Having to be back at school Haley was happy.  Nikki had made sure to keep her studies up and was to a point that if a word didn't have more than 5 or so letters in it she could pretty much figure it out on her own.  and she was figuring out how to add and subtract and it made her realize really how much her 10 cred piece was really worth.  When she saw her she waved over at Toni who was talking to another girl about her own age.  She then moved to join those in her classroom.  Always cheerful.  She did notice a little something, but paid little mind other than a "Hmm", she sat next to a girl about the same age and Haley was just a hair shorter before.  Now sitting it looked like she was a hair taller.

After the meeting with the Admiral Melia and Orria had opted to return to their quarters, as had been said by many shore leave had been... long, but good. A chance to blow off steam, to get away from the meat grinder that was the war machine and battle rhythm of the fleet. Back in their home, Melia prepares Orria for bed and school the next day.

The next morning Melia walks Orria over to the school taking the Lonnox with them for its daily walk. Orria is excited to tell her classmates about her latest adventures and all about the sandcastle city that many didn't get to experience as they were vacationing with their parents on the station or simply hadn't left the ship aside from a short day trip.

Once Melia had walked the Lonnox she set to work on a taichi meditative exercise practicing the motions and using a vidboard to guide her through each for.

In Haleys classroom there were maybe at most 7-8 other kids in her age group and level, Kindergarden.  For the moment they were getting to do the alphabet.  They had to write the capital and lower case letters of the alphabet.  Like most it was the lower case b and lower case d that gave them the most trouble.  A student that was in 2nd grade that sat behind Haley helped her out a bit.

The lower classes had art and got to color with crayons before school was out.  Haley did her best to draw a few farm animals.  She did earn a gold sticker from the teacher who said her goat did look like a goat even though it only had 3 legs and she liked it that she put the rooster on a fence post.  Haley was rather proud of that.  She hoped Nikki would let her put it up on one of the lockers that they used for a closet.  She did have to work on the sky though.  like most kids just learning the rubbed the waxy blue on the top third of the paper and not all the way to where it would touch ground.  They were given 2 pages of homework.  one to do simple math problems and the other a writing assignment of 10 simple sentences.
Soon the bell rang.  Nikki said she was going to pick her up, but if she was not right there to stay on the playground.  She let Toni and her teacher know like Nikki told her to.  For now she would go out to the small playground and play on the swing.  She waved to a lot of the kids she knew better and including Roll.
After about 5 or so minutes Nikki showed up "Hey Punkin'!"
"Nikki...." she held up her crayon picture "Look...I gots a gold sticker star!"
"Cool!...We'll have to put that up some where.  And make sure it is safe to your dad can see when we can get him here"
"Is he really going to come here Nikki...Seems like a long time" she was kind of sad.
Nikki kneeled in front of her and gently aid a hand on her shoulder and gave a soft smile "Haley I know it seems like a long time.  But really it hasn't.  less than 2 weeks.  Your father is going to get here, and we have people working on it faster, just for you" she used her other hand to lift her chin up "You know it took me over 2 months to get here from home.  I miss it too at times, I know you do as well.  But we need to make sure it is safe for your dad to get here, and safe for you as well.  I made a promise to make sure you and your dad will be together again and I haven't lied yet" she hugged the little girl.
Haley hugged her back then spoke "Nikki?...you kinda ..stink" smelling her sweat and soddering dust.
"Well...I had to work and some stinky things and go jog a while.  Lets go home and find a place for your master piece.  I'll wash up and you can do your homework.  Then we'll come relax on the RecDec.  How about that?"
she nodded "Okay.  Can I git some pork and cornbread with some country gravy?"
"Of course...how about some collard greens too?"
Haley nodded and smiled.

===>Officers quarters
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Tue 04 June 2019.

[Flexed from the night before]   Garrat and Teele swing by Joe's coffee and hobby shop.

   [I guess I'm also in flex]

   Joseph saw them coming and changes the song He's singing.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjrA3l1at9c
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Wed 05 June 2019.

   Garrat smiles as he hears the song choice and puts a tip in joe's jar.

