Green Is the Color

"Ah, hi. I'm Alan. This is my dad, Dr. Hobbs."

Alan's dad shook TG's hand, then asked, "Hello, TG. Isn't it a bit unusual for someone to just beam into someone else's bedroom?"

"Well, yes, sir, under normal circumstances. But these were the co-ordinates we had, from tracing the e-mail. Also, Teri was concerned that we might have an emergency, and she doesn't like to wait. Chief Tecumseh picked me because I have completed my security training, and he thought I could handle this situation. Alan, can we talk? Your dad can join us, if you want."

The three of them went downstairs to the den and were joined by Alan's mom with a tray of drinks. TG was introduced, and he asked Alan, "We are concerned this Chris you mentioned, is Christopher Hobart?"

Alan grinned. "Yeah, that's him. He lives right next door."

"Oh, my!" Alan's mother exclaimed. "That is the name of the owner of the property we are renting. Is there some problem?"

TG shook his head, and replied, "No, the property was left to him by a Starfleet Crewman that was aboard the Pulaski. All the legal work was completed for Christopher to be adopted on the crewman’s return. When Chief Tecumseh received your message this morning, he contacted Clan Short, and the result is that I've been sent here to investigate and help in any way possible."

Alan's dad asked, "Do you have quarters arranged?"

"Well, the base has reserved a room in the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) for my use."

"Nonsense," Alan's mother interjected. "We have a perfectly good guest room. You are more than welcome to use it."

"Thank you. That will help. My cover story is that I have been sent to provide security for the son of one of the lead investigators into the Pulaski accident. I am to stay with you, all day."

"That sounds good to me," Mr. Hobbs said. "But shouldn't a security officer have a communicator and a phaser?"

TG grinned and raised his shirt, exposing a phaser, and he pointed to the badge device on his shirt. "This little gadget keeps me in touch, and tracks me, too. The Clan has some really kewl tech."

"You did mention you were fully trained."

"Yes, sir. Earned expert marksman with phaser pistol, and military handguns, as well."

Alan's mom looked a bit overwhelmed and wiped her face. "I suppose, all that is a good thing."

All three males said together, "Yes!"

After some more conversation, TG helped finish rearranging Alan's room. Then Alan and his dad helped TG arrange his furniture. Once TG was alone, he contacted Terra Main and had his clothing and other gear beamed directly to his room. Tomorrow should be an interesting day.

* * *

Alan and TG left together, and walked along toward the school. Chris was about half a block ahead of them. He didn't respond at all, when Alan yelled to him.

TG told Alan to go on to class, while he checked in at the office. Mrs. Alterton met with TG, and he showed his papers and clearances to her. She had him entered into the computer and then escorted him to the classroom. Mrs. Lecky was not at all pleased to have another new student, especially one who was older, and therefore must have been held back, already. This was a normal fourth grade and not a special education class. TG took the empty seat behind Alan, after Mrs. Lecky introduced him to the class. He wasn't assigned a guide.

At lunch, he followed Alan and Chris and sat at the table with them. After a bite or two of the food, he made a face. "I miss the food at the camp. This stuff is awful."

Chris actually giggled and pointed to the bag he carried with his lunch in it. "That's why I bring mine."

"I think I'll check with Chief Tecumseh; this stuff might violate the SHA." Alan giggled, and Chris looked confused. TG explained, "Haven't you heard of The Safe Haven Act?"

"Oh, sure. That's that Vulcan thing, isn't it?"

"Oh, it's a lot more than that. It assures the safety of kids everywhere in the Federation. It saved me."

Chris looked at TG. "You ain't dumb, like old lady Lecky thinks, are you?"

"Damn, he's found me out. Hey, Alan, think I should drool in class?"

"EEEWWWW! Hold that as a last resort. I ain't helping to clean that up, either." TG and the boys laughed at the faces Alan made.

Chris liked this kid, too. He had to firm up his defenses. He couldn't let them get close to him or they would die. His eyes still had that haunted look and TG certainly noticed. He recognized the signs, after all, he had seen them in his own eyes that fateful night that had changed him forever.

Lunch was over, and the boys headed back to their classroom. The bully from the day before shoved Alan against the wall. "So, what you going to do now, tough guy?"

