Ark II, Launch

Story: Ark II

Chapter: 19 Getting Things in Place

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

Freedom of expression is precious. To do that, Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

I should not have taken that last week of 2022 off. Blueblood just wouldn't come. Ark II did and wouldn't stop! I had put the brakes on to stop.

The Ark gets things into place and they start building. Joel seeks a steak or some barbeque. He's determined to get it.

Getting Things in Place

The party continued a few more hours and the noise level just increased. Kevin had tried his game sphere and then had given in to trying out his new guns for playing tag. It was fine even in their quarters, but Sara Beth finally threw them out into the Habitat Ring. They days of watching children to keep them from getting lost or kidnapped were left on Earth. The children had kilometers to dash, dodge, and hide in. Also gone were the added worry of calling the children home and not knowing where they were. Athena could tell you where and on what level the children were on. If a parent needed to speak with their child that could be done. The Ark had a limited amount of space to get lost. A mother's worrying was helped, but that was just going to happen. On Gaea that would be a worry as children explore. Where New Charleston was being constructed was an island, not a big island, but there were hundreds of kilometers to explore. With the added vegetation it could become confusing. Joel would have to train his boys...and his daughter, to find their way home. The compass feature on the Swiss Army tool worked. Gaea had a North, South, East, and West. Reading it took practice.

Joel grinned as he watched Sara Beth looking as her three boys and playmates stormed noisily out of the quarters. "They can't get lost," Joel reminded her.

Sara Beth's eyes went to Joel, and she added, "No, but they can get hurt." She sighed, "I am a buzzkill, aren't I?"

Joel shook his head quickly, then did a grudging nod, "Well, not a buzzkill." He chuckled putting his arm around her. "You're a mother." He shrugged and grinned, "Being a dampener of good times is just part of the package."

Sara Beth smirked a grimace and slapped Joel lightly in the shoulder, "I don't mean to be." She waved after where the young residents went. "I just keep thinking they can slip and fall...breaking arms or legs..."

Joel chuckled and gave a nod, "That's what you're supposed to do." He leaned in kissing her. He reached out touching her on the abdomen. "How has Daylia treated you today?"

Sara Beth smiled and covered Joel's hand with hers, "She's behaving herself. My morning sickness wasn't bad today." She placed her head next to Joel's. "Now, tonight..." she chuckled, "as good as she's been, she may be up all night. Jimmy was bad about that. Slept during the day and partying all night."

Joel smiled, "We'll have to watch out for him in the future."

Joel held no mistaken ideas of what his role was on the Ark. His background in the military put him at the forefront of the minds of the board that approved his appointment as Commander. He had no advanced degrees in anything scientific. He was, however, well read on a long list of subjects like the Alcubierre physics and drive. He understood Adel Lavigne's communications. His role was to keep these great minds focused on the tasks. He refused to hover over anyone as they all knew what to do. The daily routine resumed with school for their children, Bai Ch'en had her classes with the children and adults. Joel held his own class teaching more condensed classes with select adults that showed promise. It was two more days when Adel Lavigne called and said she was ready for him to see what she had done.

"Let's see what they've done, Hank," Joel said and started off to do that.

They went up the two levels to where Adel, Joder, and Alejandro had set up shop. There were approximately a dozen working here at the moment. One was Wei Ch'en. He was directing the direction of something, but Joel knew it had nothing to do with the sentinels being sent out. He was pointing at the computer's image of the solar collector, the source of power the processor and smelter would need. The computer's image showed a giant set of "sails' they would deploy near the Ark. The thin sails would face Ran and collect the energy rays, concentrate them and send those rays to the processor, smelter, the Ark, and to Gaea. Wei and Joder were in a somewhat intense discussion as Joel and Hank entered the lab area.

"Granted," Joder nodded, ""which Athena should be able to see coming." He pointed to what looked like a gigantic solid sheet of reflective material. "There will be punctures and micro-tears of the material. Athena can replace the torn section. It's going to happen."

Joel knew that the sails were not solid sheets, but a mesh of lattice-like material that were arranged very close and gave the sails the look of a solid sheet of material. The energy collected would be essential during the construction of the new settlement. It would also keep the power levels on the Ark at a premium level.

"Is there a problem?" Hank asked.

Joder turned and smiled at Hank and Joel, "No problem." He patted Wei on the shoulder, "Wei was just asking about our collector. It's fine." He pointed at something near Adel and Alejandro. "We have the drones to put the sentinels around Earth, Mars, and near the mining colonies around Jupiter." He led them toward a larger drone than the drone they had sent the first one out to the orbit of Troy.

Adel smiled as she touched the drone, "This will release five sentinels." She explained touching a round orb. It was about half a meter in diameter. "The first will be released about five light years away...halfway from Gaea and Earth. A relay. One will be released just outside of Earth's Solar System." She touched another orb. "This is also a relay." She pointed at another orb, a little smaller than the first two. "This one will be around Jupiter and near the mines." She touched another orb. "This one will be around Mars." She touched the one remaining. "This one near Earth and the moon's colonies." She leveled a look at Joel, "I'm not sure about the signal transmission. There might be a slight delay. I explained before, any signal sent by one of these sentinels is basically energy, so there should be almost no delay. If we were transmitting across the galaxy..."

"Even if it takes an hour..." Joel said holding his hands out in futility, "who cares? At the speed of light, any signal arrives in about a decade! I'll take the hour!" He looked at Alejandro, "How long will it take the drone to reach Earth?"

Alejandro gave a grudging shrug, "I've never sent something this far!" He really shrugged, "I don't know. It could be a week or two. I won't know until we do it." He held his hand up, "The quantum physics equations tell me little more than a week...five days?"

"A week!?" Hank balked in amazement. "Those idiots on Earth didn't want to forward this technology because it ate into their profits!?" He waved away from the lab area, "Of all the stupid..."

Joel chuckled and shook Hank gently, "The idea of making money for the bigger house often overwrote the idea of advancement. Greed. Who invented powered flight?"

Hank looked at Joel puzzled at the change of subject, "The Wright Brothers. The early twentieth century."

"Are you sure?" Joel grinned, "There were dozens of people that tried, one did it early as 1857! His flying machine never flew, in 1857, but there was a Frenchman, a Russian, and others that did it before Orville and Wilbur did."

Hank's eyes widened, "But Orville and Wilber did it!"

Joel nodded, "They get the credit."

Hank was still irritated, "I'm saying we could have done so much more so much quicker if those profit mongers hadn't stopped us!"

Joel shook his head, "As bad as things were on Earth, I don't think so."

"My point is," Alejandro said chuckling, "We'll know when it gets there."

Hank nodded, "And it won't run out of fuel?"

"There is only a little fuel needed for propulsion," Alejandro explained. "You know the expansion of space..."

"Yeah, yeah," Hank said waving Alejandro down. "I got it. Applied power with the Alcubierre Drive..." he looked at Joel, "or should I say the Rojas Drive?"

Joel nodded with a big smile. He smacked Hank on the back, "The Alcubierre Drive is what it's called, it was Alejandro who got it to work." He pointed at Joder and Adel, "with their help. Joder's power supply and Adel's communication...."

Adel smiled and added, "We'll begin the two others after this launch. Tau Ceti will be easy. There is just one system to look through. Canis Minor will be a hunt to find the Ark."

Joel frowned, "Anish is right. We are doing what the countries on Earth did. We have a technology we can use they don't have to spy on them." He sighed.

"But his isn't a weapon," Alejandro qualified. "We're using this to know what they're doing and what they could do."

