Sedona Conspiracy

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE ^ARIEL

Everything was routine and uneventful until Eric threw that final switch.

The flight had begun on time; it was oh-two-hundred at liftoff. Eric and Dillon had easily memorized the routine and gone through it several times on the ground. There was really very little for them to do. They would take Sparrow to maximum thrust at the top of Earth’s atmosphere, as they had done before. At that point the real flight would begin, all of it pre-programmed but initiated in steps they would participate in through interaction with their holoscreen. Only one travel program had been loaded into Sparrow, and it was called ‘Ariel’.

The flight profile was a mystery, two columns of six numbers labeled N and t, running from 2 to 15 in N and 1 to 7 in t. No units were given. Brown had been in touch with them by telephone during their reading, but had only deepened the mystery. He did say that t was time in seconds, but N referred to light velocity in the space they were in, and there was a well-defined sequence of spaces and travel times for any particular destination. Dillon had made a crack about ‘Warp Factor Six’ at one point, but Brown either didn’t understand it or find it amusing.

Their job was to initiate the program, and enjoy the ride.

Dillon lifted Sparrow smoothly out of the bay, took her to quarter, half, three-quarter thrust while Eric activated each program panel in turn. Brown was in contact with them moments after liftoff and had assumed flight officer duties this one time, though Hendricks was right beside him.

There was the roar of conventional engines, followed by silence and a feeling of lightness as before, and then they were at full thrust at seventy kilometers altitude and a speed of Mach 13 and Eric threw the switch to activate the one panel they had not used in the cockpit.

For two days and nights Eric had waited for the appearance of the golden man with some new revelation for him, but the only dreams he’d had were about Nataly, and nothing else had come. For the first time since he had begun work on Sparrow, he had no idea what would happen when he toggled a switch.

He tensed, reached out with a finger, and pushed.

A second holoscreen flashed into view in front of them, overlapping the other. There were strange glyphs for icons, but all were labeled in English.

“We have a new display,” said Eric.

“Good,” said Brown. “Now go to ‘Menu’.”

Dillon glanced over at Eric from time to time, but kept Sparrow on a near vertical trajectory at constant velocity.

Eric gestured, and a new column of icons appeared.

“Got it.”

“Go to ‘Define Home’.”

Another gesture, and another icon was just below his finger. “And then ‘enable’?” said Eric.

“No!” shouted Brown, and Eric jumped.

“If you enable at this point, Sparrow will come straight back home from your present position. Go up two icons.”

Yikes. “Ah, ‘Define Program’.”

“Yes, Do it.”

Eric gestured. At each gesture a green light had gone on at the panel by his right knee. Two lights remained unlit. An icon came up that looked like the planet Saturn.

“A new icon, a planet with rings,” said Eric.

“Ordinarily a whole list of programs would come up, but there’s only the one right now. We’ll gradually add to the list over the next few years once we teach you the use of N-space mapping.”

Eric had the impression Brown was now speaking to someone else. “Do I activate the new icon?”

“Yes.”

Gesture. One light unlit.

“And now ‘enable home’?”

“Very good, Doctor Price. Captain Dillon, you may now relax. Sparrow will take you where you’re destined to go.”

A single icon replaced the others, a single circle in red-orange labeled ‘Begin trajectory’.

“You are going on a long journey, gentlemen,” said Brown, “the length of which cannot be defined. We have now come full circle as a people. Congratulations to all of us. You will experience very brief delays in communications, but they should not worry you. Sparrow is in full control. Enjoy the journey, and your star craft will bring you safely home as programmed, in exactly one hour. Begin trajectory, Doctor Price.”

And Eric gestured again.

“Just give me a second to grab onto my ass,” said Dillon, as Eric moved his hand.

The icon disappeared and the overlapping holoscreens dimmed. In those first seconds of their journey there were only the pinpoints of stars and a faint, distant glow showing the boundary of earth’s atmosphere. There was the sensation of floating they had felt before, not weightlessness, for it had been there when they were under thrust. Now the feeling intensified, as if Earth’s gravity were being sucked away beneath them. A high-pitched humming that quickly went beyond their audible range broke the silence, and the fuselage of Sparrow creaked around them, as if under sudden stress. Outside, the stars disappeared, and for the time of two anxious heartbeats there was total darkness. A bright light flashed past their view, then another, and from behind the cockpit a sound like scratching on metal.

“Oh, shit,” said Dillon, and Eric swallowed hard. His hands gripped his knees and he felt like a live mouse was running around inside his stomach. He took a deep breath, and forced it out hard.

