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    Mirror Earth Revisited
    Mirror Earth Revisited
    Mirror Earth Revisited
    Ebook349 pages8 hours

    Mirror Earth Revisited

    By P.Z. Walker

    ()

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    About this ebook

    In this sequel to "Mirror Earth", Elisabeth and Roger live happy lives on the other Earth. They are still adjusting, but there are many people around to help them along.

    Denise, Walter, Jane and Sarah are back on their home Earth. Due to what's called the failure of the time-fluxer project things aren't that great. The scientists go on because they have to. Unfortunately they only have each other to fall back on because Professor Holger has little love left for them.

    Everyone thinks the troubles with the time-fluxer are over.

    It's time to think again.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherP.Z. Walker
    Release dateNov 23, 2016
    ISBN9781370997459
    Mirror Earth Revisited
    Author

    P.Z. Walker

    Naturist activist and author, luring people into naturism one story at a time, using many genres, from mystery through history to fantasy.

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      Book preview

      Mirror Earth Revisited - P.Z. Walker

      Mirror Earth Revisited

      by

      P.Z. Walker

      Mirror Earth Revisited - © Copyright 2016 - P.Z. Walker

      This is a work of science fiction, and as a work of fiction, any resemblance to people, places or things is entirely accidental. The creation of certain buildings and locations is entirely the work of the author to avoid conflict and comparison with existing structures.

      General notice.

      This work of fiction deals with nudism and will mention nudity. It's sad that this has to be mentioned, as nudity should not be the shocking state that a person can be in that's it considered these days. Note that this means nudity, not sex.

      License Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the site where it was purchased and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of the author.

      ~~~

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Chapter 1.

      Chapter 2.

      Chapter 3.

      Chapter 4.

      Chapter 5.

      Chapter 6.

      Chapter 7.

      Chapter 8.

      Chapter 9.

      Chapter 10.

      Chapter 11.

      Chapter 12.

      Chapter 13.

      Chapter 14.

      Chapter 15.

      Chapter 16.

      Chapter 17.

      Chapter 18.

      Chapter 19.

      Chapter 20.

      Chapter 21.

      Chapter 22.

      Chapter 23.

      Chapter 24.

      Chapter 25.

      Chapter 26.

      Chapter 27.

      Chapter 28.

      Chapter 29.

      Chapter 30.

      Chapter 31.

      Chapter 32.

      Chapter 33.

      Chapter 34.

      About naturism/nudism.

      About the author.

      More information on naturism.

      Chapter 1.

      Walter stared at the computer screen on his desk. He was trying to concentrate on his work and failing miserably. All that time since returning from that strange, alternate world he was still unable to let it go. It irked him even more that Professor Holger had shut down the time-fluxer program and assigned him to this stupid project that probably didn't stand any chance of success. Sarah and Jane had also been reassigned to different projects. To him it felt as if Professor Holger wanted to separate all of them. The man had been furious when Elisabeth and Roger hadn't returned. Only Walter and Denise wasn't enough; Elisabeth represented a big investment for Professor Holger's institute that had funded the whole project. And Roger the money man had brought in more money from outside investors, something Walter had always frowned upon. Denise, who had been the technical genius for the project, had left the research institute. On a logical level Walter didn't understand this because there was enough work for someone with her capacities. Denise however wasn't just about logic. He knew her too well for that. She'd been shattered for the first few days after returning from their strange trip across the boundaries of worlds. Coping with these changes had proved to be too much for her so she'd handed in her resignation even before telling her co-workers about it. They were still in the dark about the why.

      Such a pity, Walter thought to himself. Denise was a very capable and reliable person, someone who could keep her wits together in case of work related disaster. He did however admire her resolve to stand up for herself and make this decision. Again he turned to the computer screen and tried to make sense of the electromagnetic mumbo-jumbo on it. He'd been appointed program manager of this project and after talks with the people who were working on it Walter had reached the conclusion that none of them knew what they were supposed to do. That was hard to believe because it meant money being wasted and that was not Professor Holger's style. The idea behind this was that the project would come up with a novelty for zoos where animals would be kept in their own spaces using electromagnetic pulses. Research had shown that all living organisms are sensitive to those pulses on a certain level, and by somehow modulating these pulses they would be able to keep animals away from the boundaries. Walter didn't understand much more of it yet, so he tried to read up on the theories as well as he could. A small window on his monitor popped up.It was Conny Wong, the secretary of the department Walter now worked for.

      Hello, Dr Nielsen. Conny refused to call people by their first name. The students are coming in, sir.

