Rei laughed a bit nervously. “Of course not,” he said, seeing that Rome was serious. “I explained all that to you. It wasn’t my first choice. I just didn’t want them to hurt you. Or me, for that matter.”
“Very well,” Rome said. She looked back down at the virtual instruments. “We are nearly there, MINIMCOM,” she said. “Will you be dropping out of null-space shortly?”
“One minute, thirty five seconds,” the starship replied through the grille. “I do know what I am doing, you know.”
“I never doubted it,” Rome said, smiling. She looked over at Rei and winked.
OK. Now we have that out of the way. We can go on to Helome without shaming Rome and Rei for being neglectful parents.
Entry 5-139: May 19, 2017
Just Land Anywhere
Yesterday, Rome and Rei had made their peace with leaving young Aason behind with Rome's parents. They were nearly at Helome when Rome warned Rei not to hop into bed with Virga again, naked. Rei took it in stride. But now the business was at hand for winnowing down the list of 111 candidates and account for the 109 leaving the two would-be assassins.
Interestingly, both Rome and Rei were glad for an opportunity to see Virga again. Rome because she appreciated the gift Virga bestowed upon her. Rei because he wanted to see how his gift to Virga, the Darwin members, was working out. Without telling Rome, he felt he should be on his guard:
The darker-than-dark black of null-fold space disappeared and was replaced by the sparkling star-field surrounding the main star. Aleph was dead ahead and very bright as they were only 120 million miles away. Its beautiful golden color hid the dim stars behind it. Directly in front of them was the gleaming blue world of Helome.
“They are aware of our presence,” MINIMCOM said. “However, there is no offer of handshake, just some coordinates. Is that where you want me to land?”
“Absolutely,” Rome said. “We have nothing to fear. Proceed.”
“Very well.”
MINIMCOM’s plasma thrusters roared to life, pushing Rei and Rome back in their seats. Rei felt the electrostatic push of his specially designed shirt give way slightly. It was as if his chest thinned. Meanwhile, the blue-white marble in front of them, flecked with puffy white clouds, quickly grew into a planet-sized sphere.
They entered a west-to-east orbit and MINIMCOM implemented the swooping and arcing of the Bessel function used to aero-brake their way into the atmosphere. They circled around the planet coming up on the same squarish-shaped continent they had landed on the last time they were here. Most of the vegetation was a deep shade of teal with sporadic patches of emerald green. To the south was a splash of colors that defied a singular description. Regardless of its color, the growth was lush and dense over the entire landscape. The only exception was the circles-within-circles shape of the Vuduri capital city. Farther to the south, the vegetation had thinned but there was no distinct pattern to the clearing.
“There’s the twin towers,” Rei said, pointing forward.
“The coordinates they gave us are farther to the south,” MINIMCOM countered.
“This is fine,” Rome said. “Just land where they are requesting.”
MINIMCOM looped past the city to the south about 50 kilometers. There, he found a small spaceport, sparsely populated with aircraft and very few spacecraft. MINIMCOM extended his landing gear and settled onto the hardened surface in front of a few low buildings. Behind them was an entire other row of buildings two stories tall. This landing strip seemed to be devoted to the complex rather than a general purpose spaceport.
At this point, pretty much everyone understood MINIMCOM's true nature and Rome and Rei liked it that way. To Rei this meant that they would more likely be safe than not. Let's see what happens...
Entry 5-140: May 20, 2017
A Safe Ramp?
Yesterday, MINIMCOM had received a signal from the Vuduri of Helome to land but not where Rome and Rei expected. Everyone knew that MINIMCOM was capable of making his own decisions so that did not come into play. This was something different.
Nonetheless, rather than try and out think the Vuduri, Rome and Rei decided to go along with the plan. Rei was naturally leery of landing anywhere especially since walking up or down the ramp always ended up with somebody pointing weapons at them. But in this case, did he have a choice? His own life and that of Rome's and Aason's was already in danger:
Rei peeked out the cockpit and saw two people headed toward the rear of the ship. He stood up and held out his hand to Rome. Rome unbuckled and stood up, taking Rei’s hand. She started toward the rear but Rei did not move.
“What?” she asked.
“Uh, ramps? Guns? Should we do something?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you realize that every single time we’ve ever gone anywhere and walked up or down a ramp, the people at the bottom or top are always armed and gunning for us?”
“You’re being silly,” Rome said, tugging on his hand. “We’re in no such danger here. Let’s go meet them.”
Rei took a deep breath and followed her back along the corridor, past the cargo compartment and pressed the blue stud to lower the cargo ramp.
The beautiful, golden light of Aleph streamed in. Rei held his arm up to shield his eyes, blinking rapidly at the bright star. Since he had been forced to leave his sunglasses back on Earth before they launched, it never occurred to Rei to get a new pair. Rome wouldn’t care. With her inner iris, she never had trouble with the sun. He decided someday soon, he would get MINIMCOM to rectify that: he’d get a replacement pair of sunglasses. At least Rome was patient enough to wait until his eyes adjusted. He and Rome descended the ramp together and were met by the two people, a man and a woman, at the bottom.
