TGoaW-44

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==Chapter 44 - The Glow of a Worm inside a Child's Eye==
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"...going to BLACKJACK??"
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Elizabeth was surprised, "Henry, we've gotten a whole academy back home!"
"Yeah, but Spider Moon doesn't have a BattleMech program." Henry replied, "And I qualified for 'mechs."
She sipped her soda-water drink and dangled her feet off the open lift gate of a cargo truck, before speaking up. "but..."
"No buts, littlebit." he told her, "besides, YOU're the one who's got the warship-driver for a buddy."
"They won't let me." she said. "Tabby won't either-i'm 'medically disqualified from military service' under LCAF, AFFC, and SLDF regulations, they're making me take pre-business law classes, Henry!!"
"And how're you doing at them?"
She shrugged, "It's alright, I mean accounting's not Navigation, but it's interesting in its own way...but I wanted-"
"Kowloon needs Mechwarriors that you don't have to hire from Outreach." he reminded her, "I'll finish my school term, and take a Militia billet. Blackjack's not considered a top-tier school and it won't cause any disruptions if I do my five back home, okay?"
"Alright." she wasn't pleased, but she wasn't upset. "It's just Pat's been like...really far away a lot-they sent him to Tamar of all places!"
"He's also made Hauptmann and he's on the General's list for early, out of the zone promotion to Kommandant." Henry reminded her, "He's going to make a fantastic Duke, you wait and see...now, what did the doctors say?"
"They're still working on it." Liz frowned, "I've been getting the headaches-they prescribed me a scrip for pot!!"
"Pot?"
"They say I can take it in pill, injection, or smoke some dope." she asserted, "so, in space I use injectors, and on the ground..." she opened a silver cigarette case, "Pre-rolled, pre-measured, I'm a medical stoner Hank, but it's supposed to be more socially acceptable than running around with needles and fluids the port authority has to test to make sure it's not Morphanone or Heroin...which will come later. In the meantime, I'm carrying a hundred twenty kroner worth of New Avalon Red."
"Does it help with the headaches?" he asked.
"Yeah..but it makes me feel...weird. I don't like being all...fuzzy feeling. Blurry at the edges."
"Maybe too strong."
"Maybe." she shrugged, and sipped more.
"Anyway, Blackjack's close enough I can make holidays and your birthday." he told her, "Or, you could even visit ME."
"I might." she asserted. "it's only five years, right?"
"Right, then home to pick up as a Militia officer."
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