Sunday, February 12th, 2017
Brathay How, Cumbria
06:10
It was intended as a day of fun.
However, it included a very early start – again.
"Why?" Jessica wailed as she ventured outside into the freezing cold, still dark, morning.
"I vote we all go back to bed," Kaitlin tried.
"Get in the minibus," Cassie ordered.
"Why do you hate me?" Kaitlin went on. "Why do you make me suffer?"
Olivia laughed as she shoved the little girl into the minibus ahead of her. Craig was manoeuvring a tired Charlotte in the same direction. Ahead of them, they had a long-ish drive to the east. The only person (child) who appeared to know what was going on, was Mary, and she refused to admit to anything, despite threats of serious bodily harm from Electra and Harper to which Ginny simply laughed, much to the surprise of the ever-suspicious Amber.
The threats continued for most of the trip.
Warcop Training Area, Cumbria
08:00
Keira, Kate, Trevor, and Charlotte had left two hours prior to the rest, at about four o'clock.
Kate and Charlotte grinned as they watched the three minibuses and one Land Rover pull to a halt beside the Land Rover they had driven over. As their friends climbed out of the vehicles and stretched, several sets of eyes focussed on Kate and Charlotte, both of whom were wearing green flight suits and wearing flying helmets on their heads. Keira and Trevor appeared from a concrete path, both decked out in a similar way, however, both sported name patches: SHARP and LAI, on their flight suits.
"What are we doing here?" Diana asked.
"Time for some fun and games," Mary said. "I am very pleased to be able to reveal to you all my grandfather's Christmas present."
Mary walked up to a long line of somethings covered in tarpaulins and she began to pull off said tarpaulins. There were lots of exclamations at what was revealed. There were thirty Yamaha ATVs lined up, side-by-side. The majority were the YFM700R SE model, some blue, some red, others grey. Four were of the smaller YFZ450R model in blue. For the adults, there were ten of the much larger Grizzly 700EPS model in red. While the smaller models would carry just their rider, the adults would carry food and emergency supplies on the racks which were mounted to the front and rear of their machines, all of which were also fitted with a front winch. Everyone was issued with a crash helmet and wireless communications equipment which fitted into their daysacks which each wore.
"What are you doing, Mum?" Rylee asked her mother who was mounting a red Grizzly ATV.
"I'm not missing out on some action, honey," Rachel replied.
"You can ride an ATV?"
"Better than you can!" Rachel grinned.
"Oh, dear," Simon commented as he saw Rylee's 'nobody beats me' expression slot into place.
"What are you guys riding?" Scarlett asked Charlotte and Kate.
"Oh, we have something so much better," Kate grinned as she and Charlotte ran off down a concrete path with Keira and Trevor striding along behind.
Two minutes later, there came the whine and then the scream of first one, then two, gas turbines spinning up, just behind a line of trees. Then, two minutes after the gas turbines spun up, there came the unmistakable sound of rotor blades spinning up. Finally, a pair of British Army AH.1 Gazelle helicopters lifted into view. Kate and Keira were in one helicopter while Charlotte and Trevor were in the other. Both had ARMY painted on the tail boom, only, Keira's helicopter had a large Royal Navy sticker, complete with white ensign slapped over the word ARMY. The single-engine lightweight attack helicopters raced off over the exercise area at speed, rapidly attaining a speed of over one hundred knots.
Once the deafening sound of the helicopters launching had passed, Blake and David took point, leading the group off into the hills.
..._...
The convoy of twenty-four ATVs initially rode over rough concrete pockmarked by tank tracks.
After less than a mile, they pulled up to check that everyone was good and knew what they were doing. For Amber and Diana, it was a new experience, and they rode two of the smaller models, as did Kaitlin and Harper. Naturally, all the Predators were immediately at home as they enjoyed the ride. They then turned right onto a rough gravel track and headed east. At short intervals, the convoy was buzzed by the low-flying helicopters which used the ATVs as targets for the trainee pilots aboard. Yes, Charlotte had been selected to learn to fly. As for Kate, she was simply brushing up on her skills, and the small helicopter was a pleasure for the girl to fly. The machine in question was around forty years old, but still perfectly airworthy and a current active-service machine. Both Keira and Trevor had learnt to fly on the Gazelle, and they loved the chance to fly such a light and agile machine rather than the more cumbersome and automated multi-engine helicopters operated by the British Army and Royal Navy.
