When Relatives Come to Visit...

In the infirmary, Lena Marr laid on one operating table as Micif Newlo as Dr Orion efficiently and effectively prepared for the transfusion. Eleven year old Micfi looked nervous and scared while Lena looked nonplussed about it all, which is how she pretty much looked about anything out of the ordinary.

"Soooo, I understand you're the Mistress of Mischief," Lena asked Micfi with a wicked grin.

"Guess so..." Said Micfi, shivering a bit but trying to control it.

Lena reached over and shook the child's hand vigorously, "I'm Lena Marr, Mistress of Marcel, pleased to meet ya!"

*****

In the mess hall, Jalina Uljanov was on top of one of the tables waving a sign, "Atticus Batman is the MAN! Down with the MAN!" supporting her Aunt Agatha's labor strike, singing the ancient March Song of the Workers (1879):

Whirlwinds of danger are raging around us,
O'erwhelming forces of darkness assail,
Still in the fight see advancing before us,
Red flag of liberty that yet shall prevail.

(CHORUS:)
Then forward, ye workers, freedom awaits you,
O'er all the world on the land and the seas,
On with the fight for the cause of humanity,
March, march, ye toilers and the world shall be free.

Women and children in hunger are calling,
Shall we be silent to their sorry and woe?
While in the fight see our brothers are falling,
Up then united and conquer the foe!

(CHORUS)

Off with the crown of the tyrants of favor!
Down in the dust with the prince and the peer!
Strike off your chains, all ye brave sons of labor!
Wake all humanity, for victory is near.

(CHORUS)

"What do we want?!" shouted one of the strike leaders to the crowd behind them.

"I want justice!" declared one of strikers. "I want to find a cure for my skin problem!" announced another one. Other "I want...!" "I want..." yells joined in, mixed up and the mixture filled the air.

"I want silence!" demanded Wolfram von Eschen. "And I will get silence!" 

Shouts stopped one after another.

"When do we want it!?" shouted same member of the strike committee. He wasn't the fastest one to feel the change of winds but for his honour sake we must say that at least he was persistent. 

"Now!" said Wolfram von Eschen with a grin on his thin face. "After that I want something to eat, because...(he watched the clock) breakfast is an hour and twenty minutes late. And I am not the only one who is hungry. Your colleagues who work outside the kitchen are hungry as well. That is why I suggest that those who aren't die hard strike supporters will go to the courtyard, make a fire and something for breakfast under Ralph's supervision. We can't feed our people with preserves and feeding them with those rations would be a cruel and unusual punishment which they don't deserve. Turn to Remy for a decent gumbo recipe while we discuss terms of ending the strike with the rest of the people. Especially..."

He thought a bit and then he called Volodja again, because he needed expert's opinion to deal with Aunt Agatha. 

_________


"She is tough as a steal beam," replied Volodja in the other end of the line. "But she isn't unbreakable. Rigid materials tend to break at some point."

"Easy for you to say," announced Wolfram. "You are in safe distance from Lady Tupper-Ware, you lucky bastard, while I have to break that iron will of her's!"

"And that gives me some time to think without being under her immediate influence," said Volodja.

"Speaking of influence - Lady Tupper-Ware is the spiritual leader of the socialist revolution and young Jalina got involved as well now so you better hurry," stated Wolfram von Eschen. 

"Then we must hurry!" Volodja sounded really worried. Then he added in calmer manner because he had an idea: "An aristocrat leading revolt. Interesting. Not the first time in history, though,and now I think that I found a way to reduce Aunt Agatha's interest to the strike. Listen very carefully..."

  Dropping her protest sign, Sandy's daughter Jalina stepped up on a table in the mess hall of Fortress Kshaa pumping her chalk white fist into the air yelling enthusiastically," Power to the people! Karl Marx teaches us that the meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism!" then looking down at Atticus Batman with an innocent smile asks, "Isn't socialism FUN?"

