Chapter 55
Brian
What Is Courage
Brian is sitting in a room with four beds, on the bed he is sitting on there rests a necklace that he stares at not blinking. His feelings are confused and doubt is beginning to flood him. There is a sound and he turns his head.
"Sorry about that, I had to go if you know what I mean." Becky says with a chuckle as she steps out of the bathroom. "I am glad I passed your test."
"Not just you, but Jason as well. I am thankful that you have agreed to do the work today."
"Oh, don't worry I have already ran the; are we being monitored program." She smiles as she grabs her jacket off a chair in front of a desk. "Sure wish we could have more than one desk." Becky looks around, "Your lucky you only have one roommate."
He smiles and his hand touches the necklace for a moment.
Becky steps forward and picks up the necklace and with a warm smile she says, "Nice isn't it." There is warmth in her voice, "Handcrafted with love."
"Forget-Me-Not."
She is still giving the necklace a warm gaze, "Forget-Me-Not? I am always going to remember the day he gave me this." Becky opens a drawer and places the necklace gently inside and stares at it for a moment. "I love the small round rock, dark gray with black lines running around it and it is so smooth. So sweet."
"Forget-Me-Not is a flower, I actually heard the name once and just liked the name. When I planned a hike, I asked to go to someplace called Oregon. The place we went to is where I gathered some flowers like that and the rock. Jason had asked that I do things with the Downstairs Kids, so I had the idea to make some jewelry from the things I brought back from our little field trip." He nods his head to the drawer, "That was one of them."
"No, way!" She gives him a large grin. "Jason is the one that gave me that. Did you give the necklace to Jason? I thought he said Diana gave it to him."
It is like a whisper coming to him, 'Time to put childish thoughts away.' He tilts his head and speaks quietly. "Ah, we gave them away. Not a big deal, just wanted to share them. Glad Jason gave it to you, Diana could never appreciate the work done. As you said before it was handcrafted with love, the children I worked with loved doing this project. It was not meant to look." Brian scratches his cheek for a moment, "You know sophisticated. Nothing she would ever care for."
She nods her head in agreement and then suddenly jerks as she sees what time it is. "You can wait or I will meet you down at the shuttle. I totally understand the cover story and that is we are testing the drone in a part of the city which has a bit more ethnicity in the people living there. You will be hiding the little drone we are actually going to be using. For now I will take it down, it is easier for me to explain why I have it and once boarded you will hide it. Kelly has done the programming." Becky smiles, "Going to be one interesting day."
"I'll wait by the shuttle, please don't take long. Remember drone goes in my boot." He stands up as she nods at him and out the door he goes.
Walking feels like he has weights on his feet. He can remember making that necklace with the Downstairs Kids. Not that was his intention in the beginning, it was Jason who scolded him and told him that the Downstairs Kids needed big brothers right after their hike. He decided it was fate that he had brought so many little souvenirs of flowers, pebbles and bits of moss. Originally it was to give him more to work with for Diana's necklace, but he knew they would enjoy this project as this was something that he had done for his mother when he was their ages. When he gave his mother the necklace he made her, he could tell from her face she truly liked the necklace. He had told her he was sorry that the work wasn't better. She had placed her hand on his cheek and told him it was the handmade look of someone who cared that meant so much to her. From time to time she would wear it, once she wore it to an elegant gathering. The memory of the necklace is one he has always cherished and hopes is never taken from him.
Brian rides down the elevator feeling like the life is being sucked out of him. He remembers giving Diana the necklace. Even if she didn't like it, he was sure she would enjoy the thought of something he had made for her with his own hands. Yes, he knew she could likely never get a chance to wear it, but it was just something special made for her only. He gave her the box and she opened it with an excited expression. She then held up the necklace with the flower, which was encased and hardened in a clear gel with a puzzled face. To him the small round pebble represented the meaning of life written in a secret language. The flower itself said, do not forget me; forget-me-not. The message of the necklace was love is life and to not forget each other. He was going to explain it, but she gave him a flat thank-you and laid it down on a table near her, got up and sat on his lap and began rubbing him. In his excitement he had forgotten to ask her what she really thought of the necklace. Well, he knows now.
