Princess Lisa continued to read from the diary, “Mom seemed to be subdued. Mom would never be accused of being bubbly or efflorescent. But she was always upbeat. I’ve never seen her so quiet. I wonder if she was feeling guilty about getting Georgia shot over some photographs.
“I haven’t seen the photos yet,” Jill had written, “But if they are as good as the other’s I have seen they should be awesome.”
“I wonder when they will get Hozenbur.” Jill had written, “I asked Princess Carroll to tell EBio to shut down the closers. I don‘t think she did. I wonder if there is a way I can get a message to EBio myself. There has to be a way to get EBio to stop Hozenbur. After all she is one of their employees.” Even as the princess finished reading aloud the passage she understood how naïve her great grandmother had been.
“Jill was very concerned about the closers’,” The general began to wrap up her class, “and very frustrated. She had asked the Princess to send a message to Earth telling EBio to back off. Her parents didn’t know that she had done that. No response ever came back from EBio.”
“Everything I have heard about this Hozenbur,” T’harla Atomi commented, “She was an evil witch.”
“No she wasn’t evil,” General rebutted, “She was seriously mentally ill. Never make the mistake of labeling your opponent as evil.”
Thus sobered the cadets. General Jones resume included several years as a police officer. “It wasn’t until the very end that we were able to close Hozenbur’s file. It was a spectacular ending.”
Chapter 12: The Photos
The cousins had all seen the photographs and holographs that Lady Wilson, their great, great, great grandmother had taken. All of them had at one time or another had seen Lady Wilson’s photos. Many of which were never published. Some were the private moments of her family and friends. Her photos and holos had been published throughout the galaxy. Every generation had their own “photographer” in the cousins’ generation it was Valarie Mitchum. Unlike her famous namesake, she didn’t want to be a police officer. She wanted to be a photographer, not a police officer. She hoped that as she studied to be a queen’s officer, that her duties would include photography.
Cadet Mitchum had devoured this week’s chapter, and had spent sometime in the royal archive looking for the photos that would be discussed in class this week. She had brought one of the photos from the archive.
###
The day after the assassination attempt Lisa was in the big study using an expert system to view and catalog her photos. She had stills, videos and holos; several hours of them. She was still reviewing them when Georgia came in.
“How do you feel,” Lisa asked indicating for Georgia to sit down.
“Okay,” the young woman said sitting down, “I can feel the muscles starting to rebuild. Kind of itches.”
“I’ve been told that the regrowth drugs will cause that. “ Lisa commented. She saw the younger woman wince in pain as she sat down. She wanted to ease the woman’s pain, instead she asked, “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Not really,” Georgie replied. “When I bump it, or when I forget there’s a hole in my arm try to do something with it, it reminds me it is there.”
“I could ease some of your pain,” Lisa suggested. “But it will only be for a short time.”
Georgia was tempted. Allowing Lisa to ease her pain would get her off the pain killers. She didn’t like pain killers, she felt they clouded her judgment, and slowed her down. It was the reason she was going unarmed and wasn’t on the watch list. She wouldn’t take advantage of her protectee’s offer¸ as she was unsure of the ethics of allowing some one she was protecting to treat her.
“No,” Georgia finally replied, “Thank you. If it gets real bad I’ll think about it.”
“All right,” Lisa replied thinking she knew why Georgia was reluctant to let her treat her. Georgia didn’t want to mix protecting Lisa with her personal business. “Come here and look what we did yesterday.”
“Okay,” Georgia said. She moved her chair next to Lisa, and began paging through the hundreds of photos and Holos that they both had taken. When they got to the picture Georgia had taken of Lisa helping the woman diaper her baby, Lisa turned to the young woman, nodded and went on. After looking at the entire list they began to catalog them. Finally near mid-day, Maggie came in with lunch.
“Who took that?” Maggie said seeing her mistress hand a young woman a diaper bag. It caught the hectic scene of the people milling around the embarkation area. Of people bumping into each other and through it all, the young mother was diapering her baby and trying to keep her other children from wandering off.
“Georgia did,” Lisa said, handing the young woman a cup of soup. “She’s got a great eye.”
“She does,” Maggie said looking at a few more of the photos, “What are you going to do with these Milady?”
“I don’t know,” Lisa replied, “I think it’s important that we document the evacuation. I feel we have to show our children and grandchildren what we went through to get our people to safety.”
“Lady Wilson,” Georgia said, “Why don’t you send a couple of these to the net services.”
“I can’t do that,” Lisa said. “It wouldn’t be right.”
“Why not,” Georgia asked, “You take as good a picture as any professional news net photographer. Maybe better!”
“Look at this one mistress,” Maggie picked up the photo of the father bringing his family some drinks, and refreshments. The picture showed the worry on the father’s face, and gratitude of the mother for the father bringing them refreshments. “You got the whole essence of this part of their ordeal. The worry of the father of what is really going to happen when they get to Home is clearly all over his face. And the look on the mother’s face; thankful that her man had thought to bring them all something, though he was worried to death about what was going to happen.”
