Pretty Please ~ Space Camp

Submitted by Sasha on Sun, 2008/07/13 - 5:00pm

Pretty, Please! ~ Space Camp

What happened the summer that everything changed for Rose?

"Granny, Granny, Please tell us a story! Pretty please, Granny!" said nine year old Linda as she sat on the floor with her twin sister Julia. They had on matching sky blue blouses and navy blue skorts which each had embroidered a red rose with green stem and leaves as well as the first initial of their name. They both looked precious in their white knee socks and black Mary Jane's. Each of them looked intently at me with their deep blue eyes, resisting the temptation to twirl their long blonde hair in their fingers, since they loved my stories.

Before I could answer, Julia burst out, "Tell us a new one, Granny! Pretty Please!"

With a twinkle in my eye, I knew which story I would tell them. I remember when I told their mother for the first time this story and she was about their age. Since they asked for the story by name, even though they had never heard it before, I took it as a good omen that perhaps this time I might even be believed instead of treating it as something from my overactive imagination. It was the story of one all important summer when everything changed for me and I found the love of my life.

Pretty, Please! Cast List

Rose's Future Family

Granny aka the Admiral, Rose age 140
Linda, Rose's nine year old twin granddaughter
Julia, Rose's other nine year old twin granddaughter
Doris, Rose's home's AI
Momma, Rose's daughter
Gramps, Rose's spouse

Ross Moore's Birth Family (Live in Charlotte, NC)

Mr. Moore, Ross's Father
Violet Abbot Moore, Ross's mother
Ross Moore, 13 yr old boy before Rose's transformation
Daisy Moore, Ross's nine year old sister

Abbott Family (Live on a farm in rural Georgia but the nearest town is Warm Spring)

Vivian Abbott, Rose's adopted mother
George Abbott, Rose's adopted father
Jessica Abbott Hunter, Rose's adopted sister, Married and lives in Huntsville
Natalie Abbott Jefferson, Rose's adopted sister, Married and lives in Charlotte
Violet Abbott Moore, Rose's adopted sister, Married and lives in Charlotte
Rose Leigh Abbott, Vivian and George's adopted daughter

Jessica Abbott Hunter's Family (Live in Huntsville, AL)

Gloria Hunter, Jessica's 18 yr old daughter
Joy Hunter, Jessica's nine year old daughter
Jessica Abbott Hunter, Gloria and Joy's Mother
Mr. Hunter, Gloria and Joy's Father (NASA Manager in Huntsville, AL)

Natalie Abbott Jefferson's Family (Live in Charlotte, NC)

Mr. Jefferson, Natalie's husband
Natalie Abbott Jefferson, Hope and Faith's mother
Hope Jefferson, Natalie's 13 year old daughter
Faith Jefferson, Natalie's 9 year old daughter

Space Camp Team Red 18

Josh Garner, Mission Commander (lives in Charlotte) [licensed pilot] (looks like a teen James Garner) 13
Rose Leigh Abbot, Pilot (Lives near Warm Springs) [licensed pilot] 13
Mark Goddard, Flight Engineer (Lives in Atlanta) [Electrician's helper, Electronics, Computers] 13
Amanda Carter, Mission Specialist Three, Medical (Lives in Atlanta) [Hacker and CNA, works at Decatur Hospital]13
Gloria Hunter, Councilor (lives in Huntsville) 18
Colonel, USAF, RET. Pamela A. Melroy, Astronaut - Mentor (Lives in Houston) [Mission commander of STS-120]
Greg Corbin, Councilor (lives in Huntsville) 18
Maxwell "Max" Chase, Mission Specialist Two, Communications (Lives in Charlotte) [SETI and Deep Space Communications]13
Carolyn "Jinx" McAdams, Mission Specialist One, Robotics (Lives in Atlanta) [On Winning team for NASA Robotics competition] (Looks like a teen Sarah Jessica Parker) 13

Pretty, Please : Space Camp

By Sasha Zarya Nexus

Chapter One ~ Tell Me A Story

Before I could answer, Julia burst out, "Tell us a new one, Granny! Pretty, Please!"

"Alright, my dears! I will tell you a story. Can you guess what the name of the story is?"

Linda looked mystified as though I had asked something impossible.

Julia just looked puzzled and asked me, "Is it called, 'Pretty, Please' Granny?"

I could see her light up with a smile when I answered, "Why yes, sweetie! The name of the story is "Pretty Please". However, if I tell you a story with such a polite sounding name then you two girls must be on your most polite behavior. Do you think you can be polite and listen as I tell the story?"

They answered in unison, "Yes, Granny!"

"Good Girls! This story begins when I visited my grandmother along with my younger sister, Daisy (who was about you girl's age) when I was a thirteen year old boy."

I paused to look at the girls and sure enough Julia politely had her hand raised. I asked, "Julia you may ask a question if you would like to do so."

She asked timidly, "Granny did you say you were a boy?"

I answered her, "Yes, Julia I said that I was a boy."

She smiled at me sweetly and said, "Okay!" and both of them listened intently for me to keep telling the story as I resumed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Aunt Jessica brought Gloria who was eighteen and Joy who was Daisy's age and my Aunt Natalie brought thirteen year old Hope and nine year old Faith. The occasion was both mine and my mother's birthday on June first which my grandmother, mother, aunts, and cousins got together every year to celebrate. My daddy and my uncles had to work and mysteriously granddaddy was always away fishing when we had our gathering.

We all explored the farm where my grandparents lived when we gathered together for the summer. We had discovered most of the secrets that our mothers had known when they had grown up on the farm. The one mystery was left undiscovered was a locked room in the attic of the farm house. Each year when my cousins and I got together, we tried all the things that we had dreamed up in the year in between to get into the room.

This year I did something that I had never done before, I grabbed the doorknob and was amazed that it turned and the door opened. My cousins gathered around as I led the way into the room. It had medieval furnishings and decorations as though it were for a princess or a queen. Instead of being full of dust and cobwebs, it was just as clean as though it had never been locked at all. Gloria opened the chest at the foot of the royal canopy bed and found as though they were brand new, a royal cloak, crown and scepter.

Joy out of love for her sister motioned for Gloria to kneel down. Gloria did so and Joy placed the cape on Gloria's shoulders and the crown on her head and placed the scepter in her right arm. When the scepter was placed in Gloria's arm, it began to glow a violet light all around the scepter. Gloria rose and played her part as the Queen.

I knelt before her and told Gloria, "Please, your majesty, bless me with your scepter!"

She responded, "What is thy boon?"

I did not understand and just said, "Pretty, Please!”

Gloria giggled and tapped me with the scepter and said, "Granted!"

I disappeared from their view in a huge puff of smoke like in a magic show. When the smoke cleared, I had been changed completely and my cousins stood in silent wonder about me. I felt strange and it was difficult for me to take everything in at once but I knew that I was now a girl. My cousins led me to a full length mirror where I could take in my new appearance. I had long blonde hair which was woven in a medieval style adorned with a circlet and with a gauzy material pinned in my hair that had flowers woven in it. My face had changed to something befitting a princess with high cheekbones and full lips and a cute little nose. I was wearing a long medieval gown which had a low cut bodice and flowed down to the floor. The sleeves of the gown flared at the end flowing as I moved my arms. My bust amazed me as it burst forth from the top of my bodice. My waist was amazingly thin and my hips flared out. Even though most of me was covered I felt that they were just as feminine as what I could see.

My voice which had been cracking between tenor and bass cried out in a high soprano scream which I stopped as soon as I heard my voice and collapsed onto the floor and started crying. Daisy came over and comforted me, hugging my back since she couldn't get to anything else, "There there Ross, everything will be alright.”

That was enough for me to turn to give Daisy a proper hug. We had a good cry together and we were able to stop and Hope and Faith each offered us tissue to dry our eyes. When I could see clearly, I found Gloria frozen as she was just before the smoke engulfed me and the violet glow was gone from it. Gloria came to life and said, "Ross, I am so sorry. It looks like there was only one wish in the scepter. it quit glowing after it covered you with smoke."

We each tried everything we could think of, and tried all the permutations and nothing brought the violet glow back to the scepter. I realized everyone was still trying because of me and it was up to me to show them it was alright.

I sat with my sister Daisy on the bed and looked into her eyes, "Daisy, it looks like I'm your sister now. What should my new name be?"

She smiled at me and touched my arm, "Well since you are my sister and I have a flower name, would you like to be named, Rose?"

I smiled at Daisy and hugged her tight and released her and said, "From now on I will be Rose! Thank you for such a lovely name, Daisy!"

While Daisy and I had been sorting things out, Hope had gone down and gotten a complete change of clothes for me. She explained, "Rose, maybe if you take off that gown and all your clothes that you might turn back into your old self?"

I hugged her and said, "It's worth a try!" I took the clothes offered me behind the bedding screen. Joy took the crown scepter and robe off of Gloria and put them back into the chest. I stood naked behind the screen and I was still a girl so I began to put on the clothing that I had received from Hope which fit perfectly. Once I had the entire outfit that Hope had given me on, the medieval clothing and accessories vanished.

We took that as a sign that we should leave the room before anything else vanished. We were all outside the room and then each of us in turn tried to open the door again but each of us found it locked, even me.

Just after that we heard my mother calling us, "Girls, come downstairs. It’s time to celebrate!"

Each of my cousins in turn assured me that they would support me and that I should reveal my new self to my mother. Daisy ran ahead and led Mother to me.

Being a little more used to my new appearance, I spoke first to her and said, "Mother, I used to be your son Ross and now I am your daughter, Rose."

Somehow, in spite of it seeming impossible what had happened to me, Mother recognized me as her child. She swept me up in her arms, "My Child, I love you and nothing can change that!"

All of us in turn told part of the story till Mother knew as much as any of us. When we were all finished Mother said, "Daisy, If your sister had been a girl from the beginning I would have named her Rose so you named her well. Rose, its time I got to introduce you as my daughter to your aunts and grandmother!" Mother smothered me in a hug and led me with her on one side and Daisy on the other surrounded by our cousins into the great room where my Aunts and Grandmother waited.

Mother declared, "Mother, Jessica and Natalie, I would like for you to meet my oldest daughter, Rose!" I was smothered in hugs from all three of them and they did not wait for the explanation and just took my mother at her word.

Grandmother took me aside by myself and surprised me by asking me, "Rose, were you able to open the locked room in the attic?"

"Yes, Grandmother!" I admitted," How did you know?"

She explained, "My Granny told me about the room when I was a girl your age and told me that her grandmother had told her about it as well. One of our ancestors was a very powerful woman and she had foretold that one of the women of our line would require special help. She imbued her scepter with a bit of her power before she died and left it in the room that you unlocked. I suspected that you were the one, Rose because even though you were born a boy, you have seemed to me to be one of the girls. And now the miracle that our ancestor had saved up for one of us has been given to you."

"Grandmother, you are right. In spite of how I looked, I always have felt myself a girl inside even though I wasn't brave enough to make the true me known. I guess that is why I am so comfortable now. My outside finally matches my inside."

"I am so glad for you, Rose! I finally have the grand daughter that you were always meant to be. I love you sweetie, just the way you are!"

"I love you too, Grandmother" I said as I hugged and kissed grandmother on the cheek.

"Rose, I would like for you to spend the summer with me. That way we'll have time to get your new life settled in before school starts again in the fall."

"Of course Grandmother! I'd love to stay with you for the summer! What about Momma and Daddy?"

"Leave them to me, Rose. I'll make it right with them." I let it go at that and forgot about it and ran off to play with my cousins and sister.

A little while later, Grandmother called us all into the dining room and we gathered around the table. On the table I saw with delight a cake decorated with the saying, "Happy Birthday, Violet and Rose!" I was so glad to see both my mother's name and my name on the cake so we would be celebrating together just like we had every year up to then. My mother clasp her hand in mind as we stood side by side as the candles from the cake provided the only light in the room while we heard a chorus of female voices singing Happy Birthday to us. When the song came to its climax, together we blew out the candles but I had already gotten my wish from all those years before.

The lights came on and Grandmother began cutting pieces of cake and loading them up with scoops of ice Cream starting with Mother and me and distributing them till everyone had a piece. I declared, "Thank you everyone! This is the best birthday ever!" Mother agreed that it was the best birthday ever for her too.

When it was time for me to open presents, I found that this year I had cards from everyone instead. Daisy admitted that she had told everyone that I had been saving up so that I could go to Space Camp and everyone had given money instead of presents so I could go. I thanked everyone for their kindness. Mother received gifts from all of us. Even those of us who could not buy a gift had made something for her and every one of them was so thoughtful.

Mother disappeared shortly after that while we all were still celebrating. When Mother came back, she called me aside and sat me down to talk with me.

"Rose, I have talked with your Grandmother and Father and we agree that it would be best if you would like to stay with your grandmother this summer. Your Daddy and I agreed that you should save your birthday money for Space Camp like you wanted. I know you know that women can be astronauts too. Before your sister and I go home, I want you both to go shopping with me for your new fall wardrobes. I know that you'll want to pick out some of your own clothes as you figure out your own style. Your Daddy and I want you to have this $2000 prepaid Visa card so you and your Grandmother can fill in with things that you need."

I gave Mother another hug and kiss, "Thank you and Daddy for everything. I'll be a good girl for Grandmother this summer!"

"You are welcome, sweetie!" and Mother returned my hug and kissed me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I paused to return my attention to the present day and my two granddaughters, Linda and Julia who had both been so polite and attentive as I told them the one story that I had not told them yet which was the true story of what had happened to me as a child.

"Linda, and Julia, what do you think of your Granny now?"

Linda and Julia got up from my feet and hugged me tight and covered me in kisses and together declared, "We love you Granny, just the way you are!"

I cried tears of joy and hugged my granddaughters tight. "Thank you, Sweeties, I love you too!"

Linda got into my lap and asked, "Granny is there more to the story?"

Julia looked up into my eyes and said, "I want to hear more, Granny!"

I felt that this was enough for one sitting so I told them, "Yes my granddaughters, there is more, but its time to make cookies like I promised. I'll tell you more of the story later, okay?"

Julia said, "Okay!" and then Linda said, "Okay!" too. I got up and took the hands of Julia and Linda in mine and together we went into the kitchen to bake cookies just like I had promised.

Chapter Two ~ Baking Cookies

Linda and Julia loved to bake cookies with their, Granny. I insisted on having a refrigerator, oven, and pantry when most kitchens these days consisted only of a replicator on the wall. It was amazing how many of the modern conveniences that everyone relied on these days were still only Science Fiction when I was a boy or even when I was a girl.

I felt like every girl should have the experience of baking cookies. I was doing my part to make sure at least my grandchildren would have that experience. Linda and Julia had cut out and decorated the last pan of chocolate chip cookies.

I put their pan into the oven and told them, "That's the last pan into the oven, Sweeties! What would you like to do while we wait for them to bake and cool before we can eat some of them?"

"Granny, Could you tell us more about what happened to you, Pretty Please!?" Linda asked and Julia nodded her agreement.

"Of course, Sweeties!" The twins took their places again at my feet as I once again began to tell my story. "Where were we when we left off?"

Julia answered, "Rose was going to get to buy a new wardrobe with her mother and sister!"

Linda added, "Rose was also going to stay with her Grandmother for the summer after her mother, sister, aunts and cousins returned home."

"That's right, and I will pick up the story after the shopping and everyone left but Rose and her grandmother. Ordinarily shopping is fun, I know, but the things that Rose was interested in were the things in style 140 years ago when I was a girl so they would not be as interesting to you two now."

"Tell us more about, Rose and her Grandmother, Granny, Pretty Please!"

"As you wish, Sweeties!" and I began to tell the story again with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Momma had left Gloria and I and all of my new purchases in the room that she had been staying in which had been hers as a girl. This was to be my room for the summer, too. Gloria had volunteered to help me put up my new things. The others were busy either packing or loading. Gloria seemed to be the one who charged in when others did not seem to know what to do and amazingly enough got it right.

Her family was lucky enough to live in Huntsville. Her father, Mr. Hunter, was a manager for NASA, so she was able to get both the NASA employee discount for Space Camp as well as the resident discount. Eager to follow in her daddy's footsteps as a NASA Manager, Gloria had attended Space Camp for the four previous years and had gone thru the entire curriculum available. She had been selected as a councilor for the current summer's Space Camp which meant this year that she was being paid to go to Space Camp as one of the staff.

Gloria tackled the task of getting all the purchases out of the bags and into their proper places just like she did any other challenge, with enthusiasm and intelligence. It wasn't long before the room had not only contained all my new possessions but it became my room with the touches that Gloria added including her contributions which really allowed me to feel at home in my new room.

As we finished up and I was gazing in wonderment on all the touches that she had added to make it my own, I was drawn to her contribution which was a double 8 x 10 frame antique frame which on one side held a picture from the group that had been taken at the Glamour Shots in the mall with the butterfly background and on the other side was beautiful artwork which included my name, Rose and it's meaning and derivations in addition to a kind of fortune describing different aspects of me associated with my name. This was Gloria's gift to me and I was very proud of it.

"Gloria, you are amazing! I feel right at home in this room now, thanks to your creativity and organizational skills. Thank you so much for my present, I’ll treasure it always." We drew close as we hugged and we kissed each other on the cheek.

"Rose, I'm glad that you like it. I wish we didn't have to rush off but Mother has to go back to work and I will report for my first session at Space Camp soon."

"Are you excited? I know that I would be for a new challenge like that."

"I'm thrilled! It's my dream job! I hope that you will be able to go soon and I admire you for saving up for it yourself. Rose, are you happy? Do you have any regrets being changed?"

"Gloria, I am complete and happy. I'm glad that you had the insight to do exactly the right thing. I will remember you always for figuring out how to set me free."

"I'm so glad you are happy, Rose! You know now that you can tell me anything and I will help you. Even as deep as you buried your gender challenge, I could tell you were suffering. If you ever need me for anything I will help you, Rose."

"Thank you, Gloria. I am sorry for not trusting you but I trust you completely now! Thank you for being part of my life!" We hugged and kissed again and then Gloria had to leave. The cars were all ready to go and we had to go out so I could say my goodbyes to everyone leaving and for Gloria to take her place with her mother and sister in their car.

I stood with my grandmother and waved as the last of the vehicles carrying everyone drove out of sight. Momma had promised that as soon as she and Daddy could arrange it that all of them would be back to visit. I had good feelings about this. I was a great deal better off than most transgirls because I was a real girl now. I really did not know how to resolve the inconsistency between my new life and my old life but I put my trust in my parents who had always had my best interests at heart.

Grandmother had a treat for me as a distraction for my parting from my mother and sister. I had her undivided attention as she taught me personally how to make cookies. I had always been around when my sister and cousins made cookies before but I merely observed and later on joined in on eating some of the fresh baked cookies.

Now I had on Grandmother's spare apron and I was mixing up the cookie batter as Grandmother told me what to do. I had such fun with my hands in the dough kneading it and getting it ready to be able to pinch it off into cookie sized portions and dropped on the prepared cookie sheet.

Once all the cookies were in the oven, Grandmother and I retired to the living room to relax and she put on the DVD of 'Ella Enchanted' for us to watch. I felt for the teenaged Ella as she was under the burden of the enchantment and her courage to seek the means of being released from it. It was a little like what I had felt being a transgirl and being released from it to become the girl I was always meant to be.

"Don't go Breaking My Heart" was being performed on the movie while grandmother and I were munching on fresh baked chocolate chip cookies enjoying the movie's happy ending. The telephone rang and I saw the caller id say it was me so I knew that it was really Daisy who I had lent my cell phone.

"Hi Sis”, Daisy said with worry in her voice, "Can you put me on Speakerphone because I need to tell Grandmother this too and I don't know how long I have to talk."

I told her, "Done! Hi Daisy! What's wrong?" I had flipped the speaker phone on and both Grandmother and I were listening intently."

"I overheard Daddy and Momma arguing. Daddy was not truthful about accepting you as Rose, sis. He's so afraid of stigma resulting from you being outed as a transgirl that he called our uncles and together they have agreed that no one is to speak about you as Rose outside the family and to continue to refer to you as Ross as if nothing happened. Daddy does not believe that your being a transgirl was real and it was just a fantasy. While he accepts the reality that you are physically a girl now, he sees that as an elaborate mutilation of the boy that you were. Daddy threatened Momma with revealing that a miracle changed you from a physically normal boy to a physically normal girl which would make you a medical curiosity and a lab animal for the rest of your life if she tried to cross him on this. He's using the very evidence that momma took to prove to Daddy that you are really a girl now against her to show the miracle to the medical authorities. Daddy knew that he could not make Momma completely turn against you no matter how much she loved him so Daddy promised to make nice and treat you as though he believed you are Rose when we are together in private so Momma can still have some chance to spend time with you when we visit. You are to permanently live with Grandmother until you become an adult." said Daisy and took a deep breath as she got that all out as quick as she could.

Grandmother spoke to Daisy, "Daisy, thank you for telling us. I'll handle it from here. Please don't get yourself in any more trouble and play along with your father. You won't help Rose by reaping your father's anger. I love you, Daisy! Be good!"

"I love you too, Sis. Keep out of trouble like Grandmother says, Okay?"

"Okay sis, I will. I love you both. Goodbye!" and Daisy hung up the cell phone. I hoped that she would be good as she promised because I knew that Daddy could be verbally abusive when he felt like he was being challenged.

"Rose I am so sorry that your Daddy is acting this way. Since your father is so worried about others finding out about you, I imagine that he will be coming to visit you soon to lay down the law on what he expects out of you. I know that will be tough for you but I'll see you thru it. People who act only thru fear can get their way for only so long and there will be a solution found to this situation. In the meantime, lets get things set up so you can get away from all this for a while. You are going to Space Camp!"

"But grandmother, even with my birthday presents and what I have saved, I don't have nearly enough yet!"

"Your grandfather and I are a bit better off than we live. It will be our pleasure to complete the money that you need to go to Space Camp. Grandfather and I have another surprise for you. Grandfather is speaking to our lawyer about establishing a new identity for you, legally. In view of what your father wants, I believe I can speak for your grandfather in asking if you would like to take our last name and be our daughter at least until your father comes to his senses."

"Oh Grandmother! You have the talent for making a dark day end up all bright and shining. I'd love to take your name and be your daughter till my father comes to his senses. Thank you so much for making it possible for me to go to Space Camp! I love you and grandfather so much!" I gave grandmother a great big hug and a kiss. Inside my heart was breaking over my father's betrayal and forsaking me in my time of need, but it was also joyful that I was loved and that I would have a place to belong!

It was getting late so grandmother tucked me into bed and I cried myself to sleep. Even though I am sure grandmother looked in on me and saw me crying, she let me get it all out and I guess I needed to. Finally the sorrow was gone for the moment and the joy of belonging sustained me and my sleep ceased being fitful and I relaxed and entered dreamland.

Grandfather was at my bedside to wake me in the morning and he told me himself how sorry he was for my father's behavior and that my parents and sister were flying down to visit and would arrive here this evening. He also told me how when they had put in for me to go to Space Camp, there had been a cancellation and I would be able to attend the next session so I would be off on my adventure soon. He told me that he was glad that I had agreed to be adopted by them and that the legalities could be done soon after the visit with my family, in the event after he had a chance to talk with my father that he remained delusional about what was really going on. I loved Grandfather so much and I was glad that if I couldn't be a real daughter in my family that I would at least be a real daughter in theirs.

Grandfather was trying to lighten the mood after such serious talk, "Well Rose, when you become our daughter, you'll be part of our family! You'll have three new sisters, Jessica, Natalie and even Violet (who had been my aunts and mother) and you'll be aunt to a bunch of nieces including Daisy!"

I just had to giggle over my mother becoming my sister and my sister becoming my niece. It was as though I had not lost family as much as having it rearranged. "Thank you, Grandfather. You have a wonderful gift of always finding something to raise my spirits!"

"Now and forever, Rose! Now and forever! You are loved! Your grandmother and I will be with you to see you thru these hard times and enjoy with you the good times that are sure to follow."

I gave Grandfather a big hug and kiss on his cheek. He reminded me that Grandmother had breakfast ready for me and it was time to start my day and he left me to get ready. With the coaching that my sisters and cousins and aunts and mother had given me before they had left, I found it simple to do the ordinary things of getting up and bathing and getting dressed. It felt right and that helped lots.

That day passed quickly and I don't think about it much since it still hurts. Daddy arrived with Mother and Daisy and he made nice for a while until the four of us were in private. Then his venom came out as he laid down the law to me that no one could know about who I used to be. I realized that Daddy felt like throwing money at something was what he was required to do for me, which explained the prepaid Visa that he had given to me. Now that I knew how he really felt about me instead of the gift bringing me joy, it reminded me that was all I would get from him.

He was proud of the fact that I would no longer have his name but he made sure I knew that I would be the one to suffer if I ever revealed my past and that he had no qualms about making sure I was locked away as a medical curiosity for the rest of my life. I was so glad to be out of that private room and for the rest of my stay I made sure that either grandmother or grandfather was present so he had to play nice to live up to his end of the agreement.

The next day passed quickly as well not because it was painful in itself, because it was very pleasant. It was because it would never have been necessary if my father had not been so deluded. Grandfather, Grandmother and our lawyer gathered in the judge's chambers where the legalities on my adoption and new name were worked on. The entire proceedings were declared sealed so the only thing that anyone would know from this point on was that I was now legally Rose Leigh Abbott adopted daughter of Vivian and George Abbott. I called them Momma and Daddy and hugged and kissed them when it was all over.

The next day was filled with excitement since I had to pack everything up for my flight out to Huntsville AL to go to Space Camp which would be taking off that evening. I was amazed that my new identification had arrived via messenger while I was packing. I should not have been surprised because everything my new daddy did was first class and so was the work of the people that worked with him. The sadness in the last few days was overshadowed by the joy of being part of my new family and the adventure of going to Space Camp as I had dreamed.

My new Daddy had a surprise and a special treat for me. My ticket into the advanced class in Space Camp was my pilot's license. There were a number of certifications in different disciplines that would qualify for the advanced training as well. My new Daddy worked some magic to get my flight hours transferred to a flight school at a general aviation field near the farm. All I had to do is to take a written test and take a check flight and since they were FAA certified, I could get a renewal license issued thru them with my new name. Like the other paperwork which should have taken much longer to receive ordinarily, a messenger delivered my new pilot's license not too long after everything was completed as though it were already issued before I had done anything.

My new momma and daddy put me on the plane and made me promise to call them when I arrived in Huntsville. After agreeing, I hugged and kissed them both and eagerly got on the plane. Next stop, Space Camp!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Instead of being curled up on the floor listening to the story as they started, they were now on each side of me hugging me tight in the big chair where I was sitting. They had gotten into my lap when the story turned sad for comfort and had stayed by my side as I had completed this part of the story.

"Granny, I can't believe that your Daddy treated you that way!" exclaimed Linda

"Little one each one of us responds to things according to their gifts. We can not make someone else accept us. That must be given willingly from the heart."

"You were so sad, Granny! How did you ever get thru that?" asked Julia.

"Each of us not only has a birth family but a family of choice. When I was adopted, my grandparents’ chose me to be their daughter and I became part of my family of choice. I was lucky that I had some overlap between my old family and new family but even if there is no overlap when there is love it has a way of turning a frown upside down into a smile. Love no matter where it comes from has a way of giving us joy, Sweetie."

Linda asked, "What was it like when your mother became your sister too?"

"Well she was still my birth mother and always would be so I still respected her in that way. She made it fun for me being her sister too because she knew how much I missed life the way it used to be. It brought me closer to her in ways that I might have never known had things not happened that way. It was nice, Sweetie!"

Julia asked, "Granny, what happened when you got to Space Camp?"

"Sweetie, I guess we will have to save that for another time. It's time for all of our naps and we all want to feel our best for the rest of the day."

"Granny, can we take our nap, snuggled next to you?"

"I'd like that a lot girls!" Let’s go to my nice big bed and get comfortable!" And we all laid down for our afternoon nap and soon the girls and I were fast asleep.

Chapter Three ~ Tea Party

I woke from my nap and missed the girls who had snuggled up next to me in bed and we had all started our nap together. I knew that they were alright because Doris the AI of my home was watching them.

"Doris, where are the girls?"

"Admiral, they asked me if I would help them do something nice for you. They want it to be a surprise and they are on their way to you now."

"Thank you, Doris. I'll do my best to be surprised." As I sat up on the bed, I saw Linda carrying a tray with a tea pot and cups and Julia carrying a tray full of the cookies that we had baked before our nap.

"Surprise, Granny!" both Linda and Julia said in unison.

"How cleaver and thoughtful you two girls are! Thank you for your very nice surprise." Julia put down her tray and she touched the control that extended the over bed table. She climbed up into bed beside me and took the tray that Linda extended to her and placed it on the table and then Linda picked up the other tray that Julia put down and reached that to Julia for her to put on the table as well. Linda climbed up and got into bed on the other side of me.

"We are going to have a tea party, Granny!" exclaimed Julia.

Linda was trying to sound all grown up as she asked, "Shall I pour, Granny?"

