Ark II, Launch

Story: Ark II Chapter 27: Ulwaluko Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com) Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Leah felt a day or two when Hank and Joel didn't use the Neural-Interface was best. She did acknowledge what Sara Beth had said that the effects did alter the brain chemistry. That was the reason Sara Beth had refused to let them hook her up with the Neural-Interface. In theory, there should not be a problem for an infant in gestation. Sara Beth was not taking the chance even as remote as the chance was. Leah showed what was happening using the computer's images they could see. What Joel and Hank got inserted looked very much like a tiny, short little rod? It seemed to be a very short needle. The filaments were spreading from the insertion sites. These tiny lines grew from the filament "bullet?" The filaments wouldn't be thick. They were a miracle of science as nerve damage had been thought to be impossible to reverse . The discovery of the filaments, something the brain could send commands through was indeed miraculous! The first patient to successfully have these new filaments had her fingers restored to useful function after a devastating accident. And yes, it became very expensive. After her success, demand for these "artificial" nerves sored. The Earth's population was in the billions and there were millions, if not billions are requests to get the artificial nerves. There had been limited success with nerve transplants. These artificial nerves weren't rejected by the body.

Joel didn't feel different. Leah even showed the prediction as to what the filaments would look like. It would indeed look like a spider's web with new connections throughout his brain. Sara Beth would say they were like roots of a plant that spread down from seeds.

"Anything to tell me?" Leah asked smiling at Hank and Joel.

"No," Hank answered.

"I feel nothing," Joel admitted.

"Good," Leah nodded and then looked seriously at them, "I can guarantee you will as the filaments grow. Be aware of that. Almost all of the recipients did report an increase in clarity of thought and perception."

"Really?" Hank asked. "We will get smarter?"

Leah chuckled, "Your intelligence is already there, but you may find you can access more information more quickly."

"That's not a bad thing," Joel pointed out.

"Why the Hell haven't they done it with us before?" Hank demanded.

"Religions and conservative groups said this was unnatural," Leah confessed. "A cheat. While they had no objection to using these filaments to restore damaged nerves in the arm and leg...even the damage done to a person's face, putting these in a brain is extremely controversial. They even work as optic nerves!"

"A blind man can see," Hank nodded. "How is that unnatural?"

Leah shrugged, "I don't think it is!" She smiled, "The filaments do connect your eyes with the Occipital Lobe!"

"I got that," Hank said. "The blind can see!"

"We can't even do the Stinger Interface right now," Joel said sadly.

"I think it would be fine," Leah said. "I will just feel better doing it after the filaments fully formed."

"Fine," Joel nodded.

On the way back to the Control Room, Hank commented, "Perhaps this will improve brain function. Moving us from ten percent to a greater percent."

Joel nodded and smiled, "We'll see."

"I've got some structural thing to check on," Hank admitted. "We've got a rotating Habitat Ring that doesn't need anything to stop it. We have to keep rotating."

They entered the Control Room and assumed their positions to do just that.

Joel checked on the news from Earth, the Lunar Colony, Mars, the mines on the moons of Jupiter, Ark III on Tau Ceti. Earth was still dealing with the cleanup of Earth from the bombs. Mars was trying to keep order in the four biggest cities on Mars and the agricultural domes. Tau Ceti was just beginning to set things up. The people of Ark III were calling the planet they chose Terra. Referred to as New Terra, but usually just Terra.

Ark V was still in stasis underground in Antarctica. No activity from them. There was continued monitoring by computer of the Stasis Pods and security. Joel had no doubt there would be those still on Earth that would try to steal what was there for Ark V for reconstruction. He also knew those minds on Earth had fail safes in place to protect what was there. That didn't mean there would be no attempts.

Joel saw Wei and Toby Kirks, another structural engineer talking as they looked over the construction site for New Charleston. Joel was impressed by the sheer size the settlement would be. Twenty plus miles in diameter, that by itself was pretty big! It would rival the size of the original Charleston, South Carolina on the East Coast. Was it too big? No. While the population was just starting to grow, they would need room to be able to build more. Housing, work areas, shops, and industry. Farmland! Yes, they would grow crops in the hydro gardens, Sara Beth insisted land was the best for growing crops...after the nutrients were placed in the ground! Growing trees and other plants would be grown to keep the air recycling. Joel was looking forward to the growing trees, especially the oak trees! There were oak trees everywhere on Earth, but they became famous in the South. Particularly on the coast. Those ancient trees ladened with the Spanish Moss, like gray beards hanging from the branches like tinsel on a Christmas Tree! At least to Joel it was. His grandfather loved Charleston and the South. He told Joel about the Angel Oak. That tree was over seven hundred years old! It survived many hurricanes, except the one that destroyed Charleston. The branches were thicker than many trees' trunks and so heavy. People had to prop them up to keep them from breaking the limbs off. They had the genetic material for many trees. He would have loved the genetics of that tree. He toyed with the idea of making the oak tree the center of New Charleston. The Spanish Moss they probably had, but it needed the warm, moist, and salty air of the coast. All along the coast of the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean...it had to be tropical. He wasn't holding out hope for that. New Charleston would be warm, but was it warm enough? Joel was born in the South. He raised his sons in the South.

"Are you feeling anything?" Hank asked Joel.

"Not really," Joel answered. "Are you?"

Hank shrugged and waved it off, "I feel...something." He sighed. "Of course it could just be my imagination. Leah said we would and I'm inventing feelings I may not have. You know...the power of suggestion."

Joel grinned, "The again, you might really be feeling something." He pointed out.

The first of completed metal with the combined Boron Nitrate had been processed and sent to the Ark where some of it would be used for additional robots for mining and creating the Harpy-Stingers. It was becoming an assembly line of things that would be going on for a few years. Mining robots sent the ore up the space ladder, the ore was sent to the orbiting processor and smelter, the finished metal was sent to the Ark where it would be used. Keeping the Processor and Smelter off the planet kept any pollutants off Gaea and off the Ark. Any accident would not harm anyone.

