* * *
A week later, Amo Obib and Ningning had come to realize humans might not attain the technology level they needed before their fuel runs out. They had over two years left. Though humans could build the Atomic Converter for them if they provided the technology but the temptation was not there. The cold war between Superpowers, USSR, and US, had escalated that the governments focused their resources on creating weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems that can bring a war to an abbreviated conclusion, not in years or months but days! The Superpowers and their Allies seemed unperturbed at the prospect that World War III may destroy their only world. And, if it did and everyone died, no one would be surprised. How pathetic. For this, Amo Obib and Ningning concluded that handing over their atomic technology for the good it would do for humankind was no longer an option, for in that same technology, humans would have in their hands the capacity to destroy themselves and their planet. They wanted no part of that.
Wary of their fate, Amo Obib said, “Ningning, I would like to go on retreat. Will you be fine?”
“You need not worry. Naska is Imar.”
The Retreat
Amo Obib went up to the Command Center the second time since they landed on Earth eons ago. When Goopersh turned on the light, he saw Karmar's Proposal One on the floor. It had lain there for over two million years. He recalled the torment he went through deciding on the issue then. It was not a pleasant experience. He felt weak; frightened to undergo the same mental struggle again, but had to. He sat on the floor; reread Proposal One; and after, placed the folder alongside; then had Goopersh turn off the light.
Over two days have passed. Ningning was worried. The thought of him being weak and unable to come down got her to bring food and water up. She stayed and slept by the doorway as she dared not open the door.
Half a day later, with Proposal One in hand, Amo Obib found Ningning asleep on the floor blocking the doorway. Except for her face, she was well under a white thick blanket. Alongside were jugs of preserved food, water, and eating utensils. He sat on the floor by her side and gently stroked her exposed cheek. It was as cold as the air around them. He felt some relief just to see and feel her. She was his only consolation now.
On the third stroke, Ningning's eyes opened. “My husband, Naska is Imar,” Ningning said as she hastily sat by his side and held him tight with both arms, trembling. “I have never been so worried and frightened. Please try not to leave me alone again, if you can help it. Please,” she said then started to cry.
“How thoughtless of me.” He cradled her with one hand and the other gently stroked her head on his shoulder. “Never again,” he said. “Are you all right?” he weakly asked through his parched throat.
“Are you?” she asked back as she wiped her tears.
“Yes, but I am thirsty.”
Amo Obib was so weak Ningning had to nurse him back to health. On the second day, Ningning knew he had recuperated yet feigned weakness and stayed in bed hardly saying a word. She sensed he was still in retreat and struggling with himself. She went along finding excuses to leave him to his thoughts. A day after, Ningning found Amo Obib seated on her cot. She hastily sat beside him and asked pleasantly, “You need anything, Amo?”
“Ningning,” Amo Obib said in a low voice staring blankly at the floor.
Ningning knelt on the floor to see his face. It was sad. She held his clasped hands between her hands and waited for him to speak.
“Ningning,” Amo Obib repeated his eyes now on hers, “we have so much good to offer humans in our science and technology. All of it gone if we are to die. I have not found the answer but have made up my mind. You will have no part in this decision and I absolve you of any responsibility. But you will have to help me.”
“What do you mean my husband?” she worriedly asked her eyes on his.
Amo Obib continued in melancholy, “I cannot, in conscience, leave the humans to solve human problems when we have the solution. I cannot, in conscience, die peacefully knowing the good our technology can do is buried with us. It is sad for humans are not ready to get all at once . . . maybe fifty or a hundred years from now if they learn from their follies and live through it.
“There are many good humans that are carried by the tide of the misguided powerful few. I pray the good ones will band together and stop their leaders usurp their power for personal fulfillments or whims at their expense. We have to part with our technology as need arises. Since we are not in a position to determine what it is and when, I have decided to undertake the last project. I want you to help me do something out of pure obedience, without question. Do you understand?”
“I do. What do you want me do?” Ningning asked in reply.
