Day One
“Get up, kiddo,” he said softly, and not standing right next to her. Her reflexes were getting pretty good, especially when half awake.
“Daaa. What time’s it?”
“Quarter of eight. Ya got fifteen mins ta be in the courtyard with yer PT gear on.”
“Daaaaa……WTF?”
“Don’t be late kiddo. It’s test week. My tests.”
Then he walked out.
Five mins later, she was almost back asleep, when the sheets and blankets were ripped away from her. “Hey, knock it, Dad……..I mean, Mum.”
“Get yer ass up, sweetie. Trust me, ya don’t want to screw this week up. I’m not supposed ta tell ya, so ya get one warning. Do what he says, do what everybody says. If ya pass, well, ya gotta pass ta even find out the reward.”
The mornings were still brisk in spring time southern California. So, at 7:59, she walked into the courtyard with Aussie pattern workout tights, grey long sleeve t-shirt, and running shoes, sliding her sunglasses on.
She of course didn’t see her Da any fucking where, so was sort of expecting it when she heard him say from behind, “Ready, kiddo?”
She grunted, “I guess.”
“Ya can always go back ta bed.”
She laughed bitterly. She knew that was a trick. “What’s the plan, Da?” With that, she started stretching next to her father.
“Well, that depends, besides the new Little Women assignment, how much homework ya got for the week from everyone?”
“A bunch, due Friday, probably about six ta eight hours worth a damn day. Everybody’s back an’ thinks I got nothing else ta do I guess.”
“Want some advice?”
“Not really, but…. go fer it.”
“Break it up. So, as an example, yer late on the Little Women assignment, an’ now ya got more to do for it than ya did. Light three mile run, and then one circuit of the obstacle course. Breakfast, then ya an’ I head to the library, I’ve got some updates I’m workin’ on. Two hours of regular assignments. Then an hour workin’ on the bike repairs, homework followed by somethin’ fun an’ useful. Then, back to the library. An hour readin’ the book, ya taking notes on what ya thin’ be useful for a ten minute lecture ta yer ol’ Da. Then lunch, yer hour with Uncle Brant’s trainin’ sim. Normally we’d do our joint sim, but instead, back ta the library for two hours readin’ the book, then for a break, we’ll do our combo session, then two more hours of reading. Break for thirty mins on the gun range, yer choice of weapon, break ta shower, dinner with Mum an’ whoever, an hour readin’. That gets us ta about nine, we can tuck in for a movie with yer Mum or video games if you’d prefer for some downtime. Then do it all again for the rest of the week.”
As he stood back up, she was just glaring at him. “That’s all fuckin’ day, Da!
He turned and looked at her. “I know it is. Think of this while we run. Normal kids go to school all day, then they have practice for whatever they want ta do, band, soccer, rugby, whatever. At least here in the US. When I was yer age, we got up early to help Mum on the farm, then helped when we got back, plus whatever homework. Yea, this is more than normal because during class a regular kid can fuck off or whatever with their classmates and friends.”
He recognized the mulish expression, he’d seen it a time or too on his younger siblings faces when they were kids, especially Brant’s.
Smiling in memory, he paused, before continuing, “Here’s the second point. Ya say you want to be out their fightin’, helpin’ people. That’s great, but what about yer cover, yer secret identity an’ all.” Not waiting for a response, “I’ll tell ya this much. Ya’ve done good….everybody says ya have. Yer lessons with Henri, the training sims with yer Uncle Brant, even the occasional patrol with yer Uncle Bryce that ya guys thought ya could hide from me before yer Mum an’ I gave permission,” he watches her wince at that one. “Ya’ve worked hard on your racin’, hopefully havin’ lots of fun with it.”
“So really, the test is this…..How do ya handle a solid week of lots of different competin’ priorities. An’ that doesn’t mean cut out some time ta chill an’ relax. Ya don’t have ta do this. Like I said before ya started trainin’ with Brant, I’d prefer if ya didn’t. Not because I don’t think ya can, because I know ya can. Its just hard for me ta think about….I just want ya safe an happy. But if what makes ya happy is goin’ ta put ya in danger, then I’m goin’ ta make sure yer ready for it. Because I love ya more than I know how ta say.”
