Jelly came back to the shuttle about twenty minutes later and dropped several bags, a duffle bag, and a standard military space suit. She walked by Hunter, who sat with Hailey on his lap in the passenger compartment. She entered the cockpit and quickly brought it to readiness, then asked for clearance to leave the compound. It was granted and she lifted off and flew to the address Hailey's mother was listed under.
“Okay, we're here.” Jelly said after she landed not too far away from the apartment building Hailey lived in and put the shuttle into standby mode. She stood up and entered the passenger compartment. “It's just a short walk over...” She stopped when she saw Hunter and Hailey staring at each other, then she clapped her hands. “Hey! Snap out of it. We have stuff to do.”
“Huh? Oh, right.” Hunter said and shook himself. He stood up and kept Hailey in his arms and left the shuttle.
Jelly followed close behind and the shuttle closed behind them and the ramp disappeared. Is it automatic? She asked herself. I didn't see any options for that.
She followed Hunter to the building and inside, then they went up in the lift to the tenth floor and entered one of the smallest apartments she had ever seen. With the three of them in there, it was positively crowded, the place was that small. Hunter didn't put Hailey down as he entered the smallest room with a single bed and nothing else, and then all of the things Hailey pointed to floated towards them and then disappeared.
Jelly stared at the scene and didn't know what to make of it. On one hand, it was absolutely amazing. On the other hand, it was almost terrifying. Where is it all going? She asked herself as dozens of stuffed animals flew through the air and disappeared into nothingness.
*
Hailey skipped most of the flowers, except for one particular bunch that had the brightest colors and she pointed to them. She giggled under her breath as they flew to her and then disappeared. She knew they weren't gone and were just being held somewhere special. She thought about her clothing and pointed towards one of the boxes on the floor.
“Some of my clothes are in there.” Hailey said.
“We can sort them when we get to the ship.” I said and lifted all of the boxes up with Presence, brought them towards us, then dumped them into the bag of holding. With that, the room was pretty much empty. I turned around and stepped by Jelly and went to the small bathroom. “Anything in here?”
“Toothbrush and...” Hailey didn't say anything and pointed to a few plastic toys that could be played with in the tub.
I felt her embarrassment about them and gave her a little squeeze. “It must have been fun to take an actual bath after so long.”
“It was!” Hailey said and I stored her toothbrush and the toys.
“The tubs on the ship are huge.” I said and that made her very happy, because she couldn't wait to try it. I carried her to the living room and kitchen combo and there wasn't anything she wanted. “What about food?”
“I... well...”
“Your mom has you on a special diet?” I asked. “Why?”
“I've never had normal food before.” Hailey said.
“They did all those tests on you to see that you're normal, and she still thought that you need special food?” I chuckled. “Don't worry, Hailey. We've got lots of actual food on the ship.”
“We?”
“I've got four pilots and one of their partners living there.” I said. “I sent two pilots and the partner on a cargo run, so it's just me and two women for the next seven weeks.”
“Did you say four pilots?” Jelly asked me, and I explained about splitting the shifts and making a very stable work environment and how I still needed a combat pilot. “That makes sense.”
“I'm glad you agree.” I chuckled and led us out of the apartment, then I shut and locked the door behind us. “I thought about only needing two pilots to split the day, then thought... well, I've got four people willing to work and help me, so why not hire them all?”
Jelly laughed as we stepped into the lift. “I wish I had a boss like you.”
“You do now.” I said and she raised her eyebrows. “Unless the military is going to keep paying you while you're on your leave of absence.”
Jelly opened her mouth to say that they were, then she caught herself before she gave herself away. “I was so excited that I left the base and I didn't even ask you to hire me.” She said instead.
“Yeah. Imagine my luck! I do one mission for the military and they gave me a pilot.” I said and Hailey giggled. “Can you even accept a job while still technically in the military?”
Jelly didn't respond, because she wasn't actually sure that she could.
“I'll give the admiral a call and find out for sure.” I said as we left the building.
“Wh-wh-what?” Jelly sputtered.
“I'm good friends with her.” I said and Hailey giggled again. “I even bought her the new arm.”
