Tales of Three Worlds - 15. Fragment 15: Relativity

Fragment 15: Relativity

When Harman and Silver Eagle entered the pod, it took only a moment to survey the interior. Four comfortable seats faced the front of the rectangular space where a door led into what was likely a control center fully automated and integrated with Luna’s Traffic Computer. A second door was located in the rear wall, and revealed a space on the left for preparing small meals, and on the right a washroom. A voice in their implants suggested they take seats and strap in for the start of their journey, which was estimated to take six hours.

Once they were set, a screen lit up giving them a real-time view of their trip, highlighting any settlements or natural features along their flight path. In the earliest days of Colonization, travel had been mostly by self-contained surface vehicles called ‘crawlers’ until distance became a problem, then chemically fueled shuttles would ‘jump’ from point to point. By the middle of the Twenty-Second Century better technology had replaced both modes with magnetically-powered ‘pods’ that ran in tunnels to nearby settlements, or via launch rails for more distant sites. As computer precision advanced, the trajectories of rail-launches were now set by altering the angles of the rails themselves rather than on-board adjustments. Even so, rail pods carried emergency backups which could initiate landing at the nearest outpost, and included ‘skin-suits’ which would allow surface travel by foot if necessary.

The two felt themselves being pushed back into their seats as the pod accelerated through the launch tube and along the surface rail until the proper velocity and angle for Daedalus Crater had been reached, then the magnetic grapples released, marking the start of their journey to Farside. Their nanobots adjusted to the sudden lack of gravity so any sense of nausea would be stopped before it could begin, and so too was their inner ears’ sense of balance maintained.

A voice in their implants informed them it was now safe to walk around the pod until just before arrival at their destination. Harman knew that Luna’s slight gravity was assisted in transit by induction fields that kept their feet in contact with what seemed to be the floor, but in reality it could be any surface as the pod oriented itself in differing flight configurations.

“Want to check out the galley,” Silver Eagle asked, since breakfast had been three hours ago. Though his co-mate was technically not human, Harman was often surprised by the traits both species shared, such as teenagers being almost always hungry despite having their metabolisms constantly regulated.

“Not yet, Sil—I thought we’d wait until we crossed the terminator into Farside, since it will be my first time there….”

“That’s fine, Harm. Only a couple hours then.” For a time both watched the screen showing the passing terrain, but the monotonous greys and blotches of black shadow quickly became boring. The ‘maria’ or flat expanses of old lava flows gave way to increasing numbers of craters, mountains and ridges, and even cliffs and valleys as sharp as the day they’d been formed with no atmosphere to wear them down by erosion. Harman was the first to pull out a commpad to do some reading, and Silver Eagle did the same only a few minutes later.

As the pod neared the terminator line, a chime went off reminding them of their desire to have a meal at that significant event for Harman’s stay on Luna. A quick scan of the galley’s stores revealed several types of drinks and more than a dozen meals that could be heated within a few minutes. “I think I’ll do Lemon Chicken with rice, what about you, Sil?”

The ‘thal scratched the bridge of his nose and shrugged his broad shoulders. “Chinese sounds good, so I’ll have the Orange Beef and rice…and tea to drink.”

The vidscreen gave a split view as they ate: half the screen showed the onrushing terminator line, while the other showed a half-Earth sinking below the horizon, leaving only unblinking stars to fill the blackness of space. From maps they’d seen in their classes and what was now starting to unroll ahead of them, they knew Farside was almost entirely covered with mountains and craters, the plains of Nearside being oddly absent from this landscape unseen by Man until the mid-Twentieth Century. Daedalus Crater lay at almost the exact center of Luna’s hidden hemisphere, circular with a terraced rim-wall and a tall central peak. It had once held the largest radio telescope in the Three Worlds until both scientific advances and communications ‘noise’ had rendered it obsolete.

“What have you been reading,” Harman asked as he carried their dishes back to the galley for disposal. The items would be broken down into their basic components, then recycled into other products as needed. “I was trying to find out more on the Van Dalen Science Institute—without much success, I might add.”

The white-blond ‘thal’s mouth widened in an amused smile. “Me too, only seeing what I could learn about this Matthias Joossens we’re supposed to meet. There were some interesting items, if they’re the same person in each one…”

Harman raised a reddish eyebrow. “Really? Tell me more….”

“Well, there are few recent pictures of him, though a few exist from his early years after attending university at Neu Bonn—with your great uncles and your great-great-grandfather Hartmann…” He held up his hand to forestall his co-mate’s interruption. “I don’t know if they were friends, but since he had some science and technology classes, I think they at least met one another.

“From those pictures, he also seems to have been a fairly well-known holo-porn star, with some major parts, if you get my meaning.”

Harman let out a low whistle. “So how does a guy like that wind up on Luna?”

“That’s the confusing part—he went into regular films, then documentaries, and at some point the Genetic Authority got too curious for him and he left for Luna, and finally settled on Farside.”

