CH 29

It was a strange arrangement. A dual sized house trailer had been brought in and set up, with one bedroom in the back corner, the double bed in that room facing the back of the mobile home and the open area In the long semi-circular driveway of Dietrich Academy. Several covered trailer ends were also found in case they were needed for replacement after a violent nightmare.

Despite their age, John, Cameron and Sarah all agreed Allison and Byron needed to sleep together to keep Allison calm. John and Cameron shared the bedroom beside them, Sarah and Yuka had their rooms at the other end to stay out of the line of fire. With the whole family together, they were hoping Allison would feel more at ease, and the violent nightmares would stop. Once Alison was well enough to stand on her feet, she healed quickly and was back to normal physically. Cameron let herself begin healing.

The first day Allison was able, she went outside with Byron to get a look at the remains of Dietrich Academy. When Allison heard Dietrich was 'destroyed', she had imagined the building was completely leveled with nothing left but a pile of rubble. The front of the building was missing plenty of windows, and part of the roof was gone, but is was basically intact. Waking around to the back, she saw the middle section of wall was collapsed, but the ends were still there. The remains of a an aircraft was scattered over the grounds, and had wiped out the pavilion area.

"It's not that bad," Allison remarked as she looked through the huge hole in the back wall to see most of the first floor structure was intact. The second floor was lissing a large chunk, and parts were hanging down.

"Huh?" Byron asked, string at her. "Ally, look at that huge hole, and all this mess!"

Allison nodded. "It is a mess, and up on the second floor in places, you can see the hallway, but we can clean the mess up and repair the wall and the floor sections that collapsed," she replied.

Byron looked around him. There were bricks, pieces of aircraft and burnt wood all over. "We'll need some help," he said vacantly.

"We will, but we can do it!" Allison said firmly.

Seeing her confidence, Byron nodded. "We will. The garden shed is still intact, I'll get a wheelbarrow and start picking the smaller things up."

Cameron appeared and strode towards them. "Allison, I will inspect the structure. Clear off the pavilion platform and use that to put salvageable material on. Metals go over to this side, scrap wood in a pile out past the pavilion, concrete and broken brick over there beside the edge of the path to the driving range."

.

All day, Allison and Byron worked at picking up and sorting everything from bricks to aircraft engine pieces. After normal school hours, they received help. Yuka offered her assistance, then Gloria and her class arrived.

Allison was massed with happy hugs from her classmates seeing she wasn't at 'death's door', like some media were claiming. Gloria organized their cleanup efforts, and by the time Sarah called them all for dinner, there were decent sized piles in the designated debris areas, and the Pavilion platform had several stacks of lumber, brick, and furniture that was still intact. Gloria and her class left, but promised to return and help however they could.

While Allison wasn't affected by the manual labor she mostly used her mind hands to move, Byron was exhausted from a full day of work. He nodded off at the dinner table, nearly falling into his plate.

Allison kept nudging Byron to keep him awake. She was also concerned about the building. "Mom, what did you find inside?"

"Most of the structure has minor cracks, not enough to significantly weaken it. Some floor will have to be removed before the floors are rebuilt, as with the internal walls. The worst damage is in the residence areas, hence the large loss of life, but the school can be salvaged," Cameron explained.

John offered, "Allison, I talked with the relatives of the owners. The three people who owned Dietrich died, but their heirs made it through the war. Each one said they have no desire to claim this building, they have too many other things to worry about, so if you can rebuilt it, then it's yours."

"Mine?' Allison asked. "I don't want to own it, I just want to go to school here."

John shrugged. "Well, if you rebuild it, then you can go to school here. Right? You'll just be the one who is responsible for keeping it up."

Hearing the talk of rebuilding the school, Byron perked up some. "Yeah, Ally, you can do it. Just get someone good to run the school for you."

"Now would be the time," Cameron told her. "The government is providing reconstruction grants as well as declaring a tax holiday for all businesses to help with the rebuilding."

"I don't think anyone will bother with it if you don't," John prodded.

