[Flight Town, around 1:20]
The medic jeep makes its way across the eastern side of the Fight Town’s runway along a service road. It takes a few minutes to get to Crazy Clara Flying School from the parking lot. The car is parked in front of the school building with room for anyone to walk by it and/or enter or leave the flight school. Fernando gets Minerva and Ichigo out of the jeep and looks over the damage to the area. The building itself looks intact from their vantage point but the advertising billboard above the building did take a few hits. The door was unlocked and they go inside.
No one was at the reception desk they had approached. Seeing the bell on the counter, Fernando gives it a couple hard taps on the ringer button to make it ring.
**DING! DING!**
“Alright who’s ringing the DAMN bell?” an older woman’s voice says from a back room. She steps out, wearing motorcycle (MC) boots, tight fitting jeans, a leather bomber jacket and a leather helmet with goggles on top of them. She looks at Fernando and his little group of a young adult Wessen and a small girl between them. She looks at the Wessen.
She looks at the Wessen, “You know you do not belong here, now git lost before I put a few rounds into you!”
Fernando steps in between them, “Whatever problem you have with her, you can place them with me. Now I have a flight class to relearn some skills that I signed up and paid for the other day.”
“I do not know why you are here but if you are in cahoots with that heathen then I do not want you here. That street urchin you dare bring in and those like her are the reason why Wessen town attacked us! If the Lawmen did not stepped in when they did, this place would be gone and done for.” the older woman says loudly at Fernando. She throws in, “Now leave before I call the lawmen on your ass!”
Fernando reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a large leather sack of coins from it, opening it and pours the contents of gold coins onto the receptionist’s desk. He then says as he pulls out a couple more similar sized leather sacks and places them unopened by the pile of coins on the desk, “Let me tell you a few things an old friend once told me: ‘there isn’t a man out there that I cannot make, buy or destroy.’ But that is the least of your problems if I were to take away these things and walk away, leaving you with nothing. Two: in speaking with Mad Moondog Maddie, she told me that you were the best, which is why I signed up for a test and a class for this afternoon. My skills as an aviator has gone rusty and needs to ne polished up, and she recommended me to you. Thirdly, though I would be leaving this misbegotten town soon in the least I would plant the seeds to get the air races going again, but that is up to a lot of variables – variables like you and others. Four: Call the lawmen. I already had enough of their crap and had them eliminated. If you do not believe me, go call Maddie to see if I telling the truth. Five: That Wessen is not the fault of what happened last night or in the past following nights – those are the actions of a Hector De La Cruz – who now has a One Million Dollars In Gold bounty on his head for what he did. This Wessen, who is now my friend after a lot of truth searching and finding is now my friend and under my protection. She is also bait for Hector to try to get her. Unfortunately he managed to get away but I did managed to chop his right hand off and have that hand in my camper in a pickle jar, Maddie gave me the pickle jar and saw me put Hector’s hand in it and then filled it with Pickle Juice. You can ask her about that as well. Six – back to the Lawmen and why I had them eliminated – they were corrupt and arrested anyone when paid to do so. I’m part of a travelling rescue and medical crew, which that Wessen just joined and I have been teaching her and other new volunteers I got for here how to save lives. But the Lawmen interfered with my work and the Number One rule of any Rescue Worker is ‘Anyone interfering with the work of rescuing another will be dealt with severely and use of deadly force if needed.’ The Lawmen interfered with my work, the Lawmen are no more. Again, call Maddie to verify this and ask her who is now in charge of providing Law and Order to this misbegotten town. Seven, it is the actions of my people who saved this town from being burned down to the ground by the attack Hector did here on the other night. And on he has done other smaller attacks against us – The Rescuers – and the people of this town, both Wessens and humans including sending in some Lizard men to try to kill us during our sleep. There are now 12 less Lizard men in this world because we stopped them. Now, we can do this in a civilized manner and discuss about the class and if I like what I see, I’ll recommend your services to General Jastrey for a contract negotiation for services she wants rendered. If not I can take my business elsewhere.”
He then starts putting his sacks of gold coins away in his jacket pockets. When he starts scooping the gold coins off the receptionist’s desk, the older woman puts her hands on his.
“Let s not be too hasty. I’m sure we can work on an agreement.” The older woman tells him.
“Listen and listen real good, Miss. The one thing I do not like is greed. You do an honest day’s work you get an honest day’s pay. But if you go above and beyond in what you have to do, I reward those who do that for me. Now I’m here to see Crazy Clara to get my class started, as she was recommended to me by her sister Mad Moondog Maddie. And whether I come where with my friends and family or I come here alone, I and those who come with me are to be given with the save respect and honor and you expect me to give you. Now, I’ve come a long way and from a long time and need a little help trying to fly again. I heard you were the best. I will be putting you through that test.” Fernando tells her.
“I am Crazy Clara.” The older woman says, adding “What is your flight experience?”
“I am going to tell you something that will not leave the room as to explain my experience. The Spirits pulled me out of time to put me here and I have been fighting against them and trying to find my way back to my time. But back then, I used to fly the big jets and was a fighter and test pilot for the air force. I had my own airplane and was part of glider and whirly bird club of my town. It has been several years I have been here in this time, and have not flown. So, test me if you like and we can discuss about glider and other aircraft flight time.” He tells her.
“I see. I heard of many the Spirits have taken for whatever reason. But that is neither here nor there.” Clara explains. Then she looks him up and down, “You do not look like a flyer.”
“Give me a test, and then you decide where I belong.” He tells her.
“Have a seat and I’ll call you for the test.” She tells him.
Fernando gives a nod before stepping back to the seats in the waiting room.
“Well, what is going to happen?” Ichigo asks.
“Nothing, she has to set me up to take a test and all future lessons are based what grade I get on that test.” Fernando tells her.
“What about flying today?” Minerva asks.
“Let’s see what happens first.” Fernando replies.
“Oh...” Minerva replies.
Clara comes out, “Come to the desk and we can go start on your test.”
Fernando gets up and walks to the receptionist desk where Clara is at with a thick exam book. She pulls out
5 sheets of papers, the type he is used to filling in the bubbles back in school long ago. She explains how the test is to go.
“Each paper is for each section of the book, the questions are in the back of each section, each question will have 4 answers: A, B, C, or D. Only one of those answers if correct. You fill in the circle for the correct answer. You have 1 hour to complete the test. Do you understand this?” Clara asks.
