Landscape (part 2): Continues where part one left off.
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"Do you trust me?"
Danziger seemed to be in shock. Finally he found his voice "Ellie? I don't understand, how..". He stopped talking and reached for Ellie.
"What the hell is going on?" Morgan demanded. He was surprised that Danziger was embracing the woman like he never would let go.
Bess left her hiding place and approached Devon. "I thought she was neuro- dead back on the stations?"
"So did I, so did John" Devon replied. Just then Danziger let go of the woman and stepped back. His weapon that had been lowered was now raised and pointed at the woman he had just embraced.
"What the hell kind of trick is this?" The angry mechanic demanded.
"John, its no trick, it really is me."
"Your dead"
"Neuro-dead, not dead. You didn't want the sim program, everyone figured it was your call. But after everyone thought you'd be killed in the explosion, they decided to try it. It was successful. It is me, John. I'm back, I'm OK".
Danziger had been carefully observing the woman he thought was Ellie. She seemed the same but her eyes were different. They were the same shape, size and color, as the Ellie he remembered and loved but they didn't hold the same sparkle. "Prove it".
"OK. I can tell you about when we meet, the first time we made love, the last time we made love, your memorable response to the first time I told you I loved you, the…"
Danziger interrupted. "I had something more scientific in mind. DNA analysis. You willing?"
"Sure, I got nothing to hide. What will you use to compare it to? Cross match between yours, mine and True's?"
Danziger eyes narrowed. Devon decided to disperse the group.
"OK, Morgan can you notify the scout team to apprise them of the situation. Tell them to stand by until we know if these guys are friend or foe." She instructed Alonzo to keep an eye on the VTO and Magus to watch the other two visitors.
"John, should I get Julia?" Devon quietly asked.
"Yeah, but leave the kids" he whispered back.
Yale went with Devon to stay with the kids. Devon informed Julia what was needed. True, who was unaware of what was going on was surprise when Julia took a blood sample. Devon quickly reassured her that her father was fine.
Julia, who was not aware of the situation concerning Ellie, questioned Devon as they returned to the group. Devon filled her in with what she, Bess and Yale had learned during the encounter with Dell. She also told her the few tidbits she had gotten from John. There wasn't much, John was uncomfortable talking about it and Devon didn't want to push. She thought John would tell her when he was ready. Now she wished she pushed.
Julia listened carefully then spoke "Are you ok?"
"What, I fine. I mean I'm concerned." Devon suddenly stopped. "What if it is a council trick to get you? Tell me how to get the sample. I'll bring it back and you do the analysis."
"Devon, don't worry. If it were a council trick, they would have already found me. We wouldn't have seen the aircraft until it was to late."
"Are you sure? I don't want to put you in jeopardy."
"I'm sure. Let's go."
As they approached the group, Julia carefully surveyed the situation. She glanced again at Devon who looked very worried. She wasn't sure what worried Devon more, the possible council involvement or the thought that a woman that John once and may still love was on the planet with them. She knew she would not be thrilled to be meeting one of Alonzo's lost loves.
"John" Julia simply stated.
"Julia. What can I do to help?"
"Nothing, I have True's sample and you've been in enough scrapes that I have your medical info, including DNA on the glove's speed dial. I just need a sample from Ellie. I can cross match in a few seconds."
"How accurate? Could they fake it?" Danziger asked.
"No, it can't be faked. I will know if she is True's biological mother." Just then she had another thought which caused concern for her friend. Devon and True had been getting close. If this was True's mother, Devon may lose the bond that was developing with the young girl.
Then to the new comer, "Hello, I am Dr. Julia Heller. Are you ready to give a sample?" Julia looked over the woman; she could see physical similarities between True and his woman. Those could be faked.
"Sure, since having been revived, if it could be called that, I've been poked and prodded so many times." The woman replied.
Julia took the sample. John and Devon held their breathes until Julia made her announcement. "It's positive. She is True's biological mother."
Devon and John looked quickly at each other, then the woman.
"Sorry to doubt you." Devon apologized.
Ellie cut her off. "You don't know me. Of course you'd be suspicious. John is always suspicious." After pausing to look around. "Where is True? When can I meet her?"