I smiled at her and told her, "Yes you may." I was proud of Linda as she poured a cup for each of us and did not spill a drop. Since the tea came from the replicator to my specifications it already had cream and sugar to my tastes and the girls liked it that way too. We all sipped our tea and ate cookies and had a really good time.

"Granny, will you tell us more about Rose?" asked Julia.

"Of course Sweetie! Where did we leave off last?"

"Rose's birth daddy was nasty to her after she changed and did not want her around any more. She was very sad about that until her grandmother and grandfather adopted her and she became their daughter because they loved and wanted her. Her new mommy and daddy wanted her to cheer up so they sent her on her dream trip to Space Camp!" volunteered Linda.

"Yeah, Granny, What happened to Rose at Space Camp?"

"Well my darlings I will tell you.“ I spoke as I started to begin again the story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was so excited on the airplane flight to Huntsville. Some ladies in NASA Jumpsuits from Space Camp met me at the plane and made sure that my luggage was transferred to the NASA bus and I got aboard and found other children already on the bus. A girl my age smiled at me as our eyes met when I got on board the bus and she moved over and invited me to sit beside her.

"Hi, I'm Amanda from Atlanta. Would you like to sit beside me?" asked the girl as she invited me to sit beside her.

"Thank you, Amanda. I'd love to. I'm Rose. I'm very pleased to meet you!" I sat down beside her and we shook hands.

Amanda asked, "Rose, where are you from?"

I answered, "I live on a farm in rural Georgia but the nearest town is Warm Springs."

"That's where the Little White House of Franklin Delano Roosevelt is, isn't it?"

"Yes, have you visited it?"

"I have! It's wonderfully full of history. We went on a school field trip when I was younger."

"It is a wonderful place. What brings you to Space Camp?"

"I want to learn all about the new Ares rockets and going back to the moon and Mars. I plan to study space medicine at Emory University. I'm already a CNA and I work helping people at Decatur Hospital. It's a long term care facility."

"That's amazing! I would like to be the first female administrator of the new moon base. I'm certified as a pilot. I can handle single engine planes flawlessly. I'm looking forward to taking the next step, maybe jets or helicopters."

"Wow Rose! You are amazing too! I hope we get assigned to the same team when we get to space camp."

"I hope so too Amanda! We Georgia girls ought to stick together!" We both giggled and cut up as we enjoyed the ride to Space Camp.

We exited the bus and picked up our luggage and then we were led to the registration area. I half expected to see that table with the badges portrayed in the movie, "Space Camp" but I guess that was a movie plot device. In reality our badge came with our registration packet and we had been already divided into teams designated by a color and number along with a time to meet our group. We also had dorm and bed assignments in the packet. After looking over my packet contents I put it all back up and looked around, I saw Amanda had already made it thru registration too and was doing the same thing as me. I caught her eye and we met up to compare notes.

“Hi again Amanda! Which team did you get assigned to?"

"Red 18. I was about to go find my bunk assignment and get settled in. What's yours?"

"Red 18 too! I can’t believe our luck"

"It wasn't exactly luck. Did I tell you that I am also a hacker? You said you wanted to be on the same team so I made it happen."

"That's great Amanda! I'm glad you are on my side! Did you hack the bunk assignments too?"

"Yes, we are bunking together and I made you the bottom bunk. Once I made us on the same team, doing the bunk assignments were easy because the system is set up to have team member bunk together."

"Thank you again Amanda. Let's go get settled in." We both walked out to the girls’ dorm and found our bunk assignments. True to her word, Amanda was assigned to the top bunk and I was assigned to the bottom bunk. We both settled in and got our things put away.

"Amanda?"

“Yes, Rose?"

"Did you do anything else while you were in the computer?"

"I noticed that they try to balance the genders so for their standard 6 person team, we would be matched with another girl and three more guys. I decided if we were going to spend the next 2 weeks with three guys that I wanted one of them to be someone I was attracted to."

"How did you manage that, Amanda?"

"I ran the applications thru a matching program and I took a look at the picture of the top ten matches with me and picked out the one that I liked best. I can't wait to meet Mark. He's just the kind of guy that even if we don't hit it off, I would enjoy spending time with him."

"Congratulations, Amanda. I really hope things work out for you two"

"I hope you don't mind but I couldn't leave out my new BFF. I took the liberty of shanghaiing someone for you too. His name is Josh Garner. He's a pilot like you that belongs to a high school flying club."

"Was that club called 'Joy of Flight'?"

"Yes, why Rose?"

"I remember reading an article about them in 'Young Pilot's' Magazine. Their club had won a flight competition sponsored by the magazine. I remember seeing Josh's picture and he's a hunk. You did well, Amanda. Thank you." I gave her a hug and then asked her, "What did you do about the other two members of the team, Amanda?'

"I felt that I had done enough so I left the other two members of our group to chance. I didn't even peek to see who was assigned. At least that much will be a surprise!"

"Did you find out who our astronaut - mentor assigned to the group is going to be?"

"NASA hadn't made the assignment yet so I guess that is another thing we will be surprised about. Not that I didn't try to get us someone good but they did not even have a roster of potential astronaut - mentors available but the councilor assigned to our group is someone neat, Gloria Hunter. She has been to Space Camp as a camper for the last four years and she lives right here in Huntsville".

"She sounds like someone who can really teach us everything about Space Camp. We really lucked out!" I felt like I needed to get out of there before I was surprised again and hoped that I had covered the latest one.

I made an excuse to go to the ladies room so I could collect my thoughts. As Ross I had been a part of "Joy of Flight" and Josh was my friend. He had a reputation of being a ladies man which was not completely undeserved. He came by his amazing good looks honestly since the actor James Garner was his great uncle to whom he bore a striking resemblance. My tummy was doing flip flops and my palms were all sweaty as I thought of him. I was definitely seeing him in a new light. At the same time, my heart was full of fear. What if he recognized me even though I had changed so much? What would he think of me if he knew the truth of who I had been? I would have to bury my misgivings around him. If he recognized me then I would have to deal with the consequences then.

I thought about the luck required to match my niece as group counselor. I wondered if there was another hacker at work in the mix although I would bet it was my new daddy's doing. I was really glad that I would not be surprised when I met Gloria as a part of the team and that she would not be either since she would have access to the team roster. I was also glad that it wasn't apparent from the registration information that I was Gloria's aunt. Hopefully Gloria would help me come up with something if our relationship were discovered.

We still had some time left before the team meeting so we decided to go to the cafeteria and get supper. I was pleasantly surprised at the food choices and it tasted really good too. Afterward we went back to the dorm to change into our NASA jumpsuits. Both of us agreed that first impressions were important. Since we were not required to wear the uniforms until our first group meeting, we decided not to keep them on after trying them on size till just before the meeting.

Soon the time we were waiting for had arrived and we assembled in the courtyard where there were signs posted with the team designations where we would meet. Underneath the sign for Red 18 were waiting three people who were already in NASA jumpsuits. A young man, whom I did not recognize, my niece Gloria, and to my amazement our astronaut - mentor, Colonel, USAF, RET. Pamela A. Melroy, Mission commander of STS-120! I wondered if more hacking was at work or our luck was really that good. Amanda looked as surprised as me as she recognized her so I knew if the fix was in then it was not her doing. When we got a little closer, I was able to read the name off of the young man's uniform which was Greg Corbin. His uniform also indicated that he was the other councilor assigned to us.

Pam step forward and greeted us, "Greetings, Team members. I'm your astronaut - mentor, Pam Melroy. Please go to Gloria and check in while we wait for the rest of the team." We each shook her hand and then went over to Gloria who checked us off of her list and then we stood along side of her, silently waiting for the rest of the team.

That wait was not long since walking up together was Josh whom I recognized, and Mark Goddard, who I had to wait until I could read his name tag. Pam greeted them and directed them over to Greg to check in. They were both looking great. It seems that my fears about immediate recognition were groundless about Josh. In fact it was jealousy that had taken over since he was practically undressing Gloria with his eyes. I realized with a start that I wanted Josh attracted to me just like I was attracted to him.

Not too long afterward were our last two team members. As Pam greeted them and referred each to a councilor, I was able to read our two mystery members name badges. Maxwell Chase walked over to join the men. There was something familiar about him but I wasn't sure what it was. Joining us was Carolyn McAdams. She looked remarkably like a teenaged Sarah Jessica Parker.

With all of the team present, Pam addressed us, "Welcome Team Red 18 to Space Camp! I am your astronaut - mentor Pam Melroy. Your councilors are Gloria Hunter and Greg Corbin. This first meeting is to get acquainted mostly but you will be receiving your crew assignments for the Shuttle Mission and the Orion CEV mission to the International Space Station which we will be training for first. I will call you forward one by one and give you your assignment and study materials."

"Carolyn McAdams. What do you like to be called?"

Carolyn stepped forward and answered Pam, "My friends call me 'Jinx' and I want each of you to be my friend."

Pam answered her, "Okay Jinx, Your background shows you an expert in robotics. in fact you were part of a team that placed high in the NASA robotics competition. I'm making you Mission Specialist One: Robotics. You'll have plenty to learn with all the robotics on the Shuttle and on the ISS." Pam gave Jinx her study materials and Jinx took them and stepped back into place.

"Maxwell Chase. What do you like to be called?"

Maxwell stepped forward and answered, "Max, please Ma'am."

"Okay, Max. Your background shows that you have audited courses at JPL: relating to SETI and deep space communications. You also have an amazing perfect score on your PSAT's. I'm making you Mission Specialist Two: Communications" Pam gave Max his materials and he stepped back into place.

"Amanda Carter. What do you like to be called?"

Amanda stepped forward and answered, "Amanda"

"Amanda, your background shows that you are a CNA and work at Decatur Hospital. I'm making you Mission Specialist Three: Medical." Pam gave Amanda her materials and she stepped back in to place.

"Mark Goddard. What do you like to be called?"

Mark came forward and said, "Mark."

"Mark, your background indicates that you are already union certified as an electrician's helper and you have a background in electronics and computer hardware. I'm going to make you Flight Engineer." Pam gave Mark his materials and he took them and stepped back into place.

"Josh Garner and Rose Abbott. You both already indicated your preferences. You both have about equal qualifications for the remaining assignments of Pilot and Mission Commander.

Rose, do you have any goals related to the space program?" asked Pam.

"I would like to be the first woman to walk on the moon." I replied.

Pam questioned, "Josh, do you have any goals related to the space program?"

"I would like to be the first man to step foot on Mars." answered Josh.

"Good answers both of you. I guess I will have to decide the tie based on Josh's piloting experience including being part of a flight club which you don't have, Rose. Josh, I'm making you Mission Commander and Rose I am making you Pilot." We both stepped forward to receive the materials she offered to us and then we stepped back in place with the others. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get Mission Commander but I knew Josh would do a good job. I couldn't claim being part of a flight club without outing myself so that was Okay as well.

"I'm about to let you go to participate in a mixer in the cafeteria for all you space campers. Before you do, I'd like you to meet privately one on one with your counselor so you both can get acquainted with each other and the Space Camp rules. Have fun at Space Camp all of you!" Pam told us and then she walked up to the reception in the cafeteria leaving us with the councilors.

Gloria spoke to Jinx, Amanda and I, "I'm going to take Rose then Amanda and Jinx in turn to a private room so we can get acquainted and go over the rules. I’d like for those who haven't been spoken to yet to please wait here for me. When you are finished with me, you can go up and join the reception. Rose, please follow me since you are my first victim." Gloria finished with a giggle which lightened the mood of all of us.

I followed Gloria to an unused office which she closed and locked the door behind us when we entered. We both took a seat and as soon as she was sure we were private she let out an expletive.

"Hi Aunt Rose, fancy seeing you here. I'm glad that you made it to Space Camp so soon but I don't think they could have done anything more to mess with my head when that group roster came out."

"Do you think Josh recognizes me, Gloria?"

"How could he since he has spent all of his time undressing me with his eyes? The initial distraction is in our favor. Rose, is Josh your first crush?"

I answered without hesitation, "Yes Gloria, he is!"

"I thought so! You will be working closely with him for two weeks. so watch yourself. I am pretty sure that NASA does not connect us so we'd better not do it for them by letting things slip or I will be reassigned to another group. On top of that my boyfriend gets assigned as the other counselor for this group which means that one or the other of us will always be the group so we won’t have much private time together. That really is disappointing. Hopefully this will be the only session that I am that unlucky. Imagine the luck of us drawing Pam Elroy as our mentor. That almost makes up for all the bad luck in the picks. It’s as though someone set this whole thing up. "

"Two different some bodies at least since I know one person who was partially involved. Amanda is a hacker and she wanted to make sure that she and I were assigned to the same group. I didn't know she was a hacker at the time that I remarked that it would be nice if we were in the same group. While she was in there she also assigned someone she thought was boyfriend material for her and she did the same for me not knowing Josh and mine's connection. She claims to not have done anything else. Assigning you and Greg to the same group as me was not her doing as was us drawing Pam. Especially with having Josh in the group I am glad you are here Gloria. "

"I guess your new father and my grandfather has been at it again. I'll forgive him if Greg and I don't get matched again this summer. I wouldn't let myself be distracted when I knew you needed help, anyway.

"My Daddy gave only lip service to your birth father when he was going mental. Mom, Dad, Joy and I, all love you and could never freeze you out the way Mr. Moore (I don't even want to claim him as my uncle) wanted. My parents are just not sure what to do about it which is why they played along to buy time. If you need anything or need to talk just let me know. I will be here for you, Rose in any way you need me to be."

"Thank you Gloria! In spite of the challenges, I am confident that we can get thru this with you helping."

"Rose, there is something more and I don't know just how to tell you, this."

"It's Okay, Gloria. How bad can it be?"

"Bad!" said Gloria shedding a tear, "Mom said Aunt Violet called her. The authorities notified them that she had lost her son, Ross, in an airplane crash. She told Mom that they are planning a memorial service at the church in Charlotte that Ross attended. When she heard that she got on the internet to one of the TV stations there and saw video of the story. They say Ross took off from his regular field and after about a couple hours of flight crashed his plane into the side of a mountain. They had video of the crash site and everything. Everyone is buying it. I'm sorry Rose."

I could not believe what she was saying until with the news footage I could no longer deny it. I was really angry at my old father. How could he perpetrate a hoax like that! I burned with anger. Did he hate me so much that he felt he had to fake my death? I turned away from Gloria thinking that the bad news would just go away and turned back when I realized it wouldn't and looked into her eyes pleadingly as she finished telling me the news. Then I collapsed sobbing into her arms. She hugged me and comforted me. I would have cried more but I realized that his action had made things worse for me.

I choked back a tear and spoke, "Gloria, I'm sunk. All that validates my life before this are a manufactured flight certification, Adoption papers and a passport, and sealed records. Grandfather thought that my Daddy would come to his senses. I would go back as his daughter to the family and we'd handle it like a transgirl's transition. Now I can't go back or my old Father will go to jail for his fraud."

"I'm so sorry Rose, for the time being the papers that you have are enough. I'm sure Grand Father will get the word about this and will have something to help you out."

"You are right of course Gloria. He will come thru for me. I have faith that this can work out."

Gloria smiled at me as she tried to finish up, "Here is a copy of the camp rules. I can trust you to be familiar with them and not risk attention by breaking them. You'd better scoot over to the reception so I can collect the next member of your group. Please try to have fun Rose! You really need the distraction now. I'll be over as soon as I finish up here."

"Thanks, Gloria!" Gloria unlocked the door for me and let me out pointing the way to the reception as she went back to collect Amanda. I made my way to the reception.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finished telling the story since I could tell the girls needed to talk about this last installment.

"That's all for now girls, its time for my exercise. You can come and exercise too!"

Linda looked up with those sad puppy dog eyes, "Why Granny could your daddy be so mean to you to not want you back ever?"

"Oh Sweetie, he over reacted! He wasn't really thinking, he was just acting on his emotions and what was best for him. The story isn't over yet. You'll just have to wait to see what happens. I promise that it will be worth the wait."

"Granny, How come Rose's friend does not recognize her?" asked Julia.

I smiled, "you'll find out that boys are not quite as observant as we are. The other thing is that the last thing that Josh was looking for was his friend packaged as a beautiful girl. And in the beginning, Josh was more than a little distracted by Gloria's beauty."

Linda asked, "Can we go on with the story now, Granny? Pretty, Please?"

“Please come with me to the exercise room with me. We can continue the story after we've finished exercising. Okay Girls?"

Julia and Linda responded in unison, "Okay, Granny!" They each smiled their sweet smiles and each took one of Granny's hands as they all went into the exercise room.

As they passed the window, the three of them could not help but pause a moment to look at the classic picture that first was visible on Apollo 8 of the Earth rising over the lunar surface.

Chapter Four ~ Welcome Space Campers!

I entered the exercise room with Linda and Julia close behind. As they cleared the door it closed automatically behind them.

Girls, I need to exercise when the gravity is low so I'm going to ask Doris to turn the gravity down in here. We have some exercise equipment that is like the first ones used on the International Space Station that works just as well in low gravity as it does in the gravity you are used to having. I'd like you both to choose an exercise to start on and then after a while we will switch."

"Okay, Granny!" echoed the girls as Linda chose the stationary bike and Julia chose the treadmill.

I showed the girls how to use the equipment and then I took my place using the resistive exercise bar. "Doris, decrease gradually gravity in exercise room to lunar normal."

Doris answered "Compliance!" I noticed the gravity decreasing till it reached 1/6 G.

The girls really enjoyed themselves as they found that even with the gravity lessening they could still do their exercise. For me, it was a way of getting the exercise that I needed without the stress of full gravity. We traded out after a while and I showed Julia how to do the resistive exercise bar as Linda moved to the treadmill. I took my place on the stationary bike.

We did it again and my exercise session was finished and now it was time to teach the girls how things change when gravity changes. "Girls are you ready for some more fun? Would you like to play hopscotch?"

"Yes Granny, Can we?" asked Linda and Julia continued, "Can we? Can we?"

I told them, "Sure Sweeties! Doris display hopscotch game on exercise room floor."

Doris responded, "Compliance!" And the hopscotch court was displayed instantly on the floor. I took the first turn just to show the girls that things were not quite the same in lunar gravity for the game.

When I finished Linda went thru the hopscotch court but missed some boxes because they pushed off too much in the low gravity and overshot. Julia took her turn and she had trouble too. They kept practicing until both of them went thru it perfectly. In the lunar gravity hopscotch looked like ballet.

Even at lunar gravity, the girls with all the exercise had tired themselves out.

"Granny, can we hear some more of the story, Pretty Please!" asked Linda.

"Yes Granny, Pretty, Please with sugar on top!"

"Alright, Sweeties. Lets all go freshen up and then I'll resume the story. Doris, set gravity to Earth normal in exercise room."

"Compliance!" answered Doris.

We exited the exercise room and freshened up and soon the girls were back gathered around me and I began again to tell my story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I joined in with the celebration and looked around the room with wonder. A huge banner covered most of one wall proclaiming, 'Welcome Space Campers'. It was not the usual gathering of boys and girls since everyone there was dressed alike in NASA Jumpsuits. I looked closer and found that some were not entirely like the others. While the boys were all wearing their uniform alone, some of the girls had included accessories to augment them. One girl in particular had turned the usually (asexual) jumpsuit into something both feminine and sexy. She wore a belt at the waist which emphasized her curves as well as pumps instead of the usual tennis shoes. a scarf at her neck softened the outfit as well as having a feminine hairstyle deliciously made up and wearing jewelry as an accent. I realized that if I wanted to be noticed that doing something like that to my appearance was essential. I quietly left to go to the dorm so I could retrieve the things that would make the difference before getting back to the reception. I was lucky I was first in our group to be let go so that I could make those adjustments without being missed.

My own sense of style was still guided by my former cousins and now nieces' sense of style. However since we shared a familial resemblance it generally worked for me more than any generic style might. In time I hoped I would learn to refine it better. I used the same kind of accessories to augment my look as the girl that I had admired. The actual accessories selected gave me an entirely different look from her which emphasized my unique features. Like her, I had turned the androgynous jumpsuit into a sexy affirmation of my style. As I walked back into the reception, I was thrilled at the sight of male heads turning to look. I was the most pleased when Josh not only looked my way and smiled at me but also came over to me. He passed the punch table on his way and brought me a glass of punch which I gratefully received.

"Thanks so much for the punch, Josh" I said looking longingly into his eyes.

"I guess looking after our team members comes with the job. I really like what you have done with your uniform. It really compliments your beauty, " said Josh with a big smile.

"Thank you, Ross. I wanted to look my best. After all this is a social occasion. You fill out your uniform very handsomely as well."

"Thank you Rose. I hope there are no hard feelings about me winning the assignment of mission commander. You seem as qualified as I am for it."

"I feel good about the assignments we were given. I am going to do my best to fulfill my assignment and to work together with all our team members. I am happy for you that you were selected Mission Commander."

"I hope that we can get along well since we will be working together more with each other than the rest of the team due to the nature of our assignments."

"I look forward to working together and I have a feeling that we will be very good together."

"As do I, Rose. Have you ever met someone for the first time but somehow they seemed so familiar to you that it seems like you've been together forever?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, Josh that is exactly how I feel about you and I don't know why."

"I feel that way about you as well, Rose. It's as if I already know you. Maybe I'm confusing things because I am totally in awe of your beauty: In any case, its going to mean that spending so much time together will really be enjoyable. Do you know any of the other members of our team? I saw you and Amanda were the first to arrive. Do you know her?"

"I met her on the bus from the airport and we have become good friends. I was really glad when we were assigned together on the same team. You came with Mark. Do you know him?"

"I met him in the dorm after we had both gotten thru registration. He's my bunkmate and a really nice guy."

"I've never met Jinx and Max before the team meeting. They both seem nice if a little off beat, in their own ways. I guess that when we start working together, we will have a chance to really get to know them as we all meet challenges together."

By that time the music was cranked up a little louder and couples were forming who started dancing in the area by the DJ.

Josh surprised me by asking, "Rose would you like to dance?"

I recovered and rewarded him with a big smile, "I'd love to Josh."

Josh placed my hand in his and led me over to where the others were dancing. Josh was a really good dancer and focused on him as I danced with my own style but noticed his dancing too so I could follow his lead. There seemed to be a Beach Boy theme to the selections that were playing. I expressed true joy while dancing to "I get around" but I was in heaven as Josh took me in his arms while we danced to "Surfer Girl" I could tell that Josh was falling for me just like I had already fallen for him. This would be one interesting Space Camp. We decided to take a break after our slow dance and as we emerged from the crowd, we saw Mark and Amanda doing the same thing. They caught up with us and we found a table. Josh and Mark seated us and then excused themselves to go get refreshments.

"Wow, Rose! I really like that look. You took full advantage of being first out to make a few adjustments before getting to the reception. You go, Girl!"

"Thanks Amanda! I felt like I needed a little something to get Josh to really notice me and it worked."

"I would say so, Rose. He is totally into you now. I imagine you are happy about that!"

"I'm thrilled, Amanda. It looks like you and Mark have hit it off as well."

"Mark is as dreamy in person as I felt he would be. I'm going to have fun at Space Camp for sure."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jinx and Max entering together. As I watched their facial expressions and gestures it reminded me of two girls interacting. As I focused on Max it seemed that I was looking in a mirror of the person I was before my miracle. I knew that my perception might be wrong since I was observing outward expressions instead of knowing the heart. I resolved to listen carefully to Max to learn what I could. I hoped that if I were a friend to Max that Max might feel that I was someone to confide in.

When the two of them moved close enough to notice me, I waved them over to our table. It did me good to see the two of them laughing and cutting up together. It reminded me of how Amanda and I had hit it off. Both of them saw me and waved and headed in our direction.

"Hi Jinx and Max! Come on over and join us!" I called as Amanda joined me in waving them over.

We both got up and greeted them and then all four of us took our seats.

"Oh Rose, that's no fair at all! You made that jumpsuit into a fashion statement. You look wonderful!" complimented Jinx.

"Thank you Jinx. I was lucky that I was first so I went back to the dorm to make some adjustments."

"Jinx, it wasn't to try to show us up. She was trying to catch Josh's eye but he only had eyes for Gloria," explained Amanda.

"I imagine you caught his eye as you are now, Rose You go girl!" Max encouraged with a big smile.

"How did you two manage to finish up at the same time to walk in together? I asked directed to Jinx and Max.

"When Gloria came down to me after she had finished with Amanda, she handed me a copy of the camp rules and asked me to wait with Max for Greg to speak with both of us about the camp rules. She explained that there had been a death in her family, a cousin and that she was needed at home. She lives locally in Huntsville. She promised that we would get acquainted later. One of the other councilors will be looking out for us tonight while she is away.", explained Jinx.

We all expressed our condolences for Gloria's loss including myself who knew that the death was a sham since I was still alive. I'd check with her to see why there was an emergency right then. We found out what was taking Josh and Mark so long to return with some beverages. Instead they came pushing food carts which had our suppers and drinks for all of us. It was so thoughtful for them to get everything for all of us instead of each of us going thru the line. They served each of us as though this was not their first time in being servers and soon we were all served and they joined us at the table for our meal. We all thanked Josh and Mark for their generosity in serving all of us.

After we finished dinner, the reception seemed to be winding down. We said our good nights and Josh, Mark and Max headed toward the boys dorm while Amanda, Jinx and I walked together to the girl's dorm. We found out that Jinx was in the top bunk next to us and the bottom bunk was not claimed that evening and we all assumed that was where Gloria ordinarily would have slept.

We all studied our materials until lights out. Even after the lights were out, whispers still passed between the three of us and the evidence of whispering was heard else where in the dorm. We finally all got to sleep.

However about 4 AM I was shaken and a familiar voice belonging to Gloria asked me to get up. I put on my robe and slippers and followed her outside.

"Rose, the reason that I had to leave this evening was that Ross's memorial service was held this evening in Charlotte. I believe that Mr. Moore, the uncle I no longer claim, believed that if he waited the ordinary time to allow people to come in from out of town that one of us who knew what he had done would have made a scene while there was high visibility. My scheduling it so soon, he hoped that it would put an exclamation point on the media coverage and put an end to it. The service was relayed over a real time feed to any who wished to participate but could not get to Charlotte so quickly. My family viewed the feed and they wanted me there with them so I would know what was going on. Grandmother and Grandfather also were viewing the feed and we chatted thru it via phone.

"Grandfather asked me to let you know that getting you a birth certificate was in the works since you could no longer use your old one. He wants to explain things to you about it in person so he'll be visiting as soon as he gets things tied up. I'll know thru him and thru Camp when that will be so I will keep you advised."

"Thanks Gloria. I guess I should not be surprised about what he might do. Hopefully this is all that he will do for now. "

"I think that is it too, Rose. You had better get back to bed. I'm going to be in soon so I can rest up a little before wake up call."

"Thanks Gloria. Sleep well!" I turned to go back inside heading straight back to bed while Gloria followed me in and then disappeared in the restroom. I quickly fell back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I felt my shoulder being shaken and heard my name being called, "Rose, please get up. Quietly, we don't want to wake Gloria or any of the other girls in the dorm" I recognized that it was Jinx and also that it was 6 AM.

"Jinx, sure I'll get up. Why are we getting up so early?"

"It's Max. It’s about something that Max would like to talk about privately. I told Max it would be okay."

"It's Okay." One thing about getting up at 6 AM was that I would not have to wait for a shower and I could take my pick of the mirrors to get ready. At 7am we were all in the cafeteria, having been the first in line and had a table all to ourselves without anyone else in earshot.

Max began, "Thank you all for getting up early to hear what I have to say. This is difficult for me to put into words and even more difficult to make myself understood. I've always been a girl inside but now I want to be a girl on the outside as well as inside." Max paused to see how we would react.

I immediately smothered her in a hug. "It’s Okay, Sweetie, We like you for who you really are." Jinx joined us in a group hug immediately and Amanda did as well.

When we broke the hug, I asked the girl we knew as Max a question, “Do you have a femme name? It's kinda difficult to call you Max when we know you are really a girl now."

"I like to be called Gigi. Rose you and Jinx have been great with both of you seeming to know about transgirls. Amanda do you have any questions?"

"Now that the ice is broken, Gigi, could you explain more fully in your own words?"

"From my earliest memories, I've always known that I was really a girl. As I became older I began to know that not only that there are others like me but there was a way to treat me so my outside would match my inside. It's been difficult since after hinting, I found out that I was unlikely to get any help from my parents. I was hoping that I might find a way to come out at camp."

"I feel I understand better, Gigi. I can understand about difficult parents even when things are not as serious as what you are facing. I'll do what ever I can to help and from the sound of it both Jinx and Rose will too." We both nodded and then all 4 of us were in a group hug.

"If you want to try it out, Gigi, being a girl here we can help. Since you came to camp as Max, we need to ask Gloria what our next step is. From our conversation, we can trust her to keep a confidence. She won't go forward unless you agree to what she wants to do for you."

"Okay, Rose. Let's ask Gloria. "

"Great, Gigi I'll go see if Gloria is up and ask her to go to visit with you."

"Thanks Rose, we'll be waiting."

