Ark II - 14. The Space Ladder and Athena

Joel looked at Hank as they wandered along the shoreline. They weren’t very far from the air generator. The waves were as waves on any beach were, they rolled in and went back out. Zeus, the Godzilla Planet was not that close now. The two moons, Adonis and Butes. As with the other planets in the Epsilon Eridani System, Joel had not named these celestial bodies. The Greek theme continued and when Joel was explained why, he agreed with them. Adonis was the bigger of the two, though less than half of what the moon on Earth had been. Butes was just a little smaller than Adonis. From Gaea, they looked to be very near each other in the sky. Adonis looked smaller than Butes, but that was because it was farther away. Butes was larger right now and at night, they had colors! There was something either in the atmosphere or in orbit that made the color changes. And they did change color. Joel was not a scientist and would never be. He lacked that burning desire to know why. He was sure he’d find out when one of the scientists determined why. Hank and he were walking quietly together both seeming to just enjoy the scenery. “You don’t have something to look at engineering wise?”

Hank’s ever-present grin just grew. “Tired of my company already?”

Joel threw an arm over Hank’s shoulder. Even in the suits they touch…sort of. “Never my friend. I just thought you would be caught up in what Wei and his team is doing.”

Hank grudged a nod, “Well, when Medika was looking at the robots working and checking…things. I was a little. Structural Engineering is not like Mechanical Engineering. I am fascinated by machines and how they work. I look to see what can be added,” Hank smiled. “Wei and his team are building structures and getting things ready to bring things from the surface up to be used to make that happen.” His hand waved away from him, “and there goes my interest.” He smiled at Joel, ‘What did you think about Medika’s dream?”

Joel looked at Hank surprised, “I think she made a valid point. A point I will take seriously. If there is even a couple of people that think they should have been consulted about coming to Gaea, that needs to be dealt with or it will become something more.”

“How can they object?” Hank asked in disbelief. “Gaea is a perfect world to build on! The people on our Ark are smart enough to know that.”

“Yes,” Joel nodded. “However, this is not about the wisdom of coming to Gaea. It’s because we didn’t include them when we decided. It is more about ego than being right or wrong about anything.” Joel shrugged, “In the military, there are members that know they should be included in every decision made. Why? Because they’ve had a few successful campaigns, they know best. They become accustomed to having their orders followed unquestioning and soon begin to think they shouldn’t ever be disobeyed. They become the dictators and tyrants feared by many.”

“Aw,” Hank said in mock sympathy. “They got a bruised ego. Such a sad boo-boo.”

Joel shoved Hank away slightly and shook his head, “A bruised ego we should not ignore but plan to address in some way…or it can become a really BIG boo-boo.” He looked up in the direction of the Ark. “Sara Beth!”

“Yes, oh Fearless One,” Sara Beth’s chuckle came over Joel’s earpieces.

“Perhaps you, Rita and some others up there can plan a talent night and recognition banquet for tomorrow night?” Joel asked looking at the sky. The Ark could be seen from the ground when Ran’s starlight hit the Ark and added a new star to the sky. The beautiful rings overshadowed the Ark most other times. If you knew where to look, you could see it.

“Excellent idea!” Sara Beth’s voice came over the communications network. “I’ll get Leah, Nayef, Greta…and some others to plan the banquet and entertainment.”

“Great!” Joel replied. “It will be fun for everyone!”

 

Hank and Joel resumed their walk on the sandy beach. It was a brownish-white sand. Water did what it did on Gaea as it did on Earth bringing sand from the ocean’s depths and deposited the pulverized rock and sediments on the shore.

“We have the makings of a utopia here,” Hank broke their comfortable silence.

“Utopias don’t exist,” Joel stated.

“Why not?” Hank asked happily. “We have food enough and can raise more. We have comfortable homes. We eliminated some key issues like the ignorant and…” he held a finger up to make his point, “we eliminated bills!”

Joel shook his head and laughed, “We have no currency!”

“Ain’t that great?” Hank asked rhetorically. “No rent or mortgage payments, electric bills, groceries…no one has more than his neighbor. No taxes!”

Joel grinned, “No income to pay the rent, mortgage payments, electric bills, or groceries.”

Hank held up fingers as he continued, “No unemployment, no homeless…”

Joel shook his head again, “You know more than a few of those homeless people on Earth had mental health issues.”

“More than some had substance abuse problems,” Hank nodded. “We still could have that. The mental health issues shouldn’t be an issue now,” Hank waved that idea off. “They went pretty thoroughly through our family histories to find ANY mental health issues. Going back three and four generations!”

“They went through all the samples we have onboard of life we brought to be sure they were clean genetically.” Joel shrugged, “It makes sense to do that for the Humans, too.”

“Genetic screenings,” Hank nodded. “Have we eliminated genetic diseases? Measles, Polio, Cystic Fibrosis, Autism or some other illnesses? If no one has it, it can’t just resurface.”

“We’ll see,” Joel shrugged. “We won’t have any sexually transmitted diseases…” he raised his finger, “yet. I don’t know how thorough they were with Ark III and Ark IV.”

Hank looked around the beach and sighed almost contently, “I can’t wait to take this suit off and enjoy the breeze and feel the waves on my feet.” He nodded. “It’s beautiful NOW.” He glanced up as Ran was getting lower in the sky…not quite sunset. The sky was changing color to a deeper red as the evening went on. The fifteen-hour daylight was going to end. The rings were still there, but the colors and its luminescence was fading. It would be a thing of art for as long as they were here. Romance and the beauty of the rings would be caught in poetry and paintings…it would be captured by the new residents of Gaea. They would not let what happened on Earth happen on Gaea.

