The Library, part 2

Yesterday, we saw that Rei had gathered up an enormous workforce and constructed Rome's library when she wasn't even paying attention. Imagine her shock and surprise. Here is the second part of the story from the beginning of The Ark Lords whereupon Rome discovers her dream has already partially become a reality:

“Come on,” Rei said, taking Aason with him toward the rear. “I want to show you the research lab.”
     Rei led Rome down an aerogel-coated corridor into a brightly lit room with a Vuduri workstation, a planetarium-style holographic projector and cabinets, shelving and the like. On the large desk, the 19 data slabs and Trabunel’s journal sat as if they were patiently waiting for her attention.
     Rome couldn’t contain her smile. She walked around the room running her hands over the counter tops, caressing the input surface of the workstation.
     Aason hopped up on one of the chairs and began to swivel the seat around. Rome started to say something but as she did, she brushed her hand along the leg of her jumpsuit and felt a small lump there. She had put the Deucadon’s memory stick in her pocket because she had promised Bukky she would keep it close. Being here, in this room, now made it seem like she had somehow predicted the future. She reached in her pocket and took out the memory stick and set it down next to the data slabs and the journal.
     “What is that, Mommy?” Aason asked as he spun the chair around and around.
     “It’s a memory stick from the Deucadons,” Rome said. She gazed admiringly at the variety of information sources spread across the table. “Look,” she said to Rei, pointing to the accumulated items. “Now all we need are the Vuduri records.”
     “You can start, though, right?” Rei asked hopefully.
     “Of course,” Rome replied. She turned and strode over to Rei and hugged him and kissed him deeply. “This is the most amazing, incredible thing that anyone has ever done for me. You are a treasure!”
     “I wouldn’t thank me just yet,” Rei said, amused. “You have a he…,” Rei glanced down at Aason. “A heck of a lot of work ahead of you.”

Notice that there were only 19 data slabs. In reality, the set should have contained 20. What happened to the 20th slab? This becomes the driving force behind the first half of the book.

Tomorrow, we get to meet MINIMCOM Junior for the very first time.