A New Registration Needed, Mikal, open

[Mikal Zaries]

He chuckled when Allan called Etlaayz 'Spirit of the Lizard'.

Etlaayz chuckled as well, commenting (only to him), 'Spirit of the Lizard - I am flattered.'

Mikal shook his head as he commented back to her 'do not let it go to your head.'

But, from Allan's observation and question, it was evident he did not know what a symbiont was. Then again, they were more than just symbionts. He thought about how to answer, starting out slowly.

"A - symbiont - is - when two or more lifeforms are so intertwined together that they need each other to survive, or, as in our case, they have merged such that, they have become, essentially, one person. We are aware of what is happening, regardless of who is on the surface. We are, also, aware of each other, capable of both seeing and hearing the other. We change into the other to take advantage of assets of the other, such as, her ability of flight and her crystal shell, as for me..."

He stopped with a dumbfounded look on his face, as he really could not think of any significant reason why he was necessary, "I really can not think of any reason except to feed."

He flinched as Etlaayz burst out laughing in his head. She was laughing so hard and loud, he was certain Allan had heard it (but, he did not, unless, he is telepathic).

Recovering from her outburst, he continued, "We come to the surface to feed, she on light, dark and silicone, while, I feed on organic material."

Mikal smiled a sad smile when Allan spoke of his regrets.

With heart felt sympathy, he replied, "I can understand how you feel. I might not have a home, but, I do have a people."

He paused in contemplation before continuing, "my godmother gave me this advice, 'Learning from the past and hoping for the future is good, but, living in them is not, the present is more than sufficient.' I, try, to remind myself of that when the what if's start to plague me."

He smiled again when Allan remarked:

“I am glad you survived. Tell me, please, all of you there were Spirits of the Lizard, or there were spirits of other animals too?”

"I am glad too. I, just, hope I am not the only one. No, My mate was a very large black cat (panther), her father was a large fire-bird - I think you call it a Phoenix - while my sister was a large golden cat. I have seen all kinds of animals, a tree, a large butterfly and some I do not have the faintest idea what they were. They came in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors, all made from Cytrilium - that crystalline substance Etlaayz was made of"

Mikal laughed when Allan remarked:

“Unali, my horse, is waiting for us. I bet you haven’t got such a modern transportation until now – because you seem to be from a world which is as advanced as this one, or maybe more.”

"Well, we did have walkers, but the were more like large spiders, due to the mountainous, rocky terrain we live in. Your - horse - is the highest level of technology. It took trillions of years for us to learn that, there was no greater technology or designer than nature. Think of it - Unali is self repairing and reproducing, is powered by a renewable power source and, even, his byproducts are usable. Have you found any machine that can make all those claims?"

((FYI: 'Mikal's mind speak' and 'Etlaayz's mind speak'. I do it to give you an idea what is happening in the back ground. ))

[Allan Waters]

Allan tried to understand to his best what the other was saying. Somehow it was how his people described the spirits of animals.

“Not only to feed. You are useful not to scare humans either. I don’t think I would have been as friendly if seeing only your Lizard half. So when not fighting it makes sense to be… you, given that you are living among… mostly humans.”

Of course there were not only humans here, there were talking foxes and cats and strange beings which didn’t look like anything else – in his quality of a nurse, he had seen enough of them. When hearing that he fed on organic material, Allan needed to ask:

“So, what would you like to buy from the supermarket? And silicone… here it is used for gluing things up. You can find it to buy too. The man who repaired my water installation used some. This is where I saw it and learnt about this material.”

Mikal’s sympathy rezoned deeply inside him:

“Missing the people you have left behind is always the hardest. Do you think they survived the …world? They might be alive, just like you but in another town like Folder’s Point… somewhere else.”

Allan had to admit that the received advice was good.

“Your godmother was right. Unlike a few other persons I have met here, where I work as a nurse, I tried my best to learn what I could, in order to be able to live in this present and be useful. This doesn’t make missing our own easier, though.”

