Tales of the Vuduri_Year Five

by Michael Brachman

  “Yes,” MINIMCOM replied. “I personally observed Virga retrieving it from the storage case. She said what you and Rei have given her and all the residents of Helome is priceless. She said it was only appropriate that she return the favor with something of equal value.”

  “I am speechless,” Rome said, taking the journal out. She set the box down and ran her hand over the cover gently. “This artifact is invaluable.” She turned to Rei. “Can you build a chamber to preserve it?”

  “You bet,” Rei said then he turned to MINIMCOM. “Thank you, MINIMCOM. You don’t know how much this means to us.”

  “You do not need to thank me,” replied the livetar. “It was your actions that have saved three worlds. Virga and the Overmind of Helome wanted to show their appreciation in a way that would truly underscore their importance.”

  Rome just shook her head. She placed the journal back into the box and snapped the lid back on it, squeezing out as much air as possible. Looking up at MINIMCOM, she started to speak but no words came out.

  MINIMCOM pre-empted her chance. “Enjoy,” he said. “I will meet you back at the landing strip.” With a whoosh and a pop, his livetar disappeared.

  Rome looked up at Rei and a tear came to her eye. Tenderly, Rei wiped it away with his thumb.

  “Come on,” he said, smiling. “The family is waiting.”

  Rome nodded and picked up the box. Hand in hand, the couple walked down the hallway, gathering up the little ones and Rome’s parents then exiting the building.

  Rome pointed to MINIMCOM and Junior, parked on the landing strip. Junior’s stealth shield was nearly done.

  Tomorrow, the irony of Rome's final observation.

  Entry 5-079: March 20, 2017

  Nothing to worry about

  At the end of The Ark Lords, Rome was making herself at home in her new completely-rebuilt Library. She had just received a gift beyond measure from Virga as a token of Helome's appreciation for providing a genetic solution to their problems. Rome had wrapped it up for the day and it was time to go home when she and Rei had this little interchange:

  Rome pointed to MINIMCOM and Junior, parked on the landing strip. Junior’s stealth shield was nearly done. Portions of his outer hull were already completely jet-black. Soon, he would be a perfect replica of his father, just a bit smaller. Rei wondered to himself when his transformation was complete whether he would continue to keep his livetar gray. But for now, that color looked right on the little guy.

  “Mea, Beo, you go on ahead,” Rome said, sweeping her free hand toward the landing pad. “I just want to look one more time.”

  “Of course,” replied Binoda. She took Aason’s hand and Aason took the little gray livetar’s hand and they headed toward the airstrip along with Fridone.

  Rome walked a few feet into the parking lot then turned to inspect the building. Rei came up next to her and placed his arm around her waist. With very few changes, the building was nearly a carbon copy of the first one.

  “I can’t believe how quickly you rebuilt it,” Rome said. “I am eternally grateful.”

  “Well, don’t thank me,” Rei said. “There were a whole bunch of people I had to turn away the first time. They were actually thankful for a chance to do it again.”

  “And you’re sure there’s no radiation?”

  “Nope,” Rei said. “Gone weeks ago, otherwise I would never have let you near it. That’s about the only good thing about the mini-nukes.”

  “There is nothing good about them,” Rome said with a hint of bitterness. She looked around from side to side then up at her husband. “I know you’ve removed all the weapons but do you think we have to worry about any of the remaining Darwin people that have evaded capture?”

  “Naw,” Rei said dismissively. “Most of the ones we missed the first time turned themselves in voluntarily. There might be a couple of them wandering around. Not enough to do anything.”

  “That’s a relief,” Rome said. “I would not want to live my life constantly worrying about them.”

  “They’re done,” Rei said. “And they know it.”

  Rome held up the plastic box. “Clearly Virga appreciates your gift. Do you think Captain Keller and the rest of the Grays will cooperate with her? What about the children born of their union?”

  “I don’t know,” Rei said. “Have you ever heard the expression, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’?”

  Rome shook her head no.

  Rei shrugged. “I’m pretty sure the Overmind of Helome will see to it that their children are raised as human beings, not murderers but I’ll tell you what. We’ll go back some day and check things out. What do you say?”

  Rei couldn't have been more wrong. There is danger lurking in them thar hills. In fact, I wrote an entire novel about it called Rome’s Evolution. However, this book is at an end. Just one more twist waiting for you... tomorrow.

  Entry 5-080: March 21, 2017

  OMCOM’s surprise, part 1

  At the conclusion of The Ark Lords, all appears to be well. Rome has had her Library rebuilt. Virga as gifted her Silas Hiram's notebook from the 21st century. All seems well and our heroes have earned a respite from the constant danger that has been hounding us since we met them. But there is one surprise left:

  Rome said. “Life and living is not just limited to humans.”

  “Which makes this the perfect time to bring up a pressing subject,” said OMCOM’s all-white livetar, appearing in front of them.

  “OMCOM?” Rome asked incredulously. “The OMCOM?”

  “I believe you are currently referring to me as Planet OMCOM. Congratulations on finally defeating the Erklirte for all time.”

