136 Exchange of Ideas

"This is how many barracks will be empty when the first ship arrives, and this is how many people can be held in each. The trading port can absorb some of the overflow, but the numbers still don't work," Noble explained over breakfast. 

After getting home late the night before, the professor was already hard at work with her mother long before anyone else was awake. 

"It's been too many years since I did this kind of work," Lena rubbed her eyes as she looked at the numbers again. 

The professor couldn't help but smile. "It is still funny to me that you ever did it at all. I don't know how Dad got away with dating and then marrying a subordinate. That must have been quite a scandal." 

"It wasn't like I was his secretary or anything. And I switched departments when we got together. He was never my boss while he was my boyfriend. You watch too many dramas, my dear," Lena clicked her tongue. 

"But you worked alongside him after you got married," Noble protested. She had seen her parents pouring over government documents even after they moved to the NQSC. 

"That was only for special projects. He had the big ideas, and I was the organizer. We worked well together." Lena stiffened slightly. 

"You really did. I admire that about you." The professor felt very lucky to have two such loving and dedicated parents. If not for her father's accident, Noble was sure Lance would be neck-deep in this project right alongside them.

"Are you and Fort alright?" The older woman asked cautiously. "I know sometimes an extended amount of time together and high stress can bring issues to the surface..." 

"What? No! We are fine. I was just missing Dad, that's all." Noble looked back at the page. "With this many people coming in about eight weeks, have you found any solution to housing them?" 

Lena sighed. "Like I said, Lance had the ideas. Some other people on the team have put forth a few possibilities though. The first couple of boats should not be a problem. After that, we will begin to have issues." 

It made some sense. Thousands of people could be absorbed into the populace without much difference, but hundreds of thousands? Millions? That would be strain on a city even under the best circumstances.

"I was thinking..." A rustling in the hallway drew Noble's attention.

From the worried emotions emanating from the newcomer, the professor knew her daughter was about to come around the corner. 

"Mom!" 

Noble rose from the kitchen table and hurried to embrace her little girl. Despite being almost sixteen, Honey melted into her mother's arms.

"It is good to see you, Sweetheart," Noble kissed the girl's forehead. The top of her head had become out of reach only a few months prior. 

"I was afraid you hadn't made it home," Honey's muffled voice was a mix of relief and exhaustion. 

The teen looked very tired. She must have fallen asleep while waiting up. 

Noble wanted to let the children rest, but Honey was less and less a child every day. "I should have woken you to let you know when we got in. I'm sorry I made you worry." 

"It's fine. I just dreamed you weren't coming back. I am glad it was wrong." Honey blew out her cheeks. "Mom…he left again."

"I know," the professor felt her daughter cling even tighter. "I am sorry." 

"At least he said I could keep in touch this time…"

"He?" Lena asked from the table with one eyebrow raised.

Noble waved her mother off with a stern expression over Honey's shoulder. She patted the teen on the back. "A least you will know if he is safe this time. That's good, right?"

"I still hate it!" Honey's eyes stung with tears.

"I know, baby. Me too." The professor did not like that people came and went from their lives so easily.

In her perfect world, everyone she loved would remain together and live in harmony. 

But the world was far from perfect. It needed to be protected. 

The two ladies stood there for a long time in a silent hug. Finally Honey lifted her head from her mother's shoulder. "I'm glad you are back," she repeated. "I want to talk more later, but I should get ready for school." 

"How about we go out for a meal tomorrow, just the two of us?." Noble released her daughter. 

"I'd like that. Love you." Honey gave a tired smile as she wiped at her eyes. 

"Love you too." The Awakened sent a tiny bit of comfort for the teen to accept. 

As Honey turned to leave, Noble furrowed her brow.

Something was off.

Although she had been gentle with her offering of emotion, something had interfered with the transmission. It was almost like it had to pass through a protective barrier around the girl. 

That had never happened before.

"Are you feeling alright?" Noble called after her daughter. 

"I am doing better, thank you for the help." Honey smiled a little warmer than she had before. The girl continued to her room walking a little taller.

'So she did get the feeling.' The professor wasn't sure what to make of the anomaly. 

"What was that about?" Lena asked when Noble returned to the table.

"I don't know..." Noble rubbed her forehead. The disturbance did not seem threatening, at least not toward her. Something in Noble felt that if the professor had meant her daughter harm, things would have gone differently. It was a chilling thought. "I can't say for sure what happened." 

"You don't know what happened to your daughter's boyfriend?" The grandmother scoffed. 

"Boyfriend, who said anything about a boyfriend?" All other thoughts suddenly flew from Noble's head. 

"Didn't you?" Lena tilted her chin in confusion. 

"What? Oh! No, her trainer left again. He does that. He is joining the southern campaign." Noble looked toward the window. "Hm..." 

"I know that look..." the grey-haired woman smiled. "You've got an idea?" 

"Maybe. With so many people leaving for Antarctica, that possibly means many homes will be left empty." Noble thought of the home next door. It seemed a shame to let it sit empty. "Could we use those properties for refugees? With the owner's permission, of course." 

"I am not sure, but it isn't a bad idea." Lena noted down the suggestion. "I had already considered asking for volunteers to open their homes once the knowledge of the gates becomes public." 

"Our home could fit another family," Noble muttered to herself.

Of course, they would have to be very careful who they let in their home, but she herself had been taken in when they arrived at the NQSC. It was her turn to step up. 

"I can as well. It's only me puttering around the house right now. I don't need all that space." Lena gathered her things. "I will get out of your hair before the boys and Fort wake up. You've given me a lot to think about. I'll relay all this information to the group later today unless you would like to come and do it yourself." 

"I have to teach a class at the Academy this morning, but you can call me with any questions." Noble hugged her mother goodbye.

"Have your phone. I am sure I will be calling you." 

Lena was more right than she realized.