Quaranteam: SE - Team Davies Ch. 16

Quaranteam: Southeast - Team Davies

By 2charlie

The Quaranteam Universe is the creation of CorruptingPower, used with permission.

Thanks to OtterlyMindblowing, AgathonWrites, RonanJWilkerson, The_Licentious_Laureate, Reader737b, S. Bradshaw, and the other QT Writers for their feedback and contributions to this work. Be sure to check out their work.

Chapter 16

All Characters depicted in sexual situations in this story are over the age of 18.

****Gainesville, FL, 1130, Tuesday, September 8, 2020****

The three-day Labor Day weekend turned out to be a welcome diversion from work. Jan located several online video tutorials depicting how to transform a one-person bedroom into a two-person bedroom, while still providing privacy for each occupant. After viewing the videos, they all discussed the pros and cons of the idea.

On the one hand, it certainly looked like something young teenagers might prefer, due to the added privacy. However, Miles pointed out that, while in the Navy, as well as while at the University of Florida, he'd slept on a bunk bed, having no privacy beyond that provided by a curtain on his bed frame. His partners all agreed that they recalled similar experiences while attending university. Also, Miles pointed out, they'd likely be getting assigned to one of the new Team homes as soon as they became available, to encourage others to adopt the new style of home. This meant that they'd be putting an awful lot of effort into converting rooms that would likely only be occupied for a year - probably less.

In the end, Miles shopped around and found a local furniture store selling loft beds - twin-sized beds on elevated platforms with space underneath for a computer desk, chair, and bookshelf on one side, and a simple lounge chair on the other. The beds were quite popular with the college kids, evidently, and would allow for plenty of function within a small space, so he purchased four. He, Jan, and Penny planned to pair up the two girls into one room and the two younger boys into another. When they ran this notion past the kids, the girls were fine with the idea. The boys were undecided - they debated whether or not all three could fit into one bedroom. As it turned out, only four of the loft beds were in stock at the furniture store, so the issue became moot.

In the end, Trent and Noah shared one of the two upstairs rooms, with Sean staying in the other. Ellie and Emma shared a downstairs room, leaving the other room open for future usage. This also meant that the upstairs bathroom was servicing three boys, so they were made responsible for keeping that bathroom clean. Ellie and Emma were made responsible for keeping their downstairs bathroom clean as well.

Penny and Jan were both skeptical that the kids would do a good job on their own, so they decided that every Thursday, the bathrooms and bedrooms would be inspected so the kids could receive guidance to address any shortfalls.

As of Tuesday morning, arguments had been few and infrequent, but all in all, the kids all seemed content with their new room situation. So far, at least.

Miles planned to install curtains as partitions above each bed so the kids could have privacy while sleeping. As for beneath the beds, their gaming laptops were there, but their school rigs were still on the small desks out in the upstairs game room, making it easier for Jan to ensure they were studying when they were supposed to be.

Clearing his head, Miles brought his focus to the here and now. Glancing over his material once more, he double-checked to make sure he was bringing all that he needed to the advisory board meeting later that day, then tucked it away into a leather portfolio, which he then placed into his laptop bag.

Checking his laptop, he made sure that his calendar showed his status as out-of-office for the rest of the day, then shut it down, placing it into the bag. Lastly, he made sure his desk was cleared and locked before he shut off the lights and locked the door behind him.

Turning, he nodded to Clyburn at her desk as he made his way past her, through the doors leading to the offices where his partners, as well as other members of the operation, were located. Passing David Palmer's office, the door was closed, but he could hear noises from within that made him imagine inappropriate things as he walked by. Go, David! Miles thought with a grin, continuing down the hallway to the first doorway on the left, where he overheard several of his partners engaged in a heated conversation.

Pausing outside of the office door, he listened for a moment, curious about why the women seemed to be so exercised.

"She's just being petty, Soph," he heard Maddie say, "We got him, she didn't, she needs to move on."

"I know, right?" Sophia replied with an edge of exasperation in her voice. "But I still can't shake the feeling that she chose my father in some sort of revenge scheme to get back at me."

"Lower your voices, ladies," he heard Debra advise in a hushed tone. "Their office is just down the hall, but more importantly, whether it's true or not, you should never let your father know any part of this. What's done is done, and we all have to live with it. There's no do-overs."

"And," Ava added in an equally hushed tone, "that's a bell you can't unring. You make that claim, it won't matter if you're right or wrong - you're going to look like the asshole."

Miles decided he didn't want the girls to know he'd heard any of this conversation, as it would just make things awkward. Turning around, he quietly headed back toward his office, intending to call the girls from there. Before he'd taken two steps, the door to David's office opened, and Brandi stepped out. Seeing him, she called out, "Miles, don't you have a meeting down at City Hall today?"

Busted, he thought to himself.

"Yes, I'm about to head out now," he informed her. "I was going to let my Team know, but realized I'd forgotten something in my office and was going to go get it." He sensed instantly how lame he sounded, and the way she looked at him confirmed his concerns.

"Uh huh," she remarked with an odd look in her eye, "or maybe you heard something out here in the hall that you shouldn't have."

Wondering for a moment how the hell she'd guessed, he felt himself blush. He blushed even harder as he realized she wasn't talking about him overhearing the girls talking...

"Oh! Um, er, no," he stammered, "I forgot my car keys!" he insisted before hurrying off. He could feel her eyes boring into his back as he fled the hallway.

As Miles passed Clyburn's desk, he felt his phone buzz on his hip. Heading out to the parking lot, he checked. It was a message from Debra. 'What was that about?'

He fidgeted for a moment, then decided to avoid the matter for now. 'Nothing important. Headed home, then downtown.'

****Gainesville, FL, 1400, Tuesday, September 8, 2020****

Miles swung past the house to pick up Penny, who suggested they stop for a quick bite of lunch at the Metro Diner before heading to the Advisory Council meeting. Penny ordered a Teriyaki Salmon Bowl and a Sprite, while Miles selected a half-rack of barbecue ribs and a large tumbler of sweet tea.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Miles related to Penny the conversation he'd overheard in the hallway at work, as well as the incident with Brandi. Being no longer in the office, he felt more open to discuss the matter. Penny made an interesting face as she considered what Maddie and Sophia were probably discussing, and then laughed openly at the awkward situation that followed when Brandi thought Miles must have overheard outside of David's door as she... serviced David. As soon as their food arrived, all conversation ceased, as they were pressed for time. Miles ordered a 'to go' refill that he poured into his Yeti tumbler before they left for the meeting.

Most of the council members were already seated around the table when Miles and Penny entered the chamber. Several conversations were going on around the table, but the room fell into a bit of a hush when they saw the Captain join them that day. Penny took her seat at the table, and Miles opted to sit in a chair against the wall behind her, as seating at the table was mostly occupied. A moment later, the Mayor and her assistant walked in and took their seats, and Mayor Curry called the meeting to order.

The format of the meeting followed standard parliamentary procedures, with the Secretary starting the meeting by reading off the minutes from the previous council meeting. Miles was not surprised to hear that several of the businessmen lodged formal objections to the location of the initial housing development, insisting that it would move far too many of their customers to the extreme northern edge of Gainesville, which would negatively impact their revenue. He resisted the urge to point out that the pandemic had already negatively impacted everyone's revenue, opting to remain silent and attentive.

Miles looked around the table as the Secretary read the minutes, seeing a few familiar faces he recognized from the Town Hall meeting - Roy Cox of Cox Construction, Mary Elsworth from Homebuyer Realty, Amy Welker from U. F., George Duffy of Duffy Auto Parts, and Professor Henry Abelard. Miles couldn't help but notice that Duffy and Abelard shot him several hard stares when they thought he wasn't looking, as well as another man he didn't recognize. In all, there were a dozen different members of the council, plus Penny, Mayor Curry, and her assistant, whose name he later learned was Cecilia Meadows.

