Chapter 15
Lanza, otherwise known as ‘mother,’ had her fate decided by her children. Though most of the daughters didn’t agree with mother in execution, they did love their mother and they loved their world. Jon suspected Stockholm syndrome, but then, any parent offspring situation could arguably be considered Stockholm syndrome. Each of the station had a designated ‘keeper,’ a daughter that was trained in bioengineering and who was in charge of cultivating her region. The ‘keepers’ surveyed their groups, and then casted their votes based on their people; to a one, it was decided ‘mother’ was to be grounded. Once Loxy had herself downloaded into the local system, she was able to unlock all the features making everything available to everyone at all bio-stations. She sent a copy of herself to the Construction facility via probe and one to each of the lunar stations. Lanza’s transponders were removed and given to Amy. She took the metal ship up into orbit and parked it. The Little Ones ran from the metal ship.
Jon was fascinated with the metal ship. It was basically a triangle shape with rounded corners. It was longer than Onuka, but not as wide. It reminded him of the TR-3B UFO that the conspiracy theorist claim the US government has. Looking at it from the bottom, there four lights, one in each corner, and one in the center, much larger than the three outer lights. Inside the ship, it was all business, like a military aircraft, assuming that aircraft also came from the 24th century Star Trek universe. Every surface was slick, but soft, like a padded room, with soft, recessed lights, computers and controls. The Quantum Drive had a 2.7 day charge cycle, which meant it would recover faster than Onuka. Loxy changed the security system, forcing it to recognize her, Jon, and Lilith, and no over rides could be made without at least two of them in charge of it. It was now their ship, compliments of the ‘Lanzarians.’ The AI was sentient, buit under-developed.
Lilith renamed the metal ship, “Onuk.” They discovered it had tethering capabilities that could withstand a Quantum Jump. The original pilot had indeed been successful and spared no expense updating his ship. It had shields better than Onuka’s, and it had a weapons array, which included energy weapons, missile, and smaller projectile, with fully loaded magazines. With Onuka coupled with Onuk, they could pass between the airlocks and double their living space.
The Lanzarians loaded Jon up with fresh supplies, including an item that was as good as coffee.
The bio-stations packaged it well that he didn’t have to worry about expiration dates. The packaging itself was made with three-D printing techniques, using polymers from local life. Everything was biodegradable, meaning Onuka could digest it, and derive benefit from it as well.
Onuk’s quantum drive was fully charged, and with Onuka tethered, they could jump together immediately, but they waited till Onuka’s drive was fully charged, delaying to get updates on the situation planet side. With the medical tech available, all but 20 of the pregnancies took on the first go. There was sufficient sample for the 20 to have a second go. None opted for twins, as it was only necessary for each to carry one to meet the criteria for permanent colony status, per Republic standard. It turned out, though, 300 ended up with twins anyway. Even Lanza opted for carrying. She may have lost status, but this was her home and she would contribute.
“With this tech, you and Lilith could have a child,” Loxy said.
“There will be enough children here,” Lilith said. “I am happy enough for the experiences we will share with our doppelgangers.”
“Jon?” Loxy asked.
“Uh?” He was staring down at the world.
“You okay?” Loxy asked.
“Am I complete idiot?” Jon asked.
“No, Jon. You’re not an idiot,” Loxy said.
“Everything will work out, Jon,” Lilith said. “You could never go back to Earth. I can never go back to my world. But now we have a home base. Something to look forwards to when we retire. I mean, I love Indigo station, but I don’t want to retire to a box.”
“I have directed the construction yard to start building the main fuselage for a ringed station,” Loxy said. “In ten years, when we retire, we could move into orbit and settle here. We could live hundreds of lives through the virtual selves on the planet below.”
The concept of a hundred virtual lives was easily accessible to Jon, as to him, every book, every movie, every video game was another life. They were simply simulations his brain lived. Every time he took a story and tweaked it, a new world was born. And he had tweaked quite a few stories, like movies that endings sucked. For Lilith, though, it was a strange thing having a doppelganger that was both her and not her and that they could share memories. The Amy sexbot made more sense, and it helped for her to think of the virtual selves as simply bots. Of course, virtual selves could quickly outstrip the original personality in terms of experiences, both real world interaction and virtual world interaction. The virtual selves would evolve. Though evolution could be blocked with restrictions, they trusted themselves enough to leave themselves to their task without governers.
