CH38
It is now early January of the New Year:
They spent three days and two nights in Montana during Christmas with the promise that next Christmas will be at the Douglas house in Victoria, eating a Douglas Christmas Dinner.
Amanda and Alexis are just leaving the medical center heading for the unit they are assigned to, which turns out to be the same one Kate and Alexis stayed in all those years ago. They won't know the final results until tomorrow morning.
"Can we explore some more? I haven't been here since I was a kid." Amanda asks excitedly.
They have already been to a pair of parks, including the one where the grass eats your dead skin. They have been to the amusement park and have ridden all of the rides. "It's nice, but I've been to better." Alexis points out.
Next they found themselves in the zoo area of the Evergreen. "Alexis Castle, I haven't seen you here in ages." Alexis finds herself in the arms of a woman that worked there all her life.
"It's Alexis Crystal now and yeah it's been a few years." Alexis admits, since it has been 50 plus years in fact. "This is Amanda my partner in life; she works with animals too." Alexis explains.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Alexis has a knack for animals that I've never seen before or since. You two can go anywhere you want," she explains. "I should get back to work."
After the zoo area are the guts or working area of the ship. This is where mechanical workers take things to be repaired or be manufactured in the first place. After that comes the engine section that has gotten the Evergreen here in the first place, or out of here if need be.
"How much space does Lucile take up, physically?" Amanda asks as they are walking around the shop watching workers repair items that have been removed.
The question caught Alexis by surprise till she remembered there was likely a new AI unit on this ship somewhere. "The entire floor of the basketball court and at least 6 feet deep." Alexis all but has to yell over the noise.
That got both of them to start looking around, since back here is really the only open space that can be sacrificed to build a new AI unit. The problem will be how to route control wiring from here to the original computer of the Evergreen. It is, however, really close to the power core of the Evergreen.
It's a long walk and they are starving by the time they reach a section that requires a coded access. "A locked door on a space ship?" Amanda reaches out to try and open it anyway and can't.
After a little more walking they decide that the space is a little larger than the space Lucile uses. "Alexis?" Amanda has spotted something. "Any guesses?" Amanda nods her head in the direction she wants Alexis to look.
Alexis looks at the new panels in the floor that go in opposite directions. It has Alexis guessing power one way and control the other. Alexis starts following the control and motioned for Amanda to follow the other.
Alexis soon has to stop when the panel ends. It has Alexis walking around trying to figure out where the cable goes. "Outside?" They will be able to reach the original computer without having to go through the ship.
Amanda and Alexis meet up back where they started, listening to each others' stomach growling. Dinner reservations however are on the other end of the ship, which means a ride in one of the tubes. "I still can't get over being out in space, almost literally. I mean there is just a couple of plastic walls between us and nothing." Amanda says, gazing out into space.
"You don't remember this when you were a kid?" Alexis asks, watching Amanda shake her head.
"You grew up here. You were just a baby then." Amanda is still looking out into space.
"I was the only child on the ship." Alexis confirms. That got Amanda to turn and look at Alexis instead. Alexis grew up alone, with no kids to play with, confined to the small areas that were the living quarters. The ship was huge yes, but still there was no place else to go.
Amanda wraps her arms around Alexis and kisses her head. "I can't imagine growing up here." Amanda admits. Hell she's glad she doesn't live here now, like thousands presently still do, years later. That gave Amanda an idea for after dinner.
Dinner is sitting up against the windows that look out over the interior of the Evergreen. Like Kate years ago, Amanda spends most of her time that evening looking out the windows at the view. Amanda can see the color sections that make up the various housing areas and the numerous parks that dot the area along with the two huge parks.
Amanda already knows that the amusement park is located up against this very wall far below them. "Alexis where did you go to school?" It's part of Amanda's plan.
"The Evergreen doesn't or didn't have schools. When the time finally came for kindergarten I used a computer terminal downstairs somewhere. There is likely a school around here now somewhere." Alexis answers her question.
"We need to find that room after dinner." Amanda tells her.
It takes some work and some talking Alexis into letting her body walk the path. Sometimes the trick of finding something is trying to let your body take you there from the memory of doing it day after day.
Alexis looks around, it feels really familiar even though she hadn't been here in years. "Why are we here?" Alexis is curious and she wonders why seeing a tiny room that she used to come to so Amanda can see it is important.
