The morning air was brisk as the colonists moved toward the portal. This was the day of the tenth pilgrimage; an exciting, new building block for the growing and prosperous Terra Nova.
The forest around the colony was vast, but a small pathway led to where the portal was within it. The trees were painted a glorious green that people could only see in books back in 2149. The sky changed colors throughout the day in Terra Nova; from beautiful Irish oranges, brilliant yellows, luscious pinks, valiant purples and to the all famous deep blue.
"Sir, everything is ready for the pilgrims' arrival," Kaylie reported looking up at the sky.
"Excellent, only about five minutes left," Commander Taylor replied back to her. He shifted calmly from one side of the clearing to the other.
Kaylie was the goddaughter of Commander Nathaniel Taylor, brought to Terra Nova on the second pilgrimage. Her mother had died during childbirth and her father caught the incurable disease upon entering their new home. Kaylie's father, Benjamin Naas was Taylor's right hand man and best friend since they joined military forces together at a young age. He had been brilliant when it came to war tactics, medical aid, and several other valuable things. He was also no jack of all trades; he was a master of what he knew.
Kaylie had sponged some of her father's intelligence while growing up and had inherited a passion for the field her mother had been in too. She became an incredibly intelligent, clever, and witty young lady. She also became somewhat of a smart ass, which she couldn't help but to show off and put to use whenever someone dared to give her grief.
A few moments later the portal began to activate. The colors within the center swirled and lit up magnificently until the first pilgrim stumbled his first step into Terra Nova. Medical assistance rushed to each arriving 'newborn' and made sure they didn't suffer from any shock from the immense difference in clean air.
Little groups of Terra Nova's people, new pilgrims and old personnel, gathered within the clearing. Then suddenly a man came rushing through. He was startled by the group, and took one too many steps and stumbled over a root. On the ground, the man pulled a weapon from his pocket. His intensions, to Kaylie, did not seem harmful, just defensive. Kaylie walked towards him calmly, "Sir, you need to drop your weapon." He clenched to his bag, his face full of worry and sadness.
"What's your name, sir?" She asked aggressively after he had lowered the weapon slightly.
"Shannon. My name is Jim Shannon." The tall man blurted out quickly. "Please don't hurt the bag!" He gasped in a panic as Kaylie took the tall grey bag from him and pulled back the draw strings to reveal a little girl. She was no older than five, trembling as she held her hands high over her face.
"Don't be frightened little one, what's your name? I'm Kaylie." She asked with a soothing smile.
The young girl, surprised by such kindness, smiled and replied happily, "I'm Zoe!"
Jim Shannon was then taken into custody to smooth out the details of his suspicious behavior upon arriving to Terra Nova. As soldiers walked him down the dirt path toward Taylor's high post after arriving to the colony, the Commander asked Kaylie to keep an eye on the family.
Kaylie welcomed the family to their new home. The hut was large with its four bedroom, two bathroom set up. The walls were plain, but the essence to a wooden home fit the Shannon family. Simple was what the family wanted more than anything. Life had just been too complicated before Terra Nova.
All of them sat in the dining room quietly, not entirely sure what they should be doing, or even what they wanted to do now that they were there. The table they sat at was lengthy and rectangular; it could sit up to fourteen people. As Kaylie sat at the head, the others sat in the seats furthest from her.
Kaylie began to sympathize with the mother, "I'm sorry about all of this. I know there was no other way to make this work for you." Kaylie was well aware of the two children law back in 2149, but she understood how this family felt. She couldn't say how or why, but she could feel that Zoe, the youngest, was an essential part of this loving family. "Don't let anyone tell you it was wrong to have a third child. When you feel it's right, no one can tell you that you're wrong."
Elizabeth Shannon had been looking down at the glass plated table, and suddenly lifted her head in shock at Kaylie's words. Kaylie immediately recoiled at the older woman's reaction, standing up and walking around she attempted to take back her words. "I'm sorry; sometimes I'm just too opinionated..." She stopped at the kitchen counter looking through some of her papers, "Well, uhh for the..."
"No, you're not at all. Thank you. No one seems to understand."
Kaylie sighed in relief that she didn't just destroy a new friendship with this family. She looked back down at the thick pile of fresh recycled paper. "For the first couple of days you'll have to adjust to the new chemicals in the foods here. Since the food could nearly kill you without being adjusted first, welcome to old age! You'll be eating puree!" She smiled and giggled to herself. Josh, Maddie, and Zoe all looked at her as if she was a mad woman. "It's really not that bad. It's just like eating a smoothie for four or five days."
Maddie walked over, "You know it's really nice to meet you in person! I've read so much about all the things you've done here, and your experiments, and medical advantages and military tactics! It's all just so exciting!" The dark haired, dark skin girl was full of flattery that no one could ever really deserve, it humbled Kaylie.