Allison though hard. She had loved this school and everyone who had been a part of it. "I'll do it. But, how do I do it?"

"Jerome is studying business," Byron said. "I'm sure he will help."

"It looks like it used to be a lovely school," Yuka said. "I will do whatever I can to help you."

"Mrs. Weaver is very good at running a business, we can ask her for assistance," Cameron added. "And since you are recovered now, Allison, you can return to school. I am sure Gloria would be more than happy to help you."

"Dad? Can you tell those heirs I will rebuild Dietrich?" Allison asked.

"I sure will," John told her with a smile.

.

As soon as the new owners of Dietrich heard that war hero Allison Connor was going to take responsibility and rebuild Dietrich Academy, they ignored the offer they got from a developer and signed the school and it's grounds over to her. Since Allison was under age, John took time out from his day to go to the town hall to meet with lawyers and sign for Allison and hold the property 'in trust' for her until she became 18.

Allison Connor was now officially the proud owner of her own wrecked school for the gifted.

.

Allison's first day back at school was nothing like she imagined it would be. She expected the decontamination stations, and all the air purifying equipment, as well as having what were outdoor areas now covered by large domes. What she didn't expect was a large board in the entryway showing the eastern half of the world with a red string-line going between push-pins on the maps, showing dates and placed she had been to. Every battle she'd been in was shown, and was referenced to a 'Allison number' for news clips on the Internet of her exploits.

On one corner of the map, someone had taken a picture of her face, and photoshopped it onto Supergirl's body with one fist raised up high. Above the photo a caption read 'Exploits of our very own Super Hero'.

"Wow," she said as she gazed at the six foot tall, ten foot wide tribute to her.

"Yeah, Ally, you are real popular," Bryon said from beside her.

Feeling a little self-conscious, Allison said, "We better get to class." Allison got to the hallway and was stopped by a boy's yell.

"Hey everyone, She's HERE!"

"OH My God, it's HER!" a young girl cried.

Instead a flow to the classrooms, students and teachers all flowed over to Allison. She spent the next hour greeting people she had no idea who they were, and carefully inching her way through the mob to get to her classroom.

.

Class, thankfully, was normal. Byron went and got their lunches so Allison didn't have to meet and greet a mass of well wishers and worshipers to go have lunch. They did have a 'belated' Ninth Birthday party for Allison and acceptance party into Stanford for Jerome. Just turned 16, he was their youngest student as well as the highest scoring on the entrance exams.

During afternoon class, a school wide announcement was made over the loudspeakers. "Attention everyone. As most of you have probably heard, the girl who had been recognized as a Hero of Humanity, and the world's first real Super Hero, Allison Connor, has returned to attend classes in our school. We have all been following Allison's path of destruction through Sky Net held territory right up to the news that she personally destroyed Sky Net. We are all very excited and happy she has returned safe after such a long and brutal journey. I must ask each of you to give Allison some space and not crowd around her in welcoming her home.

I would also like to announce a welcome home ceremony Friday afternoon in the auditorium. See Mrs. Winslow for organizing tributes for Allison, the girl who save us all."

Allison rubbed her forehead. "They are making way too much of this," she grumbled.

Becky smacked her lightly on the shoulder. "Face it, Allison, you are a hero. Everyone is very proud of you. They just want a chance to show you how proud they are of you."

"Yeah," Byron agreed heartily. "You're even rebuilding our school for us!"

"I've got help," Allison said in a sigh.

"The point is, you are doing it," Gloria told her. "Just like your father and mother, you inspire people to do more, and accomplish great things through your actions. That is something to be proud of, dear."

She then said, "And we do need to get some work done today, so everyone back to your studies."

.

At the end of the school day, Allison braced herself for leaving the classroom. Seeing she was nervous, Byron and the rest of her classmates formed a ring around her to push through the crowds that were sure to be waiting for her.

Then came a knock on the classroom door. Gloria opened it to find a TV reporter with her cameraman.

"Excuse me," the woman said pleasantly. "I was told this is Allison Connor's classroom?"

Byron and Becky helped Allison slip out the window.

