AS RELIEVED AS OLIVIA WAS TO finally have someone local to communicate with, she wasn’t able to tell her new friend everything right off the bat. Despite the evidence she had collected over the last few days, Olivia felt it wasn’t prudent to tell anyone the truth about where they really were. It didn’t take the stranded Captain very long to determine where she was, which was inside the sphere. The biggest giveaway was the object in the middle of the sphere where all its power was being collected from: the sun. While a non-rotating planet was an option, Olivia had to believe she was inside the sphere because that would make the most sense. She was right beside the sphere when she was taken, so that had to be the most logical answer. She couldn’t believe how the locals were used to having sunlight all hours of the day, but they appeared to be used to it. There were no clouds or weather systems as well, which also felt odd to Olivia as well, and it also led her to believe that her current location was an artificial surface that was likely inside the sphere. She had no idea why the Sphere took her from the ship, but that was just one of many questions she needed to look into. It several days since Olivia woke up in this hospital, and she was itching to get outside and look around. The captain knew she had to be patient, as her new friend was speaking with the facility’s management everyday to assure them that under his care she was no longer a threat and should be released. That the language barrier was the cause of conflict and now that it was mostly torn down, Olivia was going to be peaceful and didn’t need to be locked up anymore.
To help Franklin’s case, Olivia was on her best behavior since the incident in the hallway and did her best to be friendly and outgoing. Doctor Swayson did his best to convince the staff at the hospital that while in his care, he would be able to keep things peaceful and interpret for Olivia so there would be no confusion going forward. Whatever he said to the administrators appeared to work, as Olivia was finally released the next day, and she was more than happy to leave the facility with Swayson.
When she walked out of the hospital, the first thing that Olivia noticed was how warm it was outside. It quickly became evident how conditioned the air was inside, and that the sun was keeping the surface of the sphere quite warm despite their distance. Olivia slowly walked around and tried to see evidence of where they were, but she couldn’t. Living on the surface of the sphere replicated what living on a planet in this solar system would be like, with a few minor details. Once outside she followed Swayson to what appeared to be a motor vehicle. She got into the passenger side, and watched as her new friend started the car up and left the parking area.
“Where should we do?” Franklin asked her.
Olivia paused for a moment. “Where should we go?”
“Yes!” Franklin said, even chuckling a bit. “Where should we go?”
“Records,” Olivia suggested, “We need to find were your people keep all their records. I need to look something up.”
“Records?” Franklin repeated, as he clearly didn’t know.
“Books,” Olivia replied, trying to use simpler words. “I need to see books about history and the past.”
“Okay,” Franklin said, as he knew what those words were. “I have idea of what you seek.”
They say silently in the car and Olivia watched to see the subtle differences in the city they were driving through and what she was used to seeing on Earth. The tall buildings looked similar to what she was used to, but there were subtle differences as the people who made them didn’t have to deal with elements that were more natural on Earth. The sphere provided a more consistent environment, so there were likely no storms from what she could tell, and likely no events like earthquakes since there were no tectonic plates underneath them. The same could be said for volcanos, as the surface was not natural. She was amazed by how similar some of it was to what Earth looked like centuries ago, and how many of the people they passed all looked like they could have come from her home world.
“When was the last time it rained?” she asked her driver.
“Rain?” Franklin asked, unaware of the word.
“That answers that,” Olivia said, as she got her answer. Whoever made this place did a fairly good job recreating the feel of Earth but didn’t bother to go to far in making it fully authentic. While things like gravity and atmosphere were withing their grasp to recrate, Olivia believed they could have created weather, but it was something the creators didn’t want to bother working with.
After another short silence, Franklin Swayson pulled his car into a rather decent sized parking lot and drove up to a specific parking space that was likely reserved for him. Once she stepped out of the car and took a look around, Olivia had a feeling that they had driven up to what looked like a college campus to her. There were young people sitting around and strolling around with books in their arms. It immediately reminded her of her own days attending university before she went to the confederation academy to become an officer of the space program.
“University?” she asked him.
Olivia could tell by the strange look on his face that Franklin didn’t understand that word either.
“School?” she asked again, using a better word.
“Ah, yes!” Franklin said, smiling and nodding. “School!”
Franklin seemed excited as he motioned for Olivia to follow him, so she did. He led her to a building and once inside they went into the basement and into a fair sized office that had so many books you could have mistaken it for a part of the library. She looked around and noticed that some of the books where English, which was likely Doctor Swayson’s specialty. There was a good chance some of these books might have the answer to who these people where, and maybe where they came from.
“Have seat!” Franklin said, as he appeared to be very excited.
Olivia pulled up a chair and sat down while Franklin himself appeared to be rummaging through some books looking for something specific. He returned a few minutes later with half a dozen books and a hopeful look on his face.
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“Help,” he called out to her softly.
Olivia got up and took the books out of his arms and placed them onto the table. She looked at them and understood why he was asking; these were fairly old books that were written in English a long, long time ago. She opened the book and could immediately see the reason why there was an issue. Olivia closed the book and held it up for Franklin.
“Not English,” she said to him. “This book is written in German.”
There was another book that was written in Japanese, which like the German book was something Olivia couldn’t read. She then opened what appeared to be a very old book that was handwritten. Inside was a language she actually could read.
“You can read this?” Franklin asked.
“Yes, I can.” Olivia confirmed.
“What language?” Franklin asked, eager to know what it was.
“Oh, this is English.” Olivia said, almost laughing at him.
“This is not,” Franklin said, “The words are different.”
“I can understand your confusion,” Olivia concurred, “This type if English is called cursive. It’s a different way of writing the same language. The only reason why I know it is because my grandfather taught it to me.”
