Number One Fan

Chapter 7: Harassment

"Then he called me and said he was my 'number one fan.' It's that little creep! The one who sends me thousands of letters in the mail!" Tommy shouted, unable to fully comprehend the situation. He paced back and forth as his 'family' tried to comfort him in his quarters. For the past two years, and then some. He was being relentlessly stalked by either a person or a group, sending messages, voice memos, and handmade presents. However, Tommy was confident it was the ladder; it had to be more than one person! There was no way a singular individual could be responsible for all of this nonsense. They were focused and specific; they knew certain details about his private life that were... private! Things no one was supposed to know about. He had a grade-A stalker.  "I mean-- look at this stuff!" Tommy opened his closet to reveal a pocket dimension of gift baskets, hand-wrapped presents, paper fan mail, and computer chips, all loaded with digital letters. All were addressed to him by one person. 

"It's not that bad," Cam said, standing up and approaching the pile. He went through some of the stuff: baskets filled with synthetic plastic flowers, knitted socks, random trinkets. "Look. It's a plush..! Come now, Tom, even you must admit the likeness is... uncanny." Cam held up the stuffed toy next to Tommy's face, trying to look at the bright side. Tommy was horrified, but the doll was happy. Cam smiled his usual awkward, sympathetic smile, "I think it's cute."

"It ain't cute; it's weird!" Oscar yelled, crossing his arms as he agreed with his mate. 

Tommy snatched the doll, effortlessly ripped it in half, and handed Cam two halves back. "There! That's better! Since you like it so much, hold on to it for me." Tommy said to Cam with a cruel smile before he turned back to rifle through the memorabilia, "He already destroyed my mailbox. Do you not see all this junk on my floor? Isn't stalking the first officer and a superhero of the Dynamic Patrol a crime? For god's sake, he broke into a computer terminal. He's not just obsessed with me. He's out of his mind!" Tommy insisted with a well-placed 'crazy gesture.' He continued, "He is not one of my fans. He's a psychotic lunatic who needs help. Lock him up in sickbay, Cam." Tommy ordered. He wasn't requesting.

"Well, hold on, he hasn't tried to hurt you! He's just a kid who idolizes you and appreciates you. He's in my class. He's never hurt anyone. He usually keeps to himself, sketching in his little book." Cal murmured. He offered Tommy a hug, but Tommy rejected it, which meant he was past agitation. Tommy didn't usually refuse Cal.

"I don't give a damn if you say he wouldn't hurt a germ. I don't want that... that...! Cuckoo bird near me!" Tommy paced back and forth in his quarters, his frustration palpable. He threw a few gifts back into the pocket dimension, struggling to regain his composure. 

Cal stood by, watching Tommy with a worried expression. "Tommy, I understand you're upset--" 

Tommy stopped Cal again, "Furious is more like it!" 

"Okay... I understand you're furious. But... maybe there's a way to handle this without escalating things too quickly. He talks about you and how you make him feel when he's in my class. Now... I won't deny it... his methods are... abnormal--" 

"I believe the word you're looking for is 'crazy,' that little psycho!" Tommy interrupted. He was genuinely showing no remorse. 

 "He hasn't harmed you physically." Cal continued to insist, "I can talk to him, talk to his father. Please don't do anything you'll regret."

Tommy stopped pacing and shot a glare at Cal. "Regret? He's breached my privacy and invaded my personal space repeatedly. This isn't a matter of being thoughtful; it's a matter of security!"

Cam was holding two halves of a stuffed animal when he stepped forward. "I get that you're angry, Tommy. But Happy's just a fan who got a little carried away. Maybe he just needs a different outlet?"