Joel looked at the plans Wei and Toby were looking at with more detail in the middle of the air. New Charleston would be a small bubble of life on Gaea. Really, looking at the map and image of New Charleston, it didn't seem that big. Round, but not huge. Yet, he knew the land surface covered many, many miles. Yes, people like his grandfather had taught Joel miles instead of kilometers. Over three hundred and fifty square kilometers of land...acres and acres of land to build on and farm. Room enough for an expanding population. There were more and more of the female residents doing their part and conceiving infants. They would need the land! When he thought about it, was it enough? He grinned as Wei and Toby were chatting with excited, yet hushed voices to each other.

Joel walked over as Toby was pointing at the map and a highlighted section was brought into focus. "'...we will need for the wildlife preserve." He waved at the overall map, "We'll have farmland for the domesticated animals such as the cows, chickens, ducks..."

Wei nodded, "Which will have to be fed! Herbivores will have to have the plants grown for them to eat."

Joel grinned, "Maybe we need a bigger dome."

Toby smiled and grudged a nod, "We should not need a dome at all eventually, but some of these animal species will need closer watch at first. We'll have a kind of preserve everyone can come to."

"Wilder animals will come later," Wei pointed out. "After we get what they feed on up to a certain point."

"Lions, tigers and bears?" Joel laughed.

Wei laughed, "Yes, but also the anteater, who needs ants! Termites and other animals preyed upon." He grinned, "I know the Wizard of Oz. I got the reference." He looked at the map, "Of course, we could add domes to the surface to act as preserves away from our residential dome. Eventually, they will be breeding out on the surface."

Then Joel could smell something. It was not bad, but he knew was ginger and...cinnamon. "Okay," Joel said and sniffed the air. "I smell cinnamon and ginger."

Wei's eyes widened, "You do? We had a Mongolian breakfast bread this morning. That was hours ago!"

"Maybe," Joel nodded. "I can smell it. It's not bad, just surprising."

Wei was amazed but then, "I don't claim to know as much as some about the Human brain, but you were having that filament inserted. I assume you and Hank did."

Joel grudged a reluctant nod, "We did."

"I do know there are areas of the brain that interpret signals," Wei suggested. "Perhaps it is doing what it is intended to. Making the receptors in the brain more receptive."

Joel knew the interface piloting was to improve the pilot's response time. Interpreting what the computer's sensors could see or understand made an experienced pilot able to respond instantly, improving the success. The filaments conducted those impulses faster. He nodded at Wei, "It's just a bit much at first, such as the omnidirectional vision." He brightened, "Which you will experience soon."

"I bet it is," Toby agreed.

Wei smiled, "That youngest of yours blew me away last night."

Joel chuckled, "You and me both." He thought, "All our boys took lessons to learn an instrument." He grudged a nod, "Sara Beth insisted. I agreed, but I insisted we not pressure them into doing it. Kevin took the trumpet like I did. Jimmy learned to play the French horn and then switched to the violin." He shrugged, "neither of them stuck with it for more than two years." He smiled at the thought of Ian, "I don't think Ian will be giving it up anytime soon."

Wei smiled with a nod, "He's very talented to be so young!"

"I shouldn't be surprised," Joel admitted. "He was always humming and whistling to himself."

"The great composers began as early as two years of age," Toby said happily.

Hank had come up behind Joel, "Each of our children have something special." He said proudly. "Chloe is a mathematical genius! She's conquering Calculus, Trigonometry, and Physics..." He looked at Joel, "She's now delving into Biomathematics!"

Joel's head went back a little, "Really?" He knew how important that was for everything from medicine of Humans to the plants Sara Beth loved. They, and the very diseases could be broken down to mathematical formulas! Humans were very complicated. Biomathematics was for reading the very white blood cells to tell a doctor about an infection...and those numbers needed to be precise for the doctor to make the right diagnosis and give treatments! Chemistry levels in the body.

"I know!" Hank marveled at the surprising idea.

Joel smirked, "I don't know why that surprises you. You're an engineer! Numbers are your thing!" He waved his hands out, "The entire universe is numbers!" He grimaced, "But it makes me use that side of my brain I'm not fond of." He grinned, "But Ian is using the side of his brain I can relate to."

Hank's eyes suddenly widened, "Hey! Did we miss Easter?"

Joel was surprised by the question, "I think we've missed a few Easters, not to mention Passovers and other assorted other holidays. Many other holidays that aren't related to any religion. Why?"

Hank shrugged, "I dunno." He looked at them. "We mark the passing of each year with certain days. New Years, then Valentine's Day, Easter, then Christmas!"

"Don't forget Halloween, Thanksgiving, July Fourth," Toby added.

"And Arbor Day," Joel continued, "Labor Day..."

Wei grinned, "Don't forget Duanwu Jie and National Day!"

"And you guys in Canada have your Thanksgiving in early October!" Joel pointed out.

"Duanwu what?" Hank asked. "I never heard of it!"

Wei chuckled, "You may know as the Dragon Boat Festival. Qu Yuan, the famous Chinese poet who drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest of the Fall of Chu State. His home."

Hank shook his head, "I have no idea where that is."

Wei smiled bigger, "Well, that was almost three thousand years ago. It's now in the Hunan Province." He grudged a sad shrugging nod, "Assuming it's still there."

Joel nodded sympathetically, "It lives." Joel touched Wei on the chest, "because you remember it." He looked at Hank, "And when are we celebrating these many holidays? Out here, I mean?"

Wei smiled, "Duanwu Jie is the fifth day of the fifth month on the Gregorian Calendar..."

