Ark II, Launch

Story: Ark II

Chapter: 21 Shakespeare

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

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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A glimpse deeper into the lives of those on the Ark II. Definition of the family unit. Explanation of laws. What is their lives composed of when not working to bring life to Gaea? This day is warmer than they thought it would be! It's 37 degrees now! Old Man Winter is not letting go!

Joel went to the area where the drone to Tau Ceti was to be launched. He made sure he looked at the large monitor. The room they were in had no ports, windows, or whatever...the rotating of the Ark, versus the stationary image they looked at would have given people motion sickness. Joel had a pretty steady constitution, but it made him a little queasy after a few moments. Especially with Gaea just outside the Ark as it moved. Yes, he knew Gaea was moving as it rotated and in its orbit. The Habitat Ring was moving around and THAT was what upset many people's equilibrium. Thus, the motion sickness! It was less spectacular than the first drone launched, but the drone to Tau Ceti was soon on its way. The one returning from Earth's system was a few hours away from its return.

Joel looked at his friends who sent the drone out. "We know Ark IV was heading for Canis Minor. Is our sensor ready to detect where Ark IV went? Which planet?"

Rita was there and gave a grudging nod, "Yes, the ion trail should still be detectable. The ions they left behind should tell us where that Ark went."

"Should," Joel repeated more as a question.

Rita shrugged, "The sensors are sensitive enough. Athena should be able to find the direction to follow." She chuckled. "Should."

"It wasn't that long ago," Hank said to clear things up. He waved out of their Ark. "Ours is still out there."

Now, Joel had another concern, "It is?" He went further, "Can we do something about that?"

Hank's eyes widened, "Engineer." He pressed his hand to his chest and touched Rita, "Computer Science." He held his hand to Joder, "Power." He looked at Alejandro, "Can you answer Joel's question, Propulsion?"

Alejandro chuckled, "You want to dissipate the ion trail?" He asked Joel who was nodding. "I don't think anyone has attempted that. I'll have to look into it."

Joel nodded, "If WE can track THEM, they could track US! I think it's important that they can't do that." He held his hand up, "Not this soon but WE are!" He stated. He sighed, "We don't know what they've brought with them. We don't know what level of technology they brought and is able to do." He waved at Alejandro, "Can any scientist on either of those Arks do what you have?" He shook his head, "We don't know that they can, or that they can't." He began to pace in a circle as he said out loud. "The military person inside me tells me they MIGHT!" He pointed out toward space. "We can't take that chance!" He nodded, "I've said it. They will come eventually. I promise you. They may be friendly and nice," he looked at them with his head slightly cocked, "I'm not willing to take that chance, because they might not be. I won't beat the horse as it's just a little sick, I ain't beating it when it's sick. Certainly, not after it's dead. Are you willing to take that chance?" He again stretched his arm out toward the space beyond. "We will be in stasis for almost two centuries! I am NOT getting caught with my pants down!"

No one said a word at first, but a few heads shook. It was Hank that found his voice first, "You Southerners and your sayings!"

Joel grinned, "Beating a dead horse isn't a Southern idiom." Joel thought a second and shook his head. "In fact, I don't know if it originated in the United States at all!" He chuckled, "It's a discussed issue and there's no need to talk about it anymore."

Hank nodded, "Okay, so why are you bringing it up again?"

Joel threw his arms out in futility, "Because I feel it's NOT a fully discussed issue! We're not done with it. Thus, the horse that's a little sick. Since the horse is the first means of transportation for man..."

Sara Beth entered the area along with Dana and Nancy Crenshaw. They were followed by Matt and Mark Koval.

"I wanted to tell you," Dana began, "that Nancy and I are willing to do what we were asked to do," she smiled. "I'm pregnant."

Joel looked at her and he was a little surprised. Since Matt and Mark were there, he assumed they were involved. "Okay, that's wonderful." He pointed at them. "Matt, Mark, you are here with them because you did it? Combining Dana's and Nancy's DNA?"

"No," Matt chuckled as he shook his head. "Dana and Mark combined THEIR DNA."

"Dana and Mark," Joder repeated. "The two of you conceived in the traditional way." He said to understand.

Dana laughed at the statement and shook her head, "Mark and I didn't have the traditional sex, if that's what you mean." She touched Mark on the shoulder, and he smiled at her. Dana looked up again at those originally in the area. "It was done by adding his sperm to me, but we didn't have sex." She shrugged, "He's a brilliant and handsome man, but Nancy and Matt might not have approved. I had Mark's sperm inserted in me."

Nancy nodded, "Well, I had Matt's sperm inserted in me. We just haven't achieved making a baby this time. We'll try again."

Matt nodded, "With Dana and Mark having a baby; we thought it would be nice if Nancy and I had one, too." He shrugged. His head jutted in Dana's direction. "It worked with them."

"That doesn't mean Matt and I won't try to combine our DNA!" Mark said happily. "We'll try to combine Nancy's and Dana's DNA. Which means Dana's and Mark's son will have a half sibling with both our children!"

"When we get the two DNA to combine," Matt laughed. "You know we can!"

"Wow," Alejandro said quietly amazed. "You'll be a family."

Nancy nodded, "We are NOW!" She hugged Matt in a kind of...not so platonic hug and not with any passion couples displayed. "Matt and I will be parents to this child, as well." She touched her abdomen. "We'll try again." She shrugged, "We might have an announcement soon."

Hank looked somewhat confused, "So, this child will be related to the four of you through children that you have by you," he pointed at Matt, "and Mark and through a child by Dana and Nancy?" He asked.

"Yes," the four answered together.

"It's not THAT hard to understand," Rita told her husband laughing. "I can draw you a chart to show you."

"Maybe you should," Hank nodded. "It will help."

Sara Beth chuckled, "It is a bit difficult to follow."

Joel gave a grudging nod as he looked at Matt, Mark, Dana, and Nancy, "You will be the most different sort of family."

"But" Mark grinned, "we will be family!"

Matt shook his head grinning, "We ARE a family now!"

Joel laughed lightly, "We all are a sort of family. My sons refer to you all as aunts and uncles. To them, each of you are family!" He went to Dana. "Congratulations!"

Dana nodded, "Thank you." She looked at the screen that showed the drone and where it was in the solar system. "We didn't want to interrupt..."

Joel looked at the screen and shrugged, "It's no interruption. We're just keeping up with the Ark that went to Tau Ceti." He looked back at her. "You know we'll be sending a drone to Canis Minor next."

They nodded. Matt grinned, "How's that going?"

"Pretty well," Joel answered. "It's just what we need to do." Joel shrugged. He looked at Dana, "I was going to come to speak with you later."

"Oh?" Dana's smile faded a little, "Why?"

"Curiosity," Joel said simply. "Curiosity you can help with. You too Matt."

Dana nodded, "Any time." She smiled. "Do you want to ask us now?"

"Okay," Joel nodded and smiled. "Mark, and Matt were talking with me and showed me the robotic lemur they were going to use for the lemur they were growing in that artificial egg and womb. They told me it had successfully raised several lemurs in the past at teaching young lemurs how to be lemurs. There are several animals that need mothers to teach them how to be the animals they are. They need to be taught to hunt and gather food, defend themselves, and I'm sure a host of other things..." Joel saw Dana nod as he spoke, "How are the future elephants, tigers, lions, or even whales going to learn to be what they are? They will be born without parents! Are there robots able to do that?"

