The Experiment (27 page)

Judging by their faces, I could tell they both knew that what I was saying made sense.

“I have no way to prove it, but I don’t even think they need anywhere near the amount of chrysos we’re mining. I think it’s so they’ll be the only people with chrysos on the whole planet… Money equals power… And combine that with artificially enhanced intellect…”

Kayin moaned “I can’t believe I didn’t think of this! I was under the impression they’d be happy and congratulate us… what makes you so sure Atlas? I
mean, we will be coming back with the chrysos… There can’t be that many people in on this… The ACI consists of over 100,000 people.”

I shook my head “That doesn’t matter… I’m telling you, if we dock with the Aurora there’s a good chance we’ll never see Aeris again…”

Kayin thought for a moment and said “Yeah you’re right… it’s not worth the risk.”

Sara interjected. “I agree… So what’s your plan?”

“Well, I think we should land the Sirius in the middle of the Capital… During the busiest time of the day. If we have to stay on the outer edge of the solar system and wait to time it just right, that’s what we’ll do.”

Sara said “Yes! That way everyone will see us. We can get out and immediately start telling everyone what happened… Even ask for protection. I’m sure people will help us.”

I said “Exactly. We have to make it impossible for them to do anything to us or hide this from everyone… It’s the only way.”

I looked at Kayin and he said. “I totally agree… That’s the plan… Guess we’re lucky to have you around huh? I was ready to return to the Aurora with my head held high…”

Then Kayin made a funny face. “So on a brighter note… are you two a couple yet or what? I noticed you never came back last night… It’s about time!”

He started laughing. “I thought it was never gonna
happen.”

Sara looked embarrassed and shied away from the question.

I smiled and said “Yeah well, things were complicated... You know what happened…”

Just then we heard the radio cut on.

“This is 3, I’m heading back now… We should be docking in less than 5 minutes.”

Kayin yelled out “Aaaaah finally! I was just keeping my cool… I’ve been going crazy on the inside!.. He better run all the way to the flight room!”

I laughed and shook my head…

The moment 3 appeared in the doorway, Kayin flew across the room and got in his face. “Ok, let’s have it.”

3 backed up and said “Please… personal space Kayin.”

For a moment I could swear Kayin almost turned red…

He backed up. “Just… tell me what’s going on.”

3 crossed his arms. “Yeah nice to see you too… Glad you’re ok… Thanks for helping us too!”

“Alright, I’m sorry… 3 thank you. You know I appreciate everything, I’m just really anxious to find out what’s going on… There’s a lot waiting on you.”

He smirked. “I know.”

Then he signaled for me to come over with his usual air of arrogance.

He sighed. “Now that they believe they took part
in a war against the enemies of their creators… There’s no way I’ll be able to convince them you’re not… mystical beings… or whatever they think you are… When you address them, you’ll have to just play along for now… This is going to be a slow process, but I have some good ideas.”

Kayin said “Well just keep trying to talk to them. We’ll even help you. They’d have to believe it, coming from us.”

“You don’t understand… I can’t explain what you are and how you people do the things you do. They don’t have words for these things. And even if they did, they couldn’t understand the concept of any of it… You come down out of the sky in metal boxes. Like I said before, they don’t understand your guns either… They still think you can kill them by waving your hands.”

He turned around and folded his arms. “I gave up after one group almost attacked me because they felt like I was insulting you.”

Kayin started to get upset again. “3, you have to make them understand… otherwise everything we did was…”

3 stopped him. “No Kayin, what your people did was not in vein… Believe me when I say that.”

Kayin nodded.

“All you can do is continue to work with them as we mine… But I’m going to need your help too.”

He went on to explain that he needed us to stop letting them see all of our technology… Do things like land the ships far away and wear plainer clothes. He even suggested never using radios in front of them.

3 believed that it we took away the aspect of ourselves they believed to be “supernatural” they’d eventually see we aren’t so different than they are. “I’m just going to have to keep rotating my presence at the different sites. The more I teach them the more they respect me… It could eventually lead to them listening to me about your people… If you can abide by these rules, it’ll be our best chance.”

