After returning with bedding and fresh clothing, Ajax and Sam settled into the apartment.
It seemed strange to have so much room.
Ajax did not let it bother him though. He was behind on sleep with a vicious battle ahead of him...  He was out like a light in minutes.

...

He woke up a few seconds before his alarm, got in the shower and readied himself for the battle for Bura ahead.
Ajax let Sam sleep as long as he could.

When he had himself and his bag ready, he paused to watch Sam sleep for a minute... So beautiful.
He hated to wake her.
But he had a war to fight... a planet to win.

He got Sams gear into her little backpack and got her ready for school.
But first she could see them off.
He Commed a Med tech that knew the kids to pick Sam up at the Hangar Dec when the shuttles were gone.

---------> Hangar Dec.

  At the Moment the  street in the 'town section' was raised, revealing the ramp way down to the secure area.

 Civies sat around , looking at the screens in the street. Some of the  people who were trained in firearms  held Pulse rifles, just in case. Some   kids played on the street.

 all  people who would  be sent to the secure  section were close by.  The med-tech brought Sam down. the Different screens, showed  far away  view of the battle. even some views of   the battle in the Black. The Med-tech asked Sam, We can go in your new home  if you want?..its  close to the  secure area...or we can  be out  in the street and you can play?

In reply to Civies (msg # 41):

Sam looked thoughtful as she replied:
"Umm... I think i'd rather play ma'am?
We always were hiding from the Demons in the lab,
but they knew where we were anyway... It was best not to draw their notice?

But the fighting people here ... they know how to fight!
We got no need to hide ...cuz we're in a great big tough ship!

All the ships ... all the people ... know how to fight!
So a lot of Demons ... are gonna get dead today!"

  The Med -tech smiled  sadly,..i suppose you'er  right, Sam..Go play, that boy that was with you?..he's  in the park area  kicking the ball with some  of the others..go ahead..I'll be right here..

In reply to Civie section (msg # 43):

Finally tired of kickball, some of the children were in conversation about the battle below and the war:

Civie boy Branden: "My dad says the Demons are going to bring in their biggest armies and start kickin' our butts back to Earth!"

Astra orphan Lyle returned him a rather bleak look.

Sam: "Nuuh uhh!! Hermes people can't be beat! We just fight harder!"

Branden: "Since when are YOU a Hermes fighter? You're just a skinny GIRL!"

Sam bristled, but kept her temper down. Her clear blue eyes became ice:
"I know what ...Demons are like. They are worser than anything you can think of... But that doesn't mean they always win.

Ajax... MY Dad... says we just have to keep fighting harder than they do.
annnd... we can do that 'cause... people care what happens to each other.
and the demons and lizards and bugs ...They only care about themselves."

  The Medd Tech  came over  as she  saw, what looked  like a 'heated discussion". She Looked at Brenden,as she Knelt down by Lyle and Sam,..Have you ever seen..a real Live Demon Brandon? And if you did...how close were you?

 she pats   Sam and Lyle on the shoulders,..These two..they not only saw one up close..the saw ...hundreds of them..as close as i am  to you....

 ..That's the reason they are still here..The have Hermes' blood in them..Just lie your Action figures...only..real..

In reply to Sam (msg # 44):

Ajax made it back to Civie Section... home? Yeah I guess this is home now.
Wherever Sam is is home. He found "their street."

"You're BACK!!!" she ran at him at full speed, almost knocking him down despite her small size.
Ajax awkwardly returned the hug, "Ouuch... Mmmm. Ya need to keep off my left arm sweety."

Sam: "Huh? Why? ...did ...you get hurt?"  Her blue eyes grew large and began to moisten as she tried to look deep inside Ajax's eyes in that strange way she had.

Ajax: "Its no... big... deal. Just a little stabbie. Two Docs say i'll be fine in a day.  STEFI said! ...and you know SHE knows everything! Ajax grinned. ...Hermes Med Techs are the best!" 
Ajax grinned wider and gave Sam the firmest one-armed hug he could manage.