“Excuse me, Joel,” Wei’s voice came through Joel’s earpieces. “I don’t wish to interrupt…”

“Wei,” Joel said back lightheartedly. “The only thing you’re interrupting is a little sightseeing.”

“I understand,” Wei commented. “After being on the Ark as we have, having ground that doesn’t constantly go up is refreshing. The ocean if very relaxing.”

“Which all of you should come an enjoy,” Joel encouraged. “Ran will set in a couple of hours. Come over and see it.” He thought a second, “Or are you too tired from working and want to return to the Ark?”

“When we return to the surface to attach the cable to the base,” Wei began. “We can see it then.”

“Okay,” Joel replied. “We’ll head your way and enjoy Hank’s piloting.” He smacked Hank on the back.

 

Joel and Hank rode the jet-bikes back to the base for the ladder. The pilings had dug down into the bedrock and it was secured. Robots were checked and their programming checked.

Getting on the lander they rose quickly and used the air propulsion to rise until the air became thinner and the afterburners were fired up and they climbed higher. The heaviness they had quickly gotten used to left them as returned to the blackness of space.

Joel grinned watching Hank handle the controls well. “Next time we come down it will be later in the day on Gaea. You can do this it night on Gaea.”

Hank smirked at Joel, “You just love to give that added little bit, don’t you?”

Joel shook his head but smiled at his friend, “You handled all this beautifully. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

Hank just grunted, “I’m still using Athena assistance to dock with the Ark.”

Joel nodded, “And if Athena was offline?”

“We’d all be screwed!” Hank stated. “Rita would fix Athena. She won’t let Athena go offline. Rita has all those people working to keep Athena healthy!”

Joel snickered holding his hands up, “Okay, okay. As Commander I have to think of these possibilities. As my First Mate, you should, too. I pray Athena has no problems.” He pointed at Hank, “But if she does…are you prepared?”

“You are.” Hank nodded and sighed, “Fine, I will attempt the docking without the assist from Athena.” He turned and pointed at Joel, “If I do it successfully, I want a raise.”

Joel laughed. No currency, remember? “Sure, I’ll double what you get now.”

“Sweet,” Hank grinned.

 

Getting under the Ark, Hank maneuvered the lander into position.

“Remember,” Joel coached. “Momentum just takes a slight nudge.”

“No backseat driving!” Hank said mockingly terse. “Or backseat piloting!”

“Sorry,” Joel chuckled.

It took a bit longer than Joel would have taken but soon there was the familiar “thud” as the latching hooks grabbed the lander in. The bay doors closed, and the green light came on to tell them all was as it should be.

Joel shook his friend happily, “Perfect!”

“Lives at stake,” Hank grumbled. “No pressure there. I need a drink.”

“Are you often such a drama queen?” Joel grinned.

“Yes,” Hank replied.

 

Changing out of their suits they returned to the Control Room. There were some additional people with Rita. Rita greeted her husband with a hug and kiss as did Sara Beth did with Joel.

“We have something to show you two,” Rita said happily and waved to one of the men working with her. “You know Scott Fleming.”

Scott was a man in his mid-thirties with dark brown hair.

“Sure,” Joel nodded. “It’s a small community.”

“I began this back on Earth and didn’t get a lot of time to do this much until now,” Scott said smiling happily. “Today I put the finishing touches on it.” He turned in the room. “Athena, show yourself.”

A woman appeared in the room. She was clearly Greek and drop dead gorgeous. Supermodel quality. She wore one of those Greek white togas as a dress with a purple sash around one shoulder and around her waist. Her arms could be seen as the toga allowed. Long hair hung below her shoulders in waves. Her figure was perfection with her healthy breasts beneath blaring white. She was a goddess.

Joel’s jaw dropped and Hank’s eyes widened.

“Hello, Commander,” Athena’s familiar voice came from this goddess who looked at Hank. “Hello, Dr. Cavill.”

“Oh, my…” Joel began.

“…god,” Hank finished equally stunned.

She, unlike her other projections, which were pretty good, she looked as solid as anyone there in the room. “I trust my appearance is acceptable.”

“Acceptable!?” Hank asked still stunned. “Absolutely not!”

Everyone including Athena looked puzzled at Hank.

“This is not acceptable at all!” Hank said very convincingly. “This…” he waved at Athena as he walked around her, “is exceptional!!” He grinned at Scott who was now equally smiling. “My GOD!!” He leaned in toward Athena. “Or should I say goddess?’ He reached up, “Can I touch you?”

Athena smiled and even chuckled, “In this form I have no substance, but you’re welcome to try.”

Hank reached out with a finger and just when it looked as if he would touch her, his finger kept going. It sank into the image and disappeared, “Wow.”

Joel shook his head, “Wait.” He held a hand up. “You said, in this form. Is there another?”

“Yes, Commander,” Medika said stepping forward from behind them. “I’m working on a couple of robotic versions of Athena.”

Rita nodded, “And just as with Athena’s ability to speak to many at one time, she can be in several places at a single moment. Physically and by this holographic imaging.”

“I see a problem,” Joel said in seriousness. “Athena, you are beautiful. Do we want some of the people on the Ark to fall in love with you? Because they will.”

Athena’s smile softened, “I feel that is a problem for most women. I’m sure many fall in love with Dr. Nesmith and you, Commander. Do you have a way to stop it from happening?”

“No,” Joel shook his head.

“There are proven ways to defend against unwelcome advances,” Athena assured. “I can let them down easy. I will not encourage any advances.”

