by Thomas Stone
She peered forward. It looked as though a tiny, vertical seam had formed in the few seconds that she stood there. Fascinated, she leaned even closer. In the next moment, before Kathleen could react, the seam opened and a pair of smooth, massive arms reached out and pulled her into the building. The seam resealed itself in seconds.
*
In the trees facing the opposite side of the building the young Bedoran sat and watched. When the female didn't show herself he moved to another branch in order to get a better angle. He was surprised to see she wasn't there and couldn't imagine where she had gone. He twisted his neck, as a bird might, and looked all around. She was nowhere in sight.
In his experience, he had never encountered a building of any kind. Nothing more than a few rocks piled on top of one another. So the structure itself was fairly imposing for the young Bedoran. The idea that Kathleen had gone inside didn't even cross his mind. It was perplexing.
Well, he reasoned, the first virtue of the hunter is patience. With that, he settled back and made himself comfortable.
Chapter 23
"The alien shuttle is returning to the surface," said Bonner.
"Keep a track on it," said Fagen, "see if you can determine where it lands." Fagen turned to Blane. "How are you doing, Bart?"
"I'm okay."
"Not going to go crazy on us again, are you?"
"I said I'm alright."
"Okay, okay. Are you ready with your analysis of the alien probe?"
"I suppose. There's not much to tell. It was a two-way pulse that sought out our computer circuitry and strolled through. It bypassed our software security without a pause. I don't understand how it did it, but it was able to access any file it wanted. The transfer of data was done at an amazing rate. The good news is I was able to access the alien computer, if that's what it was."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the data pathways are unlike anything we have. They seem to be based on a neural network, which is no surprise, but it's certainly not a human neural network. It's not that it's just extraordinarily fast, the connections allow for simultaneous transactions. That's where it differs from our own neural-based networks. Understand, I only got a glimpse of the processing power. What I saw, what I felt, well, it was weird. It was as if I was hooked up to something alive. And it was aware of me."
"Are you saying the alien computer is alive?"
"Uh, well, it sure seemed to have those characteristics. There was definitely some sort of embedded consciousness."
"What is its purpose? Curiosity? Exploration?"
"No, definitely not that. I think it was assessing any threat we might offer."
"Were you able to discern its conclusions?"
"Yeah, sure. It doesn't believe we offer any kind of threat."
"So what is it going to do?"
"About us?" Blane asked.
Fagen nodded.
"Nothing. Ignore us."
Fagen stared, unblinking, as if he was having trouble hearing what Blane said. "Ignore... us?"
"We're no threat, therefore of no interest."
*
While Blane continued to discuss the alien computer with Fagen, in the ship's galley, Nadine and Harry talked over a lunch of dried fruits and juice. Nadine was angry.
"What are we doing here? We've got the data. Why don't we just leave? I mean, what's it going to take? Two people are dead already..."
Harry interrupted. "We don't know if Kathleen is dead."
"Well, she might as well be. Bonner says using the shuttle again is risky."
"But not impossible."
"Yes, well, I think we should cut our losses and get out of here."
"But Nadine," Harry protested, "there's an advanced species out there. Something we've never seen before. This is a golden opportunity."
"Yeah. A golden opportunity to get us all killed."
"We don't know that."
"I thought we did. Wasn't Doris attacked?"
"Yes, that's true. But I was there and I'm not willing to pass judgment until I can at least review the video record."
"Well, you can forget about that."
"What do you mean?"
"Fagen told me the diskette was damaged. It was useless."
Harry was shocked. "He didn't tell me."
"That's what he said, Harry."
Harry sat back in his chair. As far as he knew there had been no damage to the diskette. Why hadn't Fagen told him? Harry felt the uneasiness creeping back.
Parker stuck his head in the open galley hatch.
"Would you two join me on the bridge? I have some news critical to the mission that I'd like to share with everyone."
"What is it?" Nadine asked.
"I'd prefer to tell everyone at once, if you don't mind."
Nadine frowned. "All right. Now?"
"Yes," the doctor replied. He backed out of the hatch. Nadine, with a sigh, rose and followed.
Harry popped another dried peach into his mouth and followed Nadine up to the bridge. When they arrived, everyone but Bonner was there.
Fagen looked at Parker. "What did you want to say, doctor?"
Parker asked where the systems engineer was.
"In the hanger bay taking another look at the shuttle."
"I'd like him to hear this as well."
"All right." Over the intercom, Fagen asked Bonner to join them on the bridge. Minutes later, the engineer floated through the bridge access hatch.
"What's up?"
"The doc wants to tell us something. How's the shuttle look?"
"Better than I thought at first. I mean it's not like it just got out of the garage or anything, but I don't think it's as bad as I first thought."
"You mean we can use it?"
Bonner sighed. "If we have to. It'll hold together. Still, we need to be careful, keep an eye on the patches I've made, and be careful not to put unnecessary stress on the engines."
"That's good news," said Fagen. He turned to the doctor. "Now, what did you want to tell us?"
