![[park ethereal main]](../../images/benchButton.gif)
Mr. Chairman, the final preparation for stage VII of the project are now being run through the legal department. We hope to have an answer within a week. If the response is positive, we can move to active state in two or three days, meaning the launch will take place on schedule two months afterwards.
I hope you people realize that if this crazy idea of yours doesn't work, and the probe goes up there and imitates the Challenger, we're all going to look mighty silly. And that will be the end of any possible funding for the UNSA from Congress. The President is leery of giving money to NASA, for griefs sake, and here comes a UN program and asks for five hundred million? We're in a sling here.
Senator, we've been over the projections endless times. The probe control systems will function properly, so long as we get the funding to build it according to this plan.
Gentlemen, that sounds nastily like extortion of sorts.
Yes sir. You volunteered to head this committee, sir.
Don't remind me. All right, I'll go have a talk with some friends over at Aero and SpaceDev and see what kind of deal I can cut.
Strange. I can't feel my fingers. * * * Wait, something new...I think
I can open my eyes...yes, there...no...hmm. * * * The woman
reaches for him. She stares into his eyes while slowly pulling off
his briefs. He feels himself grow with desire for her, and she smiles
slightly before lowering her head to take him inside her mouth. His
back stiffens, then, and his head goes back, his mouth open in a
soundless gasp. He tangles his hands in her hair, and slowly begins
to move against her... Greengreengreengreengogogogogogogogogogo
-Gentlemen, we have one minute remaining. I would like you to move
your attention to the screen on the far side of the room for the
final moments- He feels her lips tighten around him as she moves
up and down. When he can take it no longer, she withdraws to look up
at him again. Desperately, he looks down, and realizes detachedly
that he's never seen her before. She pushes him, and he falls
'backward' until he is lying on his back, although he has no idea on
what or where. Nothing is visible; only her, as she crawls up his
body to fit herself against him and take his lips in hers-
Tentogonownownownowyesyesyesyesgreengreengreengreengogogogogo Her
nipples are hard against his chest, and he feels her hands on him as
she moves herself to accomodate him. He grasps her buttocks, gentle
at first, and begins to pull with increasing need. She takes her lips
off his long enough for a soft chuckle, then unexpectedly takes him
all at once, forcing him in quickly enough that he loses his
breath- Threenowyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesgogogogogogogogogo -All
right, now, this should be good- Unable to hold back, he pushes up
against her lithe body with all his might, and she matches his force.
Her head is thrown back now, her eyes almost shut, as he pulls
himself deeper into her. Almost there, now-
Oneoneoneoneonenownownownownownownow Finally, with a great
shuddering gasp, his orgasm overtakes his control and they scream
together as they grip each other, shuddering. He holds himself
against her as he feels himself rush out- Nownownownownow -Whoa,
look at her go-
The last light flickers to green, and with a thunder of unleashed power, the enormous booster comes to life, flaring sun-hot at its base as flaming gases push it upward. Slowly at first, then faster, and faster, a bright glaring star clawing at the heavens before it fades triumphantly from sight in the distance.
He lies spent, watching her eyes as she looks back at him with a strange smile playing about her lips. After a moment, she uncouples herself from him and pushes him in the chest, firmly. They drift apart in their nothingness, and he cries out, and tries to reach her, but cannot. She drifts from his view, falling sideways into inky black darkness. He weeps with the loss.
Why? What happened? Where am I? I almost had my eyes open before/ They're open now, aren't they? I don't know. Try-
<The light pours over him, and he screams with the suddenness of it, for it blinds him. He cannot see for the light, and in desperation, screws his eyes shut again. The light vanishes. He rests motionless momentarily, aware only of the space surrounding him.>
What? Lights. But my eyes are closed. Maybe not. I closed them. Well, those are lights. Never mind. Open my eyes, try to focus-? Here we go-
<Light again. This time, he quickly moves his eyes somehow. The light dims, resolves itself>
Oh. I can see. Blobs of light. Blue and yellow and white. Wonderful. Never mind. Eyes closed, then-
-Gentlemen, we have reports that Prime System is going through initial adjustment phases. We have first reports from cameras and internal sensors, and we expect our baby to be fully up and running inside ten days. Congratulations.
