“Yeah, we did. Even if the food wasn’t up to much.”
“Now what?” Zara said.
“Philip said he’d set up prompts in Buzz for us to follow, once we get in there. Let’s just hope it works as expected. I really don’t want to have to ask for directions or draw attention to ourselves.”
“Will our expense accounts work on Earth?”
“I have no idea,” Kato said.
“But what I do know is, we’re going home, Dad. Home.” Zara squeezed Kato’s hand. He squeezed back. “Whatever’s happened in the intervening time, whatever challenges we have to face, it’s home.”
Kato and Zara gawked through the glass sides of the elevator, as it moved along the cylindrical section of Commerce City. It gave a view out into space. All manner of craft were docked outside. Most looked fairly plain and utilitarian. However, as the elevator slowed, an extraordinary ship came into view. Gansevoort was 250 meters long, with a rectangular cross section of around fifteen meters by twenty-five. Three quarters of the way along, the ship’s top and bottom surfaces began to curve very gently inward, toward each other. They met at the ship’s nose, forming a wedge, whose edge extended across her entire twenty five-meter width. The vessel’s geometrically perfect exterior surfaces were of a very dark blue, almost black. However, when the sun reflected directly from her surface, a mini, fiery, circular rainbow could be seen. Gansevoort was docked nose-in to the station.
“Wow…” Zara said. “That is one stylish spaceship!”
“Wow…” Kato repeated, taking in the sight. The elevator slowed. The doors opened into another soulless, circular, white lobby. A large, glowing display read 20H.
“I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Sasake-Robbins! And Kato too! How do you do? Philip X Gansevoort at your service.” He was dressed in formal eveningwear, including a tuxedo, exactly the same as in his message. He extended a hand to Zara, which she shook.
Philip then shook Kato’s hand. “A pleasure,” Kato said.
“I offer the only one-G service between Earth and Mars,” Philip said exuberantly. “That’s right! One Earth gravity, all the way! No cruise phase! That’s how we make the trip in an average of sixty-two hours.” He lowered his voice, as though trying to be discreet. “I detest weightlessness, actually. I like to give my guests a better experience. We usually have a good mixture of the elite on board.” Kato nodded, clearly impressed. “Follow me!” Philip said, as he worked his way along the handrail that led into the throat of Gansevoort. They had to pull themselves along awkwardly with one hand, while pulling their cases with the other. Zara noticed Philip’s impeccably-polished wingtip shoes, as they were pretty close to her face. They looked out of place in space.
“You have every possible amenity on board,” Philip said, as the trio floated into Gansevoort’s stylish white, circular entrance lobby. “She’s part spaceship, part cruise ship, and all performance.” A smiling, impeccable, blue-uniformed flight attendant greeted them. “Selena will take you from here,” Philip said. “We’ll depart at nine. After you’ve taken a little time to settle in, please join us for brunch at ten.”
“Thanks,” Kato smiled. Selena beckoned them to follow her. They passed down through two more levels into a spacious, red carpeted landing. It had the atmosphere of a high class hotel. Around them were six oak paneled doors. In the center, a spiral staircase wound down into the lower levels.
“Kato, you have state room two, over here, and Zara, you have number three,” Selena said. “Please take the time to make yourselves at home. When we’re under way, we’ll be at one Earth gravity. I understand you’re only used to Martian gravity, so take it slowly. Your room right now contains just a standard flight couch, but it will morph into a bed as needed. Please Buzz me if I can do anything to make you more comfortable.”
“Thank you,” Zara said. Selena floated back up into the lobby, to assist other guests, leaving Kato and Zara holding onto the fireman’s pole that was the handrail down through the landing.
Zara half-chuckled. “This sounds like it’s gonna be an experience!”
Kato nodded. “It’s about as different from the ships of the first Mars explorers as you can get.”
