WELCOME TO

by

Charles  worked on his book of rules for almost a year before it was ready to distribute to the people for their comments. He read it over one last time before making copies. It wasn't a very large book, with his having tried to keep it as abbreviated and simple as possible.

"You shall honor the rights of others as if they were your own in all things. This means you will not ask a man for his help without first planning a way in which to return his favors of labor or goods in an equal amount."

"You shall take unto yourself but one mate. This mate shall be bound to you until death takes one of you. Then you may take another mate if it is desired. Under no circumstances shall you use coercion or deception in asking a man or woman to be your mate. There shall be no rules governing who you may choose as a mate, nor that this person you choose be bound to you as a mate, because it is your desire to have them. If your request is denied, then you must seek out another."

"It is against the laws of God and nature to take a life. Only the advisor has the power to end the life of a person, whom is already threatened with death by illness or age, and is in such misery as to request their life be ended. This will only be an option for the advisor after he has investigated fully, and used all his knowledge to find a cure for the person's illness or pain. This rule will apply forever, with no change when the enlightenment comes."

"You are commanded by God to protect one another from harm. Your neighbor is just as important as your own family in this regard. If your neighbor is hungry, feed him. If he is ill, care for him. If he is without shelter, shelter him. All these things are to be done as if your neighbor was your own family. For there is but one family of your world. You are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God."

"There is a knowledge hidden away about many things, but only the advisor has the key to this knowledge, and he is commanded to retain this knowledge to himself only, until the time is right to reveal it to the world. That will be the day of enlightenment, and your world shall know the secrets of the universe - the secrets from whence you sprang."

"No man is to seek out this secret knowledge. Only when the time for you to be enlightened comes shall you know the secrets. All has been provided for you to live a simple, peaceful life of love, caring and happiness. We, who know all the secrets, are compelled to set down these rules that you may flourish in peace and harmony. We do not hide anything from you only for the sake of creating secrets. We do it that your world will survive and live - that mankind may survive and prosper. One day, when the time is right, you shall have all the knowledge, and you will journey to the stars, as we have."

And so the rules went on - all to create a society of people belonging to one family - a people who would live in peace and for each other.

A meeting was held to discuss the idea of not allowing all their knowledge to be immediately disseminated to the people of the new world, but holding it back and creating an agricultural society to begin with. Some time later, when it had been discussed many times and a vote was taken, the idea passed by a margin of ninety-three percent.

Charles tried to imagine all the situations that might come up on the new world and wrote rules covering everything he could possibly think of. He tried his very best, rewriting and rewriting, to make the rules as fair to the entire population as possible. In all, he spent almost two years on his small book. When he was satisfied he had done all he could, Charles printed enough copies for everyone on board and distributed them at dinner in the main dining hall, telling everyone to read it carefully and contribute any ideas they had.

As the books were being passed out, Charles smiled at the fact that the paper on which they were printed had been made aboard the ship, pretty much as the paper of ancient times was made. The difference was, his paper was made from the stems of soybean rather than papyrus. When all the ideas were incorporated into his book, a vote was taken on each rule, and the book became a bible for their descendants.

Life aboard ship took on a daily routine of working on his journal, making love to Carolyn, and talking endlessly with his son. When Daniel was eight years old, a birthday party for him and Melissa was held in their suite. After dinner was eaten and the birthday cake was mostly devoured, they talked away the hours until finally everyone was gone. Carolyn was asleep on the sofa and Charles and his son were still talking. Suddenly, Charles saw a faint glimmer from the edge of his desk. "What in the world?"

He arose, walked to the desk and flipped the lighted computer screen up. He stared for a long while at the message, trying to understand what he was seeing. It read: "Thanks for a wonderful birthday. You're the best father a boy could have." He suddenly sensed some one behind him and turned to see his son with a smile on his face. "You! How?"

"I'm not sure, Father."

"You were only a year old the first time!"

"Yes, I know. I told you then the time would come that you'd know the truth. That time is now."

Charles was baffled. "But I don't understand!"

"I am aware of that, Father. I am aware of everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I am aware of everything that has happened in the history of your world, everything that anyone aboard the Space Adventurer knows. I hear it all in my mind. I am also aware of every nut, bolt and screw in the ship. That is how I knew of the seals that were leaking in the airlock."

"But you were only a year old." Charles repeated himself and looked at his son questioningly.

"I cannot explain it, Father. I am aware that I am different, yet, I know not why. Melissa is so gifted, also."

"But how do you know everything? Do you read people's minds?"

