Moon Fall
Chapter 8 - Red Sky at Morning

“Attention fellow Citizens of Whitehome.”

It was a presidential address, had Alexi decided to come clean?

“In preperation for the Moon Fall Festival I want to point out there have been some very alarming responses from the citizenry of the southern and more inner lying domes. Rumors have spread and I wish to address them.” Alexi’s face moved to the side and the image of Whitehome moved from behind him to the left. “As you can see here,” another video of Whitehome appeared above the first with what appeared to be a thinner cloud belt around it’s middle, “the Equatorial Cloud has indeed increased and it is true that the tremors we’ve all experienced ever since landing upon this planet have also become more noticeable. Specialists in the field have determined the magnetic and gravitational effects of the Moon Fall are the cause of these increasing disturbances. The innerlying domes were not set up to take this kind of increased seismic activity. I can assure you that the administration has taken it upon itself to insure that no one is left in a dangerous situation. I’ve called for evacuations of any dome experiencing increased tremors and, as my scientists assure me that after Moon Fall the tremors will decrease and return to normal, everyone will be allowed back to tehir homes and work will be done to double the structural integrity of existing domes and new constructions codes will go to the counsel for voting as soon as everything settles down.” The images of Whitehome vanished and Alexi’s smiling face returned to the fore. “Now, to be clear, there are also rumors of deliberate cloud outs and deaths due to tremors. It is true that the world cloud is out. Ground based transmitters are being rerouted to increase satellite output though it may take a while to get them up and running smoothly. Secondly, as for deaths at any of the aforementioned domes due to tremors, this is untrue. There have been no deaths in any of the domes due to tremor activity. There have been several people injured but none of those injuries have been life threatening.”

Peiter hissed.

“He’s just averting everyone’s eyes from the smaller private domes. He knows there have been deaths, or at least one that I know of.” Grace repeated exactly what Peiter was thinking. Alexi knew about Dr Gillespie, but was snaking around the issue by routing the viewers attention only to larger domes. He wasn’t even going to broach the topic of individual domes because they were inherently unsafe to begin with. That would be his argument if Peiter brought it up, he knew that.

“Easing fears and trying to quash rising discontent. Focus everyone on the festival and keep peoples minds off something that could pass.”

“He’s got specialists on it though, do you think this will pass?” Grace turned to him, her robe loser than Peiter had thought.

“I don’t know.” Peiter rubbed his head as Alexi went onto inform people about the Moon Fall festival. “These dreams I’ve been having, and Gillespie’s warnings.”

“Did you record them?” She asked curious.

He brought up the recordings of the last two dreams and showed her. After they were done she let out a breath. “That’s pretty vivid, I mean it’s a dream but wow. You have some pent up anxieties or something?” She patted his shoulder.

Peiter shrugged. “I don’t really dream that much, and nothing that vivid.”

“Only since the regression?”

He nodded.

“Have you contacted your doctor about it? Could check for neurological changes.”

“So far there haven’t been any instances of mental issues regarding regen save for already existing conditions. I’ve probed a few questions to a specialist but not in any directed ‘hey I’m going crazy’ kind of way.” He shrugged. “I’d rather not become a case study. If it’s just vivid dreams, I can handle that.”

“I’ve always said you have a vivid imagination.” She smiled. “So,” She started combing her hair, “I’m kinda hungry, wanna go get something to eat? We’ve got time before this dinner thing. I wanna see what the biggest dome in Whitehome has to offer a girl.” She grabbed a hair tie and put her hair up.

Peiter turned away quickly as he reached over to the counter and let the lists of restaurant’s roll across the screen. He selected one, a Red Plateau chain of old Earth Italian foods but with a Martian twist. Maritalia was a nice place he’d been to on his own a few times and with some colleagues from work. He ventured a turn of the head, seeing she was sitting on the bed watching him, her hair up with a strand fell across the riht side of her face. She smiled.

“Sound good?” he blew up the menu and photo’s of the location. “it’s on the high rise of the west side of the dome. Take us about twenty minutes to get there if we walk to and from the station, or I can call a car to take us.

“Oh, car please.” She smiled. “I haven’t had Italian in years.” She frowned. “What’s the difference in Earth and Martian Italian?”

