* * *
They gather at a safe distance from the massive door. The commander takes a few hesitant steps towards the door, then freezes as a scanning beam targets him with a full body scan.
“My apologies commander,” says a voice that comes from all around them, instead of a single source. This is a pleasant voice of an old man; the voice of a loving and protective grandfather. It is the voice of a grandfather who loves to tell stories of long-ago in front of a low-burning fire. Lara often wished she had such a grandfather.
“Please bear with me as I complete this security scan. I must be sure that you don’t carry any surprises onto the Command Bridge. I hope you understand.”
The commander remains silent, unnerved by this unexpected welcome. Without warning, separate beams each find the others, who stand in a semi-circle several paces behind the commander. Lara is surprised she feels nothing, and that she can’t see the source of the beams. This technology far exceeds any technology she or the others know. Just as Lara finishes this thought, the beams blink out. The heavy door parts in the middle and slides open, and not a sound is made.
“Commander and your party; please enter,” says the voice. “Party?” thinks Lara, searching her memory, and the only image that comes to mind was something from the historical archives called a birthday party. Lara realizes that other crew members are in as much bewilderment as she; not a single word has been spoken between them since they left the nourishment center.
Lara’s father takes the lead and with measured steps moves through the doorway. With the most courage she can gather, she follows her father through the doorway, and can hear the shuffle of feet behind her as the others follow. She has never been this frightened in her life, as everything she has ever experienced has been so safe, and expected. This is not expected, and she has no idea if they will be safe.
After passing through the doorway, Lara sees her father standing still in the center of a large round room, with rows of chest high silent computers glowing with soft colors on the periphery. He stares off through a wrap-around portal, which allows them to see the outside space on three sides. She stands to his right, and her mother walks up on her right side. Lara feels better knowing they are near.
As soon as they gather, they hear a small thud from the doorway. They turn to see the massive door has just closed.
“Please do not be alarmed. Security is of upmost importance,” says the grandfatherly voice. Chairs rise from compartments in the floor. There are fourteen.
“Please take a seat, we have much to discuss.” They keep standing as if afraid the chairs will disappear back beneath the floor, with them included.
“Please, you have nothing to fear. There is so much to cover, and so little time.”
They move to their chairs, Lara staying near her parents, with Lani following close behind. Once they are settled, a hologram of an old man appears in the center of the room, startling them so much, they let out startled gasps.
“Please do not be alarmed. What you see is a visual representation of the man who designed and built me.” The hologram turns and waves his arms towards the rows and towers of glowing computers, which Lara assumes controls the entire ship.
“What was the man’s name who built you?” asks Lara, surprising herself, since she wasn’t planning on asking it aloud.
“That is an excellent first question, young Lara. My creator was Wilford Bradbury. I match his image from so long ago. You can call me Wilford. I must first tell you that because I am the central computer, I am familiar with each of you, so introductions will not be necessary. I am positive that I have much information to impart to you, so I will do most of the talking.”
There is a long pause as this hologram from the past turns and looks at each person, as if it has real working eyes. Lara isn’t sure why this unnerves her so much. She is surprised to see that this hologram is dressed the same as the old people in historical archives, complete with the over the shoulder straps. She can’t remember the name of these clothing accessories.
“I will start with the story of our beginnings, our present, and our future.” He turns to look at Lara, and makes one eye close as he smiles. Lara doesn’t understand what the closing of one eye means, but is surprised Wilford knows of her conversation with Lani, no more than ten clicks ago.
“You are aware that Earth was in the path of a rogue planet. Earth had five years before the collision, so drastic measures had to be taken to save mankind. With the combined resources of the entire planet, they built this ship, Expectation. You are aware of this, but the next part, you do not know. To get the cooperation and financial support needed for such an endeavor, the builders made a promise. They promised to preserve the genetic material from those countries which contributed finances, resources, or technology to this great undertaking.”
There are puzzled looks from everyone, and Wilford hesitates, as if he is a real person standing there.
Wilford continues, “Earth’s finest; politicians, scholars, and generous benefactors donated the genetic material, in the form of fertilized eggs, cryogenically frozen for long-term storage during this voyage.”
The commander says, “The eggs are on this ship? Where, and I thought we were the future of the human race?”
“Yes commander, you fourteen are essential to the survival of the human race, but within a hidden area of this ship, were 5,000 eggs. This Nursery is contamination free and service robots maintained the atmosphere, and monitored the egg’s continued viability. Considering that it has been over 250 Earth years since we began this voyage, I am happy to report that 4, 937 eggs were still viable. This is much better than my preliminary estimates.”
“You keep saying were, instead of are,” says the commander.
“That is astute of you, commander,” responds Wilford, “We moved those eggs which were still viable, to the incubation chambers six years ago. I am happy to report that from the 4,937 eggs, 4,857 children reached maturity.
