Rivalry and Arguments

Mid-Afternoon: February 26, 2190 AI

The verdict was in: the Teleport Orb would need some extensive work done on it to relieve what had taken it over. Virginia would have to stay at the lab with her dad until that happened. Lucky for her, she did want to make sure he came home again. Until that time, she would stay with Jet and hang out. He didn't mind that his friend was not even eight, at least she liked to be around him. Besides, someone needed to make sure Leehalt didn't go on another tirade around her, he had no tact when it came to young children.

"I still can't believe you're going to be making a human from this tube," Virginia stated, "It looks like it's almost done." They were in the specimen chamber, looking at the Filgaia Sample later on that afternoon. The girl could sense the extraordinary powers coming from the boy inside, even though he didn't even have a definite physical form. He was shaped like a human being, but his eyes were closed, he was hairless, and he had no definite physical features. It appeared as if something was missing, but she didn't know what.

"I don't know why he can't be completed now, something else seems to be needed. But Dad and Uncle Werner don't tell me about these things, they don't want me to get all upset over their research. I was told that when he's completed, Adam will be like my brother or friend. Since I am the only kid in this lab. They've set his physical age upon completion to be fifteen, and with these generators Dad says it will only take about six months. I'll be fifteen then, and the two of us will be best friends. You can hang with us too, we'll both be your older brothers, and you can be our cute, adorable little sister," stated Jet, thinking about the future. Maybe if this turned into a good experience for Virginia she would come to visit them more often. The only reason they didn't live here was that Werner didn't want to have his wife and child see the way Leehalt behaved around him, and how he could behave around the irate scientist when provoked.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of breaking glass. Virginia ran to investigate it, with Jet trying to warn her not to run off on her own. When she looked into a room, she saw what appeared to be two of the council members fighting. One was a man with short blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a youthful face that seemed to be about twenty eight. The second was a beautiful, if you liked that type, woman with purple hair worn mannishly short, and blue eyes. It was the woman who appeared to be the instigator, as she threw yet another bottle of expensive wine at the man. Then, he picked up some more wine and tossed it at her.

She yelled, "How dare you say I'm not beautiful, Malik? You're the weird one, obsessed with finding a way to bring the dead back to life. I swear, with all those contour drawings of naked women in your room, you're more perverted than Duran, if that's even possible. What, you trying to find a date with some woman who'll be put together perfectly or something to that extent?" She tossed some more wine in his direction.

The man dodged. "You have it all wrong Melody. I only want to bring my poor dead mother back to life. What child wouldn't want to do that for his or her parent, especially when they died while shielding their child from the blows of an abusive stepparent. My mother died selflessly, it's only fair that I bring her back to life in return. All of those drawings are to get my mother's body just perfect, then it'll be like it used to be, just her and me. Show some respect to my high and lofty ideals." He tossed a beaker full of liquid at her.

"Not again," muttered Jet, "Those two are always at it. Virginia, we should make a hasty retreat, I don't want something bad to happen to you. Malik and Melody are known for taking their wrath out on other people when they get angry enough, and if someone else tries to break up the fight. Once my dad got a black eye from trying to forcefully pull Malik off of Melody when they were arguing. How about we go for a walk or something, you know, keep away from this little argument?" He saw her nod her head in agreement. Any type of argument scared Virginia, she didn't like fighting. That's why she always avoided the other kids.

"Well, well, well, what have we here? Looks like little Jet has got a girlfriend," teased Malik, upon looking around for more ammo after Melody had thrown a fifth of Jack Daniels at him. Virginia, a little tense after watching them fight, turned around and tried to hide her eyes. But Malik didn't hurt her at all, he was even more interested in the girl than in his fight with Melody. Heck, even Melody had decided to stop her tirade and come to see what was going on. Jet's glare seemed to further tell them to be decent in front of the child. So after a few moments of nothing but silence, Virginia turned around to face the two scientists.

She told them, "My name is Virginia Maxwell, I came here for a visit with my Daddy. But his item for transporting us got broken, so he has to wait until it gets fixed to send me home again. And who might you two be?" The girl again curtsied, deciding to win them both over with her sweet attitude. It worked to calm down most people back home, and the only time it didn't at least make them not bother her was when she'd used it on Leehalt. But you all know that he's not one for anything to do with the love her parents had.

Melody took a closer look. "So, Werner's little girl? You look like your father a lot. I remember the day he met your mother, mostly because it took Leehalt's wrath away from me." Virginia got it this time, Jet had informed her that Leehalt loved picking fights in general, and fighting with both their fathers in particular. The girl sized up Melody, she looked a little bit frazzled about something. Since she'd been in the fight with Malik, something over her beauty, the child figured that it must have been the reason.

"Hello there little girl," Malik said, "You're just about the age I was when I last saw my mother. Those were the days, I was actually loved, not stuck in a room full of crazies and nuts all day trying to get by and find a way to save my mother's life." The look that Melody gave seemed to say something to the extent of, "Crazies and nuts, you're the biggest one of them all." But the jury was still out on that one, after all everyone on the council was at least a little loopy. Well, at least Malik, Melody, Leehalt, and Duran.

Jet looked at them, and then at Virginia. "Well, we should get going now. Carry on your business, I don't want to interfere. See you guys tomorrow, we've still got to finish looking around and meeting other people." He'd promised Virginia he'd introduce her to everyone, and this was mostly everyone. So the two youths left the room, Virginia stopping only to wave goodbye. Malik and Melody were left all alone again.

"So," Melody started, "Where were we? Oh yes, I remember now. Take that! Never insult my pretty face ever again, Malik Bendict!" She tossed the first bottle of beer she grabbed at him. Malik, who was thoroughly insulted by this one, grabbed a beaker full of hot water and tossed it onto Melody. Not only was she hurt by the glass, but the water was painful. So she grabbed another beaker with burning water and tossed it at Malik. This went on for some time, until poor Pete Inkapilia discovered it and had to clean.

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Teefa's Last Words…

I know I did that gag in "Matchmaker Mayheim". Well, I'm recycling. Besides, I only said it happened, never described the fight. And I had to have her meet everyone on the council first. Gonna finish that up next chapter , we'll meet Duran and Pete.