Rome said, “As I explained to you, the Overmind of Earth had done a genetic analysis of all living Vuduri in order to produce his Slayer program.”
“Sure,” Rei said. “You are the generations removed granddaughter of Hanry Ta Jihn. That is really sleek in a way. He truly was a great man. And I get to be married to you!”
“Yes, it is sleek,” Rome said. “I choose to ignore the manipulation that led to my birth. I am here and that is that. However, that is not what I wanted to tell you.”
“Ok, so what is it?’
“The genetic analysis did not stop there. The Overmind’s scientists went all the way back to what the Overmind called the ‘Mitochondrial Eve’. She was one of the few women who made it through the Great Dying.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Rei said, nodding his head. “When you think about it, it’s only logical. The Vuduri who are alive today are descended from people who survived the Great Dying. That’s just common sense.”
“Perhaps,” Rome said. “But the Overmind told me specifically who my ancestor really was.”
“He knew that?” Rei asked, puzzled.
“Yes,” Rome replied. “Her name was Sally Reynolds.”
Rei’s jaw dropped open. “Uh, uh,” was all he could say. Finally, he whispered, “My Sally?”
“Yes,” Rome said proudly. “And that was why I was familiar to you. I am her great, great, great, great granddaughter.”
Rei couldn’t decide if he was horrified or delighted.
“Holy mackerel,” he said finally. He put his head down and thought about it for a bit. “I knew she had some sort of freakish immune system because of the incident in Brazil but… Oh wow.” He looked up at Rome. “Her father was the chairman of the Reynolds Corporation. She got me into the Ark program, even though I wasn’t ranked. She told me on our last night together that I was going to meet the love of my life among the stars. And all the time it was her who was responsible. How did she know?”
Rome shook her head. “All of us think of time as if it were volma, movies, where each moment leads to the next and our consciousness just travels along that road, skipping from frame to frame.”
“Well, sure,” Rei said. “What else is there?”
Rome touched her finger to her chin. “Maybe that way of thinking is wrong.”
Tomorrow, we'll review Rome's theory of time travel.
Entry 5-345: December 11, 2017
Rome's Theory of Time Travel
Yesterday, Rome started to explain to Rei her theory of time travel. Not in the science fiction sense but in the psychological sense. Something she had personally experienced:
Rome continued, “Perhaps time is more like a long river than a series of individual moments. Perhaps our consciousness normally just floats along. But maybe some people can travel up or down that river, with their minds. A form of time travel.”
“That sounds like string theory to me,” Rei observed. “I’m not buying it. My mind can only think of now. The rest is the past or the future.”
“You, yourself once called the Chara mission a ‘damned time machine’. So even you acknowledged the possibility.”
“I was speaking metaphorically,” Rei protested. “I mean, we go to sleep and wake up in the morning. That doesn’t really count as time travel.”
“All right, explain this then,” Rome countered. “Four years ago, before I had even given birth, I was in the Vuduri compound and had a bad dream. A nightmare really.” Rome shivered. “In that dream, a black hooded stranger came to take our son. When I would not agree, he grew until he filled the sky, just like the Sipre. In the dream, it was Aason who saved me but upon reflection, I think it was OMCOM’s genetic manipulation of you that allowed us to defeat him. You were Aason’s creator.”
“Dreams don’t count,” Rei said. “Everybody has them. That had to be a coincidence.”
“You always say there ain’t no such thing as a coincidence.”
Rei set his jaw. “I still don’t believe it.”
“Well I do,” Rome insisted. “When we were under the Tevatron, when I first touched the dried blood of Hanry Ta Jihn, my ancestor as it turns out, my mind flashed back to his time as if I was there in person. I feel like I went down the river.” Rome reached up and touched Rei’s cheek. “That is all I am saying. Perhaps Sally was someone who could travel up the river, forward to our time. Maybe she saw our future together like I saw the past.”
“That’s too heavy to even consider,” Rei said. “But if there were ever any doubt we were fated to be together, I guess this seals the deal.”
Rome pulled Rei’s head forward and kissed him on his cheek. “You are right. Now that we have settled our score with those that wanted to bring us harm, it’s time to get on with our lives. Together.”
“Yep,” Rei said. “On this wonderful little planet. I always thought it was a plain Jane, nothing world but every time we dig, like with the ‘blankets’, we find out there is more to it. Like peeling back the layers of an onion.”
“Yes,” Rome said happily. “I love this little world. Our world.”
“And I love you,” Rei said. He kissed her deeply and drew his hand up, first to her chest then down her front, stopping when he got to her stomach. The private moment Rome and Virga shared before they took Virga home flashed into his mind.
Rome's explanation sounds a lot like the TV show Quantum Leap except Rome was a passive viewer and could not interact with the past. And Sally's preview didn't really change anything either.
Tomorrow, the final secret is revealed.
Entry 5-346: December 12, 2017
Lupe is coming!