  Glaring at Jalina I remarked firmly, "Historically the whole community benefits from socialism. All of Fortress K'shaa benefits from my leadership, and to top it off I also pay my employees instead of making them strictly work for free to earn their part in this Commonwealth. So there is no reason for a strike. However if people keep interfering with the running of the base and making the living conditions for the others here unbearable, then there WILL be a reason for me to fire every adult involved in this strike and toss them out. I will not penalize your parents for your decision as they are not here, so it wouldn't be fair to them; but do not think you have gotten off scot-free either, as I am not done with you yet. So wait here."

  Then I said to Wolfram, "And Wolfram need I remind everyone that; if this strike isn't solved soon, then the first person to be tossed out will be the one who caused it, even if she is Volodja's aunt. It's time for the daking so-called high society to learn that they do not and can not control everything. Then all strikers will follow her exit. So you better figure this out and set into motion whatever daking plan Volodja just told you, before I lose my patience with HER and this whole daking strike. However I do think you have a good point about setting up a big fire in the main courtyard for Ralph, and those NOT trying to bite the hand that feeds them, to set up a meal of some kind for the the entire fortress. So we can save the MREs for when they are truly needed, and so the others can still have a decent meal like they expect and appreciate around here.

  So to give you some more time to work this out, I will personally go see about getting Ralph and his people to start moving things to the courtyard. Then I will go start the fire-pit, and as Kaj is currently in the War Room looking up some information for me, he can supervise in the War Room if needed, so Remy can step away long enough to meet Ralph and myself in the courtyard to give us some sort of gumbo or Cajun breakfast recipe. Besides it sounds like he has been wanting to introduce the Fortress to some real Cajun cooking. So I am sure he will most definitely jump on your idea.

  That means you have some more time to handle Tupperware, and come up with an actually reasonable agreement that we can discuss once I return here."

  With that I went into the kitchen and told Ralph the plan, and that I would contact Remy to inform him that his assistance would be required. As well as agreeing that since the MREs would no longer need to be handed out, Ralph could also 'borrow' the quartermaster staff that had been handling the MRE distribution. Ralph also said, "That darn Cajun! I know he had nothing to do with this strike as it interferes with his security, however it appears he does benefit from it! You know how many time that Cajun of yours has tried telling me how to make 'true' gumbos and jambalayas, or trying to come into my kitchen and mess with my Gumbo and Jambalaya recipes?!"

  I replied with, "I am quite aware and you know it. After all as you are head of our kitchen and all food supplies you always make sure a copy of your reports and complaints goes directly to me! Look at it this way, he gets to show you how Cajuns make that stuff, and then you learn some new recipes to add to your meal rotation if they are liked. So you both win, as do those that want to try new cuisines and end up liking Lebeau's recipes."

  Ralph smiled and said, "Good point Commander. A better awareness of all kinds of cuisine is always a good thing. So go ahead and have Remy meet me at the fire-pit once you have it going."

  With that process began, I turned and walked out of the kitchen. As I did, I heard Ralph behind me say to young Chiph, "The true joys of cooking for others is to see their eyes light up when they try something that they like. So let this be a lesson to you young man. Always learn new cuisines so you can always bring joy to others with your cooking skills and talents, no matter what you cook for them. Now let's start taking our supplies out to the Commander's fire-pit. So we can learn these new recipes and bring the happiness back to everyone's bellies, that the food-strike and these bland MREs have already started stripping from them."

  As I walked through the Mess Hall, I stopped by Jalina and said, "You have taken part in a strike. Now it is time for you to follow me so you can see the faces of all the people that this strike hurts, and NO you do NOT have a choice in that. You want to act like an adult and get involved in a strike without knowing all of the facts or even any of them, then you get to deal with the consequences of your actions. Fortunately for you, I am in the mood to take into account that you are still a child and still learning about things in our home. So you will accompany me to the Courtyard and keep me company while I work and teach you some useful skills while we are at it, such as; setting up and arranging the fire-pit to my liking. Then learning the best and proper way to arrange the required bulk wood and coals, the kindling and and then tinder to get the fire going. From there you have 3 choices and 3 choices only.

Choice one, I can contact your mother and inform her that you are involved in bringing chaos and disorder to the base and everyone's home. Then you will be confined to your quarters until she has returned.

