Chapter 4: Family

Maya Greene was still in her worn green work jumpsuit as she watered her plants on the rear terrace of her family’s apartment. She paid no attention as Simon entered the apartment, clearly visible through the clear glass doors to the terrace. She was ignorant of the moment when Marina, their youngest daughter leapt up from her place playing holo-games on the living room table to hug Simon and pester him for the newest Space Fighter Game. She gave no thought as Simon scolded their middle child, Natalie, to get off the phone and get ready for dinner; she turned a blind eye as Simon chastised their oldest child, Fisher, for studying his tablets at the dinner table while kicked back on two chair legs. She was preoccupied with the numerous plants surrounding her and the holographic image of a man in a green lab coat projected in front of her.

’We need the finished samples by Tuesday Doctor Greene, the availability of long term sustainable foods is vital to the mission, and missions ahead.’ The stern man on the other end of the holo-call said,’you had three weeks to oversee the cross breeding of Sample 1187 with another biological Sample! I when I ask for results; I expect results, madam!’

Maya smirked as the brusk gentleman in the green lab coat clicked a small handheld device and the visual disappeared; she reached for the automatic watering timer attached to the river of hoses draped across the tops of all her plants and set it to water now, instead of later. She stepped back and watched as water trickled from the nozzles above each gargantuan plant that called the Greene family terrace it’s home.

Still in heated debate with herself, Maya didn’t notice when Simon opened the terrace door waving the bright Blue Envelope towards her. Failing to surprise his wife Simon decided he would hold off the announcement until dinner and tucked away the Envelope into his trouser pocket where he fingered the snuff box Mark had given him earlier. He smirked. With his other hand he reached out and tapped Maya gently on the shoulder.

Maya turned, her frustrations of the day fleeing her mind due to sudden shock of someone else’s presence on the terrace. She turned presently and came to face her husband of nearly twenty years. She smiled and kissed his lips wrapping him in a tight embrace.’Simon, you nearly scared me to death!’ Maya said, her voice quivered with fear.

’Sorry My, I figured you would hear me come out to the patio’ Simon said, as he returned Maya’s affection. ’Looks like you brought work home again’.

’I couldn’t help it, with the expedited mission schedule Doctor Samuels has moved up all of my deadlines’ Maya said despondently as she pulled away from Simon. ’The algae, Sample 1187: Palmaria palmata, is a hearty source of nutrients but it has issues staying bonded with anything we splice it with. It just spoils so quickly’

Maya’s brow furrowed and Simon kissed the wrinkles away. ’How was your day? Did you get the mail’? She ask, curiously ’You set Abbie to only let the last person home get the mail’.

’I did’ Simon said through a grin, his eyes drifting up to the last of the suns beams glinting off the bottom of the dome, which was visible from his apartment, ’let’s get ready for dinner, the kids are waiting’.

Simon put his arm around Maya in warm anticipation and led her into the apartment.

Inside the lofty apartment the children gathered around the dinner table, which was attached by way of a narrow hallway to the room which they knew as a kitchen, but would widely resemble a pantry to most home owners. Natalie and Marina sat to the left of the long white rectangular table situated inside the sleek white walled room, to the right side of the table Fisher sat alone, his post graduate tablets still littered on either side of his empty place setting.

Maya and Simon entered the bright white room and took their seats at the heads of the long white table. Simon, before even fully seated placed his hand on a touchpad next to his empty place setting; an automated voice replied from above.

’Yes, Simon? How can I assist you?’ A soothing ambiguous mechanical voice ask from the nothingness.

’Apartment, parental setting 0-1 override: Substitute all dinner requests for most frequently requested meal. Prep: full dessert course, include special item 2036’ Simon spoke out in loud well articulated words, knowing too well the computer’s disposition for inaccurate translation.

’Excellent sir, items requested will be available shortly. Would you like to run "Spring Meadow" dinner theme?’ the apartment A.I. said expediently.

’What’s with all the hub, bub?’ Maya ask, her eyes fixed on Simon’s wide smile.

