Porter walked back to the catering area with another of his lost souls to find miss Holden sitting about 30 feet away from everyone else looking more than a little miffed. The rest were crowded around an unconscious boy who had a security guard checking his prone form.
“Oh dear.”
He focused on the boy, his boarding pass marked him as a Mr Stevens. Yep definitely one of his. “Hmm.. not good, indeed, not good at all!”
Sam looked up at the security guard and replied. “Again! he was harassing me, I was sitting here alone minding my own business and felt I had no option but to defend myself, check the cameras!”
“Right miss that will be done I promise you, I'm just trying to find out what he did... exactly.. to get..” he gestured at the prone body. “Like this, It must have been pretty harsh.”
“He called me a skank! Said that he thought I would be a good shag because I looked rough and ready and then called me a lesbian. Enough for you officer dribble?”
Sam heard some of the crowd of her peers snicker at her last comment and the security guard became red faced and more irritable towards her, a movement by her side caught her eye and she found herself nearly lashing out at the medic that had turned up to administer first aid.
“Oh shit the bed” she thought to herself. “There's no way I'm making that boat now. How am I going to explain to mum why I'm in lock up instead of a swanky academy sailing away to gods no where?”
“Ah what seems to be the trouble er... security guard …. Dissle?”
The security guard turned, face an angry grimace as he replied. “Stand clear please this matter is being dealt with and we don't need more people complicating the issue.”
“Oh my yes of course! Erm.. unfortunately both of these young persons are minors you see, that are in my care so how ever much I would like to comply with er... your request I find I cannot, hmm... my no. indeed.”
“Both of them?” inquired the security guard.
Porter nodded “Hmm, yes indeed, both and more!” he gestured behind the group of 30 or so youngsters, Dissle shook his head. “Rather you than me. Unfortunately, this young er... lady has assaulted this young man and I think I have no option but to call the police.”
“What!?” exclaimed Sam. “He started it! Didn't you listen to a word I said you fat toad?”
Porter held up a hand and let out a reverberating bellow that seemed focused on the security officer and his charges.
“STOP!”
Sam attempted to carry on, if that fat bastard was siding with the sexist douche bag then he was going to get both barrels. ...but nothing came out. She looked around with her eyes, her head wouldn't move and everybody around her had come to a grinding halt! “What the actual fuck?” she thought. woah, this was freaky.
Porter put a hand on Stevens head and his eyes snapped open, after a moment Porter nodded apparently happy that the boy was fine, his ego more bruised then his chin.
He turned to both the medic and the security guard and waved his hands over them and as he did he said. “The boy tripped and fell over. He is fine, it was an accident not note worthy of any report. Move along.”
The medic looked annoyed at the security guard. “I thought you said he was out? Look, he's fine! That's the second time you've done something like that this month. Keep it up and I'll report you.”
“Jeez man keep you hair on. Anyone can make a mistake, Come on I'll buy you a coffee.”
Porter looked at the couple leave and when they were outside of hearing range he unfroze the rest of the group.
“Fuck me. Talk about these aren't the droids.” Someone said in the background. “Right! I wonder if we could learn that? Man that would be so cool!” replied another.
Porter looked down at Stevens. “So young man what did you do that was so heinous that this young lady felt compelled to knock you unconscious?”
“Me? That fucking crazy rug muncher kicked me in the head! While I was facing the other direction. Otherwise I would have had the skank for sure.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Ah and so eloquently put as well Mr Stevens. Thank you, miss Holden do you have anything to add to that?”
Sam was furious But she had just seen Porter do his Jedi mind trick on a couple of mondain's without breaking a sweat, so she had to believe she had a chance, but her shoulders sagged as she realised the truth of it. “He was rude, pushy. But maybe I over reacted.”
“Over reacted!? That fucking dyke should be banned from the academy she's a menace! I didn't do anything and she kicked me in the fucking head!” Exclaimed an increasingly aggressive Stevens.
“Enough of that Mr Stevens, if you're lucky enough to pass the entrance exams you'll soon see that words have power. For good or ill. If you are so adamant she be expelled from storm haven academy of magic, then you'll have no problem letting me read your mind so as to allow me to find out exactly what happened?”
Stevens blanched at the thought of having his mind read, ... what if he read more than what happened, even if it was just that? Fuck no.
“What? Why should I? I'm the victim here.”
Porter nodded and then looked up. “Would anyone else be willing to a mind read so I can check what happened? It's quite painless! Yes indeed, I have had it done to me on numerous occasions and I'm still here. hmm.. indeed on more than one instance it has actually saved me from a fair bit of trouble, But no one? Oh disappointing, well I won't force you.”
Sam put her hand up. “Come on then old man, I'll do it. It doesn't involve you groping me does it?”
“Heavens no. Goodness, Just a light touch to your forehead to make the initial connection, hmm, best make it visible to all.. like so... and there!”
A sphere grew out of the air above the groups head in it was the face of Mick Stevens. Sam could feel her anger rise as she looked at the projected image.
“Hello sweetheart what's your name?”
Sam was stunned, it was clearer than her memory of the event and she could see the braying clod trying to be the big I am in front of the other boys. She winced as she saw the impact her boot had on his crotch and saw the pain and embarrassment on his face, then the anger and retaliation. The vitriol behind his comments and then bam! Lights out. Thank you very much. I'll be here all week folks.
“That's not how it happened.” Exclaimed Stevens. “She made half of that up!”
Porter looked to Stevens. “So you have changed your mind about a mind read?” Everyone saw him backing off swearing and cursing at Sam but refusing a mind read. Porter shook his head.
“Everyone hear me now! It is impossible to lie in a mind read. some, very very talented individuals can hide a little information. But what you saw here was what actually happened. But you know that already, because you saw it first time round. Mr Stevens is a liar a braggart and a trouble maker. But Clearly also miss Holden has some anger issues.” Sam heard a light chuckle in the group of minors.
Porter continued. “Both were in the wrong, but one understood their fault and owned up to it and the other ducked blame and tried to get the other expelled. This entire series of events has been recorded and will be admitted as part of your entrance test.”
“What!?” exclaimed a furious Stevens. “She started it! She kicked me in the fucking head! She should be expelled!” Shrieked Stevens. Porter tapped the side of the head. “Still recording Mr Stevens.”
Stevens face was crimson with outrage and disgust but he shut his mouth, violently pushing aside anyone who got in his way.
Porter shook his head. “I still have one more lost soul to find and then we can board the ship.” He looked towards Sam. “You can search with me if you feel it might make for a better outcome? Hmm.. yes you can feel the tension in the air, indeed you definitely can.” Sam noticed the difference in speech pattern when he was “Mr Porter” as against just “Porter”, but she guessed that if she got to be over 200 years old she might develop a few kinks in her personality too.
She shook her head. “Thank you Porter but I'll be fine. I can handle Stevens in my sleep and everyone else has been more than happy to keep me at arms length.”
“Ha! Yes indeed, Hmm.. well then keep your back to a wall while I'm gone I'll try to be quick” and with a brisk nod he was walking back to the entrance of the terminal.