Chapter 17: Chapter 17
“HIGH INSIGHT”
Back Bayou Police Officer Covert, was driving Sheriff Neil down the bumpy old highway on a rainy afternoon in the Back Bayou. Neil was studying information on his personal computer while Covert was adjusting volume on police radio playing through the speaker. “One sighting came from a New York subway. Older passenger said he heard a noise, then tested positive for illegal AAA narcotics. Jailed criminals in Chicago also claimed ghost attacks, and wanted to be released.”
“You hear that?” asked Covert. “Those sightings could be the same ghost we’re looking for. Now ghosts are flying across the country. Check your computer.”
Hardly listening, Sheriff Neil continued studying video on his personal laptop computer. He typed in names and touched the screen before the computer announced, “Video from security cameras show a suspicious passenger checking in at the airport.”
Neil entered more codes and information before a classified video showing wide shots of Ben carefully rolling his suitcase popped up. “That’s definitely Ben Thomas, and he’s being extra cautious with the simple suitcase,” yelled Covert. “It could contain a heavy ghost.”
“You sure you wanna go to the hospital?” asked Covert. “We could go back to the office and start an investigation of Ben Thomas and his suitcase hiding out in California. Maybe make a vacation out of it?”
“I want to inspect the body of Lacy Meaux. And I wanna ask some questions of those doctors. This is important.”
The windshield wipers were racing on high as the police car swerved around a pothole. Covert continued, “That lady took a bullet to the skull. Ain’t no way she’s gonna survive that.”
“I know. We could have just let her die at the shooting.”
“The bullet cracked open her skull. There’s no way anyone can survive without emergency treatment. They’ll just bleed to death. I had a buddy that got shot just walking alongside me down Bourbon Street. Bullet hit him in the stomach, and he bled to death after just a few minutes.”
Sheriff Neil was hardly listening and continued reading from the computer. “We’ve all witnessed death in the line of duty. It’s just part of law enforcement.”
“I saw a gang member take a bullet to the head, from another gang member.” Covert continued thinking out loud as he drove. “The bullet just cracked open his head, and there was bleeding and brains falling out everywhere. They tried to take him to the hospital, and it was a mess.”
“I remember that. I had to do a report,” answered Neil.
“This girl, Lacy. She took a bullet to the brain. I think the most she can hope for is life in a coma.”
Sheriff Neil looked out the window at the rain. “I could have just proclaimed her dead at the scene.”
“The last thing I ever expected was a bunch of ghost sightings. That’s for sure.” Covert laughed and adjusted the windshield wipers. “They’ve all come out since those two Meaux’s got shot. I think we pissed off some cajun ghost.”
The computer map then spoke up, “Memorial Hospital is coming up on the right. Emergency room drop offs are taken at first turn.”
“Okay, just pull in,” said Neil calmly. “Drop me off in front. I just want a peaceful conversation.”
“Yes sir.” Covert then turned the police car into the driveway. “What do you think they’ll say?”
“I’m going to find out,” answered Neil before he slammed the door.
Rain was pouring down as Sheriff Neil moved quickly through the crowded waiting area and walked up to the window showing his badge. “I want to examine the shooting damage to the patient, Lacy Meaux.”
“Lacy is in intensive surgery right now,” answered the nurse. “And visitors are not allowed.”
“I’m not a visitor,” replied Neil. “Tell Dr. Palmer I’m conducting a first-hand investigation for a possible perpetrator in the gun confrontation, and I must examine the body.”
Onlookers and nurses seemed surprised before the nurse responded, “Dr. Palmer is not in, and cerebral surgery cannot be interrupted.”
“Palmer’s not here? Who’s doing brain surgery?”
“The surgeon is Dr. Kjell. He flew in from California for immediate brain reconstruction of Lacy Meaux,” answered the nurse.
“Does Winston know about this?”
“Winston is aiding in cerebral lobotomy and also cannot be disturbed.”
Sheriff Neil ignored the nurse, grabbed the open door as another patient was leaving and immediately walked in. “I’m the sheriff, and I want to see this for myself.”
“You cannot go into the private medical quarters,” yelled the nurse. “It’s an intense surgical procedure!”
Neil was amazed when he saw nurses running in and out of the operating room. Dr. Winston was looking on through the window as Sheriff Neil walked up. “What’s going on in there?”
“This neurosurgeon from California is performing a full lobotomy and implanting parts of a donated brain,” replied Dr. Winston.