Joel was nodding, "...which doesn't really operate for us now out here!" He pointed at Wei, Hank, and Toby. "We need our own Gaean Calander and a formula to transfer any holiday to it. Perhaps we could put Chloe up to the task!"

Hank gave a nod and said proudly, "I know she can." Then he looked at Joel. "Are you getting anything..." he sought the word, "not really odd, but..."

"You didn't overhear?" Wei asked. "Joel can smell what we ate for breakfast! Hours ago!"

"I smelled two of the spices," Joel clarified.

"I put the suit on before I ate," Wei explained. "I cleaned my teeth and washed my hands."

Joel nodded, "Thank you for that. Bia cooked this morning."

Wei gave a grudging nod, "Not really." He smiled, "Lui heated the bread up. Bia pounded the dough out last night. The cinnamon was sprinkled on this morning."

"Fine," Joel muttered. "It was a collaborative effort." The he pointed at Wei, "My point was the spices were in the air and landed on you."

"Our sense of smell got stronger?" Hank asked.

Joel shook his head, "No, our ability to pick up odors are just able to sense more."

Hank nodded doubtfully, "And that makes us better pilots?"

"These new filaments make us the Stingers!" Joel explained. "Information comes in faster and better with the filaments and our response as in commands are clearer and faster." He shrugged. "Simple."

Hank shook his head, "Simple."

"Think of it as a magnifying glass for your brain," Joel suggested.

"Right," Hank said reluctantly as he nodded.

Wei chuckled, "You want to see what we've planned for the underwater part of New Charleston?"

Joel saw the proposed underwater addition to New Charleston. While not nearly the amount of space, it was a big complex where many could work on soon to be released aquatic life. Not just Steven and Leif, but many marine biologists and botanists. Laboratories and tanks to hold the new life before releasing them on Gaea. Access to the complex would be through a tunnel from New Charleston to Buyan.

"Buyan?" Joel asked seeing the name.

Wei shrugged, "It was Leif's suggestion. It is a mythical city that appears and disappears with the tide."

"Not Atlantis?" Hank asked.

Toby shook his head, "That was too obvious Leif said." He laughed lightly, "It's Russian." He pointed to a platform where people could enter or exit the complex. That platform could also be raised and lowered. "The whole complex can be raised or submerged...giving him the name idea."

Buyan had several levels and while not really a dome, it did have a portion that was covered by the clear Boron Nitrate cover. Under that dome people could work and had a large access "lagoon." Things such as whales could be ministered to and remain underwater, but able to breathe under the dome. "He said his maternal grandparents were Russian."

The Ark had the DNA of many people, but the gene pool they were getting the future men and women from were diverse. Many different ethnic groups were on the Ark. In a few generations those different groups would blend and merge creating another broader scope of mankind. Joel wished he could see it.

It had become expected. Almost every night someone was asked to perform something. Music, dance, plays or skits...every night someone did something.

As promised, Ian played the song he wrote for his mother. As with the song Ian composed for his father, having the strong chords and louder volume...Sara Beth's song had sweeping runs of notes, but somehow captured a sound that sounded like a lullaby. Softer sounds like a mother would sing her child to comfort, promising to watch over the child. It made sense. Sara Beth was the comforting one in the Nesmith family. Soothing hurt knees and hurt feelings ensuring that comfort to her child.

Joel was once again having to remind himself his son was FIVE!! This was far more than a simple song. Then again, he reminded himself that just like all his children, including Daylia, were raised hearing many composers' works from Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin...even Strauss! He had heard other more modern composers such as Rachmaninoff and even rock and roll. Abba for god's sake. Ian knew how to construct a song. To play these composers' music would take time to learn, but Ian was playing what he heard. Joel was feeling humble at his sons' brilliance and talents. How did he raise these boys to become good men? He and Sara Beth had agreed never to strike their children. Never. No matter what their sons...and coming daughter...never did they use violence to ensure certain behaviors. How could they? Joel couldn't show violence in war was unjustified when he used it with them? Their children weren't an enemy! At the same time, Joel wanted to teach that no one had the right to take anything from them! He hated it, but sometimes you had to fight back! That was what Joel did. He fought back those that would take.

Of course, he faced challenges to that stance many times! Even before he could talk, Kevin was his own person and didn't take "no" easily. Even Jimmy had tested his parents. If those two boys decided something was what they wanted, they were determined to get it! Kevin would be steered away and be right back to do whatever he wanted to do. Jimmy was sneaky. "Were they looking?" Joel almost heard his son's plotting to get what he wanted. Ian was unique. Joel wasn't fooled. His youngest son could have the horns grow out and become a little demon. Not often, but it happened. Empathy. If Sara Beth and Joel could get them to see what their actions did to another person, that was important.

Now, Joel felt the pressure to be the right kind of parent. Not only for his children, but all these brilliant children here. The additional parents on the Ark were counting on Joel to provide the correct environment for their children! However, Joel was more impressed with his children's talents.

No! Joel chastised himself. This was not just him! They were all a team. He noticed Kevin was impressed, but something was playing on his mind. Joel made a mental note to speak with him after this.

When it was over and they were all leaving to go to their homes, everyone came to speak with all the performers. Joel and Sara Beth came to Ian and hugged their son. Kevin and Jimmy hugged their brother and told him they were proud of him. When Xolani, Adam, and Lunga came to praise his student Joel had to ask.

"How did you manage to teach him all this so quickly?" Joel asked.

Sara Beth nodded, "You've only been teaching him a few weeks!"

Lunga's grin was a bit hesitant, "Well, Ian has the music in him." He shrugged, "When I began teaching him, all I did was show him where the notes were on the keyboard. He went from there on his own." He smiled at Ian, "He plays a lot by ear." He chuckled. "I taught him many pieces by Mozart and Beethoven. I play it and he will repeat it." He shrugged again. "He gets upset when he can't repeat it and works until he does." Then he looked annoyed at Ian. "However, I am trying to teach him the written notes, where they are in a measure and how to write it down." He looked very annoyed. "He is resistant."

