"Birth of Libertas"

By: Barry Bowdidge

Out in Space | Second Layer of Earth | Underwater

Split and Flut have already written everything so this will just be a recap to help the reader pick up on some of the most important points of fact and fiction. A list of prior writing is available on the humanarium.org web site and is available to anyone silly enough to be reading this dribble. Oh! you expect us to be nice to you. I’m sorry but I live in a country so dumb it votes for its own destruction and has since 1913.
Don’t worry, this isn’t about politics, sex or religion. That would hurt your brain and make you dislike both Split and Flut. So here is the first SPLIT. Split will do all the heavy lifting and Flut will handle the fluff.

I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself and tell you a little about both of us. Split use to be Split Thomas before he entered “Second Life.” They issued me a new name that I like better; Split Darkmatter. This gave me a more cosmic presence. Split Thomas was too hormonally pre possessed to contemplate the universe in a true Thoreaunian manner. Proof of that is seen in the Story/Screenplay “The Blue Guppy” written in semi realistic romanticism before the Internet went public with its linking abilities.
Split Darkmatter is now concerned with matters of greater importance. Namely, the way to stop all bad things from happening. Enough about me. Flut has a tougher job. He is one of the first Whimsters. He is in charge of training the Whimsters and protecting all humans. His real name is Flutter Bwb but he prefers Flut.
His girl friend, Wuzzer is the same way. She’s in charge of the Whimster kids and prefers going by Wuzz. More about her later, but if you would like to jump ahead a little just read one of the “WHIM” stories to see how she fits into this epic effort.
I’m only going to tackle real problems that most people think is science fiction but is about to become science fact. Get your Geezer Geek Going with Split. Flut will mostly be reporting about the resistance. That can come from individuals and organizations but it is primarily from its oldest form of stupidity, Government.
Population is the biggest perceived problems of the future but all the current solutions are based on negative assumptions.

Flut, which of the three solution would you like to work on today, Split asked?

Our Space Condos are at the forefront of the news. This would be a good time to raise some Plash for the cause, Flut answered.

Which of the Players should we contact today, he asked Flut?
Are you going to use that new Google Video Chat calling method you were telling me about the other day?

Good Idea! I’ll see if any of these high tech guys are in that system yet. I’ll give you a list so you can help me do the follow up, Split added.

Sounds like a plan, man, Flut said as he went back to his terminal.

This meant that Split had to go for his weisure walk. Instead of using machines to exercise on, Split choose one of three destinations to take his daily constitutional. All of them led to a different shopping experience.
When Split returned, he knew his mental search engine would have to go to work finding the right bookmark on one of his five browsers. He wished there was a app that could search his brain. He would just do Google and Bing first and see if that would bring up the same websites that he needed to get the right names. Concepts are easy for him but names escape him unless he really gets to know the person. Some exceptions. One that came to mind was Elon Musk. They both seemed to be going down the same path. Split use to own a company called Credits.org that he was trying to do an IPO for a similar concept as PayPal. But this was several years before PayPal existed. He also owned “BlackWind Energy,” a co-generation solar and wind company. He even tried to buy a Toyota RAV4 EV when it was on the market for a short while in California. His big difference is his age. He’s probably too old to think of going to Mars. I’ll probably have to settle for the Moon, Split thought to himself as he started his first Google search for Space Condos.

The numbers, always the numbers. Why is everything so binary? Split knew these numbers could make a big difference in evolution itself. First he would have to get the developers numbers and then check their reasons for the numbers. He knew there was about a ninety percent chance the developers would give him smoke and mirrors cloaked in properly formatted financial terms. After all, these projects haven’t been done before. Flut would call it “A Sexy Scenario.” Split just took the numbers as a starting point or commitment. His plan was to do cross-over international financing. The trick was to do loans not investments. The regulatory agencies were over zealous in their nanny style regulations. No more “Caveat emptor.” The government will save you from having to think for yourself, Split thought as his anger flared up again whenever he thought about the enemy.

For the Underwater project he would first contact Prof. Roland Dieterle in Munchen, Germany. That brought back many fond memories of Margerita und Stuttgart. Then off to Dubai for the Hydropolis project. Next would be the Shimizu Corporation for the Space Condos. After that it would be the officials at Helsinki for the Second Layer of Earth.

Flut, do we have our security forces available for my Terra Loan Plan, Split questioned Flut without looking to see if he was busy?

Just a second, I’ll see who we have available. Is this International or Local, Flut asked before starting the search?

International, Germany, the middle east, Japan and Finland he replied quickly.

Split now had to get in touch with his own personal “Grand Master” to raise this kind of cash. It had been awhile since he had contacted him because, like a Genie, you only get three chances and you are out. Split had already used up two of these and had been waiting for the right situation before he would consider talking with the real source of International financing again.

Have we got the resources in place, Split queried Flut?

Yep! A couple of newbies, Skusee Piefer for the underground people, Cavin Flopsnot for the underwater people and one of your contemporaries, good old Bashful for the Space Condos. How does that sound for starters, he added?

I know Bashful can handle it well enough but are you sure using new Whimsters would prove to be a good idea?
They were best in their class and have had some experience backing up some of your other projects like your DOM movie. They helped us get out of some of those hairy situation we ran into back then, Flut reminded Split.

Ya! It’s a wonder we are still here he said remembering that trip. That sounds good to me, he said after pausing to think for a moment. Set up a Google Video call as soon as you can, Split instructed Flut.

That reminded Split, he had to update some of his contacts in his Google Chat group to reflect his current actions. This was not like the old days where it would take almost forever to organize anything this massive. Just a few clicks and modern magic would extend his powers. If only he could be a kid again, he thought to himself. So little time and so much to do, he thought again to himself.

Split had to go to Ghost to Ghost to get the lighter side of the story after last nights program. This is the recap of the program: British paranormal expert Richard Lawrence discussed ET contacts and communications, UFO disclosure, and ancient reports of UFOs. He spoke about various contactees such as George Adamski, and George King, who founded the Aetherius Society and channeled messages from benevolent ET beings or “Space Masters.” How could he talk seriously about a space condo loan without acknowledging the Buzz going on in the media about this subject. Split wondered if people had rumors going around about the strange creatures in the New World when the explorers and pioneers first came to the Americas. The wild indians and their strange tribal ways must have been so foreign in those times that all kinds of strange stories must have appeared in the press at that time in Europe. Can you imagine; Red Man abducts young women for breeding purposes. What will the new hybrid be like? Is this the beginning of a new super race of humans? Do they eat white meat? Are they here for the beer or do they have that in their World? The fear must have been almost overwhelming by the time the press got through with all the possible scenarios. No wonder the poor indians had problems with the pilgrims. Wouldn’t it be funny if this alien hype turned out to be true.

According to theories floating around the Aliens are waiting for us to do something special before they will show themselves. Well, maybe the Whinsters can get more messages to them and let everyone know what was going on, Split waxed silently in his mind while arranging his contacts in his Google Chat file. At least his progress would be considered positive by any type of being. But maybe not. What if they didn’t like us encroaching on what they think of as their space? The indians didn’t like it much even though they had more land per person than any other group of people on the planet. Maybe the ETs will be territorially greedy like the indians were in the Americas, Split thought thinking how not “Politically Correct” his comparison was. He loved it when perception bumped heads with Commucrat propaganda. Oh, the hated “White Man of Old.” Now we would have a new scapegoat for the new bigots. The hated “Little Green Men of Today.” Split chuckled.

Flut, do you think Bashful can handle the aliens again this time?

No problem, Flut said humoring Split knowing his twisted thinking on this matter.

Don’t you think they are going to reveal themselves this time?

Who knows. I’m sure Bashful can get them to the proper UN authorities now that it’s official that they will be contacted soon, Flut said playfully playing along with Splits jibe at the UN.

I guess we can rest in peace now knowing that we are in safe hands. You know the UN has our best interests at heart, Split said because he couldn’t resist the last word.

It was now up to him to get the loan documents ready. This would require a two sided effort on his part. First he had to set up the Terrafirmation Loan Consortium structure for the lenders and then the loan application for the borrowers. Most of this would be standard form applications but it did need to be reworked to satisfy all parties. The first step would be a simple introductory letter for each side of the deal.
For the lenders it would require a request for a letter of commitment. For the borrowers it would be a letter of intent. These he would post on the web site and e-mail to each party involved.

After Split finished these tasks he went to his pet personal project, genetic designing. He had already joined the “Personal Genome Project” at Harvard and was waiting the results. He had also joined a group that was pioneering in biological programming. At first, he thought he had entered a new world when he first looked at the code being used by this group. They were icons used to designate common cell parts that all of life possesses. He thought C++ was tough. This was cross- platformed, not with other code but with biological terminology. This is how he grew his own new brain connections, something they just found out was possible in older people if they learned something new and difficult.

A quote from NecessaryFilms about the Human Genome Project; It took 13 years and $3 billion for a vast international consortium of scientists, working as “the Human Genome Project,” to determine the order of the three billion chemical building blocks that make up the human genome. But now imagine the day when you and your doctor sit down to review a copy of your own personal genome. This vital information about your biology will enable your physician to inform you of your disease susceptibilities, the best ways to keep yourself healthy or lessen the impact of future illness. Scientists are on the brink of discovering the genetic factors in diabetes, heart disease, common cancers, high blood pressure, asthma, and mental illness. There are 7,000 genetic disorders now known, afflicting 25 million Americans and every one of us is thought to be genetically predisposed to a range of between 5 and 50 serious diseases. This is funded by groups like the Alan and Priscilla Oppenheimer Foundation at oppenheimerfoundation.

Split would concentrate on the diabetes genes because that ran in his family. He figured if that could be stopped, many other diseases would follow.

Flut, do you realize that our generation might get rid of diseases altogether?

You mean the younger generation, he said teasing Split about his age?

Ya! you are probably right. But I’m going to give it a shot.

Good luck! That’s a young man’s sport, he continued needling Split.

Maybe I can encourage them at least. If I could make just a small contribution that might tell them that they could do it too, he said hopefully.

Right on, right on. I’ll have this report ready for you in a minute.

Did you hear about Facebook's new bookmarking system for its members?

No. What does it do that’s so special, Flut asked trying to concentrate on his work.

We can categorize our contacts instead of spamming all of them, Split said.

Nice!

He had almost completed the short form request for information. It was time to find the money. He wondered how hard it was to raise one billion dollars in this bad market. Usually, these loans had many takers but due to the banking crisis it was about as bad a tale as could be told. Only one way to find out, Split thought to himself as he shot off the first e-mail to a list of International lenders.

What about some of the local boys for the Space Condos, Split asked Flut?

I have a list here. I’ll send it over to you. That New Mexico group is really getting it together. I not sure if they need any financing or not, Flut added.

Virgin by Richard Branson. Right, Flut quipped.

The Space Port. I’m going for my reality sports walk, Split said as he got up to leave. He needed to get away from the research to get a fresh look at everything. He found the local Stadium Soccer was within walking distance. He was usually the only Gringo watching but the people didn’t seem to mind. For him it was like dropping into a different culture like he used to do in Europe all the time on weekends.

He was thinking of the e-Mail he got from the Astronauts4Hire group. It made sense to include them because they were obvious sub-contractors to make the flights actually happen once all the infrastructure was completed. He wondered how much they would charge. He laughed to himself when he thought of comparing the price wagon masters charged the pioneers and settlers in the “Wild West Days.” Would there be a Astronaut Union formed by the gangstas of socialism? How about a reality show, “Flying with the Astronauts” or weightless space dancing. The marketing would sure be spacey.

Flut was sure first contact would happen out in space in a controlled atmosphere with highly trained and motivated space travellers. He wanted to be on one of the first flights. If these loans went through as planned the commission would be spent on tickets, Split had promised him. Split didn’t think he could make it past the moon voyage but Flut wanted to go all the way. He was excited and wanted to show himself off to the true aliens. He felt like a homegrown genetically berthed version but he knew they were the real thing. Split told him that if they could get the money quickly it would be possible to cut several years off the development time. That was more important to Split because of his age but he wanted to go as soon as possible too.

Flut finished e-mailing the three Whimsters their instructions and contact information for the groups they were assigned to help protect. The primary protection consisted of stopping cyber crime and sabotage. The in-house security would be able to direct them at the beginning and then Split’s security back-up plan would go into effect. It was assumed that current security would be the only way to break through any existing measures taken by these companies so most of his plan was basically watching the watchers with a few chess moves thrown into the mix.

Wuzz was due to visit the next day so he had to make sure the underwater condo was ready for both of them. He called the housekeeper to let her know they would both be there the next day. Flut loved going to this place. It was such a good example of what they were trying to accomplish. Besides, he liked the Whimster taxi rides out into the ocean. He had a new toy to show the driver when they were out there floating around. It could call dolphins so they could play with them.

Split was back after the game with a lot of fresh new ideas.

Let the public help with the loans. The risk would be there but people like to be part of the future. We would have to do it with full disclosure, risk warnings and no guarantees. Sounds negative but Split felt people in general should be allowed to participate. At least give it a chance. That meant back to the web site for some design and programming work.

First he made his first call on the new Google Video Chat. He downloaded it the first day but waited until it settled down a bit. His first call was to Sopharina, his girl for the last ten years.

I’ll give you a Google Guess who this is, Split said trying to sound like a chat search engine?

What? Split, what are you talking about, she asked knowing his sense of humor was so strange?

This is your first Google call. Now you have to get a new computer so we can see each other, Split added.

They had a long conversation about this and that. If only he knew the kind of danger she was in because of his activities.

Back to work. His web visits using onetruefan had been surprising. He was the top dog on some sites he thought would be taken by more serious surfers. Wired.com, Personal Genome Project. Over forty other sites and of all things, the UN.
The UN site included its Charter. After reading it, he wondered how they were getting away with their communist/socialist/fascist agenda. Opps! No politics, but how could you avoid them. They are going directly against their own stated mission, protecting the sovereignty of individual nations. Their plan, clearly spelled out is to use any method possible to do just that. They want no borders so they can be the supreme leaders of the planet. Right now they are using false fact about Global Warning with the sanctions of the American ex-Vice President. What a sore loser, Split thought to himself.

People don’t seen to realize that Carbon Credits are the same as PLASH. Just another form of taxation without representation perpetrated by a group of power hungry Commucrats. We need a World wide “Tea Party” to send these people packing. This was one site that he wished everyone would visit with prejudice. Unfortunately, “Dancing with the Stars” was more important to most Americans and who knows when it came to the rest of the World.

Split just knew that the UN would be against Space Exploration unless it was done under their flag. Can you imagine a private company claiming ownership of a habitable planet and only allowing Capitalism like the Whimsters and Hong Kong did for 99 years. Why doesn’t the press point to the fact that in spite of being an island with no natural resources, its citizens are by far the wealthiest people per capita. Reason; Minimum government!

Split had to get busy making several banners for his loan consortium.

This banner would work until the loan was completed, Split decided before he moved on to the e-mails that had to be sent out today.

Did you see where Virgin had another first today, Flut asked Split?

Do you think they’ll be the first to meet your ET friends, Split said trying to get into his concerns about some of his intel from his UN Whimster.

I’d give them a 50/50 chance, Flut replied. Have you heard anything more about the UN’s plans?

Every time Split tried to get a handle on the inner workings of this group he was short sheeted by someone. He checked all his security systems and couldn’t find any leaks. What he didn’t know was that he was doing it himself through his SEM program for “The Humanarium Project”. These Tweeter people were a more sophisticated group than Split gave them credit for as he was just learning this youthful lifestyle.

Each new company Split researched had an exciting approach to the new space race. NASA had done a good job but now it was time to turn over the race to the profit motivated entrepreneurs.

Split had already entered a NASA contest for things to do while out in space. The technology wasn’t there yet but he had a long talk with some of the top people about bringing Plizzel out in space as a method of earning money using a combination of the Internet and telephone technology. Too big of a time lapse in the conversation. This was being worked on because of it’s general communications nature. He was told that by the year 2020 Plizzel would be a viable method of earning money out in space.

Split did a blog comment on technorati.com as he became their onetruefan.

BLOG:
I have a new story (blog) that goes into the politics of this problem. It’s called “Split and Flut” and it is on plizzel dot com. Just follow the P badge. It’s sad when American think government is the answer. They’ve always been the problem. The meaning of the Constitution is simple “Freedom is Freedom from Government”. The Commucrats of the left seem to be blind politically.

This was his first comment on the site. He was going to visit all of the top 100 blogs they have rated. He would like to start one for the TTLC loans. The Whitehouse blog was his next conquest.

Did you get your gripe in for the day, Flut asked as he watched Split typing away?

Sure did! I hope this reaches people that don’t already know the real problem.

The responses to his contacts for the Space Condos was starting to come in his mail box. When he got into his mail he noticed he had earned onetruefan status at the Whitehouse blog site. That surprised him. Wuzz was due anytime now. He needed to give her an update about the UN problem. She was helping him on the 25 endangered primate project. He had completed the bios on the Whimsters that were assigned to protect them. Now he needed to get her help in posting all that information. This would help her with all the Whimster kids that she taught.

Split just read about the Space Port opening October 22, 2010. Wow! A real space station in New Mexico. He was already on the list but he was hoping for a better price.

Apo Delendis is assigned as the top investigator for the Whimsters. It was important that Wuzz was put in the loop with him. They already had a history in the DOM movie and Split needed her help. Flut would be happy to have her here more often, Split thought to himself as he prepared for their stay in the ocean condo.

She would visit with Sophirina before Flut picks her up. She’s going to stay with them for the day. Sophirina didn’t get into very much of what Split and Flut were into. She did like the Whimsters. They made better friends than some of the Vampires she had to deal with most of the time. For some reason she attracted these two faced type of people.

Split wondered if anyone would ever get through the environmental groups in California to take advantage of the new underground and underwater designs for development. Split could just hear the sanctimonious “better than you” attitudes of these shrill people. He wished they were just wackos but they really have a real political agenda. One hundred percent pure bred Commucrats.

First human injected in human embryonic stem cell trial was done today. About time, Split said to Flut in an absent minded manner.

Won’t this affect your research now that they have broken through this barrier, Flut questioned him?

It’s a good direction, but my stuff comes before they try anything like this, he added.

Split’s Facebook comment: Genomic medicine takes a giant step forward in spite of lame government help.

Split was glad all three of them would be out of his hair for the day. He would be almost non-stop on the Google video chat line testing his new and hopefully better way to call people.

He also had to complete a lot of research on the underwater city developers. They were all over the World. He heard about one off the coast of Florida but couldn’t find anything about it. He doubted it was there because of the concerted effort of the Commucrat Environmentalist idiots. They are hell bent on making sure America wouldn’t be included in any future plans. They were going to be in for a big surprise, Split thought to himself.

After he had checked, not just this country but all of North America, it was obvious there wasn’t a big demand for underwater construction. Split was going to find out if the oil rigs would make an existing infrastructure for a small settlement. The oil rigs were famous for attracting fish. Maybe tourist fishing motels with a ring of special housing would be feasible. The Orient was the obvious place to make some of the first cities. How to find the demand. That was the problem.

Split got an e-mail saying he might be in Genome 1000. This is the next level in the Personal Genome Project. Split had completed all the tests and set up his health history on Google health as the Harvard project required. He had already done a short version of this to make the Whimsters years ago. Now he was going to do it completely. His biological programming group was also at Harvard along with several other organizations.

When Wuzz showed up at the office her first inquiry was about the UN situation. She said she had been having dreams about some strange beings taking over the organization and she was concerned.

You remember Apo, don’t you, Split asked her?
Sure, from DOM, she replied.

He’s involved with their ET program and gives me all the latest. His reports are a little strange lately. They’ve actually got a new program that is becoming very public lately. He’s not quite sure why, Split added.

I don’t know but I seem to be some sort of physic ET Whimster. Did you give me some special DNA, she asked trying to blame Split?

Not that I know of. When are you and Flut going to the condo, he said changing the subject?

Do you think we could get Apo to visit us there? I’d like to ask him a few questions. How is his Primate program coming along. I want to show the kids the some of the stuff you wrote about in WHIM, she added.

I’m doing the research on the Red List and then I’ll do the caricature of his choice, Split reminded her.

Flut, please call Apo and see if he can either come by or have a Google Video Chat with us today, Split requested.

What are you doing until then, Flut asked?

Finding out who are the current seven sisters of oil, he replied. I’m going to see if any of them want to join the consortium, he added.

Split received a small amount to be placed in escrow from South Africa to start his loan process.

We got the escrow opened today, Split replied. You guys have a good time, I’ll be down later with some important messages you’ll need to digest, he added.

Split was going to let them know about the new Plizzel Astroid. A group of financiers had given the go ahead to name this landing rock Plizzel because it was outside most of the interplanetary law.

When Split got to the condo later that evening he knew there would be a lot of questions to clear everything up for the group. As soon as he got there with Sopharina the questions started. He brought a laptop with some special files that he didn’t want on the Net.

What is this Plizzel Rock, Apo asked?

This is where we can combine Space Condo living with Underground and Underwater construction methods, Split answered quickly.

How can you do all three, Flut wanted to know?

You’ve combined the Underground with the Underwater right here, he elaborated upon, we just take this technology out in space to the right place and use everything we know so far.
See this picture of the astroid. You can’t tell, but at it’s center is water. All we have to do with our space module is peel off the out shell and the Solar Building we designed can be buried deep enough to house us, Split said as he showed them that picture again.

What happens if the outer shell of the Plizzel Rock is thicker than you thought, Wuzz asked astutely?

Good question. We have some special back-up equipment if our estimates are off. That includes a special drill and an extruder that will turn the natural metals of the Rock into building materials to complete the transition, Split said to the group.

Wow! That’s quite a plan, Flut said in surprise. How much is all that going to cost?

That’s why I’m getting into the financial end of this. You need more than technology to do things like this. The first thing you need is political freedom or you are bogged down in Bureaucratic BS, he said.

How are you going to make it financially viable for your investors, Flut asked almost sure of the answer?

Obviously, the Space Condos come first to generate an annual income for the investors. Then the next extension of our Underground Condo/Timeshare Investments on Earth will be taken out into space. Our first venture will be the Plizzel Rock, Split said pausing to allow more questions.

So kind of standard real estate marketing methods should generate ongoing income to make all this happen, Apo said out loud?

Exactly! Just the product is remodeled to fit the times, Split reminded them.

Do you think anyone will want to stay there, Sopharina asked?

Not until certain health problems like bone loss are solved, Split told her gently. I’m going to spend time on that problem provided there is some connection to a genetic solution, he added. The most interesting thing will be the underwater farming we can do there, he said getting back on topic.

What could you possibly grow down there, Flut popped out quickly?

We have to assume that this is fresh water. You know how we leave the condo when ever we want to get into the ocean?

Ya! That’s always done from the basement because the pressure is equalized, Flut interjected.

Ah ha! We’ll do the same and the first thing we’ll install will be a series of powerful growing lights powered by our solar cells. Second thing we’ll do is find out if life already exists on the Astroid’s inner lake. We’ll bring plant and animal specimens to start everything growing, he said pausing to let Flut speak again.

I’ll bet you’ll bring the famous “Blue Guppies”, won’t you, Flut said to entertain the others.

For sure, for sure! I’ve got some great new recipes. We’ll try some of those back at the office for lunch, he couldn’t resist adding.

So that’s why you’ve been so interested in those off shore oil rigs lately, Apo asked?

Why? Are we being monitored at the UN concerning our inquiries, Split asked Apo?

That seems to be the case. I guess that is a sensitive subject for them, considering how much power lies in the hands of Countries that control the World’s oil supply, Apo said making sure everyone knew why this was happening to Split.

The Saudis are the main concern and I’m counting on their help to finance a portion of the Space Race. Their prize could be a World where only Muslims can live. Maybe that way they would leave the rest of us alone, he added politically.

That’s just a joke, right, Wuzz asked concerned for Split’s safety?

It’s a hope joke! I wish it was that simple, he countered.

What are you trying to do with the oil rigs Split, she asked?

The same thing that should be done with the IIS. This stuff is great infrastructure for small communities. They can connected up using module housing. We offer that now on plizzel.com in the real estate section. They are like LAGO houses, Split explained.

Let me out of here, Sopharina said loudly!

Split started laughing. He knew he was getting too tech.ee for her and she didn’t want to hear anymore gibberish

Sophie, don’t go away. This is an easy concept. Its just a little new. When I was young, Condos and Timeshares were strange. Now they are everyday investments. We’re just trying to recycle one type of improvement to make them more useful. Coastal communities will have something interesting to look at instead of the eyesore that our oil rigs are now. Don’t you think that would be nice, Split asked her?

If you want to talk technology, tell about something interesting like the new celebrity site “JustSpotted.com”, she said teasing Split with her drama queen ways.

You can watch that on Plizzel Rock, Split said trying to lighten up his monolog.

Where is the first underwater place going to be she said, wanting to be one of the pioneers?

That’s why I’m doing a combination loan. All of these companies are crossing over into the same technologies. China and the middle east have the greatest practical motivations. Both also have a lot of capital to work with. Politics seems to be the problem. By doing a cash transaction by the numbers I’m hoping to bypass all the emotional geopolitics, he said hoping what he said was understood.

So it will be in China or somewhere in the middle east, Wuzz asked for more clarification?

More than likely. China should do it first but Japan might even beat both of them, Split added.

Is there a chance we will do it here first, Sopharina, asked naively?

No chance. The politicians have their heads in the sand. Too afraid to make a mistake. It might cost them their pensions.

One of the first places I’ll look is on a web site that specializes in start up capital. We are an affiliate for them on Plizzel. It’s at angelsoft.net. They use the name “angel” because that is a term that defines this type of investor. They always take a piece of the action and charge high interest rates because of the obvious risk involved, Split said mostly to Flut because he would need his help with all the details.

Are you going to feature any particular development, Flut asked?

I’m shooting for at least one in each category. It seems the space race has the most players right now, but underground and underwater are the most practical, so I think they will be the big winners, he said.

I’ll look up that site when we get back to the office and see what needs to be done, Flut realized why Split was going into such detail.

Tomorrow I’ll be working on the underground funding. We are all more familiar with this technology but It’s time to get it going beyond our Whimster sites, Split notified the group.

Split checked everything he had and found his plan was about the best out there. It seems everyone thinks of underground housing as bomb shelter usage only except for a few individual builders. His motor home condos were entirely new in the market. Finding partners for something that new would be difficult.

Now its getting tough. He was stuck! The Internet could only do so much. It was time for “Old School” methods. No key words, social networking, bloging, SEO, SEM, could do this for him. Had he forgotten how to work directly with the decision makers that are needed to bring this about. He had all the tools but something was missing. He couldn’t rely on newspaper ads any more and Craigs list stopped anything it felt was not according to their rules, even when they didn’t even understand what you were trying to do. That left the phone and direct calls. Not the easy way but perhaps the best.

Split got a disturbing message from several indirect sources. It was obvious that he was on some kind of watch list because his every move was being facilitated almost moment for moment in his search efforts. Was this just a bot or was there human intelligence behind the ever increasing incidents of information feeds to his sources.

At work at the UN, Apo had found that they were indeed in contact with the Orphiles. Apo had already warned Split about their presence but he didn’t know how their plans would effect Split’s life.

The Orphiles main plan was to wrap every World citizen in so much red tape that they are rendered political and financial slaves to them. Split was aware of these plans intuitively and would need to be made helpless and powerless to do anything productive by the Orphiles.

The offerings were in the form of free Internet help, both financially and technically with his various web sites. Expo-max is giving me free SEO and looks real but they are after something. My information couldn’t help anyone unless they understood my mission, Split reminded himself.

Little did he know, but this was a virtual attack from the Orphiles.

Split Googled the company but couldn’t find the negative aspect of this attack. He decided not to use it because it was free. Just basic paranoia saved him this time but they had other plans for him.

It would be his choice to leave all this behind him if a alternate solution would arise. The Buzz was strong concerning all these projects but he’s heard this talk for so long without seeing any results that he felt he had to step up and be that guy. Maybe he could catch up by working straight through today.

It wouldn’t hurt if Alpo could get a handle on his suspicions.

Mandi the Orphile Dragon was looking for her dues card to the special UN committee for ETs.

Where is that Alpo, she said to her assistant?

He was in San Diego meeting with Split Darkmatter yesterday. He should be back any moment, he answered.

Mandi was about to start the next terrorist attack using the newly launched web site Just Spotted. The plan was to take down as many celebrities at the same time as possible. This site does the GPS work for the Orphilian Queen. She had already organized a world wide terrorist network that was going to help with her plans. She would have an Orphilian assigned to each celebrity as back up in case the standard terrorist missed their objective.

Mandi had only made one mistake. She thought Alpo was on board. She hadn’t told him everything because part of her plan was to kidnap Wuzz and Sopharina and she knew they were friends of his. She wanted to get Split Darkmatter neutralized because of his politics but she needed his expertise in the genetic realm. Force was the only way to get to a person like that, she thought to herself, having had a lot of experience in the past with gangster fascism.

Oh, there you are Alpo. How was your trip?

I always like going there. Split has some great new plans he’s working on. When do you want to meet him, he asked?

Try to include me next time you visit. Can you set that up, she wanted to know?

I’m sure he would love to meet you. Is there anything in particular that you want to discuss with him, he said trying to get the proper directions from her?

I’m most interested in how he designed the Whimsters. Would he let me know about that, she said directly?

He’ll probably do even better than that. Flut is the trainer for all the Whimsters and he fills them in on their origins on a weekly basis. Split will let him do most of the background detail if you are really that interested, he pointed out to her.

That would be excellent. Does he know the science behind it all, she asked wanting to make sure of that point?

He knows most of it but Split is the innovator. You would have to pick his brain on anything new, he added.

What do you think he would want to know about me?

I’ve already made up a small file for him. That reminds me. I need your approval before I send it to him. It’s kind of like a Facebook profile, if you know what that is?

I do, but use a phoney profile to work the social networks. I don’t think they are ready for the real thing yet, Mandi said looking forward to coming out on Facebook first.

Alpo went back to his office to make a copy of his file on her. Split would be impressed by her being so much like Flut. There were some gaps that he noticed. Mainly, any military conflicts involved in her past seem to be non existent. She had almost a benign background. He sensed this as a false report but didn’t know how to prove it. So for now he wasn’t going to share his intuition with Split. He would wait and see if Split came to the same conclusion when he read the report. Alpo decided to put the text of the file into Wordle.net to see what it told him about her way of thinking.

Meanwhile, Split was busy working on his latest underground plans. Using natural caves initially seemed like a good use of these perfect staring points for the Second Layer of Earth but it soon became apparent environmental politics would once again stop progress. This meant buying private land and first designing a system to move earth easily. Split’s brother worked at Caterpillar so it was easy to get the latest earth moving information. His sister is the head scientist at an environmental design firm. She could help with the trail and flora chosen to enhance the land above the development.

Some of his other plans had just been changed to fit the latest solar and wind cogeneration development to power the underground community. He also would build a special double electric bike car for use in the park above the housing and for short trips to local areas.

It was time to get out the vote again. Split wondered if they would wake up this time or would the TV propaganda bury the voters even more in government debt. He was thinking of his son and daughter and hoping these fools weren’t burying their future. Stealing in broad daylight seems to be the new American way.

When Flut showed up he had several new ideas about how to handle the loan.

Why don’t we have an X prize like contest but instead of a grant the winners get a loan to complete their end of these projects, Flut suggested?

That does sound like a great idea. This way we will have a weighted scale type of a winner. These people are natural competitors and would probably enjoy the challenge, Split added.

Lets use the Humanarium Project to sponsor the contest, Flut said getting enthused with Split’s acceptance of his idea.

Ya! I'll let you post that to the site. I’ll bet you have other details that you would like to see part of your concept, don’t you, he asked Flut?

You know me too well. Don’t worry, I’ll pass them by you so you can refine the details, Flut reassured him.

What do you think of this Mandi character at the UN?
Alpo told me you’ve OK’d a meeting with her. What do you think she wants from us, he asked concerned about the encounter?

My guess, she’s in deep with UN big wigs that only have one thing on their minds, more control, Split said in a stressed tone of voice.

I’m going to call this contest the “TLC PRIZE”, Flut said.

That’s appropriate considering the loan is the Terrafirmation Tricolonization Loan Coalition, Split reminded Flut.

Split recieved an e-Mail from Alpo with the background file of Mandi at the UN. After reading the file, Split was taken back with Mandi’s ability to adapt her looks and biology to fit underwater and out in space living. This would make it very difficult to trace her activities, he thought to himself.

Split decided it was time to buy the entrance to the Whimster community on North Peak that overlooks all of San Diego County. The fire had destroyed the house that blocked the entrance from view. Now it was wide open and everything needed to be remodeled. This time he would disguise the front house with a couple of small waterfalls. He would start by buying one of the foreclosed manufactured homes from out of state from a bank that was overburdened with excess inventory. He could buy these homes at thirty cents on the dollar plus towing and installation.

The Whimsters were no longer secret so the secrecy was important, but not like it used to be. He just needed to keep lookiloos away from the entrance. He also thought the pool at the bottom of the waterfalls would be a good private nature reserve and set the pace for his larger underground developments. His theme of environmental enhancement with every building project would be well served with this small example of natural improvement of this area.

The old pad would only be used for a motor home enclosure with a circular drive and a front and rear entrance for the simple use as described on his Terrafirmation page on the Plizzel web site.

After this project was complete, instead of talking about his ideas to lenders and investors, he could show them the results physically. This would be a showcase example for mountain environments. His next project would be in the desert.

All of this would be part of his new movie browser design using a combination of HTML5 video tags and open source mozilla/firefox browser code to make in house movies and promote other movies.

Doing a google search, Split found a great piece of open source software at movie-browser.findmysoft.com that allows him to have a starting point with existing film inventory.

His work on optoegenetics, in which genes for light-regulated ion channels are inserted into nerve cells. When hit with light of the right wavelength, these channels will either trigger or suppress a nerve impulse, effectively putting the nerves under the researcher’s control would be one of the featured movie themes to encourage places like MIT to complete their research.

MIT was even working in a traditional field like architecture with it’s influence of biology building materials. Split wanted to incorporate that into his building plans if they succeeded.

He had to complete two real estate deals before it got too late. One was for the sublease of the Tesla plant in Freemont, California and the other was for the underground rights at the new Space Port.

Flut was looking over Split’s shoulder like he did whenever he caught him typing feverishly at something new.

You are finally going to make your moves. You’ve been talking about this stuff for so long I was beginning to wonder if it was all talk Flut said, kind of surprising himself with that statement.

I’ve just been waiting for the right time. It seems that all the players are in place and the technology to pull it off. Now all we need is some money and the political will to keep everything out of government’s hands. Hopefully, even those folks have a little pioneer blood in them.

Aren’t you worried about them wanting all the credit? They’ll want to take over, won’t they, Flut asked because of past experience?

They will, but taxes is all they’ll get as long as we can keep the UN from pulling some environmental stunt. You know they are already trying to prove Global Warming problems do to the type of fuel they think will be burned, Split mentioned to educate Flut a little on the subject.

You've got to be kidding. What’s wrong with the fuel?

Carbon emissions. What else?

What do you think will happen?

We have a trap set for them from companies like Solazyme and others that will replace the standard fuel with a much better mix for starters but the real surprise will be the fast development of specialized engines, he told Flut.

How are you going to help that out, Flut wanted to know?

Use companies that have a cross-over reason to finance our loans, he answered rather nonchalantly.

Now what are you talking about, Flut questioned while scratching his rather strange head while trying to miss the flowers?

Oh no, Split exclaimed!

You should stay away from that computer, Flut said trying to humor Split.

I know, but that’s how I get the in depth news. And it’s always the same villians, he added.

Ok! I bite. What now?

By reversing a longstanding policy, the federal government said on Friday that human and other genes should not be eligible for patents because they are part of nature. The new position could have a huge impact on medicine and on the biotechnology industry. And guess who’s at the heart of trying to kill the private profit motive again. That’s right. The main Commucrat organization, the ACLU and their President, Susan N. Herman, Split added.

You can’t leave politic alone, can you?

No! It’s so stupid that people don’t get it in this country. Enemies disguised in robes of respectability. Saul Alinsky must be laughing in his communist grave. "See, I told you. This is how you kill the West", Split said disgusted with the subject.

Let’s get on with something more fun then, Flut the funmeister suggested.

Good idea. How about my Lego Houses? All you need is the basic shape, a portable extruder and some special fittings and “Viola” instant dwellings in space, underwater or underground. Off the shelf technology, wouldn’t you say, he said only half kidding?

That was a good change up, Flut said quickly.

Here is some more good news. Perforin might help me with my quest against diabetes. It attacks deviant cells and now it needs to be controlled in ways that will maximize it’s effect on the problem. I may not have to do anything in this direction except monitor the progress. That would be good enough for me, Split added.

Answering a challenge on Wired Magazine’s website, Split wrote about a new ship that was an inverted luxury liner that visited bodies of water on exoplanets explored in the future.

Who would want to go across an ocean upside down, Flut asked surprised at what Split put down as a solution?

You would still have access to several upper level areas but this would get people use to this underwater environment. They could visit whole communities. It would be a whole new culture, but most important, more people could occupy the planet, he said with a funny look on his face.

Come now, its not that bad yet. Why go to all this trouble now, Flut wanted to know?

The wealthier countries would enjoy the adventure but the true importance is in the overcrowded places. The whole economy would be built around the fishing industries to make sure we don’t loose that resource. How many steers or pigs do you think there would be naturally if there weren’t economic reasons for raising this lifestock? Fish need to be organized to survive. The seas as they are now are like the American Bison. They almost disappeared. This could easily happen in our oceans if something isn’t done quickly, Split added.

I know, but why upside down ships, he reminded him of his funny solution? Why not just regular ones?

I wasn’t implying all ships. This was a contest of the science fiction type. But it would be worth exploring while planning these underwater communities, he explained.

Split continued his Internet surfing by going to the spot.us news website. He is registered as a reporter there and he wanted to start his newly sydicated column.

His article is titled “Geezer Geek Identifies The Problem”!
The article read: The future frontier is out in space, underwater and underground. Technology is interchangeable in each of these development modes. The Geezer Geek is a genetic designer that uses his “to do list” and reporting skills to give the reader an update on the solutions to our future. A daily report is available on the web site plizzel.com. Click on the Geezer Geek Corner button or the P-badge to get to Split and Flut.

His next plan was to get on Craigs list to do some real estate oriented ads. He posted three ads. All were needed to make the first underground movie for his new Movie Browser. This would be the keystone effort to launch a series of Whimster movies promoting the future development of the three new environments envisioned by Split.

His Google Chat video phone would be put to work answering the responses.

Is next week a good time to meet with Mandi, Flut wanted to know?

That would be good for me. Lets do it at the condo, Split added.

What topics are going over with her, Flut asked?

Just general things like the TLC loans, he answered quickly.
Who is at the top of your list there, Flut wanted to know?

The Japanese firm Shimizu is the closest in concept to our mission. I really like their “Dream” section on their web site, Split said enthusiastically.

A Swedish architect has an idea that I wrote about several years ago in my book “Creative Real Estate for a Bad Market”. We can put him together with Elon Musk and a few others for another TLC loan. Maybe Mandi will have some ideas along these lines, he added.

How are you going to cover all this with her, Flut asked?

I’ll have her access Plizzel for daily updates and background material, he said reminding Flut the purpose of all this writing.

Exactly! Are you leaving your notes after the story line?

Some of them. Others go into the TLC loan package. If she or any other participants want to contact me I’ll handle their questions, Split said. Now what are you up to today?

Just trying to keep up with you. What would be the best project for me to work on to move things along faster, Flut queried?

Maybe you could help me contact the major players to get their initial response. I think we are ready for that, don’t you think, Split wanted to know?

Yes! We need more action and less planning, he replied glad that Split had come to this conclusion. Which end of this do you want me to tackle, he asked?

I’ve complied a list of borrowers and lenders. The basic package is ready, so you need to get it out to them with a cover letter. Can you handle that, Split asked?

Sure! By the way, are you going to let Mandi know about Plizzel Rock?

I’m going to suggest that we make that a goal to meet there as soon as the TLC process is complete, he answered.

Is this going to be a comet or an astroid, Flut asked?

An astroid would be better to start with but later a comet would be good too, Split said as he reflected on the latest news about the dry ice driving the comets. (Hartley Comet)

Are you going to find out more about Tokyo’s second layer of Earth plan, Flut asked?
That is one of the first things on my agenda. They use a pod system to start with that could easily be tied into the overhead solar freeway project to make it a complete eco-revision, Split answered with a new word.

Did you make your addition to the plans yet, Flut wondered?

As soon as I get some time. For now I put a composite of the systems on the Net, he answered.

How does that pod system work, Flut said getting back on topic?

It is used as a hub to connect the upper world with the new underground development. They then connect each hub with a connecting tunnel for traveling between each hub. After that, they will build the housing, shopping, office and even industrial projects to have a fully integrated community, Split stated clearly.

Does that mean they will duplicate Tokyo using the same amount of space, Flut asked carefully?

Pretty much so, but the newest techniques and innovations will be used and the new city should be an extremely desirable place to live and work, he added.

Pretty much so, but the newest techniques and innovations will be used and the new city should be an extremely desirable place to live and work, he added.

Split was almost always surfing the net and was looking at the Drudge report where he noticed an article about going to mars on a one way trip. Oh! They finally got part of the solution, he exclaimed!

What’s that, Flut asked in an absent minded way?

They are going to do the space thing as pioneers like my great grandfather did in Salt Lake City. But first they are going to fly planes over the terrain to help the settlers plan better for their new homes, Split explained.

Aren’t we suppose to be working on your underground project today, Flut wondered?

Yes! But these things are important when they happen. Do you know what else happened today, Split asked to keep his attention?

Flut just shook his head knowing nothing could stop Split from telling him when he got enthusiastic about something.

The Japanese have just landed some stardust from the astroid Itokawa in the Australian Outback. These are samples that they are sharing with scientist all over the world. Now we will know what Plizzel Rock is made of, Split added.

Speaking of the Japanese. He paused. Are you going to translate their brochure about the underground city, Flut queried?

I’ll use their PDF file and convert it to HTML and then use Google translate like we have on the Plizzel site. Then I’ll pop that onto the site so everyone can read it in any language, Split added. The images speak for themselves.

Aren’t you going to have problems dealing with the Japanese?

Hopefully not. I’m doing some background work on how to approach them respectfully. I know that is a big part of how they deal with us, Split said going back to his initial offering for the TLC loan.

Will you let Mandi know about your progress when she gets here, Flut asked?

Maybe she will have some ideas on the subject, he mentioned. I might have some kind of response from the Shimizu Corporation by the time she visits, Split added.

Wuzz was busy getting ready for Mandi’s stay at their condo. She wondered in which form she would choose to travel. She could come in through the Ocean entrance at the bottom of the condo or she could come through the cave entrance.

When she called Split she asked him if he was still promoting his self evolving movie?

Not only am I doing that, but I've entered it in the new Amazon Studio's contest, Split informed her

How is Mandi getting here, Wuzz asked Split?

Our government gave her one of the new X37b spaceships so she can get around in every environment. She has one that even adapts to underwater travel, Split explained.

I guess we’ll see her when we see her, she said with levity.

Yep! Did I tell you how I’m setting up the TLC loans, he asked?

Non really. What are going to do, just go to the bank, Wuzz submitted to him?

Sort of. But not in the way you mean. I’m going to buy the foreclosure inventory from one of the bigger institutions and provide management as rental units. Then I’ll hypothicate the equity for Terrafirmation's portion of the deals, he explained not sure that she would understand the answer.

That solves two problems at the same time doesn’t it, Wuzz asked hoping she had gotten it right?

Bingo! I’m surprised you got that one. Flut must keep you well informed.

I try, I try! Speaking of Flut, is he getting home early or late tonight, she queried getting back to the mundane?

Hold on. I’ll put him on for you, he said as he transferred her over to Flut.

Just as Split got back to his TLC revisions, he was on Popsci.com and ran into another possibility in the virtual world for his projects. A fairly new site just hit the news with a record breaking real estate transaction. Club Neverdie sold on EntropiaUniverse.com for $635,000 cash, not MMO (virtual) money. And the kicker is that it is just virtual real estate.

Is Sopharina going to join us when Mandi gets here, Flut asked?

Ya, but it's going to cost me $100,000 for her new ride, he stated.

Why so much?

She wants one of those new jet packs from Australia, he explaned.

Do you think see can operate one of those, Flut asked?

Oh ya! She's not the dumb blonde she lets you think she is, Split said defending Sopharina's demeanor.

Anything else we can do today, Flut wanted to know?

Maybe you can research this engine company. They are having problems bringing it to market with cars but maybe as a backup engine in an electric conversion on motor homes, we can keep them alive until they can get to market in the automotive areana. This could help us with the Tesla lease, Split added.

Wow! You know Flut, with all the advances in space, very little attention has been paid to the finite. It is the other side of the coin and may prove to be even more important than the infinite. Can you believe it, this is only the second time in my life I’ve seen a real breakthrough in tools used to measure the finite and it is hardly getting any attention. When I was in high school I wanted to be a biological artist. You know, look through a microscope and draw what you see. Hence my genetic designs, he interjected. Then microscopes equipped with cameras arrived on the seen. Still it was cumbersome on the cellular level to analysis layers. Now a new 3D microscope has been developed. Dr. Gerd Schneider and his microscopy team at the Institute for Soft Matter and Functional Materials have published their development in Nature Methods (DOI:10.1038/nmeth.1533), Split declared.

Will that help you with your biological programming, Flut asked quick to pick up on Split’s thinking.

Giant step!

Are these new innovations ever going to stop? I can hardly keep up with them Flut exclaimed.

Here’s two more, Split started with to tease Flut a little. A New Zealand company has designed a wireless solution to charge Electric Vehicles. It’s a strip about a foot or two wide that is imbedded on any surface like blacktop or cement. It charges the vehicle from underneath in the garage, the driveway or on any lane on a road. These can be used in our plans for the overhead solar freeway to give power to the vehicles below, Split added.

Excellent! What is the second thing, Flut wanted to know quickly?

Mandi’s Pod has been licensed as the first commercial space craft to re-enter the atmosphere, he stated.

Does that mean you aren’t going off on another tangent today, Flut went on kidding Split?

I guess so. I’ve got to contact these known city developers to find out which one of them wants to get involved with the TLC loans. That’s top priority. But I do have to keep up with the latest developments so you’ll have to keep hearing my reports, he instructed Flut.

That’s OK! I actually enjoy them. It’s just that all this makes me distracted at times, Flut explained.

I know what you mean. I sometimes wonder how it will all come together. It almost feels like I’m living inside a comic book strip. It’s just that all this stuff is as real as a heart beat. I haven’t used that phrase for awhile, Split interjected. I’ve already completed the Japanese and Chinese intro letters and now I’m working on the Indian and Arab organizations. My final push will be the American companies and some of the odds and ends in other places, Split said mostly talking to himself.

You can do it, Flut said to himself.

Here we go again, Split exclaimed loudly! Another distraction for you Flut my friend. This will require I start a separate PDF file on the subject, he added.

OK! I’m listening, Flut assured Split.

Batteries have been the bane of the alternate energy world but solutions are popping up all over. I’m going to put this all in one place to make sure we use everything that comes up in our plan, he remarked. The new discovery is on a vehicle I personally took on a test drive. It’s the Toyota RAV4-EV. I actually had to take a 10 question quiz before the salesman would let me drive the SUV. They’ve now driven them over 100,000 miles and to their surprise the battery is still good. This destroys another myth about EV’s. They are also reusable after their life in the vehicle for alternate energy storage and general backup for electric grids of all kinds. The quicker we do this the better, Split observed.

You certainly have a handle on the underground tie in with present infrastructure that everyone is used to, but what about the underwater development, Flut prodded Split?

Most of that seems to be coming from Japan and the Arabs. I’ll put some feelers out after our meeting with Mandi. I hope she comes in her Sea Dragon form. I hear she is quite delicate in that mode, Split stated as he finished looking at the latest political rap of Sopharina’s.

When Mandi finally showed up at the condo, she came via the ocean entrance underneith the condo. She met Wuzz in her Sea Dragon form but quickly excused herself to reform into her humanoid image. Wuzz was the only one there when she arrived.

What are you guys going to discuss tonight Wuzz asked?

I'm starting with some fantasy water cities, Mandi replied.

That sounds cool. What else are you letting Split deal with when he gets here, Wuzz asked directly?

He has a girl friend that does Political Rap and Hip Hop music for an alternate music web site, she stated.

That's right! What does that matter, Wuzz wondered?

She's in double jeopardy, Mandi warned.

In what way?

I have a UN sponsored project to cleanse certain parts of sociaty and in your country I've created "The Super Badge", Mandi said knowing the next question from Wuzz.

