He met Professor Harthy, Betty, Julie, and Drix in the medical storage room. John agreed to Betty speaking with the Io module, but only on the condition that she did not bring her baby. Betty initially refused, but Neeman was able to convince her that it was best that the first meeting be without the baby present in order not to overwhelm Jeff.
As Drix removed the module from the storage wall unit, John noticed how happy Betty was at this moment. He wanted to grab and shake her back to reality, make her see that Jeff was dead and all this was a waste of time. Why didn’t he get rid of the module when he had the chance?
John shivered seeing the blue metallic module as Drix placed it on the table. It’s darkened lens seemed to stare directly at him.
“You ok?” Julie asked him. She could see his look of distress.
“No, but this isn’t about me,” said John. He looked at Drix. “You sure you can turn it on?”
“I will be able to deactivate it if necessary, John Captain,” replied Drix. “However, this technology is far more advanced than anything I have encountered. I have spent months studying it and still cannot figure how it operates.”
“Jeff will be so happy to see me,” said Betty. She was clearly excited, which made John pity her even more.
“Remember what we talked about,” said Neeman. “You need to keep an open mind. We don’t know enough about this module to conclusively say whether it is Jeff.”
“Oh I will.” But John could tell she had already made up her mind. To Betty, the module was Jeff.
“Let’s get this over with,” said John, nodding to Drix.
Drix initiated the activation sequence on his DAT, and within seconds numerous lights on the module lit up. No one said anything as it powered on. John hoped that maybe the module would malfunction or explode.
“Hello, Captain Roberts.” A shiver ran up the captain’s spine hearing that sterile computer voice again.
John didn’t reply. It took a lot of effort to resist taking it and throwing it against the wall. He felt this was a mistake. Drix and the ship scientists weren’t getting anywhere on learning how the module worked. It was simply too advanced to decipher. Why keep it?
“I see you brought me a visitor,” said the module. “Hello, Betty. I missed you.”
“Jeff, I’m so happy to see you.” She tried to approach the table, but Neeman gently held her back.
“You look as beautiful as the first day we met,” said the module. “I remember when I saw you eating alone in the ground station cafeteria…”
“And you asked to join me,” said Betty. “I do remember, Jeff.”
“I was worried I would never see you again,” said the module.
“The captain was nice enough to reactivate you,” said Betty.
“Thank you, captain,” said the module. “I know my condition is still an adjustment for you.”
John didn’t respond. He refused to play into what he believed was the module’s manipulation of Betty’s emotions.
“I want us to be a family,” said Betty.
“I would like that,” said the module. “To hold you in my arms.”
“How can you do that without a body?” Neeman asked the module.
“I can easily be provided a new body,” replied the module. “The Io can make it possible.”
“A robotic body?” asked Julie. She couldn’t resist asking the question.
“The Io are masters of genetic replication,” explained the module. “They can create a new organic body for me to use.”
“Yes, but not your body,” said Neeman. “It’s not the same thing.”
“Once you become part of the Io, you learn that your soul is your mind,” said the module. “The body is merely a vessel to carry your true essence.”
“But humans place importance on physical touch to reach an intimate connection of the mind,” said Neeman. “A connection made by remembering the unique intricacies of your loved one’s body. Betty made that connection when you were a human. A new body, as enticing as it sounds, could not recreate that bond. Isn’t that right, Betty?”
“Y..yes,” stammered Betty. “I want to lay next to you Jeff, to feel you hold me. But we can’t do that now.”
“You once said you trusted me,” said the module. “On our third date in the botanical gardens. I gave you a rose and told you that we would be together no matter what.”
“Yes,” said Betty, as tears began streaming down her face. “I remember.”
“Do you trust me now?” asked the module.
“I want to,” said Betty.
“Then trust me when I say this. When the Io bestows the same gift on you they gave me, it will open your eyes to a new experience. Everything you want: physical touch, intimacy. You will have all of that, but in a way unlike anything you’ve ever imagined. We will be connected in ways never possible as humans.”
“Betty…,” said Neeman.
“Do you promise?” asked Betty, who didn’t hear the professor.
“I promise you the universe, my love,” replied the module. “My heart and soul belong to you Betty. Nothing can change that.”
“I love you, Jeff. I want to be with you,” said Betty.
Neeman looked over at John and shook his head. John motioned for Drix to deactivate the module.
The module realized what Drix was doing. “Betty, they’re going to keep me away from you. Please help me!”
“What are you doing?” said Betty as Drix turned off the module. “Stop it! Leave Jeff alone!”
Neeman struggled to hold her as she spiraled into an uncontrollable rage. “You can’t keep him from me! I want to be with him! Jeff! Jeff!”
John and Julie helped to restrain Betty as Neeman injected her with a tranquilizer. Within moments she slumped into unconsciousness.
“I’m sorry, captain,” said Neeman as they laid her down on the floor. “It was a calculated risk bringing her here. I was hoping the reality of the situation would jolt her out of her state.”
