The Beginnings, Part 2
by Stephanie Ladd
---Approximately ten months later---
Devon Adair was directing the last of the decorations in the large meeting hall that she had acquired for the reception.
It had been confirmed that they would be leaving in exactly ten days. They would be granted level six clearance on the tenth day and depart the Stations on a course for their new home. She had spent the majority of the day directing the decorators and caterers on exactly what she wanted and where. She had hundreds of people coming and she wanted a good send off for the Eden Project.
The crew of the Advance and Colony ships were coming and most of the Syndrome families would make an appearance. Other families were forced to spend this festive evening in the hospital ward with their ill children. Devon marveled at how many families she had gotten to come - two hundred and forty-eight families in all. The Advance ship would arrive approximately two years before the Colony ship. This time would be used to construct the hospital and surrounding colony. The children were going to still be sick but the hope that they would recover in the years to come brought the hope for humanity. Certainly the families of the Syndrome children could live normal healthy lives on the new planet. Devon's mind was racing and she pulled herself out of her thoughts to concentrate on the reception.
***
Later that evening in Devon's personal quarters she was worried that Uly was not going to be up to the reception. This week had been very exciting and Uly had over worked himself again. "Are you sure you're not too tired, Uly?" concern on her face.
"Mom, I'm fine," Uly managed a weak smile.
"Okay, but you're staying at the table and you are not moving a muscle," she said flatly. Uly knew he could not argue this with his mother.
"Thanks, Mom," Uly's face brightened into a smile, "let's go already."
"We should go, Devon they are waiting for us," Yale added in a diplomatic tone.
Giving the old cyborg a defeated look she smiled. Devon took her spot behind her son and began to push his wheelchair. Yale walked next to her escorting her to the reception. She was wearing a fine black dress with matching black heels.
The dress was a nice fit that hugged her body. The dress was ankle length with a slit that ran from the bottom to her left knee. She had her auburn hair up in a bun that was low on her head. This was a formal reception and she chose to wear her dangling earrings and matching necklace. Yale had on a standard white jacket tuxedo with black slacks; this was a mirror of Uly's attire.
***
A tall man held the hand of a young girl with blonde hair. They walked down the corridor in the direction of the meeting hall that held Devon Adair's reception.
True Danziger, a very stubborn young girl, pulled free from her father's grip and said fuming, "Why do we have to go to this stupid reception anyway?" She tugged at the dress she wore, feeling very uncomfortable.
"True-girl, we've already been over this, now come on," John said with a slight smile. He continued, "There will be other kids there for you to talk to, and free food." He knew that the last part would clutch it for his daughter.
True smiled, "Okay, Dad, let's go!"
John gave his independent daughter a smile and retook her hand as they continued down the corridor.
They reached the doors that opened to reveal the reception's fancy decorations. There was a large table that contained the banquet food, and to the left was the bar where hundreds of strange people stood talking. True spotted the table with the food and took off quickly in that direction. John Danziger took a deep breath and slowly looked around for some familiar faces in the strange crowd. Spying his friends Wentworth and Firestein he made his way to them.
***
Dr. Julia Heller entered the meeting hall in her only real gown (the purple one that she wore to every formal affair). She was simple and did not regard clothing as a priority. She wore a shawl over her bare shoulders and her jewelry was simple; a pair of earrings that had a medium dangle length and a necklace. On her fingers were her favorite rings. She walked over to the cloak room and registered her shawl and bag.
She then walked over to the complimentary bar and ordered a drink. She had not come with anyone and expected the evening to be rather boring. She was there at her mother's request, and Dr. Vasquez had also insisted she meet some of the people she was going to be living with at the colony in New Pacifica. New Pacifica was the region where Devon had decided to set up the colony. Julia, being the shy and reserved type, was waiting until someone approached her to talk. She noticed the food banquet and headed over to get some food before returning to her chosen spot for the night.
***
"Would you like something to drink, Hannah?" Alonzo Solace said to his date as he spotted the bar, "I could use a little something."
"Oh, no thank you, but you go ahead. I want to talk to someone over there," Hannah gestured to the far corner of the room. Alonzo glanced over to where she was motioning and noticed a couple talking. He guessed that they worked with her and smiled as he left in search of the bar.
***
Devon was making her rounds throughout the room, she had decided to say hello to every person in the room. She periodically came back to her table to check on Uly and Yale. They were seemingly having a good time, and Uly had felt better when he saw other children wandering about. Of course, none of them came over to talk to him, but the knowledge that there were other kids there helped him feel better. These kids had not avoided him because he had the Syndrome. No, they knew how it worked and lived with siblings who had it. They avoid him because he was Devon Adair's son.
***
Julia poked at the food on her little plate and sipped her second glass of wine. She was lost in thought, which was why she jumped a little when she heard a male voice beside her.
"I'll have what she's having," Alonzo Solace gestured to Julia with a smile, "I guess the food isn't that good, huh?"
