Trouble in Orion's Belt; A Stellar Journey

Richard had no problem with Dave’s suggestion and so he began picking up the larger pieces of the broken electro-notepad in hopes that their may be some retrievable data.

The two men had made their way back to the explorer jet.

”Damn! It really feels good to be headed back,” Richard remarked.

“You could have fooled me; in fact if it were me I would have been back on the plane in a flat instant.”

“Hmmm? Well, Dave I guess that my exploratory curiosity had gotten the better of me.”

“I would say that something got you by the tail. Now I must warn you that the first jolt of escape velocity is a knockout.”

“I think you mean that literally which means we will probably be unconscious for most of the trip.”

“You catch on quickly; now get ready.”

Dave made the usual vertical take off; then he set the morph controls. Momentarily the two men were unconscious and the automated controls respectfully went on its predetermined course. Not a moment too soon as they had landed just as the Sun was setting on the so-called compound.

Donna and Jul wasted no time in greeting them outside the plane. Groggily Richard walked off the craft and Donna immediately threw her arms around him.

She gasped, hugged him tighter, and said:

“You need a shower dear; but let me squeeze you a minute longer.”

He hugged her back with one arm and with the other squeezed Jul’s shoulder.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” she whispered.

“Well as the fates would have it; it isn’t my time to go, he responded. “But it is my turn in the shower.”

“While you guys are getting the nest squared away I’m going to get my shower,” Dave remarked as he made his way to the dome.

Dave was greeted by the rest of the crew inside the door.

“It’s good to see you back; and not a moment too soon,” Bob said.

“Yeah, it’s good to be back but we can talk when I get back from the shower.”

Richard and his family emerged directly afterward.

“Well, Richard, after you get yourself squared away we’d like to go over some things about the creatures that you encountered,” Bob requested.

“I hope I can help clear up some misgivings,” Richard responded as he headed for his quarters.

Donna sat at the oval conference table looking a little troubled.

“Okay, Donna, do you want to talk about it?” Julia mused.

Donna patted her hand slightly.

“Oh, it’s just that no matter how long I’m with Richard I can’t get over his impetuosity. I know that one of these times he won’t be coming back. I’m relieved that this isn’t that time but all along it could have been.”

Julia sighed and placed her hand on Donna’s shoulder. I know the feeling. I never thought that there would be a time without Mark. So I’m glad that I was able to cherish the time we spent in the years we had together.”

Donna rubbed her hand.

“You were fortunate, Julia, that you and Mark shared a career together, Richard as you know is; incorrigible. Sometimes I wonder if he cares about what it does to me.”

“Yes, sometimes it is like we’re back on the Shackelton. But remember that if Richard didn’t have his determination; where he would be.”

“Hmmm? Either dead or in prison I would imagine.”

“Yes, and going on this venture was your idea as I recall. Richard thought that you were going to visit me in Florida.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m just happy that dad is back,” Jul added. “I’ve always depended on him for everything and he’s never failed me.”

“He’s never failed me either, dear. You must be exhausted. You haven’t slept since you.ve been back.”

“And neither have you,” Jul countered.

“My suggestion to the two of you that you should go directly to bed after the debriefing,” Julia said.

“That is sound advice. Thank you Julia.”

Richard and Dave came back from the shower ready for the meeting. Richard was most anxious to speak to Brad over the video footage he had taken of both the creatures.

“These are recorded transmissions of the encounter,” Brad reminded them. “The playback quality may not be as optimal as a direct recording but it will be interesting; no doubt.”

“I’ve fast forwarded the images to my first encounter,” Richard said, “Jul was already being hoisted to the surface.”

The Projector showed only silhouettes at first giving an eerie view of the creatures. But then Richard had frozen the images on a clear frame of the supposed leader of the flock.

“What do you make of this, Brad, are they some sort of insect?”

Brad walked over to the still image; which was as holographic as possible under the recorded circumstances.

“Well, I’m not an entomologist but I would say that though these creatures show some resemblance to insects and arachnids a close study suggests that they are neither but of a species unknown.”

“Oh, I would have assumed that your first conjecture may have proven correct given their behavior,” Richard responded.

“Well, some of their behavior patterns resemble ants but watching them more closely it appears that they are entirely different.”

“Hmmm? How are they different than ants? I’d say that they behave remarkably like ants.”

“Well, I’m familiar with ants and their social characteristics,” Brad argued. “The difference is that these creatures are non-aggressive whereas ants are vicious; furthermore ants are incorrigible by nature and would die rather than change a course or action. These creatures show signs of reason and seem reluctant at times. Like ants they are incredibly strong and are earthmovers by nature. Ants are invertebrates and have exoskeletons whereas these creatures have a spine and a skeletal structure covered by muscles and an epidermis. Their behavior is odd nonetheless; I surmise that the creature is docile by nature because of its non-predacious environment. This planet is rich in vegetation but has an extremely small animal population. The animals that we’ve encountered thus far are vegetarian.”