"We are," Joel nodded. "Who knows what they'll use to do the same about us?"

"We're no threat," Hank stated simply. He looked at Alejandro and Joder, "What do we have these sentries can use to keep this technology out of their hands?"

Alejandro nodded quickly, "We think so." He went to the drones. "Each of these sentinels are equipped with some explosives that upon detection by anyone else will cause them to self-destruct." He shrugged, "We have also equipped them with scattering fields..." he looked at Joel and Hank. "Any cloaking ability we have yet to come up with."

"A scattering field? Meaning?" Joel asked.

"Meaning anyone who comes across them...." He shrugged, "It's so small and not projecting anything except a signal WE can detect, but they might not." He shook his head, "Any attempts to lock on to the source will cause the search to go elsewhere."

Joel nodded more excited, "Excellent. How soon will we be able to launch?"

The three looked at each other, shrugged and Alejandro answered, "It's ready now."

"What are we waiting on?" Joel asked. "Launch it!"

It took only a couple of hours, and the new drone was sent away from the Ark. What they wanted to do was announced and anyone who wanted could see it. They stood together in the Control Room as the drone was let out of the Ark and the course was predetermined. Athena's eyes were trained on the drone as the "countdown" began. At the end of this countdown, the drone's engines fired, and the drone began moving. The Alcubierre Drive engaged, and the drone disappeared. Of course, Athena kept up with the drone and they saw where the drone was on a computer. The drone was passing rapidly through Epsilon Eridani's System. About five light years on the way to Sol's System where the first of the relay was being left. Adel's communication was working perfectly. This was why Joel knew the Ark they were on was the best Ark. They had top minds and the equipment to this mission. The equipment was checked and rechecked constantly. Failure was not even considered. He had looked at what Alejandro had used to create this dark energy for his Alcubierre Drive that had been discovered using the supercollider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research as it was trying to finally develop cold fusion. A cheaper, less dangerous form of energy to combat the almost depleted fossil fuels. Dark energy and dark matter were two separate things. Alejandro found he had a form of dark energy when they used the supercollider. Cold, dark energy he could use!

Joel was getting antsy. Impatient for the new sentries to get into place so they could see what the Earth, Mars, and the mines around Jupiter were doing.

They watched as the collectors were deployed and expanded. It covered a larger area than the Ark. Huge but seemed like tissue paper. It covered enough area to collect as much of Ran's energy and tunneled it down to send it to the different destinations. Using Joder Mast's Wurtzite Boron Nitrate crystals ,that power was boosted by a hundred or even a thousand percent making what Ran's power so massive, it was used for many things. Including Alejandro Rojas' Alcubierre Drive. Maneuvering the processor and smelter where it needed to be, they watched the first of the many ore shipments come up on the Space Ladder and was launched in the processor's direction. No fuel was needed as Athena saw the direction the ore needed to go and sent it on the way. The processor caught it and brought it inside. The first ore shipment was sorted, broken down, and the smelter did it's job melting the ore down. That smelted metal would be shaped and made into long sheets of metal. Not only would that metal be used to expand the processor and smelter, but used to build the walls of Gaea's settlement, and used to make replacement parts and additional robots and the Harpies. As with most things born in space, the make-up of the system was pretty much the same. Iron, magnesium, sulfur, platinum, gold, and other alloys would be used to create their new world.

Once these things were in place they would return to stasis where Athena would again take over and take the helm of all these projects. Jimmy was right, the people on the Ark really didn't do that much work. Athena did. Without her they would have to do all this themselves. This elevated Athena to the near level of deity. Rita Cavill and her people kept a close eye on Athena's programming to be sure Athena didn't think she WAS a deity. The next time in stasis was going to be one of the longest periods and just the first. A Human with that much alone time would be a worry about sanity. As Human as Athena seemed, she was NOT Human. Athena was in control of Robbie, Robot, and all the robots that were here. Joel thought the idea of a companion for Athena was a good one, if she was NOT in control of that companion. An independent intelligence.

Alien life. Joel believed there was life out there other than what they brought with them. It was foolish to think Humans were the only intelligent life out in space. He didn't expect any of them to approach, stick their hand out to them and welcome them to the Milky Way. Would they know alien life if they saw it? Why would the new life necessarily have hands at all? Alien life would evolve in environments on worlds that formed life on their own world. Why would they be based on primates? Simple life forms would be telling, but really, Humans were just the end result of many millions of years of evolution. There were far older species even on Earth that were far older than Humans! Mass extinction caused many species to just vanish. Who knew what intelligence would have evolved from them? Thinking too long about this also gave him a headache as did math. Math. He knew that was going to be the universal language. One plus one equals two would be for everyone. The headache would return if he thought about it too much.

Yes, he knew math was important and he could do it, he just didn't want to. One of those learned people in the past told Joel he was more comfortable thinking on the right side of his brain rather than the left. Creative thought from the right side versus the logical side or the left side. That made sense. Then again, he had no problem thinking about Astrophysics or Quantum Physics. Sure, he could SEE that as opposed to seeing numbers in his head. Gravity pulls something and he could see the pull and the physical results of the surroundings! In his mind, he could see it! He didn't believe he was so smart no one could keep up with him. He knew there were many on the Ark far smarter than he was. Hell, his sons were very smart, perhaps smarter than Joel was. Sara Beth was smarter than Joel, but she loved him. Hank in spite of his clowning was very smart. He could see what was supposed to be and could tell you what was missing. Rita was smarter than Hank when it came to computers. Again, she could see the algorithms in her head and knew what needed to be there. Joel was chosen because he kept an open mind and listened. He could see what these smart people didn't. Such as when they were building the Harpy to go on the first flight. Those sharp minds didn't see what was right in front of them. Building a Harpy from the ground up was what they were going to do. Joel pointed out they could refit the lander easier.

As Joel made his way on the Habitat Ring, he saw a group of young people were enjoying Kevin's birthday present as one group sought the other group. Raised voices shouted instructions to their friends there were the cries of indignation as one fired their weapon hitting who was being hunted making the weapon they had to stop working. They were having fun!

Most of the Ark's residents ate dinner in the Communal Dining Area. You were with others while spending time with your family. Joel and Sara Beth ate with their three...soon to be four children. The boys were sharing what happened in their day while Joel shared about his own day, as did Sara Beth. Children asked some very odd questions. Okay, that wasn't fair. The questions weren't odd, but hard to give a good answer.

"What religion are we?" Ian asked seemingly out of the blue. He was really asking that question and wanted an answer. "Is there a God?"

Jimmy added, "Lunga and Etera asked Robbie the question. Lunga asked about Unkulunkulu one of the gods of the Zulu tribe, Etera said there were many gods with the Maori Tribes. Alan Rees spoke about Allah, Jews believe in God and read the Torah. Christians read the Bible...but which is the right one?"

"Robbie and Athena said there was no evidence of a God," Kevin said and shrugged, "That said, there was no evidence to prove there isn't a God either."

"So," Ian said further, "is there a God?"

Joel sighed but he intended to answer his son's question. "That's a good question." He glanced up at Sara Beth who was looking at Joel and they had told each other they would answer all questions honestly. "There is NO right answer." He shrugged, "The concept of God or gods has been around since Humans looked up and saw the sun and moon and wanted to know how and why."

"Because people couldn't answer the how and why about the world they assigned gods as the explanation," Sara Beth added. "They gave names to the sun, moon, and all Human attributes, giving them names and stories to explain the how and why."

