Pedalers

By Jack B. Sudar

As technology advances, privacy diminishes. As population increases, the world gets smaller. What if, in the near future, the world were to become too small? What if our energy expenditures were eventually overwrought, and in order to survive, we were forced to create our own energy by riding bikes? That is the future for our hero, young Scorpio.

Welcome to the world of Jack B. Sudars Pedalersa world of destruction. In the future, the silent monsters of our present have crushed our hopes. These monsters are not bombs, terrorists, or epic war; instead, the silent monsters are technology, stress, fear, and pollution.

These silent monsters threaten to dismantle human life, but there is hope. There are answers. As a species, we can fight the silent monsters, but we must do it together. Follow Scorpio as he strives to make sense of his world, along with the help of both friend and foe. The salvation of the human race can be accomplished; pleasure and peace can be regained. Before it can happen, though, we must be willing to listen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Dec 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426945243

Jack B. Sudar

Jack B. Sudar is a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather many times over. Throughout his long life, Sudar served in the army and worked for US Steel in Cleveland, Ohio. He currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his loving wife, Bernie.

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© Copyright 2007, 2011 Jack B. Sudar.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Orginal cover design by Laura Riley

Color graphichs by Josh House

Printed in the United States of America.

isbn: 978-1-4269-4522-9 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4269-4523-6 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4269-4524-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010914946

Trafford rev. 12/02/2010

missing image file www.trafford.com

North America & international

toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

phone: [phone] fax: [phone]

This book is what could happen.

I took our existing systems, and world events, plus life styles of people I have encountered, and made changes in a loving way. The rings, like circumcision, can be accepted. Self preservation will love the rings. It is going to be a drastic change in our lives.

Philosopher Aristotle said, I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers; for the hardest victory is over self.

I have learned patience from my wife, Bernarda.

I have seen the most forgiving and unselfish, my father, Jack

I know what hard work and stress can do, my mother Ana

Prayer and meditation every day makes loving the world so much easier.

I would like to thank Jean Ayers, with Independent Clause, for the initial editing of this book. With her patience and red pen, I was able to move forward.

Thank you also to Laura Riley for the original design of the cover and to Josh House for the color graphics.

Why don’t you write a book like this yourself? If never published, or you just write a few pages; you will feel that changes can be made.

When you start to write, we ask only one thing:

LOVE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU, EVEN THE BITING BUGS

Jack B. Sudar

NAMES

Everyone is named after a star

From a country devastated by a plague

Ivan            Very hairy

Manuel

Fillipe

François

Table of Contents

01-Too much smoke

02-Orion’s panic

03-Donor’s choice

04-Swimming

05-Pedaling Energy

06-Dwelling Color

07-Medallion Color

08-Meal Together With Pellets

9-09-Donor is Being Transferred

10-Cleaning Wand

11-Body Cover and Generating

12-Lonesome Place

13-Private Place and Waste

14-Rest and Bounce Game

15-Bounce Game

16-It’s A Female

17-Medical Facility

18-Scouts

19-Decontamination and Surgery

20-Duty Schedule

21-Ombudsman

22-Scientist left for dead

23-New dwelling

24-Testosterone check

25-First Ring

26-Why the Ring

27-Scorpio gets Ringed

28-Decorating the dwelling

29-Mona Lisa

30-Scorpio’s first pain

31-Home schooling

32-Scorpio want to visit Cetus

33-Donor’s work anxiety

34-Donor’s anxiety solution

35-Scorpio stinks

36-Incu’s medallion color change.