The Secretary, Ms. Juanita Cortez, finally finished reading the minutes from the last meeting and looked at the Mayor expectantly.

"Old business items?" Mayor Curry asked softly, rubbing gently at her temples.

Ms. Cortez checked her notes. "We have an outstanding item to review the government's choice of where to locate the initial tract of new Teams homes up north of NE 53rd Avenue."

Penny spoke up at that prompt, "The pandemic has devastated our population, and the measures taken by the Air Force will forever change the dynamics of what constitutes a family. As such, much of the existing inventory of housing is too small to be practical for Teams. So, we need to build new, larger living units. The parcel of land for the initial build-out was selected because it is relatively undeveloped. Once we get that area built out, and get existing housing communities cleared out, we can locate later phases further south."

One of the men who'd been glaring at Miles spoke up. "I still don't see why we can't renovate the existing homes - maybe connect two adjacent homes to make them into one - to meet the requirements. That seems like a lot smarter approach to me."

Miles shifted, preparing to respond, but Roy Cox rebutted the man instead. "Come on, Doug. We've been through this before. There is a long list of reasons why it wouldn't be as easy as you think. Many of the homes are slightly higher or lower in elevation than their neighbors. Or closer to the street. Or slightly not parallel to one another. This would be a builder's nightmare, with each housing union creating its own special set of problems to overcome. It wouldn't be as simple as you suppose. Trying to join the foundations would undoubtedly yield an unstable structure. Then there's still the matter of the capacity of the facilities being too small, based on the old family size. Everything needs to scale up. Period!" He slapped his hand on the table to emphasize his point.

Professor Abelard chimed in at this point, "The government's plan lacks transparency. How were these decisions made? We did not have a voice in this process. This top-down approach undermines our community's trust and autonomy."

George Duffy added his comments, "There must be other viable solutions that have yet to be explored. Forcing us to go forward with this plan is reckless. Let's pause and examine all our options carefully."

Miles couldn't sit still any longer. Rising to his feet, he addressed the Mayor, "Madame Mayor, may I speak?"

Mayor Curry nodded her head, "Yes, but please be brief."

Turning to address the board, he explained, "The current build-out being planned up north of NE 53rd Avenue will only host between eight hundred to nine hundred teams. I believe that, at last count, we've got more than fifty-seven hundred teams. That means that we'll still need to address the housing concerns for more than forty-eight hundred teams. Also, we've got to assume that this whole situation will become public knowledge within the next few months, likely before the end of the year. Once that happens, we'll be free to examine even more possibilities. There may be alternatives available at that time that we're unaware of now. With that in mind, I don't think we need to pause at all. I do think we need to push forward with our current efforts, while I acknowledge that we may have to course-correct once we have access to more information and resources."

Having spoken his peace for the moment, Miles sat back down, making eye contact with each member of the board who looked his way. He noted that the professor and his cronies looked at him with animosity, while the others appeared to be more open or hopeful.

"Any other old business?" the Mayor asked. When Ms. Cortez shook her head negatively, the Mayor continued, "New business, then. The Chair recognizes Captain Davies."

"Thank you, Mayor Curry," Miles responded as he stood once again. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Advisory Board, I am here today to announce the upcoming launch of the Training activities from Tranche 2 of our operation. In partnership with Santa Fe Community College, we will be starting several tracks of classes to build up our capacity in trade skills. An announcement of the classes will be going out tomorrow, asking for local residents to apply to begin one of many tracks, including electricians, welders, plumbers, construction workers, and a few others. It is essential that we develop a reserve of these skills to address the coming need for them so that when we arrive at the next phase, we will have the human resources available to do the required work."

"And I suppose you expect us to continue to pay our employees while they take off work to go to school?" the one he'd heard called Doug challenged.

"If you can, yes," Miles replied to the man. "I believe you are receiving government subsidies to assist you during the pandemic, are you not? Remember, the skills they will be gaining are going to be needed to help all of us. You should also consider that some of your businesses will also benefit from gaining workers with these skills."

"Yeah, well, not all of us, and with money already tight, anyone working for me who ditches work to start classes is going to be let go," the man spat in response.

"I understand," Miles smiled, further infuriating the man, "which brings me to my next announcement." Pausing to make sure they were all paying attention, he eventually continued speaking. "I'm pleased to announce the launch of the Beth Davies Scholarship Fund. This fund is intended to assist those in our community who need financial support while retooling their skills in support of Operation Endure here in Gainesville. It is intended to provide a stipend to those who apply and are accepted into one of the trade school programs, and, as long as they are maintaining good attendance and performance, will pay out $2,000 per month in financial assistance to each student awardee. The scholarship program is already funded to support a large number of students, but information will be sent out to the community with directions on how to donate to the fund for anyone wishing to contribute."

A low murmur ensued as those at the table turned to one another to react to this news. After a moment, the Mayor turned to address him, "Thank you for this update, Captain. I look forward to hearing more about both the training and the scholarship opportunities."

Miles took his seat once more, listening to the remaining proceedings as the meeting resumed. After about another thirty minutes of discussion, the meeting was brought to a close. As the others gathered their things and prepared to depart, Miles held back to observe the casual interactions. For the most part, the other board members avoided the three naysayers, which inspired Miles to have more faith in people. Still, there was no telling how much influence Professor Abelard and his ilk wielded outside of this forum. The website seemed to be regularly updated with the latest accusations of constitutional overreach, all stopping just short of sedition.

Nevertheless, it concerned him that the fucker had doxed him, along with a few others. Miles contemplated approaching the group and demanding an explanation for their scurrilous accusations and instigations, but he knew it would not generate a positive outcome, not to mention potentially alienate one or more allies on the board. Better to let them be, for now. Eventually, he would either win them over, they would prove themselves inconsequential, or they would overstep the line. Until then, he'd have to content himself with visualizing the three of them in the crosshairs of the scope on his Remington 770.

"Miles? Did you hear me?" Penny repeated.

Startled out of his reverie, Miles blinked and looked at his partner. "Sorry, dear, I was lost in thought."

"I asked whether you are ready to go, or do you need to speak with the Mayor?" she repeated patiently. She knew he'd sometimes get lost in his thoughts.

"Oh. Um, no, I don't need to speak to her. But I should at least be courteous and say hello while we're here, and then we can be on our way."

No sooner did he turn to his right to head over to the Mayor than she was standing right before him, an odd smile on her face. "Hello, Miles," she grinned tightly, leaning in close. "I'm not sure whether to congratulate you or kick you in the shins over your liaison, given that I'd hoped to have her on my team."

"Sorry, Cynthia," he shrugged in return, "she was already on my team, so it's not like I poached her."

They shared a chuckle, then he went on, "How're things going? I've been so busy running Endure, I've not been paying much attention to local news."

She looked around briefly to make sure no one was in earshot before she whispered back, "Well, things seem to be okay on the surface, but I can feel an undercurrent of tension building. Professor Abelard and his posse ain't helping none, neither."

Miles was certain that, if looks could kill, the three men would have sprouted daggers.

"Is that webpage of theirs still active?" he asked her innocently, not wanting to let her know what he knew about the QR code.

"It gets more visitors every day," she hissed angrily. "Most people are good at heart, but times being what they are, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Like the Gipper said," Miles paraphrased, "the scariest words you'll ever hear are 'we're with the government, and we're here to help'."

