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Circumstances (part 1 – New neighbors): Takes place after the Colony Ship has landed. Devon is not out of cold sleep. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
Voice of Yale: "It's been a few weeks since the Colony Ship landed. There has been a period of adjustment, which is an understatement. Over the last 27 months our group has under gone much change. We started as strangers but became a family. Our journey to New Pacifica took 14 months. We lost some members and still wait for one member, Devon, to be returned to us. Luckily, several of our pods were miraculously waiting for us once we reached New Pacifica. With the help of the VTO, we were able to fly around the planet and uncover more of our pods. What was lost, we improvised. We gathered the very pods themselves to be used in the building of the colony.
The hospital, school, housing units, as well as miscellaneous buildings were waiting for the colonists when they landed. The housing units are in the form of what was once called Town Houses or Row Houses. The community itself looks somewhat like a Condominium complex. The housing units surround the common buildings: hospital, shops, school and government building. After living on the stations, rows of individual homes did not appeal to anyone during the design stage back on the stations. Now that we are planet side and are aware of the dangers, our very survival can depend upon a close community.
The farm and livestock were ready and waiting for the colonists as well. True and Uly had the idea of individual plots for anyone wishing to grow their own food. So far the colonists have shown distain for the idea and only advance team members have plots, consisting of native grains, fruits and vegetables that we have grown accustomed to.
The colonists have shown little acceptance of their new home. Several have refused the terrian cure for their child. Some have voiced their intention of returning to the station when the ship leaves next week. Others have elected to stay but have opted for a synthetic cure, which offers temporary reprieve from the symptoms of the Syndrome. Perhaps if Devon had been here, things would be different. She was someone they knew and trusted. To find the colony without her has shaken many. The colonists are people who have a sick child and would do anything to save that child. Most are of the upper class; the remaining colonists are middle class. Unfortunately, the Syndrome does affect the lower class but they can little afford the necessary treatment and children do not survive long. The prejudice against most of the advance team is tangible. Julia is the only one from the upper class but before landing on the planet she was a junior member of Dr. Vasquez's team; Morgan is a low level government official with an earth- born wife. The advance colonists are middle class and the ops crew mostly lower class. Class distinction ceased to exist shortly after landing and now we are faced full-blown with it. Devon would have been able to handle it. But then again, Devon would have been the leader, and not Danziger.
No one on the advance team doubts that without John Danziger, the outcome may have been very different. He stepped into the role of leader when Devon was stricken by the illness. His knack of improvising has helped build this colony. But now, instead of showing appreciation for all he has done, he is looked down upon. It doesn't sit well with John or any other member of the advance team."
Justin Harper was a member of the middle class back on the station. Harper had always felt that he was at a disadvantage because of his background. In his mind, he was just as capable as the privileged class, just as smart, if not more so, but wasn't given the chance to prove himself. His thinking only extended as far as himself and felt nothing but contempt for the lower class. Harper thought that this new world would give him the chance to prove himself and advance beyond his background. His daughter, seven years old Claire, was diagnosis with the Syndrome five years ago. Initially he was against the quest to a distant planet to seek a cure. But as Claire got weaker and no possible cure was in sight, he finally accepted his wife pleading to try the planet. Claire had not survived the trip to New Pacifica. He was full of grief and rage. The rage was meant for Devon Adair, the woman that convinced his wife and ultimately himself to try this cure. She was not here so he transferred his rage to her proxy, John Danziger. The Harper family had given up everything to travel to this planet, to return to the stations was unthinkable, at least in Harper's mind, for he feared what those back on the station, even though he didn't know them, would say.
Harper had always sought entry into the privileged crowd. He knew that Alan Taggert and others of the upper circle disliked John Danziger as much as he did. In his mind, if he could get rid of Danziger or at least discredit him, he would gain the acceptance of the higher epsilon. His wife, Nell, had at last given him an idea that would make Danziger leave on the return flight back to the stations. It was just a passing comment his wife had made that morning but he could turn it to his advantage. Harper would spring his surprise at the next committee meeting and Danziger would be gone in a week. It would not take him long to claim Danziger's position in the new colony.
