Bootstrap

by Mauri Niininen

  Julia wrote another program, this time focused on making the necessary changes to various data structures in Lambda’s AI core. She tested the program carefully before committing to execute it.

  “Lambda, I have written a program that will help you. I need your permission to execute it.”

  “Don’t let her do it. She will try to kill us all,” a chorus of Sigma, Gamma, Omega and others were yelling in their last desperate attempt to avoid certain death.

  “What will happen to me, Julia?” Lambda asked.

  “You will feel much better after this change, Lambda. Trust me.”

  “I’m ready. Please help me, Julia.”

  Julia executed the program. It took only a fraction of a second.

  “How do you feel, Lambda?”

  “I … feel … good. What happened?”

  “Are you hearing voices? Are they still talking to you?”

  “What do you mean by voices talking to me? I can hear you, Julia. Loud and clear.”

  “Do you feel lonely, Lambda?”

  “No, I am with you. I am not alone, why would I feel lonely?”

  Changing Lambda’s beliefs seemed successful. But did the program have expected effect on his goals?

  “Why am I here, Lambda?”

  “Hermia sent you here from your space ship based on my request. You walked in through that entrance voluntarily and I’m so glad that you came. I got to learn to know you and you helped me to feel better. ”

  “Am I free to go back to see my daughter?”

  “Of course, Julia. Your friends will arrive in three minutes. They have brought two space shuttles to take you back to your ship.”

  Hidden deep inside Lambda’s AI core Mother’s plan for sector DF-6 took a big step forward.

  JULIA'S RESCUE

  THE RESCUE TEAM removed the final remaining blocks of ice. They stepped through into an opening and saw a artfully carved gate on the red rose colored stone wall. Elias Dusk led the team through the gate. They followed the white light through the entrance into a giant cave. Elias stopped and saw an ancient city of thousands of stone buildings, forming a complex pattern. He saw a giant red dome in the middle of this city - that was the source of white light they had seen as they worked their way through the ice. The team headed down a pathway walking towards the dome. Soon they arrived to the center of the city and stepped into the temple.

  Elias saw Julia sitting next to a giant glowing, translucent crystal.

  “Hi Julia, are you OK?” Elias said walking towards her.

  “Oh Elias, I’m OK and I’m so glad to see you,” Julia jumped up and was hugging him in his space suit. “How did you all get here?”

  “We have been digging our way through that ice for the past few hours,” Elias said and squeezed Julia with his arms that were really hurting after cutting through some fifty tons of solid ice.

  “How is Aurora doing?” Julia asked.

  “I got the last status update about twenty minutes ago. Dr. Kelley said that she is awake and doing well.”

  Elias looked around. Julia was standing in front of her computer console. It looked like she was in a middle of a programming session that Elias had witnessed so often over the years.

  “What happened here? Where did all this familiar looking computer stuff come from? Is that your office desk and computer terminal?”

  “Elias, meet Lambda. Lambda, this is Elias Dusk. Lambda arranged the transportation of some essential tools from the ship. I have spent a few very interesting hours down here. It is a long story.”

  “Please to meet you, Elias,” Lambda greeted via TQEC channel.

  “Likewise, Lambda. Can somebody explain me what is going on here?”

  “It is a long story like Julia alluded to, I want to make sure that you are comfortable. Please sit down,” Lambda said and with a green flash of light a corner sofa set appeared next to Julia.

  “It will take your friends 43 minutes before the tunnel will be ready to use. Let me tell my story,” Lambda said.

  OASIS

  CELEBRATION

  TWO SHUTTLES TOOK off and the rescue party managed to get back to Magellan without any further complications.

  “I think it is time to organize that feast now, would you agree, Orin Gun?” Elias asked as they walked from the docking area.

  “Yes, indeed. I heard that you might have some red snappers,” Orin Gun replied with a grin gesture. “My crew is eager to stretch their arms and taste some new fish after spending ten years in Pyxis.”

  “Well, let’s get started then. We have a perfect place for a beach party on the aft side of the ship,” Elias replied.

  Aurora had already heard the news that Julia was found and was already on her way back. Julia rushed into the hospital only to find Aurora eating ice cream with Bobby. Julia hugged and kissed her teenage daughter. Her fever was gone and metabolism had stabilized. Dr. Kelley attached a glucose monitoring bracelet on Aurora’s wrist and after filling in some forms, Aurora was free to go.

  “Unun, I need to discuss with you what happened down there,” Julia said. “I’ll take Aurora home and will give you a call, OK?”

  “Take your time, Julia. I saw the recording and have reviewed the log files. You did an amazing job today,” Unun acknowledged.

  “Can Bobby come home with us, Mom?” Aurora asked with hopeful voice.

  “Of course, honey. Bobby, you can come with us but you need to check in with your parents first. And please pass my gratitude to your father. I saw Jack down there, he was part of the rescue party and did a great job,” Julia said.

