Peter Prellwitz - Shards Book One

And that was all I knew about him, while he knew everything about me, down to the number of girls I'd kissed in high school. I was one of only six people ever allowed to see him personally, but he was quirky about keeping his name to himself. NATech was full of quirky people. But then, if I lived inside a mountain, I'd be quirky, too.

I sat down in the only other chair-even the six of us who actually saw the boss saw him one at a time-and he slid me a cup of black coffee. We had a mutual liking for it, and his consumption alone probably supported several large plantations south of the border. I took a swig, then pulled out Mike and set it on the desk. It turned on at the sound of my voice, and a solid, three-dimensional display of Mars appeared, floating several inches above the processor panel.

Knowing we'd be having lunch together later, I got straight to business.? I brought along the final analysis of the Mars terra base. Turns out that five hectares is pretty much the maximum with an atmosphere shield using a geothermal power source. Anything more and people start talking in squeaky voices and dying."

His youthful eyes sparkled at the challenge of impossible problems.? Yes, I thought that, too. Debbie felt that we could go to twelve hectares if we used five smaller plants, each putting out seventeen point three percent capacity of the large single.? Which was exactly as Janet had speculated. A very sharp woman, was Miss Yashida. Which made Debbie a razor.? After Debbie's unorthodox solution to the antimatter holocaust scenario, I'm willing to consider anything she suggests. Look into it."

"Will do.? Debbie was still pretty new to NATech, only four years, but her wild ideas had a way of fitting in. If she thought twelve hectares was a safe maximum, it probably meant it was. We talked it through for about twenty minutes, then spent another twenty on Chris' breakthrough. Finally, I brought up the project he was really interested in.

"I've finished and compiled the genetic print for the Pisces project. The promo boys are antsy to start up the ol' rumor machine."

He nodded.? Have you transferred your final formulas and genetic codes to the main systems yet?"

"Not yet. I'm just heading there now."

"Good. You've done some admirable work on the Pisces project, John. With the ocean floors actually open to colonization by a new people, we can look forward to some big changes, in both world economics and political makeup. In twenty years,? he added with a faint smile. That was the credo of NATech: In Twenty Years. He continued.? Right now, you and your palmtop are more important than me."

I laughed.? Yeah, well, maybe for another hour or so. If I waited any longer, Al and Terry would hunt me down. They're hot to get the 'word' out, as it were.? I stood up.? Well, that's the update. Lunch around two-thirty?"

"Fine. And restrain the chef on the paprika this time. Physically, if you must. That man has little regard for subtlety."

I grinned and put Mike away. Turning away and walking to the elevator, I made a mental note to look up Debbie and invite her to a late dinner, compliments of NATech. Though it would be a business dinner-we worked long hours-I would still enjoy her company. Debbie's eyes were always light and sparkly, nearly identical to the boss's. In fact, it was startling how their eyes were so similar…

I shuddered at the resulting uninvited mental picture. I'd have Janet advise the kitchen about today's lunch. What was the cook's name? Craig? Kurt? No, it was Carl. The elevator door opened, and I stepped into the defense field.

That is all I remember.

PISCES PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLETION, THOUGH IT IS ONLY THROUGH TRAGEDY THAT WE MOVE FORWARD. YOU HAVE ENTRY, DOCTOR. HOW WAS YOUR DAY? I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT YOUR VIEWER SIGNAL, SO THE BERN LECTURES ARE CLEAR AS A BELL NOW. POWER PLANT 8134J FOR THE HERALD IS UNSTABLE, AS SUSPECTED. AFT THRUSTERS ARE UNABLE TO RESPOND WITH CONSISTENCY.

REPLACEMENT OF POWER PLANT IS RECOMMENDED. THE TEMPERATURE TODAY IS A BALMY 30, WITH WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTH AT TEN KNOTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS AFTERNOON'S SCHEDULED RAIN SHOWER WILL INCLUDE HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND SOME THUNDER. CONTINUED DIFFICULTIES WITH THE NOVA SCOTIA STATION GRID WILL ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HAIL. CLEAN THE DISHES, THEN PICK UP FRESH APPLES AND CARROTS. THURSDAY'S PARTY IS FOR TWELVE, SO AT LEAST FOUR KILOS OF MEAT IS REQUIRED. FOR DESSERT, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE FOR ELEVEN, WITH PLAIN RICE CAKES FOR MRS. HARRIS. POUR, PRESS, COOL. RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POOR PRESS COOL RESET. DIAGNOSTIC MODE INDICATES A FAULT AT JUNCTION RED 12/YELLOW 5. DISPATCHING PERSONNEL TO

