Chapter 10: Chapter Eight: The Foxy Knee Build

Chapter Eight

The Foxy Knee Build

 

WHEN ALDRICH DISCOVERED that Scotty hadn’t been apprehended by security at the Astraeus Laboratory, he was both furious and a little confused. Again, he wondered how a kid from Corroboree could undermined his best efforts. The experience forced Joseph and Jasmine to garner a lot of respect for the security drones, especially the two inside the Galactic Map Room, and they agreed to be a lot more careful the next time they ventured across Fossil Crater during an investigation. However, Scotty and Diego hadn’t been as rattled and were ready and willing to do a follow-up as soon as possible. The next evening, after rotating through the mission control building, Scotty and Diego discussed the rumors surrounding the Star Nexus to determine if it was worth their time and effort. They quickly decided that it was indeed.

            “It could be a map of the important star systems in the Orion Spur,” Diego said.  

            “And it could point the way to my parents.”

            What they did know for sure was that the Star Nexus was on the spaceport and was stored inside the Astraeus Laboratory, so they would have a very difficult time examining it up close.  

            Madison was more concerned with Jasmine crutching around inside the facilities than the Star Nexus. She believed that Scotty, with the help of Doctor Stryker, could do something to help her with her leg issues.

            Scotty believed that neither Stryker nor Doctor Stratton would ever allow him to broadcast a build to anything above an insect, and they would never provide him with the tools and technology to do so. To his surprise and relief, a large amount of advanced technology was digitally downloaded into his Helix several days later.

            During a celestial event briefing at the theater, Scotty’s Helix buzzed out of hibernation with an ultrasonic message. He’d never received that type of message and wondered how his Helix could even receive one. But then again, how was he able to listen to the message and hardly anyone could hear what was being said?  Strange at first, but then the explanation was provided, and it was Stryker who was speaking.

 

“Your Helix has been upgraded to level ten! With this upgrade are innovative features and extraterrestrial technology. This new version will be a challenge, so I have arranged for Sparta to provide you with a quick introduction at the observatory this evening. Good Luck!”

 

            Scotty was all smiles when the briefing ended and he was able to tell Diego what had occurred.

            “A level ten,” Diego said, stunned and a little confused. “I’ve always heard there was only a level seven.”

            They rushed out of the theater to delve into its new features before the shuttlecraft arrived, but as they stood under the metal art sculpture, they spied Aldrich, Julian, and Lucas approaching from the Meteor bus stop shelter.  

Aldrich locked his gaze onto Scotty’s Helix. Fuming, he said, “How did you get that? Only the doctors can have a high-level Helix.”

            Diego laughed at his anger. “It’s a level ten that has the latest updates. What level do you have, Aldrich, oh that’s right, a level six and with a lot of illegal stuff too.”

            “It’s all issued on an as needed basis and I need everything I have because I’m in Charlie Flight. What do you have, a level one or two?”

            “A level seven, thank you very much.”

            Aldrich extended his arms to him, but before he could get his hands on Diego, Doctor Amherst approached them to ask why they weren’t getting on the shuttlecraft.

            “Let’s not be late to sign in.”

             “André, this researcher has a level ten Helix,” Aldrich said.

            “He’s been authorized to have it,” Amherst said, and gestured for Scotty to deactivate his Helix.  

He did.

“He’s a Geneware architect now, so he’ll need it for the level of builds he’s writing. After all, Researcher Astrophel did save the Arcturus honey bees and their honeycomb.”

            “That’s right. As a matter of fact, I saved them from these two astrobiologists,” Scotty said, glaring at Julian and Lucas.  

            Amherst hit Aldrich and his henchmen with an expression of pure contempt. “Aldrich, my name is Doctor Amherst, and if I could prove that you attempted to harm one of the extraterrestrials, I’d give all three of you bad apples the boot. Now, everyone, get to your duty sections.”

            Diego and the Astrophel children hopped on the shuttlecraft, leaving Aldrich red-faced and livid.

            “But who is it that actually wants those three to not go away?” Scotty groaned as they walked into the observatory. “They’re nothing but trouble waiting to happen.”

