Portal to Eden

Chapter 2-2

“How are you, Em?”

“I’m well, Madame President. And you?”

“You didn’t used to be so formal.”

“You didn’t used to be the president.”

“That’s true. Still…” The careworn woman smiled slightly. “Behind these walls, I’m Jennie.”

Emma couldn’t help noticing her question had gone unanswered. “How may I be of service to you…Jennie?” She was sure the president hadn’t called her here because she needed a little relief from the stress of her job. What they’d had years ago had been pleasurable, but each had moved on to other lovers, Jennie eventually marrying a colleague and entering politics.

Her question was answered by another question. “How is Dr. Fairfax?”

“Peter? He’s quite well. Once his fellowship is complete, he’ll be in line to become chief pediatric oncologist at Our Lady of the Little Children.” Emma was a little surprised such an important woman knew the name of her significant other.

Jennie nodded, her eyes sad. “I’ve heard of that hospital. Its survival rate is unmatched in the western United States.”

Emma recalled that she’d had a child who had been lost to retinoblastoma, an extremely rare cancer of the eye that targeted children.

Abruptly Jennie changed the topic. “How are things between you and Dr. Fairfax?”

“Fine.” Emma was becoming concerned. “Jennie, what’s going on? I’m sure you didn’t call me across the country just to ask how my relationship with Peter is working out.”

“You always were one of my brightest students.” She gazed at Emma pensively. “Your country has need of you.” And it became obvious that the president was speaking.

Emma nodded. “What can I do?”

“You’ve heard of Roswell?”

She raised an eyebrow, smiling. “Who hasn’t? All the secrecy, the romance of the possibility that we aren’t alone in this universe—”

“There’s more to it than that.” The president went on to explain about the technology that had been found and deciphered, of the first halting attempts to use the Portal, and of this latest discovery.

“Hmm.” Emma tugged at her earlobe, a telltale habit when something intrigued her. “And you’re saying that the architecture is definitely of this earth?”

“Oh, yes. It’s Terran—Terran ingenuity coupled with alien technology. We think it’s what was left behind by the Argos’ crew.”

“The Argos? But surely that was just a legend!”

“It was real enough. Shortly after I took office, the file was placed upon my desk. The space program had progressed much further much earlier than the general public was led to believe, but even so, Dr. Bradley, that ship should have still been out there. The Marduk Galaxy is too many light years away. Under no circumstances could the Argos have reached Nibiru, could have left behind those buildings.”

“I’m not a scientist, Madame President. I can’t even begin to give you an answer to that.”

President Langley shook her head. “I’ve got a team of scientists looking into it. Their assumption is a possible time displacement, whatever that means. But while they’re searching for the answer to that, we need to know why those early voyagers vanished from that planet. The star is G-class, highly suitable to Terrans, and the few reports back indicate that it’s literally a Garden of Eden.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t as much of a paradise as the name might imply.”

“Perhaps not. After all, Eden had its snake. We need to learn what happened. Did they just leave on some whim, or was it something else?”

“Something else? What do you mean?”

“We haven’t had enough time to explore and come to any valid conclusions, and so the scientists are still uncertain. However, one conclusion is that their disappearance could have been the result of an encounter with a hostile race.”

Emma felt a leap of excitement. “There are others out there?”

“Yes.” The president worried her lower lip. “We’ve made tentative contact with a race that resides in the same system as Nibiru. They’re remarkably humanoid, and perhaps they can tell us something about our lost people.”

“Fascinating!” Emma’s gaze turned inward, and then she frowned. “But—how was communicating with them possible?”

“Another bit of technology discovered at Roswell. One of the scientists, Dr. Layton Tremayne—are you familiar with his work?”

“No, but I have heard of him.”

“In that case, you’ll know he’s a genius.” The president’s eyes lightened as she smiled. “And if you didn’t know, Dr. Tremayne would be the first to tell you. He’s rather difficult to work with, but he’s in line for his second Nobel Prize.”

“Really? I’d heard about his being awarded the Prize in physics, but I had no idea—”

“Yes. He’s up for another in astrophysics. A truly amazing scientist. As a man, however…At any rate, he came across an intriguing bit of alien technology that proved to be a universal translator.”

Emma’s eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. “The possibilities for negotiating!” That was an important part of what she did, and too often there was the chance of something—usually something crucial—being lost in translation.

“Precisely. This is why you’re needed for this expedition.”

“As I mentioned before, I’m not a scientist, Madame President.”

“No, but you’re the foremost diplomat and linguist on this planet, and your negotiating skills are beyond compare. This is why we need you. However, I must tell you that if you choose to accept this mission, you will be basically cut off from Terra. We don’t dare leave the Portal open. It requires too much power…” The president’s eyes didn’t meet Emma’s, and her words trailed off.

“I see.” Emma did see. The amount of power needed most likely had nothing or very little to do with it. Until they could ascertain the intentions of the other races out there toward Terra, it would behoove the leaders of Terra to tread warily, and closing the Portal would be the first, most logical, step toward that.

“Of course our scientists are working on that.”

Of course, and probably on more powerful weapons. “In Roswell?”

The president gave a faint smile but chose not to respond. “They assure me that the solution is within their grasp.”

“But they haven’t grasped it quite yet.”

“No. So you see, the possibility that this could be a one way trip is very real.”

Did President Langley realize what lure possibilities held for her, had always held for her?

Perhaps she did. It had taken Emma some time, but eventually she had realized that their decision to go their separate ways hadn’t been as mutual as she’d thought, but was more Jennie subtly encouraging her in that direction.

And Emma was mature enough at that point to accept that was the best decision. For both of them.

However, now wasn’t the time to contemplate things past.

