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2013년 12월 3일 화요일

About 'university of connecticut distance learning'|Choose University of Phoenix Schools And Campuses To Study







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               I               usually               have               a               hard               time               getting               to               sleep               at               night.

I'm               one               of               those               people               who               can't               seem               to               turn               off               my               thoughts               enough               to               relax               and               sleep.

So,               my               doctor               prescribed               a               mild               sleeping               pill               to               take               the               edge               off.

Most               nights               it               works,               but               some               nights,               wow,               I               just               lie               there               and               tell               stories               to               myself               or               dream               of               things               I               could               have               done,               or               would               have               done,               had               life               not               gotten               in               the               way.

Over               the               years,               I               have               embellished               on               the               stories               I've               made               up,               making               them               more               detailed               and               more               involved.

As               we               make               our               journey               here               on               this               Earth,               we               will               inevitably               come               to               a               fork               in               the               road.

Decisions               we               make               to               determine               which               path               we               take               in               many               cases               determines               the               rest               of               our               life               (or               at               least               until               we               get               to               the               next               fork).

In               my               youth,               I               dreamed               of               being               a               pilot.

I               read               every               story               on               airplanes               I               could               find,               and               watched               any               airplane               that               flew               overhead.

My               first               big               fork               in               the               road               happened               when               I               was               15.

My               father               came               from               a               farm               family               in               Ohio,               and               was               a               construction               worker.

He               didn't               have               much               work               in               the               winter               because               we               lived               in               Rhode               Island               and               he               was               not               in               the               union.

Consequently,               we               had               little               food               to               eat               and               we               depended               on               handouts               from               family               and               others.

My               brother               and               I               also               hunted               for               supper               out               in               the               woods               by               shooting               squirrels               and               pheasant               when               we               could.

We               fished               for               alligator               snapping               turtles               in               the               swampy               area               of               a               pond               near               the               house               and               we               also               raised               rabbits               in               cages               in               the               backyard.

My               sister               always               thought               of               them               as               her               pets,               but               they               were               really               for               the               supper               table.

My               mother,               of               German/Austrian               stock,               was               busy               handling               the               six               children               she               had               delivered               within               the               first               8               years               of               their               marraige,               so               it               was               tough               for               her               to               work               outside               the               home.

I               found               out               that               my               local               grass               airport               offered               glider               lessons               if               you               were               16               or               older.

I               was               able               to               visit               the               airpark               a               few               times,               trying               to               get               lessons               for               any               work               that               they               would               let               me               do,               which               wasn't               much.

The               other               big               problem               was               that               it               was               just               far               enough               so               riding               my               bike               or               walking               was               not               possible.

My               parents,               who               didn't               feel               education               was               as               important               as               going               out               to               work,               did               not               have               the               means               to               indulge               my               frivolous               dream               of               flying.

In               addition,               I               was               the               oldest               of               the               six               children,               so               I               had               responsibilities               when               I               got               home               from               school.

So               I               had               to               make               the               decision               to               either               stay               home               after               school               and               on               weekends               to               help               out               my               family,               or               figure               out               a               way               to               get               to               the               airport.

I               stayed               home.

By               the               middle               of               my               senior               year               in               high               school,               I               had               gotten               an               Air               Force               ROTC               scholarship               to               the               University               of               Houston,               Texas.

It               was               1971.

The               Viet-Nam               war               was               still               going               on,               but               winding               down.

I               showed               up               for               my               flight               physical               prior               to               entering               the               ROTC               program               and,               as               usual,               life               threw               me               another               curve               ball.

My               eyes               were               just               bad               enough               to               disqualify               me               for               flight               status.

I               also               was               color-blind,               so               that               disqualified               me               from               being               a               navigator.

I               lost               my               scholarship               and               graduated               high               school               with               no               immediate               prospects.

I               had               received               my               draft               notice               earlier               that               year,               but               ignored               it,               as               I               would               have               a               college               deferment,               right?

Nope.

My               number               was               19.

For               the               previous               3               years               the               government               had               taken               numbers               up               to               the               mid               80's,               so               I               knew               I               was               in               hot               water.

I               had               to               either               join               up,               or               take               a               chance               and               wait               to               get               drafted               (the               government               drafted               up               to               number               89               that               year               and               luckily               for               those               who               came               after               me,               was               the               end               of               the               draft).

The               fork               in               the               road               I               chose               was               to               join               the               Air               Force               and               I               spent               the               next               4               years               in               Arizona,               working               with               parachutes,               survival               kits               and               flying               helmets.

I               saw               pilots               everyday,               and               went               in               or               placed               equipment               on               active               airplanes               everyday,               like               the               T-33               trainer,               C-130               Hercules               drone               transporter,               UH-1               Huey               and               CH-3               Helicopters,               along               with               removing               survival               gear               from               aircraft               going               into               the               boneyard               at               the               base.

I               even               had               a               short               stint               helping               pilots               of               the               U-2               high-altitude               spy               plane               get               in               and               out               of               their               special               flight               gear,               which               they               couldn't               do               on               their               own.

It               was               fun,               but               frustrating               to               see               those               pilots               go               up               every               day               and               do               what               I               wanted               so               desperately               to               do.

It               seemed               to               me               that               they               took               it               all               for               granted,               that               they               were               the               elite               and               that               it               was               just               a               job.

I               came               back               home               after               the               4               years,               with               no               civilian               job,               a               new               wife,               and               a               handicapped               child.

I               worked               various               manual               labor               jobs               so               I               could               have               health               benefits               for               my               child               while               going               to               college               under               the               GI               Bill,               and               graduated               in               1980               with               an               AD.

I               then               did               7               years               of               night               classes               to               get               my               BS.

By               then,               the               forks               in               the               road               led               me               to               the               point               where               I               had               a               home,               a               mortgage,               the               wife               and               4               more               children.

My               first               child               had               died               of               pneumonia               and               a               collapsed               lung.

I               know               he               is               out               there               and               is               never               very               far               away               from               me.

The               dream               of               flight               was               still               there,               but               my               chances               of               doing               any               kind               of               flying               were               growing               less               and               less               as               time               passed.

My               kids               always               say               that               even               now,               if               I               hear               an               engine,               I               look               to               the               sky               and               follow               that               airplane               until               it               disappears               from               view.

This               story               is               one               that               has               been               rolling               around               in               my               head               for               a               long               time.

I've               started               and               stopped               it               often               and               I               know               it               will               change               again.

Thanks               to               all               of               my               family,               my               friends               and               co-workers,               who               have               gotten               me               to               this               fork               in               the               road.
               Chapter               1
               Data               dump.

Present               day.
               My               name               is               Tom.

I               am               57               years               old,               divorced               and               married               for               a               second               time,               with               4               terrific               children,               2               stepchildren               and               5               beautiful               granddaughters.

I               live               in               a               mostly               wooded,               small               town               in               Connecticut.

No               garbage               pick-up,               no               local               police               force,               all               volunteer               fire               support.

It's               quiet               and               peaceful.

I               joined               an               Air               Museum               12               years               ago               to               work               on               and               help               restore               old               airplanes.

