Ark II, Launch

Story: Ark II Chapter 29: Feet in the Grass and Gaea-worms Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com) Adult Readers

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Indulge me. The first trip to Gaea will be awesome! I wrote this to do that.

It happened again. Joel regained his mind and thoughts as he revived from stasis. Leif had relaxed and had agreed that Athena could do the job and decided to wait with everyone else.

"Athena," Joel said. "You can't tell me it's been practically a century!"

Athena laughed lightly, "It has been an additional ninety-three point two years."

"It can't be," Joel looked as he looked down at the other pods that were opening.

"It is," Athena assured. "Come out and see." She appeared in holographic form in front of his pod. "You were missed, but we knew...Rob, Robbie, Apollo, and Robot missed you. Just as I did...we knew you would be up soon." She nodded. "Now, come on and see what you did. And this is just the beginning."

Joel was like his boys, rushing through his stretches to get down to the Habitat Ring. Sara Beth was helping their sons out of the pods and kept them steady in the weightless portion of the Ark.

"I know you want to go down there," Sara Beth chuckled. "I'm excited, too. You need to do your stretches. I'll not have you getting leg cramps or arm cramps." She pointed at them. "No muscle cramps! You'll get the Charlie horse of Charlie horses if you don't!"

"What about you?" Kevin asked, yet the smile told her he was just being Kevin.

Sara Beth nodded stretching her arm. "I'm doing it now. Keep up."

Ian suddenly brightened, "I love horses! Will we have horses on Gaea?"

Sara Beth smiled remembering as small as Ian was and as big as a horse could be, he was never afraid of them. The horses seemed to know Ian could be trusted. "We will, but you want to ride them on Gaea." She nodded. "I think we can have some to ride."

Hank floated over followed by Rita, Chloe, and Rachel. "Hi, Joel! Long time no see. Let's go!"

There had to be a better way. When everyone was anxiously wanting to get to the Habitation Ring, the four elevators weren't enough! They were big enough and the occupancy limit had nothing to do with weight, but space. Kevin, Jimmy and Ian seemed to be patient, but Joel could see the looks on their faces. Why did they have to wait?

Exiting the elevator he saw Rob and Robbie. One more time Joel saw that they weren't Human. If Joel had been gone for a couple of days there were hugs from each member of the family. No, little Robbie had been a robot. Joel knew that. For Joel and the others that were Human, from their perspective they had seen these beings a few minutes ago. Rob and Robbie hadn't seen Joel and his family for nearly a century. Looking at them they too just saw them. Yes, the smile was on Rob's face, but he was the picture of patience. Joel hugged Rob and Ian took Robbie's hand again.

The Habitat Ring hadn't changed, yet it had! The trees and other foliage were bigger! The trees were fuller, and the trunks were thicker. The canopies were full.

"Look at the rose bushes!" Jimmy pointed at the garden of bushy red, white, coral colors thick with leaves and full of blooms. The plants had the growth restricted by the size of the container, but the bushes and trees had grown to the extent of that limit. No diseases and nothing feeding on them they flourished.

Sara Beth inhaled deeply, "Oh, smell the air!" She marveled in a hushed reverent tone. "Life smells...wonderful."

Kevin frowned, "Don't plants need CO2?" He asked. "We weren't breathing much, if any, in stasis."

"Athena piped in what was needed," Sara Beth smiled not wanting to break the spell she was under. They did a faster "stroll" than before.

"Athena," Joel began. "Have there been any problems?"

Athena appeared in front of him and shook her head, "Just routine maintenance, nothing we couldn't handle."

Kevin tugged on Joel's arm, "Gaea! How is Gaea?"

Joel chuckled, "We can't just look out the port..."

Sara Beth was at the port and grinned, "Are you sure about that, Commander? I say you can see it!" She waved at the planet that was below them. The gradual rotation of the Habitat didn't hinder the view.

Joel looked at their new world. The atmosphere and water he thought looked...more blue! "What is the atmospheric make up below?"

"It is breathable, barely." Athena answered. "Inside the biodome, it is breathable now."