Dana chuckled and nodded, "There will be." Her head bobbed a bit hesitantly, "Well, there will be. First, for the predators, we will start with what they hunt. Before them we will start what they eat...grasses, insects, and other things. That's why we're starting the whole process after the air's breathable by starting with the plant life." Her finger rose for her point. "We're fast-forwarding the evolutionary process by starting in the ocean. Making a fertile area for plankton, simple plant life that can grow and thrive in." She shrugged, "The life that feeds off them has to have something to eat." She smiled, "The fish and other aquatic life that feed to them will be added. When they are at the correct numbers, we will add the other predator aquatic life such as dolphin, whales, and even sharks. The same with the animals on land. Grass, flowers, then insects, birds, rabbits, elephants, then we add the lions, tigers, and other predators. The predators will keep the quick breeding animals' numbers in check."

Joel nodded, "I get that, but we'll be adding the elephants and they communicate with each other. How is a robotic elephant mother going to communicate with the infant?" Joel chuckled and nodded in appreciation, "A very big infant, but she clearly communicates with her baby. She uses frequencies often too low for us to hear. And whale song, dolphin and their clicks and spoken sounds...how are we going to have a robotic mother communicate with their young? A baby elephant and a baby whale are BIG. Is there an artificial womb or egg large enough?" Joel's hands flew out helplessly. "I read the gestation time for elephants is ninety-five weeks! Newborn elephants weigh about two hundred and fifty pounds!" He looked at Matt, "That's a big baby! Humpback whale's pregnancy is almost twelve months! The newborn is over twelve feet! And there are bigger whales!"

Mark chuckled, "The mechanics of the artificial womb and egg are pretty well the same. We will have the material to make an egg or womb large enough."

"You're not rushing the gestation?" Joel asked.

Matt shook his head, "Even though the process is artificial, we aren't rushing anything and letting nature progress on its own. Giving the new life the nutrients, enzymes, and hormones needed for the new life to begin."

"Mothers of these new lives make sounds and even talk with their offspring," Nancy said. "We know from observation what's being said. We'll give them that, too."

"Okay," Joel nodded. "Butterflies migrate for a thousand miles. That's instinct, I know, but that will have changed here..."

Dana chuckled again and nodded, "And many of the animals migrate because of the moon's phase. Now, there will be two moons." She shrugged, "Things will have changed. Hopefully, that instinct will allow for that change. They should adjust. The larger animals, such as your whales, elephants, great cats...they will have to adjust, as well. Some like the sea turtles don't parent at all." She shrugged, "They come ashore, lay their eggs and leave. The eggs hatch and the baby turtles know to scramble like mad for the ocean. They should do well, but with no threat to them...that instinct may fade. Butterflies, most of what we have come from butterfly farms and that instinct may not be there." She looked at Joel carefully, "You are aware that some species might fail to make the transition?"

Joel nodded and sighed sadly, "Yes, I know."

"We're going to try and hedge that bet with the robotic mothers." Dana offered. "No, we can't really communicate, but we have recorded communications from mother to infant and when they are in similar situations, our robotic mothers will say the same thing to their infants. The responses from the infants are also recorded and the replies from the mothers are duplicated. Athena will be doing that. We could not do this without her."

Joel nodded, "Of course, we couldn't." He shrugged, "Thank you. I was just curious."

"You were," Dana smiled. "We have enough specialists to monitor what happens. Bringing the different species to this world is why we're here."

Dana did answer SOME of his questions. Yes, he knew that there were species that would NOT be brought back. That included plant life. When mankind had interfered with nature there were tragedies. The imports of the European starling were brought to the United States and became a problem. Kudzu! That annoying plants choked everything that didn't move! It went crazy in the South covering everything and hard to clear away. Australia! He recalled a problem with toads. Men thought rabbits that could eat the toads was a solution. The rabbits worked, but they reproduced...like rabbits! Every time mankind tried to do something they thought was for the best. It proved to be a disaster! Joel hoped and, yes, prayed they would do better this time. They would keep a close eye on Gaea, plants, and animals released here.

So far, things had been very positive with this Ark. The two thousand of the greatest minds would work together to make this work. He was about to beat the sick horse again. Hell, there was a team of horses he would beat and they were all sick. That he could think of these dangers is why he was put in charge. What was planned, and alternatives had to be considered. Joel was no scientist. He knew men! He was very aware of what man was capable of, bad and good. It was the bad he worried about.

He looked around the Habitat Ring and he always told himself they were VERY lucky. Very lucky. He strolled back to the Control Room where he would check the people from their parent system and saw the struggles. The accomplishments were few now. Their Ark was one of those accomplishments. He looked at the wide...corridor he walked. The natural looking light that was reflective of the time of day was comfortable. Sara Beth had added the trees, shrubbery, and flowers that looked like Spring. There were the bird and breeze sound that added to that touch of Spring. They were privileged! Joel was privileged!. If he hadn't been in a relationship with her, a brilliant woman, a doctor and scientist, he would NOT be here! The fact that they had three children, just as brilliant as their mother, the Nesmith family would not be here., The idea of having more children had solidified their selection to even BE on the Ark. They were in NO trouble at the moment. They had plenty to eat and could grow more. There was no crime...that he knew of. There really couldn't be crime here. The rigorous selection, background checks in the couple's histories, family for dissidents and diseases...the border had to be sure to be sure they would succeed. Again, men made mistakes.

He entered the Control Room and sat at his preferred screen., He could simply ask for what he wanted to see, but there was the keyboard he liked to use. He could silently ask questions and get answers only he could see. No one could simply stand by him and see the information on his screen. Computers had been around for hundreds of years and how they functioned had changed very little. Joel's keyboard was tailored to Joel with his keyboard divided and the reach for his fingers was wider apart than the beginner's keyboard. His sons had the standard keyboards with the letters and numbers in traditional places. After they learned that, they could have keyboards they wanted made. Kevin was reaching that point. Ian was still learning, but he was learning very quickly. Wei's keyboard and screen was in Chinese. Wei could read and type in English, but he was more comfortable working in Chinese. Alejandro typed and worked in Spanish...Joel thought. Adel in French. Kurt in German. Was Angus' computer and keyboard in Brogue or Gaelic? Joel would have to ask. Athena spoke all their languages, so there were no problems. They were all working together to make this happen.

Joel pulled up the information about Earth. The planet had been severely wounded, and it was struggling to recover. The areas hit by those terrible explosions were being isolated and treated. Radiation levels were still high and would be for a long while, but it was being worked on. Uncontaminated food and water were extremely expensive and hard to come by. Again, there were opportunists that used this for their advantage, making more money. Disease and hunger were thinning the population. Those that claimed to set the bombs off to save the worlds, Joel hoped they suffered! That was a horrible thought, but Joel was bitter. Earth was his home! He left it, yes, but he did it to save lives. Earth was in chaos. There were areas where civilization remained but were isolated. Most of the planet was a dysfunctional anarchy. Ark V, in the Antarctic was still in stasis and silent. The lunar colonies were overcrowded, and they raised their food, but depended on Earth and Mars to keep up with the demand. Mars was gaining power, but they were also overcrowded! The mines around Jupiter had the hydroponic farms but needed supplies from Mars. The asteroid mines were now looking for the icy asteroids! Clean water was more in demand than ANY metal or crystal. They had found water on the moon. They had found water on Mars. The people just needed more!

It was Human error! They made the mistakes, and a price was being demanded. Death, sickness, and suffering was THAT price!

Yes, the people on this Ark were VERY LUCKY! He felt like kissing the Ark and Athena. Athena was making this possible! He probably would. He stood up, "Athena, can you feel this?" He went to the wall and kissed the wall. There were others in the Control Room, and they were surprised at what Joel was doing. Puzzled.

Athena appeared in front of him, "I can. Am I to gather this is in gratitude for something?"

Joel nodded, "It IS! We owe you and the Ark everything! We live in luxury on this Ark. You are a parent. You provide us a place to live, food to eat..."

