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Chapter 21 – A Drink with Arles

Arles stood in his closet. He had just returned from meeting the people at Vitex with Pete Tyler, and was surprised at what little time it had taken. He had spoken to Samuel, who told him that they wouldn't be home for a few more hours yet. He changed out of his suit, and into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts just as he heard a voice in his head.

'Hey, kid.' He said.

Arles grinned, 'Lance. I'm hardly a kid, man.'

'Good. That's what I was hoping you would say.'

Arles sat on a chair and put on his socks and trainers. 'Training?'

'I should go train. I've only done a bit today.'

Arles grinned. 'Better than me. I've not done anything.'

'What are you planning on doing in the next hour or so?'

Arles sat up. 'Running.'

'Ah. New plan. Let's go out for a drink. My treat.'

'Why?'

'Jane's editing photos and I well….'

Arles grinned. 'Jane's watching telly and telling you to go do something with me.'

'So, this is an established pattern?'

'Well, established. Yes. Pop over here and we'll go someplace.' He said as he stood in front of the mirror and looked at his hair.

'Brilliant. Let me tell her bye.' Lance insisted.

Arles shook his head and decided to change his shirt.

He looked at himself in the mirror and nodded. 'Yeah. She's not seen this one.'

An explosion rocked the flat and nearly knocked Arles off of his feet. "What the-"

Lance was already speaking in his head, 'You?'

'Not me. I'm fine.' Arles insisted.

'Chiron says smoke is coming from the science lab.' Lance told him.

Arles groaned and popped directly there.

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The science lab was missing every glass from the windows that lined one wall. The tables had been blown over in the explosion, but there didn't appear to be any fire. The books, papers, and such littered the room. One of the overhead lights had been knocked loose and hung from the ceiling at an angle.

Chiron was already there and looking around the room. His small form didn't stop him from walking through the rubbish. "Do you know if anyone was in here?"

Lance stood in the doorway and shook his head. "I don't know."

Arles used his bracelet's proximity detector and lead Lance over to a table that showed a life form. As he got closer, he heard a groan.

Lance and Arles picked up a table and flipped it back over. Peter Parker lay on the ground, rubbing his head. "Oh, that was stupid."

"Parker? Are you alright?" Arles asked.

The teenager looked confused at him. Apparently, the blast had damaged his hearing. "Mr. Bennett. I'm sorry. I believe I got my math wrong."

Arles asked him again. "Are you hurt?"

Peter was already attempting to get up, "No, it didn't work. Dang."

Lance helped him to his feet and dusted him off. "He seems fine."

Arles shook his head in disapproval. "Hearing damage."

Peter looked at him, "I'm sorry. What?"

Lance laughed. "Yeah, I think you're right."

Arles grabbed Peter's shirt and brought him over to the board. He held up his finger and wrote, 'You have hearing loss.'

Peter read it and nodded. "Yes, sir. I think I do."

Arles wrote. 'It's temporary, but we'll have Doctor Bennett look you over when he returns.'

Peter shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure I'm fine, thanks."

Chiron and Lance were looking around the room.

Arles wrote on the board, 'Was anyone else in here with you?'

Peter shook his head. "No, sir. There was only me. I was working on an experiment that Doctor Bennett and I had spoke about, and boy. My math was really wrong."

Arles grinned and wrote on the board. 'Go rest. Don't worry about this.'

"Are they going to kick me out? I mean, look at this. I destroyed the lab!"

Arles shook his head and smiled. 'Don't worry. You're alright, and the lab can be repaired.'

Peter still wasn't happy about it. "The headmistress is going to want to know what happened. Is she back yet?"

Arles waved his hand frantically and held up his finger. 'If she asks, I did this.'

"You did this?" Peter asked.

Arles smiled. 'I love winding up my sister and she was certain something was going to go wrong when she left me in charge.'

"But-"

Arles shook his head. 'Trust me! You're fine. I did this. And I'll get it sorted. You wasn't involved.'