Joel nodded, "To say there is no evidence..." he shook his head, "I have to positively disagree." He motioned at his sons, "You," and then he waved at the others in the Communal Dining Area. "Everyone here I say is proof that something orchestrated all this."

Sara Beth nodded, "The evidence is also all around us in the skies and in our very bodies." She smiled.

Joel grinned, "You and I are made of star stuff. Children of the Big Bang. The elements that coalesced to form our galaxy, our solar system, Earth and finally helped make us is so incredible...as far as I know, we are the only species on Earth to look up at the sun and ask questions. What is that big thing? What does that bright thing do?"

Sara Beth chuckled, "And those questions led to other questions. The universe is a vast source of questions. Questions that make us seek answers." She pointed at Ian, "And there is what makes up you. Bones, muscles, tissue, cells and as soon as we think we've seen as close as we can, someone finds a way to see closer and we see the very atoms, subatomic, and more..." she shook her head, "you are a miracle! You are so complex. That's my proof that something guided our creation."

Joel nodded, "To say that one religion is right, and the others are wrong..." he waved his hands out in futility, "I can't say that! Not with any absolute certainty." He raised the finger to make a point, "I was raised as a Christian. I went to church." He waved at his boys, "We took YOU to church. Christmas and Easter were big holidays in our home."

"And still will be," Sara Beth added. "Even out here religion and those guidelines are an important part of our lives! They make us better people."

"I have to say that idea of God and gods are good," Joel smiled, "but I don't know that he is male or female. I said we looked up, saw the sun and asked the question. What is it?" He grudged a shrug, "I know of no other species that looked up and asked the questions. That's not to say that no species ever did, but I don't know of any species that did anything but know if the sun was up or down...that was the time to venture out and survive by hunting or foraging. There are other animal species that we taught to communicate, and some very well, but again, they never ask a question. Ever."

"Is there a God?" Sara Beth asked and shrugged. "That's up to you."

"We raised you to love yourselves and others," Joel added. "Respect others even if they don't agree with you. Respect what is theirs and never steal. Don't lie. Never kill, if you don't have to. Be the best Human Being you can be." He smiled, "I find it fascinating that any god just waited for us to give It form. The Big Bang was billions of years ago. Human Beings have only been around millions of years...so where was God before that? What was God? I believe there is an intelligence that guided all this. What that is? I don't know! I don't see a Human-like creature sitting among clouds watching us," he shrugged. "I could be wrong and that is exactly what's there. I don't believe Satan, or the Devil is a Human-like creature. Angels? Demons?" He shrugged again, "I don't know!"

"History is filled with events, horrors, and wars fought losing millions of people because a group KNEW what others had to believe," Sara Beth said sadly. "Anyone who tells you how and what you MUST believe need to be avoided. Especially if they say God told them."

Joel nodded, "The Ark we're on is named after the Ark Noah built thousands of years ago to save mankind and animals from destruction. According to the book of Genesis, God told Noah what he had to do. And Noah did it." He sighed, "Mankind was evil and corrupt, so God wanted to wipe the slate clean by destroying mankind, except Noah, his wife, and their three boys." He grinned, "Just like you three. God spared them and the sons' three wives. That's kind of what we're doing now."

"You will survive," Sara Beth smiled. "Only on this Ark, you have a choice of companions and can have many children with them." She shrugged, "And your father and I will have other children even after we've died."

Kevin's eyes widened, "We'll have brothers and sisters later!? How?"

Joel chuckled, "One of the prerequisites of being on the Ark was a willingness to contribute our DNA for future generations. You could be asked to later as well."

"What!?" Kevin balked.

"We will?" Jimmy asked stunned.

Sara Beth nodded and chuckled, "*You might. It may only be a half-brother or sister. I could have a child with your Uncle Hank!"

"Hell," Joel laughed, "I could have a child with your Uncle Hank, too!"

"You can't do that," Kevin declared. "You're both boys!"

Sara Beth now laughed lightly, "Modern science says otherwise. The truth is our DNA would be used with a future generation survivor made from some families on the Ark now. They haven't even been born yet. In a future where healthy DNA is needed, our DNA will be used."

"Sex will not be needed," Joel chuckled.

"So," Kevin began hesitantly, "You do believe in God."

"I believe in something," Joel said. "I won't say it's God. I can't say it's not, but I see patterns the universe has and I've seen it. What we're doing is using that pattern to try and save us, Humans, and the other life we have to try again on Gaea. We are NOT gods. There are some life we won't be able to keep alive."

"Why not?" Jimmy asked.

"We have some lifeforms that need a far colder climate," Sara Beth said. "I mean animal and plant life. Polar bears need a icy world we may not be able to reproduce. Pinguins need a colder world."

"Even if we build a contained environment for them," Joel added. "Some may not make it. We have some smaller islands we can try. A few at the poles." He shrugged, "Will it be enough? We'll see."

"We'll know more as we add a more breathable atmosphere," Sara Beth said putting her hand on Jimmy's. "Some will perhaps go crazy and get out of control."

"Our marine lives may get out of hands as we have so much ocean that covers Gaea." Joel stated. "We have to make sure the balance of life stays balanced. Meaning enough fish live and reproduce to feed larger marine predatory animals. Dolphins need a lot of fish. Sharks need other animals. We need to be sure there is enough when we begin to add species." He smiled, "This the first time we have even tried to terraform an entire planet. They were trying it on Mars. They did a bit on the moon, but the gravity was a factor on the lunar surface. They were trying to increase the gravity on the moon by adding the heavy plating. I don't know how successful that was. The colonists on the moon were sleeping in circumference gravity chambers and the medicine to keep their bones and muscles from deteriorating. Even Mars was trying it and doing what we are doing on Gaea. I don't know how that went either." He shrugged, "With all the conflicts...the lack of available ground water..."

"There's water in space," Kevin reasoned. "We studied that. In asteroids, comets, and other places."

"If men learn to work together they could get that water," Joel shrugged.

"Earth has water," Ian pointed out. "Gaea has a lot of water. Why is that?"

"Yes," Sara Beth nodded. "Earth has water. Gaea probably got it like Earth did by being bombarded by hydrated asteroids." She shrugged, "At least that's the theory."

"We'll try to keep the pattern the universe showed us and make Gaea and Earth-like world," Joel nodded as he looked at Ian, "I was raised Christian. Baptist was my family's denomination."

"My family was Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic, and Wiccan..." Sara Beth added. "My last family were Wiccans."

"Not witches?" Jimmy asked with a grin.

Sara Beth laughed and shook her head, "No, they weren't witches, but had a strong connection to nature such as plants and herbs. They had a respect and reverence to plants and keeping the balance. They made," she did air quotes with her fingers, "potions" she laughed again, "Most of which worked! At a time in my life where I needed guidance, they gave me more purpose. I knew I wanted to be a doctor, but they got me very interested in plants and I just HAD to become a botanist, too!"

Joel chuckled, "And does the Jolly Green Giant proud!" He said happily.

Jimmy's eyes widened, "Who!?"

"The Jolly Green Giant!?" Kevin repeated,

Sara Beth shook her head at Joel but was smiling, "The Jolly Green Giant was an advertising mascot used to sell canned and frozen vegetables, Joel."

