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This chapter covers a lot of ground. One part, kindly written for us by Dark Star, that was originally intended to be a part of the Tony-Dan-Malinda story arc in this story turned into so much character development for UNIT members that it is running in Camp Bam Bam, with a link here. There are also several scenes that overlap portions of Camp Bam Bam's story, retold in part from our characters' perspective. We've tried to keep story duplication to a minimum, but there were several scenes in this chapter where direct retelling of CBB scenes were required for story continuity. The loan of characters by ACFan, Iluvantir, and Roland, and help with dialogue and continuity by all three and Dark Star, is gratefully appreciated.
Tony could not believe his luck. Monday, he'd been convicted of what amounted to be criminally negligent sexual abuse, depending on how you look on it, and given a suspended sentence that required him to do a week's work at a Clan facility. So they sent him to Camp Bam Bam, and a girl who looked like his most frenzied erotic fantasies come to life had hit on him and was presently in the process of trying to remove his tonsils with her tongue while putting her hands, and encouraging him to put his, in places that were getting them both so hot he would never have dared fantasize it.
A small part of his mind wondered why she, unlike most girls of his acquaintance, was so … abandoned … and another part was still surprised, at her strength, her openness, this strange attitude she had that she was a soldier — but all in all, he was not prepared to run dental x-rays on such an exquisite gift horse. He shifted position, and felt her shift with him, to bring their bodies into even closer contact, which hardly seemed possible.
A raucous blast over the P.A. system abruptly interrupted their intimacy. Daileass's voice came, as always, from everywhere: "This is a DEFCON 1 ALERT! This Base is now under lockdown! ALL Genesis Project Members are required to report to the main briefing room immediately. All other personnel are required to report to their quarters. If you have not been assigned to quarters yet, please respond to the mess hall. Repeat... This is a DEFON 1 ALERT! This Base..."
Malinda reacted with shock. Her eyes went wide. "Oh, shit!' she exclaimed. Then she visibly brought herself under military control, jumped up, rebuttoned her clothing and tucked it back in, quickly moved over to the table and re-arranged her weapons on her person, and strode rapidly to the door. "Malinda Casey proceeding to briefing area," she snapped out. Then, "Tony, wait here. This sounds critical. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Tony was shocked. And frustrated. He angrily punched out the plush raccoon, who persisted in smiling sweetly to him. He tried the door; it wouldn't open. He took a leak, as his arousal, dying down, made him notice bladder pressure. He swore in frustration. Then....
"Tony?" It was Daileass's voice. "They need help at the Clinic — now! Saying this has stirred up a hornet's nest would be a real understatement. You willing to help?"
The sincerity in the boy's voice had a calming effect on him. He realized how afraid the kid he'd befriended must be. "Yeah, sure," he answered after drawing a couple of deep breaths. "What's happening? Where'd Malinda go?"
"Follow the blue flashing lights," Daileass answered. "That'll lead you to the elevators and the Clinic. I'll explain as we go."
"Okay." A thought came to him. "Hey, how come you're not there? Why don't you ever show yourself?" He stepped to the door, which opened to his touch now. A blue light was moving rapidly along what he'd thought was just plastic trim on the corridor wall. He started walking in the direction it was moving.
Daileass was silent for a moment. Then, "I wish I could! It's my brothers out there, risking their lives … and my sisters, like Malinda." A pause. "I don't have any body, Tony. I got killed in a lab experiment, before we got rescued. All they could rescue of me was my brain."
"What? You mean you're just a disembodied brain in a nutrient tank somewhere, like out of a horror movie?"
"Something like that. Me and my brothers, we had human bodies but they gave us positronic brains, android's brains. That's how I can multitask to keep this place running. What there is left of me is down on the eighth level, doing what I can to help my family, wired into the computer complex here, running it."
Tony was shocked. He arrived at the elevator, which opened for him, and got on. The door closed and it began to rise.
"This is my family, Tony. We were clones, lab experiments; they were trying to make kids into soldiers. So were the others: Adam and Juan and Jory and Malinda. All of them. Adam escaped. He rescued us. He brought us all here. He made us a future, gave us a chance to be normal. Even me. I'm a disembodied brain, but I remember being a boy, and M'linda treats me like I was her little brother. They give me … we give each other … a place where we belong."
Tony was stunned. "But...."
"That's what we're doing, with all the new intakes like Dan, Tony — the people that didn't have any place to go, anyone to care. Adam offers them a chance to make a difference, to be part of a military force that's out to fix the world that threw them out."
"So what's the big alert about? Why did Malinda run out like all the forces of hell were at the gates?" Tony asked.
"Because that's too damn close to the truth," the android boy's voice was tense. "General Adams, the guy who had us created, who had us made and tortured, just called Adam."
"Huh?"
"Think of your worst nightmare, the one you thank God daily you escaped from," Daileass said quietly. "Then imagine if, after months of thinking you'd gotten away from him, he calls up to rub your nose in the face that he's still free, still doing the same crap."
"Oh, shit!" Tony got the picture now.
Without paying conscious attention, Tony was off the elevator and following the blue lights again. He ran into the Clinic.
"Ah, good, Tony!" Gordan acknowledged him as he came in, and turned back to the lady doctor he was talking to. "Shortly before the lockdown announcement," he said, "Chang looked shocked, said 'Oh, fuck!' and went storming out the door." Her expression was shocked.
"The oriental kid swore?" Tony asked. "Why's that shocking? Kids swear all the time."
"You'd have to know Chang to understand, Tony," Gordan said. "But that was as out of character for him as if, say, the Pope stripped to Bermuda shorts and started playing horseshoes with the Sistine Chapel candlesticks." The woman doctor gave a perfunctory chuckle at the image.
"Listen," he continued, "we're going to need your help. Go check the kids on the ward you were working in, and let me know what's needed."
Feeling an odd combination of being very much out of place, and reassured that he was doing something important, something bigger than himself, Tony nodded and headed for 'his' ward.
The four boys were upbeat, but Francis and Bernie felt chastened as they left the Quincy Street apartment which the boys had been staying in. They had retrieved the handful of threadbare possessions and showed off with pride how they had made do with what they were able to get. Except for the sentimental value of the one picture, Francis privately thought the trip could have been skipped. But he would never breathe a word of that to them; their pride in being able to 'make it' on their own was too great.
Without a word having been exchanged between them, he knew Bernie agreed with him: these boys needed things, and they needed them a lot. Not merely clothing to survive a Boston winter, but what spending lavishly on them would represent, in saying to them they were worth it. 'Money can't buy happiness,' he thought, 'but it can sure show the love and caring that does.'
The boys were amazed when they arrived at the mall and the two men told them to pick out what they wanted. Benny was dithering among selections until Bernie took him in hand and told him to take them all, or at least all the things he liked the best. Underwear, shirts, shoes, pants, warm jackets, gloves — the pile grew, for four boys who had had nearly nothing.
"Won't this cost a lot?" Tory asked Francis.
"Not really," Francis answered. "Yeah, it's a pretty big single purchase, but it's all stuff that you boys should have had all along and didn't. So we need to pick it up now, or over the next few days."
Pat, Francis, and Benny were all carrying heavy bags as they left the boyswear store, but Bernie was not yet done. He turned abruptly into a computer outlet store the couple had dealt with in the past, and picked up four laptops and an assortment of games. Then off to the food court, where the two men renewed their acquaintance with the wonders of boys' insatiable appetites. At last, exhausted, they were ready to head for home.
"Happy?" Bernie asked half-rhetorically. The two younger boys, both wearing their new jackets as if they bore awards personally presented by the President, flashed him big grins. "It's awesome!" Blakey exclaimed.
"I'm glad," Bernie said, smiling paternally.
Francis was in his office updating their vendor database with what he'd arranged to buy from Throxton Industries while Bernie relaxed and listened to his taste in music — classic folk rock, in the great room. Benny walked in and approached him shyly.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Of course. Unless you need to interrupt another conversation for something important, you never need to ask. What's on your mind?"
"Well, you guys been treating us like we was something special, and I got to thinkin', what can I give you in return? And there's only one thing I got that you might be interested in, and, um, well, I'd kind of like to do it." Benny was blushing, which surprised Bernie as much as the offer.
"Come here, Benny," he said, pulling him down on the couch next to him and hugging him loosely. "That's a noble offer, and I think I understand where you're coming from. And I'll be frank; you're an attractive boy, and I honestly am tempted."
"But that's what it would be: temptation. I'm married to Francis. I've promised to be true to him for life. And you are a boy, and a quite young one. Honestly, even though I know you've slept with a lot of men, I'd feel guilty about it. Beyond that, Francis and I promised to be fathers to you four, and sex partner and parent don't mix. But don't think that I'm not touched by your offer — it was sweet and generous, and I appreciate very much what you were saying in offering it. But you don't have to do anything to pay us — it's our job to provide for you, because you deserve it and because it matters to us that you four get what you deserve in life."
"Now give me a big hug, and either hang out here with me until Francis is done or go hang out with the other three, whichever you choose."
"I think I'd like to stay here with you, if that's OK," Benny said shyly.
"It's more than OK," Bernie answered. "I'd love to have you here."
"Married!" Harry was ebullient. With more confidence than he had shown up to that point in their growing relationship, he moved to caress Jonas's waist and loins, bending down in front of him.
Suddenly their commbadges went off. "What the...!" Harry exclaimed, as Jonas came alert with a less coherent exclamation.
"Condition RED ... and if someone doesn't shit the location of Joel within the next 60 seconds I'm gonna be PISSED!" came Cory's irritated voice over the commbadges.
Jonas moved into action, calling Pen, Philip, and Skipper by commbadge to find out if Joel had transported to their locations. Getting negatives, he was about to call Seth to report when....
'Stop Alert,' came Daileass' voice from the commbadges. 'I wish people would inform me of these Starfleet protocols! I beamed him and Kevin Thompson to Utah to help.'
"Well, that's intriguing," Harry said, and was about to continue when the commbadges went off again.
"I am Fleet Commander Cory Patrick Short, Patriarch of Family Clan Short of the House of Surak of Vulcan, High Councilor of Vulcan, Founder Council Crafter, Prince of the British Empire and Defender of the Commonwealth Alliance, and brother of Saint Mikey of Urbandale. Effective IMMEDIATELY: any and all transports of ANY member or ward of Family Clan Short of Vulcan or any organization working with Family Clan Short of Vulcan are required to be logged and acknowledged by the location responsible for the security of said person before any such transport may commence. This is a standing order which is not cancellable by any person or entity under my command either directly or by association. IS THAT CLEAR?
Harry and Jonas's eyebrows matched — and appeared to be having a race for the hairline. Jonas touched his commbadge. "Acknowledged, Northeast Division," he sent. Seth sent back the 'chirp' signal that he had recorded the communication, but no verbal acknowledgement.
"That's not like Seth," Harry commented.
"He's probably swamped; that went out to every division and outpost the Clan has, from the Thompson house to whatever the Dragon Division is doing down in Africa," Jonas answered, a bit shocked at Cory's intensity. "Remind me to talk to Todd tomorrow about maintaining a security log; that sort of thing is a good example of why we need some sort of protocol in place." Harry nodded.
Seeing the tension in Harry, Jonas drew him close. "Hey, that was unexpected, but settle down. It's our wedding night." Harry might have had an answer to that — but Jonas made sure his lips were otherwise occupied.
What's this all about? See Sa'ren chapter fourteen and Camp Bam Bam chapter ten for the explanation.
Todd had chosen to remain 'on guard' at the mansion during the Selectmen's meeting, using the security scanners the soon-to-be-former company Pen senior had been using had installed to keep tabs on the Clan members' homes. As the millionaire looked on smiling, Pen and Doug were telling him about the Selectmen's meeting, and about the impromptu double wedding that had followed.
"And then Spock said..." Doug was saying, when suddenly the commbadges of all three beeped an alert yet again.
"Todd," came Daileass's voice, "prepare to be beamed back to Camp Bam Bam immediately, by orders of Adam. Do not bring any weapons with you."
"What's this about?" Todd asked, startled.
"It'll be explained when you get here, bro," Daileass said. "No time to explain now!"
"No time? You can multitask better than any of us!" Todd said as he removed his sidearm and began to unstrap his ankle pistol, removing it just before he suddenly dissolved in sparkles.
Doug, Pen, and his father looked at each other, startled.
Jonas walked happily into the kitchen to find his mother cooking breakfast for five. "How was your wedding night?" he asked her with a grin.
"Wonderful! Far better than the one with your father," she answered with a happy smile. "And how was yours?"
Jonas surprised himself by blushing a little. "Just as good!" he said. "I wish I'd known how Harry felt years ago — it would have made things so much easier."
"I don't know," Maureen answered him, "but I get the impression that things worked out just the way they were supposed to, that we went through what we did to learn things we would never have learned any other way."
"You may be right," Jonas said.
This line of thought was interrupted by Josiah joining them, clad in a deep blue velour bathrobe. "Mornin', Dad!" Jonas said.
"Hearing you call me that never fails to warm my heart, son," Josiah said, as he stepped over to embrace Maureen from behind.
She snuggled into his embrace, then said, "Much as I don't want you to stop that, I need to be free to finish our first breakfast together as married couples." Josiah gave her a final gentle squeeze, freed her, and poured himself a coffee.
Jonas poured himself a glass of orange juice. "O.J., Mom? Dad?" he asked.
"Not for me, thanks."
"I'll take a small glass, please."
"Don't you and Harry need to be ready for the school bus?" Josiah asked.
"No, after missing at least one class every day so far this week, when Grandfather Sarek called Miz Kilbride to pull us out of class yesterday, she assigned Harry and me, and Philip, a paper, due Monday unless we need an extension, in place of the classes we'd missed, and excused us from today. Of course, at that point we didn't know we'd be getting married last night!"
"Ye'll not be taking time off from school for a honeymoon!" Maureen said to her son with a broad grin. Her new husband and son chuckled.
Peter walked in, yawning and stretching. "I didn't know Mikyvis yawned!" Jonas said. "In fact, I didn't realize they slept."
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain what our minds do while we're resting to someone who isn't a Mikyvis," Peter said with a smile. "But we do lay down, close our eyes, and tune the world out, like everybody else. The yawn and stretching, that's just because it feels so good to be able to do it without hurting now!" He jumped up into Josiah's lap and snuggled in.
Josiah had been thinking. "What do you folks have in mind for today, then?" he asked.
"Nothing special," Jonas answered. "After the week we've had, it might be nice to just have some time to kick back and relax."
"I need to drop one story off with Frank," Maureen said, referring to her editor at the Dispatch. "Then I'm at your disposal."
"Well," Josiah said, "I hadn't planned on doing it the day after my wedding, but I've worked this past week to clear my calendar so I'd have today free to go meet with Therese." He looked apologetic. "And I promised her I'd try to get a couple of experts on the Safe Haven Act and Vulcan jurisprudence to bring along."
Maureen looked quizzical. "Who would that be?" she asked rhetorically with a smile. With a broad smile, Josiah pointed at Jonas. "He and Harry apparently memorized the whole thing!"
"Not quite," Jonas said modestly. "More like, we got it dumped into our mind when we joined the Clan. So you want one of us to come along?"
"Well," Josiah said, "what I was just thinking is, let's take a day trip down to Augusta and back, the five of us. It will give me a chance to meet with Therese, and introduce you three to her, and maybe allow her to pick your brains if you're willing." He looked sheepish. "It's hardly the honeymoon I would have wanted to give you, dear, or send you boys off on, but it's a day away from here, and we can make it a little festive, dinner in the capital and all."
"I'm up for it, Dad," Jonas answered. "Okay with you?" This last was directed at Harry, who had come downstairs while Josiah was talking.
"Have a good night, Harry?" Maureen asked. Harry blushed a bright red. "Oh, dear, I wasn't trying to embarrass you. I'm happy for you, son!" She slipped over and gave him a big hug, then took up what she'd been cooking. "Peter, want to put the milk and orange juice on the table?"
"Sure thing, mom!" the little nine-year-old Mikyvis said with a happy smile.
"The five of us are going to Augusta, Harry," Jonas said by way of explanation. "Dad's meeting with his old friend that runs State Children's Services, and she wants to meet the two of us. The rest of the day is kind of a celebration of what we did last night." Harry blushed again, and nodded agreement.
"Four," Peter said, getting quizzical looks from the adults and teenage boys. "I was running scenarios last night, and I'm going to be needed here in town," he said by way of explanation.
Maureen opened her mouth and then closed it again. "I started reacting to you as a nine-year-old boy," she said. "It's so easy to forget you're a Mikyvis now." Peter slipped over and gave her a hug.
"I am still a nine-year-old boy," Peter said, tightening his hug. "I need mommy hugs from you just like always. It's just that I can see futures and, you know, do stuff that Mikyvis do, now that I've got better. 'N' there's people that need my help, so's I gotta stay here."
"Then it's agreed?" Josiah asked. Nods and smiles from the other three betokened agreement. "Then I'll call Therese and tell her we're all coming — and that we're married as of last night!" He grinned.
"Um, what about giving the man who'll be running Peter's business the Cook's tour of Arkham?" Maureen asked.
"That's covered, Mommy. Uncle George and I are going to do it," Peter was perky. "That's one of the things I've gotta stay behind for." Josiah nodded, having been about to answer Maureen when Peter spoke up.
"Expect to spend the night in the new house," Peter said. "It's just about ready, and Eli and Benji are going to be around during the day to help, unless something comes up in Orlando."
"What gives you the idea that something might happen in Orlando?" Harry said tartly, reminding them all of the last four days. Josiah and Jonas guffawed.
"You're sounding more and more like your mother every day," Maureen told her new son-in-law with a grin.
"Eek!" Harry exclaimed, mock-mortified and laughing despite himself.
