by Kurt Winans
Adding to the list of the already established Katoomba and Maple Ridge, La Calera on the west coast of South America quickly replaced number ten. Then Aurora renamed her current location of number three. The discovery of what had once been Austin during the eastward exploration on the SSP had helped to provide their exact distance to the west, so a name was easy to determine. In honor of the township that had once occupied the space before the asteroid apocalypse, the population center where the recruits had been deposited back on Earth was officially dubbed as Dripping Springs.
A few small population centers, such as Whitecliffs in New Zealand were named in similar fashion, while those located in the former vacant areas between large cities, took on a hybrid classification. The most noteworthy example of such naming occurred within the former South American country of Brazil, as number six, the largest of the communities, was named Rio Paulo. Although not the most endearing of titles, those citizens within the former British Isles were pleased that they no longer would be saddled with number sixteen. As descendants of a long ago society who had placed significant stock in their perceived social standing and birthright, having the final number of any set diminished their self-worth. With collective relief, they assumed the name of Crewe within the ever shrinking global community.
With each community then in receipt of a personalized touch, Tori turned to Aurora and said, “I must admit, this was unexpected. I didn’t know until recently that you could look beyond numbers and data. I’ve worked with you for eighteen months now, and I thought you had embraced our centuries old method of numbering each population center.
Aurora offered a smile, and replied, “I can understand why you would think that Tori. On the surface, the numbering system would appear to be the kind of thing that I would love, but not when it involves communities. I’m aware that some people believe that this process was a ridiculous exercise, but not me. In spite of a lifelong love of numbers and data, even I know that life needs a reprieve from it occasionally. Not everything should have a number attached to it.”
“Now your words are matching your actions Aurora. It’s a very enlightened approach, but why the change of heart?”
“Thanks. I guess it’s because in every population center people are falling victim to the virus, and at this point in time, we haven’t figured out a way to stop it. I believe that most people would want the record to not only indicate some personal information about them, but also where they lived their life. I don’t know about you Tori, but I prefer to die in Dripping Springs as opposed to number three.”
As the third complete year since their return to Earth came to a close, Aurora’s records of placement showed that ninety-four of the reproduction recruits had held true to their collective promissory effort of revitalizing the dying gene pool of Earth. It was hoped that sometime several years into the future both Hank and Kristyn, as numbers ninety-five and ninety-six, would also find suitable mates for the same purpose. As for the current time, their respective levels of physiological maturity prevented them from such consideration.
The records for year one were unable to provide an accurate measuring stick of potential progress, as the majority of the few births and deaths had taken place during the later stages of the timeframe. Files for each of the recruits, and their respective offspring, had then been updated at the conclusion of the second year, and once again to close the third. Sadly, those same records, while providing a complete and accurate measurement, had also drawn a bleaker global picture. They revealed that throughout the same timeframe, far too many deaths as a consequence of the virus had offset the population gains attained as a byproduct of the revitalization process.
Although it had shown early promise, the attempted genetic enrichment would prove to be a most daunting task for many years to come. Optimism remained high among many, but there was only so much that could be done with a full term human pregnancy exceeding nine months in duration. Even so, it became critical to accelerate the program efforts.
Each of the fifty-two adult males, including Colt and Tikal, had now been responsible for the fathering of a child with, at a minimum, three women within their respective communities. As for the adult female recruits, each of the forty-two had delivered at least one child. Slightly over half of them, including Natiya and Brittany had given birth to a second. The ten Mayan women, per the parting instructions of their King, had taken to the assigned task with enthusiasm. They had been ordered to produce children on the new world, and each had willingly fulfilled that directive by producing two offspring. Three of them, with no desire to potentially anger their King or the “Sky God”, were already expecting yet another.
Unfortunately, Aurora did not live long enough to see the completion of the third year. After a difficult battle with the virus, she finally succumbed in the exact gruesome fashion as each of the other associated victims. If any positive came from the lengthy knowledge of her eventual demise, it was the ability to take appropriate measures with regard to her meticulous record keeping. The choice to carry on the responsibility of the work had been obvious to Aurora, and Natiya gladly accepted both the invitation and challenge. In so doing, Natiya’s only request was to include Kristyn in the training process. Her thinking, shared by many others, was that she and her eldest daughter could combine their efforts, as has been recently accomplished, to cover the task for many years to come. That path was logical, as Natiya had, just like every other person over thirty on the planet, tested positive for the virus. Kristyn, now ten years old, had once again come back with negative test results, so she would theoretically continue the process when Natiya could no longer do so.