<He focuses on one of the lights inside his space, and tries to move towards it. He inches over, twisting his body->
Damn, damn, damn...Okay. There. There. Grab it, now, it looks like a...well, like a globe...about six inches across...grab it-
/ready/course:status/run/vectordev=0.002,<paramdev/ready/cameras: status/run/1g2g3g4g5g6g7malfunc:rep8g9g10g-
Shit! What the hell- Where the heck am I? Wait. What's going on here? Back to the eyes, I guess...here we go-
<light>
<The light dims as he screws his eyes shut, forcing himself to keep them open. As it dims, it resolves into shapes, drifting in his field of vision. A large blob that's painful to see, and then, to one side of it, a blue one- something familiar about it grabs attention, and the eyes swivel to focus on it- >
Blue, white, brown, Oh Christ- this can't be...shit- I think it is...wait, a little to the left-
<Earth swims back into focus, sharpens>
Oh. My. Sweet. Dear. God. Where am I?
-Gentlemen, welcome to our little briefing. As of now we are at T+ four days, ten hours and sixteen minutes. We have just received word that the camera systems have become fully operational. One of the twelve cameras indicated a failure to deploy, but the onboard systems have restored it to full function. The initial control system, the synaptic response construct, has been shut down, and we are preparing to switch to main control mode. We intend, in about ten minutes, to intiate contact with the probe, which our technicians have christened, um, DarkDancer. We seem to have some campy science fiction readers among our control crew. Anyhow. If you gentlemen will just take your seats, you will be able to witness the activation.
<A microphone is lifted. There is a moment of shared glances.>
<The voice shakes him, powerful in its invisibility and depth. He feels himself begin to tremble.>
SHIT! Who...what...who's that? Where are you? Where am I? What's going on? Let me out! Let...
What? For God's sake, what?
Listen to me, Kristjan. My name is Senithan Lazerri. Can you hear me clearly? Please answer yes or no.
Yes! Yes, I can hear you. Please...tell me where I am?
I remember this girl. I mean, how could I not-
Before the woman, Kristjan. What is the last thing you remember before the woman?
Before the woman...well, I was...I was...wait, I was in a hospital, wasn't I? I was sick?
Cancer! That's it, I had cancer! And it was in terminal phase, and Wendy and I agreed to...wait a minute, we agreed to freeze me, in case I, I... Oh shit. I'm dead, aren't I? This is all some cosmic joke.
Wait a minute...Senithan?
If I'm not dead, and I'm alive again, then where the FUCK AM I?
What isn't? Where am I, dammit!
You're not...in your body. It was too damaged. You- at least, your brain- is in a quite advanced computer module.
You're not telling me everything.
No. The computer module is currently controlling one of mankind's most...well, a probe, to be blunt. A spatial probe.
Like Voyager? Or Pioneer?
Who...I mean, the girl, was she...
Then who...I mean, what was she? And why? Why do that to me? For your fun? Did you have cameras rolling or something, inside my head, you bastards-
What. Go on.
We couldn't have you aware, for the liftoff. If you had panicked then, you would have unknowingly done terrible damage. Therefore your brain's autonomic functions were controlling the probe's booster during lift. The woman was a computer construct that, by your response, could control and monitor the performance of the probe's systems. If any system failed to respond properly, so would you - your neurons wouldn't fire, and she would 'do' something to correct for lack of stimulation. We awakened you just now; it has been over four days since launch.
You mean, not only do I not have a body, I'm in space. And I really did see Earth just now. And I'm leaving it.
Yes. You're heading out past the outer planets, on a course to take you towards Ophiuchi. Of course, that would take several hundreds of years, even at your velocities.
