Chapter 2
The Hernanderz's arrive on ORCA. Maria isn't too impressed with the way it looks, at least compared to ORCA FL. There, the reception area was a lot more cheerful and welcoming looking, with nice art work and beach décor, several couches and even a coffee and snack station, plus a large open window to the sea as the backdrop. This ORCA Queensland's reception area is little more than a hallway, very bland space station looking. No décor, no couches, not even an opening to see the ocean. Just dull and boring.
Dr. Hernández feels the same way, but puts on smile. Their welcome by the reception committee and the commander feels rather stern and icy, rather than warm and inviting. They don't even try to smile. The commander gets right down to business about work and what ORCA is all about, then hands them both the extremely thick ORCA handbook and tells them to memorize it cover to cover, front and backwards.
"Failure to follow any rules will not be tolerated;" he says, giving Maria a look that says she better not cause any trouble. She has chills up her spin. While the commander at ORCA FL was stern, she was also warm and friendly, as well as patient and understanding towards children. Even though Maria never really opened up towards her former commander, or really anybody on ORCA FL, she did feel safe around the people there and was just beginning to open up a little when they were transferred. A year isn't nowhere near long enough to start making friends.
As they walk the first hall, Maria notices a few kids, a couple seemly around her age, although socializing and making friends will be difficult for her. Maria is mostly a reserved and shy lone wolf and doesn't trust people easily, especially boys and men. Her mother doesn't easily trust people either, but is more social and less reserved then her daughter. Maria's "social life" is her mother, with very few exceptions. They are two pies in pod.
The commander first leads them to the lab that Barbara will be sharing with another scientist. It's a standard, state-of-the art industrial lab, but still bland and boring looking, like the rest of the place. Maria can tell that Barbara is already thinking about how she could spruce this area, even though she won't be in here much. Most of Barbara's work will done on and in the water on her own research boat, which they see tomorrow morning.
"What's this about your daughter accompanying you on the boat every single day?"; the commander suddenly ask.
"Oh yes, sir" answers Barbara, "You should have gotten the forms."
"I did;" replies the commander; "Headquarters approved, however, I personally don't agree with this. Why?"
Barbara looks sternly at the commander; "She always accompanies me. She's my assistant. She does her school work and everything on the boat. She's home-schooled and nearly more than two years ahead of her peers. It's much better for her then in a classroom. Just look at her transcript and reports. It all there."
"I know;" says the commander; "There's nothing I can do to overturn it. However, no other kids here accompany their parents without special permission, and 'never' on school days. She should be in the school room with the other students."
"We don't need to explain it;" replies Barbara boldly, "Next question please."
The commander is in shock at the way Barbara's talking to him. True, there's nothing he can do about it as the authority come from mainland headquarters. He doesn't like that these Americans are already getting away with this. He wonders what else they may get away with.
If only Dr. Barbara Hernanderz wasn't one of the most respected young scientist in her field, specializing in sea life reproduction, nurturing, and development, as well as side studies of sea life "communications" and wreckage exploring.
Especially her lasted essays. The details are so persist, passionate, seemly up-close, and even narrative, as if she was actually there, even experiencing it for herself. He has a unique gift that's for sure.
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"This is what it like to fly;" says Neri out loud. She's never been in the air before, that she can remember that is. She wishes that they would open the windows, but the pilot won't. The head contraption is somewhat uncomfortable and her ears need air, but they can't hear each other talk otherwise, so Neri makes the best of it, pulling the ear pieces away from her ears from time to time to get them some air. The loud noise of the helicopter spinning thing doesn't bother her too much, but it does make her ears ring a little.
Aside from that, Neri's having the time of her life. She stares out the window at the waters and shores below. Everything is just so mesmerizing. She wonders if her own people had the same awe and wonder when they first came to Earth. Her father never really talked about their journey, so she doesn't know.
Finally, after 3 hours in the air (and Brett asking several times how much longer it was), the skylight of Sydney comes into view. It is the most beautiful sight ever.
"Look," says Neri has she recognizes something from a picture; "There's that big house." Everyone looks over and sees the shells of the Sydney Opera House. Neri's never seen anything like it. Jason's almost as awed by the sight as Neri, Brett is as well, although he does thinks it's rather weird looking. Diane has seen it before, but never from this view.
"This much better than the picture;" says Neri.
"Everything is much better than the pictures;" agrees Jason.