"We squished a lot of bad demons and lizards this time... and a few bugs.
And we met some nice little green people!
I will tell you all about it later, but for now...
How would you like to eat... some... PIZZA?!"

"YES!!"
"Okay babe! Lets hurry up and get you cleaned up."
Wear that yellow dress Stefi gave you? That looks nice."

Left behind again, ...Lyle wonders what it would be like if he had a dad.

 As branden Goes way..somewhat impressed..somewhat scared, Ajax  arrives  and they leave. the Medtech looks at Lyle,how about you and Me go see about  the Pizza...The LC throws a big party after  stuff like this, for all those who worked so hard, and like to celebrate with the rest of us...

 She takes His hand  and asks  a neighbor to tell the foster folks where theya re going...

In reply to Civie Section (msg # 47):

Ajax had struggled into a fresh shirt. ..Not easy with one arm.
"Okay Sam lets go!"
Sam spun around in a circle to make the dress move as she had seen some ladies do on the Vids.
"WOW! You look great! ...so are we ready?"

They left and headed for the Rec Dec.
-----------> Rec Dec

"Well Sam that was fun!
I'm sorry I have to go back down to Bura to see what we can find.

Yeah ...I know its too soon. It is, but I have to do all I can to get stuff for the Mechs...

I promise when I get back ...we will."

Ajax left with regret.

 well?  is there anyone home?

 she shook her head no...

 Shadow sighed...Ok..here's what we do...we go in..you get ready for bed, and  I'll hang  out  watching Vids  until Ajax finds his way home?

  After The landlord let them In...  and he put the put the last box of pastires on the counter for them, sam  Took a  quick shower , as  Shadow  watched    the sports Vids, trying to catch up on who was going to play were... she  came out, gave him a hug and the tiredly    went to sleep in her Bed...with the Volume down...Shadow was soon asleep  in the chair..while the Vids flickered away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:23, Thu 13 Oct 2016.

  The COM  beep roused the pilot on the first beep, a  dagger had  slide  down his arm into his hand. when he realized what it was he jerked the  blade back up and    clicked the return  beep.

  He  went to Sam's room , she  was  down for the count.  Walking back tot eh  main door, he  knocked on the door until the  landlord came,..hey?..need your help? Admirla sent for me..can you sit with SAm until her Dad makes it back?

 The Landlord nodded,..Sure, Mr Shadow..something bad?

 Kray smile d tiredly,..i hope so...that means i get to send  some  more  of  those  bastards  to the 9 hells....

  The Landlord  Grinned  and Gave Shadow a  pat on the back  as he  took a seat on the couch.


>>>>>>>>Shadow to Hanger Dec.

Hangar Dec -----> Rush Apartment

as Ajax returned to his home "street" he thought about comming Sam, but did not want to wake her.

He entered quietly, noticed an older man on the couch and a new pastry box on the counter. He was carrying in bags of Bura gifts for Sam.

"Mr Smithson? ...Is anything wrong?"

  The Older  man gets up..he  has the news Vids on  showing HAck  snapping at  Nickerson's  gloating.

 ..No? Nothing in here..anyway. The LC took  Sam down to Bura... he said  he felt bad  with her being her by herself, because the Med-Tech LAdy had to get some sleep, she's duue on shift soon....Anyway, he brought back those Bura pastries  and some  stuff he got Sam?..he was staying here when the got COMed  by the Admiral, so he asked if i could watch her  until  you got back...

 Smiling sadly he adds,..she did  seem to have a good tie  down there..she was tired..some   grass stains on her clothes...but  she washed up and went  straight to bed...don't know who wore out  who?  The LC or Sam,!

In reply to Ajax (msg # 53):

Ajax responded quietly while setting down the packages.
"I'm sorry I took so long to get back.. Nice of Shadow to take her along... Huh.
She likes him a lot.
Where I was, was still a dangerous area. We cleaned out some remaining enemy from a hangar, took some fire.. A buddy of mine got hit, but he will be okay.
Then I bought some stuff for Sam, and my friend Naomi did too!
Sam cane out of this with a lot of swag!"
Ajax smiled with a hint of regret
"Mr Smithson, I think I will be oweing you some favors? Let me know if there is anything I can do for you?"