“The color of the noodles actually. It’s a bit gimmicky but the mostly italian early settlements would tint the noodles red in honor of old Italy. There’s really no difference in taste though. I prefer the Alfredo though, but their lasagna is very good if not a little spicy.”

“Oh, a wine list.” Her eyes glazed over and she pulled the list to her hand held PDA and went back into the bathroom and got dressed.

While she did this he rummaged around in his cloths list to replace something suitable for the evening. It’d be another twelve hours before they were expected at the presidents Villa.

Departments had their own personal transportation, an Limited Artificial Intelligence controlled vehicle. The LAI for this car was called Phil and he was an in system model.

No face appeared on the screen but a voice came through. “Ah, Professor, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Peiter typed in voice recognition instead of typed instructions. “Hello Phil, I’m glad you still remember not to call me Director.”

“Always a pleasure sir, most of my clients prefer a bit of personalized treatment and I am happy to be of service. May I see your itenerary for the evening?”

Peiter sent the data, including the possible need for transport between the times of after lunch and before dinner tonight.

“Ah, excellent. Shall I book you a table for two while you and Doctor Bucket ready yourselves?”

“Phil, we should be ready in about ten minutes.”

“Understood. Take your time. I have been informed Moon Fall festivities are already in full swing on the Lowside and Highrise East.”

“How’s the Market look?”

“Both Virtual Tour and States Walk are seeing great sales and population density in those area’s is high. Per previous data I’d suggest going to the Market early, data points to density increase rapidly within three hours of Moon Fall.”

He closed the communication window and looked around deciding where to get changed. Settling for the office he pulled on a button down shirt and black jacket, the one he’d had in his closet for a few years. One of those impulse buys when he’d thought about trying to get out and be more social. That had gone out as far as a few dinners with some of his co workers, then he packed it back up in the closet.

Sitting at his desk he ran a trace on the two guards from earlier and found they were on their way back. He glanced at the doorway to the room and to the office door. He shut the door to his private quarters and unlocked the office door.

When the two guards showed up they were both very amiacable and ran a full scan, thanked him for the wine hook up and wished him a great Moon Fall. They had just departed when Grace came through into the office. Peiter was dressed and sitting at his desk going over a few Market Station maps and direction to stores.

“What was that all about?”

“What was what all about?”

“The two guards that came in, gave you a full body scan, and left with grins on their faces like they were two kids who just robbed a candy store.”

“Alexi sent them, after my accident he wanted to make sure I was ‘ok’, sent them here to get a full body scan. They came by earlier but I sent them down to hydroponics, one of the techs makes home made wine down there. Didn’t mean to hide it, just didn’t want you involved.

“Sounds kind of odd, why would the president do that? Isn’t that something a doctor should have you do in your own time?”

Peiter nodded. “I think he’s either being extra cautious because he’s worried about my health or he’s worried I know something. The scanners they use also scan the area the person is currently in. Checking for changes in the skin flakes and so on. They’ll replace evidence you were here.”

“Why would that matter.”

“He doesn’t know how much Galispee told me, or what I know.”

“So you think he’s spying on you?”

Peiter tapped on the desk and brought up the security firewall. “We know he’s downplaying the severity of the storm expansion. So far the only thing I can think of is that he’s trying to get information about what happened at Galespies. They haven’t reported his death, at least not in the news. You can’t exactly blame the government for the death of a man who put his dome several miles into a known inhabitable zone.

The conversation went on as they took a slow walk through the domed forest of the ‘Habitat’ ring where some of the animals were let out to graze. Once they tubed down to the main entrance the small silver and black two seater transport vehicle. It had three wheels and Phil was the AI interface for all the vehicles.

“May I say that you look lovely today Doctor Bucket.” Phil said in greetings as Peiter stood at her side door. It came down and he came around to his side and sat in the vehicle and it hummed to life as it moved onto the open pathway.

The Agrocultural domes had small roads or walkways that were much like those in Europe and no vehicle transports were aloud in the residential districts. Most of the vehicles, if any used, were hover adapted using a sylicat crystal energy network system under the roads, it functioned as sensor for anything on the road and allowed for driverless vehicles with an accident rating of close to .9 percent. One of the systems that were being put into place on other planets, but mostly in larger residential areas. Yet another Whitehome patented construct. EarthGov’s science arm had been hounding Whitehome scientists for years and finally truck a deal twety years ago.

