Welcome to the Journal of Now and Forever. This Journal is a collection of my Star Control and Star Control 2 fiction. Note: Some of this material is, by necessity, extrapolation from the slim information provided by canon sources.

New fiction is posted first at My Livejournal before it appears here.

The uproar over the religious movement has settled down somewhat by now. I couldn't say as to their numbers, but it can't be that many. There were the official announcements about leaving them alone and so on, and from what I can tell, they're keeping quiet; so maybe we'll all get along somehow.

Do I think it will work? Not especially. But they have the disadvantage of size, so to speak: namely, they probably account for less than one percent of our population, and I doubt anyone in any significant charge belongs to their ranks.

Speaking of "anyone in charge," guess what? It turns out Dina, of all people, was made an advisor to the Consuls! If anyone would be an advisor, it would be her. She could probably be a Consul if she wanted to, but I like to think she chose to help guide the Consuls' choices.

This doesn't mean a whole lot for me, of course, but I can honestly say I'm friends with an advisor now, and that should be good for something. I've changed some of my plans, of course, in light of this new information. I need to stay on Dina's good side, without seeming like a sycophant or like I'm nosing for a favor. I might need a favor later, of course, which is the point. If I don't ask for one now, then later – when I've established that I'm continuing to be friends "just to be friends" – I can ask for something.

What will that be? I don't know yet. But it's always good to keep options open.

Of course, with Dina moved up to advisor status, that pretty much dissolves the Reproductive Research group for the time being. Dina contacted us all individually and said that as soon as we had more to work with, then we'd be pulled back from whatever jobs we were in. "More to work with" probably means "actual Earthling parts," though, so until the spacers get their act together and find some Earthlings, I don't think I'll be moving out of my new job anytime soon.

It's not a bad job, as things go. At least it's indoors, which I much prefer to hard labor. I'll be working in one of the manufactories for a while. Computer parts shortages aren't happening yet, but they want to get started on replacement parts now before things get too bad. I'll be part of the processing team, working on software and converting some of the equipment. It's certainly different from the bio work I did here and on Earth, but it doesn't sound too hard, either.

I'll have to move, though, to South Ridge, and get a new roommate. Aron's new job is pretty far from mine, and we agreed that it didn't make sense to commute; so we've started the roommate search. Sometimes you get lucky and get either a spacer (who's rarely there) or a spacer's roommate who's tired of living alone. The idea of living alone has its appeal – for one thing, I could run the climate as cold as I like without listening to the complaints – but I've also grown comfortable with knowing someone else is there.

Was this why the Consuls, or whoever came before them, said we all had to room together, rather than live apart? So we'd be used to people, rather than locking ourselves away? It's an interesting thought. And it certainly does give one some experience in getting along with another person in close quarters. Let's face it, when the reproductive problem is solved, some of us will have to learn how to get along in such a manner. That day may be far off for now, but it will come, I'm sure of it.

Of course, that brings up a whole host of other questions, such as how people will pair up, but I should really get to packing...

~Personal journal of CRC-16 "Grif" Reproductive Researcher

Comments? Email me: laridian at aol dot com