37-Musical romance

38-Donor 4 days away

39-Female talk

40-Female talk

41-Female talk

42-Female talk

43-Female talk

44-Female talk

45-Female talk

46-Mate choosing

47-Destructive past

48-Aires returns

49-Scorpio gets lectured

50-Ballot-adding tubes

51-glucose count 207

52-Algol’s medical history

53-Aldebaran in mating pool

54-Mating pool distraction

55-Aggressive females

56-Duhbe not liked

57-Panther

58-Banana glider

59-No panther

60-Transporting patient

61-Strange bacteria

62-Bacteria vote

63-Quiet retreat

64-Almaaz has an emergency

65-Almaaz arrives at lab

66-Bacteria regulations

67-Bacteria research

68-Bacteria splits

69-Historic bacteria

70-Guard near death

71-Guard dies

72-Almaaz’s magnets

73-Isolation benefits

74-Mother and Father

75-Scorpio 16

76-Male and female party

77-Scorpio ill

78-Mosquito bite

79-Scorpio recovers

80-Scorpio healed

81-Researcher infected

82-Tunnel vote

83-Voting

84-Who votes

85-Marsh vote

86-Marsh discussion

87-Marsh discussion

88-Tau delivering

89-Baby is born

90-Baby is perfect

91-Tau’s eye not lost

92-Tau’s eye repaired

93-Adjusting to Alnitak

94-Identification chip imbedded

95-Tau’s head gear

96-Tau hums to Alnitak

97-Eye inquiry

98-Inquiry complete

99-Bounce tournament

100-Scorpio away

101-Scorpio’s other dreams

102-Alcor

103-Airless tube

104-Alcor explains

105-Alcor’s habits

106-Alcor not physical

107-No watts-no monitor

108-Must exercise

109-Alcor is pushed

110-Alcor is obedient

111-Alcor meets Betelgeuse

112-Alcor finding himself

113-Alcor startles Betelgeuse

114-Alcor in love

115-Dwelling offer deferred

116-Bounce rules

117-Bounce

118-Scorpio loses monitor

119-Kidnapping

120-Scorpio tranquilized

121-Aires tranquilized

122-Scorpio in a Lonesome Place

123-Aires and Scorpio released

124-Reckless bicycling

125-Watts for the fine

126-Generating watts

127-Double rate

128-Scorpio exhausted

129-Muscles ache

130-Hologram teacher

131-BOT history

132-Scorpio wants to study

133-Voting history

134-Past votes

135-Studies distractions

136-Alcor very happy

137-Fear gene

138-Alcor in love

139-Repulse beam

140-Repulse beam

141-Alcor gets blanket

142-Betelgeuse sings

143-Scorpio studies

144-Scorpio dreaming

145-Donor’s procreators

146-Aires’ youth

147-Aires’ grades

148-Hypertension

149-Sewer gas

150-Is Scorpio a clone

151-Clone

152-Scorpio a clone?

