Ark II: Life on Gaea - 12. Assessing Wounds

Joel looked at Barroso. “We have a good idea what your grandfather was planning.” He sighed. “We’ll do whatever we can to correct things.”

Barroso waved at the melting dome, “We will have a huge hole.”

Joel looked at the dome and then back at Barroso, “A perfect place for a lake.” He shrugged, “This is essentially a world we will construct as we did on worlds incapable of supporting life.” He motioned overhead, “Once the dome is up, we will bring water from space. There should be no rain allowed until we have that dome. Another force field will protect the ground from poisonous rains. There is plenty of water out there. It is clean and not polluted. That water can be used for your hydroponically grown crops.”

Barroso was looking more confused. He shook his head, “Why?” He held his hand up quickly. “You got away.” His eyebrows knitted together as he thought. “You have a successful colony on Gaea.” He truly didn’t understand. “You could have just vanished.”

“We could have,” Joel nodded. “We are from Earth.” He went through the various theories about Humans, “Wherever you think we’re from, be it aliens who settled on Earth, transplants from asteroids or even from Mars, we are from Earth. We are made from Sol’s explosion. Star stuff. Our elements are from Earth. This is our home and will always be where we are from.” He smiled. “We will help repair her.” He waved at Commander Bouillion. “Ray here and his group are here to repopulate the world. They will repair the Earth. We left so our children could grow up. If we remained, they would have died. You know that. Not just from the bombs, but from disease and famine. Sara Beth and I knew it was the only way.”

“And that’s all?” Barroso asked with doubt, but he was weakening. “You want nothing else?”

“Well, yes,” Joel admitted. “There is.” He grinned. “We want to trust you. Be honest and we will.” He waved his arms out. “We’re Humans from the same planet. I said we need to grow up as a species. That will be a first step. Can we trust you? There isn’t any more we can take.”

Barroso bowed a little in humility, “We will prove we can be.”

“There are improvements you need,” Hank began. “We need to install a new computer system that can help run all this.” He waved at the surrounding town. “It will run the many robots to help with the repairs.”

Joel looked at Ray, “You are spreading the isotopes around here?”

Ray nodded, “It will take time. The excessive radiation is being absorbed. Especially inside the wall.”

“What is done with them after they absorb the radiation?” Joel asked.

Ray shrugged, “They can be used to bring limited power. Like the spent rods for nuclear power plants.” He shook his head, “Many of those rods had ninety-five percent left that is useable.”

“We don’t use that sort of power anymore,” Hank argued. “We use it for propulsion and bombs. The sun gives more power than we can use!” He motioned up toward the sun. “We waste it. You need to upgrade your neuro-interface.”

“It can be used for more than entertainment,” Joel added. “I’m using it now!” He looked at Hank, “You know? I’m against having the filaments inserted on the children, but I think having it done with Jeremy and Debra Snodgrass’s child may be beneficial.”

“The Downs Syndrome baby?” Hank asked and then nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.” He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“It should give the child a better chance,” Joel suggested.

Barroso’s eyes widened, “You have a retarded child there!? You know it and leave it and don’t...but I thought...” He looked at them. “You didn’t create your children in a lab?”

Joel shook his head, “I have four children born the way Humans do.” He grudged a nod. “We can create children in a lab. We have three coming whose parents could not have them normally. They are coming along fine. We are Human and not perfect.”

“You are allowing the birth of a child that will be retarded.” Barroso said to confirm.

“We’re not stopping it,” Hank defended. “Whether the parents decide to continue or not is up to the parents.”

“It’s not their fault,” Joel said a bit angrily. “Certainly not the child’s. I know if any of my children had this or some other challenges, my wife and I would have had them. My wife was the naturalist and would not have even considered terminating the pregnancy.”

Hank smiled, “With the neural-interface and the filaments this child should do just fine.”

“It will have challenges,” Joel admitted. “Anything physical can be corrected with surgery and pretreatment. We have some excellent doctors.”

“We were told some stories,” Barroso began. “About how you were creating a super race of men...”

“A super race!?” Joel balked. He then nodded, “I suppose we were, according to who sent us out. The rigorous examinations and screenings...backgrounds checked. They wanted as pure genetically perfect people sent to help the Human species make it.”

“Never has a board of smart men made a stupid mistake?” Hank asked and answered immediately. “They’ve made many stupid decisions and bad judgement calls.”

“Sending us out into space was a smart thing,” Joel said. “We increase the Human’s chance of survival. The bombs here was the sixth extinction level event.”

Barroso wasn’t understanding, “Extinction level event? What?”