It               helps               to               satisfy               my               flying               urge,               as               I               get               to               touch               them               and               sit               in               them.

I               did               get               the               opportunity               to               fly               in               the               front               seat               of               a               dual-controlled               WW2               era               AT-6               Texan.

I               spent               an               hour               out               over               the               ocean               doing               loops,               rolls               and               strafing               runs               on               pleasure               boats               under               me.

No               target               went               without               an               attack.

I               had               so               much               fun               up               there               I               didn't               want               to               come               down.

I               even               have               a               video               of               it,               which               I               play               once               in               a               while               and               remember               the               feeling               of               being               on               the               best               free-style               roller               coaster               there               is.

Last               night               I               had               another               night               of               poor               sleep.

It               had               snowed               during               the               day               and               then               the               temperature               rose               and               changed               the               damp,               heavy               snow               to               rain.

All               night               there               were               loud               bangs               and               thumps               on               the               roof.

They               sounded               like               someone               was               doing               martial               arts               exercises               and               jumps               up               there.

It               turned               out               to               be               clumps               of               snow               falling               off               the               huge               pine               tree               next               to               the               house,               landing               on               the               roof.

At               about               2am               there               was               a               loud               noise               and               banging               like               a               cannon               had               been               fired               up               there.

I               looked               outside               and               saw               3               big               tree               branches               had               broken               off               the               pine               tree               and               crashed               down               onto               the               roof               and               then               to               the               ground.

Each               one               was               about               6               inches               around               by               10               feet.

I               went               out               and               moved               them               away               from               the               dog               run,               then               went               back               to               bed.

I               didn't               think               of               the               consequences               then,               but               my               right               hip               really               hurts               this               morning.

I               have               to               make               that               doctors               appointment               today               to               schedule               the               hip               replacement,               but               I               really               don't               want               to               have               to               spend               3               days               in               a               hospital,               followed               by               a               week               in               rehab.

I               only               have               one               more               week               on               this               holter               monitor               attached               to               my               chest,               and               then               the               cardiologist               can               tell               me               if               I'll               be               dying               soon               from               heart               disease.

Those               sticky               leads               have               my               chest               and               lower               abdomen               all               red               and               sore.

My               father's               legacy               to               me               is               arthritis               and               heart               disease.

My               mother's               is               high               blood               pressure               and               dementia.

First               I'll               deal               with               the               heart               problem,               then               I'll               worry               about               the               hip.

It's               February,               and               my               Harley               is               calling               my               name               so               strongly               that               I               end               up               going               into               the               garage               and               starting               it               up               just               to               hear               it               make               noise               because               it's               still               too               cold               outside               to               ride.

My               boss               told               me               yesterday               that               my               FMLA               and               SDI               benefits               kick               in               at               work               on               April               5th.

I               don't               have               enough               vacation               time               to               cover               6               to               8               weeks               of               rehab,               so               I'll               have               to               wait               until               then.

That               means               I'll               be               going               thru               rehab               during               the               beginning               of               the               riding               season.

I               may               not               ride               at               all               this               year.

If               nothing               else,               the               need               to               ride               will               be               an               incentive               to               get               better               faster.

After               all,               it's               just               a               hip,               right?

I               keep               telling               myself               that,               but               think               about               it;               some               guy               is               going               to               cut               thru               the               skin               of               my               right               upper               thigh,               then               get               out               a               bone               saw               and               cut               the               top               of               my               femur               bone               off,               then               drill               an               opening               in               what's               left               to               shove               a               stainless               steel               and               plastic               ball               joint               in               while               my               leg               flops               around,               attached               only               by               the               skin.

Then               he's               going               to               cut               out               a               third               of               my               right               hip               bone               and               glue               in               a               stainless               steel               socket               for               the               ball               to               fit               into.

I'll               wake               up               with               an               18               inch               long               suture               line               on               my               hip               with               all               these               steel               staples               holding               it               together.

I               can't               think               about               that               right               now               or               my               resolve               will               fade               fast.

But               my               hip               hurts               and               I               hear               it               crack               when               I               move               it               once               in               a               while,               so               I               know               I               have               to               get               the               surgery               done               sooner               or               later.
               In               the               morning,               I               got               dressed               in               my               old               work               jeans,               flannel               shirt               (the               one               my               wife               always               wears               when               she's               cold),               my               canvas               insulated               work               coat,               boots               and               my               Harley               baseball               cap.

I               went               outside               to               move               those               tree               branches               into               the               woods               behind               the               house.

We               bought               this               place               because               it               had               5               acres               of               land.

We               had               grandiose               ideas               of               clearing               some               of               the               land,               putting               up               a               barn               and               having               horses               for               my               step               daughter               to               ride.

The               previous               owner,               Leon,               had               cleared               about               a               half-acre               for               a               small               dairy               herd               in               the               late               40's,               but               there               wasn't               anything               left               out               there               now               but               scrub               grass.

So               I               decided               to               build               a               barn               at               one               end               of               the               cleared               area.

Got               the               barn               up               over               the               course               of               4               weekends               2               November's               ago               and               only               fell               off               the               ladder               twice               building               it.

Even               had               a               beautiful               2               year               old               paint               filly               in               the               paddock               for               about               6               months               that               we               had               brought               up               from               Georgia,               where               my               daughter               was               living               at               the               time.

But               "Sunshine"               was               too               young,               untrained,               and               way               too               much               of               a               handful               for               the               2               of               us,               since               we               never               owned               horses               before.

I               got               kicked               in               the               left               hip               by               that               horse               once.

Sent               me               sprawling               across               the               paddock               like               a               tumbleweed.

I               was               bruised               from               my               knee               to               my               chest               from               that               one.

My               daughter               ended               up               moving               back               up               here               and               taking               the               horse               back.

Once               the               horse               was               gone,               so               was               my               step               daughter.

She               moved               in               with               her               grandmother               and               now               the               barn               is               a               way               oversized               16               foot               by               12               foot               red               and               cream               trimmed               garden               shed.

The               wife               and               I               are               alone               in               the               house               now               and               have               the               grandkids               over               occasionally,               which               wakes               up               the               place.

So               I               went               over               to               the               first               branch               and               picked               up               one               end.

My               hip               quickly               reminded               me               it               didn't               like               this               kind               of               work.

I               dragged               each               branch               about               100               feet               out               into               the               woods.

The               land               slopes               up               about               100               feet               toward               the               back               of               the               property               and               the               runoff               from               the               rain               and               snow               up               the               hill               forms               a               small               pond               every               winter.

I               drag               any               fallen               branches               along               the               pond               edge               to               block               the               area               and               keep               the               grandkids               out               of               the               water.
               Chapter               2
               While               dragging               the               last               branch,               I               stumbled               over               a               patch               of               briars               that               caught               on               my               pant               leg               and               I               fell.

I               landed               on               my               right               side               and               had               to               lie               there               for               a               few               minutes               to               let               my               breathing               and               my               heart               settle               down.

My               initial               attempt               to               stand               hurt               like               the               devil               in               my               hip.

