When I woke I had Carla on top of my chest and my wives were on either side of me. That's when I realized I had 3 drools marks on me and I was happy. I slid out from under Carla and went to the washroom, returning Carla stole my spot so I figured I would get up so I got a big breakfast. The pancakes sausage and bacon helped to wake me up for the day ahead.
I was just finishing when Carla came out rubbing her eyes. "You hungry" I got a nod and a yawn. I got a second smaller breakfast for her and I changed hers to chocolate chip pancakes. She picked off a piece and tasted it so I showed her the fork and she figured it out. She dove in with all smiles and giggles.
"I'm glad you like it here". She smiled with full cheeks chewed and swallowed. "I love it here and I love everyone here. I went from worrying about starving to not thinking I could ever be this happy".
"Do you remember much". She nodded "just bits and pieces now, mother says they will fade and be gone". I smiled knowing that those are not memories for a child. She came to me with open arms and I welcomed the hug. She jumped into my lap and latched on to me "you are the first race that can love and feel that I've been exposed to. I love everything right now and I will be proud to be your daughter" I leaned down and kissed the top of her head "I will be proud to call you daughter". We held each other and shed a silent tear when I heard I sniffle over my shoulder. I looked up to see a crying Cora being held by a smiling Lisa.
I heard a voice "mom is watching isn't she". I giggled and nodded as she looked up at me. Lisa and Cora came to me Cora still crying "you have no idea how glad I am you accepted her". I smiled "like I had a choice".
"Are you ready for today, captain?" Lisa said. "I don't know if I will ever get used to that".
"Well you need to get used to it".
We went to the kits to find Sandy having breakfast with them. "I went to the wrong quarters and got pulled in," she chuckled. She came to me "Are you ready to save some kids?" I smiled "you bet your bippy I am". I looked around and I got a look from all the women.
"You're not allowed to talk to the public," Sandy laughed. "I thought captains are supposed to get respect?" They all laughed at me "you watch too much television" Sandy said.
"Vickey, do you have a contact at the hospital?"
"The man who reached out is a chief executive and I have his cell and work numbers." "Try his work first, we might catch him there". It went to voicemail "well try the cell". I could see Vicky talking and I could hear him as well. After confirming he was the one who sent the message she passed it off to me.
"Hello sir, would today be ok for one of my ships to come and pay you a visit". I heard the phone fumble, I think he dropped it "anytime you can captan. I will be waiting".
"Well no time like the present I will see you shortly" I ended the call and collected kisses then went to my office as Sandy went to the ship.
I booted up my VR and met Sandy and her crew onboard, we discussed the plans. Vicky flew and within minutes we could see the morning light of Miami come into view. There were a few cars that had to be moved but that wasn't an issue for the drones. We settled into place with all 4 legs occupying one space each. I took the lift and was put down right beside the emergency room entrance.
I entered to a few screams and lots of people taking pictures. I went to the counter and asked for my contact. The nurse put down the phone "he is on his way captain".
Everyone kept their distance except for one little girl who came to me with no fear. I bent down to her lever "are you here to help my brother?" I nodded "yes I am little one" she smiled a big smile". That's when mom showed up and apologized for her daughter "don't apologize she was just asking a question and she was very polite about it". I smiled at mom and she seemed to relax. The doctor I was waiting for showed up and introduced himself.
"Each bed has a bot nurse, they will come and collect the patient, you just need to tell them who is next". He smiled at that. I enquired about the brother and the doctor's face fell "it's terminal sir, he may be too far gone for even your equipment".
"That means he goes first, actually I will take him with me". I waited and saw a wheelchair with a skeleton of a child in the seat. He smiled when he saw his sister and mom. I could feel his pain as he hugged his sister "ready to go". They all nodded and I took the handles of the wheelchair.
We went straight to a bed and I picked up his frail body and put him in the bed. I started the scan and it showed his body riddled with cancer of a few types. The display came up as 2 hours, that's a lot of work for a little guy. I looked at mom "2 hours and you will have your son back". They looked at me shocked then started to cry.
