Mairi stayed outside answering additional questions, and if a woman decided she wanted to go to Terraneu, Knollig had told her to have those females wait in the meeting dome. If the decision was to go back to Earth, then she showed them to the medical dome. Those women were all sent back at once at the end of the day. Out of one hundred and five women, only fifteen were to be sent back to Earth. For one reason or another.
She recalled one such female that had been taking in a group of women debating to stay or go back. The woman’s name was Michelle.
“I want the one that gave us the welcome speech.” Michelle had said.
“He already said he has a mate waiting for him on Terraneu. You are not allowed to interfere with someone that is already mated.”
Another woman, a nice blond agreed, “You have to follow the rules. They stressed how important it was going to be.”
Michelle just looked at the group around her like they were all crazy, “What do I care about that. If they can’t send me back why shouldn’t I get the life I want on this Terraneu?”
Another brunette just glared at Michelle, “Because they are not like any men we have experienced before on Earth. They are bound by a deep genetic code to be honorable. Were you even listening? Besides even if you were to try for that man, and he is so hot my clothes are melting, his mate might have a say in the matter.”
“I never had any problem getting what I wanted on Earth, there are ways to make a man do what you want. If you know what I mean…but looking at the lot of you, I would say you don’t.” Michelle gave the middle-aged women a once over. “I don’t care what they say about rules.”
She had then wandered from the group. They all just muttered about “some people never learn…” and “there is always one in every group who thinks they are above everyone else!” and “I know her type. The one that is always trying to steal another’s man! Talk about High School mentality.”
Mairi had heard enough. She ran to catch up to Michelle. When she was closer she called out, “Hello there. Have you made a decision? Are you bound for Earth or Terraneu?” Mairi asked in all innocence.
“I want to go to Terraneu.” Michelle stated, “You can lead me to the tent I need?”
Mairi didn’t hesitate, “Yes. I can lead you to the tent you need.” She was telling the truth, this woman needed the tent back to Earth! Amber would have a fit if she knew this female was talking about seducing her mate. Women like Michelle would only cause discord on Terraneu, and she needed to be sent back. She led Michelle into the medical tent. Then it was lights out, memory wiped…and into the waiting room for the trip to Earth.
Mairi reflected on what she had gathered of the women Kneus had chosen. They all had a common thread. They were single, no family, no one would miss them. Almost all of them were generally older, if she had to guess between the ages of 30-46. Not old in her opinion, but with enough smarts to realize this was a good deal. She saw the women casting glances at the men from Terraneu that were milling around. She didn’t blame them the males were all very attractive. She had tried to keep an eye out for Knollig as much as possible. She wasn’t able to interact with him much, a touch here…a smile there. They were so busy answering questions, and helping women the rest of time went by quickly.
After the allotted hour, Kniam surprised the women with another speech.
“You have all chosen to try life on Terraneu, and we are honor bound to tell you what that entails before you make a final decision. I want to explain the further changes to you before you go through our portal. Please wait to ask any questions until it has all been explained.” He paused, “One of the things you will need is to go through is a medical fix. Mairi is an example of what you can expect.”
Mairi had stepped forward to confirm that the medical fix was quite amazing.
“I was on my deathbed back on Earth.” She started. “I had terminal cancer, and was in hospice care for my final days. I had lost all of my hair, muscle tone and vitality. I was in constant pain and being medicated waiting for death. In exchange for letting the Council stage you on his property, before coming here to Antilles my grandfather bargained for a second chance for me on Terraneu.” Mairi looked around at the women, “When I went through the medical fix six months ago, I came out like this. All of the damage to my body was healed, and I was ‘fixed ‘to look like this. I will be 40 years old in a few months.” That had the crowd gasping and chatting in their seats. Some women were looking around shocked.
Kniam stepped forward again holding up his hands for silence, “You will also be ‘fixed’ to no longer consume food, in fact your body will quite violently reject food you try to consume.” He grimaced, “I know this because when my mate tried to eat fruit, I ended up wearing it.” Some of the women in the crowed laughed at the image, he waited for the laughter to stop then continued, “You will use our two suns for energy. Your cells will re-generate at an accelerated rate, keeping you the same as you come out of the medical unit for eight hundred to a thousand years.”
The women in the crowd erupted with shouts, “Are you saying we will be alive for a thousand years?” one woman burst out, “Looking like that?”
Again Kniam waited for the chatter to die down, “I know it seems like a long time, your cells will eventually lose the ability to regenerate. It has been explained that it is like an Earth battery. You can only recharge them so many times.”
Kniam looked around at the others, Knollig mouthed “living conditions.”
“Oh yes.” Kniam smiled, “The living conditions are more ‘Star Trek’ than ‘Old West’. Our living domes are quite comfortable, luxurious even according to my mate and Mairi. You will find them very comfortable. The only things you might miss are Earth technologies. We don’t have things like your ‘Internet’, or ‘television’. We spend our time in the sun, doing outdoor activities and socializing, or in the industrial domes working.”
