Michael Brachman's Blog: Tales of the Vuduri, page 27

Solving a genetic mystery 2

Yesterday, Virga, the leader of the Vuduri on Helome was on her way to take Rome and Rei to see Bonnie Mullen when she stopped at a science lab. She asked Rome and Rei if they might be able to help her clear up a mystery. Our heroes agreed as long as it did not take too much time:

     Virga led them through the front entrance and up one flight of stairs until they came to a large room, set up somewhat like a classroom but with a variety of scientific equipment along the far wall. There was a long table in the front. Virga indicated the seats on the near side. Rei and Rome sat down. Virga closed her eyes and a projector, hidden in the ceiling, lit up the front wall and displayed a map of the human genome. Rei quickly counted 22 pairs of chromosomes plus one X and one Y chromosome; 23 chromosome pairs in all.
     “This is the chromosomal layout of a normal 23-chromosome male mandasurte,” Virga said. She blinked and all but the X and Y chromosomes disappeared. They nestled themselves in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Below them, a second partial map appeared. This one had two X chromosomes plus two additional pairs of chromosomes to the right of the double Xs.
     “This is a normal, full-blooded, Vuduri female with 24 pairs of chromosomes. In fact, this is me.” She turned to face Rome. “As you are aware, the 24th chromosome does not split during meiosis. Propagation of the 24th chromosome is mitotic so a normal Vuduri couple would each require a diploid complement to produce full-blooded children.”
     Virga turned back to the screen. This time, the additional chromosomes slid to the upper right hand corner of the screen and another map appeared. This one had extra pair of chromosomes, even shorter and stubbier than the Y chromosome lined up to the right.
     “20% of the Essessoni that you sent us have the exact genetic complement we expected. They are identical in every way to a 23-chromosome mandasurte. But the other 80% have this extra chromosome pair, a portion of which is reminiscent of our 24th, but they are not DNA in the truest sense. They are a form of peptide nucleic acid and they do not have telomeres on one end. They are quite odd. We call them the 25th chromosome for lack of a better name.”
     “Uh,” Rei started to speak. Rome interrupted him.
     “What is the significance of this?” Rome asked.
     “The significance is this: this genetic material, this extra pair, would prevent the expression of the Onsira phenotype, even in a full-blooded diploid Vuduri. If we could figure out a way to introduce it to the Vuduri population in general, no Onsira would ever be born again. Mosdurece or not.”
     “If this is the case, why have you not done so already?” Rome asked.
     “We have tried,” Virga said, sighing. The projector shut off. “However, we cannot keep the genetic material from disintegrating outside of the cell wall. In other words, we cannot figure out a delivery system.”

So how did it get there in the first place? Rei certainly knows the answer. I guess it is time to come clean.

Solving a genetic mystery 1

Yesterday, Virga agreed to accompany Rome and Rei to the interior of the continent to seek counsel with Bonnie Mullen. You will remember Bonnie from The Ark Lords. She tried, very poorly, to seduce Rei because she was tired of her assigned husband, Edgar.

     Virga, the leader of the Vuduri on Helome led Rome and Rei to a waiting flying cart and they headed back the way they came toward the north, passing through the fence and on to the open road.
     Along the way, Rei, who was sitting in the front seat with Virga, asked, “Where is this place we’re going?”
     Virga answered but kept her eyes straight-forward. “I suppose you could call it a farm or perhaps ranch,” she said. “It was the place where we took the children who were born Onsira to be raised.”
     “You segregated them?” Rome asked from the back seat.
     “Yes,” Virga said. “We could not bring ourselves to eradicate them but we feared having them grow up alongside us. This was the compromise the Overmind decided upon. It was our hope that our new breeding program would eliminate the need for such measures in the future.”
     “From what I can tell, the Onsiras are just worm-brains,” Rei said. “Without MASAL, they’re lost. Or at least irrelevant. Still, it’s your plan. From what you’ve seen so far, would you call the breeding program a success to this point?” Rei asked. “I did as you requested. I sent you the most primitive Essessoni I could find.”
     “Yes, you did,” Virga said with a strange tone. They arrived at the small landing field where MINIMCOM was still parked on the taxiway. Virga pulled the cart out around back, past the low lying buildings next to the runway and down a narrow road to the tallest building in the cluster. She pulled up in front of the main door then she turned to Rei. “To the degree we originally imagined, it was a success. More than you realize. The very salvation of all Vuduri, even pure-bred, may lie there.”
     “What do you mean?” Rei asked. “I thought the plan was to produce mosdureces.”
     “It was but now we think there may be something better,” Virga said mysteriously. “That is a science hall,” Virga announced, pointing to the building on their right. “Would you find it a burden if we stopped in here for just a moment? I will present to you a rather perplexing mystery and it is possible that you may be able to help us clear it up.”
     Rei looked at Rome who shrugged. “OK,” Rei said. “As long as it doesn’t take too much time.”
     “It will not,” Virga replied.

