Mrs. Goldbloom was leaning back in her leather desk chair making yet another call to her friend Rick Pickles, she had been trying to call Rick for the past few days but had yet to succeed. However this call seemed to be just as successful, Heidi was about to press the disconnect button when Rick Pickles' face appeared on the screen. Rick Pickles was possibly the most famous billionaire in Europe, and gaining fame in the US. He made his first million before the age of sixteen when he launched his own music web-site on the old internet. Then came a range of personal computers and the iconic 'Babble' tablet computer of the late twenty-teens, the first truly verbally interactive hand held computer. From there on Pickles could do no wrong, and made more money than he knew what to do with, the answer to that problem was to become philanthropic. Rick set up a trust fund that was simply called 'Humanity'. His many international companies continue to generate more, and more, money each year and 'Humanity' had more money to hand out in line with Rick's profits. The Humanity Trust gives money to charities, independent medical research, has built several 'free to use' hospitals, and they have several not-for-profit businesses that develop equipment, with a charter to assist humanity.
“Heidi!,” he exclaimed, “I wondered who was making all those calls.”
“Well thanks for answering Rick, how are you these days?”
“Busy,” said Rick, “It just never ends.”
“Poor you, but you know you love it, what would you do without all the challenges you take on, it's your life- blood Rick.”
“I know, and how is prime ministering going?”
“Also busy,”answered Heidi.
“So I have been seeing, but what can I do for you, I am assuming that you need something Heidi?”
“As it happens, I think I may be able to do something for you.” the Prime Minister, said, “You will have heard about all the adventures we had last summer.”
“Yes, very exciting stuff, and you actually have the Ark back?”
“We do, but one of the engineers that came here, a Professor Owen Gwilliam. Very famous engineer,” stated Heidi.
“Gwilliam, yes I have heard of him.”
“Well he has figured out what stopped that bomb in Cyprus from exploding and has a working model that needs developing, we think the same device is fitted to the Ark but we dare not interfere with that one. It's a energy suppression field. Rick, this could be very valuable to us, and the civilised world of course, so I wondered if you might like to take on the development work with the Professor.”
“No promises Heidi, but I will meet with Professor Gwilliam and get my tec-guys in to review the device.”
“No Rick,” Heidi quickly interrupted, “Meet with the Professor by all means, but I need this to be a black project, for the time being we need this to be kept under wraps, all Owen needs is development finance and an organisation to back him with resources. He dare not take it to the university as they will claim it and I don't need to tell what will happen then.”
“OK you got it, send me Gwilliam's contact details,” agreed Rick.
“That's a deal,”said Heidi, “I'll tell him to expect a call.”