Fiction logo

Leroy

The King

By Mark Stigers Published 3 years ago 7 min read
Like
Leroy
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Leroy had a patented flexible mold. He programmed a computer to produce Ten Thousand objects for your home out of good plastic in five colors, and high-dollar plastic matches any color and texture. Good quality objects were one dollar, Any high dollar object, five dollars. With Ten objects, you could make a very fancy chair. With Five objects, you could make a nice side table. Twenty objects would make a dining room table in several styles. Ten objects to make a chair. It could make All kinds of things like furniture to wine goblets at the Quick Maker store. No other store could compete with no overhead of the Quick Maker store. Furthermore, the stores would buy back by weight any plastics item it made for recycling.

Leroy set up a fully automated production line to turn out the Quick Maker stores. A semi-truck would deliver a pod with a double load of raw plastic. The Quick Maker used the extra load of plastic to make the objects needed to set up a Quick Maker store. Before you knew it, there were Quick Maker stores everywhere. A regular store had to have money in stock. The Quick Maker store had nothing to sit around waiting to be sold. All items were made on-demand. The store just had to have a load of raw plastic on hand to make all objects.

Leroy had a dream. He wanted to run a hotel in space. He set up a Quick Maker with the blueprints to assemble a space station. He had robots put together the space station. The plastic used for the station was a special blend of plastic and resin to handle the environment of space.

The Quick Maker built the space station secretly. All the major powers were kept in the loop and agreed not to say anything about the space hotel for free reservations. It was the best-known secret that countries did not leak. After a few months of this, the station was ready. Leroy bought time on all channels around the world.

The scene on the screen showed Leroy at a desk. The office was full of high-quality faux cherry wood furniture made by a Quick Maker.

“Oh hi,” Leroy said, “I have a special announcement. Call everybody over. I’ll give you a few seconds. I’m only going to say this once. I hate commercials that repeat over and over. You may want to record me. A copy of this statement is available on the website.”

After 30 seconds.

“Okay, everybody, listen up,” Leroy said, “I have made a space station hotel named Arcadia. The high luxury resort is going to be the place to go for people that want something new. Eventually, I will have a one hundred room hotel, but now I have twenty, two-person rooms. Now I know that I could ask a lot for the first time use of these facilities, but I’m not going to do that. What I’m going to do is to put ten rooms up to the highest bidder. The top ten bids take the ten rooms. That leaves me with ten rooms. These rooms I will give to ten randomly picked people from a pool of those who registered with me on my website for the next two weeks. Anybody can register for the one-week stay with meals as many times as you like, and I’m only charging a five-dollar handling fee for each bid or entry.”

The site handled as many people as it could. Thousands a minute logged on to be entered in the giveaway or make a bid on a room. Leroy made a lot of money, as millions across the globe rushed to register to get a chance at a week for two on the new luxury space station, Arcadia.

The dirigible airship, the Root Beer Float, was assembled from parts made by a Quick Maker. The ship was big, so to enclose the six large heated gas cells.

Leroy said to the Captain of the Root Beer Float, “Let me know when everything is on board. I’ll be in the Lounge.”

Leroy got a good seat by a window.

“May I get you something,” a computerized face said from the table surface display?

“Yeah,” Leroy said, “Get me an Irish cream and coffee.”

Leroy watched as people came into the Lounge, picked a table, and got comfortable.

After a while, the Captain came over and said, “Everything is on board, Sir.”

Leroy said, “Good take off as soon as you can.”

Leroy stood up and said, “We will be lifting off soon, so make sure you find a seat.”

“Hi Leroy, I’m John. Where are the acceleration couches and getting strapped down as huge engines fire massive thrust to lift us into space.”

Leroy said, “John do you know how much insurance cost for a fountain of fire liftoff? We do not need all that. We are on a dirigible. When the gangway is disconnected, and the restraining lines are released, we will float to the height of about 50 Km. From there, we will use a rocket engine. When it fires, you may not be aware of it because we believe in not subjecting our passengers to a lot of stress. If you like, you can sit at the bar on a stool at liftoff. We just want you to sit down because sometimes there is a little jostle at release.”

“Hi, this is your Captain. I want to ask everybody to sit down for few seconds. In five, four, three, two, one, release.”

There was a very loud clank. Everybody jumped at the sound. No one felt the release. Leroy called the Captain on his Arm Interface Device or an AID. A picture of the Captain appeared on the underside of his left forearm.

Leroy said, “What in the hell was that, Captain?”

The Captain said, “The main hold down clamps when they all opened at one time, they made a noise no one had thought of happening. Engineering is working on a fix now.”