Choice two, you can wash your hands and join Ralph's serving team, and see what it is like to actually work for your food while feeding the masses. A choice that your parents would probably prefer you do and therefore be proud of you, if you choose it willingly.

  Choice 3, is where you freeze up and don't make a choice, so I get to make it for you. In that case, both things will happen. You will have to work for Ralph and I will notify your Mother of your involvement in the strike and riling up the strikers more. Then once everyone has been served you will be confined to your quarters until your mother has returned. You better think about it while we are walking to the Courtyard and starting the fire, because I will expect your answer as soon as the fire is going. Now let's go young lady!"

  Jalina looked at me for a second with the same stern look her mother has given me. However Jalina quickly thought better of it, and instead hopped off the table. Then she silently accompanied me to the Main Courtyard. On our way, I contacted Remy and filled him in on the situation and temporary solution. So he said, "Aye Commandant, dat be soundin like a great idea. Den dat Ralph, dough a great cook, can learn 'ow ta make tru Gumbo.___Cajun gumbo be de best Gumbo ya'll will ever be havin!" So lookin forward do it!"


  With that, Remy left the War Room to get some things from his quarters, before coming to join the others at the fire pit. In the meantime, Jalina and I arrived in the main Courtyard. So as I pulled apart the medium-sized fire pit somebody had setup, I 'gently' but firmly explained to her the importance of arranging and setting up the pit its'self correctly. Then I had somebody come over with a shovel to enlarge the dirt area where the previous fire-pit had just been, to accommodate a much bigger one. Once that was done, he helped Jalina and me retrieve the materials needed to enlarge the pit to accommodate the huge cauldron that Ralph had just had somebody wheel out to us.

  Once the pit was sufficiently enlarged, I began to arrange the required bulk wood and coals, the kindling and and then tinder, and in the process, teaching Jalina the proper techniques to make a great campfire for cooking. Then I unsheathed my current knife (a small striker-knife) and pulled out a small flint. Once in hand, I proceeded to show Jalina how to light our fire with a flint and striker.

  While that was happening Remy and Ralph both arrived and were 'discussing' the impromptu breakfast meal. Fortunately Remy had recipes for breakfast Gumbos and Jambalayas as well as a few other Cajun Breakfast item recipes to share with Ralph. After Jalina and I had finished getting the fire going to my liking in our newly-enlarge-fire-pit, I helped a couple of others place the huge cauldron on the fire. Then I grabbed a cloth from the kitchen trays and walked over to an outside water faucet. Once I had gotten the clean cloth slightly damp, I returned to Jalina's side and wiped a little soot off her nose in a parental manner. Then I handed her the cloth to clean the rest of her own face, as I said in a calm but firm fatherly tone to Jalina, "So Jalina now that you have learned the proper way to setup up a fire-pit and prepare a great fire for cooking over, did you decide which choice you would pick, as it is that time."

  As Jalina wiped her face clean, she replied with, "Commander, I think I will choose number 2. I would rather not burden mother with this if not needed. Besides I am sure her and Father will both be glad that I am choosing to help people while also learning new skills, such as the fire-building techniques you just taught me. Not to mention that I really do want to be helpful, honest! However may I ask where I can get a a striker-knife and flint like yours? Those look like they would be useful, and that pow-leather pouch is soooo cute!"

  I responded with, "Yes, way too cute for me. Actually I normally carry a flint and striker that are more fitting of my style, but it is with my other armor, wherever Attila is. However he should be back soon enough. I can retreive my preferred gear at that time.....So you can have this one, but only if you promise not to practice starting fires without Adult supervision. We currently have enough issues without unwanted fires."

---

  The raptor carrying Sandy Bell-Uljanov arrived a Fortress Kshaa and when the security guards greeted it she ordered, "Take me, cot and all, to the War Room. NOW!"

  A guard replied with, "Well Commander, we were to inform Commander Volodja and Mr. Constantine that  Captain Oenfer requires their services in the War Room. However it also sounds like Commander Volodja may be needed in the Mess Hall to help Doctor VOn Eschen with a kitchen strike going on there, while Commander Batman and your daughter are busy helping Ralph and the other non-striking kitchen staff setup a bonfire and food line over in the main compound, as you can see from here. It definitely looks like they have quite the big fire-pit going already. So Mr. Constantine if you just pull the Raptor closer to the main path, I will help you carry Commander Bell-Uljanov's cot to the War Room and Private Marx here will happily park the Raptor so all of you can go about your business."

