Isotope - Unification

"I'd really like to be closer to a beach," James Xander was saying. "I mean, we're two hours away from the nearest beach. Longer because so many roads have been reclaimed by nature."

"Take a house," said his friend, Sato Yamasoto. "Look, no one is ever coming back for them."

"I know," agreed James. "But didn't it feel weird, just moving into someone's house?"

"Not once we found an empty one. Eventually, they'll all be empty. That's just a matter of time."

"Sun's pretty sure about that?" asked James.

"Yes, we're all sure," Sato said. "Sun compared her findings with the few biologists left around the globe, and they all agree. The isotope will totally disintegrate any dead organic remains left exposed."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"I know. Anyway, if you really want to live near a beach, you should grab a plane and come to California and take a place. Plenty of nice mansions here. Lots of room for kids and their kids. The whole family would love it if you guys lived nearby. And the weather is amazing!"

"Sir, we're receiving a strange transmission," said Communications Tech David Johnston.

"Strange? What do you mean, 'strange'?" asked Commander Jacobs.

"That's unclear, sir. It seems normal, but it's not on any of our frequencies. If I didn't know better, I'd swear it's coming from Earth, sir."

"Earth?! That's impossible!" cried Jacobs. "Let's hear it!"

Johnston put the audio on the loudspeaker.

"... has written some fantastic flight trainer games for the ALS and sent them out. You could learn from that. Plus, those Plasma-jets practically fly themselves."

"Sato, it's not like I don't want to come over there. We both want to live closer to you guys. Plus, Zoey has always loved California, so It wouldn't be a tough sell. But I don't know about flying. I just don't trust my ability to fly myself."

"Who is this? Identify yourself!" said Commander Jacobs.

"Fine, you big baby!" laughed Sato. "Hang on," he said as he ran some quick calculations. "San Francisco to Charlotte is only a 45-minute flight. Jason can zip over there and pick you guys up and bring you out here. You guys could be here in time for dinner!"

"I repeat Identify yourself! Who are you and why are you on this frequency?!"

"... Jason is an excellent pilot. Hell, I can take off and land okay, but you know how he is with those videogames. His flight training is like test-pilot level. If there's any kind of issue in flight, you'll be in good hands."

"WHO IS THIS??!!" yelled Jacobs, wondering why these people are so blatantly ignoring him.

"Sir, I don't think they they're receiving us. I think we're just accidentally overhearing their chatter," offered Johnston.

"Where is it coming from?"

"Well, sir, it's not coming from anywhere here on Mars, and it's not from Yue,"

"You-ay? What's that?"

"Sir, the lunar station was built primarily by China. 'Yue' is Mandarin for 'Moon'. Anyway, the signal isn't from here or 'the Moon,' if you will. That leaves Earth."

"Our youngest just turned one, and we're sick of this bunker. I mean, it's huge, but I want a house house, you know? I'm in. Let me talk to Zoey," said James.

"That can't be from Earth," said Jacobs. "Everybody there died."

Johnston clicked off his receiver. "We don't know that for sure. And we've been more worried about our own survival to go back to look for survivors there."

"I heard there was some kind of radioactivity in that year-long dust cloud," said Jacobs. "Once the dust cleared, it looked like everyone was dead. We didn't detect any surface activity for months, so we stopped looking. Planet looks okay, though."

Johnston asked, "Why aren't we trying to go back?"

"In what?" asked Jacobs. "The ships we came over in weren't designed for a return flight. We disassembled the rockets and we're using them to power the city. We're mining and processing more metals, but we need to build infrastructure here. With the resources we have, we can either use them to build a life here for everyone, or to send just a few back to earth. And for what? No, son. A mission to Earth is as far away as a Mission to Mars used to be."

"What about the survivors there?" asked the young officer.

"They're on their own. They've been on their own for years. They don't sound like they're suffering. Tell you what. You find a way to make contact, and we'll see what happens next."

"Yes sir. I'll get on it."

For the next few weeks, Johnston tried everything he could to contact the people talking to him from earth. But they weren't actually talking to him. They were talking to each other, about the most mundane of things. From what he could tell, it looked like there weren't a lot of survivors, but they were pretty decent shape. And there did not seem to be any shortages of, well, anything.

*****

*****

On Earth, Jason Yamasoto landed the small but luxurious jet in the clearing near the bunker belonging to the Xander family. He shook hands with James and Zoey, and hugged their three children who saw him on their video screens as 'Uncle Jason.' There was no need to pack a lot. Everything they needed was readily available where they were going. Jason deftly handled the luxury jet for the hour-long flight back.

