Zardoc: Castaway Island Book 2

By Paco Jones

Zardoc's goal is to get humans accepted into the greater multiverse, which will require a major adjustment of the human psyche. With Jayna and Makenna's help, the goal has been in the distance, but in sight and moving closer all the time.
With an impending environmental disaster brought on by massive denial and big money interests, the original plan needs serious adjustment. Instead of helping humanity to be accepted, now they have to save it from itself.
Follow the Castaway Island group as they come back to the Earth once again, to cruise around for a short vacation before Zardoc and Jayna have to work on their plan, which will allow the Earth to recover from the abuse of human occupation.
They find new friends, have new interesting experiences, and go an all-new direction.
Will Zardoc and Jayna come up with a workable plan that covers all the bases? What is it like being considered ghosts? How are all of the necessary changes going to be made? Will the Earth survive? Will the human species survive?
Interesting questions, all dealt with in the Castaway Island series.
Sure, it's Science Fiction, but nothing points to future Science Fact like good Science Fiction.
It's just the way it is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paco Jones
• Release date: Jul 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310275036

Paco Jones

Dr. Paco Jones is an aging Hippie. One of his favorite sayings is: "I will always be a Hippie. It's not a changeable condition." Born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Francisco Bay area he is a true product of the 60's and is a firm subscriber to the cliché "If you can remember the 60's you weren't there." He served in the United States Navy doing a tour in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970.

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Zardoc

by Paco Jones

text copyright 2016 2021 Dr. Paco Jones

all rights reserved

cover copyright 2016 Dr. Paco Jones

all rights reserved

cover images license from depositphotos.com

photo by - bertoszig

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events, and places are products of the author’s imagination and are fictional, Though some places may be identified because they are present on the Earth and the story has to take place somewhere, any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, incidents, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Books by Paco Jones

These Girls Can Play (adult content)

Mile High and Beyond (adult content)

Teaching Deanna - Deanna book 1 (adult content)

Tara's Nightmare & Beyond - Deanna book 2 (adult content)

Craft Faire Love - book 1 (adult content)

The Tahoe Files - Craft Faire Love book 2 (adult content)

Jason & Alicia - The secret revealed. (adult content)

Things to Come (adult content)

Irons in the Fire (adult content)

Castaway Island

Le Petite Castaway Island (short ver. CI)

Zardoc

The Pods

Return to Castaway Island

The Ghosts

It's All Over But The Shouting!

Vietnam: A Distant Memory

To science fiction because it gives science fact a base for reality.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's science fact.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment

Preface

Prologue

Chapter 1 - A New Beginning

Chapter 2 - The Life and Times

Chapter 3 - Peru, more Bolivia, and Fishin'

Chapter 4 - Tiwanaku

Chapter 5 - Cruisin' Around

Chapter 6 - Troubles for Castaway Island

Chapter 7 - More Trouble Brewing

Chapter 8 - Are You Kidding?

Chapter 9 - A Cartel from Mexico

Chapter 10 - Onward and Upward

Chapter 11 - Phase Transition

Chapter 12 - Youthful Discoveries

Chapter 13 - Trouble In River City

Chapter 14 - Teasers, and Well...You know

Chapter 15 - Rediscovery of Native Peoples

Chapter 16 - Discovering Zandhar, Zardoc's People

Chapter 17 - New Things

Chapter 18 - Under the Ice

Chapter 19 - The Plan

Chapter 20 - The Council

Epilogue

Glossary

Bibliography and Notes

About the Author

Books by Paco Jones

Acknowledgment

Any author will tell you that an effort such as this is not a solitary endeavor. If it's going to be anywhere near readable, it takes a team. I am extremely thankful for my team. I can write it, but without them you probably wouldn't really want to read it.

I am humbly indebted to my friend Turbo. Without his kind advice, some of the maritime parts of this effort would not be as accurate.

I am also humbly indebted to the proofreading skills of my friend, my newest team member, PawWriter, also proofed this effort. He added much readability to the original manuscript.

Both contributed excellent suggestions and ideas, making this a more interesting read. Both made suggestions and provided great ideas that made things much better for you, the reader.

Any errors in punctuation, grammar or spelling are truly mine and mine alone!

Also, a quiet thank you to Orblover and Strickland83 for their kind words of encouragement.

When I ask for it, encouragement has always come from my friend Robert Lubrican.

These gentlemen's kind words of advice have kept me on the straight and narrow. Okay, as straight and narrow as I get...

There are others out there in ether land that I owe a debt of thanks to as well. I'm afraid to start a list for fear I'll forget someone, but you know whom you are!

I also have to send a heartfelt thank you to you, the reader. Without you, none of this would be worth the effort.

Thank you!

-----

I have included the same Glossary and Bibliography that you will find in Castaway Island because it is all the same and some may question some of the data.

For maritime terminology there is a glossary at the end. I tried to make sure that all of the terms used in the story are there.