I left the cafeteria and went out to the Girls dorm. As luck would have it Gloria was exiting it just before I got to it.

"Hi Rose. When I woke, I found all of you had left already. What's going on?"

"We girls are at the cafeteria with Max. There was something that Max asked us about. Where were you headed, Gloria?"

"To the Cafeteria as well. Want to walk with me? I have a feeling there is more."

We both began walking to the Cafeteria so we began to talk.

"We found out that Max is a transgirl who likes to be called Gigi. Is there a chance that the camp would let her present as her true self?"

"If she has a letter for a therapist then the camp will allow it, even if the parents don't know. There are conditions, mainly concerning showers but it’s not onerous. She uses the bathroom corresponding to her presentation. She uses the councilor's private shower which is single use. Other than that no condition except that she must make an honest effort to conform to her chosen presentation. I researched it when I thought that Ross might need it. "

"That sounds wonderful, Gloria. I'll see if my Daddy can help us with that. Is he on his way?"

"Yes, and I have cleared it with the camp for you to leave with him to take care of that issue. I can arrange for Max to accompany you so that he can work his magic for her as well."

"You are the best, Gloria. Tell the girls I will be right there. It will only take a moment to call Daddy and see if he can arrange something."

Gloria went on with a wave while I stopped and called Daddy. "Hi Daddy, I am so looking forward to seeing you."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you too, Sweetie. Just like Gloria told you, I'm getting a birth certificate for you. We need to talk about that face to face."

"What ever it is, Daddy, I love you! A transgirl came out to the girls of our group today. The camp will let her be herself if she has a therapist letter. I was wondering if you could work some of your magic and bring her to see one while you are here."

"I actually do have someone I know who could help. Gloria and I plotted this when it looked like Ross was going to need it. I'll call her and see if she can arrange to be free. Leave things to me. I’ll leave messages on your cell and Gloria's after I know for sure. Love ya sweetie"

"Love ya Daddy! Bye bye!"

I hung up my cell and crossed the remaining distance to get to the cafeteria. The girls were there where I had left them, except that Gloria and Gigi were missing. I looked around and saw that our conversation would no longer be private before speaking.

"Where are Gloria and Max?"

"They left a while ago when Max asked if Max could ask her about something." answered Jinx

"I'm glad that Max trusted Gloria. What's next?"

"Gloria asked us to hang out here for her. She wants to do Jinx's get acquainted session that she missed last night after she and Max finish. We are going to do our intro to Space Camp with a tour of the grounds and Museum next. ", explained Amanda.

I answered, "That sounds great. My Daddy is on the way here with some urgent family business to discuss. I'm going to be excused when he gets here for a little while. "

Gigi returned alone with a smile when she saw me with the group. "Gloria sent me to fetch you, Rose and Jinx." Jinx and I each took one of Gigi's hands as we all waved at Amanda who was being left behind. We together skipped out of Amanda's sight and did not stop till we came to the office. We finally came to the office where Gloria was waiting. Gigi told us, "Gloria wants to see Rose and I first. Jinx she wants you to wait outside. We won't be long."

Gigi entered first and then I closed the door behind me and we each took a seat.

"Gloria, My Daddy has the letter covered that Gigi needs. He's flying in a Therapist to see Gigi."

"That's very good. The Camp has advised that while your Daddy has Gigi checked out of camp to have the therapist's appointment, that they thru a foundation that helps Gender Dysphoric children have set up appointments for Gigi to get breast forms fitted and also for the works at a Beauty Salon. Both of those, the Foundation will pay for. All they will need is a copy of the Therapist's letter. Your Daddy has been advised of these appointment times and has agreed that he can get Gigi to them within the time constraints of his visit. Any questions so far?"

"No, Gloria. Thank you." I responded and Gigi nodded.

"Of course Gigi will come back presenting her true self. The Camp Director and Camp Psychologist want to meet with Gigi after she gets back before she resumes camp activities to go over with her what is expected of her. Basically Gigi, you'll have a few more rules so that you can avoid trouble and enjoy your camp stay. Do you understand, Gigi?"

"Yes Gloria. Thank you so much for your help."

"One more thing, Gigi. The boys will be joining us shortly as our team activities begin. The Camp will be taking care of what needs to be done before you enter camp as Gigi while you are gone. They would like to keep the information about your transition contained to those who know about it now. That means that until you come back you must present as Max to everyone and everyone must refer to you in that manner. Is that clear?"

"Yes Gloria. I understand, I present as Max till I leave camp."

"Rose if you will tell Amanda about this, I'll let Jinx know when I am getting acquainted with her. If the boys arrive before we finish let them know that we'll be there momentarily. You girls can rejoin Amanda now."

Gigi said "Thanks!" as she left and Jinx entered as I left and closed the door behind her. We found Amanda and told her about keeping the secret about Gigi and that she would have to be Max till my Daddy came to check us out.

Gigi pulled out a book and began reading it while we were waiting since Amanda had started listening to her MP3 player. She had her study material on audio book and studied better hearing it. I was looking at my Space Shuttle Simulator Materials. I looked at the cover and it was Madeline L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time. It amazed me that she would be reading a novel, even a great one like that instead of studying so I had to ask her about it.

"Gigi, that's a great novel that you are reading. I really enjoyed it. Are you so caught up on your studies that you have time to read for pleasure?"

"l know it all word for word and I understand it. I have a photographic memory. I remember everything that I see. It can be so cluttered at times with all the information floating around in my head."

"Wow! Gigi, I imagine that you are pretty smart then."

"From what I read about people with Gender Dysphoria, we tend to be at the higher end of the intelligence spectrum. Some of us are geniuses. For me, I love mathematics and math theory. I have gone way beyond what is ordinarily taught in school to things even beyond doctorate work in college."

Amanda excused herself to go thru the line and get something to drink and offered to bring something back for us too which we accepted gladly.

"That's fantastic, Gigi. Is that why you are reading Madeline L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time? Do you think the Tesseract can really work?"

"That's it exactly. Rose. Not only do I think it will work but I can make it work on myself. I can do small folds in time and space"

"This I have got to see to believe, Gigi"

"Okay!" said Gigi with a big smile and she vanished.

A couple of seconds later, I heard giggling behind me and a tap on my shoulder. I was really startled and jumped up. I recovered a little and turned around and there was Gigi standing and still giggling.

"I'm sorry I startled you, Rose. You did ask for it!"

"That is so amazing, Gigi!" I was truly floored. I knew Gigi was special but I could not imagine this.

"It's all mathematical. Anyone who understood the concepts involved could do it."

"Somehow that doesn't help much. Very few people are mathematical geniuses like you. I'm very glad to have you as a friend."

Amanda came back just then and gave each of us our drinks. "What are you two so excited about? The vibes I am picking up is that something amazing just happened."

"It did, Amanda. I just witnessed Gigi disappear and a couple of seconds later reappear behind me."

"You should have seen how high she jumped, Amanda but she did ask for a demonstration."

"Amanda, she does it with mathematics just like Meg in Madeline L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time."

"Gigi, have you tried it with a passenger?" asked Amanda

"I'm game if you two are to try. I believe it will work if we hold hands and you two clear your minds of any thoughts. Just make them blank."

We both just went for it. Amanda took my hand and Gigi's and I took Gigi's other hand. I believed it could happen because I had seen it. Amanda just was the kind of girl who was always up for an adventure. She was into things quickly without much thought just like when she hacked the registration. I blanked my mind after I looked around to see that no one was looking at us.

I heard Gigi say "Tesser" and the world winked out for a moment and then we were back a couple of feet away from where we had started.

We all got together in a group hug as we were all giddy with laughter. I don't think I examined any of the implications of what had just happened. I knew that I had fun and that I had shared a unique experience with Amanda and Gigi.

When we broke the hug, I looked at the time and it was approaching the meeting time.

"Gigi, More of the group should be arriving soon. I guess its time for you to present as Max but it will just be for a little while longer. Gigi frowned and erected the facade that allowed her to present as Max. It was none to soon because Josh and Mark found us and joined us at the table.

Mark asked upon arriving, "Where's Gloria? I'm ready to get started."

I answered him. "Gloria is with Jinx. Both of them will be here soon. Gloria had a family emergency last night and she is catching up with the things she missed."

Amanda and I noticed when Josh came close that it looked like something was bothering him.

"Josh, what’s wrong?” asked Amanda.

"Mark and I came by the communications center before getting here. I found an internet report that one of my classmates and members of the flying club was killed. I can't even attend the memorial service because the family rushed things and had the memorial service last night back in Charlotte."

"Was the name of the classmate, Ross Moore?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"It sounded like it might be the same person whose death was Gloria's family emergency. Ross was her cousin. You might want to talk to Gloria about it. The Memorial Service was streamed on the net for family and friends who could not get there last night. She might have a way of letting you see it if you want to, Josh."

"Thanks Rose, I'll check with her," Josh answered. We saw Gloria and Jinx coming toward us and we cheered for them as they arrived.

"Thank you group for your cooperation. If you will form a double line and follow me, we'll get started." said Gloria as she led us out of the cafeteria and toward the massive display of the full size prototype Space Shuttle Pathfinder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh Granny! Is it time to stop again already?" asked Julia sweetly.

"Granny, I want to know what happens to Gigi, Can't we go on?” asked Linda.

"Sweeties, it is time for me to cook Dinner. Would you like to help me, girls?"

"Of course, Granny" both girls echoed.

I had a wonderful dinner planned for us. I especially reveled in teaching the girls how meals were prepared before there were replicators. There was just something about a freshly cooked and prepared meal.

"Girls, please set the table while I get together everything we need to cook Dinner."

"Yes Granny!" they both responded and they busied themselves with taking the dishes glasses, silverware and napkins from their storage compartments and distributing them to their proper positions in each place setting.

As they worked, the two girls conversed with both of them still excited about when Granny turned the gravity down and how that had felt.

"I hope Granny takes us outside while we are here, Linda. I'd love to know what its like to walk on the moon."

"I hope so too, Julia. I remember Momma telling me once that Granny was the first woman to walk on the moon. That is so cool!"

Together the two girls wondered what that must have been like as they completed the task of setting the table.

Chapter Five ~ Dreams Come True!

As I had considered what to teach my two willing students how to prepare, I chose simplicity. I did not want to overwhelm them on their first meal. Laid out on the preparation counter was several deboned and deskined chicken breasts in a bowl, a bunch of fresh carrots, a can of peas, a bowl of already mixed up biscuit dough. I had also laid out the pots and pans and kitchen tools needed to prepare each item.

"Granny what do we do first?” asked Linda. Her sister Julia was just as full of energy and ready to start.

"First, Julia I’d like you to cover the chicken breasts with the lemon pepper marinade and we'll let the chicken soak in it for a while." Julia did as she was directed and the chicken was soaking in the marinade.

"Second, we need to prepare the carrots. First run some water over the carrots using the sprayer over the sink. Then cut off both ends and use the vegetable scrubber to make sure it’s clean then spray them again. Using a knife cut each carrot into uniform disks. Please place them in the pot."

"Yes, Granny.” answered Julia

After I showed them on the first carrot, the girls caught on and soon finished them all up.

"We'll put the seasoning in them with a little water and they will be ready to cook. Linda please measure out 20 ml honey and 20 ml of the liquefied butter."

She did as I asked. “Julia, please finish filling the pot with water till it touches the top most carrot and stir it and place the pot on the stove."

I showed both of them how to operate the stove and turned it on medium under the carrot pot.

"Next we'll get the pan of biscuits ready. Linda please spray the baking pan with the olive oil mister."

I showed Julia how to set the oven for a particular temperature. Soon it warmed up and indicated the oven was ready to use.

Linda had the pan ready so we continued as I showed the girls how to pinch off a biscuit sized piece of dough and then to pat it in to a rounded disk and place it in the pan leaving a little space around it for it to spread out. "Girls, you've seen me do the first one, please finish filling the pan."

"Yes, Granny!" they chorused sweetly. The pan was soon filled and I set the timer and placed the pan into the oven.

I showed the girls how to use the can opener and placed the contents in another pot.

"Julia, please add 20 ml of the liquefied butter to the peas and stir them. Place the pot on the stove and turn it on medium. Stir the pots on the stove periodically and turn them down when they begin to bubble and boil" "Yes, Granny" said Julia and she followed my directions.

“Linda, we would like to use the tongs and transfer the chicken breasts from the bowl to the grill on the stove top." Linda placed them all on the grill and soon they were sizzling as they cooked.

The timer sounded and I took the biscuits out of the oven and placed them in the bread basket.

While I instructed Linda to turn the chicken breasts, Julia had seen that both pots had boiled and turned them down. I checked the peas and carrots and they were completely cooked. I poured the carrots and peas into their bowls. The chicken breasts were ready to take up and I transferred them to a platter.

"Girls, we are finished cooking dinner. If both of you will bring the dinner in to set on the table, I'll bring a carafe of our favorite cranberry-grape juice."

Soon we had the dinner on the table and each of us had a seat.

"Granny, I want to know what happens to Gigi, Can't we go on? Pretty, please?", asked Linda again.

"Yes girls, I'll continue the story." The girls listened intently as I continued and they were patient as I paused to take a bite of my meal in-between.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ordinarily, the morning's activities were such that I would have taken in every detail and noted every word. This was not one of those times. Instead I found myself staring at Josh every moment that I could and finding excuses to be near him and most of all to touch him. The Rocket Park and Museum are amazing places full of space history come to life thru access to actual space hardware that had gone up into space. I'm sorry that you will have to go see it for yourself because I could not focus enough to describe everything to you. It was all over my head for the moment. All I could focus on was Josh. I was really lucky that we did not have a test on the morning’s activities since I would have found it hard to put my name at the top of the paper.

Lunch was the next thing on the schedule and I snapped out of it enough to engage Josh in conversation. What I really would have liked to do at that moment was kiss Josh but that was not going to happen in public here with the team watching. I settled for having a pleasant conversation with Josh and fortunately he did not ask me any technical questions or I would have come off like an air head. Love is so intoxicating. I could tell as I carefully observed Josh that he was really thrilled to see me. I was in heaven!

However with lunch concluded I was shocked back to earth with the importance of helping Gigi. Just after lunch, Daddy texted me that they had arrived in Huntsville and would be arriving soon in a Limo to pick us up. Shortly after that, Gloria found Max and I together and asked us to come with her to the Camp Director's office. Later when we were out of the hearing of the other campers, she more fully explained.

"Granddaddy, phoned the Camp Director and told him about his soon arrival and asked if you two could be waiting in the office when he came to get you Gigi and you, Rose."

"Thanks, Gloria.” replied Gigi masquerading as Max.

"No problem, Gigi. All of us Space Camp Staff are doing our best to ease the way for you when you return to camp later on."

Gloria knocked on the door and was told to enter so she did along with the two of us.

"Welcome, Gloria! And this must be Rose and Gigi. Gigi, we are going to do everything in our power so that you will be comfortable for the rest of your stay here. Gloria, you can go back to your group since these two young ladies will be waiting here for Rose's Father."

"Thank you, Mister Director." said Gloria as she exited out the door and closed it behind her.

The Camp Director had more work to do so we both sat quietly waiting. Soon the waiting was over since there was a knock on the door and came thru after being bidden and my Daddy greeted me with a hug.

"Mr. Director, I'm ready to sign these two girls out." Daddy handed him a closed folder of documents and received on in return.

The Camp Director presented Daddy the log sheet and he signed both of us out.

"Thank you, Mr. Abbot. Girls you can go with him now. Good Luck!"

We all echoed, "Thanks" and Daddy led us to the limo where we entered and drove off. I recognized right away, Erika Johansen and told her Hi!. My new Daddy had arranged for Erika to have a chat with me when I was going thru a particularly rough time.

"Gigi, please meet Dr Erika Johansen. She is here to evaluate you and she has the credentials to write the letter that you would like to have." Daddy told Gigi.

"I'm very glad to meet you Gigi. It's been arranged that we will spend the afternoon together. By the time that our time together ends, I feel like I will have seen you well enough to evaluate you." explained Erika.

"I'm very glad to meet you too, Dr Erika." Gigi seemed to be at ease with the average sized Scandinavian woman who used to have bright red hair which had turned grey which she did not color. She had a kind expressive face that a person really felt safe talking to as though she were another Mother.

"Where are we off to now?" I asked.

"To your sister, Jessica's home. Your brother in law will be at work but you'll get to see your sister and her daughter, Joy. Gloria of course is still back at Space Camp but you'll get to see more of her there."

"I am so glad! So Jessica and her family are not really part of this conspiracy?"

"They are totally behind you, Rose. They only faked agreement to throw your former Father off guard. With hosting this visit they will be totally out in the open now that they support you."

"What's the plan?"

"Erika will start off discussing things privately with Gigi. She'll take her for some preliminary shopping and for a couple of appointments. While that is going on, I have some items I need to tell you and your sister. After that we'll have some family time which will include Joy. What happens after Erika and Gigi finish will depend on what time it is since it was suggested that I get you both back to the camp by a certain time."

"That sounds great, Daddy!"

It wasn't too long before the limo pulled up into my before my former Aunt's and now Sister's driveway. We climbed out and out of the house came Jessica and Joy. There were hugs all around for everyone. Finally Jessica invited us all inside. With the introductions out of the way, Erika asked where she could talk to Gigi in private. The two of them disappeared into the den. Jessica sent her daughter on an errand leaving the three of us alone in the living room to hear our Daddy's news.

"Jessica, I am so proud of you for accepting your new sister, Rose. With what Mr. Moore has done about Ross, Rose needs more of a background than just the closed adoption since we know what opening that up would point to. Rose needs a new identity and I believe that I have one for her."

"What is that, Daddy?" Jessica asked.

"To my shame I had a moment of weakness, about 15 years ago. I had an affair with a younger woman on a business trip. Once was enough and she was pregnant with my child, a girl. She was born on July 6th. I stood behind my child financially but I knew that your Mother truly had my heart and the affair was all lust. The woman knew there was no hope for me to divorce your Mother so she had to be content with raising the child alone. We had planned to put her into a boarding school out of the country as soon as she reached school age so the Mother could resume her career that she had put on hold when she became a full time Mother. But the plans were for naught. In spite of the little girl getting the best of medical care, she had an undetectable heart condition and she had a massive heart attack and died just before her sixth birthday. The grief of losing her was too much for me. Your Mother knew that something was drastically wrong with me. She made me tell her. She forgave me and then her love got me thru the very dark place I was going thru."

"I am so sorry for your loss, Daddy. You must have loved her so much." I offered

"Thank you Sweetie. I had a purpose for bringing up that tragic story. Because of her situation raising a child out of marriage, she lived a very solitary life. The town was very isolated too. In fact the only person who knew about her child's death was the coroner. A tragedy had the courthouse burning to the ground with the only copy of the child's death certificate before it could have been archived off site. In the same fire the Coroner lost his life too. With there being no record or person capable of verifying the child's death, only her Mother and I know the truth. I've told her about your problem and she wants to help by offering to you her daughter's identity."

"What would that mean for me, Daddy, to assume her identity?"

"There would be very little change in the near term for you, Honey. Your birthday would need to be changed to July 6th making you a little less than 11 months older. We'll get you a new adoption record which would include a name change on adoption to the name you have now. And of course a new passport and a new birth certificate based on the original one but that one sealed and one with your current name issued. I'll make sure that everything that you are using now disappears completely and you will have no longer any paper trail back to Ross. With your birth Mother, according to the new record, identifying you as her daughter, we have a life story verified for you thru the time before school. We can establish more of your life soon. We should do that carefully so that it will stand the test of time, should anyone examine it.

"Can I meet my new birth Mother?"

"Yes, Sweetie. She wants to meet you and spend some time with you. In fact she wants to have a role in your life and I hope after meeting her you will find her lovable. We'll arrange for you two to spend some time together. After that we'll put our heads together all three of us to find a life history for you which is in character and is verifiable as much as we can."

"What does this mean about Mr. Moore, who got rid of Ross?"

"Magic is an amazing thing, Rose. I had added testing done on the blood sample that you gave for your physical prior to Space Camp. You are no longer genetically Mr. Moore's daughter. It verifies that you are my natural daughter now. Your blood type has changed from AB positive to O negative, which is the same as mine. It's fortunate that the testing requirement is stringent. Your heart was checked because of the rash of children dying, because their physical was not thorough enough. You don't have the same defect that my other little girl had. But back to Mr. Moore, with the gender change and change of Father, there is no longer any way to tie you to being Ross in the past. Even if you outed yourself somehow, it would only be an emotional response to you and not anything legally binding. If he outs you, the only thing that he could do is incriminate him for what would no longer be fraud but murder because he could not prove that you had been Ross. He could still make trouble for you if you cross him but that threat is an empty one now."

"If you are my natural Father, now then who is my natural Mother?"

"We did not test for that, and testing for maternity would be very suspicious since it is usually a given. Sometime later when your identity is more established, we can check to see if you match either your old Mother or the woman whose child you've assumed the identity. If it is neither of them, then you may never know. I believe that we have covered most everything, Rose. What I need to know from you now is if you can live with assuming that dead girl's identity?"

"Yes, Daddy. I can do that and it is for the best. You are my natural Father now and claiming you as my natural Father mean that we've taken from him a way to hurt me and our family. May I know the name of my natural Mother of record and what my name was on that record?"

"Of course, my daughter. The name of the woman who wants to be your Mother on paper is Miriam Caldwell and the name of her daughter was Candice Anne Caldwell. Here are copies of your new documents to look at. I took a chance and already had these ready since we had to void your first ones since they could be evidence against Mr. Moore in proving the fraud if the sealed documents were some how revealed."

"Thank you, Daddy." As I looked thru the new documents and saw how complete they were, I knew that now my paper trail was much better. I also felt more normal jumping a generation in effect and being Daddy's daughter. Had Candice survived, Daddy would have another daughter about my age. Now I was taking Candice's place. I could leave everything in my Daddy's hands and I know he would take care of me. I looked up at the time and I wondered about Erika and Gigi. "Has anyone seen Erika and Gigi?"

My sister Jessica answered me (referring to her as my sister suddenly was not as weird) "They slipped out the back some time ago when we were deep in conversation so they did not disturb us with goodbyes."

"Jessica, how do you feel about me being your sister?" I asked her.

"It's not weird any more knowing now that the magic made you my sister. We have some lost time as sisters to make up for but it will be fun exploring our new relationship and I'm really glad you are a part of our family, Little Sister. " We hugged and gave each other a kiss on the cheek.

Almost as if on cue, Joy came back inside and plopped down in the living room with us. She was carrying some Ben and Jerry's ice cream in one bag since it was so thin I could tell the distinctive packaging and she had a couple of others from stores in the mall. I could tell that Joy was pleased.

"Momma, I did my own shopping first and thank you for the gift card. I went by the grocery store on the way home and got your ice cream. I'll go put it in the freezer." She did and was back beside her Mother.

"Sweetie, I have some news about Rose that we did not know about the magic that changed her. The magic also made her be your Grandfather's daughter for real. No foolin', she is my sister and your aunt for real now."

"Oh Aunt Rose! I am so happy for you!" She came over and gave me a big hug which I returned and then she went back to her seat."

"Thank you, Joy! It feels so good to have a niece call me that. I'll try to be a good Aunt to you." I smiled a big grin which she returned. Joy and I had always gotten along well even with the age difference and I was glad to add another niece to my now growing family who accepted me."

"What about, Natalie, Daddy? Are you going to tell her about Rose? What about Violet?"

"As soon as things are finished here in Huntsville, I am going to drop Dr Erika back in Atlanta and then fly to Charlotte. I'll go first to Natalie and tell everything just like I told you and Rose a little while ago. Even though both her and her husband is close with Violet and her husband, I believe that she and her family were doing as your family did and paid Mr. Moore lip service. I'll get Natalie's input before I approach Violet, but I would rather wait till we have Rose's past accounted for completely. I don't plan on telling her this trip unless something big happens to change things."

"Daddy I believe that Natalie will accept everything. (She did not spell it all out for Joy's sake but Daddy understood.). Perhaps Mr. Moore won't be so bold with his hatred when he feels more alone. I hate it that Violet is stuck in the middle of this. I don't know what her marriage is like but it may be better for Violet and Daisy if she divorced him and was free of his hatred." Daddy nodded his assent indicating to me that the less said the better in front of Joy.

I did not have any idea whether my original Momma should divorce Mr. Moore. If she did and she and Daisy came to the farm to live while she was recovering, it could be a wonderful thing. I could find myself with three Mothers. How lucky could I be to get that much love!

Daddy turned the conversation to focus on Joy. From the questions that he asked her and her responses. I could tell that she enjoyed having her Grandfather's attention. Jessica and I added in our own questions here and there. I learned a lot more about my niece and I hoped that would make me a better Aunt in the future. The time flew by and we were all surprised when Jessica let in Dr Erika and a beautiful teenaged girl. It was Gigi! She was reborn. Even wearing her NASA jumpsuit, with her new figure, hair style, beauty treatments, 3 inch pumps and accessories, she was as striking at least as I had been when I had been "Belle of the Ball" at the reception. Gigi would certainly fit in at space camp now.

"Gigi, how do you feel? You look amazing, girl!"

"I feel so proud and happy I could burst. I can't thank everyone enough for the parts they have played to make this happen."

"Well you are certainly going to turn some heads when we get back to Space Camp. What kind of fun did you and Dr Erika have?"

"She evaluated me and wrote my letter for me. I'm so thrilled to have that. Erika had something for me to change into so I could look like myself as Gigi as we shopped. We went shopping and I have a few outfits for the times that the Jump Suit is not appropriate and some lingerie and all the basics that a girl needs. We went next to get my breast forms fitted next and I learned about them and for now they are fixed to me so they feel like they are a part of me. Finally I put on one of my new outfits and we went to the beauty shop for my appointment there. I got the works and I feel wonderful about myself from my head with my new hair style to the pedicure given to my toes."

Daddy put an end to my 20 questions, "I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself and you do look wonderful, Gigi." he paused and then continued, "I promised to get you girls back to Space Camp as quick as I could. Dr Erika need to get back to Atlanta and I need to continue on to Charlotte. If your gear is all still in the limo, we can go ahead and be on our way."

It was and we all said our goodbyes. We soon were loaded in the limo and back to Space Camp. Daddy signed Gigi and I back in at the Camp Director's office and I hugged and said goodbye to Daddy and Dr Erika and Gigi did as well. Soon their limo was out of sight out the window and the Camp Director complimented Gigi and said that Gloria would tell us about what the Camp had done to ease things for Gigi while we were gone. Gigi and I were pleased at the news. The Camp Director returned to his work and then all we could do was wait quietly again until Gloria came to pick us up.

Gloria appeared after a knock on the office door and greeted us both with a smile and a hug.

"May I take the girls, Mr. Director?"

"Sure, Gloria and you three can catch up with your group. I'll get another of the councilors to bring your gear to your new bunk, Gigi. If there are any items that you don't want to hold on to and they could be donated, Gloria can show you where we collect items for the clothing drive." he responded.

"Thank you Mr. Director, for everything!" We disappeared out of his office and on the way to the cafeteria.

"Gigi, you turned out wonderful! I am so glad to welcome you to the girl's dorm. We have made some special arrangements for you which I would like to discuss with you after the IMAX movie which is going to be our evening training session. We are going to see, "The Dream is Alive. That's kinda appropriate considering you all will be doing your first shuttle simulation tomorrow. We are on the way to Supper now. Did you girls eat before you returned to camp?"

"No, so I'm hungry and I imagine that Gigi is as well after all she did since lunch."

"I'm hungry too. What did we miss while we were gone?"

"Opening Ceremonies is mostly a big pep talk and going over again a lot of things you have heard at different times and giving the update for the awards available at Graduation. At the end the Camp Director talked about diversity and that Space Camp was about working together with people as a team and giving respect to everyone. Instead of a classroom session on basic science as applied to Space Flight each group had a discussion about diversity and that harassment was something that would not be tolerated at Space Camp. The groups including both councilors in the Space Academy portion of Space Camp which is our age group 12-14 were alerted to your situation, Gigi, and what was expected by Space Camp in how they would deal with you. We subdivided by gender and let the team discuss it and ask questions. We then broke for free time while making it known that if anyone had a question about this they could come to their councilor for a one on one session."

"How did that go with our group?" I asked

"Everything that I participated in went well. Amanda and Jinx were already supportive of Gigi as you know. I thought I detected that Mark and Josh were having a little bit more difficult time understanding. I'm not sure if either of them had any problem in the boys session or if they had any one on one time with Greg. They understood and supported the camp policies so I believe both of them will respect you and neither would even think about any harassment. The rest will take time. Boys seem to have difficulties dealing with gender issues."

We had both run out of questions which was good since we had arrived at the Cafeteria. We went thru the line and came out with our plates and we found that each of us had a seat saved at the group table. I sat by Josh, Gloria sat by Greg, and Gigi had a seat of honor between Pam and Jinx. After greeting us, the table went back to the serious job of eating the delicious supper we had been provided. It also gave everyone a good chance to take in the new girl, Gigi and figure out how they wanted to interact with her now. Gigi and I were a little distracted by being so hungry that we might not have taken in everything that transpired. I was guessing that Pam's presence at that particular meal was her way of expressing her support for Gigi which thrilled me to know what great people NASA had flying its shuttles. I guessed that I always knew that NASA was a cut above, but Pam gave direct evidence to me of that fact by her presence.