James, Zoey and their children spent the next few nights in the Yamasoto's mansion... there was plenty of room for everyone, including the five children present. The next week, James and Zoey moved into a seven-bedroom mansion that was just across the street from where Sato and Kiri lived. Jason and Sun lived on the other side with their two children. All James and Zoey had to do was dust and clean out the pool.

The days passed in a blur as Jason, James, and their families settled into their new lives. The children quickly made friends, their laughter echoing through the spacious halls of their mansions. The sun-drenched afternoons were filled with poolside games and explorations around their new neighborhood. It wasn't long before the once-foreign surroundings began to feel like home.

These palatial homes, in this location, were something none of the surviving families would have ever been able to afford before the meteor. But their owners had not survived the meteor or the ensuing apocalypse, while the survivors had. They moved into gigantic, ultra-luxurious homes and settled into a new life. Sato and James began urging other survivors around the globe that perhaps it was time for them to start moving closer together.

While some insisted they liked their solitude (there were only a few thousand people left on earth), Sato and James both emphasized the importance of people being there for each other, especially in times of trouble. While the isotope did remove virtually all sickness and aging concerns, loneliness could be just as deadly. Plus, with all survivors quickly having children, it was argued that in addition to love and nurturing, children needed other children. As a result, much of the surviving population made the journey from wherever they were to the Northern California coast. Jason Yamasoto was now the best pilot in the world. Using the plasma-Jet transport planes sitting idly at airports all over the world, and he and his sister Sun ferried survivors back to the growing human enclave. They began to rebuild civilization there, in the California sunshine, surrounded by beauty.

*****

*****

Zoey Zander was in her new office playing with the radio equipment. Five years ago, she had figured out a way to bounce her radio signal off satellites left in orbit around the planet. As a result, all the survivors on Earth were able to communicate with each other. At first, it was thought that there were up to 2,500 people left on the planet. As it turned out, that number was off by a bit. In reality, there were about 5,000 people alive on earth right now.

Much like in the days before Impact with cellular communicators, everyone could see and speak to anyone else on earth with the touch of a button. She had never tried to reach anyone on Mars, or on the Moon, because there was simply no reason to. So, she was quite surprised when she heard an unfamiliar voice saying he was from Mars, and asked her to answer.

"This is David Johnston of the Mars Humanity Initiative, or the MHI. Are you receiving this transmission?"

Zoe ran to grab her father. "Dad, we're receiving a transmission from Mars!"

"Mars?" he said. "How's that possible?"

"I think they're just reaching out. You're the Head of the family! Go talk to 'em!" she said, smirking.

"Fine," he said sighing. He went to the computer. "Hello, this is James Xander. I am receiving your transmission. Who's this?"

Johnston replied, "We accidentally intercepted some radio traffic from Earth. We were not aware that there were any survivors on Earth. Do you know how many there are? Who should we contact for your government?"

Zoe and James looked at each other. James and several other families had already discussed this possibility, that they might be contacted by Mars.

David said, "Are you the only people there? Who are you two? Where are your parents?"

James answered, "Well, to answer your questions, we thought there were as many as 3,000 survivors on earth. As it turns out, as far as we can tell, there's about 5,000 people on earth now, though people are having children, so that number is growing. Survivors are spread out all over the world with just a handful in some countries, not even every country.

"There is no government. The highest level of government there is right now is the family and each family has a head. And the only thing that designation means is that's the person who speaks for the family. Whether it's a family of two or a family of ten. But a formal, official government? That's not what we have today.

"Our parents didn't die in the impact, but the radiation that came after killed almost everyone on earth. This is my sister." At that point their two children wandered into the view of the screen "Mommy who's that?" asked their oldest.

"And who are the little children, your brother and sister?"

Zoe smirked, but James answered, "They are our son and daughter."

Johnston look surprised, and said, "I thought you were brother and sister."

James nodded and said, "We are. You're going to find that this is the situation for most of the families here on earth."

"Wait... are you saying that incest is common there as well?"

James was expecting a negative response because of the incest, and had his retort already loaded. He shrugged at the man and said, "First of all, there are no laws, so there's no such thing as 'illegal' here on earth. Secondly, this,... wait, did you say, 'as well?' What did you mean by that?"

The young man looked over at someone nervously. "You need to talk to our Commander. Can you hold on for a minute?"