Skipper pulled the EMS mobile unit into the fire hall parking lot, after dropping off Bobby and their boys at school, as was his usual Friday custom. Swinging wide around the building to the bay in the rear he used for servicing the vehicle, he stopped short, wide-eyed.
He touched his commbadge. "Hey, Bobby?" he said.
"What is it, Skipper? I'm in the middle of first period English, and my teacher is looking daggers at me."
"Um, you'd better excuse yourself from classes today, and meet me at the fire hall. I'll come get you if you can't get transport. You won't believe what's here, with your name on it!"
"They said they sent out your school transcript yesterday," Kelly said to Danny. "So you can expect to start going back to school Monday."
Danny was not exactly thrilled with the news, but he was, to be completely honest, a little excited about starting a new school. He'd met a few of the guys with Cody over the past couple of days, and their comments, while tinged with the usual disgust of boys for being cooped up in classrooms, suggested to him it might actually be some fun. All in all, he was beginning to make a new life for himself.
"All right, if I have to."
"And just what else are you doing with yourself, while everyone else is in school?" Kelly was trying to be a disciplinarian, but her affection for her firstborn made it difficult to keep a stern face. She allowed a smile to break.
"Aww, just hangin' out. I thought maybe today I'd go down and see what's going on with the murder house — it looks like somebody's remodeling it an' putting on a big addition."
"I don't want you hanging out on a construction site. You might hurt yourself, and you'd get in the workmen's way."
"That's the funny part, Ma. It's getting built on, but I never see anybody there working on it, just a couple of kids hanging around."
"Well, you be careful!" Kelly was glad Danny seemed to be adjusting OK to the move, but she couldn't help worrying about him. She thanked God her brother was trying to be a bit of a father figure to him. She'd discouraged him from going over to Jonas's; she didn't think Maureen would take kindly to a flesh-and-blood reminder of what Neil had done when he left her.
"I will, Ma! Jeez!" And Danny was out the door. Kelly shook her head and turned to give Kait a hand with the housework.
Brett was a stew of mixed emotions — excitement at going somewhere with his parents and seeing somewhere new; a little nervousness about the idea of moving; worry about totally losing touch with Danny; the highs and lows were getting to him more than he wanted to admit to anybody.
"Why, hello there!" came his father's surprised voice from downstairs. Brett got up from his bed and ran downstairs, curious about what had made Jack exclaim that.
His parents were sitting with their second cups of coffee in the living room, and standing before them was a towheaded nine-year-old with a big smile.
"You're that young boy who was here Monday, aren't you?" Marsha asked.
"Yes'm, I'm Peter," he answered. "When would you want to come see my company?"
"Your company?" Marsha asked, surprised.
"Yes, dear," Jack replied. "I thought I'd told you that Peter was here with the two gentlemen who are handling his grandfather's estate. It seems he inherited the company they want me to manage."
"Oh, I guess you did," Marsha answered. "It was just surprising to see him pop up like that."
"I'm surprised they let you transport down here by yourself," Jack said. "I think we can be ready any time. Marsha and Brett will be coming along to see the town, if that's no problem."
"Sure!" Peter said. "But, um, I'm the one providing the transport. It's one of the things I can do, now that I've got better." He gave a big grin.
After seeing Peter off to transport the Wildes, the four travelers set out in Josiah's roomy Lincoln, down the familiar State Route 4 to Farmington. Most of the leaves were off the trees now, and the landscape appeared sere in a Northern late fall. With the ease of experience, Josiah passed through downtown Farmington, past the University, and down around the curve toward the bridge across the Sandy River.
Just short of the bridge, he executed a smooth left turn onto U.S. 2, and headed southeast along the river. Jonas noticed the white houses along the highway, the two cemeteries across the road from each other, and then the open road. Harry, sitting behind Maureen, retreated into himself a bit.
"So tell me about what we're doing today," Maureen asked Josiah.
"Well, I've known Therese for nearly twenty years now. She started with the State Children's Services agency right about the time I went for judge, and for all practical purposes we learned our jobs together. She was appointed director five years ago. Jonas, you may be amused by this: she was the one who suggested I get in touch with Clan Short when we were dealing with the McKendrick boys' placements." He smiled at his stepson through the rearview mirror.
"We've tried to meet a couple of times a year to compare notes; we both learn from the other. And with you boys being hip deep in the implications of the state adopting Safe Haven status, she's really looking forward to meeting you and probably hoping to pick your brains on how to improve helping kids using the Safe Haven Act." He turned his attention back to Maureen. "She's also a warm person when she doesn't have to play bureaucrat, with the backbone to stand up for what's right. I'm hoping you will become good friends."
He slowed to avoid a big rig negotiating the turn into Farmington Falls, and accelerated again. Josiah spoke a bit more about Therese, in response to Maureen's curiosity, and attempted to draw out the boys regarding what help they could be to her. The crossroads of New Sharon proved to be a diner, an RV sales site, and a few houses. Josiah turned right off U.S. 2 onto State Route 27, called Mile Hill Road. "There's about a mile of straight downgrade between here and the Belgrade Ponds," he explained when Harry asked about the name.
The boys' commbadges beeped, and Adam's voice came across them. “This is Commander Adam Casey. We are currently setting up for a full scale Military invasion of a hostile base holding many Genesis Children. The Special Forces division is asking for any help that can be given. Please contact Daileass with what you can do. Thank you.”
Jonas triggered his commbadge. "Daileass, please let Adam know Harry and I are en route to the state capital with Dad and Mom, for a planned meeting with children's services people. Some of the other guys from the division may be able to help, though. They all got this message, right?"
"Yep!" Daileass answered. "Just speaking with Skipper now, on another comm band. Thanks for responding."
The car radio began playing Bryan Adams, and Harry let his mind wander.
I got my first real six-string
Bought it at the five-and-dime
Played it 'till my fingers bled
It was the summer of 69
Me and some guys from school
Had a band and we tried real hard
Jimmy quit and Jody got married
Shoulda known we'd never get far
Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah - I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
Standin' on your Mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of 69
With memories refreshed from yesterday's mind-meld, Harry remembered his days in the band, his hopes of fame and fortune, and how it had all fallen through. His countenance fell. Jonas reached over and took his hand. "These are the best years of our lives," he said. He started to sing along:
Ain't no use in complainin'
When you got a job to do
Spent my evenin's down at Slim's Diner [Jonas ad-libbed]
And that's when I met you
Standin' on your Mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
These are the best days of our lives.
"Summer of '69" is copyright by Adams Communications.
And Harry's heart melted.
Belgrade proved to be quite a thriving little community, catering to the tourist trade and sprawled along the highway as it traversed the isthmus between Long Pond and Great Pond. Bait and tackle shops, marinas, bed-and-breakfasts, and large old houses vied for space along the two-lane highway. Josiah slowed to in-town speed to negotiate the stretched-out community.
As they left the settled area, Maureen and Harry's voices rang out in tandem: "Josiah, pull over!" "Stop, Judge!" Trudging backwards down the road, thumb out and facing back to oncoming traffic, was a slender figure in a hoodie and jeans. Josiah pulled off the road just beyond him, and he ran up to meet the car as it stopped.
Three very startled figures popped into existence alongside Peter in the Wentworth living room. Switching off the television, Philip shyly said, "Hello. My father will be right down; he's upstairs getting ready." He paused. "Um, can I get you a cup of coffee or something?"
"What!" Marsha exclaimed. "One minute we're standing in our living room talking to this boy here, and the next...."
"C'mon, Mom!" Brett said. "You know about transporters; get with the program."
"Well, I didn't 'zackly use a transporter," Peter said impishly. "It's kind of like, I thought of what it would be like to be standing here in Mr. Wentworth's house, and, um, I decided we would go there, and poof, here we are! It's kind of like deciding to walk into the kitchen … but faster." He giggled.
George came downstairs rapidly. "Oh, good, you're here! Thanks, Peter, for going and getting them."
"I was glad to, sir," Peter said politely. "After all, you're doing this for me." He teleported into George's arms; George reflexively reached to support him, and Peter took advantage of the situation for a 'random hug'.
"I must say, I'm a bit surprised by how we got here," Jack threw in. "As my wife was just saying, one moment we were standing in our own home, and the next, whiz-bang, here we are. I had at least expected we'd end up on a Starfleet base somewhere."
"The situation is a trifle more bizarre than that," George explained. "Young Peter here was dying of a fast-acting cancer that had taken out his entire family. Some of the boys my sons are friends with found out about that, and took him to Orlando for treatment. Evidently the only thing they could do to cure it was to turn him into what they're calling a new species. Young Peter and the other Mikyvis seem to have intriguing powers over space and time. My Philip here was nearly killed by phaser fire last Saturday, and two of them were able to heal him completely."
"But I'm forgetting my manners," George said. "I'm George Wentworth, Jr., and this is my older son Philip. You know Peter already, of course. And I met you, Jack, earlier in the week when we visited you at your work."
"Of course," said Jack, smiling. "And this is my lovely wife Marsha, and our boy Brett."
"Well, if you won't mind, I'd like to have another cup of coffee before I take you around to see the contracting company and the town, and it might give us time to discuss what may be on your minds about this rather abrupt change in your lives."
Jack smiled agreement. George urbanely escorted them into the dining room. Philip looked at his adoptive father; at his gesture, he went and brought a coffee pot, sugar and creamer, six cups, and a box of cinnamon buns into the dining room. "Hot chocolate, Brett?" he asked.
"Sure!" Brett grinned.
Philip steeped some milk and poured himself and Brett cups.
As they walked back in, George was explaining, "Those are the best estimates Josiah and I could come up with, with Hazel Dupré's help, for how the business would have done if it had been run honestly. Randall Scordo was sufficiently crooked that we still haven't gotten to the bottom of all his schemes. He made far more than that, but a fair amount of it was from bribery to get lucrative contracts, fraudulent pricing, and so on... as a professional, you know the drill."
Jack nodded. "It looks lucrative even run properly. What about crews? I'll need experienced tradesmen to run the equipment and do the manual labor."
"Acting in behalf of the state, we laid them off on Friday the eighth, the payday after Scordo was arrested," George answered. "But with the business climate around here, I'll be surprised if you lose even one of them; Scordo drove all his competitors out of business, so there was nowhere else for them to go. Three men have been carpooling down to Skowhegan to work, but they call me a couple of times a week to see if I've made any progress getting the business started back up."
"I don't really understand why the state is getting involved in trying to recruit Jack," Marsha said. "I would have thought whoever bought the business or something would be doing that."
"Ordinarily, that would be true," George explained. "But for Josiah and me, it was a moral obligation of sorts. It was Philip here who put the pieces together to figure it out, but once he did, we knew we had to help." He smiled at Philip and Peter. "You see, it should have defaulted to the local bank, who held the mortgages on the business. But what that didn't take into account was that our local bank manager was just as much of a crook as Randall Scordo. And part of what he had done was to pocket, for himself and his church, the payments that should have gone to pay off a land contract — one that provided for resuming ownership of whatever was mortgaged if those payments were not made. The beneficiary of that land contract was the estate of Zechariah Lambert, Peter's grandfather. And Scordo had mortgaged his business to build the subdivision he was throwing up on old Zech's land. The net result is that young Peter here is the owner of the construction company, about 150 acres of undeveloped land, and holds the mortgage on five houses." He paused. "By the way, Peter, remind me to tell your father that the final check came through from John McKendrick's insurance. That's more investment money for you, and Mickey and his brothers own that house free and clear now."
"Wouldn't his father inherit before him?" Jack asked.
"His biological father is dead," George said. "He's being adopted by our Family Court Judge, Josiah Brewster — you met him with me on Wednesday. He would have been here with us, but he managed to get time free to go down to the state capital today with his new wife, son, and son-in-law, for a meeting he'd promised to be a part of. He sends his apologies."
Peter beamed. "You'll like Dad and Mom," he said happily.
"Scordo landed a lot of contracts," George said, "and as far as I can tell, he'd have gotten many of them legally, without his bribes and manipulation. As far as I can tell, it's a viable business, or I wouldn't be trying to recruit you."
"I can see that," Jack said. "Thank you for working up these figures, and convey my thanks to, was it Josiah and Hazel you said?"
"Yes, and I will," George answered. "If you like, I can show you the equipment yard and the subdivision he was developing — if you're done with your coffee and such, that is?"
Jack glanced at his wife and son to see if they were ready, and then said, "Yes, please."
George led them out to his car, then said, "Philip, I'm sorry, but it looks like you'll need to wait here."
"We'll pop up there ahead of you," Peter said with a grin, as he and Philip vanished.
"That must be surprising," Marsha said.
"Oh, you have no idea!" George answered, smiling.
For the next hour, they drove around Arkham, stopping first at the equipment yard, then passing through downtown to go up to the Lambert Hill subdivision. Jack was impressed with the equipment; Marsha, not so much so with what passed for a commercial district. Brett was wide-eyed at everything. It was all new, different, and exciting for him.
Springing out of the bed in which she'd been making out with Tony, Malinda quickly stood up and walked across the room to the table, rebuttoning her blouse and slacks and tucking them in as she went. She picked up her weapons belt, efficiently checked her two belt pistols and holstered them, and slipped it on. She quickly checked her two throwing knives and her dagger for close-in fighting, replaced them in their scabbards, and bent to buckle on her ankle holster. A third pistol and her reserve knife went into their respective leather holders on it. As her pants leg dropped, she grabbed her bandolier and strapped it in place.
Two strides took her to the door "Malinda Casey proceeding to briefing area," she snapped out. Then, "Tony, wait here. This sounds critical. I'll be back as soon as I can." She slapped the palm lock and darted into the hall. A quick analysis suggested to her that the elevators would be in heavy use; she turned off at the stairwell. Jogging up the two flights to the conference room level would save her time, she calculated. Though she was far from the most enhanced Unit member — her induction into Project Genesis had only started when she was orphaned at age five — she was still quite able to jog up two levels of the Unit's underground base without breathing hard, something only a small proportion of the Unit were capable of.
She darted out of the stairwell and around the turn to the entrance to the main briefing room — and came to an abrupt halt. Standing at the door were Donnie and Emily, and lined up in front of them were easily twenty-odd Unit members.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Bryan Maxson, six ahead of her in line, answered. "Donnie and Emily are requiring everyone to disarm and submit to inspection before they go in. Adam's orders," he said crisply.
"What?! Why?" she asked. But no one had an answer.
"Why did Adam order that everyone be disarmed?" Malinda asked as she came to the head of the line.
"Adam will explain when he gets here and everyone's been frisked," Donnie said with finality and firmness. "And you will be quite happy he took that precaution when you get the facts," Emily added.
Malinda looked back; the line was, if anything, longer than when she'd gotten there. "Need a hand?" she asked.
"No, we've got it," Donnie replied.
Malinda walked on in, and spotted her team at a table. She joined them.
After a bit more than a half hour of waiting, with quiet conversation wondering what the problem was that had provoked this extreme a response, Donnie and Emily came to attention.
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Donnie hollered as the door to the conference room opened. Everyone there jumped to their feet and saluted. Adam Casey walked in stone faced and strode up to the podium. He returned their salute and motioned for them to sit. He looked around and met eyes with everyone there. She saw every one of his brothers and sisters looking back at him, some with concern in their eyes, some with questions, and even some with fear. Adam's expression made clear that he hated to see those looks from his family, especially when they were directed at him.
Malinda didn't have long to wonder what this was about. Adam said, "I apologize for the wait, but many things have been happening lately, and most of them directly affect us. I am aware that many of you have team members that are not here; however, there is a reason for that. We have a mission coming up that needs our special abilities if we are to succeed. What will happen now is one by one, each team will be called into the room behind this one, where they will receive part of their briefing. After everyone is done with that, we will return here and continue. Unfortunately, for right now, I must order every single one of you to not discuss what is going on with anyone else until everyone has their mission." His eyes went distant for a moment, and Malinda knew he was using his limited telepathic link with one of his "Core Unit" brothers or one of the G-Cats. (Malinda was not aware that Adam had become "N-Gen" and his telepathy greatly enhanced.)
At that point he ordered Strike Team Alpha into the next room.
Twenty minutes later, Malinda's Strike Team Charlie received the order to proceed to the next room. With Becky and Bryan and the others, she rose and walked through the doors into the next room — and was shocked to be met by six Vulcans, including Spock. He fixed them with his gaze and said, "I am sorry, but for reasons that will become clear, you will all be required to submit to a mind meld."
Each of the Vulcans then stepped forward to a team member, courteously awaited their assent, and then began a mind meld. Malinda drew the black-clad R'Kau, and smiled at him as he raised his hands and began, "My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts...."
As the meld broke, she stepped back wide-eyed. "Remember to say nothing until your commander permits it," R'Kau said with what seemed like a touch of compassion.
Todd beamed in to the Command Center at Camp Bam Bam, looking very confused. He saw Adam and immediately went to attention. "Sir. Sergeant Casey reporting as ordered."
Adam saluted back, then pointed over to where the rest of the ‘clones’ were standing by Austin Short. "Report to Alvin, he’ll fill you in. Are you armed?"
"No sir," Todd answered confused, "I was told to leave all weapons back in Maine."
"Good... carry on." Adam said, then turned and walked away, accompanied by Juan, Jory, Will, and his father Joe. Todd was surprised to see both Jason from the Dragon Division and Captain Spock of Starfleet present — especially since he had just been talking with Doug and the Throxtons about what Spock had done at and after the Selectmen's meeting earlier that evening in Maine. He walked over to where the Chipmunks were standing together, and was again surprised to find Austin Short with them.
“Grandpop Spock has told me what has happened,” Austin said seriously, “and he told me what type of programming this will likely be.”
“How bad could it be?” Simon asked.
