<Incoming Call: Jordan Callow>

“Nexima, accept the call.”

“Good morning, Jordan.”

“Yes, good evening, Aidan.”

“I’ll get used to it eventually, it just might take a little while. Our system on Sevrin is so much simpler.”

“It’s not a problem, Aidan. We all have to do quite a lot of adjustment to deal with the time differences. Just be aware that I’ll basically go silent for the next week or more. We’ll just keep in touch with messages while the differences are too great.”

“Right. I’ll still be on the ship for most of that time anyway. You have me as something of a captive audience.”

“We’re going to take full advantage as well, I’m afraid. How have you got on with the papers I sent you?”

“I’ve read them all, but obviously I spent a little more time on some than I did on others. Are we really trying to make this work – to send matter through the Link, I mean?”

“Yes. The idea of sending a new supply of implants is quite pressing – not exactly an emergency, but it could become so. It’s such incredible bad luck that you’ve not been able to find all the materials that making your own devices right there on Sevrin requires. The other colonies don’t have the same problem, although they do have similar issues with other elements.”

“Does the issue actually work both ways? Do we have anything that Earth could use from out here?”

“Actually, yes, we think it does. There is still ongoing research, but you may have some minerals that are very rare on Earth. There is the real possibility of trade.”

“Well, from what I’ve been reading so far, it would seem that I’m walking into a researchers equivalent of a dead-end, Jordan.”

“Oh, far from it. We’re all looking forward to your fresh view from the outside.”

“I’m not sure that the team should be relying on me to make some sort of genius-level breakthrough.”

“Maybe not, but a fresh pair of eyes on the research often has a positive outcome. You need to think positively about your ability to contribute.”

“I’m not sure that I’m old enough or confident enough to do that yet.”

“Aidan, I’m only a little older than you and I was dropped in at the deep-end just like you are now. I’m lucky that I live in the same town as the Earth-based research centre, but it was still a massive culture-shock for me. I really do understand how you feel.”

“And now Jordan? Do you feel that you belong with the older, more experienced staff?”

“Most of the time, yes. Trust me a little. The first time you make a positive suggestion the whole team will rally around. It really is just a small group anyway. There are fewer than thirty people on the project in total. You will soon get to know quite a few of us and we are quite a close-knit group despite being separated by almost thirty light years.”

“Is there anything in particular that I need to be thinking about or working on before I arrive at Eastleigh?”

“One or two things. I’ll send a couple of the more recent research findings to you in the morning – my morning – you’ll get them later tonight in your time-frame. There is one thing we need to do today, though.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Argus, can you join our conversation?”

<Yes, Jordan, of course. Aidan, I’m Argus, the research AI for this project.>

“We have our own AI?”

<Indeed. I provide all the support and logistics for the whole group, both on Earth and Sevrin.>

“And I can contact you at any time?”

<Yes Aidan. I’m now integrated with your implant. Just prompt me by name like you would do when talking to your implant and I’ll respond immediately.>

“I’ve never had personal access to an AI before. I’m not sure that I will ever need anything from you. Sorry.”

<Don’t worry, Aidan. Most people think like that at first. My initial advice is simple. Don’t reach for a terminal or a pen and paper. Ask me. I have the power to perform the calculations you might need, keep notes for you and even distil your research and that of others into a cohesive whole. Take advantage of me. That is, after all, what I am here for.>

“Well, it sounds like one more thing I will have to get used to pretty quickly. Jordan, you keep throwing these things at me out of nowhere.”

“Sorry, Aidan, but you do need to get up-to-speed fairly quickly and Jane wants you ready for action when you disembark.”

<Aidan, just talk to me. I’m available all the time and even just using me as a sounding board when Jordan or the others are unavailable will help you – and by extension the project – immensely.>

“Okay, Argus. I’ll try and do that for the next few days.”

<Good. We’ll get on fine. Just be confident. You might find me a little more approachable than some of the other AIs that you may have dealt with in the past. I’ve been part of the group right from the start.>

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. It is just a lot to digest in a short time. Do we need to deal with anything else today? I’m sure Jordan will need to get finished up soon.”

“I do. Thank you, Aidan. I’ll send you those papers later. Goodbye for a few days.”

“Have a good day, Jordan. And thank you, Argus. It was good to make your acquaintance.”

<You too, Jordan. Call me tomorrow once you’ve read the latest papers if you want to talk about them.>

“Thank you. I’ll do that. Good day, Argus.”

<Have a pleasant day, Aidan. Argus out.>

I end up meeting Sarah just at the end of the companionway from my cabin. She’s in an identical space, but on the other side of the ship from me. She gets a better view of the coastline of the Eastern Continent as we sail along.

“I’ve had a quick word with the staff in the cafeteria,” she tells me as she takes my arm and we walk along the main thoroughfare towards the communal area of the ship. “They’re more than happy to do pizza for us tonight. I messaged Liz and told her that at least that was something I could organise at this end. The catering staff do have a pizza night occasionally and were very happy to just make it tonight to help us out.”

“I’ve been so busy; I wouldn’t have even thought of getting things organised beforehand. You’re so much more organised than I’ll ever be.”

“Aidan, stop putting yourself down. It makes me want to shout at you!”

“Sorry. I even know that I do it. I just seem to feel a little overwhelmed by all the attention. It’s as if there’s suddenly a pressure on me to be some sort of genius problem-solver.”