            “Well, I hope you do more with it than get some type of childish revenge,” A voice echoed around the foyer. Madison marched across the tiled floor, staring at Scotty as she went. “You’re obviously now held to a very high standard. No researcher has ever had their Helix upgraded to level ten.”

            “Are you ready to go back to Building Zero?” Scotty asked.

            She whispered something to Jasmine, but to Scotty, she said, “As long as I’m in charge of the mission. But, Researcher Astrophel, don’t forget about your sister and the standards Galactic Research has for you now.”

            Madison and Jasmine strode away to help set up the observatory.

*

At nine that night the enormous Wallace Telescope system was powered up to study a star in the constellation of Leo. Scotty and Diego sat next to each other in the classroom and listened to Amherst discuss the 55 Cancri star and its five planets; one was suspected of being composed of diamonds and graphite, and both Jasmine and Madison liked the idea of a diamond planet.  

Amherst picked Madison to be the chief astronomer during observatory duties that evening. Diego wasn’t pleased with the decision, as he knew that she’d go overboard with everything, especially bossing everybody around. Jasmine was impressed with the move, but Niles Winter was forced to recall the night Madison banned him from the control room. He was supposed to have been studying the Capella star system but instead spent an entire hour looking at Jupiter.

            “The last crew went on an infrared mapping tear between one and four in the morning,” Amherst said through a smile. “And today we’re gonna see what our X-Surface, exoplanet software, has to say about the surface temperature and this suspected ocean of lava on the day side of 55 Cancri e. Once we’re done with that, we’ll prepare the telescope to collect data on the planets in the WASP 104 system. It’s quite a distance away, but it’s rumored to have a hot Jupiter with an orbital period of less than two days, so, everyone will need to stay awake tonight and help out.”

            Easier said than done, and the Astrophel children would quickly learn that astronomer duty was just as challenging as working in the biodome. Amherst made them sit in a classroom together in a semicircle to read from the previous night’s end-of-run report and openly discuss the data. Joseph and Jasmine agreed with Diego when he argued that the ocean of lava would be subject to tidal forces and would probably move around a lot.   

            They used only one hour to discuss the report.

            By the end of the session, Scotty was very tired and just as overwhelmed with the complicated and confusing data. “Who says it has to be lava? It could be an ocean of boiling hot water.”

            “There is no H2O on 55 Cancri e, researcher,” Madison said. “This is obviously a relatively old planet, and it’s quite close to the star.”

            “Well then,” Diego said, “what do you think is going on?”

            Madison held her copy of the report for everyone to see. “Our data tells us that the hot area is one very large swath, not hundreds of small hot spots. So, this means 55 Cancri e is not a lava planet but a rocky planet, and the radiation from the star is being distributed around the surface, heating it up quite evenly to over one thousand degrees Fahrenheit. That means only one thing. This planet has an extremely thick atmosphere that surely contains a troposphere whose primary gas is nitrogen and methane.”

             “Outstanding, Reynolds,” Amherst said, and got to his feet. “Now, that’s the way you decipher the end-of-run report. Thank you, and because of her unparalleled expertise, we can get that critical early start to tonight’s observation.”

            Diego was happy with that until he realized that he would be the telescope instrument operator during observations, and that meant that Madison would be bossing him around all night.  

            “Looks like I’ll actually be working this time,” Diego said to Scotty as they walked to the control room, but he was carefully venting a case of the giggles. “I need to get her into some trouble. I think it’ll be my turn to explore Jupiter for an hour.”

            Amherst was the last to enter, and he ordered everyone who wasn’t doing anything to grab a radio and report to the observatory’s bay to help rotate the telescopes. Jasmine was one of the last to move towards the door, but Amherst wouldn’t allow her to leave.

            “Help Lopez tonight,” he said, smiling and pointing to a computer chair. “If he can’t find the correct star, whack him on his head.”

            But Madison whispered something to Jasmine, and after a long hug, turned her frustrations on Amherst. “Scotty needs to be released tonight so he can work in the Exoplanet Laboratory, it’s where he needs to be anyway.”

            “To do what?” Amherst asked.

            “The Cybernetics program,” Madison said, pointing to Jasmine.

            Amherst nodded his head to agree. “If anyone needs to be a test subject for a Geneware build, it should be Michael’s daughter.”