At the same time, Theodore brought Todd up to speed on the events so far by their mind link. **You mean we have all been running a virus that would make us follow General Adams's orders?** Todd sent incredulously.
**That's what it looks like** Theodore sent back. **But don't worry; it looks like Austin can reprogram us — and nobody got activated except Chang.**
**What happened with Chang?** Somberly, Theodore dumped into his mind the scene of Chang killing Janet and Joe, Pablito's intervention, and what had happened since
>For what happened here, see Camp Bam Bam chapters nine and ten.
Austin pursed his lips before answering Simon. “Bad. This would be different for you than for a biological. This 'alien' programming would be a part of your main set, and that means I'd have to remove a large section of your native programming.”
“We're... we're gonna die, then,” their clone brother Richard stated hollowly, prompting Logan to hug him tightly.
“Of course not,” Austin soothed gently. “I'd not be doing this if that was the outcome. You're just going to be different.”
“Different how?” Logan asked curiously.
“Their programming will be upgraded to mine. I'm a prototype, A.U.S.T.I.N. Series. They'll technically think faster, react faster, and their telepathy will be more my level as well. We'll be brothers.”
“We'll be smarter?” Alvin piped up happily.
“Oh, God — that's ALL we need,” Logan sighed as he covered his eyes with one hand.
His brother Richard started to tickle Logan in retaliation, while Austin rolled his eyes. “Okay, Alvin. I'll start with you. You don't have a port, do you?”
“Nope,” Alvin smiled. “Marc had to use an uplink to help me when I nearly died on Saturday.”
“Cool,” Austin smiled, “Okay, that's what I'd have to use now anyway. If I tried using a port, your native protective software would try and fry my brain.”
“What about me?” Daileass asked softly from the nearest speaker. “I have ports and they're all linked to the rest of the servers.”
“Mmm,” Austin looked thoughtful, then, “We'll get all your brothers sorted first, then they can help me with you. We might need to disconnect you first.”
“Okay,” Daileass said, sounding slightly happier now that he knew it was possible to fix him as well.
Austin gently pulled Alvin to stand in front of him, and their eyes seemed to lock.
Logan found that he was holding his breath, and it was only Zed and Kaden , two of the other clones, thumping him on the back a few times that stopped him from blacking out. “Breathe, idiot,” Zed murmured. “Jeez. We don't need the upgrade, you do!”
“Sorry,” Austin said hollowly, “but Logan's 'programming' is too inferior for me to do anything with.”
“You're all based on me, 'little' brothers...” Logan shot back quickly, “so watch it!”
“But we're the improved models! Perfect, and cuter, in every way!” Theodore grinned as he did a small twirl.
“Yeah, right,” Logan grinned as well, rolling his eyes. “How can you improve on this?” he giggled as he gestured at himself.
“Easy,” Tyce chuckled. “We've not got some sick BBQ sauce fetish!”
“Weeeelllll,” Gabe said as he giggled, “I kinda really like BBQ sauce... just not THAT much!”
Logan decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and remained silent.
“One for the Clones, Nil for the donor!” Rainer quipped to Peter and Todd.
Alvin grinned as Austin finished with him, “Actually, it's 4 for us and 2 for Logan. Remember that time with the snipe hunt?”
“Oh yeah! We've STILL gotta get him back for that!” Rainer agreed.
Alvin's face, while happy, was also thoughtful.
“What's it like, Alvin?” Todd asked. “Did it hurt or something?”
“Nope. It's... I feel so much smarter! I'm a genius now!” the little eight year old giggled.
Logan continued to remain silent. It was just easier this way. He pulled the giggling Alvin over and into his arms as Austin started on Simon.
At last it was Todd's turn. Austin locked eyes with him and began the upload. "Hey! That tickles!" he cried out, squirming. His clone brothers who had already had the reprogramming done laughed. Then... it was like the first cup of coffee banishing morning fogginess, like a sudden rush of adrenaline, like the mother of all Eureka moments. Todd's mind expanded, his skill set increased, and he began, with one corner of his mind, to inventory what he could now do.
"Are you planning an op. back in Maine?" Tilden asked.
"No," Todd answered, wondering why.
"Well, we're probably going to be planning the biggest operation the Unit has ever mounted, and we could sure use you here on Intelligence."
"I'm staying," Todd said with determination, and touched his commbadge to alert Pen and Doug.
"Sorry, Todd," Daileass's voice came instead. "We're on Defcon One right now, no messages in or out except by Adam's orders. You can let them know after it's lifted."
As Malinda and her strike team returned to the conference room, she noticed Adam was missing again. He didn't return until the last of the pilots were being processed by the Vulcans.
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Donnie called out once again as Adam walked back into the room. Immediately all talking ceased as everyone jumped to their feet to stand at attention, everyone nervous as to what exactly was occurring in the base. Adam made his way back up to the podium and stood there looking out for a second. To Malinda, Adam looked as if he were having a hard time finding the right words to say.
"As you were." Adam spoke softly and all the Genesis project members sat back down, looking back at Adam, the trepidation evident in their unwavering gaze. From the expressions of her brothers and sisters in the Unit, Malinda knew they all knew a part of the story, they all had lived through the nightmare of finding out what they had been unwittingly programmed to do.
"You all now know some of what has happened, but let me fill you all in on exactly what Adams was able to do to us. Yes, I said ‘us’. It turns out that EVERY member of the Genesis Project had this programming... That includes all of us... up to and including myself." Adam took a moment and closed his eyes, trying to fight back the tears. The room was deathly silent as everyone let the words he had just spoken sink in. The ramifications of those words scared them all deeply.
"General Adams used that programming to try and take away something so precious to all of us, that I don’t think we would have been able to survive if it hadn’t been for some divine intervention by Pablo." Adam drew a deep breath and paused before going on. "This isn’t going to be easy to say and even less to hear but…Earlier today when he called…when he called but…but before he hung up…General Adams forced Chang to kill our parents... he forced him to kill our mom and dad." At that point Adam finally lost the fight with himself to hold back the tears that had been demanding to flow, letting out the pain and fear he had felt and sharing them with his family. Malinda felt his pain and loss along with her own, as if it were her own.
It took only a brief moment, but then the entire room exploded with cries and in overwhelming emotion at hearing such news. If Joe hadn’t been sitting right there, many of them would probably have lost it entirely — not that a few didn’t. Joe quickly wheeled his chair over and stopped directly in front of the podium. He raised his hand to try and quiet everyone down, and finally they all did except for the occasional sob which couldn’t be silenced, no matter how hard the person tried.
"I want everyone to know that Janet and I are fine, and I want you to know that our son, your brother, Chang, is also fine." At the grumbles he heard he raised his hand again and said "Janet and I no more blame Chang for what happened than we blame you. It wasn’t your fault and it wasn’t his either. The only difference, THE… ONLY… DIFFERENCE… between you and Chang is he got activated and thankfully you didn’t. Don’t stop loving him any more than we will, because of all those affected by today’s events, he of all of us will need that love the most."
There was silence after that as Joe let what he said sink in for a moment. Malinda realized what she needed to do at that point. She stood up and declared loudly to all assembled, "We will stand by our brother and we WILL NEVER stop loving him." All looked to Malinda as Joe and Adam held their breath, but they had worried for nothing as a loud roar swept the auditorium, a roar of one word "CHANG!" When the thunder had died down finally, Joe with tears running down his face continued "I also want all of you to know that had either one of us...died…died…and stayed dead..." Joe paused for a moment, clearly as close to breaking down in tears as his audience was. When he felt able he finally continued. "If we hadn’t been brought back….if we hadn’t…we would have died as two of the proudest parents in this world. I... I just wanted all of you to know how damned proud I am of every single one of you. I never thought I would have kids, and certainly not as many as I do, but now... now I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I am HONORED that you are my children, but even more I’m Honored that you all call me dad."
Joe had to brace himself, as almost as one person, they all came flying out of their chairs and crashed into him. Some sobbing, others outright crying, none were able to speak coherently, the emotions overcoming them. They had almost lost their daddy and now that they had him back, they didn’t want to let go, ever.
It took almost ten full minutes for everyone to calm down enough, and take their seats. During that time, Adam had asked Daileass to contact the rest of the strike teams and all of the combat staff, and have them report to the conference room. He had them all wait outside so he hit the Genesis kids with the last part "Now... just so all of you know, General Adams is not having a very good night. Uncle Mike, Uncle Tony, Uncle Tom, and Aunt Elena are... taking care of him as we speak." Adam couldn’t go on, as the room erupted in cheers and shouts of joy. Adam for his part couldn’t help but grin at the thought of what the General was having to go through. Once they had quieted down some, he gave the order for the rest of the combat staff to come in and find seats. Then he got down to business.
"For those of you who do not know what happened earlier, you will find out shortly enough. Feel free to ask any of the ones that were here before you got here to fill you in. For now... we have an operation to plan." He grinned as everyone in the room sat a little forward in their seats, all eager to hear what was happening.
"Just to re-cap, General Adams contacted me earlier and tried to strike a bargain with me. Basically, he wanted us to leave him alone, and in return, he would give us the location of the last of the Genesis Bases." That got everyone’s attention, and military discipline went out the window as they all came to their feet demanding information. Adam put his hand up, and they all found their seats again, a few of them actually looking a bit sheepish for their outburst.
"This is a big one. I never thought that they would have this many kids involved in the project. This base holds about twenty five hundred kids. Maybe more, as we know General Adams wasn’t being entirely honest with us." Again the room erupted, after about thirty seconds of stunned silence. This time though, he let them carry on for a few minutes, then called for quiet.
"The first thing I need is for everyone to give me an operational status report for your team. I need those ASAP. We will start having meetings of the command staff every two hours to figure out what we have and what we need. I would suggest all of you take combat naps as often as you can. I would not be surprised if Adams had given orders to kill all the kids there if he doesn’t report back, so we have to do this as quick as possible. Alvin, Simon, Theodore, get your gear together, I want you guys ready to go in one hour. You're going to be our eyes and ears in there. It’s time for you boys to do what you were made for." The three youngest Logan clones grinned, and nodded, then ran out of the room. Finally they would be able to put their training to the test. They were made to be the infiltration team... now they would be able to do it.
"The rest of you, go over your gear, and make sure you're ready for one hell of a fight. I’m sure Uncle Tom would give us whatever help we need, but this is a family issue... this is OUR fight. We’ll have all the help we need from our brothers in the Clan, but as always, we’ll be the front line. Thats where we work the best." Adam paused for a moment making sure to meet eyes with as many of his family as he could, then moved out from behind the podium. All eyes were on him as he came to a stop in the middle of the room — in the middle of those he called brothers and sisters.
"This is another one of those times, where we might not all make it back. I hope you all understand that. But I know we all have the same thoughts on this one. Those kids are our family. They are just like every single one of us, and because of that, I would gladly give my life to help get them away from the bastards that hold them now. When we go in, there will be no quarter given. There will be no mercy. We now know that every single one of those that are guarding our family were hand picked by Adams. As such, they are there willingly. They know what’s going on, and they choose to stay and to hurt our family. Every single kid there is wearing a collar, and they were all made to stand in formation today waiting to see if Adams would give the order for their guards to open up and kill them all. I will NOT allow that to happen. I will not stand for them to be there any longer than needed." Adam looked around and saw nothing but nodding heads, and agreement from everyone there. "You all know what you have to do. I know you will all do the best job that you can. Tomorrow morning we will have another full staff meeting to go over plans. Until then, let's get to work." Adam turned on his heel and started to walk out. He didn’t stop, but he did grin when he heard every one of them in the room erupt into cheers, and started to run out of the room, all of them intent on their current mission.
As Adam exited the room, Todd spoke quietly to Daileass. "Bro? I'm needed here, on intelligence. Can you let them know in Arkham I won't be back until this op. is over?"
"Will do, bro!" Daileass's voice was quiet. "And Todd?"
"Yeah?"
"Kick 'em in the balls for me — please."
"You bet, bro!"
Following doctrine, Malinda first made her way to Austin Casey, her strike team commander, then, with his approval, went to check with Jory and make sure she had a full stock of demo. gear. She had a hunch there would be some demo. work needed on this operation, and she wanted to be a part of it.
As she headed for the explosives locker alongside Ethan to top off her stocks, a thought struck her. "Hey, Dail!"
"Yeah, Lin?"
"Make sure Tony knows I'll be tied up the rest of the night and probably well into tomorrow. You know what an op. is like; bring that across to him, willya? And let him know I want him... um....'
"Ready for what you're like after an op.? Okay, I'll have Dr. Gordan supply him with Viagra and energy pills." The laughter in Daileass's voice came across even over the private channel they were using.
Malinda laughed. "That would be insulting if it wasn't so true, little brother! You gotta admit, though, he is a hunk!"
"That's true, sis," Daileass said, "but be careful; I don't want to see you hurt."
"Don't worry, Dail'; he's only here for a week, and I get the picture he's fine with sex for fun, which suits me just fine. You know something I don't?"
"N- no. I saw the transcript, and yeah, he likes sex without strings, just like you." Daileass was acting strangely shy about this.
"Where is he now, anyway? I hope you didn't leave him locked in my room!"
"Nope. He's at the Clinic; with all the Unit medics at the staff meeting, they needed help."
"Good. Let him know I'm prepping for an op., and I'll be looking forward to time with him when we get back, okay?"
"Sure, sis."
Jason stretched and walked over to where the Unit's Quartermaster kids had set out snacks and beverages for the team planning the operation. He needed a short break to clear his head, after working for over an hour with Adam and Sellik of the Sehlat Division to set up and refine a plan of attack.
"Well met, Voice of the Dragon!" The speaker was R'Kau, the muscular black-clad Vulcan who had helped with the mind-melds to remove the Genesis kids' programming earlier.
"Well met, indeed, Spirit of the Sehlat!" Jason responded, surprised to see R'Kau smiling broadly.
"You have acquitted yourself well in some highly stressful situations this day, son of Wales and son of Spock," R'Kau said. "It occurs to me that a Human boy of your age, no matter his training, might need a hug for comfort in the old, original sense — drawing strength from the closeness of another, to equip oneself for the duty ahead. Come!" And as Jason stepped into his embrace, the Vulcan wrapped his arms around the human boy.
Jason broke from the brief hug feeling re-energized and strengthened. Their eyes met, Jason's radiating gratitude for the gesture and the strengthening, and the Vulcan's full of confidence and support for his fellow VSO operative.
Logan's clone brother Richard, who had come over to the refreshments as they hugged, looked at them with question. "I thought Vulcans didn't have emotions?" he said, in a tone that made it a question.
"To the contrary," R'Kau answered him, "Vulcans are by nature much more emotional than Humans. That is why we live by logic and the Way of Surak."
Jason amplified. "An enraged Vulcan makes the angriest human being you have ever seen look like a kitten attacking a play toy. So every Vulcan learns the discipline of processing his emotions and subjecting them to logic, according to the teachings of Surak. The total eradication of emotions is something done only by kolinahr adepts, like...."
Jason trailed off, realizing first that R'Kau was a kolinahr adept, and, second, what kind of kolinahr adept he was. "You're a Control Adept!" he said startledly to R'Kau.
"That is true," the Vulcan answered.
"Huh?" said the confused Richard.
"Can I?" Jason asked. At R'Kau's nod of assent, he explained, "Nearly all Kolinahr adepts are trained to totally suppress all emotion; we call them Suppression Adepts. This is what Pappa Spock was training for. A very few, however, retain their emotions, but place them under complete voluntary control. R'Kau is one of the Control Adepts!"
"And when I came to Earth to aid my Patriarch your grandfather," R'Kau went on, "I found that my abilities served T'Khasi in good stead. I could choose to feel emotions as humans do, or not, as was appropriate to interacting with them. This has proved … useful, more than once." He gave the two boys a thin smile, and went to join Sellik.
Matt Barnes' expression was dead serious. "All right. I'm content that you three know how to shoot, that you can wield phasers without burning off your own toes or fricasseeing passing birds with bad shots. And you seem to have picked up the rudiments of Starfleet regulations, the ones we expect Clan Short Security members to know and abide by. You've even convinced me you know when to shoot. Now, one final hurdle for you: Can you tell me, in one simple sentence, when you should not shoot?"
Mickey met Matt's eyes. "I believe I can, but let me defer to the other two. I feel responsible for their learning this too."
Matt nodded. "I understand that motivation, Mickey. Step over here and whisper your answer to me." Mickey did as instructed. "That's not quite what I was looking for," Matt answered him, "but it's a good answer. I'll accept it. Go sit down while I hear what these two have to say."
"Umm, shoot only when ordered to do so, either directly or as an element of a mission." Jared hazarded a guess.
"Not quite, Jared," Matt said. "Though you won't go wrong doing that in terms of phaser use. But you will in terms of doing Clan work. Jed?"
"Well, uh, if you have your phaser out, then you're acting as a representative of the Clan, so whatever you're doing has got to be in accordance with Clan rules, right?"
"That's correct, but it doesn't answer the question." Matt was patient on this tough question.
"Yeah, I was spelling out what I figured was assumed in the question," Jed said. "Then my answer is, you should not fire your weapon if there is any chance of accomplishing your goal without it."
"Very good." Matt smiled. "Jared's looking puzzled; want to explain to him what the difference is between your answer and his?"
"Sure," Jed said. "Jare', every time we go anywhere, there's a chance we'll run into something that needs Clan intervention. Heck, it seems like almost every time a Clan member goes to a mall, there's a problem comes up that needs intervention. We don't just shoot on orders, or in accord with an assigned mission; we're Clan members, expected to be the Clan present to help kids wherever we go. We have to be able to use our judgment to know when to intervene, and to know, when we do intervene, when we should use our phasers. Because that's not something you can write a rule ahead of time on; you might be able to rescue a dozen kids from the worst nightmare you can think of without ever needing to draw your weapon, and the next time out, it might be a situation where stunning someone is the absolute right thing to do, even though it's not anything the Safe Haven Act covers. We've got to be able to act right, by Vulcan logic, each and every time, without rules to guide us when to shoot and when not to, because that's what it means to be Clan." He turned to Matt. "How did I do?"
