The hazy clone, a short story of sci-fi

Only a rare soul ever got a chance to visit the sanctuary. It was for the scarce that were chosen the rare she deemed worthy. Or did she? Maybe those were the ones that needed a second chance, maybe the lost ones the ones who needed guidance. Well, nobody but her really knew and, maybe, even she got confused sometimes.

There used to be a time when she saw the world like everyone else, but the dreams and the visions changed it, her thoughts got flooded with memories of lives before, worlds before. The divine in her heart and her soul, the whole of her being was affected. If anybody was confused in their beliefs in the force beyond, before, they were even more torn now. Was it technology or magic that she had created?

Some found out, but only more questions arose, the answers only created more confusion. We were not ready. The governments tried to find out, but the defense mechanisms of the building never let them or any weapons in. Money didn't buy them a visit or service, some who came saw, but none conquered by force. The ones who got invited in were the ones who stayed and they were not willing to share the secret for one reason or another. It was a mystery right in front of them. Something you could see, feel and touch, but not explain.

---

That day was like any other in her world, she was walking through the sanctuary that was dominated by crisp white on every surface, the walls, the floors, the windows, and ceilings. The tunnel-like building seemed to go on forever, it reminded of those airports where the terminals wrap into each other and seem to never end. It was peaceful, but not quiet.

She, herself, was dressed in a white, lab coat resembling jacket, and looking over a clip pad with a list of names. She passed only a couple of other people, of whom some were patients and other were her employees, all chosen by her. She walked past many doors that seemed like mirages floating and disappearing once in a while. This world resembled a hazy dream for a newcomer, and the white should have been painful to look at, but it was more calming than anything else.

She walked with a purpose, a meeting was scheduled, her glasses rested on her nose and a line formed on her forehead. She might have been a higher being now, but she was still human to some extent, she had her memories and her childhood dreams, her insecurities, and that was the reason the line on her face rested so firmly. There were two visitors in the waiting room, two young men she had gone to school with years ago. She had mixed feelings about them because she didn't have the best memories of one, but the other she was fond of. The men were best friends, their characters seemed so different to her, though. But she understood.

They had applied for a place in sanctuary a while ago, both seemed like good candidates chart wise and she had decided to schedule a meeting. She wasn't expecting them to still be friends as years had passed, but she was not surprised that they were, either.

The young woman entered a part of the sanctuary that had more wooden details than the crisp white, it was the living part of the structure so the tones were hushed, still, they were light and soft. There were sofas in front of her and they were occupied by the men she had come to see.

-- Hello, Mr. Jenkins and Perish, how can I help you today? A tour, maybe, in the living space, not to push the limits of your minds?- One of the men was blond and the other dark-haired, total opposites in style as well, day and night in her eyes. The dark-haired gentleman in the name of George Perish spoke first, he had always been the leader of both and it hadn't changed. He also was the man she had had a better relationship years before.

-- Yes, Lara, I would love to see around and finally find out how this place actually works, what do you do? And how have you been?- he put an emphasis on her name, signaling that that was how he wanted to converse. He also made it less formal in the room, the aura around Lara changed, if she had been nervous before, this made her relaxed, at least a little bit.

She straightened her shoulders and smiled, one of her warm smiles. A chitchat took place and she remembered why she had no liked blondy, he seemed to always be in a hurry, always running and not being able to appreciate life around him. Maybe, if she accepted him into her program he would stop? No, she did not think that he would, it was just his nature.

The three of them walked to a secluded area for new patients and an odd picture appeared in front of them, there were stairs against one of the walls that led to a long balcony, but there were no doors. Just walls. George jumped as he noticed that a door appeared on the wall and a person came out of it. Then the door disappeared as it had come. His friend had been skeptical coming here, and each moment he grew wearier, but George was the opposite, he was excited and something in him had woken up, something magical.

-- The doors are personalized, they appear when the inhabitant of the room comes close enough and they are visible from the inside, but not from here. It is the best way to guarantee privacy. Let me show you the room design, so you know what you will be staying in while with us.- noticing the reactions Lara explained why the doors seemed to move, then she waved her arms slightly and a door appeared on the balcony, that had looked bare before. One of the visitors stepped forward reluctantly, the other would have sprinted, but decided it was not appropriate for the occasion.

Lara followed them as they moved up the stairs and stopped to observe the room that was not much different from a regular bedroom. She explained that models with kitchens were available as well, but mostly everyone used the services of the restaurant ordering in or joining for meals. But that was not why the men had come and she knew it. They had to be eased into it, though, so she took it slow.

The weeks that followed Mr. Jenkins grew grumpier and more impatient and she had to let him go, he was too bitter about life at the moment, but who knew what the future would hold. Mr. Parish, on the other hand, followed the instructions and stories with interest and with time they developed the bond that had been there years ago. They not only had business meetings but a fun time as well.

---

In the end of the third week, George Parish decided to move into one of the quarters and in that evening there was a knock on his door that he had left half ajar.

-- Yes, come in.- he was leaning into his suitcase, thinking that an employee had come to talk him through the daily activity possibilities, but Lara's voice made him turn.

-- I think it is time, George. Please sit down and take this.- she passed him a book that was the only dark thing in the whole building, at least he thought so. It was big and heavy, and looked ancient, different. He took it and patted on the bed right next to him, so his visitor could sit down. He knew why she had come. It was time.

-- So, you have probably heard rumors, that need to be cleared up. I think you are ready? We, in the sanctuary work on human minds. We take all of your memories and put them in a new body. The basic term that everyone is talking about is cloning, but that is not the whole truth. Yes, we create a body identical to yours, at least on the outside. But it has no mind. It is not alive, it is sleeping somewhere on the other side of the building while we map out your soul and only then your brain. Scientists have trouble with this as it is not brain that makes you who you are, but this, here.- she pointed at his chest and continued.

-- It is not the heart either. Once more,t is hard to explain at the moment, but you will stay here until you learn, if you wish that, of course. Because the truth is, we only need you to be close to the body for one night and the link between you will be established. Then, when your time comes and you die, all of your being will come to the new host body and you will be able to continue on, with your memories intact and your emotions functioning properly. I recommend that you stay with us until you learn how it works, study the process and then you will be able to have rebirth every time, until you are ready to move on to your next journey. Oh, and the book will help, it has everything written down.

---

It was more a love story, again, in my dream, but I took that angle out. I am assuming the blond guy was put in my dream just as a nuisance, because all he did was complain :D

The story itself is about souls that need more time to acquire knowledge on this planet. The sanctuary is meant to be huge, but only helps a couple of hundred people. It was an interesting dream, because of the floaty doors and lack of other humans around.

Have a great day, week and life,
Linda