“We did,” Joshua said, “but Seth was as guarded as we were. What we did learn is that they've evolved very similar to the way life evolved on Earth. They're carbon-based organic creatures. They're also multi-cellular, just like we are. Likewise, their cell structure is based on DNA, but they exist as some kind of . . . collective.” He paused, knowing that additional details were going to make the three government representatives very uncomfortable. “Seth, who is an individual in this collective, said that there are thousands of planets with life, but all life they know of is DNA- and cell-based. However, their physical form, I'm sure, is very different from ours.”
“What do they look like?” Porter asked, retaining his stoic manner.
“Who knows, man?” Vinod replied. “We didn't ask Seth for a goddamn selfie.”
“We think that evolution on their planet must have taken a very similar path to that on Earth,” Rachael added, “just as Joshua implied.”
“There's nothing unusual about that,” Langdon commented. “Many scientists believe that any life in the universe has to be carbon-based and water soluble. It's really the only chemistry that works for life.”
“Their knowledge of DNA, though, is very advanced,” Joshua said. “In fact, they use DNA on an engineering level.”
“Engineering?” Langdon said, clearly startled. “What do you mean by that?”
“They can manipulate DNA sequences and create whatever organisms they choose,” Joshua explained. “The only critical difference between an acorn that grows into an oak tree and a fertilized egg that grows into a human is the DNA sequence—the sequence of nucleic acids in the double-helix. If I understood Seth correctly, they actually design living organisms and code the DNA sequences needed to grow what they've designed. In fact, I think they code the DNA for their own bodies as well. Seth called it self-determination. Their interaction with DNA is highly advanced.”
“This shit sounds scarier by the minute,” Porter added, a scowl on his face. “If they ever came here, we'd all be dead.”
“I’ve already explained that they don’t know where we are, and that it's physically impossible for them to come here,” Rachael said. “Even if they did know where we are, and if they could travel at light speed, which I'm sure they can't, it'd probably take them thousands of years to get here, perhaps even millions or billions depending on what galaxy they live in. Remember that they can literally be located anywhere in the universe since our communication with them is instantaneous over unlimited distances using spookyons.”
“Besides,” Joshua added, “Seth said they have a moral obligation not to destroy other sentient societies.”
“I don’t trust a word of that garbage,” Porter said. “We don’t know at this stage whether the aliens are hostile or not.” He turned to Williams. “That DNA stuff, though, could be very strategic for us if we could coax it from these creatures. Count on it.” He rapped his knuckles on the table confidently for emphasis.
Vinod glared at Porter. “Typical military bullshit! You guys find out about new technology, and the first thing you think about is how to weaponize it.” Vinod angled himself in his chair, elbow resting on the leather arm, as if trying to distance himself from people he detested. “You’re a real piece of work, general.”
“Hey, it doesn't matter,” Joshua interrupted. “The aliens aren’t going to give us their technology. That's completely off limits for them. Seth already told us that.”
Porter grimaced, unconvinced of Joshua’s reassurance.
“We're probably better off that they don't,” Langdon said. “Introducing new technology into a society that's not ready for it could be destabilizing.”
“Oh, for God’s sake!” Porter bellowed, slapping his hand on the table. “Of course they’re not going to give us a technological advantage—unless it might be a weapon disguised as technology. We’d never know the difference.”
Joshua ignored the general’s rant. “Yes, destabilization. That's the main reason Seth gave for why they won't give us information about technology that we don't already possess. He was very adamant on that point. Seth called that information ‘redacted.’”
“But the reverse isn't true,” Rachael added. “At their intelligence and technology levels, there's not much we can tell them about our technology that they don't already know. What they don't know is information that's specific to humans and life on this planet. I believe that's what they're most interested in learning about.”
“I’m sure they are,” Porter said, his composure regained. “It’s called tactical advantage, Ms. Miller.”
“Anything else you've found out?” Williams queried, attempting to steer the conversation back to her original question.
“Nope, that's about it,” Joshua replied.
“Do you have a transcript of your conversation?” Williams asked.
“Yeah,” Vinod replied reluctantly. “I could probably download it from my computer.”
“Okay, we’ll need that,” Williams said. “All of it.”
Vinod gave her a mock two-fingered salute.
Langdon turned to Joshua. “How is it that you were able to capture this particular spookyon, the one that’s connected to them?”
“I don't really know,” Joshua replied. “It may have been just dumb luck, but I was trying out a new isolation protocol with a specific combination of heavy elements in the container lids of the tokamak. Rachael and I believe that this specific combination may select for Big Bang spookyons and not the ones created in our lab.”
“A solid hypothesis, Dina,” Langdon said.
“Who else knows about the formulation of these lids?” Williams asked.
“Rodrigo does,” Joshua said, “but he thinks that they didn’t work, so he’s not going to pay much attention to them.”
“I don’t want to take any chances,” Williams said. “The last thing we need right now is for someone else to make contact with aliens—these or any others—without our knowing what we’re dealing with. Dr. Andrews, I want you to destroy those lids and any information you have on them. Also, delete any electronically-stored notes on their creation.”
