I awoke the next morning with 3 kits asleep on me and 3 were playing with mittens. I layed there and enjoyed life for a few minutes before nature called.

I returned to the bedroom and saw Lisa asleep in my warm spot so I let her sleep and went to my office. I booted up my VR to meet with Sandy finding her sitting right there as I opened my eyes. "Well hello there I was just about to send you a message. Someone swiped one of the bots".

"Vickie, do you have its location?" She appeared "yes sir, it's in transit".

"Send me the bots ID and I will take it from here" she nodded. I felt a rush and then found myself handcuffed in the back of an SUV with military men. "Where are you taking me?" I asked. I guess my voice was alarming because the one beside me spun and put his back to the door. "May I ask where we are going" nothing but road noise "gentleman do we not have a final destination?"

"Fort Bragg" yelled the driver. "Thank you" I said and disconnected. "Let them get there then melt it down just before they go to move it".

I looked at Sandy "next" and I giggled.

She looked at me and shook her head. "You have a fix for everything". I smiled "not everything but I try. I do know now that the military isn't above stealing. They will get the same treatment until they realize it won't work. Just keep me up to date on how often it happens."

"Yes captain". That caught me off guard "you have your own starship".

"How many people refer to me like that". She giggled "most actually. They are chomping at the bit trying to get info on you". I laughed "soon enough. Have you found any good people yet". She nodded her head "there is a nurse and doctor I'm looking at. They are essentially homeless so I think they will jump at it". I smiled at that "I need to check in with Becky. Do you know where she is?"

"She is always on the floor helping and talking to people". I left the room and found her exactly where I was told. I caught up for a few min and asked about the captain title "it got used by a couple of news crews and it stuck, captain". She grinned "I guess it will stick then I will have to get used to it". She looked at me "people will form their own opinions but I think you will live up to the captain's moniker". I nodded and made sure she didn't need anything and made my exit.

I awoke to a lick and a coffee and scampering kits. Kim walked in at that moment looking for the kits for feeding and they never said no to that. "I was just waiting for him to finish," Lisa said to her mom. Kim looked at me and shook her head "what did I do". "Nothing your guilty by association, my daughters to cute to be guilty." She giggled then looked at her daughter "how do you know when he is going to be done".

Lisa shrugged. I feel like a little tug like a ribbon is tied to me". Kim got an evil smile "come on spill it" I let out. "She is feeling your aura and that's subconsciously, imagine what you can do with it when you're trained". I thought about it for a sec and realized I need to get training or I'm going to end up in some embarrassing situations. We sat and got a drink. I looked at Lisa "Do you see them or just feel them?"

She smiled "both I always feel a connection to you but out of the corner of my eye I see them". Kim smiled "there are writings of a holy man that was connected to his wives. That one you only have 3 kids'' she giggled. I looked back at Lisa "them? You mean you see more than one?" She nodded. "You have the same connection to the kits. I'm guessing that's how they know what holograms they can attack without interfering with your work". I shook my head and looked at Kim who was smiling "on my world men who dedicated their lives to producing aura ribbons can produce one maybe two a year that last for minutes. You have 7 ribbons going 24/7 and you're not even trying".

I just huffed "I will get a hang on them eventually". Vicky appeared and said "now works".

Well let me tell you 10 hours of training and that's your time, trust me time runs much slower in my mind. I had it all worked out and I could assign feelings to the ribbons and reach out to people. This seems deceiving to me so I'm not sure I like it.

I could see the ribbons now without even trying. Imagine a ribbon that flows from me to them hugging the floor. Watching the kits play is weird now, I keep waiting for the ribbons to tangle. I still haven't figured out why they have ribbons, I hope they don't mind as they get older.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

My head hurt and I was going to check in with Sandy but Vickey said it was ok she had it under control. They tried to take 3 more bots before they gave up. I went to the bedroom and saw all the ribbons and sighed and smiled. I lay beside Lisa and realized how connected we were and it felt like a warm blanket as I drifted off.

Well with the whole aura thing worked out, well for the most part anyway. What's next, am I going to get stingers or something, I chuckled to myself. "You won't get them for years" Vickey laughed in my ear and appeared. "You're rotten" I retorted and she just smiled. "But seriously is there anything else" she shook her head so I got in the shower.

