On the Line

Posted on Sun Mar 3rd, 2019 @ 2:41am by Civillian Ravi Azad PhD & Brigadier General Nathan Wolf & Civillian "Mama" Edith Jackson

Mission: A Brand New Day
Location: SGC Control
Timeline: Morning after departure

Arcadia became aware of the 'situation' over the Security Force radio channel. An Security Force airman calling for assistance. He heard Mama's voice over the link before the airman described a "short, elderly black woman with a cart refusing to comply". Of course he was making the cart out to be some specially smuggled in terrorist bomb or something.

Arcadia sighed. The threat here was coming from the other side of the wall, not the halls that eventually led to the Dining Facility.

"Who you calling 'short'?" he heard over a newly opened transmission before another call for assistance. Slowly, trying to be surreptitious and not disturb the waiting for work from the techs and analysts, he edged the door open.

Only to hear the loud sound of jangling porcelain and the more startled than anything exclamation of the Security Force airman.

"Now, see, that's what you get for trying to take over for a "elderly" woman!" Mama's voice said, equally full of laughter and mocking glee. The door Arcadia was trying to open quietly burst open and Mama came backing in, pulling on her cart while the Airman was trying to pull it out, and hopping on one foot.

"Sergeant, she rammed me with that cart!" he said, the look on his face saying he'd like nothing better to unleash his rifle on the terrorist.

"Ain't nothin' 'bout that true," Mama said, "he just don' know how to get his own big feet out his own way is all!"

She turned. "Now, Creighton, you goan' help me or just stand there gaping?"

"Mama," Arcadia said, sure he was about to repeat what the other Airman was telling her. "This is a restricted area you can't-"

"No, you jus' go on bring in this cart, that do fine." She reached down and came up with a carafe. "General! There you are! Now 'magine I make up a big pot of that coffee jus' the way you like and I wait and I wait, but you never come down for some. Then I notice my Dining Facility a might light today, why is that? Cause you got all these nice boys workin' 'round the clock. Here, you goan' on have some of this nice coffee Mama Edith make for you." She snatched a large mug and, with practiced ease, began filling it.

"Mama," Nathan said. "I see you're out and about making friends and influencing people." Nathan took a drink of his coffee. "Hmmm, that is good as always. Folks I think we can stand down here. This is likely a mistake. I could have sworn I spoke to OSI about clearing you for access down here. If I didn't forget, then they are probably working their way down a long list what with all of the new people who have to get cleared. Until then, Sergeant, could you do me a favor and wheel this cart down to my office for me. And feel free to have a cup of this when you get there. It's really good." Nathan offered Edith his arm. "How's about I give you a personal escort back to the DFAC? I could use a walk."

"Now see," Mama said, patting the General's arm, "there's a fine gen'leman who knows how you act 'round a lady." She gave the Security Force Airman a glare and Arcadia groaned for him. Then, snatching out of the General's hold she threw up her hands. "But first, you workin' these boys and they don' have time to come down and get some of Mama's fine hospitality, so Mama bring it to them!" She opened the side of the cart to reveal stacks of styrofoam clamshells. "Less see, I got beef breakfast burritos with sides of home fries, fluffy eggs and, a'course, some of them grits y'all love so much." She started passing them out to the confused workers when she spotted Ravi.

"Why, I don' know you!" she said, then pursed her lips. "Lemme see, I'm sure I ran outta'v the beef and got, hep, here we go, Denver burrito. That's make with pork, that ain't one'a your magic animals issit?" She held the clamshell to Ravi, complete with a fork and napkin.

“I was raised Catholic,” Ravi replied with a grin as he accepted the container. “But thank you for being considerate of others’ beliefs. I’m Ravi, by the way.”

"Robertson, don' think I don't see you not using that napkin I give you!"

Turning back to Ravi, she patted him on the arm. "That's okay, some day you come round and Mama teach you about our Lord and Savior, Jesus, say amen now!" She looked around the room, seeing if she missed anybody, but everybody seemed to have received a lunch. Except for the General. "Now you don' be shy 'bout eatin with all these nice folks," she said to Ravi. "They're good boys, doin' good work. Even if it is a little bit ungodly. Doin them science experiments an all."

She turned, "Now, General, you walk an ol' lady on back to the Dining Facility an I see you get something a little special. An you just tell me you gonna keep everyone busy for lunch, I bring them down today's special of Alabama BBQ chicken. That's with vinegar slaw, mind you," she said as she took his arm and waited.

Nathan started walking with Mama. "I'll make sure everyone knows to send people to you in shifts. They can't all be off work at once, but I'll make sure we get as many people down there as we can. Tell, me, how's your grandson doing in school?"

