Tales of the Vuduri_Year Five

by Michael Brachman

  --The abolition of fossil fuels and the switch to all renewable sources with no greenhouse gas emission. It seems like with the current administration, we're actually going backwards on this.

  --My niece Rebecca's discovery of a potential "paravaccine" against PTSD and depression. Does it work in humans? Still waiting.

  --Unruh Radiation and the Unrun Effect. Proven yet? Still waiting.

  --The Alcubierre Drive that will let us travel faster than the speed of light without violating relativity... Still waiting.

  --Neuralink's magic neural mesh to enhance our brains... Still waiting.

  --StoreDot's Insta-charge Battery and Insta-charge case for the iPhone... Still waiting.

  --Is there life on Enceladus? Still waiting to find out.

  --When are quantum computers going to show up?

  --How about Tabby's Star, that strange star called KIC 8462852. Is there really an alien superstructure, a type of Dyson Sphere encasing that star? Still waiting to hear.

  --What about fusion reactors: Tokamaks or stellarators? When are they coming?

  --How about Cold Fusion? What about those other zero point energy devices that I wrote about: The Hydrosonic Pump, Blacklight Power, etc.? Still waiting...

  You know what I am not waiting for? The Wonder Woman movie. I saw it last weekend with my wife and it was fantastic. If you get a chance, you should go see it in the theater, on the big screen. You won't regret it.

  Entry 5-171: June 20, 2017

  A new job

  Two days ago, Nick Greer gave Rome and Rei all the information they needed to start the hunt for Troutman and Steele. In fact, rebuilding his lost right hand seemed to change Greer into a new man. He accepted his fate and decided to live again. It was nice. But now it is time for Rome and Rei to return to Deucado, track down Paul Chung and find their would-be assassins. All they have to do is drop off Virga and Bonnie and away they go:

  “OK,” Rei said to Virga. “Well, we got what we came for. We’ll take Bonnie back to the ranch, drop you off then head back to Deucado.”

  Bonnie stepped forward. “About that…” she said.

  “Yes?” Rome asked.

  “What did Keller say about your plan?”

  “He was behind it,” Rei answered. “He said he hoped we caught these jokers.”

  “That’s what I figured,” Bonnie said. “So I was thinking, what if I came with you?”

  “Back to Deucado?” Rome asked skeptically.

  “Yes. Like I said, my days as a brood mare are over.” She bit down on her knuckle and continued. “I don’t think any of my babies are coming back. It’s been a year.” She looked at Rei plaintively. “I really am kind of useless on this planet. I know what Steele and Troutman look like. Maybe I can help you track them down.”

  Rei looked over at Virga. “Do you mind?” he asked.

  “She is one of yours,” Virga said. “If you trust her, we have no objections.”

  Bonnie pressed the issue. “I really have nothing to do here other than looking after the ranch. They don’t need me for that.” She bent her knees slightly to look Rome in the eye. “After we catch the bad guys, maybe I could come work for you, at your library. It’s what I was trained to do.”

  Rome pointed to the back of MINIMCOM, the starship. “You do not wish to return here? What about Gemen?” she asked. “You two seemed to have some sort of connection.”

  “Gemen?” Bonnie said. “He’s sweet but he is Vuduri. He won’t care.” She turned to Virga. “Will he?”

  Virga touched her index finger to her temple. She nodded once. “He does care but he understands,” Virga said.

  “You promise to be good?” Rei asked.

  Bonnie put her hand over her heart. “I swear it, Rei. I just want to do something with my life. This seems like it.”

  “OK then,” Rei said. “Let’s get going.”

  Do we really trust Bonnie? Do we really need her back on Deucado? The answer is yes and yes. For the denouement, I needed someone who needed a new purpose in life and Bonnie fit the bill.

  Next up, one of my most favorite scenes of all-time, eight years in the making.

  Entry 5-172: June 21, 2017

  Rei’s last day on Earth - 1

  Whether you write a single book or a whole series, to make it realistic, you need a backstory for each of the main characters. When the time came to write Rome’s Evolution, I finally had an opportunity to blend together all the little tidbits I had sprinkled throughout my novels regarding Rei Bierak's past into a single, self-contained intermezzo. It's a seven part series and here is Part 1:

  January 24, 2067 AD

  Just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  25-year-old Rei Bierak was driving along PA Route 3 between secure zones, inside the walled highway leading to the West Chester Dome. The fact that it was even called a dome was a testament to the dreams of the residents there. It was their hope and desire that someday the structure would become fully enclosed. Only then would they have protection from the pollution and the increasingly brutal storms that had been invading the East Coast.

  Even though it was January, it was a warm night. The sun was just setting. Rei adjusted the driver’s side visor to block out the orange-red orb hanging low in the sky. As he drove along, he couldn’t shake the idea that today was his last day on Earth. Technically, this was not true. Tomorrow, he would be flying to Houston to go into quarantine. Assuming he tested clean for 30 days, he’d begin the agonizing two-week protocol of dehydration prior to being placed in cryo-hibernation. Once frozen, he and his sarcophagus would be transported and stored aboard the orbiting Ark II which was in its final preparations for its 240-year voyage to Tau Ceti.

