LIS Series End Challenge

Forces of Nature

Part 8

Once the success of the Jupiter 2 mission was publicized, there was increased pressure from the public to re-establish the colonization program. The alien attacks had subsided, but no one believed that the activity had ceased. General Bowers felt that the time was ripe to take advantage of the change in the climate, and he rallied as much support for colonization as he could. Having the Jupiter 2 back on Earth would be a powerful symbol for colonization, but he had no intention of surrendering the ship to the Smithsonian. He was sure that the ship could be outfitted to transport more people beyond the confines of the Earth's atmosphere. Knowing Major West as well as he did, he sent a personal message to him that stated such through the string of military outposts that led to Alpha Centauri.

The moon base was a flurry of activity. Lieutenant Colonel Red Miles had received the message to be transmitted to his friend, Major West. He smiled when he read it. Major West would be coming his way, and he looked forward to seeing him again.

Penny's eighteenth birthday party was in full swing. No silly party hats were worn, punch was not served, and broken toys were not given as gifts. Instead, Lieutenant Conway helped to plan the sweet sixteen birthday party that Penny had never had. The afternoon consisted of a showing of the movie Titanic followed by dinner and dancing to the popular music of the 1990's.

Jim Conway pulled Don aside at one point during the night and asked for some advice. "Penny might be, um, kind of, um, expecting something more tonight," he told Don.

Don lifted his eyebrows. "What do you mean 'something more'?"

"I think that she might want to… you know…"

Don frowned. This was his sister-in-law Jim was talking about. "Look, you're in the same position I was in, and I never took advantage of Judy."

"I wouldn't do that! But what do I do if she wants it?"

"You tell her that you'll have to answer to me." Don folded his arms and stared at him a moment longer, and added, "Because you will."

Lieutenant Conway swallowed and replied, "Yes, sir."

Don felt for him because he had been in a similar position years ago. "I'm not saying you have to wait for six years like Judy and I did, but you've only known her for what, a week?"

He nodded.

"That's reason enough to ask her to wait."

Judy and Penny happened to walk up to the men at that very moment. Judy wrapped her hand around her husband's arm. "And what are you two talking about?"

Don glanced at Penny and said, "Oh, just playing the part of the big brother."

Penny blushed. "And Judy just played big sister to me. Don't worry. I wasn't planning on passing any… milestones… tonight."

Jim smiled, relief written across his face. "Good, because I want to stay in your father's," he glanced at Don, "and brother-in-law's good graces."

She grabbed Jim's hand and said in a teasing tone, "But… someday…"

John and Maureen watched their children from across the room. They could tell from their interactions that the children were talking about something of significance. "Do you think they're planning something, Maureen?" John asked her.

"I hope not," Maureen responded as she saw Penny take Jim's hand and then lead him outside for a moonlit walk.

Judy took Don's hand and led him to her parents. "We're ready to leave," Judy told them.

"What, um, what were you talking to Penny and Jim about?" John asked.

"Don't worry, John. I set him straight," Don replied.

"Hm…" John wasn't used to having his role usurped by someone else.

"You, know… as an older brother…" Don added.

"Oh, I see," John wasn't sure what to say, but finally replied. "Thank you. Before you leave, have you and Judy thought about what you're going to do?"

Don sighed. "I have my orders, John, but I'm not happy about them."

"Judy?"

"I go where Don goes, Dad. What have you and Mom decided?"

"We haven't. I'd like to have a family meeting tomorrow morning on the Jupiter at oh-eight-hundred. Can you both attend?"

"We'll be there," Don told him.

As Jim led Penny to what had become "their spot" on the base, he asked, "So, what milestone were you talking about back there?"

"Oh, you know…"

"No, I don't know. Tell me," he teased.

They settled against a rock near the perimeter of the base. She leaned against him and turned her face towards his. "I'll tell you when it's time," she said.