You'll also note that at the end of this book is a Bibliography. I did not put in individual citations because, I'm sorry, I find them to be totally distracting. This is not a textbook, it's a work of fiction; if you want the citations, the Bibliography is in sections.

I have to thank all of the writers at the Wikipedia pages cited. Without them, the historical and physics research done for this effort would have been excruciatingly painful. They made finding and validating the information much less tedious.

Thank you!

pj 2018

Preface

There was no way I could leave the Castaway Island story where it ended. There is so much more to tell. I knew it then, but when I had finished that book, I was quite burned out from nearly three years of continuous writing without a break.

As some may know, I suffer from ADD, so for me to work on two or three different projects at the same time is ... well, normal.

An example would be Craft Faire Love because I got about half way through that work and flashed on These Girls Can Play. I wrote the whole Girls story before I went back to Craft Faire and before I could finish, I began work on It's All Over But The Shouting!, the sequel to Girls. I knew Craft Faire Love wasn't finished, so I started on The Tahoe Files, which is the sequel to Craft Faire ... In between and before all of that was Deanna. That will give you some idea of how the ADD brain works ... or doesn't work as the case may be.

It can be frustrating at times, but it is what it is so I cope as best I can and try to keep cranking out my stories. Besides, I've had it all of my life, so I'm used to it.

As you may know, Castaway Island is a behemoth of almost 950 pages. I'm giving serious consideration to breaking it in half, but I'm undecided now that I have this book, Zardoc, and Book 3, The Pods in the works.

Book 3 started out as book 2, but got moved by other adventures the crew of Castaway Island experienced between the ending of Castaway Island and arriving at The Pods. This is the story of how the plan to save human civilization evolved. In the end, this story leads directly into Book 3, The Pods.

There is a lot more physics and history to work out. As Jayna has found, each time a physics question is answered there are at least ten more that crop up so it's a never ending progression, but that's what keeps it interesting. Much of what is talked about here are conjecture and alternative theories that are the results of constantly asking the question, Why not?

As much as the science people seem to pooh-pooh any alternative opinions, they certainly have yet to come up with logical answers to what I would consider very legitimate questions.

Did ancient advanced peoples, the sky people or the star gods, build some of the ancient ruins that defy the explanations we are asked to believe? I really don't know, but I can sure tell you who didn't.

-----

So go the arguments.

It is interesting to wonder about human history as written because the story we're all told doesn't fit the physical evidence. If you give a detailed look to what has been physically discovered, and I'm sure not everything has been found yet, history as it is written just doesn't fit.

It tends to fit with the standard mythology, but in the end, that is what is so worrisome. Much of our written history is based on the interpretation of many mythologies. Mythologies so pervasive that the physical evidence doesn't dissuade obvious false explanations. It only serves to reinforce the lack of courage in some sciences.

As Jayna is constantly reminded, Look beyond the solution for the true answer to the question. There is always more than the immediate result.

Things are not necessarily as they may seem.

It's also interesting to ponder human origins given the multitude of stories we're told, NONE of which is plausible in the real world. We're told that if we have faith, those things that are blatantly false, become the truth. Turn a blind eye to obvious truth and trust in a fairy story.

One needs only study Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the double helix DNA molecule in the human genome. The human DNA molecule is so complex, it drove Crick to say, You would be more likely to assemble a fully functional and flying jumbo jet by passing a hurricane through a junk yard than you would be to assemble the DNA molecule by chance in any kind of primeval soup in five or six hundred million years. It's just not possible.

Five or Six hundred million years, but it's only been sixty-five million years since the dinosaurs became extinct, so there hasn't been enough time to evolve naturally. When looked at objectively, you also have to understand that the theological view of origin is no more than an elaborate, poorly conceived, fairy tale.

So where does that leave the human genome? Artificial genetic modifications made to create the species we know today as Homo sapiens are really the only logical explanation.

-----

Let's follow the Castaway Island group as they come back to the Earth once again, to cruise around for a short vacation before Zardoc and Jayna have to seriously work on their new plan, which will allow the Earth to recover from human abuse.

They find new friends, have new interesting experiences, and go an all-new direction. Zardoc's project calls for the human psyche to be adjusted so they can be accepted into the multiverse. There's been a slight bend in the road, though the original goal is never far from sight.

Jay and Sam move millions to various locations, in diverse universes, to eliminate many who are actually causing the problems, but logistically there are too many to take care of piecemeal. Add to that the impending environmental disaster brought on by massive denial along with big money interests and the plan now needs serious adjustment with some unplanned moral issues to deal with.

Will Zardoc and Jayna come up with a workable plan that covers all the bases? What happens during their trip on Castaway Island down the coast of Mexico, Central America, to the Panama Canal Zone? What's it like being considered ghosts? How are all of the necessary changes going to be made? Will the Earth ultimately survive? Will the human species survive?

