“About?”
“Why those of us who wanted to leave didn’t. It made sense, we couldn’t leave Sandy without her med bay.”
“Very true,” Finch agreed.
“Finch, you heard Sam. The comments he made about the Omni, about how they used to think it was so high-tech and how their ship was far beyond us in technology.”
“But they don’t have touchscreens,” Finch said.
“Yeah, Tucker was shocked about that.”
“Why are you thinking about this?” Finch asked.
“If the Lola is far superior than the Omni in all ways, but the touch screen, then…we wouldn’t leave Sandra, Ben, and Curt without technology, would we? There would be a viable ship left behind.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I think you know,” Rey said. “I think, before it closes, me, you, and whoever else wants to go should hit the Androski. What do you think?”
“I think I need that drink.” Finch reached to the cabinet and pulled out a cup. He lifted the bottle and poured some.
“That’s not an answer. Seriously,” Rey said. “What do you think of my idea?’
“I think…let’s do it. Let’s go through.”
“To the other side?” Rey held up her cup.
Finch tapped his cup to hers. “To the other side.”
FIFTEEN
Genesis Village
Silence.
There was complete and utter silence inside the Omni-4 just moments after Finch let the crew know what he and Rey wanted to do.
“As Ben told Tucker and Sam,” Finch said, “the reason those of us who wanted to leave didn’t was because we couldn’t take the ship. The Lola is bigger and has everything you would need. So with a clear conscious, we can do this.”
“I don’t understand,” said Sandra. “There is still so much to see here. How can you make that decision before you have seen everything?”
Nate answered, “Because if they don’t go soon, the Androski will close.”
“I know you’re probably angry,” Finch said.
“No.” Curt shook his head. “Not angry at all. I understand. I do. This could be one of the last times I see you, Finch.”
“I for one,” Ben spoke up, “envy his decision. I do. I would go, but I am fearful of going back to a world that is a constant reminder of all that I lost. Here, now, it’s not.”
“What about you, Nate?” Sandra asked. “What are your thoughts on what they want to do?”
“I think I want to go with them,” Nate replied. “Yeah, like Ben, I worry that we may end up right back where we left. But that’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
Sandra huffed. “Unreal. We all lost. Every one of us lost. But we gained each other. We came through the Androski together. Right here, right now, we know we can survive. It’s a gamble, you guys know this, right?”
Finch nodded. “We do. I don’t know about all of you, but I was anxious to join this mission to be an explorer, so I want explore. I knew there was a chance we wouldn’t go back. And more than likely when we go through the Androski, we won’t go back to our time. Maybe we’ll get close. Maybe we won’t. But we have to see, we have to try, right? As far as I know, no one has ever gone back through.”
“The NOAA satellite did,” Nate said. “It went through the Androski in 1993 and took pictures pretty much of this planet, right here and now. When it went back through it came in decades later, yes, but close to our time. We may do that as well.”
“You all could come with us,” Rey said. “You could. We came through as a team, we can leave as a team. Really, what is there for us here?”
Ben stood. “About the same as there is for us back there, less the visual memories everywhere. Look around, Rey. We know what happened to the world. Do you really want to live through it?”
“Let’s not do this,” Curt said. “We can’t guilt them for making a decision and, technically, staying on mission. We were to go through and return. They are. I’m here. I’m not leaving. You guys have your adventure and I’m certain staying here won’t be adventure free. Hell, I’m waiting on those future mutant animals to attack Ben.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Ben shook his head. “And you know they will.”
“When?” Sandra asked. “When will you leave?”
“Since the ship is still packed,” Finch said, “and will be fully charged by tomorrow, I say we leave in the afternoon.”
“And I say…” Curt stood. “Let’s not mope, let’s not be angry or sad. Let’s get out there and enjoy the welcoming party Quinn threw for the Robinson, and we make the best of this night. I won’t say it’s a last night. I firmly believe, someway, somehow, in some point in time…” Curt said. “We’ll see each other again.”
<><><><>
Tiki style torches made up a perimeter around the area that was center of the village.
A single bonfire was in the middle of it all. It was massive and roaring. People laughed and children ran.
Quinn and his people welcomed the newcomers.
Rey walked around a lot, looking at everyone, watching those from the Omni-4 that were staying behind. Perhaps it was a subconscious thing, but Curt, Sandra, and Ben seemed to be going out of their way to be friendly to those who lived in the Genesis Village.
She carried around her cup, and it never seemed to get empty, no matter how many times she took a drink. Someone running around with a jug of wine would pass her and add to her cup.
It was a beautiful cup, hand crafted and ceramic.
She made her way to Tucker who sat with Quinn. They chatted away like two long-lost friends. Even though to Tucker it had only been a week.
“There she is,” Quinn said, looking up when Rey approached. “Enjoying your last night in this time?”
“I am. Your community is wonderful,” Rey replied. “The Robinson Mission are certainly fortunate to be here.”
“Better us than the
