Ferikan made it to the basement and found Garjian waiting for her. He had changed out of his Executive uniform and into what appeared to be a white tent dress with a broad golden belt.

“Take off everything you are wearing and put these on,” Garjian threw Ferikan what appeared to be a white cloak, a golden belt, and a gold metal ring slightly smaller than the belt in size. “I’ll go make sure they prepare our portal until you get dressed.”

Ferikan did not know the purpose of the items she was given, and Garjian disappeared before she could inquire further. She put on the cloak, which turned out to be a long tent dress that dragged on the ground, and the belt, which clasped loosely around her waist. She didn’t know what to do with the ring, so she held it in her hands with her tablet.

“Ready?” Garjian asked as he returned and found Ferikan looking at her reflection in the mirror.

“I think this uniform is too long,” she tried to raise the dress off the floor.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I should’ve explained. It’s supposed to be like that, and you need to hover, so it doesn’t touch the ground, to activate it.”

Ferikan leaned her neck backwards, lowered her chin, and formed a frown.

“Sounds weird, I know. But it’s a new type of gear my engineering team has developed. It really is brilliant. Just hover to activate it, and you’ll see what I mean.”

Ferikan hovered, and the belt tightened around her waist as soon as the cloak no longer touched the ground. The gold circle in her hands started to glow, and it tried to break free from her hold. She released the ring, which flew over her head and floated there like a halo a few centimetres above her. It started to glow, and Ferikan’s tablet started beeping, showing a plethora of incoming data.

“Is this live data? Is this device somehow recording and instantly transmitting data to my tablet?”

“Excellent deduction,” Garjian smiled and hovered, activating his gear.

Ferikan’s jaw dropped. “Am I receiving your readings as well?” She kept browsing through all the information displayed on her tablet. “How are we exchanging such massive amounts of data so quickly?”

“I can tell you more about the technology when we return.”

They both moved in front of the portal and waited for the signal from the mission strategist before entering.

“The journey will take thirteen minutes and eight seconds. I suggest you take the time to go over the mission report. It’s not a lot since Berson kept interrupting me, but it’s better than going in blind.”

Ferikan nodded without looking at Garjian. She kept looking at the incoming data and messing with the settings on her tablet.

“Do you remember anything about the Infinites?” Garjian asked.

“I was hoping to brush up on them on the way there, but let’s see. I remember they look like us, minus the wings. I know they exist in a dimension different to ours. We can see and hear them, but visuals and sound are distorted due to the dimensional shift. However, the biggest issue is that we cannot interact with them, severely limiting what we can record from their dimension.”

Garjian nodded. “Do you remember why we named them Infinites?”

“Yes, because, in a roundabout way, they possess a unique ability that some claim allows them to break what we consider to be a fundamental law of the universe; the law of impermanence.”

“Do you know any specifics about this ability they have?”

“I read your old mission reports on them, but I don’t recall all the details.”

“Ok, well, here is what you need to keep in mind for this mission. Data suggests that all of them can return to life after they die. Not immediately, but eventually, and at random intervals, they return and inhabit their world for a second, third, and possibly countless more times. Theoretically speaking, despite their short life span, they’re infinite.”

“But I thought research on the Infinites was banned after the great argument of dimensions. Didn’t the Order almost fall apart because of in-house fighting over the Infinites’ perceived immortality?”

“Yes, it did. And it still is illegal for all personnel to observe the Infinites today. But our goal is to change all that with this mission. Do you now understand why the details of our mission must remain hidden for the time being, agent Ferikan?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also, don’t panic if you miss anything; that’s why my team developed these suits. They can collect all the data we need, and we can analyse them later. What’s important is that you observe with your senses. Try to see beyond what the data can show. Try to understand what is happening beyond what we can record.”

“Will do, sir.”

The mission strategist gave them the all-clear sign to enter the portal.

“One last thing, Agent Ferikan. The suit will also keep a record of your energy readings. I find they can be very insightful when trying to decipher and interpret data at a later stage.”

Ferikan stared at Garjian. His eyes were soft but serious.

My energy readings? Why? Ferikan slowly and silently nodded once.

“How an agent reacts to the stimulus they pick up or perceive during a mission can reveal a lot,” Garjian said as he stepped into the portal, and Ferikan followed.

Thirteen minutes and eight seconds later, they found themselves in a gloomy living room in an Infinite’s house. The world outside was bright and warm, but the room was dark and cold. Thick curtains covered all the windows, forming a ring of light around them that did little to illuminate the area and drive back the darkness. Utter silence was kept at bay by the solitary and interminable ticking of an old analogue clock hanging on the wall.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

The mechanical sound marked every second, trapping and pounding it into the conscious mind. There was no escaping the dreaded passage of time.

Tick, tock.

An Infinite was sitting in the middle of a yellow three-seater couch. He leaned forward with his elbows against his knees and his head between his hands. He was rubbing his temples hard, trying to soothe a splitting headache.

This must be the Infinite we are tracking. Garjian wrote in his notes that his name is... Ferikan searched through the files on her tablet. Peter. That’s it. “I assume he’s responsible for the clear sound and image, as well as all these other readings we are picking up from their dimension?” Ferikan asked.

“Yes, he has formed an interdimensional bridge that allows us to record energies in their world. It even allows us to tap into the point of view of other Infinites and record the world as they experience it.”

“Oh, like that book in Berson’s office suggested.”