Olivia put the book down and walked over to a white board that was on the other side of the room. Without asking she picked up a cloth and wiped the whole board clear so she could have room to work. One letter at a time, she drew each English letter in the alpha bet and then drew the cursive equivalent beside it. But the time she was done with he board she had provided Franklin with a cypher that would allow him to read any cursive work he had in his possession.
“There you go,” Olivia said, pointing to the board. “This is cursive English.”
Franklin looked at the board in amazement and then opened a book he was holding and used the letters she had written to interpret the first line and he did so rather easily. Being able to translate the work so easily now made him excited as she had unlocked a lot of books he had been unable to read. Olivia and Franklin then spent the next several hours going through books but for entirely different reasons, looking for their own answers. She was reading through that handwritten journals, hoping they would provide answers to why humans were even inhabiting this sphere in the first place. She was making some progress reading a journal that was written by a scientist that lived on this sphere over a hundred years ago. While the journal never listed how he got to reside there on the sphere, there were details of where he came from. The writer was a resident of a small European nation and then one day he wasn’t. He just appeared in these new lands with people who could barely understand the words he spoke. Olivia knew all too well what that man was going through, being a strange man in a strange land. From what Olivia could gather, this writer used to reside on Earth and then was taken away just like she was recently taken from her ship outside the sphere.
“This is familiar,” She called out, “This guy was taken, just like I was.”
“Taken?” Franklin asked.
“Stolen,” Olivia said, wanting to use more neutral words that kidnapping.
There was a ringing sound that interrupted them both, and Franklin went over and picked up the line. He stood there listening for a moment and then started to speak frantically with the other person on and off before finally putting the receiver down.
“We need… go.” Franklin said, barely forming the words in a panic.
“What’s going on?” Olivia asked as she walked closer to him.
“We have situation,” Franklin answered, “There is someone out there that might need our help. We leave, right now.”
“Alright, let’s go!” Olivia said, as she had a faint idea of what he meant.
They raced back out to the car and got back onto the road as soon as they could, and Franklin drove rather fast but not too dangerously so the could get to where they were going. He pulled into another place that looked like another hospital but was actually a police station. As they were walking in, Franklin was met by an officer and Olivia stood there and watched as they spoke quickly in their native language, and she was unable to listen in and just patiently waited. After they finished talking, Franklin waved at Olivia to follow him as the officer led them deep into the station. As they were getting closer to the room they were approaching, Olivia could hear someone screaming and it wasn’t the volume that caught her attention but the words being spoken.
“Leave me alone!” the voice called out, in perfect English.
Olivia heard the voice call out in her own language and immediately began to run as she also recognized the voice. She ran past Franklin and the officer and over to a small office where a young girl as sitting in the corner, hiding behind a desk.
“Johanna!” Olivia called out walked into the small office.
For the first time in quite a while, Johanna was never so happy to hear her named being called out. She stood up and could hardly believe who she was seeing.
“Captain Howard!” she called out, so happy to see someone familiar. She immediately ran over and hugged Olivia and refused to let her go.
Olivia was happy to see her as well, although a bit surprised as well.
“What are you doing here?” She asked the young girl.
“I have no idea,” Johanna replied, “One moment I was laying in bed to go to sleep and another I woke up in this town, wherever the hell it is. I was all alone, and no one here even speaks English!”
“There are a few who do, but it’s very rare,” Olivia informed her, “But don’t worry about it. I’m here now, and I’ll take care of you.”
Johanna hugged Olivia again, just happy to hear those words. Olivia turned to face the people who were staring at her, and it was clear they were all relived to see the situation was being handled. The only person who understood what was being said was Franklin, but he also looked relieved to see the situation as being handled.
“Where are we?” Johanna asked.
“I have an idea,” Olivia answered, “But we can’t talk about it here. Wait until we get out of here and I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Alright,” Johanna said, “I do want to leave here.”
“Just wait in here,” Olivia instructed, “I’m going to speak with them and get this all settled.”
Johanna took a seat in front of the desk this time and waited as Olivia left the room and walked over to where Franklin and the officer where waiting.
“You know her?” Franklin asked.
“I do, we are very close.” Olivia answered, “We are practically family. I want you to tell him to release her into my care.”
Franklin spoke to the man in his own language and conveyed her request. Upon hearing it he spoke back to Franklin.
“He wants to know why you don’t speak our language,” Franklin asked.
“Tell him that I can’t explain that,” Olivia answered, “It’s a military thing, I am not authorized to reveal the answers.”
Franklin seemed to understand this as he parlayed to his friend who appeared to understand and get the gist of what she was selling. This was a military thing, and the secrets she knew were above his rank and pay grade.
“He says it’s alright,” Franklin said, “I have vouched for you both, and that was all the convincing he needed.”
“Thank you,” Olivia said, as she walked back into the room and reached out a hand to Johanna, which she happy took and walked back out with her.
“Where are we?” Johanna whispered.
“Not now,” Olivia said, “Wait till we get outside.”
As they walked out the sun was still beating down as usual, and they quickly walked back out to the car.
“Why doesn’t the sun go down?” Johanna asked, “Does this planet not rotate?”
“We’re not on a planet,” Olivia replied, “I don’t know how, but we’re inside the sphere. That’s why there’s no rotation or nights.”
“How did we get in here?” the young girl inquired.
“I’m still working on that,” Olivia admitted, and then gestured to Franklin, “This is Franklin. He’s one of the only people here who speaks English. He’s been very helpful and is the reason they let you go.”
“Oh,” Johanna said, smiling up at Franklin, “Thank you for your help!”
“You welcome!” Franklin said, smiling back.
“He still needs practice,” Olivia said, “Get in the car.”