Ultimate pod
I took to bringing a book to lunch and ignoring the stares and whispers. I'd have listened to music too, but we weren't allowed to use our communicators in the school. And I noticed that they were becoming fewer as I showed less interest in my classmates. Thank heaven school was almost over, though. On Thursday, I was dragging. It took more effort than I'd thought it would to act like I didn't care what anybody thought of me. I was looking forward to ballet, though, we had a dress rehearsal in the studio, we'd have one more tomorrow afternoon in our usual venue, and the performance would be Saturday night. Our tutus were my favorites so far; the bodice was black, with an illusion mesh insert that made the sweetheart neckline look more daring than it was, the pancake tutu had the hoop underneath to maintain the shape and shaded out from graphite gray by the body to white at the edges, delicate sparkling silver lace, and dainty silver stars, perfect for the dreamy Le Reve music. Miles had given me a new pair of Peterovs for my birthday, the beautiful white ones that looked like a million bucks. We had more of the little sparking stars on hairpins, and I had never felt more elegant or confident. The first dress rehearsal went well, and I was looking forward to the second when I came out of school, but Alan and the family car were nowhere to be seen. Shit. What else could go wrong?
"Hey, kid," a familiar energetic voice called, and my head snapped around to see Uncle Tony leaning against one of his eye-catching prototypes, casually parked in the fire lane. I hurried over for a hug--it felt fantastic to see somebody who was pleased to see me too--and to admire the pod. It was so sleek that it looked like it was moving even when it was passive at the curb, very nicely shaped, violet pearl paint that faded up to a silvery lavender at the roof part, which had a huge moonroof. The glass was discreetly tinted dark gray, and when he opened it up, the interior was a pearl silk.
"Wow, Uncle Tony, that's exceptional, even for you," I said admiringly.
"Yeah, it took a bit longer than I expected, this being a prototype, it's got all kinds of bells and whistles. We managed to make the silk upholstery durable and water and stain resistant while keeping its look and feel, and we used etched titanium throughout for style, strength, and safety. The paint is vibranium based, so it's almost impossible to damage. Cutting edge guidance and safety system, it'll drive itself back to the shop if it needs any work, top of the line entertainment system, perfect climate control, and the best part is that this function sends the pod away to park itself. You press the button on the fob and simply wait for it to find you. Directions are voice activated, just speak the address, no need for manual entry. It's got an account that automatically pays any parking fees. The first generation of the new guidance module is in my pod and Ann's, this is second gen." He showed me the features, the array was staggering. I listened to more as he described them. "What do you think, sweetie?" he finally asked.
"Words fail me," I said honestly.
"Excellent," he said, preening a little. I laughed. "Sorry I didn't get it done for your birthday, but but I've been fiddling with bits of it, I wanted it to be perfect. It's the first pod I've made in years that's completely my own design and fabrication. A true Tony Stark original."
"Wait, what?" I asked stupidly.
"Come on, Lys, you didn't think you wouldn't be getting one of these for your 16th, did you?" he asked impatiently. "I have to admit that it was really fun to get my hands dirty again. I want your notes on its performance. Maybe I'll put it into production. Maybe not, I'd have to compromise a lot to get the price to the right point, even for the luxury market." We stood and contemplated it. I heard whispers as other students edged in for a closer look.
"Thanks, Uncle Tony," I said, giving him another hug. He squeezed back. "This is.... amazing. Beyond amazing."
"Amazing car for an amazing niece," he said briskly. "Your dance bag is in the back, you'd better get a move on. I'm looking forward to your recital tomorrow night. I've still got to upload the AI, but I can do that remotely." He patted my back, then let me go, nudging me forward before taking my backpack and opening the trunk, dropping it in . The gull-wing door opened smoothly and silently and I sat in the seat. Amazingly comfortable. Uncle Tony laughed and flipped me the fob. The door automatically whispered close, and I named the high school I needed to get to. The pod waited for the light, then set off smoothly, leaving my gaping classmates in the dust. In the rearview camera, I saw Uncle Tony smirk and his own pod come up. I spent the rest of the short drive checking out the features hands-on, presetting the music stations and my favorite video channels. The drive to the theater was way too short. I reluctantly exited, feeling the smooth silk of the upholstery as I slid out, took my dance bag and the tutu out of the trunk, and hit the fob. Smoothly and silently, the pod slid away to arrange itself just so in the parking lot.