Super Badge? What the Hey is that?

Control over the private sector of your country using scare tactics, she said proudly not realizing what a faux pas she had committed by telling Wuzz. Or did she?

How did you get here today, Wuzz asked trying to change the subject?

In my X37B space ship adapted for me, she informed Wuzz.

How did they adapt it for you, Wuzz asked following this line of conversation?

This one not only works in space but I can land directly in deep water and continue going as an underwater vehicle. This makes me almost invisible, Mandi added.

Did you bring your body guards? I heard they are very interesting, Wuzz added.

You can see them from the living room Mandi said as she pointed both of them out near some of the Whimsters.

Split and Flut arrived with Sopharina and the whole group was ready for some lively conversation and problem solving. Or so Split thought.

After everyone was served drinks and something to munch on, Split started the conversation that everyone was waiting for with a bit of a zinger. We are going to do all three at the same time. We are going to use crossover funds and technology, he stated to get the Q&A going quickly.

Why take on so much, Mandi asked first?

It's a time for bold strokes and clear thinking, Split stated clearly.

Won't that set you up for failure, Mandi countered with quickly?

It doesn't matter whether I succeed. It only matters that all these solutions are solved. Pioneers get shot in the back, quoting an old saying from his family's heritage, but progress still happens by others, he said philosophically.

Just then Sopharina popped up from her game on the computer and interrupted the group. Split, come here and check out this new game I found.
Not now dear, he said softly.

No really. It’s something you would like for your genetic programming, she said sure that she had hit on a gem.

What are you talking about, Split said as he walked over to her?

Look at this. It’s called Phylo. You play with genes and it’s for real, she said to Split’s amazement.

Split looked out to side of the group out the underwater window and noticed one of best underwater vehicles he had seen.

Getting back to joint development in all three directions at the same time, Split said to refocus the group on the most important element of their meeting, we know that the space program is the main technology that gets our attention but by leveraging their successes both underground and underwater cities can benefit too, he added.

What can I do to help, Mandi asked?

Just try to get the anti-capitalist people around you to understand that it is good business to preserve and improve our environment, Split said pausing for her comment.

They are into class warfare to control the World and I’m not sure if that isn’t the best tactic, she stated.

If you take from the rich just to give to the poor, everyone suffers because it doesn’t help the immediate problems. It just makes everyone have to wait for solutions. The proper use of capital is best handled by those that benefit from their efforts, Split answered knowing he had to give a more complete argument.

Why is that so important? Can’t an altruistic motive be more pure?

In a fantasy World, yes. But in the real World, no. It just feels better, but leaves a person open to make mistakes because all they have to do is say “I’m sorry. I tried my best”. They know that will get them off the hook and they’ll still feel righteous. A person that puts up their capital actually losses something when they fail, therefore they will make sure that they do a great job, Split said knowing about this kind of positive pressure on projects.

Are you prepared to take the brunt of this kind of stress on your TLC loan projects, Mandi asked bluntly?

That's not stress, that's pleasure for me because I'm an evolutionist, Split said without blinking.

Which project do you want to do first, Mandi inquired?

That depends on the lenders. When people are putting up that kind of money, they do even better research than I do as the agent. This isn't going to be done by fools. Only investors that can see their ROI improving will be interested, he added to make his case.

What is your best guess then, she continued?

China is the most motivated and could make the best deal for investors but I don't know which of the three solutions they will go for first. They should hit all three as hard as they can because they have the most to gain in the long run, Split said in a hopeful manner.

How are you approaching that end, she queried?

I'm in the China Greentech initiative and that might lead to both ends of the deal, Split explained.

I would have thought you would say the space race in America with all the private development and the encouragement from NASA, Mandi said reminding Split of current events.

It's a close call and it doesn't matter to me which is first. It's just that fear is the great motivator and China has an edge in that because of their population problems, he pointed out to her.

You know I came here in the new secret space ship, don't you, she wondered?

Adapted for underwater flight. You've just made my point. Developing in all three areas forwards the technology in each venue, Split stated smugly.

I see the private sector spinning out of control with all this power, Mandi observed based on Split's assessment of the situation.

That freedom spurs the competition for consumers, not victims like other forms of power, he tried to explain clearly.

You know they are making history this week with my Dragon Pod, don't you, Mandi asked proudly?

That's true. The first private space ship. But that's not the only thing happening. Japan has a satellite that starts orbiting Venus this week and the first landing on the dark side of the moon is getting ready to launch, Split said to push the conversation along.

You've heard about the new life form they found in that California lake, haven't you, Mandi asked?

What about it, Wuzz chimed in as she joined them?

That's closer to my composition, Mandi admitted. At least it's a variation of what your scientist are going to have to deal with if they want to understand life as it really is, she stated clearly to them.

Sopharina yelled out, it's official, we have a dragon in outer space!

You mean, Elon Musk did it, Split interjected?

Awesome! Now we can begin the dream, Flut sighed.

I'd better start that real time Escrow Ap for the smartphones, Split said thinking again about the TLC loans

What are you doing about this success, Mandi asked about her new dragon pod?

You can come with us to Plizzel Rock as soon as they get these ships ready. If we help by raising some of the money used for development we should be able to be some of the first to pioneer in space. That's why we are trying so hard, Split told her hoping she would help.

Mandi thought for a moment and gave a nod. Her plan was to unhinge things by 2012 and then take control but she couldn't reveal that to anyone here today. Who are you going to try to get the funds from, Mandi asked Split to change the subject?

The best list are the people on "The Giving Pledge", he said to go along with her inquiry.

Why are they so good?

They are all self made billionaires. Any one of them could do both TLC loans or maybe they would prefer grants in their name. The important thing is that they are all evolutionist even it they think of themselves as something else, Split added.

That's all good Split but let Mandi tell us a little about her life, Sopharina interjected.

Good idea, Wuzz agreed.

What would you like to know, Mandi asked?

Just start as far back as you can, Split suggested.

Mandi had to think about the answer for a moment. Should I tell them about the absolute beginning or just a time when it might seem of relevance to them. She decided on the later. We first came here as microbial mud during the forming of your World. Our chemical DNA was more like that life form they just found in California, She said pausing to think again.

You mean there are little dragons that size, Sopharina asked in her little girl voice?

Oh yes! We are all around you. But don't worry. We are here to encourage the best species on the planet. That is our primary mission, Mandi said to reassure everyone.

Why have you chosen the UN to be your post in this mission, Split asked?

They have the greatest possibility for good and harm, she said quickly.

I know exactly what you mean, he reassured her.

You are a bit of a mystery to us, Mandi said to edge Split into his stuff instead of hers.

I'm straight up problem solving as best I can, Split said trying to defend his odd behavior.

You aren't part of the organization, she stated clearly.

No. I haven't joined anything except the International Capitalist Party, Split said wondering if she was aware of his commitment to positve capitalism.

What does that group do, Mandi asked having not heard of this organization.

It's a group that all of us belong to naturally, he said obtrusively.

She paused and wondered what kind of loose cannon this man could be. You are talking about the hidden hand of the market, aren't you, she asked hoping that was all he was talking about?

Exactly! That system that undermines every group that tries to control mankind, Split reminded her.

OK, OK, Sopharina interjected. Not that again Split.

You mean that the UN has no right to governmental control, Mandi asked to get a clear view of his thinking?

Read their Charter. They are suppose to protect the sovereignty of nations but instead they are using environmental issues to control them through tax schemes based on Commucrat thinking, he said not being able to stop this discord.

When are you going to do something about all this, Mandi almost demanded to know?

December 2012

What happens then, she asked Split?

Open membership to individuals only with affiliate membership open to organizations including any government for advise only, Split said knowing the direction of the next few comments by Mandi.

Why are you waiting, she asked as expected?

I have to stop being "Atlas Shrugged" and become "Atlas Mugged" again, Split said in a literary manner.

Hm! I'm not going to ask what that means. Please be more direct.

Just pay attention to my TLC loans. In other words, I've got to do and stop talking about the problem. My distracters have to be converted voluntarily by my results. Either free will works or we are doomed by out homegrown masters, Split added.

Which one is first and why?

The smaller TLC loans to finance the larger ones. I have to establish my Grand Master status before I can do the main work. I have a 27,000 acre parcel that needs a twenty eight million dollar loan for a reinsurance company. I place that and then fund my Terrafirmation Development Company, he said specifically.

This is getting boring, Sopharina interjected.

But wait until you see our next move. You'll get a new house like you've never seen before, Split said knowing her hot button.

What kind of house, she asked excited by this news?

A german house that creates more power than it uses designed for the new electric cars with the latest technical solar equipment. Here look at a picture of it. We'll build a bunch of these next to the new Space Port in New Mexico with our underground motorhome timeshares below to support the costs of building, Split explained.

I'm going to be one of the first to buy or rent one of those Space Condos that Bigelow is sending out there, Mandi stated. Are you going to do that too?

I'm going to try and help market them, Split informed her.

Don't you have enough to do already, Wuzz put forth?

It's not like there will be thousands of these to start out with. There will be a lot of agents on this list, Split added

About your new Movie Browser. How are you going to use that with your projects, Mandi asked?

As I do these projects I'll use video as we do everything to document the progress. In fact, a new type of reading glasses will come in handy for that along with web cams, smart phone cameras and the latest video HD equipment. These will be used as we complete all three endeavors, Split explained.

What do you travel in when you are doing these projects, Mandi wondered?

I try to use one of Darpa's Green Plane contestant's entry to give it some exposure, Split said with pride. These might be the new Jetson toys of the future he thought to himself.

I don't have to do that. I'm supplied with the latest craft and I can adapt them to my lifestyle, she proclaimed with a smile on her face.

That's neat. How did you become the first shapeshifting ET that is fully excepted by the UN's ET commission, Flut asked?

I'm helping them with the understanding of topological matter, Mandi explained to the group.

I've heard a little about that, Wuzz chimed in while not really knowing a lot about the subject.

We don't have time for that today. Just Google the subject if you want the latest details. You'll all be surprised at how important this new understanding will be to your future, she said wanting to get back to Split's plans.

Split was mostly wanting to have his plans sent over to her rather than continue with his explanations. Let me start a update system for you. We'll do it using Google video chat and Apo can give you anything that is too sensitive for that, Split said hoping this would put everything back to her interesting story.

Alright! I assume that means you want more of my story, she said intuitively?

Exactly right! You are so unique and well informed about our World. I feel we could talk all night and never even get close to the core of your being, Split said as a compliment.

You know about most of the vehicles I travel in but one of the new ones is the new Scan Eagle. I can either be inside and they will control it for me or I can monitor any situation that I deem important from a remote control unit no bigger than an Ipad, she explained. Do you ever have a need for this type of equipment, Mandi asked Split?

No! My concerns are infrastructure related only. I'm not involved in any intrigues that I know of, Split stated.

You will be she thought to herself.

Split can help with anything that has to do with building better places to live, Sopharina said thinking someone had to say something because of a long pause between them.

How soon is this going to happen, Wuzz asked both of them?

It's all about the money right now, Split said quickly. All the technology is just sitting there waiting to be put to use.

That's why I'm here, Mandi pointed out.

We can do all three developments in one stop. That's in the area close to the new Space Port in New Mexico. It's remote enough that we won't have greedy environmentalist trying to horn in on everything we are try to do with phoney do gooder political road blocks, Split stated firmly.

There isn't any water there, Mandi said a bit perplexed about Split's declaration.

There is a consortium of companies Worldwide that are planning to supply fifty percent of the Worlds power needs by creating a full manufacturing cycle for solar power. They are doing it in the Sahara due to the natural silicon in the sand. We want to do something along these lines in the remote area of the Southwest. The plans will have to be adapted to the natural elements available in this area but the Space Port is also committed to the use of Solar Power and we want to conform with that concept, Split explained.

Will this translate into underwater city development also, Mandi asked while thinking about Split's location choice?

On a limited basis. Yes! But we will only be able to build a testing location for vehicles and a few other things, Split clarified.

Would I be able to use my aqua glider in your little lake, Mandi asked making fun of his project?

That would have to be in the advanced stages of our development but you would present a challenge, that's for sure, Split said going along with her humor.

Is anything going to be standard in your vision of this community, she went on with to keep the information flowing?

Yes and No! Our city will be planned very differently but still with some common elements.

Split showed her some drawings of Spiral Skyscraper Condos to let her know what he was talking about. Imagine this type of building but not in a city planned with old technology. In cities as they are today, they can't take advantage of Solar for energy because they block the sun unless they are on the edge of the city. Most of the units just look at other units except for the very top floors. Why not build cities with large areas of parkland in between them instead of right next to each other as they are now, Split suggested?

The pictures he showed her illustrated the buildings in white but the jeweled look of solar skins would be the best way to construct these skyscrapers, he explained. He also told her that a large underground multi-use section would be part of the plans to give the convenience of a city. The above ground condos could also be multi-use as either offices or residences, depending on the demand in the area, Split told the group for the first time.

Very ambitious plans. What are you going to do to raise the money, Mandi asked not knowing how far along he was with this quest?

That's a very long answer and most of it will have to be sent to you, but the short of it is that it is a consortium of very knowledgeable lenders that are being introduced to the people that are actually doing all this pioneering for the planet, Split told her trying to be succinct.

So you are going to try to get it all done at the same time, she asked not believing what she was hearing?

It makes a lot of sense. We already have both the boating and motor home industry that deals with consumers and small self contained living spaces. That is the essence of each project with some additional infrastructure problems, Split said in response.

Are you aware of the rules of telepossession, Mandi asked?

That will be a great motivator for everyone in the business, Split said acknowledging the concept of first right of ownership to a place when you discover the location and set up a colony of some sort.

It is more of an illustrated goal for future settlers, Split explained.

What is you real goal in Space, Mandi asked?

Space condos or timeshares that are mostly for recreational purposes, Split answered quickly in his best real estate agent's tone of voice.

Ok! But what is your political agenda, she asked surprising Split.

Split had to think for a moment but came up with an all consuming answer. I want to expose the communist/socialist proponents as nothing more than drama queens. All they ever do is cause strife and class warfare instead of solving real problems. Their so called "Scientific Economics", utopian theory couldn't stand up to any type of scientific scrutiny. It's always failed for everyone except the ruling class, otherwise known as government. They can't stand real problem solving, Split added.

At this point Mandi stood up and anounced that it was time for her to leave. She was very polite but everyone knew that Split had hit a nerve with his political diatribe.

Sopharina scolded Split for his insensitivity. Can't we just change the subject she asked Mandi?

Mandi confirmed her assessment of Split and didn't want to confront him yet. I'll be back soon. Can you take me to my ride, please, Mandi continued firmly?

Both Wuzz and Sopharina walked Mandi to her vehicle. On the way she told them she was staying close by in a special bedroom designed for her by the makers of Tron, the movie.

Flut went over to Split and asked him if the Dragon culture was made up of Commucrats or not. Split didn’t have an answer. He knew she must be closely connected to the Chinese Chin dynasty but he couldn’t make any other association. It was now up to them to get the TLC projects off the ground. What they didn’t know was how important Mandi’s part would be in the success of everything they were trying to do.

Have you finished the letters to the lenders and the borrows yet, Split asked Flut?

Did you want to send them all at the same time, Flut asked?

Start with the borrows first to see what the demand is, Split suggested. They probably can use all the money we can provide.

Should I send the loan package along with the letter?

It’s all electronic with PDF files, so get them started quickly, Split instructed Flut

Apo, what where you doing over there? You were so quite when Mandi was here.

My job is to find out what she is up to. All I needed to do was listen and evaluate her words and actions. Something is very strange about both, Apo added.

Do you think she is going to be a problem, Split wanted to know?

She’ll be one extreme or the other, Apo pointed out to him. Is there anything special you want me to find out?

She left abruptly when politics were touched for a moment. See if you can get a handle on her attitudes toward world economics, Split stated.

This Dragon thing is my main problem. She seems to be very accepted at the UN by the ET division. I’ll try to find out what the connection is and maybe that will give me some answers, Apo said as he left Split to go back to his office. See you later.

Get back with me as soon as you come up with anything, Split said.

Split knew he only had one thing to do now. All else was background preparations or research. Now was the time for action on the actual TLC development.

The first contact was for the land needed in New Mexico. Split was looking for a site compatible with the new Space Port. The area is over priced due to the hype but some of the locals will be realistic if they really want to sell.

The biggest problem will be creating a body of water that supports an underwater Ark Hotel and a Water Building Resort to complete the three technologies that are mutually compatible. Both of these plans and several others should be part of the communities.

As part of the TLC loan process an advertising component should be included as a risk benefit to the companies that help sponsor this vision of the future.

Both Mandi and Apo met again at the ET division of the UN the next day.

Just what is it you do for Split, Mandi wanted to know from Apo?

Mostly just make sure he stays in touch with the International rules because he deals so much with offshore financing for his projects, Apo answered quickly with confidence to make sure Mandi wouldn’t worry about his security efforts.

How does he know that this will answer most of the future problems, she asked testing his critical thinking?

As Split explained to all the Whimsters, he is sure all of us are merely seeding the Universe with life. There is so much room and so many resources there is no reason to inhibit this evolutionary progress. He knows only short thinking people that think there is only so much space and a limited supply of resources are the problem, he stated clearly to her.

So, the environmental extremist are the problem, Mandi summarized his statements.

They are just being used for their over zealous compassion coupled with their hatred of capitalist achievers to give power to people that think they have the right to control everyone, Apo said hoping he was getting this correct. He didn’t want Split to be misunderstood because of anything he has said to Mandi.

Isn't that rather paranoid, she asked?

Ya, but not far off target, Apo added his own opinion.

He's a free market believer and thinks the best solutions come with self serving benefits to the problem solvers, wouldn't you say, Mandi quizzed him again.

Exactly! That and the fact that no great evolutionary advancement has ever been done with group thinking, Apo said feeling he had learned well from Split and Flut.

Flut, we need to do our Q & A section for our TLC web site today, Split said to start his new day.

Which is first, the borrowers or the lenders questions, Flut asked?

Borrowers, Split stated firmly.

Is this like a check off list for a loan package, Flut asked?

That is the main part but it includes a hybrid advertising component that makes it either new or unusual, Split explained to Flut.

That doesn’t make sense to me, Flut admitted.

Think of a triple A rated cosigner for a loan on a project that bares the name of that company or product as the main promotion for the new concept city. Kind of like the naming of a football or baseball field in exchange for cosigning a loan to build the new city. Think Coke Cola City, Split further explained to Flut.

Gotcha!

Now the trick will be making the correct matching to best put forward the right image for each participant, Split reminded Flut about how important it is to have the perception matching the reality and importance of each new city.

Should we start with a plan or just try this on a hit or miss basis, Flut asked wanting to know where to start.

Best of the best should be our aim in choosing our sponsor-lenders, Split said hoping that would define the direction.

Now here is the 64 billion dollar question, Flut said wondering how Split could possibly have a solution to this problem.

Ah ha, Split said almost sure of what was on Flut’s mind?

How are you going to get through all the building permit requirements of most communities in this country, Flut asked not disappointing Split with his inquiry.

I'll make a list of the stupid States like California and rate each State. My guess the South West, excluding the Socialist Dictatorship of California, will probably head up the list but you might find States attracted to new exportable business as reason enough to brake through the Unions hold on old technologies, Split said giving the short answer.

So that is why you've picked New Mexico, Flut observed?

Right! The first Governor supported the Space Port using government help and the new Governor want's private funds to finish the project, Split said to make it even more clear to Flut.

Funny place for underwater development, Flut pointed out the obvious.

The may seem so, but out in space, that could prove to be the most important of all the development technologies, Split rebutted easily.

It seems there are a lot of companies that are getting into these things but aren't they splintered in their projects, Flut asked?

That is one of the reasons we need a strong consortium of effort to speed up the process. Is this part of your Q and A additions, Split included?

Partly, but I also wonder where you are going with all this, Flut once again queried Split about his motives?

Don't worry about that. Worry about really important things like perfect encryption for money or the merging of all religions, Split said making the plot even deeper.

Flut just shook his head not wanting to open up these statements to even more perplexing problem solving mysteries.

Our quest should be thought of in military terms. I mean, an all out assault on the problem. Overwhelm the enemy with an onslaught of information and results, Split explained to get back to the TLC project.

Are there enough developers out there trying to do these kinds of things to be able to do that, Flut asked?

If there aren’t, we’ll have to create a larger market. The profit potential is unlimited if these new Worlds are opened. The main market, as always, is the consumer’s needs. The dream is great but the practicality is what makes the dream happen, Split said waxing on in some kind of strange mood.

I’m still worried about the water thing, Flut said as he went back to his work.

Whoever solves that element is the big winner here because it makes everything else possible. The solution at the Space Port will have to be very imaginative and doable at other locations with dry hot climates, Split mentioned as he went back to his forms and lists for the TLC loans.

You know that Thorium reactors will solve this problem best, Flut reminded Split.

China won’t sell this technology and the US is to slow to pick up this technology because of the oil companies. The only hope here is we can get them building underwater housing using oil products to offset their perceived losses, Split said.

Why don’t you just run for President and then you can solve all these problems, Flut said sarcartically?

Good idea! I’ll start the “Commucrat Party” and split the Democrats so we can start the process, Split said adding a little of his own humor.

You can be the "Problem Solving President", Flut tried to carry this silliness forward to the next level.

Right! For instance, anyone that thinks they are better than others can be given first passage of this planet to another one where they can live there without bothering other people, Split said adding a some levity as a distraction.

You mean fundamentalist of every stripe, if I understand what you are saying, Flut reinterated? Is that your foreign policy or do you have other plans too?

Foreign policy shouldn’t even be included until this country starts realizing that it is unconstitutional to over throw the government by using subversive methods of law making by the politicians and bureaucrats, Split stated firmly.

But what about free speech, Flut asked?

Murderers can talk about killing but if they are caught, there are legal consequences that they have to deal with, Split answered clearly.

What does that have to do with anything, Flut asked checking to see Split's train of thought?

The Constitution clearly spells out that "we the people" need to be protected from government growth and control. Any system proposed by our leaders that doesn't follow that simple rule, no matter what they call their proposed system is a traitor to this country and should have consequences, he added.

Sopharina was in the background watching TV but was unable to tune out this conversation. Split, why don’t you get off that soap box and get back to work? You’ll make more of a impact by doing something rather than just talking about our problems, she added wanting to get back to her soap opera.

You are right, as usual, Split said.

It’s a good thing that someone around here knows how to stop your political diatribe, Flut commented as he ducked and went back to his list making for the TLC project.

Split was all geared up for more detail but realized it only gets everyone upset. That’s one thing he really liked about Sopharina. She always knew when he was going over the deep end with his political passion. It was time to show everyone how to deal with these things and that was exactly what his actions would prove but he was worried if these projects could get through the political gauntlet that was sure to be a bigger problem than the actual construction and financing of these dreams.

Split, after seeing the bridges being retrofitted with artistically designed wind turbines flashed on the idea of wind walls made of plastic in conforming sizes for construction could really add built in energy producing design into the everyday building processes.

What did you think of Mandi’s visit, Sopharina asked for more detail about the experience?

She was in search of more understanding of what we are doing but I’m not sure why. She has the power to effect us in the way that she wants to, so I hope she sees the importance of our trying to change the dialectic into a positive growth pattern instead of all the fear that is permeating society in our press and our politics, Split said to help her understand that it is important to get her on their side, if possible.

I felt that she has a hidden agenda that you aren’t going to be able to effect, but I hope I’m wrong. It’s just a feeling, she added.

Mandi was meeting with her group at the UN's ET division. This included the director and her staff and Apo. She had to keep her underwater guards at her launch but she felt safe in this environment so her plans could be implemented without any perceived interference.

Apo, I really enjoyed the meeting with Split. He seems to have some very important plans for this planet she added.

He's looking forward to working closely with you, Apo said.

Our plans here are mostly directed to the possibilities in Space, Mandi reminded him.

How are you planning on getting involved, Apo asked not quite sure of her mission?

Mostly making and enforcing the rules out there, she said making it as clear as possible.

Aren't there already treaties and rules in place, Apo challenged her a little?

Yes, but there are already groups out there trying to go around these agreements, Mandi pointed out.

Isn't that the natural process when dealing with the free market? Government is always seen as the natural enemy to innovation and progress, he pointed out proud that he had gotten his points down on this subject.

Your President is currently doing this in concert with other countries. It's high priority now that we have companies that are aiming for profits in Space, Mandi reminded him.

You are talking about Space X and Red Rover with their goals about going to Mars, right, Apo asked?

They seem to be the most ambitious but there are many others that are on the same path. You truly have a real space race now that the private sector is taking it serious. There is one thing they haven’t even considered. In fact, it’s more of a joke, Mandi said peaking every ones curiosity.

And what would that be, Apo asked taking the bait.

What if other entities like me have already made rules for what you call “Outer Space” and they don’t conform with the ones being formed now, Mandi stated not knowing if this would get a chuckle or a sincere response from the group.

What do you think would be the best improvement in rule making in general, Apo asked taking her very serious.

Rules should have a deadline on decision makers when an economic time line is important to the success of projects. This is the biggest source of problems for developers and financial institution when making plans, She said surprising everyone there.

That would be perfect and it would lay the groundwork to have the “Billionaire Boys” help the next generation of “Trillionaire Tigers”, Apo said quoting Split.

One of the first tests will be how they handle Apothos, Mandi pointed out.

We call it Plizzel rock and Split agrees with you. This Asteroid could be very useful or very destructive, Apo mused.

Split thinks it could somehow be useful, She asked puzzled by this assessment of the situation?

2029 and 2035 is far enough away that we can prepare and close enough to motivate us now to get our technology ready to make this a positive event on a Friday the 13th, no less, Apo said showing off his knowledge of the problem.

Right, but what is Split’s take on making this a positive event, Mandi asked coming at him in a more direct manner?

It is almost mandatory that we try to change it’s trajectory to keep it from crashing into this planet, but like any object there is a perfect method to capture the object in Earth orbit. Split can sees this as a small test at having a small island that can test a lot of the new rules about space ownership. If a private company captures this small piece of real estate, what happens then? Do salvage laws apply and is fee simple ownership the motivating factor or is this one of those communal cluster fucks that won’t motivate anyone to rise to the level of competence to make this happen, Apo pointed out clearly.

So you don’t think government control of this problem would be better, given the risks to the planet, Mandi wanted to know?

The best they could do is bump it away if they are lucky, Apo said firmly.One of the first tests will be how they handle Apothos, Mandi pointed out.

We call it Plizzel rock and Split agrees with you. This Asteroid could be very useful or very destructive, Apo mused.

Split thinks it could somehow be useful, She asked puzzled by this assessment of the situation?

2029 and 2035 is far enough away that we can prepare and close enough to motivate us now to get our technology ready to make this a positive event on a Friday the 13th, no less, Apo said showing off his knowledge of the problem.

Right, but what is Split’s take on making this a positive event, Mandi asked coming at him in a more direct manner?

It is almost mandatory that we try to change it’s trajectory to keep it from crashing into this planet, but like any object, there is a perfect method to capture the object in Earth orbit. Split sees this as a small test at having a small island that can test a lot of the new rules about space ownership. If a private company captures this small piece of real estate, what happens then? Do salvage laws apply and is fee simple ownership the motivating factor or is this one of those communal cluster fucks that won’t motivate anyone to rise to the level of competence to make this happen, Apo pointed out clearly.

So you don’t think government control of this problem would be better, given the risks to the planet, Mandi wanted to know?

The best they could do is bump it away if they are lucky, Apo said firmly.

How does this tie into what he is doing underground and underwater, Mandi asked not quite sure if Split even knew this answer?

Maybe we should get Split in on the conversation via a video conference call, Apo suggested.

Go ahead. What do you need to do that she asked?

Just a computer with a web camera, Apo said as he pulled out his laptop. He had Split on the line in no time and filled him in on Mandi’s concerns about his direction of development.

Hi Mandi! As I understand it, you want to know how the capture of an asteroid could possibly be an important element of what I’m trying to do, Is that about right, Split added?

I don’t quite understand your plan Split.

To start with, "Apophis Island" is the name of a movie script that might provide a lot of funding for the real project. We are using the Space Port area to promote their project and at the same time we will be helping finance all three important building developments. Apophis Island could very well incorporate all three. Obviously, the Outer Space element but where do we build our vacation condo's and timeshares once we have title to this most exotic island, underground, above ground or as is possible if water exists, underwater, Split posed as some of the possibilities.

Is this some sort of realty movie you are talking about, Mandi clearly wondered?

I call it a "Science Future Movie" because we are really using "off the shelve science" as opposed to science fiction's wishful thinking type of future science portrayal, Split explained.

You know, some of the things you talk about aren’t real. They are just urban legends or some dreamers idea of the future, Mandi tried to point out to Split.

I know. Things like the underground plan for Tokyo and some of the space plans are probably what you are talking about. That’s why I’m approaching this from the financial point of view. If these plans don’t have a solid basis, people with control of large sums of money to lend will not be fooled, Split told her.

That’s true. You are gathering these application now aren’t you, she speculated?

Right! I can be fooled but these folks are not going to take my word for anything. Either its real as a heart beat or they won’t put anything on the table for foolishness. They are real risk takers but a final result must include the logical chance of success, Split said hoping she was going to be part of the solution.

So the Space frontier is the most likely to be source of future profits for the developers, Mandi hoped this recapped his conversation?

Yes, but the spin off of the technology and marketing will reach into all three areas and that’s why it is best done concurrently. You can see that now, can’t you, Split asked?

I can see the logic but can it be done in one place, she questioned him sharply?

It is important that it is shown to be possible and make money doing it at the same time for this type of evolution to proceed, he stated.

That is quite a challenge. How can I help, Mandi asked surprising Split with her friendly response?

Working with our media people to us get through the permit process would probably be the most positive thing you could help us with at the present time but there are other areas that your help could be very useful, Split said knowing there were many aspects of her position and image that could push his agenda forward.

How will the Apothis Island movie be structured, she asked curious about his vision in this arena?

First we have to secure some well known actors and actresses. That could be very easy if we have the right vision and the right incentives, Split said the obvious.

Do you have any favorites, she asked?

The “Governator” would be the best selection but he is probably getting lots of offers now that he’s leaving office. This is a very political project and his history and persona would really help us get financing and early interest from the press, Split told her with a bit of concern in his voice.

Is that your only concern?

No! We need an ongoing theme. Something like a “Jane Bond” series that would last until 2029 with the actual capture of Apophis. An adventure spy format would have the best chance of keeping the public’s attention. James Bond with a feminine spin could do that because it is possible that we will be seeing a female President in the next few years and this calls for a strong female lead and inspiration, Split added not just playing to Mandi’s ego.

How are your loans going to be affected by this vision of a series of movies to promote all these programs, Mandi asked a very good question?

This can only add to the value because it is funded separately with do down side to the investors/lenders, he explained. Aren’t you more of a globalist than a free market person, Split slipped in quickly? He paused seeing he had caught her off guard. I mean, you work at the UN and they are a global organization with an agenda to make themselves the only World power, he said as he clarified his question to give her some time to respond.

Yes, but I’m not sure that the free market system is the best way to go about your future progress, Mandi answered honestly

.
That’s a fair assessment. Profits are proportionate to risk and that fact scares most people. Playing it safe is always the government's way of doing business. That is their weakness when dealing with real advances to humanity, Split pointed out to her.

Can you help us on a practical level, Apo interjected?

How can you test which system works best if government shakles entrepreneurs at every level. The fact is, power seekers just want to control business so they can extort funds from them using any excuse they can come up with, Split said to let her defend a fair comparison.

Look at how much waste there is when these money people use their assests for their own personal pleasure. Take the new super yachts with pleasure themes for example, She shared with both of them.

That is the extreme, but these workaholics usually have an underlying reason for everything they do. Your example is a good example of that. These are the very same people that would be most likely risk their capital to advance technology in underwater development. They will be the same people that will invest in future fish farming communities to feed the growing population of the World, Split added.

So what you are saying is that they are experimenting with technologies when they enhance their life with these crazy toys that they use personally, Mandi asked not really seeing the connection.

A ha! Just imagine that same theme yacht decked out as a business going from one water community to another for use by the general public. All kinds of places are planning these types of development with very different reasons. Japan for sea food; China and India for more space to grow generally; places like New Orleans as a tourist attraction; Australia for future immigration and some places just because they can, Split said looking at some of the actual plans on his web site.

That could very easily be illustrated for the Space program in the private sector. They can only survive if they have schemes that show a profit and are of interest to consumers, Apo added hoping this would help Split make his point.

I can see those two solutions easier than the “Second Layer of Earth” plans that you include with the other two visions, Mandi stated wanting to get a clear answer to the complete mission.

Some countries like America have plenty of room and will not see the need for this phase but the countries that have large populations will push for this kind development. Think of it as just a reverse skyscraper with better safety features but lacking in views, Split said adding a little levity to the subject.

So you think doing all three, in a kind of consortium of technologies and development, would be the best way to proceed, Mandi queried?

It will happen naturally in different places but having this kind of concentrated development should give the participants an edge in marketing their products, Split answered.

Your marketing idea is a series of movies with this as the theme or is this the background technology, Mandi had asked a very good question?

Hollywood has formulas for success and they know that technology is more in the special effects category than the main theme in most cases, Split suggested as the direction for his movies.

So how are you going to approach the plot or theme, she asked?

Action themes with a comic book look seems to be the money makers and blockbusters of the industry. We’ll just add some realism in the special effects department with what is happening, not wishful thinking science fiction. That will be the main difference. Think real time Blog Movie, Split said redefining the subject.

How are you proceeding now, Mandi asked?

Our characters will be the people around you. We’ll just assign the roles of good guys and bad guys to personalities you already know, he said confusing her again.

What? How do you do that, she asked quickly?

Lets use you for example. You would make a great bad guy, Split said pausing to see her reaction.

How do you figure that?

Dragons are historically portrayed in the movies as evil. We can make your many ways of existing part of the problem to be solved in each plot, Split explained knowing she would object unless he explained further.

That sounds like fun. Can I help, Mandi said with a big smile on her face?
Split was a little shocked but finally gave his permission. You can definitely be part of the team. The first thing I want you to do is give me a list of actresses you would like to have play you. Be sure and start with Angelina Jolie, he added.
I don’t know much about these things. Can you have Apo help me, she requested?
Apo, do you have time to give her some assistance with our movie project. Split asked.
I’ll do more than that. I’ll be her assistant bad guy, Apo suggested.
Alright, but in most of the stories you are one of the good guys so don’t get carried away with her stuff. Okay!
I saw a new actress the other day on the Internet that looks like she might be a younger version of Angelina, Apo said but couldn’t remember her name. I’ll do some research. That could save us a lot of money he pointed out.

Who is going to play you, Mandi couldn’t resist asking Split?

Brad Pitt of course he said staying in the lighthearted mood. Actually as the genetic designer, mastermind, go to guy, etc., I would say there is a long list in Hollywood of guys that could fill my shoes. Most all the actors of any respectability have a resume of super human attributes so whoever steps up can have it as far as I’m concerned, Split said in a more serious mind set.

Who are some of the other important players, She asked?

Basically, my whole team, your whole team, all the heads of the various companies doing the various development programs and then of course, the power triangle nemesis, Split said generally.

The “Power Triangle”. What’s that, Mandi picked up on quickly?

The three beneficiaries of making laws in a free country. Attorneys, bureaucrats and politicians. These are the true enemies of the people, Split said angrily.

But they are the protectors of the law, Mandi said trying to defend them.

Unfortunately most of them forget that those laws are also the very thing that shackles freedom. They treat it like a private inventory and a source of their own personal power. There are too few warrior attorneys; too few honest politicians and any normal person becomes corrupt when they become a bureaucrat due to the system, he made it even more clear to her.

So all your bad guys are the government, Mandi asked not quite believing Split’s assessment of life.

Just remember, the “G” in government stands for GANGSTERS. These are just realistic movies about the worst gangsters in history. I guess you could say we are making “Gangster Science” movies because without solving that problem everything in life moves like molasses, Split added.

Meanwhile, Flut was updating the web site with some of the latest technology. A new Nano Hummingbird drone was completed based on a Darpa contract that uses actual flapping wings is about the same size as a large hummingbird species. The electronics on board includes video surveillance. Google release it’s 29 competitors for their Lunar X Prize. Flut would prepare this list for possible use with Split’s TLC loan program. A new Interplanetary Internet protocol has been developed for use in outer space. Nasa has given the go ahead for a new design program for the extended use of the Space Station. This could include a gravity ring and room for paying guests.

As the conversation continued between Split, Mandi and Apo, Mandi asked how the movie was going to start?

First we’ll have the hand drawn version of Split and Wuzz’s underwater cave condo and that will break to Mandi’s Space and underwater plane taking off with two hostages from Split’s condo done in regular Pixar/Disney animation and then a dramatic change to 3D, Split said giving his vision of the action.

And just who are the two hostages, Mandi wanted to know?

Sopharina and Wuzz. They are there for a friendly ride. You don’t do the hostage taking. You have some Arab looking characters acting as pirates hiding in your vehicle take over the flight, Split explained.

Where do they take all of you, she waited to hear?
To a pirates haven, of course.

What is the purpose?

A ransom and the plans to your new mini-thorium reactor for use in all your project, Split acknowledged.

What happens to them when they get there, Apo chimed in?

They are put in a harem's palace and fitted for the Prince, Split said knowing that Sopharina’s sense of adventure would almost make this fun for her.

Wuzz was the only real hostage. Sopharina had been trained to handle any situation like this. She was remaining only because she wanted to make sure both of the others gals were alright. Mandi didn’t give away her position and Wuzz just mingled with the other members of the harem. It turned out that this was a very strange harem. The Prince turned out to really be a Princess. This group was just for show so the pirates thought they were dealing with a powerful male leader in the tradition of the middle east.

Are you saying this was a group of lesbians, Mandi wanted to know?

That would be part of the mystery. They were definitely an organization bent on providing power to their group for political purposes, Split said to enlighten Mandi and Apo.

So, do they escape, Apo asked?

After a couple days Sopharina made her way out of the compound but she stayed in the area to find out as much as she could about the situation, Split said setting the stage for the next action taken by her.

Are you bringing up the oil wars, Mandi asked?

That’s the background but the real effort is pointing out some other possible solutions. Oil is great but it’s not the only currency out there, he pointed out. Remember, oil is heavy and it cost a lot to take out in space. We need a modern currency, not old school thinking.

You are going to fight the most powerful people in the World by doing this, she said knowing who her bosses were.

Not fighting, just changing direction due to the reality of the times, Split said in response.

Are you going to make them the bad guys, Apo asked being a bit surprised by Split’s attitude.

Sometimes, just to point out their narrow outlook at the future. They are so obsessed with control that they can’t imagine a World without their personal vision of life imposed on everyone and everything. There are more important elements then just being at the top of the heap, Split wanted them to know.

Why am I kidnapping Sopharina and Wuzz, Mandi asked?

To try and control Split and Flut, he answered simply.

For what purpose, exactly?

Each episode would have a different reason. Lets try energy in the first one. The mini-thorium reactors, as I mentioned before but it could easily be something like disrupting their plans for the International Capitalist Party.

So this is the tie in with the UN, Mandi asked hoping he would reveal something in this direction because this was her main concern in the real world?

An astute observation, Split said opening himself to another political shutdown with her.

How do you hope to compete with something as established as the United Nations, Mandi asked not totally sure how or why he would even want to do anything like that?

By doing instead of talking about doing something about the problems. If they are right, so be it. But they are bogged down with protocol and rules. The free market is all I’m talking about. That takes individual effort and innovation and usually wins the day, Split said wanting to change the subject.

So your loans and movies and development is a reaction to that political supposition, Mandi recapped.

Exactly! Now back to the movies, he said in a lighthearted mood.

Can I guess another scenario for your saga, she asked betting she knew another similar technology that would fit in with his stories?

Sure! Go ahead, he said encouraging her.

I take Wuzz and Sopharina again but this time I take them to my hideout on the Moon, Mandi said knowing Split would have a lot to say about that.

Right! Only this time it is because of our plans to mine helium-3 to run fusion reactors for energy and fuel, Split countered quickly picking up on her train of thought.

Sopharina does her “Jane Bond” rescue again using her unusual super hero talents, Mandi said almost laughing.

We can alternate the actors that play the different characters as we go along. We can go from Beiber and Selena for the young crowd to the Angela and Brad combo for a more realistic style. All that is just for the numbers. It’s better to fluff up technology to keep people interested, Split kind of mumbled out of boredom with this part of the plan.

Water is the main issue for the space program due to it’s absolute need and it’s cost to carry along on missions. Are you giving any solutions to this because an expansion of populations will require resources to be proportionate to the growth, she asked?

This is why we are doing everything in conjunction in all three environments. Hopefully, someone will come up with a unique way of dealing with the problem, Alpo pointed out trying to take up the slack for Split.

How can you turn that dry of a subject, no pun intended, into a dramatic action plot, Mandi asked astutely?

I don’t know. We will have to hire some professional screen writers to pull this off. I know what I like but they know what works, Split suggested.

Why don’t you tell her about story boarding, Apo added.

Good idea! You’ve seen our web site, haven’t you, Split asked Mandi?

I have. You’ve broken it into three sections. Is that story boarding, she wanted to know?

The pictures of the Whimsters on the underwater section and the second layer of earth section are good examples of a story board. I’ve written several stories in the “WHIM’ series that I’ve completed the story boards this way. Just think of a still version of a story with the characters illustrated. It actually makes a good DVD but not a great one. That’s where the pros come in to make us look good, Split reminded her of the need for help after they finished the story.

How often do you want to get together to put these ideas in action, Mandi wondered?

As often as we can but with other members of the group to help give their input, he said realizing she was trying to end this session.

Will Apo know when we are going to do this. He seems to have a handle on your coming and going, Mandi asked?

Most of the time but I don’t even know when inspiration will happen and have me give you a call, if you don’t mind, Split hoped she would be that available?

I’ll try to help as much as possible but I have things that take me away from everything you would call a normal day, Mandi said thinking of her time with other dragons that she works with that Split knew nothing about.

Well, I’m going to get back to my Internet work for now but I want to let you know how much this is going to add to my work, Split said hoping she would continue.

My pleasure. I’ll brief Apo on my movements for the next couple of days in case you want to get back with me, she mentioned leaving the conversation in a very friendly manner.

Flut was standing behind Split anxious to tell him about something he had uncovered while he was doing his phone conference.

What are you so anxious about, Split asked Flut as he hung up on Mandi and Apo?

I did my research on Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and the Brokers there are telling me we can cut almost any kind of deal for land in the area if we are bringing high tech companies into the area, Flut said while handing Split the list of contacts.

How close can we get to the Space Port facility, Split asked as he looked at the list of possibilities.

As close as we want to get. The biggest problem is water. I’m getting some answers later today. I know this can make everything easier for your combined plan but it might turn out to be very difficult, Flut added.

That might even be better because of problems they will have in Space. We are going to be very creative in that arena, Split said as he noticed one of the larger properties on Flut’s list. What about this huge property?

That's the one I’m trying to get the water information verified later today. That is a working ranch and might be harder to make a deal. The Broker thinks we can get parts of the ranch, if we do it carefully. They’ll want some controls over what you develop there but that might not be so bad, Flut pointed out.

I think you are right. They are located on the Rio Grand and have some lakes in the area and they attract a lot of tourist to their hot springs. So water isn’t scarce there but a private source would be a lot better to cut red tape, Split agreed.

Are you going to draw up an offer or just leave it until later, Flut asked knowing Split had a master plan for the whole procedure?

I’ll have to wait to see how many choices we can find. Please keep up your research until I know we are covered. My preference would be to wait until we close the first TLC product.

How did it go with Mandi and Apo?

It seems that she is on board for our movie project but I don’t know about her cooperation on our actual development plans. She is a bit cagey when we get on the subject of government interference and control. I’m hoping we can convert her by showing her the results, Split said as he went back to making his calls.

Have you told Sopharina and Wuzz about their parts in the movie plots, Flut continued his questioning even as Split started back to work.

Not yet!

Can you imagine one of these pleasure boats in your private lake, Flut said as he was reviewing the Underwater web page?

The size would have to adjust to the size of the lake, Split pointed out remembering the size of the super yacht he had put on the page.

That’s for sure. This thing would have to be donated by a sheik or something to have anything like this to be a local tourist event, Flut said not knowing what he had unleashed for himself.

Good idea! Get on it. Start with that list of the billionaire philanthropists on the net, Split said without missing a beat.

You know, that might even just work. How would you structure the pledge, Flut asked?

With these guys, anyway they want. It will definitely be named after them and the proceeds can go wherever they want. Kind of gift that just keeps giving as the pros are always touting, Split added.

If we do this right we’ll end up keeping the tradition in the area of naming towns and attractions after famous celebrities and companies. That’s how the TV show got it’s name used by the town, Flut said.

Don’t you have to do some training of the Whimsters today, Split reminded Flut.

I’ll be there later with a new group, he said looking for his notes to make sure he was prepared for their questions.

Each time Flut visited the Blobkins in their underground cities he would hold a town meeting to entertain everyone with stories of their evolution. This day he would talk to the Bugsters.

They were the miniature spies for the whole Whimster species. Split had given them specific instructions to watch over any event or special assignment that could provoke unwanted human intervention. The fear was that the wrong messages would be evoked in the media just to sensationalize any Whimster sighting.

The Blobkins were scheduled to be the first group of Whimsters to be exposed to human adventures. Most of the bugsters were assigned to these underground genetic designs. All Whimsters have self replicating genetic features but inappropriate exposure was the current problem not physical protection of the Blobkins.

Flut gave the Bugsters just a brief overview of what they would be witnessing at his special functions with the Blobkins. They would get their full education along with the other Whimsters. For now, he just had them introduce each other with their names and individual assignments.

Split was busy on his loan forms and custom offers for the properties needed for his plans. Wuzz and Sopharina were in the other room preparing for a special shopping trip.

Do you need anything from any of the computer stores, Wuzz asked Split as they started to leave for the car?

No new toys for me today. I can barely keep up with all the new stuff I already have, Split said as he got up to give Sopharina a kiss.

We’re getting new phones and pads, Wuzz said as she buzzed by both of them to get into their new electric car.

Watch out! I don’t want the two of you kidnapped by the bad guys, Split yelled to them wanting to prepare them for their new movie parts by teasing them first.

What was that all about Sopharina asked Wuzz as they drove out of the garage?

That was a strange comment, wasn’t it, Wuzz said?

We’ll have to ask him about that as soon as we get back.

Let’s get one of those phones where we can see him and test it by finding out what he meant. He’ll more than likely be at his computer so it will be easy for him to see us, Wuzz pointed out.

Flut grew out of the first group of Blobkins. Flut caught every ones attention immediately.

You got all the goodies, Anky Limbat said.

I know! I’m part bug, part bird, part flower, part person and I’m beautiful, Flut replied as he fluttered by.

You don’t look very old. Are you sure you were one of the first Blobkins, asked Zabba Zoolly?

I can show you old pictures of me on T-shirts and sweatshirts. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen humans do, Flut said as a small group gathered to hear one of his many stories of human adventure. They know he’s the best storyteller in the Blobkin Metaverse.

What silly thing did you run into this time, Penkin Menkin hollered!

I was travelling in “Freaky Town Texas”. This is the Montrose area of Houston Texas. I was draped over a gal named SheKay. She was just eighteen and looked like a perky version of an old movie star named Doris Day.

It was about midnight on a Sunday evening at Hollahans and the crowd was there for amateur night. I could tell that SheKay was tipsy. She spilled some beer on me earlier and she was giggling more than usual.

Split, her boyfriend, had been encouraging her all night to get up on the stage and sing. He knew she had a big whisky voice but couldn’t possibly have guessed what would happen when she actually did sing on that stage on that hot Texas night. All the locals were wondering what SheKay could possibly be doing on stage.

At First, she just stood there in front of everyone with a big smile and a devious twinkle in her eyes. “Oh Lord can’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz”, came belting out like Janis Joplin reincarnated. But it seemed so strange coming out of this small young blond. Somehow she included a chuckling sound along with a whiskey voice. It turned into a stand-up comedian routine that caused people to laugh so hard they couldn’t stop. As she continued singing the crowd was reaching the stage of severe rib pain. They had to leave. Some couldn’t even walk. They had to crawl out of the club. None of the audience could come back into the club until she was finished. The people driving by must have thought they were driving by a nut house the way everyone was acting on the porch and sidewalk of Hoolihans.

Split was laughing, but he had already heard this in chorus with SheKay’s mom and aunt. They were bleached blond older honky tonk women and the song seemed to fit them well. SheKay’s solo made Split glad that he was with her at such a turning point in his life.

