"We owe our survival to a singularly great man who had a vision many years ago it's thanks to him that we are all alive today. He created Lark, this Lunar Ark, here on the moon in case of a disaster, and we were blest to be given a place here. He himself, never made it, he was killed by the bunch of ruthless idiots who let that virus lose on earth all those years ago."

"That's so sad," Mary said, "what was his name?"

"General Hammond," Sam answered, "his son John and his wife are here with us, John and Lisa Hammond, and you'll find a memorial to the general in the central square. We often meet there for special occasions, speaking of which, we would like you to come to our wedding. We wanted you to be the first to be invited."

Kay gave Sam's arm a squeeze.

"We'd really like Paul and Sarah to be our page boy and bridesmaid."

Dave and Mary were once again overwhelmed by the love they were being shown in Eden, neither of them could answer, but Paul and Sarah had no such problem.

"We'll do it!" they said, in unison, causing Sam and Kay to laugh.

"That's wonderful," Kay said, to them both, "we'll let you know when, as soon as we know ourselves."

Dave and Mary were still struggling to speak and so just waved as Sam and Kay left.

"They're really nice folks Sam, I'm so glad we were able to rescue them from that awful place."

"Me too, I don't think we'll be going back there again."

"We destroyed the radio Steve, and sank the glider in the lake. I don't think they'll find it, they seemed to have an aversion to water, you wouldn't believe the stench."

"Sounds terrible, Jake," Steve said, "I'm so glad you all came back, and the Thomases, it must have been really tough for them trying to bring up a family down there. They'll blossom here in Eden, I just know it."

"We destroyed the berry plants too, it seemed like the right thing to do."

"Yes, I agree, in the wrong hands they could be used for all kinds of evil."

Steve thought for a moment then said, "I've got Tris working on some modifications to the main ship; Clare and I are retiring and going on a trip. Most folk know about it by now, but as you've been away, I thought I'd tell you about it personally."

"So where are you going Steve, or is it a secret?"

"Ha, it's a secret for now, but I'll announce it soon."

The two friends parted smiling.

"I've just come back, and you're about to leave!" Jake called out to Steve as he went. "Was it something I said?"

It was several weeks later when Tris caught up with Steve. "How's it going Tris? Sorry I haven't been to see you lately, I've been busy planning our trip."

"No problem Steve, I needed the time anyway, it's quite a task you've set me, I even had to pull John out of retirement to help me, but things are going well now. John is looking after the internal modifications to the ship, whilst I concentrate on the Trion drive. I have a few ideas to go at, but no real progress to report yet, I'll let you know if anything breaks."

"Good enough Tris, tell John I'm sorry he had to come back to work."

Steve watched as Tris walked away. He had grown up so fast and was quite the man now. 'I wonder...' He thought to himself.

Clare was busy doing nothing, which she seemed to enjoy more and more as she did it.

"Hi Sweetie, glad I caught you. Erm...What do you think of Tris?"

"How do you mean Hun?"

"Well,...Do you like him?"

"Ah, I get it," she replied, "you want to take him with us as company for Hope."

Steve just stood there aghast.

"Guilty as charged," he said, a little embarra.s.sed, "we may be gone a long time, and I don't want her to be lonely, and, well...She is growing up."

Clare looked at him with that warm knowing look and said, "Perhaps we should ask her about it."

"I intended to Sweetie, but thought I'd run it past you first."

"So I'm your yard-stick am I?" She teased.

"Yep," he said, "always have been, always will be."

"I don't suppose you've mentioned it to Tris either."

"No Sweetie, he knows nothing about it, I thought I'd see how Hope responded before going down that road, the whole thing may be a non-starter."

"OK then, leave Hope to me, I'll be seeing her shortly. It may come better from me."

"I see," Steve said, smiling, "it's a woman thing."

They both laughed, and Hope walked in right on cue. Seeing them laugh was not an unusual sight, so Hope just breezed by with a, "Hi all, anything to eat?"

Steve made a manly exit and Clare followed Hope into the kitchen.

"Where did dad go? It's not like him to miss out on food."

"He left us alone to have a little chat," Clare announced.

"But we've done the birds and the bees stuff mom," Hope said, laughing.