Yesterday, Rome had explained to Rei her theory of time. While you couldn't actually travel backwards or forwards in the physical sense, your mind could travel "up the river" or down and you could experience (but not interact) with a point along the timeline. While Rei did not fully subscribe to the theory, he could not refute Rome's evidence. They put the discussion aside because Rei had something that had been nagging at him since they left Helome and he finally remembered to ask Rome about it:
The private moment Rome and Virga shared before they took Virga home flashed into his mind. “Hey,” he said, pulling his head back. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Yes, mau emir?” She put her hand on top of his, caressing it tenderly.
“When we were tussling with the Sipre, in the ethereal world, I saw your spirit as a bright red flame. But there was this little pink spark, like a pixie, that seemed to always follow you around. That spark was so bright but it never strayed from being beside you. It wasn’t one of the Onsira children. Their sparks were black or at least they were until Bonnie came along.”
Rome took Rei’s hand and began moving it in a circular motion around her abdomen. “That tiny spark was Lupe,” she said, smiling. “She is coming.”
“What?” Rei said, sitting bolt upright. “I’m going to be a father again?”
“Yes,” Rome replied, her smile getting even broader. “She was conceived during our training night together. I suppose it was just the right time.”
Rei laughed. “That is so sleek.”
Rome cocked her head. “You’ll have to wait and see about that. You may end up changing your mind.”
“Why?” Rei asked, confused.
“I have already spoken to her.”
“You have?” Rei tried to act surprised but in this brave new world, almost nothing surprised him anymore.
“Yes, but unlike Aason, I must give you fair warning. This one is going to be a handful. I believe your word for it is a brat.”
“A brat, huh?” Rei breathed. “Daughters always are,” he said, kissing Rome’s nose. “But we’ll love her all the more.”
“Yes, we will,” Rome said. She smiled seductively and took Rei’s hand and moved it even lower. “But for tonight, it is just you and me and we are home again.”
Rei nodded his head vigoro
usly and focused on his wife, his beautiful wife, the love of his life. She was the one he was fated to be with since the beginning of time. Their enemies had been vanquished. There was peace everywhere. Their love-making began in earnest knowing all was right with the world, no, the universe, now and forever more.
These two people have been through a lot. They deserve a little peace and quiet. And happiness. And now they are going to have a new baby. Yet another adventure.
Entry 5-347: December 13, 2017
The End?
Yesterday, Rome and Rei returned to their home world of Deucado and it would appear that they live happily ever after. Originally, it was my plan to have them do so. So I wrote a postscript that was supposed to announce to you, the reader, that was my plan. Here is that postscript:
This is the end of the story arc concerning Rei and Rome. While they have some ups and downs, in large part, they go on to live very happy and productive lives together. No one and nothing tries to kill them again. They are not called upon to save the human race yet another time. The peace they experience is the peace they so richly earned.
However, it is not the end of the world of the 35th century. Life continues, not only for Rei and Rome, but for all the humans of that age. At this point, there is one unspoken fact, a subtext, underlying everyone’s assumptions that will turn out to be wrong. That fact is this: if there were an Olympic competition between the three inhabited worlds, Helome would win the gold medal uncontested. Earth would take home the silver medal handily but win the prize for the most important world. Deucado would win the bronze but only because it had no other competition. In every category, this plain unpretentious world would seem to have gotten the short end of the stick.
Poor drab Deucado.
The small planet had been bashed to bits for billions of years, and yet it kept spinning in its orbit around the parent star, Tau Ceti, watched over by its gigantic brother Grentadar. The fact that life had survived, let alone thrived on this little world, despite overwhelming adversity, was a cosmic miracle. The constant rain of death from above made it more resilient and tougher than Earth or Helome. With its new shield of protection and the four major races of mankind living in peace, Deucado, ‘the little planet that could’, would continue to develop and evolve at an accelerating pace.
There was no dominant race on this planet and certainly nowhere where the Essessoni and Deucadons had as much influence. From this world would spring the outward bound industry and ventures that would benefit all of humanity. Not the Earth, controlled by the Overmind and segregated into its enclaves of Vuduri and mandasurte and certainly not the ethnically pure world of Helome. No, it was Deucado that was destined to eclipse Earth some day as the focus of the human adventure and become the crown jewel of the empire of Man.
Rome’s library was simply the first seed planted in the new garden of knowledge of mankind. Her Library of Life would blossom forth and be at the center of it all. But as we already know, life and intelligence is not limited to just humans. There are many other life-forms out there, waiting to be discovered, with their own lives, their own wants, needs and desires. And that, my friends, is why the story will never end.
It really was my plan to retire the Rome and Rei story line. I already knew I wanted to start with "the next generation" meaning Lupe and Aason. But you will see, if you read The Milk Run, I couldn't help myself. I brought the parents back and ultimately made them virtually immortal. Where I go from there, I don't know. Tomorrow, I'll give you the teaser I wrote for The Milk Run before I had put down a single word.
