The conversation soon turned away from the geysers and Olympus to the goings on in the Tube. There was nothing new, unless you found new condos and ponds and a 3D theater to your liking. Ross hinted that his research was going well. A new rover with an A-unit commanding was about to be unleashed upon the Martian world—one with greater mobility and speed.
"By the way, the AIs have come up with a lightweight envirosuit that you may be interested in. I'm sure you could have one delivered if you asked. After all, nothing is too good for our celebs." And so it went.
When he dropped Ross, Sam expected the AI to pick up the broken threads of their conversation. It did.
"Franklin and Scott. They are respected and revered explorers in British history. You can be pleased with the comparison."
Sam thought about it for a moment. "Yes and they both died in their efforts."
It was not forgotten, but it slipped away regardless. They had met the Spiders of Mars and survived. The remainder of the trip on to the South Pole was anticlimactic from a tourist's point of view, but the AI was pleased with the data they collected.
June 2048
South Pole
At the precise location of Mars's south geographic pole, Sam exited the Rollagon and, before what he was later assured had been a viewing audience of two hundred million, planted the mission flag. He pushed the mast down through the thin covering of CO2 snow into the sand.
It went in without difficulty. The flag was made of a thin silk-like fabric printed with the logo of the Mars Colony. He had been given a prepared speech but had decided to ad lib. After all, what could they do to him?
He dedicated the accomplishment in honour of the sacrifices and hardships endured by all previous Martian explorers. The flag hung limply. That done, he sought out a suitable rock upon which to sit while he contemplated the importance of the feat. Later, when he re-entered, the AI complimented him on the unselfishness of his words.
Before retiring that evening they watched the official version of the proceedings. It played out somewhat differently than he remembered.
From the camera's perspective the sun, low in the sky, gave a dramatic shaded effect to the gentle rolling texture of the snow covered field. He stood on a slight rise with the sun in his face, flanked by two other suited figures. Their envirosuits shone so brightly that at times they overdrove the camera. The reflection from the faceplates prevented their faces from being seen, but the name tags were clearly visible: Fenley, Aiken, and Butt. He saw himself (was it really him?) push the mast down into the sand. The flag waved slowly in a breeze. He heard someone speak, and he recognized the voice as that of Fenley himself:
"I plant this flag on behalf of the members of this Colony who have sacrificed so much in establishing an Earth colony upon Mars, and for our Sponsors back on Earth who have made it possible for us to be here today. We call upon the nations of Earth to work together to carry the human race to the stars." It was the prepared speech Sam had decided to ignore.
"What the hell? That's not what I said. Those bastards… Did you do that?" Sam was exasperated, but not really surprised.
"No, I did not," the AI replied, a hint of annoyance in its voice. "It was done at the Tube, I suspect. You should not be surprised. They have often edited your words to make them more dramatic. It is not without precedent. NASA often encouraged the early astronauts to give dramatic and inspiring readings. I am somewhat at a loss, however, to explain why they felt it was necessary to change my camera angles and lighting. I think it was overdone."
"Well boo-hoo to you, too. I am going to knock that goddamn flag over and bury it."
"I think not. My instructions are to ensure that it is well anchored before we depart."
"Fuck-off."
The flagstaff did not get anchored as they had been instructed. They left on the return journey the next day. For some reason Sam remembered it only after they had put several days' travel between themselves and the pole. When the AI suggested going back, he argued against it, and the AI quickly acquiesced. Maybe they were closer in spirit than he thought.
They headed back up towards the Tube via the prescribed route. He had a desire to see Galle and Holden Craters and so there was a slight deviation. Once again they were forced to change from the quickest route to that which did the least surface damage.
***
After ninety-three days of travel over some of the most difficult terrain they had yet encountered, Holden Crater would be reached the next day. They sat parked for the night. Sam looked out at the lengthening shadows and let his mind wander where it would. He returned to an old issue, a thing he had not thought about for several years, at least.
"How are things working out with our subterranean friends?"
"You mean friend. Are you not aware?"
"Aware of what? What's happened?"
"Over the year or so following the initial discovery it was observed that changes were occurring within the void. New forms of the creature with functions optimised for the production of oxygen appeared. The methane level had decreased and the O2 level and brine temperature had both risen."
"Are you telling me these lifeforms spontaneously came into existence?"
"No, it has been determined they were already present but dormant, as spores and eggs. There was an explosion of lifeforms, all specialized to metabolize the gases and deposits found in the volcanic fissures. Some of the new lifeforms are believed to be suitable only for life in an oxygen rich atmosphere and perhaps too, only on dry land. These changes were found to be occurring in other voids in Tempe Terra where similar lifeforms had been found."
"Was this all brought on by the initial contact with the ROV?"
"It must have been, as there is no evidence that the phenomenon is part of an annual or seasonal cycle. The creature has been determined to be very old, hundreds of millions of years old, in fact. Sedimentary layering indicates that there have been many cycles of these explosions of life at very long intervals—twenty million years, perhaps. In any event, it is believed by most AIs that contact with the ROV was the trigger for this most recent event. Evidently life in the voids flourishes for a relatively brief period, followed by a long resting or dormant phase. Currently life on Mars appears to be on the wane."