“Th-that really was you?” Jelly asked, surprised. “There were rumours that you had dropped off a shipment of medical supplies, thousands and thousands of credits worth; but, no one could ever confirm it.”
“That's probably because I dropped it off anonymously.” I said and we entered the shuttle. “It was just one more shipment coming in to the shipping dock that was routed to the medical bay.”
“You didn't want the recognition?” Jelly asked, once again surprised. “Do you realize how many people you helped?”
“I'd say more than one, since one was all I was shooting for.” I said and Hailey giggled again. She was thoroughly enjoying my teasing of the poor pilot. I stepped into the cockpit and brought up the admiral's call identifier.
“Who are you call... you have the admiral's personal com number?!?” Jelly said, shocked.
“I have the president's number as well. I don't think I need to go quite that high for this, though.”
“But... but...”
“Relax, Jelly. She lovvvves me.” I said and Hailey laughed. The call went through in only moments.
“Well, I'll be.” Shanifra said out of the communications console display. “It really is you.” She chuckled. “I thought my readout was faulty!”
I chuckled, too. “I've been a little too busy to call before now.”
Shanifra barked a laugh, then she sighed. “You have got to stop doing these things.”
“It's not my fault they came after me and then after my future wife to get to me.” I said.
“Future wife, huh?” Shanifra looked at the young girl in my arms. “How old is she? Twelve or thirteen?”
“Twelve, and getting closer to sixteen every day.” I said and that made the admiral laugh.
“I'm tempted to ask if you're joking; but, my expert here says you're telling the truth.” Shanifra said.
“I was surprised about it, too.” I admitted and Hailey's hand touched the back of my neck. “After three people said the same thing and the Presence didn't waver, even I had to admit that it was true.”
“You might want to let her live her life a little first.” Shanifra cautioned me, and I laughed.
“Don't worry about that, admiral. You're looking at the best procrastinator for serious relationships.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Shanifra smiled. “I have to assume that this isn't why you called.”
“No, I had a question about legally hiring military personnel while on a temporary leave of absence.”
“Ha!” Shanifra said. “All right, just a second.” She leaned out of the pickup's view. “Melanie! Get in here!”
“So much for military protocol.” I said and Shanifra laughed.
“We're on our break, smart ass.” Shanifra said and then shifted aside as Melanie sat down beside her.
“Hunter! It's so nice to see you.” Melanie said and her eyes caught my missing hair. “I'm so sorry about what happened.”
“Not as sorry as the people who arranged it are going to be.” I said. “That's months away, though.”
Melanie nodded and I repeated my question about hiring military people while they were on leave. She told me several exceptions for the precedent and then said that normally, they were technically still on retainer with the military, because they could be called back into active service with little to no notice.
“So, I can't actually hire someone into an official position.” I said and Melanie nodded. “Should I sub-contract, or do I just let them live on the military stipend?”
“Who is this about?” Shanifra asked.
“Jelly, what's your real name?” I asked.
Jelly sighed, because she couldn't refuse to answer the admiral. “Jennifer Molly, MILPO-03256.”
Melanie quickly typed up the information, her eyes widened, then she bumped Shanifra's elbow.
Shanifra's eyes widened and then she sighed. “Hunter...”
“I know.” I said. “So, I assume she's covered and won't become destitute while working for me?”
“She has enough back pay to cover anything she may need.” Shanifra said and the Presence wavered slightly at the 'back' part of pay.
“That's a relief.” I said and she raised her eyebrows at me. “I was worried I would invalidate something by mistake if I put through the hiring contract without talking to someone first.” I said. “Thanks a lot for clarifying all of this for me.”
“You're welcome.” Shanifra and Melanie said at the same time. Both seemed surprised I was taking having a military babysitter so well.
“By the way, if you didn't notice, the Udelis already left on the first cargo run.” I said and leaned in close to whisper. “Guess what they are bringing back.”
Shanifra's mouth watered at the thought. “When?”
“About seven weeks.” I said.
“It's a date.” Shanifra said with a grin.
“Hey, you know we can't fraternize like that.” I said and a haughty voice. “I have an image to uphold.”
Melanie laughed and covered her mouth to stop it and Jelly gasped her shock.