"Let me talk to her first. She doesn't know much about you other then you were in an accident before she was born. Recently, I've told her a few things but…"
"Not a lot. That's typical of you. You never spoke of your family after their deaths so I figured you wouldn't have talked to True much about me."
"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
"I wasn't sure how you would handle it. We never talked about kids. Everyone has told me what a great job you've done with True. "
"Yeah, great. You know True's eleven now, she might not take to having a mother. So don't push her." With that, Danziger left.
"He hasn't changed much in nearly 12 years. That's reassuring." Ellie commented.
Danziger slowly approached the location where Yale was hiding with the two children. He wasn't sure how to approach his daughter with the fact that her mother was alive. He wasn't quiet sure how he felt about it and he was going to have to deal with how True felt about it as well. Finally he decided to just come straight out with it.
The hiding place wasn't all that great. Anyone with instruments looking for life forms would have found them but it reassured both Devon and Danziger that they had a chance to get whomever before they got to the children. Upon entering, True and Uly both flung themselves at him. He quickly reassured both children that everyone was fine. It appeared that the people in the VTO were friends that could help them get to New Pacifica. Danziger then asked Yale he could stay for a few minutes with Uly while she spoke to True.
After walking slightly away from the hiding place, Danziger stopped. True could tell her father was nervous and she began to worry. "Everything's OK isn't it."
"Yeah, sure True-girl. I just got something surprising to tell you. You see there are 3 people on the VTO that I know."
"Do I know them too?" True interrupted.
"Well, I think that you meet Barb Parson when you were about 6 years old. I don't think you ever met Hacksaw. The third person, is , well, the third person is your mother." Danziger watched his daughter's face carefully.
A range of emotion quickly raced over True's face. Foremost was confusion. "I thought she was neuro-dead?"
"She was. I guess she got revived"
"What is she like, is she the same?"
"Looks the same. I really haven't spent much time with her. She wants to meet you. "
"What if I don't like her?" True asked in a scared voice.
"You don't have to like her True. Just try and get to know her, spend as much or as little time as you want with her."
"Dad, what about Devon?" True asked hesitantly.
"True, you don't have to chose between Devon and Ellie. You can spend time with both of them. You can love them both. "
"Is she going to share our tent?"
"No. True, I have to be honest; I don't know what is going to happen between your mother and me. It has been a long time since I've seen her. I've changed. I think she has also. We may no longer be compatible. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a great relationship with her. I think that we should both take it one day at a time."
"OK" True said with much relief. "Let's go meet her."
The Danzigers walked hand and hand back to the rest of the group. Devon was speaking with the three new comers as they approached. True looked at both female strangers. Then she looked at Devon. Devon could tell that the girl was nervous and gave her an encouraging smile.
True's hold on her father's hand tightened. She glanced back to the two women and then looked directly at her mother. "Hi, so you're my mother?"
"You recognize me?"
"Dad showed me a vid. I also kind of remember the other woman, she brought me a bag of toffee when I was small."
An awkward silence fell over the group. Ellie looked at Danziger beseechingly. Catching the look, Danziger replied "What do you expect me to do. You know that emotions and/or verbal communications are not my strong suit. At least you used to know."
Ellie looked lost, True stepped closer to her father and leaned into his side. Knowing that his little speech did not help his daughter any, Danziger knelt and put his arm around his daughter. "True, why don't you tell your mother what some of your favorite pastimes are?"
"I like playing in VR."
"Really, what do you like to play."
"All sorts of things, Wild West, Pirates, Shipwreck. Uly and I take turns deciding what games."
"Who is Uly"
"Devon's son. He is the only other kid on the planet."
"Well actually, the ship we came on had several children around your age. "
"Really. Where are they now?" True's conversation was stilted.
"At New Pacifica. We landed there and unloaded supplies then headed out to find your group."
True nodded and moved even closer to her father. "True, maybe you should get Uly and start your chores so that we can all have lunch." Danziger suggested. Never had True agreed so fast to anything.
"She needs time. It is a lot to take it. While we get lunch, why don't you fill us in."?
The man that Danziger called Hacksaw said "It might be easier when we get to New Pacifica."
"I'm not going anywhere until I know what the hell is going on."
"You always were a pain in the ass. " The man countered.
