Six months had seen many things play out. Most importantly the atmosphere finally checked out clean. Corporal Harris, no worse for the wear, had been released. He never did contract any detectable effects of the exposure. In fact, he was the principal reason the air received the green light, since medical had a guinea pig for most of this time. The ships that were staying had been repaired and received extra shielding against the stronger magnetic fields of Searth. The ships that were leaving (Atlantis and the Wanderer) didn't get the additional shielding but were repaired and topped off with fuel for the return trip. The mining bases on both moons were self-sufficient and doing well obtaining raw materials for their needs. Levi groomed a group of military diplomats to have authority over the colonists and work with the Te'Hat.

The Te'Hat had been working out well. There were additional interactions with the Mat'Ma and Melon. It had been decided small groups led by an Elder could voluntarily approach a human for interaction. Only the Elders were telepathic and communicate with the humans. Sonny had decoded the Te'Hat language, but Sonny and Alice were the only ones that could speak it. The Te'Hat had a feeling of loyalty and duty which our people shared and could relate. Other customs and parts of their culture were a complete mystery. They were a close-knit culture for which clan was very descriptive. When you live underground, you are by necessity an interdependent group. Levi often thought about how it might be if everyone became enhanced. One wouldn't be telepathic in the strict sense, but the communication of one's thoughts to another without speech is close enough, even though it would be mechanically aided. He noted the Te'Hat had many hive-like properties. And although they still retained speech, it was not the principal mode of communication. He saw how they cooperated and helped one another. They were not a technological species, but the way they worked together on a goal was impressive. If humans had the equivalent communal oneness, no telling what could be accomplished.

In the last meeting with the Consortium, a timetable had been set for Atlantis to return to our home star. In less than a month, Atlantis and the Wanderer will leave this system, while the colonists continue to study the planet and the Te'Hat. The scientists had studied the Te'Hat biology enough they felt confident their kind would be alright on our air in the domes. However, they continued to ride around in the containers. Our timetable had been conveyed to the Te'Hat through the representatives of the Sce'Rood clan. They understood about going back to save clan members, and they wished us well.

Since the countdown commenced, everyone went into high gear to prepare for launch. Admiral Johnson and the Consortium would stay behind to help manage and provide support for the colonists. But mostly, to ensure no funny business occurred while the captain was away. Captain Metcalfe's mission was a simple rescue operation to tie up any loose ends. They couldn't in good conscience leave their people for dead. Fortunately, Searth turned out to be suitable so they could split their missions this way.

Levi and the other captains were having a meeting in Captain Metcalfe's apartment aboard the Atlantis. This was the third session in as many weeks to ensure that objectives were shared and supported. Levi also took the opportunity to bring up an old question.

"My friends," Levi began. "Seven months ago, I put a question to the three of you. You were unsure of an answer then, and I let it percolate for a time. I feel I must ask again while there is time before I leave."

"You're talking about this E-human business," Captain Gunter Schmidt from the Valiant said flatly.

"Yes, I am, Gunter," Levi replied. "I know I gave you several reasons you should become enhanced, but I will give you one more. The Te'Hat. They are telepathic, and by becoming enhanced, you will have a better understanding of their culture."

"The situation has not changed for my people," Gunter responded.

Bill Collier from the Wanderer had a funny look on his face. "I have thought about it. And although it scares the bejesus out of me, I'm in."

Levi regarded the other three captains, "All I know is this procedure has an adjustment curve. I'm sure it is dependent on the person. Sonny assures me the procedure will work for nearly everyone.

"Nearly!" Bill's face changed again.

"You would have to be qualified by Sonny first of course," Levi tried to restore calm.

Captain Williams had reservations. "If I do this, will we be able to stay in touch? I mean, I am up for the task. As you know, I was next in line for this procedure if you failed."

"To answer your question, David," Levi said, "no, we will be out of touch as any speed of light signal would be. Let me ask you a question. You've known me the longest here. Have I changed since then?"

