The Earthrise Trilogy by Colin Owen Page A

destiny."
    Steve had been working on his neural coms system with some success, he pressed the button. "Clare, are you reading me?"  
    "I certainly am Hun, heard every word, I'm mobilising everyone down here, we'll be with you shortly."  
    True to her word, Clare emerged from Lark along with all those who had been working down below. Kay had taken charge of the lab, and equipment was being packed and moved. Lisa had all the children busy with small tasks. Everyone pulled together magnificently, and the evacuation was completed with half an hour to spare. Steve, Clare, Bill, and Eric were the last in MBA taking a last look around.  
    "Will the Bycrylic hold?" Clare asked.  
    "Sure it will," Steve answered, crossing his fingers. "It'll hold."  
    With that, they entered the elevator, taking their last look at the Moon's surface as the huge doors closed. "Now you know why they're so thick." Eric said.  
    "Hammond," Steve and Bill said together.
    The descent was like any other, only this time it was one way. "I know this may be a silly question," Clare said, "but just how long will we be down here?"  
    "What do you think Bill?" Steve asked.  
    "It's hard to say folks, but somewhere between ten and fifteen years...I've got sensors set to monitor radiation levels, so long as the flare doesn't take them out, so we should know when it's safe again."  
    "Good thinking," Steve said.
    Clare added, "I was tired of looking at stars anyway."
    The lift came to a stop and Shelley and Chris were there to meet them, with Rufus of course. "Come on," they said, pulling Steve and Clare towards Lark's doors. They all entered and Lark's huge doors closed them in.  
    "Well, that's it," Steve said, to Clare, "we're in the ark, and the doors are shut...What's to eat, I'm starved!"  
    ❧
    Life took on a whole new meaning in Lark. For one thing, everyone forgot about space. The stars were no longer visible against a black sky as a reminder, and Earth too, became just a distant memory. Work and life progressed, and the men in the moon prospered, and multiplied.  
    "Huuuuuun," Clare said, approaching Steve one morning.  
    "Yeessss?" Steve mimicked.  
    "What would you say if I were to tell you I'm pregnant?" She said, twirling his hair with a finger.  
    "You serious?" Steve asked.  
    "What do you think?" Came the response. It took a few seconds to sink in, and then Steve's face lit up and he jumped up off the sofa and started to dance around the room.  
    "I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant," he was singing at the top of his voice.  
    "Well, actually dear," Clare butted in, "it's me who's pregnant around here, but feel free to tell everyone within earshot!"  
    Shelley and Chris came bursting through the door, "What's up with daddy mom?" Shelley asked giggling.  
    "Has living on the Moon sent him gaga?" Chris asked, as Steve, oblivious to his character being maligned, kept dancing around the room.  
    "Daddy's quite all right," Clare reassured them both, "I'm going to have a baby."  
    Without so much as an intake of breath, Shelley responded, "Please make it a girl mom," she looked at Chris, "one brother is quite enough!"  
    Clare laughed, and they all jumped up off the sofa to join in with Steve singing, "Daddy is pregnant, daddy is pregnant."  
    The Hammonds, who lived next door, heard the commotion. "Wow," Lisa said, to John, "this will be the first human being to not be born on Earth."  
    "A genuine extraterrestrial," said John, "this is significant, I must go and get the others."  
    With that, he left to round up the rest of the Moon men and women. The singing had died down by the time everyone arrived at the Forester's door. They knocked, and Steve shouted, "Come in." They all burst in shouting, "Congratulations, well done, great news..."  
    "Why, what's up with you lot?" Steve said jumping to his feet, "Any one would think we were going to have a baby!"  
    A great cheer went up mixed with loud applause.  
    "No work today," John