James and Zoey nodded, and David Johnston walked away from the screen.

"Sweetie, can you get Sato and Sun to come over for this call?" James asked his daughter. Just a few minutes later, Sun and Jason Yamasoto walked into the room. A minute later, Sato Yamasoto, her father, walked in as well with her sister, Kiri.

"Hey, what's up?" asked Sato.

"We're on the line with Mars," said James.

"Mars?" said Sato. "Well, we always knew that if they made it there, sooner or later, we'd hear from them one day. What are they saying?"

"Nothing yet," said James. "We're on hold."

Sun laughed and said, "You're talking to another planet, and they put you on hold? How rude!"

They all laughed. "I know, right?" remarked Zoey. "While we wait, let's get comfortable in the living room. They all went into the more comfortable room and relaxed on the sofas and chairs. Jason switched on the large video screen and camera, and they waited.

Sato asked, "Do they know about our secret?"

"No," answered James. "I said Zoey was my sister."

"Good plan. It's going to come out, but I'd rather we control that knowledge that we have a fountain of youth," said Sato.

A man came onto the screen. "Hello, I'm Devon Jacobs, Commander of the Mars Humanity Initiative. We're not a military organization, but you'll remember it was the Space Force that put this together. Anyway, we didn't know anyone survived on Earth. We were very surprised to catch your transmission. Mr. Johnston said that you seem to have an incestuous society as well. Can you tell us about that?"

James answered, "There it is again... 'As well.' What's going on up there?"

Jacob said softly to someone off the screen, "Go get Emmett and bring him here. He needs to be in on this call." He looked at the camera. "When Dr. Baker gets here, he'll tell you everything. In the meantime, how about this: You tell us what's been going on back on Earth, and we'll tell you what's happening on Mars. Fair enough?"

James and Sato looked at each other and nodded "This," he motioned between himself and Zoe, "was inevitable. We were trapped in a bunker for years, not even sure if there was anyone else on earth. Of course this would happen. It would have also happened to you. Our children, all three of them, are perfectly healthy. Sato and his family are the same." Sato and Sun both smiled shyly into the cameras. "And once again, you will find this to be the case with virtually all the families here on Earth."

"How are you surviving?" asked Johnston. "What are you doing for food? Fresh water?"

"Our bunkers and habitats were built with the same technology they sent with you out into space. We have the same Fusion, so energy is unlimited. We have the same hydroponics and food replication as you. Our Table Tops manufacture anything we need. We're on earth and the water is fine and plentiful. We have everything we need."

"Was there a lot of damage?" asked Devon.

"Hi, I'm Jason Yamasoto. I've flown over a lot of cities in California, Washington, and Oregon, just sightseeing. Most of the cities are intact. Some outlying areas are being reclaimed by nature, but overall, the planet just looks empty."

Emmet Baker spoke up. "I'm Emmett Baker, Head of Medicine here. We also heard there was some kind of radiation in that dust cloud. Was there?"

Sun said, "Hi, I'm Sun. There was a previously unknown isotope in the dust, presumably from the meteor. That's what killed almost everyone on the planet. A tiny number of us have immunity, and that immunity has been passed on to our children. Everyone who died, died within three weeks of exposure, whether they were protected in a bunker or not."

James continued, "The immunity seems to be genetic, because only family members survived together. Sooner or later, this... incest, was going to happen."

Dr. Baker asked, "Where are your parents? Did everyone over the age of 30 die?"

The six adults looked at each other, as if trying to make a decision. They passed several significant looks between themselves. Both Emmett and Devon could tell there was a silent debate going on about what to tell them.

Devon said, "Look, we don't mean any of you any ill intent. We're happy that at least some people are still alive on earth. We're a million miles away, and the rockets we came here with were disassembled and repurposed to power our city. At this point, we barely have flight. Whatever you're protecting, we have no desire or ability to come for it. We mean you no threat."

They all nodded. Sun said, "Okay, we lied. James said we're all brothers and sisters, and we're not. Well, Jason is my brother," she said. "But these guys," she indicated to Sato and Kiri, and James and Zoey, "they are father and daughter. And he," she said, pointing to Sato, "is my father."

Emmet looked confused and said, "But you all look the same age, maybe twenty or twenty-one. I don't understand."

James answered, "I'm 49 and my daughter is 26. Sato is 51 and Kiri is 28."