That afternoon, just as the meeting was about to adjourn, Harper, spoke up. "Excuse me, but before we dismiss the meeting, there is one subject I think that we should discuss."
Alan Taggert was intrigued; he knew how ambitious Harper was. "What is it Mr. Harper?"
"The question of Ulysses Adair's guardianship", Harper spoke confidently.
As chorus of shocked exclamations rang out, mostly from the Advance team, Taggert smiled. "What of the boy's guardianship?"
Harper was thrilled; he finally had Alan Taggert's attention focused on him. "It is just that there is no legal guardianship to look after the boy's best interest. There is only a verbal agreement that was heard only by the guardian himself. I don't mean to imply that the conversation never took place ", which was exactly what he meant to imply, "but Ulysses future needs to be secured. His mother gave up so much for us, the least we can do is ensure that her son has a secure future."
Murmurs were heard from the crowd. Some wanted to ensure that Devon's child was well cared for since she had basically sacrificed herself for her son as well as their child. Others, disliked the drone, and by stripping him of the guardianship of Ulysses Adair, they would be putting him back in his place. The thought of a mere drone raising the son of one of the most powerful families on the stations was unthinkable.
Harper tried to keep the grin from his face. This would work. The colonists would side with him and Danziger would leave the planet to save face. Harper did not understand John Danziger at all.
"So what do you propose?" Taggert asked. "Are you offering to take on guardianship of the boy?"
"To be honest, I hadn't thought about it. I just wanted to bring the matter to the committee's attention. If the committee chooses me for this task, I would abide by the decision."
Danziger, who was more or less being restrained by his follow advance team members, finally spoke up. "The committee did not appoint me Uly's guardian. Devon did. So until Devon or Uly himself, ask me to step aside, I will not." Having said that, he stormed from the building. As his fellow travelers had just said, to start a fight was not in Uly's best interest.
Yale, who was also not well thought of by the colonists, spoke. "John Danziger has been caring for Ulysses for over a year. To separate the boy from his man would be cruel to say the least. He has lost his mother, do not take his father-figure from him."
Again, a general murmur went through the crowd. Those who had the Uly's best interest at heart agreed that since the child did seem well cared for and happy with the Danziger family, it would indeed be cruel to tear him away. All agreed that Danziger's care of Ulysses should be carefully monitored.
Harper had not gotten what he wanted, but he wasn't entirely unhappy. True, John Danziger would not be leaving with the colony ship but he had just proven to all that he did not intend to follow committee's rules and/or recommendations. That would be the tool that Harper would use to orchestrate Danziger's down fall.
True and Uly, playing with some of the older siblings of the syndrome children, saw Danziger storm from the building. Concerned, they excused themselves and ran after the mechanic. They finally caught up with him at the beach where he was sitting on the sand looking out at the sea. "Dad, what's wrong?" True asked in an anxious voice.
Danziger, who had not realized the children had followed him, glanced up somewhat startled. He tried to come to terms about the meeting and needed to figure out how to tell Ulysses about it, he knew that Uly would hear about it sooner or later, so it might as well be from him. "Why aren't you kids in school?"
"The teachers wanted to attend the committee meeting so they gave us the afternoon off."
"Nice of them to inform the parents."
"What happened at the meeting?" Uly tentatively asked.
Looking at the boy, Danziger simply stated, "They wanted to discuss your guardianship".
"What do you mean, you're my guardian." Both Uly and True wore identical looks of dismay.
"Dad, Uly's still going to be with us, right?" True had first resented the boy staying with them. She was jealous of him and did not want to share her father. She had quickly got over that. And now the two were as close as siblings. After all, for over two years they only had each other.
"Yeah, I told them that until Devon or Uly stated otherwise, he was my responsibility. That ok with you champ?"