A mystery, huh? Rome and Rei's genetic adventures are about to be revealed. But this is OK. You'll see.

Bonnie and Steele

Yesterday, Captain Keller agreed to look over the roster for Darwin Project members and help Rome and Rei identify which cult participants escaped the dragnet. Identifying the two missing people was critical in our heroes nailing down the identity of the would-be assassins still running around loose back on Deucado. Rei had just handed Captain Keller hard-copy, a two-page list of people they identified as members of the Darwin Project. This was Captain Keller's response:

     “I know one of them,” he said, finally. “Dan Steele. He’s got to be back on Deucado. He never got caught. He’d definitely be up to the job. I mean, he’s a natural born killer. He wouldn’t know how to do much else.”
     “And the other?” Rome asked desperately. “Do you know?”
     Keller flipped through the sheets again. “No,” he said finally. “There are over a hundred of us here. I don’t know every one of them.”
     “Is there anyone who does?” Rome posed forcefully. “Is there someone who could tell us who is the other missing person?”
     “Let me think,” Keller replied. He nodded his head. “Yeah, there’s one,” he said. “Bonnie Mullen. She knows every one of us here. She compiled the original list for Virga when we first arrived. She can tell you.”
     “Bonnie,” Rei whispered. He looked up at Virga. “Can you take us to her?”
     “Of course,” Virga replied, rising up. She looked down at Keller. “You’ll wait here?”
     “Sure,” said Keller. “My varnish is dry by now. I’m ready to do the next coat.”
     Virga nodded. “Very well. Rei, Rome, I will take you to see her but we should probably take your starship.”
     “Why?” Rome asked.
     “She is one of the very few Essessoni we have allowed to roam outside of the territory. She is currently situated rather far inland.” Virga put her hand up to her temple and after a moment, nodded. “Gemen, her companion, says she will receive you.”
     “Gemen, not Edgar?” Rei asked.
     “No. Her former husband is one of the detainees who will not renounce their violent ways. He and Bonnie are no longer together.”
     “Huh,” Rei observed. He stood up as did Rome. Keller joined them. He held out his hand.
     “Bierak, you’ve always been a mystery to me but I’ve come to truly respect you and your wife. I hope you find out who it is and stop them. I mean that. You and your little lady deserve nothing less. You’re both heroes to all mankind. Vuduri and mandasurte alike.”
     Rei shook his hand. “Thank you, sir,” Rei said. “That means a lot to me.”
     “Virga will take care of you. She’s really good at what she does.”
     Virga smiled. She kissed Keller on the cheek and then led the way out.

So Bonnie is back. You didn't think I'd leave her banished to Helome and not take the opportunity to see what became of her? Not a chance. We'll see what Bonnie is up to. And know that because this book is all about redemption, she will get her opportunity as well. And yes, don't ignore the subtlety. Bonnie and her "companion" Gemen are lovers even though the Vuduri would deny such a term even exists.

Darwinian Redemption

Yesterday, Captain Keller finally came clean about his motivation for joining the Darwin Project in the beginning. And he explained his reasoning for abandoning that loyalty. He was completely sincere and his Vuduri family and partner, Virga, was living proof of this. So Captain Keller's new life truly represented the end of the Darwin Project. The would-be assassins on Deucado could not have known this. Their motivation was the principles of an organization that was not dead.

But what of the other members of Darwin, those on Helome? Rome wanted to know:

     Keller leaned forward. “I let go.”
     Rei was speechless. He reached over and took Rome’s hand. Finally, he found his voice. “Do all of you feel this way?” he asked.
     “Most,” Keller said. “But just in case…” He held up his wrist. There was a Vuduri tracking bracelet attached. “I told them not to trust us completely. This is just in case one of our group decides to try something stupid.”
     Virga stroked his cheek with her hand. “It is not too oppressive, is it, Maury?”
     “Hell no,” Maury laughed. “I kind of like the idea of being a kept man. It’s for all our protection.” He looked around for his little boy but did not see him. “The next generation, they’ll be free to come and go. It’ll be fine.”
     “So what it is you do around here?” Rei asked.
     “I have my woodworking shop. Most of us have found gainful employment. We’re building a new world. This one. It’s enough.”
     Rome scooted forward a bit. “You said most of your people are this way. But not all?”
     “No,” Keller said. “There are some left who still harbor a deep resentment. But they are very few. We keep them off to themselves. Not exactly a prison. Call it a compound. The Vuduri have to make sure they don’t get loose.” He became silent and stared at Rei and Rome for a bit. “So what brings you folks here, anyway?”
     Rome leaned forward. “Somebody tried to kill Rei with a bomb. We believe it is one of your remaining people who are still back on Deucado.”
     Keller sat back in his chair and frowned. He covered his eyes with his hand and drew it downward then he sighed. “I suppose it’s possible,” he said. “There’s no way they could know what’s going on here. I suppose they’re still keeping up the fight.”
     Rei stood up and reached into his pocket. He drew out two sheets of paper and held them out for Keller.
     “What’s this?” Keller asked, taking the papers.
     “It’s the crew roster for the Darwin Project. I need to know which of these people never made it to Helome. They are the ones we’re looking for.”
     Keller nodded and looked over the list. He flipped from one page to the other than back again.

It certainly seems like Captain Keller will provide them with the information they need. Could it be that simple?

The Bethesda Bomb 2

Yesterday, I explained my motivation for inserting this next little section in the book Rome's Evolution. One of my reviewers had stated that it was too far-fetched for Captain Keller to have come to a new planet and with 24 hours of being awakened, he was ready to go to war. Well, here is a little look into Keller's mindset at that time. Understand that while it was 14 centuries in the future, from Keller's perspective, it had only been a few days:

     Keller sighed. “I was so angry, so blind with rage; I just wanted to kill everybody and everything that had even the remote chance of being related.” He shook his head. “There was no way to grieve,” he said. “The area was quarantined and off-limits for a hundred years. I wasn’t allowed back. My bitterness made me an easy recruit for Darwin. I believed in what they wanted with all my heart and soul. I just wanted everyone who wasn’t us to die. When I got to the stars, and there were already people there, I wanted them gone too. I held all of them responsible.”
     Keller leaned forward. “But you and your wife, you saved me. You showed me there was no point to it. It could never succeed. In fact, Rome, it was your final words to me before you shipped us off to this planet that rattled around in my brain and finally planted the seed.”
     “What did I say?” Rome asked, confused.
     “You told me that Project Darwin was a success. You said that while it was survival of the fittest, it just wasn’t the group I imagined.”
     He looked up and held out his hand. Virga came over and took it and sat down on the arm of the chair. “It wasn’t until I got here and met these beautiful, beautiful people…”
     Virga blushed slightly.
     “…that I realized you were right. The Vuduri really are our children. They are the descendents of the survivors of the Great Dying. Our people really do live on in their souls. Once I understood that, I gave up the fight and decided to live. Virga, here, took me in. And I couldn’t be happier. I have a beautiful little boy now and another one on the way.” He patted Virga’s tummy.
     He leaned forward. “I let go.”

Every one of my stories is about redemption, Rome's Evolution is no exception. Captain Keller was able to get over his grief and his anger and come to grips with reality. He finally became a normal person and even found a measure of happiness in that normalcy.


 

The Bethesda Bomb 1

Yesterday, Rome and Rei had been invited into Captain Keller and Virga's home for a little sit-down. Keller even offered them some beer (Rome hated it) which was a shout-out to Silas Hiram, an Ag Professor from Ark I. You can read his story in The Vuduri Companion in the story called Before The Piranha Rats Came. But now it was time for a little chit-chat. Even though it was six years later, there was always one comment that bothered me from way back when, when I published the original novel Rome's Revolution, a reviewer name Sixiron said:

As the story unfolds, problems of logic start appearing though. A good example would be, <spoiler> it's not logical for a starship captain to wake from a 1400 year slumber, be told by a crewman that there are major issues about missing their destination, sleeping 1200 years too long, and everyone here wants to kill them, and to this the captain replies, "I don't have time for this", and starts breaking out the nukes to go to war within 24hrs of waking.</spoiler>

I never really had a chance to address this in the original novel because there was so much going on. But in Rome's Evolution, I finally had a chance to explain to all of you readers why Captain Keller acted so crazed right from the beginning. Here, in his own words, was his motivation:

     “Captain Keller…” Rei started out but stopped when Keller held his hand up.
     Keller took a good long draft of beer then set his squeezebulb down. “Before you say anything, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m not the man you knew.”
     “You aren’t?” Rei asked. “Ok, uh, go ahead.”
     “Do you remember when the Bethesda bomb went off?”
     “Of course,” Rei said. “How could anybody forget?”
     “I was stationed in Turkey at the time, fighting god-knows-who. Well, Bethesda, that was my home. My wife and two daughters lived there. They were incinerated, along with my parents and pretty much everybody that I ever cared about.”