“Hello,” Rome said. “Do you know who we are?”
“Of course,” answered the man in a hoarse voice. “You are Rei and Rome, the people who saved our race.”
Rome smiled slightly. “Do you know where Virga is? We would like to talk to her.”
“We will take you to see her,” the man said. He turned and pointed to one of the heavy-duty flying carts used on Helome. “Please come with me.”
Rei and Rome followed the two white jump-suited Vuduri to the flying cart. The woman took her place behind the wheel. The man sat in the front next to her. Rei and Rome clambered aboard and sat in the back seat.
With an easy motion, the cart lifted into the air and head toward the south.
“No,” Rome said. “Should we not be headed north?”
The man turned in his seat. “You requested an audience with Virga. She now lives in the southern territory along with the Essessoni.”
What?! She lives with the Essessoni? That means she is living with the members of the Darwin Project that Rei had banished to the planet. There is something odd going on. Let's see what it is...
Entry 5-141: May 21, 2017
Hello, Virga
Yesterday, Rome and Rei hopped aboard a heavy-duty flying cart driven by a Vuduri woman and man who claimed they were taking our heroes to see Virga. This did not jive with what Rome had assumed but right now they were literally willing to go along for the ride. Let's see where they end up:
Rei did not enjoy the ride as much as Rome did. He kept glancing upward, searching for any signs of bat-wolves, even though he had been assured the last time he was here that they only came out at night.
They traveled along a barely paved road through thicker and thinner stands of the tree-analogs with the multi-colored trunks. Rei called them Crayola trees. Rome liked to squint her eyes so the colors blended forming a wavy rainbow.
At last they came upon a clearing, surrounded by a tall fence. The driver came to a halt and waited until the mechanical gate opened. Once it was fully open, she drove through. The man turned around to make sure the gate closed behind them. In the meantime, the driver flew the cart over a better-paved set of roads until they came to a village that reminded Rei of some of the more rustic places on Earth. The on
ly difference was the dwellings were constructed out of Vuduri aerogel. In some places, the usual white of the aerogel had been stained with a brick color, not unlike the trick he used to make Rome’s library appear more academic.
At last, they pulled up in front of a two-story house. The whole block consisted of detached dwellings which in itself was a departure from the usual rowhouse appearance of Vuduri housing. The man turned to them and said, “This is Virga’s house. She is expecting you.”
Rome waited but neither of their two Vuduri escorts made any move like they were getting out. Shrugging, Rome slid over and hopped out of the cart, followed by Rei. They walked up the front path and the door opened. Out came Virga to greet them. Her blonde hair sparkled in the golden rays of Aleph. It was still curly but was a little longer. If anything, she looked more beautiful than the last time they saw her. And also, she was very pregnant.
“Rome,” she said, leaning forward and hugging Rome. Rome accepted the embrace as surprising as it was. Most Vuduri would never think to initiate physical contact but then the Vuduri of Helome always were a little different.
Virga released Rome and stepped to her left to hug Rei. She pressed her head gently against his chest. Rei was about to say something but Virga released him before she fell through his miniature PPT tunnel.
Wow. Things really have changed. And it looks like for the better. But wait until you see who is inside the house. And who got Virga pregnant.
Entry 5-142: May 22, 2017
Beer Sucks (says Rome) 1
Yesterday, Rome and Rei were greeted by Virga outside of her home well to the south of the Helome equivalent of I-cimaci. Virga was also quite pregnant. This was visible proof to Rei that his jury-rigged eugenics plan to save the Vuduri was working. But this raises the obvious question. If Virga is pregnant, who is the father? Hold on to your hat:
“How have you two fared?” Virga asked.
“We are well,” Rome answered. “And I see you are doing well, also,” she said, pointing at Virga’s extended abdomen.
“My second,” Virga said proudly. “My first was a beautiful, perfect little mosdurece boy. Not a trace of Onsira blood.” She turned to Rei. “And we have you to thank for it.”
Rei started to speak when a gruff voice emitted from the front door.
“Bierak!” came Captain Keller’s voice. “How the hell are you?”
Rei was dumbfounded. “Captain Keller?” he asked incredulously.
“Just Maury, now,” said the man striding up them. He looked ten years younger. “No more of that stuff for me on this world.”
He put his arm over Virga’s shoulder. “Why don’t we invite these people in and find out why they’re here?”
Virga nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed Keller on the cheek. Rei was dumbstruck. He looked at Rome whose eyes, if anything, were wider than his own. Shaking off their shock, they turned and allowed Keller and Virga to lead the way and the four of them retired inside.
The living quarters were an amalgam of a typical spartan Vuduri apartment, complete with workstation, sofa and table along with some Earth-style accoutrements including some photographs hung on the walls. Several of the chairs were clearly hand-carved, but exquisitely so, including one ornate rocking chair.
