Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Star Crossed

Star Crossed

Virgina looked up to the dewy night sky. She was in her flat boat transporting her favorite jersey cow; Petunia. While transporting Petunia every night Virginia would made habit to absently scan the night when making her trip. Her sea glass eyes laced over the night sky counting the stars. Never once thinking that someone was looking back. It was a long trip and the auto pilot was set. Virginia laid flat on the deck. Her arms behind her head. Petunia looked up with Virginia periodically from her hay bag.
Petunia let out a hardy moo. Her large brown eyes seeking console from Virgina.
“Well I don't know Petunia. It's kinda silly to believe in space aliens don'tcha think?”
That wasn't what Petunia was asking or saying. But Virginia had an active imagination.
What Petunia had actually tried to convey was “ Stop rocking the flat boat. Your turning one of my four stomachs.”
Virgina has a habit of talking to her bovine best friend. Mostly because being on a compound there were very few children. The population control act passed by the government light years before she was born. Virginia was an act of love between her parents but against the court of law with out permit.

The only person who really knew what Petunia was saying to Virginia was James and he was a space alien who watched her from the skies. Captain James Sydney looked like your typical human. Not the mythical space aliens depicted by human television and science fiction culture. James thought the ancient documentation of “Deep Space Nine” and “ Start Trek” were hysterical. He loved humans and their sense of humor. He was 6ft tall, blue eyes, bronze hair, muscular build and 300 years old. He had the striking features of James Dean. His skin was moonlight metallic. Same for his hair and his eyes glowed an electric blue. That was the difference the Callipian was a metallic version of a human. James hailed from the Betelgeuse nebula from a planet called Calliope.
Calliope was a lot like Earth. In fact it is a replica. Created by the Great Ones. The Great Ones where in earth urban legends known as 'Grey's' The Grey's were scientists gathering information for reproduction of the planet. The Grey's knew that humans were destructive. They would normally allow for a planet like this to self destruct as most do. That was just the nature of science. However the Great Ones needed the humans. Their race was haunted by a viral strain that nearly wiped out their race. They were smart, but could not keep up at the rapid epidemic that came over them in a wave. What they found was that humans were strong and adaptable. The human race DNA was uncomplicated and easily manipulated. Strong enough to move to a new planet. Even stronger to reproduce. The Great Ones decided that to prevent most cancers they made the Callipians metallic so that they could reflect harmful radiations. Which was a down fall for humans. A strong break in their DNA strain.

James laughed and gazed back to Virginia. Silly girl he thought. Doesn't she know what her cow is saying? Lovingly he gazed back into her sea green eyes. Her dirty blond hair blowing in the night wind. Wanting to kiss her plummed lips. He loved her. He has loved her her whole life. Little did Virginia knew that she was being scouted. Even less that her planet was going to implode in 28 days. James bit his lip when he thought about this.