The next hour was spent travelling up a rocky path with several off-road routes with craters and wrecked armoured vehicles (redundant targets) to negotiate around.
..._...
For Rylee and Simon, it was simply amazing.
It was like the clock had wound back over a year. Neither of them had had so much fun in months. Although, much to Rylee's annoyance, Rachel Clarkson turned out to be very good at riding an ATV. Amber was also having a lot of fun, once she had figured out what to do with the controls. Diana, too, loved the ride as she had no real need for her legs. Scarlett enjoyed racing Harper, her more powerful ATV easily pulling ahead, but Harper's lighter machine handled the scrambles a lot better. Jessica, Jeremy, and Christopher each tried to outdo one another as they raced Jasper and Lynn who were both accomplished ATV riders. Sinead rode at the back with Ginny to ensure nobody got mislaid. Mary and Electra enjoyed buzzing Olivia and Craig who were constantly trying to outdo each other on the straight stretches.
Kaitlin spent her time with Jake, both taking it in turns to lead.
..._...
At the top of the climb, they stopped to look back at where they had begun the ride, some four-hundred metres below them.
After a breather, to get a drink and a Mars bar, the not-so-tidy line of ATVs headed off again, in a westerly direction. Every rider was having the time of their lives, from the youngest, to the oldest. The two helicopters would return, periodically, to buzz the column – Kate was busy learning how to strafe, despite neither Gazelle carrying any weapons. However, aboard ZA726, Charlotte was learning how handle the helicopter. It was an ideal machine to learn in as it was both forgiving and lively. The British military had been using the machine – over 280 of them – to train their helicopter pilots since the very early 1970s. Both Keira and Trevor had learnt to fly rotary-wing aircraft in the Gazelle, and both loved the agile flying machines. The terrain around them was also perfect for Trevor to set the helicopter down and teach Charlotte how to take control and gently lift the 1,500-kilogramme helicopter into the air.
At first, the take-offs were very shaky, but they improved as Charlotte gained experience. The thirteen-year-old was having the time of her young life and she could not stop grinning as she sat in the left seat, feet resting on the pedals, her hands gripping the cyclic and the collective. The Gazelle was physically demanding but Charlotte lapped it all up, listening to every word which Trevor spoke as he calmly taught the youngster how to fly a helicopter. Trevor was extremely impressed with Charlotte's maturity – as he was with all of the Predators . . . at least when they weren't playing the fool!
As for Kate, she was in her element and Keira had very little to do, except for making a few comments here and there, advising the skilled young pilot as needed. Kate was enjoying learning how to fight her aircraft rather than just fly it. Kate admired Keira. Keira had been flying for years and she had dropped torpedoes and depth charges, fired machineguns and missiles – all from a helicopter. Kate had dreamed of becoming a pilot since she was very young, and she had jumped at the opportunity to become a Kestrel while with Urban Predator. Since meeting Keira, that desire to fly had grown and the sixteen-year-old hoped that she might be able to join the Royal Navy to fly helicopters, when she was old enough. She thought that her past may prevent that, but she hoped that her time with Vengeance might help in some small way. Then, Kate got the shock of her life.
"Set her down – just over there," Keira said, pointing at a fairly flat grass field.
Kate did so. Once the skids had settled into the grass, Keira unstrapped, and she pushed open her door.
"Get in the right seat," she directed.
Kate did so, not seeing a problem, but then Keira checked that both doors were locked before stepping back away from the helicopter and the lethal rotor blades before Keira faced the Gazelle and she raised her left hand into the air, first finger extended. Kate blinked as she recognised the signal for 'take-off'. Without further hesitation, Kate increased engine speed and she pulled up on the collective, lifting the skids off the grass. She was stunned to find herself flying solo in a helicopter for the first time ever.
"Fly a circuit and try not to hit any hills, aircraft, trees, or Predators," Keira directed over the radio.