It had been a craze for a good few years off world but died down over time. Instead of a train or pod system of pilons like webbing over the sky above or tubs running all over the landscape, the newer system was easy to install and even sync’d to the planetary cloud system making data transfer faster.

When the taxi made it’s way through a throng of people just outisde the market district, it slowed to stop right in front of a holographic dragon belching fire overhead. On the other side of the street was the Maritalia Restraunt.

When they got inside they were greeted by a young woman in a low cut black dress that swished across the fake wood floor. Silver beeds running down the creise into her cleavage that were decorated to draw the eye. Her hair was put up into a loose bun that sported the silver beeds as well. She had very sharp features and she was slightly bronzed in skin tone that didn’t look wholey natural. Most likely it was a modified skin pigmentaiton, this was to make her look more authentic to the asthetic of the restaurant. A small tatoo on the back of her neck as she turned to a bookshelf indicated he was right. The tatoo served as a physical dial to lighten or darken the skin pigment if necessary.

The heady sweet fragrance filled his nose as they waited, it came from behind the cloth drapped doorway to the dining area.

Grace stepped up and wrapped an arm through Peiter’s as his hands were still in his jacket pockets. He turned to look at her and realized her dress was rather low cut as well. Peiter was a good foot taller than Grace and he had expressed how good the light blue silken dress looked at her but he hadn’t tried to linger on it.

Which was a lie.

She length of the dress came to just below her knees and there were two layers, one a thicker and darker blue cloththat sat loose across her chest and tight along her hips and a thin transluscent layer than rounded the neckline and ran down her back and along one side of her hip. The transluscent fabric glinted in the light as she walked in a pair of blue heels. The red of her hair clurled and flowing down her neck and shoulders made him realize just how blue her eyes really were. He wondered if she had modified her eye color, or was it just the outfit? Not once did she seem awkward or have toruble in the shoes but Peiter had to wonder how often she got to dress up like this given her profession.

He wasn’t a fool, he just didn’t want to presume. She was putting up a good plan of attack for him, trying to impress him. He was impressed, more than he’d thought he’d want to be. His scar and collar had been a constant reminder of what he’d lost. Thinking about Sheila and everything that had led up to her death always made him angry. He’d chewed on that bone for years, and with Alexi always hounding him it was like adding fuel to the fire.

Feeling his hands clinch at the memory he felt a punch on his arm.

“Hey, date time. Leave the deep thoughts back at work.” Grace gave him a dark look, her fists still balled up ready for a second blow if necessary.

“Sorry.” He chuckled and the hostess lead them to their table.

The dinner consisted of light music, two bottles of red wine, a fresh salad, an order of house special lasangna and chicken alfredo, ending with some teramisu, and a large amount of talking about Peiter and his early years before he’d come to Whitehome and Grace’s infatuation with alien world techtonics and geology in general.

Coming to Whitehome in the beginning had been like being a child with an unwrapped present. After twenty years it had become the present that just wouldn’t unwrap. Scienists came and went but Grace had come to this planet to open the package and see what made the planet tick.

“I’ve consulted with TC geology specialists, even some of the big wigs at Europa, but nothing. We’ve drilled and drilled and either we’ve come across whitewater or the drills break. We’ve lasered and drilled and bored but come up with nothing. We do know the density of the Whitehome coral matter gets harder and harder as we drill and at a certain point nothing breaks through. Eventually though the holes fill up with whitewater and we end up with a whitewater well that rebuilds the coral over a span of five years.” She wiped her lower lip with the edge of her napkin and set it down on the table. “Know what really infuruates me?”

“Clowns? I really hate clowns.”

She stuck her tongue out.

“I’m guessing here,” He chuckled as he set down an empty wine glass, “but it’s the fact that no one cares anymore?”

“Yes!” She shouted but then blushed.

A few other patrons looked their way but no one seemed to take an issue with her outburst.

A waiter turned but Peiter waved him away apologetically.

She dipped her head down in embarasement, lowered her voice, and leaned closer. “Yes. No one cares that they’re living on a huge impossible hunk of rock.”

