Just doing my job

“Now remember to try and be polite to everyone.” I looked at Ren as the monorail started to decelerate, “We’re here as Kay’s guests, and we don’t want to embarrass her.”

“I am always polite.” Ren smirked, “It’s not my fault not everyone understands my sense of humour.”

I sighed, giving up.

Almost a year had passed since we began our self-imposed exile on Luna, turning our backs on Earth. Kay and Simon had spent most of the time drumming up support for their planed Mars mission, getting to the point where a ship had been built that could carry enough people and supplies to set up a permanent research station. Kay had jumped at the chance to lead the first mission, even if it meant taking her daughter, Diana, with her.

The tabloid press had been all over Kay the moment she went public with her pregnancy, and showed no signs of letting off now. There were hundreds of theories as to who was Diana’s father, but Kay refused to comment. And when Kay decides to keep a secret, it’s kept.

Sidney Pierce had gone to work for Simon, acting as his personal assistant and sectary. We all knew she hated the job, but it kept her busy and active while her back healed.

Ren and I had gotten jobs as guards at the Dark Side Cryo Prison. It had been easy for Ren to pass the mandatory background checks: after all, Sophie Wren had no criminal record, and the authorities had never used her real name. As long as those of us who knew her were careful to call her Sophie in public, no one was any the wiser.

“I look like a whale.” Ren protested as the monorail came to a stop, “Why did I let you convince me to come here tonight?”

“First off, you’re only just beginning to show.” I put my arm around her as the airlock opened, and we stepped out into the hallway beyond, “And as if I remember correctly, you spent all of last Saturday shopping for that dress.”

“That I’m not going to be able to ware again for months because of what you’ve done to me.”

“It was your idea that we start a family.” I smiled as we approached the door at the end, “Now play nice.”

The door hissed open, revealing a huge room, covered with a transparent ceiling that showed a near full Earth hung far above the Luna horizon. The room was full of people, talking, drinking and dancing.

Simon and Sid stood to one side, deep in conversation with some officials.

Kay was sat at a table with Diana on her lap, so we walked over to her.

“Why hello, Mr and Mrs Drake.” She smiled when she saw us approach, “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Sophie insisted.” I smirked at Ren’s reaction, “And it would be rude not to say goodbye.”

“Not goodbye, merely bon voyage.” Kay smiled, holding her young daughter tightly, “And I have this little one to keep my company.”

“You know that a lot of people think that it is reckless, taking a baby with you.” Ren caught a waitress’ eye and grabbed a fruit juice from her tray, “It’s not something I’d consider.”

“Call me paranoid, but I’d rather have Diana with me so I can keep an eye on her.” Kay smiled, “Anyway, there are three more ships set to depart this year alone: it won’t be long before we have a proper colony set up.”

“You really think it will work?” I asked, slightly sceptical.

“I have faith.” Kay handed Diana to me, “Hold her for me while I make this stupid speech, will you?”

“No problem.” I accepted the baby, “I need the practise.”

The room fell silent as the spotlight above the podium set against one wall came on. Simon strode up to it, looking out at the assembled crowd.

“Friends, colleges, honoured guests, welcome. Tonight sees the start of perhaps the most ambitious task ever undertaken in recorded history. For the first time, we will travel beyond the protection of Earth, and out into interplanetary space. There are those who ask if what we do is worth the cost, when there is so much that needs doing on Earth. Whenever asked that, I reply with the words of Konstantin Tsiokovsky: Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot stay in the cradle forever.”

“It is human nature to explore, to look beyond that which we know. Less than a hundred years ago, the prospect of standing here, in a city built on Luna, would have been considered pure fantasy. But we have never backed away from a challenge, always willing to push ourselves and our technology to the limit.”

“Space is open to us, all we have to do is muster the will to leave the cradle.” Simon stood down.

“Thank you for those inspirational words, Simon.” Kay smiled as she took the podium, “In a few short hours, I will be giving the orders that will move the Ares out of orbit and onto a flight path that will see us on Mars within a month. Once there, we shall start work on the first colony built outside of the Earth/Luna system. It is our hope that we can return Mars to the paradise it may once have been.”

The room echoed as everyone cheered.

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The party continued until it was time for Kay and her crew to make their way up to the massive, yet somehow beautiful structure that was mankind’s first attempt to bridge interplanetary space.

The Ares had been built in orbit above Armstrong City, growing day by day until it resembled a glittering piece of exquisite jewellery. Many poets and artist had attempted to capture its essence, but nothing could compare to its full glory.

For the first time in a very long time, it was obvious that a machine had a soul.

“And it is here that we must part.” Kay smiled as she stood just outside the airlock, “If the two of you ever grow tired of life here, there will be a place for you on Mars.”

“You have my gratitude for the offer, but I still need to work out where I belong.” I kissed her on the cheek, “I bid you fair winds, calm seas and clear horizons.”

“And I bid the two of you a long, happy life together.” Kay and Ren exchanged hugs, “And don’t worry: Earth is big and nasty enough to take care of itself. You just concentrate on being happy.”

“There is just one thing I have to know before you go.” Ren smiled coyly, “Who is Diana’s father?”

“Yes, the $64,000 question.” Kay laughed, “I suppose that the two of you deserve to know that.” She handed Diana to me, “Nathan, your daughter.”

I stood there, shocked, looking first at Kay, than at Diana.

“Simon owes me a hundred Euros.” Ren looked amused, “How’d you do it? I know for a fact that the two of you have only had sex once, and that was years ago.”

“Nathan is, among other things, impervious to needles. So when I needed a DNA sample to run all those tests on back in Tibet, he had to provide a sample another way.” Key grinned as she saw me blush, “From there it was just a question of artificial insemination. I always said I wanted children, and Nathan is as good a choice as any to be the father.”

“There I have to agree.” Ren rested her hands on the slight bump that was just visible under her dress, “I suppose I should be angry, but I trust Nathan when he said he had no idea who the father was.”

“I should have asked, but I know he would have done something stupid like ask me to marry him if he knew the truth.” Kay took Diana back, “Don’t worry: I’ll send you lots of photos.”

“Just be careful, ok?” I finally found my voice, “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

“You know me Nathan; always careful.” Kay smiled, “Now I really have to go.”

“Good luck.” I kissed Diana on the forehead, “You look after your mother; she needs watching, all the time.”

“Safe journey.” Ren took my arm as Kay stepped back into the airlock connected to the shuttle that would take her up to the Ares.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ren and I stood at an otherwise deserted observation window and watched as the massive solar sails that would power the Ares unfurled like the wings of some bizarre and beautiful insect. Light glittered on their surface as the reactor started to charge up the Gravimetric engines.

Glowing slight, lit by brilliant internal and external lights, the Ares started to move away from Luna and Earth as gently as a cloud. We stood in silence until it was lost against the blackness of space.

The bright point that was distant Mars hung just above the horizon, easy obscured by the end of a finger.

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.” Ren smiled, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, “It’s a strange new world our children will inherit.”

“Well be there to guide them.” I kissed her on the top of the head, “Come on; let’s go home.”

The End

My thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed: this has been an interesting journey.