Kate did so, flying a wide one-mile circuit, flying directly over the quadbikes as they descended into a mini-ravine. Very quickly, the circuit was over and as she negotiated the other Gazelle, ZB626, which was hovering below her, Kate brought the helicopter into a smooth hover before moving slowly forward, just six feet off the ground, towards where Keira was standing. As the Gazelle stopped and hovered, Keira crossed her arms at her waist indicating for Kate to land. As the Gazelle settled softly into the grass, Keira raised two thumbs as she made for the co-pilot's side of the helicopter, leaving Kate in command.
"Thank you," Kate said, a broad grin showing how pleased she was.
"You did good," Keira said. "Well done!"
..._...
Back on the ground, the ATVs snaked their way slowly down the mini ravine.
Amber was not happy. She was way out of her element as she slithered down the loose shale, doing her best to control the rear brakes without causing the quadbike to slew out of control and then roll down the hill. Harper had been kind enough to explain to Amber, in no uncertain terms, what could happen should she lock up the brakes. Harper had gone on with an explanation about how Amber's body would be torn apart and crushed as she and the ATV tumbled down the ravine. Lynn had finally out a stop to it with a sharp rebuke which caused Harper to zoom off, muttering vile comments under her breath.
Rylee and Simon were loving every minute as they got to know many of the other Predators and non-Predators. They were both still amazed by how many of their kind were still alive. They were equally surprised to find out that they all had families and new lives. It gave the both of them hope for their own futures. Simon thought Olivia was great – Rylee had scowled when Simon had commented on Olivia's obvious 'assets' and Simon had quickly changed the subject. He had been very surprised to see how Predator-like Olivia was, and at first, he had thought she actually was one. Electra had explained that Olivia was the way she was, due to something bad that had occurred the previous year, although she did not go into any detail.
Simon was certain that there was a big secret being kept, but as he was new, he figured that he would be kept out of anything sensitive.
..._...
After having safely navigated the mini ravine, they finally reached level-ish ground.
The next two miles, or so, was down a stone track before they regained tarmac and were all able to increase speed. There were some decidedly dubious mini races going on as twenty-four ATVs all tried to outdo one another. As they took a hard right, ninety-degree bend, after heavy braking, Rylee was astounded to see her mother accelerate past her. Rylee felt her anger rising, and she accelerated, leaving a laughing Simon behind. The straight stretch of road allowed the two Clarksons to really push their ATVs to the limit as they tried to outrace the other. However, as they both braked for a dogleg turn to the left and then to the right, Rylee found herself completely outclassed by her own mother as she raced ahead, slamming on the brakes at the finish.
Charlotte was laughing as she watched Rylee come in second – she knew how much winning meant to the girl. As Charlotte stood beside the two Gazelle helicopters which had landed on a triangular patch of grass, she saw the outraged eleven-year-old appear from under her helmet.
"That was not fair, Mum!" Rylee exclaimed loudly.
"Just because you are better than me in some things, does not mean that you are the best in everything, Rylee," Rachel chuckled. "Get over it!"
Simon arrived in time to see Rylee pouting as she leaned against her ATV. Harper arrived next and she grinned at Rylee's miserable expression.
"She came in second, did she?" Harper asked and Simon nodded. "She'll be grumpy and anti-social for the rest of the day now."
"So true," Simon grinned.
Rylee simply glared at both of her friends.
..._...
Once everybody had arrived safely, Jasper explained that they would break for lunch and then there would be a fun surprise.
Lunch was an amazing affair. The Army had setup one of their field kitchens and everyone was able to enjoy hot chunky soup, hot sausage rolls, and gallons of hot sweet tea. The break also gave some the chance to look closely at the two Gazelle helicopters. Charlotte and Kate enjoyed showing their friends around the cockpits of each aircraft. Keira and Trevor were able to discuss their two student pilots with David and Jasper who were both very impressed with the youngsters' progress. Rylee pouted all through lunch, ignoring the snide comments from Harper and Simon. As for Rachel, she simply ignored her daughter's pouting and enjoyed talking with Cassie, Lynn, and Natasha. Rachel was amazed by the mixture of people and her mind had begun to piece together little sections of what she knew. As she sipped her hot soup, Rachel headed over to the helicopters.
"Hello Kate," Rachel said.
"Hi, Mrs Clarkson."
