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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 1:39:26 GMT -5
Bree had an impish grin. "When I was her age, I was a third-year cadet. Helos go into the academy at fourteen." The implication was hanging there that bratty behavior from someone old enough to know better would get nowhere with Bree.
"Maybe a bunch of us should go." Dawn said. "Might discourage "them" from hanging around."
"Nothing wrong with that." Marty said. "Just sayin'."
Erika came up, getting what the topic of conversation was. "Let's forget about him for a while. While we were out there this morning, we heard that there's gonna be some races going on soon."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 11:29:18 GMT -5
"Heh, tell that to Taranee," smirked Shale, "She thinks that she could do anything she wants to do by her own choice. Says she's one of the New Generation and she doesn't have to follow tradition."
*****
"No," said Delfina, shaking her head, "We want to keep it simple and we don't want to act so militaristic about the whole thing. They might be discouraged by only Ebony's appearance due to the spikes she has. She can fight nasty with them."
"Only if it's necessary," put in Ebony, "and Bill says he and his cousin don't like anything that has to do with the government getting into peoples' personal lives. I'll go by myself. No sense in making a big deal about the whole thing by all of you going."
Delfina looked at the Viper and slowly nodded, "Alright. Just be careful."
Ebony smirked, "I always am."
With that, the Viper pulled onto the road, shifted into gear, and took off toward Bill's place.
Delfina sighed, "And I've got things to do myself. I think a visit to the Coast Guard station is in order. I want to see how Bree's been doing."
*****
"Races?" asked both Freda and Nerisa.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 13:35:21 GMT -5
With eight kids, I can see how Shale's mother would have a job on her blades just keeping track of them, let alone keep them flying right. Bree thought. Shale had definitely turned out all right, and probably most of the rest, but any large family was going to have at least one wayward one - "black sheep", as humans put it. She shrugged. "Well... we'll deal with that when we come to it."
Bill was still straightening things out in his yard, which still looked as if a tornado had gone through it. Some people who had visited his studio would doubt there was any difference from the usual conditions, but the old van could swear that somebody had been rooting through his stuff. He heard an engine come up - a powerful one. He did remember who that was...
"Offshore powerboat races." Erika said. "What I had done as a kid, except this is the grown-up stuff where they do like, 140 mph or more. At that speed, the water's hard as a brick if you wipe out on it. I don't even try it that often."
<<< maybe a relative might be there... >>>
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 14:45:15 GMT -5
"True," nodded Shale, "I do worry about her, though." He was always trying to help Taranee out. "When my dad died, she didn't react too well to that. She was really close to him."
*****
Ebony pulled up to the devastation. "Whoa, what happened here?"
*****
"Maybe we can go watch one," suggested Nerisa, "Might be fun."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 15:10:16 GMT -5
"OK, that explains a lot." Bree's mouth corners tightened. She herself had been a "Daddy's girl", and they had more in common than eye color. "So she might still be trying to cope with losing him."
"Some so-and-so's been through my stuff, and in my house too." Bill growled, and at last looked up. "Good morning, Ebony. I'm sorry you had to find me and my place in such a sorry state."
"There's a number of different classes throughout the day, I understand." Erika went on, "And the course itself is between here and town, a five or six-mile lap, so people can see it all. This kind of thing is what I remember best from my past."
Randy had been listening in on this, and was becoming visibly thoughtful.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 15:20:47 GMT -5
"That's what I'm thinking," nodded Shale, "Though each one of us had different ways to deal with it. Taranee is the only girl in the family. The rest are boys. I don't think she's able to connect to any of the family because of that and she's acting out."
*****
"It's okay," said Ebony, "A lot of things have happened lately. Do you know what whoever came through here was looking for?"
*****
"Hm, how about giving it another try," suggested Freda, "See how you do."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 16:12:59 GMT -5
"There are amateur races in the morning." Erika thought a bit. "I could go into one of those. It's all the big pro teams in the afternoon."