They found their staterooms to be every bit as plush as they expected. The rooms were generously sized, and the walls shimmered with a tasteful pattern. The bottom was blue, matching the carpet, transitioning slowly via a vertical pattern that looked like blades of grass into light green. There were even genuine mahogany wardrobes, chests of drawers, and ultra-modern ensuite bathrooms. The center of each room sported a very generously-sized flight couch, which looked much like a first-class seat on an airplane. This was fully reclined, horizontal to the plush blue-carpeted floor in order to distribute the G-force evenly.
An hour and a half later, Kato and Zara were lying down in their respective rooms, with their belts around both their lower and upper bodies. Zara’s heart was in her mouth. What would this really be like? Mixing with the elite. What would they expect of her? And what was Earth like now?
“Pushback,” a disembodied male voice announced.
“Buzz, display outside view,” Zara said. Her stateroom’s wall seemed to disappear, leaving fine mahogany furniture, which appeared to be floating in space as it partially obstructed the outside view. Zara felt a slight jolt as Commerce City’s vast exterior began to recede. She looked down, in the orientation of her room, and focused on Mars. Sure, it had been their reentry point to the rest of humanity, but the place had left her angry and scared.
“One-G standby,” the male voice said again. Zara felt the force slowly building across her chest. She took a deep breath. Looking behind her, Commerce City shone like a miniature sun, reflecting the glare from their engines, as they put out unimaginable energy. It was soon accelerating into the far distance, as they built up speed at the same rate as a falling object. Zara regulated her breathing to adjust to the force pushing on her chest.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock at Zara’s door. “Just a minute.”
“It’s just me.” Dad.
Zara unbuckled and swung herself around to a sitting position. So far, so good. Being upright in one G; check. She stepped gingerly down onto the floor. Standing upright; check. “Come in.” Kato entered. They grinned at each other.
“Not so bad, really,” Kato said. Zara nodded. Kato and Zara made their way slowly and unsteadily down the narrow spiral staircase, through two more landings much like their own, into a spacious dining room. It had a dark green carpet, which slowly changed color as they watched, and oak paneled walls. There were two long tables, dressed with white linen tablecloths and silverware that was actually made of pure silver. A number of other guests were already seated; men in suits and expensive-looking shirts, women in ankle-length, gold-embroidered dresses. Philip was already waiting for them. “Kato, Zara, wonderful to see you again. I trust you’re hungry!”
“We are, rather,” Kato said. “Very little to eat that was any good on the shuttle.”
“Good. You won’t leave disappointed!” Philip said. “Take a seat anywhere you’d like.”
They opted for the middle of one of the long tables and sat in high-backed leather chairs. Other guests wandered in and sat down. Zara felt out of place in her jeans and white cotton blouse. A lot of the women sported hairstyles that were completely foreign to Zara; some had one side of their head completely shaved and the other side long. Others had short hair shaved into stripes, or symbols that she didn’t understand. Two young girls had hair that glowed neon pink. When all were seated, Philip, who was still standing, said: “Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the one hundred and thirty-third flight of the Gansevoort. Fate brings us together as a small, private community for the next two days, while we traverse the heavens. Now, as some of you may know, we ha
ve who I consider to be the most important people ever to fly on this ship with us today. Previously known as the Sleepers, they have undertaken a journey that is beyond conception to most of us. Please welcome Kato and Zara Sasake-Robbins!”
The other guests applauded. Zara visibly shrunk down in her chair, bearing a look of uncertainty. “Now, don’t be shy,” Philip said to her. Those closest to Kato and Zara shook their hands. Zara reciprocated weakly. “Now, without further ado, let us eat,” Philip said. At that, waitresses began to bustle in from a small galley to the side, bearing white china plates of smoked salmon and eggs. Minimal small talk was made between any of the guests over breakfast. As the meal slowly concluded, and cups of coffee were finished, many of the others began to disperse. The spiral stairs had become an escalator. “My greatest apologies for forgetting this before breakfast,” Philip said.