"Next is you two for the beds, we call it a tune up".
"Are you sure?" I nodded and led them to a bed. They both looked nervous but willing so they were out for 20 min each.
I took the time to check in with Sandy and she was happy of the way things are going. "The best selling point is when the first patients talk to the people who are waiting and it sells itself". I thought for a second "what if I gave you a poster child as an example".
"Are you thinking about the boy?". I nodded "I will talk to his mom and ask" and I did just that.
I waited till mom woke up and she woke up smiling.
"I have a favor to ask". We talked until her son woke up and by that time she was all for helping.
He woke up smiling "the pain is gone mommy". Mom lost it at that point so I just sat and let them cry it out. I shed a tear myself and felt it wiped away then a kiss on either cheek. He was jumping with his sister by the end of it "ready to go shock some people" They all smiled and nodded.
We entered the ward where he has been a frequent visitor for the last few years. A nurse came to him and didn't recognize him with some weight on him. She screamed when she realized who it was. The parents all spoke up wanting to be next. The kids just thought it was cool a robot was there.
We were swarmed and Sandy walked in with 5 bots and collected all the kids in the ward. "Floor by floor" she said to me and I knew she had it under control.
I watched as each child disappeared with a bot for a better life. I was no longer needed here so I went to my cubby and powered down. I saw the kits diving around attacking anyone in a lab coat. There was a coffee and a kiss times 2 "how are things here?" Cora spoke "the twins were here but chose not to disturb you".
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"Vickey, where are the twins?" She appeared "they are in the area they designed". My eyes shot open "it's done". She nodded so I gathered kisses and went to see.
The lift opened and I was instantly blown away. It was an open area 5 stories tall with a huge tree in the middle. The tree was rooted on 3 different levels. Each floor had spokes that led away from the tree with quarters all along the walls.
The twins were talking to Penny, so I went to them "What do you think?" Emma asked. I smiled "I love it and it shows the amount of work you put into it". Ryan looked at me "we have located lots of people to fill it and we are starting this week". That made me smile "we have a school system set up and will bring people up to speed".
"I'm going to get out of here, you have this fully under control". I made my way back home to have a break before I get back to VR.
I entered and saw Jaden talking to her new sister, she seemed ok with it so far. Autumn was playing with the kits and laughing. Jaden waved me over "so you leave for a day and made a clone of me" she kidded. Carla disappeared with the girls "do they get along". She smiled "like peas in a pod. They just gained a sister and this one doesn't poop her pants" She laughed. "Well I know where my looks come from, she looks just like me at that age. Just a tiny bit off". I looked at her "your mom is the off part". That got me a slap in the arm.
"I'm sorry sweetie I don't have time to visit, I'm doing stuff on the ground".
"I understand dad, where are you now". We are at the children's hospital in Miami". She stood and gave me a hug. "It shows you have 2 hearts now" I held her tight.
I got back to the VR and scared a few people when I stood from my booth. I looked around and said "good morning". That opened the floodgates for the questions, most I've answered before. One new one "how long are we staying?"
"That time hasn't been set yet but as far as I'm concerned we are here till there are no more sick people".
"Why here". I smiled "we responded to the request for help". A man in a lab coat busted in "how are your beds with problem child birth". I looked at him "what's going on". We have a woman who is in breach and is starting to go into distress fast". I looked at him "get her to a bed". He nodded and took off.
I exited the conference room and found him. The woman was tiny and she was clearly in distress. I got her on a bed and put her to sleep and started the bed.
It looked like mercury flowing from the edges of the bed and covered her abdomen. I looked at the scan and the baby was presenting feet first. We all watched as her abdomen opened and the nanobots flowed in. I was watching her vital signs when the baby raised up and out of mom via tractor beam then settled on her chest crying. We watched as the afterbirth was removed and then her abdomen sealed with no scar to be seen.
