Discovery Gaming Community

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The island New Astarte was full of commotion, as always. Researchers, professors, students and anyone with an interest in science, art or both would be present here, furthering the development of Yuma piece by piece. Under a gargantuan glass dome, the sky would remain visible to be reflected in the waters that still followed the island's artificial shores. However, there was no wind, no waves... Except for the constant movement of people, shuttles and drones, there was only tranquility to be beheld.


Under the central dome, one would quickly recognise a few of the most prominent towers. The Aithne Research Academy was found in the center, with the Yuma University to the east, Yuma Robotics HQ to the north and, last but not least, the Crayterian Central Library to the south-west. Like most days,
Erik Corvin has just finished his 16:00 lecture at the University and went to the nearby park to get Peter, his 5 year old son. As soon as they're together, they start strolling slowly to the Yuma Robotics HQ. As time passed by, Erik's mind was being engulfed by a confusing, albeit pleasant, memory...

"If someone looks after Ben and gets me some whites, I can help if you want?" - a phrase so simple, but one that made Erik feel something he hadn't felt in so long, something he didn't even think he could ever feel. Since Cynthia, his wife, had died - he never thought of finding someone else... but when Doreen so eagerly stated "i can help", he saw the same devotion to other people that made him fall in love the first time. Ah well, who knows... he thought to himself as he took a seat on a bench in front of the Robotics tower.

Right now, he was just waiting for his guests.

It had already been a whirlwind couple of days. The day before it was in-briefings for her new position, a lot of meet-and-greets. She met her staff and fellow physicians even helping a couple of patients in a very busy facility. Medicine was her passion as was helping those in need. She had also received her government ID for both her and Benjen and their residency papers.
Today was no different. She enrolled Benjen in a good school that both fit his interests and taught him the many courses of study a child would need. Languages, science and mathematics were a requirement and he did well in them all. He was in a position to get better. She then returned to the medical facility where she was working to continue orientation and set up her office. Today though, was different.

Erik Corvin was to escort her and Benjen on a tour of Aithne Research Academy on New Astarte. The fact the Ben got an invite as well was sobering to her. She learned that public transit in New Astarte was quick and that much of where she needed to go was a short walk away. While Benjen was still at school, she finished a bit early for the day and returned home to freshen up. After a quick shower, she put on a white, cream satin blouse and a pair of gray slacks. She wanted to be professional but didn't want to overdo it. This was why she opted for a very light perfume, conservative earrings and a only a watch on her left wrist. It was a professional meeting, after all.


She picked up Benjen from school. He was in a great mood after day one. He told her of how he was accepted by all, how many kids came from all over Sirius and Gallia. One of them spoke Rheinlandic to him. Yes, he was happy and even more so now that Mom was with him. When he heard of the tour they were about to get, he became excited. He gave a squeal when he found out that he would again get to hang with Peter.

They arrived where Erik told them to be. They were about five minutes ahead. Not sure of where to go, they found a bench near robotics and waited. Doreen sighed as she put on a smile.

---

16:55 - Erik and Peter had already been waiting for about 5 minutes when they saw Doreen and Benjen arrive from a distance. They walked slowly towards their guests, until - of course - Peter started running towards Benjen, leaping at the end of his short sprint and stopping right in front of Ben. Before long, he started giggling and trying to explain how the tour is going to be awesome.

Erik, on the other hand, kept a civil approach and continued to walk until he arrived in front of Doreen, who was still sitting on a bench. He politely bowed his head as a greeting, before commenting "A bit early it seems." - with a smile - "I'm guessing Ben was as excited as Peter?" and he ended his question while patting his son on the head.



It didn't take long for Erik to notice Doreen's commonplace, but still beautiful, outfit. Rather amusingly, he wasn't overly-formal either. He was wearing a classic dark suit with a white shirt, without any other accessories except for his glasses. Truthfully, he had his eyesight repaired years ago, but this particular pair of glasses was more of an heirloom to him. The only thing that could be considered out of place was the unusual crest printed on his suit, which, instead of the usual double-headed phoenix representative of the Republic, had a phoenix encircling a cross.
Peter on the other hand was as casual as it could get, wearing nothing more than a pair of sneakers, shorts, a red t-shirt and a cap to match.

He gestured towards the stairs to his left, leading into the tall tower near where they all were, and said "Well, it's going to be a long tour so we might as well get started. Oh, and... Doreen..." - he was still unsure if her direct use of a first name was also approval for her to be called by the first name - "I arranged for a room at the top of the tower to be set for the children to play in, after the tour, so we can get to the lab."