“Why so many children?” asks the commander, “We are all responsible for specific jobs when we arrive, and managing so many children will make those jobs impossible. Besides, we are well educated on the demands of hostile and unknown new worlds. We must be careful to build the infrastructure society at a gradual rate. The population will grow at its own pace, based on available food and water, and natural dangers…”
“Yes, yes, yes, we are well aware of population plans for hostile worlds, but Galaxaura is not a hostile world.”
The commander leans towards Wilford, “How can this be possible for you to know this fact?”
The Wilford hologram reaches out from his body where nothing is then pulls a holographic chair out of nothing. He drags it forward until he is right in front of Lara’s dad, then sits in the chair. Lara thought she had seen everything which could possibly bother her, but this exceeds them all. Why does a hologram need a chair? This behavior, too, is too human.
Wilford leans forward in his chair, and makes eye contact with Lara’s father. Lara is fascinated by how good this hologram is, even up close. She chances a quick glance around the room, but still cannot discover the light sources.
Wilford says, “The technology you live with, that you use in your daily activities, is a small part of what is available on this bridge. Before you ask, I am aware you are familiar with the technology on Earth 250 years ago, and that they were not at this level of technology. I agree with you on that. But, there were many advanced technologies buried deep in military and bureaucratic secrecy. The most stubborn and autocratic nations on Earth finally agreed to give up that technology for the survival of their peoples. Fear of extinction is a powerful force in motivating people.”
Wilford pauses, staring at the commander and the commander responds with a single word, “Continue.”
Wilford leans back in his not-there chair, placing his hands behind his head, also not there, saying, “Thank you commander. This ship has sensors so powerful; we have been scanning “G
alaxaura”, as you call it, for the past several months. Galaxaura is a true M-class planet. There is a single red-dwarf sun, but two other suns close enough to affect the weather. A year will last 37 days, and because Galaxaura does not rotate. Gravity is 110% that of Earth, so you will have difficulty walking until your bodies adapt. The unfortunate news is that though the range of temperatures is typically within a narrow range, that range is -24˚F to 10˚F. That is -31˚C to -12˚C, to you. This will mean you will need to farm within green houses. A landing zone has been selected, which lies in a valley between two mountain ranges. Fresh water is close by, and plentiful.”
Lara’s head is spinning from so much new information. The fact that she has never lived on Earth, gives her nothing to compare with Galaxaura. How will snow or a stream feel to the naked hand? There are trees and plants in their agriculture farm, so she knows the texture of those things. Her mind wanders, as she thinks of the wildlife. The possibility of finding exotic creatures is both exciting and frightening.
Lara’s thoughts are interrupted by a question from her mother, “Why did we have to endure the security before you allowed us to enter the bridge?”
Wilford responds, as he faces her, “My programming dictates my actions. The entire survival of the human race depends on our cargo reaching Galaxaura intact.”
“We are out in the middle of empty space, and Expectation has been in this empty space for the last quarter millennia. What danger could there be? From us? There is something you aren’t telling us…”
Wilford frowns as if in deep thought, and then says, “That’s enough for today. There is much for you to digest. We will meet again each day until our arrival to Galaxaura in seven days.”
Wilford turns and faces Lara’s dad, then says, “Commander, you are welcome here any time. I must ask the others to be here at this time each morning, and only then. Do you find my conditions acceptable?”
The commander responds, “I accept your conditions.”
“Then it’s settled. Oh, and one more thing; the access doors to the nursery in the stern of the ship, have just unlocked. Go to the children now…they are expecting you. You will find they can talk, and know much about Earth and Galaxaura, even at their young ages. Since you will be the children’s caretakers on Galaxaura, spend as much time with them over the next week as is possible. Thank you for accepting my invitation and visiting with me today. It has been a lonely 250 years, and it’s good to talk with people again. The upcoming week will be exciting, and I hope all of you are enjoying this time as much as I am.”
With this, Wilford stands, and his chair disappears. He walks towards the entry way, saying, “Follow me, please. Your carts are now programmed to accept the word, children.”
The crew does as instructed, and Lara is anxious to get off this bridge. Her thoughts are interrupted by the sight of the opening door. Lara is surprised that Wilford makes it to the entry as he turns towards them. How can the holographic image be so flawless and strong this far away from the bridge?
“Thank you for coming. See you tomorrow, and have a good day,” says Wilford, as he steps back away from the door, and it starts to close. Wilford bothers Lara in a way she doesn’t understand, which belies his grandfather-like, friendly persona. Why did Wilford not answer her mother’s questions about the extreme security?
Lara reaches her group huddled near the carts, and as soon as she draws close, her father begins with a small whisper,
“Wilford is watching us,” says the commander. “It is obvious to me that he watches and listens to us everywhere, and I cannot figure the reason.”
“But why?” asks Mira.
The commander responds, “A week remains to discover that, but I’m not even sure we aren’t being monitored now.” They all gaze around, wondering at secret sensors anywhere and everywhere.
The commander continues, “Because we can’t be sure any place is safe, we must guard against discussing any of this. I am going to spend as much time with Wilford as I can. I must try to understand our relationship with him. In the meantime, the rest of you go meet the children…as Wilford said, they are waiting for you.”