Mikky and the Meatball

Posted on 09/30/2021 @ 7:30pm by Civilian Macrea McKauley & Master Sergeant Robert Schiano

1,312 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Mirror’s Edge

ON

Meatball had decided to give the men the night off. As such he had to maintain the guard at the room they called the Morgue. The area that contained the MARVEL EAS suits. His mind wandered for a bit when he heard something down the corridor. Meatball hefted his rifle and leveled it. "Hey dis is a restricted area, so unless you want to become one wit da wall youze better come out and show yerself."

"Da what?" A little voice asked from the shadows. "What's stricted?"

Robert smiled and lowered his weapon at the sight of the young boy. "Restricted... It means youze should not be here. Only folks wit permission are allowed here. What is yer name little man? I am Robert but youze can call me Bobby or Meatball if you wish. Who is your mom and dad? I can have them come and get you." Schiano was a Marine through and through. As such he was a little uncomfortable dealing with a child, but, it was all part of the job.

"They don't have to come get me, I can go home when I'm ready!" Mikky said. "Hi Bobby!"

"Den can I ask what you are doing wondering the station alone. It is one of my jobs to make sure that everyone is okay. Youze don't need anything do ya?" Schiano replied. It was quite curious that the boy was wandering on his own. For a moment Robert thought that this boy could be one of the many spaceborn creatures, such as a Q. But then again he didn't know everyone on the station and their families. "Who is your mom & dad? I promise I won't call them here..."

Mikky laughed, the man had a funny voice. "Well my mommy is Kenzie, but she'd gone. My daddy died a long time ago." he shrugged. "Right now I have new mommy and daddy, Mama'Dira and Daddy Neil." he said with a firm nod, "Who are your mom and dad?"

"My Ma is named Irene and my Dad is named Dominic. Both of dem live in New York on Earth..." Robert began and then his voice trailed off as he realized that the boy just called Captain Harrington his daddy. Well at least the boy is not a Q... he thought. "...Well how about we take a walk somewhere else and maybe get a treat." Robert would get someone to take his post if needed. But right now he had to get the little boy away from the restricted area.

"Every one likes to give me treats." Mikky said. "But I can't say no to another! What is your favorite treat?" he asked as he skipped a little on his feet.

Robert held out a hand to signal the little boy to wait a moment. Then he tapped his comm badge a requested relief of his post. Within five minutes the Tellarite Flarn arrived and relieved the First Sergeant. "Now we can go off and have a little sumthin..." Robert began as he pointed down the corridor. "I am rather fond of something from my home called zeppoles."

"Zeeples?" Mikky repeated. "That sounds like Zebras and peoples!" he laughed loudly. "ZEEPLES! Do you make them with Zebras?" he asked.

Robert laughed at the little one's joke. "No they are not made wit zebras. They are made wit dough. Then you fry it and add sugar. Come one I'm hungry anyway." He pointed toward the lift which would take them to the promenade.

"Oh like elphants ear?" Mikky asked as he looked towards the lift. "Lets go! I want a Zebra... uh Zeeple..." he corrected himself as he ran in to the lift. "How come you talk funny?" he asked the man as he jumped a bit in the lift.

"Dis is how everyone talks where I am from. I from a city on Earth called New York City. How about you? Where are you from and what is an elephant's ear?" Meatball said with a smile and stepped on to the lift. He ordered the lift to the promenade. Robert thought that he should notify the Captain or Ms Toril that the child was with him. But for now he did not think it would hurt to keep it secret. Besides he let Blackjack know when he left, and surely the Major would share the news if needed.

"Elephant ears is like bread, but its not. My mommy liked to put the little sugars on it with butter, and we ate it. It was really yummy. I miss my mommy. She always had fun things to do with me." he said sadly.

As the lift whirred Robert looked down and the little boy. There seemed to be something a little different about the boy, something that made the boy wise beyond his years. "Ok so Adira is yer mom. But who is your real mom this Kenzie?" Schiano was curious, however, the minute he asked the words of Jack Patton came to his head. Those words said that he should have some tact. Robert sheepishly looked at the boy as he realized it would probably be painful for Mikky to talk about his dead mother. "Youze don't have to answer that if youze don wanna." Schiano smiled.

"Its ok, no one talks about my mommy any more." he said. "She was pretty. She has hair like mine, but really long. She's very pretty and I like to look at pictures of her." he said. "I miss her and I hope that I get to see her again. Until I do at least I get to be with Tess." he commented.

Robert nodded as the lift doors opened. Robert led the way to the small Italian pastry shop on the Promenade and ordered a dozed fresh zeppoles. The smell of the fried dough never failed to make his mouth water. "Now Mikky dis ere is going to be a special treat. Go ahead and try one." He said as he held the back of doughy balls covered in powdered sugar out for the boy.

Mikky reached in and too one of the balls and took a bit bite, breathing out as he did so, sending powdered sugar everywhere, even all over his face and in his hair. "Diff ifff gooodffff!" he said with a mouth full of dough.

The two enjoyed their snack and chewed in relative silence. "So tell me what else would you like to do?" Schiano was at a loss. He had rarely had to deal with children, and had no idea how to keep them entertained.

Mikky licked his lips and looked at the powder all over him, "I like to sword fight. Throw things, climb... Going on adventures, watching tv, playing games, making Tess mad..."

Meatball snapped his fingers as an idea struck him. "How about you let me take you back to yer momma. In return I will take you on an adventure which will include sword fighting. Marines like me love to fight, and sometimes the old style of fighting is the best way to go."

"Ah.. My Mama is at work I think. I can go home when I'm ready. I'd rather go on a sword fight adventure now!" Mikky said as he started to bounce around, the sugar starting to hit him and he was getting hyper again.

"Right then you have to listen to yer new friend Meatball. If you do we will be off to Scotland on Earth and there will be swords and all kids of fun. Whaddayasay?" Robert said as he popped another zeppoli into his mouth.

"Ok! Lets go!" Mikky said, "I wanna see these places, I heard Scotland was a really neat place and I like earth!" he said skipping about.


~FIn

Mikky


Master Sergeant Robert Schiano
First Sergeant
The Kingsmen
Poseidon Station

RSS Feed