There are many lucid dreamers.
Yes, but not with the rest of the package. I am being sincere.
Natalia, tell me about your dreams.
Should I be honest with him? Maybe. After all, he is Thomas, the man of my dreams. I cross my arms, acting stubborn for no reason. I can perform cognitive functions during my dreams.
And? he says. His tone suggests he knows more than he is letting on. What kinds of cognitive functions I hold his eye contact, blinking slowly and buying myself time.
Mathematical functions, I say. Sometimes more.
He inches towards me, his eyes piercing. What else?
I do not break. The air between us grows hot. I break. Decisions. Sometimes they change the course of my dream. I can have conversations with others inside a dream. The staff here seem to find that significant. He nods, satisfied. Im flustered but keep a straight face.
Good enough, he says, but that makes you one-in-a-thousand, not a one-in-a-million. I wont comment on your looks. Adding that to the equation might put you closer to one in a million.
With a straight face, I admit, Flattery will get you everywhere. Tell me, in your country, doesnt such a statement set you up for a sexual harassment claim? I noticed how you looked at me today. Thank you, by the way.
Natalia, we arent sitting on a couch in my country. we are next to your bedroom in Romania. And did I?
He is testing me. Flirting. I am not used to this, but I play along.
Notice me? Yes, I think you did.
He says, Hmm. Might that be because I appreciated your English skills, your elevated IQ, or that body? Or might it have been because you couldnt take your eyes off me? I suggest we talk about it now.
General, why now?
Because there is no time like the present. Its not every day a woman I dont know introduces herself beautifully half-dressed. I liked it.
My choices were limited. I didnt bring a lot of clothes with me, I say, trying to maintain a straight face. For me, Thomas is refreshingly not Romanian PC.
I continue, Since you seem to have a special ability to make me comfortable, Ill tell you more about my dreams.
Okay.
I can see events in the future.
Hes in. Thomas stares at me. That would make you one in a million. How often do you have a predictive dream, Natalia?
I told the staff that its happened a few times. But, in truth, it happens often. My last one was thrilling and scary. Im not talking about it, especially to you.
He doesnt give up. What kind of future events can you see?
Im not mentioning Chanel, thats for sure.
It depends. When Im relaxed during the day,I see pleasant things in the future at night. When stressed during the day, Ill dream about whatever problem I created or cleaned up. That can become a bad dream or even a nightmare. In my job, I deal with situations involving violence. Enough about me, General. The SRI could terminate me for sharing that information. By the way, I debugged my cottage the moment I arrived. I always do. They think Im special, and they allow it. Your turn.
I can hear the waves. I suggest we take a walk on the beach, and we can talk more there.
Fraternizing with Americans is risky, and the beach is outside the perimeter, making it a forbidden zone. Yet I know I can learn much from this man if we spend time alone. Please give me a minute. I disappear into my bedroom.
I return wearing a blue bikini and nothing else.
* * *
She doesnt have a tan line what an incredible physique. Brushing my arm with hers, she goes outside. Is she always this impulsive? One of my rules in life is: Its never too soon. So out I go, knowing that too soon tonight could get me in trouble.
On the beach, a few minutes later, she is a natural. Shed be a star on 5th Avenue or the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Natalia doesnt waste time in the sand. Instead, she splashes her way through the shallow water. Not a ditsy move. She has a purpose.
Hurry up, old man. Violating the perimeter will trigger laser sensors; they dont extend into the water. Shes something else. I take off my pants and shoes, hide them nearby, jump in, and swim with her a quarter-mile around the boundary. A quarter-mile in the water for me is a challenge. I suck it up.
Out of breath and back on the beach, she squeezes the water from her hair. Are you okay? She takes my arm, and we walk. American girls typically dont take a mans arm. Neither do the Asians. The Europeans do, and so do the Russians. I like the feeling; it allows me to relax. The bikini doesnt hide much, and I know that pressing against me makes it easier for her to determine my heart rate. Natalia is a pro, a stunning pro.
So why did you come here, General Thomas?
I came for two reasons. First, to attend the SRI Board meeting tomorrow and provide my perspectives on the state of the World Order. I guess they are looking for outside opinions to validate their plan.
And the second reason?
Thats controversial. To be discussed later, when the only thing coming between us isnt a bikini and water droplets clinging to her skin.
If you dont mind, Natalia, Ill come to that later. She gives me a half-nod, perhaps surprised, but also perhaps not.
She surprises me with her next question: Are you married, General Thomas?
I blink. No, Im not. And please call me Crew.
Why not? Im sure many women have been interested in you, Crew. She struggles a little to use my first name.
I learned hard not to put someone I love in harms way. Marriage has never been an option. I cant prioritize a woman before the national interest.
Natalia isnt put off. How many times have you been in love?
I admit the truth: Twice.
Thats not many. What happened to the two girls?
They are dead. Both got in harms way.
She stares wide-eyed at me, not expecting such an honest answer. I say, What about you? Like two dead women arent a big deal.
What about me?
How many times have you been in love, Natalia? Im sure many men have wanted you.
Never. I take her hand as we walk. She lets me, brushing her thumb over mine to show her acceptance. We keep bumping shoulders.
Its rare, almost unique, that an intelligence operative rises to the level of general. Please tell me, how did you do it?
Ive never been asked this question. I guess I never cared about the title of general. The bravest warriors were not generals. Neither were the greatest scientists, men like Einstein, Tesla, Hawking, and Andre Linde. She shows me a quizzical look.
I made discoveries consistent with quantum physics and applied them. No one else could do that, so I moved up.
My voice is clear, and my tone shows no stress. She notices.
I see. What kind of things? I know Im pushing the limits of our deal.
Yes, you are. But Ill tell you anyway. I organized a military unit pursuing sound-and-light-wave mastery merged with energy generation. Over time, we figured out a technique to manifest, project, switch, and teleport. Its the last frontier of covert intelligence.
* * *
What? Im speechless and puzzled. I cant figure out why he is telling me this. We continue making our way through the sand.
He breaks the silence. Tell me something special about you.
Like what?
Well, lets start with the basics, Why did you join the SRI?
Do you want the true story? I should warn you that its not exciting.
Yes, please.
I thought long and hard about studying physics and applied to study at MIT in your country. They turned me down. It was more practical to stay close to home, so I worked my way through a Ph.D. in quantum physics in Bucharest. I understand everything you are telling me about the theories of projection and teleporting. Hearing from you that theory could be real is like catching lightning.
She pauses for a moment, sighs, and continues, I couldnt afford to attend university and four years of grad school without the support of the SRI. I owe them a debt of gratitude.