The Ark successfully pass through the kaiper belt and heliopause, enter to the vast emptiness of space, more specific it covers 37 billion kilometres at the record time of 30 days. Finally catch the gigantic speed of the 5% of the speed of light or 50 million kilometres per hour.
The crew was getting ready for all those days, checking the equipment for any possible mistakes once they are still close, get used to the zero gravity environment and exploring the relationships between them.
Soon enough the silence from the adults, got interrupted from cries and laughter of babies, the one after the other enriched the whole spaceship with voices.
Eight years pass without anyone noticed it, the babies are now healthy children. As the Ark's protocol, About children paragraph 1 says: "every children in the spaceship shall have interaction only with it's parents and siblings until the age of seven".
"6 wake up it's finally the day" with a warm welcoming voice called out child filled with excitement "it's the day you finally gonna make some friends"
"I don't want to..." 6's voice came muffled from beneath the blankets, refusing to budge. "For seven years, I've only needed you. Why do I have to meet more people?"
"Always the same, denying everything new... I'll kick you to that room if it's need" came the deep, teasing voice of 6's father, filling the room with a mixture of authority and affection.
"Daaad," 6 groaned, the tone packed with protest. A long, exaggerated sigh escaped as 6 finally gave in. "Fiiine..." Slowly, the child emerged from the safety of the blankets and began to wander around the room, half-heartedly playing with the edges of things, stalling—anything to avoid what was coming next.
While 6 lingered, trying to delay the inevitable, the parents exchanged amused glances as they prepared their child for the day ahead.
"And... when will I get to see you again?" 6 asked, eyes darting up anxious for what is coming.
The mother bent down to give a reassuring smile. "Oh, my sweet child, you'll see us at the launch," she said gently.
6's eyes lit up at that. "Really?"
"Of course," she replied with a warm smile. "Now, go. They're waiting for you."
With a final glance back, 6 reluctantly left the room, the door sliding closed behind automatic.
As the child disappeared down the corridor, the mother's smile faltered, and a distant look crept into her eyes.
"Are you alright?" her husband asked, his voice low and full of concern as he noticed her drifting thoughts.
"Who knows for how much longer I'll be... It's really hard you know?!" Her voice trembling in anxiety.
The hallway was empty, white, and eerily quiet. 6 stood in front of the door, trying to mentally prepare for the meeting. Taking a deep breath, 6 pushed off, floating into the zero-gravity section just beyond the doorway. "Well i guess it won't be so bad, right!?" It's voice tremble scared of the unknown behind the door.
"Stressed for your meeting" a robotic voice echoing on the hallway
"ASA?! You scared me to death!" 6's heart pounded and a bead of sweat trickled down. "They really should have programmed you with a sweeter voice or something more soothing."
ASA, the ship's AI, responded without hesitation. "I am designed to monitor the well-being of the crew and ensure a friendly interaction. My voice was calibrated to be as comforting as possible."
"I know... And call me 6 for short i told you one million times already, can you please now leave me alone" 6 said, trying to find some solitude.
"I'm always present, whether you hear me or not..." ASA's voice trailed off before finishing the sentence.
"I know, I know. I'm going in. Just please, don't talk. I need to clear my head," 6 pleaded as the door to the chamber slid open. Entering the room, gravity gradually pulled 6's feet to the floor. The door opened to reveal children sitting in small clusters, some alone on the floor, others clinging to their parents, and a few already finding company among themselves.
6 walked cautiously into the room, glancing left and right at the unfamiliar faces. Many of the children appeared just as apprehensive, reaching for their parents or standing on the edge, waiting for this 'meeting' to be over.
"What a boring place. At this rate, I'll just sit and wait," 6 muttered, feeling the weight of the awkwardness in the room.
"Hey, what's with that face of yours?" a playful voice broke the silence. 6 turned to see a kid with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, grinning mischievously. "It was pretty funny."
"My face? Mom always says I'm 'quite expressive,'" 6 replied, watching as the blonde kid sat down beside. "It's just... so boring here."
"Yeah, I wonder why they force us to come to this. It's kind of awkward just sitting around, staring at each other," the blonde kid replied, leaning back casually. "My parents work as doctors here."
"Really? My mom's in the special force. I guess she only gets called in when things get really dangerous," 6 responded, trying to keep the conversation alive. "And my dad's in the science division."
"Wow, that's cool! You probably don't see him much, huh?" the blonde asked, a touch of curiosity in the tone.
"Yeah, he's busy a lot," 6 admitted before asking, "What should I call you, by the way?"
"Oh, right! I'm Gen 1 007, but my parents just call me 7."
