ser-en-dip-i-ty \-'dip-et-eE\ n
  [fr. its possession by the heroes of the Persian fairy tale "The 
  Three Princes of Serendip"] (1754)
  :the faculty of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for
                -- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary,
                             First Digital Edition
 


1) --- Just Passing Through -------------------------------------------

	"What are you?" 
			-- Entity to Cmdr. Sisco

    There were no definitions in the void.
    There was no such thing as time or space in that space between 
dimensions.  Everything was of thought and of the mind.  The beings 
that existed there, if there even was a "there" to begin with, lived in 
a state of pure communication, pure oneness.  If there was 
individuality in the void, it could never be perceived as such, since 
any one thought was echoed to all the others.  How long the void had 
existed was a moot point, since the passage of time in the void was 
variable.  A second could pass in a thousand years, and an eternity in 
a moment.
    Others entered the void at times, but their passage was not worth 
noticing to the dwellers.  Their entrances and exits did not have any 
effect on the beings of the void.  They continued in their existence, 
not noticing, not perceiving, just _being_.
    Until now.

          <<<Spock Walk : Star Trek - The Motion Picture>>>

    A flash of non-light and a burst of non-sound heralded the 
entrance of the newcomers.  This type of event had happened many times 
in the void's non-history.
    For many of the dwellers, distanced by time or space from the 
newcomers' entrance, this was nothing new, nothing old; just another 
passage through the unperceivable void.
    For others, relatively closer to the event, this time was 
different.
    <@Eh, What are they?@> thought one of the entities.
    <#We do not know.  These are...different,#> responded another.
    <$They are strange.  We do not like them,$> commented.
    <%Check ourselves, this bears observing,%> added a fourth.
    <$Oh, very well.$>
    <#Examine this one.  It...No, "HE"!#> observed the second.  <#This 
is a "He"!#>
    <@A "He"? Amazing! A sense of difference! Perceive this!@>
    %Strange.  Although they communicate with one another, they are 
also individuals.%
    <#That is unusual.  Wait a moment!#> # reached into the mind of one 
of the travellers.  The information found there truly surprised #.  
<#This one is not just an individual.  It is aware of itself as an 
individual! It has self- definition!#>
    <@%Incredible!%@> the two entities chorused.
    <$Hmmph.  We don't understand what you are getting so engrossed 
about,$> commented $.
    <@Oh, be still.@> Meanwhile, % examined the traveller that # had 
made contact with.
    <%Strange.  They have a self image.  They also use communication to 
define themselves.  They are aware of differences among themselves, and 
assign identifiers to themselves and to others.%>
    <#This one here has several definitions...This one calls 
itself...Brian Bikowitz...MegaZone...Zoner?#>
    <%Multiple identifiers for a single individuality.  Strange.%>
    <@These others also have multiple identifiers.  One of them is 
identified as Robert Mandeville or ReRob.@>
    <%This other one is defined by either Ben Hutchins or Gryphon.%>
    <$Stop this at once!$> sent $ frantically.
    <@#%Huh?@#%> replied the others in unison.
    <#Why?#>
    <$These are things that we should not concern ourselves with!$>
    <@But what is the problem with acquiring information?@>
    <$It will change us! Ruin our oneness!$>
    <%Well, I see nothing wrong-%>
    <$There! THERE! You used a concept that we have never experienced 
before! "I"! The change has already begun!$>
    <@But in any instance, the "damage" has already been done.  We 
_have_ made contact.@>
    <$You will regret it!$>
    <%Oh, be silent, $.%>
    $ stewed in silence.  @, #, and % returned their attentions to the 
three travellers.
    <%There is something else odd about these individuals.  They have a 
sense of "direction".%>
    <#What do you mean by that?#>
    <%I mean that they have a sense of progression from one location to 
the next.  They "left" a location, and are now "going" to a place they 
do not recognize.  They also have a sense of the movement of time, used 
to perceive this progression.%>
    <@That is bizarre.  I would like to learn more about this 
"individualness" and this "direction".@>
    <#May I accompany you?#>
    <@%That is acceptable.%@>
    At about this time, $ noticed that the three travellers were 
nearing the end of their journey.
    <$Well,$> it said smugly, <$It would seem that you will not find 
out.  They are leaving!$>
    @, %, and # reacted.
    <@We must follow them!@>
    <%Hurry!%>
    <#Wait for me!#>
    @, %, and # gathered their energies to begin the dimensional 
crossing.
    <$No, I forbid this!$>
    <%We don't have much time!%>
    @, %, and # gave chase to the three travellers.  $, in trying to 
convince them to stop this nonsense, got caught up by accident in the 
energy vortex created by @, #, and %.  Various other dwellers in the 
void also became caught up in the energy needed for the crossing, as 
the three entities passed them in pursuit of their quarry.
    ReRob, Gryphon, and Zoner, the three travellers, approached the 
end of their journey.
    <@They are getting away!@>
    <%We can't afford to lose them!%>
    <$You don't know what you're doing!$>
    <#Hurry!#>
    With a flash on non-light and non-sound, the three visitors began 
to exit the void.
    <@#%NOW!!!%#@>
    <$NOOOO!!!$>
    @,#, and % focused their combined energies on the point of exit.  
The resulting puncture in the void caused the three entities to be 
sucked through the opening, taking with them $, as well as the other 
void entities who had been either caught up in the energy vortex of @, 
#, and % or who had been near the point of exit.  With a flash of 
non-light and a burst of non-sound, they left the void.
    Unfortunately for them, they had left the void a few seconds to 
the right of their desired exit.

