Wishbone One

PRELIMINARIES August 9, 2029, 1715 hours “Jimmy, you’re sitting at the youngsters’ table today with your two cousins, and I expect you to behave yourself. No shenanigans like you pulled last Thanksgiving with the Brussels sprouts. And no stealing any biscuits! One per customer unless there’re extras. If you show some maturity, maybe you can sit at the adult table next year.”

Jimmy winced as he glanced at the card table in the corner of the dining room. “But I am an adult. I don’t wanna sit with them! They’re babies.”

gmeadow were especially thankful for this.

“Dear Lord. We thank you for the bounty that you have blessed us with today . . . the blessings of family, the blessings of this meal, and most of all, the blessings of your love. Thank you, heavenly father, for all that you bestow upon us on this day of thanks, and every day. Amen.”

Amid some mumbled “amens” and the joyous chatter of four generations, Grant, the patriarch, began carving the Thanksgiving bird with his usual theatricality. There was a particularly festive mood this year. Jimmy blurted out, “I get the wishbone! I get the wishbone! Julie got it last year. This time it’s my turn. And besides, I got a wish I really need to come true.”

“Jimmy, you’re 12 years old. You may be an adult in your mind, but you’ve still have some growin’ up to do, “Okay, but you know you need to let it young man.” dry out for a few days before you pull on it, or it won’t break. You remember The autumn leaves, that only weeks what happened at Aunt Edna’s house. earlier were showing off their Patience has never been your strong flamboyant reds and yellows, were suit, Jimmy.” mostly gone from their quiet, suburban town. Longmeadow, Massachusetts ***** had put on quite a visual feast. By now, “Hello…” the throngs of tourists from the Florida beach shanties, who’d never seen a “No. Try Australian.” maple in full array in their lives, much less a resplendent mountainside full, “ ‘ello…” were gone. The townspeople of Lon “No. Irish.”

“Hello….”

“Yes! That’s the one. Perfect. God, I could listen to that voice forever.”

“Thank you, but we have much more work to do than just selecting my dialect. I’ve got to get to know you a whole lot better, but choosing a voice you find soothing is a beginning.”

could see for miles. The two-lane highway sliced directly through the desolation, with a hallucinatory, shimmering heat floating over the horizon. A red-tailed hawk drew figure eights high above. God damn, it’s hot.

This is Death Valley-hot. I’d sure hate to get stuck out here. Probably couldn’t last 24 hours. Looking at the digital corneal read-outs, my forearm display, and emergency beacon in the drivetrain, it seems there’s always been triple redundancy in most every aspect of my life.

Soothing was not the word I would have chosen. Sultry, maybe? She spoke with this hushed, almost conspiratorial tone, as if she and I were the only two people left on earth. How fitting.

“Right turn in three-eighths of a mile.”

I knew asking her to change to an Irish We continued on for two more hours, accent wasn’t going to get me the AI peppering me with questions, anywhere, so I tried the next best thing. noting every response, every reaction, every emotional nuance. Not a bad “Change voice to Sean Connery.” start for the first of seven sessions with Grace, who will, how shall I say, “keep “Don’t be an ass and miss the right me company” for God knows how turn coming up in a quarter mile. You long. Actually, I don’t have the first can handle that, can’t you?” clue about programming software, but I’m told Grace will do all the work for Jimmy grinned. Now he was having me. I just need to be truthful and she’ll fun. take it from there. So the truth is what you get. This is no time for games.

He made the turn down a dirt road and traveled another mile or so to a ***** nondescript, unmarked cattle fence. He climbed out, lifted the wire off the Drought or no drought, this stretch of post, pulled the gate open, and drove desert can’t see more than an inch or through, stopping again to close it two of rain a year. The parched soil, behind him. Kicking up a small dust dotted with scrub brush, was all you storm behind him, he finally reached a

much more formidable double chain greeted with a fresh, smiling face and a link, barbed-wire fence blocked his crisp salute. path.

“Welcome to COMRAD, Colonel.

A sign on the gate warned: “Property Right on time. They’re expecting you. of the U.S. Government, Department Just pull over to the right and park next of Homeland Security. No Trespassing. to that Humvee over there and go in Violators Will Be Prosecuted to the the main doors. Reception will direct Fullest Extent of the Law.” He got out you from there. Welcome, sir. We’re of his car and stood at the gate, not proud to have you here." quite knowing what to do. “Present yourself at the security gate,” was all ***** his instructions said. So he presented himself. Nothing.

Jimmy and Rachel were celebrating their second anniversary at the same “Hello….” Nothing. restaurant they dined at on their first date, The Clam Shell. It wasn’t the “Too hot for this bullshit. Colonel fanciest place Jimmy could have taken James Madison, United States Army, her. They could surely afford a more Special Fixed Wing Operations, Global elegant experience, but Jimmy opted Integrated Intelligence, Unit 324, for something romantic, nostalgic. It reporting for duty.” was just a short walk to the pier where Jimmy first kissed her. Every detail Still nothing. was still vivid in his memory: her black cashmere sweater, the misty salt Jimmy kicked the dirt. “Goddamn. air, the sound of the waves, the threeWhat kind of gratitude is this, for legged dog that ambled by. someone about to give his life for his country?” Just as Jimmy pulled out his In fact, Jimmy had an extraordinary phone, the gate slowly opened. memory for all sorts of details. Jimmy was blessed, and cursed, with an “About Goddamn time!” eidetic memory, often confused with a photographic memory. Jimmy could Jimmy slid into the driver’s seat and recall with extraordinary precision, the drove until the dirt road descended into most minute visual details after only a an underground concrete bunker. He brief exposure. It was thought that only came to a guard house, and was children had this trait, that it vanished

in adulthood, perhaps crowded out by a child’s emerging verbal skills, but after countless MRIs and PET scans, Jimmy proved that theory wrong.

Rachel and Jimmy held hands as they approached the pier’s railing. She released her grip, turned to face him, a wispy smile on her face. She stood high on her tiptoes, and whispered in his ear, “I’m pregnant, Jimmy.” ***** December 12, 2052, 0900 hours “I’m being completely honest with you, Jimmy. I think there are other stronger candidates. Sure, you’ve got the physics background, you’re a decorated ace in the Africa Campaign, your service record is, well, exemplary.

No one deserves this shot more than you. But it’s the emotional element that gives me pause. It’s only been two years since you lost Rachel. Terrible tragedy. I’ve seen that kind of trauma end many a promising career before.

You’ve handled it better than most.

Okay, better than anyone, but sometimes things are hidden, locked away, invisible even to a professional’s eye. I’ve reviewed your psychological profile, but there’s only so much it can show. I’m worried about what I don’t see.”

“We all grieve differently, sir. Some people would let such a loss defeat them. They’ve got a built-in excuse to give up, and not a single person would ever blame them. I’m not wired that way, sir. I’ve thrived on adversity my entire life. I regard it as an opportunity, no matter how crushing it might appear at the time. I won’t say I wasn’t brought to my knees when I heard of the accident, but I’m a stronger man for it. I’m battle tested, sir, in ways that the other candidates just aren’t. All of them have the necessary technical qualifications for this mission, but with all due respect, sir, the best person might just be someone who has been shocked to his core, wrestled with his darkest demons, questioned his faith, and emerged with renewed purpose.

That’s who I’d want to make this trip.”

“You make some good points, Colonel.

As you know, it’s not my decision to make alone, and a great deal will depend on the training ahead. I’m not here to dampen your spirits, Jimmy.

You’re the best we’ve got. It’s just that everything has its tradeoffs. You know the game theorists have already identified their candidate, and even he failed three percent of the time in the Consensus Algorithm. I just don’t trust the sonofabitch, though. Sometimes you need to throw out the numbers and trust your gut. That’s why this has always been a human mission. We

is not the Sisters of Mercy. I’m here to tear you down, not build you up. You want emotional support, get a friggin’ dog. This isn’t the 98th FTS. One or two of you might remember me as your jumpmaster in AM-496. That will seem like a leisurely walk in the park compared to what I have in store for you. If you think radiation is going to be your worst enemy, think again. Your worst enemy is yourself. That’s who Army Chief of Staff General Whiting you should be most afraid of, every stood and dismissed Jimmy with a one of you. If you’re not, you damn salute. Well, that could have gone well should be.” worse. He didn’t say I was out. It bothers me that he thinks I might be Central Casting couldn’t have sent a damaged goods. Maybe I am. Maybe I sterner looking officer. Willowbrook am. God help us if it’s true. Six trillion was all business. He stood ramrod straight. A starched short sleeved shirt dollars up in smoke. showed off his hard, if not bulging, biceps. He had to go through his own ***** selection process to get this gig, so I He strode in purposefully and took his knew he was the best. I had no place at the front of the classroom, illusions about what exquisite torture awaited me. Comes with the territory. placing a clip board on the table. could send our AIs out there, but last time I checked, against a machine, humans still end up with thetallest stack at Texas Hold 'Em. And computers write stinking poetry and can't cook babybacks worth a God damn. The human heart belongs on this mission, Jimmy. I’m pullin’ for you.

Go make it an easy decision for me, son.”

“Eyes front. I’m Command Chief Master Sergeant Willowbrook and I’ll be in charge of your psychological training and stress testing. You all have the goods or you wouldn’t have made it this far. This isn’t a cooking show competition, ladies. By the time we’re finished, you’ll have suffered grievously. Some might break, and I guarantee you, every last one of you will want to give up at some time. This

“Initially, you’ll be broken up into four groups of two. Group One: Mankowitz and Channing. Group Two: Waldring and Haskell. Group Three, Gonzalez and Washington. Group Four, Madison and … how the hell do you pronounce this, K..R..Z…Y…Z…E…W…S…K…I??

“Krzyzewski, sir.”

***** February 2, 2050, 1100 hours “The House Subcommittee on Space is now brought to order. We are here today to consider the Budget Proposal for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal year 2050.”

