Chapter 11 - HOME
Orwell was stunned at the council meeting and all that had happened. He sat with Miranda going over the rest of the DVD's in the trunk. Mork was guiding his daughter where to go for the information that they needed for her landing on Earth in a week's time. Each time she found something she'd load it onto her computer.
The internal investigation only lasted four days and Miele was stripped of his council meeting pending further investigations on Ork. He was imprisoned aboard Egg-zodus for now until they returned. Miranda made her suspicions of Miele's secret known and they asked her to keep her informed if she found anything on earth, she said she'd do her best to find out if her suspicions were indeed legitimate.
"I just find it hard to believe this council member had it out to destroy that entire amount of work mom and dad had done." She said as she went through more disks, the evidence overwhelming. She copied more of the disks info onto her computer, she realized she would have to help Reach and obtain more of the DVD's used for recording information as they would need them in Miele's trial; among other things he'd need for his cloning of her own computer.
"He'd have killed you to if he could, but you were important to him when he realized he could use you, I just wish we had of known sooner."Her father's voice said to her as she popped out another copied disk.
Orwell agreed with her statement and watched as Mearth showed him more info on how to use the computer. Miranda spoke. "Dad just said he'd have killed me sooner if he could have." She looked at Orwell. "Do you think the emotional wall coming down was a good thing?"
Orwell smiled. "Of course Miranda, if not I might not be here. I got to have what many of the older generations here don't have; parents. Sadly I also agree with your dad. I think if Miele could have killed you he would have. It's a good thing you're parents did all they could to protect you. Can you imagine what it would have been like if you'd been a test tube baby?"
Miranda shudder at the thought the same time as her father did in her head. The sensation was odd to say the lease. Sure sometimes your parents nagged and drove you nuts, but there were worse things than having parents and that was having none at all. She was grateful for having had hers. They loved each other a great deal, 'We were soul mates' her father said in her head; and in turn this love spilled over for her and Mearth. She knew she was blessed and to this day her parents still watched over her, even if she couldn't hear her mom she knew she was there.
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Three days before they were to enter into Earth's orbit as per the early seventies protocol when Mork first came to light to the government Captain Xu called to the land with their direct contact information and spoke to the president.
"Captain Xu of Egg-zodus of the Planet Ork Mr. President." Xu was on the line with The President and notified him of Miranda's pending return to earth and what would be expected of her and Mearth and what provisions they could get while there. Sadly Miranda could only get one side since she couldn't hear the president speaking to Xu.
"Yes sir. I'm calling in regards to a former resident you may still have on records. A Mearth McConnell."
She paused and waited. "Yes sir, he's still very much alive and yes, your information is correct. He does currently look much younger." She waited again. "I'm sure he'd be pleased to speak to you." Mearth's eyes got huge as Xu passed him the Pictophone.
Mearth spoke with the president and was over-joyed that he was happy to be speaking to Mearth.
He did tell him he had a sister and that they both wanted to return to earth. He explained that his parents had passed away as well. When the conversation was finished Mearth was beaming as he and his sister had been invited to meet the president in Washington.
"So the acceptance of their return is confirmed?" Xu asked. "Clarification on the protocol of their safe return is also in effect with their arrival correct?" She waited. "I understand sir, thank you for your time. We will see you in approximately three days times. "She paused and then spoke once more.
"Thank you Mr. President. Na-nu Na-nu!" The conversation ended and she hung up with a smile.
"Your clearance has been granted. We will beam you down with the H-28 to your destination. You will have your stuff shuttled where ever you wish it to go. You will be provided with transportation via H-28 for three days while on Earth, after that we leave orbit and let you continue on with your mission with the regulations set in place as agreed upon by the president and considerations we make with him."
Miranda shook her head to acknowledge that she got the idea of how things would go. She made a request to Xu about computer funding and information to broaden their own knowledge base and Xu said she was sure that there would be a way to obtain the stuff they required. Mearth informed Xu he would continue to teach Reach via mind connection while on Earth the best he could. He never thought in a million bleems he'd be an IT support Earkin for an Orkian.
