Ark II - 32. Exploring the Link

The excitement was still high as they entered the Communal Dining Area.

Joel raised his hands and said, “Broadcast what I say to everyone, please Athena.”

“Go ahead, Joel,” Athena said as she appeared next to Joel.

“That was exciting!” Joel said happily to everyone. “And you will not be left out! I promise. You will go down to be able to run your feet in the grass below.” He assured them. “It’s an amazing experience.”

There were questions from the others to those that had gone down. That was normal.

“Dad,” Jimmy said quietly by his side. “It’s August the third according to Athena.” He smiled, “You know what happens this month.” Jimmy knew his father knew.

“Is it August?” Joel asked. “The months are a bit longer and the days are longer...is it August?”

“Dad,” Jimmy almost whined. “My biological calendar says it is! I turn nine on the twenty-fifth!”

Joel mocked surprise. “Do you?” He grinned, “You have a clock in your body?”

Jimmy rolled his eyes, “We all do, Dad.” He sighed. “Am I having a birthday?”

“You’ll get older if you do or don’t,” Joel shrugged. He smiled and hugged his son, “So you think we could possibly forget that day!? I almost missed it. I came back from a mission to see you born! Squirming and balling your head off! You couldn’t wait.” His head wavered, “Your poor mother!” He pointed at Jimmy, “You really put her through it!” He grinned, “Personally, I think she deserves the birthday. She’s the one that did all the work!”

Jimmy was used to his father’s humor and shrugged, “I was a baby. I didn’t know.” He smiled, “So, I’m getting a birthday party.”

“I promise,” Joel looked at his son’s face. “We will have a party! You aren’t forgotten.” He ruffled Jimy’s hair, “I think when we have one, you need to thank your mother...a lot.” He hugged his son.

“I will!” Jimmy promised and turned to walked away and stopped, “Can I have it on Gaea?”

Joel’s eyes widened, “You want a party on the surface.”

“I’ll have the first one on the surface!” He bounced. “A cookout or an even bigger picnic!”

“You know we’re limited on the number of people we can transport to Gaea,” Joel reminded Jimmy. “Your party guests would be limited.”

Jimmy thought a moment about what his father said and finally nodded slowly, “Would every person on the Ark come?”

“No,” Joel admitted.

“Well,” Jimmy began. “Why not tell everyone where the party will be and let them decide who will come.”

Joel’s eyes widened, “Are you sure you’re going to be just nine years old?”

They needed a clock and calendar for them as well. Until they adjust themselves to the Gaean calendar, each milestone such as birthdays and even their many expectant mothers...they had evolved using the Earth’s calendar. They needed to keep track of the time out of stasis. According to Jimmy, it was August the third. At least it was for Jimmy’s body aging it was. Not all the Ark’s residents had been up for the same amount of time. Therefore, their bodies had aged at the same amount of time. Joel thought about his question he was going to say.

“Yes, Joel.” Athena’s voice said calmly in Joel’s head. “A calendar of the amount of time a person is out of stasis is in my database.”

Joel frowned, “You read my mind?” He said quietly out loud.

“Sorry,” Athena said, also out loud. “Communication is communication. I will allow you the opportunity to vocalize your statements.”

Joel grudged a nod, “This is a new way of communicating. I will have to get used to doing it.”

“Of course,” Athena said appearing next to him.

“We will be having more of those neural filaments inserted into people,” Joel began. “You’ll soon have hundreds of minds you can read.”

“Yes,” Athena acknowledged. “Having access to just two minds is not difficult. It will actually be smoother.” She even chuckled. “I will say, your mind requires less effort. Hank’s mind has a tendency to be a bit scattered. He is more difficult to follow, but I adjusted. Your thoughts are more organized. I do read your mind. As I read the sounds you make and understand.”

Joel had a thought. Could they do it to each other? Could he read Hank’s mind? Did Joel want to? Even if it was relayed through Athena, could Joel call Hank and “think” to him? This would also have a huge impact with Human evolution. Would it be “evolution?” Human thought patterns would change, but no one could do it without the filaments or Athena! Only if a Human was born with this ability could it be true evolution. He would try it. He used his mind and mentally called, “Hank.”

