Out There6

The open room they all sat in was normally a recreation room. Large enough to bike around, basketball, baseball or most any other activity. There was even a rock climbing wall spanning a third of the wall, opposite the door. Today it was crowded with almost every one on the station, almost five thousand people, crammed into half an acre.  It was a circular room about 160 feet across, a small platform had been set up in the center and all were turned to it. 

The leaders, sat upon three chairs on the platform, awaiting the last stragglers to arrive. The air was filled with the buzz of so many people speaking. Amelia stood close to the platform with the other people graduating into full adults. There was 21 other students who had turned 20 into the last six months and would now start jobs as well. Her grandmother stood beside Amelia's group, with the other council members. 

 The leaders made the decisions but there was nine members of the council, three for each section of the station. Their job was to handle day to day decisions within their sections and bring anything more serious to the council whole and leaders. Her grandmother had been a part of the council from the very beginning, almost 20 years. 

Deciding to begin, Alfred Tao, the newest leader of the last seven years, stood up, raised a hand for silence and waited. Tao was the youngest leader, with short black hair and lean body from years of training, he was a sharp contrast to the two he sat beside. He had been accepted seven years ago after his father died of old age at 92. Jin Tao had taught his son from an early age, hoping he would take his position after his death. At 37, Alfred Tao had shown great wisdom and promise and had been an asset the last seven years, according to her grandmother.

Slowly the room fell silent, and Tao addressed the crowd, 

"Greetings, everyone! We gather today, as you all know, to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of our newest group of adults. All have successfully finished their studies in both lecture and physicals and are ready to take the next step."

Tao paused in his speech, appeared to be considering something and finally continued,"Rather than repeat what some of you have heard every six months for twenty years," a few chuckles were heard throughout the crowd. These speeches covered the same sentiments twice a year and it was extremely repetitive. Tao smiled and went on,

"I will end the speech early, and simply move on the the main event."

Thank goodness, it's my ceremony and even I don't want to hear that speech again.

Sitting down, Tao gestured to the leader in the middle seat, Nicholas Westerly. He got up slowly, like his muscles took longer to respond, taking a step forward he smiled. He was 75 last month with short white hair and a beard to match that just barely touched his chest. His smile was warm and grandfatherly as he looked about the crowd.

"My colleague has the right of it, no need to take up more of your time. Let us start!" Clapping his hands twice in quick succession, he looked to her group.

Without a list, he began calling names: "Claire Riley!" A brown haired girl with a heart shaped face, stepped onto the platform next to Westerly, "Congratulations, Ms. Riley!" He said shaking her hand.

The girl smiled brightly, and Amelia remembered her. She was from Section one while Amelia was Section two but they had had a few classes together.

Addressing the crowd, Westerly said, "Ms. Riley has shown interest and promise in many of the sciences. She has chosen to learn more in the Water Recycling Labs and the Nutritional Support Lab.  We expect she will do well in both areas." 

The girl whispered her thanks, shook hands with the leaders, Tao and Zeke Ikenna stood to congratulate her, and stepped off the platform to the crowd clapping. A few louder cheers could be heard as well, probably from family or friends. The girl moved past Amelia to the back of the group, her face a bit red from the attention.

Westerly clapped again and announced the name and everything was repeated. 

Fifteenth to be called, she moved forward at the sound of her name,

"Amelia Asher!"

Smiling to Westerly and then towards her grandmother, Amelia stood on the platform. 

Wow, that's a lot of people! And I thought I knew everyone. 

"Ms. Asher, our sincerest congratulations! You have always gone above what is expected of you and your hardwork has not gone unnoticed." Westerly smiled warmly, then spoke to the crowd, "Ms. Asher has chosen Library Restoration, and Outer Ship Maintenance. Based on her studies we know she will excel at either choice," he paused, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "at least until she finishes her training and she gets bored..." Westerly looked sideways at her to gauge a reaction, the gleam still present. 

What? Am I that obvious? I have only told two people of how I feel. How there is often no challenge.

Her face was bright red, she could feel it hot on her cheeks.  Looking to her Geema, drew in a breath, clearing her head.

Geema! I'm so dense! She is friends with Westerly! She must have told him. And I guess if he is making a joke about it, they can't be angry with me. It not like I spend my time complaining to everyone I see. Just Geema and Mr. Green.

