Chapter 10
Deep inside Homer’s body his artificial brain was processing information. His initial assessment of the human race was being reevaluated and modified. Would he experience grief if he had emotions, he wondered. Initially, he had found much of their behavior to be confusing and chaotic.
Now, with information from the libraries and explanations from Chris, he was beginning to find order within the chaos. Their behaviors were beginning to follow certain patterns. As with most races, expectations and biological needs played key roles in their behavior patterns. The variations from one individual to the next made humans complicated. Predicting the behavior of a specific individual was very difficult. Chris’ statement each human being could be regarded as a separate culture was immensely helpful in learning to understand humans.
Gredoria had initially learned of the humans when Terra and Mars had been invited to sanction a treaty with the League. Information had been sparse at the time, and humans were of no interest to the Gredorians. They were simply a race with whom the League of Interstellar Planets had decided to develop friendly relations with, in part to keep them from creating chaotic situations by being unfamiliar with League rules and territories, as well as to keep them from mindlessly reproducing and overwhelming the League through sheer numbers.
Stories of creative solutions humans had used to adapt to unusual situations and to resolve problems had started to enter the data streams of the central computer. Reports came in of how a single human could adapt to a variety of different, and constantly changing, circumstances in crude, but functional ways. The central computer had become interested and had investigated the League libraries.
Other races had researched humans over the centuries. This research had shown humans often reproduced at an alarming rate after moving into a new geographic area. Hundreds of billions of humans swarming through League space, not knowing its rules or guidelines, had alarmed League security enough to take proactive steps. Some had suggested the possibility of exterminating the human race before they developed space-faring skills, but a thorough evaluation had shown the humans could be educated and their abilities for creative problem solving would be useful.
Basic data was available about human biology and genetics, but what was available about their current culture was confusing and contradictory. The central computer had decided to send an anthropologist to investigate.
The concept humans feared what they did not understand helped Homer in his research. He now realized many of the humans he had encountered were frightened of him. Homer wondered how accurate Ambassador Bentley’s information had been. As Chris had stated, humans were often used lying as a defensive mechanism. The basis of this deceptive behavior was not rational, but emotional, and therefore, difficult for him to grasp.
The United Nations Diplomacy Office had assigned Ambassador Bentley, one of their senior diplomats, to aid Homer in his research of the human species. Ambassador Bentley had presented a confused picture of Earth and the human race.
After arriving on Terra and being transported by one of Bentley’s aids to his office, Homer met Bentley for the first time. Ambassador Bentley, a tall, heavy man with blond hair, had stretched out his arm in what Homer recognized as the invitation of a handshake. Homer had complied clumsily with his own six-fingered appendage, taking great care not to crush the ambassador’s hand.
“Welcome to Earth, Homer. How may I be of assistance.”
Homer was immediately confused. He had expected the ambassador to be aware of his mission. He rechecked his memory banks. Yes, a message had been received confirming that Homer was welcome and that he would be helped with his studies of the human race. Ambassador Bentley had been assigned to provide educational materials and to act as his liaison.
“I would like to begin my studies of the human race. What would be the best way to proceed?”
“Well, I can tell you that we’re all glad that you’re here and that we will do everything we can to make your stay a comfortable one. We believe in free trade and open communications. I’m sure that we can make arrangements for fair deals that will be mutually beneficial to both Gredorians and and the people of Earth.”
“Is there information available about humans?” asked Homer.
“Of course. That’s what I’m here for. We’re a very honest people and we look forward to helping you in any way we can. It is my sincerest hope that our two peoples can live in peace with each other and that we can help each other to achieve new levels of understanding. We’re a hard-working people, with strong morals and the sincere hope that Terrans and Gredorians can build a foundation of trust and peace from your visit here.”
For ten days the ambassador had been Homer’s companion, taking him to human parties, lunches, and diplomatic meetings. Homer had concluded humans enjoyed eating, listening to and creating artistic speeches with little informational content, and making certain their appearance was appropriate. Additionally, they seemed to have great difficulty in understanding his questions, as Ambassador Bentley seemed always to be answering a different question than the one Homer had asked.
