Chapter 7: Showdown at the Food Court

Date: September 18th, 2023

Location: Food court, Ellington Shopping Centre, City of Ellington

Time: 3:54 PM (local)

The tension in the food court is so thick that Allen could cut it with a plasma torch. He’s staring down the girls in a loose combat stance and his muscles are screaming for action. Allen and his captain used to spar every chance they got in the training dojo on their Alliance carrier. They frequently traded who had top spot for the squadron and it was an intense yet friendly competition between them. Allen knew how to throw-down. He wasn’t going to instigate violence, but he was willing to return violence upon these girls. Eve was already flooding his system with stimulants in preparation for this battle. Brad was signaling for the security officer who was trying to force her way through the growing crowd and Valorie moved to Allen’s side, ready to back him up.

“Hands off the goods, Belter Frick!” Allen growls at the girl who obviously smacked his rear. He could tell because she was the one sporting a satisfied grin while the other girls chuckled around her. They were currently arrayed in a half circle around Allen and Valorie. Brad was desperately waving to the security officer who was yelling into her radio for back up while unsuccessfully parting the excited crowd. Valorie looks at Allen in confusion at the unusual insult before focusing back on the girls. Valorie made a quick note to talk to Allen later about his strange language. The girl who swatted Allen’s butt steps forward with a confident swagger and Allen adjusts himself to offset her approach in anticipation of countering her strike. His muscles are thrumming in anticipation. Eve is updating him on the other girl’s positions.

“Frick?” asks the ringleader.

“Fuck. As in fucker.”

“Such a naughty boy. With that type of language, you deserve to get spanked. Want another? She mimics swinging her hand against an imaginary ass. Her goons snicker behind her.

“Try.” Is Allen’s only response

Before the girl can move to fulfill Allen’s request, a blur of blonde hair launches out of the crowd and lands a beautiful right hook square on the girl’s jaw. She stands there with a blank look for a moment before collapsing like her strings are cut. Allen feels something warm and wet splash against his cheek. The other girls freeze and stare at the newcomer. Kayla gives the girls a cheeky grin before joining Allen and standing at his other side.

“Meet the Summertons.” Allen says while eyeing the girls with an evil grin. The girls, now minus one, gulp. Brad facepalms with a loud sigh. The crowd cheers.

“LET’S GET THESE BELTER FRICKS!” Valorie shouts as an inspiring war cry. The food court devolves into melee.

The Summertons, fresh from victory on the battlefield, stand in front of a desk in the security office. Allen, Valorie, and Kayla stare at the floor in front of their feet while Brad and Amy glare at them. Apparently, Brad had texted Amy as soon as the girl hit Allen’s butt and she had broken several traffic laws to get here. A cop waiting by her car in the parking lot to give her a ticket when she finished here was proof. The captain, who looked to be in her 40’s, had small smirk and her eyes glittered with amusement. Contrary to this, Brad and Amy wore expressions that somehow morphed between pride, shame, anger, and disappointment. It really was an impressive sight. Eve said so.

The captain inspects the Summertons and takes in the damage. Kayla has a busted lip and some swelling on her jaw, some would call that karma. Valorie’s right eye is starting to swell shut, and Allen only has a few smears of blood splashed across his cheek. The captain is secretly impressed that Allen walked away without injury from the grand melee.

“Well…. what do you have to say for yourselves?” The captain asks with a stern look. Allen steps forward with military precision like he’s been called in front of his commander for buzzing his ship’s bridge again and clears his throat.

“Ma’am, this is the hill I choose to die on.”

“HA! I can’t believe she let us go, Scott-free like that!” Kayla howls in triumph once they left the office.

“Hehe…. I think she was laughing too hard at Allen to do anything!” Valorie giggles. The sound of a throat clearing from behind shocks them out of their reverie.

“Oh? You’re not out of the woods yet, SUMMERTONS!” Brad says from behind with his arms crossed. Amy is mimicking Brad, but her ire is focused entirely on Allen who feels her ill intent.

