The 57's

Jade turned on her toes and stepped into a pillar of flesh. "Sorry!" She called out stepping back a step as she looked up. Her eyes opened wide sparkling as her face exploded in a smile. "Lil BEAR!" She screamed excited.

Little Bear, as everyone called him, looked almost straight down at Jade from his height of over six and a half feet. He gave her a big tight lipped grin as his hands, each almost as big as her head, closed around her hips and picked her up with no effort.

A thrilled squeal escaped her lips as she wrapped her arms around his head and squeezed both out of excitement to see him and to keep him from hefting her higher in the air.

A laugh like a cave-in came out of lil Bear. Jade relaxed her grip and Lil Bear easily tossed her over his shoulder like a sack , "I was sent to bring you out to the 'fresh cut' little miss." He said turning and walking off away from the school and on a path that led out of town.

"Lil Bear, I can walk." Jade giggled kicking while also trying to find a way to hold on as she began bouncing on his shoulder from the gallop of a run that he had taken up down one of the tunnels.

Towns folks and miners moving about their lives quickly stepped aside, many pressing themselves hard against walls and safety barriers as Lil Bear called ahead to them with shouts of " 'xcuse meh! Coming through" and ""Clear a path. Fresh cut on hold.". This last one got the attention of most to move. If miners were not digging out at the 'fresh cut' line then no one was making money.

Jade continued to plead through bouts of giggles for him to put her down.

"Sorry Lil Miss, but I was told to fetch you as fast as I could by your Pa, my Pa, and the 57's foreman." He apologized running down two flights of stairs and a cross a catwalk that crossed over a crevice that disappeared into darkness below.

Jades upper body bobbed out over the railing but she wasn't afraid. She felt safe with him.

Lil Bear half ran, half slid down around the next tunnel twists and turns. Jade's shrieks and giggles echoing up through the chambers with an almost indecent pleasure sound to them..

"Lil Bear you put that young one down!" A voice like sandpaper roar.

"Big Bear!" Jade exclaimed recognizing the voice, as Lil Bear came to a stop, slid her off his shoulder and carefully set her down. She immediately turned and hugged Big Bear.

He stepped back, looking her eye to eye at his height "Has it been that long that your as tall as me now?" He asked, honestly shocked, as he looking her over.

Jade blushed and looked down away.

"She's taller then you Big Bear." Someone called from out of Jades view..

"Who isn't taller then him?" Another voice asked.

Jade spun, "Shep! Roach!" She screamed as she ran forward and hugged the two who came walking down another passage carrying two large boxes between them.

"My Lord, You are turning into a real young lady." Shepard Grave's, Shep to his friends, said " Have you been saying your prayers?"

Jade nodded proudly.

"Let us hear one." The other guy asked looking at her through magnified goggles.

Jade straightened and clasped her hands together in front of her. "Hail Mary, full of grace. We don't wanna die in space. If reavers should ever cross our path. Let them be slow and we be fast. Amen"

Shep stood silent a moment then gave a smile, "True enough words and very well spoken. When we have time I will have to teach you a different one."

"Def'nit'ly later shep. We need to get back out to fresh cut with our cargo." Big bear interrupted. "Jade you ride up front with me. Rest you get those bits in and strapped down." He ordered flipping up the safety bars on seat next to the pilots seat.

Jade knew better then to argue with Big Bear and hopped right in and pulled the bars down over her shoulders till she heard the click of the lock. She shook the bars and kicked them as hard as she could to make sure they were secure.

Behind her she could hear the others doing the same after securing the cargo. Stories were passed around like recycled air about miners being thrown from Haulers and never being seen again in one piece from not checking their lock downs.

"Got room for four more from the 83rd?" An out of breath voice called out to them as four men cleared the curve of a side tunnel and came into view.

Big Bear took his hand off the emergency break and turned "Sure if the '18 kilometer' to A44 cross cut out to fresh cut past Silver drop is goin your way?"