"Yes, well, as you know, I've been studying the characteristics of the native life forms, at least those we've encountered so far. I think we can safely assume that the alien ship is not from the planet."
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. That wasn't news. There was no technology on the surface, no sign of advanced culture other than the primitives, and they certainly didn't have the capability of building spaceships.
Parker continued. "The genetic makeup of the samples I gathered on the surface indicate that all the life forms have undergone millions of years of natural selection. That's where the problem arises."
"What problem?"
"It's really quite simple. Our geologic surveys prove that Mia Culpa is a planet that is still in its infant stages, by geological standards. I see no way that the life forms we've found could have evolved within the geological time of the planet. There's also the problem of determining why there is no other area on the planet where there is life. Of any kind. The forested area along the coast is the only place on the planet where life exists in abundance. The rest of the place is either desert or swamp. Lots of volcanic activity, even at altitudes. That is, except for the forests between the coast and the mountain range. It's very odd. It's as if life has been planted here."
For a moment, no one said anything. Parker's information sunk in slowly.
"So," Bonner said, "where did all the life come from?"
"Not on the planet. From elsewhere."
"But how?" Nadine asked.
"I don't know. But with the appearance of the alien craft, I can only surmise that all planetary life forms were brought here by an alien presence, perhaps the same ones we've encountered."
"What for?"
Parker shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. All I can say is that the samples I've collected are too advanced to have evolved on this planet. Additionally, there are planetary formations that are most peculiar. Natural, geologic vents have been closed b
y processes that do not appear to be natural. The amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is rather shocking, considering that only a small amount of the planetary landmass is covered with vegetation. I have no explanation for that other than to speculate that massive terra-forming has taken place in the past."
Fagen sat impassive, listening as if none of it was a surprise.
"There's also a problem with the ambient radiation. Soil analysis proves that the planet has been periodically bombarded by high speed particles in the past. Enough to kill everything. It seems to me that the entire planet should be a desert wasteland. As you know, it's not."
"How could that be?" asked Bonner. "Miaplacidus is a stable star. Big and bright, for sure, but stable. Its natural radiation isn't enough to burn everything up."
Parker nodded. "That's why I suggest we do a quick survey of the other stars in the local group. Maybe one of them is responsible. Again, from the samples I've learned that Mia Culpa is periodically scorched by radiation. Enough so that there should be nothing alive on the surface."
"Have you been able to determine the last time?"
Parker shrugged. "Hard to say. Hundreds, maybe thousands of years. Possibly longer." He looked at his companions. "That's it in a nutshell. Anything beyond is just speculation."
Harry wished he could contribute to the discussion. Parker's report was bewildering. Terra-forming? Importation of life? Were the aliens responsible?
Fagen looked at Blane. "Any comments, Bart?"
Blane sat with his eyes closed, comfortable within the rapture of cyberspace. "Not at this time," he replied.
"Anybody else?" Fagen looked around the cabin. Everybody was still letting the information sink in. Nobody had any ideas. Bonner announced that the alien shuttle had landed on the surface of the planet. He noted the coordinates and gave them to Blane who, in turn, fed the location to telemetry. In moments, the long distance sensors found the area.
The computer enhanced the scene and a picture sprang into view on the monitors. The alien craft looked like a bug on a magnified field of green cloth. Nearby, a small structure squatted in an adjacent clearing.
"That's the place we saw before," said Nadine.
"Sure is," said Fagen. "And," he added, "it's not far from where we lost Kathleen." The commander turned to Harry. "How about another ride?"
"I'm ready when you are."
A sour expression crossed Nadine's face. "Whoa, now, wait a minute. Think about it! The shuttle's broken, we got hostile activity, and two MIA's. Do we really want to press our luck?"
"The shuttle'll fly," Bonner said confidently. "You just have to take it easy with the maneuvering jets."
Parker looked at Bonner. "Will it get us down and back up?"
A little surprised, Fagen asked the doctor, "Are you volunteering for this EVA?"
"Why, yes, I suppose I am." The doctor surprised himself.
"Good. That's settled. We'll shoot for departure in, let's say, 45 minutes. No sampling gear this time, Doctor, just sensors and recorders. Both of you meet me in the hanger bay in ten minutes. Bill, is the pre-flight complete?"
Bonner nodded.
"Good. You and Nadine keep your heads up. Watch the other ship. Monitor us. Let us know of any changes."
Nadine couldn't resist. "I still believe you should think about this." She spread her hands. "We're not set up here for any long-term observation. If we go back now, the Corporation is sure to send out dozens of teams to verify what we've seen. They'll be better equipped and better prepared."
Fagen said nothing and he never changed expression as he listened. After she finished, she waited for a response.
"What's your point?"
Nadine adopted an incredulous expression. Exasperated, she shook her head, "Nothing, forget it."
After the EVA team left the bridge, Nadine turned to Bonner. "If something happens to them, don't say I didn't try to stop them. I'll tell you something else, I can drive this ship just as well as anybody else."
She looked over at Blane. His eyes were closed and his left hand twitched rhythmically in time with a beat only he could hear. A smile was pasted across his face.
