The Pilgrimage Ch. 07

As she stood to leave Morrigan said, "I knew before I even knocked on your door that you'd be willing to do the work for free; but as your queen I insist on paying you. If it makes you feel any better, don't think of it as a salary; think of it as a volunteer stipend. I have to go now. I want to stop by and visit the Fernandez family before it gets too late."

When Morrigan knocked on the door, a surprised Maria answered it. She froze for a second then smiled and said, "My Queen, welcome; please come in. Have a seat. What can the Fernandez family do for our queen?"

Morrigan and Megan sat on the sofa and Morrigan explained everything she had talked to Patty about. She got the same type of positive answers from Maria. Then Morrigan looked over at Lucy and said, "there's another reason why I'm here. Both Kelli and my Uncle Pete insist that I have a full time security detail assigned to me once we land. Lucy, would you do me the honor of being the head of my personal security team?"

There was stunned silence in the room. Maria and Hector's eyes were filled with tears of pride, while Lucy's eyes were as big as saucers and her jaw was nearly in her lap from shock. Finally Lucy spoke. "I um... you um..." She paused for a minute to clear her head then started speaking again. "I don't know a thing about protection, My Queen. Aren't there others more qualified for the task? I'm not saying no; I'm just asking are you sure you want me? Do you honestly think I can do this properly?"

"I'm positive I want you for the job, Lucy. I need somebody I can trust; that I can feel comfortable working with. This isn't about protecting me. I don't need that. This is more about protecting others from a surprise attack on me. If someone were to attempt to assassinate me, innocent civilians could be caught in the middle. Your main job would be to prevent causalities from happening among the people around me. There's a special protection class beginning tomorrow at zero nine hundred on deck nine. Trust me when I say my Uncle Pete will make sure you know everything you need to know. I have to warn you though; protection detail is not a walk in the park. It's a real ball busting job, especially trying to keep up with me." Morrigan went on to explain her rules to Lucy.

When Morrigan finished speaking Lucy said, "my duty is to serve my queen in whatever capacity she sees fit. You want me to head your security detail then that's what I will do. I'll start protection class in the morning. However there is one major problem. I mean you no disrespect, My Queen, but my sense of duty will not allow me to stand idly by while you head off somewhere with just Megan and Princess Vanessa. As your head of security I'm duty bound to go wherever you do. I have to ask you to include me in that group. I promise to stay in the background as much as possible, but I do need to be there."

Morrigan laughed. "you haven't even started the classes yet and already you're acting just like my uncle. Okay, you can come along too. Just remember that Kelli is head of palace security. While I'm in there, she's the boss. Any other time, Kelli is still your commanding officer. You're still duty bound to follow her orders unless they are in conflict with mine. Understood?"

Lucy smiled and said, "understood, My Queen."

When Morrigan and Megan stood to leave, Morrigan turned and said, "Oh one more thing, Lucy. We need to get to know each other a lot better than we do right now. So whenever you're not in class why don't you look me up and we can spend some time together learning about one another? And please, for heaven's sake call me Morrigan."

"Okay um..., Morrigan. I guess I'll see you some time tomorrow then," Lucy replied.

****

Meanwhile back in Morrigan's quarters.

After everybody left, there was a moment of awkward silence between Vanessa and Erica then they both giggled and started talking at the same time. Vanessa held up her hand with a smile. "You're my guest so you get to talk first," she laughed.

Erica nodded then said, "well you already know how much of an asshole my father was; I was just gonna ask what it was like for you growing up."

Vanessa frowned and said, "the first ten years were pretty good. I had a great mom who loved me, and even though it was a bit of a struggle to get by at times; we were really close. After that, it all goes to hell. The piece of shit that helped create me forced my mom to mainline a needle filled with pure smack at gunpoint. He dumped her body in the alley behind our apartment and went home to his wife like nothing ever happened. When my mom's body was found, she still had the damn needle stuck in her arm. The dumb cops wrote it off as just another junkie OD. I put up with the hell the state called foster care until I was thirteen and couldn't take it anymore. They didn't even bother looking for me. I ended up on the streets back in my old neighborhood. I turned to hooking for money and drugs to dull the pain of it all. I can't count the number of times I was nearly killed by some asshole who beat and raped me. I'd probably be dead by now if it wasn't for Banba and Morrigan. We're a lot alike, you and I. We both have lots of bad memories and we've both lived through a whole bunch of unnecessary shit. That's one of the reasons I asked you to work with me."

