Ark II, Launch

Story: Ark II

Chapter: 6 Italian Night and Arabian Night

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

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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The people out of stasis deal with the stress and celebrate to cultures from Earth.

Italian Night and Arabian Night

Joel sat and did the search for Epsilon Eridani on the chart for the stars. Ran was an easier name to use. "Athena, make the course change for Epsilon Eridani."

"Course change for Epsilon Eridani entered," Athena said calmly. "Making the adjustments now."

Joel sighed a bit sad.

Hank looked at his friend, "What's the problem now?"

Joel waved at his monitor, "There's nothing happening!" He objected. He raised his hands stating, "I know, I know, the course change takes place in almost a year's time. Engines at the bow will cause the Ark to move slowly to the side, the ion drive will move the Ark in the new direction and the Ark will get on course in a year."

"Okay," Hank shrugged. "So?"

"We're the victim of the television shows and movies!" Joel stood up. "No controls to use. Not even a joystick! The hard banking you see in movies as the ship takes a new course." He waved again at the monitor. "Here you feel nothing. Do nothing and it takes a while to happen!" He pointed at Hank. "My son had an issue with the speed we were supposed to be going because it didn't look like we were moving at all!"

Hank's grin grew, "You know we're going close to the speed of light now, don't you?"

Joel pointed to his own head, "I know it up here. I don't see or feel it."

Hank shook his head, "Poor guy." He did a sort of lunge with his left leg. "I need to run."

Joel frowned, "I run every other day I'm not in stasis. I work different muscle groups every day."

Every resident on the Ark was physically fit. Some more than others, but they all were. Joel's military days were in the past, but the need for staying fit like he did in those days was still a part of him.

"Well," Joel said turning to head back out to the Habitat Ring. "I use the treadmill to run ten miles every other day. We have to." He looked at Hank. "I have to make my boys do something. There is that great program so they can ride bikes to make them feel like they're going somewhere, even if it is stationary."

Hank nodded and said in mock confidentiality, "I really hate running." Then he frowned. "I miss grass." He looked at Joel seriously, "Sara Beth has the grass on the Ark, right?"

Joel nodded, "I don't know for sure, but I believe there is every kind of grass." He chuckled, "I'll bet there's even crab grass."

"Why would we want that!?" Hank bellowed and threw his hands out in exasperation. "In my small yard at my home I had a Hell of a time keeping it out! You're bringing it with us!? Why!?"

Joel chuckled again and bobbed his head a little, "For the same reason we're bringing mosquitoes and roaches." He shrugged, "I don't know what the reason is, but we've got them!"

"Wonderful," Hank said, and you knew it wasn't "wonderful" with him. "Can't we have a new Earth with no bugs or weeds?"

"Sara Beth would say they each serve a purpose," Joel shrugged.

Hank's head jutted forward a bit, "And what purpose is that? To drive us crazy?"

Joel laughed again and slapped Hank on the back, "Have Sara Beth explain it." He glanced around and saw they were the only ones there at the moment. "Where is everyone?"

"Rita and Sara Beth are planning something," Hank smiled and shrugged. "What that is she wouldn't tell me. The others went back to the Communal Dining Area."

Joel shrugged, "Let's do that."

They walked out to the Habitat Ring. It was still odd to Joel. The central portion of the Habitat Ring was wide with white walls, white flooring, and white ceiling twenty feet up. The edges of the corridor or passageway had quarters on either side. There were the occasional sitting areas where a group could visit with each other while strolling. The floor was what was odd. It didn't stop. The curve of the Habitat Ring was apparent here as the floor went up in the distance both ways. The curve was hardly noticeable inside the individual quarters. It was a ring. Sara Beth planned to have plants such as ferns, trees, and flowers out in the center near the conversation areas later. That would be when they were at the planet and were spending more time out of stasis and moving about longer. Fake plants were not going to be allowed. All this white was nearly overwhelming. You were walking on the inside on the inside of the Ark's bulkhead. Like the amusement ride that spun so fast you were stuck on the wall even after the floor dropped away. The bulkhead below them now was four feet thick. The ring was so large and spun fast enough to press the residents were pressed to the floor simulating gravity. The white was a ceramic metal combination to be easy on the eyes and on their feet. People on the opposite side of the ring had a two-and-a-half-kilometer walk. The whole ring was brightly lit. There was no dirt to track through, so it was always clean.

The Communal Dining Area was also a meeting area and where they had that Farewell Party with everyone. It was large enough. The large, wide ports were open to see the stars outside as they traveled. The slow rotation of the ring was the only thing that gave the stars movement. Even at the velocity they were going there was no indication they were traveling at all. Robot and Robbie were still speaking with various students quietly. Now, however, Joel found something new. When they got food from Athena there were many smells that filled the room. This time he smelled something he knew but hadn't smelled since they arrived on the Ark. He inhaled deeply and smiled, "Is that...?"

"You're cooking!?" Hank asked Sara Beth and Rita amazed.

The two women were standing together and had various bowls and cooking pans out. There were vegetables out, onions and tomatoes...he could smell them. He recognized cheese and other things.