“I understand.” Fernando tells her.
“Then good, follow me into the other room to take the test.” She tells him.
He follows her into the other room where she points to a chair and for him to work on. She points to the seat for him to sit on and puts the exam with a pencil on the table. He sits down as she tells him, “You have one hour. Now begin.”
Fernando picks up the pencil and looks at the papers to check what section they go to as she steps away from the table. He reads the sheets of papers for the section they go to, and twists the crystal on his cane just a bit, pressing down on the crystal, he goes through the exam, getting to each section at a rate of speed never seen before. He answers some 100 questions in 20 minutes. On his last three questions, he reverts Time back for himself, answers the last three questions. He puts his papers together in order and closes the book. He then gets up and walks over to her as she sits by the instructor’s desk. He puts the book and the exam on the table in front of her.
“I’m done.” He tells her.
She looks at him and then at his exam.
“I’ll be outside. It should only take a couple of minutes to grade that exam.” He tells her.
She just looks at him as he leaves the room. He goes back to the waiting room and waits.
“What’s going on?” Ichigo asks.
“Just waiting for my test to be graded.” He answers.
“Oh.” She replies.
In a few minutes, more time than Fernando thought it was needed to grade his test, Clara comes out of her office. He gets up and walks over to the receptionist’s desk.
“How well did I do?” He asks.
“Considering how fast you did this and the perfect score you got, I have to say that you cheated.” Clara tells him.
“Prove to me how I cheated and I will prove to you that I did not.” He tells her.
“In the time you too to answer the questions, you have to had the answers somewhere. Now where is your proof that you did not cheated?” She says and asks.
Fernando reaches into his back pocket and pulls out this wallet while saying, “Remember what I told you about the Spirits taking me out of my time. Just remember that.” He then opens his wallet and pulls out a double folded card and hands it to Clara.
She reads it to herself, “Federal Aeronautical Administration – Private Pilot’s License. Endorsements for the following:...”
He takes the license before she reads any further, “Like I said, I am already a licensed pilot. I just need some practice time.”
“It might be some time before you can get some practice time. How long are you staying?” Clara asks.
“Not long enough. What is the situation that is holding back the lessons?” He says and asks.
“That attack by your friend’s friends took out the launching wench at the end of the runway.” She tells him.
“First off, those responsible are no friends of hers nor mine. This is Hector De La Cruz’s doing, not hers. Get that through your thick head. Second, those responsible have been dealt with and will no longer be around except buried in some deep hole somewhere. Third of all, I’ll have my people look over and repair the wench during the night. Now with that, I’ll be here tomorrow to follow up on the wench’s repair and a first lesson. You get what aircraft you have to teach with ready for that first lesson.” He tells her.
“If you tamper with that wench, I will get the lawmen on you.” She tells him.
“It’s a free repair. You will pay nothing for it and you get a repaired wench for free.” He tells her.
“I do not know what your intent is and therefore you are a danger to my business and my person.” She tells him.
“Alright then. There will be a community meeting at the Great Hall at Wessen Town at 6o’clock. Be there.” He tells her.
“What for? So you can choose who to give my business too?” She throws at him.
“Alright. I told you what needs to be done, recommended some possible services, offered some free services to help with repairs and am willing to pay for classes, yet all you did is give me a hard time. Now, with what l said, I will be looking to take my business elsewhere. Bye.” Fernando tells her before going to the waiting room area and signals Ichigo and Minerva to go with him. They follow him out the door.
Once outside Fernando opens the passenger door and helps Ichigo in. He closes the door as soon as she is seated, going to the driver’s side, puts down the driver’s seat and helps Minerva to enter the vehicle and go to the rear area and sits on the folding bench seat in the back. He then puts the driver’s seat back up and gets in. He turns on the engine and lets the vehicle warm up.
“Where too now?” Ichigo asks.
“I need to go eat something, as I had not had anything to eat all say.” Fernando replies.
“Fernando!” Ichigo says, “I would have gotten something for you if you said so!”
“First off, out of everybody, I eat last. Second, it’s been a long day dealing with idiots and assholes, and making sure that Hondo and his crew was fed, so I had not had the chance to eat all day.” Fernando says before putting the jeep into gear.
He gets back on the road and heads South. In a couple of minutes he drives up to the Mad Moondog Maddie’s diner. He parks the jeep near the door, helping Minerva and Ichigo out before walking in into the establishment. He walks to the counter where Maddie sees him.
“What can I do for you today?” Maddie asks him as she wipes down the counter.
“I’ll take a table for three but I’ll be eating for the most part. My companions may or may not eat.” He tells her.
“Take any empty table you want. I’ll be there with the menus and some water in a moment.” Maddie says.
“Thank you.” Fernando tells her before turning to see the restaurant seating section. Only a couple of tables were taken, and he finds a table by the window facing their jeep and not far from the door. He walks over to the table and pulls the seats for Ichigo and Minerva. He takes the seat parallel to the window and facing the door, which gives a great view of his vehicle and of anyone entering and leaving the place.
As promised, Maddie arrives with a couple of menus and three glasses of water. She tells them as she wipes down their table, “Take your time to decide what you want. I’ll be back to take your order.”
“Thank you.” Fernando tells her before she walks away. He then turns to Ichigo and Minerva, “You both are probably not hungry, but order something for yourselves. Something small like ice cream, cake, pie – whatever.”
“What are you getting?” Ichigo asks.
“If they have it, if not then maybe they can make a custom order of steak and eggs breakfast with fries and a large coffee.” He tells her.
“That is a pretty big order...” Ichigo comments.
“I’m tired and I’m hungry.” He tells her, adding, “And we got a lot to do before we go back.” After a second’s pause, he says, “You two decided yet?”
“I’ll take a pie.” Ichigo says.
“Yeah, I’ll take a pie too.” Minerva says as well.
“Anything to drink? Sweetwater, juice milk...?” He asks.
“I’ll take a sweet water.” Ichigo says.
“Me too.” Minerva replies.
“Alright then, lets order.” He tells then before raising his hand to get Maddie’s attention.
Maddie comes to their table quicker than expected. She looks at them, “How can I help you?”
Fernando turns to his companions, “Girls, you first.”