  With that Attila pulled the Raptor into where he was indicated to. Then as they all got out of the Raptor, Attila said to Private Marx who was to move the Raptor to into the garage, "Thank you for parking it for me, and please see that Commander Batman's gear is locked away safely in the main Armory. I will notify him that he can retrieve it from there at his leisure."

  Private Marx replied with, "oF course."

  So Attila and the other Guard picked up Sandy's cot and proceeded to carry Sandy toward the Main door so they could take her to the War Room as ordered,which would take them near the aforementioned breakfast setup going on in the Main Compound. Meanwhile that would leave Volodja and Smedley free to handle whatever business they felt needed their attention at the moment. As Attila and Private Marx started to take Sandy's cot past the compound breakfast, Attila said, "So still straight to the War Room Sandy, or do you want us to check in with Commander Batman first to find out exactly what we missed, since he is obviously near that fire-pit?"

---

  In the Main Compound still near the fire-pit, Jalina Uljanov asserted to me, Atticus Batman, "I see many more choices than three sir and I have no problem with you telling my parents for they would be proud of me. They always say support what your family does and Aunt Agatha is my family so I'm supporting her. You need not threaten imprisonment, for actually that too would be good in this case as civil disobedience, like Martin Luther King wrote of in 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail.' He wrote that it is good to protest an unjust law publicly knowing that punishment was a possible consequence. Still, as a good proletariat, I choose to help feed my fellow workers."

  I replied calmly with, "You may be right that there are lots of choices I could have come up with. However most involve punishing a criminal. You are not a criminal. You are a teenager that is far behind the learning curve, and still learning about the world around you including your new home. So my choices where disciplinary actions directed at a teenager, but as you were standing by an adult family member I did take that into account, and try to pick lesser disciplinary options because of it. Be glad I gave a choice, from what I understand most adults dish out punishments and disciplinary actions without taking the situation into account or giving the child or teenager any choice what-so-ever. Forgive me if they were somewhat wrong, but we are both still learning many new things here. So you see, I never said anything about imprisonment. Sending you to your quarters, would be a slight timeout. I have learned they are different. Though I suppose you are too young to have learned that yet. However I will also point out that sometimes a punishment can be handled with Community Service, instead of any sort of incarceration. You are willing to help without argument, now that you have made sure I heard your side. I see no reason to send you to your quarters, if you want to help. So consider this Community service, and here is a tip as well. I have learned over the years the best place to learn about an area you still don't fully understand or know is the local Canteen, Mess, or Saloon. So while you are feeding everyone you can also talk to them and learn a little more about our home, that you may not yet know.

  By the way, I also have no problem with you supporting family as I already hinted at. However this strike was started merely because somebody who thinks them-self to be superior to all others was bored. A strike created out of boredom has no real merit. Now as for the kitchen staff, they choose to live here and work for me, which means you were not supporting an unjust law but a small group of disgruntled employees. So as their employer I have every right to toss them out if they suddenly stop working. However I would prefer not to do that as I do care about all my employees, and do not want any kids living in the harsh conditions outside this gate, which is why Doctor Von Eschen is SUPPOSED TO BE working on a reasonable solution that they and I can agree on. That is also why you and I have created such a huge fire-pit. Now everybody can eat out here and enjoy the daylight. Now while you are helping Ralph's staff prepare to serve the food, I think I will see about having the Quartermaster bring out some tables, chairs and blankets for everybody to use, so that they can dine in relative comfort."

  With that, I stepped away from the fire-pit as I contacted the Quartermaster over my helm's comm and requested he send out several tables, chair, and picnic blankets for everyone to use during the this impromptu-campfire-breakfast.

  "Thank you for that kind word Smedley," sighed Volodja. "But when to think about it then being a Commander in Paradise means being a servant despite of the fancy title. The only difference is in quantity. You serve Lady Tupper-Ware and I serve people of the Paradise and I am still not sure which task is harder. Shall we continue fulfilling our duty, Smedley?"

