The Lark
(Part II)


Primary species: 	cat-morph
Location: 	Earth's moon
Year: 		4,023 A.D.
(This story takes place bout 1,000 years after creation of "The Archive," and 100 years prior to the "Keeper 
of The Traces" adventures.)
Part 		II
c Mark Warren '02


As he waited, Brummers noticed a large circular device in a room off to the side. There were no murals or 
other decorations in this room. It appeared the room was built specifically for the device. The ceiling was 
lower in the center and nearly touched the hub of the horizontal 12-meter diameter wheel. Radiating from 
the hub were seven 1-meter wide spokes, and on each spoke a glass bubble long enough to accommodate a 
humanoid. Three long tubes and an array of wires wound their way to each of the tubes. It looked a bit like 
a centrifuge, but there wouldn't be time for him to confirm it. For now, he had to find a way out.

Further exploring the room, and finding the side that corresponded to the outer wall of the crater, he 
searched for an exit. Brummers opened several closet doors before finding a portal that lead to an airlock. 
All of the seals were cracked and many of the rubber-like fittings had shrunk with age. This didn't matter 
since he was in his pressure suit. The airlock's functionality had long since passed. He estimated that it 
hadn't been used for 20-30 years. That isn't very long on a cosmic scale, but just enough to wreck the seals. 
After some searching, he found a lever and moved it downward freeing the door to swing open. Sediment 
poured in and onto the floor. The other side of the door looked like ejecta from the crater its self. The door 
appeared to be made of dust and rock. Were he able to close it again, it would be well camouflaged with the 
surrounding terrain. 

Looking over his right shoulder, he could see small clouds of dust rapidly approaching. Several moon 
machines were on their way. It figured that more than one would be sent to get him. Before that day, none 
of them had been interested in his ideas, but now they wouldn't be leaving him alone. Yes, one would have 
sufficed. All he needed was an escort, a trip to base camp and repairs for the moon machine, not a crowd to 
watch his every move. To be the center of attention, and potentially negative attention at that, wasn't what 
he was looking for. This was his project, and he knew that if the word got out about what he was looking 
for, he would likely be detained. Self-vindication was enough for Brummers. Had he enough oxygen, and a 
working machine, he would have explored the ruins alone. No self-satisfied experts to belittle his 
observations or dismiss his conjectures. To Brummers everything, every breath, was an event. And every 
event, however finite, implied a greater reality. To them, it was all a matter of protocol. Which is not to say 
that he didn't take their opinions into consideration. After all, they were a good source of companionship, 
not to mention key to his survival. With so few people in such close quarters, it would be unwise of him to 
constantly challenge their assumptions. After all, they had chosen him for this mission, but in a capacity for 
which he was ill suited. It was doubtful they'd let him out on patrol duty again. Perhaps it didn't matter 
anymore. Whatever it took, he would return. Of that much, he was sure. By now, the moon machines were 
at the base of the impact zone and beginning their assent.

It was Neakon, Shyrie and Halder. Neakon and Shyrie were his age, give or take a few years.  Neakon was 
a tuxedo (cat with black and white markings resembling a tux), and a paragon of a young Catian in some 
people's eyes. He graduated suma cum laude from his university, top in his business class. By the time he 
finished graduate school, he had become accustomed to entertaining politicians and CEOs. Whatever it 
took to get ahead in the game, he did it. And his wit was nearly as sharp as his reputation, with an uncanny 
ability to accurately cite dates and names. Shyrie was also sharp. An engineering grad student at the top 
Catian institute of technology, and a wiz with an acetylene torch, there wasn't much that she couldn't do 
with raw materials. She was an enigma. Years of being one of few women in the engineering programs had 
given her an impenitrable facade. That didn't surprise him. She was a dilute tortishell with a pleasant face, 
and a cordial demeanor, not to mention mathematical genius. Halder was older, a long-haired gray cat who 
was on the moon because the government wanted him to be. In a way it all made Brummers' head spin. 
he didn't have such a stellar resume. Neakon, the tuxedo, was the first to speak.

"We followed your signal Dalston, are you aware that you're about 5 miles off course? We aren't required 
to monitor this area. This constitutes a breach of protocol. Do you realize your actions placed base camp in 
danger? "

"Danger?" Brummers tried to look perplexed.

Shyrie chimed in. "Orders are orders, Dalston, and we've been given express instructions to stick to our 
task. Surely you're aware of that. This is a temporary camp. We've only been here 7 months. Do you think 
we know every potential threat? There is no such thing as being too prepared. "

Brummers knew should go quietly, but also wanted to learn more from his comrades' reactions. "Then why 
were three of you sent to come get me, when one man and a moon machine would suffice?" Didn't you say 
you were concerned with the safety of the base?"

"Well, I suppose. But we want to see the ruins for ourselves," replied Shyrie. "At least I do."


Brummers knew there had been danger in disobeying his superiors. it posed a thread to his freedoms. But 
the danger of complacency, had he remained, would have been worse. He had taken a risk, but it was 
necessary. If he played his cards right, there might be a way out. He knew that eventually, curiosity would 
get the better of his comrades. After all, they were cats too. even if they didn't always act like it. And 
though he often found himself questioning the validity of that observation, they weren't bad people. As 
much as he didn't like to rely on luck, luck was in his favor that day. He had risked his reputation on a 
hunch, but there was more to the situation than he was prepared to let on. He had been honest so far.and 
unless they asked for specifics, he wouldn't fill them in. Yes, Brummers had seen something, and he was 
pretty sure what it was.