Ichigo responds first, “I’ll take a slice of apple pie and a sweet water.”
Fernando turns to her, “Are we forgetting our manners?”
Ichigo looks down at herself, “I’m sorry.” Then she looks up at Maddie, “May I please have a slice of apple pie and a sweet water?”
Fernando says to himself “Good.” He then turns to Minerva, “Your turn.”
Minerva faces Fernando for a second before turning to Maddie, “Uhm... May I please have the same as her? A slice of apple pie and a sweet water?”
Maddie repeats the order for them, “That is two slices of apple pie and 2 sweet water drinks.” She then turns to Fernando, “And you sir, what will you have?”
“I did not see it on the menu but do you make custom orders?” Fernando asks.
“Tell us what you want and we’ll have it for you.” She tells him.
“Thank you. I hope this does not burden you; but I’ll like steak and three eggs over easy with fries, buttered light toast and a large coffee. Could you do that?” Fernando says and asks.
Maddie looks at him with an off expression.
He looks at her back, “Is there something wrong?”
“No, nothing on your part. It’s that we had not served that in many years.” Maddie explains.
“Can you do it? I have not eaten all day and am very hungry.” Fernando almost pleads with her.
“I’ll do for you. It’s just it has not been done in many years. Nothing more.” Maddie tells him. She adds, “I’ll get them done for you right away. Enjoy your stay.” She then leaves into the kitchen with the order.
As they wait for their order, Minerva decides to ask her questions.
“The kids would be taken care of by General Jastrey if we leave?” Minerva asks.
“She will do for them what they need. She will teach them how to read and write, do their numbers, basic skills to get a job when they grow up and so on. All they have to do is listen to her and her people.” Fernando tells her.
“And us, you said you would get us a vehicle to travel with?” Minerva asks.
“A vehicle and a camper unless I can get a motorized camper for you all.” Fernando asks.
“What about that guy with the big truck? He says he has room for all the kids.” Minerva asks and states.
“Don’t ever talk to him.” Fernando tells her.
“Why not? He seems sincere.” Minerva points out.
“That guy is a mining slave runner. The teens in the group used to be his mining slaves until they revolted. But they came to me for help because he would not let them take their things, and they had no ride to go anywhere. So now they work for me. But he decides to follow us, so I warned him that if anything happens to the teens, I would make him disappear. So if he is caught dragging in slaves from kidnapping or auction, I would put him on auction. He is not to be trusted. He claims that he is going to some place called Junk Town to do some mining but he claims we are following him. Mind you, we rescued him and his crew from a highway gang after that truck of his broke down and yet he claims that I am the source of his problems. So I told him anytime he wants to take it on like a man, I’m game for a fair fight. But as for you and the kids? No. He would use you and the kids as slave diggers for his mining operations. So do not talk to him about making deals to take the kids, because he would enslave them.” Fernando explains.
Minerva looks at him in shock and horror.
Ichigo throws in, “You would kill him if you two were to fight.”
“No doubt he would try to fight dirty.” He throws in. He then adds, “I do not trust him, and anyone I do not trust, you should not trust either.”
“If the others help, could we take the kids with us?” Minerva asks.
“We’re talking what? 30+ kids, 35 at the most let’s say? That would be six extra kids per those with their campers. Then sleeping, we only have 3 spare campers for them to sleep in, that’s 12+ kids per camper. Who is going to take care of them all? And when we roll at night, they cannot sleep in the campers because if there was an accident, those in the camper would more than likely be killed. I would rather lose a camper than to lose somebody who was in a camper. This would be unfair to everyone, especially the kids. If they are to come, we would need something like the bus the Den Mother has and she only has about 12 kids. You have three times as much. We would have to sit down and plan as to how it is going to be done. Plus feeding them, clothing them, getting them washed up and taking care of their bathroom needs – it all adds up.” He explains.
“What if we all agree to go, and get a large truck or bus for the kids?” Minerva asks.
“First decide what it is that you want. Then decide what it is that your sister and friends want, and last – decide what is best for them and the kids. Leaving this place might be a great idea, but if you are not prepared for it, it can lead to a disaster with many people will get hurt, killed or enslaved. That I do not want to happen.” He explains.
“Is this part of our delay?” Ichigo asks.
“No, it is not, but to get them ready, it would delay us more. I do not see that as a problem as long as we prepare for it just right. We cannot take short cuts and say it is done, only to have people get into a bad situation. We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” Fernando explains.
Maddie arrives with a large tray of food and drinks, putting it on the empty corner of the table. She starts to hand out the meals, “An apple pie and a sweet water drink for the young ladies, Steak and eggs over easy over with fries and buttered light toast and a large coffee for the gentleman.” She then takes the tray off the table, “If you need anything, let me know.”
“Thank you for everything.” Fernando tells her.
Maddie nods with a smile before she walks to her counter to help another customer. They begin on their meal. Though the girls take their time with eating their small dessert meal, Fernando seems to turn on a power vacuum to eat his meal rapidly. It is not the best meal he’s had but it is a damn good one. He slows down when he is almost done with his meal but the girls are half way with theirs. He finishes ahead of them anyways.
“Excuse me. I usually do not eat like that.” He tells the girls.
“It’s OK, you did not eat all day.” Ichigo says.
“Yeah...” Minerva throws in.
Ichigo takes the last two bites of her apple pie and swig from her drink to finish. Minerva only had one bite left but more than a quarter of her drink to swallow. Done with the meal Fernando raises his hand to get Maddie’s attention. She arrives at their table.
“We’re done here. Much is the bill?” He asks her.
“Well...” She begins.
“Do not under sell your services. Just because I helped out with you getting a contract with the General Jastrey’s Army and feed my convoy crew, does not mean that you should give us a discount. I prefer that we keep our business dealings square and honest.” He tells her.
“Well, OK...” She does the math on her order pad, “$12 is the total.”
“That’s all? I thought it would be more.” He says as he takes out $15 in silver coins and handed it over to Maddie. “Here, keep the change.”
“Huh? Oh, thank you.” Maddie says.
“I just need a receipt for the paperwork.” He says to her, adding, “Girls, wait for me by the door.”
Maddie scribbles on her order pad and rips out the page, handing it to him. “Here is your receipt, come back when you’re hungry!”
“Thanks. I definitely will.” He says to her.