  "Most certainly, Sir."

  While still directing the setup of tables, blankets and various other things I was glad when Volodja came over and quickly started organizing the food lines that Jalina was helping setup, which allowed me to keep directing how everything else would be setup and supplied. However as I walked past Wolfram with a huge box of supplies in my arms because the poor person that had been carrying them slipped in a skitterling hole and twisted an ankle and so was taken to the Infirmary by somebody else, I couldn't help hearing the last part of Volodja's conversation with Smedly, given my acute hearing.

  So I said to VOlodja in passing, "Volodja I must say as a person who has served many masters, I must admit I am not sure of that most days either. However I enjoy the challenge that our current positions offer, as well as the new types of relationships being a Paradise Protector has brought me. SO I wouldn't have it any other way. I also see you managed to get your Aunt to do something useful, although I still would have loved to toss her out on her pompous ass, if she weren't your family. So she is lucky you are like a brother to me and that Jalina and I were so busy setting up this breakfast, not to mention that it sounded like you and Wolfram already had a plan to convince her to at least leave the Mess so he could clean things up. So as usual, I am glad that you always seem to be here for me when we need you, even if you aren't physically around. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get this box over to Lebeau and Ralph at the cauldron before the Gumbo runs out....and Smedly always a pleasure to see you as well. Please do try to keep Volodja out of trouble for a little while, for as you can see, we already have our hands full around here this morning."

  With that I took the box over to the Cauldron where Remy Lebeau was guarding the Gumbo closely to make sure Ralph didn't mess with the Lebeau family recipe any, while Jalina Uljanov was asking Remy questions about the Gumbo while she dished up the Gumbo into smaller serving pots, for the staff manning the main food-line. Then seeing Attila and a security officer slowly carrying a cot containing an injured but still very determined Sandy Bell-Uljanov, I excused myself from the Cauldron and jogged over to the moving cot. As I did I said, "Alright Constantine where is my gear?"

  Attila replied with, "Well hello to you to. Private Marx is under orders to lock all of your gear up in the main armory so you can retrieve it when you have time."

  I replied with, "That's fine. So Sandy, I assume that you aren't heading to the Infirmary? No need to say anything, we both know I avoid that place as well when possible. As you can see, we have our hands full here with an impromptu Bon-fire due to issues in the kitchen. However young Jalina is proving to be as stubborn and hard working as her parents. She is also a quick study with all that she helped me with. Now she is over there talking to Remy Lebeau and learning how to make his breakfast Gumbo as she dishes it up for people. I must say she is quite the tenacious and loyal young woman, just like her mother. Anyway Attila is needed in the War room to help Kaj look through everything that they can find on the Forbidden zone, and as I am sure that is where you are insisting they take you anyway, I am sure Kaj would appreciate all the help that he can get there. Now as it looks like Volodja has everything handled out here, I will accompany the 3 of you inside, as I need to return to the Mess Hall to see how Wolfram is handling his task."

  With that I took over for the security officer that was helping carry the cot, but had him accompany us as he would have to take over again once I parted ways with their entourage near the Mess Hall.

  As Sandy Bell Uljanov's cot was placed near the command chair in Fortress Kshaa's War Room, she asked, "Okay, I want ASAP a brief on the situations in and outside Fortress Ksahaa and let's keep these briefs... brief.

  Kaj replied, while still looking through the vague information, "Of course Commander. Attila start trying to find everything that we have in our database about the Forbidden ZOne and specifically these co-ordinates, While I fill her in."

  So as Attila got to work, Kaj proceeded to walk over to Sandy and give her a sit-rep as requested, while he directed her attention to a few things on the viewscreen to go with his verbal sit-rep. Some being the coordinates Lena got on the Chaos-Demon's location and the little he had already found out about the area, and the rest being different security footage about the going-ons of the base.

