CH52
Kate found the pool small but useful. Actually she was kind of amazed that a spaceship, even a colony ship, even had a pool in the first place. Their ability to plan ahead and put in all these things for just a 9 month or so trip was amazing and fortunate for everyone on board. Kate couldn't imagine how they could have survived if the trip was longer or the open space was tighter.
Kate kind of compared it to getting here in an RV versus getting here in a Prius.
Dinner was a bit embarrassing for Kate. The place they had selected based on what Alexis had told her about it. It's just that their server didn't speak English and the menu looked like a bunch of scribbles that some baby would doodle. There were other people in the place and everyone was speaking a language that Kate did not understand. Kate had to rely of Alexis for everything.
It wasn't that she didn't trust her. It's just that despite all these people around her, she felt alone and left out. Which was surprising? She had spent years alone and while she couldn't say she liked it, she was comfortable with it. And as much as she loved Alexis, she was missing having Castle to talk to.
Kate was just now coming to terms with what her life was like now with Rick and Alexis in it. It was just so way different. These two had changed her life.
The apartment was tiny, tiny. No kitchen of any kind. It did have a mini fridge. No dining room. Two bedrooms that barely held a twin size bed and they had to share a closet. The bathroom didn't have a tub (Kate would rather have killed herself if she had to travel for 2 years with no tub), and the shower was just big enough to stand in. If it didn't have a pocket door, there would have been no place to stand.
Kate was dying! The bed was as hard as a rock. It reminded her of that Star Trek Next Generation episode where Picard and Data were on a Klingon ship sleeping on a steel slab.
The next day Alexis took her back to the medical area. Kate still had no idea where she was. She was soooo lost. And that travel in the pod on the outside of the ship while mentally scary was amazing to her eye.
The doctor had told her that everything looked really good. However there was a good chance she would need a kidney transplant in about 50 years. And again about every 80 years. The doctor was not happy about this but it was not something to prevent going through with the next step.
The doctor then took samples and would test the samples with the nanites to determine if there would be an adverse reaction. Kate would be back in 24 hours to find out the results of the testing.
Kate couldn't take the tiny apartment, so she convinced Alexis to spend the day showing her around as much as she could.
They had started by looking in a different color section. It seemed to look like the one they were staying in, just a different color scheme.
Next on the tour was the 'Home Depot' area. Kate got to see how they repaired appliances. Prefab some items then have them transported to the site for installation. And it really did kind of look like a Home Depot. There was row after row of parts.
The only real problem, Alexis had to do all the talking. Everywhere she went, no one spoke English. The tone everyone used seemed nice and several talked directly to her even when they knew she did not understand what they were saying. Kate could just smile and try to look thankful and nice.
Alexis had made dinner reservations at the restaurant she had with Rick and Alexis when to when she first got here. At least here she could talk to people. Turned out her server was a 'Human' who had learned about them being here. Her boyfriend was a man who had lost his wife shortly after arriving at the planet.
Kate got to talk with Elaine a lot while eating. Elaine was now hopeful that these people could change the thoughts and actions of her's to a less destructive way of thinking. Just the way these people lived and worked and the technical advances they had seemed to make her glow when she talked. Elaine had already undergone the testing Kate was now doing. She was happy she was going to live longer, however, like Lucile, the thought of living forever did not sound appealing.
Kate had learned a lot from her. It was refreshing to hear the thoughts and ideas from someone who had already gone through what Kate was doing now.
Kate barely got any sleep that night. The bed was like lying on concrete. She wanted Rick's bed. Problem was she also wanted Rick in it with her. She was already going through withdrawals, and was missing Rick.
The next morning before breakfast (fasting was required), Alexis took them back to the medical area, where Dr. Lee was waiting.
"The tests on the samples from yesterday showed no adverse reactions to the introduction of the nanites. The next step we are going to do today is to take final samples of every major organ. Verify the quality and quantity of the samples, and then place them in Cryo for storage.
Hop up here and lay back." Kate hops up on the table and lies down with her head on a small pillow.
"Now this isn't going to hurt." Kate makes a face, not believing a word.
"Yea, I know that face. It really will not hurt. It is however going to feel really strange. But I need you to hold perfectly still for me. If you move, the sample may be ruined and we will have to do this all over again.
I'm going to talk you as we do each step. So you know what is going to be coming.
I need you to lift your top so you can expose your lower abdomen area." Kate lifts her top up to just below her breasts.
"Now I'm going to take this maniacal looking device and press it into this spot here." As points her finger at Kate's belly button.
"A series of arms are going to enter your body thru this location and then spread out to each major organ as has been programmed into it based off of the physical we did earlier on you. They know exactly where to go.