They shared a laugh at that, and then the Mayor put her hand on his shoulder and leaned close enough to whisper in his ear, "Watch your back, Miles. I don't like some of what I'm hearing about the good Professor."

"You be careful, too, Cynthia," he whispered in return, then he stepped back and shook her hand, adding loudly enough for all to hear, "I look forward to the trade classes starting next month, Madame Mayor. See you at the opening day ceremony?"

Clasping his hand in both of hers, she grinned widely and assured him, "I wouldn't miss it, Captain!"

The two parted, and Miles and Penny took their leave before anyone else could intercept them.

Miles put the Beast in drive and moved to pull out of their parking spot when he spotted Abelard standing nearby - he'd been heading their way, but stopped when it was apparent they were leaving. Standing less than five meters away, the Civics Professor glared at them.

Miles beamed a friendly smile in return and gave the man a neighborly wave as he passed by, knowing that this would likely irritate the man. 'Good,' he thought to himself. 'Abelard can go fuck himself!'

Penny chuckled, knowing that Miles was baiting the other man, and that Abelard likely felt an impotent rage as a result. For the briefest moment, she felt sorry for the poor women who'd been partnered with him.

"So, you have to deal with that mess every week?" Miles asked her, shaking his head at the recollection of the meeting and how little new business was actually accomplished.

"It almost feels like it has been choreographed that way, sometimes," she mused. "Read the minutes, review old business, bitch about government overreach, discuss new business, bitch some more about new government overreach," she shook her head. "Sometimes I feel like a playground monitor."

Miles grunted, still quietly fuming over his suspicions that Abelard represented more of a threat than they understood.

****Santa Fe Palms RV Resort, Gainesville, FL, 1000, Saturday, September 12, 2020*****

Miles was able to reserve a large swath of space to host the Fall Pack Camp-out at the local RV Resort, not half a mile south of his house. Usually, the Pack would have camped at Camp Shands, but Shands was about 22 miles outside the quarantine perimeter. Fortunately, the RV Resort was empty this time, between the quarantine and the pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions.

What was helpful were the existing pavilions and restroom facilities. Cub Scouts and their families usually preferred facilities with running water and electrical outlets as opposed to more primitive camping, so the RV Park was a good alternative.

The Arrow of Light Den arrived on Friday evening to set up their campsite just as the light was beginning to fade. Their den camped in tents of their own as a patrol, after the manner of the Scouts program. Traditionally, AoL Scouts would camp patrol-style several times throughout their final year in the Cub Scout program to prepare them for camping with the Troop after they crossed over to the Scouts program in the Spring.

Penny accompanied him to ensure they maintained two-deep leadership, as well as to lend a hand as his unofficial Assistant Den Leader. They brought with them a large twelve-person Coleman Skylodge tent, along with four queen-size air mattresses, although they'd only inflated the one on the first night. The tent was quite roomy, more than capable of supporting the number of adults in the team. Only one other adult couple joined them for the first night - Carlton Sievers and his wife, Marion, and they pitched their tent a dozen yards away to allow for a slim amount of privacy.

Sean and Ellie were allowed to camp in smaller individual tents, as they would do on regular camping trips with the Troop in the future. Miles and Penny had agreed that they would carry that particular tradition forward when they restarted the Troop next year. For as long as either could recall, older scouts had been encouraged to occupy a tent by themselves. Among many other things, while helping each scout become more self-sufficient, this also helped to address Youth Protection concerns.

During their evening dinner, the AoL Scouts completed their first requirement for the Estimation adventure by estimating the ingredients needed to cook a meal, and later estimating the serving sizes for those they were feeding. It didn't turn out too bad, he reflected: the food tasted okay, although portions were a bit slim. He chuckled to himself, glad that he'd brought apples and cookies as part of the first night's 'cracker barrel' bedtime snack.

Long after lights-out, when the rest of the camp was sleeping, Miles and Penny snuggled quietly in their tent, enjoying a little private time until each drifted off to sleep. The thought of sexy time briefly crossed Miles' mind, but he was aware of just how tired they both were, as well as how quiet the camp was. No sense in taking any unnecessary risks.

****Santa Fe Palms RV Resort, Gainesville, FL, 0800, Saturday, September 12, 2020*****

Miles was busy preparing to feed the rest of the Pack, members of which trickled in that morning between eight and nine o'clock. Jan arrived just after 0800 with the rest of the team, including Trent, Noah, and Emma. The other women, all wearing class-B Pack T-shirts, lugged their gear to the big Skylodge before checking in with Miles to see what they could do to help out. Sophia and Maddie volunteered to help Miles with the food pavilion set up and meal prep, while Debra went with Penny to lead the AoL Den on more of their adventure, and Ava partnered with Jan to help direct the families to various locations to pitch their tents.

The rest of the pack would camp 'family style' that night, with the cubs tenting with one or more members of their family. Jan brought a Coleman four-person dome tent for Trent, Noah, and Emma to use, wanting to encourage them to try to tent without an adult. They were allowed to pitch within sight of the Adults' Skylodge, but far enough away to feel a bit 'independent'.

"So, the Pack does this twice a year?" Maddie asked as she helped arrange tables for the food serving line.

"At least twice, yes," Miles confirmed as he finished setting up the propane grill. "We usually camp in the fall and again in the spring. Whenever the opportunity arises, we use the annual District Camporee as an opportunity to camp out a third time. Those can be a lot of fun, as several Packs will participate, and they always have BB-gun and archery ranges for the Scouts to enjoy."

"I was never in Scouting as a kid," she confessed. "We never lived anywhere long enough for me to get involved."

"But just look at you now," Sophia teased, dragging over a large cooler full of chilled foods. "Getting your scout on!"

"You know," Miles mused, "I've known plenty of adult Scouters who'd never been in the program as kids. They come to really appreciate the value it represents, and those folks tend to be some of the staunchest advocates for their children to go all the way to Eagle."

Marion Sievers walked into the food area and asked, "Miles, how can I help?"

Pausing to look around, he pointed at a pair of orange five-gallon drink coolers and replied, "Could you and Sophia take those coolers over to that hose bib over by where the Beast is parked, fill them with water, and bring them back? We usually try to offer a few beverage options - usually tea, lemonade, or bug juice."

"Straight from the bib?" Marion asked.

"Oh, yeah," he assured her. "Just let the water run until it cools off - that way, you get past what's been standing in the pipes." Seeing her skeptical expression, he continued, "I promise - that water is some of the freshest in Florida - it'll taste great."

Shrugging, she and Sophia went off to fill the coolers.

"What else can I do to help, dear?" Maddie asked.

Looking around, he told her, "There's another pair of those orange beverage coolers in the back of the Beast. Could you bring them here and ask those two to fill them while you start mixing up some lemonade and bug juice? The drink mix cans are in those jugs, along with a big mixing spoon."

"You got it, boss," she replied in a cute gangster voice as she headed to his vehicle.

Miles couldn't help but watch as she went. An old joke ran through his head - he hated to see her leave, but loved to watch her go. After a moment, he shook his head and got back to work - lunch wasn't going to prep itself, he thought.

With help from his partners and Marion, everything was ready when the AoL Scouts returned from their adventure to help serve the food. Sending them all to wash up first, he checked in with Debra and Penny to see how things were going. As they were relating the details to him, Mr. Martinez and one of his partners - Eveline, Miles recalled - approached Miles with Noah and Emma in tow. Both of the twins were hanging their heads, looking upset.

"Hey Avery, hey Eveline, what's up?" Miles greeted them.