Ambassador Bentley had asked Homer a number of questions on the first day of Homer’s arrival, but Homer had not been able to help the human. Homerhad been programmed only with the knowledge necessary for him to study Earth’s culture. He had no information regarding Gredorian technology or the League’s population size. Ambassador Bentley had seemed disappointed.
On the third day Homer’s systems had detected he was being scanned by equipment in the next room. Homer had no desire to stop the scan. He had assumed it was a normal part of life on earth. Now he believed the scan had been a covert effort to gain knowledge about his inner workings.
Homer compared his experiences with Ambassador Bentley to his experiences with Chris, who had advised him freely about human behavior patterns. Chris seemed to have no difficulties in understanding his questions and seemed to try to answer them in terms Homer could understand. Chris’ lack of body weight suggested he did not share Ambassador Bentley’s love of food. In fact, he had only seen Chris eat once during the thirty-seven hours since they had first met. Chris seemed to be an excellent example of human adaptability.
The concepts of prejudice and lying, although not new in Gredorian experience with other cultures, needed to be incorporated into the understanding of humans Homer was developing. Each individual human would have to be appraised and evaluated during the interaction process.
With the wide varieties of human culture, and Chris’ additional insight that each individual human could be viewed as a separate, distinct culture, Homer concluded an understanding of humans should begin with basic human psychology. Each human would have to be understood on an individual basis, and then observed separately for trustworthiness.
A large number of characteristics were common to all humans, but the strength of those characteristics varied from human to human. The strength of their imaginations was a trait the Gredorians could learn from, as was their.......
Movement at the rear of the cockpit reminded Chris Javis was aboard. Chris glanced at him.
“I understand,” Javis said, “Mars is going to give in to the League and begin manipulating genetic codes to meet League standards.”
That’s odd, Chris thought. Javis sounds like he’s trying to bait me. He was mild mannered before. Maybe the stress is getting to him. Maybe he’s afraid of space travel. I hope he doesn’t start acting out in weird ways. Chris chose not to take the bait. Instead he said, “I haven’t heard anything about that. As far as I know the Martian people still have no interest in altering their genetics so that we can become League members.”
“Oh, come on. You guys have done so much genetic manipulation on yourselves, I don’t even consider you human anymore.”
He is weirding out. What’s up with him? Chris wondered.
“I’m sure lots of people have the same opinion.”
“You don’t seem so superior to me.”
Chris evaluated the statement and fell back on a spiritual, but still true response. “I’m not.”
Javis decided to give up on baiting Chris. “I’m going to take a nap on one of these beds back here. With all the commotion last night I didn’t get much sleep. Wake me if you find anything.” He closed the door separating the cockpit from the sick bay.
Chris grunted slightly with irritation.
“Well, Mr. Black,” Kelly said quietly, “you’re not exactly the normal, run-of-the-mill inspector, are you?”
Chris looked down at his Intergalactic Mining Safety Monitor’s uniform. Henry made no efforts to hide my identity and I can’t think of any reason to continue the charade.
“You can call me Chris and, no, I’m not. Actually I’m an outside contractor. A private investigator. I was sent to Corbin III to stop the theft before it happened. It looks like I was sent a little too late.”
A silent moment passed. “Part of me wants to blame you for Michelle’s death,” Kelly said, not looking at him, but focusing on the control panel, “because you arrived too late. Intellectually, I know it’s not your fault, but I’m so angry I’m looking for any outlet.” Tears started running down Kelly’s face. “That bitch killed my best friend. So there’s no doubt in your mind, I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her in. Dead or alive. And I wouldn’t mind it being dead.”
“Well, we differ a little there. I know you’re angry, but my plans don’t include bringing Apela back dead.”
“Just be aware of the fact you might have to.”
