Tales of Three Worlds - 10. Fragment Ten: Questions

“What the hell is that?”

The medtechs stared at the analyzer screen in surprise. He was using a system unconnected to anything in Tycho Deep so far as he knew—and yet, the screen had just gone blank after a swirl of colors. There had been two confirmed genetic lines in the subject’s genome, and he’d been attempting to identify a third with some hope of success until the technical glitch had occurred. A normal genetic profile combined two sets of DNA of course, one from each parent…so why was there an extra one in this sample?

Being a citizen of Luna, and a geneticist, he knew all about the creation of the Neanderthals from reconstructed remains, but even there only two sets had been used after the first generation had mated. He wasn’t told whose sample he was working on, just that it was important…but he’d seen that it was a human profile given the strains he’d identified—the fact that both were male shouldn’t account for that extra result so far as he knew. His mind had wandered when the results began appearing because it too was human…then a series of pings told him of some anomalies. His eyes had focused on the table of markers being displayed just before the screen went dark. Those last entries just coming in weren’t human.

He wasn’t a computer expert, so all he could do were the usual tricks to restore his data files and work session…except they didn’t work this time. Oh—he got the computer running with no problem, but the files he’d just been using were no longer there. At least the genetic sample was still in the analyzer’s bio unit. He had put more than a few hours into this project already, and now it looked as if he’d have to start over again. Two-Sapphire wasn’t going to be pleased.

He left the unit to run the samples again while he got a sandwich and glass of tea from his kitchen. This part of the process was purely automatic—human oversight or intervention weren’t necessary unless the samples were contaminated or the machinery failed, and he’d taken elaborate precautions against just such possibilities when he began this job. He was a free-lance consultant with the Triad Board, but another part of his work was with private entities who needed more in-depth or exclusive research. Two-Sapphire had used his services a few times before, so they had established bonds of trust that suited both their needs. “Find out what this sample is—and why it locked up the Triad’s systems…”

Maybe this wouldn’t be as easy as he thought…. His reverie was interrupted by a chime from his little office indicating that the sample had been read and the analysis would start, so he went back and sat at his screen again. As before, the data sequences for the first strand were found and compared to those stored in the public records of Population Control: Subject Hartmann Hallbach 95% match. That was good and within the limits of variation from generation to generation. Now for the second thread…this took a little longer because it seemed the elements of this one were fewer—in most genomic profiles each parent contributed 50% of the material—but it seemed this second strand was smaller than that. Until the complete genome was analyzed he wouldn’t be able to determine percentages.

Another chime indicated more results. Subject Pavel Svoboda 80% match. That was what he remembered from the first run, and it didn’t worry him either; with less of this profile being present, the certainty of a definitive match was more difficult, hence the lower percentage of accuracy. On an impulse, he paused the analysis and saved the file up to this point on a crystal he’d inserted into one of the machine’s external slots. I won’t make the same mistake a second time, he thought.

He resumed the analysis. In a few moments he’d be at the point where the first attempt had failed…and his eyes scrutinized every new sequence as it appeared. Now he was past the previous run’s termination—and beyond it with no further problems. More alphanumeric sequences scrolled, and finally came to an end.

SCAN COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY
GENOMIC PROFILE ESTABLISHED

He stared at the third section’s numbers one by one…it all fit together perfectly, showing this was a sterilized ovum supplied by the Daedalus Foundation. The percentages for the subject’s profile were consistent with the results too: 55% for the first strand, 40% for the second, and the final amount for the ovum used that would contribute neutral sequences into the total. Numbers don’t lie, it’s when you interpret them that errors can creep in…but this had all been done without human intervention. So why did he doubt the results on the screen before him?

The third sequence numbers didn’t match the ones he’d seen in the partial analysis.

He ran the sample a third time with the same results. And a fourth, likewise the same. He removed the genetic sample from his analyzer and stored it in a cryo-tube…then put that in a safe place only he knew about. He was a careful and conscientious man by nature, but not unduly suspicious…but something in the back of his brain itched, and he decided to play things safer than usual in this case. He grabbed his data crystal and headed off to see Two-Sapphire…and to tell him of his doubts, though he had no proof to show for them beyond what his own eyes had seen.

* * * * * * * * * *

The circles at the bottom of the vidscreen flipped in sequence, then stopped, indicating the end of a scrambled transmission. It had been a direct laser link from Two-Sapphire in Tycho Deep’s Security Center, showing an even greater concern for the privacy of the message’s contents. “He sure didn’t look happy,” Jakob sighed.

“Well, it’s not every day your computer systems lock up and need to be restored from back-ups. Luna depends heavily on the accuracy of the Triad’s records for a healthy population mix. Maybe too much…”

Jakob frowned. “What do you mean, E?”

From the earliest days when the idea for creating the Neanderthals had been broached, it had been planned that careful breeding would be necessary to insure a broad and healthy gene pool. The first artificially-grown generation had consisted of a thousand individuals with stable profiles that could be passed on through natural procreation, but their genes had also been mixed artificially so that a larger second generation would be born. It wasn’t until the third generation was growing to maturity that a social dynamic had come into being of the ‘thals own design.

Signs of unusual trends escaped detection in the first generation since no natural matings had been possible, and it wasn’t until the second that hints of trouble appeared, though they were at first missed. ‘Thal women bred only once a year, though the time varied over a span of three months. The rest of the year they showed no interest in sex, and it became clear that ovulation occurred only during this period. The males did not seem to have this restriction, and a few attempts were made to alter this female characteristic with disastrous results. Neither Jakob nor Ernst-Karl wanted to remember the creatures that had had to be euthanized if they even lived to reach childbirth. Ernst ordered a halt to any further attempts and slightly increased the number of ‘thals in the second generation to make up for the reduced fertility rate.