Sun said, "Those of us the isotope didn't kill were made stronger, younger, and practically superhuman. Honestly, if sunlight bothered us, I'd say we were vampires. And our incestuous children are precisely perfect. We think they'll age normally to some point, and then their aging will slow down as well. So, we survived, we became better, and we fell in love with our family members, so incest is cool with us. What's new with you?" the six of them laughed nervously.

Devon, Emmett, and everyone in the room seemed flabbergasted. "We did not expect that," said Devon. "Wow! Now we feel like perverts," he added.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Sun.

"No need," said Dr. Baker. "It's the same Isotope." He looked at someone off screen. "Call Nate and Tyson. Get them on this call now!" he ordered. To the people on Earth he said, "There's someone else who needs to be here. Then we'll tell you everything, okay?"

Jason nodded. They all murmured softly between themselves. The sense of worry seemed to have disappeared. A few minutes later, two other men appeared on the screen.

Devon said, "Gentlemen, you are speaking with people on earth." They both looked surprised. "Tyson, please tell our new friends about Tyson's Scratch."

Sun, always with a quick wit, said, "Hey, this sounds personal! We don't need to hear about your scratch!"

Her joke broke the tension of the call.

Tyson, still smiling, explained, "Our readings showed a huge deposit of iron ore, and we wanted that raw material to build our city, so we went to investigate. On the way, we came across a long gouge in the planet's surface that I identified as a 'scratch' from a meteor glancing off the surface."

"So the meteor landed there, too?"

"No, it looks like it bounced off and went back into space. But there are traces of unidentifiable metals and other elements in the scratch."

Sun looked at her father excitedly. "Has anyone died?" she asked.

"No, not yet," answered Dr. Baker. "And we found this half a year ago. Well, half a Martian year."

"Is everyone healthy?"

Dr. Baker looked at Devon, then answered. "I'm the head of Medicine, and other than delivering babies, I have nothing to do. These are the healthiest people I've ever seen. It's never occurred to me that it might have anything to do with that meteor."

Jason asked, "So what about the incest you were talking about?"

Emmet said, "Devon, you're closer to this than me, why don't you answer that?"

Devon rolled his eyes as if to say, Really?! But he answered, "Well, it looks like something has reprogrammed us to where for one, we're primarily sexually attracted to family members, and two, apparently, you can only conceive from an incestuous mating. A lot of people are having sex with non-family members, and not one pregnancy has taken place. But any kind of family paring creates life. Quickly. My daughter was first."

James said, "Your daughter? Like us?"

"Exactly. My daughter and I are a couple, we are far from the only couple like this, and we have a child together."

Dr. Baker said, "Let me clarify. It seems that, if you were here on Mars with your daughter, the two of you would experience GSA. Irresistible GSA. But if there are no family members present, you would happily get together with anyone else. You just can't get her pregnant."

"Wow," said Sun. She added, "It sounds like you were affected by an isotope that has made you healthier and incestuous. The same one as we were, but ours was at much higher levels. We also thought that if you came to Earth, the isotope would kill you within three weeks. But since you've already been exposed, maybe coming here wouldn't kill you. I need to do more research. We need to improve this communication system so we can share files!"

*****

*****

Having been assigned the gargantuan task of developing a breathable atmosphere planet-wide, terraforming chief Nate Bollinger worked very closely with Environmental Sciences head, Dr. Karen Mitchell. They'd been working on the problem night and day for the past month, oftentimes ending well after Martian dark.

Karen, being single, didn't mind working long hours. She was in no hurry to go back home to her empty bunker. Plus, she enjoyed working alongside Nate. His background was in geology, she'd learned, so his life had been spent working outside handling heavy machinery and doing physical yet scientific work. He was a heady mix of brainy and brawny, and he really ticked all her boxes. Sadly, he was married, and his wife was on-planet. They even had kids together. Twins. Twins who had one child together, and another on the way, apparently. She was still not a fan of the incestuous nature of Terra Martan society. At the same time, she stubbornly refused to admit to herself that what she liked about Nate was how much he reminded her of her own father. But her dad wasn't here, and Nate was married. So Karen focused on her work.

Meanwhile, Nate's home life was changing. His son and daughter, twins, had a child together. And from the looks of it, she had one more on the way soon. They were waiting for a bunker of their own to become available. Nate's wife Tanya initially hated the idea of her son and daughter being incestuous. But after she accepted the reality of life on Mars, and the fact that the grandchild was already here, she accepted it and has become a loving grandmother. She felt, however, that she was too young to just stay home and bake cookies. She reasoned that if her children were out living their own lives, and husband was going to be a workaholic and work late hours, admittedly on problems that affected everyone on Mars, she couldn't just stay home. So Tanya Bollinger decided to go out and find something to do.