He then points to the door for the girls to go through and he follows them out. Once outside, they step over to the medic jeep. He opens the passenger side door and helps Ichigo inside and closes the door once she is seated. He then opens the driver’s side door and puts down the driver’s seat and helps Minerva to get inside into the rear area of the jeep and sit on the folding bench seat in the back. He then pulls the driver’s seat back up to get in to sit down and close the door.
As Fernando sets himself up to secure his seat belt and starts the jeep, he sees Crazy Clara walks quickly past the jeep and into the restaurant. Once the engine has started, Fernando puts it into gear and quickly drives away. He slows down once he is out of the immediate area.
“What was that about?” Ichigo asks.
“You noticed that ‘woman’ entering Maddie’s restaurant?” Fernando asks.
“Yeah.” Ichigo asks.
“That was Clara from the Flight School.” He says to her.
“And?” Ichigo asks.
“She was giving me shit during the exam and claims that I cheated among other things despite me getting a near perfect score. In my past I was a pilot and did own my own plane. Now she is here to talk to her sister Maddie? That is one conversation I do not want to hear. Now, let’s see about getting a few things for you.” He explains.
“I see.” Ichigo says.
“What is she getting?” Minerva asks.
“Personal things that young ladies of a certain age needs.” He tells her to throw her.
“Oh...” Minerva replies.
Fernando shakes his head for a second as he makes his way to north on the eastern service road that parallels the runway. In a few minutes he makes it to the shops on the Eastern Service Road. He parks the jeep by the large building where the merchants were inside.
“Minerva, you are to stay in stay in the car. Ichigo, you come with me. I’ll be locking the doors, no one should bother you.” Fernando tells them.
He then opens his driver’s side door to step out and locks it. He walks to the other side and opens the passenger side door. He helps Ichigo get out of the jeep before closing and locking the door. They walk into merchant building. He pulls out a small sack of gold and silver coins from his pocket and puts it into her hoodie pocket. But Ichigo being the girl that she is, looked at all the merchants selling women’s apparel was looking into the higher priced things. She finds one that is more up to her standards with the unusual name of Coco Armani on its side. A middle aged woman with a paint-by-number make-up, huge rim sun glasses and enough shiny metal chains and trinkets wearing a large collar turtle neck sweater stands by the counter shelves of various items wrapped in see-through cellophane: stockings, panty hose, etc.
Ichigo looks at them and then at the merchant, “You have anything in my size?”
“We do not serve children here as this is an adult store.” The merchant tells her.
Fernando steps up to her with Ichigo at his side. “You mean to tell me that you do not serve little people of petite size 00? People in Fight Town told us to see Ms Coco Armani in Flight Town, and she will serve you right. Looks like we have to go back and tell them that Ms Coco Armani is a liar and fraud.”
“I can serve any woman of any size, but I doubt you can afford my prices. I only deal with Rich Clients, not commoners like yourselves.” The middle aged merchant says to them.
Fernando gives Ichigo a slight shove as he points to the door for her to enter. She goes in following his cue. The middle aged merchant complains before Fernando steps up to her and points to the door for her to enter. She rants and complains as she enters her store with Fernando behind her. He stops by the door and locks it behind him.
He walks up to the merchant, “Lady, I do not know what bug crawled up your ass, but I spend the last 72 hours stopping the attacks Hector De La Cruz has been sending against this town, so excuse me is I sound a bit pissed off. But you just crossed the line when you said I cannot afford what you sell here. Lady, I can but then entire lot, stock and barrel and hire you idiots to be my staff in selling this crap. Now like I said, we came here for my little girl – little because of her size, not because of her age. She is 16, but she is one of those little people according to the doctors, this is as big as she will ever get. Since she is going to be 17 soon, I wanted her to have the best. While being in Fight Town, we were told that you were the best, and my girl deserves the best. But if we walk out of here empty handed, tomorrow you won’t have a store as I will have it burned down tonight. Now go do your job, and if I find out you swiped prices or over-charge me, you will no longer have a store the following day. Do you understand what I am telling you?!!”
The elder woman nods and walks away, snapping her fingers at the staff. Fernando goes up to Ichigo and helps take off her hoodie and lets her go with the staff. At the same time several people walk in from the rear entrance armed with various long arms that had seen better days. One of them says loudly “Coco, what’s going on here?!”
The merchant woman points at Fernando, “He threatened that he would burn down the store and is going to rob the place!”
Fernando walks up to them, the one asking the questions was Gordon, “Is that you, Gordon?”
The merchant with the shotgun looks at him, putting his long arm down and signaling the others to do the same. “You’re that medic that bought some parts from me the other day. Tell me what is going on?”
“Let me put it in words that ‘she’ will understand.” Fernando begins, “I’m here to buy for my little girl because she needs a few things. She’s little because of her size, not because of her age, the doctors says she has ‘little people syndrome’ so that as you will see when she comes out, she is as big s she will ever get. But this ‘Jezebel’ made comments of how I cannot afford her prices. I told her that if she cheats on her prices and over charge me for her services, I will burn her place down. As for her saying that I am here to rob the place, you tell her what I did for you, what I bought and could afford and whether or not I was going to rob your place when we met. Just tell her.”
“Who you calling a Jezebel?!!” the woman merchant lets out.
“You is who I am calling a Jezebel... you damn snake charmer.” Fernando tells her.
“I am not going to be insulted like this in my own store!” The woman merchant lets out.
“Before I expose you for what you are, let me tell you this much, and you can verify it with Gordon here all you want. One – I am here to do business for myself and my family. Any price you throw at me, I can pay. Like I said I can buy out this whole lot with everything in it and hire you to be my staff for my soon to be stores. Two – I did not come here alone. I have the following of General Jastrey’s Army to clean up corruption and help out those in need. This is an army where half of the soldiers are women. Women who will, by my recommendation, come here and spend their hard earned money for some soft, smooth and sexy underwear to make them feel more *AHEM!* Lady like. This includes, General Jastrey herself, Major Moynihan and Lieutenant Benson, fair young career women in charge of the army I brought in for your protect, who are still women. Now, I can have them come and spend their money here or I can tell them to avoid this place and spread a rumor of how your panties were washed in some chemical that will give their hoochies a dreadful rash. Now which one shall it be?” Fernando tells her.
