Ugh. It was not a good morning. I could already feel it; my thoughts swirled sluggishly in my mind, and my body only barely responded to my commands.

I almost fell out of bed. Again. "Jeanette."

She was here. "Yes, Mistress." She slid my glasses gently over my face so I could see her.

"I don't think I can go in today."

Jeanette already had her hand pressed to my forehead, and she added her second to my wrist. "I believe you are correct. Shall I go see to your breakfast?"

I did not feel like eating. "Just toast, if anything. And tea, not coffee." Tea helped when you were sick, or so I was told. "Let Mom and Dad know, if they are home."

I couldn't remember which parent was supposed to be home today.

I hated this. I couldn't even get up, let alone do anything, and it sucked. Whatever, I couldn't even fight it today; time to just lay back and possibly sleep more. Somehow, I still felt tired. And cold, because of course I felt cold.

My laptop was... somewhere. I wasn't going to work; I just wanted to watch some movies or videos or something. Come to think of it, I hadn't overdone myself last night. I'd kept my thoughts in check, so why was I feeling like this now? I thought I was getting better!

Jeanette came back in, her silver service filled to the brim with a cup of tea, a small plate with two pieces of toast on it, and three different pill bottles, one of which I was sure was an over-the-counter vitamin, yet not the vitamin Jeanette had me taking daily.

"I suspect what you are thinking. No matter how well you do in controlling your thoughts, some days of lessened health will occur."
She set the service down on my desk and popped each bottle in turn. Then she turned to me, pills in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

I knew how this argument was going to go, so I just took the pills and popped them in; the bottle was open by the time I reached for it. I took enough water to make sure I didn't taste the things because no matter what any person or pharmacy did, pills always tasted bitter or nasty.

Jeanette grabbed the bottle back, but set it on the nightstand, close enough that I could reach it myself if I sat up. Good enough.

Toast, huh? It looked like there was more on it than butter - and not much butter. But toast probably wouldn't upset anything. Jeanette pulled the bed tray out from behind my bed, which was apparently where she stored it now, and set it over my feet.

The she fluffed my pillows and pulled me up so I was halfway sitting. Which was useful since I didn't really feel like I could do that much myself.

The toast and tea were placed in reach. I took a sip; the tea was black but spiced with something different. Something I couldn't recognize, but it gave the liquid a little zing.

The toast also had some zing - just a little. My stomach seemed to like it, so I continued.

My laptop was placed in front of me, already on.

"Did Jill call?"

"She has not. I presume she will call at a more acceptable hour."

That was fair; it was only seven-ish. I had half expected she would call or come back since she had nowhere else to go, and so far, the only chair she could use to fast charge herself was here.

"Let me know when she does. Well, assuming she doesn't call me directly." My bots were spoiled for choice; they could call me directly on my cell, my parents on theirs, or call the house line. Why we still have a house line in today's day and age? Anyone's guess. I'd asked before and just gotten a blank stare back.

If my parents wanted to pay the extra money, that was their decision.

It was still weird to think that we had all the money we needed now. Or rather, I did.

"Jeanette, can I trouble you to get the functional drone from the lab?" Since I couldn't move at the moment, I could at least look around locally; maybe something here would be more interesting than cat videos or whatever else.

"Certainly. I shall return quickly. Do your best to ingest your toast."

Right, ingesting. I pulled my phone close. No messages or calls, of course, and I had none to make, but the internet access beckoned. No cats, but there were videos of tech demos and do-it-yourself stuff in my recommended; since my body hated me, it wouldn't mind me hating it back and engaging my brain a little.

Hmm, new central processing unit architecture... A bit too fine for the tools I had on hand, but I could work on it. Some new computer architecture would always be handy. New innovations in the fields of robotics, nothing near what I could do... oh! Some new software security innovations! That might be worth looking into.

Maybe I could convince Mom to let me go to one of these conventions, I could learn so much there. I'd probably have to wait until adulthood, though; Mom wasn't likely to let me go across the world alone.