Exiting the elevator he just stands and waits for Becky, suddenly he shakes his head and laughs. What a fool he has been, she could care less about him and never would. He literally made himself a sex toy or is that boy toy. Then he groans and someone passing by asks if he is okay. No, he is done with Diana, never again. All of his focus is going to be on; Doing Our Own Thing.
After a few minutes Becky exits the elevator and they head to a small shuttle where another Youth Corp member stands. The Corp member is also in their movement and is familiar with Becky's work. He can fly the shuttle as well, which has been outfitted for what Becky needs to do to run the drones. Still they look carefully around as there are two more individuals coming and they need to be very careful that they do not find out what they are truly doing. They sit down and Becky slips the tiny drone down his boot and Brian adjusts it to ensure it is not seen. He would have put it in his belt pouch, but that was to easy for someone in charge to command everyone to show them what is in their pouches and that could possibly betray their true project.
The other two, a Youth Leader named Devin and a trooper come in and sit down and the shuttle is given permission to depart. He and Becky stay quiet. This is going to be an interesting moment. Suddenly Devin turns to him and asks what they are doing as the shuttle is different than most.
"Becky and I are doing an experiment," Brian pauses for a moment, blinks and shakes his head. "We ah, well you must know that I am in a special Security group, this group consists of Youth Corp and humans. I oversee the work with Visitor Friends, I had an idea to see how drones would work in an area like we are going to. Those are the monitors and equipment needed." This even sounds stupid to him, but let them think that. They will think he is trying to gain points and will make fun of him after they depart.
Devin snorts, "Good luck with that. You two know that your wearing the wrong ethnic skin for this area."
Brian simply shrugs and nothing more is said as Devin and the trooper leave. Becky begins setting up her equipment on one of the monitors as she runs the program that Kelly had created to turn off monitoring on the shuttle if it was running and then she runs the special program for the secret drone. That drone he pulls out of his boot and pushes it gently up the sleeve of his jacket. "Ready," He states and she simply smiles.
He watches as another small drone flies out and Becky begins the supposed secret project for Security. Then he takes a deep breath and begins the walk to his destination. Devin is correct he likely stands out in this part of town and he has been here enough times that some must recognize him. All he can do is continue on. When he arrives he stands staring intently at the window, there appears to be movement going on inside. However, there is a sign stating it is closed, he shrugs. It was he and his friends on the ship that gave them money to do this, he has every right to see how the money is being spent. Walking to the door he turns the door knob, it is locked. For a moment he stands at the door, he can most certainly see someone, but their back is to him so he knocks to get the individual's attention. The door is quickly opened and a surprised Zelda is staring at him. She gives him a hard look and finally he says, "Can I come in or not?" She moves out of the way, but Zelda does not lose the hard stare as he walks in and surveys the work being done.
A smiling Javier quickly walks into the room, "Brian! Long time no see. In fact, long time no see any of you."
"We have had some issues to deal with and I have been given a promotion, which means learning my new duties." Brian continues to look around the room, "You are painting this room? Are you getting close to opening the coffee shop?"
Zelda is dressed in paint splattered clothing. "Yes, we should be open in a few days. I have the license and everything to officially do business. This morning we were just finishing painting some areas which needed a bit more work. It takes time as I am still working."
"You are still working at that," Brian pauses for a moment, "Nursing home. I would think if you are opening in a few days you would not have the time."
"Just part time," There is a nervous edge to her voice. "I gotta get ready for work."
"Okay, so how is the other side going?" Brian asks as he watches Zelda walking away. Her steps although not running are certainly quick. He can't help the smirk he knows is gracing his face, something is going on here.
Javier laughs, "This way. We got the supplies and the room looks good. Come and see it."
Entering Beautiful Smoke feels almost like going home. He likes this place even if he isn't so sure they like him. Javier shows him the work done on the small room where the pipes and other paraphernalia is now being sold to a new group of customers, the ones they call pot smokers. It is not long and Nick walks in with a cup of coffee and a muffin giving Brian a surprised look.
Nick puts down his coffee and muffin and maneuvers around some boxes. With a grumpy look he then picks up the boxes and begins moving them to the room behind the counter. This is the room that holds the magic cupboard as George likes to call it. Brian follows him into the room, this surprises Nick who gives him a stiff look.