“Okay, so what do you make of the creatures that I encountered on Lachesis? They seem similar in appearance; but are they?” Richard inquired switching the projection.

Brad juxtaposed images of the two creatures with his remote control device.

“These creatures aren’t just similar they’re the same in essence. I would go as far to suggest that they may be genetically compatible.”

“But there are notable differences,” Richard begged to differ.

“Oh, about as different a Pigmies and Europeans,” Brad argued reasonably. “The fundamental structure of the creatures is the same. This is understandable giving their radically different environments.”

“”Yes, I see your point but aren’t chimpanzees and humans remarkably similar although of different species?”

“This is true but you are missing a point. These creatures aren’t just similar they share the same characteristics as a species and at least as much as Martians and Earthers.”

“Hmmm? So you don’t think the playful nature of those on Lachesis bears any significance?”

“Not really; other than the fact that they are in an entirely different planetary environment their fundamental characteristics are the same. These creatures are bipedal; the appendages give the appearance of being multiple-pedal. Notice the upper and lower limbs? The upper limbs jut out of its sides; more like the limbs of a tree than they do arms. The upper part of these limbs is jointed; serving the same as our shoulders. The forearms are short and what we have as elbows they have a joint that looks like a knob with numerous stems that are multi-jointed. These stems serve as fingers and many other things as well. These stems can also work independently. Now look at the lower limbs; they jut out of the bottom of its torso like legs but they only go as far as knobby knee joints supporting multiple appendages with their own multiple joints. Just as a quick study these creatures are well suited for climbing; as we can see in the way they climbed the cliff with minimal effort. Hell, they were just playing; we can only imagine what they can do when they’re serious. They are natural excavators as well. If you combine this with superior intelligence I can only describe them as remarkable.”

Richard was beside himself. “Well, I think we’ve met another creature that is superior to humans,” he said almost grievingly.

“Don’t fret too much, Richard. I always remark about how the human race merely overrates itself.”

“Yes, I see it that way too, but why am I always stumbling into blatant illustrations of it?”

“My dear Richard; I’m surprised at you. You found exactly what you were looking for. You have always been defiant in the face of human arrogance and in spite of yourself you’re always proving yourself right. Hell, we might even find a cure for the self imposed human godhood.”

“I’m not holding my breath on that one. I can see the authorities arguing for the next couple of centuries as to whether we should allow these creatures to go on existing.”

“I’m afraid I will have to agree with you on this, after all the flat-worlders have maintained their status. We’ll be lucky to keep our hides if we introduce the discovery of these creatures as anything but magnificent animals,” Brad reluctantly agreed.

“Well, if the rest of you have no objections I would like to go for a long nap before going any further,” Richard strongly suggested.

“You won’t get an argument from me,” Julia agreed. “But when we resume the discussion we should talk about how these creatures communicate.”

“Okay,” Richard agreed, “we have pretty much exhausted the rest of it. We will pick up where we left off the discussion in about three hours.”

And three hours later Julia was ready. She had cropped a lot of the video to zoom on the upper limbs of the creatures; at various angles and positions. She had also compared the larger creatures with the smaller variety.

Richard sleepily walked into the room followed by Dave and Brad.

“Gentlemen as you see I have been busy scrutinizing the behavior of this newly discovered species. Brad you were absolutely correct in assuming that their primary language in their communications is a form of ‘sign’ and although they were reared in different environments they have similar ways of expressing themselves. For instance; when Richard first met the creatures in the so-called ‘cell’ the creature’s first reaction was a spreading of its appendages and this frightened you as did the first meeting of the creatures on Lachesis and the creatures on Lachesis are no doubt friendly.”

She had hologram stills of the two archetypes side-by-side in illustration of the how the first encounter reactions were similar.

“Now understandably the larger creature appears to be more menacing but the smaller creature; although many of the characteristics are dissimilar; could very well have been construed as threatening. But as time passed it became apparent that they were only trying to be friendly.”

“It’s a good thing for both Richard and the creatures that Richard is friendly as well because the encounter could very well have been bloody and ugly. She walked over to some other frozen images of the smaller creature offering food and water as a goodwill gesture; and you can very well see Richard’s reluctance both in facial expression and body language.”

She took a few more steps to a frozen image of Richard accepting water.

“This frame is showing the success of the creatures to communicate friendliness.”

She then used her remote control to sound-off the auditory response of the creatures; which was similar to the light toot of a trumpet and in unison.

“This, gentlemen, may be construed as the human equivalent of a ‘sigh of relief,’ if you don’t mind my professional opinion.”

“No, not at all,” Richard said agreeably, “but what about the loud earth shaking response of the larger creature?”