"I wanted to cook!" Sara Beth said simply. "I felt Eggplant Parmesan would be great." She grinned at Joel. "I seem to remember you liked it."

"I do!" Joel said quickly. "I love it!"

Sara Beth nodded and looked at Hank, "In my second foster home, there was Nana Maria." Sara Beth smiled contently and pointed with her spoon at Hank, "She was Italian. I was in that home from eight years until I was twelve. She taught me the secrets of authentic Italian cooking." She chuckled and went back to what she was stirring. "It's good and works for almost everyone including vegetarians. I'm making enough for everyone."

"The Ark has all you need?" Joel asked.

Sara Beth gave a grudging nod, "Yes, the eggplant however, I grew myself at home. I don't know about these. The cheese and garlic...again, I don't..."

"If we ordered it from Athena, it would be the same thing," Joel shrugged. "This will have the Nana Maria and Sara Beth touch!" He hurried over. "I'm looking forward to it!"

"Good!" Sara Beth chuckled. She pointed to the stasis cabinet. "Everything needed for the Italian Dressing is available in the cabinet. Make the dressing, Sweetheart. Get the salad together, please." She looked at Rita, "Toast the bread last. Then while it's hot, mince a clove of garlic and rub it on the bread."

"No butter?" Rita asked.

"Nana didn't," Sara Beth chuckled. "The garlic is buttery enough." She pointed at a small bowl. "I make my own tomato paste for gravy or marinara." She frowned. "I would have preferred more time..."

Joel turned her and kissed her, "It will be fantastic!"

Sara Beth laughed, "I hope so."

Nayef came over to them, "I look forward to tasting it." He looked at Joel. "What time is it?"

Joel frowned and knew his head went back in reaction to the unusual question seemingly out of the blue, "I don't know. We've been up this time for ten hours."

Nayef nodded with a grin and thumbed over his shoulder, "And it's always so bright out there! It's noon around the clock!"

"You have a suggestion," Joel smiled and nodded. It wasn't a question.

"My suggestion, Commander," Nayef smiled. "As Humans, we operate on a twenty-four-hour clock. Morning, day, evening and night. I suggest lighting that reflects the time of day." He shrugged. "It will be easier for people to regulate their bodies by the light."

"Good idea, Doc!" Hank said happily.

"Indirect lighting out there," Nayef said. "Like city park lights out there on our residential quarters." He waved at the Communal Dining Area, "Perhaps more...intimate lighting such as in a restaurant in Italy."

"We can do that!" Joel nodded. "We can even have Italian mandolin music during dinner." He was getting excited about this.

"Nayef," Sara Beth smiled at the man. "You are Welsh."

"Yes," Nayef said a little curious. "Rees is really Celtic."

"Nayef is what?" Sara Beth asked.

Nayef nodded, "Oh, yes." He chuckled, "My mother was Arab. She was originally from Jordan. I was named for her father."

"That explains a lot," Rita nodded understanding. "We'll make this an Italian night!"

Sara Beth sighed sadly, "I know when Nana Maria spoke of Italy she often cried having lost so much of Italy."

"Like Venice?" Rita asked.

"That was happening back in the Twentieth Century." Hank understood. "We lost a lot of the Mediterranean...in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta!"

"Crete," Joel added. "It was a shame before. It's a crime on Earth now."

"Yes," Nayef nodded. "We can't forget Earth. We can do this tonight to remember Earth. Italy is a part of Earth. We'll remember Italy tonight."

An artist is more critical of their own work. Joel knew Sara Beth was being more critical of her creation that she needed to be. Food was an art. Sara Beth was an artist. She had spoiled them by raising many things herself. Herbs, spices, and in this case the eggplant itself. At home. Here she was using Athena's supplies. As the Eggplant Parmesan was baking, the Communal Dining Area was filled with the most delicious smells! Joel found his mouth watering without realizing it. Food kept in storage in the Ark was good. Athena could cook...sort of. She was a computer! Alive? That was still up for debate. She mixed things from ingredients like drinks perfectly. Always. Every time was exactly the same. No complaints, but Sara Beth was cooking, and she was a great cook. When a recipe called for an ingredient she added by taste, not by formula. She might substitute one ingredient for another. Add more sugar or less. Improvise! There's where people would argue about Athena. Could she improvise? Could she even taste? She could analyze the chemical makeup and the exact amount of everything, but would she know if it tasted good? On a frequently eaten dish, she could give you the statistics on how many people liked or disliked something and why. With something never tasted by anyone...would she know if it was good or bad? Did she have an opinion? How could she? Joel knew there was artificial intelligence, there were artificial emotions, but he never knew about any artificial tastes. Robots and computers had to be able to consume something first. Okay, someone pull the chain to stop this train of thought. He wanted to disembark. Where was he? Oh, yes, Sara Beth's cooking would be better.

Hank was enjoying having Robot around as he was talking with him with the children around them. Robbie wasn't excluded. He was part of the group surrounding Robot. Did robots get jealous? Joel sighed; he was doing it again.

"Say the line," Hank said smiling at Robot.

"Which line are you referring to?" Robot asked.

