Team QueSt: The Next Generation

Star QueSt Part 1

	"...And as the Earth's supply of fossil fuels dwindles, the demand
for alternative energy sources continues to grow at an alarming rate. 
Many experiments with cold fusion by scientists around the world have
led..." 
	Benton switched off the holographic televiewer. 
	"...And this is what I wanted to talk to you about." Benton said
to Jessie. 
	"My inside sources told me a number of years ago what the status
of things were then, and what they would be now.  Governments are trying
to harness the power of cold fusion to further the grip they have on
society, mainly as a device to get closer to a global system.  Many
private companies have been trying to beat the government efforts in this,
so that our future freedom will have a fighting chance." 
	"Dr. Quest, I understand what you are saying, but what--" 
	"We harnessed the power of cold fusion five years ago." 
	"WHAT?!?" 
	"I received the aforementioned knowledge just a few months after
we returned from the underground compound all those years ago.  Since
then, I started to covertly move our best people into the compound to
start to research cold fusion at a much faster and more in-depth way.  No
one knows this except for the people involved, myself, and now you." 
	Jessie was in shock. 
	"So now what?" 
	"Project CF is nearly complete.  I need you, Jonny, Hadji, Miana,
and Bobby to go to the compound.  You need to finish things up, and then
start Project Star Quest." 
	Jessie knitted her eyebrows. 
	"Star Quest?" 
	"Even with the vast assets of Quest Enterprises, the enormous
amount of capital required by Star Quest is a lot more than QE alone can
afford.  QE has formed a consortium with a number of other provate
corporations to take cold fusion into space for use as an energy source
for colonies first on the moon, and then on Mars.  Pressurized cities,
both underground and aboveground in domes, would be erected.  Solar energy
is not a viable option, especially on the dark side of the moon.  Cold
fusion makes these colonies possible.  You will need to pull all the other
companies together, and start the building of the Moon colony." 
	"Dr. Quest, how?  Every government in the world will be out to
stop us.  How could we pull it off?  It would have to be done behind
everyone's back, which is impossible." 
	"No, it's not.  We have help." 
	With that, Benton pulled out the Anasazi beacon. 
	Jessie smiled from ear to ear. 
	"Ah!  Let me guess: cloaking technology?" 
	"Exactly!" 

******************************************************************************

	The Dragonfly set down safely in the underground airstrip. 
Everyone was amazed at the amount of activity that was happening in the
underground city. 
	"My God, this is incredible!" said Miana.  "This place is so
active-- the last time we were here, we were fugitives hiding from the
government and society.  Now we are here to try to beat the system, and
possibly save society's future." 
	"The last time we were here, we only saw part of the complex." 
observed Jessie.  "Let's take the monorail and tour the entire city." 
	The family did just that, and were shocked to find that the
complex had actually grown, and quite considerably, since their last
visit. 
	"Jess, exactly how will this consortium work?" asked Jonny. 
	"I will contact the representatives of all the involved
corporations.  Each company will send representatives and workers who will
come here permanantly.  They will bring with them the proceeds from assets
they have liquidated, and combine them with QE's assets.  Once everyone is
here and the pot is full, we will see how far we can get with what we
have.  We will make our beginning with approximately seventy percent of
our capital, and invest the remaining thirty percent so it can grow and
continue to finance our venture.  There are approximately twenty
corporations involved so far, and hopefully, more will come in down the
road.  When we are ready to begin, our best of our best will work with the
Anasazi to move supplies to the moon, and the colony will be erected
behind an Anasazi cloaking shield.  Depending on financing, we will move
on to Mars.  With the help of the Anasazi, this can be achieved quickly
and easily." 
	"You say the reps will be here permanently?" asked Miana. 
	"All of these people are.  They have been dropping from society
slowly and quietly.  They can never return because if they do, it risks
everything we have worked for." 
	"What about us?" asked Hadji. 
	"We are the exceptions.  We are the only contact with the outside
world that this project has.  When everything is said and done, we will
have our choice of where to go.  We could stay in society, live here, or
move to the moon or Mars.  The families of the companies involved will be
given first chance to move to the colonies, then word will be slowly and
carefully spread to the public, so those who take their futures seriously
will have a chance to make new lives for themselves, free from any
totalitarian government control."
	"What exactly is cold fusion?" asked Jonny.  "Physics has never
been my strong suit." 
	"According to Edgene F. Mallove and Jed Rothwell, '"Cold fusion" 
is a real but still incompletely explained energy-producing phenomenon,
that occurs when ordinary hydrogen and the special ofrm of hydrogen called
deuterium are brought together with metals, such as palladium, titanium,
and nickel. Usually, some triggering mechanism, such as electricity or
acoustic energy, is required to provoke the "cold fusion" effects. Both
ordinary hydrogen and deuterim are abundant in ordinary water --- whether
fresh water, ocean water, ice, or snow --- so the process will likely end
many of the world's energy concerns, if it can be developed
commercially.'" 
	"Oh," said Jonny.  "Sounds simple enough." 
	
