I got up before my mates and discovered Carla at the table. "I have discovered raisins and I think they go with everything. Actually the whole eating thing is fun". She giggled and I stole a raisin. "I like them too". Cora came out "I have no idea how I existed before chocolate". Lisa was grinning and nodding her head. Carla got in on the action "don't you dare forget about ice cream" We all laughed at that. Carla took her cereal bowl to the kitchen and came back with ice cream getting more laughter.
"Vickey is there anything pressing". She appeared smiling "I think I'm done with the base". She brought up the hologram and there it was. One giant dome and 6 more surrounding it. "The central spire is a full city in vertical form that can house 8 million people. Each of the smaller domes looked like neighborhoods with no houses. Complete with lakes and lots of green space should make the people living there happy. "Each of the smaller domes are made to have a small town feel and can house 50k each. The dome to the north will house the amusement park that's why it's bigger. We should be able to handle one million visitors easily. I've got over 2000 rides I can make to test the thrill seekers".
I smiled "what order are you building them?" She smiled "amusement park first, then the main dome. I'm sure my designs will change during construction but this is the look I want".
"It might be the amusement park for a while till we get the infrastructure to get people there. I wonder if it's easier to buy an existing or start our own transportation company? Vicky, is there an airline that's in trouble we could bail out? We can make our own planes".
"I found one". She shot back. "It's perfect, it's almost in name only. All the planes were sold to cover the debt but they have contracts at 6 airports". "That was quick, where is it?" She smiled "South Africa". I looked at her "let's try something closer to home for now".
Lisa and Cora were discussing something with Carla when they all looked at me. Carla spoke up "you have a good relationship with the mayor of Vancouver and I looked it up they have an international airport. All we need is a single spot to load". She sat there with a smug look on her face. "Who came up with that". Lisa and Cora pointed at Carla and that made the smug look appropriate.
I walked over to her and picked her up "you know something that idea is perfect and that's the one I'm going with. There is only one problem". She looked at me concerned "you need to come up with a name". She looked at me and thought for a minute "Nova" she said. I smiled "I think we have a winner. Nova airlines". Vickey looked at me then Carla "we could use that as our global name and have different divisions. That name is perfect. May I use it Carla?"
She nodded enthusiastically then started to get excited knowing she just named the company.
"Vickey, could you ask C to start designing engines for planes that require no fuel". I looked at Carla "Nova motors" and she got more excited.
We got lunch and continued talking about all manner of topics. We were talking about the cost of tickets when the kits came in. After I collected my hugs they joined us for lunch. The kits were taking the day off after an especially good day yesterday. They all looked comfortable in their flight suits to the point of that's all they wore.
Vickey spoke up "all the reports I'm getting are showing almost 1% of all the debris they were tracking is gone". The kits put a proud look on their face and it looked good on them. She brought up some videos of them at work. They would fly as a unit to attack larger pieces then split apart and go after individual pieces. The narrator spoke up "all space agencies are watching in shock as the problem of space junk is being solved before our eyes". I realized at that point I was watching a live broadcast from NASA.
"We have been in contact with the captain of the ship we saw. We have given all our information on the targets as well as all the other space agencies. We owe him a debt of gratitude for solving a problem before it got out of hand". There was a closeup of a rocket stage dissolving into nothing. "As you can see the junk is being completely eliminated removing the dangers it holds. He went on to explain the dangers of the debris.
I looked at the kits "I can't wait till they see you, they are going to freak" I chuckled. The thoughts of children doing the work as fun makes me smile every time I think about it.
"Vickey let NASA know we will do a flyby of the ISS so they can get pictures and send them some footage of them in action from the ship's view".
I looked at the kits "I want you all to be proud of what you are doing, I know I am. When it comes out who the 6 of you are, people will be shocked but I want them to know it was you". They all flew at me for a hug and I gladly accepted.
Lisa and Gar were sitting quietly and I could tell they were proud parents, as right it should be.
"Vickey is everything ready to go for tomorrow". She smiled and nodded "the ship is done and it will integrate perfectly. When it's in place they only lose 4 parking spots so it's not intrusive. "Excellent, we get to save some kids tomorrow. Do you know if Becky is coming?" Vickey nodded "she has a news crew now so she is coming".
"That's new, I'm glad she is getting help, I guess I will meet them tomorrow".
"I do have a topic to discuss. I was thinking of decloaking the ship permanently and letting people see it. They got a glimpse when we grabbed the ISS. Letting people see the ship Might help them accept the new reality faster, what do you think?" About 30 min of discussions resulted in me decloaking the ship when the kits resume. We will stay decloaked for the foreseeable future.
It was now late in the evening and we called it a night.
The next day seemed to flow well till we were hovering over the hospital. Looking down we saw the lot full. I called and after a few min we got the cars moved and we settled into place.
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Not needing a lift here helped and were lined up with 2 entrances. I made my way to the entrance and found the mayor there. "There is no way I'm missing this," he laughed as he shook my hand. I introduced him to Sandy and let him know she is the goto on this project. Next was Becky and her 2 cameramen "Becky is documenting everything and her footage is available to you as well".
The mayor and I went into the ship "are all your crew robots?" I looked at him and smiled "for now yes. As I train people I will replace every bot with a person". He seemed pleased at that.
"Why don't you be the first. Lay down and let me scan you, it's painless I assure you". He did as I asked and I did the scan. I looked at the results and it wanted to put him under for 60 minutes.