Peiter nodded. “It’s true. Every attempt to terraform the surface of the planet has failed, so basically what is Whitehome?” He offered the question.

She frowned and tilted her head. “I don’t get the question.”

“Whitehome is three things.” He brought up one finger. “A health and medical facility.” Holding up a second finger. “A resort planet, though this is based on the first point, it’s a vacation spot. Tourism.” He held up the third finger. “Whitehome is the home of the ‘dome’.”

She shook her head and sighed. “We’re a floating advertisement for dome use. If you can’t terraform, you can dome. Dome technology has grown since we first built the original domes for the first scientific settlers. Agriculture, economical growth, and stability. We’ve the place that tries out all the newest dome functions. There are domes on asteroids, living cities full of people, and it’s all because of Whitehome.”

“Come to Whitehome. We’ll rebuild your face, make you ten years younger, and let you live like a hermit almost anywhere.” She held up her almost empty glass. “Let’s hear it for good old fashioned commercialism.”

“Science follows the credits.” Peiter smiled and raised his glass.

They finished their wine and left the restaurant. Phil was still waiting outside or had returned from other errands moments before they stepped out on the street.

The doors opened and they both climbed aboard.

“I hope you both had a lovely time. I hear Marsitalian has very good reviews. May I take any comments for other customers?”

“We had a wonderful time Phil, I’d suggest going a little easy on the wine though. It’s very... potent.” Grace said with a slight giggle.

“It’s shipped in, they don’t use whitewater at all.” Peiter pointed out.

Her eyes went up at that and smiled. “Well, how very posh.” She giggled.

“Understood, I shall submit that to their Cloud Review when I return to the hub. Shall we continue to the Open Market or will you be changing your route?”

Grace leaned back on the cushioned seat and looked up through the clear glass ceiling. “I’m kind of tipsy, could we go somewhere to walk? Isn’t there an open air garden somewhere nearby?”

“I can offer three choices if you like.” Phil’s voice said amiacably. “First I can offer a soberiety pill, have you clear headed in a few seconds, or as you requested there are two gardens open to the public within a few minutes drive or I can give you a route to walk if you prefer.”

“Oh, I’d forgotten about those.” Grace said, meaning the pills.

“Two please, half dose if you don’t mind Phil. I want to keep a lingering buzz but nothing that’ll make me want to fall asleep on a park bench.” Peiter smiled.

From the center console near the large display opened a small drawer and in it were two blue pills about the size of a pea next to a shot glass sized cup of water.

“Deduct it from my account.” He said as they both took the pill and put the cups back in the holster.

“Of course, sir. Any particular preference in gardens?” The display lit up with two maps of the two gardens along with a legend to show toilet facilities, fountains, benches, vr seating, and informational kiosks.

Before Peiter could really look at the maps he received a call thought his pda.

He pulled out it from his pocket and plugged it into the interface slot near the door. “Secure link, file security G0114.”

“File activated. Link established.” Phil’s voice was more robotic than before.

“Peter?” Grace asked, the pill starting to take effect. She seemed more worried than tipsy.

The screen above filled with the face of a very haggard looking Garibaldi. “Well, here I am trying to get off this rock and warn you, and you chose now to go out on the town.”

“I thought you were heading here? You’re off world now?”

“Trying boy, trying. You were right.” The man’s thick bushy eyebrows shifted in a breeze as he turned to the left and right. The background was metal mesh and thick concrete that seemed familiar. He looked directly at them. “Alexi is covering up the Expansion of the Equatorial Cloud, but that’s not all. I’ve heard first hand reports of microdome seizures, and the moons are being temporarily abandoned. There is a complete ceasession of mining on both moons. I’m sending you the data right now, standard encryption.”

The files appeared and Peiter opened them. It was true. “Garibaldi, have you tried to send this to the media?”

His old friend nodded but ran a gloved hand over his bald head. “I’ve sent multiple reports to all on and off world media but so far I’ve heard nothing. There’s no proof that the storm will reach the equator, and the president is trying to placate everyone in thinking this will just blow over. I think you and I know that the likely hood of that is pretty slim. We shouldn’t chance something like that, he’s putting too many people at risk, some already.”

“But it’s not like he knew. He might really believe it’s just a temporary build up.” Grace looked between the monitor and to Peiter.

