Chapter 17: Protégé

It was late and I still had several reports to review and four requests to decide on. I glanced at the door when a dragon flew in and landed on a chair back. I sat back and then grinned, “It has been a long time Samantha.”

The dragon chirped and was answered by her mother on her nest. I looked at the door as an older Cambra walked through it and she grinned, “Hey kid moving up.”

I came to my feet and moved around the desk and caught her in a hug. I stepped back, “Where have you been?”

She looked around before sitting in a chair, “Playing second seat to a commander that wanted more field time.”

I grinned, “You are the new commander here?”

She nodded, “There are a lot of new things going on.”

I sat on the corner of my desk, “Like?”

She let her dragon crawl down into her lap and pet her, “Like your protégé Michaels, like Drake retiring. Like the new marshal commissioner coming out to spend time with marshals from line marshals to you and me. Like a new disbursing system and several station couriers for each sector.”

I blinked, “Couriers?”

She grinned, “Mostly they are fleet couriers.”

I nodded and she sighed, “He does not know it but Michaels is up for promotion.”

I smiled, “Why and why not Amanda? She has the same type of record.”

She shrugged, “There is a new policy going into effect. We have a lot more marshals going through training. Almost enough to begin manning all the planetary stations. Since you and Amanda are ... mated she is linked to you.”

I shifted, “They...”

She held up her hand, “Our sector is going to be the first one they try this on. Each sector will be spilt and the captains will supervise a subsection. Their subsection will have a new lieutenant under the captain and a senior lieutenant to run another subsection.”

Cambra grinned, “The commander will have a captain, sergeant and two marshals. The other captain will have a lieutenant, a sergeant and two marshals. In his subsection the lieutenant will have a sergeant and two marshals. Each station on a planet will have one or two marshals.”

I thought about it, “So Amanda is up for promotion just not yet.”

She stood and started for the door, “And you are up for commander.”

I groaned and she laughed, “Put that on hold and come have dinner.”

Since Amanda was home it was like old home week. She was exited about the new organization and they sat together talking about it for several hours. I remembered her words about Michaels, “What did you mean when you said Michaels was my protégé?”

She turned from Amanda and grinned, “In case it has escaped you, the extra things you do tend to rub off. First on your training officer.”

She grinned and winked at Amanda, “And then on your partner. Michaels has been watching you train and exercise and has picked up a lot more than you think. In fact you are going out with him on his calls to evaluate him. You get to promote him when he is ready and then you, Amanda, one of the sergeants and a couple of deputies are going to take over the station.”

I frowned, “And the new commissioner?”

She snorted, “The first few days he is with me and then you, followed by Amanda and then down the line to a sergeant and then a deputy.”

I nodded and relaxed and pet Dragon while I thought about it. I grinned, “Does that mean I can split the paperwork with Michaels?”

Cambra laughed as Amanda grinned, “Only if you check it after.”

Amanda laughed and we went back to talking and gossiping. When I walked into office the next morning I stopped at the door and looked across the outer office, “Michaels?”

He looked at me and stood before crossing the room, “You got something for me?”

I smiled as I looked him over and saw the hidden darts I had not noticed before, “In a way. You are with me for a few days while I evaluate you.”

He lifted an eyebrow, “For?”

I headed for my desk, “Take a wild guess.”

He followed me in, “Amanda is...”

I held up a hand and gestured to a seat, “Junior to you and it is complicated.”

He sat and I started reviewing the reports from last night and talking to him about what to look for as I slid them across the desk. After that we went through the requests and sent out three marshals including Amanda. I stood and grabbed my bag and grinned as I headed for the door, “The last we get together.”

He laughed as he followed and called Georgia and went to grab his bag. I looked into the commander’s office to see Cambra with a new officer, “I am taking Michaels out for a recovery on planet.”

She nodded and turned back to the marshal while I turned and headed for the lifts. Dragon landed on my shoulder before I reached them and Michaels joined me just as I stepped into a lift. I glanced at him, “You work the recovery while I watch.”

He nodded and cleared his throat, “Amanda should be considered for promotion.”

We walked out of the lift and started for the front door, “What makes you think she is not up for one?”

I stopped when I saw the elder gentleman talking with the two door guards. I started walking again and stopped next to the guards, “Commissioner Alexander?”

He sighed as he looked at me and then straightened, “Morpheus. I was just trying to explain to these men that I have business on the marshal floors.”

I shook my head, “Where is your guard sir?”

His face reddened, “I thought that since I was going...”

I sighed and shook my head, “You have your ID?”

He nodded and I gestured to the guard, “Scan his ID and let the shift commander know we have the new imperial marshal commissioner with us. Find out where his bags are and have them brought to the building. Contact commander Cambra and send him up.”

The guards nodded and glanced at him as I headed for the door with Michaels. I glanced at him as we crossed to his vehicle, “Drake is retiring and Alexander is replacing him.”

He grinned as he opened the door, “It should be interesting.”

I snorted as I sat, “You do not know the half of it. They are splitting up the stations.”

He lifted and looked at me, “What?”

I relaxed and brought up the fugitive on my comp, “My guess is you will go to a major system with a new lieutenant a sergeant and a couple of men.”

He looked at me again, “And you?”

I sighed, “They want to promote me which means Amanda will be my captain and we may have a sergeant and two men.”

He shook his head and turned down a narrow side street, “But they are really splitting up the station?”

I nodded, “At least a couple of men will be assigned to each system. Those from the academy will still have to be partnered up for training and evaluation.”

Michaels sighed as he slowed and checked an address before settling to the ground, “It is going to cost a lot more to travel.”

I opened the door and stepped out with Dragon clinging to my shoulder, “Actually they will have fleet couriers stationed on the planets to provide transport.”

He grinned as he started for the main door of a housing complex. I followed and watched as he used Georgia to check the apartment before unlocking the door with his badge. I had chosen the fugitive for a reason. When Michaels came in the man dove to one side as he reached for a weapon. Michaels did not even slow as he threw a dart.

The man stiffened for a moment before he grabbed the weapon and turned. Michaels had continued towards him as I pulled my weapon. I did not need it as Georgia landed on his head and reached around with claws. She stopped before blinding him and he froze and dropped the weapon. Michaels bent to pick up the weapon, “Ser Adams I thought we would meet again.”

The man shifted but Georgia growled and he froze, “You win marshal.”

An hour later the fugitive was back in prison and we were back in my office. I sat back, “Why did you use the dart on him?”

He grinned as he pet Georgia, “You mean because of his drug resistance. I did not want to kill him and knew it would give me and Georgia a couple of moments. He has a phobia about losing his eyes since they regrew the last ones.”