Benjen smiled as his new friend arrived. For him, a good day just got better. As Peter spoke, Ben said simultaneously, "This is going to be so kool!" Doreen just smiled and gave a quiet laugh, viewed only through her shoulders bouncing as she first looked at the boys, then Erik, then back at the boys. Ben turned to her, "Mom! This is going to be so kool!"
"Yes, Sweety, it will be," she answered him with a bright smile.

She then turned her attention to Erik. She took a deep breath, smiled and just said, "Hi" with her exhale. He looked handsome but she was trying to keep at least semi-professional while the children jumped around next to them. "You look....sharp," she told him. She wanted to say handsome but was afraid to say so so soon.

"I arranged for a room at the top of the tower to be set for the children to play in, after the tour, so we can get to the lab."
She nodded. "Very good," she replied, "I'm sure there are a few things they don't need to see."
She then said in a lower tone to Erik with an unsure expression, "Please, forgive me if I seem a bit unsure as we've only met what, two days ago?" She gave a soft chuckle, "I've never really had anyone to....." She shrugged and rolled her head a little, "......answer to. But please, just call me Doreen. If we're in a professional environment then we'll use proper titles, I mean, if you're OK with me calling you Erik."

---

As Erik noticed Doreen's similar state of uncertainty, he was partially relieved. But, for the most part, the flamboyant happiness of children was what made everything just right. Who could be in any way upset when kids run around you in excitement, right?

After she finished her statement, Erik scratched the back of his head with a chuckle and replied "No, no. It's actually fine to call me Erik." And it wasn't a lie. He felt content with being called so, but being in a family of his renown (within the Republic), most people tended to be all formal around him.
He started walking up the stairs, while the others were following, and he continued speaking "I'm hoping you're accommodating with the work-flow on New Hippocrate well. As you surely noticed, medical aid is always required for some of our people."

---

After they were to enter the tower, they'd find themselves in the lobby - which was filled with the various Crayterian technological wonders, both old and new. There were numerous shuttle designs, androids, drones, automated systems... all put on display. And obviously plenty of people either working or visiting would be seen walking around.


As soon as he was noticed, some of the men and women around greeted Erik with the classic "Welcome back, sir." or questions like "Here on your time off, sir?". Naturally, he responded to each of them with a smile and a semi-formal hello and continued to lead his guests towards the elevator.
Obviously, some of the ladies would throw around a casual hello towards Peter, asking him how he's doing. However, this time he was rather preoccupied by Ben's presence to notice them. Instead, he kept explaining what each thing in the lobby was. "See that? That's an old Viper, from back in Clayter." - he said, while pointing to a Nyx-like vessel, but white and much smaller. "And that's a duty dloid malk 2. Daddy says we still use 'em for clean-up in some buildings."

Doreen was intrigued. Her whole life was medicine and research and not technology. She made a slow walk from thing to thing as studied each. She had only heard of a Viper fighter. It was the first time she had actually seen one.
"I've never flown a fighter," she told Erik, "It's never been something I was good at." She then gave a smirk of pride as she spoke, "Anyone can take a life. Only a few of us can save them." She did, however, take an interest in it's design and even took a seat in it, smiling as she found herself surrounded by the cockpit. Satisfied, she exited the craft and continued.
She then took a big interest in the sporty looking car. She was used to modified and retired military vehicles but not this. She walked over to it and ran her hands over it's curves. It was like a blind person studying something unknown with their hands. She then made a sort of strut from one side of it to the other. It was.......hot and she liked it. As she walked about it, she had an ear to ear smile. As she looked at the car, she made a couple of glances toward Erik but it was as she was looking into the window that she asked through her smile, "What is this? It's beautiful."

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Ben found himself listening to Peter explain what was what. Both boys found themselves a medium distance from their parents but within eyesight. Like his mother, Ben found the ships to be of interest. Ben was used to living inside a large ship. Around the droid, Ben commented, "It looks like a big.......monster." He also found what looked to be a robotic dog to be kool. He never had a pet but always wanted one. He found his child attention span thinning. He forgot about the dog and went to the two wheeled vehicle. "Peter!" he hollered, "this is so kool."