Two-Sapphire had been among the first naturally born ‘thals of the second generation, and had been fostered by Ernst and Jakob personally. Most others had been raised in crèches supervised by nannies and instructors in groups of ten because suitable parents couldn’t be found outside the Hallbach-Sommers Finland enclave. Perhaps it was this difference that set his thinking on a wider track than his siblings, or he was simply of a more inquisitive nature…but it had been he who had begun the social experiments that would eventually lead to the triad mating system.

Neanderthals received the best education via sleep induction and personal tuition from their earliest years, , and like their human brethren they excelled in some fields based on natural talents and individual interests, though from the beginning they had shown a greater sense of social cooperation and freedom. By the time the first generation were adults it was evident that they seemed to lack any need for theology in any form except as a philosophical abstract.

For a time the new species set no formal rules on what their society would be like, except those of common sense and efficiency, and this was aided by their inborn sense of community and desire to achieve set goals as groups first, then as individuals. Mating patterns were fluid and encouraged to widen the gene pool as much as possible, but the males soon found themselves at a loss when their females’ sex drives were shut down or they were pregnant. The eldest members of the first and second generations, led by Two-Sapphire, had perused the records of humanity’s history for examples, and found most lacking in appeal or practicality. So much they saw was influenced by religion or social biases that they wondered if any solutions could be found there for their own problem.

It was Two-Sapphire’s group that pointed them in the right direction. A modified system like that of the pre-Christian Greco-Roman model seemed best: matings would be recorded for genetic diversity and stability, with the children being raised in the crèche units, and the males would relieve their tensions with one another until the next mating cycle began, when new partnerships would be formed. Of course, attractions would form, and it wasn’t long before some males formed stable groups or pairings outside the fertility cycle…and eventually with certain females as well, though this was all still very loose and free to change. Growing numbers meant there was more freedom for females to select mates by choice rather than simple diversification, and things began to settle down in the fourth generation. By the seventh the triad system was fully accepted and formalized, though it wasn’t a requirement for breeding.

Now, nearly four hundred years later, the need to track breeding wasn’t necessary except in the broadest sense to prevent too-close in-breeding, but it was now a tradition, and with longer life-spans, the need to abolish the Triad Board seemed unthinkable. It had been necessary and present all their lives, so surely it must still serve an important purpose? Ernst-Karl had his doubts, as did Jakob, but they wouldn’t interfere in the society they had spawned from their genetic tinkering…

Except what they were discovering about Hartmann’s efforts to create a family was throwing their assumptions into doubt. He had been planning something new, and the hints were tantalizing, but that was all they had—they needed Harman’s genomic profile to show them what the late scientist’s goal had been. They hoped this latest message from Two-Sapphire would give them that, but his words had seemed to dash those expectations.

“It appears to be a fairly normal profile, except that my technician swears the results of the third section were different before the ‘fault’ interrupted the first analysis. So, I’m sending the files on to you since you’re still the fore-most geneticist in the Three Worlds, Father. He said the final sequence wasn’t fully human…” Here the ‘thal had paused, before concluding.

“In any case, Harman Halveg is the product of an artificially constructed genome—does this mean he’s not human? You created us, but we’re obviously a different species, so what of this young man…not quite a clone, and not fully natural?”

As the two men listened to their son’s final words, they considered their reply. When the data files were done, Ernst had given their answer. “For now, use the profile as it stands; Harman is innocent in all this, and is undoubtedly my nephew if he is the product of my brother’s DNA. That makes him human in my book, whatever else he might be. I’ll perform tests here on my own equipment once I get his sample. This is all academic until or if he decides to sire children….I’ll take full responsibility for him in any case—make sure your Triad Board understands that. Let him have his co-mate status.”

For the next few hours the two pored over the de-crypted files, seeing no obvious errors or lapses that might account for the Luna tech’s concerns. It was clear that Harman was part of the Hallbach family, if not in an easily classifiable relationship like father/son/cousin/nephew. He was also related to Hartmann’s husband Pavel, who had died with him on the Star-Seeker. All that was solidly accurate—it was only the third and final section that the tech had sworn was altered in the post-fault results. Ernst looked over that part intensely but could see nothing amiss. He read through the notes about the process that had been used, and it was all professional and first-rate. The man’s qualifications would have won him a place in Ernst’s own labs when he was actively working in genetics.

He knew from experience that such a man’s instincts could be trusted, so he’d have to wait for the bio-sample itself before he could investigate further...until his thoughts were interrupted by Jakob’s query about one of the notes.

“What’s this ‘Daedalus Foundation’?”

“Hmm? Oh, they used to supply equipment for my genetic research when I was creating the ‘thals. Why? They’ve been out of business for a couple centuries now.”

Jakob pointed to the last paragraph. “According to this, they supplied the ovum for Harman’s birth…so if they’ve been defunct for centuries, how could they do that for a boy who’s just turning eighteen?”

“They couldn’t…unless it’s a new company taking on the old name…but that breaks all sorts of laws on all three inhabited worlds…”

“Or,” Jakob suggested, “it’s an old one trying to cover up that it’s still in business, but not wanting to be found. Maybe your brother’s files can give us a clue? Somebody had to update them….”

“You could be on to something—let’s go see!”