Harman sat for a while thinking about what he’d heard, trying to piece it together with the few facts he’d learned from Luna’s archives. The Institute had been the founders of the astronomical project along with some investors, but once that era had ended, it seemed the outpost had been leased to several groups before being abandoned…then another group leased it for an unknown project before it too folded more than a century ago. The last owner of record had been a Van Dalen descendant who left it to Matthias Joossens, and he simply cited ‘social settlement’ as his purpose for ownership.

“I think we’re missing something here, Sil. Why would the G.A. be interested in a porn star…and was that why he left for Luna? And what would he do with an entire outpost of his own?”

“Those are good questions, but there’s one more to consider: is it coincidence that a man who might have known your family in the past now lives in a place which just happens to have a large number of your unknown relatives?”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Arrival Daedalus Crater in ten minutes…Prepare for landing.”

The pair, human and ‘thal, watched the screen as the tension mounted. No pictures of the Center were available, so they had no idea what to expect; radio telescopes on Earth had been collections of dish-shaped structures sending data to a large building for processing, or single enormous affairs that might fill a small crater or bowl-shaped valley…would it be the same here, or would it all have been scavenged for other purposes once the project was finished? Had any of the other projects left traces on the surface?

Seen from above and to one side, the crater seemed foreshortened, but this was merely an illusion due to their flight trajectory. Coming closer, the central peak resolved into a grouping of several spires rather than one mass. Figures on the screen gave the diameter of the main crater as 51 miles, and the depth about 1.75, with the central peak at just under a mile in height. So far, no structures could be seen on the crater’s interior, though Silver Eagle noticed something peculiar.

“Harm, do you see that tracery of lines and circles inside the crater? Am I wrong, or do they continue up the central spire too?”

‘I see them, but we’re approaching too fast and at the wrong angle to get a proper view of the whole array…” Harman shook his head, then added, “Perhaps that’s all that’s left of the giant telescope? The metals might have been too valuable to let sit there unused once the observatory closed.”

The ‘thal nodded his agreement. He was just about to comment on the lack of any signs of habitation when a circular iris opened at the base of the crater’s rim closest to their projected course. Pulsing lights began to mark the length of a dark tunnel, and in response their pod slowed and descended into the inky depths. Magnetic fields slowed their progress still further until they came to a stop at a well-lit platform where a figure in a pale blue tunic and trousers awaited their arrival.

“Please watch your step as you disembark,” the monotone voice came again into their implants. “Take all bags with you as this pod is scheduled for immediate departure.”

“Not much of a reception committee is it,” Harman said jokingly. He had hoped to see his ‘family’ right away, but it seemed he’d have to wait a bit longer.

“Well, its dinner time, so maybe that’s why? Admit it, you’d rather meet strangers later than miss a meal!” Harman punched his co-mate’s arm for that remark as they exited the pod carrying their meager luggage.

The man, who appeared to be about forty with dark blond hair, strode forward and extended a hand. Silver Eagle watched as his partner extended his own and shook hands for a moment before releasing his grip.

“Welcome to Daedalus, I’m Ivan Svoboda, and I’ll be your guide while you’re here,” he gave a smile to the ‘thal and made the circular motion over his heart, which Silver Eagle returned. “I’m afraid our ‘thal population isn’t as great as in the major cities, but we’re all a friendly bunch nevertheless.”

Harman liked the man’s style, and had to ask his next question right away. “Are you one of my relatives I’m here to meet?”

Ivan led them toward a rectangular hatch in the rear wall of the platform, spinning the wheel at the door’s center which caused it to swing inward, to reveal a long hallway beyond lit by ceiling panels every ten feet or so. The floor was a green turf that gave slight cushioning to their steps and also assisted in the supply of oxygen to the settlement. The man’s walk was the same loping glide common to all lunatics, and he turned his head slightly to answer the question.

“Distantly related by marriage, I think, as my ancestor was Pavel, your ancestor’s husband. Blood relation? DNA scans would need to be done to tell us that. Our scans are on file here, but I don’t know if we have yours….”

“The Genealogical Society didn’t provide that information,” Harman asked in surprise.

“No, things like that are all done through Medical rather than the Hall of Records. If you have a public genome, then we can use that to compare, but it would need your permission first. Doktor Joossens is the one to talk to about doing that.

“I can show you to your quarters now, then we can go to the Commons for dinner, if you’re hungry….” The smiles on their faces was all the confirmation their guide needed, so he increased his pace until he came to a cross corridor where he turned right, following a gentle curve that they assumed paralleled the crater’s inner rim. He stopped at the third door on the left, and indicated for Harman to turn the ever-present wheel.

The room was pleasantly lit by several overhead panels that brightened as they entered. The walls were light gray and the floor was the same green turf as the corridor outside. A vidscreen occupied one wall fronted by two chairs and a small sofa, and a small galley took up part of the opposite wall. Two doors were at the far end, one leading to a bedroom, and the other to a washroom and shower. A grille above the entry door held a large fan that helped to circulate air, as was the case in all Luna’s cities.