Hoping it hadn't been long enough a pause to be awkward, Amelia smiled at Westerly and then Tao and Ikenna, "I guess."

Out There5

Tomorrow! Tomorrow was her 20th birthday! 

The last two months had streamed by in a blur, only yesterday she had put in her picks for jobs, extremely last minute. Geema had explained to her friends among the council, who helped the leaders make decisions, and Amelia had been given extra time. As one of the top students for her group they understood she wasn't slacking.

Even with the extra time and speaking with the manager of each job, she still didn't feel strongly about any of them. In the end she picked two that seemed like they'd be fun at least for a while. She choose library and outer ship maintenance. Maintenance for the outside of the ship seemed interesting. She'd never been off the ship; except for her first eight months of life on earth that she didn't remember, she'd only ever been on this station. 

The maintenance crew was responsible for checking around the entire station each day and repairing anything in need. Apparently it was an easy job and seldom was there any big repairs. According to the current manager, in the last five year there had been only one repair outside of regular maintenance and that was just replacing a sensor wire, knocked loose as they passed a meteor storm. 

Geema had raised an eyebrow when Amelia had finally told her her job picks the night before. She knew why Amelia had picked the library but maintenance was a mystery.

Amelia smiled at her grandmother, acknowledging that it was out of character. She'd never shown much interest in maintenance inside or out of the station.

"I like the manager in maintenance." She told her honestly, "Other than seeing the outside of the station, it really came down to who I'd be working with. Mr. Wadnut was hilarious, I haven't laughed as hard as I did, in the half hour I spent with him, in months. He was comfortable to talk with more than the others. Who were very nice and knowledgeable but not entertaining the way he was."

Geema was nodding in understanding, "If you can't find the right job, you can at least have fun at whatever job you end up in."

In her room the night before her birthday and the ceremony that would accept her as an adult within the community, Amelia paced around her bed, restless. It was getting late, almost 1030pm, when she was usually in bed by 10. Her mind was running crazy, excited and nervous for the ceremony as well as starting her jobs.  But there was something more too. That she couldn't name, restless for something that she knew wouldn't be there tomorrow. 

What is it? Why am I feeling so weird, when I am so close to the chance to be a part of something. I want to belong, so why does it feel like I won't find that tomorrow or even here on this station.

Her pacing paused, feeling her thoughts had finally touched on her true feelings.

She wanted off the station? Something more than her life has been for the last nineteen years? 

Amelia couldn't complain about her life so far, she liked the station and most of the people on it. Except for the last few months she hadn't felt alone. 

So why am I not happier about tomorrow and my future?

Her pacing had resumed, slow and meandering, focused on her thoughts, she hadn't heard her door open. Her next turn brought her to face it, now filled with her grandmother instead of the door. Starting, her step faltered a moment as her brain switched focus.

"Amelia," she said her voice soft with understanding, her Geema wrapped her in a hug,"tell me all about it, darling, you'll feel better." 

Amelia folded into her arms, overwhelmed all of a sudden, comforted by the familiar warmth and smell, peppermint and garden dirt.

Pouring out her thoughts and confusion, Amelia felt immensely better, just having her grandmother know seemed to help.

"Why do I feel this way?" Amelia finally asked, lifting her head off Geema's shoulder, calm now.

"Oh, Darling, isn't it obvious?" At Amelia's confused look, she went on,"You are an earth baby. One of the last born on earth before we abandoned it. You grew up in space but I made sure to tell you everything I know about earth. Don't you remember falling asleep to my stories? Everyone of those stories was about earth, or your parents, all true to my knowledge." Geema paused, cleared her throat now thick with emotion.

"Tell me about them," Amelia asked, even knowing she had heard it before.

Her grandmother obliged,"Your mother, my only daughter, married your father very young. Keera was only 18 and Abel was 19. They met at one of the few remaining shelters not yet destroyed. Abel was alone, he had heard about the underground community and wanted to help. I always said live at first sight was real and your parents proved it. Across a crowded cafeteria full of bunkbeds, their eyes met. Keera told me later it had felt like time had frozen around them and her heart had raced." They both sighed, and then smiled at each other.

Amelia settled back onto her pillow, keeping Geema's hand in hers, "Keep going, please?"