"Call me Rachel, please."
"Okay, Rachel."
"I know that there is more to this group than meets the eye," Rachel commented. "You did amazingly well under pressure during that incident in Leeds, the other week."
"I kind of excel under pressure," Kate admitted.
"I'm sorry that you had to endure life as a Predator."
"Don't be sorry – I survived, and I have a great life with a family who loves me and two brats for brothers."
"This is all a very strange experience," Rachel admitted.
"It gets easier, I promise."
"I do hope so."
..._...
After lunch, Jasper approached the happily sated kids.
"Right, how about we have some fun!" he suggested. "We have access to the three-hundred-metre range for a few hours."
Many faces lit up at the suggestion.
"I expect all of you to be on your best behaviour, understand?"
There were plenty of excited nods as everybody followed Jasper down the road towards the range. There was a lot of excited chatter, but everyone was perfectly behaved. However, there was one who did not appear happy – Amber. She moped along at the back . . . at least until Scarlett shoved her in the back and pushed her towards Mary.
"Come on Amber," Mary offered. "I'll look after you."
Amber looked horrified by the mere suggestion that a Royal Princess should look after a mere commoner.
"You'll be fine," Scarlett laughed.
At the range, they were met by a small group of Army soldiers, the senior of whom was a staff sergeant.
..._...
The staff sergeant was not amused.
Why he had been tasked with supervising a rabble on his range, he had no idea. However, he and his team of twelve soldiers had been told to supply weapons, plenty of ammunition, and to supervise. They had also been told never to talk about anything, or anyone, they saw . . . or indeed heard. The staff sergeant had taken that with a pinch of salt, however, he was stunned to recognise Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, not to mention seeing the pilots of the two helicopters wearing military rank – the man bore the three pips of an Army Air Corps Captain while the woman bore the two and a half stripes of a Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander. As for the rest, there were some adults, but mostly there was a motley collection of children, boys and girls, young and teen.
"Right!" the Staff Sergeant called out. "We have space for twenty-four on the range at any one time. You have a choice of weapon; however, you will not be able to select a weapon which my men think that you cannot handle. Any messing about and you WILL NOT SHOOT!"
As the children filed past, the staff sergeant spoke to the Captain.
"Can any of these children shoot, Captain?"
"Just watch, Staff," Trevor replied with a chuckle.
..._...
The staff sergeant watched as the children each selected a weapon – all but three.
Those three were taken off to one side by a woman who had identified herself as a Captain in the Royal Marines. There she took them through the basics of using the L85A2 assault rifle. For the rest, various weapons were selected by the children who appeared to be very comfortable with them all. As the Sergeant watched, weapons were selected, checked, and cleared as if the children had been using the weapons for years. Each child moved to stand at their designated point – two per square of concrete. At a shouted command from one of the soldiers present, the first group of seventeen children lay down, their selected rifles held ready, fingers away from triggers. Three soldiers moved down the row, placing two compatible magazines down beside each child.
"You have two magazines," a corporal bellowed. "Each loaded with five rounds of ball ammunition. Lock one magazine of five rounds, load!"
Each child picked up a magazine and loaded their rifles, ensuring that the magazines were securely fixed. The staff sergeant was impressed.
"Ready on the right?" the corporal continued, and he checked to see two soldiers raise their arms.
"Ready on the left?"
Two more soldiers raise their arms.
"The firing line is ready! In your own time, commence firing when your targets appear!"
There was the recurring sound of cocking levers being pulled, charging the rifles as a round was taken smoothly into each breech.
..._...
Rylee steadied her Diemaco C8-CQB rifle.
It was a weapon with which she was very familiar, although, she had not held such a firearm in almost a year. Carefully, she controlled her breathing and she peered through the iron sights at her target which popped up at one-hundred metres. Carefully, Rylee studied the target and her sights, aligning them and then as her breathing peeked, she squeezed the trigger. She grinned as she saw the puff as her bullet tore through the cardboard target and the plywood behind – it was dead centre.
Rylee looked through the sights of her rifle which had cycled and was ready for the next round to be fired.
..._...
The staff sergeant was amazed.