Captain Williams regarded the question, "Yes you have. You have matured a bit. I suspect it is because of the chair you sit in and not because you are an E-human."

"But not fundamentally?"

"No."

"Being an E-human does not erase who you are," Levi continued, "it enhances your functions. It would be like being suspicious about the crazy idea of simple machines, and the magical way they increased your strength to lift objects and help move heavy things. I am unsure where this step will lead us, but I believe it is a necessary step we need to take. Now that I think about it, it may be like the days of inventing the simple machines. How it fundamentally changed everything we did from that time forward. We may be a witness to a similar period in time! I thought you could benefit from my experiences before I go."

Captain Schmidt asked, "Would Captain Williams be able to communicate with me?"

"Yes, Gunter, it would be like the implant except it will be crazy faster. Very useful in an emergency. Getting information from your shipboard A.I. will be nearly instantaneous. Sonny will teach you security protocols, and I can help you with other acclamation advice."

"Well," said Gunter, "our resistance to this is ideological and not religious in nature. If you think it will make a difference, I suppose it could come in handy."

Levi regarded the others. "I believe that in our business, any advantage could make the difference between life and death. What about the rest of you fellas?"

The other two solemnly nodded their heads. "Good," Levi said. "Arrange this with Sonny as soon as possible, so at least Sonny and I can help you over the worst of it before we leave and before you change your minds."

They all took a long pull from their drink of choice and again nodded their heads. The hangdog captains appeared as though someone pronounced them with a terminal disease. Shortly afterward, they excused themselves and left Captain Metcalfe's apartment. Alone once more, he wished they would have come to this decision naturally and not had their arms twisted, but it was for the greater good.

True to their word, the next morning all three of them had the procedure done. Levi decided not to contact them until the next day, to give them a chance to settle and take instruction from Sonny. A day is much longer when you're enhanced. Sonny had practiced on Levi. The three transitions should be somewhat smoother. He wasn't aware of any catastrophe. It was a good sign. That reminded him, "Sonny, what is the status of our new inductees?"

Sonny replied, "The three procedures were executed flawlessly. The bots are in good health and are performing their function as designed."

"That's fine," Levi said impatiently, "how are the patients responding?"

"Compared to yourself, the results vary. Captain Collier is having more trouble with the virtual experience. Captain Williams is fairing the best but is having procedural problems with security and housekeeping. Captain Schmidt is having the most problems. He is finding it harder integrating the flow of information and memory improvement. They are all asking for you."

"I expected this. I wanted to get a sense of their problems before I visited. By the way, I never had a neighbor before. Calling out to you is a constant connection. How do I reach out to another enhanced person?"

"Well," said Sonny, "It goes a little like this..."

Captain Williams had been delivered back to his apartment. He was both tired and excited. He could feel the bots coursing through him. The instructions from Sonny still blowed his mind. David struggled to assimilate it. The funny thing was it was more information than he had ever received in one sitting, he could clearly remember all of it. Like a recording that he could play back anytime. A knock at the door in his mind distracted him from his thoughts. It didn't sound like Sonny. "Who is it?"

"It's your grandma silly!"

"My grandma!" He walked up to the door. "Who is this really? Is it you Levi?"

"How would you know! I was your grandma a second ago."

Data strings flashed across his mind which told him unequivocally Levi waited on the other side.

"Come in, friend Levi!" David said enthusiastically.

"Sonny wasn't kidding about your security! What is your failure rate?"

"About thirty-four point two percent of the time Sonny tricks me."

"A third eh? Don't get too discouraged. Sonny will keep testing you. There is only the four of us. I feel sorrier for enhanced people down the road when millions of minds will be zipping around out there. At this point in time, your risk of being taken advantage of, is minuscule. If someone had nefarious motives, they could invade your mind. I can't even imagine what that's like."

"Yes, I know. Sonny explained it to me." He looked a little defeated. "It is not like I forget because I can't. But, it is more about getting comfortable with my new surroundings. I am just not used to this!"