The funeral service for Aurora, a full six months into the past, had been performed with less fanfare than the one for Ross two years prior. Perhaps that was due to her being less of a public figure than her father, or perhaps the cause was an ever increasing amount of funeral services for the many that had fallen. Whatever the case, Aurora was laid to rest next to Ross and Gabriela while fulfilling a promise she had made to her father during the days of her childhood. She was lowered into a small rise overlooking the ocean while cloaked in the American flag that had once covered the coffin of her grandfather Robert.
Hank, who was nearly eleven at the time, saluted the flag as he had been taught by Colt for Ross’s service. Then turning to his father he said, “That was a cool promise that Ross and Aurora had with each other about being cloaked in their respective grandfathers’ military flags. Were you aware of that promise before Aurora asked us to do it for her last week?”
“Yes I was. Ross had spoken with me about it years ago, and he wanted me to ensure that the ritual was carried out in case Aurora never had a chance to discuss it with anyone.”
Janet, with tears welling in her eyes at having lost the only granddaughter that she ever knew, intervened by saying, “Our family only has the one remaining flag now. Do either of you have any future plans for it?”
Hank replied, “I don’t know if you remember mom, but when we discovered the flag in the exhibit for Ross at the Cheyenne Mountain museum, he asked Aurora to keep it safe with the two that have now been used. About six months ago she asked me if I would continue to care for it after she was gone, so I promised her that I would. Unless you or dad has another idea, I would like to protect this flag for my entire life.”
While rubbing her eyes dry, Janet said, “I think that’s a great idea Hank. Perhaps one day you can pass on the legacy of the flag to one of your children.”
“That’s a deal mom, I promise.”
With Aurora’s death came the realization that Tikal was now the oldest living citizen of Dripping Springs. The consensus was that he also held that distinction globally, but not every citizen had been accounted for in the six months since he had been labeled as such. A handful of the infected elderly in both the South American settlement of La Calera, and the community of Whitecliffs on the former south island of New Zealand, had since relocated to the solitude of the m
ountains. Their status was currently unknown, but it was doubtful that any of them had survived very long with the potential harshness of exposure to the wilderness, or the grip of the virus.
Throughout the two year timeframe since Aurora had stumbled upon the theory that Tikal and the twenty other Mayan’s were somehow immune to the virus, her belief had become more plausible. As the age of those around them that became infected and died continued to plummet, each of the Mayan citizens repeatedly tested negative. Categorized as a medical miracle, Tikal and the others continued to be treated as if they were giant pin cushions. It was fair to estimate that they had given several pints each throughout the course of multiple small doses, as many samples of their untainted blood had been scrutinized in labs throughout the globe. Then beginning with the most advanced cases, a small amount of their blood had been cross matched and injected directly into the bloodstream of those infected. That process, due to no tangible results, then proceeded backwards to those patients who were younger or less advanced with their symptoms. Eventually even those in their thirties who, based on their age and Janet’s early findings, still had perhaps several years of viral gestation before death, failed to show any signs of eradication.
Throughout the entire process, only five patients of the several thousand that were tested exhibited a positive reaction to the treatment. That reaction, although subtle at first, was shared by Janet, Brittany, and the three pilots who had volunteered as recruits from the larger group of fourteen abductees of Flight 19 in 1945. Deciphering their commonality was easy, as Janet knew that both she and Brittany had also been abducted by the alien species. Although each of the five had been exposed and infected for over three years, tests had proven that when compared to that of other patients, the battery of minute blood transfusions they had received had effectively slowed the progression of the virus to a crawl. In Janet’s case, the results of her blood testing were the most baffling to the medical community. Aside from being older than any of the other four, she had also been more closely exposed to patient zero for several months before his death.
When Dr. Halley asked, “Janet, do you have a theory as to why the five of you have reacted so differently to the experimental testing?”
She responded, “Well, I think that there must be some correlation to our abduction by the alien species. After all, we, and each of the more than two hundred other long term abductees had our ageing process slowed to a crawl while in their captivity. Only after being released at the conclusion of our six week transport, when we inadvertently became part of the pilgrimage effort on ₹-593-Ԅπ-2-2, did we begin to age again at the normal rate. I just don’t believe that having the virus slow to a crawl in a similar fashion within only our five systems is a coincidence.”
“Well, that does seem like a logical place to start. Are you five the only ones still alive?”
“I can’t answer that doctor. I have no way of knowing what has become of our colony back on that moon, but we are the only five abductees who returned to Earth.”
Another year had rolled past, and the global death rate curve steepened. The year had been difficult in many respects for each population center, and the toll of those circumstances weighed heavily upon Janet’s soul. Her frustrations within the medical lab also continued, as no significant progress toward viral abatement, or a preventative vaccine, had been achieved. Adding to that level of frustration was the loss of the man she had worked with so closely in seeking said cure. A few months after the completion of the third year since Janet’s return to Earth, Dr. Halley passed away due to the virus. During his final weeks he had been of absolutely no use in the lab, as prolonged episodes of his severe hallucinations exceeded those of Ross. Although Janet maintained the ability to communicate with other research personnel for potential breakthroughs, she and the Dripping Springs labs had been hampered by the loss of their most senior and well versed mind.
