Hot Wavelength

Chapter 3 (The Dreamer 1): Myself in the Mirror
6500 million years ago, in the skies above Mars.

Nikola Tesla seemed to hear a "tick-tock" sound, but his head was throbbing, as if filled with lead. What was that sound? An alarm clock? No. A timer? No.

That was auditory nerve "noise" caused by the mismatch between the lightning ball and Nikola Tesla's brain-computer interface.

A humanoid robot disconnected the lightning ball from Tesla's brain.

With his eyes closed and his face twitching, Tesla regained the expression he had maintained while sleeping for years.

Gradually, his chest rose and fell, his breathing became slightly rapid, and his fingers trembled slightly as Nikola Tesla awoke.

Tesla felt very uncomfortable the moment he opened his eyes and saw the light.

Actually, the light source is very soft and not dazzling; it's just that Tesla hasn't seen lights for far too many years.

Nikola Tesla blinked a few times before noticing the humanoid robot beside him. Tesla tried to prop himself up with his hands, but found himself strapped to the bed with multiple seatbelts.

The robot spoke in a sweet female voice, asking:

"Do you want to sit up?"

"Who are you? Quickly untie these straps for me." Tesla said, puzzled, his bound body feeling as if it were floating. "Where am I?"

As if by magic, the robot took out a specially made pillow from the cabinet behind Tesla's head. At the same time, the bed frame corresponding to Tesla's upper body slowly rose, and the robot carefully supported Tesla's head and fixed the pillow with a buckle to the headboard.

"My task is to monitor your health and ensure your safety and comfort," the robot said gently to Tesla. "If you have any other questions, just ask this one."

While Tesla was puzzled, a holographic screen suddenly appeared out of thin air a meter in front of him. On the screen, a person sat and smiled. Tesla looked closely and was startled. The person on the screen was himself. Was it a mirror?

Obviously not. Tesla felt another wave of dizziness. He gave up thinking and waited for the other person to speak.

"Hello! Tesla, I am Lightning Ball. I am speaking to you in your image to create a sense of closeness, and I hope it has not made you uncomfortable."

The "Tesla" in the "mirror," also known as the lightning ball, explains the whole story.

Nikola Tesla was a Venusian.

The Venusian people have a civilization history of over 5000 years, having gone through the agricultural era, the industrial era, and the electrical era, and are now entering the intelligent information age.

The human genetic biology of Venus is highly advanced, and the average lifespan can reach 500 years.

Earth and Mars were both colonies of Venusians.

Earth's land area is relatively small, with oceans covering 80% of the surface. Atmospheric convection is strong, and due to the evaporation of the ocean, it is often cloudy and rainy. Ferns grow abundantly on land, and large dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes fight and battle.

Earth was clearly not a paradise for the Venusians; it was used only as a place of exile for serious criminals.

Mars is much better off than Earth, with an atmosphere of suitable oxygen concentration and oceans and rivers of appropriate proportions. Its disadvantages are lower surface temperature and weaker gravity.

The Venusians used Mars as a base for astrophysical experiments and life science research in a low-gravity environment.

Nikola Tesla was born over 100 years ago. He invented alternating current, ushering in the electrical age in Venus.

He proposed the theory of superluminal waves and submitted a related paper, "The Dynamic Principle of Gravity," to the Venusian Academy of Sciences. At the time, Tesla's theory of superluminal waves was not recognized by the scientific community.

Eighty-six years ago, when Nikola Tesla was 43 years old, he devoted all his passion to the research of brain-computer interfaces.

He continuously improved the connection between his brain and the supercomputer, hoping to create a non-contact super connector using the strong magnetic field converted from a high-power electric field. He called this connector the "Lightning Ball." Tesla's experiment failed, and he became a vegetable, remaining in a coma for 86 years.

Tesla listened to the ball of lightning's explanation and realized he couldn't remember anything. But he at least understood why he had a feeling of floating and asked:
"We're on a spaceship, experiencing weightlessness, right?"