“The was the Great Dying two hundred million years ago,” Joel explained. It killed more than half of all life on Earth.” He looked at Hank, “I’m not using Athena but relying on what I learned. There were four other events that killed many species, including the dinosaurs!” He shook his head and looked at Barroso. “We created this one. We have a fighting chance with this one to restore species with what we saved in our seed vault and fauna storage.” He realized something, “Wait.” he held his hand up. “You have a birth directive? Killing handicapped children?”

“We do,” Barroso nodded. “That wasn’t my grandfather’s decision. Twenty-five years after the bomb, we were getting these new people from...” he threw his arms out, “God knew from where. The fear of mutations...any baby we knew was going to be born with the mutations were terminated! No baby would be born blind, deaf, without limbs or fingers...clef palates, clubbed feet...no deformities! The doctors or midwives would kill the baby if it was born with any of those things! Because of the radiation!”

“Radiation that we put here!” Joel said angrily.

“You did?” Barroso questioned.

“We,” Hank waved at himself and then toward the rest of the planet. “We...mankind.” He looked at Joel, “Why are we helping these people? Why help at all? We should just kill them all!”

“And we will remain the same.” Joel shook his head. He sighed, “We are the most dangerous species Earth ever encountered. In our short time on Earth. We rose from the East African Plaines and became planet killers. If we don’t grow up, we are doomed.” He looked at Ray. “You don’t do that, do you?”

Ray looked surprised, “Absolutely not!” He said immediately. “We value life first.”

Joel nodded, “As do we. I believe the only person that should decide is the woman! With the father and doctor, they decide. As a Human voice we need to agree. No one can dictate what you do with your people...”

“Are you going to be a part of this...” he thought a second, “Human Coalition?”

Joel turned to Hank, “Coalition! That’s a good word.” He glanced, smiling at Ray. “We need a name.” He turned to Barroso. “Do you?”

Barroso was floundering with words, “Wha...do I want to join you? I do! I know we all do.” He threw his arms out in frustration, “We don’t have access to medicine like you do. A child with a clef palette suffers as they can’t eat. Blind children can’t be left...”

“Whoa!” Joel stopped Barroso and he calmed down. “I understand. There are doctors available now?”

“You said expense was a problem,” Hank began. “Using what as currency? Didn’t the global economy collapse? They could present you with a million dollars in North American cash. It wouldn’t have any value.”

Joel nodded, “Gold would not have value either.”

Barroso grudged a nod, “No mostly goods and services.”

“What goods?” Joel asked.

“Food, clothing, clean water.” Barroso admitted.

“No slavery or prostitution,” Joel said to be sure.

Barroso was about to deny this but hesitated, “Well, there are some.” He hurried on. “No slavery, but some are used in the...entertainment industry.”

“Entertainment?” Hank asked. “Such as sex?”

Barroso looked away and didn’t answer.

Joel looked at Ray, “Are you charging for any medical services?”

“No,” Ray answered.

“Are we in a position to convince Mr. Barroso here to do anything?” Hank asked.

“Sure,” Ray answered. “We can have him removed from office.” He chuckled as Barroso’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean we’d kill you.”

“Life, good,” Hank said as he would to a small child. “Death, bad.”

“As a community of Humans,” Joel shook his head at Hank, “We need to agree on that. Every life needs protection. I suggest you stop killing these children.” He held a hand up. “I know why you did, but there is no need now.” He motioned to Ray. “There will be doctors, nurses, and lab technicians that will help. Am I right?”

Ray nodded, “No charge.”

“The unplanned pregnancies? Rape victims? Victims of incest?” Barroso asked.

“Unplanned pregnancies won’t happen with the medical help,” Ray stated. “That they improved on by the twenty-second century.”

“Rape victims and incest need to be addressed one by one,” Joel said carefully. “The baby didn’t do anything.” He smiled. “Psychologists and psychiatrists are included in this package?”

“You bet,” Ray said.

“What about the other countries in South America?” Joel asked Ray. He waved at Barroso, “Our attention was brought here by Campos Sais. What about Argentina, Chile, and Peru?”

Ray nodded and sighed, “As in most parts of the world of the past, someone gains a foothold and takes over. Argentina was the worst. These dictators got their claws in and won’t let go. The farmlands of Argentina became battlegrounds. Santiago was quickly destroyed, most of Peru was destroyed.” He looked at Barroso, “You were too far north, but I’m sure you felt something.”

Barroso nodded, “Oh, yes. Right after the bombs, there were many attacks. Say what you will about grandfather, he and his men fought off many groups.”