Hank was talking with some others, but several feet away. Hank suddenly stopped and had a curious look on his face.

“Hank,” Joel thought again.

Hank turned to look at Joel. The thought in Hank’s mind was easy to read without reading his mind. “Did you call me?” Was written on his face.

Joel walked over to Hank. Putting a hand on Hank’s shoulder Joel verbally answered, “Yes. I called you.” He smiled and pointed at his own head, “In here.”

Hank’s eyes widened, “Did you?” He asked in a hushed tone.

“What did you hear?” Joel asked.

“Your voice,” Hank’s head wavered a little, “sort of. It wasn’t really heard.” He looked closer at Joel. “Do you understand?” He turned to the people he had been talking with, “Excuse us. The Commander and I need to talk.”

“And that’s another thing that needs to change,” Joel smiled slapping Hank on the arm. “Manners!”

Hank nodded uncertain, “Like not interrupting.”

“That’s one,” Joel agreed as they walked off. Athena came over and joined them. “We learned as we developed on Earth how to communicate over great distances with marks on parchment to smoke signals!” He waved his hands out helplessly. He turned to Athena, “The transferring of thought. How much can be transmitted?”

“I don’t see a limit,” Athena answered.

“Whatever I see or hear?” Joel asked.

“From your brain to Hank’s,” Athena nodded.

“Whatever I’m looking at, or hear...Hank will get? Even what I feel about anything?” Joel asked.

“Yes,” Athena admitted. “From your speech center to his mind.”

“Our wives will be able to do this?” Hank asked cautiously.

“After they get the filaments,” Athena said. “Yes.”

Joel nudged his friend, “After all this time, don’t you think Rita knows how your mind works?”

Hank consented with a nod, “Yes. But they can read our minds!? Do you want them to?”

“We’ll just have to govern our thoughts,” Joel grinned. “Think of the advantages! Communicating instantly over great distances.”

Hank nodded, “I suppose.”

“Athena will act like a telephone!” Joel said excitedly. “We need to test it and improve our ability to do this.”

“A telephone call without the telephone,” Hank nodded and then shrugged, “Sure, why not?” He looked at Joel, “I’m only partially to blame for my thoughts contents, you know.”

“Is there someone or something else responsible?” Joel asked chuckling.

Hank muttered in a grumble, “No.”

It was in Nayef’s office their question was met with surprise, “I thought you knew.” He smiled. “When you two were in the separate drones but communicated, you weren’t speaking then.”

“Athena was transmitting our thoughts to each other,” Joel nodded. He grudged a wavering nod, “I didn’t know it could happen when not in a Stinger or a drone.”

“We didn’t need the interface?” Hank asked.

Nayef touched Hank’s temple, “You have an interface in here.” He nodded slightly, “Its very low powered, but works. Athena is the power booster. We use the interface to give more power.” He shrugged. “Were you close together?”

“A few feet apart,” Joel answered. “We were all speaking in the Communal Dining Area. I didn’t even speak!”

“On the trip to the Godzilla Planet?” Hank asked with a squinted left eye. “We were using the Neural Interface then before we had those thingies in our skulls.”

Nayef chuckled again, “With that trip, you did speak to each other verbally. Athena transmitted the verbal communication that time.”

“I’m not becoming a Borg!” Hank protested.

“Hank,” Joel chastised shaking his head.

“No. How do you know they didn’t start with these sort of implants!?” Hank pressed further. “It had to start somewhere!”

Nayef gave a slight nod very uncertain, “Do we need to talk about this?” He asked in concern, “I have some time tomorrow. We might talk about this.”

Joel saw Hank’s face and knew he was being Hank. The funny man. He touched Hank gently, “Perhaps you should, Hank.”

Hank became serious. “I’m not ready for commitment in any hospital or institution. The creative minds of those centuries tried to come up with ways to scare us.” He smiled and chuckled, “I say they did. The idea of a vast group of people...a hive minded group that steals individualism, run by a single intelligence is very scary. We are entertained by what is frightening...if we know it’s just a story. It couldn’t really happen.” He grinned, “Or could it? No one wants their minds controlled by someone or something else but ourselves.” He nodded. “We hear strange noises in the night we can’t explain. Then someone imagines it is something we wouldn’t guess about. A criminal that will kill us or even a monster or ghost. We are frightened but entertained. Could a Borg like thing happen?” He nodded, “Sure, but I can’t imagine they would get too far. There would be too much resistance.”