"Yes", the boy flung himself at the older man. "I don't want to stay with anyone else, just you and True."
"OK with you True"
"Sure, think I want to do all the chores myself." True was not about to let Uly know how much she cared.
Her father and Uly both saw through her comment, but decided not to tease.
After spending some time on the beach, the family returned to their home. The home consisted of 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, having at one time been two units. One of the units was a corner unit with 3 bedroom and 2 baths. The second unit was 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. The thought being that while Devon was ill, the Danziger and Adair units would be combined, but when Devon returned, they would become two separate units again. In theory it had been a good idea but now it would be difficult to separate the units. For one thing, the second kitchen had been removed and used in housing that was improvised. The area where the second kitchen once stood was now a big family room where Danziger had built a fireplace with local stone. It was the envy of all the advance team. Danziger supposed that when Devon returned, he and True would take the unit with the fireplace and do their cooking on it; he would figure out the sink, refrigerator, etc, when the time came. Julia had not given up on her quest to cure Devon. With the arrival of the colony ship, it had been lowered on the list of priorities but not forgotten.
The events of the committee meeting really bothered Danziger. The idea that someone thought they could take away one of his kids was unbelievable. He also realized that things in the higher classes were probably done differently then in the lower class. Back on the stations, no paperwork detailing guardianship of True existed should anything happen to him. But it was common knowledge that Les and Alex would raise True as their own should he not live until she was of age. He had spoken to them shortly after True's birth and they had agreed; that was the end of it. Now he realized that for drones it probably didn't matter. Debt followed you where you went and all society seemed to care about was that the family debt was paid off, how that came about was irrelevant. But with Uly, things were different; he had the Adair fortune, although that really didn't matter on G889. Danziger decided not to leave to chance the kids' future. He wanted to ensure that they remained together. He would need Yale, Morgan, Julia and Alonzo. He might as well have the whole of Eden Advance over for a fish fry. He called everyone to invite them and all readily accepted. They didn't want Danziger stewing over Harper's suggestion.
The meal was a jovial, especially considering all that had transpired that day. Since it was still warm, it was held on the deck; which was also equivalent to two decks and Danziger oversaw the cooking of the fish on a make shift grill. Once the meal was over and the kids were off playing, Danziger informed them why he had asked them over.
"Morgan, I need you to draw up some paperwork so that should anything happen to me, the kids will be together with my choice of guardian, not the committee's. Yale, I know that we have an unwritten agreement but given today's events, I need to get it documented."
"I fully understand" the tutor replied.
"I also want something in the document that covers should Devon recover, after I'm gone. Also, what should happen to the kids should Yale and I die at the same time. Julia and Alonzo, would you be willing to take that on? Julia you're the most familiar with Uly's medical history and Alonzo, you're a former playboy. I would rely upon you to carefully monitor my daughter's dates. You would know what to look for."
Alonzo readily agreed. All Julia could do was nod her head. The overwhelming emotion she felt had left her speechless. Two years prior, she had been abandoned for betraying the group. Now she was being asked to care for the most precious things in John Danziger's life, his kids.
Bess looked somewhat hurt that Danziger had not asked her and Morgan to care for the children, after all, she had looked after them many times before. Catching Bess's disappointment, Danziger added, "Morgan, you're the only lawyer I know, I want to make sure that everything is on par. Bess, I hope that you would help Yale, as you have always helped me."
At Bess's nod and a somewhat relieved look, Danziger continued. "The town house would go to both kids. Whichever one marries or starts a family first, gets the 3-bedroom unit. They can figure out how to separate them or whatever else they want to. What else am I missing?"
Morgan mentioned a few other items that should be included and promised to have a document ready in the next few days. Walman and Cameron agreed to sign the finished document as witnesses and the remaining members promised to ensure that Danziger's wishes were carried out.
"Hey, don't worry I am not planning on checking out anytime soon. I just want to be prepared should anything unforeseen happen."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
End of part 1.