Ian looked at Lunga, "It's hard to remember!" He offered an example, "It's a C, unless you add that sharp thing...which you don't if it's written in the key of D, and you put that in put that right after the treble clef. And there is the F sharp, too."

Lunga threw his hands out helplessly, "I told you, it's a language! If people want to play the Nesmith Overture, you have to write it down so they can!"

Ian frowned, not bothered by what Lunga said, "And don't forget the flats! The songs written in keys of flats!"

Lunga shook his head, "I told you, if you want to play a song written by Beethoven, he has to read it himself. I won't play it for him." He grinned a little maliciously, "I asked Athena not to play it for him to hear. Right, Athena?"

"Yes," Athena's voice came without Athena being there. "You did."

Sara Beth nodded, "I get that, but he's playing all the notes with the fingering!"

Lunga smiled and put his arm around Ian's shoulder, "There are many who like music. They appreciate all genres from classical to heavy metal. Some will even go so far as to take lessons to be able to perform music." He looked at Ian and smiled compassionately, "But there are few of us that seem to be born with the music in our souls." He smiled down at Ian. "I know a kindred spirit." Them he shook Ian lightly, "But you have to put in the work!"

Adam looked at his son understanding, "Like you did at five?" He chuckled.

Xolani nodded, "Getting him to practice was never the problem, but when it came to reading and know the four clefs, he was resistant."

Ian's eyes widened, "There's four clefs!? Not just the treble and bass clefs!?"

Lunga chuckled, "There is the alto clef and tenor clef. You don't really need them for piano music. If you have Ms. Rita playing the viola, you need the alto clef or tenor clef."

Ian looked exasperated, "That's crazy!"

"If you write a symphony, you will need them." Lunga stated. He looked at Joel and Sara Beth, "I would not be surprised to find out he has perfect pitch."

"Really?" Joel asked marveling.

"I showed him the keyboard and he went from there," Lunga shrugged.

"Who said that middle C was the middle?" Ian grumbled.

"It just is," Lunga stated.

Joel looked at Kevin again. He looked happy about what his brother could do, but there was something else Joel saw in his expression. When it calmed down Joel walked over to his eldest son. "What's wrong?"

Kevin looked surprised, "What? Nothing's wrong."

"I see something," Joel pointed out. "When your brother was playing and when everyone was talking about him, you had this look."

Kevin shook his head, "I think Ian was great! I know he's very talented."

"But..." Joel said probing deeper looking more directly into his son's eyes.

"Ian's only five years old!" Kevin almost whined. "Jimmy is so smart with the androids and robots!" He looked frustrated. "What have I got? I don't have nearly the smarts they do!" He complained.

Joel nodded, "I thought so." He put his arm around Kevin's shoulder. "Kevin, you are just as smart...maybe smarter." Joel chuckled, "Smarter than me! You can beat anyone at a game of chess. I won't play the game of Risk with you as you beat my ass all the time!"

Kevin's eyes grew.

"The other strategic games out there...be it board games or on the computer," Joel poked his son on the chest, "You beat everyone's ass! You are a leader, son! It's natural for you." He sighed, "I won't lie to you. This group of people are going to need leaders. I have no doubt that you are going to be one of the leaders in the future. There will be a government and you, Lunga, Alan, Chloe...all of your friends will be part of that government." He saw his son's eyes widen. "They may have other jobs. Science, Computer Science, Engineering, but they will be a part of that government. I know it." He tapped his son's chest. "I am sure you will be a good leader. Your mother and I raised you to be a good man. You are a good young man now. I have every confidence that you will be at the top."

"But you..." Kevin began in almost a panic. "I mean, you are in charge."

"And I plan to be around for a good while," Joel nodded. "I hope." He shrugged, "We're now breathing clean and fresh air, getting good food, and the lower pressures of living...I could live another good fifty or sixty years! But I won't want to be in charge. I can be one of several, but not in charge."

"You can't die, Dad," Kevin said.

Joel smiled. His son was growing up to be a man, but he was still his little boy most of the time. "I think you know we all die, son. I'm not planning to die anytime soon. It stinks, but it happens." He grinned. "If you are in charge, you'll understand why there are times I hate it. I will do all I can to be here when you have your children, and I can be here for their children!"

Kevin smiled a bit, but he was still cautious, "You were almost killed down on Gaea."

"I almost did," Joel nodded. "Thanks to your mother and Doctor Walters, Darrin I didn't." He hugged his son. "I love you, Kevin. What we are doing is dangerous. I promise my thoughts about doing this is all about you, your mother, your brothers, and now your sister."

Kevin smirked, "My children." He stated chuckling with doubt.

"Sure," Joel patted his back and held him out looking at him. "Don't tell me there is no one on this Ark you are attracted to! You're a Nesmith! Made up with my DNA. A Don Juan in the making. I don't care who as long as there is love and respect."

"Don Jaun?" Kevin grinned, "Who's that?"

"A character who was famous for seduction!" Joel said happily. "What is Robbie teaching you? He was a Seventeenth Century Libertine, also known as Don Giovanni. Look him up. He's a good example to follow." Joel shook Kevin lightly. "Anyway, I prefer to get to know your many children and grandchildren. You know our DNA is stored and there will be brothers and sisters of yours in the future. You will have them too. I want to know them." He brightened, "It's a rule that if they use the Nesmith DNA, the Nesmith name goes with it!"

Kevin smiled, "There is?"

Joel nodded, "There will be." He reassured Kevin. "I had Mark and Matt make it a rule." He looked at Kevin seriously. "Understand, you were born a sexual being. All Humans are. I just want you to be careful."