"This." Amanda tells her and sits in the tiny chair and turns on the monitor that was still there. "Since it doesn't look like this room is used anymore, I'm hoping they forgot about it." Amanda powers up the computer and gets access. Amanda now has Alexis' attention. "How much access?" Alexis looks over Amanda's shoulder watching what she does.
"I am curious with what they did with all the money that dad and mom made and was siphoned off to help the people of the Evergreen, plus the money that the Chinese triplets are making." Amanda knows it has to be millions by now.
"Got something!" Amanda calls out.
A large, scenic island in the Ionian Sea is situated between the islands of Ithaka (only 4 miles away) and Lafkada. The Greek island rises to 334 m in height with dramatic cliffs. Its natural harbors, clear blue green waters, sand and pebble beaches, and sea caves give it the features of a classic paradise island.
The waters of the Ionian Sea are calm, protected from the north-eastern winds and the region is marvelous for water sports, such as diving at the sheltered coves. The Greek island has a house and a church and there are goats tended to by a shepherd, who goes out to the island every 4th day. The owners have an agreement that once the island has been sold, he will cease his duties. The island is large enough to offer total privacy or could be suitable as a large resort thanks to its good access points. The island is also registered under the Nature 2000 Law.
"It was purchased for $45 million Euros and looks like there is a massive building project underway, with another several years before total completion." Amanda starts bringing up pictures to show what has been completed so far and what is still being worked on.
"WOW!" Alexis can't keep quiet as Amanda brings up pictures. "What is it, a resort?" Alexis keeps looking at the pictures. "Well let's find out." Amanda gave up on the pictures and found the Architects plan for this location.
"The tower is an apartment building that according to this is already ¼ occupied. It has everything a large resort would have – a pool, large kitchen with restaurants. The mountain is being hollowed out for the location of the power plant. Wind mills on top and wave power generators out in the ocean." Amanda enlarges the plan so they can see it.
"What is this hole over there?" Alexis points over Amanda's shoulder.
"According to this it is going to be another tower. …Retail on the lower levels and apartments on the upper levels, with a restaurant with nothing but windows all around on the top floor." Amanda pulls up floor plans till she switches back to an exterior view.
"Ooooo, it looks like this area is going to be a large dock area for boats and floating homes. The inland area off of the docks is going to be more shops, grocery, theater, schools that will have grades from kindergarten to high school." Amanda is impressed.
"So this is what they are doing with dad and mom's money. They're building a small city, probably to get people off of the Evergreen." Alexis is guessing. "Keep looking, find out where the AI unit is going to go and when?"
Amanda started looking. "Looks like it is going in the mountain, next to the power plant. … Now when?" Amanda starts looking at the construction schedule. "HERE!" Amanda points.
id
"They are going to take it off line in about nine months and transport it down to its new home. Demolition is scheduled to take 2 months, transfer is three weeks with putting it back on-line at 4 months, however main power will not be complete for another year after that." Amanda reads.
"So they are going to let it sit here without power?" That doesn't make sense. Amanda however shakes her head. "Emergency power."
"Okay. … Amanda baby, how many people can this place support? There are still thousands of people on this ship, plus all the children?" Alexis has a thought.
"Well lets, …. BABY!?" Amanda turns her head to look at Alexis.
"It's your new name, deal with it." Alexis starts smiling and kisses Amanda's head. "Now answer my question because I want you to look for another purchase and then get out of here before we get caught."
"Roughly 16 thousand was the original population, in 60 plus years that has increased to roughly 23 thousand. This site is scheduled to house, … only 6 thousand at maximum capacity." Amanda finds the housing schedule.
"Now look for another purchase and let's get out of here." Alexis squeezes her shoulders.
It takes a few minutes, Alexis is itching to get away while they still can. "Got it." Amanda calls out.
Kanacea Island , Fiji
Blessed with a typical Fijian mild climate, an abundance of colorful sea life and positively oozing with natural beauty, amongst those in the know, with its silky, soft, white sands, this corner of the world is widely considered to have the best beaches in Fiji. Boasting both the best beaches and the best water source of the Lau island group and with cell phone signal across the whole island, this is a private island with serious potential.
