by Boris Licina
"OK", she sighed, "I want you to present this to my team."
26.
An hour after pacing around Ava's meeting room, Josh finally sat down at the head of the conference table. He liked to walk around when presenting. He would twirl his hands, make gestures, pointing and explaining. Depending on the topic, the amount of passion in his speech would increase or decrease. It was not his favorite activity, he preferred to bury himself in the code and solve problems. But for that occasion he had prepared a detailed presentation with numbers and explanations how he obtained them. He included a model he had programmed, in which he could enter various parameters. Besides Ava, Morris, Jessica, Cody and the biologist Rose Verdolac were sitting in the meeting.
"I thought you should listen to this", Ava said. "It's the worst scenario possible, and I believe, not very likely. Still, more heads are better than one. What do you think?"
"Unfortunately, the numbers are correct", Morris said straight away. "CDC made similar prognoses of the number of casualties and got roughly the same result for their worst case."
Ava sighed deeply.
"But, we don't know where CDC stands with the potential vaccine and distribution once it's produced. That is, at what rate", Rose concluded. "That's important."
"True", Josh agreed.
"I'm afraid CDC has not gone far. They work fast, but the Snow Flu is faster", Morris said. "As far as I know, and what my friend Rachel from CDC said, the situation is not bright. Actually, the best we can do is prepare for the worst."
"And hope the worst never comes", Cody added.
Ava's heart rate was accelerating.
"Josh", Rose asked, "what does your scenario predict for us?"
"There are two options", Josh stood up again and started pacing.
"The first is that Rene 9 becomes our new home, the second to return to Earth and start again. Rene 9 seems a safer option, at least in the next few years, because realistically speaking, we have no idea if we'd escape this flu if we landed. Look", he sat next to Rose, "there are many unanswered questions. If there are only a million people left on Earth, where will they be? Who will manage the world? Will they, like in the movies, form gangs like in Mad Max? Or try to create a new, better society? We don't know. And for now, Earth is the greatest unknown factor."
"I agree", Morris said, "although Rene 9 is not so safe. In your calculation there are no space objects that we pass daily and that would also be uncontrolled. They are a potential bomb that might cost us our lives."
"As I see it", Cody cut in, "the first decision to me made is Rene 9 or Earth."
"That's right", Ava's voice trembled a little. "Rene 9 or Earth."
"Not much of a choice", Morris already had his answer. "If all this comes true, Earth will be too risky. I think our best option is Rene 9. We can watch what happens on Earth from a safe distance. As far as possible. At the same time try to find solutions for threats to Rene 9."
"Cody, Rose", Ava looked at them, "the key problem is food. What do you estimate?"
"According to the current stock, with two meals a day, we could extend our supplies to a year and a half. After that, there's only the farm."
"The farm will not be enough", Rose said. "It can provide one meal a day at the maximum production rate."
"How easily did we accept that our new home is space", Jessica said with a faint smile. She was following the discussion attentively.
"Not that we have much choice", Josh said.
"Hey", she spread her arms, "I'm not complaining. But, I think that if we stay on Rene 9, we have to think about all options."
"Such as?", Ava asked.
"Such as", Jessica continued, "that we would never be able to repopulate Earth. And that staying in the orbit may be risky. Space junk, asteroids, electrical storms. Who knows … ideally, we should have a spare planet."
The room was overflown with voices.
"Hey!", Ava shouted. "Let's hear what Jessica's saying. Today, all options are open."
"Thank you", Jessica said. "What I want to say is that it is true that we are not able to colonize Mars or another planet today. But, in a hundred or more years, if Earth would not be habitable, and people still lived on Rene 9 … who knows. We have to think about it today. First of all, how to reach this potential new planet."
"How exactly? It's not that I think this is not a good option, but I'd like to know", Cody asked.
"Solar sails", Morris said.
"Solar sails", Jessica confirmed. "NASA has developed a solar sails project, I even know the head of the project, that may be installed on Rene 9. With a little remodeling and effort, it should be possible. With the solar sails we could be ten times faster than the Falcon.
"This is true", Morris confirmed.
"I read somewhere about a good comparison: from Los Angeles to New York in under a minute. Definitely an option", said Morris. "But, we are rushing. First we have to see how the situation on Earth develops and will it improve. If it goes the worst way, we have two options: Rene 9 in Earth's orbit or Earth. The first option is more realistic, because we have a known resource at hand and may return at any point. The sails option is a good backup, but honestly, I don't believe we'll be needing this."
"I agree", Cody said.
"Somehow", Ava surprised herself, "I'm intrigued by Jessica's idea."
"Me, too", added Morris, "but this is a reality in a far future. Let's first make the plan for nourishment. Cody?"
"As I said, the storage supplies can be squeezed for two meals."
"And then we use the farm?", asked Morris.
"Not, necessarily", Cody replied. "We can fill the rest of the storage. That means another year, if we stretch it. And we have to pick it up fast because who knows what the next year will bring …"
"But, that means we have to go back to Earth. Isn't that too risky?", Ava wanted to know. "What if somebody catches the flu?"