“I love you, Ningning. Those are the words humans use,” he said sitting beside her on the floor then gently coddled her. “I am not sure if what I will do goes against God's wish. I pray it will not. I speak to you now as head not of our church but of our community and command you to help me study ways to bring to life a human body with a Rian mind. Human bodied Rians that will live human lives and be part of their society---work hard for the good of humanity. They can marry humans and rear families but all their children will have Rian minds. They have but one goal: part off our science and technology when they see it fit to improve the world as they live and work as humans. I need your help. Will you help?”
Ningning consented.
The new Rians
For need of a laboratory, Amo Obib and Ningning moved to the room Karmar’s team occupied when they worked on the ape’s genome project. The laboratory was adjacent to the room. They modified Proposal One to meet a new goal: five human females with Rian minds to go thru gestation and leave the womb as young teenage girls in a month and a year after to become young adults. Since Amo Obib would not undertake anything on a chance result, they reviewed everything and spent two months studying how to accomplish their goal. As they did, they abducted humans while asleep and studied their bodies; got tissue samples; and took sperms and female egg cells for genetic analysis. The abducted humans were fortunate. They were people afflicted by some incurable disease and too poor to get medical attention. In exchange, they cured them of their ailment never to know the blessing they had from the Rian's hands. To the ranchers, who found dead cattle on their ranch whose uterus were surgically removed and blood drained, they spread powder on their haystacks and fields. It inoculated their livestock from diseases that ravaged the area and made them healthier and heavier.
They used the cow's reproductive organ to create a biological womb to carry the human fertilized egg through its gestation period. They made support machines out of parts taken from hospital and industrial trash bins and, on few occasions, from family owned stores leaving money they got from ocean shipwrecks on top of their cash register. After another month, five functional cow wombs submerged in biological fluids were ready.
Their Children
On the day they were to splice the five human eggs and sperm cells with Rian genes taken from Amo Obib and Ningning, Amo Obib found the Rian Sacred Book on his bed where Ningning had left it. A dried stemmed rose stuck out from its pages. Amo Obib took the book and opened it. An underlined passage read: God spoke to Amo Lam-a (the first Amo), ‘Believe in Me and I take you to paradise. And, from your seed a new world will come.’ Amo Obib wondered, ‘Does the passage refer to the Rian civilization that started from Amo Lam-a or does it refer to him and Ningning's seed as God's instruments to fulfill the prophecy of a new world---a new civilization being a hybrid human and Rian?’ He was not sure and did not dare speculate. He knelt and prayed, “My dearest God, I hope I am fulfilling your wish. If not, I, alone, must bear the consequence.”
An hour later, they implanted the altered fertilized egg cells in their respective womb machines.
Their Children
Ningning and Amo Obib worked on shifts maintaining a 24-hour vigil on their biomechanical machines. After a month, they became proud parents to five he
althy girls in their early teens. Coming from different human donors, in looks, they reared an Asian Islander, a slit-eyed girl, an African Negro, and two Caucasians. Since Amo Obib incorporated Norm’s accelerated growth to the gene, the girls will rapidly grow to young women in their early twenties in a year.
In the months that followed, the girls grew within the confines of the ship. Energetic, they wore down their proud and loving parents who attended to their needs and education. Of the girls, Lulu, a Caucasian, was special. She stood apart from her four other sisters that neither Amo Obib nor Ningning could describe but merely noticed. She had the adventurous nature of her father, the determination of her strong-willed mother, and a natural born leader.
To augment the girls' training and familiarize them to human ways, they watched on TV good, wholesome family movies with strong moral messages and selectively showed the dirtier part of human existence. Months later, Amo Obib and Ningning decided it was time to augment their education, mingle with humans.
The Excursions
It was Halloween day when they scheduled the teenage looking girls to experience the world they eventually would live in---the right time to divert people’s attention as Amo Obib and Ningning must chaperone the girls in their radiation protective suits. The two were in the girl’s room with Lulu and her four sisters anxiously waited at the corridor outside, knowing nothing of Lulu’s surprise. “Close your eyes and promise not to peek,” Lulu said to the two as she dressed them up over their protective suit.
With her parent’s eyes closed, Lulu assisted each to their buggy jumpsuit with high collar that got just above their chin. “Don't peek,” she reminded as she put on their hairpiece and facial makeup. She took a final look then held back her laughter’s sound by covering her mouth. Even then, the muffled laughter was heard by the two dressed-up couple.