"Hey Miles," Avery responded, his voice slightly uneasy. "There's been a bit of an incident, and I thought I should bring it to your attention."

Looking for a moment at the twins, he nodded and stepped from under the pavilion, off to one side where there were few people around. "Alright," he intoned calmly, "let's hear it."

Mr. Martinez shifted slightly, then began with, "Well, today the Bears Den was working to complete their Whittlin' Chit...." He paused for a moment, then continued, "The Scouts are given a bar of soap that they are to carve into a bear."

"I remember the exercise, Avery," Miles stated flatly, "I've been through it a few times. What happened today?"

"Well, let's just say there was a small incident," Mr. Martinez explained. "Noah was struggling to carve his bear, and Emma made fun of him. He got a little mad at her and used his knife to cut the head off of Emma's bear carving. I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to knives, so I confiscated theirs," Handing a pair of tiny pocketknives to Miles, followed by the blank Whittlin' Chit cards, he continued, "I've asked them to speak with you about the matter, and if you allow, during free time this evening they can try again to earn their chits. If you decide, they may do so."

Taking the knives and chits from Mr. Martinez, Miles grimaced. "Thanks, Avery. Let me have a conversation with them after lunch, so I can figure out what's going on. I'll let you know later whether or not they get to try again this weekend." Reaching out with his left hand, he shook Mr. Martinez's hand Scout-fashion, after which, Avery and Eveline turned to head back to the rest of their Scouts.

Turning to the twins, he knelt down to look them both in the eye before addressing them in a stern tone, "Okay, you two. Go get cleaned up - you get to help with the food line, and KP after lunch. When we're done cleaning up, we three are going to have a nice long chat about this matter, you get me?

"Yes sir," Noah mumbled, his face flushed.

"We get you," Emma assured him, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Good. Now go, and hurry back!" he shooed them off.

Standing, he turned to go back to the food pavilion, where Penny stood watching him.

Raising his eyebrows, he gave her a questioning look.

Shaking her head, she waved him off. "I didn't say a word."

"But you look like you want to," he acknowledged.

Pausing for a long moment, she finally let out a breath. "I'd been wondering how long it would be before one or both of them let loose. C'mon, Miles - they've lost their father. He was their world, and now they're in limbo. Ellie tells me that Emma cries to sleep at least two or three times a week. And I've heard Trent share with Jan that Noah gets hostile any time one of the other kids touches his cars. This has been building, so tread lightly when you talk to them, okay?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Miles nodded. He'd been dreading this moment, but knew it was bound to arrive eventually.

"I'll take it easy with them," he promised her, "but I won't be light on them. They've got to understand actions have consequences, no matter how fucked up everything else is."

Reaching out to caress his back, she turned and left him to compose himself as she went to help the AoL Scouts with the food line.

Eventually, after having thought through the matter and considering multiple ways in which he could deal with it, Miles went and grabbed his meal kit. Getting into the back of the line to receive his lunch, he took his food and went to find his camp chair and his big Camelbak Big Mouth bottle that someone filled with sweet tea.

Noticing that he was deep in thought, his partners conversed among themselves, allowing him some time. Eventually, after he'd decided on a way forward with the twins, his mood began to lighten, and he joined in the conversation.

****

After everyone finished eating and the adult leaders and Cub Scouts dispersed back to continue working on their adventures, Miles asked Noah and Emma to come sit with him beside the food pavilion.

The twins looked apprehensive, neither wanting to meet his gaze. Letting them sit in silence for a moment, he finally cleared his throat. "Emma," he asked, "what part of the Scout Law do you think you broke when you teased Noah?"

"What part of the... I don't understand," she stammered, uncertain of the question.

"Let's try this differently," he changed tactics, taking a different approach. "Both of you, stand up and raise your right hands in the Scout Sign."

Both siblings stood in an approximation of attention, making the Scout Sign.

Continuing, he instructed them, "Now, recite the Scout Law."

After a moment's hesitation, Noah started, and Emma chimed in quickly, as they both recited the twelve aspects of the Scout Law.

"Okay, good," he praised them. "Now we all know that you know the parts of the Scout Law." Leaning forward, he raised his eyebrows and looked directly into Emma's eyes as he repeated his original question, "Emma, what part of the Scout Law do you think you broke when you teased your brother?"

Blanching at the directness of the question, she shifted uncomfortably on her feet before she stammered her response, "I... I don't think I was... very kind."

"No, you weren't," he agreed. "Anything else? Do you think you were being friendly? Or helpful? How about loyal?"

Starting to tear up, she looked down at her feet and mumbled, "No, sir. None of those either."

Turning his gaze on her brother, he grilled the boy, "Noah, what about you? What parts of the Scout Law did you violate by cutting the head off of your sister's bear carving?"

Miles watched as the boy wiped at tears running down his cheeks, sniffling as he extended his trembling fingers one at a time, silently repeating the law in his head. "Um," he finally whispered between sobs, "I.. I think m-maybe it's easier if I pick the p-parts of the law I obeyed. We were using soap, so I think maybe I was pretty clean... and... I-I don't pretend to know God's plan for us, s-so I think I was still being reverent..."

Miles grimaced, his heart quietly breaking for the twins, but knowing he had to make sure the lesson took. Bolstering his resolve, he pressed on, "So, you think you were following two out of twelve, is that what you're telling me?"

"Um, I-I guess so... y-yes?" he replied uncertainly, as the waterworks got slightly worse.

"Do you think that the Scout Law is just a bunch of words, and we don't have to live by them?" he continued sternly, trying to make a point.

They both shook their heads negatively, each openly crying by this point.

"You're right. It's not just words. We are all supposed to do our best to live according to the Law. All the time. With everyone. Especially family." Looking closely at both of them, he thought he saw the beginning of understanding in their expressions beneath the tears.

Pulling out a handkerchief, Miles dabbed at there cheeks, but did not relent. "Okay, so let's touch on reverent for a moment," he advised them. "I don't know that we've discussed God much since you joined my family, but I have a very powerful conviction that it is not - NOT - God's plan for humans to be foolish weaklings. We've been given these wonderful brains and a body designed to adapt to whatever challenges come our way. So, it would be wasteful not to put one or both to good use."

Miles paused to let the twins consider his words, observing as they began to calm down, then got back to the matter at hand. "Mr. Martinez taught you both that a knife is a tool, and not a toy, correct?"

Both twins nodded, not wanting to meet his gaze.

"And part of the lesson included instruction on how to safely use your knife, correct?" he pressed.

Again, both nodded, looking dejected, the tears flowing once more.

Miles ached at their pain, but knew it would not serve to fail as their teacher. He pushed forward, getting close to the crux of the matter. "So, the purpose of your knives was explained to you, their safe usage was demonstrated, and then, in spite of your adult leader's instruction, only minutes into your practical exercise in their usage, you broke the rules. I think we can all agree that it was foolish behavior. Now, just so we're clear, I define foolish as failure to learn when given the opportunity. Say it back to me. What is my definition of foolish?'

They both looked at him for a moment, not sure whether or not he was being serious. When he stomped his foot and repeated himself, they both mumbled, "Failure to learn when given the opportunity."

"Correct," he confirmed. "Now, since God doesn't want you to be a foolish weakling, but you insist on not learning, what is left for me to do? Hmmm?"

They just looked at him uncertainly, lips trembling, shrugging their shoulders. Aware that they didn't yet understand his position on this particular matter, he decided to make his stance clear to them in a way they were unlikely to forget.

