Arbor

By D.J. Courtney

After their long journey, the colonists who landed on Barax 4 were overjoyed to find that the planet was even better in reality than it had appeared in the survey reports. Their new home was a lush, green paradise. They quickly went about the business of getting settled in, thankful for their good fortune. Not once did it enter anyone's mind that when something looks far too good to be true, it usually is. . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 15, 2007
• ISBN: 9781467817929

D.J. Courtney

D.J. Courtney grew up in Arizona.  She lived the first seven years of her life in Prescott with her grandparents, in a home with no television or radio.  Books, reading and storytelling were an early and significant part of her life, and from that beginning grew her love of writing.   For over ten years, the author worked as a cross-country truck driver, but continued writing with a laptop plugged into the cigarette lighter of the truck.  With truck driving now behind her, the author continues to pursue her love of writing.  Arbor is her third published work, with ten other novels currently in various stages of development.

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© 2007 D.J. Courtney. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 3/5/2007

ISBN: 978-1-4259-7440-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4678-1792-9 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

This book is a work of fiction. Places, events, and situations in this story are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental, with the exception of Scooter the dog, who appears as herself.

Contents

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

ONE

The first thing Reyna Vaderott became aware of was the cold: enveloping like a blanket, it penetrated clear through to the bone, gripping her painfully in its damp, icy fingers. Struggling to move, she heard a loud clattering sound, then realized a moment later it was her own teeth chattering, caused by her violent shivering. Two warm hands came from somewhere and helped Reyna into a sitting position. Her long brown hair was sopping wet and stuck like a frozen ribbon along her spine, slowly dripping frigid fluid down the crack of her butt. Opening bleary eyes, Reyna immediately squeezed them shut again with a moan of pain, as the light lanced painfully into her unprepared retinas. The hands wrapped a warm, fuzzy towel around her shuddering, naked body and thrust a mug of something hot and wonderful under her nose. Reyna grasped for it gratefully and began consuming the contents in tiny, rapid sips.

Reyna, how do you feel? The question came from right in front of her, probably from the owner of the warm hands. The voice sounded familiar.

I’m freezing, Reyna replied, teeth still chattering, although slower now.

That will pass, the voice said cheerfully. Do you know where you are?

Reyna thought for a moment. I’m not sure. She paused, then, "on the New Horizon? Excited, she added, are we here?"

Yes, on both counts, the cheerful voice confirmed, and Reyna now recognized the voice as belonging to Vinita Kelbaker, one of the colony’s physicians.

Have you seen it yet? Reyna asked, forcing one blue eye open now in spite of the bright light. Vinita’s pleasant face swam into view.

Yes, just one quick look, though. I had to get back here to start bringing all of you ‘round, Vinita replied. In fact, she continued, If you’re feeling all right, I have some other patients to attend to.

I’m fine, Reyna assured her. Didn’t mean to hold you up. I’ll just sit here for a bit longer until this stuff starts to work, she held up the mug, and then I’ll head for the showers.

Good. Vinita nodded. They’ve tentatively scheduled a meeting for 2100. All colony operations team members are required to attend, assuming everyone’s awake and functioning. I’ll see you then.

Sounds good. Reyna watched Vinita’s retreating back topped with its mop of curly hair disappear around the corner, then attempted to get her other eye pried open. She was sitting on the edge of the damping cylinder, with feet dangling. A small amount of the fluid in which her body had been suspended during the long trip dripped over the edge of the cylinder and onto the floor. Traveling damped was not her idea of a good time. The name was accurate, Reyna thought sourly, for not only were a person’s bodily functions damped to a minimum level of function, but the fluid the body floated in seemed to soak all the way through, leaving a person feeling soggy even on the inside. Getting gingerly to her feet, she began toweling off. First a shower, then up to the bridge for a peek. Reyna felt her excitement rising. They were here! After eighteen months of travel, they had arrived at their new home!

Reyna was not alone in her excitement. All through the colony ship, key personnel were being revived from damping, in preparation for their landing. This was the moment some of them had been waiting for all of their lives.