Garibaldi gave her a weary look. “Look dear, I’m sorry but... Dr. Bucket?” He suddenly seemed to realize who he was talking to. “Damnit man! You get all clean cut and regenerated and start picking from the cream of the crop.” He looked to Grace again. “Sorry Dr Bucket, I don’t mean to be so chauvinistic but when it comes to intellectuals on this planet there aren’t many with your brains let alone as attractive.” he inclined his head and smiled.

“You have the most flattering friends Peter.”

“Peter?” Garibaldi asked curiously raising an eyebrow.

Rolling his eyes he waved it off. “We have no idea what’s happening but we know it’s bad. Are we sure the storm is going to stop growing?”

Garibaldi shook his head. “So far growth has been 2.5 kilometers per minute, the quakes radiate out about 10 miles out and grow stronger and more frequent the closer you get.”

“That’ll put it at 960 miles at Moon Fall, that’s practically within 50 miles from the lower polar domes, those are still occupied aren’t they?” Grace said as she did the calculations in her head.

“I’ve got a copy of this data, thanks. With all the data we have, I think it’s best we get to Alexi quick. I can’t believe that he just thinks this is going to blow over.” Peiter growled as he’d gathered, minus the data about the reactive chemical, and packaged it into a copied datastream. His fingers ran through the air as he organized the files quickly.

“You’re really fast at that.” Grace said eyes wide.

“I’ve had a lot of practice. Lots of people just use preset verbal commands, I had to learn to use codes to create quick keys. Picked up a few tricks along the way.” Peiter said with no real intent on flattering himself. He was speaking of the years of not having a recognizable voice unless he wore the adaptive collar.

“So, you think Alexi is going to believe you and do a planet wide evacuation?” Garibaldi said, the doubt in his voice was almost visible.

“What other choice do I have? Grab a shuttle and get out and possibly let innocent people die?” Peiter asked incredulously. He closed the link to his PDA and prepped the data to send.

“Fine by me but I’m gonna get off this rock.” Garibaldi said as he looked from left to right. “If I can replace a damn shuttle, did you know that outgoing traffic is at a stand still? They’re calling it technical difficulties, communication issues with Traffic Control in Orbit.

“I just talked to a friend up there...” Peiter pulled up the shuttle location that he’d secured and sent the location to Garibaldi. “Get your things and head here, I’ve got a shuttle waiting just in case.”

“Look, I’m looking to get off this rock now, not whenever you two lovebirds figure out the president has lost his marbles.”

“Can you pilot the shuttle?” Peiter’s voice was very serious.

“It’s been over thirty years since I touched these hands to a shuttle control system, but if I have to I will.”

Peiter nodded. “Fine.” He closed the link and then set up another encrypted communication and sent it along with the location of the shuttle.

“Won’t he just take it and leave?” Grace asked, slightly worried.

“Shuttles has an encrypted activation code, or it does now. Phil.”

“Yes sir?”

“Send the data packet I just uploaded to the address, and a change of plans. Take us to the States District.”

“What specific location?”

“Presidents Mansion.”

“Authorization required.”

“User and access codes are as shown on document.”

“Accepted. Course changed.” The small vehicle hummed to life and moved forward.

Peiter turned to Grace. “I can have you dropped off at the office, you can get your things and meet up with Garibaldi...”

“Like hell I’m missing out on being a witness to this. I’m also credible, some of that data is mine. If he thinks your going crazy or loopy from the regen, he can deal with me. It’s not like he can have us arrested.” She smiled with self satisfaction.

He raised an eyebrow at that. “You say things like that, and it scares me. It’s like you trust everyone.”

“I trust people follow the law. Any accusation he puts against us would have to have proof, and no court will think either of us are terrorists or gave any reason for the president to have us arrested. If he did so it would look poorly on him and as you’ve pointed out he doesn’t like negative publicity.” She smiled.

“You should take another half sobriety pill. Alexi has already hidden the fact that people have probably died, or potentially hidden that fact. He’s hidden the fact that multiple micro-domes have been evacuated.”

“You can be a very conspiracy minded, you know that?” She took the second pill.

“No, I just have a good idea how far Alexi will go to hide the truth.”