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The day of their departure Miranda was a mess with a capital M. She had her brain going in seven different directions at once and her dad in the background of her mind reminding her of everything was helpful as well as annoying "Our destined outline will be to visit with the president along with Xu and Reach and Orwell." She explained as she packed her bag for transport. Miranda was getting nervous and excited as they got closer to their deployment time. Mearth just smiled at his sister. He wasn't a cadet like she was, so he wasn't so nervous as he was excited about going back to where he was born. He had missed home and the sporadic visits were never enough and they ended up less and less till the government changed.
"I understand you're nervous sissy, but try and relax OK. This is after all just a visit to Washington. We still have no idea where we're even going to live yet. If you're going to be nervous, worry about that first." He made a valid point which only made Miranda's gut do a somersault as if on one of Orks moons.
"Oh Mearth!" She cried in frustration; tossing her shirt into her kit bag. She frowned. "I feel like I've done too little for this transition yet too much at the same time. I hate this feeling."
"What? Like two Splots fighting over a fizzle-bend?" His brow furrowed when he stated this. Two splots pulling on a fizzle-bend was quite the sight to see till one let go of the end of the fizzle-bend; it usually sent the other flying off into the distance; or the nearest obstacle; usually with a mighty thud. She cringed at the thud that played through her mind. Not a good visual. Oi!
Miranda snorted and shook her head. "Mearth this isn't time for jokes. Seriously what are we going to do to get a place in three days?" He shrugged with his hands up in confusion and did his squeaky "I-don't-know" voice. "Maybe the President has answers to that question. We won't know till we get there."
"Oh sure, 'Hey Mister President, We're kinda hard up for a place to live; care to spring for a place?"
She sighed. "That'll make a good first impression."
"Won't know unless you ask Miputer." Her dad's voice interrupted her agitated thoughts.
"Oh daddy, I wish it was that easy." She zipped her bag up and noticed that Mearth was watching her.
"Sorry Mearth, just talking to dad, even he's saying to ask." Mearth thought a minute then asked.
"Do we have money to use while we're there other than the money coming in from the property in Colorado?"
Miranda heard her father mutter something and then he spoke. "Your mother says yes, you guys both have money she apparently saved. I wasn't even aware of that."
Miranda smiled, that helped them some, They'd have money to use to at least get a room in one of the earth hotels she learned about if they needed to, but that smile turned into a frown pretty quickly when her father stated that their mom didn't have the banking book with the papers that she had put in the trunk.
"Ah Shazbot!" she mutters. "Now what?" She heard her dad gasp when she cussed and she giggled over that while trying to figure out how to get to money her mom left behind without the paperwork to the account. Reach walked into her room.
"Orwell is ready whenever you are. We just reached orbiting level and will be locking into orbit in about twenty minutes. "
'Thanks Reach." She smiled at him and passed him her bag. "I'll need my trunk in the closet to be shipped to where ever we land. I also must call Jeanie and see where she's at in this place mom called Canada."
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Security was very tight when Miranda and her crew landed in the main oval office in the Whitehouse.
Xu greeted the President with a firm handshake and a smile. They then proceeded with greetings all around, starting with Mearth who was known to the government in the first place and then to Miranda as she was the sergeant that was on this mission in the first place and then her boss and assigned crew member. The President was very excited about meeting everyone and agreed it was quite a special day.
Miranda remembered her father's warnings on how earth persons in higher places tended to have two sets of lips and there for gave double talk, only she was a bit confused when she saw that no one had two mouths. Her thoughts were picked up by her father who told her. "Listen to what they don't say Miputer, and play 'dumb' a little bit, Trust me on this one." So she did.
"If these creatures even fart wrong I'll blow them to smithereens." She got from one security guard.