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Humans had been active in space for quite some time and, while they had been able to supplement the needs of Earth from many of the new planets discovered, it wasn’t enough. The ever expanding population placed an increasingly heavier burden on the Earth itself. Finally, the World Commission, the single governing entity for Earth, had initiated a colonization program. While the program had originally got off to a slow start because of people’s fear and skepticism, after the success of the first few colonies there were far more people lined up to go off planet than there were available planets to colonize. Even though many volunteers were sent to expand the size of existing, established colonies, there was still a tremendous need for new planets to populate. Many individuals wanted to be in the first wave, the group that would originally settle a planet. In an attempt to fairly deal with the demand, the World Commission, or WC as it was commonly called, instituted a registry and lottery system. Anyone wishing to be a colonist had to register, then submit to a battery of tests; physical, psychological and occupational. Once an individual was approved, they were then placed into a holding pool until their test results were matched to an appropriate colony group. Those sent to existing colonies usually didn’t have too long to wait. However, if an individual had requested and been approved to be part of a first wave colonization, that prospective colonist could only wait and hope that his assigned group number would be drawn in the next planet lottery. The lotteries were held whenever a suitable planet was approved for colonization. Those waiting to be chosen had quickly established a network of their own for finding out who was in the same group, a nicety overlooked by the WC. As a result, by the time a group’s number was chosen, most of the members already knew each other well and had a working rapport among themselves. This was a major contributing factor in the success of the new colonizations, for which the WC took great pleasure in accepting all the credit.

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After finishing her shower and retrieving her somewhat musty clothes from the locker where they had been deposited eighteen months previously, Reyna immediately went to the cafeteria. There she found many familiar faces, all in various stages of excitement at the prospect of soon landing. Most of those same faces were stuffed with food, for they were all as hungry as she was.

Hi, Reyna, a loud female voice came from behind her. Reyna turned to find Erin Essex, the colony’s law and security advisor. They had formed a friendship in the months prior to their departure from Earth, and Reyna had been wondering where she was.

Hello, Erin. I see you survived the trip.

Ugh! Erin replied, her nose wrinkling. It will be at least a day or two before I feel completely dry.

I don’t like it either, Reyna replied. I don’t think anyone does. Have you had a look at our new home? she asked.

Nope. Went up to the control deck and they wouldn’t let me in. That grizzly bear of a pilot told me there were too many people coming up just for a peek and it was interfering with his crew’s work. Said we could all get a look later during the meeting, and then he practically shut the door in my face.

Rats. I was hoping to go up and look after I ate. Reyna stuck out her lower lip in a joking pout. Guess I’ll have to wait.

Won’t be long, Erin gestured to the time display on the wall. As slow as you eat, you’ll be lucky to make it to the meeting on time.

I prefer to chew my food rather than inhale it like you do, Reyna retorted with a smile.

Well, I’ve got a couple of things to do, Erin said. See you at the meeting.

See you.

Reyna finished her meal and, after exchanging pleasantries with several other acquaintances, left the cafeteria and went back to the small enviro-pod that had held her damping cylinder. The cylinder was gone, replaced with a small but comfortable bed. The outfitting crew had been busy in her absence. Reyna looked with satisfaction around the pod that would be her home on the new world until the colony could get settled and begin building structures out of native materials. It was small, but adequate for her needs. She hurried to the locker bay and had just enough time to move her personal belongings from the locker to the pod before it was time to go to the meeting. Reyna’s things lay in a disorderly heap on the bed, but the pod already looked more like home. She would worry about putting everything away later, after the meeting.

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The small conference room off the control deck was already crowded when Reyna arrived, even though it was still a few minutes early. Finding a spot out of the way along one wall, she surveyed the room. Sixteen people, counting herself, comprised the colony operations team; the people upon whose leadership would rest the main responsibility for the success or failure of the colony. Reyna knew everyone there, at least by name and profession; a few on a more personal level. The noise level was tremendous as everyone seemed to be talking at once. Bartholomew Mick came in and propped himself up in one corner near the door. He was a huge bear of a man, thick and dark, with large bushy eyebrows that reminded Reyna of caterpillars. As the pilot, he was responsible for getting them properly landed and settled in. That task complete, he would return to Earth with the shell of the colony ship. Though the pilot was unpopular with some of the colonists, Reyna thought him professional and extremely competent. She didn’t mind that his manner was somewhat gruff. Shortly after Bartholomew came in, Hogan Lander entered and closed the door behind him. The noise level fell, then ceased entirely as everyone waited to hear what Hogan had to say. A graying, soft-spoken man of indeterminate age and steel spine, he was their leader, chosen by majority vote of the colonists prior to their departure from Earth. They had chosen wisely, and Hogan Lander had been immediately approved by the WC.

I know we’re all eager to get started, so I’m going to turn the floor over to Bart, here, he gestured to Bartholomew Mick, who stepped away from the wall and came to stand beside Hogan. He’ll brief us all again on the landing procedures and what to expect.

