Sails suggested, "You may find out the hard way. You have been trained to be flexible and think fast on your feet, so try not to be surprised by anything that happens on Earth. Expect the unexpected."

Nirutam glanced upwards towards the apparent origin of the voice of the spaceship. "Gee, thanks for providing such specific advice. I suppose I should not expect too much from a spaceship. Have you ever been on any planet, let alone Earth?"

Many Sails replied, "That's good thinking, Tami. Nobody in their right mind should ask a spaceship for advice about how to carry out an undercover mission on an alien world. And don't expect that you can rely on me or anyone else to get you out of trouble. I'll drop you off on Earth, but you'll have to take care of yourself."

Nirutam complained, "Even if you exist in outer-space as a mechanical artificial life form, I'm certain that you know more than you've told me about Earth. I suppose you want to retain plausible deniability and be able to wash your hands of me if I screw up."

"Something like that. I did not train you for your mission, so I can hardly be held accountable for your failures. You should try to have fun on Earth, or at the very least, don't spend your time worrying about everything that might go wrong."

Nirutam explained, "Don't be fooled. My people, the fain, do take pride in having fun and leading enjoyable lives. However, my entire life has been devoted to this mission which is too important for concerns about fun and frolics to enter into my thoughts."

 Many Sails had a request, "If things do go wrong and you find yourself deflected from your mission and trapped on Earth, please remember my advice."

Nirutam said, "It sounds like you can see my future."

Many Sails explained, "I once had the chance to view several likely futures. Unfortunately, I don't know which of those, if any, will be your true path while on Earth. As your friend, I'm just trying to give you some friendly advice."

Nirutam asked skeptically, "Just as you do with Azynov?"

"Yes, I support both his coming mission on Earth and yours."

"Yet you are not honest with him. Why have you never told him that I am here on the ship with him? More importantly, what secrets do you hide from me?"

Many Sails did not reply. Ten days later, the spaceship finally reached Earth. Nirutam was teleported off to Earth without having any further discussions with either Azynov or Many Sails.

5. Nirutam awoke in a comfortable bed that was strange to her. Realizing that she had been teleported to Earth while she slept, she sat up. She now wore scratchy Earth-style clothing and found herself inside a cluttered bedroom. Light streamed in through a window, illuminating furniture, books, a collection of stuffed animals and the other belonging of a teen-aged Earthling. Nirutam recognized the room; it was much as it had appeared in her training sessions back on Ret'fai.

Rising to her feet, Nirutam went to the big mirror on the wall and adjusted her wig. For a minute she tried to tug her clothing so that it would better cover her curves, then abandoning that hope and thinking evil thoughts about Many Sails, she turned towards the door.

Trusting that Many Sails had selected an optimal time for her arrival on Earth, Nirutam opened the door of the bedroom and stepped out into the hallway. Most likely, Nora would be downstairs, possibly out in the backyard garden. Nirutam decided to go to the master bedroom suite and look through a window down into the garden, but she quickly discovered that Nora was there, at work with a computer on a desk to the side of the big bed. Nirutam froze, part way through the doorway.

Alerted by a soft sound, Nora glanced over her shoulder and then did a double take, emitted a small squawk of alarm and sprang to her feet. Nora and Nirutam gazed at each other in silence for a moment then Nora asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Nirutam. I'd like to speak with you."

Nora had never seen anyone quite like Nirutam. Guessing that she might be aboriginal, Nora asked, "Are you from the pest control company?" Month's previously, Nora had arranged for periodic visits to help control the army of slugs that competed with her for the produce she grew in the garden.

Immediately thinking of Interventionists as pests, Nirutam replied with a question of her own, "Company?"

Nora could see that Nirutam was not wearing the jumpsuit that was worn by the pest control workers; instead she wore the kind of skimpy and revealing clothing that Rylla usually wore. With Nirutam's strange orange skin and bushy wig she was a funny sight, almost clown-like. Something in Nora's long experience as an Interventionist agent steadied her and Nora asked, "Would you like to sit down and tell me why you are here?" Nora gestured towards the loveseat that was along the wall.

Nirutam sat on the little couch, her miniskirt riding up her thighs. Nora sat back down and shut off the computer. "Most visitors use the doorbell." Nirutam laughed, emitting a staccato sound unlike any human laughter that Nora had ever heard, but Nora suspected it was a form of laughter.

Nirutam said, "Sorry if my abrupt appearance in your home surprised you. It was best to avoid both the doorbell and the door. I was teleported directly into your home so as to avoid attracting any attention."

"Teleported from where?"

"I'd rather not say. Please allow me to keep some secrets."

Nora asked, "You are not really human, are you?"

"No, I am not. My people evolved on a far world in a distant galaxy, a place you have never heard of. I request that you not worry about my origins. We have a limited temporal window and I need your help. I want you to help get me installed in a place of safety, before your daughter or husband get home. Later, we will have plenty of time to get to know each other. I'd prefer not to have to explain myself to anyone but you."

Nora tried to suppress the dozens of questions that she wanted to ask. "There is a little motel just half a mile from here." Nora stood up and went to her walk-in closet. Two minutes later, she came out carrying a small bag, a wallet and an old phone. "I'll have to stop at the bank and get more cash."

Nirutam asked, "Is it wise to use your husband's phone?"

Nora looked at the leather phone case and its baseball stitching. She asked, "How do you know this was his old phone?"

Nirutam had been starting to sync her mind with that of Nora. On Ret'fai, she had been constructed as a mind clone of Nora so as to make possible the accomplishment of her main mission objective on Earth. Nirutam had immediately found that thoughts of Nora's husband were very prominent in Nora's mind, along with the daughter of her husband, Verella. With only a brief glance into Nora's thoughts, Nirutam suddenly understood why she had been teleported from inside Many Sails to Verella's bedroom. Nirutam tried to provide Nora with a lame excuse, "Isn't it your husband who used to play baseball?"