Maybe I could convince my friends to go if family didn't want to? I had the money to pay for all of us. I had the money to pay for all of us family and friend alike - the amount of money still wasn't sinking in.

Maybe I'd buy a mansion in Los Angeles or something, walk around beverly hills in ripped up clothes and find call myself Elly May.

A chime sounded on my phone. It was a good chime; it was the sound of victory. Well, hopefully.

The chime was a notification from my computer that something had finished, and it was easy to guess what it was. The only thing I still had cooking was the tunneling unit under my lab, and that could only mean that it was finished.

Some careful tunneling under our property to get more space to work while dodging plumbing and other pipes routed through and whatever else. Even with just the footprint of the property we owned, and going down past our home's basement, there was a lot of space to be had... and it wasn't illegal to do; I'd checked.

So long as you took care not to kill any city infrastructure, it was possible to dig as much as you wanted. I wouldn't of course, because I didn't want everything to come crashing down, but that was what earthquake rated supports were for, right?

Getting the basics set up had taken weeks, but Crash had been working on it in between all his constant tweaking of my jet. Along with possibly anything else that moved on the property; I didn't ask. I guess I better check.

I was right on the notification, and there was a map I could bring up; the actual tunneling wasn't finished, just the first stage of it, where we went a few floors down under the lab itself.

A bit behind schedule, but that was fine; two floors well under the lab was actually more than enough space for now, and would be well protected from most forms of attack - not that I expected any attacks, but better safe than sorry. My bots still wanted more automated turrets and knockout gas. I should double check into how to set up bracing underground, though. A second check to make sure casa del Campbell didn't just slide into a hole I made would not go amiss.

I could start moving the lab proper underground, though, and use more of the above ground space as a hangar for stuff, like the jet. Or the new power armor I'd be making, starting today.

Well, tomorrow now. I didn't feel like doing anything today. As for Mom and Dad? Well, they knew what they had been getting into; they wouldn't suddenly question the appearance of stairs down and a nice new space that looked exactly like the one they set up for me. At least, I hoped they wouldn't.

I'd started all this well before Mom and I had our talk, and it had honestly slipped my mind more than once since then. There was a tiny, non-zero chance I would get grounded or worse, asked to fill it all back in. That would not be cool.

A knock on the door, and Jeanette walked in after a moment, bearing gifts. I could see Ian behind her, looking in. When he saw me still in bed, he waved and moved on, the little brat. I could be dying in here, for all he knew.

I kinda felt like I might be, if I were honest with myself. Not a lot of pain, but I was just so tired...

"You are working," Jeanette stated, a small amount of disapproval clear in her voice, and her eyes flicking from my phone to the half-eaten toast. Right.

"Only checking notifications. The mark 1 is done with its primary task."

"You are not calling your machine that," Jeanette accused.

"I'm willing to name it something better - as soon as someone comes up with one." I sucked at naming things, and everyone knew it. Even worse, they didn't hesitate to tell me so. What was wrong with 'mark 1 drillmaster'? It was the master of drilling, and could do everything related to drilling holes! But no, for some reason that name was bad and not marketable.

Whatever.

Jeanette cleared space on the tray by holding the toast out in front of me and removing the plate. I dutifully bit into the toast and held it while she set everything up.

I let my phone go; the bed would hold it fine, and finished off the toast and tea. The food sat like lead in my stomach, but thankfully, it showed no hint of wanting to come back up.

My laptop was up, and my favorite video site was loaded when Jeanette straightened and stepped away. I gave her a bit of a stink-eye and headed for the movie streaming service instead. That video site would inevitably devolve into cute furry animals, and my entire day would be lost if that happened. Movies were safer, and if I needed, I could ignore one entirely.

Oh, there was a horror movie that screamed Saturday morning silliness just from the thumbnail provided. And it had a science fiction twist! I was totally watching this, brightly lit morning or not. Just as soon as I found my glasses.

A knock sounded on the door. It was probably Ian, and I should see what the little spore wanted. "Come in."

It was Dad. He came in and shut the door, leaning against it. "Hey. Came to check on you."

