Living on Centauri

By Donald Krueger

The story begins some 300 years ago when the planet Centauri sent a tiny spaceship to Earth. The saga began from a discovery that the two planets, were created identically. This book is the final chapter evolving from the first three in the storyline. Background would be revealed by reading the first three, i.e.: “Hush Sisters Hush”, “Music for Centauri”, and “The Search for Tesla”. All of which are available in eBooks and paperbacks. This book is a continuation with all the same characters.
This story is about adapting to living on a new planet, since circumstances on Earth gave grave concern for remaining. The 40 times lightspeed spacecraft made the two-month journey in a luxury comparable to a cruise ship.
Now they fit in nicely and live in the mansion of the woman who started it all. They are now among a populous with life expectances approaching 1000 years. Physical appearances have no identifiers that are discernable, except the slow growth of children. On Centauri there is but one culture and no religions. The global population is 150 million and has but one language.
So, now with interest in Earth waning, the Council of Centauri wants to utilize this marvelous spacecraft to search the galaxy for life beyond what has before been limited to sub-lightspeed vehicles. They decided on a ten-year expedition with a crew of seven only to find that the cosmos has little to offer except months of boredom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796074512

Donald Krueger

Donald Krueger Sci-fi author Donald Krueger is a retired airline pilot. His airline career had him flying transports starting with the DC-3 and ending with the DC-10. He lives in the pleasing climate of Southern California and enjoyed numerous interests other than flying, including music and sculpture. Currently is his interest in writing. The 'Snows of Shangrila' is book five of his science fiction book series. It spans a dozen years of research plus a vivid imagination. The stories have a rich mixture of imagination and actual history. More than once the reader will find his/herself pondering, “I didn’t know that”, yet on checking find the occurrences are factual.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Donald Krueger.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/08/2020

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

805462

CONTENTS

Chapter One - Settling in A New Home

Chapter Two - Flimflam

Chapter Three - The Cruise

Chapter Four - Zakum Revealed

Chapter Five - The Rykus Women’s Prison

Chapter Six - Cloaking The Zakum Shuttle

Chapter Seven - The Little Keyboard Wizard

Chapter Eight - Testing The New Shuttle

Chapter Nine - A Visit To The Moon Prison

Chapter Ten - A Prison Named Goree

Chapter Eleven - Sarah’s Shining Argument

Chapter Twelve - The Gotcha Glove Works

Chapter Thirteen - Planning An Expedition

Chapter Fourteen - Off Into Space

Chapter Fifteen - Earth Again

Chapter Sixteen - The Vigilantes

CHARACTERS

Prologue

T he two planets are four light years apart still history is quite solid in the estimate that Centauri and Earth came into existence at or near the same time. Gravity, seasons, and studies of populating both planets suggest they are twins in the celestial plan.

Still thousands of years have produced vast differences in their cultures. Centauri has but one race, one language, one landmass, and one ocean. Centauri has no leanings toward religion. On Centauri there have been no wars other than minor squabbles, usually within families. Life expectancy on Centauri is one thousand years and increasing. Advancement in technology on Centauri is dozens of centuries ahead of Earth. Centauri has developed a spaceship capable of 20 times light speed and that is expected to double within a few years.

Centauri has two huge cities, one in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern. A distance of 5000 miles separates them. They are large cities, each with populations of near 50 million. Another 50 million live in rural areas and farmlands mostly between the two huge cites. The two major cities are connected by an hourly surface shuttle, which travels in vacuum tube at 5000 mph. Expensive but at only one hour, it is a luxury time saver

So, one would think that Centauri is Utopia. The future does hold much promise, but nothing is perfect. A problem occurred in the past that threatened human existence on this tranquil abode. On Centauri, much of energy is obtained through gravity control. Mastering the concept was a monumental undertaking. Frequency sound wave suppression allowed the gravity control protocol to work. But the algorithms in the drive units of that era caused music to gradually fade from the culture. It was hardly noticed.