"The line that made Robot famous on Lost in Space," Hank grinned.

Robot's arms began waving as he said, "Danger, Will Robinson. Danger."

Hank's face grew a big smile, "Perfect."

"Though," Robot added. "I would be remiss not to add there is no danger to anyone on the Ark, nor is there a William Robinson or Will Robinson among the residents on the Ark."

Hank's smile faded as he pointed at Robot, "Don't spoil my fun."

Joel laughed, "He didn't spoil my fun. In fact, he made my fun." Joel nudged his Engineer, "I think he's the perfect robot for you."

"He won't laugh at your jokes either," Chloe smiled.

Hank turned to his daughter, "That's it. You're off the Christmas list."

That Chloe laughed at. "I have almost a year of days out of stasis to get back on that list."

The whole evening was shaping up into something fun for everyone. Sara Beth and Rita got the Eggplant Parmesan out, making the Communal Dining Area smell even better! The garlic bread was hot and ready. The salads were ready, and Joel had made the Italian dressings, both regular and creamy.

"Ready the Dining Area, Athena, please," Joel requested putting the salads out for everyone at one long of two long tables. They could sit, eat, and talk.

The lights went lower in the overall dining area with highlighting over the tables. "O Sole Mio" began playing, heard softly by everyone. "Oh, my sun" was the song's real title and twistedly appropriate.

What Sara Beth had made was wonderful. Wine, bread, and salads were very good, but the friendly conversations made it even better.

"This is delicious, Sara Beth," Leah praised eating another bite and relishing the taste.

Sara Beth smiled giving a grudging nod, "Every now and then I just feel like cooking. Today, I did." She looked at the others at the table. "I know that surely others here can cook."

Leah let out a chuckling snort, "I can warm up something to eat. This dish was created by you." She bumped her husband gently. "Nayef cooks beautifully."

Nayef blushed a little, "It's really just chemistry. You mix the correct ingredients at the right amounts..."

"Nonsense," Leah waved that off literally. "Don't downplay your talent." She leaned forward a little as if to share something more privately. "He makes this Oozie dish that's marvelous! It was a dish his mother taught him to make with ground lamb, ground beef, and chicken...it is delicious. It has rice, peas, carrots, and almonds..."

Sara Beth's eyes widened, "That sounds wonderful!" She cautioned, "You don't have to, but I'd love to try it."

Joel grinned, "We're remembering Italy tonight. We'll be remembering Jordan if he does. We should have all you need to make it. Is it time consuming?"

Nayef shook his head and chuckled, "No. The ground lamb and beef take time to cook...and the chicken."

"Are there other dishes she taught you?" Rita asked.

"Quite a few," Nayef answered. "Stuffed potatoes, stuffed cabbage rolls, sfiha..."

"Sfiha?" Hank asked puzzled, "What's that?"

Nayef laughed lightly and held a hand up and opened his fingers up several inches, "They are these open-faced meat pies of ground lamb with onions and tomatoes. I think they're very good."

"You approach every patient you have the same way?" Sara Beth asked.

"No," Nayef shook his head.

"So," Sara Beth smiled. "The recipe for good mental health changes. I agree that cooking is chemistry, but Joel likes garlic. I add more garlic than Nana Maria did. I like more cheese, so I add more. Your recipes will change what you make. Cooking is more than making something to keep from dying and stop hunger. We learned to make the meals we serve to give pleasure when consumed and it brings us together."

"We'll be up tomorrow," Joel hinted. "We're showing our boys the destruction from Earth tomorrow morning..." He looked at Hank. "Should I say after we wake up?" He again looked at Nayef. "It's not really morning."

Nayef pointed at Joel, "It will be now." He waved at the surrounding Communal Dining Area. "I can almost swear this is an Italian Eatery somewhere in Rome in the evening. The lighting situation in the Habitat Ring will help it feel like there is a night and day." He tapped his forehead, "Psychologically."

"Tomorrow," Sara Beth added. "There is enough Eggplant Parmesan for lunch if you want. Nana Maria was right about this, the flavors marry, and it will be better."

Joel smiled again, "How long will the counseling sessions last?"

"A day or two," Nayef shrugged.

"Tomorrow night or the night after," Joel began, "Would you be willing to cook your Oozie?"

"Sure," Nayef nodded. "It will be fun." His eye narrowed as he pointed at Joel and then Hank, "Can either of you cook?"

"I can," Joel chuckled.

"I can boil water," Hank said happily.

"I could use the help," Nayef said.

"You got it, Doc," Hank agreed.

"From me, too." Joel nodded.

