Quast 4
They spent the entire day touring the Russian city tower that was almost 2 miles tall and housed just under 1 million people in a single building.
It was a true city in the sense of the word. It has shopping, parks, theaters, restaurants and all the other things any city had.
It had elevators and Disneyland like people movers to help move people around. Plus there were observation levels all the way up. The last one being almost 1-1/2 miles up.
Rick and Kate had both cried as it was explained to them what their friends knew when their cruise ship had not gone into the next port of call but instead had headed out into the middle of the pacific in response to a call by the US Navy.
They didn't know what started it only what they knew about after they joined up with a naval fleet. Moving around the pacific as ordered by the navy to avoid radiation filled clouds.
Three years living on a cruise ship with nowhere else to go. Thanks to the money they left them they had nice suites to stay in instead of tiny state rooms.
The US Navy being out of communication with anyone else on the planet for at least a year. Food being hard to come by and having to eat very small rations.
There were a few pregnancy's resulting in births of babies. Instead of their rooms being cleaned daily it was at first cut down to weekly, then every other week, and finally every three months. It wasn't the lack of water. Almost all the ships had desalinization plants to get fresh water. They just didn't have the soap to clean with. Even showers were mostly taken without soap or shampoo. And then there was the toilet paper problem.
Since it didn't matter anymore, all the ships dumped their sewage into the ocean since going into any port was out of the question.
Rick and Alexis had tears falling down their faces listening to all of this. Kate soon followed. For the pain her friends from work had gone thru, the pain her husband and daughters planet had gone thru and the pain Rick and Alexis were going thru now.
"Have they told you what comes next?" Kate asks them, knowing they can't live in tents for the rest of their lives.
"We were told we were all being transferred to a colony planet where they are building a floating city for us to move into." Kevin explains.
"They're sending you to Cyliene? We set up the neighboring colony planet of Callisto that orbits the same gas giant. We used to fly food over there on a daily basis. It looked like a very nice city the last time we saw it.
Due to weight limitations no building is more than 3 stories tall. There is also a limit to the number of buildings on each floating module for the same reason. We saw garden areas for growing food, there were parks, theaters, any number of things any city would have. We even know there is going to be an airport for some reason. We heard the contractors complaining of the major change in the design, just don't know why the change." Kate informs them.
"I can guess if you have 3 full crews of naval carriers. The pilots on those carriers probably want to fly, hence the airport. Know anything about what they will be flying out of their airport?" Rick asks intrigued. Getting all of them to shake their heads.
The Castle's then went thru all the colony planets they have been setting up since arriving from Earth. Mostly thanks to Alexis and her expert knowledge of plants.
"That explains why you wanted a greenhouse on top of your company office." Kevin notices.
Kate grins. "Alexis is a genius, she's mostly why these colony planets work so well at the start. She is the major reason why we make it past the first winter. Plus the locations she selects for us to set up a colony." Kate was proud of her and not afraid of showing it.
Alexis however was simply sitting quietly, blushing. Taking an occasional elbow in the ribs from Elena who was grinning at her.
The girls however were getting tired so it was time to head for where they were staying. So they arranged a meeting location for tomorrow since they still had a lot to talk about.
Kate hugged them all while Rick shook their hands and the girls simply said bye. "It has been good to see you, no matter what it took to get you here." Kate tells them and they all head for the train station. The Castle's taking one GETS train and the others a different train.
The Castle clan was home and the girls had been put to bed for a nap. "What do you think?" Kate asks, it was more their planet then hers.
"Shocked, pissed, mad as hell, disbelieving, any number of things. … All gone. Seems like such a waste." Rick was just sad.
"No more New York City, no more Paige." Alexis's tears started as she thought about it.
"Oh pumpkin." Kate hugs her since she was closest. "I'm so sorry." Kate hadn't even thought of Alexis's old friend.
"Is your new friend still coming with us when we go back to Ariel?" Rick asks, since he had an idea.
"Yeah, Elena is very interested in staying with us for 6 months at least. Maybe longer if her parents will allow it.
Kate knew sending her away from Callisto was a good idea. Alexis had a new best friend and the school on Ariel was open now so maybe she would find some more friends. Just what Kate was hoping for.
"What do you think of getting your old company friends in moving to Ariel with us?" Rick suddenly asked.
Kate snapped her head to look at Rick. Kate got up and stepped over to him and kissed him. Kate loved how he was always trying to help her in some little way. "Is that even an option? They seem to think they are headed for Cyliene." Kate points out.
"Then I guess we have 2 questions to ask. Do they want to follow us and can they follow us. They may be forced to move to Cyliene at least for the first year. Only problem may be what do they do on Ariel. They may have more options on Cyliene. We all know a new colony needs people to do countless things." Rick wonders what the options were and were they good ones.