Sheriff Neil peaked through the window, “You think she might survive?”
“Chances of life are possible,” replied Winston as he walked up from behind. “But any function of the brain is unlikely.”
“Who’s paying for all this?”
“All costs are being picked up by the Science Exploration Agency in California. That means basically Dr. Palmer is paying for everything.”
Neil watched through the window with Dr. Winston. Both looked on in amazement when Officer Covert ran up followed by the frustrated nurse. “You’re not allowed in either. The patient is in surgery and cannot be disturbed.”
“So, did you find out anything?” asked Covert as he ran up. “Do we need to start making arrests?”
“No,” answered Neil as the three watched Kjell working over Lacy’s open skull. “Nothing new.”
“We can just question nurses and other patients?” said Covert with some confusion. “I think we could get enough to stop the surgeries and put these people in jail.”
“I think we should just call it a day.”
The sheriff turned and walked through the crowded lobby and back out to the parking lot. Covert and Winston looked on but were confused.
The driver was racing through traffic as the sun was setting in Southern California. Ben was sitting alone in the back seat, and Quazum was moving around and bouncing up against the back of the driver’s seat.
The driver looked back at Ben and said, “I hate the automatic steering in my car. It makes me go so slow and sit in traffic. And I’m supposed to just watch in case of emergency. I’d rather be driving myself.”
“Yeah,” answered Ben. “I’m the same way. I just prefer driving myself.”
“How much longer?” whispered Quazum.
“It’s going to be a while. This is a really big city.”
Quazum stretched out and slightly changed colors, “You said you lived close to the airport.”
“It’s just regular afternoon California traffic,” replied Ben. “It’s stop and go in the afternoon.”
When the driver heard the two voices, he wasn’t sure if Ben was talking to him and looked back in his mirror. “Yeah, afternoon traffic sucks in the big city. That’s for sure.”
“Yeah. I know,” replied Ben politely. “It’s also pretty bad in the morning.”
“I used to live in downtown L.A. Just driving to work took more than an hour, then a couple of hours to get home. I figured with driving time, I was working more than eleven hours a day.”
“Wow.” Ben then turned to Quazum. “Relax. We’re going to be just another hour.”
The confused driver replied again, “Yeah, I’d guess at least an hour. The traffic seems to just get worse and worse every year.”
“Yeah,” agreed Ben with a nod.
Quazum laid uncomfortably out of sight and tried to look out the window when Ben got an idea and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his computer phone and held it up to his mouth.
“Sorry,” said Ben motioning to the driver. “I’ve got to take this call.”
“Hey! That’s cool. We’ve got a lot of time.”
Ben then turned to Quazum holding the phone to his ear. “You know? We could move to Southern California? You could just look around and explore. You might like it.”
“No thank you,” replied Quazum. “I don’t want to live here.”
The driver looked confused when he heard the other voice before Ben looked up and answered, “It’s a speaker phone.”
Ben put the phone back to his ear and continued. “We could get a nice apartment near the beach, and every night when I get home from work and on weekends, we could go down to the beach and hang out. It might be like a beautiful day in Quazmopolis.”
Quazum looked around with his arms folded. “The temperatures here are too cold in daytime and too hot at night. I’m not interested.”
“Southern California has the most perfect temperatures. Mid-seventies and eighties year-round.”
“Perfect for humans,” replied Quazum. “I want to go to my real home. My body is most naturally comfortable in a hundred and fifty degree daytime. And below freezing at night.”
“I guess that’s what makes the swampland in Louisiana so nice. Temps and humidity are both around a hundred in the summer, and winter temperatures can drop down below zero in the winter. Right?”
“And of course the afternoon showers. I just wish I could live with Mom and Grampa at home in the bayou.”
“It’s okay, Quazum,” said Ben into the phone. “You could be back home on Quazmopolis tomorrow.”
When the taxi driver noticed Ben talking without the phone up to his mouth, he looked confused. “I hear the new Quazmopolis mission will be leaving in the morning. Do you know someone going?”
Ben quickly put the phone back up to his mouth and continued. “Yes, the Science Exploration Agency is still planning the mission to Quazmopolis. We’ve got to be ready in the morning.”
The driver turned his attention back to driving in traffic, and Quazum watched the tall buildings and beautiful sunset through the car window.
Rico, Palmer’s personal taxi driver in Louisiana, was driving fast down the bumpy old streets and highways through small towns in the rain. Dr. Palmer sat in the back seat and read from his computer.