“Lady Wilson,” Georgia said softly, “Look at this one as the family boarded the landing craft. That last look the mother, and father made onto the world of their birth. One last look. Look at the emotions.” Georgia pointed to a holograph, of the father carrying his five year, they were at the top of the loading ramp, he had paused to look one last time at the world of his birth, a single tear silently testifying that this big strong man was anything; but untouched by the emotionally charged events of his departure from Trena. “You say I have the eye of photographer, but these are terrific.”
“None of us have ever done this.” Lisa said, “I don’t recall a single bioperson ever publishing anything under their own name. Their contract holders usually took credit for the work they did.”
“That was in the Empire,” Georgia retorted, forgetting her place. “We have biopersons here on Trena who are reporters and their work is published all over the kingdom.”
“But,” Lisa replied, “Never out of the Kingdom!” “Then isn’t time someone did,” Maggie asked.
“...I’ve never done it I don’t know how to do it!” Lisa said, “As much as I think that we have to document what we are living through, I do this mostly for myself. I don’t know is if it is proper for me to do this?”
“Lisa,” Francine had walked in towards the end of the conversation, “Georgia’s right, there are a lot of biopeople who publish their work all over the kingdom, but few of them ever have had their work published outside of the kingdom. The publishers in the Empire are afraid that if they do, the escapee’s owners will make it impossible for the clone to collect her royalty. It is not only proper, but something that you need to do for our people.”
That got Francine a dirty look.
“Everyone in this room is our people Francine. I won’t play that game. That caused problems back on Earth during the second century Pre Empire. I am not a Trena Bioengineered human. I am first and foremost a mother, a wife, and a citizen of the
Kingdom of Trena. If we published
these prints they’ll be published under the name Lisa Wilson. Not Lady Wilson, not CD 1984 AOS; but Lisa Wilson!”
“Okay Boss Lady,” Francine replied wincing a little at her Lady’s rebuke. She understood, “Don’t worry about how to publish your photos. You pick the ones you want.
Then we’ll talk with Mr. Vornic. He will know how to get them published.”
“I still don’t know,” Lisa remarked, “I don’t want to use my position to get them published. If I hadn’t insisted on going to port maybe Georgia wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
Georgia thought about her lady’s statement for a minute before speaking. Then choosing her words carefully, as she was not Lady Wilson’s peer, she spoke to her charge, “Yes, you used your position to photograph the activities at the port. And yes, I got shot. But you didn’t. You haven’t used your position to get special treatment or special privileges. In fact, you try not to be treated other than a mother, or a wife. Sure your name will get those photos looked at before others, but just having celebrity will not get your photos published.”
Georgia paused to let what she said to Lady Wilson to sink in. When she was sure Lady Wilson understood what she saying she concluded by saying, “Yes your celebrity will get them in the door, but if they are not good or average they won’t be published.”
Lisa considered what the younger woman said. Georgia was right if the photos weren’t good no amount of celebrity would get them published. She nodded and picked up the camera Georgia had used the day before.
“Georgia,” Lisa handed the camera to the young agent, “This one’s yours. You have a good eye! It would be a great tragedy should you not develop it. Georgia,” She paused for a moment then said, “We all need an outlet. Something that we do just for ourselves. Something that is not job related. For you it may be photography. So take this camera, and have some fun.”
“But that’s an expensive camera!” Georgia replied. “I can’t take that from you.”
“Georgia,” Lisa said, “I won’t force it on you but whenever you want to borrow it, just take it.”
Maggie locked eyes with Georgia and slightly nodded her head telling the young woman that it was okay for her to accept the gift.
“Okay Lady Wilson,” Georgia replied as she took the camera. It was the one she used the day before. She had really enjoyed taking the photos. Before the evacuation she had been thinking about buying a camera. Now she didn’t have to!
“When are you to go back to duty?” Lisa asked, as the young woman took a camera Lisa had first purchased when her daughter Abby had been born.
“In a week,” Georgia said, “Mac’s already debriefed me, and he’s cleared me. There’ll be no disciplinary action. By then according to the doctors I should be in good enough shape to take duty.”
“Good,” Lisa replied, “I want you back.”
“I want to be back,” Georgia replied. She truly enjoyed her current assignment. There had been a lot of posts in the last few years that she had loathed coming to work to take. The person she was protecting was loathsome, uncouth or just a pain to be around.
One young teenager had taken the opportunity to grab her every time he went by her. She had to sit and take it. She had said something to her supervisor. The supervisor saw the recording the surveillance system had made and later had a conversation with the family. That only made it worse. The father decided to do the same thing. Finally it got too much and Georgia just decked the father and walked out. The protective detail then told the family they were on their own. The supervisor then talked to private duty body guards and showed them the video, and let them make the decision whether to take the contract or not.