Matt didn't answer in words; he simply brought his hands up in front of him and began clapping, joined by Mickey a second later. Jed blushed.
"That's a better job explaining it than I would have expected from you, Jed. How'd you come up with that?"
"I like to read the guys' reports," Jed said embarrassedly, "and I think about why they did what they did, when I'm falling asleep at night. And eventually, it all clicked."
"Good," Matt said. "All right, you've passed training." He paused, looking a little nervous for the first time in the training. "Properly, either J.J. or Gabe as your superior officers in Clan Short Security should take your oaths now. But they're both tied up with family matters. I can take your oaths now, or you have the privilege of waiting and having J.J. or Gabe take them. I won't be offended in the slightest if you wait — they're the ones who should be taking them, anyway. It's your choice."
Mickey collected Jed and Jared's opinions with a glance, then said to Matt, "We want you to, now."
Matt nodded. "Okay, raise you right hands if it'll make it more solemn for you, but you don't have to. Then repeat after me." As the boys repeated, phrase by phrase, "I, {Jeremiah Templeton/Jared McKendrick/Mickey McKendrick} ..., having agreed to undertake the duties of a security officer …. in Family Clan Short of the House of Surak of Vulcan … and having been appointed an ensign in the Starfleet of the United Federation of Planets, … do solemnly swear that I will support and defend ... the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets … against all enemies, foreign or domestic, … that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; … that I will at all times act in accordance with the mission of Clan Short and by Vulcan logic … that I will stand ready to act … in accord with Vulcan logic and the duties of Clan Short … and with the regulations governing Starfleet … whenever I encounter an abused, neglected, or abandoned child or youth … that I take this obligation freely, … without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; … and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter."
Matt turned and picked up three bundles which had been set off to one side earlier. Then one by one he handed each of them a phaser and its holster and one of the bundles. "These are your Starfleet uniforms. Wear them proudly!" He then told them to attach their phasers to their belts, and when they were done, "Attention!"
The three came to attention, and he saluted them, with them returning his salute. "Welcome to Starfleet and to Clan Short Security, gentlemen. At ease."
He stepped forward, shook their hands, and then, "Why don't we go collect my little elf? He should be done at the Clinic about now. Then we can all go get a snack from Helen and relax for a bit — you did extremely well, and deserve a break."
"Sounds good!" Jared said for all of them. He grabbed Jed's hand, and they set off.
As the three new graduates from Security training sat eating a snack with Matt and Antonio, a call came in on Matt's Starfleet communicator. "Matt? Are you free to stop by my office? Something's come up I want to have you in on."
"Sure, John! I was just having a snack with Mickey, Jed, and Jared, after taking their oaths. Be right there." Matt signed off and excused himself; 'Tonio decided to tag along with his father.
"Well, guys, we did it!" Mickey grinned at his brother and Jed; they were beaming back. And their commbadges went off. “This is Commander Adam Casey. We are currently setting up for a full scale Military invasion of a hostile base holding many Genesis Children. The Special Forces division is asking for any help that can be given. Please contact Daileass with what you can do. Thank you.”
The three looked at each other. "You two take care of Raffy and C.J. … and Rina," Mickey said. "Adam doesn't ask for help unless it's serious — I need to go."
"We took the same oath you did," Jed said seriously. "It binds us just as much. Maybe we're younger, but that won't matter to Adam. We're going with you." Jared nervously nodded agreement.
Mickey started to argue; Jed stopped him. "Mickey, give me one good reason why you should risk your life that doesn't apply to us too. You're trying to protect us, I get it, but that's what we promised too. Are you going to tell us we should break our word less than half an hour after we solemnly gave it?"
Mickey was taken aback by that. He opened his mouth, closed it again, He thought briefly, nodded, and stepped to a nearby phone. Dialing Sylvia, he said, "Jed, Jared, and I are going to Utah. We finished our training and gave our oaths a little bit ago. And Adam just called for help. Let Rina know for me, please." He paused and listened. "Yeah. And show her that Lucasta poem you had me read, OK?" He hung up the phone, turning his face away from the boys for a moment, then touched his commbadge. In a husky voice, he said, "Daileass? Mickey McKendrick here. Three totally green graduates of basic Security training, available for what you can use us for."
"I'll transport you shortly," came a very serious Daileass's voice.
"What poem?" Jared asked.
"It's one from way back around 1600," Mickey said. "that Sylvia thought would give a good answer to a question we hit on in history at the Camp. It's titled, "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars," and the last two lines are what Sylvia thought would help the class, and what I wanted her to tell Rina: 'I could not love thee so much, my dear, loved I not honor more.'"
Jed's hand reached out for Jared's. He met Mickey's eyes, knowing how much his boyfriend's big brother loved his guardian and substitute mother figure, and nodded.
Danny felt bored and restless. He'd ridden Tanya's bike over to the 'murder house' — the Templeton house, now being remodeled by Peter, Eli, and Benji, but nobody was there. He walked around the property looking for 'something interesting,' but nothing caught his eye. He thought about riding up to some of the places Cody had taken him, but Cody was in school, and it wouldn't be the same without his new friend.
He zipped up his jacket, hopped on the bike, and headed down the road, somewhat aimlessly but glad to be riding, to be doing something. He looked with interest at the playground, with the basketball court and the small thicket of woods next to it, where Jed and C.J. had hidden themselves a month before. But nobody was around there either.
A little way up the road was the Methodist Church, with the cemetery sprawled out behind it. But that didn't interest him either. He noticed he was at the corner of a road he recognized — High Street. That was where his half brother lived! And he'd been to Maureen's house with his mother, a couple of days earlier. He decided to take a spin up there, and see if anything was happening.
Grace pulled into the Fire Hall parking lot with Bobby, Brandon, and Andy in the car. Following the instructions Bobby had relayed from Skipper, she pulled out back — and stopped short.
"Hoooo-leeee crap!" Bobby said involuntarily. Brandon and Andy giggled, their eyes equally bulging.
Sitting in the field behind the fire barn was Skipper's trusty E.M.S. mobile unit, off to the left. To the right was a brand-new state-of-the-art combination ambulance/rescue unit, with advanced life support technology, emblazoned with 'Arkham E.M.S.' and the town's seal on the sides. But it was what they flanked that had startled Bobby, and before him Skipper, so much: a Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk Medevac helicopter, twenty feet long and clearly capable of transporting multiple prone patients, also emblazoned with the Arkham E.M.S. name and the town seal.
Skipper walked over and handed Bobby a card.
"Skipper and Bobby: It's been said that the reward for doing a good job is being given another job. You saved my little brother's life. So here's a little token of our appreciation, for you to use in saving more lives." It was signed "Adam (and Logan)."
"Oh my God!" Bobby shouted! "I can't believe this!" Dancing with joy and excitement, he ran up and around the helicopter, followed a couple of steps behind by Brandon.
Andy stared at the sight. "It's enormous!"
"Jeez, you won't believe what this thing is like inside! C'mon, Mom, come take a look!" Bobby called out, standing at an open door looking at the interior.
"How in the world are you ever going to learn to fly that?" Grace said rhetorically.
"Well, Will said..." Bobby began, but he was cut short by his and Skipper's commnbadges going off.
Across the commbadges, Adam Casey's voice could be heard firm and clear: “This is Commander Adam Casey. We are currently setting up for a full scale Military invasion of a hostile base holding many Genesis Children. The Special Forces division is asking for any help that can be given. Please contact Daileass with what you can do. Thank you.”
Skipper triggered his commbadge. "Daileass, this is Skipper Hamilton. Let Adam know he's got a trained Navy corpsman available as a combat medic here."
Bobby's eyes were blazing with determination. "Add me to that, Daileass. After this gift, if Adam needs help, where Skipper goes, I go."
Grace spoke up. "You're my only son, Bobby...."
"Mother, this is something I've got to do." Bobby was adamant, and more than slightly angry.
"You misunderstand me, son," Grace said calmly. "I know you have to do this. What I'm saying is, I'm still a trained and certified nurse, and I won't let you go into danger without me. Count me in; I'm coming too."
"You two don't have combat training," Skipper began to say, when he was cut off by Brandon. "I want to help too. You said you'd teach me."
Little Andy looked terrified that he'd be left out, left alone as the people he'd come to count on went off to war. "I'm coming too," he said with little-boy determination.
Skipper triggered his commbadge again. "Got a problem, Dail."
"Hang on a moment, I'm putting you through to Will," Daileass said.
"Will Casey. What's up, Skipper?"
Feeling stressed, Skipper said, "Listen, I'm combat trained, Navy corpsman. But I've got Bobby, Grace, and our two boys insisting on helping out, and I have no intention of taking untrained people into combat."
Will's smile came through in his tone even over the voice-only commbadges. "That situation can be easily rectified — and I think I have a pilot trainee there who needs to learn to fly his bird, too." He paused, obviously listening to off-mike instructions too faint to be audible. "Just tell everyone to get on board the helicopter, and relax."
Surprised but determined gazes met him from the other four. He gestured to the helicopter. "Guess we do what the man said." They hopped on, Bobby taking the pilot's seat and little Andy the copilot's, while Grace, Skipper, and Brandon looked over the fully equipped Medevac 'copter. A few seconds later, the helicopter vanished from the scene.
"Frankly, George, while they're nice, I was looking for something more traditional." Marsha was cordial but clear in her distaste for the ranch-style houses that Scordo had built on spec. in his subdivision. "Something like that is more what I was looking for." She pointed at the McKendrick house, its two-story style in direct contrast to the other houses. "And maybe with some landscaping — trees and bushes that are bigger than Brett?" He let out a giggle at being the size comparison, but the saplings and shrubs around the ranch houses were scarcely taller than him.
"Well, the older houses in town are mostly family owned, except a few that are what the real estate people would call 'handyman specials'," George said with a smile. "I've got an idea, though. Josiah's fiancée is going to be putting her house on the market when they move. Let's take a spin up there."
They hopped into George's car, and he made his way back Lambert Hill Road and North Main Street to High Street and Maureen's house. Peter flicked on ahead, taking Philip with him.
Calvin trudged down the highway, turning as he heard cars and trucks behind him in the forlorn hope of thumbing a ride. His hoodie provided inadequate protection from the cold breeze, but at least it wasn't raining.
'It was time,' he thought, 'and maybe past time. I just can't deal with Ma any more. I wish Pa was still here; he'd fix things.' Since his father's death five months before — the heart attack would not have been fatal for most men, but was quite sufficient to take out a precariously balanced roofer — his mother had hit the bottle more and more. While his parents were alive, they had had a fairly good family — she could get irrational, but Pa was always able to calm her down. But her expectations, her violence when he didn't jump to obey, even when she gave him three contradictory commands within five minutes, and above all her guilting him for not being the man she needed in her life, had made it impossible to stay. And at fourteen, his 5'6" and 120 pounds couldn't do a man's work around the house yet — though he'd given it his best shot. Nor could he deal with her emotional needs — though he'd tried there too.
Being slammed into the wall by her that morning as he tried to get ready for school had been the last straw. He'd kept tight hold on his temper, grabbed his school backpack, and left, ostensibly for the bus stop. But he'd ditched the backpack at the highway, and started walking and hitching — so far without results.
Again he felt a pang of grief at his father's loss. 'I... I stopped letting him hug me 'cause I thought it would make me a baby. I thought... I thought I was too old and now... I wish I had still let him, 'cause I missed so many, and now he's dead and I won't ever get no more.' He started to sniffle, and his eyes to water. Angrily he wiped them away, and turned again. 'A big old Lincoln; he probably won't stop,' he thought.
But the Lincoln slowed... pulled over and stopped. Hope rekindled in him, Calvin ran to meet it.
Danny disconsolately pedaled his bike slowly away from the McConnaghay house. Nobody had been home there either. Behind him, without a sound, Peter and Philip popped into existence, as George's car came down the street, passing an old truck going the other way.
As George pulled into Maureen's driveway to show the Wildes her house, and Jack, Marsha, and Brett stepped out of the car, Peter grinned. The old truck they had just passed suddenly developed a bit of engine trouble and backfired.
Startled, Danny stopped his bike and spun around. He looked back, saw the car in the driveway, and focused in on one figure. His eyes bulged. He started pedaling back for the McConnaghay house with all the strength in his body, calling out, "Brett!"
Himself startled by the backfire, Brett looked down the road at the truck. He heard his name, spun around, and saw Danny pedaling a bike towards him. "Danny!" he called out, and began running towards him.
Peter was all smiles. Another mission accomplished for a Mikyvis!
Calvin ran up to the car, to find the passenger window rolling down and a redheaded woman smiling at him from the passenger seat, as an older man in a suit, with light brown hair starting to gray, called warmly out, "Hop in, son!"
"Gee, thanks!" Calvin said, and opened the right rear door. A handsome-looking jock type with reddish-brown hair bore an identical smile to the couple in front as he slid over to make room for Calvin, wrapping his arm casually around the slim brunet to his left as he did so. "Hey, I'm Jonas, this here's Harry, and that's my Mom and Dad in the front seat. Where are you bound for?"
Calvin felt on the spot. He hadn't planned that much out. Feeling panicky, he said, "Um, er, uh..." and remembered spotting a youth center in Portland on the school library's Internet connection. "...Portland, I guess," he finished lamely.
The driver looked momentarily back at him, then met Jonas's eyes with an intent look. Jonas glanced over at Harry, then said, "Well, we're just going into Augusta, but we can get you that far. But let me guess: your plans aren't very firm just yet, are they?"
"Uh, no," Calvin said, worried that these people would turn him in to the cops, to be sent back home. He made up his mind to jump from the car when it slowed for a stop sign or something. No matter what, he wouldn't go back!
The guy at the left — Harry, he remembered — said, "Jonas, he's afraid. He's running from something." Then, speaking to Calvin, "Hey, you can trust us. We will only want to help. I don't know what your story is yet, but it's obvious something has got your wind up, and we won't make you do a single thing you don't want to — as Saint Mikey is my witness, we won't! Right, Judge?"
The driver was a judge?! Calvin was in full panic mode now. Judges weren't concerned how kids felt; they enforced a law written by grownups for grownups. Calvin tensed, trying to gauge if jumping now would be something he could roll out of and escape.
"Son, he's telling the truth," the judge said. "Relax and listen for a minute, and the boys will explain."
Realizing they were going too fast to make jumping practical, Calvin warily decided to hear them out. And with that, Harry and Jonas began telling him about Clan Short and their powers to protect him.
"I'm a Family Court judge," Josiah interjected. "My job's to make sure boys like you, and girls too of course, don't get victimized by the system. I took an oath to protect kids like you, and by God I won't let you go into a heartless system, no matter what your story is! And, by the way, even if I did, which I won't, those two you're sitting with have the authority to overrule me and protect you, and make that stick in any court of law."
"It's the truth, dude!" Harry said earnestly.
"You want to tell us what the story is, and let us see what we can do to help?" Jonas asked.
"It's your choice," Harry added as Calvin tensed up again at what he saw as Jonas pressuring him. "But if we don't know what's wrong, we can't fix it. Tell us what you feel like you can risk saying, and fill in the details as you come to feel like you can trust us. I've been there, so have some of our friends, not wanting to take a risk trusting people, so I've got a good idea how you're feeling."
Slowly and hesitantly, Calvin began to tell his story — of his father's accidental death, his mother's descent into self-pity, alcoholism, and abuse, his own love of her mixed with fear of her.... "When she knocked me around last night, I could handle it; she was drunk, after all. But when she slammed me into the wall this morning, while I was trying to get dressed for school, I knew it was time. You won't make me go back, will you?" Maureen had turned around now, and the sympathetic look on her face was mirrored on theirs.
Jonas leaned forward. "You want to take it, Dad, or shall we?"
"I've got it," Josiah said. "Activate your commbadge for record, will you?"
"Seth?" Jonas said, pressing his commbadge. "Stand by for record."
"Activated" came from their commbadges. Jonas switched his to constant-transmit.
"Can I have your full name, son?" Josiah said kindly.
"Calvin Keith Lalonde," he answered. "Why?"
"Hear ye, hear ye," Josiah said. "The Family Court in and for Franklin County, in the State of Maine, being present at the scene extraterritorially in Kennebec County, assumes jurisdiction of the instant case. Evidence having been presented before the judge sitting, that is, me, Josiah Brewster, and witnessed by two members of Clan Short of Vulcan, viz, Jonas McConnaghay and Harry Johnson, sufficient to support a finding of physical abuse by the custodial parent of one Calvin Keith Lalonde, present before the court, parental rights are hereby suspended, with a view to termination unless there is a reconciliation and correction of the factors causing abuse. Custody of the said Calvin Keith Lalonde is...." Josiah broke off. "Calvin, I skipped a step. I refuse to make you a ward of the state; the last few weeks have proven to me that the state can't be trusted to care for its children. I can assume custody personally, with or without my blushing bride, or the two boys you're sitting with can take custody, either themselves acting individually or in the name of their Clan. You're too young, and I gather you don't have the personal resources, to support emancipation, where you're in your own custody, but whichever you choose, I give you my word of honor that it will be used to further your own reasonable wishes for your future, not to make you do what you don't want to do. Assuming the boys agree" — Jonas and Harry gestured thumbs up where Josiah could see their hands — "it's your choice. What would you prefer?"
"What's going on?" a confused and shocked Calvin asked.
