n the universe we'll never understand if we keep thinking war's the answer。
She was almost three years older than Rick and a lot more concerned about such things。 And after Pop decided to remain in California instead of taking the circus elsewhere； Rick would often sit at Jessica's feet for hours； listening carefully to what she had to say about hatred and injustice and greed； and he would pay close attention to the things she read aloud from novels and texts and some of Alice's books on philosophy and religion。 Outside the year of high school he had attended in Sonoma； the time with Jessica came as close to a standard education as Rick had received； by the time he had turned fourteen； he was pletely infatuated with her。
That she was still almost three years older than he made things extremely plicated； because by then older boys had begun to show up at the Sacramento farmhouse； guys who would stop by to visit with Jessica and fill her head with a lot of talk about what they were going to do when they joined the war。
Rick had already tried on countless occasions to express his feelings…he had even gone as far as writing her a poem…but the words just couldn't make it past his lips。 At the same time he had tried unsuccessfully to corner her into confessing her undying love for him。 There had been a bit of hand holding and quick kisses but nothing that approximated the passion Rick had decided the two of them were meant share。 So； invariably； when any of Jessie's prospective boyfriends were on hand； Rick could be found retreating to his room； where he would sulk for an hour or two or stare at all the trophies and medals his flying skills had earned him and wonder why they were not doing the trick。 But he certain was not about to sit out there on the porch and spew a lot of nonsense about how many enemy planes he planned to down when his turn came。 And what was Jessie doing listening all the lies those characters were feeding her； anyway？
The truth； as it would unfold； was that she had not been listening。 One night she had followed Rick back to his room to tell him just that； and damned if she hadn't been aware of Rick's feelings all along！ But how could you even think for minute I'd be impressed by all that war talk？ she had asked him。 I don't want that kind of hero in my life； Rick。 I want to fall in love with someone who isn't afraid to look for different answers。 Someone like you。
Over the next six months Jessica had led him slowly in the joys of love and sexual discovery； but by the time winter had rolled around it was plain they were not meant to be lovers； that it was more important that their friendship survive than anything else。 So Jessie had moved on to the sensitive hero of her dreams； and Rick had thrown himself in stunt flying with renewed fervor。 But lord； how his hormones had raged for those six too…brief months！ Not even Minmei or Lisa would inflame him the way Jessie had。
And oddly enough； it was Jessie he was thinking about now； laser…cutting a path through the verdant foliage of a new world； staring at Marie Crystal's shapely； jumpsuited deriere。
What the hell's ing over me？ Rick asked himself； tearing his eyes away。 He had not felt quite so lustful since Sue Graham had tried to seduce him one afternoon in the Ark Angel's situation room。
Rick stopped short on the narrow trail； only to have Karen Penn bump up against his back。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 she said。 〃I didn't see you give a sign to halt。〃
〃I； er； that is；〃 Rick began。 〃Listen； Captain； why don't you go on ahead for a while。〃
〃Certainly； sir；〃 she said； brushing past him； face to face。 Cripes！ he thought。 Two women to leer at now。
Angelo Dante had the point； the rest of the human and XT scouting party spread out behind in a trailing wedge。 The Alpha…Beta VTs were Battloid…reconfigured on a flat spot of ground where they had left them only moments before。 The land was an undulating temperate zone forest of analogue firs； raucous with the calls of black birds that confined themselves to the upper reaches of the canopy。 The sun was intense where it shone through； the air was aromatic； rich with the smell of life。 Scans initiated from the SDF…3 had indicated the presence of an intense bio…energy nexus in the region； but several low…level passes had revealed little to add to what had already been gleaned from the ship's data readouts； and so Rick had ordered the Veritechs down。