153-Soothing Scorpio

154-DNA test

155-Scorpio no clone

156-Plant watering

157-Bug catchers

158-Brain damage

159-Melons

160-Dental checkup

161-Teeth OK

162-Other Side

163-Other Side

164-Castor

165-Bounce game

166-Bounce game

167-Bounce game

168-Bounce game

169-Rite of Passage

170-Rite of Passage

171-Rite of Passage

172-Rite of Passage

173-Quiet time

174-Rite of Passage

175-Rite of Passage denied

176-Scorpio passes

177-Praise from Donor

178-Adult responsibilities

179-Gene knowledge

180-Voting is heartbeat

181-Mating pool age

182-Mating age vote

183-Incu’s eye

184-Color blind

185-Eye exam

186-Eye exam

187-Eye exam

188-Eye exam

189-Healing time

190-Glider

191-Glider and music

192-kWh and beads

193-Beads

194-Beads

195-Beads

196-Beads

197-Alphard speeding

198-Mental problem female

199-My little female

200-Alphard tried

201-Fling

202-Fling

203-63 orbit champion

204-Hydra’s bird

205-Hydra teaching Scorpio

206-Hydra teaching Scorpio

207-Hydra’s generosity

208-Donor at Hydras

209-Donor teaching Scorpio

210-Ballot presentation

211-Old Era request

212-Aires consulting Almaaz

213-Old Era Request

214-Old Era request

215-Sands ballot

216-Sands ballot

217-Old woman

218-Scorpio disciplined

219-Alphard

220-Alphard

221-Alphard

222-Alphard

223-Scorpio Bounce game

224-Bounce and school

225-Myths

226-Beads

227-Beads

228-Beads

229-Micro magnetism

230-Sands ballot

231-Sand ballot

232-Sand ballot

233-Record Keeper list

234-Sand ballot

235-Sand ballot

236-Sand ballot

237-The perfect drawing

238-School work

239-Alcor waste pickup

240-Alcor drawings

241-Alcor’s brilliance

242-Low watts

243-Sirus’s vote

244-Sirus upset

245-Struve

246-Struve

247-Struve

248-Cepella

249-Cepella

250-Epidemic

251-Cepella dies

252-Cepella dies

253-Cepella buried

254-People dying

255-Sands misery

256-Hydra

257-Hydra’s flinger

258-Hydra’s flinger

259-Hydra’s flinger

260-Bacteria

261-Bacteria

262-Bacteria

263-Bacteria

264-Bacteria

265-Almaaz’s donor

266-Almaaz’s donor

267-Almaaz’s donor

268-Scorpio’s fling

269-Almaaz’s donor

270-Scorpio’s fling

271-Scorpio’s fling

272-Scorpio’s fling

273-Sand ballot

274-Scorpio votes

275-Free time

276-Tube song

277-Fee time

278-Food supply

279-Pellet insulation

280-Bartering

281-Cepella’s procreators

282-Digger

283-Vote 87%

284-Cepella’s gene pool

285-Beads

286-Scorpio with Donor

287-Safety uniform

288-Safety regulations

289-Sands dying

290-Epilepsy

291-Epilepsy

292-Sirus sick

293-Guinea Pig Sirus

294-Ivan plus 3

295-Diaper for Sands

296-Manuel’s wife dies

297-Rings explained

298-Haircut

299-How to bathe

300-Uniform

301-Uniform

302-Pellets

303-Call to Sands

304-Thieves

305-Breakthrough

306-Sands singing

307-More alcohol

308-Broken neck

309-Demagnetizer

310-Ivan sorry

311-Ivan cleared

312-Scorpio chosen

313-Last hugs

314-Parting tears

315-Scorpio leaving

316-Scorpio leaves

01-Too much smoke

Scorpio was soaked by water his incubator threw onto the fire he had started. You know what? If it had gotten out of hand, kilowatts would be taken from your reserve! Please, Scorpio said with a firm and steady voice, Incubator, I was just measuring the combustion time for this pile of dry wood chips. The pile had a measured amount enough to have a factor of seven. It was not out of hand. Please don’t panic again with me. I believe it best to question my activities before doing what you have just done. You should have told me before you even attempted to experiment. At your age your donor and I have total responsibility for any of your actions. The smoke from your experiment could have started a series of reactions in which all of us would have been visited by the collector of information. That visit does not come without a fee of kilowatts. You did not have a permit. The residue on your experiment shows your total disrespect for the purity of the air. I admire your excitement and knowledge in working with heat calories, but you could have just visited Calorie Experiment Results at your base. If you wish to do the same again, get a permit and the necessary heated molecule chamber. You know how important it is for us to produce as many kilowatts as we can, said his incubator with an equally firm and steady voice. If this incident is closer to what is appropriate to your way of thought, I will give you a hug and if you feel that my actions were proper, I would just love a hug from you, she said. Scorpio smiles and quickly gives his incubator a very tight squeeze, even holding on a few seconds longer than he usually does. That was settled as it usually is.

02-Orion’s panic

Scorpio was delivered by a very loving and considerate woman. She did not get that way just by accident. Her gene history does not have one account of any ancestor for eighteen generations. Her gene pool was cited recently as one that has the highest level of restraint of brain dysfunction due to spontaneous disruption. It missed the beginning of the tubes by three generations.