As Vanessa was talking, Erica moved to sit beside her. The tears streamed down Erica's cheeks as Vanessa told her story. When Vanessa finished speaking, Erica pulled her in for a long hug then sat back and said, "oh my Gods, I'm so sorry. I didn't know my question was gonna open up such horrible wounds. I just assumed... you know, you, Morrigan, sisters... you're both so loving and compassionate. The two of you are so much alike in so many ways. I kinda thought that you grew up together. I thought I had it bad as a kid, but as terrible as my life was; it was just a rainy day at the beach compared to yours. Sure the thing I called a father beat the living crap out of me every time he could find an excuse. My mother wasn't any better. She once split my head open with one of her spiked heels when I was about thirteen or so. I've lost track of how many broken bones I've had a long time ago. I guess you're right; we both have some pretty deep wounds that are gonna leave us both scared for a very long time."

Vanessa shook her head. "Don't let the past haunt you, Erica. My birth mom is gone, but even though I still love and miss her every single day; I have a new family now that I truly love and who loves me just as much as she did. I remember you telling us you had a sister. Were you two close?"

"Yeah, in fact she was the only one who ever understood me and what was happening with my body. I loved her very much. She stuck with me in that hellhole as long as she could. She finally couldn't handle the abuse anymore and married some putz just to get out of the house. She's the only one I truly miss."

"What was her married name, Erica?"

"Shannon Clark. Why? What does that have to do with anything, Vanessa?"

Vanessa closed her eyes and ran the list of 'loose ends' through her enhanced memory. When she found what she was looking for, she smiled and stood pulling Erica to her feet. "You're my chief of security. You're gonna have to go where I go. So you may as well start learning how to keep up with me." Vanessa grabbed Erica's hand and ported them to the passageway on deck twenty three, section eleven, outside of suite twenty eight. She put Erica beside the door and said, "don't you dare move from that spot until I say so." Erica went to say something and Vanessa said, "shush not a sound. That's a direct order."

When Vanessa knocked on the door, she could hear some shuffling around then the door was opened by a woman that looked almost exactly like Erica. She had a baby girl about a year old in her arms and a boy that was just a toddler that Vanessa guessed to be about three years old clinging to her leg. Shannon hid her shock and said, "my goodness, Princess Vanessa! What brings you to my door?"

"Just a couple of quick questions. Is your name Shannon Clark and did you have a brother named Eric?"

"Yes I'm Shannon Clark. But I'm sorry, Your Highness I never had a brother. I did have a younger sister. Her name was Erica; but I have no idea what ever happened to her or where she would be if she made it aboard this ship."

Vanessa smiled. "you have a beautiful daughter, Shannon. What's her name and would it be okay if I held her for a moment while we talk a little more?"

Shannon smiled back and handed the baby to Vanessa then scoped up the boy as she replied, "believe it or not, her name's Erica, I named her after my little sister and this little guy's Matthew. I was just getting ready to put them to bed for the night when you knocked."

"Well you might wanna set Matthew down for a minute, Shannon. I have a friend that I think you'd be very interested in meeting."

Shannon frowned. "No offense, Your Highness. But as I said, I was just putting my kids to bed. It's been a long day for me and the last thing I'm interested in doing is meeting some guy."

"Well see, here's the thing, my friend isn't exactly a guy, at least not anymore. Are you sure you're not interested in meeting somebody?"

Shannon's eyes widened as a sudden realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "You're talking about my little sister Erica, aren't you? She's somewhere on this ship. Please, Your Highness, tell me where I can find her! I really need to see her!"

"Why don't you sit down on the sofa. You're trembling and I don't want you to accidentally drop your son." Shannon finally relented and sat down. Then Vanessa continued. "Erica, you can come in now. Why don't you take your niece and say hello to your sister."