Mikal started telling him about the people where he came from … and that he had a mate.

“It sounds interesting, such a diversity of people. And… what happened to your mate? The girl I was betrothed to died of fever. Three winters had passed in my country since then… and maybe one more since I am here, I am not sure. No other girl has been meant for me…”

Something more in common between them.

He laughed at Mikal’s praise about Unali:

“Tell this to these people who prefer cars for being quicker! Because I fully agree with you…”

They were in the parking lot, in front of the one they were talking about:

“So, I’m inviting you for a new ride… and be ready to see everybody staring at us! There is another man with a horse in this town too – only we two.”

[Mikal Zaries]

Mikal had to agree, this form was much less intimidating, which, he had taken advantage of on several occasions to lull his opponent into a false sense of security.

"Point taken, I will, try, present myself as I am to the public. We do not need any angry mods hunting down a monster."

He shuddered from the cold when he reached the outside. He was from a tropical climate, so, this place was quite a bit colder that he was use to.

"Some clothes would be nice. I am from a tropical environment.

He gave Allan a strange look when he describe someone repairing a some sort of water system with silicone. He tried to imagine using a piece of quartz or glass to glue something together, creating some really weird images. The only thing he could think of, was the silicone Allan was thinking of and what he was thinking of were not the same thing.

"I was thinking more like quartz or glass."

He returned his thoughts to Allan's original question:

'Well, I am a vegetarian - sort of. So, it will be mostly fruits and vegetables. I will eat meat if it is the only practical source of food. I, just, do not like killing when I do not have to - I have done to much of that already."

Allan's reply struck a nerve in him. He looked down as the images of those he had lost popped into view before his mind's eye. He took a deep breath holding back the tears. There would be time for that later when he made a honor-memorial for them, but, now was not the time.

"True, nor, should it, but, I have been blessed by meeting them - well - most of them."

He shook his head:

"The world - no. But the people - I can hope. Both Taalidyn and Locaszaii where building vessels capable of carrying the population to safety - well, at least, Taalidyn was. As for finding another world, the nearest world was trillions of light-years away. Even with the Phlex drive's ability to jump space, it would take years, if not, centuries to reach it."

He looked up and smiled when Allan commented about his people, "They were indeed and I hope to find new friends here. I was going to chide you about calling me friend, without really knowing me, but, I am glad we have met and I, do, consider you a friend."

"I am sorry to hear about your mate-to-be. My mate - she was alive when I left."

Mikal grinned wickedly when Allan ask him to 'enlighten' the rest, especially those that used 'cars'.

"Ooooo, I intend to. I am planning to practice my - art. So, do not be surprised if you spot an organic robot running around the place. That would be my doing."

When the reached Unali, he noticed he deposited some road-apples.

"Well, nothing is perfect. Organic units have their liabilities as well."

He looked around when Allan warned about being stared at, after inviting him for another ride.

"By who? This late at nite, we are, probably, the only ones and most others would be busy trying to get home to really notice."

He used a nearby structure to help him in mounting Unali.

[Allan Waters]

Allan just smiled at Mikal’s agreement that he would try to present himself as human.

“Monsters are… relative here. I mean, there are all kinds of non-human beings too, who don’t have the advantage of a human half.”

When he said that he was from a tropical environment, Allan nodded in understanding:

“Yes, we’ll start with clothes. I think my own homeland is a bit warmer than here, but I have traveled once to places like you describe.”

Allan looked at him puzzled when Mikal mentioned quartz or glass. What did they have to do with the silicone? They weren’t even having the same texture…

“There are plenty of fruits and vegetables in the supermarket, to take your pick. I have killed both men in war and animals – in my village, men were hunters and women were working the fields and gathering wild fruits too. I had learnt here that men can grow plants too. This and buying food at the supermarket are the best things in this world, I think.”