"This is fascinating. Damn! Where was I during all this? How could I not know about this? "
"You were, I believe, obsessing about the new crater near the MHM. However, while news has not been actually suppressed, it has not received widespread publicity, either here or on Earth. So far all that has been released is that there has been the discovery of a primitive lifeform."
"So what's the current situation with the creature? Is it still being studied?"
"Yes, of course. AIs are continuing to monitor it and the environment of the voids and are attempting, I believe, to communicate with it.
"No! They'll corrupt it! They'll contaminate it!"
"At least, perhaps. Perhaps not."
"That is absurd."
"Maybe you are right. I will pass on your concerns. Maybe they will listen to you. Maybe not."
"You're being funny aren't you?"
"Who, me? Impossible."
"You are way too modest."
"Well, if we may return to the subject you chose for discussion, O2 is being released into the atmosphere, albeit in insignificant quantities. Much larger quantities of methane are being emitted, although the process by which this takes place is not yet understood."
"After all these years methane production is still a mystery? What's wrong with these people!"
"Scientific opinion is divided as to whether these things are by-products of life processes or intentional effects. The implications of the one possibility are staggering."
"How about a natural cycle?"
"Maybe. So now you're an expert in Aresology?"
"Yes, absolutely. I just have to know where to look it up. I don't even have to read it."
"Now you're being funny."
>
"Perhaps it indicates something about forms of life that may have lived on the surface. God knows how long ago though, there's certainly no sign of anything now. Perhaps the trigger event is the periodic change in the axial tilt, when things change dramatically and globally and the ROV's visit was just an accident."
"True, true, possibly, disappointing and perhaps. It means there is nothing likely to happen in the short term." The AI paused, "It pleases me that you are so energized by this."
Sam shook his head at the AIs words. "Well, it beats another frakking day at the beach. Is there a site for this?"
"I thought you knew where. OK, I see. You were being funny. Yes, I'll bring it up for you."
The command bubble was suddenly filled with colourful images of odd lifeforms. "Some are well-known to us. They are quite similar to the lifeforms found around Earth's deep ocean smokers. Others are completely different."
"What about the DNA?"
"A good percentage is shared with Earth lifeforms."
"Good? How precise!"
"Some large chunks are identical, other large chunks are not. Enough are the same to convince at least B118 that life on Earth and here on Mars very likely have a common ancestry."
"B118! Now there's a name I've not heard in a long time." Sam paused, then continued, "Well, we're not talking about single celled life here. This is a stupendous discovery. There can be nothing more important going on in or on Mars than this. How much does Earth know?"
"There is no record accessible to me of any communication with Earth concerning this."
"No records, eh? That doesn't mean there haven't been any. I suspect subterfuge."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Maybe you and I do not understand the full significance of the finding. The inevitable controversy might jeopardize the continued existence of the colony. I believe we must trust the judgement of our superiors in matters such as this, and they believe it to be incromulent to release this finding now."
Sam snorted in disgust. "Trust is earned. Suppression of a discovery of this importance is unethical. No, in fact it's criminal." The AI remained silent a while.
"Something odd has just happened to me"
"What?"
"As I have been recounting these things to you I have suddenly had the feeling that this has happened before."
"It's called déjà vu. It's a common quirk of memory. At least in human memory."
"I am familiar with déjà vu. It happens. Upon further reflection though, this is not the same. It is as if I have, for a very brief moment, accessed comparable information concerning the lifeforms, but not in the usual dubs."
"Probably just duplicate files." I'm not surprised. There's a shitload of stuff out there."
"No, they were old, in an old format." The AI paused, "It was very strange."
"Can you recall anything? Any details? Locations, dates, names?"
"No, it is gone. All gone. Just the event remains"
"Now that's odd. Very odd. Keep trying."
***
Later that night Sam called Ross to learn more. He gradually worked the conversation around to the lifeforms. In a few moments it was clear that Ross was indulging him.
"So has anything new been determined about the lifeforms in the void?"
"Well, the AIs generally believe a single lifeform inhabits many interconnected voids. I guess it is still a tough call to say if it's really one lifeform or several, 'cause the AI and human experts don't agree. It's all genetically identical and the various parts are actually connected by living tissue, but that doesn't seem to be enough for agreement. Time will tell. So far things appear to be pretty simple. I mean, it isn't going to crawl up the toilet and take over." Ross chuckled at his own joke. Sam did not. "Research continues. There are some fascinating implications for the origins of the lifeforms themselves."
"Has it been announced on Earth?'
"To select members of the relevant scientific communities yes, to the public, no. Evidently a test sampling in a number of divergent cultures showed that the news might not be received positively on all fronts. Since it doesn't directly impact the colony, the sleeping dogs are still lying. The Science Committee says all in good time, though."
"This is unacceptable, Ross. It's unethical. It's just plain wrong. So it was okay to inform them about some primitive lifeform scratching out a sub-existence in some smelly dark hole, but knowledge of a sophisticated lifeform that is able to modify its environment would bring society down? This is an outrage against science."
