The Orthogonal Galaxy (49 page)

“
I can’t do this…” he
would say to himself. “How can we possibly reach Earth2, when we
couldn’t make it across Nevada… This really is suicide… All of the
astronauts were right… This is just nuts.”

Through his
discouragement, he had decided that he couldn’t go on. Gilroy gave
the pair an extra week to recover. Paol did his best to get Blade
to talk, to work through the issues, but Blade grew more inward
emotionally. Paol tried everything, and with one last idea, he made
an inquiry to Gilroy.

“
There is one person who
might be able to talk some sense into him,” Paol shared with the
program director.

Gilroy listened
intently.

“
He speaks highly of his
uncle—he was Blade’s only role model when growing up… the one
person he looks up to even today, and regrets not listening to when
he had the chance.”

“
Where can I find
him?”

“
I don’t know. Blade lost
contact with his uncle many years ago, but I know his name and
where he was last known to live.”

“
We’ll find him,” Gilroy
promised. “We’ve spent too much money on this project, and we can’t
let it fail now.”

…

Blade received a knock on
his door, but didn’t answer. Paol opened the door slightly, and
called in to the darkened room to his partner, who acknowledged him
with a grunt.

“
Blade, I have somebody
here who would like to see you.”

Another grunt—this one his
last, as the door opened, and he instantly recognized the figure
standing there. Quickly, he rose from his seat. “Is it—is it
you?”

“
Thomas.”

Tears formed in Blade’s
eyes and began to roll down his cheeks. Choking back sobs, he fell
into his uncles arms as the two enjoyed a long-missed
embrace.

As Blade released his
grasp, he spoke with a crackle. “Uncle Jes, how’d ya’ come to see
me here.”

Looking at Paol, Blade’s
uncle replied. “Let’s just say that you have a good friend that
wanted to reunite a long-lost relationship.”

Blade looked curiously at
Paol. “Why—how’d ya’ ever find him—I tried to mail him that letter
after we come here, but it wasn’t delivered.”

“
Well, Blade,” answered
Paol. “The federal government seems to do a good job at finding
people who need to be found.”

Blade nodded,
understanding that Paol had pulled some strings, and wondered how
many federal organizations needed to be employed in the
search.

“
I’m going to let you two
catch up,” Paol said, excusing himself from the room. Blade just
stared at his uncle with great excitement, as he heard Paol’s
footsteps down the hall.

“
Where’s my manners? Do
come in,” Blade said. “It’s not exactly the biggest place fo’
entertainin’.”

Jes nodded approvingly.
“Actually, it looks like you’re moving up in the world.” A knowing
smile was offered, and a hearty laugh ensued as Blade quickly
understood the reference to his prison cell.

After exchanging some
pleasant memories, Jes brought Blade up-to-speed on his life. After
losing his job, he moved to a small town south of Atlanta, claiming
that he always wanted to get out of the big city. He got a job as a
mechanic and has enjoyed the small-town lifestyle ever
since.

“
As for you,” Jes changed
the subject. “Not much catching up needed. I know everything about
you, Blade. The media’s published just about everything except your
auto-biography.”

Blade chuckled softly.
“Well, that’d be tough, Uncle, seein’ how
I
have to write my
auto-biography.”

“
That’s the point—if they
could figure out a way to do so, I reckon they’d do it too.” Jes
flashed a wide smile of pride at his nephew.

“
Blade—” The tone was
clear. Blade knew what his uncle was going to say. It was the whole
reason for his being here. “I understand you’re thinking about
giving up this opportunity.”

“
I can’t do it, Uncle—it’s
just suicide.”

“
Really? It doesn’t look
like you’re dead yet to me. In fact, it looks like you’re doing
quite well. This environment suits you well. You look better than
ever, Blade.”

“
When I saw my good
friend’s plane on the ground engulfed in flames—well, I guess I’m
‘fraid, Uncle.”

“
Afraid of
dying?”

“
Maybe I’m ‘fraid of
dyin’, maybe I’m ‘fraid of failin’… and Paol’s got a family and
all—if he don’t make it back safely—”

“
Well, then. Why don’t you
just make sure he makes it back safely? You’ve already done that
once by helping rescue him after the crash.”

“
I can’t make a promise
that I can’t guarantee. The odds are stacked against us, and
there’s too many things outta my control. Millions of things could
go wrong, Jes.”

“
But it only takes one
thing to go right, Blade—the one thing you said ‘yes’ to. The
mission just might succeed. Have you considered that?”

“
Oh, I dream it up
occasionally, but it don’t seem as real as the nightmares of how it
might just as easily end.”

Jes heaved a burdened
sigh. “Your momma is so proud of you, Blade.”

Blade sat upright at the
reference to his mother.

“
She talks of you all the
time—how she knew you had greatness in you from when you was born.
You know, Blade, the only reason she stopped seeing you was because
she couldn’t bear to see you locked up like that.”

“
I know that,” Blade
whispered.

“
And she was real worried,
Blade—real worried—that her tears only made it worse on
you.”

“
They did.”

“
I hope you never for one
day thought that she didn’t love you after those visits
stopped.”

“
No, sir. I always knew.
She never told me nohow, but I always knew.”

Jes looked deeply into his
nephews eyes, as he saw him gaze off into the distance. Tears began
to flow again. “I’ll do it.”

Jes leaned forward in his
chair. “Do what, Blade?”

“
I’ll go on with the
mission. I won’t break her heart again, Uncle—I won’t do it
anymo’.”