By the time I got out Lisa was getting up so we went to see the kits. They were eating pizza of various types. Kim saw me "YOU" she looked at me with malice and walked up to me with a Utensil in hand. "Do you know how many types of pizza your species has? I had to get Vickey to check your history to find the right one. All I got from the kits is pizza". She said and huffed "oh and pineapple does belong on pizza" she giggled. I laughed through her rant that made her madder.

"Why didn't you just ask me ". "You were asleep and I think the kits were letting you sleep". I just shrugged and got a coffee and Lisa got a tea. She drinks this sweet tea so her licks were flavored. I kissed her and she smiled, I've been slipping them in more often.

I asked Vickie if there is anything I need to address. "No everything is running well. There was a group of military that tried to take over and Sandy walked all over them and used the bots to physically remove them from the ship". I smiled "wow I really lucked out with her"

"your right you did, she was a medic in Afghanistan and was even under fire a few times. You just went with your gut on her didn't you?"

"yup" was my only reply.

"Well what about today then" I asked the room. Everyone looked around not saying anything. It was the male who stood up and said in his little pixie voice "beach". I smiled "well that is decided, Vickey find us a beach". We all got ready, not that we needed much.

Arriving on the beach the kits bolted and were loving the sand. I headed for a dip and saw the kits trying as well finding a tide pool. I got back to the sand and went to a blanket and just relaxed.

"Sir you are needed on site" I hear in my ear so I get a lick and go to the RV. I opened my avatar's eyes and found 3 men in front of me waiting. The first one wanted to know about my power sources and are they safety. The second asked about the medbeds and their safety. The third just hung back.

"The power source is fusion based and is perfectly safe. The medbeds use nanobots to fix the body and have been in use for hundreds of years on many worlds". The third spoke "why are you hiding behind that robot?" I looked at him "I'm not hiding. I'm on the other side of the planet and this is my version of long distance. I will reveal myself when I'm ready and not before then. Are we done here?" I got nothing so I left to find Sandy.

She was in good spirits after just getting up from a nap. Things were going well and the 2 apartment buildings were done and they loved them. Some people preferred them to their old homes, that made me feel good. She has been shuffling as many people as possible through the beds. "Seems word got to the next towns hospital and they got in touch with me. They shipped their terminal and just about everyone else and we fixed them up" she smiled.

I looked at her "I have to say thank you. I gave you this task and you hit the ground running and haven't stopped. You have exceeded my expectations at every turn".

She smiled "I'm loving this to be honest with you, I love to organize and I fit right into this role". We both smiled "you definitely made it your own. Just promise me something, You will always take care of yourself and that goes for your crew as well" another smile "I know when to step back and make time and I will show others".

We walked around and most of the beds were in use and people were milling about. "How are kids around the bots?" she turned to me. "They seem to be fine, they walk right up to them and touch them to make sure they are real. Even the babies take to them they are a good design". My turn to smile "yea I have a good design crew. Is there anything else you need me for?" She shook her head "those shitheads were the bulk of it, I can handle their cronies".

"I heard" I laughed and she smiled "what is your eta on this site?" She squinted thinking "I'm thinking 36 hours" I just nodded and left.

I got my lick and coffee the instant the VR stopped. Lisa just smiled at me and went to the door of the RV. I came behind her and looked out seeing a kit tear by at top speed leaving flying sand in their wake. The others were doing the same at the water's edge playing a game they invented. I decided to eat something and before I knew it we were all inside eating and talking.

Now that they aren't moving the kits look tired. I asked if going home is an option, getting nodds all around. "Vickey, could you please take us home". We finished eating as we flew.

Back on the ship we went straight to the shower to desand.

The kits have taken to checking between their toes and around their ears.

"I feel guilty they are cooped up all the time". Kim started to laugh "they have more room than royalty on my planet, they will be fine". Everyone looked tired as I left for my shower and sand inspection. I got back and we settled on the sofa for the evening. We started watching programs and talking as the kits came to me one at a time and put their arms up. The adults were not far behind them so we called it a night.