"What did they do for you mom and what did they do after we left?" Alexis asks, wondering if the answer would help. Wiping away tears.
"Well Kevin was a homicide detective before I hired him. I think his wife wanted him in a less dangerous type of work, and I think he didn't like his partner.
Javi was just out of the military and had been jumping around from job to job. I think he was a sniper in the Gulf War." Kate paused trying to remember everyone.
"First or second Gulf War?" Rick asks.
"I don't know. Both, either. …. Lanie was out of her, …. something about a hospital." Kate offers.
"Residency." Alexis offers.
"Residency yeah, she was perfect for one of my clients." Kate remembers.
"It would help if we had Lucy, but if memory serves, both Kevin and Javi are or were working for the NYPD, so was Lanie as an ME. I don't really remember Jenny." Rick had to admit.
"Police and medical." Alexis comments.
"It sounds like most everyone is military except for those on the cruise ship like they were. The military has their own police." Rick points out.
"Military police, MP's." Alexis adds nodding her head. "An ME would be helpful anywhere. Here, Ariel or any of the colony planets. Madison might like to have her around." Alexis offers. "It looked like Javi and Lanie were together." Alexis adds.
"I noticed. I didn't see them kissing like Kevin and Jenny did on occasion, but they never did leave each other's side." Kate adds.
"Not surprising if they shared a suite or room on a cruise ship for 3 or more years. Love each other or are just used to each other being around, it did look like they were together." Rick adds his 2 cents.
"Ok, say Lanie goes to Athos to work with Madison. Javi goes with her and does what? … Police work?" Kate wasn't sure.
"We have a similar problem with Kevin, … police and his wife does what?" Rick questions.
"You said Javi was military." Alexis offers. "And your Oracle says we need a military."
"Have him join our military? …. For now all our military is here on Tellus." Kate didn't see that working.
"As sad as it sounds, Earth is used to fighting. Nuking ourselves into almost non-existence certainly proves it. You said he was a sniper. Roy said they were working on a sniper version of the weapon he gave me." Rick points out.
Kate groans, there had to be something better. Something that kept them both together, not break them up.
"Those who don't, teach." Alexis whispers.
"Pumpkin?" Kate asks having heard her.
"It was something grams said once. Those who don't, teach. It was an argument she had with someone back home one day. Javi doesn't join the military, but he can open a sniper school and teach." Alexis offers.
Kate started smiling. "You really are a genius pumpkin." Kate couldn't help but hug her.
"That leaves Kevin and Jenny." Rick adds since they were only half way done.
"Detective training is long and time consuming. Not meant for someone with a family or even married possibly. I don't know what to offer him, or his wife." Kate was at a loss.
"It's still amazing they are here at all, no matter the reason." Rick was chuckling.
"Your universe is talking again dad. I mean think about it. You and mom left them all your money. They could afford to buy airline tickets and take a Hawaiian cruise on the very first cruise offered.
They could have waited and taken a cruise to the Caribbean instead, but no, they go to the pacific.
The only area that doesn't have a nuke explode on it allows them to live on ships till Tellus sends Captain Montgomery. And why did they send him at all? If they had sent him years from now he wouldn't have found anyone.
He would have found a dead Earth." Alexis moans out the last part. Her old home was gone.
This time Rick hugs her. "Not everyone is gone pumpkin. Between your grandmother, you and all of them, Earth will be remembered. And Tellus has a lot of what Earth dreamed up or created.
And the floating city on Cyliene will only exist because you planned ahead and downloaded it pumpkin." Rick was proud of her too. "You've done good pumpkin and I'm proud of you." Rick kisses her head.
"So where do we take them tomorrow?" Rick asks.
"We could take them to Disneyland Tellus." Alexis offers, since it would keep Emily and Kali entertained.
Rick jerks his head to look at Alexis. "I saw an advertisement for it. I'm thinking they took what I downloaded and gave them and they built one. I don't know what's there but we could go find out." Alexis offers.
"There's also a new water park next to one of the major lakes." Alexis adds.
"You've contaminated my planet." Kate tried to make it sound like a complaint but her smile gave her away.
Rick got up. "You're coming with me pumpkin, we're going to go get Disneyland tickets for everyone. …. We'll be right back babe." Rick gives Kate a quick kiss.
The Castle clan met up with their four old friends at the designated place.
"We have a surprise for you four. We have tickets." Rick holds them all up and hands over four of them.
"Disneyland! …. Seriously?" Jenny was shocked. This was an alien planet, wasn't it?
"Disneyland Tellus technically. Come on let's go see what's different about it." Rick urges them on since he was excited. Kate could only shake her head. Her grown up husband had just turned into a 12 year old. AGAIN!
However it was his ability to find fun that helped her love him.
The steam trains were still there.
The animatronic characters, including the birds in the Enchanted Tiki Room looked a lot more realistic than they remembered. Their motions were a lot more fluid, though the song was the same.