Kniam got serious, “I have to stress that we will expect utter adherence to the rules. For the safety and peace of mind of the male and female population. There will be no deviation allowed. All offenders will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We do ask our community members their opinion on all matters, but don’t mistake our society to be a democracy. The Council rules for the betterment of our people, and we will act accordingly.”
Then Kniam had requested anyone not wishing to undergo the changes, and accept that lifestyle please come forward, there was still time to send them back to Earth.
Before she knew it, Mairi had to say good-bye to her grandfather. He had been given a shopping list for the next time the port pad was active. It contained things like, sporting equipment, hairbrushes and accessories, and most importantly…one of everything baby! Rockers, bouncers, and strollers…whatever they could fit in the next shipment! Her grandfather raised his eyebrows at the “baby” items. Mairi just reassured him that it wasn’t needed yet. Which was true. It wouldn’t be needed for another six or seven months.
It was finally his turn being the last to depart. It had been a horrible experience seeing him on that port pad. His final words echoed in her mind, “I’ll see you in six months, Mairi.” Then he had disappeared in a blue flash.
Their time was up, even if they changed their minds, none of the women that were now on Terraneu would be going back to Earth.
Chapter Nineteen
When Mairi stepped off the port pad on Terraneu she expected some type of chaos. She hadn’t expected what was before her eyes when she got to the path out of the port dome. Amber had been busy! The whole square and adjacent domes were lit up like Christmas trees! There were lights hanging from dome to dome, around all the benches and along the pathways. There were colorful streamers blowing on the wind. It was in a word…breathtaking!
> Knollig had stopped next to her, taking in all the decorations. Kniam and Thian didn’t make it past them before stopping and staring around in wonder.
“Surprise!” Amber came from around the dome, with her friend Jen. They were both laughing, “You should see your faces!” Walking up to her mate, she gave him a lingering kiss, and then tucked herself into his arm. He was still so shocked at the sight before him, he hadn’t made to hold her.
Amber leaned out of Kniam’s embrace to grab her friends hand to pull her over, “Kniam this is Jennifer.” She introduced the others, “Jen…this is Kniam, Mairi, Knollig, Knaleg, and I believe you have already met Thian.”
“It’s nice to meet you. May I call you Jen or do you prefer Jennifer?” Mairi shook hands with the pretty brunette. It was obvious to Mairi that she hadn’t quite gotten over the shock of her new appearance.
“Please, everyone…call me Jen.” She held out her hand.
Kniam shook it gently, “I have heard so much about you Jen. Your arrival has been all Amber has spoken of for the last few weeks.”
Jen eyed Kniam up and down, “I find that hard to believe, but thank you. It really is nice to meet you.”
Knaleg was next and he bent low over her hand, and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Welcome to Terraneu. You are a most desired addition to our community.”
Thian turned a bright red, and wrestled himself in front of Knaleg. Taking Jens hand from him and gently pulled her over, blocking her from the others view.
“We meet again. Are you pleased with the medical treatment?” Thian asked Jen in a throaty whisper.
“Yes. I must say not eating is going to be weird until I get used to it…but the rest.” She gestured over her hair, and body under the toga dress. “I don’t have any problem getting used to this.” Jen gave a hearty laugh, not giggling or simpering. Just a belly laugh that was contagious.
“I am glad to hear this Jen.” Thian started to lead her along the romantically lit path, “It has been such a long day for all of us. Would you like to see your living quarters? I would be happy to make sure you find yours. Also, allow me to give you a tour of Terraneu tomorrow.”
“You can give me a tour of the whole planet?” Jen teased.
Thian was nonplussed for a moment, and then laughed…”I am sorry. We call the city of the original fathers Terraneu, and the planet is also Terraneu. We never expected to gain enough population to name it anything else. Now there is New Haven.” He had stepped closer to pull her along, “That is for couples that choose to be mates.” Thians voice had turned sultry, the hand moving her along had slipped to her back.
Amber huffed, “I already showed…”
Jen looked over her shoulder and gave Amber a knowing look, “I would love a tour, Thian.” She put her arm around his middle, “I am at Mairis old place since she moved out. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes…Jen…I myself have living quarters nearby that location.”
“You don’t say…” Jen looked over her shoulder to yell, “It was nice to meet you all. Thank you for the warm welcome.”
Amber yelled back, “See you tomorrow Jen…we can meet in the square for a morning walk.” Jen just waved her hand over her shoulder.
“Well, how do you like that!?” Ambers began, then couldn’t help herself and started laughing. “Oh well, one down, two hundred or so to go!”
Knaleg just frowned, “Why is it that every female seems to attach to the first male she sees?”
Mairi thought for a second, “When you are attracted to someone, you just feel it. It doesn’t matter if they are the first male or the hundredth. You will have your chance Knaleg. It just looks like Jen and Thian hit it off.”
Knaleg snorted, “I did not see any hitting, if I had that is a punishable offense.”
Mairi ignored Amber’s burst of laughter to explain, “Not physically hit…it is just a saying that means they liked each other right away.”
Knaleg seemed to relax, “Oh that is good then. I hope to ‘hit it off’ with a female soon.”