Peter nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm going to rest. Ummm. Thank you."

Arles pat him on the back and dust flew all around. It caused them both to cough.

Lance shook his head as he rejoined Arles. "Chiron. Keep an eye on Parker and make sure he's really alright. I don't want him dropping dead on us. Damn, I'd have to deal with that aunt of his."

Arles laughed. "Problem?"

Lance groaned. "I'm ready for that drink."

Arles took a photo of the room. "And for the Headmistress. Oh, I love this."

"Winding her up?"

Arles sent the photo. "And I'm letting her know there are no casualties."

Lance put his hands on his hips and laughed. "Yeah, be sure to include that."

Arles put his phone back in his pocket. "We'll sort this out when Dad brings his ship back. It's still in the computer and we'll be able to recopy it."

Lance nodded. "Legate says they are in a new ship without a booster. But, he'll let us know when she gets it."

Arles grinned, "I doubt he'll have to do that."

Lance pat his nephew on the back. "And that drink!"

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Arles sat down at a sea side bar with Lance next to him. Both of them wore sunglasses, shorts, and short sleeved shirts.

The ocean breeze tossed their dark hair.

Lance, hadn't shaved for several days and had a fair amount of stubble. He wore gel in his hair and looked very handsome with a tan he had managed to get while he had been on the beach the day before with Jane as she took photos.

Arles smiled at him, "You know, this is how you look at home."

Lance took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes. "Jane, asked me not to shave."

Arles grinned. "Jane. And the gel?"

Lance smiled, "Jane put it in my hair."

Arles laughed. "Yeah. She likes that stuff. She's always putting it in mine, too. Looks good in yours."

Lance smiled and looked around. "So, what is this place?"

Arles and Lance's attention went immediately on a child who screamed nearby. They both turned to see a small water park, with several small children running around and splashing with their parents.

Lance grinned. "That looks like fun."

"Yeah, we should copy that for the children. Lenox's would love it."

"And what can I get you?" A familiar voice asked and then laughed. "Arles! I didn't know you were in town."

Arles held his hand out to present him. "Lance, this is Kelly. Kelly, this is Lance."

Lance smiled and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"And you. So, are you here for a drink or-"

Arles rubbed his chin. "Do you have any of that beer that doesn't taste like beer, ma'am?"

Kelly wiped her hands on a bar towel. "Beer that doesn't taste like beer?"

"Someone told me about it." He grinned.

"I know the one." She looked at Lance. "And what would Lance like?"

Lance tapped his sunglasses on the bar and smiled at her. "I'm not so picky. I'll have the beer that tastes like beer."

Kelly smiled and poured two pints. She sat them in front of the men and leaned on the bar. "You two look alike. You could be brothers."

Arles grinned. "I would be the better looking one."

Kelly giggled.

Lance smiled, "Arles is my nephew. Does he come here enough that you know him?"

"No, he doesn't. We play softball together."

Arles sipped his pint and looked surprised at it. "I like this one, Kelly."

Kelly grinned, "I thought you might. Tastes like fruit. Do you guys want anything else?"

Arles shook his head, "Not at the moment, but thank you."

She gripped his arm and smiled.

Both Lance and Arles sipped their pints and watched her bounce away in her short shorts and tank top.

Kelly began to speak to another customer at the other side of the bar.

Lance sat down his pint, "So, that's Kelly-"

"Before you get any ideas, we're just friends."

Lance rose his eyebrows in surprise. "Just friends?"

"Yeah." He shrugged his shoulders and sipped his beer again. "I really like this."

Lance looked back at Kelly and sipped his beer. "And so. Jane and I are planning on going to see a few things."

Arles sat his drink down and smiled proudly. "Just like you do at home. So, it begins."

Lance laughed and nodded. "I suppose. And I want you to know, that if you need me-"

"I'm to tell you. No matter what. Yes, Lance. I know that. Why do you think we came to you and Jane's place that morning we crashed?"

