A New Life

The three shared an immense feeling of relief when the professor said that. They walked down the hallway to the Student Union together without saying a word. They did exchange several relieved glances, however. At the union Paula said, "Whew. He had me scared for a minute there. Now I'm really pumped to get this done and turned in. I want to see what the others have done and I'm really looking forward to the discussion. You won't believe the size of my list, either. There's no way one person can carry what I'm proposing they take. I'm sure glad he said transportation was not to be considered to be a limiting factor. I wonder what he'll think about some of the drugs, medical texts, reference books, and surgical instruments I suggest get taken. He didn't specify a limit on them or a period of time we could use for choosing our items either, did he?"

Don said, "No, as far as I remember the only restrictions were non-electrical and non-motor driven, manufactured before 1930, primarily in use before 1900. Oh, and the weight and cubage limit imposed by the dimensions and restrictions of a Conestoga wagon.

Oh, yeah. Crap, there go some of the biologicals I wanted to try and slip in. Medical care back then was pretty poor. I wonder if he would cut my grade if I tried to slip in some more modern medical items? I think I will make an addendum listing those and try to slip them in that way. I'm ready to write now I think. In fact I have over half of the paper in rough draft already. It's going to be a bitch to limit the size. I think I'll fudge and put all the footnotes and bibliography at the end in addition to the paper and see how that works. I'll have about 110 pages then but the paper itself will only be about 100 pages. Do you think that'll work?"

Simon looked thoughtful, then grabbed his composition book. He did a little research and said, "Not sure, but my gut reaction is you MIGHT get by with exceeding the page limit with the bibliography, but normally the footnotes are included in the pages of the paper. Very few are added at the end although it isn't entirely incorrect to do it like that. I think I will hold it all to 100 pages to be safe but we can ask him and see what he says if you want. I'm like you, I have almost all my rough draft completed. You know, they actually had very little equipment and possessions when they took off into the wilderness. I got that taken care of in just about ten pages. It took me over twenty pages to suggest equipment and so forth then the rest of my space is used for the remaining requirements of the paper. I even slipped in modern seeds and some of the early horse drawn farming and building equipment and tools. This is really an interesting paper."

Finally the date arrived to turn in the papers. Simon and his friends were happy with their papers. Many of the other students seemed worried. Bob was furious because he couldn't (he said) find enough material to get more than 53 pages so that was what he turned in. Everyone else did better but some of the students cheated somewhat in page count by making the margins of their papers somewhat larger than normal. One or two even bragged that they enlarged the line spacing.

After the papers were turned in Professor Sheripati sat on the edge of his desk and said, "Ok, now that we have the research project completed we are almost done with the coursework for the semester. I will read and grade your papers the rest of this week and this weekend. Beginning with Monday's class we will read and discuss each of your papers in class. Please be prepared to discuss each paper as it is read when you are called on to do so. The papers will be read and discussed in totally random order. There will be no mention or guesses of who may have written any particular paper. If you know who wrote the paper, please keep this to yourself. If the student who authored the paper wishes to give that information, that's his or her prerogative, but no one else is to say anything. This is very serious, if any information is given out, the student who does so will face the Dean of the Department. Now, let us have a general discussion today on the way possessions limited early expansion."

Monday morning early the three friends met outside the classroom and chatted about what the papers would say. Class discussions were projected to end the second class period before finals week with the last class period reserved for review.

The reviews were generally very good. Each student, with the exception of Bob, brought new and interesting information before the class. Of course, much of what was presented was repetitious but everyone had a slightly different take on things and saw different possibilities and causes for failure in the material they studied. The final for the three friends was a cake walk. They each completed the test in less than half the time allotted.

After the final exam the three friends met in the Union to discuss it. They already knew that was the last final any of them had. The only thing planned the next day was turning in books, checking grades, and packing before returning to their individual homes for the holidays. They agreed to meet back after the holidays to purchase the next semester's books together and just hang until classes started. They already knew they would share a couple of classes with one or the other next semester.

The morning before they left they all met and made the rounds of the Professor's offices to check grades. All three friends made A's in Professor Sheripati's class but were somewhat worried by the comment beside their names on the grade sheet. They all had an appointment to see him in his office at 9:30 that day.

At the appointed time the three friends made their way to the office and knocked. After taking a seat at the Professor's invitation they watched as he locked the door then returned to his desk where he took a seat. He opened his briefcase and rustled around in it for a moment then closed it. He looked at the three friends and said, "Thank you all for coming to see me this morning. I know you are anxious to get to your homes, but before you left for the holidays I absolutely had to talk to you for a short time. This way I won't have to look you up at your homes. Before we begin I must tell you that if you haven't already seen it you will all find an urgent e-mail in your box requesting you see me. You can ignore that message now since you are here today. However, I am sure we will see each other again soon.