Joel smiled, “And we as people are aware of the scary possibility and we’d stop it.”

“So,” Hank said brightly. “No straitjackets and no rubber rooms for me yet, Doc.”

“Straightjackets!?” Nayef said in surprise, “Rubber rooms?” His voice had the sound of horror. “Sanitariums is next, isn’t it?” He shook his finger in Hank’s face but couldn’t hide his amusement. Psychology and Psychiatry is much more advanced these days.” He grinned, “There have been some very scary movies about people, through no fault of their own, were committed and suffer at the hands of a sadistic psychiatrist and the cruelty. Subjected to Electroconvulsive therapy to change behavior.”

“I’ve seen some of those,” Joel admitted.

“You don’t do the ECTs?” Hank asked. “I remember the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. That was a horror film!”

Nayef chuckled, “There have been many others. You don’t know how wonderful it is not to have to deal with psychotic breaks in people!”

“I imagine there were quite a few back on Earth,” Joel admitted.

Nayef nodded, “Very many.” He sighed. “As complicated as life became, the harder the stressors were for maintaining neurochemical balance. There have been some wonderful strides to keep that balance using chemical and other treatments.” He shook his head at Hank. “The mentally ill are sick. The term crazy is too broad a label.” He did the parental finger shake at Hank. “I’ve seen everyone on the Ark’s psychological profiles. You and Joel have keen and strong minds. I don’t foresee a break from either of you.” He grudged a wavering nod, “Although, I find your fascination with some films questionable.”

“The presentation of horror forces us to deal with those dark possibilities,” Joel offered.

Nayef nodded his agreement, “To keep it from happening.” He smiled at Hank. “Your obsession with the Borg will keep that from happening.”

“Back to the reading each other’s minds!” Hank insisted. “Talk about fodder for future horror films!”

“Yep,” Nayef agreed.

“Can we begin testing how far this goes?” Joel asked.

Nayef nodded, “We can start that tomorrow.”

All projects on the Ark went through the department heads and they kept Joel informed of the project and the progress. Mark and Matt had decided to postpone the creating a life from the two of them. Nancy and Connie had also agreed to wait until after this next stasis period.

It seemed that for the most part, this Ark and her people had been forgotten by those on Earth and Mars. Joel had learned to never rest in complacency. The messages and news reports from Earth were enough for now. What was happening on Earth and her surrounding planets were known. As with Ark III on Tau Ceti.

To add the new lives to Gaea took having certain things in place and ready to be released. When the chances of their survival were assured. The plankton and algae for the oceans. The trees and plants for in the dome. Even the bacteria and Gaea-worms had to be released at the right time. Joel was looking forward to seeing flocks of birds under the dome. Not to mention the higher mammals such as mice and rabbits. The cockroaches and flies Joel was content to wait on. Yes, Sara Beth had said again and again they were needed. Weeds! Ants would be added to do more than to add realism to any picnic. That was why there were so many great minds on the Ark! Zoologists and Herpetologists. Snakes and bugs. He quivered slightly thinking of them. Yes, yes, they were part of the whole Earth life process. Herpetology was more than about snakes. Joel knew that. It included frogs, and those wonderful salamanders and a plethora of other amphibians and reptiles. He was looking forward to a frog hopping up to greet him. Joel also knew that in a healthy environment, the frog was a great test subject. Anything wrong showed up in mutations and other malformities. Joel prayed the future frog visitor to greet him was a sign they were doing it right.