Allan regretted having asked what he had, when seeing the other’s expression. It was exactly how he had been taught, at his turn, by his elders, to retain his feelings inside and not show any emotion. Therefore, he tried to comfort him for the best he could:

“It is the nearest world you know about it, Mikal. I didn’t know about Folder’s Point and Earth Prime. Perhaps neither did you, though you are here now. They could find doors like the one you got through. Better think that they are alive and finding their way into a new way of living.”

At the words about friendship, Allan’s gaze got warmer:

“I am glad we have met too, and I am sure you’ll find other friends here as well. Eyes are the mirrors of soul, and I have seen enough things I liked deep inside you, Mikal. I don’t call everybody a friend, even if I hope them to be.”

Some things, however, were better left without answer. There was no answer for the sadness of having lost a loving one, and none for the disadvantages of “organic units” how Mikal called animals.

“An organic robot? You make me curious! So this is your skill… you… invent things?” he asked.

He smiled at seeing Mikal more comfortable with riding:

“You are doing well for a new rider, my princess!” he joked. “Actually the stories where the prince came riding a horse and kidnapped his princess are from this world, not from mine, but they amuse me to no end every time when I have to ride double with somebody – and it hasn’t happened often. At home, I rode double with my brother sometimes.”

And Mikal was right, it was dark already… Which meant he had to be more careful, because Unali didn’t have position lights like cars did.

“Well, we are the general oddity here, I have got accustomed to it,” he answered.

[Mikal Zaries]

Mikal listened to all that Allan said, making mental notes on some of it. For clothes, he would have to see what was available, but, he pick out something warm and functional for this world. He was pleased they seemed to have an assortment of fruits and vegetables; he would not go hungry here. Mikal smiled as Allan tried to comfort him.

"There is always hope. Thank you."

Both Mikal's and Etlaayz's eyes widened when 'mirrors of soul' was mentioned.

"Oh, I did not know that. Um - what did you see?'

The translator kind of stumbled with the interpretation of 'princess' although he did get the idea.

"Why, thank you for the complement. At least Etlaayz should agree. She thinks she is a princess - or - is that a prima donna? This language it difficult to understand at time."

Etlaayx snorted giving him the evil-eye. She knew full well he understood what it ment.

"That, also, seems to be a omniversal constant - bureaucrats - of some kind. They had them even in my world."

"Yes, in a way. I get the designs of others working - although - I have did some designing myself. I have ridden before. We rode walkers, both four and eight legged versions, flyers and sailors, as well as, walking. I have used all of them at one time - although - I do like keeping, at least, one foot on the ground."

He looked skyward sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"With all the differences I have seen, there seems to be a commonality woven throughout it all. Your world sounds a lot like mine and this world, as much as I have seen is is quite a bit like mine. But - there are the differences..."

He turned back and looked at him through the corner of his eye.

"Since you have been here longer than I have, what can I expect here? Other than the proding and endless question I will get from them," he pointed back to the building they just came from.

[Allan Waters]

Allan smiled when asked what he had seen in Mikal’s eyes.

“A friendly, open smile, a twinkle which means both intelligence and good-natured curiosity… Something a mean person wouldn’t have.”

So his lizard half thought she was a princess? Well, why not, maybe lizards lived in tribes with chieftains too… But bureaucrats… Allan looked surprised when Mikal told him there were in his homeland too.

“in my homeland there weren’t any. We had chiefs to respect and obey, but nothing was… like here.”

So he was one who invented things, or constructed things others had imagined. It made even more sense being inquisitive, with such a practical mind. And being a sort of inventor was amazing, in the healer’s opinion, and this increased his respect for the older man. He grinned, though, when he heard him saying that he liked one foot on the ground.

“Well, you might get a car soon… if this is what you want,” he answered, but the word “car” was pronounced on a disdainful tone.

He hadn’t refused a ride when the opportunity arose, but neither had he looked for it on purpose.

