Chapter 2: The Nursery.
Gabriel shifted uneasily in his seat while the Hammer made its way toward the last human city. Tunnels of hazy blue shifted past the corners of the windshield at dizzying speed.
"A real trip, isn't it?" asked AK as he entered the cockpit with the rest of the crew. "I remember the first time I saw it, too."
"Just get to your station," Roland ordered.
"Yes, sir." He plopped onto his seat.
"How much longer will it take until we arrive?" the boy questioned.
"I can give you an estimate in just a few seconds." AK punched a number of keys, and a series of symbols appeared on a monitor. "Hmm… According to this readout, we should get there in about--"
"We read you," spoke the gate operator from a speaker. "You are clear to gate two."
Colt and Mauser were in hysterics. The captain let their laughs burn out rather than quieting them himself.
"You couldn't tell me you already made contact, huh?" said AK, lowering his head slightly in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry," said Gabriel. "I shouldn't have asked again."
Soon after, the Hammer landed in the dock, and the crew exited.
"Hurry children," said Mauser, leading the pack. "Don't you all want to meet the other kids?"
"No!" said a girl, tossing a bracelet at him.
"Hey, hey. I said you could keep that only if you didn't throw it at people." The crewman placed it back on her wrist. "It belonged to my mother. I thought it would calm you down."
"Guess you thought wrong," said Colt, bringing up the rear. "Come on folks, let's move!"
"I'll go and get these kids registered," said Roland. "You both will take them over to the nursery."
"Agreed, sir," said the crewmen.
"Oh," said the captain, forgetting. "At ease." He walked away.
The group was led down a corridor into a vast, awe-inspiring space. Looming iron arches held up the walkway that was suspended over the city. The children couldn't help but gasp as they took in all the sights.
"Be it ever so humble," said Colt.
The nursery door opened. "Oh hello," said Cas, welcoming the group. "I wasn't expecting you all so soon."
Gabriel looked around. A group of youths sat on knitted cushions lining the floor. Handmade dolls and other bits of bric-a-brac were placed on low shelves on the far wall.
"Hope we didn't miss Story Time," said Mauser with a smile.
"No, you just made it," she said. "Please, come in."
The newcomers eyed the other children as they took their seats. Mauser leaned against the wall, and Colt felt the sudden urge to leave.
Cas returned to her center cushion. "Before we begin, I'd like our new ones to introduce themselves, starting with..." She pointed at the girl. "How about you?"
She said nothing.
"Come on. You were given a name, weren't you?"
"Her name was Samantha," said the crewman, trying to help.
"Thank you, Mauser. But I would like the children to answer for themselves." She looked back to the girl. "Samantha, is it? Such a pretty name. What's your name, little boy?"
"Gabriel," he said.
"Another pretty name." She continued with the rest of the kids:
"Pablo."
"Sven."
"Christina."
"Eiko."
"See, wasn't that wonderful?" said Cas. She lifted a cloth-bound picture book. "The story I'm going to read to you now is called 'The Little Engine That Could'."
Mauser scoffed. "Couldn't you read one that wasn't conjured up by the machines?" he suggested.
She smiled. "I suppose you're right. Let's try this one." She selected another story. "This is a good one: 'Caterpillar'."
The kids leaned in close as she began to describe the tale of a creature that lived under a desolate sky, with little or no greenery to be found.
Cas continued by telling how the caterpillar journeyed to a light off in the horizon, and how it contended with the harsh climate. She showed them the illustrations.
The children were amazed.
Finally, the story ended with the creation of a cocoon and the birth of a butterfly, flying towards the ominous clouds to freedom.
"That's always been my favorite," said the crewman.
A doll was suddenly thrown across the room.
"Samantha!" yelled Cas. "Why did you do that?"
She said nothing.
"Hold on, now. We can't have children who refuse to speak," she insisted. "I'm just going to have to wait here until you do."
After a while, the girl gave in. "I... I can't make it fly!"
All of the children except the newcomers laughed.
"I'm sorry," said Cas. "You can't do that here."
"Why not?" pouted Samantha.
She tried to explain. "In this world, you can't control everything you see. It just doesn't work that way here."
"Then I want to go back!" she demanded.
"You don't mean that. You're afraid, that's all. Think about the story I just told you: don't you think the caterpillar was scared, too?"
She nodded.
"But wasn't he better off as a butterfly?"
The girl thought about this. "I.. I don't know."
"Oh, I think you do. Change is something we all go through. It's rough, I know. But it's always part of a greater plan."
Mauser looked at Cas with concern.
"We just don't realize it yet," she concluded.
Moments later, the captain returned with AK and Colt. "All right," said Roland. "Did we all get to know each other?"
"Yes," said Gabriel and the rest.
"You all must be hungry," said AK. "The cafeteria is ready, if you like to eat."
The group got up and followed the three out of the nursery, leaving the two who were left to discuss.