There was also the transportation issue. The entire Ark was the means to escape Earth’s deadly tragedies. Escaping the Ark, if necessary, could be done in the stasis pods which could be jettisoned in to space rapidly. There were the transport ships they used to go to the surface. Don’t forget about the space elevator! God forbid someone or something destroyed the space elevator! Could everyone be taken from the Ark to the surface if the elevator was destroyed? Metals were hard to come by on Earth and stored on the Ark. Now, Around Epsilon Eridani there were metal ores galore! Joel knew the Arks’ manufacturers and Athena was working on a couple of ship-to-surface ships that could take everyone down to Gaea or back up to the Ark. Joel looked at the progress and smiled. Jimmy could have everyone he wanted to have at his Gaea surface birthday party. Joel just hoped to contain the many partiers from the grass! He would have the “Keep Off The Grass” signs and it wouldn’t be just a joke! With Sara Beth there, she’d drill that point home with them. He could hear her saying, “We came here to save lives. It makes no sense to damage these lives when doing this!” Yes, Joel would label her as a “tree hugging pacifist.” Until someone or something threatens her family! She had no problem removing that passivity and became the mother grizzly bear defending to the death anything that was a threat to her cubs! The fair and weaker sex!? Hell, no! She would strike and win against anyone who threatened what she cared about. She would be a deadly Amazon Warrior! Joel loved the tales about Amazons! Though he didn’t care for the ones where they burnt off one breast to become a better bow person. That one boob got in the way. The one remaining was for nursing future generations.

After they’d gotten their children to bed he told Sara Beth what had happened between he and Hank.

Sara Beth nodded, “Why does this surprise you?” She asked with a shrug. “You did this with Robbie last night! You were talking without words.”

Joel grudged a nod, “Because Robbie is a robot. Hank is Human.”

“Could you truly read his mind?” Sara Beth asked. “Did you read his motivations? Or were you simply receiving what he sent?” She sighed. “It isn’t real telepathy. The filaments and neurotransmitters are giving us a new way of communicating. That’s all.” She smiled. “I can only imagine what interfacing with computers will be like. Instead of keyboards and monitors, we see and operate computers with our minds.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Joel asked.

“It just is,” she answered simply. “Now,” she held her exception finger up, I would feel better if our children learn to use computers and interact together the traditional ways.” She looked at her husband. “I would prefer if my children’s brains were hardwired as was yours in your late twenties. The brain will finalize its growth then. I think using the neural interface can be used in school, but I don’t feel comfortable having those filaments inserted too soon.”

Joel nodded, “I agree. Our children will learn the traditional way...” he raised the finger, “at first.” He chuckled. “A class gathered and learning with no textbooks or even computer monitors or keyboards.” Joel nodded, “It’s a new role for us.”

More of the filaments were being inserted. Nayef, Xolani, Adam, Wei and a few others were having them done. It was easier and less painful than having an ear pierced. There were a number of the female residents that had the filaments inserted.

Joel addressed them in the lab with a smile, “This will be an interesting few weeks for all of you.” He nodded as he grinned, “The next few weeks, you’ll know dreams in color. You’ll find it also possible to receive and send messages to the others will the new filaments. Be assured, no one can read your mind.”

“You won’t be able to read each other’s thoughts unless you are projecting the thoughts,” Leah said. “You will only read others with the filaments.”

“Poor Athena,” Hank shook his head. “She’s the center of all this. We’ve seen her talking to many others at the same time in many languages. Now, she’s the hub from which our thoughts will be received and sent.”

These are glasses or hearing aids,” Joel explained touching his temple. “You use them and see or hear better.” He shrugged.

“If, for some reason you’re in trouble and apart from anyone,” Hank added. “You can call for help even kilometers apart”

“Right!” Joel nodded enthusiastically.

“Since Joel and Hank have had them longer,” Leah furthered. “We are going to be testing how much can be transmitted.”

“We are?” Hank asked a little surprised.

“We are,” Leah smiled as she nodded. “With and without the neural enhancers.”

Joel waved at her and to the lab beyond her, “Let’s do it.”

The enhancers were fitted over the sites over where the filaments were inserted. The clarity of what Hank and Joel sent and received was remarkable. They tested what Hank and Joel saw and received. They used books and scenes to see if the other got what was being sent.