  Rei was on his way back to Raul and Sally’s house, having borrowed Raul’s truck to get rid of the very last of his earthly possessions. The potential colonists were only permitted to bring 20 kilos of belongings. After accounting for all of his clothes, his tablet computer and his transit, Rei had elected to take a straight razor, some polymer books and his sunglasses. With just those few items, he was right at the weight limit already.

  The road dipped down, going under an extended overpass. Rei was just emerging from the tunnel when he noted a group of horseback riders just ahead moving along the bridle path on the other side of the retaining wall. Suddenly, there was a flash. A loud and powerful explosion rocked the truck. Impossibly, Rei could see the carcass of a horse flying up in the air and over the retaining wall. He slammed on his brakes but he couldn’t avoid it. The brown mass hit the hood of the truck and smashed through the window. In the mean time, Rei threw his arms up to protect his face and it was only by the sheerest of luck that he managed to keep his foot on the brakes until the truck came to a complete halt.

  The force of the horse’s body hitting the truck did not set off the crash curtain. After all, who would build a truck that could detect dead horses landing on the hood? There was shattered glass everywhere. Miraculously, Rei was not hurt, just completely shaken. After taking a few minutes to inventory his limbs and innards, Rei composed himself and pressed the activator on his cheekbone earpiece and called emergency services.

  Woven into this first part was the rampant terrorism of middle 21st century America. I also got to finally present the full story of "the flying horse" that had been mentioned many times in the previous novels.

  Tomorrow, Part 2.

  Entry 5-173: June 22, 2017

  Rei’s last day on Earth - 2

  Whether you write a single book or a whole series, to make it realistic, you need a backstory for each of the main characters. When the time came to write Rome’s Evolution, I finally had an opportunity to blend together all the little tidbits I had sprinkled throughout my novels regarding Rei Bierak's past into a single, self-contained intermezzo. It's a seven part series and here is Part 2:

  It turns out he didn’t have to. The National Guard was already on its way. By the time they got there, Rei had extricated himself fr
om the cab of the truck and was leaning against the side, away from where the explosion had occurred. The soldiers did a preliminary sweep of the area but there wasn’t much left of the horseback riders and certainly no sign of the terrorists. Raul’s truck was ruined, however. One of the guardsmen who had field medical training insisted on checking Rei out despite the fact that the young man assured him he wasn’t injured. As expected, the medic didn’t find anything serious. After the soldiers finished their cleanup, a pair of them gave Rei a ride to Raul and Sally’s house where his parents and Raul and Sally anxiously awaited him.

  “Oh, Rei,” his mother Ruth said, grabbing a hold of him as he came in through the door. “We were so worried!”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Rei said, closing the door behind him. “It was pretty scary but I’m OK.” He looked up at Raul whose bushy eyebrows and forehead were furrowed in a frown.

  “Sorry about the truck, Raul,” Rei said. “I’ll pay for whatever damages there are. I gave my Mom all my money. You can take it from that stash.”

  “Do not worry about it, man,” Raul said with a slight Brazilian accent. “My IED rider is up to date. It will all be covered. I am just glad you are OK.”

  Rei’s father, Edward, put his hand on Rei’s shoulder. “You gave us quite a fright, there, buddy,” the older man said. “Your last day as a free man was almost your last day, period.”

  Rei laughed cynically. His parents parted and Sally Reynolds, the one-time love of Rei’s life, stepped forward and gave him a hug. Sally was short, just a few inches over five feet with shoulder length brown hair, flecked with strands of gold. “Reinard Bierak,” she said. “Leave it to you to almost go away and miss your own going away party.”

  “Yeah,” Rei said, addressing the group. “That would be pretty sleek irony, huh?” He smiled sheepishly.

  “I wouldn’t call it that,” Sally replied sarcastically but with no edge to her voice.

  Woven into this part is Sally Reynolds, Rei's first love. Notice her description in bold. That is word for word a description of Rome. Sally and her husband, Raul had been mentioned many times in the previous novels but here they are, alive so to speak, for the first time. I also got to introduce you to Rei's mother (named after my mother) and Rei's father (named after my grandfather) who called him buddy, a term of endearment that Rei picked up and used in the 35th century.

  Tomorrow, Part 3.

  Entry 5-174: June 23, 2017

  Rei’s last day on Earth - 3

  Whether you write a single book or a whole series, to make it realistic, you need a backstory for each of the main characters. When the time came to write Rome’s Evolution, I finally had an opportunity to blend together all the little tidbits I had sprinkled throughout my novels regarding Rei Bierak's past into a single, self-contained intermezzo. It's a seven part series and here is Part 3:

  Since he was nearly two hours late, Rei’s parents rushed him to the dining room table where the four of them had prepared what they called his last supper. Every inch of the table was covered by casseroles and serving dishes. It was literally every food that Rei ever liked or claimed he liked. There was pizza, ribs, steak, fried chicken, turkey legs, corned beef, egg rolls and other foods uncounted. The festive meal included wine, no pruno tonight, and a lot of laughing, mixed with the occasional tear.