“My notes are not stored electronically. Just written in my lab books.” Joshua turned to Rachael. “You can't hack a piece of paper.”
Vinod shook his head, frustrated with the direction of the conversation. “I can't believe this. Any more secrets you want us to hide? Hey, man, I got a thirty-two waist. You want us to secure that information too?”
Porter glared at Vinod. “How about you secure your mouth, or I'm going to come over there and secure it for you!”
Williams turned to the stone-faced general. “Mitchell, please take it down a notch. We’re asking a lot of these people. Some frustration is warranted.” She turned back to the group, her voice measured and restrained. “Okay, so we've formulated a preliminary plan on how to proceed.”
Vinod was still agitated. “What do you mean you’ve formulated a plan? This is our discovery. We own this shit. You can’t tell us what to do with it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Williams said as she faced Joshua. “Dr. Andrews, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but your contract with UC Berkeley, your employer, specifically states that all discoveries made by you while working at the lab are the intellectual property of the university. Is that correct?”
“Here it comes,” Rachael said under her breath. “I knew it.”
“I remember reading that somewhere,” Joshua replied, “but we didn’t communicate by using a spookyon that I created. The university doesn’t own particles created by the Big Bang, nor do they own Vinod’s algorithm.”
“But they own the sphere and detector that you used to communicate with the extraterrestrials,” Williams pointed out. “And first contact was made in a mine that is university property during an experiment to communicate with another spookyon that you hoped was entangled with your own, which is the focus of your research.”
Joshua sighed, conc
eding the point.
“I’m glad you agree,” she said, “because it’s a moot point. Just prior to this meeting, the United States government, specifically NASA, finalized the purchase of the Bowman Particle Research Center and its intellectual property from the university. That makes the sphere in this case the sole property of the United States government.”
Joshua stared at Williams for a moment with wide eyes. “What did you just say? You bought the lab from UC Berkeley? How?”
“Joshua,” Langdon interjected, “you may not be privy to this, but the university contacted NASA six months ago about purchasing the lab. Apparently, it was becoming too expensive for them to run. We were already in negotiations with them, but this matter with the sphere made things much more urgent for the government, not to mention lucrative for the university. The deal for NASA to purchase the lab was going to happen regardless.”
Vinod couldn’t control his anger. “This is total and absolute crap! You government guys are all the same. You're just going to turn this into another Roswell, aren't you?”
Rachael was also upset. “So you're cutting us out of the loop completely? It was our ingenuity that made contact with Seth possible.”
“No, we’re not cutting you out at all,” Williams said. “In fact, quite the opposite. We want to minimize the number of people who know about this in order to keep a tight lid on it, but we need manpower. Since you three already know about the aliens and have needed skill sets, we want you to be part of the investigative teams that research the sphere and try to get more information out of our alien friends.”
“No way, man,” Vinod said, shaking his head. “It's gonna be a cold day in hell before you see me working for the government. You can count me out right now.”
Williams paid Vinod no heed but continued calmly. “Of course, it would mean leaving your current jobs, which would be inconvenient for you, but we would need your loyalty and cooperation. That's why the government is willing to pay each of you an annual salary of five hundred thousand dollars, with a two-hundred-thousand-dollar signing bonus.”
Vinod stared at Williams for a moment. “Damn!” he said. “Hell just got a bit colder.”
“Robert is going to lead the scientific team, and Mitchell is going to be in charge of security,” Williams stated.
“And don't you guys even think of breathing a word of this to anybody,” Porter piped in. He turned to Vinod, “’Cause if you do, your ass'll be behind bars before you can tweet about it.”
Joshua addressed Williams. “What happens to my colleagues in the lab and the quest for creating spookyons?”
“Nothing at the center will be affected,” Williams replied. “As far as they’re concerned, only the ownership of the lab will be changed. They’ll continue their endeavors to create entangled spookyons, but any interaction with or knowledge of this sphere will be strictly off limits to them.”
“Ms. Williams, it doesn't seem that we have much of a choice here,” Rachael said.
“I’m afraid you're right.” Williams leaned back in her chair, knowing she had the upper hand. “You don't. But you still get to be part of the team, and you'll be compensated well.”
“It’s really the opportunity of a lifetime,” Langdon asserted. “You three, along with scientific teams, will be able to work on one of the most important discoveries in human history.”
Joshua shrugged and looked at his friends, both of whom looked resigned to the task presented to them. “You’re holding all the cards. I guess we’re in.”
Williams got up from the table. “Okay, I think we're finished here. Robert, grab the sphere. We've got a lot of work to do. We'll contact each of you about the next steps within a couple of days.”
Next steps, Rachael thought. She’d heard those words before.
Langdon removed the case from the table, and he, Williams, and Porter left the room.
Joshua spoke first. “Well, that's not how I expected this to go. Not at all.”
“Gross understatement, dude,” Vinod said.
Rachael folded her arms and lowered her head, thoughtful. “It could be a lot worse. We’re the only civilians who know, and we get to continue to communicate with Seth. I think Williams knows that we’ve already gained his trust, and she obviously seems to be running point for the operation. She knows they need us.”