"Of course, darling," she said, head tilted as if finding her place in the memory, "After that they were inseparable, which I didn't mind. Abel was very helpful and it was wonderful to see Keera so happy. It was only a few weeks before he asked me for her hand. There was a minister a few bunks over who was glad to help and they it was done. Husband and wife. You can't imagine two happier people, you could almost forget the apocalypse outside," chuckling a little, she squeezed Amelia's hand. "A couple momths later you made yourself known. Everyone in the shelter rejoiced. A new baby in a world losing hope, it was wonderful."

Amelia sat up, immersed in the story, "Nine months later, I came out, during a sandstorm, right?"

"Yes, a very bad storm that lasted almost a two weeks. I delivered you myself, a bright red, tiny thing. You popped out, completely silent. You didn't cry, just looked at me with those big green eyes."

Amelia smiled, then grew somber, "And that's when mom got sick."

Scooting to lean against the pillow beside her, Geema said, "Yes, your mother got sick but it wasn't you. The stress labor put on her, her body couldn't cope, and she insisted on breastfeeding you as mych as she could. She only lasted nineteen days after your birth. And she loved you every minute."

"And dad? He was a hero." Amelia's voice cracked on the last word.

"Yes, he was. When the underground community started actively collecting up survivors, your father left you with me and helped the first groups from the shelter to the facility. It must have been at least twenty groups, hundreds of people, that he helped survive the journey. People we see every day here on the station." Geema's voice was proud, proud of her son in law.

"But then he got hurt, trying to save those people." 

Geema, understanding how her granddaughter was feeling, said quietly, "Yes. He was transporting a group when that earthquake surprised them. The building they took refuge in was only a couple miles from the facility but unstable. Half of that group died when the roof collapsed. The reason..."

Geema paused, brought Amelia's chin around to look in her eyes, make sure she understood.

"The only reason, half survived was because of your father. Instead of saving himself, he cleared rumble and debris so those trapped could get out. And yes, because of all this he got hurt. The aftershock sent a piece of wood through his chest." Tears were in both their eyes, both overwhelmed.

"But..." Geema's voice strengthened, "But he lived long enough to see you. All he could say in his last moments was your name, over and over."

Tears were raining down Amelia's face, "And you promised him you'd always take care of me!" She wrapped her hands around the only family she'd ever known, squeezing tight.

Geema hugged her back, her chest full of love for her granddaughter.

"Can you see now, darling? Why you feel out of place here?"

Amelia shook her head, emotionally drained.

"You are meant for more."

Out There4

"Hello Geema," Amelia said as she sat next to her grandmother. 'Geema' was a nickname, a shortened form of grandma, from when Amelia was too young to say the whole title.

"Hello sweetie, how's your day so far?" Geema said smiling and giving her a hug.

"Alright, same as ever. I got a new book today though so it's better than some."

Her grandmother smiled. She was the one person Amelia could tell everything too and she tended to know much of her thoughts. They often joked about Geema's psychic powers. 

Geema understands, about books and everything else! Why can't Jace?

"Everything okay with you and Jace?" Geema asked noticing Amelia look a few tables down where Jace sat with his family.

Nodding, "Same as its been the last few months, we don't seem to agree or have anything in common anymore. It was easier when we were younger." 

Geema smiled knowingly, "it will get better, it always does. Be patient darling, you've only got a little while before your an adult. Just wait for all those responsibilities," She was teasing Amelia, since they both knew Amelia worked harder at her classes than anyone else in her group. Amelia couldn't wait to be considered an adult and hopefully feel a part of something.

Grateful for her grandmother and her cheerfulness, Amelia turned her focus on her dinner.

Later, As they walked back to their apartment, her grandmother's arm through her own, Geema said," Have you decided what jobs you want to try yet?"

Jobs were given at the age of twenty. Students graduated, and got a chance to  try a few different jobs offered on the station. Each person picked two to try and their teachers could recommend them for any jobs they showed aptitude. For instance aptitude in math or science may encourage a job with the engineers that kept the station running. Or aptitude in horticulture lecture could mean a job in the hydroponic labs growing food or in the kitchens to prepare food.

"Not yet, I have read through the options and what each requires but none stick out as 'the one!'," she said shrugging a little, "I hoped one would stand out for me."

I also fear being an outsider for the rest of my life. 