The discipline was unbelievable, not to mention the skill level displayed by the children. As he watched a young girl firing a special forces weapon like she had been using the weapon for months, he was stunned by the accuracy of her shooting. Even the Princess appeared to be a skilled shooter with a G36 assault rifle. As the man strode down the line once the first magazines had been emptied, he studied the scores – not a one was below forty-five out of fifty.
"Cease firing! Lock and clear all weapons!" the corporal bellowed.
As the staff sergeant watched, every weapon was expertly cleared and held up for inspection. The young girl with the CQB was being teased by the boy to her right who held an identical rifle.
"You're disappointed aren't you," the boy stated. "It's a forty-nine, for fuck's sake, Ry!"
The girl simply scowled at the boy – she seemed very annoyed with receiving an all but perfect score.
"You're having a bad day, Ry," the boy continued. "First your Mum beats you on the quads, and then you drop one point on the range – poor girl!"
"Bite me!" the girl retorted.
..._...
Amber had handled weapons before, but only a pistol, and she had not been all that good with it.
The training was thorough, and Sinead spoke clearly, covering the safety aspects and the parts of the weapon they each held. Amber had been very surprised to be trusted with such a powerful weapon, but she figured they were trusting her a lot more, all of a sudden – why? Scarlett and Diana were both listening to Sinead – it was the first assault rifle for the both of them and the very first firearm for Diana. After twenty minutes, the three girls were told to lie down with their weapons and await instructions. Sinead, with the assistance of Keira and Trevor, knelt down and showed the girls how to load their weapons, ensuring each kept their fingers well away from the triggers and the safety catches.
"Okay," Keira said as she coached Diana. "Bring the weapon up to your shoulder, hold it in place, left hand there . . . bit further forward – good. Okay, remember, the rifle is loaded – check in front of you and make sure that nobody is there. Okay, pull back on the cocking lever – let go . . . good."
Diana did so, nodding.
"Okay, remember the safety catch – yes, to the right . . . on. To the left, off. Now, using your right index finger – yes, that one – push the pin. Right, the weapon is ready to fire. Move your index finger onto the trigger – carefully. Now, pull the rifle into your shoulder and look through the SUSAT sight. Line up the point in the sight with the centre of your target. When you are ready, gently squeeze the trigger."
Diana concentrated as she lined up her weapon. She was very nervous, and she was scared of letting Keira and Harper down. When she was happy the weapon was aimed correctly, she moved the finger on the trigger and she felt the weapon buck backwards into her right shoulder – it was a little sore she thought, but she grinned at the thrill of firing the assault rifle.
"Calm down!" Keira said calmly with a chuckle. "The weapon has cycled and there is another round in the breech. Take your time and shoot again."
Diana's heart was racing, and she was struggling to keep still, she fired again, and again, and again, then once more.
..._...
Harper was also firing the L85A2 and she was on her first ten-round magazine, happily punching holes in her target.
Harper loved to shoot, but she had been barred by Blake until she had healed. Blake had cleared her to shoot that very morning and Harper was doing her best to regain her sharpshooting skill – she had not fired a weapon in nearly six months. She was annoyed that her skills were lower than usual, but she knew that after a few days in the range, she would be as lethal as ever. She had laughed as Simon had teased Rylee – Harper was on the opposite side of the girl who was still grousing as she fired off her tenth round.
It felt good being with Rylee and Simon again – they had both been a key part of her life, and she owed the both of them. Harper was looking forward to teasing Rylee – it had been a key pastime for all of the Zetas – for her lapses of perfection.
Simon was grinning as he took exquisite aim with his last round, scoring a perfect fifty.
..._...
The staff sergeant had a shrewd idea who the people on the range probably were, but he kept his mouth shut.
He surprised himself, and his soldiers, by releasing more ammunition, and he allowed the shooters to engage in some rapid firing – with the fire selector moved from single to auto. The men in the butts – behind and below the targets – ran for cover as the plywood exploded everywhere as each target was quite literally shredded by thirty rounds of ball ammunition. The staff sergeant paused behind one of the older girls once the firing had ceased.
"You are?"
"Olivia, Staff!"
The staff sergeant took another look at the girl's target – she had used her C8-CQB to produce a V-shape in her target.
"Nice!" the staff sergeant commented.