"Can we see it?" Ian asked in near breathless anticipation.

An image appeared in the air and they saw the large, clear dome cover hundreds of kilometers. The green ground underneath the dome could be seen. There was a collective gasp from everyone! Then the inside of the dome was seen. Acres and acres seeming to go on forever of healthy green grass stretched out before them. The grass was more than waist high and also thick.

"Wow!" Lunga was heard. "Someone needs to cut the lawn!"

There was the group laughter from those around him.

"I'll do it!" Adam volunteered. "If I can get a lawn mower."

"We have them," Jimmy said. "When can we go down there?"

"In a day or so," Joel answered. "Everybody will have an opportunity to go down." He thumbed over his shoulder, "You thought the lift on the Ark was crowded. The space elevator can only hold so many. We'll have to do it in shifts."

"Yeah," Kevin sighed sadly. He was resolving himself to having to wait.

Joel brought his son to him hugging him at his side. "I will have to go down first." He grinned. "This time, being related to me puts you ahead in the line."

"All of us?" Ian asked excitedly.

"All of the Nesmiths," Joel nodded.

Ian bounced hearing that.

The atmospheric processers were pulling the gasses from the air and pumping the reorganized gasses into the air and into the biodome.

Joel turned to Kevin, "You can take your history text now." He grinned.

"Why are we learning about history that happened on Earth?" Jimmy asked.

"Because it's Human History," Sara Beth answered. "Mankind learns from history. What we did, should do or should have done and what we could have done better."

Kevin grudged a shrug and nod. "I suppose."

Joel clapped his hands once and rubbed them together, "I'm starved. Let's eat!" He looked at Sara Beth. "Then I have almost a century of news clips, messages and updates to sort through. We need to know what's going on out there!"

Joel did get his tortilla chips and salsa. Apparently, his desire had not faltered in a century. He missed Doritos. They could have them made, but... What he had was very good. Of course, he shared them with Sara Beth, Rob and all three boys. Rob needed the history of taste and Ian could eat it as a vegan. Joel had his taco meat in a separate bowl and his nacho cheese! This was a celebratory meal.

Sara Beth looked at Joel. "Ian was asking about horses on Gaea. I said there would be."

"There will be," Joel nodded and remembered. "Oh, you want to ride the horse."

"Wait," Jimmy began. "I thought as a vegan you didn't use animals for anything. No belts or even animal fat or broth."

Ian sighed and looked up for indulgence. "We don't eat them. They're my friends. That's different."

Joel chuckled lightly at his son's patience with his brother. "Right, son." He grinned at Ian. "We'll have to raise them and that takes as much as two to six years before they can be ridden."

Ian frowned, "I'll be as old as Kevin." He complained.

"And where is that keen mind?" Joel asked and waved around the Communal Dining Room. "Look around the floor. See Robbie and Rob. Robot and Apollo."

Ian looked, but a bit unsure. "A robot horse? But it won't be a real horse!"

Sara Beth shook her head, "I can't believe you said that." She waved at Robbie. "Is he a real friend?"

"Yes, but he's Robbie!" Ian said not understanding.

"And the dogs and cats we provided?" Joel asked. "Your idea is a good one. There are many people on board the Ark who would like to ride horses."

Kevin grinned, "They used to create glue with horses. People used to eat them."

Ian's eyes grew, "They did?"

Joel shook his head, "They used to. It was banned centuries ago." Then gave a conceding nod, "We used to use many animals for things like glue and even to light their homes. We don't do that now. A herd of robotic horses would be great. They can be used to give people the chance to ride. They will look and act like their living counterparts."

Ian seemed to feel better. "We can create a black stallion like in the movie Black Stallion or Black Beauty?"

Joel smiled, "They will be just like those horses."

Ian was smiling even more.

"That will be after the next stasis period," Joel cautioned.

"You were teaching us survival skills on Earth," Jimmy said. "You can't do that now."

Joel grudged a nod, "Well, not survival skills as on Earth, but I can teach you to survive."

"Once the life we restart here has taken," Sara Beth added.

"Tracking and trapping, hunting, fishing and skinning..." Jimmy supplied.