So he must be the one home today... or more home than Mom, at least. They tended to tag team, with one of them being more available than the other. "I feel awful, but no more awful than any other time I felt awful. I don't need to go to the hospital, at least."

Dad frowned, then pulled up a chair. "If you feel like that, you should tell me immediately."

He held a hand out, and I knew the drill. I put my forehead in it. "I told Jeanette to tell you. To tell the truth, I think getting down the stairs right now would be rough."

I was lucky I hadn't needed to pee just yet; there was no way at all I could get up without help. I wasn't going to say it outright though.

Dad pulled his hand away. "No fever at least. What's wrong exactly?"

I knew it was coming, but I still had to think a little - to plan what I intended to say. Dad wanted to know the particulars: "I feel bone tired. Like I've been at practice all day, and we did scrimmages after running. everything takes effort, and my muscles feel out of energy."

Dad only nodded. "Alright. I'll be home today, so if you need anything from me, tell me. Phone me if you have to, I'll have my cell on me. Go ahead and get some rest."

Without another word, he got up, placed the chair back under my desk, and left. Almost as if he were uncomfortable being here.

I kind of got it since my room did not look anything like my room had just a few months ago; my friends had helped me redecorate. There were a few hints here to where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, if one knew where to look.

Gone were the trophies and football posters. when I got a chance, I'd be repainting the place again, which Dad would have to help me with. That wouldn't make him happy, I was sure.

Jeanette stepped forward, and poured some more tea. It steamed in the cup. "You didn't mention a few things to your father."

"I didn't," I admitted. She knew me so well, it was uncanny, even if I'd basically built her for exactly this. In body at least; but she took to it so well. "It'll be fine."

Dad didn't need to know how bad a shape my mind was in right now; everything was a fog - nice and slow. I mean, I'd experienced worse, but this was going to be a very not good, no fun day. He knew all the important parts.

"How is it outside?"

Jeanette answered immediately. "Partly cloudy with a current temperature of sixty-one degrees. A high of sixty-eight is expected, and if you were to step outside, you would see sun and brilliant skies."

Then it should be fine to open the window. "Open the window, please? You have the drone?"

Jeanette produced the small device, setting it down on the bed before striding around it (and me) to open my window.

A breeze hit my face as soon as the window slid up; bringing with it the slight smell of old leaves and something else. Something herbal? Like dried potpouri almost.

Jeanette sniffed delicately, picking up the scent as well. She turned and shrugged. "It seems the fading of our grass has some benefits."

That was the grass? It was an odd smell, but not an unpleasant one. "Right, we should grab a sample."

That grass was Jeeves's work, and when I'd tested it before, it seemed fine, but with it making a weird non-grass smell I'd better do it again.

"I shall do so. You should rest. I shall also inform your friends of your condition, with your permission."

Ah, she wanted to use my phone. "Sure, go ahead." I could use the laptop to control the drone just as easily as my phone, and if I fell asleep the thing might wake me up. Jeanette left me to my own devices, literally. I had no doubt that if I needed her, a shout would see her here.

A click, and then a few more, and the drone rose evenly above my bed; it was incredibly steady, even with me inputting commands with keys. There was an AI assisting me somewhere, or a smart system at the very least. Probably the system in the lab, but I wasn't going to ask or question it.

Not when the view was both humble and breathtaking; the sun was right where it should be, and it was so bright I could swear that I felt it, even as the slightly bitter wind cut across me again.

I knew it wasn't that cold, but my body decided to shiver anyway, and I took a moment to gather my blanket back around me. The drone hovered, waiting for me, the view of the sky panning down into one of our street.

I could see agent Sands car in front of our house, and just slightly down and on the other side, the car that could only belong to Mom's friend barely in view. I wonder how they'd take the news that I was staying home.

Whatever, I wasn't going to tell them.

Jeanette had called it; I could see the two R's walking side by side down the street toward my house in the distance. I could even see the glances they were giving each other; why hadn't I thought of it before?