Soon the silence was broken by the normal chit chat of a meal. Everyone participated and it helped that Gigi was not the only celebrity at the table. Pam took care to give each of the campers her attention and that helped Gigi escape from the 20 questions game and she only had to answer the ones that the group really felt they needed to know from her point of view.

As we finished up our meals, both Greg and Gloria excused themselves. When they came back they were rolling a cart with a huge cake which had in icing spelled out: "Welcome Back Gigi!" Gloria and Greg were joined by some other councilors from the groups directly adjoining ours in the dorm. They teamed up to divide the task into an assembly line as our group was served with cake and ice cream first then to the campers who had come by to send Gigi their well wishes for as long as the cake and ice cream held out. It was finally exhausted and they sent the remnants to the kitchen as we all were finishing our desert.

Pam looked at her watch and addressed us, "We need to leave now to get in line for our IMAX movie. We already have your passes so we can go straight to the line. Gloria and Greg will catch up with us when they finish. We will be viewing, The Dream is Alive. This is one of my personal favorites since the film was taken by shuttle astronauts revealing life aboard the shuttle as well as things which can only be seen from the shuttle's point of view. I hope that you all enjoy it. "

Pam led us into the line and as promised Gloria and Josh arrived and passed out our passes for the IMAX. It was quite an experience watching the film and especially from the point of view of going on in the face of adversity which had happened with Challenger and again with Columbia. The pictures were breathtaking and it was as close to space as I or any of our group was likely to get for a long time. It was over all too quickly and since we had free time before curfew, we paired off to go our separate ways. While I did not notice where everyone went, Gigi caught up with Gloria and they left together to go sort her new bunk assignment. I on the other hand got an invitation from Josh to go look at the stars for a while. We agreed to go back to our dorms to retrieve a beach towel and pillow and then meet up by the Shuttle Pathfinder.

I was to my dorm to retrieve my beach towel and a pillow and place them in a tote bag and then right back out where I found my way to the circle which was the home of the Shuttle Pathfinder which was supported with mighty columns in the way that the shuttle was turned over from the strictly vertical to a more horizontal orientation with the nose up pointed to the stars such as it was just before SRB jettison and later ET separation.

Josh smiled at me as he came up to meet me. "Hi Gorgeous, do you come here often?"

I could not resist and replied, "Only with you, my love, only with you!"

He reacted with a deadpan, "I know" Instead of swatting him which had been my initial reaction, I decided to cut him a little slack for what he had been going thru.

I followed him to a beautiful spot which was amazing, It was a slight hill covered in lush grass, away from prying eyes and sources of light pollution with a clear view of the sky. He had literally found the perfect spot. We put down our towels and pillows side by side close and then laid down on our backs and looked up at the stars. It was one thing to see the stars on IMAX and another to lose myself in them gazing up into the starry sky. As I read Josh, I could tell that he was a little nervous. This meant to me that he really wanted this to become a make out session. So did I, but before we crossed that line, I felt I had to let him know who I had been. I did not want anything to potentially come between us

"Josh, do you believe in Magic?"

"Rose, I believe in some kinds of magic. I know people magic exists and that some very magical things occur as a result of a boy and girl going together."

"What about transformations? Do you feel that it is possible?"

"I would have to have proof to believe that it was possible."

"I believe in transformations and I am the proof. I used to be your friend from Charlotte and in your flight club, Ross"

"Ross is dead. Rose that is a pretty sick joke."

"Mr. Moore got someone to dress up like me to seem like I was taking off and then they exited the plain and he flew it out and into a mountain on a radio control. The proof is in the club's security camera. There is one that Ross had just installed out of his own pocket for a contribution to the club. I can give you the codes so it will display the video over your internet link on your cell phone."

"I'll believe it when I see it. Ross did tell me privately about him installing the security camera before he went with his sister and Mom to his grandparents. He had to leave so fast so that he didn't have a chance to let me have the access details before he left. And he didn't talk with me after he came back. Come to think of it that is really weird. The first thing that Ross would do after visiting his grandparents was to tell me all about it. That he didn't especially as proud as Ross was about the security camera is really illogical. Okay go ahead and tell me how to access the video. I can always get the manual mode playback directly from the camera after I get back to Charlotte to confirm it’s real."

I told him step by step what internet address to access, how to get past the security, and how to operate the playback remotely. As I looked over Josh's shoulder, we both recognized Daisy as the person who got into the plane. The disguise might have been good at a distance but we had a digital zoom and we could see it was obviously Daisy. We also saw using the infrared mode that in spite of the distraction which blocked the normal view, Daisy was shown bailing out of the plane on the ground as it took off down the runway and the path she took to escape from the airport grounds.

When he shut off the video, he sat on the blanket dumb founded. He voiced the only conclusion possible, "You really were Ross." He started off absolutely stunned. I wanted to comfort him but he pushed me away. Then I saw anger and frustration erupting into one of his fits of temper that I feared because he could do anything in that state. “I know who you are but I don't know what you are. Stay away from me forever!"

He commanded that with such anger that I could not help myself, I ran away leaving my towel pillow and tote bag where they lay. I ran quicker than I ever thought that I could and burst into the dorm. Gloria caught me and eased me down to one of the bunks. ”What's wrong?" she asked.

I found myself at least realizing not to blurt it out but to whisper it in her ear, "I convinced Josh that I was Ross. He's so angry that he could do anything. I left him and my things at the stargazing hill you told me about." Gloria got on her cell phone and alerted Greg to Josh's trouble and he promised to make sure he was alright.

We were a pair. Gigi was so filled with joy that she could not sleep while I was filled with so much dread that I could not sleep either. Gloria led us both thru a relaxation technique that had us both sound asleep before long and we both needed it. I could only hope that things were better in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Do we have to stop now, Granny?" Julia pleaded. "I just have to know if Josh will stay mad at Rose."

"Poor, Rose! First her birth Daddy turns on her and then her best friend and the one she is falling in love with!" Linda added.

I asked Linda, "Why do you say that Rose is falling in love with Josh?"

"Oh Granny, Rose is showing all the signs of being in love and she only pays attention to Josh and not any of the other boys. She's not rude to them but she'd rather be with Josh." Linda answered

"At least Gigi is happy, I am so glad for her that she can be the girl she really always was but people could not see it." Julia volunteered.

"Girls, since dinner is over we must wash the dishes and pots and put everything away. After we finish with that I might be convinced to continue the story."

Chapter Six ~ Kobayashi Maru

Julia and Linda cheerfully helped me place everything from our meal and preparations into the sonic dishwasher. While I was not too thrilled about subjecting my body to the sonic shower, it was certainly good enough for inanimate objects and did a wonderful job of cleaning and sanitizing everything. The food had already been put away.

"Very good, girls. Please put the linens in the laundry and wipe down the table and chairs with the special cloths."

"Yes, Granny" they both answered.

I cleansed the stove and the kitchen counters while the girls worked in the dining room. I knew that they wanted to hear more of my story. What they didn't realize is that they would be part of the story themselves later on in the story. I was prepared to give in and resume the story when they asked.

Julia and Linda returned to the Kitchen with excitement. "Is there anything else to do, Granny? We are all done in the dining room." asked Linda

"All done girls. We make a great team!"

Julia grinned mischievously, "Like Rose's team in Space Camp? Pretty, please, would you continue the story, Granny?"

Linda added, "Granny I want to find out if Josh is still mad at Rose. Pretty, Please!"

I guessed that the girls thought that "Pretty, Please!" were magic words. I wanted them to believe that magic could be real. I certainly knew that it was real.

"Okay Girls, Lets all sit in the living room and I'll tell more of the story. They took a seat on the couch across from my comfortable chair and I resumed the story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I awoke after a very disturbed sleep tossing and turning. It was so much so that the other girls in our group knew that I was upset about something. Gigi however, who had taken Gloria's bunk, seemed to have slept like a baby. Gloria, when she came to get Gigi so she could shower in the private bath attached to the Senior Councilor Room, that Gloria had moved into as a result of her handling of Gigi's situation.

Gloria smiled at me as she woke Gigi, "Rise and Shine, Gigi. Here's the key to my room. I'm going for a run so you will have it to yourself to get ready for the day!"

"Thanks, Gloria! I can't believe the changes that a day made."

Even after a night's sleep, Gigi looked extremely feminine in her brand new hairstyle and her nightie. She grabbed a pile of clothes and things and with key in hand went over to Gloria's room.

I wish I knew what Josh had decided about me. I know it was the right thing to tell him even though things had become a bit tangled in the way that my new life had evolved. If we could get over this, then I felt like we could go the distance.

There was one obstacle left, that being Mr. Moore who might do anything if I showed my face in Charlotte. It was no longer realistic that he would out me to the medical community since outing me would incriminate him for fraud. If anyone observed that I resembled Ross, it was easily explained by my being his Aunt which was now verified by a birth certificate.

Since I wasn't sleeping, I reasoned that I might as well go ahead and get ready for the day. I took my pile of clothes and other items and went to the dorm bathroom to take care of things.

When I returned to my bunk to put away my items, I was met by a smiling Gigi who was ready to start the day. I did not regret taking Gigi into my confidence. It was helpful to have someone else in my circle of friends that I could discuss being a transgirl with even though the magic had erased all the evidences of that except my real past.

"How's it going, Rose?"

"I'm still a bit nervous about what Josh is thinking of me right now."

"Josh is a good guy, eventually he will come to the right conclusion. I've been sending good thoughts your way that all will be well between you and Josh."

"Thanks Gigi. Would you like to go be first in line for breakfast?"

"Sure, Looks like Amanda and Jinx are sleeping in this morning."

"All we have this morning before our meeting for lunch, then time in the shuttle simulator is an optional film at the Space Dome IMAX Theatre at 10 AM, "Magnificent Desolation" which shows the 12 men who have walked on the moon. We can use our Space Camp pass to get into the Davidson Center to see the Saturn V in all it's glory as it lays on display inside after being restored and preserved for future generations." I explained.

"Oh, I want to see that film too! We all know who the first man on the moon was. It would be too cool to be a woman in that first flight back to land on the moon and be the first woman to step on the moon." Gigi excitedly replied.

"Well you never know who that might be, but it's a safe bet that we both could be ready to be astronauts when the return to the moon occurs." I wondered.

When we exited the Girl's dorm, who could it be who was waiting outside the door. My heart skipped a beat when it was Josh. I reasoned it must be a good sign, since Josh could have waited till later on to let me know if our relationship was over. I was hopeful.

Josh spoke to us, "Gigi, Could I borrow Rose for a little bit? I'd like to talk to you Rose, if you are willing for just a little."

"Gigi is it okay if you go on ahead to breakfast and then I'll catch up with you?”

"Sure, Rose!" and then Gigi whispered so only I could hear it, "You go Girl! I'll be sending good thoughts your way!"

When Gigi had walked out of earshot, I turned to Josh and said, "Okay Josh, I'm listening."

Josh took my hand and led me to a bench where we both sat down. As we faced each other, I looked into Josh's eyes where I sought the answers which would only come from his lips.

"Rose, I am so sorry that I over reacted to your news last night. When I thought about it, I realized that with the unusual circumstances, it was not something you could talk about casually. You trusted me with a great deal of information that in the wrong hands had already lifted threats your way. I thank you for trusting me. After I quit being upset about the deception, I realized that the way that I perceived you before did not matter. That the person before me is the girl I knew even though I didn't realize it at the time. I forgive you for the deception, and I hope you will forgive me for thinking the worst while I was upset."

"Oh Josh! I don't hold that against you and I forgive you. It is a natural reaction to be hurt and angry when you feel like you are deceived no matter what the reason. I'm glad that you have forgiven me for the deception."

"Rose, I love you! I don't know what the future holds but I want us to be together."

"Josh, I love you, too! I feel glad that there are no longer any secrets between us."

"I'm glad that my friend did not die. It is such a relief to know you are okay and a lot more fun to be around you packaged like this. The possibilities are endless. "

"I look forward to exploring each and every one of those possibilities with you, Josh."

"I guess we ought to go to breakfast now, and catch up with Gigi, that our hearts and minds are clear. I'll enjoy breakfast a lot better now, unlike last night when I tossed and turned."

"You, too? I imagine all of our Space Camp team will be glad that we have things resolved. Let's go!"

Josh helped me up and we walked hand in hand to the cafeteria where we saw Gigi right away sitting at one of the tables. We waved at her and smiled then we went thru the line to get our breakfast.

When we had returned and sat down, Gigi could not contain herself, "Have you two made up?"

Instead of answering her right away, Josh dipped me and our kiss which Josh initiated had our lips pressing together in a rather serious lip lock. We finally broke the kiss and Josh returned me to vertical and then pulled out my chair for me and seated me as I looked at him in quiet adoration. Life is good!

"Yes, Gigi, Josh and I are back together again!"

"I am so glad for you two! I hope you are very happy together!"

Josh interjected, "We will be! There is nothing to come between us now that together we can't solve."

I smiled the grin of the Cheshire cat as I began to devour my breakfast. Josh was enthusiastic in eating his too. We all soon finished our breakfast and together we walked to the Davidson Center. It was amazing to actually see the Saturn V rocket that had taken men to the moon. With everything that was there, including a lunar module, I knew that I would want to spend some more time later here. As it was we used our passes to get tickets for the movie then we walked over to the Space Dome so we could get good seats for the movie.

When we passed from the line into the actual IMAX theatre, I realized that there was not a bad seat in the house since no matter where we were seated. We were about the same distance from the screen. However we did have our preferred viewing angle and getting in early helped us to arrange to be sitting where we would enjoy the film the most. I would have liked popcorn and Josh would have gotten me some but there were no concessions allowed in the Space Dome so we had to be content with the breakfast we all had just eaten.

The film was amazing the way we could see in IMAX the astronauts traversing the lunar surface. After viewing the film I had to agree that the title of "Magnificent Desolation" was very true. I even more wanted to walk the surface of the moon and I wanted to be the first woman walking there too.

When we left the Space Dome following the IMAX movie, It was even more apparent that Josh and I were a couple. After having his arm around me and us cuddling close in the movie, instead of merely holding hands, Josh had his arm around my waist holding me against him tightly with us two walking as one.

We walked over to the lunch line and those who saw us enter, including the rest of our group, knew that we were a couple. I was all a grin as I basked in Josh's love. However, since the lunch was an official function, Josh turned all professional on me. It was even more fun that way since I could flirt and I could see Josh squirm a little as he was trying to balance things. We all ate our lunches, and while we were eating small talk went around the table. Everything but what they really wanted to know which was about us being a couple. They realized that Josh wanted to keep that separate so they would have to wait to corner us away from our Space Camp Training.

When we were finished, Pam started to tell us about what we were about to do in the simulation.

"Team Members, You are about to get your initial exposure to the Shuttle Simulator. This is our first evaluation of what level that you are, going into the training. Since everything you know is from the provided texts, we expect that there will be mistakes. If you encounter them, don't panic. Do your best with the help of your team mates to recover from any challenge that you face whether it is something that happens thru a team member's error or it comes as a function of the testing. I and your councilors will be your Mission Control team. In the future another trainee team will provide the Mission Control functions.

These will be your assigned seats in the shuttle simulator:

Josh, you will take the foremost, left seat in the flight deck as Shuttle Commander,

Rose you will take the foremost, right seat in the flight deck as Pilot,

Mark you will take the middle, right seat n the flight Deck as Flight Engineer,

Gigi you will take the middle left seat in the flight Deck as Mission Specialist 2: Communication,

In the Mid deck you will set up two seats which will need to be stowed in flight.

Jinx you will take the left mid deck seat as Mission specialist 1: Robotics,

Amanda you will take the right mid deck seat as Mission specialist 3 Medical.

In the event that for a future mission you will need to either deliver or bring home an ISS astronaut they would function as Mission Specialist 4 and an added seat in the mid deck will have to be set up for them and they would take the middle seat.

Ordinarily you would have White Room team members to help you get in place in the shuttle but for this simulation you'll need to get situated on you own.

Your mission profile for this mission is to: 1) Bring the Leonardo Module to the ISS for supplies and dock it with the Harmony Module, 2) Assist in its contents being transferred to station. 3) Assist in transferring earth bound contents to the Leonardo module, 4) Return the Leonardo Module to the Shuttle Cargo Bay. The ordinary launch and landing protocols will be observed. When we arrive at the simulator, please take your assigned seats and once the simulator door is closed, the simulation will begin."

When we arrived at the simulator we all took our seats as assigned. The one advantage is that the simulator unlike the real shuttle was horizontal at launch instead of vertical which meant that Josh and I did not have to climb up into our chairs.

The simulated launch went well and Josh and I were put thru our paces with the roll program, throttling the engine down then back up, separating the SRBs and the ET on queue. We arrived at orbit normally. Jinx got to unfurl the robot arm after we had opened the CBDs and deployed KU band antenna and extended the orbital docking system ring. She grappled the Orbital Boom Sensor System (OBSS) and used it to do a complete survey of the shuttle Thermal Protection System. We did not see any flaws and Mission Control agreed after studying the scans. We caught up to the ISS and I flew the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver which allowed the ISS to look at our bottom tiles.

All was well and we docked and had a wonderful greeting. Jinx again got to use the robotic arm to grapple the Leonardo module and to dock that to the Harmony module. Unloading and loading went smoothly. Before we could know it, we were putting the Leonardo module back in the cargo bay and getting things ready to leave ISS and make the trip home.

Once again Jinx did a survey of the TPS and again we received a clean bill of health. There had been some glitches but nothing that we could not handle working together. The Simulated Mission Control Team of Greg, Gloria and Pam had tested each and every crew member during the simulated mission. What remained was the preparation for reentry and the landing.

"Negative Return to ISS" relayed Pam to the Shuttle. That meant that a combination of lack of consumables and lack of fuel prevented another Docking at the ISS at that point. We were committed to the reentry and landing phase. Josh and I had completed the test of the landing systems and all the air surfaces operated and were ready. The RCS was ready to maneuver us to do the retro burn and after to orient the shuttle to the correct angle to reenter the atmosphere.

We felt a huge impact. I'm not sure how they managed for us to really feel something like that in the simulator. Warning indicators began to light up bringing data that a catastrophe had happened. From the systems that failed it appeared that we might have had an impact to the leading surface of our right wing. I really hoped that we were getting sensor gremlins. It was Josh's call in concert with Mission Control what the next step might be.

"Mission Control from Atlantis, We've detected evidence of an impact with the shuttle. Our data indicates that the leading surface of the right wing might be damaged. Please give advice."

"Roger Atlantis! We copy impact felt by the crew. While we take a look at the data, Please have Jinx unstow the SSRMS and grapple the OBSS in preparatory for a shuttle TPS survey"

"Roger Mission Control, putting procedure in work"

"Jinx put in work SSRMS unstow and grapple of OBSS"

"Roger Commander, Procedure in work." Jinx responded. She went to the robotics workstation at the rear of the flight deck of the shuttle. It was fortunate that the CBD were still open so all Jinx had to do is to give the command to the Shuttle arm to deploy out of its storage position and direct it to grapple the boom on the other side of the Shuttle bay which made it possible to observe via camera any area on the shuttle. Jinx had done this procedure once on the way up to the ISS and again right after they had left ISS so it was really simple.

Mission Control decided exactly what they wished for us to take a look at and relayed the coordinate information to Jinx at the Robotics Workstation. While Josh, Mark and I were running checks on the shuttle systems, Amanda was assisting with Robot Arm operations and Gigi was monitoring our transmissions to Mission Control.

'KU Band operational. Video transmission to Mission Control Established." stated Gigi.

"Mission Control from Atlantis, Are you receiving video?"

"Atlantis from Mission Control, affirmative. Awaiting procedure to be put in work."

Jinx swung the shuttle's robotic arm around so it pointed right at the coordinates where Mission Control had directed. A shocking picture filled the screen of the leading edge of the shuttle's right wing. Impact with something had opened up a gash into the shuttle wing's leading edge which spanned the entire wing pictured in the close scan. As Jinx moved the arm to pan the camera the extent of the damage on each side of the picture was established. As the shuttle Atlantis crew looked on in horror, they knew that the tile repair materials onboard could not repair such a huge damaged area.

"Mission Control from Atlantis, procedure complete."

"Atlantis from Mission Control, good video. We will evaluate and get back to you."

Without any further requests from Mission Control, Jinx started the termination procedure to place the OBSS back in its holders and to cradle the Canada arm.

It seemed that everyone had finished their tasks about the same time. Josh called us all around to discuss what we had just experienced while waiting for Mission Control's evaluation.

"We've been thru the Shuttle Systems. Even with the damage, the shuttle systems now are all functional. A few facts are inescapable. 1) Unless NASA comes up with a new procedure, the damage is not repairable with the materials and methods we have available. We can't reenter the atmosphere. 2) We can't get back to ISS. We don't have enough fuel to get back there. 3) We can't make it until they can mount a rescue mission. Neither NASA or the Russians can get a rescue mission up before we run out of consumables."

"It's the Kobayashi Maru!" I exclaimed.

"What's that?" asked Mark.

"It’s a test for Starfleet Cadets from "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan". Specifically it was a training scenario named for a cargo vessel that was unrecoverable due to being in enemy territory. It was also called the "No Win" scenario. It was a test of character for commanders. However Admiral Kirk as a cadet was claimed to be the only person to beat the No Win Scenario. He reprogrammed the simulation in order to make it possible to save the ship. Kirk got a commendation for original thinking since it had never been tried before. He was quoted as saying, "I don't like to lose." I explained.

"I don't like to lose either. What can we do to change the conditions of the test?"

"Logically there are only two ways to do that. One is that we alter our environment and because this is a simulation. This means hacking the simulation system to effect a change. The other is for us to demonstrate an ability that they didn't believe that we had to escape."

"I can help with the first one. I have my personal laptop and AT&T card to establish an internet link outside the NASA Systems. They would have thought of blocking anyone coming in thru the NASA computers or by using any of the Shuttle Computers. The question would be whether this has been tried before and in view of the history of the Kobayashi Maru, I feel its likely but we should try." explained Amanda.

"I can alter one of the laptops on board to do some automated hacking once Amanda establishes an independent connection." added Jinx.

"Thanks Amanda and Jinx, please get to work on that option." Amanda got to work on her laptop attempting to hack the simulation.

"I'll do something simple like giving us enough fuel to get back to ISS, when I get in."

"Good plan Amanda. Any other ideas?"

"I have one but it is a little far fetched."

"What is it, Gigi?"

"Do any of you remember a book by Madeline L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time?"

"It's one of my favorites."

"Mine too."

"It contains the concept of the Tesseract which was a way of folding space - time in order to travel and the process could be initiated by a brilliant person without any equipment. I believe I can do it if we are serious about beating the no win scenario."

I added, "Gigi actually did do a little fold with Amanda and I earlier so I know this is real. Amanda would back me up on that if she were here."

"Even the attempt shows that we have the NASA spirit for imaginative thinking to save lives like they did in Apollo 13.” Mark told us.

Josh concluded, "That's amazing, Gigi. Where would you tesser us to?"

"I imagine the simulated mission control would be sufficient to complete the mission. Our escape has to be documented even if it is not the same distance that would have to be traveled to even get to the altitude where we could safely use parachutes to return to Earth.", replied Gigi.

"Just traveling that distance would demonstrate a miracle. And the distance is sufficient. If we knew that all that Gigi could cover was that distance we could plunge the shuttle into the atmosphere then tesser off before it began breaking up. We could wear the parachutes to show that we were prepared for it if the tesser was short of the ground.” I stated

"Wearing the parachutes is a good idea to show we were prepared for a contingency. We could use the same procedure as we would for a bail out in the atmosphere even though we couldn't actually do that since the shuttle would break up before we would reach an altitude where we could bail out.", Josh added.

"Actually, if we are going to abandon ship as if we were to transfer to a rescue ship, there is a procedure for safeing the shuttle and putting it in a higher orbit before we abandon it.", Mark observed.

Josh directed, "Gigi, please prepare yourself in what ever way you need to accomplish the Tesser. Mark unstow the gear that we would need for a bail out. I'll check out the procedure for abandoning the shuttle. Rose check on Amanda and Jinx's progress." I left them to go check on Amanda and Jinx who had moved to the mid deck to do their hacking. Amanda was at work at her computer, hacking while Jinx was putting one of the shuttle's laptops back together.

"Hi Amanda, how are things going with the hacking?"

"I'm thru into the NASA systems but the space camp simulation is an isolated system which is encrypted better than most DOD instillations. Once Jinx finishes with the automated system cracker, we'll link it in and let it work. I'll keep looking for back doors. But unless we get lucky, it's almost certain we won’t get thru. Sorry!"

"I've got it finished. I'll link it up and you can set it off, Amanda. There it’s done"

"Okay Rose, we've got it cracking and I will keep hacking and we'll see if we are lucky."

"Thanks Amanda and Jinx. Gigi suggested a backup plan. Amanda, remember when Gigi tessered us?

"Yes, That's right, Rose. Gigi can really do it.", Amanda stated.

"Well if you two have seen Gigi do this for real, I feel like we should give her the benefit of the doubt.” Jinx observed.

"That's it, ladies. I'll let Josh know how you both are doing."

I climbed the ladder up to the flight deck. It would have been so simple had we actually been in orbit. I would have just pushed off and flew up there in zero G. I found Josh at work with the cue cards. When I walked over he looked up at me and smiled "What progress has Amanda and Jinx made?"

"They are doing their best but they are not optimistic. They must have anticipated students trying to hack into the simulation. Its got better security than most military systems, Amanda said. She's looking for back doors while the cracker that Jinx set up is trying to beat the encryption."

"It looks like our only hope to win this is to go with Gigi. We need to meet to poll everyone to see if we want to try to win or give up. "

"Commander to crew. Meet me on the mid deck."

"Mission Control from Atlantis. Do you have a preliminary evaluation of the damage? According to the Columbia report, the damage that broke up the shuttle on reentry was much smaller than what we observed via the scan we took. The TPS repair techniques that we have available have never been tested for anything remotely that big."

"Atlantis from Mission Control. Meet us on Space to Ground 3 scrambled."

"Mission Control from Atlantis on Space to Ground 3 Scrambled. Do you have something for me?"

"Atlantis, we concur with your initial assessment. Unless an effective repair is made, Atlantis is No Go for reentry. Atlantis is also negative return to ISS. Doing our best to launch a rescue mission, we could not get to Atlantis before the consumables ran out even with any conservation methods employed. All of us in Mission Control are working on the problem. We'll advise when we have further information concerning a possible repair."

"Atlantis out."

Josh followed me down to the mid deck. All of the rest of us were waiting to hear what he had to say.

"I've just spoken to Mission Control and they have confirmed our perception of things. Amanda and Jinx have done their best but unless we get very lucky, we wont be able to crack the simulation. We have some time before Mission Control declares that they can't solve the repair. We wont have time to decide what we will do then so we need to decide as a group what to do now. It's unlikely that we will hack the system but we will continue trying till then. Do we accept failure or will we go with Gigi's plan to tesser us off the shuttle and on to Mission Control?"

I answered first, "Go with Gigi!"

Mark took a look around and said, "Let's win!"

Jinx agreed, "Let's surprise them!"

Amanda answered, "Let's Go!"

Gigi exclaimed, "We are Go!"

Josh finished, "With me it's unanimous, boldly go! Let's go ahead and get into our orange suits and put on the bail out gear. We'll start shutting down the shuttle systems and we are prepared for the OMS burn to place the shuttle in a high orbit before we abandon it. Gigi what do we need to do to participate in the tesser when you initiate it?"

'We need to all hold hands in a circle and hold on tight to each other."

""When we get ready, we all need to meet Gigi in the mid deck. What we need to do is to go ahead and get ready so we can be ready to tesser out when we get the word because it could come any time."

We all parted and got into our suits. Our helmets were on with the visors up and we were wearing the parachutes. Mark and I went thru the shuttle shutting down systems following the checklist. Josh executed a RCS operation to orient the shuttle for the OMS burn and had the computer programmed to execute it on command until the fuel was exhausted.

We had everything set and we were anticipating a call from mission control to check on us with the unusual activity and to put an end to our hopes of doing a repair of the shuttle. Jinx had linked one of the laptops to the flight controls so we could set off the burn from the mid deck. Amanda had left the automated cracker going but both of them were in the circle with us. I was standing with Gigi on my right hand and Josh on my left hand.

"Atlantis from Mission Control. We have some bad news. There is no way to repair the damage to the shuttle."

"Roger, Mission Control. We understand." Josh initiated the OMS burn and then took my hand again completing the circle, and nodded to Gigi. Gigi started concentrated and we all let our minds relax as she had asked us before.

"Atlantis from Mission Control. We are detecting an OMS burn and ...”

