Team QueSt: The Next Generation

Star QueSt Part 4

	A week had passed, and it was time to leave.  Hasrani had
reluctantly let the children go, although she kept her protests to
herself.  All of the crucial personnel for the moon base project had long
since transported out, and the QueSt team were the only ones left.  
Although there were still personnel in the complex, most of
the workers wenr to the moon base, which left the complex sparsely
populated compared to what it once was.  Thet only knew partially what to
expect-- they only knew that they would be staying in small pre-fab
houses and surviving on freeze-dried rations until the hydroponic crops
could produce enough food to feed the colony to a practical degree.  This
didn't set well with them-- especially the children-- but the adults had
to try to explain to the kids the importance of what they were doing, and 
why all their meals were in little silver bags.
	Last minute preparations were made, and the QueSt team was
teleported over.  They were amazed at the sight that appeared before them. 
The dome was completely transparent, and they were actually on the moon's
surface, looking out at open moonscape.  The sight left them all
speechless.
	"I never thought that I would live to see my dream realized, "
started Hadji, "especially during this lifetime."
	"On the edge of infinity, all things are possible." replied Miana. 
"I agree with you, my love.  I am a child of the stars, and even though we
have to stay in a pre-fab shack for Lord knows how long, I feel more at
home here than anywhere."
	"You people sure can be strange," smarted Jonny.  "How can you be
at home on a large, ugly waterless rock breathing artificial air?"
	"You have far too little of mind, Jonny." commented Hadji.
	"I guess it's not in your blood, Jonny." stated Miana.  "Space has
been at the heart of my existence all my life.  I was born to be in the
stars."
	"A little far out for me!" commented Jonny.
	Jonny looked over at Jessie, who had her back turned toward the
group.  Jessie turned around, and everyone noticed she had tears in her
eyes.
	"Jess?" asked Jonny.
	"I agree with the Singhs.  I am not as mystical as they are about
the stars, but when I stand here and look at what we're doing, I know what
we're accomplishing here is right!  We are paving the way for the future
of humankind!"
	Jessie looked over at the children who were running around and
picking up moonrocks.
	"We better get to camp." suggested Jessie, "we need to find our
shacks and get everything settled."
	It was a short walk to the colony, and both families settled into
their ultra-tiny pre-fab houses.  Each house was no bigger than a studio
apartment, with one room and a separate bath area.  They were equipped
with cots, a hot plate, a small ice box, and a small sink.  There was 
also a small communication center in each house. 
	Their mouths dropped at the lack of amenities the houses had, but they
each looked at it like an extended camping trip, especially since it would
be months before any permanent housing would be available in the colony. 
The only thing that they all dreaded would be the complaining they would
have to listen to from the children... 

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	Days passed, and each evening after the QueSt team returned to
their respecitve homes, they were met with the same problem.
	"Mom, I hate this place!" said Rajan.  "It's so boring here!  I
wanna go home!"
	Just then, they heard a knock on the door, and Jessie crowded in
the Singh's tiny shack with her two. 
	"Benny wouldn't stop bugging me until I brought him over, and I
didn't feel like going around in circles." replied Jessie.  "I hope you
don't mind."
	Jessie had Rachel in her arms, and kept rocking her, hoping she
wouldn't start to cry.
	"Of course not!" said Miana.
	Neela Lou kept tugging at Miana's skirt.
	"Mamma go play?" asked Lou, in her tiny toddler voice.
	"Rajan, take your sister, and go with Benny outside, but do not go
outside our fence!" warned Miana.
	"Where's Hadji?" asked Jessie.
	"He stepped out for a minute.  He came in, saw Rajan throwing a
fit, and left again.  He said something about trying to arrange some
additional daycare for the kids.  They only have a couple of people
running an unorganized daycare up here, and Hadji say s that's part of the
problem with the kids."
	"I agree.  Benny hasn't been acting any better.  Jonny's about to
pull his hair out.  He's home attempting to take a nap."
	Just then, Hadji came in the door.  He had a perplexed looked on
his face, and he kept rubbing a stray lock of hair out of his face and
attempting to stuff it back under his turban.
	"What's wrong, dear?" asked Miana.
	"Those people are incompetent!  Scientists maked poor babysitters."
	"Scientists?"
	"Due to lack of staffing, some of the scientists are working shifts
with the colony's children."
	"What about the laborers?" asked Miana.
	"All are busy in construction." answered Hadji.
	"Families of the scientists?"
	"All non-essential personnel are still in the complex.  All the
families here are like us-- both parties are actively involved in the
project."
	"Does Bobby know anything about kids?" asked Jessie.
	"I don't believe so." answered Miana.  "But maybe we could get
Moniri up here to help."
	"But doesn't Dr. Quest need her?" asked Jessie.
	"Yeah, you're right.  Do you have any suggestions?" 

