FutureTech Labs, Rangerville, Thursday, May 6th, 2021, 7:20 PM
"I think, if we really have overcome the feedback issue, we've got it cracked," Dedicated Dylan said earnestly. "We can have a new prototype ready in a few more hours... Do you think we should get back to it?"
"No," Molly said firmly. "It will take at least four hours for fabrication to get the parts we need, and most of a shift to complete assembly. It's already after five. We're calling it a day. We'll get some rest and come at it fresh tomorrow."
"Susanne would have us work through," Dedicated Dylan pointed out.
"Well, I'm not Stern Susanne," Molly said. "We'll do better work rested... and I'm going to talk to Bonnie tomorrow about borrowing some people from the hazmat filter unit team. They're just sitting on their hands, waiting for specs from MoD. We can use those hands for fabrication and assembly. Tomorrow. Tonight, we chill."
"OK," Dedicated Dylan grinned. "Sure, OK. I was supposed to meet my family for dinner at 8 Bells anyway. Maybe I can make it after all."
"Go! Spend some time with your family," Molly said firmly.
"Would you care to join us?" Dedicated Dylan asked suddenly. "I mean, if you don't have other plans."
"I wouldn't want to impose," Molly said, startled. "You should spend time with your family. I've got some leftover pizza."
"Come on, they'd love to meet you," Dedicated Dylan insisted.
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"Molly, this is my wife Jess and our daughter Christie," Dylan said. "Guys, this is Molly Prescott, the new project manager I told you about."
The 8 Bells was Rangerville's best tavern and restaurant. The large, open room was already filling up with townies and off duty soldiers from the army base. Dylan, who had flatly refused to be turned down, had led Molly to a table near the entrance already occupied by a young soldier and an even younger child.
"Oh dear, my reputation proceeds me," Molly smiled. "How much trouble am I in?"
"Are you kidding? You're the reason Christie has gotten to see her dad this week," GI Jess said with a welcoming smile. "With all the late hours Susanne was making him work, we were starting to forget what he looked like. Isn't that right Christie?"
"Yeah, mom, sure whatever," Christie said grumpily.
"Christine Sigworth, you will be polite," GI Jess ordered sharply.
"I never much liked meeting my mom's friends either," Molly told the young girl in her best 'just-between-us' voice. "I bet you have things you'd rather be doing."
"Oh, she's got lots going on," Dedicated Dylan smiled. "She's on the soccer team, and in Scouts and she's a budding musician. Right Christie?"
"I'm learning violin," Christie said, a little shyly.
"I play guitar," Molly said. "I had a friend who was a violinist, when I was a little older than you... back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. We played together sometimes."
The conversation turned to music, Creative Christie's artistic ambitions and GI Jess's clear pride in her despite the obvious undercurrent of tension between mother and daughter.
Turning to GI Jess, Molly asked the obvious, "So, how did you and Dylan meet?"
"In high school," GI Jess said. "I'm an Army brat, so my family moved around a lot. Midway through my last year of High School I ended up in Brindleton Bay..."
"... and she needed to get caught up on some subjects," Dedicated Dylan jumped in with a broad smile.
"I was never good at math," GI Jess admitted with a wry smile.
"I offered to help her and..." Dedicated Dylan said.
"... one thing led to another," GI Jess concluded. "Which also led to our beautiful Christie and my wonderful family."
"Gross, mom," Creative Christie groaned.
It was nice, Molly thought, to spend some time with people outside of work. Dedicated Dylan, clearly as dedicated a husband and father as he was an engineer, had been right. She'd needed this.
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Pomegranate Corner, Rangerville, Sunday, May 9th, 3:30 PM
It had followed naturally, Molly thought, to invite Dedicated Dylan and his family over for a weekend barbeque. Inviting Lucius of the Luxurious Hair along had been pure chance. She'd run into him at the store while picking up supplies and decided on the spur of the moment to extend an invitation. She was actually a little surprised that he accepted.
"Nice to meet you, Lucius. I'm Dylan," Dedicated Dylan said, shaking Lucius's hand. "So, what do you do?"
"Mostly I try to stay out of trouble," Lucius replied warmly.
"I'm great at staying out of trouble," Creative Christie said proudly. "I hardly ever get caught."
"Christie," GI Jess sighed.
"OK," Molly said quickly. "Come on in, everyone."
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"Hey, you have a Cassie poster," Creative Christie said excitedly. "I love her! She plays violin, but she's totally cool, like me!"
Kids, Molly had noticed, were great about exploring new places. She wasn't surprised that Creative Christie had taken in the house and its sparse decorations quickly. She was even less surprised she's zeroed in on that poster, her favorite of the collection she'd picked up at Curious Curios, in particular.
"I told you I knew a violinist when I was younger," Molly said with a little smile.
"NO WAY!" Christie gasped. "You do not know Cassie the Raven Witch!"
"I did," Molly laughed. "She was just Cas back then. She wasn't famous or anything. We were just a bunch of weird girls who wore a lot of black. She played violin and, yes, she was totally amazing even then."
"Can you get me her autograph? Or can I meet her? Can I meet the Raven Witch?!" Christie said eagerly.
