The cacophony in the cabin was hushed as a vibration was felt through the floor panels of the transport as it made its way across the salt water to the far deeper coastline waters of Callor. Seawater was less dense than land, so it required more energy to cross. Nora felt the wave pattern in the vibration. The sea was turbulent due to a cyclone. Rain bounced off the exterior of the transport. It was fully submersible, it would be too late to question them now. It was important just to get there. The transport was full of the chatter of her children and her spouses, but her mind was on the transport below them, traveling in their transport's energy shadow below the waves. The trip was not long. Transports were incredibly quick. Nora had never been to the Setton residence. It backed into a large mountain that met the ocean. The transport slowed its speed and allowed the other transport to gain on it as it approached the building. The transport was pressurized as the children laughed giddy.
"Now we are going under the water Dadda Kai!" Sirona said as she squealed with glee. The transport rumbled as the craft submerged into the depths. Fiona clung to her mother tighter. Rex cried in surprise and gripped Talan's pant leg nervously.
"That is the wake that Uncle Janel's transport made." Nora said as she squeezed Fiona's hand as she saw her get fearful. Fiona nodded to her quietly. Nora stroked her long curly blonde hair to soothe her further. She acted bravely due to her father's insistence on her own self-reliance. Nora thought it was in line to reassure her and explain so she did not hide her fears in the future.
"Scary things can turn into very normal things when you look into the cause of them," Cerez said.
"Is that why we are going to Granny's with the babies?" Ivy asked, she almost sounded sarcastic. Cerez laughed.
"It is alright to be scared, Fi." Nora said in a quiet voice. Fiona rested her head against Nora's shoulders and sighed. The transport vibrated and bobbed up and down as it surfaced inside the building. It was elevated quickly and connected to a dock on a track following the lead transport into the Setton compound. " We are inside just like that, it will be easier when we go to leave, we can take our time and check out the scenery below the water. We can swim in the waves and find fruit and food on the shore and cook it over a fire!" Nora said, trying to distract the children as the pressure was adjusted.
"We have to wait a little while longer. Hope and Eve are getting loaded off. Who wants to sing a song or play games?" Kai asked.
"Why didn't I get to grow up by myself?" Ivy asked. Nora laughed.
"Because it was not safe for you both yet," Kai said.
"Oh." Ivy said.
"Dr. Morrit, Monil Morrit- Nuru, and Van Morrit- Nuru, it is so nice to see you." Solina said excitedly. Solina quickly stepped on the cargo transport and greeted them. Janel was still not used to respect and cowered. It seemed like he was being treated like a Matriarch. He did not know how to feel about that. Solina was pleased to see the delicate man. She grabbed his hand tenderly like she commonly grabbed Nora's in the past.
"Oh," Janel said as the sudden contact with his hand met hers. Both of them were about the same age. She walked out with Janel and his son Van. She held his little hand.
"You have gotten so big! Are you excited?" Solina said to Van. The little boy looked up at her without any fear and nodded. "We have a big play room inside for you and the girls. Do you want to wait here with me while your fathers both work or go have fun?" Solina asked.
"Go have fun." Van answered. "Haha, good choice! Navi is your Uncle Kai's brother, he will take you there to play with the others," Solina said as she pointed at her son.
"Let's go play!" Van said as he looked up at the teenager.
"Up you go!" Navi said as he squatted to give the child a piggyback ride. Van climbed up, and the teen stood up and playfully jogged around the platform while he giggled. Janel looked on with a warm smile. Their status and class meant nothing here, he was being seen as a person on equal footing. He knew this feeling.
"See you soon Mother." Navi said as he left the platform.
The first transport carrying the Gestational Racks waited. Janel opened the cargo door. "Sorry for the wait, guys." Janel said apologetically. The core team carefully disembarked. Genetically repaired embryos followed the racks. They were the incentive for staff members to be discrete. Incentives were a brilliant concept. Setton could offer these to families as society changed. She had thought about it, but she was on high alert. This compound was very secure. There was a decoy Setton Peacekeeper conference going on at the Callor base. Their allies had no idea what they were coming to see. However, she knew one of them suspected something. The other clans probably thought they were coming for a product launch.
"Hurry up." Solina shouted.
"The eldest two have seen it, not the little ones." Kehye shouted. Solina looked at Janel apologetically. The more immediate family members of the Setton Clan were waiting for their arrival to assist them. Janel smiled awkwardly at the courtesy he and his family were receiving. After a lifetime of discourtesy, it still felt unsettling. Nora was the first to, but that was just such a large group of people this time. It was stunning.
'People like this used to despise me and intimidate me. It took me saving the species to finally be treated with respect. I still cannot shake off the fear of the past and the dislike for Peacekeepers. The public response to this could turn violent. This is why we are here today.' Janel thought, as he tried to keep his nerves about him.
"Do not worry, Kai already knows this takes a while," Janel said. He closed the door to the transport. The transport followed along as it interfaced with the building's software and made its way to the garage to park and to charge. Solina did not want to ruin their innocence by seeing the unsightly biological and mechanical equipment that held the two infants that would be sharing their birth. The pink uterine tissue was always visible through the transparent bag material that kept it safe, it was cushioned by a serous fluid. The machines emitted a gentle pulsation while vitals were displayed on the display. It was gross and amazing at the same time. The next transports emerged from the water and drained.
"See you inside." Janel shouted and quickly followed the remainder of his team inside once the racks were clear. The door hissed open. Janel quickly followed behind the team, Monil was already voluntarily staying with the rack and the members of the Quill Research Team. He briskly followed the team in. The interior of the transport erupted in a cacophony of excited children's voices as they saw Solina. Kai's normal facade creased into a smile, and then he laughed, wondering if the soldiers outside could hear. It was becoming a wonderful normalcy to see a smile on her eldest son's face. The past few years had changed him for the better. He used to be a boy that nothing could reach. Kelly leaped off his lap excitedly and ran to her and Kehye.