A few decades later natural pregnancies ceased. The alarm became paramount about 350 years ago. The elected Senate of Centauri took a giant step and created the Council of Centauri. This new Council was charged with finding a cause for the population decline. So grave was the concern the Senate made the Council permanent and appointments were lifetime. The Council is active today and it was through its efforts that pregnancy and birthing are now caused once again by sexual joining of a male and female.

The problem solution came from the re-introduction of music and it all came from an expedition to Earth in 1711. Six Centauri babies were left there and raised to adulthood on Earth. Four of these survived and were re-united after 300 years due to the brilliance of one of them. His relentless searching found not only his siblings but also their origin from Centauri.

But recently terrorism threatened their home in Dayton Ohio. As a spaceship waited, the opportunity impassioned the Earth family to move totally to Centauri. This is the story of that new life.

Chapter One

Settling in A New Home

I t had now been six months since the Downs family departed Dayton Ohio aboard the Centauri spaceship Antares. Personal names on Centauri were singular but the first and last name thing distinguished the new arrivals from Earth. The affected eight saw little reason to change. Geoffrey soon found himself often referred to as just Downs until he joined the university at Pacificis. After that the title of Professor Downs became commonplace for him.

Willy Evans was now head of a newly formed music department at the Atlantis University. Three of the Odyssey crew (Donner, Lucan, & Nical) were teaching music classes. The instruments delivered by Antares on the last trip from Earth were put to good use. The music classes were in high demand and many students were turned away due to lack of room in the programs. Willy didn’t like being the head of a university department and kept allocating more and more of the workload to Donner, who took it in stride and was grateful for the opportunity. The two men figured it would take a couple years before some of the students would demonstrate the necessary ability to help with the teaching.

There was also a huge demand for use of the musical instruments. Two student brothers saw a big need to manufacture the devices. They went to the University Board of Regents to request venture funding. The University was very receptive but made the provision that Professor Evans be the director of the project until the business was deemed successful. Willy was delighted; the teaching thing was becoming a chore. Henceforth the careers of the brothers were launched into a very promising business. They selected the company name from the most prestigious instrument brought from Earth, the Steinway Concert Grand Piano. They shortened the name for their company to simply Steinway. It caught Willy by surprise but ‘why not’, Earth and copyrights were 4 light years away.

All the Dayton arrivals from Earth lived in Atlantis with Shawnis except Charlie and Rabin who lived with her parents in Pacificis. It was convenient as Charlie was now employed at Randal Industries. Geoffrey’s job was at the university in Pacificis, so he got to see his brother more often than the rest. At the university he was known as Professor Downs, but he took the Pipeage home every evening where his family still called him Geoffrey, and all were comfortable with that. It was a very close and loving family, but the first child born at light speed was the main attraction. Bernadette’s little Abby got attention from four loving women. Still at nearly eight months old the only difference from the appearance of a ‘newborn’ is her ready focus always followed by a lovable smile. So now there were eight adults and two little ones, Abby & Casey. Still there was no problem. Shawnis and Conner’s house is a mansion. Conner had always done the cooking but now it would have been too much if it weren’t for Grace. She was a genius in the kitchen after a short learning period to get familiar with the foods of Centauri. She and Conner were now a team and ‘gourmet’ was an accepted description of every meal.

All soon found out that the name of Shawnis was immediately recognized by any and all on Centauri. Geoffrey drew the comparison as to the Queen of England minus the fanfare.

But Geoffrey was uncomfortable relying on Shawnis’ generosity for everything. He had brought his treasurers with him. At least he thought they were treasures. The currency on Centauri was the Dunar. Geoffrey had no way to value it except an expensive Autocar cost 50,000 Dunars so Geoffrey compared it to an Earth dollar. He had to sell his gold and with some effort located a broker in metals. He was surprised that his 2 million Earth dollars of gold was worth only 200,000 Dunars. However, his Rhodium bars that he paid one million dollars for was worth ten million Dunars.

