The Alien Spore (standard:science fiction, 4422 words)
Author: Waldo Pepper	Added: Sep 10 2003	Views/Reads: 3467/2392	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Alien plants cause havoc on island research facility.

The Alien Spore 

By Waldo Pepper All comments to ronk@axion.net 

Dr. Heidi Sternam sat at her desk reading a memo she had just relieved
from  her supervisors.  "Due to funding alterations future experiments 
on Alien Life Form 62300 will be immediately terminated," it read.  
"All existing files and specimens must be destroyed." 

"They can't do this to me," she thought crumpling the memo, getting to
her feet, and moving to a large picture window overlooking the ocean. 
"I have worked so hard on this project and we can learn so much more 
from  thee life forms.  Do those imbeciles realize that these plant 
spores have traveled millions of miles trough space. I refuse to be 
bullied by a few pencil pushing accountants whose only concern is 
profit and loss." 

Dr. Sternam returned to her desk. She was an attractive women of thirty
one with thick dark hair and a full figure. She had washed out of the 
female astronaut program with NASA three years ago and now headed the 
"Deep Space Nine Project."  This was a study of plant and animal life 
form from the furthest galaxies by unmanned spacecraft.  They had 
recently found a star with four planets circling around it and one of 
these was not unlike Earth. There unmanned spacecraft had also found 
water, oxygen, and  a strange spore that the robot had collected and 
brought back to Earth. These she had cultivated and small buds now lay 
in her laboratory. 

"Now they want me to play nursemaid to some inspector from he head
office," she thought crumbling the memo and throwing it into the trash. 
"what in God's name is NASA thinking." 

Without any warning Dr. Sternam's intercom came to life and the muffled
voice of her secretary as heard. 

"Dr. Sternam, the cargo ship from Jamaica has just landed with the
supplies and special equipment that you ordered," she said. "there is 
also a female passenger aboard. Are you expecting anyone?" 

"Yes, she is an official from the head office," replied  Sternam. "have
her luggage sent to the technicians quarters and  then inform the young 
lady that I wish to see her." 

About a half hour later a soft knock was heard on Dr. Sternam's door and
when it opened an attractive young woman of twenty two stood in the 
doorway.  She was slim with long blond hair, blue eyes, and flawless 
skin that had darkened somewhat in the tropical sun. She wore a short 
summer dress that showed of her long legs and ample figure. 

"You must be Leslie Simms," said Dr. Sternam getting to her feet and
shaking hands with the young woman. "I just received word that you were 
coming. I trust your trip was pleasant." 

"Yes, thank you Dr. Sternam," she replied. "I have been fascinated for a
long  time  with the work you and your team are doing so I am looking 
forward to seeing it first hand.  Perhaps between the two of us we can 
convince the head office not to terminate this project. 

"Yes, that would be marvelous if we could," replied Sternam. "The study
of alien life form has been my life work and I believe that we still 
have much to learn. I am sure that you will find your stay with us 
fascinating.  I also think that you should reside with one of our 
technicians for in that way you will get a better insight into what 
this project is all about. The girl that I have in mind is Susan Moore 
a senior technician that will help you settle in." 

Dr. Sternam turned on her intercom and paged Susan Moore to her office.
A few minutes later a young woman of perhaps twenty five stood in the 
doorway.  Susan was slightly taller then Leslie with dark shoulder 
length hair, flashing green eyes, and a full figure that filled out the 
blouse and skirt she wore. This statuesque form was supported on two 
long shapely legs that were discretely hidden by a white lab coat. 

"Ah Miss Moore," said Dr. Sternam looking up at the young girl. "I would
like to introduce Leslie Simms, she has just arrived from Jamaica and 


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