Star Fields

Chapter No. 122. Creation

Chapter No. 122. Creation

Building things requires patience.

Once I had determined that the engine components were manufactured correctly, Alex, Molly and I carefully assembled them. The next step was to assemble an equally critical device, the antimatter producer. Before the creation of the Exploer-1, the only antimatter created was made in particle colliders, but the amount was in the nanogram range. Our method of creating antimatter is similar but it takes advantage of two very important quantum effects. One is the fact that colliding very large atoms could produce much more antimatter. However, large atoms are difficult to accelerate to the near light speeds necessary to produce antimatter. We have the necessary power to do that. All that is required to create an anti-proton is to combine two anti-up-quarks with one anti-down-quark. Our advantage is that we know the precise angle and energy profile that these anti-quarks would take once large atom collisions occur. Using very strong magnetic fields in precise alignment, we are able to enhance the production of antimatter by ten to the sixth power. All of this was possible because we had devised a mathematical method to predict these exact alignments using quantum mechanics altered to obtain precise results, something that should have been impossible.

The construction of the antimatter production device has to be precise. It requires more than just measuring the parts. It requires using a nanometer scale.

"This is very tedious," Alex said while using the scale to measure newly connected parts. "Why do we have to do this?"

"Because we are not Tyco's avatars," I said, adding a smirk.

"When are you going to take him out and end all of this nonsense?"

"I'm sure that time will come. I've been preparing for it."

His eyebrows shot up. "How so?"

"I've been instructing my nanobots to reinforce my metallic skeleton and build up my muscle mass."

"Ah, you're becoming a strong man."

I smiled. "Yes, I remember that."

"Hey, you two!" Molly yelled. "Stop goofing off and get to work."

"Yes, ma'am!" I said, grinning at Alex.

He chuckled.

After several hours of tedious work, we completed the construction of the critical systems. I teleported us back to the Explorer-2. Molly joined Alex and me for a swim. It was a chance to relax by swimming underwater for an extended time, something we could do because the nanobots could supply us with the meager amount of oxygen we needed.

When we emerged from the depths, we walked back to the showers where we ran into Marie and Margaret.

"Hey!" Marie said. "I thought that coed swims were not allowed."

"I don't remember that being a rule," I said.

"Where are you guys going?" Margaret asked.

"We thought we would go to the Black Hole bar," I said. "We need to relax after installing the engineering systems on the new vessel."

"You're not going like that, are you?" she said, her eyes examining us from top to bottom.

I waved my hand and we were instantly dressed.

"Good," Marie said. "We'll join you."

"I thought that the Black Hole was only for males," Margaret said.

"I don't recall that being a rule either."

They laughed.

It was unusual to have two females with us in the Black Hole bar being served by scantily attired barmaids, but for some reason it seemed perfectly natural under the circumstances. It provided us with an opportunity to discuss some important considerations.

After we had been served beers, we relaxed and opened up.

"So, this is how you guys relax away from us," Marie said.

"We find it more comfortable to discuss male issues," I said. "However, I don't believe that there should be male and female issues. We are essentially the same except for some gender differences."

"That doesn't make sense," she replied. "We are sexually different."

"Yes, but there's no reason that sexual differentiation should make us functionally different. Look at it this way. The reason males and females have been separated physically and functionally is because male and female humans were not physically the same. Women were always weaker physically. That's not the case now. You females may look weaker, but you're not."

Margaret blinked. "So, what you're saying is that we are the same functionally except when it comes to sexual reproduction."

"That's the only difference."

She gestured to the barmaids. "What about them? The reason they're attired the way they are is because you guys like seeing female attributes."

"That's just an archaic cultural concept. We guys don't need that, but it does serve to remind us of our human past."

"What he's trying to say," Alex said. "Is that we are just machines now, but we still cling to our human natures."

Margaret sighed. "Yeah, you're right. We are acting as if we're human."

"And, there's nothing wrong with that," I said. "By clinging to our human natures, we are able to relate to each other. I think that's necessary for our mental health. By having children and functioning as if we're sexual, we are acting out our former human natures. I think this is a healthy thing."

"And, we need that to be the guardians of the universe," Alex added with an ornery smirk.

I pointed at him. "I remember that series."

He laughed.

"You guys are too enamored with those old movie and TV shows," Margaret said.

I smiled. "That's true, but those old fictional space operas dealt with a lot of moral principles."

"Hopefully, we don't fall victim to some of their mistakes," she said.

"We're trying," I said.

They laughed.

"So, what's next?" Marie asked.

"There's lots of construction still needed to get the new vessel ready. In the meantime, we will stay vigilant and hope that Tyco doesn't attack us until we're ready."

That made everyone sober, despite the beers we had consumed.