Virga left the room while Rei and Rome took seats on the sofa. Keller sat down in the rocker. Virga returned with a small tray and several squeeze-bulbs, some clear, some with a translucent brown liquid.
“We have water and beer,” Virga said.
“Beer!?” Rei barked. “How? Where?”
Beer, on Helome? How could that be? Where did Keller get the ingredients? The answer ties back to a short story I wrote in The Vuduri Companion but if you wait until tomorrow, I'll give you the answer.
Entry 5-143: May 23, 2017
Beer Sucks (says Rome) 2
Yesterday, Rome and Rei were greeted by Virga and Captain Keller outside of their home well to the south of the Helome equivalent of I-cimaci. Keller and Virga invited them into their home and Virga brought out some water and beer. Rei was shocked at this. Where did Keller get the beer? The answer:
“We have water and beer,” Virga said.
“Beer!?” Rei barked. “How? Where?”
Keller laughed. “We found some feral fields of barley and hops way up north on the site of the original settlement. Virga’s people were kind enough to let us experiment a little.” Keller leaned forward and grabbed one of the brown squeezebulbs. He lifted it up. “Try it and tell me what you think.”
Rei snorted a laugh and reached down and grabbed one for himself. He took a healthy slug and said, “this is great!” He turned and offered it to Rome. “Do you want to try it?” he asked.
“I suppose,” Rome said, suspiciously. She took a little sip, scrunched up her face and said, “This is horrid! How you can drink this?”
Rei laughed. “It’s an acquired taste,” he said.
“I will stick with water,” Rome said and Virga handed her a clear squeeze-bulb.
You will recall that some 1200 years earlier, Silas Hiram from the Ark I had planted barley and hops to make beer. This was before the Piranha Rats came. You can read his story in The Vuduri Companion.
With regard to the rest, if you ask me, Rome is wrong. But I do agree with Rei that beer is an acquired taste. I hated beer until one summer at the University of Michigan, I was outside and it was blazing hot and the only thing to drink was ice cold Genesee Cream Ale. It was right then and there that I had a revelation that beer could be delicious. Hey, Rome, give it another chance some day.
Entry 5-144: May 24, 2017
The Bethesda Bomb 1
Yesterday, Rome and Rei had been invited into Captain Keller and Virga's home for a little sit-down. Keller even offered them some beer (Rome hated it) which was a shout-out to Silas Hiram, an Ag Professor from Ark I. You can read his story in The Vuduri Companion in the story called Before The Piranha Rats Came. But now it was time for a little chit-chat. Even though it was six years later, there was always one comment that bothered me from way back when, when I published the original novel Rome’s Revolution, a reviewer name Sixiron said:
As the story unfolds, problems of logic start appearing though. A good example would be,
I never really had a chance to address this in the original novel because there was so much going on. But in Rome’s Evolution, I finally had a chance to explain to all of you readers why Captain Keller acted so crazed right from the beginning. Here, in his own words, was his motivation:
“Captain Keller…” Rei started out but stopped when Keller held his hand up.
Keller took a good long draft of beer then set his squeezebulb down. “Before you say anything, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m not the man you knew.”
“You aren’t?” Rei asked. “Ok, uh, go ahead.”
“Do you remember when the Bethesda bomb went off?”
“Of course,” Rei said. “How could anybody forget?”
“I was stationed in Turkey at the time, fighting god-knows-who. Well, Bethesda, that was my home. My wife and two daughters lived there. They were incinerated, along with my parents and pretty much everybody that I ever cared about.”
I kind of lifted this description from an episode of 24 but it doesn't seem that far-fetched that this will happen at some point in the future. The horror must have been unimaginable. But what affect did it have on Keller's psyche? I'll explain tomorrow.
Entry 5-145: May 25, 2017
The Bethesda Bomb 2
Yesterday, I explained my motivation for inserting this next little section in the book Rome’s Evolution. One of my re
viewers had stated that it was too far-fetched for Captain Keller to have come to a new planet and with 24 hours of being awakened, he was ready to go to war. Well, here is a little look into Keller's mindset at that time. Understand that while it was 14 centuries in the future, from Keller's perspective, it had only been a few days:
Keller sighed. “I was so angry, so blind with rage; I just wanted to kill everybody and everything that had even the remote chance of being related.” He shook his head. “There was no way to grieve,” he said. “The area was quarantined and off-limits for a hundred years. I wasn’t allowed back. My bitterness made me an easy recruit for Darwin. I believed in what they wanted with all my heart and soul. I just wanted everyone who wasn’t us to die. When I got to the stars, and there were already people there, I wanted them gone too. I held all of them responsible.”
Keller leaned forward. “But you and your wife, you saved me. You showed me there was no point to it. It could never succeed. In fact, Rome, it was your final words to me before you shipped us off to this planet that rattled around in my brain and finally planted the seed.”
Tales of the Vuduri_Year Five Page 22