Ningning with her eyes still closed, asked, “What are you laughing at?” Amo Obib played along.
“No peeking,” Lulu reminded again. “Open your eyes and walk out of the room on the music’s third bar, okay?” and watched them nod then joined her sisters at the corridor.
On Lulu’s queue, the girls started sounding the tune to the King's March. Immediately after the first note, hilarious laughter came from within the room. They passed the sixth bar of the music and still the two were in the room laughing.
“Come out,” cried one eager girl.
The two came out stoic. The girls burst into laughter as soon as they saw them. Amo Obib and Ningning were colorful together in their high-collared cape and crazy-colored buggy suits. Their make-up and the colored wig differentiated the two. Amo Obib’s colorful wig had weird things sticking out while Ningning’s had wavy-oversized purple hair that stuck out. Their faces mottled with colored circular patches. Puckered bright red lip was pasted over their lips as though wanting a kiss.
When Amo Obib gave Ningning a surprise kiss on her lips, everyone almost died laughing more so when Ningning chased him for more.
When things settled, Amo Obib said, “Lulu, this is the best costume I have ever worn. But it's too good. It will call too much attention to your Mom and me and that we do not want.”
“I know,” Lulu sighed. “But you two look hilariously wonderful.”
The girls help take out the crazy stuff and left the red colored cape over their radiation protective suit making them look as kids in caped Martian costume with large almond shaped dark glasses over their eyes. Amo Obib made a final check at the girls. They appeared like any other teenager at their age. “Whose younger brother am I?” he asked.
“Mine,” Lulu said.
“And, Mama Ningning?” Amo Obib continued to review their alibis and excuses, their address, why they were together, and other similar questions that may arise.
Los Angeles
It was 7:00 a.m. A beetle-size electronic rover sent hovered above an alley sending video images of the area below.
Amo Obib, holding a pyramid crystal with both hands, instructed, “Hold on to me or you’ll be left behind.” Ningning wrapped her arms around Amo Obib's waist. The rest huddled together and held on to anyone who held on to Amo Obib. He looked at the monitor and had it zoom on an alley below. Certain no one would see them materialize on the ground, he commanded, “Goopersh, transport.” They disappeared in a flash then reappeared on the ground at the alley that led to the famous street of Los Angeles---Hollywood Boulevard.
Everyone was apprehensive as they emerged out of the alley as a group---five teenage girls, averaged five-feet-two-inches in height in a typical teenage outfit, that accompanied two kids clad in caped Martian outfit. But as they walked the street, nobody seemed to neither mind nor pay particular attention to the kids in their costume. It was Halloween Day, who would suspect? Soon they felt at ease walking alongside humans, some wearing creepy Halloween costume.
With money taken from sunken ships, the group did what any tourist normally do---went sightseeing on tour buses and took a lot of pictures. Often, they asked strangers to take pictures of them. When the tour bus dropped them off at Chinese Grumman Theater, they looked at the foot and palm prints on the sidewalk pavement of popular movie stars the theater was famous for. Amo Obib asked common questions, as, what movie they starred in as part of their human orientation.
As they toured, a man lightly tapped Ningning's head. Alarmed, she went to Amo Obib’s side and looked at the man thru her dark glasses with trepidation.
“Your mask seems lifelike,” the amazed man said as he followed her. “Where did you buy them?” he asked.
“My sister made them for us,” Amo Obib answered for Ningning sounding like a youngster.
The stranger talked to one of Lulu’s sisters, “I supply props for the cinema studios. I'd like very much to know how you made the outfit,” he asked eagerly.
“I love to but I just don’t have time . . . we’re on a tour,” she answered.
The man persisted.
Lulu observed her sisters plead to the man to leave them alone. Since the man was insistent and on seeing two patrolling police officers at the sidewalk, said to the man, “It's a long process, and we have to go. Come,” she said and the group followed her.
Walking alongside Lulu, the man excitedly said, “You got something there that will interest a lot of people I know. Are you interested in making money?”
“Please, we really have to go,” Lulu replied and led the group to two police officers at the corner holding on to their patrol bike, “Officer, can you help us,” she addressed one.
“What seems to be the problem?” the first Police Officer asked pleasantly.
