When we emerged from Asimov Rille, four Marines, together with Doug, were standing on the surface, apparently waiting, although we knew they must have heard what we were saying once we’d suited up at the airlock. Our suit radios were on an open channel deliberately. We carefully chatted so as only to give away what we wanted them to hear.
As we boarded buggy one, we saw Doug’s men making their way hurriedly back to buggy three. They turned and headed towards Moonbase.
We drove more slowly, talking about options for survival.
‘What do you think Earth will do?’ asked Roy.
‘I honestly don’t know,’ I said.
‘If I were them,’ said Bill, ‘I’d wait for our report of the visit to the rille before acting. That should mean we are safe for the time being, but that might only be twenty-four hours.’
Anna said, ‘I hate the concept that we are now the enemy. We must find a way to convince Earth that the entities are working with us.’
‘They won’t believe it,’ said Bill.
‘Well, we did,’ I said.
‘Not initially,’ said Roy.
‘Come on, Roy,’ I said, ‘that was entirely your fault by sending in that force to attack us. It wasn’t a very “enhanced” thing to do, was it?’
‘It would’ve been if we’d succeeded,’ said Roy, ‘and, damn it, we almost did. From what you say, we were only an instant or two from taking over you and Doug. Frankly that would’ve been it. The medical team wouldn’t have stood a chance if we already had everybody else.’
‘No. I suppose it was a near thing,’ I said.
‘You’re right,’ said Anna.
‘Once we’ve reported, what will their next move be?’ Bill asked.
‘Either they’ll want to send a group to study the augmented or they’ll give an order to Doug to obliterate you,’ I said. ‘And it might all come down to how convincing I can be.’
‘You might convince Neil,’ said Anna, ‘but not the generals. They’ll be paranoid.’
‘We’ll see.’
Moonbase was now visible. We had minutes before we’d have to leave Roy. Just before I put on my helmet I said to him, ‘I’ll try to let you know what’s happening.’ Roy gave me a thumbs-up and I closed the airtight cockpit panel. We asked Selena to evacuate the air.
Soon, we stood on the regolith outside the garage dome and were making our way inside. Doug and two Marines were waiting.
‘Wait there please, Mark,’ said Doug as the main door slid downwards, a seal was made and the pumps started to pressurise the garage dome.
I could see more Marines cleaning the invasive regolith off buggy three. An unpleasant, but essential task. The dust got everywhere.
Pressure reached normal and we all removed our helmets.
‘Hold still,’ said Doug. ‘We’re going to irradiate you. Sorry. Can’t take the chance you’ve picked up any little passengers.
‘Okay, Doug, but keep it to the minimum. NASA are worried about its effect on the human body,’ I said. My entity was anxious. He was relying on an argumentative and opinionated human doctor to have resolved the radiation problem.
The Marines used their projectors for about ten seconds, which we knew was enough to kill the entities.
How are you? I thought and the answer came back immediately. Sick, but I’ll be okay. Tosh’s vaccine had worked its miracle.
I looked at Anna and Bill who seemed well too.
‘All clear, Mark. You can de-suit,’ said Doug.
His two armed Marines went on to do other work in the garage dome while we all stripped out of our suits.
‘So, what did you learn?’ asked Doug.
‘They’re seriously mentally enhanced, Doug,’ said Anna.
‘We’re going to suggest to NASA, that there is experimentation with the LRPs to try to find out the limits of their powers,’ I said. ‘As soon as I’m out of this gear, I’m going to call Neil.’
‘Okay. Can I sit in?’ Doug asked.
‘No problem. Join me when you’re out of that suit,’ I said and, with Anna and Bill, I headed towards the com dome. Doug had on a full EVA suit, so it would be a few minutes before he would come through to join us.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
‘And that’s more or less it, Neil,’ I said. ‘Bill, Anna and I are convinced the LRPs are no longer oppressing their hosts. All of the infected were perfectly in control of their own bodies and minds. The enhancements are, apparently, incredible, and none of them want to return to ordinary life. Over.’
‘How can we trust them? Over,’ asked General Gilby.
‘How can anyone trust anybody? Over,’ I said.
‘What are you suggesting, Mark? Over,’ asked Neil.
‘I think we should carry out studies under controlled conditions where some of us and some of them work with and without the LRPs. We could set it up in part of the bio dome,’ I said.
Bill added, ‘We could film it all and you can watch the results down there.’
‘What did the universities say about the material Anna sent you? Over,’ I asked.
‘Amherst was suspicious. Cambridge were excited, but neither college fully understood what was being proposed. Over,’ said Neil.
‘If we were studying them here, the scientists could speak to them directly and get answers or explanations in real time. Over,’ I said.
‘Thanks, Mark. We’ll think about it. Over,’ said Neil.
‘Let me emphasise once again, in the strongest possible terms, that Bill, Anna and I are absolutely convinced that these are intelligent beings and that they are no longer a threat to the human race. We should treat them as such and not as enemies. Over,’ I said.
‘Okay, Mark. We understand your viewpoint. Over,’ said Neil.
‘Okay, Neil. Let us know sooner rather than later, please. Over.’
‘Will do. Out.’
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Bill, Anna and I had dinner together, keeping our conversation at a low level. It was remarkable that no one realised that we’d been augmented. It clearly showed we were in control, not the entities.
That evening and night, we learned more about our new abilities and dug even deeper into our memories. The entities found the tiniest crevices of our minds, pulling to the surface everything we had ever learned. I marvelled at my ability to understand geological features from my masters and PhD, which had previously eluded me or seemed of little importance. I could only guess at the effect this would have on someone like Mary, who was already an astrophysics genius. What sort of effect would the symbiosis have had on someone like Einstein or Hawking?
This was far too great an opportunity for humanity. It mustn’t be lost through the paranoia of military chiefs or failure to properly study the augmented humans. I went to see Krishna. It was time we had more allies.