"Man built the Ark," Athena said. "You grew the food. YOU made this possible. Not me."

Joel smiled, "Yes, we built this Ark. We created you to help us do this. However, we couldn't do this as well without you. You are far more than a smart hammer. You are not a workhorse." He shrugged, "Even a workhorse needs to feel appreciated." He pointed at Athena, "You are SO appreciated!"

Athena smiled. She really smiled. "I have emotions of a sort. I'm not sure how I should feel now. It pleases me you value me as you do."

"You do so much for us," Joel said waving at her. "We could do it without you, but it would be harder. Our lives are in your hands. A reminder that I am fully aware of that and tell you how valuable you are never hurts." He shrugged. "I'd kiss YOU, but until you get a more solid form," he waved at the wall he'd kissed, "I'll have to settle for this way. Your sensors will have felt it, right?"

Athena genuinely laughed. She was becoming more Human all the time! "Yes, Joel. I can." She shook her head, "None of my initial programmers ever did this...or even thought to. Dr. Cavill talks to me...sometimes she touches the screen or pats the console, but no one's ever kissed me! I know it is an expression of love or affection and for gratitude."

Joel nodded, "That kiss is both!"

"Thank you, Joel." Athena stated happily.

Did he go overboard with this? He knew he did. He did it, not to make her into a goddess, but give her a reason to be more protective of them. Giving positive reinforcement opposed to negative reinforcement worked better with all Humans. His troops, his co-workers, his children...why not Athena? It didn't hurt. He wasn't bowing before her, but she needed to know she was appreciated. He waved at the others in the Control Room, "All of you. Thank you. We couldn't do this without you. You are appreciated."

Xolani nodded with a smile. "We're a team," he said simply and shrugged.

Joel held a cautionary hand out, "I'm just letting you know so we don't forget. No one is taken for granted."

Hank's grin came as he pressed both hands over his heart, "Aw, Joel," he said sweetly, "You DO care for us."

Joel gave a shrugging nod, "You KNOW I do!" He smiled, "Here's another idiom, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar! Now, I'm not after flies, we haven't even had flies brought back yet! Positives cause positive results when working. That's what I'm giving you all. You do a great job." He looked at Athena, "All of you. I'm telling you I know that."

"And you do, too." Xolani said. "You're a great leader. You motivate loyalty and trust. Everyone loves you!"

Joel's heart swelled slightly from Xolani's words, "Thank you." A military man in leadership, being loved was not really a consideration. Loyalty and trust were. The people on the Ark weren't troops. The thought that he was loved really meant something to him. He was doing a good job.

The residents of this Ark had developed social norms. Humans were social creatures. Socializing with other Humans was normal. Occasionally, a family would NOT be in the Communal Dining Room for the evening meal preferring to eat alone as a family. It could be to strengthen the bonds of the family with parents and children or a romantic dinner between adults. Mostly they all ate together. While separated as families while there, they were in the Dining Room with others. Also, there were families that would occasionally dine together, like Hank, Rita, Chloe, and Rachel dining with Joel and Sara Beth, Kevin, Jimmy, Ian, Robbie, and Robot.

"Uncle Hank," Jimmy began. "Why don't you give Robot a real name?"

Hank looked a little surprised, "Robot IS his real name. Not just what he is."

Joel laughed lightly, "You will have to ask the original creators of the television series why. Irwin Allen came up with a story based on a nineteenth century story Swiss Family Robinson." He looked at his boys and Hank's and Rita's girls, "Have you read that story?" Then he looked at Hank and Rita. "Have you read it?"

Hank smiled and admittedly answered, "If I have to be honest, I have to say no. I did see that movie they made fifty years before we left, the three dimensional one where you wore the helmet and earphones that put you in as an observer."

Joel nodded, "I saw that one. I didn't care for the fact I couldn't see what I wanted to. You couldn't move where you wanted to and there were no breezes or smells." He shrugged, "Anyway, Irwin Allen put the Swiss Family Robinson into space. The name for Robot just was."

Chloe nodded, "Kind of like those men on Earth set this Ark into space like the story in the Bible about Noah and that Ark."

"Only this Ark has more than just two of each animal species," Kevin added.

"How would that have worked?" Jimmy asked. "Forget the animals, Noah had three sons. Even if each son had ten children each, who would those children marry to have kids? Their cousins? Wouldn't that cause problems? Look at the Romanovs! They had that blood disease passed on. Hemophilia?" He looked at his mother, "The son of the Czar and his wife had it badly." He shrugged, "Of course, he and the rest of the family were killed, but he almost died several times because of that disease."

Rachel frowned, "Is the story about the first Ark true?"

"Excellent question," Rita smiled. "One I don't believe there's an answer to." She looked at Joel and Sara Beth, "Do you know of an answer?"

Sara Beth shook her head, "No, I'm afraid not."

"We know there was a great flood," Joel said. "At least, there is a story about great floods in most cultures like China, India, and Native cultures in North and South America. Was there a flood? Most scientists believe there was a great deluge!" He saw his sons and Rita's daughter Rachel frown. "That's another word for flood or great amounts of water." Joel gave a grudging shrug, "It was supposed to be over five to seven thousand years ago. Did it happen? We don't know." He looked at Jimmy, "You're right. One family, even with the addition of Noah's daughters-in-laws' families DNA, that still wouldn't be enough diversification...." He saw there was no confusion with that word. Robbie and Robot were teaching them well!

"There were also the claims about finding the original Ark in Eastern Turkey," Sara Beth said. "Could it be the Ark? Was that originally Mount Ararat?" She shrugged. "No one knows for certain."

Joel frowned, "Things on Earth got a little crazy shortly after that." He said sadly. "All because Sarah decided what God meant about a son for Abraham."

Sara Beth rolled her eyes, "And here we go again. The trouble in the Middle East is Sarah's fault." She smiled at her husband tolerantly.

Joel looked mockingly offended, "Well, it was! She heard God promised Abraham a son, but surely that didn't mean it was to be HER son. That's why she sent Hagar to sleep with Abraham so HAGAR could have the son she and Abraham could raise." He leaned in and pointed the point finger at Kevin emphasizing each syllable, "That was a bad idea."

The children laughed at Joel.

"Ya think so?" Hank grinned at Joel.

Joel didn't break with his place in the story, but answered Hank, "I KNOW so, Hank ol' buddy. Hagar has Ishmael! Now, the wording in the Old Testament is a promise for Abraham's SEED becoming like the stars in the sky. Ishmael was a son of Abraham's seed! He was the father of the Arab nations! Isaac, the son of SARAH and Abraham is the father of the Jewish Nation and those two have been fighting for THOUSANDS of years!"

"BUT!" Sara Beth said loud causing Joel's eyebrows to rise, "Abraham had two OTHER wives!" She smiled at Joel's expression, "Yes, there was Keturah and Milcah!"

Ian's eyes widened, "He had four WIVES? In the Bible!?"

"Yes, he did." Sara Beth answered. "King Solomon had hundreds of wives and hundreds of concubines!"

"What's a concubine?" Jimmy asked.

"Women bound to a man that he did not marry," Sara Beth answered.

Joel nodded, "True." He pointed at Chloe. "For them. In Jewish culture, a Jew has to be born of a Jew. In Native cultures in North and South America..." he paused, "I don't know about South American Native cultures." He went on. "Those marriages with them weren't always permanent. Wives in many tribes had other husbands."

Rita chuckled, "We're sort of rewriting the rules with modern families on the Ark."

Sara Beth smiled and nodded, "Nancy, Dana, Matt, and Mark are certainly doing that."

Hank smiled knowingly, "They could have a wedding!"