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	"Come on, Rajan!  I saw this really cool cave!  You have to come!"
prompted Benny.
	"I don't know, Benny." said Rajan.  "Mom said not to leave the
yard."
	"Come on!  It's not far."
	"Oh, ok.  Come on, Lou."
	With that, the kids wondered off in search of adventure. 

*************************************************************************
	Miana, Jessie, and Hadji were all talking, when Jonny rushed in
the door.
	"Jessie-- where-- are-- the-- kids?" gasped Jonny.
	"Why?  What's wrong?  Aren't they outside?" panicked Jessie.
	"On-- commun-- i-- ca-- tion-- net-- work... moon-- quake..."
	"My God!" gasped Miana.
	Miana rushed to the door and looked out.
	"Rajan!  Hadji!  They're gone!"
	"By Shiva!  We must find them!" exclaimed Hadji.
	Just then, the room strated to shake, and things started falling
to the floor.
	"We have to find them and take cover!" shouted Jonny.
	With that, both families scrambled out of the shack. 

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	"Benny!  We have to get out of here!" screamed Rajan.
	"We're almost there!" shouted Benny.
	"Benny, it's starting to cave in!"
	Benny scrambled out of the entrance to the cave, but the cave
walls were starting to collapse.
	"Rajan!"
	"Benny-- take Lou!"
	Rajan passed Lou through the opening right before the entrance to
the cave was sealed.
	"Rajan!  Raaajaaaan!" cried Benny.
	Benny looked at little Lou, who was filthy and covered with
scratches and drying blood.
	"We have to get help.  Cone on, Lou."
	Benny picked up Lou and ran back to camp, stumbling every which
way and trying not to fall, as the ground was shaking beneath him. 

************************************************************************

	"If this dome cracks, we're in big trouble!" shouted Jonny as they
all ran around in search of the kids.
	"Right now I'm worried about the kids!" screamed Jessie.
	"Benny!!! Rajan!!!" shouted the QueSt team as they searched

frantically along the shaking moonscape.
	"Mooom!"
	"Benny!  Where arrreee you?!!" screamed Jessie.
	Just then, they all saw Benny scrambling around from behind a huge
rock, carrying Lou.
	"My God!" cried Miana.  "Where's Rajan?!"
	"Trapped... cave-in..."
	Miana took Lou in her arms and turned around, regarding Hadji with
tears in her eyes.
	"Our son..."
	"Miana, I'll take Lou and clean her up and take her to the med
center when this quake stops.  You go find Rajan."
	"Thanks, Jessie." cried Miana as she rushed off with Jonny, Hadji,
and Benny. 
 	By the time they reached the cave, the moonquake was over, and people
started emerging from the shelters.  They noticed a commotion at the cave,
and crowds of people were converging at the scene as Miana, Hadji, Jonny,
and Benny fought their way through to the mouth of the cave.
	Miana knelt down next to the pile of rocks blocking the entrance.
	"Rajan!  Can you hear me?  It's Mommy!" she cried.
	No answer.
	"Rajan???  Answer me!  RAAAJAAAAN!" Miana wailed.
	No answer.
	Hadji and Jonny looked at each other.
	Hadji stood up looking at the gaping crowd.
	"Do not just stand there-- help us dig!" shouted Hadji.
	"RAAAJAAAAN!!!" screamed Miana as they started pulling rocks away.
	Once again, there was no response.