Interesting questions, all dealt with in the Castaway Island series.

Sure, it's Science Fiction, but nothing points to future Science Fact like good Science Fiction.

It's just the way it is.

pj 2018/2021

Prologue

The new physics along with the accurate account of history and human origins were being very widely accepted in the years following the disappearance of the yacht named Castaway Island. When she was seen again, it was usually anchored in the bahía off Cabo San Lucas, or sailing the Pacific along the coast of Mexico or Central America.

In those early days the legend of the ghosts started. Castaway Island had been designated a ghost boat because she appeared out of thin air, then would disappear into thin air and nobody knew when it would happen again or where.

Though the acceptance of the history and origins was becoming widespread, there were still a significant number of holdouts, which is one of the reasons they needed to keep coming back. On some of their returns, there was hell to pay for some because they couldn't help but try to exploit the information that had been provided for the good of everyone. It was too tempting for the greed in human nature to ignore, but the edict had been handed down many decades before.

Dr. Jayna Lockwood dealt harshly with those who violated the pronouncements of no personal gain. She hated leaving the island to take care of these things, but Samantha or Zardoc always came with her. In either of Zardoc's forms, she and Jayna have become like the Bobbsey Twins at the seashore ... virtually inseparable.

Most times, they didn't arrive on the boat anymore. They didn't need to because it got to where they only needed to show their faces for transgressors to realize they were in deep trouble and quickly modify their ambitions. Failing that, they were promptly relegated to the dimension of the misfits and were never seen or heard from again. The trip to the misfits' party had no return ticket.

Jay and Zardoc tried to deal with the offenders on an individual basis, but they usually didn't eliminate all of the transgressors and they had come to the conclusion that there were just too many left to justify the time it took to deal with them. There had to be a better way to get things sorted.

Thousands of greedheads were still all around exploiting the diminishing natural resources of the Earth to the detriment of everyone else and to make a long story short, along with everything else they were dealing with, the Earth was slowly dying. In its death throes, it would cause the mass extinction of life on the planet. Well, it would be a lot of it because as was usual, there would be many survivors, but humans would not be among them.

The big problem for Jayna and Zardoc was there were hundreds of thousands of hyper-advanced hybrids who were toeing the line, so it really wasn't appropriate to have the new Council do as the old Council had recommended and sterilize the planet so it could heal itself.

Killing everyone just wasn't in Jayna's moral fiber. Early on, she had asked the Council to set up the misfit dimension so they had an out of the way place to send the worst offenders. They'd live out their lives and eventually die there, but it wasn't like a mass killing because if they learned to get along with one another, cooperate in their efforts at survival, they could conceivably live long lives. Everyone knew the realistic chances of that working out was slim and none.

In addition, billions of just regular folks were not causing issues that would bring them to Jayna or Sam's attention. These people were suffering at the hands of the greedy and deniers who bought off those officials who could actually make a difference, while they continually exploited anything and everything to keep their bank balance growing. These regular every day people were only trying to survive and as resources diminished, it became exponentially more difficult.

The time had come for Jay and Zardoc to work on some ideas to take care of things in a way that was acceptable to both. The planet needed to heal and the only way to make it happen was to remove as many life forms as possible, including all of the humans. If they didn't come up with a plan, Mother Nature would take care of the problem, but because there was something they could do about the problem, extinction was not a tenable solution in either Jayna or Zardoc's mind.

Remember, Zardoc took on the human project many thousands of years prior and was very happy with the successes they had fostered, but she understood there were still large groups, which needed to be dealt with before the population of Earth could be considered compatible with the rest of the multiverse. Now there was the added problem of the environmental devastation meted out by a small minority, to the detriment of everyone else. The problem would be taken care of one way or another, but in the short term, it meant moving many humans elsewhere for a time. Many more would be moved elsewhere permanently.

It was time for a visit to Tar-el and the Council.

-----

Tar-el was very much like Zardoc in appearance. Many of the residents of the multiverse looked much the same. It was the natural evolution of intelligent bi-pedal species and at some point in the future, even the extreme hyper-advanced hybrids of Earth would become very similar in appearance. They would need a larger brain cavity so their heads would grow and because they were doing less actual physical labor their bodies would shrink a bit. On the Earth today, they would be described as gray's... the short, extraterrestrial biological entities, with oversized heads and large black eyes. Most were not scrawny as they've been described, but were much more substantial with appropriate muscle mass for their size. Both Tar-el and Zardoc were a shade shorter than four feet tall and had ten fingers and ten toes. Some Council members were shorter, some taller, all with a varying number of appendages and digits, but appropriate for their particular home environment. All intelligent life in the multiverse is bi-pedal.

Though she very much enjoyed the Samantha form, Jayna truly enjoyed Zardoc's natural appearance. She knew Keet and Samantha were just forms she took, but in her natural state Jayna considered her to be beautiful. Most of the time they spent on the island however, Zardoc maintained her Samantha persona.