"One of my more endearing qualities. Once the rest of our team returns, you can fill us in. Is there anyone else on the VTO?"
"No, there are just the three of us. Is this all your supplies?"
"We've got a dune rail and an ATV but yeah basically this is it."
"Seems your luck hasn't change. " Barb interjected.
"One of the constants in life is that it is going to suck."
The scout teams returned and lunch was set out. True sat as close to her father as she could get. Her eyes were fixed on her mother. Uly also was confused and sat close to his mother. True had filled him in and he wasn't sure he liked the turn of events. True and Uly had decided to get their parents together so that they could both have a mother and a father. But if True had a mother, she wouldn't need his. Then he would lose out on having a father. He especially wanted Danziger to be his father.
"So how come you are older then I remember." Danziger started the questioning.
"What no introductions? I for one will make introductions. My name is Curtis Hackman-Sawyer. I hate the name Hacksaw so please don't call me it. This is my wife Barbara Parsons. And this is Elenore Moore, er, True's mother."
"This is the Eden Advance team. You always were bad with names so it's not like your going to remember any of them. Why are you older, all three of you. Ellie, you were put in cryo-sleep the same time as True and I but you also have appeared to age."
"That's because you were in cryo-sleep for 22 years, we've only been in cryo-sleep for 16" Hackman-Sawyer replied.
"What, how can that be?" Alonzo asked.
"You are?" questioned the new comer.
"I'm Alonzo Solace. I was the pilot for the Advance ship. Technology couldn't have advanced that much that you could cut off six years."
"A jump was found near the Delta-Zeta quadrant. We went into cryo-sleep for 7 sevens then the pilot was woken, made the jump and went back to sleep for another 9 years."
"Is that possible?" Devon asked Alonzo.
"Yeah, there was a lot of speculation that a jump was around there. Who discovered it?"
"A man named Willard Maddon." Alonzo and Baines both groaned. "I take it that you know the man."
"Yeah, a more obnoxious person I've never met."
"Well he is our pilot. I think that we were the first passenger ship to try this route."
"Must have been a difficult 5 years." Danziger ungraciously stated. "So how did you finance this?"
"Actually, you financed this."
"Come again?"
"You had arranged enough credits to care for Ellie in cryo-sleep for 44 years. She was woken shortly after your presumed death. A year after you left, a deep space probe picked up the signature of the Colony ship. A few months after that, a signal from a Doctor Benson .."
"Bennett, Doctor Franklin Bennett", his wife corrected.
"A signal from Doctor Bennett was discovered that indicated that G889 would reject human life. We then started a rescue mission using the money that was arranged for Ellie's care."
"You mean if I get back to the stations, I'm going to have to pay off this rescue mission. True, we're staying on G889."
For the first time that day, True looked happy. "Cool, can I have one of the horses."
"No."
"JD, when we left the stations, you were debt free."
"I was?"
"Yes, it seemed that Ms. Adair paid you in full upon departure. That cleared your debt. In addition to not paying for Ellie care there is some stock that you had. "
"I had stock? The only stock I remember is right before I left, I was in a poker game and some guy put up some stock since he couldn't access credit at the time."
"Well it seems that the stock was for some revolutionary arcade that took off. It made millions!"
"Millions, that doesn't sound like something that would happen to me."
"What are you kidding?" Barb stated. "Your debt is paid off. You make millions and your not around to spend a dime. This is exactly something that would happen to you."
"Wow, I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, I guess your right. If ever I were going to be a millionaire it would be when I couldn't enjoy it. But still millions wouldn't pay for this trip."
"Well, we used the back up for the Advance ship."
"That wasn't ready. There was a suspect flaw in the cargo hull." Devon offered.
"There was? Glad I didn't know about that before I signed onto this trip."
"They didn't tell you?"
"We didn't ask. We kind of borrowed the ship."
"You stole a spaceship! And you always said I had no sense of propriety. I would never steal a ship." Danziger emphatically stated.
"What about that time you and some friends took that shuttle?" Barb countered.
"We returned it before anyone knew it was missing. Besides, I was like 17 years old. It is not the same thing. I can't believe you didn't get caught."