“Hostiles to your twelve!”

“Shh…. Not now, Eve!”

Brad is reading the riot act to the girls while Amy grabbed Allen by his jacket hood and dragged him to a corner.

“You think you are just sooo damned cute, huh? Think you can smile and talk your way out any situation, huh? You could’ve got hurt! I’m supposed to protect you!” She emphasizes each point with a finger poke to Allen’s chest. Tears start to leak out of Amy’s eyes as she’s berating Allen

“Hey, hey, hey.” Allen tries to comfort Amy. He reaches out and envelopes her into a hug without thinking.

“HANDS OFF THE GOODS, BELTER FRICK!” Kayla hollers. Brad smacks her on the back of the head. Apparently, Kayla had heard the weird insult too. Allen realizes what he’s doing and pulls back from Amy.

“Sorry, lost my head there for a second.” Amy says while straightening her jacket and wiping tears with the backs of her hands. “But this isn’t over. You need to watch that temper of yours.”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. And dad? Sorry about involving my sisters.”

“Oh, hell no, Allen! Mom taught us that we always back a family member’s play!” Kayla says as she ducks another swat from Brad for her language.

After the incident in the food court and the subsequent visit to security, Allen and his sisters were let off with a warning as the girls were protecting Allen. They continued the shopping trip. Amy decided to stick around to keep an eye on Allen after going out to the parking lot to settle with the police officer. They are wandering around when Allen spots a jacket in a window front. It’s black and white leather jacket with a nova burst on the back. Allen stares at the jacket and the reflection shows what he would look like with it on. Brad walks up behind him and inspects the reflection.

“Well, it’s not something a boy would normally wear but it does suit you.”

They walk into the store and purchase the jacket after Allen tries it on. He stuffs his other jacket into a bag and puts on his new one and revels in the feel. They walk out of the store and the girls along with Amy approve. The group travels on until they reach a store that sells cellphones. Amy takes the lead as they walk in. As Allen is wandering around and inspecting the technology, Kayla and Valorie hold a conversation over in a secluded corner.

“New bro is officially off limits.” Kayla states plainly.

“Agreed. He’s family. We need to have his back.” Valorie nods back. They shake hands and head back towards the counter and join everyone.

“The Agency will pick up this tab, Brad.” She goes up to the counter and after a few moments of talking, the store employee hands Amy the latest, “Sansung Celestial X.” Allen is walking around the store comparing notes on technology with Eve and no one notices Amy slip a microchip into the back of phone into the battery compartment as she pretends to check it over with a bit of sleight-of-hand. Amy replaces the battery and hands it back to the associate to ring it up. Amy pays with a government card and receives the cellphone back from the employee after she activates it. Amy turns on the phone and after the initial startup, programs her number into the contact list. She goes to hand it to Allen after he wandered over but before he can grab it, Kayla grabs it out of Amy’s hand.

“Hold on bro, putting my number in real fast.” She hands it to Valorie next when she finishes with a grin at Allen. Valorie puts hers in and then hands it to Brad. He in turn, puts in his and Laura’s number before the phone finally gets back to Allen. Allen shakes his head and thanks Amy for the phone. As they are leaving, the store employee asks if Allen wants her number too and he ignores her as his group walks out.

“I need a coffee, let’s hit up Star Buzz while we are here. No fights this time!” Amy states as she heads back to the food court.

Allen is following Amy and Brad as they chat in front of him. Valorie and Kayla, it seems have decided to act as his bodyguards as they flank him.

“Eve. Go ahead and integrate this phone into your systems.”

“Perfect! It’ll give me access to their networks and improve my limited capabilities! I’ve felt incomplete in this universe without all of my normal functions. I’ll also see if I can use the network to get your SPCD (Subdermal Personal Communication Device) up and running again. Standby….”