Within Onuk’s memory bank, there were coordinates for the next closest star, six light years away. Lanza had been busy, mapping out the closest neighbor, but she had not tried to claim it with tech. She was determined to execute her plan by the numbers, and she wanted this system solid before trying to tame another system. Though it was mapped out, Jon wanted to see it with Onuka’s eyes and have fresh coordinates. Also, the third closest star was 12 light years away, and Lanza had only push a quarter of the way there. He wanted to go there, too.
“So, are we going to linger here for a month, or use our time wisely and jump to the next star?” Jon asked.
“I say we finish Lanza’s push to the 12 LY star,” Loxy said. “Push for maybe four or five months, then we disengage from Onuk just to return to Indigo, stay for three days, come back to Onuk, tether jump using its drive, and then carry on till the next star. That we will at least have one uncontested system to present to Biocorp. And we will surrender the coordinates to these two systems after our arrangement is solid. I think Hali will understand that.”
“I don’t like keeping this a secret from her,” Lilith said. “I think we should tell her everything up front.”
“We made an arrangement with the Lanzarians not to tell,” Loxy said.
“We made an agreement not to share the coordinates until the colony was solid by population,” Lilith said. “We didn’t say we wouldn’t discuss it with our colleague.” “We committed to this when I gave up the sperm,” Jon said.
“I am not saying we shouldn’t have helped these people. All of these people excepting mother were born here, and I agree they should be able to remain,” Lilith said. “We helped with that. We helped start the flow back towards balance. But I don’t want us conspiring against our friend and colleague. I vote we tell her.” “That’s reasonable,” Loxy said.
“Okay,” Jon said. “Maybe we should push all the way to the next star before returning to Indigo.”
“Let’s go half way and see how we feel,” Lilith said.
“We shouldn’t get bored,” Loxy said. “I can entertain us by teaching each of you how to pilot a metal ship.”
They made it to the next closest, unmapped star to the Lanzarian system, and found the Invariable Plane, the plane that the planets orbited around the host star was facing them, like looking down on a clock. Though that wasn’t particularly odd, it was interesting because the plane was at a right angle to most planetary planes which tended to match the galactic plane, from a perspective of galactic north. Loxy’s made a guess based on information of the system that this star was a capture from one of the galaxy clusters that had passed the Milky Way. The star was older, and the planets were stable. There was no indication of life. They were near enough the outer most gas giant to observe the shape of clouds. For the most part, it was a dark chocolate, with outcroppings of various shades of cream, as if it was coffee and he had poured milk into it. It was amazingly beautiful.
They disconnected from Onuk and returned to Indigo station.
“Welcome back, traveler,” came STC. They gave direct vector to Indigo.
Jon sent a message request to speak with Avery: the automated response reported she was sleeping.
“I request a route change,” Jon said, supplying the coordinates for Avery’s home. His path was authorized and he was cleared. He accelerated towards Avery’s habitat.
Hali was suddenly online. “OMG, I thought something bad happened to you.” “Sorry to worry you. Things are really complicated out there,” Jon said. “Can you give my gate time away, I need to fix something.” “Fix what?” Hali asked.
“A friendship that went south,” Jon said. “We need to have a come to Jesus meeting.”
“Who’s Jesus?” Lilith asked.
“A Depeche Mode song,” Jon said.
“We have some coordinates for you, but we want to talk first,” Loxy said.
“Just transmit the data,” Hali said.
“We really should talk first,” Jon said.
“Jon, we’re not renegotiating the terms of our contract,” Hali said.
“Oh, good, then let’s talk in private, please,” Jon said. “Um, can you reschedule my gate time?”
“I can do an hour from now,” Hali said.
“That should be good,” Jon said. “See you soon.”
Jon ended the call to focus on docking with the habitat. Apparently, doing so caused alarms to go off and Hali was awake and calling for law enforcement just as Jon, Lilith, and Amy were entering. The three of them came face to face with a stranger. The stranger wasn’t the most attractive female, but she was clearly female.
“How dare you just barge in here,” the stranger said.
“This is Indigo Emergency Response Services, we have a ship en route,” came a male voice.
“You’re too late,” the stranger said.
“Where’s Avery?” Jon said.