"How many people live there?;" asks Neri, "It's huge!"
"Nobody lives there;" giggles Brett; "It's an Opera house. They do shows there."
"Why is it called a house if nobody lives there?"
"I can't answer that;" says Diane; "We're going there next week. We're going to see a show."
Neri's eyes light up even more; "We're going to see inside. I will ask why it's called a house."
The Bates don't even want to try to answer that question. The pilot rolls his eyes. This girl sure does ask some weird, sometimes ignorant questions. She most definitely seems very, very sheltered. The younger girl he took to ORCA earlier seemed strange as well. She was acting rather shy and awkward towards him, seemly keeping her distance from him and not even looking in his direction, yet she was talking up a storm with her mother. Even thought they were mostly talking in Spanish, he did make out that she talking about tiger sharks. Why would a girl that age be talking seemly so cheerfully about tiger sharks? While she didn't ask any stupid questions (in fact, she didn't talk to him at all, except for a small polite thank you), there was still something very strange about her.
Brett isn't really looking forward to seeing any of the stage shows there. It isn't really his thing. Jason's not so thrilled with the theme of a couple of the shows right now.
"I still don't get why their doing Christmas shows at this time of year. Why do they have to take this "Christmas in July" thing so seriously?"
"Because they like a little bit of Christmas cheer in the winter;" answers Diane.
"I thought we did Christmas not long ago;" says Neri, who has celebrated two Christmases on ORCA with her adopted family; "It been a year already?"
"Not quite;" answers Diane; "I'll explain it more later."
Neri stares out in silence for a few moments, taking it all in, then starts asking odd questions again about everything she's seeing on the ground. Even though the Bates are used to her questions, right now it seems a bit over bearing. The pilot's just glad they'll be landing soon.
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Barbara and Maria enter their cabin. The cabin is about 250 sq., less than half the size of their former cabin. It contains just one room with two small twin size beds that double as couches, a vanity with some drawers, a few shelves, a desk and chair, a small closet, and a bathroom 'closet'. There are bigger cabins on ORCA, but none of the 500 sq. ones were available, and residency felt no need to put just the two of them into anything bigger.
Maria's especially shocked about the bathroom 'closet', which contains both the shower and the toilet. Their cabin at ORCA FL was 550 sq., while still only one room, it had room for a separate living place, entertainment center, a small kitchenette, and a small bathroom that still had a tub and a toilet that wasn't inside the shower.
Maria is very distrust; "Mama! Look at this."
Barbara looks at the bathroom; "Yea, this could be a problem."
"It's so small. I can't believe the toilet's inside the shower;" complains Maria; "what am I going to do? There isn't even a tub."
Barbara knew she should have looked into this more. Then she gets an idea; "I'll order a portable tub. But it'll take at least a couple of days to get here."
That doesn't sit well with Maria; "but that means I'll have too…"
"It won't kill you for a night or two;" her mother says sternly; "Now don't argue."
Maria hates knowing her mother is right. She also has a very important matter to attend too as she feels her skin and cotton dry mouth. This is going to be a nightmare.
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door, startling them. Maria cringes.
"Settle down sweetie. I won't let them in."
Maria sits down on the bed, fidgeting. Barbara opens the door, there stands a man with a big smile and very friendly looking face, holding a small basket.
"Hello Dr. Hernanderz;" he greets very cheerfully; "Welcome to ORCA. I'm Dr. Winston Seth and I'm one of your new neighbors." He holds out his hand, which Barbara shakes.
"I've heard so much about you Dr. Hernanderz;" Winston continues while offering the welcome basket; "We're looking forward to your stay on ORCA. Hope you are the same." Barbara accepts basket and gives a little smile. This is the kind of hospitality she's used too. She can only hope that this man is truly as friendly as he seems and not trying to butter her up.
Winston then notices Maria fidgeting and looking away; "Aw. You must be Maria. No need to be nervous. There's an old saying; the sheep that hides in cave, gets overwhelmed by his own wool."
Maria looks at him strangely. What was that supposed to mean?
"Well, I'll let you settle in. Remember if you need anything, I'm just right now the hall, in cabin 6. I'll take you on a tour later if you'd like. Remember, the sheep always get lost without their shepherd."
Barbara and Maria are both bugged-eyed, but Barbara replies; "Actually I do have a question."
"Ask away."