Of more significant damage to Janet’s normally stern resolve was the loss of Colt, as he had also fallen prey to the virus six months after the doctor. For those within Dripping Springs, or in a broader sense, the global community, the loss was tremendous. Not to diminish the passing of other citizens, but Colt was one of the few who could offer an important link to Earth’s former civilization. Aside from the introduction of what would develop into the SSP, or the hybrid variations of it, he continued to couple modern technological advancements with those of the past to enhance future achievements.
One example of that mindset was the introduction of wind turbines as an additional power generating source. Colt had certainly not invented the concept, nor did he assume any credit for having done so, but the idea had proved most useful for the various population centers. Since construction of the Dripping Springs prototype more than two years before his death, dozens of turbines had been built around the planet. Maple Ridge had been the first community to embrace the wind turbine concept for their rugged terrain, and had subsequently worked closely with Colt when developing other uses.
Another addition to the concept of sail power involved the team of scientists dedicated to the exploration of space. Already possessing the ability to send and retrieve small solar powered probes that had been studying Mars or Venus, they were constantly searching for a way to speed up the process of the long round trips. Colt saw that as an opportunity, so he approached a man who represented the modern day version of NASA. Then he asked, “Have you thought of using a large sail to harness more of the suns energy for your space probes?”
Colt knew instantly that his question wasn’t a foolish one, as a slight lifting of the scientists eyebrows indicated that the man was intrigued by the thought. Then Colt heard him say, “That’s an interesting concept. Can you elaborate for me?”
“Well, I can try. I won’t claim to know too much about the process, but prior to the apocalypse, NASA and other space agencies were working on the concept. In simple terms they would equip a probe or other vehicle with a sail that would unfurl once it left orbit, and then capture what was referred to as the solar wind. The idea was that the probe would gain additional speed in the vacuum of space.”
“That’s very interesting. Was it ever tested?”
“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure. As I said, I don’t know too much about it. I’m sure that Ross would have known, but it’s just one of those conversations that we never had.”
“Well I know that a few of our scientists would be very interested in discussing the concept, and whatever you could offer as information would be most helpful.”
“Sure, whatever I can do to help.”
With that Colt somehow became an honorary member of the group responsible for space endeavors, and he made sure that Hank was also an integral part of the process. Although neither Colt nor Hank could offer much science to the collective think tank, he felt that the learning opportunity for Hank was too great to pass up. Besides, the invitation to the round table discussions wouldn’t have occurred if their experience in both the development of the SSP and their actual space flight wasn’t considered to be a valuable addition to the project.
Within months, the first pair of what would become several probes were launched toward each of the neighboring two planets with a newly developed solar sail. As Colt had initially described in rough detail, the protruding fifty-foot sail was unfurled after each of the probes cleared the atmosphere. Both probes then completed their respective roundtrip journeys in less time than any previous ventures, but the solar sail burned up on re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The ensuing generation of probes had been enhanced to allow for the sails to retract before entering Earth’s atmosphere, and Colt had lived long enough to witness their triumphant returns.
From a more intimate perspective, Colt’s death was devastating for Janet. He had been the man that she fell in love with long after being ripped away from her family and life by the alien species, and they had developed a true partnership of souls during the challenging years on ₹-593-Ԅπ-2-2. The
ir partnership had also created Hank, and Colt had been a most wonderful father. He was not only supportive of Hank’s every interest, but Colt also provided him with constant opportunities to broaden his outlook and education through practical life application. That attention was most evident in how Colt had also inspired the creative engineering side of Hank’s personality. By encouraging expanded thought toward embracing what the advances of new Earth’s technology might provide for other inventions, Colt hoped that would inspire Hank to eventually achieve greatness as Ross had predicted. Colt also helped Hank develop personal relationships with those of all ages, and freely included him in the advanced discussions or projects that one might initially believe to be beyond the scope of the young man’s comprehension.
Hank’s development also included profound external influences such as Megan Crenshaw who taught him about strength of character and the value of hard work and ethical behavior. Or, how to remain humble when placed in a position of leadership as demonstrated time and again by both Ross and Jessica. Those traits had been instrumental in the shaping of their son, and therefore Janet believed that Hank had already achieved greatness. Her thoughts of such things went beyond a mother’s normal feelings of pride toward her own child. They were amplified by Hank’s unparalleled mastery of the SSP, and the more recent and impressive way, at the tender age of twelve, that his two years of training had made him one of the more reliable shuttle pilots in Dripping Springs.