"And got American and Canadian people to eat their vegetables!" Joel stated. "He, and later the Little Green Sprout, gave children AND adults a reason to eat their vegetables!" He looked at his sons, "The Little Green Sprout was about your size, but he and the Jolly Green Giant were all green, they wore these togas made from plants." His sons were smiling as their father got more animated telling them about this. "They wore these crown things on their heads." He nodded, "Even their hair is green!" He nodded to Sara Beth, "And yes, these mascots were first made to sell frozen and canned vegetables. At first it was for string beans and peas..." he shook his head at his sons, "One of the vegetables no one has to MAKE me eat. That and corn...and potatoes..."

Sara Beth chuckled, "Well, potatoes are a bit different..."

Joel raised a quick finger, "Ah, no science lessons at the table. I know it's a starchy vegetable many think is really a fruit rather thana vegetable." He looked at his sons again, "In the middle of the Twentieth Century, this company started the Jolly Green Giant, then later added the Little Green Sprout. I'll show you the commercials back in our quarters. They brought him back at the end of the Twenty-first Century. There was even a song," Joel began to sing, "In the valley of the Jolly Green Giant, good things from the garden..." He saw his sons laugh lightly. "Anyway, in a time when companies were trying to sell. The Jolly Green Giant's Company had to explain why their vegetables were more expensive. The Green Giant claimed to have unaltered and more organic vegetables. They were better for us. The Jolly Green Giant became a demigod representing the idea of more wholesome produce. Like Mother Nature, but he was just about the vegetables!"

"Which is why I grew them myself," Sara Beth smiled at Joel. "My vegetables are organic and unaltered genetically."

Ian nodded, "Okay." His mind was still working on something. "Do we have souls?"

Joel looked at Sara Beth and again, he would answer truthfully, "I don't know." Where were these questions coming from? Ian was only five! Deep thoughts from someone that young was surprising and also spoke of a very intelligent child. "I wish I could give you an answer. I don't know."

Sara Beth touched her son, "No one has ever found a soul. Medically, there is no evidence. However, I have to say we are more than just muscle, bones, and tissue. We are aware." She waved at the surroundings, "We are aware we have a place in the universe, what that place is we try every day to understand." She leaned closer to Ian, "Can I know why you're thinking about it now?"

Ian wouldn't look at her at first. He toyed with his food on his plate but did finally look up and said, "Just a little while ago, Daddy almost died." He confessed.

"But I didn't die," Joel said quietly.

"This time," Ian said a little sadly. "Then you took that Harpy, and you could have died then, or gotten stuck out there and we could lose you." He shook his head, "I was so scared. If you do die, will you just be gone? They were talking about the different gods and religions, Flora, Angus' daughter said we were reincarnated. Etera spoke of ghosts...spirits of the dead that come back...does that happen?" He grudged a slight shrug. "That's why I asked what religion we were."

Sara Beth smiled and tightened her grip on Ian's hand, the brought him from his chair and had him sit in her lap as she embraced her youngest son, "Such heavy thoughts from someone so young." She rocked him lightly. He was her child and always would be. "That tells me just how smart you are."

"Too smart for someone only five," Joel added. He raised his hand to his other two sons, "All of my children are very smart. You will all be great men. I know that." He looked at Ian, "Yes, I do some dangerous things and it could kill me. Life is dangerous, but I take precautions to minimize the risk." He grinned and waved at his youngest son, "Do you have to grow up so fast?" He chuckled, "I am proud of all my sons. Ian, you have a warm, generous heart I am very proud of. I know you're going to excel in whatever you decide to do. I promise, I will never forget what I have here. A loving family with three amazing sons..." he looked at Sara Beth and said louder, "and a daughter on the way who will be breaking hearts." He looked at Ian. "I can't give you any promise other than to tell you, I will do anything and everything to come back to you. I promise to not do anything too dangerous and leave you without me."

Sar Beth nodded, "When we first launched, I was so scared about putting you three in stasis so long. I have used the stasis field and pod many times for patients that needed to be in stasis to save their lives. There have been almost no deaths due to stasis in over a century. Still..." she grudged a shake of her head, "you are my babies. You will always be my babies. Your father's and my babies. To put you at risk, as small as it is, I worried. I will again when we go back into stasis soon. It's the mother in me."

Kevin grinned and looked at Joel, "When will that be, Dad?"

"Probably in a month," Joel answered. "I want those sentries in place around the Earth, Mars, and near the mines around Jupiter." Then he sighed, "Then we need them around Tau Ceti, and Canis Minor...only with Canis Minor we need to find out where the fourth Ark is settling."

"Are they dangerous?" Kevin asked. "We're not."

Joel nodded, "No, we're not, but they've had some problems that might make them dangerous. We need eyes and ears on them to know that."

Sara Beth was right; Ian was a far more sensitive child opposed to his other two. Joel made a mental note to assure his sons before heading out on a dangerous mission, but in particular, Ian. He reached out for Ian and Ian came over and crawled into Joel's lap where Joel hugged him.

"I promise to be careful, son," Joel said softly. "Nothing is more important to me than my family. I'm doing this for this family. To give you a life, but nothing, not the Ark, Athena, or anything else is more important."

It was fifty-two Earth hours and twelve minutes since the launch of the drone when it arrived at the halfway point, five light years distance away. The drone stopped as Alejandro, Yoder, and Adel...along with others that worked with them watched as Athena "saw" what was happening. If there was a delay, Joel didn't see it. Adel's communication network and hardware were working perfectly. It took merely minutes as the first sentry was unloaded and placed where it would remain. Adel tested her equipment to be sure before they directed the drone on its way again. Joel had updates from Earth that were much faster, about five years sooner. Joel was smiling much bigger as he saw what was happening.

The first shipment of raw ore reached the processor, and the sorting of that ore began and the smelter began melting the ore to begin a process that would continue for a long time. Smelting the ore in an oxygen free, gravity free smelter took a lot of innovation. In many ways the metal was superior to metal done on Earth. It was stronger and easier to shape. The laser blasts were so intense, and the smelting was done quickly and soon an assembly line of ore to metal began. Joel now felt that production was really starting. It was another forty-five hours and thirty-two minutes when the drone reached the outer system of Earth. Another sentinel was released just beyond Pluto's orbit, the planet that lost it's status, then gained it back, then lost it again. Who cared? It was something that orbited the star Sol whether it was or wasn't a planet. There were so many "things" orbiting Sol, some as big or bigger than Pluto! There was Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris...Joel knew there were others. That one sentinel would remain in a stationary position. About three hours more the sentinel near Jupiter was released. An hour more and the sentinel near Mars was released. An hour and a half later the one near Earth and its moon was released. Now Joel was receiving signals from all of them. The sentinels would receive signals and form a triangle of signals that could be relayed to Gaea. Visual images, too.

In the Control Room what Joel saw on Earth was horrible. The death and destruction was not just because of the explosions but there was a lot of death but due to the fallout. Survivors were fighting with other survivors for meager uncontaminated supplies such as food and water. Shelter was hard to come by. Military was stretched to the limit and lacking completely in some areas. Poor countries, and there were many undeveloped, third-world countries that had runaway starvation and death.

The moon had overcrowding, so did Mars. Mars was the best off non-earth colony but they suffered as well from overcrowding and starvation. They had There was the biodome they started and the lake they had begun. They had stopped building that more and they had begun using the breathable air generators to make it possible to breathe outside the dome. Now, survival was paramount.

Joel searched through records both scientific and military...sometimes both. He happened on an encrypted file that spoke of a fifth Ark.

"A fifth Ark?" Joel asked no one really. It was another joint effort by several countries and governments that were still around. "Athena."

"Yes, Joel?" Athena's voice came back calmly. Her image appeared behind him.