“Who else will be going?” she asked briskly. She was strongly considering the president’s proposal.

“Colonel John Berger will head the military contingent.”

“Berger? Didn’t I hear he’s something of a wildcard?”

“Yes, but he’s intuitive almost to the point being—” The president’s lips tightened, and Emma wondered what words she was keeping between her teeth. After a moment, Jennie continued smoothly, “He’s a mathematical genius. We need someone who’s not only skilled in weaponry and can command the respect of his men, but who can think outside the box as well.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She’d heard the Colonel referred to more than once as a man’s man. He was into all manner of contact sports, as well as hunting with rifles, bows and arrows, and even knives. He also had a reputation for leaving no man behind, parachuting behind enemy lines to rescue his men. For a long time there had been worldwide peace, but in the last two decades, more and more conflicts had begun springing up, no doubt due to the increase in the population. “Who else will be part of this expedition?”

“Well, of course there is the scientific contingent, which will be headed by Dr. Tremayne.”

“I see.” Emma bit back a smile.

Berger was also known as something of a ladies’ man, and while he wasn’t a sailor, with a girl in every port, he was the Marines’ equivalent of it, having the certainty of feminine companionship in every major city on Terra. Dr. Tremayne, on the other hand, had an acerbic temperament and an unashamed preference for those of the decidedly masculine persuasion. It was going to be interesting seeing how the two men got along.

“What size expedition are we looking at?”

“There will be approximately one hundred and fifty members all told. The military will comprise one-sixth of that, a unit of twenty-five Marines. Another fifteen are support staff—they’ll deal with food preparation, cleaning, laundry, etc. The remainder will consist of the scientists—anthropologists, archeologists, astrophysicists, biophysicists, botanists—and a handful of medical personnel who are also geneticists.”

“Medical personnel?” Emma leaped at that. “Have they already been selected? Might Peter be included?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“If you think he’ll cause a distraction—”

“No. I know you well enough, Emma, to know you wouldn’t allow anything to interfere with your work.”

Emma blushed. If anyone knew, Jeanine Langley would be that person.

“Research and an extensive investigation of each potential member of the expedition have been undertaken, and only the best in each field were selected. When you were chosen as our best candidate for the leader of this mission, we also looked into Peter Fairfax. Unfortunately, while he is one of the best in his field, his area of expertise also precludes him from accompanying you. Oncologists aren’t as necessary as meatball surgeons, and pediatric oncologists even less so.” She met Emma’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“No more sorry than I.” Emma had been living with Peter for the last five years. He was an extremely competent doctor, and while he could excise the minutest bits of tissue bearing cancer-laden cells, he required his specialized equipment to do so, equipment she imagined would be deemed extraneous simply because of the number of technicians it took to keep each machine up and running.

She also knew he would be extremely unhappy away from Terra. She’d cajoled him into going on a weekend jaunt to the Moon, and while he hadn’t complained, she’d realized he’d been miserable the entire time.

She cared too deeply for him to put him through that again.

Still, there was never any doubt that she would accept the position. Not only was it a great honor, but it was her patriotic duty.

“May I at least tell him?”

“I’m afraid not. This mission is highly classified. If you decline to accept this commission, I will have to ask you to sign a nondisclosure statement.” The president went to her and touched her shoulder. “I’m so sorry to put you into this position, Emma. You’re our best hope.”

“I have one request. I’d like some of my eggs to be harvested.” He’d been pleading with her to marry him, but she knew that if she agreed, he’d also insist on their starting a family. Her career took her from home so often it would be fair to neither herself nor any children they might have. But if the odds were against her returning to Terra, she wanted him to have that. He’d make a wonderful father.

“If that’s your choice. There are four months before departure. That should give you enough time.”

“Very well, I’m on board.”

“Thank you. I know leaving Peter behind will be difficult, and I’m sorry for that. However, if I could have chosen anyone else, I still would have chosen you.”

“I appreciate your confidence in me, Madame President. I’ll go home and pack—”

“We’ll supply everything you need, but if there’s anything else, someone will be sent.”

“But Peter will question that.”

“He’s been called away on an emergency.”

They were that sure of her? “May I at least write him a letter?”

“If you wish, but it will be subject to censor.”

Emma sighed. “He deserves an explanation.”

“I understand. Tell him you’ve been called away on an urgent international mission, and you’ll contact him when you can. I suggest writing a number of letters, which we can deliver to him at later times. Or I can have someone do it for you.”

Emma raised her head proudly. “No. I’ll do it.”

President Langley rested her palm on Emma’s cheek. “If it could have been anyone other than you…“

* * * *

President Langley watched as Emma strode out of her office. She’d dangled the carrot, and as she’d known—well, been fairly certain—Emma had accepted the challenge.

She would write the letter—letters—and go off to Cape Canaveral to meet with the rest of the expeditionary force, excited about the possibilities.

“Are you all right, Madame President?”

She drew a deep breath, turned, and smiled at her head of security. “Yes, Mr. Charles. Although I wish…”

“I know. It’s a shame that Dr. Fairfax didn’t have the right personality.”

“It’s good that he’s so devoted to those children, but it would have been better if he were a little more devoted to Emma.” She had also discovered that he’d been unfaithful to Emma on at least one occasion.

She would see what Emma wrote, but she had no doubt that a good deal of revision would be necessary. Her one-time lover had always had a tendency to be wordy. She still had a letter Emma had written her in the halcyon days of their affair.

As for Emma’s eggs, Terra had more need of them than Peter Fairfax.

“You’ll take her letters?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see they get in the right hands.”

President Langley knew he meant the young man on his staff who had a talent for transcribing others’ letters.

Forgery was such a nasty concept.