“It’s ok, we had to give it a shot,” said John. He looked down at Betty and felt sorry for her. As upsetting as it was for him, he accepted his sister’s death. But Betty couldn’t accept Jeff’s death.
“I take it we don’t have to do this again,” said Julie.
Neeman shook his head. “Her psychosis is too strong. Another interaction with the module will only lessen her grip on reality.”
“There’s no reason to keep that thing,” said John. “We should destroy it.”
“Captain, that’s not such a good idea,” said Julie.
“Why not?” asked John. “We’ve barely learned anything about the module and I’m not planning a return trip to the Io’s planet.”
“John Captain,” said Drix. “We do not know if that was the Io homeworld. We may encounter them on another planet or on a starship. We should keep the device and continue our analysis.”
“Drix’s right,” said Julie. “We need to learn as much about them in case we run into them again.”
John wanted to ignore their arguments, but he couldn’t. It made tactical sense to keep studying the module to try and unlock the workings of Io technology.
“Drix, make sure that thing is turned off and lock it back into storage,” ordered John. “Only you and the authorized scientists are allowed to work on that thing. I want everyone else to stay away from that thing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The command staff looked out the window and watched as the remaining purple haze dissipated from the planet’s atmosphere.
“Oxygen and nitrogen levels normalizing,” reported Alex’sis. “I’m showing a breathable atmosphere.”
The command deck staff broke out in applause by the announcement. PHOENIX had been in orbit of the Senfo planet for over two months, working to find a way to repair the atmosphere. John felt immense pride undoing at least some of the damage the Screen had wrought through this sector of space.
Julie’s voice came over the command de
ck speakers. “Commander Olson to PHOENIX.”
“Go ahead, commander,” said John.
“Two team members have removed their environmental helmets and are showing no negative effects from breathing the planet’s air. We’re good to go down here.”
“Very good, commander,” said John. “What’s your next step?”
“We’re in the Senfo government chambers, preparing to wake the leader of the Senfo Commonality.”
“Good luck commander, and keep me posted.”
“Yes, captain. Olson out.” Julie removed her helmet. Thresha, Doctor Myers, and Chief Davers followed suit. Vish was present as well, its image being displayed on the wall monitor.
Davers squinted as he breathed the air. “Almost stale.”
“I’m not picking up any micro bacterial elements in the air,” reported Myers.
“Confirmed, Doctor Myers,” said Vish. “I also show no ill effects in any of your biological readings.”
Julie knelt by the pods Vish had identified as containing some of the Senfo leaders. “Let’s get started.”
Myers nodded and initiated the reawaken sequence. With Vish’s guidance, they learned how the stasis pods functioned and how to go about properly waking up those inside. The dark glass lit up and revealed the Senfo laying inside. His grey skin was what Julie expected from all the images Vish provided of the Senfo race. There was the exceptionally large nose structure that was composed of sharp ridges and lack of hair, and the almost perfectly rounded shape of the body. From looking around the buildings, one wouldn’t know the Senfo were short, only reaching about three feet tall. All the entrances were large and easily passed through by the average human. According to Vish, Senfo culture placed an emphasis on making everything oversized. If that was the case, Julie thought the Senfo would be very impressed with PHOENIX.
As the body temperature warmed up, the pod disengaged the locks and the glass slid open. The group watched as the Senfo slowly stirred from his sleep.
“Danuo,” said Julie in a low voice. “Can you hear me?
The alien grumbled something unintelligible, but continued to move.
“I’m reading full body functions,” reported Myers. “Synaptic activity is consistent with Senfo biology.” The crew had become familiar with all aspects of Senfo civilization, thanks to Vish. From the biology to their culture, it was as if the crew had known this race for years.
The Senfo’s small three digit hand reached up to its head and felt around. “My hat.”
“Right here,” said Julie, handing the Senfo leader a brown hat that looked like a fez. Senfo culture mandated they wear hats whenever in public. It was considered rude to show their heads.
“Don’t try to open your eyes,” said Myers. “The light may hurt.”
“I do not recognize your voices,” said Danuo.
“My name’s Julie Olson, a human from the planet Earth.”
“Human?”
“That’s the name of my species. We’re an alien race that came across your world a couple of months…, some time ago. We stayed and restored your world’s atmosphere.”
“My world.” Danuo tried to sit up, but he became dizzy and was forced to lie back down.
“Don’t rush moving,” said Myers. “You’ve been in suspension for quite some time.”
“Are my people safe?” asked Danuo.
“They’re all still in suspension,” replied Julie. “Our engineers have made sure the pods are functioning properly.”
Danuo slowly opened his eyes to look at these unknown aliens. The light didn’t hurt so much, and he was able to see who he was talking to.
“You look different from the others,” he said to Thresha.
“I am Thresha of the Aldarians. My people live with the humans on their starship.”
“Why are you here?”
“Our ship detected a beacon orbiting your planet,” said Julie. “We came to investigate and elected to stay when your central computer informed us what happened to your world.”