The Wilson family was still a little awed about having personal body guards. The marshal accepted it fairly well; but it was hard for him to deal with it at times. He had been a marine for nearly twenty five years. He had made combat drops with the Special Forces. He had walked posts where body armor wasn’t just a good idea but a life saver. He had been shot at and sent to the hospital for it. So it hurt his pride a bit to have the agents protecting him. Lady Wilson was having the hardest time adapting. Mostly because she still thought of herself first as a cop’s wife, mother, then a clone. The detail truly enjoyed working with Lisa. She had made it a point to know each and every one in her detail. She was beginning to know each and every one of their spouse’s names, kids and even pets. A week or so back she had found out that Mac’s little girl had broken her arm and had made a point of stopping by Mac’s place and checking on the girl. Mac was a single father. Mac’s wife leaving him years before, Lisa had heard about it and wanted to make certain the girl was okay. Secretly the detail called her mom.
“Just next time,” Lisa said, “Let’s do both our jobs without you getting shot!”
“Lady Wilson,” Georgia said in a very serious tone of voice, “I will endeavor not to be shot in the future!”
That brought a chuckle to the assembled women.
Jill had come in, in the middle of the conversation and was quiet while the older women had talked. Listening to her mother talk with her staff and how she treated them was an eye opener. Lisa treated them as equals. That was more educational than being told how to handle the staff. She wandered over and looked at photos. She had to admit that her step mother had a good eye for getting the right photograph.
###
Cadet Valerie Mitchum, finished reading the chapter. Activating the holos, and photos that were imbedded in the chapter, she hoped that one day she would be as good as Lady Wilson.
“Lady Wilson’s photos and holos of the first evacuee was the first Pulitzer Prize ever awarded to a bioperson.” General Jones began to wrap the class. “Although many biopeople worked for various news agencies in the empire; none had their work acknowledged by the Pulitzer Committee. Why Lady Wilson’s photos were chosen no one knows. Some scholars have suggested that since she was outside the Empire, and the prize awarded months after the evacuation, after the events of that tremendous time were still being resolved.”
“Wasn’t part of the reason she was awarded the prize,” a cadet spoke from the back of the class, “was because of her being a noble lady?”
“That has been speculated for centuries,” the general responded, “but the committee’s own journals say otherwise.”
“Although her pregnancy kept her close to home, she took many photos, holos, and videos of what she experienced during the evacuation. Many of the photos and holos she took have been used to document the evacuation and its aftermath.”
“Queen Jill was very proud of her step mother’s photos,” the princess said, “the diary entries for the period were sparse but she was extremely proud of the fact that her step mother took some of the best pictures she had ever seen. In her diary is a copy of her mother’s Pulitzer prize winners and one that has never been published.”
The princess brought up the photograph, “I am not certain where this was taken. It might be in the reflection garden of Serenity near the pond. It depicts the marshal, Abby and Jill sitting together at an outdoor table talking. The Queen is holding her step sister.”
“It appears to be tranquil,” T’harla commented, “We all know that it wasn’t.”
“The marshal somehow always found time for his girls,” The general said remembering the times when she had been patrolling the palace before she was transferred and had seen the Wilson family either walking the grounds or sitting quietly in one of the gardens. She had always admired the marshal for the way he tried to stay connected with his family.
Cadet Mitchum looked at the holos being displayed for the class wondering if she would be nearly as good as her grandmother.
She was still pondering her skill as a photographer when one of the cadets asked, “The pictures that Georgia Lancaster were as good as Lady Wilson. What ever happened to her?”
“A few years after they got to Home,” General Jones answered, “Georgi
a did leave crown service. She had gotten married, and had children of her own. She did become a photographer.”
“She became a very well-known photographer,” Cadet Mitchum injected. “When she left crown service she and her family wandered Home for decades photographing
Home’s natural beauty.”
Valerie who had been reading about Georgia Lancaster activated her tablet and displayed a holograph of cliffs that North View, palace had built into. The holograph had been taken from the base of the cliffs looking to the top. The sheerness of the cliffs was quite apparent as they rose from the beach towering over a hundred feet from the beach. It had been taken in winter. The cliffs looked cold and formidable. This was one of her favorites.
The general smiled as she saw the holograph. She remembered that holograph and others.
“Miss Lancaster,” the general spoke softly, “was sought out by land owners to photograph their lands. She spent her last years teaching photography. Her class was quite popular.”
The end of class bell sounded interrupting the general. She smiled seeing the cadets getting ready to leave. They wouldn’t leave until dismissed.
“Class dismissed,” she called softly. As she packed up her things she remembered her friend Georgia.
Chapter 13: To Save A Forest.
The entire corps of cadets were in the woods around the academy. Under the supervision of Royal Forest service they were clearing out brush, and other debris that had gathered in the forest. They did this several times a year. In the fall the cadets also felled dead and dying trees. The Crown knew it couldn’t “fire proof” the forest; but they knew they could make it harder for a fire to have an easy time of it. Every cadet, and most of academy staff, were out clearing the underbrush away. Although it was done to mitigate against forest fires it was also done to protect the academy that had been constructed in the middle of the forest.
As they worked clearing the debris, Princess Lisa was reminded of the effort her ancestors had taken to prevent the wholesale destruction of Home’s forests. Both Queens didn’t want the forests on Home impacted any more than needed. There were parts of the forest that had never been visited by people. Some of the trees were thousands of years old. It was habitat for millions of animals that the crown was still trying to catalog. Princess