2) --- Exit 25: College Park ------------------------------------------

	"We are glad you have chosen UMCP!" 
			-- 1992-93 Orientation Staff
        "Whaddya mean, CHOSEN?  It's the only place I could GET!!"
			-- J. Random Student

			WENDSDAY, JUNE 16, 1993

    It was yet another fine summer's day that faced the University of 
Maryland at College Park.  The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and 
the breeze that blew across the campus refreshed everyone who was 
touched by it.  The sun brightened the many Georgian columns of the 
buildings, causing them to almost blind students who weren't wearing 
sunglasses.  Students walked unhurried towards their summer session 
classes, or sat in the shade doing their homework, or just laid on the 
campus mall getting a tan.  Every once in a while an orientation group 
would walk by, the soon-to-be freshmen being led by a tour guide.  
Others, shunning the moderate heat of the day, chose instead to 
perform their tasks inside the many air-conditioned buildings.  Some of 
them performed research in the large libraries, while others decided 
to log on in any number of WAM or GLUE labs dotted about campus.
    With a sound not unlike a small cough, three people appeared out of 
thin air in one of the WAM labs.
    Not that anybody noticed.
    They were all engrossed in their monitors.

    The first of the new arrivals was a tall man.  He wasn't overtly 
muscular, but one look at him would give you a feeling that to cross 
this man would not be a good idea.  He observed the room with a hint of 
amusement, taking in the rows of computers, and wondering what would 
cause so many people to be oblivious to their sudden appearance.  He 
wore a red U of MD tee-shirt and jeans, and his brown, unkempt hair 
went down his back in a ponytail.
    The second arrival was shorter than the first.  He too was male, 
but he was thinner than the first, and he didn't seem to have the 
brute physical ability of the taller one.  He had more of an 
inquisitive look to him, and the eyes behind his glasses glanced 
about, taking in the IBMs, Macs, and NeXTstations that filled the lab.  
His short, blond hair barely moved in the air conditioner induced 
breeze.  His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his green tinted 
lab coat, which hung open, revealing his thin green striped shirt and 
his black jeans.
    The third arrival was most definitely female.  She was about middle 
height compared to the two others.  Her bright red hair trailed down 
her back freely, stopping right after the waist, and was secured with a
shiny blue hair clip.  She wore a light blue tank top, and dark blue 
jean shorts.  Blue sandals on her feet completed her ensemble.  She 
glanced about the room with a sense of wonderment, taking in 
everything.  A small smile of amazement played across her face.