It had been a long, grueling, yet ultimately productive day. Nate and Karen had met with the Advanced Systems Designs group on their problem. Nate initially had an idea of using a nuclear device to flash heat the water turning it instantly into vapor. That idea was soundly rejected by both Karen and the Advanced Systems guy, Roland. Instead, Advanced Systems came up with a better idea: repurpose some of the fusion energy they had at their disposal to create fusion furnaces. That would heat the rock that surrounds the water up to a thousand degrees Celsius, instantly flash boiling the water and turning it into steam, with none of the residual downsides of using a nuclear device. The small working model they created during their brainstorming session worked flawlessly. A larger, more full size prototype was expected in the next two weeks.

Nate walked into his bunker. "Anybody home? Tanya? Jenna?" He knew his son Chase was still at work. Jenna was probably out with her new baby group. So where was Tonja? There was nothing that Nate hated more than coming home from a day's work to make his own dinner. And that seemed to be happening more and more lately. He didn't feel like being alone. He made a couple of calls, but no one was available. Finally, he called Karen to see if she wanted to meet in the UC for dinner, and maybe they could work on their project. She sounded happy to hear from him.

The Underground Complex had recently completed an expansion that included more leisure and entertainment venues. Some of the newly acquired steel went into building a large, well-equipped gym. Nate was particularly proud because the entire structure was the work of his team. It made him smile to see how important the UC had become to the daily lives of the Terra Martans.

The new corridor held two new restaurants, one with Mexican food and an Asian Fusion shoppe. All the fruits and vegetables were real and authentic, grown hydroponically on Mars. There were, however, no cows, pigs, or chickens. Yet the plant-based meats they served in the UC looked and tasted indistinguishable from the real thing. Even cuts of meat that, back on Earth, were quite pricey, tasted superb. The look, the texture, and most importantly the taste, were all absolutely perfect. The food on Mars was so good that it had become a habit for Terra Martans to bow their heads and say, "Thank you Dr. Kaiser" before eating. Dr. Emma Kaiser, head of the Hydroponics labs that grew all the food they consumed, was without question, a genius.

As the UC began to fill up for the evening, the hustle and bustle of the newly opened corridor brought a lively atmosphere. Families and couples strolled down the passage, the enticing aromas of sizzling Mexican dishes and fragrant Asian Fusion meals wafting through the air. It wasn't just the freshness of the hydroponically grown produce that captivated the senses, but the skillful preparation and presentation of each dish. Terra Martans relished the culinary excellence that their home on Mars offered, and every meal was a tribute to the ingenuity and dedication of Dr. Emma Kaiser.

After dinner, Nate and Karen decided to take a leisurely walk around the UC. Many people knew Nate and Karen were working on a huge project together. As they meandered through the corridors, they discussed ideas for their project, the conversation flowing effortlessly between professional matters and personal thoughts. Somehow, they ended up at the underground entrance to Karen's bunker.

"I realize that it's cliché as hell, but would you like to come in?" asked Dr. Mitchell. She looked him square in the eyes, the invitation real and urgent.

Nate was no fool. He knew exactly what was being offered. And he was receptive... She was a tall, beautiful brunette, and her lightly olive skin whispered her Mediterranean heritage. But she wasn't just gorgeous... she was driven, very capable and blisteringly intelligent. She was everything he never even knew he wanted in a woman.

"Besides," she continued, "we have a planet to populate."

Nate chuckled and answered, "You know we wouldn't be able to help towards that effort."

"Yes but," she answered, her eyes twinkling "they're going to figure that problem out sooner or later. Until then, a girl's got to stay in practice." she said.

Sensing his hesitation, and wanting this more than he did, she added, "No strings." She took his hand and led him inside.

As soon as the airlock door closed, she pulled him into her in a kiss. When their lips met for the first time, they both felt like they were destined to be together. Karen hadn't had sex since she'd been on Mars. Nate hadn't been with another woman since he'd met Tanya. They were both nervous.

Nate, ever the patient and considerate lover, took his time, savoring his first taste of 'strange'. He knew damn well that guilt would consume him tomorrow. But tonight, he devoured Karen, his mouth and tongue tasting every inch of her smooth, tan body. His mouth between her legs elicited a delightful symphony of moans, whimpers, and deeply felt orgasms.