Joel shook his head, "Matt and Mark had a wedding. Nancy and Dana had a wedding.. You want a wedding for the FOUR of them!?"

Hank shrugged, "Why not?" He grinned and stage whispered, covering the side of his face the children could see and pointed at them in mocking discretion. "Are they going to not to be legally married? If so, by whom? You? You are the captain of this Ark so..."

Chloe grimaced, "You know we can see and HEAR you, Dad."

Rita smiled at her daughter, "He knows. Why do you give him the satisfaction?"

Chloe grinned, "Because it makes him happy." She shrugged and batted her eyes at Hank.

"Hell!" Hank said suddenly, "I can barely handle ONE wife!"

"The POINT," Joel said loud to get them back to the first question, "is Robot wasn't given a formal name, but called Robot as a form of affection." He looked at Robot. "Isn't that right, Robot?"

"I assume that is the case, Commander Joel," Robot replied. "I am told frequently by members of the Cavill Family that is what they feel. I have no reason to think it is a deception."

Hank looked at Robot, "I tell you I love you all the time! I've cuddled with you!"

Joel chuckled and motioned toward Robbie, "I do with Robbie! I always have. He's bigger now, but I still do." He motioned toward Ian, "I see Ian hugging Robbie's leg frequently!"

Hank nodded, "Rachel AND Chloe put their arms around Robot! Rita kisses him on his faceplate!"

Joel thumbed in Sara Beth's direction, "She kisses Robbie, too!"

"I treasure each one," Robbie added. "I am truly made to feel a part of the Nesmith Family."

"You were that before I was, Robbie!" Sara Beth added.

"Oh!" Jimmy exclaimed suddenly, "Dad!"

"What?" Joel replied in the same way.

"Aunt Medika is almost ready for Athena's robot body to be launched!" Jimmy said excited. "You should SEE it!"

"Really?" Joel asked and was truly amazed. "I'll have to come by tomorrow."

"Why not tonight?" Jimmy asked irritated.

"Because there's a play tonight," Sara Beth answered. "You know this."

"Shakespeare," Jimmy grumbled and slid down slightly in his chair in a pout.

Sara Beth chuckled and nodded, "Yes, it is. Tonight, they're doing a Mid-Summer Night's Dream. It's a comedy."

Joel smiled, "I wonder who will play Puck." He looked at his son, "You'll love him. I do."

"Puck?" Ian asked seeing his father's face. "Who is he?"

"Puck is a fairy," Joel answered. "I'm not going to give it away, but every time I've seen it, Puck is one of the funniest in the play. He is mischievous. He and his brother Mustardseed live in the forest. There were pranks pulled on a troupe of actors who were going to perform for a wedding!"

Kevin's head shrugged away, "I've read some things by Shakespeare. It doesn't make sense!"

Rita smiled and said, "It's written in English."

"Not any English I've heard," Chloe complained.

"It's written in early modern English," Sara Beth said. "It just takes a few seconds for your mind to reset to understand it."

Hank nodded, "It's the job of the actors tonight to set the scenes and deliver the lines of the play correctly so you DO understand. They set the mood for those scenes."

"Our children are very smart," Joel said proudly. He looked at them, "Just relax and let yourselves understand it. William Shakespeare wrote his tragedies, comedies, and sonnets at the end of the sixteenth century and into the beginning of the seventeenth century. Languages solidified with the beginning of the media age. Movies and television caused the languages to stop changing as much." He thought a moment, "Language will change as new words are added as technology changes, but essentially will remain unchanged." He brightened. "Just give tonight's play and those chosen as the characters a chance. You might be surprised that humor, customs, and other parts of Human life hasn't changed in all this time."

"Dad," Kevin said solemnly.

Joel felt the change coming in the way his son began. It was in his voice. "Yes?"

"When I marry," Kevin began. "Will that marriage be legal?" He went on before Joel had time to give an answer. "I know you as Commander of the Ark has the same power as any captain of any vessel. You can officiate the wedding, but will it be legal?" His head wavered in a bit of frustration. "I mean, are there laws about this? If anyone on the Ark does something they shouldn't...who's going to enforce that law? If they have to be put in jail, where will they go? Do we even have a jail!? We don't even have police! If we get police, what law are they enforcing?"

"Wow," Joel said in awe sitting back a little. "Such questions at the dinner table!"

Kevin smiled and waved at Hank and his father, "Well, you and Uncle Hank started me thinking! Then Mom and Aunt Rita talked about Abraham's wives...and I had a question and you said anytime we had questions we should ask..."

Kevin was growing up! Joel nodded, "And I mean it."

"Uncle Hank said Uncle Matt, Uncle Mark, Aunt Nancy, and Aunt Dana should all marry," Kevin explained. "They couldn't on Earth! It wouldn't be legal! Would it be legal on the Ark? Are there laws we have on the Ark?"

Joel nodded and thought about how to answer the various questions to be clear. "Well, it is if we say so." He sighed. "The Ark's command structure was set up on Maritime Rules and laws." He looked at the children at the table. "That's laws and rules used on ships at sea that are thousands of years old. The captains of those ships were like kings on those vessels. They made the rules and enforced them by the crew." He waved at Hank, "I made Uncle Hank as my next in command by those rules. I felt that if something were to happen and I couldn't do what needed to be done and I was incapacitated, he would be the best to take control and do what's necessary." He leaned his forearms against that table. He knew better than to put his elbows on the table. That was not allowed in his home. Someone had said not to and that was another example of a rule enforced by an authority. He was even unconsciously following that rule. Manners were ingrained! "We are a world unto ourselves. Our world and our laws." Joel shrugged. "Even captains were held accountable for actions that were against the law of their home countries. We don't have anyone to hold me accountable." He looked at Hank. "I have the others on the Ark that will hold me accountable to them." He shrugged a grudging nod, "I try to make the correct decisions to better the lives of the people on the Ark." He sighed again. "All of the residents are intelligent people. They carry with them the morals and laws they were raised with. There is a code of conduct for the Ark. Whether they follow those codes is again up to them." He frowned. "The people on Ark III, Ark IV, and even Earth, the Lunar Colonies, Mars, and the mines around Jupiter did not follow the rules set up. They broke laws and rebelled even. Ark III and IV had mutinies, I think." He looked at the children. "You know a mutiny is when the crew think the captain is doing something he or she is doing something wrong and refuse to obey?" He smiled at the nods he got. "Good! I will try not to do anything to mutiny about. Anyway, the rules are basic. What you have is yours. No one has the right to take it. They can't hurt you to get it. No one should hurt anyone for ANY reason unless there is no other choice. Even if they are mad with each other. No one has the right to kill ANYONE, again, unless there is no other choice because they might kill YOU."

"Who is going to make sure we do that?" Kevin asked.

"You are." Joel said simply and watched his son's eyes widen. Joel chuckled, "We ALL are. There is a system outlined that we would follow. If there a resolution needed, the department heads and a designated second will sit in judgement. Consequences will be enforced. By us. WE are the law here." Joel shrugged, "If Uncle Matt, Uncle Mark, Aunt Nancy, and Aunt Dana want to be married...who cares? They are married if we say they are." He looked closer at Kevin, "Does that answer your question? Or, at least partly so?"

Kevin looked a bit better and nodded reluctantly, "I guess."

Joel put his hand over Kevin's unused hand for the moment, "If there is anything you need cleared up or don't understand, I will try to clear it up." He waved at Sara Beth, "Or ask your Mom." He grinned at Hank and Rita. "Can he come to the two of you?"

Hank looked mockingly offended, "How can you ask us!?" He smiled at Kevin and the other children. "We may not have answers, but you can ask us. We might know who you CAN ask."

