...And We Will Have Snow

Chapter 8-2: Super Girl

A few days later, Dema told Newt that Sedna would be flying in soon. She wanted them to meet her in the same park where he and Bear had met her the first time she came. By that day word had spread and a small throng of people were there to watch her arrive. She was famous here for the Supergirl story, and how her flying drone had led to the Sky Dome idea.

She planned the arrival for after dinner, so she wouldn't be interrupting anyone's work schedule. The crowd knew she was there to see her parents, and gave them space so they could greet her. Everyone wore lenses, so they all saw her smiling Supergirl avatar come down out of the sky to be welcomed by Dema and Cern.

The three of them started walking back toward the dome, and the crowd followed. Some of them shouted questions at her, which she cheerfully answered, but she told them she'd be around for a while and would be happy to talk to them individually later, especially if they had ideas for her Space Dream. Then she dropped the Supergirl avatar in favor of her usual shirt and jeans. So by the time they reached the dome most of the crowd had dispersed.

Newt had hung back in the midst of the crowd, anxious to see her arrive but more interested in getting her alone later than in being pushy. After she had landed, while she was standing there waving to the welcoming crowd, he was craning his neck like everyone else to get a look at her. Then he felt a tug on his elbow and looked to see who it was. He saw a girl dressed in jeans and a checkered shirt. She said, "Hi Newt."

He didn't have to do a double take. He realized instantly that there were two Sednas, and this was the real one. But he couldn't hide his astonishment, and she grinned at him. Then she took him by the arm and he let her guide him out of the crowd and down the walk to the alcove he remembered so well.

"You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of this," he said.

Sedna gave him the hug she had once promised him. He returned it, and while they were holding each other she said in her husky whisper, "You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of this."

The moment was more perfect for both of them than either had imagined.

Sedna, who Dema always said had been born emotionally mature, let Newt have the moment, enjoying it herself as long as he did. Finally he took one more deep breath of the intoxicating scent of her hair and drew back, took her hand and led her to the bench. He sat so he could look at her, and stayed that way, searching her face for every detail. It was, as he knew it would be, a younger version of Dema's face, but with eyes a purer green. And she was smiling at him in a way that he knew Dema never would.

Finally he said, "There are a thousand things I want to ask you."

"And a thousand things I want to ask you, too. Where shall we start?"

"Let's start with the obvious. How the devil can you be here with me while you're being with your mom and dad walking back to the dome?"

Sedna laughed. "I've had lots of practice. And Mom was in on it, so she could cover for me if I slipped. Fortunately now they've got my drone in their apartment, so I'm totally free to be with you."

"I wasn't even thinking about how distracted you must be. You hid it well."

"You have no idea how distracting you are. I'm not sure I hid it well at all on the other end."

They sat, looking at each other and thinking romantic thoughts, but neither saying much. Finally Sedna stood up and said, "It will be dark here soon. Wouldn't we be more comfortable in your apartment?" After Newt had swallowed himself he stood up and they began walking toward the dome, hand in hand. Sedna spoke.

"Bear told me you said each Sun Dome is a seed of Gaia. I like that image. Then he said you envision whole fleets of domes flying off into space to colonize other planets. And that your teammates all got on board with the idea. So I want you to tell me all about the progress of the Space Pod concept."

"It's not just a concept any more. You know there are already Sky Domes that use the DDM thruster system we designed to help keep balloons in the air, right? Well, with the flying farm they can be pretty autonomous. Don't depend much on resupply."

"I imagine delivery drones can take care of that."

"Pretty much. And you know about the new air taxis."

"I came down here in one. The trip only took about two hours. It used that ballistic trick you taught me, but with a lot less acceleration."

"They only do about a tenth of a g. Much more than that would get uncomfortable. Sky Domes use them to shuttle people in and out. So the domes don't have to touch down very often. Stay above the weather most of the time. Come down mostly for sightseeing, and then usually just drop a tether rather than landing."

"So you're almost ready for space?"

"Almost. It's mainly a matter of orbital dynamics."

"What do you mean?"

"If you go straight up, you lose ground speed. The Earth turns out from under you."

"You mean you end up orbiting backwards?"

"Sort of seems like it. But not really. If you stop thrusting you fall."