As he slid inside her for the first time, he was surprised by how tight she was, and thrilled by how energetically she moved underneath him, how she was so very much there for all of it. He couldn't help comparing this woman to the wife he'd been with for 20 years and found Karen better in every way. And that knowledge only added to the guilt he would carry in the morning.

Karen was indeed getting the fucking of her life. As she writhed sensuously under this big, brawny, rock-loving man, she realized this was what she had been looking for her whole life, and she knew that somehow, she would have this again. She lost the ability to think coherently, only able to squeeze her arms and legs around him as tightly as possible as she rode out the orgasm that this luscious dick was giving her.

*****

*****

In their beautiful new home, James walked into the bedroom after putting his two youngest children to bed. They were 1 and 3 years old, but they both looked and acted older, as if they were three and five years old. Their oldest, at four, looked and behaved older as well. She presented as a seven- or eight-year-old. Their children were simply amazing. Unusually bright, thirsty for knowledge, and voracious learners. And while they seemed to be aging faster than normal, their minds were keeping step developmentally. They were the very opposite of what children of incest were supposed to be.

Reports from people around the world mirrored their experience. Seven years ago a meteor hit the Earth and ended almost all human life. Survivors were rare, and usually in family groups. Sun Yamasoto, a young American scientist, discovered that what made an individual immune to effects of the radiation was a specific and rare DNA sequence that was passed genetically. Sisters and brothers shared it. Fathers passed it down to their children, as did mothers. But never both, unless they both had it. In one family in France, the entire family survived... Mother, father, and all three children. They insisted that Sun's findings were flawed. Sun defended her findings until the couple admitted that they were siblings. With the prevalence in intra-family relationships since the Impact, no one batted an eye. Since survivors were in family groups, and at first, no one was aware of any other survivors, people turned to each other for comfort, and that turned into incest. Now, every child born was the product of an incestuous union. And those children were essentially 'Superbabies.'

James pulled off his clothes, pulled back the covers and got into bed, snuggling next to his equally naked daughter. She welcomed him into her arms as he kissed her. Their tongues danced together for several luxurious minutes before his lips started their descent down her curves, to the delicious treat between her well-toned thighs. James licked her all over as he took his time heading down. Zoey's body was tight, flawless, and smooth, not an ounce of fat out of place. She'd given her father three children so far and there was not even a hint of a stretch mark. In fact, she looked all of 18 years old even though she was 21 when the meteor hit.

His tongue unerringly found the honey-drenched delight between her legs. He began the oral assault on her womanhood that she knew and loved so well, sucking and teasing her clit as his fingers delved into her pussy and ass, sliding and wriggling inside her. Her hands held his head in place as she thrashed against his oral onslaught of her delighted sex. He knew exactly what to do to make her cum, and cum hard. This was no exception as his fingers and mouth worked her overheated pussy into a lather, her creamy sauce pouring freely into his sucking maw. Zoey suddenly seized up, paralyzed by her powerful orgasm as waves of pleasure washed through her body.

She knew what came next and she desperately wanted it, pulling him up to her by his head. James wasted no time kissing his way back up her nubile body. He quickly lined his cock up to her sweet wet hole and slowly slid all the way inside her. She was just as tight, as nearly virginal as the very first time they fucked, and he delighted in how amazing their sex life remained. Over the years, their lust, their desire to fuck each other into oblivion had not abated one iota. Zoey Xander's lithe form undulated under her father vigorously, legs spread wide pulling him in as deep as she could get him, legs locked around his back keeping him in his place. They moved together as one delicious sexual being. She pulled his head down to her and took his mouth, her tongue invading it, sucking his taste. They moaned together, already approaching their peak. Five years, three children, almost daily sex, and they were still as in love and in lust as that first time she gave herself to him. James grabbed his daughter's hands and held them over her head, pinning her to the bed as he hammered her cunt mercilessly, chasing his cum, wanting to impregnate her sweet sexy ass once again. With a roar, Zoey came first, her strong young vaginal muscles squeezing and milking his cock, dragging the cum right out of James... his orgasm exploded into her and he poured his seed deep inside his daughter once again. They squeezed each other tightly, clinging to one another as they rode their bliss together.

As they lay there catching their breath, she said, panting, "God, Daddy. How is it still so good?"

He pulled closer to him, embracing her softness against him. He was panting as he answered, "Experience does say that at this point, at a half a decade in," he took a few breaths, "with three kids, we should indeed start to cool off a bit. But Zoey," a couple more deep breaths, "I still desire you and still want you every bit as much as I did that first time. And I still love you more than life itself."