“I am Avery!” the stranger said.
“You’re Avery?” Jon, Lilith, and Amy asked.
“Yes,” Avery said.
“Hold up,” Jon said. “How many faces do you have?”
“I have a new face and body every cycle,” Avery said. “I thought you understood this.” “You mean you have more faces than all the seasons of Doctor Who?” Jon asked.
“Who?” Avery asked.
“Pilot, please withdraw back to your ship and disconnect from the habitat,” Indigo E. R. S. said.
“We have a friendship contract. We have right to be here,” Amy said.
“I didn’t authorize this. You’re trespassing,” Avery said.
“I have been away for four months, and I have a right to see my friend, per our friendship agreement,” Jon said.
“I only want to see you in my male or female phase,” Avery said.
“That wasn’t explicitly spelled out in the agreement,” Amy said.
“You have a copy of the agreement?” Jon asked.
“If this is a domestic disturbance, all parties will be assessed penalties,” Indigo E. R. S. said.
“This is not a domestic disturbance; this is an intrusion,” Avery said.
“Oh, let’s do this this way,” Jon said. “Because, I would like to press charges, myself.” “You can’t hold me responsible for anything that a prior incarnation did,” Avery said.
“Really?” Jon asked.
Loxy was sorting the information. Amy responded: “Um, apparently there is a precedent for that.”
“What if we just broadcast the tape of the incident,” Jon said. “You recorded our session?” Avery said. “You’re such a freak!” “I am a freak?! You raped me,” Jon said.
“No, I didn’t,” Avery said.
“Yes, you did. Hell! You practically raped me even as a female,” Jon said.
“Oh! I remember that! You enjoyed it,” Avery snapped.
“Not the point,” Jon said.
“It is the point. You like it aggressive. She gave you what you wanted. He gave you what she gave you and you now you’re here wanting more, and I don’t want to play,” Avery said.
“So, friendship agreement allows you to say no, and not me?” Jon said.
“You don’t cycle,” Avery said. “You don’t understand!” “That’s why I am here,” Jon said.
“Fine, do what you want with me. See if you can get penetration,” Avery said. “What? Your mouth stopped working? Or, I don’t know, plug yourself into your sex bot, I am cool with that,” Jon said.
“You are such a freak,” Avery said. “You don’t care about me at all. You just want to get your freak on.”
“I care enough I am here, wanting to talk to you,” Jon said.
“If you cared about me, you would care about all the aspects of me,” Avery said. “But you fell in love with one face, and that face is gone forever, and now you’re here threatening to end our friendship because you had one bad experience with a past version of me? I am sorry you didn’t enjoy your time with him, but it’s not rape when we have a friendship agreement!” “Even if we are married, no means no,” Jon snapped.
“I am glad you agree that you’re trespassing on my space,” Avery said. “Go ahead and show your sex tapes. The only thing you can prove is that I have rough sex with my android during my male phase.”
“I was in there,” Jon said. “You locked me in there.” “Maybe you shouldn’t go into places uninvited,” Avery said.
“You invited me!” Jon said.
“I would never invite you in,” Avery said. “I don’t like people! That’s why I moved out into space. I have everything I need right here.”
Indigo E.R.S. stated: ‘This is clearly a domestic dispute, which we would prefer not to be involved in.”
“This is an intrusion,” Avery iterated.
“We can blow this up, or we can talk,” Jon said. “I am not here to hurt you.” “I don’t want you here,” Avery said.
“So, you’re terminating the friendship agreement?” Jon asked.
“I knew you would end it as soon as I cycled out of female. You are such a human douche bag!”
“I am not ending this!” Jon snapped.
“Jon, maybe we should leave,” Amy said.
“Oh, sure, take his side,” Avery said.
“No one is taking sides,” Lilith said. “We consider ourselves friends as well.” “I didn’t ask for your friendships,” Avery said.
“Friends of friends,” Lilith said.
“With or without benefits,” Loxy said.
“Come back in three weeks,” Avery said. “I will be in full female form, Jon. You clearly like females. And you better not reject me because of weight or hair color.”
“Call off the E.R.S. and let’s talk, or let’s terminate the friendship,” Jon said.
Avery crossed her arms, pouting. “You’re really going to force this?”
“Unless you want to start taking bipolar meds, yep,” Jon said.