"They are already hollowing out the largest mountain area as well as building docks and are preparing the area for the first tower. Architect and engineering plans for the entire island are already complete. … There is no name listed for the architect or engineers." Amanda offers.
"AI." Alexis guesses. "Now close it down and let's get out of here." Alexis pats Amanda's shoulders and starts for the door to enforce her desire to get out and not get caught.
What Amanda wants to do is copy everything they found and take it with them, however the place was bare and they would scan whatever she tried to take out anyway. There was no way anyone was going to find a tiny data disk floating around out in space. It forces Amanda to hope her memory is good enough to tell Lucile everything.
The next morning Amanda and Alexis leave their room and head for the transmat embarkation station to go home. They both have something they need to talk about. They aren't just compatible for marriage and loving each other, they could have DNA removed from each of them and combined to make a baby. Now they need to decide if they want a baby, when they want a baby and who was going to carry their baby?
Alexis and Amanda show up in the foyer and as they walk up the stairs they both call out "LUCILE!"
Alexis and Amanda spend about 2 hours in the living room with Rick and Kate who has Abby in her arms the entire time that Alexis and Amanda go over everything they can remember.
"I always wondered what they were doing with the money I was making and sending to them through the years." Rick comments.
"It makes sense though. They can't expect people to live their entire lives on that ship, not when there is a planet just a short distance away for them to live on." It makes sense to Kate.
"Estimated cost Lucile?" Rick asks, since Lucile is fast and he knew it.
"It's too bad you didn't get the names of the contractors that are helping build it all. … There has to be local help, there just aren't enough people on the Evergreen to do all the construction. Still I might be able to do a search now that I know what to look for." Lucile looks like she has a lead.
"Scanning, … It's a dummy company that only has an office in the local capital city of Athens. Scanning, … The general contractor that won the bid is using ships from Greece to transfer the workers. They are being used to construct the twin towers, the docks...pretty much everything except the power plant area, including the wave generators.
The anticipated cost of the first island, ready for habitation, is $1.45 billion US dollars. The other island is going to be larger and the cost for that island is presently set at $1.91 billion US dollars. It will take another 10-12 years to complete the second island." Lucile is still reading everything she could find.
"As interesting as all this is, how does it help us?" Kate doesn't see the point.
Lucile starts smiling. "Because if they want to keep a tight control over who has access to these islands like they do the Evergreen, they will need transmat wall jammers. … Lots of them, meaning they are likely already under construction. Alexis' childhood school room can be accessed by Scout or its brothers or sisters to obtain the plans necessary to construct them." Lucile points out.
"So why were you two on the Evergreen anyway?" Kate is curious. Alexis and Amanda look like they would rather be anywhere but here.
"You two know you can tell us anything. Having a family to help you, I think, has been proven over the years. You know you can trust us pumpkin." Rick falls back to his childhood term for Alexis that he rarely uses now. His daughter is all grown up and married; she's not his little girl anymore.
Alexis looked at Amanda and turns to her father. "We went in for testing." Alexis tells them.
Kate sits straight up. "TESTING!? Are you sick, do you need use of your cells that are stored there?" Kate's heart is suddenly breaking. Kate didn't give birth to Alexis, but Alexis is her first daughter. Kate knows she loves all of her children, including Amanda, however Alexis is still number one in her mind.
"We're fine, that's not why we went. We wanted to find out if our DNA was compatible." Alexis explains.
"Compatible?" Kate doesn't understand and by the look on Rick's face he doesn't either.
"We were trying to find out if we were capable of having a baby together, without using a man's sperm." Amanda finally just spits out quickly. She rips the band-aid off instead of pulling it off slowly.
Kate's mouth falls open while Rick simply looks shocked. "You want to have a baby?" Kate finally finds her voice. "Is that even possible?" Kate has never heard of two women being able to have a baby.
It's now when Lucile speaks. "Earth isn't yet capable of this, however Rick's planet has had it for years. It's a little more complicated than just taking DNA from two women and making a baby. Not just any two women are compatible." Lucile tries to explain.
"We only went in for testing mom, that's all. We still have a lot to talk about." Alexis tries to slow down Kate's run away mind.
Kate is silent while she processes what these two were thinking about. "And?" Rick asks, since he already knew it was possible, just not that done very often.
"We're compatible." Amanda answers Rick's question. "We still have to talk, we just wanted to know if it was even possible."
