“What the hell!” the evacuation officer exclaimed as he turned to the owner, “Is this your container?”
“Yes,” The young man who owned the container replied.
“What is all this stuff?” the crown rep asked.
“It’s my business,” the owner responded.
“Where’s your personal stuff!” the man asked. “You were supposed to pack only your household possessions. Not your business! When you get to Home you will need all of your things to survive! Do you have clothing, and bedding on board?”
“Some,” The guy said, “I’ve a sleeping bag and a tent. What else do I need?”
“I thought that we couldn’t take our stores with us,” Someone in the crowd called,
“What is this? Is the Crown letting him take his business with him?”
“No,” the officer replied, “we are not.”
“Yeah right,” Another voice called, “How much did you pay him Felix?”
“I didn’t know he even had this stuff loaded in his container,” The representative returned. “If I wasn’t sealing his container and hadn’t found it open then I would not have known what was in it!”
“Sure he’s right,” Another voice called, “I wonder how many others he’s allowed to take their store with them….”
“Let’s find out!” someone in the quickly growing crowd yelled.
Soon the growing crowed a swarmed the dock area and was tearing into the open containers. Mitch quickly got off the docks themselves and watched the riot from a distance. Five containers were broken into and ransacked. Only Felix’s container had commercial goods in it. The other four containers had household belongings in it. The riot lasted several hours and had spread into the mall itself.
Now as Mitch walked to the place she was squatting in, she couldn’t believe the carnage that had been done in that short time. The metal shutters and gates had kept most of the stores safe. Now as she passed the music store she saw that its metal gate had been pried opened but no one had looted the store. Feeling self-conscience she slipped into store. She found the guitar that she liked to play sitting on counter and began to idly strum it. Hers had been stolen by one of the kids she had let stay with her a few nights ago. She picked up the guitar and found a comfortable place to sit and play. She didn’t know how long she played.
L’eam and F’rena were finishing up their rounds of the South Mall where the store was located. The destruction they were seeing was not as bad as they had seen on some of the worlds they had patrolled. But it was bad enough. The riot had taken several hours to contain and had caused a small fire. It had taken Mounties, and the Companions several hours to contain it. Several hundred people had been arrested. Now a day after the riot they were just finishing their rounds. They were about to leave when they heard a young voice signing. It echoed eerily in the deserted mall. Both Thonians were entranced by the young voice. As they followed the young voice they, thought they knew who it might be. They found Valerie Mitchum sitting on the stage in the music store playing a guitar as she sang.
“We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
“I’m holding very tight
I’m riding in the midnight blue
I’m finding I can fly so high above with you
“Far across the world
The villages go by like trees
The rivers and the hills
“The forest and the streams
Children gaze open mouth
Taken by surprise
“Nobody down below believes their eyes
We’re surfing in the air
We’re swimming in the frozen sky
“We’re drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep
“We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly”
She finished up and didn’t realize the two Thonians were watching her until she finished and looked up. She blushed a bit.
“Very nice,” L’eam said, “Valerie though I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Am I in trouble,” Valerie Mitchum asked.
“No. You were not stealing anything,” L’eam said, “You aren’t looting. Why don’t you let us take you back to your parents?”
“That’s okay,” Valerie said, “you don’t need to do that.”
“Okay Valerie,” F’rena had suspected for a while that that the young girl was homeless or had problems with her parents, “why don’t you let us take you home?”
The girl didn’t know what to do next. They obviously knew she was on the streets. The two thonians looked at each other and F’rena asked softly, “you don’t have a home do you?”
Mitch for some reason shook her head admitting that she was homeless. For some reason she trusted this pair. They had been around the mall for a couple of months. She had dinner with them one night. They seem to let her hang around with them. They had asked repeatedly to take her home to meet her parents but she had managed to put them off.
“We thought so,” the male companion replied.
The look on Valerie’s face said it all. “Are you going to take me in?”
“Yes,” L’eam said, “But not to juvenile hall. We’re going to take you to the academy!”
“The Academy,” the girl asked.
“It’s a place where the Trenan Crown has set up a place for abandoned and homeless kids.” L’eam and F’rena said. “We don’t know much about it, it has only been operation a day or so.”
“Valerie,” L’eam continued, “I’ll make you a deal. If you don’t like it; if it is worse than being on the streets or being homeless, you get a message to us and we’ll see if we can’t find some place better for you. We’re here to help you. That’s what we’re supposed to do. Cops do two things Valerie, we make it tough for low life’s to harm people, and then we help people in trouble. Let us help you.”
“Okay,” Mitch stood up she laid the guitar down.
“Do you want to take your instrument?” F’rena asked.
“It’s not mine,” Mitch said. As much as she wanted it, she wouldn’t claim it as hers. That would be stealing. She wouldn’t steal. “Can we get my stuff from where I am staying?”
“Sure why not? F’rena agreed.
They went to the apartment she was squatting in and got her things.
