Here Comes Earth: Emergence (22 page)

“Ok,”
I said. “Everyone grab some chow and let’s get ready to knock everything out
tonight. I want you all back in my quarters at 0700 tomorrow morning and I want
our questions answered and a strategy in place before planetfall midmorning
tomorrow.”

Dr. Julie Schein

“So
here you are,” Julie said as she walked into Dr. Toni Andretti’s quarters.
She’d looked all around the platoon hub before returning to the squad hub; the
last place she had expected to find a social person like Toni was alone in her
room.

“Please
Julie, come in and sit down,” Toni said from her seat around the small dining
table. I had the processor make me some chamomile tea; would you like some?”

“I
didn’t know it would do that but yes that sounds good.”

With
a soft laugh Toni said, “Well, you just have to know how to do it.

“I’m
glad it’s you,” Toni continued after Julie sat down.

“You’re
glad it’s me for what?”

“I
knew that after Captain Silva started talking about the Noridian genetic
experiments they would want to pull me in and yes I do have some thoughts that
may or may not help you but first, for a few moments, let’s just talk, ok?”

“Toni,
are you ok?” Julie said in a somewhat concerned voice.

Julie
was starting to realize that Toni’s behavior was off her norm. Toni was one
person that could always be counted on for a big smile, a supporting comment or
a good joke but now she seemed almost wistful; almost resigned.

“I’ll
be fine dear,” Toni said as she patted Julie’s hand. “But tell me what are you
going to do about Mark?”

This
was a surprising turn of conversation… “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I
think you know very well what I mean,” Toni continued.

“First
Kamiko and now you; is it that obvious?”

“Why
don’t you tell me about it?”

Julie
sighed. Ok, maybe this was the Toni she’d come to expect. Julie had never
enjoyed talking about her personal stuff with anyone, especially not her own
mother who’d never had time for it anyway, but this was ‘Dr. Mom’ after all…

“I
don’t know what to do about it. I enjoy being around Mark – no, that’s not
accurate… I get almost giddy around him sometimes. He’s incredibly funny and
I’m always having to stop myself from laughing at the silly things he does.”

Toni
didn’t say anything and Julie found herself wanting to explain.

“But
it’s more than that. He’s so smart and in his own lighthearted way he takes his
responsibilities seriously. If anyone’s going to figure a way for Earth to come
out of this mess on top it will be him.”

“So
you feel safe with him?” Toni asked.

“No,
not really,” Julie laughed. “Being around Mark is like living on the edge and
never knowing what’s right around the next corner. It’s exciting but I wouldn’t
call it safe.

“And
I don’t know that I could ever feel secure with him. Let’s face it, women are
attracted to him and he loves it; he’s a dog and it’s hard for me to think he’d
change.

“Toni
I go back and forth; one day I’m feeling like Mark and I are made to be
together and the next I’m thinking I’d be miserable. To top it all off I don’t
have time for any of this. We all have more responsibilities on our shoulders
right now than we’ll probably ever have in our entire lifetimes. I just need to
focus on my duty.”

“Have
you told Mark how you feel?” Toni asked.

“Oh
Hell no,” Julie quickly responded. “And you’re not going to say anything
either. I mean that.”

Toni
laughed and said, “You don’t need to worry about me Julie but I have a favor to
ask. Two favors, actually.”

“Of
course,” Julie said. “What can I do?”

“Firstly
I want you to know that I’ve never been successful at putting a part of my life
on hold. I’ve always found it best if we just face what comes up when it
happens.”

“What
else?” Julie said rather softly.

“No
matter what happens or what anybody might think I want you to remember that I
truly value your friendship and that I’m always on your side. Can you promise
me you’ll remember that Julie?”

“Toni,
you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“It’s
just that I have something important to tell you dear, something that all of
you need to know and unfortunately it’s probably going to change the nature of
our relationship – I just hope it doesn’t end our friendship.”

“What
are you talking about?” Julie said frantically.

“I
wasn’t born on Earth Julie. I’m also a member of the Coridian Dynasty.”

∆∆∆

“Major,
I can’t expect you to accept this but I am a loyal member of your team,” said Toni.

Julie
watched as the major considered Toni’s words.

She’d
immediately brought Toni to him and caught the major leaving his quarters to
start the evening session with Captain Silva; an evening session that had now
been put on hold.

“I’m
glad you understand my position Dr. Andretti because I cannot afford to make
that assumption right now. I am grateful that you’ve decided to come forward
though.”

Julie
had been very surprised with Major Reagan’s first two questions. Almost
immediately after Toni’s confession he had asked if there were any other
Coridians with the mission and if there was anyone not born on Earth that was
with the mission.

Toni
had responded ‘not to her knowledge’ to both of them.

Why
she hadn’t thought to ask those questions herself or why no one had thought to
ask them of Captain Silva was just another example of how fast everything was
happening and how out of our own depth everyone on the team was – except
possibly for Major Reagan. He might miss something here or there but he was
focused and competent on a level Julie had rarely seen before. Mark might
figure out the answers but it would be the major that kept them all together
until then.