Joel nodded. She had access to all the psychological and psychiatric databases. She would know the best way to keep the unwanted attention and how to keep it from becoming a problem. “Sure,” he chuckled. “You’re not some innocent young thing.” He looked at her paying more attention to what she was. “You look like a mature woman in her late twenties or a very young-looking woman in her late thirties.” She had no lines, crow’s feet, or skin blemishes or freckles. Her skin was flawless.

“We can let the others know at the talent show tomorrow night,” Sara Beth suggested.

“Why wait?” Scott asked. “Everyone will be at dinner.” He was excited to show off his handywork.

“We can do that,” Joel nodded and waved toward the door. “Care to walk with us, Athena?”

Athena smiled and nodded, “I would love to, Commander.”

Joel frowned, “Is there something that prevents you from calling me Joel? I know who I am.”

“I thought it just prudent to maintain a somewhat professional approach to your names,” Athena admitted.

“Fine,” Joel nodded. “I prefer to work with friends. Friends call me Joel. Can I ask that when you are standing in front of us, as a friend, you call me Joel? I hope we are friends.”

Athena’s head bobbed slightly, “I can do that, Joel. We are friends.”

 

They walked out into the wide corridor/passageway with evening softening the light, yet it was still bright enough to walk. Soon the recessed and periodic lights would come on. There were the trees that still stood tall and gave the area a natural setting. Athena in her beautiful toga seemed to be walking with the group from the Control Room. They were getting astonished looks from the ones on the walkway, but no one was so rude as to intrude. Really, it was because of Athena. Joel knew that. In a community of a thousand families, a stranger wasn’t possible. There had to be an explanation.

“Patch me in so I can make an announcement, Athena,” Joel asked.

“Proceed, Joel,” Athena said with a quick nod.

“People of the Ark,” Joel began and heard his voice all around him. As the number of people on the Ark out of stasis and walking about, his voice was heard with every person on the Ark. Not the booming voice from speakers, but to each person. Yes, Joel had been shown by the sound engineers over the years how they did that now. Joel knew but didn’t care. It worked. “Excuse the brief interruption. I will ask every citizen on the Ark to be in the Communal Dining Area, or at least tune in to see and hear me make an announcement. I have…something special to show you.” He looked at Rita and Sara Beth, “In what? Fifteen minutes?”

Sara Beth nodded, “Sure, that should be enough time.”

“Tune in or be there in fifteen minutes,” then he grinned. “Be there or be square. Joel out.”

Sara Beth sighed as she took Joel’s hand, “There are much, much worse fetishes a man can have. Your addiction to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is only minorly annoying. Mostly, I ignore it.”

Rita took her husband’s arm, “And he passed this addiction to Hank.”

“Oh, no,” Hank argued lightly. “I already had the love of those centuries before I even met Joel. We found out we both liked Looney Tunes and it just blossomed from there. Don’t blame Joel.” He looked back at Scott. “We’ve seen some impressive imagery from Athena,” he looked at Athena. “Excuse me, from you, Athena. You just seem more…” he waved at her, “there than the others. How’d you do that?”

“I can explain,” Athena nodded. “Perhaps Scott can explain it better.”

“Holographs have been around for hundreds of years,” Scott began. “As projected imagery improved, even the movies you love, Joel, have been converted with the technology. We’re using more projectors for this version of Athena. It creates a denser light image.”

“One question, Athena,” Hank began a bit sheepishly. He waved at the surrounding passageway. “The sounds of the wind, birds, and insects…is it just one sound? Or are they all individual sounds?”

“You just couldn’t let that go,” Joel shook his head.

“It’s on my mind every time I come out here!” Hank explained helplessly. “I can’t help it. I keep listening for the loop. As good as a loop is, I can usually hear one after a while. Are the sounds on a loop?”

“Yes and no,” Athena grinned and nodded. “There is a loop with some of the insect noises. The birds are individual calls and individual loops in some cases. I wanted it to be as natural sounding as possible.”

 

They came into the Communal Dining Area where everyone looked to see the group with Athena come in. Many were talking with themselves, and they looked at the new person. The puppies and kittens were playing with the young residents and some adults. All the animals were playful and acting very much like the puppies and kittens they were. One kitten was being teased by a string with something on the end which the kitten was trying to catch in its paws. A bulldog puppy was licking Kiri, Manu’s and Andrea’s youngest who was laughing as the puppy clearly loved her. The infant was delighted as the puppy tickled her. The puppy was very eager to give his affection to Kiri. Manu and Andrea weren’t worried as the puppy actively played with their daughter as Kiri clearly loved the puppy. Kiri did as many children did and pulled on his ears and grabbed his neck and skin which normally hurt small puppies, but not this one! He didn’t yelp or cry out in pain as he was a robot! That was a fact Joel had to keep reminding himself.

Joel waited the amount of time as he had said he would, when he looked at Athena. “I need for all to hear me.”

“Go ahead, Joel,” Athena said to him.

“Your attention please,” Joel began. “My wife and Rita Cavill with some others have planned a talent night to highlight some very talented members among our fellow Ark residents. This will also be an acknowledgement of some brilliant minds that helped make a decision about coming to Gaea. One of those members you know but have never seen.” He grinned at them. “I was surprised! She is helmsman, navigator, cartographer for the stars, engineer, and often our babysitter! We’re in stasis! She is the Ark! She is the mind that keeps track of so much…and does so much. My son asked me what it is WE do!” He touched his own chest. “She labors day and night…” he waved everyone down and added, “I know, I know…it’s always night out in space. Do I say she labors while we are awake and asleep?” He waved that off and waved both hands at Athena. “I present to you…” he grinned at Athena, “Athena!”