"You're not a legal adult yet," Harry explained. "So somebody has to make sure you're taken care of while you finish growing up, be responsible for you and give you good advice. Judge Josiah said he and Aunt Maureen'd do it, or you can have the two of us do it ourselves, or become a son of the Clan. I should warn you, though, the last guy we did that last bit for ended up a petty officer on a starship." Harry grinned.
:You guys are shi- uh, pulling my leg, right?" Calvin asked incredulously.
"Um, no, those are your choices, and whichever one you pick, you are now in control of your life — subject, of course, to someone stopping you if you decide to do something off the wall," Jonas replied.
"Something off the wall, like getting involved with Starfleet and the Vulcans, and getting married at 15?" Maureen teased him.
"Mom!" Jonas said blushing.
"Besides, Aunt Maureen, we needed to do that!" Harry said, meaning joining the Clan.
But Maureen wasn't done with her fun. "You needed to get married? Why, did Jonas knock you up?" she asked him, causing him to turn tomato red.
Jonas and Josiah were laughing at this; Calvin was looking flabbergasted. Across Harry's commbadge could be heard the sound of Seth laughing uncontrollably.
"Do you need the help of the House of Windsor to deal with that Irishwoman, brothers?" came Prince Harry's laughing voice through the commbadge.
"Thanks, Harry; we've got it covered!" Jonas laughed, as Maureen burst into renewed laughter.
"What the heck?" Calvin sputtered.
"Oh, that's just Prince Harry; he's a bit of a prankster," Jonas explained.
"What was that about getting married?" Calvin asked.
"Oh, we did that last night," Jonas said nonchalantly. "So did Mom and Dad. Captain Spock was available and offered, you see."
"May I remind you that this is all being recorded as a court record?" Josiah said, himself chuckling at it all. "Calvin, I do have to place temporary custody somewhere. We can change it later if you want, but I do have to place it somewhere for this to be legal. What do you think you'd prefer?"
"I guess I'm confused," Calvin said. "You're, like, having a court session right here in the car?"
"That's correct," Josiah said. "And I'm going to have to focus on my driving shortly; we're getting into Augusta. If you want, I can talk to my friend Therese; she's head of State Children's Services, and may have other options for you. We're headed there now. But I really want to get custody transferred before you get in a situation where a policeman would apprehend you and send you back to your mother. Would it be all right with you if Maureen and I take custody until you've had a chance to make some decisions, and then we'll reopen it? That way, you're protected if your mother called the cops."
"That'd be fine, sir," Calvin said, still a bit stunned.
"Then by the power entrusted to me by the State of Maine," Josiah said formally, "I order that custody of the minor child Calvin Keith Lalonde be vested in Josiah Brewster and Maureen McConnaghay, husband and wife..." Maureen smiled at that. "...until such time as the said Calvin Keith Lalonde requests a reopening of custody issues. Seth, termi-"
"Wait!" said Harry, who had been thinking since the tease session. "We, Harry Johnson and Jonas McConnaghay, being members of Clan Short of Vulcan, do hereby ratify this custody award, and, in reliance on the powers granted to Clan Short by law, certify it as in accord with Vulcan and Federation law, noting particularly the termination of custodial parental rights. Jonas, do you concur?"
"Good thinking, Harry. I concur." Jonas was smiling but adamant in his tone. Josiah added his agreement and thanks.
"Why did you do that, Harry?" Maureen asked in a puzzled tone.
"Josiah could be reversed by another state court, given a suitable pretext, like if Calvin's mother gets a lawyer that's hot for absolute parental authority," Harry explained. "We invoked the Federation and Vulcan law to make sure he doesn't."
"Because we can," Jonas added with a grin.
Calvin just gawked at them.
Tony checked his ward. The kid in Room 1 needed a bedpan trotted again. When Tony brought it back, he had dozed off under the painkillers he was on. The one in room 2 remained in coma; unable to interpret the readings from his monitoring equipment, Tony simply verified that they were pretty much unchanged from earlier, which he assumed was OK.
He walked into Dan's room to find him propped up in bed watching TV somewhat boredly. When he saw Tony, he broke into a smile. "You came back!" he cried out gleefully.
"Um, yeah! How're you doing?"
"Pretty good. I want to get up!" Dan was clearly in higher spirits, and mock-pouted as he said it.
"You need to get your strength back, they said," Tony temporized. "Hungry?"
"I'm always hungry!" Dan grinned.
"Well, let me run get you something, then I'll check with the doctor and see if you can get up for a while." Tony was not sure what he was allowed to do, and didn't want to let Dan do anything he'd harm himself or get grief from a doctor about.
He went back down to the nurses' station, and Dr. Debra was there, along with two nurses who referred him to her. He indicated what had happened with the three boys on his ward, that he was going to bring Dan another meal or snack. and that he wanted to get up.
"Do you have younger sisters, Tony?" Debra asked, after calling down a request for a healthy and sweet snack for Dan.
"No, they're all older than me. Why?"
"I won't use you on a girls' ward, then. It takes a special knack to deal with headstrong little girls who are sick, and big brothers usually have it from experience, but it's rare in boys and young men who don't have little sisters. Okay, after you get Dan's meal, meet me here. I'll walk down with you, and check him over. Then I'll need you to take care of a ward with six younger boys in it, getting them what they need."
Tony nodded. Though he'd wanted to spend some time with Dan, who clearly was counting on him, he realized that he'd have to go where he was needed. He thought ruefully that if someone had told him yesterday that he'd be doing and thinking the things he was now, he'd have called them crazy. But the funny thing was, he felt good about himself, like he was doing things that made a difference — not to mention the major fringe benefit of Malinda! He whistled off-key as he went to retrieve Dan's evening snack.
Debra walked back to Dan's room with him. "I hear you want to get up," she said.
"Um, yeah; can I?" Dan was almost like a smaller child as he asked it.
"Well, let's see." And she proceeded to check blood pressure, pulse, heartbeat, and the usual doctor-y checkup regimen, moving rapidly from test to test. Then she felt of the backs of Dan's calves and thighs, with legs relaxed and flexed, held her hand against his foot and told him to push. Apparently what she was testing for, he passed muster on, because she said, "Okay, I'm prepared to let you do some limited getting up and walking around. Remember you're still weak from that starvation diet, and don't push yourself. Also, I'd prefer there be somebody around while you're up and about."
"Thanks!" Dan said cheerfully and with obvious gratitude. "You don't need to worry; Tony'll be here and he takes care of me." That brought home to Tony how much trust the younger boy was placing in him; even though they were only nineteen months apart in age, Dan seemed much younger than him, physically, emotionally, and in level of maturity.
"Um, Dan?" Tony felt a touch of chagrin at bursting his bubble. "They're shorthanded tonight;' I need to go work on a ward of younger boys."
Neither Tony nor Debra expected Dan's reaction: "I want to help!" he said firmly. "I've been laying here while Tony waits on me, now I want to go help him!"
Debra paused in thought. Finally something was motivating her patient, and Gordan's idea of having Tony try to draw him out had borne more fruit than anyone had expected. "I'll agree to that on a few conditions," she said. "First, that Tony doesn't have a problem with it, because he'll be as much taking care of you as getting your help." Smiling, Tony nodded yes. "Two, you will faithfully sit down between errands, and Tony, no more than two errands before he gets a break. Three, you don't try to carry anything heavy. Your meal tray is about the maximum weight I'll approve; heft it." He did. "Four, if you start feeling tired, you get your little bottom back in this bed, and Tony, I want you to monitor him, because he will fatigue easily." Tony nodded again; Dan gravely shook his head yes. "Five, when you've got the boys settled down, you eat another snack. Tony, I'll phone down an order. When you bring him back to bed, call down for it and bring it to him."
"I can do those things," Dan said.
"I'll make sure he does," Tony added.
"Okay, then you eat up while I fill you two in on the six kids you're going to be dealing with." Dan set to the small portions of fruit, one-slice sandwich, and ice cream with gusto while Debra outlined the condition of the six rescuees they'd be caring for.
When he was finished, Tony went to pick up the tray. "Wait a minute," Debra said. "Let's get Dan on his feet first." She turned to him. "Go ahead and get up, slowly if you please; we'll stand by in case you have balance issues."
Dan slipped out of bed with no problem. "Okay, Dan, you take the tray," Debra instructed. "It's kind of a test to make sure you'll be okay helping. I'll lead you two to the ward you'll be working, then I've got a couple of patients to see yet before I can take a break. Tony, you follow Dan; act as something of a spotter, to make sure he's not having any problems. I'm relying on you not to let him overdo. Light exercise will be good for him; overtiring himself, not so much. Use your best judgment, and Dan, you do what he says."
She led the way to the other ward; Dan followed her, dropping his tray by the dumbwaiter as directed. Tony walked behind, noting that Dan's hospital gown displayed his bare bottom to the world. It didn't seem to bother Dan, though, and Tony found it cute — he actively repressed any sexual thoughts about it.
The next hour and a half went smoothly. The boys were young: six, seven, and eight, and a little fussy, as sick younger kids often are. Dan was all smiles at being able to help. and Tony made sure he took breaks. A camaraderie built up between them as they worked together. Dan began flagging, and Tony made him sit down with one of the six-year-olds for the last ten minutes, lulling him to sleep as Tony finished up with the others.
Finally, the kids were all asleep, and they walked companionably back to the nurses' station. "I need to call down for his snack order," Tony said diffidently. One nurse raised eyebrows at this; the other, evidently her superior, said, "The boy's on portion control and is supposed to be having another light meal about now, and Dr. Debra ordered it. Hand him the phone."
Tony called and in minutes the snack was there on the dumbwaiter. The head nurse offered Tony a Coke, which he accepted with gratitude. They made their way back to Dan's room. Dan climbed back into bed, and Tony set his tray on his bedtable, sitting down in a chair with his Coke afterwards.
"Whoo, that was exhausting," Dan said, with a tired smile.
"Hey, thanks for your help! Those kids would have been a handful without you," Tony said.
After a few minutes talking about their erstwhile charges, Dan asked, "So what did you do after you left here earlier?"
"Oh," Tony said, "Malinda took me down to the mess hall and we got a meal together — a pretty good one, at that — and then we went back to her room. She's pretty hot, huh? And we were making out like a couple of minks in heat when that damn alert sounded." Going on a little and bragging about the make-out session, Tony missed the change of expression on Dan's face as he started talking about Malinda.
Dan yawned involuntarily. "Hey," Tony said, "I'm keeping you up, and you just barely recuperating from what you went through. Let me go back down to the nursing station and let you get some sleep."
"Tony," Dan asked, in a voice almost tinged with pleading, "would you give me a hug before you go?"
"Sure thing, buddy," Tony said, and leaned down, balancing one hip on the bed. Dan arched his body up and hugged him tightly, clinging to him. Tony hugged him back, realizing that the kid needed it. They both became gradually aware that something was stabbing Tony next to his belly button, and Dan quickly pulled his lower body away.
In a despairing voice, Dan said, "Dammit, now you'll think I'm...."
Tony involuntarily remembered Pen's somewhat larger dick pressing against his belly as he was pumping his own in and out of Pen's bottom. Drawing on his memories of Pen's self-disgust at the time, he fished for what to say. "Hey, Dan," he came up with, "it's nothing to worry about. All it says is, you're a horny teenage guy, same as me. You were hugging somebody, you popped a boner. It's happened to everybody one time or another."
"Really? You don't think that...?"
"I said, don't worry, buddy. Lean up here and give me another hug, boner and all, and then I need to let you get some sleep." What Tony did not add was that the sensation of Dan's boner and the memories it had elicited, along with the abortive make-out session with Malinda earlier, had given him a raging hardon of his own.
He held Dan tight, pressing him up against his own body with one hand on Dan's butt when Dan was reluctant to bring his lower body with the telltale boner back into contact, and felt the tension melt from the younger boy, who yawned again.
"Okay, lay back and try to get some sleep," Tony said. "I'll try to make sure I get some time to spend with you tomorrow." Without thinking about it, he leaned down and kissed Dan on the forehead. "You get some rest now, little buddy. I'll see you." He turned and walked out, waving as he went out the door.
Dan was awash in a sea of emotions he didn't have names for. The day had been a real change for him, especially the last few minutes. He slipped his hand down under the covers, under his gown, and got to work.
Danny leapt from his bike and ran up to Brett. They hugged each other, joyous at being reunited. Peter, Philip, George, Jack, and Marsha looked on affectionately at the boys' reunion.
Then Brett, overcome with happiness at the reunion, planted a big kiss on Danny's lips, which Danny responded to with momentary startlement and then giving back as good a kiss as he got. The adults' eyebrows raised.
Aghast at what he'd done, afraid he'd destroyed his friendship with Danny by revealing his love — and in front of his parents! — Brett burst into tears and ran off down the street in total fear and despair.
Danny and the other four humans were shocked, Peter calm.
"I should have realized..." Jack started to say.
"I think I did; I just had trouble admitting it to myself," Marsha said. "You don't love him any the less, do you?"
"Of course not," Jack answered.
"You're not going to be mad at us, are you?" Danny said fearfully.
"Come here, Danny," Marsha said. She drew the hesitant boy into an embrace. "You've been at our house as much as you have home, the last few years. You're like another son to me and Jack. Do you really think we'd reject or condemn you, Danny?"
Danny lifted wet eyes filled with renewed hope to her. "You... won't?"
"Of course not," Marsha said. " I suppose you two, Jack and I, and your mother will need to sit down for a long talk after we get moved, though."
That brought back Danny's sense of panic. "Mom? You need to talk to her?"
"Of course, silly. She's your mother, she loves you, she needs to know how you feel."
"We need to go find Brett," Philip said.
"No," Peter answered. "I know right where he ran; he's terrified that he'll lose Danny by admitting he's in love with him like he did, and also the fact that he outed himself to his parents. The three of them need to go get him; I'll show them where."
"How may I help you?" the obsequious receptionist asked.
"Hello, Denise. Would you let Therese know that Josiah Brewster and his party are here to meet with her, please?" Josiah was urbane in his public persona to her.
"Of course. Would you have a seat, please?"
Therese, however, was at her office door. "Come in, Josiah, come in! And introduce me to these folks you brought with you."
Following Therese, Josiah led his party in, with a pat on the back to a very nervous Calvin.
"Therese," Josiah introduced them, "may I present to you my new bride, Maureen McConnaghay, her son Jonas McConnaghay of Clan Short of Vulcan, his brand new husband Harry Johnson, also of Clan Short of Vulcan, and our ward Calvin Lalonde? Maureen and boys, this is my dear friend Therese Longueville, Director of Maine State Children's Services."
"Maureen, it's a real pleasure to meet you at last," Therese said warmly, clasping her hand.
"And for me, too," Maureen responded with equal warmth.
"Jonas, Harry, thank you for coming; I'm very happy to meet you as well," again with handshakes, as the two responded with appropriate politenesses.
"And Calvin, welcome!" she said heartily. "Josiah, you said nothing about a ward; how long have you been his guardian?"
"Oh, about a half hour," Josiah said, chuckling. Therese's expression was one of startlement. "One of the things Vulcan law turns out to be useful for is cutting red tape. We picked up Calvin hitchhiking on Route 27 coming down; after hearing his story, I assumed jurisdiction, suspended parental custodial rights, and offered him his choice of either couple in the car or the Clan for temporary custody. He chose us. The boys assumed jurisdiction and superseded State law to make sure I didn't get reversed, as I could be by old Ferdinand since we were already in Kennebec County at the time."
"Let me get an instant replay here," Therese said with a smile. "You acted extraterritorially, as you have the right to do if you're at the scene. But that meant that the Kennebec County judge could assume jurisdiction. So the boys took it over, and made it a Clan Short decision. Have I got that right?"
"Precisely, Therese," Josiah confirmed.
"Very nice work, boys!" she said to them. "I'm looking forward to learning more from you about how we can use Vulcan law to help children."
Harry looked stunned. Jonas answered, "We'll be happy to help, any way we can."
"I'm kind of surprised how familiar you are with Clan powers already," Harry said.
"It's my job," Therese said with a smile. "We're supposed to be the advocates for those too young to speak for themselves, to make sure they are cared for and nurtured. Unfortunately, far too often people slip through the cracks, adults being mercenary and self-centered, kids being abused and without a voice, and we can't connect with the real problems. It's very frustrating, and I look for ways to get past the bureaucratic pitfalls in our way. From the day the Clan came to my notice, I've been looking for how we can use it to help kids that need it."
"Count on us!" Jonas said.
A nondescript young man in his late 20s with glasses and his dark hair receding sidled nervously into Therese's office just then. "I'm sorry to interrupt while you have visitors, Therese, but we've just got to do something."
"Come in, Walter!" she answered. Introducing the Arkhamites and Calvin, she said, "This is Walter Black, one of my best staffers. Walter, explain what the situation is; maybe these folks can suggest a procedure we haven't come up with."
"Another kid from that facility," Walter said with anger tinging his voice. "This one was brought to the General Medical emergency center with a concussion and bruises all over his head. They're claiming he was climbing where he shouldn't have been, and fell." His expression made it clear how little he believed that explanation.
"Another one?" Therese was coldly angry. "How many does that make?"
"Seven or eight, depending on how you read that one case," Walter answered. "This one's 12, name of Burbank James."
"James Burbank?"
"No, his first name is Burbank, surname is James, like Henry."
Therese grinned. "Walter, you are a geek! Almost anyone else would have used Jesse James for the example, not Henry." Her broad smile made clear she was teasing a good friend.
Walter blushed and laughed. "Yeah, point taken. As usual, not enough evidence to intervene. And their story is nicely corroborated — too well, as if they'd rehearsed it."