Entry 5-348: December 14, 2017
The Milk Run Teaser Part 1
Yesterday, I told you about my theoretical wrap-up of the Rome and Rei saga. I had already decided I was moving on with the "next generation" of characters so I wrote this little teaser long before I actually started writing the novel itself. In a way, it kind of painted me into a corner but it was a very large corner. I had a glimmer of an idea about The Milk Run so this generic teaser was not too restrictive. I broke it into two pieces. Here is Part 1:
Year 3476 AD (1395 PR)
(17 years after the end of Rome’s Evolution)
21-year-old Aason Bierak stood with his arms folded across his broad chest, scowling while his parents fussed over his younger sister. He was anxious to get started and to him the prolonged goodbyes seemed interminable.
“You listen to your brother,” Aason’s mother, Rome said to his sister, Lupe. “He’s in charge. You do what he says.”
“What about OMCOM?” Lupe asked as if she didn’t know.
“The livetar we are sending along is just a subset of our OMCOM’s core. He’s there for a system upgrade only,” Lupe’s father, Rei, interjected. “He can advise you but he’s not in charge of you.”
“What about Planet OMCOM?”
“Same thing. Aason is in charge. Nobody else.”
“I get it,” Lupe said. “OK. Goodbye, Mother,” she said and she hugged her mother tightly. At five foot six, she felt like she towered over her mother, having inherited some of her father’s height. But even though she was only sixteen and a half, with her dark hair and glowing eyes, she already looked like a clone of Rome, just taller.
“I will miss you,” Rome said. “Hurry back.”
“Sure,” replied Lupe. She stepped to her left and hugged her father. “I love you both,” she said then she turned and skipped away, heading for the cargo ramp leading up to the all-black starship sitting on the landing strip.
“Aason, you watch over her,” Rome said. “She is still a baby.”
“Of course, Mom,” Aason said. “There’s nothing to worry about. Dad told me this is a milk run.”
“What is a milk run?” Rome asked, looking over at her husband.
“He told me it’s a quick trip just to grab something at the store.”
“In that case, he is wrong. There is no such thing as a milk run in space,” Rome said, looking back at her son. “You know we would be going with you if we could.”
“I know, Mom,” Aason said. “But Grandmea needs you more, right now. Grandbeo has to get better.”
Rome opened her arms and Aason allowed her to hug him tight. “You are so grown up!” she exclaimed. Aason didn’t even bother to blush. He gave his father a manly hug and twirled around toward the starship awaiting him. As Aason reached the top of the ramp, before he entered the cargo section, he turned and looked back at his parents one more time. His father had his long arms draped over his mother, holding her gently.
Tomorrow, we will complete the roster of characters and that is truly the end of Rome’s Evolution.
Entry 5-349: December 15, 2017
The Milk Run Teaser Part 2
Previously, I told you about my theoretical wrap-up of the Rome and Rei saga. I had already decided I was moving on with the "next generation" of characters so I wrote this little teaser long before I actually started writing the novel itself. In a way, it kind of painted me into a corner but it was a very large corner. I had a glimmer of an idea about The Milk Run so this generic teaser was not too restrictive. I broke it into two pieces. Yesterday, I presented Part 1. Here is the final part, Part 2:
Year 3476 AD (1395 PR)
(17 years after the end of Rome’s Evolution)
Rome opened up her PPT channel and “spoke” to Aason directly into his mind.
“I am very proud of you, Son,” she said. “You be careful.”
Aason smiled.
“Always, Mother,” he thought back. The handsome young man, well over six feet tall, leaned over to press the blue stud to retract the cargo ramp and lower the hatch. His parents waved at him until they were out of view. Turning forward, Aason made his way directly to the cockpit where Lupe was already seated in the copilot’s chair on the right. Aason buckled himself in the pilot’s chair on the left.
Rome’s voice came through Junior’s grille loud and clear.
“OMCOM, I need you to watch out for my c
hildren. They are the most precious things in all the world. No detours. You are to go there, do your business, then return.”
“Of course,” OMCOM said. “Junior and I will take care of them,” replied the animated shell that was connected to a subset of the computer taking up temporary residence within Junior’s memron structure.
Aason twisted to his right. “Make sure your harness is snug,” Aason said to his younger sister. “He’s been getting a little wild with his takeoffs recently.”
“He does it because that’s the way I like it,” replied Lupe in a slightly irritated tone. “I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself,” she said. Nonetheless, she tugged on the X-harness tabs one more time.
“She will be fine, Aason,” said the two-meter tall all-white being standing behind them. “Lupe has done this before,” OMCOM added.
“I’m her big brother,” countered Aason. “I’m allowed to worry about her. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility. This is the first time they’re letting us go this far alone and I want it to start out right.”
“Understood,” OMCOM replied patiently.
While it was probably unnecessary, Aason checked the instrument panel one last time. All the readings looked good. He tugged on his own harness once more then said, “OK, Junior, I think we’re ready to go. It’s up to you.”
“You got it, Cuz,” came the starship’s voice from the grille built into the console. Vaguely mechanical noises issued from the back.
Tales of the Vuduri_Year Five Page 55