There was the general sudden gasps and murmur of conversations around the room as they realized what they were seeing.

“Yes,” Joel nodded. “This IS Athena! She is here.” He pointed at the Athena standing before them. “And she is here.” He waved at the Ark’s interior. “Like the goddess she was created to personify, she can walk among us now. She can see all of us and can speak to each of us at the same time. I’m not saying that she IS the real Athena. She is AN Athena. I’m not claiming that she is from Mount Olympus, but she is a marvel of Computerized Engineering. She no longer is unseen but very much there.” He looked at Athena saying quietly, “Forgive me. I only do this to prove a point.” He waved his arm toward her which ran right through her. Her image didn’t even falter but remained solid. “Many of you will want to test this for yourselves. She is real. I always thought she was alive, and this will show many that she is real and alive.” He looked at Athena, “Care to say something?”

Athena nodded and said, “I was created by men to be of service to men.” He diction and eloquence were fluid and still had the sound and calmness she had as a disembodied voice. That was a voice every person of the Ark recognized. “To serve mankind was the goal and my only job. To bring a portion of Earth to the stars is the main part of that job. It is a task I will do. However, I will confess, I never expected to be treated as a member of the Ark’s crew…”

“Because you aren’t!” Joel interrupted. “You ARE the Ark!” He looked again to the people in the Communal Dining Area. “All those jobs I mentioned, Navigation, men can do. Helm, we can steer. Maps, which we, men did. Engineer, she maintains all that we men came up with. Even to the Ark where she regulates the spin of the Habitat Ring to create an Earth-like gravity. The length of light for the Earth’s twenty-four-hour day!” He looked at Athena, “Which I know your slowing down enough to simulate Gaea’s gravity and slowly lengthening the day to match Gaea’s longer day by the nine more Earth Hours.” He returned his gaze to the people. “I invite you to meet and speak with Athena. Or just talk from there. She’ll hear you. She will just become…” he thought for a means to explain it, “real for us. Welcome Athena!”

The murmuring and gasps were filling the Communal Dining Room. The new development was a very good way for some of these very smart people to look up from what they were doing and see Athena as more than a computer and more as a real person. That’s what she was. She WAS the Ark! They need to see her less as a tool and more as a person. Joel believed Athena was a person. Joel had more experience with Robbie and saw Robbie, Robot, and Athena as a real personality. Athena was created almost thirty years ago…plus the fifty years they’d traveled to get to Gaea. The foundation for Athena and some other computer controls went back further. She had her programming tweaked and perfected over several decades. She was no deity, but she possessed many abilities that could make you think she was.

Scott came up behind Joel, “This was her debut.” He pulled one of those computer pads. “This might help.” He touched his pad and Athena’s toga switched to one of the coverall garments everyone on the Ark wore. Because of the closeness the coveralls had her body shape was more evident. She was a woman that had a good figure beneath her coverall. Her hair still cascaded down over her shoulders. On her coverall on the upper left was the word Ark II but beneath the logo was a spear that crossed over a shield which was seen over a slightly unrolled up scroll. She was a defender and also the personification of wisdom. “What do you think?”

Joel’s grin grew into a big smile, “I think this Athena is perfect!”

Scott’s face showed his happiness at having his work praised as Joel was doing. “She can choose to wear and appear as she chooses. I thought the toga was good for the introduction…”

Joel pounded Scott on the back nodding, “This is great!” He turned to the people. “Now, she will move about you and give you a chance to get to know her better. Don’t worry about bumping into her or stepping on her toes…”

“For now,” Medika said to Joel. “After I build her robotic body, they will have to watch out then. Until then…”

“Got it,” Joel said. He waved at the crowd and said to Athena, “Go, mix, and let the people know more about you.”

“Certainly,” Athena nodded and moved slowly into the curious people.

Sara Beth walked up closer to Joel, “She’s remarkable.” She marveled.

Scott bounced in excitement, “She is! Isn’t she?” His gaze never left the retreating figure of Athena.

Nayef walked forward with his wife Leah, “She seems perfectly Human.”

Scott turned with delight at that comment, “You really think so?”

Nayef nodded, “I do.”

“How far do you plan to take this,” Rita asked and waved at Athena who was being surrounded by residents who were asking questions, “this Humanizing of Athena?”

“As far as we can,” Scott shrugged.

“We would like to create a way that Athena can experience all aspects of being a Human.” Medika answered. “Such as Jimmy’s desire to allow Robbie to taste food. We would like Athena to know what it’s like to be a Human Being.” She smiled, “Simple things like eating, taking a deep breath of fresh air, or going to bed when tired.”

“Stubbing your toe?” Hank grinned.

“Yes!” Medika nodded. “All the joys and heartaches of being a Human.”

Leah nodded agreeing, “Academic knowledge about Humans is fine. She has decades academic knowledge, hundreds of psychiatric journals and psychological studies is great. Personal experience is the best teacher. It would better help Athena to relate to all these souls on the Ark.”

“She’s going to be anatomically-correct?” Joel asked delicately. “Did you tell Athena that?”

“Yes, and yes,” Medika answered. “She was quite interested about being fully Human and experiencing all facets of being Human.” She laughed, “Especially sex.”

Hank thumbed over his shoulder at Athena, “She wants to have sex.” It wasn’t a question. “With who?”

Leah chuckled, “She’ll be around a long, long time. I don’t think she had anyone in particular in mind. Are you volunteering?” She laughed.