"We'll throw that person out into space", Josh found the solution, "and I'm not joking. Whoever flies to Earth, the quarantine is required upon return. And that means two days, because the disease develops that fast."
"True", Cody agreed, "no entrance into the hotel without a quarantine. Although, if the worst scenario happens, the Snow Outbreak should not affect us. Everybody would be dead."
"Some truth in this", Morris concluded, "and I think we have a good lead. To ensure for the future, if my friend Rachel survives, I'd like to invite her to join us. An epidemiologist of her caliber could prove useful if we decide to return."
"I'm sure there are more people that would need saving, that could be useful", Rose said.
"Sure, we can make a list", Morris said.
"Jessica", Cody asked, "how would you go about this?"
"As far as I know, the Company has a large storage near Kissimmee, close to lake Tohopekaliga. That's an hour from Kennedy. But, first we should remove some of the seats from the Falcon to make space for food. Land on Kennedy, then three people in three trucks to pick up food. During that run, I fill the Falcon up with fuel. We load the supplies and return to quarantine."
"Where would we get the trucks?", Cody asked.
"There's a logistic center at Kennedy with trucks, some of them automatic, so that driving skills are not necessary, but I'd like somebody inside."
"This is a good beginning", Josh was satisfied, "but before that you have to explain it to all the guests and offer them the option to return to Earth. I'm sure not everybody wants to stay on Rene 9."
"Then we can exchange them for others, like Morris's Rachel?", Rose suggested.
"We can", Ava confirmed.
"And those should be of extreme importance to the hotel. Not mom and dad, however ugly this sounds", Rose continued.
"Unfortunately, yes", said Ava wondering what had happened to her parents. She failed to talk to them for five days.
"Excellent plan, but I would add solar sails", Jessica said decisively. "Why? Well, the same reason as for the food. Who knows what the situation wi
ll be in a year, maybe a fire in the NASA's storage where they keep the sails."
"Sandusky, Ohio", Morris revealed that location.
"That's right", Jessica said. "Sandusky, Ohio."
"How many of those sails fit in the Falcon?", Ava wanted to know.
"They will fit if we remove everything else from the Falcon. These are actually two small crafts with folded sails that unfold when the crafts are in space. I have already done the calculation. It will be tight, but we can fit them. I suggest three teams in the first flight. One for the food, two for Sandusky. While they pack the sails, we'll deliver food, throw everything out of the Falcon and return to Kennedy. We can pick up some important people, too, if they survived. I think it is important to have those sails as an option, whatever you may think of them. The very idea is liberating, that we can escape and that we're not tied to Earth."
"OK, I agree. Those sails are a good Plan B, we'll use them or we won't", Ava concluded. "One more thing. What happens when we empty the food storage in two and a half years?"
"In two years we can expand the farm over to the zero-gravity chamber and secure larger quantities of food", Rose said.
"OK, then I suggest we get some sleep, think once again about all options and wait to see how the events unfold on Earth. When we gather all the facts, we'll develop this into a more detailed plan."
Everybody exited the meeting room, except Cody and Ava.
"Let's get you some coffee", Cody said. "I can tell you need it."
She definitely needed it. Everything was going so fast! But with some weird, exciting adrenaline, just like a trip into the unknown.
27.
This escalated quickly. This thought raced through Morris's head while he was walking towards the control room. When he was a boy, that popular meme spread over the Internet. That was exactly that meeting at Ava's. But, he knew it was good to have a plan, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Just as Cody had said. He was surprised by Ava though, how interested she was in Jessica's idea. Morris liked the idea, too, but it was far from reality. The idea still had psychological merits, offered some sense of security if needed. Knowing there was an escape, made it all easier. Perhaps that was the reason why Ava liked it. He could not help but notice that she was panicking a bit. He was not quite sure, probably got it wrong.
Morris sat down in his comfortable chair, had a short chat with Houston that was still operative and decided to ring up Rachel. Check the situation. Tell her about the plan.
"Hey, you alive?", he sent the message.
"Yeah", the reply came quickly, "sitting by the window, watching the snow."
"Not in CDC?"
"No. I'll go in an hour, the shifts are now 24 hours. Don't stop till you drop!"
"That's the spirit I know you're used to it."
"True."
"What's the situation? Ending in sight?"
"I'd love to lie to you, but I know you need the truth. I'm afraid not. Going towards the worst scenario."
"Yours or computer's?"
"Computer's."
"70% dead?"
"Yes. Maybe more. According to the last estimates, only a few million people on Earth in a year. If this goes on the same."
"Any solution?"
"An experimental vaccine, not yet finished. Needs more work. And people drop, one by one. I don't know why I'm still alive."
"Not good."
"No. If you ask me, it's over. The Snow Flu will disappear in a year or two, all by itself and only the lucky people outside the cities will survive. The most remote and isolated areas."
"Uh, if you say it's not good, then it's not."
"Well, yes. That's how it is, what can you do. The disease is quick, we are slow. In a month there will be nobody to work on the vaccine in Atlanta. Labs across the globe are trying to find the solution, and some military labs, hidden away, probably will. Where people stayed inside from the beginning of the outbreak. But, until they distribute it, only a few million people will be left."
