Even as the expedition group re-entered the artificial environment inside the large storage units, the initials results of their sampling were already being made known among those who had remained inside. The data was sent back to the labs for analysis and while many showed no useful compounds, some showed potential. One in particular was the subject of great interest. Most notably, the thick sap that had fallen from the tree fronds.

Maribel, though not a scientist herself, was actively involved in categorizing and sorting the samples into categories for further examination, immediate usefulness, no obvious use, or harmful to human life. Sometimes a particular sample fit more than one category such as the first product they had licensed – a compound that induced painful blistering rashes in humans, but which alien races with a different biochemistry found as a pleasant sensory-stimulating additive to foods.

The one topic of considerable interest however, was the sap of the tree fronds. She was waiting excitedly for Rafael when he re-entered the shielded building after the expedition.

"Rafael, the tree sap seems to have some amazing properties. We've only just begun to explore its potential, but already, we think it could be edible by humans, though we still have some work to do to make sure. Not just edible, but a truly complete food source, containing everything the human body requires for growth and survival."

"Really? Everything? So, if it proves out, humans could live on this planet and survive simply by cutting the tip of a leaf to collect and eat the sap? Without the use of food synthesizers or stored reserves?"

"Potentially, yes. Under the canopy, protected from the temperature extremes, and taking care to avoid some of the natural compounds that are hazardous to human beings."

Rafael smiled. "In the Mayan legends, the god Huracan created space for humans to exist in the world by planting a tree which grew between the ground and the sky. The growth of its tree trunks lifted the sky away from the ground creating a space for people to live in. This was the Ceiba tree. The trees here on Ri Ja are literal Ceiba trees, separating the harsher atmosphere and the ground, creating a more comfortable, livable space for us. Now, we find the sap of these trees may be the Maize and Cacao, the food of the gods of this world. I am officially naming theses canopy trees the Ceiba Tree, a gift from the gods that gives life to the people. We are the first people of this world, without the temperate environment inside the canopy, we could not live outdoors here. Now, it may be that we can harvest it's sap to sustain us without paying the licensing fees of the synthesizers, greatly reducing the colony's expenses and potentially making us financially profitable very early in our journey."

Another colonist who had been listening chimed in, "Not only that, but the trees, the Ceiba Trees themselves, depending upon the conditions in which they can survive, could be the key to quickly terraforming marginally survivable worlds, not just for human civilizations, but for other space-faring races as well. These could be incredibly valuable to the colony as a licensed product. Imagine, you can send a drone with germinated saplings or maybe even just seeds, have it plant them with the correct spacing and in ten or twenty years, the planet has a livable biosphere, complete with colony sustaining food source."

Rafael listened intently, giving his full attention to the man as he spoke, "Hector, that is an amazing idea. Perhaps we can even modify the genetics of the trees and get them to act as air filters or oxygen concentrators, exuding oxygen from the underside of the leaf as part of its normal transpiration, perhaps a certain level of water vapor as well."

The young man, Hector, was happy to be recognized by the leader of the colony, a man he had met once during the initial interview process. He was even more excited by the way Rafael leaned into the idea of the trees as terraforming agents. "Yes, it should be possible to make specific adaptations depending upon the conditions in which we want to plant them, and as you suggest, Rafael, depending upon the desired conditions under the canopy."

"Maribel," Rafael turned to her, "Keep Hector's idea and the trees in general out of the licensing queue for now, if another entity performs the specific genetic modifications for different environmental adaptations, then they'd be able to tack on their own royalty requirements for the modified versions. If we do it ourselves before we make the tree's code available, we can keep all the revenues, a base royalty for the tree and a premium for specific modifications." He turned back to Hector, "You seem to have a passion for the Ceiba Trees, Hector. I think you should lead the terraforming development project. Put together a proposal for the resources you need and send it to me for approval. If you want that job…?"

Hector was already nodding enthusiastically, "Yes, sir. I will. I do. I mean, I'll send you the proposal as soon as I can put it together, maybe 48 hours to spec out the details. If that's ok?"

Rafael smiled, "Yes, I'll to hear from you in two days, Hector. I'm sure I'll have enough to keep me busy until then, with the initial results form all the sampling. Make sure you're working with whoever Maribel has focusing on the Ceiba Tree sap products as well. I expect what you do to be compatible with whatever they propose as well. Maribel, would you see that they are working together?"

"Yes, of course, Rafael." Maribel replied with a smile. It pleased her to see Rafael take such care to take his people's interests to heart and to show he valued them by remembering everyone's name. There were hundreds of colonists, and he had spent maybe an hour or two at most with the vast majority of them. It really showed how much he cares, and how effective the therapy had been, she thought.

Rafael watched Hector nod his thanks again and then rush off to begin working on the proposal. Another loyalty building encounter he thought. Hector would do whatever he could to please Rafael, and now Hector would have a position of leadership among other researchers. Helping to build loyalty and enthusiasm in his team as well. Rafael's smile was genuine, but not for the reason that Maribel assumed.

"You're so good with people," she said quietly, "and they all love you."

Rafael shook his head, "Nonsense. They are just trying to make a good impression with Santa Maribel, so you put in a good word when they try to get into heaven later."

"Don't start that silly saint business here, Rafi, I was hoping it would be left behind and forgotten on Earth."

"If you don't do something just a little bad once in a while, it will inevitably return." He grinned at her.

"Does slapping that silly grin off your face count as something bad?"

"No, they would see that as the Holy Saint Maribel using her powers to keep the devil at bay."

She laughed, "Should I keep the devil at bay by making him sleep on the couch?"

"Only if you want that saint rumor to stick with you. But speaking of living arrangements, we'll be building the first habitation inside the canopy tomorrow. How do you feel about us being the first to move into the underworld of Xibalba?"

"You're not really going to call it that are you? The underground home of the Mayan gods?"

"I was thinking about it. It fits in a way. Would you prefer Choxa?"

"The heavens or the underworld, both homes of the gods. But I suppose since we left Earth behind, and we actually are in the celestial realm, Choxa would be more appropriate."

"Choxa it is then," Rafael declared, "I'll make the announcement when we go back in tomorrow morning. "Now, let's go fire up the synthesizer and have something to eat, and maybe a glass or two of that Peruvian pisco you're so fond of."

Maribel shrugged, "We can toast to being the first humans to be allowed to take up permanent residence in Choxa since the time of the legends."

"Indeed. Assuming the plants don't eat the fabricator overnight. They are remarkably quick to react to light and disturbance. The smaller shrubs inside the edge of the canopy practically sealed off the opening we cut within an hour, trying to gather every bit of light that was shining through the open cut."

"Yes, I heard the monitors here remarking about that. Nothing a laser can't fix though?"

"No, the only questions is how many times a day would we have to fix it. I'm thinking of just covering the roadway from the staging buildings directly to the inside of the canopy. That way we're not letting in extra light, and we don't have to sweep all the shit that falls from the sky every night before we can travel back and forth."

Maribel grinned, "That's why you wanted to call it Xibalba. You're planning a tunnel to the underworld."

Rafael chuckled, "Yes, that symbolism had occurred to me… but Choxa works better, I think."

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