Flut went on to continue some of Split’s history to this small group of Whimsters as Split was once again on the Net reading about the new proposed Space Station by the Chinese. Split received the call he was expecting from Sopharia.

Hi pumpkin! How are you two doing with your shopping. Split asked?

I got the some more toys to play with including an android phone with a front facing camera. Are you on your computer?

Ah ha! Do you want me to go to Google video chat?

That will work and by the way, I don’t think we’ll be kidnapped today, she said wanting to get to the bottom of Split’s earlier comment.

I didn’t mean to worry you, but we are playing with a plot with Mandi that has her group doing just that to add to the drama in our new production, Split said going directly to the explanation of the situation with Mandi and Apo.

Maybe we should all go down to the condo to watch the Tsunami today instead of being captured by dragons, Wuzz chimed in to point out how close reality is to fantasy.

This situation in Japan only points out how important it is to do all three types of development to make sure each is safe no matter where it is planned, Split said taking up Wuzz’s comment on todays events.

This isn't political, is it, Sopharina asked not wanting to get irritated by Split again?

No! It just points out that if you are going to develop out in Space, you are preparing for the most hostile environment possible compared to anything we are used to here on this planet. If all three types of building are as self sufficient as is necessary out there in Space, then these communities will survive any type of natural disaster better than current specification, Split said very seriously.

Are you saying it would have been better if the Japanese population had been living underground or underwater they would have had a better chance to survive the earthquake, Wuzz asked trying to follow Split’s thinking?

Only if this type of development was done as strictly as it would have had to be if it was build to survive as tho it was designed for use on a distant planet, Split pointed out.

What would be a good example of that, Sopharina asked curious about his train of thought?

Had they had an Osmotic Power Plant, instead of their other sources, an underwater community could have retained power during and after the crisis, Split said knowing he would have to explain that a little bit more to her.

What does that do, she asked quickly?

It uses heat exchange in water to produce energy and probably would have been safer and more reliable in that situation, he clarified for her.

Is that the only example you can think of that would have helped, Wuzz pressed Split for even more information?

No! There is probably hundreds of technical improvements that would have helped. But to keep with the energy subject; new types of solar that are more efficient and more acceptable esthetically are only starting to be developed. Had that been in place, the atomic reactor problem wouldn’t have been there, Split gave as another example of a better solution.

How is solar going to help in parts of the solar system as we move further out where the sunlight is very weak, Sopharina pointed out always giving the opposite point of view?

That is far off. It’s not an issue yet, Split said to humor her with the obvious.

We are heading back. Anything you need, Wuzz asked getting bored with the technical stuff?

I’m in the mood for a mango. Could you stop and pick some up at the store, Split asked?

Sure! See you soon.

Flut had completed his training session and was also heading back to the office when he heard about the earthquake on the radio. His mind also went to the possible future use of Split’s list of solutions that will probably be installed in that area. Japan has such a good handle on technology. Maybe the urban myth of the "Underground Tokyo" will come to fruition. If done right it could surely help in future disasters, Flut thought to himself.

As soon as Flut got back he was loaded with questions. Has the Japanese situation effected your thinking today, Flut asked to get right to it?

Yes, of course! This should set a standard for underwater and underground development, Split answered quickly.

You mean the survivability of these projects when put up against this extreme event, Flut interjected.

Exactly! We would need “extreme development” as the norm for this type of community to be accepted by the average person as well as the powers that will rule on the construction of this type, Split added.

What do you think will be a positive outcome of this tragedy, Flut asked knowing that Split always saw this side of a problem?

Actually I see two very obvious scenarios. The first could spin off the second scenario. Kind of the magic bullet for the future, Split said teasing Flut to peak his interest.

Go ahead, Flut said taking the bait.

Thorium reactors will be the best solution to come out of this. The large reactors like the ones being developed by most of the major countries but also the development of very small ones. Perhaps the size of a cell phone, could be used for many of the future vehicles and individual structures, Split said trying to give Flut a picture of the positive future move by scientists and engineers.

What else do you see coming out of this situation, Flut asked knowing that he had other thoughts beside the energy problem?

There is a possibility that the Underground Tokyo myth may become more of a reality, Split said hopefully.

How do you think that would come into being?

First they would have to see a successful example somewhere else and that’s where we would come into the process, Split answered as his mind wondered over to the thought of having a need to give Mandi a call.

Excuse me for a minute. I need to ask Mandi something he said as he starting dialing her private number.

Hi Split! I can almost guess why you are calling. It’s about this Japanese situation, isn’t it, Mandi said intuitively?

Yes! Have you visited the area yet, Split asked?

In my special vehicle and as my sea dragon to get a real handle on the situation, Mandi answered not quite sure what his inquiry would be about this time.

Did you find anything that would help, Split wanted to know?

Only the obvious. I was there to see if an underwater community could have survived. The depth of the community or the maneuverability of the structures would determine how well the project would handle the rough seas, Mandi pointed out.

Did you check with any of your sea dragon friends over there, Split asked wondering if she could do that or not?

I didn’t have to because we would have a very easy time of it due to our natural design. But I did get a report from them about the massive lose of human life that was so obvious. They had never encountered anything like that before, she said with a note of sadness in her voice.

When am I going to see you again, Split asked?

Why not come visit me at the UN, Mandi suggested.

I’ll do that as soon as possible but for now can you help me by talking to some of your people about advocating this triple program I’ve told you about, Split requested of her?

You’ll have to get further along before I really get behind you on this. A prototype community would be the best way to prove your point, Mandi said wanting to be as helpful as possible without tipping her hand too quickly.

Our first phase should be completed in the first year if we get everything lined up properly. Unfortunately, it is mostly up to political support, not technology or money. That’s why I could use your support as soon as you feel it would help, he said again.

Get your financing in place and then we can talk about the next move, she said trying to reassure him about her intent.

The paperwork is being processed as we speak, Split informed her.

Have you heard the old Chinese saying “He who rides the dragon finds it easier to get on than it is to get off the dragon”, Mandi said trying to warn Split of the risks he was about to take on.

Are you saying that the mere act of securing financing is a risky business, Split asked wanting her opinion.

You know the number one problem in developing new technology is government and the number two problem is financing these projects because the money people don’t want to be jammed up by government interference That puts you on the hot seat as the initiator of this accelerated program, she pointed out.

So why would I be in any danger? Are there forces out there that would try to stop me, he added?

If you get successful, yes, Mandi said definitively!

But if I do succeed there will be many others following in my footsteps, Split said rebutting her theory.

That’s true but you had better be careful in the process until you’ve completed a few of these loans, she warned again.

How do you think I’ll run into problems, Split asked hoping she would be forthcoming?

When money passes hands you’ll automatically be monitored on a level commensurate with the amounts involved. Key words, both on your phones and the Internet, will start building a file and when all this triggers human interaction you’ll start having interventions into your plans, Mandi outlined generally.

I’m aware of the process but I’m not going to play games with this. Instead I’ll be as transparent as possible, Split informed her.

You are looking for trouble doing it that way, she said surprised he was so open about his plans.

I’m counting on the fact that any person should be able to see the benefits of speeding up this process. At some point, all this will happen with or without me. I’m just marketing time, Split said.

That’s a good way to put it but I don’t think certain powerful groups will buy that, Mandi noted.

There is nothing I can do about that. I guess it just comes down to fate. Am I meant to do this or not. I have a very strong feeling that I’m going down the right path and at my age it doesn’t matter all that much what happens to me, Split said emotionally.

What about the people around you? They could be in jeopardy by these same groups, she said.

I’m not worried about the Whimsters but Sopharina could be in trouble, Split said tipping his hand to her without knowing it.

Maybe that is where I could help if it comes down to an attack like the one we plan for our movie scenarios, Mandi volunteered.

That would work and we should start adding to our plots and actions. When can we do that again, Split asked.

We can do it over the phone like we did last time or have a meeting with some of your group, she said.

I would like to meet with some of your people too. Can we come to you at the UN, Split wanted to know?

I’ll have to make special arrangements so for now, lets just do it conferencing over the phone, she suggested.

OK! But please work on it for later on down the road. Is Apo being helpful, he said changing the subject?

He’s good at filling me in on most technology questions I’ve put to him. You’ve trained him well, Mandi commented.

Flut handles most of that. He’s our training meister for all the Whimsters, he stated.

How many Whimsters are there, Mandi asked?

We have three thousand basic genetic designs but they come in any color combination. We have a kid’s “Point and Click” drawing program that is designed for the Internet that encourages kids to jump in and have some fun coloring our Whimsters, Split answered about one of his favorite projects.

Is this part of your movie promotion plans, Mandi asked?

It’s more of a general plan but it can certainly be used that way if it catches on at all, he said while looking at one of his latest creations.

It’s amazing how well trained they are, she said complementing him for the process he uses to prepare them for release in the real world.

I’m starting a good dialogue with a group of private Astronauts that are very interested in participating in our TLC loan program, Split said getting back to real time business.

You are going to need aquanauts for you underwater plans, Mandi said making the switch rather easily.

That will be for later. Right now the space program is ready to go, Split pointed out glad that she didn’t get to the point of realizing he already had a royal guard in place with the Whimsters. The bugsters were already working overtime collecting information on parties that might be trying to undermine his work.

What kind of special effects are you going to use in your movies, she asked swithing the subject again?

Vehicle chases and crashes in some of the newest innovations; not just old junk cars. We’ll feature their survivability, he suggested.

That sounds “DARPA like”, Mandi said pointing out the military usage of this scenario.

That’s exactly right. It will also show how good they are in hostile environments like outer space, Split added.

So you’ll have the good guys chasing the bad guys with these imbedded ads, Mandi said again showing her insight into the money part of production.

You are a natural at this, Split quipped.

I’m very interested in your triple use of technology for future communities. What is your primary personal goal, she slipped in quickly?

Split paused for a second not expecting this question. I want to become the World’s first trillionaire, he said seriously.

So you can build more of these projects, Mandi said guessing why he would want that much money?

Partly! But from a personal point of view I would like to do this to fully bring out the envy gene in people to show how this effects us politically, Split said wondering if Mandi would understand the connection politically.

I don’t quite follow your thinking, she said honestly.

All the negative political systems of today are based on playing on our emotional appeal of revenge caused by the contrast between the haves and the have nots of the World, Split said and then stopped to see if Mandi would pick it up from that simple statement.

You are talking about communism and socialism, aren’t you, she said knowing where Split came down when talking politics?

There are also certain religious fanatics that hate because they can’t handle freedom and freedom is gained with wealth in most cases, Split added to her assessment.

And you think this is a genetic defect, Mandi asked keeping to his former statement?

Let’s hope so because there might be something we can do to rid this destructive emotion from the population to some degree, he ventured.

Wouldn’t education do the same thing if it were true, she said hedging her bet without arguing directly with him?

Probably both will be needed but usually these people don’t listen to facts. They just respond emotionally with irrational platitudes that feel good rather than addressing the main issues, Split explained hoping Mandi wasn’t one of those non listeners.

What do you do about these factors directly, Mandi asked curious about his long time plans?

Just offer or market the cure until evolution happens naturally without forcing it to happen, he said succinctly.

Aren’t you for genetic enhancement to nudge this along, she suggested?

Only if it becomes possible and people want to explore the benefits for themselves. Mandatory or secretive programs could backfire in a very troubling way. I think most people are aware of the advantages of lowered envy rates, Split said wanting to get on to something else.

Is this part of your plot plans, Mandi asked wondering how he was going to put this idea across?

I’ll do that as a genetic designer because the subject is too dry unless there are violent or sexual reaction to the use of genetic products, Split said. I guess we could add a little of that but not as the main ingredients of the story line.

So you are going to make the bad guys act because of this political envy you are talking about, she wanted to know?

Yes and I know that will be tricky because it’s such an emotionally charged concept to the proponents, he pointed out to her.

How am I going to be portrayed. I’m not a communist, socialist or religious fanatic so how am I going to fit into this profile, Mandi wondered?

You’ll have to define yourself as we go along, Split suggested.

What about the soap in the story line? You seem to be overly involved with technology but I don’t see any romance, Mandi pointed out to him.

That’s just my style of writing. I’m sure when we get the Hollywood treatment there will be professional soap added to our projects, Split said not really wanting to get into too much of the personal emotional side in his writings.

Mandi wondered if Split and Sopharina have an interesting history together. Can’t you use your own experience to draw upon for at least some direction in our plot development, she asked him softly?

I’ve personally been down most any road you could imagine in that direction having been married too many times. I’m just generally difficult to be around because of my way of doing things, Split pointed out to her hoping she didn’t want to follow up on this subject.

I don’t think you’ll be very successful without some of that coming out, Mandi stated.

We can draw on several of my other books to augment this story. But I want to keep this more into the exciting developments in the evolution of these new communities, Split explained even further.

I've often wondered why water isn't used for human cities now that almost anything can be built, Mandi said going with the flow.

There are a lot of places that could benefit. I like the plans that have been proposed but none of them seem to be actually happening. Maybe our first project should be an underwater saga, Split said to get her opinion.

The Orient would be the best setting because of thier need for space but someplace like New Orleans might bring investors into the picture quicker, she suggested to make it easier for Split with his TLC loans.

That would have to be some kind or Indian casino or theme park that could make it financially viable. A fish farm or water sports wouldn't work very well in the Gulf. It's basically a water born trash bin. Maybe a recycling plant of some sort would work. I'll have to check on the science in that area but our first research center will be close to the Space Port, he reminded her.

We could use New Orleans for some of the scenes, couldn't we, Mandi asked wanting to visit that area again?

Let’s assume that for now and go ahead with a general plan. One of the things we need is choosing a form of branding. I’m looking into a living unit that would be good for all three environments, Split said thinking out loud.

Are you talking about the general shape or a style, she asked?

I think the most obvious would be best. Round is the general shape of everything in space and could be used underwater to pick up wave movements and underground to conform with tunnel shaping equipment, Split suggested.

It’s harder to work with in construction but I agree that if we develop the right machines to build these that it could be advantageous, Mandi said confirming Split’s idea.

You know about the Orion crew module from Lockheed Martin, don’t you, Mandi asked remembering it was fairly round in shape?

This is the government’s current space project that is still basically a good place for all privately financed future developers to improve on this scenario. It should compete and find financially viable ways to justify their missions as opposed to pure explorations objectives, Split suggested to her.

NASA has always set the pace for technology breakthroughs usable in space but you are talking about the money making schemes that are needed to justify these excursion as being more important to the future of space travel, Mandi said recapping his thoughts.

Artistic Capitalism is the way to accelerate the evolution of mankind’s success, not government’s political goals, Split said trying not to get into this theory too deeply with her.

This still looks like plumbing due to it’s tubular design, Mandi stated hopefully begging Split’s vision of a more round like structure be explained in more detail.

The good thing about round is that it can be made up of many smaller units to get to the ultimate design. A geodesic formation done with these tubelike vehicles connected to form a condominium space community might make for an good initial design, Split put forward as a viable money making community.

Have you thought of any interesting titles for your first movie, Mandi asked wanting to keep this conversation going feeling Split was anxious to get back to work.

As a working title I’m going with “Private Property”, Split answered quickly having already posted this on his Movie Browser page.

That sounds appropriate. Private property as a motivator as opposed to governments as the developers of these technologies, Mandi said showing her level of understanding of his main theme.

Exactly! Fortunately, most governments are open to sharing whatever progress they have made. This comes under the legitimate use of government power. That is, infrastructure coordination with the public for the general good of all, Split reiterated the obvious to her.

What do you see as the biggest problem working with governments, Mandi asked getting to the point of her research with Split?

Just letting the private sector get on with their business plans without hindering them with too many rules and tax schemes, Split said and then added: They need to give incentives whenever possible without strings attached.

Do you see that happening?

Not in our movies because it will only happen if people demand this kind of help. They’ll be our bad guys to show the negative results when governments act the way they usually do. This is too important to put up with their heavy hands on the throttle of progress, he said.

What part will Wuzz play in your plots, Mandi asked wanting to get out of this constant put down of government?

Each character, including Wuzz, will be depicted showing different sides of their persona. To start off, she will be one of your victims because of her children’s writings that are very controversial from your point of view, Split said going more deeply into the plot than he intended for the day.

Are you going to use the actual events in your scripts as they unfold, Mandi asked?

Whenever possible but we’ll try to preempt by using their plans and digitally invoke their hopeful results as kind of a preview too generate interest prior to the actual attempts, Split said seeing this as a better approach to each new chapter in the saga.

Flut arrived back at the condo just before Wuzz and Sopharina got back from shopping. Split and Mandi agreed to talk as often as possible to build on their project. Apo joined Mandi to get an update on her conversation with Split.

Flut went back to sending out his e-mails to request loan packages from the companies that could participate in the TLC consortium. Wuzz and Sopharina showed Split their new tech tools.

How did your call go with Mandi, Wuzz asked after Split finished checking out their purchases?

She was interested in your part in everything around here, Split said remembering Mandi’s questions.

What did you tell her, Wazz wondered?

That you are going to be changing your role in our movie projects, he informed her.

So this was all just a fantasy conversation, she said kind of losing interest because she remembered she had to be with the kids shortly and they would give her all the silliness she could handle for the day.

Split talked for awhile with a local loan officer about a smaller deal they were working on together. He had a PHD in political science and was very much for a mixed economy. At least he was an intelligent liberal. He just had a guilt complex about having had help from the government for his education. He didn’t realize he had been propagandized in the process. He called Split’s grasp of things as primitive. A typical commucrat slur. Whenever they are stumped by facts they start talking in emotional terms that are usually laced with misplaced compassion.

After Mandi briefed Apo she asked him a question. Split is an overconfident generalist but does he ever bring his big plans to fruition, she asked hoping Apo could shed some light on her quest to understand Split?

I’ve seen him do many unusual things that are outside what most people try to do. He is always pushing hard to do the most difficult projects he thinks are within his power to do. It’s never dull around him, Apo added. What are you mostly concerned about when it comes to Split’s way of doing things?

It just seems like too much for one person to handle properly. Doesn’t it appear that way to you, she asked him for confirmation?

Yes! But he seems to surround himself with people like him that have similar interests, Apo pointed out to her.

So you are saying he is part of an unofficial team that takes on large problems. He doesn’t really do all that he appears to be doing, Mandi suggested?

Split was looking at the Internet to find out what Branson and Musk were doing because they were both making major announcements today. Branson was going underwater next and Musk finally has his Mars rocket ship. Split was very pleased with how fast things were moving but still nothing underground. After Japan you would think they would realize that building radioactive reactors could be made safer if they were built underground, Split thought to himself.

Flut was working on Split’s list to continue his e-mail program. Split wanted him to concentrate on the underground efforts because of it’s lack of interest compared to the other two issues.

He had already worked on the Tokyo and Australian plans so he decided to check out some of the actual homes that have been built. He found some that were for sale and some plans that were available.

He had already worked on the Tokyo and Australian plans so he decided to check out some of the actual homes that have been built. He found some that were for sale and some plans that were available.

Flut looked at the list of things that Split wanted him too research. The list included large underground drills, open pit mines (coal, copper, gold, etc.) and specialized equipment and supplies. All of this seemed logical except the mines to Flut.

Split, why are you having me look for open pit mines, he asked because it didn't seem to fit what he thought they were doing.

Just developing small individual units won't require a lot of digging but for an actual city why not start where the digging has already been done, Split replied?

Putting together something that massive would be almost unbelievable, Flut said not really thinking that it would work well.

It would be best done on the smaller open pit mines that are retired but eventually the larger ones could go that way too, Split pointed out with some pictures and facts he had researched.

How would you go about the development, Flut asked to get a more complete look at the problem?

This would be left to architects and engineers but my guess it would just be a bottoms up type of building project. I think of a skyscraper type structure but bulging in the middle to be secured by the sides of the pit, Split explained. The water problem would be fairly easy to deal with because these sites are very regulated when it comes to water technology, he added.

How would relate to the Space Program, Flut wanted to know?

The mining industry will play a major role in the private sector turning space adventures into profit centers. Stories of the "Wild West" about gold miners and oil pioneers will have a repeat play as part of our history. Below the ground living will probably be more the norm because of the hostile nature of this planetary bodies, Split stated clearly.

So you see mines as recycled places that become the infrastructures for new cities, Flut restated Split's scenario to see if that would be the plan.

Yes! And in doing so, the shape would have a lot to do with how the mining was done or at least how they would leave it at the end. That's why it is important to experiment here to find the best designs and engineering for future improvement to adapt in Space. The hardest part will be building the machines that perform the heavy lifting, Split pointed out.

How are you going to deal with the water for this remote location, Flut asked quickly?

The bottom will be like a built in lake for the community with high tech monitoring and the use of such purification methods as negatively charged ion lights to remove all minerals and balance the PH. This will make the water so pure that fish raised will have to be fed and yet the water will be great drinking water, Split suggested.

Where will the water come from, as Flut went back to part of his first question.

There are machines that pull moisture out of the air and of course any ground water available. The worst case would be bringing in the original source from tankers but once the water is there it would be so recycled that not very much will be lost to evaporation like it is on the surface. Only the original amount needed will be the main problem, Split made it clear to Flut.

Is this lake just underneath everything else, Flut wanted to know?

No! Because of the shape of the land, this type of construction is the opposite of a skyscraper where the core is the most important part of the design to support the structure. The lake should be open all the way to the top, Split said trying to give Flut a mental picture of why this would be a better design.

Will that be the only open space, Flut asked knowing how to pick Split’s mind when he explained his projects?

There should also be many other section that take advantage of hydroponics for both food and park like environments. Think “Eatable Parks”, Split said wanting to give this a clear image in Flut’s mind.

Where would they be located, Flut asked?

In the fat sections of the structure. The thickness of the sections get deeper as you build up to the top. In the middle using two or three stories of open space could make a very interesting environment. Otherwise life would be very confining and not particularly desirable as a long term living space, he pointing out.

What would be the most difficult part of this development, Flut asked knowing he would have an odd answer?

The beams that hold up the highest sections of the city. From what I know, new composite materials will have to be used. Eventually, nano composites will be used. After all, if Richard Branson could go to the bottom of the oceans, you know his sub must be using very strong materials, Split mentioned.

Who do think will want to live there, Flut said almost completing his list of questions?

First, it will be used by every type situation needed because it's purpose is to be self sustaining. People interested in eventually visiting or living in outer space would be given priority along with the type of businesses to support a venture like that. Next would be immigrants interest in bringing this type of lifestyle to their home country. Some of the units will be time shared to let people try before they commit to the environment, Split said pausing to wait for Flut’s follow up question.

What are you going to call the city, Flut asked?

“Space City” would be a good working title but a sponsor’s name could come into play, he said thinking of his TLC loan program.

Have you Googled the name yet, Flut quizzed him while doing just that?

I’ve already done that. Houston has the unofficial name but we could use the name very easily if we choose to do so no matter how many other places there are on the planet, Split said knowing how many cities are named after other cities.

Maybe you could do both. Like “McDonald’s Space City” or “Apple’s Space City” he said kidding Split about the moniker.

That would be my preference because they could follow through in the long run, Split said.

Have you found a site yet that might work, Flut asked wanting to see how far along Split was with his research?

Several but one that goes out of business in twenty five years might be the best one because we can use it for film work, both realistically and virtually, Split said sure that it would work best because full on mining out in Space should be gearing up about that time and “Space City”, would be getting a lot of natural publicity.

While Split and Flut continued their review of “Space City”, Sopharina and Wuzz where talking about their experiences with Split and Flut.

What do you and Split talk about the most, Wuzz asked her?

Believe it or not, tricoloniztion, Sopharina replied.

You mean Split’s loan project, Wuzz asked for clarification?

Sort of but mostly about how it will effect us in the future. He tells me of his plans from our personal point of view so I can understand some of the moves he is making that will effect out lifestyle. Some of this sounds like a lot of fun but other parts have me a bit worried, She told Wuzz.

Give me an example.

Ok! He wants to promote water cities for several reasons. As part of that plan we’ll get to visit New Orleans. I’ve always wanted to go there for their Mardi Gras, Sopharina mentioned.

Why would he choose New Orleans, Wuzz asked a little puzzled by Sopharina’s statement?

A combination of factors. They have a plan for a coastal water community that could really be interesting and New Orleans is a base for a lot of oil drilling businesses, Sopharina replied.

What does oil drilling have to do with anything, Wuzz wondered?

If you look at a oil rig and just imagine that as the center piece for a small island community you could see without too much effort a great place for water livers, Sopharina pointed out.

Wouldn’t that be a dangerous place to live, Wuzz said continuing to play the devils advocate?

He is sure that the designers would be able to make it very safe. The biggest problem would be creating a workable island economy that is pretty much self sufficient. The closeness of the islands makes it easier for trade but must be carefully planned, she said remembering some of Split’s comments to her same questions.

Why bother to do this at all, Wuzz asked really coming down to the core problem?

This will lead to the realization that we aren’t even close to using our resources for filling this planet. Population growth won’t be limited to just land use on the surface of this beautiful Earth we live on, Sopharina said thinking about some of the images Split has shown her that have already been put out there for these alternate communities.

Of course! One of the most interesting plan that is being put forth is a recycling program in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Apparently, There is an area out there the size of Texas that is basically filled with the garbage of years of sloppy disposal methods by all types of ships. These Landfill Waterscapers act as recycling islands with living areas for a full on community. Fish farming is also part of their economy. Because they are floating cities they can later be joined together to make larger cities. I find this fascinating that they can use alternate energy sources to power everything and really clean up the biggest polution problem in a very positive way, Sopharina said.

What do they build the island cities out of, Wuzz asked but probably already knew the answer?

The recycled trash is first used make the structure itself. The size is basically expandable to any plan that makes sense. Remember, they are going to resell the bulk of trash to create income for the group so they aren't going to just use recycled trash to build on the spot. This is a business plan first, she pointed out to Wuzz.

What about tourism on these islands, Wuzz asked for some details?

Major player in all Tricolonization developments. There are many new water playgrounds being built as we speak. There is a whole new industry for interesting vehicles for tourist to play with while on vacation, Sopharina mentioned as she showed Wuzz some of the images on Split's web site.

Boy, these images are of real things. Is that true, Wuzz asked as she looked over Sopharina's shoulder at the web site?

Most are already built or in the process but some are merely in the planning stages. The ones being planned are where Split's TLC loans will be used, Sopharina surprised herself with her understanding of Split's business interests.

Are they already planning buildings and communities for outer space, Wuzz asked changing the direction of her quiz?

Mostly space islands and science fiction type communities. Very few serious efforts taking the actual facts of a known location that makes sense but there are a few. One is called the “Moonscaper” that is based on a highly probable location, Sopharina told Wuzz.

So what is Split planning on doing about that, Wuzz wanted to know?

He feels that using the Tricolonization theory here on Earth, most of the technology can be developed for the most hostile environments encountered as a challenge for future space designers, Sopharina said as the main reason for combining the three approaches.

I heard that Split is planning on entering the PayPal X Prize again this year. What is he doing that for, she wondered.

To set in motion the new reality paradigm, as Split would call it, Sopharina explained.

I can’t make the connection, Wuzz said a bit confused by her reply.

Part of the Plizzel game, she said to confuse her even more.

Quit teasing. I want a straight answer, Wuzz insisted.

Calm down. I’m not teasing. Just jumping ahead a little. You know about his TLC loans and what type of technologies he is trying to help but he is getting into the nuts and bolts of making this happen with a few new ideas, Sopharina explained partially.

Give me an example that will help me get a handle on what you are talking about.

This was quite a challenge for Sopharina but she thought she would give it a shot. Hopefully, her private conversations with Split were clearly embedded in her mind. He is doing a real estate deal that uses two new concept, Agricondo Associations and Tricolonization food technologies, she said knowing Wuzz would insist on a further explanation of this statement.

How does he use these technologies to make a profit here while preparing a system that can be taken out in Space, Wuzz said more directly than Sopharina expected from her?

By using his experience in Real Estate, she answered generally.

I guess I finally got you. You are going to have to ask him about this next time you are together, Wuzz said teasing Sopharina before she left to meet with Flut for dinner.

I’ll do that, she said realizing it was getting late and Split would be home shortly.

Split was reading some of the latest news about the four finalist that NASA picked for large grants to be the civilian replacement for the Space Shuttle. He also read the latest on the Skylon Space Plane that takes off and lands like a regular plane from almost any airport. He wondered if that would change the thinking about rocketry. He guessed that both types would be used. He started to wonder why Sopharina hadn’t called for awhile. She was a bit of a phone addict, so it was unusual when she didn’t call. Just then the phone rang and Split knew instinctively who was calling. And he was right.

Hello cutie pie, he said as he noticed her number on his phone.

Hi! I’ll be there in a little while and I have a few questions for you that Wuzz asked me today, she stated.

I can imagine. She missed her calling. She would make a great reporter. It’s probably from being around all those kids asking her questions all the time, he added.

I suppose. I’ll see you soon, she said as she got ready to head home for some serious dialogue with Split.

Split wondered what she would be drilling him about. He was finishing up with his offer on a ranch that would become an agricondo association where he could start his Terrafirmation underground motor home development and his Tricolonization food research acres. His next project was to make the “Projected Income” report for the seller of the ranch so he could evaluate this profit center. He also knew he had to start his fish snacks for Sohparina as he had promised. She had put up with his raising of fancy guppies and had laughed at his plan to use these as Space fish. She understood that they are multi-use fish. They were aesthetically interesting because of their colorful tails but she was having a hard time accepting them as a possible food source due to their quick breeding habits.

As soon as she entered the room, Split could sense her urgency. Wuzz must have had quite an effect on her earlier.

What is that serious look on your face. You must have had quite a day with Wuzz, he said started the conversation before she could get situated.

I did. She stumped me when she asked how all this had anything to do with real estate. She understands the TLC loan but she sees that you are going beyond that. I would have guessed you wanted to get into the marketing of these experimental projects. Is that what you are planning, Sopharina finally asked?

You would have been right. There are some subtle concepts that I think I can bring to the table. Condos and time shares are well known ways of marketing real estate but these legal instruments can be adapted and sold using advanced techniques, Split said.

You are talking about your agricondos and your tricolonization food development projects. What are some of the other ideas you are contemplating, Sopharina asked because she hadn’t heard him talk about any of the other marketing models?

Underwater building offers some big challenges because of the lack of oxygen and the constant wave movement. Using existing oil drilling rig infrastructures could lead to a partnership in energy use of oil verses construction use of oil, Split said pausing to let this sink in before she brought on the next question.

You lost me there. How can you use oil and not use oil at the same time, she asked nervously?

Plastic would be a great building material underwater. The big objection against it in regular construction is the poisonous aspect of plastic in case of a fire but if you are constantly surrounded by water, there should be very little risk in that direction, Split pointed out.

So just pop out housing bubbles like cups or something, she said getting what Split was saying. Housing would be very cheap if they did that, wouldn’t it, Sopharina said sure that Split had that in mind?

They could do all the processing right at the oil rig itself and really make it cost effective. All they really need is people willing to live that lifestyle, he said knowing that was no small thing.

Maybe some kind of immigratlon program could be designed in this country, Sopharina suggested?

Making the lifestyle profitable would probably be the main factor. Fish farming would be a key factor but other income streams would have to be developed too. That’s a major problem with all forms of tricolonization and must be given priority, he said mostly thinking to himself about some of the possibilities.

At least they would have a cheap energy source, Sopharina said not really knowing how true that is.

You are thinking about oil itself but there is also other major source to take into consideration too. Split said thinking of the possibilities of Cold Fusion and Thorium Reactors. Even solor and wave action energy could be used. It would be a highly competitive environment. Great for research in this area.

When are we going to be kidnapped, Sopharina asked kind of bored with all this technology?

I’ll call Mandi tomorrow. As soon as she has time we’ll break out the cameras and have a little fun watching you and Wuzz playing scared, Split said trying to remind her she would have to at least try to act scared.

Will we get a ride in her secret rocket ship, she wanted to know before she committed to this adventure?

That’s the main idea. We are trying to feature these new rockets for the public. Her ride is the Star. Everybody likes to see the newest stuff in a movie, Split pointed out.

What other new things are we going to explore, Sopharina wondered out loud?

Plizzel Island and some new Space structures. Most of that will have to be digital on the blue screen but it should be reasonably easy to mesh into the the final version. Remember, this is just for the story board. Don’t start turning Hollywood on me. We need the real professionals to bring this off, Split said worried that she might get her feelings hurt if she doesn’t become a Star doing this type of work.

You should be more concerned about Wuzz. She seems to be very excited about your movie plans, Sopharina told Split.

I think you are right. I want both of you to be prepared for anything unusual, Split said not quite sure where Mandi was coming from with her work at the UN.

Are you afraid she is going to do this for real, Sopharina said with a very nervous voice?

I doubt that but she might do something we aren’t expecting, Split said trying to not get her too alarmed about the trip.

Just then Apo called Split. Do you have a minute, he asked Split?

Go ahead. We were just talking about Mandi, Split said a bit surprised about his timing.

She told me that she wanted to start the movie project as soon as possible but I can’t figure out why, Apo said concerned about her quick action request.

That’s where we are also. Can you get her out here? We want to start with the kidnapping scene with Wuzz and Sopharina, he said glad that Apo was involved.

How can I help?

Get her out here as soon as possible. She knows we are doing this in her secret space plane and that’s about all she needs to bring with her. I’ll arrange for the camera and sound people to set things up before they take off. We can do the scene that sets up the kidnapping later. That’s the nice part of storyboarding. Each part is separate, Split said more to himself than to Apo.

I’m sure she can be there tomorrow. Can you get ready that quickly, Apo asked?

I have backup in case my main people are busy. So have her get here as quickly as possible, Split said thinking about his next couple of calls to his tech help.

After Apo hung up, Split made his calls including talking to Wuzz about some special instructions; just in case, Split thought to himself while Sopharina was listening to the call.

Do you really think that is necessary, Sopharina wanted to know for her own safety?

She’ll bring about ten of the small ones with her to protect both of you. They have very special training and skills, Split added to reassure her about their use in case Mandi has anything on her mind except the movie script.

What do you think she’ll do? Take us out in Space or her Underwater hideout, Sopharina asked to get his opinion?

I’ll talk to her about that when she gets here tomorrow. Just get yourself ready for a short trip. We don’t want her getting alarmed. She might have some suggestions about what you should bring with you. Bring that up before you leave, Split suggested.

So what did you get done today, she queried before she settled in for dinner?

I traded for one of the largest ranches in California; Carmel Valley South, he added.

Oh! Is that all, Sopharina said sarcastically?

That’s right and it includes the plans for our underground motorhome timeshare development. We’ll start with 140 units but that can grow to any size that the market will bear, Split said proudly.

Well, that calls for a toast. What would you like?

Just a beer. I’ve got to have a clear head for our encounter with Mandi tomorrow, Split stated.

How big is the property, Sopharina asked as she went for the beer?

The first half of the ranch is over 28,000 acres. That’s about twenty five square miles, he restated to give her a good mental picture of the valley.

You are going to put more than motor homes on that large of an area, aren’t you, she asked a little puzzled by the enormity of the ranch compared to his plan?

You are correct, as usual. We have a real chance of doing a first class Tricoloniztion community here. Underground will just be the start of everything because it is very inexpensive and highly profitable without much of a risk. Everything else will be tricky but very doable, Split said while visualizing his futuristic plans.

What comes after the timeshares, Sopharina asked as she handed him his beer?

There is some real potential in using a combination of an agricondo association with an income cooperative feature to make it possible to create multi-use corporate retreats based on the 99 year lease model coupled with an incredible environmental enhancement program, Split said knowing this was a mouth full. Would she comprehend what he just said?

Whoo! That has to be broken down for me. Please, she stated quickly.

By setting up corporate retreats this way they have a great tax advantage. If they are also a company developing technology that can be used in the Tricolonization scenario, this will fit like a glove in their mission for future growth of their organizations, Split said trying to make it more clear in Sopharina’s mind.

I kind of get it. You are helping these companies build up assets for your TLC loans. Is that your main goal, Sopharina asked hoping she had figured out what motivated Split with this kind of convoluted planning.

That’s a big part of it but the main goal is to advance the Tricolonization process in a major way. I’m even looking into the purchasing of private air roads from the government for these corporate retreats. They also act as a branch office and a research and development facility, he added.

Personally, I’m more interested in the Space travel. I hope Mandi takes us up there for awhile, she said as they sat down to eat.

The next day Mandi called Split early and they planned the departure in the later part of the afternoon. He would arrange everything for the shoot by the time she arrived and Wuzz and Sopharina would pack the things that Mandi told Split they would need.

After arranging for the photographer and sound man, which had to be one and the same due to the amount of space in Mandi vehicle, Split called several of his long time friends that he felt could benefit from this ranch deal he was doing. They were all professional exchangors with a lot of real estate investments that they were trying to get into a more passive management mode. Most of them wanted to retire but Split knew that was just conversation. Old real estate people just keep looking at more properties and dreaming of their possibilities. They would be up for a new challenge, he thought to himself.

When he completed those calls, he had to do some research to find out which companies would most likely benefit from the ranch deal.

Mandi arrived mid-afternoon at Flut and Wuzze's ocean condo. Split was called and he and Sopharina quickly joined them.

Are you all ready for your first try at storyboarding, Split asked the group when they all got together in Flut’s living room?

We’ve decided to take a short run to start with, Mandi said explaining herself to them.

And just where is that, Flut asked her?

I thought I would surprise them by taking them to Plizzel Rock. Most people think that would be impossible but I have a thorium reactor on board that can get us there. Don’t let anyone else know. They will just think it is special effects and not all the new or special at that, Mandi told everyone.

Is there really some of the features there that Split was hoping for, Wuzz asked while worrying about the long trip?

That and more. We dragons have many places like that to visit whenever we wish. You should have a great time. In a few years this will just be something that your kids do to have fun on their vacations. There won’t be anything unusual about it, she pointed out as she motioned to Sopharina and Wuzz to gather up their things for the trip.

I wish we could talk to you while you make this journey, Split said hoping she might have a solution to that problem.

Your tech people are close to solving that technicality in the time gap for voice communications but for now we’ll just Tweet you and you can respond whenever you want, Mandi said kind of joking about the situation with the phones in Space.

What else do you have planned for the trip, Flut asked Mandi?

I’m bringing two pieces of equipment that your scientist have just invented. A nanotube desalinization unit for my water yurt and an Ice Mole for Plizzel Rock, Mandi stated knowing she would have to explain further.

And just what are those, Flut asked kind of wishing he hadn’t asked?

You must not know what a Yurt is because I’m sure you are familiar with desalinization units. A Yurt is a small habitat mostly used in the wilderness but I have adapted the concept for short stays underwater. The fresh water will be needed for my guests. That will be one of our stops today. The Ice Mole has been developed to test all forms of ice in your South Pole region but can be used in any frozen water environment like the Astroids, your Moon and the Planets when you finally get there, Mandi clarified for them.

Are those the only two stops you are planning, Split wanted to know?

I think that will be good enough for this trip. I could take them to many exotic places but this should fit into your plans better, she said as she got up to escort everyone out to her vehicle.

I’ll be busy with a new site called virtualspacehotel.com. Maybe next time they go out their with you some of these virtual hotels will have become real ones, Split said as he escorted them out of Flut’s condo. Good luck!

When they got onboard Wuzz asked Mandi what the ship was made from and Mandi told her that it was one of many new composite materials. She wasn’t sure which one because they didn’t release some of the secrets to her plane. She did tell them that she had it adapted to underwater use which wasn’t in their original plans. It was rather easy to do that because the shape was well adapted to both environments. Just check out Branson’s Virgin diving ship and compare it to this one, she pointed out as she started her dive.

Split was looking out at the ocean when he made the comment about a new house that he saw on the Internet the other day. Flut, I think I would enjoy living in one of the new breed of house boats that are being designed. Have you seen any of them yet?

No! What is so different about them, Flut asked not quite sure what anybody could do to improve the looks of the house boats.

Mainly, the open glass look from top to bottom to give a more open feeling to the boats. I guess the view from both inside and from outside is the biggest change but they are also giving them a modern look in general. You almost have to take a second look because they look more like a land based condominium or house. They aren’t very boat like, Split finished with before Flut went on with more questions.

Apo had put several Bugsters on Mandi's ship to make sure everything went in the right direction. They can report back from some of the locations but in her underwater and out in Space travels it was impossible to cover every situation.

When the girls all got settled in at Mandi’s Water Yurt they started some regular girl talk and got to know a little about Mandi’s personal life. They were surprised at how similar her soaps were to there own. At least the technology talk was put on the table for awhile. Sopharina was really tired of all that. Give her a Jerry Springer moment every once in a while and she would be happy.

Do you think we could play a bit of joke on Split, Mandi asked the two of them?

What do you have in mind, Wuzz asking hoping Mandi would have a good trick that would pull a couple of Split’s chains?

When we get to Plizzel Rock you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. It’s a real dragon’s lair, she said with a big chuckle in her voice.

So what do you have in mind, Sopharina said suspicious of Mandi’s motives?

First, I want you all to know that Apo put some Bugsters on this plane to spy on us. They aren’t like the bugs in the Matrix Movie, are they, as Mandi surprised them with this inquiry?

I know what you are talking about. I remember the movie but these guys are very friendly. I’ll introduce you to them later, Wuzz answered. Now what is this tease. Don’t worry about the Bugsters. They’ll go along with it if it’s just a joke. Everybody likes teasing Split and you’ll get kudos if you succeed.

After we finish the shot. You guys just stay for awhile on Plizzel Rock and we’ll go back and report you really kidnapped by some of my Dragon friends that don’t like me working with humans at the UN, Mandi suggested hoping they would go along with the plan.

That’s more than a joke. It will really get Split in the frame of mind for the next stage in his story board version of the plot, Wuzz said agreeing to go along for the ride. How are we going to get him to believe that it really happened, She asked?

We’ll talk about that later in private, Mandi said not knowing whether having the Bugsters around for this part of the plan would be a good idea.

Meanwhile back at Flut’s condo, Split was hit with a bit of a shock. He was planning on talking to Flut about a subject that is usually best done without having the girls around but he was stopped in his tracks by an e-mail that made him wonder which dimension he was really operating in with his Tricolonization scenario.

He was on the standard e-mail list for updates from Space X but he had no idea that this would lead to such a mind meld. The details of this strange coincidence would have to be left until the next day to give him the time to prepare the proper answer. He had to prepare a professional offer a lot sooner than he had been ready to do. He could feel Flut looking at him and waiting for some kind of response.

Split! What is wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.

You won’t believe what just happened.

OK! Out with it.

You know I was getting ready to contact the top people for our loan product. Well, Elon Musk just sent it to me through his web site. Even though it wasn’t sent with us in mind. Everything I need to know to start the loan process was right there so I’m going to him first and make that offer I told you about on his huge auto factory to help him make that property worth more and build up his net worth by having a major part in the Tricolonization program at the Rancho Carmel property, Split said getting down to business with Flut.

You are leveraging his assets to make it work for additional funds for all his projects, aren’t you, Flut asked reasonably sure that was the case?

Not only that, but at the same time DARPA is starting a group that will be important to the Tricolonization endeavor. Great Internet day, Split added.

How quickly can you get all that done, Flut wondered knowing Split would delegate as much of the work as possible to him?

It depends on how much help I can get from you. Are you ready to get this done, he asked?

Sure! What do you want me to do first, Flut asked?

I need some backup packages prepare for a few things. I want to put together a list of technologies and companies that make “off the shelf” "or close to production" mode for the latest totally self sufficient life style, Split stated as clearly as he could.

Where should I start?

Look up the latest on human waste recycling. Start with the prize winning Loowatt project. The Gates foundation just picked them for a large development grant. This is an English based company. I’ve already put some images on the web site. Contact them and we’ll try to get a handle on the time table for several of our projects, Split added to make sure Flut knew how important this part of development is and that it must be fully covered alongside the more obvious technical problems of Tricolonization, Split said hoping Flut would get this done quickly.

Is there anything new that you want me to research along those lines beyond what you've just mentioned, Flut added?

The new airships for our corporate retreats with air roads would probably be at the top of my list. There may be a way to make them into air condos that could make them the new motor homes in the sky, Split said also thinking about some of the new battery and charger technologies.

How far into the future do you want me to go, Flut asked knowing that a lot of the buzz out there is for pure research and isn’t close to coming out in the market?

Two years would be a good cut off point because a lot of what we are trying to do takes that long just to get through the politics with all the agencies that stick their noses into everything new. That is always the big unknown when trying to get a handle on costs. Believe it or not, the FAA is having a conference open to the public to try and get some ideas on how to regulate Space travel. They don’t seem to realize that one of the biggest motivations to get out in Space is to get far away from these nanny thinkers, Split said started to get mad again about all the crap and waste of time he’s had to put up with in the past due to these scary people.

After spending the night in Mandi’s Ocean Yurt, they flew out into Space for their planned movie shoot and their agreed upon joke on Split. When they got to Plizzel Rock, Wuzz noticed a building that looked a lot like the Moonscaper that she had seen on Split’s web site. She asked Mandi if that was her place?

You would know that as the Dragon’s liar. We’ve had it for a very long time. They are scattered all over the Universe. It is like a high tech hostel or community center with living quarters, she explained.

How long do you think we should stay to get everything done including our surprise, Sopharina asked forgetting the Bugsters were paying attention?

Mandi handled that by just taking Sopharina to the ladies room to let her know that she had to watch it with those kind of questions. She also told her that she had no idea how long it would be. We don’t want Split to get into any serious situation that he couldn’t handle. So it would probably just be a short time, she said to make Sopharina comfortable.

How are we getting back? Are you coming for us or is someone else going to take us back, she asked a bit concerned about the details?

I’m not sure yet. It could go either way. We’ll have to see what Split does about it, Mandi said mostly because she had a plan that might work now or she would have to do it another way later.

I think we should start with some general exploration of your lair, Sopharina suggested to the group?

Let's do that and have the cameras rolling, Wuzz added as she went over to the camera crew to get them started.

It's too bad we can't do this live with Split and Flut watching everything we do. This time lag needs to be fixed Sopharina said as she went over to the entrance of the cave.

Mandi led the way through her Space world with Wuzz and Sopharina asking question after question like little children. Everything was new to them. Instead of a lot of machines that they expected to see, everything seemed organic but doing all the things needed to maintain life as though they were back on Earth.

Do you come from a place that is like our planet, Sopharina asked Mandi?

We can adapt to almost any environment. You are asking because of the way our underground area here is so much like Earth, aren't you, Mandi asked her?

I thought we would need space suits or have to stay in a particular area to survive but it is all very comfortable once you get inside, she stated.

This is why I'm so interested in Split's tricolonization projects. We use other creatures and plants to make everything work instead of what you call machines. Machines to us just means the right organic mix to make the chosen atmosphere, Mandi said without going into details.

Is Split going in the right direction, Wuzz asked to make sure she understood Mandi's statement?

They are evolving and will eventually come up with the same or similar solutions as we have over time. I'm going to try to help him along that road without just turning over our solutions, Mandi said trying to anticipate Wuzz.

There sure a lot of new things out there and Split seems to find them all, Sopharina piped in on the conversation.

I’m testing a lot of the stuff he has pointed out to me. What got him started in that direction, Mandi asked both of them?

He’s always been like that as far as I know. His drawings go all the way back to his early teens, Sopharina said remembering an earlier conversation she had heard between Split and Flut. Split was giving him some background because all the Whimsters want to know about their heritage and how they were made.

That’s true! I teach the kids a simpler version without all the science stuff but basically this seems to be his mission in life and he has always pursued it one way or another, Wuzz said trying to add some of her own experiences with Split.

Do you think he will be able to raise that much money to help all this happen faster, Mandi asked not wanting to seem too nosey?

Both of the girls just looked at Mandi because neither one of them knew the answer to that question.

Split was trying to decide which way to go on several leases he wanted to make offers on using either the Underground Motor Home Timeshares or just the acreage of the ranch. One way assumes that the deal goes down with lots of buyers and the other way assumes a single buyer. At this point it could happen either way due to the fact that offers were coming in from both directions.

Flut, how would you like to work in a regular downtown office, Split asked?

I don’t know. We’ve always worked out of our homes, he reminded Split?

It might be better for certain kinds of deals. We are coming up with a time where we will be having to give group presentations and host some very important clients, Split said trying to talk himself into this corporate thinking. He knew he would lose a basic comfort level if this was his new way of doing business. It meant extra time to commute and not being able to work the same hours.

I think I’ll concentrate on the facility to convert motor homes into electric vehicles. That will be quiet a proposition because it is such a large building. First he would have to find out all the numbers from the owners but that wouldn’t matter as much as the structure of the deal, Split said to Flut as he pulled out his file on this property.

Apo was getting sporadic information from the Bugsters. He knew that would happen because of the locations but what he did get made him think something was not just right. He called Split to see if his concerns were worth considering.