“What!?” Hank balked. “No!” He looked at Rita, “But if it furthers our science…”

“So, she can experience what it’s like to have someone roll over and go to sleep afterwards?” Rita asked a little pointedly.

“I don’t do that!” Hank defended.

“Who says her first experience has to be with a man?” Sara Beth asked chuckling.

“My point was,” Leah smiled holding her hands up, “She will be made a sexual being like all of us. When she’s ready she’ll let that someone know. It could be a generation from now.”

“After I create a body that can do that,” Medika clarified. “And, as she is basically a very sophisticated computer, she can program herself as a woman or a man!”

“But she is a woman!” Joel said simply.

“Really?” Rita shook her head smiling. “You’re playing that card? She is female because she was created to be the goddess Athena. She can reprogram herself into a male god.” Rita waved at Athena who was speaking to a child who held a kitten up to her. Of course, Athena couldn’t touch the kitten yet. Athena directly controlled the robot kittens and puppies. “Athena can reprogram how she looks. The robot form of Athena will be female, but she could have a male version of her constructed to relate as a man. Her first sexual relationship could be a woman to man. It could be man to woman…” she smiled bigger, “or even female to female or man to man.” Her eyebrows waggled. “As her program matures, she will mature and want other things.”

“My robot bodies have to be built to accommodate that,” Medika cautioned. “I know we will.”

“We have time,” Joel shrugged.

“Let’s just avoid a Colossus or a Terminator thing. Okay?” Hank cautioned

 

The evening lasted longer because of Athena. She wasn’t tired, but the residents were and had to retire for the night. There was a busy day tomorrow. They didn’t have a day and night as they did on Earth, but Gaea had a day and night they had to adhere to.

 

The following workday began with Wei and Bai getting their team and resources ready to lower the long cable to the surface. That would be the next day.

The cable was not as thick as you could imagine, yet…it was super strong and coiled up tightly for ease in storage. There was almost a thousand kilometers of cable.

“Some of this cable is thicker than other parts,” Joel observed. “Why?”

Wei nodded, smiled and answered, “Counterweight.” He pointed to the thicker cable, “This is the cable that will be traveled up and down on. There will be a station from which the containers run from.” He pointed at the thinner cable. “This cable will be extended or retracted as the payload demands to counteract the weight. Our lovely Athena will be making sure that balance is maintained and raise or lower the counterweight. The station is a counterweight, but as we bring ore to the surface and lower finished metals to the surface, that balance will be maintained by Athena.” He shrugged.

Joel nodded, “Just easy-peasy for you, I suppose.” He frowned. “I suppose you did well in physics, calculus, and trigonometry.”

Wei nodded and shrugged again, “I had to be or choose another career.” He grinned, “I take it you didn’t?”

Joel threw his arm over Wei’s shoulder and watched as some robot workers moved the cable from storage into the vast vacuum emptiness of space beyond the Ark. “I love ya, Wei! However, the statement you just made did not increase the love I feel for you.” He looked at Wei’s widening eyes, “I loathed all math. Especially trig and calculus! Theorems! Formulas!”

Wei chuckled, “You did it naturally.” He pointed at Joel. “Your analogy of making your sons fly by spinning around…as your sons got older and heavier you had to lean back more to counter the payload or fall over.” He waved at the cable. “This is the same thing. The height you wanted your son to fly you would need to add weight to your son extending it further out…”

Joel quickly pulled Wei closer and kissed his temple, “Guys like you mean guys like me don’t have to do that.” He grasped Wei’s shoulders and held him out a little. “I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide…I’m good. I know the Space Ladder will work.” He then shook a finger in Wei’s face, “But don’t work too hard. We have a command appearance at the show tonight. I don’t want you to fall asleep.”

Wei’s grin grew into a wan smile, “Never.”

Joel slapped Wei on his shoulder and nodded, “Good man.”

 

Joel had been cautioned about getting too close with the crew. The problem with that was these people were not serving UNDER him. They served WITH him. Yes, if needed he would have to make some decisions that could affect lives, even cause deaths to save more lives. He hated thinking he might have to, but if the need came…he didn’t know. It would rip him apart if it happened. If it meant saving his sons or Sara Beth. He could. If causing the deaths of any of us sons or Sara Beth saved others…he didn’t know. He prayed to whatever was in charge that never happened. A military commander had to divorce his feelings to make decisions like this logically. Objectively. He wasn’t sure any military leader could do this and not have something lost in his or her very soul. It would kill him. As of with Wei, he determined to make Wei a friend! A trusted friend. Everyone on the Ark were trusted to do jobs, but Joel also wanted them to know how valuable they were to him, not just the Ark. No looking busy when he walked by. If anything, Joel had to make these brains to relax and take it easy.

He loved Hank, Rita, Nayef, Leah…all that he had come to know. He would do everything he had to in order to not have to make such a horrible decision about any of them.

 

Joel didn’t have a lot to do. He couldn’t believe it. There were no new messages from Earth to them except to ask a general question as to their status. He spoke with Rita and Athena about sending a reply that was garbled an they would be unable to pinpoint their location. He was determined to not give away any details about their whereabouts. He did receive some information about Ark III and Ark IV. At least those two Arks were still functioning. How well he couldn’t understand. There was no way to know what had happened on those Arks. No one Earth or on the other Arks knew what was happening on the Ark II. Deaths and mutinies were not really going to be easily shared. Joel did ask anyone sending any messages back to Earth to not give the location away. He did NOT want to monitor who was speaking to whom about what. He refused to be that controlling. He shared his fears with all of them. He also had Athena monitor all messages sent from the Ark to Earth. What he had said was true. The people that knew anyone onboard the Ark II was either dead or now elderly. No one organization had sent any resident out here. The people in command of the space agencies kept in touch with Joel who commanded the Ark. The governments that gathered the men and women to oversee who was going were dead. The bombs had destroyed millions of people in many nations on the Earth.