“How much were they asking for that Back Bayou property?” asked Rico as he looked back at Palmer. “I’d love a piece of land in the marsh... Perfect for fishing and hunting, year round.”
Dr. Palmer was not listening and continued studying information on his computer before answering, “The cost was very small.”
“You know? There’s lots of properties for sale around here. My uncle has a thousand acres, and I see ‘for sale’ signs all the time. There’s some land up the road with ‘for sale’ signs. I could take you by there right now if you’re interested.”
“No,” replied Palmer as he looked out the window. “Just head straight back to the hospital.”
“Yes sir. Not a problem.”
Lightning then flashed and the thunder roared before Palmer announced, “Even if Lacy Meaux does not survive the brain surgery, I will be purchasing the Meaux property for a Science Exploration study.”
A buzzing sound began coming from Dr. Palmer’s briefcase. He lifted the case to his knee and opened to see his laptop computer receiving a call from Science Exploration in California. Palmer pushed buttons and replied, “This is Palmer. What’s the problem?”
Alice spoke over the computer speaker, “Hello Dr. Palmer? This is Alice at SEA.”
“Yes. Where do we stand with the mission? Everything on schedule?”
“Well, that’s why I’m calling. Scientists are preparing, and we’ve got a new satellite video being studied, but no one even knows if the mission is still on.”
“Take-off is scheduled for tomorrow, and there are no plans to abandon Quazmopolis Mission. I’ll be returning in the morning.”
“Okay,” answered Alice as she nodded to scientists standing around the phone.
“Have we done tests on new Arid Cactus plants?” continued Palmer.
Alice searched through notes and replied, “Oliver has been testing samples in temperatures surpassing one hundred fifty degrees, and Arid Cactus plants are surviving on a strict salt water diet.”
“Well, tell Pilot Jenkins and Chris Evans to prepare for statements and questions at the press conference in the morning.”
“Doctor? I think you should know. Oliver believes we should postpone the mission until you return.”
“No, we’re not postponing anything,” replied Palmer. “Life on Quazmopolis cannot survive if we don’t lay down the Composite Base. This mission will not be abandoned simply due to my presence at lift off.”
“What if we just postpone lift off for a few days? Would you even consider that?”
“No. Solar Jet will take off at the scheduled time.”
“And you’re sure you’ll be back?”
“I’ll be back in time for lift off,” answered Palmer. “I just have some final business to finish here.”
Alice then asked quietly. “How is Lacy Meaux? Do you think she will survive?”
“We don’t know. Dr. Kjell is performing transplant surgery right now. Even if she survives, she will suffer permanent brain damage.”
“Will we ever see her again?”
“I’m working on it,” answered Palmer. After thinking for a beat, he added, “And I want Lacy Meaux and Ben Thomas back to being fully employed by Science Exploration.”
“SEA Employees?” asked Alice, surprised by the statement.
“Yes. I believe I overreacted before without knowing all the things they’d both been through. They are both important members of the SEA organization.”
“I think that’s a great decision. I mean, we all miss both of them.”
Dr. Palmer looked at photos on his laptop and continued, “Let everyone know my plans. No cancellation. And I will be back in the morning.”
“Yes sir,” replied Alice as she hung up the phone.
Palmer closed his computer and noticed Rico listening and watching the conversation from the rear view mirror. Rain poured down as Dr. Palmer pushed buttons and continued examining mission documentation on his laptop.
As the driver in California finally exited the freeway following directions from the computer, he pulled into a neighborhood of nice apartments and condos.
The computerized map spoke out, “You are now entering the neighborhood of passenger Ben Thomas. Head south to the end of the road, and turn left onto Pixley. Destination will be the third house on the left.”
Ben interrupted, “Just turn left down this alley.”
“But the guide says to go straight to Pixley.”
“Just drive down the alley, and drop us off in the back of the third complex.”
“Us?” asked the driver.
“Me. I mean drop me off at the third building.
The driver then nodded and turned down the alley before pulling up to Ben’s apartment complex. Ben leaned down and quietly whispered to Quazum, “Come on. Just be quiet, and stay invisible.”
“You can wrap a blanket around me if you want.”
After parking, the driver jumped out and ran to the trunk. He pulled out Ben’s rolling suitcase and asked politely, “You need help with anything?”
“No. Everything’s fine. I can handle it from here. Thank you.”
Ben lifted the heavy blanket onto the suitcase and tried to balance Quazum on top.