Third generation Donor Orion was on his last day on his third phase of the moon responsibilities as a water/waste pick up on his last route back and was completely exhausted. He decided on his own to take a land route which would have gotten him to the deposit station a few minutes earlier. The Record Keeper states that a rabbit darted in front of his bicycle and trailer, which was loaded with waste for testing by the health team. The bike’s front wheel hit it at an angle causing Donor Orion to flip on its side and some of the waste packets opened and spilled their contents onto the back of his uniform. The front wheel was bent just enough to rub against the front fork but moveable. He returned to the deposit station via the land route entrance, parked the trailer, and deposited the work bicycle to the lot with all of the others, and walked to pick up the all use one. He was now in the area of full audio and video detection. The bicycle recovery inspector informed the waste attendant that a report was to be made for the bent wheel. He approached Orion and asked to return to the deposit station and make a report, then smelled something foul. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary other than the odor and he asked Orion if he farted or does he always smell that way? He told the attendant what happened. The attendant pushed the panic button and yelled into the microphone, Code 4! Code 4! That was two short of the highest alerts.

03-Donor’s choice

In just a matter of minutes, three Enforcement Regulators glided out of nowhere and Donor Orion was surrounded. That wasn’t upsetting, but when they smelled him they threw a body bag around him while he was seated. He struggled to free himself by clawing with his fingernails. The bag followed each of his fingers with the slightest of strain. He twisted as much as he could, placed his body across the bag, and gave one vein busting push. His effort proved successful as he was able to bust one of his feet from out of the bag. He grabbed the hole with both hands ripping it apart, growling like a mother bear protecting her cub. One tiny spray into the opening by an ER was all it took to totally immobilize the panicked prisoner.

He was transported to the decontamination chamber, but was then later moved to a lonesome place for three rotations. The three ERs had to be decontaminated also, and that was another kilowatt fee that was removed from Orion’s reserve. The accident would have been totally overlooked, even the bent wheel, but brain dysfunction due to any kind of spontaneous disruption is not acceptable. Orion’s loss from his reserve was for replacing the bag, and the decontamination time for the three ERs, plus the spray. The Record Keeper has everyone’s activities, and everyone has access to them.

Scorpio’s Donor knew everything about his incubator before he accepted her offer of a union for procreation. What a romance. He programmed his DNA into The Record Keeper. Up came 429 potential females compatible to his for a sound procreation. He studied every physical attribute and learning scale number each with greater concern than his final exams as a Health Team Supervisor. The decision he makes will be with the Tubes for eternity. He wanted a stable offspring; more intelligent than even himself.

04-Swimming

A donor for today’s responsibility is not a simple task. When the tubes were originated, voting gave The Record Keeper full authority to select the so-called perfect union. It was accepted because it was the craze of the time. The automatic version gave rise to a non-emotional attachment between the procreators. It did take three generations to have a complete changeover because of the fear of reverting back to the obsolete primitive culture. The fear had motivated to such a fiery tempo, the possibility of an open rebellion was very real. Free through was encouraged in all walks of life but the one; procreation. The free flow of semen has destroyed every society that has ever existed. The separation of the sexes causes more turmoil than before the tubes.

Scorpio was most intense in his studies even at the age of 14 solar orbits. He liked soccer, bounce, swimming, and dabbled in other sports. His kilowatt hours in Reserve were normal with others his age. His incubator invited him to the beach which was 12 kilometers away. Every time he went, his generation drag was usually set low, because exertion on his sprouting joints was too painful. He tried a higher kilowatt generating number on his bike, but the exertion was too great. Off they went to the tube opening 200 meters away. Different color of body could be set by each wearer. It wasn’t until five generations ago that they were all one color or another. Now, they were weird squares and stripes, and zigzags, plus many other goofy looking combinations, which had no real rhyme or reason. The beauty of free thought.

05-Pedaling Energy

The sun’s radiation wasn’t too great today. Solar flare session has just passed and the ozone layer was slowly recovering from abuses by the ancestors. Scorpio, why don’t you pull your R-shield over your head? Your face will take a little and no real damage will be done pleaded Incu. He did so, and then ran across the sand, eventually being enveloped by what was the largest wave of the day. His incubator kept a sharp eye on him and was not too far away, just in case if a problem were to arise. He recognized some others he knew using the same holo-teacher. Splashing females was the best of all. Underwater tag seemed to attract the greatest number of juveniles. When the time came to close, Scorpio and Incu went to the tube entrance, picked up a bike, adjusted their seat to their own fit, and headed off to their dwelling pedaling the entire journey. Their body cover was nearly dry before they entered the tube, but was wet with sweat again a kilometer into the tube.