"Can you decrypt this file without giving us away?" Joel asked.

"I should," Athena answered. It took only a few seconds as she attempted to do what Joel asked. "I have it."

Joel saw a multipage document that spoke of this next Ark was the Earth itself! An underground complex was constructed in Antarctica and there were almost a million men, women, and children placed in Stasis Pods to be awaken later when things on Earth calmed down. How were they feeding these people when they revived them? People and other life were included, but the other life were livestock. To eat. Sensors would run so that the automated system would wake the people up. All the people and other life in this complex were protected and few others knew what was going on or where they were. Joel knew of a military and scientific complex that was there and it was pretty big. Was it there or somewhere else? They had to have used the original complex as there was almost no time after the bombs went off. Mankind was determined to give Humans the chance to survive! That gave Joel a little comfort. He sighed and pushed away from his desk. He needed some positive input.

He went to the labs where the teams worked. Adel, Alejandro, and Joder were talking about the next drone. The drone sent to Sol was on its way back. They didn't waste anything! Joining them were some others. Scott Fleming, Kurt Mueller, and Rita Cavil was there.

"...yes," Rita nodded to something someone said before Joel got there, "but we don't know which planet they chose. We have to have detectors to figure that out."

Kurt looked up and saw Joel and brightened, "Commander! Just in time!"

Joel grinned, "I was unaware I could be late."

Kurt smiled back. "We've been discussing how to approach Ark IV's destination." He pointed to the image of stars on the computer screen. "We know that Ark IV was going to Canis Minor." He looked at Joel, "Is there anything from them to tell where they went?"

Joel shook his head, "I don't think they've arrived yet." He shrugged, "I'm not sure Ark III has arrived at Tau Ceti. We sort of threw the people on Earth off by not choosing Alpha Centauri. It took us nearly a decade to get near Alpha Centauri and another decade to get to Epsilon Eridani. For reasons only those Ark's know, the planets around those stars could be rejected as we did with the three stars in Alpha Centauri."

Kurt nodded, "Tau Ceti has only one star and they only know of four planets there." Kurt sighed, "All are super Earths, much larger than Earth but are rocky. It was thought a fifth planet was in the Habitable Zone." He shrugged a grin, "In theory."

This again? Joel smirked, "Exoplanet searches have told us about thousands of planets practically next door!" He waved at the screen. "They, like us have been quiet about any plans. We don't know." He sighed, "It is a G-type yellow star very much like our parent star Sol. What they found there is only guesswork until we get eyes on them." He jutted his head forward, "If they CHOSE one. They may move on like we did." He shrugged and pointed at the star map. "What about Canis Minor?"

"There are two stars in that constellation," Kurt said. "Procyon or Alpha Canis Minoris and Gomeisa or Beta Canis Minoris. We won't know which one until Athena gets there with her sentries."

Rita shoved him slightly, "And I'm telling you, Athena should be able to tell which one by their trail! Hank told me about the Ion Gas engines and there is a trail left behind." She looked again at Kurt. "Assuming their engines were the same as ours, we should be able to detect where they went. The positive ions left behind should be able to be detected."

Joel waved at Rita, "And there you go." He turned to Adel, "Can a computerized locator or sensor be added to the drone?"

Adel's eyes widened, "You're asking me!? Anything can be added to the drones. How it will work I don't know."

Joel nodded, "We need Angus. He is the designer and would know." He looked around and didn't see him. "Athena, where is Angus?"

"At his designing board," Athena answered appearing again and looked at Hank, "I apologize. I didn't announce my arrival, Dr. Hank Cavil."

"That's alright." Hank waved her off, "I'm getting used to it."

"Shall I ask him to come here?" Athena asked Joel and the others.

Joel nodded, "Please, if he can tear himself away." He looked at them. "The drone sent to Earth should be back in a few days and we can add what is needed to it for Canis Minor."

"How is the sentinels working?" Adel asked.

"Great!" Joel nodded happily, then he frowned, "Things are bad on Earth." He grudged a shrug, "Not much better on the moon, just a bit better on Mars. Earth is picking up the pieces." He nodded as he smiled, "They have a fifth Ark! Almost a million men, women, and children!"

"A fifth Ark!?" Hank blurted in amazement.

"A million people!?" Adel added. "How did they get them into space!?"

"Is it Earth's Ark or Mars' Ark?" Kurt asked at the same time as the others.

As did Alejandro's question, "Where is it heading?"

Joel chuckled, "Earth is the destination! They didn't send any of them into space. It's on Earth! In Antarctica. From what I read, it's in a huge complex below ground. They are all in stasis." He shrugged, "They have used the Stasis Fields and Pods for a century or more. There is no shortage of those. They put them under the ice. There are billions of deaths on Earth. Many due to radiation related illnesses."

Angus came in and put his fists on his hips and said a little indignant, "I was workin' on me Harpy Dragon design when Athena tells me ya wanted to see me. Well, here I am."

Joel chuckled, "Aye, we did, lad." Joel used his best Scottish brogue. "You can go back to it in a few minutes." He knew Angus wasn't even bothered; his indignation was more for comedy than irritation.

They explained what they wanted to have done.

Angus nodded and asked Athena to bring up the drone specifications and design. "Adding anything is no problem." He looked at Joder, "Your power source may need more, but the bulk won't change that much." He looked at Rita and Scott, "Will the sensors need more power?"

Scott shrugged, "Perhaps a fraction more," he looked at Joder. "That shouldn't be a problem, will it?"

Joder shook his head, "No."

"The propulsion and fuel needed is not a problem," Angus said. "Less fuel needed to get..." he waved his search for a word away, "whatever...it less important as once the momentum has begun," he pointed at Alejandro, "your drive makes the whatever move faster than light. Allowing more room for other things such as defense weapons."

"Using Joder's crystals," Joel commented. "Those crystals are essential to everything." He turned to Joder. "You said you have a few left, but need more. You said there were promising asteroids and other space debris that might have more."

Joder nodded, "Yes, there should be Wurtzite Boron Nitrate in the system after this solar system was formed. That will have to be mined and extracted."

"We'll make that a priority," Joel stated with a short nod. "We also need to equip Athena with these crystals to defend us against meteors and other potential dangers."

"How does the Wurtzite Boron Nitrate thingies work again?" Hank asked Joder. "It's not a weapon or a power generator."

Joder nodded and laughed lightly, "No, what the Wurtzite Boron Nitrate crystals do is boosts energy. Energy put through the crystal is boosted. Whatever the energy, is boosted, and that boosted energy is boosted, and boosted again infinite amounts of times. That energy can be used to keep our lights on, help create a meal," he grinned at Joel and Hank, "power Robbie, Robot, and the other robots." He nodded, "Or give Athena the needed power to stop a meteor," he looked again at Joel, "Or stop a Human danger before they rob or attack us. A lot of power is out there in Ran's system. I just found a way to boost that power. How we use it is up to us."

Joel nodded, "We'll need to locate those asteroids and meteors that may have the Wurtzite Boron Nitrate and get more."

Adel looked puzzled at Joder, "The crystals are much harder that even diamonds. How did you get them into hexagonal form?"

Joder grudged a shrug, "Well, by using the Wurtzite Boron Nitrate crystals themselves. Focused energy through the crystals is almost as strong as a star. It gets nearly as hot as a star. It took me a while, but I finally managed to shape it to make the refraction possible." He shrugged, "Once I did that the others were simple."

"No burning out the crystals?" Angus asked.

