"It's about some hundred or so degrees Farenheit in the day time."she said. "The oxygen is okay, though. And, of course the ultraviolet being kind of high, you get increased chances of skin cancer. That's always a risk, not that it doesn't always follow. Would be better, if you could colonize it with people originally from places near the equator."said Veronica, as she typed the information onto the computer.
"The soil and plants seem to have quite a high quantity of Uranium."DaCoP 1228 said as he came back into the lab.
"So, it would be probably a good planet to be, if you're afraid of the dark. Good for nuclear power and all that. You'll never run out of fuel for it, right? Would you suppose there would be anything edible on this planet, D?"she asked. "If the Uranium comes in such high quantities. Not that it's rare on Earth, but, still, it's much higher. A lot of cancer and kidney problems."she said.
"Apart from those risks, there seems to be nothing else."
"Small risks."she said, sarcastically. "So, let's label it, Class C planet. C…2. How's that? And I shall call it…Chloris."she giggled. "Or does Emerald sound nicer to you? Speaking of which, hopefully, they find tons of them here."
Fernanda read and tried to imagine what Isis was like, from Moira's description. It sounded as if it were the best planet in the entire universe. Isis, Isis. She knew she'd heard that spoken somewhere before, but where. She looked at the fire. It was almost always cold here, on Denebon, but then, she enjoyed the cold. That was mostly why it was advisable to live up on the lyors. Closer to the small sun. Fire. A firestone, she remembered! Isis was where they mined the firestones! Of course. She's always wanted to see one. She wrote to Moira asking her if she could send her a firestone through her matter transmitter. Then she wrote to Veronica, asking if she would take any firestones with her.
Veronica received the message, and was surprised that Fernanda had come across the information.
"Hey, look, D."she said. "Firestones! Fer says that there are firestones on Isis. Have you ever seen one?"
DaCoP, scanned the information that had been put into it, when it was manufactured.
"Found by the original landing crew, and traded for good from passing cargo ships."he said.
"Very good. They'd look so beautiful on my pretty kitty's collars. They'd make such nice bells."she said, smiling. "Here's a picture. We can return here, as soon as I get a glimpse of those jewels. Off into hyperspace we go!"she said.
Moira received Fernanda's message.
"Look, Fernanda knows about the firestones."she said.
Uncle Jody, who was studying a book, practicing reading, walked over to her.
"What? But how could anyone know about the firestones on Isis."
Moira bit her lip.
"Must have gotten in from a book, or something. Or maybe across the Internet. Fernanda spends a lot of time on the Internet, and especially reading up on strange planets and all that. I mean, she's always wanted to be a galactic wonderer. She wants me to send her one across the matter transmitter."
"Of course not!"exclaimed Uncle Jody. "Under no circumstances should a firestone leave Isis. It shall only bring lies and greed."
"Well, she'll understand."
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.
"What's happening?"asked Uncle Jody.
Everyone walked out of the house, and went to see it. A giant space vessel was hovering over the plain, looking for a place to land. It landed neatly on the western side of the lake, taking up about half of the plain, just about the whole western side of the valley.
"Who could that be?"
"We're here, D!"exclaimed Veronica. "This place certainly doesn't look like much, but oh, well. Do you suppose I could recognize Moira?"she asked.
"I highly doubt it, taking the fact that you have never met personally before."said DaCoP 1228.
"Time to get out and about! And stretch our legs a bit."said Veronica to her pets. "Let's go! Everyone out to the main exit of the ship."
Everyone on Isis watched, as the strange giant bird, opened its beak, and out came a woman, followed by a number of strange creatures, and the Guardian of Isis. People gasped. Veronica looked around at the crowd, and crossed the bridge to the eastern shore of the lake, where all the people were waiting.
"Who are you?"asked Uncle Jody. "Why did you come?"
Veronica looked at him.
"Why, hello. I'm here to see Moira. Moira Flynn."said the lady.
"I'm Moira Flynn."said Moira.
"Moira! Wow. I imagined you a little different."said Veronica. "I'm Vero. I'm here to help you with that problem. Perhaps even do a little exploring on this planet. And of course, to see those marvelous firestones. Fernanda asked me to send her one if I ever got it."
"But I thought you wouldn't be here until maybe winter?"said Moira.
"Oh, yeah, that's what I thought, too, but I changed my mind. This is DaCoP 1228."she said, noticing that everyone was staring at the robot. "He won't hurt anyone, I assure you. And these are my pets."
She introduced them all, and said which planets they came from.
"How do you remember all their names?"asked Moira.
"Well, you know, practice."she said, smiling. "Um, why are these people staring at D?"she asked.
"Oh, well, we'll explain later."
"Doesn't look like much, this place."said Veronica. "It's so…small. Isis is mostly mountains."
"Yeah, it is."
"Hmm, well, perhaps you could fill me in."
"Sure, let me just introduce you. This is Uncle Jody, David…"she introduced everyone in the valley.
"You know everyone in this valley? These are all the people on Isis? A planet colonized about…four generations ago?"
"We'll tell you all about it."said Moira, happily.