’Don’t you know! Don’t you know! Space Fighter Elite came out today! Dad musta got one!’ Marina the youngest Greene blurted out, her excitement nearly rocketing her out of her chair.

’Yeah right, Dad’s not gonna get you more holo-dweebery. It’s gotta have something to do with the letters, didn’t you have a presentation in class about it?’ Natalie said, aggravated her attention was drawn from her holo-phone for even a moment--Dad being weird, will report back--she messaged out on the Nexus: ten-thousand views.

’Right! I remember that speech "don’t hate your friends, everyone is a winner, do your best and earn more points, have a better chance next year!’ Fisher said, looking up from his stack of tablets.

Simon laughed to himself thinking about the false point system and the lottery, wondering if Mark was correct in his assumption as he commanded the apartment computer ’Right, the theme. Thank you, Apartment. Run theme S-P:101, Night.’

’Immediately sir, have a pleasant meal’ the computer said coolly, the voice disappearing while it’s omnipotent watch remaining ever present waiting for any given desire.

The crisp white of the walls and furnishings began to wobble and transform; the once white surfaces gave way to a rich royal purple which were intermittently obstructed by wisps of green cloud that floated steadily across the sky, slowly one by one small white speckles of light began to peek through the rich purple sky. The once white of the table had now been replaced by a brown wooden picnic table situated on top of course blue sand, in the distance the sound of rich red seas could be heard hitting the jagged blue rocks that loomed over the ocean itself.

’This is Proxima!’ The youngest of the family exclaimed.

’Hope it’s the closest we’ll get’ Natalie said snidely as she sent another message out across the Nexus--Dad still being weird, new dinner theme, stay tuned-- A hundred thousand views.

Simon took the Blue Envelope from his pocket and set it on the table in front of him.

Maya gasp; Fisher shut off his tablets.

All eyes fixed on the bright blue envelope.

Simon took his seat and slid the blue envelope on to the middle of the table, the rear flap and the S.U.N. symbol facing up. ’Go ahead, open it’ Simon said, his stomach still in his throat.

Fisher and Marina bound from their chairs and reached out to take hold of the envelope. Both snatched an edge simultaneously, and began pulling at the fragile paper.

Natalie rolled her eyes--Blue envelope, things getting real--she messaged into the Nexus; Ten million views.

’Careful! Just lift the flap!’ Maya cried out, worried that the holo-message inside would be damaged.

Fisher, the more reticent of the two steadied himself and handed over the envelope to his sister, who promptly flipped open the flap of the envelope and laid it out on the table.

The Blue Envelope folded out mechanically on top of the table for all to see, and as it opened a golden light glittered across the room making the Proxima night sky around them all the more beautiful.

’Congratulations! You are among prestigious few that have been selected to become members of the Proxima B settlement crew, 2118!’ The voice of the Council spokeswoman said exuberantly as her holographic image appeared hovering on top of the glittering gold surface of the interior of the envelope.

For the next half hour the holographic councilwoman stood on the table and commended the Greene family on their luck, and briefed the them on the events to come but she went mostly unheard, her first sentence had been more than enough to send everyone into frantic mental speculation. With a flurry of sizzles and whirrs dinner service began as the Greene family sat awestruck in their dining room, a dining room which most were now realizing they would never set foot in again after tomorrow.

From the center of the table, just off to the side from where the councilwoman was speaking a large tower ascended; one by one plates slid out of the bottom of the tower and followed along tracks leading to the intended consumer. In front of Marina a silver plate came to rest, on it two slices of pepperoni pizza large enough to hang over the edges were stacked, she beamed from ear to ear, pizza being her all time favorite. In front of Fisher his shimmering silver plate was heaped high with tight little rolls of sushi and slabs of uncooked tuna; which he consumed with delight, his eyes never leaving the holographic councilwoman. Maya recieved a plate of fish and chips which went widely untouched, her mind wandering to the days to come; her stomach knotted rapidly as she listened to the hologram who was now detailing the processing requirements to come. Simon wasted no time greedily devouring his meal of steak and lobster tails, knowing it would probably be his last chance to have a non-rehydrated meal.