CORRECT. RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. POUR PRESS COOL RESET. YES, DEKE, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU! I HAVE TO, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TO. AND I WANT TO. HERE, LET ME HOLD YOU CLOSE. IF YOU DO NOT REPORT LEAKAGES BY 8:30AM, AN AFTERNOON CALL WILL HAVE TO BE MADE. A LEAKAGE REPORTED PRIOR TO 8:30AM CAN BE CORRECTED AS A MORNING PRIORITY. ALSO, REMEMBER TO MAKE LATE NIGHT CREDIT TRANSFERS FROM THE SOUTH CREDIT MACHINE, WHERE I CAN GIVE PROPER LIGHTING AND PROTECTION. 1101001 01000100111010 1001011000101001010100101010001010001010 101111011010101101000101100101010 FINAL SEQUENCING. BREAK. ACTIVATION OF AUTHORIZATION ROUTINE. SIR, THE 2R45TH6I39EITW CODE IS VERIFIED. LAUNCH CAN COMMENCE UPON FINAL AUTHORIZATION OF YOURSELF AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT. ROD REACTION TIME DURING DRILL WAS.7 SECONDS, A 23% DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE. GAUGE 193 IN AREA D2 IS FAULTY AGAIN. GET IT FIXED RIGHT THIS TIME. ACCESS TO RED ZONES WILL BE RESTRICTED FOR THE FOLLOWING 35 HOURS AND 17 MINUTES, UNTIL DECONTAMINATION IS COMPLETE. WELCOME TO THE NET, CITIZEN! IT'S 7:41 IT'S

12:57 IT'S 3:09 IT'S 9:21 IT'S 9:22 IT'S 6:00 IT'S MIDNIGHT IT'S 5:12 IT'S NOT FRESH, M'SEIUR! HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO KEEP THE FIRMNESS AFTER BOILING WHEN IT'S NOT CRISP TO BEGIN WITH? DOES THIS FEEL GOOD? AM I GIVING YOU PLEASURE? THE GARAGE WILL BE CLOSED TO NON-HOVER STYLE VEHICLES PANEL 27A OF DECK R NEEDS NEW GROOVING DEFENSIVE GRID ON DISABLE ALL ELECTRICAL ANTIPERSONNEL DEVICES FROM THIS DAY OOOOOHHH! AGAIN, PLEASEPO URPRESSCOOLLIFTSIX STALLEDONSIXTHFLO FIREREPO RBEDS TSE DIKEFFIOL EKI CNR ITTEOS EDKTC… PHILANTHROPIST CARL NOOHICHA WAS AWARDED DRILL ROUTINE COMPLETED. CONTACTING SUPERVISOR CARL POWERS FOR ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO SERVE CANDIED YAMS ON FRIDAY? ONE OF YOUR GUESTS, CARL WILLIAMS, PREFERS THE GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR! WHILE YOU WERE OUT, YOU RECEIVED THREE MESSAGES FROM YOUR BROTHER, CARL. HE'D LIKE LET'S JUST UNDO I'LL LET THE COOK KNOW ABOUT THE PAPRIKA, BOSS. I THINK HIS NAME'S CARL

"you can bury me Beneath the western sky, on the lone prairie."

"Come on. You can wake up, now.? The voice was both soothing and gruff at the same time. And quietly persistent.? There's no need to stay asleep. Open your eyes.? I tried to, but couldn't quite. It was more than a little distressing; opening your eyes isn't the same as operating heavy machinery MAIN CARGO HATCH READY FOR ASSEMBLY ENGAGE PRIMARY LOADING ARM

but it may as well have been. I felt terribly weak and disoriented. I tried harder to wake up, but couldn't quite. A large, heavy, comfortable hand rested on my shoulder. Judging by the size, he must have been over seven feet tall. At least it matched his voice, soothing though it was.

"No, no, don't strain. I suppose it's not quite time after all. You'll awake when your mind and body are ready.? He paused, then spoke again, as though to someone else.? Notation: Patient is in final stages of Healer's Sleep and is conscious. Orientation will be postponed until further examination in the morning.?

I felt him gently take my hand in his. Bedside manner is all well and good, and despite a voice that belonged to construction foreman, his was reassuring. But this was a little much. I tried again to open my eyes. It seemed as though my mind wanted to wake up, but my body didn't. I'd never had an experience like this before. He sensed my struggle.