I kind of lifted this description from an episode of 24 but it doesn't seem that far-fetched that this will happen at some point in the future. The horror must have been unimaginable. But what affect did it have on Keller's psyche? I'll explain tomorrow.

Beer Sucks (says Rome) 2

Yesterday, Rome and Rei were greeted by Virga and Captain Keller outside of their home well to the south of the Helome equivalent of I-cimaci. Keller and Virga invited them into their home and Virga brought out some water and beer. Rei was shocked at this. Where did Keller get the beer? The answer:

     “We have water and beer,” Virga said.
     “Beer!?” Rei barked. “How? Where?”
     Keller laughed. “We found some feral fields of barley and hops way up north on the site of the original settlement. Virga’s people were kind enough to let us experiment a little.” Keller leaned forward and grabbed one of the brown squeezebulbs. He lifted it up. “Try it and tell me what you think.”
     Rei snorted a laugh and reached down and grabbed one for himself. He took a healthy slug and said, “this is great!” He turned and offered it to Rome. “Do you want to try it?” he asked.
     “I suppose,” Rome said, suspiciously. She took a little sip, scrunched up her face and said, “This is horrid! How you can drink this?”
     Rei laughed. “It’s an acquired taste,” he said.
     “I will stick with water,” Rome said and Virga handed her a clear squeeze-bulb.

You will recall that some 1200 years earlier, Silas Hiram from the Ark I had planted barley and hops to make beer. This was before the Piranha Rats came. You can read his story in The Vuduri Companion.

With regard to the rest, if you ask me, Rome is wrong. But I do agree with Rei that beer is an acquired taste. I hated beer until one summer at the University of Michigan, I was outside and it was blazing hot and the only thing to drink was ice cold Genesee Cream Ale. It was right then and there that I had a revelation that beer could be delicious. Hey, Rome, give it another chance some day.

Beer Sucks (says Rome) 1

Yesterday, Rome and Rei were greeted by Virga outside of her home well to the south of the Helome equivalent of I-cimaci. Virga was also quite pregnant. This was visible proof to Rei that his jury-rigged eugenics plan to save the Vuduri was working. But this raises the obvious question. If Virga is pregnant, who is the father? Hold on to your hat:

     “How have you two fared?” Virga asked.
     “We are well,” Rome answered. “And I see you are doing well, also,” she said, pointing at Virga’s extended abdomen.
     “My second,” Virga said proudly. “My first was a beautiful, perfect little mosdurece boy. Not a trace of Onsira blood.” She turned to Rei. “And we have you to thank for it.”
     Rei started to speak when a gruff voice emitted from the front door.
     “Bierak!” came Captain Keller’s voice. “How the hell are you?”
     Rei was dumbfounded. “Captain Keller?” he asked incredulously.
     “Just Maury, now,” said the man striding up them. He looked ten years younger. “No more of that stuff for me on this world.”
     He put his arm over Virga’s shoulder. “Why don’t we invite these people in and find out why they’re here?”
     Virga nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed Keller on the cheek. Rei was dumbstruck. He looked at Rome whose eyes, if anything, were wider than his own. Shaking off their shock, they turned and allowed Keller and Virga to lead the way and the four of them retired inside.
     The living quarters were an amalgam of a typical spartan Vuduri apartment, complete with workstation, sofa and table along with some Earth-style accoutrements including some photographs hung on the walls. Several of the chairs were clearly hand-carved, but exquisitely so, including one ornate rocking chair.
     Virga left the room while Rei and Rome took seats on the sofa. Keller sat down in the rocker. Virga returned with a small tray and several squeeze-bulbs, some clear, some with a translucent brown liquid.
     “We have water and beer,” Virga said.
     “Beer!?” Rei barked. “How? Where?”

Beer, on Helome? How could that be? Where did Keller get the ingredients? The answer ties back to a short story I wrote in The Vuduri Companion but if you wait until tomorrow, I'll give you the answer.