There were some new scenes in the Haunted Mansion.
The buildings in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride looked more like buildings on Tellus. It had everyone singing for hours afterword.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sack, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle, and even high-jack, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.We burn up the city, we're really a fright, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cads, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads, Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
The go-kart like ride was missing entirely, and the underwater ride was down for maintenance. But it looked like a real live working aquarium. They could see live fish in it.
And the monorail between the park and the adjacent hotel didn't look anything like the monorail at Disneyland that they remembered.
The roller coaster type rides do not have the clickity clack as the cars travel uphill, including Splash Mountain.
Plus the Peter Pan ride was not hanging from the ceiling. If fact it wasn't attached to anything they could see.
Emily and Kali were too small for some of the rides so Rick, Kate and Alexis traded off when they came to rides that they couldn't so the others could go.
The food was completely different. Most of it was pre-made and heated up as you ordered it. However there were a few true restaurants that cooked it to order, there was even one that was a buffet.
Rick, Kate or Alexis had to stand in line to visit the Disney characters, have their picture taken and get an autograph for everyone they found. Usually however it was Rick who went with them since he wanted his picture taken with a character too. Kate only shook her head and grinned about it.
They were done and exiting Disneyland headed for a GETS train for home. "I have a medical appointment tomorrow so you will be on your own tomorrow. The day after however we want to talk with you. We have some ideas we want to run past you." Kate tells them.
"Maybe before we leave we can all go to the water park that was also recently built." Rick was grinning still being in kid mode.
"Water Park?" He had Javi's attention at least.
"It's based off of Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World I've read." Alexis adds. "Get it, Blizzard on a desert like planet." Alexis was grinning. It was such a contradiction. Snow in a desert.
It got Kate to shake her head again and grin. Like father like daughter. But they did know how to make the girls happy and have fun. And inject some fun into her life as well. Part of why she loved them.
Kate didn't have to wait long before she was escorted into a room for her doctor visit. It had been a little over 3 months now and even Kate could see the difference.
The doctor was feeling up her leg, her calf area to be precise. "You're latest pictures don't show any internal bleeding and you are handling the addition nicely. Your latest blood work does not suggest your body is trying to reject the material.
Is there any pain or discomfort of any kind?" The doctor asks her. Getting Kate to shake her head.
"My doctor (meaning Madison) has already told me no running for any reason just yet. She wants the muscle attachment to grow stronger first." Kate tells him.
"Good, I don't want you to do any running for at least the next six months either. If you manage to rip something you could start to bleed and possibly lose feeling in these areas. Which can be dangerous. You're leg could be on fire and you wouldn't feel it until the fire spread far enough." The doctor warns her.
Kate could only agree that would be bad." We went to Disneyland the other day and are headed for a water park I think tomorrow." Kate tells him.
"Please tell me you took rest breaks. Disneyland can be hard on anyone's legs and feet." The doctor had been there and found out firsthand how much walking was involved.
"Several, plus we couldn't walk to fast anyway so we wouldn't lose anyone. Plus my husband had us sitting and drinking a lot, it was hot." Kate adds.
"Good! Just make sure you keep yourself hydrated. As for the water park, just remember, frequent breaks and remember to drink. I want you hydrated on the inside, not just the outside. And shower when you get home to wash the day off your leg.
It's looking nice. I think we have one more visit after this then you can go home." The doctor was done with her.
"Thanks doctor, for everything." Kate was feeling better about her leg now. A lot less worried about being out in public. Which was why she was willing to go to the water park. Her injured leg wouldn't stand out like it was.
"It's been a pleasure detective Castle. You've been an excellent test subject." The doctor leaves so Kate can get ready to leave.
Rick and the girls were waiting for her. "Everything good?"
"Everything is great, water park here we come." Kate was grinning. Her long legs were back and she wanted to show them off and raise Rick's interest in her a little after they got back. Well maybe you better make that raise his interest a lot.
"Is your friend Elena coming with us to the water park?" Kate asks since she was willing to have her come with them. After all she was going to be spending the next 6 months with them in their house on Ariel soon.
"I didn't think to ask." Alexis was suddenly ashamed of herself.
"Well we'll just have to stop somewhere so you can call her and ask." Rick tells her.
They made a side trip to the train station to find a private calling station before going out to dinner. Seems a number of things from Earth were becoming popular on Tellus. This one was a Hawaiian Luau. Everything was cooked on site except the pig. They did not yet have a method to ship live animals to other planets.
Which was just as well, they didn't want some animal endangering the existing species on the planet.
They met Kevin, Jenny, Javi and Lanie out front just as planned and went in to have a Hawaiian Luau, Tellus style.
Tomorrow was a trip to the water park. Kate had plans to make sure Rick never knew what hit him.