  The landlord  smiles tiredly,..Tell you what , son?  You take care of  your  little girl, and  we'll call it even..besides..Mr Shadow let me have one of  them pastries...so..i think were even..

 He weary guy heads out the door to his own apartment.

Catrina was sure the debrief was still going on, but after the surgical nightmare that was removing a hard bullet from a man's spine she wasn't mentally equipped to handle that much more thinking. She wanders the civie section just thinking letting her mind wander, and inspiration strike. She really wants a drink, but it occurs to her that perhaps it'd be best to inform Garrat on the status of his team members.  Despite the mission not going as well she's fairly certain that letting him know that both Robbins and Boon made may cheer his foul mood slightly. She fingers the hard ammo round in her pocket. She hadn't thought about it in surgery, but today she'd almost lost the first person and maybe friend she'd made aboard the ship, it was definitely time to reach out to the other members of the teams as well, SGT MAJ would be glad to know Robbins would pull through, thanks to the Juice Garrat had given her and some inspiration her own part. Her musings and wanderings take her out of the Civie Section, and put her on a path for the Mission Room.

Mission Room--->

Mission Room -----> Civie Section - Rush Apartment

Ajax returned again to his home "street."
For once he was on time to pick up Sam from school!
Excellent.

Still carrying his gear, he looked around at the school and the playground equipment, then found a place to sit and wait for Sam to get out.

He thought about his "meeting" with Naomi later...
Did he dare think of it as a "Date?"  It seemed to be one.
He did not want to put any expectations on her.
Nai was under a lot of pressure,
and regardless of what he might want for some day down the road,
life was complex.
He could see no other way to play it, but one step at a time.

Next step, ...what was he going to wear?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Tue 21 July 2015.

    The   School lets out  , Three Teachers stand  there as the watch the Kids   leave.

 Sam is walking down fussing with a few Books An Older Boy is walking next to her Talking. Two Girls , about Sam's  Age  walks  behind her.. the  other  dozen or so head off  deeper into the Civie section.

In reply to Sam (msg # 58):

Seeing Sam is intent on her friends, Ajax can't resist just hanging back and observing for a minute.
He is happy to see her relating with other kids. She seems to be adjusting well.

He quietly picks up his gear and follows them at a safe distance...

  As they walk down the 'street'. The  Two Girls are Talking to Sam  and she  shakes her  head  quickly, pointing to   the steps to their apartment.

 The Boy says something  and she  shrugs, then Nods. The other  three children walk off, as  Sam sits  down on the steps and begins to get out her work sheets  and  starts on he r  homework.

Ajax slowly walked up the street admiring his girl.
She was getting going on her homework already. ...and refusing to run off and play first apparently?
...Good girl!

Ajax got to the "front sidewalk" before he spoke.
"Howdy there punkin! How was your day?"

He put down his gear and got down low for their obligatory flying tackle hug.

  She  Put down her papers  carefully  and  Jumped off the steps...it  was  ..ok..I got  some stars on  my papers...My painting is hanging up  by the window!...lunch time was fun...we had hot dogs?..they don't  loo  like the dogs in the books?

In reply to Sam (msg # 62):

Ajax grunted, returning a serious hug.
 ...yeah this was what love felt like...

" Hah hah! ...yeah I don't think they make them out of real dog...
They are a food my home country America, kind of reinvented, like pizza.
Come to think of it ...I'm not sure how they got that dog name.
We will have to look that up.

Hey babe? Do you want to eat supper on the Rec Dec?
LC Shadow is probably buying everybody pizza...
and I think the Mech mechanics are going to be there, so Slick will be there!"

Ok.... I like Pizza...I guess  LC Shdaow really likes  Pizza?..he..well..he's always getting that?.

  My frineds  are having a Birthday party? I told  them I didn't  think i could come?..when?...when is my Birth day?