"Your family OK?"
"Both of them casualties of the first wave of the outbreak. When nobody knew what to expect."
"I'm sorry."
"Hey, it's OK. Dad was 86, mom 83. They had a lot of happy days."
"Is Atlanta still functional? The news we see shows things still operative?"
"Unfortunately, less and less. Trash hasn't been collected for a fortnight, break-ins and robberies happen daily, the police is almost non-existent, fires rarely put out. There simply aren't enough people willing to take risks. Due to the illness or something else. I think most of them are locked in their homes, waiting for everything to pass. And that will take some time, I'm afraid."
"Listen, if push comes to shove …"
"It will, it's final. In two weeks at most, hospitals will close, then everything will go even faster. In three weeks, no news or TV programs if not automated. Some people will gather in towns, looking for food. Those in the wild, will stay in the wild."
"You were in Washington. Have you ever made estimates of what happens in such situations? How the world would function?"
"I never worked on that, but one of my colleague did. I attended his lecture once. As I remember, according to his research and work, in case of a large outbreak like this, states would dissolve, cities and forts become the central points of human life. Forever in war with each other, because that's human nature. The smarter ones would escape to far islands and turn them into unbeatable fortresses. Some would sail the seas. In time, cities would collaborate, trade would flourish. In the next decades, things would be returning to normal, only with a lot less people."
"Unbelievable!"
"Yes. But, you are in the best position, safe from everything."
"That's why I'm calling you. One of our guests, Josh the software engineer, calculated some scenarios and reached approximately the same results as you. In short, the conclusion is that if it really escalates, Rene 9 becomes our new home."
"Better than Earth!"
"That was also what we thought. We even have an alternative, a somewhat crazy plan as an additional option, but never mind now … We're staying in the hotel! I'd like you to join us up here."
"Hah, hah, let me go start my spacecraft."
"We'll be landing for food in two or three weeks, when we know more."
"Oh, interesting."
"I'm serious. An epidemiologist like you would certainly be handy to us. And should we decide to return to Earth one day, you may be the key to our health."
"You have always idealized me. If I'm not the key now, I'll hardly be one in the future."
"You don't know that."
"True. Thank you for calling."
"Just go to the Kennedy Space Center."
"Right. Of course. Let's see what happens …"
"I agree."
"… but if it goes on like this, I'll visit Rene 9 gladly."
"Excellent!"
28.
"You really think Rene 9 could be our new home?", Cody asked Ava.
They were sitting in a small bar next to the TV room, drinking coffee. The bar was another "earthen" moment in the design. Beautiful brown tones had a calming effect, and very discrete lights offered a special feeling of intimacy."
"Probably. I don't know. It's hard to say", Ava did not know.
"It seems a little improbable to me", Cody was skeptical.
"Well, look, it's good to have a plan. If the going gets tough, we'll know what to do. I'm a nerd, I like plans and detailing", Ava explained.
"Well, for a space hotel director, that's expected. I think up here there's no room for improvisations", Cody concluded.
"Yes, that's no kitchen", she smiled thinking of hotel's food that was really good."
"I'm glad you like it", Cody also smiled. "I believe many of our guests are finding solace in our restaurant."
"I'm sure they do! Food is always healing, whatever it may be. According to what I read, every guest has lost at least tw
o people close to them. They are hiding their pain well."
"Probably also happy they're alive. But, they'll lose more than that", Cody lowered his head and sighed.
"You lost someone, too?"
"Many dear friends. Too many."
"Somebody special?"
"Nobody … of that kind. We separated before I went to the hotel. She did not like the idea of moving to space."
"Are you sorry?"
"Well, I was. We were not together long, only two years. I thought she was the one! When I left for the hotel, I thought we would survive this. But, we didn't. She moved on quickly." Cody sipped a little coffee. "Last I heard she was pregnant."
"That was quick."
"Yeah. Too quick, it seems. But, that's me. I think this new guy is a professional hockey player or something."
"The important thing is you're over it", Ava told him.
"Yeah, I hardly ever remember her", he waved his hand. "What about you? Who did you leave on Earth?"
"Nobody! Straight from the faculty I went to the Company's resort on Saint Martin. Never had any serious relationships. I worked hard and always had too little time."
"Well, if you hadn't worked so hard, they would never have offered you to manage their most important investment."
"Perhaps", she laughed. "When John told me, it was incredible. In a hotel bar."
"How quickly did you accept?", Cody wanted to know.
"In three seconds! You don't refuse such an offer. Although, I must say it's not easy. Completely different than a hotel on Earth. Every, even the smallest potential problem needs to be resolved immediately! Because if it escalates, it's over."
"I know, everything is more complicated up here. But also more interesting. What were your five best moments from the resort?", Cody surprised Ava with this question.
"Hmm", she thought for a moment and counted her fingers. "Every time I swam in the crystal clear sea, the day we found a lost boy and when I thought it was all over, my friends Harry and Elena's wedding", she stopped for a second, "then opening of seven luxurious villas and when I discovered stuffed crabs with Creole sauce!"