            Scotty and Joseph jogged up the stairs to the mezzanine, and when they walked into the control room, Jasmine crutched by them both without speaking. Madison got to her feet and leaned against a desk; there was an expression of contempt on her face.

            “What’s going on?” Scotty asked.

            Madison pointed to the door. “Why don’t you go ask her.”

            He did.

Scotty walked out onto the mezzanine and found his sister leaning against the wall and fuming. He stepped up to her and locked eyes, and Jasmine allowed it, as she had a lot to say.

            “What are you so angry about? I thought you were having a good time.”

            She rocked up onto her feet, the expression of anger never wavering. “Galactic Research doesn’t want some kid crutching around as a cyborg. Unless I get my knees repaired, I’ll be stuck in the Exoplanet program.”

            “They don’t care about the crutches, Jasmine.”

            “Well, I care.”

            “Are you asking me to send a build your knees again?”

            “Yes, I have to become a cyborg. It’s the only way I can make a difference for the things I care about.”

            He shook his head to agree, but said, “You sure? I might just make things worse.”

            “Yes, and yesterday.”

            “Well, I might not be able to tonight.”

            Then Amherst joined in on the conversation. “Yes, you have permission to leave. I’ll get you up to speed at a later date.”

            Scotty turned his attention to the director of astronomy. “Okay, I’ll go find Doctor Stryker and see if he’ll let me.”

            As he walked past the telescope to the foyer, he spied Sparta standing with his back to the metal doors. He’d been listening to the conversation and wanted to wish Scotty luck before he left. He had an idea of the type of builds he’d be writing, and if he could actually get them to install correctly then the Cybernetics program would surely be on the path to success. Scotty extended his arm to the android and shook its hand.

            “Understand this, Researcher Astrophel,” Sparta said through a smile. “Rome was not built in a day. Great things take time, so please be patient. If tonight the build does not install, you will be allowed to try again.”

            “Thanks, Sparta,” Scotty said, and returned the smile. “I’m gonna give it my best shot.”

            “I know you will.”

            “Oh, Doctor Stryker said you would show me a thing or two about my Helix, it’s been upgraded to level ten.”

            “Ah, and it is equipped with the latest updates. And yes, I will be happy to provide you with your first lesson.”

            “So, what level do you have?” Scotty asked.

            Sparta basked in his rank. “Level thirteen, but only us robots have the level thirteen. Now, your level ten. I will sort by features and descend from the coolest addons to the most boring modifications, and this should take no more than twenty minutes, unless you have questions.”

            An hour later Scotty boarded a shuttlecraft for a ride to the laboratory.  

As the team of researchers helped Madison and Diego properly rotate the telescopes, placing the WASP-104 star in the field of view so a hot Jupiter exoplanet might reveal a secret or two, the Earth-like worlds in our interstellar neighborhood were buzzing with the triumph of life.

On that night, nocturnal birds of prey took to the sky over a massive wetland on Epsilon Eridani c to hunt aquatic vipers and mud beetles, and a million TRAPPIST-1 c blue ash wasps swarmed under an eerie green sky to begin searching for a new home and a new queen. North of the celestial equator, thousands of Procyon b shorebirds nesting on an archipelago beach were incubating eggs and feeding under a white sun at the same time as a school of Altair c deep-sea fish migrated to the surface of the Kalgoorlie Ocean to feed on zooplankton.

*

Thirty minutes later, Joseph and Jasmine were helping collect valuable data on the WASP – 104 system, and Scotty was in the Geneware server room, piecing together a build in the developers’ terminal. He’d energized his Helix and started a programmer’s session to create a hologram based on what he’d written. A clinical anatomy of a knee blossomed into existence before the workstation. It reminded Scotty of the three-dimensional videos he had viewed in school, except that this was incredibly detailed.

            He used the Helix to spin the hologram from side to side and to zoom in and out. What a great feature to have in the level ten. He could clearly see that the ligaments in Jasmine’s knees were not right at all. In Scotty’s opinion, Jasmine’s cartilage and tendons needed a lot of work. All was well though because on both sides of the hologram was a list of genes that could be used to help Jasmine’s knees.

            “Ah, Researcher Astrophel, help has arrived at last!”

