Evolution Read Online Free

Rendition should become the most powerful corporation in the universe still baffled him. Which came first, the company that developed Leviathan ’s operating system, or Sam’s connection?
    He thought about Sophie, the captain and operating system of the space yacht Persephone . She was her own Tobe, yet she was also the ship—just as Sam held Rendition in his mind, yet it was also the most powerful company on Earth. Still, maybe the Tobes could’ve given the company another name. The fact that they hadn’t meant something. Everything they did carried multiple messages.
    The familiar fork in the path signaled the beginning of the day for both father and daughters. “Where are you two off to today?” Sam asked.
    Sara nodded toward the far end of the lake. “Mira’s teaching us biology today.”
    He was glad he didn’t need to know about every lesson plan.
    The girls headed off for their day of education, community work, and people who would fill their minds with questions—questions he’d struggle to answer the next day. He took the path that circled around back to Jess for a little parental regrouping.
    The ring trail—a lovely walk that would take him around the small planet in a day— crossed his paths. Sparkling specks of light, reflections from Chariklo’s ice and dust rings, made for a magical journey. He needed to take his girls on another adventure. It’d been too long. But this wasn’t the day for it. He filed the idea away for later.
    The morning light from the array played with the lightweight fabric of Jess’s dress—highlighting her curves—as he turned off the pathway for home.
    “They asked you about Earth again, didn’t they?” She knelt, fiddling with her plants.
    Sam pulled his attention from the sight of her leaning over. The day’s planned activities got in the way of so many impromptu ideas. “How did you guess?”
    “It seems to be all they ask about lately. At some point, they’re going to want to see it.”
    “I know.” He loved everything about the village. Leaving again—even just discussing the possibility—left him anxious. “But why?”
    “Because they’re human beings. Earth is their home. I want them to grow into womanhood out here. But once they’re ready, I want them to understand where we come from.” She took a moment then shook her head. “Doc was wrong about keeping us isolated. I love this village. It’s my family. But it’s an incubator, not a finished destination. Utopias should be accessible to people. It’s a good thing we have visitors from the outpost, but that’s only going to leave the girls wanting more.”
    “So you agree with Jonathan?” he asked.
    She nodded toward the old agro pod, which had been converted into Yoshi’s nursery. “We’re like that building—a place to start something new and to protect it when it’s young and fragile. But once the roots take hold, it’s time for the plant to get out of there so it can add to the garden. These new people are a starting point for that progression.”
    Sam had worried about Jess, worried about having daughters, worried about those daughters becoming sexually aware, and here was something new to worry about. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. That ground’s not very suitable to what we want to grow out there in the wildness of people’s hearts.”
    “We’re helping the girls become strong, independent young women. That’s the best we can do. Ultimately, it’ll be up to them to find the education they need and the lives they want. I just don’t want them to believe this is where they have to end up. The whole solar system is open to them. That’s what you taught me.”

    * * *
    S am’s days on Chariklo took on a lazy-summer-afternoon feel as six months back home stretched to two years. Breakfasts and conversations stimulated his thoughts throughout the day; he took walks with his daughters, who grew more willowy and graceful; he spent hours untangling the vines and