"If you are determined to be foolish, then I must do my best to ensure you are strong," he insisted. "I think for today, we shall forgo the usual method, which involves pushups. Instead, let's go for something a little more basic. You will both run four laps around the camp perimeter," he informed them, holding up one hand to keep them from protesting or asking him any questions. "When you complete your exercise, you will return to your den and apologize to Mr. Martinez. You will then ask him if he will let you have a second attempt to earn your Whittlin' Chits." Raising his index finger to point at them sternly, he continued, "And I'd better NEVER hear of either of you using your knives for anything other than as a tool, ever again! Do we understand one another?"

Both of them nodded, their eyes wide with trepidation, each of them letting out little whimpers.

"Good," he barked. "Now, get to it! Four laps - move it!"

The twins let out sobs, but took off at a quick pace, and Miles watched them go for a moment, hoping he'd handled this correctly. Eventually, when he was certain they were going to complete their penance, he wandered over to Mr. Martinez and handed him back the knives and chits. Explaining what he'd discussed with the twins, he left the matter up to the Den Leader to conclude and went on to begin preparations for the evening's campfire program.

****Santa Fe Palms RV Resort, Gainesville, FL, 2000, Saturday, September 12, 2020*****

Later, as soon as dinner was finished and the clean-up was done, the Cub Scouts and their families and adult Leaders all gathered around a large teepee-style campfire that Miles built. As soon as the Pack was assembled, Miles stepped forward and raised his voice to address the assembly.

"I would like for the Den Leaders to please step forward with any of your Cub Scouts who have completed their Bobcat requirements today," he boomed out in his deep, official Cubmaster voice.

His Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Den Leaders all stood and led more than a dozen Cub Scouts to stand before the pack. As soon as they'd all quieted down again, he called out once more, "Would the adult partner to these Cub Scouts please step forward to stand with your Scout?"

Several more adults stood and moved to join the group in line before the Pack.

Miles pointed at Jan and nodded, letting her know to begin passing out the supplies for this ceremony. As Jan began passing out colored grease pencil kits, Miles addressed the pack.

"Tonight," he boomed to the rest of those gathered, "our Pack has some boys and girls who have worked very hard since joining Cub Scouts. It is time for them to take on the colors and spirit of Cub Scouting!"

Turning to face the group gathered before him, he continued, "Parents, as I say each color, you are to paint on your scout's face what I tell you." Pausing, he waited until they'd all nodded their understanding. "Blue is from the sky. The paw print of the Bobcat on your forehead is the spirit of the Bobcat. This reminds you to do your best on the Cub Scout Trail..."

He paused as the adults each drew a blue paw print on their scout's forehead before he continued through the rest of the program. Blue was followed by the Yellow marks beneath their eyes, symbolizing the bright spirit of Cub Scouting. The White mark along their nose helped them to know right from wrong, and the Red mark on their chins reminded them to always speak the truth. The Green marks on each cheek were meant to guide them to live in harmony with the outdoors. At the end, the Bobcats were allowed to return the favor by placing a White mark upon the bridge of their adult partner's nose, as a reminder that their Adult partners would always be with their scout in their heart and their spirit, helping them to achieve all of their goals. The Cub Scouts really loved this last part.

As soon as the ceremony was complete, Miles enjoined the pack to rise and give a round of applause to these Cub Scouts who'd earned their Bobcat rank.

Done with the ceremony, Miles began the entertaining part of the campfire program by leading the pack through a funny say-as-I-say, do-as-I-do song about Alligators. For the next hour, various adults or adventurous Cub Scouts led the pack in various songs or performed skits, until the campfire program was concluded, and all were sent to their tents.

Miles stayed behind to tend to the fire until it eventually died out, making sure to bury the embers and pour water over the hot coals. One by one, his partners came to join him, bringing their camping chairs and sitting quietly with him as they watched the glowing ash heap die down, plumes of steam and smoke still rising from the hottest part. Every so often, Miles would use the shovel he'd brought to turn the ashes, seeing many glowing embers within as he turned them, once again burying them to help them shed their heat. After an hour, he poured another bucket of water over the ash heap, causing another plume of steam to roll forth, this time raking the ashes to break apart any remaining hot spots, turning the ash heap over and over with the shovel until he finally felt comfortable that the fire was truly out.

Gathering the bucket, shovel, and rake, with Penny grabbing his chair and tea, they all walked in silence back to their tent, before they each made ready for bed. Miles sat in his chair, just outside the tent, for a little while yet, finishing his tea, until he felt sleep creeping up on him. Getting up and stretching, he entered the tent, satisfied that the day had been an overall success. As stealthily as he could, he joined his partners in the large multi-bed and fell into a deep, restful sleep.

****Gainesville, FL, 1500, Saturday, September 19, 2020*****

Another week passed, with Miles and his Team managing to keep their various tasks moving forward. The RED Horse survey crew completed their measurements of the planned development area by mid-week, and David's group of draftsmen managed to put in the hours to produce some amazing take-offs, detailing everything from where the streets would go for each of the eight planned poly pod communities, to where the utility trenches would be dug. They'd come up with the run-off topographies needed to allow the grading crews to begin leveling the construction zones in preparation for streets to be paved, and eventually for foundations to be put into place.

The 3D construction rigs from Icon were shipped in segments, too large to fit on one flatbed, then assembled post-transport. The Air Force RED Horse Squadron assigned a crew of a dozen to be trained to operate them. Tech Reps from Icon assured Miles that the training would only take a few days, at most. All that was needed now was for the first neighborhood to be prepped so they could give the devices a good test run, printing foundations.

Ava and David Palmer were tag-teaming their phase of Tranche 2. Huge earth-movers began trenching the property as the first step to running in basic utilities - water and wastewater piping, electrical and telecom trunks, and natural gas were all being run to each of the planned neighborhood entrances. Trucks carrying large sections of concrete piping and spools of insulated cable were running daily to get the various pieces of infrastructure in place. The RED Horse construction brigade worked around the clock to make progress.

By mid-week, the new Trade School opened its doors on the Santa Fe Community College campus, and more than a thousand applicants visited the school or its website to apply for one of the several trade programs. Counselors were on hand to administer aptitude tests or guide would-be students to select a trade, and the government financed the applicants to cover tuition and material costs.

The trade school courses were redesigned in partnership with the Air Force to produce accelerated results based on tried and true military methods, meaning each of the new students would be done in about four months, instead of the year or so they would usually require. To support this departure from normal, civilian methods, several of the instructors were from the Air Force, while others were military veterans.

More than two dozen local businesses contributed to the scholarship fund. Between their contributions and the funds he'd pledged, Miles was very pleased to ensure that all those who were accepted into the initial series of classes, and who had financial need, would receive a monthly stipend to help them offset their expenses, should they need the assistance.

Finally, at the end of the busy week, Miles reached out to Pastor Swinkle to see if she would be open to counseling the kids. He knew that Noah and Emma were struggling, but suspected that the other three were also stressed with the huge changes life thrust upon them, and wanted the pastor to let him know if any of them needed more assistance, or just time, to deal with the changes.

Replying to Miles that grief counseling was well within her wheelhouse, she requested that he bring the children to the church that Saturday afternoon, so that she might meet with them as a group. Having done as he'd been asked, Miles sat out in his SUV, silently contemplating the changes he'd been through lately, as the children went inside to meet with the pastor.

****

The warm, comforting aroma of fresh-brewed herbal tea filled the room as the children took their seats in a cozy circle. Soft beams of sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the floor. Pastor Darlene Swinkle, a nurturing figure with kind eyes and an ever-present smile, sat in the center of the circle, ready to guide the children through their journey of healing.

"Welcome, everyone," Pastor Darlene began, her voice gentle yet filled with strength. "Today, we're here to share our feelings and support each other as we navigate our losses. Remember, it's okay to feel sad, angry, or even confused. We're all in this together."