"Wait a minute!" Harry said. "If I'm putting this together right, you suspect a series of child abuse incidents of some sort from the same place, and you're not doing anything to stop it?" Maureen was startled by the intense determination in her new son-in-law's face; in nearly a decade when the boys had been at each other's house as much as at their own homes, she had never seen him as intent on something as the last week or so, since joining the Clan.
"We can't," Walter said. "If there was any way, I'd have gone in there with a bevy of troopers and shut them down, and Therese would have had my back with the bureaucracy. But we can't prove a single thing, not even to the level needed to get a warrant to go in and look for answers. And every month they collect their check from us for providing that level of care to the kids they are assigned, bold as brass."
"Ferdinand won't grant a warrant, eh?" Josiah said. He gave Therese an evil smile of anticipation.
"Heh," Theresa said. "Walter, do you have any blank applications for a search warrant made out for a judge to sign?"
"Yeah. But you'll never get the standard of likelihood that'll convince old Ferdinand."
"Do you remember when I introduced my guests, Walter?" Therese was smiling deceptively sweetly. Walter thought a second, got an 'Aha' expression on his face, and spun. "It's a real pleasure to meet you, judge," he said to Josiah, smiling broadly.
"Will there be any repercussions from you acting in a different county, dear?" Maureen asked with concern.
"There could be," Josiah admitted. "I can only act outside Franklin County if the Chief Judge for the state assigns me, if the neighboring judge is away or disqualifies himself, or if I happen to be present when a crime or other problem needing judicial intervention is discovered. We're stretching the last exception to cover this scene, out of principle — this sort of thing can't be allowed to continue."
"Go ahead and sign the warrant, dad," Jonas said. "But I don't think it will be needed." He turned to Therese. "Ms. Longueville," he said formally as he touched his commbadge, "you are the director of the state agency, and have formally stated your inability to intercede in what you reasonably believe to be a case of repeated child abuse, is that correct?" A beep from his commbadge indicated it was recording.
"That would be correct, Jonas," she answered, wondering why he was taking a formal and negative attitude toward her all of a sudden.
"Then as the Division Director of Clan Short charged with protection of the Northeastern United States," Jonas said, "I wish to formally advise you that Clan Short of Vulcan elects to supersede your authority under its legally granted authority, authorizing us to step in when local authorities are unable or unwilling to act. Do you accept our assertion of authority?"
Therese was smiling now. "I do, with gratitude, Jonas."
"Seth, end recording for now. Are Jamie and Jacob free to work intelligence for us? Our two are in school today."
"No, but I can send up Sammy and Sebastian Martin, if you want."
"That'd be great, thanks. McConnaghay out."
"C.I.C. out."
As he again touched his commbadge to end the call, Jonas turned his attention to Walter. "Do you have any pretext to get us on the grounds of this facility?"
Worriedly, Jack and Marsha, George, Philip, and Danny followed a calm Peter down the street and into Abbie's back yard. Abbie, having left work on her last day there, came out her back door and joined them, with a questioning look at George. "I'll explain later if it's needed," he whispered to her. Skeptically, Abbie nodded.
Peter led them down a trail through the woods to Harry's 'thinking rock', where Brett sat huddled in on himself. Abbie got an 'Aha!' look on her face, and her expression turned compassionate.
Brett looked up, panicky, at the sounds of their arrival, footfalls on leaves and twigs snapping. Marsha held out her arms. "Come here, Brett!" she called out warmly. Looking at her face and seeing Danny and Peter smiling and nodding, he hesitantly started toward her. She moved toward him and they ended up rushing together in a hug. "Momma," he breathed though sobs. At Marsha's gesture. Danny joined in the hug, and shortly planted a hesitant kiss on Brett's cheek.
"We love you, Brett," Marsha said. "It's all right." Brett's eyes lifted to her, then turned to Danny. "I said 'we', kiddo — and that includes Danny, I think." Danny blushed, then grinned and nodded vigorously.
Jack cleared his throat. "Son," he said, "while this is not the way we raised you to be..."
"Just a minute," Abbie interrupted angrily. "Don't you dare go trespassing on my property and then blaming that boy for being honest about how he feels! I nearly lost my only boy over the same thing, and I can tell you right now that he never chose to feel the way he does, any more than you made a conscious choice to fall in love with that woman who's holding him rather than a big-haired floozie down at the corner bar — assuming she's your wife and he's your son. It's something he found out about himself, and from what my Harry told me, he's already risked his life for the boy he loves, just as my Harry did." Addressing Danny, she said, "You're Kelly's boy, aren't you?"
"Yes'm," Danny answered.
"That makes us family, in a roundabout way," Abbie said to him. "My son's married to your brother. So I'm not 'ma'am' to you, I'm your Aunt Abbie. And if you get any flak from the small-minded hicks around here, you come tell me, and I'll give them a piece of my mind!"
"That's a serious threat!" George said with a grin at Abbie, which she returned with a wolfish smile and a nod.
"What I was going to say," Jack interjected, "is that, although I don't agree with the choices you've made for your life, you're still my son and I still love you."
"You may want to talk to a couple of gay teens, Jack," George said equananimously, 'to realize just how little of a choice it is. I owe the fact I have three sons now to a couple of them, and it's been an eye-opener for me."
"Took you long enough!" Abbie said to him.
George ignored her. "Good move on telling him that, though. I'm just beginning to realize what my boys need emotionally, and I do think he needed that reassurance."
"Come here, son," Jack said. Brett walked over to him, and Jack wrapped his arms around him. "I don't get it, son, but I'll try to understand. Okay?"
New hope in his eyes, Brett looked up at his dad. "Okay," he said with a nervous smile.
"Done, finally!" Francis said as he stretched and poured himself a glass of wine.
"The stuff you bought from Pen should do really well at the three suburban stores," Bernie commented. Francis turned to look at him, and smiled. Benny was cuddled up in the crook of Bernie's arm, half asleep., head against Bernie's shoulder. "Excuse me for not getting up, love," Bernie said, "but I seem to be … occupied." He smiled.
"Probably time to get our boys to bed," Francis commented.
"Our boys," Bernie echoed warmly. "That feels good to say." He paused. "Our life's been completely turned around in one day — and I couldn't be happier." He smiled.
Benny roused. "You mean it?" he asked. "You really want us?"
"Of course, silly!" Bernie said.
"I … um … I'd pretty well given up on anybody ever wanting us, except maybe if they're horny, 'n' then only for as long as it takes them to get off," Benny said honestly.
There were tears in both Francis and Bernie's eyes. "Don't ever say that, Benny! You deserve to be loved for who you are, not what you can be used for!"
"I'm sorry!" Benny said quickly, sitting up. "I didn't mean to get you mad!"
"No, we're not mad at you," Bernie reassured him as he pulled him back close. "Just at the people who let you boys slip through the cracks, never showed any caring for you, left you to fend for yourself, let you get that feeling that nobody could want you."
"It's okay?" Benny sounded much younger and more vulnerable than he had earlier.
"It's much more than okay," Francis said peaceably. "Just look at it as, you're now getting what you should have had all along, a family that loves you and cares about you — you and the other three, too."
"Speaking of which," Bernie said, "much as I hate to break this cuddle, because it feels as good for me as it evidently does for you, you've been making valiant efforts to keep your eyes open for the last half hour, and I think it's time to get the four of you bedded down, and then turn in ourselves."
Benny just cuddled in closer, obviously not wanting to let go just yet. Francis smiled, reached out his arm and grasped Benny's, to help him up. Benny tensed at the touch, looked up and saw the warmth in Francis' expression, and drowsily cooperated with being helped up.
Once Benny was on his feet, though groggy, Bernie stood up and wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder. The three of them walked off toward the former guest suite, now the boys' rooms.
The door of the room to the left was closer to the entry to the suite, and they went to that first. What was inside was not what they expected. The bed was unoccupied, in fact remained neatly made up, and Blakey and Tory's haul from the shopping trip, plus the coats they had been so proud of, were in a heap on the floor.
Men and boy exchanged surprised looks, turned, and as one walked to the other room.
The three boys were in there, naked and sound asleep. Pat was sprawled on his back, legs spread apart. Tory was wrapped tight to his left side, with Pat's arm wrapped around his torso and his own legs scissoring around Pat's waist. His stiffy poked out from under his thigh just below Pat's nipple. Blakey was lying between Pat's legs on his side, head on Pat's right thigh. A small dribble of pearlescent white drizzled from the side of his mouth. All three had peaceful, calm, relaxed expressions on their faces as they slept.
Francis and Benny looked on the sleeping boys fondly. Bernie, however, though he had a warm spot in his heart for the cuddling boys, had focused in on Blakey. "Pat didn't make him...?" he asked, a bit more harshly than he intended.
"What?" Benny asked innocently.
"Look at where his head is; look at his mouth," Bernie said.
"Oh, that," Benny said dismissively. "He likes to suck on us before he goes to sleep. It's like a pacifier for him — and of course it feels good for us too." He grinned mischievously. "So Pat or me, one of us lets him cuddle up like that and suck, so he feels calm and relaxed. After he falls asleep, our dick falls out of his mouth, and we can get comfortable. — Oh, you thought Pat made him do it," he said as he realized where Bernie's thoughts had gone. "No, he feels safe that way — and it's fun for us too, of course."
"We may need to talk about this," Francis said. "But I get the picture now."
"I think we've got a lot to learn," Bernie commented.
Tory roused. "C'mon to bed, Benny," he said drowsily. Bernie gently pressed Benny forward, encouraging him to follow Tory's instruction. Benny turned, shyly planted a kiss on Bernie's cheek, and stripped for bed, showing no embarrassment at getting naked in front of Francis and Bernie. He clambered into bed; Tory rolled over and cuddled up to him, pressing his hips up against Benny's abdomen. Benny held him close and said, "G'nite, dads!"
Bernie's eyes watered up at hearing that. Francis bent over and planted a kiss on Benny's and then Tory's cheek, and then Pat's forehead. He reached down and caressed Blakey's sleeping shoulders, clearly unwilling to bring his lips that near Pat's crotch. "Kiss 'im, Dad F.," Benny said, yawning. "We know now what you're like, and none of us would think anything of it."
"Go ahead, love," Bernie said affectionately. Francis did, and Bernie then duplicated Francis's kiss to all four boys. "Thanks, Benny," he said.
"For telling ya to kiss Blakey?" Benny asked.
"No, for everything about today," he answered.
"We ought to be thanking you!" Benny said.
"Hey, just you being our sons is something we'll always be grateful for. You see, we never thought we could have kids," Bernie answered him. Smiling through wet eyes, Francis nodded his agreement.
"Love ya, dads," Benny said, and rolled over. Tory had already drifted back off.
"Come on, Bernie," Francis said softly. He wrapped his arm around his husband's waist, and walked him out of the room, dimming the lights to near-darkness as they left.
"Home," Benny said with contentment as he too drifted off to sleep.
As Abbie, Peter, and the older Wildes made their way out of Abbie's back yard, Brett held Danny back. "You're not mad that I kissed you, are you?" he asked fearfully.
"I kissed you back, goofy!" Danny said. "I've missed you, a lot; you're my best friend."
Brett was both relieved and shamefaced at this. "Well, um..." It came out in a rush. "Danny, with me it's something more. I love you, Danny, like in the movies and songs and stuff. I felt like I lost everything when you went away. If friendship's what you want, I'll try to be your loyal friend forever, but, um...." He trailed off, without the words for his feelings.
"But what you want is for us to be a couple, like my big brother and Harry are?" Danny was worked up too. "That's what you mean, right?"
"Well, um... yeah! That's what I really want."
Danny drew a deep breath. "Brett, I've been having a hard time figuring out what it is I feel. Stuff I don't want to admit, even to myself, about me. But I know I don't ever want to be separated from you again like we were." He paused, visibly drew his courage together, and said, "Brett, I love you too. Just like you love me."
He went to draw Brett into an embrace and kiss. Brett held back, gesturing at his parents' backs ahead of them. "I want you, Danny, want to hold you and say how I feel. But now's not the time. They'll hear."
Ruefully, Danny nodded. "Later." Brett grabbed and squeezed Danny's hand. "Later," he agreed,
They hurried to catch up with the others.
"What Maureen's made off her writing let her fix up the place with a lot of things you need, living up here," Abbie was saying. "Not tryin' to push you into anything, but if you do decide to make her an offer, I think you'll like it there."
"I really want to look it over," Marsha said. "Do you think they'll be back in time for us to see the place?"
"Well, you know we're planning on moving into the Templeton place," Abbie said. "When Maureen and I were talking, she was hoping she could get a decent price for it — said to make sure if I heard of anyone looking, down at the diner, to get them to come see it. So I'd say there would be no problem with you going in and looking around — remembering that she hasn't had a chance to spruce the place up for show, what with all the things that've been happening."
"You don't think she'd mind?" Jack asked.
"I know she wouldn't — sure as the good Lord made little green Vulcans!" Abbie said tartly. "She's anxious to sell it soon as she can. Go ahead and look; I'm as certain as anyone can be that she not only won't mind but would jump for joy that you're looking at it."
Peter spoke up. "I checked Mom's mind; Aunt Abbie's telling the truth. Dad planned that when he met with you folks, he'd gently hint that Mom wanted to sell, since you'd be looking." He paused, scanning again. "They're in the middle of something important, so I'm not going to pop in and ask. But I checked their motivations — they're both of the mindset that if someone wanted to see it, they'd be jumpin' to show it. So go ahead and look, on my say-so as a family member." Peter looked very happy at being able to call himself part of the family; he gave Jack and Marsha a broad smile.
"Don't know if I'll ever get used to the stuff you can do, kiddo," Abbie said to him, "but thanks for checkin' that out. Go ahead in and look," she said to Marsha, "if Peter says that's what they're thinking, then that's what they're thinking."
Jack chuckled. "It's like walking into a children's story with magic popping up everywhere, to be around this kid! Thank you, Peter. You're sure they won't mind?"
"Told ya, I read their feelings just now, and they wantcha to look at it!" Peter was still happy but a little irked that his assurance of what Maureen and Josiah's feelings were was not being taken seriously.
"Well, George brought us here to see it; he must know," Jack said.
After a bit more backing and filling, Jack and Marsha in fact did look over Maureen's house as a potential home. Abbie cuddled Peter, telling him not to be hurt, that people who were not used to Mikyvis would think of him as a normal nine-year-old and discount his special abilities. He seemed mollified by this, and gave her a big hug. Jack called Brett in to show him Jonas's room, which would become his if they took it. Danny hung around, loath to miss any chance to be with Brett and his family now that they were back together.
At last they came back out. "It's very close to just what I was looking for," Marsha said. "A few changes here and there, and it'll be perfect." Jack gave a wary smile, knowing what Marsha's ideas of 'a few changes' might entail.
"So you're gonna buy this house?" Brett asked his parents.
"Unless something really unexpected happens, yes, son, I think we will be making an offer for it," Jack answered. "Although this week has been full enough of strange occurrences that I wouldn't rule that out." He grinned to show he wasn't fully serious about the last comment.
"So we're going to move here?" Brett asked excitedly.
"Absolutely! The prospects for that company are terrific. I'd be a fool not to take it — especially at the deal my boss is offering me," Jack said.
"Your boss?" Brett was confused.
"Right there!" Jack pointed at Peter, who giggled.
"Huh?"
"He inherited the company, son. His grandpa held the mortgages on the property before he died. His new father and Mr. Wentworth here are offering me a terrific package to run it for him — and for us." Jack was smiling broadly. "Part of the package is shared ownership, so it's like, if I take care of Peter's share properly, it'd be like having a company of my own."
"Which your dad has always dreamed of," Marsha interjected.
"Awesome!" Brett said. Then he remembered. He turned to Danny and said, "How far away do you live?"
"Uncle Bri and Aunt Kait are only a few blocks away," Danny said. "That's where we've been staying." His face fell. "But I don't know where Mom's going to move to, when we get a place of our own."
"I do," Abbie spoke up. "Your Mom and I have been talking — it was my boy Harry's bright idea — and she'll be renting my place — the house that Brett ran behind," she explained to the blank looks from some of those present.
"You'll be, like, right down the street!" Brett said excitedly.
"Yeah!" Danny answered with a big grin on his face.
Peter just stood there with an enormous grin splitting his face.
Ethan Daniels sat morosely at the bar, his hands loosely holding his second Manhattan of the day, reflecting on the unfairness of it all. After ten years of office work, the last three of them as a Big Brothers volunteer after hours, he'd gone back to school to train for what he had discovered he really wanted to do with his life — work with kids. Four years and several thousand dollars of debt later, he'd been hired by Northeastern Youthcare Facilities LLC, his employer for the past few years. Until last month. His idea, that staff should draw out the kids and make them feel special and cared about, had been at odds with the corporate philosophy of bare compliance with minimum state staffing levels and firm discipline to ensure none of the kids caused problems that might draw attention to the facility. Not that the state hadn't gotten interested anyway, when the violent behavior of one of the supervisors had caused several suspicious accidents, officially explained away in each case. His objections had finally led to his termination — and, he was rapidly coming to realize, his being blackballed from any other job working with kids. Northeastern's HR person had apparently been given the word not to give him a good reference.
Unemployed and in debt, he'd taken to spending his days at the bar. He wasn't disturbed by other patrons, and if he paced his drinking, he could usually keep himself anesthetized from the sense of desolation he felt without actually getting drunk in the process until it was time to go back to his apartment and go to bed again.
He'd watched the newscasts Saturday with a subdued sense of horror — kids getting killed defending other kids, fer chrissake! — and a wish, despite it all, that he could help. Then the funeral of those who'd been killed on Wednesday. That was a laugh! The President saying "Never again!" and all those dignitaries expressing sorrow and anger. But, he thought, when it came right down to it, nothing would change. The same old crap would continue, with no change — people would do what lined their pockets, and those who cared would be dumped on, just like always.