"Oh, I'm so afraid. By the way, I'd like you to meet TG."

The guy looked confused, as he looked at TG. "Who the fuck are you, asshole?"

TG locked eyes with the bully. "No, not Asshole. It's Erickson, TG Erickson."

The bully laughed as close to an evil laugh as a fourth-grader can muster, and pulled a knife on him. Two seconds later the bully was flat on his back, and the knife was pinned under TG's foot. "I'm Mr. Erickson to you, now."

At this point, Mrs. Lecky arrived on the scene. "PJ, let my nephew up."

"No, Ma'am. And my name is TG."

"You will DO as I say."

"Ma'am, the boy was attacking another student, and then me, with the knife that is under my right foot."

"I'm sure Freddy would never do such a thing. The knife must be yours."

It was taking all the control TG could muster to keep his cool. Handling the bully, they trained for; handling creepy adults was another matter. Taking a deep breath, TG attempted to reason with the teacher. "Ma'am, I assure you, it is not. However, I think we should allow the proper authorities to handle the issue. It is my understanding that only properly authorized personnel like police officers are allowed to carry weapons on a school campus. I'm not sure, but I don't think Freddy, here, has that authority."

"How come you seem so smart and yet are in the fourth grade?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm afraid that information is strictly on a need to know basis, and requires a top security clearance at this time."

Mrs. Lecky's pale complexion had reached an unhealthy reddish color that clashed terribly with the large, gaudy, orange flowers on her dress. "That does it, young man, you will be suspended for a week, for fighting, and another for carrying a weapon on school property."

TG sighed. "Ma'am, I really don't think you want to do this. There may be consequences which I am rather sure you are not prepared for."

"That does it! I'll show you complications! You're coming with me, if I have to carry you there myself!" She moved to grab him and came face to face, so to speak, with a real live Federation issued phaser, set to stun, and the ready light glowing green. Put that toy down. Even toy weapons are a violation of stated school policy." She made a grab for the phaser.

That characteristic sound and flash were followed by the woman crumpling to the floor. The large crowd of students that had gathered to watch the confrontation, cheered. When it quieted down, TG activated his badge communicator. "Erickson to Terra Main."

'Terra Main, how may we assist.'

"Thank you, I need a security team to this location."

"Affirmative, Ulysses is assembling a team."

"Ulysses to Erickson, security team ready."

"Very good. Energize when ready. Thank you Ulysses."

Moments later four red shirted Starfleet Security officers materialized, phasers at ready (each wondering if this was their last mission), on the far side of the crowd of gawking students around the fallen teacher, bully and youngster with a phaser.

The Lieutenant in charge made his way through the crowd. "I assume you are Erickson."

"Yes, sir. You don't seem surprised to see a kid with a phaser."

"We have all been trained about Clan Short. So, how can we assist you?"

TG grinned. "The teacher violated Section 81.2 through 81.9 of the Safe Haven Act and may also be charged with a violation of Article 11.2. It may be necessary for me to invoke Article 11.3 if need be. I am also requesting a review of my actions, today, to be sure I have not overstepped my authority."

"Very well, we'll get her to the brig. What about the boy?"

He was trying to bully another student, and pulled a knife on him. I naturally neutralized the threat. I was planning on letting the local authorities handle the problem."

"Sure, that should work. If you have any problems, just give us a call."

The Lieutenant signaled to his team, and they beamed up with Mrs. Lecky.

"Okay, people, let's get you all back to your classes!" Mrs. Alterton had arrived. TG let her take over the bully, then followed Chris and Alan back to class.

The class was understandably excited, and everyone wanted to know who TG was. Mrs. Lecky had thought he was dumb, but he had a phaser, and those Starfleet guys acted as if he was in charge. TG went to the front of the room and asked everyone to please sit, and he would explain.

Everyone took their seats. TG explained, using his cover story, of course, "My name is TG, and I'm from a place called Camp Little Eagle. I was rescued, a while back, by Clan Short, from a really bad situation, after losing my parents. I have been trained in security, as you saw. I have been sent to protect Alan. His dad is the lead investigator of the Pulaski tragedy, and I was sent here to protect Alan, in case someone wanted to use him against his dad. That little confrontation was unfortunate, and I'm sorry about having removed your teacher." The class was not one bit sorry, and they let TG know it. He was now their hero. He spent the next half hour telling them stories about Clan Short and Camp Little Eagle.