"Well, that's not quite it Sweetheart, but it's close!"

On hearing this, Hope became all ears.

"What do you think of Tris?" Clare asked.

"In what way?" Hope said, with a giggle.

"It's like this, your father is thinking of asking Tris to come with us, so you'll have someone your own age as company. How does that sound to you?"

Hope settled a little at the seriousness of the question.

"Well, he's a nice boy mom, but I've never thought of him in any other way, but now you mention it, he is rather dishy."

Now it was Clare's turn to giggle.

"Well, have a think about it and let us know what you'd like us to do. It would be good to have Tris along though, after all, your father is not a pilot, he doesn't even know where the start b.u.t.ton is."

They both laughed. "Point taken mom, I'll give it some thought."

They heard a noise in the hallway, "It's all right, you can come in now daddy."

Steve popped his head sheepishly around the door and saw them both grinning at him. "It went well then?" he asked timidly.

"Yes, daddy, it went well. I'll let you know what I decide."

"Wonderful, now what's to eat, I'm starved."

Hope went to visit her big sister for some advice. "He wants to take Tris along so I'll not be lonely."

Sh.e.l.ley smiled at her little sister. "Look at you," she said, "you're all grown up."

"I should think Tris would jump at the chance." Jimmy added, "Does he know yet?"

"No, dad is waiting for my answer before he asks him."

"So, what's it to be then?" Sh.e.l.ley asked, excitedly.

"I think it's a yes," Hope said, blushing a little.

"That's my sis," Sh.e.l.ley said, giving her a hug, "Tris is a great guy, I'm happy for you."

"Me too," Jimmy said, "I'm sure you'll get on like a house on fire."

"Well, I'd better go and tell the old folks then," Hope said, and made her exit. She made her way back towards her own house and was met by Rufus, who took a flying leap and landed in her arms licking her face. "So, you approve too do you?"

"Yap," barked Rufus in confirmation.

"I'm sure she went to see Sh.e.l.ley Hun, maybe she went for advice, shush, she's just come in."

"It's all right you two, I can hear you whispering."

Hope walked into the room to see her parents behaving like naughty school children.

"The answer is yes," was all she said, and Steve and Clare pounced on her. Together, they all danced around the room, very happy bunnies.

"Now it's up to you daddy."

"That's right Hun, now it's your turn."

"Ok, Ok, I get the message," Steve said, "I'll go and see him straight away."

A few more hugs and he left the house to find Tris. He found him at the ship, deep in the bowels of the Trion drive.

"Tris," Steve shouted, his voice echoing through the empty ship, "got a minute?"

"Be right with you Steve, just give me a second to climb out."

A few seconds later Tris appeared, covered from head to foot in soot from the engines. It was all Steve could do to keep himself from laughing.

"What?" Tris said, seeing Steve's expression.

"Sorry Tris, but you look like one of the kids from a d.i.c.kens novel."

Tris smiled, which made it worse, his pink gums and white teeth showing up against the blackness of his face. He took a look at his reflection in a piece of Kerasite, and they both had a laugh while Tris wiped his face.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"Hmm, it's a little delicate Tris, so I'll just come right out with it. How would you like to come on the trip with us? Clare and I both agree that we need you along, and...I think you'd be good company for Hope."

Steve stopped to see his reaction.

"Wow," Tris said, slowly, "Hope is, erm, is, well, she's quite something. Does she want me to come along?"

"Yes, Tris, she does. We asked her before asking you, and she wants you to come with us."

"Then count me in," he replied, without hesitation. "Wow, she actually wants me to come along too!"

Steve could see that he wasn't going to get any more sense out of Tris, so he just waved and left the lad walking on air.

"He was that excited eh?" Hope said, when Steve told her about it.

"Yes, he was Hops, I'll bet he gets the ship finished in half the time now."

Privately, Steve had been hoping for just such an outcome. Time had been going slowly for him, and he wanted to get started on the trip. Now he was sure that things would speed up.

The following day, Steve and Clare paid a visit to the Thomases.

"Come in," Mary called, on hearing them knock, "it's so good to see you."

They all went and sat in the big room.

"We wanted to see how you've settled in," Steve said.

"And to ask if there's anything you need?" Clare added.