I heard no more because our world blinked out of existence and just as quickly we found ourselves in the Mission Control Simulator looking at an astonished Pam, Gloria and Greg.

Mark exclaimed, "We did it! We won!"

I let out a squeal, "Woo Hoo! We beat the Kobayashi Maru!"

Pam recovering from her shock at seeing us told us, "Well done team! You have accomplished the impossible by working together as a team. You've just qualified for graduation every one of you. I am so proud of you all!"

Josh answered for us all, "Thank you! That means a lot to us, Pam. It was truly a team..."

The room winked out before Josh could complete what he was saying. It felt like we were in limbo between worlds and I could not identify where we were since I didn't have any point of reference to go on. Then when I thought it would never end the world blinked again as I lost consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda's face showed fear, "Oh Granny, we can't stop here. What if they all died?"

"Sweetie, I am so sorry I frightened you. I did not mean to. Would it help if I tell you that where ever they go that they get there safe?" I hugged Linda close and comforted her.

She looked up into my eyes and said, "Thank you, Granny. Do we really have to stop now?"

"We do if you girls want to take a stroll with me on the moon."

"Oh Granny, could we really? Pretty, Please!" asked Julia

"Yes, girls. You girls have to be good and do everything that I say. We'll have to get you suited up and used to what it will be like outside before we go. Okay, Girls?"

"Okay, Granny!" the girls chorused.

"Doris, Reveal and open embarkation room."

"Compliance!" A wall of the living room's decorations turned out to be holograms which just vanished. A door which had not been there a second ago revealed itself and opened as it retracted straight up and disappeared in the space above it.

"Girls let's go get suited up!" Linda and Julia followed me into the revealed room and behind us the door closed again and vanished among the hologram projected on the wall.

Chapter Seven ~ Starship Pathfinder

The girls were very attentive and bright pupils who learned their lessons well about going out for a walk on the moon. Each of them were securely suited up as was I. Decompressing the two rooms would take a while, but it also took a little bit to let our bodies get used to wearing the suits.

"Girls, we have to wait a little while before we can go out. The air has to be taken out of this room and the one beyond before we can go out."

"Granny, Could you continue the story while we wait?" asked Linda

"Granny, Pretty, Please! I want to find out where they all went!"

"Alright, my darlings. Try to relax and I will resume the story." I told them and I began again to tell them my story which was about to become their story too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally I was awake! Josh, Mark, Amanda, Gigi, Jinx and I appeared to be in an open space in a cabin that looks very futuristic and very much like a space ship. That last I was certain of because there were window that looked out into space. Each of them were waking up and looking around.

Mark went directly to one of the windows and exclaimed, "My God! It’s full of stars!'

Amanda was next to a window and she burst out, "We all are in space! Not years in the future but now!"

Jinx claimed another window and took in the view, "The Stars! I feel like I could just reach out and touch them now!"

Gigi claimed the next window, "I promise guys I had no idea we would end up like this. But this is so cool!

I claimed the next one by her, "It’s alright Gigi. You pulled off a miracle and we are on the adventure of a lifetime!"

Josh asked, "Is everyone alright?"

Everyone either answered or nodded yes.

"As a team working together we can do things thought impossible. As a team we can do what ever it takes to go home. We are going home! I guess it would help to find out where we are now to show us the way." Josh encouraged.

Almost as if on cue, came what could be the source for some answers. We saw an out of breath woman come near us in a uniform very much like our NASA Jumpsuits. She looked to be in her 30's.

"What is this place?" asked Josh of the woman.

She greeted us, "Welcome to the Starship Pathfinder, I am Lieutenant Gonzales. Congratulations on your momentous journey. You've come forward in time 167 years and 27 light years from earth. Is one of you named, Gigi Chase?"

Gigi came forward to her. "I'm Gigi Chase." Lt. Gonzales came forward and started whispering in her ear

While she was whispering we all got a good look at her uniform. Like them there were places for two emblems at the shoulder yoke. Ours had one for NASA and another for Space Camp. There was a place for a third which was our Mission Badge that we would receive when we graduated from Space Camp. On her uniform the NASA emblem was there but the Origin Badge which was the equivalent to our Space Camp badge was missing. In the place for the Mission Badge was an emblem that displayed both a Space Shuttle silhouette as well as another which must have represented the Starship with lettering proclaiming Starship Pathfinder. On the collar were two gold pips which was the designation for Lieutenant in the Star Trek the Next Generation TV Show.

"Team, Rose and I have been invited to the engineering deck where there is a message concerning Rose and I. They need to tell us some things about the future which would be better if not everyone knew because they are worried about changes to the timeline. It's your call, Josh." explained Gigi

Josh answered," I agree that information about the future should be on a need to know basis. You may proceed, Gigi and Rose."

I wondered what all the whispering was about unless Gigi had to be told something in confidence before she heard the message. The Lieutenant took us down to the engineering deck and sat us down in front of a monitor.

An elderly woman appeared on the screen and began speaking.

"Greetings Rose and Gigi. It's important that you all take this seriously so that is why I feel that certain information must be revealed to you in a manner that you believe it. Rose, I am you from many years in the future. Together, Gigi and I made this Starship possible that you are on now. Its stated purpose is exploration on a mission to an earth like planet discovered by astronomers.

Gigi and I had another purpose as well. Having been thru the entire experience that you girls are going thru now, we realized that in order for the Starship to be where you all appeared, we would have to make that happen. And we convinced people that we could do it and how important it was that we made sure that a Starship was there where you appeared.

We made it but barely. The simulations indicated that we could get a starship where it needed to be since that was just within its range. We called the Starship, Pathfinder, in honor of Space Camp where Gigi and I first met and in honor of our team which had a rendezvous with destiny.

Gigi and I could not go on the journey due to our advanced age but we sent these recordings along to help you understand. I'm going to let Gigi explain the technical details and the recording that you hear will depend on the starship's condition at the time it's played."

The display changed and another elderly woman was displayed on the screen.

"Thank you Rose, Hi Rose and Gigi. I'm you from the future, Gigi. First I would like to explain to you what happened on that Tesser that you performed from the simulator Shuttle to the simulator Control Room. Madeline L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time was very prophetic concerning the practical applications of space time folding and the concept that a mathematical genius like you, Gigi could initiate it without any equipment but just with your mind. However the uncertainty principle takes over and makes it uncertain. This is comparable to a wormhole (which is very difficult to artificially generate and is beyond even our science) which has one end fixed but the other end may come out anywhere. There is a certain point when it varies from its initial direction.

The same is true for the tesser that you performed, Gigi. You materialized the group for a few moments in the Control Room but it was at the flex of the fold and by the laws of inertia since you did not exit in a stable manner you all were caught up for the rest of the ride which terminated here at the Starship Pathfinder. Just the very fact that this phenomena existed taught us a great deal about space folding.

We went back to the book and she had the answer for us in order to be able to hit the target at the end of our intended journey. You may remember that Meg's Father on his initial space folding did not hit his target but was transported to the universe that trapped him. However Meg was able to hit the target with the aid of Mrs. Who's glasses. We realized that we needed something like Mrs. Who's glasses in order for us to hit the target. Unfortunately for us what we came up with wasn't as small as glasses and we had not perfected it so we needed something like a spacecraft to sustain us since we could not make the journey all at once but in several folds. The Tesseract Drive is what we came to call our analogy to Mrs. Who's glasses. It performed that function as well as being able to initiate the fold without having a mathematical genius on the crew. In time we will be able to travel without starships as the device gets small enough to carry and perfected. For now we do the best we can.

When we initiated this mission to meet up with you all on our journey to the stars, we knew that we were at the limits of what we could do and near the flex. The simulations said we could do it before we hit the flex but that did not happen. If it were not for a safe guard built into the drive the starship would have reentered the fold and ended up at a random point in space time. The drive is able to tap into fold energy to power the ship systems. We knew we had to hold our position so the flex energy was dissipated by tapping into it and preventing the Starship from resuming that journey. It worked as you can see because you are here. However the energy was too much for the storage cells and even with shunting off excess power into the impulse drive after you were onboard, the Tesseract drive overloaded. The rest of the Starship's crew are in Stasis and can't be revived while the systems are in overload.

We need your team's help since the two Lieutenants on board can't handle this by themselves. Some of you will need to monitor systems on the Command deck while others of you need to help resolve the Overload condition and make repairs to the Tesseract Drive. I'll help as much as I can. Gigi everything that is here is the result of engineering taking the template contained in your mind and giving it physical form. You are the next best thing to me being there and maybe better. With your fresh look at the concepts and implementation you may detect something I missed and even correct the drive so it fully functions. We'll settle for it being just restored to what it was so we can continue the journey using a safe distance for each fold. Just do your best Gigi and it will be enough and thank you."

Both Gigi and I were stunned but I had the presence of mind to ask the Lieutenant about the other Lieutenant.

"She was in sleep mode but should be awake now. You'll meet her soon." Replied the Lieutenant.

"We'll explain to the rest of our team what must be done and divide into a command group and engineering group. I assume that you can help with familiarizing us with the controls." I told her

"My sister is a little more familiar with the command deck even though we are both engineers so she can help train your command group while I work with the engineering group." the Lieutenant responded

"That's good. If you will send her up to the command deck when she wakes to meet with them, we will send our engineering group here." I requested

Both Gigi and I went back up to the command level to meet with the rest of the team.

"Josh, we got briefed on what was going on and we were convinced that this is completely serious. The ship's power systems are in overload and they need to be repaired. In addition in order to expel excess energy the starship's impulse drive was used, so we're moving. They can't revive any more of the crew because of a overload of the power systems. What has to be done is too much for the two crewmembers to handle. I suggest that you split us up into two groups, A Command group to handle the Command deck and an Engineering group to handle the Engineering functions." I explained

Josh spoke to all of us," I believe Rose is right about us needing to help and she made a great suggestion. For the Engineering group, Gigi needs to be on it obviously, Jinx with her knowledge of Robotics, Mark for his knowledge of Electronics and Computers, And Amanda for her hacking ability. That leaves Rose and I for the Command Group. Gigi please lead the Engineering Group and see what you can do about the power systems challenge."

The new Engineering Group which consisted of all of the Shuttle Mission Specialists and our Flight Engineer followed Gigi down to the Engineering Deck. As they were leaving we saw a woman arriving on the Deck who was clearly the other Lieutenant's Twin Sister arrived on the deck wearing an identical uniform.

"I'm Lieutenant Stanton, My sister sent me up to help you with the command systems."

I introduced myself, "I'm Rose, my mission assignment is Pilot from Space Camp and This is our designated Mission Commander, Josh." We stood before her hand in hand and I was really enjoying having Josh's hand wrapped in mine.

"I'm pleased to meet you Lieutenant Stanton. What can you tell me about your command interface?"

"Fortunately, we have a very user friendly AI which responds vocally to vocal commands named Doris. She is very good at what she does and we think of her as another crew member. I'll set it so Doris responds to you and acts on your commands."

"Doris, Command authority is given to Josh and Rose authorization Stanton Beta Gamma Nine"

"Compliance. Josh and Rose you now have command authority. Welcome to the Starship Pathfinder Crew." We took seats at the two forward stations where the navigation controls were at the forward end of the command deck. Josh took the left hand seat and I took the right hand seat just like in the simulator back home.

"Doris what is ship navigation status?" asked Josh

"Ship is on autopilot conforming to preprogrammed flight plan. Velocity is .7 C course alpha 011 beta 274 mark 045. Projected course is free of obstacles for 45 parsecs." Doris responded

"Thank you Doris. Continue scan of projected course for obstacles and give immediate alarm if obstacles detected." Josh directed

Lieutenant Stanton complimented, "Very good, Josh. We have several control interfaces for the manual navigation controls including a Space Shuttle Interface. Which one should I set up for you in case you need to take manual control?"

"The Space Shuttle Interface is our first choice, Lieutenant Stanton." responded Josh

"Very Good. Doris enable Space Shuttle flight interface for instrumentation and flight controls" ordered Lieutenant Stanton

"Compliance"

When all of the flight controls vanished we realized that they were virtual projections. What replaced it was instrumentation and controls identical to what was in the Space Shuttle Simulator. Somehow the stick and throttle were solid and moved like the shuttle controls even though it did nothing because the autopilot was still engaged.

We practiced for a while and were very comfortable interacting with the shuttle controls and querying Doris for information. Lieutenant Stanton asked us if we thought we could handle it without her and we told her we could so she went down to help out with the repairs on the Engineering Deck.

"Commander to Engineering group, Status please?"

"Gigi here. We've identified the damaged elements and come up with repair plans. The repair tasks have been allocated and repair is underway. I also spotted an error in the engineering implementation of the design. We have a plan to implement the proper engineering and that should restore the power systems to operation without restrictions and prevent another overload from occurring."

"Great News, Gigi. Do you have a completion time estimate?"

"We have at least 3 more hours of work if we don't encounter any other challenges"

"Very good, Gigi. Commander out"

"Gigi, out"

After some uneventful time at the controls, I had a thought wondering if the initial flight plan foresaw an extended space flight before the next fold occurred, "Doris, plot projected course on Star Charts. Does projected course intersect any obstacles on Star Chart?"

"Compliance. Projected Course intersects Asteroid belt in this solar system. Manual control required to avoid obstacles. Obstacle distance 100 parsecs."

"Doris, switch to manual controls and plot course to avoid collision"

"Compliance. Navigation is in manual mode. Course change to avoid asteroid belt is not within ship tolerances. However, manual avoidance of individual asteroids is within ship tolerances." Doris responded

"It looks like we have to fly the ship manually thru the asteroid field. We must be going too fast to clear it now." I observed

"I agree, Rose. I'll plot course changes while you fly the ship. You've got a better touch than me on the controls and I can do better helping with course changes." agreed Josh as he reached over and cupped my chin in his hand and pulled my face close for a deliciously sensual kiss which we broke too soon for me and told me, "For Luck!"

"Aye Josh. Taking manual control. Ship feels very agile. We can do this. Ready Josh!" I told him returning to business yet I had a delicious buzz which lingered after the kiss. I thought, 'He really does love me like I love him!'

"Collision Alert! Collision alert!" warned Doris

"Taking evasive action!" I explained

"Commander to Crew, We have to manually navigate an asteroid field. We have the situation under control. Rose is flying the bird. The ride might get a bit bumpy so take precautions. Commander out"

"You are doing great, Rose. I guess the rest is up to us." Josh encouraged

I was doing my best as a huge asteroid seemed like it did not want us to get away from it. I turned and we were free of that one with a little flying room before we needed to avoid another one. Whew!

Josh asked, "Doris, ETA to clear asteroid field at present velocity?"

"ETA two hours at present velocity" answered Doris

"Oh Boy! Looks like it is up to us!" exclaimed Josh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Doris interrupted the story, "Admiral, Conditions are now met to permit going outside."

"Girls, its time to go outside."

"Okay Granny, I'm ready!" said Linda

Julia asked, "Doris, was that you in the story on the Starship Pathfinder?"

"Little one, I am not sure because for me that has not happened yet. It is possible since I was originally the AI aboard one of your Granny's ships before I came to live with her here." responded Doris.

"Okay, Doris. One more thing, why do you call Granny, Admiral?" asked Julia

"That's what I became accustomed to calling her when we first met aboard her ship. It is comfortable for me to call her that and she indulges me even though she is no longer on active duty." explained Doris.

"Okay, Granny, I'm ready to go too" admitted Julia.

"Doris, please open the doors to the outside" The doors opened and the four of us were about to embark on our little adventure.

Chapter Eight ~ Rock and a Hard Place

The girls and I walked over into the outer room. They seemed to be doing well moving in their space suits. I led them over to the Rover which was pointing to the open garage door. It looked very similar to the one that the Apollo Astronauts used. I favored the design for its simplicity and function rather than some of the more extravagant vehicles available now. It had some enhancements such as the passive restraint field that would keep us secured. Even better was the Auto Systems and the ability of Doris to have a presence and help out with the Rover's systems.

I helped Linda then Julia into the Rover and I got into it myself. I took the controls and drove out of the garage onto the lunar surface and stop.

While Linda and Julia looked out with amazement over the lunar surface and back behind us at Luna City. "Doris, engage passive restraints and set a course for Eagle II Park and engage auto-drive."

Doris replied, "Compliance." We were on our way as Doris took us over the lunar landscape avoiding obstacles but steadily toward our destination.

The fascination that the girls had with the trip faded after a while since one crater looks a lot like another one. It was Linda who interrupted my running commentary about what we were seeing around us.

"Granny, can you tell us more of the story while we are traveling? Pretty, please! I want to know if Gigi was able to help fix the Starship!"

Julia chimed in, "Pretty, please, Granny! I want to find out if Rose was able to steer the Pathfinder away from all those asteroids! Was CP3O right about the odds of making it thru an asteroid field?"

"Maybe, Sweetie. But like Han Solo, Rose would not have wanted to know the odds."

I smiled at them and knew that I could not help but continue the story as we looked out in amazement at the lunar landscape going by us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Starship Pathfinder continued to successfully navigate the asteroid field. Asteroids passed closely on all sides as Rose guided the Starship which zigged and zagged thru the asteroid field as Josh plotted escape vector. Below them in the Engineering Deck, Gigi headed the team consisting of Mark, Amanda and Jinx assisted by the two Lieutenants were attempting to repair the overloaded systems and ultimately bring the Tesseract Drive back online.

Doris reported, "Impulse Drive restored to full function."

Josh relayed to the Engineering deck, "Great Job Team! We'll take anything you can give us!"

Josh fed me another escape vector along with a velocity reduction which we finally could do. Another asteroid was avoided. Josh was perplexed to find 'Program Overload' instead of the next escape vector and ordered, "All Stop!" I complied with the order as I nervously saw a number of asteroids heading straight for us. Josh demanded, "Doris explain 'Program Overload'!"

Doris calmly answered, "That means there is no longer an escape vector possible. Collision in 30 seconds."

"Commander to Crew, brace for collision!"

"Collision in 20 seconds, Deflector dish online. Deflector engaged!"

Josh breathed a sigh of relief as the 'Program overload was replaced by an escape vector. The deflector cleared a path in front of the Starship Pathfinder. Josh reported an escape vector to me and I directed the Starship on that course. Now that the deflector was operating the escape vector remained the same and we made steady progress navigating thru the asteroid field

Josh not having to direct such intense concentration to our situation relaxed enough to address the rest of our group. "Commander to Crew, great job! Collision avoided. We expect no trouble clearing the asteroid field now."

Gigi relayed, "Thanks a lot, Commander! We're breathing again down here."

We cleared the field with no further problems. I hoped to never again have to clear an asteroid field without a deflector. Since there were no further obstacles, we maintained our original course as we waited for news concerning the Tesseract Drive as more and more systems came back online.

Finally, Gigi announced, "That does it! It's fixed and better than new. Josh, Jinx and Mark would love to come up to the Command Deck to help out or just to take in the view now that the crisis is over."

"Let them know its fine. The view is wonderful again now that we are free of the asteroid belt. What about Amanda?"

"I'll tell them Josh. Amanda wants to help out with something but she will want to come up afterward. Rose can you meet me on the Engineering Deck?"

"Of course, Gigi." I turned to Josh, "Can you handle things without me?"

"Sure, I'll get Mark to come sit in your seat till you come back."

I got up and gave him a hug from behind, "Thanks, Josh." I made my way quickly to the Engineering Deck passing Mark and Jinx on the way. I could not help but notice that one of Jinx's leg pockets on her flight suit bulged enough to carry that cute little laptop of hers. I guess that's how she had it in the Shuttle Simulator in the first place.

I gave Gigi a hug when I found her all smiles.

"How did you fix it, Gigi?"

"Of course I had lots of help but fortunately it only involved swapping some components around. Gigi from the future was right. It just took someone looking at it from a fresh perspective. Both I and the drive deriving its premise from me were wrong about how much effort it takes to fold space. We were actually trying too hard."

"Huh?" I was confused.

She took a piece of material like Lycra that had some stretch in it and sat down and laid it on her lap. In her right hand she had a stylus, with a sharp point, which she placed under the material and poked it. The material stretched out conforming to the shape of the stylus which she pointed to the left side towards a white circle on the other end of the material. The material stretched just enough for the sharp point to reach the white circle for an instant then it snapped back and as it did the material fell into a random fold and the origin white circle ended up folded over to another area of the cloth quite away from the target.

"That's what happened to both us and the Starship on our folds. The only difference is that instead of the starship recoiling, it absorbed the energy of the stretched fabric for it to stay in the same spot. When the fabric of our model stretches it’s like creating an uncontrolled warp in space which will recoil and slingshot the traveler as it tries to get back to normal. Both I and the Starship put too much energy concentrated in one spot into our folds."

She brought out 2 styluses but the tips were reversed so that the end flared out in a very blunt shape. She initially just used one in her right hand and with the blunt surface and less energy exerted she was able to fold the origin dot to the destination dot by making a regular fold which went the length of the fabric. She unfolded it again and had similar blunt styluses in both hand with one in each hand with the blunt area underneath the target on both. It made a regular fold where both dots met in the middle of her lap above the fabric in a kind of cylinder of cloth.

"By using less power applied locally instead of at a point we were able to make a regular fold without any warping (stretching the fabric of space) That made it possible to direct the Tesseract Drive to do what it really needed to do which was start at the other end and fold the destination closer to us by using a symmetrical reflection of our fold impetus. How that last was actually done was beyond me but once I had gotten the fold started at a much smaller energy expenditure, then the Lieutenants , who are brilliant themselves, worked out the rest and reconfigured the drive to do it. It appears that Star Trek was right on one thing, there is such a thing as 'subspace' and somehow they used it to produce the reflection at the destination. They described it as a network of nano - wormholes which stretch the entire universe."

"That is truly amazing, Gigi. What is this that You, Amanda and I are to witness?"

"There won’t be much to see for a while. Even though the drive is totally fixed, the energy has to build up in order to perform what would have been 50 folds in one. In the mean time the Lieutenants have asked us to be present for a holographic presentation like the one we saw before. They say it involves Amanda so that's why she's here too. She's waiting for us at the viewing area."

"Let's go!" Gigi and I walked up to Amanda and we each gave her a hug before being seated. The lieutenants joined us too then the image came to life.

"Greetings Amanda, Rose and Gigi!" The image of the elderly Gigi spoke. "I never expected this to be played but since it is you all have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. I suspect we have both my younger self, Gigi and also our two lieutenants to thank for restoring things to not only overcome the overload but to implement the drive in a manner which allows it to make the journey in one fold instead of 50. Well done all. Since it will be the last fold and you all have pulled off this miracle, you will want to wake the crew so the Starship Pathfinder can be ready for the last fold. Before that we have a couple of gifts that the future has to offer to bestow on Rose and Gigi, who alone need a little help due to their unique situations. Amanda, we need someone with your training to monitor life signs in the medical bay while they are given their gifts. If you all will go to the medical bay, Lieutenant Stanton can explain what is offered for you Gigi with all my hopes."

Lieutenant Stanton asked, "If you both will follow me to the medical bay, we can help Gigi with her challenge."

As I looked into Gigi's eyes, it appeared that we had both come to the same conclusion.

"Gigi, I have a feeling you are about to become a real GG!"

"I sure do hope so, Rose!"

They had a cure for her Gender Dysphoria! We entered the medical bay and Gigi was handed a hospital gown and some solvent and directed her to a private room where she was to disrobe and remove her breast forms and put on the hospital gown. When she came back they had her climb up onto a diagnostic bed where Lieutenant Stanton initiated a medical scan and directed Amanda to view Gigi's life signs and to press an abort button if they went out of acceptable limits.

Doris responded, "Subject confirmed with Harry Benjamin Syndrome. Microcellular conversion recommended as accepted treatment. Gigi that means we are about to turn you into a genetic female."

Gigi cheered as did I while the Lieutenants smiled broadly.

Lieutenant Stanton explained, "Gigi, like Doris said, we can turn you into a genetic female with everything that a girl your age is supposed to have. Is that what you would like to have happen?"

Gigi beamed with anticipation, "Yes, Please do."

"Alright. We will. You will be administered some anesthesia so the process will be pain free. There will be a bright light around you while the process is performed so we will be raising an opaque shield around the bed as a precaution. Once the shield is up please disrobe and the process will start once you are unconscious. You'll sleep for a while after the process but that is normal and you should have no after effects other than getting used to your new body. Any questions?"

"I guess I should have dozens but I can’t even think of one. Let's do this."

Things went as expected and the life signs stayed normal the entire time. While Lieutenant Stanton got a gurney, Amanda and I dressed Gigi in her flight suit. She was a normal girl in every way now. We transferred her to the gurney and she was left to recover in a holding area of the medical bay.

I wondered what was next but did not have to wait long because projected was the image of my elderly self from the future. "Rose, now it's your turn. I know you don't need the same treatment as Gigi did since we had that magical encounter at Grandmother's house. However, your birth father altered your history thru his actions instead of accepting you. You have a gap in your history from the time that Candice died to when you became Rose. Gigi and I have studied things out and with the instructions that we are going to send to Miriam in your behalf, we feel that the timeline for the time period that we want to send you to live in will be intact. We have examined other solutions such as interfering with the actions that cut you off from your past but they led to major changes in the timeline which would be detrimental In the same manner that Gigi was able to become a normal girl, we are going to change you into a five year old girl. This is something that is common place in our time and used in certain therapeutic situations. In cases such as yours, you'll retain your mind just as it is now. For you it will allow you to live thru nine years. Folding time is just as easy as folding space so you will land with Miriam shortly after Candice's untimely death. When you arrive at the farm for your sister's birthday, you'll be brought back here to reunite with your Space Camp Team. If you want to go thru with it, disrobe and get on the diagnostic bed and tell Doris and she'll do the rest. Amanda would you please monitor Rose's life signs like you did for Gigi?"

"Sure, Ma'am." I took off all my clothes and climbed up on the diagnostic bed, after all only females were present so I saved time with the hospital gown. I was so ready for this adventure to start.

"Doris, you may initiate the procedure." I calmly directed.

"Compliance" The shield surrounded me and I fell asleep...

~~~~~~~~~~~

I came to lying on a couch. I found that I was wearing little girl clothes that were very appropriate for a five year old girl. That's exactly what I was right then. Amazingly enough within my five year old brain was everything that I was up till then losing nothing. A woman came into my view and she sat down on the edge of the couch and smiled at me.

"This must be very confusing for you, Rose. At least it is to me. The documents which were sent with you, told me about your amazing life and how you come to be here right now. This is meant to be a gift for both of us. You need a mother to raise you up as a girl and I need a daughter, not to replace my little one, but a girl to receive the mother's love inside me just waiting to be expressed."

"You want to be my mommy?"

"Yes, very much Rose. You will be my daughter. Thru magic, you became physically my daughter and your former grandfather became your father physically as well. When I saw you I fell in love with you just like you had come from my womb." She hugged and kissed me and I melted in her arms. I felt loved."

"Mommy, how will you take care of me? The work that you will do after your girl died, helped a great many people and touched many lives. You went all over the world helping."

"Sweetie, its true that I have in my heart something that can help a great many people. I feel like it will require me to build a successful corporation to provide the logistics and support needed to reach all the people that can be helped. The other thing is that you've got a thirteen year old mind in that five year old body. Your new father found a boarding school for you and enrolled you in it. It’s a wonderful school for brilliant children who mentally are far advanced yet emotionally and physically are no different in their needs growing up than any other child your age. A place like that, you can be yourself and not be any different than any of the rest of the students there."

"This school sounds like it will let both of us do what we each need to do. What's it like?"

"Even though it’s located in Spain, The school is made up totally of Americans. Its a totally new approach to education that the founders decided would not work in America where there is so much governmental intrusion from the local to the federal level. In exchange for certain considerations, the government leaves the school alone to do things their way as if it were like an embassy of another country. It will be a mix of the familiar and unfamiliar. While inside the school is a very American environment, there will be chances to explore the surroundings area and outward which are very European. I have an apartment arranged for me in the city adjoining the school. That's going to be my new home. When I get to come home from my journeys, I want to spend the time with you."

"Mommy, that sounds wonderful! Sounds like the best for both of us. When do I leave?"

"Soon, for the next little bit until the original records are destroyed, we need to be careful so a chance encounter does not undo what has been done for you to take my daughter's place. Together we'll fly over there and I will stay for a little while till you are settled. Then I start my calling to help people."

"Mommy what was her name, my new name?"

"Sweetheart, your name now is Candice Anne Caldwell. You are my sweet little Candy! I want you to have this." She took a locket and fastened it about my neck. I opened it and found on each side a picture of my new mother and father. It played a tune when opened which I immediately recognized. It was Sugar, Sugar by The Archies which goes something like this:

"Sugar, Oh, Honey, Honey. You are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you. ..."

~~~~~~~~~~

That was the start of a beautiful mother and daughter relationship. My time as a girl is another story entirely. I lived thru nine years and ended up at my new daddy's farm just before the magic occurred to make me Rose. I vanished from there just as I was and ended up back on board the Starship Pathfinder. Of course with the nine years I had grown from a little girl into the almost fourteen year old teen I had been before. I had on a cute pink dress with 3 inch red pumps and a matching handbag but more importantly I had on the locket that my new birth mother had given me.

