Space Ghost

Chapter One

"Daddy, what are you doing?" Little Alexis stopped at the door leading to his laboratory and softly asked her question.

"Working. I still have a long way to go to get these things to work." Even after he did he had to do a lot of testing to verify that they not only worked the way he wanted them to, but that they didn't break down after one or even a few uses.

When he didn't hear anything he at first thought his daughter had left him to his work. But turning his head to the door showed that she hadn't moved an inch. Worse, she was standing there and she looked about as unhappy as he had ever seen her. As much as his work meant to him, his daughter meant even more.

"Go put on your swimsuit and we'll go to the water park." If it made her happy then he was happy. He saw her smile a smile that threatened to break her face followed by a squeal. Her long orange hair was swinging from side to side as she ran to her bedroom so she could get ready.

Rick made note of just where he was and shut everything down, turned out the light, closed the door, and activated the security system. Then he went to his room to put on his swimsuit and gathered up everything they were going to need. Especially the sunscreen for his daughter since she burned far too easily.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

"Come on, Daddy!" Alexis was way out in front and was already standing that the ticket dispenser so her dad could buy the tickets that would allow them entrance.

"I'm coming." Rick finally joined her. "Put your hand on the plate."

"Oh!" Alexis in her enthusiasm had forgotten about this part. She put her hand on the plate, watched her dad wave his hand over the payment center, and felt the machine etch a temporary water-based tattoo to her hand. The tattoo was designed to last no less than 24 hours before wearing off on its own. It was used not to just get into the space but also used to ride each ride. If she wasn't tall enough to reach the reader plate she didn't get to ride.

The system was even smart enough to know if someone was holding you high enough, or if you were standing on someone or something in order to reach. And you had to hold your hand there just long enough. Simply slapping your hand against the plate wouldn't do.

Alexis was now a year older than the last time she had been here so she had high hopes that she was tall enough for some of the more exciting rides meant for older kids.

"Let's go, Daddy." Alexis watched impatiently as he got his temporary tattoo and she was off to the races. Rick hated yelling at her so he jogged after her to try and keep up. For a little girl that was a bit short for her age, those five-year-old legs could really move.

"Map!" Alexis knew this place and since she wanted to ride those rides she didn't get to last time she needed to know where they were.

"Fine, put your other hand on the plate." Rick waited for her to place her hand where indicated then swiped his hand over the payment center and they waited as the system etched an interactive water-based tattoo on her hand.

They only needed the one so Alexis was going to be their guide to all the rides. Like the other tattoo it was meant to last a minimum of 24 hours and then start to wear off. You simply looked at your hand and used a finger to trace out on the map and it would enlarge or decrease in size as well as direct you to the ride in question. Not just rides but places to eat and maybe even more importantly, where the closest restroom was located. Still what it didn't show you was were all the little kiosk stands were located that day that would sell only two or three items, since they could be anywhere each day.

"Okay, pumpkin, what's first?" He had a good idea but it was on the far end of the park if memory served and watched Alexis manipulate the map on her hand.

"This way, Daddy." She had selected what was first and she was off with Rick right behind her.

Rick read the sign and got in line with her. "Constrictor." Then they reached the point where Alexis had to prove she was finally big enough for this ride. Alexis was stretching for all she was worth and was even grunting. "Tippy toes…more toes." Rick offered encouragement and then they both saw green and Alexis jumped for joy.

"Let's go, pumpkin." They were going for a ride.

250m long, the Constrictor wraps through the upper tree canopy sending riders sloshing high up the sides of the slide after being swung through near 90-degree turns.

What they both saw was an open slide that looked a lot like a snake that was all curled up on itself and it was all downhill. Rick took the two man tube. He put Alexis in front of him and pushed off.

Rick started screaming all the way down which had Alexis screaming with him. When her screaming turned into laughter it warmed Rick's heart. It was a memory they were both going to remember for a long time to come. It was a first for her and that made it special.

"One down, what's next?" Rick asked and watched her manipulate the map on her hand.

"Super Bowl!" Alexis was off with Rick right behind her. Like last time she had to stand literally on the tip of her toes to get it to turn green for her.

Take the drop through a rainbow translucent tube before being shot into the giant cauldron that is Superbowl! Whipped around like a human roulette ball at dizzying speed you are finally flushed through the exit tube for a perfect pool splashdown.

The only real problem was that you couldn't stay in the pool that it dumped you out into because there were people right behind you. Yet once again Alexis's screams turned into laughter.

"Well that was fun. What's next?" Though if he remembered correctly there were only a few rides left that she hadn't done yet.

He should have known but there was more than one left. "Python."