The               second               time               I               pushed               up               with               my               hands               to               get               to               a               standing               position.

I               felt               something               hard               and               metallic               under               the               snow               and               leaves.

Good               old               Leon               had               bought               the               property               in               1948.

He               was               one               of               those               depression-era               raised               kids               who               learned               to               never               throw               anything               away.

It               took               us               a               week,               filling               up               27               lawn               bags               of               junk,               to               clean               out               the               basement               alone.

We               hired               a               guy               to               come               in               and               remove               all               the               old               axles,               wheels,               car               parts               and               trailers               from               the               yard.

He               filled               1               ½               big               trash               trailers               with               what               was               on               the               surface               in               the               yard.

Since               then,               every               time               I               dig               any               kind               of               hole,               I               find               some               kind               of               trash               from               Leon,               or               a               rock.

I               thought               I               would               find               more               of               the               same               and               was               glad               it               wasn't               a               broken               bottle               or               an               opened               can,               which               could               have               resulted               in               a               trip               to               the               emergency               room               for               stitches.

Been               there,               done               that.

I               brushed               the               snow               away               and               saw               a               shiny               object,               kind               of               silvery,               with               a               light               black               pearl               sheen               to               it.

It               was               smooth.

Still               thinking               a               bottle               or               can,               I               kicked               at               it's               edges,               hoping               to               dig               it               up               and               get               rid               of               it.

But               it               was               too               big.

I               decided               to               go               get               a               shovel               because               now               I               was               curious.

I               watch               the               antique               shows               on               TV               and               thought               maybe               I               had               some               kind               of               buried               treasure               here               that               I               could               sell               for               a               few               bucks.

I               started               to               dig               and               the               object               began               to               appear.

It               was               roughly               3               feet               in               diameter               and               sort               of               egg               shaped,               but               maybe               a               little               pear               shaped               also.

The               more               I               uncovered               it,               the               more               intrigued               I               became.

Luckily               my               wife               was               in               bed               asleep.

She               would               have               been               upset               that               I               was               wasting               my               time               digging               out               in               the               yard               and               not               fixing               something               important               in               the               house.

Eventually               I               had               it               uncovered               and               saw               that               there               were               no               visible               markings               or               openings               on               it.

I               went               and               got               my               wheelbarrow               and               took               it               into               the               second               stall               of               the               barn,               where               I               keep               an               old               Honda               350               street               motorcycle               I               want               to               restore               for               my               daughters.

After               much               cussing               and               attempts               to               lift               it,               I               made               a               ramp               out               of               an               old               2x6               and               rolled               it               up               onto               a               small               bench               I               made               out               of               2               old               sawhorses               and               a               piece               of               plywood.

That               thing               was               heavy!

I               left               it               there               and               went               inside               for               a               break               and               to               get               warmed               up.

A               few               hours               later               I               went               back               outside.

I               brought               some               all               purpose               cleaner               and               a               rag               with               me.

I               cleaned               off               all               the               old               dirt               and               grime               on               it.

It               looked               so               pretty               sitting               there.

I               couldn't               figure               out               what               it               was.

I               thought               maybe               it               was               a               geode               like               I've               seen               in               museums,               but               it               was               too               smooth               and               too               perfectly               shaped               to               have               been               made               by               Mother               Nature.

I               still               could               not               find               any               openings,               marks               or               seams               anywhere               on               it.

Then               my               cell               phone               went               off.

I               pulled               it               out               of               my               pocket               to               answer               it.

It               was               one               of               my               daughters               calling               to               say               hi.

I               began               to               tell               her               about               the               object               and               while               talking               to               her               I               leaned               up               against               it               with               my               left               hand               on               it.

After               about               30               seconds,               the               surface               began               to               feel               warm               and               the               cell               phone               signal               started               to               fade.

All               of               a               sudden               the               cell               signal               faded               and               the               call               dropped.

At               the               same               moment,               my               hand               went               into               the               object.

I               felt               a               strong               warmth               and               some               vibration,               then               the               world               went               blank,               and               all               I               saw               was               black.
               Chapter               3
               I               opened               my               eyes.

I               was               still               in               the               barn,               but               was               lying               on               the               dirt               floor               with               my               cell               phone               in               my               right               hand.

I               tried               to               figure               out               what               happened.

I               don't               remember               being               dizzy               or               faint.

My               heart               was               beating               a               little               fast,               but               I               didn't               have               any               chest               pains.

My               holter               monitor               was               still               hooked               up               but               it               had               no               power.

It               had               cell               level               capacity,               so               whatever               was               causing               the               outage,               they               would               have               seen               whatever               happened               and               call               me               if               they               felt               I               should               go               to               the               hospital.

The               signal               strength               on               my               cell               phone               was               zero               and               I               initially               thought               I               had               not               charged               it               the               night               before,               and               being               afraid               that               I               would               miss               a               call               from               the               monitor               people,               I               got               up               and               went               back               to               the               house.

By               the               time               I               got               inside,               the               signal               strength               was               back               to               full               on               my               cell               phone               and               my               holter               had               beeped,               showing               it               was               doing               its               monitoring               thing               again.

There               was               a               message               from               my               daughter               in               my               in-box.

I               called               her               back               and               told               her               I               was               alright,               but               didn't               mention               anything               about               the               object.

The               heart               monitor               people               didn't               call               so               they               must               have               thought               I               was               taking               a               shower               or               something,               since               I               turn               it               off               before               those               kind               of               activities.

Then               I               remembered               that               my               left               hand               had               gone               inside               the               object.

When               I               looked               at               it,               it               was               slightly               bluish               tinged,               but               felt               OK.

To               my               surprise,               however,               there               was               a               band               around               my               ring               finger.

It               had               the               same               feel               and               color               of               the               object.

I               tried               to               remove               it,               but               it               wouldn't               budge.

I               tried               hot               water,               Vaseline,               and               butter,               but               nothing               worked.

I               have               a               wedding               band,               but               because               of               concerns               about               safety               when               I               work               around               the               house               or               at               the               museum,               I               take               it               off.

I               had               witnessed               first               hand               a               fellow               soldier               loosing               his               ring               finger               doing               engine               work               with               his               wedding               band               on.

I               was               looking               at               the               band               while               I               was               thinking               about               the               accident               I               saw,               and               the               ring's               color               changed               to               gold.

I               looked               around,               hoping               to               find               that               someone               (like               my               wife)               was               playing               a               trick               on               me,               but               there               was               nobody               there.

She               had               gone               out               shopping               and               I               was               alone.

So               I               went               back               outside               and               into               the               barn.

The               object               was               still               there,               but               now               it               had               a               slight               indentation               in               it               that               looked               like               a               hand.

I               consider               myself               to               be               a               logical               person.

I               am               detail               oriented               and               have               to               understand               things               around               me               or               it               drives               me               crazy               until               I               do.

I               was               confused.

But               since               I               didn't               get               hurt               the               first               time,               I               put               my               hand               on               it               again               and………………….
               Chapter               4
               I               was               sitting               in               a               chair.

Well,               not               exactly               a               chair.