****************************************************************************

	Many months passed, and Jessie was amazing everyone with her
corporate leadership skills.  Science had always been her field, but with
all the reps and workers from the consortium all present and working in
the complex (under the supervision of the rest of the QueSt team), all the
scientific duties were covered.  Everyday she traversed the vast tunnels
of the complex, going from lab to lab, wishing she were involved more in
the research and less in the business aspect of this venture.  All the
figures were in-- the budget was set and things were looking good. 
	Roughly half of the smaller companies merged with QE entirely, and
the rest had a deep commitment with the project that would be their sole
endeavour for many years to come-- that is unless the project collapsed,
then they, along with QE, would go down with it.  Quest Enterprises still
had the normal workload as well, but like this project, was handled by
other people. 
	Miana saw Jessie staring out her office window from the main
square, and decided to go up.  Miana was admitted, and she walked straight
into Jessie's office, totally unnoticed. 
	"Jessie?" 
 	 "Mm?  Oh, hi, Mi." said Jessie as she spun around suddenly.  "I didn't
hear you come in.  You on break?" 
	"Yeah... not much really for me to do-- these things are a bit out
of my field.  Hadji's having a ball, though." 
	"I bet.  He's more versatile than all of us." 
	"Jessie, something's bothering you.  What's wrong?" 
	Jessie shook her head and turned back around. 
	"I feel so useless." 
	"What?" asked Miana in astonishment. 
	Jessie turned back around and regarded her. 
	"Mi, I'm a scientist, not a business woman!  Yes, things are going
well.  In another month, we contact the Anasazi and start the move.  The
business end is almost done, except for the investments, and our
accounting section handles that.  We have so many scientists, and I am not
needed!  I'm bored!" 
	"Jessie, none of this would've been possible without your
leadership!  Dr. Quest is so proud of you, he could burst!" 
	"But I'm not proud of me!  I should be involved, not leading this
thing!  This is more suited to Hadji's talents!" 
	"He would disagree.  He hates business as much as you do!" 
	Jessie started tugging on her blazer. 
	"This is not me!" she screamed, picking up a labcoat she had
hanging in one corner.  "This..." she said, holding the coat up, "is me." 
	Jessie threw the coat on the floor and spun away from Miana
crying. 
	"Jess-- the best is yet to come!  Very few will be going on the
moon-- you will have lots to do then!" 
	"And what about my children?" she cried. 
	Miana's face fell. 
	"You're not going to take them?" 
	"Mi, think about it!  Is a dark, pressurized atmosphere any place
for children?" 
	"Jess, we all have to make--" 
	"Sacrifices, Yes-- but our children, Miana?  Even for our future's
sake-- our children..." 
	Jessie broke down into Miana's arms and both started crying.