“I think now we’re really under power,” he said

Outside Sparrow lights flashed past in a blur of blue, yellow and red, and then there was a continuous smear of something deep violet as there was an audible thud behind them and a strong shock passed beneath their seats. The space outside Sparrow went from a curtain of purple to one of red in exactly seven seconds by Eric’s habitual counting, and stars reappeared, a flood of them stretching in a band across their view. Most of the stars were blue-distant, hot and giant. There was a metallic groan deep within Sparrow’s hull, and suddenly the stars were a deep red and barely visible.

Brown’s voice was a shock to them. “Final stage, gentlemen. You’re nearly there.”

“Yeah, and where’s there?” asked Dillon, but Brown was gone again.

Eric had counted fifteen seconds when the stars outside turned blue and white again, but they were dimmer than before. A yellow glow began at the right-hand border of the holoscreen, and intensified. A bright disk slid into view, lemon yellow, three black spots arranged near its center, edges tinged red. It was about the size of a quarter held at arm’s length.

“Star,” said Eric softly, “and close to us. Hope the Ariel program knows it’s there, and doesn’t dump us into it.”

“Not likely, Doctor Price,” said Brown, and his voice was again a startling thing. “I must admit that you passed straight through several stars along the way, but there was no time for interactions. The star you see is a special one for my people and myself. In a moment you’ll see why. We call it Elder. It’s hotter than your sun, but not by much, and a bit older.”

“Your home star,” said Eric. “We should be getting pictures of this.”

“And I’d like to know where we are,” said Dillon, and turned to Eric. “If this isn’t some elaborate, phony setup, he’s saying we’ve traveled a lot of light years in a minute or two.”

They waited a few seconds, but there was no reply from Brown.

“Hello?” said Eric.

Again a pause, then, “Ah, yes, the star craft is recording everything. As of now you are also being recorded in local space, and your remarks will certainly be released to the public. Ariel should be coming into view in a moment as your star craft reorients itself for the return home.”

Elder had slid off the left border of the holoscreen, but a new glow was now forming where the star had first appeared. And as they watched in amazement a most beautiful planet came into view. The disk was powder blue, but mottled in green, orange and light brown, landmasses arranged close to the equator and surrounded by seas. Two distinct rings surrounded the planet, white and sparkling, and Sparrow was close enough for them to see wispy, white clouds dotting the surface.

“My family is down there,” said Brown softly. “We call it Ariel.”

Eric suddenly realized he’d been holding his breath, and let it out. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “I could be looking at Earth, except for the rings.”

“Maybe you could say a few words of greeting, Doctor Price,” said Brown. “Unfortunately they cannot hear me. It’s just the beginning, you see. Two peoples are meeting with knowledge of who they are for the first time. Anything simple will do. My people have waited years for this. Our president’s plan to bring us together has been major news, and hotly debated. It could have resulted in total societal disruption if Dario Watt had been successful. The star craft is a gift from my people to yours, so we can come together at last. Tell them what you think about this. The channel is now open.”

Eric’s stomach trembled, and he felt a burning in his fingertips. He glanced at Dillon, but the man looked terrified and shook his head. “Not me,” Dillon mouthed.

What to say at a time like this? Something friendly, and short, a greeting to Brown’s people, Alan’s—Nataly’s. Oh Nataly.

The few seconds he thought seemed like minutes, and then he swallowed hard, took a deep breath and spoke with a soft, steady voice directed from somewhere inside him.

“My name is Eric Price. I come from a planet called Earth, or Terra, very far from you. My people have always wanted to travel to the stars, but our technology has only allowed us to travel to planets and moons in our own system. Now we have received a gift from you, the gift of a star craft that has brought us to your planet. I’m told it’s called Ariel. It reminds me of my home. We don’t have rings like Ariel, but we have a single, large moon to admire at night. On behalf of my people I want to thank you very much for your gift. I hope it will bring us together soon, and that we will be good friends. I bring best wishes to you, from Earth, until we meet again.”

Eric paused, wondering what more could be said.

“Very nice,” said Brown. “Wait a moment before speaking again, please.”

They waited. Dillon grinned at him. “One step for man,” he mouthed.

“We can talk freely now. The channel has been closed. Thank you, Doctor Price.”

“Glad to do it. I meant what I said, but I’m sure it will also be politically useful to your president.”

“There is that,” said Brown. “He went through much difficulty to bring you here. Unfortunately, it is now time to leave.”