The               legs               were               at               weird               angles               and               the               armrests               weren't               in               the               right               places.

I               was               hunched               over               and               could               only               see               the               floor.

I               was               very               scared               and               afraid               to               move.

I               thought;               this               isn't               right,               I'm               very               uncomfortable.

The               chair               then               began               to               vibrate               slightly               and               it               changed               shape,               again               scaring               me               silly.

After               about               5               seconds,               it               had               adjusted               itself               to               my               body.

I               thought,               wow,               this               is               now               the               most               comfortable               chair               I've               ever               sat               in.

Then               I               heard;               "At               rest               positioning               confirmed"               coming               from               somewhere               nearby.

Even               though               my               heart               was               beating               furiously               and               I               was               still               afraid,               I               looked               around               me.

I               was               in               an               egg               shaped,               almost               pear               shaped               chamber.

I               could               see               no               way               out               and               everything               I               could               see               was               within               hand               reach.

I               couldn't               recognize               anything               around               me,               just               vague               shapes               and               lines               and               some               wavy               stuff,               all               the               same               color               as               the               object,               so               I               concluded               I               was               inside               it.

But               then               I               thought,               how               could               I               be               inside               of               it               if               it               was               only               3               feet               in               diameter               and               I               am               6               feet               2               inches               tall               and               weigh               230               pounds?

The               same               voice               said;               "Enclosure               adjustment               completed".

The               voice               was               flat               and               had               a               strange               warbling               sound               to               it,               almost               like               it               was               coming               from               underwater.

I               am               a               science               fiction               fan,               have               been               for               most               of               my               life.

I               always               dreamed               of               finishing               up               my               flying               career               as               an               astronaut               with               NASA.

I               was               able               to               keep               my               composure               and               asked;               "Where               am               I?",               to               which               the               voice               answered;               "Choose               communication               mode".

I               said;               "What               does               that               mean?",               to               which               the               voice               said;               "Choose               vocal               or               thought               communication               mode".

I               thought               a               minute,               then               said;               "Voice               mode".

Then               I               heard:               "Voice               communication               mode               established".

Then               silence.

I               thought               the               voice               would               say               something               else,               so               I               waited.

Nothing.

I               thought               about               my               wife               and               that               she               would               be               coming               home               soon               and               wonder               where               I               was.

Nothing.

Finally               I               said;"               Where               am               I?".

The               voice               answered;"               You               are               in               the               pod.".

I               asked;               "What               is               the               pod?"               and               heard;               "Specify               details               of               request."               OK,               I               thought,               I               haven't               been               dissected               or               otherwise               harmed               yet,               no               probes               have               entered               any               of               my               body               orifices,               so               I               will               assume               I               am               safe               for               now.

I               said;               "Tell               me               what               the               pod               is,               what               is               its               function,               and               why               am               I               here?"               The               voice               began:               "The               pod               provides               an               originator               complete               safety               during               a               short               duration               assignment,               utilizing               an               integrated               life               support               and               exploration               system               designed               to               travel               within               a               five               light-year               distance               from               the               originator               carrier.

It               is               equipped               with               a               full               signal               detection               and               interpretation               suite               to               locate,               identify               and               analyze               life               signs,               civilizations,               technologies               and               capabilities               of               whatever               is               discovered.

At               the               end               of               its               exploration               cycle,               it               is               programmed               to               return               to               the               originator               carrier               to               submit               the               results               of               the               data               and               samples               that               the               originator               has               collected.

You               are               the               originator".

I               said;               "I               am               the               originator?"               "Yes"               said               the               voice.

Well,               I               know               I               didn't               build               it,               and               I               have               no               idea               how               it               got               in               my               backyard,               so               something               wasn't               right               about               this               whole               thing.

I               needed               time               to               think               about               what               to               do               from               here,               so               I               said;               "I               would               like               to               be               outside               of               the               pod."               No               sooner               had               I               finished               the               word               "pod"               and               I               was               standing               in               the               barn               in               front               of               the               object.

It               was               now               about               9               feet               in               diameter               and               was               on               the               floor               of               the               barn.

The               sawhorses               I               had               put               it               on               were               broken.

I               ran               out               of               the               barn               and               into               the               house.

My               wife               was               still               out.

I               was               now               faced               with               the               biggest               decision               of               my               life.

What               fork               in               the               road               do               I               take?

Do               I               call               homeland               security               or               the               State               Police               and               report               what               I               found?

Or               do               I               keep               it               and               try               to               learn               more?

I               have               no               idea               what               this               thing               can               do               or               what               it's               connection               to               me               is.

I               could               end               up               in               space               somewhere               5               light-years               from               nowhere.

Or               back               in               some               carrier               being               cut               up               for               food               or               spare               parts.

The               band               was               still               on               my               finger.

Was               it               listening?

Could               it               control               my               thoughts?

Was               I,               my               wife               and/or               family               in               danger?
               Chapter               5
               My               wife               arrived               home               a               few               minutes               later.

She               had               gone               food               shopping               and               gotten               her               nails               done.

I               helped               put               the               groceries               away               and               gave               her               kudos               for               the               beautiful               nails,               but               in               the               back               of               my               mind               that               thing               in               the               barn               kept               nagging               at               me.

We               had               supper,               pasta               and               red               gravy               with               mystery               meat               thrown               in.

My               wife               is               usually               a               vegetarian,               so               tries               not               to               eat               meat               when               she               can.

She               found               these               soy               based               things               called               "crumbles"               that               look               like               cooked               ground               beef.

I               am               surprised               to               admit               that               when               put               in               something               spiced               up,               like               the               canned               red               gravy/spaghetti               sauce,               they               do               taste               like               meat.

They               are               better               for               me               anyway,               since               they               don't               have               any               fat               in               them.

Just               trying               to               keep               myself               alive               a               little               longer.

After               supper               we               watched               a               little               TV.

Luckily,               she               wasn't               in               the               mood               for               the               usual               movies               that               rely               on               cheating               husbands               and               murderous               wives               to               entertain.

Funny               how               women               control               the               TV               viewing.

She               always               gets               to               watch               what               she               wants,               or               I               end               up               retreating               to               watch               the               small               15"               TV               in               the               den.

She               tends               to               like               some               time               alone               at               night               to               wind               down               before               bed,               so               a               little               while               later               she               got               up,               came               over               to               me,               kissed               me               good               night               on               the               forehead               and               went               upstairs               to               read.

After               moving               off               the               couch               and               into               my               recliner,               I               tried               to               keep               busy               by               watching               a               few               shows               I               had               recorded               on               the               DVR,               but               my               thoughts               kept               drifting               back               to               the               pod.

Finally,               at               about               10pm,               I               gave               in               and               went               out               to               the               barn.

The               electricity               was               off               out               there,               so               I               had               to               bring               the               little               3               cell               flashlight               I               use               to               check               the               breaker               box               when               the               power               goes               out.

I               went               out               to               the               barn               and               again               placed               my               hand               on               the               pod.

Initially               nothing               happened.

I               thought               of               myself               inside,               still               nothing.

