Part 5
"This quicksand is the most fertile soil I've ever tested," Will told Penny as he looked in his microscope.
"What about the rocks?" Penny asked. "Any useful properties?"
"Similar to coal on earth, but there are no pollutants. It burns clean."
"And these samples are just a short walk from here. Who knows what else we'll find?"
"What about the flowers?" Maureen asked as she joined her children.
"She hasn't even looked at them, Mom. They're still sitting in a vase of water in her room," Will complained.
"Can't you let me enjoy them for a little while?" Penny asked.
"I'm afraid that, uh, we might not have much more time, Penny," Maureen told her. "We're receiving a return message from Alpha Control. Your father asked me to get the family together. Do you know where Judy and Don are?"
"I'll get them. They went to the med bay for some, um, supplies," Penny told her mother."
"Supplies?" Maureen repeated. Penny blushed and didn't reply. "Oh, I see."
"They're a couple again, Mom. You can't expect them to live apart forever," Will told her.
Maureen gazed upon her children. When had they grown so… worldly?
John paced while he waited for his family to gather in Colonel Bryce's office. "Whatever the message is, Tom, I'm afraid it's going to separate my family."
"Professor, separation was probably inevitable," Tom replied.
John turned as Maureen entered. "Will is right behind me," she said as she took her husbands arm.
Will did not follow his mother into the building. He knew his father was prepared to follow whatever orders he received from Washington, but Will was determined to find a way to stay behind. He had spent his formative years traveling through space and could not bear to think of returning to an Earth bound way of life.
Will looked across the way and saw Don and Judy, hand-in-hand, walking towards the command center with Penny, but something was different. It took him a moment to realize what it was. The family had worn similar colored clothing that his mother had sewn for them for six years. Today, Don wore the same fatigues that his military brethren wore on the base. He realized that things were already changing.
Penny spotted Will standing at the door and waved. She bounced up the steps to join him and asked, "Has Jim brought the message yet?"
"How do you know he'll be the one to bring it?" Will asked.
Penny smiled sweetly, but didn't reply. She entered the main door and strolled down the hallway to Tom's office, but as she turned the corner, she literally ran into Lieutenant Jim Conway.
"Hello, Penny," Jim said as he was greeted by her angelic smile, cute dimples and big brown eyes. Her long hair was braided and hung down her back. He had spent a short time talking with her when he had brought her the flowers and was impressed by her intelligence. Judy was mesmerizing, almost ethereal, but Penny was real, grounded, as comfortable on a foreign planet as she had probably been on Earth – maybe more so. He knew she would be turning eighteen in a few days, and he hoped he would be allowed to help her celebrate.
As Penny and Jim entered the room, Maureen and John did not miss the slight flush of Penny's face, and the admiring gaze of Lieutenant Conway on their daughter. They suspected that they were about to lose Judy, but now realized that Penny might not be far behind.
Will entered the room, sullen and withdrawn, but Judy was beside him, a hand on his shoulder in support. Of all of their children, Will was the child that John and Maureen were most concerned about at this time. Don was last to enter, looking more the soldier than he had in a long, long time.
Once the salutes were out of the way, Lieutenant Conway handed the message to Colonel Bryce and turned to leave. Penny looked to her father and asked, "Can Jim stay, Dad?"
John looked to his wife who nodded. "All right, Penny."
Don cleared his throat and looked to Judy before speaking. She grasped his hand and he turned to the rest of the family. "Um, before we read the message, there's, uh, something I need to ask you all."
All eyes turned expectantly on him. "John, Maureen, you've already accepted me like a son, but, um, I'd still like to ask your permission… to marry Judy."
John didn't need to look to Maureen before he answered. "You had my permission years ago."
"And mine," Maureen added. "When would you like to do this?"
Don looked at Judy and raised his eyebrows. "How about here and now?" he suggested. She wrapped her arm around his and nodded vigorously. Then he turned to John and asked, "Professor?"
"Before we read the message?" Maureen asked.
"Especially before we read the message, Mother," Judy responded.
Tears stung John's eyes and he blinked them away. "I'd be honored," he said.
Tom Bryce smiled as Penny gave an enthusiastic hug to both Don and her sister. He reached under his desk and brought out two small bouquets of flowers. "Uh, Don clued me in," he said as he handed one to Judy. "Compliments of Lieutenant Conway," he added as he split the other between Penny and Maureen.
The family gathered round for the impromptu ceremony and John kept it simple. "These two hearts were joined many years ago and have survived more crises in six years than any couple would face in a lifetime. Don, Judy, do you promise to love, honor, cherish and support each other for as long as you both shall live?"
Judy and Don faced each other. Don took Judy's right hand in his and they both simultaneously replied, "I do."
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Don placed a hand on Judy's cheek and he stared into the blue depths of her eyes. They had waited so long for this moment. Judy's arms wrapped around his neck, she pressed her lips to his, and the world around them melted away.
Lieutenant Conway started to applaud, and the rest of the family followed suit, but neither Judy nor Don seemed to hear it. Finally, Colonel Bryce spoke up, "Major?" Don pulled away from Judy and looked at his friend. "We have a message to read," Tom reminded him.
Tom unfolded the message and glanced at it before handing it to John. "It's from General Bowers, Professor," Tom told him.
John took the paper from Tom and read aloud, "John, I knew. I knew that you and Major West would find a way to complete the mission. There weren't many of us who believed you had survived, but when we chose your family and Major West, we chose the best."
Judy and Don stood in each others' arms and she looked up at him at those words and whispered, "You were the best."
John continued reading, "You know by now that colonization has been abandoned – at least by our government. I have not given up that dream, John. The government wants me to order you home, but I can't, in good conscience, do that. I am, therefore, leaving the decision in your hands. If you and your family feel you can make a home on Alpha Centauri, you have my blessing."
Will couldn't believe his ears. "Yes!" he shouted. "We can stay! Can you believe that? We can stay!" he exclaimed to his parents. Maureen turned to her husband and tears fell from her eyes. She was not as enthusiastic as Will, for she wasn't convinced that the planet could be tamed… or that it even should be.
John looked at his son-in-law and daughter and said, "There's more." He cleared his throat and read, "Major West, however, is still a member of the military and has been ordered to return the Jupiter 2 to Earth for display in the Smithsonian as a testament to the fortitude of mankind. I am sure he displayed both courage and ingenuity in seeing this mission to a conclusion and he will be allowed to choose any commission he desires as a reward. Dr. Zachary Smith must be returned to Earth for trial. Evidence that he, indeed, was the saboteur of the Jupiter 2 is overwhelming. Major West is ordered to bring Dr. Smith with him."
Don's face fell. "I have to take Smith with me? The only way I'll take him is if we freeze him!"
"John?" Maureen asked. "Maybe we should all go back?"
"No!" Will exclaimed.
Penny glanced at Jim who was standing behind her. "I'm not sure I want to go back, either."
John held up his hand for silence and continued. "You have time to make your decision. Major West is expected to depart from Alpha Centauri on October 17th, six years to the day that you departed Earth. Your decision is needed by September 15th. Do what is best for your family, John. General Frank Bowers."
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To be continued...