      Thank you, Conny. I'll be right there. Walter saw the little window disappear. Conny was a gem, he thought. After giving his face a good rub he took his tablet (he might need that) and got up. Professor Holger had arranged for a number of top notch students to do some practical work at the research facility and Walter had been assigned mentor to a group of them. Some of those youngsters were too smart for their own good, he'd thought a few times. It was something he enjoyed though, as they challenged him. Elisabeth would have loved the mental battles in her field of work, he thought as he walked to the door. Elisabeth. Where would she be now? What would she do? Her decision to stay in the world of the naked people had shocked him at first but he understood why she'd done it. She'd been the first one to leave her clothes off. Walter remembered how she had changed her mind several times, about wanting to stay or come back here. He knew she'd made the right choice.

      Hey Walter, a voice dragged him from his thoughts as he walked down the corridor. It was Sarah.

      Hello, Sarah. Having fun yet?

      Sarah noticed how he looked at her, so intensely, as he'd done a lot lately. Fun is a big word but life's okay here. And you? She laughed as he mentioned the electromagnetic students and watched him walk off. She liked Walter a lot and felt sorry for him. The man looked so confused at times. Electromagnetics wasn't his line of work. What would Holger want with that? She turned and continued walking as her mind went back to the horrible discussion - well, it had been a shouting match - she'd had with the facility's leader. He'd threatened to throw her out if she were to appear in anything less than appropriate clothing ever again. Sarah loved her work here so she'd decided to comply but the longer she did so, the more she missed being naked. It was so liberating. She walked around in the nude at home and she'd gone to visit Jane at the naturist park on several weekends, but that wasn't the same. Her mind was so occupied with what had happened so many months ago that she didn't see the tall, black man stepping out of an office. She ran straight into him. Oh damn! The archaic but at times still necessary paperwork she held in her hands flew everywhere. Sorry! I didn't mean to do that.

      The man, Dr Columbus Watkins, laughed. Don't worry about me, I can take it. Let me help you with that. As he helped Sarah gather all the sheets, she apologised again. Really, it's okay. I hope you weren't hurt. Columbus Watkins was a small giant of nearly seven feet, and his shoulders were wider than Sarah had ever seen on a man. His career here was only half of his work, as he also was doing reasonably well in the local bench-press scene.

      I'll live, Sarah grinned. She liked this man. He had a friendly face and never seemed to judge anyone. She looked through her papers. That's all of them. I'll sort them out later. Thank you, Columbus.

      My pleasure, Sarah. He winked and walked off, fast as usual on his long legs. It made him look as if he was always in a hurry. Sarah didn't know what he was doing here but it had to be more interesting than the stupid project Holger had assigned her to. Degraded her to, actually, as she was no more than a well-paid secretary now. A few shimmers of the exciting times with the people from the other Earth rushed through her mind. Henrik had been a wonderful person. Sarah smiled at the memory of Pavel. The man had hardly spoken. Gloria, the temporal calculator from that other Earth and Elisabeth's equal, had also been fantastic to be around. Sarah would never forget that time as Jane and she had lived with them at that naturist resort. And the times they all had walked around naked here in this building! Amazing, wonderful, and not something they'd do again, she was sure of that. Too bad the time-fluxer project had been cancelled. She sighed and then she walked on to get her paperwork delivered.

      ~~~

      Miss Rosen. Professor Marcus Holger sat behind his desk and looked at Jane as if he was sampling something at a supermarket. We have not been seeing eye to eye lately, which is a shame. Truly it is. The man rose from behind his desk, making Jane step back instinctively. Not seeing eye to eye was quite an understatement for the fights they'd had. I have given the situation a little more objective thought and I think we might be able to settle our difference at a more personal level. Marcus Holger smiled. It struck her as the expression a cobra might have just before poisoning its prey.

      And what do you mean by that? she asked, curious.

      I have seen you without clothes, he said, leaning against his desk and staring at her as if he was undressing her with his eyes. Often. You paraded around here with these people from the other Earth often enough. I would be willing to forego our differences if you come to work here as my personal assistant. Jane knew this was impossible. There had to be a catch. She didn't have to wait for it. Naked.

      How dare you suggest something like that... Her first impulse was to step up to him and slap him in the face. She could barely hold herself back but she didn't want to fall to his level.

      "It's so easy, Miss Rosen. I have seen how much you like to be naked and have people gawk at your body. I offer you the chance to stay employed here and have someone gawk at you."