But               when               I               said               "inside"               out               loud,               I               found               myself               in               the               pod               and               sitting               in               the               chair               again.

This               time,               I               anticipated               that               weird               feeling               of               that               instantaneous               change               in               location,               so               I               wasn't               as               shaken               up.

"What               do               I               call               you?"               I               asked.

"I               am               the               pod"               was               the               answer.

"That's               not               a               name"               I               replied.

"Explain"               the               voice               said.

"Let               me               ask               another               question.

What               am               I               called?"               I               asked.

"The               originator"               came               the               reply.

"Are               all               originators               called               the               same               thing?"               I               asked.

"Yes"               said               the               voice.

"Are               you               able               to               address               me               by               my               name?"               I               said.

"You               are               the               originator."               It               said.

"Yes"               I               said,               "But               my               name               is               Tom,               please               call               me               by               that               name."               The               wavy               lines               and               bulges               around               me               moved               into               a               different               pattern               and               the               pod               said;               "Recognition               program               modified,               Tom".

Ok,               I               thought,               now               we're               getting               somewhere.

I               said;               "For               the               time               being,               like               I               asked               you               to               call               me               Tom               instead               of               the               originator,               I               will               call               you               George,               instead               of               the               pod."               Again,               after               some               movement               of               the               wavy               lines               and               bulges               around               me,               the               reponse               was;               "Recognition               program               modified".

Good,               I               thought.

I               can               have               some               control               over               what               happens               in               here.

But               I               still               was               curious.

I               asked;               "George,               explain               in               simple               terms               what               this               band               on               my               finger               is               for."               George               said;               "               It               is               the               interface               portal.

It               analyzes               and               superimposes               the               genetic               and               thought               processes               of               the               Tom               onto               the               systems               in               the               George,               bonding               the               Tom               to               the               George.

This               allows               for               control               of               the               George               and               its               functions               from               within               or               during               independent               exploration               outside               the               George.

It               is               capable               of               scanning,               collection,               storage               and               replication               of               data               and/or               samples               collected               externally               of               the               George.

In               life               support               mode,               it               protects               and               sustains               the               Tom               for               extended               periods               during               times               of               emergency               or               malfunction               of               the               Tom.".

"OK,               wait.

It's               not               The               Tom               or               The               George,               it's               just               Tom               and               George               from               now               on,               alright?"               "Affirmative,               Tom"               said               George.

I               continued;               "Why               can               I               not               remove               it?"               "If               the               portal               is               removed,               the               link               between               Tom               and               George               would               be               severed,               resulting               in               Tom               being               incapable               of               any               interaction               with               George               and               causing               George               to               coalesce               into               inactive               mode."               It               said.

That               got               me               to               thinking.

I               knew               I               didn't               come               from               somewhere               else,               and               I               didn't               bring               the               pod               here.

So,               someone               or               something               else               did.

Since               I               didn't               fit               correctly               in               the               chair               the               first               time               I               was               brought               inside,               whatever               brought               it               here               was               not               shaped               like               a               human.

I               love               to               read               those               books               written               for               guys               that               focus               on               high               tech               military               operations,               spies,               and               techno-thrillers.

I               also               read               a               lot               of               stories               on-line               about               the               latest               gadgets               the               Government               is               making,               and               this               thing               seemed               to               be               way               beyond               any               current               technology               even               remotely               discussed               in               any               source               I               have               access               to.

Since               I               adjusted               the               recognition               program               to               voice,               I               assumed               the               pod               was               only               responding               to               voice               commands.

I               said;               "From               here               on,               assume               that               how               we               speak               is               like               a               conversation               between               2               like               beings.

Now,               who               has               final               decision               making               authority               in               what               the               pod               or               I               do?".

"You"               it               said.

"Do               you               monitor               all               my               thoughts               and               actions?"               I               asked.

It               replied;               "Only               in               thought               mode,               unless               the               emergency               protection               override               program               is               initiated.

I               will               then               default               to               recovery/thought               mode".

So               something               must               have               happened               to               the               originator               and               the               pod               went               into               recovery               mode.

"How               many               originators               can               be               bonded               to               the               pod               at               any               given               time?"               I               asked.

"One"               was               the               reply.

This               is               heavy               stuff,               I               thought.

"Outside"               I               said,               and               I               was.
               Chapter               6
               I               went               back               in               the               house               and               right               to               bed.

Happily,               I               was               able               to               fall               asleep               relatively               quickly.

My               wife               had               long               ago               fallen               asleep.

I               wouldn't               have               even               thought               of               waking               her               up.

I               guess               I'm               henpecked.

"Yes,               Dear"               is               my               most               used               expression.

The               dog               was               asleep               also,               but               not               on               the               bed               tonight,               thank               you.

The               next               morning,               I               got               up,               showered,               changed               the               pads               on               my               heart               monitor               and               thought,               8               more               days               to               go.

My               appointment               with               the               cardiologist               is               the               day               after               the               monitor               ends.

It               will               be               30               days               of               having               that               thing               glued               to               my               chest.

I               hope               whatever               causes               my               slow               heartbeat               and               that               anxious               feeling               I               get               now               and               then               can               be               controlled               by               medication,               not               a               pacemaker               or               a               valve               replacement.

I               know               I               am               the               worst               patient               in               the               world.

I               would               be               miserable               having               to               be               admitted,               and               would               make               the               hospital               staff               as               miserable               as               I               felt.

We               didn't               go               to               church               on               any               routine               basis,               so               the               day               was               pretty               much               open.

I               could               hear               my               wife               upstairs               talking,               so               I               assumed               she               was               on               the               phone               to               someone               or               other.

She               came               downstairs               and               announced               we               were               going               to               her               mothers'               house               to               visit               our               stepdaughter.

I               love               the               kid               like               she               was               my               own               and               I               miss               her               terribly,               but               I               can               safely               say               I               would               rather               not               have               to               spend               time               with               my               mother-in-law.

She               is               a               very               nice               lady,               but               everything               is               her               way               or               the               highway               and               I               wasn't               willing               to               deal               with               that,               so               I               wiggled               my               way               out               by               telling               my               wife               I               was               going               to               do               chores               around               the               house.

Eventually,               she               left               after               doing               the               primping               and               clothing               preparation               necessary               for               her               to               feel               comfortable               going               out.

Don't               get               me               wrong,               she               is               a               beautiful               woman.

I               love               her               to               death,               and               don't               want               to               spend               the               rest               of               my               life               with               anyone               else.

It's               just               funny               to               watch               her               get               ready.

If               she               is               going               to               the               local               convenience               store               for               a               coffee,               she               will               go               in               flannel               PJ's               and               an               old               torn               bathrobe,               no               makeup               or               combing               of               hair               needed,               thank               you               very               much.

But,               if               she               is               going               anywhere               where               someone               she               knows               will               be,               the               process               to               get               ready               can               be               extensive.

After               she               left,               I               went               out               into               the               barn,               put               my               hand               on               the               pod,               said;               "inside"               and               started               another               learning               session.

The               first               question               I               asked               was;               "What               day               is               this?".