Cleaning up was quick as they all pitched in and got it done. Sara Beth placed the Eggplant Parmesan in a cabinet Sara Beth asked Athena to keep cool, but not in stasis. As they had spent the entire evening together, everyone went to their respective quarters. Dr. Nayef Rees was right. Exiting the Communal Dining Area, the lighted walkway to their quarters was dimmed. There were the lights that highlighted door entrances to quarters. Someone, probably Leah, had added the night sounds to the Habitat ring. The chirping sound of crickets! The Nesmith quarters were about a quarter of a kilometer from the Communal Dining Area and tonight the walk back was a leisurely stroll. Robbie was again having his hand held by Ian. Inwardly, Joel didn't want his youngest to grow up too fast. Jimmy was still a child. Kevin was growing up quickly and soon were the teenage years and the horrors that came with every single teen. He had no doubt Kevin knew the secret of how good it felt to touch your penis in a way that felt so good! It got hard and that feeling grew. Joel had at ten. Sara Beth could explain the biological reason for it, but insisted Joel tell his sons what was happening and why. "It's never too early, Joel!" She told him when they were in diapers. "Baby boys get erections soon after birth. It's blood pressure and completely natural." Neither Sara Beth or Joel had approached it with any reluctance or shame. Humans were sexual beings. Children were those sexual beings.

"This is like those walks you took us on back home!" Jimmy said amazed. Then they heard the "who" from an unseen owl. "Was that an owl?"

Even the temperature was a little cooler.

"That wasn't a real owl," Kevin said factually. "There are no owls on the Habitat Ring. No crickets. It's all simulated."

Joel nodded, "You're right, Kevin. But can't you let your mind believe it is real? That's why we're doing this. I feel better because of it."

"But it's not real," Kevin argued.

"The comfortable feeling you're fighting with your mind?" Joel asked.

"I know it's not real," Kevin argued further.

Sara Beth nodded, "I say you tell the left side of your brain to be quiet." Her eyebrows rose up and down as she smiled at her son's confused face grew.

"Huh?" Kevin's face scrunched.

"We know now the two hemispheres of your brain does certain things," Sara Beth began explaining. "The left is where you do the logical thinking. Math. The right side is where you think of colors and think of music. Abstract thoughts." She smiled at Kevin, "You just need to turn the logic off."

"How do I do that?" Kevin asked about the impossible task.

"You're my son," Sara Beth answered. "Your left side is because of me."

Joel grinned, "Your right side is because of me."

"I learned how to use my right side," Sara Beth smiled. "Your father helped me learn how."

"Your mother taught me to use my left side," Joel said.

Sara Beth added, "The fact that you know where you are and why there can't be crickets is great."

"How do you know they aren't here?" Joel asked his son.

Kevin looked surprised at his father, "There aren't any on the Ark! All the ones we have are in stasis."

Joel nodded, "How did you know the crickets on Earth were really there? Did you see them?"

"Well," Kevin thought. "No, but I heard them."

"So, seeing isn't believing," Joel ventured. "Hearing was the proof."

"Use that same logic here," Sara Beth smiled. "You're hearing crickets, the owl, even the wind. It must be real. When you and your brothers saw that pirate movie, you played make believe, pretending to be pirates, but you weren't. You used things that were not swords but used them as swords. Use that. The crickets are real."

"The Earth was our home," Joel said kindly. "It isn't now. I know you saw people move into the neighborhood. You saw those big containers they use to bring the things from one home to the new one." He saw Kevin nod. "The Ark is a very big container and we're bringing the things from our old home to a new one. In the meantime, you need to consider this your home because it will be for a while." He waved at the inside of the Habitat Ring. "We live in this great container. Things we add to ease any discomfort is to make us feel at home."

"When we get to where we're going," Sara Beth added. "I will be adding trees, flowers, and other plants to the ring. They will be real. Then it will be even more a home."

Once in their quarters Joel and Sara Beth did their nightly rituals getting their boys to bed and went themselves. When they woke, Sara Beth got their breakfast and they enjoyed being a family.

Joel waited for them to digest what they'd eaten and had the boys sit on the couch. "What you are about to see is bad," Joel said solemnly. "But it's what happened. I'll stop it if any of you have problems."

"Then why show us?" Kevin asked.

"So, you will know why we did this," Sara Beth replied.

The images began. It was a news report that showed the Forbidden City, temples as they were before with many people on the streets going about their lives. Then it showed the devastation left after the bomb. Various scenes of China appeared, destruction of a portion of the Great Wall. Then it showed destruction in other cities, such as the one in the United States' capital and various shots of the United States he knew all three boys would recognize. He watched their faces. No shot was shown of the bodies or people wandering burned and dying. Their faces held shock and even horror. It was horrible. When it was over the images stopped and they all sat silently a moment.

Jimmy found his voice first, "Why? Why did someone do this?"

"We don't know," Sara Beth admitted.

"I've said it a lot," Joel said sadly. "You know we did left Earth. Do you understand now why?"

When no answer came Sara Beth told them, "We did all this for you!"

Joel nodded, "That's right. Your mother and I are doing all of this because you three are the most important in the entire universe. For us there is no more reason needed. We would do anything to give you a chance at a life."

Sara Beth pointed to the Ark above her, "All of those brilliant minds out there in stasis and elsewhere on the Ark is doing it for someone else so important to them. You are our important reason."