The children sat quietly, none wanting to be the first to speak. Sean fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He'd lost his older brother, and the weight of grief seemed to hang heavy on his shoulders. Ellie sat next to him, her eyes downcast. She'd lost her older sister and her father, and the pain was etched on her delicate features. Trent's life had gone through a big change when he'd joined his new family along with his mother. And finally, Noah and Emma, the eight-year-old twins who'd lost their father and were now orphans living with Miles' family, sat close together, their bond evident.

Pastor Darlene handed each child a small, smooth stone. "These stones represent our burdens," she explained. "As we share our stories about your losses, we'll place our stones in the bowl in the center. This symbolizes that we're not carrying our burdens alone."

After a long pause, Sean spoke first, his voice trembling. "I miss Marcus. He was always there for me after we lost Mom, and now he's gone. It's like there's this big empty space where he used to be."

Pastor Darlene nodded, her eyes filled with empathy. "It's natural to miss him, Sean. Marcus will always hold a special place in your heart. Remember the happy times you shared, and know that it's okay to grieve."

Ellie took a deep breath, her hands clutching her stone. "I lost my sister and my dad. Sometimes it feels like I'm drowning in sadness. I don't know how to make it stop."

"It's important to allow yourself to feel those emotions, Ellie," Pastor Darlene reassured her. "Grieving is a process, and it takes time. We're here to support you through it."

Trent's voice was quiet as he shared his experience. "My mom and I joined a new family, but I still miss our old life when it was just the two of us. Everything feels different now."

Pastor Darlene offered a comforting smile. "Change can be difficult, Trent. It's okay to miss the life you lived before. Over time, you'll find a new sense of normalcy and create new memories."

Noah and Emma were the last to speak. Noah hesitated before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "We lost our Dad. Our Mom left when we were babies. It's just us now, and sometimes it feels really scary."

Emma nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "I miss my Daddy so much. I don't know how to be okay without him."

Pastor Darlene placed her hands on her heart, her expression full of compassion. "Noah, Emma, it's okay to feel scared and to miss your father. You have each other, and you have all of us. We're here to help you through this."

As each child placed their stone in the bowl, Pastor Darlene led them in a calming breathing exercise, encouraging them to focus on their breaths and find a moment of peace. The room was filled with a sense of solidarity and understanding, the children drawing strength from one another.

After the session, Pastor Darlene walked the children out to where Miles was waiting. Asking him to step aside with her, she spoke to him quietly. "These kids are very strong, Miles, but they are each dealing with a terrible burden, from great loss to difficult change. I think they took the first step on their healing journey today, with me, as they all admitted their pain, but I'd like you to bring them by to continue our sessions. I'd suggest they come weekly for now, but we can adjust as we go, until they are better."

Nodding his head, Miles agreed with the woman. "Thank you, Pastor. I'm glad you took some time to see them. I've suspected they needed help for a while, now. It's good that you were able to help them."

"Don't forget, Miles," she admonished him, "they'd certainly be in a much worse spot if you and your team weren't here to provide for them. I know of many children who were not so fortunate."

"Anything else I can do, beyond bringing them to see you?" he asked her.

"For now, this is doing them some good," she reassured him. "If they don't seem like they're making progress after one or two more sessions, I may recommend you take them to a specialist."

Hugging the woman, he thanked her again for her help, then returned to his vehicle and drove the kids home.

Once home, Miles decided that a group activity was called for, so he broke out the rocketry kit. A few years previously, Miles avidly followed an online blogger known as the King of Random, and he'd taken an idea from one of King's videos to craft an Estes rocket launching platform. Gathering the launch pad, the rocket kits, and his toolbox full of rocketry accessories, he told the kids to grab their camp chairs and follow him to an open field just east of the house.

It took less than ten minutes to get the launch pad erected - it was a dual-pad rig with independently adjustable launchers that could swivel and tilt, enough to let him tilt them from horizon to horizon, or rotate them in a full circle. Taking a measure of the direction and strength of the wind, he pointed both pads so that the rockets' flight paths would bring them back down fairly close to where they began, ensuring the kids didn't have to chase them very far for recovery.

Back in the Spring, the Cub Scouts held a Rocket Roundup in which they all participated, so the basics of rocketry were still relatively familiar to them. Miles only needed to run them through a brief refresher course to show them how to apply baby powder to the parachute, roll it up and tuck it into the rocket body, and insert the ignitor into the business end of the engine and hold it there with the little plastic pin.

Miles quickly set up a safety perimeter using ground stakes and yellow tape, then deployed and tested the launch kit, checking that the batteries in the launch controller were fresh. As soon as he'd completed his checks, he asked for his first two rocketeers. Sean and Ellie stepped up quickly. Sean brought his old Baby Belle model rocket, while Ellie picked a sleek green and white rocket. Both were using B6-4 engines, meaning they would run hot for six seconds, then pause for four seconds before popping the chute. He guessed they'd get some pretty good flights out of those - not as spectacular as back in the spring when they used slightly bigger C engines, but good enough for today.

Both children placed their rockets onto the guide poles, their deft fingers quickly clipping the tiny alligator clamps to the ignitor leads on their rockets. As soon as they exited the safety area, Miles did a quick visual check before he began his schtick.

"I am the launch safety officer, and we are here today to launch some rockets!" he intoned in his deep, loud, imitation of a fight-match announcer's voice. Holding up his launch controller for all to see, he continued, "I've got a good circuit light on my launch controller. We are ready to launch in five - four - three - two - one - launch!"

As he depressed the launch control button, both engines ignited nearly simultaneously, and the rockets hissed quickly into the sky, trailing white plumes of smoke, arcing up and away from them for a handful of seconds before the propellant cut out.

The two rockets were now ballistic projectiles, coasting for a few moments before the observers could barely see the tiny puff of smoke as the rockets' last bit of propellant was directed up the tube instead of out the bottom, popping off the nose cone as it deployed the parachute. The two kits plummeted earthward for a moment until the chutes caught air, and then they gently glided down to bounce softly on the grass only a few meters away from the launch site.

As Sean and Ellie jogged off to recover their rockets, Trent and Noah were getting their rockets set up. Miles was also preparing a rocket of his own - another version of Baby Belle that he used every so often - so that he could pair up with Emma this go around. After all three pairs of rockets were launched for their first run, they alternated partners, all of them cheering as one went higher, or stayed aloft longer, until it started to get too dark.

As they packed up their gear and headed back to the house, Miles saw Penny and Jan sitting in their chairs out in front of the house, observing them from a safe distance. Both were still dabbing at their eyes when Miles walked up to them. The kids scampered into the garage to stow their chairs and put away the launch pad.

Miles hung back for a moment, and as soon as the kids were beyond earshot, he asked softly, "Is everything alright?"

His two partners just pulled him into a group hug, sniffling slightly, but not speaking. After a few moments, they let him go, and Penny finally spoke. "We're fine, dear. We were just enjoying watching you be a dad to our kids. Thank you!"

Now it was Miles' turn to get emotional. Standing back, blinking his eyes quickly to clear the tears, he fought to maintain his composure. Finally, he mumbled, "I've got to go put this stuff away. I'll see you inside in a few minutes." Taking their chairs with him, he turned and headed quietly into the garage, lost in his own thoughts.

****Gainesville, FL - 1345, Thursday, September 25, 2020****

"Where is it that we are going, again?" Debra asked, holding onto the 'Oh Shit' handle just forward of the passenger door frame of their Humvee as they exited FOB Waldo and swung out onto the road, heading north.