Roxanne entered into the room. She was James' First mate and the ship's head Scientist who ran the expedition.
“James, she can't hear you. She can't hear the cow. She is primitive. She has no telepathic capabilities.”
Roxanne was smart. She was beautiful. She was also a Hybrid. Her wide violet eyes dilated larger towards James. She was always fond of him. She kept her long platinum hair back in a typical pony tail. It was white like starlight. She wore her typical blue uniform.
“ I know. It's just that she's just so funny, Roxanne.”
Roxanne pursed her lips and gave a slanted look. James had no clue of the violence and the destruction the human race had endured. Roxanne was a witness to it. Weeding out the bad from the good. Apparently she played the role of Santa Claus. Giving the good children the blessing of being recreated. Virginia was nothing more than a subject to her. She watched the young girl sail back and forth talking to a cow her entire life. Roxanne recorded all of Virginia's movement. The starship Thalia hung in Earth orbit for 3,000 years, Roxanne always at the helm. It was Roxanne's job to recruit new DNA profiles to add to Calliope. The planet was not fully populated and needed the right emotional environment. The Great Ones where attempting to eliminate war and crime. Humans were prone to violence. The Great Ones wanted to prove to the Galactic Console that planet and race reproduction was possible. That transfers of mind were also possible. That improving on a DNA strain was possible. The Calliope project had been running for 4,000 years. James was the newest captain of the ancient ship. As a young Capitan of the Galactic Console. His was is first cruise since graduating from the Academy.
Roxanne had sensed over the years that James had a attraction to Virginia. She never tried to discourage it she thought that he would have just out grown it. It's been 20 Earth years and James loved her more everyday. Roxanne sighed when she looked at the young Captain. Hybrids where capable of telepathy & empathy. Being logical. But she felt his heart grew fonder for her everyday. Roxanne had to do something. It was not like Roxanne to hide anything from her Captain. However she had a report that she had not shown him. On her desk was a report that stated in charts and graphs that the Earth was going to implode sooner than expected. She needed to go down to extract Virginia's DNA strain and bring it to Calliope. She never hid anything from him. Only this. If he knew he would override the Consoles direct orders and save the young girl along with her cow. Roxanne was accurate and made no mistakes. She told no lies. But she can't break protocol. James was young and reckless. He doesn't understand the repercussions if he brings her a board. She would die of pure insanity. Not being able to comprehend and even if she could she would be able to take in what was happening she couldn't survive on Calliope. Her skin was not metallic. She doesn't have extended life expectancy or the other needed altered DNA signatures to survive. Roxanne hummed to herself while thinking about a solution.
She loved James like a son. But he had to learn. Don't fall in love with subjects. She reminded him this rule his first day. Reminiscing now.
“Maybe I should have been tougher with him?” Roxanne spoke to herself.
“With whom Dear?”
Thalia awoke. She was the intelliframe that ran the ship. Thalia was the ships brain and central nervous system. She knew everyone in, on or around her. She was the only thing older than Roxanne.
Roxanne looked towards the ceiling at a beautiful light blue pearled orb. Thalia hovered in front of Roxanne.
“Oh... James...he doesn't know.” Roxanne pursed her lips.
“Roxanne, you know it's against protocol to hide things from the Capitan.”
“I know, but he's in love with DNA strain 626 and her cow.”
Roxanne really didn't care for Petunia. After one extraction mission Petunia charged her. Petunia knew better. She knew Roxanne. Just didn't like her. Said Roxanne wasn't right and smelled funny. Petunia also knew of the condition of her home planet. She agreed to go only if Roxanne would take her Virginia too. Roxanne said she would think about it. Hence the charging. If anything humans were could at construction and going through that barn door hurt.
“Roxanne? Did you hear me?”
“I'm sorry Thalia. I was in deep thought. What can I do? You know the repercussions.”
“Go back and speak to Petunia. Extract them both. I will work out the rest.” The blue aura that was Thalia had faded. She went back to her deck to calculate.

The alarms went off. The planet showed distress. Time was sort. Roxanne ran to the teleport deck.
When she arrived. She saw James departure.
“What are you doing? The Capitan is to never leave the ship!!” Roxanne screamed.
She jumped on the teleport deck.
“Thalia, send to James coordinates.” Roxanne commanded.
With in a breath Roxanne saw herself on Earth unstable surface. James was holding Virginia's hand. Virginia was reaching out towards Petunia. Crying for her best friend.
“James! James! What are you doing?” she screamed over volcanic winds.
“I couldn't let her die! You know that!”
“rrr... Fine! Have Thalia grab you two, I'll grab the damn cow.”
Roxanne raced towards Petunia. The cow looked at her.
”About time smelly thing. Get us out of here!” said Petunia
Once on the deck. Virginia laid in James arms. The smoke from the volcanic storm filled her lungs. Her skin was burned. The cow moo'ed on the deck. Virginia did not move.
“Thalia! Are you here? What do we do?” James called out to her.
The blue orb descended from the ceiling.
“Hmmmm.... bring them both to the regenerators. Let me see what I can do to save her.” the orb glided to Roxanne.
“I'm not sure what I can do. But I will try my best.”
James looked back at Roxanne with daggers in his eyes.
“I'm sorry.” she mouthed to her Captain.
“I'll be in my quarters. Thalia come get me when you have the final results on Virginia.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Roxanne had tears in her eyes. She didn't mean to lie to him.. She didn't want too. But she couldn't risk a security breach. She couldn't risk his life. She made James from scratch. He was her first reproduction, but little known to him.
Many hours had passed. Thalia came to Roxanne first.
“Couldn't save her. I was however able to extract her full DNA strain.626 is safe.”
Roxanne looked at Thalia. Thalia's blue light glowed on her face.
“Thalia, I'll go talk to him.”
Roxanne brought herself to James' quarters.
“James, I need talk to you.”
No answer.
“James. Please.”
Roxanne allowed herself in his quarters. James was at the window staring out into the Galaxy.
“James I'm sorry. I just couldn't..”
“Will she be alright?” James called back over his shoulder.
“Virginia can be cloned. But not here. We have to bring her back to Calliope.”
“Why? Why couldn't you tell me? You're not allowed to lie to me.”
Roxanne stopped. Tears in her eyes.
“Because you're my son. I couldn't allow you to be killed. I was willing to sacrifice all things including her, the perfect strain, for you.”
“You what? Made her too? She's my sister?”
“No no... I was responsible for her creation. I made her in the lab. Will you allow me to explain?”
“Not now Roxanne. I need time to think.”
James looked towards the ceiling. “Thalia? Set course to Calliope.”
“Aye, Captain.”

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