Split, the girls sound like they are in some luxury hotel or something. Is that what you expected, Apo asked as soon as he got on the line?

We didn’t talk about the place much, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was just a cave they were going to, Split told him.

It’s mostly just girl talk but not about a cave but more like they were at a south sea location. Does Mandi have a special place here or did they really go out there, he wanted to know?

At least it seems they are having a good time. I wonder how that will play in the movie, Split pointed out.

True. Are you getting any word from them yet?

There is a couple of tweets that got through but they haven’t said anything about the Rock yet. I’ll ask them a couple of questions without letting them know I’m concerned, he said reassuring Apo as much as he could.

What do you want me to look for now that they have arrived at Plizzel Rock, Apo asked him?

I'm just going to have a regular day. Do some work on my Tricolonization logo and wait for anything you get from them. It's not like we could do anything about it. They are out of range and no one knows they are even there. It makes you wonder if maybe they are just pulling my leg with this trip. If I hadn't seen what Mandi's ship can do, I wouldn't believe any of this, Split mentioned to Apo.

I know what you mean. If she wasn't in charge of ETs at the UN, I would have a hard time believing anything she says. She does seem to be mostly interested in the underground caves and that lifestyle. It's like that is her most comfortable situation. I'll get back with you when I get a handle on this problem. Please do the same Split.

Split had just pulled a great image off the Internet of a site for his open pit building project. The lake was of particular interest. He wondered how polluted the water was at the bottom of the pit. He knew about the mining process and how important it was in the way they handle any water that was encountered or that they could impact. So his first level of research on this site would be about the water.

He wondered if Mandi had an underground house somewhere. There was getting to be more of them out in the country but not a lot of them to make up an underground community, as he was envisioning in the future. His Carmel Ranch could be the beginning of an acceptance of that lifestyle if he could keep the wacky California environmentalist and their political commucrat buddies off his back. They will find some stupid bug or weed to hold his project up and make sure he goes broke. That seems to be the thing they are good at while wrecking other peoples dreams. If they do it this time, Split was determined to get the "Bureaucrats Responsibility Act" going full force. He would have to find a way to make the environmental forces pay for their actions or they would just get even more rediculous. Unfortunately, he was very much an environmentalist himself and it was making it hard for him to find a way to stop them. Some form of balance was needed to stop this insanity.

The only thing he could think of doing was making his projects the most environmentally sensitive developments that are possible. Fortunately, the new types of technology are giving us a chance of satisfying everyone involved. The biggest problem is the political trickery involved when dealing with the commucrats. He was getting angry again so he decided to spend the rest of the day writing deals to get his ranch deal nailed to the wall. This had become some sort of Zen thing whenever he was stressing about his California dreams being dashed by those assholes in Sacramento. He laughed remembering his days in the military where every sentence spoken used a swear word for punctuation. It was an unwritten rule in the Army he used to tell everyone.

Always looking at selected web sites, Split came upon a new way to use Shipping Containers. A movie company was using them for mini-theaters. Split instantly thought of his underground projects. What a great way for some shared entertainment while keeping everything out of sight so the land can be use as a fruit and nut park. Just add some flowers and a victory garden and his timeshare buyers would be happy campers; literally, Split thought to himself.

Mandi showed the girls where they were staying for as long as it took to make her point with Split. The shooting was done in a couple days and the only problem they had now was how to convince the camera man and the Bugsters that they would have to leave separately from Sopharina and Wuzz. On the last day at Plizzel Rock, the Bugsters revealed themselves because they realized Mandi had found them out. They hadn’t heard anything strange except for the fact that they were surprised at how tricked out the cave was, so they were satisfied it would be safe to come out of hiding. Apo gave the go ahead because he wanted to make sure the cave was really out in Space and not just hide-a-way somewhere on this planet.

One of the Bugsters stayed in hiding, just in case Mandi hadn’t been completely honest about her intentions. The rest of them joined Mandi and some of the other dragons staying in the Lair. It looked like a halloween party. All they had to do was add some food and drink, put on some hot music and they had a great going away party for the first return party. The Bugsters agreed to go along with the joke on Split and suggested that Apo not be informed for a couple days fearing he would let Split in on everything. They were convinced this would be good dramatic motivation for Split. Little did they know how this would really effect him.

Apo was called by Split. Apo told him he found out that Sopharina and Wuzz were taken away by some of Mandi's friends. Apo couldn't find out why?

When are they coming back, Split asked very concerned about their safety?

I won't know until Mandi gets back here. She's meeting with a water construction expert. You should look him up on the Net. Maybe he would be a good prospect for your TLC loans, Apo said trying to make Split calm.

I'll do that. But as soon as you hear from Mandi, tell her to call. I'm upset about this change in plans but hopefully Mandi knows what she is doing. If she doesn't, she might be in for a big surprise, Split said know what both Sopharina and Wuzz were capable of doing if they get in a tight spot.

Split got on the Internet and looked up the architect that Apo referred to when they talked. Koen Olghuis was exactly what he was looking for in the water world of new construction ideas. He hoped it would be possible to get him involved in one of the Tricolonization Matrixes as a Grand Master. Maybe he would even be a good candidate for the TLC loans, Split thought to himself while taking down all the contact information on his web site.

Split completed his daily research and found something that reminds him that he has be neglecting his biological programming. The Telomere Test has gotten more exact and it is now possible to know when you would probably die if external factors in the environment don't cause your death.

Another article gave him the possible answer to a vital parts problem. While it would be easy to build things in Space using extruders and other types of plastic forming machinery, some parts have to be extremely strong and this presents a tough problem. The folks at Caltech have found a solution. It’s called a quick Glassimetal formation process.

What they need to do is make some of these unmanned probes into a reusable part for an extruder or some other manufacturing piece of equipment. This would be a very cost effective reuse of a asset in space. Space junk might even be recycled in some fashion rather than gathered and burnt.

At least this kind of thinking was making Split cope with the problem of worrying so much about Sopharina and Wuzz. He thought it was strange that the Bugsters didn’t warn him sooner.

The girls hooked up with several of Mandi's friends. They were so much like her that is was easy for them to get along with them. They spent most of the time just showing them around and answering question about their heritage. This was something that Wuzz was used to. She had to do the same for the kids of the Whimsters.

Split completed his PayPayX prize entry for his tricolonization mentoring system for cell phones. Actually, it was for any computerized gadget. It has nine categories that should make the tricolonization project move faster. He was the most worried about the underwater development section. America doesn't have very much motivation because of its small population compared to its land mass but other places need this type of development. The biggest contribution the scientist can make here is using their technology into a type of business commodity for export to the emerging countries that can use some help with more room to live for their populace.

It is now time to contact the main "Grand Masters" for the tricolonization mentoring system. Split's plan was to use a matrix with all the companies profits being used to support the system with monitors and recruiters as paid employees of the matrix.

Each of the "Grand Masters" should also be participants of the TLC loan benefits. This will give them an additional motivation to bring in highly trained experts to help them with the practical problems of development.

Split looked at his list for X contest:

Bacterial Programming
TLC Loans
Endangered Species Genome Development
Exchangors Certification
Tricolonization Food Techniques
Chimeric Creatures - Genetic Designers
Genetic Engineers
Miniature Thorium and Cold Fusion Reactors
Tricolonization Communications

He would be able to handle only two of these categories, the loans and the genetic designs. The rest of them would have to have an expert to start the groups. An underground expert would be added later. He would know soon if the other two areas of the Trocolonization group would be properly adapted to the list.

Mandi met with Apo when she got back and told him that several of her friends were taking care of the girls. She would either return in a while and pick them up or her friends would return them.

Apo didn’t know what to say but did remind her that it wasn’t part of the plans for the movie. He pointed out that Split was very concerned but he would give it some time. What about this cave. You didn’t tell us how nice it was out there, Apo asked trying to get more positive?

This is what you would call a “Dragon’s Lair”. We have a very high tech life style. Not at all like your image of a dragon's life put forth by your books and movies. That’s why I was chosen by the UN. Only a select group know about our reality, Mandi said to explain the situation.

Mandi sat down to write on her Facebook wall. According to their plan, today was picked for Sopharina and Wuzz’s disappearance. The timing was picked because of the “End Times Prophecies” that Harold Camping put forth to the surprise of everyone.

Help! We don’t know what happened to Sopharina and Wuzz. They just disappeared. If anyone knows where they are, please contact me here on Facebook or any other way, Mandi wrote knowing Split would get this message.

Split called her the minute he got the message. Is this a spoof? I’m wondering because of all the hype I’m reading and seeing on the tube about the end of the World people, Split added trying to make sense of the situation.

I don’t know. I’ll head out there as soon as possible. Let’s hope they are just playing with our minds, Mandi said trying to sound concerned while holding back a chuckle.

Do you think I should come with you, he asked?

I’ll take Apo with me. That way I can get their faster. I’ll keep you abreast of the situation. It’s probably just a side trip that they’ve taken with one of my friends. We have some unusual areas on Plizzel Rock that aren’t very accessible. Maybe they went there without realizing they are causing a panic down here, she suggested.

I’m glad you are going back. It’s hard for me to concentrate with this on my mind, Split pointed out to her.

Just think of this as a twist to our movie script. Maybe we can write it in if they are doing something interesting. I might have to pull back some of the information that they are gleaning from my friends, Mandi warned Split but added that he could use the information but she didn’t want some of the things they might see to get out to the general public. Is that alright with you?

We’ll all be very careful with your disclosures. It must be very touchy working with the UN in the ET department, Split said trying to show sensitivity to Mandi’s situation.

I’m going to use this opportunity to use my Dragon Pod to land there. I’ll come back with a relaunch of the pod instead of usual way of traveling. Each time I go there I try to take some of your new technology. Your World is moving so fast right now. That is the main reason I’m here, She said changing the subject to make Split go back on track with his projects.

I have stacks of stuff to do but getting the girls back is the most important to me so please hurry, Split stated not wanting her to loose focus.

I’ll have room for some extra staff and equipment on this trip. Is there anything you think we could use this time, Mandi asked?

New York has some great photographers. See if you can find one willing to join you in case we can add something to our story line, Split suggested.

I’ll try. But they will have to move fast. I’ll put Apo on that while I make our trip arrangements, she stated putting an end to their call.

Split just brought up the story about the free floating planets that aren’t revolving around any visible star. Could these change the way astronomers see the Universe evolving, he thought to himself.

When Mandi heard about these planets she had an entirely different reaction. She knew that a lot of her friends lived on these objects and was more concerned about them letting too much out of the bag. Would they put up Dragon Flares to confuse or signal humans or would they just let time take care of this discovery. Some of the characters she knew would probably try to jump the gun and confuse humans just because they are so easy to bait.

When they got into the Pod, Apo had several new film crew members that he was able to recruit quickly.

Are you guys going to help us film our next segment, Mandi asked the obvious?

We’ll give it our best shot. Are we really going out in Space, one of the camera man asked?

We are! But don’t spend too much time trying to do shots of the flight. We can draw on other sources for these images. We need more of the dialogue between the players for our story board version, Mandi explained.

So you are saying these are not the final shots, he asked?

I don’t think so but you never know. I’m working with someone that could take this adventure into almost any realm imaginable, she stated to make them aware of the possibilities.

Split was up against almost twenty deals that he had to start this week on the Carmel Ranch. This was the precursor of the TLC loans so it was of upmost importance. The last thing he needed was this strange disappearance of the girls.

The first thing he did was prepare an exchange agreement that could be used for each of the deals. Everything would be done via phone and e-mail otherwise there wouldn't be a chance of doing this much work. His biggest worry was that there wasn't very much personal contact. He knew some of the people involved but most of them were just in groups of brokers that he knew only by reputation. He had full packages ready to go along with the offer so he was counting on this being a complete system to get the proper interest in his Ranch.

He completed his Internet research with an image of one of the sites that NASA is considering for thier trips to Mars. This made him think once again of Elon Musk. Mars was his ultimate goal. He even went so far as to say he wanted to go there personally. That means he will have to do it within the next few years or he will probably be too old to go there. This would be where he would start with his offers.

Sopharina was having a great time visiting the various areas of Plizzel Rock with Wuzz and Mandi’s friends. She was amazed at some of the technologies that they encountered. The only problem she had was when she tried to get answers about how the technology worked. They just told her that Mandi would have to answer any of those questions because they weren’t authorized.

One of the most interesting phenomena she witnessed was some of the anti-gravity activities of Mandi’s friends. They seemed to able to walk on walls and ceiling as though gravity had no effect on them. As a consequence a lot of the placement of convenient object seemed totally out of place. Almost haphazard from her point of view but Mandi’s friends navigated through the maze as though it was carefully planned for their use.

What do you make of all this, Sopharina asked Wuzz?

They seem to be very organized but it is kind of confusing to me. I feel like I’m going to bump into things all the time but it doesn’t seem to happen. How about you, she threw back at her?

It seems to be related to a gravity trick. I get the feeling that some of the objects are actually alive. They seem to move when necessary, Sopharina added.

Split completed a Joint Venture Exchange Agreement that could open the door to a complete Tricolonization Development. This could accelerate the use of his Graphine Extruder and Product company.

One of the properties, his ranch in Central California would be perfect for everything except the underwater part of the trecolonization project. The other half of this exchange would be seventeen miles of beach front property and miles of inland property in central Baja on the Pacific side. He wanted to call this "New Pyramid City".

Why do you want to call this place “New Pyramid City”, Flut asked him after reading his latest notes on his deals?

Because that is what it would be. We’ll have three types of Pyramids, Split said hoping Flut could guess from just that what was coming next.

Gee, let me guess. Could that mean you want to build an Underground, Underwater and Regular Pyramid he asked?

Yes! And it makes sense too if we use as much graphine and plastic as possible. I’ll write more in detail if this deal comes to fruition. Right now I don’t have the time but I have a clear picture of how it would come together, Split said as he went back to work on some of the other Ranch deals.

As he worked on these ranch deals he couldn't get some of the images of the future possibilities for the ranch. This not just another real estate deal for him. It was almost like working on a comic book version of something that was about to take place. Visions of the famous Dick Tracy wrist watch that seemed so impossible to him as a kid but now are very easily produced came to mind. Some of the sci-fi movies that depicted futurist cities must have been part of his quest to find the real technologies that would make these visions come true. But the real question was how long would it take to actually make some of these visions come to fruition. Money seemed to be the only obstacle with most of it, Split surmised as did the numbers for another one of his deals.

This was the memorial weekend so he was just piling up the offers. He would wait until Tuesday before e-mail all the offers and packages at the same time. He figured within two weeks he would know whether everything would work or not. With twenty deals he figured at least a few of them would come to the table and understand what a great opportunity his ranch really would be for them financially. Years of work and planning was finally coming to a head and this was it for the whole project, Split said so that Flut could hear him.

Do you think it will all work, Flut asked?

This and more will happen eventually. I guess I just want to see it in my lifetime, Split stated to make it clear why he was in such a rush to get all this done quickly.

Isn’t that a formula for mistakes, Flut queried him in the negative?

Mistakes will be made. That is the nature of progress. But stalling everything for political reasons is usually the biggest mistake of all. By going quickly, one has a chance of staying ahead of the regulators and proving the technology or method before all the hyenas of law clamor to increase their inventory of restrictions, Split countered.

So your time anxiety could be an asset to progress, Flut asked seeing that Split has a very good claim on this argument?

Living like you only have a short time to live can motivate almost anyone to do the right thing as quickly as possible.

Some would make the case that it could also do the opposite, Flut added still trying to bring down Split’s thinking?

Good point! There are those that would go to destructive behavior and if they get power life could go into a tailspin. But just building infrastructure to support more life of all kinds doesn’t have much of a downside, Split continued with his argument.

When Mandi and Apo got back to Plizzel Rock, Sopharina and Wuzz had just completed a large portion of there cave exploration of the Rock with Mandi’s friends.

Did you guys have a good time, Mandi asked them?

Fabulous! You have a great life style. Are you going to let us know some of your secrets, Wuzz couldn’t help from asking?

That is the whole point of me being at the UN, she informed them.

What about this gravity thing, Sopharina asked jumping right in with the biggest mystery she encountered.

That is very complicated because it has to do with our physiology and some special electrochemical effects that would have to be adjusted in any environment. That could come later but it’s not an easy thing to implement on your planet, Mandi explained hoping they got some insights into some of the other differences in her World.

How is Split holding up, Wuzz asked?

He’s trying to keep his mind on his work. If I don’t get you back soon I think he’ll get very upset. How far should we carry this, Mandi asked not seeing too much of a reason to continue getting Split upset?

I want to get back but let’s do some more action scenes before we leave, Sopharina suggested.

What do you suggest, asked Mandi wondering into which direction she would take them?

Do you have any particularly ugly or mean looking friends here that we can make into a bad guy, Sopharina asked?

I see you haven’t been into our Club. Not unlike some I’ve seen on your World. I guess night life brings out the biggest characters universally, Mandi said commenting on this unusual similarity.

They all followed her down into a very dark entrance way that curved and turned in a lot of strange ways until they reached a cavern with very erie lighting and what seemed like fog. Wuzz was expecting some kind of leather bar or vampire theme when she first entered but all she saw was a room full of Dragons. She had no idea that there were so many different types. The classic fire breathing type to an almost gentle looking couple doing some kind of dance that seemed almost spiritual in nature.

Are we safe here, one of the cameraman asked the group?

We look a lot more dangerous they we really are. Our looks evolved as a defense mechanism but we don’t have any more enemies and we’ve lost our aggressive nature, Mandi pointed out to everyone to make them feel more at ease.

Which one should we approach, Sopharina asked?

Take your pick. I think most any one of them would enjoy working with us.

We should get a couple of them to drag us away on camera to some dark locked place, Wuzz said trying to do a little directing.

Mandi went over to some of the meanest looking fire breathers and told them what was happening. They quickly agreed to enter the farce and help them with the filming. The camera men did a good job and after they had completed the scene they showed it to everyone in the Club on there big screen complete with some weird music. The crowd seemed to get a kick out of it and treated it like a comedy scene.

Can we just send this with a note to Split just to tease him a bit more, Sopharina asked with a funny gleam in her eyes?

Do you think he will believe it, Mandi asked surprized at how easily the girls went along with this ploy. She thought how easy it would be to do the real thing. This would be a good test just in case she had to carry out her original plans to undermine Split’s activities.

I don’t know but it will be a good idea to find out how real the scene looks to him, she pointed out to the group.

Remember, this is only a storyboard version. We don’t have to be perfect, Wuzz said trying to bring everybody back to the real intention of this trip.

It’s not like Split could do much about this if it was real, Mandi said putting a slight chill in the girls thoughts.

Don’t scare us like that, Sopharina stated quickly.

Split had a very strange adventure type dream that night that didn’t make much sense to him. The only thing it made him want is to go back to sleep to see how the dream ended. He wondered if that was possible. Unfortunately, he would have to wait until he was tired again the next night to find out. The dream was so lucid and didn’t seem to have any meaning other than the oddness of the facts in the dream. He didn’t know that this was being sent to him through some new dream manipulation technology that a very secret group was testing. It seems, the technology working best on someone that was constantly using their imagination in their everyday work. Mandi was in charge of this group and had chosen Split as a subject for her research. Her reason for doing this wasn’t entirely clear even to her. She was mostly curious to see if Split would act on these images that she had placed in his dream pattern. With access to him, she was hoping he would bring these episodes up to him when they were socializing and he was caught off guard. She had other ways of tracking the success of the project but she was hoping he would bring her into the loop. She would use the movie scenario as an excuse to get him talking about the experience next time they were together.

Split worked most of the day on his deals but did some research on some new underground houses that were being built all over the planet. Tricolonization seems to be the natural way things are going to develop, he thought to himself.

A touch of synchronicity happened to him as he was writing an Exchange Agreement for some land in Fallbrook, California for his Carmel Ranch. The owner of the land turned out to be a major plastic manufacturer in the Northern part of the State. He would be perfect for the Tricolonization project as both a participant and a Grand Master in Split’s networking system. Two cosmic reaction in just one day. That was a little unusual but it made him think he was in for a third one, that is, if things really do come in threes, he postulated.

Flut, look at this deal. This guy could really be of great help. We’ve already talked about the up and coming revolution in building with graphine. This man has the machines and facilities to actually start using some of the early products available in the field. He could also help with our Tricolonization networking system, Split added to make sure Flut got the meaning of this situation.

How many more of these individuals do you still need, Flut asked knowing that this would become part of his workload soon?

We’ll constantly be adding new technologies to the list, so I can’t answer that succinctly, Split said.

Well, let me know when you want me to start on this, Flut said as he went back to his work for the day.

Mandi had a way to get the video version of the cave incident with the girls to Split and he received it on his next e-mail check.

Flut, look what they are doing at Plizzel Rock, Split said and Flut quickly joined him to watch the video again.

Do you think this is real, Split asked?

Why would they film it, Flut wanted to know?

Maybe they want something. Do you think Mandi planned this all along without letting us know, Split asked him not sure whether he should be concerned?

Can you call her to find out?

Not until she is back here somewhere with service, Split answered hoping she would call to explain.

Mandi and the girls had formulated an e-mail to follow the video that would explain a scenario concocted by them. They said that Mandi wasn’t behind the plot but that some of her enemies had seized the opportunity to force her to do something she didn’t want to do for them. They hoped Split would fall for the line.

When that arrived, both Split and Flut were stunned.

This had better be a joke, Split said wanting to cuss at someone.

Do you know where Mandi is going next, Flut asked getting anxious about the situation.

Obviously, she was supposed to come directly back here with the girls but maybe she has changed her plans. She has a big crew now so I don’t know how she can get them all back at the same time. I don’t even know who to call about this, Split said looking strangely at Flut as he went back to his desk.

Split was hitting a deadline with his PayPal X contest entry. He wished he didn’t have this distraction but decided to turn it into motivation to complete his video for the contest instead letting it get him twisted.

He also knew that he would have to activate parts of the application or they wouldn’t take his entry seriously. That meant getting some Grand Masters started. He would like to fill the first three categories as quickly as possible but he knew these had to be name players in their fields of expertise otherwise nothing would be taken serious by anyone at PayPal. He already had some of the lessor categories filled for trial purposes. He hoped that would be enough for now. His worries about Sopharina and Wuzz might take him away from finishing this project in time. Little did he know how complicated this all would become.

Mandi flew directly to Flut’s condo and on the way arranged a meeting with him. He requested Split’s presence for the meet but declined to give him any more information than that. She told Flut that she would fill them in on the whole situation. That evening would be her first test of Split’s voracity and patience.

She had to leave the girls in her underwater yurt to fool Split for a short time. She just wanted to see his reaction from an emotional point of view. She figured it would be better for him to experience this if he was going to write that kind of plot into his script. She wasn’t disappointed. Split was quite shocked that something had really happened to the girls but reverted to his usual method of questioning her about a solution.

How are we going to get them back was his most immediate reaction?

They want me to bring you back with me. I think they want to either do you some harm or they want to steal some of your technology, Mandi gave up as possible reasons for the kidnapping.

I’m too old to worry about any harm they might be planning as long as both Sopharina and Wuzz are OK. I wonder what technology could possibly be of interest to them, Split sort of asked Mandi?

It’s probably something to do with the genetic designs that you turned into special creatures, Mandi suggested.

I have nothing to hide there, so they can have whatever they want or need. Can you negotiate with them for their release, Split asked in a pleading kind of voice?

I’ll do that and I’ll leave the film crew and Apo with you. I’ll be back as quickly as possible, she said as she turned to leave for her ship and her return trip to her undersea stop off point where the girls were waiting.

After Mandi left, Split looked at Flut and they both smiled. Pretend to go along with this when the girls get back. Let's see how far they will take it, Split said to Flut as he got back to his work. He finished his PayPal X entree to start the Tricolonization network and then really got a steam up and sent out three new offers on his ranch. He was about a third through with the entire thing and was hoping most of the offers would work out so he could close escrow as soon as possible.

Mandi picked up the girls and briefed them. I think Split was really worried but I’m not sure about Flut. He didn’t seem to have much of a reaction, Mandi said wondering why and then she remember that the Whimsters can replicate so it wouldn’t be as big of a problem as Split losing Sopharina.

I’m sure glad to get back. I don’t know how much longer I could go along with this joke, Sopharina stated.

We’ll tease him for a minute and then I’ll lead him into the plot for our storyboard project until he realizes what really happened, Mandi said to reassure both of them.

When they arrived at the condo, Split and Flut were sincerely relieved to see that Mandi had returned the girls. After hearing what happened, Split asked the question.

Is this for real or did you stage this for us?

You’ve got us, Mandi confessed but did you like the video?

It will work for our storyboard, Split admitted. But please don’t pull those strings again, he pleaded.

I won’t, she promised knowing that when she did this for real he would really take it serious.

The group broke up without any hard feelings but Split had it in the back of his mind that he hadn’t seen the last of this scenario.

Split and Sopharina went home and had a long talk about her experience on Plizzel Rock. He was amazed at some of the things that she noticed. They were obviously way ahead of us. This gravity element was of particular interest to Split. He was glad to see that the water problem in space seems to be overblown. Water seems to be very generic and that leads the way in space travel. Now all they seem to need is the personal and political will to proceed with this great adventure. Mankind was truly at the precipice of a revolution in thinking about our future.

Mandi went back with Apo and they met the next day at her UN office.

Do you think Split was too upset about our prank, she asked?

No! We all just have to get used to show business nonsense. He did tell me that it made him think more about the plot of this movie thing you are doing together.

Now he’ll have trouble trusting us though, won’t he, Mandi asked worried about the serious side of their relationship?

He basically doesn’t trust anyone. He’s told me many times that it is important to have people around you earn your trust. Don’t just give it to them because some people will treat you as a fool, Apo told her.

That translates to me having to re-earn his trust, she hit him with sardonically.

I don’t know. He is so busy that I would suggest that you two just continue without trying to figure that out. Concentrate on the technology exchange and the storyboard and it will just work itself out in the long run, Apo suggested.

That sounds like good advice. What do you think he would most like to know about, she asked wanting to be helpful?

If I were to guess, it would be your gravity machine or whatever it is that allowed us to walk on the walls without feeling weird. That was very strange but once I got used to it, I could see how practical it was in terms of dealing with space. But it was very disorienting to start with, he admitted.

That is something we’ll let him know about later when it is more important. Some of the people in your space program already have a close proximity to our methods. We’ll fill in the gaps if they don’t figure it out soon, Mandi said to let Apo know there was no reason to withhold that type of information.

Why are you so interested in what Split is doing? There are so many other people involved with all these new technologies.

That’s true. Did you see what Apple is doing with their new headquarters, Mandi asked trying to not answer Apo’s question directly?

You mean that spaceship donut shaped building they are going to build, he asked?

We helped with that idea. You would be surprised how many of the top people and organizations that we do business with, she said bragging a little to point out that Split was just another contact.

But I’m around you most of the time and I don’t see you talking to that many people. How do you do it, Apo wanted to know?

In a lot of subtle ways that I’m not at liberty to tell anyone about, she said wanting to end this line of inquiry.

Well then, I had better report back to Split and get some work done on this movie thing. Do you have any new ideas that I should pass along to him, Apo asked before calling Split?

When Apo called Split he was looking at a new image of one of the last Space Shuttles docked at the Space Station by the Russian Soyaz craft. He was going to miss all the drama and adventure but he was looking forward to the next stage of Space travel.

Hi Apo! How was your trip, Split asked with a lighthearted tone in his voice?

Full of surprises, was his immediate response.

So I’ve heard. Sopharina couldn’t stop talking about your adventure together with Mandi and her friends. It looks like we are off to a good start with our storyboard project, Split added leading directly into the subject that Apo most wanted to talk about.

Mandi is very excited about how well everything went during the whole trip. She’ll get back with you later. In fact, she wants me to get a reading on how you are fixed, time-wise, to work on the next scene with her, Apo pointed out?

Give me a couple days to finish some of my other projects before you have her call. I need to focus. You guys threw me for a loop with your prank but I understand why it was done. Sopharina explained everything to me, in fact, I didn’t think I was going to get any sleep last night because of her excitement about her experience. She’s really looking forward to whatever direction we take with the story but she said she couldn’t imagine topping that Plizzel Rock fun, Split told Apo.

The girls will be great for your storyboarding. To them it is just play and they don’t expect anything from your movie except the fun of doing it. They are very natural in their parts, Apo said knowing he was no expert.

That came out in the video they sent me. Thanks for your help. Now I’ve got to get back to work, Split said ending the conversation to get back to what he was doing when Apo called.

His first look at the Internet kind of surprised him. For the second day in a row, Apple Computer was back in the news with the Space program mentioned. First, their headquarters looking like and being compared with a Space Ship and now an iphone with special programming to be used on the Space Shuttle. Split hadn’t thought of Apple as being a prime player in the Tricolonization effort until this happened. Now it was obvious they could be a very important part, if the interest was there. Both the technology and the potential of participation in the TLC loans. He wondered who he should start the process with within their organization. Another challenge in marketing, Split thought to himself.

I was thinking about our beginnings the other day while reading the Kurzweil artificial intelligence site. We have come a long way but the marketing of these intelligent robots is happening. There must be some way to bring them into the loop. There certainly has been enough science fiction written and movies made on the subject but there doesn’t seem to be anything out there in the real world, Flut stated trying to get Split thinking about this problem because he seems to come up with common sense marketing on subjects like this.

The main thing I would do is tie it into the organ transplant program and use these robots as individualized organ growing plants for the owner of the robot, Split answered with a possible solution like Flut knew he would.

You mean a multi-use robot, Flut asked not quite sure what Split was talking about?

Actually, they could be used in even more ways than that but the important thing in any marketing endeavor is the motivation of the consumer. If each robot was custom sized to start with to match the height and weight of the owner to start with like you would buy clothing rather than try to pick a generic style of robot like the ones depicted in Sci-fi movies. This would personalize the process to start with and would give the consumer an attitude of attachment instead of alienation with the product, Split stated getting into deep thought on the subject for Flut.

Is Sopharina willing to do this, Flut asked putting Split on the hook?

She will be a perfect choice to do this. She’s always kidding that she thinks she is a bit bipolar and the other day I was playing around with that subject and told her I have a way for her to be tripolar instead, Split stated throwing Flut a curve.

I don’t follow. What do you mean?

It would be best to have two iterations of their robatic clones if anyone decides to do this. Each would contain the organ farms inside of them for use in the future by their owner so there would always be a backup. One should be the household helper that would be the main use for robot number one but the second robot could be put to good use in the tricolonization process, Split stated clearly.

You mean as a worker, Flut asked?

A very important worker. It’s obvious in our outer space endeavors their are a lot of unanswered questions about how well humans will survive the strangeness of space travel. They would be walking experiments while performing other daily tasks that would normally be done by their human counterpart, Split explained.

That would also be true underground and underwater too, wouldn’t it, Flut interjected?

They would also make a great construction crew if they are build with some of the new materials that are so strong, Split pointed out to Flut.

How are you going to get Sopharina involved, Flut wanted to know?

At first we will do it with animation. Not unlike your Whimster roots. But then we will hook up the various companies to supply this process and she’ll be an early pioneer. At that time we won’t have to worry about situations that we just went through with the girls. Both will protected, Split added.

What is the next direction with your movie plot, Flut asked thinking that this must be an extension of Split’s robotic plans?

I’ll just plug in our DOM script to give us another group of bad guys to deal with along with the Dragons, Split stated knowing Flut was well informed with this experience.

That should leave you free to complete some of these other projects. Do you think Mandi will like this idea, Flut wondered out loud?

It does take things away from her but I’m sure we can add a bit more in the DOM script that will put her back on the front burner. That shouldn’t be too hard. Just another episode on the road with Betsy and the others, Split said getting back to his deal.

Today was a big day because he was trying to do a gold deal with a client in South America. He is looking to hedge his gold assets with real estate holding with ten year hedge contracts. This could prove to be a good hedge for part of the ranch.

When Mandi was given the go ahead to contact Split by Apo, she had only one thing on her mind.

Hi Split! Are you ready for the next chapter? She wanted to know so she could help direct it into a direction that would help her with her agenda?

More than that. I wrote this a few years ago but it is still very relevant today with just a few changes. I’ll post it on our website so you can get all the background. It’s a special trip I took to flush out an enemy we all have, Split said giving her a quick rundown of the plot.

What about the abduction problem, Mandi asked surprised that he had departed so drastically from the direction she wanted to go into?

This scene will just give the audience some background. Sort of an explanation of why there should be an abduction to begin with, he explained.

Oh, I see. How can I help with this process, Mandi wondered?

You will have an alias as the bad guy in this sequence but don’t let that throw you. Good and evil are the standard story forms, as I’m sure you are aware and are interchangeable during the playing out of the plot. We will twist and turn the morality of our subjects to make it as real as possible, Split said in a vaguely spiritual manner.

This means I have to do some research before I can add anything to the process, Mandi said disappointed that they couldn’t just proceed today.

That’s alright. I would rather have you putting your insights into the plot in tune with this idea in the background. It will be fun and there are some interesting characters that you’ll be introduced to when you read this, he said wanting to get back to his ranch deal. He had a full day meeting with 60 to 70 of the best brokers in the country later on that day. This might complete the ranch deal if the heavy weights all show up for the meeting.

Mandi didn’t push the subject but did tell Split that she was working with some people that might give him some leads for his TLC loans.

Split asked her to call back as soon as she had read the DOM story. He wanted to get her input on how best to mesh the two scenarios together to make it more interesting without losing sight of the primary purpose of the whole thing.

As he was finishing up his net surfing for the morning, he noticed an article about the new Cambridge Crude Battery that should greatly enhance the storage capacity of most major electric systems. That was followed by a Solar Tunnel image over a major rail line in Europe. Solar was really taking off alongside of a large investment in electric cars. He had often wondered if he would live long enough to see the gas guzzlers replaced by the obviously superior electric engines. Now it was happening and he was going to get one of the new vehicles next time he bought a car.

Sopharina met him for lunch and they mostly talked about his idea for the robots and her night club experience on Plizzel Rock. She wanted to know when she could get her DNA sequenced to start the process of building her organ farm for the robots.

The price was getting very reasonable so Split told her the names of a couple of the best ways to get this done. She was really excited about having this opportunity and this made Split very proud of her pioneer spirit.

Split also brought up an old quest he was upon. He called it "Skyscraper Mountain", not the real name. It was the best property he had seen in his fifty years of real estate. It was made up of twenty six, twenty acres parcels and if it was rezoned to multi-use zoning, it could be used for the Tricolonization headquarters, he explained to her. This was his third try at getting this done and he was hoping the third time would be the charm, as the old saying goes.

Why do you think this is such a great location, Sopharina asked him wondering why he was so enamored with this property?

Every parcel had an incredible view before you even started to build a skyscraper. Each building would already be higher than the highest skyscraper on it's first floor, he explained to her.

That would be kind of thrilling, she had to admit.

Not only that, but it has a natural golf course surrounding the whole complex. All you would need to do is grow some grass and make some electric cart trails and you would have an incredible view course for golfers. It also has a natural waterfall that could be activated with some circular pumping of water year around that would be spectacular, he said enthusiastically.

Wouldn't there be any housing there, She asked?

Multi-use zoning would include that. There would be condos in each of the skyscrapers and plenty of room for semi-underground homes. You wouldn't want these homes to be totally underground because the views are just too good to miss out on that beauty, he stated.

Who is going to be your market for this project?

I’m going to try to interest companies from other countries that are involved with anything that has to do with Tricolonization. I think of it as the business version of the UN, Split said with hope in his heart.

In other words, you want to take the politics out of Tricolonization, Sopharina stated hoping that was true?

Problem solving without worrying about government institutions so much would certainly be effective. Do you think Mandi would approve of something like that, Split asked wanting to get her opinion?

What I saw of her people suggests that they are very friendly but I couldn’t tell in that short time. Nobody talked politics with us and you know how I run whenever anybody brings that subject up. So my guess would be that she will be for an atmosphere like that, but she does work at the UN, so she must be concerned about our politics, she added.

You can’t escape these control freaks entirely, but at least putting it down to a minimum would be nice, Split said as they came to the end of their get together.

When Split got back to work, the first thing he did was send e-mails to four top Chinese Real Estate firms with complete packages about his Ranch deal for Tricolonization development. He wondered if he would need the Google translate feature to make himself clear. This was his first contact with these companies and it felt like an adventure. So much of what he was trying to do was more important to that country than it was for Americans. We have so much room that Tricolonization is just in the back of our minds but to the Chinese, this is basic problem solving because of their large population. Split would like to see their one child per couple policy abandoned gladly by the leaders. For now, it did seem like a very responsible policy but from an emotional point of view, he hoped this was just a short term problem for the Chinese.

Flut came in while he was sending the material and was curious about his actions.

So you’ve finally gotten around to finding out if this would really work, Flut said surprising Split with this comment?

I think the timing is right, Split said defending his actions.

Are these companies big enough to handle the Ranch deal, Flut wanted to know?

Oh ya! They could walk in and buy the whole thing. If they truly understood what we are doing, they would be all over this, he stated confidently.

Did Sopharina like your idea about the robot after she thought about it, Flut asked getting him off the China thing?

I sent her a dancing robot. Your basic tin can look. She wants Flubber on her versions. You know, that stuff they use in the movies that looks like a real person but its just a rubber mask, Split pointed out to him.

She’s a little vain. Is that what you mean, Flut asked trying not to insult Sopharina too much?

I think she wants a softer look. She probably won’t care about the worker version of herself but the one she has to deal with daily she wants as friendly looking as possible. That’s probably what most people will want, he suggested.

Did you tell her about the stored version of her organs, Flut asked to see if she understood the whole program?

That’s the fail-safe version. She was glad to hear about that. She told me that with her luck, by the time she would need those organs, the robots would probably be in trouble. She has a tendency to see the negative side of things. That’s good balance for me because I seem to be too optimistic about new technologies, Split said introspectively.

Meanwhile, Mandi was busy working on her underwater home. She was checking with architects and agencies to see what she could find that would be both good for her and future developments for humans. She could use her Space technology but some of this she didn’t want to reveal. Her search was for similar tech but not the exact same as she uses. This would give her a clear reading on just how advanced this type of construction was at this time. She also wanted to find out how large the commitment was to building in this direction. Split would be an important element in finding this out. His loan plans would bring out the demand for money to pursue these communities. She wondered how directly she could approach him with her inquiries. Perhaps a subtle twist in the movie storyboard plot would help bring that out. But after reading the DOM chapters that Split had assigned her to study, she was having a hard time thinking of a way to get the group into water construction. They were leaving Phoenix going East, so maybe she could have a New Orleans scene that would work for the movie, she thought to herself.

Apo came in just as she was contemplating this problem.

Are you aware of the DOM script, Mandi asked him as he entered her office?

I was on the first part of the trip. What would you like to know, Apo asked wondering why this was of any importance?

Split wants me to think of ideas for our next adventure and I was looking at his web site and he has some interesting images of underwater building in New Orleans. Has he contacted anyone about that project, she asked him trying to get him thinking about this subject?

I’m not sure but I’ll surely bring that up with him later today when we talk. That trip brought to a head a group of health terrorist that doesn’t want to be exposed, he mentioned knowing she had just read about them.

I noticed that but I couldn’t figure how that fit in with Split’s main work with his Tricolonization plans. Do you know how that is possible, Mandi asked him curious about the connection.

I think that was just fostered on him because he is so aware of things like that. I don’t think he is on any crusade to stop them. It’s more in line with his ability to see trends in society in many different classifications. Health is one thing he is almost fanatic about. That is where his interest in genetic designs comes into his work, Apo explained knowing first hand from his own existence.

So it wouldn’t be to difficult to change his focus. I was hoping to keep this movie project more involved with other types of technical advances, She explained to him.

Split is always open to new ideas, so don’t worry about that. I would suggest that you concentrate on your own agenda when dealing with this script. So far, you’ve made this very fun and informative. These are the two elements that Split is always looking for in his daily life. You’ll never be bored around him if you aren’t mentally lazy, Apo added trying to guide her way of handling Split.

Maybe we could get with the planners in New Orleans and try to change their image to a Clean Energy City like China has done at Boading. Right now New Orleans has a bad reputation. Underwater development along with alternate energy technologies could really set a good example for reconstruction of their old and dangerous infrastructure. Add some more tourist type water attractions and I think the city could be revitalized, Mandi said optimistically.

When Split and Mandi did talk about this subject they were both in tune with merging the two stories. Mandi made her suggestion concerning New Orleans and Split added the Chinese connection to make it an International effort. She really liked that and complimented Split on his grasp of the situation.

You are sure aware of China being the major player in this Tricolonization program and you are so supportive of thier needs. I like that. The sooner America starts putting its creative genius to work in the technical area to solve these problems, the sooner they will recover economically, Mandi added as an affirmation to Split’s efforts.

Thanks! But this needs to be sold to the public using the entertainment industry, he pointed out to her.

So how are we getting Sopharina and Wuzz hooked up with your Betsy tour, she said showing Split that she did her homework by reading the DOM script?

I think this is where you come in. Kind of like having the Calvary show up to save the day, he said referring to an old movie trick to have the audience cheering on the heroes.

And just how are we going to do that, Mandi asked not quite sure where he was heading?

We could bring you in based on our real estate site selection process. You then could be alerted to the attacks that had happened to our group on our trip. Our attackers wouldn’t be aware of your UN connection or your dragon background. After being filled in to the problem you could suggest some methods of fighting back, Split suggested as an easy transition from one plot to the other plot.

As I understand, you mean you would be looking for seaside underwater locations for colonization in New Orleans, Mandi stated to make sure she was on the right track with Split’s thinking?

Right! We could be looking at some plans they already have and try to find a location that would be good for other projects. A replication of the Florida endeavor by former Astronaut gone Aquanaut, Dennis Chamberland would be of prime importance, Split explained to her.

I’ve heard of that. He’s trying to set a record for Underwater living , if I remember correctly, Mandi said trying to impress Split with her knowledge of the subject?

Right again! This could be a very exportable product to places like China and India, Split added.

So this would be one of the prototypes to be marketed in areas that would look at this in a more practical way. His project is too expensive to be anything other than an experimental community, she said pointing out the obvious economic facts.

This would be a good time to introduce Ultra Green Technology as the main theme of Tricolonization. Use excess energy production when designing buildings to rebate directly to local residents to help getting building permits, Split said trying to point out this is one of the most expensive parts of any development project.

That would help cut costs but surely you don’t think that will bring costs down enough to have them compete with conventional construction, Mandi answered defensively.

No! But if you look closely, most of the construction is done using plastics because it’s only draw back in conventional construction is the fire hazard. These units are surrounded by water, so that’s not a factor. This would be an expanded market for the oil companies so getting them behind this technology would provide a huge infusion of cash to develop on site extrusion and assembly methods. If you could get these units popped out of machines like plastic cups, you would have a mass produced community with a very low cost basis, Split said wondering if she was going to ask him for a cost projection analysis or something along those lines.

That could work but how would you get them involved, she asked?

By helping them change their image to Ultra Green Tricolonization companies, Split answered quickly.

Hmm! Brilliant! Just do it Split. I’ll do everything I can do to help. Will this help our Movie Storyboard scenario in any way, Mandi added to get back to the original point of this call?

This could be one of the best public relations movie ever made. Remember how a movie killed the Atomic Energy business. This could do the opposite for the Oil business, Split said getting back to the script.

And how would you do that, she asked?

Along with plans already in the planning stages in New Orleans, I would like to do a real life animation of the area with floating homes, and tour boats to take people to Islands, Split said teasing her a little.

What islands? There aren’t any islands out there, Mandi stated firmly.

That’s where the animated version would come in. The oil rigs with a natural blue screen would allow for an easy transition to animations that are based on real world solutions for converting these rigs into the backbones of a group of islands. Give them each a theme and they would easily turn into tourist hot spots. The biggest problem I see is the ugly water. It’s naturally polluted just due to the natural currents bringing all the junk from the Atlantic Ocean. This will be a real challenge to make it livable out there, Split said with a tinge of worry in his voice.

You’ll be long in energy out there so why not light things up to make for a great night life. Look what they did in Las Vegas, she said sure that this could make all the difference for a tourist attraction.

You are right. We could do some wild things with underwater lighting, Split said getting into the moment. A vision flashed of this and it made him smile.

Are there any other elements we could put into the plot, Mandi asked wondering if all this was even remotely possible?

Maybe! China has a new skyscraper that they are building that looks like a rocket ship. That could bring in the Space concept along with just water technology. In fact an underground flip side to that shape might be possible there also. I’m not sure if you can build underground there or not. It might have to many water problems but it would be worth looking into, Split said not surprising Mandi with new ideas for the production.

I’m due to meet with some people from Europe today. It seems they want to have a larger roll in the reusable rocket race and have a good plan to do just that. Do you want me to give you their contact information for your TLC loan venture, Mandi asked trying to be helpful?

That would be great. I saw an image of the ship on the Internet and it looks very interesting, Split added.

Alright, then I’ll get back with you later with that info, she said as she ended the conversation.

Split went back to some general research on the net and found several interesting things that were emerging. A cottage industry was emerging for survival units that are very high tech and self sufficient. This reminded him of the fifties. His dad had build a rather low tech version of that in their basement in case of an atomic attack. He also read about a real breakthrough in aviation engines and another one in the solar Photovoltaic field. Things were clipping along at a very fast pace. It was almost as though as soon as one new technology sprung up a newer and better one followed right behind it. This would certainly effect the way his investors proceeded. Good or bad, who knows, he said to himself?

Survival is the reason for Tricolonization. Long term planning will make the future something to be proud of and give our children a chance at not destroying themselves. Everything was looking in that direction except for the political tone of the times. The power triangle was hell bent on trying to use technology to control us to perpetrate social engineering as they see it rather than promoting individual lifestyles. Split was glad he was just thinking to himself rather than talking to Sopharina. She hated it when he got in this kind of mood so he was learning to keep his real thoughts to himself.

Flut, what do you want to work on today he said as Flut approached him?

China! Let’s do China today, Flut said in a lighthearted manner.

You’ve got it. I’ll show you where I’ve put that information so we can start an e-mail campaign, Split instructed him.

Aren’t you going to have a cover letter or something generic so we know exactly what we should respond to, Flut reminded him?

I’ll prepare that and we’ll use the Reno Format of the Ranch to give them the basics of our first Tricolonization project, Split added.

Are you going to offer both the North and South part of the Ranch, Flut asked?

That would be the best way to go. We’ll also give them the development plan so they can approach us from any direction they would prefer, Split said as he started preparing the cover letter.

After they finished, Split called Sopharina to find out about their 4th of July party. She wanted a steak and he agreed. He told her about his contact with the Chinese groups and she didn’t say anything but was worried about Split doing business that far away.

We are going to include them in our script, Split said wondering why she wasn’t responding.

Does that mean we are going to visit someone over there, she asked?

First we will be going to New Orleans and it really depends on the interest the Chinese groups have in Tricolonization as to whether we will actually go there, Split said not as sure of himself as usual.

New Orleans I’m not worried about but China is a total mystery to me, She commented.

We’ll be in a preconceived movie script so both places will be dangerous. Just like Plizzel Rock was for the two of you, he pointed out.

No, I’m talking about the real world possibility. Split, you own the Capitalist Party and you would go to the largest Communist country. Isn’t that risky, Sopharina asked with concern in her voice?

They are really a mixed economy. They have private property laws and their government is just a one party system. It doesn’t matter what they call themselves because they are smart enough to give private incentives to people that produce goods and services. That’s what really matters, he told her hoping that his ideas wouldn’t be a problem when they went to China.

So, you are not worried, she asked wanting a direct answer?

There is nothing I can do about that. I’m more afraid of driving a small car on the freeway, Split said trying to make light of her fears.

Then count me in, she said smiling with anticipation.

You are now officially a member of the crew "Betsy’s" on the way to New Orleans, Split mentioned.

And just when do we leave, she said teasing him?

On paper, you’ve already been enlisted. But the real trip will begin after I’ve closed the deal on the ranch, Split said bringing her back to reality.

Is there anything I can do to help, She asked?

Make sure we have a great time on the 4th of July. You take that project and invite our friends and have Wuzz help you. Let her know about our next adventure so she is ready to go when the time comes, Split added.

Later that day Split got his first response about the Ranch from China. That was fast, he thought to himself when he first saw the e-mail on his computer.

Flut came over just as he was reading the results. Anything important, he queried Split?

Just an initial response from one of the Chinese companies. They are giving it to the right department. I was reading the profiles on the executives of these companies and it seems that most of them have business degrees from Western nations. No wonder they are so good at international trade, Split said to show he was pleased with what he was finding when dealing with companies so far away from him.