"Not far," Miles responded, getting a feel for the handling of the vehicle. "This thing's got some pretty good pick-up," he observed.

"Yeah," she agreed, "but that's mainly because we're not sporting the armor and armaments."

Miles simply shrugged noncommittally, grinning like a kid in spite of himself.

"Have you never driven a military vehicle before?" she asked in surprise.

"Aircraft carriers, guided missile cruisers, sure. Humvees, not so much," he replied, letting off the gas as he kept a close watch to their right. Sooner than she'd expected, he turned right off of Waldo Road, onto a side street not too far north of the FOB. Snaking around a turn to the left, he entered a large lot in front of a wide, unlabeled industrial-looking building. Pulling up to a pair of heavily tinted glass doors, he parked the vehicle and killed the engine.

"We're here," he informed her as he opened his door to exit the vehicle. "C'mon! I'm looking forward to seeing this place."

Wondering to herself just how it could be that Miles knew what was in this building - apparently something tied to Operation Endure - while she did not, Debra exited her side of the vehicle and hurried around the front to catch up to him.

Miles held the door for her, so she walked inside, her eyes needing a moment to adjust to the relative darkness within. Once her eyes adjusted, she realized it wasn't dark inside, it just lacked the blinding glare of the Florida sun.

Entering just behind her, Miles gently pushed past his partner and stepped up to the receiving desk, "Captain Davies here to see Madeline Fuller," he informed the young woman sitting behind the counter.

Debra leaned close to whisper to Miles, "All these folks are in the program?"

Miles nodded slightly, murmuring softly, "Part of the deal. Also, part of the delay."

The receiving room was a small, isolated room with large glass windows looking into the main factory floor of the building. Inside that area, Miles could see the hustle and bustle of work underway as multiple tasks appeared to be in progress at the same time. Her speculation as to what it was all about came to an abrupt halt as Ms. Fuller entered the room via a side vestibule, removing her hard hat and stepping around the counter to approach the two officers.

Extending her right hand as she approached Miles, she introduced herself, "Madeline Fuller, Director of 2GO Fusion Homes."

Taking her hand, not surprised by her firm grip, he replied, "Captain Miles Davies, and with me is Captain Debra Jansen. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Fuller."

Nodding to Jansen, Fuller asked, "Tell me, Captains, what can I do for you today?"

"We were hoping for a quick tour," Miles confessed. "I'm anxious to see how things are coming together. The folks from Box called me earlier to tell me I could drop by any time now, so I hurried right over."

"The Captain is very eager to see how things are coming along," Debra added, an infectious smile broadening across her lovely face. "This is the culmination of at least one of his dreams, you see."

"Well, then, let's not keep him waiting!" Fuller responded with a grin. "If I can get you both to put on the hard hats and reflective orange vests over there," she pointed to a rack of safety gear along one wall to their right. "Then we can all go onto the factory floor for a quick tour."

Through another set of doors was an electric golf cart. Ms. Fuller motioned for them to climb into the cart, then she activated a set of strobing yellow lights on the fenders of the cart, and she began to drive them along what Miles suddenly realized was a roadway inside the factory, bordered by black and yellow safety lines taped to the concrete floor.

"To your left, just ahead, is the beginning of the assembly line. The core unit, as you envisioned, will be assembled piece by piece in this room, and additional expansion units will be assembled in the adjacent buildings. This campus, fortunately, included five rather large buildings that we've been able to convert for our usage, with the final building serving as temporary housing for the six teams that came down here as part of the opening workforce. More teams will follow in the near future, and - once this all goes public - we plan to recruit a permanent workforce from Central Florida.

For two hours, Ms. Fuller drove them around the assembly line, answering questions as they arose. Finally, they pulled back to the starting point of the tour. Miles noticed that there was actually a spot taped off where the vehicle was to be parked. He surmised that, just as they did in their parent facility in Las Vegas, 2GO would offer similar tours in the future to potential investors and customers.

As they returned their safety gear to the racks in the receiving room, Ms. Fuller brought the info tour to an end, having saved the best for last. "We estimate that, by the end of December, our manufacturing process will be tuned well enough to hit our target rate of one core unit per day. The ancillary buildings will be able to produce multiple expansion units per day. Thus, we should be on schedule very soon to begin pumping these homes out as fast as you can get the foundations printed for them to be placed upon."

"That's very impressive," Miles asserted, his voice brimming with speculation. "If we can get more facilities like this operational within the next few months, that should scale out in a linear fashion, yes?"

"That's the idea, correct," she confirmed.

"And they can all still be collapsed down to a form factor capable of being delivered on the back of a tractor-trailer?" he pressed.

"That is still the plan," she assured him.

"Thank you for taking the time to show us around, Madeline," he effused, shaking her hand once more.

"Of course, Miles," she grinned. "You're welcome to drop in any time."

Debra insisted she drive back to FOB Waldo, and in no time, they were parking in his reserved spot just outside of building A35. As they walked to the entrance, she looked at him with a grin and said, "I've got to admit, Miles, I'm beginning to think your plans might actually come to fruition."

He did not respond, choosing instead to shoot her a look that promised payback at some unspecified future time and date.

Not being patient enough to wait for later, Debra nodded to Clyburn as she pivoted left at the desk and entered Miles' office ahead of him.

"Close the door, please, sir," she suggested as she walked directly to his attached bathroom, removing her uniform top as she turned on the water.

Miles paused to contemplate the propriety of what Dabra intended to happen. They were at work, in the military, on base. PDA was highly frowned upon. However, he considered, society was evolving out of necessity, and the old rules were subject to review. He decided that, as long as PDA's were kept to a minimum, then military bearing was being maintained.

Chuckling privately, he reminded himself that, while he was the boss in this building, once this door was closed, that dynamic was subject to review. Deciding that this was going to happen, while at the same time knowing they still needed to be discreet, he locked his office door and headed for the adjoining bathroom, removing his uniform en route.

As soon as he was naked, Miles joined Debra in the shower. The water was hot, but not scalding, just the way she liked it. She'd put her hair up so it didn't get wet, and was quickly rinsing the rest of her body. As soon as he'd gotten himself wet, she turned to him and pulled him into a tight embrace, pulling his mouth to hers with an urgency he'd not felt from her in a while. Her nipples were diamond hard, scraping against his chest as she pulled her lips from his, reaching down between them to grasp his cock for a moment. She gave it a brief squeeze before she turned around and braced herself against the far wall, presenting her backside to him while looking back at him expectantly over her shoulder.

Not wanting to keep the lady waiting, Miles slid his cock between her cheeks, slipping it between her folds, and then gently parted her lips with his mushroom head. Thrusting forward, he glided smoothly into her snug channel, its velvety softness slick with her desire.

Groaning quietly, she turned to look forward and hung her head, closing her eyes as he plumbed her depths. Bracing herself with one forearm, she brought her other arm down to rub at her breasts, moaning softly as he began to plow her from behind.

Picking up his pace, Miles fucked into Debra, feeling her need building, seeing the muscles across her back and shoulders strain as she struggled to keep quiet. Humping back against him, he could feel her beginning to tremble, a clear sign that her peak was near. No longer holding back, Miles pumped into her faster, harder, his hips slapping loudly against her ass cheeks, his own need building quickly.

Suddenly, he felt her clasp hard upon him, her pelvic muscles gripping him with astonishing strength. This brought him to climax, erupting within her, ripping a loud gasp from between her clenched teeth as the serum amplified her orgasm. Straining all of her muscles, she arched her back and her head was thrown back, but she managed to stifle her scream. Jet after jet of his seed sprayed into her depths until he was spent. Slowly, she relaxed, her muscles unknotting, and her grip lessening upon him, enabling him to withdraw.