Bemused, I found my way into the school and went straight to the theater, where I changed backstage and did my hair and makeup, lovingly putting the new Peterovs on my feet. The rehearsal went smoothly, with minimal corrections needed. Ms Kerry didn't own the largest studio or employ the most teachers, but it was one of the best in town and she had a great reputation, with the wait list to prove it. I sidled up to my cousin while the class before ours did their run through. "So guess who showed up at my school this afternoon?" I asked quietly.
"No idea," Miles said, looking at me with interest.
"Uncle Tony. With a new pod, just for me."
"No way! What does it look like?" Quietly, I told him. His face was a mixture of envy and relief for me.
"Suddenly I feel like I've got an old clunker, and mine was top of the line two years ago. I can't wait to see it. Uncle Tony's cars are the best in the country."
"I thought you might know something about this."
Miles studied my face. "You don't think he was telling you the truth?"
"Uncle Tony is a slippery one," I said, and he nodded. "I believe that he did the work on it, it's obviously new and cutting edge, it just screams his aesthetic," I shivered with pleasure at the thought of all the awesomeness packed into that tiny pod "but I don't believe for a second it was supposed to be ready for my birthday. His showing up at school was pretty cool, though."
"I'll ask Dad," Miles offered. "He works with Uncle Tony, he'll know. I want to see it after rehearsal, so wait for me." I agreed with pleasure, then it was our class's turn on stage. My partner, Brian, actually spoke to me, for the first time in two weeks.
"I didn't know you were related to Tony Stark," he muttered as I extended.
"He's my uncle," I breathed, balancing carefully until he lifted me.
"No talking," Ms Kerry yelled.
After we finished and got our notes--not many, she was very pleased with our class--we were dismissed and I raced backstage, carefully taking off my shoes and tutu, taking out the stars but not bothering to take off the makeup or undo my hair. I threw on my uniform again and bolted out to the curb, where Miles, Deri, and Van were chatting.
"Did Uncle Tony really make you a pod?" Deri demanded to know. I smiled with pleasure and hit the fob. My little pod purred up; it was a curiously appealing sound, I had been too stupefied to notice before, and had to be an audio enhancement since pods were noiseless unless there was something really wrong with their propulsion systems. We beheld its magnificence in silence.
"Jeeze," Miles finally said, and I hit the button to open the door.
"I'm so jealous," Deri said. I hugged her.
"You've got your 16th to look forward to," I said. "Mom and Dad will be sure to get you one too."
The longing on her face was wiped away with a smirk. "Bet the kids at school just about shit themselves sideways," she said, and there was a throat being cleared. Killjoy Alan.
"I didn't look, actually," I said, and all three of them laughed.
"I wouldn't either," Van said.
"I'm coming up tomorrow for a better look," Miles said, and shook his head. "I've got to walk over to mine." I grinned as he sloped off, and carefully put my things in the spotless, perfect trunk.
"Can I play with it at home?" Deri asked. "I can't drive it, the parents would have enough cows to restart the dairy, just play with all the buttons?"
"Sure," I said, eager to share my good fortune with somebody. "I'll see you at home," I settled in as she and Van trudged off to the family car, and activated the guidance system. "Wayne Manor."
The AI spoke in Uncle Tony's voice. "Just say 'Home,' Lys," AI Tony directed. I laughed as it told me that I had the option of the guidance system pointing out landmarks and items of interest if I wanted, so I left it on. AI Tony's snark was perfect, and I was still laughing as the pod set down in front of the mansion. "The owner's manual has downloaded to your email account," AI Tony said before the subtle lighting came up and the door nearest the mansion opened. "Read it, love it, live it."
