CH53
Kate had really wanted to see the rings up close but the conversation with Lucile now had Kate's attention only on Castle. What could possibly be wrong? What monsters was Lucile talking about?
It was almost 18 hours later when Kate was back on the Evergreen with Alexis still as her guide. They were both still shaken from what they had both found when they got home. However Castle had seemed fine now and had insisted that Kate finish the tests. If there was going to be a future Kate needed to finish these tests.
Kate had missed her appointment. However Dr. Lee had easily scheduled one for later that Kate was headed to now. Kate was still a bundle of nerves. Alexis had never left her side since they left the house. Kate couldn't blame her. Rick was important to her. The only 'real' parent she had.
Entering the medical area again, Alexis waited while Kate when into the exam room.
"We would like to take some additional samples of your Kidneys."
"Was there a problem?" Kate shows a little concern. After all she did not like the condition of them earlier.
"No, no problem. We want to add more samples for the future. We want some cushion if you will.
We will repeat the same process again this time. It just will not take as long. Ready?"
Kate just nods. Takes in a breath and lets it out slowly, and Dr. Lee completes the process quickly.
"You're all done. Come back in the morning and we will have completed our analysis of all the samples. When we are satisfied we will inject the appropriate nanites at that time. We will want you to stay here for another 24 hours. In case your system does something we did not anticipate.
Any questions?"
"How long do these nanites last?" Wondering if she would have to come back every year or something.
"Some of the nanites will be used up for each instance they are used. However there are other nanites that will be in your system. These will make more nanites to replace the ones you lose. The number on them in your system should never very much. Depending on how many are used. If a large number are used, the replacement of them will take a little longer."
"Side effects of this action?"
"Normally you will never know they are doing anything. Should something major occur and you use a large number of them. You will feel tried for a short time while they build new units to replace the ones that were used.
This is not likely to happen. However I'm told your type of work may place you in danger or subject to damage more often than normal. For you this tiredness will coincide with your recovery time. So it should not affect you any.
Anything else?"
"Nothing I can think of. Thanks."
"If you have any more questions at any time, let me know. I'm told you have access to an A.I. Unit?"
"Lucile? Yes, I can speak to her even now if I chose to."
"Excellent. She can also answer any question you may have."
"I do have a question though. You may not know, but …. How many Lucile's are there?"
"You're right, I don't know. I'm not even sure your 'Lucile' unit will know."
"Thanks. I was just curious."
"Take care Miss Beckett. You are all set to leave. We will see you back here in the morning."
"Thanks Doc."
Kate was just turning to leave when something 'rolled?' out of a wall and went over to some section of a wall and then traveled right up to the ceiling.
Kate shrieked out. "My GOD what is that?" As she points to the thing crawling up the wall.
Dr. Lee answers her. "That is a Diagnostic Repair Drone or DRD.
They are small robots that move around the ship and are stored in small spaces spread out all over.
DRD's are ovoid, approximately 14 inches long, 10 inches wide and 8 inches tall, with two flexible black eyestalks with lights. They contain multiple tools and sensors to maintain and repair the house and Lucile, including a plasma welder which can double as a weapon.
There is also a guard type DRD's called Sentinels and are controlled by the main computer. They are armed and can sense weapons that people are carrying, even if they are hidden. If someone has a weapon in a restricted area, they will sound an alarm and/or attack the person with lethal force.
Stepping back out where Alexis is waiting, still a little shaken. "Hi sweetie. Ready to go?"
"Was there a problem mom?"
"No. They just wanted some more pieces of me. I think they are trying to make a Frankenstein Monster. And are stealing parts from me to make it" As Kate raises her hands and pretends to claw at Alexis like a monster.
"MOM?" Alexis is not believing a word of it.
"Ok, so maybe they just want to make a Mini-me." As Kate makes an 'L' on her forehead using one hand. This only gets Alexis giggling.
"Your not EVIL, mom." Alexis is not buying a word of it. "Or a loser."
"Why thank you! So what else is there to do before we come back tomorrow morning?"
Alexis thinks for a moment. "Well, …. we could go to the rides."
"Rides?"
Alexis just nods. "Uhhh huh. It's not big. Nothing like WDW. But it's nice. I guess."
"Lead on sweetie. You are my guide. We go where you want to go. I trust you."
This got Alexis to smile wide and hop up out of the chair and wrap her arms around Kate.
Kate for her part just melts at this. Kate loves her and it seems Alexis loves her too. Kate decides they better get going or the puddle of goo she is about to become will not be going anywhere.
Turns out they did not have to go far. If Kate had thought to look down while looking out the window of the Restaurant with the view, she would have seen it just below her.
It did not appear to be designed very well actually. It was one long rectangle in the space it used up. You could enter it from any point. It was as they were walking in that it hit Kate. They had not paid for anything since they got here. They didn't pay for any of the food. They didn't pay the doctor for all she was doing. They didn't pay to get into this place. And it didn't look like you had to pay to get on any of the rides either.
Mental note. Talk to Alexis or Rick later about this.
The rides looked to be relatively simple. There were no roller coasters or Ferris wheels. None of them looked to be made for little kids however. No Peter Pan like rides or anything similar.
Kate only went on one ride that Alexis could not ride or did not want to ride. Kate felt bad about leaving her alone. So she only did that once.
Like the restaurants or the Zoo, Kate did not understand a word anyone said. Kate had to get Alexis to translate for her. This was really getting to Kate. Finally breaking down and asking Alexis if she could teach her this language. She had learned Russian after all. How hard could it be?
This had got Alexis to launch herself at Kate and hold on tight. "I'd love to teach you mom."