When they arrived at the Council chambers, they were greeted warmly as usual.

Zardoc, young Jayna, it is good to see you both, Tar-el greeted them in the Council's main chambers.

The feeling is mutual, Tar-el, Jay responded, displaying her million dollar smile. I just wish we were here for a happier reason.

Yes, I understand you are here to ask for the Council's assistance in your project.

Nodding slightly, Zardoc said, Yes, Tar-el, I am afraid there are far too many humans who need to be adjusted for young Jayna and me to deal with as we have been trying to do. We were trying to avoid burdening the Council with our issues, however, I think we have a workable solution for our problem, but need the Council's assistance in making it happen.

"You know it is no burden, Zardoc. It is part of why the Council exists. We are happy to help in any way we can.

I realize young Jayna wishes to remain independent, Tar-el noted, looking at Jay, but as I have said, it is one of the things we do. It does not reflect negatively on her independence.

Thank you, Tar-el, whispered Jayna. I just feel Zardoc and I should be able to handle things, but I have to admit, it is beyond our ability to take care of it in a reasonable amount of time and now that there is no doubt the Earth's environment is slowly failing, time is of the essence. Many items need to be worked out because the Earth will heal, but I would like to have the extreme hyper-advanced hybrids return to repopulate at some point. Once things have been set up, we would like the Council to take care of a part for us.

It is not a problem, young Jayna, smiled Tar-el.

Even after more than two hundred and fifty years, Jay appreciated their referring to her as young Jayna. After all, she was only twenty among peers who are millions, if not many billions of years old.

You have spent many years and exhibited much patience in dealing with your species, though consistently relentless with transgressors. I have to commend your tolerance, but in time there does come a point of diminished returns.

Jay nodded, admitting, Unfortunately, I think the time has come, Tar-el.

You just tell the Council what you need and how you would like us to meet your need. It will be done and if you do not have a solution, we will assist you in developing one. We know you and Zardoc have been very creative in your methods, but things can get largely overwhelming and out of hand. It is no reflection on your abilities or imagination. The Council observes your methods with great interest.

I think we have a plan, Tar-el, but it will take much effort and assistance on the part of the Council to make it happen, Jay told him. I realize it will take some time to make it workable, which is acceptable because it will take us time to set up the groups we wish to move to our planned pods and various other locations.

Again, young Jayna, you inform the Council of your needs and it will be done. I do not believe we have ever found something we could not collectively accomplish. The Council has many resources and we will use any necessary. If you have not done so already, sit with Zardoc and validate what you need, then submit the plan. We may want some clarifications or we may have some suggestions on how to make improvements, but we will do whatever we need to do in order to support your effort.

We have spent many months, Tar-el, noted Zardoc, and I think we have a good handle on what will be necessary. I think we will need some Council members to assist us in our final design. I believe our plan is becoming mature, but requires further analysis. We will review further and report our findings. Time is of the essence, but we do have the time to ensure we do it correctly.

Jayna nodded acknowledging what Zardoc had said. They had already spent many years working out the plan with their requirements, but it was greatly beyond their ability to provide the hardware needed to execute. It was nice to realize they had the resources and assistance of the entire multiverse in making things happen.

Many other members found they needed the Council's assistance and it was always forthcoming. Jayna and Zardoc would sit on the panels to work with the requirements and if either could provide anything to help, it would be scheduled. Jay was proud to offer many things because the Earth was so rich with resources, both natural and manufactured, though presently those natural resources were beginning to run a bit short. They may not be at the gravity neutralizer level yet, but their technology was quite advanced in comparison to some other members.

Jay looked at Zardoc, saying, Let's go back and study things a bit more, Z. I think we have a solid plan, but let's make sure it's ready before we formally present it.

That is a wise idea, young Jayna. I too believe our plan is well thought out, but you are right, we should review it once more because there are some areas we might find to have questionable metrics. We must also remember it needs to encompass everything, not just specific details. As I said, we have some time.

Thanks, Tar-el, smiled Jay, we'll be back in a few with the plan drawn up so it is more easily reviewed by the Council.

Little did she know at the time how long a few would turn out to be. Like in her physics studies, when one question or detail was covered, there were many more following behind.

With a smile, Tar-el noted, We will be anxiously waiting, Dr. Lockwood. Your methods are of great interest to the Council as they are usually what we would consider extremely unorthodox, but highly successful.

With a grin, Jay looked at Zardoc and both vanished from the Council chambers and appeared on the upper deck of Castaway Island.

Where'd you go? asked Makenna handing each a drink.

We went to visit the Council, Mak. We need their help.

Yeah, it sounded like things were a little ambitious for you and Sam to take care of it alone. It's good you have that resource.

Oh yeah, agreed Jayna, Tar-el was very cooperative and interested in the plan. After talking with them though, we figured it was a good idea to come back and look it over one more time. I mean, it's pretty involved.