      You really don't understand it, do you? Jane was angrier than she'd thought possible. "These people weren't naked because they wanted to be gawked at as you so delicately put it. They just didn't need nor want clothes. It's so much more comfortable!" She didn't like how she was raising her voice but couldn't help it.

      "And I offer you the option to work here, for me, in the same comfortable way." Marcus Holger stepped closer to Jane who backed away from him.

      No way. You can forget about that.

      The alternative is that you will no longer be employed here. His voice became cold. Jane noticed how he clenched his fists.

      I'll spare you the paperwork. I quit. She turned around and walked to the door. She didn't want to see this man's face again, but he had different plans. Before Jane had reached the door he was with her and grabbed her arm.

      Not so fast, you, the man growled. First show me yourself one more time! He started grabbing at her blouse which tore away easily. Here we go!

      Jane lost her self control now. She clawed at his face. The professor screamed, even though it was more from shock and surprise than from actual pain. Jane ran to the door and left the man's office in a hurry. The professor's secretary looked at her and then went to see her boss because the man was still yelling as if he was being tortured. That gave Jane enough time to hurry to her own office and gather the few personal belongings she kept there. She threw the company cellphone and everything institute related onto the desk, put on her coat and walked out.

      Jane? Where are you going? A few co-workers asked her but she didn't feel like talking to anyone at that moment. Her blood was boiling and anything she would say wouldn't come out right. Maybe she'd send some e-mails later but getting out of this place was the only thing on her mind now. She frantically punched the button for the elevator to come but that took its time so she walked to the stairs as quickly as she could. Anything to avoid seeing that bastard Holger again. Jane rushed down the stairs, leaving the people she passed with surprised expressions. She reached the large hall, ran through it and then her departure came to a full stop at the main entrance. She had left her keycard on her desk and she would need that to get out of the building.

      Damn, damn! She kicked the door and turned around. The only place to get out now was the back door that she'd used so often to bring in the visitors from the other Earth. Once again people stared after her as she ran through the hall. The door she was heading for was wide open. It seemed ironic that she would escape from this building through this very door. As she stepped outside she recalled the moments of coming in here and leaving with the visitors from the other Earth. Henrik, Gloria and Pavel. Naked and happy. Naked the right way though, not the way that creepy Holger had just suggested. How degrading!

      Jane? What's the matter? The voice made her look back. It was one of the people who had worked on the original fluxer program.

      Matthew, I'm leaving. Holger insulted me and approached me sexually. And yes, everyone's allowed to know it. Good luck. With that Jane turned away and started walking to the car park. Luckily she wouldn't need her key card to leave from there.

      ~~~

      She what? He what? Walter and Sarah both stared at Matthew, the last person to speak with Jane before she left. The news hit them like a brick. Sarah's first impulse was to quit her job as well, out of solidarity with Jane.

      Walter asked what she would do after quitting. There are not many places that keep you busy like this one, Sarah, and running off won't help Jane. It's smarter to just keep going and see how we can help her.

      But what if dirty Holger comes on to me like he did to her? Sarah had no idea what had happened but for Jane to rush off like that, without saying anything...

      Then you cut off his balls, Matthew suggested between slurps of his soup. He shoved the plastic knife over to her. Here. Use that. Make it hurt.

      Sarah picked it up. It would at least be slow and painful for him. She dropped the thing. "Not my style though. Imagine that I would have to keep his thing in my hand. Eew. Suddenly she didn't feel like having lunch any more. Sarah looked at Walter. And then, what if I lose my job here? This 'light therapy for animals' project is hardly satisfying." They all knew about that project. It had been asked for by a wealthy friend of Professor Holger, and Holger had agreed to that because said friend had pumped considerable amounts of money into other projects.

      I understand. We'll see how we can improve your situation, Walter promised.

      Sarah sighed. What will Jane do now?

      I don't know. Let's get out of here early and call her. That was the best Walter could offer, and Sarah agreed it was the most sensible option for now.

      ~~~

      Jane sat in her car, her cheeks wet and her hands still trembling. She had driven to a parking lot far from the research building and only there had she allowed herself to cry over what had happened. What would her friends think? Matthew would probably talk to them but he didn't know what had really happened. She took her purse and fumbled with it until she had her phone. Carefully she composed a message to Sarah and Walter but pressing the send button took some nerve. Hopefully they would understand why she had run off after this.