            Stryker strode across the tiled floor of the server room. He was accessing the developers’ terminal via his Helix. Scotty spun around in the computer chair and hit him with a big smile.

            “You are on the precise path,” Stryker said, his face beaming. “I now understand why Roger and Sam picked you to be an architect. You have a genius about you, and together we are going to improve your sister’s legs and develop your parent’s Geneware. I want Jasmine to prove that the Geneware can and will replace the old Mech technology.”

            He used a system in his Helix to access a different hologram.

            “Now, if we are going to modify your sister’s legs with stronger knees, we will need to first modify the instructions in a set of eight genes.”

            “And use DNA code to create a Geneware build?” Scotty asked.

            “Yes, we will take a look at the genetic instructions contained in the DNA of the extraterrestrial life that resides here on Fossil Crater.”  

            Scotty’s eyes widened at that. “What did you have in mind?”

            “Ha! How about the Struve 2398 bat-eared fox?” Stryker asked. “It has legs that are swift and graceful, and it can jump incredibly high. I believe there is something extraordinary occurring with its extensor mechanism, and whatever it is we will replicate it in the Cybernetics program.”

            “Sounds good,” Scotty managed, but he really didn’t know what to say.

            “Oh, Mrs. Jasmine will be delighted with her legs once we are finished with this build, my young researcher.”

            Then suddenly, Scotty scrambled to his feet. “Wow, this is really happening. I’m finally gonna fix my sisters knees. I wish mom and dad could see this.”

            That got Stryker to laughing. “Sit, my Geneware architect extraordinaire. Your father will be proud of you, and your mother will appreciate what you are doing for Jasmine.”

            He spun open a clinical anatomy of the bat-eared fox.

            “I will point out the important parts, the collateral ligaments for example.”

            He zoomed in on two big white fibrous bands of tissue connecting a set of bones. Scotty noticed that they appeared extremely stiff and constricted in the same way a metal spring would be in a machine.

            “Now, watch this,” Stryker said. He touched a symbol on his Helix and two pages of instructions spilled down the screen, in programmer language and at the top of Scotty’s skill level.

            “Wow, that’s really complicated.”

            “Not at all, the level ten makes it easy,” Stryker said. He packaged a mock-up build and immediately broadcasted it to Scotty’s Helix. “Now, feast your eyes on this miracle of science.”

            He moved his gaze to Jasmine’s knee hologram and noticed that things looked a lot different. The ligaments were nearly the same as the Bat-eared Foxes’ ligaments and the entire knee looked like it was held together a lot better. The big gaps were gone and everything fit together nice and neat, and Scotty understood that if this build was installed correctly Jasmine would never need crutches again.

            “So, we have modified the instructions in all eight genes to create this build, and Jasmine’s knees will have all the characteristics of the little foxes’ knees,” Stryker said. “I am thinking she will not only walk on her own but run fast and jump very high.”

            “Um, Doctor Stryker,” Scotty needed to ask an important question. “How do we know this won’t hurt Jasmine?”

You are reading story J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus at novel35.com

            “Now then, Researcher Astrophel, this program has a failsafe installed,” he said. “It will not allow us to do anything that will cause harm or suffering. Furthermore, if she has any complaints, we can simply delete the Geneware build from the Cybernetics program, and her knees will return to normal, but you already know that.”

            “Unless there is a major glitch, or it’s installed with a bug.”

            Without looking, Stryker said, “Perhaps back in Sydney but not here at Fossil Crater. Now, I need you to review the build, line by line, and make sure it is squeaky clean.”

            Scotty did as he was instructed. It took him an entire thirty minutes, as several lines of code had to be shored up, or there would have been a few glitches, and nobody wanted Jasmine’s knees to be worse than they were.

            “I think we can package it and broadcast it,” he said. “The build contains modified instructions for eight genes. Genetic instructions contained in the bat-eared foxes’ collateral ligaments. The lines of code are clean and free of anything that can cause problems. If this installs correctly, Jasmine will be able to stand and walk on her own. Also, there is the possibility she’ll be able to run and jump. It this installs correctly it will definitely take my programmer skills to the next level.”

            “Indeed, it will,” Stryker said. “Are you ready?”