Hank laughed as Joel read a famous book, “Yes, I know the opening phrase. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” He chuckled,

They tested various foods to see if the other got it enough to identify. The best was the Honey-mustard Barbeque. Joel was enjoying eating one of his favorite foods...from what he could see so was Hank! When Hank ate his loved Poutine with cheese curds, Joel felt the pleasure centers of Hank’s brain were working.

They tested images and what was associated with such images.

There were interesting things associated with thoughts. Egyptians had it right. The whole body reacted to thought. Thought caused a body to have changes in your heart and blood flow increased. Seeing images of their family caused the feeling of warmth...caused by the increased blood flow and the heart to pump more of that blood. It was not surprising that there was a reaction in the body’s crotch. The heart was considered the center of people, not the brain. Sexual desire was not surprising. Rita and Sara Beth were desired by them. They were sexual beings. Images of Cloe and Rachel caused a surge of that warmth and strong protection. Naturally. Kevin, Jimmy and Ian caused a similar reaction in Joel.

Why this was this important Joel did not know. However, Joel was not prepared for the reaction to his image on Hank. There was the warm feeling of a strong feeling of friendship, but also a stirring in the crotch. Hank was attracted to Joel? That surprised Joel. Images of Nayef, Xolani or anyone else caused the feeling of friendship, but the image again of Joel caused his crotch to react. Hank was slightly aroused. Joel wasn’t offended at all. Joel told Athena he wanted to talk to Hank alone.

No recording or recorded. He thought to Hank alone, “Are you attracted to me, Hank?”

Hank instantly looked startled and looked wide-eyed at Joel, “What!?”

“It’s okay,” Joel assured. “Sexual feelings are normal. When you saw the image of me, you had a reaction that was sexual. Are you in love with me?”

Hank looked embarrassed, but finally nodded slightly, “A little.” He smiled, “You are a handsome man and strong in mind and in charge. That is very sexy and attractive. I can’t be the first man that has fallen in love with you.”

Joel gave a small smile and nodded, “I don’t know. I do know how you reacted to Rita, your daughters, the Ark and even Athena. You reacted differently when you saw me.”

“I’m sure there are many on the Ark who are in love with their hero,” Hank laughed internally at Joel. “I would never threaten your marriage to Sara Beth, nor would you come between Rita and me.” He shrugged and Joel saw it. “Will this be a stumbling block for us? Can you work with me?”

Joel grinned, “Of course I can.” He thought to Hank, “If you make a pass at me, the answer will be no.”

“I’ll behave,” Hank said. “I know you feel things for me. I’ll keep my hands at a PG level. You’ve had...” Hank thought a moment, “things with other men. You told me.”

Joel nodded, “Yes, I did. Handjobs really.”

“That’s normal,” Hank said.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Leah said to them smiling. “I see you’ve learned to use the neural interface between you. I see you’ve restricted the contents of those thoughts, but you are apparently in a conversation.” She held her hand up, “Don’t worry. Those thoughts are private. I hope you know I showed you those images to reinforce the commitment to what we’re doing.”

Joel chuckled, “I know Hank and I are very committed. We discovered how well we work together, and we were just discussing that.”

Hank thought something to Joel. “I felt what you felt for Nayef. Do we tell Leah we’re sexually attracted not only to her, but Nayef as well?”

Joel grinned and looked at Hank. “That may cause more problems. You reacted to Xolani, too. Not as much as you were to me, but you reacted.”

Hank took the linkup to the interface off. “Damned this interface. A man can’t have private thoughts?”

“We’ll get used to it and adjust,” Joel said out loud.

Hank shrugged, “We’re a beautiful people. Attraction happens. We made Athena, Rob and Apollo very good looking.”

Joel smiled as he nodded, “Its what we do and part of being Human.” He walked over and hugged Hank. “In the military,” Joel began, “Hugging was not recommended.” He stood back and held Hank out a little, “I did hug a few in my command. We are connected, Hank. We’re friends. The best of friends. I do love you.”

Hank grinned, “Well, you know I love you, so we’re good, right?”

“Very good,” Joel nodded.

There were more that wanted to go down to Gaea. Angus had something they all needed to see.

