Still not mine...
Chapter 8...
The next morning saw Zoe waking my up at 0600 with a cup of tea. I nodded my thanks to the little elf and she popped away while I began my morning ritual. I was dressed in my running gear and was heading out of my room within ten minutes. I had a quick look in on Imogen and I saw that she was sleeping peacefully.
This morning as I ran the boundary line, I was paying alot more attention to the landscape than the last time I had run. I needed a space big enough to fit at least the hangar and one or two buildings that would serve as operations, accommodation, mess hall and administration.
It was going to take up a fairly good chunk of the Potter property.
I found a suitable place near the North West corner of the property. There were no roads or any sign of habitation on the other side of the fence, the space was also hidden from the manor.
Which I think will be a good thing for the Potters. Our job is to protect, not to be seen.
The thing that really sold the location for me was that it was right on the water. Nothing toughens you up more than a two mile swim in the middle of winter in the UK. One of our aircraft maintainers was a personal trainer before he joined the military so he knows all the different way to make our lives miserable with exercise.
After I have finished surveying the property I head back to the manor and up to my room. After I had cleaned up and gotten dressed for the day, I headed down to breakfast and to ask Lord Potter for permission to use that part of the property to set up shop.
He agrees and after making sure that Cody would tell Imogen where I was when she eventually woke up, I called for Gordy and had him pop me to where I had planned to set up.
I was about to show Gordy where I wanted everything when a thought stopped me. I sent a mental question to the Fates and Clotho answered and confirmed that my team would be arriving in front of the Manor at 1300.
I looked at my watch and realised that I had about five hours to accomplish everything. I pointed out the area I wanted marked out and Gordy called for another five elves that appeared to assist him.
Once I had explained what I wanted to accomplish the elves spread out. At a command from Gordy, the six elves snapped their fingers and the grass and small bushes disappeared to be replaced with an area the size of a rugby field covered in dirt.
"Well done guys, that was perfect." I praised the elves as soon as they all popped back to me. This caused them all to look down in embarrassment. "Now stand close to me please, as I am about to get some things delivered." I grabbed both my wrists and called for the Fates to assist me.
I also send them a mental image of the cleared land and exactly where I would like the hangar placed. There was a shimmer in front of us that looked like a heat haze that lasted for about a minute. Once the haze had cleared there was an aircraft hangar and apron area exactly where I had requested it.
I turned towards the awed elves and winked at them. "Not a word you lot." I said smiling and I was greeted with six grins as the elves seemed happy to be sharing a secret with their 'Master Alex'. I started to walk towards the hangar when Gordy grabbed my hand. I saw the question in his eyes and nodded. Without a second's hesitation, I was popped right in front of the hangar doors which were open.
I heard several other pops and the five elves that had helped Gordy had followed us. I walked into the cavernous interior of the hangar and saw the UH60 sitting parked right where it should be with the tow tractor hooked up to the rear wheel.
Sweet.
To my left as I walked into the hangar with the elves following behind me and gazing around at everything with wide eyes, were twenty H1 Hummers with .50 cal machine guns on the back as well as several motor bikes and a half dozen UNIMOG trucks. And several mini buses.
I paused and recounted. That can't be right. There is way more equipment that what we need. I was about to call the Fates to ask them, but then I decided to hold my tongue.
I figured it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Next to the vehicles, were two dozen rolling tool chests and the other assorted items and spare parts that were necessary to keep Team 4 mobile for six months at a time. On the opposite side of the hanger was a set of officers that belonged to the Crew Chief and the other maintainers as well as a set of toilets and showers. A set of aluminium stairs led up to another set of officers that belonged to the maintenance officer and his staff.
On the back wall was a massive 3D painting of an Archangel with a sword in one hand and a glowing silver ball in an outstretched hand that represented a soul, with the words TEAM 4 above it. One of the maintainers found it on the internet and copied it onto the wall.
It did look pretty friggin mean.
I turned around and exited the hangar and looked around at the remaining clear space. We had about half a rugby field left to make use of. I turned to the elves who were still hot on my heels.