Joder shook his head, "Nothing but energy touches the crystals." His finger raised to make a point, "However, the delivery is what to look out for. Metals melt. I had to create a method of using the Wurtzite Boron Nitrate to safely deliver the energy."

"Damn!" Hank marveled. "Here I was just thinking that your invention was to keep things going, but what you have is the focus of...everything!"

Joder's face turned a little pink as he blushed, "Well, maybe."

"No maybe!" Joel shot back. He pointed at the Ark around them, "Everything will work because of YOU! No modesty. You make it possible!"

"Using focused energy is important," Angus said. "Projectile weapons are another thing. Missiles and torpedoes are another thing." He folded his arms over his chest, "I was working on the Harpy Dragon to add the focused energy weapons, as well as the needed space for storage for food, bunks, toilets, and Stasis Pods." He shrugged, "It's a work in progress."

"That began when you were nine years old!" Hank reminded Angus. "That's almost scary."

Angus grinned, "Don't worry. I never tortured animals or pulled the wings off of flies." He pointed at Hank, "The only torture I did was keep asking questions to know it all engineers that thought they knew better than I did about how things would work."

Hank nodded and smirked, "Yeah, I hated those guys, too."

Joel leaned into Hank, adding, "And now you know ANOTHER reason this technology took so long to develop." He stated quietly.

He went over to the lab where Wei was working with some construction engineers. An image of a finished settlement floated in the air as they all discussed what they saw. It was a giant bubble. Wei said the shape was to prevent future disasters with the weather and other events in nature. Tidal waves and storms such as hurricanes and monsoons. Wind and water would slip over the bubble.

Wei touched part of the image and a portion of the settlement grew showing buildings, parks, walkways, and FARMS! Crops were shown in rows in the ground.

"Wow!" Joel marveled at the image, "How big is this going to be?" He waved at Wei and cautioned him, "Just tell me."

Wei grinned at Joel, "Hello!" He said brightly and rose from his chair. "That depends on how well the construction on Gaea progresses. And the terraforming of the planet goes. Right now, we're planning an enclosed biosphere. We can terraform inside the dome faster and more completely." He pointed at a few buildings that were crescent moon shaped near the edge of the circular dome. He touched a building, and it grew quickly showing a building five stories tall. The inner side of the building had covered walkways with doors and windows. Wei swiped his finger to the left and the building rotated to show the back. Clearly, there were individual dwellings. The top floor had large windows to see what one floor was outside and just down was a terrace with lounge chairs and plenty of room with grill that could be cooked on and enough room to eat at a table set out to eat on. Below that was another mirror image of the dwelling above. On the ground below was a large pool of water, kidney shaped but clearly a swimming pool surrounded by gardens. They were building near the shoreline. There would be a lot of swimming in those waters.

"You told me you wished to see Ran over the water," he shrugged and pointed at the top dwelling. "I think you can from here." He grinned. "Everyone can from their quarters." He touched the top floor dwelling, and the interior became focused. "These quarters are five thousand square feet. There are the movable walls to make more rooms if needed." He grinned at Joel. "You will need at least five bedrooms..." he chuckled, "for the present time. Your sons will have their own space, and your daughter, or daughters will, too. There is a large family room with a lot of light from the large windows. You and Sara Beth can have a joint office or separate offices. A large kitchen and dining area."

Joel grinned at the family room with the large space and the piano! It was a full grand piano! There was a large fireplace, and it was elegant. The piano and fireplace would not be made of or use wood. That was too valuable now. Wei was smiling even more, "Each family will have five thousand square feet to fill with themselves and future children. Bia and I will be needing the extra bedroom now."

Joel was fascinated by what he saw, but he caught that little tidbit, "Really!?" he grinned at Wei. "Another Ch'en!"

Wei nodded but his smile was more emotion than Joel had seen before, "She found out yesterday."

Joel saw this news was welcomed by Wei! "Congratulations, Wei!" He hugged the man and then held him out a little. "Did they tell her what it would be?"

Wei chuckled and joked, "A baby."

"Fine," Joel said in mocked irritation. "Don't tell me."

Wei shrugged, "I don't know! Bia either just won't tell me or didn't ask." He looked at Joel seriously, "China used the one child law for a long time. Even though Mongolia was independent, they also started the one child law to cut down on the population."

Joel nodded, "They did something similar in the United States with the two child SUGGESTION. Which Sara Beth and I didn't follow."

"Having a girl was unwelcome," Wei confessed. "Having boys was what everyone wanted. That's why there was a huge infant mortality rate among girls." He shrugged. "I don't care if it's a girl or a boy. We're having a second baby!"

"And hopefully a third and fourth!" Joel grinned shaking Wei happily.

"I don't care if she has the third and fourth this time," Wei smiled. "But I'm not having the child, so I don't wish Bia to suffer, so that's just between us, okay?"

Joel pointed at the image of the dwelling, "What's on the first floor? It doesn't seem to be quarters."

Wei turned and nodded, "Because they aren't. This lower floor will have the various things such as groceries, shops, whatever they think we'll need." He touched his coverall. "As nice as this is on the Ark. Men and women will want other clothing at home of just to be in. We'll need somewhere they can get those things. Machinists. Various other things." He smiled again, "We've grown used to dining together at least once a day, I thought a Communal Dining Area or restaurants. Schools. Underground will be the recycler for waste like here on the Ark. And there will be an underground tram system that can take you to the other buildings." He tapped the image again twice and the image enlarged. He pointed to some other buildings that were three stories tall, but wider. "Offices and labs will be here. A concert hall?" He shrugged, "We have some talented people here and more on the way." He tapped the image of one building and a large concert hall appeared with rows of tiered seats facing a stage. "Plays, too!" Tapping twice again and the image grew. He scrolled over the landscape. "There is the hydroponic farms here as well as the building for farm equipment." There were the rows of crops and fields of livestock grazing. A zoo! Back toward the dwellings he saw the parks and gardens of flowers and trees on sculpted walkways. He looked at Joel, "What do you think?" He hurried on, "All of this can be changed as we go..."

Joel hugged Wei tightly and he felt himself tearing up with emotion, "I think this will be a paradise, Wei! It's just beautiful!"

Wei now grinned and nodded, "As our population grows, we can expand outside the dome. We'll add quarters for new families that are going to come." He waved at the settlement, "The ground will be prepared while we're in stasis. Robo-tillers will add nutrients to the soil inside the dome. To get the ground ready for what I showed you. Then we'll do it outside the dome." He looked at Joel and his head went back a bit, "But you're not happy about everything. Have I missed something?"

Joel looked at Wei and quickly shook his head, "Oh, no. Not a thing." He nodded and waved at the image. "Nothing you've forgotten or didn't cover," He sighed and grudged a nod, "Well, I guess because we are doing this to save the lives from Earth thing and..." he waved at the livestock in the fields. "Now, I see these cows, horses, and pigs differently." He looked at Wei. "I love my pulled pork barbeque. You know that."

Wei chuckled, "I know."

"Now, I'm feeling guilty about bringing them here just to slaughter and eat them," Joel pointed at Wei, "And I love my steak! Don't even think about asking me to give up shrimp or prawns! Crawfish? I'll fight you if I'm asked to give them up. Scallops, oysters, clams, crab, lobster!" Joel threw his hands out in frustration, "Flounder, cod, trout, salmon! I can't give them up, but now the thought that I shouldn't do that is just under the surface!" He shook his head, "I know we are predators, but...are we? Are we outgrowing it as a species?"