Joel smiled, "If you recall...I had to take you to Alaska to find wilderness." He shrugged.

"What can Ian do to survive?" Kevin asked. "He won't hunt or fish."

"He will!" Sara Beth answered. "The plants we'll be growing on Gaea will keep him alive. I just need to teach him which plants to eat."

"After the next stasis period," Joel said again.

Joel spotted Leif and Steven approaching. He held his hand up to stop them, "I know you checked the underwater lab."

"Hell, yes!" Leif answered quickly. "The underwater lab is like the biodome. On the inside, the oxygen levels are acceptable. Getting Gaea's entire ocean at the correct levels will take longer than the air." He nodded, "But we'll get there. The algae and plankton are thriving!" Then he held up a fist of victory. "Thriving!! Ain't it great?"

Joel's head went back slightly, "You said ain't."

Leil looked mockingly smug, "Oh, I suppose you think only people from the North American South can use it."

Joel looked at the big man descended from Vikings, "It is our work," he waved at him, "feel free to use our word. It's free to use it."

Leif bowed slightly, "I will...ya'll."

"Hardly do I ever say that" Joel corrected in a friendly tone. "Don't you have slime or something to check?"

"We were doing it," Steven said. He took Leif's arm and led him to the door to the Communal Dining Room.

They had chosen these people for their knowledge, but Joel and Sara Beth had chosen people with a good sense of humor. Hank had a bit too much humor. He made Joel laugh and was a great stress reliever.

Joel was right. There were hundreds of messages, postings and news to sift through. He was almost startled to see Mars! Necessity had caused them to expand the domed cities. They grew crops in the Martian soil. There were three major cities below the surface of Mars in huge complexes. Venus had two cities under its soil. The atmosphere was hot! They even had begun mining Mercury! Yes, the miners were mostly robots; the mines were located between the light and dark sides of Mercury. Manned by a few Humans staffed to make it run. What they were mining for Joel would find out later. A planet was a planet. The make up was basically the same. The Human Species was spreading out into space! Need was the reason. Resources were what drove the expansion. There wasn't much about exploring. The Earth was trying to recover more after the explosions. Radiation was being dealt with and there were climate changes because of that. Ark V was still in stasis. Tau Ceti had not gone into stasis but had an underground city and in some ways further along than Ark II. No, that wasn't true. They had been in stasis, but their home on Gaea was being built. Tau Ceti's people had lived and died since landing on Tau Ceti, now there was their children and grandchildren. They were a agricultural planet with livestock and various plants for consumption. Cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys...not to mention the plants to feed the livestock.

It was totally understandable why they would build underground. If the surface wasn't safe to live on, underground was the best place to live.

A group was identified as the ones to put the bombs in place, all the other powers alive on Earth were hunting them down. After a hundred years you were hunting grandsons and granddaughters! Great grandchildren! Really, you hunted the ideas. That was hard. Like the analogy of weeds, Humans were spreading out! Joel knew they would be a long-lived species. They had left in the one hundred and twenty-third year since they left Earth. The six months to get out of the solar system, the time in stasis. Adding ninety-three years just now. Time was taking on a whole new meaning. It was the goals and accomplishments of those goals that counted.

If Joel took the boys down to Gaea, they still weren't out on the planet! They would be under a dome! Until Gaea's atmosphere was where they could lower the solid dome would they be on Gaea. The atmospheric processers were working, the trioxygen generators were processing the protective Ozone layer. Again to protect them, yes, but to protect the other life they were bringing here. Gaea was a blank slate!

They had a nice evening that night. A good meal and Lunga gave a great performance.

Ian walked holding Robbie's hand, "Didn't you miss us?"

"I was aware of your absence, Ian Nesmith," Robbie answered. "I was also aware of you coming back. It was not the same for Humans."

Rob turned as they walked, "We could say we were accustomed to you and that lack of presence was felt. Is that missing you? I suppose we did."

Their quarters looked untouched, except like on the Habitat Ring, the plants Sara Beth had put out had been pruned and had grown bushy and looked more full.