"Guys do you know how to build buildings?" I asked and one of the elves whose name tag said Jason shyly stepped forward.
"I is being able to do thats Master Alex." He told me looking down at his feet.
This would never do. I squatted down in front of Jason and put my finger under his chin. "Ok guys and girls, here is a new order." I stopped and made eye contact with the rest of the elves in front of me.
"You are to be proud of your abilities. If I ask if you can do something, you don't have to be embarrassed that you can do something. I am really glad that you can do what I ask. However, if by the same token, you do not know how to do something, admit it." I saw understanding in their large eyes. I looked back at Jason.
"I don't know the first thing about making a building, so I am relying on you to tell me if what I request can actually be done. I do not want you punishing yourselves because you can't do what I ask. Make sure you pass this order onto the other Potter elves. Do we understand each other people?" Little heads were nodding so fast I was surprised none of them got a concussion from the flapping ears.
Now that that little drama had been taken care of I turned my attention back to Jason and explained what I wanted to be made. He listened carefully to my description and pointed out a few flaws in my design and suggested several improvements.
When we were happy with what was required, he gathered the other elves and spent ten minutes explaining to them what he wanted them to do.
While the team huddle was going on, there was a pop behind me and before I could turn around I was crushed from behind be an enthusiastic Principal.
"Hi Alex." Imogen said while trying to realign my vertebrae.
"Morning Little one, did you sleep well?" I asked her and she instantly deflated and the happiness went out of her eyes. I reached down and picked her up and she wrapped her arms and legs around me and started sobbing.
"Alex, I have the worst dreams. I keep dreaming that I am still in Their House and He is coming down the stairs for me."
I slowly start rocking from side to side, whispering soothing sounds in her ears as she sobs. I look down and see that Jason is looking at me so I nod my head and he snaps his fingers and I feel a slight pressure right behind my knees, he points behind me and without any hesitation, I sink down onto a lounge chair that he had just conjured for me and his Mistress.
Ok that's it, I am going to find a psyche for Imogen. I can't believe that I forgot to organise this. Fuck I feel like an asshole.
I had a thought and tap my Protectors ring with my thumb. "Are you there Sam?" I project the question into my mind.
"What do you need Alex?" she replied instantly.
"Can you talk to Beth and ask if she can shield Imogen's dreams until I can get some help for her?" I ask the spirit.
Samantha's eyes seem to go out of focus for several seconds before she looks back at me. "She already is Alex, the fact that Immie is still having these nightmares shows just how strong they are."
I nod my head and thank Sam for her time. She smiled, curtsied to me and vanished. Ok, this needs to be dealt with ASAP.
I continue to comfort Imogen while she cries herself out. When her sobs had subsided to the occasional hiccup, she sat back and looked at me with haunted green eyes. I brushed her hair back from her face and gently leant forward and kissed her on the forehead.
"Better?" I asked and she gave me a watery smile and nodded. "Would you mind if I took a bit of time out of our day tomorrow so I could make some calls to get you some help with your nightmares?"
She thought about it and shook her head. "No, I need help, I can't keep doing this." She hiccupped again and I gently stroked her back.
"Imogen, from now on, as soon as you wake up, I want you to come and get me ok? It doesn't matter what time it is, I want you to wake me up." I make a mental note for either Cody or Zoe to put a ward on her room that will let me know if she has a nightmare.
Yes I am aware of the privacy issues, what I will ask the elves to do is modify the ward so it only activates when after she has fallen asleep. Actually, I will speak to Sam and get her to ask Beth to notify me if she has one. Therefore, I will be able to get to her straight away.
I also make a metal note to ask the Fates what has happened to the Dursleys since I rigged their house when I recued Imogen from them.
Once Imogen had calmed down she stood up and wiped her face and blew her nose on a tissue that Cody had conjured for her. She thanked the little elf and then she seemed to realise what was going on around her for the first time.
