*Ka-Clang*
The front door of the Guard Station slammed open.
“Jack! Jack, are you in here!?” Champ Letterman shouted from the front of the Guard Station.
Jack jumped up and grabbed the bars of the cell.
“I'm back here, father.” he replied.
“You there, Guardsman. Take me to the jail cells immediately.” Mayor Letterman pointed at Soppurt behind his desk.
The boys in the cell could hear a long pause while Desk Officer Soppurt rocked back and forth on his desk chair.
*Creak*
*Creak*
*Creak*
“Hmmm… okay.” The Desk Officer replied.
Soppurt opened the door to the hallway leading to the jail cells.
Mayor Letterman stomped down the hallway. He paused for a moment when he saw the first two cells filled with bugs.
“Is this a jail or a menagerie?” He asked Soppurt.
Soppurt shrugged.
Champ Letterman resumed his stomping stride down the segmented security section.
“Jack, what are you doing in there?” Mayor Letterman faced the final cell.
“Nothing father.” Jack said. He shifted from foot to foot.
“Then why were you arrested?”
“I wasn’t! It was… an administrative technicality.” Jack gripped the bars of the cell tighter.
“Then why are you in jail? And why is the Sifter boy in there with you?”
“Uh…” Jack looked back at Ash.
“Hello Mr Letterman.” said Ash.
“Ash.” Jack’s father nodded. “Were the two of you fighting? In the streets? Like common truants?”
“Nooo.” Jack hurried to brush the dirt off of his knees and elbows.
Champ pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t have time for this. I have a very busy schedule to keep.” He turned to Soppurt. “What was my son arrested for?”
“He wasn't.” Soppurt glibbed.
“What?”
“Not everyone that’s in jail has been arrested.” Soppurt examined his fingernails.
“Then what is he doing behind these bars?”
A midge landed on Mayor Letterman’s forehead. He pretended not to notice. The bug crawled down between his eyebrows.
“He's taking some personal time to sort out his emotions.” A dragonfly landed on Soppurt’s hair and he took a moment to shoo the bug away.
“That's ridiculous. My son doesn't have any emotions. Also this is a waste of taxpayer resources. Who is your superior officer?” Champ puffed out his chest.
“That would be the Capten of the City Guard.” said Soppurt.
“There is no Capten of the city Guard in Kaseihgaeu. That position can only be appointed by the Mayor.”
“Then I guess my superior officer would be the Mayor.”
“Kaseihgaeu has no Mayor!” Letterman shouted.
A thin smile spread across Soppurt’s face one millimeter at a time. He looked directly into Mayor Letterman’s eyes and shrugged. It was a practiced shrug. Theatrical. With the same kind of movements that you might see from an illusionist after they perform a magic trick.
*Ka-Clang*
The front door of the Guard Station slammed open.
Angel strode into the front of the Guard station. She quickly scanned the room. Satisfied, she held her hands out a few inches from her body with her pointer fingers extended. Then she quickly pulled her hands back and curled her pointer fingers in. Four Ocean's Bounty Bouncers filed into the room after her.
Lady House entered after them. She had thrown a light wrap over her shoulders and her hair was pinned up with a clasp. She turned mechanically in the center of the room and walked down the hall towards the jail cells.
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She walked past the cells filled with bugs without blinking. Lady House gave a momentary glance at Mayor Letterman. Letterman froze in place. The midge on his forehead buzzed away in a panic.
She turned and faced the last cell. Ash and Jack looked confused. Vance threaded one of his arms through the bars.
“Did you write this note?” Lady House held up a small slip of paper.
*The note said: Mommy, I’m in jail. Come get me.*
Vance hid his mouth with his hand. “You got my letter. You do care.”
“If I was your real mother I’d leave you in here.” Lady House said.
“If you were my actual mother you’d press charges.” Vance said.
“She’s not your mother?” Ash asked.
“No. We’re unrelated.” Vance commented. “Much to everyone’s disappointment I assure you.”
Lady House looked at Soppurt. “What was it this time?”
“Fighting with your nephew in the hotel district.” Soppurt replied.
“Arguing with him.” Vance corrected. “If we ever really came to blows I don’t think either of us would survive.”
“Like all young men Vance you overestimate your vigor.” said Lady House.
“My heart has been sharpened by the City you rule Lady House.”