“Ooo, you are gonna get it when I see you next.” Shanifra said with a wicked smile.
“Maybe I won't show up.” I said, teasingly.
“You better show up!” Shanifra said and shook her fist at me. “Or I'll have them drag you here to the station. In chains. Upside down. In just your underwear.”
Melanie laughed so hard that she had to step away from the console and Jelly stared at me like I was a dead man.
“Well, okay... I guess... I could at least try to make an appearance. Maybe.” I said as non-committedly as possible, then chuckled. “I'll see you then.”
“Bye, Hunter.” Shanifra said and cut the call.
Jelly kept staring at me and didn't know what to say. She had never, ever, heard of anyone talking to the admiral like that.
“You're going to want to witness that dinner.” I said to her and it jolted her out of her immobility. “Are you going to fly us to the ship, or do you want to keep staring at me?”
It took her a moment to answer. “I can fly.”
“Then have at it.” I said and carried Hailey into the passenger compartment and sat down with her.
The shuttle took off and we made it back to the ship in orbit about an hour before lunch. It had seemed like a lot longer than that, after everything that went on, and I hadn't been gone for one six hour shift. I almost laughed at that, considering how many people the military had apprehended, then the shuttle flew around the ship where directed and the bay doors opened.
“You have a SHUTTLE BAY!!” Jelly exclaimed loudly and that made me laugh, because each shuttle pilot that has seen it has reacted exactly the same way.
“It's pressurized and has a constant atmosphere, just like the rest of the cargo area, too.” I said.
“I think I'm going to like it here.” Jelly said with a huge grin.
“I've got your bags.” I said and the shuttle opened up and the ramp dropped. I grabbed her things with Presence Hands and carried them out behind me. “There's a pile of rooms still left up top, so you've got your choice of where to bunk.”
Jelly stared at the various things I had in the cargo bay. When we reached the stairs, she recognized the advanced medical scanner. “Where the hell did you get that?”
“Inside a disabled and converted alien freighter.” I said and walked up the stairs. “It doesn't work with our tech, though. It has to have some heavy modifications, both physically and software-wise, before it can be installed upstairs.”
“You're not selling it?” Jelly asked. “That thing could be worth a fortune!”
“More like save me a fortune so that I don't have to buy my own.” I said and she caught her breath. “I've got ten people to look after now.” I said when we reached the top of the stairs and walked down the hallway. “I need some kind of medical bay to take care of things.”
“You're going to need a med tech, too.” Jelly said as she followed me past the large living room.
“I'll worry about that when Luxea gets back with the parts we need.” I said. “I doubt I could get even an assistant to come out with us without some kind of working space.” I pointed across the hall. “Most of those rooms are empty.”
“I assume they're all the same.” Jelly asked and I nodded. “Then I'll take that one.”
I dropped off all her bags in the room and asked her to follow me to the cockpit. When we arrived there, Gleas and Kalina were already turned and looking at us.
“Hunter! What is that thing growing on your hip?” Gleas asked with her hands over her mouth.
Hailey giggled. “You're funny.”
“It talked!” Gleas hopped out of her chair. “We need to call the media and sell tickets!”
Hailey laughed and Gleas held a hand out to her.
“Hi. I'm Eugleasiastis.” Gleas said and Hailey's mouth dropped open in surprise. “Just call me Gleas. All my friends do.”
“Hi, G-Gleas.” Hailey said and took the hand and shook it. “I'm Hailey.”
“I'm Kalina.” Kalina said and waved, then looked at Jelly. “Who's this?”
“My name is Jennifer; but, I go by my call sign, Jelly.” Jelly said. “I'm the new combat pilot.”
“That reminds me.” I went to the communications console and cancelled the combat pilot job posting. “No one was responding to it anyway.” I said. “Kalina, take us back out to the wrecks. Gleas, thank the military and civilian traffic controllers for their help.”
“What should I tell them the emergency was?” Gleas asked.
“It's probably classified by the military, considering how things turned out.” I said and glanced at Jelly, who nodded slightly. “Tell them the Hero of Chofaris rescued an endangered child and has taken her into custody.”