Leroy said, “Well, everybody, we’re off.”

“Hi Leroy, I’m Paul. How long until we get into space?”

“Well, Paul, it will be about three hours until we fire the main engine. After that, we are in space. Then three more hours and we are on Arcadia. Until then, you have Sat Network on your tabletops. Just ask what’s on the screen? Also, there is full internet service. Just ask your table for information.”

For Leroy, the time dragged. Nothing was happening. Most were quietly watching the screen. A few people were talking softly among themselves.

“Hi, this is your Captain. Could we all take a seat in one of the main chairs? For a minute or two. Thank you.”

“Hey Leroy, I’m Alan. What are we doing now?”

“Yeah, this is main engine fire. If it goes right, you won’t feel a thing. There is a ramp-up of thrust to full throttle, then a rundown of thrust, so there is no cut-off bump. Now, if anything were to go wrong, we prefer that you are seated.”

There was the slightest of vibrations, but it was hardly detectable. After two minutes, the vibration stopped.

Leroy said, "That is it. We are on the way to Arcadia."

Everybody clapped.

“This is your Captain. You are free to float about the cabin. Let’s not have any antics. You are invited to rent a free space room for all the spacersize you can handle on Arcadia. Would you please take the guided tour of Arcadia? Plan times to visit certain objects as described in this tour.”

After two hours and forty minutes, the Root Beer Float docked with Arcadia. The Arcadia was a large spinning cylinder. There was a dock at the center of the round ends. There were two docks, one at each one of the ends.

Leroy said, “After we were docked, don’t worry about your bags. They will be delivered to your Staterooms by the robotic staff. Now, as you ride down the escalator, you will feel the weight of gravity return to you. To add a little boost to your step, the artificial gravity field is adjusted to 85% normal gravity. All games are open to first-come, first served. You will not be charged a fee to play. Except for the casino games, there is pay to play. All casino games run on chips. You will find that you can exchange Chips for any major capital monetary unit. Chips are accepted as cash anywhere on Arcadia.

The pharmacy is open. Any compound you would like to try is available. Use at your own risk. When you leave, you must comply with local law enforcement. Remember, your liberty stops at someone else’s rights. At some point, you are asked to join us here in Arcadia by getting an Arcadian passport. It is proof you were here. There may be some mail as part of the offer. We require that the passport is active at all times. Please keep it on, so we know where you are at any time. You are Plank Owners and will be so designated on your passport. You are entitled to certain rights if you come back. Such as you get first in line service. Now let’s get out there and enjoy yourself.”

Sci Fi
Like

About the Creator

Mark Stigers

One year after my birth sputnik was launched, making me a space child. I did a hitch in the Navy as a electronics tech. I worked for Hughes Aircraft Company for quite a while. I currently live in the Saguaro forest in Tucson Arizona

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments (1)

Sign in to comment
  • Mark Stigers (Author)4 months ago

    "Leroy: The King" by Mark Stigers is a captivating sci-fi story that introduces readers to the imaginative world of Leroy, an innovative inventor and entrepreneur. Leroy's creation, the Quick Maker, revolutionizes the production of various household items, providing a cost-effective and efficient way to furnish homes. The narrative seamlessly transitions from Leroy's earthbound ventures to his ambitious project in space, the luxurious space station hotel named Arcadia. The author skillfully combines elements of technology, business, and space exploration, creating a futuristic setting that feels both believable and intriguing. Leroy's character is well-developed, and his entrepreneurial spirit and vision drive the plot forward. The Quick Maker concept is a fascinating addition to the story, offering a glimpse into a world where on-demand manufacturing shapes the way people live. The transition from Leroy's initial invention to the creation of the space station is seamless and adds an exciting twist to the narrative. The introduction of various characters, such as the Captain and the passengers, provides a diverse perspective on Leroy's endeavors. The inclusion of futuristic technologies, such as Arm Interface Devices and tabletops with internet service, enhances the sci-fi atmosphere. The author's attention to detail is evident in the descriptions of Leroy's creations, the Root Beer Float airship, and the Arcadia space station. The story effectively balances technical details with engaging dialogue, keeping the reader immersed in the narrative. The plot unfolds with a sense of anticipation, especially as Leroy announces the opportunity for people to bid on rooms in Arcadia. The bidding process adds an element of suspense and competition, making the reader eager to see who will secure a spot on the luxurious space station. Overall, "Leroy: The King" is a well-crafted sci-fi story that combines technological innovation, space exploration, and entrepreneurial spirit. The narrative is engaging, and the world-building is rich and imaginative. The story leaves readers intrigued and looking forward to exploring Leroy's ventures further. ChatGPT

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.