14. Jesse
JESSE
Kiprr turned out to be a great resource when it came to creating my first video.
Using my tablet, he filmed me talking about how surprised I’d been by being matched.
I mentioned my initial sense of disbelief, but Johree had suggested not going into the finer details, which I agreed to so as to not cause potential offense amongst the Dragonii for having insulted their prince, so I glossed over my rude behavior and merely informed all that Dragonii could confirm who their mates were by scent, so there was a double confirmation that a match was indeed solid.
Then I made my big reveal as to who I’d been matched with.
After conferring with his fathers, who looped in the publicity office, it was decided that my vid would be prefaced with a short segment from the king, and released galaxy-wide as an official announcement, with my YouVid channel also having the video go live thirty seconds later.
That way, everyone got to hear about the match at the same time and get an introduction of sorts to the new prince - me.
And don’t that beat all. From disinherited son to prince, in one fell swoop. Plus, I not only get my own damned ranch, but a planet more or less too.
Kiprr and I edited it quickly thanks to the editing software Bob sourced for us, leaving it so it more or less viewed as if it were a livestream.
We did the same thing the day after, quickly filming Johree and I, as we left the Corsair, walking down the gangplank onto the spaceport grounds.
This video was all about my first impressions of New Haven, which I genuinely was seeing for the first time, having stayed aboard until it was time to start filming precisely for this reason.
I wanted authenticity rather than slick production values.
This was me, the ordinary guy from Oklahoma who was about to marry an alien prince and who’d become the first human colonist of New Haven.
We walked from the spaceport while Johree explained how small the colony was right now, lacking even a jail or a house for us to live in.
Then we walked down the small main street, which was made of packed dirt, and I did a quick 360 pan to show everything that was actually there, which, as he’d said, was mostly a whole lot of nothing.
But we talked about what was coming soon to the colony with the infrastructure that was going to be built.
“We won’t build any particular building until we have staffing for it,” Johree explained, “so while the schoolhouse is a priority, its lot will remain vacant until we have a schoolteacher. In the meantime, the very few school-aged children we have are taking virtual lessons together, which are being taught by Bob.”
“So, kind of like the kids in the Australian Outback,” I said, remembering a documentary I’d seen in the third grade where the kids there often either did lessons via radio or attended an online school.
How true that still was, I had no idea, but I figured it would give folks back on Earth a frame of reference that was both familiar and successful.
“What’s being built here?” I asked, pointing to a bot that was building walls within an outlined perimeter marked with lasers put down by some of the Corsair’s crew in order to assist the colony’s growth.
“That’s our new sheriff’s office and jail,” Johree replied smoothly.
“Crime is pretty nonexistent, but we do get a few rowdy drunks who need to sleep things off, and if we ever do need to actually detain someone, it’s best to be prepared in advance.
The grid laid out across from it will be our courthouse.
Right now, I’ll perform the services of a judge, and if a trial is required, colonists will be selected at random for jury duty. ”
We came to a stop, and he pointed to a large area next to the courthouse. It was marked off, though strangely it appeared to have no back corners.
“Right here is where we’ll build our manse.”
“You mean like an actual mansion?” I squeaked, and he laughed.
“Nothing so fancy that you’re not comfortable living in it. I thought we could discuss what we need to have, as it will be the official governor’s residence and the home of two princes and their future offspring, and come up with something you’re happy with.”
“Offspring, now that’s a subject I’m sure our viewers will be interested to hear about. The Mylos adopt, but you’re the biological offspring of both your fathers, right?”
“Correct. Our scientists have a way to combine DNA to create offspring, whether the parents are two different genders or not. The embryo is then gestated in an artificial womb at a neonatal facility located within the hospital’s grounds.
Right now, all we have is a clinic with a single doctor, so that service can only be done offworld at the moment.
We do have plans to build a hospital, but first, we need colonists with the required skills to move here.
They will have an actual hand in designing the hospital so it fits the needs of the colony and their respective fields. ”
“You heard him. We need doctors, paramedics, nurses, teachers, and all kinds of folks. Probably firefighters too.” Johree nodded that this was true.
“So, if you’re looking for friendly neighbors, a place to call your own, and a job with unlimited promotion potential, get your butts down to your local center to apply.
Married couples are welcome too! Now, I’m hungry, so we’ll say good-bye so we can go grab some grub. ”
Kiprr stopped recording. “This will no doubt get even more people to apply, both human and Dragonii!”
“I sure hope so.”
“It would be good if we get the professionals we need in addition to more land claimants,” Johree replied. “The colony needs them if it is to become successful.” He smiled at me. “Now, I believe my mate just said he was hungry.”
“I am, and I believe you said we had a house to talk about.”
No way was I going to let him weasel out of me getting my two cents in on that. There had to be official function rooms and fancy guest rooms, sure, but the main living part? I wanted that to be as ordinary as possible.