'OUCH'! She thought. Others ranged from fascination to total racial profiling based on false information of alien races. Many thought that anyone from outer space was there to invade and destroy. She would have to make it clear that this wasn't going to happen. Her father's voice piped up again.
"This is from your mother, 'Just because it seems like a good idea, doesn't always mean others will agree with it so be careful when presenting ideas. As smart as you are, playing a little dumb is a damn good idea!' and yes she actually said that. Miputer. Please dear, be safe."Miranda didn't like it but she didn't hear much more for about two hours as she listened to Xu and Orwell speak to the president about the legalities with Miranda's stay and possible return.
It was explained to Miranda and Mearth that the government felt it was best they kept their identities on the down low as they couldn't provide security for them for the duration they were there. Once everything was hashed out and the Presidential office knew that even though there wasn't any security for them; that if Miranda or Mearth needed assistance they had to provide it to the best of their ability and within reason so as not to break the Orkians 'Proper form' treaty; which basically meant that the Orkians wouldn't blow anyone up if they got their explorers back without them being killed or seriously injured due to the lack of proper aid.
Their counterparts knew quite well what their alien visitors could do back in the seventies and it scared many but now it was the new millennium and there was even more advancement with both races and the President didn't want nor need the hassle of a war with an alien race and informed Xu and Orwell that Miranda and Mearth could go where they pleased and other officials would be notified of their whereabouts and any requests they had they could ask and any aid they needed in the future they could call his direct line which he provided cards to everyone in the landing party.
Miranda decided that maybe her parents were correct so she directed her concerns to the President.
"Sir, with all due respect. I learned that my mother; while here; had opened a special savings account for my brother and I. I know the account number but I do not have the paper work. I do have her death certificate from Ork and her birth records as well. I was wondering if there's any way you can aid me in accessing these funds as Mearth and I do not have a residence as of yet and we need money outside of my parents past income property to secure one." She waited to hear what he had to say. She felt she didn't sound too smart yet she wasn't letting on that she was total stupid either.
"I can assure you Miss McConnell that we will work with you so you can access your mother's savings account, we can even accommodate you till you find a residence that is convenient for you." His thoughts told her he was hoping they wouldn't stay with them too long and though polite he wasn't too thrilled to have them back on Earth let alone in the States.
"I have a friend in Canada who may be able to help us; I'd like to connect with her as I believe we will be better off with someone who knows my family a bit better than even I do." Miranda smiled and he returned one himself with the thoughts of; 'THANK GOD' ringing through his head.
"We will get right on that as soon as we can!" He ushered to one of the aids who went to fetch a phone.
Xu and Orwell saluted and shook hands with Miranda and Mearth and stated they would be back later on to gather supplies before they left in three days time. Miranda nodded and then gave Reach a hug.
"Thanks for all your help; I hope I can give you more tomorrow when you gather your supplies." He smiled and nodded. "At ease cadet, you're not on duty with my care now." He chuckled and gave her a hug back, "Take care OK. I'll see you in a few days" He walked over with Xu and Orwell and the H-28 beam took them back to the ship leaving Miranda and Mearth behind.
A lady of about twenty five earth years walked towards them both, She had very long dark hair and was average in size, but her eyes were a stunning green. "Hi, " She said sticking out her hand. Miranda took her hand in the traditional Ork hand shake... "Na-nu" she said smiling. The lady looked down smirked and then continued "I'm Holly. The President asked me to be your liaison while you're here in the White house. If you need anything, have a question or otherwise I will be the one you ask." She led them to another office and ushered them in. "Here's the phone you requested to make you call. Please feel free to contact your friend here." She pointed to the phone and Mearth walked over to it.
"Do you have Jeanie's number?" He asked. "Yep, hold on." Miranda was writing it down as her father dictated it to her in her head. Sometimes this ability was convenient. Her brother knowing more about earth culture made the call to Jeanie. Miranda could only hear one side of the call, she waited in anticipation.