---

  Micfi Newlo slept soundly after the transfusion, and after the tubes were removed from her arm, Lena Marr stood up then brushed Micfi's white flaxen hair from her chalk white forehead before kissing it gently and muttered, "Now with my blood in ya, you're more my relative than Lady's. I'll come back and claim ya honey soon as I get back - promise! But first, I got to get Lady back!"

  Atika who was still holding Micfi's other hand raised an eyebrow at Lena, and said quietly, "I don't think that's how that works, nor do I think Lady or the Commander would allow you to claim her."

  With that said, Lena left the infirmary to find Atticus Batman and find out if he was ready to begin search for his wife in the Forbidden Zone.

---

  After I parted ways with Sandy and her entourage in the halls, I headed to the Mess to check in with Wolfram. As I was about to enter the Mess I got an EGO message from Atika saying, "Commander Lena just left here, but whispered something about coming back later to claim Micfi since she is now Lena's relative due to the blood transfusion. I really don't think she knows how that works."

  I mentally replied to Atika with, "I don't think she cares to know either. However thanks for the heads up."

  I then walked into the Mess and back to the table where Wolfram and the strike-leaders were still talking. Once there, I sat down and my helm's lenses were glowing an angry blue as I said sternly, "Look we all have jobs to get back to OR you have bags to pack; as this strike has caused enough trouble! Don't you think? So now is time for us to come to an agreement and end this before I say 'the Dak with it', and just fire each and everyone of you! As far as I am concerned: If you truly believe that Lady Tupper-ware or somebody else can and will offer you pay and benefits that we can not, then you know where the door is! IF any of you do choose to leave, you will be missed as a part of our family and I will wish you luck. However I doubt any of us want that to happen. So if you stay then once we are done here, we will continue to treat you as the friends and family that all of you are. That said, now is the time for all of you to tell me what you agreed on to request from me, in order for all of you to continue to be happy working here and being a part of the Paradise Protectorate family."

"My, oh my. Why?" asked Marcel Lestrange. "To be more precise, then why not? Why forbid us little piece of humain happiness? Believe it or not but before the Pale War period every orphanage would have been delighted if Lena and I asked them permission to adopt someone like Micfi. She could not do any better but definitely could do worse. The idea to adopt Micfi occurred to me when I watched them together in infirmary. Of course I was there because if someone is going to perform a blood transfusion and Lena is involved then I will be there to keep my eye on that bloodsucking team from a corner. Distrust is mutual, Mademoiselle. No if you do not mind I am going to have a cigarette because hospital rules did not allowed me to do that."

Marcel was talking the truth. At least partially. He actually was there withouit a cigarette because although he could not give a dead rat about rules but smoke would have given him away. And he actually gave a deep thought about adopting Micfi. Roots of that thought were in the moment when Lena and he discussed about having a heir to their organization. Micfi was a suitable candidate for adoption and not only because she and Lena has some likenesses and Lena wanted her and they got along but also because Marcel noticed something about Micfi. That something was her desire for power. Being ambitious was not the worst trait of mind by Marcel's opinion. And if they adopt Micfi then she has time to learn art of patience along with getting tips and tricks of maintaining power. And one day she will inherit chair of a President of the company when Lena and Marcel enjoy their retirement in their own private island. It had almost nothing to do with the fact that Marcel's main rival adopted daughter before Marcel because as it was said before - Lena wanted Micfi.

_________


"You heard the man speaking," said Wolfram von Eschen. "Despite of being a mean old grunt, I am an anthropomorphic personification of softness and patience compared with the Prime Commander. So it's either his way or the highway and I'd suggest to take his way. Safer, you know."

Hearing the voice of the people Wolfram grinned and added: 

"We will considering adding extra tacos to the menu so you can now return to the courtyard and keep helping your father and your aunt who- as far as I understand it after having a small conversation with Volodja - kindly agreed to divide gumbo between hungry. Actually that is one position where being wealthy actually helps you to do the right thing. Lot of politicians and "friends" of the people climb up to the valve to participate in wealth diving process and get their fingers greasy during that. But those who are rich and powerful beforehand may feel that they have enough of those things already and give people more than those who's first worry is filling their own plates first. Go now, my kind hearted child, and keep up the good work of yours while two meanies - our Prime Commander and I -  will end to the strike."