He took a sip of his drink, and tried to turn his attention to what was on the TV — a rerun of a sitcom about a human family living on Andoria, with predictable bad gags. Well, at least it was better than stewing over what couldn't be changed.
The familiar flickering presaged Sammy and Sebastian beaming in — dressed for a Florida October, not a Maine one.
"Hey, guys, good to see you again. Um, you might want to be wearing something warmer up here," Harry said.
The twins grinned. "If we get cold..." Sammy said. "...we can yell for a Mikyvis," Sebastian finished.
"Lemme fill you in out loud," Harry went on, "so the rest of the folks know what you know. You know Judge Josiah and Aunt Maureen, of course." The twins smilingly waved hi to them. "This lady's Ms. Longueville, who's Judge Josiah's friend and runs this agency, and this is Mr. Black, one of her staff. What we've got is a bad-news home they suspect of child abuse, and a judge who won't give them the authorization to investigate properly."
They looked at Josiah; he said, "Not me, boys! The judge for this county has very elevated standards for what constitutes 'probable cause' for a warrant. I agreed to issue a warrant as soon as Walter here told us what had happened. But Jonas jumped in and assumed jurisdiction."
"I've known Dad for years," Jonas said. "He's a stickler for the law, and will do everything in his power to help kids — but he won't go beyond his legal powers. He can deal with the one case he was present for the discovery of. But the Clan can move where he can't, and deal with all the alleged abuse cases. Plus we have a source of evidence the state doesn't."
"What's that?" Walter asked.
"They just arrived," Jonas said with a broad smile.
"So I assumed jurisdiction in the name of the Clan," Jonas continued his explanation to the twins. "We'll still start with what Dad can do, but I just have a really strong feeling that that's the tip of the iceberg, from what Walter here had to say. So if we need to move beyond what Dad can legally authorize, well, the Clan's legal authority gives us plenty of wiggle room. I put Ms. Longueville here on record that they're legally prohibited from checking out their suspicions, so we're justified in intervening."
"I was wondering why you made an issue of that, Jonas," Therese said. "If we could resolve it, you wouldn't be in a position to intervene, right?"
"Yep," Harry said. "So Jonas or I needed to get you on record with what your limitations were, to warrant our invoking the Clan's authority and stepping in."
"Put that way, it makes perfect sense," Therese responded. "Thanks."
Jonas and Harry smiled. "Just doing it the right way."
"So you're going to go in and check out what happened with those kids?" 'Bastian asked. "And you want us to Read what they're actually up to, and whether it matches what they say about it?"
"Exactly," Harry said. "We'll provide Security for you two; you get us the straight goods on what's going on there, and then Jonas will act as the circumstances demand, probably along with Ms. Longueville."
"Call me Therese," she said. "By the way, this is Walter Black, who keeps tabs on this sort of thing for the agency."
"Right, introductions," Harry said. "These are Sammy and Sebastian Martin, Clan Short Intelligence, and the sons of Cdr. John Martin of Starfleet Security. They'll be finding out what's really going on. Oh, and this, guys, is Calvin Lalonde. Aunt Maureen and the judge are serving as his guardians."
"What's going on?" Calvin asked. "I mean, I've been listening, but...."
"Okay, we're going in, with Therese and Walter, to find out what the story is at this place," Jonas said. "I've taken jurisdiction in the name of the Clan, since Dad is limited in what he can do outside our county. And the twins will find out what they're really up to, even if they lie to us."
"How are those two guys going to do that?" Calvin asked.
"They're telepaths, and Vulcan trained," Jonas answered.
"All right, what do we need to do now before we leave?" Therese asked.
"I think we're ready," Harry said.
"Here's your warrant," Josiah said. "Although with Jonas having taken jurisdiction, you probably won't need it, but just for belt-and-suspenders coverage, Therese, okay?"
Touched by Josiah's concern to protect her, Therese thanked him warmly. Then, "Walter and I can go over in my car, and I can take two of you with me. If the rest of you ride with Josiah and follow me, we can get everyone there together."
"We'll split up," Sammy said after a glance at 'Bastian. "Then if the cars get separated, we can provide real-time communication between 'em."
"That works," Therese said. "Calvin, you want to ride with us?"
"Um … okay, I guess," he answered.
Josiah's experienced eye caught what was bothering Calvin. "Therese, here's a prime example of why we need to get you better communications. This boy is fresh out of an abusive household, as of this morning. We picked him up hitching, and with a little help from Clan jurisprudence, took custody. He's really nervous about trusting anyone, even us. Calvin," he said, turning to him, "this is the lady who is in charge of making sure kids don't have to go through what you went through, and she keeps finding herself insulated from knowing the facts about people like your mother, which prevents her from doing anything about it. I've known her for many years; she takes it as a personal failing in her that kids go through what you did, and I can tell you that if there is anyone you can feel you can trust, she should be one of them."
"Josiah, stop!" Therese said blushing. "Calvin, there hasn't been time to hear what happened, but I want you to know that anything I can do to help, and that means anything the state can do, you need only let me know." She gave him a maternal smile.
"Ma'am, it's like nobody cared, until the Judge picked me up hitching. Now, everybody's being so nice, and, um, well, I guess I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen next."
"Well, son, that's pretty much in your hands," Josiah said. "Before we leave, I'm going to make sure you have a chance to sit down with Therese and tell your story to her, and see what all your options are. But what we did in the car still holds — unless you ask for something different to happen, you'll go home with Maureen and me and the boys, and we'll try to give you what your father did and your mother evidently was unable to, a happy, secure home to grow up in. We'll treat you as our son."
"But I'm not a relation," Calvin exclaimed. "I mean, I see you with Jonas, but he's your son."
"He is my son, make no mistake about that," Josiah said, placing his arm across Jonas's shoulders. "But that's not because I had anything to do with his being born. His father by blood is dead. And we have another little boy at home we're adopting, an amazing young fellow named Peter, whose whole blood family is dead. So you'll fit right in."
"What he said goes for me too," Maureen said, "except of course that I did give birth to Jonas. And Josiah forgot to mention Harry. His mother's my neighbor and friend; the two boys grew up as much in one house as in the other, best friends, and now a married couple. Harry has no blood claim on me, but he couldn't be more my son if I'd given birth to him." And with that she wrapped her arm around Harry's waist.
'Bastian spoke up. "Remember trout fishing?" bringing back to Calvin's mind happy times he'd shared with his father.
"Or the pinewood derby?" Sammy put in.
"Or spreading your arms and legs for an airplane spin?" 'Bastian again.
Calvin's eyes were wide as saucers. "How'd you know about that?"
"Grab hold and don't let go." Sammy, this time.
Bastian: "Nobody can bring back your father...."
Sammy: "...but you have a chance for happiness again."
Together they finished: "Don't throw it away!"
Calvin was weeping softly now. Maureen went over and held him close, whispering words of comfort to him. Jonas stepped forward and rested his hand firmly on the younger boy's slender back. "We've got your back, bro. All you need to do is let us in."
Walter cleared his throat. Therese glanced over, and said, "That's how it's supposed to work, Walter. Take notes; I learn something new and important every time I meet with Josiah."
Calvin looked up. "I'm being selfish; you've got some kids to help."
"No," said Jonas. Calvin looked at him, mystified. "We've got some kids to help," Jonas explained.
Calvin involuntarily drew a breath, then broke into a grin. "Then let's go!" he said happily.
Tony took a large drink of the Coke the nurse had given him and stretched his legs out in front of him. With Chang and all the UNIT medics gone, even with all the kids bedded down for the night the Clinic had been hectic the last couple of hours. It was good to have a few minutes off his feet to relax. But, he had to admit, as busy as he'd been, the sense of being needed, being of help to people who needed it, was strangely satisfying to him. He wondered idly why he'd never felt that way at home.
The charge nurse's phone rang. "Well, hello, Daileass. It's surprising to hear you this way, not over the speaker system. — Yes, he is, right here. — He's asleep, and had a bit of exercise. He shouldn't be disturbed." Then her eyes widened. "Yes, I'll do that. Thanks for the warning."
She hung up the phone and looked over at Tony. "Take that wheelchair, Tony, and go wake up Dan and get him settled in it. You two are under orders to report to General Casey's office — the Base Exec." Tony was sitting bolt upright at this news. "That was Daileass; he said he was passing word to me, by phone to keep it confidential, before they called to order you there directly." Tony was on his feet now. "Gen. Casey is a fatherly sort," she added, "but when he gives an order, he expects it obeyed. Daileass said he'd guide you there — you know his bit with the lights?" Tony nodded yes, and pushed the wheelchair down to Dan's room.
"Hey, little buddy, wake up!"
"Wha...?" Dan's drowsy initial reaction was quickly replaced by alertness as he realized Tony was there, shaking him awake. "What's up, Tony?"
"I don't know. The charge nurse sent me to get you. All I know is, we're under orders to report to the Base Exec.'s office."
Tony hefted the slight form of the small 14-year-old and set him in the wheelchair, then got behind it and pushed him to the nursing station and out of the Clinic. As expected, Daileass's flashing lights were pointing the way to go, and he followed them to an elevator, which opened as he arrived at it. He pushed the wheelchair on, and the door closed.
"OK, Daileass, what's up? I don't mind telling you, we're both nervous about those orders."
Daileass giggled. "What I didn't tell the nurse is, those were my orders, not the General's. Lt. Austin Casey's about to give Strike Team Charlie's debriefing to Gen. Joe, and I know, from what I've overheard, that Dan needs to hear it."
"Huh?" Both boys simultaneously voiced the same mystified comment, then laughed at having echoed each other.
"There's no time to get you there in time. Here, listen in. All I'll say in advance is, they were sent to deal with Jerome."
Dan tensed up at hearing that name. "Relax, Dan," Daileass said. "Piping it in now."
To avoid duplicating a long and involved story, readers who want to know what happened to Jerome and have not already done so are encouraged to read Chapter 11 of Camp Bam Bam by clicking on this link.
As the loudspeaker in the elevator echoed Austin finishing telling the events of his mission to Joe, Dan's face was a mix of emotions — shock at Jerome's real motivations, feeling avenged for having been discarded by him, grief for the loss he had felt, but above all satisfaction that justice had been done for him. "As you leave the elevator, follow the lights again," Daileass said. "It's only a short distance. Then knock on the door."
Tony did as instructed, then opened the door and began to push Dan in, stopping short as he realized that seven grim uniformed teens were standing there with hands on firearms. He blanched, and restrained his impulse to move to protect Dan.
Then Dan was out of his chair like a shot, running across the room and into the arms of another, younger boy who'd jumped up from his chair, each screaming one word, a name.
"DAN!"
"PETEY!"
Then they were in each other's arms, sinking to the floor, each trying to talk over the other, as Tony, who had wheeled Dan into the room, watched with a smile on his face.
"Excuse me, sir, the boy who came in is Dan, the reason for our mission, while the one who brought him in is Tony, on loan to us from Northeast Division. The other boy is of course Petey," the 17-year-old who was standing before the General's desk, evidently Austin, said.
"The Pete from your debriefing, the one you pulled out?" he asked.
"Yes sir, but Tony, how did you find out about us?" Austin asked.
"Daileass told me,” he replied.
"Daileass?" Austin asked as giggles filled the air.
"Gotta anticipate your commander's wishes, even if he don’t know he's wishing it, ya know," the imp replied, giggling still. "As a matter of fact, I let them listen in the entire time, so they know what's going on."
As Austin introduced the other people he'd picked up to the General, Malinda, who had been on the mission, slipped over and wrapped a possessive arm around Tony, as Dan broke from the hug to say over his shoulder, "Tony, this is Little Pete, my friend from Jerome's that I told ya about. Pete, this is Tony, my best friend here, or ever really, the one who takes care of me!"
And something melted inside Tony, a sense that he mattered that much to someone who had so little. 'My best friend here — or ever really" echoed through his mind.
The two cars passed through the open gate and onto the grounds of the imposing structure they'd set out to investigate, coming to a halt in the small parking area in front of the building. The nine passengers got out and looked up. Sheer concrete walls, broken by occasional windows, loomed above them. A steel-and-glass entry door looked small and out of place in the expanse. Therese strode resolutely toward it, followed by the others.
The door was locked, though clearly openable by the crossbar door handle inside. Alongside was a speaker grille and button; Therese pressed it.
"Yes?" came a woman's voice rendered tinny by the speaker.
"Director Therese Longueville of the State Children's Services Agency, here with a party to conduct a site inspection," she said firmly and distinctly.
"One moment, please," the woman's voice came back. "I'll send for the Facility Manager to meet you." The speaker went silent; they waited impatiently.
Three men walked into the hallway inside the door, one of normal build in a gray pinstripe suit and the other two large and muscular, wearing brown uniforms. The door buzzed; Therese pulled the handle and Josiah took it from her, holding the door as they all entered and bringing up the rear.
"Alfred Devereaux," Therese stated in a flat voice, "as Director of the state agency tasked with oversight of your facility, I am here with these others to conduct a site inspection as provided for under state law when there is evidence of possible abuse or neglect."
Devereaux barked a mirthless laugh. "Under our ten-year contract with the state," he said, "inspections are to be conducted quarterly after proper notice to this facility and to our parent company. Mr. Black there conducted an inspection seven weeks ago after proper notice, though I must say I didn't care for the innuendos in his report."
"You had those kids cowed to where they were afraid to complain," Walter said angrily, "and there was clear evidence that the site had been prepared for the inspection. I even overheard two kids complaining...."
Therese cut him off with a gesture. "This is an unscheduled inspection as provided for under state law," she stated formally, "and I have here a warrant authorizing it." She handed the warrant Josiah had prepared over to Devereaux, who looked startled at the news. Sammy and Sebastian looked equally startled; Sebastian began to say something, and Sammy quickly gestured him to stop.
Devereaux unfolded the warrant and looked at it. "This is made out by the Franklin County Family Court Judge," he said, relieved. "We will of course be appealing its validity, and I m afraid I must deny you access until it is ruled on." Despite the wording, his thin smile made it clear he was not at all apologetic about the denial. "Now, until that appeal is resolved, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave." He gestured at the two men with him, who advanced on the nine visitors.
Jonas angrily began to draw his phaser; Harry, intent on Josiah's face, said, "Wait!"
The two security men escorted them out the door and to their cars. "Get in and leave the grounds," one of them said gruffly.
They pulled out of the gate and stopped on the street just beyond the grounds, and again disembarked from the cars. Sammy urgently motioned Jonas to bend down, and quickly whispered several sentences into his ear.
"So much for my warrant!" Josiah said angrily. "Boys, it's your show from here on in." Therese, equally angry, nodded agreement.
"Fill them in," Jonas told Sammy.
"First, Mr. Black, your suspicions were correct," Sammy began. "You were taken through a carefully orchestrated façade seven weeks ago, with the kids threatened with punishment if they told you anything but what the management wanted you to hear."
"Second,'''Bastian said, "you were off only slightly on your suspicions about the judge."
"I knew old Ferdinand was up to no good!" Walter said vehemently.
"Not quite," 'Bastian continued. "As Josiah said earlier, his standards for probable cause are extremely high. Northeastern Youthcare Facilities routed contributions to his campaign through their local lawyers. And those lawyers used the old boys' network to make sure that nothing that met his standards for issuing a warrant or removing a child from their custody ever came to his attention."
Jonas spoke up. "Sammy told me he and his twin already have enough evidence to warrant a Clan intervention. But we need a show of force." He touched his commbadge. "Jonas McConnaghay to Adam Casey."
It was, however, Daileass, who responded. "Adam's mounting that operation you got the All Call about earlier, Jonas. What d'ya need?"
"Oh, yeah! Well, we've got a problem that calls for more force than we've got. Need a Strike Team if you can send one."
"No can do, Jonas; we're committed full out, here. Let me put you through to Jack."
"Jackson Bryce here, Jonas," came the voice of the bald middle-aged Base Commander who had backed Adam since they'd met. "What can I do for you?" Jonas quickly outlined the situation that they were facing. "Hmm, how about an urban warfare trained ODA of Green Berets — that's a strike team to people who don't speak Special Forces jargon," Jack added with a grin evident in his voice. "Tom Larkin has a dozen or so of them standing by at the ready, in case Adam or someone else in the Clan needs them."
"That would probably do the job just fine. Thank you, sir," Jonas answered with gratitude.
"Wait where you are. A team will be there shortly. Bryce out."
"Thanks, Jack. McConnaghay out." Jonas signed off.
"Who's Tom Larkin?" Maureen inquired of her son.
"General Tom Larkin; I met him Wednesday. He's actually uncle to SamSam and Adam and their brothers, but that extends to all of us in the Clan, just like Sarek is everybody's grandfather." Jonas was unflappable.
"The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?" Walter was incredulous.
"Yep. He was Uncle Mike Reynolds' C.O. back in the day." Jonas was chuckling.
"You move in high circles, Jonas," Therese put in.
"Okay." Jonas looked over the group, looking consideringly at his mother, and then passing on. He knew if he sent her to safety while her new husband and her son were risking their lives, he'd never hear the end of it. "Calvin. I have a task for you, if you're willing."
"What, Jonas?" Calvin was almost poignantly eager to help.
"About three blocks down that way," Jonas pointed, "there's a bar." He glanced at Sammy, who nodded no, signifying there had been no change. "There are two men there, other than the bartender. Ignore the fat man at a table. Go up to the other man, sitting at the bar, and tell him that his children need him, to come with you. Bring him back here."
"Yessir!" Calvin sketched a sloppy salute, and took off in the direction Jonas had pointed.
"What was that about?" Therese asked.
"Former employee here," Jonas said. "He's the man you want to have setting the tone for staff."
"How do you know that?" Walter asked.