She kissed him deeply and asked, "How did we get so lucky?"

"I have a theory," he said.

"Uh-oh," she joked. "This'll be good," she said, sitting up against her pillow. He moved to the side so he could lay in the bed with his head on her lap. In this position he could readily smell the lingering scent of their lovemaking.

"This'll sound crazy, but," he began. "We're not still on earth like you think."

"We're not here? You certainly feel like you're here," she said, stroking his face.

"I don't think we survived the asteroid. I think we died and this is heaven,' he declared. "That's the only thing that makes sense, why this existence is so utterly perfect."

"So I'm an angel?"

"Well, I've said that for years, but yes. And not just an angel, but my angel."

Zoey thought about that for a moment and said, "So if we died and went to heaven, then we're not going to die again?"

"That's right. That's why we regressed in age and then stopped. In a hundred years, it'll be just like this."

"If you're right, Daddy, I'm happy to spend eternity like this. Because if this isn't heaven, it's certainly an acceptable substitute," she said, laughing. "I love how you have these crazy ideas!"

"We'll see in a couple of hundred years when neither us nor our children have aged a day!" he laughed.

*****

*****

"Let's get started," said Devon Jacobs. "What's new in Hydroponics?"

Emma Kaiser responded, "We understand that the new versions of common foods, or recipes, if you will, have been really well received. All credit is due to my team."

"Dr. Kaiser, did you know that a lot of folks, myself included, say a touch of Grace before eating? It's simply, 'Thank you, Dr. Kaiser'?"

Dr. Kaiser blushed deeply as if all she wanted to do was disappear. "Please," she said, "don't do that."

Anthony Glass, IT chief, said, "Dr. K, you're simply a genius. This food on Mars has been some of the best food I've ever had!"

"Hear! Hear!" and loud applause sounded out around the room.

"Thanks again, Dr. Kaiser." Devon added. Looking at his Terraforming head, he asked, "Okay, Nate, Karen, when do we lose these air-suits? "

Several weeks ago, Devin had off-handedly asked Nate if it were possible to create breathable air on Mars. Nate had replied that it was very possible, because Mars had huge deposits of water-based ice under the surface. It was just a matter of being able to heat large enough quantities of that water hot enough to turn the steam that would escape into the atmosphere, freeing the hydrogen and oxygen molecules and creating breathable air. What started off as a casual conversation quickly became a mandate from Devin to Nate to figure out how to make it work. Nate enlisted the aid of Karen, atmospheric sciences, as well as the newly minted Advanced Systems Designs team to figure out a way to do it. Advanced Systems had given him a working prototype of a fusion furnace which was about to talk about now.

Nate cleared his throat and said, "How long indeed. The thing is sir, we know it will work, but we just don't know how well it will work. The furnaces will heat the rock basins that hold the ice, vaporizing it and releasing the vapor into the air to create an oxygen-based breathable atmosphere. There are a lot of variables out there. We know there's a lot of ice, and we have done the best we can to anticipate that volume. But if there's a lot more ice, our efforts may be ineffective, much like pissing in the ocean. On the other hand, if there's a lot less ice, our method will work, but it won't do enough to create an atmosphere. Frankly, we won't really know until we get started trying.

"Logistics has built a jet for us to transport personnel and materials up to the site so we can start putting the plasma furnaces in place and flip the switch. We probably won't have any definitive results for a week or two after that. So I'm afraid we will be wearing these air-suits a bit longer."

"Thanks, Nate. We are all counting on your teams but most importantly, we all know you can do it. Okay, and here's some really good news. Dr. Baker?"

Dr. Emmett Baker leaned forward to the table and said, "We've made contact with Earth." He paused to allow the excited chatter to die down before he continued.

"The loss of life was extreme, and there are only about five thousand survivors there. But they are healthier than you'd ever believe. The meteor that created our Tyson's Scratch was apparently a fragment of the larger asteroid that hit Earth directly. The radiation from that event is what killed almost all human life on earth. The survivors there are apparently immune to the effects. That radiation also reversed their aging and has made them, younger, stronger, and better. It seems that our fragment brought Mars the same effects, just at a lower level. It has slowed our aging, enhanced our fitness levels, and made us much healthier. Think about it... when was the last time any of you were sick?"

The room fell into a stunned silence as Dr. Baker paused to let the gravity of his statement sink in. Devon Jacobs was the first to break the silence.