"It will, sweetie. That's why you get to try them out first. That will help." Geema was so optimistic.

And that's what I have to be too! No more doubts, be confident that good things will happen.

"Thanks, Geema."

Back in her room she packed the books she needed for tomorrow and collected the papers with the job information. Trying to be quiet, since her grandmother went to bed early, she climbed onto her bed, sighing at being able to relax.

She spread the sheets out on her green comforter, so she could see each one.

I don't think engineering is for me, my assessments in math are good but I definitely don't enjoy math or some of the science needed to be an engineer. 

Kitchens doesn't sound like fun, maybe cooking for a few people but cooking for hundreds at the same time seems tedious. Growing food seems like more fun, but I wouldn't get to pick only one, kitchens would be part of it.

Amelia shook her head, moving on to the next option.

Maintenance handled cleaning up and repairing anything broken, while I don't mind cleaning up, what if I don't have the skills to repair some of the more complicated technologies.

 Teaching required extra studies and waiting for a spot to open up. Teaching sounds like fun but most of my teachers are younger so I'd be waiting awhile. 

Again she shook her head, turned off by the possibility of waiting years to start a job.

Of course there was the library.  I love being there, I love books, would I still love them if I spent all my time staring at them, copying them over and over? It's the only one that I won't end up hating but I don't think it will make me happy either.

Amelia's sigh was loud in the room around her. 

Why was this so hard? Was everyone else having the same difficulties and doubts?

She knew Jace was all set, it had been a few years since he had decided food was for him. He loved all aspects and had even started cooking practice.

Letting out a big sigh, Amelia stacked the papers back together, the library one on the top. She would ask Geema in the morning for her opinion. 

She climbed back into bed, pulling the covers up around her shoulders. Within minutes she was asleep.

Out There3

Back in the apartment she shared with her grandmother, Amelia dropped her book bag on the couch and shook off her mood. Focusing on not fitting in wasn't important and didn't bother her most days. Lately she had felt plateaued with her training and though each student only had to show understanding of the skills, she wished for more. 

Mr. Green and her other physical teachers were experts in their art, they couldn't teach individually, and the rest of the class wasn't as motivated.

Two months, just two more and I will complete training. After training I can spar and learn from anyone. Be patient just a bit longer.

The clock showed she had a half hour left of free time then lunch started in the cafeteria. Small snacks were allowed in apartments for between meals but all main meal consumption was required in the cafeteria. Since she completed her assignments between classes or after school before dinner, she had nothing that needed her attention. So she grabbed one of the now rare novels brought from earth. There was a library near the cafeteria that housed all surviving books; everyone was encouraged to read in there spare time but she knew she was one of the few in her age group. Survivors had been asked to donate all books when they first arrived at the station. And the underground scientists had stockpiled books on all subjects. One career she could choose in two months would involve copying the books to protect the knowledge they hold.

Almost finished with the book, Amelia decided to head down to the library so she could get a new one and then grab lunch next door.

Walking down the long corridor to the stairs all she saw was the dull gray walls and floor. 

Gray, gray, gray! Walls, floor, clothes. So stark and the same! Everyday is the same!

"Amelia, amelia, so glad to see ya!- hmm that sounded better in my head." A tall boy with brown spiky hair, ran up and drapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Hey Jace, how's things?" She asked shrugging off his arm. Jace, a nickname for his initials J.C., was her best friend. They were the same age, 19, and had grown up a few doors down from each other. The only problem was that Jace had developed at crush on her over the last few years, that she didn't reciprocate. 

"Wonderful, now that I've found you!" He said grinning widely.

She smiled, "I'm headed to the library, want to come?"

"Then lunch?" He asked hopefully, always hungry. She nodded and they continued on.

Forty minutes later Amelia had finished the book, an earth history on prominent treaties and gotten another, a novel about a boy who gets stranded and must survive alone in the wild. 

"The book can wait, eat while its hot," Jace said nudging her to her plate in front of her. Her fingers twitched to start reading but grabbed her fork instead. 

Lunch consisted of salad with a big focus on beans for protein. Meat was extremely rare since few cows or chickens had been rescued and breeding took time. 

Amelia actually preferred the fruits and vegetables than the occasional pieces of meat they got on special occasions.

"What lectures do you have this afternoon?" Jace said through a mouthful of lettuce.

