Uni's Unicorn

Chapter 18 - The Heliport

"We're here Son, at the heliport. I'll sign out and leave Chet in charge in this pod. He'll keep you on, so you can report to him. Anything, tell him anything; everything. The press is here and I'm going to greet them as soon as I've shaken hands with the officials; about six have assembled, hospital officials. Oh, and I see a couple of police officers as well."

"I'm here," Chet said. "Talk to me if you need. Remember, Ty, I'm praying here too. You'll get through this."

Tyson kept quiet, not liking that people felt sorry for him; it was a new feeling. A thought dashed into his head and he asked, "What about Mum? —And Grandad?"

"You know your dad, Ty. He said he has it covered, and he sure does. Your mum and her dad will meet you out at Home Base."

"Really? —She's never been to any of the islands, has she?"

"I'm not sure."

"What? —You're not sure? So, she could have been there at some time?"

"I do know that your granddad has been out, more than once. You know he's looked after Uni. I've been told he knows a lot about the technology used to give her new feet."

"Yes," Tyson said, "I mean, I know he looks after Uni. But I didn't know he's been out to the island." Tyson was quiet then. There was a lab under their farm house and his granddad spent a lot of time down there. But that was a well-kept secret. Even he'd never been down there.

When Tyson kept silent, Chet said, "I've been ordered to keep you talking, Ty, so answer me please. Help me do this, for your father."

"Who else is with you?"

"Not many."

"I'm here," a female voice said, adding. "I have to make sure that you look pretty enough for the press."

"Mary? He sent you? What do I wear?"

"Professor Murray said to wear your silver suit, but without the helmet. I have to make sure your hair is presentable. You know how it looks sometimes..."

"So he wants me to pretty up," Tyson said and laughed.

"Yes, and I've brought a kit with hair gel, and more, so you'd better let me do it. We won't have much time.

"About Grandad, Chet; my dad's always had a lot of secrets, and Granddad going out to Home Base is just another of them. I understand it, but wish he'd told me more. My mum too. But Uni's never been out there, has she?"

"Only in a couple of times, both emergencies that your grandad couldn't handle."

"Oh, let me guess; the time she got stung by a gazillion bees. Her and her friends disturbed a nest and she shielded them and made the bees chase her, not them. Grandad took her down to the lab and she didn't come up for a couple of days. That was years ago, but I always suspected that she'd been taken to a hospital somewhere, never thinking it would out at home base."

"Home base was in a different place then. I've been told that it was before you came out there, four years ago..."

"Your father keeps you busy and well fed, doesn't he?" Mary asked.

Tyson didn't answer because he felt it to be a rhetorical question.

"He trusts you to go on missions, like this one. There's few of us who can do what you do, can handle the holograms like you, Ty. Your Dad's very proud of you."

A familiar voice joined the conversation, "I'm here too, Ty. It's James. I'm one of the secrets."

"James? How long have you been there? When did you leave University?"