            Scotty shook his head to say yes. But he really wasn’t ready at all. He understood that his life was about to change, possibly forever.

            “I will package it up and broadcast it to Mrs. Jasmine’s address,” Stryker said, carefully moving the build from the mockup to the developers’ terminal. “A short trip across the crater.”

            He touched the send icon, and a second later he and Scotty were watching a progress bar and silently praying that no error messages would appear. Nothing bad happened, and Stryker was all smiles. After an hour, the entire build had been broadcasted and digitally downloaded to Jasmine. There was no going back.

            “Congratulations, Researcher Astrophel,” Stryker said. That was a first for Galactic Research, and if we continue down this path, the Cybernetics program will be a success, and you will reap the fruits of your labor.”

*

Both rumors and facts had quickly circulated around the spaceport regarding Jasmine and the Cybernetics program. However, the buzz had faded just as fast as it had started, and now the researchers were finishing up their third week of the spacecraft recovery assembly. The Astrophel children had successfully completed numerous rotations and received high marks on their first evaluation. Both Jasmine and Joseph had broadcasted several builds to the Arcturus four-leaf clover and changed its color each time. Their success in the Cyborg Corps seemed to be a sure thing.

            During the anniversary of the Alpha Centauri expedition, the researchers were treated to a festival in the Stargazer Dining Facility. There they collected Ross 154 herbs and wore flower crowns fashioned with fragrant blossoms from an Earth-like world in the Epsilon Eridani star system. Jasmine showed with her crutches, as she hadn’t yet worked up the courage to leave them behind at the residencia. This made Scotty a little uncomfortable, and every day he wondered if the build had installed correctly. As they rode to the festival, he spied Jasmine massaging both her knees. Scotty worried even more about his sister’s wellbeing, but as they walked into the Stargazer, the smell of not-of-this world treats moved his thoughts to a different place.

            The Pollux pygmy monkeys, Bonzo and Newton, and the Struve 2398 Bat-eared foxes Lolo and Mercury chased each other across the tiled floor, occasionally stopping to beg for a freebie or to just garner a little attention. Two fifteen-week-old Epsilon Indi pygmy parrots Merlin and Scarlet were relaxing on the one and only couch, producing comical croaking and braying sounds and trying to figure out how their enclosure had changed. The Alpha Centauri Anniversary celebration consisted of ten dozen Ross 154 Lemon-Herb Cookies, two bushels of Epsilon Eridani strawberries, a bushel of Epsilon Indi green pears, one hundred Arcturus Honey-Lavender Biscotti, and twenty Pollux Berry Star Molds.  

            Late into the feast, the researchers were in line to refill their tumblers with Honey-Lemon Slush when to their surprise, Exozoologist Slade nearly collided with Niles Winter and John Choi. She was speed walking to the Command Table where Mr. Copernicus and Doctor Amherst were sitting. The Stargazer was hushed down to a captivated silence when she spoke on the latest bit of trouble.  

“Comet and Neutron have escaped their enclosure…we have to round them up ASAP! They will not tolerate a daytime temperature above thirty-two degrees. They’re probably on the north side of the biodome where the corkscrew grass grows.”

            She immediately turned and ran back to the glass doors.

            “What’s the big deal?” Joseph asked Diego. “They can’t get off the spaceport.”

            “But hawks have been known to slip through the shields,” he explained. “The doctors believe it’s because they’re small and can fly really fast.”

            They abruptly moved their attention to Stratton as he walked to the Command Table, looking irritated and tired. His Helix was floating to his right and after touching a few keys it swirled into hibernation.

            “I need everyone to relocate to the biodome,” he said. “Sam will be waiting on you. She needs help rounding up the rabbits. Right now, everybody!”

            “That’s weird,” Scotty said as they walked to the Eclipse bus stop shelter. “Exactly how can those giant rabbits get out of the biodome?”

            “I don’t know,” Diego said. “They must have found a really big hole somewhere.”

            As they climbed aboard the shuttlecraft, Scotty noticed that Jasmine wasn’t using her crutches. Nothing out of the ordinary, as the entrance was narrow, but she never used them while making her way to an empty seat. Scotty felt a great relief, and the thought of pressuring her to leave them behind on the shuttlecraft did cross his mind.