“You also overestimate your wit.” She turned. “Mayor Letterman, is this the important business you needed to attend to?”
“Uh, this is, I was-” Champ Letterman stumbled over his words.
“Is that your son?” Lady House asked.
“Hmmm?”
“That boy right there. Is that your son?”
“Yeeesss.” Mayor Letterman tried not to look at Jack directly.
“What is he doing in a jail cell?”
“He's… taking some time, for emotional, support.” Champ blinked. “He hasn’t been arrested if that’s what you’re thinking!”
Lady Houses tilted her head to the side.
“The other boy is his old school friend and when he heard that he was in trouble he ran down here to support him. That's how close they are. That's how close everyone in Star Town is. Isn't that right Jack.” The Mayor looked at Jack.
“Father…”
“Isn't that right son!?”
“Yes father.” Jack put his arm roughly around Ash's neck. “Me and Ash are old schoolmates. I would do anything for him. That’s just how the people of Star Town act. Like they say, keep your friends close.” Jack roughly squeezed Ash.
Ash put his arm around Jacks neck. “That's right buddy. The two of us are old pals. Inseparable. The best that Star Town has to offer. We get along like oil and water.” Ash roughly squeezed Jack.
“And I’m here too.” Vance threw his arms around the other two boys.
Lady House passed a coin purse to Soppurt. “For any damages that may have been caused.”
Soppurt pocketed the purse. “And the boy?”
“You may release him at your discretion. And as for any records…”
Soppurt smiled and held up a hand. “You need not even mention it my Lady.”
“Let’s go Angel.” Lady House walked away from the cells. Angel and her Bouncers followed her out.
She paused in the front room. “Can I offer you a ride back to the Gambling Hall, Mayor Letterman?”
Champ Letterman leaned over and whispered to Soppurt.
“I would love that Lady House! I’ll join you in a minute.”
Mayor Letterman leaned closer to the jail cell.
Mayor Letterman put on his best public persona and walked out of the Guard Station with Lady House.
Jack slumped against the cell bars.
Vance slouched against the cell bars.
Ash sagged against the cell bars.
*Ka-Clang*
The front door of the Guard Station slammed open.
“Is your father going to walk in next Ash?” Vance asked.
“My father is dead.” Ash said.
“So not likely then.” Vance rubbed his chin.
“I’m here with your lunch order Mr Soppurt.” A young child shouted.
“That’s great. Leave it on my desk.” Soppurt said to the delivery boy in the front of the Guard Station.
Soppurt adjusted one of his rings. “I’m going to go eat lunch. You three take some time to get settled in the cell. I’ll be back to release you after I eat. Maybe after I have a nap. We will see what I feel like.”
Ash looked at Soppurt. He raised an eyebrow. “A man who doesn’t like responsibility. I can appreciate that. But if we stay in here much longer I’m going to be late for my first shift at my first job.”
“First job? How old are you?” Soppurt paused.
Ahs rubbed his hands together. “Okay! Let’s get out of here.” Ash angled his body so that he was facing Jack but still speaking to Soppurt. “Hey Jack, tell me something, don’t we need release papers after we’re let out of jail?”
“Yes. It is standard protocol for nonviolent crime.” said Jack.
“What’s this then?” Soppurt’s ears pricked up.
“And I bet we’ll need a copy of our intake records as well.” said Ash
Jack shook his head. “I don’t think that applies in this situation- *Ash elbowed him* Ow, oh, yeah. It would be helpful if we have to go before an Advocate.”
“That’s right. We might need an Advocate. They love paperwork, and typing, and desk… papers.”
“Don’t forget the discovery records for the local Judge.” Vance jumped in.
“That’s right. The Judge. We’re going to need all of our forms and files in triplicate for the Judge. Plus receipts, and certifications, and duty rosters from the jail house as well.” Jack counted the potential papers on his fingers.
“And since there’s no Capten of the Guard so there’s no Capten’s office. That means there are no scriveners that handle the filing. All of those forms are going to have to be filled out by the involved department.” Vance shook his head.
“And what about the processing? And the proofreading? That will take ages.” Jack nodded.
“And just think about how cold your lunch is getting this whole time.” Ash said to no one in particular.
*Click*
The Jail Cell opened.
“Look at that. You’re free to go!”