Team QueSt: The Next Generation Star QueSt Part 3 A month passed, and it was time to contact the Anasazi to start the move. It was night, and the QueSt tem had ascended to the top of the island for the initial rendevous. Jessie activated the beacon, and it glowed with its iridescent white light. Minu tes later, white lights appeared above them, and Alice Starseer materialized before them. "Jessie! It is so good to see you again! I take it you are ready to get the project underway?" "Yes, we are. Thank you so much for your help. It wouldn't be possible without you." "Do you have a map and a set of coordinates of where the moon base will be erected?" "Yes. Here you go." said Jessie as she handed Alice a folder. "Great. I will also need coordinates or some way of knowing where necessary equipment that needs moving is located, so we can lock onto it for teleportation." "We have devices that we have put on all the equipment. Here is one so your people can study it and recognize its signal." said Jessie as she handed Alice one of the Quest homing devices. "Great! This should do nicely. Well. that just about does it! We'll take it from here, and once the shield is up and the equipment moved, we'll move your people up so they can start building. We will also leave plans with your people for building sma ll cloaked ships that will allow your peole to come and go, and install a teleportation device that can move things between the base and this complex. We'll let you know when you will be able to come." "Thank you, Alice." Jessie pulled Alice into an embrace. Alice nodded to everyone else, and she vanished in a flash of white light. ******************************************************************************** It was just days later when the beacon flashed, letting Jessie know they were ready to move the equipment. Scientists from every company in the consortium double and triple checked the equipment to make sure they all had homing devices on them. Once co nfirmed, the QueSt team watched as the equipment was teleported bit at a time. It was a lengthy process-- not because of the process itself, but because the amount of and the bulk of the equipment being transported. After all the equipment was moved, they just had to wait for the next signal telling them the pressurized dome was constructed under the cloaking shield, and that it was ready for habitation. At that time, the QueSt team and all essential personnel would be teleported into the dome. It was then that the QueSt team would be there for heaven knows how long. Jessie and everyone else knew that time was running out. One "night", everyone was spending time in a wooded area of the complex, contemplating their problems by the light of an artificial lamp, as campfires were an impossibiltty in an enclosed, pressurized environment. "What are we going to do?" asked Miana. "We only have a week." "Well, it is a definate that we are going. But the question still remains about what to do with our children." commented Hadji. "Actually, the children could go," started Miana. "But their activities would be severely limited, especially for the boys. We could take the girls, and leave the boys in India..." "I don't want to split them up." interrupted Jessie. "And, we would have the same problem with the girls when they became old enough to engage in activities." "You're right." said Miana. "They would be better off on Earth, but they still need the support of their families." "Right now," started Hadji, "Hasrani and Sharad have become their family. Regrettable, but an undeniable fact. We have to think of them, not ourselves." "Jonny, we haven't heard a word from you." observed Miana. Jonny had his head lowered with his chin on his hands, then he looked up at them, with fire in his eyes. "I'm thinking of leaving this project altogether." said Jonny. "You can't!" screamed Jessie. "You're the head chemist on this project! We--" "There are plenty of scientists more than qualified to take my place. I have two children to think about. I grew up with one parent. I don't want mine growing up with none." Jonny walked off and left them there, in shock and totally dumbfounded. ******************************************************************************** Jonny slept alone in a guest room that night. All night long, he tossed and turned, having dreams of that his father would say, do, and think if his son abandoned his responsibilities on such an important project. He dreamt of how his father would neve r abandon his work for personal gain, and how he had always found a way to split the difference between his work as a scientist and being a father to Jonny. He also dreamt of how he felt when on the times when Benton left him behind where it was "safe", instead of being where the action was. Jonny woke with a start, with cold sweats dripping down his face. It was then that he knew what had to be done. ******************************************************************************** Jonny got up early the next day, and gathered everyone else together before they headed off for their respective jobs. He took them all to breakfast in the cafeteria of the main office building and sat them down for discussion. "First of all, I want to apologize for my behavior last night. But I have come to a decision that I think we all need to agree on. I had dreams last night of what Dad would think if I were to leave the project. I also remembered how I felt on the time s when he left me behind. We all know that the moon is not the safest place for children, and we also know that it will be boring for them in many ways. But Dad also knew these things when he took Hadji and me with him as well. If we don't take them, w e'll be depriving them of new experiences, as well as depriving them of their parents. I still don't like the idea of taking them there, but I feel it need to be done." All were silent as they regarded him. "Well?" asked Jonny. "I think you speak for all of us." said Miana. "I could not agree more." commented Hadji. Jonny looked at Jessie, and saw tears streaming down her face as she reached over to embrace her husband. |