Her eyes were like desert bowls as she watched a three storey building seeming to build itself right before her eyes. She turned to look at me and I answered her unasked question.
"My team will be arriving here in about three hours, I wanted to make sure that we had everything ready to go as before they arrived." I explained
She nodded her head in understanding. I explained to her what the elves were building and I asked her if she wanted to have a look in the hangar at the toys inside. With a smile she took my hand and we walked into the hangar.
When Imogen saw the helo she stopped and looked at it with such longing in her eyes. She turned to me but still seemed to look at the Stealth Hawk.
"I have always wanted to fly." She whispered. "I used to dream that I would be able to fly as high as a bird and leave Them behind." She turned to face me. "Alex." She whispered then stopped and shook herself. "It doesn't matter." She let go of my hand and started to turn back towards the main doors.
I stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Wait a second Little One." I told her quietly. I mentally reached out to The Fates.
"Is the helo ready to fly now or does it need to be checked over?" I sent my thoughts to them. Atopos answered me instantly.
"Yes it is ready to be used Hairetzio." She told me in a gentle voice.
"Thank you My Lady." I replied. I got the sensation of a hand trailing down the side of my face – that was new – then I looked at Imogen who was standing forlornly in front of me looking at her feet.
"Come on Little One." and I led her to the Life Support office which was where all of the flight crews helmets and flight gear was kept. We entered the room, and I went straight to my locker and pulled out my helmet and support vest that held all of my emergency gear.
Once I had all of my kit, I went to the far wall of the room and grabbed one of the smallest spare helmets there. I handed it to Imogen and instructed her to put it on. She did and the visor came down over her eyes.
"Oops, I think we need to adjust that." I smiled at her as I took the helmet off and made the necessary adjustments to it. It took another three goes, but I eventually I got her helmet fitting correctly.
I didn't worry about a flight suit for her – we can worry about that later. I needed to do something to take her mind off her melt down before. Especially as this was such an easy wish to fulfil, I was more than happy to be able to grant it.
"You're lucky I'm qualified to fly this thing, otherwise you would have had to wait for a few days." I told her with a smile which she returned. "Ok kiddo, your my new co-pilot." I pulled out a manual from my bag and handed it to her. "If you are going to fly in my chopper, you have to help me do the pre flight inspection."
Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide.
"Are you really going to take me flying with you?" She asked in disbelief.
"Of course I am, who else would I want to fly with?" I asked with a smile. She dropped the manual and latched on to my waist whispering her thanks over and over. I crouched down in front of her.
"I will never lie to you Immie." I told her gently. "And I will always be with you. Till your old and grey remember." I held out my left pinkie to her and she pinkie shook with me as another promise was made.
I stood back up and she went and picked the manual up from where she had dropped it. "Ok turn to page twenty." I told her and she flicked through the folder until she had the correct page. "Before we fly, we have to make sure the helo is in good condition and we have to check certain items to be sure of this." She nods her understanding to me. "Cool, start with the title and read number one to me."
And so we began Imogen's first encounter with the modified Black Hawk. While we were pre-flighting, Jason came into the hangar and told me that the building was complete. I looked at my watch and noticed that we still had two hours until the team entered this dimension.
I turned back to Jason and asked if he and his elves could make some access roads to the hangar from the manor and also asked about making a side gate so that my troops could come and go without disturbing the residents of the manor.
He then told me that Lord Potter had instructed him to do whatever I asked for as it was for the protection of his family. He said that the roads would be done and he popped out. I turned back to Imogen and helped her into the left front seat and showed her how to strap in her five point harness.
Once she was strapped in, I moved her seat up as high as it would go so that she could see over the dash board.
I think I am going to have to get her a couple of phone books in future. But we managed.
Once she was in, I shut her door and went around and removed the wheel chocks and then pushed the helo out onto the pad with the tow truck. Once it was in position, I disconnected the tug and parked it back in the hangar, then went and climed into the right seat.
"Hey kiddo, the others will be here in a little while, do you mind if I just get the check list over with quickly because that means that we will have more time in the air?" I asked her and she quickly agreed.