A balding man, wearing black slacks, a navy blue shirt, and a fine checked sport coat, walked from the other side of the table over to Kato and Zara, as they finished up their croissants. He extended a hand. “The name’s Hugh Howey. I’m most humbled to meet you.” Kato shook his hand. Zara looked up, but kept eating. “I’m Professor Emeritus of History and Bioanthropology, at the University of California at San Diego.”
Zara nodded. “Nice to meet you,” Kato said, through a mouthful of one of the most delicious croissants he had ever eaten.
Hugh pulled up a chair and sat down near the pair at the now nearly empty table. “Phil’s quite the showman. That’s what still endears him to the hotel business. Space travel’s different though: he gets to create a small, temporary community of fine people for a couple of days, and then play stage director. It’s a two day-long party, if you’re so inclined.” Hugh gestured at the front of the restaurant. A traditional dark wooden bar, with every spirit imaginable, was sliding forward from the wall.
Zara’s face lit up. “At least some things haven’t changed!” she said. “I’ll have to see if they have three-hundred-year-old Scotch.”
“Not sure if he told you…” Hugh continued, “…but the ship also has a fitness facility, in the level below this one. It includes a small swimming pool!”
Kato looked at him quizzically. Hugh smiled. “Yes, a swimming pool, on an interplanetary spaceship! And a sauna!” He shook his head and chuckled. “Only Philip would do that!” Hugh’s tone then became more serious. “I know several people who’ve interviewed you during your stay on Mars…“
“I didn’t give many good interviews. My brain’s not working very well, unlike my dad’s…”
“Yes. Well, your stories are spreading quickly through academic circles. I’m not going to bombard you with any more questions. You’re here to play, not work. However, I’d like to offer my services to you. I’m well aware of how much the world has changed since you’ve been gone. I’d like to fill you in on at least the broader developments, in order to at least prepare you a little bit for what you’ll encounter.”
“I’d be interested to know,” Kato said. An edge of apprehension was evident in his voice.
Hugh nodded. “Whenever is good for you,” he said.
“Shall we meet back here in an hour?” Kato said.
“Sounds good. Oh, and if you’re interested, there a small library of real books downstairs as well. Yes, actual printed books, spanning several centuries.” Kato and Zara both raised their eyebrows at this, having not seen a single book since their awakening on the IIX.
Chapter 3
Kato knocked on Zara’s door. “You coming downstairs?”
“Mmm… yeah, okay.” Zara brushed her hair and rubbed her eyes, before joining Kato. They descended the spiral escalator. Other guests greeted them as they passed down through the other landings, including one good-looking Japanese boy that Zara had noticed at breakfast. His hair, which had been spiky before, was now wet and lying down flat. Zara supposed he was coming back from a swim. In the dining room the tables had been replaced with several groups of three leather armchairs, which faced each other in three sides of a square. “I expect that’s to encourage people to socialize,” Kato said, surveying the space. Hugh Howey was sitting at the middle chair of one group.
“Kato, Zara, excellent. Please, have a seat,” he said brightly. Kato sat on his left and Zara on his right. She reclined into the soft leather and crossed her legs. Kato sat upright. “Now, where to begin…” Hugh wondered aloud. He blew air out from between puckered lips. “The world is being reinvented all the time, at an accelerating pace. This was true in your day too, of course.” A short pause. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll start with the most influential period between then and now, and we can take it from there.”
“Okay,” Kato said.
Hugh nodded. “There was a time now known as the Great Tribulation, which happened roughly between the years 2180 and 2220,” he said. “The world convulsed. Technology was so advanced by then that corporations had automated every job imaginable. Hence, they didn’t need people any more. But, there was no safety net for the population once they had no jobs. They starved, basically.”