Lance grinned. "Good. So, how are you doing here?"

"I'm flat mates with Tony Tyler, who is rarely here."

"So, he's turned up again with Tony's ship?"

"He's in and out. It's…odd. He was there this morning. After I finished class, he was gone again."

"Where is he going?"

"Oh, I have no idea. Just…out. Doesn't bother me, either. It's nice having a flat mate who is never there."

"Especially one you don't really get on with. I've spoken to John. Does anyone get on with Tyler?"

"Well, I suppose I would be the closest to it. But, he's just….a very angry person. Him and Sam are always at one another's throats. Tony actually has told Sam that he's not John's son, and Rose and Lewis had a thing-"

Lance shook his head and laughed. "Oh no. He's John's. There's no denying it. Hell, he looks just like him!"

"That's what I told him. But, the entire Papa/Dad thing. It's always been a pressure point Tony wants to use. Anything to get Sammy wound up. And now that Karen and Sammy are having a baby-"

"Whoa! Karen is pregnant?"

"How do you not know this? I think everyone does."

Lance covered his mouth in surprise. "Oh, wow."

Kelly had returned with a plate of chips. "And here you go. On the house. They are hot, so they will burn your mouth like you like."

Arles tossed a chip in his mouth and exhaled slowly as it burned. "Oh, that's brilliant. Thank you, Kelly."

Lance sipped his beer and shook his head at his nephew. "Just like your Papa. Geez."

Kelly smiled. "How long are you in town for?"

Arles glanced back at his Uncle. "Ummm…."

Kelly grinned, "Because if you want to go, there is this concert tonight on the beach here. Lots of local bands, loud music, dancing. It sounds fun."

"When are you done working?" He asked.

She smiled. "Six."

He smiled like a loon. "I'll be here at six to get you."

Another customer sat down at the bar. Kelly squeezed Arles' forearm again, "Excuse me."

Lance sipped his beer and watched her bounce away.

Arles found himself daydreaming about her shorts and wondering if she was wearing a thong like he taken off of her a few nights ago.

Lance looked back at the look on his nephew's face. "You're just friends?"

Arles seemed to snap out of it. "Well, yeah! Karen doesn't believe me, either."

Lance pointed at her. "You are telling me, that isn't-"

"It's not! Geez. Everyone wants to get into my love life."

Lance nodded and grinned. "Right. Never mind. It's just…."

"She's attractive. I'll give you that. But, relationships. They aren't for me. I'm not like you. Or Legate. Or Sammy."

Lance watched his nephew sip his beer. "I'm not convinced."

"You don't have to be. No one else is."

Lance stood up and pat his shoulder. "I'm going to give this playground a closer look. Order me another one."

Arles watched him walk away and tossed another chip in his mouth.

Kelly returned, "Another round?"

He nodded. "Please."

"So, this uncle. Staying with you?"

Arles leaned on the bar and smiled at her. "No. Why? Would you like to?"

She smiled and poured him another couple of pints. "Well, maybe."

"Maybe? Already grown bored of me?"

She giggled and sat the pints in front of him. She leaned close to his face and told him quietly. "You talk in your sleep-"

"I'll try not to-"

"And you have to get up so early for the Bullet-"

"Thank you for a ride to the station."

"And….I'll think of some more excuses-"

"I'm here all day. Stay with me tonight and all of tomorrow. I don't have to catch the Bullet until tomorrow evening."

She rose her eyebrows. "What about your classes-"

"What about yours?"

She giggled and walked away.

Arles watched her walk away as he sipped his beer.

Lance sat back down next to him. "Oh, that is a brilliant playground! I'll go up and copy it to keep it in the database. John will want it on the island, and we might as well put it on ours with the school."

Arles didn't take his eyes off of Kelly, "The Island of New, New York?"

Lance tossed a chip in his mouth. "Yeah."

Kelly looked back at Arles and smiled.

Arles' face slowly spread into a smile.

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