I took the checklist off her and completed it. Within about ten minutes we were turning and burning. I looked at my watch and calculated that I could take Imogen for about an ninety minute flight and then be back in enough time to shut down and then meet my crew when they arrived.
I tuned the radio to Liverpool airport and got permission for the joy flight.
"Ready?" I asked she turned to me with the biggest smile I had seen yet on her face and nodded her head.
"Ok here we go." I gently pulled up on the collective and we lifted off the ground. I noticed as we did that all of the Potter elves had come out to watch. Imogen waved at them and they waved back at their Mistress.
I smiled at the joy on her face as I turned the helo towards the north and we headed out over the shore at about one hundred feet. Once we were about a quarter mile off shore I turned to the left and we started flying down the coast. "Ok Little One?" I asked her on the intercom.
"Its brilliant Alex." She yelled to me. I cringed at the noise and adjusted the volume on my headset down a few notches.
We cruised around the area and over flew Holyhead and Caernarfon and then down to Pwllheli. The entire time Imogen had her head on a swivel, one minute she was looking out her side window, the next she was looking out the windscreen, then she was asking questions about the flight instruments and how the controls worked. Then the cycle started all over again.
Once we were on the ground and the Black Hawk was shut down I went around to her door and helped her out of the harness. She flung herself out of her seat and into my arms.
"Thank you so much Alex. That was the best thing I have ever done." She exclaimed. I smiled at her enthusiasm and helped her to undo her helmet. Once I had returned everything to the life support office - yes her helmet went into my locker – Imogen called for Cody to take us back to the Manor so we could have a shower and get changed before everyone arrived.
###
I looked at my watch as I walked out of the front doors, and I saw that I was fifteen minutes early.
Happy with that.
I called for Gordy and his work crew from earlier today and thanked them all for their assistance. As we had over flown the property, I had seen that the elves had completed the road building task exactly as I had requested it.
After stammering their thanks to me, my work crew vanished and went back to their duties. Just as my watch beeped the hour, there was a shimmering directly in front of me and the Fates along with more than the expected nineteen people all with packs, weapons and wearing their black UNICRATT combat uniforms appeared in front of me.
Before any of my team could say anything. I bowed to the Fates. "My Ladies, thank you for granting my request for assistance." I said to them.
"You are quite welcome Alex." Lachesis said to me. "After careful consideration we have decided to give you your entire team back. We feel that you will work even better if you are all together."
I just stood there staring dumbly and nodding.
"Good luck with your mission and if you need any further help, you know how to contact us." With that the tree Fates disappeared.
As they left, I turned back to the fifty nine people standing before me. We had worked together for almost eight years. We were as tight as a family, and considering we were now alone in this dimension, the designation of family just took on a whole new meaning.
That doesn't mean I'm going to go all sentimental on them.
"About fucking time you lot showed up." I said with a smirk. "We've got a fuck load of work to do and you lot have been slacking off doing fuck all."
"Love you too Boss." Said a voice from the back. The laugh that followed broke the tension and I was swarmed under in a massive pile up of bodies while everyone tried to talk at once.
After a few minutes, order was restored and picked myself up from the driveway. "Ok you lot, it is my understanding that The Fates have explained everything to you and that you all agreed with the conditions of coming to this dimension to help me out?"
There was a chorus of "Yes Boss." From the masses.
"Excellent it saves me from doing it." I continued. "The elves have spent the morning building the admin wing and the perimeter roads, the Fates put the hangar and all of its kit in place this morning. And yes before you ask Brian." I say to Captain Brain Morgan who is our Crew Chief and the Officer in Charge of maintaining the Black Hawk.
"I took zero –zero for a spin just before and she is fine." I told him. There were a few snorts and shaken heads from this revelation. They all know how much I love to fly the Hawk. He nodded to me and explained that the Fates had kept them fully up to date and they knew what Imogen had gone through. "Ok let's get inside and I will introduce you to the portrait of the former Lord and Lady Potter. And yes boys and girls, you are sure as fuck not in Kansas anymore."
