“Okay. Now we’re playing baseball? This is so weird.” She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet.
He grinned. “Home base is where I live. It’s a closed mining station inside a moon. The company that built it tapped out on the minerals they sought and abandoned the facility. A group of us found it and restored power.”
“Of course you did.” Everything in this dream was turning out to be weird. She followed him out of the cockpit and into the narrow corridor they’d come from after leaving the cargo area. “So…a group?”
“There were six of us. All clones. It’s just me living on the station now. They wanted to travel and seek adventures.”
He stopped in front of double doors and pressed a button. They slid open to reveal a small square room. He entered and tugged her along. The doors sealed, and she felt a sharp drop. She gasped and squeezed his hand tighter.
“The living quarters are below. Take it easy. This is a lift.”
“Elevator. Got it. How many floors does this ship have?”
“Two. Cargo and function operations are on the top section. Living quarters are below. The engines take up the entire back half of the lower section. I apologize that it’s not a smoother transition between floors. I need to fix that but haven’t gotten around to it yet. That repair wasn’t a priority.”
The elevator stopped moving and the doors opened. Big kept ahold of her as he brought her into another narrow hallway. They passed two closed doors. He stopped at the third one and opened it by pressing his hand on a panel. It lit up and seemed to scan his palm. The door slid open.
Gemma released him and stepped inside to see what she assumed was a bedroom. The king-size mattress was a good clue. But it was the wall to the right that mesmerized her as she approached. It appeared to be the biggest television she’d ever seen. It ran floor to ceiling, taking up the entire flat surface.
The image currently displayed showed a beach. It looked extremely realistic. She could almost see every grain of sand, and the crashing waves were spectacular. It was a view of a cove, with big rock walls on both sides of the small beach, the sun shining brightly in a clear blue sky.
“This is what I’m talking about.”
“I hoped you’d enjoy that view. I programmed the screen from the cockpit once you mentioned the Pacific Ocean. These entertainment walls are included with most shuttles. It helps combat claustrophobia for the crew, who spend months in space. I usually view other planets, but you mentioned a preference for sunny beaches. This is from Earth.”
She reached out and touched the wall. It was felt like glass but it looked real enough to step into. It was a shame there wasn’t sound.
“Gemma?”
She turned and stared at him.
“There are some things I must tell you, and I need you to trust me. Please understand that you’re safe. I won’t hurt you. This is going to be difficult to hear, but I’m going to help you every step of the way. Change can be a good experience. I’m trying to imagine how you will feel…and your reactions once the denial wears off. But there’s nothing to fear. You’re not alone, and we are the same.” He sucked in a deep breath.
“Okay.”
He studied her. “Cloning technology advanced beyond what you could imagine. You are a clone, with the memories and feelings of the woman you still believe yourself to be. Look at your hands. That should be proof enough.”
She lifted one hand to study it. “I see. I’m young again. No wrinkles or age spots. Who doesn’t dream that?”
“I’m a clone. So are you. We were each created for different purposes. I’m still a living person, with emotions and feelings. I’m as real as anyone born to a mother and a father. I debated on allowing you to come to terms with your new reality on your own, but I want to be with you when it happens. I’m afraid you’ll hurt yourself if I’m not at your side.”
She frowned. “This conversation is getting too heavy. I’m not happy about dying, but I’m a realist. Everyone goes at some point. We can’t live forever. I just wish I had more time. Then again, I’ve lost some people before they’d even reached my age. I just wanted to survive long enough to