He laughed. “Look at it this way… All we can do is try our best and if it doesn’t work you’ll leave much sooner and it will all end… Yes more of them will die but it’s not your fault… Your leaders and the ACI did this. You’re just having to suffer through the consequences and the guilt.”

Kayin said “3 if you think that will help then I’ll address the ship and everyone on down on the planet later to give out your instructions… We’ll do our best.”

3 smiled. “Now, you two somehow managed to survive all this and become the new leaders of your people. It’s time to meet with mine. If they can see that even the leaders are mining alongside of them it’ll only help the effort… Like I said, you have to make it appear as though you aren’t special in any way.”

We all agreed and headed to a transport ship.

On the way 3 said. “Kayin… Please have that same pilot take us down. He’s able to land without almost killing us.”

Kayin didn’t say anything back… He just took a deep breath.

I was laughing on the inside. I still couldn’t help but find 3 funny sometimes… I just hope he doesn’t turn his people into a race of sarcastic, rude, and arrogant egomaniacs…

Just as 3 requested, Kayin had the pilot land about a half a mile away from the site… It was nice to see a forest again. Especially since Sara was with me this time. It just made it even more of a special experience.

It was just before mid-day, the sun was shining so brightly it easily pierced the canopy and showered us in warmth. I could hear the leaves blowing in the wind and a wide array of different sounds being made by the wildlife.

It was such a difference from the calmness of the night. I could actually feel the energy from all the life… I’d never felt anything like quite like it…

As we walked Sara turned to me and said. “Was this the forest you spent the night in?”

“No, it was near the second mine we took 3 to, this was the first… It’s just as amazing though. Maybe even more so.”

Just then a flock of small birds came rushing out from the bushes and trees around us and took off into the sky. We must have frightened them.

Sara’s face lit up.

“Oh look at them Atlas!.. I still get excited every time… It’s so rare to see birds at home. I can’t wait to learn about everything that’s been cataloged by the other science teams.”

“I know, I’ll be so sad to leave…”

Kayin said. “Yeah me too.”

3 said “This would be a nice area to start teaching my people the benefits of settling instead of constantly moving around… There’s plenty of wood, fresh water and wildlife to really get something started.”

I looked over at 3. “I agree, it’s perfect… Remember to make sure and take some of our information about farming before we leave. Some of the techniques they’ve come up with could drastically increase your production… It’ll especially help you get through winters.”

“I’ll make sure to do that, thanks Atlas.”

“Before we go I’ll gather any books or information I can that might help your people. I think you’ll be surprised…”

When we approached the mine, 3 stopped and said. “Don’t say anything unless I talk to you… I don’t want you to come on too strong… Remember, they’re
absolutely terrified of you, even though they know you saved them. It’s more of a great respect of your power I suppose… Anyway, speak softly and don’t be aggressive…”

He looked at Kayin.

Kayin rolled his eyes. “As long as none of them act like you, I’ll be fine…”

He paused and looked up at the sun. “Once they’re more comfortable around you we’ll start teaching them not to cower anymore… As in you actually make them stand up when they do it… But for now just follow my lead and do exactly as I say… So do you understand?”

We all said yes and let him lead the way…

When we got to mine 3 walked up to the edge and yelled out something in their language. I clearly heard “Anu-Naki” somewhere in the sentence so I knew he was talking about us.

The whole mine came to a standstill and almost all of them dropped to their knees. Some even put their faces to the ground as they did when the soldiers were randomly shooting them.

When he was done he walked back over. “I told them you’re ready to meet them, and not to be afraid… Remember their language is still extremely limited… It will probably take me the rest of my life to add another few hundred words to it for them… I plan to make a hybrid of both our languages.”

Kayin said “So what do we do?”

