The Old Mine

16: Take a Stand

                    It was late into the night when Cal caved, they put up the research and they all went to bed but bright and early the next morning Cal was up and running. "Cal can you at least tell me what you are planning?" Bret was right on her heels "Try talking it out..." East chuckled at them all, the arrogance pouring off him. Bret glared at him and continued "...out loud." He looked over at Recke who was right beside her then to Midnight and Tahk who were behind him. "She should be resting still, is anyone going to help."

                   East was along the wall on the far left "Might as well quit, I doubt she is in any mood to be cooperative or forthcoming." He had relented to what Cal set up, his name would switch to East Pur in the system, and he was now at the very beginning again, but he was determined to get Recke away from her... he just knew how to do that now thanks to his argument with Recke.

                    "It's simple Bret..." Cal rolled her eyes at East and let out a deep breath "There is a surge of people trying to join here because of the tribe and the planet's sudden health. Brick and the Bishops are struggling to figure out what to do with myself, Recke, Midnight, and Tahk. So, they simply solve one problem with the other."

                    "What are you thinking Cal" Recke let his fingers brush hers and link with them "Your ideas have all been brilliant so far. Just ignore East."

                    "They say they need more teams like you, teams that think on their feet and are ready for just about anything. So, Recke, Midnight and Tahk train people, Bret and I help with research and comms until we are trained." Cal turned and headed straight for the portal "Why has no one tried to label the rooms," she gestured to the row of doors "...or even the doors. This is ridiculous, they all look alike... one wrong guess and someone walks in on something sensitive."

                    "Why don't you talk to Brick about it." East smirked at her.

                   Cal opened her mouth to speak but Bret beat her to it "Behave or you'll be scraping poop off the windows in the rough sections." Bret glared at him "See... he likes me, he loves her... we both go to Brick complaining about you and what do you think will happen?" Bret thought for a second then looked at Cal "We do have several missions coming up that I know are getting ignored when they shouldn't be." Bret sighed "They just feel more important to me."

                    "Trust your instincts" Recke popped a candy in his mouth then subtly pointed to the correct door when East wasn't looking "And lead with that when you broach the subject with Brick."

                     Cal winked at Recke to say thank you, "East you might want to go find something to do, I don't think you are allowed in here yet, are you?" She turned to the door and opened it before he could mouth off again.

                    "There is a problem with that," Tahk stuck his tongue out at East "Nobody wants him around right now." East reached out to smack him, but Bret grabbed East's wrist and shook his head no.

                    Cal turned just inside the door and addressed East "Go talk to my father then, He is looking for volunteers to test some new meditation techniques. It might go over well with Brick to see you making an effort." She turned and headed into the room not even caring to hear or see his response. "Good Luck" East had lost her respect when he lied about who had started the fight, he drew his weapon on her, but he blamed her instead and tried to get her left behind. To Cal, he alone was responsible for her almost losing Recke, her family, and her tribe. "Ocea, is Brick available? I have an idea to alleviate some of the strain."