###
The rest of the day was spent getting the crew settled into their new accommodations and getting the operations side set up. There were a few problems. Not the least of which was needing the elves to double the size of the accommodation due to the extra forty people the Fates had bought to this dimension.
After talking with Jason, the elves decided just to build a new accommodation wing that would house everyone and vanish the building they had completed this morning and start from scratch on that one. Between myself and my operations team, we hashed out a plan for the administration building and then left the elves to get to work.
Imogen was almost glued to my side for the entire day. After the way she was treated by her 'family' she could not comprehend the fact that these total strangers were willing to give up the afterlife to help her.
It over whelmed the ten year old a few times during the day and she ended up a sobbing mess in my arms more than once. But we got through it, and I gave her a kiss and a hug before Cody popped her off to bed.
During the day, Cody had charmed Imogen's room to alert me when she had a nightmare. With my apparition ability I could be at her bed side in seconds. I also had a talk with our medical team about getting her some counselling. One of the medics said that he would look into it tomorrow for me as they all knew that I was spending the day with Imogen.
That night before I went to bed, Zoe came and told me that Lord Potter wanted to see me in the study. I took the little elf's hand and she popped me into the Masters Study. I bowed to Lord and Lady Potter and greeted them.
"Relax Alex." Dorea told me and I gratefully sank into what had become my usual chair in front of the fire place. "I am guessing that you have had a rather busy day?" she asked with a smile and I just nodded and groaned.
"It was easier when it was just me." I said with a tired laugh. The Fates decided that instead of just the nineteen people that I had requested, they sent me the other forty one of a 60 man team. As well as all of the operations equipment as well." I paused and took the cup of tea that Zoe had just popped in with and I smiled my thanks at the little elf who beamed at me and popped back out again.
"One thing that we will have to remember is that most of our equipment is from twenty or so years in the future. This is ok when we will be around magicals, however, when we are around non-magical people, we will have to keep it low key." I took a mouthful of the tea and sighed. As per usual, it was perfect.
"We have had a request from Jason and the other elves that helped you today." Lord Potter said to me with a smirk on his face. "They enjoyed working with you and your people today, they have officially asked if they can work for you."
That shook me.
"Aren't they bound to House Potter?" I asked in confusion.
"Yes they are and they still will be." Lady Potter answered my question. "You work for House Potter, therefore they will still be working for us. I will be honest, we have too many elves here for the work that is required. However, we could not let them go as not being bound to a family would kill them."
"If you are happy with this arrangement, my people and I will be glad of the assistance." I answered and Charlus summoned the elves to him. With a host of pops, the four elves appeared in front of the portrait and bowed.
"You is summoning us Lord Potter?" Jason asked in his high pitched voice.
"Yes Jason, Alex has agreed to your request for you all to assist his people. From now on you will work at the new buildings." He smiled at the excited elves. "Will the four of you be enough or would one or two more be better?"
"Two more elves would be betters Lord Potter." Jason replied after thinking for a few seconds. "The soldiers haves lots for us to do's. We is going to be so busy." The little elf was practically vibrating he was so excited.
"Alright, ask the other elves for two more to join you and move you things down to the hangar."
The four elves bowed and popped out.
"There you go Alex, now everyone is happy." He smiled at me. "One thing we will have to sort out in the next few days are wages for you, your men and women. Inform them that we will pay them double what they were receiving while in your last dimension."
I went to protest, but he held up his hand.
"We knew the Fates were going to send us your entire team to assist us, they came and visited us yesterday when you took Imogen into London. They also told us of the deal that every one of them including your self have agreed to help my family." He pinned me with a stare and I nodded agreement to him.
"As such we will compensate you all for the sacrifice they have agreed to."
I bowed my head in acceptance. What the hell else could I do?
He coughed and I looked back to the portrait. "Now, when will you be getting my Son and Daughter in law out of that shit hole?"
Thanks for reading...