Sara Beth added, "Be prepared, there are some questions no one can answer."

"We're reasoning creatures," Joel pointed out. "Any question we can't answer, we'll reason it out!"

"We'd better hurry," Sara Beth said looking around as the other families were putting their dirty plates and unfinished meals in the recycler. "They'll be setting up the stage soon."

The lights in the Dining Area dimmed and a spotlight appeared as Andrea came out. The play began with a verbal introduction of what the actors were doing.

Andrea began, "The play begins in Athens of ancient Greece. Theseus', the Duke of Athens and Hippolyta's, Queen of the Amazons wedding day is fast approaching." She waved her hand and said, "William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream!" The lights dimmed further and only brightened as two people walked onto the center of the stage.

Those watching this play applauded as the first characters came out. The set was projected by Athena! (How appropriate was that?) Greek columns were in the background as birds sang. They wore toga-like robes! Not the coveralls! Elegant and fitting. Darrin Walters was Theseus who wore purple over his white toga and Adel Lavigne was Hippolyta who wore blue!

"Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace, four happy days bring in another moon!" Theseus stated happily and from then on out, the lines were delivered very well.

In a few more lines, Joel looked at his sons. Not one seemed to have any lack of understanding. He looked to where Hank, Rita, and their family sat. Neither Chloe or Rachel had a confused look and seemed to follow it well. All of these actors were scientists! They were great! They delivered their lines with emotion and the language just flowed naturally!

Puck was not a scientist...yet. Etera, Manu's and Andrea's son played Puck. He wore a costume that looked as if it was woven out of bushes, tree limbs and wore a leafy green crown that had small flowers occasionally. Etera, his robe, and his wreath crown looked natural and totally wild! His skin also had a green tinge of color. Etera was hilarious! Mustardseed. Puck's younger brother...Puck was, at the time the play was written, four thousand years old! Any amount of time after that would be younger. Mustardseed was played by Alan, whose skin was also green, Nayef's and Leah's son. Bickering siblings were going to happen. His boys were laughing on their own with everyone else. The actors were wonderful! They were naturals. Had Joel missed something? He had NO idea they were doing this. They didn't have to ask him, but he had NO idea! None! He was delightfully surprised. Neither Alan nor Etera showed any sign of stage fright. This Ark was simply loaded with talented people! At the end and as the entire audience was standing, applauding, and shouts of "bravo" and "brava" came as the actors took their bows at the end. The scenery vanished and the lights returned to normal. The spell was broken.

After it was over, Joel went straight to Etera and Alan. "Okay, out with it!" He demanded and watched two pairs of eyebrows rise. "You were all practicing this before we LAUNCHED! Didn't you?"

Now, Etera laughed, and Alan shook his head.

"No," Alan chuckled. "About an hour or two a day for a week, Commander Joel."

"An hour or two for only a WEEK!?" Joel asked incredibly. "That was amazing!"

"Well," Alan complained and pointed at Etera. "He cheated!"

Etera looked surprised and annoyed, but it fit with the characters they just played. "I did not!"

"Ya did so!" Alan shot back. He looked at Joel and thumbed in Etera's direction. "He played Puck two years ago in school! He had his lines already memorized!"

Joel had to fight the smile that threatened to spread over his face. He had witnessed and mediated much worse from his sons.

"Is that MY fault?" Etera asked haughtily.

Joel chuckled and motioned his hands to them, waving them down, "You know the play is over, don't you? You don't have to remain in character." He touched them both on the shoulder, "You two were wonderful! I'm constantly surprised by the number of great talents on the Ark!" Joel saw Jimmy and Ian come over to him.

Alan and Etera were still in costume. Jimmy reached out and touched the nearest group of leaves and branch. "Wow," Jimmy smiled. "It even feels real!"

Ian did the same, "Mom would be so angry."

Etera shook his head, "It just looks and feels real."

Alan nodded, "It isn't. If it was," he pointed at Etera's head, "he'd be in trouble. That looks like poison ivy."

"I liked the two of you in the play," Jimmy said happily. "After it started, I forgot it WAS a play!"

Joel brought his son to him and hugged him loosely in a one-armed embrace. "You're supposed to."

"I loved the names!" Ian piped in, also happy. "You're Puck." He pointed at Alan, "Mustardseed." He looked over at Kim, green again, Alan's sister, "She's Cobweb. And there's Peaseblossom and Mote! You were very funny!" He said to Etera. He then frowned, "You were supposed to be fairies. Why did none of you have wings?"

Etera shrugged and smiled, "I guess all fairies don't need wings."

The only fairy who wasn't green was Brice, he did have wings...sort of. "He has wings." Joel observed pointing. "Only it doesn't seem he uses them to fly, but he wears them as a uniform or something." Brice played Oberon, King of the fairies. He wore elaborate robes that looked more like giant red butterfly wings! His cloak looked like giant butterfly wings folded down. Even his pants looked like purple edged copper butterfly wings. He forgot what the genus or the official name was. That theme continued over his chest. His head wore a crown of purple edged copper butterfly wings. There were two antler type horns or something that jutted out of Brice's head on both sides.

Adel walked over to Brice with Sara Beth and Kevin. Joel pointed at them as they came over. "Can I have a moment of your time, Your Majesty?" he said to Adel. The first scene she had worn a toga-like gown. Now, she wore a gown of sorts, but now she wore a battle breast plate of leather and gold. Her bear arms had the leather wrist bands. On her side was a sword and on her head she had a crown of gold that wrapped around her forehead and into her cascading hair. She was a queen. Queen of the Amazons!

The costumes were good! Very good. Joel knew the Ark had supplies and Athena's manufacturing facilities could make almost anything! Athena was named after the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess associated with wisdom and war. That was why they named the computer Athena! While she wasn't really Athena. She was the central intelligence that used her smarts to help them achieve what they were out here to do! She was also the defender against space debris and any other threat to the Ark. She COULD have been the real Athena. Their Athena was a real being!

Adel smiled back at Joel, "Of course."

"Why did I not know what you were doing this week?" Joel asked demanding in the best possible way. "You were terrific as Hippolyta! I had no idea!"

Brice bowed slightly to his wife, "If I may, Your Highness?"

"You may," Adel answered laughing a little and kissed her husband quickly.

Brice turned to Joel, "Because we didn't want you to." He said simply and shrugged.

Joel reached out toward Brice's costume and stopped, "May I?"

"Sure," Brice nodded.

Joel touched the monarch wing on the shoulder, "While I've never touched a real Monarch Butterfly's wing. This just feels real to me!"

Brice nodded, "We have Athena to thank for that."

Joel merely said, "Athena. If you could spare a moment?"

"Of course," Athena appeared.

Joel's head went back at seeing her. He knew she wasn't physically here yet, but she was dressed in a blue robe-like dress. A gold roped belt wrapped around her waist. A wide gold neckplate around her shoulders. She wore gold bracelets and her forearms had gold bands going up toward her elbows. Gold earrings and a small crown, and she held a gold shield with her left arm and in her right was a thick scroll. She was dressed as the Greek goddess Athena! "Wow!" Her thick black hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was beautiful! Joel's sons' communication skills were rubbing off on him. She was more Human than she'd ever been.

Athena looked down at herself, "I am not really the deity..."

Adel's and Brice's eyes grew. Brice said something first, "Are you sure?"

Athena suddenly changed into a elegant blue Greek blue gown. "I'm sure." She smiled. "This is me."

Joel nodded, "They're all you." He pointed at her, "Tomorrow I'll see what Medika and Scott have worked up for you."

Athena smiled, "I'm told it isn't finished, but..." she shrugged.

