Ajax sat down on the steps and stood Sam on the next step down so she could look him in the eyes.
"Yeah... the guy is nuts for pizza.
I've never seen him eat anything else?

Well you can eat anything you want ...as long as its "real food" ... no sugary junk tonight.
Maybe a burger and salad? Have you tried those yet?

Oh... Are they having the birthday party tonight?"

Ajax only allowed himself to look disappointed, for half a second, then smiled warmly. Sam is so sharp at reading faces she may still have caught it...
"You can go... if you want... I don't want to spoil you making friends?

When is your birthday? ...Wow...
I don't think any records were found.
...we could just pick a day.
Maybe the day we found you ...in the lab?"

  ..I don't know?...Hmmmm..when they  put the chip in me, that was supposed to say how old  i was...'cause they need to know  that, to know how much money we get..teacher  said that..

"I will have to check on the chip, babe.
I'll let you know what I find out.

The party is at 06:00?" Ajax checked his Com.

"Its a little after 01:00 now, plenty of time to get some real food in you before the party cake and sugary stuff tonight!

Let's get inside... You can read me some of your homework while I shave and get cleaned up."

Ok...Already done.....  she  smiled  as she gathered Up he r books and such waiting to enter the   building.


  People were  walking  about the Civie  Section, on there way to or from shifts...much like the military folks on board..everyone had something to do.

The next day, roughly noon.

Ajax Comm to Sam, who would normally be in school.
  "Hi babe! ...Are you in lockdown?"

Sam: "Uh huh. They say we are in combat!!"

"That's right. The big ships and fighters are slugging it out now.
The ground pounders are loaded on shuttles and on our way!"

"Are you gonna hit them where it hurts dad?"

"That is a big affirmative Honeybunch!"

"Okay.. Lots of hugs and kisses!"

"Oooh yeah! That is what I need!
...Over and out Punkin!"

Melia swung by the Civie section looking for a store that sells art supplies. She isn't specifically looking for professional quality or elementary school level items, but definitely something that Terra could use without too much trouble.

  there are two small stores. more or less for neighborhood use, but   they get their share of Visits from the crew ( not that they mind!)

 Like a small corner , neighborhood store, they sell a little bit of everything,, she can get from..Aet set with  colored pencils, tabletof drawing paper and a small books...or she can get a  set that has  Ink pens  with 12 different heads ( three pens barrels with  ink cratridges..all black...or she  can get a tablet and mix andmatch papers, pens   , pencils ect

Melia decides to get the set with the ink pens and then also purchases the colored pencils. Terra had mentioned that he'd done art as a study in college so she figured he'd be sure of himself with a pen. Once she'd purchased the items she thanked the shop owner and headed to the Tech lab.

In reply to Sam (msg # 69):
Civie Section - Rush Apartment - Morning of departure from Zolth.

Morning came and Ajax got up quietly and checked on Sam... Still sleeping.

He took the opportunity for some morning exercise,
Pushups... pull ups... sit-ups... squats...
He did some stretching while thinking about how good his shoulder felt... Thank you Angel food!

He put sneakers on and went out for a quick run around the block, he had a friendly wave and smile for any of his neighbors that were up.
He came back in and took a quick shower.

Then he went down to the kitchen to put something together for breakfast... Pancakes seemed like a good idea.

  Sam gets up, as normal there is no  school on Cast of days, since  it requires a lot of the Civies  to  aid  in prep.

 Sam Comes out of her  room with sweats on , and holding a stuff animal...I thought you Might   be Mrs  Braken again..or one of  the other people who check on me.... I thought you would be busy ...again...

 she  moves to the couch and   turns on the Vids, she  finds a cartoon about the  'Heroes of the Black' with men and woman heroes  along  with 'friendly aliens' who help keep the  Black safe,

In reply to Sam (msg # 74):

As he stirred up the pancake batter, Ajax noted the disappointment in her tone and figured he deserved it.
"I'm not, so far... I may have to work today? but if i do its probly just repairs on hangar dec... You could go with me if you want?
See how we moved everything around... See the new felrite fighters?

...What do you want with your pancakes?"

    I don't know? we have that red Juice that goes on top? Made out of Straw?  she was getting into her Cartoon, when a commercial came on ( for  ESN action figures) she perked up  and watched   as she said,...I don't know?...I never see other   Civie people up there. I'm not real sure they want us up there when  people are working...sometime  that Mr Rivets gets  scarey!

In reply to Sam (msg # 76):

In the kitchen Ajax smiled: "Straw-BERRIES babe! ...Maybe we can get some real ones someday..."

Ajax flipped two finished pancakes onto the stack, and poured in another two.

"You've got a point. ...I don't think Rivets will be mad about anything today, the Hangar rearrange went well, ..but I can't say for sure?
...Maybe we can just go up and say hello to Slick? Maybe see Naomi or Garrat?
When you get bored I can take you back home? ...then if I don't have to work? ..we can do anything you want today."

Morning --
Raja left his quarters with his weapons case and a bag of workout gear.
He was wearing something like a brown hoodie, to conceal his largran features somewhat.
That might be pointless, his outline deviated quite a bit from the human norm, but he did not want to upset the human civilians.
He particularly did not want to encounter any Felrites on the Rec Dec workout areas.
...Not yet anyway.

The big largran moved along at moderate speed toward the former Chapel, now converted to a gym and dojo of sorts.
Sgt Hunter had shown him the place days ago and it suited his present needs.

Melia wanders into the Civie Section looking for a shop that sells picture frames.

  She  remembers that the shop with the school and arts  supplies had  them.

  She   comes over , taking her seat at the counter, he  eats a couple bites,...I have seen pictures of  straw in school? I never see  berries on them?

 as  she eats  she says, Milford?..he's an Older Boy?..he says  his mommy makes....pies? He said i should come  over and eat pies  with them?

    getting ready to work out, he notes that the Humans here weren't quite like the HUmans  at the field..alot of the Humans at the field were crewmen, or  civieplayers on the football team.out of the dozen or so people there now...only two looked like 'warriors' and one was older.

 on the balcony, on each side there were  a pair of Green angles  teaching archery to  Civies.

In reply to Sam (msg # 81):

"I think strawberries got the name by being grown around straw...
Earth has a lot of different kinds of berries. A lot of them are red, so they had to be named something..."

Ajax put 2 pancakes on his plate with a drizzle of syrup.

"Pies are good... How much older is this Milford?"

 she thinks  on Ajax's  words  , then nods, and shrugs and  takes  another Bite.

 Oh..he is   real old...i think he might be 16!..he says he might Join the ESN next year when they will let him....He throws  football around in the little park..I bet he could  beat Mr Shadow!  she grins

In reply to Sam (msg # 84):

"I dont want you to be alone with a 16 year old boy. ...Otherwise it sounds nice.
Maybe you could ask if we can buy a pie from his mom?"

..I do not know? We  can ask him. His Mommy is real nice, she works in the Pizza  shop as a bakery..she  says pilots keep her busy!

 She frowned a bit,since we do not know  how old i am..maybe i am 16?

Melia wanders into the store from before greeting the shopkeeper politely browsing the shelves for a picture frame that fits the drawing she's carefully carried with her.

  she finds  one to her Liking, the  Storekeep saw its  2 credits, but  cuts it to one, because he heard she was in on the battle  on the Qarl ships.

Melia pays the 2 credits despite the discount, thanking the shopkeeper for helping her find the find the frame. She rushes back to her quarters and quickly frames the drawing and hanging it on her wall. After dropping off the drawing in her quarters she heads over to the rec dec to grab a bite to eat.