Circumstances (part 1 – New neighbors): Takes place after the Colony Ship has landed. Devon is not out of cold sleep. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
Voice of Yale: "It's been a few weeks since the Colony Ship landed. There has been a period of adjustment, which is an understatement. Over the last 27 months our group has under gone much change. We started as strangers but became a family. Our journey to New Pacifica took 14 months. We lost some members and still wait for one member, Devon, to be returned to us. Luckily, several of our pods were miraculously waiting for us once we reached New Pacifica. With the help of the VTO, we were able to fly around the planet and uncover more of our pods. What was lost, we improvised. We gathered the very pods themselves to be used in the building of the colony.
The hospital, school, housing units, as well as miscellaneous buildings were waiting for the colonists when they landed. The housing units are in the form of what was once called Town Houses or Row Houses. The community itself looks somewhat like a Condominium complex. The housing units surround the common buildings: hospital, shops, school and government building. After living on the stations, rows of individual homes did not appeal to anyone during the design stage back on the stations. Now that we are planet side and are aware of the dangers, our very survival can depend upon a close community.
The farm and livestock were ready and waiting for the colonists as well. True and Uly had the idea of individual plots for anyone wishing to grow their own food. So far the colonists have shown distain for the idea and only advance team members have plots, consisting of native grains, fruits and vegetables that we have grown accustomed to.
The colonists have shown little acceptance of their new home. Several have refused the terrian cure for their child. Some have voiced their intention of returning to the station when the ship leaves next week. Others have elected to stay but have opted for a synthetic cure, which offers temporary reprieve from the symptoms of the Syndrome. Perhaps if Devon had been here, things would be different. She was someone they knew and trusted. To find the colony without her has shaken many. The colonists are people who have a sick child and would do anything to save that child. Most are of the upper class; the remaining colonists are middle class. Unfortunately, the Syndrome does affect the lower class but they can little afford the necessary treatment and children do not survive long. The prejudice against most of the advance team is tangible. Julia is the only one from the upper class but before landing on the planet she was a junior member of Dr. Vasquez's team; Morgan is a low level government official with an earth- born wife. The advance colonists are middle class and the ops crew mostly lower class. Class distinction ceased to exist shortly after landing and now we are faced full-blown with it. Devon would have been able to handle it. But then again, Devon would have been the leader, and not Danziger.
No one on the advance team doubts that without John Danziger, the outcome may have been very different. He stepped into the role of leader when Devon was stricken by the illness. His knack of improvising has helped build this colony. But now, instead of showing appreciation for all he has done, he is looked down upon. It doesn't sit well with John or any other member of the advance team."
Justin Harper was a member of the middle class back on the station. Harper had always felt that he was at a disadvantage because of his background. In his mind, he was just as capable as the privileged class, just as smart, if not more so, but wasn't given the chance to prove himself. His thinking only extended as far as himself and felt nothing but contempt for the lower class. Harper thought that this new world would give him the chance to prove himself and advance beyond his background. His daughter, seven years old Claire, was diagnosis with the Syndrome five years ago. Initially he was against the quest to a distant planet to seek a cure. But as Claire got weaker and no possible cure was in sight, he finally accepted his wife pleading to try the planet. Claire had not survived the trip to New Pacifica. He was full of grief and rage. The rage was meant for Devon Adair, the woman that convinced his wife and ultimately himself to try this cure. She was not here so he transferred his rage to her proxy, John Danziger. The Harper family had given up everything to travel to this planet, to return to the stations was unthinkable, at least in Harper's mind, for he feared what those back on the station, even though he didn't know them, would say.
Harper had always sought entry into the privileged crowd. He knew that Alan Taggert and others of the upper circle disliked John Danziger as much as he did. In his mind, if he could get rid of Danziger or at least discredit him, he would gain the acceptance of the higher epsilon. His wife, Nell, had at last given him an idea that would make Danziger leave on the return flight back to the stations. It was just a passing comment his wife had made that morning but he could turn it to his advantage. Harper would spring his surprise at the next committee meeting and Danziger would be gone in a week. It would not take him long to claim Danziger's position in the new colony.