Joel smiled, "I look forward to seeing what they have." His left eye narrowed and he thumbed in the actors near him, "I was going to say how fabulous the costumes were. I assume you did this."

Athena nodded, "With Leif Andersen's help, yes." She smiled at the large man who descended from Vikings.

Joel looked at the Marine Biologist talking and laughing with his husband and other cast members. Joel smiled, "And the backgrounds? The structures of Athens, all new and not crumbling as I remember seeing?" He wavered a shrug. "The forest background for Puck and Mustardseed?" He waved at Scott Fleming, "I know Scott designed what we see where you're concerned. Did he design the background of this play?"

Athena nodded again smiling, "He did!" She confirmed.

Joel knew art and expression was encouraged among the brainy people. Science and math were needed, but these individual geniuses needed to have a well-rounded personality. Painting, music, sculpting...anything that required a person to express themselves was VERY important. Humor! Joel and Sara Beth insisted these people not only had the background in science but had humor and something with art in their background. All these on the Ark were those sorts of people.

"I was VERY impressed!" Hank came over with Rita and his daughters. He touched Chloe gently, "I will tell you, the next Shakespearian Play they perform will be Romeo and Juliet!" He looked at Chloe. "And you're looking at Juliet!"

Joel grinned at this. Chloe was a pretty girl. He could see her playing the part of Juliet and those star-crossed lovers.

"If I agree to play Juliet, Dad," Chloe reminded. Her lack of confidence as a teenager coming to the surface. "Speaking those lines in the way Shakespeare wrote them is hard."

Rita touched her daughter, "You have the meaning of those words and can deliver them naturally. That's talent."

Chloe was about the age of what they said Juliet had been. Romeo was about sixteen or seventeen! Juliet, however, was early in her teen years. Young women at that time were often given in marriage that young. Then again, Juliet and Romeo were fictional characters. Who said they had to be one age or another?

"I can't wait!" Sara Beth declared as her hands pressed together, and her excitement was contained.

"What other gems are being worked on?" Joel asked.

Brice looked at some others gathered, "Leah was the director of Midsummer Night's Dream." He waved in a direction, "Wei wants to direct some Edgar Allen Poe stories!"

Joel's eyes widened, "He does?" He grinned at Brice. "Nevermore!" He quoted the famous line everyone knew. Joel bounced, "Now, I can't wait!"

"Wait!?" Hank repeated. "I think you'll be IN some! You can act!" He waved his hand out, "You could be in the Pit and Pendulum!"

"And get sliced in half?" Joel asked.

"Or portray Dorian Gray!" Hank said. "Your picture could age and show injuries while you remain alive and whole!"

Sara Beth frowned, "These stories are so...dark!"

Joel nodded, "They are! Exposing our children to the dark side of Human nature is scary. They've witnessed this on Earth."

"So, we're bringing it out here?" Sara Beth asked waving toward the outside of the Ark.

Nayef nodded and hugged his son quickly, "Yes, the dark side of Humanity is horrible and not to be encouraged. However, it shouldn't be ignored. The dark part of Humanity is there and will be."

Leah nodded her agreement, "Many groups in the past..." she hesitated, "for the right reasons, tried to stop sin and the dark side by putting restrictions on people. Don't drink, don't dance, don't play cards, and DON'T have sex!" She shook her head, "Their intentions may have been positive, but they restricted the natural development of generations! Never drinking will make sure a person is never drunk, hurts their spouse or children, no dancing made sure arousal was never encouraged. No cards made sure no one gambled their source of food away and unable to pay rent remained untouched. Sex! We give birth to future generations who are ALL sexual beings. At birth many male infants get erections shortly after birth! They aren't sexually aroused, but their little bodies are working! They WILL have sex! It's up to the parents as older sexual beings to teach responsibility and instruct how and when."

Sara Beth grudged a shrugging shake of her head, "Joel and I have always been honest with our children about our bodies and even sex."

Joel nodded, too. "How will they know what's happening if we don't tell them?"

Nayef grinned, "Yes, so are we."

"But to show them horrors?" Sara Beth asked helplessly.

Nayef cocked his head, "I know you showed your sons the devastation of Earth after the bombs went off."

Sara Beth nodded, "With Joel and I right with them."

"And we did not show the bodies," Joel added.

"They may need to be shown that," Nayef said getting a stern look from Leah. "One day in the future!" Nayef qualified quickly. "Not right now!"

"There are many horrors in history," Leah continued calmly. "We want our children repulsed by this! They will be."

"Whether it be the many massacres and tortures done," Nayef added. "They should never be forgotten. Edgar Allan Poe's stories are very dark. Many stories by others are dark. Macbeth! William Shakespeare's tale of tragedy is very dark!"

Joel nodded and quoted, wringing his hands, "Out damned spot!"

Hank smiled, "You know your Shakespeare!"

"I better!" Joel grumbled. "I was at first force-fed Shakespeare." He shrugged. "Then I realized it was good! I enjoyed it! Julius Caesar! Hamlet!" He grinned, "And the other comedies such as Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It! I loved Bill Shakespeare!"

Sara Beth narrowed an eye and pointed at Joel, "Fine, but this shrew won't be tamed by you!" She stated.

Joel shook his head, "Nah, you tamed me."

"We'll just have to be sure we're there with our children when we do Poe!" Nayef said simply.

"And!" Joel interrupted on purpose. "Not to mention all of the adaptations we can do! Original stories! We have some talented people here! I love cinema, television, and plays!" He shrugged dramatically. "We can make our own cinematic movies and television shows! The possibilities are ENDLESS!!"

The evening ended nicely! Everyone was relaxed and no one was stressed anymore! The evening rituals in the Nesmith family continued.

Joel grinned as they went with Ian to put him to bed. "You know, Robbie," Joel said to his old friend. "The original Robbie was presented to the world on the movie Forbidden Planet. That was based on Shakespeare's play The Tempest."

Robbie turned to Joel, "I DID know that, Dad Joel."

Joel laughed, "I should remember, there's little you are unaware of." He patted Robbie on his metallic body, "You owe your existence to William Shakespeare, Irving Block, and Allen Alder! All creators of Forbidden Planet!"

Robbie was practically Human, "If they were alive, I would send them a thank you message."

Joel tilted away just a bit. He smiled, "You see!? This is why we all love you, Robbie! Me first, and last Ian!"

"My interactions with the family have honed my humor," Robbie said. "I know how we work. I try to keep my family happy."

Sara Beth smiled at Robbie, "And you DO!" She tilted him down and kissed him on his face plate.

In their bedroom, Joel smiled at Sara Beth, "Our friends Robbie, Robot, and Athena are becoming more and more Human! Athena is based on the Greek goddess Athena. Tonight, she showed pride in creating a totally, near authentic representation of Greece. Her costumes she created were spectacular! She made those to show her pride at being Greek!"

Sara Beth nodded, "Even if she isn't REALLY Greek! When she first appeared tonight as the goddess Athena. I wonder what part of her psyche that came from?" She looked puzzled at Joel. "She has to have a psyche."

Joel grinned, "She is a very sophisticated computer and programming. I don't know about her psyche." He saw Sara Beth act a little shy as she undressed. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Okay, what was just going through your mind?"

She bowed her head slightly and then looked back at Joel, "I always wanted to attract you, baby. I'm just..." she thought of a way to tell him. She lowered his hands over her very slight but growing swell. "I know my body is changing and I may not be attractive to you soon."

Joel turned her around gently, "YOU have GOT to be kidding." He smiled and waved towards their sons' rooms. "In those other rooms are three lives that you and I made together! Part of me and part of you. You've been pregnant three times before and I've never lost my attraction to you! You are carrying our daughter! You're beautiful! Gorgeous! I hope I've never made you feel less than beautiful. And definitely not when pregnant."