"Father, it is nothing like that. It's just that I hear people think and everything they know somehow becomes part of my knowledge. As I say, I do not understand it, it just happens. I have gained much awareness from you and Mother. I also have attained the gentleness and love you harbor within. It was I, who directed many of the ideas you put into the book. I do not mean to embarrass you, father. I only wanted to help."

"You're saying you are aware of everything that happens. What about...." He looked toward the bedroom where he and Carolyn slept.

Daniel could not help but chuckle. "Father, I learned of sex at a very young age, and also learned it is a very private thing. No, I do not know what happens in that room. I do have the ability to shut out anything of which I do not wish to be aware. The relationship you share with Mother is completely private."

Charles placed his hands on his face and said, "Good God, I don't understand."

"Nor do I, Father. That is the one thing that eludes us. Melissa and myself, I mean. We have discussed it at length and used all the knowledge we have attained, but there seems to be no answer. We were just born the way we are."

"Daniel, three other children have been born recently. Do you know if they, too are gifted?"

"They are not. That is puzzling, also. I wonder why we have been so gifted, but none others. I know there lies an answer somewhere, but it eludes me. I do seem to get the impression it is a gift to be used for some purpose, although the purpose isn't clear."

"Perhaps you are destined to lead the people of the new world in the infancy of their society. As you know, we've been training the younger people aboard in all phases of knowledge to make them a peaceful, yet able society. We have deliberately excluded the knowledge of arms and any scientific knowledge that would allow them to make arms." Charles hesitated and got a rather wistful look in his eyes. "I only hope we succeed. Not only in creating a peaceful, loving people to populate their new world, but that we find a world which is inhabitable."

A smile filled Daniel's face and he said, "Oh, you will find such a world, Father!"

"How can you be so sure?"

For the first time in their conversation, Daniel faltered. "Uh, I... Father, just please believe me. I sense the world is there."

"How do you sense it? Tell me, what is it that makes you believe it's there?"

"I was not going to reveal this to anyone just yet, but there is a world. I not only sense it, I know it. It is a world much like earth and yet much different. I cannot see it well, but it is there."

"How can you see it at all?"

"I really can't see it, as such. I sense it."

"But how?"

Daniel looked at him more as a parent would look at a little boy, than a son would look at his father. He walked slowly to the view port and stood looking toward the world he "sensed." "Father, I wasn't going to tell you this until we were much closer to the world, and I could more readily identify what I was feeling, but I will tell you now. You are my Father, and above all, I know respecting one's parents is paramount. I feel ... no, I guess the proper word would be hear. I hear things from the world. Things I do not yet understand. The messages are so weak at this great distance."

"Messages? What do you mean?"

"Perhaps messages is the wrong term. I hear feelings. Not thoughts, but feelings - feelings of love, happiness, contentment, anxiety."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"There is life on the world, Father." He smiled and said, "Yes, there is definitely life on this new world."

They were interrupted by the door chime. As Charles reached for the control that opened the door, it opened on its own. He started to say something, but just as quickly realized his son had opened the door without touching the control. There was a feeling of awe for this boy of eight he had sired, yet there was an underlying feeling of fear. When the door was open, Melissa walked in.

"I hope you don't mind me joining you, Captain Matlin? I, of course, was aware of your conversation and thought I might be able to contribute."

Charles smiled at her, and with a sound of resignation in his voice, said, "Yes, of course."

"Captain, the things we sense from the new world are definitely life forms, but they only feel the emotions Daniel has spoken of. They do not think intelligent thoughts as we do. They do not seem to reason or debate. They are what you would call animals, sir."

"Animals." Charles repeated the word as he walked to the view port and stared ahead. "You are saying the world is populated with animals, but no intelligent life."

"I guess you could say that. That is not to say the animals are not intelligent. I feel they have a very advanced intelligence of their own kind. Not the sort of intelligence that would build cities, or anything of that sort. Just the intelligence they need for their own survival. Captain Matlin... Uh, I hope you do not think it presumptuous of me to say this, but you need to make an addition to your book of rules for living on the new world. The animals must not be harmed. No flesh must be eaten on the world."

"Why do you say this?"

"I sense there is a perfect balance on this world. I believe their animal society has developed well beyond that of your former world. This new world seems to be in perfect harmony with itself. We will be an intruder, and could very easily upset the balance that has been achieved. Therefore, we must not kill anything that has emotions and feelings such as love and fear. It would not only be wrong, but it could very easily upset what can be a magnificent world for us."