“I still don’t know how far we’ve come,” said Dillon. “How many light years is it?”

Pause. “As I said, that cannot be defined, Captain. The Ariel program lists six universes, including your own at N=0. You are now at N=2 and went through orders up to fifteen on your way here. Each universe has different physical constants, of course. The N value is used in a multiplier times your light speed value.”

“So where we are, the light speed is twice what it is on Earth?” asked Eric.

“No, it is a hundred times the value on Earth. The N is the power of ten times your value.”

“Up to fifteen?” Dillon was astounded.

“The upper limit seems to be twenty-one for stable universes. The portal uses eighteen. The concept of distances in light years has little meaning to us. It’s travel time that counts, and your trip consumed just over seventy-four seconds, including deceleration to your present location. Return to your own space will take a few seconds longer.”

“We’re not even in our own universe,” said Dillon.

“That is correct, Captain.”

“Good Lord.”

“It’s quite complex, I know, but we’ll teach you the use of N-space maps, and we have current listings of populated worlds we’ll share when you’re ready. There is also the power plant to learn. The theory involves a coupling between gravity and electromagnetic fields, but the technology is rather straightforward. This will take years, Captain, and I hope you and Doctor Price will be able to participate.”

“As long as I can fly,” said Dillon, but Eric was silent.

“Good. We’ll talk about it in a few minutes. Enjoy the trip home.”

There was a click as Brown’s voice faded away, and Eric felt that peculiar lightening in his stomach again. The image of Ariel shuddered, then sped away until it was only a pinpoint of light. Wish we could have stayed longer, thought Eric, but then the holoscreen displays came back again with icons dimly lit. Outside there was blackness, then veils of colors, then lights flashing past in blue, red, and blue again.

“Down the rabbit hole,” said Dillon, and chuckled.

He’s having a good time now, thought Eric, but inside he was feeling a strange sadness. I couldn’t have imagined such an adventure. I should be euphoric right now. Why do I feel so badly about going home?

But only a minute later, the sight of planet Earth on his holoscreen nearly sent him into tears.

“Pretty little world; let’s go there,” said Dillon, and then Brown’s voice was back again.

“Right on time. Keep your eyes on the screen, Doctor Price; to be sure each panel is closed as a phase is completed. Everything should be automatic.”

“Right. I’ve been wondering what we could have done if something had gone wrong while we were in one of those higher-order spaces.”

“There are procedures, and also a fail-safe that will put you back into the space of origin. This will all be a part of the training in later stages. Today you have made the easiest of all possible flights, and the one we’re most familiar with. Relax. Sparrow is bringing you home nicely.”

“I’ve come in on auto before, but at least I had to make a dead stick landing,” said Dillon. “I want to really fly this thing.”

“Of course, Captain. There will be opportunities for that. See you in a few minutes.”

Dillon was quiet during the spiraling descent through the atmosphere, but kept his hands on the controls, feeling each change in pitch and yaw. Eric’s attention was held by the holoscreens as he went through the switch sequence in reverse. Sparrow dropped to a hundred thousand feet before chasing the terminator and catching up to it in seconds before dropping again. The lightness within them had gone away at first descent, and now they were buffeted by the turbulence of passage through thickening air. In the last minute of descent they were coming down vertically, and a huge cluster of lights lay near the horizon. Below them was darkness with a few peaks and buttes dimly illuminated by a setting moon.

“We see you. The bay is opening.” An unfamiliar voice.

Slightly south of their position, a dim red hole suddenly appeared on a flat just west of jagged peaks. There was a thud, and a whine as Sparrow’s lifters cut in, and they seemed to float towards the hole until it was beneath them and no longer visible. Eric grunted when they dropped rapidly, and then slowed. He saw the edges of the bay ceiling pass by, the red glow on rock walls, and felt the soft concussion of landing pass beneath him.

Dillon popped the canopy and techs were already swarming the wings. One saluted Dillon. “Lots of excitement here, sir.”

The ceiling was closed by the time they were unstrapped and out of the cockpit. Eric followed Dillon out. There was applause from a small crowd gathered around Sparrow. Smiling faces. Davis was there, Hendricks and his crew, Brown, and a man who looked much like him.

Alan should have been here, thought Eric. He stepped onto the wing and ran his hand along Sparrow’s fuselage. There was no sign of scarring or burning, even after reentry from space.