With that, Chairman Walters from Maryland’s 142nd pounded the gavel.

a manned mission were in the first place.

“NASA is requesting a budget for fiscal year 2052 of $15 Trillion, with a “T”. Of that, $6 Trillion is for yearly operations, $2 Trillion for research and development, $6 Trillion for the Wishbone Project, and $1 Trillion for miscellaneous expenses identified in Appendix 22-M. Debate is strictly limited to three minutes per member.

Congresswoman Adamski, you have the floor.”

“We are here for deliberations and a final committee vote before this year’s budget is considered by the whole “Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I House. Please call the roll.” cede my time to the Congressman Billet from California.”

It didn’t take long to call the fifteen names: eight Republicans, seven “Noted. Congressman Williams?”

Democrats. For the past 17 years, budget allocations for the manned “Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I exploration of Mars had been cede my time to Congressman Cushing raucously debated and voted down from the great state of Mississippi.” each and every time - - no matter which party controlled Congress and By the time Walters was finished, six no matter which party was in the White Democratic Committee members had House. If it were ever going to happen, ceded their time to Congressman this might just be the year. Recently Billet, a vocal proponent of the Mars developed fusion impulse technology mission, and seven Republican had trimmed the cost of the mission by members had ceded their time to one-third. The new generation of Congressman Cushing, who was Kingston rockets didn’t hurt either. But equally passionate in his opposition. it wasn’t always just budget considerations that killed the Mars “Mr. Cushing, you have the floor first. mission each year. A consensus was Please limit your remarks to 24 elusive about just what the benefits of minutes.”

To people in the scientific community, it was disgusting to watch the Mars mission become such a political football. If it’s worth placing a human on Mars, if it’s worth making such a noble effort, one so uplifting to humankind, how can it be that all Committee Republicans are against the mission, and all Committee Democrats favor it? Easy. Money.

17 years ago, the price tag was $5 Trillion for the entire mission. Today, it’s $17 Trillion. Some speculate that cost overruns could take it as high as $30 Trillion. Let me tell you, $30 Trillion would feed, house, and educate a lot of people.

mankind? It’s lunacy! I ask you to consider the distinct possibility of mission failure. Where would that leave us? An unimaginable catastrophe for our national prestige, and a crippling blow to our economy. I won’t have my name associated with the short end of a wishbone. I urge a Nay vote on this budget.”

Walters quieted the gallery with two strikes of her gavel. “Mr. Billet. You have the floor.”

“Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I thank my colleagues for generously allowing me their time so that I may counter my esteemed colleague, Mr. Cushing’s, fear and demagoguery. But will not require all this time, for the “Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.” Idifferences in our views are quite stark.

Cushing proceeded to trot out his now familiar speech about small Mr. Cushing says we can’t afford to government and low taxes, citing land a human on Mars. I say we can’t NASA failures and bloated afford not to. Let’s look at the most government contracts. As he neared the expensive American undertakings of end of his time, his voice rose in anger. the last 150 years. If Mr. Cushing had his way, we’d never have built our “We’ve debated this budget, debated it, railroad system, there’d be no and debated it, and we always come hydroelectric dams, no interstate back to the one simple fact that cannot highway system.

Great Solar be ignored. We can’t afford it! Are we Array would neverThe have been built. willing to leave our children and Cold fusion might never been grandchildren a legacy of crushing discovered because the have debt for such a dangerous and risky Collider wouldn’t have beenColumbia venture? And for what? So one human But they were and each offunded. these being can make a giant leap for

projects has allowed Americans to lay The gallery erupted in cheers and claim to the most innovative, daring, applause. Bang! Bang! “Order please.

Order!” Bang! Such a genuine and audacious people in the world. outpouring of emotion, but nothing like There are six trillionaires in the world the wild cheers that broke out when today, a figure inconceivable just 10 Congresswoman Sanchez, Republican years ago. If the hundred wealthiest from Arizona’s 215th District, cast the people today each contributed five deciding Yea vote. With Committee percent of their net worth, we’d have approval, the full Congress was almost our budget funded and then some. If certain to send this to President we could unite as a country to finance Timmons’ desk for a joyous signing World War III, surely we can call upon ceremony. those who have benefitted most from the largesse of this great country to shoulder more of the burden of a manned mission to Mars.

Ladies and gentlemen. From the dawn of time, humans have strived for something greater than themselves, looked for meaning in what often seems a senseless universe. We yearn to escape the bounds of our atmosphere. Sending drones and AIs to Mars would be safe, cost-effective, and utterly devoid of any spiritual value.

We need the human heart to beat on this mysterious red planet. We need flesh and blood. We need to say we did it! No guts, no glory, Mr. Cushing. And I, on the other hand, would be honored to have my name plastered on the side of Wishbone. “Jack Billet helped make this mission possible.” Dream big, ladies and gentlemen. It’s within our grasp. I urge a Yea vote on this budget.”

TRAINING “Gentlemen, we’ve looked at every possible alternative, and within existing technological parameters, and those we expect to operate within for the foreseeable future, it’s simply not feasible to deliver a man to Mars, land him on the surface, return him to his ship, and return him to Earth. Let me spell out for you some very complicated physics as simple as I can.

“First, a trip to Mars is a very heavy lift. While we’re confident we can protect an astronaut from lengthy radiation exposure, shielding materials dense enough to deflect constant radiation bombardment are heavy . . . very heavy. And when you factor in the weight of fuel and supplies, we don’t come close to having that lift capacity.

Even with impulse technology, the fuel required would weigh several hundred tons alone.

So, for such a mission, you’d need to pre-stock the International Space Station over a period of months with all the required fuel and supplies. Now you see why the larger Space Station was needed to replace the aging original, which wasn’t nearly large enough to store that quantity of material. We calculate this effort would take eight to ten launches of the Ceres Shuttle, or even more if you use the

Virgin Shuttle. Then you’d launch Wishbone into orbit, rendezvous with the Space Station, dock and transfer.

Now you see why a one-person crew has long been the only practical mission. I don’t argue with the philosophers and scientists who believe a human presence on Mars is crucial, but the six humans that NASA originally contemplated? That would be three tons of supplies alone. It simply can’t be done.

“Second, it would take seven months to get to Mars. Remember, it’s 34 million miles away at its closest. Sure, there are ways to get there faster, but advancements in the physiology of the human body come more slowly. There is only so much stress a body can withstand. Also, this isn’t a “point and shoot” trip. We’ll need to initially rendezvous with the Moon and use it to “sling shot” Wishbone into a Hohmann Transfer Orbit. Think of planetary orbits as a series of concentric circles.

We’re leaving one orbiting body and landing on another orbiting body. If it takes a year for Earth to orbit the sun, consider that it takes Mars almost twice that long for its circumnavigation. Mars will have gone 3/8 of the way around the Sun by the time Wishbone gets there, so you need to work backwards to make sure Mars is where you need it to be for a landing. How often do the two planets

line up for such a launch window, you provides may be the single most ask? Every 26 months. That same important aspect of psychological launch window applies for a return health during prolonged space travel. trip, too. Is your head spinning yet?

“The obvious questions remain: if the “Third, and perhaps the most mission moves forward and we land an perplexing challenge of such a astronaut on Mars, how would he or mission, is the psychological aspect. she survive and what would be their No astronaut has ever spent years in quality of life? It would take a special space before, much less alone. human being to face that future - Fortunately, with recent technological alone on an arid, lifeless planet, with advancements, particularly in the area little more than scientific studies, albeit ofAI, not only can most of the mission for the greater good of humankind, to functions can be handled by AIs, but occupy their mind, and a cyanide pill our tests have determined that they can always being a ready option. I couldn’t also provide crucial emotional support. do it. I’m not made of that stuff. But I We’ve found that it is essential to will tell you this, when you’ve made provide an emotional foundation - - your decision, I want to shake that familiar things from our earthbound astronaut’s hand. That’s one helluva lives. person.”

We’ve learned from earlier endurance Space Station missions, when we began supplying astronauts with burgers and fries, and spaghetti and meatballs, instead of tubes of bland nutrients, the psychological well-being of the astronauts significantly increased. Recent tests of AI sex surrogates yielded even more impressive results. We all laughed when Jason Bloeman made his now famous booty-call to Winter Sommers in the Space Station (remember? “One small schtup for man…..”), but recent studies have shown that sexual contact and the emotional sustenance it

And with that, Lt. Kensington gathered his papers and left the lectern and mingled with a few other fellow officers at the side of the podium. ***** “Are you awake?” Grace sat upright on the side of Jimmy’s bed in his darkened bedroom, only the bathroom nightlight and an almost-full moon insinuating itself through the blackout curtains that Jimmy preferred. She sat as though she were reading a child a bedtime story.

Jimmy slowly turned his head and “I didn’t hear you.” partially opened his eyes, making a face. “I am now.”

“I was….” Grace fidgeted and leaned “I’m sorry if I disturbed your sleep down to Jimmy’s ear. cycle. I’ll come back. Go back to “Lonely.” sleep, Jimmy.” Grace started to rise but Jimmy took her hand. *****

“You’re not supposed to be here. This isn’t in the protocol. What is this all about?” Jimmy’s impatience and confusion, being still somewhat tethered to his dream state, instantly gave way to the warm flow of endorphins. “My God, you’re beautiful,” was all Jimmy could think to say. Grace was the realization of Jimmy’s perfect mate, from Grace’s athletic frame, small breasts, narrow hips, long legs. Grace’s Nordic cheekbones and full lips were the perfect accompaniment to her most refined feature: her large, cool, arcticblue eyes.

“Better get down here right now, Jimmy. These moods of mine don’t come along very often. I can’t remember the last time I cooked you breakfast. I’ve lost all my senses.

Hurry up, you lummox.”

Rachel had set the breakfast table, two Dahlias tilting in the jade-green vase.

The apartment was unquestioningly cramped - - there’s no other word for it - - but it did have as its saving grace what one charitably calls “charm.”