Incu rubbed her underarms one at a time in an upward movement which allowed the body cover to provide more body heat to be released. If need be, she would do the same wherever she felt uncomfortable. She noticed Scorpio slowing down and talked to him on his speaker phone. What’s up big boy? asked Incu. Nothing Incu, I’m trying to increase my generation, but the distance we have to go, I might need you to push me with my generator set to zero if I keep this number. It had happened before a few orbits ago when Scorpio was showing off to his neighborhood leader, who was in the adjacent tube. He was totally exhausted and his legs just gave out. Pride sometimes can be crushed by the simplest of actions.

06-Dwelling Color

Incu, do you like the hues reflecting from our dwelling? They seem to have no life in them. The far right of the spectrum is great in cooler weather, but the Celsius is down said Scorpio. What meets your fancy today, my little kilowatt generator? Incubator returned. Something more in line with the others around us. OK? Be my guest, just not too radical, you know how Donor feels don’t you? Incu, this was not the setting we had when we left! Someone or something moved it. I’ll bet it is one of those birds perched on the control. I’m going to have to improvise some kind of cover, grunted Scorpio. Now, you know you can’t do that unless the voters approve, replied Incu. It’s no big deal. Just move the setting to where it was, and that’s it she continued. We will only be here a few more rotations because your donor has chosen to become the leader in the recovery clinic 200 kilometers south of here. His generation rate will dramatically increase in that position. Now, you can see why our dwelling here is like everywhere, a dwelling.

The plants growing around the dwelling were in full bloom. It wouldn’t be much more than 30 rotations before some of them could be harvested. Rain had not fallen for more than a moon phase and everyone in their respective dwellings would have enough water so the plants would not suffer. Non-potable water bladders were placed at convenient locations. Covered containers for the irrigation had to be physically moved to the plants. Only the ones that would produce fruit were moistened enough for them to do what nature had intended. Plant coordinators were on the move constantly observing for drooping plants. It was their job to check the plants, water them if need be, and record the degree of damage; if any, there would be a kilowatt deduction to the dwelling occupant.

07-Medallion Color

It was late in the day when Donor Aires returned to the dwelling. He was at his chosen station at daybreak full of vigor and now had just enough energy to have the last quiet time of the day with Incu and Scorpio. It was a normal rotation. Nothing unusual. Aires popped a few pellets before spreading out his mat. They were programmed by the nutritionists. Now and then, fresh vegetables would be available and would be there to supplement the dried stuff as Scorpio called it.

I’m glad to see you two at the beach today. Did you notice that gawky body cover that was under the umbrella next to yours? Aires asked and continued, Is there a name for that color? I looked at the color chart and it seemed it was not between any hues. It was magenta and the reflection off the sand and the other umbrella did give it an awkward hue, said his incubator. Now, how did you find time to get into that beach area? Incu asked. Now, come on mate. You were recorded leaving the tube for the beach and it only takes a moment or two to find you. With someone like your body, you stood out like a beacon, was his response. Do I? We’ll find out what your feelings are before long, she cooed. He looked at her medallion and its color was not right for them together. He knew the consequences of pregnancy. He felt fortunate that it has been fourteen solar orbits since Scorpio because of his knowing her cycle. Incu, acting like you are now just might make you have to use another dwelling for the night. Look at your cycle medallion. Don’t tempt me again, please, please, please. The time will be here in four rotations, Donor Aires pleaded.

08-Meal Together With Pellets

Scorpio knew what his donor was going through. The agony of other ringed males was evident most everywhere. At the beach, his male associates who were a few orbits older than he would come in close contact with a female and let off a groan and be in pain. Arousal would do its normal thing, but with the ring in place, the results were such agony that it quickly dissipated. Scorpio knew that he would be having the same done to him. It was a mournful ceremony attended by anyone who was stationed in dwellings near to his.