He grinned. He thought the anticipation might almost be as good as the real thing, and he dipped his head and kissed her. "Happy birthday," he whispered, and then he kissed her again.

The nights were too short, as far as Judy was concerned. She and Don lay in bed together and Judy glanced at the clock. They would have to be at the Jupiter in six hours, and she was no where near being ready to fall asleep. "Don?"

"Hm?" he asked as he stroked her arm.

"Do you think Penny and Jim will wait?"

Don chuckled. "I don't think either one of them will have the patience we had."

"I don't think anyone does!" Judy exclaimed.

"Was it worth the wait?" he asked her.

"Well…"

"Well? You mean I have to prove it to you all over again?" Judy smiled and slowly brought her lips to his. When they came up for air, Don commented, "You know, at the rate we're going, we're going to need to pick up a few more, um, supplies."

"Pick up lots more," Judy told him.

Twenty minutes later, Don rolled onto his back. His face paled and he swallowed. "Uh, Judy, we have a problem." He held up one of their 'supplies' and said, "It broke."

Maureen was in her glory. The coffee pot was full and breakfast was on the table. She would have her family together again. Will was the first one to the table, but Penny, although she was groggy from lack of sleep, wasn't far behind.

"And what time did you get in, young lady?" John asked Penny.

As she poured herself a cup of coffee, Judy and Don strolled in, hand in hand. Penny cocked her head. They looked different somehow – almost sheepish – and she wondered what was up with them. 'Good mornings' were passed around as Maureen poured coffee for the newcomers.

"Well, Penny?" John asked.

"I really don't know, Dad. It was late," Penny responded.

"I heard her come in at about twelve thirty," Will told his father. "But, Dad, we really need to talk about whether or not we're going back to Earth." Penny shot Will an appreciative look, grateful that he changed the course of the conversation.

John conceded. "You're right, Will. I called this family meeting so we could talk about what we are going to do. We have the option of staying here or returning to Earth with Don."

"I want to stay," Will told his father. "This is what I've lived my whole life for. I'm not going to give it up now."

"I want to stay, too," Penny echoed. "We're not alone here and there is so much we've already learned about the planet, and we've only been here for a week."

Maureen was getting feelings of déjà vu. She remembered when Judy had decided to stay behind until she became enamored with a certain pilot. "What happens if the military base is disbanded, and Lieutenant Conway is sent back home? Would you still want to stay then?"

Penny didn't answer immediately. She knew that having Jim with her had made the stay on Alpha Centauri not only tolerable, but pleasurable. "I don't know, Mom. I would cross that bridge when it happens. Right now, I know that I want to stay and learn more about the plants and animals here."

"This planet isn't the peaceful habitat we expected it to be," Maureen said.

"That's not true, Mom," Will told her. "Penny's already calmed one of the creatures we encountered. If we learn to work with the animals and the environment, like the Indians did, we might not have any problems."

"Will's right," Don said. "The military base was something of an invasion on the ecosystem here. The military didn't have the luxury of learning about the environment before setting up. If you respect the system, you might be able to live in harmony with nature."

"But we don't know enough about the forces of nature here," Maureen argued. She turned to her husband. "John? You've been quiet. What are you thinking?"

John looked deeply into his wife's eyes. "This is what we trained to do. Colonize the Alpha Centauri system."

"And we spent six years of our lives getting here, mother. How can you just turn around and go back?" Judy asked.

"How can you?"

"I have no choice," Judy said.

"Now, wait a minute, Judy," Don told her. "If you don't want to go back…"

"Don, I want to be where you are. I just don't want to have to wait another five to ten years to have children."

Don blushed. "Well, after last night…" John and Maureen both raised their eyebrows in unison. "We, uh, had a little bit of an accident," Don added.

"That probably won't lead to anything," Judy said. "Mother, if I was in your position, I would stay as long as I could. You're as much a scientist as Dad is. You can't tell me that you aren't curious about the life here."