“I was just about to comment on that. Now, when the creature had first seen you it spread its appendages in the rudimentary greeting stance.”

She then used her remote to restore motion to the images.

“You can see,” she went on, “that after the creature greeted you, you quickly secured your harness and immediately went hurling upward and away from the creature. The reaction to this; from the creature; was an exclamation of disappointment. It’s like the creature’s wanted very much to meet you.”

“I don’t understand what you are getting at,” Richard puzzled.

“These creatures aren’t human but their emotional reactions are similar. Humans are bipolar in their reasoning; at best,” she went on. “And part of it is because our history of violence and distrust; as noted from your reaction. As for the creature it seems that they have had an entirely different upbringing.”

“Hmmm,” Richard mused.

“As Brad has noted this planet is rich in plant life but its animal population is scarce; meaning there are little or no predators. Whereas the human experience is riddled with conflict, and as it is apparent that we are reluctant in our encounters and they are not.”

“So you are saying that these creatures are docile in nature.”

“I don’t know if I would call it ‘docile’; I wouldn’t want to stress these creatures into actions that are unfamiliar to their environment,” she professionally advised.”

“You are saying; ‘don’t give them the fruit of knowledge of good and evil’; or we might upset the proverbial applecart.”

“In a manner of speaking; yes”

“Well, I guess it means we are taking baby-steps from here on out,” Dave volunteered a remark.

“There is another factor,” Simon reminded them. “The man in the obscure window hasn’t been properly introduced and we don’t know what he is doing here.”

“We don’t know what we are doing here we are just fumbling the dark; as I sure Challote is as well.”

“Challote? Dave inquired.

“Jul claims that he told here his name and it appears that all of the information he gave was accurate.”

“Well, without it we would not have had a point of reference to look for Richard,” Brad reminded them. “That with a truckload of Martian technology we were able to locate you.”

“Brad is right,” Richard agreed, “without his influence I might just as well still be on Lachesis and having moss for breakfast.”

“Well, let’s be happy that that you were able to enjoy your daughter’s cooking again,” Julia commented. “But even still we have no idea what this ‘Challote’ character is all about, so we should remain cautious.”

“Agreed,” Richard said, “but there are a few questions I have for him.”

“Amen,” Brad and Dave said in unison.

“Where do we go from here?” Bob asked. “Dana and I have had very little to do since we’ve been here. As much as Dana and I enjoy working in the lab I would like to venture outside a little bit and stretch out the old limbs and get some fresh air.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Richard agreed. “We should all take a twenty-four hour break and just relax. We have ten more days here and the agenda isn’t that critical.”

“And what happened to the incorrigible Richard?” Dave laughed and the rest of the group followed suit.

After a little more discussion they all decided to give the research a rest for another day. Bob and Dana went on a long walk for the first part of it. Dave looked over the aircraft maintenance details and Richard took time to spend with Donna and Jul.

Julia spent most of the time looking over her notes of linguistic discussion. Jean of course asked her questions trying to practice his ‘German.’

Brad was content looking over Bob and Dana’s notes on the live specimens they had brought in.

Simon sat most of the time in the dome looking over diagrams he had drawn of the earthen mound; deciding which course to take for the next day. In the course of eight hours he had drawn a detailed sketch of the mound with notes and arrows as to the scheme he would devise.

He called Jean over to look over his plan; for this Jean had to break away from his conversation with Julia.

“Jean, will you come over here and take a look at this plan? As you see this is where we left off before the rain interfered.”

“Well, Simon it looks as though if we are to proceed will have to get on with it by next evening. As I recall this is where we were standing when we called off our research for the day,” he said pointing to the niche on the third level.

“The truth of the matter, Jean, I feel stymied; we’ve gotten about as far as we can with the records and the correlations with Richard’s encounter. If we are to proceed we must mark the schedule for sundown tomorrow. I’m tired all of this dillydallying and now I am ready to see what is beyond the next niche.”

“Okay, then should I wait until next evening or should I get the carryall ready for the expedition?”

“Did you hear a word I’ve said? Let’s get a move on and get the equipment ready or the next thing we know we’ll be dealing with another weather disturbance.”

“Okay, I’ll start going through the compartments on the carryall.”

“Oh and Jean . . . ?”

“Yes Simon?”

“You should get Brad to help you; he’s probably scurrying for something to do.”

Richard did not share Simon’s need for expedience; he was sitting with Donna and Jul just outside the dome when Brad and Jean walked out the door.

“You guys look like you’re charging out to a ballgame.”

“Simon is having us go back out to the earthen mound this evening. He wants to pick up where we left off and we are going out to secure the equipment in the carryall,” Brad responded.

“Great, well I’m going to hang out here for a while and later I’m going to review our recordings. When you guys get back we’ll compare notes and see where we are in this expedition.”

“That sounds like the plan,” Jean agreed.