Young Jayna and I will be spending at least the next few months going over the planned outcome and ensure we have covered all the bases, Samantha noted. It is as Tar-el told us. The Council is there to help.

Nodding her head, Jayna said, We'll look it over a bit later. For now it's time to sit back and enjoy some relaxation.

-----

Jayna and Zardoc's plan would involve moving a few hundred thousand extreme hyper-advanced hybrids onto a place away from the Earth, while the Council assisted Zardoc in mass moving everyone else to a new dimension on a large planet that had been prepared for them. One thing Zardoc would do with the Council's assistance is move infrastructure and people with their homes and possessions so it would appear that nearly nothing had changed, but those who were moved would eventually notice two suns and three moons. Domesticated animals and pets would be moved with those caring for them. Those left behind would be cared for, as it wasn't going to be a sterilization of the planet only a temporary evacuation.

The removal of those Homo sapiens who couldn't seem to grasp the new concepts of reality was also in the plan. Because a new development, the irreversible contamination of the atmosphere and environment, the plan would need to be modified some to take into account moving everything. There were many who for whatever reason, were not at a level where they would ever be capable of advancing significantly. Most were hybrids along with some extremely stubborn advanced hybrids, but that didn't mean they wouldn't be moved.

One might think it was setting up a life of expected conformity. Quite the contrary, many of these people couldn't get beyond their violence, avarice, and self-indulgence long enough to recognize their actions were killing the Earth and everything on it. It has nothing to do with any kind of conformity. All the Council wanted was peaceful coexistence.

Before the human species could be accepted into the fold of the multiverse, they must be functional as part of the multiverse. They don't rule it, they don't own it, nor do they have any extreme influence over it. Many of the Earth's power mongers couldn't wrap their brains around the concept of everyone is in this boat together, so needed moving aside so the rest could work their oars at a more rapid rate so the Earth could heal itself.

Mother Nature is extremely good at the process. She has done it before ... many times.

Chapter 1 - A New Beginning

Back at the beginning of the whole saga, Zardoc was only trying to adjust humans so they could be accepted into the multiverse. Basic behaviors needed to be altered while other aspects could be accomplished genetically.

DNA had continually been modified over the years creating many hyper-advanced hybrids. These mutations were genetically where Zardoc wanted to take them over a thousand years before, during the pre-Colombian and Mesoamerican eras, prior to the arrival of the Europeans.

The Spanish, leaving their developers and the continent behind, decided to sail off to see what they could find and in doing so, gummed up the works, bringing their advanced weapons, diseases, and perverted religious views with them.

Zardoc had not been permitted by the old Council to make the changes she had recommended, which eventually created the problems she has now been working on for a couple thousand years. She had taken on the project of modifying human behavior when the sitting Council had deemed the species hopeless and was once again going to sterilize the entire planet.

With much indignation, Zardoc argued before the Council that the problem they were trying to eradicate was of their own making. It was not the fault of the humans their genetic modifications were incomplete. She consistently pointed out that if she and her party had been permitted to make the changes in the past, they may not be facing the problems of today.

-----

I will do whatever it takes, over whatever time it takes, to properly finish what you all started, Zardoc stated bluntly.

Zardoc, we...

"Tan-ta sent me as an analyst and troubleshooter to evaluate the problems being experienced by the on-site work party. I spent many years going over the processes and progress with those who had been tasked with the job and found the DNA changes to be lacking. I felt then, as I do today, the problems were mostly caused by inattention and laziness. Those tasked with doing the job failed miserably, compounded by a Council that impaired progress at every step and did nothing to correct it.

I made very specific recommendations to this Council on what needed to be done to fix what was going wrong and you denied me the ability to act on those fixes.

Yes, Zardoc, we are well aware of the Council's failings in the matter, but the easiest solution, in the old Council's opinion, would be to eradicate and start over.

So now you want to eliminate an entire species because you did not do what was needed for their success? Where is there any morality in that? Are we not supposed to be above that kind of behavior ... all of us, she said waving her hand at all of the monitors and those present.

There were many lowered heads both on video and in the chamber as Zardoc continued, Where is the morality in fixing OUR problem by killing everyone, 'just because we can and we have done it before'? I am sorry, Tar-el, I just do not understand the logic of Tan-ta and the past Council.

There was a new, more responsive and pragmatic Council in place by this time. Tan-ta had been removed because of rigid backward thinking, to be replaced by Tar-el who was much more progressive. Some of that process may be talked about at a later time, but for the time being, Zardoc was still not a happy camper. She did not like talking this way to her good friend and mentor, Tar-el, but it appeared as if the new Council was planning to execute the order of the old Council and she was not going to allow it without a fight.

Looking at her directly, Tar-el spoke, "I think you have stated your case quite clearly, Zardoc. Your points are well taken. I believe I can speak for the entirety of this Council when I say that you are correct, but the old Council decided on sterilization. This Council has made no decisions or put forth any effort to execute any of their pronouncements. Everything the old Council decided over the past million years is under review by this Council.