“Yes. What did you think of it?”

“Well, I only read the blurb, but it sounded like a wild hypothesis with no evidence to support it.”

“That’s what Berson said,” Garjian sighed, “It’s also why he forced me to publish it under a pseudonym,” his shoulders deflated.

“You wrote the book?”

“It was a way to test the waters. See if others were ready for my hypothesis,” he released a second long and deep sigh, “They weren’t.”

“Look, I think he’s moving,” Ferikan said, and Garjian perked up.

Peter moved his hands behind his neck and squeezed. He began rocking his entire body back and forth, releasing low-pitched angry grunts. His movement synched with the ceaseless ticking of the clock.

“I bet you he’s having the weirdest case of Déjà vu any Infinite has ever experienced,” Garjian said.

“De...ja...vu?” Ferikan moved closer to the Infinite, trying to better look at his features.

“You can find it under the French language.”

Ferikan searched on her tablet. “Ah, yes. I find it very cruel that they go through such torture. And they do this every time?”

“Only a few of them, but this one has also created a bridge stronger than most.”

“And this is the last time he will go through this process?”

“Past data we’ve collected so far suggests so, yes. Peter should soon cross into our world before disappearing into a third unknown dimension. Or at least that’s the theory. Now let’s link with him. The answers must lie within what will follow.”

Peter had been here before. He was sure of it, but the exact memory and any information that should’ve been attached to it eluded him. Only a feeling remained, which he could not ignore. This was somehow home. He lifted his head and tried to sink his fingers into his skin in a futile attempt to tear his face off, trying to provide relief from a burst of stimuli and emotions that overwhelmed his mind.

It was a convolution of sounds, images, smells, tastes and touches. The sensory triggers in the Infinite’s body were simultaneously engaged, causing the brain to overload and a sea of emotions to rise, ranging from happy to depressed, angry to blissful, guilty to innocent, rage to calmness, and finally stillness.

Ferikan’s gut turned into a bottomless pit. Her chest tightened and threatened to collapse into the void that once was her stomach. She closed her eyes, bit her lip, and shivered. She flew backwards and severed her connection with the Infinite before the whole experience was over. Garjian only winced at first, then scrunched up his face and turned red as he squeezed his entire body, but he held on and never cut his connection.

“Those were memories, weren’t they?” Ferikan regained her composure and began rewinding the recording on her tablet.

“Yes, they were.”

“It’s amazing how much he remembers. I thought most of them turned blank and empty by now, stumbling around until they found the doorway and crossed over.”

“Most cases are as you say, but I think this Infinite found what they refer to as a soulmate. Are all the memories linked to one other specific Infinite?”

“Yes,” Ferikan turned her tablet towards Garjian. “Look, the best picture is this female Infinite. The clearest sound is her laughter. The strongest smell is her aroma. The most intense taste is that of her lips and skin. The most overpowering feeling of touch is his hands around her body. It all links to her. Even his emotions refer back to her in one way or another.”

Garjian inspected the data Ferikan had shared. “Yes, that would be Tina, Peter’s companion. It’s as I suspected, then.”

“Oh, companions. I remember that. Did they have a ceremony? A wedding, they call it.”

Yes, I believe it was a few of their earth years ago. It’s a shame for them but good for us, as such strong connections tend to create powerful bridges and leave more clues for us to study.

“So they’re soulmates?”

“We have no way of knowing that for sure, and there is no data to support this soulmate idea. We can only assume based on their beliefs.”

Peter jumped to his feet with his hands stretched outwards as if trying to feel his way through the darkness. He opened his mouth a couple of times, chin trembling, but he never said a word. He began blinking frantically, and tears formed as he looked around. A sharp pain filled his chest. He grabbed at his sternum and pressed hard. He began taking deep breaths, which soon turned into quick and shallow ones.

“What’s he doing?” Ferikan flew closer to Peter.

“He’s putting everything together. All the pieces of memory he has recovered are now forming into one coherent mind.”

Peter took a few steps forward, looking at the photographs on the wall above the T.V. opposite the couch.

“Such a cruel fate, to go through this torment every time, day in and day out, as he remembers everything.”

“No, Ferikan. You misunderstand. He’s purposefully putting himself through this over and over again. This is his way of remembering. He’s refusing to accept it.”

“Accept what?”

“The truth. The stronger the connection between two Infinites, the more they refuse to let go and move on.”

Peter froze solid like a statue in front of the large T.V. screen. His eyes opened wider than ever and bulged. “What...what is...where….” Peter’s voice trembled.

“What’s wrong?” Ferikan squawked.

“I don’t know,” Garjian moved as close to Peter as possible. “Bring up the view from his eyes,” he commanded.

Peter raised a tremulous hand towards the screen but never dared touch it.

“What’s he looking at?” Ferikan intently stared at the image on her tablet that showed the Infinite’s point of view. She could see nothing other than the faded reflection of the room in the dark glass, and nothing seemed to be out of place.

Peter pulled his hand back and covered his open mouth. His breathing returned, loud and violent, and his entire body shuddered.

Garjian moved back from the Infinite, relaxed his shoulders and formed a smile. He moved next to Ferikan, who was buried in her tablet, manically tapping and searching for clues. Garjian placed a hand on her shoulder, and Ferikan jerked her head towards him.

“It’s not what he’s seeing,” he said calmly, “It’s what he’s not.”