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Tomorrow is What You Make It, part 7 December was considered a month of quiet celebration. With so many different cultures and beliefs within the village there wasn't a traditional community event other than a special meal prepared on solstice day. That pagan day was chosen so no culture would feel slighted. Individual religions were quietly practiced among those who wished, such as Christmas, mostly between families and close friends. Small gifts were exchanged on Christmas Eve. As tradition of old for Solstice, small bonfires were lit and bits of oak and evergreen were added. Everyone ate outdoors and celebrated, dancing to music and mingling. By the time everyone left for home, they were stuffed from eating and more than happy to sleep in late the next morning. Sharon had served warmed spiced cider that had quite a kick to it. JP had been afraid to ask how much alcohol had been added. She only knew she was quite buzzed and needed to sleep it off. Cierra helped JP to their home and eased her into bed after stripping off her clothes. JP was already snoring by the time Cierra had put Kiona to bed and undressed herself. She crawled in next to her tall spouse. The shaman was glad she kept headache medicine in their cabin because she knew JP was going to have one hell of a hangover the next morning. Elu sensed he could get away with getting onto the bed and leapt up, settling onto the foot of the mattress. Cierra blew out the candle and closed her eyes. ________ Chuck and Wanda Thompson saw little of their second oldest son since he began learning medicine from the village doctors. He often just slept over in Pat's house now that Sandra moved out. They were surprised to see their son walk into the communal building with a large crock. "Hi, mom, dad." the boy said with a smile as he set up the crock on the counter. "What have you got there?" "Hangover medicine. Pat said to bring it here. She's taking one to the other kitchen." "Good idea. I could use a cup myself," Chuck admitted. The man grabbed an empty ceramic cup and put it under the spout. "Does it need sweetener?" "It wouldn't hurt," the teenager warned. "That bad?" Chuck added some honey and took a careful sip, then made a face. "Ugh, that's nasty." Mocci laughed. "So are hangovers. Pat said people either drank this or suffered for their fun." Wanda looked at the face of her adopted son. She had never seen him so relaxed and happy. Mocci was always such a serious young man with a chip on his shoulder. It was nice to see him without it. "Are you enjoying your studies?" she asked. "Yes, Mom. I'm learning a lot." "Good. You seem happier now and its nice to see you this way. Every mother wants her kids happy," she told him, brushing her hand along his arm. The teen looked embarrassed but didn't pull away. He had gotten used to being touched when dealing with the doctors. They were very tactile women. "I gotta get something to eat. I'll be back in a minute," he told his parents. Once the teen was out of earshot the father spoke. "You know, in spite of all the troubles that Earth is suffering, I'm glad we're here. I never thought I'd see the day when Mocci would smile." "He was really angry and defensive when we adopted him," she reminded her husband. Mocci had watched his parents get shot down when he was ten years old. Chuck nodded. They had hoped to give Mocci a new start but it was their new community that had brought him out of his shell. They couldn't take the credit for his new attitude. The teenager rejoined them and sat down, talking almost non-stop as he spoke about his studies. His parents merely listened and smiled, thrilled to be included in his happiness. _________ Little Mel and Kiona's birthdays were only a few days apart so their parents decided to celebrate their first birthday together. Each child had a tiny cake with a single candle and their mothers helped them make their wishes. The adults preferred eating pies and drinking warmed cider over the sugary cakes. The toddlers had a wonderful time smashing their treats and getting messy. The little girls even managed to eat a bite or two. Once they were cleaned up the toddlers were put down for a nap while the adults sat around and chatted while they played a game. All to soon, the winter sun began setting and the guests filtered out of the quad unit and headed for the communal kitchen for dinner before heading for their homes. JP glanced at the sundial that Shane and Paul had set up, noting that the days were getting longer as spring approached. She wondered when the WaveDancer would return. Cierra was getting antsy since she knew that people were waiting for her to arrive and transport survivors. Although her spouse could have just jumped the military vessels, Cierra still felt a fear over that. She wanted to be on the WaveDancer and not some ship full of armed troops. They had brought a few people to Mother Earth but most survivors were taken to the new world. Cierra had told her friends how much looting had gone on before those people even made it to Mare Island. The smart ones hoarded as much food and weapons as possible and avoided other people. Each month the survivors were progressively more wary of others and kept guards around the clock while waiting for Cierra's arrival. JP could only wonder how bad it would be on the new world but that wasn't her problem. They did the best they could for those people but some arrived without anything but the clothes on their backs. Cierra had been appalled, refusing to send them to the new world with nothing. She and a group from the Napa clan had jumped to the devastated Earth and