Amber put her arms around him, “You will Knaleg. I’m sure of it.”
Knollig moved to Mairi, “It has been a long day for everyone. I think it best to go to our living quarters and get some sleep.”
Knaleg nodded, “Good night everyone.”
Kniam and Amber moved to join Knollig and Mairi for the walk to New Haven.
Amber gasped and said, “Oh. Before I forget, I planned a dance for tomorrow night! I just have to figure out the music box Kneus sent.”
The males froze, their expressions horrified.
Mairi looked up at Knollig questioningly, “What’s wrong?”
“What…is a dance?” he croaked.
~*~*~*
“You have to hand it to Amber, she knows how to throw a party.” Mairi remarked to Knollig. Somehow Amber had gotten temporary fountains on four corners of the square of four. The lights were still flickering around every dome, bench and walkway. The colorful streamers were flowing in the wind. It was a very romantic setting. The rains had just ended and there was the added moisture dancing on the lights giving them a magical glow.
Mairi had worked with Amber and Jen all morning to figure out the music. There had been a moment of panic when Amber had clicked on the 80’s music button. Immediately out of the speaker, “Dum…da-dum…da-da-da-da-da-dum…Dum…” Amber had slapped her hand down on the stop button, and all the women had turned to each other and laughed.
“What was that?” Mairi laughed, “Mozart?!”
“I think Kneus mistook your desire for 1980’s music with 1780’s” Jen teased.
“There has to be 1980’s music on here somewhere, we’ll find it.” Amber was determinedly hitting buttons now in her quest for music. When she finally found it, she made a mix of the 1980’s to current artists on a play list for the dance.
“What do you think?” Amber and Kniam joined them at their spot by a bench.
Knollig smiled, “You did a very good job Amber. The square and pathways look very nice!” Amber beamed at the compliment.
People were milling about on all the walkways, almost three rings back, but nobody was taking up dancing in the center by the square. Kniam commented on the oddity, “Why are the males all on one side of the square, and the women on the other?”
“It does kind of look like we’re back in High School.” Jen and Thian had joined the group. “Maybe we should show them that they are supposed to be dancing to the music.”
“I don’t know if that is an appropriate activity for a member of the Council to participate in.” Thian tried desperately. His nervousness over attempting to dance was making him grasp at straws.
“Don’t give me that excuse!” Jen smiled up at him, “Listen I love this song, and it’s a slow one! All you have to do is hold me, and move side to side.” Jen grabbed his hand, and dragged him over to where dancing was supposed to be going on. The music was being amplified from the technology dome, the song Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper was pulsing on the air. Jen pulled Thian close, placing his hands on her hips. Then wrapping her arms around his neck, they started swaying together.
“You can’t let Thian have all the fun.” Mairi grabbed Knollig and saw that Amber and Kniam were following. Looking into Knollig’s face, she said, “Just follow me. Feel the music, and have fun!” Stepping close she wrapped her arms around his back so her hands were resting on his shoulders. Mairi tucked her head under his chin and moved to the music. She was so caught up in the feeling of Knollig’s arms around her, and living the moment, she jumped when the song was over and the music suddenly changed.
“Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah…Thun-Der”
All the women froze and looked at each other…” Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah…Thun-Der!” There was no mistaking that guitar riff!
“AC/DC” they yelled. All of a sudden there were women on the pathways dancing, and air guitaring. Shaking their heads, and throwing their hands in the air. The men of Terra
neu just watched in stunned disbelief, until one by one, they were dragged into the dancing too! It didn’t matter if they knew how, as long as they were moving.
“You’ve been…Thunderstruck!” The women were singing and laughing and having a great time!
Mairi was dancing close to Knollig, singing along with the song. The women stayed to dance, and kept the men moving too. They were laughing and chatting between songs and moving away to talk if they wanted privacy. It was past midnight, when after a particularly slow dance to the song “Amazed” by Lonestar with Knollig that Mairi whispered it was time to find some privacy. He picked her up, and ran as fast as he could back to their living quarters.
“I like this dancing thing Mairi, it is very stimulating.” Knollig was busy getting his clothes off. Mairi was stepping out of hers, and they jumped into bed and did some horizontal dancing until exhausted they finally fell asleep.
Mairi’s last thought was the dance had been a huge success. It had really helped break the ice between the men and women. Learning to dance gave the men a reason to get close to the women. Taking a break from the dancing gave them a chance to talk and hopefully find interests in common. Overall she thought…Amber should be proud.
~*~*~*
When it came time to clean up the square, Amber had requested the fountains be allowed to stay. Kniam and the Council had agreed, because who would deny Amber a simple thing like a fountain? There was talk among the community to hold a dance the day after the next portal opening to Earth. The Council thought that would be a great idea, and had voted unanimously to allow the dance every six months. It was commented that maybe they would need a park, or large area that they could hold events. Since there were plans to build more family units to the North, they could set aside land to the East for a park. Maybe make some play equipment too. Then Mairi asked if the males had ever thought of building a large swimming pool in Terraneu?
Knollig: A Terraneu Novel ( Book 2) Page 13