“Here you go,” said the driver as he pulled out a long receipt printed from the computer. “We did forty-five miles in seventy-four minutes, in the middle of afternoon traffic. That’s pretty impressive driving if I do say so myself.”
“Yes, it is. So, what’s the cost?”
“There’s a small service charge,” answered the driver. “And we have to calculate time and distance.”
“Just tell me the cost.”
“Well, all the components for this drive are documented, and you’ll be receiving details of the trip via email.”
“My email? How do you get that information?”
“It’s all in your finger prints,” replied the driver.
“My fingerprints? I didn’t authorize...”
“Fingerprints were recorded and documented from the time you got in the car, Mr. Thomas. All information of your name, address and bank accounts have been registered and documented.”
“Great,” replied Ben sarcastically.
“And you can add another tip and other gratuities when you receive your bill. Just remember the service and entertainment.”
“I will. Thank you.”
The driver tipped his hat as he climbed back into the taxi and took off.
“So how much are you going to tip him?” asked Quazum from atop the suitcase.
“I don’t know. But it just got a lot less.”
Ben began carefully rolling Quazum and the suitcase up the sidewalk when Isabelle, the landlord, walked out surprised. “Hello there. The one and only Mr. Ben Thomas returns. What do you want?”
Ben acted polite and continued rolling Quazum up the driveway. “Oh, hello there. Nice to see you, Isabelle.”
“I thought you moved out. You said I could rent the place out, fully furnished. Remember?”
“Sure, I remember,” replied Ben. “I gave you my thirty-day notice, and I fully intend to move out after thirty days” Ben looked at his watch and continued, “That’s about eighteen days. Right?”
Isabelle looked confused, “But you said I could have all the furniture, and then rent out this apartment furnished.”
“You certainly can.” Ben continued towards his apartment door and laughed. “I plan on leaving some of the furniture just as it is now. If I decide to leave, you can rent it out any way you like. I promise.”
“But, but...” Isabelle looked confused. “I’ve already cleaned it up and listed it.”
“Oh great! I love coming home to a clean furnished apartment,” replied Ben with a smile as he pulled Quazum up the stairs. “Thank you Isabelle!”
“So when will you be moving out?”
“It could be anytime now. I’ll let you know. And thank you for your concern.” Ben used his key to open the door and waved as he went into the apartment door.
Dr. Kjell was wearing bloody doctor clothes and deep in concentration as he leaned over Lacy’s skull. Two nurses stood at his side shining lights onto the temporal lobe section of her brain. Another nurse adjusted medication to tubes going into her arms.
Dr. Winston was watching through the window outside the closed door when Dr. Palmer walked in.
Palmer began sliding on new operation scrubs when Winston spun around. “Dr. Palmer? It’s been one full day of non-stop brain surgery now. Will this ever end?”
“I will see to it that everything possible is done to save Lacy Meaux. That is my only commitment.”
Winston was annoyed as Dr. Palmer passed by, opened the door and walked into the operating room. “How is the cerebral procedure of Miss Meaux? Any differentials in testing?”
Without looking up, Kjell continued attaching brain cells and remained deep in concentration. “Cerebral cortex is forming at the base of cranium, and the bleeding cerebellum is now in traction recovery.”
“Will she ever think?” asked Palmer. “And could she ever have access to any of her lifetime of memories?”
Dr. Kjell thought about the question as he sewed small pieces inside the skull of her head. “I believe her mandible cortex can maintain stabilization for the cavity of the brain. But it might take awhile before she could actually process a thought.”
The nurse wiped blood dripping down the side of Lacy’s face and sprayed medication to clean another bleeding part of her skull. Kjell continued touching parts of the exposed brain with hi-tech instruments.
“There!” said Kjell with a sudden excitement. “She moved her finger! Did you see that? That part of the implanted cerebrum has exposed leverage over the motor cortex.”
“Something moved?” asked a surprised nurse.
“Does that mean frontal lobes are accepting implants of the limbic system?” asked Palmer.
“I’ve found a section of the brain controlling motion of certain limbs. I believe one day the new cortex might stimulate movement of more than one finger.”
Kjell adjusted other parts of the cerebellum with surgical equipment to cause another slight jiggle of the pinky finger on Lacy’s left hand. The nurse wiped blood from Lacy’s face again and asked, “Are we going to reattach the skull now?”