I awoke her slowly so she didn't jump, she opened her eyes and saw her son. She immediately held him to her and started to cry, I looked around and saw a few wide eyes looking at the display and saw a healthy mom and son. I looked at everyone "you may want to divert emergency cases to this hospital" I got blank stares and nods.
I looked at the new mom and congratulated her then went to see Sandy. She said all was running well and I could go hide for a while.
"I think I will do just that" so I went back to my closet and powered down.
Back in the real world I found everyone watching me. My daughters came to me and hugged me, "I'm beginning to see what you're made of," Jaden said. Carla looked up at me "you take care of everyone else, I promise to always take care of you". She held me tight making sure I wasn't going anywhere. I smiled then looked at Jess and Lexi and they commented that after that they are never having kids. That got laughter from everyone. I picked up Carla "I'm hungry". I got lots of nodds and we went to the kitchen.
I decided on pasta and Carla wanted to try so I got a plate for her. I sat and taught her how to eat the noodles and she wore most of it, the refresher got a workout. "Where are the kits" I asked Lisa "They are flying, they are putting time in every day".
We sat and talked while the girls gave us random fashion shows.
I saw Jaden staring at Carla "penny for your thoughts". She smiled "it's creepy, she has some of my mannerisms. It's cute she asks all the time if it was ok with dad".
"That little girl went through something kids shouldn't, so I will keep her safe. The dad thing still throws me for a loop". She smiled "I might have to get jealous of the attention you give her" she giggled.
"Never you are my first born and that will never change".
Cora came to me "I finished the scans on my ship. It was mostly consoles because they had power sources. Vickey helped me power up some and gather some data". She smiled as Vicky appeared "we now have info going out 50 light years at least in one direction. We found info on 5 species, one of which we want nothing to do with but the others look promising". I licked Cora's nose "thank you for that every bit of info we have helps". Cora kissed me and Lisa got one as well.
My comm went off "I'm sorry I'm needed on the planet". I opened the eyes of my avatar and found a man and a woman arguing. "Who are you and why are you yelling?" I yelled over the top of them. That shocked them in silence. "Now who was here first?" The woman stepped forward "I'm sorry I've been waiting and this bozo wants to cut in line". She looked at him with daggers in her eyes.
"Well I'm here now so let's talk". She looked at me stressed "I represent the nurses union and we are all worried about our jobs".
"I'm here for the same question captain".
"I'm not trying to put you out of a job, I'm bringing a different level of care. The only reason I am using bots is because you aren't trained yet. When that happens you will replace these bots. If you talk to them they will go over the equipment with you and let you help with the patient. Take advantage of it and learn it will be worth it". That drew smiles and thank you's.
I went to find Sandy finding her taking a nap so I went for a walk. Inside the hospital I found lots of happy tears and smiles from the patients. A young boy and girl came to me and asked if they could get a selfie. "Sure" I sat in a chair and they stood on either side. One of the nurses was there taking their phones and snapping pics. I looked to my left and saw a line forming so I gave in and let them have fun.
The last of them were finishing when Sandy found me.
"we need to talk about something". We walked and talked "I don't know how to ask this but I have bills and so do my crew". I stopped dead and looked at her "I can't believe I overlooked that I'm sorry. Vickie come here please". She did as usual "put 500k in each of their accounts so they can get everything paid off and that goes for the new crew as well". I looked at Sandy "is that ok?". She started to laugh "I was ready to haggle for a good hourly wage".
"If I have my way they won't even need the money. You are building the backbone of one of my services so damn right I will take care of you and them". That got me a hug "I like negotiating with you".
"I will take that as a compliment" I laughed. She let me know all is good so I went to power down.
Back to reality I got a glass of water and a kiss "you drink too much coffee".
"Yes dear" that got me a look I couldn't identify. "We need to talk about the kits. They will show some independence soon so don't be surprised if they go to mom and dad more". I nodded "as long as it's normal for them". Lisa started to laugh "nothing is normal for them. They should be just playing, not flying". We all laughed at that. With that we settled in for the evening watching the news then went to bed.