Olivia grinned happily.
"A zed?" a corporal queried as he stood behind Rylee.
"Zeta!" Harper, Rylee, and Simon yelled out together as they high fived.
"Fucking nutcases!" Charlotte grinned.
Brathay How, Cumbria
Trevor, Keira, Kate, and Charlotte were the first back home.
A twenty-minute flight had them setting the Gazelle's down at Walney Island Airport where they were serviced and put away in a hanger for the night. The drive back to Brathay How had taken considerably longer!
The rest had arrived a while later, all still in high spirits. Diana was hugging her target – eight holes after firing off sixty rounds! Harper had been scathing – until Keira had threatened her sister with move convalescent leave. Scarlett was surprised to see Amber holding a target too – she hadn't expected the girl to really care. Amber had managed quite a few holes, indicating that she was quite a good shot. Scarlett had enjoyed the shooting – especially firing off thirty rounds all at once at the end.
"Okay!" Alexandra announced. "There is a little over an hour before supper – how about you all go for a swim?"
There was a mad, extremely noisy, rush for the stairs and Kaitlin was all but trampled by the bigger kids.
..._...
"Mum, Mum!"
"Looking for something?" Rachel grinned as she held up two swimsuits.
Rylee scowled at the one held in Rachel's left hand – it was a skimpy two-piece swimsuit. The other, in Rachel's right hand, was a standard one-piece swimsuit.
"You are not getting me to wear that!" Rylee stated.
"I thought you might want to give Simon another erection!"
Rylee's mouth dropped open and she felt her face heating up as she grabbed the one-piece and fled the room as fast as her legs could move, ignoring her mother's laughter.
..._...
It took less than three minutes for the first to appear at the pool – Craig and Ewan.
The swimming pool was a fair size and was paired with a jacuzzi. The two boys immediately plunged in, splashing Jasper as he took a seat to oversee the impending mayhem. Naomi appeared next with Cassie. Naomi was a little unsure, considering her wound, but she was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. With help from Cassie, Naomi sank into the jacuzzi where she could enjoy the hot water which would help her weakened body heal. In time, Naomi was joined by Diana who bore a very dubious expression on her face. She had not swum since her accident, and she had no idea if she even could. Her legs were watertight, so she was allowed to climb into the jacuzzi with Naomi. They were soon joined by Jordan who had similar issues to Diana.
The main pool was soon full of screaming youngsters. Rylee was with Simon and they were talking with Charlotte and Jake. Olivia was with Craig, and the pair were kissing – at least until Sinead split them both up. Kaitlin was being a little shit – as usual – as she annoyed the hell out of everybody. Christopher and Jeremy ganged up on Jessica who screamed as she was chased through the water. She was rescued by Kate and Dakota who soon had the boys running away in fear of their lives. Mary took great joy in chasing Electra who loved the rough treatment as she was seized and then thrown to crash down into the water.
On the side of the pool, Blake was talking with Rachel, who was pleased to see her daughter mixing and having fun. Sinead was deep in conversation with Trevor while Ginny dozed, ignoring the raucous behaviour – at least until she screamed as a tub of water was tipped over her. The annoyed PPO glared up at Mary and Electra – neither showing even a hint of remorse.
"I will get you, your Royal Highness!" Ginny hissed as Mary giggled and ran for the perceived safety of the water.
Then Kaitlin put her foot in it, pushing her luck teasing Rylee. Unfortunately for Kaitlin, Rylee was not fully aware of how fucking annoying Kaitlin could be, nor that other simply ignored the girl. Instead, Rylee simply turned and punched Kaitlin in the left shoulder and then slapped her hard around the head.
"Rylee!" Jasper bellowed.
Rylee cringed as silence fell across the pool and all eyes turned on her.
"Get out!" Jasper ordered.
Rylee did so, Kaitlin following her.
"We do not behave like that around here, Rylee," Jasper lectured. "And I don't care what Kaitlin did, either."
"I'm sorry, Kaitlin," Rylee said with an ashamed glance at her mother who did not look happy.
"I'm okay," Kaitlin admitted.
"Go get yourself changed, Rylee, and report back to me," Jasper said.
Rylee suddenly felt miserable as her friends went back to having fun. She gave Kaitlin a smile.