Going up and over to the hanger...it had been storage having much of the star ladder in it. It only had the Harpy Lander in it and the Harpy Stingers...now had two longer, wider ships in it. The vast hanger was filling up again. Floated weightless Joel looked through the window to the two large vehicles. The outer door was shut and here the Ark didn’t rotate. The two vessels just “floated.”

They weren’t ugly at all. The double set of windows along the side gave Joel the feeling he as looking at a bus.

“When’s the bus leaving the station?” Hank asked.

Joel’s eyes widened, “Did you get that from me?”

Hank looked at Joel surprised, “Did I get what from you?”

Joel waved at the ships through the window, “The whole bus thing. I just thought that!”

Hank looked mockingly indignant. “Yeah? Did it occur to you that you might have gotten it from me?” He nodded, “Hum?” He crossed his arms over his chest and gave Joel a superior look.

Joel nodded, “That could be...” he grinned, “or we just think alike.”

“We should have had this earlier but...” Angus waved toward the hanger window. “Better late than never.” He shrugged. In the hanger were the two additional vessels. They were bigger than the Harpy Landers. “We can transport all of the people on the Ark, allowing for the many births If the elevator is damaged or has any problems, this will get the people off the planet or off the Ark!”

Joel smiled, “And Jimmy can have everyone at his birthday party!”

“Jimmy’s party?” Hank asked. “Cloe has a birthday this month, too.” He grimaced, ”She’ll be thirteen.”

Joel whistled and shook his head, “Parenting a teenage girl. You poor guy.” Joel thought for only a second, “We can have a party for everyone. Birthdays, Anniversaries, and celebrating any other reason to celebrate.”

Hank grinned, “Any excuse for a party.” He shrugged.

Joel turned to Angus, “You tested those landers.”

“Yes,” Angus stated. “This will be the maiden voyage. You are the best pilot on the Ark. I think you should be the pilot.”

“Sure,” He looked at Hank. “Do you want to go down again? We can have another picnic.”

“I’d love to,” Hank smiled and then shook his head. “I can’t.” He sighed. He looked up, “I trust you, Athena,” then he looked at Joel, “but I need to check Athena’s manufacturing assembly. Just to make sure all is working correctly. Wei says the residential housing will begin...” he grudged a nod, “has begun underground making the access to the residential housing. There will be a lot of work to build our houses down there.” He shrugged. “I have a job here and I’m doing it. Unless you need a copilot.”

“I can always have you as a copilot,” Joel touched Hank’s arm. “On the Ark, you are my right arm, but I can use one of the other residents as my copilot this time.”

He saw a robot loading some things in the new vessel. Probably lunch and dinner for them. He looked at Angus, “You can be my copilot on this trip. You passed the piloting program. You can even be the chief pilot! Pilot your own design!”

Angus’ eyes widened, “I can?”

Joel heard the excitement in his voice, “Certainly. Let’s do it!”

Leah was there with something in her hand. “While you’re down there...” she raised two metallic head bands. They were attractive. The same symbol that was on his coveralls was on a circular symbol in front that would be just above the left temple. A pair of wings folded back and the star shape in the center of those wings. It looked a lot by the many symbols used by law enforcement. The military used that symbol for the rank of command. She pointed to two places on the inside. “The two connection points is your connection to the neural interface.” She placed it on his head, and it fit perfectly. Naturally, it did. Athena knew the size and shape of his head. She turned to Hank. She placed the band on Hank’s head. The wrench and screwdriver crossed on his symbol. “We’re going to see how well you two can communicate from the Ark to the surface of Gaea.”

Hank gave a grudging nod, “I know this has been done,” he waved at the Ark, “but all these thoughts of all these residents...I can’t imagine the clutter of thoughts!”

Leah chuckled, “Only conscious thoughts. When we talk to each other verbally, we gather these thoughts and form words to express the thoughts...this will send what you see, hear, and what we’re doing into broadcast the thoughts.” She slapped Hank on the arm lightly, “You two experienced this recently. Now, we’ll be doing it again.”

Joel told Sara Beth where he was going and how long it would be. Gaean hours were longer, and he would be gone for a while. The thirty-three-hour day was slowly being added to the Ark. The rotation of the Habitat Ring was slowing down to give the same gravity as Gaea. There was only the slightest difference between Earth gravity and Gaea, but the people of the Ark needed to get used to it.