Mandi decided to do some research on New Orleans. She was curious about some of Split’s plans. While checking some of the local sights online she noticed that they had a very active movie making community. They had an ongoing editing contest that she looked into for some ideas on Split’s project. Now it was time for her to actually go down there and see the place first hand. She asked Apo if he would like to join her.

That sounds like fun, Apo replied when asked.

Do you think they will be surprised by us, she asked knowing he was probably not going to stand out as much as she would?

It depends on which look you choose for the trip, Apo said knowing how strange she could be when she wanted to freak people out.

Don’t worry. I’ll be on my best behavior, she said as she winked.

Can we go there underwater, he asked because he liked to travel that way.

That was my plan. I want to see if there would be any possibility of underwater recreation there. I’ve heard its very murky water. A lot of his plans might be useless if you can’t see anything down there, she pointed out to him.

Is there any way around that, Apo asked hoping she might know what to do about something like that?

That’s a tough one. Lighting would be the only answer but it would still be like swimming in fog. That might be an interesting special effect for a mystery scene, she said thinking out loud.

It might also be used for a near death experience as a scene, Apo ventured.

That’s an interesting possibility. Do you think Split would like that, Mandi asked?

Sure! He’s been aware of that and many other obscure schools of thought for a long time. Sometimes I think the Whimsters came from some place like that in his mind, Apo said speculating about his own origins.

That makes sense. I’ve often wondered why he accepted me and my technical knowledge so easily. He must have experienced something like that to make him so open to new and strange ideas, she said having a new understanding of Split’s way of thinking.

If nothing else, it would be good viewing for everyone. How would you fit that into the storyboard, he asked?

I’ll let him choose the subject. I don’t know who he would pick to almost die. It would have to be one of the humans to make it interesting to the audience, Mandi said realizing you could only take fantasy just so far.

You know there will be quite a fight between you and the bad guys from the DOM script, Apo said adding another level to the brain storming event.

That’s where we can bring in some high tech vehicles and places, Mandi said happy to have this opportunity to show off a little.

Now what about China, Apo just had to bring up?

I know. This could be tricky. I don’t know what he is doing there, do you, she asked?

It’s either the Ranch or the TLC loans or both. I’m just sure it is business not this movie thing, Apo said knowing that Mandi had more to do with China than any of the rest of them.

I guess we’ll just have to see how that plays out. I doubt he will go there unless something really happens. I don’t see him doing China scenes just to see the country. Do you, she pointed out?

You are right there. He’s determined to get them involved but it must be difficult, is all Apo could add.

One thing is for sure. They have the most to gain if he succeeds or anyone else for that matter, she said stating the obvious.

Have you seen where he is combining his chimeric creature technology with robotics and genetic cloning, Apo said to get into something he was particularly interested in participating in with Split?

I have. That would mean I could get replicated safely and extend my life at the same time. That is something of interest to all of my race but we are almost there coming from a different approach, Mandi said letting out more information than she had planned.

We can do that too. The humans are the ones that haven’t reached that level yet. His plans are based on real science, so I think it will be done within the next few years. Hopefully Split will benefit from this because he is getting up there in age. This must be one of his top priorities, Apo said concerned about losing his mentor.

He needs a bumble bee submarine, Mandi said playing with Apo’s mind.

He needs a what, he asked wondering where that came from?

A money machine, she said teasing him even more.

Why is a bumble bee submarine a money machine, he asked going alone with what he perceived to be a joke?

I have a special submarine that is really a giant submarine robot that makes real bumble bee venom and mines the bottom of the sea for rare minerals. These are some of the most expensive items in your World and I use it to finance anything I need here, Mandi told him thinking he wouldn’t believe her.

Can you replicate one for Split, Apo said surprising Mandi with his casual comment?

Sure! Do you think he would want one, she asked not knowing what else to say?

You can build it into your storyboard scenario down in New Orleans, he suggested.

That would be great. What do you think he should use the money for, Mandi asked trying to make some sense of this conversation?

I think he likes the oil well island concept the best. Maybe he can buy or lease one of the rigs for a prototype community. Do you think it would generate enough cash for that, Apo said twisting the plot even further?

He’ll probably need more than one. I don’t really want this technology too public so he’ll have to be very discrete if I go along with this gift, Mandi said in a very serious tone of voice.

THE GIANTS OF GRAPHENE

Dedicated to Arthur the First

July 4,2011

Split woke up from one of the strangest dreams he had ever had. He was climbing up to get to the top of a building that just kept getting bigger no matter how high he climbed. The top also switched to other towers and he had to tunnel across to get to the new building top and then that building would grow just as fast as he climbed. Sometimes he was on the outer edge much like a roller coaster ride and other times he was holding on with nothing but his finger tips. His thoughts about this experience to explain the strangeness included the fact that he was in the process of curing himself of type 2 diabetes with exercise and diet. This he knew would also increase his testosterone. That would explain this very Freudian imagery. He just hoped it wouldn’t continue. Also considered into this equation was his fascination with building four towers with a never ending ability to continue increasing the height of the towers by having cranes on the tops of the towers to keep building. Add to that the science of new compositions with incredible strengths like graphine and this makes it actually possible to build the kind of structures he dreamt about. He took all of this to mean that it was time to take that project serious. When Flut showed up that day, Split told him about his dream.

That seems fairly normal for you. Why are you so concerned about your dream, Flut asked a little alarmed by Split’s obvious stress?

You are right. Back to work, Split said as he turned on his computer to see if there were any new breakthroughs in the tech World. And sure enough, he wasn’t disappointed. A new solar yacht and some not so new water homes that showed old building styles that float on water. His thinking was a whole new look would be more appropriate for this type of community. Something that would inspire the youth to aspire to instead of just another view property, Split thought to himself. He instantly thought of Flut’s underwater condo.

Flut, would you rather have your condo partly above the water or is the fully underwater condo a better choice for you and Wuzz?

I don’t know. A combination would give us different views but it would also be effected by the tide in ways that would be hard on the building, Flut pointed out as a reason to do one or the other for individual housing units.

Good point. Larger buildings could adapt a lot better but that wave factor is a serious problem. You can tell I’m thinking about our New Orleans trip. Are you looking forward to it, Split asked him?

That reminds me. We are suppose to be thinking of our storyboard script for that trip. Have you and Mandi decided how that adventure will unfold?

She’s coming by sea to investigate the underwater area to see if we can do any photography. She’ll bring a crew with her. If not, we’ll have to do all the shots above ground. She will help us with the SSC group that has been messing with us all the way to New Orleans. She hasn’t told me how but if it’s half as interesting as what she did on Plizzel Rock with the girls, it should be something fun to get the story moving. She is good at high intensity drama. I think we have picked a real winner to team up with, Split said hoping Flut would agree.

So you are going to let her just surprise you again, Flut asked wondering why he would put himself through all that anxiety again?

If she continues to be spontaneous I’ll go along with her pranks. Just so long as she doesn’t put anyone in real danger, he added.

Are you going to write some dialogue to guide her or is she just going to ad lib, Flut queried him?

I'll write an outline but I’m more interested in what she will come up with. If it’s not good, we can always redo it until we get something we all like, Split reminded him.

Is the little girl coming along, Flut asked because he really liked her?

She sure will. I think Mandi will enjoy her company too.

I’m going to have her do some of the cute dances she does with her mom and put it on a video for her for when she gets older, Flut said looking forward to the trip.

I’m getting back to my China deals. Did you know China has the largest bank in the World, Split said while looking at his notes?

That’s where you should start, Flut stated.

I’m composing a letter and revising the income statement to include the ranch in our first TLC loan. This might be the way to kill two birds with one stone, Split said more to himself.

Wuzz had a good day with her kids. She told the group some of the things she and Sopharina did at the Plizzel Rock nightclub. She got a lot of questions about the dragons. They seemed to think that maybe the dragons where a lot like them. Wuzz told them they had been around for a very long time and they had amazing things to see and do. The kids wanted to go on a field trip to the Rock but Wuzz told them it was a secret place and it would be very hard to arrange but she said she would try. After the class she called Sopharina to find out when they would be going on their next trip for the movie’s storyboard adventure.

Split is planning it right now but he says he will leave the timing up to Mandi. He liked the way she spiced up the abduction scene so he going to give her a chance to impress him again. What do you think she will come up with this time, Sopharina asked Wuzz?

No more abductions. Flut thinks it will be some kind of battle scene with the SSC gangsters, Wuzz stated.

Split told me they are starting to make garbage islands with houses on them down in Mexico. Can you believe that, Sopharina said changing the subject?

What kind of garbage, Wuzz asked?

Mostly plastic bottles and things that float I guess, Sopharina said while wondering what it would be like to live in something like that.

Are they doing that because they are so poor or is this some kind of Green statement, Wuzz asked sure that she didn’t want to live in one of these?

No these are well built homes. It’s just a new form of real estate is what Split told me.

Maybe they should call it water estate instead Wuzz said as she chuckled about her comment.

They want to do this big time in New Orleans, Sopharina pointed out to her.

Why would they want to build garbage islands? It seems they could do better than that, Wuzz stated.

I think they want to build some of each. Big time construction and the smaller stuff just to give the area a new focus. At least that’s the impression I’m getting from him, Sopharina explained.

Do they think the local government will go along with that, Wuzz asked knowing how Split was about government interference?

We’ll find that out. Maybe that will be part of our storyboard movie project. Just put some of these real live government people on film and they will act out there parts one way or another, Sopharina said smartly.

Split completed his daily e-mail list of offerings and went into the research mode. His first item of interest was the new Rover for Mars. Atomic no less, he thought to himself.

Flut, NASA is really getting ready for the Mars expedition with their new Rover. We’ve got to follow that real closely. It might happen a lot sooner than I thought. The main problem they’ll have in colonizing there will be making it an economically viable community.

It does seem that mining is about the only way to do that but without cheaper transportation it won’t matter what they find. Do you think that will happen, Flut asked him?

If the incentive is high enough I’m sure someone will answer these questions. The profit motive is the best driving force for progress. All the high and mighty platitudes about the adventure and finding out more about ourselves make for good feelings but the bottom line is still the bottom line, Split said making light of the real problem.

Are we going to contribute to this effort with anything but money, Flut wanted to know?

That is the technology that I believe will make the rest of it work. I think all the other pieces are already there. The right people and the new technology are just waiting to be used properly, Split said confidently.

Have you been following all those new electric planes that are coming on line, Flut asked?

They are all over the place. Even the solar driven types are being used now. It looks like a plane as your personal transportation might really happen if they can figure out how to keep people from bumping into each other in the air. It will probably come down to devices that control the air space according to pre-arranged flight plans that can’t be changed manually, Split said getting into the subject with Flut.

This is just using privately owned vehicles to be publicly controlled for safety reasons. Do you think people will give up control of where they are going to just get somewhere quicker, Flut asked knowing how much people like their cars and the freedom of motion they have while driving?

This is just an option so I don’t think anyone will object. They can always do the traffic jam way to get to work if they prefer, Split said sarcastically.

Will this be part of the attraction to your ranch plan, Flut asked to make it clear that he would have to get involved in these political changes?

We might be the first to actually lease air space to be used this way. This would be a great income stream for the government and yet not be offensive because it would be a use tax and not a class warfare tax that is so unpopular among the true innovators in this World, Split mentioned while thinking of all the red tape he would have to go through to get this done.

Will this technology be considered a tricolonization technology, Flut asked because he just saw it as above the ground development?

Only indirectly. The solar aspect will be a key element of tricolonization even though it’s primary use will be more mainstream. Air travel always effects space programs so that blends itself into our program also. The most important part of the crossover is that the same people that develop things like this are usually the ones most concerned with hardcore tricolonization projects. Probably the best example of that is with the computer companies. They are very main stream but at the same time they are in the forefront of almost every aspect of tricolonization, Split said to make this as clear possible.

I see what you are saying but are we going to concentrate on these borderline companies or are you going directly to the main developers, Flut asked to make sure he was doing the right research?

We’ll take it case by case. Most importantly, we want to be a force in converting the mainstream companies into thinking of ways to innovate their products and services to be full partners in this effort. Remember we are first and foremost creating colonies that could use everything the regular communities have used to survive. We are just expanding the potential real estate that is usable. A good example of that would be the floating condo concept. Could you imagine a group of people that liked to float around in air ships as their main residence, Split stated as a crossover technology?

That would be cool but what about the changing weather patterns. That could be a lot worse than living on a boat. Anyone that does that knows what I mean. Instead of tides you would have wind gusts and electrical storms to deal with on a daily basis, Flut said concerned about this new concept of Splits?

The best example of our approach as apposed to previous attempts would be to look at the Biosphere 2 community in Arizona. Compare that to the approach taken on a nuclear submarine. The Biosphere method tried to duplicate all the natural systems on the planet within a small area where the nuclear subs go for survival using technology. Our approach will be a combination of both approaches with the emphasis on survival and lifestyle, Split said wondering why he was always trying to define his mission.

That Biosphere project had a lot of controversy, didn’t it, Flut asked?

Yes and they were trying to set an example while doing research with a theatrical effort to get funding. We are only using technologies that work and just need funding to bring them to the service. This is the normal task of bankers and equity markets. While we seem to be doing new things we are really just trying to move jointly by combining technologies in areas that crossover in their missions. That’s why I call it “Tricolonization”, Split said getting concerned with Flut’s questions.

I know that but we are going in so many directions it can be disconcerting at times. Are we about ready to go to New Orleans, Flut said going in a different direction with the conversation?

If you will stop the questions for ten seconds, I’ll be able to finish some of these offers and get with Mandi to make a solid plan, Split said smiling to make sure he didn’t hurt Flut’s feelings but making sure he would stop this cross examination for awhile. Usually, he encouraged Flut because he was a very good sounding board to test his ideas but today he needed to just get the work done.

Split finished rereading the DOM manuscript to make sure it connected well with his latest writings and then went back to his China deals. Could his life really change on a dime like it has done so many times in the past. “Feast or famine” was the saying that came to mind along with another one that he has heard so many times, “Fools go where Angels fear to go”. He knew he was in that mode again. It just feels like the timing is perfect and all the stars are aliened to make it happen just as he sees things in his vision of the future. Now, ”just do it”, to add the final cliche’. Why do all these thoughts always seem to come in universal groups, he thought as Flut broke through his revery to bring him back to now.

This one company seems to have the ability to control our e-mail contacts with China. Do you want to use them or are we going to try and go around them, Flut asked before he proceeded with the process?

They are a Dun and Bradstreet company, so I'm leaning toward using their information if it can be selective enough. I don’t just want a general lead list to cold call. Please look into that as soon as possible so we can proceed.

I’ll have the answer in a few minutes, he said now that he knew what to look for when he called them.

As Split finished his read of DOM he felt it would be very easy to fit Mandi into the group. Only Dolene’s daughter might be a problem. She might be afraid of Dragons although she has been doing well with her new Whimster friends. It might be a good idea to send her back because the adventure could be getting to dangerous for her. He wondered what Mandi’s treatment of her would be like. Have you got any idea how Mandi is with kids, Split asked Flut?

I don’t know. Should I call Apo to see if he has seen her around children, Flut suggested?

Please do and find out when Mandi will be ready. I’m anxious to get back with the Betsy group, Split stated.

Just then Split, for no particular reason, had an image of a VAWT made of graphene coated solar material as the ultimate co-generation system. He told Flut about this concept and then added the possibility of making Solar Paper that was made from graphine as the structural material to make these VAWTs almost indestructible.

Flut caught onto this technology very quickly because he had seen the images Split was working with on a daily basis.

Can this be used any other way, Flut asked with an idea of his own on his mind?

What do you mean?

You want to build wind tunnels on the sides of electric vehicles, right?

Ya! You are right. That might be a better way to do that. I’ll have to check into that factor, Split said realizing that Flut was getting better every day in working with cross technology use to solve real problems.Adobe Dreamweaver CS3

I’ve got to rap things up here and get back to the Betsy group. We are planning on meeting in New Orleans. I need you to stay here to finish everything on the Ranch deals. Sopharina and I will go as quickly as possible and then we will send for you if the script calls for it, Split reassured Flut.

Are you taking Wuzz with you?

Only if Mandi requires her. It’s all up to her on this shoot, Split reminded him.

As Split and Sopharina were on there way to New Orleans, Mandi called and told him she was also on the way. She stated she had some ideas but needed to do some research about the area before she wanted to commit to any of them. Worst case, she would just take the SSC guys on directly.

They agreed to meet the Betsy group in the old part of town.

Split said he would call back with the actual location of the meet.

Mandi wanted to check the waters just outside the city so she was in her favorite underwater vehicle. Her main concern was the visibility factor. She also needed to know how easy it would be to build underground.

I wonder what Mandi is up to this time, Sopharina mentioned to Split?

She’s coming by water so I think she will have a lot of answers that I was concerned about too.

All the rivers dump into the area so it must be very muddy, she pointed out.

That is one of the reasons this would be a great challenge. Exotic vacation areas will naturally grow into underwater communities with all that tropical clear water but a lot of important locations could benefit by more than just tourism as a draw. This will require a more imaginative approach to development. This location is like a desert location but only from a infrastructure point of view. Once again, the crossover of technologies should solve the problems. Engineers will be needed that really know their stuff, Split pointed out to her.

Maybe those are the folks you should be talking to when you get there, Sopharina stated to give him some direction.

The House of Blues on Bourbon Street was chosen as their first meeting. The Betsy group with Bill in charge was there first. Split and Sopharina arrived next. It was Mandi that they were all waiting for to so they could get started with their new scene.

Is this Mandi a real Dragon, Bill asked not putting anything past Split and his gang of chimeric characters?

You can judge that for yourself when you meet her, Split said just as he noticed Apo and Mandi coming into the room.

She created quite a stir. This place had seen many strange things so the patrons just wrote this off as another Mardi Gras prank.

Mandi hugged Sopharina and Split directed her to sit next to Bill. The look on his face told Split everything he needed to know.

Bill, this is Mandi. Mandi, this is Bill. You two should get to know each other. You both have a lot in common, Split added with a smirk on his face.

I hear you are going to direct our next scene. What are we up to now, Bill quickly quizzed Mandi?

I have to do some additional research tomorrow but it should prove to be an interesting event, Mandi assured Bill and the rest of the group.

This meant that for the rest of the evening it would just be a social event with all work put on the back burner.

Flut and Wuzz were left to keep everything going smoothly while Split was gone. He found it easy to get Space companies interested the TLC loan program but both the underwater and underground construction companies were few and far between. He decided to check with some of the best engineering and architect firms to get some leads on the companies that had future plans in this direction. Wuzz came in to be his assistant while Split was in New Orleans.

Where do you want me to start, Wuzz asked as she sat down at her computer?

Just try some Google inquiries for engineering firms specializing in underground construction, Flut instructed her.

The first internet site she found was the Underground Engineers Association at auca.org. She decided to use this information to find the right firms for Flut. This brought her to the next level of information. An International group at ita-aites.org. Now she had to get more direction from Flut. She told him of her success and he suggested trying to find a company close to New Orleans and one in China.

I know why New Orleans is appropriate but what does the one in China have to do with anything, she wanted to know before proceeding?

I have a feeling our next adventure will be in China, Flut said leaving her wondering why.

Do you think Split will be able to publish his latest book, Wuzz asked him?

He’s written a lot of things but he hasn’t tried to publish yet. Maybe we could surprise him and do some research for him, Flut suggested.

Where would you start, she asked?

Definitely not with Borders. They are out of business. More like Kindle, Lulu or Scribd for electronic publishing. This seems to be the future, Flut stated based on the latest hype he had been seeing on the Net.

I’ll do that. Do we have a copy that he wants us to use for these sites, Wuzz wanted to know before proceeding?

I’ll have to text him about that because I know he is real busy right now with Mandi and the Betsy group, he said as he started to do just that. He knew Split didn’t like texting but maybe he could get through this time.

To his surprise he got a quick answer with full instructions for his project including a big “thank you” from Split.

You picked a great project for today. I had a feeling he was procrastinating on publishing, Flut told her as he proceeded with the registration process on the web sites for Split’s new book. As he did he wondered if this would be a good time to think about publishing some of his other works. Maybe even his three thousand genetic drawings of the Whimsters.

Don’t get to excited about this. He’ll let us know when the time is right for that, Flut explained.

Split received confirmation for the three e-book publishing sites the next day along with a list of Underground engineering firms. Flut and Wuzz had done a good job. After calling some of the firms he established the fact that tunneling can basically be done anywhere. It was just a matter of costs. New Orleans would have special problems but could be used for both Underwater and Underground communities. He passed this on to Mandi but she didn’t seem the least bit surprised.

It is always just a matter of money, isn’t it Split?

That’s why these TLC loans are so important. Now what is your plan for the storyboard scene here in New Orleans, Split wanted to know?

We’ll stage a conflict with your SSC gangsters and my Dragon buddies. We’ll use one of the festivals here as a backdrop. Everyone will think we are just in costumes so they won’t be alarmed when confronted with my friends. The Betsy group will be used as bait to catch the SSC members. We’ll catch most of them but their leader will get away with several of his key people. We don’t want the drama to end here so it will just be an entertaining skirmish for the audience, Mandi said knowing he would want more details.

How can we tie that into our development plans here in New Orleans, was his main concern?

We’ll have to let the Hollywood special effects guys plug that into the background. Maybe we can meet with some of the local leaders and get an idea of what they would like to see happen in their city, Mandi added knowing Split was wanting to know how difficult it would be to work in this area.

What about a possible underwater scene of some sort, Split asked knowing she had come here mostly underwater?

One of my film crew guys came with one of the latest cameras mounted on his mask. It’s called the “Liquid Image” model and it’s actually built right into the mask. He tried it out and got some good shots but this is very murky water. We’ll have to do a lot of lighting and special effects to do anything useful. I think we should do the underwater thing on another trip or in a different location, she suggested.

For now we can do all the action scenes above water but eventually I want to integrate some underwater shots in the final cut, Split said hoping it wasn’t impossible.

That’s doable but I had better get in touch with my buddies on Plizzel Rock to make sure they can get here for our celebration. In the meanwhile can you brief the Betsy crew on what we are planning, Mandi asked getting ready to leave?

I’ll meet you back here later today and I’ll make some arrangements for a place to shoot right here on Bourbon Street, Split said as she was leaving.

Bill was checking out the area for his game. He mostly likes beach front property but this was nothing like Southern California. He could tell that commercial property made the most sense right on the shore. Split had told him about some of the new construction methods being used Worldwide but he had to wonder if the locals would permit some of these newer ways to build. The national rules were even more restrictive, as he well knew. There didn’t seem to be any height constrictions. That could solve many of the financial problems for most projects, he thought to himself. It was time to call Split and find out where the next shoot would take place.

Split, what did Mandi come up with, Bill asked?

We are going to have a party with a bunch of Dragons but first we have to get some gangsters to mess with us in one of the parking lots. Let me know where you are going to park. We are meeting at the same place as yesterday. They’ve agreed to sponsor the whole thing. We’ll give them a lot of free coverage for this, Split stated.

So we are going to be mugged by these guys, Bill said not wanting to get into any physical altercations?

Don’t worry. It will just be a verbal confrontation. Basically a warning about our activities. Bring all the girls with you so they can look scared in case these guys need some motivation, Split said knowing Bill liked this gangster stuff.

Any lines or should I just wing it, Bill asked hoping he could do it his way.

Just have fun and pretend you are a tough guy, Split said pulling Bill’s chain a little.

Sopharina was telling me about your China angle. Is that really possible on the Internet, Bill asked because he didn’t know very much about computers.

It’s not like the old days. This is very possible. Almost all the people in high positions in these corporations have degrees from Western Universities and speak and write English. The biggest problem is getting their e-mail address. Companies want to charge and then you don’t know what you are getting. Flut seems to be doing a good job in finding these. If this happens the way I’ve got it planned you’ll have to pack your bags again, Split said knowing Bill won’t even go to Mexico.

You’ll have to do that yourself. Just leaving California is unusual for me. I can’t wait to get back, Bill added feeling anxious about what he was doing in New Orleans.

After we finish this trip I’ll bet you’ll be in more of a mood for more adventure. China will be a great place to have some real fun and do business at the same time. If we do go there I want to include Australia too, Split said because he had some close friends from there and he has always wanted to see the place.

After Split finished with Bill he did his daily Internet research to see about the new stuff. He found a mystery concerning the newly approached Asteroid “Vesta”. Apparently, they are finding possible artifacts and NASA is playing games with the images coming in via the satellite circling the asteroid. He also found a new vertical cogeneration system much like the ones he wanted to develop. This might be a good starting point for his Ranch deal and maybe even in the TLC loan consortium. He decided to follow through with a personal inquiry to this company as soon as he got back from New Orleans. He e-mailed Flut to get him started on this project.

Meanwhile, Flut had completed all the initial offers that Split had prepared for the Chinese companies and was now working on the list of the top 100 real estate companies to see if he could do some cherry picking in advance of Split’s return.

When he received Split’s instructions he added another level of research to encourage him further in this direction. Some of the other companies were based on Split’s concept to include wi-fi and cell phone units for these towers.

Split made arrangements at the Club. He told them they were going to do a mini-DragonCon like the upcoming event in Atlanta. This would make it easy for Mandi’s friends to fit in with the regular customers. This made him think about the Comic Con going on this weekend in San Diego. One of these days he would show up with the Whimsters but he needed to get his Ranch deal and TLC loans done first. He wanted to be the Clint Eastwood of the Comic Character business. He had no interest in going mainstream through the normal channels. He would finance the whole thing himself and not ask permission or cut deals with anyone. Even his distribution would be unique and he would have control of every element of the development.

When Mandi showed up she started by setting up the camera and sound equipment with her crew so the meeting between the Betsy group and SSC gangsters would go smoothly.

When are your friends going to be here, Split asked Mandi?

In about an hour. When will the Betsy crew and your gangster buddies going to show up, Mandi countered questioned him?

Any minute. I guess we can start with a general meeting so everyone knows their part, he decided.

Do you want to run the meeting or should I, she asked not caring which one of them started the process?

I’ll start with introductions and introduce you as the director of this portion of the shoot, Split explained to make sure it was clear.

Who do you think is behind the SSC gansters, Mandi asked wondering who she was up against?

The Commucrats, Split answered quickly.

And just who are they, Mandi asked knowing she had fallen for another political trap by Split?

All the Democrats, a lot of the old school Republicans and some of the wishy washy Independents, he said baiting her even more.

Oh, come on. That’s too many people to be blaming, she said getting irritated with his answers.

That’s true but they are the enablers for a powerful group of “Power Freaks” that manipulate them through the media. First they cause the problem and then they come rushing in to solve it to prove that Government is the “end all and be all” for society, Split said just getting started on this diatribe.

But you are for protecting people’s health, so why would they be interested in stopping you, Mandi asked confused with Split’s thought process.

Yes but my solutions are just voluntary and informational. They want to make laws that will impact every ones lifestyle. There have already been suggestions to take children away from couples that allow their children to become obese. Their health care plans include mandatory weight clauses that directly force people to restrict their use of sugar, salt and caffeine. The key word here is force. They want me to stop exposing their real intentions, Split said clarifying the situation for her.

Why are they getting so drastic in their methods, She asked?

Like all fascist, they have to create fear and then appear to be the solution. We just happen to be in their sights because of some of my statements about them. Apparently, my success has created our problem. We’ll have to turn the tables on them, Split explained so she could adjust some of her dialogue for the next few scenes.

Is there anything in particular that you want me to put into the script, Mandi asked to make sure she got it right?

Let them take the lead when they show up in the parking lot and confront Bill and the Betsy group, he suggested.

How did you know they were going to show up, she asked realizing that they weren’t on the payroll?

That’s part of the mystery that I will reveal as we progress with the story. We have our ways, Split added.

This made Mandi pause for a moment because she realized that they were probably monitoring her actions also. Are they going to get violent, she asked?

Not with this many people around. Their instructions were just to intimidate us and these guys do what they are told, Split emphasized.

Once again Mandi was surprised at the detail Split had of their intended actions.

First to arrive was the SSC gangsters as anticipated. The Betsy group showed up in three motor homes. They left the other ones at the motel. Bill got out first knowing full well what to expect. All the cameras were rolling in hopes of some good action. Bill surrounded himself with the gals and left the Whimsters in the motor homes.

The gangsters were planning on grabbing Bill or Split, whichever one was in charge. But the site of all the girls slowed them down a bit.

Are you Split or Bill, the leader said loudly to the Betsy group?

I’m Bill! What can I do for you, he said in a semi friendly way?

You can tell your partners to lay off all the bad mouthing of the SSC cartel. That’s what you can do. Otherwise those attacks you’ve already experienced will intensify, he said in a menacing manner.

So that was you guys, Bill said defiantly?

That’s right and there are a lot more of us just waiting to take you out if things don’t change quickly, he added.

Well, we’ll see about that, Bill said provoking the SSC characters.

Just then Mandi’s friends showed up and surrounded the SSC gangsters. They didn’t do anything except totally startle the gangsters. The SSC just slowly backed off not knowing quite what to do.

Their report back to their bosses was a not exactly what they wanted to hear. A new plan of action was needed.

After everyone got into the club safely Bill, Split and Mandi got together in one of the back rooms to discuss their next moves. Bill was included because he was basically in charge of the Betsy group for the entire group. Split and Mandi both had to leave after this Dragon Con event was over so it was important that Bill knew what was happening.

That was a nasty looking group that descended on us, Bill stated to start the discussion.

I just got a glimpse of them as they were retreating, Split said knowing everything was on camera for them to watch later.

Why don’t we review that scene in the club as a form of entertainment for the whole audience. Maybe a film making theme for the “New Orleans Dragon Con” would be a good idea, Mandi offered as a suggestion?

That would go along with our plans for the business idea we were developing for motor home theme vacation packages for travel agencies, Split interjected.

It would also give us some time to figure out who these guys were and what our next move should be, Bill pointed out clearly.

Along with the convention atmosphere we’ve created here we need to do some shoreline shots and invite some of the local leaders to our event. Did any of you contact the Atlanta Dragon Con people to see if they could also attend, Split asked to make sure everything could get done as planned?

Sopharina told me she thought some of them would show up after she called them, Mandi answered.

I expected fire breathing by your dragon friends, Bill said trying to joke a bit with Mandi.

That’s just a myth. But it is founded on one of our technologies that wasn’t known about in your distant past, Mandi explained and knew she would get them both curious about the fire breathing legend.

What are you talking about now, Split interjected?

This might be a good time to tell you about one of our major weapon’s systems. What your ancients saw was our adjustable laser weapon that is thought controlled. It is best aimed through our mouths because we are always looking at our targets, She stated.

Do you still have that capability, Split asked wondering why Apo hadn’t briefed him about this?

Yes! But we prefer not to use it. We mostly use it like a stun gun to stop someone from doing foolish things. Please don’t let this out to anyone until we are ready to release to the true facts. It might scare the wrong people, Mandi added to make sure they both understood that this fact must be kept secret for now.

That makes sense, Split said agreeing with her.

Can we count on your help if the SSC gets aggressive with us, Bill wanted to know for his own safety?

That’s for sure but didn’t you have your own plans, Mandi asked wanting to be as helpful as possible?

We have one that includes some specially trained Whimsters and a new possibility is also in the works, Split was quick to respond.

And what is that, Bill asked having not heard this new defense yet.

We call it the “Graphine Giant” program. These are very special robots that could be very useful in both our building projects and for self defense. I’ll fill you in via e-mail with the details, Split informed Bill.

When do you think they will confront us next, Bill wanted to know?

My guess is they will take some potshots on the way to Atlanta but whatever their real plans are will probably be happening in Atlanta like they did here, Split suggested.

The next couple of days saw everyone having a great time and getting some serious work done at the same time. Mandi was first to leave but assured them that she and her friends would meet up with them again when they get to Atlanta. Split and Sopharina headed back to San Diego. Bill and the Betsy group were last to leave because Bill wanted to do some research on some of the ocean front properties.

Flut was anxious to get with Split to go over some of the responses he was getting from his Chinese endeavors.

Split had some new ideas he wanted to bounce off Flut concerning one of the future land projects that might include a new type of castle.

So what new things did you find on the Net while I was in New Orleans, Split asked him as soon as he had settled into his office?

A great new solar tower and a fun solar tree in Spain, Flut said as he showed him the pictures he placed on their web site.

That solar tower is just crying for some add-ons, Split stated and then told him about the mountaintop mines that are having some major pollution problems on the East Coast.

Why do I have the feeling that these things all tie together in your mind with some sort of a solution that you would tweek out of all these seemingly separate occurances, Flut asked with a gleem in his eyes.

Actually, that solar tower built in the center of that mountaintop would keep with the theme of harvesting an energy source. The coal mining company could save face and make tons of money doing what they originally intended to do which is to create electricity from their efforts, Split said going along with Flut’s lead.

And I suppose you would line the mine with those solar trees just to make the point, Flut said laughing?

Only if they made the whole area an underground community to really clean things up. This location is remote enough to make it qualify as a Tricolonization Community. The trick would be getting the coal mining company and the local government to go along with a project of this magnitude, Split said while knowing he couldn’t do anything about it at this time but it would make an interesting future project.

This is a back burner project then, Flut stated to make sure he didn’t have to do anything but talk about this concept?

That’s for sure. We have too much to do as it is, Split said as he started to revue his e-mail from China. By the way. Did you see the new Chinese electric car that won some big prize, he asked Flut?

Is there anything different about it, Flut wanted to know?

They hook together to form a train of cars or can be driven separately and they share their electric charges with each other, Split informed him.

What was that note you sent me about a castle. How could a castle possibly fit into your tricolonization plan, Flut asked totally confused?

This property has it’s top peak surrounded by granite rocks that can very easily be used to extent the peak in a way that it will keep it’s natural look. The style won’t be the traditional European castle but a blended environmental look. From a distance you wouldn’t be able to tell that it was really a building, Split said to make his plan clear to Flut.

But why a living area instead of multi-use like the other buildings in the group, Flut wondered?

Actually, it will be a multi-use building. I’ll build the Floating Condos there and launch them from the custom made roof, Split explained to put his worries to an end.

That does make sense. That would be a great place to launch them, he had to admit. What are you going to do with the rest of the building?

Make it into a Whimster institution dedicated to the expansion of the Whimsters and the Graphine Giants, Split said hoping Flut would be pleased.

You mean the designs or would you have the lab moved there, Flut asked?

The designs only. I would start a new lab for human telemerase research and biological programming. By combining these two endeavors, there is a great chance of human life extension. This will allow me the time to get more things done, Split pointed out to Flut.

Speaking of that. Did you see all the new activities in the water community develop? Even New York City is getting involved, Flut said as he brought up the images on their web site.

It’s about time. This is such an obvious extension of real estate. Space is the long term future place to develop, but the second layer of Earth and water communities are the best places for immediate results, Split said restating his position.

When are you going to pick the companies for your TLC loans, Flut wanted to know so they could get to the nuts and bolts of loan processing?

I’m going to try to get that done before I meet up with the Betsy group in Atlanta. Hopefully, these companies will be seeking financing to get on with their plans, Split added.

We can see all the pieces of the puzzle from here but do you think the lenders will see our vision, Flut questioned Split?

That is why we are going to China. They are more motivated due to their population problem.

They’ve also started building their first aircraft carrier just as Obama got what he wanted to strip down the military. Aren’t you worried about their reaction to you, Flut asked renewing his worries about Split’s safety?

No! Communism, when everyone is wealthy is like a dog with no teeth. All we need do is keep both sides busy building better infrastructure of a non-military nature and making more resources and real estate available for everyone and the problem will solve itself, Split stated surprising Flut with his calm assessment of the situation.

You mean you trust these government leaders, Flut said flabbergasted at Split’s passivism.

I trust them to serve their own interests. They are power hungry. We just have to feed them with more to control. Tricolonization is all about expanding frontiers to make room for population growth in a prosperous manner. Can you imagine a situation calling for the voluntary fertilization of every egg a women produces as apposed to present day population growth thinking, Split stated as one of his favorite goals.

Space is a rather large place to populate, Flut said finally understanding Split’s reasoning.

Futuristic but with a very high probability. To communist and capitalist alike, the more people as an asset works well in both systems, Split said combining politics with the practical needs of of a growing species.

When Mandi got back to the UN she found that she had to catch up on several events that had taken place while she was gone. She was informed that it wouldn’t be long before there would be another government that was going to release all their information about UFO,s that had been encountered by their military. She was getting worried that too much information would come out at the same time. The plan was to let it out slowly so people could get use to the idea. A big media circus was to be avoided at all costs. It was accepted that panic would set in if the full truth was let out. This was the underlying plan in Split’s movie adventure. Make light of the event and show everyone that it wasn’t the end of life, just a change in attitude.

Take a look at these scenes we did in New Orleans and let me know what you think, she instructed Apo.

Did you have a good time, he said as he started looking at the film?

I enjoyed his Betsy group. They are a bunch of nuts. If you didn’t know what they were doing, you would think they had all gone crazy. They are having more fun than most people would think is legally possible. Have you met them yet, Mandi asked him?

Most of them. But not all. I’m hoping to join you guys in Atlanta. We’ll have to have a plan like you did this time. Are you going to be the instigator when we get there, Apo wondered?

We haven’t decided. Split is very easy to deal with. He’s open to all kinds of new ideas. I’m leaning toward letting him carry the ball when we get to Atlanta. What do you think, she asked to get his insight into the matter?

It will just happen spontaneously if you do that. He has so much on his plate that I can’t imagine him coming there with a pre-planned course of action, Apo explained.

Split let out a hoot! Just look at this, he said to Flut as he read the details.

That will save us a bundle, won’t it, Flut said as he looked at the plan Google and Microsoft were preparing for scientists?
Not only that. Time is money and everything will be accelerated. This is a major innovation, Split added.

I found something fun that fits into our Graphine Giant plans, Flut mentioned wanting to be helpful too.

A robot that we can alter quickly. Very good. We’ll get one and bring it to Atlanta with us. Maybe this will scare the gangsters off, Split said kidding with Flut.

Mandi told me a secret that could help in solving the SSC mystery. She thinks it isn’t the gangsters but the “Banksters” that are the real people behind this scheme of theirs, Split said quickly moving onto the concerns he was having with the Betsy group.

Who is in charge, the banksters or the commucrats, Flut asked to make this plot more clear in his own mind?

The commucrats are just stooges of the banksters and these gansters are just the henchmen for both of them, Split said knowing their methods of operation.

What American needs politically is a Tea Party for the Democrats so they can understand why our constitution is so important to keep freedom alive in the World. Government is not the solution, no matter what they call themselves. They are the problem! That is pointed out very clearly in our constitution and that is why the extremist, ie., Commucrats of both parties, are the problem.

Gotcha! Did you see these new cookie cutter airplanes using laser sintering machines, Flut asked wanting to get off the political stuff?

No! What is laser sintering, Split asked him?

It’s a layering machine that’s in the extruder category. Good for plastics or metal. Maybe it can be used with graphine to make the plastic stronger. We should look into this for our Graphine Giants, Flut added knowing he had gotten Split back to the job at hand.

Please get me their contact information so I can hook them up with our Graphine people, Split instructed him.

Anything else you want to pursue before you go out to the Dragon Con event, Flut asked hoping everything was under control?

Let’s try for a booth to tout tricolonization. We can sell some books and get some ideas while we are there, Split said giving Flut another chore.

Who will man the booth, Flut asked?

I’ll ask Mandi if her friends would help out. Everyone will think they are in costume, so it will be a good cover for them.

You still have a couple of weeks to go. Do you think we can put something together before you leave, Flut asked to nudge him along?

I’ve never dealt with the Chinese before. At least we will have a good reading on whether it is possible or not, Split reminded him.

Wuzz want’s to know if she is supposed to go this time or not, Flut asked to get that point clear.

That’s up to her. Maybe she would enjoy it and bring back some video for her kids, he pointed out to Flut.

You need me to stay here though, don’t you, he asked hoping he could come along too?

We can work wherever we are so if you want to join her, that would be just fine. We’ll plan it either way. Just let me know what the two of you decide. Now lets get back to our project and see if we can contact anyone useful to us, Split said not expecting an end to this discussion.

We should contact at least one company in each category to start the TLC loan application process. Have you decided on anyone other than the SpaceX people, Flut wanted to know so he would be prepared?

I’m going to start with the engineering firms for underwater and underground recommendations. Alternate energy firms fit into all of these categories, so I’ll contact some of the most advanced companies to see if they need any financing, Split stated clearly to let Flut know exactly what they would be doing for the next few days.

Within the first hour Split had made three contacts. One in each category. We have lift off, he declared!

What do you mean, Flut asked wondering what NASA had done now.

TLC One is in business. We have our first solid client and is a cross plat formed technology. It’s the giant Solar Tower in Arizona, he further explained.

That one fills the first TLC loan if you include the Ranch, doesn’t it, Flut said?

Exactly! And it has a lot of side benefits. The $750,000,000 they need to complete the project leaves the perfect amount for full development of the Ranch. It will make a perfect match because the Chinese are very well aware of this project. There is already a prototype being built there. We can get the right to build around the towers to make for a better looking building while doing an Ultra Green Graphine building project that is also a natural Vertical Farm location to increase the agri-condos theme, Split said trying to see if Flut could keep up with his thinking.

Woa! Slow down a little. I heard the words but I don’t quite know what you mean. Can you break that down for me, Flut asked after being confused by Split’s short statement.

You know how the tower works, right, he started with?

Yes! It uses rising heat to power a generator to create electricity and solar panels to create the heat, Flut said hoping he had gotten it right.

Just think of the tower as being the core of an Ultra green skyscraper. Make it a muti-use building even including a graphine factory reusing the heat the tower produces to bind the graphine. These towers can even be used for underwater communities with just the upper part above water, Split stated and then waited for Flut’s response. When none came, he went to another element of this scenario.

You know desalination plants such as the U.K.’s Thames Gateway facility use reverse osmosis technology. They should use negative ion charging lights (Photozone Units) and Thorium reactors for power generation to bring down the cost and easily convert salt water to fresh water. Do the process on off shore drilling rigs and embedded solar towers to create jobs for a water community. Just pipe it to land locations and release the salt back into the ocean. The fresh water will eventually come back into the sea and there will be a natural balance.

Another good job source would be an underwater refinery that immediately turns oil into plastic instead of gasoline and used as the building material for buildings supported by graphine composite beams to give it incredible strength, Split added wondering if Flut would add anything to this solution. He usually comes up with some new idea. That’s why Split liked bouncing new concepts off him so often.

What can I say. About the only thing you need to make it all work would be plants for food. Maybe even some chickens, Flut said just joking with Split.

Look here, Split said as he brought up the article about the new fusion thrusters.

This could get us to Mars in no time, Flut said when he saw the pictures.

I thought they were having all kinds of problems with fusion, Split said based on common knowledge of the subject. It looks like they might finally have come up with a solution.

What will this do to the energy industry, Flut asked thinking of all the other solutions out there that might be superseded if fusion became the energy source of choice. After all, you only needed water to make this happen, he stated.

That would be a real game changer if they pulled it off but until that’s done it would be best to plan with what we already have to work with, Split pointed out.

I imagine all the sources will be used no matter what comes up. At least the price would go down, Flut said.

Maybe not. When they start building with graphine they will need an awful lot of energy to create the heat needed for the process. That could keep everything about the same, price wise, Split said thinking that only the use would increase to fulfill the future demand for infrastructure improvements.

That will really help the overpopulated countries grow and prosper. Your tricolonization program will be completed a lot quicker, Flut said trying to encourage Split’s enthusiasm.

Look here! Cross platform storytelling is finally coming to the movies. I started that twenty years ago with the “Blue Guppy”.

I saw that. You are talking about the Halo-8 group, right, Flut asked already knowing he was ahead of Split on this one.

We should equip the Betsy group with the latest G-4 Smartphones and then we could edit that in with the professional shots we are getting and small side stories and documentaries would evolve from that. We’ve got a lot of new buildings coming online to explore for our Ultra Green Multi use project in Riverside County. Some of them would work extremely well there. There is also a new Underground Skyscraper being built in the middle of Mexico City right under a major Plaza. What a great idea, Split added.

Meanwhile, the Betsy group was heading out of New Orleans on I-10 going the coastal route all the way to Jacksonville. Bill was taking this trip for the first time. Split had been along this route several times so he was using his time for other projects. The plan was for the group to spend a few days in Jacksonville before heading up the coast to Atlanta. Split conveyed his plans to Bill about someday building in the Jacksonville area but that was after some of the more pressing events were completed. He told Bill to watch out for the SSC guys while he was there. They seemed to like the more populated areas to make trouble. At least they had stopped their bomb scares for the moment.

I can’t believe how many new things come up on a daily basis. It’s seems that as soon as something is invented, something better comes along. No wonder investors have a problem with picking the right companies to go with, Flut said letting Split know about a lot of his inquiries into financing for some of their projects.

It’s just a numbers game Flut. The important thing to keep in mind is getting the job done. That’s why tricolonization is so flexible. We can use ten alternate energy technologies to make it happen. Just don’t stall your thinking because something might replace your chosen system. If it does, in most cases you can just add the new system. There is always a need for energy. Just store it or sell it. I learned that by putting my old computers to use. I just let them run some particular project like my lighting or as an extra entertainment center in one of the guest rooms. There are exceptions but for the most part you can usually keep most technologies going until they’ve run their useful life. Take this new combustion engine. It would have been nice to have that around earlier but it has come at a good time. Electric cars can use it as a better back-up system. Some of these hybrid solar systems will be great add-ons to our existing solar projects. Just work with the companies that have the best marketing plan and we should do well with our TLC loans, Split reminded Flut to get the doubt out of his mind.

That solar tower company is a good example of that, isn’t it, Flut wanted to know?

We’ll go with them as long as they have such a clear business plan to explain to our investors why they should put out the big bucks for construction. We should get order after order from all over the place when some of these units get more seasoned, Split stated.

Split called Sopharina to see if she wanted to go with him to Riverside. He wanted to check out a property he had been following for twenty years. She knew it would be fun. Split always took her to some of the most interesting places. She wouldn’t be disappointed with this trip.

They had to go through Temecula and take the road to Hemet. When they got to the outskirts of Hemet they turned left and drove for about a mile and then Split pointed out the property. It was a small mountain top. She wondered how they could get up there but soon to find out Split knew the back way. The road was in better shape than Split remembered. The new water tower was the only improvement but that meant that someone was in the planning stage for the lower portion of the area. There were a lot of newer homes close by but nothing on the property he was interested in purchasing.

Sopharina was very impressed with the views. She could see why he was so interested in the area. There were two hidden valleys on the property that Split said was a perfect location for a golf course. He told her that a course could be built with hardly any dirt being moved. That made the development costs a lot less than what would normally be required for a first class golf course. He then showed her the spot that is a natural water fall. It only ran during the rainy season but with the water recycled with a pump you would have a tropical look with just the addition of a few plants. He wanted to put some very special buildings scattered over the five hundred acres of land. He showed her some of the ones he was considering on his lap top so she would get the idea of where he was going on this project. He knew she had a good eye for beauty so it was important that she liked his plans.

Why did you come here. You’ve already seen the property many times, Sopharina asked?

I had to make sure everything was still undeveloped. We have a meeting with a Broker and one of the city engineers to find out if we can still work with this location, Split said knowing she wouldn’t find that as interesting as just seeing location.

It sure is a beautiful place. I’m surprised nothing has been done yet, she said giving her stamp of approval.

I was afraid some housing developer would just build some homes up here and it would just be the "same old same old" California development, Split explained a bit sarcastically.

High end homes would go very good here. What have you got against that, she wondered?

The place is so unique. There is no shortage of hillside view property in this area but there is nothing in the way of this flatness at the top that allows views from almost in spot. Even if you just build a ten story office building you would have the same view as if you were in one of the tallest buildings in the World, Split explained to her.

How many buildings are you planning, Sopharina wondered?

Twenty six major buildings using up to twenty acres per site. Picture that in your mind when we leave. What a mysterious image that would be for the people below in all these valleys. I showed you the Ultra green designs we a shooting for. It would look like a different planet out of a science fiction story but this would be real, he said trying to sell her on the concept.

That would be quite a drawing card. It would be a tourist site. How would you handle that, Sopharina wanted to know?

The place would just speak for itself. Kind of like a new “New York”, he said exaggerating as much as he could.

You'll have to do some spectacular things to draw that kind of crowd, Sopharina said challenging him even more.

We'll have the place populated with Japanese robot and we'll build an even bigger building with a solar array than the Chinese have done. You saw that building on our site, he said to remind her.

Bill had just pulled into the Jacksonville area when he noticed a vehicle that had been following them for many miles. That was all freeway but now he could take a more circuitous route and flush them out if they truly were following the group.

