Chapter 1 (The Dreamer 1): The Self in the Mirror

65 million years ago, above Mars.

Nikola Tesla seemed to hear a “da-da-da” sound, but his head throbbed as if it were filled with lead. What was that sound? An alarm clock? No. A timer? No, not that either.

It was the auditory “noise” produced by a mismatch between the Lightning Sphere and Tesla’s neural interface.

A humanoid robot disconnected the Lightning Sphere from Tesla’s brain.

With his eyes tightly shut and face twitching, Tesla resumed the expression he had worn through many years of deep sleep.

Gradually, his chest rose and fell, his breathing grew slightly hurried, and as his fingers trembled, Nikola Tesla awakened.

He opened his eyes, and the instant he saw the light, it unsettled him.

Though the light was gentle and not dazzling, Tesla had simply not seen light in so many years.

Blinking several times, he finally noticed the humanoid robot beside him. Tesla tried to push himself up, but found that he was strapped to the bed with several safety belts.

The robot spoke in a sweet, feminine voice, asking:

“Would you like to sit up?”

“Who are you? Hurry and undo these straps.” Tesla spoke with confusion, noticing a floating sensation throughout his restrained body. “Where am I?”

Like a magician, the robot retrieved a special pillow from a cabinet behind Tesla’s head. At the same time, the upper portion of the bed slowly rose. The robot carefully supported Tesla’s head, fastening the pillow with a buckle at the bed’s head.

“My task is to monitor your health and ensure your safety and comfort,” the robot replied gently. “If you have further questions, just speak to this device.”

Confused, Tesla saw a holographic screen suddenly appear a meter in front of him. On the screen sat a smiling man—Tesla looked closely and was startled; the person was himself. Was this a mirror?

Clearly not. Another wave of dizziness swept over him, and he gave up trying to reason, waiting in silence for the other to speak.

“Hello, Tesla. I am the Lightning Sphere. I have chosen your appearance as my interface to make our conversation more familiar. I hope this does not discomfort you.”

The “Tesla” in the “mirror”—the Lightning Sphere—began to explain everything.

Nikola Tesla was a Venusian.

Venusian humans have a civilization over 5,000 years old, passing through agricultural, industrial, electrical eras, and now entering the intelligent information age.

Their genetic and biological sciences are advanced, and the average lifespan reaches 500 years.

Both Earth and Mars are colonies of the Venusians.

Earth’s land area is small; oceans cover 80% of its surface, atmospheric convection is intense, and under the constant evaporation of the seas, endless rain falls. Ferns flourish on land, and massive dinosaurs battle across the terrain.

Earth is clearly not a paradise for Venusians and is used only as a penal colony for serious offenders.

Mars is much better, with an atmosphere rich enough in oxygen, and a balanced proportion of seas and rivers. Its shortcomings are low surface temperature and weak gravity.

Venusians have made Mars a base for astrophysical experiments and life sciences research in low-gravity conditions.

Nikola Tesla was born over a century ago. He invented alternating current and ushered Venus into the electrical age.

He proposed the theory of superluminal waves and submitted his paper, “The Dynamic Principle of Gravity,” to the Venus Academy of Sciences. At the time, the scientific community did not accept his theory.

Eighty-six years ago, at the age of forty-three, Tesla devoted himself to research on neural-machine fusion.

He continually improved the connection between his brain and a supercomputer, hoping to create a non-contact super-connector using strong magnetic fields generated by powerful electric fields. He called this connector the “Lightning Sphere.”

Tesla’s experiment failed, and he fell into a vegetative state, remaining asleep for eighty-six years.

Listening to the Lightning Sphere’s account, Tesla found he could recall nothing. But at least he understood the source of the floating sensation and asked,

“We’re on a spaceship, in zero gravity, aren’t we?”

“Yes. Our ship has just left Mars and is now above its atmosphere. Our destination is Venus,” answered the figure in the “mirror.”

The chamber door opened. Two people, grasping the handrails along the walls, entered with heavy steps—their specially designed boots clearly magnetic, keeping them anchored to the floor.

“My dear Nikola, I am Abbott, president of the Venusian Alliance Academy of Sciences. Do you remember me?” Abbott’s question received no response, and he looked a bit embarrassed. He pointed to the robust, fortyish man beside him:

“This is Colonel Fellman, liaison of the Alliance’s Strategic Bureau. We were ordered to rouse you and bring you back to Venus.”

Tesla felt lost in a fog, unable to make sense of anything. He had too many questions, but first said,

“I can’t remember anything. Let’s set aside why I’m here for now—why would two such important figures come to fetch me?”

Colonel Fellman spoke: “Respected Mr. Tesla, I was ordered, together with President Abbott, to wake you and return you to Venus because our people are in grave trouble. You are widely recognized as the best candidate to solve this crisis.”

“It’s not just trouble Venus faces, but a crisis of survival itself,” Abbott added, gesturing for Tesla to hold his questions. “Your theory of superluminal waves has finally been proven and applied. The crisis stems from this very application, which is why you are the only one who can resolve it.”

Tesla blinked hard and shook his head. “My thinking is clear, but I can’t recall anything about this so-called superluminal wave theory, or even either of you, who claim to know me.”

Abbott and Colonel Fellman exchanged glances. Abbott turned to Tesla and said,

“Eighty-six years ago, your neural-machine fusion project succeeded in connecting your brain to a supercomputer. That computer should be able to help you retrieve the memories stored in your mind.” Abbott took Tesla’s hands in his own and said,

“The Lightning Sphere’s attempt just now failed, but at least you’re awake. Shall we try again?”

“Try as many times as you like. I don’t want to be a wide-eyed amnesiac. Worst case, if it fails, I’ll just fall asleep again.”

The humanoid robot returned Tesla’s bed to its original state. Abbott and Colonel Fellman exited the chamber, and the connection was initiated once more.

“Da-da-da…” Tesla felt a sharp, piercing pain, as if pummeled by a professional boxer’s barrage of left hooks and right straights—fists raining down on his head.

His mind felt hollowed, utterly blank, his body floating, as if he were falling off a cliff. With a thud, he plunged into a bottomless abyss beneath the water.

Summoning the last ounce of strength, as if clawing his way out of that abyss, Tesla uttered a muffled groan.

The chamber fell silent. The Venusian Nikola Tesla had truly awakened.

As Abbott rushed in, Tesla called out urgently,

“I remember everything, Abbott! My friend, please tell me—how is Maria? Where is she now?”

“Wonderful, Nikola, welcome back!” Abbott replied, both delighted and awkward, rubbing his hands. “Maria is on Earth. Things are too urgent on Venus, so we’re returning there first. Afterward, we’ll go to Earth to see Maria.”

A sense of foreboding seized Tesla. Had something happened to his beloved Maria? Why was she on Earth? Wasn’t that a penal colony?

He fixed his gaze on Abbott, glancing at Colonel Fellman as well, and spoke with unyielding resolve:

“If you want me to solve Venus’s crisis, then alter course at once and take me to Earth.”

In his heart, Tesla cried out:

“My dearest Maria, I have returned!”

&

Inscription, Pieced Verse:

Heaven’s workings have never stopped throughout the ages.
How many times have I hidden within painted screens?
Suddenly I see another pair reflected together,
Unfolded as a shape before the mirror.