"Wow!" Jimmy said again. "Those rose bushes are huge!"

Sara Beth nodded and inhaled, "And smell the air! It's wonderful!"

Joel nodded, "It smells like life!"

"Now," Sara Beth smiled. "You three get ready for bed. A shower first."

"You haven't had one in nearly a century!" Joel said but touched Robbie and said quietly. "Tomorrow I'll be taking them on a field trip."

Robbie turned to Joel and then Joel heard in this head, "Field trip?"

Joel was startled but asked. "Can you hear me?"

"I don't really hear you," Robbie answered watching Ian head to the bathroom to get a shower. "I can understand your subvocal voice."

"This is a part of the neural interface I hadn't known," Joel nodded and marveled he hadn't said a word! "I'm taking them to Gaea tomorrow. I didn't want them to get too excited."

"You'd never get Ian to sleep," Robbie said back.

Sara Beth looked at Joel curious, "What's going on?" She pointed at Joel. She pointed to Robbie and back. "What's happening with you two? It's the expression on your face, Joel."

Joel nodded and touched her, "And I will tell you, but..." he looked at Ian taking his clothes off without thought. He was open and free with them.

They put Ian to bed and Robbie was there as always.

"Good night, Mommy, Daddy," he looked over at Robbie. "Good night, Robbie."

"Good night, Ian," Robbie said back.

Even sleepy, Ian knew he had used just his name. He smiled bigger as Sara Beth kissed him good night as did Joel.

Sara Beth spun Joel around and asked quickly, "When you talk with anyone, your face changes. Me, the boys, Hank, even Rob. It was doing that and you weren't talking."

"I know," Joel nodded patting her arm. "We...were communicating."

"How?" Sara Beth asked.

"The neural interface does a lot," Joel assured. "I see things in space, from the Ark to Gaea, close up, and I hear the many sounds in space. Athena can understand my thoughts. I told you, I thought of you and wondered what you were doing, and I suddenly saw you. I saw the boys when they were in class..."

"Athena reads your mind!?" Sara Beth asked and wavered a shrug. "I shouldn't be surprised..."

"She reads my brain's synapses," Joel explained. "I don't believe she reads that deep. Robbie says he understood my subvocal voice."

"The voice you hear when reading or just thinking," Sara Beth nodded more relaxed as she understood.

"I told Robbie we were taking the boys to the Gaean surface instead of school," Joel shrugged. "And you, of course."

Sara Beth smirked, "Well, thank you."

Joel shrugged a nod, "Being related to me has got to pay off sometime. I think Hank and his brood, Xolani and his family..."

"Everyone wants to go," Sara Beth said simply. "The Space Elevator can hold about two hundred people." She smiled. "We have four Harpy Landers for an additional two hundred..."

Joel nudged her gently, "Which you get to fly!"

Sara Beth's eyes grew, "You want me to fly a Harpy." She said to be sure.

"Absolutely," Joel answered. "I seem to recall you scored very high with your piloting. We will need two of them to bring others to the Space Elevator, so you will pilot one and Rita will fly the other one. Xolani and Steven will pilot the residents to the elevator." His hands went out in frustration. "It has to be done this way."

Sara Beth smiled, "I knew why you didn't tell the boys. I may have trouble getting to sleep myself!"

The next morning Robbie was preparing breakfast for everyone. Kevin was looking at a pad getting ready for his test. Jimmy was in a conversation with Rob and Ian was enjoying his pancakes as he swung his feet.

"Kevin," Sara Beth said patiently. "You know how I feel about reading at the table."

"I'm studying," Kevin defended.

"Intense studying won't necessarily help," Sara Beth said sitting at the table and suddenly let out a small cry from being startled. "Your sister is awake." She chuckled touching her abdomen.

"She's kicking you?" Joel asked bringing her steaming tea.

The three sons were very interested in what was happening.

"She is," Sara Beth chuckled caressing her small swell. "Like you three did. She wants to be here with you." She reached for Kevin's hand. "Here." She put Kevin's hand on her abdomen. "I'm in the second trimester. She's advanced, but so were you!"