Kate bent her knees to get at Alexis's level. Alexis had said MOM again. Kate held out her arms towards Alexis. Alexis took no time to step into Kate's embrace.
"I love you sweetheart!"
"I love you too mom!"
None of the rides were Earth shattering. And at that Kate had to laugh out loud. Earth shattering on a colony ship from another planet.
"Something funny mom?"
"Just something I suddenly thought of. It's not important."
When they were done it was way past lunch. Alexis knew of a take-out place and they could take their food to one of the parks and eat there. Kate loved the idea. So long as the 'grass' didn't try to eat her. Which got Alexis giggling.
While eating in the park, which Kate was enjoying doing with Alexis, "Sweetie, do you know why this ship has so much in it. I mean if you were going to go to live on a planet. Wouldn't you just need some kind of liner to transport people?"
"I don't know much, but they would need years to build things to live there first. So the colony ship was needed for housing and to make things to take down to the planet." Best Alexis could tell her.
"Power, sanitary, water source, pumps and more. You would need someplace to live while you built these. That is pretty smart thinking. No wonder this place has things I would never think of putting here."
"They are all like that." Alexis tells her.
"ALL? There are more of these." Kate leaves her mouth hanging open.
Alexis nods her head. "There were 2 more under construction. They were supposed to follow us. I guess they won't follow us now." Sounding sad.
"OH, sweetie. I for one am very glad you are here. I don't know what my life would be like without you! And now I don't want to know.
You are the most perfect little girl anyone could have. And I love you."
Alexis just moves to where she can wrap her arms around Kate, who does the same.
"Sshhh, It's alright sweetie. It's alright." As Alexis softly cries into Kate's shoulder.
For Alexis it was a dream come true. She had her dad and she loved him. But he was a guy. He was her dad. What she really wanted most was a mother in her life. A female to teach her things even her dad didn't know.
Alexis was going to protect her mother. She knew how to use her bracer. She was even better than mom on the course. It only just stunned people. No one was going to hurt her mother. Not that now she had one. Not this mean man Bracken or anyone else.
It leaked out. Alexis didn't really mean to, but it meant to much to her. "Please don't die mom. Please don't die!" sniffle, sniffle.
Kate pushed her away just far enough to look into her eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to me. I have no intention of dying sweetie."
"Promise?" As Alexis draws an X on her chest.
This gets a chuckle out of Kate. "Promise." As Kate draws an X on her chest. Then pulls Alexis back into herself and holds her tight until Alexis stops crying.
It really hurt Kate's heart to hear such fear in her voice. Did she really think Kate would tell her she loved her and then just dump her? Was it this enemy they were running from? Was it Bracken? Alexis knew almost as much as Kate did about him. As much as a 5 year old could understand anyway.
Which brought a smile to Kate's face. Yea, 5 year old. Five year old going on 20 is more like it. Just how did a 5 year old get so smart anyway?
"Come on sweetie, let's find something else to do. Does this place have ice cream?"
Alexis just shakes her head. "No ice cream. Have you ever had ice cream before you came here."
Again Alexis just shakes her head. "So you've never had ice cream before. No wonder you and your dad go nuts over the stuff." Getting Kate giggling.
Hearing her mom giggle got Alexis giggling as well. "That and pizza is the greatest food. EVER!" Alexis advises her.
"You've never had pizza either?"
Alexis just shakes her head. "That actually explains a lot. A whole lot."
"Do I still owe you any pizza's?"
Alexis still just shakes her head. Not sure she could trust her voice.
"I thought sure I owed you 7 pizza's."
Alexis just shakes her head. Knowing that Kate had already bought her 7 pizza's.
"Oh I'm pretty sure I owe you 7 pizza's. At least 7. Maybe more."
Alexis just looks at her funny. Finally catching on, Alexis squeals and launches herself into Kate's arms. Kate can only just laugh at this.
"Come on, let's clean up and you can show me what else this place has to offer."
Alexis helps Kate/mom clean up and take it to a trash chute. Alexis showed Kate/mom all you had to do was open the panel and the vacuum inside sucked it all away to a central location. "WOW, way better than trash cans." Alexis could just giggle.
They spent the rest of the day exploring. There were places Alexis knew she could not go. Not so much as she couldn't, they just weren't meant for someone her age.
Finally having enough they went home. Kate just touched the front door and it popped open for her. She could get used to this. Kate wondered if the front door of Castle's house worked the same way.
Note to self. Touch the front door when she got back home.
The bed however was killing her. GOD she wanted to be in that big comfy bed! And she also wanted to be in Castle's arms. She was aching to have his head planted squarely between her spread legs. GOD SHE WANTED CASTLE!
Kate barely got any sleep that night. Kate was soaked! She was soooo wet. Kate was going to practically rape Castle when she got home. Correct that. Kate WAS going to rape him as soon as she got home. "Might as well take that shower now."
Done and dressed she waited for Alexis to shower and get dressed. Then they headed for the medical center.
Alexis waited out front while Kate went in to see the Doctor.
"Miss Beckett. Good to see you again."
"Any news?" Kate wanted to finish and go home!
"We are all set. Your samples have been examined and are in a Cryo tank waiting for you if/when you need them. Due to the type of work you do, we are going to give you a few more nanites than we normally would. One set will go in each arm. …. Questions?"
"Will this give me super powers? Will I have x-ray vision? Or maybe can I fly? OH, I know. Can I manipulate metal objects with my thoughts?"
"What?" Dr. Lee looks totally perplexed.
"Never mind. Just a thought." Mentally thinking, DARN. She could at least give her the ability to use the Sai weapons that Elektra used. Now that would be way cool.