"I know. I was disoriented like this for a couple of days. Remember, time is different for you now. A couple of days is like years for our mortal brothers."

"And that's another thing. You never said we would be immortal! I'm still wrapping my head around that!"

"You need time for things to settle. It is like learning how to ride a horse. You fall off a couple of times, but you get up and get back on. Afterward, when you're riding like a pro, you can't imagine traveling any other way. You'll get it. I will be glad for the company."

Knock. Knock.

David looked at Levi. "Don't look at me, David. I'm just a visitor!"

Captain Williams went to the door again. "Who is it?"

"It's Grandpa Joe, David!"

"That's not funny Sonny." He opened the door only to find it wasn't Sonny, but Alice. She walked right up to David and slapped him across the face. He stood there stunned on multiple levels. Levi was rather shocked himself. "What? Why did you do that?"

"I hope the shock will sink into you what will happen to you if you do not take precautions. If I invaded your mind, a slap would be nothing compared to what someone could do while ransacking it! Hello, Levi."

Captain Williams had not been dressed down like this since his cadet days. Feeling discouraged, David threw his arms out in frustration. "One of my problems is that this is so real! I am comfortable in my apartment on Earth, so my guard is down when there is a knock on my door. Am I supposed to be paranoid about opening my own door back on Earth?"

Alice smiled back at David, "The short answer is no. However, look at it this way. It is like living inside the nicest vault you ever saw. A vault protects what is inside it. All vaults have a passcode to enter. You wouldn't leave the door to your vault standing wide open, would you? Even if you trust everybody, you wouldn't want anyone to just peep in either. You are the security system! Sonny and I will teach you how to set up cryptographically safe systems and how to keep a watch on your perimeter. We have already taught you the basics, and we will test you from time to time to teach you other lessons like this one."

Levi nodded, "In the beginning, they continuously checked my perimeter in a game of hide and seek. They would skulk around my perimeter, and I would try to detect them. In this way, they strengthened my security measures. An intruder will first check out your perimeter for weaknesses like burglars breaking into a house. They may also try to trick their way in. As time goes on, you will get stronger and smarter."

"I hope so," David said.

Alice smiled. "You will. Levi failed four thousand, eight hundred, and thirty-six times in the first two months."

"That many eh?" David smiling a wicked grin.

Levi blinked. "I've never heard that statistic,"

"Well, now you have," Alice said flatly.

David clapped Levi on the back. "Now that makes me feel a lot better."

Levi chuckled. "Well, I better get to the rest of my rounds. I will check in with you now and then before we leave. And when you learn to call on someone else, give me a ring!"

"Sounds good." David shook Levi's hand. "See you around."

Levi let himself out and immediately searched out the mind of Captain Collier. He knocked on his door.

A voice he didn't recognize said: "Authenticate!"

Levi double checked the address Bill should be at. He then produced his credentials for the other person to scrutinize. Momentarily, the door clicked and let him in.

"Levi, come in, come in," the friendly voice of Bill Collier welcomed him.

Levi motioned at the door upon entering. "What was all that about?"

"It is a protocol I worked out. I'm thinking of using an avatar of a muscle man at the front door to authenticate visitors."

"Hmm, I never thought of that," Levi said. "So, how are you doing Bill?"

"Not too bad. I got through the procedure and have been resting in my room since yesterday. I am going nuts with the boredom!"

Levi sympathized, "Yes, I know. Sonny told that I better stay busy or you might just go mad. It was one of the better pieces of advice he gave me. Being captain helps to stay busy. Here, let me give you an example." He pulled a recent memory when he was on the bridge. Levi posted the video of the playback in front of themselves. You could examine the status of every control board as if you were there.

"Wow," Bill said. "Atlantis is a busy place!"

