Divergent Future Timeline – Eve - Age 5

"I'm proud of you, Eve" Colonel Young said, "Graduation from kindergarten is a big deal."

Rush snorted derisively, "What utter shite they go in for these days. I'd hardly call mastering a course that stresses coloring and paper cutting an achievement worthy of commendation."

"Ruuush" Young growled in a low and menacing manner he hoped Eve wouldn't catch, "Play nice, children need encouragement."

Little Eve stared at her two fathers and asked, "What's shite?"

"Shite is what your teacher gives you do to do all day" Rush answered the child.

"RUSH!" Young snapped, "Enough. This is not a conversation we're going to have right now, ok."

"Children need challenges. They need proper instruction. Dr. Park should spend more time instructing Eve in matters that might have actual bearing on her life here." Rush said, completely ignoring Young's intonation that they shouldn't discuss this in front of Eve.

"Like what, astrophysics? Rush for God's sake she's only five years old."

"Five years old or not; she already reads better than YOU do." Rush said, unable to resist the dig, adding "and perhaps you should have her separated from the Scott boy. The other day he was sitting there eating paste from a jar and Eve ended up joining him. He's a bad influence!"

Young ignored the dig, he knew Rush was just trying to irritate him again, "He's only three, Rush. You can hardly expect him to be on Eve's level and besides how did you know about the paste?"

Rush paused and shifted his eyes, "Dr. Park told me."

"Well she didn't tell me" Young said, "and I am the primary parent."

"Primary, pfft!" Rush scoffed. "The child needs a proper teacher."

"So you don't believe Dr. Park to be a proper teacher."

"Dr. Park" Rush said, "Likes children and she's very good at keeping them entertained and happy, but she lacks any sense of discipline or proper education for a bright child, like Eve."

"So who would you suggest, Rush? Eli?"

"He lacks focus. Keeping him on task is still a constant battle."

"Brody?"

"He dislikes children."

"Volker?"

"His education isn't broad enough."

"Not broad enough to teach little children math and history?"

Rush sighed, "I suppose Volker will have to do then."

"Wonderful. I'll ask him if he would consider teaching Eve for a while."

"No need to ask him, Colonel. Volker is under me and he'll spend his time as I like."

"You can't just order a man to teach your child, Rush." Young said, "Why not just ask him nicely? Maybe you could even throw in an odd afternoon off now and again to sweeten the deal?

"I'd have better luck if I tell him that Dr. Park will be in the same room with him trying to teach Alan Scott not to eat paste."

"Whatever makes you happy, Rush."

(O)

2 days earlier…

Rush stood at his station in the control interface room, his fingers absently drumming out Bach's Toccata Und Fugue in D minor while his gaze remained fixed grimly on his view screen.

"Of all the incompetent nincompoops…" Rush muttered.

"Did you want something?" Volker asked from across the room.

Rush clipped off a no and gave Volker The Look.

Volker put his head down and returned to his own calculations.

Rush returned his gaze to his screen to once again gaze upon the inspiring sight of his daughter eating paste from a jar. I'll be speaking to your teacher about this, Rush promised as he switched off the keno feed he'd covertly installed in the school room's vent system.

"Was that the school?" Volker asked, suddenly standing behind Rush.

"That is none of your business, Dr." Rush rumbled menacingly.

"Okay" Volker said, lowing his eyes submissively, "Its ok to care you know. She's your daughter too" he added quietly as he walked back around to his own station.

Rush ignored him until he was safely away and then he subtlety flicked the kino feed back on.