"We can make it work." One of them said tossing a backpack and a tool kit into one of the side cages "Stow it guys." He ordered to his guys as he moved for the front of the Hauler. "Ghost, in back" he said to Jade grabbing the release for her lock down.

Big Bears arm came across her 'lock downs' with a crack and a click, "Jade rides up here with me. You or one of your men can strap down in the cargo bed or ride a cage." His voice was angry and Jade tried to shrink out of sight. Big Bears hand grabbed the bars and shook them harder then she ever could.

"No way one of mine is riding no cage while this 'Ghost'-"

Everyone heard the CLICK-POP of Little Bears 'lock-downs' followed by the ring of a pair of Steel toed miners boots kicking the same 'lock-downs' back into place.

Jade twisted back and forth as best as she could to see as Shep's feet held little bears bars down "Mister, don't know you from Adam but I know that less you wish to be spending a good portion of the next year mending your bones. I would say I was sorry to our friend Jade here for calling her what you did or at least get out of sight in the back. Cause we all have a soft spot for that lil one, Little bear here more then the rest. And he hasn't quit learned to turn the other cheek yet when it comes to those insulting her."

Jade could hear the strain in shep's voice and finally could see why as she twisted enough to see both Shep and Roach struggling to keep the bars down and locked into place over little bear.

He might have gotten a good look at little bear. He might have recognized the name. Or he might have seen the other three of his guys shaking their heads side to side vigorously. What ever it was the guy turned and walked back "Seagon, out of that seat."

"Screw you, your mouth, your cage." Seagon snapped back pointing back to the cargo cages as he watched Little bear shake his head No and give the bars one good snap to check then.

The other shook their heads no also as the guy looked to them. Finally he moved back.

Big Bear watched the display as a red light went on as a cage door opened then went green again. "OK, let's get going." He said and pulled the emergency break and pushed the throttle forward.

The Hauler moved forward on the rails slowly picking up speed. They rounded a bend an Jade counted six green lights, signal showing that the track was clear for three kilometers in both directions. Big Bear grinned and sent the signal and the track switch closed and transferred them onto 18 kilometer run. As soon as the Hauler settled in and the sway from switching tracks slowed he pressed the lever farther forward and the Hauler throttled up

Jade became aware of a conversation behind her and turned to look at Little Bear who seemed to blush and look away as he saw her look at him. This wasn't the first time he had gotten like this towards people who called her a 'ghost'.

"I understand how you feel, but you can't go trying to fight everyone who insults Jade like that." Shep said trying to calm little bear down.

"Sure he can." Big Bear responded proudly as he increased the speed of the Hauler again down the tracks, "Look at the size of him."

"Not all of them." Shep said again.

"Maybe not all, but definate five or six at a time" Roach pipped in.

Everyone but the guy in the cage and Jade laughed.

He was to busy cussing and trying to hold onto something.

Jade was to busy trying to figure out why the 57's treated her like they did. Especially Little Bear.

First Day of School

Jade was already sitting on the floor, at the back of the classroom, by the rear entrance when the students began to file in.

The oldest of the students were a good seven years younger then her. This was the tier one class. For students normally ages five through twelve.

The students were laughing and talking. Couple of them were tossing a set of chopsticks back and forth at each other like spears.

Most didn't even pay her any attention but a few did.

One of them stop at his assigned desk and dropping his books on his chair announced to the rest of the class, "Look y’all. Dat 'Ghost' is here 'gain.". The word hit Jade like a slap across the face, something she preferred over that word.

"Ain't none lerned datt 'ghosts' ohr to ignant to school?" Another boy asked coming around the first to stare at her.

Jade looked down at her home made slate chalk board and chalk she had saved up to buy so she could practice with in class. She had learned long ago to not look anyone in the face when they were using words like that. It only made them feel strong and encouraged them to say more.