Fitting up to 4 people in a life-raft style tube, you get the chance to see the expressions on your friend's faces as you drop and swing through the depths of the Python's belly measuring a massive 6m across.

Like all the others so far Alexis had to get up on the very tips of her toes to make the panel turn green and they were off. They ended up sharing the ride with two girls that were in their preteens and they all screamed all the way down.

"Lunch or restroom break?" Rick was actually a little hungry. That had Alexis consulting her map.

"Kuey Tiew Pad Siew? It's close," Alexis offered.

"Lead the way, let's see what it is." When they reached it he was actually surprised though maybe he shouldn't have been. He had expected it to be something for kids that he would eat but might not like. Instead it turned out to actually be good for you. Leave it to Alexis to pick something that was actually good for them.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

Lunch had been expensive and the portions a little small but it was actually tasty. "So what's next?" They still had the rest of the afternoon to do more rides, even some of the ones they had taken the last time they had been here.

Alexis sucked up the last of her drink and manipulated the map on her hand.

"Green Vipers." Rick liked the look of it. It was all twist and turns and downhill. They were both told to cross their legs, cross their arms across their chests, and just fall. Like all the other rides so far they, like everyone else in this park, screamed all the way down until they landed in a pool and swam to the edge.

Alexis announced what was next. "Pipeline." What she was really doing was building up her courage for the ultimate ride, if she could get on it.

Perched high above the park and directly above the notorious Climax the clear tube of Pipeline gives riders an amazing perspective of the park and the Kuta skyline. Riders are whipped through heavily banked turns that might make the view a bit of a speed blur.

This time it was just a landing tube filled with water to slow down in.

"Having fun?" Rick knew it was a stupid question given that Alexis had been smiling since the time they had left home. "Okay, little miss adventurous, what's next." This time all she did was point since they were right next to it. "You're sure about this?" Even he wasn't sure he wanted to take it. "Let's find out if you qualify." It looked dangerous even if none of them actually were. They all just varied in how scary they were.

Alexis had been trying to get the panel to turn green for her for the last five minutes. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get it to do it. "Sorry, pumpkin, maybe next time." He wasn't sure if he was sad or glad. They both listened as the next person down the ride screamed the entire way. Rick already knew that you stood on a trap door and wrapped your arms around yourself and then the door opened and dropped you straight down for a while before you actually felt the tube and then leveled out and eventually slowed down. It got its name for what you did.

He was all set to ask her what was next when she beat him to it. "Potty." Alexis had to go.

"Well then let's go." That was definitely more important than knowing what the next ride was going to be.

Rick waited until Alexis came back out. "Another ride or go home?" They could stay and eat dinner here if she wanted.

Alexis didn't need to look it up or figure out how to get there. They had done this enough already. "Lazy River?" It wasn't fun and exciting but it was nice and it was really green.

Kick back and relax as you drift along the Lazy River. Meandering through our lush tropical gardens, your worries will wash away in less than a lap.

Since a lot of people were using the same ride at the same time it was still lazy but not exactly alone. Still it took some time to complete the course.

"What's next?" Rick was ready for something more fun and was betting so was his daughter and watched her access the map.

"Boomerang. This way, Daddy." Alexis began walking with Rick right behind her.

The Boomerang is one of our most popular slides for a pretty good reason. A giant quarter pipe at the end of a water slide, Boomerang first launches you through an enclosed rainbow translucent tube before an almost free-fall speed run setting up for the giant wall ride.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

"Happy now?" Rick knew it was a stupid question but he really wanted to see her smile. They had stopped to eat there so he didn't have to cook when they got home. Not that they left until just before the park closed for the day.

"It was great!" Alexis was all smiles and then she hugged him as best she could. Meaning his legs got squeezed. "Thanks, Daddy. Love you." He was the best daddy ever.

Rick knelt down so he could hug her properly. "I'm glad you like it and I love you, too, pumpkin." Alexis meant the world to him. Their future was what got him back to working again after making dinner for both of them that went into the freezer for later.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

His first one was ready for a test. It had come back as being ready for a live test. However, since it was meant to be worn on his wrist and he didn't want to lose a hand or arm during its first live fire test, he strapped it to a mannequin wrist and went out to a local gun range. It meant leaving Alexis with a babysitter which didn't go over well with her.

"Because you're not old enough to go. They won't let you in," Rick informed her and watched her pout because she couldn't come. "I'll tell you everything when I get back. I promise." He was amused when he saw her hold out her pinky finger. He easily linked his pinky with hers. "I promise."

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

Rick took the transit train to the site carrying his case that held everything he was going to need. Once he had paid the fee he went out to the site and set up his stand and attached his fake arm to it. Then he attached the band to the arm and lined it up on the target.