It was nearly midnight when they arrived at the Academy. There a sleepy young girl a year or so younger than Mitch herself, was on the guard post at the main gate. She came to attention when she saw the police car. Her older partner came up to the driver’s side of the police car.
“We’re closed for the night officer,” The young man said.
“We called and they are expecting us.” L’eam said lighting up the back of the Trenaport Mounted Patrol Cruiser that they barely fit into.
“Oh this must be Miss Mitchum,” The young man said, getting his clip board from the guard house and let the Companions sign in. “I’ll call the duty officer and let him know you are here.”
He called the duty officer telling him that Miss Mitchum was at the front gate. He said to bring her up. The companions brought Valerie Mitchum up to the administration office where they found the duty officer waiting for them.
“Oh, hi L’eam, F’rena,” the Thonian greeted them. “This must be Valerie
Mitchum.”
“It is,” L’eam answered.
“Good evening Miss Mitchum.” The Thonian said, “I am Lieutenant G’ant from the militia. I have the night watch tonight. This is the Queen’s Own Royal Cadet
Academy. We exist to help people like you find a place of safety, and to help prepare you for getting off world. Tonight we’re going to get you a meal and a place to sleep. In the morning, Lady
Hawthorne, or the colonel will meet with you and help you get settled. Are you hungry?” Mitch nodded timidly.
“We’ll get you something to eat in a few minutes.” G’ant said. “Okay officers I’ll take it from here.”
“Valerie,” F’rena said, “Give us a call in a couple of days. I want to hear how you are doing.” She handed the girl her card with her contact information on it, forgetting that she had done that earlier.
As they left the academy, her lifemate chided her a bit. Letting her know what a soft heart she had for people. She sent him the image of a Thonian police officer helping their daughter if she was in trouble. He saw the point and visualized hearts and flowers as a way to apologize. What he got in response was “I wonder if we could spend our free time here?”
In the duty office, G’ant was finishing up some paper work registering Valerie Mitchum into the academy. Then he walked with her to the dining hall where late rations had been laid on. She ate a hamburger, and a glass of milk while appraising what was happening to her. The Thonian then escorted her to a dorm, where a kid of no more than fifteen greeted her and escorted her to a room that she had all by herself.
“I’m Cadet Stein,” The kid greeted her, “I have the CQ for the in processing barracks tonight. If you need anything I’ll be at the front desk.”
The Cadet helped her make the bed and pointed out where the toilet was and told her that reveille was at 0530 and left her alone. Surprisingly she slept well for the first time in weeks. Not since she left the children’s home.
While the girl slept the School Mistress working with Frasier, the Trena Mounted Patrol AI, investigated the girl.
They couldn’t locate the girl’s parents. It appears that they had left months before the evacuation announcement. Just leaving the girl behind as they left for the Empire. They had not even dropped her a line as to why. Her parents had declared her an unruly child and had dumped her on the Adventure; where she excelled.
She had spent five years on the replica of an ancient historical sailing ship called the Adventure of Learning. The Adventure was a large replica of 4th century before empire man of war. After Mitch found out that acting out wouldn’t get her off the ship she knuckled down rising from a seaman apprentice to that chief petty office. The Adventure reported her grades and performance ratings. She was a straight A student. In addition to her grades, her performance as part of the cadet crew was evaluated once a quarter. Only one time had she gotten an evaluation “of less than meets expectations” after that one evaluation she routinely received “exceeds expectations”. For the last four years on the on the ship she wasn’t a disciplinary problem. She was being considered for one of the ship’s junior officers.
After the announcement she had stayed a couple of weeks at Trenaport Family Services Children’s Shelter where she had been assaulted. She had gone missing and wasn’t seen until the murder at Lottie’s. Although the Thonians had reported seeing her, the system had failed to let the Companions know she was missing until the night before. The School Mistress was quietly impressed.
By the time Delores Hawthorne had gotten in, in the morning the file on Valerie Mitchum was laying on her desk.
Delores read the file and decided to share it with Sally McBride who had come in with Jill that morning. Sally read it. She read about the incident at the Shelter and shook her head then said, “Let Jill do this one. She’s the same age, and she’s not liable to be as threatening to her as we will be.”
“Okay,” Delores said, “What do you think about making her a barracks leader?” “Based on her history she should be one of Jill’s officers,” Sally suggested, “She could be a great help to her.”
“I think so to,” Lady Hawthorne agreed, “Let me talk to Sargent Lucas.”
###
Mitch was awoken early by the charge quarters knocking on her door and telling her, it was time for her to get up. She looked at the clock in the dorm room and saw it was a little pass 7:30 in the morning. She couldn’t believe she had slept so late! Normally she was an early riser. Often up and ready for the day by sunrise.
She dressed in a pair of slacks and her favorite tee shirt. One she had been given by her fellow riggers when she had qualified as a rigger on the Adventure. The shirt had a picture of the Adventure’s top sails with “ONLY A RIGGER, KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ON TOP!” boldly printed below the sails.