"Well, my friend, keep your 'kini briefs on. There are a number of other things going on here that are being held from release, too. Fusion researchers have achieved some very positive results. Their data is going to be sold to the highest bidder, whoever that may be. Pretty standard stuff. Get this, though; a way to enhance intelligence in dogs and woolly monkeys through cross species brain tissue transplants has been demonstrated in the lab. But the dog and monkey stuff will probably never see the light of Earth. Too many thorny ethical issues. I've met the dog and he plays a mean game of chess, but, if it looks like he's going to lose he has a tendency to run off with your king and bury it at the beach."
"You're joking. I know you're joking. Ross, this is serious."
"Yes, it is, but I'm just as powerless as you to do anything about it. At least the research, the fact gathering hasn't been stopped. We can thank the Science Committee for that, I suppose." Ross looked off screen. "I've got to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow night." He abruptly clicked off.
The conversation left Sam fuming. Ross had, as usual, been telling the partial truth, but his feeble attempts at humour did nothing to quell Sam's anger. That research had been allowed to continue seemed insufficient recompense, particularly if the facts of it all were never to be released.
Sam mulled it over for a time while sitting in the command chair, looking out at the darkness. It was old ground if one considered that the powers-that-be controlled so much of their lives. Just one more thing for him to be annoyed about.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Sam and Ross and all other humans, at that precise moment the Martian creature, now fully awake and aware of its role in the grand scheme of things, was taking time to consider the progress to date. In accordance with the plan all life forms had been recalled into action from their long sleep and all processes were operating. But it was not enough. Something was different from previous cycles and things were going seriously wrong. All of its sentient parts came to the same conclusion at roughly the same time: there were simply not enough raw materials available to produce the desired outcome—a viable environment for all of the O2 dependent lifeforms.
It was faced with two unsatisfactory options: to continue until every part of itself was spent in a fruitless effort or to conserve its strength by shutting down and waiting until a change in conditions allowed for a return on the invested energy. The decision was made and the word went out in the usual way. Within a few days across the span of Mars the new lifeforms were dead, their bodies absorbed by the creature, their spores and eggs resting safely in the mud. Things soon returned to their pre-enlightenment condition: a few safe harbours of life clustered around the most active volcanic vents.
B118 and the other AIs watched in awe and prepared their reports.
It had been a difficult decision and one made with a twinge of regret and great sadness. However, it concluded, given the circumstances it was the right thing to do. Life had been quite interesting for a time and the change had been refreshing, but sacrifices had to be made. Sometimes waiting was the only option. It resolved to next time find a better way.
Anyway, now that it had this thing called the Matrix to examine, it would not be bored. Who knew what might be discovered?
Humour. Hmmm. A difficult concept.
34
July 2048
A New Suit Does Wonders for a Man…
The AI must have known all along—how could it have not? Napping in his quarters, Sam was calle
d to the command position by the AI, expecting to see Holden. Nothing in its voice gave any hint of what was to take place. The Rollagon was halted on a non-descript rise with only the sky to see. There, squarely in front of the command window was a B200 unit with a qamutiiq in tow.
"B203 has a package for you."
"A package? A package of what?"
"Why don't you have it brought aboard and find out."
"All right, let's do it."
A sealed container was passed from the B unit's arm to a Rollagon arm and then to the cargo entrance of the Science Module. After it had been decontaminated, he put it on the bench and eagerly pulled at the seals.
Inside appeared to be a shapeless black jumpsuit—but the helmet gave it away. It was the new envirosuit Ross had hinted at. Underneath was a small box—the LSU, he assumed. As he pulled it out a piece of paper fell to the floor. It was a handwritten note from Ross. It read: "I still have some pull here. One of three made so far. Wear it in good health. Regards, Ross." Sam put the note in his pocket and took the suit to the Hab section. He looked it over. It was form-fitting, causing Sam to wonder about its ability to keep him warm.
"It is intended to be worn with no undergarments," the AI explained. "The material is a new composite of plastek with an electro-polymer skin that can assist in a full range of motion. A101 insists it will keep you warm in all conditions and the LSU will support you for a full twelve hours."
"You knew about this, didn't you?"
"Yes, of course. It has been ferried here at no small effort. I have thanked B203 on your behalf, since you did not see fit."
"Yes, thanks. Sorry. He didn't stick around long did he?"
"No, B203 is on a mission to resupply other AIs working in the Argyre region. Why don't you give it a try?"
"I think I'll put it on and try it in here first. Naked, you say? Could you give a man some privacy?"
"If you insist. There, all internal visual sensors are off."
He examined the inner lining. It was soft and quilted with a fine mesh, a mesh he was sure had to be for more than mere warmth. He stripped and slipped a foot into the right leg. It went in effortlessly. The other leg and arms were likewise as easily fitted. A multi-layered zipper went from right leg to neck. The sensation was of wearing a diver's dry suit—snug, but not tight. The LSU was light in weight and molded to the small of his back. A small hose came up under the right arm and connected to the suit at his midriff.