Team QueSt: The Next Generation Star QueSt Part 7 The next morning, Jonny was up bright and early and made his way to the reactor core. The core was contained behind a magnetic forcefield in an underground chamber underneath the base. The fusion reactions shown with a brilliance that illuminated the chamber, leaving no need for additional light sources when activated. "Ready to begin reactor tests, sir." said one young technician. "Deactivate solar panels, prepare to activate reactor." "Powering down solar cells, activating main reactor core." The lights in the chamber were out for an instant during the transition, then the reactor core glowed with a blinding brilliance as both it and the chamber lights came on simultaneously. The brilliance of the reactor core was blinding everyone present. "That's way too bright. Activate light shield." At that instant, a polarized acrylic tube ascended from the floor to encircle the forcefield containing the core. "Tests proceeding smoothly, sir." "Good. Keep it up for a couple of more hours, then switch back." "Yes, sir." Tests continued for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Miana was working on a project of her own, when Jessie came over to the Singh's apartment. "Hey, Mi-- whatcha up to?" "Oh, just working on this website." "For the population effort?" "Yeah, it's turning out to be a real challenge. I found an anonymous server where I could post this without it being traced to wither QE or giving away the existence of the consortium. Then I had to strategically write a treatise on world affairs and where things are going. Then I had to come with a way of asking people if they took their futures seriously and if they had options as to how to protect themselves, if they'd be interested. All interested parties submit information about themselves, then we do background checks. If they turn out to be serious, and not part of any government sp y efforts, then we tell them about this base and what they need to do. This site is being advertised through many underground and special interest groups." "How long has this site been up?" asked Jessie. "A few weeks now. I'm just doing some minor editing. The response has been overwhelming." "Are you investigating the respondents alone?" "Oh, heavens, no! Hadji helped me put me put together a team of investigators." "How many responses have we gotten so far?" "Roughly ten thousand in a span of just a couple of weeks. My guess is by the time we leave here, the number of interested parties will be in the hundreds of thousands. It is also estimated that the final number of people to end up settling here will be roughly one-sixth of the world's population." answered Miana. "One billion people?" asked Jessie. "Yes. When our population reaches ten million, plans call for going public. By then, the moon base will have grown to a size that makes this look tiny. By the time the population here reaches half a billion, work will have begun on the Mars base, and it will be well under construction prior to going public. Speaking of which, how do the ass ets look?" "Excellent. Our investments have more then tripled. We will have a very nice chunk of change in which to build the Mars base." "Has that project been started yet?" asked Miana. "Getting ready to. Plans have been drawn up, and the first travelers have been chosen. Cryoships are being constructed, then all that's left to do is set a date and get things underway." answered Jessie. "Oh, yes. Of the ten thousand respondents, how many have checked out?" "Well, we are about halfway through the list. All have checked out and have been fully informed of this complex. We have had 100 percent interest from all those we have informed. They will be moving here inside of one month." "The population here is going to spread like wildfire." observed Jessie. "I know. Hadji has had his turban twisted in knots trying to come up with a viable economic system. The businesses in the consortium have started operations here, and there is already signs of production in areas outside of business relating to the complex. Manufacturing is beginning to take place, as well as small businesses that wil l be opening here once the population starts to build. Hadji says that an electronic credit system will be most practical, especially since the population is coming from all over the world." "How's his progress?" "He's doing wonderful." answered Miana. "He's got the entire system figured out-- he's just working out the bugs. Oh, yes-- when will the reactor and the seismic stabilizers be activated?" "Day after tomorrow. Miana, are you and Hadji going to leave after the reactor goes on-line for good?" "Lord, no! There's too many loose ends to wrap up first. Are you?" "No-- I have to continue supervising here. But Jonny is." "He was serious when he said he was, then?" "Yes. He says his job here will be done. He's anxious to be with the children." "What's he going to do?" asked Miana. "He's going to get Benny and Rachel from Bangalore and settle back onto the compound." "Those kids are going to be a handful without you there. Good thing Moniri will be there to help." "Agreed. Although Jonny fails to consider that sudden separation from Rajan will be very hard on Benny." "Very true." agreed Miana. "It won't be easy on Rajan, either. Have you tried to explain this to Jonny?" "Yes. He won't listen. His mind is made up." ******************************************************************************* The day for the activation of the reactor arrived, and the event was marked by a huge ceremony and festivities. Following the celebration, Jonny immediately packed his things and was on his way to the ship. Jessie and the Singhs followed closely behind. "Jonny, please! Think about what you're doing!" begged Jessie. "I am. I know that separation from the Singhs will be hard on the children, but they need me, as does Dad. I'm going home before his health starts failing again, and there is nothing any of you can do to change my mind." Hadji had his arms folded, showing definite signs of disapproval, but remained silent. Jonny's eyes locked with Hadji's. He knew what Hadji was thinking, but he continued on. He