"We don't have time now but the bed wants you in for an hour. Give me your word before the end of the day you complete the procedure". He looked at me "is it serious". I smiled "it's nothing the beds can take care of". He smiled and we went back to the show.
We went back to the hospital and I went straight to the cancer ward.
What I saw there made my hearts hurt. Seeing all the kids going through something that they shouldn't. I walked to the nurse at the desk "good morning" I said and I put my hand out for a handshake. He took it with a look on his face I couldn't identify. "I need the sickest child here". He went to his charts and came around the desk with one and we proceeded to the room.
What I saw there brought a literal tear to my eye. There was a 10 year old boy who was frail and bald. He looked at me and perked up a bit, I guess he didn't expect to see a robot today. I looked at the nurse "could we get this brave little soul ready for transport". I took control of a bot and set it in motion to come get the patient.
The bot entered the room and his eyes got bigger. I went down to his level. "The bots will take you to my special beds and make you better".
He looked at me "they said that the last time" he said with a frustrated tone. "I can make promises that regular doctors can't". He huffed "I guess".
Before the bot took him away I gave it instructions that I am to be there when he wakes up. The bot nodded and went on its way. The kids in the hallway were watching and whispering to one another, the bravest a young girl came to me and touched my hand. I looked down at her and smiled "are you checking if it's a costume?" She smiled and nodded so I picked her up. "No costumes here, it's freaky but it's real".
I address her and her friends "All of you will go to my ship and get cured. This I promise to you". I looked at faces with smiles and a lot of doubt.
I spent the next hour meeting with patients until I got a notification. I ended my conversation and made my way to the ship.
Every bed was in use now and I saw the mayor in one. I got to the little guys bed and woke him up. He opened his eyes and started to cry "it doesn't hurt anymore". I put my arms out and he shot into my arms. I walked into the cancer ward with a happy crying little boy. I got to the desk and there was a flurry of action when they saw him. There was a new person there that took center attention, mom saw her son. He jumped into her arms and lots of hugs and kisses later he wanted to go play.
She came to me and didn't ask, just pulled me in for a hug. I held her and let her cry it out. Sandy came over to me "now you know why I love my job".
And that was my day, I met with every patient as they passed me one way in a wheelchair and walking back. We set aside 3 beds for the emergency room and I made sure they understood that staff is to go through as well.
It was late in the afternoon when I shut down the VR. Instantly I was enveloped into a hug. My girls had tears in their eyes "those kids are so brave and you love helping them don't you". I smiled and nodded my head "the kids are special". That got me more hugs. They had a meal set out for me and I dug in.
We were finishing our meal when Vickey came to me. She brought up the news and there was the ship in all its glory. There were comparisons to it looking like a Star destroyer but I knew that was coming.
The story changed to the kits. There were beautiful pics taken from the ISS and footage of their mission.
All the TV hosts were pointing to parts of the ships speculating on their use. They were wondering if the ships were manned or unmanned because the windows were tinted.
I got a message from Sandy asking me to call the mayor when I can. "He has gone home so this will be his personal line".
I dialed it immediately and got his wife. "Is this the captain?". "Yes it is".
"Before I hand you over to him I want to say thank you, you let me keep my husband". I could tell she had a lump in her throat.
"Good evening captain" came from the mayor's voice. "It seems you had a reason for me to get into the bed. The bot gave me my former diagnosis when I got up".
"I didn't want to stress you out with a cancer diagnosis when it is curable now. You will live a long healthy life". She started to laugh "getting a cancer diagnosis and a clean bill of health at once is a bit unnerving". I laughed "don't forget to get your wife put through the bed as well".
"That's ok?" the mayor asked.
"Of course it is, this is the trial run and I want as many people as possible to go through". His wife spoke up again "if there is anything else we can do for you please ask". I smiled "I have a number of projects that may require your input. Vancouver is going to be the test bed and all eyes will be on us so we have to shine".
The mayor asked "you never said why you chose Vancouver?"'
"I have reasons that will come out eventually and trust me they are good reasons and you will be the first to know. In fact can you two get away for 48 hours?"
The mayor's wife took this one "we have a trip planned this weekend that we can cancel. Will that work?" I smiled "how about I pick you up Friday till Sunday. You will be my guests for that time, all you need is what you would take with you to the mall".
"I'm not going to sleep till the weekend" said the mayor's wife and we all laughed. "I will call Friday morning and work out the details". With that I ended the call but I wasn't done.
I called the twins "just to let you know I'm going to have the mayor and his wife onboard for a few days. I'm going to get them onboard by letting them see what we are doing". They both smiled "once they see what we are doing we will have extra help in the ground. We have a weekend to convince them". They both smiled an evil grin "we can do it I'm sure of it" Emma said with Ryan nodding. I let them go and wondered if I should worry.
I looked at my girls, Lisa Cora and Carly looked back. "How do you feel about coming out into the world?" Lisa spoke up "we are beside you all the way". Cora and Carly were nodding. "I'm thinking now that the families are safe, it's time to drop the avatar. I actually don't like hiding behind a mask, I did that enough in my past life". Cora looked at me "are you going to tell them who you were". I smiled "no I will let that mystery linger for a while. I can drop hints and see who figures it out".
We spent the rest of the evening together and talked as we watched the news from all over the world. We called it a night when it got boring.