Kevin's eyes grew, "Wow. I can feel it."

Jimmy came over and felt. Ian wasn't being left out. It only took a few minutes and Sara Beth was surrounded by wide eyes.

"Does it hurt?" Jimmy asked.

"Not at all," Sara Beth answered. "In the last weeks, when you kicked me in the bladder, it didn't hurt, but forced me to go pee. The pain I felt in labor, that hurt. We have the pain blockers now. It stopped."

"Why does having a baby hurt?" Jimmy asked. "You were sick in the morning at first. Labor at the end. Why?"

"We're bringing a new Human into the universe." Joel answered. "Making a new Human Being is hard." He grinned, "Uncles Mark and Matt sort of created another way that doesn't hurt." He shrugged, "I don't think."

"Do you want to feel Daylia kicking?" She asked Rob and Robbie.

Rob moved toward Sara Beth, "Robbie will feel it through me." He placed his hand on her swelling abdomen. He knew what was there, but his face changed when he felt Daylia move. It was awe and surprise. "Human births are understood, but..." he sought words, "I didn't expect this."

"Mark and Matt may have a new way of continuing the Human species," Sara Beth gave a grudging nod, "This could be the new evolution for Humans, but I still say, we've done it this way for millions of years. We've learned to make it easier and safer. I will do it this way." She touched each face. "Look at what your father and I did with you four."

"Not to break the spell of the moment," Joel sat with his latte. "I can't be evasive." He looked at Kevin. "You can stay and take your test, but the rest of us are going down to Gaea."

Ian and Jimmy gasped in sudden excitement. Kevin's test was forgotten.

"Really?" Kevin asked in awe.

Joel smirked, "No, I just said that to dash your emotions now. Would I do that?"

"Can your father and I eat first?" Sara Beth laughed lightly.

What Joel expected happened that morning. The boys were excited! "No wall bouncing!" Joel almost shouted.

Sara Beth pointed with her fork at his plate. "Hurry and finish." She instructed. She wasn't bouncing off the walls, but she wanted to go as badly as her sons did.

"Are we going to have to wear environmental suits?" Jimmy asked loudly from his room.

"No," Joel answered as loud from his and Sara Beth's room. "You will probably have to wear an air mask from the lander to the base of the elevator. Once underground the air should be fine."

"We're not going on the elevator?" Kevin asked from his room.

"Not this time," Joel looked at Sra Beth. "Your Mom will be flying us down on a lander." He chuckled as Sara Beth gave him a look and rolled her eyes.

Ian came to the door of his parents' room. "Mommy's flying the lander!? Not you." He asked amazed.

Sara Beth gave her youngest son a mocking look of sternness. "Yes, I'm going to fly the lander. Don't you think I can?"

Joel chuckled again, "I will be her copilot. Your mother passed her course and trials with flying colors."

"Will we learn to fly the lander or Stinger?" Jimmy stuck his head in through the door.

"Of course," Joel answered. "We'll be needing good pilots in the future."

"Sweet!" Kevin said from his room.

"Boys!" Sara Beth said sternly. She looked at Joel, "All you boys! Do I need to repeat your lessons about the inside voice?" She sighed.

Joel chuckled and shrugged, "As active as Daylia is now, I know she will be as loud if not louder!" He looked up, "Athena, record this message to be received by all."

"Go ahead, Joel." Athena's voice came back.

"I'm chicken," Joel admitted. "Most know what that means. I was scared. I didn't want to see your faces, but we are going down to Gaea. The sad news is we can't all go down there." He waved out in futility. "Not all at once! About two hundred will go down on the elevator. Two hundred will fly down on the landers. As your commander, I have to go first. Sorry. I know it will be fine on Gaea. I'm sure Wei is checking his handywork now! Aren't you, Wei?" Then it happened again. He saw Wei in the Control Room studying a monitor.

"I am," Wei replied. "I have over two thousand souls to protect!" He defended. "I'm checking for flaws."

"And?" Joel asked.

"None detected yet," Wei answered.