There was a knock on the door followed by a young voice, “Miss Mitchum, may I come in?”
“Yes,” Mitch answered, she had been about to the see about getting some breakfast.
“Good morning Miss Mitchum,” Jill greeted the stocky black haired girl as she entered the dorm room.
“Good morning Captain,” Mitch stood up seeing that her visitor was in a uniform, with eagles on her collars.
“It’s Colonel,” Jill answered, “Colonel Jill Wilson.”
“What can I do for you Colonel?” It was then that Mitch realized she had met the girl before. She had met the girl when she had donated the last of Lottie’s clothing to help the people of Galloway during the dam break a month or so ago.
“If you’re ready? I would like to invite you to have breakfast with me,” Jill asked.
“I was just about to find breakfast,” Mitch responded.
“Then if you will follow me?” Jill said and led the way out of the room. Mitch couldn’t help but notice the older woman who followed them out of the dormitory.
Jill notice that Mitch saw Jenny, and introduced her. “Miss Mitchum this Agent
Alkire. Jenny this is Valarie Mitchum.”
“Good Morning Valarie,” Jenny greeted the teenager.
“It’s Mitch,” she shook the agent’s hand noticing that the woman was armed. “Are you a body guard?”
“Yes,” Jenny said giving Mitch high marks for not asking why she was armed; but asking if she was a body guard, “I am Jill’s protective agent.”
Mitch didn’t ask if the agent thought she was a threat to Jill, she had seen the agent shadowing Jill the first time she had seen her.
“Let’s get to breakfast,” Jill suggested leading the way out of the dormitory.
As they walked from the building, they witnessed the morning roll call. Mitch couldn’t help but compare it to the musters she had through on the Adventure. What she witnessed told her that they needed to work on their muster. The chief’s on the adventure would be carrying on until they got it right.
As they walked to through the grounds, Mitch saw several people dressed in various uniforms going about their errands.
Jill led them to the dining hall. The dining hall was nearly empty. A couple of sleepy looking cadets and instructors were getting their meals. They went up to the serving tables and got their breakfasts. Jenny got a cup of coffee and went to where the instructors were sitting drinking their morning coffee, giving the two girls some privacy.
The girls took their seats, and ate quietly for a few minutes. Finally Jill said, “Thank you for joining me for breakfast.”
“Thank you for asking me,” Mitch returned wondering why the girl was having breakfast with her.
“One of the reasons I asked you to breakfast,” Jill buttered a muffin, “was so I could talk with you.”
“Oh,” Mitch said peeling a banana as she waited for Jill to continue.
“You saw my cadets as we left the dorm,” Jill asked.
“Cadets?” Mitch asked, “I didn’t know that muster was for cadets. They just seem to be a bunch of kids having a roll call.”
“Well that mob of kids are the first cadets of the corps.” Jill responded “Oh,” Mitch remarked.
“If it wasn’t for the volunteers from the Militia,” Jill continued, “we wouldn’t be as organized as we are.”
“Shouldn’t they be helping to get us off world?” Mitch asked.
“Most of them are retired,” Jill replied. “And some like Sergeant Green work their normal duty shift and then volunteer their off duty time here. Besides if they are here working with us, they are helping with the evacuation?”
Mitch nodded. If the volunteers were here helping people like her, then helping to get the evacuation done.
“The problem I have,” Jill stated, “is that I have all these military volunteers; but no kids like yourself. Kids who were sea scouts, or Civil Space Patrol Cadets just haven’t been brought in. You are the first kid who has been brought here that has any back ground as a cadet.”
That surprised her. She would have thought that some of her crewmates from the Adventure would have been brought to the academy. Some of crewmates had been near orphans like herself. As she thought that, she realized that the girl before her was trying to recruit her.
“We need some kids who are familiar with being a cadet like you,” Jill continued.
Jill observed Mitch. Trying to gauge how the girl was dealing with what she was sharing with her. She could see that she had the dark haired girl’s full attention. She decided to make the offer, “Mitch I would like to join the Queen’s Own Royal Corps of Cadets.”
Mitch knew that was what the girl was leading up to. It was appealing to her to join the corps of cadets. She didn’t feel she belonged anywhere. If she joined the cadets she might have a place to belong. Yet she wasn’t certain she wanted to be a cadet. They had never been cadets on the Adventure. They had been junior crewmen. They operated the ship, with the adults as their officers and older kids being petty officers. It would be a lot of work. She didn’t know if she was up to the task.
“If I don’t want to join the corps,” Mitch asked, “what would you do with me?”
“Valerie,” Jill said, “If you don’t want to be part of the Corps, you are free to stay here until my father can get you aboard a lift for Home. Until your parents or family ask for you, or until you can come up with some place else to be that is better and safer. This is your home until you do better.”
“You would really just let me stay here no strings attached?” Mitch asked.
“Yes,” Jill said, “the corps is voluntary. We don’t know what’s going to happen on Home but we’re hoping that the Home government will continue this school. At least with the cadets who enroll during the evacuation.”