"Careful?" Kevin asked. "No one on the Ark has any decease. No one has the HIV virus..."

Joel nodded, "I know, but you can get a girl pregnant. If you're not ready to be a parent, you need to be careful."

"I thought you want us to have kids," Kevin pointed out.

Joel nodded but urgently added, "When you're ready to take care of a child. You'll see what's involved with Daylia." Joel stood and sighed. "I was terrified with every one of you."

"Terrified?'" Kevin asked, "I watched you and Mom with Ian. I was only two or three when Jimmy got here. Why were you scared?"

"To take care of a new life is a big responsibility," Joel admitted. "I was scared I couldn't do it but determined to do it. I wanted to be a good father. I needed to be a good father, but there are no manuals on how to be a father."

"I see lots of sites and books on how to be a parent," Kevin objected.

Joel nodded again, "Which you didn't read when you were a child! You didn't always follow the rule of behavior these doctors wrote about." He was smiling the whole time so Kevin knew Joel was never angry at him.

Kevin was smiling, but Joel could almost see the horns come out, "I don't know if you are a good father. You're the only one I've ever had!"

"This is my fault," Joel shook his head sadly, "You got that from me."

"What?" Kevin grinned.

"The mouth," Joel smirked. He looked around as everyone was leaving to go to their homes. "This isn't the place but...you are starting to go through a tough time in your life. Puberty. You've read about it, I'm sure. Your body is changing. I will be there to help you through it. I've been through it. Your mother and I have never lied to you or hid our bodies to you. I will guide you as someone who has been through it. I see it in you as your shoulders are widening. You will see someone and be fascinated by a part of their anatomy and thoughts of doing something with their anatomy is part of what you are. A sexual being. Even today there are parents who want to keep their children as children. They don't want their children to become what they inevitably will be. I accept you for what you are. I will answer any question you have, and there will be questions. You've seen me naked an know what will happen. It will happen with you." He sighed, "I know you are going to be a good leader. That is your talent. I'm proud of you." He put his arm around Kevin's shoulder. "I can see great things for all my sons. You just know, I am proud of you."

Kevin smiled. He was feeling much better hearing his father say that. "I don't need another father to know, Dad, you're the best."

Joel squeezed Kevin to him. Kevin was up to Joel's shoulder now. He would be as tall if not taller than he was! Kevin did the embarrassed "aw Dad" thing. He was pleased at the praise, but his head bowed slightly as he attempted to shrug it off. Then to at to the embarrassment, Joel planted a loud and noisy kiss on his right temple. Now Kevin was blushing even more. He started to pull away. Sara Beth walked up with Jimmy and Ian; she was smiling at what she saw.

"You'll never be too old where I won't kiss you," Joel stated. "I kissed you right after you were born and every day for over a decade! When you are as old as I am now and I'm an old man, I'll still be kissing you!' He pulled Kevin in and kissed him many times loudly on the face. "I love my sons!" He let Kevin go and did the same with Jimmy and Ian. "I love the people your mother and I made." He looked at Sara Beth, "That includes you Daylia! When you get here I'll be kissing you, too!" Sara Beth chuckled and ran her hand over the slight swell at her abdomen. "I love you!" He kissed Ian again, "I love you!" He said and kissed Jimmy, "I love you!" He said to Kevin. Then he tenderly kissed Sara Beth, "And I love you the most."

Sara Beth smiled and stroked Joel's face, "I know you do. I love you."

Rob was there now and said, "Don't I get one?"

Joel shook his head, "No." Then he pulled Rob who was looking a bit disappointed. "You get one from everyone in the Nesmith family." Joel said and kissed Rob on the temple, Sara Beth kissed his cheek and so did the boys. He looked at Robbie, "And you, too."

"You kissed me as Rob," Robbie said not understanding.

"We love all that's you!" Jimmy clarified.

"We aren't taking the risk on singling any of you out," Kevin explained. "Displays of affection for our family happen, even in public."

Joel had to smile at this. It was every man desire to have a safe environment to raise a family. He had a beautiful, brilliant wife who was happy. He had three equally brilliant sons who were happy. A daughter on the way and he knew he would treat that daughter differently. He wouldn't mean to, but he would. They strolled easily to their home.

"Dad," Jimmy began as they walked. "I know you want to treat Robbie like a person and not a servant." He looked hesitantly at Joel, "But aren't the A2s just for that? They are servants that are really extensions of Athena."

"Okay," Joel answered waiting for the point.

"We have three running now," Jimmy went further. "We are going to create more. Why shouldn't every family on the Ark utilize them?" He hurried on, "Every family here has two scientists, doctors, engineers in the family. Why should one of the parents have to stop to go back to their quarters to prepare a meal for the family?" He stopped making all of them stop. "Each of these doctors, scientists, and engineers can work on what they're doing and not worry that a meal will be ready for the kids. Uncle Nayef and Aunt Leah could be at a critical point in therapy. An A2 would be in their quarters cooking dinner for Alan and Kim." He took a breath, "Uncle Manu and Aunt Andrea would have someone there for Etera and Kiri." He grudged a shrug, "Etera will say he doesn't need anyone to watch him. He can cook for himself, but Kiri is a baby..."

Joel chuckled as he brought a hand up to stop Jimmy, "I get what you're saying."

Jimmy smiled, "We have the material. We use almost nothing from the ore metals. The A2s use a polymer we create to make them. We do use the Boron Nitrate to make them heat resistant." He paused and looked at his father. "That stuff is great with everything!"

Joel nodded, "It sure is. Spit out by Ran as the solar system formed." He thought a second, "I think we should take the metals that make up the Ark metals and one by one melted down and replaced using the Boron Nitrate." He looked at his son, "But you were saying..."

