F. Brejcha - With Other Eyes

Even if I couldnt see it anymore, I could almost feel the alien space ship hanging expectantly only a few kilometers away from the Hawking space station. The Travelers, as they called themselves, had arrived four days earlier and they were waiting for mebut I wasnt ready!

I slammed my fist against the bulkhead in frustration. Damn it, Lazz! Why cant I get the hang of using these damned eyes? Its been week and I can barely tell a doorway from a wall. It only took you a couple of days.

A shadow moved across my virtually non-existent vision and I smelled the tantalizing scent of a fresh orange as it was peeled.

Relax, Mitch. Youll get it in time. It was easier for me because Ive been blind for almost twenty years. I didnt have a lot of un-learning to do

I know. I sighed and repeated his constant litany of reassurance over the past week: You only had your eyes removed a few weeks ago, and youre still trying to focus and see the way you used to. But it isnt working! I complained.

Lazz slapped me on the shoulder, his voice suddenly muffled. Wait here. I can see I was right. I had a feeling this might be necessary.

With those ominous words, I heard a hiss from the automatic door as he left the room without explaining what this was.

He could at least have left me some of the orange.

I turned back to the training room for another vain attempt to see the objects Lazz had set up for me. My implanted eye-set was an incredible device; a four-part system actually. It consisted of a controlling computer worn on my belt, a tiny transmitter array I wore on my forehead, and twin receivers implanted in my eye sockets and cosmetically made to approximate the appearance of my own eyes, even turning as reconnected eye muscles simulated natural eye movements. The system used some alien forms of sonar and light receptors to give an approximation of the way the aliens vision worked. It was a different version of something Lazz had already been developing as an alternative sight-system for himself and other blind individuals unable to tolerate eye transplants. The aliens had provided input to modify Lazzs design to meet their criteria.

But it had proved a lot harder to use than I had expected and I was still almost totally blindand I was supposed to be able to see with this system when I went onboard the alien ship to make personal contact. The Travelers had insisted on it for some reason. Lazz couldnt go because I was the one who had decoded the Traveler signals and made first contact, and the aliens only wanted to deal with me. So I could be a witness to something. They had continually refused to answer any questions other than technical ones associated with setting up the meeting. They had said that everything would be explained to me and on my return, I could pass on all my knowledge.

But if I was going to witness anything, I would have to learn to use my new eyes!

The sound of the door interrupted my useless efforts and I heard Lazz come in. And he wasnt alone, I realized as I smelled a delicate floral perfume.

All right, buddy, Im tuned in to your frequency again and seeing with your eyes. Now, one more time, focus, this way!

I sighed and concentrated. Still, there was nothing there no, I could just sense a teasingly vague outline that shifted in and out of focus. I tilted my head, fighting to keep the image clear. The perfume was familiar and I wanted to know if I was right.

Good! Youre starting to get it, Lazz encouraged. Now relax and imagine youre a little drunk and looking at something There, keep that up and youll get more detail.

Suddenly the outlines sharpened and I saw an incredibly detailed topographical image of

Whoa, Lazz! Who is that!

Janice Wills. Shame on you for not recognizing one of your co-workers.

But shes naked!

No, Lazz chuckled. Shes wearing a bikini, or so she said. He suddenly sounded doubtful. Wait a minute, let me break our link and look for myself. After a moment, he spoke up again. Yup. It must have been designed by Drexlers of Hollywood, but its there. I thought a little positive reinforcement might help you since Janice was kind enough to offer her

I know what it looks like shes offering. I felt my face burn and I was afraid to look closer. But this from a woman who turned me down when I asked for a date? And that had taken one hell of an effort. At forty, and widowed only three years earlier after twelve years of marriage, I had been sorely out of practice and feeling guilty over the way I had been attracted to Janice.

Gee, I just love to be discussed in the third person, Janice muttered darkly. And Im still involved with someone. But our beloved leader has quite a talent for blackmail

I prefer to think of it as creative persuasion, Lazz cut in.

Blackmail, Janice repeated firmly. Then she turned back to me.

Besides, he can make himself look even more pitiful than you. Hes been pestering me non-stop ever since he thought of this idea and I finally gave in since weve removed the last of the hidden media Mini-Casters. She moved closer, and I felt a light touch on my arm. But, we really work well together and I just hated seeing you so down in the dumps. She kissed me lightly on the cheek. Youre on your own now, Mitch. Good luck. Then she spun away to pick up a robe she had draped over a chair.

I struggled to keep her in focus as she slipped it on, and then waved and slipped out the door. Then Lazz grabbed my arm and pulled me back to the exercise table.

Okay, buddy. Now that I finally have your attention, lets try this again!

I struggled to focus on the various cones, cubes and pyramids he had put out for me and began describing them. I had not realized how much detail my new eyes could yield until now, but as I worked, I started to get the feel for using them and I marvelled at the dizzying depth they gave the room. I had a feeling that with practice I would be able to judge distances with millimetric precision. But Lazz had been right: the eyes did require using a whole different set of muscles.

I was just getting into it when the overhead speaker buzzed and Commander Elizabeth Josarros voice called down.

Mitch, weve got a problem

The Travelers are insisting I come over now, I guessed, interrupting her.

How the hell did you know?

It makes sense. I fought a sudden queasiness. They were insistent on no official presence at our meeting, and since theyre probably monitoring me the same way Lazz is they know Im getting the hang of my eyes. And they know no one from the U.N. is on the station at the moment.

True no one expected you to have a break-through so soon.

I grinned. Blame it on your husband. Hes a good teacher.

How did he Never mind. She sighed. I can only imagine. But it puts us in a bind because the Travelers want you over there NOW!

I could only imagine the frantic scrambling going on in Geneva, Houston, and the Capeand at the eavesdropping Global News headquarters. The U.N. people and the media had been totally rebuffed by the Travelers, and had been asked to leave the station so I could concentrate on learning to use my new eyes. We had thought I would be ready by the time the aliens arrived, but fine-tuning the combination of alien and human design had taken longer than expected, and then I had proved less than adept in learning how to use them. And now, the U.N. observers who had been planning to sneak back up when I went onboard the alien ship were stuck down on Earth until Fridays SSTO launch, or until a shuttle could be prepped.

I looked up to ask: What about my atmosphere suit and supplies?

Everything is already on the Transport. The extra air tanks and supplies for a week are loaded into external-access compartments. Well control the Transport from here until they take over to guide you into a pressurized bay. Theyve prepared an environmental chamber for you with our specs, so you should be fine.