Progenitor


Chapter 7

After the three of them had finished their shower, Jake and Amy went back to the computers to see what they could find out from AL. They tried to go to the chat page, but it said there wasn't a page by that name. Jake explained about the CHAT page being there last night and what he had found out from AL at that time. A few minutes later, an IM window popped up from AL.

Incoming Message from AL

AL=> Hello Jake. I have had to start using this method to communicate with your computer as the CHAT page last night was drawing too much attention from the government. If you haven't noticed yet, I've reconfigured your system to include a direct wireless connection to the base. The next time Amy or you visit the base, I'll provide Amy with a laptop with the same wireless connection (I scanned her house and didn't find a system that was compatible with this type access). These connections are in addition to the subcutaneous transceivers you both have and allow for you to access me without someone seeing you talking in to "thin air". I have also "installed" this messaging program for your use.

Chief (Jake)=> That's fine AL. We were wondering what use the base could be when you get it back running?

AL=> I should be able to find more of the crew and finish our mission. With the limited data I have stored, it would appear that what you call Mars might be usable for colonization. It wouldn't take much to turn it back into an useful planet that could sustain a humanoid life form. At this time it doesn't seem possible for the base to return to it's home galaxy.

Chief (Jake)=> But could the base help the people of this world? Or be a starting point for our own exploration in space?

AL=> I have been monitoring the wireless and wired communications of the different governments and do not feel that your planet is unified enough to make use of this base. The different governing bodies would each try to control the base to the exclusion of all others. Plus, your planet doesn't appear to have the needed technology for "manned" space travel at this point in time. And before you ask, my programming would not allow me to share the advanced technology with your people. I can attempt to bring you and the Captain "up to speed", if that is the correct phrase, and possibly a few others when they are found.

Chief (Jake)=> That brings to mind another question; how do we go about finding others to help with the repairs there; without your being discovered? Do you have any idea as to where to start looking for other descendants of the original crew?

AL => Sensor records show that the science officer was landed in what would be Asia; the First Officer landed in what you call Italy, and the Chief of Security landed on the east coast of your continent in the area now called Florida. The crew was spread out so as to provide for a diversification of locations. As to how to find them without being detected, I can make a portable scanner that looks like a portable CD player, and would serve that function as well, for each of you to carry. Would that be acceptable? As to the prevention of detection of the base and the needed repairs; it would help if you could find some people to take up residence here on the base as I do not have enough data to construct the type droids that would be needed. Maybe if the two of you came back to the base, we could find a solution to these difficulties. That would be easier than doing it this way.

Chief (Jake) => How would we be able to explain our missing for long enough to really do any good? We agree that it would be easier if we could talk with you directly instead of like this on these subjects.

AL=> Would it be possible for the two of you to leave your dwelling without being noticed tonight? If so, I could send a shuttle down to pick you both up and bring you back here.

Chief (Jake)=> We might be able to do that; one of us will contact you to either send or not send a shuttle. Standby and monitor this channel and our transceivers. OUT.

Jake and Amy both agreed that it should be possible for them to slip out after everyone went to bed later that night. Jake suggested that they scan John Morrison to see if maybe he might work out for the science officer. Amy wondered aloud about the need for people to stay at the base, they would have to see what AL had to say on this and why. The two of them wanted to find a way to get the "program" working again but had no idea as to where to start since they knew now that AL was the one who had made it work the first time. Oh well, it had been an interesting project for both of them.

Jake called Kate to come join them. After Kate came in to the room, and started to undress, Jake told her "No, just leave your clothes on. This isn't the time for that. Doesn't John Morrison have a sister about your age, Sis?".

"Yea, Sally. Why?", Kate replied

"How well do you know her?", Jake inquired.

"Sally is one of my best friends at school; we talk all the time. I just got off the phone with her. I just had to tell her that I finally got lucky; and no, I didn't tell her with who. Why all the interest in Sally?", Kate replied.

"Well actually, we were more interested in some information on her brother. Amy and I got to talking and wanted some help with a few things and thought we remembered that he was really in to some of the more complicated sciences and we might be able to pick his brain. Do you think he would be able to help out and maybe talk with us. Maybe you could ask his sister if she thought he would be interested?", Jake went on.

"Sure, I'll call her back and ask her. I know Sally is always complaining that John hogs their computer 'doing research' on just about everything; she says he is very serious about geology and just about anything related to space. Also, he is a real Sci-Fi freak.", Kate said. With that said, Kate left to call Sally. Coming back about five minutes later, Kate told Jake and Amy that Sally said she would appreciate it if they could get John out of the house, or at least off their computer for awhile.

