Antoinette knew she couldn't go out and fight alongside her husband right now. That was when she learned he'd come to the defense of Jonathan and Sergei McMahon. But moments before, she'd dedicated herself entirely to preparing Jawara for the dream she would enter.
_Are you ready?-Antoinette asked Jawara.
_I'm sure! With the same certainty that I will help many in this end of the world, but before that, it's strange! Why are we doing all this in the middle of the end of the world? I've already seen all the threats that could come to Earth, but why do I have to learn certain things during this period of time that is being very distressing? Why do I have to enter this black hole when my responsibility is to my Earth? To be able to save it!
_ Human beings have many questions, Dr. Malenfant, but there are already millions and millions of people who no longer care about finding an answer and choose to believe they can handle everything, as if they were gods. There are others who have some notion of the answer to their questions but don't want to continue because they don't want to commit to the truth, and there are those who want to remain purposefully ignorant and do what their heart tells them.
_ You speak with a very strange accent, I even think you understand or observe human behavior.
_ In fact, I've observed it by nature since I was a child. Now, just like in the movie, and since the brain works in the real world when we dream, it may feel like you're talking for a long time with the three people I told you I would talk to, but in reality, only a few minutes will pass. I'll give you the sedative. Oh, but first!
_ What?
_ Don't tell your doppelgänger, Aidan Tancredi, that your parents are alive and you've already spoken to them in your dreams.
_ Why?
_ Just promise me you won't do it. If I see you do it, I'll have to wake you up.
_ First! I'm focused on saving as many people as I can, and I'm being brought to this mysterious black hole for missions I didn't choose to carry out. And second, I don't trust you!
_ Why am I autistic?
_ I have my reasons.
Although Antoinette didn't understand, she decided to recite her "peace pact."
_ "You judge me for being in my world, but you should know that you also live in yours, so I propose: let's be part-time autistic."
_ I'm not autistic!
_ "My part-time autistic," just don't tell him what I told you not to tell Aidan Tancredi.
_ Antoinette
Jawara, as he falls fast asleep, Antoinette sees Jonathan, who wants to say something to her.
_ What's going on?
_ You wouldn't be alive on this ship if it weren't for the fact that I also decided to enter, and that you have the support of the man who loves you.
_But you said that... we would make it!-Antoinette's voice cracked.
_Listen to me, my love: do you understand how much strength it gives me to know that I was able to protect you? They vilely made me believe that my Gretel was dead. Not even with Skyline could I decipher that lie, but being confined with Oleg Romanov gave me strength. Even though I couldn't free you and I couldn't tell your parents the truth that you were alive because of that bastard, you were and are the daughter I needed!
Antoinette and Jonathan stared at each other, but in a father-daughter way.
_I don't understand why-Antoinette said- but I could sense that you were using that common ground now that Armin Skyintellstraighwar is falsely believing his daughter to be dead.
_And I'm going to ask you, please, my little one, my new daughter: to become the daughter of Skyintellstraighwar.
_Wait, what?
_I had strong prejudices against Yoann McGregor on Earth-02. I went through similar things as this alien, and now, I see a lot of potential in him to achieve what we came here for. And you, my girl, one good thing about you is your vocabulary. I believe that essence you bring that seems like a Warshapian, whatever Armin needs, Fiorella of Earth-02 is alive, and there may be a chance for both of us. But while he recovers his little girl, give him the chance you gave me: that he can call you his daughter.
Antoinette was thoughtful, not understanding why Sky Panther was asking her to have a father-daughter relationship with Armin.
In the dream, Jawara first sees Jung-Jae Park. This time, he's on the block where Heather Ackermann (Heather McGregor) fell to her death.
_This is where she died-Jung Jae said.
Jawara turns to look at him, confused, and looks around the place. People were still passing by without a cataclysm. They were eating, drinking, living their lives as if the world continued as if nothing had happened, as if there were no changes, as if humanity could have control over itself. But Jawara sadly observed the surroundings. Although he knows it's a dream, he knows what will happen to the Earth.
_Something I admire about you, Dr. Malenfant, is that you're too kind and don't use much of your technical jargon and terminology.
_I don't like terminology. I believe we're all equal and there shouldn't be words that divide us."
But if you think you're a god, you think you can save everyone, you think having angry outbursts against your best friend will impose your power, that's not being a leader!
_ If you come to address me as a sage, then tell me! Tell me! How can I save humanity? Not even an alien could help so many. He informed me that two billion people had already died from earthquakes!
_ No human being can save humanity! And for your information, not even aliens can do it, nor can they help themselves. But look, Jawara, I'm here not just so you can learn more about your adoptive sister's doppelgänger.
_ Please....—Jawara lowers her head and raises her hand to stop the conversation—don't say adoptive sister anymore! She's my sister! I love her!