It became obvious that someone wanted to know where they going. Bill told each Betsy to go in a different direction and they would call each other to determine where they would all meet. First, he needed to find out which motor home they would choose to follow. Then he would have the group go to the motel that they had planned to stay and the followed Betsy would keep driving until they had a way for them to join the rest of them.

The plan worked. Bill decided to have the tracked motor home meet him at a large truck stop. He would rent a van that would hold his friends and they would leave the Betsy at the truck stop for the night. He knew this might mean the loss of one of the motor homes but that could be more easily dealt with than the problems they might have if these were the gansters from the SSC.

He notified Split about the problem and he agreed this would probably work but he warned them to be extra careful for the night and get out of town the next morning. He suggested the beach area for the remainder of their stay in Jacksonville. That brought fond memories of his time in Jacksonville. That was one of the few places he could stay right on the sand overnight. He did that in his converted VW Bus after he got out of the Army. He told Bill to try that first and if it isn’t allowed anymore to just find a moter home park for the rest of the stay.

Everything went smoothly. They had prepaid for the space at the truck stop. Getting that out of there without being followed would be the real trick. After three days they Adobe Dreamweaver CS3sent someone that wasn’t with their group to check out the lost Betsy. It was obvious that the situation was being monitored so it was decided to leave it behind. Fortunately, it was one of the rental units so all they had to do was make arrangements for another motor home to continue on their trip.

Split had found another company making a solar light bulb. This wasn’t such a new product because any light bulb could be made to work with solar. The unique part of this light bulb was the combination of a non-profit organization using free market techniques ie. Capitalist methods in the third world to promote the product.

Due to the lack of infrastructure, there was no electric grid in most areas and the people where forced to use forms of energy that weren’t in their best interests. This company was solving both problems in these impoverished areas by including a business opportunity with their product. The simple concept of accelerated exchange of assets creates wealth for more people than just sharing handouts has been proven in every successful country and now he was using this principle to both light up homes and businesses and create jobs.

An old saying comes to mind. “feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day but show a man how to fish and you feed a man for life”.

Split was really thinking of the “Billionaire Club” that is smart enough to put this principle to work in many areas. They are having another good side effect, other than the feel good philanthropist motive and good public relations for their companies, by creating future consumers of their products and services. A classic “Win, Win” scenario for everyone involved, Split thought to himself.

I have a new way to raise money for our projects using a hybrid version of our standard TLC loans, Split said to Flut after he and Sopharina had returned from the Riverside property.

Wow! I’ve just found something you’ve been talking about sense July 4th, 1976 when you started the International Capitalist Party, Flut said jubilantly.

And what could that be, Split asked fully curious about this statement?

Your dream about building new countries with “Freedom from Government”, if that is their choice, Flut stated teasing Split a bit.

You mean we can get rid of the commucrat drama queens somehow, he asked knowing that Flut was playing a game with him.

Think homestead and change that to seastead and you will have it, Flut stated giving him another clue.

You mean someone is actually going to build in International waters with a new political system, Split said realizing what this real estate term meant.

Yup! And you should be their Real Estate Agent, Flut added.

Let me see this, he said as he moved over to Flut’s laptop.

I’m surprised you haven’t found this sooner, Flut stated trying to make Split seem a little foolish.

You are right. I’m surprised it hasn’t popped up in my Internet research. Maybe it has been suppressed. I see here on the Google search a lot of negative BS obviously coming from the Commucrats and their environmental henchman, Split stated seeing the pattern of oppression already raising it’s ugly head.

These people put freedom last on their list, don’t they, Flut observed?

Except for themselves. Although some of them are dumb enough to not even notice what they are doing to themselves and their children. But enough of that negativity. Here is a great opportunity to do something about it. Just then Split heard Rush Limbaugh talking about this new country idea. They both paused to take in his opinion about the island off San Francisco. Politically he was for it. How could he not be. After listening, Split had an intriguing idea. I’m going to plan the “Russ Limbaugh Underwater Golf Course”, Split said leaving it at that.

Now why would you do that, Flut asked thinking Split was just kidding?

Most of their plans seem to be for a city floating only. I think of that as just the top floor. The most important elements could well be below the surface if done properly, he stated.

That could well enough be but I still don’t see why a golf course, of all things, fits into a plan like this, Flut asked still perplexed by Split's answers?

I’ll just make a list here of some of the benefits like we always do when we present a real estate deal or any other deal for that matter. Obviously, it would have to be a profit center to be considered by any lender. We’ll put this on part of a TLC loan request along with many other innovations.

(1) Reserve oxygen supply for any development underwater in case of emergency.
(2) Recreation for the citizens and tourists with incredible ocean views.
(3) Green fees will go into the general Condo-Timeshare associations infrastructure fund for the shared offset of expenses of all the citizen owners.
(4) Special grass for food supply with free range chickens loose as needed. Hydroponic food supply hanging in selected areas. Fruit trees as obstacles and natural beauty of the course as well as being a food source.
(5) Real estate fee for Rush Limbaugh for the promotion of the condo-timeshare units. Name the main tournament after him.

What are some of the other features you would like to see, Flut queried him?

There are a lot of technologies and designs that can be applied for underwater community development. That will be a never ending process for engineers. The main thing I would like to see personally in at least one of these new nations is the incredible opportunity for political freedom, Split said with almost reverence in his voice.

You want to see your “International Capitalist Party” really get started, Flut guessed?

That’s right! And it wouldn’t be that difficult. Just take the American Constitution and add several amendments and you could cut to the chase. You see, the one thing the founding fathers didn’t see or couldn’t possibly have seen was the coming of incremental communism/socialism put forth in a false scientific way. This totally inhumane system is so against freedom because, like every other system in history, it purports that government is the solution when it almost always is the problem, Split said repeating himself again.

So what kind of amendments would you propose, Flut asked as the obvious question?

Some of the more obvious ones would be a balanced budget amendment, the outlawing of all communist rules like the graduated income tax, mandatory public school attendance, any form of national banking system run by government. These could all be replaced by private solutions on a for profit basis with the exception of the class warfare tax system. Taxation should be the same for everyone. It is insane to punish people for doing a good job. They should be celebrated as great citizens, Split stated hoping Flut agreed.

And what about your surprises. How do you think that will go over, Flut asked having a good idea of what he would add to the mix?

Take down the “Power Triangle” to put a stop to government collusion. If we do this part right it might last forever. Remember these are the people that can be the best and the worst of humanity. Unfortunately, the worst usually prevail for posterity, Split stated the obvious again.

Let me guess. The “Bureaucrats Responsibility Act”, the “No Attorneys Allowed in Public Office Act” but I don’t know what you would do about attorney’s in general, Flut admitted.

You know me too well. The attorney problem should be solved by simply having too few laws for them to be concerned about. Their inventory and ability to constantly add more inventory will keep most of them away from a place like this, Split said hoping some good ones would be here for real crime cases.

I’m glad you aren’t planning on banning all of them, Flut said.

The individual always needs to be protected but it is better that they learn not to rely on government to protect them against their own poor judgement, Split replied.

How do you plan on getting this through in the beginning, Flut wanted to know as a practical matter?

To start with, we could put in the CCR&R’s of the Condo and Timeshare units that only certain types of attorneys will be allowing to own property here. This might stop the initial inflow of pests. It’s will be a bigger problem when it is commonly known that this strategy works much better in preserving freedom and makes it much easier for the citizens to prosper, Split said enlightening him with this plan.

That sounds good but what do we do with the unfortunate people that don’t succeed and their counterparts, the professional slackers, Flut asked knowing this was a problem he would be forced to deal with?

Sales tax or a flat income tax of around ten percent and kept there to weed out the slackers should be the maximum needed. Anything more than that would be missmanagement. If run properly, that much wouldn't be needed and the excess income could be put to better use, Split said confident of his numbers because of experience of growing up in Salt Lake City where it church members handle that problem very easily. The Mormons are now the second wealthiest church in the World. If nothing else, they know how to count, he thought to himself.

Alright! I’m sure you have a handle on the rest of the problems. Aren’t you getting too full of yourself, Flut asked hoping he could take the criticism?

To me it’s just problem solving. These aren’t my ideas, just good ideas as far as I’m concerned. Feel free to disagree. That’s the whole point. Now don’t you have anything interesting to report today, he added?

Ya! A space balloon called “Bloon”. A new plan by the Russians to rent space hotel rooms at the Space Station. The latest meeting of the Space Elevator group has come up with their latest design and a new E-bay like science program that you should sign up for, Flut said proudly showing he wasn’t missing anything.

I’ve already signed up. It’s a great idea. It will help with the Tricolonization App that I designed for the PayPalX contest, Split stated glad that Flut was on top of everything.

Do you think this “Bloon” idea has any merit. Maybe they need some capital, Flut suggested?

Give me the details and I’ll see if we can put them on the list.

Split was starting to get overwhelmed with all the different projects he was encountering. It was time to make one of his famous lists of action and stop his research to do nothing but complete the list.

What are we doing now, Flut asked having guessed Split was ready for action?

Here’s the list. Pick the projects you want to work on and I’ll do the rest, Split said knowing Flut liked the backup work the best. That would leave him with all the direct contact efforts. And sure enough, that was exactly what happened.

Wuzz had asked Sopharina to come with her to teach the kids for the day. Her subject was the interactions between the Whimsters and the Humans. Sopharina was perfect for this session because of their long term relationship. Children pay more attention to the actions of the adults than the words.

What do you want me to say to the kids today, Sopharina wanted to know so she didn’t make any mistakes?

I was thinking we would tell them about our adventures with the dragons, Wuzz suggested.

Will they even know what a dragon is, Sopharina wondered?

I’ve shown them pictures and explained where they came from. We can use the footage for our story board feature, Wuss explained as she pulled the videos out of her purse.

So we’ll just show them the footage and then open the class up for questions. Is that the plan, Sopharina postulated?

That’s the idea but be prepared for an onslaught of curiosity and some silliness. This will be a fun subject for them and they can see the two of us working together. They won't even know the real subject of day is about you and how we work with each other, She pointed out.

Do you think there will be any questions about that, Sopharina queried her?

Hopefully! That way we can direct them into a discussion about our interactions to solve some fun and interesting problems. Just use your imagination when asking them penetrating questions, she said as the first of the children entered the cave.

The session went real well and ended with the kids being curious about the Dragon Con coming soon in Atlanta. They were to get together for a special party in dragon costumes and watch some of the happenings using the Internet and any news they could find on the subject. Both Sopharina and Wuzz were scheduled to be at the actual event for some more shots for their story board movie scenes. They were looking forward to working with Mandi again.

Do you think Mandi will have a good script for us again, Wuzz asked?

I’m not sure what she will be up to but I know Split likes what she has done so far, Sopharina pointed out to her.

It’s a good thing she is bringing some of her friends as even more protection against the Gansters or Banksters, as Split has deduced.

The Whimsters will be in full force in all their splendor, Sopharina stated knowing that Wuzz probably already knew that.

We have a few surprises ready in case the SSC gets too hostle, Wuzz said proudly.

Have you picked up your costume yet?

Not yet. Why don’t we go shopping on our way back home today, Wuzz suggested.

That would be fun and it might save us some time as we are getting close to the event. We only have a few days left. I’ll call Split and see if he and Flut need costumes.

Flut hasn’t decided whether he is coming or not. He may stay here to concentrate on some of their projects, Wuzz said sounding kind of sad.

I hope they can find a way to bring their work but I guess the distractions might be too much for them if they are at a crucial point in their business dealings, Sopharina said trying to buck up Wuzz.

Are you ready with the loan docs for Environmission, Flut asked Split to see if he could move on to one of the other companies?

Just about. I need to ask them some technical questions when I send these papers, Split mentioned.

You mean about the air rights and first floor rights under the solar panels, Flut wanted to know?

That’s right. And I want to know if they have tried anything in California to give us a heads up on the Ranch, he added.

This is an ultra green project so I think it should be easier than most building permits, Flut pointed out.

This is such an unpredictable factor. You never know who will come out of the woods to jam up a project. Hopefully, we can get through it before I pass on to the next environmental experiment, Split said sarcastically.

You really have an attitude with these government agencies in California, don’t you, Flut asked?

You just wait and see. There will be so much “stupid” that rears it’s head before we complete the ranch, it will give even you gray hairs, or feathers depending on which part is effected, Split said trying to lighten up the conversation.

That bad! Well, I might have to turn Wuzz into our spokesperson. She has a way of dealing with “stupid” that I don’t think you or I possess, Flut mentioned.

I’m so far beyond frustrated that anyone would be better than me. I’m liable to blow the whole deal if I have to go one on one with those fools, Split said angrily.

Are we counting this as our Underground TLC loan, Flut asked?

That would be a good start. They can be used in all three categories but the Ranch and all it’s projects would be best used for the Underground TLC loan request. Obviously the Tower would provide more than enough electricity to do anything we wanted there, Split stated in the affirmative.

Are there any other projects for that category, Flut wondered?

The Mexico City building tied into our huge Baha coastal property would make a great combination but I don’t know if they need capital, Split answered.

Should I start working on that?

No! Let’s keep working on the first three with one project in each Tricolonization category, Split directed him clearly.

I understand that, but what can I do, research wise, in between processing these loans, Flut asked?

Probably the best thing would be to find actual examples of Underground housing and you might find the best engineers for that. They could give us even more leads for our TLC loans, Split instructed him to do next.

Have you decided whether I should join you in Atlanta, Flut asked to let him know he preferred going with Wuzz to have some fun.

If we can get the first three loans actively in process then I would say we can celebrate by taking this trip, Split said making it as easy as possible for him.

Do you think we’ll get at least one of them funded, Flut asked?

We’ve got to get three funded to get this in first gear, Split said and then we can get something important done.

What could possibly be more important than this, Flut asked thinking Split was just kidding him again?

Start solving some political problems so I can stop complaining, Split said in a manner of fact manner.

What can you do about that, Flut said not really wanting to get into a political discussion with him?

To start with I’ll give Obama a guaranteed strategy to get reelected and have an epiphany at the same time. I’ll do this for my Grandson’s he added.

OK! What could possibly save him from himself, Split asked actually curious about this answer?

A real jobs solution that will make him a real problems solver instead of problem creator. The solution to the housing crisis in America is the “Rule of 100”. This is the rule that states that if you own 100 units (homes, condos, apartments, or any other income producing real estate) purchased based on the rental income only basis with professional management, you will have a successful plan for economic independence as an investor. With the take over of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government will have an inventory of 250,000 homes. All we need is 25,000 investors that want to be independently wealthy. No brainer!

True but he’ll screw it up by trying to micro manage the whole process, Flut said stating the obvious.

We can make it even better by only allowing individuals as investors. And that as part of their purchase agreement they agree to relocated to the area of the 100 units they are allowed to purchase and be the head of the management team for ten years. In return they would get very favorable financing terms. A ten year note with only one percent interest rate per annum. They can’t resell until the property is free and clear. This makes sure that each project has the full commitment of the owner. That could never happen with government management as evidenced by the “The Projects”. All government entitlement ventures are scammed by Slackers and Gangsters and Drug Dealers. Private owners won’t tolerate that because they know these people naturally disrespect private property and destroy their own nests. The positive side for the government is that more jobs are created and more tax revenue is generated, Split stated hoping Flut would play the devil’s advocate.

Obama creating more entreprenuers? That’s a hard concept to digest. He is clearly against small business owners. He wouldn’t do this in a million years, Flut said sure of his assessment of the political situation.

That’s true in any year except in his last election year. He is obviously pulling a “Bill Clinton” trick. He is trying to change his image just long enough to get elected and then he’ll come slamming down with his real agenda of “tax and spend” for the rest of his Presidency, Split said.

So why would you want him to get re-elected, Flut asked confused by Split’s actions?

Only one reason. My twin grandsons are mulattoes and they will have to live with his legacy. If he changes like Ronald Reagan did, he could become a great President instead of an anti-American commucrat. I don’t want my grandsons perceived as such monumental losers just because of their heritage, Split said sounding sad.

That is quite a risk for the nation. You know he lies about everything. What makes you think he wouldn’t taint this program, Flut put out there to see if Split could do anything about that?

Then he won’t get elected. He doesn’t have a chance without something that shows he is walking his talk. This would work so easily and he could throw a solar voltaic package into the mix to bring along his base. It would be that win-win situation with him getting what he wants most. All he has to do is make it so that each investor must have the financial ability to carry three units of debt and then after they are rented, release another three units until the entire 100 units are in place. This would be better than just trying to raise more money for his election. It’s obvious big International businesses are supporting him but all the money in the World won’t buy this election. People are angry and understand how they have been abused by his policies but this would disarm them quickly, Split claimed in his statement.

You are dangerous. Why not just get rid of him, Flut wondered?

Because a successful presidency of color would be much better for the whole country and really open up the political arena to everyone in a constitutionally correct manner, Split pointed out to him.

He does ignore the Constitution, that’s for sure, Flut agreed.

Hopefully, the success he has will change his outlook to some extent and he’ll see the light. All you have to do is look at China. They use Hong Kong as a model for economic growth. Give individuals control of private property and pride of ownership makes everything work better. The Slacker economy just doesn’t work, no matter what they call it, Split said for the last time.

Something tells me you are going to enjoy working with that new Nation being built off the coast of San Francisco, Flut said to get them back to their TLC work.

You’re right and I have a new “Urban Colonization Project” in Las Vegas that could be a real breakthrough real estate deal for any blighted urban area, Split said throwing him another brain twister.

How are you going to handle something like that, Flut asked hoping Split wasn’t getting distracted with so much already going on in their life?

It is being offered in on part of the Ranch and will make a good start on using tricolonization technologies to advance urban renewal, he explained.

There are a lot of major cities in trouble right now. But I don’t know how that fits into what we are doing, Flut asked?

Think of a Moon colonization that has been there for awhile. Then think total recycling of all materials and just plain old garbage from the colonists. Why not get NASA and maybe even DARPA involved to make a total on site recycling project as just part of the expansion of the colony with existing materials instead of trying to ship more from Earth. In other words, make recycling a cost effective way to build bigger and better buildings for the growth of the colony. There are a lot of similar problems that can be cross plat formed from an engineering and economic point of view, Split added so he could mentally see the deal.

In other words “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” in a direct action mode, Flut stated trying to get the concept firmly implanted in his tricolonization lexicon?

That’s a good way to put it with some modern turns and twists and the main difference between a Moon base and the urban situation is the work force available, Split said trying to fine tune the concept even more.

Is that an advantage or a problem, Flut asked not knowing what Split meant about his last statement?

The Moon base will be made up of pioneers that have a great work ethic but run down areas are mostly made up of slackers, drug dealers and users and some just plain unfortunate people that are stuck there because of health or financial problems. That is a lot of people but not many workers, he pointed out.

How is that problem solved, Flut wanted to know?

Make most of the jobs manual labor with a form of high tech training that could lead to better employment opportunities. Most of the work will literally mean carrying and separating garbage but by including the operation of the latest extruders and construction techniques there would be a good base to motivate a certain number of the locals. They would also be given a bonus in the form of a sweat equity position that they could use as a down payment on one of the living units they were helping to build, Split stated.

So you aren’t displacing any of the locals. So how can you find tenants for the commercial needs of the area, Flut wanted to know?

All shopping will be done virtual on screens with full payment in advance with no way to steal the products. They will be delivered with armed guards. Services will be trickier but payment can be handled virtually. All crime in the area will go way down but some of these people will probably find a way to cause trouble, so adjustments will have to be made with more security measures. By making these areas usable without making them a crime opportunity, businesses can return. The rest is up to social agencies to clean up the mess, Split said knowing that was mostly a government problem and would probably be misused by all parties, but that already exists as an urban cancer.

You certainly won’t have that problem on the Ranch, Flut said.

On the Ranch it will be only after a lot of time has passed but using materials that are recycled as building material can be built into the original plans if the concept is developed well enough, Split stated.

Did you see these new Urban Solar Tiles yet, Flut asked thinking they would be a great addition to the buildings planned for the Ranch?

If we can create enough electricity to create enough heat to process graphine on site we can use that for both the building strength and the solar energy to run the buildings. The light show won’t be that important but it would be fun and attract tourists. It might also distract the locals so it would be wise not to push that part of the deal, Split said as a matter of good planning.

So you want to make your “Graphine Giants” at the Ranch, Flut asked trying to second guess Split?

I’ll try to hook up with a Japanese company for the basic robot design. They are way ahead of the curve in making user friendly robots. We’ll just make them stronger and with a different internal structure to allow for the growth of organs. They will be extremely useful and can give the organs an almost real life experience, so they will be better adapted whey needed by their owners, he pointed out.

Do you think there will be that good of a market, Flut asked not sure of the economics of Split’s proposal?

Leave that to me. For now we had better pack up for Atlanta. They’ll be expect us. I’m going to find out what it’s like to dance with a dragon, so please call Mandi to see if everything is all set for the festival, Split directed Flut.

Are you calling the girls to alert them, he asked?
Both of them had a good time with Mandi’s friends. They both agreed that the dragons were good dancers, Split added.

That means we will be taking everything with us or does it mean we are coming right back after the weekend, Flut asked?

Total vacation, he shouted loudly!

This was labor day and Flut found out from Apo that it was also Mandi’s birthday.

They landed in Atlanta and they were greeted by Bill and some of the other members of the Betsy group.

Did you find us a good place to stay, Wuzz asked Bill?

Right in the middle of things. Mandi and her group have already joined us and made quite an entrance. Don’t worry, we got some great video of their starting scene for this part of our storyboard event, Bill said feeling like a director.

Any sign of our Gangster friends yet, Split asked on a more serious note?

No! But I’m sure they will be able to find us. We are going to have to have a good plan. The Whimsters are on guard duty so they should provide a early warning system. We’ve got a lot more of them with us due to Apo’s help, Bill said obviously enjoying his role in these matters.

The costume parade was fun for the entire group. Split was fixed up by Sopharina with a dragon costume that made it look good when he finally got to dance with Mandi at the hotel party.

Monday was the day that they would have their next encounter with the SSC gangsters. Several of the Whimsters attached themselves to the vehicles driven by the gangsters as they entered Atlanta. They notified Apo and he quickly let everyone know.

Mandi put her plan in action at all the major hotel parties. It was decided to split the group up in teams that attended the biggest hotel parties. No matter which team was approached by the SSC, the rest of the teams would be alerted and converge as a civilian force. None of the weapons they were using had a legal ban because they were all new high tech or alien developed, so each member of the group was a well equipped civilian force. Split told everyone to not use force unless it was in self defense.

Split’s team was the one they choose. They must have a special way to track him personally, Split thought to himself. He was glad they picked him because he wanted to control the confrontation as much as possible.

When the gangster first entered his hotel they stood out because of their lack of costumes. It was just moments later that Mandi and Bill’s team were entering the hotel behind the gangsters. All the exists were covered by the Whimsters and the rest of the teams weren’t far behind.

The lead gangster went up to Split with his big cronies right behind him. I told you to stop your group from completing your trip. We know what you are up to and we will stop you, he said trying to intimidate Split as fast as possible.

Now would be as good a time as any. What do you plan to do, Split asked trying to provoke them?

He starting forward to get into Split’s face but just then one of Mandi’s big friends stepped in between them and brushed the leader aside with one swipe of his paw. This made the gangsters draw their weapons. A strange light came out of the mouths of Mandi’s crew and all the weapons were completely destroyed. The gangsters just got up and ran.

That was too easy, Split commented.

What do you think they will do next, Mandi asked?

Report to the Banksters to find out what was expected, would be my guess, Split said just as Bill and the other groups entered the room.

I saw those characters leaving in a rush. I was hoping to be part of the action, Bill said showing some bravado.

Don’t worry. They’ll be back and soon, Split said. I have a big surprise for all of you. There is a new dragon on the block he stated knowing that this would fit the occasion.

Why do we need a new dragon, Mandi asked thinking she knew all the real dragons?

They are called “Sky Dragons” and they are really a new breed of air ships that are geared to carry large amounts of cargo or can be adapted for any purpose by the user, Split tried to explain.

So what does that have to do with us, Bill asked a little confused by this conversation?

I’ve arranged for all of the Betsy’s to be loaded onto these Sky Dragons as soon as we can get you all to the airport. The rest of the trip will be done inside the motor homes but they will be parked like hotel rooms inside the airships to make for a fast and unexpected escape from here. I know the roads from here to your final destination and there are too many ways the gangster could ambush the group. I don’t think they will be able to find us if we keep all our electronics disabled and move quickly, Split added.

We are all parked in different hotel parking lots like you instructed and we are all here now so we can just verbally give directions to the airport, Bill stated trying to be as helpful as possible.

Split and Flut took one of the Betsy’s back to San Diego hoping to give the impression that they had taken the warning. During that trip they continued their work. Each day they had a new TLC candidate and had started some of the background research for the new country being started off the coast of San Francisco. Split felt he could make some major contributions to their plans.

Do you think they will use some of your suggestions, Flut asked Split when he saw him preparing an e-mail to the group?

Maybe, maybe not. But at least I know they can use money for their plans so we have two reasons to help them. I’ve never gotten any satisfaction with my political agenda so this might be the time that we can get some of the programs put forth, Split stated hopefully.

Which one do you want enacted the most, Flut wanted to know?

Something that stops the “Power Triangle” from destroying freedom wherever it raises it’s ugly head, Split’s stated clearly.

If they start with rules that do just that, won’t that solve the problem, Flut asked?

That would make it very easy but not everyone is as sure as I am that government is the problem. If they don’t do it right, at least they are paving the way to a new solution, Split pointed out.

I would guess this might be a natural solution when we start colonies out in Space, Flut said trying to encourage Split to continue no matter what happens.

If I could just live long enough to see this. I’m sure it will happen but it would be very satisfactory to be a part of the process, Split said as he finished his e-mail.

As they drove back, they were able to do some research on the Internet to see if anything had come into their realm.

Split was happy to find that there was a new and faster way to communicate in Space. A laser powered system had been developed. Flut found a new plane with six engines that could be the future of air transport. When he told Split about it, his only comment was that it needed to be an electric plane to make it complete. Flut could see that logic and quickly envisioned that concept.

How long before we get back to San Diego, Flut asked?

We can just keep driving, so it will take at least three days. By then the whole Betsy group should be at Wolf’s place. I hope the hurricane didn’t cause him any problems. I’ll call him tomorrow to see if everything is alright, Split said.

The Betsy group got away without any problem. The plan had worked. Mandi was already back at the UN. Her friends went back to their Lair and Apo stayed with Bill and his group in case he needed some security.

It wouldn’t be long before Split’s assault on the Banksters would be let loose. With a few properly placed phone calls, everything would be out in the open, Split thought to himself.

They took a short detour to see the proposed site for the Solar Tower in Arizona. Split told Flut about the new ghost city being built in New Mexico to let private and public organizations test infrastructure innovations without it effecting a local population. The city would be about the size of one with a population of thirty five thousand people. The structures would be new and old to give it a more realistic test of new systems. He would use this once it was built for some of his ideas when the time came.

Just as they hit Yuma, Arizona, all power in the San Diego area went out. Split and Flut both knew who did this. They were now in a race to educate the public to a new way of handling power. The grid needs to be the backup not the primary source. Split could only think how slow everyone was due to the politics of the matter. Every time it becomes obvious how vulnerable we are, the long term effect is that nothing happens to protect the existing infrastructure. Once again, it is people believing in government solutions. How many times do they need to fail before people get the meaning of their own constitution.

It was a strange ride going back into San Diego without the lights. The traffic was thin so it made driving fairly normal but it was very strange because they were coming into the area after dark. Only vehicle lights were visible. A few buildings had lights on, but mostly just hospitals. It showed us how easy it would be to really hit this country. Water was always thought to be biggest problem. Systems have been designed to protect water but now it is obvious our electrical system is the major problem.

This just proves that individuals need to prepare for themselves like they do in the country, Split said just stating the obvious.

City folks are slow to believe due to the convenience available with existing systems, Flut stated.

It is obvious we are just going to have to wait for the big one. Anxiety avoidance seems to be the psychological element that the marketing people for alternate energy products haven’t been able to address, Split said as they went through El Cajon Valley.

They just turn a deaf ear, don’t they, Flut asked wondering why this was so pervasive.

Bill had to get the airships to head for Charleston, South Carolina instead of all the way to Wolf’s place. The tropical storm Lee was wrecking havoc along the east coast so he decided it would be better if they drove the rest of the way. The Banksters were messing with Split on his way home to San Diego. This power outage was just their way of sending him a message, Bill thought to himself.

Mandi was checking with her resources to see if she could get some names to match the faces of the gangsters they encountered in Atlanta. It seemed strange not to have Apo around but she agreed he was needed for Split’s security.

She was able to identify several of the gangsters and she got a read out on some of their associates but nothing to indicate a connection to any bankers, as Split had postulated. In frustration she e-mailed Split to give him the bad news.

When Split and Flut finally got power back on about 1:30 that morning, they started a late night catch up session. Split was glad to see Bill had made the changes in their travel plans but was concerned that Mandi couldn’t find some connection to the bankers. He instructed Apo to head back to the UN to help Mandi. He gave Apo the go ahead to release some of the bugsters to find out who these known gangsters were doing business with in the financial world.

Split was starting a “Chicken or the Egg” conversation with the Solar Tower people. His contact had gone from his headquarters in Arizona to Australia. He wanted all the information on Split’s contacts before releasing the numbers on his project. They always try to slip by the commission. Bad start, Split thought to himself.

The next few communications were going to be key to the success or failure of the TLC One loan, Split told Flut.

Do you think they can come up with the numbers to prove their plan would work, Flut asked knowing what Split was up against?

If they have the contracts with the utility companies that they claim they have, this shouldn’t be any problem at all, Split said while having the knowledge that incompetence runs rampant in pseudo government agencies.

Well, at least we’ll know if the project has merit. Let’s hope the energy crisis isn’t causing marginal technologies to be exploited, Flut stated having seen this with the Dot Com programmers in the late 90’s.

If anybody is going to run into that, it will be us. A big part of our job is to make sure we don’t represent a company like that. The trouble is these technologies are so advanced its hard to verify. On their web site they have a test project going in China, so we had better follow that as closely as possible, Split said while getting that backup information stored in the right place.

If we do three loans at the same time, won’t that help, Flut wanted to know?

It will help us but we can still run into a marginal technology and get a bad reputation for promoting that situation, Split said worried that could very easily happen and ruin his long term plans.

How can we make sure that doesn’t happen, Flut asked to see if he could be helpful?

It is going to happen a certain amount of times. I’m going to try to get some of the big boys involved in the non-profit arena to give us a cushion, Split said as he posted some information on the web site.

Your site is looking more like a journal than a story, Flut said not knowing if that was good or bad.

I did that on purpose. That is why we have the storyboard project separate from the journal entries, Split explained to ease his angst.

Did Mandi shoot some good additions to the story while we were in Atlanta, Flut wanted to know?

I haven’t seen the out takes yet. We’ve been too busy. I’ll call her. I need to talk to her about our meeting with Wolf. She won’t have any idea of what to do with him, he added.

I’ve found two interesting things on the Net. An Ultra Green skyscraper with a built in farm and a new electric engine for vehicles from Croatia, Flut said as he e-mailed the info to Split along with the images.

That engine would be great for my T-Bird conversion, Split said after reading the specs on the engine and the battery pack a young inventor had developed.

Did you call Mandi, Flut asked to remind him?

He picked up the phone and dialed her number. Hi! Did you get some good shots in Atlanta, Split asked?

Very good but I don’t know if we can use the images of the actual gangsters because we can’t get a handle on their connections, Mandi said hoping Split could shed some light on the problem.

They’ll be the largest bankers but we need to find out who they talk with when they get an assignment. It is probably a social network. That seems the way all the black op and terrorists seem to do business now days, Split suggested.

That would take a full agency effort. We have to find a better way to find out what they are up to, Mandi stated concerned that it was impossible to find the Banksters involved.

Turn this over to Apo. He has some methods I can’t tell anyone about and it might be the only way we can get to these people, Split said.

What do you want me to do when we all meet at Wolf’s place, Mandi inquired?

I’ll write the script for that encounter. You’ve done a great job up to this point but now we are dealing with someone I’ve known for a long time. He can be very helpful but we don’t want him to get over involved. He has a very successful business in the area and he doesn’t need any problems that could upset his situation, Split said warning her about him.

Is there anything I need to know, Mandi asked?

I’m playing this close. I’ll be the only one that will have the full picture. Just show up with your friends so Wolf can get used to them. He has a great sense of humor so this will be fun for him. As soon as Bill tells me he has arrived we can all get there quickly, Split said to let her know the timing.

Should I bring my camera crew, Mandi asked to make sure things hadn’t changed that much?

When Split hung up he gave Flut some instructions on what to pack up for their trip to Wolf’s place. Flut could tell what Split was doing by the equipment he requested.

This will be a hidden section of our group, Flut stated.

That’s right. We’ll fight social networking with our own brand of social networking, Split said to let him know why this was so important.

Do you think that will bring the culprits out of the woodwork, Flut wanted to know not getting a clear picture of the plan?

If we irritate them enough, Split said already thinking of ways to dump on their plans.

I hope this won’t be too time consuming, Flut said not wanting anything more to do

.
It will be fun so it won’t even seem like work, Split explained hoping Flut would see it that way.

Fun but I don’t know how to have anymore fun than we are already having, Flut said a bit exhausted.

Maybe this would be a good project for Wuzz and Sopharina. After all, the kids are the major benefactors of bringing down this group, Split said fully aware that they loved to chat on the Net.

Good. That makes me feel better about the whole thing.

Split called Sophrina to see if the two of them would help with a social and business networking project. Wuzz was there and quickly agreed to help. Split would have to bring the instructions on what they would try to accomplish. Finding the banksters this way might not be possible but they might find a contact point to start the investigation, Split thought to himself.

How are you going to track this, Flut asked?

I’ll get a programmer to write an alogrithm to identify the most consistent responders. We’ll put some of Alpo’s crew on the main people involved. Hopefully, Mandi can help with background material so we can pin this down even more, Split said.

Split had a special lap top made with an older board that didn’t have the built in chip to trace any computer over the Net. He didn’t need a massive amount of power but privacy was the important element to make this work. He booked a private plane to take them Boston to misdirect anyone trying to follow them. One of the Betsy’s would pick them up at a predetermined location.

Mandi would take her underwater ship to get close to the group and then another one of the Betsy’s would pick her up. All electronic were shut down and sent to strange places to throw any snoopers off the trail. The camera equipment was the only thing they needed to get the story board episode completed. Split would order a special tower to be installed at Wolf’s place.

Wolf wanted to sell his house and move into a smaller beach front location so Split told him he would buy the house from his first commission from his TLC loan program. This would become his east coast headquarters. He would convert it to a multi-use building rather than just a residence.

It seemed that the technology innovation had slowed down so this was a good time to get this story board film completed. If the bad guys didn’t find them this time there would have to be another encounter on the way back. The Betsy group was going cross country through mid country routes instead of the southern route.

Split decided to add more soap in this episode. Molleen and her daughter could add the spice. They were enjoying the traveling and Molleen seemed to find a new true love every other week. We’ll just play off this drama queen’s fun.

Everyone showed up safely with no interference that was noticeable. Wolf was a perfect host and was happy to get involved in the movie making project. This brought back old memories about a party Bill had at Sunset Cliffs where they made a small video movie where everyone had fun doing beer commercials and political speeches. He was totally up for this event. He teased Split about making enough money on one deal to buy his house but he kept his cool because he had seen Split do some very strange deals that most people wouldn’t believe could be done.

Molleen had fun flirting with the camera and several of the guys that Wolf invited from his local friends. Split gave a free flow script out to everyone but after a few drinks, things just happened. Mandi’s friends were the stars on the dance floor. This was truly one of those lost weekends that were usually reserved for the very young. That meant that they had to pay the price the next day.

The equipment was set up properly. The final shots were taken and everyone left with a very good feeling of fulfilled fun. It was time to get back to the nuts and bolts to finance everything properly. Everyone had their part to play.

When Split and Flut got back to San Diego with Wuzz and Sopharina, it was obvious that borrowers were either scrambling to prepare the proper paperwork or they were totally unprepared to back up their claims. It was time to keep digging. Ten try’s usually represents one deal that is real. It was funny how this rule seemed to apply to almost any type of situation, Split thought to himself as he got back to his research.

Do you know where to pick up next or should I try to help you get started, Split asked Flut knowing he was probably feeling a bit partied out after the good time they had at Wolf’s?

Bankers to back up your TLC loans. I’ll get you more information on who you should be talking to as soon as you nail down some borrowers, Flut answered.

Split was glad to see everything was back to normal, if what he did could be considered normal, he chuckled to himself.

What is the next step with your movie project, Flut asked?

Turn it over to Hollywood and find a hero, Split said not wasting a thought.

Just how do you do that?

I haven’t the slightest idea!

I thought you knew everything.

I do! That’s why I know how much I don’t know, Split said laughing at the old English joke.

Seriously, you have a plan, don’t you, Flut asked not having seen Split like this before.

No!

Then why have we been doing this, Flut wanted to know?

For the fun of it!

You are very strange today.

Some days are like that. OK! I’ll contact Clint Eastwood and tell him we need a new hero in this country. Maybe a swashbuckling Elon Musk that stops everyone from negative thinking, he said to satisfy Fluts concerns.

You don’t need to humor me. That sounds like a good idea but not very realistic. So do it anyway, Flut said as he went back to work on the TLC loan packages.

I’m in the mood to humor you. We’ll tie it into some hero work. Charlie Sheen needs an image change and perform some public service so he will be our hero. He’ll pilot a “Warthog” converted by Elon Musk to an electric plane with special armament. Arnold will be his co-pilot in his Graphine Giant form, Split said totally distracting Flut with his antics.

Are you talking about the old military plane that you learned how to fly on a simulator, Flut asked starting to chuckle as he decided to go along with this silly conversation?

Right! It’s the best all purpose troop protector in the World. This one will be better equipped and designed to take out drug dealers, terrorists and drones, Split said pushing the image even further.

Are you talking Stateside rooming around shooting drug dealers, terrorists and whatever you mean by drones? What are those, robots or the undead, Flut asked totally confused on the mission of these weird Warthog pilots?

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3
Yes! But with special ammo. The drug dealers and terrorists will be taken out with non-lethal shots so they can be put on trial to make sure they are what they appear to be. The drone protection is to stop any type of drone that attacks the Warthog from any enemy. They are already equipped to take out any standard form of attack, so the drone thing will be a special addition and should make good special effects in the film, Split said to make sure Flut understood his imagery.

Is that all they do in the movie, Flut asked wondering where the story board group came into play?

At that point Split was looking at a new fish farm pod proposed on the Internet. I’m looking at the tie-in Flut. He will be working for and living in one of the Seastead projects. You remember, those islands that are designed to be new countries, Split explained.

Ok, but how does that get to our movie, Flut wanted to know?

Your house will be an embassy for one of them and Wolf’s house will be the East Coast branch, Split said quickly making the connection from a physical point of view.

So these Hollywood types are going to visit us here, Flut asked knowing Wuzz would enjoy that.

On a regular basis. We can be a main setting for some of his private planning and a good place to hide when someone is trying to find him. The Seastead location will be a sitting duck so most of his time will be spend in other locations.

That reminds me. The Warthog has a single pilot. How does Arnold fit into the cockpit, Flut asked as a technical problem?

Remember, this is a robot version of Arnold. Think of him as the parts department for the hero in case of trouble. He is also a private sounding board for problem solving. Sort of like you are to me, Split said reminding Flut about his main purpose in life.

Good idea! Everybody needs a sidekick.

What else are they doing? How is the SSC defeated? Are they going to be political? How do the Whimsters fit into the show, Flut asked obviously more interested in the movies than the loans?

Building a tricolonization community in each category will serve as the background and will allow for some real progress because these won’t just be hypothetical locations but actual real estate deals that are part of the movie with profits going to everyone involved. A new way to get “points” while making a movie, Split said to make it clear to Flut.

And what about the other stuff?

You’ll have to wait concerning the SSC Bangsters and Gangsters. That will be an ongoing process while making the movies. As far as the political points. This is where we could use some of the Whimsters as “Ali Mcbeal” moments with political humor. “Hit them with a feather instead of a stone”. The Whimsters will be used in a lot of ways as a film asset. I’ll leave that to the Hollywood crowd. You might have to live with some new versions that I didn’t create, Split stated to make that clear. You can handle that, can’t you?

That would be fun. Maybe we’ll be even better looking, Flut said teasing Split about his drawing ability.

Now can we get back to work, Split said winking at Flut?

Flut knew exactly how to get Split worked up. Is the hero going to be political?

Like all cartoon characters, he’ll basically defend good against evil. Good will be defined by the constitution of this new country and will be well represented. Government; bad guys. People; good guys. Is that simple enough for you, Split said knowing Flut was baiting him again?

No room for collective thought, Flut said as he ducked when Flut threw an empty cup at him?

Stop it! Back to work you slave.

Flut sent him an e-mail with a list of agents for all the people he named as possible players.

Split just laughed. Do you expect me to call all these agents. We aren’t ready for that. Please work on the TLC loans first. We can deal with the fluff later, Split said wondering when his friend was going to get serious.

Mandi came up with some information that she thought Apo could use. She called him in and gave him the background on some of these character so he and his crew could start trying to find out what was really going on with the banksters.

Should I report this to Split, Apo asked?

Let’s keep it in house until we are sure of what we have. I don’t want to distract him anymore than we have to. Is that alright with you, she asked knowing his loyalty was with Split first?

Sounds like the right way to handle it, he confirmed.

Split went back to doing some research and found the new Utopia Yacht Island concept. This would be a great add on to the Seastead Projects. He would contact both to see if either was ready for a TLC loan package.

He called all the agents on the list to find out what format they expected a film proposal to be in for consideration by their clients.

Wuzz showed up wanting to know if she could help. Flut put her to work with some of his projects.

I don’t know how you guys handle all this, Wuzz said once she looked at Flut’s “To Do List”?

We just take it one step at a time. I’m sure Split has the “Big Picture” clearly in his mind. I get most of it but he is always turning and twisting things in ways I don’t get, Flut told her.

What do you do then, she asked?

Corner him and find out what his intentions are and then try to live with his answers. Sometimes that’s not easy but he is always there to help, Flut explained knowing that Split was paying attention.

When do we get to start filming again, Wuzz asked playfully?

As soon as Bill and the Betsy group get back here. They are actually doing a lot of background filming as they go. We’ll edit that when they get back. I think Mandi will want to be in on that part of the process, don’t you think so too, Flut asked her?

Definitely! We want to be there too, she said including Sopharina in the process.

Split, look at this. NASA is having a Space Apps Challenge. You can use your App that you started with the PayPal X contest. Just get it a few steps further along with the right people involved and it should work even better here than on PayPal’s site, Flut said while Wuzz sat there wondering why Flut would create even more work for Split.

Good. I needed a reason to get back to that. I hope they take this challenge seriously, Split added.

We can show them a way to create an income stream while educating the public about tricolonization, Flut said trying to impress Wuzz.

How would they use it, Wuzz wondered?

As they develop better communication between Space and Earth, we can show them a way for even an untrained colonist to pay their way and show a profit, Split told Wuzz.

You mean because this is a phone App, she asked?

Can you imagine getting a phone call that starts out; Hi! my name in Split and I’m calling from the Moon. How are you doing today? Split asked the both of them?

I guess most people would be interested enough to at least listen to whatever comes next, Wuzz replied going along with his pitch.

All you need to do next is be very professional and tie it into the Space program and most people would at least be polite, Flut said to back up Split’s assessment of the phone call.

Wuzz asked Split if he had registered his script with the Writers Guild of America yet. He gave her the number and then asked her why she wanted the number.

She told him she had some friends in the business and they told her that would be one of the first things they would need to get anything done with the film.

What else did they tell you, Split asked?

Only that the competition was massive. There are hundreds of thousands of new scripts every year and that only a few make it to the big screen, she said letting him know they were on a fairly hopeless track with their storyboard project.

That fits right in with the rest of the things I’m doing, Split said as though that didn’t even matter.

Aren’t you just wasting time, Wuzz asked getting more aggressive about the subject?

We’ll be part of the solution no matter what happens, Split stated quickly.

But how are we going to make any money if it is so impossible, she asked getting right to the point?

The way we are structured we don’t need any money. Anything that happens will just be gravy as far as I’m concerned.

But wouldn’t it be great if something you are doing pans out, Flut asked getting more concerned than Wuzz was?

It just did, Split said as he read an e-Mail.

What do you mean, Wuzz asked?

Bill and the Betsy group just arrived safely with a lot of new footage for us to see. We should all get together tomorrow and look at these. We’ll do the editing next time Mandi is here, Split stated knowing they would enjoy the screening.

Flut and Wuzz went back to work while Split called Sopharina to tell her the good news.

Did they run into any trouble, Sopharina wanted to know?

Bill didn’t mention anything. Maybe they have backed off, Split suggested.

I hope so. When are you going to be through, she wanted to know hoping he would be in the mood for some fun.

Tonight would be a good time to go somewhere and relax, Split said picking up on her hint. Tomorrow will be a super busy day. It would be good for both of us.

How about dinner and a movie?

Pick something and I’ll be there in about an hour, he said loud enough that Flut and Wuzz could hear him.

Does that mean we are almost through for the day, Flut asked?

You guys work as long as you want but I would suggest you take it easy this evening. Tomorrow we’ll be very busy, Split told them.

The last thing Split did before he left for his date with Sopharina was a check of some of his favorite web sites.

Flut, we have another robot for our Graphene Giant project. It seems that they have chosen a cute robot to be one of the runners for the torch at next years Olympic games. MIT has started an engineering department for Graphine. Combine the two and we have the beginnings of our Graphene Giant company, Split told him.

That sounds good. But what else do you need, Flut asked always knowing how to extend Split’s thinking abilities?

Just an extruder and Cad Cam program to do what we need done. I think it should start with the Seastead Country program. Both are probably at least five years from completion. They can go with our three stage TLC loan estimate, Split said so that Flut could help him follow up in the coming week.

How would you structure the deal, Flut asked so he would understand how to proceed?

I would combine it with our ranch deal like we are trying to do with the Solar Tower to back up the loan. Whichever one comes together first will have the ranch. The other one can be moved to our Mexican Beach site or our Souther Riverside development, Split told him so he would know how the deals could work simultaneously

That means another list, doesn’t it, Flut wanted to know?

For sure! I’ll do that, so don’t worry. It will be tricky but that’s what makes it more interesting. If anyone could do it, we wouldn’t be needed for anything, Split pointed out.

The Graphene companies will be easy to find but how will you know which one would be best to work with, Flut asked trying to figure out Split’s method of operation again.

I already have a major player not on that list to work with. He owns a very interesting property in Fallbrook and might be interested in doing the fabrication of some of the major parts. At least he knows all about extruders and might know which ones could handle graphene, Split stated.

That evening Split and Sopharina had a great time watching one of the latest science fiction movies. It kind of put them in the mood to talk about the movie Split was trying to promote.

So your hero is going to be one of those classic comic book super heros. Isn’t that rather overdone, Sopharina asked not wanting Split to be just another want to be Hollywood looser?

You have to look at our target audience. I don’t really care how we get the attention of the younger potential scientists and engineers, I just want to make sure our story of tricolonization gets out there to motivate some of these future players in the real world of real estate development and design, Split said showing his real purpose of leaving some kind of legacy worth following.

Couldn’t that just be done by doing the real estate deals?

Yes, but first we will start a new Country for our hero to protect. I’ve already done the numbers so we can actually market the place and make it real while doing the movie. This way fiction and reality can meet on the screen, Split said to give her the main plot of the whole thing.

What are you going to call the new Country, Sopharina asked going along with Split’s fantasy.

There is only one name possible, he said teasing her for the moment.

What could that be Split, "Split", she guessed he would use his own name?

No! Libersta hits the nail right on the head. This way anyone that chooses to live there will know exactly what they are going to experience. Of course that will make it a target of just about every power system on the planet. They all hate that word, Split pointed out to her.

That way the hero will always have bad guys to fight off, right?

Of course! You have to have violence to keep the audience paying attention to the rest of the story, he said.

What about sex, she asked getting even more interested in the conversation?

I don’t want to write about that. Hollywood has that down pat. They can just plug in the soap where ever they think it would work best, he said hoping she didn’t want him to put that in the story line.

Maybe Wuzz, Mandi and some of the other girls could help you with that, she suggested because she wanted to help with the drama scenes?

You do what you want to do. I’m trying to stick with the technology and business side of the story, Split informed her.

Just don’t put too much of that political stuff into our movie that you are always fuming about, she said emphatically.

This will give me a great chance to actually do something about that, Split said hoping she would ask him how.

Please make it short, she pleaded.

I’m just going to take the American Constitution and adapt it to Libersta's way of doing things, he said to be brief.

That is taking on a lot, isn’t it?