He was not sure just what had made him think of Jessie after all those years。 It was true that the argument with Lisa had touched off a cascade of angry thoughts； but no sooner had he lowered the VT's canopy in the launch bay than they had been cleared from his mind。 And Marie Crystal's butt not been responsible； either； no matter how pleasing it was。 Because for all the lust； Rick was experiencing waves of nostalgia as well。 A yearning for simpler…alternative presents。
He felt certain that something in the air had brought it on； or perhaps it was the trees themselves and the memories of northern California redwoods and home fires that their piney aroma elicited。
Memories of Earth before the wars。
Jack Baker appeared from the underbrush a few steps behind Rick…waved； and came up alongside。 Rick not only saw a bit of himself in the younger man but noticed the same wistful in Baker's green eyes。 He tracked Baker's gaze to Karen's backside。
〃What's on your mind； Captain？〃
Baker was red…faced when he turned around。 〃Begging the Admiral's pardon； sir。 I guess I was just daydreaming。〃
〃Daydreaminng； Baker？〃
〃Fantasizing； actually； sir。〃 He made a circular motion with his hand。 〃It's this place； Admiral。 It reminds me so much of where I was brought up。 North Carolina； sir？ before Dolza； I mean。〃
〃You're wondering what it would have been like if things had gone differently for Earth。〃
Jack looked at him searchingly。 〃That's it； sir。 I keep thinking this planet's trying to remind us of what we lost。〃
In a dark corner of the galaxy lost to the SDF…3； silhouetted against the swirling； malevolent backdrop of Ranaath's Star； floated the first nearly pleted products of Haydon's IV's mining and manufacturing efforts： ships璵assively proportioned…with featureless spherical hulls attended and ministered to by hundreds of labor drones。
Inside the Ark Angel； Vince； Cabell； Penn； and the Nichols team were fortifying themselves with strong caffie when an unexpected transmission was received from Haydon IV。
〃Veldt； is that you？〃 Vince asked in a rush； eyes riveted to the situation room's mo screen。 They had spent part of the Sentinels campaign together； but Vince had not seen the Haydonite in years。 Even so； save for the color of his forehead sensor； a certain warmth to his sendings； and definite swagger to his glide； Veidt was nearly identical to countless other 〃male〃 beings on Haydon IV。
A synthesized voice answered for Veidt。 〃Yes； mander。 It's good to see you again。〃
〃And you； too；〃 Vince said。 〃I only wish it could be under different circumstances。〃
Beneath the static of the signal； Veidt's expression conveyed a wry smile。 〃You discern my very thoughts。〃
For hours the Ark Angel had been hailing the Awareness without response。 The flagship of the Karbarran flotilla had been attempting the same and had finally issued the reconfigured artifact world with an ultimatum： Release all Karbarran prisoners by 1200 standard hours or suffer the consequences of a full assault。 Cabell had appealed to the Karbarran legation to rethink their position； but the threat stood as delivered。
〃You know about the ultimatum？〃 Vince asked。
〃I have only just learned about it； yes。 But you must convince the Karbarrans to rescind。〃
Cabell leaned toward the camera。 〃You leave them no alternative； Veidt。 〃
〃I will endeavor to explain；〃 the Haydonite said after a moment。 〃Be advised； however； that Vowad and I have undertaken munication with you at great personal risk。 Should my visage abruptly vanish from the screen； you will understand why。〃
〃Then save your thoughts；〃 Vince said。 〃We think we've got a fair idea of what's been going on。〃 Quickly； he summarized the scenario Louie and Cabell had arrived at。 Veidt listened in silence。 〃We just need to learn where these ships you're manufacturing are headed；〃 Vince concluded。 〃You have our word we won't interfere with the Awareness in any way。 We only want permission to tag along； if that's possible。 Veidt shook his head。 〃That is quite impossible； mander。 Your ship is inadequate for such a journey。〃
Vince glowered at the screen。 〃Try to understand our side of it； Veidt。 This may be our only shot at locating the SDF…3。 Think about Rick and Lisa and the crew。 They're our friends； Veidt； and they're in trouble。〃
Veidt's features betrayed little。 〃I might also ask that you appraise things from our vantage； mander。 To prehend after thousands of years that your sole purpose had been to function as caretakers for a race who； if they did not create you； then surely redirected you from your evolutionary process。〃 The Haydonite paused。 〃And now； even in the face of this realization； to be helpless。〃
Vince turned away from the camera to glance at Cabell and Penn。 〃Were sorry； Veidt。 But all this doesn