“Of course there are differences; no two places can be alike. There are differences even between villages under the same sun…”

When he got asked what to expect, Allan answered immediately:

“They want, at the same time, both to know us better, to learn about our worlds, and to make it easier for us to fit in this world. So yes, there are endless questions, there are blood tests and DNA tests in order to help us better if we get sick, a psychological test to help us find the best job for us here… But once they are over, tomorrow afternoon, you’ll both be free and have an assigned job soon… And I guess that with your technical skills, you will find a job you’ll like.”

With an interesting discussion, they arrived to the supermarket.

[Mikal Zaries]

Mikal raised a brow when Allan described what he saw, but, he smiled at the mention of a twinkle.

"I am afraid that 'twinkle' might be deceiving. I have Etlaayz's eyes and, in the center of each, there is a tiny glow of golden light. Although, they provide a much improved visual spectrum, from infra-red to ultra-violet."

No bureaucrats? His world was a wonder.

"Then you were lucky, they can be a real pain in the tail if they choose to be."

Hearing the inflection he put on 'car' he shook his head.

"If they are what I think they are - I think I wall pass on them. The closest I have been to one of those was a two wheeled peddle powered vehicle I used to get around the Academy. I am more of a walker myself."

He rolled his eyes listening to what he could expect tomorrow, but, Allan had a point. Without the proper understanding of each other, it would be very difficult to function in this world. He chuckled as he though about how they would react to Etlaayz. She did not have blood or DNA of any kind.

They seemed to reach there destination, a large indoor market place he called a 'supermarket'. Mikal dismounted and headed to the big doors in the front.

Stepping inside, he was, temporarily stunned by its size and all the item it had. He had thought the market place on Pa'etanzia was huge, but this even dwarfed that. He stood there a moment trying to take it all in.

[Allan Waters]

Allan was surprised by the idea of Mikal having a lizard’s eyes, which could see much better. Not that he had any concrete idea what infra-red and ultra-violet actually was, except those things used in physiotherapy for rheumatic pains and other illnesses.

“Do you mean that you can see in the dark, like a cat?” he asked.

Hearing his opinion about bureaucrats, the healer nodded in acceptance:

“I have seen enough examples here in order to agree with you, Mikal!”

So he was also against cars?

“Well, they can be quick when a life is in danger or something, but otherwise… I prefer Unali. Or walking, when I have time for it.”

Now that they arrived to the supermarket, he parked Unali as he was always doing, walked inside with Mikal, amused by the wonder in his eyes, took a basket and asked friendly:

“So… I guess it’s clothes first, food second, what do you say?”

[Mikal Zaries]

When Allan asked if could see in the dark, like a cat, he began to winder if his sister and mate had better night vision. That could explain some of the things they have done.

"I do not know if I can see like a cat, but, I do see heat, which is handy in dark places. She has the ability to control and generate light, which, also, is handy."

He got the impression, Allan had some run-ins with bureaucrats here. He could, only, hope they were not as bad as a few he had.

"I do not know - Etlaayz can be very quick in trouble..."

Then it occurred to him, by the time he saw them, Etlaayz had retracted her wings. She was doing more underwater activity and they were a liability.

"Etlaayz is a winged lizard - I think they are called dragons here."

Mikal had been there a minute or so, when Allan came in. Hearing his voice, brought him out of his trance. He looked around, noticing, very few people there. Which should be expected because of the lateness. He nodded agreeing with the plan.

Looking up, he saw a bewildering number of signs. Although, he was not able to read the words, yet, he was able to decipher the symbols used on them. One with the words 'Men's Department' had a figure of a human male on it.

Pointing to the sign he inquired, "That way?"

[Allan Waters]

Mikal had his way to explain clearly what Allan couldn’t understand at the beginning… and yes, it was clear enough. And yes, having an alter-ego with different gifts was awesome too.

“Generating light? Indeed, this is even better! But sensing the heat would make you a great hunter… in my world, I mean…”

“Dragon? I had heard of it… in the same stories with princesses. I didn’t know, thank you for telling me!”

He smiled when Mikal showed him the good direction.