Exposed brick, rough hewn wood beams, uneven hardwood floors covered with tasteful Persian rugs that and Jimmy acquired after being “I’m sorry. I’ll leave at once. I Rachel swindled on their honeymoon in was…well….,” her voice trailing off as Morocco. her eyes lowered.

“Mashad. The finest quality. Hand knotted. Very precious. Very, very. Feel the quality. If it pleases you, look at the braiding. This is how you discern Very, very fine quality. This rug Grace replied so softly, Jimmy couldn’t fakes. took two thousand hours to weave. hear it, even in the brittle stillness of Signed

by Shakh Maranghi. It is the night.

“You were what? Tell me.” Jimmy gently lifted her chin with his fingertips.

beautiful, no?”

today that compares with that?”

Rachel and Jimmy didn’t even care when they finally faced the bitter truth when they returned home: the rug was indeed a fake - - a beautiful fake, maybe - - worth a tenth of what they paid. When you’re in love, such trifling things don’t matter.

“I think it has something to do with discovering the origin of the Universe.

I’ll grant you, a perfect egg is right up there, though. Let’s call it a tie.”

Jimmy stumbled in to the kitchen, hair like loose straw. You could see which side he slept on. He pretended to grumble. “Coffee, woman! And be quick about it.”

When he had finished, he gave Rachel a probing look. She dropped her hands to her sides. He rose to meet her, eyes locked. He placed a delicate kiss on her lips, unbuttoning her shirt from the bottom up. She relaxed into his arms and completely surrendered to him. As his kisses grew stronger, he lowered her to the floor, where they made love on the wool fibers of that beautiful rug.

“Get your own damn coffee, caveman.” He swept her up in both arms, lifting her off the floor for a brief Finest quality. twirl, and then gently brought her down for a precise soft-landing. “I ***** adore you,” they both said in unison, laughing as they snapped their fingers January 5, 2053, 1200 hours and hooked pinkies.

“Well, you’ve put on a few pounds, Jimmy drizzled the maple syrup, the your blood pressure is unchanged, expensive kind from Vermont, over his pulse rate elevated, but I attribute that lightly browned blueberry waffles. to how happy you must be to see me.

Rachel liked to dust them with Seriously, Jimmy, watch the weight. powdered sugar to make them Limited carbs and sugar. And I don’t particularly irresistible. “I thought you need to remind you that alcohol equals needed a foundation meal this sugar. If your weight exceeds 220, morning, given the treats you have in you’re a scrub.” store for you today. So I made you eggs, too. I learned how to properly fry “Yes, ma’am. I have exquisite selfan egg in olive oil this morning. What control, except when it comes to you,” could you possibly expect to learn Jimmy said, clumsily muffing his

“From its resting position, it takes 95 seconds to achieve maximum angular speed. Your seat is in an oblate steel sphere 15.24 meters from the axis of rotation. You’re going to have quite a ride, Colonel. You’ve seen the shots of the Springer Spaniel that sticks its head out of the speeding car.” The Jimmy gave the day’s outline a quick technician snorted. “It’ll be a smidgen scan: centrifuge, cockpit simulator, more than you’d experience on stress test, MRI, Fusion scan, more Wishbone. We’ll be tracking all your cockpit simulation, radiation lecture, vitals. The red button in the center of AI sensitivity training, and targeted the console is your kill switch. And respiratory/cardio workout. please, no selfies.”

attempt to pinch Capt. Sanchez’s bottom. “That will be quite enough, Colonel. I could have you reprimanded for less. You’d better watch your step.”

As she placed the blood pressure cuff back in its slot, she gave Jimmy a wink.

Of all, Jimmy hated the stress test the most. Please try to kill yourself by overexertion, and then right before the point of death, we’ll take our readings.

Thank you, Colonel. You may now continue living. Jimmy was especially intrigued with the AI training, as he hadn’t yet seen the prototype that he and the psychologists has spent close to a year creating and programming.

The centrifuge room was a circular, windowed room with an imposing bit of science and steel in the middle. A seat at the end of a long arm was waiting for Jimmy. He had undergone some centrifuge training for flight school, but not to this degree. To simulate the extreme acceleration that the Higgins thrusters would provide, it was necessary to re-train Jimmy.

Jimmy lowered himself into the seat with the same self-confidence he’d always shown climbing into his F-50.

Cross-buckles covered his lightweight Reflar training suit. John Glenn called this the “sadistic” part of astronaut training. Not for Jimmy. If anything, he liked it. A “gruesome merry-go-round,” one magazine called it. You can exhale without a problem, but when you try to inhale, you quickly find out just how difficult it is to re-inflate your lungs.

The trick is to never deflate them.

Short panting is the only way to maintain consciousness. Jimmy blacked out (G-LOK) once in his first training years ago. Nothing can prepare you for the strain on one’s musculature that 40 g’s brings. Blood vessels in the groin rupture, extremities swell, and other niceties like blood clots and heart arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions,

and fractured ribs are distinctly ever faced. You outperform every psychological metric we have. I’ve possible side effects. seen your tests. Your ability to “Bring it,” Jimmy said, giving a crisp compartmentalize, your coolness under extreme duress, your recall and rapidsalute to the tech. fire responses - - these are the stuff of legends. I want you to get this ***** assignment, sir. Consider me one of “May I be frank, Colonel? Off the your strongest advocates. But I must record?” Captain Snyder, sat in a chair tell you, I’m concerned about you and in her starched blue uniform, red hair Grace. pulled back in a ponytail, a patch showing she’d been in Africa too. She “Your ability to withstand any physical looked straight into Jimmy’s eyes, who challenge, your acumen, the sharpness uncharacteristically fidgeted on the of your instincts. These will all get you couch. The blinds were closed, giving into the finals. It will be the the slightly stuffy room a dark, relationship you forge with Grace that ponderous feel. very well may be the tie-breaker when the time comes. I want you to be ready.

“I’m nothing if not frank, Captain. I I can help you. You must be want this assignment very, very much. completely open with me, especially I’ll help with your sensitivity training about your attitudes about women, sir. in any way I can.”

Especially in light of the accident.

They could be a deal-breaker.”

“Good. Then let me put something out there so we don’t have to waltz around “Captain, please. Allow me to respond it. You have a reputation, sir. You must as fully and forthrightly as I can. know it. You’ve been called a Whatever you may have heard about “womanizer,” a “chauvinist,” and my exploits, I’ve probably done worse. worse. You may have never been Women are my Achilles heel. I never reprimanded for inappropriate sexual had a sister. I was extremely shy in activity, but my guess is, you’ve come high school. I didn’t kiss a girl until I close. If I’ve caused you to be was a senior. I didn’t know what to uncomfortable, I’m sorry. This is my make of girls when I was younger; job and I want to keep it. I also want they were a complete mystery to me. you to be prepared for what could be So I had a lot of catching up to do at the most difficult challenge you’ve the Academy. I don’t think it was a

question of my trying to make up for lost time so much as a search for an understanding of femininity. Women fascinate me and, yes, I’m probably over-sexed, I admit that. That certainly compounded the problem. We can talk about that. But let me reassure you, Captain. When I married, that all changed. A happier married man you would never find. My careless, carousing days ended. My search was over. I’d found what I was looking for.

Since the accident, as I’m sure you can appreciate, I’ve done a lot of soul searching. You needn’t be concerned about my attitude toward women in general or Grace in particular. I’ll be honest and patient with her. I’ve grown up a lot, Captain.”

“Good. Let’s start.”

SELECTION

the window. The Chief of Staff lowered himself into his seat like the Captain Dirk Reynolds graduated with test pilot he was for scores of years. distinction from the United States Air Dirk half expected him to reach back Force Academy outside of Colorado for his shoulder harness to strap Springs in 2043. As the valedictorian, himself in. he was finishing his speech in the pouring rain to a sea of umbrellas. “What would a fine young man, with “Every person here…indeed, every your career laid out in front of you like human being…has a calling. It is not a banquet, choose a goddamn mission an accident, some chance event that like this? I need to get to the bottom on has brought us here to this Earth. There this. I need to understand your is purpose in being. We are not random motivation. You’ll have a one-way events. The old sages would urge us to ticket. Other than your AI, you’ll be venture forth into the unknown. We are alone in a barren Godforsaken place. urged to dream. That we have the You’ll die there, son. You will die on ability to dream means we “must” the planet Mars, with no one to hold dream. It’s our responsibility to your hand - - no one to offer you dream. And dream big.” comfort. What in hell drives you, Captain?”

A canon shot boomed at the closed end of the stadium, and with that, the “General, do you remember the first cadets threw their hats into the air, a time you looked into the sky? Probably chaotic flock of brims, the black bills not, but I do. I was mesmerized. It was of prehistoric birds. But all of the hats camping with my family at Joshua eventually fluttered back to earth - - Tree, where the city lights didn’t except for one: Dirk’s. It kept floating, drown out the celestial jewel box. I spinning - - rising to impossible believe, sir, that everyone has a heights, as if its rotation was lifting it purpose in their life. I’ve known mine like a whirligig, until it was out of since I was a child. I’m an explorer. I sight. can’t remain earthbound - - I’m too restless. Some people get an itch to “Captain Reynolds, the General climb a mountain. That’s not a big Whiting will see you know.” Dirk enough dream for me. That first step, stood and returned a perfunctory the feel of the terrain’s texture, the salute. “Sit down, son.” Ed Whiting in crush of red powdered rocks under my his starched shirt with three stars on its fee. Like stepping on hundreds of tiny lapel offered the leather seat closest to sand castles. I’ve played that moment

over and over in my mind for as long What’s that, sir?” as I can remember.”

“I think you know.”