Sara Beth shook her head, "No, it's me." She sighed. "I don't know if it's the hormones or something else chemically, but I just feel..." she looked in his eyes, "a bit ugly."

"Ugly!?" Joel repeated stunned. "Honey, I don't think you could EVER be ugly!" He laughed lightly, "You tell those hormones to go to Hell!" He touched her swell again and said to Daylia. "You and your mama are beautiful!" He looked again to Sara Beth. "If anything. I'm jealous! You grow and carry our future INSIDE of you! You get to bond with our children before I do!"

Sara Beth laughed, "If they find a way for men to carry a child, you can, but until they do I'll have to."

Joel hugged her tightly, "I've read many things about expectant mothers. I read that a happy mother will make a happier baby. What can I do to make you happy right now?"

Sara Beth's smile held a hint of something she clearly desired, "You know making love makes me happy. And you now know that's not wrong, right?"

Joel nodded looking guilty and held his finger up to her, "Just because I was a little bothered when you were at forty weeks with Kevin..."

"I told you he had no teeth yet," Sara Beth forced him to look at her. "And don't tell me you weren't worried he'd bite your..."

"I was NOT worried Kevin would bite my Pecker off!" Joel said clearing up what she said over and over what she thought he was afraid of. "Nor am I afraid of traumatizing any of them! Sex is how they got here!" He began pointing at her again more, "And who was tired of being pregnant? You wanted sex to induce labor!"

"I got tired of carrying twelve to fifteen extra pounds!" Sara Beth shot back but was smiling as she did.

Joel's eyes widened and withdrew slightly, "Kevin only weighed about seven and a half pounds!"

Sara Beth nodded, "I know! I gave birth to him." She pointed her finger at Joel. "But it wasn't just Kevin! There was the placenta, umbilical cord, the amniotic fluid...I was so happy when my water broke!"

Joel was nodding as soon as she pointed that out, "And then the hard labor began."

"You know it!" Sara Beth said. "Kevin had me in labor for almost two days!!" She shook her head. "I wanted him out of me! Having all that weight resting on my bladder! I had to go to the bathroom every thirty minutes to an hour!"

Joel chuckled and nodded, "I remember."

"So, do I!" Sara Beth exclaimed. "And Kevin wasn't the biggest baby! Jimmy was over eight pounds and Ian was nearly ten pounds! Fortunately, their labors were shorter. Jimmy was only a day and Ian was just at ten hours."

"Well," Joel teased, "Matt and Mark have that contraption where we can have a child and you won't have to carry..."

"No!" Sara Beth said loud. "There is no substitute for natural Human mothering!" She sighed, "I am so glad Mark and Dana are having a child that Dana's carrying. Nancy will carry Matt's and her child." She smiled, "I hope once conception starts with Mark's and Matt's child from their combined DNA, once the gestation begins they will transfer the baby to either Dana or Nancy." She shrugged, "Hell, there are almost a thousand women on this Ark that could do that! The same for Dana's and Nancy's."

"Including you?" Joel grinned.

Sara Beth nodded, "I would." She smiled at Joel, "That would be number five if I do. Let me get Daylia here first. Then ask me that question." Her arms wrapped around Joel's neck. "That's one of the reasons a woman's center of gravity is lower than men. Men couldn't handle it."

Joel grinned, "Is that a challenge?"

Sara Beth shook her head, "Just stating facts. Now, you want to make me happy? I know you love me. Show me."

Joel smiled at her. "Gladly." He did harbor one fear that would rise again as Sara Beth reached the middle of her second trimester and certainly in her third and last trimester. He didn't want to crush their child! Sara Beth had told him not to worry about that and said maybe it would rush their baby out to have more room!

He and Sara Beth had a very good night. Joel did hold back a little on their vigorous love-making. He also didn't want Sara Beth to think he was treating her any differently. The days of the "little woman" who was giving birth were gone. Sara Beth was in great shape! In her mid-thirties she was in her prime! Her musculature had definition. Yes, she'd had three children! He knew her hips were just a bit wider than when they had first met. That was natural. She was neither fragile nor in a "delicate condition." There was an older doctor she worked with who was saying she was, and Sara Beth had to fight the desire to show him just how fragile and delicate she was by punching his lights out. "I'll show him I'm NOT delicate!" She didn't, of course. He was dead now, but she wanted to.

The day began as usual. Sara Beth and Joel had three very active and sometimes very noisy boys! That morning they were more noisy than usual.

"Last night was fun!" Ian stated. "That Puck was very funny."

Joel chuckled, "Yes, he was! He was a very mischievous fairy and always pulling pranks." He looked at his boys. "He kind of reminds me of some other boys I know." He threw his arms out. "Who knew? Shakespeare in space? A man from the sixteenth century would have his work nearly a thousand years ago appreciated out HERE!?"

Sara Beth laughed as she was munching on her toast and pickles! That morning sickness didn't seem bothered by the addition of pickles.

"Is there a pickle jelly?" Joel asked. He shrugged, "Or jam?"

"There is," Sara Beth nodded. "Usually, it is mixed with apple juice or pears. There is a relish." She said biting into her pickle. "I just prefer a simple pickle." She shrugged.

"Are you going to see what Ms. Medika has built for Athena?" Jimmy asked happily.

Joel nodded, "I intend to first thing," Joel looked at his middle son. "Which you have already seen. So, you won't want to come along." He said knowing the answer he would get.

"Dad!" Jimmy wailed. "Why can't I come? I've worked on her, too! As I'm working on Robbie's taste sensors!"

Joel smiled and pointed at Robbie, "Well, he is your instructor. You'll have to ask HIM!"

Jimmy turned to Robbie, "Please, can I go?"

Robbie turned his upper body toward Jimmy, "I do not want you to fall behind..."

Joel had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep his face straight. The Communal Dining Area was used to have all the young students localized. It also helped with their social development with each other. Lessons could be learned from their quarters! Then again, socialization was a lesson these young people needed, too.

"I won't!" Jimmy swore. "Pleeease!" He begged using that long version of the word please.

"I suppose there will be no harm," Robbie said.

Jimmy let out a short yelp of victory."

"Can I go?" Kevin asked.

"And me!" Ian added.

Robbie was looking at them and when Sara Beth said she was going, Robbie simply said, "I guess all of the Nesmith family is going. Including me."

Joel laughed, "And who will start the classes?"

"Robot is more than capable," Robbie said turning to Joel.

"Fine," Joel said and waved to his boys. "Let's finish breakfast and we'll all go see Athena's new body." He saw Sara Beth's eyes widen, so he added quickly, "You know what I mean."

They went up two levels to where Medika, Anthony, and others had set up to use as a lab and work area. There were several parts of various robots scattered around. Those parts were clearly for the Gardening Robots, Mining Robots, and others. Even a cat and dog robots. These were not a puppy or kitten. The dog was an adult German Shepherd, and the cat was an adult and completely white. The name Snowball came to mind. It was odd to see them motionless and without any life! Here they were truly robots. Their eyes were open, but showed nothing to say they were active.

"Good morning, Joel!" Anthony greeted.

Medika looked up from what she was working on and smiled, "The whole family is here." She looked at Robbie when she said that. "I think I know why you're here but tell me so I know for certain."

"We want to see Athena's new body!" Jimmy said quickly. "I was telling Dad and then Kevin wanted to come, then Ian..."

Medika smiled, "I get it." She looked concerned, "Aren't you missing school?"

Jimmy waved at Robbie, "One of my teachers is right here!" He stated, He then waved at the surrounding robots and parts, "This is better than any class!" He looked at Robbie, "Sorry, Robbie, but it IS! I learn more here than is school!"