“Commonality Danuo,” said Vish. “I have been assisting the aliens in restoring the planet’s atmosphere and providing them all relevant data on the Senfo.”
Thresha sensed some emotional twinge within the Senfo. “You are absorbing a significant amount of information. It will take time to explain.”
“I must see my world,” said Danuo.
“Let’s get your body’s strength back first,” said Myers.
Twelve hours later, Danuo was standing with two of his consultants in his chambers. They looked through the large windows overlooking the city below as Julie and Thresha stood in the background, with Chief Davers at the room’s entrance. The commander and Aldarian explained everything to them: how they came across this world, the work they did for two months to restore the atmosphere, even telling them about the PHOENIX’s mission.
“The city looks so bare without the trees,” said Cruina, one of Danuo’s consultants.
“Did nothing survive?” asked Yurm.
“I’m afraid not,” said Julie. “The entire planetary ecosystem was destroyed when the Screen altered the atmosphere. PHOENIX scanned the planet repeatedly but can’t find any trace of any living plant or animal.”
“How can we have our people face what has become of our world?” Cruina asked Danuo.
“Because they survived,” said Danuo. “We worked to ensure some of us would survive the Screen calamity. No matter what our world has become, this is still our home and our duty to rebuild it.”
“PHOENIX scientists have been sending down plants they believe can thrive on your world,” explained Thresha. “They believe they can adapt to the environment.”
“Our captain is also sending whatever provisions we can spare,” said Julie. “It’s not much, but it will allow you to wake more of your people.”
“I cannot thank you enough for your generosity,” said Danuo. “But you never explained why you stayed here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Julie.
“Why would you spend all this time trying to save us when your own world is in danger?” asked Danuo. “What do you get out of this?”
Julie was momentarily caught off-guard by his question. “We didn’t do this for any material benefit. We did it to help another race, a race that was undermined by the Screen. Your world needed help and we were willing to do it.”
“Our only experience with other races was the Screen,” said Danuo. “With them, it was always trading one act for another. Nothing was done unless they benefited from it.”
“The Screen has created a climate where one must submit to their will or suffer the consequences,” said Thresha. “You are not the first who has suffered because of them.”
“As speaker for the Senfo Commonality,” said Danuo. “You have the thanks of my people. Whatever little we have left, is yours.”
“All we want is for your people to get back on your feet,” said Julie. “We’ve restored Vish’s control of the planet’s defense network. From what we’ve seen of them, you’re far from helpless if the Screen decides to return.”
“We would feel better if you could stay,” said Yurm. “But understand you have a mission to complete.”
“A mission that will benefit Senfo and humans,” added Cruina.
“We’ll stay in orbit another few days,” said Julie. “And we’ll do whatever we can during that time to help you.”
“I would like to visit your ship and meet your captain,” said Danuo. “But I do not feel it is right to leave our homeworld at this time.” Senfo culture prevented Danuo from speaking with John. It would be considered a insult for Danuo to greet the leader of a powerful starship when his world laid decimated.
“I understand,” said Julie. “Captain Roberts will be available if you wish to contact him.”
In an adjacent building, Drix was looking through some scientific journals in the Senfo knowledge depository. Numerous terminals were lined up in rows where Senfo could sit and review li
terature and journals on a variety of subjects. The Cresorian was on his knees reviewing a particular subject of interest to him.
“May I assist you with your query?” asked Vish as its image displayed in the upper corner of the Screen.
“I am attempting to locate information regarding gene manipulation,” said Drix. “I understand the Senfo have extensive scientific knowledge of genetic structure functions.”
“Correct,” replied Vish. “Is there a specific area of interest you wish to find?”
“I am looking for methods regarding genetic data insertion.”
“Please clarify,” said Vish.
“I believe my ancestral leaders implanted information in the Cresorian genome that would allow successive generations of my people to recognize the Screen as the race that attacked my homeworld.”
“There is extensive information on that subject,” said Vish. “However, the information would need to be translated according to Cresorian genetic make-up. A Senfo geneticist would be able to conduct such translation; however, it would take approximately two point four of human time measured years to complete.”
Drix was disappointed. The geneticists on PHOENIX had so far located nothing in Drix’s DNA that could explain his uncontrolled rage when seeing a Screen. The Senfo were far more advanced in this field and the Cresorian hoped to find something that could identify the marker in his genetic make-up.
“Would you like me to place a request with the commonality to have the translation work done when the appropriate scientists wake?” asked Vish.
“No,” replied Drix. “End query.” The Senfo would need to focus all their efforts in rebuilding their world. Drix’s issue paled in comparison.
That evening Julie and Thresha returned to PHOENIX and the commander was promptly informed the captain was waiting for her in the board room. She assumed it was to give a status report. She arrived to find the board room almost completely dark. For a moment, she thought she was back in their apartment in New York.
“The last time I found you in a dark room you had a bottle of liquor in both hands and wearing sunglasses,” said Julie to John, who was sitting in his usual seat.
Phoenix In Chaos (Exodus) Page 18