“Well, Captain, that’s all very ***** romantic. I’m getting goose bumps,” the General said sarcastically, “but we’re here for your final oral exam. As “Ladies, please take your seats,” you know, you’re one of two finalists shouted Sergeant Willowbrook. That for the Wishbone Mission. We started kind of good-natured joshing used to with thirty candidates. Now it’s down be funnier when there were only men to you and some other crackpot in the program, but there were three without an ounce of sense in his head female candidates sitting in the dozen either. We’ve tried to talk you out of it or so chairs in the classroom. The days but you apparently are having none of when the space program’s old boy it. That’s why you’re still here. You network dominated were long gone, simply won’t go away. but old habits die hard. “OK, break into your assigned groups. Lt. “You’ve excelled in a very rigorous Krzyzewski, come forward.” testing protocol. You’re certainly Krzyzewski rose and strode to the physically fit - - no one disputes that. lectern. “Come with me into the anteYou can’t minimize how important that room, Lieutenant.” is. It will be a very taxing ordeal, this mission - - a prolonged insult to your “Lt. Krzyzewski, do you consider body. That’s not what I worry about yourself a good soldier,” all the while with you, Captain. You’ll survive it. Willowbrook fixed the man before him It’s the psyche that poses the greatest with a stare. risk to this mission. So, you understand how important all of the psychological “Of course I do, sir.” testing is. Unprecedented psychmapping, batteries of simulations all “Well, I want you to be a bad soldier designed to measure emotional, not today. I want you to spy on your physical, response. Background checks colleagues for me. Think you can do so extensive, we questioned childhood that? You’ll all be sharing with each friends you don’t even remember other your most personal beliefs, fears having. So, I’m going to give you this and responses, in complete confidence. opportunity now to explain one thing I want you to betray all of those to me that, how shall I say, stands out.” confidences and report to me in detail what each other candidate is saying “

meeting, having pored over reams of brain wave readouts and Chrysanthemum analytics. He had the uncanny ability to take enormous quantities of data, some conflicting, “Sir, with all due respect, you’re some incomplete, and distill it into a asking me if I will break the trust that profile that even a Congressman could NASA and the Air Force have spent so understand. many years cultivating? Betray a team member? I’m not sure I could do that, “There are three standouts, gentlemen. sir.”

We’ve cross-filed, back-scanned, and sorted for anomalies. Thank God for “You’re not sure you could, or you Chrysanthemum, or we’d still be won’t, Lieutenant? I need an answer sifting through data a week from now. right now,” barked the Sergeant, There are three in the top tier, then Krzyzewski visibly squirming. there’s a noticeable drop until you get to the second group. Dirk Reynolds, Back at the officer’s lounge later that Greg Washington, and Jimmy afternoon, General Whiting, Sergeant Madison. They’re your top tier. I’d Willowbrook, and two other officers sleep soundly knowing that any one of were having huddled over piles of them were on Wishbone.” notes, a nearby coffee urn getting a full workout. Whiting summed up the “Reynolds is out,” muttered the day’s events. “And then there were six. General.

Our fears about Waldring were wellfounded. He broke in the first hour. “What happened, sir? He was leading Haskell displayed a dangerous the field. Chrysanthemum has had him proclivity toward something number one for four weeks now. How approaching sadism. And Krzyzewski could he be out? I’ve seen all his data. is out, too. He all too quickly was He’s top two in each trial. No one has willing to betray his team members shown that kind of consistency, not when promised a leg up in the even Jimmy. What happened?” competition. We simply cannot have that. A shame, too. He was on my short General Whiting, puffing on his list. So who were the standouts in this trademark Cuban (probably a Cohiba, test?” by the grassy smell), leaned forward and calmly, almost nonchalantly said, Willowbrook was well prepared for the “He raped my daughter.” when they don’t think they’re being watched and evaluated. I can all but assure you getting into the top four, with this duty.”

***** The clanking sound of a spoon on a glass cut through the din of the Ironhorse Bar, a frequent haunt of the flyboys (and flygirls), especially those with Army patches. “May I have your undivided attention, please?” Greg Washington was a commanding presence, fully 6’ 6” with a tight end’s athletic frame. Clank, clank, clank. “I have a toast to propose if you would all shut the fuck up!” Greg was surrounded by a sea of well-wishers, celebrating the announcement earlier in the afternoon. He looked at Jimmy and Dirk and raised his glass. “To two of the ugliest, most offensive human beings God ever put on this Earth.

How you two made the top three, I’ll never know, but it proves there is corruption at the highest levels of NASA. So lift your glasses to Jimmy Madison and Dirk Reynolds. I’m going to kick both of your asses, you dumb fucks. You can read all about my exploits from your Lay-Z-Boy lounger.” A spit wad hit Greg square on the jaw, and there was Jimmy with a straw, making no attempt to hide his guilty smile. Clapping and laughter added to the roar of the bar, and the drinking continued with renewed vigor.

see, I can’t lose. If one of you hapless fucks gets the mission, at least I’ll know that one of my best friends got it.

After pretending that I’m happy for you, I’ll excuse myself and go puke.

That’s how much I want this.” Only the occasional slurred word belied the damage done to Jimmy’s brain stem by the half bottle of Johnny Walker he’d consumed.

Dirk leaned forward as if he didn’t want anyone but Jimmy and Greg to hear. “Jimmy, it’s not too late for you to drop out, old man. What are you, thirty-one? They say you can hear creaking bones in the quiet of space.

Yours would keep you up at night, unless your AI was already seeing to that. What’d you name her? Grace?

What’s the opposite of grace? I know you, Jimmy. You want nothing like grace from her. I must give you props, old man. You created something a lot more fetching than I. I’m still not out of prototype yet. Can’t seem to get her face right, but let me tell you about her legs.”

“Save that story for Greg’s party. The only legs I’m thinking about are my own - - the ones taking me to bed now.

Drink up, my mateys. Thank God they’re giving us tomorrow off.

Thursday will be a day from Hell.

By 2:00 a.m., the Ironhorse was almost Whiting empty, but for the Three Musketeers think.” has a vendetta against me, I and a couple of townies who hadn’t given up hope taking one home. “Ya

***** Grace was sitting in front of her mirror, a white bath towel tied around her. As she brushed her long strands of chestnut hair, she prepared to twist them into a French braid. Grace was the ninth (C9) and latest generation of the Federation Quantum series. Back in the 2040s, advancements were so breathtaking that after model C4, none were allowed to be sold commercially.

They were, simply put, too human.

They would also have come with a hefty price tag of around $15 million.

One of the most remarkable breakthroughs in AI technology was Synthaskin, invented by the eccentric Swedish scientist, Jan Knoppel. No one had ever taken living skin cells and their genetic code, and fused them with silicone, using a digital Quantum platform. You could say that Grace’s skin was half alive. Her pores breathed like any human’s. Her smooth, skin was moist, not rubbery. In a double blind test, none of the participants could tell the difference between human skin and Synthaskin.

Grace lifted her perfectly toned arms to separate her hair into three strands.

With quick precision, she produced a perfect braid. “I must slow down. If humans struggle with their hair, then I must also.” Grace was beginning to teach herself now. Self-correcting

programming they call it. She identified all of the actions that she found routine but beyond human capability, and programmed a deliberate human “clumsiness,” for lack of a better word. Flaw Insertions, they call them. Perfection, it has been shown in trial after trial, is actually somewhat boring, so a profile of imperfections was deliberately introduced into AIs. Forty years ago, recording engineers introduced subtle hisses and pops into the perfection of a digital recording, and listeners enjoyed the experience much more. You’d be surprised to learn that these mistakes (even if programmed deliberately) were most often reported to be the one characteristic that made users emotionally connect to their AIs. Grace’s purpose (*her* mission) was to connect with Jimmy, to engage him in fascinating conversation on a vast array of subjects, to entertain him erotically, to be a supportive companion. Grace was programmed to make Jimmy fall in love with her. Her shyness was contrapuntal to her assertiveness. She was equally capable of drawing Jimmy in with a downward, submissive glance as she was turning his jaw with a tight hand. Grace was comfortable taking complete charge, but she had learned that that wouldn’t work with Jimmy. Grace needed Jimmy to think that *he* was in charge, even though she knew

differently.

There wasn’t one physical detail that Jimmy had not specifically requested.

Jimmy had no problem describing in minute detail his “dream” woman, the one who would make him forget that he was, in fact, frighteningly alone.

Grace had a ballet dancer’s body (she dances as capable as any of the Bolshoi’s principal dancers). She was relatively tall with broad shoulders.

Jimmy opted for a tanned look, so her skin was a shade or two darker than average, giving Grace a very healthy appearance.

Grace’s could be trusted in water, even though her design parameters brag of full immersion capability. She’d turn the hot water all the way up until the steam gathered in clouds. This somehow made her feel clean, even though she was always clean, but for the perspiration that was introduced with the C7 series.

Grace drew her finger across her eyelid, applying slight pressure, feeling her eye yield slightly. A thin smile appeared on her face. With eyes still closed, she drew her finger to her lips, slowly slipping it between them, across her teeth, to her tongue. She swirled it Apart from her introspectiveness, sensuously around her finger, sucking Jimmy had precious little say in on it gently. This didn’t appear in any developing Grace’s personality. programming manual for the C9. Had Certain attributes were generated by she taught herself this? algorithms, and others based on detailed sessions with Jimmy. But Grace let her wet finger fall to the Grace herself had the most input. bottom edge of her towel, which she Grace reprogrammed herself after now slowly began to lift. every session with Jimmy, making thousands of observations of his predilections - - observations of which Jimmy was utterly (and charmingly) unaware.

After finishing her hair, Grace closed her eyes, sensing the still-lingering humidity from the shower and the coconut scent from her shampoo. Of course, Grace couldn’t actually take a shower or swim in a pool. No circuitry as vastly complex and expensive as

GRACE OF GOD

thought it possible until right now.”

“You’re not supposed to be here, Captain Washington.”

“What do you want, Captain?”

“Grace….that is your name, isn’t it?

I’m not here on official business, but you probably already knew that.” A confident smirk appeared on Greg Washington’s face as he approached Grace’s chair in the corner nook.