The merchant woman looks at Gordon. Gordon looks at her and nods, saying, “If you do not pick up the business this man has to offer, ‘The House of Vanderbilt’ on the West Side will get it, and you will not want them to get your business.”
Fernando steps up to Gordon, eyeing his shot gun, “Next time the Major walks into your shop, ask them about cleaning the rust off your fire arm. This thing in this condition will explode in your face if you do not get it cleaned up. I also have a need for, hmmm... what do they call it? Those round fuel tanks long haul trucks have, the ones with a step on it. I will need four or so but to fit the medical jeep I have parked outside. Maybe 10 or 20 gallons each, to be put on that part under the door.”
“We can discuss this later. Right now we got concerns about somebody threatening to burn down stores and we do not like that.” Gordon tells him.
“I always say, ‘treat people the same way you want them to treat you.’ This ‘person’ decides to make judgment calls on who can shop at her store, and whether or not I can afford it. Like I said, I can buy out the whole lot and everything in it and then hire her as staff. But since female dog wanted to treat me like trash, I treated her like trash and she did not like that one bit at all.” Fernando explains.
(In the other room of the store)
The store assistant was helping Ichigo out in selecting a few items. But Ichigo points out to them a few issues with the merchandise.
“How long has these things been sitting around for? A lot of them are dry-rotted.” Ichigo go tells them.
“Dry rotted?” The assistant asks, pulling out a pair of pantyhose from its package and tries to show off its sheerness.
Ichigo take one of the legs of the pantyhose, folds it a couple times and gives them a twist. They crumple into large dust particles on the table they were on. She tells them, “That is Dry Rot. That means that they have been in storage for so long, the moisture of the fabric dried out, leaving this mess behind. Most of these are too far gone to do anything with them. Show me what you got in petite sized silk panties and bras, preferably in black. And they better not be dry-rotted.”
The assistant whispers to another who goes into the back stock room. In a couple of minutes, they return with a couple boxes of panties, bras and camisole sets, on the side of some of the boxes has some strange non-English writing. Ichigo goes through them as the assistant tries to make their sales pitch.
“These are the finest silks from the Orient.” The Assistant tells her.
“Where in the Orient?” Ichigo asks.
Well, err... all over. We do not buy from one source but search out and buy what is available at the time from whoever has it.” The Assistant tries to say.
Ichigo pulls out a random box, “Alright, what does this say?” She points to where it says “中國製造”
“Well, it says ‘100 percent Oriental Silk’.” The assistant says.
“Wrong. It says ‘Zhōngguó zhìzào’ which means ‘Made in China.’” She tells them. She then picks up another box and points to “100％桑の実シルク日本製” She asks, “Now what does that say?”
“Well, it is obvious. That says ‘100 percent Oriental Silk.’ It says ‘100 percent right there!’” The Assistant tells her.
“Wrong again. Now listen up. Daddy and I have been through the Orient and got here by a slow boat from China, to Japan, to Alaska, to Canada and now here. We know the languages to read and speak with the natives over there. Now to what that says, it says, ‘100-Pāsento kuwa no jitsu shiruku – nipponsei’ which means in Japanese ‘100% Mulberry Worm Silk – Made in Japan.’ Since it is made from silk, it should not be dry rotted unless it has been sitting on a shelf for years. So let’s give it a test.” Ichigo explains to them.
She opens one of the packages and pulls out the bra and massages the material between her fingers. She does the same to the panties before crumpling both of them up in her tiny hands. They seem to recover as silk should but do show that they have been on the shelf for a while.
“These pass but barely. Maybe I can rescue them with a softener bath.” Ichigo says mostly to herself. She then says to the assistant. I’ll take five of these panties, and 3 of these bras and 2 of these camisole sets – all in black – Petite Size 00.”
“Will do!” the assistant tells her. She then whispers to the lesser employee to go to the stock room and bring what boxes they had out.
Ichigo looks about the area checking out the glass cases. A red and white floral kimono locked in a glass case catches her eye.
“You have that in a Petite size?” Ichigo asks.
“That is a very expensive robe. Even if we have it, could you afford it?” The Assistant throws at her.
“First off, it is not a robe. It is a Japanese Silk Kimono – or Fall Weather House Coat. And the bow belongs in the back, not on the side. And they should not be that expensive, I can get it for less than $100 at Fight Town. But since those idiots at the Blimp Station lost our luggage, I lost my precious Kimono I had gotten from Japan along with a few other valuable items and that one looks just like the one I had. I will buy it if you have it in my size and it better have the correct label on it.” Ichigo says to the assistant.
The one in the stock room comes out with boxes of items for Ichigo to go through. She goes through the boxes to select the items she selects the silk bras, panties and a couple of camisoles in black, and then finds a few items in red and pick them out too. She sets them aside on a pile from the box and then looks at the assistant.
“I’ll take all of these if you have that Kimono in my size.” Ichigo tells her.
“I doubt you can afford it.” The assistant says.
“I will decide if I can afford it or not, you bring it out here for me to see and I will test it for its label and dry rot.” Ichigo says. The assistant stands there with their arms crossed. Ichigo throws at them, “If I do not see a Kimono in a few seconds, I am going to walk out of here. As for me not affording anything in this store... daddy is paying the bill and right now he has more gold in his pockets than you will make getting paid working at this place for a year. Now, where that’s Kimono?”
“That will be the day...” The Assistant holds back from laughing.
“It’s a shame. Count what is here and think how much of a sale you are about to lose and I’m going to talk to my friends to avoid this place.” Ichigo tells them before she starts to walk out of selection and fitting room.
The assistant looks at the pile, seeing that in their mind they are about to lose a large sale for being insulting to a customer.
Ichigo walks up to Fernando, taking her hoodie jacket from his hand.
“Everything alright, sweetie?” Fernando asks in their father/daughter act.
“I’m not buying from a place that is insulting to me and questions what my daddy can afford when they have dry-rotted crap they are selling as new.” Ichigo says.
“I have the finest in silks and nylons on sale!” The merchant woman lets out.
“If you leave nylon sit on the shelf for years, they will dry rot.” Ichigo explains.
“Wait. What is Dry Rot?” Gordon says.
Fernando explains, “All materials made for clothing like Cotton, Wool, Spandex, Nylon, Silk, and others, even Leather, if left to sit for a long time will dry out and begin to rot. Each material will rot in their own way but the end results are the same – you end up worthless crap that cannot be saved.”