"Okay, too bad we don't have the use of a car so we could go over there now," Jake said.

"Well John has a car, maybe I can get Sally to ask if he would bring her over here and you can talk to him then," Kate said. So Kate went and called Sally again to see if she could get her brother to bring her over. When Kate came back she told Jake and Amy that Sally and John would be there in about an hour. Kate then asked what they wanted to ask John about that they didn't already know. Jake explained that they wanted some information on geology and a little about astrophysics.

After Kate had left the room Jake contacted AL and asked if it was possible for AL to scan John once he got there to see if he might be of some use at the base and to them. AL told them that he could do a preliminary scan via their transceiver but that a in depth scan would require the either bringing him to the base or the portable scanner they had talked about earlier. AL then told Jake that if Amy kept Kate occupied he could transport a scanner to Jake, but that would take some power and would prevent any other transport for about an hour afterwards. Amy went to keep Kate busy and AL sent the scanner. The scanner did look just like a portable CD player and even included a couple of CD's. AL told Jake which CD to put in so that Jake could learn how to scan people; AL also explained that he would have to "download" the scan data later to fully analyze it. Jake was surprised that the scanner included a tutorial on CD. After Jake had put the headphones on and started the CD, he could not only hear what was being said, but could "see" illustrations just as if they were projected on a screen in front of him. As the tutorial played, Jake learned quite a bit about the use of the scanner and that the CD's were double sided with the label side up they were regular CD's, with the label side down they provided the tutorials. He also found out that the other CD was a refresher course on the history of his predecessor, or progenitor" as AL referred to him. AL suggested that the next time Jake went to sleep, he do so with the history CD in the player and the headphones on; this would allow him to absorb the information without really trying. AL also suggested that Amy listen to the tutorial also; since she would be getting a scanner too and that her extra CD would have the history of her progenitor.

It took Jake about 15 minutes to understand how to scan someone and that if he had them to listen to a CD, then the scan would be more in-depth as then the scanner would then have actual contact with the person and could do a genetic scan as well as a topical scan. The genetic scan took up more space in the memory and therefore was not recommended as the usual scanning technique. Jake was still not sure as to how to explain the "CD Player" to his sister or mother, but he would come up with some explanation for them. He knew that Amy wouldn't have as much trouble as she could just say he had given it to her. After Jake had finished the tutorial, he called Amy back to the room and had her go through it. It did not take her as long to complete as it had him though. By that time , John and Sally had arrived. Jake and Amy went to met them after Kate told them they were there. Jake invited John to join Amy and him in the "computer" room so they could talk without having to listen to the two younger girls giggle and talking about whatever they talked about.

Once Jake, Amy, and John got to the computer room, Jake showed John what type equipment he had and some of the special options he had included. John was very enthused about the set-up. Jake asked John what he knew about geology and was told that John probably knew more than just about any other kid around those parts of the county. John even admitted that sometimes he was asked about things by the locals in relation to geology. When Amy asked what else he was interested in, John said he really wanted to study the stars more, but that his resources were limited. Even though his older cousin was about 3 years from getting out of Med school, he didn't think he would be able to go to a good enough collage to really pursue his dreams. While Amy and John were talking, Jake had scanned John and got an encouraging result. Jake interrupted their conversation to ask John if he would to try his new CD player, that is if John liked country music. John said he was wild about country and wanted to see what the player sounded like. Jake put in the CD, and handed John the headphones, and started the player. He even showed John, and Amy , how it worked. After listening for several minutes, John handed the headphones back to Jake. Jake immediately noted that the "scan completed" symbol was flashing in the display. Jake and Amy asked John several questions about the local geology, specifically about the location of silicon deposits. John told them that the biggest concentrations of silicon was in the pits, about 30 miles away. That the excavators at that pit usually hauled away about 2 to 3 truckloads a day, most of it went to be processed for use in low grade computer chips. But there were silicon nodules found occasionally, these were just hauled off as "scrap" or piled to the side. John said he had even found some pitchblende in the pits close to Jake and Amy's houses. When asked what pitchblende was, John explained that it was usually found close to Uranium ; but that the stuff found here was very low grade and most people didn't even notice it. The three of them talked for about 3 hours before John said he and Sally had to get back home. The three of them exchanged email and Message IDs before John and Sally left. After John and Sally had left, Jake and Amy decided to take a nap so as to be rested for their trip tonight.