First he looks around, but his eyes keep moving to the cupboard. He gives Nick a friendly smile, "If I remember Ethan said that this shop was opened nearly a hundred years ago and has always remained in your family. The name Beautiful Smoke has a story," He then opens the first cabinet door and then the secret door where during prohibition alcohol was hidden. "I like these old posters this one with three men; one black, one white and another; Hispanic maybe. Ethan said your grandfather thought of the name Beautiful Smoke as people of different colors working together to be as one group no matter their skin differences." Brian holds up a hand and waves it around the room, "Beautiful Smoke. Maybe Beautiful Smoke is meant to embrace all intelligent life, not just skin color. People of the universe."
Before Nick can answer Zelda is standing there in her uniform shaking her head sadly, "What would you know about that?"
"Maybe nothing," He moves slowly towards her pulling out the small drone from his jacket sleeve and subtlety placing the tiny drone on her as she tries to brush his hand away. "Wow, looks like a stray hair." He turns and takes a step towards a trash can and pretends to drop the hair in it working hard to keep the smirk from his lips.
"What do you want?" Nick has a concerned look, "Are you wanting your money back? We spent it, going to take awhile to give it back. Maybe you shouldn't have invested so much."
Brian shakes his head, "No. The money was well spent, of that I am sure of, you are doing quite well. I will drop by another time. For now I will just go ahead and leave, but can't wait to see how the money was spent."
"We can show you now," Javier says with a confused look.
Brian shakes his head and turns to the door. He looks back for a moment and wonders if anything will come of this little monitoring project of his. The small shop is like a home and he has no idea why. He has never liked the smell of old tobacco, but there has always been something that calls out to him. If all works out, this may be the place.
When he reaches the shuttle, Becky nods and shows him the monitor. The tiny drone he placed on Zelda is working so for now she turns the monitoring equipment off and they work on the fake project. He will need to show his superiors something so that they believe he truly was here for the fake project and not to monitor Beautiful Smoke. When Devin and the other trooper shows up they leave for the Visitor Friends building.
x x Later in the afternoon x x
Just as he is about to go to the parking lot for the second time today and check on Becky, Daniel walks up. "Hey, wanna grab a slushy."
Brian pulls himself together, he can't lose focus as it would not be good for Daniel or anyone to find out that the drone project is not the one they are really working on. However, he is quite concerned as Becky has found something unsettling while doing their own secret project. He gives the human a questioning look, "I have no idea what a slushy is. Maybe we should finish working on our staff list first."
"Come on a break, you'll love trying out a slushy. Kind of crushed ice, but not really frozen, you know slushie, which is flavored with syrup or juice, mix-up your favorite flavors. You're going to love it." Daniel laughs, "Come on it's time for a break."
He shrugs, Becky has told him she would be better with him not checking on her. Ensuring that Daniel does the best possible job he can will not only be good for Daniel, but it will increase his own points. The more he rises in the ranks, the more he can do for the movement. "Lead on," Brian says.
"Looks like you are the follower today." Daniel is still laughing as they walk to some small store that has the drink that he is looking forward too.
It only takes a few minutes to reach the store and as they are walking up there is a man huddled up with a sign, 'Veteran in need. Please, anything helps.' Brian stops and looks at the man who appears in need of assistance.
The man appears startled and rolls about trying to get on his feet as Daniel grabs Brian's arm and pulls him away. "Look he's a drunk looking for money. He's just a waste."
"Does veteran mean he fought for his world, I mean country?" Brian asks as he begins to slowly turn in the man's direction once again.
"Yeah, I guess he saw stuff they shouldn't have or did stuff they were uncomfortable with so he started drinking." Daniel is standing at the door of the store awaiting Brian to join him, "Come on let's get the slushy."
