Six of us stood by Dragonstar 3. Me, Anna, Bill, Doug, Tosh and Mary. We’d filled the storage section with items which needed returning home and now took our last look around the surface of the moon.
Once sealed in, my enhanced memory took over and I anticipated all of the communications between Anna and the Gateway.
‘Ignition, one, zero!’ said the computer.
The Dragonstar lifted off far faster than one would normally expect. The moon’s weak gravity was a major factor in the speed of the ascent. Thirty minutes later, the Gateway was alongside us and we were soon docked and floating in through the tunnel in the top of the Dragonstar vehicle to the Gateway. My entity briefly flashed a memory of the fun I’d had in this space with Linda. In my mind I told him to shut up and we began the preparation of an Orion to take us home.
Although Orions were more comfortable with four or five astronauts, we wanted to return together. It would be a squeeze for six, but we were prepared for a few days discomfort.
Anna spoke to NASA, agreed our separation time and a steady application of thrust saw us en route to the blue marble we could often see through the porthole. My entity kept directing my gaze towards it. He was even more excited than I.
The moon drifted away from us, or so it seemed, as the journey to Earth began. In three days, we’d be floating in the Pacific off San Diego and the navy would be lifting us out of the water. Far more nauseating than free fall.
As the capsule bobbed sickeningly, we all looked at each other and confirmed that Tosh’s “vaccination” had worked its wonders. All our entities had survived with only minor ill effects.
We were not allowed to open our capsule and had to wait until the crane on the support ship could lift us out and onto the warship deck where it was immediately irradiated.
Once we emerged, we too were irradiated, as were the interior and storage areas of the capsule. No chances were being taken. My entity did not feel so bad this time. Tosh had told us resistance would improve.
When I was alone with Bill, I said, ‘That was worrying.’
‘Yes, they might have found some stronger radiation,’ he said.
‘Fortunately not,’ I replied.
The captain invited us to dinner in his cabin with the first officer. By the time we left, two extremely senior navy officers were enjoying their entities’ benefits. I retained my divided entity for an even more special connection ashore. Tosh had a flask containing at least another thirty entities with which he intended to enhance key individuals at NASA.
The following day, on the quay, I could see Linda. I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms. My entity was excited about her condition. He wanted to see whether he could interact with a child in the womb. He assured me he’d take care.
We hugged and were soon back in the hotel. Our first private kiss gave her more than just a loving feeling. I held her tight, steadying her as my entity’s twin entered her and introduced herself.
She immediately checked Linda’s health and that of the embryo and told us all was right with the world.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Four weeks later, the number of augmented humans had grown into the hundreds of thousands. In three months, almost everyone on Earth would belong to the new breed of humankind.
The world would change and adapt. I was hoping our exploration of the universe would become a greater priority, and disease, poverty and conflict would become part of history.
Enhanced humankind was facing a new future and I wanted to be part of it.
Linda’s bump was beginning to show and already had its own entity. Our little family was benefiting enormously from their having become part of us, and no, we didn’t need to evict them to the dressing table when we made love. They enhanced everything!
I received a call from Neil, who I’d personally augmented during my “resignation meeting” the first week back. ‘Mark. Is a month’s vacation, a long enough break?’
‘Why? What do you have in mind?’ I asked.
‘How would you like an interstellar space jaunt?’
‘Mary’s cracked the problems then?’
‘She has,’ he said.
‘What’s the mission?’
‘Trappist-1. You up for it?’ he asked.
The phone was on hands-free. I looked at Linda and she nodded.
‘Count me in,’ I said.
‘Better come in tomorrow then. You’ll want to assist with the design and pick your crew.’
END
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
So ends the beginning. Learn more about the effect of the entities on the people of Earth when you join Mark Noble on the next expedition – the voyage to visit TRAPPIST-1, with its cluster of rocky planets including several in the Goldilocks Zone, and one which is thought to have liquid water.
[NASA/Caltech artist’s impression of six of the Trappist-1 worlds.]
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