The Mars colonies were still struggling to survive. Yes, they were doing a wonderful job and were independent of any government on Earth. Joel did watch some news shows sent from Mars who reported on the conflict that arose from those that were continuing to send people to Mars. There were even new settlements on Mars from Earth and that caused conflicts. Mars was a big planet, and the new colonies should be restricted…according to the news reports from the governing bodies on Mars. Mars had three big cities now and the population on Mars was now in the millions. Almost no citizen on Mars had EVER set foot on the Earth. Why would they? Both Mars’ moons had people on them watching. There were the colonies on Earth’s moon, however growth of those colonies were limited as the radiation and gravity had to be watched carefully. Shields had been erected to keep the radiation under control. Artificial gravity was used a lot in science fiction but had not really been developed. The rotating habitat rings were the best thing to use even on the moons. You had to have gravity for Humans to grow! Zero gravity was easy to live in for short periods, but it caused problems for bones to grow. A child had to have gravity for the bones to grow properly and allowed the child to grow tall. Men and women who had served on space stations in the Twenty-first Century suffered from rapid bone and muscle deterioration. Muscle atrophy was helped with assigned hours of workouts while in space. They were restricted by the cramped space and had things to occupy the minds of those astronauts. Boring and repetitive tasks did not help. Admit it, Humans stunk. Human body odors were just kept in those small spaces and after a while those same smelly people would put a strain on the sharpest minds! Group dynamics were so carefully looked over to makes sure the thousands on the Ark were psychologically sound.

The real truth is, Humans did NOT belong in space! It was dangerous. Sara Beth’s worry about her and Joel’s sons…bringing them on the mission, was very valid. They COULD be killed! They would probably BE dead if they remained on Earth. Pick your dangers. Humans came up with ways to manage that danger.

In his peripheral vision, Joel saw Hank turning toward him from his console next to Joel and saw Hank suddenly jump as if a bolt of lightning struck him.

“Jesus, Mary, AND Joseph!” Hank blurted moving his right hand to his forehead and across his chest rapidly in the stations of the cross. He grasped his chest over his heart as he struggled with his breath. “Athena!”

Joel had to literally bite his tongue to keep from laughing and simply said, “Hank! I was unaware you were Catholic.”

“Dad was,” Hank panted. “I was…just covering…my bases. His mother and father were…” He leaned forward still attempting to control his breath and pounding of his heart. “Dad wasn’t a…” he panted again, “very good…Catholic. He never went…to Mass. I never went to Confession or said a Hail Mary.” He looked at the beautiful Athena, dressed in the Ark’s coveralls was now standing next to him. “Announce yourself or ring a bell…something. You scared the LIFE out of me.”

Athena tried to hold back the smile that was about to grow on her face. Something Joel did not even try to hold back.

“My apologies for startling you, Hank,” Athena said calmly. “Scaring the life from you was not my intent. If it was, I failed in that attempt. You’re still in perfect health.”

Joel turned more toward Athena, “Very good, Athena. That was funny.” Joel chuckled.

“Being funny WAS my intent,” Athena nodded. “I love Human’s humor and like to use it. It makes almost everyone feel better.”

Joel nodded, “It does! Sara Beth didn’t accept anyone on her team that didn’t have a sense of humor.” He reached out and shook Hank lightly in his chair. “That’s why I keep this guy around. He makes me laugh almost all of the time!”

Hank was recovering and gave a crooked smile, “Aw, and all this time I thought it was because of my good looks.”

“Yes, Hank,” Joel chuckled. “I’m more attracted to brunettes, but I make an exception with you being blond.”

“I knew it.” Hank waved at Joel. “I try to tone it down.”

Joel looked at Athena, “It’s always great to see you!” He waved at Athena. “I knew you were there before, but it’s nice to actually SEE you.”

“I like being seen,” Athena nodded. “I came to inform you Wei is about to begin to lower the cable for the Space Ladder. If you want to see it, you can on your console.”

“Thank you,” Joel smiled and looked at Hank. “This is a giant step forward for us!”

“Yes,” Hank nodded. “It is.” He turned to Athena, “Can I ask you to make a sound like the bell or give an announcement before just appearing? I turn and you weren’t there and then POOF!! There you were!” He leaned in slightly to Athena. “Don’t do that!”

“I can’t just walk in.” She looked as if she was thinking, which she was, “I control the doors…I suppose I could.” She shrugged and looked at Hank and Joel, “Until they finish my robotic body, at least…I can do that,” Athena replied. “Bye!” She waved at them and vanished.

Joel looked again at Hank, “Well, she IS a goddess.”

“Yeah,” Hank muttered.

 

The complete station and cargo/personnel travel cart was there. The top of the Space Ladder needed to be expanded. The small station was a disk-like structure a few people could fit in, at the moment. The long cable was almost invisible in the black of space, but it snaked around waiting to be lowered. The small robot-drones buzzed around like insects keeping the cable from tangling. The station was attached to the cable which ran through the middle of the station as a thread went through the head of a needle. Gaea’s gravity would both help and hinder the cable’s positioning. The Ark and the cable would rotate with Gaea. That rotation would be maintained without any propulsion after the cable was attached to the base on Gaea. The swinging motion, weight, and gravity made what they did very important to do swiftly and accurately the one time.