“This gentleman means us no harm, but can you detain him until we get lost in the crowd?”
The second police officer turned to the man and sized him up.
“Look, Officer,” the man said before the officer could say something. “I'm offering a legitimate business proposition. They got something the cinema can use and maybe make stars of the two alien clad kids. I want to make a proposition . . .”
Lulu interrupted, “Can you detain him just for a few minutes?”
“Like to press charges?” the officer asked.
“Oh, no. He really means us no harm.”
“Okay,” the officer responded.
They hurriedly left but the man tried to follow. “Hold on, Buddy,” the second Police Officer said as he restrained the man by the arm. “Can I see an ID?” he asked somewhat irritated.
“Look, Officer, I'm in the cinema industry and . . .”
“I don't care if you're a Superstar. Can I see an ID please?” the second Police Officer commanded.
The man pulled his wallet as he watched the group disappear in the crowd.
In a tour bus, a woman turned her head as she followed a passing site and accidentally saw Ningning, seated on an adjacent seat, insert a potato chip through her masked and ate it. “How did you do that?” she asked in amazement looking at her.
Ningning, taken aback, looked at
the woman without answering. Amo Obib, whose attention was somewhere else, missed the question. Lulu, directly behind the seated woman and clueless, asked the woman inquiringly, “She’s my little sister. What did she do?”
The woman turned and said to Lulu, “I saw her insert a potato chip through her mask.”
Lulu reacted casually, “She likes to play tricks on other people. She just made it look as though she got it through her mask when the potato chip is actually still in her hand. “Show her again,” she said to Ningning.
Ningning got the clue and demonstrated: She took a potato chip out of the bag and pushed the chip seemingly in her mouth over the masked. She then showed the woman the chip on her hand and said in a rhyme, “I trick her, I trick her.”
“Silly girl,” the woman said to Ningning as she laughed then waved her off with a grin.
They took time to go in appliance and hardware stores to familiarize themselves to common household gadgets and work tools. They rode buses and taxis; went to malls; and did other things to orient the girls to the world they would live in. Although people, at times, stared at their costumed companions, they paid no attention to them. If asked, they would answer: ‘They are midget actors dressed for an alien movie shooting or a play.’
As time passed, they did more excursions and visited many countries. First, as teenage girls that escorted costumed kids and, in the later months, as women that accompanied two midgets to a studio or shooting location.
Months later, the five were physically grown women. Their training shifted to basic household activities: cooking, carpentry, appliance and electrical repairs, and gardening. Later, they got abandoned cars and disassembled them, then reassembled them again. The fun part was driving what they repaired within the confines of the spacious vacant floor space within the ship. The driving area had lined roads with intersections and pedestrian lanes. As one drove, the four other sisters acted as signal lights holding on to red, green, and yellow colored placards. They even practiced parallel parking.
On the last few weeks, they learned secretarial skills, office administration, and all were adept in the use of common office computers. On their last week, each went alone to the city assigned to them. Lulu was to start her Earth life at Los Angeles, California. Her four sisters to Moscow, Russia; Shanghai, China; Davao City, Philippines; and Cape Town, South Africa.
Caught in the Act
On the night before their children’s departure, Ningning could not sleep and left Amo Obib asleep in their room. She walked towards their daughter’s barrack type bedroom and entered stealthily. They were fast asleep. With motherly adoration, she looked at the face of each of her children asleep as tears trickled down her cheeks. When she got to Lulu's bed, she saw an outline of a body on its side covered by a blanket all the way to the top of the head. As she got closer, she found the head was but a dark folded cloth. She lifted the blanket and found two pillows underneath. She tiptoed hurriedly out of the room.
She located Lulu over the ship's tracking system and proceeded to the shop. As she neared the room, the floor crackled as she walked. She noticed salt sparsely spread on the floor. She knew the crackling sounds made were loud enough to alert someone inside. In the room, she saw Lulu seated looking attentively at the computer’s screen. “Isn't it late for you to be studying?” Ningning asked as she approached her. She noticed an accounting balance sheet was on the computer’s screen.
Lulu turned and, sounding surprised, said, “Oh. Hi Mama . . . I am studying financial statements.”