.

Fame was not getting along with Allison, or rather she with it. Whenever she left the 'construction area' around Dietrich, cameras followed her from people on the ground to small drones that were ever present even when they were working at the school. By the time Friday came, every news group had passes for the assembly to honor her. She was also aghast to find out the Principal had asked her to give a speech.

Sitting at the dinner table with her family, Allison was pleased to see her Mother had a whole face again. "You look good Mom, are you healed up?"

Cameron cast Allison a grin. "Almost. I still have some patches that need to finish healing, but nothing major."

"I heard you are doing well in school, Yuka," John said.

"Hai! ... I mean, yes," Yuka said, correcting herself. "There are still some things I have yet to understand. I am doing my best."

"We are very proud of you, Yuka. Such a sudden culture shift must be hard, and you are adjusting well," Sarah told her.

"I have good help," Yuka said with a blush.

"I heard someone has to give a speech Friday?" John asked as he looked at Allison.

"Yes," Allison grumbled. "Dad, everyone is making ... way to much of this! I mean, I only did what I HAD to do, the same as everyone else. What else am I suppose to say? Mom was pretty torn up, and was right there with me all the way. Is SHE getting any recognition? Dad, you made everything possible and did your best, is anyone holding you up on a pedestal? And what about John Henry, or any of the ... thousands of brave men and women who died so easily, but kept going out to fight even when they knew what was going to happen to them?"

John let Allison rant then calmly said, "Then talk about that, sweetie. Remind them of all those brave people you met. Of all those that suffered and died fighting Sky Net. Just so you know, I have been holding off the awards ceremonies for you, myself and your mother to give you time to recover. There are many people out there who want to show you their gratitude for bringing and end to the war."

Allison calmed down. "Thank you, Dad," she said sheepishly. "I just feel embarrassed that all the attention is on me."

"Don't be, sweetie. In time, it will blow over and we can get back to at least a semi-normal life," he assured her.

"I hope it's soon," Allison said with a half grin.

.

Working on her school with help from her Mother, Byron, and their classmates when the were able, they got the debris cleaned up outside and inside. All the while, Allison thought about what to say during the assembly at school. Friday morning, Allison was happy to tell Gloria she'd found all the old records in the crumpled filing cabinets, and put them in their old classroom.

During class, Allison finally finished all her tests to pass 5th grade. Gloria graded them in the early afternoon, and pronounced her graduated, then gave Allison her requirements for 6th grade.

The day seemed to fly along for Allison, and before she knew it, it was time to go to the auditorium. Her classmates flanking her, and Gloria in the lead, Allison almost made it in to go sit down. Outside the auditorium, the Principal and the Mayor of Palmdale, with a 'press representative' were there to escort her around to the backstage door.

"This is Mayor Gerber," the Principal said, introducing the tall man in his blue suit.

"Mayor," Allison said as she shook his hand.

"May I say it is an extreme pleasure to meet you, Miss Connor."

"I had always thought you' would be older," the press man said. "By the way, I'm Jack," he said as he extending his hand.

"Hi Jack," Allison said, shaking his hand. On a silly thought, she was tempted to ask him of he stole cars.

"Right this way, Mayor," the principal said, motioning the way. "Allison, the Mayor and I have some awards of recognition for you. After we give out the awards, we would like you to say a few words to the audience. Do you have anything specific you'd like to say?"

"Yes, Sir, I do," Allison said with a nod.

"Very good! Have you ever spoken before an audience before?" The Principal asked.

"No, but I will do my best," Allison assured him.

"I'm sure you will. If it helps, look into the stage lights and pretend you are only speaking to us," he advised.

"Thank you for the help, Sir."

.

Allison was seated on stage beside the Mayor. Besides the students, the front row was all reporters and cameramen. In the back a few large TV cameras were manned. She did fell a little overwhelmed at all this attention.