Joel grimaced, “We’ll deal with that.” Turning to Hank, “We sent Fritz the message we’d see him and his group.” He turned to Ray, “I’d love to see yours...” he grudged a nod, “Armstrong city, Mars, even the colony on Venus and Mercury...”

“Whoa,” Hank held up his hands. “There’s time.” He looked at Barroso, “We need to get your manufacturing set up, get you upgraded with the neuro-interface.” He waved at the village beyond, “Set up your farming...you will need more robots...”

Ray raised his hand, “Hello, why else am I here?”

"To be the enforcers,” Joel said. “The basic laws need reinforcement. No killing, no stealing, no raping...no cruelty. That is what you are here to make sure is happening.”

“You can create some A2s and A1s,” Hank suggested.

Ray nodded, “We have our version of enforcers. They are in several places around the world.” He smiled and an image appeared. “This is one of our personal tanks.”

Before them was a figure of...it was very large. Two powerful legs, two powerful arms, and a massive chest. Joel had seen some before proposed for the military. A man or woman would sit in this “tank.” it was an exosuit. The whole thing was about ten to twelve feet tall. On its arms and along its chest were missiles and guns.

“Whoa!” Hank said and stepped back.

Ray chuckled, “Yes, whoa. The areas we’re talking about are very dangerous. Medical teams will go in and help but won’t be unprotected.”

“Have you solved the gyrostabilizers?” Hank looked at Joel. “I saw them working on them over a hundred years ago. The problem was they kept falling over.”

“With a million people,” Ray smiled. “There were a lot of crates to be moved. The operators learned how to get them to move. Weight and counterweight were dealt with. A loader could move tons of crates easier. These combat models have a computerized ball stabilizer. It keeps the center of gravity constant.” He nodded at a scene that replaced the personal tank. It showed four of the personal tanks standing guard in a city where a medical station was operating. The red cross symbol said that as men, women, and children to be seen. “We have these stations throughout Argentina, Chilli, Peru, Bolivia, many countries in South America.” The personal tank’s size was more pronounced as people moved near them.

Joel shrugged, “Just like our Harpies. They are a deterrent.”

This new personal tank was an example as to how things had changed. There were no wires connecting on part to another. No hoses to pump fluids for lubrication or any reason. The components were secured and covered by the outer casing. The “wiring” was wireless. No one could reach out, grab the wires, and disable the tank. The same with the robots used and the A1s and A2s. The outer casing looked organic, like muscles with metal skin coverings.

The city wasn’t dead. It had changed. There were the roads with vehicles going as usual, but there was less traffic. The airways had almost nothing. There was a rail system that brought people to the hospital and clinics. The number of people had increased. Over a hundred years ago, people had complained that Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, Paris and the other cities were looking more alike than before. The unique parts of them were vanishing. Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument...all icons of the cities were being swallowed by the progress. Joel remembered when the transcontinental train were proposed. A rail that would go from Buenos Ares, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa. No breaks. The train was a super-fast train that went up through South America, through Central America, through Canada, cross that narrow strip of water between Alaska and Russia. Cross down to the Middle East and down through Africa. Thousands of miles! It should bring the countries together, right? It failed. A man could easily get from Argentina to South Africa by air. New airships were built, and most worked without a crew at all. Freight was flown from city to city. Like cruise ships, there were air cruises that took passengers high above in luxury, but the Hindenburg was always in the back of everyone’s minds. It failed.

Joel knew the statue of Liberty, and Washington’s Monument was gone. The Eiffel Tower was gone. He cringed at the thought of the Colosseum in Rome. Was it still there? Thousands of years of wonders...gone.

South America had none of the major bombs but suffered from poisonous rains. There were millions of survivors. Lack of clean water and food were the killers now. Rio, Sao Paulo and other cities had become city states under questionable leadership. Many just starved. Brazillia caught the attention because of the missiles sent to Gaea.

Joel knew it would be dealt with by Ark V. Why was the South American continent the only continent not bombed? Did those in the radical terrorist groups spring from there? He looked again at the people gathered for help and now he saw that they were suffering. He wanted to help them. Basics such as shelter was available now. The need for food and water was causing deaths.

“We have thousands aiding these people,” Ray said quietly. “Food and clean water is being given here and in other cities in South America. We have five thousand in the Northern United States. Another five thousand in Europe, in China, in India, and South Africa. We are helping the sick in those areas. We will lose many because we can’t get to them.”

The military tried to get Joel and other leaders to separate their emotions from seeing these things. Joel couldn’t do it. These people were innocent. He did literally rip his eyes from what he saw. He sighed, “Well, we will be back.” He looked at Hank. “We need to see Cylebia. Fritz is expecting us.” He looked at Ray. “There is a vast ocean of water that surrounds Ganymede. There is more than Earth has. They will be bringing water here.”

