Clone Earth : MELVIN

Trevon could hear her scream over the crowd. It also didn’t help that everyone passing him would stop and glance in the direction the security detail was dragging his very strong and unfiltered sister, away. Strangers whispered just as the familiar people on Meckam did. None of them knew the lengths Ari had gone to in order to escape the prison she was being forced to stay on alone.

He tightened his eyelids, waiting for her cries to fade. His heart ached, pulling down on his chest.

Trevon’s voice cracked, “How is allowing her to be arrested going to protect her?” after a deep breath he reopened his eyes to see General Bishop. Though the man standing beside him in scruffy civilian clothes, with uncombed brown hair wasn't there in a Military capacity. He was just Uncle Clint.

“Keep your eyes forward,” Uncle Clint said as he looked past Trevon, double checking that Ari hadn’t broken away. Firmly he gripped Trevon’s shoulder in that stern way of comforting him. “We can’t shelter her from this one. She has to realize the weight of her actions.”

Trevon scratched the back of his head, “Her actions are to make a new home. Meckam's destination will turn into a life sentence. She’ll never be able to come back.”

As if he'd recently had this same argument Uncle Clint let out a long sigh. “They’ve been redirected to the Danza Sector. It’s not a life sentence, I will make sure she can comes back when it’s time.”

“That’s out past Clone Earth Melvin. It's an entirely new sector of space.”

General squeezed his shoulder before releasing him. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but it is truly the only way to protect her.”

“I protect her. I have always protected her.”

The General shook his head, “That is not your responsibility. You’re going to the academy, your future needs your complete focus. I’m sorry. But the safest place for her is the farthest from civilization possible.”

Trevon looked again at the military transport check in. He’d been hesitating long before his Uncle had found him. He’d been watching the line of people shift. Analyzing each person and their expression, he could tell who was ranked Military, who was visiting, and who were new recruits. The longer he watched the more out of place he felt.

He couldn’t use his ability while at the Academy though he wondered what would happen if he did. Would they kick me out? And how would that reflect on Ari, or Dad's legacy? That thought prompted him to turn around and leave. He needed to learn more about what he could do. At a CE University he could research it without being watched. But - halfway back to the planet transports Trevon stopped again - Logically he didn’t have money for tuition or a place to live a CE Planet.

Glancing at his duffle bag where the small donation to his future was tucked away Trevon calculated he’d last a few months on his own. He didn't know the steps it took to apply to the university. The easier route was to go to the academy where all of that was taken care of for him.

Trevon turned on his heels, hiked his bag up on his shoulder and marched back down the hall again. You’re making the right decision. He tried convincing himself focusing on each step he took forward. The closer to the military transport he got the heavier his feet became. Ari is sure to make it to the academy someday. I need to be there when she does. He pushed himself again the instant his feet stopped moving. She’s going to need my help and I can’t help if I’m not there.

It was at that point Uncle Clint had found him, telling him not to react to what was about to happen. Which turned out to be one of the hardest things Trevon had ever done.

He turned to Uncle Clint, “How did you know Ari was coming?”

Uncle Clint sunk his hands into his pockets and swallowed hard, “She sent me an S.O.S.”

Heat flushed to Trevon’s face, “You never ignore her S.O.S’s.” The General nodded, “You’re really not going to help her?”

“I am. Though not in the way she wants.”

One by one Trevon's mind allowed the pieces to this puzzle to fall landing perfectly in shape. Trevon had a conversation with Hobsen shortly after Ari had run from the woman’s angered shouts. “Hobsen,” he said. “You warned Hobsen that Ari would try to run away. She denied my bid to take Ari with me because Ari would be safer on Meckam.”

“Yes, I did warn her-”

“Did the military issue Meckam's relocation?” Trevon asked. The General shifted uncomfortably on his feet, but he allowed Trevon finish drawing his conclusion. “Everyone has been feeding me the same lines for weeks and it's because you want her to stay as far away from Tirragen as possible. Why? You’re pushing her far away. She’s never going to get back, not in three years from now, not ever! Why?”

“Trevon this really is not the place- “

“No, this is it.” He motioned toward the check point. The line was getting shorter and the crowd began to thin. The final shuttle was boarding the next Military transport would not arrive for twelve hours. “This is my decision, whether I get on that shuttle or I miss it, there’s no turning back. So help me understand Uncle Clint. Why keep this out of reach for her and make me live my sister’s dream?”

He stepped back, his brown eyes shook and he released a long sigh. All the sounds around them seemed to fall away as a touch of pink touched the General’s ears. “Honestly, I didn’t think of it that way.” He pursed his lips together regained his parental composure. “Your dad would expect me to convince you to get on that shuttle. But your mom,” he smiled at the memory of the woman Trevon barely remembered. “She would want me to ask, do you have a dream of your own? One that doesn’t involve taking care of your sister?”

Trevon looked at the military post. He watched a petite girl with black hair sneak close to the check in, possibly catching a final look of her sibling as he boarded. The Corporal in charge saluted another officer, transferring the post to him.

“No. But I still don’t think I should go.” It wasn’t really a conscious answer, the thought just rolled out of him.

“Your father’s legacy does add some pressure-”

“It's not that. The only reason I convinced myself to go was to be at the Academy when Ari got there. Maybe prepare them for her.” The two of them shared a short chuckle relaxing the atmosphere, honesty always set well with Trevon. He finally felt like he was speaking own truth, “You say you’re protecting her, can you tell me what from?”

Uncle Clint’s head automatically shook, “If this works, we’ll never find out.”

“Oh good keep it vague.” Trevon joked, “Heaven forbid I understand.”

The General smothered a smile. He knew Trevon well enough to know the mystery was adding fuel to his curiosity. Ari wasn’t the only one that would dig for facts to uncover the answers, but Trevon let it rest for now. The point was, Ari was going to be safe. Pumping the high ranked military commanding officer was not going to get him any of the answers he needed, even IF he was his Uncle.

A soft buzz came from Clint’s jacket pocket. He retrieved the device and glanced briefly at the notices across his comm screen. A look of sadness briefly took over his expression as he tucked it away.

“Ari?” Trevon asked. Uncle Clint scratched the bridge of his nose with his thumb before returning Trevon’s puzzled look with a sad grin. “You’re gonna ignore it?”

“I’m going to ignore it.” He repeated. “She’ll be back on Meckam in about six hours. Hopefully she’ll be cool off by then. While you and I are going to go for a ride.”

Unable to keep the shock from his expression Trevon tried to guess what his Uncle was thinking. “Oh don’t look at me with those big cartoon eyes. This way we can talk and if you happen to change your mind, at least I can sneak you into the Academy through my private entrance.” his expression not shifting after his arms changed from their imposing position to a more casual one. Motioning his head in the direction of the private shuttle gates, “My shuttle’s this way.”

Trevon retrieved his bag from the floor. Falling into stride with his Uncle they made their way down the path Trevon had previous paced. Passed the CE loading docks to the VIP shuttle bay. Unsurprising to Trevon, Uncle Clint’s shuttle wasn’t anything special, compared to his high military rank it was actually rather humble in appearance. Trevon smiled as he sat in the co-pilot seat.

It was a seat he would never have been given had his sister been with them. She would be right beside Uncle Clint watching over his shoulder while the machine hummed to life. Her fingers motioning the pattern of the standard flight sequence and debarking protocol. She had the skills to fly the shuttle to Tirragen herself.

Sadness returned settling somewhere in his chest, again he wondered if he was thinking too much. Perhaps he should have just went to the Academy as was planned.

CHAPTER END