Now this is where it is going to feel really weird. There will be a pressure at this spot (pointing to Kate's belly button again), and then you will feel something like a worm of some kind is moving around inside you. That will be the arms as they spread out from the insertion point.
If at any time you feel pain I need for you to let me know. Very important!" Kate just nods her head.
"As we do this I'm going to take these tubes out of the device that you see here, and replace them with new ones. The ones I remove will be the ones that contain the samples of you that we need. We only need to replace the tubes just once. When the last is filled, the arms will retract into the device and we will be done. …. Questions?"
"Side effects?" Kate asks.
"You may feel tired after this, and you're appetite may decrease for a day, and you may get a small headache. But other than those you should be fine. … Ready. If you have diarrhea or vomiting come back here immediately. Ready?"
Kate breathes in and lets it out slowly, and nods.
Dr. Lee does just as she diagrammed out for Kate. And it really did feel weird. Kate really could feel the pressure at her belly button. There was no pain. And Kate could also feel something moving around inside of her. It was more pressure than anything else. It felt like things were moving but not causing any pain.
And then Dr. Lee pulled the device away. "All done. Now we just have to examine the samples we have. Determine if they are viable to be used, undamaged and if we have retrieved enough of them for future anticipated use."
"And if 200 years from now you find they are damaged and unusable?" Kate asks.
"Then we will need to revert back to the system that you are more accustomed to using. Find a viable donor, other than yourself, and try and prevent your body from rejecting the new organ.
That really shouldn't be a problem if we have done our job correctly. You can come back after dinner tonight and we should have answers for you. If you are good to go, we will introduce the appropriate amount of nanites into your system. Then you can go home 24 hours later after you finish another full physical.
And you should be set for another 300-400 years. Just remember, it is not a cure all. You fall from a 30 story building and you will die. Get hit with too may rads of radiation, same problem. Pretty much anything you can think of that would be catastrophic now, still will be."
"I understand. Thanks Dr. Lee. It means a lot." And to Kate it did. She would be around to watch Alexis grow up and hopefully spend a lot of years with Castle. A lot of years with Castle? Yea, Kate had gotten soft all right. Smiling wide she went out to where Alexis was waiting.
"What's next sweetie?"
"How about our version of a Zoo?" Alexis asks, with a mysterious look on her face.
Seeing this face, Kate makes one of her own. "Ok? Lead the way."
Alexis takes her to the travel pod station that Kate is now getting more used to using. Alexis calls for a pod and a short time later one shows up. This time however the travel outside the ship is MUCH longer than before.
While they travel. "We'll come back on the other side. On that side you can see the rocks that make up the rings of the planet." Alexis tells Kate.
"We're that close?"
Alexis nods. "They are actually above us, below us and on the other side. This is the only side that is open to space, where you can see the stars."
Upon reaching the 'Zoo' area, Alexis heads straight for a young woman who spots Alexis immediately and wraps her arms around her and says something. Kate, like always, has no idea what she just said. Having been spotted by her she walks over to Kate and takes both her hands and talks to her. Only to be interrupted by Alexis. Both are speaking a language Kate does not understand.
The women, after listening to Alexis, pulls Kate into her and gives her a fierce hug, then pulls back and only says one word. Kate thinks. It's so hard to tell.
"This is the head keeper. She's glad to meet you. She wanted to know why I called you MOM. So I explained for you.
She wants to give you a tour." Kate just nods her head and smiles.
Kate gets an unmistakable, 'Walk this way' gesture and follows Alexis who is next to the women.
They reach a certain location and stop and Alexis points and starts explaining.
STINGER FAN
Distinguishing Features: The broad, leaf like top of this plant-animal hybrid works like a solar panel, soaking up sunlight and converting it to food energy. The stinger fan's five rudimentary hearts pump nutrients through its body while leg like motile "roots" allow it to relocate and compete with other fans for maximum exposure to light.
Closest Earth Cousin: Coral polyps: Their symbiotic relationship with algae enables them to photosynthesize light into nourishment.
MUDPOD
Distinguishing Features: A shovel-shaped nose helps this six-legged amphibian uproot its main food source, stinger fans. Serrated claws easily penetrate their thick stalks. After feeding, the mudpod uses felled fans to build river dams, creating artificial ponds that provide a haven from predators.
Closest Earth Cousin: Beavers, semiaquatic rodents that dam rivers with tree branches to store food and to protect their lodges from bears
Moving on to the next site. And again Alexis explains.
PAGODA TREE
Distinguishing Features: Abundant carbon dioxide means the pagoda trees grow to more than half a mile tall. Cuplike crowns above the canopy collect rainwater to keep the uppermost limbs hydrated.