My eyes were trash, but with some form of actual mechanical or digital help behind them, I could see much farther. Of course, the cost would be looking like a dope, but it might be worth it? I wrote a note to myself, then panned the drone left. There was no need to buzz my friends since Jeanette would be informing them of my illness soon enough.

Some cars, some other kids walking toward school... and another car that seemed out of place, all the way down at the end of the street. A car I didn't recognize at all among those of the neighborhood, and while my memory certainly wasn't complete, it was pretty good.

The drone could really see things quite far. Had anyone else noticed? Was I simply being too suspicious? I probably was.

The microphone (this one had a microphone! An improvement from the model it was based after) picked up the footsteps on the porch and the knock. I hit the up arrow; there was no need to listen to that conversation.

A hundred feet up, I could see everything, from one end of the town to the other. I could even see the junkyard in the distance, right on the outskirts.

All that wonderful metal, just rusting away... the plastic I could probably repurpose somehow, even before my long-term plans came to fruition... maybe I should buy it? I made another note.

This was relaxing, just watching this. Almost like the world wasn't passing me by right now as my stupid body betrayed me again. This drone could even follow the birds as they flew around - I typed the command to give the camera free reign, and it started following the motions all on its own.

Well, it did prove the point that I was getting assistance from artificial intelligence.

It was a relief, honestly, that I didn't need to keep piloting it. I could just lean back and relax and watch, and when the battery got low, the device would simply reverse course and pilot itself back where it came from, like it was supposed to.

Even if it didn't, and it crashed? I could just print another one, so long as my printer had power. Crash would put it together, like he had this one. He liked building things that moved.

Huh, was that a hawk, gliding around? It was too far away for even the camera to make out, but the camera had a zoom... which was too far away from me to mess with now. So tired....

A clatter; what was that? Oh, the drone. It had fallen off the bed, back towards the window. The sun was up, and the day truly started. I stretched out, fully releasing the huddle in my blankets. The breeze from the window was still cold, though the scent was gone.

I still felt far too tired and worn out, but I had a little more energy. Which was a good thing, because now I needed to take my apparently long delayed trip to the bathroom.

If only the room would stop spinning. Right, that was what I had a maid for: "Jeanette!"

My door was solid, but my android would hear me through it... and right on cue, I could hear her walking up the stairs. From the sound of things, she wasn't in a rush.

I was at least sitting up by the time my android arrived, and she immediately took an arm and wrapped herself around it. "Good afternoon, Mistress Min. Feeling somewhat better, I see."

So it was after twelve; good to know. "Good afternoon. I hope so. I certainly feel more like a water balloon must than this morning."

It was okay because Jeanette wouldn't judge, no matter what happened. Even if she had to wash my sheets - thankfully, she wouldn't today.

Well, not so far, the day was young.

Jeanette followed me in. "Is anyone here?"

Dad could have left for whatever reason, After all.

"Your father is still here, watching television downstairs with a rather large sandwich set before him. He insisted on making it himself."

Right, what dad called a 'dagwood'. A game must be either on the way or on. "Yeah, he does that sometimes." I managed to get everything off and away, and sit down.

"It is the first time your father has made such a foodstuff since my birth," Jeanette answered. "Your father usually asks Jeeves to make a lunch for him when he is home, and Jeeves complies."

Made sense. "What is Jeeves doing now, then?" I finished up, but needed help standing.

"Working on the perfect lunch for you," Jeanette answered. "I was informed it was a light soup and some fresh bread."

That sounded good actually, and while I didn't feel hungry, I should probably eat anyway. "I don't think I can make it downstairs just yet, even with your help."

My legs were still rubbery.

"Right, I can try it. In my room, of course."

"Of course," Jeanette replied, helping me again with a sort of detached air, as if this were a normal day. I really hoped days like this wouldn't become normal, no matter how frequent they were now.

She got me up and over to my bed again, but I was in no hurry to get back into it. Any exercise was better than none, so just sitting up and swinging my legs around was the play of the day. "Jeanette, can you check the drone for damage? It got some wonderful shots earlier, but I fell asleep on it."