      After some time she left the car and walked around. Walking around in a parking lot was stupid but she had to move, get her blood going, and breathe some fresh air. Running away and quitting had been an impulse decision. Now she had to had to consider her future. She had enough money in the bank to live off for a while, but that wouldn't last for months. You need a new job, she told herself after blowing her nose. A new job. Easier said than done with her skills. Places like the research centre were hard to find, and there was a good chance that Holger was already warning the people who ran those other places about her. She had to count on that; he was vicious enough to ruin her future that way. Her phone pinged inside her pocket.

      "Hey you. Let's meet at 6pm, Mango Bar&Grill. Curious what happened. S&W." Jane read the message out loud. Simply doing that made her feel a little better. At least Sarah and Walter wanted to know the gory details. The Mango Bar & Grill was a nice, little place where they'd sometimes go. Jane checked her watch. Just past 1pm. A good time to drive out to one of the smaller villages for lunch; somewhere away from the city she'd run away from.

      Chapter 2.

      It's not going to grow itself into that table, Roger. Dulca tapped him on the shoulder. Roger had been staring at the greenhouse pod for a while now, impressed with what he saw in there already. You will have to adjust the growth parameters of it, remember? And set how long those will be in effect. In a few days you can also determine the colour correctly.

      Roger looked at the woman who was his mentor in the greenhouse laboratory. I know, I know. It's just that I'm still amazed how all of this works. The first months he'd been living on this version of Earth had rushed by. He'd learnt a lot of new things, skills he would need to be a useful member of the community. He'd become stronger and fitter, and he had never felt better. Living with Yalda was amazing. He could still get drunk with happiness by just thinking of her. During the first week after the others had left Elisabeth had stayed with Roger and Yalda. Roger wasn't surprised that she had decided to stay on this Earth. She'd been the first to feel at ease in this world, shedding her clothes. Being naked looked so natural on her. The same natural feeling had by now come over him and he wouldn't go back to the clothed version of Earth even if he could. This state of freedom had been overwhelming at times. Now there was nothing better than being uncovered. He caught himself using the word that people used here. Uncovered. Not dressed. It made him happy. It made him feel like one of the locals. And of course there was Yalda, the woman with whom he'd formed such a special bond. Here he felt important. Before, on the other Earth he'd felt the same because he was a money monger. Now he knew that money meant nothing and real happiness was what counted. Had he not been transported here by accident, he'd never have learnt that, he was convinced of that.

      Under Dulca's watchful eye he adjusted the settings on the small panel that monitored the growth progress of the table inside the pod. This wasn't an ordinary table. It was one he'd designed himself so it had to be perfect.

      That's too much. Dulca pointed at the display where one of the readouts was slowly increasing. The fact that her arm touched his didn't matter any more to him. Such a difference to his previous life, Roger thought. Back then he had been scared to be touched by others. He adjusted one of the settings until the readout went down again.

      It's harder than it looks, he admitted after getting it right.

      Dulca laughed. As long as you know that, it's good. You're doing well for a newcomer. Come. This section is now taken care of. Let's go to the gardens and see about the veggies. Roger had begun to love the gardens. Wide areas in the open air where food was grown. Most people loved digging into the earth with their hands, sitting on their knees. They got dirty doing it but there was plenty of water around so dirty skin was never a problem. Roger and Dulca, together with many others, crawled along the lines of vegetables, inspecting them for bugs. Bugs weren't killed with pesticides here. Instead they were wiped away. The ones most dangerous to the crops were collected and moved away. It seemed a crazy way to keep the crops whole but it worked. It was far fairer to the rest of nature, so Roger had learnt. Bugs had a reason to exist and whatever they could get from the crops before being removed was their good luck. Some kinds of food were grown inside the laboratory as bugs were too fond of those, and the battle with these bugs was hard to win otherwise.

      It's a shame that Elisabeth doesn't want to help us, Dulca said. I think this work would be good for her.

      Roger laughed. You say that about everyone who doesn't work here.

      Oh, hush you. Dulca threw some dirt at him. You'll scare away the bugs with that noise. She had to laugh too though.

      ~~~

      After living with Roger and Yalda for a while Elisabeth had asked if she could live in the second yellow house in Red Street, the house where the group of visitors had lived after arriving on this Earth. No one had had any objections and the house was still available. She had moved in there and then she had made it a point to visit Roger and Yalda every morning, if only for a short while. Often they would have breakfast together. After that visit she'd use the automatic walkways to travel to the research centre. Nissa, the woman who had been in charge of their version of the time-fluxer project, had asked Elisabeth to do so because there were quite a number of projects that could use extra hands, and Elisabeth's hands would be perfect for several of them.

