Chapter 21 Persuasion

Katie left Bogg's room and walked out of the medical unit. She paused where two corridors intersected, deep in thought. To the left was the way back to Mission Control and the main compound. To the right, was the law complex. She had spent the first two years of her career at headquarters, working in the law building and knew it well.

She knew exactly where Jeff would be taken on tour. The area was huge, but if they wanted to impress him and convince him to stay, there were certain things they would definitely take him to see.

She turned right and headed back to her old haunts, confident she could find Jeff.

The law complex was enormous. It was comprised of several buildings, and held three of the largest libraries that Jeffrey had ever seen, as well as dorm rooms for all the students. It was located next to the court rooms, so students could observe hearings and trials.

"So, what do you think?"

"This is amazing!" Jeff answered enthusiastically. As they walked around, Jeff tried to take in everything. When they reached the dorm rooms and he saw the students, he finally asked the question he'd been wondering about.

"If I lived here, where would Bogg stay?"

Kane paused and looked at him. "Voyager Bogg is a Field Worker," he explained, "he would be on assignment."

"Oh," Jeff said softly. Now he finally understood. If he decided to stay here, he wouldn't be with Bogg anymore.

"But we recognize that Voyager Bogg is important to you. He would be recalled if you were sick or injured. And he would be able to visit every few months."

"Months?" Jeff said.

"I know you've voyaged on your own and done quite well. You can't tell me that you need Voyager Bogg with you constantly. A smart kid like you? You'll be fine. And you'll be so busy that a month will go by like that," and he snapped his fingers to emphasize.

Jeff frowned and followed along to the next stop on the tour. What Kane said was true. He had voyaged alone, and solved more than one red light without Bogg's help. And after all, he was thirteen, maybe a few months wasn't really that long a time. Maybe he could actually do this.

"Hey Jeff!"

He turned his head toward the female voice and watched a tall woman approach. She was thin, with long, dark hair.

"Voyager Williamson, I thought you had transferred out of the legal department?" asked Kane.

"I heard Jeff was here and I've been his tracker in Mission Control. I wanted to meet him," she explained. "Are you done? I can walk him back."

Kane smiled at her, "an excellent idea." He turned to Jeff, "you would be able to learn about Mission Control too, if you stayed here to study. Katie can explain what's there while she walks you back."

Jeff nodded, "okay."

"I'll stop by tomorrow for your decision," and he bade them goodbye with a wink. As he walked away, he thought about the good luck of finding someone from Mission Control to speak with Jeffrey. He was confident that now the boy would choose to stay.

"You can call me Katie," she began as she led the way along the corridor.

"Did you really track me? What do you see when you do that? How do you know it's me? What about Bogg, do you track him too?" Jeff was fascinated by the woman's job. He knew he could learn a lot from her.

Katie laughed, "Listen, I'll answer all your questions I promise. But first, I want to tell you why I left the legal department."

Jeff stopped walking and looked at her. "Why did you leave?"

"I was here for two years, and in all that time, I never really felt connected to anyone."

"What about now, in Mission Control?"

She nodded.

"Who are you?"

"I'm sorry, I should've said. I'm a friend of Rick Wilson."

Jeff smiled, "he saved my life… and Bogg's too."

"I know."

"Did Bogg send you to convince me not to stay?"

"No, he doesn't know I'm talking to you."

"So, what's wrong with the legal department?"

"Nothing, but for me, most of the people here are a bit aloof. It's hard to get close to them."

They started walking again, and Jeff tried to sort through everything he'd seen and heard. It was an amazing place, and a wonderful offer. He felt very tempted, and Kane had given him a new reason to accept it. He'd said that it might be easier for Bogg if Jeff stayed here. It would mean Bogg wouldn't have the responsibility for a kid in the field any more.

On the other hand, Jeff wasn't sure he'd be happy here alone. Even if he lived with a new guardian, like Kane described, it wouldn't be the same as being with Bogg.

There was so much to consider, and even though he'd given Kane a tentative answer already, right now, he found himself on the fence.

ooOoo

Katie brought Jeffrey back to Bogg and said her goodbyes.

Phineas stared at Jeffrey as Katie left, his stomach tight. "How was the tour?"

"Great!"

"So what do you think?" Phineas asked, dreading the answer he might hear.

"I think I know what I want to do. But, I want to know what you think?" Jeff said and Bogg's heart sunk. After seeing everything the law building had to offer, he was sure that Jeff was excited about attending. He'd always been one to jump into a challenge.

"I'd like to think some more about it kid," Phineas replied, but he'd already been thinking and he still didn't know what to say. The kid was brilliant; he'd known that for a long time. It must be hard for him, traveling with someone who was not so brilliant. Here at headquarters, he'd be surrounded by brilliance. Why did Bogg continue to feel like he had to protect him from that? "Ask me tomorrow," he said finally, and settled down for one of the longest nights of his life.

He slept lightly and awoke often, his mind examining each argument both for and against Jeff staying here without him. He kept returning to one fact, here Jeff would be safer than out in the field. That should make the decision easy, but illogical as it sounded, Bogg just didn't think that was the right choice. He was sure the Tribunal had thought of it however. Finally he dozed off into a restless sleep.