Rick and Kate leave it at that. Kate puts Abby down before going to bed herself with Rick right next to her. "What are you thinking over there? I can almost literally see the wheels in your mind spinning." Rick asks since Kate is just lying there not yet ready to snuggle in close like she always does.
"It's just a surprise is all. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is. I know when she married Ray that children were going to be possible." Kate starts off with.
"Now Alexis is married to another woman." Rick says.
"Women together can't have children." To Kate it is a known fact. "When Alexis married Amanda, her having children was no longer possible. I satisfied myself with Alexis simply being happy, now her having a family is back on the table. I'm just surprised I guess." Kate tries to work it out in her mind.
Rick reaches out and pulls Kate into him and waits for her to settle. "It's their choice, their life, their future together. … There is one thing that we will know for sure though." Rick remarks, feeling Kate waiting for it. "If one of them ends up pregnant it won't be by accident."
"Abby, ..." Kate starts out but is interrupted by Rick.
"The boys and Abby may not have been planned like their baby will be, but that doesn't make them any less wanted. I love all our children Kate. Alexis may not be biologically yours, but you're the only mother she knows. Alexis may know her mother was left behind, but that doesn't make you any less her mother." Rick tries to comfort Kate over what she may be thinking.
Kate however just sighs and snuggles in closer. "I really do wish my mother could have met you, she would have loved you." Kate kisses his chest.
"I think your father made that rather clear when he was here. I'm going to go ballistic if I ever get my hands on anyone that is part of the Silence. And don't even think of trying to stop me." Rick warns her. "Besides, if Natalie is correct, we're both going to get our chance to ask her someday."
Kate gets up from her nice comfortable position so she could look Rick in the eye and kiss him for his thought. "Make love to me babe, like you did when we first met." Kate loves him and wants to feel her husband's love for her.
Later, Abby wakes up and expresses her desire to have her diaper changed and to be fed as Kate screams out Rick's name for the umpteenth time. It takes some time for Kate to regain enough of her mind to get up and feed her daughter after Rick changes Abby's diaper. It's times like these that Kate wishes Abby was old enough for Kate to start pumping her milk.
The next morning, even before the Crystal clan is up Tom, Don, Maurice and Kurt are going through the flight check after going through their pre-flight briefing.
All four of them lovingly run their hands over their assigned ships. They are dying to get these out into space finally. "Don't tell my wife, but I'm in love." Don jokes knowing only Tom can hear him.
Don can hear Tom laughing in return. "I'm thinking the same thing." Tom reaches for the ladder that will take him into the cockpit.
It is still dark in Seattle and the sun won't be up for hours yet, so all anyone will see was their exhaust as they rise into space. All four ships are unarmed for this run since it's only meant to test the flight control systems. They have already gone through engine tests before ever leaving the factory.
"This sure looks a lot like the simulator except for what I feel." Maurice calls out.
"Form up, we have a phantom target on the dark side of the moon to check out and remove from our space." Don is the leader of this flight. Don and Tom take lead and stay close with one a little higher than the other. This move is hard to simulate when you are fighting in 3D. The two bombers are wide of them and off to either side.
In the end they do three trips around the moon. Don and Tom watch as Maurice and Kurt break off and do a bombing run on the moon's surface while Don and Tom stayed in orbit as high cap.
While Maurice and Kurt are climbing, Don and Tom dive on them and stay on their six until they both confirm a kill using only guns.
"I'm in love all over again. Time to head home ladies." Don calls out as the flight of four head for their base in the Seattle area and the inevitable de-briefing and review of what's recorded.
Over the next month (Remainder of January) they go back up every three days. The maintenance crew goes over every square inch of each ship. It's a rough period of time for Jenn and L since it means their husbands aren't home all that much, though they do get to talk to them every day with the use of their communication disks.
In another month (February) they will each begin live fire exercises on unsuspecting asteroids, including asteroids deep in the field that surrounded their system. It is a test of the guidance system of the bomber as well as the missiles that are used. They want to check the flight adjustments that each missile is capable of making. They check them along with the targeting systems of each ship, verifying that the computer is able to keep track of that many targets.
The following month (March) is a rest month while the maintenance crews practically break each ship down to their individual component parts and send them in for testing.