“What is it that they were trying to sell you that was dry rotted? Show me.” Gordon asks sternly.
“I do not think we need to see. I’ll check out my stock and throw out what is no good.” The merchant lady says.
“Listen Coco, I send a lot of my female relatives to buy from here and some have complained about how things fell apart on them though they thought it was from rough handling on their part. But if things were already rotting here on the shelves, I think you owe a lot of people an apology, including my female relatives.” Gordon tells her. He then turns to Ichigo, “Show me what you found that was dry rotted.”
Ichigo nods before walking into the selection ad fitting room with Fernando, Gordon and the woman merchant behind her. They stand about the room, watching Ichigo grabbing a couple of packages of pantyhose. She hands them to Gordon and Fernando. The sales assistant just stands here, not having put away the items she has selected
“Take them out of the package, fold them and give them a twist.” Ichigo tells them.
Fernando through his life experiences already know this test, Gordon does not at least not for woman’s apparel. They both take out the hosiery, feeling it between their fingers and find it to be rough like the finest steel wool. Fernando was first to fold up the pantyhose and gives it a twist. It begins to crumble in his bare hands. He shakes his head as Gordon looks on. Gordon then does the same of folding up the pantyhose and giving it a twist. It too crumples. Gordon looks at the woman merchant.
“You owe many a refund, including my female relatives.” Gordon tells her.
“And what is this about us not being able to afford to buy things?” Fernando asks, adding, “What was it that you wanted?”
“I told this store person that I would buy that pile of things I needed if they had that Kimono in my size.” Ichigo points out the items she stated, throwing in “That is when they stated that I could not afford it.”
“Well,” Fernando begins as he looks at Kimono, “It’s only $100 at Fight Town. I can have one picked up and delivered here from there.”
“A hundred? Bah! That is worth over $500!” The merchant woman tells him.
“Yeah, you bought it in Fight Town for $100 and are selling it for four times as much here. I wonder what else you are doing that with. If it is Japanese. It’s probably a fake Chinese knock off anyways.” Fernando tells her.
“Coco, that is price gouging.” Gordon tells her.
“What I sell at my store, I sell at my prices.” The woman merchant says.
“I’ll go tell General Jastrey to have her female soldiers to avoid this place then.” Fernando says.
“You cannot do that!” The woman merchant says.
“Lady. I hold the rank of Colonel within her army even though I am a medic and doctor. I can advise and command the troops as needed though I prefer to let the lower ranking officers to do the commanding and ordering of the troops. I can and will advise them to avoid this place. So how dare you insult me and my daughter.” Fernando tells her with Gordon shaking his head.
“Coco... you #$@!ed with the wrong person this time. The contract I signed with them a couple days ago because of this man, and now I am making more money selling them vehicle parts in the last couple days to them than I have for the past three months. These people got money and if you want part of that money, you do not #$@! with them.” Gordon tells her.
The woman merchant looks away at them in discuss, thinking about what is happening and trying to find fault with others and not with herself, her store or her staff.
Gordon throws in to get her attention, “I met with some of the troop leaders of this army, and they were all women. You are dumb enough to burn a customer for a couple hundred in sales and lose thousands in the sales he can send here? You’d be stupid to even think so.”
“Let’s go Maria. We can get what you want from Fight Town.”
“Now wait a minute! How about we make a deal?” The woman merchant says out loud to be heard.
“What kind of a deal are we talking about?” Fernando asks.
“Whatever your daughter wanted she can have it on the house. All you have to do is recommend my place to your women soldiers.” The merchant woman says.
“So you can sell them your dry rotted goods? I would look bad and you would lose a lot of customers faster than if I told them to avoid the place.” Fernando asks and explains.
“I promise to clear things up and throw out that which is bad.” Then merchant woman says.
“Let me see what she wants and I’ll think about it.” Fernando tells her.
“I just want the pile that is over there and that Kimono in my size if they have it.” Ichigo says.
“What about pantyhose and stockings?” Fernando asks.
“All their nylons are mostly dry rotted.” Ichigo explains.
Fernando looks at Ichigo for a second and then at the merchant woman. “It is against my better judgment but I will say yes. But...”
“But what?” The merchant woman asks.
“I am going to do you a favor.” Fernando tells her.
“What kind of favor?” The merchant woman asks.
Fernando twists the crystal on his cane a couple of turns before he says, “This.” He presses the crystal down on his cane. There was a bright flash of light, and the hosiery that was crumbled to dust has been restored to their smooth flowing intact texture. All the other hosiery, lingerie and other items of feminine clothing on the store shelves and stock room have been restored to their state of creation. He looks at Ichigo, “Maria, go get some pantyhose and stocking that you need.”
Ichigo nods before going to the shelves and picks out a few nylon panty hose and stockings, putting them to the pile she had gathered. She did manage to find a couple packages in silk, which she also takes. She then steps over to Fernando.
“What did you do?” The merchant woman asks.
“What I did or how I did it is none of your concern. I did what I had to do to make sure that if you sell anything to my woman soldiers or to any other females from here on out, they will be buying something that in a new state of condition, not the aged state you had them in. But note this – raise your prices because your stock has been restored to like new, and it all reverts back to the old dry rotted stock that they were in. Do I make myself clear on that?” Fernando tells her.
The merchant woman can only stand there in disbelief in what she is hearing.
“Do I make myself clear?” Fernando asks again.
Still nothing from the merchant woman. Gordon nudges her with his shotgun, “Did you hear what he said?”
“Huh? What? How? Who? Where?...” The merchant woman reacts.
“Did you hear what he said?” Gordon tells her for a second time.
“Oh yes. I heard it all. So, is that all? Minkin – wrap it and bag it for them.” The merchant woman says.
“You are forgetting the Kimono.” Fernando tells her.
“Kimono? Oh. Minkin – get the Kimono and add it to their package.” The merchant woman throws out the order to her assistant. The assistant goes to the underling stock clerk in the stockroom and gives the order to them. The Merchant woman roars, “WHEN I GIVE YOU AN ORDER, YOU ARE TO DO IT YOURSELF! NOW GO DO IT!” The assistant looks at her with a scared look before going into the stock room. After a couple minutes the assistant returns with a matching kimono in a smaller size of the one in the display case. It and the other items get wrapped up and bagged. The bag gets handed over to Fernando.