"Yes, our spaceship has just taken off from Mars and is currently in the Martian atmosphere. Our destination is Venus," the person in the "mirror" replied.

The cabin door opened, and two people, holding onto the handrails that surrounded the cabin walls, walked in with heavy steps. Apparently, their specially made boots had a magnetic function, allowing them to be stuck to the floor and remain upright.

“Dear Nikola, I am Abbott, Dean of the Venusian Alliance Academy of Sciences. Do you remember me?” Abbott, slightly embarrassed by the lack of response from Tesla, pointed to a robust man of about 40 years old beside him and introduced him:

"This is Colonel Fellman, the liaison officer from the Alliance Strategic Bureau. We are ordered to do our best to wake you up and bring you back to Venus."

Tesla seemed lost in a fog, completely bewildered. He had too many questions to ask. He gathered his thoughts and said:
"I can't remember anything. Putting aside why I'm here, you two are both important people, why did you come all the way to pick me up?"

Colonel Fellman spoke up: "Respected Mr. Tesla, I was ordered by Dean Abbott and others to wake you up and bring you back to Venus because the people of Venus are in great trouble, and you are the most suitable person we recognize to solve the problem."

"Venus is facing more than just trouble; it's a life-or-death crisis. Nikola, your theory of faster-than-light waves has been verified and applied by us." Abbott gestured to stop Tesla from asking further questions and continued:
"The crisis was caused by the application of superluminal waves, so you are the most suitable person to resolve this crisis."

Tesla blinked hard and shook his head, saying, "Obviously, my mind is clear now, but I can't recall anything about the so-called theory of faster-than-light waves, not even from you, who claims to know me."

Abbott and Colonel Felman exchanged a glance, then Abbott turned to Tesla and said:
"86 years ago, your brain-computer interface project successfully connected a supercomputer to your brain. The supercomputer should be able to help you retrieve the memories stored in your brain," Dean Abbott said, extending his hands to grasp Tesla's.

"The lightning ball connection failed just now, but luckily it woke you up. Let's try again, is that okay?"

"I'm willing to try as many times as I want. I don't want to be an amnesiac idiot with my eyes open. If the connection fails, I can just fall asleep again."

The humanoid robot restored Tesla's hospital bed to its initial state, Abbott and Colonel Fellman exited the cabin, and the connection was re-established.

"Da da da..." Tesla felt waves of pain, like a barrage of left hooks and right straights from a professional boxer, raining down on his head.

His mind was blank, as if it had been emptied out. His body seemed to be floating in the air, or as if he had been pushed off a cliff and was falling down with a "thud" into the bottomless abyss below the water.

Nikola Tesla used the last bit of strength in his body, as if he had just crawled out of an abyss, and let out a low, indistinct groan.

The cabin returned to silence, and the Venusian Nikola Tesla had truly awakened.

As Abbott rushed in, Tesla said urgently:
“I remember everything, Abbott, my friend. Tell me quickly, how is Maria? Where is she now?”

“Great, Nikola, welcome back!” Abbott said, rubbing his hands together with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment. “Maria is on Earth. Things on Venus are too urgent. Let’s go back to Venus first, and then we can go to Earth to see Maria.”

Tesla had a bad feeling. Had something happened to his beloved girlfriend, Maria? How could she be on Earth? Wasn't it supposed to be a place of exile?

Tesla stared at Abbott, glancing at Colonel Fellman as well, and said in an unquestionable tone:

"If you want me to solve any Venus crisis, change course immediately and send me to Earth."

Tesla cried out in his heart:

"Dear Mary, I'm back!"

&
The poem composed of collected verses at the end of the chapter:
The secrets of heaven have never ceased throughout eternity; Li Tianfu, Qing Dynasty.

She hid herself several times within the painted screen. (Shu, Lady Xu)
Suddenly, a pair of figures appeared in the mirror; it was Qing, Cha Shenxing.
Unfolding like a reflection in a mirror. (Song Dynasty, by the Buddhist monk Dehong)
(End of this chapter)