Jimmy nodded, "It could be that every family has an A2!"

Joel nodded, "A servant."

Jimmy grudged a reluctant shrug, "Well, yes." He knew how Joel felt about that. "Why is that bad?"

Joel grimaced, "I just don't want to create a feeling that this will be their place." He sighed. "Someone to help will be great. I don't want anyone to think that's all they are. We did it with other people for thousands of years. I don't want to treat the A2s or Robbie, or Robot that way." He looked at Jimmy. "They won't become slaves!"

"We need to make sure people know that it the beginning," Sara Beth added.

Joel would talk with Medika, Anthony, Scott, and Leah. They were the ones heading the androids.

Space was a dangerous place. For the number one reason their was no air! Humans learned to take the needed air with them and even learned to make the needed gases. There was debris that threatened anything in space. There was radiation. Those silent, unseen waves of radiation people needed protection from. Unknown dangers were all over the galaxy, but man took those challenges head on. The was more life out in the universe. It was stupid to think they were the only intelligent life to evolve. Not to mention egotistical. Now, Humans were stepping out into the galaxy and Joel wished he could see what happened. Which visionary got it right? Arthur Clarke? Gene Roddenberry? Or perhaps Frank Herbert! Frank had set his timeline to the year 10,191 for the first book. With several planets settled, did they use the Julian Calendar? He had to. How else could he reach his readers for them to understand how far into the future it was happening. That was impressive. They had a few thousand years to go. Now Humans were in three systems! Sol had two of her worlds occupied. Yes, there were the mines around Jupiter, but that hardly counted, did it? They spoke of building cities on Europa. The crisis on Earth came before they could do that. There might be a city on Europa, but not built with the help of Earth. Joel remembered them speaking of an underground metropolis. Big enough to house the people, have trees and birds, even a large lake with fish! That was the dream. What may be built now would be out of necessity. Those miners needed a world with gravity! The same spinning habitat they used on the Ark has been used for decades by the miners. Scientists were still trying to create gravity plating. Until they do, this had to work. No lakes with fish or trees and birds, but they had gravity! Many people still didn't think a no gravity situation was a thing to be concerned about. It was very important to...everything! There was medication to help prevent bone and muscle loss. The brain needed gravity! In no and even in low gravity situations the brain will float up. It does! There are these ventricles that form and...well, it wasn't good. The very cells if the body needs gravity. Their very hearts and blood needs gravity. They were creatures who evolved on a world that had gravity. For millions, no billions of years all life evolved on a world with gravity. The people on Mars did pretty well with a lesser gravity. The people on the moon suffered more and ended having these spinning beds they slept in to give some gravity to their bodies. Sara Beth monitored all the residents as Athena was slowing the rotation of the Habitat Ring to match the slightly less gravity of Gaea. So far so good.

Humans now were in three systems. Sol, Epsilon Eridani, and Tau Ceti. If they succeeded in what they needed to do, there would be three systems of Humans out here. Joel knew that would not stop. This part of the galaxy would have a lot of people in it on many worlds.

As long as everyone was too busy trying to survive, there would be no war. The vast distance also helped. Man always found ways around every obstacle. A group would see another group had what would help them live better and would get it. Even if that meant war. There will be wars in the future. Joel knew they needed to prepare for that inevitable conflict. For now, they had the time to build. Joel didn't consider himself a pessimist. Rather, he was a realist. There would always be a conflict. It might not even happen in his remaining lifetime, but it would happen. Those many decades before had been used to come up with the plans for the Ark. The last ten years were used to outline what minds and sciences were needed on the Ark. They looked for personnel that were promising in their fields.

Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Doctors of all medicines and scientists reviewed who should be on the Ark. Joel had been one of thousands for his job, then hundreds, and the five with the last remaining months. There were thorough physical exams, but evaluations about him, Sara Beth, and even his boys! Psychological exams. No one showed anything that would show up later. That and these people were being sent off and could potentially die. They also knew to accomplish their goal of starting on a new world, these people could do it! That didn't rule out domestic abusers. No one had any tendencies, they thought. People that would not be faithful in their marriage. Their children would grow up and be sort of people their parents were? Hopefully, with the pressures of life reduced on the Ark, the stress those pressures caused would be gone and people would not be...no prestigious universities, or exclusive colleges for sons to be pressured into. Yes, there would be government offices, and there would be campaigns to be voted into. So far, this was the first months of a honeymoon. You know, those first weeks and months when a marriage when you got along with your spouse so well it seemed magical? Joel dreaded the first argument with Sara Beth, but it came. What was it about? Joel really couldn't really remember. Oh, yes, Sara Beth had received a promotion at the hospital, which meant her time home was reduced. She earned it, but damn it, that took away their time together. Yes, he wanted her to succeed, but they were starting a family. She took it and it wasn't too bad.

Right now, the people on the Ark got along just great. Joel knew something would happen and then arguments and disagreements would come. Arguing with a bunch of geniuses? He just hoped Nayef and Tom were on his side. He would need the Psychology Departments on the Ark when those disagreements happened.

No! Joel shook his head mentally. He wouldn't think that way. He knew everyone on the Ark now, their spouse, and children by name. Not one of them were the nerds huddling down in their work becoming odd with the passing of time. They were all experts in their fields. He made it a point to speak with everyone. With knowledge about what they did and who they were by name. Nayef, Tom, Leah, Cindy and those others in that field would notice. Wouldn't they? His job was to think of all the possible threats and plan the appropriate defense.

Stasis Pods! They had begun to start expanding their families as soon as they left Earth. There were extra pods available on the Ark, but not for so many new lives they had on the way now. The mothers were their infants' Stasis Pod. They needed to get the ball rolling! Joel called a meeting with his trusted advisors. He trusted everyone, but the leaders of the groups and department heads had his attention. He mentioned the need for the Stasis Pods.