"Certainly." She stepped around the bed to the far side and picked it up, putting it back on the bed. I craned my neck over; it looked fine to me.

"It seems operational, however its battery is at less than one percent. I shall take it with me and charge it."

"Works for me."

My android took the machine and left with a soft "I shall return promptly," and shut the door. I was left alone with my laptop; I shook it out with the track pad, and took a look.

No programs open, even though I'd left the drone piloting program on; the laptop ws in a perfect idle state, with nothing working in the background. Which was most suspicious.

Given the current state of malware, viruses, and cookies infesting all computer systems in this day and age, despite the best programs designed to combat them, even I should have at least some issues or glitches by now. It was nearly impossible to have a computer perform perfectly, given a little time on the internet.

Unless, of course, you had a bevy of artificial intelligence looking after you. The real question would be when they had the time for it? I kept my laptop off and locked when not in use. Well, most of the time. I had fallen asleep this time, after all.

Whatever, it was only Hal. Was Hal a smart system or a true AI by this point? I hadn't really designed him to be a true AI like Jeeves or Jeanette, just a computerized assistant to help me manage some of the automated functions of my technology.

I didn't really like the idea; without a body, Hal wasn't like my other people; he was less limited in some ways and might lack the understanding needed to deal with people in ways that precluded the 'kill all humans' trope.

I had limited him in a few ways, such as making sure he couldn't spam copies of himself everywhere; I should really check those again and make sure, since he was now apparently anticipating me.

Just like that, I was back to thinking too hard. But I'd given Hal his name for a reason; it was a good reminder, and having a program go from simply chasing down the answers to your questions or taking verbal commands to digitally push a button to sweeping your computers for malware or shutting down programs without being asked was a flag I'd be stupid to ignore.

I'd handle it a bit later, when I wasn't feeling so terribly. I'd also not say anything, so as to keep the element of surprise. I leaned back into my pillows and settled my laptop where its name claimed it was supposed to be, and pulled up the web browser. Maybe I'd watch some tech demos.

Jeanette returned, her service back in hand; she opened my door while balancing the tray in one hand like a true champion, and set it down.

Then she broke out an apron, and layered it over both my blankets and myself. "You may stay as you are; I shall feed you."

That was... weird. "I think I can still hold a spoon, as bad as I am right now."

"That is immaterial. I can hold a spoon steady, and currently, that might prove challenging for you."

I held my hand out; she wasn't wrong, my normally steady hands were shaking, ever so lightly. It wasn't just a matter of being cold, either. I knew it, and Jeanette knew it.

This was a first, I think. I couldn't remember having the shakes before - except that first horrible week.

"I shall close the window," Jeanette told me, leaving the tray on my nightstand and crossing around the bed again.

I mourned the loss of fresh air briefly, but it was for the best. My laptop opened to the correct channel to show what college tech departments were up to.

Jeanette pulled up the chair; she could sit on the bed, but I was more or less in the way. Hmm, I should reinforce my bed, just in case. Later, and another note.

Jeanette looked at my notes as she leaned forward, spoon in her very steady hand, her eyes flashing. "I see you have remained somewhat active."

I knew she meant mentally, but that one stung a little. I pushed it down. "Can't help it, No matter how hard I try, it's impossible to just not think." The old 'think of nothing' schtick was stupid.

The soup was a still hot but not too hot tomato soup with some garlic, basil, onion, and something else in it. It was tasty; when I looked, I could see what appeared to be small bits of bread floating in the substance.

There was also more tea, and a small loaf of bread on the side with some kind of jam smeared on it. Blackberry? I loved blackberry!
Maybe later. This soup was good, but at this pace, It would take me five hours to finish off the bowl. My stomach definitely wanted me to finish off the bowl.

Jeanette read my mind. "There is no rush. What is that?"

She had a finger pointed at the video I had been about to click on. "Some innovations in the field of robotics. Nothing as ground-breaking as you, but something that might be cool anyway. I won't know until I see it.

"If I may recommend a site?" Jeanette asked, putting another spoon gently in my range. I nodded and glomped it.