Ray nodded, “They need to learn to raise their own food. There are great soy-based plants that will be needed. They need to raise them in hydroponic gardens for a while.” He waved and a new image appeared. “This is the new ship assembly near the surviving space ladder in Australia.” A long cylindrical image appeared. Like the Ark, it was seemingly one cylinder. Looking closer, it was a series of donut shapes being stacked together. It reminded Joel of a toy he and his children played with where the put colored “donuts” together on a tube. Putting the largest one first and stacked the others to learn to judge size. Only these were the same size. Closer examination showed they were really a group of smaller...more like pedals on a flower. “This is a water tanker. There can be ten to one hundred tanks.” He chuckled. “And no fuel needed. Unmanned and pushed to great speeds. Slowing the tanker down is the trick. Our artificial intelligence will help navigate and keep it on course. The Earth’s orbit and rotation...”

“If the Earth is on the opposite side of the sun,” Hank said. “Jupiter is on one side and the Earth is on the other side...”

Ray nodded, “Right. The trip to or from Jupiter can take a year or more. When we send the ship out...where will the receiver be in that year?”

“We need Chloe for that.” Joel muttered.

Hank grudged a nod and grunt, “She could.”

“Where Jupiter is and then through the asteroid belt, past Mars to Earth,” Joel held his head as it was overloading. “Ow.”

“Athena and Hercules can do working together,” Ray said simply. “There are ships going and coming now. One of these ships can supply a lot of water.”

Joel nodded, “And people need to know. The water is to drink and cook with. Water recycling is essential. We did it on the Ark. It can be done.”

“Of course,” Hank added. “Bathing, laundry, even washing dishes needs to be supersonic cleansed.”

“Sara Beth loved her hot baths where she soaked,” Joel said, remembering.

“Wait,” Hank suddenly registered what Ray said. “No fuel? How?”

Ray chuckled, “Solar sails.” He said simply. “Or proton sails, if you prefer.”

“No fuel,” Hank repeated. “The engines work how?”

“The sun puts out protons,” Ray said. “We have retractable proton sails that catch them and those protons push the ships. Sort of like those ion engines. It will take a while to get up to speed, but it will. Then it’s used to slow the ship when it gets to where it’s going.”

“It was only theoretical when we left,” Joel said.

“A hundred years ago,” Ray nodded. “Our friends on Lunar Colony and Mars furthered it and tested it. It works. The ships will be unmanned, so...”

“That water needs purification and desalinated,” Joel nodded. “This is why we needed to see Fritz.”

They took off for Ganymede and the city colony of Cylebia. It wouldn’t take but a few hours to get there. Ion drive or proton drive was great, but they needed to get there quicker.

“Ganymede has enough water?” Hank asked.

Joel chuckled, “Under the surface there is an ocean more than a hundred miles deep that surrounds the moon. Deeper than any ocean on Earth or Gaea. Yes, it has enough water.” He set the navigation for Ganymede. Sitting back he looked at Hank. “We have a few hours.” He moaned. “The time is a problem. It will be early on Cylebia. It is almost the eighth hour on Gaea and almost dinner. We each have children to see...”

Hank smiled, “The commute to Gaea is faster.”

Joel grinned as he pulled the neuro net headset from his head. “It is.”

“We’ve been on two planets with their own time,” Hank marveled. “Should we feel jetlag?”

Leah came in and smiled at them, “You’ll feel something. You again didn’t take a break. You need to or risk stiffness.”

Joel shrugged, “We’ll just have to walk it off.”

“FTL lag,” Hank chuckled.

“Your minds have traveled over twenty light years,” Leah smiled. “In a single day!”

Hank bowed a little, “I want to speak with Efim Makhailov. Am I being an overbearing father?”

Leah’s face took on her counseling face. A patient and nonjudgemental face. “You’re being a father.” She sighed, “Chloe is being a girl. They are secretive and her body is changing. I’ve told her to keep a journal.” She looked aggressively at Hank, “Which you are forbidden to read.”

“I would never...” Hank defended.

“Good,” Leah nodded. “This is a tough time for Chloe. She lost her mother recently. Efim could be good for her.” She looked at Hank, “He’s done nothing wrong. This is a small community. We pretty well know everything about everybody. He meets a need for Chloe. A strong yet gentle man. He casts a spell on bees.”

“He knows how Chloe feels about him?” Hank asked.

“I’m sure he does,” Leah answered. “I’m surprised she told you.”

