introducing Vena the Polygot and future navigator

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Episodes 63-74: Welcome to Mars Vena!(1940)

Vena’s Graduation year(1944).

“Navigation is my fall back major, since most pilots are males, and they refuse to ask for directions. So I will point and say ‘GO that way.’” Vena, when asked about her majors.

Lowel University Mars.

Vena is sitting in the front row of her stellar navigation class, trying to not answer the questions, to make herself not a pariah, also to give other students a chance to answer the questions, that she already knows the answers to.

Vena carefully listens to the instructor and takes notes.

The Professor walks to the front of the room after grabbing an item off his desk. 

“These antiques here? Does anyone know what they are?”

“Sir do you think you should be bringing in your sex toys.”Some clown says from the back row. Vena knows who it is but refuses to look back, for she may crack up.

“Shut up Steve, Or you will be removed from the class.”

“Sorry Sir.” Says Steve.

Professor Tyrone Jenson, “Okay guys these are what sailors used to use in the olden days of navigation in the days of sail... and no Steve these aren’t from my childhood.”

“How did you know I was thinking that.”

“You are predictable.” the Professor says.

“I better up my game.” Steve says.

“Going on does any one know what these are.”

Everyone in the class just stares blankly.”This is a sextant, in which he holds up to the class, and this has been very useful for thousands of years on the high seas as well as space travel, it can help you when all those fancy do dads and backups no longer work. And we are going to learn how to use these.”

And then he holds up the other item, “How about this.”

He holds up an object that is mechanical with many gears and dials but is very old.

“Well this is navigational planetary computer, it computes orbits and time as well as other things that you will need to know when you are lost in space. And it is also done just by gears math and simple mechanics, but it is still a computer. And I almost forget this is a octant. All these things will be useful in interplanetary travel as long as you can keep a sun with in your computations.”

The professor spends the next hour describing the basic operation principles of each device, Vena Dutifully takes her notes. The bell soon rings indicating class is over. She gathers up her books. In the last class of the day, Vena heads back to her Dorm room.

“Thena, Thena.” Vena shouts across the hall.

“What what?” Thena responds running towards Vena thinking it is some sort of emergency.

“Where the heck is the meteor impact.”

“Nothing, I just haven't seen you in a while.” Vena says.

“Girl, then why you scream like you were being mugged?”

“Oh sorry about that. But I do need you for something, I need two people to do some navigation homework.”

“Get lost.” says Vena.

“Okay.” Says Thena.

“That is not what I meant, I need to set up an experiment where one of us gets lost and I have to find my way back just using the stars and be able to relay that to some one else getting lost and be able to report to them, to help them find there way back.” Vena explains.

“I can help you with that I think, when do you have to have it in by?” Asks Thena.

“Friday next week.” Says Vena.

“Okay I can do that, Since I got you you want to hang out tomorrow night we can go down to the New burger place that opened up.”

“I will be there.” Says Vena.

“Okay, that will be super keen.” replies Thena.

Vena listens to her stomach rumble a little decides that she is hungry now and heads towards the commons area to grab a bite to eat.

Walking briskly but not quite running she makes her way down the dorm stairs and across the campus to the common area and gets in like to grab a meal. She waits in line, and just grabs a Ceaser salad and a tuna fish sandwich with chocolate milk, “Just like kindergarten.” Vena says out loud to herself while she waits for the line to move along.

She uses her card to donate credits to pay for her food. Turns around and looks for a place to sit.

As she is looking for a table she sees the back of someone's head that she thinks she might know she has this strong feeling she knows this person she just does not know who it is.

She slowly walks around to make a solid identification, also not embarrass herself by calling someone the wrong name.

But she was right she recognizes him right off the bat.

“Professor Newton, My god, My stars in the milky way its been an Eon and a Day since I saw you. I missed yah.”

“Vena, Vena, I’ll be it is you. I knew you were at a University on Mars I just didn’t think it was this one.” Newton says as he stands up.

Vena drops her tray on the table knocking over her drink and running over to Newton to give him one good long hug.

“Careful Vena your going to give me a reputation as a lady killer.” Says Newton jokingly.

“How have you been?”, Asks newton.

“Oh I been great. I love it here, this is my last year also.”

“OH Great, Great, I am surprised you aren’t teaching some of these classes.” Says Newton.

Vena replies, “I can’t afford the pay cut.” 

“How much you make now?” asks Newton.

Vena holds up her right hand and makes a goose egg.

“That is about right.” Newton laughs, “come on have a seat as you can see I am here by myself.

“Speaking of what bring you to these parts of he solar system?” she tries to do a very bad cowboy accent.

“Well I am guests lecturer for this semester doing some talks on tachyon field theory.”

“Dang that is upper level, physics there isn’t it.” Vena asks as they sit down.

“Yes, Yes it is I don’t even understand, and they have me teaching it.”

“No Fibs. You know it.”, Vena giggles.

“So you are going to be here for my graduation?”

“Looks like I will be, isn’t this a pleasant coincidence.” Says Newton as he takes a sip of coffee.

“I am also here to do some recruiting for the U.W.S.S and their new program the O.S.A.”

“I never heard of the O.S.A” Vena states prying Newton for more information.

“The O S A stand for my dear dear girl, Office of space affairs, It is a law enforcement arm of the U.W.S.S. Sort of like peace keepers, Or space police.”

“That is a big place to police, So what is the U.W.S.S or the O.S.A looking for?”

“I know the U.W.S.S needs some exo-translators as well as the O.S.A. and the O.S.A needs some astro-navigators.”

“I don’t know about the O.S.A but I think I am keen on checking the U.W.S.S translator program.”

“How many languages do you know now fluently?”

“Twelve and a half”, She says smiling.

“Are you sure you aren’t a computer.”

“Not sure at all not sure at all.”, Vena smiles.

“So how is the family doing Vena, been a while since I been back to Venus, perhaps when I get some time off I shall drop in for a visit.”

“Promise you wont break the rocket again?”

“I didn’t break that one Silly girl.”

“You were at the scene of the crime.”

Newton laughs hard.”See what I tell you grilling me like an O.S.A. officer. But my Dear Vena, I do have the means the know-how, and the ability to do those things, We are just missing one element. And that Is I had no motive, or ability to get away from the crime.”

“So all that makes you is a very horrible criminal. Just not good at being bad.” Says Vena.

“So how is the family.”

“Everyone is good Mom and Dad got some more funding for their latest experiment though I have no idea what it is, and Paul is working as an engineer at that space-line now.”

“I would love you to give me the U.W.S.S propaganda for the exo-translator program. But I do have to get some rest I got Classes tomorrow.”

“Me too, Vena, But Vena I am sure glad we ran into each other.”

“You better not miss my graduation or I will Hunt you down.” Says Vena as she gets up returns her tray and walks out the door.

Newton leans back a little and verbally mumbles to himself,”As well you should, as well you should.”