She took a moment and typed the address one handed, the other just as steady as it grabbed more soup. It was times like this that I was a little jealous; all my androids could just do things like that at will, even Jeeves. I could barely walk and chew gum at the same time, a secret that would die with me.

I had memories of being able to do more, though; of being able to do two things at once without a problem. At least, so long as it was physical.

The site was one on... recent improvements on jet engine technology? It looked like my engine! Wait, was my engine being tested already? They had a production model?

I clicked. It was my engine, made by both an American company, which wasn't mentioned but just had to be Lockheed, and a German company I didn't know at all. They weren't showing everything, there were precious few hard numbers, but it was pretty obvious that it was my engine and calculations. I could even gauge output and fuel consumption.

They didn't know about the version powered by fusion yet, that was sitting in my lab. For the best, probably.

Even so, the scientists and engineers testing the engine for what was clearly a funding push of some kind were clearly happy and excited, all smiles and jokes. It was obviously a funding push because aside from the scientists and engineers in what was clearly an open testing hangar, there were a variety of uniformed people with lots of medals pinned on them looking on and mingling with suited people who seemed to scream money from here.

Even so, the video was public and seemed made for public consumption, and those important people were just hangers-on.

Even more so, it was my engine! People were discussing my design, and they were doing so positively! Fuel efficiency and output gains were being discussed, and there, how much weight they were saving compared to a more normal design!

"How did you find this?"

"We all scan for such things daily. I found this instance, and if you like, I can show the ones the others found," Jeanette answered.

"There are others?" I'd only released the engine so far. What else could there be?

Jeanette nodded. "There are others, though some of the media which references you and your inventions are... less clear than others."

Was that a smile? Was she punking me somehow?

Okay, I could stick a pin in this and come back. "Show me one."

Jeanette reached over and typed in an address... a paper? A specific article, from the Urban times. The urban times was the largest paper from the largest town near us; it might even be considered a city. Despite all that and their hundred year history, they were little more than a rag now.

Another victim of the times and constant movement to online content.

They had their own webpage now, and half their paper was on it every day (you had to pay for the other half). So right there in black and white and electrons was a story about the 'phantom jet' seen over local skies, complete with eyewitness accounts, some blurry pictures that could be anything, and an interview with tight lipped air traffic controllers.

The date was the day after I'd made my test flight, and I could see even from the blurry pictures that it was my jet. It could only be my jet; I'd been in the news and not even known.

"Ah, whoops. Was something like that even newsworthy?"

"It is a small town area, where little happens," Jeanette answered. "So any small excitement often gets reported. It is of no concern; the story was quickly forgotten, and few mention anything of it now."

Still, that was... a little... huh. I really needed to pay more attention, I guess. The more media exposure, the more bad elements might catch on to my existence. The more harassment I might face.

I felt something in me erode, just a bit, and slip away. It wasn't a nice feeling.

Jeanette's smile faltered, but her hands were just as steady as she typed another web address from memory.

This one was also a newspaper article, and it covered... recent advances in material science? Ah, metallurgy, and it was one of the composites I'd come up with to handle the heat generated by my jet engine; a new type of ceramic matrix composite that could be used not just for the fan blades, but some of the other parts as well.

Nickel alloys were still king for almost everything else, but I'd address that eventually.

The date for this article was three days ago, and the paper was one of those dry science articles complete with graphs - and the source was listed as 'S Green, esquire'. There was no direct mention of me, but it was clear this was my work. Well, mine and Crash's.

Once again, my androids had hidden something from me. A pleasant surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.

"All of these are proof of your positive impact on the world around you," Jeanette said. "As such, we all share and enjoy them."

That was surprisingly wholesome.

"Thank you, Jeanette. I feel like I can look at those cat videos now."

Jeanette's eyes sparkled. "I happen to like cats."

I never would have guessed; Jeanette was the sole reason my recommended was flooded with the things. At least, I was fairly sure she was.
I was tired again. I was going to fall asleep mid-lunch. Mid-galloping attack kitten, even. I wanted to, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open....