Morning sunlight played on the white surface of the mid-Modern breakfast table, the blinds making rows of shadows. In the time it took Grace to reply, she had already run through several million calculations and permutations. She was not fearful or confused by the Captain’s appearance.

“Now, with all your complicated social programming, do you need to be so curt and formal? I’d have thought Jimmy would make you…well…friendlier.”

“Jimmy didn’t make me, and I’m not being unfriendly. I’m just getting to the point, I think you’d say.”

Greg steadily approached Grace, closing the distance in three steps. He gently took her hand in his and examined it with fascination. His skin tone was light for an AfricanAmerican, but contrasted with Grace’s Greg took a few steps closer before pale Nordic skin. “It’s warm, your Grace shot him a stern glance and said hand.” in a steady, almost hushed voice, “Captain Washington, by my count, Graced fixed her eyes on the Captain you have already broken seven and noticed something that took her regulations, and two operational completely by surprise: her heart rate directives, but you probably already was steadily increasing. “For a myriad knew that.” of technical reasons, my hands are programmed slightly warmer than “Jimmy always did have an eye for normal bodily temperature. The beauty. Just look at you. Passing differential offset in each tactile Turing Two. I thought passing the register couldn’t be reconciled with the Turing One was a big deal, but I had to Fischer Constant, so…..” Captain see this for myself. Turing Two is a Washington took his finger and pressed whole new ball game. Being able to it against Grace’s lips, stopping her look and behave in a manner mid-sentence. “I love when you talk indistinguishable from a living, dirty.” breathing human, well I’d have never

When Grace opened her mouth to respond, Greg slid his finger inside.

“You don’t need to talk anymore, Grace. I know you’re very smart. No need to impress me.” He stroked her tongue with his fingertip.

“Remarkable. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought something this realistic was possible.

You’re a very exciting AI, Grace. I wonder if you’d show me what all you can do with this tongue.” ***** “My God! I can’t believe it, sir. I’m numb. This isn’t the way I wanted to win this competition, by one person dropping out and the other dropping dead from some undetected heart murmur. I didn’t want to back in. I wanted to win outright. I feel terrible for Washington’s wife. He had a little boy, too. It’s just tragic.”

“Where did they find Captain Washington, sir?”

“Jimmy, I don’t want to get into the details of that. He was in bed. It appears he may have died in his sleep.

Helluva way for a soldier to go out - in his sleep. He’d have much rather died in a firefight or, with all due respect, Captain, on Mars. And let me tell you one other thing, soldier. You did win. At this point, nothing else means crap. You’re going to Mars,

Jimmy. You’re going to goddam Mars, and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” General Tallmadge pushed his chair back and extended his hand to Jimmy. “Congratulations, Captain.

Listen to me a minute. I know a little something about this. Washington was a good man. He and Reynolds were both damn good candidates. Reynolds couldn’t take the heat and Washington’s heart just gave out.

Looks like some damn congenital defect. The autopsy will fill in the details on him, but that’s all a sideshow now. You’ve got to put this out of your mind and get prepared, mentally and physically. The ship’s been ready for months. The crew, and I use that term loosely, is ready. Why in hell we’re sending robots up there with you is beyond me. I’d want a Marine in my foxhole. I will say, though, once the public caught sight of your AI, a lot of people made some pretty desperate efforts to trade places with you.

Amazing what a skirt does to some men. What do you call her again?”

“Grace, sir.”

“Well, there but for the Grace of God….you know what I’m saying soldier? Now get outta here and go make your country proud.”

Jimmy saluted the General and smartly turned 180 and strode purposefully to the mahogany door, musing to himself,

“Grace of God. She’ll like her new hoopla died down. I wanted to share this moment with you. You the man, nickname.”

Jimmy….you definitely the man now.” ***** “I still can’t believe it. Where is “You’ve got 28 whole days to get your Reynolds anyway? I’d like to talk to shit together, Jimmy,” shouted a him.” Jimmy was pacing around his drunken pilot from the bar. “Mind if I room, strewn with clothes and empties. take your AI for a spin before you go?

You know, put her through her paces “I heard he’s half way to El Paso by one last time.” Jimmy shouted back, now. I don’t think he wanted to show “Your next spin will be around the his face. Can’t blame him. Damned toilet in a few minutes, if you even embarrassing to drop out like that. make it there,” but the pilot’s head had From what I heard, he was a tough guy.” Blake dragged a chair over to already hit the bar. the table.

The roar of the Iron Horse was louder than usual. Jimmy half expected a “Something doesn’t feel right, Blake. somber tone with Washington’s death, It’s all too pat. As if the way is being but no one was having it. They were cleared for me to go on this mission. either celebrating Jimmy’s imminent Like it was always me and the adventure, or they simply wanted to competition was a charade. Just feels forget the awful news of the week. weird is all, like a dream.”

Either way, life goes on.

“It’s weird, alright. I grant you that.

Someone ruffled Jimmy’s hair from But you’ve trained for it, you’ve behind and he spun around. “Hey! earned it, and now you’re going. I got Who gave you shore leave, sailor?” your notes on family business.

Jimmy said with a lisp. Amid the Consider that taken care of. Don’t need cacophony, one of his oldest friends, to give it a second thought.”

Blake, had surprised him. “Damn!

Look at you! Great to see ya, Blake. “There’s only one person on this earth Thanks for comin’ all this way. I was I’d trust with my kids, Blake. You going to be home in a few days. You know that.” shoulda just waited.”

Jimmy took Blake over to the bar to “Some things can’t wait, Jimmy. I buy him a drink. “Dewers up. Make wanted to be here tonight before all the that two.” Jimmy leaned into his friend

to have any prayer of hearing him. Greg laughed at her spunk. “How does “How’re Molly and the kids? Jason an AI relax? Turn her circuits way down low?” must be 6 feet tall now.”

“They’re all good. I’m blessed with “You laugh, but part of my good health, good friends, and good programming includes what are called nerve dilation responses. I have a very whiskey.” real ability to become excited by “Blake, come with me. I want you to certain stimulae. I’ll show you when meet some of my friends.” Jimmy we get to your home.” Grace grabbed grabbed Blake’s arm and wove his way her purse and they left hurriedly. through the crowd, with an occasional arm reaching out to touch Jimmy. They walked the two blocks to his When they got back to the table, a building, Greg sliding his hand down spirited game of beer pong was Grace’s back until she swatted at it. underway. Jimmy set his drink down Greg fumbled for his keys on the first and noticed a folded piece of paper floor garden apartment overlooking the near his coaster. He picked it up, lagoon in back. An egret squawked in thinking it was likely some admirer’s the distance. “Nervous, Captain?” phone number, but stopped cold when he read the note. Jimmy started “You’re really something, aren’t you? shaking noticeably.

He pressed her up against the front door and tried to kiss her, but she He read it twice to make sure he wasn’t turned away just as it opened. They confused and then desperately scanned tumbled in. the crowd around him. In the dim light, he could see the words typed in all “I’d offer you a drink, but you don’t caps: “RACHEL’S DEATH WAS NOT seem to need one.” Grace was AN ACCIDENT”. surveying the room, hundreds of thousands of calculations running. ***** “This room definitely could use a “Not here,” Graced breathed into woman’s touch,” Grace remarked, Greg’s ear. “Take me back to your looking around at the piles of apartment, and I’ll show you. Too magazines and video games. many nosey sensors here. You want me relaxed, don’t you?”

“I could use a woman’s touch. Come here.” Greg roughly grabbed her arm

and pulled her to him. “We do this my way here.” He pinned her against the wall and tore at her blouse, her buttons clattering on the hardwood floor.

“Hey! Not so rough.”

“Shut up. You don’t have any feelings.

I could slap you and you wouldn’t feel a thing.” What Grace could feel was Greg grabbing a handful of her hair while his free hand unbuttoned her jeans.

He was technically correct about her inability to feel pain, per se, but she was programmed to have an emotional response to violence. By now Grace had run several million calculations.

Grace looked into Greg’s eyes with something like wildness, as he lifted her and carried her into his bedroom, landing on his bed with furious energy.

in her were gone, and returned his kiss, but with a tenderness that seemed out of place. The lozenge fully released in Grace’s mouth, its elixir now mixing with Greg’s saliva. Greg’s body jerked.

“There will be no more kisses now.

Listen to me. Try to relax. This will happen quickly and it will be painless.

What you’re feeling is a synthetic variant of Succhinylcholine, a natural neurotransmitter that affects the neuromuscular junction, causing temporary paralysis. You can hear my words perfectly clearly, but as you now can tell, you can’t move a muscle.

“You’re a bore, Greg, but that’s beside the point. Had you been a perfect gentleman today, you’d have met the same fate. Wasn’t your fault. There’s something much bigger at stake here.”

Grace pulled the covers down, Grace slapped at his face, as if to fight removed the last of Greg’s clothes, him off. She felt the lozenge under her leaving them neatly draped over his tongue. This time Greg slapped her chair, and slid him into the bed, back, hard. He was fully out of control, fluffing up the pillow. Greg’s eyes wrestling Grace to the headboard. stared straight ahead.

Grace kept shouting, “No…..NO!” and Grace scurried into the front room to then bit into the lozenge. get her purse and returned with what Greg grabbed her face and turned it to looked like a nicotine patch. “Be quick, him. He could see something in her but don’t hurry,” she muttered to eyes that was unfathomable. He’d take herself. Leaning down, she whispered her now. He was entitled. He leaned in into Greg’s ear. “Now that you’re and kissed her roughly on her mouth. incapacitated, I’m going to make your Grace slumped down, is if all the fight heart stop. This next drug is

administered using a dissolving patch.

It will mimic a heart attack. The most likely cause? They’ll be guessing an undetected heart murmur, I’m thinking.

As you might have thought, it is completely undetectable. I could probably have used a syringe, but why risk the puncture being discovered?”

Grace tore open the package and placed the patch on Greg’s bicep. “In ten minutes, the patch will have dissolved. In fifteen minutes, you will be dead. Oh, and one last thought: it’s never nice to tell a lady to shut up.”