"Thanks," she replied blushing, "I've actually never had an admirer before. And you Maddie Shannon - based on your records - you are quite an astonishing individual yourself. It is a pleasure to meet you, to meet all of you." Looking to all of them as she said this, she saw a glance from the eldest, Josh Shannon. Josh was probably a year younger than herself. He had thick brown hair and eyes just like... She shook the thought from her mind. It just jumped right back in… He had the same look in his eyes that she had once seen in her own god brother. As she began to ponder this observation, Jim and Taylor both stepped inside.
Commander Taylor did not move any farther inside the house than the door frame, as Jim Shannon was once again reunited with his family. "Sorry folks, we just wanted to make sure everything was in check, well beside the whole, two stow-aways part." He smiled, "Kaylie will be your foster Terra Novan until you become familiar with this place. She knows almost more than I do around here, and she can answer all of your questions. I have some work to attend to, if you'll excuse me." Taylor turned and left briskly. Kaylie's blank, and cold face suddenly turned open and friendly again at his departure.
Kaylie paced back and forth. "Remember what Taylor said. I'm actually in the hut two down from here. So if you need me, don't hesitate to just knock on my door. I know you're all tired, and portal lagged, so I'll give you only three important tasks. One: Purees only, I do NOT want to come in the morning to find five dead residents here tomorrow. Two: I'll be here around ten am tomorrow to show you two to your new work and to take the three of you to survival training." Standing and staring quietly at her, the family was surely thinking, 'So far so good, but number three probably sucks.' "Now number three is the most important of all of them," she continued, "Get used to your new home." She smiled, and began to walk out the door.
Kaylie could remember her first night in Terra Nova clearly. She sat around a fire with Taylor, Lucas, and her father. When she looked at the Shannon's, she thought of her late father. What she wouldn't give for that clear night in the woods. The sky was an ink blot with a glowing ray of hope; one star in the sky, and one wish for Terra Nova.
Kaylie began to walk home. She carried her light as curfew had passed and the street lights had turned off. She walked slowly past Mrs. Coleman's house. She couldn't help but ponder her childhood now, and the closest thing she had to a brother. She asked herself, 'Why? He's been gone for almost four years. Why am I thinking about him? Over a silly look!'
Kaylie didn't like to dwell on the past. There seemed to be so much negativity there that pulled down everything that she had worked for in Terra Nova. She finally made it home, washed up and went to bed.
The next morning as planned, Kaylie walked to the Shannon's home. They all looked much more refreshed than they had the day before. Walking through the center-most part of Terra Nova, the family began seeing not only their new neighbors, but all the wonderful things contained within the boundaries of the colony. The market place was confined to a small area, but baskets of all shapes and sizes held objects of all sorts. People mingled happily in the gardens, and others worked around the perimeter.
Kaylie took Dr. Shannon to the hospital. It was a short but long building with bright white walls. Dr. Shannon even caught herself wondering if they used bleach to keep it so white. She would begin her new profession today, and she was beyond excited. She had been so thankful every minute after Jim walked back to their new home. They were all in Terra Nova, together! This was more wonderful than even something in a dream.
Mr. Shannon was shown to the gardeners' fortress. Commander Taylor knew he was a cop back in 2149, well before his incident with the assault he had been. But he needed to know Shannon before he could allow him a gun, a badge or anything that would give him power in the colony. Jim understood this, but was appalled that he was put in a leafy green situation.
Last, the three kids were taken to survival training. Moans and groans came from all of them as they complained that they were more than prepared to survive in Terra Nova.
"Do Maddie and I really have to do this? It seems so childish!"
"Yes. I'm sorry Josh, but everyone has to take the training – it's mandatory. And it's not childish, if you ever have a problem when you're out there alone, you want to know exactly what you're doing. Take it from me." Kaylie pulled up her sleeves and revealed a few nasty scars. "And I was trained…" Josh put his head down, agreeing that she was right, but didn't like it at all.
"I'll be around the colony today attending to some business, there's nothing left on the agenda, so if you need me, just ask around."
She left them to the group of children that was large enough to populate Terra Nova themselves. She always liked the newbies because they always looked happy; happy to be alive, to be together, to have another go at making this life right.
Kaylie decided, as she was walking down the road, that she was going to go visit the Commander. It was a short distance from where she had left the kids, but Kaylie seemed to be making all of her walks a dragged out thing these days. She climbed to the top of the Commander's post while she was in her little "la la land." Step after step, after step, after step. She was greeted at the top by the Commander as he held onto her shoulders before she could unknowingly trample over him.
The command post was the highest point in Terra Nova. The Commander lived there while he simultaneously watched over the colony…and beyond it.
The man had a small layer of white hair on the top of his head, and a full beard. He stood tall and had a GI Joe look about him. But there was no doubt that Taylor was a soft puppy at heart. He loved his people, and his world; but more importantly, he wanted to protect it. There was one thing he loved more than his Terra Nova, and that was his goddaughter.
"Are you alright, Kaylie? You seem distracted lately." He scrunched his face at her in concern, tilting his head as he tried to make eye contact with her.
"Yes, I just have a lot of things going through my head..."
"Like what, kiddo?"
"Like Lucas. Why did he leave?"
"I don't know Kaylie. I really wish I had the answer to that myself."