"Sorry," she said as she grabbed a towel and headed for her room to change.
..._...
Simon watched Rylee until she vanished from sight.
He felt bad for her, but he knew that she had a fiery temper. He did not blame Kaitlin, but Rylee should have known not to retaliate so violently. Kaitlin was given a hug by Charlotte on her return to the pool which then sparked a new conversation amongst the boys.
"Why do girls insist on hugging all the time?" Simon asked.
"I think they're all secretly lesbians," Craig responded.
"You fucking what!?" Kate exclaimed as she grabbed Craig by the left ear.
"There's nothing wrong with you being a lesbian, Katie, honest," Craig responded.
"You are not helping your case, arsehole!" Kate hissed.
"Okay!" Craig exclaimed. "You like munching pussy, so what?"
Katie dragged the obnoxious boy under the water for a few moments before allowing him to surface.
"You sure you're not a muffin muncher?" Craig asked as he spat out some of the water he had taken in.
Craig was ducked again as Kate grinned at Dakota who was laughing.
..._...
Rylee found herself in the kitchen, once she had changed and reported back to Jasper.
"Once Alexandra says you can go, your punishment is over," Jasper explained. "I expect you to show some more maturity, Rylee. You are one of the oldest here and we think you would fit in very well."
Rylee was a little unsure what Jasper meant, but she went along with it. Then Kaitlin appeared, looking very dejected.
"Kaitlin will be joining you, for the evening," Jasper added. "Kaitlin?"
"I'm here because I'm annoying," Kaitlin admitted dolefully.
Jasper coughed, and Kaitlin rolled her eyes.
"I'm here because . . . Oh, hell! I'm here because I'm a damn annoying little bitch who can't stop being annoying," Kaitlin clarified.
Rylee grinned.
"Come on, Kaitlin," Rylee said, putting am arm around the younger girl's shoulders. "Let's go start our punishment."
..._...
Kaitlin and Rylee spent a good forty minutes helping Alexandra to prepare the evening meal.
"Can you never keep your arse out of trouble?"
Rylee turned to see Harper standing with her hands on her non-existent hips.
"I admit that sometimes I struggle to avoid certain incidents occurring," Rylee admitted.
"I know how you feel," Kaitlin conceded. "Shit finds me like a fucking muck spreader!"
Harper laughed.
"I need a drink," Harper said.
"Get it yourself!" Rylee growled before she paused as Alexandra glanced in her direction. "Of course, Harper, what would you like?"
Harper grinned happily. "A Coke, please."
"Now piss off!" Rylee hissed, good-naturedly, as she handed Harper a can of Coke. "It makes you want to break something – grrr!"
"I can relate," Kaitlin commented.
Later that night
"We going to get a peaceful night?" Keira asked as she walked across the landing with Cassie.
"Oh, here we go!" Cassie groaned.
"What?" Keira asked as Olivia, Charlotte, Mary, and Dakota streaked past, sans clothing. "Never mind!"
The girls were being cheered on by Jordan, Jeremy, and Craig while Jake, Ewan, and Simon just laughed. Rylee looked on, horrified by the antics she was witnessing, and she felt a surge of jealousy as she noticed Simon's eyes watching the naked female bodies parading past. They were all, without exception, much better equipped than she was – even Charlotte. The four girls ran to the far end of the landing before racing around the banisters and then back past Cassie and Keira. Each of the girls was giggling and very red-faced. Not to be outdone, it seemed, the remaining girls then appeared. A scarlet-faced Scarlett, a giggling and very embarrassed Jessica, an obviously coerced Amber, and a grinning Kaitlin – all naked.
Standing at the end of the corridor which led to her bedroom, a dressed Diana was standing next to a topless Harper. Diana did not approve of the overt display of fresh, however, the girls in question did not appear to care – mostly. Scarlett had the longer legs, so she won the race. The wolf whistling from the boys was almost deafening which also had Nika and Sasha barking as they watched the rowdy behaviour.
It ultimately took a while for Keira and Cassie to guide the over-excited naked females back to their rooms and into their pyjamas.
..._...
"You are simply certifiable!" Electra commented as she watched the naked Mary stroll past.