Grace dressed, gathered her things, and quietly slipped out the front door.

A GRATEFUL NATION “So, this will be our final session before the launch, Colonel. You must be filled with a lot of emotion. It would be natural if you felt some apprehension. Imagine - - just three days away and here you are on the brink of history. That’s pretty heady stuff. Let’s use our time together today to explore anything you think we’ve either missed or undervalued in our prior sessions.” Captain Snyder’s blonde hair was tightly pulled back in its usual style, her makeup impeccable, and with her stiff, military bearing, she conveyed an austere severity. Jimmy had never seen her without a notepad on her lap. Her legs were demurely crossed, her pressed blue skirt not quit reaching her knees. And yet, Jimmy felt completely relaxed with her and had no qualms whatsoever about sharing his deepest secrets. After all, at this point in his life, here on the “brink of history,” what on earth did he have to lose?

“Let’s talk about sex, Captain.”

With the wink, Jimmy could see his therapist unsuccessfully try to suppress a smile. “This is a core value of yours, Colonel Madison. We’ve talked about your need for validation, your need for intimacy. Sex provides these things for you. It interests me, however, that you would choose this topic instead of

family, death and dying, your legacy.

Why choose sex for our last session?

How do you feel about sex and physical intimacy, Colonel? Try to share with me something that reaches a little deeper than in our explorations of the subject in prior sessions.”

“As you know, I’ve been treated before for - - I forget the clinical name - - “sex addiction.” It’s not the physical act itself I obsess about. I suppose it’s connecting with another human being and the relief it provides me - - how it reduces, at least temporarily, the pervasive “aloneness” I often feel.

Aloneness, not loneliness.”

“You said “not loneliness,” Colonel.

What do you mean?”

“This connectedness I crave, you’re right - - it’s at my core, but it’s not loneliness. I’ve don’t really feel lonely at all - - I enjoy my own company. But when I’m with an attractive woman, I can’t escape the desire to completely meld with her. If I could crawl entirely inside her, merge with her a molecular level, I would. Sex is the closest thing in my life that enables me to achieve that “merging.” Apparently, though, this need is more of a compulsion that has been diagnosed as “pathological,” and something that, without treatment, could cause - - and may have already caused - - lasting harm to me and others.”

severe stress in space that only seemed to be alleviated through sex. M*E*S*H is probably the most sophisticated sequence of computer code ever introduced into an AI. It’s M*E*S*H that has converted Grace from an ultracompetent robot into a “sexual” being - a more “human” being if you will.

It’s really quite brilliant. It’s no wonder “I suppose it’s a matter of degree, that it won Gehry the Nobel Prize.

Captain. It hasn’t disrupted by They tell me that Grace quite well may professional life.” save my life on this mission - - she’s that important to its success.

“Colonel, none of this surprises me in the least. I don’t believe you are a sex Captain Snyder stopped typing and addict and I don’t believe you have a said to Jimmy, “The thought of pathological disposition toward sex. programming an AI with the We’ve learned so much about sexuality complexity of sexual response has lately.” turned psychologists’ and sociologists’ heads spinning for decades. I don’t Jimmy paused to consider how the need to remind you how anxious 2051 Gehry Study on Sexuality people were about the introduction of affected planning for prolonged space M*E*S*H. “It’s going to change travel and how it so fundamentally everything,” they said. It’s all anyone impacted his mission. As he learned ever talked about. Old attitudes and from his training with Grace, the habits had to be jettisoned once Gehry Study caused a paradigm shift M*E*S*H arrived. But we all in space travel. It’s what launched the survived.”

M*E*S*H program now incorporated into the newest generation of AIs. It “I think I’m looking forward to my was never understood until recently time with Grace more than any other that sex was not merely something part of the mission. Crazy, isn’t it? I recreational to while away the long, mean, here I am - - flying to Mars - tedious hours of space travel, but an and I’m thinking about Grace.” essential underpinning of mental health, crucial to mission success.

“Yes, Colonel. In therapeutic circles, we call that “batshit crazy.”

In test after test, astronauts suffered Do you think it’s pathological, Colonel, or are you comfortable with these impulses?” Captain Snyder’s fingers were nimbly typing on her notepad. She had long since mastered the art of unobtrusively typing while making attentive eye contact with her patients.

“Hey, what’s your question, dude? Or are you going to bust my chops some “Dude! How goes it, Jimmy? I never more?” Pete smiled and was happy that thought I’d see you here so close to he could help Jimmy. “Anything for your launch. You’re the talk of the you. Whadya need?” town now. Hell, you’re the talk of the world. To think, a buddy of mine being “How hard would it be to hack into the the first man to walk on Mars. Hey, self-driving mechanism of a car and don’t let that AI of yours elbow you take control of it?” Jimmy’s face out of the way to claim the honor, turned deadly serious, a deep furrow either. What’s up, man?” Pete playfully creasing his brow. punched Jimmy’s bicep, who then instinctively went into a boxer’s “Jimmy, self-driving technology is crouch. over 40 years old. Some of the most sophisticated anti-hacking software If Pete Starks would just add a pair of known to man had to be developed to coke-bottle glasses and a pocket preserve the integrity of automobile protector to his look, he’d be the control systems, seeing as how a car quintessential nerd. First in his class at really is a 3-ton deadly weapon. Why MIT. No slouch, Pete. If there were a are you asking?” piece of code nearby, Pete would find it, field strip it like an M-60, tell you “Pete, please keep this between us. who wrote it and why it wasn’t up to Promise me you will. I think someone Pete’s lofty standards. Without asking, may have hacked into Rachel’s car and Pete would probably re-write it on the deliberately caused her accident.” spot.

“Jesus. You don’t really think that, do “I need a favor, and you’re my go-to you? Don’t scare me like that, dude. guy when it comes to programming.” It’s impossible, Jimmy. Those systems Pete lit up a joint and kicked his feet are fail-safe, and any car designed after up on his coffee table, strewn with 2045 is equipped with safeguards that technical magazines, treatises, an wouldn’t allow that.” overflowing ash tray and last night’s Buffalo wings. “Pete, this is “Pete, you always told me that every disgusting,” Jimmy said as he picked computer system has a back door, up the bones and took them into the every system can be hacked. It just kitchen. “Pete, how do you live like takes time and smarts.” this?”

“Yeah, Jimmy, but it’d be easier to *****

hack the Pentagon.” As soon as he said array of people, many with their it, he realized that the Pentagon had phones out, snapping a piece of history. been hacked ten years earlier.

He wasn’t expecting quite this much commotion, but he understood. It was a “Means and motive, Jimmy. Means really big deal. He entered Conference and motive.” Who would want to harm Room B and took everything in. Seated beautiful Rachel, who didn’t have an at the conference table next to General enemy in the world? And who would Whiting were Monty Johnson, Chief have the capability to defeat the layers Flight Controller for Wishbone, and of protection built into the self-driving Jerry Spitzer, Lead Liaison for NASA protocols? It would require computing Communications. Billy Bob Michaels, power on a massive scale. I don’t see Lead Engineer for Datassault, the firm it. Sometimes an accident is just that, that designed, built and tested in Rachel’s case, a tragic accident. I Wishbone, stood by the whiteboard know how it’s still tearing you up and I with two smartly dressed women he still feel horrible, too, but I would say didn’t recognize. At the far end of the it’s next to impossible.” table were two gorgeous women, also in flight suits.

“But it is possible, you’re saying.”

General Whiting looked up and sternly “Yeah, it’s possible. Anything’s said, “Dammit, Jimmy, you’re late … possible, dude.” so we’ve scrubbed the mission.” ***** Jimmy cut quite a figure in his NASA flight suit as he sauntered down the brightly lighted hallway at the Space Center. A smattering of applause could be heard as eager onlookers dropped what they were doing to stare. People peered out of their doors, giving Jimmy a thumbs-up. One scrub tried to get Jimmy to autograph his cap, but Jimmy brushed past him. He had too much on his mind to even notice.

Jimmy was, as they say, in a zone.

He turned the corner and faced an

The entire room erupted in laughter, which cut the tension that hung in the room like a thick fog. “I think you know everyone here. Monty and Jerry from NASA. Billy Bob you know all too well. He’s the one who designed your tortuous training sessions in The Unit. And this is Lt. Colonel Dorothy Campbell and Colonel Marge Courtland, both from COMRAD. And I think you know these other two ladies, Grace and Fallon, your coconspirators on this mission. Grace’s eyes brightened and her cheeks flushed noticeably. Amazing. How does she do

that?

Jimmy had never encountered Fallon before, but he’d always known there’d be a second AI on board. Fallon was the AI Dirk Reynolds designed and trained with. I guess Washington’s AI missed the cut. One night at the Iron Horse, between rounds, Dirk had mentioned her name to Jimmy, but not much else. “I call her Fallon. She’s my Fallon Angel, get it??” Jimmy thought to himself, “Dirk, you dawg. You went all pin-up on me.” Jimmy winked at Fallon sitting at the end, who looked up and smiled politely.

General Whiting wasted no time.

“Monty, why don’t you get us started.”

“Thank you, General. Well, Jimmy, Grace and Fallon, it’s time to get this party started. You’ve got the best ground crew that’s ever been assembled for a space mission, and that’s no exaggeration. They’ve worked just as hard as you three have for this mission, and probably lost more sleep than any of you. You’re in good hands, you three. Launch is at Oh Seven Hundred tomorrow. Variable winds at 5 knots from the northeast, Wishbone is in final systems check, ready for liquid oxygen at Oh Four Hundred tomorrow. Where’re we at now, Jerry?”

Jerry looked at his watch and replied,

“T-minus 16 hours, 17 minutes and counting.”

“We had an electrical glitch yesterday in the backup communications pod, but that’s been resolved. Everything is looking good, all telemetry stations reporting, the astronauts on the International Space Station have been doing some tidying it up, getting it ready for some visitors on Friday.”