      So which one do you think is best for you? Nissa had shown Elisabeth around the facility once more, introducing her to a few more projects. To Elisabeth's surprise many work spaces for developments were outside. The wonderful weather made that possible.

      The traction beam looks fascinating, Elisabeth said, but so does the project to simplify the DNA recombining for growing new things. The latter one baffled her. On this Earth people were working on growing things. Not just plants or food, but actual stuff like tables, parts of houses, and functional electronics. I'd love to work with the DNA team but that's so far out of my field of knowledge... I think I should opt for the traction beam instead. Nissa agreed. The traction beam group needed more help anyway, and after a while Elisabeth might switch to the DNA team if she felt more confident.

      I'll take you back there, Nissa said. I think they'll be happy with someone like you.

      Elisabeth enjoyed the walk around the compound. The air felt nice and warm, there was no wind at all, and the sun was behind a few clouds. I'm so glad I chose to stay, she said as she stopped walking and looked around. She'd done that a lot lately, taking what was around her and convincing herself that it was real.

      So are we, Elisabeth. You belong here. As they walked on, Elisabeth decided she'd stop saying this same thing over and over again. As she thought so she knew it wouldn't happen. She was too grateful for this opportunity.

      Here is Elisabeth again, Nissa announced as they entered the area of the traction beam project. She wants to work with you instead of the DNA team for now.

      Oh, lucky us, said Tarion, the project leader. We already hoped for that. Welcome, Elisabeth. The other team members also welcomed her to the group. Hands were suddenly on Elisabeth's bare arms and back, and that way she was guided to the main information console for the project. She was offered a chair and something to drink, and then Tarion said he'd leave her in the capable hands of Siarra, the woman who collected and catalogued all the findings for the project. Siarra can tell you everything about what we're doing, what we've done, and probably even more about what we should be doing. Tarion winked at Siarra who was already shaking her head.

      He talks a lot, Siarra said as Tarion had walked off. She then began explaining what their project was about, what they had achieved and what the current hurdles were. Elisabeth understood a lot, but it was obvious she'd have to learn many new things before she could do something for the project. Don't worry. We all learn every day. So you were a quantum physicist on the other Earth, weren't you?

      Yes. I was. Elisabeth thought back to the first days here, when she had spent a lot of time with Henrik and Gloria who had come over to visit her. They had talked a lot about their experiences. Henrik and Gloria were in a way still shocked about seeing all those people with clothes on when they had been on Elisabeth's former world. She had tried to make contact with Pavel as well, but the man was very silent, withdrawn, and only had attention for his wife and children. Everyone here was amazingly kind though, and the world-jumpers from here were all relieved to be back in their homes. It was hardly a surprise for Elisabeth. This Earth was so much nicer than the one she had left behind. Thinking back to the other Earth, the one she'd left to live here, she shivered and rubbed her arms.

      Are you cold? Siarra looked understandably surprised.

      No. Just some thoughts I should have kept unthought. Elisabeth then paid attention to Siarra again and intently listened to the new things that she was going to learn and do that day. The idea of working on a way to make things move by simply using light waves intrigued her immensely.

      At the end of the day Elisabeth felt mentally tired. All the new information, the strange technology and the odd way the instruments had to be used had made her brain buzz, so she was glad the day was over. Nissa accompanied her back to the community and laughed at Elisabeth's account of how she felt.

      You'll get used to it. Roger is doing well also, so I've heard, Nissa said. It wouldn't surprise me if he tended to a few of the instruments that were grown for your tractor beam project. Elisabeth shook her head. The idea of growing instruments as you would do with plants still boggled her mind. For a moment she felt sorry about not having chosen the DNA recombination project. That was meant to increase productivity in these growth laboratories and simplify the selection and configuration of what was to be grown.

      As they reached the communal area where food was prepared, Elisabeth saw Roger and Yalda. Roger. The man still amazed her. If ever change had happened, it was with that man. She remembered his initial refusal to shed his clothes, and how everything had changed after he'd actually become a hero. Hello Elisabeth, the hero greeted her. Good to see you again. Are you comfortable in your house? The way he and also his friendly wife Yalda approached her was entirely different as well. Roger had become a proper human being.

      Yes, thank you. Everything's fine there.

      We heard you haven't been out to the animals yet since you decided to stay, Yalda said as they all moved forward in the line for the most popular food. Why don't you come with Roger and me some day? It would be nice to show you around.

      That would be neat, yes. I've been so busy getting my new life together that I hadn't even thought about that. That wasn't true though. Elisabeth had sat in her garden several times, wondering how her life here would unfold. She hadn't left

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