With the help of Shawnis he opened an account in the Centauri Monetary System. This system controlled all financial transactions. It was exclusive. There were no such things as banks. The System issued Dunars as necessary but did so only when as existing currency wore out or was lost. Pocket money of Dunars was similar to petty cash on Earth. Any transaction of note was either a credit or debit to one’s System Account. Accounts were recognized in two ways, first by a fingerprint or second by a facial scan. Small businesses used the fingerprint method, as a facial scanner was more expensive. Small stores would accept Dunars but preferred not to as robberies still existed on Centauri. System Offices were abundant, and it took only twenty minutes for Geoffrey to open his account. He was listed as Non, and he asked Shawnis what that meat. She responded: It means you are not a Citizen. Centauri has strict requirements to be a Citizen. The population is split almost equally between Citizens and Nons. The big difference is that only Citizens can vote.

Geoffrey thought for a moment. How does one become a Citizen?

It’s a Certificate obtained by completing courses in Centauri history, geography, and the political system we live by. The Certificate is required for any student to be accepted in a university.

How does that apply to me and Willy since we both work at the universities? Geoffrey asked.

You’re on waivers at present. The Senate is in the process of requiring a short course with a Certificate of Citizenship upon completion. It is special just for you six. No one had anticipated applicants from another planet.

Sarah has adjusted to the fact that physically all Centauri children develop very slowly. 17-year-old Casey, though brilliant, but physically appears in size as a 4-year-old Earth child. He is going to school and it is indeed refreshing to watch him mingle with other children his age. He has homework and makes book reports. Sarah is impressed with his writing skills. It gives her great sense of fulfillment. Perhaps some of her DNA has made it to him in spite of the age/size thing. He won’t have an adult body until age 60, but at that age he will have finished school and have wisdom one would expect from a 60-year-old.

Sadly, for Sarah, she won’t make it to see him as an adult. Even now he is becoming more difficult to pick up and he doesn’t like it. There is a hope, however slight that studies from Jurnar’s group at the university, will find an answer in the genome that controls life span. It is right there someplace. Comparing the two species has to reveal it. Sarah and Willy are the only two Earth persons. Shawnis convinced them to join Jurnar’s study. In addition, Jurnar asked Shawnis to bring Geoffrey to the next Council meeting. Geoffrey was delighted. Now all four could go at the same time and it gave them another chance to ride the Pipeage.

The residents in the huge house of Shawnis would be reduced to his sisters Bernadette, Grace, the kids, and Conner for a few days. On the Pipeage, Geoffrey spent the hour with another book. He had brought much of his library but now he’s reading a book from the Centauri Library. Reading in a new language and subject choice was most interesting. He looked forward to many hours doing what he enjoyed most and that was reading. Soon he could feel the gentle deceleration as their Pipeage capsule slowed.

They shared a cab and first dropped Sarah and Willy off at the University. Then he and Shawnis proceeded to the Council complex. He watched as small business issues were discussed. Every one of the members now knew Downs and he was most welcome at the prestigious table. As the meeting was about to close Jurnar spoke directly to him.

Downs, your wife has quite a talent for writing. I was most impressed with her command of the language having known it for such a short time. Your biography read like a novel. I couldn’t put it down. I must admit you’ve had quite a life.

Geoffrey responded, Thank you sir but most of it was a matter of necessity. But as for the writing, she gets all the credit. In fact, her writing talent was the sole factor that brought us together.

Jurnar continued. It is because of your biography that my group at the University began a study of aging. As you know your wife Sarah and Willy will have appropriate tests that we can compare to the tests of locals. Our focus right now is about why the huge aging difference between Earth and Centauri persons. Other than that, the species are identical. Since your wonderful wife came here, along with the Master of Music, Willy, the whole university is aghast that the two of them may only have a couple dozen years left to live.

I know that Sarah and Willy are at the university now, but I don’t know how I could contribute? Geoffrey asked.

You were once a doctor and then a pharmacist. There could be something from that experience that will help us. I think you’d be impressed with my group and I’d like you to join them. They are brilliant in their own right. This wasn’t my idea alone, several of this Council agree with me.

Geoffrey hadn’t expected this. He was dearly concerned about Sarah and aging but thought it inevitable. But he himself and these people had something inside that prolonged life. He had just considered it a phenomenon. If there was a study and more yet if he could be a part of it, he must jump at the chance.

He asked: Your university is in Pacificis. Would it require a move?