The tip end of the cable was maneuvered into position and lowered into the atmosphere. Gravity pulled the cable downwards. It took a while for the many kilometers of cable to be lowered more and more. Gaea’s daylight hours were almost sixteen hours long, but it was going to be late on Earth when the cable reached the base on Gaea. The construction robots on Gaea worked hard and quickly to finalize the attachment. Wei watched from the Ark as Athena showed him what was happening on Gaea in great detail.

Joel was watching on his own terminal and understood what was happening and knew what Wei was going to say next.

“Now, we need to test it out!” Wei’s excitement about doing that was easy to see. He was like a small child, who knew what he was getting as a present but couldn’t wait to open it up and get it out!

“Wei,” Joel used the tone he used with his boys when they were small. Heck, he still used that tone. The tone that said he wasn’t angry and was tolerant…to a point, “You promised.” Joel reminded.

Wei had to think about any promise he made as his eyes darted left and right as he searched his mind. When he found it, he looked disappointed, “Is it time for that already!?”

“It will be in an hour,” Joel stated chuckling. “I know you want to test the ladder out.” He pressed his hands to his own chest and stressed sincerely, “I do, too. It will take an hour to get on the Tenders and go to the Orbital Station.” He said what Wei knew but was unwilling to admit. “It will take two hours for the passenger container to get to Gaea’s surface. It takes three to get back.” Joel even used the technique of taking Wei by the shoulders, put his arm around those shoulders and gently led Wei away from what he was doing. “I promise, in the morning, we will do that first.” He was being just a little condescending, but these brilliant people were very much like children when it came to what they loved to do. “You will be one of the first passengers. You need to relax and sleep before we do that.”

Wei nodded but was disappointed, “Yes, of course.”

 

Joel entered the Communal Dining area where there was a controlled kind of chaos happening. People were getting their meals out of the dispensers as people moved through the crowd. The robotic pets were staying clear of the people who walked to and frow. That showed these pets were robots as they watched the people and kept clear of traffic. Sara Beth looked up from giving their three boys their dinner and waved Joel over. Joel would have known where they were even if she hadn’t waved. Robbie was standing at his place at the table where he towered. He was talking with Joel’s sons. His family. Walking over Joel saw what Sara Beth was serving him. That made him smile. The pulled pork, mustard-based Southern barbeque was waiting, and his donut-sized fried onion rings were hot and waiting.

“Family!” Joel greeted his sons by tousling each head of hair in affection. He kissed Sara Beth. “Hello, wife of mine.”

Sara Beth chuckled, “Hello, husband of mine.” She looked in his eyes, “You had a good day.” It wasn’t a question.

Joel nodded and sat after she did. It was the gentleman he was raised to be, “I did! It was a long one, but very exciting. I literally had to tear Wei away to come, eat, and attend the event tonight.”

Sara Beth gave a one-sided shrug, “Wei was added to the Ark because of his dedication.”

Kevin smiled at Joel, “I saw the Space Ladder being deployed. Is it ready?”

Joel nodded, “We’re testing it out in the morning. Our first passengers will ride down to Gaea’s surface and come back up.”

“No kids can ride it yet?” Kevin asked but knew the answer.

Joel grudged a nod, “After we make sure it’s safe you will.” He bit into the first of two sandwiches he had on his plate. “God, that is so good.” He pulled Sara Beth in for a barbeque tasting kiss. “Thank you.”

Sara Beth licked her lips and grinned, “I’ve gotta keep my boys happy.”

Joel smiled and nodded, “You certainly do that.”

Jimmy practically bounced, “Doctor Medika asked me to help her tomorrow!” He said excited. “She’s working on making the robots!” He looked at Robbie, “She’s going to show me how you work, Robbie!”

Robbie’s head turned toward Jimmy, “Please don’t think less of me when you do.”

“Less of you!?” Jimmy asked incredibly. “I know I will think MORE of you, Robbie. You are an amazing robot! More than gears and circuits. You know that. I can’t see your soul, can I?”

“I don’t think so,” Robbie didn’t miss a beat as he answered. “Can I see yours?”

“No,” Jimmy admitted quickly, but didn’t lose his excitement. He looked at Sara Beth and Joel, “Doctor Medika had begun Athena’s robot body! I get to see that, too!”

“The ghost lady?” Ian asked but not afraid, “She’s the computer, right Dad?”

“Yes,” Joel answered. “She’s who I speak with often.

“She’s not a ghost,” Kevin shook his head at his brother.

“Really?” Joel asked Kevin. “How do you know? What are the characteristics of a ghost?”

Kevin looked surprised at his father, “They don’t exist.”

“Oh,” Sara Beth said smiling. “However, for the sake of arguing, what are the characteristics of a ghost?”

Kevin thought, “Translucent and have no substance in the material world.”

“Athena,” Sara Beth said out loud. “Can we see you, please?”

“Certainly, Sara Beth,” Athena appeared at their table wearing her coveralls.

Ian looked up at her, then looked over at the diners, “But she’s talking with the Muellers at their table now!”

“I am,” Athena nodded looking where she was speaking with Kurt at the moment.

“And monitoring the robots on the surface of Gaea, monitoring and maintaining the Habitat Ring, searching the surrounding space, overlooking…” Joel began.

Two more Athenas appeared next to the one speaking with the Nesmiths, only one wore the Greek toga-dress and the other wore a short sleeve version of the coveralls, but her hair was done up on her head and held by a thick braid. There were a few surprised looks from others in the Communal Dining Area, but they remained calm.