“No. I want to allow stimulation of restorative motion to continue.” Dr. Kjell adjusted the small corner of the newly implanted brain when two of Lacy’s fingers moved slightly.
“There! I saw it,” said a nurse with excitement.
“I believe with an individual stimulation, she might regain control of her entire hand.”
Dr. Winston walked through the open door and looked on in amazement. “She’s really moving her fingers? How did you do it?”
“Some tissues of her cerebellum cortex are being accepted,” answered Kjell. “She may one day even be able to survive without life support.”
“No life support?”
Dr. Kjell placed the see-through plastic skull onto Lacy’s head and tried to fit it in place. “It means that we may possibly be able to maintain a beating heart without stimulation.”
“And that means the patient may be able to leave,” replied Palmer. “That’s very good news.”
“But can she ever regain consciousness?” asked Dr. Winston. “Will she be able to wake up, just enough to talk?”
“That, we may never know,” replied Palmer.
“So, what’s next? Will you return the body to your Science Exploration?”
Dr. Kjell continued attaching the clear cover over the skull. “I think we’ll continue letting her new cerebellum implants adjust to the damaged cranium, then perform new tests at a later time.”
“We will move the body to the California Neural Hospital when her heart can beat without the machines,” added Palmer. “Until then, she will continue neuroplasticity treatment and remain on life support.”
“But for how long?”
Palmer answered without hesitation. “As long as it takes. I think you can go now, Dr.Kjell. Just go to the motel, and I’ll stay with Lacy for the night.”
“No, Doctor. You’ve got a bigger day tomorrow. Lacy needs someone to oversee the respirator, and I can sleep on the couch in the doctor's lounge.”
Dr. Palmer and Dr. Kjell continued attaching the plastic cover when Dr. Winston stepped up. “Why don’t you both go to the motel and sleep? I can oversee recovery of her body and perform respiration in case of emergency.”
All was quiet before Palmer spoke up, “No. I don’t trust you with the auscultation of lungs in an emergency.”
“Come on, Dr. Palmer,” replied Kjell. “I believe Lacy is in a condition where simple life support and time is all she really needs. It’s just a matter of letting the heart pump blood through the self-healing brain.”
“And you believe she can survive with Winston’s level of resuscitation?”
“Whether you and I are here or sleeping in a motel room, will have no impact on Lacy’s chance of survival, and you’ve got a big day tomorrow. Let’s take a break.”
Dr. Winston stepped up again, “I will continue monitoring heart and brain waves, and I will revive and notify you both at any sign of respiratory danger.”
“Let’s go Dr. Palmer.” Dr. Kjell turned and walked to the door. “I believe you especially need sleep before returning to Science Exploration.”
Dr. Palmer finally nodded in agreement, then turned and walked out of the hospital emergency room leaving Lacy surrounded by the surprised nurses and Dr. Winston.
News was playing on TV with photos and video from around the swampland, and the news anchor was speaking into the camera, “Ghost sightings originated in a small town in Louisiana, with first reports coming from a graveyard in Back Bayou. Police then took reports from the local grocery store and from homeless men in a nearby alleyway downtown.”
The video then cut to shots of a homeless man downtown. “It looked like a ghost. It was invisible, but you could still see it. And it carried a full-size man up the side of a building. It was moving around and talking. I never seen anything like it.”
Another gang member stepped up. “I think it was an alien. Not even a ghost could do what this creature did.”
The news anchor then continued, “In another ghost story, Back Bayou Police are investigating reports of sightings at a nearby hotel. Witnesses heard strange voices when a man checked in. After checking out, witnesses saw strange motion.”
News clips played of Ben rolling his suitcase into the hotel looking beat up, then being clean in a suit as he rolled his suitcase politely up to the reception desk.
“Additional reports came from the local airport. Unusual movement was noticed in the airport and in baggage handling sections. The ghost may have been flying to other cities.”
The national news anchor then replied to the reporter with a laugh, “So it looks like the ghosts may be travelling now on our airplanes, so people at home better keep an eye out for ghosts.”
“Yes,” answered the news girl with a laugh. “I’ll let you know when I hear about another sighting.”
Sheriff Neil was sitting on the sofa of his Back Bayou home holding a beer in front of the television and seemed to be thinking. Neil’s wife, Ruth, noticed he had a lot on his mind and asked, “Have you heard about these reports of ghost sightings in Back Bayou?”
“I don’t talk about my work when I get home. You know that.”