Just
then Mark walked in the major’s door saying, “I got your message Major. We’re
ready to…”

Mark’s
voice trailed off when he saw the three of us sitting around Major Reagan’s
dining table. Julie had always known that Mark was astute but this was a great
example of it; he immediately sensed something and asked, “What’s wrong.”

“Dr.
Spencer, Dr. Andretti has come forward to admit that she also is a member of
the Coridian Dynasty.”

“Hello
Mark,” Dr. Mom said with a smile.

“I
think,” the Major continued. “That it’s best if you handle the questioning with
Captain Silva while I continue talking with Dr. Andretti. Can I count on you to
do that?”

“Of
course,” Mark said.

“Good,
and two things doctor… don’t give this away. I don’t want Captain Silva or
anyone else knowing for the moment what we know about Dr. Andretti. Also,
please don’t lose sight of the questions we decided we needed answers to.”

Mark
stood there for a moment and then switched his gaze to Toni; perhaps looking
for something to say.

Toni
spoke first, “It’s ok Mark. The major needs to compare our stories before
filling everyone in. Go interview the Captain.”

Nodding
to himself Mark turned and left the cabin.

“So
Dr. Andretti, how long have you been on Earth?” Major Reagan asked.

“Major,
especially under the circumstances why don’t you just call me Toni?”

“Very
well, how long Toni?”

“I’m
one of the originals that came in 1749. Most of us are.”

“And
Captain Silva?”

“Yes,
him too.”

“Why
are you on Earth Toni?”

“Captain
Silva told you why we came and what amazed us about your people Major but I
suspect you mean why did we stay? And that’s a little bit harder to answer.

“Speaking
for myself,” Toni continued. “I fell in love with Earthers in general and then
I fell in love with an Earther in particular. I pay the price for my
sentimentality you know. I’ve outlived three husbands in my time here. It’s
hard to watch someone you love waste away with age while you remain healthy.”

“What’s
different about us Toni? I know what Silva said about shorter lifespans causing
us to be frantic but on a personal level what distinguishes us?”

“What
Captain Silva said is very true Major,” said Toni. “There is an energy about
your people that vibrates. You don’t take anything for granted and you don’t
sit still. Don’t underestimate how unique or potentially valuable that can be
but I know you’re looking for more than that.

“The
best I can do is to share some of our theories with you; speculations really.
We think that because your gene stock comes from Homo erectus that perhaps you
have a little more of the ‘wild animal’ in your DNA. I know that doesn’t sound
very scientific but there is no denying that Homo sapiens are more aggressive
by nature than any hominoid group in the galaxy. Your women can be fiercely
protective of their children and jealous of their man. Your men on the other
hand reek of competitiveness. Even your physical frame is larger and much more
muscular than other males across the galaxy. The competitive nature, the
built-in aggressiveness, the animal physicality… to say that we were fascinated
when we discovered you is the understatement of the century.”

“I’m
a little confused,” said Major Reagan. “Captain Silva is a small man in stature
but he doesn’t lack in physicality.”

Toni
laughed. “Major do you know how hard he worked and how long it took him even
with our most advanced nano supplementation to get even half the muscle mass he
carries now? We had to resort to hormonal treatments and other pharmacological
aids to get him where he is – and he’s barely fit enough to sit a desk in your
Army.”

“Sit
a desk? What does he do?”

“I
really should let him tell you this Major but you’ll find out soon enough that
he’s an analyst for Army Counterintelligence. As a matter of fact, it’s his CI
experience that is responsible for letting us infiltrate the Noridian Dynasty
in the first place. Galactic culture doesn’t have a lot of experience with what
you call ‘cloak and dagger’ but you Earthers have perfected it.”

“So
that’s how he got himself appointed to this mission,” Major Reagan reflected.

“Well,
I wouldn’t know anything about that because I was under the Nevada desert with
the rest of you when that came about. I can tell you though that he has been
with Army intelligence in all its various forms over a number of generations.
For any details you’ll need to speak to him.”

Major
Reagan wasn’t one to wear his emotions on his sleeve but Julie could tell that
this disturbed him.

Wanting
to continue the line of thought Julie asked, “How did you get assigned to the
Earth Team Toni?”

“I
happened to be in the right position academically; my degree and credentials
are real you know,” she said with a smile. “And when the opportunity came I
jumped on it. I suspect that one of us was in a position to influence the
selections somewhat but I have no idea who that would be.”

The
Major was obviously having trouble with that last statement. “Toni, you can’t
claim to be loyal to our mission while still trying to protect other Coridian
operatives,” he said.

“Coridian
operatives,” she repeated. “I think Captain Silva would like that term but I’m
not sure it’s really appropriate. What you were told about galactic society
being nonhierarchical on anything but a societal level is largely true.