_You have to accept that she's your adoptive sister; she's not even the biological daughter of your adoptive father, Edward.
_Adoptive father! Jawara shakes her head and puts her hands on her hips.
_ I don't care if they don't have my blood, I love my family and I'll never call them adopted!
_You sound as hurt as Aidan Tancredi. The difference between you and him is that Tancredi has already accepted that there are things that can never be controlled or changed, and there are things that will always be beyond humanity's control, even if humanity believes otherwise.
_Are you telling me I can't save as many as I can? I can do it! I created the Airspace-Wanderer so we could find solutions to the world's injustices, starting with more anonymous scientists being able to go into outer space in search of solutions. United! Working together.
_But you still have a lot of prejudices, starting with the one they nicknamed "the leader of the Kitties."
Jawara looks at him, confused.
_That's right, I'm talking about Antoinette Patterson, or rather, Antoinette Skyintellfirewar, that's her real name... don't look at me like that! It's only logical that you have certain prejudices against autistic people, and that's not uncommon. The reality is that prejudice against autism still exists, but it's also a true truth that even the creation of neurodivergent people was done to stop so many unfair attacks against them. I'll give you some advice: Swallow your pride! Be more modest and accept that you need the advice of others if you want to achieve your goal. Be more patient with those around you, especially your best friend. You don't have to learn the hard way to accept that something is right or wrong, advice protects, rejecting it will lead you to disaster. And I'll tell you something: you have enormous potential, just like Tancredi. You also know that every human being is worth a lot, regardless of their age, and you know that you can count on anyone in your organization. You are willing to lend a hand to anyone who is part of your organization.
_ I don't have an organization as such yet; I have a growing team.
_ But it's already formed, and they need you, your kindness, your courage, the knowledge that for you there is no "strong and weak," that for you we all have strengths and weaknesses, and you know how to help and lead, but in the same way, you need them.
_ I should have known you'd come to give me a ton of lectures and advice!
_Now it's up to you whether you're going to listen, treasure, and put them into practice, or waste them, because the difference between really good advice about money is that money comes and goes, but advice can serve you now and in the future. Even advice you don't need will serve you in the future.
Moment of silence.
_Now I'll leave you with your adoptive sister's doppelgänger.
_She's not my adoptive sister!
_She's your sister and always will be, but you must accept that truth, especially now for the truths you'll learn, since at the last minute, I decided to include more in the dream besides what Antoinette told you. Let's just say...it was an improvisation of mine. Oh! And Jawara: if you notice that your anguish, pain, sadness, and so on continue with you after the impending cataclysm, seek professional help.
Jung Jae leaves, and Jawara calls out to him defiantly.
_Wait! Jung Jae! What do you mean, more people? What else should I know about my dear sister?
_In real life, you and I aren't siblings, but that bond we grew up with will always exist- said Heather, appearing.
Sharon!-Jawara runs to hug her, but drops her, shocked as he feels her hugging her. "Sharon! You look physically human!" (screaming) "Not even anything physical that could be attributed to a robot, a machine, a cyborg, but when you feel you, you feel like a machine!"
_I am Iron Woman-said Heather-A code name was used to describe my maker. A female name was used to hide the identity of my creator, but now I reveal the name to you: Amani Newman, who, by the way, has Asperger's Syndrome and is the brother of Antoinette Skyintellfirewar.
Jawara, still her his judgment increases, but he approaches Heather, somewhat confused and pained to see the condition of his beloved sister Sharon's doppelgänger.
_ Are you a cyborg?
_ Let's call it an innovative cyborg, because the only thing I have of Heather Ackermann, who, as you know, is dead, is her brain. It's the only thing inside this iron head. It stored all her memories there: like who Heather's husband was, her parents, siblings, loved ones, and more.
_ So you're Sharon, well, Heather or not! If not, what are you?
_ When Sharon fell into the void when the Earth opened up, as you've already been told, the Earth closed, but with an excavator ship, Amani Newman managed to get in in time, but there was nothing more to be done after finding the body: Heather was already dead! But surprisingly, he managed to save her cerberus. It was the only thing that remained intact. Her heart was no longer beating, but her brain was still working, but at such a slow pace that it was a matter of seconds before it stopped working. A small part of that brain was still alive, but with the advanced technology he had created, as a Mechatronics Engineer and Artificial Intelligence Engineer, he managed to create a project called "Iron Ladies." Also counting on a specialty in neurology and the help of other neurosurgeons, they removed the brain from Heather's dead body and placed it in this one, this iron body in front of you... this body that now stores Heather McGregor's memories.
_Why do you say Heather McGregor and Heather Ackermann?"