“Alright Maria, let’s get out of here. You need other things – shoes, sox, skirts...” Fernando says as he walks Ichigo out of the store.
They make their way to a couple doors down to another but less provocative men’s and women’s apparel store. He sees some nylon jackets he had seen before when he bought them for Minerva and her friends. He keeps looking around for various items, not finding anything.
The elder woman in an apron from before walks over to Fernando. She asks him, “Are you back for more?”
“Well, my little girl needs a couple polo shirts, skits, sox, shoes, sneakers and another hooded jacket like this one. Got anything like that?” Fernando asks.
“I have much of that inside. Let’s see what works for her.” The elder woman says before opening the door and holding it for them to enter.
They walk in, the place is dimly lit and various items of clothing from coats to shirts hang from every possible place one can hang something on. A couple of younger store workers step out and start eyeing and measuring Ichigo on just a gesture from the elder woman. She says, “Have a seat so they can measure your feet.”
Fernando steps aside to let Ichigo sit on the only visible seat in the room. While they measure Ichigo’s feet, he looks about and picks out a few things for her: polo shirts, skirts, t-shirts, sox, a terrycloth robe with a matching towel and a couple hooded sweat jackets. He even found a packet of five white cotton panties he threw in the pile. He asks the elder woman to get a pair of sneakers and shoes for Ichigo, and hand her the other items, asking for a price and a receipt. The store assistants come out with a pair of simple cloth sneakers and Mary-Jane shoes. The store owner tallies up the total costs and says, “$120.”
“That’s all?” Fernando says, adding, “I thought it would be more.” He then gives her six $20 silver coins.
The items get wrapped up and bagged as Ichigo puts on her shoes. Fernando put the package into the bag with the other package from the other store. Ichigo gets up from the seat and steps over to Fernando.
“Ready to go?” He asks her. She looks up at him and nods. “Then let’s go.” He says to her.
The walk out of the store and the hanger building was uneventful. He opens the passenger to the jeep and helps Ichigo in. He hands her the bag with her packages before closing and locking the door. He walks to the other side of the jeep before Gordon calls out to him as he steps up to him.
“Excuse me, medic!” Gordon says.
Fernando stops in front of the jeep and turns to face him. Gordon was with the other armed merchants who were at the lingerie store.
“Yes Gordon, how can I help you?” Fernando asks.
Gordon and his group walk up to him though with their long arm pointed down. He asks him, “You wanted some gas tanks for your vehicle? Explain exactly what you want.”
Fernando take him to the passenger side of the jeep and points to the area under the door and sizes with his hands, “You know on those long haul trucks, they have these round tanks with about 50 gallons of fuel or more? Well, something like that but smaller to fit in that area. I say about 10 to 20 gallons, preferable 20 gallons. And if possible, like on some of those tanks, a step on them to help get in and out of the vehicle. Metal tubing to connect them together to the engine, and a 3 way fluid value on the dash to switch between the tanks. I need something like that for two jeep, this one and another just like it at the convoy camp. I’ll see you tomorrow about design, manufacturing, installation and costs. Tonight however, at 6o’clock a Wessen Town at the great hall there. Bring as many of your merchants that you can. But carry a small hidden fire arm, not a large one that all can see. I do not want to scare the innocent survivors of these attacks but I do want you merchants prepared to defend yourself just in case.”
“We’ll be there.” Gordon says.
“Oh, and thank you for your help at that She-male’s store.” Fernando says.
“Huh, she male?” Gordon asks.
“A She-male is a man who dresses up to look like a woman. That merchant woman is a man in disguise.” Fernando states.
“What makes you say that?” Gordon asks.
Fernando points to his medic patch on his arm, “In this job you have to look at somebody and determine their sex from the clues they show even though they will not tell you.” He continues as he points to parts of his clothing and/or body, “In his case – One: he is wearing a turtle neck sweater with an over sized collar trying to hide the Adam’s Apple in his throat. Two: Large rough hand even though the fingernails are longer than they should be. Three: Wide Jaw, no woman born, not even a Wessen has a wide jaw. Four, though the sweater was over sized, he-she-it was flat-chested. Five: Thin hips and no ass. Six: No Curves – no waist, no hips, and no legs. Six: Oversized Men’s Cowboy boots made to looks women’s boots. Seven: That – whoever it is, does not smell like a woman. Women have a sweet but slightly fishy smell on them, guys smell like funked up old dirty gym sox in a pile of dirty laundry. He-She-It smelled like funked up old dirty gym sox in a pile of dirty laundry. If you cannot smell it, befriend a Wessen and have them give her sniff. A Wessen will be able to tell you how they smell no matter how much perfume they use to cover their scent. Seven: Their hair is a wig they are wearing. Hair on one’s head does not shift around on one head, and I seen that hair move and adjusted a few times. Eight: Bulge in her skirt, though women do have a slight bulge there, a man’s bulge is much larger no matter how small they are. He-She-It was larger than most women I know and seen. Nine – do I really have to continue?”
“So all this time we have been duped? No matter how many times some of the guys have asked her out, she always refused them. But she has asked women out, claiming to be some woman loving dyke. Hmph... Makes sense now.” Gordon says.
“Well, I hope she like army girls. A lot of them can be gang banging, dildo flashing, rug munching dykes themselves, and if they find out that She is a He, they will kill her.” Fernando tells her.
Gordon lets out a chuckle, “We will see what happens later then. I’ll see you at that meeting. 6o’clock you said?”
“Yes. 6o’clock at the Great Hall in Wessen Town. See you there and then, bring your friends and staff and only small arms you can hide.” Fernando says to him.
“Take care then.” Gordon says before he starts walking away.
Fernando watches him and his friends leave. He then goes around to the driver’s side of jeep and gets in.
“What was that about?” Minerva asks.
“Just some minor problem at one of the stores we were in. Nothing more.” Fernando says.
“Oh... Nothing serious I hope.” Minerva says.
“It was nothing, really.” He says before starting the jeep and start driving for home at the convoy camp.
It takes them a couple minutes for them to get to the parking lot and park the jeep in front of the electric camper. Helping Minerva and Ichigo out of the jeep, he opens the sliding door of the camper for Ichigo to go in. Minerva stands nearby. He looks at Minerva.