25

Six years had passed since
Joram Anders, Kather Mirabelle, and Reyd Eastman began their
graduate studies at CalTech. Since then, all three of them had
received their doctorate degrees in astronomy and had filled
post-doctoral positions as researchers with Carlton Zimmer. During
those years, they had helped discover a superluminal comet as well
as the first extrasolar planet with specifications nearly identical
to that of Earth. While each had opportunities to work for
different research institutions, all had decided to stay on for the
time being with Zimmer, mainly because they were interested in
continuing the study of the superluminal comet and had a host of
experiments lined up to gain a greater understanding of its
origins, construction, and operation.

At the moment, however,
they had set their work aside to be a part of the event that their
research had made possible. They were filled with nostalgia as they
began to realize that their years of research were about to be put
to practice. Reverently, each took positions in the back row of the
room. Even though they were the most responsible for the
discoveries, they were too absorbed to notice the irony of being
placed in the position of least prominence among the crowd.
0020`Ahead of them, several rows of padded folding chairs held
occupants of diverse backgrounds. Some were huddled in pleasant
conversation, while others waited intently for the table ahead of
them to fill. The vacant table was covered with a black velvet
cloth and skirt. Four black chairs sat empty behind the table,
while four microphones and two tumblers of ice water had been
prepared for the panel that was to assemble presently. Name
placards located on the front of the table indicated the two
scientists and two astronauts who would shortly be attending the
press conference.

Behind the table, a
wall-sized banner provided a photographic backdrop. It depicted the
deep blackness of space, its depth implicated by the thousands of
stars of varying brightness and color. A thin yellow beam cut
through the mural at a gradual curve, while a smooth silvery-black
spaceship with three blue-white rocket engines thrust the vehicle
towards a rendezvous with the beam. In the middle of the mural, the
artist had placed a depiction of Earth in a three-quarter
illumination. A spotlight recessed in the center of the ceiling
acted as the imaginary sun shining down on the blue planet with its
swirling white clouds. At the end of the yellow ray, was an
identically apportioned planet almost too small to make out.
Written in brilliant gold letters above were the words:

Earth2 Mission –
ST3

Joonter /
Slater

The researchers studied
the banner, admiring the artist’s efforts in capturing the essence
and emotion of the mission. Just as Kath’s eyes began to moisten
with emotion, she noticed a few heads turn towards the door at the
front of the room. She elbowed her colleagues on either side of
her, in order to focus their attention on the spot that everyone
else was now monitoring. Through the door, Dr. Gilroy led the
procession to the table. Paol Joonter and Blade Slater followed,
with Carlton Zimmer in close pursuit. The crowd now stood and in
unison respectfully began to applaud this historic group of
individuals.

All four men had become
household names in the United States and throughout most of the
world for the roles they assumed in the Earth2 mission now in its
sixth year of its preparation and twelfth digit of its funding. The
media portrayed these individuals as both champions of space
exploration and consumers of $267 billion in wasteful spending for
which nobody would reap the benefit for at least a dozen years,
even if the low-percentage mission actually succeeded.

Only after the men took
their seats at the table, did the applause taper off. Throats
cleared, and the shuffling noise of chairs on the tile floor
indicated the adjustments being made to settle comfortably into the
press conference. Gilroy spoke first and addressed the audience
with prepared remarks, which he read from a yellow manila folder
that he opened flat onto the table.

“
Ladies and gentlemen of
the press, esteemed colleagues of NASA, and dear dignitaries, we
thank you for your presence here today, and trust that you are as
excited as we are to enter the second phase of the Earth2 mission.
These two unlikely and yet extraordinary astronauts—” Gilroy paused
while gesturing to his left where Paol and Blade sat donning their
teal spacesuits. “These two astronauts have been examples of
inspiration to all of us. Even in the most desperate and
unfortunate of circumstances, their stories have given us hope to
overcome our difficulties, to correct our own courses with courage
and determination. In the last five and a half years, these two
fine gentlemen have become some of the highest caliber astronauts
that I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. Perhaps it is the
nature and complexity of their mission, but I can say without any
reservation that they have done everything humanly possible in
preparing themselves to face any obstacle they should encounter on
this mission. Tomorrow, we will bid farewell to these men, as we
send them on a journey of more than 150,000 light years. We commend
them to the far reaches of our galaxy as ambassadors of Earth1 to
the inhabitants of Earth2. Never in the history of scientific study
does one mission have the promise of so much learning. We are eager
to take our learning of this universe in which we live to new
heights previously unanticipated.”

Addressing the astronauts
directly, Gilroy concluded, “Mr. Joonter, Mr. Slater, may God speed
you on this journey to bridge the inhabitants of the Milky
Way.”

Paol and Blade bowed
graciously to their program manager and to the audience as an even
more generous ovation ensued.

Through the din, Kath
turned to Joram. “Look… I have goosebumps.”

Joram nodded
understandingly. “I know. It’s overwhelming to be a part of this.
We all feel it, Kath.” Through the years, Joram had to proverbially
pinch himself for the role he was taking in the scientific
community. Under the tutelage of Professor Carlton Zimmer, some of
the most exciting and unprecedented research of the century was
taking place. And he—a humble farm-boy from Kansas with a passion
for star-gazing—was a part of that effort.

Joram leaned forward and
looked over at Reyd as Kath’s eyes followed. Without words, he
concurred knowingly through a wink and a single nod of his head.
The experience was clearly surreal for each.

“
Now,” continued Gilroy,
“we will be pleased to hear a few remarks from our esteemed
astronauts, and then we will open up the session for questions and
answers. Mr. Joonter, you have our attention.”

“
Dr. Gilroy, thank you.
Thank you for your leadership of this mission, your encouragement
through the difficulties, and your meticulous oversight of so many
details along the way. Your example and efforts over the last few
years have given me great confidence that everyone involved has
made every effort to provide the mission with the highest
opportunity for success.”