We are currently in a stationary orbit over the planet’s only land mass, which is located in the southern hemisphere, Bart began without preamble. "This will allow all of you a good look at the entire continent before we go down. Once all preparations for landing are complete, I will take the New Horizon into a lower orbit so we can locate the landing site you have selected. I’ll need Hogan, he nodded at the colony leader, and any other personnel he deems necessary to be on the control deck at that time to make the final decision on the exact landing location. As soon as location is agreed upon, we’ll set down, local weather and time of day permitting, of course, Bart continued. We will begin off-loading the New Horizon as soon as we land. The survey charts indicate your landing site to be fairly level and open, so I estimate the total time for off-loading the colony shouldn’t exceed five days."

Then you leave us? a soft female voice asked from the back of the room. It came from Loras Kali, tiny and dark, the colony meteorologist.

Bart nodded. Then I leave you. You’re on your own. He softened his words with a rare smile, then turned to Hogan. Any idea how long before you’re ready for us to go into our low orbit?

Hogan shook his head. I haven’t had time to talk to anyone yet. But, since you’re all here, he continued, turning his attention to the rest of the room, I’ll just find out now and then we’ll all know. First things first, Hogan said. Vinita, how are you coming along with reviving our people?

Progressing well, Vinita reported. All lead personnel have been revived with no complications. Stu and I, she nodded at Steuben Ehrenkrook, the colony’s other physician, have finished with the outfitting crews and I understand they’re already at work. Vinita smiled as several nods around the room confirmed this to be true. I estimate we’ll have everyone up and functioning in another six hours.

No complications with anyone? Hogan asked.

None so far, Stu chimed in. We haven’t done any of the children yet, because we want to really take our time with them. And, of course, we’ve left the animals for last.

Still, that’s good news, Hogan nodded approval. With damping, there was always a possibility, though slight, that someone might not revive, or could revive with injury. He looked around the room until he found who he was looking for. Carl?

As Vinita mentioned, the outfitting crews are already working, Carl Pettibone replied. Carl was crew chief of the outfitters, as well as an experienced builder and environmental systems tech. We should have everyone’s enviro-pod refitted within twelve hours and be ready to start off-loading right after we land. We’ll start knocking down the storage bulkheads as soon as everything else is on the ground. Reconfiguring all the damping cylinders into hydroponics tanks will take some time; I hadn’t planned on starting those until after we’ve finished everything else. Carl looked across the room at Saffron Holt, the hydroponics expert, and she nodded agreement.

Hogan was pleased at what he heard. I believe we’ll be ready to go into low orbit within twenty-four hours, possibly less, Hogan told Bart.

Excellent, Bart said. Let me know as soon as you’re ready. Hopefully, we can time our descent to the local day so we can find our site in the morning and be on the ground before dark.

Will do, Hogan agreed. He looked around the room. Does anyone have any questions or comments?

I do, Reyna said, from her spot against the back wall. I’d like to talk with you and Carl after we land and he’s got the outfitting crews started. Once we’re on the ground and can see first hand what we have to deal with, we need to determine our priorities in order to proceed in an organized manner.

I’ll set time aside for that, Hogan replied. Carl?

As soon as my crews are all working, no problem, he answered. Just give me a few hours to get everyone going.

Thank you, Reyna said.

I’d like to remind everyone that Reyna is our facilitator, Hogan said. Anything you need done to assist you with your own work, or any problems you have with your enviro-pods or your equipment, let her know. All work needs to be channeled through her, so things can be attended to in their proper priority. Also, he continued, "beginning the morning after the New Horizon’s departure and until further notice, there will be a meeting each morning at 0800 for all colony operations team personnel. We need to work together to make this a success, and I want all of us to know what’s going on with each other at all times. Then, he asked again, any other questions?"

First there was silence, then Erin spoke up. Since no one else will ask, I will: when do we get a look at our new home?

Bart was surprised that no one had asked before this. As soon as this meeting is over. He glanced at Hogan, cocking one bushy eyebrow in inquiry as he turned towards the door.

If there are no more questions, we’re finished for now, Hogan announced, then stepped quickly back against the wall to avoid being trampled by Erin as her stocky form rushed by him, following Bart out the door.

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The next twenty-four hours were hectic ones for everyone on board the New Horizon. The remainder of the colonists were revived without complications, while the outfitting crews kept up their feverish pace converting the enviro-pods. All lead personnel were working diligently preparing for landing, while the majority of the other colonists had work assignments which kept them busy as well.

Reyna lay in her bunk, taking a short rest. They were due to start their low orbit in six hours and her work was done until after they landed. She would not be needed in the group that pinpointed the landing site. Reyna thought back on the view of their new home she had enjoyed after the meeting. It was beautiful; an emerald jewel against a black velvet backdrop spangled with strange stars. With two moons. They had known there were two moons, but it looked odd, just the same, to actually see them. Reyna supposed it would look even stranger from the surface. When Bart had turned on the large forward viewing screen, there had been hushed silence for a good thirty seconds before anyone had spoken. Bart, who had delivered a good many colonies to their new homes, had hazarded an opinion that it was one of the most beautiful places he’d seen so far, at least from space. Reyna hoped it was as nice on the ground as it appeared from up here.