“Are you really studying accounting?” Ningning asked nicely in an investigative tone.
Lulu hesitated then confessed, “No. I'm not.” Her head lowered in guilt.
“What are you studying then?”
“The design of the atomic converter to update . . .”
Ningning hugged Lulu from behind and cuddled her. “Please leave everything the way it should,” she said in despair.
“It is not too late,” Lulu responded with enthusiasm as she grabbed a stool and got Ningning to sit. “National Atomic Research Laboratory produces . . .”
Ningning interrupted, “NARLAB, as it is commonly known, is a US government owned high-energy physics research center in the Mojave Desert, California. It produced 1.8 trillion electro-volts of particle energy in 1987. They started construction on the Superconducting Super Collider, spring of 1992. Projected completion, late 1999 with a collision output of twenty-five trillion electro-volts. That’s four-thousand trillion electro-volts short of what we need.”
Ningning's knowledge surprised Lulu. “I know but I came up with a design to increase its capacity. I plan to leak it to their scientist then . . .”
“Lulu,” Ningning interrupted again and sternly said, “how long have you been doing this?”
In guilt, she said, “Almost every night for nearly half a year.”
“My dearest Lulu, your Papa's heart will be broken if he knew what you have been doing and what you intend to do.”
“Please do not tell Papa,” Lulu pleaded, her eyes in tears.
“Promise me you will not go against your Papa and my wish.”
“Can I give my answer tomorrow, before we leave?” Lulu asked, her head slightly bowed, her voice hardly audible as wiped off the tears from her eyes.
“Please do not disappoint me and your father,” Ningning answered then stood holding out her hands for Lulu to take. “Come, I'll take you to bed.”
“I love you and Papa,” Lulu said, hugging Ningning as she cried again.
“Your father and I know that. We love you dearly, too,” Ningning answered as she rubbed Lulu’s back then led her out of the room.
Last farewell
Seated on a wooden bench by the airship’s ramp, Amo Obib and Ningning waited for their children. Earlier, the amo denied their children’s request to stay with them till the ship runs out of fuel and, consequently, die with them. Ningning, on seeing them come with a small suitcase on hand this time, said, “They are coming.”
Amo Obib, whose mind was recollecting the past, was jerked back to the present. Startled, he reacted, “What?”
“They are coming,” Ningning repeated and they stood.
With everything said of their departure earlier, Amo Obib and Ningning hugged and bade one-by-one their children, ‘Naska is Imar’ before each climbed the ramp and enter the airship. Lulu was the last. Amo Obib said, “Lulu, your mother confided what she found out last night. I want you to promise you won't do anything foolish that may jeopardize your life and even your sisters,” he stressed forcefully.
“But, Papa, I . . .”
“Lulu,” Amo Obib said forcedly, “Promise!”
“I love you very much,” she answered and, in a rush, hugged him and did the same to Ningning.
Ningning reminded sternly Lulu as they parted embrace, “Lulu, you did not answer your father.”
“I cannot promise something I may not be able to keep though I give you my word I will try very, very hard and . . .” she broke in tears, took a step towards the airship, stopped. and turned. “I love you, Papa. I love you, Mama,” looking at each of them. “Naska is Imar,” she said.
Ningning moved quickly and caught her before she could turn. She got her to kneel then embraced and cuddled her. As she did, she whispered, “Try very, very hard, but if you must, though I pray hard that you won't, be very, very careful.” She then moved back and in a normal voice said, “It will make your Papa and me very happy . . . Please promise,” she pleaded.
“I promise,” Lulu replied loud enough for her father to hear that made him grin at her. “Naska is Imar,” she repeated, with eyes wet; hands waving goodbye; moving backwards up the ramp.
“Naska is Imar,” Amo Obib and Ningning said together as they waved back at their children tightly packed with waving hands behind the airship's closing door.
Amo Obib and Ningning watched the airship lift and pierce through the ship’s west-wall as it flew out of the ship.
/>
Ningning said, “Can we sit and stay here for a moment?” sounding exhausted.
“Are you alright, Ningning?” Amo Obib asked looking at her with concern.
“I’m fine. I just feel so drained.”
“I understand. Take as much time,” he replied and they sat, each to their own thoughts.