boarded the vessel without another word to anyone. The remaining members of the QueSt team stepped back away from the dock, and the ship powered up and blasted o ff right after they stepped back on the other side of the airlock. ******************************************************************************* Benton was seated in his favorite chair reading a book when he heard the front door open. He heard the pitterpatter of small feet, and saw Benny run in. "Jonny, is that you?" Jonny came in with a smile from ear to ear, as Moniri took Rachel for his arms. "I'm home, Dad. For good." Benton slowly pulled himself out of his chair, and Jonny ran over and embraced him. "What a wonderful surprise! I had no idea!" "I said I was coming home after the reactor was activated, and I wanted to surprise you!" "Then everyone else..." "Will be following in another month or so." Benton looked over at Benny. "What's wrong with Benny?" "He's not happy with being separated from Rajan." "What does everyone else think of your sudden departure?" "They're not happy with me either." "Ooooohhh..." Race came in and greeted Jonny. "Jonny! Great to have you back! Where's everyone else?" Jonny explained the situation once again to Race. ******************************************************************************* "Hadji, what's wrong?" asked Miana. "It is Jonny. I cannot believe he just left like he did." "Well, sweetie, he did say he was going to leave after the reactor activation..." "I know, but still..." "I understand, sweetie. No one is more upset than Jessie. He just left her all alone without a word." "Where is Jessie?" asked Hadji. "In the main docking area. The first transport arrived three weeks ahead of schedule, and she's down there greeting them and helping to get everyone to where they need to be." "In a way, that is good. It will get things moving here faster, and the additional finances will help as well." "I know I had a large part in the population effort, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on the financial aspect. I know that they had to liquidate all their earthly assets short of clothing and bare necessities, but then what?" "There is no fixed price to move here. The money from the sale of their property and assets goes into the consortium fund on Earth." "I was wondering where any monies went, considering that we have no money here in the complex." replied Miana. "No, they start from scratch here, either working for companies existing here on the base, or starting their own businesses, whose supplies were permitted along with them." "Very practical arrangement." stated Miana. "So their contributions go to further development of the Mars complex as well. By the way, how many were on this transport?" "The passenger transport brought about 250. The supply transports will be following in a couple of days, followed by more passenger transports. There should be about 1000 here by the end of the week." "Did Jessie tell you when we will be returning to Earth?" asked Hadji. "When the population reaches 5000. Jessie feels that there will be a sufficient population base, then we simply leave the current officials in charge. This colony is virtually independent of our help now." "That is good." replied Hadji. "I am anxious to return home." "As am I, love." said Miana. "As am I." ******************************************************************************* Weeks passed, and the population soon reached 5000. The colony had become a bustling community that was just like any typical community on Earth. Jessie and the Singhs had packed their things, and they were waiting in the space dock for Jonny to arrive to pick them up. Over the previous weeks, Jonny and the rest of the QueSt team had patched things up, and they had arranged it with him to pick up the Singh children from Bangalore, and then pick them up before returning to the compound for good. "Miana!" shouted Jessie. "Here he comes!" They watched through the portal as the ship settled down and the space dock pressurized. They all ran out onto the space dock as the ramp of the ship lowered. Three children ran out of the ship, followed by Jonny and Rachel. "Mom! Dad!" shouted Rajan. "Mommy!" squealed Lou, whose toddle had developed into a small run. The Singhs were in tears as they ran to their kids, as was Jessie as she went up to her children. "Wow, Mom!" shouted Benny. "This place has changed!" "Well, let's give you a quick tour before we leave for Earth." suggested Jessie. The QueSt team took the kids around one final time, and then boarded the ship and left for Earth. ******************************************************************************* The ship settled down in the underground complex, where Bobby met them with the Dragonfly and flew them back to the compound. They all crowded into the house, and the Singh children bombarded Benton as soon as they went through the door. "Grampa!" shouted Rajan, who was first to tackle Benton, followed by Low who was trying to climb into his lap before he picked her up. "I take it the project is finished?" "Yes, father." answered Hadji as he stepped in with the rest of the family. "At least, our part is." "Good!" exclaimed Benton. "It's so good to have us all together again!" "Agreed. And we can resume our regular work with Quest Enterprises, and if we have to go anywhere, at least it will be routine assignments here on Earth!" exclaimed Jessie. The family laughed as greetings and hugs went around the room. Moniri and Bobby joined the family as they settled down around the fireplace, and the children played in the floor at their feet. Moniri left long enough to get everyone coffee, and sat back down for a quiet evening. Benton looked around at his family once again. "Yes, we should be together for a good long time-- and God willing, it will be a long time before I have any more hospital stays." "I think," started Jessie. "With all of us here for good, that that will definitely be the case." Everyone nodded in agreement. Benton lifted his cup. "Here's to family." he said, lifting it in a toast, then taking a sip. "Here, here!" everyone said, and smiling as the toast went around the room. "To family." |