They usually ate their food pellets at leisure, but this time they held hands around the small table together and all said, May the originator of the universe be kind to us. May the one who taught us to love one another be with us. May the wisdom of the voters be the best for new procreation. May the Record Keeper be accurate. Each of the three released proportional amounts of the small round balls of concentrated food from its sterile dispenser. The flavor was changed for their desire by dusting whichever one they found most palatable. Water was discouraged at meals because chewing their food caused the salivary glands to work, making for easier digestion. Plus, chewing toughened the jaws and teeth roots. The small particles of the pellets would cleanse the teeth leaving them very bright. The Health Group gave notices on every monitor periodically every rotation, not only on teeth, but other necessary preventative procedures. Non-compliance would not be practical. The lunar exam at the automated examiner would notice it, and the Health Team would do a follow up. Kilowatt deductions were severe when it was administered by the Health Team.

9-09-Donor is Being Transferred

How about some chess now? asked Donor Aires. Me first! shouted Scorpio. The last few times Scorpio did very well. In fourteen moves he captured his donor’s King. The practice with the computers did wonders. Donor Aires moved a pawn in front of the king, confusing Scorpio to no end. What was that? The last time we went at it, you always opened a path for your bishop. What advantage would you have with that move? he pleaded. You know that there are all kinds of first moves, and you have to know them all. I suggest you get acquainted with First Moves in Chess. Your incubator did, and now she is unbeatable, he firmly suggested. It ended with a tie. Great for the young man to be.

I just researched the new facility you want to move in to. We have it so much nicer in this dwelling. The beach is closer; many more boys Scorpio’s age are here. Plus, all of the plants that we have will supplement our diet and we could save on kilowatts of food we need. Please give it some serious thought, Incu said. Yes, you are right on all points. I believe we went over this before I decided for the transfer. The rate increase in itself was sufficient. The dwelling there will have plants as they are here, and the pool near the health center has a therapy pool which can be used by anyone. It is also much closer than the beach is here. Why didn’t you raise any objections before now? We must keep in mind that we will not live forever and our amount in the reserve is very important. It’s settled. We leave in two rotations which will be the end of my three phases. If I would have chosen the third quarter, we would be gone by now, Donor Aires firmly let his choice be known.

10-Cleaning Wand

Incubator did her best to tidy up the next two rotations. The cleaning wand was used for everything from bathing, cleaning the inside of the dwelling, top to bottom, making any edibles fit for consumption. Bath time was special for everyone. That meant removing the body cover and moving the wand over the whole body. Long hair was a challenge at times. It would block the screen cover and the vacuum would pull on the hair, especially if it was held in one place for too long. Four liters of water was the maximum that each person had for each rotation. Bathing would take one half of one liter. The residue of a bath was deposited into a proper container and was identified. It would sense the user’s identification from his or her head chip. It was very important to be the closes to the user because the Health Team would call to verify that a male’s estrogen levels were in error. The error did not deduct too may kilowatts the first offense.

The move would be an easy one. The tube that they were going to use had many others side by side, over and under, which meant that they could pedal at a pace that was most comfortable for Scorpio. The evening before they left, Incu cleaned all of the body covers and stored all of the information and personal discs and loaded each into three trailers. They were all the same size. A good size back pack would have been enough, but for that long of a distance, it was so much more comfortable to use the trailer. Food was the greatest burden. Donor Aires preferred the mix of his pellets form the local food supplier than he had ever before. That is one thing about being stationed here he will miss. He didn’t have to use as much flavoring to make them palatable.

11-Body Cover and Generating

The body cover was worn at all times. No spare was needed because they were available everywhere. The sizes were expandable so that only a few different sizes were needed. They were worn over the body and easily pulled from top to bottom with just enough of a slit near the head to easily pull over, and then would stick together again just leaving the head out. The attached hood would cover everything but the face. A clear mask was always in the chest pocket for easy access. Its porous nature allowed for easy breathing and prevented any insects or dust on very