She hesitated to let him think about what she was saying, then continued, "Sir, there are emotions that are absent from these signals that your son and I receive from Tranquility." She giggled and said, "I'm sorry. Daniel and I decided it would be the perfect name for the new world - Tranquility. It is so tranquil now that it should remain that way, and what better name for a peaceful world. But, as I said, there are some emotions we do not detect. We have felt nothing of anger, greed or jealousy. None of the hate that was known on your earth."

Charles had to smile at her referring to earth as "your" Earth. This ship was all that she or his son knew of the universe as far as a home was concerned. She startled him by saying, "I'm sorry if it bothers you, our not thinking of earth as our home. It truly is not our home. We have a lot of compassion for the people of earth, but it was not our home. We feel more toward the new world than we do toward earth. I do hope you can understand."

Charles thought to himself, "I do understand."

"Thank you, Captain. Daniel, are you going to tell him what we thought we should do with the records aboard?"

"Father, I know you have worked diligently to try to decide what should be left of the record of earth and what should be erased. I know you do not want the people to know of all the wars and terrible actions man took against man and have begun erasing it." He smiled and said, "By the way, Father, we both think you are a very wonderful person. We know your only concern throughout has been to see that mankind continues. You are far nobler than all the warriors who ever lived put together."

Charles was somewhat embarrassed and didn't know how to answer him. "Please do not be embarrassed, Father. It was not meant to embarrass you, only to tell you how we feel. But to get back to what we were saying, Melissa and I can rewrite the libraries far more quickly than you could hope to. We would not do it without your permission, though. We would hope to change not only the history, but the literature of earth, also. For instance, we would have Romeo and Juliet live happily ever after. Wouldn't that be much nicer? Everything in our literature we take to the new world should express a positive outlook of love, caring and understanding. There is no need for the knowledge of any of the violence that so nearly destroyed mankind on so many occasions."

Charles turned from the view port and looked at his son and this pretty young girl who stood beside him. He could never have described the feeling of love he had for both of them. How in the hell had this happened? He would wonder almost until his dying day, when the answer would be revealed to him. "I know I can trust you to use good judgment in rearranging our libraries. I would ask but one thing ..."

"We shall make none of this known to anyone but you and Mother and Melissa's parents, Father." Again he had answered Charles' unspoken command. As much as he was happy to know of his son's gift, down deep inside somewhere, Charles wished he didn't know. He was a little frightened by all of it. "Melissa, could you stay for breakfast? It's ready."

She smiled, took him by the hand and led him to the dining room.

Charles said, "I should awaken your mother."

"No need, Father.  She's on her way."

He had no sooner spoken the words, when the bedroom door slid open and Carolyn said, "Oh, we have company for breakfast.  My, it smells good. Who cooked?"

Daniel smiled at Melissa and said, "Melissa did it."  Charles moved his head back and forth in a disbelieving way.  Was there any limit to their powers?  Daniel smiled at him, held his hands out palm up, and shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of, "I don't know."

Carolyn noticed the smiles passing back and forth among them and asked, "Am I to be let in on the joke?"

Now, they laughed.  Finally, Daniel said, "Mother, it's not a joke - just a secret.  But we will let you in on the secret."

He continued to smile at her without saying anything until she said, "Well?"

Charles said, "It's hard to figure out how to say this, sweetheart, but Charles and Melissa have... uh, well, special powers."

"What do, you mean?"

"Son, maybe you or Melissa had better tell her."

Charles really didn't know how to go about telling his wife that her son could read their minds, move inanimate objects, understand everything that everyone aboard the Space Adventurer knew, and on and on.

Melissa spoke up and said, "You see, Mrs. Matlin, Daniel and I were born with some very special gifts."  She continued to explain those gifts to Carolyn for the next half-hour, including the mystery of the message on her husband's computer screen.  Carolyn sat listening with a look on her face that belied nothing of what she felt.  She, too, had a feeling of not only wonder, but fear.  It was a normal feeling.  Humans had always feared what they didn't understand. And though Melissa and Daniel sensed their feelings of fear and foreboding, they never mentioned it. They didn't want to embarrass them by making them feel inadequate to understand.

A whole new relationship developed between the children and their parents once their secret was revealed. One day, they were just ordinary kids, albeit very intelligent, but the next, they were almost God-like - knowing and hearing all.  It was very hard for the parents to accept the children's superior intellect.  In fact, if it hadn't been for Melissa and Daniel enjoining their parents minds to accept them, the divide would have widened and become intolerable.