Wei put his arm around Joel's shoulder, "Maybe." He smiled patiently at Joel. "More and more of the residents are feeling much the same way as you are." He looked at Joel sympathetically. "You need to speak with Manu and Andrea Taika. They are biochemists and geneticists." He grinned, "You liked the food paste you ate on the Harpy Lander, didn't you?"

Joel nodded, "I did. Jambalaya flavored and pretty spicy. Very good."

"You know they were responsible for that?" Wei said smiling.

Joel grudged a nod, "I guess I knew. I didn't make a mess in the Harpy Lander."

"You need to talk to them," Wei encouraged. "I heard they have something that looks and tastes like tenderloin steak!" He punched Joel lightly, "You can be their guinea pig! They think they have pork and chicken. You should suggest those seafood items!"

Joel grinned, "I'll be a tough convert."

"They'll love you!" Wei chuckled,

"Insects are on their own," Joel pointed out. "Mosquitoes, roaches, and flies...if they stay away from me, I'll let them live. Bees I understand we need, but if anything bites me." Joel stated firmly, "They're done for!"

Wei chuckled and shoved Joel in the direction of the door, "Go see what they've..." he smiled as he said, "cooked up."

Joel did his mocking laugh, "Oh, ha, ha." He pointed at Wei. "You were saving that one. Congratulations on the new Ch'en coming, great work on the new settlement, and I am going to see what Manu and Andrea can cook up."

Wei bowed slightly, "Thank you, Joel."

It was on the way to Manu's and Andrea's lab that he thought about something else on his mind. He diverted to the area where Nayef and Leah used as an office, saw patients, and did their psych stuff. Since Sigmund Freud began psychoanalysis centuries before, he had a preconceived idea of what a psychiatrist's office should look like. When he got to the door, he was surprised by what he saw. The small room looked very comfortable. The Ark had lighting that Athena could give anywhere, but the light here came from what looked like a large window with curtains drawn and a sheer covering covered the window allowing sunlight in lighting the room. Joel knew that was an image Athena projected like she did with many visual images such as movies and the scenes she had shown of Norway during Lunga's concert. Athena used it to project an image of herself among the residents.

There was the expected couch, very plush and a neutral bluish gray that looked inviting. Sara Beth had placed plants and flowers not only on the Habitat Ring, Communal Dining Room, and quarters. She had plants in the Control Room, her Sick Bay, and there were ferns here and roses of many colors Joel thought was preferred by Leah and Nayef. Nayef was typing something which wasn't surprising to J0el. Keyboards never went away. Children learned math, to read and write both in written form using a pen and a keyboard. His boys knew how to type. Even Ian knew a modern keyboard and where the letters and numbers were. Only Nayef used a divided keyboard some preferred for a more comfortable way of typing. The thing here was the keyboard wasn't really there. It too was a projection that Athena gave him to type on. She could give anyone on the Ark a keyboard, using whatever language the typist asked for, be it English, Cyrillic, or even Chinese! It could have the symbols needed for science and math. Or even a keyboard the individual had custom made for their own use. Leah was reading something on her monitor, fascinated by what she read. Soft piano music was playing. Joel was feeling relaxed at the door! He cocked his head as he listened.

"Is that Chopin?" Joel asked them.

Nayef stopped turning to Joel and nodded, "It IS!! Very good." He grinned, "Now, for the bonus round! Can you tell me which song?"

Joel listened more. It was tickling the back of his mind. His late father and his grandfather had insisted he listen to many forms of music. Classical music was essential to mental development and clear thinking...according to them. He knew Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and many composers. He recognized this piece. "Is it Mazurka? Number five, I think...in C major?"

Leah was listening to them and smiled at her husband, who hadn't confirmed or denied if Joel was right, "Well, honey. Can you tell if Joel's right or wrong?"

Nayef turned to his wife, "I know YOU can."

Leah chuckled lightly and nodded, "Of course. Fredrick Chopin is a favorite composer to me." She looked at Joel, "You're exactly right, Joel. I know your fondness of classical cinema, but you have a vast knowledge of other classics like music. Can we know why?"

Joel nodded, "I was raised with it. Sara Beth insisted on having it played for all our children. She played it for them well before they were born, insisting that Mozart helped with brain development and made them smarter." He shrugged, "I think it does. My boys are very smart. She's doing it with Daylia now playing this and other things such as Shakespeare's sonnets and other literature, stories and other works." He went and sat on the couch. "Which is why I'm here."

"Oh?" Leah asked.

"What is your impression of Ian?" Joel asked.

Nayef turned to look at Joel directly, "I think he's a very bright little boy. He's calm and I can tell he is very much loved."

"What has brought you here to ask us about Ian?" Leah asked.

Joel sighed, "Last week, Ian raised some concerns about me and my safety. It wasn't just a small amount of concern. He knew there was a risk I had taken for that test flight on the Harpy Lander." He sought the right way to explain it. "He knew there was the possibility that I might not come back." He waved a little helplessly, "I have a job to do. There are dangers and I've never hidden anything from my boys. I'm honest with them." He looked at Nayef and Leah. "He just turned five..." he laughed, "Well, he did the Fall before we left two decades ago. He seems to be more aware of the risk than I would expect a five-year-old should have. Is that unusual?"

Leah smiled compassionately at Joel, "Ian is exceptionally bright. I know you don't believe in intelligence quotients, but I say his IQ is well into the genius range."

Nayef nodded, "I agree. He's very perceptive and very sensitive." He chuckled, "All of your children are, but Ian is...more."

"I don't think there's a man, woman, or child on the Ark that wouldn't qualify to be in Mensa," Leah smiled.

The approval board had wanted the best minds on this Ark to do the job.

"Remember," Nayef held his finger up to make a point, "he did see you almost die on Gaea. All of your sons saw that. His worry is justified. I assume you told all your boys about the bombs on Earth. You said you would show them the news clips. I know you did."

Joel nodded, "Not the dead bodies or wandering people dying with burns and broken limbs, but yes. They deserved to know. Sara Beth and I watched the clips with them." He looked at them. "Were we wrong to do that?"

Leah shook her head, "We can't answer that. You know your children best."

"Were they traumatized by what they saw?" Nayef asked.

"They were sad and asked questions, but no they weren't traumatized by what they saw," Joel shrugged. "We all were a little traumatized, but we didn't want them to overhear conversations from others and not know what happened." He rose and started to pace a bit. "Even Ian asked questions but seemed fine."

Nayef smiled and stopped Joel's pacing, "Relax." He patted Joel on the shoulder, "A child's realization of mortality is hard to judge. Has he been exposed to any deaths?"

"No," Joel answered. "His grandparents and great grandfather died before he was born. He's never lost anyone I can think of."

"He became aware of your potential loss when you were severely injured. He saw it happen. A child's perception of death will be difficult, but he has a support system with Sara Beth and the others on the Ark. I dealt with them as Sara Beth got you to Sick Bay to deal with the injury. They were very worried naturally. You and Sara Beth are their world. They love, trust, and depend on you both." She smiled. "I know that Robbie is a kind of transitional object for Ian."

Joel nodded smiling, "He is. He watches over Ian at night. He has all of Ian's life. Ian didn't feel secure in a room of his own without Robbie." He grudged a shrug, "Even in the bigger body, Robbie has always been Ian's protection."

"And that's fine," Nayef said. "He's not a teddy bear or blanket, but he's still that object for Ian. He's better. This transitional object can talk to Ian and even is Ian's teacher."