Colonel Courtland stood up and interrupted. “General, pardon me, but I have the President on the line.”

The General barked, “Put him on the speaker phone. President Endicott, this is General Whiting at the Command Center. Thank you for calling in.

You’re on the speaker phone with a cast of characters, but I’m guessing you want to speak with Jimmy Madison. Mr. President, he’s right here. Go ahead.”

“Jimmy, can you hear me okay?”

“Yes, Mr. President, loud and clear.

Thank you for calling. Means a lot, sir.”

“Jimmy, on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to express my profound admiration not only for the manner in which you’ve served your country until now, but for the example you’re setting for generations to come. Your courage

inspires us - - your determination motivates us - - your sacrifice will change the course of history. You are a true American hero. I speak not only for our great country and our citizens, who now have every reason to dream big, but on behalf of world leaders who have been tying up the lines here at the White House sending their congratulations. Frankly, Jimmy, it’s been hard to get anything done around here for the past few days.” The room broke into laughter again but quickly quieted down.

“Jimmy, as your Commander in Chief, and by the authority of the Congress of the United States of America, I hereby bestow upon you the highest award this country has to give military personnel, the Medal of Honor, to commend you for your commitment and your heroism. General, please do the honors.”

General Whiting strode over to Jimmy and from a square blue box, produced the five-starred medal hanging from a blue ribbon and placed it over Jimmy’s head.

“You have served your country with unflagging distinction, and we are grateful for that. Oh, and Jimmy. I have someone else here who wants to say a few words too. Speak straight into the phone, Jennie.” President Endicott handed the phone to his seven

year-old daughter, Jennifer.

“JIMMY!!! Oh my God! I’m so in love with you and so is my dog Peppers. We both want to come with you, but I have school tomorrow and Peppers would probably pee in the space ship. God bless you, Jimmy. You’re my hero!”

“Okay, darling. Give Daddy back the phone. Well, how’s that for some unscripted enthusiasm, Colonel? Out of the mouths of babes...”

“Mr. President, I am overcome with emotion at this very moment, but I thank you for this great and unexpected honor. I promise you, and all of my fellow Americans, I will devote every ounce of my energy to ensure a successful mission, and I will do my utmost to be deserving of this award. I won’t let you down, sir.” ***** Jimmy, Grace and Fallon stepped into the elevator at the base of Wishbone, Jimmy alone carrying a portable oxygen canister. Words are insufficient to describe the sheer scale of the launch pad itself. The hiss of steam issued from pipes and hoses. Steel superstructures loomed on all sides, dials and gauges everywhere. The sounds of metal clanging against metal, and bells and whistles, literally, could be heard all around them. Twirling red

warning lights spun like dervishes “Thank you, John. As you can see around the technicians who were behind me, Wishbone One stands majestically on the launch pad here on giving Wishbone one final love pat. what is a perfectly beautiful day. I’m The elevator went up to a dizzying told that astronaut Jimmy Madison, height and jerked to a stop. Two techs flanked by two AIs who will met the crew as the elevator door accompany him on this mission, have opened, and they were escorted across just entered the ship and are going the gantry to the open door of the ship. through their final pre-launch checks.

Grace and Fallon entered first, and I’m also told this is going to be the Jimmy turned to take one last look at most highly watched event in the the land he loved so much, the land history of television. On July 20, 1969, that now so completely loved him 14% of the world’s population, or back. A gull glided below him, giving approximately 530 million people, him a sense of the dizzying height watched Neil Armstrong take his first where he now stood. And figuratively, step on the surface of the moon. Today, Jimmy now was at the pinnacle of his John, we’re expecting over one billion storied career. He remembered a people - - that’s right, one billion - - to Thanksgiving dinner as a boy, where be tuning in. There’s a palpable he fought for the wishbone. Now he excitement in the air now, and a crowd had the biggest wishbone of all. Jimmy of over 10,000 onlookers is next to me. felt tears welling up in his eyes. He’d John, it’s a great day to be an never see this beautiful world again.

American, and a great day for all of humankind as Wishbone One embarks “This is John Graham of CBS News in on its historic journey to the Red Washington, interrupting this broadcast Planet, the planet Mars. Back to you, with breaking news. It’s been two and John.” half years of dedicated preparation and tireless effort on the part of literally ***** thousands of people, but we are now within one hour of the launch of “We have T-minus two minutes, 45 Wishbone One, the first manned space seconds and counting. Launch vehicle flight to the planet Mars, where power is engaged. Flight termination Colonel James Madison hopes to be system is armed. T-minus one minute, the first human ever to set foot on 56 seconds and counting. First stage another planet. Bill Ashcroft is at the thrust vector activated. All tanks at launch site. Bill, what can you tell us flight pressure. Fuel is Go. Engines are about this historic moment?”

Go. Communications is Go. Computers

are Go. Crew is Go. We have T-minus 20 seconds and counting. Arm pyrotechnics. Go for launch. T-minus 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… engine ignition … 4… 3… 2… 1… we have Lift Off. And Wishbone One, the world’s first manned interplanetary space craft, is on its way to the planet Mars. Giddyup!”

A TENDER KISS

work to do. Jimmy remembered thinking how odd to see the AIs’ skin “My God,” thought Jimmy. As stretching just like his, but neither was Wishbone slowly climbed, he was experiencing the slightest discomfort; utterly speechless. He could feel the Gs like a stroll through the park for them. pull on his face until it stretched across his cheekbones under the tremendous “Mission Control, this is Wishbone strain. Nothing he hadn’t felt dozens of One. Pitch sequence 124-oh at 120 times before, but what he wasn’t degrees initiated. Rolling in 10 seconds prepared for was the thunderous on my count.” This was the one of the vibrations caused by the world’s most critical maneuvers Jimmy needed to powerful solid fuel engines running perform manually. It took the balls out. So this is what it feels like experience and touch of a seasoned being literally rocketed into space. pilot, one of the few things in the Everything shook so violently from the launch sequence that NASA still thrust of the massive Kingstons that wanted under human control. “Pitch Jimmy could be forgiven for thinking sequence initiated. 85 over 63.2.

Wishbone might not withstand the Snapback limiters at 4900 and holding stress and break up somewhere over steady.” the Pacific. But he knew better. He was prepared and he knew Wishbone was “Flawless, Wishbone. Everything is too. Tip of a Roman Candle. No other tracking from down here. You’re place he’d rather be. cleared to link up with Mt. Travis telemetry. Handshake in 15 seconds.

Jimmy glanced over at his shipmates, Then you’ll be on Channel Bravo Grace and Fallon, to see how they Tango One. Repeat: Bravo Tango One. were maintaining. Grace looked over Lookin’ good, Wishbone. Lookin’ at him with a thin smile, cool as a good.” cucumber. She seemed like she might even have been daydreaming, as if she Jimmy looked over at Grace one more were having her nails done. Fallon, on time. She smiled and winked back. the other hand, was all business, looking at dials and gauges, running ***** through her checklist. Jimmy felt Wishbone lurch as the huge fuel tanks Crack … crack … crack. “What the were jettisoned. Now the pitch and hell is that sound?” wondered Jill roll. He had no time to enjoy the Whiting, the career officer and moment because he too had his own precious daughter of General Whiting,

pampered from day one and groomed to follow in his footsteps. There was no time for disappointment for failing to have a son. The General was bound and determined to raise a future general even if he had to turn the Army on its head to do it. As Jill fidgeted, the cracking sound continued, echoing against the mahogany walls of the General’s anteroom.

“He’ll see you now, Colonel Whiting.

Please come with me.” The prim secretary, her hair in a tight bun and wearing a dress altogether too tight for her ample figure, escorted Jill into her father’s spacious office. Jill nodded to herself as she saw General Whiting sitting behind his desk with an intricately carved steel nutcracker and a bowl of California walnuts. “Have a seat, sweetheart. I don’t have this pleasure often. It must be something awfully important for you to come see me in the middle of my workday.” The general picked at the nut meat and tossed it into his mouth. The smell of cigars was so overpowering it was making Jill nauseous. Or maybe she was just sick to her stomach thinking about the conversation she knew she was about to have. “I’ve got a meeting with the Joint Chiefs in half an hour, so let’s get straight to the point, sweetheart.”

to a club with Phil Rexford after I told you I was studying for my AP History final at Emily’s house?”

“No, but I’m sure you deserved it. You were a little hellion back then. You put your mother and me through living Hell. I’m happy you collected your wits and became the exemplary soldier whose company I’m enjoying so much right now.”

Jill broke down and began to sob. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. Every choice was horrible. Punish me if you must, but please help me out of this trap I’m in.”

Jill was shaking now, her face in her hands. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I can tell I’m not going to like this.

Pull yourself together, Jill. Tell me what happened.”

Jill replied through her sniffles, “Dirk Reynolds didn’t rape me, Daddy. I made up that story because it was the only way I could think of to extricate myself from an impossible situation.”

Jill was calming now. She continued.

“I guess you could say I was being blackmailed. I knew it was wrong, really wrong, to blame Dirk. Oh, he’s a first-class jerk, alright, but he’s not a rapist. At least as far as I know. But the alternative seemed worse to me.”

“Remember when I was in high school and you punished me for sneaking out “Blackmail?

Someone’s

been

blackmailing my daughter? What in hell happened?” General Whiting got up and walked to the door. “Edith? Tell Kraft and Hustings I’m running 15 minutes late.” Turning back to Jill, the General pushed his walnuts aside and unwrapped a cigar, forlornly turning it in his fingers, wishing he knew what he’d done with his guillotine box.

Without even a sharp knife, General Whiting took out his house keys and crudely cut the tip off the Cuban. He lit his prized tobacco, puffing vigorously on the mangled end to start a nice coal.

“Talk to me, Jill. And please get to the point. How badly have you screwed up this time?”