He had no real idea whether or not he’d gotten through to her, stubborn didn’t begin to describe an Anderson but…..he was trying, “So, ya ready, kiddo?”
“On like Donkey Kong, Da.”
He smiled, “On like Donkey Kong.”
Day Two
He heard her alarm start beeping at 7:40 while he was in shower, a shower he needed after that particular patrol. Which meant she was starting to listen when he said he wasn’t waking her up anymore this week, even as the alarm continued to beep.
He trimmed his beard for a few minutes while he heard Amelia get up and finish waking Livy up. He didn’t blame her for being tired. That was part of the test.
Outside, she was waiting to start stretching as he came out with coffee, handing her one for a quick jolt.
“What classes today, kiddo?”
“More of Little Women, probably should work on my statistics, and I need to finish memorizing all the bones in the arms, hands, legs and feets, plus the muscle groups for the section on human anatomy.”
“If ya need a study partner on any of it, let me know, but, we might as well get started stretching. Sprints, three times on the obstacle course, then a light upper body weight workout. Then brekkie.”
“For our maintenance activity, scuba an’ scraping the barnacles an’ such off the boat.” She sighed, although brightened slightly when he continued, “I’ll even help a bit.”
“Oh, almost forgot, Brant said to remind ya that its ninety minutes in the training sim today, plus ninety minutes for the joint sim later. Said he discussed it with ya yesterday.”
That night, twenty minutes into Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Livy was snoring in exhaustion.
“Brett, is this really necessary?”
“I don’t know, ‘Melia, is it? You remember what even a slow week at basic was like, dontcha?”
“She’s not joinin’ the army.”
“That we know of. Besides, what she wants ta do is far more dangerous, an’ potentially individually dangerous, than the army.”
“An’ when she completes this successfully, then what, more tests?”
He pauses in what was an obvious attempt to start distracting her, sitting back up. “From me? Not right away. More training…..absolutely. Forever…..if this is what she wants, ya know it never ends. Which is why I keep putting obstacles in the way…..we’ve had this conversation.”
She just sat there, obviously thinking about a decision, before, “Yer right, now carry her ta her room, an’ then come back an’ do a better job of distracting me.”
“Yer wish is my command, Bomber.”
Day 3: 7:00 AM Pacific Time
The beep, beep, beep of her alarm began……
He lay there, Amelia’s sleeping form snuggled in close, the blanket loosely wrapped around her, an arm draped over his chest as her head rested partly on his shoulders, supported by a pillow. Her scent was driving him insane at the moment, even though they hadn’t slept much the night before, on the other hand he hadn’t roamed the base aimlessly either.
As much as he’d rather wake her up with a tempting offer, tempting for him anyway, he slid quietly out of the bed, heading to the shower. He had twenty minutes before he needed to raise the dead on the far side of their suite of apartments.
They ran around the base after stretching, a moderate pace, not as fast as she could go, and not a jog, just a ground eating run. She was already surprisingly tall, so her strides weren’t that far off of his.
He mentally scratched off the events of the schedule for this afternoon. Her mum was right, as usual. He didn’t really know what he was trying to do, although he hoped the new armor would prove an exciting reward at the end of the week. He did want the team there, even if Bryce was on a world tour. He’d understand, especially since it was one step closer to Brett approving of the whole sidekick bullshit. He still had delusions of her wanting to patrol with him instead of his brother but…..he should be used to disappointment by now. He didn’t really know how to explain how he felt about her choosing both a costume and a name that reflected Silver Spyder instead of Ghost Venom, other than it…..hurt.
“Change of plans, kiddo, make sure you have everything homework related done before lunch.”
Her breath came smoothly as she ran, her endurance obviously having been built over the last few months. “Ok, Da, do I get ta know why?”
“After lunch, sure. I’ve got some calls to make.”
“So – can’t be too hard of training, if Mum’s coming,” Livy said as they walked towards the boat.
“I can still run ya into the ground, ya little rat,” Amelia replied.
“And I know for a fact after yer last range outing that Mum can outshoot ya, so……watch it kiddo.” Although he said it with a smile.
Between the boat, and then transferring to a car, Olivia fell asleep in the back seat of the SUV, so a little disorientation was to be expected when they pulled into the parking lot.