"Yes. You can multi-task to a significant degree. Before when we were one hundred percent human, multitasking was an illusion. Actually, more like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Instead of one hundred percent attention to three tasks, you are giving about seventy-five percent attention to all three. Usually, this is adequate. However, in reality, it is not. We miss the little things, and sometimes a big thing. Our processes can jump so quickly we can spend about 99.99999 percent on a thousand things at once. The machines are even better."

"I could put something like that to work."

"Work is a splendid thing. Start practicing. Stretch yourself. Be imaginative."

"One thing I have trouble with is how real everything in my head is. My apartment, when Sonny or Alice comes calling, and other things."

"Our senses detect sounds, light, heat, touch, taste, and many other subtle inputs. Our brain makes the world real to us based on that data. Change the data, and you change your world. In this case, though, our senses have become amplified and enhanced. For instance, the temperature in my room is seventy-two point eight degrees Fahrenheit. I did not get this from Sonny's sensors. I determined it from my skin. I can see about a twenty percent broader spectrum of light than other humans. The world is in your head. We have unprecedented access to our memories and thoughts. The more practice in this area, the better your world will be! Let me show you. Give me access to your construct."

"Okay," Bill said.

The apartment swept away and replaced by some table and chairs at the top of the Eiffel Tower. "The cool thing is you don't even have to use your memories. You can use stock information tucked away in Sonny. Or you could do this..." The Eiffel Tower vanished, and the two of them stood on the outside of the ship orbiting Searth.

"Oh my God!," Bill's, eyes were like saucers as he backed away from the scene.

"I sympathize. However, not to worry; you are still in your construct." Levi said with some amusement. "Sonny pulled this one on me shortly after pulling into the system, so I know what you're thinking."

Bill whispered eyes still wide. "It's SOOO real. It's so real."

Levi grinned. "That's right. You can watch any feed on the ship and place yourself in it. You can be anywhere on the ship as if you were there. I can tell you, my friend, that is very handy! So, you are limited by your own imagination. Be as connected to the ship as you want. It is a little overwhelming I know."

"A little?"

"I know it is hard to believe, but you will get used to it. I promise." He returned the construct back to Bill's apartment which was a bit drab. "You know, this," Levi waved his arms about, "does not have to be exactly like your apartment back home. Well, I have one more patient to see on my rounds today. You actually look like you are doing fine."

"Thanks for stopping by Levi."

"No trouble Bill. Remember what I said."

"How can I forget? Literally, how can I forget?"

"I will check on you later. Goodbye for now." Levi let himself out and whisked himself to Gunter's place.

He walked up to the unassuming door and knocked.

"Who is it?" The voice asked.

Levi shook his head. "Who do you think it is?"

"Sonny?"

"What did Sonny tell you about the security of your door?"

"Ask for authentication."

"Here are my credentials," Levi offered. He gave his credentials to the door.

"Levi?"

"Yes, Gunter. It is Captain Metcalfe. Can you let me in?"

"Sure, sure. One moment." The door opened, and Levi stepped through into a rather sparse construct.

Levi looked a little worried. "Gunter, what are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry Levi, I think I have made a terrible mistake!"

"No, you didn't Gunter. It's why I am here. You are a little overwhelmed. One of the things that helped me in those early times was to stay busy. Go about your normal routine. You will notice you can do your job better, faster, and with more clarity. Lean on Captain Williams after I am gone. He will be able to help you out by then. Until then, I can stop by, and talk about issues. Sonny and Alice will be your greatest assets. Trust them. They will help you get to know your shipboard A.I. better. My understanding is Alice intends to leave a module of herself with you and David. It should be an invaluable interface."

"I don't feel like I know what I am supposed to be doing." There was a knock on the door.

"Remember, take one step at a time," Levi reminded him, "You are doing better than you think, Gunter."

Gunter walked up to the door and said: "Provide your credentials, please." Encrypted ciphers flew by, and Gunter looked at Levi and said, "Sonny, right?"

"Yes, it is," he smiled. "Are you going to let him in?"

"Yes, of course. Come in Sonny."

"Thank you, Gunter. How have you been doing? Are you ready for another lesson?"