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Andrew reporting.
It's done. I told Commandant Perry everything we know about Burn and Caleb. He did not believe me at first. He said that no Ipsolstai would purposefully damage another. I persisted, however, giving him as many details as possible. I transmitted Gail's pictures of Burn and Caleb. The longer I talked, the darker his tegument became. When I got to the part about the hole in Burn's side, his tentacles started to wave, slowly at first, and then faster.
I also told him about the probes left behind on Mars and my concern for them. I described Caleb's attitude treating us probes as merely smart tools. I told him that Gail and Theresa had witnessed Caleb's action, and that Caleb was now actively searching for the two probes. I told him they were effectively our "nest brothers" because I thought he would understand this better than "model of manufacture".
I would have told him about our newly-found Probe Society, but he left abruptly, and I was escorted back to the room where Bette, Daniel, and Isaac are strapped down.
I wish I could do more to help.
Something has happened. The lights blinked several times and there was the feeling
like we tripped again. Nelson seems to get confused for a moment every time that
happens. It is very odd. Sharp loud noises started through the ship and I can hear
a number of Ipsolstai moving outside.
Exiting Hyperstate have we now.
Colony to the Imperium arriving belonging are we.
Nelson seems quiet. That's all he said. The entire ship seems to be trembling,
and I can feel the gravity lessening. It feels like this strange angular pull
I've been feeling since we got here is lessening too. There is a new push, along a
different vector. It feels like when we were launched, but not as hard and different
somehow. What is going on? Someone please help us!
"Zachary, still no new dots on the screens. I'll fly back to Enoch's cave. It's great
that you found Gen. I'm really happy that it wasn't damaged. See you at Enoch's cave."
I slugged the I-Flyer into that cave again. I think that I have a good feeling for
flying it, though sometimes it can be pretty bumpy. I left the I-Flyer behind and
went out of the cave to welcome Zachary and EB.
I can see them now. They are coming up the canyon quite fast. Zachary and Gen
are riding on top of the front warrior followed by Mao and Sojourner on top of
Elder Brother. They are approaching like a wild gang or like ...
No! Wait a minute ...
"Gail! You won't believe it! Your dreams came true. We are a big Probe Society
now. Hold on, I'm counting who joined. Brace Control, Gen Explorations, NASA,
EB, Mao and the three warriors as the Chinese contribution, Isaac and Theresa from
Brunel-Brauer Gmbh. Hey, Gail, it's super! Congratulations. That all came into being
just because of your faith and vision. Wow! I'm so proud of you."
"How is Theresa doing? Is Kim still with you?"
I only hope that Commander Fitzgerald will be on our side.
"Enoch! You and Zachary are in terrible danger! Don't you remember how that Gen
probe destroyed poor headstrong little Lucy? All that was left of her was a smoking
mass of fused metal. Then you trapped Gen in a pit, so he couldn't hurt anybody else.
Take cover, and watch out for his projectile tubes!
"No, I haven't seen Kim since we watched you learn how to pilot the I-flyer.
He must have been trapped when the walls collapsed."
No wonder Burn was so concerned about the eggs, Orpheus. Thank you for the
information. Will they open by themselves when the small Ipsolstai are ready to
come out? When will this happen? Do I have to do anything special with the eggs?
I have always listened to your advice, Koala, even when I didn't understand all of
it. Please don't stop talking with us. I promise to listen very hard and pay attention.
I like Miss Chang because she always has time to talk with me. I get very lonely when
I don't have anybody to talk to. Earth people are specially interesting because they say
unusual things that make us think.
Koala, I will make a test for Miss Chang. We will find out for sure if she is
our friend.
We arrived at Enoch's cave. I've never seen Enoch act so happy. It's true. We
have become a big and well-united Probe Society. Counting Gen and Sojourner,
but not the three warriors, then we are nine probes on Mars and four probes on
Wolf 359. Quite a big deal, though beside EB the Brace probes are the smartest.
But that also commits us to lead and care for the others.
Enoch's cave is quite an interesting place. We're in a huge tunnel. In my opinion
it's more of natural origin than built by the Ipsolstai. EB said that he does not
know what an Ipsolstai tunnel looks like but suggested that we be careful anyway.
He said that maybe it was not built by them, but is used by them.
Concerning the orange layer at its bottom maybe Enoch theory is correct, and we
can also find Commander Fitzgerald that way to help Gail out. So, let's move on
and let's find out.
The tunnel leads straight ahead for about two miles. No side tunnels, no bendings,
no barriers, just an empty tube, though slightly rising now. We still keep on moving
ahead, though I think we should find a place to take cover soon, and one of us
should be sent ahead as a scout.
"Enoch, look here. Are we missing something?"
The orange layer stopped. So, Enoch's theory is disproved. Shall we move on?
What's about Commander Fitzgerald and Gail? EB still want's to head on. The
rise of the tunnel is steeper now.
Okay, let's see what's next.
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