"Because this is your interest," Robbie explained. "However, there are subjects such as math you still need. History, Literature, and English..."

"I am taking those subjects!" Jimmy said.

"...and languages such as Latin, Chemistry..." Robbie continued.

"You're wasting time discussing it!" Jimmy chastised.

Joel was not surprised when he heard his grandfather's and words he used himself coming out of Jimmy's mouth. He looked at Medika, "Can we see her?" Joel asked.

"Sure," Medika nodded and even with her, that exception, I've got a point finger rose up. "She's not finished."

Anthony stood proudly with his wife, "We are trying to make her as much alive as we are." He waved to a portion of the lab behind them, "Sight, hearing, touch should be in Human norms. That takes more concentrated sensors and processors. Jimmy and I have been working on her Gustatory Cortex. The part of her brain that will be able to taste. Signals from her taste buds, which contain Gustatory Cells, which send those signals to that part of the brain. Even Athena's brain." He waved them to follow him, "I'll show you. Come on."

Anthony and Medika led them to a separate section of the lab. Joel had images in his mind as to what this should look like. This workshop didn't disappoint. Joel was a victim of what he'd seen in many movies where robots and androids were being made. Westworld, the original movie was excellent. Even the series was pretty good. Futureworld. Only when they took the faceplates off to show they were robots, the sound of the hollow inside and there were no muscles or tendons. No muscles for the face to tell how the robots expressed emotion. Humans had sex with robots. It was expected. The female robot that one guy had sex with, the camera angle showed her face while he had sex with her. No expression! She was programmed to attract and respond like a Human woman. The required facial expressions. She had to flirt! She had to be soft to the touch. She had to know HOW to touch him! Or HER!! And what about the male robots? Men and women both were attracted to the gunslinger! Rough and tough men who were equally rough and tough in bed. Hydraulics could give the gunslinger an erection, sure. Maybe the male guest wanted to give the gunslinger his erection and put his erection in the gunslinger! The gunslinger HAD to let him. The man was the guest and paid major bucks to do it. Maybe the guest wanted a transexual. What then? The list went on and on.

Blade Runner! The first one! He loved that movie. Joel had a problem with the timeline. 2020 something, but for a society to develop with the merging of languages, synthetic humanoid robots that you had to test to find out if they were replicants. The level of sophistication technology-wise would take a few centuries, not decades! Even now in the twenty-fourth century they didn't have the flying cars. Nor was there a police force to "retire" rogue replicants. Why make the replicants attractive and just as smart if not smarter than Humans?

Cylons! Those three shows were very entertaining. The one at the beginning of the twenty-first century was more believable. Those Cylons had progressed so much they could not be told apart from Humans. They looked, sounded, and thought like Humans. They even created a female Cylon that had DNA? She mated with a male Human and gave birth to a hybrid? How? There were other robots and androids throughout the centuries in media. Robbie and Robot were copied from television shows and the movies, but they looked like robots! They were using robots to garden and mine. The Ark was a giant robot!

What Joel saw in the workshop, there were no eyes waiting to be inserted. There were segments set out. The torso of a woman lay on a worktable and covered with a cloth. They were respecting Athena as a person. Alive or robotic, Athena's dignity was being respected. There were bare arms on another table. Legs on another. The more startling was the head on one table. It was from the neck up and female! All of the parts said female. The covered chest and entire torso had the curved mounds that said breasts. Joel had no doubt the crotch area was female but covered as well. The arms and legs were elegant and feminine. The musculature was there, and the skin looked soft. The head was bald now and the eyelids closed. As was the mouth. The bust of a woman in her late twenties or early thirties with the sculpted cheekbones of a beautiful woman that was Athena! Ears and even eyebrows were there. Just no other hair...yet.

Anthony said quietly, "Athena, can you add yourself to this version of yourself?"

Now, the head came to life! The eyes opened and the chocolate brown eyes looked at them. The head even turned a little on the short neck. "Of course, Dr. Yates." Her voice was mechanized, but her mouth and lips moved appropriately.

Anthony chuckled and looked at Joel and his family, "She's behaving professionally. She calls me Tony when no one else is around." He looked at the head, "How are you this morning."

"I'm fine, Dr. Yates," Athena answered.

Anthony smiled, "I know you can see and hear everything on the Ark. Can you see and hear from in there?" He pointed at the head of Athena.

"Yes," Athena answered. "Vision and hearing are working fine." Her brown eyes turned to Joel. "I have not been fully assembled, but what do you think?"

Joel smiled, "You are beautiful, Athena."

Sara Beth was smiling, too. "Her voice?"

Medika nodded, "When we fully assemble Athena, she will have her vocal cords and sound more Human. Athena will be the most sophisticated robot or android we've ever even ATTEMPTEED!" She waved at Jimmy, "This little man has pushed us further and further to make this Athena as Human as possible! He is a real slavedriver!" She chuckled.

"So," Joel began, smiling, "He's not getting in the way."

Anthony's eyes widened, "What!?" He shook his head, "Oh, God no!" He touched Jimmy and shook him affectionately, "This little man is a HUGE help! He has a real GIFT with robotics!" He grudged a consenting nod, "He is having to learn more about computer programming to be sure the proper sequences are entered, but he learns FAST!" He waved at a screen nearby, "Show us the internal working of the proposed body please." The screen showed a female's body. It didn't look Human, but it didn't look robotic either. There were fluid muscles under the skin. Those muscles would make her movements like a Human. "The skin is a polymer that is stretchable and durable. There are transmitters throughout the skin and body that allow her to feel hot, cold, and a breeze!" He said excited. "If she stubs her toe, she will feel it! It she gets a cut, there won't be blood, but she will feel it and it will HEAL!" He turned to the screen, "Show the skeleton please." The organs, muscles, tendons all vanished. A metallic skeleton appeared, and the shape was very Human. Ribcage, arms, legs, spinal column, a skull was there and also, very Human. "This is a titanium and aluminum alloy. Very little could break any bone." He grinned, "Show the internal organs." There it was! Not Human, but damned close! He could see where there were lungs, of a sort. No heart, but something where the heart would be. It just didn't look like a Human heart. Stomach, esophagus, intestines, even a colon and bladder to release solid and liquid waste. "Jimmy wants to give Athena a true near-Human experience! Her heart needs to flutter when stimulated emotionally. She will taste and able to smell! She will enjoy the scent of a rose, not just give a chemical analysis!" He pointed at Robbie. "He wants you to be able to do that, too!" He turned again to the screen. "Show the brain please."

Again, it had sort of the structure of the Human brain. It had right and left hemispheres, but it lacked the wrinkles. The brain was smooth but segmented.

"She will have the same pain receptors, senses cortexes, and pleasure centers!" Anthony said excitedly. "She will practically BE Human!"

Joel reached out for an arm, stopped and asked, "Can I?" He asked Medika, Anthony, and Athena.

Medika nodded, Anthony said "Sure," and Athena said "Of course."

Joel picked up the arm. It was soft like a woman's skin and WARM! Not hot, but it felt ALIVE. It was even unattached to the torso. "It's warm!"

Medika nodded, "There is even a pulse!" He motioned for Joel to try it and see.

"It's not circulating BLOOD!" Sara Beth argued.

"No," Anthony acknowledged. "If she were ever questioned and tested, she would need one. She can cry, sweat, and any other function a Human body does." He nodded, "She can see better than a Human, hear better, has a sense of smell and touch better. She is even stronger than a Human. She can run faster, jump farther..."

"Damn!" Joel said softly in reverence. "I know there a TV show or movie with that statement." He looked at Athena's head. "Just stay on our side?"

Athena's head laughed, "I am and will be."