"We're saving parts of the Earth and that's important," Joel added. "Really, why we're bringing all this is for you and your children and grandchildren can grow up in an environment they are familiar with." He pointed at Jimmy. "You recognized the who of the owl because you were familiar with one. I'm telling you; your great grandchildren need to be familiar with it, too." He pointed at Kevin. "Even if you don't accept it, those crickets...you knew what they were. We are all different species from the same planet. Don't lose that connection. However, we are doing this for you! You will live, make babies and they will live." He waved at the air where they had seen the footage from Earth. "That is no longer our home. It was, but not anymore. Everyone on this Ark will do whatever we have to just to be sure you live! Got it?" He got three nods from some slightly overwhelmed boys. "Your mother and I love you three so much. There aren't words to tell you. Don't ever forget that!" Joel smiled at them, "It used to just be my grandfather and me. Then, Robbie was added, then I added your mother and along came the three of you. Wherever we are, that's home. Here is home." He brought them in for a group hug. He waved at Robbie, "Bring it in, Robbie. You're included."

Robbie did come over and stretched his arms out and lightly hugged them.

They showered and put on clean coveralls. They walked out into the Habitat Ring and were shocked. It was bright like noon, but there were birds that sung. It was cheerful! There was the sound of wind and even the brush of air on their skin. It was a real breeze. Okay, it was Athena's air circulating to make the breeze, but who cared?

"Can't you see it?" Sara Beth asked excitedly. "With trees, flowers, ferns, and these added touches...it will be real!"

They entered the Communal Dining Area and the previous people that had shared the meal the "night" before were there.

"You were right, Dr. Nesmith!" Kurt Mueller said raising his plate of Eggplant Parmesan. "It's better today! It was great yesterday. It's fantastic now." He looked down at his plate and realized he hadn't asked. "I hope you don't mind; we sort of helped ourselves."

Sara Beth rolled her eyes, "No, Dr. Mueller, I don't mind. That's why I didn't get Athena to secure it."

"I told you that," Hank said helping himself to some and putting it on a plate.

Joel looked around and only saw Rachel and Robot, "Hello, Rachel." He grinned and greeted. "Hello, Robot."

Robot turned toward Joel, "Greetings, Commander Nesmith."

"Just call me Joel," Joel told him. "That's an order."

"Affirmative, Commander Joel," Robot obediently said.

"Is there a programming where robots can't use first names?" Joel asked Hank.

"Have you ever heard Robot call anyone by their first name?" Hank chuckled. "Robot called everyone by their whole name. Dr. Smith was Dr. Smith, but even when warning Will, it was Danger, Will Robinson." He shrugged, "It's like Athena. She addresses us by our titles and last names. Robbie calls you and Sara Beth Dad Joel and Mom Sara Beth. It could be because of her. You'll have to ask Rita."

Sara Beth looked around, "Where is she?"

Hank nodded a little hesitantly, "She's with Chloe who is talking with Leah Rees." He looked at Joel. "They watched the new reports from Earth this morning."

"Oh," Sara Beth realized what happened. "Is Chloe alright?"

"She seems fine," Hank said and shrugged a nod. "Who knows? The first thing she asked was about her friends we left back on Earth. That was her only real complaint about coming on the Ark. Leaving her friends and her life..."

"She did," Sara Beth stated.

"Don't tell her this," Hank said in uncharacteristic seriousness. "We offered her the option of staying. The choice of coming on the Ark was really hers."

"Your glad now she decided to go." Joel stated the obvious.

"She is, too," Hank smiled.

"We all have friends on Earth we left behind," Sara Beth said sadly. "We don't know if they're dead or alive, but the bombings are still going to hit hard."

Nayef came in the area with Lunga, Adam, and Xolani but they were all smiling. A good indicator his session went well. Nayef patted Lunga on the shoulder, "Just remember what I told you. Talk to your fathers if there are problems such as nightmares. They are your foundation." Then he pointed at Xolani and Adam, "And you two talk to each other." He said firmly. It was then Nayef inhaled. "It is time for lunch." He smiled at Sara Beth, "It smells even better today!"

"Marriage of flavors and ingredients will do that," Sara Beth nodded with a grin. "I'd ask Nana Maria why not make it and do that before serving it. Which she said she did!"

Nayef nodded with a smile hearing that, "It makes sense." He looked at the others in the room, "Does anyone need to talk right now?"

The idea of talking about a troubling event was often understated. Coping skills had to develop. Young people needed to learn those skills. That's what Nayef and Leah did was to give people insight to learn those coping skills. To say "I'm fine" wasn't enough. Nayef and Leah would ask questions to be certain you were fine. Joel knew he and Sara Beth needed to talk with them to be sure they were fine. Ian, Jimmy, and Kevin seemed fine now, but nightmares later told you they weren't. Sara Beth had witnessed death many times as a doctor...some very traumatic deaths. Joel had been in the military and had seen men, women, and children die needlessly right in front of him. He had also killed to protect further deaths. That didn't mean they could cope well. The military had a bad history of not caring for the men and women who served in some nasty campaigns. Post traumatic stress had at one time hardly been acknowledged. Suicide for veterans was high in some years. They now had Psychologists and Psychiatrists as part of a combat team. They were needed more than some physical trauma specialists. Medics and Corpsmen were trained in what to look for in soldiers that survived a combat situation. First echelon trauma was on the field where it happened, second echelon was at mobile medical centers where physical and mental health traumas were treated to either send people back to field of battle again, third echelon which was normally a hospital for further treatment. Often it was a base hospital even if it was in a foreign country. Fourth echelon was at your home country; a hospital there that would continue rehabilitation in the more severe injuries that could take years, decades, or even never fully recover. The news from Earth was traumatic. But it did happen. They were safe and away from it, but it was from where they were from.