"Oh he doin fine!" Mama said with her down in the throat and chest laugh, her lips pursing and eyes lighting up. "He's on the football team and he tell me he thinkin' he might join on up with all of you in the Air Force now that he see more of you. His momma not so fine with that idea, but she come around sometime." She stopped and turned to Arcadia. "Now Creighton, I'm sure you'll have an old lady get some help with that cart. Make sure it get back to the kitchen and all cleaned up?" She gave a pointed look to the enlisted airman that tried to stop her food delivery.

Almost as if she wore the general stars, Arcadia straightened as he addressed her. "Of course, Mama. No problem."

"That be fine then," she said, taking Wolf's arm again. "Now, you were sayin' somethin' 'bout security clearance so I don't have no more problems takin food where it need to go?"

"I'm having OSI expedite a background check so people will clear you through so you can get where you need to go," Nathan said. "They'll still have to check your ID, but you should be able to get through once the background check is done and your new credentials have been issued."

"That'd'll be good, people gotta eat. But, General, iffin you don' min' me sayin' so, but y'all take your little science experiments just a bit too seriously. You should have more fun with them, do a science fair or somethin'! Everybody could enter and make up their own sciency stuff and then go 'round juding who be de best. I mean, that big ol' light ring out there be nice and all, but who need a light that big?"

Nathan chuckled. "It's a little more complicated than that, Mama," Nathan said. "And it involves a lot of stuff I can't talk about right now, and, if I can get you access down here, you'll have to promise not to talk about anything you see down here with anyone, at least anyone off base. Most of the people here are cleared for most things, but we try to leave talking about stuff on these lower levels to the lower levels."

"General, I'm sure I don' have the time to be knowin' 'bout your science experiments," she made to emphasize the last two words with a knowing wink. "And I'm sure I'm sure I won' be able to unnerstan' any of what y'all tell me 'bout it enough to be speakin' to no one no ways anyway, ya know what I'm sayin'? We'll just say that what y'all doin' down there is jus' for the good of our country and if it ain', well, the Lord, He have his way of takin' care of that on His own, he don' need Mama worryin' bout nonna that!"

"Yes, Mama," Nathan said.

"'Cept, maybe, someday, you maybe tell Mama just a little bit 'bout it, an' maybe you show Mama just a little bit 'bout it."

"Of course, Mama," Nathan said.

"That's a fine young man," Mama said, patting his arm as they continued their way back to the kitchen.

Watching as the pair turned the corner, Arcadia turned to the young Airman. "You stationed on base?" he asked, meaning in the complex. Many of the Security Forces were, even if they weren't part of the SG teams.

"Yes, Sergeant, why?"

Arcadia shook his his head as he whistled, "I hope you either stocked your room with food or you really, really like Cheerios, cause that's about all you're getting for a long, long time." He was still shaking his head as he took the cart and headed down to the kitchen with it, wanting to make sure to stay on the old woman's good side. He loved her Alabama BBQ.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Andrada asked Ravi, adjusting his beret and testing weight on his leg, wondering if he'd have to go to the infirmary after duty.

Ravi froze, a deer in the headlights look on his face. “What’s what supposed to mean?” he asked, blinking in confusion.

"What the Sergeant said?" the Airman clarified, then realized he was talking to a Humpty and shook his head, "Never mind, sir. Have a good day, sir." He took up Creighton's spot until the Sergeant returned.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Ravi replied sheepishly. "This is delicious," he added, indicating the food Mama had brought them. "Does she always cook like this?"

"Better," Analyst Robertson said, making sure he continued to use the napkin for it's intended purpose. "Especially when it's hot and fresh. She must have run out of beignets. I heard she was making beignets this morning."

“I’m not sure what beignets are,” replied Ravi, “but if they’re even half as good as this, I look forward to them.”

"Fried dough, but Mama's are heavenly. Especially if she puts in the custard. You know you're on Mama's good side if you get the custard ones!" Robertson looked over his shoulder to the Security Force airman. "Sorry, guess it's mean to talk about them in front of you, since you won't be getting any for a while."

Ravi grinned. He was enjoying the commeraderie and feeling accepted. He was always concerned about coming into established groups like this; they could be a clique and completely ignore anybody now. But, they seemed to just relax and be themselves and they were including him in their conversations. This was a good sign. "I look forward to them," he said.

"Get there early," Robertson said.

"Why can't I have any?" Airman Andrada asked.

"You tried to stop Mama from delivering food, and got on her bad side. You'll be lucky to have Cheerios," Robertson answered, giving Ravi a wink. "That's the point, you behave yourself around Mama or you wind up wishing you had MREs."

"Absolutely, ma'am," replied Ravi, serious, but still grinning. "Mama goes wherever she likes."

"Good to see the smart people get it," Robertson said as he returned to his monitor and not at all taking a dig at Andrada. Who was, at least, smart enough not to draw his Taser and show Robertson how smart he was.

All Ravi could do was grin. He had the feeling he was going to like it here.