"I like how passionate you are about deep space travel. We need that." He gave me a patronizing smile. "You're young and naive. I wish I could remember how to be like that. I've been born into this half world, raised in it. I watched first my grandfather, then my father get beaten down by people who appeared to intentionally misunderstand what was plainly in front of their faces. What we know, they will never understand. But on the flip, I can see their point of view."
Ralph scoffed. "Don't tell me StarTech's now in the pockets of the government."
"Sergeant Buttrick, I can assure you we most certainly are not!" He was truly angry. "But my father turned a lot of suspicious people into flat out enemies and I've had to work within the system, within both systems to repair what's almost been lost." He ran a hand through his hair. "You do not understand how close we've been to being shut down. The only reason we're still here is because they need the ores we mine. As far as the governments are concerned, they only support us as far as that. What's the point if deep space travel in terms of the human race if we've got what we need? One crisis is over, and they're happy as clams to rest pat and not push the envelope.
"But people want it. People want the travel. People feel the need to expand, to see what else is out there. We've got Earth down. We've got Luna's number. We've got an incredible hold on Mars, and now we're getting bored. I have the support of people. Hell, I'll have to turn volunteers away at the door when news of you two gets out!"
"Then what do you need the damned governments for?"
"Food, for one. Water that we don't have to waste resources creating. We've had limited success with farming on smaller scales. It's getting better every year, but not good enough. Not fast enough. Money...or I should say, ignoring money. As long as we're getting them ores, as long as our scientists are making their lives easier and easier with the stupid byproduct inventions, they're willing to use their comps to erase zeroes. And even though Dad didn't see the value, I know how much easier life for me and all those in StarTech employ will be with governmental support. Do we need them? In the strictest meaning of the word, no. We might be able to make it without them. But think about what that would mean. It would mean choices I don't want on my conscience.
"I can't send humanity out into the galaxies without knowing we have a plan B. I'm not running away. I'm trying to take everyone to the next step, to grow and spread as a race, as a family. I don't want to leave them behind. I want to take us forward, all of us."
"Noble," said Ralph. I can't be sure, because he looked sincere, but something says there was more than a little sarcasm implied.
"Not noble. It's just the mission. StarTech took over where NASA failed. But the ideals are the same. Greater humanity, not a bigger corporation."
"And Petie didn't see it that way?"
"Petie watched Grandad age under a mountain of bureaucratic red tape." He gave a laugh. "If I ever have kids, they might turn out like Dad, now that you mention it. Maybe that's just the natural cycle."
Ralph picked up his glass and took a long sip. I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking everything over. What was there to think about? He worked for StarTech, he had to do what they said. Isn't that how employment works? He put his drink down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"So what is it you're not saying?" When Reginald gave a small smirk, Ralph crossed his arms. "I'm all ears."
Reginald waved a finger at Ralph. "Grandad always said you were the smart one in the bunch." I didn't think of Ralph as the smart one. He was...Ralph. He was always just there. An uncle, almost. Someone who gave an opinion only once in awhile. Someone in the background. Reginald was sizing up Ralph, and I found that I was, too. Maybe it's part of growing up, looking at the adults around you in a different way.
"Our scientists have discovered an Earth-like planet in one of the far arms of our own galaxy. Years ago, we sent a satellite to orbit, followed by a probe to sample. Do you know what we found there?" He didn't wait for a reply. "A civilization remarkably like our own. We've been in deep communications with them, but they are less advanced in terms of technology. Think human history, about the turn of the twentieth century. The correlations are staggering, but for one detail. They have been unable to mount a global population. We believe virus is the reason. And yet, they plod along."
"Like the Qitani," I blurted out.
"Possibly."
"So what does this have to do with us?"
"We need governmental permission to send manned missions."
Ralph seemed surprised. "You haven't already?"
Reginald gave a sly grin. "We need official permission."
"Which means you have, your people are there, and you're to the point where you have to admit it to the governments."
I looked back to Reginald, totally wrapped up. It was like one of Dad's spy novels, all these levels of lying and trickery.
"As I said, we need official governmental permission. Quickly, too, because they have their own nerds and there's only so long we can feed...altered info."
Ralph's grin spread. "Oh this is good. I thought you said he's the only secret?"
"I wasn't going to level with you," Reginald said honestly.
"But?"
"But I think I rightly summed up the necessity."
Ralph looked cocky. I had never seen him look cocky before, but that was definitely what he was doing. He put his arms behind his head and beamed. "So what do you want from us?"
"First, I need you to prove that humans can live in deep space. I need you to appear like any other person, at least in scientific terms. No doubt you'll be put through a few days of testing, but I promise it'll be no worse than you've already had."
Ralph turned to me, then. "Remember what Eunice put you through after you and Little Blob got stuck in the bogs and you had to cut your way out of your suit to escape?" I shuddered. I always shudder at the memory. It was awful. Quarantine for weeks. Hourly blood tests. Lungs examined on and on and on. Memory testing, coordination drills. She was convinced the exposure would leave me damaged and it took weeks to prove I was just muddy and nothing else. "You lived through that."
Good point. And Mother the sadist was billion of stars away. I relaxed.
"They'll do physical tests, and no doubt psychological. I've got nothing yet to indicate any issues there, but we'll still spend a few more weeks getting you ready. And then you'll act as a spokesman for StarTech."
"What's that?"
"It's easy. You'll just go around telling people about your life. You'll tell them about the places you've been, the things you've seen."
I thought of Lena's reaction to the pictures of my friends, the look on her face when she saw the different worlds, my worlds, my life. A queasy feeling flipped in my stomach.
I couldn't tell people about the things I loved, my people, my tribes. I couldn't stand the thought of seeing that look on their faces over and over. Ralph was on board. I could see it in his look. I had to be on board, too. I could see that in his look as well. This was what we had to do. I had to suck it up. I wouldn't tell them about Little Blob. I wouldn't tell them about Ashnahta. I would tell them about asteroids and breathing the muddy air of v-2445. I would tell them about the dead moons and what it was like to Trekman across the various tundras. I would tell them about living in a ship hurtling through the spaces no human had been in. I would keep my friends to myself. I would keep my life to myself.
"And what do we get in return?" asked Ralph.
"For one, you get reinstated as being alive," Reginald said with a laugh. "Full credits returned, with interest. Should be quite an account. You'll get the Cosworth estate back from the museum, of course." He was speaking to me. What estate? Museum?
"After, I mean. I don't care about the money. After we dance and sing and get your approval, what then?"