[Flexed]

Teela smiled at Joe and sat down, reaching across the table to take Garrat's hands. "Where were we? I believe you wanted to know about me. My past, those things that shaped me into who I am now, yes?"

In reply to An'teela (msg # 947):

“Most definitely.” Garrat says taking her hand in his.

Mortica was home with Roll and Gregor, the three of them getting the house set up (Gregor watched or slept most of the time) as they waited for Viktor to finish his training. Once he returned they were going to go to the school to get Roll set up for classes. Unknown to the young lad was the closet full of new toys that Mortica had purchased for him on Fuji. She was planning on surprising him with a few every day after school.

She looked up from what she was doing and smiled at him. "I'm very proud of you, my son."

Sounds of the door unlocking echoed through the house and it swung open as Viktor walked through the foyer. “Hello, family,” he called out to the other rooms as he made his way to the living room. Making his way over to Mortica, he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek and turned to Roll. “Things going ok for you, young man?”

 Roll  nodded,...... If  is pretty good....  I hear , in school , we are gong to  learn some of the things   Sneak and  Jax   taught us.

  ..I have all My God  guys  on the wall by  may bed.. and  all the   bad  guys across the room..Gregor   slept  and  ate things...

“Hello my love. We’ve been unpacking the rest of the house and finishing Roll’s room. Gregor loves to crawl inside boxes and I managed to find a toy his razor teeth can’t shred in one bite, even though he’s desperately trying to get to the squeaker inside the toy.”

**squeak squeak**

“Roll has had great fun organising his toys and helping me set up our home. We waited for you before going to the school to enroll him in classes.”

“Excellent, I’m glad you did. I hoped to be back before you left. For my part the training exercise went well. I made it the ‘second stage’ before getting shot down. But most importantly, I talked to Harry and came to an understanding. I rather think she’ll be a good friend when all is said and done.”

The Vampic knelt down to scratch Gregor behind his ears and asked, “Anything you need help with around here?”

"Well done on all accounts. Maybe she'll stop glaring daggers at me whenever we're in the same room. We have things here in hand so shall we head to school and get you set up, my dear one?" She asked Roll.

"Ready to go out for a walk, little beast?" She crouched down next to Gregor.

  gregpr  Rolls  over   waitign to  be  Picked up.

 Roll looks  at Him...how  do  expect to get big and fast like  Larry, if you don't   walk!

 Gregor      turns his  head  upside down to look at  roll, but  doesn't change  his  position.

"I've spoiled him terribly since rescuing him from that lab. I don't mind picking him up and carrying him because," she leaned down and pulled him into her arms, nuzzling and kissing him. "One day he'll be too big for me to do so."

She reached over and pulled Roll into a hug. "So I shall enjoy being able to pick the both of you up whilst I'm still able. Before you're both too big for me." She kissed him on the cheek and forehead. "Shall we go?"

 Roll   follows  them along, His  Vid Board  in hand.

  Gregor  as a  little  Larg  look of  superiority on his   face  as he is carried.

Viktor shook his head, “You really should make the little fellow walk, Roll is wise beyond his years. Before you know it, Gregor will be too big and will expect be carried or held.” He let out an amused snort of air, and waited until Roll and Mortica had walked before he closed and locked the door behind him.

“Bah! I shall spoil my boys as long as I can. Carrying my beast so I can snuggle him is part of that.” She nuzzled his little head as they walked to school.

  At the school the    Head  teacher   sat  at the   desk in th  offcie  grading some papers.

  a Younger woman  acting as Her secretary  set up  papers   for them to Sign.

  The  Head  teacher   came out  and  smiled,..Hello?... I    am th head Teacher.. and  , more or less  Principle here?... Seems The Hermes  lost most of  it Teacher to transfer to the FUJI  schools  for  more  Creds. I am  Mrs Carlowe .. My Husband  Just  got a  Job on the Farm.

  ..Now?.. we have   some issues here?... As your RAce   is not an APG   ally , we need  to be  careful with   Human, or any other   APF  children.... to that  End......

 she thumbed through the Vidboard,..we know the  Child  as ...'Roll'...  we know he has  a  chip... but... THe Hermes SEC  won't let us  access the  child's  information. I was told  to see   Lt  Morrow..but I have heard she is  quite the Bi.....Business  woman, and would   cause me to waste  alot of time?