"It's liberating, really," Mary replied. "I never get to be myself when I'm at home – same at school. Thanks to Harper, I've learnt to enjoy my life when I'm with you guys. I couldn't give a shit who sees my twat, to be honest."
"Looks like Ewan likes your twat," Charlotte grinned as she tipped her head towards where the boy was studying Mary.
Mary looked back and she blushed violently before she began to giggle and bolt for her bedroom and some semblance of dignity.
..._...
Harper took control once everyone had calmed down – she wanted to tell a story.
"You sure about this?" Electra asked, seeing the mental pain in her friend's eyes.
"Yes, I want Rylee and Simon to know," Harper insisted. "Mrs Clarkson, too."
"You really sure?" Jake asked.
"Yes."
"Is this going to be bad?" Simon asked.
"Oh, yes," Electra replied darkly as Rachel appeared in the room to join the herd of youngsters.
Harper began by stripping down to her underwear. She began to point out her various scars, including the cigarette burns, the cuts, her broken fingers, her freshly regrown fingernails, the healed hole in her foot, and her other scars.
"Is that...?" Rylee asked, pointing at Harper's right thigh.
"Yes, that is where you shot me," Harper replied uncomfortably.
"You shot, Harper?" Electra asked, incredulously.
"Would you believe that her mouth got her into trouble?" Naomi grinned, remembering the event with relish.
"Yes!" everybody chorused much to Harper's chagrin.
"You'd have thought she'd have learnt to keep her mouth shut by now," Keira commented dryly.
"Where'd the fun be in that?" Harper grinned.
"You ready?" Keira asked with genuine concern.
Harper nodded as she pulled on her pyjama top which Electra passed her. Harper sat down on her bed with Diana beside her.
"I was taken and tortured for information," Harper began. "If it weren't for you, Rylee, and you, Simon, I might never have survived. It was your training which allowed me to endure the pain and the suffering. I had never felt so much pain, ever. It just kept coming and coming. I wanted to die, but there was a bitchy voice in my mind which refused to allow it – your voice, Rylee."
Harper was sobbing as she continued.
"I was scared that I would never see Keira or my friends again. The repeated put downs and drains on my remaining sanity were chipping away at whatever resolve I had left. Then came a rescue attempt which failed. Our fingertips actually touched but then I was dragged away from my sister. That was it; I gave in and allowed myself to sink into a darkness which all but killed me. There was nothing left for me to live for. They had stopped questioning me, but I was simply abandoned, except for the care from my captor, Scarlett."
Harper saw Rylee look over at the scarlet-haired girl who stood in the doorway listening to the story. Rylee glowered at Scarlett and Harper knew what was coming.
"No, Rylee!" Harper shouted and Rylee turned her attention back to Harper. "Without Scarlett, I would be dead. You lay one finger on her, and I will hurt you. Scarlett has paid for her misdeeds and for who her father was . . . Scarlett?"
Scarlett stepped forward and she held up her right hand and then pulled off the flesh-coloured glove.
"Holy shit!" Rylee breathed as she saw the intricate carbon-fibre fingers and hi-tech joints.
"That is amazing," Simon confirmed. "Who did it?"
"That would be me," Kaitlin admitted meekly. "In my defence, I thought Harper was dead."
Harper turned to Rachel Clarkson.
"Mrs Clarkson, without your daughter and the training she made me endure, I would have died, last year. Rylee is an amazing person who I am glad to have known and despite a rocky beginning, I see her as a very close friend."
"Thank you, Harper," Rachel said.
Rylee was unable to say a word as she simply stood there, rooted to the spot, stunned by Harper's words. Simon grinned at his girl and he gave her hand a squeeze as he saw the tears running down her cheeks. Rylee wiped away her tears and she looked down at the young girl who was but five weeks short of her tenth birthday.
"It's good to see that all my hard work was actually worth it," Rylee said before she turned to Scarlett. "Thanks for looking after her – I know from bitter experience that it can't have been easy looking after the cantankerous bitch. But – and I will never ever say this again – I care about the girl."
"Big word, cantankerous," Keira commented. "But it fits."
"She's a fucking bookworm!" Simon and Harper said together as Rylee scowled and everybody laughed.