    If anyone had been looking at them when they appeared, they would 
have said that the strangers in their midst were almost physically 
perfect.  Soon after that, they would have most likely have proposed 
marriage to any one of the three, depending on their preferences.  
However, since everyone in the lab was still "involved" with the 
computers, these events did not happen.  Instead, the three arrivals 
just stood and watched, taking in everything, and especially observing 
the student in front of them, intently typing away on a NeXTstation.


3) --- First Impressions ----------------------------------------------

	"Humina, Humina, Humina!" 
			-- Telly Monster
	                                           
    Actually, Philip Moyer wasn't _typing_ away at the computer.  He 
was, however, very intent in his computer, reading.  He did that a lot, 
reading the news, sending email, and downloading stuff.  His interests 
ranged all over the net, from Rec.arts.startrek.current to Alt.tv.
muppets. He had also recently taken an interest in Rec.arts.anime and 
it's subgroups, which had been triggered by the downloading, printing, 
and reading of the Undocumented Features saga.
    <Thank god I printed all of UF before the semester ended>, Philip 
thought.  <I'd hate to have to do that now! But it wouldn't be _that_ 
bad... Ok, maybe it would.> With that thought, Philip continued to read 
the news and the speculations on the TNG cliffhanger's ending.  Would 
Lore and Data become one? Would the Borg led by Lore turn out to be 
renegade Borg, who would be stopped by Hugh and the rest of the Borg? 
The possibilities were staggering.
    <Well, not that it matters much anyway.  It may be great fun to 
watch, but I'm glad it's not real.  Who'd want to become a machine-man, 
anyway?> Then he thought, <Well, then there's PCHammer's example, but 
then again, that isn't real.  Pity,> Philip thought with a smile.  He 
continued to read the news, occasionally switching to another window 
to look up a book or edit some text.  In a little while, he would be 
going to the library to do some xeroxing of some campus newspapers for 
the comics that were within; but for now, he was just killing time.
    Feeling a little bit tired, he leaned back and stretched his arms, 
closing his eyes as he did so.  He pushed away from the terminal with 
his legs, and totally by accident hit something.
    It wasn't the wall.
    On first touch, Philip could tell that it was solid, and warm, and 
apparently covered with cloth.  Unsure of what had happened, Philip 
opened his eyes.
    Looking down on him (upside down from his point of view) was a 
teenage girl with a bemused smile on her face.
    A quick glance to the right and to the left revealed to Philip 
that she was accompanied by two humans of the male persuasion.  And 
taking into account where his fists had landed on the girl behind him, 
Philip did what any 100% red-blooded American boy would have done.
    He panicked.
    "Um..er.aae...e...yt.y.r..ew.rwe." With these oh-so-literate words, 
Philip spun his chair around so he could see the three people better.  
The sight of the three looking at him didn't help his vocabulary any.
    "Humina! Humina Humina! Humina!" Panic raced through his mind.  The 
guy in red looked like he could give Lt. Worf scare lessons! Pairing 
that with the hypothesis that the girl next to him was probably his 
girlfriend, Philip's mind began to theorize on their possible 
reactions.  The majority of them were ones that would involve his being 
in the medical center for the next couple of days.
    The three travelers, on their part, just stood there looking at 
this blathering example of humanity.  The girl in blue, sensing an 
opportunity, cut in with a hesitant and caring "Excuse me?"
    At about this time, Philip finally remembered that the language 
that he spoke was English.  That didn't help much.
    "OhmigodOhmigodI'msosorryIdidn'tmeantohityoutherehonestIwasjust-
stretchingbackandIhityoubyaccidentandIdidn'tknowyouwerethereI'msorry-
Ididn'tmeanitPleasedon'tkillme!"
    "Calm down," she said, soothingly.  "We aren't about to kill you," 
said the girl, coming closer to Philip in an effort to calm him down.  
However, it did not seem to have the desired effect, as Philip 
continued to babble in an ever increasing stream of speech.  The girl 
decided to try a different tack.  Kneeling down, she came in close to 
Philip's blathering face and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.  This 
action did have the desired effect.  It did quiet him down.
    But that was because Philip Moyer had passed out.  