There were squeals of joy and tears of happiness from both sisters. They were talking to each other, shooting questions and answers so fast that Vanessa couldn't keep up with what they were saying. She let out a shrill whistle stopping the conversation instantly. She grinned and said, "Erica, you can visit with your sister for as long as you want tonight. Just make sure you report for duty at zero eight hundred. Don't forget that your first protection class is at zero nine hundred and I want you to check in with me before then. I'll be in Morrigan's quarters and you'll need a good breakfast before you head to class." Vanessa waved to both sisters then closed the door behind her and ported back to the Quarters she normally shared with Morrigan.

Once Vanessa was gone Shannon said, "let me get these two in bed then we can sit and catch up with each other. Just relax on the sofa I won't be but a minute."

When Shannon returned Erica asked, "so where's your putz of a husband?"

"Harold? I have no clue where he is. I haven't seen or heard from him in over a year and a half. He ran for the hills right after I got pregnant with Little Erica. Trust me, it was no great loss. I know it's gonna be tough making a living being a single mom with two young children. But I managed to finish my masters degree in environmental science without Harold's help. So at least I have that to fall back on. I'm sure someone will need a good environmental engineer. How about you? How are you doing, and how in heavens name did you manage to get a personal escort to my quarters by Princess Vanessa?"

"You've got it backwards, Sis. Her Highness wasn't escorting me; I was escorting her. I've been appointed Princess Vanessa's chief of security. I start VIP protection classes first thing in the morning. As to the rest of it, I'm doing REALLY great! I've had my surgery and now I'm the real deal. One hundred percent pure woman. I can even become a mom like you if I decide to, thanks to Aphrodite. I'm also a member of Queen Morrigan's battle team. Speaking of Queen Morrigan, I happen to know for a fact that she's looking for someone to handle environmental affairs for her. I can't promise you the job but I CAN promise you an interview if you're interested. Don't worry about being a single mom. If Morrigan decides to hire you, she'll bend over backwards to see that you have whatever you need to get the job done."

"Holy shit! You're serious aren't you? You're actually part of Her Majesty's inner circle! My Gods; my little sister protecting a real live princess! You must be really powerful to get THAT job! I'd love to just meet Queen Morrigan; but if you can get me a job interview too; that would be an added bonus!"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that I can kick some serious ass now, Sis. Do you remember the old stories about holy warriors called paladins? That's what I am now, Sis; a paladin. But as powerful as I am; it's nothing compared to how powerful Morrigan and Vanessa are. My job really isn't to protect Vanessa; she can do that and more. My actual task is to protect the people she meets with from a surprise attempt on her life. See if someone attacked Vanessa; innocent people could be killed in all that chaos. My job is to prevent that from happening. I've been told that I'll be working my ass off. But I don't give a damn. Morrigan and Vanessa saved my life! I'd march through the gates of hell itself for either one of them!"

"OH MY GODS! I heard something about a woman being attacked in Morrigan's last open forum. It was you wasn't it? And the asshole who did it was Daddy! What happened to him?"

"Yeah it was me. You don't have to worry about that abusive shithead anymore. The stupid fucker threatened to blow up the Ark. He has to answer to ALL the gods and goddesses now. Trust me, death would be more merciful than what THEY'LL do to him. Give me a minute, Sis, there's something I need to check on."

Erica reached out with her mind. "Morrigan, sorry to bother you; but are you busy at the moment?

"No not really. I just finished up what I had to do for the night. You'll see Lucy in protection class tomorrow. She agreed to head up my personal security team. Why? What's up, Erica?

"Well Vanessa helped me to find my sister Shannon. Shannon is a single mom with two small kids; but she has some serious skills that I think you could use. If you have a few minutes I'd appreciate it if you and Megan could pop in and talk to her for a bit. I know my sister, and even though she tries to hide it; I can tell that she's depressed, lonely, and scared shitless because she really doesn't understand what all this means for her and her kids."

"Hmm... now you've got me really curious. Are you gonna tell Shannon that we're coming or do you want us to just pop in and surprise her?"

"Just pop in. I really wanna see the look on her face when you do."