broke into stores and scraped up assorted sporting goods, camping goods, some canned foods, clothing, and assorted bits and pieces for the families. Cierra would have sent all the supplies with the first few families but she was afraid that they'd hoard them and not share with anyone who arrived later. So the village stored everything in the children's wigwams to keep them dry and doled them out as needed. The women made several trips a week trying to get more. The council just weren't certain the military would supply the refugees properly when the time came. Not only the refugees needed a grub stake, the scientists would also need supplies. Sometimes Cierra was kept awake at night thinking about what she needed to get done. ________ "Michael, I need to borrow some of your Marines," Cierra told the ambassador. The older man pulled his pipe from his mouth and looked up at her. "What do you have planned?" He certainly wouldn't refuse her as long as her request was reasonably safe. "We need to get more supplies for everyone. If I can find a helicopter pilot we can hoof it to the nearest Air Guard or airport and use it to bring back stuff." "There's no guarantee that you'll find a working helicopter anywhere, Cierra. I would assume that the military and National Guard have everything have under guard and you won't get anywhere." Cierra growled in frustration. he was probably correct. She leaned onto his desk. How about transport trucks? We can use a big truck and bring everything back on them." "As long as it isn't too ashy where you are salvaging. I wouldn't mind seeing if any of the men wanted to volunteer to help you ladies out. We could use a few things ourselves," he hinted. "Of course. I'm sure you need better equipment for farming and seed stock for spring." The village had provided the Embassy with fresh food and preserved goods to help them stretch their larder. The Embassy would have to plant their own crops if they wanted to eat next winter. ________ Mary listened to the conversation between the council members during lunch and mulled over what they said about the Embassy. Perhaps it was time to visit with Michael. The former officer headed down the hill to the Embassy. Children were playing outside and Mary wondered why they didn't join the village children to play. The visits from the personnel were now far and few between. It was as though the people inside were trying to remain separate from those who made mother Earth their home. A guard in civilian clothing watched the front lobby and nodded at her. "Any idea where Michael is at the moment?" "He's probably in the gymnasium. He works out before eating lunch." Mary thanked the Marine and headed for the small gym on the east side of the building. She was happy that she had found the older man working out alone. "Hey, Michael." "Mary! How are you? I haven't seen you in a while." Michael stopped his workout at the weight bench and wiped off with a towel. "I'm fine. Listen, I was wondering if we could talk about something." The ambassador's smile faded. He knew that look. "About what?" "Tell me something. Do you really think this is an still an Embassy?" She held up her hands to delay his answer. "I want you to think that answer over hard, Michael. Cierra has a lot on her hands and if you really think everyone here is not part of this world-" "Is this a threat or advice?" Michael asked. "Both. You can't straddle this fence like a good political stooge. The States is in ruins right now and will be for years, we both know that. Cierra can't afford to have people here that think they're a separate entity. You and the others living in the Embassy need to talk. Either consider yourselves a part of this world or ask to be taken back to Earth." "We aren't fighting her rule." "But you aren't supporting it either. You sit over here with your guards and underlings. Who is to say you won't try and take over or undermine her if you disagree with something she does? So fish or cut bait, Michael." Mary stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Michael to think over her warning. ________ Later that evening, in the darkness of their bedroom, Michael and Jason spoke quietly. "I'm...uneasy," Michael told his lover, unwilling to admit to fear. "About what exactly?" "Mary was suggesting that we give up our ties to Earth. Damn it, we're here as representatives of the United States!" he growled. "Oh get off your high horse. Listen, everyone here took refuge on Mother Earth rather than go back and risk dying. It was for no reason other than to save our asses. Even Hobson and his family went into military shelters until the dust settles. Things are gonna get ugly back home and you know it. I bet Cierra is scared shitless about going back and bringing people here. The survivors are going to be a mob of desperate people and will do almost anything to get onto her ship. The problem is that she can't save everyone. We were lucky she let us stay here." "So you're saying to do what Mary said, to ask for citizenship here or leave?" "Yup. She has no reason to let us stay here but a lot of reasons to fear us hanging around. I say the fact that she likes you is the only thing keeping her from banishing us. Our group is a wild card and she has enough worries." Michael leaned back onto his pillow to think. He respected his lover's advice and knew he would always give his honest thoughts and not what he wanted to hear. "Some of these folks may not want to give up US citizenship," he ventured. "Then they'll have to go back. The council can't risk keeping armed men around if they have their own agenda." Michael grunted and stared up at the ceiling. Next Chapter |