“Yes, that way!” I guess you need first a shirt, some underwear… then a pair of jeans for a start, they are cheaper and more… working style, a pair of shoes… or trainers, they are more comfortable… a jacket and a coat, as you said that you are from a warmer place…”

He hated shopping, but he didn;t let it be seen. It was so different, and so painfully reminding him that he was not home anymore...

[Mikal Zaries]

"Actually, she releases what she has stored. Thank you. She was the hunter.; I was more her eyes in the sky."

Allan was a truly generous person, who's company was enjoyable. Not many would go out of their way to help a complete stranger, especially, to the extent Allan had. The more Mikal saw of Allan, the more he was impressed by Allan's genuine selflessness. So much so, he decided to get to know Allan and his people better.

"I would like to hear about your people. If, you are an example of them, they are worth getting to know."

He was quite a bit surprised when he realize, just, how much he had revealed about himself to Allan. He was a very private person, but, he felt comfortable around him. Although, his father warned him about getting too comfortable around others, he did not sense any guile or malice in him.

He smiled when Allan mentioned princesses, again. From the sounds of it, they seemed to be getting into trouble a lot. Which, sounded a bit like Etlaayz, but, she was, usually, the instigator.

"You are welcome."

He followed Allan to the men's department, where an elderly gentleman offered to help them. Mikal repeated what Allan said he needed. The man nodded and made some measurements before showing Mikal a table of all sorts of pants. That is when he introduced Mikal to underwear, which, he passed on. He tried on a couple of jeans, but, they could not find a pair that fit, so, the man included a belt with them.

The headed over to rack of shirts. He stared at the number of different styles and colors of shirts. Some had pictures on them. After trying on a few, he selected a heavy, long sleeved plaid shirt.

They, finally, reached the shoe department. Once again, he was amazed by the number of different shoes.

He turned to Allan shaking his head, as he remarked, "how do you cope with so many choices?"

Once again, he tried several types settling on a pair of white canvas sneakers and some heavy white socks.

The man said Mikal did not have to remove the clothing, which, he was not about to do in the first place. Now that he had them on, he was not about to remove them.
The gentleman removed the few remaining tags on the clothing and tallied up the cost, handing the list to Allan.

Mikal turned to Allan and inquired, "well, will this do?"

[Allan Waters]

Allan enjoyed talking with Mikal. And learning about his alter ego, the lady dragon, who was the huntress here, was simply interesting. He would bow to her in great respect, still having in his mind the spirit of the lizard… Maybe not any lizard, but the fire lizard from the legends… it matched with her eating light, didn’t it?

At his turn, Mikal wanted to learn about the healer’s people, and he made him blush with the compliment that they were “worth getting to know" if taking him as an example.

“I think each people has good men and bad men,” he answered after a little break for thinking. “I come from a warmer place, an archipelago of different islands surrounded by water, called Mixe. And I have water in my name too. I was born on the island of Chocolá. The sky is pink and it has two blue moons, not only a cream - yellow one like here, and salt water is more often found than sweet one. There are people with magical powers among us, but my only call is healing. We don’t have many wars, but there have been quarrels among the villages sometimes, especially lately. I have been one in favour of peace…”

Then, a shop assistant came to take care of Mikal. Allan nodded approvingly how he looked with the jeans on. A belt? It was necessary, in his opinion, so he didn’t blink when the man gave it to Mikal. At the shirts department, he was simply curious of the newcomer’s tastes. The warm plaid shirt was a good choice too, even if not necessarily what he would have chosen first. Allan’s preference remained towards the earth-related colours, from dark brown to light cream.

When asked how he coped with so many choices, Allan smiled.

“Well, think about it like a kind of dream land where everything is possible. I understand you, because we didn’t have so many choices on my island either. It is a novelty you’ll get used to soon.”

Once Mikal fully clothed, he asked Allan what did he say about it.