Finally, Mrs. Alterton arrived. She was not the happiest person in the world. "TG, thank you for watching the class. We need to talk. The whole school is pretty hyper about this. Mr. Riggs will be down shortly to watch the class. When he arrives, please come to the office. If there were any witnesses, bring them, too, please."

She left, and about five minutes later, Mr. Riggs, the P. E. teacher, arrived. TG smiled at him and then asked Alan and Chris to come with him. Out in the hall, Chris said the first thing to TG. "Why do you want me with you? You aren't protecting me."

"Chris, you were there, and saw and heard everything," TG replied.

Chris sighed. "Just something else to go wrong."

Alan said, "Hey, Chris, this is a good thing. I've only been here a short time, and I know we are better off without icky Lecky. She was just plain mean to all of us."

"So, things are looking up." TG opened the office door, and the three boys entered. They might as well have walked into a battle. There were parents shouting about a teacher having been shot. TG calmly went to the counter, climbed on top, and stood. In a few seconds he had the attention of everyone in the room. "I assume you are here because you received a call from you children about the earlier incident."

One angry father shouted, "A teacher being shot is more than an 'incident,' a hell of a lot more!"

"I would agree, if I had emptied the clip of my favorite gun, a Glock 26, 9mm, 10 round, subcompact pistol, into her." there were gasps from the crowd. "Had I used that, you would have reason to be concerned. However, I only used my Starfleet standard security phaser, set on stun. The authorities have been notified and everyone is safe."

Then a woman whined, "But if you missed..."

Alan laughed, then added, "Not likely. He has earned sharpshooter with phaser and handgun."

TG added, "At fifty and one hundred feet. And this shot was pretty much point blank."

"I heard you beat up a kid!"

TG sighed, then explained, "The kid, in question, has a history of bullying. He drew a knife on another student and me. So I just disarmed him. Mrs. Lecky was going to overlook her nephew's behavior, and then she tried to restrain me. I could not allow that, and I fulfilled my responsibilities. Since she was violating at least two points of the Safe Haven Act, I had Starfleet take her into custody. There, the charges will be carefully reviewed, and appropriate action will be taken. The bully, in question, is now in the custody of the school system."

"Well, you are just a kid. A kid shouldn't be allowed to come to school armed," another woman said.

"Ma'am, I have full training and authorization as a Starfleet Security Officer. That is actually more than most policemen have. Do you insist they not be armed when protecting the students?" TG was answered with silence.

By this time, Chris was trying to disappear. Alan, however, had a firm grip on his hand and he couldn't go anywhere. TG climbed off the counter. Mrs. Alterton waved the boys into her office and closed the door.

"Nice speech, TG. However, the Board of Education has this 'zero tolerance' policy on fighting."

Chris groaned. Alan sighed. TG answered, "I expected as much. You have to punish the innocent victim, as well as the guilty. I suppose the three of us will just have a bit of a holiday."

"I wouldn't call it a holiday. It's a five day suspension."

TG smiled. "You must hate this part of your job. But rules are rules. It will be interesting to see how the other lad reacts."

Mrs. Alterton smiled. "He left, vowing to get even with the three f'ing faggots."

Chris lost it at that, and began to cry. Alan tried to comfort him.

TG said, "Looks like I have more to do that just protect Alan. Thank you, Mrs. Alterton, we will retrieve our things and leave, ASAP."

"TG, you don't have a parent or guardian on your papers."

"Oh, right, Clan Short of Vulcan. Just ask the operator for Starfleet and they will put you through to Headquarters in Orlando." TG opened the door, and even more angry parents were there. He closed the door. "Chris, Alan, is there anything in the classroom you have to have?"

Both boys shook their heads. "Kewl." He touched his badge. "Terra Main, this is Erickson, Please notify Clan Short HQ, I am invoking Article 11.3 and taking two youth into temporary custody of Clan Short. I need immediate transport for us, please."

'This is the Ulysses. You are having a busy day.'

"Indeed. I need the three of us that are close together beamed up, please."

'Transporter room is ready when you are.'

"Energize."

The three boys predictably disappeared.