’I don’t want pasta! I haven’t had carbs since I was sixteen!’ Natalie said scornfully as she pushed her plate away and resumed punching the small holo-phone base in her hand--Not sure which is worse, celebratory forced pasta dinner or leaving earth :( -- half a million views.

Her protest went unregarded.

After dinner service concluded and the councilwoman finished her speech the family sat in solemn revelry, the weight of the coming journey beginning to settle in. ’Who’s up for dessert’ Simon said curiously, his eyes affixed to the now inactive envelope on the table.

’Can I be excused? I want to start packing!’ Fisher said excitedly as he pushed himself and his chair away from the table. ’I was gonna ask at if there were any openings on C level, I just finished the field training manuals, but now! Now I need to start studying for Proxima! What kind of work will they have? Should I just bring all my post level tablets? You know what? Never mind’. Fisher pushed his plate towards the center of the table and it began to recede on its own into the empty space on the table which had previously housed the dish-tower. ’So, can I be excused’?

Maya and Simon shared a furtive glance before agreeing to let Fisher attend to his preparations. ’And you girls, do you want dessert?’ Maya said sweetly as she reached across the table, taking the defunct envelope in her hands. ’No! I wanna go play Space Fighter! Can I take it with us? Please, please!’ Marina pleaded as she pushed her plate away.

’Yeah, I’m going to my room. I have to tell all my friends that I’m being kidnapped and shot into space!’ Natalie remonstrated as she shot up from her chair and fled to her room without waiting for permission leaving Marina, Maya and Simon behind in her angst filled wake.

’I should go talk with her’ Maya said, her heart heavy ’She’s gonna have a hard time leaving the Nexus behind’

’Let her be, My. She’s got a lot to work through in only a few days’ Simon said as he leaned back in his chair, still soaking in the artificial night sky dance over head. ’Apartment? Bring up the special selection.’

’Right away, sir’ the computer responded, accompanied by a series of electronic beeps and whirrs from the dinner table, from which a chilled bottle of champagne emerged from the delivery tower in the center of the table along with two crystal flutes.

’Daddy, can I go play? I want to finish the game before we blast off’ Marina said meekly, not wanting to appear as unhinged as her sister.

’Absolutely Rina, go play’ Simon said, as he removed the champagne bottle and glasses from the tower allowing the delivery system to recede into the table. ’Rina, pack all your handhelds and you might have an issue beating your old Space Fighter’ Simon teased playfully.

’I’ve only got like three levels left! I can totally beat it!’ Marina said proudly as she stood up from the table and started towards the living room.

’No, I mean you’re gonna have a hard time because... Apartment?’ ’Yes, Simon’? The Apartment computer said almost placatingly, as if knowing it was to be left behind.

’Order two copies of the new Space Fighter, one on the holo-console and one handheld: begin Nexus download immediately.’ Simon said, a wide grin creeping across his face.

’Really daddy? You’re the best! I love you so much!’ Marina called out as she sprinted to the holo-console on the living room table, forgetting her handheld console on her chair.

’Do you really think that’s the best idea?’ Maya said as she pushed her still filled plate towards the center of the table. ’She needs to pack and get ready, now might not be the time for games. You just like hearing she loves you best’ Maya continued despondently.

Simon chuckled as he popped the champagne cork and poured into the two crystal glasses in front of him; taking the glasses in hand he rose from his seat and walked to his wife of eighteen years seated opposite from him. ’Let her be My, we still need to celebrate; this is the last night in our own apartment.

’What am I going to do about the algae splices? I have deadlines Simon!’ Maya lamented ’I have so much work here yet to do!’

’Not anymore you don’t’ Simon said as he offered a glass to Maya, his eyes shimmering with love and excitement ’All we need to do right now is celebrate’

’Celebrate’ Maya repeated as she took the glass and slowly sipped the eighty two year aged champagne; champagne from when the atmosphere still unspoiled.

The bubbles tickled her nose, she giggled.