"Mission               local               countdown               time               is               day               2."               George               said.

I               could               assume               from               that               answer               that               the               pod               had               re-set               itself               for               day               one               to               be               when               I               first               touched               it.

"How               long               is               a               local               mission?"               I               said.

"A               standard               mission               countdown               clock               is               180               local               days."               was               the               reply.

This               could               be               interesting.

I               asked;               "What               happens               on               day               180?".

George               replied;               "We               will               return               to               the               originator               carrier               to               complete               the               survey               mission               and               download               all               pertinent               data               acquired               during               the               mission.".

WE,               I               thought.

That               sounds               ominous.

So               I               asked;               "Where               is               the               originator               carrier               located?"               The               wavy               lines               and               bulges               moved               and               jiggled               for               about               10               seconds,               and               the               answer               was;               "Insufficient               input               data               available.

Answer               can               only               be               determined               with               27%               certainty.

Provide               additional               data               requested               to               increase               certainty               to               100%".

In               front               of               me,               the               wall               smoothed               and               I               could               see               a               field               of               stars.

Along               each               side               of               the               field,               I               saw               what               appeared               to               be               writing               scrolling               from               bottom               to               top.

It               was               moving               way               too               quickly               for               me               to               really               see               it               and               it               was               in               a               language               I               could               not               understand.

"Awaiting               data               input"               George               said               as               the               scrolling               stopped.

The               star               field               was               all               I               could               see.
               Chapter               7
               As               I               sat               there               looking               at               the               star               field,               my               mind               was               racing               with               all               the               questions               I               could               ask,               and               what               the               answers               might               be,               and               how               they               would               affect               me.

I               didn't               really               want               to               be               whisked               5               light               years               away.

Obviously,               George               was               a               probe               ship,               and               would               return               to               the               mother               ship               after               180               mission               days               had               passed.

But               what               had               caused               him               to               not               return               already?

Where               was               the               originator               that               had               come               here               with               George?

Somehow,               whoever               the               first               originator               was,               she/he/it               had               gotten               separated               from               the               portal,               and               thus               from               George,               resulting               in               George               going               into               inactive               mode.

Well,               I               thought,               here               goes               nothing.

"George,"               I               said;               "What               happened               to               the               originator               that               came               here               with               you?"               He               replied;               "The               originator               portal               ceased               to               function."               OK,               I               thought,               that               explains               why               George               went               into               inactive               mode,               but               why               didn't               the               emergency               protection               override               program               work?

So               I               said;               "George,               show               me               any               previously               gathered               data               concerning               the               originator               who               arrived               with               you."               The               star               field               in               front               of               me               vanished,               replaced               by               the               bulges               and               ripples               I               saw               before.

Then               I               felt               the               back               of               the               chair               get               warm               and               vibrate               a               little.

It               relaxed               me               and               I               closed               my               eyes.

All               of               a               sudden               I               was               outside.

But               where               was               I?

There               were               mountains               and               craggy               peaks               all               around               me,               but               everything               had               a               pale               blue               tinge               to               it.

I               was               breathing,               but               it               felt               like               the               air               was               coming               in               thru               the               sides               of               my               head.

I               couldn't               control               my               body.

It               was               like               I               was               a               hitchhiker               inside               someone               else's               body.

I               must               be               seeing               things               the               way               the               originator               had!

I/We               climbed               up               a               short               trail               and               crested               a               hill.

In               front               of               me               was               another               pod,               or               maybe               it               was               George.

I               walked               over               to               it               and               touched               the               side.

But               it               wasn't               using               a               human               arm.

I               had               4               fingers,               with               6               digits               each.

The               third               digit               of               each               finger               looked               like               it               had               an               elbow               joint               in               it,               so               each               finger               could               move               in               multiple               directions,               no               need               for               an               opposable               thumb.

My               skin               was               a               very               pale               blue,               and               I               could               see               what               looked               like               a               sleeve               of               a               smooth               blue               material               that               was               almost               skin               tight.

I               said               something               in               a               language               I               didn't               understand               and               I               was               inside.

"George,"               I               said;               "Translate               all               data               into               my               language.

Change               to               thought               mode               and               explain               what               I               am               seeing               during               data               playback."               "Acknowledged."               He               replied.

"You               are               seeing               visual               input               from               the               originator.

He               requested               access               to               my               interior               prior               to               transport               to               the               originator               carrier."               Then               the               scene               changed               to               an               inside               view               of               the               pod               with               the               same               outside               view               visible               in               front               of               me.

Then               the               view               changed               to               an               ascent               view               and               I               saw               the               scene               change               again               to               a               star               field.

Eventually,               I               saw               a               shape               form               in               the               distance.

It               looked               like               another               originator               pod.

George               said;               "I               am               now               approaching               the               originator               carrier               in               orbit               around               the               originator               operations               base."               It               was               the               same               basic               shape               as               George,               but               as               we               got               closer,               the               absolute               SIZE               of               it               was               overwhelming.

A               small               opening               appeared               about               half-way               along               it's               central               axis,               and               in               we               went.

The               interior               space               was               a               tunnel.

We               followed               it               for               a               few               minutes,               then               the               space               opened               up               into               a               small,               globe               shaped               cavern,               with               individual               holes               in               it.

Most               were               occupied               by               what               looked               like               what               I               believed               was               the               forward               part               of               George's               shape,               so               this               must               be               where               we               would               dock.

"Docking               maneuver               initiating."               Said               George.

Then               we               turned               around               and               backed               into               an               open               hole.

"Docking               accomplished.

Atmospheric               equalization               initiated.

Exiting               the               pod."               He               said.

The               scene               changed               again               and               I               was               walking               thru               a               corridor.

It               was               dome               shaped               with               a               flat               floor.

The               walls               had               a               bluish               tint               to               them               and               gave               off               an               internal               glow               that               made               it               possible               for               me               to               see.

Then               I               noticed               someone               coming               toward               me.

It               had               the               same               hands               as               I               did,               and               what               looked               like               a               blue               jumpsuit               like               mine,               so               this               must               be               an               originator.

I               could               not               tell               how               tall               it               was,               since               I               had               nothing               to               compare               it               to.

It               had               two               arms,               two               legs               and               walked               upright.

Except               that               the               knees               bent               toward               the               back,               instead               of               like               a               human's               do.

The               face               was               elongated               and               had               some               brown               colored               spots               on               either               side               and               on               the               top               of               the               head.

I               could               see               two               small               flaps               on               either               side               of               the               head               that               must               be               ears.

There               were               2               holes               below               each               ear               that               opened               and               closed               like               a               dolphin's               blowhole,               and               no               nose.

That's               why               I               felt               like               I               was               breathing               thru               the               side               of               my               head.

It               had               what               looked               like               2               eyes,               with               eyelids               that               blinked,               and               a               small               slit               for               a               mouth.

Not               too               far               from               human               appearance               overall.

There               was               no               hair               on               the               head               that               I               could               see,               just               the               spots.

As               we               passed,               I               heard               myself               say;               "Good               journey               friend!"               and               the               other               said;               "A               safe               journey               to               you!

