whose interests go beyond the classroom. I can tell you're going to do wonderful things when you leave this school.”
Unexpectedly, the Virtual Future images returned with a vengeance.
“Thanks, Mrs. Webb,” was all he could say. He was torn between basking in the moment and finally getting answers from the strange woman with the shades.
“You deserve it, Matthew. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that.” He slowly pointed to the door. “I’d better go.”
Mrs. Webb laughed again. “Of course. See you tomorrow.”
He could feel her eyes on him as he walked out the door toward the answers he was seeking. Somehow, it gave him courage.
* * *
Katherine was sitting by herself in the cafeteria, facing the wall in a corner of the room, isolated. Passing students glanced at her curiously for an instant then walked on.
Although his Con-Airs made no sound, as soon as Matthew walked in Katherine turned around. He could hear a motherly warmth in her voice as she spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Matthew.” She shook Matthew's hand and motioned to the seat across from her.
As he slid into a chair, he saw Katherine cock her head slightly. “You seem a lot happier now than when you were in class. Has something happened?”
“Well, I just found out that I'm exempt from taking my English final. My teacher's very supportive of my writing.”
“Interesting,” Katherine replied, not offering more.
Matthew quickly changed the subject.
“That box wired up to the goggles, what does it show you?”
“It shows me your neural readings similar to what doctors see in a SPECT scan, as well as a pictographic representation of your sensory stimulation.”
“What the hell does all that mean?”
“Well, in a manner of speaking, I saw what you were experiencing.”
Matthew's voice caught in his throat.
“Matthew?” A hint of concern broke through Katherine’s reserve.
He cleared his throat. “So… what exactly did I see?”
Katherine kept her voice low. “You saw yourself being pulled away from your school, your friends and the life that you had always known.”
“So you're saying this is a metaphor or something? Like I'm going to get a job over in California ?”
“It wasn’t a metaphor. You will get a job that will take you far away from your home. Very far. And this job will be the most important one you've ever had.”
“Important how?”
“Tell me, Matthew. That planet you saw yourself being pulled toward, did it look familiar?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Have you seen that planet before?” Katherine persisted.
“I’m an artist, not an astronomy buff.”
“That planet, Matthew, is Denab IV.”
Matthew’s mouth dropped open. He looked around in a stunned silence, then started to smile. “Wait, I get it. That planet is Denab IV in the movie you guys are planning for it, right? Where do I sign?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ve been waiting for a chance to make an Excelsior movie ever since I began working on it. I think Kessler would be the ideal director.”
“A movie we’re planning? I don’t follow you, Matthew.”
“Movies. You know, stories on a big silver screen? They have movies in Australia or England or… wherever you’re from, right?” Matthew’s voice was getting louder and higher. People were looking.
“I grew up on Denab IV.”
“What?”
“I grew up on Denab IV.”
Matthew’s excitement instantly faded as he started moving his chair away from the table. “Okay, I’m gonna go now. I’m not in the mood for jokes. Have a nice day and tell whoever came up with this idea to go…”
“Matthew, this is no joke! Denab IV DOES exist. And for many years now, my people have been under the rule of the Krunation Empire.”
The young man held up his hands and stood up. “Please. Just give it a rest, okay? I get the joke. Ha-Ha, very funny.”
But Katherine
Unexpectedly, the Virtual Future images returned with a vengeance.
“Thanks, Mrs. Webb,” was all he could say. He was torn between basking in the moment and finally getting answers from the strange woman with the shades.
“You deserve it, Matthew. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that.” He slowly pointed to the door. “I’d better go.”
Mrs. Webb laughed again. “Of course. See you tomorrow.”
He could feel her eyes on him as he walked out the door toward the answers he was seeking. Somehow, it gave him courage.
* * *
Katherine was sitting by herself in the cafeteria, facing the wall in a corner of the room, isolated. Passing students glanced at her curiously for an instant then walked on.
Although his Con-Airs made no sound, as soon as Matthew walked in Katherine turned around. He could hear a motherly warmth in her voice as she spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Matthew.” She shook Matthew's hand and motioned to the seat across from her.
As he slid into a chair, he saw Katherine cock her head slightly. “You seem a lot happier now than when you were in class. Has something happened?”
“Well, I just found out that I'm exempt from taking my English final. My teacher's very supportive of my writing.”
“Interesting,” Katherine replied, not offering more.
Matthew quickly changed the subject.
“That box wired up to the goggles, what does it show you?”
“It shows me your neural readings similar to what doctors see in a SPECT scan, as well as a pictographic representation of your sensory stimulation.”
“What the hell does all that mean?”
“Well, in a manner of speaking, I saw what you were experiencing.”
Matthew's voice caught in his throat.
“Matthew?” A hint of concern broke through Katherine’s reserve.
He cleared his throat. “So… what exactly did I see?”
Katherine kept her voice low. “You saw yourself being pulled away from your school, your friends and the life that you had always known.”
“So you're saying this is a metaphor or something? Like I'm going to get a job over in California ?”
“It wasn’t a metaphor. You will get a job that will take you far away from your home. Very far. And this job will be the most important one you've ever had.”
“Important how?”
“Tell me, Matthew. That planet you saw yourself being pulled toward, did it look familiar?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Have you seen that planet before?” Katherine persisted.
“I’m an artist, not an astronomy buff.”
“That planet, Matthew, is Denab IV.”
Matthew’s mouth dropped open. He looked around in a stunned silence, then started to smile. “Wait, I get it. That planet is Denab IV in the movie you guys are planning for it, right? Where do I sign?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ve been waiting for a chance to make an Excelsior movie ever since I began working on it. I think Kessler would be the ideal director.”
“A movie we’re planning? I don’t follow you, Matthew.”
“Movies. You know, stories on a big silver screen? They have movies in Australia or England or… wherever you’re from, right?” Matthew’s voice was getting louder and higher. People were looking.
“I grew up on Denab IV.”
“What?”
“I grew up on Denab IV.”
Matthew’s excitement instantly faded as he started moving his chair away from the table. “Okay, I’m gonna go now. I’m not in the mood for jokes. Have a nice day and tell whoever came up with this idea to go…”
“Matthew, this is no joke! Denab IV DOES exist. And for many years now, my people have been under the rule of the Krunation Empire.”
The young man held up his hands and stood up. “Please. Just give it a rest, okay? I get the joke. Ha-Ha, very funny.”
But Katherine
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