“The track, we’re at the track?” Grogginess quickly turning into excitement.
“Yea, everythin’s here, kiddo, although ya might want ta wipe the drool off yer face before anyone see’s ya.”
With a swipe of the back of her hand, it hit her, “but my leathers, my jacket…”
Amelia interrupted, “It’s all in the back, honey, just jump back there ta get changed. Don’t forget, this is one of yer Dad’s security vehicles, no one can see inside.”
“YES!” she shouted before flipping over the seat into the rear.
Brett turned to look at Amelia, “So maybe ya were right.” He ignored her smirking smile.
“Livy! Ya got three hours on the track, an’ then a thirty minute PR an’ autograph session. Then dinner somewhere in town!”
“Thanks Da!”
Day 4: 7:45 AM Pacific Time
He didn’t even have to wake her this morning, even though she’d stayed up finishing homework, or so she said. He didn’t check. Amelia made sure of that.
The day’s activities weren’t really considerably different than the first day, but Livy was more relaxed. Tired, perhaps, a little more fatigued for the early morning, and as the day wore on, but. . . . more calm and more focused in everything, even writing the paper she obviously had avoided about Little Women that night.
“Did ya finish the book, Da?”
“Yes, while ya were in yer sims with Uncle Brant yesterday.”
“Whatchya think?”
“Isn’t the paper supposed ta be yer analysis?”
“Yea, but….I’m doin’ an interview ta add ta the presentation. Ya know, all that “but what do people think an’ feel” that Henri goes on an’ on about.”
“It was fine I guess. Not really my style, I always used ta prefer military biographies or battle histories growin’ up. But it was enough like an autobiography I guess ta be tolerable.”
“Did anythin’ remind ya of anyone?”
“What, ya thin’ we grew up in the nineteenth century?” although he smiled when he said it.
“No, I don’t know, did it remind ya of family I guess. Not really sure what kind of interview I should be doing.”
Taking a deep breath, he says, “Well, in some ways, I guess Jo reminds me of yer Aunt Bridgette. Tough, tomboy, didn’t want ta do the traditional female things, I guess. So I guess maybe a bit like ya too, since ya remind me occasionally of yer Aunt Brij too.” He smiles, perhaps a bit sadly. “But ya know, there were three boys an’ only one girl, so not a lot of similarities. Plus the age differences.”
“Whacha mean?”
“Well, in the book, the girls are all like two years apart, right? I mean I guess its close, but I’m eleven years older than Bryce. It’s kind of difficult to have any sort of brotherly relationship that far apart ya know?”
“Yer eleven years older than Bryce, but I thought…….” she frowned in confusion.
“Ya thought what? That he looks older than me now? That yer Mum robbed the cradle or something?” He starts laughing, quietly, for a moment. “Yea, Bryce looks older now. Well, he looks old for his age anyway because of one of the, well, past battles I guess is the way to put it. I look like I did at about twenty-five, even though I’ll be thirty-seven this year. So I guess it can be confusin’. Yer Mum an’ I are basically the same age. Young, but not too young when ya were born. But yer Uncle Bryce would have been about ten when ya were born, Brant would of just turned thirteen I think, I wasn’t home much by then. Brij would have been startin’ university at almost eighteen. So yea, big age gaps I guess. I’d been in the army for five years when ya were born, or there about.”
“Were ya there when I was born?” she asked quietly, not looking up.
“No, kiddo, I wasn’t. I wish I had been, but……I didn’t know about……” taking a deep breath, “I didn’t know ya were my daughter then.”
“Why……I mean, where were ya?”
“That’s a hard question to answer, both of them. The why……well, if ya want ta talk about that we need ta do it with yer Mum around too. Its…..complicated. As to where? I think I was in Iraq. That’s what my memories say, that’s what some of the records an’ scars say, but the project, well, they were apparently able to manipulate minds an’ memories, so I can’t really say fer sure.”
He slides over next to her on the couch, kissing the top of her head, “I can’t tell ya how much I wish I’d been there kiddo, but…I’m glad yer here now.”
Turning and giving him a hug, “Me too, Da, me too. Even if yer tests are a bunch of bloody ‘roo shit.”
Last Dreams 