Julia looked up and returned his smile, "It's okay, I'm just not that hungry," She looked him over and cocked an eyebrow.
"You'd think they could spring for the good stuff. Especially for Ms. Adair," he said with a waving motion in Devon's direction. He turned his head back to the woman he was talking to and noticed that she was looking him over, "My name is Alonzo Solace, what's yours?"
"My name is Dr. Julia Heller. I am one of the physicians on the Eden Project," she said evenly and could not shake the feeling that she had seen him before. She quickly dismissed the feeling as a probable patient who had come into the hospital for treatment of some kind. He was wearing a nice black tuxedo and it looked good on him.
"Really? Will you be on the Advance ship or the Colony ship?" Alonzo asked purely for reasons he wished to hide from her. He hoped that his interest in her did not show on his face. He remembered this woman from yesterday's collison.
"I will be accompaning Dr. Vasquez on the Advance ship," Julia stated matter-of-factly and gave him a curious look, wondering why he had asked.
"Well, Dr. Heller meet your pilot for the Advance ship," Alonzo broke into his trademark cocky tone and pulled a hand in towards himself.
A voice cut in, "Dr. Heller, please come over here, I would like you to meet someone." It was Dr. Vasquez's familiar voice. Julia was glad to be interrupted and smiled to Alonzo as she left to see who Dr. Vasquez was referring to.
***
Morgan Martin gave his wife a turn as she murmured, "I love to go to these receptions. They treat you like royalty and it's free."
Morgan gave his simple wife a look and noticed that Devon Adair was approaching them. "Hello, Ms. Adair very nice reception. I would like you to meet my wife, Bess Martin."
"Howdy, there Ms. Adair. May I say you look beautiful," Bess had a bright smile.
"Well, thank you Mrs. Martin," Devon said calmly.
"Please, its Bess," she corrected.
"Okay, Bess. Are you enjoying the evening?" Devon asked with a mechanical tone but the Martins were unaware of it.
"Oh, yes very much, thank you," she said happily.
As Devon walked away from the happy couple she took a look around. She was very pleased with how the evening was going. Everyone was having a good time and the success of the reception was a good omen for the mission ahead.
---The Night Before Launch---
"I am going over to the Colony ship for one more check on the children. I'll be back in a couple of hours," Dr. Vasquez stated.
"Is that wise, sir. Devon has instructed us to board for departure," Julia's concern was evident in her voice.
"I will be back well before departure, Dr. Heller," he stated as he started to turn.
Julia looked at the doctor. She had seen this determination in his eyes countless times. Julia watched as he headed off to the airlock, then returned to preparing her medical supplies in the storage cabinet.
***
Alonzo Solace was finishing the pre-flight check on the Advance ship when Commander Broderick O'Neill leaned over and asked "How are things coming along, Ace?"
"The Advance ship checks out at 100 percent and the Colony ship is conducting their pre-flight check," Alonzo gave the Commander a smirk.
"Good, let's conduct a Station wide band check," O'Neill said with apprehension in his voice. He had a feeling that something was wrong. Things were going too well the last day and he suspected something was up. Years of experience had taught him to be wary of 'perfect' situations.
"Aye, sir," Alonzo wondered why he wanted to check the band waves of the local satellites but his job was not to wonder, it was to do as he was told.
***
Devon had finally gotten a chance away from the bridge of the ship to go tuck her son in for the night. His last night on the stations. In the morning they were scheduled to get level six clearance and depart from the metal worlds forever. She walked casually to the quarters that she shared with her son and Yale. It was small but she did not mind it because they would soon be sleeping their twenty-two light year journey away to planet G889. Devon entered the room and watched her son talking about running on the planet. She smiled. Just then her son saw her and started questioning her about monsters on the planet as she entered the room.
---The End---
Author's Chapter Notes:
Hello Edenites!
Hears the rest of my story! Again enjoy and please send me feedback!!!!! :)
*Previous disclaimers apply.
Hears the rest of my story! Again enjoy and please send me feedback!!!!! :)
*Previous disclaimers apply.
Chapter End Notes:
Concluding notes:
From this point on the story flows into the pilot episode of Earth 2. I hope you have enjoyed my fan fiction.
Stephearth
===
Devoted J/Aer and Rookie Chatter!
Proud Heller's Angel
Closet D/Der!
Devoted to ASJr and newest member of ASJr mail list! "That's according to Flyboy here's translation." - Morgan Martin, whining in 'Promises, Promises'
From this point on the story flows into the pilot episode of Earth 2. I hope you have enjoyed my fan fiction.
Stephearth
===
Devoted J/Aer and Rookie Chatter!
Proud Heller's Angel
Closet D/Der!
Devoted to ASJr and newest member of ASJr mail list! "That's according to Flyboy here's translation." - Morgan Martin, whining in 'Promises, Promises'