How fast am I going? How fast could I go?
Current velocity is six thousand four hundred kilometers per second with respect to Sol. You are capable of achieving practically unlimited velocity, assuming you want to wait around and do it. You have a high-Tesla magnetic ramscoop fusion drive attached to you, and...
Go away.
Go away. I need to think. Call-call me in an hour, I guess. Oh, god...
Best! You did this to me, you...
<A microphone is replaced>
Oh. Oh, my...
<The sobs are deep, and come quickly. They feel good, washing over him, and he eventually sleeps>
-Gentlemen, my thanks for your punctuality. Yesterday you witnessed the initial contact with Kristjan Gundarsson's module. Technician Lazerri has been in contact with Kristjan for the past three hours, instructing him on the operation of the probe's systems. He rather shortly brushed aside offers of a psychiatrist, and appears to have thrown himself into learning about his environment. He has requested uploads of a number of subjects, upon being informed of the storage capacity of his systems. A short list includes, so far, texts on the following: Russian, Chinese, Japanese, German, Advanced Calculus, Linear Mathematics, Astrophysics, Orbital Mechanics, Linguistics, Anthropology, as well as a host of other subjects. Apparently he intends to devote much of his time to study. As well, he has been continuously amassing a storage library of audio and visual recordings in many categories. We estimate he has uploaded a total of two hundred and fifty gigabytes so far, and the lists he has requested include another thirty-five terabytes of information. The probe's systems can, we estimate, hold something on the order of five thousand terabytes of information, depending on the purity of the molecular storage crystals. Additionally, it has physical storage, laser media, for another fifty-five thousand hours of audio and video. We have no idea how he intends to use this storage, although we know that he has been recording satellite traffic. In any case, he appears to be adjusting well to his circumstances, and we have the highest hopes for his observations later in the year. Questions? Yes, you in the back, there...
Senithan, I'm sending now. All video and sensor data from the past four hours, with positive storage. I wish you could see this. I never thought of Saturn as beautiful.
Kristjan, we have your data incoming with thanks. Are you go on orbit calculations for Neptune flyby?
Yes, I'm OK. I've been over them with a fine-toothed comb. If I had one, I would've, I mean.
Acknowledged. I am signing off for the night, I will be back with you at oh-six-hundred tomorrow. Sleep well.
You too, Senithan. Good night.
<He released the globe and sighed heavily. Idly, he poked the shimmering sphere of light, noting in amusement some seconds later that a number of satellites had squawked in protest and resent the packets of data they had been passing when his static rained in among them. Turning, he made for the library, and 'opened' to one of his texts on the structure of stars. Unknownst even to himself, he sighed again.> * * *
(The shape drifted in the wastes of the outer darkness, waiting. It had been waiting for quite some time, but its wait was nearly over. Something was approaching.)
Senithan? Senithan, are you up? This is Kristjan, talk to me...
I don't know, Seni. I have a large metallic mass on active scan, directly ahead of me about a hundred K klicks outsystem. Do we have any probes out that way?
Yes. It's metal. If I'm the first, do you think this could be...well, non- human in origin?
I'm matching vectors.
I can redo them. I'm matching vectors. This is important, Seni. I know.
Very well, Kris. We will stand by. We estimate contact at optimal deceleration in-
Two hours, five minutes, nine seconds.
Me. Lots of practice.
Of course, Seni. Out.
<The long, slightly flaring cylinder of the probe silently braked to a stop relative to the shape. About a hundred meters distant, the glint of far-off sunlight reflected weakly from the object. After several minutes of observation, the probe flared with gas jets and inched closer, coming into contact twenty minutes later.>
Seni, I have it.
Could you describe it? We have all the major newsfeeds patching into your transmission.