The screen comes alive on his phone as Eve attempts to connect. She takes a few moments to get used to the older technology but eventually succeeds and happily reports her success to Allen. His SPCD was back online too but he couldn’t check it in a crowded mall. They get to the coffee shop in the food court and the smell of coffee beans fill Allen’s nose.

“Allen, I’ve been thinking….”

“Yeah?”

“To obtain that AWESOME means of conveyance we observed earlier, we need to secure capital. I just did a search on qualifications for employment and all you need besides proper identification is permission from a parent or guardian to be employed. “Bikes” as they call them here are not cheap.”

“Sounds good, I’ll consult with Brad.”

Allen makes his way up to Brad at the counter and grabs his attention.

“Allen, did you want something?”

“Oh, sure. Umm…. just double whatever order you get. Too many choices and I don’t understand the serving sizes.” Allen says while looking at the menu and tapping his chin with a finger. “Oh yeah, can I get a job?”

“A job?” Brad turns to Allen and raises an eyebrow at the abrupt change of topic. Amy also sidles closer to hear the conversation.

“Yeah, I appreciate you guys and everything you’ve done. I just want to help lessen the load on your shoulders and I want to save up for a bike too.”

“I knew it!” Brad shouts in triumph as he points a finger at Allen.

“A BIKE? NO WAY IN HELL!” Amy yells in Allen’s face. Brad and the girls grab the drink orders and secure a table away from Allen and Amy to give them space. Allen crosses his arms and scowls at Amy. "What will it take?” Allen glares at Amy with a look of resolution in his eyes. Amy looks at Brad sitting at the table, and he doesn’t offer any answers. She realizes he won’t budge so she decides to set conditions she believes he can’t meet.

“One, permission from Brad and Laura. Two, a license with a motorcycle endorsement. Three, you have to SHOW you can handle a bike safely. Four, it comes out of your pocket, mister.” Amy ticks off fingers as she says this. Allen nods at each point and Eve agrees that the conditions are not unreasonable.

“So, I have permission to find a job at least?” He looks at Brad and Amy

Brad looks at Amy who nods and then looks back to Allen.

“Only, IF only you can show that you can handle school and a job. Your future is important, and Laura and I will not risk that over a part-time job. This all hinges also on what Laura thinks.”

Allen nods his acquiescence to the demand. The barista overhears this conversation and looks at Allen. He stands there with is arms crossed and her eyes take him in from head to toe. Her heart speeds up as her eyes trace his boots to his well-toned legs that show through his pants. The jacket looks a little macho but somehow suits him. His short brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and handsome features cement her idea.

“Umm, you’re looking for a job?” she asks.

The conversation stops and all eyes turn to her, and she ducks her head shyly. Amy sighs and walks over to the table to join the rest of the group to drink her coffee. Allen turns and offers the barista a warm smile. “Yes ma’am, I am.”

“Well, we are certainly looking, and a cute boy will definitely help business, let me ask my manager and get you an application.” She scurries into the back. She comes back with her manager with a bright smile on her face. The manager looks over at Allen.

“How old are you?” She asks while also smiling.

“16, ma’am.”

“Okay, good. That’s no problem then, just make sure you have your parent’s permission. Fill this out and bring it back when you can.”

Allen takes the application from her hands with a smile and walks over to his group and sits down in a chair between Kayla and Valorie that they had left open. The manager and barista whisper back and forth behind the counter for a few moments before the manager wanders back to her office.

“This opportunity is timely but right now it would be inefficient. The Summerton’s residence is located 13.7 km from this location. If you are going to work only part time, to maximize your time use, you should locate employment within 8km of the Summertons.”

“I agree, I’ll discuss this with Brad and Laura when we get home tonight.”

They all finish up their coffees and walk out to the parking lot where Amy informs Brad that she will catch up to them at their house. She still wanted to discuss today’s events with Brad and Laura while also addressing Allen developing a sudden death wish. She leaves for her car, and everyone piles into the minivan. It’s a quiet ride home as Brad is still angry at the kids and they smartly read the room and keep quiet.