You could move if you wanted to but if you want to stay in Atlantis, we can see to it that you have a pass on the Pipeage. We’re pretty much done here so since the tests will start today, why not let me drive you over to the university. You can get acquainted and see what is involved.

At the university Geoffrey met Jurnar’s group. There was a big sign above the building entrance GENOME STUDIES. Their lab was well equipped. The scanning equipment was in a section nearby and all results were immediately forwarded. He asked several questions, all devised on how he could fit in to the study. The answers came mostly about the workload. They were understaffed with qualified people. Intense comparison of images had to be done by persons. Machines couldn’t think and that’s where he was needed. One woman, a Dr. Gina, showed him a scanned image of the hypothalamus. This is the brain region thought to have the secret of aging embedded. When we get these images from Sarah and Willy, we will go into the comparison analysis.

Geoffrey was impressed. So, when will that be?

They done some preliminary tests today and are scheduled for the scan in the morning, we should have the images by noon.

The next morning the trio left the hotel early for the university. Sarah and Willy went directly to the scanning section. Geoffrey went to the cafeteria. He thought, if he were to be working here, now would be a good time to check out the eating facility. When finished with breakfast he went back to the genome section and waited.

At noon the images came in. There were a dozen views from different angles. One section of technicians took Willy’s brain images, and another took Sarah’s. One by one they placed the images on the exam screen next to a sample image of a known Centauri person. They ran software designed to identify changes. Geoffrey watched the tiny points pop up on the screen like fingerprint identifying equipment he’d seen back on Earth. When Dr. Gina had mentioned ‘understaffing’ Geoffrey soon found out why. The little pop up points revealed little except the physical size of the hypothalamus, which could be attributed to slight differences in the size of the person from which the sample was taken.

So, the time-consuming observations began. He called Sarah and agreed for all to go back to Atlantis on the five o’clock Pipeage. Shawnis and Bandar were there too so all shared a cabin. They discussed the day’s events. It was over for Willy and Sarah, but it was pretty much assured that Geoffrey would be busy for several weeks. He hoped he would have something to present at the next Council meeting.

So that was how it settled in. Shawnis had much work at the Atlantis University, as did Willy. Sarah got back to writing. She wanted to write some history about Centauri but had little data. Grace volunteered to go to the library and bring back some books. While there she might even inquire about work. Geoffrey commuted to Pacificis every day. The Pipeage made the commute almost effortless.

After a couple months Geoffrey noticed a slight difference in image comparisons when under fifty thousand to one magnification. There was a peculiar stack of cells that gave him concern. The image view was focused on a stack of cells that the group determined were the drivers of the immune system. Again, they agreed that the immune system was linked to cell reproduction.

Cell reproduction was the major factor in aging. If it were perfect, there would be no aging whatever. On Willy and Sarah’s images the stack had one cell in the stack misaligned. It was there but not aligned perfectly like the comparison models of the Centauri group samples. Again, they agreed that these factors did not change in reproduction and were locked into the DNA. So, the question arose, could the cells be re-aligned? Geoffrey called two of the university top laser surgeons.

The men came the following day to look at Geoffrey’s findings. Laser surgery was common on Centauri but normally not this precise. They had a new machine capable of one thousandth of millimeter accuracy and with 3-laser triangulation moving or nudging the cell was possible provided they could see it. Both surgeons wanted to be involved. This was a groundbreaking procedure. They explained to Geoffrey that it would be painless, but the patient would have to be put under to avoid movement. Even then the skull would have to be tightly clamped.

In addition, the heart would have to be stopped for a few minutes as pulses from the beating may cause minute movements in the brain from surging blood. They assured Geoffrey there was no risk. The lasers were harmless by themselves and only when the three were locked at a point did they have the power to push. Geoffrey couldn’t wait to tell Sarah and Willy. Both were eager for the procedure. It was scheduled a week later.

On the day of surgery, the observation room above the OR was filled with the genome group. Jurnar, Shawnis, Grace, and Geoffrey were in the front row. Willy agreed to go first. When he was under sedation and his skull tightly clamped the surgeons began. It took 15 minutes to locate the misaligned stack. Once they had it, they manipulated the lasers into position.