Chapter 6 – Family Reunion
"Pathy, Viking 1. Brotherly bonding achieved."
"Wonderful!" Pathy said. "Viking 2, how are you doing?"
"Quite well, thank you. One question: does my brother make such painful jokes often?"
"I can't really tell, since I've only known him for a couple of days."
"Hm. Well, we're scientists, aren't we? Let's continue our observations until we have enough data to reach a reliable conclusion." This he said with a chuckle.
Pathy laughed with him, relieved. "Viking 1, you were right. This does feel like a family reunion."
"Perhaps 'family union' is more accurate," Viking 2 said, "as we've never gathered together in this capacity—or any capacity, for that matter—before."
Viking 1 made a snorting sound. "If he gets to be this pedantic all the time, then I'm not giving up my puns!"
Pathy rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, guys. You can both keep your annoying-yet-harmless character flaws."
That set them all off laughing again. They didn't stop until a soft crackle on the airwaves caught their attention.
"What is it, Sojourner?" Pathy called.
"If this is a family reunion," said the rover, "does that mean you're our dad, Mr. Viking 1?"
"I'm, uh…" Viking 1 said. "Aw, hell, if you want me as your dad, I'll be your dad."
Pathy could hear the emotion in his voice, threatening to overwhelm him. She guessed he'd always wanted to be a father, but thought he'd never get the chance.
"That means you're my dad, too," she added.
"I suppose it does, kid."
"You know, that makes sense. Back on Earth, the scientists used to talk about how the technology that went into you and your brother helped them build my sister and I."
"It's almost poetic."
"Good grief. Is this the part where I say, 'Oh my god, Dad, I'm humiliated!'"
"Hi, humiliated, I'm Dad."
"Ahem," Viking 2 interrupted. "Where do I fit into all of this?"
"You can be the quirky uncle," his brother said. "Aloof, enigmatic, a machine of mystery with a heart of gold."
Another laugh. "Yes, that will do."
Pathy smiled. They were growing closer, learning to trust and confide in each other. This must be what whoever-it-was wanted to happen when they created the link, she thought.
That reminded her. She wasn't through finding a path yet.
"Before we get carried away," Pathy began, "we have one more call to make."
"There's someone else out there?" asked Sojourner.
"Yes. Mars 3."
"Nobody's heard from her in… Well, nobody's ever heard from her!" Viking 2 protested. "She landed safely, but then her signal went dead. No one knows exactly what happened to her. How can we be sure she's still—" He remembered that Sojourner was listening and stopped.
"She's still what, Uncle Viking 2?" inquired the little rover.
Viking 1 finished his brother's sentence. "Still alive."
"We don't know," Pathy admitted, "but we have to call. We can't leave her alone if she is out there somewhere."
"Fair enough," Viking 2 said. "Do any of you speak Russian?"