That afternoon, just as the meeting was about to adjourn, Harper, spoke up. "Excuse me, but before we dismiss the meeting, there is one subject I think that we should discuss."
Alan Taggert was intrigued; he knew how ambitious Harper was. "What is it Mr. Harper?"
"The question of Ulysses Adair's guardianship", Harper spoke confidently.
As chorus of shocked exclamations rang out, mostly from the Advance team, Taggert smiled. "What of the boy's guardianship?"
Harper was thrilled; he finally had Alan Taggert's attention focused on him. "It is just that there is no legal guardianship to look after the boy's best interest. There is only a verbal agreement that was heard only by the guardian himself. I don't mean to imply that the conversation never took place ", which was exactly what he meant to imply, "but Ulysses future needs to be secured. His mother gave up so much for us, the least we can do is ensure that her son has a secure future."
Murmurs were heard from the crowd. Some wanted to ensure that Devon's child was well cared for since she had basically sacrificed herself for her son as well as their child. Others, disliked the drone, and by stripping him of the guardianship of Ulysses Adair, they would be putting him back in his place. The thought of a mere drone raising the son of one of the most powerful families on the stations was unthinkable.
Harper tried to keep the grin from his face. This would work. The colonists would side with him and Danziger would leave the planet to save face. Harper did not understand John Danziger at all.
"So what do you propose?" Taggert asked. "Are you offering to take on guardianship of the boy?"
"To be honest, I hadn't thought about it. I just wanted to bring the matter to the committee's attention. If the committee chooses me for this task, I would abide by the decision."
Danziger, who was more or less being restrained by his follow advance team members, finally spoke up. "The committee did not appoint me Uly's guardian. Devon did. So until Devon or Uly himself, ask me to step aside, I will not." Having said that, he stormed from the building. As his fellow travelers had just said, to start a fight was not in Uly's best interest.
Yale, who was also not well thought of by the colonists, spoke. "John Danziger has been caring for Ulysses for over a year. To separate the boy from his man would be cruel to say the least. He has lost his mother, do not take his father-figure from him."
Again, a general murmur went through the crowd. Those who had the Uly's best interest at heart agreed that since the child did seem well cared for and happy with the Danziger family, it would indeed be cruel to tear him away. All agreed that Danziger's care of Ulysses should be carefully monitored.
Harper had not gotten what he wanted, but he wasn't entirely unhappy. True, John Danziger would not be leaving with the colony ship but he had just proven to all that he did not intend to follow committee's rules and/or recommendations. That would be the tool that Harper would use to orchestrate Danziger's down fall.
True and Uly, playing with some of the older siblings of the syndrome children, saw Danziger storm from the building. Concerned, they excused themselves and ran after the mechanic. They finally caught up with him at the beach where he was sitting on the sand looking out at the sea. "Dad, what's wrong?" True asked in an anxious voice.
Danziger, who had not realized the children had followed him, glanced up somewhat startled. He tried to come to terms about the meeting and needed to figure out how to tell Ulysses about it, he knew that Uly would hear about it sooner or later, so it might as well be from him. "Why aren't you kids in school?"
"The teachers wanted to attend the committee meeting so they gave us the afternoon off."
"Nice of them to inform the parents."
"What happened at the meeting?" Uly tentatively asked.
Looking at the boy, Danziger simply stated, "They wanted to discuss your guardianship".
"What do you mean, you're my guardian." Both Uly and True wore identical looks of dismay.
"Dad, Uly's still going to be with us, right?" True had first resented the boy staying with them. She was jealous of him and did not want to share her father. She had quickly got over that. And now the two were as close as siblings. After all, for over two years they only had each other.
"Yeah, I told them that until Devon or Uly stated otherwise, he was my responsibility. That ok with you champ?"