Davis was the first one to shake his hand. “Now I can retire”, he said, and Eric knew instantly the man was serious. “I’ll need a debriefing, but Brown wants to talk to you first. He says it’s important.”

“While the flight is still fresh in your mind,” said Brown, who had come up behind Davis. “It’ll only take a few minutes, Colonel.”

“I’ll be in my office,” said Davis, and he joined a small group of people crowded together around a computer to look at pictures that had been transmitted during the flight. An image of Ariel floated in blackness there. As Eric walked past them, Rob Hendricks stuck out a hand. “How does it feel to be spokesman for an entire planet?” he asked, and grinned.

Eric shook his hand. “Hasn’t sunk in, yet. I’m a little numb.”

Brown took him by the elbow and steered him away. Seeing Brown in normal light for the first time, Eric thought the man had the good looks of a celebrity, a sort of dark, brooding look.

Another man who could have been Brown’s brother approached them, held out his hand, and Eric shook it.

“This is my closest colleague, Mister White,” said Brown. “He has been my right hand on this project.”

“So glad to meet you at last,” said White. “I must admit I had some doubts about you at first, but I should not be surprised at your performance. Your heritage demanded it.”

Eric nodded politely, thinking the man was simply complimenting an American ally, but Brown squeezed his elbow and pulled him away. “We can have dinner together this evening, but now I have private matters to discuss with Doctor Price. Please excuse us.”

“Of course,” said White. “I’m sure he has a thousand questions.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Eric, as Brown pulled him away.

“He does love to talk, especially about Ariel. Davis will be there, and two other members of the Council. I think you’ll find the evening most entertaining, but now some private things need to be said. I’ll even buy you a cup of coffee.”

The man actually smiled. “Okay,” said Eric.

They went to Mess Hall and found a corner table. Eric spooned sugar into a tall cup of coffee, and Brown drank tea.

“First there’s the matter of project continuation. We want you to be a part of it.”

“Any trained pilot can work with Dillon, and he’ll certainly agree to it. You don’t need me for anything. I did what I came here to do. I’ll likely be reassigned soon,” said Eric.

“Not if we request your services here. Reliable support for this project goes to the highest levels in your government. It’s the reason we brought Sparrow to you in the first place. You’re a scientist, an analyst, and the first to fly Sparrow in N-space. Your voice is the first from earth to be heard by the Arielian people. And there is one other thing, probably most important.

Brown paused and frowned, but Eric remained silent.

“There’s no subtle way to say this, Doctor Price. In every practical definition, you are an Arielian. It would take a DNA sequencing to show the difference between you and a pure human strain. The only differences appear in viral fragments. We’re cousins, so to speak. We share a common ancestor, gone long before either of our written histories begin.”

Eric smiled. “I think I read that somewhere.”

“Our contact with humans goes back at least ten thousand years. Our people have stayed here for many different lengths of time, but the times have become longer in recent centuries. Breeding with humans has been natural; many Arielians have had families and lived out their lives here. There are records we could have checked to find you, but it was only after Natasha discovered you that we did that. You are second generation, Doctor Price. Your grandmother on your mother’s side was from Ariel. She was a cultural anthropologist who spent half her life doing field work on Earth.”

“My mother was a native American,” said Eric.

“She was half Arielian,” said Brown. “She gave you that spiritual quality we’ve never understood in ourselves, that quality that connects our souls. Poor Natasha connected with you so quickly, well before you discovered your feelings for her, and now she’s miserable because of something I asked her to do to help her own people on both sides of her heritage.”

“Nataly?”

“Yes. Her father came from Ariel as a young man, looking for land of his own. He was an important contact in the early stages of our project. We suspect he was murdered because of it, but I think it’s now safe to say that justice has been served. I’ve known Natasha since she was a little girl, Doctor Price. I feel her misery, and yours as well, and I bear the guilt for it.”

Brown was looking at him closely, his forehead creased with the signs of worry. “Knowing what you know now, would you have done the same for your people?”

“I think I would have told the whole truth to someone I loved, and who said they loved me.”

Brown shook his head. “You all had to believe you were dealing with an Earth-based power for as long as possible. Dealing with an alien power is either unbelievable or too frightening. We have experienced that problem on Ariel. It came close to destroying us. We didn’t intend to inflict that on Earth’s people. The whole truth can gradually be released as our relationship grows. Natasha loves you with all her heart, Doctor Price, but she did what she had to do. Her soul has been bruised, and so has yours, and I will suggest a cure, if you’re willing to listen.”

“I’m willing,” said Eric.