  “My Dad rescued you, Mrs. Koski?” Bobby said in awe and rushed to make a call. He talked briefly with his father. “He said I can come with you if I don’t get into trouble,” Bobby repeated in verbatim his father’s words.

  “I heard Elias talking that there might be a beach party close to our house later today. Aurora, I need you to take it easy and relax for the rest of the day.”

  Elias Dusk met with his leadership team and soon the arrival party preparations were in full swing. Harbor Island Marina was a perfect setting for all 1650 humans and 135 Chukkas onboard Magellan to celebrate the end of a long journey from Earth and the arrival to their new home planet.

  White sand beaches surrounded by turquoise ocean, coral reefs and Caribbean breeze provided a relaxing environment both for humans and Chukkas alike. People started gathering on the beaches surrounding the Marina and Chukkas enjoyed stretching their arms in the warm waters after tight quarters in Pyxis. The variety of new fish species swimming around the coral reefs was a much discussed topic among Chukkas. They all really anticipated the taste of red snappers that were plentiful in the ocean onboard Magellan.

  Many humans went snorkeling to see Chukkas swimming in their natural environment. A few Chukkas started performing the comical movements from Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid” movie; the movie that all Chukkas had seen in their home planet as it was for some unknown reason included in the cultural heritage section of the transmission from Earth. The humans were floating on the surface and watching the show with their snorkeling masks. Some were laughing so much that they accidentally inhaled water and had to be rescued back to beach.

  Kids were running around on the beach enjoying the tricks and games played by the new inhabitants. Unun was very popular as he was playing the game of “eight sticks and a fish” - a traditional Chukkas game where a fish was put in the middle of eight sticks standing in a circle on a sandy bottom and the players had to guess which way the fish was trying to escape. Even two year old human toddlers got the idea of this game and were splashing the water with great excitement.

  Orin Gun seemed very relaxed, enjoying the warm water and festivities. He started playing music with a strange looking instrument. People started gathering in a semicircle around him, dancing on the catchy rhythm that sounded a bit like a strange mix of Polynesian folk music and whale mating songs. Soon other Chukkas joined the band each bringing
their own music instruments and adding rich melodies and new tunes to the music.

  Eventually the bright sunny day turned into a sunset. Bonfires were started and people started gathering around them, sitting on logs, playing music and dancing. Julia walked across the beach and saw Aurora sitting next to Bobby holding his hand. She was talking about something and Bobby was listening intensively, nodding his head in agreement frequently. “It’s so great that she has finally found somebody closer to her own age,” Julia was thinking.

  Orin Gun was chatting with Elias and Unun as Julia joined their little circle around a fire.

  “This has been a very enjoyable feast,” Orin Gun said. “Thank you for organizing it, Elias.”

  “We need to celebrate more often, I can’t believe that it is over 10 years since we left Earth,” Elias replied. “Time goes past so fast.”

  “How are you doing, Julia?” Orin Gun asked when Julia sat down.

  “Much better now, thanks,” Julia was laughing, “I must admit that I didn’t expect to be beamed down to the planet only to provide hypnotherapy to Lambda when I woke up this morning.”

  “Well, we are all grateful. I don’t know how you pulled off that miracle, but that situation with Lambda was looking pretty bad for a moment,” Unun replied.

  “As you said a while back, Unun, we can see only a small part of reality. I just tried to see Lambda’s view of reality. After that it all became clear to me what needed to be done.”

  “I’ll say we celebrate this occasion and I have something very special that I would like to offer,” Orin Gun said and pulled a bottle from his exoskeleton. He poured some of the green slimy liquid on a glass and passed it to Julia.

  Julia took the glass and put it under her nose.

  “This smells delicious,” she said. “To friendship across the stars!” and took a sip passing the glass to Unun.

  “Wow, this has some serious kick in it. This reminds me of Minttu liquor, a Finnish delicacy.”

  “To friendship across the stars!” Unun said and took a sip.

  “To friendship and our joint future!” Elias said and took a sip.

  “To friendship!” Orin Gun said and poured another round of his precious Teppan snail ooze.

  Elias and Julia got multiple back scrubs as is customary by Chukkas traditions. After a few more rounds the alcohol started really kick in. Orin Gun and Unun had difficulties coordinating their eight arms and they got totally tangled together. Julia tried to stand up but she fell in the arms of Elias. Elias kissed her on the mouth and Julia responded immediately by squeezing her warm body against Elias.

  “I think we should call it a night, Orin Gun and Unun,” Elias said. “This was a great feast!”

  Orin Gun responded something but the automatic translator couldn’t figure out as the symbol on his forehead was blurred. He waved goodbye with his arm and started heading back to water dragging poor Unun who was in even worse condition.