The only potential problem was activating the unit itself. He had built into that only his DNA and Alexis's DNA could activate it, meaning he had to touch one of the panels or use more than one finger to activate two or more panels at the same time depending on what he wanted it to do. That meant touching it so if it blew up he was hoping it wouldn't take his hand with it. The connections all worked so he knew it should work. This was simply going to be its first live fire.

Rick took in a deep breath and decided on the first weapon to be fired that only required one finger to activate. "Let's try freeze ray." He pressed a button and out came a white light that was intense and difficult to watch. He only pressed for a second and looked downrange and saw his target was in a block of ice. "It works!"

"Since it's frozen maybe heat ray should be next." He pressed a different button and out came a brilliant red light that was equally difficult to look at. He only held it down for a moment before letting go and saw his target was not only no longer encased in ice, it was on fire.

"Oops, better put that out." He pressed a different button and out came a different light that had silvery particles inside it and it only took a moment to put out the fire.

He wasn't yet ready to totally destroy his target so he did other options first. Stun ray, hypno ray, x-rays, sonic ray, magnetic ray. Then instead of a single ray he tested all of them in various cone sizes and depths. It just required him to press different panels to obtain what he wanted.

"Okay, the more damaging rays. Particle beam, Plasma beam, proton beam, anti-matter beam, anti-proton beam, neutron beam, simple laser ray."

Rick was smiling widely though there were still things the band could do but wasn't yet ready test, at least not here. He had already risked people seeing too much as it was. He broke it all down, put it back in his bag, and went home.

"She's sleeping. She's been great and she really misses you when you're gone," Rick was informed as he paid her for her time.

"Yeah, her mother died and it's been just the two of us since she was a baby." Rick wasn't willing to tell her more than that.

"I'm so sorry." She felt a little sad for the child.

"She's seen pictures of her but she has no memory of her. I don't think she misses what she's never had. Thank you for watching her. I'll call when I need you again." Assuming Alexis liked her.

"Anytime, Mr. Rodgers, she's sweet if not maybe a little bossy. She clearly knows what she wants and isn't shy about asking for it." Not to mention her vocabulary was above normal for someone her age.

Rick checked in her first. She was sound asleep and had a strangle hold on her sock monkey. He pushed some hair away, gave her a light kiss to her head, and headed for his lab.

Once there he put his bracer into the charger and turned it on. He had one done and mostly tested, now he needed to start work on the other one for the other arm. He was planning on linking the two so that if he used both at the same time on the same target it would greatly increase the power and damage they could do.

First, though, he needed to start the design for the belt. He had an idea on just what it would be capable of doing as well. He needed to make sure that he didn't duplicate anything only that was what he really wanted it to do.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

Rick was liking the design idea for the belt even if he hadn't yet worked out just how big it was going to be.

A soft voice brought him out of his head and his screen. "Daddy?"

"Hi, pumpkin!" She was still wearing her pajamas which made him check the time. "I'm so sorry, I'll stop and get started on breakfast. I'll even make your favorite." Rick saw his still sleepy-looking child start to smile.

"Now let's get you into the tub so you can be clean." Rick saved everything and left his lab, then escorted his daughter back to her room so he could get her into her tub.

"Here are your toys. I'm going to put your clothes on the bed for today and be right back." Rick left her to play before coming back and scrubbing her clean instead of just playing.

"Park?" Alexis knew what she wanted to do today. That had Rick stopping at the door. He had a lot of work to do but Alexis came first. "Park clothes and shoes it is." If it wore her out and let him work in peace he was all for it.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

"Here's your juice and your milk." Rick set the glasses in front of her. "And here, Your Majesty, is your breakfast, made just for you." He slid the plate into place and watched her smile. She picked up her fork and knife and got started.

Rick sat down next to her and began eating his. "Tastes good?" It should since she was stuffing her face about as fast as she could. All he got back was to see her nod her head and keep eating.

| 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |

Rick was at the front door waiting for Alexis to finish using the bathroom. "Where's your bag?" She was headed his way empty-handed. She turned and ran to her room.

He had caught her but wasn't going to rub it in. "Did you make sure you have everything inside it?" Maybe he could get her twice. She rummaged through the bag then closed it, satisfied that she had everything.

"Picnic?" Alexis knew they always had a picnic in the park and smiled when he picked up their picnic basket.

"Last one to the train has to try and lay an egg," Rick singsonged. He heard her squeak and start running. He was left to close and lock the door then start running to catch up. This time he wanted to watch her squat and grunt, trying to lay an egg, instead of him for a change.

He lost but he didn't care. Alexis was happy and that was all that mattered to him.