"Of course there aren't," Joel replied. "No one is being left out. I swear. We don't have transportation for everyone today. Sorry again. Don't hate me." He sighed, "Also, don't make me pick and choose." He waved out helpless. "Everyone will go down to the surface. I swear. Just not today." He sighed. "There just aren't enough transports. Don't hate me and don't make me the bad guy. Do rock, papers, scissors. You decide. Posted are the numbers we can take. Don't make me decide. We're going in two hours." He motioned for Athena to cut the recording.

"Hate you?" Sara Beth grinned. "Not possible."

Joel grudged a nod. "Maybe."

The ones going gathered to get on the lift to the central portion of the Ark. There was the many conversations, all excited with the anticipation of going to Gaea. Those were the adults. The children were excited and talking with whomever. Ian was again bouncing in his excitement. Robbie was remaining to do "class" for those remaining on the Ark. Rob was going with them. Robot was remaining and Apollo was going with them. Joel knew all the residents remaining would be watching what they did on Gaea.

At the hanger, landing bay Joel smiled at the happy residents that floated near him. "Everybody, into the car!"

Space was the most important thing. Weight was the other thing. It was wall-to-wall on the Lander. Kevin, Jimmy, and Ian were enjoying the weightless period. Sara Beth checked everyone was secure and went to he pilot's seat.

"Now," Sara Beth began as she did her preflight checks.

Joel was impressed again and again by his brilliant partner. She looked over the controls with practiced ease.

"With your newly discovered abilities," Sara Beth continued. "You could probably fly the lander without touching anything."

Joel nodded, "But I would be touching things," he grinned tapping his head. "Up here. You just can't see it." He pushed back in the copilot's seat. "At your discretion, pilot."

Sara Beth shook her head and touched the many controls. "I miss knobs and switches." She muttered. "Ready, Rita?" She asked.

"After you, doctor," Arita's voice came back.

"Adam?" Sara Beth asked. Xolani was his copilot.

"The bus is ready to leave the station," Adam reported.

"Leif?" Sara Beth asked.

"Ladies first," Leif said as excited as the others.

Sara Beth nodded, "Let's go."

The outer door opened to space and the lander was pushed gently to go beyond the doors. With the skills from practice, Sara Beth touched the controls and they moved toward entry to Gaea.

His boys crowded portholes waiting to see as well as feel what happened. It was an interesting experience. Weight was returning the closer they got. This was gravity! Then the shaking as they entered the atmosphere. "We knew there would be some chop as we entered the atmosphere." She said to the others in their lander. All of which Sara Beth navigated well. She was allowing Gaea's gravity to pull the lander down. The sound of the wings extended and the shaking stopped.

They descended quickly and soon the biodome was seen and Sara Beth maneuvered them close to the elevator base. She landed smoothly to the ground. Joel smiled wondering if they had been right about females being better pilots.

"How was that?" Sara Beth asked.

"Superior," Joel admitted kissing her.

Sara Beth smiled. She looked at her passengers, "Everyone put your air masks on. It's twenty-three degrees out there." They saw the other lander land not far away. Joel thought it was a bit cautious, but a smooth landing. Yep, these ladies were good pilots. Those minds before said something about the female mind and abilities to segment their minds and multitask better. Whatever.

"That's seventy-five degrees for the Celsius challenged," Joel said. "It's a beautiful morning at this portion of Gaea."

Sara Beth put her air mask on and touched the panel to open the door of the lander.

They felt the warmth the few degrees difference felt. Joel took Ian's hand as they walked out on the surface.

"Don't let go until we are under the dome," Joel cautioned.

They went below to the base.

"You can take off your air masks," Sara Beth told them removing her own air mask.

Even the carved-out tunnel had changed in the near century they had been in stasis. The tunneled-out cave-like walls, ceiling and floor were gone! Instead, there was a brightly lit very wide corridor with whitish color. The base had a two part entrance for the cart or elevator car. There was the roof portion that would open up, the car would arrive, and the roof was closed. After that, the second bottom would open and the car would lower and the cargo removed. The caution was to protect people from lack of breathable air or even rain!

"How far does this go?" Hank asked waving at the corridor.

