Free Music of the Spheres by Valmore Daniels

solar systems would
become a primary consideration once they made contact with the alien culture that
had built the star beacons.
    When the first Quanta mission was announced, there
had been a swell of hope for the future, and as a result there had also been
something of a population explosion as people anticipated interstellar trade,
commerce, and migration.
    That hope had been dashed when Alex returned with the news
that he had not made contact, and that there were no signs of life in Centauri.
The failed attempts to develop the electropathic ability in other pilots, and
the subsequent mothballing of the Quanta projects only served to
decrease worldwide confidence. As markets plunged and country corporations
fell, there was an increase in civil unrest and crime rates around the world.
    In his mind, Michael felt as if he had a responsibility for the
direction in which humankind was going, since he had been involved from the
start. Perhaps some of his discontentment in the past few years was because he
considered the entire affair unfinished business.
    He wanted to help Alex, there was no doubt of that; but at
the same time he felt reinvigorated now that he had renewed his purpose.
    “I’ve been thinking,” Calbert said as he swerved to avoid
hitting a courier drone. “With our current expansion, we’re going to be
recruiting more technicians and researchers. They’re going to need someone
grounded in science in an administrative capacity.”
    “Oh?” Michael’s interest was piqued.
    “Maybe when you get back you might consider taking a
position with the company. I was going to ask you a few months ago, but…”
    A few months ago Michael would have said ‘no’; he had been
too torn with grief over his wife. Melanie had always been supportive of his
career, and he knew she would not have wanted to see him wallow in a
directionless existence. Now, things were different.
    “That sounds perfect,” he said immediately, unable to keep
from grinning like a boy.
    “We’ll work out the details later. Of course, there are a
couple of conditions.”
    Michael nodded. “Shoot.”
    “First, you would have to be able to take orders from me.
It’s a bit of a role-reversal from the last time we worked together.”
    “I have no problem with that,” Michael said, and he meant
it. He had always had complete faith in Calbert, otherwise he would never have
recommended him for his current position as CEO of Quantum Resources, Inc.
“Anything else?”
    “Just one more thing,” Calbert said in a drawl.
    “Yeah?”
    Calbert pointed. “Get rid of the beard.”
    ∞
    They arrived at the Quantum Resources labs without incident,
and went in search of George Markowitz. When they found him, he was sitting
inside an sealed glass tank filled with water. He wore a wetsuit and a complex
mask that looked like something out of a science fiction novel. Inside the
green-tinted lenses, lights flashed as sensors picked up data and transmitted
it to a computer off to the side.
    When he spotted Michael and Calbert, George surfaced and
pulled the mask off.
    “Michael!” he said. “Long time.”
    “It is. I hope we’re not interrupting.”
    “Nah. Just testing a new compound sealant against stress.
Some of the tropical countries are a lot hotter and more humid than others and
sometimes the standard sealant breaks down.” He had a wide smile on his face.
“I’d shake your hand but I don’t want to get you wet.”
    Calbert said, “Actually, if you don’t mind taking a break,
we’d like to talk to you about another project.”
    “Yeah, sure.” George lifted himself out of the tank and
climbed down the step ladder in lively fashion. For a man in his fifties, he
remained in very decent shape. Laugh lines at his temples counterbalanced the
shock of silver running through his dark hair.
    Michael missed George’s boyish enthusiasm for all things
scientific. The man had completely changed from his bitter days at NASA working
under his