The Odd Couple: Jean and Navigatrix

The Odd Couple: Jane and Navigatrix

Originally Published by Jason Cochrane on Jun 06, 2016 at 08:18 AM

“Navigatrix, does it ever bother you seeing strangers wearing the face of people you know and love?” Jane desperately hoped the intelligent construct would be empathetic to her plight.

The anthropomorphic android cocked it’s head at an almost human angle. “No. It does not Jane. I was constructed to travel the Omni-verse. I was programmed to expect echoes, reflections and iterations.”

Navigatrix was seated next to Jane on a bench at Claremont Academy. It was fall. The sun was shining but provided feeble warmth from the clear sky. Jane was dressed casually in Janes, a t-shirt and flannel. Navigatrix wore nothing. The robot’s synthetic white and silver alloyed form was on display but no one payed any heed. After all, this was Claremont Academy, the world’s premier super-school. Navigatrix was far from the most unusual being present.

Jane slid back on the bench and looked the sky above the old weathered buildings that surrounded the courtyard in which they sat. Her long flaming red hair sprawled across her shoulders and cascaded down the bench.

“I kind of hoped you might know what it was like...” She mourned.

While Navigatrix was of an artificial non-biological origin she (as she identified) was sentient. Jane’s malaise was not lost on Navigatrix.

“In some ways Jane, I think we envy each other’s position.”

Jane cast a glance towards the words.

“I am the last known Navigatrix. Once there were many of me. Now I am unique. For eons now I have not met myself nor my family.” The tone once more reminded Jane that Navigatrix was not a machine. She was sentient. “Alternatively you meet yourself and your loved ones in almost every world. I think that each of us would gladly exchange our places, even if only for a few days.” Navigatrix sounded wistful.

Jane sat quietly and processed the idea. All the while birds flew overhead, children played in the courtyard and students hurried form class to class.

Jane pulled herself upright and turned to Navigatrix. She took in the robotic woman next to her. Navigratrix might lack nuanced facial expression but her body language could be very expressive. Right now Navigatric radiated a deep sorrow. It was an enduring pain and one she would carry for the rest of her existence.

For her own part Jane had never considered the reverse of her own situation. It was humbling and, as she noted, Jane had until that moment been largely unaware and unsympathetic to her friend’s situation.

“I’m sorry for your loss Navigatrix.”

“As am I for your ongoing pain. While I do not see copies of my loved ones as you do, I do know the pain of absent love. So to more fully answer your question, seeing copies does not trouble me and would not trouble me. But knowing that those I love are gone while I endure, that in pain.”

The sigh Jane released was loud and long “At least I can sometimes go home...sometimes. You don’t have that luxury.”

“There are ways to see my family if I wish to employ them." Jane's ears pricked at Navigatrix' statement. Navigatrix explained. Part philosopher. Part counsellor. "I could ask Chrononaut or Doc Tomorrow to take me back in time to see my family. But they are in the past. I know they are no more. In some ways they are my echoes as dopplegangers are yours.”

Jane sighed. “I guess we are kinda similar.”

The women were again silent. The world continued it’s chaotic progress all around the bench.

It was Jane who once again broached the silence. “Naviagatrix, why do you keep coming here? To this dimension I mean. This particular Earth?”

“Earth-Prime?” Navigatrix paused to consider her answer. “It is relatively safe. The Terminus is currently held in check. Claremont is a safe haven. AEGIS and UNISON keep the peace.”

Jane pressed the point. “Yeah but surely there are thousands of equally good universes? Why Earth-Prime and not one of those?”

Naviagtrix remained nonchalant. “Perhaps it was chance. Perhaps something more. I value our friendship. I converse with this particular iteration of you here more than on any other world of any other universe.” It was Navigatrix turn to commence inquiry. “Why is that Jane? Why are you here on Earth-Prime more than any other Earth? You and I both have the Omni-verse to explore but it is here on Earth-Prime that I find you most often. You don’t even visit your home reality as often as Earth-Prime.”

“Ah…” Inside Jane’s brain warnings sounded. “I come from a bit of a backwater reality: Earth 65126. In recent years it’s dropped close to the Terminus. We had to cut our reality anchor to it as a safety measure. Home is a little hard to reach nowadays. It’s still there… for now but it’s drifting towards the Terminus. We’re trying to find a way to stabilise it.”

Navigatrix’ expression grew serious. “Then you have an important mission if you are to save Earth 65126. You have not explained why you adopted Earth-Prime as your temporary home.”

“It’s… umm…,” Jane fidgeted and almost visibly squirmed. “I’m not supposed to talk about it. Orders.” The last word was added flatly in a futile attempt to end the topic of discussion.

“Of course. I understand you are not a free agent like myself.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you.” Jane wrestled with a need to confide and a need to avoid another disciplinary meeting. “In fact it would be nice to have someone else to confide in.”

“Your superiors must have their reasons.” Navigatrix remained placid. She was learning more about her friend and saw no need to alarm Jane and potentially close the conversation.