When Morrigan and Megan appeared, Shannon had no clue as to what she should do. She was torn between running to hide and curtsying. She was frozen in place with a look of shock on her face from the surprise of having her queen standing in front of her.

Morrigan grinned. "Hi Shannon, Erica's told me just enough about you and your family to pique my curiosity. I hope you don't mind, but Megan and I just had to come and meet you. I understand that you're a single mom with two little ones. Would you like to tell me a little about them?"

"Um... okay. Um... my son's name is Matthew. He's three years old. He's a good kid, but he can be quite a handful at times. My daughter Little Erica is eleven months old. She's a sweet, quiet little girl. About the only time she gets cranky is when she's hungry or needs her diaper changed. Their father left me in a lurch as soon as he found out I was pregnant with Little Erica. I haven't seen or heard from him since."

"You probably never will either. I know he was the father of your children. But he wasn't directly connected to you or Erica. So it's extremely unlikely that he made it aboard the Ark. Tell me a little about yourself. What are you really passionate about? What are your goals in life?"

Shannon shook her head with a soft laugh. "I'm not sure what my bratty little sister told you, but my biggest passion is my two kids and giving them the best life I possibly can. Beyond that, I'm passionate about protecting the environment. Back on Earth I was really concerned about global warming and the other adverse effects humanity was causing to the environment. Even though I'm only twenty six, I have a master's degree in environmental sciences and I graduated second in my class. I know that being a single parent is gonna make it tough, but my major goal is to work somewhere protecting Erie's ecosystem so that future generations don't have to deal with the same messes we did on Earth."

Morrigan turned to Megan. "What do you think Megs?"

Megan giggled. "My Love, I think you just found your Minister of the Interior. What about it, Shannon? Do you think you can handle the job? Don't worry about your kids. You can bring them along with you for now until we can arrange some daycare for you. If you accept the job; you'll have your own suite in Morrigan's palace so you'll never have to worry about your children's safety or education. Also, you're not the first single parent to work for Morrigan, and somehow, I doubt you'll be the last."

Shannon sat there in shock for a full minute before she was able to shake it off and speak. "Do you do all of Morrigan's recruiting? If you don't; you should. I would have to be a total fool to turn down an offer like that. As a citizen, I have a duty to serve my queen in whatever capacity she may need. I would've gladly accepted the honor of filling that position without all the added bonuses. But I'm damn sure not stupid enough to turn them down. Just tell me where to be, and when to be there."

Megan laughed. "Nah, I don't do much recruiting for Morrigan. Usually I just offer advice about how someone would mesh with the rest of our team of advisers. We both think you'd be a perfect fit. But there a few things you need to understand before we go any further. As Morrigan's Minister of the Interior, you'd be part of her inner circle. Sadly that puts a target on your back. Because just like any other ruler; she has her share of enemies. So, with your permission, we'd like to give you some abilities that will allow you to protect yourself in any situation. We'd also like to give your children automatic shields that will prevent them from being harmed in any way. These are necessary security measures to insure that you and your children are safe at all times. Kelli, and Pete may take additional steps to insure your personal safety and the safety of your two children, but I don't know that for sure.

Finally you'd be given knowledge and abilities that will make your job a whole lot easier. For example it's a long way from here to deck one. The fastest way there is to teleport. So you'd be given that ability along with the necessary skills to use it properly. There's a shit ton of environmental protection knowledge floating around out there in creation. You'd be given all of it. Some of it may be highly advanced tech that we're not quite ready for; but I still think it would prove useful in the long run. Right now it would be Aphrodite who gave you these gifts because of your relationship to Erica. But it might be wise for you to choose a god or goddess as a patron of your own. The guidance and other gifts you receive in exchange will prove to be invaluable."

Shannon shook her head with another soft laugh. "Wow; that's a lot to take in all at once! Now that the 'informed consent' thing is out of the way, nothing you've said has changed my mind. I love the idea of the added protection and I'm willing to accept whatever security measures you deem necessary. The teleportation thing sounds like fun, and I think you're right about the extra knowledge; that's something I definitely would love to have. As far as a patron goes, if my little sister doesn't mind; I think I'll just follow her lead."