  For dessert, Ruth Bierak and Sally brought out three cakes, each with twenty five candles. Ruth made Rei blow out every one of the candles for each birthday they would never spend together. One cake was chocolate-covered banana cake, Rei’s favorite. One was chocolate, chocolate-chip with fudge icing aka Death by Chocolate. The third was a cheesecake drizzled with strawberry syrup. Rei elected to have a healthy slice of each one even though he knew he’d catch holy hell at the Mission Center for gaining weight.

  After dessert, Rei’s parents ushered him into the spacious living room and made him sit by himself on the loveseat. Raul and Sally sat down on the sofa and held hands while Rei’s parents stood before him. Rei’s mother had her arms hidden behind her back.

  “What’s up?” he asked trying to peer behind his mother.

  “We got you a little going away present,” his mother said bringing her hands forward. She was holding out a box, roughly four by six inches, wrapped in gold foil. She handed it to Rei.

  “Oy,” Rei said, hefting the present. “You know I’m so close to my weight limit as it is,” he opined. “What is it?”

  “You know we’d never spoil a surprise,” Rei’s father said. “There’s only one way to find out so go ahead and open it.”

  Rei tore open the paper. Inside was a shiny white cardboard box. Inside the white box was gray foam packing. And in the center of the foam packing was a gleaming, dark silicon blue rectangular object. Rei took it out of the box and inspected it along all sides.

  “Is this what I think it is?” he asked, with a broad smile on his face.

  “Yes!” his mother said. “It’s a custom-built solid-state music slab, completely solar-powered. The earpieces clip on magnetically. It has no moving parts and they assured us it would survive for a thousand years. It’s all your music in one tidy package!”

  So now you finally get to see where Rei acquired his music slab that he recovered during his one and only space walk during their flight to Deucado. Notice that I had to slip in the fact that it would last for tens of centuries because that's how long it was before Rei was awakened.

  The list of foods that Rei loved was, of course, just a list of foods that I loved. That was how my grandmother used to cook, all you ever did was have to say you liked something and it was made for dinner for every meal thereafter until she died.

  Tomorrow, Part 4.

  Entry 5-175: June 24, 2017

  Rei’s last day on Earth - 4

  Whether you write a single book or a whole series, to make it realistic, you need a backstory for each of the main characters. When the time came to write Rome’s Evolution, I finally had an opportunity to blend together all the little tidbits I had sprinkled throughout my novels regarding Rei Bierak's past into a single, self-contained intermezzo. It's a seven part series and here is Part 4:

  Rei jumped up and hugged his mother and father. “This must have cost you a bloody fortune,” he said giddily.

  “Well, actually, you paid for it, buddy,” Edward said. “We didn’t need your cash. We wanted to put some of it toward something that will remind you of us whenever you get to where you are going.”

  “This is amazing,” Rei said. Then he frowned. “I think this is going to put me over, though, weight-wise,” he muttered.

  “It’s already taken care of,” his mother replied reassuringly. “We called down to Houston and gave them the exact weight of the slab and the headphones. They said you’d be over by not even fifty grams. They suggested you get rid of your sunglasses and that would be enough. What do you think? Is that OK?”

  “Sure,” Rei said. “This thing is worth a hundred pair of sunglasses.” He sat down to examine the present more closely. He reached into the box, fished out the set of earbuds and placed them in his ears. He held up the other end of the cord, examining it closely. He found that merely waving the connector near the proper junction point on the slab caused it to snap in place magnetically. Rei pressed the upper right hand corner of the device and the front face lit up. The dim integrated menu displayed a variety of ways to access the music. He studied the symbology then instructed the slab to pick a song at random. Immediately he heard the stirring tones of “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” by the Moody Blues. As the music rose, he pressed the volume up control until it was blasting in his ears.

  “This is so sleek,” he shouted without realizing it. Everyone laughed at his inappropriate tone. Seeing their mirth, Rei grinned then removed the earbuds. He detached the connector and carefully placed the slab back into the foam packing along with the earbuds.

  “Thank you, so much,” he said in a normal voice. “I’ll treasure this always.” />
  “We’re very proud of you, son,” his father said. “Use it in good health.”

  Rei stood up and hugged his parents again.

  After tolerating his hug for a moment, his mother spoke up. “Sit, sit,” she commanded. “We have one more surprise for you. Compliments of Raul.”

  Rei looked over at Raul who saluted Rei with two fingers as Rei’s mother left the room. Ruth soon returned with a small tray holding a chilled 375 ml bottle of ice wine and five champagne flutes.

  I always felt I had to explain why Rei didn't take a pair of sunglasses with him to Deucado and this little vignette let me do so. I also got to slip in the Moody Blues' song "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" as a direct nod to Rome. That is pretty much her theme song. I also always thought it was funny how people shout when they are listening to headphones because they don't know how loud they are. I also got to sneak in a reference to ice wine because, well, I love ice wine.

  Tomorrow, Part 5.

  Entry 5-176: June 25, 2017

  Rei’s last day on Earth - 5