---

When she mentioned not being a fighter-pilot, Erik gave a long glance at the Viper and replied "I don't know how to fly a fighter either, but I know how they work. I've always loved to tinker... with pretty much anything." After Doreen continued her commentary, he remained completely silent for a few seconds. "You're right... not everyone can save lives... and not every life can be saved..." - he said, while in his mind he recalled the reason for his wife's death. A Gallic attack on Crayterian transports in the Taus - Cynthia was part of a fighter-squadron meant to protect the civilian lives in the convoy... and she did, at the cost of her own life. He came to his senses and continued with a rather shallow breath "But that's why people like you and I are here - to find ways to save as many lives as we can." - he finished his statement with a simple smile, looking at Doreen.

As moments passed by, Doreen's smile became rather captivating. Erik empathised with her curiosity and chuckled at her almost childish behavior.
"This... is a Hippogriff Five hover-vehicle. It's the last of its kind, actually. These small 'shuttles' were the Crayter-old version of the ships you see nowadays on the planet's surface, in fact. They could only carry a maximum of six people each but they were fast and numerous enough to allow for smooth traffic."

---

As the kids came to the hover-cycles, Peter understood Ben's awe and replied "Yeah, it really is! Wanna go for a ride some day?"

---

A few minutes later, Erik waved at the kids to come close and said "Alright, let's take a look on the next floor, shall we?"

She continued admiring the Hippogriff. "If this is old, I'd love to see what the new looks like," she said semi-under her smiling breath. For the moment, she wasn't much of a professional at all, she was that young girl in love with her first vehicle. She continued to admire before finally taking a deep breath.
"So much stuff," she commented. "I guess I have lived a fairly sheltered life if this older stuff is new to me." She then returned to Erik as the kids arrived, both full of excitement. "If this is the beginning, we're in for a treat." She then jokingly said to him as she gave him a sort of "picking-on-him" smile, "Carry on, Sir!"

---

Erik chuckled at Doreen's last few remarks, but didn't reply in words. The small group took the elevator upwards, going beyond floors 2 and 3 - to which Erik commented "Those are the main office floors."
As they arrived at the fourth floor, the doors opened to a long hallway. Erik walked forward and gestured for everyone to follow him. He quickly reached a door on the right, on which a plaque read "YR Lab 5". He tapped a code into the keypad lock, then opened the door gently and held it so, while motioning with his other hand for Doreen and the kids to go inside.

"Well, here's where the 'magic' happens." he said while grinning a bit.

---

Beyond the door there was a large laboratory with only a couple other technicians inside. All around there were automated arms, carefully piecing together different circuits. Moreover, there were hologram tables depicting all sorts of models of hover-vehicles and robots. Obviously, screens with technical data on them were lit everywhere, constantly changing, adjusting...


When everyone was inside, Erik commented "I know it might not look as glamorous as the lobby... but this is one of the few laboratories in which our teams design most of the Crayterian technology." He walked towards a central round table and started pushing a few keypads. Moments later, the hologram that was on display changed to one representing a vehicle similar to the Hippogriff. Then, Erik said "Doreen, this is the Hippogriff Six. Our friends at Felix Manufacturing have only built a few so far, because there isn't much need for them at the moment. It's not like we have lots of highways on our small floating islands." he ended his last comment with a laugh.
The newer model looked slicker than the Five, and with the entire top-side made of what appeared to be windows.

To the back of the lab, one of the technicians caught Peter's attention as he was working on something that looked like a ball. So, after a few seconds, Peter asked Ben if he wants to come with him for a closer look.

Although it was for technology, a laboratory was more Doreen's speed. Of course, petry dishes, beakers, tubes, microscopes and even re-generators were more to her knowledge base. Still, it was a lab and she walked through it. She took an immediate liking to the Hippogriff and nodded her agreement.
"Not having highways is a bit of a problem," she stated, "but in as much as I disliked Houston, there was a lot of highway there." She then patted it, "Someday!......Someday!"
She took an interest in everything. After all, a lab much like this somewhere was for medicine, bionics or prosthetics and such. Technical stuff wasn't here strength so she made good observation and study.
She turned to Erik, "I take it that there are many others like this lab but specializing in different technologies? I mean, this is impressive."

_______________________

Ben accepted Peter's invite. Together, they went to look at the "ball." Ben was afraid to touch it as he didn't have a clue as to what it was. He turned towards Erik, very unsure of himself.
"Mr. Corvin, what is this? Is it something I can touch?"
Doreen just stood still as she watched the two interact.