“Any questions?” He asks her.
“No, but we will be talking on and off.” Minerva replies.
“Coming with me to the meeting at Wessen town?” He asks.
“Maybe. I have to wait and see what happens.” She replies.
“Well, I hope you would do go. Anyways I’ll see you before you go.” He tells her.
“I’ll see you then.” She says before she starts walking away.
Once she has walked halfway to where her sister and friends were watching the kids, Fernando steps into the camper, closing and locking the door behind him. Ichigo pounces on him, wearing her camisole she had on before and the terrycloth robe over it.
He literally takes her to the bed and drops her on it, “Whoa girl! Take it easy!”
She gets on her knees and pounces on him again, saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Easy girl! What gives?” He says to her trying to push her off.
She lets go of him, saying, “You got me what I needed.”
“How about giving me what I need?” He says as he looks at his watch. It is a little after 3PM.
“I told you, any time you want me, you can have me.” She tells him trying to look innocent.
“I need my rest more than I need anything I could get from you.” He tells her as he begins to strip off his layers of clothing.
Ichigo takes off her robe, folds it up and puts it away into her cupboard by the bed. He folds up his things and puts them on the cover of the sink and stove. He sits down and lets out a sigh. She sits down next to him and leans against him, beginning to trace the outline of penis against the imprint of his briefs.
“Would you mind not doing that?” He asks.
“Can I ask you a very serious question?” She asks but not stopping her finger tracing.
“What do you want to know?” He asks.
“I know as it is you own my little ass from the bet. But in all honestly, would you ever consider marrying me?” She says and asks.
“Marrying you?” He asks.
“Yes.” She replies.
“OK then, as a wife, what do you have to offer me?” He asks.
“Other than being smaller than the average woman anything they may have, I can give to you. I’m not perfect, not by any means and my size can be an issue, I know that but I would try to make you happy.” She tells him.
“What if I turned out to be some crazed pervert that only wants you for one thing?” He asks.
“There isn’t much I would not do for you as I have been through it all though I tried to keep it to a minimum in my life. I won’t do anything like having sex with animals like dogs or horses – yes Fight Town had shit like that as entertainment in some areas. And sex with Wessens, like I said, it was with bunny ring girls*. But that was long ago. So if you are some sort of pervert, you would be #$@!ing me right now and probably with that hamster Wessen girl joining in. But since that is not happening, I doubt you are.” She explains.
“I have a feeling that you would want me to pin you down and have my way with you.” He tells her.
“I would love it if you did me that favor.” She says.
“I bet you would. But you missed the point about being a wife.” He points out.
“And what would that be?” She asks.
“As the line says, ‘love, honor and obey.’ You talk about sex but said nothing about love.” He explains to her.
“I would not want to marry you if I didn’t like you. I would not also want to have sex, be intimate or even sleep with you if I didn’t like you. I love you for the things you are doing for me, the things you have done for me and the things I hope you will do for me.” She tells him.
“That is a typical female response.” He says before inching back onto the bed and crawling under the blankets.
Ichigo quickly joins him under the blankets, straddling him to look down at him from her height over him in her extended arms while he puts his hands above on her hips.
“What do you mean ‘that is a typical female response?’” She asks.
He looks up at her and tells her, “Simple. What emotional attachment you as a female have for me is based on what I can do for you and not the person that I am. Every female I met and know says and does this.”
“You guys are no different.” She throws at him.
“Guys put appearance above what she can do for him. Then he still puts who she is in consideration before what she can do for him. What she can do for him, other than sex, is the last thing on his mind unless it is something she can do that can bring him power and money – then it is no longer love at that point. For me, it is not what you can do for me but who you are because as cute as you might be, looks for me has a low points value. Sure, I might want to pin you and screw your brains out but that is not out of love, though it is out of frustration, anger, lust and wanting to get my jollies off.” He tells her.
“You forgot stress.” She throws at him.
“What do you mean by that?” He asks.
“You, for the person you , in the job you are trying to do, are very stressed out and sex for you, if it not done out of love, let’s say, it is done to reduce your stress.” She explains.
“I’m pretty sure you would want me to reduce your stress.” He puts out to her.
“It depends on what you would do to reduce my stress.” She says, adding, “What you did earlier today was a great start.”
“What I did earlier today was to teach you a lesson.” He tells her.
Knowing her groin was against the hardening bulge of his groin, she looks down on him, switching over to her little girl voice, “I think I need to be taught that lesson again. I easily forget things.” She slowly rubs her crotch against his while smiling at him. “You going to teach me again?”
“Ichigo...” He calls to her sternly.
She lowers herself onto him, resting the side of her head on his chest. She lets out a sigh, squeezing his arm to feel his hard muscles under his skin. She says softly in her little girl voice, “You’re such a big strong man, and I am just a little girl...”
“You have not said anything about what I said about love and why it is so.” He tells her.
She answers still in her little girl voice, “If I do not love you, then I have a crush on you. And a crush is a form of love, is it not?”
“You having a crush on me let you to drop your panties and have me #$@! you’re your brains out?” He asks.
“Well... maybe.” She answers. She pauses for a moment before adding, “Hmmm... Well yes. Yes I would, for you, mister.”
Fernando lets out a sigh. “And how does this show that you love me? What if I no longer do what it is that I do that makes you have a crush on me?”
“As long as I am with you to protect me, I will always love you.” She explains.
“Then I dare throw in what about sex?” He asks.
“Anytime you want to do it, whatever you want to do, I’m game for it. I might not be fully grown up like an adult woman but I am more than capable of giving of myself to you. I just need you to take it easy with me.” She explains.
“I was thinking in terms of how does sex fit into love?” He restates his question.
“Oh. Well... If you love somebody than you should give them what you can of yourself, that includes sex.” She tries to explain.
“Again, you can have sex without love, love without sex and sex with love or love with sex. So how does sex fit into what you got and how you feel towards me?” He asks.
“Well... however you feel about me, I would give sex if you want it and how you want it because of how I feel about you. I’m not going to deny you or stop you from having me when you are the one saving me. Short, I rather have to pin me down and do as you want with me than to have an angry mob find me and have their way with me as they would kill me and disrespect my dead body. You would not harm me in that way. That is why I would... have sex with you, whether you love me or not because I love you.” She explains.
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After Chaos (Read 188684 times)