Nayef nodded when no one responded to needing his services now. "Good," he clapped his hand in anticipation of eating. "I'm hungry."

Hank watched Jimmy come over to where Rachel Cavill was sitting eating her lunch. She must have been seen before her sister. Her appearance told Hank she was doing well. Hank was her father, so he was very concerned with her wellbeing as a whole. Physically and emotionally. Jimmy sat with her and Greta Mueller came and sat with her friends who were the same age. Hank watched Nayef go and get the Eggplant Parmesan out and was fixing his plate.

"Tell me, Doc," Hank smiled watching Nayef serve himself a hearty portion. There was enough. "Who counsels you? Who do you talk to?"

Nayef put his plate in to be heated, "I married my counsel." Then he shrugged a nod and waved at the room. "I have plenty of support with all of you."

"Were the nature sounds your idea?" Joel asked.

Nayef chuckled and shook his head, "No. I suggested the light simulation. The crickets and night sounds...the birds and breezes were Leah's."

"I love it!" Joel said excitedly.

"Natural sounds we take for granted sometimes," Nayef agreed,

Joel and Sara Beth got their sons food and drinks, then got their own. They sat with Hank and Nayef.

"Are you going to be feeling up to cooking tonight?" Sara Beth asked. "You will have been working all day."

"It's not physical labor," Nayef shrugged. "I should be fine."

"Oozie is an Arabic dish," Sara Beth began. "We'll have an Arabian Night?" She grinned.

"Ooh, yeah!" Hank said excited. "Genies, Aladdin lamps, Arabian Knights..." he leaned in toward Sara Beth, "That's knights with a k." He brightened again. "The Thousand and One Arabian Nights is great!!"

"I agree," Joel nodded. "Just curious, but your father was from Wales. Your mother was from Jordan?"

"Yes," Nayef replied. "Dad met Mom one night when she was doing the Raqs Sharqi."

Sara Beth's eyes grew as did her smile. Hank's face held confusion.

"Raqs Sharqi? What's that?" Hank asked.

"She was a belly dancer!?" Sara Beth smiled more. "Really?" To which Nayef nodded smiling himself. Sara Beth shook her head in amazement. "She had to be in great shape! Those hips just keep moving!"

"A belly dancer!?" Hank repeated equally amazed. "Wow."

Nayef grinned, "She was very beautiful." He said with a fond memory. "And" he admitted a little hesitantly, "she was Muslim."

The community of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic people was fraught with conflict since the Biblical time of Abraham! Started by Sarah, Abraham's wife who thought God meant Abraham was going to have his promised son through someone else? Sara was too old to have a child. She sent Hagar her maidservant for Abraham to have the son. Ishmael was born and became the father of the Arab Nation. God was supposed to have created the universe. Having Sarah give birth at any age would have been simple. There was a conflict from then on!

"She was Muslim," Joel said simply. "So?"

"They weren't really liked anywhere," Nayef admitted. "Even today, on Earth a practicing Muslim is watched with suspicion."

"It's the same God!" Sara Beth said incredulously, "Different prophets but it's the same God!"

"On the Ark," Joel said, "Who individuals worship is their right. If you're Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, Muslim...as long as you don't pressure anyone else to believe what you do...that's fine."

"Well," Nayef nodded, "some Muslims went too far pushing their beliefs on others."

"Are you Muslim?" Hank asked. "I don't care, but are you?"

Nayef gave a shrugging nod, "I do enjoy some of the rites and passages in the Quran. I also enjoy passages in the Christian Bible." He chuckled. "I don't have a rug I unroll and pray towards Mecca."

"You'd have to bow that way," Hank pointed at the rear of the Ark. "Mecca is a loonng way off now."

"I believe in something far greater than we are," Joel explained. "Our rise as a species was guided by someone or something. We are more than self-aware pond goo. There is a pattern to the whole universe. What's guiding that, I don't know."

Nayef grinned, "I belief the same thing. As much as we've mapped the Human body, no one has yet found the Human soul. Is there a soul?"

Sara Beth grudged a nod, "No gene for the soul has been located yet. There are other species that are intelligent, but not one of them has ever asked a question. We do. What does that mean?"

"My ancestors in the South used the fact that the people they enslaved had no soul to justify what they did holding slaves in the first place," Joel shook his head. "Based on what evidence? Prove they didn't have a soul...better yet, the slave owners should prove they had one!"

Kevin sat with Joel and Sara Beth. "Dad," he began. "Can I ask you something?"

"No," Joel shot out and then smiled at his son. "You asked me a question about asking me a question. Does that make sense? You know you can ask me anything."

