Genesis

OIII

Expedition of Genesis was not the first going out attempted by the world researcher society toward this solar system. Already before this one two teams of scientists consequently visited the orbit of this planet, which now was inhabited by the current space station. That was in that time when Tornwull was undoubtedly younger. In that of his years about which anyone who was employed under his management now knew nothing, but short dry information piece from reports devoted to his professional achievements. Anything of that was not known to any researcher, or to James or to Elizabeth, who both were little kids dreaming more of visiting other countries than about finding themselves on the very edge of space ecumene.
Two previous expeditions, first and second one, in the same way as the space stations which served for their purposes, were called Geo and Aqua. But taking the story of these events even more carefully it is possible to note that they were not the very first aliens in this microsector of galaxy. Long time before group of robot searchers, which were wandering across the universe collecting scientific data for the sake of future of the mankind, found this system and this planet then sending all the useful information to those who made and send them.
Then when it became understood that they finally found what they were searching for, and actually they were not searching for the planet of certain kind, but more for the star of certain kind with the planets around, they took some measures. Having data about planet which fit in criteria and fits in all prescribed ranges and having knowledge that this kind of planet exists somewhere in universe, they formed the project for the future works to be done and begun to hope that the world government will accept this and will agree to finance it.
And, as it seemed, scientists entered an endless line of arguments with those who considered that it is not rational to spend that much of resource for experiments far away in the depth of the space, when in populated area there is so much unsolved and troubled. All requirements took years. And years passed as they were able to reach this previously uninhabited part of the galaxy.
In beginning Geo arrived and then it was Aqua and they both successfully completed their missions, creating the landscape and water surface for the planet needed. And when planet turned into giant ball covered with orange color of the deserts and with blue of the oceans, assembly robot-builders came to connect models of Genesis station into whole one.
And now current expedition on this orbital station was finished. Their mission found itself to be complete a little earlier than it was planned, but what was important was that all the tasks they scheduled were performed. And only this part of their being here which consisted of watching only, appeared to be shortened. This obstacle was somehow disappointing for the crew of researchers and especially for the so called creative group. In this period of time they were expecting less of troublesome work and more of seeing its results.
Once in the morning, if only morning can be considered to be not the time of the day when sun rises behind the window, but some fixed part of daily hours, James woke up after the alarm signal. All of the personnel of the expedition were called to be gathered in mediahalls which were located in every sector of the station.
Dreamy crowd of professionals, who varied in so many fields of space research, was collected in the vast room equipped alike to cinema-theater. Usually place was used to demonstrate movies and other media which proved the achievements of expedition in documental way. And it was there that these not very pleasant news arrived telling him that it is now it is time to go home. For sure, to return back to places you've missed and which came to you in dreams was what everybody was waiting for. But only it was expected to happen a little after. It should be several days from now.
Collection of small asteroids, which were segments of one bigger one which split itself somewhere, happened to rush in the field of view of their station like car turned in the dead of night to the oncoming lane and now were approaching them. And inevitable crash was expected in hours. And all of them now were supposed to pack their few things belonging to them personally and enter lifeboat ships to leave this solar system and as it looked for good.
His first thought when he heard the news was to find her. And that was not that difficult to do, because she was seeking for him too. Their relations faced some metamorphosis in recent days. They started to call each other not with last names, but with first ones more and more often. And probably when no one heard and seen they could call each other just Jim and Lizzy.
'Do you think she will do well?' Elizabeth asked him when they were standing near one of monitors in one of so called watch points where they decided to spend their last hours on the station.
'Why do you ask? It is hardly possible the other way.'
'And how would you estimate the work done?' She looked at him a little from down to up talking silently like being careful about something. '...If to use hundred points system. I would put 92... or maybe 30π.'
She smiled openly and he a little grimaced so it looked almost like the smile.
'You can never score hundred points from hundred probably.' He said a bit more seriously. 'Then in the end why do we need such system? I believe that in this kind of universe in the end there are only two marks. All this endless diversity turns to become simplest binary set. One and zero. Yes and no.'
'And what would you chose?'
'I think if she will do well than we had done well.'
That one, the She who was so much hoped to succeed and whose abilities and capacities were expected not to fail, was in all of her actions giving no chance to doubt that all they've done was right. That she was chosen and the choice was right one. Once he considered that probably in that idea that it should be the She, but not the He, there was some portion of feministic attitude. A little covered revenge for the world where men were ruling for too long and in which the one sex's advantage was explained by some prescription from above. And he was a bit irritated with that. But now all his past feelings were gone.
These days they were spending a lot of time in pleasing talks. And now he even produced something like joke about that they could request computer to perform model for moment of collision of their beloved station with asteroid rain just to admire epic picture of destruction which will happen to network of research laboratories crushing under hits of stone clods. Trajectories of straight line of space splinters and of curved motion of the orbital station will meet and ending their both existences in current forms they will crash. Fragmented bits will lose its height and burning will enter the atmosphere, carving spectacular lines of flame into the blue dome of the sky.
And now she even smiled to him in responding to his words. The only regret was that she would not be able to talk to Her, who was struggling to perform their mission on the planet which orbit they were supposed to leave soon.
They spend a bit too much time in mediahall, so to that moment when they left it central computer already begun to switch off automatically less important peripheral systems of the station one after another. That was the program put into it. And so to that moment many connection systems were turned off and unavailable. And nothing was left but to let the things go their way.
After the news which found them surprisingly almost in state of slept it was hardly possible something new else will arrive. But despite that feeling one more unexpected thing should happen that day. Genesis orbital station was indeed like the Christmas present pack full of tricks and surprises. They were announced that Tornwull wanted to see them in his cabinet just one hour before evacuation. All this time they were working under his command they never had saw him in person.
They were embraced by some tolerable but thrilling chill and now were standing in front of the door to the cabinet of group's chief. She took his hand and they looked at each other. Surface of the door moved across the wall and they crossed the threshold.