Choose               wisely               so               all               may               survive."               It               replied.

"I               shall,               with               Fate's               help!"               I               heard               myself               answer.

Then               I               thought;               "Stop               playback,               George."               The               vision               ceased               and               I               opened               my               eyes.

I               was               myself,               and               back               in               the               chair.

I               thought;               "That               must               be               the               data               for               the               timeframe               before               coming               here."               "Correct."               I               heard               like               George               was               right               inside               my               head.

"Switch               to               voice               mode."               I               said.

I               really               have               to               try               and               get               used               to               someone               else's               voice               inside               my               head,               even               Georges'.

I               said;               "George,               can               you               get               the               data               from               the               originator               into               my               memories               during               thought               mode               so               I               do               not               have               to               follow               it               at               it's               recorded               speed?"               "Yes."               He               replied.

I               decided               to               take               the               plunge               and               go               for               it.

"Switch               to               thought               mode               and               transfer               data."               I               said.

"Acknowledged."               Came               the               reply,               and               the               blackness               returned.
               Chapter               8
               In               human               language,               the               best               translation               for               the               name               of               the               people               is               The               Originators.

Their               planet               is               called               Origin.

It               was               the               second               planet               in               a               4               planet               system               in               a               very               clustered               arm               of               the               galaxy,               near               its               center.

Their               civilization               has               been               around               for               many               thousands               of               generations.

They               evolved               as               a               water-borne               species,               but               their               planet               had               a               slight               change               in               its               orbit,               which               changed               the               environment               and               the               ocean               began               to               gradually               recede.

They               believe               that               "Fate"               intervened               and               made               them               leave               the               water               and               step               onto               the               newly               formed               land.

Once               on               land,               they               became               sentient               and               progressed               rapidly.

The               average               lifespan               of               an               individual               is               between               200               and               300               planet               cycles.

They               determined               that               the               oceans               were               drying               up,               albeit               slowly,               and               they               feared               their               civilization               would               perish.

Eventually               they               developed               astronomy               and               began               to               look               outwards               for               answers.

They               focused               their               energies               on               finding               another               planet               to               colonize.

They               developed               machines               and               in               due               time,               space               travel.

The               planets               in               their               own               system               were               unsuitable               to               colonize,               so               they               developed               12               multi-generational               sublight               spacecraft               to               travel               to               nearby               stars.

None               of               the               ships               sent               out               returned.

Fate               intervened               and               they               were               able               to               develop               faster               than               light               travel.

They               sent               out               small               scout               ships               along               the               paths               of               the               sublight               ships,               and               found               6               of               them.

Examination               of               the               ships               found               that               all               of               the               originators               on               board               had               perished.

The               scientists               determined               that               over               the               course               of               the               generations,               the               people               had               devolved               to               a               primitive               level               and               were               incapable               of               running               the               machines               necessary               to               provide               food               and               an               atmosphere.

The               people               turned               on               each               other               and               the               resulting               conflict               caused               the               deaths               of               all               aboard.

The               originator               scientists               postulated               that               the               genetic               makeup               of               their               species,               which               allowed               them               to               progress               fairly               quickly               on               their               home               world,               suffered               damage               during               extended               space               travel.

So               they               developed               robotically               piloted               carriers               that               could               travel               at               faster               than               light               speeds               in               pre-determined               jumps               of               250               to               350               light               years.

Their               biologists               developed               stasis               fields               that               kept               the               people               alive               but               in               a               much               reduced               life               state               during               the               trip.

In               order               to               cover               more               area               quickly,               they               developed               the               pods.

After               each               jump,               24               pods               would               be               released,               to               search               for               suitable               places               to               settle.

Each               search               lasted               180               ship               cycles,               after               which               the               pod               would               return               to               the               origination               point.

Those               originators               roused               by               the               robotic               system               would               monitor               for               the               pods               during               the               180               ship               cycles.

The               data               gathered               by               the               pods               that               returned               would               be               analyzed.

If               no               suitable               planets               were               discovered,               the               data               was               stored,               and               the               carrier               would               jump               again.

At               each               stop,               different               originators               would               be               awakened,               so               as               to               not               degrade               the               genetic               pool.

The               people               believed               that               Fate               determined               the               outcome               of               those               pods               that               did               not               return.

This               was               to               be               the               farthest               out               jump               for               this               particular               carrier.

It               was               to               swing               back               in               towards               the               home               world               at               the               completion               of               the               180               day               cycle.

George               was               the               18th               pod               of               the               42nd               jump.

Of               the               24               pods               released,               George               was               sent               to               the               most               distant               star.

His               target               was               181644Q,               a               newly               formed               nine               planet               system               surrounding               a               star               at               the               far               end               of               one               of               the               galaxy's               less               dense               arms.

The               originator               assigned               to               George               volunteered               to               be               sent               the               farthest,               as               no               suitable               planets               had               been               found               after               41               jumps.

In               English,               his               name               was               Z/62d               (I               decided               to               call               him               Zed),               and               he               was               100               planet               cycles               old.
               Chapter               9
               Excerpts               from               the               data               record               of               originator               Z/62d:
               Mission               Day               1               -               I               approached               the               star               181644Q               on               a               course               of               34               degrees               off               elliptic               center.

Nine               planets               were               in               rotation               around               the               star.

Planets               2,               3               and               4               were               within               acceptable               parameters               for               further               study.

After               1               cycle               of               detailed               sensory               scanning,               I               decided               to               concentrate               my               efforts               on               planet               3,               which               looked               very               promising.

During               final               approach               to               atmospheric               entry,               my               exuberance               to               find               the               right               spot               distracted               me               from               the               collision               sensor.

The               pod               was               struck               by               multiple               meteorites               resulting               from               a               collision               of               2               larger               meteorites               in               orbit               around               the               planet.

My               course               was               altered               and               I               came               down               just               off               the               coastline               of               the               largest               land               mass,               approximately               45               degrees               in               error.

I               exited               the               pod               under               water               and               propelled               myself               to               shore.

I               entered               voice               mode               to               allow               the               pod               full               access               to               initiate               its               maintenance/repair               subroutine.

My               portal               had               generated               its               emergency               protection               system,               which               allowed               me               to               breathe               and               survive               the               atmosphere               of               the               planet.

It               was               immediately               apparent               to               me               that               the               planet               would               need               to               have               the               terraforming               technicians               spend               time               here               to               make               it               useable               for               the               people,               since               we               could               not               live               in               emergency               protection               mode               indefinitely.

The               sun               was               shining               brightly.

It               radiated               far               too               much               in               the               red               pigment               zone,               so               we               would               need               to               adapt               the               atmosphere               to               the               more               comfortable               blue               zone.

The               ocean               was               vast,               but               there               was               enough               land               to               support               the               people.

The               plant               life,               unlike               on               Origin,               was               more               prolific.

I               was               unable               to               see               any               great               distance               into               it.

I               am               not               a               botanist,               so               I               am               unsure               about               the               compatibility               or               the               genetic               manipulation               needed               to               utilize               these               plants.

