“Planets are not like pets.Once they are occupied and running, they take care of themselves.”
“Right.That must be satisfying.Raising little worlds until they are ready to go off on their own.”
He chuckled.“The first seventeen are heavy worlds.They have different needs than medium-gravity worlds do.”
“I can imagine.So, you are really heavy then.”
“No.I just have tissue density.”He smiled.“I can do short spans through space if necessary.My structure was designed on those of the world builders.”
“The who?”She glanced at him as they walked toward a huge wall of glass.
“Before the Hmrain, there were the builders.The Ap’lo.They do their work in a dimension just to the side of this one.They make the worlds to replace the ones that die, the ones that burn, and like yours, the ones that break.It takes thousands of years, and their environment is terrifying to our thoughts.Fire and stone, radiation and light.They were crafted to shape it all.Even the assessors never set foot in their territory.”
“Do they have companions, too?”
“Not that we are aware of.They would have to be treated for radiation resistance to even get close to them.”
“Ah.Right.That is one thing my people aren’t born with.”
“So, best you stay away from gateways to their worlds.”
“I don’t see how I could get there.”
“Don’t look into it.You wouldn’t last a week.”
She smiled.“But what a great chance to experiment with radiation proofing and resistance?”
“The Ap’lo were not designed to take care of populations, they were not designed to seek mates, and they are not pleasant.They were not designed to be attractive.They were built for strength, power, and intelligence.Not much else.”
“Right.I am fascinated, but I am not going to seek them out.Promise.”
He flexed his hand on her back.“This is the oxygen farm.I designed it as a food forest and created the template that is used on many of my siblings’ long-haul vessels.This one requires thirty bots for maintenance, but others need fewer.”
He touched the wall, and the doors slid open.The scent of bright green, sweet fruit, and flowers rushed over them.
Trin smiled.“This is amazing.”
“Go inside.I want to show you the tastes of my worlds.”He said it softly, and she stepped over the threshold with him.
The door hissed shut behind them, and he began the tour.
They had handfuls of fruit and vegetables near the brook and pool.Trin sat down and looked around.“This is...stunning.If I weren’t a gearhead, I could spend my life here.”
“Gearhead?”
“I like making things.Building things.Having things left over to show for my life and time.Everything Grandpa and I built on Earth is gone.Well, it’s there, but it is useless without folk to maintain it.”
He nodded.“The final sweeps have commenced.The Education Station is sending out barely acclimated Urthers and picking up thousands a day.Cold shipping is underway across all systems to give worlds a chance to prepare for them.Some can take hundreds, some thousands, but the survivors will be tested when they arrive at their new worlds.Thanks to Ra, none of your people need a bond anymore.They are free to educate and learn before choosing worlds.”
She smiled and looked at the berries and apple-type items in her hand.Tears started falling.“That’s amazing.Thank you for looking into it.”
He stroked her cheek.“Happy tears?”
“Happy and relieved tears.There were still so many left behind.”
“The final sweep uses heat sensors and psychics.If they want to leave, they will take them all.”
She gave him a watery smile.“That’s wonderful.When can we start genetic matching?”