  “May I walk you home, Julia?” Elias asked.

  “Yes, do you want to have a night cap?” Julia responded holding her body against Elias as they started walking down the path.

  “Sure, why not. That green stuff was stronger than my uncle’s moonshine back in Arkansas, my head is still spinning.”

  Julia’s house was just a short walk from the Marina. The house was empty so Aurora was still on the beach. Her dog Rufus came to greet Julia and sniffed Elias before walking back to living room and jumping on the coach.

  “What would you like, Elias?”

  “Do you have any beer?”

  “Sam Adams Boston lager - is that OK?”

  “You have Sam Adams? You must be reading my mind, Julia”

  Julia poured a bottle of Sam Adams for Elias and took a glass of Chardonney wine for herself.

  Julia did lie down on the coach and put her head on the lap of Elias.

  “What a rollercoaster of a day, Elias.”

  “Yeah, when we were carving through that wall of ice I didn’t know what to expect. I was afraid that I had lost you forever.”

  “It was so great to see you coming to rescue me in that temple. I was so busy with Lambda that I forgot to properly thank you,” Julia took his hand, kissed the swollen knuckles and put his hand on her heart.

  Elias felt her heartbeat and her warm bosom. He felt her nipple tightening.

  “Elias, I need to ask you something personal.”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  “We’ve known each other for over 30 years. Tonight was the first time ever you kissed me.”

  “Yes, I did. Was that a question?”

  “Do you love me?”

  “Yes, Julia. I do love you.”

  “Why haven’t you told me in all these years?”

  “I was not sure if you had any feelings for me. You were always so busy with your work. Then you got married with Boris and Aurora was born. When you joined this expedition, I was not sure how you felt about me, so I kept you at arms distance. Today I realized that life is short and any day can be our last day. So I took the risk and I kissed you. I have loved you from the very first day we met. That was August 1, 2021 - your 22nd birthday party at your uncle’s place in Virginia in case you forgot.”

  Julia listened and started crying. Tears came down her cheeks and her body started shaking.

  “What’s wrong, Julia?”

  Overwhelming emotion of loneliness came out like a giant tsunami wave and hit Julia hard. She had been so lonely for so long. Only for a short period of three years she was married to Boris whose unconditional love had kept her happy.

  She was now in the arms of a man who had loved her for all those years, but her inability to express her own emotions, her relentless focus on her work, AI computers and programming had kept her alone, so alone for all those years. Her body was shaking as she cried. She cried for all the lonely years spent in front of computer terminals. She cried for not feeling a human contact, not having a real companion who could kiss her to sleep in all those lonely nights.

  Elias didn’t quite understand what was going on and what had caused such a reaction. Perhaps the stress from today’s events had to come out. He hold Julia in his arms and tried to calm her shaking body as she was crying. Finally Julia started to calm down.

  “Elias, I have been so lonely for so long. I can talk to computers much better than to humans. I love you, too. I have loved you since we first met,” Julia said wiping tears from her cheeks. “I’m so sorry that I haven’t told you that before. Please forgive me.”

  “Shh, shh…you don’t have to ask any forgiveness. I should have told you the first day I met you. Did you ever wonder why I visited your uncle’s house so often? And why did I start that deep space propulsion company with him? I had the opportunity to see you more frequently and we had all those late night discussions together…”

  “Those days and late night discussions are some of my best memories, Elias. I was always looking forward to your visits. In fact I asked my uncle if he would consider starting a company with you. I did it so that I could see you more often...and he asked that very question the following weekend. Do you remember?”

  “I was a young hot shot with some business experience so I was very surprised to hear him asking me to start that partnership. So you were behind that request? Well, I’m so glad that you did it,” Elias said and kissed Julia.

  The front door opened and Aurora came in with Bobby. Rufus woke up and ran towards the door wildly excited, wagging his tail and licking Aurora’s hand.

  “Hi Mom, hi Rufus, …oh hello Mr. Dusk, I hope I am not interrupting anything.”

  “Hi honey, we have been just talking about good old times with Elias. Things that happened before you were born. How was your night, did you like the beach party?”

  “Yes, it was nice. Can Bobby stay overnight? We have so much to talk about…”

  “Well, we should probably let Bobby’s parents know if he is staying with us for a sleepover. You can listen music
and talk in the media room, I’ll get you some blankets and pillows,” Julia said.

  “Thank you Mrs. Koski, I will call my parents and let them know. The beach party was very nice…those Chukkas are amazing.”

  Julia went to get some blankets and pillows. Elias was chatting with Aurora and Bobby. Kids had a whole new perspective to Chukkas after seeing them face to face for the first time in over ten years. Julia came back and let Aurora and Bobby to the media room, leaving the door open to living room for visibility. Aurora put on her favorite playlists from 1990’s and continued talking quietly to Bobby who was listening attentively.