The Lack of Bravery That Saved the World

Breakfast The Day Before

"But Dad!" Arlen whined.

"I understand that you want more responsibility and you have been keeping up with the apartment very well for a while. I just don't know if I want to put the future residence of this family in your 12 year old hands?" Dad replied.

In the City of Grinnell, each family was given a certain amount of animals to take care of, to lessen the burden on the Zoo. The animals that you were given determined the place and level where you lived in the ship. If you were given any of the herd animals then you resided on the upper levels with the most sunlight. The fields needed as much natural light as possible in order to be able to feed the herd animals. If you were given aquatic animals you had to live close to the Water Purification Complex.

The Altersby family had been given five species of spiders and three kinds of bees. These were highly important animals because they would be required to repopulate the new world. Spiders were needed or else some future generation would be overtaken by pests like ants or grasshoppers. The bees were obviously needed to pollinate crops.

The fact that the Altersbys had been given such high priority animals to care for was proof of the respect that the colony had for Ceasar Altersby. Some petty people talked behind their backs and said that they had only been given that assignment because of Saeena's mother. Most people in the colony had seen Ceasar helping his neighbors, working extra hours to resolve problems, and even working double shifts when people just needed time off. He was a strong family man and many people relied on him for help and advise and he never complained or gossiped. He was one of the few that could be counted on to step up and do the right thing, even when it was the hard thing. He would do anything to help his family.

Since the family was well respected and had been scheduled to care for caged animals, they had been assigned an apartment in the section that was adjacent to the presidential committee's apartments. If they were unable to care for their assignment or the Zoo found that the animals were at risk during an inspection, the family could be reassigned and moved lower in the ship. Everyone wanted higher rooms. Lower was darker, smellier and louder. Criminals were assigned to live in the bottom levels.

Allowing the family's future to rest in the hands of a twelve year old was concerning for Ceasar. While he had faith in his son, this decision would effect the entire family.

"Give me one more day to think about it," Ceasar looked sternly at his son.

Arlen knew better than to say anything else. 'At least it wasn't a no', Arlen thought as he hurried through breakfast to get ready for school.

Saeena watched her daughter's expression and thought that Toya's hormones must be acting up. She had gone to bed happy and then woke up today in a mood. It could be anything that sets her off.

"Are you worried about school today?" Saeena asked her daughter. Maybe she had a test.

"I know that you and dad are thinking about Paul, but I am going to use a veto, I promise. I don't like him and you can't make me marry him!" Toya was ready to argue.

Due to the lack of eligible people of marring age at any one time, parents would help a child choose a mate. Each child had three vetoes. Parents had four chances to pick for their children. If all three vetoes were used then the child would be required to marry the fourth choice. It was agreed that everyone had to marry and have kids to keep the population up. It took a certain number of people to run the city sized ship and every bit of DNA would be needed in the new world. Toya was determined to use a veto on Paul.

"I will talk to your father, don't worry. He wants you to be happy, too. And you are only 14, we have plenty of time." Saeena was trying to calm her daughter.

"You know how I feel about just being another breeder. The only reason I am here is to get married and have kids. It's like my whole future is already written. What if I want to do something else with my life. I will never even see Europa. What do I care if we make it, I will be dead by then anyway. " She had never told anyone about her real wish to be in the Exploration program. A female astronaut would have to have a hysterectomy in order to qualify and children would never be an option. She would have to rally to have them change the laws so that she could not be forced to have kids. Her parents would be crushed. Sometimes she would sneak into the shuttle pods and pretend to be flying the machines. It wasn't fair that she didn't get to have a real say in her future.

"Remember that we are supposed to have dinner this weekend with Uncle Tramon and Aunt Peyco. It will be fun, they have a pineapple to share with us." Saeena was trying to get her family in a better mood before they left for the day.

Ceasar looked suspiciously at his wife, "Stop by the Repository and pick up some extra rations on your way to the Hospital." Ceasar did not want to spend too much time with his brother because it always led to a disagreement. He never understood how his brother could be so flippant about life. He didn't take anything seriously. Especially having a family. It was all about fun for Tramon.

As the family talked, they had no way to know that the alien that would infect the last known group of humans in the universe was already plummeting towards them.

They also had no way to know that they had just spent their last meal as a family arguing about chores, marriage and a grocery list.