Re-Creator of Universes - Book 4 of Re-Forge

The Big Black

The last SP ship to be loaded with a completed roll of extruded Neutronium wire drew away from SP1, and the official countdown for departure to Alpha Centauri could begin.

A few days later, the Sports arena on Eden that once hosted the reptilian leadership challenge, was packed to the brim with Bio and SP humans. They gathered on this momentous occasion to bear witness to the beginning of a new era.

For Adara, the feeling attached to being here again was surreal. Memories replayed in her mind, and she wished half of them would vanish. Very few good things happened for her in those first few months of her life. It was a confusing time, and a time of great personal cost. She thought: "A human cannot commit genocide and have a trouble-free mind. It's fortunate for me that I have my family, Steve, 'B' Sharp and trillions of Nanites to stabilise my emotions. Otherwise, I would be in a terrible state of mind."

'B' Sharp sent: "Adara, it's not constructive to dwell on the negative. Please accept that your actions were necessary and move on. The 'living' need your skillset, more than ever now."

Adara searched her data files to find an appropriate response for 'B' Sharp and sent: "The great French writer, 'Voltaire,' said: "With great power, comes great responsibility." And: "Perfection is attained by slow degrees. It requires the hand of time."

Oddly, I also keep finding references to a 'superhero' comic book and movie character called, Peter Parker, who's 'Uncle Ben' said something along those lines in a spiderman movie."

'B' Sharp asked: "Is there is a point to your mental rambling?"

Adara replied: "Yes. My point is that I have great power, but I still lack the maturity of time. I am standing where it all played out, and I can't help, but question, and I can't help but re-assess my actions and ask: "Could I have done it differently?"

'B' Sharp said: "You're too morbid for me. I'll come back when you're more fun. Bye."

Adara felt 'B' Sharp vanish from her conscious mind and thought. "Boy, no-one can accuse you of sensitivity or compassion, today."

The horn sounded in the arena to announce that the Administrator was about to speak. Everyone knew that this heralded a... 'full circle' historical event and none wanted to miss it. Matt and Sharon stepped onto the wide veranda to the deafening sound of cheering, whistling, and feet thumping in the stands.

The NINE followed a short time later. Matt and Sharon waited for the din to die down. Eventually, Matt held up his hands and the stadium became quiet.

Eden amplified Matt's voice so everyone could hear, and Matt said: "Citizens of Eden and Luna. Today marks the end of a struggle that is beyond compare in the entire Universe. I hope you are as excited as I am..."

The response was deafening, and Matt held up a hand once more for silence and then continued: "I can hardly contain myself with the excited anticipation and eagerness I feel. Flying into the unknown is akin to the pioneers who ventured across Earth's unexplored seas in ships made of wood.

While our ships are not made of wood, I'm sure that our feelings about heading into the great unknown is similar as are outward bound on a one-way trip toward a new frontier and a new future."

"The exhilaration I feel makes me want to cheer and shout, I feel like I should say something like... "Wagons Ho," or "Move em on out," or even... "Onward to adventure... I'm sure you get my point."

When the cheering died down, Matt said: "Some of the NINE started this journey more than a century ago. Over those hundred years, there has been so much change. I believe the struggle, sacrifice and pain shared by all are worth every second because humankind have not just survived but have become stronger than at any time in our history. Everyone is now long-lived, and we are better protected than at any time in the past."