"I'll wait here," Brian says and Daniel enters without saying anything further. He can't take his eyes off of the man, he knows what it is to do things you wish you could take back. As he stands there a car pulls up with two people inside, one gets out and the other stays inside listening to very loud music. At first he pays no attention as his focus is on the veteran. Then song comes up and he likes the words. 'We don't need no thought control,' and 'Teachers leave those kids alone,' 'Hey! Teachers! Leave those kids alone.' Brian smiles at the line, 'All in all you're just another brick in the wall.' He is going to have to find out what all of the lyrics are and who the band is. It reminds him of Twisted Sister, he likes the line in their song; 'No, we ain't gonna take it.' Yes, he and his fellow Youth Corp are not going to take it any more as they will be leaving.
After the song finishes he has a thought that part of the song should say, 'Regime! Leave the Youth Corp alone.' The words, 'We don't need no thought control,' is something he identifies with. The bonding procedure done on them, the training as just a young child; this was done by people who cared not about the young lives in their hands, but only in their own agenda. If he and his friends died due to the thought control they went through, those who trained them would only be disappointed if they had not done as commanded before they died. He is still bouncing his head about with the music coming from the car and still thinking of the lyrics of the two songs he likes. Then the car suddenly begins to backup, he had not even seen the driver come back he was so involved in how he would change the words and another surprise Daniel comes out with a plastic glass.
"Ready to go?" Daniel is holding up his large plastic glass and then takes a long sip from the straw. "Whew, brain freeze!"
Brian smiles, "Sure. Do you have change from purchasing your drink?" Daniel nods, "May I have it?"
Daniel hands him the coins and he takes out what is a twenty dollar bill from his belt pouch as well.
As they walk past the veteran Brian tries to hand him the money and the veteran screams, "I don't take money from the enemy." He tries one more time to get the man to take it, but again the man screams at him. "You take people and they go away. You are evil." The man spits at him and he backs off feeling confused.
"Hey, you tried." Daniel says with a grin and points in the direction of the Visitor Friends building and they walk away from the man.
Suddenly Brian just stops, for some reason he knew this would happen and he doesn't know why. Now he will do what had seemed like an odd idea at the time he asked for the Daniel's change. He rolls the twenty around the three coins Daniel had given him and walks back to the man. "Look I was just trying to help."
The man glares at him, "Get your alien butt out of here!"
Brian shrugs and points to Daniel, "He wanted to help as well." The man turns in Daniel's direction and he simply drops the money in the can at the same time the man turns. The money sits in the can when he turns back. Brian shrugs, "Look we won't bother you again." He begins to walk away and turns again giving the man a smile. "Well, maybe we won't bother you again." With that he simply walks away not turning back again.
When they reach the building Daniel turns to Brian, "Why did you do that? I saw what you did, I wouldn't have given him any money, he was a jerk."
He turns away looking at the shuttle that Becky is working in. You can certainly say that she is brave as well as committed in doing what she feels is the right thing to do. This even though it wasn't long ago she would have turned in someone doing just what she is doing now. She can't take back what she may regret now, Becky knows she must move forward. This is how he feels about the things he has done in the past. Time to move on, the veteran may not have had the friends he needed to do just that. Support of friends and the courage to try. Yes, Becky is very brave. He looks at Daniel for a moment, how does he explain what he did with the veteran. Biting his lip for a moment he shrugs and just decides to do his best with as little explanation as possible. "He had the courage to serve when asked by his people. Even though he may have been uncomfortable with what he was doing, he was there to protect his friends as they served as well. What would life be if not for the courage to try, to do what is right, at least at the time."
"What courage? He's a drunken beggar," Daniel shakes his head. "No, courage in begging. Guess we better go work on that list. I have a few names, one of them is Don Johns. Like that name, Don Johns." Daniel takes another sip from his drink and walks into the building not even looking to see if Brian is following him.
Brian does not follow immediately. His head is lost in what does courage mean, when you have given your best and then are forgotten. His head turns, Daniel is a mystery to him. Some days he is amazing and someone who deserves respect. Then other times it is if Daniel is someone that makes him very uncomfortable as it seems everything is just for him and there is no sacrifice for anyone else.
Walking into the building he turns again to the shuttle where Becky is. Courage to sacrifice, courage to stand up for others, courage to do things that are hard to accept, but must be done in order for a movement to continue on. Courage has more meanings than just go out and fight. Courage is when you have great fear, but stand-up and face your foe no matter what. Sometimes your worst enemy can be yourself. Courage.