Chris wasn’t sure if Kelly would kill her, given the opportunity, or if Apela wouldn’t allow herself to be captured alive. He decided not to ask because he didn’t want her committing herself to a course of action she might not otherwise follow through with. Chris was hesitant to become Kelly’s counselor, but they were going to be spending a lot of time together. She needed to process and he needed her to be clear. He hoped empathic listening would be enough.
“You two must have been very close.”
Kelly looked at him wondering if he was referring to Apela, and then realized he was talking about Michelle. “We were,” she said, looking away. “We’ve been friends for the last two years.”
“How did you two meet?”
“We met during training on Terra while we were filling out paperwork. We were both from farming planets. I’m from Grand Harvest and she was from Bounty. We had a lot in common and hit it off.”
“It must have been nice finding yourself with a close friend on Corbin III.”
“It was. Having a close friend can make all the difference in the world. I can’t believe she’s dead,” Kelly said, tears starting to run down her cheeks.
“She must have been very important in your life,” Chris said soothingly.
Half an hour later Kelly seemed calmer. Tired of talking, she said, “Lets change topics. We're going to have a lot of time on our hands. Why don't you tell me about yourself. How did you become a private investigator?”
“Vocational testing pointed me in the right direction. I’m from Mars and everyone is tested just before they graduate from high school. The results are pretty accurate. They use both genetics and psychological profiles. Most people take them seriously. In my case it seemed like a perfect fit. I get to travel and it’s a good combination of using both my body and my mind. It seems to suit me well.”
“Do you like living on Mars?”
“Yes. It’s my home. I’m comfortable there,” Chris began rambling a little. “When I was a teenager I hated it. I didn’t fit in. I wasn’t good at math and I tended to be more emotional than the other students. My parents became worried and so did I. I got into trouble a lot more than your average Martian teen. When I was sixteen, hypnotic memorization therapy was suggested.”
“What is hypnotic memorization therapy?”
“It’s a combination of hypnotics and memory drugs. It gets used a lot by people who want to learn alien languages, which, for me, is exactly what math was. I learned enough to understand the basics and to get thru school, but I wouldn’t want to make a career out of it.”
“How much does that kind of process cost?” asked Kelly.
“I don’t know. The school provided it.”
“Now why doesn’t Terra give do something like that?” Kelly asked, becoming angry as she thought about Michelle and their last conversation. “Did you get biofeedback training to extend your life?”
Chris blinked at her sudden display of emotion and the quick change of subjects. He didn’t have an answer for the first question, so he decided to focus on her second one. “Yes, altho yoga is involved, too. Yoga sort of creates the map and biofeedback makes learning to control your body and mind a little easier. I didn’t have any problems with those classes. I was pretty good at anything to do with physical and sensory awareness. Those same strengths make me good at this job.”
“I’ve heard Martians are real snobs,” Kelly stated.
“I’ve heard that, too. We are proud of the lifestyle we’ve created on Mars. We’ve got a good educational system, almost no pollution, and a very low crime rate. You’re proud of Grand Harvest, aren’t you?
“Yeah, I suppose. I’ve just never thought about it before.”
“I’m curious,” Chris said. “Did spending time on Terra give you a greater appreciation of your home world?”
“Yes,” she answered. “It was too crowded on Earth. Too many people. And living on Corbin III has made me really appreciate Grand Harvest. Why do you ask?”
Chris remembered the sense of relief and relaxation he had after getting off the ship arriving from Terra and stepping into the Martian spaceport. He was home. Life was easier on Mars. He knew the rules and agreed with them. “Well, as I said, when I was a teenager I hated Mars. I thought Terra, the home of the human race, would be a kind of magical, spiritual place. A place of enlightenment, full of ancient monuments, and an environment humans were designed for. A place where I would find myself. When the opportunity to do my apprenticeship on Terra came up, I jumped at the chance. My illusions faded pretty quickly. I lived on Terra for two years and was extremely happy to get back to Mars.”