Catalyst (Breakthrough Book 3)(138)

“Right.”

“Which also means it would have to be on a planet with a climate compatible with their own DNA…”

Clay stared at Borger. “So you’re talking about redundancy.”

“Exactly! If they came all this way, why would they build just one vault?”

Borger continued, faster. “Our planet is covered in tectonic plates which affect everything, including things like volcanos, storms, and tsunamis. You name it. The conditions are constantly changing. So they had to build their vault where it would be safe.”

“But given enough time, nothing is safe,” Clay replied.

“That’s right! Which means you’d need redundancy. Another, in case one was lost. A backup.”

“Or a Plan B.”

Borger smiled at Caesare. “A Plan B.”

“But we’re just theorizing at this point.”

“Not necessarily,” replied Borger. “Think about us humans. We build redundancy into almost everything around us, especially our technology. Even a simple DVD disk arranges data in a way that protects it against damage like scratches. It’s called Reed-Solomon and the code is used in a host of other technologies. Like memory sticks. Or electrical circuits. Even our cars all carry a spare tire. Life is unpredictable, and if we know that, then whoever built that vault did too. And it was supposed to be here for a long time.”

“Okay,” Caesare said. “So the argument then changes from could they have built another to…did they?”

This time, Borger didn’t reply. Instead he turned to the admiral, who in turn looked to Neely. “Commander Lawton?”

With arms folded, she stepped forward. “There’s something else.” She smiled at Alison. “A little more than a week ago, when Ali told me about what had happened at her lab with that young girl, we took blood samples from Dirk and Sally. What we’ve noticed has to do with a number of genetic markers that are common between humans and dolphins when it comes to brain makeup.

“In fact, a paper published a few years ago by a researcher at the Center of Molecular Medicine has identified a commonality among certain large-brained animals called the big brain trio. The similarities strongly suggest a convergent evolution among three very specific animals: dolphins, humans, and gorillas. Similarities in brain size and functionality are more than evident when you image them.

“In other words, a long time ago, something appears to have caused our three brains to evolve in a very similar way. Not exactly the same, but similar.”

“You mean some kind of intervention.” Caesare leaned back again in his chair.

“That’s right,” smiled Neely. “And given the genetic influence of what we found, both in Guyana and now under the water near Trinidad, this substance could very well be the catalyst responsible for our similar brain evolution.”

“Hold on,” interjected Clay. “If what’s in the water really did influence the development of a dolphin’s brain, it doesn’t necessarily mean it affected either gorillas or humans. The other two-thirds of the big brain trio.”

Now DeeAnn stepped forward. “You’re right. It wouldn’t explain why our brains developed very similarly.” She turned to Borger. “Unless…”

“Unless there is a second vault,” Borger added.

Clay and Caesare looked at each other. “And where would that be?”

“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “But if someone came here to build not just one, but two vaults, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t put them next to each other. In fact, I suspect they would put them as far away from one another as possible.” Borger smiled. “Maybe even on another continent.”

“There’s only seven,” said DeeAnn. “And one of them, we already know, is where gorillas and humans originated.”

“Africa!” whispered Alison.

DeeAnn nodded. “Africa.”

The room grew quiet. Finally Langford spoke to Clay. “As you can see, John, it’s not over. Not only do we have a ship to dissect and a bacterium sample to study, but it seems we may also have a second vault to find.”

Secretary Miller spoke up in a deep voice. “Hence the need for a very small and very secret team.”

Caesare looked at Miller. “Who else would know about this team?”

“No one. Just the admiral and I. There would be no official records and no official funding. Whatever you need, we will find a way to provide it. Which shouldn’t be hard given what a mess our current budget is.”

“True,” Langford replied. “Fortunately, the federal budget is designed for hiding things.”