Rinsing himself again, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped himself in a towel, quickly grabbing another for her as she turned off the water. Draping the towel across her shoulders, he stepped back to allow her to exit the tiled vestibule, and then both sighed in relief as they dried off. Grabbing his uniform, Miles stepped out into his main office to make more room for Debra, and shortly, they were both back in uniform.

Quietly unlocking the door, Debra blew him a kiss and exited his office. Closing the door behind her, she winked at Sergeant Clyburn on her way back to her office. She made a mental note to get Clyburn to start playing music in that outer office...

****Gainesville, FL - 2135, Monday, September 28, 2020****

Walking Barney after the kids went to bed had become a daily routine. Usually, his younger partners would take the rottweiler with them on their morning run. The dog seemed to enjoy running with them, and when they paused to stretch or do body-weight exercises, he would take care of his business. In the afternoon, after schoolwork was done, the kids would rotate the chore, taking Barney for a walk along the drive, occasionally poking around the edge of the construction site.

At night, Miles usually insisted on accompanying one of the women on the walk. Sometimes, he simply took Barney by himself. Ever since he'd announced the Education Fund, he'd made it a habit to have a holstered sidearm strapped to his hip during the nightly walks. There were no streetlights on his driveway, only the tiny solar-powered path lights to illuminate the area. There weren't even streetlights along the stretch of NE 53rd Avenue nearby, so it was pretty dark once the sun set, especially during a new moon.

This particular evening, Jan joined Miles, and the two walked hand-in-hand along the side of the drive behind the dog as he sniffed along his usual path. Never one to simply walk in silence, Jan decided to ask Miles what kind of cake he preferred. His birthday was approaching, and she wanted to make sure the proper ingredients would be on hand.

Miles smiled, recalling a similar conversation with Beth a few months after they'd been married. He discovered later that his new wife made it a point to keep pages in a three-ring binder tracking meals that he liked or desserts that he preferred. Something she'd learned from her mother, she'd explained to him more than once. Miles idly wondered if his mother-in-law also keeps a tiny notebook on hand at all times, the way her other daughter does.

Just then, Barney stopped, stiffened, and began to snarl at something off the drive, to their right. Turning his flashlight in that direction, Miles caught sight of a blur of motion as two figures rushed out from behind some bushes, garbed in camouflaged clothing and dark ski masks, their gloved hands extended towards him and Jan as they pointed weapons at them both.

"Freeze, motherfucker!" the nearest one shouted, striding up to Miles aggressively.

Miles didn't think. He reacted. Muscle memory and years of training kicked in without volition. Thumbing the flashlight, he switched it to strobe mode, temporarily blinding the lead thug with the light. The assailant's gun went off, missing its mark, though Miles heard the crack of the bullet passing nearby, and the dog barking wildly behind him. Throwing the hefty flashlight hard at the second man, he lunged forward and snap-kicked the first man to the groin, dropping him with a whoosh of air that reeked of garlic and ass. Miles used the recoil from his kick to reset his stance, drawing his sidearm as he pivoted to bring his weapon up, aiming at the second man.

Seeing that their mark was not helpless, the second thug hesitated, and Miles dropped him immediately, the boom from his gun followed instantly by the explosion in the vicinity of the man's cheek, leaving a gaping cavity where the man's eye had been, as a red mist sprayed from the back of his head. The second thug dropped instantly, his gun slipping from his lifeless grasp. Miles rushed forward to kick the gun away from him, then turned to face the first thug, who was struggling to get back to his feet, gun in hand. Miles put two rounds into his center mass, and the thug pitched forward, falling face down on the blacktop driveway, where he lay motionless as he bled out.

Turning to check on Jan, he panicked as he saw her down, lying limp and motionless on the grass to the side of the driveway, blood pooling around her as she lay there. Miles was about to shout for help when he turned and saw someone in the front doorway - looked like Deb - poking her head out, gun in hand.

"Deb! Jan's been shot! I need the trauma kit from behind the laundry room door! Hurry!"

Turning, he grabbed the flashlight from near where the second thug lay dead, then rushed to Jan's side, where he dropped to his knees and checked her for a pulse. 'Still alive - thank God!' Jan moaned slightly at his contact, her eyes fluttering briefly, but remained closed.

Barney stood over the first thug, growling at him.

Switching to a low-white beam, Miles searched for where Jan was injured, quickly triaging her to determine what he should do. His first aid training prepared him to at least cover the basics, but he felt panic creeping into his thoughts. He drew in a sharp breath, forcing himself to focus. Jan needed him here and now. There would be time to howl in agony later.

Jan's eyes were slightly open, but she wasn't coherent, so she was likely in shock. Blood was pulsing from her left shoulder area, but not spurting, so the clavicle artery wasn't hit. She had an exit wound behind her shoulder, meaning the round had gone through and through. The lack of gurgling sounds told him the bullet missed her lungs. Holstering his pistol, he tugged his T-shirt over his head and wadded it up, compressing it against the larger exit wound by hand to stanch the flow of blood while using the heel of his other hand to compress the entry wound.

A sudden noise from behind him, back toward the house, caught his attention. As he jerked his head up, he saw a third attacker - nearly at his front door - jerk once, twice, then a third time before falling backward as a series of thunderous booms sounded. Debra rushed past him, running to where Miles was tending Jan, carrying a large red case. Behind her, he saw Penny guarding the door, holding the Benelli M4 in her hands, pointing at the figure on the ground.

"Ava's on with the base emergency hotline," Deb informed him quickly as she knelt beside Jan, pulling a pile of trauma patches out of the kit. "They'll be able to respond quicker than 911 can right now!"

Tearing open the occlusive dressing, she motioned for Miles to move his hand away from Jan's front. Pulling at Jan's shirt, Deb used it to wipe the area as best she could, then slapped the trauma patch into place and smoothed it to ensure it made a good seal.

Nodding to Miles to roll Jan onto her right side, Deb then repeated the process on the exit wound, blanching slightly as she saw the extent of the damage. She was pretty certain the round had shattered Jan's left scapula. Clearing the wound of dirt and debris as best she could, Deb pressed the second trauma patch into place, once again taking care to make sure it sealed to Jan.

Back toward the road, they heard hurried footsteps approaching through the nearby underbrush, and Barney turned to growl in that direction. Miles quickly grabbed his pistol and rose, pointing it toward the oncoming noise, his finger tensing on the trigger. The dark figure rushing his way jerked spasmodically as more gunshots rent the darkness, and the attacker collapsed less than two meters from Miles.

He caught a glimpse of another figure rushing up along a similar line of approach and shifted his aim. At the last possible second, he hesitated as he could make out a barely dressed female. The woman was covered in blood and filth, approaching him cautiously. She was holding a gun in a two-handed grip, looking side to side and assessing the situation, but she lowered it as soon as she spotted Jan.

"Oh, fuck!" she cried, her face contorting in fear. Stepping closer, she asked, "Where's the other one? There were four of them!"

Debra, still kneeling at Jan's side, jerked her head toward the house. "He's dirt napping back by the house."

Miles' jaw was slack. The events of the past few moments left him in the throes of an adrenaline rush. His vision was slightly tunneled, and his ears were ringing, only partly from the gunshots. Blinking, he suddenly realized who this filthy, bedraggled, bloodied woman rushing toward him was. Though her features were not as familiar as they'd once been, he'd never forget her voice. Jerking back to his senses, he found enough clarity of thought to speak.

"Rommie?"

****