Moments later, Ningning wrapped her arms around Amo Obib’s left arm; leaned her head on his shoulder; and whimpered again.
They stayed at the bench for a few minutes and later headed for the hibernating room. Ningning held on to amo’s arm as they walked slowly without a word uttered. When they got near the transporter room, Ningning suddenly let go her hold, and hurriedly went inside the room leaving Amo Obib standing at the hallway. She checked a drawer's contents then returned to Amo Obib and held his arm again. “I hope Lulu will not do anything foolish,” saying it with her composure gained and held his arm again.
Amo Obib replied as they walked, “Even if she did, she could not prove herself to be an Alien as much as I can convince you that I am human.”
“She took one pyramid crystal,” Ningning said passingly.
Amo Obib stopped walking and got Ningning to face him. He firmly looked at her. “When did you know?” he asked somewhat irritated.
Ningning knew him well. She took his arm and led him again and said nicely, “That does not really matter. We cannot change anything now . . . As a father, the first thing you should learn is to trust your children. It is your fault anyway,” she concluded.
“And, how could that be?” Amo Obib said, baffled and protesting.
“You gave her one of your best quality---being stubborn.”
“Stubborn?” he protested aloud.
“Would I have convinced you to stop handing those crazy leaflets and speeches on liberalizing educational policies and left it to the Council of Elders to decide?” she asked.
“I doubt it.”
“She's like you. It's your fault . . . so don't blame her.”
‘It’s useless to argue,’ he thought then asked, “What should we do?”
“Pray,” she snapped.
Amo Obib strangely looked at her and said, “You know, Ningning, you are beginning to worry me. You have a weird way of getting people to see and do things differently. Remember the night . . .
Thank you for your time to read Help - 2nd Edition, Part 1 & 2 of my novel. I can only hope you enjoyed the story to read Part 3 & 4. CLICKED ON THE LINK BELOW FOR THE ENTIRE NOVEL.
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About the Author
I was born December 14, 1943 in Davao City, Philippines. In education, I took Bachelor of Arts major in mathematics, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Masters in Business Administration. I migrated to the United States November of 1976 and work there until 1997. My last employer was Mileage Plus, Inc., a subsidiary of United Airlines, as a Senior Systems Analyst. I retired on that same year and returned to my native land, Davao City, Philippines and had lived there to this day. I have a son, John Paul (JP) Campo who resides in Los Angeles, California.
On and off, from March of 1981 till December 31, 2016, I struggled to finish this novel, titled Help. With no formal writing training, I literally told a story (tell) opposed to the literary standard of ‘show.’ The story’s pace is very fast as there are a lot of scenes to cover. I can only hope that the quality of the story as written, and the philosophical and moral issues it addresses and subtly embedded in the story itself, will not be impaired.
Other books by this author
I have another book but still in my head. My writing it depends largely on how this novel, Help, is received. Stories of a couple, extremely wealthy by themselves but keep it a secret even between them and to the people they have to live with. Couples who sought a happy and meaningful existence for themselves and for the children. A life opposed to opulent living they and their children could have easily be part of. Of how each fought hard the temptation to reveal and use their wealth when life got tough. Of the problems, each had, to raise two boys (one became an addict) and a girl, and teach them something of better value when money, material things, and social life style were issues. How each, very discreetly, poured millions to improve the quality of life in their small community without others knowing for their children and the community’s sake. The book will be titled, “The Other Life”---a contrast between opulent living versus simple life---which is better for you and your children?
Connect with Arturo Campo
At 74 years of age, as of December 14, 2016, learning is not easy but familiar with HOTMAIL.
Write me directly through my email address:
[email protected] DEDICATION
To the loving memory of my father
Anastacio Malaya Campo
My mother
Remedios Ponce de Leon Fernandez
My wife
Luningning Aguirre
--------------
With much love
John Paul Campo and Melody Tibong
Acknowledgements
You will never know just how far your help got me going.
Many thanks:
Nena Gutana
Caridad Marasigan
Norma Ezpeleta
Antonio Bacalso
Glen Cear
Melchor Espiritu
and most specially Marijack Pamintuan and Stephen Brandon. Both inspired me to finish this novel.
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