Ivan indicated a pad next to the entry. “If you’ll place your right hands there, it’ll register you and update your information on the Center so you won’t get lost wandering around. It will also give you access to all non-restricted areas, and mark this suite as private.”

When they’d done as Ivan asked, a walk of about ten minutes and several turns brought them to a large room where people sat at scattered tables enjoying various meals, all of which gave off wonderful aromas to the two teens. Conversations were lively but none so loud as to interfere with their neighbors’, and soft music played just at the threshold of hearing. Ivan led them to an empty table near the far wall, which gave the illusion of looking out onto Daedalus Crater’s central peaks.

A waiter brought menus and asked for drink orders. Ivan suggested tea, so the teens nodded. “All our food is farm-grown, and the meats are natural and not synthesized—I recommend the Chicken Parmigiana here, or the Lasagna. The chef is particularly proud of those…”

Silver Eagle chose the chicken, while Ivan and Harman opted for lasagna. Harman noted many large photos on the room’s walls, several Earth rural landscapes, presumably of Italy, but one grouping seemed dedicated to portraits of men of varying ages and origins. Two stood out to the visitors, one of a red-haired man, and the other a blond. The rest were unknown at first glance.

“Aren’t those…” Harman began, but Ivan took in the objects of his attention and completed his thought for him.

Our Progenitors—the Founders of our Lines, if you will. Those two are Hartmann Hallbach and Pavel Svoboda. The others are the Firsts of the other Lines that live here.”

“I don’t see any women among those pictured,” Harman commented.

The waiter arrived with their meals and began laying things out for them before wishing them a ‘bon appetit’ and departing. Only then did Ivan answer the boy’s comment.

“There are a few, but space travel in the early years was mostly a male occupation, or those few women who went out had no desire to leave descendants they could never care for. Oh, some left ova in the cryo-tanks, but most women came up to Luna and Mars once safer habitations were available and had no need to store their genetic material for future generations.”

Both boys enjoyed their meals, and were impressed by the quality—they’d expected less due to Daedalus’ remote position and size, which they’d learned was just under 10,000 residents. ‘So, Ivan, are all humans here from your ‘Lines’?”

The man paused as he set his fork down, then shook his head.”…No, not all…not even most. People came to work on the various projects here, and many stayed when those ended, and we’ve taken in others from time to time at their own request. Of course, pairings and other matings have ‘blurred the lines’, but that’s common in all communities as people bond.”

“Other matings,” Harman inquired, “You mean like triads?”

Ivan hesitated before answering. “Not exactly. There are almost as many types of relationships as there are people; religious teachings and social conventions dictated what went on in the past before genetic engineering got started. The traditional way—inserting spermatozoa into ova in a womb--is no longer the only way to produce offspring…”

Silver Eagle smiled broadly as he tapped his chest. “Living proof right here, guys!”

Ivan relaxed at Harman’s amused grin, and they continued enjoying their meals in light conversation. Perhaps the man had been uneasy because Harman was from Earth rather than being a natural-born ‘lunatic’? He could see no other reason for it just then.

“So, Ivan, what’s your occupation here?”

Almost at the same time, the ‘thal added “I remember you called this place ‘Daedalus’…I’ve also seen it as ‘Van Dalen Science Institute’ in the Archives—which is right?”

Ivan sat his fork down again, then shook his head at the ‘thal.

“You sure don’t ask easy questions, do you? It depends on who you ask; on maps, we’re ‘Daedalus Crater’, scientists refer to us as either the ‘Institute’ or the ‘Center’—the latter primarily because we’re at almost the exact center of Farside…”

“Then why not ‘Daedalus Deep’ like the other lunar cities,” Harman cut in.

“Oh, we’re too small for something as grandiose as that! Most of us just go by our work sections or departments—I’m a researcher in the Astronomical Department. Others include The Farm, Recycling, Maintenance or Communications, to name but a few.”

When Ivan mentioned his job, both boys looked to the ‘window’ that showed the crater’s central peaks, with no sign of large antennae at all. “We thought the Observatory had closed, and the project was abandoned,” Harman said doubtfully. Such errors in the Archives were rare unless the records had been intentionally falsified. Was that the case here now?

The man smiled again, noticing their confusion. “Oh, the original one was closed due to becoming obsolete thanks to advances in technology, but a later program is still going on.”

“Is that why there’re no radio dishes in use now,” the ‘thal inquired.

Once more Ivan hesitated. “I think Doktor Joossens can answer your questions best; we’re meeting him after we’ve finished our meals.”

“Somehow I thought you might say that,” Harman said drily.

The waiter, seeing they had finished their main courses, approached to clear away the dishes and offer anything else.

“Would the gentlemen care for dessert? I recommend the vanilla sorbet…”