As if anyone didn't already know, The Principal went down Allison's list of achievements, then called the Mayor up to add a few more. By the time they were done, one would swear she had stood alone against Sky Net and won the war all by herself. She was called up to received awards to recognize her defense of Palmdale, taking out the Sky Net forces that had attacked, another for defending the students at Dietrich and destroying the Sky Net forces in the area where the students and faculty were hiding in the woods. Allison thanked him for each plaque she received. Then, he moved aside and motioned for her to stand in front of the microphone.

Allison didn't look at the lights, but lifted her head and braced herself to speak. "I did what I had to do. I thank you all for the kinds words you have given me. It is nice to know what I did is appreciated. I would also ask you to remember everyone else who has done their best fighting Sky Net. My Dad, John Connor, who stepped up to lead us all when it seemed like all was lost. General Basturo in Nicaragua, who although seriously wounded, continued to lead his forces in their fight for survival. John Henry who made sure our armies had the best intelligence and captured control over Sky Net's own forces to use against it. My own Mother, Cameron Connor for doing everything possible to defeat Sky Net. Every soldier in the field who bravely fought with all they had with inferior weapons against terrible machines that did not need sleep, feel pain, nor ever stopped coming. Many of those soldiers died or suffered horrible wounds."

Tears coming to her eyes as she talked, Allison sniffled and kept going. "None of these people had the ability to stop the bullets and shells coming at them. Not one could fly away if it became too dangerous. Still, they stood their ground and fought. To me, that makes all of them the true Heros."

Pausing again, Allison sniffed and said, "People like the woman who helped me wash up in a river in Nicaragua. I didn't even get to know who she was before we battled Sky Net again and she lost her life." Her voice breaking, Allison said, "When everyone else was nervous of me, she showed be great kindness, then great courage. The Italian Sargent and his men having only hand held weapons when we faced those large Sky Net tanks. There was nothing they could do, but they stayed ... and died," she said, choking out her last words.

Taking a long pause to catch her breath and not break down crying in front of everyone, Allison begged, "Please, let us not ever forget any of those brave people who fought with everything they had."

Allison then went over and sat before she fell down. Clapping sounded and became louder, then the audience rose to stand in their applause.

The Principal got up and thanked everyone for coming. He escorted Allison off stage as the standing ovation kept going. Allison hoped she'd never have to do anything like that ever again.

.

Getting home, Allison got back to work on the Dietrich building. A truckload of rebar had been delivered. A chunky man with a hardhat on by the name of Mr. Ryan explained to Allison and Cameron how to 'tie it in' to the rebar poking out from the edges of the existing floors so it would be sturdy enough to pour concrete later. Byron and Yuka dragged the long metal rods to Cameron, who handed them to Allison floating in the air just below the second floor hole. Allison tied the bars together in place with the wire Mr. Ryan had given her to form the latticework while Mr. Ryan supervised to be sure her work was 'up to code'.

By dinner time, Allison had the skeleton of the new floor finished. Next would be making the forms so the concrete could be poured. In her efforts, Allison learned many new terms, one of which was 'in the dry', meaning the first priority was to finish the outside structure and make it weatherproof. Once the second floor and support columns were was completed, they could begin working on the back wall.

That night after dinner was a usual night as of late. Allison took her turn for the bath, then went to bed, finding Byron already flopped down still in his clothes and snoring. His pajamas lay across his lap.

Allison smiled at him and sat down beside him. "Byron ... Byron?" she asked as she gently shook his shoulder.

"Huh? What?" Byron asked groggily as he woke up.

"Just go in and take a quick shower," Allison coaxed. She didn't want him falling asleep in the bath.

"Ahh, yeah OK," Byron said and groaned his way to his feet. He stumbled out of the bedroom half asleep, whacking his shoulder on the door casing on the way out.

A minute later there was a female screech followed by Byron's, "Ahhh! Yuka, I'm sorry!" followed by the slam of a door.

"Byron! What are you doing?" Sarah's sharp voiced asked.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was in there!" Byron cried.

"Knock first," Sarah said firmly.

"I will, I will! Yuka ... komenesai, I didn't mean to do that," Byron called.

Allison chuckled at his mistake, She as sure he was wide awake now. She climbed into bed and waited for Byron to get in the bathroom, get his shower and come back. She covered herself up to her chin.