"Well actually, we lucked into the ship. It was going to be scraped; now we know why. We got hired on to strip the components; instead we loaded supplies and personal. Then we were suppose to transport it to New Pluto station, instead we keep going."
"You thought of that?"
"No, it wasn't my idea. Our group consists of 30 men, women and children. Someone else came up with this idea."
"So if you had a full ship, how we you going to rescue us?" Devon asked.
"From Bennett's reports, they were here for 8 years. You would have only been here for 1. We also knew that several families backed out of the trip and that the Colony ship had about 70 empty chambers. Since the advance team was only 30 people, including crew, we figured that you could last another year until the Colony ship got here and board that. Where is the rest of the Advance team?"
"Dead. So if you were coming to rescue me and True, which I figured you must be since you used my money. You would have missed us. We weren't supposed to land."
"Our ship was programmed to recognize the Advance ship's signature and wake the crew. It would in turn wake the crew of your ship."
"Why can't we just go back to the stations? Hey, I'm debt free, I could start to enjoy life some."
"It's not safe for you."
"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't it be safe for the Advance crew?" Devon asked.
"I'm not sure about the whole Advance crew, although, you did leave without authorization. But I was referring to Danziger."
"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't it be safe for me? Hell if I could survive my childless years, I should be pretty safe. You have to admit, I became down right calm when True was born."
"Well calm for you anyway. Look JD, I don't have all the information to share with you. Everything is back at the camp in New Pacifica. Besides Sally could explain much better then I could."
"Sally!" both Danzigers exclaimed.
"Sally Horton is here on this planet! What hell is going on! Why are you here?" Danziger continued.
"I wanted to see you and True." Ellie stated.
"That makes sense but as far as I know you didn't know Hacksaw or Barb."
"Sally is the common factor. She knows us all. " Hackman-Sawyer replied.
"Why are you here." Danziger asked.
"Because I owe you and he came with me." Barb replied.
"You don't owe me anything."
"Yeah, I do."
"OK, I'm not going to argue with you, at least not now. Do I know anyone else?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure. Most are from the quad. You may know some of them." Barb stated.
"John, Sally has all the information. We could load all of your supplies and be to New Pacifica for a late dinner. What do say?"
"Can you give us a moment to discuss it?" Devon asked.
"Sure". The three new comers went back to the VTO.
"John, what can you tell us about them? And why are you and True so surprised to hear about Sally?" Devon asked.
"Well, Ellie is True's mother. Barb and I have known each other since we were teenagers. We were both on our own so occasionally would hook up. As I said Hacksaw was my CO when I was in the army. We didn't really get along. While I was still in the service, Barb came to visit me. Old Hack fell for her. She wasn't interested in being tied down especially to a career soldier."
"He is military?" Yale asked.
"Retired. He served his 20 years and then left to work for his father. That was about 6 years ago. At least in our time frame."
"What about Sally?" Devon asked.
"Sally was in love with my brother. He was killed in training accident 3 weeks after he entered for mandatory service. Sally became obsessed thinking it was some conspiracy that killed my brother."
"Could there be a conspiracy?" Morgan asked in a worried voice.
"Sally was from an upper middle class environment. She just wasn't used to how things happen in the quad. Accidents aren't uncommon. Preventing a drone from getting killed wasn't cost effective. There were plenty of others to take their place. I think life expectancy in my family is somewhere around mid 50s. Sally wasn't used to that. She thought it must be a conspiracy. How she managed to convince the others of it, I'd be interested in knowing."
"Do you think it is safe to go with them?" Devon asked.
"Awfully elaborate ploy if it is a council trick. I don't think I pissed any of them off. That's more your thing. Besides if they want to get us, they could have done so already."
Devon decided to ignore Danziger's comments regarding her and the council's relationship. Instead she asked the group to vote.
Devon approached Hackman-Sawyer. "Mr. Hackman-Sawyer?"
"Call me Curt, it's a lot easier."
"Thanks Curt. After we get to New Pacifica, would it be possible to search for our missing pods."
"Don't see why not. Are you ready to go?"
"Might as well, it sure beats walking."
It took several hours to load the VTO. The group boarded the VTO and left with mixed emotions; joy at not having to walk, fear at what was waiting for them once they reached their designation.