Sara said “Should I even be going? I’m not one of the leaders…”

“Like I said, just stay quiet and wait for my direction… It will also be good for them to see me communicating with you. It will make them think I’m special as well… And as for you Sara, since you’re a female they’ll view you as a “mother” of sorts. They do understand what it takes to procreate. You’ll most likely be worshipped as well.”

She grimaced and said “Great… Well if I can help somehow, I’ll do whatever you say.”

I didn’t have any questions… I just felt horrible and couldn’t stop thinking about Horus… I wondered if he was going to haunt my thoughts forever…

When we started making our way down into the mine I could see how frail and weak they all looked. They had injuries on their hands and their lips were blistered from thirst.

There were natives that had collapsed everywhere… The smell reminded me of those storage rooms…As soon as we were done here I’d have Kayin order the mass distribution of water and food to all the sites.

It took some time to make it to the bottom… None of them moved or made a sound. They stayed down, faces buried in the dirt. Every now and then one would peek out at us and if we made eye contact they’d clearly become frightened.

Right before we made it to the bottom, 3 said. “When we get down there make your way to the center, stand tall and confidently. They can pick up on it.”

Kayin started to say something and 3 quickly stopped him. “No… talking.”

We did as he said and walked to the center of the mine. We lined up side by side, Kayin and I crossed our arms and had Sara stand between us.

3 stood in front of us and said “Atlas, when I signal you, step forward and yell “ai-man”, it means rise… Just keep saying it until they do.”

He yelled out “Anu-Naki” and threw his hands up in the air. The entire mine began to echo with the chanting of the natives… Repeatedly yelling “Anu-Naki!”

3 turned back and nodded so I stepped forward, took a deep breath, and yelled “ai-man!” as loud as I could.

The chanting immediately stopped but none of them rose to their feet.

3 signaled me to do it again...

I yelled it as loud as I could five more times, then I turned to 3 and said “This isn’t working.”

I could tell he was thinking…

“Oh, I know! Kayin do you have a gun?”

I said “I thought you said no guns?”

“I know… Well special circumstances... So?”

Kayin produced a guilt-filled smile… “Yeah I brought one anyway… How did you know?”

“Part of being a genius… Just hurry and give to Atlas. Atlas fire it once and say it again.”

I said “What!? This goes against everything you said earlier.”

“Things have changed, just do it! They’ll think you can control thunder or something… My original plan isn’t working!”

I said “fine” and fired the gun up into the air. They all got scared and started huddling together. I took another deep breath and yelled it again…

3 was right, they slowly began to stand up. So I yelled it a few more times until almost all of them were on their feet.

It was strange to be at the bottom of this giant crater with some many people staring at me… Thinking I’m something special… Meanwhile, where I come from I’m a nobody…

3 walked over to me and gave me an entire sentence to say to them.

I said “Whoa, what if I mess it up and they go crazy?”

He sighed and sarcastically replied “Well just don’t and nothing bad will happen.”

“What does it mean anyway.”

“You are our people, we are the same… Loosely.”

I repeated exactly what he said and they all just
continued to stare… Some had even gone back to their knees.

I looked at 3 and he said. “Like I said, this is going to take some work… I have one more thing for you to say… That you will take part in their struggle.”

He said the sentence a few times and had me repeat it until I got it right. When I finally yelled it out, I could tell all the natives were confused… Hopefully it was because they understood what I meant and didn’t know why their all-powerful creators would join their struggle.

After that, 3 decided it was enough contact for the day and we went back up to the surface… They started chanting again as we made our way up.

He said “I think that went well.”

Kayin responded “How could you tell? We didn’t even do anything…”

3 shook his finger at Kayin “I’d say the fact that you got them off their knees and they actually stopped being afraid long enough to listen to you speak is progress… Trust me… Tomorrow, as we work I’ll have all three of you really start to interact with them.”

As I stood there listening to 3 and looking at the sun on the horizon, I remembered the pit… There was something I had to do.

“Hey, let’s take a break from all this for a little while, there’s something we need to do… Follow me back near the entrance. I want to address all the men… You
too 3.”