"He doesn't even care," said Nadine to Bonner, "just so long as he can plug himself in. Hey Blane!"
Without opening his eyes, Blane answered laconically, "Yes?"
"This is reality out here. Not in there!"
"How do you know?" replied the wirehead.
"I'm not going to argue with an addict. Just keep your inquiries out of my databases."
Blane said nothing in reply.
By the time Parker stepped into the hanger bay, Harry and Fagen were already pulling equipment out of lockers and transferring it to the shuttle. Fagen opened a sealed locker and called to both Harry and the doctor.
"Help me with this," he instructed Harry. Together, they pulled out a large, bulky package. Peeling off the protective covering revealed sets of body armor; lightweight, high-impact resistant, plastic plates fashioned into suits. Accompanying the suits were total-vision helmets complete with intercoms and infrared night vision.
"Where did you get this stuff?" asked Harry.
"Be prepared, Harry. Isn't that the Braithwaite motto? Let's get this stowed away. We've got weapons this time as well."
"I've never shot a gun," Parker admitted.
"Not to worry," said Fagen. "I'll let you have the blaster. It works like an old shotgun. Just point and pull the trigger."
"No, you don't understand. I've never killed anything before. I'm a doctor. I preserve and study life, not take it away."
Fagen, amused, looked hard at the doctor. "Well," he said, "I can respect that. But, just in case something attacks you and at the last minute you decide you'd like to live, I would like you to carry the blaster. Just don't shoot me or Harry by mistake."
A sullen Parker argued no further.
"Can I ask you something?" said Harry.
"What?"
"What happened to the diskette? Nadine says it was damaged."
"Yeah. It was."
"Is that it?"
"What can I say, Harry? It was a screw-up, a glitch. It happens."
"What happened to the diskette? Maybe I can reconstruct it."
"No, it was shot. No way to reassemble the data."
"You threw it away?"
"Yes."
"I can dig it out of the trash..."
"No. You can't do that either."
"Why not?"
"Afraid I already jettisoned all the trash."
Harry didn't understand. He had the means and the know-how to reassemble data from a damaged disk. For that matter, so did Blane and Nadine, probably Bonner too.
"That's too bad," Harry commented.
"Yeah," agreed Fagen, "guess I didn't think it through."
Another flag went up. Fagen thought of everything, habitually. It was out of character for him to forget something. No, Harry thought, there was something else going on.
"Here," said Fagen as he handed Harry the power supply for a portable beam generator.
"Put that in the shuttle."
"Right," Harry said and floated away with the device.
Parker looked awkward holding the blaster. While he thought the others weren't looking, he brandished the weapon against an imaginary opponent.
When preparations were completed, the three men climbed into the shuttle, strapped themselves in, and sealed the hatches. After decompression, the bay doors opened and automated grips in the deck released the moorings. At the same time, the shuttle's computer issued a command that caused air jets to fire and nudged the craft backwards out of the bay.
Again, Harry sat in the lower compartment while Fagen and Parker sat in the cockpit. Fagen concentrated on his readouts and monitored the separation procedure. Parker assisted the commander with radio communications.
Through his port, Harry could see the hull of the Magellan and through a viewport in the control section he had a clear view of Nadine at her pos
ition. She checked her board and passed clearance to the shuttle. "You are clear. Proceed on set course for fifteen ticks, then position for entry."
"That is affirmative," said Parker, speaking into his headset.
With computer-guided precision, the shuttle positioned itself for entry. The engines ignited and burned for three seconds, pushing the craft into its controlled glide into the atmosphere. Entry was a little rough. Harry gripped the sides of his seat as the lander was tossed on high-speed crosswinds in the upper atmosphere. The computers maintained stability and the shuttle burned into the air of Mia Culpa.
Chapter 24
Arai sat in his tree and scratched himself. He'd waited for a long time and there was still no sign of the female. Three times he had seen game and been tempted to leave his hiding spot in order to stalk the fresh flesh. He was hungry and a little bored. The disappearance of the female was a mystery. Arai felt sure that the odd structure was the reason, but how he couldn't imagine.
It occurred to him that his Grandfather might know. For a moment, he considered going back and asking, but he also knew the old one would be angry with him for following the female. According to the rules of the inclusion ritual, she was supposed to survive on her own until she found her way back. Doing so would prove her worth and afterwards she could be initiated into the tribe.
But Arai had broken the rules. He had followed the initiate. Grandfather would be angry. The boy remained where he was while he considered his next move.
Gradually, a high, rushing sound reached his ears. It grew louder and louder until it sounded like sustained thunder. The tree trembled and Arai became so afraid that, for a second, his eyes rolled up and he almost passed out. Then, as quickly as it had risen, the sound abated and finally ceased altogether.
For a while, Arai sat in his perch, panting and listening. Hunger, or fear, or more likely a combination of the two, finally drove him out. He stayed to the trees and worked his way north, in the direction of his tribe.
*
The Corporation shuttle landed in a clearing a half mile from the alien building. To everyone's relief, the shuttle performed flawlessly. It was a testament to Bonner's skill with mechanics.