Here Comes Earth: Emergence by William Lee Gordon

“It wasn’t an elevator remake without lyrics;
this was the original stuff – I recognized Paul McCartney’s voice.”
     
    “Earth
to Mark, earth to Mark,” called Julie. “I think even an addlebrained history
professor like you could realize that we have more important things to think
about than their taste in music.”
     
    Dr.
Mom laughed and gently chided Julie by singing, “Oh Julie, let him be. Let him
be. Let him beeeee. Whisper words of wisdom (by now the whole table had joined
in), let him be, let him be.”
     
    Dr.
Decker had been about to sit down but without a break in his step had veered
away from the table – which of course only led to more laughter. Maybe it was
all of the tension we were under but the laughter was a needed relief.
     
    “Well,
it’s good to see that some of us are having fun,” Major Reagan said.
     
    “Major
Reagan! Please sit down,” at least two of us said at the same time.
     
    He
didn’t have a tray and since I was getting ready to grab a second carton of
orange juice from the buffet line I asked him if he needed anything?
     
    “No
thanks Dr. Spencer, and actually I just came over to speak to you. It’s going
to be all over the base soon so I don’t see any reason to keep it private from
your tablemates…”
     
    I
paused halfway in the act of getting up and sat back down. The military mindset
was hard for me to relate to but Major Reagan was a really decent sort and this
sounded important enough to delay the seconds on OJ – besides, Hiromi had just
sat down with her tray and I absentmindedly reached over and grabbed hers.
Probably not a smart thing to do to someone that could rip out your heart with
their little finger but I was fortunate that she had developed a tolerance for
me which kept her lethality at bay.
     
    “I
know that you and Dr. Bell were told to stay away from Jaki and that further
interviews with her would be conducted by the diplomatic group and Ambassador
Rutledge, but as it turns out Jaki has requested you by name. This might be a
great opportunity for the mission and Jaki appears to trust you but I’ve gotta let
you know that it’s not scoring you any points with the command staff.”
     
    “Way
to go Mark!” and “Good job Mark!” came from Anzio and Dr. Mom.
     
    “Anyway,
this evening after we’re boarded and squared away you’re to meet with Ambassador
Rutledge and his people to let them brief you on what questions to ask. Then
tomorrow you’ll interview Jaki again.
     
    “Oh
and Mark, for whatever it’s worth I trust your instincts on handling Jaki but
with the Dips… play nice.”

Chapter 16
     
    Major Mathew Reagan, US Army
     
    I
never saw the outside of the Noridian ship, at least not so well that I could
describe it. We were given embarkation orders that had us boarding by Platoon
so my four squads along with my staff gathered in the warehouse structure at
the top of the elevators, boarded a bus and took a short ride into the belly
of… something.
     
    My
four squads and staff were each escorted to one of five elevators that were
spaced equidistant around the circular bay. I thought there was a problem at
first because there was no sense of motion, but when the doors opened my staff
and I walked into a different room.
     
    It
was roughly circular with 12 ft. walls and a slightly domed ceiling. The floors
and walls were seamless and I have no idea what they were made of. All of the
doors would slide open and closed in the blink of an eye and without the
slightest sound. The center of the room was a sunken living area given over to
tables, chairs and couches while the outside walls were taken up with a circular
walkway and doors, hallways or view screens (that were currently showing empty
desert).
     
    One
door was for the elevator we had just exited from and another two revealed
office and briefing accommodations. The other five were each marked with the
names of myself and my staff and revealed spacious personal