I               spent               the               rest               of               the               first               planet               cycle               examining               the               plants               in               the               general               area.

My               portal               recorded               and               stored               samples               of               each,               along               with               samples               of               the               earth,               sand               and               water.

The               noise               level               around               me               was               also               much               more               pronounced.

There               were               other               types               of               inhabitants               of               this               world               besides               plants               out               there,               but               all               I               had               seen               so               far               were               winged               ones               gliding               on               the               air               currents.

They               were               too               far               away               for               me               to               capture.

I               was               unable               to               discover               any               evidence               of               advanced               species               or               cultures               during               my               off-planet               scanning               and               was               unable               to               locate               any               so               far               on               the               surface.
               Mission               Day               7               -               I               swam               out               to               the               pod               again               to               determine               its               status.

The               pod               has               yet               to               complete               its               full               repair               process,               since               I               cannot               access               it               via               voice               or               thought               mode,               so               for               now               I               must               stay               on               the               land.

I               have               tentatively               explored               beyond               the               shoreline.

The               varied               forms               of               life               here               are               incredible,               both               on               land               and               in               the               sea.

The               sea               life               on               Origin               has               been               tamed               and               is               docile.

But               there               is               much               more               diversity               here               on               the               land               than               back               home.

This               being               a               young               star               system,               there               are               many               geologic               uphevals               and               the               ground               shakes               often,               sometimes               violently.

I               have               observed               volcanic               activity,               with               lava               flows               and               large               plumes               of               ash               being               shot               up               into               the               atmosphere.

I               have               learned               the               hard               way               that               there               are               many               carnivorous               species               here,               as               I               have               been               attacked               routinely.

None               so               far               has               been               able               to               penetrate               my               protection               system.

However,               a               large               predator               was               able               to               grasp               me               in               its               jaws.

It               bit               down               hard               but               was               unable               to               bite               through.

The               self-defense               and               avoidance               program               initiated,               and               the               beast               dropped               me.

As               it               tried               to               shake               off               the               repellant               field,               I               was               able               to               make               my               escape.

I               thank               Fate               for               the               technology               that               saved               me.

It               is               imperative               that               I               return               to               the               carrier.

I               am               certain               that               this               planet               can               be               made               useable               by               our               technicians               so               the               people               can               have               a               new               home.
               Mission               Day               20               -               I               have               been               out               to               the               pod               each               day               since               arrival               here.

I               am               still               unable               to               access               it.

My               exploration               of               the               planet               has               confirmed               that               this               would               be               a               suitable               planet               for               colonization.

The               basic               elements               for               us               to               construct               our               civilization               here               are               all               present,               except               for               some               of               the               more               refined               elements,               for               which               we               would               have               to               provide               the               equipment               necessary               to               refine               them.

Basic               terraforming               and               genetic               manipulation               of               the               more               aggressive               species               should               allow               us               to               co-exist               without               extreme               difficulty.

If               I               can               re-access               the               pod,               I               can               begin               the               basic               process               and               then               exit               the               planet               to               get               the               data               back               to               the               carrier.

But               if               the               pod               cannot               be               accessed,               I               am               doomed               to               failure               and               also               doom               my               people               to               destruction.
               Mission               Day               25               -               I               will               try               to               access               the               pods'               basic               functioning               thru               thought               mode               today               when               I               touch               it.

If               successful,               I               will               download               all               pertinent               data               and               records               of               my               exploration               so               far.

Without               the               regeneration               profile               within               the               pod,               I               am               loosing               power               to               the               systems               within               the               portal.

I               am               uncertain               as               to               the               amount               I               have               left.

The               pods'               systems               may               be               too               damaged               for               it               to               repair               itself               before               I               perish.

The               pod               will               be               instructed               to               repair               itself               and               then               search               for               my               location,               recover               the               portal               if               I               have               not               survived,               and               return               to               the               carrier,               utilizing               whatever               resources               are               available               to               accomplish               the               task.
               "George"               I               thought;               "Is               that               all               there               is?"               "Yes"               he               replied.

"So               what               is               the               status               of               Zed?"               I               continued.

"The               portal               for               originator               Z/62d               was               located               26.773               of               your               miles               beneath               this               location               in               a               rock               formation               made               up               of               components               consistent               with               a               large               lava               flow.

It               was               retrieved               and               is               now               bonded               to               you.

No               evidence               of               Z/62d               having               survived               was               located."               Apparently,               George               had               repaired               himself               enough               to               download               Zed's               information               and               receive               his               last               command,               but               was               unable               to               generate               enough               energy               to               re-charge               the               portal.

So               why               hadn't               George               just               left               when               he               repaired               himself?

"My               primary               programming               does               not               allow               a               return               to               the               carrier               without               an               originator.

I               coalesced               into               safe               mode               until               an               appropriate               originator               could               be               located."               He               said.

I               thought               about               that               one.

I               am               not               an               originator.

I               don't               look               like               one               or               speak               their               language.

Why               me?

"The               collision               with               the               meteorite               caused               my               programming               to               alter               itself               by               seeking               undamaged               pathways               to               repair               it.

Over               time,               my               programming               became               one               that               learns               through               adaptation.

I               decided               to               wait               for               the               closest               compatible               sentient               being               that               came               in               contact               with               me.

That               would               allow               the               mission               to               be               completed               based               on               the               originator               Z/62d's               last               command,               but               not               in               violation               of               my               primary               programming."               He               said.

"You,               Tom,               met               the               minimum               requirements               for               sentience               and               thought               processes.

When               you               came               in               contact               with               me,               I               initiated               the               sequence               for               continuation               of               my               mission.

At               the               end               of               the               180               day               local               cycle,               we               will               return               and               the               mission               will               be               complete."               "Outside",               I               thought.
               I               spent               the               next               day               at               work               wondering               what               to               do               now.

I               was               involved               in               something               I               had               no               prior               experience               for.

I               can               handle               myself               well               in               a               crisis.

I               seldom               get               frazzled               and               even               in               situations               where               someone's               life               is               in               jeopardy,               I               make               the               right               decisions.

I               have               done               CPR               on               people               and               they               have               survived.

I               have               stopped               at               roadside               accidents               as               a               first               responder               and               have               only               lost               2               people               who               were               pretty               much               dead               when               I               arrived               on               scene.

My               kids               didn't               want               to               drive               with               me               in               the               car               for               a               few               years               because               I               always               seemed               to               find               an               accident               scene.

Maybe               I               should               have               been               an               EMT.

But               now               I               needed               an               EMT               to               tell               me               what               to               do.

The               firmness               in               Georges               tone               made               me               believe               that               "we"               were               leaving               in               177               days,               no               matter               what.

Maybe               I               should               call               Homeland               Security.

They               would               think               I               was               nuts               if               I               told               the               truth.

My               wife               would               really               think               I               was               nuts               and               if               I               showed               her               the               pod,               she               would               tell               me               to               put               it               in               my               trailer               and               take               it               to               the               dump.

What               do               I               do?

Well,               I               could               always………………..
               End               of               data               dump.






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