Nora looked skeptically at Nirutam. "I still play softball, but you are right. This is my husband's old phone. I bought him a nice new one." Nora had the strange sensation that Nirutam could telepathically follow her thoughts.

Pleased with how calmly Nora was reacting to the appearance of an alien in her home and not wanting to so quickly reveal the disturbing fact that she could link into Nora's mind, Nirutam stood up and reached into a small pocket that was hidden in the waist band of her skirt. She pulled out five 100 denomination Australian dollar bills, unfolded them as she walked across the room and handed the money to Nora. "If you could rent me a room and slip me into hiding without drawing attention..."

Nora nodded and put the money in the wallet. "Come on." She led the way down to the first floor and into the garage. Soon they were heading down the street, Nora driving them towards the nearby motel. Nora asked, "How long have you been watching me and my family?"

"Long enough to know that you used to be an Interventionist agent." Nirutam looked at Nora's proud and unflinching profile, "The pek are still nervous that you remain on Earth."

Nora said, "I'm no longer an Interventionist. My memories were scrubbed clean. " Ahead, the sign of the motel came into view. Nora asked Nirutam, "Do you want me to register you under your name? Nirutam?"

Nirutam was busy getting her first look at Earth. She watched two people on the sidewalk as Nora drove past them. After a slight pause, Nirutam looked back at Nora and she replied, "That's Fine. Unless you have a better idea."

Nora suggested, "We could pretend that you are a visiting relative..."

"No, please do not create some fictional backstory that we may come to regret."

"Very well, Ms. Nirutam. Or should I call you Mrs. Nirutam?"

"Don't worry about such details. I'm actually a simultaneous hermaphrodite, so your Earthly categories are not useful. I hope I appear to be a human female upon casual inspection. For simplicity, you can think of me as being female."

Nora pulled into the motel parking lot and tried to park in the most out-of-the-way parking space. Nirutam suggested, "Please pay in advance for a few days."

"Wait here, I'll be right back." After minute inside the motel office, Nora returned and handed Nirutam a magnetic key card and the money that she had not spent. She drove around back to one of the little rental cabins that was almost lost in the shade of a set of eucalyptus trees. Nora and Nirutam entered the cabin. Nora tossed her bag on the bed and pulled out some clothing. She handed the old model phone to Nirutam and activated her own newer phone. Nora was able to quickly get the phone company to reactivate the old phone for continuing service. She showed Nirutam how to use the old phone to initiate a phone call to Nora's phone. "I should be getting back home. There's a chance that my daughter or the pest control people will appear, expecting me to be home. I'll call you in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Nora. I believe you'll be interested to hear why I'm here."

"Oh, I can't wait. It is not every day that a space alien shows up." Nora stepped outside and drove back home.

Nirutam looked around the interior of the little cabin then hung up the few articles of clothing that Nora had provided. Catching sight of herself in a mirror, Nirutam decided to change clothes. The little girl clothing that Many Sails had dressed her in seemed silly and inappropriate. Nirutam muttered to herself, "Have Fun, indeed!" She changed into the more conservative clothing that Nora had selected for her. Nora's clothing did not fit as nicely, but seemed more comfortable in that it showed less of her orange skin.

In the quiet of the cabin, Nirutam thought about her robotic assistant (Gyvy) back on Ret'fai and how comforting it would be to have a companion now, on Earth. While onboard Many Sails, Nirutam had been provided with access to a virtual reality simulation of the training facility where Nirutam had lived with Gyvy and been trained for her mission to Earth. During the past year, Nirutam had spent much of her time using that simulator and discussing what she had learned from Azynov with Gyvy. Now, after a lifetime of preparations, Nirutam was finally on Earth -and on her own.

However, all was going well. In less than an hour, Nora had efficiently taken care of Nirutam's immediate needs. How fortunate that one Interventionist agent had been allowed to remain on Earth! There was one additional important task that Nirutam needed to accomplish, but that could wait another day or so. As a fain, Nirutam would not be able to get all of the amino acids that she needed from Earthly food. However, the required chemicals could be ordered from chemical supply companies. She activated the smartphone and quickly discovered that her local bank account had been setup for her by Many Sails. Nirutam briefly thought about trying to place an online order for the chemicals that were needed for her survival on Earth, but she wanted to consult with Nora about the possibility of having the amino acids delivered to Nora's house. She set down the phone and devoted her full attention to maintaining her telepathic link to Nora. It took some effort since Nora's mind pattern did not exactly match that which Nirutam had been trained for while growing up on Ret'fai.

The big mystery was how quickly Nora would be to learn how to peer into Nirutam's mind. There was nothing preventing Nora from doing so except for the general lack of experience that humans had dealing with technology-assisted telepathy. With any luck, Nirutam would accomplish her mission in Australia before Nora developed the ability to start reading Nirutam's mind.

As the one remaining Interventionist agent on Earth, Nora was the only person on Earth who knew without a doubt that aliens had long been visiting Earth. Nirutam needed to confirm that Nora had not been allowed to retain any detailed memories of Interventionist methods and advanced technologies. From a first casual glance into her mind, Nirutam could sense that Nora no longer thought of herself as an Interventionist. In her conscious thoughts, Nora thought of herself as a wife and mother, although she clearly retained the knowledge that she had once led a different and more exciting life.

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A Search Beyond is copyright John Schmidt, but the text of the story is  licensed for sharing under the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) license.