Hello, Virga

Yesterday, Rome and Rei hopped aboard a heavy-duty flying cart driven by a Vuduri woman and man who claimed they were taking our heroes to see Virga. This did not jive with what Rome had assumed but right now they were literally willing to go along for the ride. Let's see where they end up:

     Rei did not enjoy the ride as much as Rome did. He kept glancing upward, searching for any signs of bat-wolves, even though he had been assured the last time he was here that they only came out at night.
     They traveled along a barely paved road through thicker and thinner stands of the tree-analogs with the multi-colored trunks. Rei called them Crayola trees. Rome liked to squint her eyes so the colors blended forming a wavy rainbow.
     At last they came upon a clearing, surrounded by a tall fence. The driver came to a halt and waited until the mechanical gate opened. Once it was fully open, she drove through. The man turned around to make sure the gate closed behind them. In the meantime, the driver flew the cart over a better-paved set of roads until they came to a village that reminded Rei of some of the more rustic places on Earth. The only difference was the dwellings were constructed out of Vuduri aerogel. In some places, the usual white of the aerogel had been stained with a brick color, not unlike the trick he used to make Rome’s library appear more academic.
     At last, they pulled up in front of a two-story house. The whole block consisted of detached dwellings which in itself was a departure from the usual rowhouse appearance of Vuduri housing. The man turned to them and said, “This is Virga’s house. She is expecting you.”
     Rome waited but neither of their two Vuduri escorts made any move like they were getting out. Shrugging, Rome slid over and hopped out of the cart, followed by Rei. They walked up the front path and the door opened. Out came Virga to greet them. Her blonde hair sparkled in the golden rays of Aleph. It was still curly but was a little longer. If anything, she looked more beautiful than the last time they saw her. And also, she was very pregnant.
     “Rome,” she said, leaning forward and hugging Rome. Rome accepted the embrace as surprising as it was. Most Vuduri would never think to initiate physical contact but then the Vuduri of Helome always were a little different.
     Virga released Rome and stepped to her left to hug Rei. She pressed her head gently against his chest. Rei was about to say something but Virga released him before she fell through his miniature PPT tunnel.

Wow. Things really have changed. And it looks like for the better. But wait until you see who is inside the house. And who got Virga pregnant.

A Safe Ramp?

Yesterday, MINIMCOM had received a signal from the Vuduri of Helome to land but not where Rome and Rei expected. Everyone knew that MINIMCOM was capable of making his own decisions so that did not come into play. This was something different.

Nonetheless, rather than try and out think the Vuduri, Rome and Rei decided to go along with the plan. Rei was naturally leery of landing anywhere especially since walking up or down the ramp always ended up with somebody pointing weapons at them. But in this case, did he have a choice? His own life and that of Rome's and Aason's was already in danger:

     Rei peeked out the cockpit and saw two people headed toward the rear of the ship. He stood up and held out his hand to Rome. Rome unbuckled and stood up, taking Rei’s hand. She started toward the rear but Rei did not move.
     “What?” she asked.
     “Uh, ramps? Guns? Should we do something?”
     “What do you mean?”
     “Do you realize that every single time we’ve ever gone anywhere and walked up or down a ramp, the people at the bottom or top are always armed and gunning for us?”
     “You’re being silly,” Rome said, tugging on his hand. “We’re in no such danger here. Let’s go meet them.”
     Rei took a deep breath and followed her back along the corridor, past the cargo compartment and pressed the blue stud to lower the cargo ramp.
     The beautiful, golden light of Aleph streamed in. Rei held his arm up to shield his eyes, blinking rapidly at the bright star. Since he had been forced to leave his sunglasses back on Earth before they launched, it never occurred to Rei to get a new pair. Rome wouldn’t care. With her inner iris, she never had trouble with the sun. He decided someday soon, he would get MINIMCOM to rectify that: he’d get a replacement pair of sunglasses. At least Rome was patient enough to wait until his eyes adjusted. He and Rome descended the ramp together and were met by the two people, a man and a woman, at the bottom.
     “Hello,” Rome said. “Do you know who we are?”
     “Of course,” answered the man in a hoarse voice. “You are Rei and Rome, the people who saved our race.”
     Rome smiled slightly. “Do you know where Virga is? We would like to talk to her.”
     “We will take you to see her,” the man said. He turned and pointed to one of the heavy-duty flying carts used on Helome. “Please come with me.”
     Rei and Rome followed the two white jump-suited Vuduri to the flying cart. The woman took her place behind the wheel. The man sat in the front next to her. Rei and Rome clambered aboard and sat in the back seat.
     With an easy motion, the cart lifted into the air and head toward the south.
     “No,” Rome said. “Should we not be headed north?”
     The man turned in his seat. “You requested an audience with Virga. She now lives in the southern territory along with the Essessoni.”

What?! She lives with the Essessoni? That means she is living with the members of the Darwin Project that Rei had banished to the planet. There is something odd going on. Let's see what it is...