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End of part 2
"Do you trust me?"
Danziger seemed to be in shock. Finally he found his voice "Ellie? I don't understand, how..". He stopped talking and reached for Ellie.
"What the hell is going on?" Morgan demanded. He was surprised that Danziger was embracing the woman like he never would let go.
Bess left her hiding place and approached Devon. "I thought she was neuro- dead back on the stations?"
"So did I, so did John" Devon replied. Just then Danziger let go of the woman and stepped back. His weapon that had been lowered was now raised and pointed at the woman he had just embraced.
"What the hell kind of trick is this?" The angry mechanic demanded.
"John, its no trick, it really is me."
"Your dead"
"Neuro-dead, not dead. You didn't want the sim program, everyone figured it was your call. But after everyone thought you'd be killed in the explosion, they decided to try it. It was successful. It is me, John. I'm back, I'm OK".
Danziger had been carefully observing the woman he thought was Ellie. She seemed the same but her eyes were different. They were the same shape, size and color, as the Ellie he remembered and loved but they didn't hold the same sparkle. "Prove it".
"OK. I can tell you about when we meet, the first time we made love, the last time we made love, your memorable response to the first time I told you I loved you, the…"
Danziger interrupted. "I had something more scientific in mind. DNA analysis. You willing?"
"Sure, I got nothing to hide. What will you use to compare it to? Cross match between yours, mine and True's?"
Danziger eyes narrowed. Devon decided to disperse the group.
"OK, Morgan can you notify the scout team to apprise them of the situation. Tell them to stand by until we know if these guys are friend or foe." She instructed Alonzo to keep an eye on the VTO and Magus to watch the other two visitors.
"John, should I get Julia?" Devon quietly asked.
"Yeah, but leave the kids" he whispered back.
Yale went with Devon to stay with the kids. Devon informed Julia what was needed. True, who was unaware of what was going on was surprise when Julia took a blood sample. Devon quickly reassured her that her father was fine.
Julia, who was not aware of the situation concerning Ellie, questioned Devon as they returned to the group. Devon filled her in with what she, Bess and Yale had learned during the encounter with Dell. She also told her the few tidbits she had gotten from John. There wasn't much, John was uncomfortable talking about it and Devon didn't want to push. She thought John would tell her when he was ready. Now she wished she pushed.
Julia listened carefully then spoke "Are you ok?"
"What, I fine. I mean I'm concerned." Devon suddenly stopped. "What if it is a council trick to get you? Tell me how to get the sample. I'll bring it back and you do the analysis."
"Devon, don't worry. If it were a council trick, they would have already found me. We wouldn't have seen the aircraft until it was to late."
"Are you sure? I don't want to put you in jeopardy."
"I'm sure. Let's go."
As they approached the group, Julia carefully surveyed the situation. She glanced again at Devon who looked very worried. She wasn't sure what worried Devon more, the possible council involvement or the thought that a woman that John once and may still love was on the planet with them. She knew she would not be thrilled to be meeting one of Alonzo's lost loves.
"John" Julia simply stated.
"Julia. What can I do to help?"
"Nothing, I have True's sample and you've been in enough scrapes that I have your medical info, including DNA on the glove's speed dial. I just need a sample from Ellie. I can cross match in a few seconds."
"How accurate? Could they fake it?" Danziger asked.
"No, it can't be faked. I will know if she is True's biological mother." Just then she had another thought which caused concern for her friend. Devon and True had been getting close. If this was True's mother, Devon may lose the bond that was developing with the young girl.
Then to the new comer, "Hello, I am Dr. Julia Heller. Are you ready to give a sample?" Julia looked over the woman; she could see physical similarities between True and his woman. Those could be faked.
"Sure, since having been revived, if it could be called that, I've been poked and prodded so many times." The woman replied.
Julia took the sample. John and Devon held their breathes until Julia made her announcement. "It's positive. She is True's biological mother."
Devon and John looked quickly at each other, then the woman.
"Sorry to doubt you." Devon apologized.
Ellie cut her off. "You don't know me. Of course you'd be suspicious. John is always suspicious." After pausing to look around. "Where is True? When can I meet her?"
