After a short car-ride in which the two kids laughed and giggled almost continuously about god knows what, Erik dropped Ben at school. He also left Peter there, in the care of one of his bodyguards. That's how Peter usually spent a few hours a day anyway, strolling with a bodyguard in some random location, usually waiting for his father to be done with work. Erik thought this would help his son feel connected to the world, rather than isolate him at home.
As soon as that was sorted, Erik quickly reached his office on New Astarte and started making preparations. He tapped a communications console and started speaking... "I'll need three drones ready for departure with fragile cargo, level 3. You'll have the manifest in two hours so make it a top priority."
He switched the channel and began again "Miss Valders, is everyone in the lab?" "Yes, sir, everyone's here." "Great." "You said something about an opportunity?" "Yes." - he started with a smile - "I think I have an idea to check on our progress. If it works as i hope, it'll offer us a breakthrough in this project."
He paused, taking a moment to think. "We need to start packing up all the essentials. Drones are ready. Is prototype 3 here as i requested?" "It's here. Ok then, we'll start loading the equipment up in the drones."
Erik was excited. He frantically moved around his office for two more minutes, gathering a few papers and getting his holo-pad, after which he took the elevator and swiftly went out of the building to sort out what's left. The next few hours were spent finding a replacement for him at the university since he knew he was about to miss on a few lectures, as well as calling the New Hippocrate hospital to start setting up a room. With all the commotion over at the hospital, it was bound he'd have to call more than once to ensure everything was in order.
Later the same day, Erik sighed with relief as his shuttle was just arriving in front of Ben's school. Not even a second passed after he got out of the vehicle until Peter jumped to hug his father and started blabbering about how the school grounds were amazing and he can't wait to start going to school too. A kiss on the head, a soft chuckle, then the two were hand in hand and patiently waiting for Ben to come out. After some small talk, Erik took both kids back to the Corvin Estate. He figured it'd be easier to ensure both children's well-being if they were in the same place.
On the alley, Erik started talking while looking at Benjen "Since your mother didn't have time to set anything up, I figured you could stay at my place, with Peter. Just until your mom is done at work." Erik knew well enough this might last for the whole weekend, but he thought it best not to worry Ben for no reason.
As they approached the house door, Erik knelt on one leg, put one arm on each boy's shoulder and said "Now, you two be good." - he shifted his eyes towards Peter - "You're the host this time, young man. Make sure your friend has everything he needs. I left the AI to set you up something to eat later, so just let it know when you're hungry. And if anything's wrong, you can call me or run over to aunt Adelline, ok?" - he paused, smiled and rubbbed both of their heads - "I'll check on you boys later tonight."
Peter nodded, then pulled Ben into the house with a gleeful smile, while Erik slowly rose and started walking back to the shuttle. What's the worst that could happen...? he thought to himself.
New Hippocrate, Planet Yuma, Coronado
late evening of 4 Aug. 824 A.S.
After three hours of tiring work, Erik Corvin and one of his colleagues, Samantha Valders, managed to set up a small pseudo-laboratory in one of the hospital's store-rooms which had been prepared for them. It was nothing fancy but it was just meant to get the job done. With this done, all they needed was a patient both in need and willing to test Erik's idea. He told a hospital nurse to announce Doctor Naggar of their situation as soon as she was out of surgery - which, unknown to him, would happen late after midnight.