"Rose, are you alright?"

"I am alright, Amanda. Thank you for watching out after me."

"You are welcome, Rose. I'm just glad that you have had a chance to fill in your new life since Mr. Moore took your old life away from you."

"Thank you too Gigi for making this possible. I'm glad you are alright too, Gigi"

"You are so welcome, Rose. I am glad that I have parents that accept me as I am. It will be awesome to let them meet the new me, now that I am made whole and I'm a normal girl."

"You two are the best friends a girl could every have. BFF’s. We are so lucky!"

I realized that I didn't need to pinch myself to make sure it was real. All I had to do was to open the locket and I heard:

"Sugar, Oh, Honey, Honey. You are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you. ..."

I knew it was real and I was so happy.

Lieutenant Stanton interrupted, "Ladies, I'm afraid I need to steal Rose away. Rose, there is someone else who would like to talk to you. It’s our current President of the United States."

"I'd love to talk with him, please proceed." I followed her to a private communications room and sat down across a table from a holographic image.

"Greetings, Rose. Even though the circumstances are unusual, I wanted to give you my thanks for being the amazing woman that you are. Your great accomplishments in your future, my present enhance all of out lives and are a great inspiration to all. That magical miracle that you received was both the realization of your dream and the start of a great deal of trouble for you due to taking you out of the continuity of your life. I hope that you enjoyed the gift that you were given for your own girlhood. In giving you that gift, I hope we have freed your remaining days before adult hood so that you can enjoy them as they were meant to be enjoyed."

"Thank you Mr. President. I have been given a life independent of the one I had before. I am truly blessed to have so many people caring for me."

"There remains one obstacle which I hope to give my help to remove. You no longer are able to be linked with having been Ross. If the staged death were investigated as a crime, without being able to prove that you were Ross and still alive, then the crime would no longer be fraud but murder. Mr. Moore would be hoist on his own petard. However condemning him for a crime he did not commit, is not the proper response to his actions. It is my hope that if I act thru your current President to give Mr. Moore and his daughter, Daisy Moore, a Presidential Pardon, that it will remove an obstacle so that you two can find a way to co-exist. If neither of you have to live in fear of what the other might do then perhaps you both can find peace. While we can shower you in my present with appreciations, I feel that it will have the greatest impact to enhance the quality of your life to give you this gift that you can use in your own present."

"Thank you so much for your gift, Mr. President."

"Julia has a letter that I have written in a manner which will verify its authenticity requesting your president to pardon Daisy and Mr. Moore. You must leave it unopened before it reaches your president in order for him to take it as authentic. Like messages have been passed before with success and I believe this one will be no different. You may have some help calling the letter's existence to the attention of your president. However I am also leaving with Julia instructions for you in case you have to make contact yourself so you will do it in a manner which lends credibility to your claim. Again Rose, a grateful US salute you for everything that you will do. Goodbye."

The holographic image of the President disappeared. I turned to Lieutenant Stanton and Lieutenant Gonzales who had been with me in the room. "Which one of you is Julia?"

"I am Julia, Ma'am. Here is the letter and instructions that the President asked me to give to you." Lieutenant Stanton told me and handed them to me. I placed them my handbag without looking at them. I thought that when I changed clothes I'd transfer them to in one of the zippered pockets on my jumpsuit for safe keeping

"Can we spare both Josh and I from the command deck for a little while?"

"Linda can handle Engineering by herself for right now. The Tesseract Drive is better than new, with the modifications that Gigi suggested. It's fully functional now so we will get all the way to our destination in one fold. It's functioning normally, and the only thing that is holding us back from the big fold is storing enough energy so that the Tesseract Drive can guide us to hit the target. Before we fold, we'll use the drive to help Gigi send you all back to Space Camp. I'll go take over the watch from Josh and send him down here to you. You two can use my quarters if you would like to be alone. Linda can show you the way."

"Thank you, Julia." I told her as she turned to go back to the Command Deck.

While Julia was away, I went back to the changing room where I had left my NASA jumpsuit. I changed out of my dress and heels and placed the contents of my handbag in my jumpsuit pockets including the documents I had been given. My locket I left around my neck. I would never be parted from it. As I exited the changing room, I saw Josh coming down to the Engineering Deck.

I was so glad to see Josh that I ran up to him and gave him a hug.

"I'm so glad to see you Josh!" I told him trying to express how deeply I felt.

"What's all this? Its only been a few hours since we were together."

"For you maybe, but for me it’s been nine years."

"How could that happen?"

"I'll tell you all about it but it will be a lot more fun to be alone in Lieutenant Stanton's cabin since she offered it. Lieutenant Gonzales can show us the way."

"That seems like a wonderful idea. Lead on Lieutenant Gonzales!"

We followed Linda to Julia's quarters and she left us inside. With the door closed I relaxed and was able to let her in on what had happened.

"With the Tesseract Drive fully functioning, I got a gift from Gigi and my own older selves from this time. The older Rose knew how much it would mean for me to have a girlhood. They found a way to reduce me in age to a five year old girl and sent me back in time to the mother who had just lost her girl since my natural father now is the same as the person who fathered her daughter. I was sent to a boarding school which for me was an adventure and having a new family with the other girls there. Closer to our time she had more time to spend with me and I now have a pretty good relationship with her and she is an important part of my life. We worked thru the adoption and my coming to live at the farm thru day prior to the transformation in the original history and then I was brought back here."

"You have had quite an adventure! I'm glad you had a chance to grow up as a girl. Do you feel more normal now?"

"Oh yes completely. I am so very glad to be back with you, Josh.'

"Did anything else happen?"

"They arranged it so that the current President here wrote a letter for me to give to our President back home to pardon Daisy and Mr. Moore. I was found to have my current daddy as my natural father genetically. I was able to supply a fool proof continuous history by living thru all of that time. Actually, it turns the fraud faking Ross's death into murder, since I am no longer proof that Ross did not die. I hope that I can trade the pardon for a ceasefire on his part and that I can live without him attacking me."

"Perhaps when we get back, the two of us could have a chat with him and put it to him that it would be in his best interest to stand down."

"If he says that he will leave me alone, I can trust him to do that. He always does what he says that he will."

"Anything else?"

"Not for me but for Gigi. They had a way to diagnose and treat Gigi's Gender Dysphoria. She's a real girl now in every way just the same as me."

"I guess it is true that any advanced science is indistinguishable from magic. Clarke sure was right."

"Kiss me please, Josh." Josh and I locked in an embrace and I closed my eyes. As our lips met it was like I was inundated by some mysterious energy which swept over all my body. My joy knew no limits as every cell in my body seemed to scream out in ecstasy. As our lips parted I trembled with the overwhelming experience. Josh engulfed me and I felt warm and safe as he eased me to the bed. We cuddled for what seemed like an eternity. We heard a knock at the door which interrupted our bliss.

Josh and I unfurled and sat up on the edge of the bed. After a moment to restore decorum, Josh answered, "Come."

"Sorry to interrupt, but they are ready for you in the embarkation room. If you will follow me?"

"Of course." And we followed her up to the command deck to a compartment in the aft which neither Josh nor I had seen before.

"What is this?" I asked as I saw Gigi, Mark, Amanda, and Jinx forming a circle around a pile containing our orange suits helmets and parachutes standing on a raised circular platform in the center of the room. It reminded me of some kind of Science Fiction teleporter. Beyond them appeared to be another elevator to access the other decks.

Gigi answered, "This is what is going to get us home. It's not a teleporter, that's still science fiction and it’s impossible for it to work in real life. For us it’s even better. It’s a short range, space time folder. And with the Pathfinder's Tesseract Drive at full capacity, short range for it is still enough to get us back to Earth and back in time to our present. It's what the ship's crew will use for embarking on missions now that everything works the way it's supposed to be."

"That's going to take a lot of energy. What about the Pathfinder continuing on its journey?"

"We are going to remain in this area for a little while. With the starship fully functional, it’s totally safe for us. We are going to be taking the last tesser direct to our destination. We'll wake the rest of the crew and give the Pathfinder a good going over. We'll also get ready to do the exploration that this starship was built to accomplish. We'll be fine."

Linda and Julia came around to each of us and gave us a hug. When it was my turn both women lingered a little bit longer with me and each gave me a kiss on the forehead with the hug and each whispered something to me.

Linda said, "Always follow your heart. It will never lead you wrong. I love you."

Julia said, "Boldly go where no woman has gone before! I love you."

I had felt the connection to the two women when I had met them. It was like they were somehow part of the family. The love in their parting messages to me reinforced that feeling. If these two represented the family's future it was in good hands indeed.

Julia spoke to all of us for both of them, "We are going to miss you all and wish you a good journey. Places, please. We shifted back into a circle. Josh reached out his hands to me on his right side and Amanda on his left. Even though it was not necessary for function each of us took the hands of the people on each side. As we looked from face to face each of us were smiling. We were a team and together, we could do anything. Josh answered for us all, "Ready!"

Julia and her sister were beaming with pride as Julia spoke for both of them, "Doris, begin process"

"All systems are within normal limits. Confirmed flex point at infinity. Awaiting final command."

Julia exclaimed, "Tesser!" Doris paused a moment and said, "Compliance!"

As we winked out, I heard Doris whisper only to me, "See you soon, A..." and then there was nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The lunar rover pulled up to the Eagle II Park. I got out of the rover and helped them down to the lunar surface. They were being very good and really enjoying walking on the moon. They were so excited about arriving at the park that they did not protest me stopping the story again.

"We are here girls. This is where the Altair Lunar Lander named 'Eagle II" landed on the moon as the first lunar landing of the Constellation program. Four of us set foot on the moon that day but I was the only woman and thus the first woman to set foot on the moon."

That first test flight of the Altair was a total US mission and an American Flag was planted by the Eagle II. The area around the Altair was roped off so that I could still see my footprints in the lunar soil. There was a plaque with the mission patch and all four of our names along with a short description of the mission.

Linda asked, "Granny what was it like?"

"It was wonderful, Darling. We took video and you can see it now." I walked across to the monitor in front of us and pressed the start button. Since the Mission Commander was already on the moon, there was excellent video of me from the camera he had set up. It showed me climbing down the ladder and down to the foot pad to take my first step out on the moon. NASA had expected me to say something 'a la Neil Armstrong' since my steps was a media event.

"This is for all the people of the earth who together will allow us to walk on the Moon and go on to Mars. I hope this step will inspire all the women and girls of the earth to also participate in this effort. Together, nothing is impossible, if we only believe."

The video ended with me smiling and saluting the flag which was already planted on the lunar surface.

Gloria exclaimed, "That was awesome, Granny, Thank you for bringing us!"

"You are so welcome, girls. I'm sorry this has to end so soon but we need to get back. Please get into the Rover. I helped the girls into the Rover and then got back in myself.

"Girls, all secure?" "Yes, Granny", they both replied. I turned the Rover around back in the general direction of home.

"Doris, Set a course for home and engage auto-drive."

"Compliance!" The Rover took off with Doris directing it in the direction of Luna City and home.

Chapter Nine ~ Reentry

Even with the lunar landscape going by in all its wonder, a drive after a while tends to be a bit more of the same. It was little wonder that the girls had their attention wonder a bit and thoughts of the story they had heard become more important.

Linda looked at me in amazement, "Granny, was that us all grown up on the Pathfinder?"

"Would you like it to be?"

"Oh yes, Granny, yes!" exclaimed Julia.

"Girls back then I was only a girl myself. Even now with what I know and what I know of you two, I really can't say that the women on the Pathfinder were you two all grown up. If you want the women on that starship to be you then you will want to study really hard and do your best. From what I understood only the best and the brightest got to be crew on the Starship Pathfinder. Your future is what you make of it so make it a good one."

"I will Granny, I want to grow up and be an astronaut one day just like you." admitted Julia.

"I'm going to be the best Linda that I can be, Granny"

"That's all anyone can ask of you, girls is to do your best."

"Granny, you tell the best stories. Can we hear more, pretty, please?" asked Julia.

"Pretty, please Granny! I want to find out where you and your friends landed after leaving the Starship Pathfinder?" added Linda.

"Of course, my darlings!" And with the rover on auto-drive back to Luna City, I once again told the girls about what I had done when I was a girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The team and I found ourselves back at Space Camp. We still were in the circle that we had been in when we had left the Starship Pathfinder. Our gear had also come along with us and still remained just as it was in the center. We hit the target right back in the Control Room where we had left. Gloria was alone in the room even though there was activity in the rest of the training facility with Space Campers all around visible on the monitors which ordinarily would be showing interiors of the Space Shuttle Simulator.

Gloria let out a squeal and ran up and hugged me. "I'm so glad you all are back! I'm sure you have questions but if we could hold them till we get to the NASA van. Please follow me."

As Gloria led us to a maintenance corridor, she pulled out a walkie talkie and spoke, "Code Red 18" With all we had been thru, we really showed a lot of restraint but finally we came thru the exit as the sun was setting in the west overhead. We entered a waiting NASA van which was a little different in that the seats were laid out along the van sides. We all sat in a circle around Gloria and waited for her to indicate to the driver to get started when we were all settled.

"First, welcome home everyone. I am glad to see each and every one of you. By the way, I care about each of you but the reason that I only hugged Rose is that she is really my Aunt. We kept that quiet because I didn't want to be reassigned."

I replied, "That's right. Gloria is my niece. When we were accidentally put together, I agreed to not mention our connection. "

Gloria continued, "Now on to some things that you all will want to know then some time for questions. We are on our way to the Marshall Space Flight Center. Your families are there and you'll see them then. You have been missing since day three of your special two week program. It's now the evening of day twelve of the program and your graduation day for Space Camp is on day fourteen. Of course you all are excused from further activities and you all have earned the chance to graduate with the rest of your fellow Space Campers."

Gloria paused for a moment to catch her breath and collect her thoughts. "After you all appeared and then vanished, we did some investigation before it was decided what action to take. We discovered thru the flight recorder in the Shuttle Simulator about Gigi's ability to do space time folding. Using some classified method, the experts determined that you all were no longer on the Earth. An amber alert was not issued but discreet word thru government channels was circulated to keep an eye out for you. We hoped that you would find your way back. Greg and I have been taking 12 hour shifts looking out at the control room for you. The Space Campers have been using an alternate Control Room instead. We were chosen instead of agents to keep watch since it would not have helped you to set off a panic in Space Camp over your disappearance which was kept quiet. Of course your families were notified and asked to keep it quiet as well. They were invited to come to Marshall to live so they could be close to the effort to try to find out where you had gone."

Gloria paused again, "That's all I can remember right now. I'd like to get one of you, Josh, to tell me about what happened to you so I can arrange for your needs for food and rest. NASA will want to talk to each of you about your experiences, later."

"When we disappeared we appeared on a starship about 170 years in the future. We spent about 6 hours there. We helped solve some problems they were having. We didn't have a formal meal together but each of us had what we wanted to eat and drink while we were there. They diagnosed Gigi with Harry Benjamin Syndrome and cured her so she was made whole. After we helped them with their problems they were able to send us home. I guess they missed putting us back when we left from but when traveling back in time 170 years, missing it by nine days isn't that bad. We are sorry that our absence worried everyone. I guess that is all I can remember."

"Thank you, Josh. We'll arrange for a meal after you meet your families and for you to all get a chance to get some sleep. We'll delay the information exchange until tomorrow. If any of you have something urgent you would like to discuss with an official, there will be people available for that. I've alerted everyone that we are on our way so everything should be ready for our arrival. I'll check in with them about your needs then I'll be ready to take questions."

Gloria pulled out her walkie talkie again and spoke into it. "Code Red 18. Meal and Sleep required. Request debrief delayed until tomorrow. Out."

"Sorry about that, now are there any questions?"

Jinx asked," Are we in trouble?"

"To the contrary, you all are the equivalent of national heroes except that for national security purposes this whole experience is going to be classified. You are all national treasures."

Mark asked, "Does that mean that we are going to be put into laboratories and studied?"

"Your talents are not going to be wasted like that. The only way for you all to achieve your true potential is to live your lives on your terms. If we were to do something like that we could alter future events and accomplishments. It’s true that you may be kept tabs on for your own good and to protect the national treasure that you are. You are not unlike a space explorer like John Glenn who also is a national treasure but has been free to live his life and the nation has reaped the benefits of his accomplishments since his historic flight."

Amanda asked, "Are we still going to be able to choose our futures instead of being guided to put our energies into something that the government thinks is the greater good?"

"The greatest good is for you all to follow your dreams. You will have a chance to make known your choices for college and you will be assisted in going to college where you wish to attend. But the choice will still be yours to choose a college or not to attend at all. Your efforts will likely be supported but they will be your efforts."

I asked, "What about Space Camp? It's great that our little adventure qualifies us to graduate but we have all missed out on most of the things that we came here to learn."

"You'll be able to attend, as a group if you wish, a future session of Space Camp Space Academy at no charge. The special 2 week program that you all were to attend is unavailable but you all may attend the standard 8 day camp which presents an equivalent educational experience in a slightly compressed time frame. NASA has other educational opportunities at each of its centers which will be available to you all at no cost as well."

Gigi asked, "Was it the warp field that we left in the simulator control center that made them realize that we were no longer on the earth?"

"The short answer is yes. I'm in no way able to understand what happened but the experts said that the warp field they detected indicated that you had left the earth. They explained it to me that it was like reentry of a lunar mission. If the angle is too steep then you burn up and if it is too shallow you skip off into space and they said that you had skipped off to parts unknown."

"What are the next few days going to be like?" asked Josh

"You'll have some family time tonight like I indicated and spend the night with them at the Marshal Space Flight Center. In the morning, you all will have a series of debriefings and testing and more family time to be concluded by tomorrow evening when you all will return to Space Camp as if nothing had happened. Graduation Day will be normal for Space Camp and you will all participate in the Graduation Assembly and will graduate. After that you all will be free to return home with your families who will be present for graduation."

Gloria looked around and asked, "Are there any more questions?"

She did not hear anyone speak up so she continued. "Good! And we have good timing because we are arriving at the building where your families are gathered. When the van stops, please follow me and I will lead you all to them."

We were all in good spirits as the van stopped in front of one of the buildings at the Marshal Space flight center. Gloria led us from the van into the building where each of our families were clustered in their own group waiting to smother each of us in a group hug. I looked over at Gigi who was first thru getting smothered by her parents and sister. She was getting the good reception that Daddy had said that she would get since they accepted her. There was some surprise and a squeal from her mother and sister when they realized that she was totally female now. I was the last off the bus and I reached my family including Gloria who smothered me in a great big group hug. I greeted each of them by name as we hugged.

When we had broken apart, Gloria took me by the hand and led me and my family to a large room which felt like home once inside with couches and chairs and tables. Refreshments were set up in one corner of the room. The different families within our large family grouped together on couches waiting for me to come around and visit with them. My first mother Violet and first sister Daisy were sitting together with my second Mother, Miriam. I hugged them all and waited for them to speak first since I wanted to talk with all three of them the same. I was curious about Daisy because she was bandaged as if she had been in some kind of fight although she was enthusiastic and upbeat.

Violet started," It's so good to see you again, Rose. Much has happened since you were gone. Some of it may be hard to hear, but its things you need to know. I'm in process of divorcing Mr. Moore. He has become so mentally unstable that he began verbally abusing Daisy and the last straw was reached when he became physically violent swinging his fists at her. We have a protective order keeping him away from us. From what I can tell from what the doctors said prior to our separation is that he's always been mentally unstable but the stress he created tipped him over the edge and he started acting on what his feelings have been for a long time. I don't know how he managed to deceive me all those years. Miriam has been very kind in our hour of need. She heard what happened and invited us to live at her home."

I touched Violet who had been my first Momma on the shoulder and I looked deep into her eyes as I spoke to her. "Oh, Violet, I am so sorry that you had to go thru that. I'm glad that you got out of that situation for both your sakes.".

I turned to Daisy, who originally was my sister, "Daisy, are you alright?"

"I feel fine big sister now that you are back. I was so worried about you. I thought that I would never see you again. I guess it helped me get thru the trauma along with the therapy and medical help, to care about you instead of having my own misfortune the only thing on my mind. We have a great home and I've learned to love your other Mother, Miriam, too."

Looking over at Daisy, even though she was caught up with the reunion, she seemed to be upset about something, "How are you coping with leaving Charlotte behind, Daisy?"

Instead of letting Daisy answer, Miriam, who had been my second Momma, answered for her.

"Candy, they did not have to leave it behind. I've found a wonderful home in Charlotte and I felt like if I were living within easy flying distance of the farm, you could stop in to see me when I am home. I had heard thru the grapevine that you and Josh were becoming an item so I thought that might be another good reason for you to visit. When I heard about your first mother and sister's misfortune, I invited them to live with me. It gives them a nice place to live for free and they can watch the house for me while I am away on my many business trips. You have your own room as always and you can visit as often as you like."

"Thank you, Miriam. You have been very kind to me and to my former mother and sister. Thank you for saving a place for me to stay with you. It will be a triple treat to visit with all three of you there. I hope to get to Charlotte soon to see where you all live and where my room will be when I visit."

Daisy listened patiently as Miriam spoke to me and I answered her but I could see on her face she felt very upset about something, It just wasn't the move like I had guessed before.

"Daisy, I can see you are happy to see me but there seems to be something else. Is there something bothering you?"

"Oh Rose!" Daisy started crying and I hugged her tight and let her get it all out. When she had finished, we got some tissue and she dried her eyes and with a smile and a squeeze of her hand from me, Daisy found the strength to continue.

'"Rose, I am so sorry for helping Daddy to throw you out of our family, Rose. The way he explained it, we were helping you by putting an end to Ross. What I did not realize was that it was all about him being paranoid about being ostracized over having a trans-daughter. He could not rejoice because you were whole. In fact, it made it worse for him because he realized that you were not going back."

Violet stopped her and gave her a hug. ”It's okay sweetie. He deceived me too. What's done is done. What's nice is that even with the new reality that has evolved, we are still family. I'm now Rose' sister instead of mother and you're Rose's niece instead of her sister. In our hearts we will always have both relationships even if the world only sees the one."

Violet smiled at Violet and addressed us both, "Thanks, Momma. Rose, I guess you are aware that Daddy has run amuck. I guess I realized it when I recognized that he started referring to you as Ross as though that was a person completely separate from the person you are now. Since I could do that imitation of you as Ross, He made me up to look like Ross. I did the preflight and taxied the plane to the end of the runway for take off. I removed the disguise and placed a dummy in the pilot's seat. I jumped out of the plane to the ground, which was screened by a diversion and got clear. I was able to make it out of the area to safety after the plane took off. Daddy used a remote control, for which the plane had been rigged, made the plane take off. He flew the plane away and crashed it into a mountain. There was extra fuel on board inside the cabin, which consumed everything when it crashed. The authorities had no choice but to declare you who they only knew as Ross dead."

"I know it took a lot for you to reveal all of that to me, Daisy. Little Sis, it's going to be alright and I forgive you for your unknowing part. As things have turned out, your Daddy, who was the main obstacle for us to be together again is out of the picture. Obviously, things are different now that I am back from my adventure in the future. It became possible for me to be able to live at the same time as Ross growing up with you and as Candy being raised by your new friend, Miriam. I believe that it was destined for me to grow up as Candy too because the magic that made me female also made me physically your Grandfather's and Miriam's child. My trip into the future made it possible for me to grow up as I feel that I should have been able to do as a girl."

"I'm glad you got to grow up as a girl, Rose. Even with the magic making it that we are not physically sisters anymore, we will always be sisters in our hearts and souls."

"Daisy you and I will always be sisters forever! I love you, Sis. Daisy, the powers that be want you to have a clear mind about what happened. I've been given the means to obtain a presidential pardon for what you did. The Government will see that nothing from the tragedy ever comes to light. Like what your momma said, what's done is done and we can't do anything to undo it. What counts now is what we make of the future. I believe we can make it a wonderful one, Daisy. I love you. Somehow my life in the future will become all about getting this chance for us and I want us to take full advantage of it."

"Oh, Rose, I love you, too. Thank you! Thank you! Now we can just look to our future without worrying about the past." Daisy gave me a hug and a kiss, I could see on her face that her burden was gone and that made me very happy.

"If you have no questions of me, I'll go on to visit with other family members so I can catch up with them as well." They were holding their other questions since I knew they were bursting to know about my adventure away. They each gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and sent me on my way to visit with the others.

The next group of family that I sat down to visit with was my Momma and Daddy, who had originally been my Grandparents. I enjoyed the hugs I received. I felt a little guilty for visiting with them second but I hoped they would understand that of all the family there, they were the ones that I least expected to see.

"Momma and Daddy, i am so glad to be back and I am so sorry for worrying you both. Please forgive me for visiting with Violet, Daisy and Miriam first. I was pretty shocked to see them here and after everything that went on. I needed to reconnect with them."

Daddy took me in his arms and said, "We understand, Sweetie. Your Mother and I were very glad to see your reunion with them. It's just so wonderful to have you back safe and sound. "

Momma grabbed my hands and squeezed them, “Darling, we just want you to be happy. Even as fantastic as your adventures so far have been, this is just the beginning of your life which will be full of surprises and achievements. It just runs in the family, Darling. You are destined to do great things."

"So it would seem, Momma. I met a wonderful girl at Space Camp named Gigi and both of us met ourselves as old women in that far future. I guess we became life long friends because together we made it possible for the Starship which we landed inside to exist. There is no telling what kinds of accomplishments made it possible for us to be taken seriously for such a project to become reality."

"We met Gigi's parents, of course. Your Daddy secretly met with them when you made the appeal to help her. It's wonderful how they let us help, Gigi and how they have become adjusted to being the parents of a Trans-Daughter. They genuinely love her unconditionally just the way she is. They are ready to go thru everything with her that it will take to make her whole."

"Gigi's parents got a surprise! It was a gift that our future selves gave to us. Gigi is whole now! In the future there is a diagnostic tool and it is a physical condition and not simply a psychological one. They have a cure and they gave it to Gigi. She's a normal girl just like me now!"

"That's wonderful, Sweetheart. I'm glad that they are better able to accept a miracle than your original father who finally showed his true nature."

"I got a gift too as you know, since you got to meet me as Candy. That was made possible thru technology that turned me into a five year old girl and sent me back in time to take over when the original Candy died. For me this trip has been much longer than all the others since I was away for nine years as I grew up as Candy. It was a precious gift and i am so glad I got to grow up as a girl."

"We are glad for you too, Sweetie. Your Mother and I are proud of you and all that you have accomplished so far in your young life. There will be time later to catch up more. Why don't you go visit your other sisters?"

"Thanks, Daddy and Momma. I love you!" We gathered in a group hug as they both told me, "I love you, too." We broke the hug and I went on to where my sister Jessica and her family were sitting.

Jessica and her husband, Roger, Joy and of course Gloria, greeted me warmly then we all sat down to chat. Much of our conversation went along the same lines with me receiving their love and relief that I was okay. It was so comforting that after my perception that I had been given that they were against me that the reality was different.

I finished up my visiting with Natalie and her husband Luke and their daughters, Hope and Faith. I found that even though they initially went along with the blackmail, after they realized like my original mother did that he was dangerously unstable, they turned back to what was right. They asked my forgiveness which I freely gave them. We parted with a group hug.

Just as we concluded, an announcement revealed that they were ready for us to go in to dinner. The family who had been there for a while knew just where to go so I followed them into the cafeteria. Of course our families grouped together at the tables and it seemed like I had the most family in attendance but all of my fellow travelers were surrounded by some very happy folks.

The meal that they served us tasted marvelous but I would have settled for oatmeal to be able to be gathered again with my family. After the main meal concluded, a desert table was provided in a reception room next door. All of the families mingled along with NASA Officials which were available in case there was something urgent that one of us or our families had something urgent to get taken care of. I was really amazed to see the current NASA Administrator in attendance. I was glad that they were taking things seriously so I excused myself from the family around me and went to talk with him.

"Mr. Administrator, it is a pleasure to meet you,"

"As I am to meet you, Rose. I am told that you are quite a remarkable young woman."

"Thank you sir, I am carrying a message from the future to the President of the United States from his counterpart in the future. There are a number of instructions outside the sealed message to validate it as important for the President to see."

"I would be glad to see to that for you, Rose. You have not seen the contents?"

"No, sir. I was told that the message was for the President's eyes only. As fantastic as this circumstance is, I would imagine that it would be important to leave any validation of its authenticity intact." I handed him the sealed message and instructions from the pocket on my flight suit where I had placed them for safe keeping.

"Thank you, Rose. I'll see to this now." He took the items and exited the room. I was glad that the message was in good hands. I knew that once the President saw the message that he would issue the pardons that would free my former father and Daisy.

Just then I saw Gigi with her family and motioning me over. I went to join her along with her parents and sister.

"Rose, I'm so glad that you could meet my family," She turned to her father and I turned to him as well, "This is my father, Adam Chase. Daddy this is my friend, Rose Abbott."

"I'm so glad to meet you Mr. Chase." Mr. Chase gave me a friendly hug.