“You... ah... should probably file some kind of paperwork with the government about that.” Jelly said and looked at Hailey. “Just in case they decide to intervene.”
“Good point.” I said. “I guess now is the time to call one of the government's big guns.”
“Not the president!” Jelly said loudly and both I and Hailey laughed.
“No, not the biggest gun.” I said. “One of her friends should suffice, and I know just the person to call.”
Jelly, Kalina, and Gleas were equally surprised when I called Sheph. It was also her personal communication code and it went right to her office and not through any routing software.
“Oh! Just a second!” Sheph said and put me on hold.
“She's probably busy.” I whispered.
The three women exchanged uncomfortable glances. Unlike them, Hailey took it all in as if it was normal for me to call the head of the military and the top tier of government every day.
“Hunter, it's so nice to hear from you.” Sheph said when the screen came back on.
“Likewise.” I said and nodded slightly, to indicate the private message she had sent me.
Sheph smiled knowingly. “Is this call pertaining to that?”
“In part.” I said and explained about Hailey and how her mother had gotten mixed up with the same people I had helped round up before. When she asked what happened, I gave her a condensed rundown and mentioned that she should call the admiral to get the whole story, since she would know it by now.
“So, what is it you need me to do?” Sheph asked.
“Hailey doesn't have anyone else to take care of her and neither of us wants her to be put in danger again.” I said. “We also don't want something like child welfare services to try and take her, either.”
“Hunter, you do realize...”
“She's spent enough time in hospitals and being examined and scrutinized.” I said. “I won't allow her to be subjected to being psychologically examined because of this mess. She wasn't a part of it and it was my fault she got involved in the first place.”
“You feel responsible for her.” Sheph said.
“Yes, and I was wondering if there was some kind of paperwork to file or something to stop everyone from taking advantage of her.”
“Aren't you taking advantage of her right now?” Sheph asked with a smile as she looked at the girl I held in my arms.
“My hip is cold and I needed a hip warmer.” I said and Hailey giggled.
“I don't think there's any official paperwork that fits the situation you're in.” Sheph said. “Can you give me until lunch is over to try and come up with something?”
“Don't skip lunch on my account.” I smiled. “I can be magnanimous and give you until supper time to get back to me.”
Sheph chuckled. “That's so nice of you.”
“I know. I'm the best.” I said and she laughed.
“I'll call just before supper.” Sheph said. “Goodbye, Hunter.”
I waved at her and she cut the call. “Now I need to get changed and get to work.”
“I'll get changed and meet you at the shuttle.” Jelly said and left the cockpit.
“Hunter...” Hailey started to say.
“I know you just got here; but, I'm already half a day behind schedule.” I said. “That's the bad news.”
“What's the good news?” Hailey asked automatically.
“I only have to work for about six hours and then we can all hang out in the living room.”
“Okay.” Hailey said. “Drop my stuff off and you go to work.”
I carried her back through the ship and asked her to point out the room she wanted. She didn't move at all until we were almost at the end of the ship and then pointed. At my room.
“Hailey, you...”
“You said I could pick any room and that they were huge and could fit families in them.” Hailey said.
I sighed and took her inside, then she told me where to put all of her stuff. “I'll gather my stuff and...”
“No, that's okay.” Hailey said and pat the top of my head. “I'm in danger and you can't leave me alone, remember?”
I opened my mouth to protest, then sighed again and put her down. “All right. I need to get changed.”
Hailey nodded and I grabbed my flight suit and walked to the bathroom. I was changed and back out a couple of minutes later and hung my power armored uniform up. Hailey giggled behind me and I turned to see that she was playing with one of the large stuffed toys.
“I'll be back soon.” I said and walked over to her and knelt down. She gave me a hug and kissed my cheek, then I picked up the helmet and gloves and left the room. I knocked on Simone's room and told her to get ready and to meet me in the shuttle for work. I went down the stairs and across the cargo area to get to the shuttle bay. When I entered, Jelly's mouth dropped open at the sight of me.
“You have a top of the line custom flight suit?!?” Jelly asked. “How much money do you have?”
I ignored her and when Simone appeared, we took the shuttle out into the alien wrecks to get to work.