_Because Heather Ackermann was her maiden name-said Blossom (Earth 02), appearing on the scene- but Heather McGregor was her married name when she married my brother.
Jawara immediately realized that Blossom wasn't his wife, but his doppelganger. Why would that be?
_Is your name Blossom Tancredi?" Jawara asked.
_That's right. Just as you and my double are husband and wife, so are Aidan and I. But Heather also became the wife of my brother Aubrey Joshua McGregor.
_Did they ever have children before her death?"
_No!-said a pained Aubrey (Earth 02), making an appearance.- We didn't have the honor. Our marriage was short-lived before I was widowed- Aubrey's expression still held a heavy smile from the grief- It's not the same anymore! I can see my wife in her, and I know she's there because her brain stores her memories and she recognizes me, but it's not the same!
_The creation was very complex-Blossom said-Physically, Iron Woman looks like Heather; the only part that remains of her is her brain". "I wouldn't say the only part!"-Jawara exclaimed. "I'm not a neurologist, but I can say that the brain controls the entire body. Without the brain, the body has no life, just as if the body didn't have a heart. Although I'm an aerospace engineer, can you imagine how different it would be if, instead of Newman giving her the brain, he had given her the heart? Both vital organs? But with different functions.
_That's what Seung You Park told us-Aubrey said his head down and in pain- After all, he's a neurologist and a neurosurgeon, but it's not the same! On this Earth, your doppelganger loves my sister with the same intensity with which I loved Heather. I loved Heather with all my heart! She was my whole life, my breath, my oxygen! She was the love of my life!
A moment of silence as Aubrey and Jawara stare at each other.
_The end of the world came here in a way we didn't expect-said Aubrey- But despite everything, I think the thing I'll never get over is Heather's death.
Jawara turns to look at Iron Woman.
_You say you call yourself Iron Woman-Jawara approaches her- I want to ask you: if I address you, am I addressing Heather? Or an AI that has already taken on a mind and personality of its own?
_ My name is Alethea Bionick, that's what my maker named me. But you should know that I'm not the only one. There is another, but you should know even more about me."
_In life, Heather did things that were hurtful-said Blossom-Through deceit and manipulation, Heather played with my brother's feelings during their courtship, and she participated in a very cruel act: unjustly imprisoning my brother.
_ Why?-Jawara said, puzzled- Why would Sharon do something like that, do all that? It's true! She's not Sharon. When I spoke to her, she already said that's not her name, but Alethea, which means she's a machine that has taken on a mind and a personality of its own!
The scene changes again. Jawara is in the same place where Heather died, but this time, his doppelgänger is in front of him: Aidan Tancredi. But Jawara is perplexed to see Aidan's condition: in a wheelchair.
_ Jung Jae is right- Aidan said quickly to break the ice. "You're very hurt, like me. The difference is that I've already accepted, even in pain, that there are things that will never change or be controlled, and that there's too much of it."
There are things that humanity cannot control, even if it believes it can.
_I know I came here to find out about my sister's doppelganger. It's enough for me to know that she's dead!-Jawara's voice cracked, tears streaming down her cheeks-And she's a machine that's already taken on a mind of its own! That's not Sharon!
_There are many, Jawara, who have to accept that Heather is no longer here, that she's dead, but there's something else you must accept. It may seem like data you don't need to know and accept, but you must: Sharon is not your sister, even though you love her very much, and I won't deny that won't change that. She's not your sister. You must call her your adoptive sister.
_Why should I listen to you on that? Besides, why are you in a wheelchair?- Jawara wiped her tears.
_Because you're at the Base of the Multiverse, you're where the "foundations" of a building stand, where, metaphorically speaking, a skyscraper stands.
_ And what does that have to do with Sharon and me?
_ In due time, you'll know everything. What you should know now is that although the machine you saw already has a name and may take on its own personality, Heather's brain is saved inside the cyborg's head, which stores all of her memories, stores the great love she had for her family, her parents, siblings, loved ones, her husband, and that's something she'll never be able to change.
_ Well!-Jawara said, letting out a deep sigh- At least I know my sister is alive in my universe where I come from. Although it hurts me a lot to know the truth here, and you say there's more, it still keeps me calm: knowing that... Sharon is well and safe."
_ Be modest and humble! If you want her to be saved.
_ I'll take care of her and protect her! And my brother-in-law Joshua has taken care of her with so much love. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that someone is telling me that my sister's doppelganger has played with the feelings of the man she loves. She loves Joshua! I know Heather loved Aubrey!
That's right, Jawara. Heather loved Aubrey, but maybe she was wrong, but of course! That doesn't mean her doppelgangers are doomed to failure.
Jawara wakes up, and when she realizes it, she's locked with Yadir in a dark room in a part of the Felifastleader.