"Dr. Baker, are you suggesting that this radiation could have long-term benefits for us here on Mars? Could it be the key to extending human longevity beyond anything we've ever imagined?"

Dr. Baker nodded, his expression serious. "It's a possibility we cannot ignore. The survivors on Earth have shown remarkable physical improvements. We're already seeing the same effects to a lesser degree."

Devon leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "This could change everything. Our approach to colonization, our future here on Mars... But there must be risks involved. What are the potential downsides?"

"The survivors on Earth have been living in that radiation for six years with no negative effects. We know that high levels will kill, but low levels like we have here seem to sustain and enhance life."

"Understood," Devon said, his mind racing with the implications. "Work closely with Dr. Yamasoto on Earth. I understand Ms. Xander is working on improving our communications and file sharing. Anthony, work with her. Your team seems to be absolute wizard with comm systems."

To the larger room, he said, "People, Earth seems to be in great condition. The asteroid created the radioactive dust storm, but that dust dissipated. There is minimal infrastructure damage, and thanks to the robustness of the systems mankind had built pre-Impact, everything is just waiting for someone to come back and flip the switch. We are going to work together with the brilliant folks on earth to the advancement of humanity on both worlds. This isn't just about survival anymore. It's about thriving in ways we never thought possible."

Dr. Baker took the lead on these experiments, collaborating closely with biologists, chemists, and medical professionals. They meticulously documented every change, every improvement, and every potential risk. Excitement in the colony grew as preliminary results showed enhanced strength, quicker healing, and improved cognitive functions among the volunteers.

With the experiments showing promising outcomes, the colony's morale soared. Devon Jacobs, Dr. Baker, and their dedicated teams knew they were on the brink of a revolutionary breakthrough. They began to outline the next phases of their research, aiming to refine and control the low-level radiation exposure to maximize its benefits safely.

Months turned into years, and the colony on Mars flourished. Powerful fusion furnaces were built that vaporized vast quantities of Martian ice, and slowly, a fully breathable atmosphere took hold and became self-sustaining. The city of Terra Marta grew and communication with Earth became instantaneous. The collaboration between the two planets deepened, with joint projects and shared technological advancements becoming the norm.

The ability of the Isotope to enhance human life was carefully harnessed, transforming the very essence of human existence on both Mars and Earth. Devon's leadership, coupled with Dr. Baker's scientific expertise, propelled humanity into a new era of unprecedented growth and discovery.

***** Two hundred years later *****

Earth, now renamed Terra, and Mars were both thriving. Travel between the two planets was now an everyday occurrence. Populations of both worlds were now in the millions.

Biologists found that the isotope prevented conception without the presence of a specific matching DNA marker in both parents. At first, that matching marker could only be found in family members sharing DNA. That explained the Genetic Sexual Attraction and the biological preference for incest. Once that genetic marker was present in the entire population, conception became universally possible once again. Birth defects, cognitive impairments, physical disabilities, even chronic conditions like cancers and leukemia, all vanished overnight, relegated to something to be read about in history lessons in school. Human life expectancy was approaching two hundred years.

The old taboo against incest never resurfaced, instead being viewed as simply a choice. As a result, it wasn't unusual for individuals or families to indulge their preference for familial relationships. And as had been predicted for hundreds of years, society at large saw no negative effects.

Humanity's leap into the cosmos was heralded not by conquest, but by a shared vision of survival and prosperity. Communities on both Terra and Mars thrived, their bonds strengthened by shared adversity and triumphs. The once-frozen plains of Mars now boasted green, fertile landscapes, while Terra's cities gleamed with advanced technology, seamlessly integrated into daily life.

The transformation was not instantaneous but a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit. The isotope, discovered in the wake of the asteroid impact, became the catalyst for this new age. Its ability to enhance human capabilities and safeguard health revolutionized every facet of life, from medicine to agriculture. As scientists unlocked its secrets, children born with its influence flourished, free from the genetic ailments that had plagued previous generations.

Education and cultural exchange flourished, creating a rich tapestry of knowledge and traditions. The arts, sciences, and humanities reached unprecedented heights, fueled by the extended lifespans and enhanced cognitive abilities afforded by the isotope. Every day, new breakthroughs brought humanity closer to the stars, and the dream of interstellar travel began to take shape. Humanity's mandate of, 'We have a planet to populate,' had been achieved. The new mandate was, 'We have a galaxy to explore.'