After the viewing everyone had quickly disbursed, for there was much work to be done. Reyna had managed to talk to Vinita for a few minutes as they left the control deck. Vinita had estimated the animals would be revived in approximately fourteen hours and confirmed that the pets would be revived first, followed by the stock animals. Now, however, they were running a bit behind and Reyna had been waiting impatiently for sixteen hours to pick up her dog.

The first several colonies had not been allowed pets of any kind. The World Commission had held the view that such animals were an unnecessary transport and support expense. Over time, hounded by the many pet owners who also wanted to be colonists, the WC had come to accept the evidence (which had been around for many years) that pets have strong beneficial psychological and even physical effects on their owners. The WC finally approved a small number of pets on a trial basis at selected colonies. Dogs, in particular, were found to not only adapt well to their new surroundings but to help their owners adapt as well. The WC relented and, from then on, pets were in. There were still strict regulations and, because of space restrictions, only small pets could be taken, but many colonists now took their pets with them. Reyna was the proud owner of a five-pound, black-and-tan Chihuahua named Scooter and she eagerly walked down the main corridor to the livestock area to retrieve her companion.

Scooter was still shaking from the cold of the damping, a quivering unhappy lump of fur when Reyna arrived to pick her up. The dog soon forgot about the cold, however, and jumped nearly to Reyna’s waist in joy to see her mistress. Hello, fuzz-face, Reyna said affectionately and, tucking the dog under one arm, went back to her pod. Within minutes, Scooter was curled up on one of Reyna’s soft winter shirts, sound asleep.

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It was early morning on the planet below. On the control deck of the New Horizon, Bart Mick and Hogan Lander sat in front of the forward view screen, along with Neil Anjin, the colony’s master builder, and Dorie Lander, Hogan’s wife, who was also the colony cartographer. A moment later the door opened, and Carl Pettibone joined them.

That’s all of us, Hogan said to Bart. Are you ready to take us down?

Please take a seat, Carl, Bart advised the newest arrival, before moving to his seat at the control boards. The image of the planet began to grow in the view screen, quickly growing too large to be contained on the screen. As they descended, more details became visible on the planet’s surface. Soon they were low enough to see mountains and valleys, lakes and streams.

Would you look at this place, Carl breathed. It’s beautiful.

It looks even better than it did in the pictures we saw, Dorie agreed.

I was hoping those pictures weren’t too good to be true, Neil said, staring at the view screen. I’m glad to see my fears were unfounded.

They continued to descend, slowing as they went. Bart carefully made minor adjustments to their course, zeroing in on the coordinates of the landing site which the colony group had selected, and the WC approved, before they had even left Earth.

A scowl slowly settled over Bart’s face as he looked from the coordinates to the view screen and back again. That’s odd, he said, almost under his breath.

What’s odd? Hogan asked, concerned.

We are at the coordinates where, according to the original survey charts, your landing site should be located. See, Bart pointed to a spot on the view screen, there’s supposed to be a half-moon shaped cliff, and there it is. The charts indicate you selected a large meadow located off to one side of the cliff.

That’s correct, Hogan advised him, staring at the view screen. I see a meadow there. What’s the problem?

The problem is, Bart explained, still scowling, the meadow is not in the location it should be, according to these survey charts. It’s not the right shape or size, either.

Let me see. Hogan got up to stand behind Bart, peering over his shoulder at the survey charts. Carl and Neil joined him.

I see what you mean, Hogan said slowly. He walked back over to the view screen and pointed. The charts say the meadow is off to one side, but it’s actually almost centered below the cliff. And, it looks oval on the survey charts, but it appears to be, in fact, almost perfectly round.

Neil glanced up from the charts to the view screen. It looks to me like the meadow is also smaller than the charts show.

Bart scrutinized the charts again. He’s right. It is smaller.

Hogan frowned slightly. Is this type of inaccuracy normal?

Bart shook his head emphatically. No, it isn’t. These charts are normally so accurate I could almost fly in blindfolded. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

So, now what do we do? Dorie asked, looking worried. We don’t go back home, do we?

We already are home, Hogan assured her calmly. We’ll just have to adjust to the changes. He turned back to Bart. I assume it’s not a problem setting us down here?

Bart shook his head. I don’t have a problem with it. As long as the site still meets the needs of the colony, I’ll set you down. I will be filing a complaint when I get back though, he added. This kind of sloppiness can’t be tolerated.

What about water? Carl asked suddenly. He had continued to study the charts while