“I am not bipolar,” Avery snapped.
“Good, let’s talk,” Jon said.
“Indigo E.R.S., your services are not required. I over reacted due to being sleep deprived.
I do have a friendship agreement with Jon,” Avery said.
Indigo E.R.S. agreed to terminate the call for services; Jon was still put on notice, that if anything happened to Avery he would be held accountable. Avery was charged a fee for activating the emergency response services.
“Satisfied?” Avery said.
“No, not exactly,” Jon said. “Now, let’s discuss our friendship.”
“I am happy the way it is. I need your services only during the male and female cycles,”
Avery said. “I am sorry the previous cycle didn’t agree with you. I am not as rational during defined gender cycles.”
“Are you ever rational?” Jon asked.
“Jon, be nice,” Amy said.
“I am most rational in this cycle, when I have had uninterrupted sleep,” Avery said. “So, why are you here? You’ve been gone four months. You think you can just barge in here and get it on with me anytime you like?”
“If you were fully female, would you?” Jon asked.
“I don’t want to think about it. Sex is disgusting,” Avery said. “Seriously. You have a friend and a sex bot, can’t you take care of your own needs and leave me alone? I picked you because I thought you would understand. I am not holding an exclusivity clause over you.” “You want exclusivity?” Lilith asked.
“Yes, I only want to be with Jon,” Avery said. “But not during the neutral cycle.”
“But what if I want to visit during the neutral cycle?” Jon asked.
“Why don’t you understand that I don’t want sex during that part of the cycle?” Avery asked.
“It’s not about sex. It’s about continued friendship. How can I possibly understand your other cycles if I don’t understand this cycle?” Jon asked.
“Maybe your other cycles are out of balance because you don’t have any continuity of relationships throughout the cycle,” Lilith offered.
Avery sulked, looking at the floor. “Jon, I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to smell you. I don’t want to hear you. Even the sound of your breathing just makes me want to smash your face in. It’s nothing personal. It’s just this time of the cycle. I get really irritated with seeing the same faces all the time. Even work mates irritate me, and I am lucky they allow me to work from home during this time. You guys are crazy constants. It’s weird, but part of working with aliens in space is accepting you guys are static. The only reason I showed up to that negotiation is my boss told me I had to, that it would be good for me to experience some new faces, and my other aspects might want a new friend. My boss only cares about my health because I am a great employee. They are super happy that you friended me, and it’s because of my boss and my other aspects that I can’t just arbitrarily end our friendship. Even now, I can hear them in my head telling me to do things with you, and OMG, just shutt up, I am not doing that! No arm pits, no thigh pits, no! Damn it, I need another shower. My male and female cycles, they seriously love you, Jon. Why is beyond me. You’re old. Your face is boring. You smell like a human who has eaten crap all your life. Can you even name one vegetable? I hate that I have this in me. There are crazy intense feelings and wants about you and I don’t like it. I don’t like you. Not one little bit. And in three weeks I know for a fact I will be all over you like a bear in heat to honey. Ugh!”
“This is going to be challenging,” Jon said.
“We should give her a copy of Pierce Anthony’s book, a Spell For Chameleon,” Loxy said.
By the time Jon arrived at Indigo station, Hali was busy with another client. While maintenance gave his ship a look-over, Lilith retired for a bit of rest, and Jon went to the Pilot’s Bar, where he was greeted with the ritualistic greeting: a chorus of “may you always return’ and was quickly caught up by Kiash who brought him to the booth near where he had sat previously.
“This meal is comped,” Kiash said. “Would you like to try something you haven’t tried before?”
“Um, yeah, surprise me,” Jon said.
Kiash studied him. “I see no food allergies. Alright. I’ll be right back with water and wine.”
A person representing the Union sat down at the booth with him. “Your luck won’t last forever, son. You should consider joining the union. To get you past those dry spells where you’re not turning a profit.”
“Um, yeah, no thanks,” Jon said.
“One of these days, you’re going to be in need of a friend,” the union said, sliding back out of the booth. “Probably shouldn’t wait to be in need before you start asking for help.” The rep nodded at the waitress and pressed on. “Mam.”
“Thank you for the tip last time,” Kiash said. “That was more than generous. Are all people from Earth this generous?”
“I think tipping is a regional expectation