Closest Earth Cousin: Giant sequoias, but their growth is limited by the ability of the tree's vascular system to deliver water hundreds of feet up.
KITE
Distinguishing Features: Tendons along this manta ray-like creature's rear control its airfoil shape, letting it ride the wind currents. Tendrils dangling from multiple mouths haul in the giant insects that hover near pagoda crowns, while a long, fleshy cord keeps the kite tethered to the canopy.
Closest Earth Cousin: Jellyfish, which depend on ocean currents for lateral movement and feed on small fish and plants that become trapped in their tentacles.
BALLOON PLANT
Distinguishing Features: A cluster of sacs at the base of the plant's large bladder convert atmospheric moisture to hydrogen gas, which keeps the balloon plant aloft. The outer membrane is photosynthetic, and large groups of the plants grow in the sunny clearings left by forest fires.
Closest Earth Cousin: Kelp forests: The undersea plants have gas-filled pneumatocysts that help them grow toward the surface to convert light energy to chemical energy.
Moving on to a more enclosed space. These animals need to be kept confined since they are more carnivore than the others.
The Lashlarm
The Lashlarm is our first alien predator. It looks like a walking toilet bowl. The mouth portion is supported by three stalky legs connected to a flat pedestal. Underneath the pedestal are many scales, so the pedestal glides across the surface of the sand much like a snake moves along the ground. It has several sensory appendages that allow it to locate prey by chemical means. It hunts near the small bodies of surface water, feeling along the water's edge and tasting the sand and water for other animals. Upon locating prey, the Lashlarm crouches down and glides up to it. The Lashlarm then opens its large mouth and springs down upon the prey, swallowing it whole.
The Nirba
The Nirba is is slightly larger than the Lashlarm. It lives in the water, near the edge, much like a crocodile or alligator but is not fully aquatic. The Nirba comes out to prey on other animals that come down to the water, particularly the Lashlarm. It has a large head with nostrils located on top of its nose so it can breathe while mostly submerged. The Nirba has thick skin, to prevent dehydration while out of the water in the hot sun, and big, muscular front legs with large claws for killing its prey. A long tail helps it swim in the water, and the "arrowhead" end assists in hunting and territorial defense.
Next came the watery type of species in giant tanks or aquariums.
Axolotl
Not only do the axolotl look out-of-this-world with an extensive external gill system, but they act the part, too. If attacked or injured, axolotl regenerate lost body parts in just a few months. Evidence found even proves the axolotl can regenerate vital organs, including parts of its brain.
Vampire Squid
Two things: it can turn itself inside-out and illuminate its whole body on command like a light switch.
Coffinfish
The coffinfish, like many animals on this list, lives on the sea floor. Unlike every other fish, it doesn't swim. Instead, coffinfish walk.
Next came the vast open ranges where Kate was told held the animals that the ship used like Earth used Cattle. Milk and for slaughter to get meat. However none were near them at the time
Next came the area where they had their idea of a Horse. It looked similar, except it was covered in feathers instead of hair.
What got Kate's attention was that Alexis called out and two came running up to Alexis, each one vying for her attention. They both wanted to get petted and cooed at by Alexis. It was at this time the woman with them said something to Kate. But like always Kate didn't understand a word she said. And Alexis was too busy to translate. Her hand on Kate's shoulder however seemed to convey 'Sorry, I forgot'.
Kate and Alexis had spent all day here and it was time for dinner. Alexis took them to a travel pod on the far side this time and gave Kate a chance to see the 'Rings of Saturn' up close. WAY up close.
While in the travel pod. "KATE!" It was Lucile. However while her voice while still soft and pleasant, had a sound of urgency to it.
"Lucile?" Kate replies. Lucile's tone has instantly got her worried.
"You are needed back at the house Kate." Lucile requests. Still sounding worried.
"Is there a problem?" Now Kate's voice sounds worried. And Alexis while not hearing Lucile can hear Kate's tone and now she is worried.
"It's …. Richard. You are needed here."
"What's wrong with Castle?" Now Kate is really worried. And Kate can see the worry creeping into Alexis's face.
"You will recall that I said I could keep the bad men away. But I couldn't keep the monsters away?" Lucile was referring to Alexis at the time.
Now Kate is beginning to crack. "What's wrong?" The worry clear in her voice.
"You just need to get here Kate. And hurry." Lucile refuses to expand on the problem.
Turning to Alexis. "How do we get off this ship. Like right now?"
"What's wrong mom?" Alexis is now clearly scared.
"Please Alexis. Think. How do we get home? Now!"
"We need to go where we came in. Why, what's wrong?" As Alexis begins to cry. Alexis may be a smart five year old, but still just a five year old.
"I don't know sweetie. But we are going to find out." Enveloping a crying Alexis in her arms.