"Yes", the boy flung himself at the older man. "I don't want to stay with anyone else, just you and True."
"OK with you True"
"Sure, think I want to do all the chores myself." True was not about to let Uly know how much she cared.
Her father and Uly both saw through her comment, but decided not to tease.
After spending some time on the beach, the family returned to their home. The home consisted of 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, having at one time been two units. One of the units was a corner unit with 3 bedroom and 2 baths. The second unit was 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. The thought being that while Devon was ill, the Danziger and Adair units would be combined, but when Devon returned, they would become two separate units again. In theory it had been a good idea but now it would be difficult to separate the units. For one thing, the second kitchen had been removed and used in housing that was improvised. The area where the second kitchen once stood was now a big family room where Danziger had built a fireplace with local stone. It was the envy of all the advance team. Danziger supposed that when Devon returned, he and True would take the unit with the fireplace and do their cooking on it; he would figure out the sink, refrigerator, etc, when the time came. Julia had not given up on her quest to cure Devon. With the arrival of the colony ship, it had been lowered on the list of priorities but not forgotten.
The events of the committee meeting really bothered Danziger. The idea that someone thought they could take away one of his kids was unbelievable. He also realized that things in the higher classes were probably done differently then in the lower class. Back on the stations, no paperwork detailing guardianship of True existed should anything happen to him. But it was common knowledge that Les and Alex would raise True as their own should he not live until she was of age. He had spoken to them shortly after True's birth and they had agreed; that was the end of it. Now he realized that for drones it probably didn't matter. Debt followed you where you went and all society seemed to care about was that the family debt was paid off, how that came about was irrelevant. But with Uly, things were different; he had the Adair fortune, although that really didn't matter on G889. Danziger decided not to leave to chance the kids' future. He wanted to ensure that they remained together. He would need Yale, Morgan, Julia and Alonzo. He might as well have the whole of Eden Advance over for a fish fry. He called everyone to invite them and all readily accepted. They didn't want Danziger stewing over Harper's suggestion.
The meal was a jovial, especially considering all that had transpired that day. Since it was still warm, it was held on the deck; which was also equivalent to two decks and Danziger oversaw the cooking of the fish on a make shift grill. Once the meal was over and the kids were off playing, Danziger informed them why he had asked them over.
"Morgan, I need you to draw up some paperwork so that should anything happen to me, the kids will be together with my choice of guardian, not the committee's. Yale, I know that we have an unwritten agreement but given today's events, I need to get it documented."
"I fully understand" the tutor replied.
"I also want something in the document that covers should Devon recover, after I'm gone. Also, what should happen to the kids should Yale and I die at the same time. Julia and Alonzo, would you be willing to take that on? Julia you're the most familiar with Uly's medical history and Alonzo, you're a former playboy. I would rely upon you to carefully monitor my daughter's dates. You would know what to look for."
Alonzo readily agreed. All Julia could do was nod her head. The overwhelming emotion she felt had left her speechless. Two years prior, she had been abandoned for betraying the group. Now she was being asked to care for the most precious things in John Danziger's life, his kids.
Bess looked somewhat hurt that Danziger had not asked her and Morgan to care for the children, after all, she had looked after them many times before. Catching Bess's disappointment, Danziger added, "Morgan, you're the only lawyer I know, I want to make sure that everything is on par. Bess, I hope that you would help Yale, as you have always helped me."
At Bess's nod and a somewhat relieved look, Danziger continued. "The town house would go to both kids. Whichever one marries or starts a family first, gets the 3-bedroom unit. They can figure out how to separate them or whatever else they want to. What else am I missing?"
Morgan mentioned a few other items that should be included and promised to have a document ready in the next few days. Walman and Cameron agreed to sign the finished document as witnesses and the remaining members promised to ensure that Danziger's wishes were carried out.
"Hey, don't worry I am not planning on checking out anytime soon. I just want to be prepared should anything unforeseen happen."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
End of part 1.