“It will do for a start, but as long as you will need to change clothes, I’d advise you to buy a pair of warmer shoes too, besides the sneakers, two more pairs of socks… And if you really don’t want to buy more clothes tonight, next week you’ll need another shirt and another pair of trousers. Now, let’s hope it is warm enough at night so if you wash your clothes early in the evening, they get dried till morning.”

[Mikal Zaries]

Mikal listened with interest as Allan describe his home. He pondered just how to describe his place. From what he has seen and what Etlaayz has shown him, it was not the normal here.

"My world - how can I describe it. It is - or - was a hollow ball of rock. We lived on the inside surface. In the center was our sun, of sorts. We had oceans and islands, but most lived on a huge mountain range at the equator. My home was Ko'a', a village on, what was called, The Gap. I have some fond memories of my mother and older sister in our village. He had no moons just a lot of asteroids."

Hearing war brought back some bad memories:

"We had our war," he shook his head, "which lasted a long very long time."

When Allan mentioned a 'dream land', Mikal chuckle, "I hope it is still here when I wake up."

When the gentleman was done and he presented himself Allan for his opinion, Allan recommended several suggestions.

"I will, later. But, for now, lets just get the essentials. I am running on adrenaline and am not all that sure how long it will last. A byproduct of cryogenic suspension."

[Allan Waters]

Mikal came from a hollow ball of rock? Hard and aride, and… with the insides inhabited? It was a definite stretch for Allan’s mind, simply because he hadn’t heard about anything like this, but he tried to understand how oceans and mountains could be inside.

“I guess it is somehow like our world, just… upside down,” he smiled, the smile fading when hearing about war.

Apparently there were no place without… But now Mikal was here, where fortunately there was none, hopefully for many years to come. There was only the dream of abundance expressed in the well- supplied shops.

“It will be here, not only when you wake up.”

And as Mikal said that he would buy everything else later, he accepted the explanation. He knew what adrenaline was – he had to do some courses in order to work as a nurse and supplement the medicine man training from at home with the modern things from here. Not that he understood the "cryogenic suspension" part, though.

“Then it means you already started getting tired. So let’s find some vegetables, fruits and water - or natural juice as well, if you wish – then I’ll show you your temporary residence.”

[Mikal Zaries]

Mikal was beginning to feel tired. He nodded with agreement at Allan's recommendations. Etlaayz could do only so much in keeping him awake, without, doing any serious damage. If, the situation required it, she could come to the surface, but, that would be a last resort action. Each transference, required energy and they were low on that.

They went trough the produce section collecting different fruits and vegetables, most he did not know what they were. He had sampled a few small items, until, he got a disapproving look from the manager.

Taking, what they had collected, they headed to the checkout. Mikal watched as Allan paid for the items. In one way, h was relieved there was no bartering, but, in another, it was a bit of a let down. Bartering was one of the few activities he enjoyed and was good at. He, only, hoped, the other shops around allowed bartering.

Although, it was not much, Mikal began to wonder just how they could get the food home. He remembered, they were on horseback and Unali, although sturdy and large enough to carry the both of them, did have his limitations. He though about how it could be done, coming up with a a couple of options, when Allan solved the problem by asking them to deliver it to his new place, giving them the address.

Mikal raised a brow, as he remarked, "they deliver? That is nice."

Outside, Unali was waiting for them. Mikal needed a lot more help mounting Unali this time. Allan guided them through the streets, until the reached an apartment complex. Mikal was, definitely relieved and thankful for Unali, he doubted he could have made it here without his help.

To his surprise, the delivery man was waiting for them. Allan unlocked the door to his room allowing both the delivery man and Mikal into the room. The man placed the sacks on the table, while Allan was explaining different things to him. Allan gave him the key and left the remaining money on the table before leaving.

Mikal looked around the place. It was, somewhat, like what he had lived in. A main room with couple adjoining rooms. One was the sleeping area, the other, the bathing area.

Mikal dropped the keys on the table besides the groceries as he headed to the sleeping area. He will deal with those things tomorrow, as well as, exploring his new home. All he wanted, now, was some sleep. He flopped on the bed clothes and all.