"I'm glad to meet you too, Rose. Gigi has told me what a good friend that you have been."

"Thanks, Mr. Chase. She's an amazing girl and a good friend to me as well."

"Rose, this is my mother, Evelyn Chase. Momma, this is my friend, Rose Abbott."

"I'm glad to meet you Mrs. Chase." Mrs. Chase gave me a warm hug that mothers all know just how to give.

"Thank you Rose. I'm really glad to meet you as well."

"Rose this is my sister, Louisa." Louisa gave me a sisterly hug and I knew we would get along fine just like Gigi and I had gotten along.

"I'm glad to meet you, Louisa. You've got a wonderful sister."

"Likewise, Rose. I'm so glad she looks like my sister now. We'll have a chance to do so many things that we've missed out on up to now once I get her home."

"Sis, I am going to hold you to that. I'm looking forward to us really being sisters together."

"You can count on me, Sis." Louisa smiled so big that I could only imagine what she had in mind for Gigi. I had gained three sisters as a result of my life change but it had separated me from the sister that I had grown up with the first time around.

"Mr. Chase, I'm glad that you are taking everything that has happened so calmly."

"About the only thing that I didn't take calmly was Gigi and all of you disappearing for nine days. I was so glad that your father was able to help Gigi so much I can understand her being concerned about our reaction but she need not have been. Your Daddy contacted me with what you wanted him to do to help Gigi. I asked him to act in my stead because I knew that this was tough enough for her to face. I knew that when you were ready, Gigi, you'd tell me in your own time."

"Daddy, I'm glad that you are so good to me. I should have never doubted you. There are horror stories of Fathers who react badly to their perception that they are losing their child. I thought that once you saw me as I should be then you would understand."

"I do understand, sweetheart. Your mother and I really were fortunate that we did get a chance to ease into knowing that we had a trans-girl for a child before coming face to face with you. We even had some pictures of how you looked which helped. We were getting into being ready to put everything in place to ease your transition into the person that you needed to be. It threw us for a loop that somehow you had become whole already."

"Gigi, I was so glad that you were going to be able to avoid all that turmoil. It's tragic that since there does not exist a definitive medical test yet that there is a reliance now on the psychological symptoms to diagnose. Professionals feel like they need to wait until adulthood to make sure adolescence is no longer a factor confusing their diagnosis since they are only looking at the symptoms."

"Momma, I am so lucky that in the future they not only had a definitive test to diagnose me with what they called Harry Benjamin Syndrome, but they also had the means to make me whole so that I can be a normal girl having periods and one day when married to someone I love, get pregnant. Even so if they had a definitive test now, it could be treated like any other congenital defect and start treatment as soon as possible. Think of being able to administer the test like the others that they do to newborns and knowing the true gender of the child is and being able to make things as right as they can right now."

"Sweetheart, my heart goes out to all of them. I thank the stars that you are my healthy girl." Of course that called for a group hug and I felt good to be included in it. I only hoped that my birth father would someday show the same unconditional love for me that Gigi's family had for her.

Gigi's Daddy seemed concerned about her well being, needing to sleep. He made their excuses and I took leave of them as they led her to where they were staying in preparations to going to bed.

I was getting kinda tired myself but seeing Josh gave me a new burst of energy. Having caught his eye, I made my way over to chat with him and his parents. I greeted all of them with a smile and a cheery, "Hi everyone!" Josh greeted me with a hug and then we turned to his parents so he could introduce me to them. He initially directed me to his Father. It was going to be strange feigning being a stranger when I knew both his Father and Mother so well after spending so much time at his house.

"Rose, this is my Father, Ted Garner. Dad, this is my girlfriend, Rose Abbott." My eyes lit up on hearing myself introduced to Josh's Father as his girlfriend. Of course that was who I was and I felt so good that Josh felt so good about our relationship that he introduced me that way. Mr. Garner greeted me with a polite handshake as if he wasn't exactly sure how to react to the news that I was his son's girlfriend.

"I'm so glad to meet you, Rose. Josh speaks very highly of you and your ability to help him keep the group together when you all were stranded so far from home. The Abbott family has a great reputation and you represent them well."

"I'm glad to meet you too, Mr. Garner. It's easy to see that Josh's rugged handsome looks run in the family. Thank you for your kind words."

Both of us turned to face Josh's Mother and he continued the introductions.

"Rose, this is my Mother, Elizabeth Garner. Mom, this is my girlfriend, Rose Abbott." I received another warm motherly hug from Mrs. Garner. She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"I'm glad to meet you, Rose. This must be an challenging time for your family after losing your nephew, Ross. I liked Ross even though there were times when only we two were together when I felt that Ross wasn't quite what you would expect from a young man. Josh and Ross seemed inseparable, which is why I knew him because Ross often visited Josh. When news came about Ross's untimely death, Josh was crushed. I am so glad that you entered his life, dear, and helped him get over his grief."

"I'm glad to meet you, Mrs. Garner. I'd love to take credit for Josh's getting over his grief, but we helped each other thru the experience. I would credit more of the success to the challenges that we had to work together to overcome. Josh has been wonderful thru all of it and I am so glad that he is my boyfriend."

"How are you two handling the fact that after Space Camp Graduation, the day after tomorrow, you two will be parted?"

"Mom, we really have not had the time to think about it. I guess when Graduation day comes it will be foremost on our minds. We'll deal with it. I love you, Rose."

Talking about surprises, It took me off guard for Josh to declare his love for me in front of his parents. I had a ready response."

"I love you too, Josh. Mrs. Garner, we don't have to lose touch. My Daddy is having a private airstrip put in at the farm. We both are pilots so we can get together as often as possible."

Josh and I leaned over and kissed. Even though I knew it was not the time or place for one of Josh's passionate kisses, I could not help but want for more. I hoped that we might find a chance to steal that kind of kiss later.

"I'm glad that you two are so committed to each other. With your ability to overcome obstacles, I have no doubt that if you two want to be together, nothing will be able to keep you apart."

"I have the same feeling about them, honey. It's so wonderful to see young love among two outstanding young people."

Mrs. Garner reached over and touched me on the shoulder. "Rose, I'd like to go to the powder room. Would you like to come with me?" Somehow I felt that this was not just to include me in the family. I of course was curious what she really had in mind.

"Of course, Mrs. Garner."

"Please sweetie, call me Beth."

"Sure, Beth." We took our leave of the guys and made our way to the Ladies room. In stead of proceeding beyond the beautifully appointed lounge which was decorated in a very feminine style with comfortable couches and chairs, Beth took a seat and motioned for me to take one across from her.

"I imagine you are curious why I wanted to talk with you, Rose, but its about you formerly being Ross." She sounded so certain of that fact that I was a little unsure of myself. Josh knew but I could trust him to keep his word to not tell anyone, not even his mother.

"How are you so sure of that? It takes a great deal of faith to believe that since I was born Candy Caldwell to my mother, Miriam Caldwell out of wedlock. I spent my girlhood away at a boarding school to permit my mother to start and maintain her business. I found out later about my father and why they both felt that even with the demands on my mother's time it was more proper for her to raise me since he was not going to give up his family so we could not be together. When both of them decided that I was old enough to choose my life, I chose to become adopted by my birth father and his wife. At that time, I chose to begin my new life by having my name changed to Rose Leigh Abbott. I felt as long as I was going to change my last name, that I could also change my first and middle names too. My mother continues as my guardian as well. It was my decision on how to make the best of an unusual situation."

"I am aware of those facts but I am also aware that you have come from a future where impossible things become possible. Max becoming Gigi and becoming whole is one example. Even if I had not known that your contact with the future could have changed things, I have learned to trust my perceptions. When Ross was around our home with Josh, I learned that with out a doubt that Ross's gender was female. I got to know her pretty well and my perceptions of you are the same as what I received from Ross. It doesn't matter that it's impossible, that is what I believe."

I broke down and wept on Beth's shoulder. When I was thru I felt I had to tell Beth everything.

"Beth, you are right. First time around I was born as Ross. My cousins and I discovered some magic at Grandmother's farm house and I became Rose. At first I was going to stay with my Grand parents for a little while to get used to being a girl physically. Something snapped in my Daddy and he blackmailed the family if I were to ever come home again. Eventually the blackmail was not enough and then Daddy faked my death as Ross and I could never come home again. That left me without an identity so I felt and my grand parents felt too that unless I could establish a new identity that I would be exposing Daddy's fraud."

"I understand that your need for a new identity wasn't your fault. I'm glad that he is being treated for his mental illness. Please continue, Rose."

"Granddaddy had a daughter out of wedlock who was about my age. Tragically that child died of a heart attack when she was five under circumstances that her death was not verifiable. We discovered thru genetic testing that I had become thru the magic that lady and my grandfather's child. The mother agreed to go along with my taking the identity of her dead daughter and explain the lack of contact with me having attended a boarding school somewhere. Otherwise there was no verification of my supposed life until my trip to the future. They were able to change me into a 5 year old girl and send me back in time to live the missing 9 years of Candy's life and then bring me back to the future to go home with everyone else."

"It seems that you were destined to become Miriam's daughter and you helped each other thru a difficult time. I feel now that you are keeping this secret for the right reasons and you renew my faith in you."

"I'm sorry, Beth. If my birth father would not have thrown me away to eliminate any chance of going back, then I would never have been a need for another identity. I would have led my life the way Gigi is doing now. I and the others who know are keeping the secret to protect primarily my original father but the family as a whole from the repercussions. Besides the Abbott family, only Josh knows and now you. I'm in love with your son so I couldn't let him grieve me, even if him knowing meant I would lose him. "

"Rose, you have proven yourself a woman of integrity under difficult circumstances. I understand and admire you for keeping your secret and for knowing who to trust to share that secret with. I will not betray your trust. I believe you will become part of my family so eventually my husband, Ted, will need to be told, but since it's your secret, it should be you who tells him. You will know the time."

"Beth, you knew I was really a girl?"

"Yes, Rose. I could tell that you had a facade but your true self came thru enough that Josh cared for you as a good friend. Now that the facade is gone, your true self shines thru. You will be asked to keep secrets thru out your life, but as long as it is for the greater good rather than personal gain, it is a good secret to keep. Rose, when Josh decides to make you a formal member of the family I will welcome you with open arms. You have already been a de-facto member of our family and I am very happy to have you for a daughter and continue to offer you a place in our hearts."

"Thank you so much, Beth. How could a girl be so lucky? I now have four mothers. I am truly blessed."

"Come, Rose! The men in our lives will be convinced that we have fallen in by now. Let's go rejoin them."

"Thanks, Beth I feel you are right. Let's go!"

We did go back and rejoin her husband and my Josh. Soon after, my new parents came by to collect me to retire for the evening. I got a chance to make the introductions and everyone became better acquainted. Even though the Garners were well acquainted with my birth parents, they had never met my adoptive parents and it was a joy to see everyone interacting. Somewhere in my mind's eye I imagined something similar happening as the families got together for something momentous like my marriage to Josh when the time was right. My parents and I took my leave of Josh and his parents. I managed to steal away from everyone for a moment just before that to get a proper goodnight kiss and Josh delivered just as he always did, as I basked in the excitement I felt from head to toe in the warm feeling that rushed over me. I was floating on a cloud as Momma guided me to our quarters. After I managed to change into my nightgown and remove my makeup, Momma saw that I was tucked into my bed for the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upon getting up, there was waiting for me a message from the NASA Administrator. It said that I would not have to go to Washington to see the President. He was coming here. The stated reason was to pay tribute to all of us space campers and our accomplishment. He had received the message from the future and he wanted to see me.

After having a breakfast with our families, it was NASA's turn to talk with us. Our debriefing happened individually, in groups, and all of us together. We went over and over everything. About the only thing that I did not have to do is to give a minute by minute account of the nine years I was away from the others learning to be a girl as a little girl and growing up. They took my word that the world that resulted from my time traveling was almost identical to the one I left behind. We knew that the future was radically different from what was expected by the very fact that there was a Starship in existence. While I did not engage in any world class meddling as a girl, my life had touched other lives for the better. I could only assume that those lives touched yet others. The end result was that enough people had made Space Flight a priority that money and lives went into it.

Of course NASA was in favor of that as well as knowing that the agency had survived 167 years in the future. Come to think of it by what we had seen on the Starship Pathfinder was that Gene Rodenberry's futuristic and optimistic vision came true and the wielders of that dream was NASA.

Although we knew that Gigi and I were instrumental in this spaceflight future, we assumed that everyone on the team had an important role in the future. It was important to them that each and every one of us met our potential. One way that they could help us do that was to insure that we all got into the college of our choice.

I went first and selected Annapolis. That being the Naval Service Academy required an appointment from a Congressman, Senator or the President. I had a feeling that if things went my way I was going to receive a Presidential appointment.

Josh made his choice known next and selected Annapolis as well. Since when ever we had talked about it in the 'Joy of Flight' flight club, Josh had indicated he wanted to go to Colorado Springs to Air Force, which came as a surprise to me. I resolved to ask him about it later.

Gigi wanted to go to MIT. She received a full scholarship courtesy of NASA. She was told that she could expect an acceptance letter soon also. I guess for Gigi it might not be far off for her but for us it was years off yet we were told that even this far ahead of things we would be guaranteed a spot.

Next came the Atlantans. Amanda asked for Emory University. She wanted a great medical education close to her home in Atlanta. She received a NASA Scholarship for her declared major in Space Medicine. She also was told to expect an acceptance letter soon.

Mark asked for Georgia Tech. He wanted to stay near Atlanta to stay near Amanda. He received a NASA scholarship for his declared major in Electrical Engineering. He too was told to expect an acceptance letter from GA Tech soon.

Finally Jinx also asked for Georgia Tech. She felt like the best cutting edge work in Robotics was being done at Georgia Tech. NASA gave her a Scholarship for Robotics, too. She was told that her acceptance letter would be forthcoming.

Both Greg, who had adjusted his sleeping schedule and come to join us, and Gloria were awarded general scholarships courtesy of NASA, subject to their choices being on the NASA list of approved colleges and courses of study to qualify for the scholarship. Both had been bitten by the space bug and they were both accepted to universities and planned to major in programs that met NASA's specifications. Their parents were going to be pleased to know that the College loans they had applied for would not be required.

The neatest thing is that instead of the NASA administrator conducting the selection process and giving out the scholarships, Colonel, USAF, RET. Pamela A. Melroy, Mission commander of STS-120 and also our Astronaut - Mentor for Space Camp had been given the honor of doing it. Along with the presentation, Pam had her own remarks on how much potential she felt each of us had by the way we had responded during Space Camp.

It was a media event when Air Force One landed at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The President gave a short speech praising the work of the NASA employees based at MSFC and their vital role in the Constellation project. Of course his interaction with us Space Campers would be under wraps. Even though we were not singled out for our accomplishment, our presence there was explained by being selected as representatives of Space Camp to see the President land.

Once the official pomp and circumstance was finished, the President withdrew to his quarters while he was visiting. I was sent for and allowed in to see the President, shortly afterward.

The NASA Administrator met me at the door of the President's quarters and walked in with me.

"Mr. President, may I present, Rose Leigh Abbott." The President came over to shake both of our hands.

"Welcome, Rose. Mr. Administrator, could you give us some privacy?"

"Of course, Mr. President." and the NASA Administrator withdrew and closed the door behind himself.

"Rose, please have a seat." The President indicated a chair in a seating group in the room. I sat in the one he indicated and he took a seat opposite me.

"Thank you for coming, Rose. According to my predecessor from the future, you turn out to be quite a remarkable woman. It could become quite literally an issue of national importance if the difficulty with your original father and sister were not solved. I came prepared to solve it by granting both a presidential pardon."

"Thank you, Mr. President It means a whole lot to me that this can be put to rest once and for all."

"I will have a separate meeting with Daisy and Violet, informing them of my decision and giving them a copy of the pardon for Daisy."

"I know that both of them will be so relieved to find out your decision. You are doing a great service for my family."

"In fact by helping you, I help do a great service to the United States as well. I understand your former father is responding to treatment in the facility where he is right now in Charlotte. I believe that the most effective way of transmitting the pardon to your former father, is for you to go there yourself and give it to him as my messenger. I will arrange for transportation should you accept, as well as for someone to ease your way into the institution and giving you some private time with him."

"I would be very happy to do so, Mr. President. My family needs to heal and I will do anything I can in that regard. Could my friend Josh Garner accompany me?"

"Of course, Rose. Josh can go with you. I'll be meeting with you and your fellow Space Campers and after that I'll arrange for a plane that Josh and you can fly to Charlotte. You'll be met by Dr Don Jeffries, who will ease your way into the institution where your former father is being treated."

"Thank you, Mr. President." The conversation continued casually as the President and I got to know each other. Finally our time together was over and I was excused to join everyone else getting ready for the meeting that he had spoken about.

The meeting went as those meetings usually do, with grandiose gestures and flattery on both sides. I was very glad to stand with my fellow travelers when the President presented us with both a top secret accommodation and also an award which very generally praised us for our team spirit which we could actually reveal to others. The President made it clear that we were to keep secret our adventure traveling to the future for reasons of national security. I was glad to keep the secret because I felt very few people would believe it anyway. The meeting was capped off with the President delivering to both Josh and myself, appointments to Annapolis.

Both Josh and I were thrilled to receive those appointments. As soon as the meeting was adjourned, Josh and I were spirited away to an airplane which was all ready for us to fly to Charlotte. NASA made arrangements for a plane to be at our disposal which was very trusting of them. Not only did it prove that they were going to let us lead our own lives but also that we were not going to be shadowed all the time. I had no doubts that they would be checking up on us but at least it wasn't going to be like we had secret service protection.

The other thing that I was glad about is that I was going to be able to spend some time with Josh. I was also glad that we had a future together assured, at least when we got to college. I was a bit surprised that Josh had asked for an appointment to Annapolis. When we had discussed it before in meetings of the Air Club, he had expressed a desire to go to Air Force at Colorado Springs.

We finished the preflight checklist and got clearance from the tower for our flight plan. Josh had the stick and he taxied our plane to the end of the runway. With our final clearance, Josh gunned the plane down the runway and I felt that exhilaration as the plane leaped into the air. We cleared the Airport pattern and was out in the open on our flight plan. Josh set the auto-pilot and we could relax and chat.

"Josh, you really surprised me by asking for an appointment to Annapolis. What changed your mind about Air Force?"

'Well that was before I was going steady with someone who has her heart set on Annapolis. I could not bear to put that much distance between us on purpose. It also helps that if I have badly messed up then I can put in for an exchange to Air Force later. I want to be with you, Rose. It’s going to be difficult enough going home to Charlotte when you'll be at your parents' farm in GA."

"Ah, the truth comes out! If we split up, you'll be over to Air Force faster than my head would spin."

"Actually that would be the one time that I wouldn't consider it. I would want to be close to win you back. I really do want you in my life, for always. I love you, Rose!"

"I love you, too, Josh" We kissed and lingered there with our lips touching. It was electric being kissed by Josh. I felt it from the tip of my toes to the top of my head.

"I'm so glad to see you like this, Rose. You seem like you are so much less self conscious since we came back from the Pathfinder. That is not to say that you were uncomfortable with yourself then but things seemed so new to you that you had to put some thought on some actions. Even with the newness of things, I felt that you were 100% genuine for the first time in your life. I think that the reason that I liked you as Ross so much is that even though I felt the facade and falseness about you, I assumed that you were trying too hard to live up to your father's expectations. You let enough about the real you peek out that I felt that you were a good friend."

"Well I had a crash course on acting like a girl from my cousins when I was magically transformed into a girl. My adopted mother helped coach me after they left. I guess I was a bit self conscious because I wanted to fit in with the rest of the girls. And even though my body felt right to me, everything was brand new. I believe that I did as well as I managed that my body came with some conditioned reflexes which helped with the automatic actions. It was just the things that I had to think about that was a bit much for me. Since I came back from Pathfinder, I should not be any different from any other girl since I grew up as a girl while I was there."

"That's kind of weird you getting that do-over like that. In fact, If you added everything together You would be like 23."

"Well it doesn't count like that since I lived those nine years as a girl at the same time as I was also living as a boy. I wasn't getting ahead, I was just catching up."

"Okay, Okay! Anyway, what do you plan to do about your father?"

"I believe that there is some good in him. By coming in person and reaching out to him, I hope he's ready to turn loose the past and embrace the future. At the very least I hope that he will realize that by making any more trouble that he's only digging himself a deeper hole."

"What do you know about this FBI agent that is supposed to meet us when we land and take us over to see your original father?"

"Only that his name is Dr. Don Jefferies, MD and that he has a very high security clearance. Evidently our little trip has been classified Top Secret and information relating to my background is higher than that. He's supposed to be the only one in with us when we see my former father and he's been ordered to not divulge anything we speak about."

"I'm glad for the help. It means doing this will be easier and take less time than it would ordinarily."

"What's your former father's medical status?"

"He's lucid now. They have him on medication so he won't have another episode. When they are certain that he's not going to be a danger to himself or others, then he'll face trial on the abuse charges but it's expected that his medical situation will prevent him from serving jail time."

"I hope that things turn out the way you wish them to, Rose."

"Only time will tell."

The rest of the flight went by uneventful and we were landing in Charlotte. When we taxied to where we were directed and opened the door to the plane, two men met us. One was a pilot assigned to the same company which owned the plane and the other was Dr Don Jefferies.

Dr Jefferies spoke to us, "Hi, I'm Dr Don Jefferies. If you'll turn over the plane to this pilot, we can get in my car and on our way."

"Thank you, I'm Rose Abbott and this is Josh Garner. We're glad to meet you Dr Jefferies." I spoke and both Josh and I got out and the pilot took Josh's place in the pilot's seat. When we were clear, the pilot took the plane off somewhere while we drove away in the Doctor's car.

Dr Jefferies was able to get us in directly to see my birth father. He got the staff to leave us alone so I could talk to him. Dr Jefferies and Josh waited in the hall while I went in to my birth father's room.

When I saw my birth father, my heart broke over the state he was in. However when he looked up at me, there was not any hate, anger, fear in his eyes. I wondered if he had finally sunk so low and lost so much that he was genuinely ready to get help. I hoped that he was not of just going thru the motions or putting up a good front to act like he was expected.

"Hello, Daddy. I'm glad that you are getting help and that you are getting better."

"Sweetheart, I am so glad you came to visit me. I'm sorry that I was so selfish worrying about how your change was going to affect my life instead of supporting you. I'm sorry that I blackmailed everyone to keep you away. I'm sorry I took away your place in the family, I'm sorry that I took my anger out on your sister. I am so sorry." Daddy looked so sad that I gave him a great big hug. I could tell he wanted to cry over it but his male pride kept him from doing so. Finally Daddy was in his right mind and I had him back again finally. When he seemed to be ready, I broke the hug so I could tell him what I had come here to say.

"Daddy, I forgive you for everything that you have done. What you meant for bad has been changed to a good thing in my life. I lost one name and was able to gain two more. I lost one Daddy and gained another. I lost one Mother and gained two Mothers. I lost one sister and gained three other sisters. Now in spite of no longer being legally related to the mother and sister that I lost, I've found them again. I'd like to find you too, Daddy and be a part of your life, if you are willing. I love you so much that I reached back thru time and got the President of the United States to grant you a Presidential pardon. There's one for Daisy too. I love you, Daddy."

I handed the copy to Daddy so he could read it for himself. He took it gratefully from my hands and as he looked it over he spoke to me.

"I love you, too, Rose. Thank you, Rose, for everything. I'm ready now for you to have a place in my life. I'm glad that Daisy will not have to suffer for what I made her do. I appreciate you extending that to me as well. I realize that even after I am restored to mental health that I will have to reap the consequences for what I have done. Soon I will be divorced from Violet because or my actions. I will have to pay for what I did to Daisy. Our family will never be what it was. Until this moment, I was all alone. I feel so fortunate to have you as my daughter in my life even if the world must believe we are unrelated."

"Daddy, I am so glad you are in my life. I'm so sorry that I have to cut my visit short. I came here with my boyfriend from Huntsville. We have to get back before evening."

"Could I meet your young man, Rose? I am glad that you have love in your life"

"Sure, Daddy." As I turned back to the door to get Josh, I wondered if Daddy's acceptance of me was so complete that he could accept that I as a young woman could love a young man. I took Josh's hand and led him into the room.

"Daddy, this is my boyfriend, Josh Garner. Josh, this is my father." They shook hands and Daddy looked genuinely pleased both to meet Josh and for me. It looked like Daddy had passed the test.

"I'm glad to see you again, Mr. Moore."

"I'm glad to see you too, Josh. I hope that you will be good to my daughter."

"I'll do my best, sir. I am afraid that Rose is right. We really should go."

Daddy and I hugged and he kissed me on the forehead. We all said our goodbyes. Daddy gave Dr. Jefferies the pardon so it could be put up for safe keeping. He later would make sure that it was put in a safe deposit box and the key placed in Daddy's personal effects. Dr Jefferies got us back to the plane which had been serviced and ready for the return trip back to Huntsville, AL. We got in the plane and flew off.

"I'm glad that you got what you wanted, Rose. I guess there was some good in him after all."

"Me too, Josh. Now all we have to worry about is that tomorrow, you'll be going back home to Charlotte, NC and I will be going home to my parents farm in GA. Somehow we need to find a way to be together in the same city. Visiting is nice but I want to be with you every second that we can."

"You're right about it, Rose. I care about you so much I can't stand living in another state from you. Let's sleep on it tonight and see what we come up with in the morning."

By the time that we landed back at the Marshall Space Flight Center, everyone who belonged at Space Camp was back there. The parents were spending the night over at Marshall. A car took us both over back to Space Camp. It was amazing how normal everything was as we took our evening meal all together in the Cafeteria for one last time. We saw a movie in the IMAX theatre together and then we parted ways as we went to the dorms for one last night spent in Space Camp. Jinx, Amanda, Gigi and I lay in our bunks and whispered back and forth. Finally we all fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We caught sight of Luna City with its spires shining in the Earth light. Doris showed herself quite capable of driving the Rover to the garage and backing it to be prepared for its next trip. I got out and helped the girls out of the rover. We walked thru into the embarkation room from the garage.

"Doris, Close the garage and Embarkation room doors."

"Compliance!"

"Doris, restore atmosphere to normal in embarkation room and alert when safe."

The girls were so good and patient while we waited for Doris to tell us that the atmosphere was safe. Finally Doris responded again. "Admiral, atmosphere nominal"

I helped the girls off with their helmets and together we managed to get out of our space suits. I guessed that all the activity had the girls ready for another nap. With a little encouragement, I managed to get the twins tucked into my bed. I myself had things to do. I needed to find out when my hubby and my daughter would be arriving. I closed the bedroom door after seeing both girls fast asleep.

"Doris, Update on ETA for my husband.'

"Mars Shuttle ETA in 2 hours. Your husband is confirmed to be aboard the shuttle."

"Thank you, Doris ETA for my daughter to come pick up the children?"

"Your Daughter's ETA in 2.5 hours."

"Thank you, Doris."

I had things that I wanted to do to prepare for both of their arrivals. I wish that they had been able to spend more time with their Gramps but I knew that he had demands on his time just as I had just because of his accomplishments and I had accepted that. I would wake the twins in time for me to tell them the last part of my story and for them to visit with their Gramps before their Momma arrived to end their visit.

Chapter Ten ~ Graduation

"Linda and Julia! Time to get up!"

"Alright Granny!" They responded. The girls went to the bathroom and washed their faces and changed their clothes. I put their soiled clothes thru the laundry. I packed their bags and gave them to Doris to care for till they needed them.

Now that the girls were ready to leave with their mother, I led them to the sitting room and the girls sat down opposite me.

"Are you girls ready to hear the rest of the story?"

"Yes Granny, I want to find out if Josh and Rose can find a way to live in the same city. Pretty, please!" asked Linda.

"Granny, I want to hear the rest of the story. Pretty, please!"

"As you wish, girls. Here is the rest of the story!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amazingly enough all four of us girls woke about the same time. Gigi still had to use the shower in Gloria's quarters even though she was now totally female. It was thought that for one day, it would take too much time to brief everyone on Gigi's status. We got ready for the day and packed our bags. A tram was waiting outside our quarters for our bags which had routing tags which would tell the bag sorters where they needed to go to match up with our transportation home.

Gloria greeted us and checked to make sure our bunks were left in good shape and that we were not leaving anything behind. Gloria sent us on ahead to breakfast with the rest of the Space Campers while she followed her checklist along with the others to secure the Girls' Dorm.

As Amanda, Gigi, Jinx and I made our way to the Cafeteria, we were joined by Josh and Mark. Both Amanda and I went over to our men and greeted them with a delicious kiss. I guess Gigi and Jinx, felt a little left out. We both left hand in hand with our guys as the six of us turned toward the Cafeteria.

However from the direction of the classrooms and labs, a robot rolled up toward us. When it got closer we saw that it was the spitting image of the robot from the movie, Space Camp. He came toward us and upon seeing 'Jinx' shouted out. "Yo Cara!"