“Well, that may or may not be true. Only the passage of time will determine that for us. Besides, I know you’re working hard and I just decided to try and make sure that this would all go smoothly. Not just for you, for all of us.”

“Well, thank you anyway. Honestly, I spent half the day doing nothing. I was so deep in my own thoughts that it almost felt as if I couldn’t escape them for a while. Each paper and set of data that Jordan has sent to me has made me think more and more about the whole thing.”

“Can I ask if it has changed your opinion?” Sarah asks as we arrive at the cafeteria and head towards the servery.

“Actually, I now feel even more certain that I’m right. Or, more precisely that Jordan may be right. I don’t know. He’s sending me some more stuff later that is very recent. Maybe that will give me more insight.”

“Aidan, is this stuff secret? I mean, should you be talking to me about it?”

“I never asked. Obviously, my paper was openly available and I have no reason to think that I’m not free to talk about it. I’ll have to ask Argus when I get a chance tomorrow.”

“Who’s Argus?”

“Our dedicated project management AI.”

“The project has its own AI? That’s a very serious commitment of resources. Okay. Just let me know if I need to forget anything,” she tells me with a smile.

“I will. Enough work. Let’s get some food and get set up.”

One of the staff behind the counter notices us approaching and comes forward to the servery to speak to Sarah. “I’ve made sure the corner alcove on the port side is available for the two of you. It should feel like a big table once your friends join in.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “We’ve never tried this before and every little bit of assistance helps.”

“It’ll work just fine. I’ve done something similar with my family a few times and it can be very convincing if you give it a chance. Grab a few slices and just pop back if you want more.”

We load a tray with what looks like exceptionally good pizza sections and head for the indicated corner.

“Nexima, can I start a group video chat with Liz, Gavin and Louisa please?”

<Yes, Aidan. Their group is already active. Do you want me to do augmented avatars for the other members of the group?>

“Sorry, augmented avatars? What are they? I’ve never done this before.”

<As everybody in the group starts to share their vision, I can interpolate the data at the mainframe end and build virtual avatars for you all. Once these are placed in your visual cortex, it will appear as if everyone is here with you. Well, almost.>

“Wow. That sounds perfect. Please initiate the augmentation.”

<It will take a few moments to get everybody activated and then they will appear in front of you. Sarah is also joining the group. Please sit in a position where you can see her clearly.>

I’d originally thought that I’d sit next to Sarah on one side of the table, but it appears that I need to be on the other side and take a few moments to switch chairs. Sarah is clearly getting the same instructions from her implant as I see her slowly look in my direction and move her head around a little.

Within just a few seconds the first ghostly outlines of our friends appear around us. They never quite solidify as they fill the spaces between Sarah and I. Of course, they have also had to space themselves out so they can be clearly seen by one another to allow the AI to build the simulation. Just imagine how unwieldy this would all be without an implant. You’d need some sort of headset or weird goggles or whatever.

<Aidan?>

“Yes Nexima?”

<You can now communicate with the group. Please use normal speech if you would prefer.>

“Hi guys,” I say after a few moments during which the avatars solidify and start to look more and more real. “Nexima suggested this augmented reality view. What do you all think?” 

“I had no idea we could do it like this,” Lou blurts. “It’s bloody amazing. I almost feel as if I’m right there with the two of you.”

“Your pizza looks better than ours,” Liz mutters. “How do you manage that on a ship in the middle of the ocean?”

“We have the best catering staff in the fleet,” Sarah tells her as she glances in the direction of the servery and smiles. “Although it may have more to do with the fact that there are fewer than 100 passengers left on board now.”

“Well, you’ll soon be at your destination,” Gavin adds. “Then you’ll both have to get back to normal life. No more of this being catered to and pampered by the crew.”

“I suspect Aidan is looking forward to it,” Sarah tells them. “He’s been working every day from the time we left Land’s End. It’ll feel like he’s on holiday when he gets there. He’ll probably do less than he does now.”

“Oh, is that why you’ve been a bit quiet lately?” Lou asks me directly.

“Yes, I guess. I have got a lot of reading to do. Jordan is firing stuff off at me all the time. Actually, it is very interesting and also quite exciting to be a part of something so cutting edge and complicated.” I tell everyone. “I’m still not sure that I’m up to the task, but Jordan and Argus – our AI – are both sure that I’ll fit right in.”

“Sarah mentioned Jordan. He’s the guy who’s on Earth, right?” Liz asks.

“Yes. He’s been with the project for a couple of years and we will be working together once I get to Eastleigh and get my head around the time differences.”

“What is he like?” Lou asks.

“He sounds nice, but I’ve no idea what he looks like or anything like that. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other more as the next few weeks unfold.”

“Stop it, Lou.” Gavin tells her. “I know that look, but there’s no point trying to match-make Aidan with a guy who’s light years away, completely anonymous and of unknown orientation.”

“I wasn’t thinking that at all!” Lou tells him with a look of consternation.

“Actually, you were!” Liz tells her simply. “I know that look of yours as well.”

It appears that Liz and Lou have set the tone for the rest of the evening. We all descend in to raucous laughter and spend more than a couple of hours enjoying the company of our friends that we have been missing.

We only draw things to a close when Sarah nudges me and points out that the staff seem to be getting ready to close the cafeteria for the evening. I don’t want to make them wait behind for us, especially when they have gone out of their way to be accommodating to our little gathering. I make a point of stopping and thanking them personally as we head back to our cabins.