"Math, history and english, today. You?"

He grinned, "Me too!"

Of course. Trying to smile instead of grimace. He's my best friend but I wish he would back off. I have told him my feelings, that he's like a brother. No romance at all. But he only tries harder. It makes it hard to be friends. I have to watch everything I say in fear or encouraging him.

In math, Jace sat beside her, and she reviewed her finished assignment to discourage talking. The hour and a half went quickly and then she was in history.

She liked history, all about earth and how to prevent things from happening again. When they were younger lectures had focus on better conserving a planet, not using resources in excess and recycling as much as possible. Lectures now focused on wars and other major problems, what led to these disasters and ways to prevent it in the future. The leaders hoped that if we found a hospitable planet, we would not make the same mistakes.

English was her favorite lecture, most of the time they read books. Today the teacher had them reading outloud from a novel about slavery, a concept that Amelia found disturbing. But it helped her to see how people had lived in America during the time of slavery, which is was nice because some subjects had little information or unclear pictures. She enjoyed it when the was a novel to add to the history lessons.

The lecture was coming to an end, Amelia saw that they'd probably wouldn't be able to finish the chapter and read ahead. Tuning out the student currently reading, a girl named Naomi.

"Amelia!" 

She jumped, Jace was standing next to her, saying her name in a way that said it wasn't the first time. Realizing everyone else was streaming out the door, Amelia shoved her books into her bag and followed Jace.

"The book's not that good," Jace said as they followed the crowd down the stairs to dinner.

Not that good, ugh! It's a book! They are all wonderful in their own way. Why couldn't he understand?

She gave him a hurt look to show her opinion on the matter and he looked away sheepishly.

He should know how I feel by now. Does he really expect me to change my feelings when he scoffs at what I love?

"Sorry" he muttered and they walked the rest of the way in silence.

Out There2

"Umph"

Ugh! Not again. Can't someone last more than a few seconds.

The air whoshed out of the boy opposite her, leaving him gasping. She had held back too, tried not to defeat him so quickly. 

Not my fault if he left his stomach open, come on, who fights with their hands by their sides!

"Winner, Ms. Amelia!" Her coach shouted to the rest of the class. Though those that were actually paying any attention probably could guess it, what with the boy still laying on the ground.

"Good job, that was very efficient!" Her coach said grinning. Walter Green was one of the better coaches, happy to explain concepts and moves until a student really understood. He was around thirty with blonde hair down to his shoulders. Always kept loose, he often looked a bit wild, but was a genuinely nice guy and a good teacher. He had been her instructor for almost ten years.

"Thanks." She said with a small smile, " I was trying to take it easy on him but..." She trailed off shrugging.

Green laughed, "No need! I've told you before that you only lessen their training as well as yours by going easy. They will learn. You just happen to excel at Kung Fu."

She shrugged again, they had had this conversation before. Her coach was one of the few people she had talked to about how she felt like an outsider amongher classmates. Amelia related more to those a few years older and many of her grandmother's friends. Not even one of her classmates could be considered her friend and her group included ages 18-19 for the whole station. Of those ages, students were rotated into different groups each week. This was in hopes that each student would meet and connect with as many other students as possible. It made joining more successful.

Amelia took her seat on the end of the bench that sat along the wall opposite the door. 

Two other students met in the middle of the rectangular room and began to spar.

Green mostly taught them Kung Fu, an ancient martial art, that he had learned from his father and grandfather. Kung Fu was her favorite but she couldn't stand to watch her classmates butcher it. 

Ten more minutes. Then it will be just me, no holding back.

One of the students was down, tripped over his own feet. Sighing, she wished there was someone who could match her skill. Sparring would be a lot more fun if she had a real opponent and she'd actually improve instead of standing still.

Smiling,

I never would have thought I'd be complaining about this. When I first sat in these classes I thought I be stuck in back, head down. Just suffer through it. Now I can't imagine my day without this. 

Every morning she woke up before breakfast to run the perimeter of the station that was her home. Twelve miles in all. After breakfast she practiced any combinations or moves she had been learning that week in the martial arts classes. At any time there was three or four classes, called physicals, in martial arts and self defense. Her favorite was Kung Fu but she also practiced Karate, which involves precision striking with hands and feet, Judo, which involves wrestling and trying to take down an opponent, and weapons. Weapons class was another surprise to her, not expecting to like it. The class was held twice a week, once for kung fu weapons then for karate weapons. They were instructed on how to adapt weapons into what they learned in the other classes and how to adapt in situations when they may not have a weapon.