 ..now?.. we  also  do not have Much in the way of Information on you  two?.... again.. Hermes  ESN  has your  files  from your chips..but... they will not permit us  to   download, or even view..

 The younger woman shook her head sadly.

 ..The Child needs  to   have an education... and we need to  have  someone  , on record  as responsible?..so  I will  ask these  questions...

1... are you married  or  a Mated  Couple...

2.. if not?....who is   responsible for the child.

3...Is there someone to contact  if  you should Both die

4... It  costs  50 Creds  to enroll him, mostly for supplies... the rest is   free  from here on out, Unless they woudl   attend the Academy Prep Classes... The MArine Classes  are  free  and involves   going to a  Transport Base

5.... He will need to go to Med Tech to  have a  scan for shots...

6... you will have to  sign waivers in case   we are boarded    he   he is kkilled or  hurt... the same waver    applies to  Trips to the  Farm..Doc  Henry's  Zoo   and the   football field.. one class  a month is held in the OB dec for start  mapping.. they visit the foundry  when the  Foreman  permits

7.... if you accept  all of this.. we  will scan his chip, and  the chips  of    the adults responsible for him.. if you get him to  Med tech..he can start  tomorrow ......

Mortica looked at Viktor and blinked slowly at the insane amount of questions the woman was asking. She pulled Roll a little closer as she was going through the list and waited for her to finish though she did cough slightly to keep from laughing at what the woman started to say about Lt. Morrow.

"Right...well then.

We are engaged and soon to be married. The 50 year engagement period ends next year so we are planning our wedding.

I've officially adopted him so I am responsible as his mother. Once we are wed Viktor shall be his father.

I shall say Dr. Henry Christie but will verify that with him.

The cost of enrollment and supplies is no problem.

We shall go to med tech after this," she said as she handed back the signed sheets which included the waivers.

"And I accept all of the above so feel free to scan."

Teela kissed Garrat's hand and began to speak. "I was born on Paradise to Se'la and Tro've. My parents own a shipyard which had been owned on my mother's side from the time of her great-grandmother's great-grandmother so I was born into wealth. She supports the war of course but also kept part of the yard building ships for civilian use, wanting to contribute something to our people besides instruments of war so pleasure craft for space as well as water travel given how lush the oceans of Paradise are.

I went to the most exclusive boarding schools and had tutors-nothing but the best for mother's little girl." Garrat could swear there was a slight tone of bitterness in her voice. "When I was of age I joined our Junior Officer Training Cadre as going into the military was a given. Being a pilot was all I ever wanted to do since I had grown up around fighters and other craft but there was more to it than that. Birds and other flying creatures fascinated me and made me want to fly like they do. I spent hours watching them and learning everything I could about anatomy and physiology, physics, aeronautics, anything to help me realise a dream, an obsession that my parents told me was foolish but I would not be dissuaded. I imagine you can see where this is going?" She asked, smiling at him.

   Mrs Carlowe  smiled,..Well then?... she takes  the   Papers , lookig at Roll...Roll  could you take these  to  Nance  and have her  copyb them.. tell her   we need  4, and to send you back with a Copy of  each  for  Your Mom and future  Dad?

 Roll Nodded, takign the papers into the Next  room,  The woman stod  so he r back was to that room...This  is an  'off the record' question.... but it wil help me portect the children, with  what  little  i may offfer

  we are headed to  other stations.. and other planets..its..of course, is the Job of the Hermes ... but.. when we   have conflict  with Vampics... What will happen to Roll if they  win?

Viktor was growing increasingly annoyed and irritated by the battery of questions but thought to let Mortica take care of it since she was legally his mother. That is, until she asked about the a Vampic victory. “Whatever happens to you and every other person alive on this ship. I can tell you honestly that at that point should Roll be in danger we can do nothing about it since both Mortica and I will have been killed defending this ship and him. He is our son, and I will burn into ash anyone who threatens him. Or perish trying.”