“We are all Athena,” the one in the toga said.

“Having a form that you can see is so wonderful,” the one in the short-sleeved coveralls said.

“I am NOT the Greek goddess Athena,” the first Athena in the long-sleeved coveralls said. “I’m just named for her.”

“We can act in unison or independently,” short-sleeved Athena added.

“Can you make yourself translucent?” Sara Beth asked.

Long-sleeved coveralled Athena became so clear you could see beyond her, but she was still there.

“Can you touch any of them?” Sara Beth asked Kevin.

Kevin smirked, “You know I can’t, but…” he waved at Athena, “she’s not the image of a dead person.”

Joel nodded, “You’re right. Athena is very much alive.”

“The classification of her being a ghost is valid,” Sara Beth said.

Ian looked at his brother and stuck his tongue out in a “so there” gesture. Kevin stuck his tongue out at Ian. Then he stuck his tongue out at Joel who stuck his tongue out in return.

“Do I have to separate the four of you?” Sara Beth asked but it had humor in the question. The only difference between the four Nesmith males were their ages and size. Many times, they were all four just children. She pointed at each, “I will. You know I can.”

“Yes ma’am,” all four said and returned to eating.

Jimmy still had a question, “How do you do that?” He asked as the two other Athenas vanished leaving the one in the long-sleeved coveralls. “Talk to us, talk to the Muellers, watch over all that stuff at the same time?”

Joel held up his hand, “You need to speak with your Aunt Rita. Finish your dinner and we need to be ready for the show.”

 

The tables were cleared and moved away. The chairs were arranged so everyone could see the blank area that would fill up soon. Joel walked to the center of it and clapped his hands once and rubbed them together in anticipation.

“These are exciting days for us,” Joel stated, and that voice was carried by Athena to the many others. “We began a giant step to going to a new home. Our Space Ladder has been erected.” He looked at Wei, “Or is that lowered?” He shrugged, “Whatever, the ladder is there and tomorrow the first people will descend to the surface of Gaea using that ladder. I had to almost pry Wei’s fingers away to get him to take a few hours off!” He suddenly raised an arm. “I need to share with you.” He waved at the Dining Area. “Those who were part of the decision-making process to come to Epsilon Eridani…stand please.” He looked at the people that rose slowly. “Xolani, Adam, Kurt, Larisa…” he frowned, “Not the least of which are Steve, Leif…” he waved at Hank, “Hank! I can’t forget you! Rita, Sara Beth…Hell, every single one of you on this Ark are making this possible. All of you deserve recognition, but we only have two hours! Those who were in the control room when we decided to come to Epsilon Eridani instead of going to a planet in the Alpha Centauri System…remain standing!” He watched as some sat down leaving those standing who looked around at each other and shrugged. “Don’t deny it.” Joel pointed at them.

“All we did was follow the criteria previously laid out for us to follow,” Xolani said. “Water and seismically stable…”

“…and in the habitable zone!” Adam added. “The planets around Alpha Centauri either didn’t have enough water or was unstable…”

“Or had rocks thrown at them from space,” Kurt added.

“These smart people decided those planets didn’t satisfy,” Joel pointed out. “Athena showed us Ran and her planets that she could see better while in space…” he shrugged. “All I said was, okay.” He waved at the viewport where a turn came, and the rings could be seen. “A friend told me a more perfect planet we could not hope for. Gaea was gift wrapped for us!” He waved at the rings that came into view. “What a beautiful bow. We are going to make the most beautiful world here. We will start the cycle of life here and we aren’t going to waste a thing nor are we going to pollute our new home.” He said in a near growl to them, “Will we?”

“No,” They all said nearly at the same time.

Joel nodded as he grinned at them all, “Very good class!” He got many chuckles from them. “I have confidence that all of us are going to create the most beautiful planet. I can’t wait for everyone to see for themselves how lovely it can be. I have an advantage. I’ve been there twice now. The last time I saw from the shoreline the beach and could see the future waters teaming with life as in fish, dolphins, sea birds on the water and in the sky, surfacing whales, beach flora, crabs…” Joel really began to choke up, “It is breathtaking. I can’t wait, but I have to!” He looked at Leif and Steven, “How long before we can breathe on Gaea without helmets?” He pointed at some who would know.

“About eighty-three years,” Steven answered.

“Eighty-three Gaean years,” Leif corrected. “That will be when we introduce the algae and begin the life cycle…”

Joel was doing the motion for them to hurry things along, “How many Earth years?”

“Well,” Steven began, “Gaean years to Earth years with the added days for the Leap Years…”

Joel pointed at them and gave a severe look, “I do NOT want a headache. Just round out a number for me.” He growled.

No one was concerned about him getting angry as they all knew him, instead they all laughed.

“Ninety-six to one hundred years on Earth,” Steven chuckled and grinned.

“I liked you two,” Joel began. “Then I loved you two after you saved myself and Hank. Make me do math and I may not.” He shook a scolding finger in their direction. “Don’t do that.” Then looked at the rest of them. “I know, don’t get jealous. I’ll love you if I get to know you. Let me know you!” Joel brightened, “ANYWAY, there are others like Nayef and Leah, Rita WITH her husband Hank…” he waved at the others, “So many I will miss we all owe a great deal of gratitude! Wei and Bai Ch’en! I’m running out of time. We have to sleep, or Wei won’t wake up in time to ride down on the ladder!”

Those that knew Wei laughed at the very thought.

Joel nodded and looked at Wei, “They know you, too.” He clapped his hands again once. “Let’s do this! Entertain us!”