"Yo Jinx!" said our 'Jinx'. We all gathered around both of our Jinxes. I picked up on what the robot had called her and asked the question which was on everyone's mind.

"Cara, Is this how you received your other nickname?"

"Yes, Rose and thanks for picking up on calling me Cara. I'd like for all of you to do that now. It will be a little less confusing with Jinx around.'

Around the group came responses agreeing with our Carolyn "Jinx" McAdams' request to be called Cara,

"Thanks everyone. I got my original nickname because shortly after I discovered the movie "Space Camp" I decided to do a replica of Jinx to demonstrate robotics. Originally the robot Jinx was a remote controlled device which was interfaced to a laptop. When I won for Jinx at a science fair, I received the nickname 'Jinx' and it stuck. I brought Jinx to Space Camp for my robotics project. With the new power of computer chips, I had designed a brain for Jinx and I was trying my hand at some software so that Jinx could have a measure of independent operation. However when we were in the twenty second century and saw what could really be done with artificial intelligence, I could not resist."

"Cara, what did you do?"

"Well I took a generic AI program without a personality yet with me. And you know you have to have the right hardware to run software. I sort of borrowed a positronic brain to run the AI program. I designed an interface between the brain and the rest of Jinx which wrapped around the brain. Once I installed it, I input the movie Space Camp to Jinx to see if that would set the personality and left Jinx alone to think about it with a command to come meet me for breakfast."

"Wow, Cara, Jinx is so awesome!" I could not resist so I called out, "Yo Jinx! Shake a leg!"

"To expect a robot to shake a leg is not logical." I heard Jinx respond in a voice like Spock's as Jinx did the equivalent of raising an eyebrow. The boys laughed and most of the girls giggled.

"Did I forget to add that there were a few more DVD's that I fed Jinx, including the entire Trek movie series?” Yo Jinx! Limit responses to emulate Jinx from the movie "Space Camp" Override to only feign literal responses and reject them. Under no circumstances are you to interface to the NASA computer or any other computer without my direct command.”

"Yo Cara. Jinx will comply."

"Does this Jinx also have an enhanced capabilities mode like the Jinx in the movie?"

"Yo Jinx, establish communications interface."

Just like in the movie the collar portion of Jinx' sphere elevated revealing the light drive inside which lifted Jinx's head to be another 2 feet taller. I was in awe even more than the effects in the movie since this was real. I had a feeling of unspeakable joy welling up inside me. And most amazing of all I heard Jinx's voice as if it were a thought in my head. "Yo Rose!" I had a big grin on my face as I stood there entranced. I must have missed Cara's command to Jinx to end the interface but I saw the process reverse and soon Jinx was normal.

"Did everyone hear Jinx talk to them in their mind?" I asked amazed.

There was general agreement that I was the only one who heard Jinx in my thoughts.

"Sorry, Rose. I was just demonstrating the light show. I had no idea that the communications interface really worked. Are you alright?"

"I'm better than okay, Cara. Please don't worry. I have only felt more joy from only one source. It was wonderful."

"I'm glad, Rose. It might be better if I sent Jinx back to the lab for now. Yo Jinx! Please return to the lab and once there maintain demonstration parameters."

"Yo Cara! I will comply." As I saw Jinx return in the direction of the labs, I reflected on the thought that I received. Somehow there was another aspect to Jinx that reminded me of someone else. I felt that eventually my subconscious would work it out and let me in on it.

We had paused long enough meeting Jinx that Gloria and Greg caught up with us. We welcomed them and together went toward the Cafeteria. We informed them of Cara's new handle and they both wanted to visit the Lab after breakfast to see Jinx. It seemed that Gigi and I were not the only ones to receive gifts from the twenty second century. I now knew that Cara had a gift as well. . It was obvious that what ever we received from the future were gifts that we were permitted to keep by NASA on direction from the President. I only hoped that we would show the wisdom to use those gifts well.

Each of the groups had their own table for breakfast. Instead of having to go thru the line Gloria and Greg brought our trays to the table and served us. We missed Pam but we all hoped that she would be able to see us off at Graduation. There was light conversation over breakfast. We knew more than to discuss our mission to the Pathfinder in public. With that off the table to talk about, Amanda and I talked about our relationships and we asked both Gigi and Cara. "What kind of boy would interest you?" and "Has any of the guys at space camp caught your eye?" There was a bit of good natured teasing directed at each of us which was accepted in the manner that it was given.

As the meal came to a close, we knew that our moments together were limited. I got up and raised my glass of orange juice and began a toast, "For Red 18, to the journey!" Every one lifted their orange juice and repeated, "To the journey!" We returned our trays to the kitchen and as a group went over to view the projects on display in the lab.

Amanda led us to her project. It had a great deal of technical data behind it but it essentially was a helmet with biomedical sensors inside that was connected to a computer which on its screen displayed whether the wearer was 'male' or 'female'. There was also a wig stand that the helmet rested on when it was not on anyone's head. While it was not on anyone's head it displayed 'neither'

There was a large group around Cara's project which was Jinx, of course. Having already seen Jinx being put thru his paces, the group moved on.

Gigi's project involved the mathematics and geometry of space folding. Her demonstration project was like the way that Gigi explained to us how the Tesseract worked. She did not add the enhancements which actually made things practical. The main value of her project was to show that space folding was something that could be accomplished for space travel across great distances which would not involve either finding natural wormholes which may not go where one wishes to go or faster than light drives which would require the discovery of a whole new branch of physics which applied in an area which was called impossible by our existing knowledge of physics.

Gigi's project as it was seemed very impressive to us even without our personal knowledge that it worked. The main scientific accomplishment was that she derived an equation which described the process. She also used the definition of a Tesseract to show thru geometry how such a thing was possible. It was amazing to learn that a generalization of the cube to dimensions greater than three is called a “hypercube”, “n-cube” or “measure polytope”. The Tesseract is the four-dimensional hypercube or 4-cube.

After we had our mind boggled by Gigi's project, Josh led us to his concept of a Mars Mission. Using the capabilities of the Aries V launcher, He demonstrated how five launches could bring up all the components of the Mars spacecraft which would be docked together. He demonstrated trajectories using an Ion drive which would extend the capabilities of the craft to not have to rely on an optimum configuration of Earth Moon and Mars to work. The six modules would consist of a mars habitat landing module, a manned mars descent and ascent module, an ion drive module, an ecosphere module, and a logistics module. Together with the crew exploration vehicle all of the modules would be required for the long journey to Mars and a safe return.

My project was my concept of a Moon Base and how it could be assembled given the capabilities of the Altair Lander. My addition to what had already been announced by NASA was the addition of unmanned Cargo Landers which would provide the bulk of the material needed for construction since they could be totally cargo since no space would be required for crew or for a lunar liftoff.

Finally we came to Mark's project. Mark had amassed a lot of documentation concerning a force field emitter and how it was possible to emit one which was not simply a magnetic bottle. Looking at the numbers for the power required, I knew that the emitter was drawing way more power than the single household AC outlet could provide. I discovered that camouflaged as a part of the board that the experiment was mounted on was a power supply that had been borrowed from the Pathfinder. Looking at the other projects in Electrical, his most certainly stood out.

We all agreed after looking over the exhibits that there were a lot of wonderful project. Still we held out hope that our projects might prove worth of recognition at Graduation. We had a little time before we were due to meet up so that we could get in place for graduation. We paired up and went our separate ways, Greg with Gloria, Mark with Amanda, Gigi with Cara.

It was obvious what the rest of us were about, young love but the pair we were introduced to as Jinx and Max started out as seeming like another couple but it was clear that they had started what promised to be a life long friendship. It was obvious that they needed to make plans to stay in touch. Unlike Greg with Gloria and Mark with Amanda, they too like Josh and I was going home to different cities. .Charlotte is a little closer to Atlanta than it is to Warm Springs but not by a whole lot. Of course they had it a little better than Josh and I in that, Gigi would not need a plane to go visit Cara since Atlanta was within her new range now that she knew better how to tesser.

Josh and I got settled in a quiet spot. We were fortunate in that there were many couples looking for quiet spots all over Space Camp. We decided that we ought to check in with our parents. While Josh was on the phone with his parents, I called mine.

"Hi Daddy."

"Hi Sweetie. I hear that you did a lot of good with your birth father with that visit you made to him.''

"I'm glad Daddy. What he meant for bad became good for me. The only thing that hurts right now is that I'm about to be separated from my boyfriend when we go home. I am glad to be going home and get on with my life."

"Honey, your birth father is being treated for his challenge and that's under control, Your forgiveness has helped your birth father heal and he no longer will be married to your sister / mother so the threat that we were worried about no longer exists and together you and Josh made that happen. The other thing that we were worried about was your ability to fit in with the other girls but you've been a girl for years now so that is no longer a concern."

"Daddy, are you saying what I think you are saying?" I could scarce contain my excitement.

"I'm going to see if Miriam and Violet can take custody of you. Miriam is already a guardian and I can arrange to grant guardianship to Violet. All the names will have changed but perhaps we can get things back to something that you can be comfortable. I love you, Rose."

"I love you too, Daddy. If you can pull this off, I'll promise to come visit you and Momma as often as I can."

"Sweetheart, meet us after the Graduation and I'll have your return flight ticket. Keep your fingers crossed. Bye Rose."

"Bye Daddy"

I was on cloud nine. Josh had finished his call and was waiting for me. I jumped into his arms and Josh held me close."

"I love you, I love you, I love you, Josh!"

"Rose I love you too! What's all this?"

"I'm just happy! Daddy told me that we did so much good with my birth father with our visit that he no longer is a threat to me. Having grown up as a girl now, I don't have to worry about fitting in now. There is no reason for me to live away from Charlotte now. With two of my mothers having a home there, if they will take me in, then I can live in Charlotte. Daddy is going to try to set it up and he will let me know after Graduation."

"That's wonderful news, Rose. Even though all the names and relationships have been scrambled, your life will get to be close to what it was before everything happened. You'll be close enough to visit your birth father and encourage his recovery even more. I've got my fingers crossed."

"Mine too. Could we go ahead over to the Graduation? Maybe if we are available before hand we might get the good news sooner."

"I'm with you sweetheart!" Josh held me tight low around my waist and I held onto him too as we walked to the amphitheatre where the Graduation was to occur.

The amphitheatre was deserted except for a couple who was embracing and locked in a very passionate kiss. As we got closer we could see that they were 2 girls but it wasn't till they came up for air and broke their embrace that we found out it was Gigi and Cara. I was so glad for them both to have found love.

"Hi Gigi and Cara. How are you two doing?"

"Hi Rose and Josh. We are doing fine. Listen, Cara and I are not ready to come out to our parents yet. Can we rely on your keeping this quiet?"

"Of course you two. We can add this to the pile of secrets we share easily. We are happy that you both are happy. It looks like things were a complete success for all of us finding love. So spill you two." I requested.

Cara started, "Well in the beginning, it was really confusing for me. I already knew I am a lesbian, so I really wondered why I was attracted to Max. I went with it since we seemed to get along well together and one can't have enough friends."

"For me, Cara was really attractive to me way deep inside. Even before I realized that Cara was a lesbian, I felt that I could not have a real relationship until I could be my true self on the outside. I felt that it we were meant to be friends, after all at Space Camp in the movie, Jinx and Max are friends forever!" Gigi explained

"When we both opened up to each other things made sense. Max admitted to me that she really was Gigi inside. I admitted to her that I was really a lesbian. Somehow I picked you out Rose as someone who would understand. I am forever grateful for what you and your father have done for Gigi.'

"Even after my unveiling at Space Camp after my makeover, Cara and I remained just friends even though we both felt something more. Cara felt that beginning transition was enough of a challenge for me to add on a relationship. With everything that went on, she was right."

"However, after the miracle happened to make Gigi whole, we both decided that transition was over and her inexperience with living outwardly as a young woman was something a normal girl could go thru if she was to go from being a tomboy all her life to embracing her femininity when she went thru puberty."

"So Cara and I have begun our relationship in earnest. With the AI in Jinx functioning as a target, I can hit the bull's-eye when I fold space to visit with her. I feel for you two in that respect, going home to different states without the benefit of folding space like I can do.'

"My daddy may arrange for me to live away from home in Charlotte if my birth mother and sister agree to both be my guardians and let me stay with them. My brother in law that I was afraid of no longer seems to be a problem and he's out of my sister's life for good."

"We'll keep our fingers crossed for you two, Josh and Rose. I hope you have the happiness you both deserve."

"Thanks you two!"

The amphitheatre started filling up and we could see Mark and Amanda coming in so we waved them over. I could not help but smile when I thought of how Amanda actually had successfully played cupid not only for herself and Mark but for Josh and I and Cara and Gigi as well. Gloria and Greg found us and led us over to the reserved seating for the Space Campers and had us sit in the designated area for Red 18. Parents filed in to the amphitheatre and started filling up the seats. As we saw our families come in, we would stand up and wave at them before being asked to take our seats again.

The VIP's including all of the Astronaut-Mentors took the stage and sat down. Among them were the Camp Director, the NASA Administrator and our very own Pam Melroy, the Mission Commander of STS-120. I knew that we had already gotten our top secret award for our outer space field trip, but I hoped that we would be awarded for our other accomplishments as well. At the very least we would get a certificate of completion of Space Camp and I was going to be very proud of that.

The Camp Director got up first and introduced the NASA Administrator, who gave a very inspirational speech about the challenges that NASA planned on meeting in the Constellation program and the very real possibility that from us might come the astronauts who would pioneer a base on the moon and be the first humans to walk on Mars. He challenged us that within our lifetimes we may even travel to the stars using means that seemed only science fiction to us now.

Of course he had the advantage of knowing that a future existed that NASA would indeed go to the stars. I knew without the vision being put forward to the young people of the planet, that future might not come true and for us it was vital that it did.

After the stirring speech we were called up by groups and the Camp Director called each of our names while the NASA Administrator handed out the certificates. All the certificates were handed out and we all returned to our seats. Things continued by handing out individual achievement awards. We saw some very excited space campers come up and receive their awards after the category of achievement was introduced.

We became excited when the lab project recognitions were called. The Camp Director announced, ”In the Robotics category, we recognize Carolyn 'Cara' McAdams. Cara was thrilled and she almost ran to the stage to receive her award. We all congratulated her upon her return.

The same sequence was repeated with each of us for our lab projects.

"In the Medical category, we recognize, Amanda Carter"

"In the Mars Exploration category, we recognize, Josh Garner."

"In the Physics category, we recognize, Gigi Chase."

"In the Electronics category, we recognize, Mark Goddard."

"In the Lunar Exploration category, we recognize Rose Abbott."

We were each proud to have all of us to win in our category. There were a number of other categories and well deserving space campers were recognized. We all waited to find out who would win the overall category. As I caught sight of some one familiar waiting in the wings, I had a good idea who was going to be chosen.

The Camp Director resumed, "And now we have the overall category winner. Ever since the movie "Space Camp" came out I get the question from campers, parents and investors if they can see Jinx, the robot from the movie as though he were real. I have had to disappoint them when I tell them that the robot from the movie, was only a special effect operated by a team of special effects people, a mere puppet. But now Space Camp temporarily has the real article which is the property of one of our graduates who made ' bringing Jinx to life' her project. This Jinx robot is voice controlled just like in the movie and does not require someone to operate it remotely."

A sphere was taken from off stage and placed on stage.

"Yo Jinx!" The sphere sprouted three legs which lifted the sphere up off the ground and a head deployed above the spherical body. It was clear that it was none other than Jinx from the Space Camp movie. Jinx rolled up and stopped beside the Camp Director.

"Yo Space Camp Director!" That brought a laugh thru the audience.

"Jinx, how can you help NASA?" asked the NASA administrator

"NASA Administrator, I can tell you that my maker was Cara McAdams"

"Thank you Jinx. Cara Mc Adams, please come up and take your award."

Cara was still blushing as she walked to the stage. She had a chance to compose herself because as soon as she saw Jinx she knew that she had won. Cara received her award from the NASA administrator. She came across to Jinx who greeted her, "Yo Cara!"

Jinx deployed the light drive with the same sound effects as in the movie to shouts of "Oooh" "Ahhh" "Pretty!" and then Jinx returned back to normal

"Yo Jinx! Return off stage and wait for me."

"I will comply, Cara. Cara and Jinx, Friends forever!" Cara watched as Jinx did as she asked and then she herself left the stage to a standing ovation from the entire auditorium.

Finally the time had come for the team awards. We watched as one by one the team awards were given out after being described by one of the Astronaut -Mentors including the one for the best overall team.

It appeared that the awards were over and that they were about to dismiss us. However someone from off stage came and whispered something in the Space Camp Director's ear.

"I'm told that we missed one of the team awards which is new beginning this session. STS 120 Mission Commander, Pam Melroy will come forward to describe this team award."

Pam took the mike and began. "Thank you Mr. Director. All of you have experienced the training in the Shuttle Simulators. By exposing our crews to simulated emergencies, they learn to work together as a team to solve the challenge for the mission to proceed. We have one challenge that is a test of character. Space flight is experimental and sometimes bad things happen yet we have the courage to continue on even if some of our fellow astronauts fall. The No-Win challenge has been known as the Kobayashi Maru after the cadet test in Star Trek II. One team was able to do the same thing Cadet Kirk did in the movie and beat the No-Win challenge. We won't tell you how they solved it, except to say that their solution was 'unique.' having never been tried before. And now we call to the stage Team Red 18 to receive the Kobayashi Maru Challenge Team Award"

All of us filed up orderly and took the stage. Josh received the team award from the NASA administrator as there was a shout of "Woo Hoo" from our team. Pam, the Director and the Administrator shook each of our hands and we filed back off the stage with pride.

"This concludes this Graduation Assembly. Thank you each space camper and each parent for your participation during this Space Camp session. We are proud of each and every one of you and we hope you will consider coming back for another program sometime in the near future. I wish each of you good journey as you follow your dreams which will lead us to the stars. You are dismissed!"

There came hoots and hollering from the Space Campers as the Graduation concluded. Josh grabbed my hand and led me thru the crowd as we both searched for my parents. Finally we both saw Momma waving to us and Josh made a way for us over to them. Daddy had a twinkle in his eye so I knew that it was good news.

"I have your ticket and boarding pass for you, Rose. You will be traveling to your new home in Charlotte along with Miriam, Violet and Daisy. The seating computer was acting a bit strange and somehow it seated you and Josh together with Gigi. I hope you all can cope."

I gave Daddy a great big hug and kiss. "Thank you Daddy for everything. Somehow we will manage. Woo Hoo!"

Josh shook Daddy's hand and told him. "Thank you Mr. Abbott. You've made both of us very happy."

"Josh and Rose, you met the challenges together yourselves. Without what you both did, my little contribution would not be possible. If you both show the same determination to overcome the challenges that you will find in your life, you can do things thought impossible if you do it together."

"We will Daddy! Josh, I am glad we said our goodbyes before this ended. Everyone is already going their separate ways."

"I'm planning on holding an Abbott family gathering soon. You'll have a chance to visit with everyone in calmer circumstances. Josh I'm looking forward to extending our hospitality to you and your parents as well."

"I will be glad to extend your invitation to my parents and look forward to hearing the details later."

"Sweetie, I am going to miss you. I had my heart set on having you with me for the summer. I am so proud of you and the young woman you have become. You do us proud! When you come back to visit, I want to be sure and tell you about the rest of the legend about the person who was destined to receive the gift you received."

"Momma, are you sure this is something that will keep?"

"Yes, Sweetie. Please be sure to ask me about it the next time I see you."

"I will be sure to do that, Momma. I love you both! See you soon!" I gave Momma a big hug and kiss. I wondered what the rest of the story might be but for now I would have to wait.

"Good bye, Mr. and Mrs. Abbot. Safe journey home! Rose, it’s time to go!"

We turned from them towards the area where the shuttle bus designated for Space Campers was parked designated for the plane to Charlotte. Waiting for us was Miriam, Violet, and Daisy in front of the bus. We gathered into a group hug. I was so happy that I was going to be part of their family!

"Momma Miriam and Momma Violet, thank you so much for letting me live with you and acting as my parents. It’s so good to be coming home to Charlotte."

Momma Miriam gave me a hug, "I am glad for you to be my daughter again, Candy girl. I will be around as much as I can. I don't want to miss any more time with you. When I am gone I know that you will be in good hands with Violet."

Momma Violet gave me a hug, "I too am glad for you to be my daughter, Rosy. I'm going to be around most of the time and all of the time when Miriam has to be out of town. We'll have such fun."

Daisy gave me a hug, "I'm glad you are going to be my sister / auntie, Rose. I've missed you and I am so glad you will be living with us again."

"Momma Miriam and Momma Violet this is my boyfriend, Josh Garner. I hope to be seeing him a lot when we are home."

"Josh, these are my guardians, Miriam Caldwell and Violet Abbott"

"I'm very glad to meet you both as Rose's guardians.'

"Josh, we are very glad that you are Rose's boyfriend and you are always welcome in our home"

"Thank you Ma'am. Daisy I'm glad to see you again and I look forward to seeing more of you."

"I'm glad to see you too, Josh. I'm glad that things are getting kindly back to normal again."

"You two had better board the bus. We'll see you on the plane"

"Bye for now!" "Bye bye!" "Good bye!" "See you soon!"

Josh and I got on the bus and waved to Miriam, Violet, and Daisy as they turned away to go to their own ride to the airport.. We spotted Gigi once my family was out of sight and we moved over to be with her.

"Congratulations Rose! I am so glad that both you and Josh are going to get to be together.

"I'm glad too, Gigi. Today has turned out to be perfect."

"Gigi, I'm sorry that things could not work out for you and Cara to be together too."

"It will be good practice if our college choices turn out to stay the same. However I'm hoping that both of us become comfortable enough to tell our parents. It would be nice for both of us to be going to MIT together. It will work out. I can visit her in person anytime I want to go, instantly. Even if we were living in the same city we would not be with each other all of the time."

"That does make a difference. I'm glad that you'll be around. You are so amazing that I look forward to seeing how things go for you, Gigi."

"That goes for me too. Rose. Somehow things get interesting around you. You seem to hold everyone together and your attitude seems to bring out the best in people. Somehow, I would be very surprised if being a Mission Commander was not in your future. Josh you will be one too for sure since you have what it takes too."

"Do you think we will be able to do what we are destined to do, Gigi? For us to make it possible for the Starship Pathfinder to exist?"

"We will do it, Rose. Not because of our perceived prophesy but because we both are explorers who push the limits for ourselves as well as for what is perceived as possible. We proved that by us agreeing to launch forth into the unknown testing the limits of what is possible in the Kobayashi Maru. And it won't be us alone. Together with our other friends, Cara, Josh, Amanda and Mark, we will continue to stretch the boundary into things thought impossible."

"I agree that we all have caught the vision of making the Starship Pathfinder a reality. We each will have a part in what it takes to make it go. And the best part about it is that it will be a labor of love.”

“I guess that will make the Starship Pathfinder, ‘The Love Boat.’ “ said Josh and ducking as a couple of travel pillows narrowly missed his head amid the giggles coming from Gigi and I.

We all made it to our destinations and homes. And Rose and Josh lived happily ever after.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is the end of the story of "Pretty, Please!" girls. I hope you enjoyed it!"

The girls cheered so loudly that I almost did not hear Doris when she spoke. "Approved Entry, Admiral"

"Thank you, Doris. That should be your Gramps, girls. Why don't you go greet him with a hug?"

The twins got up and met my hubby in the entryway. They both gave him their hugs then he scooped them both up one in each arm and carried them back to the seating area.

"Josh, Darling, I am so glad you are home! If only I could tesser like Gigi, Mars would not seem so far away." Josh scooped me up in his arms and gave me a long passionate kiss. Josh's kisses still thrilled me from head to toe, just like the very first one.

Linda asked with a puzzled look, "Gramps is Josh?"

Josh smiled and said, "Yes, dear granddaughter, My name is Josh Garner. Sweetheart, have you been telling the girls the story of how we met and fell in love?"

"Well I had to dearest. They asked for it by name."

"Yes, Gramps, we asked for a story, "Pretty, Please!"" explained Julia.

"Well that is the story, girls. What did you think of it?"

"Gramps, its a wonderful story. It wasn't until Granny called you 'Josh' that we realized that you were in the story too."

"Yes, Gramps and we hope that we turn out to be the Linda and Julia in the story too when we grow up."

"Linda and Julia, If you really believe in yourself and have love then nothing is impossible, Your Granny and I have proved that over and over again as the years roll by. I have faith in you girls."

"Thank you, Gramps! Granny tells such a good story and we were able to do fun things in between."

"What have you been doing, Girls?"

"We went out in Granny's moon buggy and saw the place where she was the first woman on the moon."

"Yeah and she taught us how to cook for real and we exercised in moon gravity, even naptime was fun with Granny."

"You girls are right. Naptime is fun with your Granny!" Josh smiled a wry smile and I knew what was on his mind. Truth be told it was on my mind too but it would keep till the girls were picked up by their Mother.

"Excuse me, Admiral. Your daughter is approaching the door."

"Thank you, Doris. Please admit her."

"Compliance!"

"Girls, your mommy is here. Why don't you greet her?"

"Mommy's here!" The girls each said excitedly and went to the entryway to greet her.

Their Momma scooped up each one and gave her a hug and kiss and then each took one of her hands and the three of them walked to the seating area.

Rose's daughter greeted both her mother and father with a hug and a kiss.

"How was your trip, sweetie?"

"Mother, it was okay. Sometimes I wish that I could snap my fingers and go instantly from place to place. Daddy how was your trip back from Mars?"

"The Impulse drives are getting better and better. It's not such a chore these days compared to the six months it took on my first trip to Mars."

"Gramps, were you really the first man to set foot on Mars?"

"Yes, Linda. I was the mission commander and that honor has traditionally gone to the commander. There were a total of four people who went with me on that first trip and all of them were heroes and heroines."

"That is so nice that both you and Granny were the first at something, Gramps" complimented Julia

"What have you girls been doing with your Granny?"

"Momma, Granny told us a wonderful story called "Pretty, Please!" It was all about Granny and Gramps and how they met and fell in love."

"Oh Mother! Why did you have to tell the girls that fairy tale? Filling their heads with that nonsense! Magic and people from the future who could do things so amazing that it seems like magic?'

"Encouraging a girl to go after her dreams is not nonsense, Sweetie. Neither is teaching a girl the value of having love in her life."

"Mother, everyone can't rely on everything working together for good and eventually living happily ever after."

"You and your husband have lived happily ever after, haven't you?"

"Yes, Momma. You have me there. I guess aspiring to live happily ever after is a good thing. If you don't try then how in the world would you ever be able to get there?"

"That's my girl! Linda and Julia, come give your Granny and Gramps a hug. Your Mommy will have to hurry if you all are going to make your connecting flight."

"Doris, is the girl's bags ready?"

"Admiral, they are in the entryway."

"Thank you, Doris"

Linda gave me a hug while Julia gave Josh a hug then we switched. Both Josh and I hugged our daughter. We said our goodbyes and the girls had each grabbed one of their mother's hands while the robot luggage cart followed them with all of their bags.

Just before they could get thru the door, Julia turned loose of her mother's hand and came back and gave me one last hug.

"Granny, the next time that we come to visit will you tell us another story about Rose, Pretty, Please!" And Linda echoed, "Granny, Pretty, please?"

"As you wish, my grand daughters, as you wish."

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An Entertaining Read...

Submitted by Eric on Fri, 2009/10/30 - 7:03am.

Sort of a muddled concept, combining magical romance (the original transformation), science fantasy (L'Engle's tesseract) and future science that invoked Clarke's Law. Kind of strains the whole suspension of disbelief principle. (I thought it was the other story that required you to believe three impossible things before breakfast.) Then again, the final scene, where Rose's daughter suggests that the whole thing's merely a fairy tale, does take it off the hook.

A fun read, anyway. Thanks for posting.

Eric

Pretty Please

Submitted by Sasha on Thu, 2012/02/02 - 9:12am.

Hi Eric,
I agree that some of the story telling is convoluted as I make things complicated by employing reality shifts that need not happen if the story was better crafted. Some of the things inside this story are hooks for the other stories in this universe but the novels have not been written yet. For this reason the revised version of PP:SC may be something I podcast in hopes of gaining a following for all the planned novels that could follow.
All my hopes,
Ariel Montine

Pretty Please

Submitted by Becky on Tue, 2011/09/13 - 6:54pm.

I love this story. There were some surprises. Have you though of doing a story on the other story about Candy's life? I would be neat. I have read some of your other stories and ejoyed them, also.
Keep up the wonderful stories.
Thank you!

You are my Candy girl

Submitted by Sasha on Thu, 2012/02/02 - 9:23am.

Hi Becky,
The story about Candy is one of the Novels that I have planned that come from Pretty Please. So many stories, so little writing time now that I have a full time job. I'll get to it eventually and when I do, I hope it is everything that you hope that it will be.

All my hopes,
Sasha

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Pretty Please ~ Space Camp

Pretty, Please! ~ Space Camp

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An Entertaining Read...

Pretty Please

Pretty Please

You are my Candy girl

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