If you wish to continue with the project, I will belay the old Council's decision of eradication and allow you as much time as you deem necessary. I believe you will be there for many millennia, Zardoc, and I have to say, on a personal level I will miss you being here at all of the meetings. Your presence has always heightened everyone's awareness of our responsibilities.

I am going nowhere, Tar-el. I will still be here for the Council sessions, but I will also be trying to figure out how to change the basic behavior of an entire species. I will be everywhere, Tar-el. You need not worry about that.

Zardoc continued, If it were not for the paradox, I would suggest we go back in time and do the job right, but we all know there would be unpredictable consequences, some of which may certainly not improve things, so we will just have to work with what we see before us. I will do the very best I can, Tar-el.

I know you will, Zardoc, and it is what concerns me. You are one of the best we have and so young. I do not want to see you burn yourself out and I know with your dedication to task it can happen.

"I will rely on the Council to point it out, Tar-el. You are correct. Sometimes I do not know when to rest so I will leave it up to you to advise me.

I must go now. There is much to think about and much to do.

"Take care, Zardoc. We will be here to assist you in any way we can. Please, rest assured, this Council will not make the same errors in judgment. As is usual, you have been the conscience of this Council and have once again advised us well.

I hope you realize the esteem with which this Council holds you, Zardoc. As you stated so forcefully to the old Council, you are now in charge of the project and this Council will honor your commitment.

Yes, thank you, Tar-el, acknowledged Zardoc as she vanished from the Council chambers.

-----

Zardoc returned to her office to contemplate her next move. She had been seeding the information stream for many centuries now. A few were actually getting it, but due to professional ridicule, or contradictory religious extremism, most who had actually figured it out were completely silent. In the past, many of those people who spoke the truth were eventually murdered by the church, which viewed it as encroachment into their realm. Though times had changed, the myth was still pervasive and strong in controlling the thoughts of the ignorant masses.

That had to change before the truth of human existence would be accepted. For now, myth and scientific disinformation made to conform to the mythology, seemed to dominate over reality and truth. It would eventually change, but it would take some exceptional long-term effort on the part of some extremely exceptional humans. She just needed to identify these humans and give them the knowledge and understanding to educate the rest of humanity.

She had recently identified three extreme hyper-advanced hybrids that seemed to have keen interest in the subjects needed to push the changes along.

Thus far, her prospects had not moved from their location for many months and Zardoc, though an extremely patient person was beginning to get discouraged. She didn't want to have any contact with them until the change of location had taken place, but in order for Zardoc to move them easily, they had to act first.

Of course, there was never any guarantee they would have the necessary curiosity or the tenacity to study the information, then return teaching it to others. Some she had previously brought to the island were bright and quite capable, but didn't have the necessary drive to carry the effort through to the end.

She was optimistic for the three she had identified. They were young and Zardoc knew their credibility would be questioned, but once learned, there would be no arguing the mathematics. The history would be a bit more difficult to pass because of all the mythology, which seemed to have a firm grip on the species. Given the mathematical solutions, the alternative view of origin should be seen as far more plausible than the myth. Once the human mind began to see the possibilities, the myth would be questioned mercilessly and having no legitimate answers to the simplest of questions, would eventually fall by the wayside, no longer having any capacity to exercise control over the thoughts and actions of the people. After all, it was obviously its only intended purpose.

While mulling over her next maneuver, her prospective subjects were beginning to look as though they were finally going to move from their seemingly permanent location. Provisions were being checked, updated, and stored for travel. Their craft was being checked and all necessary maintenance was being completed, so Zardoc was mildly optimistic they would soon be on their way so she could take her next step.

Sure enough, in two Earth days time, very early in the morning, the boat they traveled on began moving out of the harbor at Cabo San Lucas. She just needed to determine what direction they would be going in order to place her portal in the right location. With everything in readiness, she only needed to wait for them to arrive at the beautiful place she had set aside for their stay.

It had been used before, but sterilized so it would give the impression that nobody had ever been there before. It's exactly the perception she wanted. All of the force fields were in place to protect them upon arrival. On the island, the lagoon was enclosed to ensure they couldn't leave once they arrived. They would eventually leave using the same manner in which they had arrived, but Zardoc hoped it would be after an extremely lengthy stay.

With everything in readiness for their arrival and a small alien smile, Zardoc waited patiently.

-----

While she observed their trek across the multiverse, she felt sorry they were so frightened of what was happening. For all of them, it was a journey into a vast unknown and most humans tend to have a great fear of the unknown.

As the move continued forward, one in the group seemed to have some small grasp on what was happening, though she wasn't convinced yet. She had been somewhat tempered by academia, but had a healthy skepticism regarding their stated conclusions. One of her professors in particular, nurtured the lack of preconceived notions and prejudices allowing her to believe there was more to the mathematical solutions than met the eye. On top of all of that, she was a brilliant math student and her intuition was exceptional.