So I should watch my language. Hi guys. Well, this toy is definitely manufactured. It is roughly my shape, and has markings on its surface. I am sending pictures of these markings back now on channel four. There appears to be a control plate midway up the length, and there is a plate separate from it. I'm going to put the cameras on auto and sign off for a bit; these markings are interesting. Be talking to you in about an hour.
<The markings swim past his vision, and into the computer. He pores over them, and over the rest of the object, from the obvious exhaust nozzle at one end to the blunted cone at the other.>
Let me see, Seni said I had some units...manuatics, he called them...where...oh. Right. Okay, there it goes, hull, markings, right, more markings, and...hold on. That looks like a hatch. Let me see, about three- quarters of a meter across...and that's a control of some kind. Get the damn thing's manipulator around it, and...no, that won't work. Maybe I can push it with the gas jets...yes. There we go. Open, thank you, what's in there...plates? Books? Books. Or instruction sheets, I hope. Better call Seni. * * * Kris?
Yah.
Kris, we have a tentative translation based on the plates you found in the external locker.
Me too.
Ours seem to indicate that it is a booster module for a separate transport craft of some kind.
That's what I got. I get its age as between twelve and thirteen hundred years, too. Whoever made it, they could still be around. I sent out one of the manuatics to look at it. I think I have the control ports isolated and decoded.
Kris, Aero and SpaceDev want you to return to Lagrangian orbit with it. They wish you to begin calculations immediately for a return burn.
Can't do that, Seni.
I don't want to study it, Seni.
<silence>
Kris, you can't get it apart out there. You can collect all the data you are able before bringing it back.
Back to what, Seni? To being a brain in a box? No. I looked through the records, and I found them. Their star, Seni, it's in there. Whoever built this thing, I know where they are.
Because, Seni. I told you I've decoded the control ports. The manuatic units went out about two hours ago. The attachments are almost complete.
For what? It doesn't have a low booster, Kris, and you can't use it to get in system faster.
You're being deliberately obtuse, Seni, I can tell. You're not stupid.
No. <pause> Kris, If you don't bring it back, A and SD will order me to use the override and remove you from control.
I found that clumsy thing months ago, Seni. Use it all you want. If you do, all you're going to get is a canned message giving you the current time in Greenwich. Ah, I see you did. At the tone, it will be four-fifty-two...well?
That was quite good, Kris. They're rather incensed. What are you going to do? Leave all of humanity behind?
You made me into this, damn you all! You did this to me! I didn't ask! Well, you can sit on your rock for the next few thousand years or so. I'm going to be the first, Seni! I'll be there before you all!
<The last robotic unit slips quietly back into its bay. There is a bright flash from the back of the probe, and the two shapes, joined now at the middle, begin to move, out, away from the sun->
It's too late, Seni. I'm the low-level booster, Seni, I'm going now and there's nothing you can do. I heard about what they named me, Seni,Darkdancer, I rather like that, I'm going to dance like you've never seen-
All right, Seni. For you. You hear me? Only because you were decent to me. The coordinates for the SETI people are coming back now. I make it two minutes to whatever. Seni-
If you ever make it out here, find me, okay? Have them find me.
Goodbye, Seni. I love you all. I think I really do. Don't let them forget me.
Here we go, your frequency is Dopplering, this looks like it. God, it's sobeautiful-
<The starlight shifted up above ultraviolet, into gamma radiation, and beyond, and as the whole panorama of energy started to run together into one whorl of not-quite-color, Kristjan felt the power surge through him->
Darkdancer.
<And he felt there was one more thing he had to do, and as he watched the Earth's star system fade behind him, he sent back all the data he had on the booster, and his personal notes, appending the title, Notes from the LongDark.>
With a last screaming of light, Darkdancer sang wordlessly as it rode its trail of fusing hydrogen into the depths of space, and carving a line of flame across eternity, winked out-
An earlier scifi story, written, as so many of mine are, in the middle of the night frantically trying to hold the concept in my head long enough to get it down onto electrons and magnetic media before it poofs off into the aether.
-The Custodian