Kato’s face showed his concern. “Corporations controlled all the money at that point,” Hugh continued. “They were so ruthlessly efficient that their profits broke all records. The trouble was, nobody else had any money to buy anything they made! What ensued were known as the Right-To-Work wars. The populace, starved to the point of blind desperation, started rioting. It started in America’s big cities. Mobs of thousands clashed with police. The National Guard, and then the Army, were called in to intervene, but, the people had nothing to lose. A civil war began as centers of power were stormed. A man named Michael Streckenpoint emerged as a popular leader. He organized the disparate mobs into a fighting machine. They built bunkers far underground, fashioned powerful weapons, and fought back. Now, American military technology, great though it was and is, was no match for five hundred million desperate people. Entire cities were laid waste. Chicago and New York were virtually destroyed, as well as thousands of smaller towns and cities. Hundreds of thousands died in the fighting. The United States government was almost demolished.
“Then, it spread to other parts of the world. The developed countries were the hardest hit; Europe, Russia, China, Malaysia, and so on. Similar things happened there. Some democratic governments were actually toppled: Austria, Hungary, Taiwan… Entire cities were burned and looted. While this was at its worst, roughly fifteen years after it began, extremists seized power in Iran. They decided to wipe Israel off the map once and for all. They pointed nuclear-tipped hypersonic cruise missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and fired. Luckily for Israel, their interceptors took them down before they reached their targets, and only the desert was nuked. They then responded in kind, and two nuclear explosions devastated Tehran. All that remains of that city now is a brittle crater, where the sand melted and fused into glass. People at that point thought that all hope was lost and that the Biblical end times had come.” Philip shuddered involuntarily at that point. Kato’s eyes were wide. Zara now sat up and listened intently.
Hugh continued: “Slowly, over the next few decades, things began to right themselves. A new system of one-world government was established, called the Federated States of Earth. Capitalism, in its previous form, had eaten itself. There was no denying that. It was a grand experiment that powered the world for centuries. But, the forces of greed and technology couldn’t go unchecked forever.” Hugh shook his head. “Something had to give, and when it did, it gave in a big way. That system, which was perfected in the United States, also succumbed there. And it was in America that the solution was found. People were given what are called Shares. This consisted of four acres of land and one fluid robot to till the soil.”
“Socialism?” Kato said.
Hugh nodded. “Yes. To be more accurate, technosocialism. Everybody ow
ns the spoils of what the machines reap. Society stabilized as this system was adopted around the world. However, the real saving grace was zero-point energy. This was discovered in 2237, by the Max Planck Institute and took us from stability to shining prosperity,” Hugh continued. “That unlimited energy is what’s propelling us through space right now. It is also turned into electricity on Earth, so abundant that it’s given away. And then, something remarkable happened: people worked because they wanted to. The innate human needs for interaction, stimulation, and challenge didn’t go away. People helped with each other’s businesses, sometimes paid and sometimes not.” Hugh shrugged. “A lot of times it afforded them new experiences that would not have been available had they just sat in their little house on their Share plot. That’s the only reason you’ve seen humans working at all.”
Silence now reigned as the two travelers thought about and tried to process what they had just heard. Kato’s look was one of concentrated thought. Hugh remained silent for half a minute. “This may be the most important history lecture I’ve ever given…” he reflected.
Kato broke his reverie. “It all sounds very utopian.”
Hugh smiled. “It isn’t. The world is the same old messed up place it always was. No technology can change human nature.”
“But… isn’t everybody happy, now that resources are doled out to everyone?” Zara said.
Hugh shook his head. “Some are. Things are of course a lot better than they were. But, some people want problems. They’re not happy unless they feel like they’re oppressed. They’ve gathered together and created criminal enterprises and ghettos. Their robots are misused to make drugs and weapons. Conversely, some have risen up again, ahead of the pack, to create great wealth. The classless, level playing field that lasted for eighty years after the Tribulation is slowly breaking down. It’s far from gone, but the cracks are showing.”
Kato's War Page 3