"Oh, I am. I'm just not sure I want to spend the rest of my life in a place where no more families will be joining us," Maureen replied. That statement silenced the meeting. The children had forgotten that colonization had been abandoned. "Think about it. This military base is not permanent."

"Can we vote to stay as long as the base is here?" Penny asked.

"We might not have a means to get back to Earth with the Jupiter gone," Maureen told her.

"Maybe we can keep it here," John suggested.

"You mean, not follow my orders?" Don asked.

"No, John, we can't let Don go against his orders," Maureen said.

"I have to admit that I don't like the idea of bringing the Jupiter back to be placed in a museum," Don said.

"It's not like they can do much to you, if you don't follow your orders," Will told him.

"They put Dr. Smith in prison," Judy told them.

"Colonel Bryce would never put Don in prison," Penny said.

"Look, regardless of what I decide to do, I do know that Tom would never leave you here stranded," Don assured them.

Tom sat in his office, wondering about the outcome of the family meeting. He did not agree with Don that the Jupiter should not be put in a museum. He realized that Don, having lived as he had the last six years, might not understand the importance of the Jupiter's symbolism. To Don, the Jupiter was just another vehicle, not ready to be retired from service. To anyone else who hadn't traveled those vast distances, the Jupiter was like the Model T Ford and needed to be preserved. Tom was sure that, by the time the Jupiter returned to Earth, technology would have far surpassed anything already built into the ship.

There was a knock on his door. Lieutenant Conway stood at attention. "A private message for Major West has been sent, sir," Jim told him.

"Well, then, let's get it to him."

"But, uh, they're having their family meeting, sir."

"Yeah, and my guess is that you're a little bit curious about what the outcome is."

"Yes, sir."

"Then, let's go."

The family had no more to discuss about their situation. "I believe we're ready to take a vote," John told his family.

"Dad, I don't think Don and I should vote since he's already been ordered back," Judy told him.

John nodded and said, "Those who want to remain on the planet raise your hands." Will and Penny immediately raised their hands.

Don then hesitantly raised his. Judy looked at him in confusion. "I know we weren't supposed to vote, but the question was who wants to remain here."

Judy's hand shot up. "I want to be where you want to be."

John then slowly put his hand up as he stared into his wife's eyes.

Maureen cleared her throat, looked away from her husband, and then said, "It appears that I have been outvoted."

As Tom and Jim walked to the Jupiter, Tom asked, "So, Lieutenant, how did your stroll go with Penny last night?"

"Oh, um, just fine, sir," Jim replied.

"You know, she is a lovely, intelligent, sensitive young lady."

Jim knew what was coming. "Yes, sir, and I would never take advantage of her, sir."

"Good because if you do…"

"I understand, sir," Jim said. As he walked up the ramp to the ship behind his superior officer, he rolled his eyes. Penny had more protection than the president of the United States.

"Anybody home?" Tom called from the hatch. There was no one on the upper deck. He and the lieutenant chose to descend on the elevator, hoping they wouldn't be entering during a sensitive part of their discussion. "I'm sorry to interrupt," Tom told them, "but a private message came in for Don." He nodded to Jim, who saluted the major and handed him the message.

Don opened the paper and read, "It's from General Bowers:

Major West,

Knowing you as I do, I'm sure the thought of retiring your ship, the Jupiter 2, to a museum, must be sticking in your craw. Knowledge that your mission has been a success has started to swing the pendulum back towards colonization, and I want to keep it swinging in that direction. My hope is to have the ship overhauled, just as we do our destroyers, so that it may be used to take another family to Alpha Centauri. Your landing has convinced the powers that be that colonization is a viable option. Now it's a matter of convincing them of the need for an escape destination should the alien attacks recur. While you are waiting for the ship to be modernized, you will be in the best position to convince the political powers that Alpha Centauri is that destination. I hope this makes your return trip to Earth somewhat more tolerable.

General Frank Bowers."

Don looked at Judy and said, "We're going back to Earth."

to be continued...