Byron came back in in his pajamas, looking wide awake and a bit scared.

"So is Yuka pretty?" she asked with a twisted grin.

Byron stared at her and blushed. "I didn't mean to do that," he offered weakly.

"OH, Byron, could you get my pajama top ... over there," she said and threw the covers down as she pointed.

Byron spun away from her so fast he tripped to sit on the bed. "Ahh, where?" he asked.

Allison laughed. "Fooled you," she said with a giggle. "I'm wearing it. I just wanted to see if you'd look," she said with a giggle.

Byron turned to eye her and said, "That wasn't funny."

"Yes it was. Come on, get in bed, it's been a long day," Allison replied and pulled the covers back for him.

They lay awake, Byron staring at the ceiling. Seeing he was upset, Allison put her head on his shoulder.

"Everyone knows it was a mistake. Relax, OK?" she said.

"OK. Night, Ally."

"Night, Byron."

Allison was still drifting off when she heard Byron snore. She didn't mind the noise, it assured her he was beside her and safe.

.

Saturday morning right after breakfast, Allison went out to keep working. Byron had tried to get up, then flopped back down with a pained sounding grunt. He was sore, so Allison had rub his sore shoulders and back, then slipped out after he went back to sleep.

Mr. Ryan arrived with a truckload of lumber. Today, he showed Allison how to build forms. First he had her bend rebar rods into square shapes and tie them to straight rods for the columns. There were only three that needed to be made, she had them done before lunch and the first part of one wooden 'form' in place.

Cameron came out to see how Allison was doing and brought her a lunch. Byron also came limping out and apologized for not getting up earlier.

"Don't worry abut it, I saw how sore you were," Allison told him as the sat down for lunch.

Cameron eyed the work and said, "It looks almost ready to pour concrete."

"By the pace Allison is going, I'm sure it will be ready by the end of tomorrow," Mr. Ryan said. "I'll call for the truck to deliver. There's a ton of construction projects going on, so you may have to wait a few days before they get to you."

"We'll have to stop until they get here?" Allison asked.

Mr. Ryan shrugged and said, "Those columns have to be up to support the floor and provide framing for the wall. After you get the forms for the columns done, we can start on the floor forms if you want."

"Then we'll do that," Allison said firmly.

"Be sure to let me know the cost," Cameron told Mr. Ryan.

"OH, I will, Mrs. Connor." Mr Ryan said with a smirk. "There is one thing you can be glad of. By doing all this work by yourselves, you have already saved yourselves at least a hundred fifty thousand. By how hard Allison here is working, I'm sure you will come in way below the million and a half estimate that it would normally take for a project this big."

"That much?" Allison asked.

"Why sure! The floors and the outside walls, the roof, those are big bucks. Even after those are done, you still have all the windows, top floor coverings, inside walls, plumbing and electrical to do. Not to mention furnishings, wall coverings and final floor finishings," Mr Ryan explained. "Then of course the general contractor and building inspector will want to get paid for his work," he added with a raised eyebrow.

"We have the cost covered," Cameron said. "Go ahead and give Allison whatever she needs or asks for."

"You must have a generous sponsor," Mr Ryan said. "May I ask who the owner is now?"

"My husband is owner-in-trust until Allison turn 18," Cameron told him.

Mr. Ryan raised both eyebrows this time. "Really? Well then, Mrs. Connor, Miss Connor, allow me to offer my services any time you need something done."

Allison knew the older kids in her class were all picking they majors and what field they wanted to work in. Becky was officially graduate from High School, yet she stayed to do more electives as she tried to puzzle out her future life. Allison had already chosen her life, right here with this school and her closest friend Byron by her side. She would finish school here, then got to college and become a school administrator to do the very best she could for the students, Just as the everyone here had done their best for her.

And may God help the poor fool who came here looking for trouble.

THE END

PS. Thank you everyone for your support. In case you haven't guessed, yes eventually Byron will marry his 'Christmas Tree' pretty girl.