Dark Star Rising Second Edition (Pebbles in The Sky) (41 page)

“Marla, please just call me Jessica, we are not in a classroom right now,” laughed Jessica. “I will probably stay at the project headquarters in Georgia
.  I expect that we will be getting a deluge of last minute samples that will need to be analyzed and stored.  We are still trying to develop a method of re-creating artificial cell membranes for DNA implantation.  So far, we are having very little success perfecting that technique.  Until we can work that out, all these samples we have collected will just be so much data in a computer memory bank if the species goes extinct.”

“How is that supposed to work?” asked Maria, “I am sorry, but my major is actually geology.  My boyfriend got me involved in this since they shut the university down here.  I have permission to stay on as one of the geology team members that are staying behind to observe and record volcanic activity, so I am just passing the time for a couple of months and trying to lend a hand.”

“Well,” said Jessica, have you taken very much biology in college?”

“Just Bio one and two,” answered Maria.

“Then you should know about cell reproduction and all that stuff then,” Jessica continued.  “We now have the ability to take this DNA that we are storing, recreate it, and put it in an egg cell where the DNA has been removed and the cell will grow and develop normally.  The process is a little easier to do in plants as you do not have to worry about egg cells at all.  The problem we are having is finding the solution for what to do if there is not an egg cell to put the DNA into.  What if the whole species is dead?  We need a method of producing that first egg cell so that we can then recreate the species again.  Everyone jokes about which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Well, after millions of dollars and countless hours of research we still do not know!” she said with a laugh.

“Maria, are you not a little afraid to be out here when the Pacific volcanoes start becoming active?  There could be some very large Tsunamis and it could also be very dangerous from the eruptions of ash and lava.”

“It will not be that bad.  We are going to be on board ships, so as long as we are in fairly deep water Tsunamis are not that big a threat.  We will also try and stay up wind from any ash clouds.  The chance to see the islands grow from new volcano activity is too good to pass up as far as my field of study is concerned.  From all the destruction caused by the lava and ash, new land will be formed and the islands will grow.  Someday after the encounter when the volcanoes calm down again, we can then re-populate the islands with the plants that were endemic to the area.  Maybe this time we can do it without introducing any pests like the stupid Mongoose that was brought in here to kill the rats that men had brought in accidently on board ships. The mongooses have done nothing but decimate the bird populations.”

“Maria dear, you sound more like a biologist than a geologist.  You would get along well with my daughter Brianna.  She is working on her doctorate in Biology at the University of Georgia now.”

“No, not really,” said Maria.  “I love all of Hawaii, the volcanoes, the rain forests, the animals, all of it.  They are all part of what makes it such a unique place.  We would not have one without the others; they are so intertwined with our Earth Mother.”

Jessica glanced at the young woman walking ahead of her.  “Maria, are you a Gaian?” she asked.

Maria stopped and turned to look at Jessica.  “Does that surprise you, Jessica?”

“Well, said Jessica, I really had not thought about it until you started talking.  I have  heard that the Gaian movement was gathering momentum in some of the lesser developed areas of the world, but I had no idea I would find members of it here in a tourist resort area like Hawaii.”

Maria put her hands on her hips and stared at Jessica in amazement.  “Who do you think is volunteering and helping gather all your DNA samples across the world Jessica?” she asked.

“Well, predominately college students and volunteers from different wildlife agencies,” said Jessica.

“And why are they doing this?” asked Maria.

“Well, to help preserve our planets biological diversity of course,” replied Jessica.  Maria shook her head and pulled out her water bottle and offered it to Jessica.  She sat down on a rock outcrop and motioned Jessica to sit also.

“Jessica, the Earth is our mother.  For billions of years she has nurtured all of us living things and allowed us to evolve, change, and be one with her.  Recently, humans have over multiplied and have hurt our mother; we are leaving scars that cannot be easily healed.  The different species that we have over hunted or driven to extinction evolved for a reason.  Wiping them out is an insult to our Earth mother.

If you take a hard look around, you will find that probably eighty to ninety percent of your volunteers are either Gaian or have leanings toward those beliefs.  We believe that it is our duty to help protect the mother.  There are also some
people who think that the coming of the Dwarf is somehow related to the damage that humans are doing to the planet.  They believe that it is Gaia herself somehow bringing the Dwarf to try and cleanse the parasites that humans have become off the planet.  We are helping your project because we hope that someday we can help restore global homeostasis.  Many of us hope that the human race is drastically reduced in number so that we can once again live in peace and harmony with nature.”

“Maria, I had no idea that so many volunteers were Gaian.  I knew the movement had gathered many young people to that philosophical point of view.  Although I agree that we have damaged the planet, I do not think that the planet can summon something like the Brown Dwarf to come and purge humans off the planet’s surface.  As a matter of fact, it may very well be humans that protect all the life here on the planet if the Dwarf slings some big asteroids this way.  One good hit by a large one and all advanced life could be wiped out.  I don’t think that would be very good for maintaining a global homeostasis.  It is the DNA samples that we are collecting that may one day bring back many of the species lost or that are going to be lost after the encounter.”

“I am not downing or being critical of your beliefs, Maria.  Actually, I think they are admirable, as long as not taken to extremism.  We sure do need the volunteers.  Please do not be offended by anything I have said.”

