The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 22 : Julien's Brunch

In PG4 building, a group of people were lounging around the swimming pool. Julien was in the pool, pausing after swimming 10 laps. Rosemary was in a swim-suite, enjoying the bright sun from a pool chair. The General and Brigadier were sitting at a table under a Pool-Umbrella. Rusk and his team stood along the parameter.

"Your Highness, Her Ladyship's move last night to create this project, is a serious problem for us in the Military. That time which she will now spend on her walkthrough was the one we wanted her to spend on the VR development. It is a mistake." The General protested.

"Really!" Julien growled.

The General quickly corrected himself, "That is what Brigadier Thompson believes. It's not that I wish to contradict your wisdom..."

Julien's arms which were on the edge of the pool suddenly straightened and his body shot out of the water. He angled himself in a particular way and as soon as his body cleared the water, he flipped over and landed on his feet in front of the General. The General stepped back in surprised, as did the Brigadier. Rosemary contained her laughter as she had seen this reaction in people many times before.

"General, I am not interested in sycophant or lackey. There was a time when in the Armed Forces you were taught to accept decisions and not question them. But today you are a General, not an enlisted soldier. Your work is to think and therefore to question what others say or do, even if it is me or the Emperor for that matter. I never want to hear such words from you in future, especially in a private discussion."

The General nodded and used all his discipline and years of training to stop himself from wiping his forehead. He calmed himself and re-started the discussion.

"Sir, 'Luke' has put that girl on a new project yesterday. It will take a lot of time and efforts and she will have her focus on it. On the other hand, we wanted her time to set up the VR Project. If she is doing the Walkthrough project for Lady Rosemary, she will not have time for us... My apologies, Lady Rosemary."

Julien had wrapped himself in thick bathrobe and flopped down on one of the Pool-Chairs. "General, isn't it time that we stopped giving so much credence to Nobility and Royalty per se to the extent that we are willing to accept damage to our nation rather than be willing to oppose an action of theirs?"

"I am sorry, I did not understand, Sir."

"You are upset with Rosemary's project, which I agree is mine. You feel it harms the Military's plans on important training programs. You believe it is bad for our country, but you are apologising to Lady Rosemary for opposing it."

The General was silent. The four of them looked at each other.

Brigadier Thompson took up the matter. "Julien Sir, she is just a kid. A 20-year-old student, whose prime aim in life now is to study and perhaps have some fun. She has a tough schedule. So, there is very little time for her. She cannot conceptualise the fact that she should give up part of her education to do this project instead. So how do we achieve our objective if Lady Rosemary's project continues?"

"No. I will not give up my project. I am sure my father, being the Minister of Education, will agree. I can call him if you like." Rosemary stood up with her hands on her hips.

"Stop it, Rosemary. You can't lean on your dad's status for this. Come up with your own argument. I will not allow you to overrule the General or the Brigadier based on your status. Come up with arguments that stand on their own merit." Julien said with his eyes closed as he lay down on the chair.

Rosemary's face coloured and then she controlled her emotions. "General, this project is important for our long-term growth. We need more tech students. We need to get children from non-metros to be able to study, they will introduce new ideas and performance we desperately need. Even our tech is getting into a rut.