Two weeks passed , and it was the day that the prefab would be delivered into Earth’s orbit .
In those two weeks , the colony’s council suggested different things to make live in the colony easier .
According to them , the colony didn’t need so much space for the cultivation of plants and flowers , and half of the space could be converted into a pool since plant growth could be accelerated .
They also asked for bicycles to be transported to the colony for easier movement across it .
At this , Da’grass mentioned to Alex that transport could be handled by the colony’s AI and that vehicles were accessible in the mall .
So Alex bought the blueprints for autonomous vehicles to be used as taxis in the colony and started production while ordering a batch of bicycles to accommodate the colonists .
Da’grass assured Alex that even though there were no traffic lights , there would be only be a minimal chance of accidents due the fast response time of the colony’s AI .
While Alex was watching the news on the island with Helena , he got a message from John saying that the arrival of the prefab had reignited the discussion about the colony among different nations across the globe .
There were claims that the colony used resources that rightfully belonged to Earth’s inhabitants and that no country may lay claim on those recourses .
Others viewed it as the transgression of a conglomerate claiming Mars for itself , while others were worried for Earth’s fragile stability and demanded that the colony place itself under supervision of the UN .
Since John was living on Mars , he took it upon himself to defend Alex’s faction , but he needed Alex’s stance on different subjects , and it wasn’t sure if Alex could stay out of the spotlights .
John assured Alex that as long as he stayed neutral in Earth’s politics and provided benefits for Earth , he could ensure the continuation of the colony .
However , it would be a hard fight since everyone wanted a slice of the pie .
According to John , different countries had started collecting credits from their citizens to buy their own starship blueprints , so in the near future , Alex wouldn’t be the only one capable of interstellar travel .
Alex could only ride the waves as they came and hope that John and his team could solve this mess .
He felt powerless , but Helena assured him that things wouldn’t go awry since he could provide many benefits to humanity and already had done so .
“Worst case scenario , we colonize another planet” joked Helena .
“That’s not funny , Helena .
We just built this colony and other infrastructure is in progress” replied Alex .
“If those officials have half a brain , they’ll see the benefits you bring , so don’t worry , sweetie” answered Helena .
As the reporter on tv mentioned the arrival of the Galaxy Cargo starships Alex and Helena followed the news and went quiet .
Another two weeks passed , and the first taxis were already transporting people across the colony while the bicycles had arrived and being sold in different shops .
The last colonists for the time being had arrived and were undergoing treatment while John was negotiating with the UN about the colony’s future .
The luxury transport ships were still being built , so Alex had to send the converted colony builder to pick up the scientists .
A few of them didn’t pass the background check and weren’t allowed to join the rest of the colony , but those were a minority , and almost 4000 scientists would be joining the colony in search for knowledge .
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
For the convenience of the scientists , the ship would land at different locations around the globe to pick them up .
This would enlarge the timeframe before the ship could return to Mars , but it would be faster than a plane circling the globe .
Since they wanted to bring different kinds of equipment with them , this solution was deemed the best choice .
“This hover taxi is quite handy” exclaimed Helena .
“you just need to tell it were to go or point at it on the holographic map and it takes you there”.
“No front seats though ; you couldn’t drive them yourself even if you wanted to” protested Sam .
“Yeah , but there’s room for six and we can talk to each other” replied Alex .
Besides , I wouldn’t feel comfortable people driving themselves inside the colony.
“The bicycles are popular too” said Helena , looking through the window .
“Just why did you want me to come also?” asked Sam .
“It’s just people arriving by ship” .
“We don’t see you much anymore , and these are 4000 scientists arriving by a genuine spaceship” laughed Helena .
Or are you already to the point where you find this mundane ?
“Fair point , sis . It’s just that I don’t see Cynthia as much as I would like ; she’s always busy with work” said Sam .
“How is her work progressing now that you mention it ?” asked Alex .
She’s putting a lot of work in the documentary , trying to capture it as best as possible for future generations .
She’s using interactive alien software .
There is one main story , but if you want to know more about a topic , it branches like a tree if you ask for more information .
The main story is the development of humans from cave dwellers to integration with the Nexus , but if you want to know more of the domestication of the wolf to dog or architectural knowledge of the Victorian era , you can ask .
She’s constantly adding more and more information .
I’m afraid she’s bitten of more than she can chew .
“If I understand this right , it’s indeed a very large project .
Maybe she can update it periodically with information users are curious about , or I’m afraid she will never finish this project” suggested Alex .
And the movie ?
“Since everything we watch looks like a science fiction movie , she wanted to make a medieval movie .
But if I’m not mistaken , the main character is a time traveling engineer or something like that” replied Sam .
“Were already here , I can see the docks” said Helena .
“Like those novels we used to read ?” asked Alex .
“Yeah , like those novels” said Sam while he was exiting the taxi .
How long before they arrive ?
“According to Da’grass they’ll arrive within minutes” replied Alex .
How does making movies in the Nexus actually work ?
“Well according to Cynthia , she’s got access to her own VR space which she can transform into any setting she wants , and she has access to NPC’s who she can instruct to perform certain tasks , or she can use live actors” answered Sam .
Every scanned item can be rented at a cheap price but it may only be used to make movies , or you’ll be banned from using it ever again .
I don’t know the specifics , but that is how I understood what she was explaining.
“They are here” said Helena , and they watched the ship land .
When the doors opened , a stream of people exited and began unloading their equipment .
Surprised faces and curious looks were abundant .
Colonists were distributing bracelets and explaining how they worked while slowly there was a trickle people leaving for their designated apartments and workrooms .
The scientists quickly grasped the workings of the bracelet and let the colony’s AI guide them to their locations .
As a few of them passed Alex , Sam and Helena , they overheard them saying what a thrill it was to travel on a ship that could reach Mars in such a short time and that the colony looked like a sci-fi city .
Alex even heard a scientist murmuring if he should ask the colonists for better equipment , but he watched him shake his head as if it was a bad idea .
One of them looked at Alex and nodded his head at him in acknowledgment .
“We’d better take the taxi back before one of the scientists decides to claim it for himself” said Sam .
“Not a bad idea” agreed Helena , who was watching the eager eyes on their transportation vehicle .
“Within a few weeks , there will be enough taxi’s” said Alex .
“That might be , but a few weeks is not now” said Sam and he boarded the taxi.
Once inside the taxi , Alex asked Da’grass to accommodate the scientists in their requests as long as they weren’t too exorbitant and that he was permitted to make small purchases from the regular mall and use the industrial zone to meet the scientists’ demands .
He also told him to notify them of this through a message , which made Helena’s heart flutter .
The three of them might not have studied science or engineering in school but they were science fiction lovers and understood the importance of science , so she was happy that Alex was favoring the scientists .
Helena entered the destination in the taxi , which was a restaurant close to their apartments .
“I’m hungry enough to eat for three” she joked , at which Alex laid his hand on her belly .
They talked for a bit until they arrived at the restaurant , and Sam decided to join them for dinner .
They had a pleasant evening together , and for a moment it felt like they were in their old days before the Nexus , just the three of them .
Helena enjoyed every moment of it , and she wasn’t the only one .