"Let me talk to her first. She doesn't know much about you other then you were in an accident before she was born. Recently, I've told her a few things but…"
"Not a lot. That's typical of you. You never spoke of your family after their deaths so I figured you wouldn't have talked to True much about me."
"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
"I wasn't sure how you would handle it. We never talked about kids. Everyone has told me what a great job you've done with True. "
"Yeah, great. You know True's eleven now, she might not take to having a mother. So don't push her." With that, Danziger left.
"He hasn't changed much in nearly 12 years. That's reassuring." Ellie commented.
Danziger slowly approached the location where Yale was hiding with the two children. He wasn't sure how to approach his daughter with the fact that her mother was alive. He wasn't quiet sure how he felt about it and he was going to have to deal with how True felt about it as well. Finally he decided to just come straight out with it.
The hiding place wasn't all that great. Anyone with instruments looking for life forms would have found them but it reassured both Devon and Danziger that they had a chance to get whomever before they got to the children. Upon entering, True and Uly both flung themselves at him. He quickly reassured both children that everyone was fine. It appeared that the people in the VTO were friends that could help them get to New Pacifica. Danziger then asked Yale he could stay for a few minutes with Uly while she spoke to True.
After walking slightly away from the hiding place, Danziger stopped. True could tell her father was nervous and she began to worry. "Everything's OK isn't it."
"Yeah, sure True-girl. I just got something surprising to tell you. You see there are 3 people on the VTO that I know."
"Do I know them too?" True interrupted.
"Well, I think that you meet Barb Parson when you were about 6 years old. I don't think you ever met Hacksaw. The third person, is , well, the third person is your mother." Danziger watched his daughter's face carefully.
A range of emotion quickly raced over True's face. Foremost was confusion. "I thought she was neuro-dead?"
"She was. I guess she got revived"
"What is she like, is she the same?"
"Looks the same. I really haven't spent much time with her. She wants to meet you. "
"What if I don't like her?" True asked in a scared voice.
"You don't have to like her True. Just try and get to know her, spend as much or as little time as you want with her."
"Dad, what about Devon?" True asked hesitantly.
"True, you don't have to chose between Devon and Ellie. You can spend time with both of them. You can love them both. "
"Is she going to share our tent?"
"No. True, I have to be honest; I don't know what is going to happen between your mother and me. It has been a long time since I've seen her. I've changed. I think she has also. We may no longer be compatible. But that doesn't mean that you can't have a great relationship with her. I think that we should both take it one day at a time."
"OK" True said with much relief. "Let's go meet her."
The Danzigers walked hand and hand back to the rest of the group. Devon was speaking with the three new comers as they approached. True looked at both female strangers. Then she looked at Devon. Devon could tell that the girl was nervous and gave her an encouraging smile.
True's hold on her father's hand tightened. She glanced back to the two women and then looked directly at her mother. "Hi, so you're my mother?"
"You recognize me?"
"Dad showed me a vid. I also kind of remember the other woman, she brought me a bag of toffee when I was small."
An awkward silence fell over the group. Ellie looked at Danziger beseechingly. Catching the look, Danziger replied "What do you expect me to do. You know that emotions and/or verbal communications are not my strong suit. At least you used to know."
Ellie looked lost, True stepped closer to her father and leaned into his side. Knowing that his little speech did not help his daughter any, Danziger knelt and put his arm around his daughter. "True, why don't you tell your mother what some of your favorite pastimes are?"
"I like playing in VR."
"Really, what do you like to play."
"All sorts of things, Wild West, Pirates, Shipwreck. Uly and I take turns deciding what games."
"Who is Uly"
"Devon's son. He is the only other kid on the planet."
"Well actually, the ship we came on had several children around your age. "
"Really. Where are they now?" True's conversation was stilted.
"At New Pacifica. We landed there and unloaded supplies then headed out to find your group."
True nodded and moved even closer to her father. "True, maybe you should get Uly and start your chores so that we can all have lunch." Danziger suggested. Never had True agreed so fast to anything.
"She needs time. It is a lot to take it. While we get lunch, why don't you fill us in."?
The man that Danziger called Hacksaw said "It might be easier when we get to New Pacifica."
"I'm not going anywhere until I know what the hell is going on."
"You always were a pain in the ass. " The man countered.