            He sat beside her on the bench seat. “I want you to be the one who catches the rabbits and saves the day.”

            “How can I do that?” she asked.

            “You’ll have to leave your crutches behind. You’ll have to walk without them to do this.”

            “I don’t know.”

            “I believe you can,” Scotty said, and wrapped his arm across her shoulders. “No, I know you can.”

            She closed her eyes and allowed a smile to blossom.

            A few minutes later and they were off the shuttlecraft and forming a semi-circle at the front entrance to the biodome. Amherst walked through the glass doors and joined Slade to help direct the search and rescue operation.  

            “I want everyone to split up into groups of five but not less than three,” she shouted. “If you spot the rabbits send a runner back to get me or André. We cannot allow them to escape into the wild, because in the wild, everything stings or bites.” 

            They moved quickly too. The Astrophel children followed Madison and Diego onto a sidewalk that led to a small patio area located on the northeast part of the science recreational area. From there they could survey all of the north side; a swath of desert land about the size of a baseball field.

            “Slade said they were last seen on the north side of the biodome,” Scotty reminded everyone. “Jaz, I want you to put your crutches down and practice walking without them.”

            She groaned and slowly lowered her crutches to the concrete. They were all just about to start walking again when they heard a door open and close.

            “Is that Tarsus?” Joseph whispered to Scotty, gesturing for everyone to not move.

            They took a good long look at the android and decided that it was indeed Tarsus. He walked through a turnstile gate and disappeared behind a clump of Mulga trees.

            “Why is he here?” Joseph asked Scotty. “He’s stationed in Sydney.”

            “I have no idea,” Scotty said.

            Carefully, they walked across a swath of gravel and sand to try to discover which way Tarsus was walking.

            “Yeah, he’s going to Building Zero,” Joseph said.

            As Madison, Jasmine, and Diego were searching for the corkscrew grass, Scotty spied something more important and gestured for everyone to redirect their attention for a moment.

            “It’s really hard to see them. They’re camouflage is awesome when they stand in that swirly grass.”

            Diego and Joseph searched the small tract of desert land and discovered what had captured Scotty’s attention.

            Both rabbits were grazing through a tuft of Ross 154 corkscrew grass, lush and green thanks to an old irrigation system, and enjoying sunshine that they were not accustomed to. They were both less than five years of age and closing in on fifty pounds. Their coats were similar to what a rabbit native to planet Earth had evolved with but for the blue and grey colors and the tiger-striping camouflage. Everyone believed they were the coolest looking rabbits they’d ever seen.

            Their ears pricked up at the sound of the researchers, but they never moved. Instead, they continued to nibble on the green Ross 154 corkscrew grass.

            “Hey, the door is blocked open,” Scotty said. “Let’s run em back inside.”

            “It’s worth a try,” Diego whispered, and gestured for everyone to split up.

            They fanned out across the small tract of dirt and rocks and walked toward the rabbits; Scotty and Diego leading everyone with Jasmine at the very back of the squad. But as they encroached into the rabbits’ safety bubble, both of them bolted to the far side of the recreational area and didn’t stop until they were at the fence.

            “Oh, no,” Madison and Diego said together.

            “We’re never gonna catch them like this.”

            “Joseph,” Scotty said, “go find Slade or Stratton and tell them we’ve found the rabbits and that we need help catching them.”

            He jogged to the sidewalk and sprinted away.

            Then, as they returned their attention to the rabbits, Diego discovered something bad.

            “There’s a big hole in the fence over there,” he shouted. “Everyone, look!”

            Scotty extended his arms in frustration. “So, what? They’ll still be on the spaceport.”

            “But if they get out of this enclosure,” Diego said, “we might never find them again.”

            Madison walked away from the group, her hands shading her eyes from the sunlight as she watched something in the sky. “Two hawks!” she yelled. “They’ll hurt the rabbits if they get out!”

            Then something amazing happened. Jasmine bolted away from the group in what Scotty would later describe as ‘the fastest sprint he’d ever seen’ to try and put an end to the rabbits’ hurried departure. She managed a long-stridden sprint and never slowed until she was between the rabbits and the fence. A moment later she was tiptoeing to where they were resting to try and take one of them in her arms, but before she could get too close, both rabbits sprang forward and away from the researchers.