Not if you know what you want the World to be like in the future, Split stated firmly.

I guess that would help your anger issues even if it doesn’t happen for real, Sopharina added.

That’s the way I look at it. One person can only do so much. I’m taking a page out of Sam Houston’s playbook, he said.

What did he do?

He willed a new city in a place that it shouldn’t have been. You know it as Houston, Texas, Split said thinking about the WHIM script.

So you think you can build a whole new Country just by using your will power, she asked not believing what she was hearing?

There is more to it than that. This will take more time than most people at my age could even imagine. It seems fruitless but it really is a great motivator for me to maintain my health as the number one issue in my life. This Graphene Giant section of the deal is really one of the most important elements for me personally. I want to have a stem cell genetic hospital attached to the first colony as both a source of income for the colony and a place that can’t be micro managed by some government agency pretending to know what is best for the people while letting millions die in the process. I can’t go through them so I have to go around them, he explained.

So you are going to use life extension as your primary goal and this new Country as a way to get there, Sopharina recapped?

Exactly! It sound extremely difficult but I’ve always been told I take the hard way with every endeavor I’ve attempted, so I’m just being consistent, Split said so she would understand why he was going at it from so many angles.

I guess if you succeed, we all do. I can’t see why that would be a problem to anyone but you seem to think you will have a lot of resistance, she pointed out.

To many people will see this as a power grab rather than just pure problem solving. They are second rate minds but smart enough to use methods of manipulation to enhance their own pocket books, using miss-placed compassion and fear to control any situation to get others to go along with their mission, Split said knowing Sopharina was about to shut him down. She could always tell when he was going to get into one of his political moods.

I see but don’t you have a smaller plan that can take up your time so I can see the results before we both die, she said to get out of this confusion?

Sure! I want to convert my T-bird and there are a lot of new engines coming on line. That should be done rather quickly as soon as I decide which way to go, Split said excited about his car.

Will I be able to drive it once in awhile, Sopharina asked glad that he was actually going to do something soon?

I’ll be getting more than one, so you will have one to drive all the time, he promised her.

Are they very expensive to convert?

About half the price of buying a new car so you had better like the style if you convert something, he pointed out.

Are you going to have electric vehicles in your movie, she wondered?

All of them will be featured. We’ll have to use some special effects for some of the more futuristic ones but there are a lot of real ones we can put in there to push the technology along, he stated.

It was decided that everyone would meet at the Whimster colony in their underground compound in the foothills of San Diego. Mandi was given instructions on how to find them. Everyone else knew how to get there. Flut and Wuzz would be the hosts and most of the Whimsters were invited to the screening.

The cross country shots from Wolf’s house back to San Diego by the Betsy group was shown first because so many people hadn’t seen these. Mandi’s film crew stayed for this part of the trip so there were a lot of professional scenes mixed in with video camera additions from everyone on the trip. Only a few of these would be used in the story board version but a copy was made of everything for the Betsy crew so they could do their vacation memories anyway they wanted to present the situation. The best ones of these would be used to promote the travel movie vacation packages that would be marketed later.

After Flut had gone over the basics with the Whimsters so they could understand what was going on, he brought Split, Mandi and the girls on the stage to tell them about their plans for a movie project with tricolonization as the underlying theme and a new Country protected by a comic book super hero.

Their response was very encouraging. Of course they wanted to know if any of them would be in any of the sequences.

Split assured them they would be a secret weapon featured whenever the super hero got into trouble or needed some special help.

Mandi told the Whimsters a little of the background of the Dragon’s history and the part they would play in protecting the new Country.

One of the Whimsters asked what the hero was to be called?

Flut answered this question before Split or Mandi could. They were the only two that knew the answer.

Split Darkmatter, he said to the group. That caused a big cheer because they agreed it would be appropriate.

Split came to the mike and told them he appreciated their support. They knew this wasn’t his original name, just one he liked and now they knew why. He also told them he would be in the comic version looking like a Yorky because all he had to do was a hair dye to his beard and hair to give the chimeric image a screen reality. He showed them what a Yorky dog looked like so they could see what he was talking about.

What do you do in the film, one of the other Whimsters asked?

I’m the hero’s wing man when he is out on one of his many missions. The Dragons equip us with our weapons so we can handle anything that comes our way. The hero will have to get into trouble in spite of that to create the drama. I’ll come in from time to time with the Whimsters and Mandi's friends and help to get him out some of these jams, Split explained so they could envision how the various plots will work their way onto the screen.

Is there going to be surprises with technology that is real instead of the normal science fiction stuff, another Whimster asked?

Yes! And we are going to actually show some new uses. Our graphene giants will be very special. Just a couple of days ago we got some new material to add to that. There is a new membrane that stores energy like a battery but is even better that we can use for all kinds of things. Imagine a building stronger than any built before with built in electronics, solar collecting and storage all in the actual building material used to construct the building. Colonization of very hostile places will be made very easy because this material can be found everywhere and is very light weight. It just needs machines that mold it into the shaped desired, Split added.

Does that mean we can make building look like anything we want, one of the Whimsters asked?

Almost! We’ll leave that up to the professional designers and engineers. The first one I’m doing is a basic circle that is partly underwater. It will be one million square feet of occupied space with views from the outer shell and the inner shell of the structure with a walkway in between, Split told them knowing that would be easy for them to picture in their imaginations.

What will be in the center, an astute Whimster wanted to know?

Several things. First and most important is several oil wells in the middle along with a refinery to convert the oil into building materials so we will have a huge source to build on until the oil is all used instead of burned, he told them knowing they would be surprised by that answer.

Aren’t you going to put something into your movie that is just for the fun of it, one of the younger Whimsters asked?

On one of our properties we will build a group of Hobbit Houses because they are naturally Ultra Green and with a few tweeks they will fit into the underground theme. The kids should love these places. But the fact is, they are very practical and inexpensive to build, Split said hoping they would visit his web site to see what he was talking about.

After showing some of the rough footage, the main group got together for some serious editing in another room.

How do you think we should structure this story board, Mandi asked?

I think all we have shot so far is some background stuff. We can use the SSC scenes to set up the basics for the action that needs to be added for a more professional presentation. We can’t do this ourselves very easily. Does anyone here like to write besides me, Split asked all of them?

It was obvious Split would have to carry this part of the plan out himself. They all liked the free form playing around with the plot but none of them wanted to sit down and write out plots. It was decided that they would continue the same way as they had done before but Split would have to write the comic book version first and then they would help any way they could for the good of the project.

I’m going to play Flut, if at all possible and we are going to have a great time in the background. He’ll be the Dr. Watson to Split’s Sherlock Holmes in some of the featured plots, Split just mentioned to fill in some details for his attempted promotion.

Split told them it was time for a new direction and he would soon announce just what that would be.

They all agreed to video weekly meetings and each was given a complete set of prints to play around with and edit. The official story board would be by agreement over the next few weeks.

Mandi stated she was really happy with Split’s plans but withhold her final opinion until after she saw what he did with the new constitution for Libertas.

This will be a test to see if you really understand what that word means and it’s best method to offer it up as the point of human evolution. That it is the most important element of progress, Mandi stated as she was getting up to leave.

Some how I think you will be my best critic, Split said.

Will you have the first draft of that done soon, she asked him?

That and the beginnings of a new chapter for our venture, Split said as he got up and shook her hand.

On the way home Sopharina was full of questions. How are we going to do this new Country thing?

You will have more to do but we’ll pick those projects that you enjoy the most, Split said to reassure her.

That’s for sure! I don’t want to be stuck with mundane paperwork. I want to get into the action. Is that possible, she wanted to know before she committed to anything?

With your talent, you can pick and choose almost anything you want to do. I just don’t want you taking too many chances, he added.

Let me be the one that decides that. Our trip to Mandi’s lair should have let you know we can handle ourselves, she said referring to Wuzz as her partner.

You like working with Wuzz, don’t you?

That would be the best way to get things done right. She is a very bright partner and I trust her, Sopharina said to make sure she was part of the process if they were going to move out to sea.

I’m counting on the two of you. I’ll be so busy with this movie thing that if you two don’t back us up it will be almost impossible. It will be like a full time story board life style. Can you handle that, he wanted to know?

You know I like staying busy but it has to be with something interesting, not just busy work, she said clearly.

We’ll make sure you are challenged with every project.

PIRATE ISLAND
One, Libertas, Suite 007
Nozip

October 1, 2011

Split could be seen on any day flying over Libertas getting an early start with instructions from either Sopharina or Wuzz.

Today he had reports of movement by the SSC coming to see Libertas first hand.

Flut, do you think they are coming to cause trouble or just to explore our new Country, Split asked his wing man?

I don’t see how they could think of doing anything to us here. I’ll buzz them when they get closer. I look less militant than you do in your Warthog, Flut suggested.

Good idea! I’ll go further South and see if anything is happening in San Diego today, Split said as he went into his fastest hyper mode.

The SSC gangsters had taken a short flight from San Francisco to check out the new country of Libertas. Their mission was to find Split and give him a message. Actually, more of another warning. They went to the management's office and ran into Wuzz.

So you work here. Do you remember us in Atlanta, one of the gangsters asked?

How could I forget. The three of you look like characters out of an old fifties dime store novel looking for a private detective. I assume you are looking for Split, she added going along with their menacing manner?

That’s right! Now where is he? We don’t want to have to do this second hand, the biggest guy said with a New York accent.

I’ll call him for you, she said as she picked up the phone to call him. Anything you want me to tell him?

Just tell him we want a meet with him.

Split, when are you going to be back here. You have some old friends that want to talk to you, she said sarcastically.

I’ll be right there. Fix them a cup of coffee.

He’s on his way. I’ll get you some coffee. How do you take it, she asked?

I had to land on one of the secondary pads. That meant a few extra steps before he would have to confront SSC characters, Split thought to himself.

As he entered the office the three gangsters stood up to try and intimidate Split.

Calm down guys. I have some good news for your bankster bosses, he said quickly to get the edge on this meeting.

How do you know who we work for, the big guy said confused by Split’s initial comment?

I had a complete run down on your organization after that Dragon fest in Atlanta. I didn’t do anything about it because I could see a way to make some money for your bosses down the line. If there is one thing they understand it is money, he added as he opened the door to his private office and motioned them to come in while he pulled out a file.

This had better be good.

We are starting our first satellite city, Split said knowing they didn’t understand why that was important.

How will that make them happy, the big guy said while leaning over Split’s desk?

You are familiar with Las Vegas, I assume. Well, this city will be like that and all forms of bad behavior will be allowed there as a statement of freedom of choice. Your organization will fit in just fine, Split told them.

And how will we make money?

Your people can finance the whole project. I’m sure they will understand the advantages of doing that.

The three of them sat down as Wuzz came in with their coffee.

Do you want some Split, she asked pretending to be just a secretary.

No! I’m fine. I just have a proposal to give to these three gentleman and then I’ll be right with you, he responded.

The gangsters would need a full set of documents to take back to their banksters bosses so I had that ready for them anticipating their heavy handed way of doing things. This wasn’t the normal way of doing business but this was an unusual deal and I’m sure of one thing, it will get their attention.

They took the file and left not even knowing what to ask him. This was obviously over their heads but at least they had something to take back to their masters.

That was some kind of business meeting, Wuzz said after they left.

We’ll call the banks in a couple days and find out who they have assigned the loan to, Split said.

Has there been anything new that I need to look at before I head off to Mexico?

No! It seems that you have more clients there than just about anywhere, she said.

Being an International Private Detective gives me a lot of interesting cases to solve. Usually it is just a matter of stunning a few bad guys with the dragon ray and turning them into the local authorities. These fellows aren’t really that hard to find. They are just hard to stop. I like it best when we get to take down the really big guys. They are mostly protected by some local politician so it’s hard to find them. That’s when I really earn my money, Split said as he got up to go back to his Warthog.

Is Flut going with you this time, she wanted to know?

I’ll need him for back up in case they pull any tricks on me, Split said.

We left for Mexico to do our daily border check. This was getting more routine each time now that we got the satellite tracking info on all the dope locations by thermal detectors.

We would just take out the largest areas of concentration. None of the dealers could beat this system no matter what they used to smuggle the stuff across the border. We would just fly over one end of the border to the other end in Texas and zap the people closest to the drugs and then call the location in to the officials on either side of the border. They would pick up the rats and put them in a cage and haul the drugs off to our disposal centers. We could tell the weight so the officials couldn’t play games with the stash.

Flut would fly behind me to make sure the pick up and destroy mission was completed.

The terrorists were a little harder to pin point but the easy drug busts freed up more agents to ferret out the possible terrorists.

On the way back he would zap the potential terrorists in between zapping smaller stashes of dope. He would spend most of his flying time talking to either Sopharina or Wuzz to keep up on the latest TLC loan packages and applications for new cities for the Country of Libertas.

His profits were going to build the Genetic Hospitals for each of the cities. They were working on a genetic solution to get junkies off the dope to get rid of the demand for the stuff.

Each person that went through the treatment was given a new start with a certificate showing any employer or court that they were clean and sober.

Sopharina sent me a list of the top 100 landowners and some of their contact information. She figured I could do something with that. She was right. They could be the key to advancing our underground tricolonization program.

Some of the top people want to conserve the surface but need some additional income to keep the land out of financial trouble. This would be a great group of people with their personal legacy as their main personal goal. This would keep my outlay for land down to just leases for access to vital underground entrances.

It could make for an International solution to population problems and make people compatible with the land by actually duelling underground with Ultra Green technologies making the lifestyle very pleasant. Easy access to trails for nature walks and special camping would make it the best of both Worlds. Most of the property would be pristine and some would be used for food production on a small scale. This could be planned for use by the locals only to keep the costs down and the freshness in the food.

As I did my next project of flying by some of the largest cities to check for the big stashes of dope to zap with my Dragon Ray, I would fly over some of the largest parcels of land on the list provided by Sopharina.

I was beginning to think she wanted to get back to the land by the way she was promoting this land search.

I decided to quiz her a bit just to see if that was her motive.

Do you think our floating condo’s would work well on these parcels, Split asked her the next time she called?

I would like it. Kind of slow boat from one mountain to another, she added.

Is this something you would spend some time in while you do your regular work, I asked her?

That would make life more interesting, she admitted.

President Westwood called me to let me know about several problems we were having on One B, our negative Capitalist island. It seems that my favorite foe “Moratit” was doing his creative stealing again. He liked taking from the Gangsters so I only helped them for the fee. Moratit was always a mental challenge so it made the experience more fun. He liked hacking the machines and the tables using special algorithms with a human touch of some kind. I wondered what he would come up with this time.

Clint told me he was skimming over half the take that the casino usually takes in and they couldn’t even guess how he was doing it.

He usually has some sexy ladies as a diversion but I assume they have been looking out for that, I asked Clint?

They have ruled that out. Maybe it isn’t Moratit this time, he suggested.

Maybe we have a new player. Possibly a trainee of Moratit, I advanced.

He’s good, that’s for sure. Can you get on this today?

With pleasure. I’ll be back from patrol in about an hour and I’ll check with the manager. How is going with the new City?

We should have it sold out within six months. This will be a more International group with an eye to making a lot of profit from their state of the art fisheries, Clint added.

We need as much of that as possible. I’ll call you later with a report, I said while I started a spot and stun mission over Tucson. It seemed like I was going from one video game to another. I wondered if all life isn’t just a game designed by some bored ET.

When I got back to One, I took a short boat ride over to B and checked with the management. They were totally at a loss as to how their system was being hacked. It wasn’t being done by a single individual. That was the only thing they were sure of so far.

They assigned two of their cuties to escort me around. They had the keys to the machines so I was able to test the insides of the Slots. I couldn’t find anything wrong there so that left the human hack factor.

I called Apo and asked him to send some of his agents from the Bugster group to try and determine what was happening.

The only other factor was the people that were monitoring the crowds from their security offices.

I asked for the tapes of conversations they had to see if a plot was lurking within the security force. That was all I could do for the moment. It would take some time to evaluate the situation so I decided to pay Sopharina and Wuzz a visit.

Has anything happened while I was at the casino, I asked her?

We’ll have a new source of information soon. Mandi called and told me about the “Data Eye in the Sky” that she will make available to you in a short while, Wuzz told me.

What does it do?

It makes personal information available from social and business networks on a search basis to give us another way to find some of these characters you are always looking for, she told me.

That sounds good. Clint said he was well along with another City. It’s almost sold out. He told me we would be dealing with more of a working class situation. That should give us a broader base of citizens. This place is full of white collar people, I pointed out to her.

Sopharina will be pleased. She has been complaining about getting some rather mundane things done that she was used to getting accomplished easily back in the US, Wuzz mentioned.

We are getting closer to starting a colony on an asteroid. I wonder if she will worry about those kinds of things once we get there.

If someone starts an actual Country like we did here, it should become a real problem. People want their comforts and a lot of that includes blue collar workers, she reminded me.

I hope they get one of the Asteroids with a built in Dragon’s lair, I told her knowing how much fun the girls had on Plizzel Rock.

How many drug dealers did you guys bag today, Wuzz asked him?

It was a good run, but it also shows that this might be a never ending battle. I wish they would make it legal like we do here and automatically treat the fools that use the stuff. We took the profit out of drugs and that made the glamor go away, I reminder her.

What would you do as an International Private Detective if that would happen?

Probably start busting pirates.

You would have to reorganize that whole country. That comes under a different job title, Wuzz said playfully.

I got what I wanted politically. I don’t want to butt heads with anyone else. Just let them continue living in the past. Hopefully their kids will rebel and get better training. Changing people’s thinking is an almost impossible process, I told her as she got Sopharina on the phone for me.

Where are you, I asked her?

I’m over at the casino with a new client for you. She’s told me an incredible story and she needs your help, Sopharina instructed me.

Are you bringing her to the office?

We’ll be there in a few minutes, she said as she hung up.

What is the Soph up to now, I put out to Wuzz?

You’ll see. I think she was a little jealous of this gal, Wuzz said surprising me with that observation.

As soon as I saw this vision of a women walking in I knew why Soph had been concerned. She looked like a young Elizabeth Taylor with even more attitude. It turned out that she was a very wealthy heiress to boot.

Hi! I’m Judy and I need your help, was her first words to me.

And just what can I do for you, I said darting Sopharina's discerning stare at me?

My fiance is playing a very dangerous game and he needs your protection, she came right out with to make sure I kept my mind on business.

What’s the name of the game, I asked playfully?

Catch the pirate by the tail, she said glibly.

I’ve never heard of it. How is it played, I said going along with her patter.

It’s a new spoiled rich man’s game that he and some of his friends have concocted to stave off the boredom of being rich without a cause, Judy said to make it very clear she disapproved of his actions.

Just how does it work and where do I come into play, I asked getting more interested by the moment?

It’s mostly done on boats. You know, the kind that pirates like to pillage for profit on the high seas, she explained.

So who is going to pay for my services?

I’ll be the first, but if you are successful, you should have a major business started. It’s a real mess over there, Judy told us.

Is it like a body guard job or are you expecting me to join into the fray, I wanted to know before I would consider the project.

Whatever it takes. If you could talk him out of doing it, that would be good enough but if you have to help protect his boat, I need you to be ready and able to do that. Is that possible, she asked?

This is too complicated to give you the answer. I’ll have to do some research before I can commit, I told her.

How long will that take. He is on his way over there as we speak, so I need to do something as quickly as possible.

Are you saying you are going over there too, I said not quite sure what she meant?

I’m going to fly. I have one of those Electric 6 planes and I’m having it equipped with some weapons, Judy said giving me quite a start.

That’s what my wing man, Flut flies. Great plane!

I’ll give you an answer within two days.

That would be perfect. Let me know, she said as she stood up to leave.

We have a great team here that will help me get ready. Do you need anything for the trip?

A good co-pilot would helpful, she said hoping he had someone in mind.

That will be part of the plan. I’m intrigued, so there is a good chance we can help you, I said ending the interview.

Wuzz, I’m off to get Flut oriented toward this potential client. I said as I left the office.

Where is he?

He’s doing some maintenance on his plane. You know how I depend on him. He keeps me centered. If he calls, just tell him I'm on the way over to the hanger.

After I briefed Flut on our pirate problem, I told him I was going to try my new "voice to compute" program while I was flying. This would allow me to do anything I use my mouse for with just plain english commands. There was so much dead time while flying, it was important I had the best software or I would be stuck in an office all the time. This would also allow me to talk in any language and make deals or just chat with someone. If I’m going to Somalia, this would prove very helpful. The one thing I already had researched was that the people on the ground say that the only solution to this pirate problem was a political one, not the use of force. This is why I had to give Judy a tentative answer. If I can’t combine both types of solutions, like we are doing with the drug and terrorist problems, then I’ll have to back off. It does sound like a great adventure, I thought to myself.

Once in the plane, I first went to my search engine to read the history of the country. As I expected, it is another Muslim problem. What a hostile group. I wish I could send any religious fanatic out to their own World so they would stop bothering other people. This meant I couldn’t negotiate with them because within their religion they don’t have to be honorable with infidels. I’ll have to go around them, not through them. This will be very tricky.

I found out the pirates are mostly working out of Hobyo, El Danaan and Haradhere in the Gulmudug region. Hobyo was the most coastal. Apparently, they were a fishing culture that was decimated after a tsunomi because of dumped toxic chemicals from ocean going shipping. This killed their economy and set them up for political hell. Piracy know is the local business and supported by the local population.

This obviously needs a financially sustainable solution for these people to get them out of crime as a solution. You can’t use communism or socialism to solve their problems because both of those systems require a wealthy class to steal from. Religion doesn’t create jobs, so Islam can make them feel good mentally but it won’t feed them.

So, guess what? The free market is the only solution.

Now what is it they know how to do?

They know how to fish.

This calls for a new City in the Country of Libertas.

Now what are they close to?

Oil producing countries.

How can we bring them into the equation.

Let them build the entire colony from oil, slash plastics. Do a major ocean clean up and make the colony a fish farming paradise.

What else do they need?

A new constitution acceptable to the people would really help.

I can do that for them.

Islam can be incorporated if certain fanatical practices are outlawed. Anything that has to do with Jihad and the subjugation of women’s rights will have to be done in a different way to be internationally acceptable. Some things, like cutting off the hands of thieves, will have to be symbolically replace as an unacceptable punishment. Perhaps a special glove can be designed that puts the use of their hands out of commission for a period of time during the punishment period. This way the spiritual part of Islam can be maintained without the fanatical fundamentalist methods making the whole religion an enemy to the World's future evolution.

Let those people that won’t accept this solution become colonists to another planet or asteroid where they can live any way they want to without terrorizing other people.

We’ll raise the money to send them there.

I called Flut after I did my research while flying for the first time using just voice commands. It was awkward at first but I could see the advantages of adapting it to use flight time that was basically just wasted time.

Flut, I love this new system they installed. You need to get the same thing installed.

That’s what I’m doing this evening, he informed me.

After I briefed him on the beginnings of my plan, he had some good questions, as usual.

Can they live with a defence system that depends on non-lethal weapons like we do, Flut asked?

That will probably have to be forced on them because they are so used to physical violence, I told him.

What type of fishing system would you suggest, Flut wanted to know?

First, give the pirates a pardon if they became part of the solution. Let them run fishing boats that towed portable fish farms to areas of good fishing that would also feed the captive stock. They could live in the underwater condos if they wanted to, I mentioned.

That could feed the world’s need for protein. I like that. Do you really think it's possible, Flut asked a bit skeptical of my plan?

They couldn’t do that much but it would make a dent in the problem. More important would be the fact that they could feed their people and have enough left over for extra income. Political problems are solved when people are financially well off from an income that does good in the World. The trick will be getting them into this mode.

It looks like we will have to do battle with the pirates first, I told him.

How do you see that going down, Flut asked me?

First, we’ll get with my client’s boyfriend and arm him and his friends with our non-lethal Dragon Rays. They will be our navy and we’ll give them air support. When they are attacked by the pirates, we’ll be ready to stun them. We’ll take out their boat by knocking out their entire electrical system. That way they will be helpless.

What are you going to do with the stunned pirates, he asked?

We’ll have Arnold put them on the grain barge that Judy’s boyfriend is cruising on with his buddies. We’ll escort them back to the pirate's home port and deliver them on the beach with a warning that next time they would be prosecuted.

What’s the point of doing that?

We need to convert them back to becoming fisherman again. This will scare them but to offset that a bit, I’ve arranged to have the grain donated to the local population. Arnold and some of the pirate hunters will off load the grain onto the beach along with the pirate's bodies. You and I will patrol from above in case any of the locals become hostile. If they do, we will have to stun them, I told him as I turned back to Libertas.

So you think they will let you build a new city there, Flut wanted to know?

We don’t really have to ask in International waters but it would be better if they would like the idea, I said.

If you orient it toward fishing, you would think they would like that, he mentioned.

True but it would have a tourist element and a medical center that should encourage them even more. The more I talk about this, the more I think we should help Judy. What do you think?

It’s your call but I’m for this. If we can do it there, we could probably build almost anywhere in the ocean, Flut stated.

That’s what I was thinking. It will also be quite an adventure. Maybe we should film the action. Mandi would probably get into this affair, I pointed out to Flut.

She could get there a lot faster than we could. Give her a call and get a reading. Her position at the UN would give her a better feeling about the whole thing, he reminded me.

The whole crew would be there. Do you think this client would appreciate all of us getting involved?

I would think she would appreciate any help she could get, Flut said.

I don’t hear any reason we shouldn’t do this, so I’ll call her later and tell her we’ll leave for the area the next day. It should take at least one day to properly prepare. I’ll see you in the morning, I said as I ended the conversation.

On the way back Libertas I called Mandi and told her about my decision to help Judy.

She said she would be there but she wanted to be in the background. She would be part of a film crew. She didn’t want any official status with the UN. I asked her to bring Apo with her even though I knew she had plenty of backup. Little did I know that one of her Dragon Liars was very close by with a colony of her dragon friends watching the situation for some reason that I would only find out later.

So we were set. All that evening I couldn’t get this new assignment out of my mind even though Sopharina had planned a very romantic evening. I couldn’t get this adventure out of our conversation even though I knew she didn’t like political talk. I decided to go around the fringe of the problem by projecting a possible future scenario instead of outlining the upcoming political solution.

After dinner she realized she would have to let me release some of the tension.

Won’t this project mess with your hospital and school goals that you have, she asked trying to hit some hot spots of mine?

That place could prove to be a great location for both. If we can deliver a low cost medical solution to the area and a solid educational program, it would prove that it could be done almost anywhere, I pointed out to her.

You mean because of the poverty involved with the local population?

That is a big part but the place is also a political mess. Don’t worry, I won’t go into that, I said quickly before she shut me down.

How can you attract enough money into the area? It seems like a bad investment to me, she said wisely.

The Moon or Mars isn’t exactly a wealthy area either. I have to sell this as a trial location with the advantage of having a built in population. If we can make this work, I would say it would go a long way in making believers out of a lot of people that think tricolonization is unrealistic as a concept.

She agreed and gave me a big hug hoping that would relax me.

The next day I called Judy and told her what we would do if she wants us to help. She was totally surprised that we had come up with a plan like that so quickly.

Are you able to talk to your boyfriend and see what his attitude is concerning this non-lethal approach to taking on the pirates, I asked her?

I’ll do that quickly and get back to you within a few minutes, she told me and then she did exactly that.

He and his buddies are excited about your plan. I’ll give you his contact information so you can coordinate with him, Judy said sounding like she was getting ready for a great party.

I didn’t tell her about Mandi and her group. I didn’t want her getting concerned. Talking about ETs or Dragons is usually met with a quiet giggle so there was no reason to do that. She’ll be introduced properly when the time comes, I thought to myself.

Have you set your flight plan to allow for all the fuel you’ll need in that area, I asked to make sure she knew what she was doing?

My boyfriend is very good at this kind of thing and he is taking care of all that for me. Do I get one of those Dragon Stun Guns too?

You’ll need it for your own protection but I don’t want you involved in the direct fighting. That could be a problem but you can be close enough to see what’s happening, I told her so she knew she wouldn’t miss anything.

On the way to getting ready for battle I was reminded of all the other people over there trying to make things work better. The US soldiers and their allies working with the new President to solve the political problems are doing it the traditional way.

Can we make a difference? The history of this area tends to say no. There are so many factions going in different directions with grudges and agendas it seems like an impossible task.

Maybe a new constitution that allows each section of the country to have it’s own way of life protected with an underlying free market system as it’s backbone would work.

Obviously, the communist would resist that but in a country so poor as this one, it just doesn’t have a class of people to steal from, so it would be a waste of time like it is Haiti. All they are capable of doing is perpetuating poverty.

I wondered if they would benefit correctly with a private school system that I wanted to have work there.

I knew it worked well in our first colony. The citizens liked the idea of choice. Not all of them. Some wanted their kids in a religious based system. Some liked home study and a few had other concepts but my dual system was being embraced by most of them.

They liked the idea that it was a school that was open from 8am in the morning to 5pm in the evening all year round.

The parents liked the fact that the kids could attend any hours they wanted to attend provided they went to the classes they needed to go to at the time.

The school was broken down into two subjects from the beginning; Language and Math. Everything else branched out from there. Both subjects started at any age. The parents could bring their children to the school when ever they thought was best.

It isn’t based on a grade by age basis but by a series of tests passed in the various areas of training by the students at any age. The students go at their own pace into subjects that they are best adapted to for the long term benefit of the student no matter what their natural individual aptitude was in the system.

In Somalia, each area would want a version that suited their political and religious beliefs. This could be done but at what cost to liberty, I wondered?

On our trip over there, Flut and I could get a lot done because of the distance we had to travel without doing any military assignments. This reminded me of an old radio and TV show; The Lone Ranger. All I needed was a mask and name my Warthog Silver and we could ride off into the sunset playing classical music at the end of each caper.

Flut, do you want to change your name to Tonto, I asked him?

Why would I want to do a silly thing like that, he wanted to know?

Some time when you are really bored I’ll tell you why. It’s a cultural joke. Have we had any new technology breakthroughs that we can use or promote? Things seem to be slowing down.

A new round flying machine that the Japanese have invented might be adapted for our use. If we can make it fly with solar power and controlled from a distance it would make a great drone, Flut added.

There would be a lot of UFO reports if that happens, I mentioned.

True, but in some areas like Somalia, it might come in handy, Flut suggested.

We’ll order a few of them and let some of our people play around with them. Lit up, they could make an interesting night time show on special occasions around our colonies, I thought playfully.

When we got to Somalia, Judy was already there. She introduced us as private detectives ready to help them protect their property.

We gave them their non-lethal Dragon Ray weapons and showed them how to use them. We explained the plan in detail including Arnold’s part in rounding up the stunned victims.

The problem we had now was how to bait the pirates into attacking this particular ship.

Judy suggested we get as close as we could to the shore and send out a distress signal for some local help. That seemed like a good plan because the local government was obviously in with the pirates. They are like heroes to this population.

We all decided this would be our plan. All the planes would stay as far away as possible during this phase.

The ship limped slowing into the area of the port and put out the distress signals. There were several people on the boat that could speak the language so they kept us in touch with what the local authorities were saying they were doing. If they came on board, some of the mechanics had come up with a scenario that would show they were in real trouble. If the pirates showed up first, then everyone was prepared to fight.

The response came slowly. First a small boat approached the grain barge and talked to the mechanics to see what was wrong. Then they called in the problem to bring a tow ship to help them and then they left.

It was hard to tell what would happen next, so I told everyone to just wait until it was clear as to which plan of action we should persue.

After a few hours it was obvious that no one was coming to there aid. It was as though they were being ignored. Then all of a sudden three large boats headed out in their direction.

Flut, Judy it’s starting and it looks like a large group is heading towards our boat. We’ve got to get there fast before our people are overwhelmed.

Just then Mandi tuned in. She had arrived without letting anyone know she was there.

Split, I brought some of my friends. If the pirates start shooting we’ll make their boats useless while you stun as many of them as possible, she informed me so everyone realized it was time for action.

We waited until the pirates got close and were attempting to board our ship. At that point Mandi was sure this was enough to get her started.

At the same time, our boat was started up and started moving away from the pirates. This left most of the pirates stranded in the middle and by the time we got there with our planes, Judy’s boyfriend and his buddies were shooting back at the pirates. It looked like a turkey shoot. These poor guys had no idea at what hit them.

I dropped Arnold off at the ship and put him on one of the smaller boats to go out there and pick up some of the stunned guys that had fallen into the bay.

I concentrated on protecting him by keeping any of the pirates from trying to stop him. They wouldn’t be able to do that unless a huge group got a hold of him.

Flut went after the pirates that were left on their ships.

Once Mandi had done her part she went back out to sea. She didn’t want to get involved to the point that the pirates would know she was there. She would play her role later when we were called in to explain what we were doing to the press.

Before that happened, we had to complete our mission. The local population reacted the way we hoped they would. The grain we unloaded on the beach for them totally confused them.

When we all got back, the media was all over the story. Inquiries overwhelmed most of us so we had to get together to make sure we all were saying the same thing. Mandi was the only one that wasn’t involved so that made her presence a surprise to Judy and her friends.

Has anyone been threatened, I asked them to start the meeting?

Apparently, there was no direct action being planned against them. This surprised me because groups like that usually try intimidating their victims.

The press seems to be more interested in what we plan on doing next. I expected some local or national Somalian politician would want to find that out even more than the press. It looks like we would have to deal second hand with the political situation.

I told everyone about an outline I had for a possible solution over there. It included the Libertas Constitution that they might try adapting in their country. I would add a few clauses that would help because they were dealing with three types of law in different parts of their territory. They had common law using our Constitution directly but Sharia law and Communist law all had major followers. It seemed that only by using each form in areas that had that type of majority would stop the in fighting amoung all these conflicting factions. That way, they could start putting their country back together financially, I explained to everyone so they could answer questions if they wanted to when confronted by the press.

Why are you getting involved in their internal problems, Judy’s boyfriend asked me?

Offshore rights to a new City for Libertas is my motive. Doing that kind of development next to US cities is safe and naturally productive but in an area like this, we have all new challenges, I pointed out to him.

How are you going to get permission to do something like that, Wuzz asked me to let the group know that it can be done?

There is only one way. Don’t ask because you are working in International waters with rules that have already been made. This means you only need the money to do it but you are fully at risk to be taken over by any pirate of any stripe, I explained clearly.

So you have to bring along some real heavy weights, or "Big Boys" as they are called in some circles, to make this have a chance of succeeding, one of Judy’s friends asked?

That’s right. And you need very powerful technology to make it work. This won’t be done by a group of rag tag pioneers like it was done in America and Australia. We have to follow the path of technology to make this work. Who is it that buys the first units of any major breakthrough in the Tech World, I put forth to the group?

The wealthy, several people said out loud.

Tricolonization has to be delivered with this clearly in mind. That means you can’t do social engineering with class war built into it and you can’t use misplaced compassion as your guide. Those people that can do this, have to be the ones that lead the way. Later on, all these exotic technologies and social alignments will be available to everyone. The cell phone is a great example. I had the first three in San Diego and they were Ten Thousand dollar per unit. All I heard was, "who would want to carry around a phone with them all the time" as an objection to purchasing a phone? This really meant the price was too high. Our Tricolonizationalist will have to be the type of person that would buy those expensive phones before the rest of us can afford the technology. Same with just about any major part of the modern World.

What is this place going to look like?

We have two basic plans. Both are basically round but one plan is stationary and anchored with oil rigs and the other moves around and the interior is a solar tower building, I told them and showed them a flyer we use to promote that with to investors.

So people get there on boats only, right?

It’s hard to land on something round but this is just it’s basic shape. There will be all kinds of landing space if that is needed. We have an airship company that we want to promote but there are all kinds of new electric planes that will stop here to get recharged because we’ll have way too much electricity to use just for our colony, I pointed out to them.

Aren’t you competing with the oil companies?

Our motto for oil usage is “Don’t burn Oil, Build with It.” This really goes for our water colonies because fire is basically the only problem with using plastic to build our condos. We’ll process the oil on site and release the waste safely underwater or process the waste into something useful, I said so they would get a good idea of how we can grow as big as we want to in the future.

That won’t be a complete trade off, one of the smarter friends of Judy’s said correctly.

No, but it might help them have less trouble from governments if their product wasn’t used to pollute, Flut pointed out to the group.

What about the Muslim’s hatred of freedom and the Western lifestyle? Don’t you think they will object to a place like this, Judy asked?

Their objections within their religion are like most other religions. If you take the moral issues out of a lot of their issues you would see a common thought. I call it negative Capitalism. All those things that common sense tells you not to do but you feel tempted to do. Cognitive Dissonance is the clinical name for that human condition. Or, why do we all do things that are not in our best interest and may hurt other people?

Notice, everytime we build a colony we also have a seperate City right next to us that contains the bulk of this type of activity and as part of that we have our Hospital and medical research area. There is a reason for that. Every religion tells their follows how to live best and assuming their leaders at the time are using the best information possible to make a better life for their followers, just date this information and the opinions at the time of origin and you’ll see they are all mostly right.

What we try to do is use a technological approach to solving these problems rather than a dogmatic approach, I told them knowing they would want more on the subject.

So you make it legal in one part of your community to commit all these acts but illegal in the main section of your colony, Judy’s boyfriend asked?

No! It’s all legal but stupid, with some obvious exceptions. Things like stealing, murder, mayhem, kidnapping, child molestation, extortion and a few other things would still remain very illegal in both settings.

Can anyone buy there or do you have to be a citizen, Judy asked because she was considering buying for vacation purposes?

You can buy as many units as you want but if you do want to become a citizen you’ll need to own at least one condominium, I told her.

Is everything there in a condo format, one of them asked?

Automatically, when created along with the legal structure to timeshare the unit into fifty seperate weeks with two weeks each year for refurbishing the place, I interjected knowing some of them would see the financial advantages to that arrangement.

So I could buy one unit and have the right to resell fifty separate weeks to fifty other people, Judy asked now knowing she was going to do this just for investment purposes. She would use the two weeks for her own amusement and vacation time.

A lot of people will take advantage of that feature for investment purposes and to have the vacation time of their choice. If you do it right, it could be very advantages. Other people do weekly rentals for the times that they aren’t staying in the unit.

After all, they are all oceanfront units with a total vacation atmosphere all the time, I explained in case someone hadn’t figured that out already.

Can the timeshare buyers, with just a couple of weeks owned, become citizens, Judy asked?

We are still working on that. As of now, you have to own a complete unit but we are thinking of making some revisions as we see how much time people will want to spend in these colonies. Good question, I added.

How does the medical care work in your colonies?

Each city has that area separate from the main area. That includes everything negative such as gambling, prostitution, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, ultra sweet food, food with too much salt and most anything else know as bad for a person. All the profit from these activities go to support the hospital and research part of that separate island.

Citizens use their health insurance or pay cash for services but because of the profits from these activities, the basic costs are very low. Special treatment is between the doctor and patient and may or may not be cheaper, I told them so they wouldn’t expect too much but knew we had almost any medical treatment available.

What do they specialize in, Judy asked wanting more details?

Genetic treatment, I told her to make sure she had a simple answer.

Are you going back to Somalia, Judy’s boyfriend asked because he wanted to have another adventure like the last one?

Only if you are going to start a touring company that specializing in shooting pirates, I said just kidding him.

How did you know I was thinking of doing just that, he asked surprised I had made that statement?

I was only joking with you but maybe we can make some kind of deal with the pirates once the political solution is solved. You wouldn’t want the liability of running a business like that without the cooperation of the pirates themselves, I said firmly.

Why? Those stun guns work extremely well and it should be safe.

All weapons eventually get into the hands of your enemy, no matter what you have. That’s military fact. So you could be stunned too.

How do you deal with that for your colonies, Judy asked?

Our foreign policy is quite simple. “Stay friendly and carry the biggest non-lethal weapon” is the core. We will also have close allies with treaty arrangements, was my best answer.

What do you consider the best non-lethal weapons now, her boyfriend asked me?

There is a new round drone that we can use for both defense and as a fun lighting system from Japan. There is a new NASA Rover laser beam robot like vehicle to patrol and of course our Graphene Giants like Arnold. You remember him in Somalia, I added.

You didn’t even mention your Dragon Stun Gun, he reminded us quickly.

That is in the secret category, I said not wanting to get into Mandi’s business.

So you will have your own military, one of the guys asked?

Our military is our police force and then we will have our International Private Detectives like me. Flut is also in the business with me but there are any number of firms that do things this way.

Do you see your security as a big problem, Judy wanted to know?

No more than any other place. Our money will be hard to steal. Our condos can be purchased so why destroy them. We won’t be picking fights with anyone. We have no particular religion or any axes to grind with any group so we actually might be a more safe place to live, I said hoping that was true.

What other places are you going to start these colonies?

The water colonies will go in wherever it seems to be a good idea for the area. I personally think China and India could be the main users of this technology but we will have to wait and see if they step up, I ventured.

What types of businesses do you see wanting to get involved with this lifestyle, Judy asked?

Mostly fishing and recreational but a whole range of companies will be interested due to the population and their general wealth. We will start a few ourselves to help promote the idea, I told them.

I like those Blimps you used to ferry people around the islands.

They are fun but you know some people actually live in them full time just like some people live in motor homes.

That would be fun. Are they very expensive, one of group asked?

About the same as motor homes. In fact the dealerships are mostly at RV dealer's places of business, I pointed out.

When do you think we will have colonies like this in outer space, Judy’s boyfriend asked?

It will be a lot more costly but we are definitely going to get there and our colonies will help promote alternate areas of growth.

Are you going to have the same political agenda when this is done, Judy asked?

I think you will have every type of community out there. Not everyone wants to live in a totally free situation. There must be a lot of people that like to be told what to do and how to do it otherwise this wouldn’t be the way things are in so many places. I wish it was otherwise but what do you do about human nature. We aren’t all alike so we have to adjust to that fact, I said thinking about evolution and it’s many faces.

How did you get things started, Judy asked?

Because there weren’t very many rules to deal with except maritime laws designed for boats and sailors, a real estate concept was open to your imagination. In other words, no zoning commissions, real estate agencies or any other government agency to go through. The main thing I needed was title insurance and a good escrow company. Fidelity Title was my first choice. I got the generic paper work for condo associations and time share resorts and melded them into my system. I finished the Constitution and started working with the Seastead Institute for public relations and some start up capital. I got a group of investors to back the Country and went for a construction loan and then started a sales program, I said outlining the first promotion.

In other words, you just did it, she stated.

That’s right. Without having to ask anyone. That is what Libertas is all about, I said with an obvious double meaning.

Can anyone do that, her boyfriend wanted to know?

Only if you know how. You can’t just hope it into existence. Would you like to do something like that, I asked him?

I need a big challenge to make my life more interesting and this seems like it would fill the bill. Could you use another assistant, he asked sincerely?

Sure! But our next move will be a start up in outer space. You’ll have to do some research first. How does that sound, I asked him?

That would be interesting. What do I start with now?

The Space Exploration Roadmap. It’s a plan that nations have put together. Private companies have a similar but different plan. We will be mostly in the private mode but governments may play a very big part of what actually happens. The question is whether they will be helpful or part of the problem, I pointed out to him.

Where is the first colony going to be, he wanted to know?

It will be a hotel, not a colony. Just a space station with rooms to rent but it will be a start. From there, a way to make it pay it’s way, is the only way private companies can go forward. That’s where governments come into play.

Unfortunately, politics play such a big role in who gets the contracts. China and India need this additional colonization more than other countries to be able to handle their huge populations and their future growth. But they may object to our political direction, I said to let him know we will have to handle them in a different way.

In other words, you are saying we can’t deal both with the West and the East, he asked?

China will be best for the financing and the European and American technologies will probably lead the way. This will be our plan using our TLC loan program. You can help Flut with that paperwork and learn how to handle International financing, I informed him.

What is your primary goal with your loan program, he asked?

Picking products and companies that crossover all three lifestyles for total private survival in almost any environment.

Right now we are trying to get a consortium to use graphene as building materials and our special health program with robots, I stated to get him started.

If Rod wants to do this, I want to join him, Judy put forth quickly.

That would be best. You’ll want to get with Sopharina and Wuzz. Maybe you can get some ideas on how to best get involved from them, I told her because they have a better way of handling some social problems than I do.

Do you all work together on the same projects, she asked?

No! You can pick something that you like doing because we cover almost anything as a community. We just act like a think tank to help each other with whatever problems you might be having. I get as much good feedback from Sopharina as I do Flut. They both come at the solutions from a different point of view but it complements my way of doing things. I just jump in and do it and sometimes that gets me in trouble, I added.

I noticed you had people with cameras during our fight with the pirates. Do you do a lot of filming, Judy asked?

We are making a series of films for several reasons, I pointed out knowing she would want to get involved with storyboard films.

How can I get into that side of it, she asked quickly?

Just come along whenever we do a shoot. Develop some story lines of your own because we combine professional scenes with personal versions. We’ve gotten a lot of great scenes without any formal planning, I told her to encourage her even more.

At what stage are you now?

We will continue this as a saga. I don’t know where it will take us because so much of what we do is determined by new technologies and political whims of other people, I said.

When can I get started?

Why don’t you come with Rod tomorrow at one of our condo meetings. We are adopting some new rules and you can get to know some of the people that keep things going around here, I suggested.

We’ll be there she said realizing that this meeting was coming to an end.

We were having some problems with our other island. The tourist were coming there and creating too much noise and breaking too many valuable objects. The place was becoming a popular college student hangout to show off. The kids have real money but not the responsibility to use it right.

The businesses are booming so we are getting a lot of money for the hospital and research center but the clean up on almost a daily basis was cutting into that profit. We will try to make a plan that might balance the activities without killing the fun these kids are having.

I needed some private time to go over some details in our agreements. Some organizations were trying to influence what we are doing with regulations that could cost a lot of money. I started by reviewing the latest Seastead Institute’s legal papers.

The biggest problem we will have is with all forms of negative capitalism. To me, these are forms of mental illness and ways should be found to make them go away or be less dangerous. Drugs need counter drugs that undo the effects. The oldest profession should be done by robots not by drugged out slaves. By making these negative profits go one hundred percent to the hospital and medical research endeavors and closely regulate everything, a partial acceptance could be possible from nearby countries.

We can look to all the International law and still come up short with all the new technologies coming on board. Medicine will be so different in just a few years that we have to stay flexible while maintaining safety. Not an easy thing to balance. Freedom is no good if we don’t act responsibly. We want to improve evolution, not go backward. But cognitive dissonance is so much a part of human nature that it almost seems like we need to make mind altering drugs to get rid of this type of behavior but then what do we have left of free will?

I hope technology can solve some of these problems otherwise we’ll have constant and unnecessary bad behavior by our citizens. That will be very bad public relations. Our Las Vegas will have to be thought of as an experiment in solving this problem not a playground for infantile actions.

I wondered if this was a solvable problem?

Just then, Flut call me.

Gangster alert, he stated loudly!

We sure do have a crazy problem with those guys, I couldn’t help but recognise.

I know. This must be the only place in the World where they come to prove how bad they are to get our medical discounts and special treatments, Flut said getting tired of the influx of phony or low level mobsters trying to get freebees.

Do they have referrals from someone we know, I asked first?

Of course but you know we are getting more forgeries. What do you expect. These guys are happiest when breaking the rules, no matter what those rules are for, he pointed out to make sure I would stop asking stupid questions.

We are going to have to find some way to stop this or we will drain our resources, I said.

It’s not like we can issue special ID’s, Flut said laughing about the concept.

I think maybe an anti social Internet network with encryption could be helpful but they might not participate, I suggested.

At the meeting, we had scheduled a review of our legal position and the starting of a Charter to outline our mission.

After we got the meeting started, I went to the nuts and bolts of our get together.

As you all know, we started with a political party and then went to a new constitution designed for our situation. That called for a flag, a condominium and timeshare structure and a business plan. We have our motto, “Freedom is Freedom from Government” and now we need a Charter.

In the next week, I’ll write my ideas for that and send it out on our story blog to get your feedback and then we’ll meet again and hammer out the final version and vote on that draft.

What is the general purpose of a Charter, Judy asked?

I see it as a way to explain our general way of doing things here. To set some of our future customs and to identify our overall mission, I stated hoping that was a clear enough statement.

Will this be a legal document, one of the members asked?

No! It’s more goal oriented, taking into consideration both our legal structure and the reality of our colony, I elaborated.

What are some of the items you will visit in this statement, Rod asked showing he was willing to get involved?

The most important feature will be how we handle so much freedom responsibly without becoming a colony of gangsters and negative capitalists. We need to show our intent to rise above our enemy's criticism and present a wholesome environment without having to have thought control and micro-management by government.

I think of it in terms of evolution, I added.

After the condo meeting, I asked Judy and Rod to join us at our offices to let them know about our Google adventure.