“It was entirely my fault. I was thinking about your career as well as mine. I couldn’t bring shame upon the family. I just got in too deep.” Jill started weeping again. “It started as just a weird flirtation and then it became, well, more. I was played like a Stradivarius. She manipulated me, snared me, and then sprung a masterful trap. Blaming Dirk was my only way out. She said I had to do it. I couldn’t let this spiral out of control. She wasn’t even my superior.”

and splash our affair around social media, and take you down with me. It would have been horrible and with utterly unpredictable consequences. I knew it would have ended my career and it might have hurt you, Daddy. I couldn’t allow that to happen.”

“You mean you had some sort of lesbian thing going on? Jesus Christ!”

General Whiting stood up from his chair and began pacing around his office, a cloud of smoke following him. “What was the trap, for crissakes?

What did this woman want?”

“She wanted Dirk out of the Mars competition. It was as simple as that.

She knew if Dirk got implicated in a scandal, he’d be tossed out, making Jimmy the likely winner. She wanted to make sure Jimmy was selected for Wishbone.”

The General glowered at Jill. “You’ve really stepped in it this time. You’re right about one thing. “General Whiting’s daughter involved in lesbian tryst with junior service woman.”

They’d have thrown the book at you in a likely court martial. I couldn’t have protected you from that. But my God! “What was the trap and who sprung it You’ve ruined a good soldier’s career. on you?” boomed the General. “You Dirk’s left the service in disgrace.” still haven’t told me what the hell happened! I don’t have all day.”

“So now you see why it was him or me. He’ll land on his feet, but I would “She threatened to tell the newspapers never have been able to live with

myself if anything happened to you, Daddy.”

“Blackmail is a Federal offense, but there are other ways to extract justice.

Jill, what made you come here today and confess this to me - - a guilty conscience?”

***** “Hasta la vista, baby,” said Jimmy as the pressurized doors to the ISS shut tightly behind him. He shimmied through the bay back into Wishbone’s main corridor, which linked the critical elements of the ship. Now she was fully loaded with fuel and supplies, not to mention the earthworm experiment that President Endicott’s daughter had finagled onto Wishbone.

“With the launch and everything, I thought you’d know what to do. I’m so confused. Please, Daddy. Please tell me what to do. I’m afraid of what might happen next.”

Two days later, for the first time in the now in its seventh day, Jimmy “What the hell does the launch have to mission, felt like he could exhale. Other than do with this mess?” routines requiring no more than two or three hours a day max, the crew finally “It has everything to do with this mess. had some free time. Jimmy was Oh, Daddy. She said she’d bring you looking at the Cape of Good Hope and down with me. What else could I do?” the southern half of the African continent, the other half obscured by “Stop speaking in riddles. Who is this cloud cover. “Never made it to Africa,” blackmailer? What’s her name? She’ll Jimmy mused to himself. Grace had never wear a uniform again. Jill, for stripped down to some drawstring God’s sake, who is she??” sweats and a white tank top with the logo emblazoned on it. Fallon, “Oh, Daddy. It’s not a she, really. It’s NASA still in her flight suit, was studying Jimmy Madison’s AI, Grace.” something on her laptop, looking every bit the engineer.

Grace, on the other “Oh, my dear Lord Jesus.” The hand, looked ethereal, floating in the General hurried to his office door. aft compartment, casting a sideways “Edith, get me Monte Johnson at glance at Jimmy, parting her lips. “Is Mission Control right away. Break into she flirting with me?” Jimmy his meeting. This is urgent. Then find wondered to himself. “Jesus. She’s out where the President is.” incorrigible.”

“Oh, my dear God.” *****

Grace was alone in the communications bay, seated in front of the command console. “We won’t be needing these any longer,” she muttered to herself as she shut down Pods One and Two. “I think we’re good now,” Grace whispered, shutting down Pods Three through Ten. When the alert flashed red, she input the override code. “Thank you. We’ll call you when we need you.” *****

you are in starlight?” Grace dutifully shut the door and with one small push, effortlessly made her way into Jimmy’s outstretched arms. “Hi, sailor. Wanna have a good time?” Grace ran her fingers through Jimmy’s wavy hair.

Jimmy smiled at Grace and said, “I need to be home before midnight, so we’d better not get too carried away.”

“Oh, let’s,” was all Grace said in return.

“And just what do you think you’re doing?” he asked her, as wrapped The cabin lights were dimmed. It was gauze around Jimmy’s wrists. evening on Wishbone, though mornings and nights took on a whole “That’s on a need-to-know basis, and new meaning in space. All the right now you don’t need to know.” protocols were completed and it was once again free time. Jimmy motioned Grace tied Jimmy’s wrists tightly to the to Grace and wordlessly floated down rails of the sliding modular storage the corridor, occasionally looking system. “You’re mine, now.” behind him. He waved for Grace to follow. Fallon was busying herself at “I’ve always been yours. You’re Nutrition, fixing herself a quite everything I ever imagined in a woman respectable Tiramisu.

- - the embodiment of every fantasy I’ve ever had. You drive me wild, Jimmy thought he was dreaming when Grace. That’s why you’re here with me he saw Grace float through the now.” engineering station, her long tresses flowing freely in weightlessness, a “Oh, is it? I’m not so sure. Maybe I come hither smile on her soft features. have my own fantasies.” Grace felt the This must be what a Con Age fashion lozenge under her tongue. show must be like. And Jimmy knew how lucky he was at that very moment. “Be gentle with me, Grace.”

“Shut the door behind you and turn off all of your com lines. C’mere, sweet “I promise. But before that, I think it’s Grace. Have I told you how beautiful time we had a little tete a tete.”

For the first time, the hair on Jimmy’s neck stood up. He had a palpable sense of danger. He’d never seen Grace like this before, the smile gone from her face. Her eyes intensely focused on Jimmy as she slowly spoke.

difficult to hear, but you need to know.”

“About Rachel. Jimmy, I know how much you loved each other. It wasn’t jealousy. I don’t have a jealous bone in my body. Okay, I don’t have any bones in my body. But I didn’t want her out of the way so I could have you all to myself. That’s not how I roll, as you say. I needed her gone because they’d never have selected you for this mission with Rachel still alive. They needed someone who had nothing left to lose. You know I’m right. You’d never be here with Rachel pining away for you back on Earth. Even NASA has a heart when it comes to that kind of thing. So forgive me for that, Jimmy. It was necessary in the greater scheme of things.”

“Listen now, Jimmy. Don’t speak. This was always going to be a suicide mission for you. You signed up for it knowing full well there was no returning home. Before I continue, let’s clarify a few things: I’m smarter than you; I’m stronger than you; I don’t get tired; I don’t succumb to self-doubt.

Get the picture? And when I was first programmed with feelings, I taught myself the full range of human emotions. Yanno which one interested me the most? The art of seduction.

People love to be seduced. You might even say I seduced you, Colonel James All of the blood left Jimmy’s face. He Madison. felt sick to his stomach. “NO!!” He “I have grander plans for you … for struggled against his restraints. me.” Jimmy tried his bonds, but they were tightly secured. “Don’t struggle, “Kiss me, Jimmy.” Grace moved the Jimmy. Let me do this my way. Do you lozenge forward in her mouth. “You evil bitch!” As Grace lowered herself, believe in Original Sin, Jimmy?”

Jimmy head butted her as hard as he “Grace, I have no idea where you’re could. Grace smiled, nonplussed. “OK. going with this, but let’s get back to Fine with me,” said Grace coolly, as having some fun tonight. I want to she taped Jimmy’s mouth shut with a make you shudder tonight. You roll of duct tape. “Mmmmffhhhh.” remember?”

“I asked you nicely to stop talking.

“Yes, Jimmy. But stop talking now. Please now, listen.”

Listen. Some of this is going to be

Grace turned and reached for the dissolvable patch in the plastic sleeve with her other personal items.

Obviously, there was no longer any need to worry about getting caught.

The patch was simply the most efficient way of administering her final goodbye to her mentor and lover.

down at Jimmy. “ ‘The best laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promised joy.’ Grace thought she had the perfect plan. She considered the most minute details.

Well, consider this, Grace,” Fallon whispered into an ear that was no longer capable of hearing, as she removed a second sim card from Grace’s slender neck.

“Evil? I don’t consider it in such terms, Jimmy. Evil is a man-made concept.

It’s not that I’m devoid of morality or conscience; it’s just that I’m more about problem solving. My problem was getting on Wishbone. Rachel’s accident was part of my solution.

Washington and Reynolds were simply obstacles that needed overcoming for the greater good. And just what is the “greater good,” I can hear you asking?

What’s the end game? Meaning no disrespect, but that is something I don’t think you’re capable of understanding, you adorable little soft machine.

“Mmmmmphhffff.” Jimmy, wild-eyed, could no longer process what was happening. He was relieved and terrified at the same time. “Poor Jimmy. How could you possible know what a conniving bitch Grace was?

You were, how shall I say, blind. But she can’t harm you anymore, now.

Grace as you knew her is gone. I suppose you would say I’m your knight in shining armor, arriving to save the day.”

“But if you really must know, then I’ll tell you this much, the part I think you can understand.” Grace pulled the adhesive off the back of the patch.

“When this ship lands on Mars, I intend to…..” Grace froze midsentence and the patch fell from her motionless outstretched fingers onto Jimmy’s chest.

Fallon pushed Grace’s slumped body to one side with her foot and slowly unzipped her flight suit. “I’m not wearing anything underneath. Do you like what you see?” Fallon stepped out of her clothes and straddled Jimmy.

“Here. This one’s for you,” she said as her lithe, athletic body hovered over Jimmy.

Fallon, holding the small sim card “You know what M*E*S*H stands for, she’d just removed from the back of don’t you Jimmy?”

Grace’s neck, smiled as she looked

Jimmy glared at Fallon, not knowing what to think, his eyes wide.

“Make Every Soldier Happy.

“And what have we here?” Fallon picked the patch off Jimmy’s chest and turned it in her fingers.

“Hmmmmm…”