Kevin chuckled, "Funny, Dad." He waved at Robbie and then at Robot. "Robbie," he corrected himself, "The smaller Robbie was built on Earth thirty years ago. You told me that Robbie was built using metals gotten from the mines on Earth." He waved at the tall Robbie. "That Robbie you said was made from metals from the mines in space around Jupiter and some asteroids." He then pointed at Robot. "I assume he's made from the same metals?"

Joel shrugged a nod, "Yes."

"How much metal do we have on the Ark?" Kevin asked and hurried on. "You're planning more robots. Even the dog and cat robots need metal. Where is the metal coming from?"

Joel chuckled again, "Ah, we have metal here. Sheets of metals, some with mixed polymers and other materials to help with possible repairs and we use it as needed."

"Repairs!?" Kevin's eyes widened. "What needs repairing?"

"We won't know until the need arises," Joel explained. "Like the exterior bulkhead..."

"What could happen to that?" Kevin asked a little worried.

Joel touched his son's arm. "Stop. Don't worry about something that might not happen." He sighed. "I've never lied to you. It is possible in the vast emptiness of space we could run into something. That's a very, very small chance, but it could happen. At the speed we're going now even the tiniest fragment could act like a bullet on the Ark's hull. If it does," he shrugged, "We have enough sheets of metal to replace the damaged portion." He was pleased that Kevin was taking an interest in how the Ark functioned. "The Ark is essentially a giant robot herself. Athena is the Ark. Everything about the Ark was designed to take care the most important things onboard. Us! That's why the Stasis Pods are where they are. They are in the center of the Ark. We have tons of bulkhead and compartments between us and space. No small fragment could penetrate that far. The Ark also generates a field before it that repels any particles away from the ship."

Kevin relaxed, "Okay, but that field requires power. Where does that power come from?" He waved at the Communal Dining Area. "All this requires power. The cooking, the lights...won't we drain the power? Is it a battery?"

Joel looked at Hank, "You're the Engineer. Explain it."

Hank's eyebrows rose and then he nodded, "Okay, I will." He grinned at Joel. "I'll explain it again to your father." He leaned forward, "You know I love you." Then he grinned at Kevin. "There is a battery pack that the Ark and Athena use. That's charged by the ion drive. The compressed ion gas not only pushes the Ark, but as it does, it charges the battery packs and keeps them at optimal levels." He waved at the surrounding Communal Dining Area. "Right now, we're using more power to light the Habitat Ring and our quarters. When we're in stasis, this all shuts down. The smallest amount of power is needed to keep our pods active. The battery packs are continued to be charged."

"How was Robot and Robbie build? Who built them?" Kevin asked.

"Athena," Joel and Hank answered at the same time.

Hank smiled at Kevin, "The Ark has manufacturing capabilities. There's a whole bay where these robotic arms can take the metal, carve it up and assemble anything." He waved at Robbie and Robot. "Like those two. That happened while we were in stasis. The smelting of metal, shaping, and assembly was done and needed power, but once it was done it was shut down."

Kevin grinned, "So what do you do?" His smile got a little malicious, in a fun nature. "Athena and the Ark do everything. What do you do?"

"We knit!" Joel shot back as he smiled. "Athena does much of what's needed. She's really the Captain of the Ark. She steers the Ark and monitors the sky. She dodges objects..." He patted his own chest, "but I say where we're going. I decide where, after the stellar scientists and planetary scientists recommend where. I couldn't do it on my own. I depend on them to help me make the right decision."

"Athena navigates the Ark," Kevin said his understanding. "She has the helm. She also handles tactical, communication, and maintenance." He nodded with a new appreciation. "She's a busy girl!"

Joel nodded, "Yes, she is. Now you understand better why I had everyone toast her!"

Hank laughed lightly, "Your father was a little upset that the course change he entered wasn't spectacular."

Joel frowned, "It wasn't! Those movies and shows that show a rapid acceleration, the hard banking while a man's hand steers doesn't happen! There was no drama in the slightest. No change in the sound to the engines..."

Hank laughed harder, "The engines don't make a sound on the Ark."

"That's my whole point!" Joel stated flatly. "All the fun is not here! We're in space having gone farther than any Human has ever gone! No dramatics!?"

Everyone at the table was laughing at Joel's rant. It was lighthearted even though it was very true.

Dr. Leah Rees returned with Rita and Chloe who joined them and continued the fun.

The talks and "sessions" lasted the rest of the day. Now with the Habitat Ring reflecting the time of day more accurately, Joels mind seemed to sigh with relief. Dr. Nayef Rees was going to cook that evening. Leah's specialty was Pediatric Psychiatry. That's why she counseled Ian, Jimmy, and Kevin. She did an hour with each individually. Nayef talked with Joel and Sara Beth individually. Then they spoke with the Nesmiths as a family. This was not to be overly dramatic. Mental health could be a fragile thing. You never knew what could affect it. Again, like Joel's and Sara Beth's mantra, be honest and talk! Be excessively honest. Never say, "It's nothing." If your partner in life sees something about you to cause a question, answer even if you don't know! Say, "I don't know." Talk about it! If your tired of talking about it, say that. It may take a while, but you will resolve the problem. If you feel you can't, talk with someone who can. A person educated and certified to solve the problem.