"Okaaay. I'm starting to get it now." Bree's eyes lowered in thought. "Maybe another woman around would help?"
"I'm not quite sure, but a lot of my old sketches and work were scattered all over the place." Bill groused. "Fillmore helped me clean up inside after we got back last night, but it might be a while before I really find out what's missing if anything. The police could be over in a bit to check things out, but I doubt they can really do much now." He paused. "So what else's been going on, if I may ask?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 16:24:53 GMT -5
"Well, why don't you give it a try?" asked Freda.
*****
"I think it will," nodded Shale.
*****
"Well, Bree fell sick," said Ebony, "and we think that someone working for Carl poisoned her fuel. Her family and fiance are with her right now. I'm thinking that they might decide to get married real soon."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 17:55:04 GMT -5
"I heard that in town." Bill shook his front. "Bree LeVasseur is a fine lady, and they don't come any braver than her. Who's the lucky guy, by the way?"
"I wonder what the deadline is?" Erika thought for a moment.
"I think it's this Friday, for the amateurs." Randy said. "You want to do it, then?"
"I might." Erika still looked to be on the fence. "I'll decide for sure by tomorrow."
"Speaking of your family - anyone else coming over?" Bree asked.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 18:14:19 GMT -5
"Shale Huntington," said Ebony, "He's a PI from my hometown in Colorado."
*****
"Oh, well how long do these races last?" asked Nerisa.
*****
"Besides my mother and my sister," said Shale, "My younger brother, Tyrone, might be coming."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 18:31:57 GMT -5
"Others a bit too far away?" Bree asked. "Of course, there's a few people on my side of the family that might also get a little miffed if they miss this."
"I think the amateur races are twenty laps, and not as long or intense as the pro stuff." Randy said. "A good start if she wants to work her way back into it."
"A PI, eh?" Bill hmmm'd. "Don't think I could afford one of those." he laughed. "Best of luck to them anyway. I might do up a little something for them." He hauled some scrap metal back into his shed. "This USED to be a sculpture I was doing for the high school. Now I have to start all over again."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 18:48:43 GMT -5
"We should set a date," said Shale.
*****
"How many days does it last?" asked Nerisa.
*****
"Wow, they just had to mess with everything, did they?" asked Ebony, then she sniffed the air, trying to get a scent, "Wonder if they left some sort of a clue..."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 19:12:34 GMT -5
"Soonest would be this Sunday." Bree checked the calendar on the wall. "I might be feeling well enough to move around by then. I hope so."
Bree's parents were hanging out in the general area, sniffing the breezes.
"I think it's just Saturday." Randy consulted a flyer that he held on the end of his aerial tip.
"That's what I was wonderin'." Bill nodded. "If you find anything, let me know." He went back into his house. "I was gonna make a tea infusion. Would you like some?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 12, 2008 19:35:24 GMT -5
"I hope so too," Shale said, "I want you to be well for the Big Day as well."
*****
"Well, then," said Nerisa, "I think we can arrange to all be there."
*****
"I'll see what I can and sure, that would be great," answered Ebony as she continued to sniff around, "Thank you."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 12, 2008 19:52:50 GMT -5
Bree lifted her own nose. "Lt. Stokes is back, a little early."
Guy returned to the hangar door. "We just scented Rosemary along with your brother and sister. We'll be seeing them soon."
Lt. Stokes, in the meantime, had just docked and was putting up with a razzing from the dock crew about "getting lucky" last night (and making more work for them) as they touched up or polished out the telltale marks that his exertions had left in his paint job.
"And then it's back to the grind, though with us married, I could also get a housing allowance and get us someplace a bit more private." Bree smiled.
"Sounds like it'd be a blast." Marty agreed.
"OK, then." Erika nodded.
"I'd really like to see you at your best again." Randy gave her a peck on the cheek.
"My pleasure." Bill went on inside, and put water to boil for steeping tea before infusing it into motor oil.
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