"Sorry, no," Molly said, a little sadly. "I haven't seen her in years. I doubt she'd even remember me."
"Oh," Christie sighed. "It's still pretty cool you knew her, I guess."
"Yeah, it was," Molly smiled. "Well, if we're going to eat, I better get the grill going."
The house had come with a grill in the backyard. This was the first time Molly had fired it up, but she was an old hand at grilling. She smiled a bit at the fleeting memory of lighting up the grill on the balcony of the horrible apartment in San My she'd shared with her then-girlfriend Yuki after college. She was much better at grilling now. It had been years since she'd needed to use the fire extinguisher... though she did have one handy.
"You're really good with her," Jess said.
"What?" Molly shook herself back to the present.
"Christie, you're really good with her," Jess repeated.
"She's a great kid," Molly smiled, forcing melancholy memories aside. "Should I put hotdogs on too?"
"Burgers are good," Dylan chimed in.
"Burgers are great," Jess smiled. "Thank you for this. We don't get to grill much."
"My pleasure," Molly said.
Later, stuffed with hamburgers, Molly relaxed, content in the company of people she was already thinking of as friends.
Lucius, unasked, had gathered up most of the plates and taken them into the kitchen.
"Oh, I'll get those later," Molly insisted.
"Nonsense, I'm pleased to help," Lucius said with a disarming smile.
Really, Molly thought to herself, it's probably a good thing he isn't a woman. I'd make a fool of myself otherwise.
"Christie, will you help me?" Lucius called over his shoulder.
"Sure," the young girl said.
"How does he do that?" Jess wondered as her daughter, carrying a stack of plates, followed Lucius of the Luxurious Hair into the kitchen.
"I have no idea," Molly admitted.
"So, you're in the Army," Molly ventured, making conversation.
"Third generation Army brat," Jess nodded.
"I've worked on a few MoD projects in my time," Molly mused. "So, can you tell me anything about this research base in the crater?"
"No... I mean, there's nothing to tell, really," GI Jess said hastily. "You know how the MoD is. Everything's a secret, especially when the budget's on the line. Really, it's nothing."
"Except that explosion," Dylan put in.
"I told you, honey, there's nothing to those rumors," GI Jess said firmly. "There's nothing interesting going on in that crater."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Molly lied. She'd totally meant to pry but quickly realized it had been a bad idea.
"It's fine," GI Jess said. "Really, there's nothing strange going on out there."
"Which is why she won't tell us anything," Dylan joked.
"I'm telling you, there's something strange going on out there," Christie insisted. "They had that big explosion, even though mom lies to dad and says they didn't, and she'd been acting strange ever since!"
"I believe you," Lucius said sincerely. "But what do you mean, when you say she's been acting strange?"
"She gets this funny look sometimes," Christie said seriously. "And she'd really interested in those strange plants... and those weren't even around before that explosion that didn't happen."
"Were they not? That's interesting," Lucius mused, half to himself.
"Do you really believe me?" Christie asked suspiciously. "'Cause no other grown-up does."
"Well, I'm not a grown-up," Lucius said firmly. "I'm a witch."
"What are you two talking about?" Molly asked, more to announce her presence than anything.
"I was telling Lucius about how mom's being acting strange, and no grown-ups believe me, and he says he believes me because he's not a grown-up. He's a witch," Christie explain in the rapid-fire way of children. "Only there's really no such thing as witches, so I think he's maybe making fun of me."
"I assure you, fair lady, I am quite sincere," Lucius said.
"Prove it," Christie challenged with a finality that said there was no way he could, and that settled the matter.
Lucius smiled and spoke a string of liquid, musical Words that sent a chill down Molly's back. His hand moved in a languid gesture, scattering sparks from his fingertips. Sparks that spread and multiplied to fill the kitchen in a cascade of shimmering lights.
"Wow!" Christie looked awed.
"Quite sincere," Lucius repeated.
"Mom! Dad! Lucius is a witch!" Christie called, rushing to her parents.
Lucius chuckled. "My daughter always loved that spell when she young," he said, half to himself.
"So, you're not a conservationist studying invasive species," Molly said.
"Well, I'm not a conservationist," Lucius said. "At least, not in the way you mean. I am investigating an invasive species which may be disrupting the Balance... and you are remarkably accepting of this," he added, gesturing at the rain of starlight still falling in her kitchen.
"You're not the first witch I've met," Molly admitted, adding in explanation, "High school. There was a whole 'haunted house, ghosts, closing a portal to the Netherworld' thing."
"The Raven Witch," Lucius nodded knowingly. "Not just a publicity gimmick."
"Yeah. Anyway, this has been... strange," Molly said.
"I'll go," Lucius said with an air of apology.
"No, sorry. You just brought back memories," Molly said. "I'm usually better with strange. Don't go."
"I will, but with no ill will," Lucius smiled his warm smile. "It's getting late, and I should be away by any account. I have had a pleasant time and a much better meal than my usual fare. Someday you must accept my hospitality."
"You're an odd guy, Lucius," Molly smiled, "but thanks, I think."