"You are to be commended on your papers and discussion of the settlement plans you made. Much of what you each discussed in class is, of course, impossible to do because of the constraints the original settlers faced. We knew that going into the assignment. You, Mr. Franklin, were more correct than you might know when you told Mr. Trent "We know the original settlers couldn't have taken the items we suggest because many of them did not exist at that time. The point is to show how invention and learning improved life and living through the period we are studying." My intent was to make you think about possibilities and learn about other periods of time as you suggested some time back. It was a pleasure to follow your thoughts, research, and planning as you put your papers together. Your reasoning was excellent as were many of your choices."

The professor turned to face Simon and smiled, continuing he said, "Your idea to take books with plans for manufacturing many items from wood and iron was a good one. I also liked your idea to take sample farm and wood working implements and large amounts of more modern seeds. Of course, we know the early settlers did not have access to those items but you did your research well and documented the increases in yield those items would provide. Well done.

"I would like now to give each of you some advice and offer you an opportunity for a full life. Make the most of this visit home. Enjoy your family and save memories of your time with them and your friends. You will not see them again after this trip home."

All three of the young people sat in shock for a moment. They could not believe what the professor said. Finally they all three began talking at once. Professor Sheripati raised his hands and shouted, "QUIET. Please be quiet. I get this response almost every time I have one of these interviews and it never gets any easier for me to handle.

"I meant what I said. I'm sorry, I know you now think I'm a nutcase, perhaps an asshole or any of the other names I've been called in the past by students. I assure you that is not the case. I am deadly serious when I make this request. Make the most of your time at home this holiday. It will be your last visit home and the last time you will see your family. Please watch this video and you'll see why I tell you this."

The professor picked up a remote and pushed play. The first scene was Simon getting into his car for his trip back to college. He hugged his mother and younger sister goodbye and smacked his younger brother. He just waved at his father and got into his car. He drove away. When he neared the university he pulled into a convenience store for gas and some snacks.

As he was going into the building Bob came out. He was in threadbare clothes and dirty. He saw Simon and snarled, "You son of a bitch. Because of you I flunked out of college last semester. He screamed "YOU ASSHOLE" and swung the bag he was carrying. It contained a six pack of beer he was too young to purchase. The clerk was a friend and sold it to him anyway. Before he could get his arm up to defend himself the bag hit Simon in the temple. Simon dropped like a rock and lay in a spreading puddle of blood. Bob kicked him and walked off to get into an old rattletrap Mustang car. As he left the scene of his assault Bob muttered, "That'll teach you to fuck with me asshole. I take care of you all our first year of college and you shit on me. That's bullshit and you know it."

The professor stopped the video, looked at Simon and said, "You'll die in the door of the store from a brain injury before the paramedics arrive. Bob will be convicted of murder and will be sentenced to 30 to life in the state penitentiary. Unfortunately, he will not learn to control his temper or mouth before it's too late for him. He'll be killed by another inmate."

The three friends sat in shock and looked at the professor. He picked up the remote and started the video again. This time it showed Paula. She and her older sister were crossing a parking lot when a van drove up beside them. The door slammed open and two men jumped from it and forced the sisters into the van. It sped off. As the van drove down the road four men in the back stripped the sisters and began raping them. One of the men was Paula's sisters ex-fiancée. He said, "Both you bitches are going to pay for disrespecting me and dumping me. Paula was raped once. As her first rapist started to rise the van lurched causing him and the one holding her to lose their balance. She jumped up and opened the rear door of the van and tumbled out. Unfortunately, the semi-truck behind them couldn't stop. It drove over her. The professor once again stopped the video.

Again, the three friends sat in shock. The professor said, "You, too, will die Paula. I'm sorry it is such an unpleasant death, but it is fated."

He looked next at Don and said, "I don't know what to tell you Mr. Johns. You, too, are fated to be absent from school from now on. I don't know whether you will consider yourself fortunate or unfortunate when I show you what fate has in store for you. You will be attending the memorial services for your friends here at the University when the temporary bleachers you will be sitting on collapse. There are many injuries but no deaths. Unfortunately, your injury will be the most serious one and the only long lasting one. You'll hit your head and suffer permanent brain injury. You will become a vegetable, unable to communicate or move. Of course, this will be devastating to your family and remaining friends."

The professor once again started the video and let the three watch it. After it ended he said, "I can offer you each an alternative to the future you face. This is the first time I have been privileged to harvest three students from my class at one time. It was an effort to get you three all into the same class as you might imagine. I was pleasantly surprised to find you worked well together and were so successful on your term paper.

"Now, I'll answer what questions I can and leave you with some time to make your choice. I am sorry but you will find you cannot divulge any of this to anyone. We have placed a strong mental block on each of you. I'm sure you each think you will just avoid the location I have shown you and thus avoid your fate. I assure you this is impossible. We have researched possibilities countless times and you cannot indefinitely avoid your demise. Yes, you may avoid the one I have documented but within a very short time fate will intervene and you will face death or, in your case Mr. Johns, possibly a fate worse than death.

"You, Miss Breckenridge, may avoid the rape or not, I really can't say, but I can say you will not avoid the death. You will each meet your fate before classes start next semester either at the time and place I have shown you or another one having similar circumstances. I'm afraid time is very strict when it comes to things like a person's death. It is true as written, that we only have a certain, limited, pre-ordained time on this Earth.