"You're with Ian every day," Leah said. "Are there rituals for you and Sara Beth at night?"

"Yes," Joel smiled. "We tuck all three in bed every night. Ian has a ritual before going asleep. Robbie is part of that."

"Is there anything like more clinging behavior from Ian?" Leah asked.

"Just last week," Joel admitted. "That was more of more intense comfort for Ian."

Nayef nodded, "We saw that." He shrugged helplessly, "You were in the Dining Area. I saw nothing alarming about that." He smiled.

"Until there is more," Leah began. "Tantrums, destructive behaviors, belligerence, or violent outbursts, I say Ian is doing fine. Just continue your rituals and be there. Allow Ian to come to you, and you go to him. I know you do."

Nayef chuckled, "There are no manuals for parenting, but I think the two of you are doing fine."

"Ian has a great intellect," Leah said. "He's reading on an advance level and the problem with children advanced like this is they lack coping skills to deal with what they understand. It will come."

Joel nodded, feeling better, "Thanks." He got up, "Now. I'm off to see some people about a steak." He stopped and turned around. "Oh, I thought doctors dictated their notes."

Nayef looked at his screen and keyboard, "I could dictate my observations, but I find typing keeps my thoughts better and..." he shrugged slightly, "It's cathartic. I prefer typing to dictating."

"You're welcome to speak to us anytime," Leah smiled, and her brow wrinkled. "A steak?"

Joel nodded, "That's right!" He left their office.

Joel did go to the lab where Manu and Andrea were working on something with an enlarged image of some cells Joel didn't recognize.

"Knock, knock," Joel said softly so not to scare them. "Is this a good time?"

Manu looked up and frowned, "Is this a good time!? Of course not, Commander!" He waved at the screen image. "We're in the middle of something critical!" Then his face brightened as he threw his arms out and tightly hugged Joel. "Joel! You're always welcome any time." He grinned at his friend. "Were you even a little worried?"

Joel shook his head grinning, "No." He pointed at Manu's left eye, "When you're trying to pull my leg, there's a slight twitch in this eye." He pointed to Kiri sitting on the floor nearby playing with the little bulldog puppy that Kiri apparently had adopted as her own. The puppy was a tough little dog who didn't mind the pulls and prodding fingers of Kiri. Rather he, or was it a she? The puppy had adopted Kiri, as well. He saw no gender on the puppy to tell. To be crude, there was no anus, either. Joel couldn't see the robot about the puppy except for those missing things. "Kiri wasn't bothered at all." Joel looked at her and smiled, waving, "Hi, Kiri!"

The toddler looked up and smiled at Joel and pointed at the puppy, "Bebe du."

Andrea chuckled, "That's baby dog for you and me."

Joel nodded, smiling more, "Yes, he's a baby dog. He loves you. I can tell." Kiri squealed slightly and brought the puppy in to hug tightly. "And you love the baby dog, too." He looked at Manu. "No, I've known you a while, so, no, I was never worried."

"Damn," Manu said in mocking glumness. He looked up at Joel, "You came to us because...?"

"Steak! Tenderloin!" Joel said quickly. "The recycled paste you made for the Harpy Lander was great. Wei told me you have a steak you can make from recycled foods and waste. Is that true?"

Andrea chuckled, "E ipo, don't tease Joel."

Joel knew e ipo was the Maori term for darling. "Yeah, don't do that, e ipo. Can you make a steak out of plants or recycled material?"

Andrea smiled, "You tell us. How do you like your steak cooked?"

"Medium rare," Joel answered.

She went to a lab counter and said something Joel knew was to Athena. Just another facet of Athena all over the Ark. She came back and crossed her arms over her chest, "It will take a couple of minutes." She smiled, "So, you liked what we gave you on the Harpy? You had the Jambalaya paste, right?"

"I did," Joel nodded quickly. "My sons call it poop paste."

"They are mostly right," Manu grinned. "But not totally."

"You can do that with recycled material?" Joel sighed, "We're bringing life from Earth to kill it and eat it? That sort of seems wrong, doesn't it? I know we're carnivores but...I know they had that near-meat on Earth. That was near, but not meat. It also didn't have the taste sometimes. Have you improved it?"

"We're getting there," Andrea said.

"Welcome to the enlightened, brother!" Manu hugged Joel again.

"I'll be more enlightened if you can replicate my pulled pork barbeque!" Joel stated. "I feel less guilty about fish, shrimp, crab and if you can do that with crawfish, I'm there!"

Manu chuckled, "We're working on it!"

"Beef was a little difficult," Andrea said. "About ten thousand years ago we brought the Aurochs to our farms and with selected breeding created the domestic cows for meat and dairy products, breeding them to make the best yields. The pig was through two separate sources of boar about the same time."

"I missed that subject in school," Joel confessed.

"Ground meat is a little easier," Manu told Joel. "Steak is a little more difficult. Chicken is easier, but we do so much with chicken, baking, frying, like you do in the United States' South. Getting the molecular structure of these meats is not hard either. We do the same with the gases on Gaea, changing the structure of the gas to make it breathable. But really, the pulled pork is really about the sauce you give it, isn't it?"

"The steak you crave is seasoned meat and cooked over a fire with certain wood, right?" Andrea asked.

"Yes," Joel nodded to Manu and turned to Andrea, "and yes."

"Do you add sauce to your steak?" Manu asked knowing the answer.

"Well," Joel admitted, "Not the first bite. I sort of want the first bite to be virgin. No sauce. I add some after that knowing how much enhancement is needed."

"You taste if it was cooked over hickory or applewood," Andrea asked.

"Sure," Joel answered.

"The shrimp, fish, crab, and crawfish," Andrea began, "Do you add tartar sauce or cocktail sauce?"

"Sure," Joel answered. "Except for lobster and crawfish. Clarified butter for lobster. I make a special Cajun sauce for the crawfish."

"And you still might!" Andrea heard the beep from the counter. "Your steak is ready. Close your eyes and open up. I want to feed you the first bite."

Joel's eye narrowed, "Why?"

"Because your eyes will lie to you," Andrea said firmly. "We don't want your opinion influenced by what you see."

"Okay," Joel did what he was instructed and yes, he swore he smelled a cooked steak.

"Open up," Andrea instructed again.

He did and he felt Andrea put a forkful of something warm in his mouth. Biting down, he tasted something that tasted like a tenderloin steak. He began chewing. The consistency was not quite what he was used to. He did chew and there were juices splashing in his mouth that did taste like a tenderloin steak...almost. There was the salt taste and flavoring of a seasoned piece of meat. Sort of. He nodded, "I can taste it. It's nearly there. It's good, but I didn't get to chew it like I'm used to. Can I open my eyes now?"

"Sure," Manu answered, laughing lightly.

Joel looked at a plate with what looked like a piece of bologna or other cold cut meat. It was thick as a steak, but lighter than a steak would be. Yes, his eyes would have told him that wasn't a steak. "I see where the problem would have been."

"We have duplicated the structure of a tenderloin steak," Andrea explained. "Getting it to look like a steak is the problem. Our first impression of food is with our eyes, then our nose, and finally taste. We're working on that first problem. We'll solve it."

Joel grinned, "I'm willing to be your guinea pig."

Manu looked up at the ceiling, "You heard that, Athena?"

"I did," Athena said back.

"Get a pulled pork barbeque sandwich with Carolina sweet mustard barbeque sauce and there you go!" Joel took the plate and fork from Andrea, "Have you got some steak sauce? This is good."