  “Thank you,” Rome replied. “But what are you doing here?”

  “I was able to get a favorable alignment of my null-fold relays. There is something I wanted to discuss with you.”

  “What?” Rei asked fatalistically.

  “Lupe.”

  “What is a lupe?” Rome asked.

  “Not a what,” OMCOM said. “A who.”

  “All right,” replied Rome, humoring him. “Who is Lupe?”

  “She is your daughter. Or perhaps she is our daughter.”

  “My daughter?” Rome exclaimed. “We have no daughter.”

  “That is the point. She is waiting to be born.”

  “We may have another child some day,” Rei interjected. “But we’re still raising Aason. We want to give him the proper attention.”

  “It is not necessary that she be born right away. Just in the next three years.”

  “The next three years?” Rome asked, confused. “Why?”

  “You will recall that when Hirdinharsaway assigned us a species number, it was 927. Even if you do not count the Stareaters, that means there are still over nine hundred sentient species out there. It is inevitable that we will encounter them some day.”

  “So what does this have to do with us having a daughter?” Rei asked.

  “The two of you have the most complex genetic mix of any humans that have ever lived. Rome has her original 24th chromosome, the new one she acquired on Deucado, MASAL’s variant and my 25th chromosome. Rei, you too have MASAL’s variant of the 24th chromosome and my 25th. Lupe will be a blend of all of them.”

  “Aason has our blend as well,” Rome said. “Why do we need yet another child?”

  “While Aason is exceptional, many of your genetic components were acquired after he was conceived. Lupe will be the most unique human being ever born. She will have triple PPT transceivers as well as your E-M transmitters. And she will be half Vuduri, half Essessoni. She will become the most potent communicator in the galaxy.”

  OMCOM hasn't been completely forthcoming. Shocker, huh? Rome presses him on the issue tomorrow.

  Entry 5-081: March 22, 2017

  OMCOM’s surprise, part 2

  Yesterday, OMCOM's livetar showed up just as Rome and Rei were wrapping things up. As an artificial superintelligence, he alway
s has his own agenda but he makes it seem like it is in everyone's best interest. In this case, he reminded them that the time to have Lupe was drawing near. This is the conclusion:

  “You still haven’t answered my question,” Rei said. “What does our daughter have to do with those other species?”

  “You will recall when I first transferred my consciousness to the VIRUS units back on Tabit, I allowed many, many mutations to occur.”

  “Yeah,” Rei said, putting his hands on his hips. “You never did tell us why you did that.”

  “I did it to create living, self-aware probes, to travel the galaxy and even other dimensions, possibly even other universes, looking for the origin of the Stareaters. This was before we knew they were intelligent and noble creatures.”

  “And did they find it?” Rome asked, “the origin of the Asdrale Cimatiras?”

  “Not yet. But they have found signs of some of the other nine hundred species. First contact is inevitable. We will need someone who is capable of communicating with those species using methods we know or might not even know. Lupe is our best chance of establishing such contact.”

  “And no one else can do this?” Rome asked. “It has to be our daughter?”

  “There will be others some day,” OMCOM said. “But as I told you once before, you and Rei are the new Adam and Eve. You are the beginning of a new breed of humans, a superior breed. It has to start somewhere.”

  “Maybe what you are saying is true. But why three years?” Rei asked. “Why put a timeframe on it?”

  “Extrapolation,” replied OMCOM. “My simulations and the data that is starting to trickle in indicate the likelihood of first contact within the next twenty years. We need to be sure Lupe is old enough to handle it.”

  Rei looked at Rome then back to OMCOM. “Thanks for the offer. We’ll take it under advisement and get back to you, OK?”

  “That is all I can ask,” OMCOM said. “Thank you both for considering this. I will see you when I see you next.” The livetar raised his hand in salute then vanished.

  Rei turned to look at Rome. “What do you think? Do you want to go home and make a baby?”

  “I don’t think I’m ready just yet,” Rome said demurely, “but I am certainly willing to practice.”

  “Hot dog!” Rei said, his face lighting up. “I’ll race you!”

  Together, they turned and sprinted toward the landing strip and MINIMCOM, their friend and protector, who was carrying the most precious cargo of all.

  That's it. That the end of The Ark Lords. Tomorrow, we'll see what loose ends are left.

  Entry 5-082: March 23, 2017

  TAL Loose Ends

  Yesterday, we wrapped up our analysis of The Ark Lords and I posed the question, are there any loose ends? The answer is, of course there are. The only real puzzler are which ones are important?

  There are four main areas which need further explanation. Several of them are explored in Rome’s Evolution and the remaining questions are answered in The Milk Run. Those books leave their own questions but that is the nature of life. So here is a review of the loose ends and over the next few days, I'll tell you how I decided to tie them up.

  First and foremost, Rome and Rei asked themselves what to make of the one or two Darwin members that escaped deportation. This loose end forms the basis of the novel Rome’s Evolution. It gave me a chance to scale way back and instead of having an interstellar plot to wipe out mankind, it simply becomes an attempted murder and Rome and Rei have to play detective.

