Candace got up and started yelling at me. ”You stupid fool, you could have been killed!” she yelled, “And if you had shot me in the neck with that dart gun it would have hurt, a lot! And I could have hurt you a lot by kicking you! Stupid fool!” Then Sky showed up and looked at me, then at Candace who was shaking and crying. ”I could have really hurt him with that kick,” she said through tears, “I could have.” 

“You did the right thing Candace,” said Sky reassuringly, “so do not worry.” Kerstina checked me out but I was okay, just very sore. Baldwin and Mandar showed up around 8am for breakfast. They just got in the door and Sky met them. ”Where are the guys!!” yelled Sky. ”Still in bed I think, it was a late night…”Baldwin began to say. 

“They should have been here 2 hours ago!!” she yelled again, “Do they not remember what a Code Red Attack means?” ”What Code Red, we got no Code Red warning,” said Baldwin. ”The alarm was sent!” yelled Sky again, “Steve could have been killed!” ”My dear Sky,” said Mandar in his usual soft tone, “is it really necessary to yell so loudly? We are only about a meter away from you.” 

“Yes, it is necessary to yell this loud!” she replied, “Those guys should have been here 2 hours ago, Steve could have been killed and maybe several more of us too! Am I clear?!” Poor Sky was shaking now so Kat gave her a hug and took her over to sit next to me on the couch. Baldwin was on the phone to his butler, Norman and told him to get the guys up and over here. 

“When should they be there?” asked Norman. ”Two hours ago!!” he yelled and hung up. ”Oh my, now Baldwin is yelling too. Perhaps I should have stayed home today.” I started to laugh, but stopped right away because my stomach was too sore. ”Why is your stomach so sore?” asked Baldwin. ”Because I kicked him rather hard Mr. B.” said Candace as she stood in front of his desk. 

“And why did you do that?” asked Baldwin. ”I respectfully do not wish to answer that question,” she replied with her head down. ”I see,” he said, “Why did she kick you Steve?” ”She was trying to protect me,” I answered. He then turned to Pamela who was the leader of Team 7, an all woman Team. ”What is your story about this?” he asked her. 

“Um, well, I did not see the first part,” she began, “I only saw her kick Steve very hard. I could tell it was a hard kick by the way Steve fell to the ground. Then Candace began yelling at Steve and called him a “stupid fool”, um, twice.” ”Is that correct Candace?” he asked. ”Um, yes Mr. B.” she said. ”Mr. B,” I began, “Candace had a right to kick me and yell at me.” 

“This is my matter with Team 7 Steve,” he told me, “you will only answer questions that I pose to you, no other comments please. I know you are too soft to pass judgement.” ”Candace, you are hereby fired,” he said, “you will return to base and remove your belongings right away. Your paycheck will be waiting for you. Dismissed.” ”Yes Mr. B, thank you,” she said quietly. 

Then she came over to me and fell on her knees beside me. ”I am very sorry for kicking you, and most of all for calling you a stupid fool,” she said through tears, “because it sure is not true. I was angry, but that is still no excuse for saying that. I am the stupid fool.” She then put her head on my leg. Please forgive me Steve,” she said pleadingly, “I do not care about anything else, but please say you will forgive me. Please.” 

“Candace, I gladly forgive you,” I told her, “but really, it is all my fault. How much do you have to pick up at the base?” ”Oh, thank you Steve, thank you so much!” she replied, “Um, just my backpack, a suitcase and one box. Why?” ”Crystal, get a car ready to take Candace back to the base and pick up her belongings,” I told her, “take Tracy, Charly and Roxette with you as well.” 

“There is already a car out here,” said Crystal. ”And bring Candace back here,” I said, “you will be put on probation for a period of 1 month during which time you will not be paid, but we will look after all your needs. If you would like to join our team then you can use that month to study and take our tests. And as punishment for calling me a stupid fool, you will have to clean the kitchen, by yourself, for two weeks.” 

“Like, you are really serious about letting me join your team?” she asked, “for real?” ”Yes, of course for real,” I said to her, smiling. Then Sky whispered in my ear. ”That seems rather harsh punishment,” I told Sky, “but if you want that, then tell Candace.” ”About time someone is thinking around here besides me,” said Baldwin. 

“Candace, as part of your punishment, for the probationary period you must say to Steve, “I love you Steve” and give him a hug, once each day.” ”What kind of punishment is that??” exclaimed Baldwin. ”It is basically the opposite of calling Steve a fool,” explained Sky, “and it can be quite humbling.” 

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.