“I noticed the news interviewed the reverend at the graveyard today. He said he saw this ghost come out of the ground, and then started talking to him while he was digging. He said he never saw anything like that ghost.”
“Digging? That reverend has never even touched a shovel.” Sheriff Palmer shook his head and took another drink from his beer.
“And the manager at the Back Bayou Grocery Store said the magic ghost went into the store and went down an aisle shopping for different seasonings. The ghost finally flew out of the store.”
“It was a cashier that first noticed the movement. And it was salt that the ghost took. And it didn’t fly out of the store. It went out on a shopping cart.”
“Oh, I didn’t hear that part.”
“Ring!”
When the phone rang, Ruth leaned over to push a small button on the coffee table, “Hello?”
“Hi, this is Detective Covert. I need to speak to the sheriff. Is he around?”
“I’ll have to check.” Ruth then pushed a small mute button and turned to Neil sitting motionless and staring at the television. “Are you home?”
Sheriff Neil shook his head slowly and took another sip from his beer can.
After a second, Ruth released the button and spoke back into the phone. “I’m sorry. The sheriff is busy right now. And he doesn’t take calls when he gets home. He will discuss it with you at work in the morning.”
Covert continued, “I’m sorry Ms. Neil. We got new reports of ghost sightings at the hotel. We’ve got more confirmation from witnesses at the airport. We want to send out a SWAT crew to start lining people up...”
“Just a minute. Neil? What should I tell him?”
“We ain’t searching for ghosts. No more. Tell him to get back to business, and I’ll see him tomorrow at work.”
Ruth released the button, “I’m sorry Officer Covert. The sheriff is not taking calls. He said he’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
Neil flipped channels again and saw more news on ghost sightings as Ruth hung up the phone. “You know? Your son called earlier.”
“Yeah?” Neil muted the television and looked over with a surprised interest. “What did he say?”
“He says he wants to come over and let his kids spend some time with their grandparents again. I thought maybe we could have them over...”
“When?” interrupted Neil suddenly taking an interest. “This weekend? Tell them to come on over. I haven’t seen them in a while.”
“Your son said it’s been about six months, and he just wants them to get to know us better.”
“Tell them all to come by. I’ll barbecue.” Neil sat up and thought about his own life and turned off the television. “I want to spend time with my son and his family. Great idea!”
Ruth seemed surprised. “I’ll let him know.”
Quazum was sitting at Ben’s computer and looking at old photos and videos of Ben and Lacy, and their time at Science Exploration.
“Here!” said Ben. “Look at this video. This is from a class we were taking in Element Component Science. Your mom was wearing the camera helmet shooting video from her mask.
“And where were you?”
“It was all done from a Science Exploration simulation of a mountain side in Alaska with freezing temperatures.
Quazum closely examined the video of his young Mom smiling and asked, “Did you ever really explore that mountain?”
“No. Most of our early outings were just part of simulated schoolwork in a lab. SEA would replicate the conditions, and then conduct experiments on the natural elements and minerals, examining all forms of life.”
Ben pulled out another box filled with unmailed wedding invitations with photos and detailed descriptions, “These invitations were designed and printed by Lacy and my Mom.”
“When was the wedding supposed to happen?” asked Quazum.
“Everything was all scheduled for mid-October. Your Mom had reserved a Saturday afternoon at the Old Towne Park. The reception was going to be at the Palmyra Celebration Hall!”
Quazum looked confused, “So why did you break it off? What happened?”
“Well, when your Mom returned from the big Quazmopolis exploration, the SEA doctor said she was pregnant.” Ben thought about Lacy and the traumatic confrontation. “I just went ballistic. I lost it. I was sure she had a relationship with one of the explorers from the mission and cancelled everything.”
“So my parents were on Quazmopolis?”
“You’re Mom believed you were implanted by an undiscovered life form, that was just trying to survive. And I believe it because you are an intelligent binomial reptile, not from this planet.”
“But why would aliens in another solar system want to send life to another world? What could have been their motivation?”
“That fertilized egg might have been a way to preserve the entire species. Sending life might open up a new form of communication.”
“I guess.” Quazum thought deeply about that explanation and continued searching on the computer. Ben pulled a fold-out mattress from his closet and began laying out sheets.
“Okay Quazum. We need some rest. You’ve got a big day tomorrow, and we’ve got to be ready. We’ll have to leave before sunrise.”
“It’s okay,” answered Quazum. “I really don’t need a lot of sleep.”
“Come on. Just lie down. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.”