Zardoc was extremely pleased with this one. She just needed to give them a warm comfort level so they would want to stay.

She already knew the other female was extremely interested in the area of history she would be exposing her to in much greater detail, but was unsure if there would be an acceptance. She did sense an extremely open mind, but she had seen it before. What Zardoc didn't know yet was the history she was offering would only confirm beliefs already held by the second female.

The third part of the group was a male. He was not interested in either subject on the surface. He was the computer and electronics person of the group, so Zardoc knew he would be helpful, but because there was no direct study for him, she would need to find something to occupy his time while the two women were being educated.

Zardoc marveled at their attempts to evade the portal, not realizing what it was. It was to no avail because it followed the nose of their boat wherever it was pointed. Once captured, it was much the same as a science fiction tractor beam, in that they were powerless to maneuver away from it.

While being sorry for their fear, she was also amused by their reactions. It was quite apparent the one who was trying to rationalize what was going on had a calming effect on the others.

Once established, she would have to comfort and spend time with the other female. The specifics would be worked out when they got to the island and Zardoc was able to observe them in a bit more detail to find other varied interests. If they were going to stay, there would be plenty of time.

With all she had observed thus far, Zardoc was very optimistic about this new group. It was the first time in many Earth years she had cause for optimism. She had already brought many hyper-advanced hybrids to the island only to find they were not ready to learn, didn't have the aptitude, or were just too lazy to carry through adequately. When she chose one or more to make the journey, she never knew of their readiness to accept what she was offering. Being taken as they were, by a space portal into a warp in time, many were so fearful they couldn't get past their fear and had to be sent back almost immediately.

For some reason, Zardoc had a good feeling this time. Although her optimism grew, she kept a clear head and was ready to deal with any extreme distress.

They kept using the term, freaked out. It must be their way of expressing their fear, but not being human or understanding all of their linguistics, she was not sure. Something Zardoc had no way of knowing at the time was these two were essentially teen girls from Southern California and would have a somewhat unique vocabulary.

They were going through the warp's calculations for the atomic restructuring before being moved to the wormhole for the ultimate transit. Zardoc thought it would be best to put them into the master's cabin upon arrival because it would give them time to get used to the idea they had made an unplanned journey to an unknown location. Not being human, she didn't realize there was really nothing except the passage of time that would help them acclimate to their new environment.

She was waiting on the beach for them to land. She wanted to ensure they were safe in their new location before she went off into the surrounding jungle to observe her prospective students.

Like thousands of other observers there on the island, she changed her form into a small jungle bird, a parakeet. Others were parrots, macaws, and cockatoos, among many other species the humans would be familiar with and was a very convenient way to observe their subjects without the observed knowing they were being watched.

Once they landed in the lagoon, the birds flew around marveling at the very nice boat they had come in. After all, Lovely Jenny was nearly one hundred feet long and nobody had ever come to the island in that sized craft before. Many of the other birds wondered what Zardoc was thinking because according to their many observations, the kind of humans who seemed to travel on this kind of craft were not necessarily the brightest bulbs in the string because wealth did not automatically equate to intelligence and in some instances it was quite the contrary. They seemed far too into themselves to really give a damn about any of the issues that needed to be dealt with, but Zardoc was not to be deterred. It was her responsibility and she had a good feeling about this particular group. Besides, if it didn't work out, she would send them right back as she had with so many others.

While the three new residents were coming out of their induced paralysis, many birds landed in the trees and palms that were close by so they could observe. Zardoc, in her parakeet form, hid in a place where they would not see her so she could observe them up close. It was up to her to choose the groups and bring them to the island. Once here, she would quickly evaluate the possibilities and assign one of the jungle birds to watch over them. That bird, while continuing to observe their activities closely, would also work on their education.

She sensed their nervousness and fear about how the process that had brought them to the island, wasn't yet complete. They didn't want to wander too far apart for fear they would somehow be separated. She would have to allay those fears as soon as they lay down to rest. She didn't want them to continue feeling fear of the unknown, though the one who had guessed at what was happening was not nearly as fearful as her companions were. She was inquisitive and analytical dealing with their passage, hoping to determine what it was and more importantly, how to go back the way they came.

It appeared to Zardoc as if one of her new guests understood some of the physics ruling the multiverse. Could she have been that fortunate to choose someone who had a little up front knowledge and some interest in what she needed to teach them? Now, if only the mind was open to all of the new concepts...

From her experience with past visitors, it seemed as though it was taking quite some time for the new guests to lay down for rest. They had already gone through an entire light cycle, but she also sensed they were trying to judge the passage of time in a way they understood. They didn't yet know that at Castaway Island, time stood still. There was no time here, so it was not something they needed to worry about, although she also knew humans judged everything based on time. It was such a limiting concept, she would have to impress on them that the time they try so diligently to keep track of is, in the end, meaningless.