Hank blushed, “She told her friends and one of those friends told me, but not directly. They assumed I knew.”

Leah laughed lightly, “Chloe is being a teenage girl. She may feel differently in a week.” Leah shrugged, “I fell in love every month as a teenager it seems.”

“I’m not overreacting,” Hank asked.

“Being protective is your job,” Leah said simply. “Be protective where it’s warranted. I tell Nayef all the time, be protective, be proactive. Not reactive as the father.”

“What do you mean?” Hank moaned.

“Are you coming to Efim as an angry father?” Leah asked. “Or just letting him understand you know?” She held her finger up. “Again, he has done nothing wrong.”

“The friend that told you,” Joel began. “It wasn’t Rachel again, was it?”

Hank shook his head, “No. It was Zinnia. One of the young women divorcing. She and some other young women were talking. Chloe was there. She spoke about the young men here being so immature.” He laughed. “Like she’s so mature.”

“She’s growing up,” Leah shrugged. “She will become a beautiful woman.” She looked firmly at Hank. “Sexually, as well.”

Hank groaned. “I don’t know how to raise her to be that sexually active young woman. I wish Rita was here.”

Leah nodded and put her hand on Hank, “I know. Chloe has many aunts and big sisters on Gaea. You’ll do fine. A first lady for the United States said it takes a village to raise a child. We have that. She’ll do fine. Just be concerned and respect her privacy.” She smiled, “You asked her about Efim.”

Hank nodded, “I did. I want her to talk to me.”

“She is,” Leah smiled.

Joel asked Athena about Efim and found he was tending his bees. That was not surprising. He had the hive near the garden.

Joel and Hank went out and headed to the area where the many crops were being raised. The beginning of the new farm was being built. It was a grand sculpture standing near the present crops. I would be a couple of stories tall, but the shape...it had some on the ground shaped like a star. Another star shape above it. The second star wouldn’t block the light from Ran. It was a geometrically artistic conduction with a lot of dirt to plant in. Irrigation was easier this way. A garden planted over a garden. White. Some crops were hydroponically raised. Crops like the beloved coffee, cocoa, and teas needed to raised at higher elevations. The earth it was raised in made the crops taste better. Joel wasn’t a gardener. He saw Efim and the heard the hum of bees. Lots of bees flew around him, landing on him, and flew off. Efim wore no protective clothing. The bees knew him and trusted him. A nice-looking young man at his prime. Bronze to blond hair that was curling and he took care of himself. Just at six feet tall, he was a handsome man. He was speaking as he hummed. He hummed at the bees.

Bee keeping hadn’t changed much. The white, box shaped crate was where the bees lived.

“Da, da, ya nadeyus', vy ne protiv podelit'sya svoim tyazhelym trudom.” He said calmly.

Joel understood as he spoke to the bees, asking if they would share their hard work. “The bees understand Russian.”

Efim looked up and smiled. His face had a few bees on it, as did his arm and shirt, “They understand kindness.” He chuckled and waved at the bees. “These are not the Africanized bees. Good honey producers. Very gentle.” Everone on the Ark had accents. It made them who they were. Nayef, Xolani, Angus...even Joel. Efim’s accent was only slight. He had degrees from many years in England. His English had a slight British sound, but his Russian could be heard.

Joel stayed back, “I’ll trust you...from here.”

Efim pulled a sheet of honeycomb from the box the bees called home. “They can sense that.” Rich golden yellow was dripping which Efim caught in a large glass jar. He had a few jars near him. “Your daughter, Rachel wanted some fresh honey for a couple of recipes. One is a smoothie drink.” He jutted his head at the hive. “I had to recently break this one up.” He put the lid on the jar. “There are five hives in New Charleston now. There will be hives on the opposite sides of the farmland. There is one near the city center for the garden there.” He grinned. “We need bees.”

“We do,” Hank smiled. “I guess you know why I’m here.”

Efim nodded, “I do. Chloe is a great girl.” He shrugged, “In a decade more...who knows?” He looked at Hank and his face held compassion. “She suffered a great loss recently. I would never hurt her.” He promised. He waved at the hive. “Bees have a perfect society. Full cooperation and everyone does their jobs. They make the perfect food!” He looked at Hank and Joel, “Did you know that honey made from the bee does not go bad? It never spoils. They have brought up ships that sunk hundreds of years in the past that had containers of honey, and it was all good! No preservatives and no stasis needed.”

Joel laughed and nodded, “I did.”

“We should all be that way,” Hank nodded.

“Is that be or bee?” Hank smiled. “The noun verses the verb? B e or b e e?”