“And then… Wait.. Wait… Then she said, ‘So you’re Muslim?!'”
We were all laughing SO hard! It was so good to have “the band back together.” Mo being as funny as ever, and… surprise surprise, he and Kimberly are dating! Yeah, we all saw that coming. Right?
“So… Arya and I have something to tell you guys…” I started to explain.
“What”, Kimberly interrupted, “that you’re dating and have been for three years?” She, had not lost her snarkiness at all. Arya and I looked at each other and then at Mo.
“We’ve known all along…” he chuckled, “…probably saw it before you two gave in to it.” Then they both started laughing again. Kimberly, shaking her head. “Amateurs.”
“Doo-doo-dee-doo-doo” (computer sound)
“It’s good to have you all back with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to continue your contribution to our cause.” Mtumishi broke silence. The added computer tone was a welcome addition to clarify the difference between our Friend and Mtumishi.
“It *is* good to have you all back at the same time, and to know that you’ll be able to commit more time to our work.” Explained Arya cheerfully. “We’ve made a huge difference in crime reduction as you can see…” Mtumishi showed a chart on the wall by us. “…however, we’ve been deemed vigilantes by several law enforcement agencies and ,of course, we are at the top of the criminals’ hit list.”
“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!” Mo said. We high-fived.
Arya continued, “As you’ve seen in the press, they aren’t sure how many of us there are as eye witness accounts describe the same person but vary by size.” We all laughed. “Wonder why…”
“So what’s the plan?” asked Kimberly.
“Each of us have our own set of tasks to accomplish through the course of our day-jobs. As I understand it, we will take down individual criminals that do not have ties to organized criminal enterprises; then we begin with the low-level crime rings and work our way up to the one led by Rita — JET’s old friend.”
I sighed.
“Aside from that…” Arya continued, “…we will continue to support law enforcement as before by handling things that they have neither the manpower nor other resources to accomplish.”
“So how do we know what our orders are as they change?” I asked.
Arya responded, “Glad you asked. Here are your new ‘mobile phones’. I already have mine.” A robot scooted up to where we’re standing with three clear plastic discs on it.
“Each of you pick one up — doesn’t matter which one.” She said. We each took one and as we pick it up it displayed our name.
“Now just think about your calendar.” She continued.
When I did, I could see a calendar appear on the disk, likewise with Mo and Kimberly.
“Woah.” Mo and I said in unison.
Then Arya said, “Now think of your task list”
Likewise our task list appeared.
“But how…” Kimberly began to ask.
“Just a little something Mo and I have been working on with bionano connectivity. Now put it down.”
When we put them down the disc became clear again.
Arya went on, “Now JET, you pick up Mo’s and Mo, pick up Kimberly’s.”
When we did, our own information was on the disc we held.
“Ahhh, so these work the same way the visor in our suits work. Whichever of us puts it on or picks up a comm-disc, it recognizes and syncs to us.” I mused.
“Exactly” Arya replied.
Mo said, “It’s all possible because of the bionano solution we each drank the last time we were here in BOO. We’re able to create updates that automatically apply whenever you’re in BOO without you having to do anything.”
Arya explained, “Lastly, you can also see the full list of tasks and each other’s calendars. If any emergency arises, your comm-disc will vibrate. If anybody else picks up a disc nothing will happen — it’ll look like a paperweight.”
“I’m hungry; can we go get some food?” Mo said rubbing his stomach.
Kimberly looped her arm inside of his and said, “You’re always hungry baby. Chinese?”
Arya looped her arm inside of mine, giggled, and we agreed.
JET (The Hero) 