“Yeah, Vicki does… I’m sure. I mean she always does.” Jane hesitated. “She’s a genius and all.”

“Vicki is your superior?” Navigatrix already knew the answer. “Vicki” had cropped up in conversation before but Jane never went into great detail about her employer.

“Yeah. Vicki is in charge. It’s her show. She recruited me… although technically I asked her for a job… “ Jane was entering one of her self doubt dialogs. “I just didn’t know I was signing up for the whole reality hopping thing is all. Do you think it was kinda of like a bait and switch?”

Navigatrix studied the world as she carefully processed Jane’s question. “That would depend. What sort of job did you ask for and Vicki agree to provide you with?”

“Oh… umm… I was kinda desperate to not have to move back in with my folks.” Jane dropped her head to her chest and slumped. “I told her that I would take anything to pay the bills… as long as I didn’t have to destroy anything… and if she didn’t tell my parents that I begged.”

“It appears that Vicki has provided what you requested.”

Jane harrumphed. The logic was inescapable but Jane still felt that at some point Vicki had tricked her. It was a simple life Jane wanted. Not adventure. Despite this desire here Jane was in yet another alternate Earth.

“Vicki started me as a barrista. It didn’t work out. I ended up destroying the beans.” It was part reflection but also an invitation to Navigatrix.

“Barrista to reality explorer is quite a promotion.” Nabigatrix sounded impressed. Jane wasn't sure if it was feigned or genuine. Navigatrix had limited facial expression. Jane found that Navigatrix, in addition to being a master of body lanugage, was skilled at modulating tone to effect a wide range of emotions. Regardless of Navigatrix’ motives Jane forged on.

“It didn’t start that way… I was just a body guard for other teams. As time went on Vicki figured I could operate solo... until I screwed up.” Jane bit her lip.

“That’s the part you cannot talk about?”

“Yeah.” Jane slumped so low and so deeply that she did not slide off the bench was almost a crime against physics. “I kinda did something on Earth-Prime I shouldn’t have.” Jane paused briefly then hurried added. “I fixed it. I think.”

“Is this universe in any danger because of your actions?” Navigatrix sounded concerned.

“Not anymore than before I got here. I fixed it.” Jane sounded both sullen and proud. Overall it was an achievement that she was pleased with. “Vicki isn’t so sure. Now I wait around to make sure it is all fixed… well not wait around but check in regularly.”

“But your superior, Vicki, who by your reckoning is a genius, is not certain that your repairs are adequate.”

It wasn’t a question. There was no question in the phrasing. It was unequivocally a statement of fact. One logically reached.

“When you… uh… you put it like that” Jane bit her lip “…yeah.”

Navigatrix leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees. She propped her head against clasped hands. “How will you and Vicki know if your repairs were successful?”

“Oh... uh… we’ll know in 10 to 15 years. 20 tops.”

“That is a long time for a human Jane, perhaps you should seek permission to discuss these events with others.” Navigatrix continued to survey the courtyard as she spoke. “I hold concerns that something might occur while you are not present. Without knowing the nature of your actions it may be difficult for the rest of us to safely act if needed.”

Jane perked up a little. “Don’t worry girlfriend. I got that bit covered.” Jane rose from her slump and turned it into a slouch somewhat reminiscent to a sloppy version of Navigatrix’ own pose. “If anything happens when I’m not around there are people in the know who know what to look out for and what to do.”

Navigatrix turned her gaze fully onto Jane. “If that is the case then why is your ongoing presence needed here?”

Jane returned the stare. It was full of regret. “I screwed up. It’s my fault. Vicki ordered me to check in… a bit… okay, so probably not as often as I do. But… well…. Like I said it’s my fault.”

The sun was waning. The courtyard was growing more lonely and quitter.

“As I understand what you have just said your orders are simply not to reveal what it is you have done nor the repairs you have made. You have been permitted to reveal these to key parties, which you have done. Your ongoing presence here is not a result of you being ordered to be here but as a result of your sense of responsibility for your actions.” Navigatrix carefully thought. She was relatively certain that was an accurate summation. “Is that correct?”

“Ah… yeah that pretty much sums it up.” Jane pulled her flannel closer. As the sun set the chill was growing.

Navigatrix turned more fully to Jane. A metallic hand was placed over Jane’s own. “Despite you endangering an entire universe, I find our discussions most pleasant Jane. I am glad you feel obligated to visit. It allows our friendship to continue. I am honoured that you confided in me.”

“Thanks Navigatrix.” Jane followed with a weary smile.

“But do not think that I excuse your behaviour of endangering Earth-Prime in the first place.”

Jane was relatively certain that Navigatrix was slightly teasing. “That makes two of us.”

“Also,” Navigatrix added in a flat matter of fact voice, “for clarity, I no longer envy your position.”

“Thanks. I don’t envy yours either.”

The unlikely pair shared a heartfelt hug as the sun set. With smiles and waves they separated as the last rays of light died.