Maria just smiled. “I am not offended.  Whether you think you are a believer or not, you are helping our mother and most of us know that.  What type of beliefs does your daughter have Doctor Driskall?  I think you said she is getting her doctorate in Biology, right?  Talk to her. Ask her how she feels about the Gaian philosophy.  I would hazard to guess that the majority of today’s Biology students share my beliefs, whether they formally recognize them or not. You may be surprised what your daughter shares with you.  Come on, we need to get down to the transport and meet the others,” Maria said as she stood.  “We still have about a mile to hike.” She turned to start down the trail and Jessica stood to follow, deep in thought.

Chapter 48

December 9
th
, 2042

Houston, Texas

Peter sat in his office looking at the latest data that Robby Tully had forwarded to him from the Elpis probe. The data was quite interesting.  Actually, it was too interesting, Peter thought.  All hell was about to break loose in just a few months and he was more interested in data from the probe orbiting the newcomer planet Elpis than the multitude of data that was being collected on the approaching Brown Dwarf.

Peter tapped his PA twice and told it to call Robby.  While he waited for Robby to answer, Peter marveled at his new technological toy.  The old cell phones, watches, musical players, personal computers of just twenty years ago were now being replaced by the PA, or personal assistant.  No larger than a large wrist watch, it was worn on the wrist and had become nearly indispensable to everyone.  It was a communication unit, computer, phone, clock, and medical assist device all rolled up into a small marvel.  It was an eight millimeter by six millimeter plastic and carbon fiber square worn like an old wristwatch, or as a brooch on your shirt if you were a woman.  It could remind him of appointments, make calls, make reservations, do calculations, transmit digital images to monitors, and a myriad of other things.  It could even monitor his blood pressure and heart rate and call emergency medical support if it decided he was in need of it.  The major drawback was that it knew where he was twenty four hours a day.  Many people thought this an invasion of privacy, but the tradeoff was acceptable for the majority of the owners of the little marvels.

His PA beeped and told him that it had a reached Robby.  “Robby this is Peter; do you have a minute to run up to my office?  I have a few questions regarding this latest data from your probe.”

“Ask and you shall receive,” said Robby as he stepped in the door.  “I was already on my way over,” he grinned as he plopped down in the chair across from Peter.  “Pretty interesting stuff there, don’t you think?”

“Very much so,” replied Peter.  “Is this correct?  The atmospheric data is showing an atmosphere that we would
expect to see at about fourteen thousand feet here on Earth.  Oxygen is at fourteen percent and carbon dioxide is down to one point seven percent.  Someone with a good set of lungs could actually breathe this stuff and live.  What is causing the dramatic shift in composition?”

Robby shrugged.  “That is the question of the day.  Atmospheric pressure is a little low, but yes, if you were a native Himalayan Guide, or a good acclimated mountain climber you could breathe it.  That carbon dioxide level is still high enough to give you a good headache though.  We figure most of the gases have thawed and mixed into the atmosphere now.  From the latest images you can see things are really starting to fog up as some of the water ice is melting.  Atmospheric temperature is climbing and around the planets equator it is probably above freezing all the time now.  As the planet approaches perihelion things will really heat up.  The clouds will trap more heat and within a couple of years almost all of the ice will melt except for the extreme northern latitudes at the poles.  The planet has almost no axial tilt in relation to its expected orbit around the sun. As it settles into its orbit, the climatologists predict that conditions will be tropical at the equator when it is at perihelion and pretty moderate when at aphelion. Up to a latitude of fifty degrees or so it would be a very pleasant place to live.”

“Do we know what the chemical makeup of the ocean is going to be like?” asked Peter.

“That one is still up for speculation,” replied Robby.  “There are some theories based upon spectrographic data that it may have a much lower salt or sodium chloride content than terrestrial oceans and a higher potassium salt content.  We really can’t say for sure without someone taking some samples,” said Robby.

“I am not sure that is not going to happen very soon,” sighed Peter.  “Have you seen that other new star in the night sky, the one that is starting to get bigger and brighter?  The closest approach of the Dwarf Star is only a little over six months away.  It is finally starting to get people’s attention in a big way.”

“Oh really?” joked Robby “Is that why there are all those reports of people hoarding food, and all the end of the world nuts are out and about?  What a bunch of idiots they are.
The Dwarf is going to pass by and leave, but Elpis is staying with us.  Are people too stupid to see the opportunity that is getting thrown to us?  This is a whole new world that just might work out to be ripe for colonization.”

Peter laughed out loud.  “Hard to get excited about something that you can’t reach out and touch when something even bigger is getting ready to reach out and touch you and make your world shake, rattle, and roll.  It could get pretty exciting around here.  The Dwarf is approaching the outer edge of our solar system as we speak.  I hope those guys up there on watch in Space Force are awake.  There is no telling what the Dwarf is going to drag out of the Oort cloud and toss our way.  The latest images of the Dwarf are really impressive to look at.

Speaking of images, there is a couple from the probe I wanted to ask you about.”  Peter flipped though the latest data and then sent to his wall screen.  “Do your photo recon specialists have any idea what that is in the middle of that plateau?  The entire plateau is almost perfectly flat or rolling hills except for these three or four objects right smack in the middle where they stick out like a sore thumb.  It is almost like somebody built something in the dead center of that plateau.  Nature can do some funny things, I guess.”

Robby gave
Peter an evil grin. “That, my friend is why I was coming over.  Everybody on the team was thinking the same thing about those images.  That is why we took some more images at different angles and had our photo gurus look more closely at them.  There are actually five objects there in the middle of the plateau, and the recon guys all agree.  Nature did not put them there.”