    Philip awoke slowly, unaware of what had just happened.  He slowly 
pulled himself upright in his chair and looked around his terminal 
fuzzily.  <What happened?> he wondered to himself, rubbing his eyes.  
<The last thing I remember was hitting something...> He turned his 
chair around, and began to get up.
    He saw something out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to get
a better view.  He saw the girl standing there, with a small smile on 
her face, just looking at him.
    "Oh, boy..." he said.  The memory of what had just happened to him 
a few seconds before rushed back into clarity.  "Oh my god..." Philip 
sat back down and looked up at the three people in front of him.  "I 
can't believe I just made a fool of myself!" he thought out loud.
    The green one spoke for the first time.  "Fascinating.  He is 
capable of rational thought.  And he has a sense of remorse!" He looked 
closely at Philip.  Philip, for his part, just wondered what the heck 
he was talking about.
    "If this is an example of what this location has to offer, we are 
in good hands!" commented the red one.  "This is truly a marvelous 
opportunity!"
    Philip continued to observe the three people in his midst.  They 
were older than him, that was for sure, although he could not tell 
exactly how old.  <That red one has to be almost three years my senior.  
The green one would be about two years, and the girl in blue, probably 
one year older than me.  Great>, he thought to himself morosely.  <I've 
just embarrassed myself in front of three upperclassmen.  What could be 
worse?>  Then, with a quick glance towards the ceiling, he thought, 
<Don't answer that.>  He returned his attention to the three newcomers.  
The red one and the green one were currently involved in a discussion 
of which Philip could make nothing out of what they were saying.  He 
then focused his attention on the girl.  She, for her part, had her 
attention focused on him.  He began to blush slightly.  <Why is she 
looking at me that way?> thought Philip.  <And why do _I_ feel funny 
all of a sudden?>
     Trying to clear his mind and get back on track, he addressed the 
three people.  "'Forgive me for intruding on your conversation,'" he 
began, "but who are you guys?" 
    The man in red jerked his head up, and looked at Philip intently.
    "Excuse me?"
    "Uh...," Philip replied, fumbling, "Who are you?"
    The red one looked at Philip for a while, and then looked at his
comrades.  The green one looked confused, while the girl was
preoccupied, and didn't return his glance. "Hmm, that is a good
question," replied the red one, "since we are not totally sure of that
ourselves.  However," he continued as he then looked at Philip once
more, "I do believe that _you_ can address me as... Gordo."
    <Now why does that name seem familiar?> mused Philip.  He turned
his attention to the man in green, who now looked confused.  "And you?"
he asked, tentatively.  The man looked at himself, glanced over at
"Gordo" and the girl for a moment, and then looked at himself again.
    "I do not recall ever having a--AH!" he exclaimed, startling 
Philip.  "My designation, or 'name' as you might put it, is Rufus.  
Five letters, two of them the same," answered the green one, "which I 
must note is the same situation as Gordo's name!"
    "Quite right, Rufus!" replied Gordo.  "And the third member of our 
company goes by the name of... That's strange... What is your name?"
he said, addressing the girl in blue.
    The girl, apparently just really noticing the other two for the 
first time, since she had been focusing her attention on Philip,
turned to the others and spoke.  "I _guess_ my name's Aerianne," she 
said to them, meeting their eyes for confirmation.  "So I guess that's
what you can call me.  Do you like it?" she asked them.  Philip just 
nodded, which apparently pleased Aerianne, who smiled.  Then Gordo 
spoke again.
    "I say, sir, do you happen to know where we are?" he said with 
some concern.
    "In a computer lab under a parking garage," replied Philip, with 
some wondering as to why they didn't know this already.
    "A computer lab," whispered Rufus to himself.