"One of my more endearing qualities. Once the rest of our team returns, you can fill us in. Is there anyone else on the VTO?"
"No, there are just the three of us. Is this all your supplies?"
"We've got a dune rail and an ATV but yeah basically this is it."
"Seems your luck hasn't change. " Barb interjected.
"One of the constants in life is that it is going to suck."
The scout teams returned and lunch was set out. True sat as close to her father as she could get. Her eyes were fixed on her mother. Uly also was confused and sat close to his mother. True had filled him in and he wasn't sure he liked the turn of events. True and Uly had decided to get their parents together so that they could both have a mother and a father. But if True had a mother, she wouldn't need his. Then he would lose out on having a father. He especially wanted Danziger to be his father.
"So how come you are older then I remember." Danziger started the questioning.
"What no introductions? I for one will make introductions. My name is Curtis Hackman-Sawyer. I hate the name Hacksaw so please don't call me it. This is my wife Barbara Parsons. And this is Elenore Moore, er, True's mother."
"This is the Eden Advance team. You always were bad with names so it's not like your going to remember any of them. Why are you older, all three of you. Ellie, you were put in cryo-sleep the same time as True and I but you also have appeared to age."
"That's because you were in cryo-sleep for 22 years, we've only been in cryo-sleep for 16" Hackman-Sawyer replied.
"What, how can that be?" Alonzo asked.
"You are?" questioned the new comer.
"I'm Alonzo Solace. I was the pilot for the Advance ship. Technology couldn't have advanced that much that you could cut off six years."
"A jump was found near the Delta-Zeta quadrant. We went into cryo-sleep for 7 sevens then the pilot was woken, made the jump and went back to sleep for another 9 years."
"Is that possible?" Devon asked Alonzo.
"Yeah, there was a lot of speculation that a jump was around there. Who discovered it?"
"A man named Willard Maddon." Alonzo and Baines both groaned. "I take it that you know the man."
"Yeah, a more obnoxious person I've never met."
"Well he is our pilot. I think that we were the first passenger ship to try this route."
"Must have been a difficult 5 years." Danziger ungraciously stated. "So how did you finance this?"
"Actually, you financed this."
"Come again?"
"You had arranged enough credits to care for Ellie in cryo-sleep for 44 years. She was woken shortly after your presumed death. A year after you left, a deep space probe picked up the signature of the Colony ship. A few months after that, a signal from a Doctor Benson .."
"Bennett, Doctor Franklin Bennett", his wife corrected.
"A signal from Doctor Bennett was discovered that indicated that G889 would reject human life. We then started a rescue mission using the money that was arranged for Ellie's care."
"You mean if I get back to the stations, I'm going to have to pay off this rescue mission. True, we're staying on G889."
For the first time that day, True looked happy. "Cool, can I have one of the horses."
"No."
"JD, when we left the stations, you were debt free."
"I was?"
"Yes, it seemed that Ms. Adair paid you in full upon departure. That cleared your debt. In addition to not paying for Ellie care there is some stock that you had. "
"I had stock? The only stock I remember is right before I left, I was in a poker game and some guy put up some stock since he couldn't access credit at the time."
"Well it seems that the stock was for some revolutionary arcade that took off. It made millions!"
"Millions, that doesn't sound like something that would happen to me."
"What are you kidding?" Barb stated. "Your debt is paid off. You make millions and your not around to spend a dime. This is exactly something that would happen to you."
"Wow, I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, I guess your right. If ever I were going to be a millionaire it would be when I couldn't enjoy it. But still millions wouldn't pay for this trip."
"Well, we used the back up for the Advance ship."
"That wasn't ready. There was a suspect flaw in the cargo hull." Devon offered.
"There was? Glad I didn't know about that before I signed onto this trip."
"They didn't tell you?"
"We didn't ask. We kind of borrowed the ship."
"You stole a spaceship! And you always said I had no sense of propriety. I would never steal a ship." Danziger emphatically stated.
"What about that time you and some friends took that shuttle?" Barb countered.
"We returned it before anyone knew it was missing. Besides, I was like 17 years old. It is not the same thing. I can't believe you didn't get caught."