"Are there any religious services and groups on board?"
"Oh yes," answers Winston; "There's a church-type service in the cafeteria every Sunday evening. There are a few groups that meet weekly, and we have a couple Protestant ministers, a priest, a rabbi, and a Buddhist monk that comes aboard weekly or bi-weekly as well. Several also take a boat to attend services on the mainland every Sunday morning."
"Anything for my daughter's age?"
"Absolutely;" replies Winston; "we even have a Bible study and prayer group for our young ones."
Maria is very devote to her faith and loves listening in on Bible studies and attending church, but still can't bring herself to speak up or interact otherwise.
"I'll be seeing you both;" says Winston cheerfully; "Good day Maria, be a sunshine through the storm, or even better, a rainbow. A pleasure Dr. Hernanderz, enjoy your first evening here."
Winston leaves and Barbara closes the door. Was this guy for real?
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Neri and the Bates land at a helipad in the North Shore area near the beach, then catch a cab to their hotel. Neri continues to glaze at everything with wide eye wonder, and fortunately, this cab car keeps making several stops, so she gets a good look at some of these sights. Unfortunately, she can't leave the car to get a closer look. Diane assures her there'll be plenty of time to see the sights soon. Neri has never seen so many buildings in one place, and there are so many people here! She wonders just how many more people are inside the buildings.
They reach their hotel, located right on the beach within view of the Sydney Harbor, Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge among other sights. The lobby is huge and open, even has an indoor courtyard and sparkling crystal things Jason calls chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, unlike anything Neri's ever seen before. In fact, everything is unlike anything she's ever seen. Jason and Brett have never seen a hotel this big either. They especially love the fact that the hotel has an arcade. It also has an outdoor courtyard, three pools with waterslides, a restaurant, gift shop, and a spa. Diane has only been to a spa once, on her honeymoon, and Neri's very interested in finding out what a spa is all about. Jason and Brett have no interest in the spa.
"Jason;" Neri asks; "what are these flowers called?"
Jason shrugs his shoulders. Neri's very surprised that he doesn't know. Diane however, recognizes the royal bluebell, the waratah, and the cocktail orchid. The tree in center looks like a foxtail palm.
Neri tries to ride one of the fun looking hotel carts, but the Bates stop her. Actually, Brett would love to ride it too and whispers that to her.
"Maybe we'll be able to pull it off later;" says Brett.
After checking in (Neri registered as Neri Bates (no relation), same as her ORCA ID), they enter their room, which is a two bedroom suite, one for the girls and one for the boys. These living quarters are bigger and much more beautiful than the Bates quarters on ORCA. Neri may actually sleep on this bed (maybe), which is more than twice the size of the beds on ORCA, although when she spends the night there, she sleeps on the floor with the pillow and cover. The bathrooms are big, and the dunny is separate from the shower.
Both Jason and Brett drop their bags and jump on the beds. Diane needs to do what she calls "freshen up", and Neri needs a wet down before they go out for dinner. Before she does, however, she walks out onto the balcony. The sun is setting and there's a nice breeze. She gazes at the beautiful view and feels the wind on her face. Jason joins her and asks what she's thinking.
"I only wish Charlie was out there."
Jason nods; "I know you do."
"I miss him already, but these next days are going to be awesome."
Jason nods again and wraps his arm around her. The sunset over the Sydney Harbor and skyline is beautiful. This is going to be an awesome adventure. And for once, nothing is at stake.
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Maria and Barbara walk onto the pontoon, dressed in ORCA uniforms. Dinner had been interesting.
"Can you believe they don't know what G.R.I.T.S are?" asks Maria, "I also can't believe that an underwater ocean facility wasn't serving seafood tonight. What about that big catch they brought in earlier?"
"You really shouldn't have put it that you don't like 'land animals'; says Barbara; "you've been hanging out with Gabi too much. Plus I forgot that they don't have sweet tea here. They looked at me like I'm a weirdo. Should have known better."
Barbara settles down in a chair underneath a light while Maria heads towards the edge.
"You've got 45 minutes."
Maria snaps her head around; "45 minutes! That's not long enough."
I'll push it to 30 if you stand there arguing," states Barbara, "stay around the pontoon and don't dive too deep. We'll start exploring tomorrow. Not get."
Maria huffs and dives in. Barbara smiles while slightly shaking her head, and opens her book.