When the three finally went below to lay down for some rest, Zardoc knew she had to be reassuring so they didn't continue to hold onto their fears. She decided to address all of them first, so in their minds she began slowly.

Welcome to Castaway Island, the telepathic voice of Zardoc said softly. "Please make yourselves comfortable in this beautiful place.

"Your crewmate is very accurate in her assessment of the events that brought you here. You did pass through a time warp, into a wormhole, and into another dimension. In your terms, it would be known as the 16th dimension, but the number is unimportant because you are also in a completely different universe.

"We hope you will be here for an extended period of time, but in the way time is judged on your planet, you will be here mere seconds. When the portal opens for you once again, you will be reinserted back into your world at the exact moment you left.

Our purpose is to test your instincts, patience, and intellect, as well as your capacity to learn. Your survival is assured, so you need not worry about anything here threatening your existence. We want you to remain healthy.

Sensing the one they called Jayna was awake and curious, Zardoc continued with her reassurance, When you decide to go ashore, you will find your island to be a paradise such that you could never have imagined.

Jay's eyes slowly opened, but she saw nothing.

Who are you? she asked quietly.

Who I am is not important, young one. What is important to us is for you all to feel safe here. You are not in any kind of danger and the island will protect you from any external forces.

How long will we be here, she asked hesitantly. You said we would go back at the same time we left.

That is true, young one, but you have much to learn before the portal opens again. You will be on an extended stay, said Zardoc in Jayna's head. By your methods of measurement, we hope it will be quite some time.

Why are you talking to me? she asked.

You are the only one who seems to have any understanding of the forces that brought you here. I trust you will also be receptive to the things you will need to do here.

Like what? What are we going to have to do? asked a troubled Jay.

You will be shown many things over time. The first thing you all must do is to get over your fear of the unknown. Though you seem to understand the forces that brought you here, you are still fearful.

Following a short pause, Zardoc continued, "Please believe that you will not be harmed in any way. You three will not be separated from each other. You arrived as a team and a team you shall remain.

You will be told weeks ahead of time when your departure from here is imminent. Our warnings will be constant to make sure you are all back on your craft before the portal opens for your return journey. Over time, you will learn to open the portal to the warp on your own, but it will only be after much learning.

Okay, said Jay with a heavy sigh, I'll have to trust you're being honest. Besides getting over our fear, what are the first things we need to do?

Go ashore, explore your environment, preserve what you explore, and eat of the fruits in the jungle. Some you may recognize because we have brought them here from your dimension.

We'll need to replenish our supplies - food and water. How will we do that?

Remember, your visit here will be only seconds in your own time. You will return to your dimension possessing everything with which you left. I believe you have already noticed that those things you consumed since your arrival have not been diminished.

Yeah, that's a neat trick, Jay chuckled.

It is no trick, youngster. It is as you have already postulated. It is an example of the physics you have not discovered yet. You must look at Mr. Einstein's work on space and time much more carefully, with your mind much more open.

How do you mean? Jayna asked.

Just know that all of you must open your minds to all possibilities. Do not discount anything just because some academics on your planet feel it violates some preconceived idea of what the laws of physics appear to be. They are mostly in error.

Zardoc finally expressed some humor, chuckling, "They may violate those laws as you understand them today, but you truly understand very little.

"You, young one, are already leaps and bounds beyond those close-minded individuals. Your mind was already open enough to properly analyze your travel experience. It was very impressive and though incomplete, it did not take you excessive time to reach your hypothesis.

No, you cannot yet prove what you have been through. I will tell you that some of it is in the mathematics you already know, but do not fully understand, she continued.

"Open minds will discover those things that make everything work in the way in which they do, but those minds will not open fully until ridicule is given much less credibility.

"You now know, without any doubt, there are warps in space time, which can be used for inter dimensional travel. You do not understand them at this point, but continue to keep your mind open, young one, and you will.

One thing you do not know yet, Zardoc continued, is how to control those warps for your advantage. You have made a journey your science believes would take many billions of Earth years over distances the human mind would find unfathomable. You will make the journey back in less time than it took you to get here because the molecular calculations are mostly complete. It did not take you billions of your years to make your journey.

Wow, Jay said quietly, this is all kind of overwhelming. We noticed there is no GPS here, but the connection to the Internet seems like it wants to work, but there's some kind of incompatibility.

It has already been corrected. You now have access to information from throughout the Multiverse. Since you have never had access to this information previously, use your time wisely and save much of the information because it will pass back with you. Few will believe you, but if you can find enlightened individuals, they will see that what you offer is of great value. They will not totally understand what you will show them, so it will be up to you to help them understand.

You've done this before, haven't you? Jayna asked surprised.

"Yes, many times. You may even be able to figure out who has been here or places like it, but like you, nobody would believe them any more than they