"Well actually, we lucked into the ship. It was going to be scraped; now we know why. We got hired on to strip the components; instead we loaded supplies and personal. Then we were suppose to transport it to New Pluto station, instead we keep going."
"You thought of that?"
"No, it wasn't my idea. Our group consists of 30 men, women and children. Someone else came up with this idea."
"So if you had a full ship, how we you going to rescue us?" Devon asked.
"From Bennett's reports, they were here for 8 years. You would have only been here for 1. We also knew that several families backed out of the trip and that the Colony ship had about 70 empty chambers. Since the advance team was only 30 people, including crew, we figured that you could last another year until the Colony ship got here and board that. Where is the rest of the Advance team?"
"Dead. So if you were coming to rescue me and True, which I figured you must be since you used my money. You would have missed us. We weren't supposed to land."
"Our ship was programmed to recognize the Advance ship's signature and wake the crew. It would in turn wake the crew of your ship."
"Why can't we just go back to the stations? Hey, I'm debt free, I could start to enjoy life some."
"It's not safe for you."
"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't it be safe for the Advance crew?" Devon asked.
"I'm not sure about the whole Advance crew, although, you did leave without authorization. But I was referring to Danziger."
"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't it be safe for me? Hell if I could survive my childless years, I should be pretty safe. You have to admit, I became down right calm when True was born."
"Well calm for you anyway. Look JD, I don't have all the information to share with you. Everything is back at the camp in New Pacifica. Besides Sally could explain much better then I could."
"Sally!" both Danzigers exclaimed.
"Sally Horton is here on this planet! What hell is going on! Why are you here?" Danziger continued.
"I wanted to see you and True." Ellie stated.
"That makes sense but as far as I know you didn't know Hacksaw or Barb."
"Sally is the common factor. She knows us all. " Hackman-Sawyer replied.
"Why are you here." Danziger asked.
"Because I owe you and he came with me." Barb replied.
"You don't owe me anything."
"Yeah, I do."
"OK, I'm not going to argue with you, at least not now. Do I know anyone else?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure. Most are from the quad. You may know some of them." Barb stated.
"John, Sally has all the information. We could load all of your supplies and be to New Pacifica for a late dinner. What do say?"
"Can you give us a moment to discuss it?" Devon asked.
"Sure". The three new comers went back to the VTO.
"John, what can you tell us about them? And why are you and True so surprised to hear about Sally?" Devon asked.
"Well, Ellie is True's mother. Barb and I have known each other since we were teenagers. We were both on our own so occasionally would hook up. As I said Hacksaw was my CO when I was in the army. We didn't really get along. While I was still in the service, Barb came to visit me. Old Hack fell for her. She wasn't interested in being tied down especially to a career soldier."
"He is military?" Yale asked.
"Retired. He served his 20 years and then left to work for his father. That was about 6 years ago. At least in our time frame."
"What about Sally?" Devon asked.
"Sally was in love with my brother. He was killed in training accident 3 weeks after he entered for mandatory service. Sally became obsessed thinking it was some conspiracy that killed my brother."
"Could there be a conspiracy?" Morgan asked in a worried voice.
"Sally was from an upper middle class environment. She just wasn't used to how things happen in the quad. Accidents aren't uncommon. Preventing a drone from getting killed wasn't cost effective. There were plenty of others to take their place. I think life expectancy in my family is somewhere around mid 50s. Sally wasn't used to that. She thought it must be a conspiracy. How she managed to convince the others of it, I'd be interested in knowing."
"Do you think it is safe to go with them?" Devon asked.
"Awfully elaborate ploy if it is a council trick. I don't think I pissed any of them off. That's more your thing. Besides if they want to get us, they could have done so already."
Devon decided to ignore Danziger's comments regarding her and the council's relationship. Instead she asked the group to vote.
Devon approached Hackman-Sawyer. "Mr. Hackman-Sawyer?"
"Call me Curt, it's a lot easier."
"Thanks Curt. After we get to New Pacifica, would it be possible to search for our missing pods."
"Don't see why not. Are you ready to go?"
"Might as well, it sure beats walking."
It took several hours to load the VTO. The group boarded the VTO and left with mixed emotions; joy at not having to walk, fear at what was waiting for them once they reached their designation.
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End of part 2