"Perhaps we shouldn't have moved so quickly to produce children," Leah suggested.

"But we have," Joel pointed out. "Call it motivation to constantly pressing forward."

Nayef grinned, "Yeah, Leah. Maybe you should have waited." His eyebrows danced saying that.

Leah rolled her eyes away as she shook her head, "I don't remember encountering much resistance."

Joel grinned back, "Okay, the cat's out of that bag."

Nayef shrugged, "We just did what we swore to do."

"Just pray we have enough diapers," Sara Beth smiled.

"Any other multiple births on the way?" Hank asked proudly.

"No, Hank," Sara Beth chuckled. "You and Rita are the only parents of twins...so far.

Joel chuckled, "My point is to plan for the future." He pointed out. "While Earth and her sister worlds are recovering, they will not be looking for us." He sighed, "That should take a while. What is Gaea's stability with her tectonic plates?"

Kurt Meuller looked surprised at the question, "Gaea follows the same pattern for any world." He grinned, "I'm glad to be included in the conversation."

"You were included when we rejected the worlds of Alpha Centauri, Kurt." Joel reminded him.

"Gaea is floating on the usual magma," Kurt shrugged. "When the plates collide, there are the usual quakes." He raised his finger, "Earth is by far more seismically active than Gaea."

Joel nodded, "Is there a portion of Gaea more stable than the others?" He looked at Kurt, "I think we need to build a chamber underground, place pods in it and if..." he raised his finger of caution, "...if we are threatened. We can put our people in those pods for protection. Especially, our children."

Kurt grudged a nod, "Well, underneath the New Hawai'ian Islands is remarkably stable." He again grudged another nod, "Most of the seismic activity on Gaea is less than six on the Richter Scale. The worst has been underwater. It did cause some sizable tsunami."

"Why couldn't we evolve here?" Hank asked.

"Perhaps we needed to be tougher," Kurt suggested with the grin. "We're here now."

"Whatever the reason is," Joel nodded. "Kurt's right. We're here now."

"Does it make more sense to keep the pods here on the Ark?" Ansh Bhatt asked. "If we need to get away..."

Joel nodded, "We should keep them here. If our children are threatened, we send them away until the danger passes." He held the finger up, "Meaning some adults will need to be included." He sighed with a sad nod. "We are a small group. I don't believe we will be approached by a large force anytime soon." He grinned, "You know me. I like being prepared."

Wei nodded, "Well, the first of the newly processed metal is going down to Gaea." He said proudly. "The building of New Charleston begins tomorrow! We're sure where we're putting New Charleston?"

Hank's eyes grew in surprise. He smirked at Wei. "No, Doc. We're putting it on another island on the opposite side of the New Hawai'ian Island," he grumbled. He waved his arm in a direction off the Ark. "We out the space ladder right here. I'm pretty certain this is where we're building New Charleston."

Wei was not bothered by Hank's sarcasm. He shrugged, "I ask, because we can't easily change our minds." He looked at Joel. "There are thousands of acres that need processing. Show New Charleston blueprints on a map of the island, please." He asked Athena.

The area where New Charleston was going appeared in the air with the map of the topography showing.

"This portion of the island is remarkably level," Wei explained as he pointed at the map. "The encircled land is approximately thirty kilometers across. Factoring in..."

"Wei!" Joel protested. "I don't want a headache!"

Wei chuckled, "Right. Your math phobia." He nodded. "There is no soil. We will have to start making that soil. With enough tillers it will happen quickly in about a year."

"We'll be in stasis again by then," Sara Beth said simply.

"Yes," Wei nodded. "The tillers will go down about two meters into the ground." He looked at Joel. "About your height."

Joel nodded as he muttered, "I got that. I'll let you know when I get stuck."

Wei again wasn't bothered or offended, "The dome will begin shortly thereafter." He shrugged, "As the nutrients are not biologically based, it can be added as we go. The compost and other needed elements will be added after the dome is enclosed and we have a more acceptable breathing atmosphere under the dome. Grass, molds, and other lifeforms will begin, live and die adding the other things needed for life to take hold. Bacteria will really be one of the first lifeforms on Gaea."

"Do we have enough metal?" Joel asked then mentally kicked himself. "I know the Ark doesn't, but Ran's solar system does. Thus, the robotic miners." He shrugged, "We can build more miners."

Kurt grinned and nodded, "It will be an unending process. However, we won't need to mine Gaea. There ores and other materials are out there waiting for us to come and get them."

"The short metallic walls from which the dome will rise from will need finishing first. The air processors and the lifeforms added." Wei explained. "That whole process will take about a decade." He chuckled, "An Earth decade."

"When we wake up," Manu added happily. "We'll see some green on Gaea."

"At least under the dome," Steven added. "Under the water will be a bit more drawn out, but it will work!"

Leif looked at his husband, "Did you forget the seawall?" He asked pointedly.

"Seawall?" Joel asked.

"Just a temporary one," Leif explained further. "To keep the oxygenated water contained. The plankton and algae will be able to thrive better if they have a more..." he sought a word, "contained environment."

Joel shrugged a nod, That's why you two are here! To tell us these things!"

Steven smiled, "We'll be adding the more complex sealife during the second stasis."

"Sharks?" Hank asked hesitantly.

Leif chuckled, "Jellyfish, crab and other forms. The predators will come, but probably not for two hundred years." He frowned at Hank, "And sharks aren't the enemy! They have a purpose."

"You don't think wolves are the enemy," Steven stated.

"I will if they are bearing their teeth at me!" Hank defended.

"We're doing it, people!" Joel said happily. He threw his arms out. "We are building a sister planet to Earth! Right here! Right now! This is exciting!"