"Go park yourself in the garage," I told it fondly.
"Time to get a little shut-eye," AI Tony said, and yawned. I was grinning as the pod purred down the road to the garage and I turned for the house. I bolted upstairs for a shower, and when I went downstairs again, the family had started to gather. Grandpa was there with Aunt Amy.
"I didn't know you were coming back so soon," I said, coming up for a hug.
"Well, I've made some changes," she said as we sat down on a sofa together and Alan handed her a martini and me a club soda and lime. "I resigned from the forest service and got a job here with the Parks department. I'll be concentrating on urban forestry, replanting areas, extending the trees into the city as much as possible. Central Park will be my first area of concentration."
"That sounds interesting," I said, sipping my drink. I was so excited about the rehearsal and my new pod (ok, mostly the pod) that I'd neglected my hydration."Will you be here for the recital tomorrow?"
"Sure am," she said, putting her arm around my shoulder. "I can't wait for the opportunity to get to know you girls." Then Deri came in and we got more information; she was staying with us until her things were shipped from the west coast and she could find a place of her own. Then the parents came in.
"How were your days, girls?" Dad asked, relaxing into his favorite chair. "Ready to go for tomorrow night?"
"Rehearsal was great," I said. Then my lips curved up. "Uncle Tony showed up with a pod for me. Thank you."
"That was fast," Dad said, then he smiled at me. "Do you like it?"
"Yeah," I said at the dumb question. "It's leagues better than anything on the road so far. And its aerial ride is awesome."
"That good?" Dad asked indulgently, which irritated me. To be fair, since the party, most of everything that my parents did irritated me, and he didn't even have the wit to pretend, like Uncle Tony, that this had been actually planned or that he'd bothered with any input.
"It's got stuff that he doesn't even have in his own pod," I said. "So, yeah. It's so beautiful and perfect."
"I can't wait to see this," Grandpa said, grinning at me, but it would have to wait for dinner. Alan summoned us, and for the first time in a couple of weeks, I was really hungry. We all ate a little faster than usual, then I led the family out to the drive, where I stopped.
"Where's your pod, Lys?" Mom asked, puzzled. I held up a finger and hit the fob, and quickly the pod purred up. In the lower light of the setting sun, the paint had a faint iridescence to it.
"It's so gorgeous, Lys," Deri groaned.
"Wow," Grandpa said, grinning like a fiendish leprechaun. "That is stunning, Lys."
"Isn't it?" I said eagerly, and opened the door.
"Where'd Tony catch up to you?" Grandpa asked as everybody else stampeded over for a look inside.
"After school," I said blissfully. Grandpa laughed. Then Mom called me over to explain some of the features, including the safety system, which included not only physical safety features but also alarms, automatic messaging to my parents if the pod was damaged in an accident, and an emergency signal to the authorities.
"It's really quite beautiful," Mom said. I could tell she was practically strangling on the urge to say it was far too extravagant for a teenager, but to her credit, the words didn't escape her teeth. She was right, probably, but I didn't care. The registration of the pod was in my name, and if you could afford the pod, the law let you have legal ownership of it, so there really wasn't anything she could do about it.
I let Deri sit in the seat and brought up AI Tony, which was interactive, not just a set of responses to commands, which pointed out some of the features, including the projection of a little avatar that looked exactly like Uncle Tony. "GODS, Lys, this is amazing!" she said.
"Well, of course," AI Tony said, the avatar buffing its fingernails. I basked in the reflected glory of the pod for awhile longer as everyone examined it, then finally we went back inside; I watched my pod glide off back down to the garage, then rejoined the family in the library for tea and cookies. It was the first day since the party that I wasn't seething, furious, hurt, or at least highly irritated with my parents. With my wonderful pod, the recital tomorrow night, and the end of school looming, I felt that things were finally looking up.