Her mothers voice came back to her and a memory of being young and her mother teaching her to dress herself. "List'n Jade, people are going to say and call you many horrible things in your life. You can get angry and probably get yourself hurt by fighting back with words or fists. But you need to know my little girl" Jade remembered how her mother had kept checking the buttons in her dress that day. She remembered that pretty little dress that her mother had made for her. She loved it still. Her mother had looked up make sure she was listening. It was the first and only memory Jade had of ever seeing her mother cry over her being a moon-baby, " Even if you are right baby. If you fight back people will say you are wrong and treat you like it. And I know you are to young to understand but the people and laws here won't let you be right. So when people say mean things," she was adjusting Jades dress and collar again, " Just look down, not away but down. They will get bored and go away."

Jade remembered opening her mouth to ask but scared that it would make her mom cry more. "You said to always look people in the eyes when they are talking to me."

"Yes Hun, you do that. But when they are being mean just look down." Her mom wiped her tears with the hem of her apron and stood up, carefully taking it off and laying it across a chair at the table "Now let's take you to your little friends birthday party."

"But those boys told me not to go cause I am a 'ghost'."

Jades mom turned back so quickly Jade froze. "You are not a 'Ghost'. You exist, you breath and you are alive. And... And you are my little Jade. So I don't want to ever hear you call yourself that word.". She stood taking Jades hand in one of hers as she picked up a wrapped present in her other hand "Now let's go. You were invited and by my word your going. And any little brat that calls you a name will get put over my knee as well as their parents if they don't like it." She looked back and down at Jade who couldn't help but smile up at her mom so tall and strong. She looked taller and stronger then the center beam that touched the roof in center of town. "You may not be allowed to be right but by the heavens let anyone tell me I am not." She said and the the two of them marched of to the party. It had been the first and last birthday party she had ever gone to. And her mother had kept her word too. She put three boys and their mothers over her knee for calling her...

"Hey 'Ghost'" one of the boys yelled snapping Jade back to the present " Don't no one 'ell y'all supose to scoot aften yuh clean up da place?"" He asked throwing a piece of bread at her.

"You pick that up Thomas and the rest of you sit down before I start handing out lines for the board Plus, the next one of you I hear not pronouncing your words will recite the Articles of Unification till I am satisfied.." Mrs Bartlett ordered as she strode into the room.

Mrs Bartlett waited till the student had picked up the bread and returned to his desk. She looked over the room then stepped to the side of her desk " (Attention)" she said in Mandarin, calling the class to order

Jade immediately placed her board and chalk on the floor and stood as she had seen the other students of the school do many times through the school windows. It was how the days started and ended and she was so proud to finally be apart of it.

Several of the students kept looking back at her as they recited the Oath of the alliance.

Mrs Bartlett, who walked up and down the aisles would tap them lightly on the shoulder with her pointer. They would look back forward then sneak looks after she passed.

After this Mrs Bartlett instructed the students to sit and moved to the front of the class and touched the tip of her pointer to the board and it came to life. Jade stared in wonder as a giant sun appeared slowly growing smaller as the view pulled back. Dozens of planets, all sizes and beautiful colors, circled around the sun with moons orbiting those showing for moments then shrinking out of sight. One large planet appeared and Jade couldn't help but gasp as it seemed to dwarf the sun, seeming to move to fill the screen. Appearing from around the edge of the planet a small brown rock appeared and swung up towards the center of the screen.

Mrs Bartlett tap the tip of her pointer to the moon on the screen and it froze in its orbit, still continuing to make its slow axis rotations compared to that of the planet it was bound to. "Today I have something very special for you all to learn. Very exciting news." She said stepping closer to the screen and touching the moon with her fingers. Holding three fingers to the screen she dragged her fingers up diagonally and the moon grew in size with her movements.

"This is the moon that we live under. And as many of you know many different company’s have been working to make the surface of this moon livable.". She turned towards the class "Does anyone know what that is called?" She asked.

Several of the students hands went up and Mrs Bartlett pointed at one "Please tell us Martin."

The young boy, barely ten, that she pointed to stood up next to his desk "It's called terraforming."