He boarded the Harpy “bus.” Inside he saw the many seats or couches the passengers would use. The Space Ladder would be used, but this bus was faster and needed to get the residents to the surface or off the surface more quickly. It was even luxurious. There was the upper and lower passenger levels. A carpeted floor and the couches were cushioned and plush with the necessary safety belts and other needed items. There were hand-holds around the interior for weightless situations. It was wider then the other lander with more couches. It was clearly a short-term vessel for quick trips. Even the cockpit was plusher and more luxurious. There were the usual controls. The control steering, or control yoke was there with the pedals for the yaw both in space and in the atmosphere to go left or right; this was a very familiar place for Joel. He was at home here. He hoped all the future pilots would feel this. The urge to fly it himself was strong, but he’d be copiloting again. There were things he did, but he was not in charge.

He watched the many people going down to Gaea come in using the hand-holds to navigate through the interior. The children were enjoying the weightlessness, but got into the couches and strapped in.

Joel now saw the passenger planes he’d been on for the airlines back on Earth.

Then he saw Rob and Apollo enter. Joel smiled at Rob. “You’re going with us. Great!”

Apollo nodded, “It will be our home, too.”

“Of course, it will.” Joel agreed. He looked at Apollo, “As you and Athena are connected, can you turn on this vessels speakers?”

“Go ahead,” Rob said simply.

“Everyone buckle up and be sure you have your air masks. We leave in five minutes.” He hugged Rob. “Buckle up means you two.”

Rob nodded and saluted, “Roger that.”

The hanger’s outer hatch slowly opened to the vacuum of space and the new “bus” let out a short burst of propulsion and moved slowly out of the hanger. Angus was having fun! This was his creation and his toy! Joel was impressed with Angus’ piloting skills. It was no wonder; Angus was an aerospace engineer and flew hundreds of hours on many air and space crafts.

The wings came out after falling into the upper atmosphere of Gaea. The “bus” lowered toward the ground. The tilt-rotor wasn’t new, and the technology was refined for horizontal take-offs and landings, but it still pushed loose dirt and dust below it. Joel thought they needed a landing pad for this Harpy-bus. A new airlock where the Harpy-bus could be protected from Gaea’s weather and wear. It could be a hanger to house this new craft until it was needed. For now they landed on the most level ground near the elevator’s base.

As the residents were disembarking from the Harpy-bus Joel felt it. They were doing it! New Charleston was being built! It was going up! Joel sensed a strong feeling of accomplishment, and he hadn’t swung so much as a hammer. No one had! No, that wasn’t true, the hammers were programmed and worked with Human direction and guidance. The feeling Joel got was the feeling of home, sort of, but the feeling was growing! He, his family and friends were safe and secure. He was building a house here. He felt secure and safe on the Ark, but this was going to be home. A place of refuge away from the threats out in the universe. A comfortable place.

The residents down at the moment were loving being out with wider open spaces. They gathered around the area where the residential building was going up. Robots had dug around for buildings were going up for a foundation. That was interesting was the building “blocks” themselves. They were using the stone from the asteroids, the metal ores mixed with the boron nitrate where the blocks were fused together by superheating. The heat was approximating the heat from Ran but localized. This was better than brick and mortar because it was seamless and much stronger.

“Boy,” Joel heard Hank in his head. “Our homes are going up!”

“You can see it?” Joel thought marveling.

“See it, hear it, feel all you do on the surface of what you perceive.” Hank answered.

Then Joel saw what Hank was doing. He was at a computer and looking at the engines and the complex workings of those engines. Joel even felt the determination Hank felt and Hank’s body responding to what he was doing. Hank loved his work!

“I can’t imagine future meetings,” Joel grinned. “Talking and discussing things wherever we are.”

Wei walked up, “You are speaking with someone?”

Joel turned to Wei, “I was. I was speaking with Hank.”

“You weren’t talking,” Wei nodded. “You were conversing by interface.”

“Something you will be able to do soon,” Joel added.