Sara Beth, Joel, and their sons strolled on the Habitat Ring. The soft glow of an orange-yellow setting sunlight bathed the Habitat Ring. The sound of the breeze and the periodic brush of "wind" randomly blew over their skin.

"...we have these maple trees, oak trees, and ferns," she held her hands up as she mentally planted an image in her mind and wanted her family to see it. "Real foliage has a smell and will fill the Habitat Ring!"

"Will we run out of seeds?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah," Kevin nodded. "Uncle Hank explained some things about Athena and the Ark. Where are all these trees and plants coming from?"

"In the later part of the Twentieth Century and the beginning of the Twenty-First Century they created a seed vault and buried it deep underground in Greenland." Sara Beth explained. "During the last part of the Twenty-First Century they had collected many samples of animal and plant life and stored them there. Animals that were alive and those that were going extinct. They did the same with the plant life. They were still collecting samples when we launched."

"You know any plant your mother uses will produce seeds," Joel added. "No plant will be wasted."

Sara Beth looked at Joel, "What about the second Ark." She shook her head, "We are the second Ark after Noah's ark, but what of the one after us?"

Joel shrugged a nod, "There wasn't anything about it in the messages. I don't know if they're continuing to launch another Ark. I did a search when I sent a message back. It will take a day or two to get a reply."

"Commander Nesmith," Nayef's voice came out of the air.

"Yes?" Joel asked.

"Your help with the assembly of dinner is needed," Nayef's voice said with a slight amused tone. "Just you. You and Hank said you would."

"I'm on my way," Joel said back. He leaned in kissing Sara Beth. "See you for our Arabian Night!"

Joel was happy to see the Nayef was cooking! Not Athena, but Nayef. He made the rice with saffron, cardamon, and bay leaves. You could smell the difference! He baked the chicken with a little ketchup, olive oil, and turmeric. It was smelling even better in the Communal Dining Area! He cooked the ground lamb and beef with salt and pepper. He never measured a thing. He added nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. All the while he had Joel cooking the chicken while he cooked the ground meats. He had Hank bake the almonds in the "oven" with a little olive oil and ghee.

"What the Hell is ghee?" Hank looked at what was on the spoon. "It kind of looks like butter."

Nayef nodded and chuckled, "Because it is butter. They use it in the Middle East. It began in India. It's a clarified butter with the water and milk solids taken out." He nodded. "It was really started to keep it from spoiling in the warm weather. It's used in many traditional medicines and religious rituals."

Hank simply said, "Huh." Then he brightened again. "I told you. I can boil water. That's about it."

Nayef patted Hank on the back, "If you can set the table and get everything ready, that will help. I have the program ready for Athena to give the Dining Area the correct appearance."

"Just point," Hank said simply.

It was assembled quickly as they finished and Nayef called everyone out of stasis to the Communal Dining Area. Now, the Communal Dining Area was transformed! The lights were dimmed. Athena was projecting an image of tent ladened walls, with those Aladdin lamps hung in various places. There were bright colorful tapestries, and the air had the wonderful smell of the Oozie with the spices adding their fragrance to the air. There was music that was lively and sweeping. You heard the wind instrument piping active notes, drums that kept the beat and some stringed instrument. You wanted to dance to it, but not the frantic dances most people knew. You danced to this alone. If there was group, you coordinated your moves, but you still danced alone. You could see in your mind the women dancing as one move they all did in the bedlah; the fitted bra, fitted hip belt, and skirt or harem pants.

"Oh, wow!" Lunga said as he looked around.

"See?" Joel whispered to Sara Beth. "Wow is a universal word."

"Normally," Nayef said to everyone. "You sit on pillows around a lowered table, but I didn't have the pillows or tables...so, just imagine what it was like. Welcome to the Jordanian Arabian Night." He waved at the tables. "Let's begin."

The whole evening was wonderful. They had traditional Shrak Bread, juices, mint tea...there was even a group of five women who performed the Raqs Sharqi. A coordinated belly dance. It was a projection, but it looked pretty real! The women in the projection were in their late teens or early twenties and their hip movements were slow and methodical. Arms and hands moved gracefully to the music.

The end of their evening came as with every night. Spirits were high and they all retired to their quarters. The Habitat Ring reflected the night as lights were low, and the sound of the crickets returned. This time there was a nightingale that sung. The next day after they woke there would be another check to see if everything was going according to the new plan. Then they would return to stasis. Life was more enjoyable for everyone on the Ark and the Habitat Ring. As it was supposed to be. Nayef and Leah had some others to talk to, but they were done for now. It would be another ten years before any of them woke from stasis. They wouldn't notice it, but it would be. Joel and Sara Beth said goodnight to their sons tucking them in bed again. Robbie was there to watch over Ian. A comfortable routine was solidifying.

The next day everyone got back in their pods, Joel and Sara Beth were last.

"See you in a few minutes," Joel said to Sara Beth.

"You know it," Sara Beth nodded. "Athena, activate Nesmith pods one and two."

The pods closed and Joel heard the sound of gas and welcomed the quick drowsy feeling and wondered why stasis wasn't sleep.