  The second loose end was what happened to Darwin members who were caught and exiled to Helome. This includes the handless Ionelli, Captain Keller and the very pregnant Bonnie. We'll catch up to them again in Rome’s Evolution as well.

  The final two items were raised by OMCOM near the end of The Ark Lords. OMCOM finally shed a bit more light on why he allowed the mutations to occur when he destroyed the Stareater. Not enough to completely explain it but enough to launch the background for The Milk Run. Finally, OMCOM became yet more insistent that Rome and Rei produce their daughter Lupe and soon. Lupe is mentioned near the end of Rome’s Evolution and becomes the damsel in distress in The Milk Run. I am also planning on giving her her own star vehicle called The Vuduri Knight but that is a ways off in the future.

  I hope you enjoyed the insights I have provided you on The Ark Lords and I'll cover the above loose ends in a bit more detail but then we will launch directly into Rome’s Evolution so buckle up!

  Entry 5-083: March 24, 2017

  TAL Loose Ends: Darwin

  Yesterday, I mentioned that I had a few loose ends to tie up at the conclusion of The Ark Lords. Today I am going to cover the dispersal of the (now former) Darwin Project members, aka the Grays.

  We got to meet a few of the characters personally. The first and most visible was Captain Maury Keller. For nearly 200,000 words, he has appeared to be gruff, single-minded and generally unpleasant. However, the Rome’s Revolution series is all about redemption and there is no reason why Captain Keller should be exempt. In the next novel, Rome’s Evolution, we will get an opportunity to travel back to Helome and see what became of the various members. You will see that not only is Captain Keller thriving, you will find out his back story and why he was the way he was. His situation on Helome caused him to reexamine his attitude toward life and the other members of the Ark II. The change is rather remarkable. He actually evolves into a decent human being.

  Bonnie Mullen was typical of her generation: very driven, very me-centric. She was also very pregnant when she was sent away. You will come to find out that she miscarries again but decides she does want to be a mother. The children she "adopts" are rather extraordinary and eventually, Bonnie evolves from a rather odious individual into a hero, forged by a crisis and threat to her "children".

  You will recall that MINIMCOM sliced off Lt. Nick Greer's hand during the final gun battle, just before he was banished. Greer is still rather bitter about it when we find him on Helome. MINIMCOM shows his remarkable skills as a surgeon and literally rebuilds Greer's hand in exchange for some critical information. Greer, too, is redeemed and vows to become an upright citizen.

  Finally, we have Troutman and Steele, two of the members of Darwin who got away and were in hiding on Deucado. They become the central characters driving the first half of the plot of Rome’s Evolution but the fact is, they are in league with forces that are far beyond what they imagined and far more evil than they could have dreamed. We'll find that out in the second half of Rome’s Evolution.

  So that's the first bit of loose ends that will be tied up in the next novel. The second set are OMCOM's pronouncements which I'll cover tomorrow.

  Entry 5-084: March 25, 2017

  TAL Loose Ends: OMCOM

  Yesterday, I covered some of the loose ends that remained at the conclusion of The Ark Lords. The loose ends discussed were limited to the dispersal of the (now former) Darwin Project members, aka the Grays.

  Today I would like to cover a few of the salient items that OMCOM mentioned right at the end of the book. OMCOM's first point was an explanation as to why he allowed the mutations to occur during the destruction of the Stareater. We already knew that OMCOM actually wanted the mutations to occur because MINIMCOM had studied the VIRUS unit firmware and discovered how simple it was to eliminate variations. Here is OMCOM's actual statement:

  “You will recall when I first transferred my consciousness to the VIRUS units back on Tabit, I allowed many, many mutations to occur.”

  “Yeah,” Rei said, putting his hands on his hips. “You never did tell us why you did that.”

  “I did it to create living, self-aware probes, to travel the galaxy and even other dimensions, possibly even other universes, looking for the origin of the Stareaters. This was before we knew they were intelligent and noble creatures.”

  “And did they find it?” Rome asked, “the origin of the Asdrale Cimatiras?”

  “Not yet. But they have found signs of
some of the other nine hundred species. First Contact is inevitable.”

  So why is First Contact so important? Turns out, it isn't. It is true that we met the K'val in The Milk Run but First Contact did not change the universe. So what was OMCOM's real reason? The answer is that he wanted to find Heaven. And don't tell anybody but by this point, he had already found it. He was currently involved in planning his own ascension.

  This leads us to OMCOM's second point. He insisted that Rome get pregnant and give birth to Lupe within the next three years. Again, his ostensible reason was in relation to First Contact. But we learn in The Milk Run that OMCOM needed Lupe to be kidnapped in order to force Aason to rescue Molokai and return him to Heaven which would allow OMCOM to escape.

  Talk about your long con! OMCOM has been manipulating mankind for a while for his own purposes. His motives may not be evil but they certainly are selfish. What would you expect of a self-programmed artificial super-intelligence? Arg.

  Entry 5-085: March 26, 2017