Wei nodded and went to what he came to say, “Perhaps you would want to see what we’re building here.” He waved at the hole that was getting larger and where the new residents were going up. “I mean the look of these structures.”

“I’ve seen it,” Joel said hesitantly.

Wei smiled, “Have you?” He waved and an image of a row of structures appeared. They were wider than what Joel remembered seeing, but there was the pastel pink, blue, green, and yellow. The black shutters, the arched entrances of garages which were there for show. Any “cars” were underground. There were differences as the colors repeated but it was Rainbow Row! The famous landmark in old Charleston. Even the roofline was imitated. The thirteen buildings were there!

“Rainbow Row!?” Joel waved at the image. “On East Bay Street downtown Charleston! It was on the Cooper River.”

Wei shrugged and smiled mischievously, “I have a wife.” He shrugged. “She is not satisfied with walls and a roof. No, it must be pretty. It also has to have the right windows...” He chuckled. “Individual arrangement and decorating of domiciles will happen.” He waved at the image. “The individual windows...as the main windows to the back face the west to allow us to see the sunset over the water...the windows on the other side allows sunlight into the corridors to and from the homes.’ He leaned into Joel and confessed, “Bia wants lots of fresh air.” He said almost confidentially to Joel. “I bet Sara Beth does, as well.”

Joel nodded vigorously, “Oh yes. Even with the pollution levels as high as it could be on Earth...she insisted on pumping air through the house...”

“There won’t be any polluted air here!” Wei declared happily. “Clean air through open windows is a must. The windows need to be able to be opened.”

Joel looked at the display of homes they were building, “But Rainbow Row!? Why?”

Wei’s head backed away a little, “What? What do you mean? The new settlement is named Charleston.”

Joel nodded, “Sure, but why all these...Charleston things? Sara Beth is going to plant part of the Angel Oak in the town center. Now this...why Charleston? I mentioned the islands looked like the Hawai’ian Islands and we named it new Hawaii. The name Charleston...” he shrugged, “I was okay with the name, but...” He looked at Wei, “Why all this?” He wavered a grudging nodding shake of his head. “There have to be other cities or towns to name the settlement after. Hong Kong.” He suggested. “Maybe Mongolia?”

Wei chuckled, “There are lovely parts of Mongolia, but cities?” He consented a little nod, “There are some beautiful structures in some cities, but...there really aren’t many trees...”

“My question is why all this about Charleston?” Joel pointed both hands at the image.

“You say you’re from Charleston,” Wei answered. “You lived in Asheville, but you are from Charleston. You said over and over.”

“Well, yes,” Joel admitted. “I’ve not really seen Charleston except in pictures and videos. I’ve visited the flooded ruins, but...my grandfather was born there.”

“Yet you say you’re from Charleston,” Wei smiled. “I believe you are.” He pointed at Joel. “You are doing so much for us here now. If we can bring just a little back for you...” he grinned. “You’re our heroic figure and we are honoring you by doing this. Don’t you like it?”

“I love it,” Joel admitted as tears came to his eyes. “I do.” He looked at Wei, “You’re the second person to call me a hero. How am I a hero?”

Wei smiled at him, “You keep all these egotistical minds and people with god tendencies in check and on task and they don’t argue with you!” He pointed at Joel, “That’s a miracle. You approach them with no yelling or strongarming. They listen! You have enough brilliance to address them on their own turf...They wouldn’t dare argue with you. That makes you a hero.” He shrugged. “There will be other settlements on Gaea and other names for the settlements. No one will be forgotten.”

The rest of the day went well as the residents enjoyed their freedom. Joel was still reeling over what Wei had told him. He did not think he was a hero. The military had taught him to keep the focus on the goal and that was what he’d done on the Ark. He looked out to see the view he would get from their permanent home on the surface. The elevated home would allow them to see Ran set every evening. They were beings that evolved on Earth and her twenty-four-hour clock. There were a few more hours left in the day when the fatigue came, and they all agreed to go back to the Ark. Again, Angus piloted well into the atmosphere and into weightless space.

Angus piloted the Harpy-bus expertly attaching the bus to fit in the hanger. It was a noisy group that exited the bus. They were ending another day.