"Several kilometers." Wei answered. "The center of the dome is pretty far." He waved to some cars to the side. "A person tired from working on the Ark can ride to the residential area, get a meal in a restaurant or go home. There will be trams to the admiration areas, or go to the many farms. It's not all finished." He smiled at Leif and Steven. "Or go to the underwater facility."

"Wei! You and your team have outdone yourselves!" Joel stated. He waved toward the multi-passenger cars. "Can we?"

"And not go up!?" Wei said astounded. "No, we should board the lander and go back to the Ark!" He said sarcastically. "Yes! Get on the damned thing!"

Joel hugged the man, "You've come a long way." He grinned. "I don't mean getting here to Gaea, but personally. I love it!"

Wei chuckled. "It catches on."

They boarded the tram cars.

"We should go to what will be the administration area?" Wei asked.

"Wherever!" Joel said happily. "Let's go!"

The cars moved at a good pace. None of the constant going up. There was even wind in his hair!

The air was breathable. It even smelled nice! Joel got the sense of lawn grass. That made sense!

The tram stopped. Ian's grasp tightened on Joel's hand in his speechless excitement.

"We're almost there," Joel said to his boys who were close to Joel now. They weren't scared exactly. Subdued to the excitement?

They came up to the surface and there were gasps from everyone! Including Joel and Sara Beth. Before them was a carpet of green! It was a darker green than Joel had expected, but it was everywhere!

"Oh, my..." Sara Beth gasped in a near whispered reverence.

"...God!" Joel finished for her in the same reverence. It was waist high to Ian. Joel touched a grass strand. "What sort of grass is this?"

"A modified hybrid of Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda," Sara Beth answered. "The thickness if the Kentucky Bluegrass and drought resistant Bermuda." She grudged a nod, "With a few tweaks to its DNA." She nodded, "I'd say a good one."

Joel nodded, "Oh, yes!"

"Robbie said the first animal residents will be bacteria and worms!" Jimmy said in doubt.

"Has Robbie ever told you something that wasn't true?" Joel asked in mild irritation.

"No," Jimmy admitted. "Worms!?"

"Oligochaeta or Earthworms to be precise," Sara Beth provided. "They help to create soil. They borrow, improve soil...they're very beneficial."

"You can even eat them!" Joel added. "I have." He got three "ews" from his sons. "I prefer dried and in a kind of beef jerky. It's good and survival."

Wei looked up and then pointed, "The elevator car is coming. I better go tell mthem where we are." He looked at those with him. "I can take you back or bring them to the residential area."

Joel pointed, "The residential area is over there?"

"Yes, but a few kilometers away." Wei said.

"We'll walk," he looked at the others. "Or at least I will." He touched his sons. "You guys feel like a little walk?"

All three were bouncing saying "Yeah!"

Joel turned to the others, "Hank? Feel like a hike?"

"Sure," he looked at his wife and daughters. "Let's go!"

No one was refusing.

Joel held his finger up, "One thing first." He stood on one foot and pulled on his right boot and pulled it off. Then the sock. "There's nothing to poison me, stick me or sting me." He explained. "I've looked forward to this for a hundred years!" He did he same with his other foot and smiled as his boys were doing it, too. Soon everyone was removing boots and socks.

Kevin asked. "We have dogs and cats that don't pee or poop. They don't need to be fed. Ian was telling me about the robot horses. Grass with no stickers...who will want to go back?"

"And, Mom," Jimmy asked pulling his boots off, "if they are in the Gaean dirt, why aren't you calling them Gaea-worms?"

Sara Beth laughed, "Feel free."

Joel began wiggling his toes in the cool grass, "Heavan."

"So," Hank began. "No keep off the grass signs?"

"With four hundred people treading on it," Sara Beth smiled. "There should be." She gave a reluctant confessing nod. "The wear will show, but the grass will recover."

"With our small lawn back on Earth," Joel added. "The boys didn't get much chance to do this."

"Nor did you and I," Sara Beth said.

"Now," Joel said to the others and his sons. "Have at it! Run!"

Chloe, Rachel, Kevin, Jimmy...all took off running.