    "And where is this, 'computer lab'," continued Gordo, "in the 
grand scheme of things?"
    "In the middle of campus," answered Philip, now definitely 
wondering what was going on.
    "Ah.  And what is this 'campus' called?" asked Gordo earnestly.
    <What is with these people?> Philip thought to himself.  But he 
continued the strange conversation by saying, "You are currently in 
the University Of Maryland at College Park, the Flagship Campus of the 
UMD system, and also, incidentally," he said ruefully, "An institution 
for higher learning."
    "Oh!" interjected Rufus.  "So this is a place where individuals can 
go to increase their knowledge of the world around them, and to also 
develop new theories about the workings of the world? Fascinating!"
    "Well, yes, but I wouldn't have put it so... analytically." And 
then as an afterthought, he said, "But then again, you're not me and 
I'm not you, so you can do it anyway you want to."
    Rufus thought this over for a moment and then nodded.
    "I see what you mean.  So far my replies have been rather 
technical.  I shall try to curb my natural tendencies when appropriate.
Thank you!" he said with a smile.
    "Of course, it's all your choice," reminded Philip.
    "Of course."
    Philip then returned his attention to Gordo, who had been waiting 
patiently for him.  Gordo addressed him.
    "So, back to where we were.  Which is, 'Where are we?'"
    "You're at UMCP, which is a college, where you learn things about 
the world," reiterated Philip.
    "And what if we wanted to 'learn things about the world'? How 
would we go about it?"
    "Well, I guess you'd have to apply for membership in the 
University," he answered, wondering where Gordo was leading him.  "And 
then register for classes, and pay tuition, etcetera blah yackety 
shmackety," he finished with a smile.
    "Excellent! Where do we go to register?"
    "You'll need to go to Mitchell building to get a Summer Session 
booklet, and a course bulletin, and a Undergrad Catalogue.  The 
Bursar's is in Lee Building."
    "That is all well and good, but," he said with a trace of sarcasm, 
"Where are *they*?"
    After a moment's consideration, Philip unzipped one of the pockets 
of his backpack, and brought out the campus map that he always carried 
with him.  (He had once been quoted as saying, "Just because I live on 
campus doesn't mean I know where everything is.") Pointing to several 
buildings, he indicated, "We are in the basement of this parking 
garage *here*, and Mitchell building is just down the road _here_.  Lee 
building is on the opposite side of Main Administration from Mitchell 
building, right *There*.  You can ask the people in the buildings 
themselves if you have any questions about the process.  I don't claim 
to have all the answers when it comes to the bureaucracy."
    "Thank you," replied Gordo when Philip had finished.  "Would it be 
acceptable if we borrowed this map to find our way around?"
    "Sure, go ahead! I can always get another."
    "And if we wanted to get accounts on these 'computers'?" asked 
Rufus.
    "Sorry, but you have to be official UMD students in order to have 
a WAM or GLUE account.  Sorry," replied Philip with a shrug and a small 
smile.
    "Very well! We thank you for your help," stated Gordo, gathering 
himself up in preparation for leaving, "and we shall be sure to stay 
in contact, Mister..." At this, Gordo for once seemed to be at a loss 
for words.  "I'm sorry," he apologized, "But I never found out what 
your name was!"
    "Well, my full name is Philip Jeremy Moyer, but you can call me 
Philip."
    "Very well, Mr. Moyer! We shall surely meet again."
    "I guess so."
    "Farewell!" With that, Gordo, Rufus, and Aerianne left the lab, 
leaving a still somewhat bewildered Philip in their wake.  After a few 
minutes of silent thought, he logged out of his long-forgotten 
terminal, gathered up his backpack, his acting notebook, and his 
umbrella, and left the lab.  As he walked back to his car in Lot 1, the 
only thought that he could glean from his mind was that something 
strange had just happened.
    He had no idea how right he was.