"Give a couple of telepaths free rein in the minds of someone you're investigating, and you'd be surprised what you find. By the way, Dad, we need a little paperwork — an arrest warrant for Mr. Devereaux for five counts of felony child abuse, another one with the name left blank for two counts of felony child abuse, and a dozen or so, also with spaces to fill in names, charging misdemeanor child abuse, child neglect, and conspiracy to cover up abuse and neglect."
"Harrison Proctor," 'Bastian said.
"Huh?" came from several of his listeners. Walter, however, developed a positively feral smile.
"The name for the two-count warrant," 'Bastian explained. "He's Devereaux's night shift supervisor."
Josiah got out his briefcase and set to work, whistling tunelessly. The others waited.
A few minutes later, the telltale shimmer of a transporter beam in operation resolved into twelve Green Berets. Their leader snapped to attention and said, "Capt. Randy Hollister and my ODA, reporting as ordered, Sir! You would be Ensign Jonas McConnaghay of Starfleet?"
Jonas returned his salute, and said, "At ease. That is me, though I'm reserve, attached to Clan Short of Vulcan, of which I am a member."
"We were told you needed a team trained for urban warfare and hostage rescue," Cap. Hollister said.
"That is correct, though I'll need you to take tactical control," Jonas said. He explained the circumstances behind the request for help. "The key point is to free the children housed here from an exploitative and abusive staff. No kid should be injured. I want to take down all the staff that have acted or covered up the abuse and neglect here, preferably alive for trial, but consider that secondary to subduing them. To make it a bit more complex, we're not certain all the staff are guilty of criminal behavior."
"We can do that," Captain Hollister said. With a steely smile, he pointed to the Special Forces insignia on his uniform, crossed arrows and sword above the motto "De Oppresso Liber" — "From oppression we will liberate." Jonas smiled and nodded.
Sammy spoke up. "Jonas?" At his nod, the boy continued, "There are only eight employees who are not guilty of some form of abusive or neglectful behavior towards the kids. Only five of them are on duty today. If the team will consent, we can plant the images of those five in their minds, as people not to take down."
At Hollister's quizzical look, Sammy said, "Vulcan style telepathy." Hollister nodded, and Sammy and 'Bastian transferred the faces of the five 'good guys' to the Green Berets' minds.
What followed was in dead earnest but would almost seem a parody of a mission tactical briefing. At Jonas's suggestion, Walter outlined the building layout to Capt. Hollister, with the twins scanning and interrupting with quick intelligence of who was where inside at the moment. "They have four security men on duty at all times? For a children's facility?" Hollister was shocked; 'Bastian grimly avowed it was true. Fortunately, the majority of the children were at school, but there were a number either confined to the facility or in alternative classes held there. "I think we can do this with a show of force, with five men covering the alternate exits. But we need a plan in place in case things go south," Hollister said. The team then worked up contingency plans. Then one by one, Hollister 'told off' his men their particular mission.
"What do you want us to do?" Harry asked him.
"Most of the team and I will be at the front entrance," Hollister answered. "Your mission will be, first, to protect this party" — his gesture included Josiah, Maureen, Therese, Walter, and the twins — "and then to bring them in in safety to get everything they can from the management and office staff. You'll know what's needed and how to get it in a way that's acceptable evidence in court, judge," he added to Josiah, who nodded grimly.
"Suggest one modification to plan, sir," Jonas said. At Hollister's nod, he continued, "If they don't open for you, I can go with you and use my phaser to disable the door lock before you move in."
"Do it," Hollister said. "Johnson, you guard these people until McConnaghay rejoins you." Harry nodded seriously.
With that, Jonas and the twelve Green Berets moved out to take initial positions for the assault.
Ethan looked up in surprise at the door to the bar slamming, to see a slender young boy in his early teens, with honey blond hair, come running in, looking around wildly. 'Oh, no, not another kid I could have helped, high on drugs and trying to pull off a robbery or something,' he thought.
But the kid focused on him and came skidding up to him. "I was sent to get you, to tell you that your children need you," Calvin said.
"I'm a bachelor," Ethan said. "I don't have any children." 'Not anymore,' he thought, with renewed pangs at having lost his job working with the kids in the West Augusta Youthcare Center — his kids.
"C'mon," Calvin said. "They're down at the kids' home down the street, and they sent me to get you, 'cause you're needed there." His earnest face awakened feelings Ethan thought he'd buried, of caring what happened to those kids.
"What?" Ethan asked, feeling like it was a stupid question as he said it.
"The judge and his wife, and a couple guys with Starfleet phasers, and a lady and a man from the state — they're down at the kids' home and they sent me to get you," Calvin explained, rather unhelpfully.
Something that felt strangely like hope flowed through Ethan. He stood up, motioned for the bartender, and began to take out his wallet to pay for his drink.
"It's on me," the bartender said. "Sounds like what's been eating you is about to get fixed. Go take care of it." He smiled and waved Ethan towards the door.
As Calvin was leading Ethan down the street, pressuring him to hurry, they heard the sound of gunshots in the distance. They began to run.
The five men covering the side entrances moved out. Hollister and his other six men and Jonas advanced on the main entrance. Hollister tapped the call button. "United States Army, Special Forces, requiring admittance. Open up!"
Devereaux's voice came back. "Army units are prohibited from law enforcement activity inside the borders. Posse Comitatus Act, 1994. I fear I have to deny you."
Hollister drew a breath. Jonas intervened. "Army forces are here at the request of Federation authorities, to assist in enforcing Federation law, as authorized by the Governor's Safe Haven proclamation of Sunday, October 24." His eyes met Hollister's; the latter nodded thanks.
"I am afraid I still must decline," Devereaux said smugly. Hollister motioned at the lock. Jonas drew his phaser and burned it out. He pulled the door open and the Berets deployed inside.
Jonas dropped back and flanked Harry as the Clan/State group moved cautiously forward, Hollister and his troops swept inside with weapons drawn and surprised Devereaux and his office staff. One man efficiently triggered the door locks on the other five entrances. Following the twins' intelligence, the Berets deployed throughout the facility, taking the staff into custody — except the five people Sammy had identified to them — concentrating on the four security men. As it turned out, only one of the security men presented resistance, and the Beret involved took him down with a semi-automatic burst. He never got his own weapon fully drawn, and one of the shots that took him down was his own, in his foot.
As the boys from the Clan, Josiah and Maureen, and the two Children's Services officials entered, Hollister called to Therese over his shoulder. "Call the police."
"Why?" she asked, mystified at why an Army detachment might want the local police.
"So they can lock these guys up," Hollister said. Josiah and Walter, reviewing files, and Sammy and Sebastian, busily doing telepathic scans, nodded firm agreement.
Therese called the city police, advising them to bring several vehicles, then with a determined smile, made one more call — to the headquarters of Northeastern Youthcare Facilities LLC.
Therese was vehement as she spoke into the phone. "Your firm's contract with the state is terminated immediately, for cause and more than cause. An inspection, which required the use of Army forces to conduct thanks to your manager and so-called security staff, has turned up evidence of systematic abuse and neglect of the children and youth entrusted to your care, and there's plenty of evidence on the books that you were treating this facility as a cash cow, to line your owners' pockets." She listened for a moment. "Your property?! The amount of harm you've caused, and you're worried about your property?"
Jonas interrupted. With anger overcoming his fatigue and stress, he said firmly, "Tell him that Northeastern Youthcare's property is forfeited to the state or to Clan Short, for the abuse they sanctioned here. If he has any arguments, tell him to take it up with Ambassador Sarek!"
Uniformed policemen were everywhere, escorting Devereaux, his employees and 'security' thugs out in handcuffs. Devereaux scowled at Maureen as he passed; she glared back.
Calvin and 'Bastian brought Ethan in just then.
"Yes, you just call your lawyers!" Therese said angrily. "The State of Maine would love to make public just what sort of 'care' your facilities provide!" She slammed down the phone. Josiah rested a calming hand on his old friend's shoulder; she looked up at him, swallowing her anger.
"Ms. Longueville?" 'Bastian said. "I'd like to present to you Mr. Ethan Daniels, a former employee of this facility, who was fired for insisting on giving the sort of care this place should have been giving all along. Mr. Daniels, this is Therese Longueville, Director of the State Children's Services Agency."
Therese looked up at him. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Daniels," she said tiredly but with interest. "May I ask what you have been working at since leaving here?"
"I'm … between jobs," Ethan answered, not sure what was happening.
"Oh?" she said brightly. "Want a job?"
"Um, yes," Ethan answered. "What would you want me to do?" Inwardly he was hoping he might have some role working with the kids he loved, but afraid to ask.
"I need someone to manage this place for the State, give these kids the care they need and set the tone for what the staff ought to be doing," Therese explained. "I'm afraid the previous management was skimping on providing for the kids, but I think I can get you a good supplemental grant to bring things back where they should be. Would a," she paused, "a $75,000 salary be acceptable?"
Ethan's face was a study in emotions: he was startled at the offer, nearly ready to weep with renewed hope, but the smile on his face would have blinded anyone looking directly at it. "Very much so, ma'am," he answered.
"Call me Therese," she said.
Josiah had invited Walter and Therese to join the two newlywed couples and Calvin for what turned into a 'working dinner'. Calvin was blown away by the palatial décor and service. "I feel like I'm on Cloud Nine!" he exclaimed.
Josiah chuckled. "You are in Cloud Nine," he said. "That's the name of the restaurant."
Maureen looked up from her lobster bisque. "Josiah, any time you want to spoil me like this, you have my permission. This place is amazing!"
"I used to lunch here regularly when I had to come down to the capital," Josiah said. "And I thought it was just the right place to celebrate — both our marriages, and what we accomplished today."
"I wonder how Mr. Daniels is coming along," Harry mused.
"Quite well, actually," Walter said. "Before I left, I took a few minutes to go over his plans. He's already called back two other people whose abilities he admired, one of whom was let go by Northeastern and the other quit. He took six of the senior teens in the home that he knew could be responsible, and put them in as proctors or big brothers or something of the sort; they'll earn privileges by helping out the younger ones and keeping them out of trouble. And after we went over his budget, he's making plans to start interviewing for the sort of people who ought to be working in a place like that."
"What about the staff that got arrested?" Therese asked.
"Handled," Josiah said with satisfaction. "I had a word with the State's Attorney for this county, and the Court Administrator. They'll be charged in Superior Court with the relevant crimes under Maine state law, and with the testimony the Martin boys dictated before they beamed back South; the only question is whether they'll be convicted at trial or try for a plea bargain … which will assuredly not be lenient, given the rock solid nature of the evidence."
"Plus I exercised my prerogative as Division Director for the Clan," Jonas said. "We'll abide by state court decisions so long as they do justice, but we didn't drop charges at the Federation level. Getting charges dismissed by the state would be a big mistake." He grinned wolfishly,
"And the police detective that oversaw the arrests," Walter added, "said that the James boy is awake now. He was afraid to speak to the youth officer he'd sent to the hospital until he was told that the people running the place were being arrested. Then he started telling what really happened to him … and naming names."
"Score one for the good guys!" Harry said with a grin. Calvin licked his finger and made a mark in the air, as if to do just that.
"So what happens next?" Maureen asked.
"Well," Therese said, "the state will prosecute the men who were arrested today. Monday I plan to call my opposite numbers in the other states Northeastern Youthcare operates in, and have them start investigations of their own." She paused; her expression became serious. "But it's not things as blatant as that that I'm worried about." Her eyes rested on Calvin. "It's the kids like Calvin, living with abuse and with no hope, that I need to find a way to reach out to. And to bypass the law that makes them wards of the system that failed them in the first place if we do act. I'd like to be able to send those two young telepaths into every school in the state, if it were possible, and have your Clan ready to intervene whenever it's needed." She paused again, and gave a self-deprecating smile. "But I do dream a lot."
"Well, we're supposed to intervene when the system has failed and local authorities aren't doing their jobs," Jonas said. "But there's no way we could handle the size job you're looking at. You need someone with the authority to intervene and available full time."
"Try convincing the state legislature to do that!" Therese said. "It took all the political capital Josiah and I, and three others, have racked up to just get that anti-bullying law through last session."
Harry's eyes lit up. "I may have the answer," he volunteered. "Ms. Longueville, you should call Teri Short. I'll bet you she has, or can come up with, a way to use Federation Youth Services and the authority they carry to give you just what you were asking for, someone with the fire to intervene when it's needed and the good judgment to know when to and when not to."
"Good, thinking, son," Josiah said to Harry. Then, musingly, "And I don't think she'll have far to look, either." Therese's eyes followed her old friend's to Walter; she looked at Josiah and nodded, pleased.
"We'll be on call," Jonas said, "if you come across anything where you need a Clan intervention. But I think Harry has the right idea."
"So how did you to come to marry?" Therese asked Josiah. And the story of the last three weeks came out, in bits and pieces, for the next hour. Calvin sat enrapt, taking it all in, and coming to understand better the family he'd fallen into.
Maureen, Calvin, and Harry were asleep in their seats as Josiah drove up South Main Street on the drive home. As he reached downtown, he turned smoothly onto Church Street, "Whoa!" Jonas exclaimed. "Why're you turning here, Dad?"
"Remember what Peter said this morning?" Josiah replied. "As of tonight, we're in our new home, the old Templeton house we bought that he and his friends have been getting ready for us."
"Oh, yeah. Mom, Harry, Calvin, wake up! We're nearly home!"
As they pulled into the driveway, the half-timbered 'Tudor' house's windows were alight. Abbie and Peter met them at the door. With a great smile, Abbie wrapped her son in an enormous hug, while Peter surprised Calvin by jumping into his arms for a hug. "Hi, Calvin! It's gonna be awesome having you for a new big brother!"
Calvin was startled but wearing a happy smile as he held the little Mikyvis. "Hi yourself! How'd you know who I was?"
"That's Peter; he's like that!" Jonas answered with a big grin.
"C'mon inside," Abbie said. "I've got an evening snack ready, and the makins' set up for a fast late dinner if you haven't eaten. Maureen, you won't believe this kitchen!"
They walked in, to find a warm, comfortable, roomy living room, complete with a fireplace in which a gas log was glowing warmly. The furnishings went together well but seemed strangely eclectic. Maureen's living room set furnished some of it, but there were also some unique items added.
Harry's eyes went to one of them; he misted up. "Your father's favorite chair," Abbie said reassuringly. "I knew what it meant to you, and Peter made sure it was here."
Josiah's eyes too were brimming. Maureen followed his gaze. "That's your mother's secretary, isn't it?" she said, looking at the tall old Victorian fold-down desk set unobtrusively near the corner of one wall. He nodded, too overcome to speak. Maureen's eyes went on, to a paired set of rocking chair and armed upright chair with caned seat and back. She smiled happily. "Oh, Peter, wonderful!" she said. "Thank you for thinking of them!"
"You don't mind?" Josiah asked nervously, following her eyes.
"Of course not, silly!" she answered him. "Annie was a wonderful woman, and I only wish I'd known her better before she died. I know how much you loved her. Having the chairs she made in our home will be like having a little piece of her here with us, blessing our marriage." She turned and planted a quick but warm kiss on the judge's startled lips.
Abbie then led them on a whirlwind tour of the house: Josiah's law office, Maureen's study, dining room, the kitchen she waxed ecstatic about, her own suite, the master suite for Josiah and Maureen, another suite for Harry and Jonas (with the promised queen-size bed!) and a Vulcan terminal, the room set aside for Todd when he returned and the armory attached, with a locked door to the hall and doors opening to Todd's and Jonas-and-Harry's rooms, a small room for Peter — to Calvin's question of why it was so tiny, Peter said all he needed was a place to rest — and then Calvin's room.
Calvin walked into his room, smiled broadly at the furnishings... "It's just what I'd always wanted my room to be like!" he said happily... and then looked at the wall over the desk and crumbled in tears. Maureen was there quickly to catch him as he fell; the eyes of the others went to the picture displayed there. A much younger Calvin was grinning proudly as he displayed a rainbow trout to the camera; behind and above him a man was standing, one hand on his son's shoulder, smiling with joy at his son's pride in his catch.
"Mom b...broke that a...and th...threw it away," Calvin sobbed.
"And we went back and got it before it went out in the trash," Peter said happily. "I knewed how special it was to you." Calvin looked up and turned wet, thankful eyes at Peter.
Jonas stepped forward and gave a one-armed hug to Peter. "You did good, little bro!"
As Calvin pulled himself back together, a thought struck him. "How come you guys are acting like you never saw this place before?"
"Dad and Mom just bought it," Jonas said. "We're all seeing what was done to remodel and extend it for the first time, just like you. You could say we're all seeing our new home for the first time."
Calvin's room was the beginning of the new addition, the rooms for the children rescued on the other timeline that the two couples had visited for a week tucked into the events of Saturday. As they looked over the new rooms, Calvin was full of questions about them, where they'd come from and why they were coming here. Jonas, Harry, Maureen, and Josiah did their best to explain.
"And then the Lafayette and the Army and the Navy overthrew the rule of the Supreme Pastors and re-established America, and things are getting better there now, right, Peter?" Harry said in summary.
Peter automatically started to scan the other timeline to answer Harry. Abruptly he got a shocked, fearful look on his face, wailed out, "Leev! Help!" and vanished.
Editor's Notes: Let me see, where did I leave that note that mention how to get in contact with the CHP? I knew it would come in handy one of these days. Just when we thought things were starting to get better, more bad things have to happen so good things can happen. I guess we will have to wait for the next chapter.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher
Clan Short Archivist's Note: I absolutely don't know where to start with this chapter; there was so much going on this chapter. The melding if the stories was again superb, it was very hard to find where the different authors had contributed; great job.
D&B have again showed us what the CSU really means and how it can work well with small towns and states. They have also proved why the Safe Haven Act is a living act and not a static law.
The Story Lover