"7, huh? Well, I'm 6," 6 said with a grin. "So, I guess that makes me older than you, huh? Heh."
"You might be older by a day, or maybe a week, and you're proud of that luck?" 7 replied with a smirk, teasing 6 back.
Just then, a child with black hair and glasses appeared, catching 6's attention. "I've been looking for you. Looks like you found some company."
"You're here! I thought I'd never find you!" 6 exclaimed, excitement lighting up the voice.
"Wait, you two know each other?" 7 asked, not wanting to be left out of the conversation.
"Oh, sorry!" 6 quickly explained. "This is 14. Our moms are friends, so we've known each other for a while."
As they were speaking, two more kids approached the group, the one tall black haired with a splash of oil in his face and the other shorter with long hair hiding behind the other. "Mind if we join you?" the tall kid ask nicely.
"So, you're 022 and 023—twins!" 14 said, eyes wide with excitement.
"Yeah! I'm the older one. 23 doesn't talk much," 22 responded, a hint of pride in the voice. "I want to be on the driver team when I'm old enough, to support our parents."
"Really? I'm good with computers and software," 14 replied, clearly eager to share. "I might even make some updates to ASA—maybe help it be a little more... discreet."
"I will not require any updates. You may relax, Gen 1 014," ASA chimed in with its usual mechanical precision.
" It was a joke, ASA, jeez!" 14 said, visibly annoyed by the overly serious response. Then, turning to 23, "What about you? Is there anything you like?"
"Eh...!" 23 squeaked softly, quickly hiding behind 22, avoiding the attention.
Laughing, 22 filled in for 23, "physics, I guess. Maybe becoming a scientist would suit well to my sibling."
23 nodded shyly, still partially hiding behind 22, as they all floated down the stark, white hallways of the spaceship. 7 turned back and noticed 6 lagging behind, looking down, expressionless and detached.
"Is everything fine" 7 asked, concerned. "People like that are often called introverts or depressive in the books"
6 shrugged, speaking quietly, "I don't know... I just don't feel like I belong here. There's nothing that really connects us."
"Every star in the universe is a dream… that's what my mom tells me," 7 said, trying to be reassuring, though clearly struggling to explain. "They look alike but are so different... only size and temperature set them apart. Wait, I don't even know what I'm saying!" 7 laughed, slightly embarrassed.
"What do you wanna be when you grow up. I want to become a doctor and help everyone in here reach safe in our destination" 7's eyes sparkle with passion on the thought of it.
"I don't know yet," 6 replied, frustration giving way to something more reflective. Then, as if remembering something important, 6 added, "ASA, turn off the lights."
The lights slowly turn off, at first they couldn't see a thing but as the time pass and their eyes get used to the darkness a sea of stars, shining and twinkling outside of the window filling the hallway with light that was unmatched for a lightball.
"Look, there's Betelgeuse—a red supergiant. It's going to go supernova in about 100 years," 6 said, voice full of awe. "And there's the Kepler system, with three planets that could support life. And back there," 6 pointed, a smile creeping into the voice, "the brightest star you see, that's the Sun. Our parents are from there."
You know where every star is?" 7 asked, with curiosity.
"Ever since 6 and i were younger, stars have been a huge passion" 14 chimed in, watching 6 with a puzzled expression. "I mean, I live near them all the time, but 6... 6 burns bright for them."
The day ends, they wave on each other as they return on their rooms for launch. 22 and 23 float together to their room, 6 and 14 live next door to each other so they move together and 7 on her own go back to her parents.
6's parents were waiting 6 so they can eat all together, they sit on the table silent for some time only eating until 6's mother caught making a sign "so... How your day was?"
6 lift his head from the plate "it was good, i meet some people and 14 was there as well. I guess i can stick with them"
"That's nice I'm really glad you make some new friends" she said happy for her son as she watching her husband "does anyone was more interesting? Or get your interest?"
6 think slightly back on the meeting and 7 was the first one come to mind "it was that kid with the blonde hair and a ponytail, 7 her name. It was different experience but not bad in a way i guess"
"I see, 7's father was the one that help me give birth to you, as for her mother she gave birth to 7 one week later" 6's mother smile brightly as she talk to her kid
"I see" watching a little puzzled "but mom what is 'her' and 'she'?" 6's face was marked with a great curiosity
The mother stuck for a moment unable to talk or express anything but stress, until 6's dad get in the conversation "it's nothing don't stack on it, and please I don't want you to use it, better to forget it. Also don't ask ASA, understand?!" 6's father demands it and hit the table
"Of course father, don't worry" 6's
reassures them as the conversation over and return to eating silently.