“Typical government for ya,” Vinod remarked. “Be careful what you say, Rach. You know they gotta have this room bugged.”
Joshua turned to Rachael. “Looks like we're going to be spending a lot more time together.”
Rachel smiled at Joshua and slipped her fingers through his. “Looks that way,” she said.
“What?” Vinod said, a look of disbelief crossing his features. “Are you two like a couple now or something?”
“I guess so,” Rachael answered, still looking at Joshua.
“Definitely,” Joshua replied.
“Why don't you two get a room already,” Vinod said as he got up from the table. “This shit's grossing me out.”
21
The Other Red Planet
Robert Langdon jumped headlong into modifying parts of the Bowman Particle Research Center to make it into a facility where three teams could learn more about Seth and the aliens in a controlled environment. He had decided that the bat cave would be the ideal place to pursue their scientific inquiries since it had only one entrance, which made it easy to secure, a fact that greatly pleased General Porter and his security detail. There were two scientific teams and one personal team, the latter comprised of Joshua, Rachael, and Vinod, whose mission was to act as the main liaison with Seth. The purpose of the scientific teams was to glean as much scientific information as possible about Seth’s planet and its inhabitants. Even though much of the early information was redacted, he had dropped tantalizing hints about the state of his planet’s technology and the scope of life in the universe. The personal team was tasked with finding out more about Seth himself and maintaining his trust in an effort to learn more about his culture and the collective’s history and values to the extent that they would allow it. In the words of Robert Langdon, Seth was the key to the entire operation.
The first step in the process, therefore, was to expand the space in the bat cave, which was easily accomplished by a secure team from the Army’s Corps of Engineers digging out more of the rock that already made up its rough-hewn walls. Next, desks and chairs were added facing the front wall, which gave the main workspace the appearance of a conventional classroom. Each table had a built-in touchscreen that could interface with other equipment in the lab. Finally, the portable lights were replaced with permanent light fixtures that hung from the ceiling.
“I originally said that new equipment would eventually be brought down here,” Joshua told Rachael one day as they watched the bat cave’s transformation proceed, “although I never dreamed it would happen this fast or be this complex—or for the reasons that this entire renovation is happening.”
“Still not enough equipment to qualify for a real bat cave,” Rachael joked.
“NASA is calling the shots,” Joshua reminded her. “Sorry if we’ve disappointed you.”
“A little jealous of what they’re doing?” Rachael said.
“To be honest, yes. This was my inner sanctum.”
“Like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. I’ve heard of mixed metaphors, but you’re switching superheroes.”
“Either way, it’s so different from what I envisioned.” Joshua squeezed her hand as they watched engineers install servers, computers, consoles, and the infrastructure to support them. “What’s the quote? O brave new world?”
“Yes,” Rachael answered. “From Shakespeare’s The Tempest. ‘O brave new world that has such people in it.’ Seems appropriate since we’re going to try to find out about a new planet and the creatures that live there.”
The cover story at the particle center was that the government had invaded the bat cave so that Joshua, who was descri
bed as being on special assignment, could aid NASA in its ongoing research to use spookyons in order to control remote spacecraft. It was plausible and raised no eyebrows due to Joshua’s previous experience with the Mars Rover. Langdon had been very thorough and convincing in his initial presentation to the staff as he told them that their original research would neither be halted nor interfered with, with Joshua still technically retaining his role in overseeing the quest to create entangled spookyons.
“So you and I aren’t a team anymore?” Rodrigo asked Joshua one day.
“For the time being, Rodrigo, but someone has to be left to mind the store up top. Plus you got a promotion out of all this. You’re now one of the chief researchers who run the experiments to create entangled spookyons. I’ll be looking over your shoulder, but you can handle it.” Joshua slapped him on the shoulder. “But buy a lab coat, for God’s sake.”
Rodrigo considered the answer. “True, amigo, but these people don’t like my tee shirts, and they have strict rules on where food can be eaten. And lab coats don’t flatter my impressive girth. But at least they gave me a raise. So what gives down in the bat cave? Talk to any other planetary spacecraft yet?”
“Nah. You know NASA. It’s a huge agency. The big science down below is yet to come.” The answer had been vague but truthful.
“Better you than me,” Rodrigo had commented. “Too much paperwork. I’m a scientist, not a bureaucrat. The big science, as you put it, is happening in the tokamak.”
Initial contact with Seth had been re-established to make sure the project would continue lest Seth move on to another planet to chat with, but the real science wasn’t underway yet as engineers continued the conversion of the bat cave to a more conventional lab, complete with a few creature comforts. The conversation with Seth, as Rachael deemed it, bordered on “interstellar gossip” when the engineers weren’t present.
The crucial role that the personal team would play earned the trio the right to visit the renovation anytime they wanted since they needed to be familiar with the equipment. Additionally, Vinod provided considerable input to the tech teams because of his computer engineering skills and his familiarity with the basics of how communication with the aliens took place. However, one system to which Vinod did not have access was the secure servers that would store the data from the project. Porter didn’t want to give what he deemed a hacker access to these systems. The three were present during an early construction phase in the bat cave, observing the progress that had been achieved thus far.
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