When we got there Judy was first with the questions.

Did I hear you right. A Google adventure? What are we searching for, was a good start.

A new city fo Libertas called Google, I answered quickly?

They could build anywhere. Why would they want a seastead colony, Rod asked?

You’ll see when we visit their Google X Lab, I said.

I’ve never heard of that. What do they do there, Judy wanted to know?

Things like robots, space elevators and a lot of other special projects. All very futuristic like our cities.

I still don’t understand why one of our cities would be best for them, Rod asked again?

After we talk to them, we’ll be off for a long flight around the equator in search of the perfect site for their city, I stated.

Why there and what will we be looking for, Judy asked?

The best spot for a space elevator is right at the equator. Having the best political system for developing new technology, is another very strong reason, I pointed out to them.

What exactly will you be looking for? That’s a huge area to cover, Rod said.

Which country would be the best to be close to. Is there oil at a particular area. Tides could even be a factor. Would the area be good for fishing and tourism. We’ll just have to do some major research. Are the two of you up to that, I asked them?

Where do we do the research, Judy wanted know?

Mostly on board the planes. Judy, I want you to fly with me. We will equip you with several cameras to make a visual storyboard film of our work and whatever else we run into. If you want, you and Rod can even write a love story to go along with everything else we will be doing, I mentioned hoping that would motivate them even more.

Who do I fly with, Rod asked?

You’ll be with Flut. I want you to learn how to do what he does and see what you can add to this project. It will be a good starting point. Think of it as a real estate deal and you will get a handle on what we are doing better. I also want you to learn some things about our TLC loans because they make everything happen. Without money this is just an exercise in futility, I added.

I don’t have any experience with any of these things, Rod said wondering if he should go ahead with this deal.

Don’t worry. No one does. We are on the bleeding edge of real estate development. All I need is your willingness to do your best. Flut is a great teacher. He trains all the Whimsters.

They both agreed to join us on this first adventure into a possible Google Island. They came with us to Google headquarters in Northern California.

We met with some of the top people. They were intrigued with the idea but didn’t give us the go ahead. That was to be expected. We had a lot of other pieces to put together before anyone would consider this concept. We did leave a basic commitment from us to explore some of our ideas that went along with their program.

There are seventeen countries along the equator but Brazil seemed like the best place to start because it has the largest coastal area. This would give us more of chance to find the kind of location we are looking for.

The equator and the Amazon river meet in a large bay. This would be a place to look as a starting point. We’ll have to find out if there is oil offshore to make this viable.

The government is a Republic with a democratic structure so we would be compatible politically. We might not have to make another choice if we handle this properly with the local and national government of Brazil.

I informed the group where we were going and Judy and Rod both wondered if we could land somewhere there to get a small tourist look at some of the local sites.

Once we got to our Brazilian starting point, we had already done a lot of the research we needed to do, including contacting some of the oil companies involved in the area.

I had time to work on the Charter for Libertas so we could discuss it at our next condo association meeting. We would submit the final version to the congress and see what they would do with it. This was a good time to be doing this because Judy was full of questions during the flight down there and a lot of them made me think of our general mission and why we are doing this in the first place.

What is this place going to look like, she asked?

Think of it like a fish line with a round bulb that floats on the water. The line goes straight up into outer space and the underwater portion of the line secures the bulb in one place and acts as a anchor, I told her so she could get a better picture of the development's basic design.

What do you need the oil companies for if that is the case, Judy asked astutely?

It could be done without them but they could be a major enhancement if one or more of them comes into the project. We would have more of an anchor and a major source of building materials in the form of plastic produced on site. They would also be a major business that would bring in jobs. Instead of having oil tankers pick up the oil, we could pipe the finished liquid products to the coast to sell to the Brazilians or any other user.

Brazil’s Petrobras is a global leader in finding and producing oil from deep waters. If we don’t use an American company as a partner in this endeavor, Petrobras would be a great solution. The important thing is that the oil company business is seen as an Ultra Green advocate doing their best to help the situation.

Is this the best place to use an oil company as a partner, she asked keeping on subject?

No! The best place would be a floating island that recycles the mess out in the Pacific Ocean. It’s about the size of Texas. The oil from another place could be used to power a recycling plant that would clean up this situation.

How many of these cities do you think will be needed, Judy asked?

It should be a never ending process like it will be out in Space. This is just one of the answers to perpetual growth of the human species.

Who do you think will populate this city?

Mostly the people that would make this idea work because of its focus on the space elevator. That is mostly a hard question to answer. Human nature can surprise you. Brazil has it’s special problems and we would have to go with solving some of those. This unit would be a mixed bag. It would be like a Brazilian Space program but they aren’t known for even being interested in that. So we’ll have to see, I postured knowing this would take even more research on a political level.

Where do we go after Brazil, she asked?

The way things look, it doesn’t look like we would need to go anywhere.

Are you that sure about this location, she asked even before we got there?

On paper, it looks like a perfect match. We’ll still make our trip and if nothing else, we’ll find a backup location, I told her so she wouldn’t have to worry about the trip she was so looking forward to.

Where do you think the backup would be?

Probably on the coast of Africa. We’ll research that on the way over there.

Two trips to Africa in such a short period of time. I would have never guessed that would happen to me, she stated with a big smile on her face.

Have you figured out those cameras yet, I said changing the subject as we came up to the airport.

I think so and now would be a good time to find out, she said as she pointed one of them at our runway.

Did you turn the one on that is attached to the plane, I wanted to know?

About fifteen minutes ago. As soon as I knew we were getting close, she said confidently.

We’ll have to find a fun place for you and Rod to play for awhile. I’m going on a real estate mission. I need to get a feeling for this place and that means talking to some of the local business people, I told her so she knew she would have some free time.

How are we going to be protected down here, she asked?

That reminds me. I have to put a clause in the Charter about our way of dealing with that problem. Basically, we will specialize in those non-lethal weapons you saw us use in Somalia on the pirates and we’ll make arrangements and treaties just like any other country, I added.

We met up with Flut and Rod and the two love birds took off in a taxi to have some fun. Flut came with me to visit some local real estate people. It was easy to find someone that spoke english. It turns out that their real estate market was in good shape. They apparently didn’t suffer a bubble like we did in the States.

They have a system that is not unlike our own so it would be fairly easy to deal with when we got down to doing contracts. It was primarily a Portuguese culture transported into an indigenous tribal area. That reminded me of San Diego and the old tuna fisherman before the politicians ruined their businesses with environmental BS.

The next thing we needed to do was find a local oil company executive to start finding out what was going on with the deep water drilling offshore.

We had landed in Belem, the capital of that area and considered the major entrance to the Amazon River. We went to the Hilton for a top notch time of it. After a fine meal of food neither of us had experienced before we got directions to the local zoo. It was awesome with more unusual animals than I knew even existed.

Our next stop was Africa. We had quite a time finding Judy and Rod but they finally turned their cell phones back on and we made a plan to meet at the Hilton. We would spend the evening at the Hotel and then head out the next morning.

That evening I read an article about Stephen Hawking saying that if we don’t colonize by the end of the century we will most likely self destruct due to population growth and increased conflict with deadly weapons of war. He wasn’t talking about tricolonization yet but we can help with that scenario even quicker than just space colonization would allow.

Judy and Rod met us for dinner and as usual they were full of questions.

Do we have to find a place with oil, Rod asked?

That would be a perfect match but it might not be possible. Oil rigs of that type cost four to five billion dollar per platform and if we can make a partnership with one of the oil companies it would save an enormous amount of money. They would do their thing anyway but if they came our way we could really change their image as polluters.

You seem to think they are heroes or something along those lines, Judy said.

They are if you really think about it for a minute. Can you imagine what this World would be like without oil, I asked?

True! But do you condone the massive amount of pollution due to the products they produce, Rod wanted to know?

Poverty is the worst form of pollution, so don’t you see them as a giant step forward.

Yes! But we need to get to the next step, Judy reminded us.

That is exactly what we are doing. They didn’t shoot all the horses as soon as cars were invented. We don’t need to get rid of oil just because it is obvious other methods of energy production are better. These companies have a great product that can be used for a lot of things. In the meantime we still have a huge problem globally that can be made modern using oil to generate wealth. It is all about evolution and progress. You have to throw your thinking into the future to see how much better it would be with all these choices, I commented.

What countries are we going to in Africa, Rod asked?

An Island country called Sao Tome. A mainland country called Gabon and then back to Somalia. All three have oil with American companies doing business with them on one level or another. This situation won’t be determined by us but by the oil companies.

Are we going to stop at all these countries, Judy asked?

We’ll fly over Sao Tome and land in Libreville, Gabon. That’s the largest city in the area. These two countries are in good shape so it will be mostly a matter of where the oil companies would want to do business with us, I repeated.

Do you think they will be easy to work with, Rod asked?

I’ll be finding out shortly, I told them without really knowing the answer.

Why would they want to go to these locations, Judy asked?

They are already there but whether they are interested in deep water drilling in the area is another question. Each of the wells cost four to five billion apiece. We will have to sell them on the fact that we’ll enhance their well and use as much of their product as possible to build our city.

Do you think anyone will want to live there, Rod asked obviously thinking about himself?

Only if we make it very special. Libertas is a most compelling concept but is very hard to make real. Even if all the political and financial pieces are in place, we still have to deal with thieves and slackers. These two types of people bring down everyone else because we have to make so many rules to deal with them. That will be the real challenge in making these places a highly desirable place to live.

We are watching the space program closely, Flut said changing the point of the conversation a little. This is the week of the Rover and a new type of missile.

What does that have to do with these island communities, Judy asked wondering why Flut would bring that up at this time?

You are asking the same kind of questions that people have with the space program. Who would want to leave the comfort of Southern California for a cold and isolated place like outer space, Flut explained?

It must be something like the sense of adventure or the thrill of taking on a challenge, Rod interjected.

That is part of it but the true pioneer is really just looking at the future and believing in solutions with good planning, I mentioned to help with the evening's discussion.

That’s true! With seven billion people, what direction do we take? There are three major possibilities; overpopulation heading toward disaster, population control and planning for a growing population, Flut said pointing out the reason for tricolonization.

So we are future planners, Judy said with a big smile on her face.

I thought we were through for the night but Rod had one more question before we all went to sleep.

If you are a private investigator, why is all your work off your island, he asked?

Are you asking if we have any crime in Libertas?

Yes! And what do you do with them once you catch someone doing something illegal, he added?

All our jails are privately owned. They are based on drone and robot technologies. The prison is a separate island populated by inmates only except on special occasions. Real people run the place from another location for safety purposes. Everything is done electronically. We use different types of drones to keep track of the inmates and robots to do whatever it takes to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. The inmates don’t work. They are only allowed to study or learn a trade. The inmates are charged for their training and have to pay for it when they get out on pre-arranged terms, I told them.

How does the owner of the prison make money from this setup, Judy asked?

It comes out of the profits from the negative capitalist island. Profits from gambling, etc., I pointed out.

So you are turning the negative into the positive, Rod said reflectively?

That is the whole point. We try to use the profits from crime to stop crime or at least punish criminals. These are activities that don’t seem to make sense but are so much a part of human nature that its hard to get rid of it totally. Maybe someday human nature will change and we won’t have to deal with bad behavior, but it will take some serious brain chemistry changes before that will happen. My guess is we’ll just have to deal with the problem and this seems as good a solution as possible.

The next morning we took off for Africa. As planned, we flew over the islands of Sao Tome and landed in Libreville, Gabon.

I had a vision of the equator as being the hottest spot on the planet but that it wasn’t true on the coast. It was actually quite a nice day. Not much different than a good day in San Diego.

After checking on the net, it was decided we would stay at the Laico Okoume Palace Hotel. We saw the oil wells from the air so we knew that we might have a chance of this being the right place for Google Island.

Flut and Rod joined us for the evening meal at the hotel. They had been going over some of the loans we had going in the TLC program. Rod was amazed at how much work they could get done while in flight.

How was the financing going to happen with your islands, Rod asked me after a few opening remarks and greetings?

We create the paper with the sales and then market each deal with a group of lenders. You would be surprised at how well qualified our typical buyer is and how easy it is to place the loans, I told him.

Flut told us about the new bugsters in the law enforcement and first responder’s field that they use in some special situations. He had found them on the net while flying here.

He let out the fact that we have our own crew of highly intelligent sub-group of Whimsters we call the bugsters to do just that and more. Needless to say, Rod didn’t believe him until he informed him that they always had several of them along with them at all times. Once he had introduced Rod to them, he lost his scepticism.

Do we have some of them with us, Judy asked curious about this Whimster World?

We sure do. They are checking this hotel as we speak, I informed her.

What are they, Robots or humanoids, she wanted to know?
They are just like Flut but a lot smaller, I said so she wouldn’t be so surprised.

This is a strange World you live in, Judy said shaking her head.

True, but this whole World is strange. Wait until you see the next place we are going to stay, I said using this subject to get back to what we were doing on this adventure.

It must be someplace very different for you to act like that, Rod observed.

We are going to Male’, the capital of the Maldives, I mentioned to see if they knew anything about that place.

I thought we were going back to Samolia, Flut asked?

No! We’ll fly over there this time. Their oil is inland and we are going to have to wait until they solve their political problems.

You have a mythical imagination, Judy said confusing me with her statement.

What does that mean, I asked?

You have all kinds of creatures in your World based on old fears of your ancient ancestors, she elaborated.

You are thinking about my Whimster friends, aren’t you?

Its true, isn’t it?

Not sure. They just happen to be there for whatever reason. Where did you ever get that term, I wondered?

Archeologists use that word to define old cave drawings and mythological stories to define a mind set of the ancients, Judy said showing off her education.

That could be possible.

Rod and Judy went out that evening to take some pictures and do their thing for the storyboard project. I wondered what they were up to but I decided to wait until we had another editing session.

Mandi called me up to tell me three pirate ships had left Somalia heading into the Indian Ocean. I told her we were heading there to visit the Maldives and that we would check them out on the way.

We left early that morning and flew over the continent. It was incredibly interesting scenery. Not at all like flying over the oceans. We didn’t get as much done because we were distracted but Judy did have a few questions.

I like your idea about the separate island for a prison population, but how do you keep them totally apart? They are the most devious of people and should be able to find a way out, she added.

The island will be flat with solar panels to run the place. The actual prison will be underwater. The only weak point will be the entrance so we will have to be very careful there, I told her.

Will they all be in the same part of the prison?

No! We will separate them as much as possible according to their offences. We won’t have any computer training other than basic usage so they can’t hack the system. Any perpetrators that have prior training will be separated and limited computer usage to help prevent hacking, I told her.

As we flew over Somalia, I told her about Mandi’s call. She said she would look out for the pirates.

If we find them, are you going to do anything about it.

We'll just buzz them as a warning. Maybe they will turn around if they see us again so soon. I’m more interested in getting to the Maldives on this trip, I pointed out.

What is the big thing about that place, she asked?

Maybe we can buy one of their islands.

But then you would be part of their country, she pointed out.

I would only do it if they would sell it under our flag.

This is a separate plan from what we are doing on this trip, isn’t it, Rod asked?

It is only a possibility because the Dutch Docklands is doing so much business with them. I’m only worried about the political situation. The location would be great for a lot of reasons, I told them.

Why do you think that, Judy asked?

The natural terrain of the low lying islands surrounded by coral reefs and moderate climate most of the time make for a great tourist location. Our timeshare program is really a hotel template for small investors and makes it possible for almost any investor to get into the International travel business, I said letting them know my business plan.

So you have the same concerns that you have with the Somalian location, Rod stated.

Some of the problems are the same but this Muslim society seems to thrive on tourism, so I’m going to have to see it first hand. Maybe they aren’t the fanatical types like they are in Somalia. If so, we can do business with them. I sure hope so, I added.

Are you going to have the same set up with a second island for the gambling and so forth, Judy wanted to know?

I hope so. Did you notice what was happening in Somalia, I said to see if she was doing her homework?

How would I do that?

Just go to somaliareport.com and you’ll know everything you need to know. Mandi will fill us in on anything that doesn’t show up there, I added.

As she did that, I was looking at some flying robots that were being developed for building construction. That would help, but my graphene giants will be the ultimate robots. Arnold was a great example of that. Arnold, take a look at these flying guys here, I said as he peered over my shoulder.

They can help me when we started on the big building. Did you complete your drawing yet, Arnold asked?

Just about. I’ll be sending it over to the Dutch Docklands people soon and let them do the details.

How long will it be before we can start construction, Judy asked?

As soon as the engineers give us their assessment we can raise the money quickly. What I need to do now is decide which location will be the next site. After we finish this trip we will go on another one to see the plastic garbage collection in the middle of the Pacific. That might be a good place to start a smaller community.

Who would want to visit a place like that, Judy asked?

This would be a work project, not a tourist location. It might be a real money maker if we do it right.

Who’s going to determine that, she asked?

Probably the oil companies. That’s why it is so important to include them in any of our plans. They are the real heroes of the last century but the public is treating them like bad guys, I explained to her.

I think you are right about that. They’ve just got to be energy companies and change their image to give them a new better PR attitude, she said totally getting the point.

Just then we started seeing the Islands of Maldives. It was everything the travel brochures touted visually. Judy broke out her cameras and started filming. It was two large groups of islands and we circled both of them. Flut and Rod already knew where to meet us so they went on their own way and we took an extended air tour of the place. I wanted to make sure Judy would get great shots of this place because I was having the feeling that we would someday be part of this area.

The Maldivian government was looking to buy land in other countries in case global warming raised the level of the sea. The natives would have another place to live but I could see a better solution. With good engineering, seastead estates could adapt to any level that the sea happened to evolve into, I said to Judy but she was so involved in taking pictures I don’t think she heard me.

As we flew over Huvadhu, which is sometimes referred to as the largest atoll of the Maldives, I was checking out Male’ for the place that Flut had picked for us to meet. It was called the Traders Hotel and it’s promotion went as follows: A seven-minute complimentary speedboat ride from Malé Airport, Traders Hotel, Malé, Maldives is just five minutes’ walk from Malé Island’s bustling Fish Market, flower-filled Sultan Park and the slender minaret of the Old Friday Mosque.

It made me wonder if they served cocktails. Everything else looked perfect. I love to skin dive so this place would be heaven for the sports minded. I was just worried about the politics of the place. We would have some good contacts here with the Dutch Decklands’ branch office located there.

Judy and Rod would probably treat this like a honeymoon event. I decided to extend our stay an extra day. This is not the kind of place I wanted to be without Sopharina.

When we all met, I could see Flut was feeling the same way about Wuzz.

We should have brought the girls, was the first thing he said when we sat down to eat.

We will have to bring them with us next time, I said reassuring him about coming back soon.

As I thought, the conversation at dinner was all about how great it was here and how they hoped we could make a deal with the locals. They were busy reading the brochures to see what to see first. It was a quick meal and both Judy and Rod were gone without any plan to meet later.

Usually Flut would join me to do some work in the evening but this evening we decided to wonder around the island. Everywhere we went we mentally picked the spots to show the girls when we brought them here.

We did talk about how the training was going with Judy and Rod.

Rod looks like he will be a great addition to the team. He catches on very quickly and seems to enjoy the adventure, Flut said on his behalf.

Does he add any ideas yet, I wanted to know?

He’s mostly full of questions at this point but he has offered a few suggestions.

Have any of them been of value?

You and I had already covered his points in the past but I think he is thinking in the right direction. How is Judy doing, he asked?

She’s full of enthusiasm and energy. Both of these things keep me in a good mood if nothing else, I told him smiling as I did.

Does she put up with your political tirades, Flut asked knowing what I go through with Sopharina?

I haven’t had many of them in front of her because we aren’t Stateside, I pointed out to him.

We quickly found what I expected. No dancing at night clubs, only native dancing. Luna park was the only form of entertainment unless the locals are celebrating something.

This meant they will have a problem with our adjoining island idea to house negative capitalist behavior. They do advertise Bangkok night life but that is something they can’t control. Maybe the hospital concept will make it work for them.

When we got back to the hotel we both broke open our lap tops to see what was going on in the World. An article about the Hong Kong stock market caught my attention. They were having a brisk market in new IPO offerings. I decided to spend my evening researching the procedures involved in raising capital that way in this part of the Far East. We might need to go this way if the demand for our tricolonization projects expands beyond our ability to do it ourselves.

We could use one of our Cyber Corporations and set a new way for them to deal with Libertas businesses. Outer Space colonies will require some type of rethinking financial transactions. Digital credits will some time in the future replace all fiat currencies. The way to keep hackers out of the system is the only problem. Unfortunately, governments are paranoid about their lack of control of the flow of money mostly because of income tax laws. We don’t have income taxes so it won’t be a problem for Libertas.

After another day of being tourists we all met and went over the next leg of our trip. Everyone knew we would be hitting the west coast of South America but they needed the details. The country we would visit was named after the fact that they were on the equator. This was Ecuador. I told them they would be in for another treat. We would stay on the famous Galapagos Islands at the Casa Natura Galapagos Hotel. I pointed out that this would be just a one day stay so they were instructed to make the best of it.

I then pointed out another project that would require some serious filming by both planes. We were going to check out some of the most remote Atolls in the Pacific. Among them was the Line Islands owned by the Republic of Kiribati and a few of them by the US. These were targeted to disappear soon because of rising seas caused by global warming.

It might be possible to build a structure that could adapt to this situation but the biggest problem would be we wouldn’t be able to market this to the locals because this was also one of the poorest areas in the the World. Fishing was almost their only income and this was done in a very low tech way.

Flut suggested a combination of getting non profit money designed to retrain these natives in the science of fish farming. Some of them could do what we call in real estate a “sweat equity” down payment and then earn from the training provided.

I thought that would be a great idea and told the group so.

When we flew over the islands we realized just how remote they were. This was probably the closest thing to space travel you could get while just flying around. What a challenge it would be to actually build something out here, I thought to myself.

Judy was intrigued with the isolation and the beauty of these small land masses.

It’s hard to believe that people actually live here. I wonder how the first humans arrived. They must have gotten here accidentally, she said pondering the past events.

It just shows how diverse life is. It makes me wonder what is out in Space and if life lives underground somewhere, I commented.

When are you going to build a new country in another dimension, she asked trying to hold back a giggle?

As soon as I can find one, I said not letting her get by with that one up comment.

This place is probably going to be as close as we’ll ever get, she said as we flew over a very beautiful atoll.

Wait until we get to the Galapagos. We’ll see animals that will make us wonder how they could have gotten there in the past. It’s a strange World we live in but we can make a real difference if we can take it to the next level.

How are you going to make all this happen, Judy wanted to know?

Finding sponsors for the cities with high profile names will be our next endeavor, I told her so she could get involved like Flut does. I wanted to see if she could follow through on a specific element of my plan.

How do you do that?

With some help from you, I hope.

What do I need to do?

Keep track of the people I’m going to have to speak with and make sure they have all the information they need to make an intelligent decision, I said sounding like the salesman I am.

Don’t you have to know these people, she said surprised that I could just talk to anyone I wanted to anytime?

They aren’t that easy to get to but at the level they are working they should have a sincere interest in what we are doing. So I just go through their normal channels of communications. That’s what I what you to learn how to do, I said firmly so she knew how important the process was to our success.

So these aren’t Golf Course deals, she said getting the drift of what I was saying?

No! This is called the direct approach and most of the people I want to talk to will respect this way of doing things. They will say no very quickly if they aren’t interested and that way we won’t be wasting time.

You definitely know how to use your time well, she said polishing the apple a little.

Because we had so much time flying, Judy asked the question I knew she would from a women’s point of view.

Are you pro life or pro choice?

Both!

You can’t do both, she pointed out making the mistake that all the politicians make.

This question is designed for negative manipulation. It’s a no win question assuming this is a finite World we live in. The fact is, we live in an infinite World of possibilities. The whole point of tricolonization is proving that we can create new places to live so all of humanity can survive as far into the future as our imaginations can take us.

What does that have to do with your answer, she asked still not getting the premise of this concept?

The current politically correct answers assume we have too many people and this will cause problems in the future if you are pro choice. If you are pro life you only allow the types of lifestyles for new borns as are assumed in religious doctrine. But if you forget about both of those constructs, you’ll have infinite possibilities and reasons to increase the human population, I told her hoping this would peak her imagination a bit further.

But what do you have left, she asked?

Unlimited population growth. I can see a future where if a woman wants everyone of her eggs to become a child, technology will have a way for that to happen and society a reason for this to happen. Just look at the vastness of space Judy. What is missing? More of us, of course but only if we have great places to live and enjoy life, I added.

That would be way into the future, she stated.

That is right and good planning will make that a possibility. Our learning how to live underwater and underground is just a precursor for space colonization. We can learn here and take that adventure out into space for future colonists.

Just then Flut called me to tell me about two new developments in the atomic energy field announced today. One from General Electric called a PRISM reactor and one from, of all companies, Microsoft called the Travel Wave reactor. Both use stockpiles of materials in a different way. I asked him to send me an e-mail with the information. I was hoping we could use one or both on our islands safely.

Do you think they can make a small enough power system to make me work better, the silent Arnold said from behind us?

I had almost forgotten he was along for the trip. He has been so quite. That will most likely be possible, I said reassuring him. Why have you been so quite during this trip, I added?

I wanted to go through this training program too. I thought it best to see if you were doing anything new that I needed to learn, he said in a very serious tone of voice.

We all met at the Galápagos Islands at the Casa Natura - Galapagos Hotel. At dinner we discussed the types of activities we were going to do and I reminded them that this was just a one day event. I had to get back to start working on a couple problems that came up on Libertas.

Once again, Judy and Rod went out for the evening. They were really making the best of this trip. I was just missing Sopharina and I’m sure Flut was missing Wuzz. This was another place we had to come back to as soon as possible. Arnold was guarding everything, as usual.

Flut and I worked on the sponsorship program the next day and I prepared a handout to get things started. I put the facts together in one simple package so any potential sponsor could get a clear picture of what we are doing and what we needed to get done.

I told Flut that we could use our cyber corporation to sell off twenty percent of the next project fifty million. We would use twenty million to buy into the Solar Tower deal and buy out the ranch with twenty five million. We would use the remaining five million to promote Libertas. This would leverage everyone and give us all extremely good security while we develop everything over the next couple of years.

Just who are you going to ask? Is this a standard TLC loan, he wanted to know because he was so active in this end of what we are doing?

Yes! It just combines several of our activities, I elucidated.

So we just use our standard resources, he wanted to know?

All of those but with a special emphasis on our potential sponsors for naming our cities after their company's name like they already do for sports arenas.

Are you going to take care of that end of the business or do you want Rod and me to help?

I’ll probably need your help after the initial contacts and agreements are set. But for now, just keep doing your normal everyday stuff, I said reassuring him that his work load wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

Will this affect our movie making scenario with Mandi and Bill, he wanted to know?

No! In fact Judy is mostly helping me keep that on track while I’m doing all these other things. Once again, I’ll make the initial contacts and set the deals but after that, all the details have to be done right. That is what I need most of all from everyone connected with us.

So I’ll get as much help as needed, he said obviously worried about his being able to keep up with me?

For sure! What I need you mostly for is to keep me straight on the right path. You are very good at doing that and I don’t think it will be easy to find anyone else to replace you. So hang in there. I know you like to train the Whimsters but maybe you should get an assistant to help you keep that on an even keel, I suggested.

I’m more concerned about the huge amount you are trying to raise for Libertas, Flut put forth.

Except for our initial funding all the loans are backed by condo/timeshare units with individual mortgages. The banks were bailed out with 29 trillion dollars for making bad investments. They should be more than happy to deal with our buyers. That large amount is made up of an aggregate loan portfolio to spread the risk. This will be a real boon for our bankers.

So for the bulk of this deal we don’t use the TLC loans, Flut said sounding relieved?

That’s right. Most of it will be done just like a regular real estate deal, I reassured him clearly.

What’s next, he asked?

We’ll fly North and buzz the border of Mexico and the US. They are finding even more sophisticated drug tunnels. We’ll concentrate on pin pointing them on the way back home, I told him.

That Dragon Ray should come in handy. Do you think anyone is really serious about this drug war?

It is a real crazy situation. I wish we could use the wasted money on something more positive like the advancement of tricolonization.

That might undermine some of the politicians. They need fear of something to justify their power, he said sounding more like me.

Don’t let Sopharina hear you talking like that, I warned him grinning at the same time.

I know better than that. She actually agrees with you but is bored with the obvious. Maybe we can change the topic without changing the topic, he suggested.

What do you mean by that, I wondered?

Actually, just do what you are doing without talking to her about it and it will speak for itself, he declared.

Oh Yeah! Walk my talk. That’s what I’ve been doing just to keep the peace. But it is nice to talk to someone about your gripes and future plans, I objected.

Take it out on me. I enjoy this kind of thing. She just doesn’t like the talking part of what you do. She obviously enjoys what you actually do. You should hear her brag on you, he added.

I just sat there not wanting to react to this conversation anymore.

After a quite moment, he asked me when we were going to add one of the Blueseed developments?

As soon as I can. We have some good promotional people involved with these. Each time we start a new location I think we should go through them to get their support.

They have attracted some good talent that is in tune with tricolonization, he stated.

Their only competition is the Dutch Docklands people. I can’t wait to get their numbers to compare the two scenarios, I said as we got up from our meal to enter the evening.

The next day we did our border check. It was obvious that the drug war was just getting more sophisticated. I thought they would slow down because we were stopping so many players, but there seems to be an almost endless supply of drugs. Judy didn’t realize that this kind of thing was even going on. I guess she was a victim of the presses almost daily reporting on the subject.

It seems so peaceful from up here but I can imagine how many people are really suffering down there having to deal with these outlaws, she stated rather concerned about their plight.

This is our local version of Somalia. Poverty forces otherwise good people to do dangerous things to survive, I said wondering when the laws would finally change in America.

More political deaths at our doorsteps, she said astutely.

I know. They have passed laws in their country that make all this legal but it has only made the situation on the border worse.

Who pays you for this patrol, she wanted to know?

Both governments. They want to stop the nonsense on both sides of the border. We are more effective with less damage. It is just a matter of supply for the dealers and they seem to have an almost endless supply. The markup is so high that they can loss ninety percent of their attempts to cross the border and still make a huge profit. Can you imagine what they would make if it was legal, I asked to see if she would have the right answer?

I guess you are going to find out on Libertas, she shot back at me.

We want that problem to go away too. We look at it as a medical problem so the business is structured financially to support medical research. Maybe an "after the high pill" to reverse the effects is the answer or maybe an "aversion pill" to get rid of the urges is the answer. I don’t know. One thing I do know is that human nature will put drugs in the hands of those that what them no matter what governments try to do. All these rules do is make politicians feel like they are doing something by trying to control the situation. It just doesn’t work and never will. All it does is create government jobs which are basically useless like most government jobs, I added.

What is so different about your financial structure on Libertas, she asked astutely?

Several basic things that will keep us out of trouble. First, we are only a clearing house for currencies by using digital credits that we don’t issue. You can convert any viable currency into digital credits like you do with PayPal and some other banking organizations. We are not a bank that loans digital credits. That way we can’t make mistakes or cause inflation. If the World has a general inflation of currencies, then our digital credits will reflect that fact but we won’t be the cause of that bad scenario.

Is that the only difference?

Minimal taxes will attract many citizens and we even have a cyber corporation method of structuring businesses that give all the benefits of incorporation that is very inexpensive.

Anything else, she asked trying to drain my brain for the day?

Low building costs and permitting process for my real estate buddies, I added.

More input, more input, she said just kidding me.

Always an oceanfront location to enhance value. Now stop or I’ll just hand you our sales material for you to read, I said pretending to be upset with her.

I called Mandi to see if we could get together for an editing session and some more planning. She said she would meet us on the Island the next day. She asked how Rod and Judy were doing. I told her Judy was doing a good job of filming our adventures and Tom was a big help according to Flut. I told her our next trip was out to the huge garbage dump in the middle of the Pacific. She was aware of that and stated that she had some ideas that might help. She needed to confer with a couple of her UN coworkers on the subject to see if they could help. I warned her not to get us committed to anything with them because they might start looking at us as another income stream.

That seems to be their main strategy with successful countries. She agreed.

It was great to see Sopharina again. We hadn’t been apart that long for years. It was good for both of us. I imagined Flut was going through the same feelings.

Wait until you see the pictures Judy took on the trip. Most of these places make for a great vacation. The next time we go, both you and Wuzz will definitely be with us.

Which place do you think will be our next island, she asked?

I honestly can’t answer that question. It mostly depends on politics and I know how much you like that subject so we can skip it, if you don’t mind?

To my surprise, she waded into those mirky waters.

How could it be so vague politically, she ventured?

We are dealing with a lot of Muslim countries and they will have a problem with our sister island with all the nonsense on it, I told her to make it as clear as possible.

I see what you are saying. What can you do about that, she queried me quickly?

I don’t know. Do you have any ideas, I said trying to get her input on a subject she usually doesn’t even want to talk about?

Bring their experts in to be part of the process. Let them know how much you are against the same things. Let them know you are trying to do this as a way to get rid of these problems, she added.

That might be easier said than done, but I do think you are right. I just hope we even get a chance to do that.

That means the Maldives is the place you would most want to start with, she stated.

It is closest to China and China is our main customer for our colonization program. It could make the long term marketing easier and more profound if we are that close to them, I told her.

Why would you want to market to China when they are communist, she asked perplexed by my answer?

This is more of a population solution than a political statement. They need to have an answer to that pressing problem before worrying about their political orientation. They are obviously a mixed economy in reality. It’s more important that they choose expansion through tricolonization rather than war, I said so she would get the main reason this was so important.

Is this an “Art of War” scenario, she asked totally surprising me with this observation.

It is in a way. The avoidance of war to win a political point is always the better way to expand a nation. They can do that with any political label they want.

It looks like they mostly just want control no matter what anyone calls their system, she said.

Exactly! Maybe they are right. I don’t like that, but they are a very successful people in terms of numbers. It is against my nature but they seem to be able to survive better the way they are doing things.

So you aren’t really that political, she ventured?

I only know what I prefer and can’t understand why everyone isn’t like that. I guess there are a lot of people that like to be told what to do and how to do it from on top by some kind of political leader. Just look at all the fools that vote that way. I just don’t like suffering the company of fools, as the old saying goes. But I can do business with them because I’m a believer in evolution. Some people would call that enlightenment. I prefer, common sense.

Now lets get into this movie thing that I know you are really interested in to have fun while you are working with us, I said getting into her head softly.

Is this going to be a separate story from your daily journal, she wanted to know.

Yes! But I do see parts of my journal being edited into the story line, I informed her. The thing I want you and Rod to try is adding your own spin on the story line.

Can we turn it into a love story?

Sure! We are going to have many different episodes that can be used with our travel agency.

Why would this be for a travel agency?

We specialize in home made videos as part of our product to give the vacationers some fun to do while site seeing. We’ll supply some stories and give them professional help if they want. That can be in the form of filming and editing. That depends on their budget for the trip. They can do it all themselves using our templates, if they prefer.

So what would you put out there to get attention onto your Country of Libertas, she asked wisely?

EASTERN COWBOYS

An “Eastern”, I said knowing this made no sense to her.

Eastern! What is that. Chinese people with cowboy hats, she said trying to get into this thought?

Close! Try special swimming and diving equipment instead of hats and you would have it. Get young Chinese couples that want to have more than one child and have them do a fish roundup to breed bigger and better fish like the cowboys did with cattle to feed America. They could be called Fishman, not fishermen. They won’t be down there killing fish like the buffalo hunter did in the West before food was more important than hides.

Cowboys just rounded up wild cattle and brought in foreign breeds to enhance their stock and they have succeeded in feeding many hungry people with high quality beef.

So who are their enemies. There aren’t any Indians for them to fight, she pointed out.

True! But I’m sure there will be plenty of the bad guys to battle with for great action scenes.

Are these films just for the oriental market, as she asked another great question?

With a market like that, why do you need Americans as your primary viewer? The numbers speak for themselves.

She paused without a follow up question, so I took this break to tell her I would bring this up tomorrow when Mandi and Apo show up with their movie crew. She would obviously fit in and have a blast doing what she had only dreamed of doing.

That evening Sopharina came with me to an awesome nightclub on the Island. I told her about out trip and our new plans.

We are going to Hawaii, I told her.

What are we going to do there, she wanted to know?

We are checking out the Hawaii atolls for a possible purchase and protection agreement for a new city, I explained.

I would feel very comfortable living there, she quickly added obviously encouraging me into that direction.

That’s where we will start the first fish ranches.

You mean fish farms, she said correcting me.

No! I mean ranches because we are going to have new Eastern Cowboys on them to round up big fish for breeding purposes, I said to her surprise.

And who is going to star in the Eastern, she said thinking she was trapping me?

So far I only have the names of the main two characters. The male leader is Sun Tzu. He a direct descendent of the writer of the famous military book “Art of War” and Kay Utsume, an old friend of mine. She could be played by Kelly Hu. I don’t know who would be good for the male lead, I told her truthfully.

Why are you writing about an old girlfriend, she asked trying to corner me with a Jerry Springer moment?

That’s what writers do. That way I can think about her cute personality while building her character, I said knowing that would make her think about her own situation in my stories.

I don’t like where this is going, but the concept does sound timely considering what is happening in the World right now.

That’s perceptive of you. This is just me doing problem solving and trying to make it interesting at the same time. We need the big fish and the orientals are best at being this type of cowboys. We just have to get Hollywood behind the concept. They need to do something different. Everything coming down the pike from them seems like nothing but retreads, I pointed out to her.

Is there going to be a lot of kung fu fights, she asked? And I knew why. She always left the room when those are put into a film.

I can’t imagine underwater kung fu. Maybe there will be a new school of underwater fighting. That could make for an interesting scene. Although I’m not sure how to write about it effectively, I admitted.

What kind of fish are they going to rangel, she asked?

I’ll leave that up to the experts. I imagine that will mostly depend on the location of the cities. It’s not like we can adjust the temperature of the water or do much feeding of the fish. We’ll have to make sure we do it right or it could be a problem instead of a solution. I just know it needs to be done or the fish will end up being just like the buffalo in our wild west; almost extinct.

That would be more than a tragedy because so many people depend on them to survive. Are you going to have any fresh water fish on your islands, she asked?

Funny question, but yes. Because the walls will be mostly clear plastic, we can double wall them and make aquariums containing fresh water fish or salt water fish. They make the place look great and provide additional food if done right, I added.

Aren’t you afraid that the people will start developing gills after a few generations, Sopharina said pulling my leg as usual?

Only in the comic books, I said as we ended the evenings conversation to watch some TV.

Just to change the subject I told her there are 87 Hotels on Maui so we don’t really have to make reservations.

That caught her by surprise. So we are really going there. Well, guess what? My sister has a condo there so we don’t even have to worry about a place to stay.

And now who was surprised.

We’ll only be there for a day or two. I want to get out to the site of that giant trash area to see if it is real, I told her knowing she would want to stay longer.

Maybe you could go see the garbage and leave me there, she suggested.

That would be alright. Find out from your sister about some places for you to visit, I suggested.

Can we bring Wuzz along to keep me company?

Flut would insist.

Good! Is Mandi going with us?

I don’t know. She’ll be here tomorrow so you can ask her. I think she might consider staying but she’ll probably want to go see the sea dump with us, I surmised without knowing for sure.

Do you think she will like your Eastern Cowboy story?

She’ll get on board. She has a very active imagination. It wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t want to plug some of her Dragon buddies into the script. After all, China is a big believer in Dragons.

The next day Mandi arrived and we all got together for an editing session.

Judy did a great job of showing them all the places we went to on this last excursion. She said that she wanted to do a love story as they went further into this process. Everyone agreed that we needed something like that.

I told them about our Eastern Cowboy scenario and Mandi really liked that. I promised her that Dragons would play a big part in the script. She offered to write an episode using her underwater vehicle to catch poachers. That sounded like a good way to get started.

She agreed to come along with us to the big garbage dump in the Ocean. That meant that we would have a large group going to Hawaii first. She didn’t want to stay there and play. Apparently, she had spent a lot of time there already and she was more interested in finding a solution to this recycling problem.

It was good to see Apo again. He was doing research on UN rules for our new cities to make sure we could get through all their paperwork as we grew. It wasn’t like him to do that. He mostly liked guarding us against bad guys but I guess he thought he was doing that with these regulations that they try to impose on everyone.

I told them about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I pointed out that this was another political lie put out by the environmental terrorists. There are very exaggerated reports of what it is and what should be done about it. I told them we would have to do our own research because of this situation.

Mandi confirmed that the UN was on board with this scenario seeing it as an issue like the global warming debate.

I saw it as just another way to pick the pockets of the developed nations by the UN.

I told them we might do something about this but it might be best to stay out of the fray because they would try to make us scapegoats to point out how bad capitalism is for the World.

How can you do this from the air, Judy asked?

I doubt it can be done. They already have ships out there trying to just find out how large it is. Apparently, it is very small pieces of mostly plastic that are being ingested by sea life that make it so dangerous for the food chain.

Can this just be gathered up to solve the problem, Rod asked?

I have a feeling that this is a monstrous job. If a profit could be made it would be worth doing just from a practical point of view. But if it is just a cleanup job it might never be possible considering where all this junk is coming from. Even that is debatable, I pointed out to the group.

How about an Eastern Cowboy story that saves this part of the planet, Sopharina suggested getting us to the storyboard subject that we were going to have to cover at this meeting along with our trip plans?

I want to break that out separately from the “Birth of Libertas” journal. The style will have to be very different from what we all use as a guide. I’m only going to put about an hour a day into the project and I’ll keep you abreast of the script.

Judy wants to do a love story so we’ll monitor that too. I think we should make up teams for these scripts. Does that sound good to everyone, I asked wanting some feedback from the group?

I want to work with you on the Eastern Cowboy story, Rod chimed in with to make sure he didn’t get involved with Judy’s soap.

I want to work with Judy, said both Sopharina and Wuzz.

Mandi wanted to supply the dragons for both stories. Apo and Flut wanted to work on the Eastern Cowboy story.

We all agreed to have a working start up to discuss by the time we finished our trip to Hawaii and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

I gave Flut and Mandi the possible location of the Patch. It was agreed that we would all go our separate ways through the Patch and then get together and match our impressions of the situation.

We spent the rest of the meeting looking at some of the shots that both Mandi and Judy had taken on our other trips. We were starting to have more film than we could easily handle.

That evening after everyone had left, I started the Eastern Cowboy script. It was a totally different experience. I was detailing actions that didn’t have a real technology basis. It was good for my imagination but I prefer having a more practical view to the future.

I told Judy that I had a plan for her writing experience if she needed help. It would be fun while we were flying around together. I would revive an old book I wrote with a special friend. We used my personal life and her’s to create a joint dating story. I didn’t have any interest in trying to date Judy, but it would give us something interesting to do while flying over all that water.

Sopharina was very excited about going to Hawaii. She asked if there was any possibility of finding an atoll in the Hawaiian chain of islands.

I told her we wouldn’t have the independence we needed politically but we could probably find one fairly close so she could visit often.

Arnold was the only one that didn’t have any opinion about our mission. His quite nature was something I knew was in the past. These young trainees were full of energy that takes the place of contemplation when making plans. I hoped it would be possible to strike a balance now that we had so many people involved.

Arnold had everything ready for us the next day. We took off without a hitch. Judy agreed to be part of the “Blue Guppy” story. She said she would use it as a learning experience but she had some ideas that she wanted to do on her own. That was the type of response I wanted from her.

Once we got up in the air she noticed I was in pain. I told her it was nerve damage from getting the shingles. I had to explain to her that it was something negative that was just motivating me to get more involved with biological programming. I assured her that it would just go away in time and pointed out to her some of the ways to deal with it without side effects. The biggest problem I was having was not having control of my own food preparation. Restaurants often have great tasting food but it is very hard for me to get what I know I really needed.

I told her about my “Pain Stew.”

She just laughed.

It must be nice to be so young and carefree, I couldn’t help from thinking. Maybe my medical center will bring some of that back to me. I sure considered it top priority. It would make everything else I’m doing worth doing.

How simple life can get, I said silently to myself while turning on the Internet to see what was happening.

Judy wanted to know more about the “Blue Guppy.”

I told her to check out a copy of it. I sent it to her e-mail address. This should keep her busy for a little while and that way I could concentrate on my research.

Arnold always got interested in the new stuff too. He couldn’t wait to be upgraded. I promised him he would always be the latest and greatest Graphene Giant in the World.

I found three new things of interest and when I called Flut, he added two more ideas that we might be able to use.

Arnold liked the new “Speed of Light Diodes” and the E-Cell Charger. He could see a possible use for both within his system.

Flut was most interested in the “Open Source DNA Collector” for the Whimsters.

I could see a good use for the “Floating Wind Generator” and I always liked seeing more buildings using “Vertical Forest” designs.

It was a good session. Then I switched over to search for the atolls that were either close to Hawaii or on the way to the Pacific Garbage Patch. The plane was mostly flying itself.

I could tell this would be an ongoing search. On Maui I planned to spend time in the local real estate offices to get the real low down on atolls in these areas. We might even open an office to sell our condo/timeshares on Libertas.

Sopharina’s condo was perfect for the group. Rod and Judy stayed in a local hotel to have more privacy. This was the first time Mandi stayed with us even though she had been with the girls on the Plizzel asteroid. Apo spent his time with Arnold. They mostly chattered about new technology like the geeks they were.

At the real estate offices the next day I was able to get several good leads on possible atolls available. They were intrigued by my interest in these locations.

Even if we didn’t find a suitable location in the area, it was obvious that there was quite a market for the type of property we were engaged in developing. The smallness of the investment needed to get into the lucrative market of oceanfront time shares was of particular interest to the local brokers. They realized how high the entry level was for the larger developments.

Sopharina and Wuzz took Mandi on a local shopping spree. Mandi usually didn’t pay much attention to this type of activity but had to admit that it was a fun way to get a feeling for the local traditions and customs. She didn’t buy much, but spent most of the time getting explanations from the locals as to what the many unusual items where all about.

Rod and Judy went on a helicopter ride where Judy got some great shots that she showed us later that evening. You could tell how much their youthful energy made it a magical trip for them. It made me think of my trips when I was young in Europe. Everything was like being in a movie. Maybe that was why I liked doing these story board projects so much.

When we were ready to make the flight to the Pacific Garbage Patch, I told them I was going to fly over a couple of the atolls first so they should just proceed to any part of the area they wanted to visit. We would meet back at the condo later in the day and see if our opinions were the same. I had a strong feeling that this was just a waste of time.

The first place I wanted to see was Johnston Island. This was recently sold but I didn’t have the details yet. I don’t know if you could get title insurance for something like that so it might be harder to track down. I was using some brokers I’d met to find out about that and some other leads.

The next island I wanted to see was Wake Island. I remembered an old movie of that name. It would be called Heroes Island if it was up to me. The marines really knew what freedom and liberty was all about. It just made me wonder what they would think about all the freedoms we have lost since then. What a waste! Who would they shoot now?

Hopefully, a new breed will rise from the ashes in Libertas. I felt very sad when we flew over this island. Even Judy could tell something was wrong but I told her I didn’t want to talk about it.

She asked me a couple questions about the “Blue Guppy” book that she was reading instead. This got me back into a good mood.

You and Shekay were just a couple of hippies in Houston, weren’t you, she asked?

I was in the military during the main part of the hippie era, so mavbe we were, to a certain extent. The Westheimer area we lived in was called “Freaky Town Texas” by the locals because it was an art community and hosted two art festivals a year and we lived right in the the middle of everything. I had an afro hair do at the time too.

Flut called me to tell me about a new hotel that China built or converted, depending on how you look at it. They used a aircraft carrier that they got from Russia and turned it into a Hotel.

It made me think of the Blueseed people. What a great way to start a new seastead city. He sent the picture that was released to the press but I wanted to see more. The numbers started running through my head as soon as it became obvious this was a good idea. Most of the militaries of the World are cutting back on traditional military hardware so it might be a good time to get in on this action. Usually it costs governments to mothball these items so it would probably be easy to pick one up if you had a good enough plan for it’s use.

I ran this by Flut but he didn’t seem all that excited about the idea. He pointed out that the costs might be a lot higher than we might expect.

I pointed out that it might be at least worth looking into.

No comment from him. He was probably thinking I would pass that task on to him.

I put it on the back burner because I trust Flut’s instincts. But I knew it would bother me for awhile if this turned out to be a real solution. At least the laws would be clear and the reliability of the ship would be assured. It’s not like one of these would just sink on us. I wish I knew more about this kind of salvage.

Judy asked me about the ranch in Mexico that I used to visit almost every weekend. Was it really like you wrote about, she asked?

It was even more fun than I could put down on paper, was my reaction.

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Birth of Libertas

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