"Very good Martin, you may sit" she responded.

Jade wondered that if you got the answer wrong or didn't know if Mrs Bartlett made you remain standing. Nervous she repeated the word over and over at a whisper "tear-a-form-en"

"Terra-forming is the process by which an atmosphere, water, and ecosystem is created on a planet or moon that doesn't have one that is suitable for human life. It is a long, difficult, and expensive process but one that the companies under the guidance of the Alliance under takes to provide places for resourceful and enterprising settlers like all of our family and friends here in Sublevseven, to move out of the over crowded boarder planets and out here to the rim worlds and moons.". She said with a smile that made Jade warm and happy.

From somewhere in the room a soft sniffling then crying sound came. Mrs Bartlett must have heard it to as she paused and looked out at the class "Who is crying?" She asked as she walked over to her desk and pressed a pad on it.

Lights came up and Jade blinked as her eyes adjusted. She hadn't even noticed that they had gone down. Moon-Babies were known for exceptional night vision but a low tolerance for bright lights or sudden changes in light levels.

The other students look around also. One of the girls in the class raised her hand and pointed with her other at a younger girl who had her head down on the desk, arms wrapped protectively around her face. " Megan is crying Mrs Bartlett." The older girl said.

Mrs Bartlett squatted down next to Megan’s desk. "What's wrong, Megan?" She asked running her hand over the girls hair.

Something unintelligible came from Megan’s fearful seclusion.

"I'm sorry Megan. I didn't understand you. You need to lift your head and speak clearer."

After a moment and a few more reassuring strokes from Mrs Bartlett's hand on her head, Megan lifted her head. She was sobbing and she looked terrified. Megan stole a glance at Jade that made her heart drop. Jade didn't know why but now she was...

"The Ghost is going to get me." Megan cried out as she encircled her head again and hid on the desk.

Both Jade and Mrs Bartlett froze though for different reasons. Jades mouth dried up and she felt one of her hands shaking out of fear. She didn't understand why though something bad was coming.

"Jade isn't going to hurt you Megan. She is really nice."

"Ghosts come in the night and steal little kids away." One of the boys on the other side of the room called out.

"No they eat them." Someone else chimed in.

It took less the a second for more children to loin in either crying or adding in tales of terror that almost all started with "My mom says..." or "My dad says...".

Mrs Bartlett called out to the class several times in both English and Chinese. Finally after several honest attempts she turned her gaze on Jade.

She didn't need to say anything. Jade knew the look. She had grown up with it. It was better then most looks that she got but it still hurt, just as bad. And all it said was ' I'm sorry...'

Jade looked down at her clean slate board, around at the empty desks that were always so. The double row of letters that hung over the board. Her eyes falling back on Mrs Bartlett. The words "I just want to learn to read.". But no sounds came out. She lowered her eyes as she stood, tucking her slate board and chalk into her backpack. She stood, turned, opened the back door and stepped outside.

Jade paused and slipped on her mask and checked the seal. 'Day' Lights were on in town so she pulled her goggles down and flipped the shaded lenses into place. Adjusting her backpack she stepped away from the rear school 'lock'. She was barely down the path when the 'lock' opened and Mrs Bartlett called to her. Jade turned to face her as the teacher hurried over to her, "Jade, I'm sorry... I didn't know they..." She looked back at the windows of the school and some of the students who had their faces pressed against the windows watching. A hand motion sent them scuring away for their seats and Mrs Bartlett turned back and pulled a small patch sewn pouch from a waist pocket on her vest. She took Jades hand and pressed it into Jades hand. "Here is the coins you paid to go to school. You take that and buy something for yourself. Don't let your dad or step mom take it from you." She turned back for the school before Jade could object. Jade watched the towns only teacher step back into the 'lock' and seal it.

Holding the small pouch, sewn together with scraps she had collected, she found herself at a loss for what to do with it now. It had taken her over two years to collect enough to pay for half a tier year of school. Now what?