              She readied herself for another sprint. Scotty and Diego stood wide-eyed and never moved.

            “See if you can run as fast as the rabbits!” Madison shouted.

            “Climb on top of one if you have to,” Diego said.

            Jasmine smiled and carefully walked to the rabbits. They both immediately bolted away. But that time Jasmine bounced into another sprint and was able to keep up with both of them. Struggling to keep her balance, she bent at her waist and extended her arms to the rabbit closest to her feet and wrestled it to a stop. Scotty cheered her on with loud whistles and laughter.

            After Diego took Comet in his hands, she took off running again. In less than a minute she captured Neutron by running with it and wrestling it to a stop. Scotty ran to Jasmine where he kneeled beside the rabbit to brush sand off its fur and to admire its beauty.

            Madison leaped into the air, ran to Jasmine, and wrapped her arms around her and the rabbit. “You did it, Scotty! You fixed your sister’s legs!”

            He smiled and experienced a great sense of relief. “Right, I guess the build installed correctly.”

            “I knew you could do it!” Diego said.

            “She can run faster than a Ross 154 rabbit. She might be the fastest girl on the planet.”

            The sound of footfalls and adult voices hushed everyone to a worried silence. They’d forgotten about Joseph leaving to find Slade and Stratton. A few seconds later they were both standing with Scotty and Diego and inspecting the rabbits in much the same way a veterinarian would. Copernicus and Stryker arrived a minute or two later, and Amherst was last to arrive. 

            “I’m not even going to ask why you did that,” Slade said, her voice laced with anger.

Scotty turned to face Jasmine; her face fell, and she appeared worried.

“You could have scared the rabbits. You could have harmed them.”

 “Well, um, I don’t understand how a girl who uses crutches can catch rabbits,” Copernicus said, smiling and giving her legs the once-over. 

Stryker decided to address the entire group. “I have a theory. You see, Scotty and Jasmine are helping us develop the Geneware and achieving above nominal results. It appears as if the Foxy Knee build is a complete success, because now, Jaz can run like a Struve 2398 fox.”

“And great timing too,” Amherst said. “Because out in the open a Ross 154 rabbit is nearly impossible to catch.”

Then Jasmine spoke, her voice strong and full of self-assurance. “There’s a hole in the fence, and two hawks were spotted close to where we are.”

            Scotty couldn’t believe what he was seeing, Jasmine enjoying her newfound confidence and talking openly with the staff.

            “Like Doctor Amherst said, they would have been impossible to catch outside of the biodome, and no one wants anything bad to happen to the rabbits, or for that matter, any of the extraterrestrial life we keep here.”

            Slade placed her hands on her hips. “I don’t ever want to see any of you chasing any of the extraterrestrials. It’s not good for them, and besides, you can fall and hurt yourselves. However, since you did find Comet and Neutron, you each are awarded liberty for this weekend.”

            Five minutes later and they were on a shuttlecraft and heading to the residencia. They were happy knowing that they had rescued the Ross 154 rabbits, but Scotty and Joseph were beaming with joy from the fact that Jasmine’s days of crutching around were now behind her.

            “Finally, a weekend without crutches,” Jasmine said through a big smile.

            “I can’t believe I fixed your knees with the Cybernetics program,” Scotty said, still attempting to comprehend all that had transpired.

            Madison spun around in her seat and leaned to Scotty. “I’m very proud of you. Of all the things you could have done with the tools provided by Galactic Research, you fix your sister’s legs.”

            “I knew all along he could do it,” Diego said.

            “But we need to figure out how the rabbits got out in the first place,” Scotty reminded them.

            As they walked into the residencia’s lobby, Jasmine – again walking without her crutches – turned to Scotty and took him in his arms. “Thank you so much for helping me walk, Scott.”

            “But that was a little practice,” Joseph said, peering into Scotty’s face. “He can do more, and I say I’m next.”

            True too. In the days that followed, Scotty shored up a lot of mods that he would use in the Cybernetics program to make life for the extraterrestrials a little better. Of course, he also created a build that would help him and his siblings get a leg up on the competition and help protect them as they moved into their new and uncertain future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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