"I can offer you an alternative of sorts, however. I may look like an Earth human but I am not. I am from an alternate universe with an alternate Earth where evolution occurred similarly to this Earth. Fortunately, our evolution and history was not as violent as was yours.

We see much on your Earth to admire. Your advancement was much faster than was ours. We believe the advancement was a direct result of all your wars and religious beliefs. Perhaps that is why you are so violent. We never developed the religions you did so had no religious strife, no killing in the name of God, or Allah, or any of the other deities your population worships. Your world is headed for total destruction much as your bible predicts. The prediction is; "There will be wars and rumors of war. The Earth will quake." The prediction of total destruction by fire will occur in the not too distant future. The fire will be nuclear. The wholesale release of nuclear bombs will reach the core of the Earth and volcanoes will complete the destruction of the human race. A very small number may survive but even if they do your civilization will be wrecked and your race will have to rise from the ashes. To my knowledge no race has ever done that if they suffered the devastation the Earth will face.

I and some colleagues have spent the last fifty years harvesting promising young people from this Earth. We will place you, or them, on an alternate Earth to preserve your genetic heritage and hopefully some of your culture. We hope you are now mature enough to build a more peaceful civilization on an Earth where the very few indigenous people are stagnant in their development. We think you will be able to interact and interbreed with these people. We hope you will build a new civilization without reverting to the violence rampant on this Earth.

We select very few young people in any year. Frankly, most of the people we might be able to collect don't meet our criteria and we allow them to die as fate has decreed. We want non-violent, well rounded, mentally stable, and intelligent individuals. That is not to say we reject those who are willing to fight if necessary to protect themselves or others, rather we have researched and selected those who are not personally aggressive and who have no predilection for arrogance and bullying. We hope those we select will prevent their offspring from developing those traits also.

"If you should agree to allow us to move you we will place a clone of you in the proper place at the moment of your demise so your families can have whatever closure they can get. Your current body will be transported aboard our ship pending resettlement on your new world."

The three young people sat in shocked silence for several seconds while the professor watched them. Finally, Simon shook himself and spoke. He said, "Then the rumors are true. Several of your students HAVE disappeared in the last several years. But how can we be sure what you have shown and told us is true. It could be some elaborate hoax."

"Yes, the rumors are true, but I am afraid in the last five years I have only taken four students for the new colony. There have been seven students that were in my classes who disappeared counting those four. All of them were fated to die or disappear and I can show you the records of their demise or, in one female's case, disappearance. If you had their names you could even look up the records yourself. The three I did not take did not meet our selection criteria for some reason. Usually, the failure was because of poor performance in this, the final selection class. If you should choose to take our offer you will be placed on the same planet as the earlier selectees. You will all be placed on the planet within a week of each other but well separated by distance. You will all be held in our ship in suspended animation pending us obtaining a full load or the end of your world, whichever comes first."

"You three were guided to this penultimate class by your advisors and because of suggestions made by professors in two of your other classes. You first had to be passed by your psychology and/or sociology professors and by your professor in government/political science. We used your performance in the psychology class to determine your suitability psychologically. The government class was used mostly to instill and assess your tendencies to minimalist government with strong human rights leanings. Perhaps you noticed your government professor stressing minimalist, ethical government and unrestrictive laws. In each of those classes you were assessed on your willingness to follow and implement laws and regulations for the betterment of all and your cooperative attitude. You had many discussions on legislation that did not protect one from oneself."

Paula was crying silently as the professor spoke. Unconsciously, Simon slid closer to her on the couch and put his arm around her. He pulled her to him and gave her a gentle kiss on her head. The professor smiled and said, "If you choose to take our offer you will be, or perhaps I should say you can be, placed as a couple."

The three sat for a moment longer then the professor said, "I know this is a lot to take in. Why don't you go on home now and think about this while you enjoy your families? All you have to do is send me an e-mail before your demise if you wish to accept our offer. You all still have my e-mail address don't you? I must stress the importance of sending that e-mail. We will not rescue you if you do not send it. You will still die, but that will be the end for each of you."

The three shocked young people all replied in the affirmative to the professor's question. Simon looked at his two friends and then the professor before asking, "Why can't we just let things happen as you predict and have you 'harvest' us, as you call it, then give you our answer? That way we will know for sure what you predicted will actually happen."

"That would be a nice deal for you but very expensive for us. Our resources are not unlimited. It takes much work and is very expensive to make clones, extract each of you at the instant just before your death, or in your case Mr. Johns at the instant before your injury and replace you with a clone. If we did that and you then declined our offer we would have a dead you and a live you and a nearly uncorrectable paradox. That would, in effect, force you to accept our offer because we could not put you back on this Earth because a paradox would develop. No, I'm afraid your decision is not subject to change and must be made within the next week. I will not tell you when your deaths occur, but they will be at least two weeks from today. We need the decision at least one week before your accident in order to get things set up. Now, if you will excuse me?"