The soft ring of the bell above the door had her looking up. The clock showed 11am signaling the end of class and her free hour. Each student had a free hour at some point during the day, where they were encouraged to finish assignments for lecture classes or practice physicals.

Students streamed out the door, pushing in their haste. Many thought physicals to be tedious and pointless. The leaders reasons seemed logical to Amelia but everyone was entitled to opinion. At ten years old, students, having spent six years in lectures, were then thrust into physicals. They reason for this, they were told, was to prepare each member of society for all possibilities. If we were to land on a planet that contained hostile life, we must be able to protect and defend ourselves and those around us. 

Makes sense to me

Shaking her head at her fellow students, she moved to pick up the mats that covered the floor. 

"Thank you, Ms Amelia," Mr. Green said as he grabbed the other of of the five by five foot mat, "You did good today."

"Thanks, Mr. Green. Wasn't much of a match though." She said a little pointedly.

He laughed, "I know, I know. But you know that Robert is second in that class. Your first place is just mountains above him," laughing again.

Smiling at the compliment, she asked, "Do you have time today to..." She trailed off in response to his face. He knew she was asking to spar with him, though he was years ahead of her and always beat her, it was way better than her classmates, "Nevermind," she said quickly knowing his response, "I've got assignments to do anyways. See you Friday!" She called as she headed for the door, trying to escape her embarrassment.

I know better than to ask. Ugh, why do I forget? Even if he didn't have another class, it's against the rules to give private lessons.  Completely understandable but still I wish...

Out There1

The earth was dying. Slowly becoming uninhabitable. There had been warnings, great screaming warnings that too many ignored. For almost a thousand years the climate and weather had been increasing in intensity. Great storms that grew to cover entire country at once. Earthquakes that could level entire continents. And tsunamis that took out anything that managed to survive. Extreme temperatures in either direction made only select areas tolerable. Those that survived the extreme conditions were forced to struggle to find food and shelter. From six billion people, a small fraction survived initially though many later perished from hunger. All crops had been destroyed, and temperatures made it difficult to grow any more. As with the humans, most animals and livestock had perished. The surviving humans ate what plants and animals that had survived and then were left with nothing. Left to scavenge through the devastation for stray cans and the like that may have remained intact.

But there was hope. One group had heeded the warnings the earth had displayed early in the 21st century. Enough to make a difference. Though they had no knowledge of the extent of the damage, they worked continuously to find a solution over hundreds of years; to save the earth and the last remaining humans.

Experts in space exploration were sent to find a hospital planet. They ranged in all directions, they searched, most never to return. 

In the likely possibility that no planet was found, engineers worked deep underground to create a space station, so at least some humans could be saved. A self sustaining station was as difficult a task as finding a planet with life. Generations of engineers worked to create this. They struggled to balance size, to try accommodate as many humans as possible made it impossible to actually get it up into space. Many smaller stations were created that could be launched but would not hold enough people or supplies to survive long.

It wasn't until the year 2970, after 800 years of research and trial, that a brilliant engineer by the name of Rupert Spear discovered a design that would have that balance. Technically four stations joined into one after launching, each launched separately in two pieces, eight in total, and all joined together to create one station. Cyclindrically shaped with smaller cyclinders connecting perpendicularly. Each would be self sustaining. Spear allowed for the many smaller stations to attach to the top and bottom of the main cyclinders; many would act as transport from the earth once all was completed. 

For thirty years they worked continuously to completed the station pieces and launch them. The day the last piece was launched, they recieved transmission from one of the probes. It had taken the probe 19 years, but it had found a small galaxy that had similar atmospheric conditions as that of earth and contained life!

Renewed hope spread through the underground facility and they began to gather the remaining survivors for the first  launches into space. Survivors came from all over the world, straggling into the facility, hardly believing that what they'd been told was true. They would be saved; they would go into space to a new planet.

It took four years to gather survivors onto the station as well as supplies and technology. In the year 3004 the last people left the devastated earth, never to return, with hopes of a new life and a better future.