When they returned to the Communal Dining Room, Joel and Sara Beth saw something they hadn't seen before. Older students were teaching younger students at their desks. In particular, Lunga was tutoring Ian!

"...because you have to!" Lunga said losing patience. "How do you think we can even play what they wrote?" He pointed to the screen. "They wrote a kind of map to follow so everyone could play his song!"

Ian was sitting back, arms folded over his chest and was resistant. "Maybe I don't want to play what he wrote!" He stated in defiance.

"Oh, really?" Lunga challenged. "And if someone wanted to play your song about your mom or dad...how can they if you don't write it down!?"

"They can listen to it!"

Sara Beth smiled because she knew what was happening, "Is there a problem?"

Ian said a soft "no," but he knew he was wrong.

Lunga said a loud, "Yes!" He touched Ian's head gently. "You have a smart, super talented son who is also very stubborn!"

Sara Beth grinned at Joel, "I wonder where he got that."

"He's mad at me because I instructed Athena not to write his music down for him. He has to learn to write it himself!" He waved at the monitor screen that showed music being composed. "Do you think Mozart or Bach would have simply allowed someone to play it for them?"

Ian frowned, "But Athena will get it right!"

"And how will you know if you can't read it?"

Ian's head went down slightly, "Four - four time...cut time...accidentals..." he moaned. "Eighth notes, sixteenth notes. Tempos!"

Joel grinned, "You just begun, son. It takes time to learn a new language."

Lunga nodded, "And it is a language!" He said emphatically. "That's how a composer from Germany can get his music played by a Russian, Norwegian, or English performer. They all spoke the same language with music!"

"If you're serious about this music," Joel said carefully, "and I believe you are. Nothing will stand in your way. Not even learning another language."

Lunga smiled, "He's impatient. He wants it all now!"

Joel grinned at his wife, "I don't wonder where he got that."

Lunga held a hand up, "Don't get me wrong, he's learning very quickly..."

"But not fast enough," Sara Beth finished for Lunga.

"Right," Lunga smiled. "He's five years old! He can read at a fourth level in school. I know he is a genius!" He shrugged slightly, "He just needs to put in the time and work. My forcing him without Athena is motivating for him to learn." He watched his fathers arrive. "What you Ubaba did with me."

Joel knew ubaba was the Zulu word for dad.

Xolani grinned, "I had to!"

Adam laughed touching Xolani, "He knew I was a soft touch where our son is concerned." He grabbed Lunga by the face and shook Lunga in affection. "How can I be mean to this face?"

"It's called being a parent," Xolani griped. "Guidance?"

Adam nodded, "Uh huh, and what happened with the Ulwaluko?" He asked knowingly. He turned to Joel and Sara Beth, "That's a Zulu initiation that happens with every young man in South Africa, especially the Zulu. Xolani wouldn't allow Lunga"

Xolani, if he weren't so dark, would have been blushing, "Well, that is just a barbaric tradition that is dangerous!"

Joel's eyes widened, "What's this Ulwaluko thing?"

Adam motioned Xolani forward, "Go on. Tell them." He smiled a little meanly.

Xolani frowned and glared at Adam, "It's a primitive ritual. It goes back hundreds, if not thousands of years. A young man goes through this...thing..." he really didn't want to talk about it. Why?

"They circumcise him!" Adam inserted quickly pointing at Lunga. "Cut it off right then and there!"

Sara Beth's eyes widened in horror, "At what age?"

Adam shook his head, "As young as seven and as old as sixteen! There's no set age!"

"A seven-year-old!?" Sara Beth balked. She shook her head, "I know of many cultures that do this as a young man becomes a man, but at seven!?"

Xolani gave a shrug and nod, "It's a bit more involved than that one thing." He looked away a little. "It was in the past more than a rite of passage. It would normally take place for a week to a month. A young man is guided toward manhood learning more about the history and traditions of the Xhosa people." Lunga was looking a bit embarrassed because of the subject of the conversation.

Adam nodded as his smile grew and raised his hand to make a point, "Yes, but you refused to let them do that one thing. It's not like they were going to chop his dick off!"

Xolani's head went down a little, "They might as well have!" He looked angry. Not at anyone in particular, but angry. "There are risks that aren't considered!" He waved at Lunga, "He could die, or he could have been scarred! I almost was!"

Both Sara Beth and Joel were surprised by this.

"How?" Sara Beth asked.

Xolani was not ashamed, but it was embarrassing for him. "The people that did mine were not competent. It became infected. I nearly died." He sighed and looked firmly at Joel and Sara Beth.

Sara Beth nodded, "It really should be done within the first weeks of life. And really, I don't see the need unless there are health concerns if not having it done."

"In North America," Joel grinned. "It was common practice for any male hospital birth. None of my boys had it done. I didn't either."

"It's unnecessary!" Sara Beth interjected. "Teaching them hygiene and keeping it clean is all that's needed. Humans weren't designed for that other thing."

"Because of that," Adam smiled. "He refused to let Lunga go through it. Refused!!"

"It took a year before I healed well enough to function!" Xolani stated. "My son would not go through that!" He nodded slightly, "When he gets older, if he wants, he can have it done, but..."

"It didn't effect sexual function. Did it?" Joel asked.

Xolani shrugged, "How would I know? It works fine now, but at thirteen the only sexual function was with me. I couldn't do it well for months!"

Joel smiled. He wanted it to be understanding. He truly couldn't know how that had felt, "You poor guy."

"How did we go from Ian's unwillingness to learn to write music to my not going through the Ulwaluko?" Lunga asked. "Can we get back to Ian?"

"I don't like it," Ian explained.

"It can't all be fun!" Lunga defended. "It is necessary."

Ian sighed, "Yes, I know." He admitted reluctantly.

"Just be patient," Lunga smiled. "You're learning quickly."