"Keep up with us," Joel shouted after them. "You remember where we parked?"

Kevin turned to run backward, "Ha, ha, Dad."

Sara Beth pulled Joel to her, "You are really enjoying this."

"I am!" Joel admitted as they began walking.

The setup was well thought out. Transporting down, they entered the dome and the settlement's layout was taking advantage of the space and what would be placed in the settlement.

Sara Beth was pointing out what she had planned. "Back near the center of New Charleston, we'll put an oak tree! It's taken from the Angel Oak from Charleston! It would have been a thousand years old if it survived that last hurricane." She shook her head, "But it is the Angel Oak! Meaning it is a clone! It will be the Angel Oak!"

Joel looked at Sara Beth uncertain, "I knew you could. Asexual things could be copied using DNA, but it is the Angel Oak? You're certain."

"Positive," Sara Beth nodded to assure. "We have the proof on record. That tree was studied for centuries. The DNA is on file." She pointed at the area they were approaching. "Imagine avenues of oaks lining the walkways. Other trees will be scattered around."

Joel grinned, "God placed trees."

Sara Beth laughed, "Exactly!"

Joel hated those perfectly symmetrical landscapes. Trees placed apart exactly. The bushes and flowering plants placed just so. No he wanted God placed trees and plants...or at least to look like it.

"You were born from farmers!" Sara Beth stated. "A naturalist!" She hugged his arm as they walked. "We were perfect for each other!"

They saw a group of people rise from below ground and gasp as they had when they had.

"Did we bring lunch?" Hank suddenly asked and pointed over his shoulder in the direction they'd come. "It's a good walk. I must have worked up an appetite!"

Rita touched her husband, "I guess you'll have to go back to the Ark and get some...or do without." Her expression in total seriousness. She then broke the expression slapping Hank in the arm lightly. She held her hand out to him, "Dr. Rita Cavill. We must not have met. I would never do that!" She waved at Joel and then waved at the others, "You think these many geniuses forgot to pack a lunch!?"

Joel chuckled, "Midmorning snacks, lunch, afternoon snacks, even another meal in case we need it." He nodded at the area. "Our first meal on Gaea. A picnic!" He waved as robots brought a large case. "Sandwiches, meats, vegetarian..." he looked at Ian, "vegan!"

Rachel shook her head, "I don't know, Uncle Joel. Will it be a real picnic? There are no ants, flies or anything else to get to our food besides Dad."

Hank nodded and pointed at his daughter, "See?"

Joel rolled his eyes, "Poor girl. You've spent too much time with your father." He pointed at her. "You're picking up on his sense of humor."

Ian tugged on Sara Beth, "Mommy, this is a dome." He pointed up. "I don't see one."

"You aren't supposed to," Sara Beth replied. "The air outside is getting better for us, but we are here because of the dome. It's there."

Joel knew that men and women on submarines often got so used to focusing just so far they often suffered from a form of agoraphobia when able to see father. He was having a touch of that now. With no horizon on the Ark, he was having to get used to the open space around him. They enjoyed the many sandwiches and beverages provided for them. They discussed the many future plans and what they wanted to have in New Charleston.

There were many square miles for New Charleston...or round miles as the whole area was under a round walled dome. The farms, the housing, the municipal areas and labs on the ground. Nayef was right on the Ark. It was very exciting. They walked around the area, many going along the edge of New Charleston. It was not flat! There were hills and dips in the ground. It was mostly flat, but the natural topography added texture.

The younger members were enjoying the grass and there were stumbles, even a bruised knee which Sara Beth took care of. They didn't have to deal with ground that wasn't completely smooth and even very slightly going aways up. They'd adjust.

With the longer days on Gaea, it was easy to lose track of time. It was only after the afternoon snack they decided to return to the Ark. Joel felt a little bit sorry for the people on the Ark who had to just watch. Yes, they would go down tomorrow. Green was a great color for grass and leaves, but not the residents on the Ark. There wasn't going to be a lot of work this week.

Sara Beth was the pilot back. She used the after burners to leave the atmosphere and reattached them to the Ark.