FW

How are things where you are? I am still diligently working on "Rival's Love," and on "Safi's Legacy."
          
          I had a chicken attempting to peck my boots the other day; sadly, for the chicken, at least, the boots are steel toe caps.
          
          *Buzz Off, Part  One*
          
          *Vitani and Madoa are standing outside a large Stately Home, Madoa reading a map.*
          
          Madoa: Ah, this is the place, 'Tani ~ Honey Castle, Proprietor: B. Hives. 
          
          Vitani: B. Hives?
          
          Madoa: Mr. Bob Hives. He's the King of the local honey trade.
          
          Vitani: That's a ridiculous alias. It'd be like calling a Vanguard Commander "General Frontline." 
          
          *Madoa picks up a box of honey samples from the back seat of Tiifu's car*
          
          Madoa: [Laughs] It's just his name, lil sis. They don't choose their titles based on tactical advantages. Now, check your belt buckle and make your ruler ready. We have a sale of 5,000 jars to secure before dusk.
          
          Vitani: If his name is Hives, and he makes honey, that makes the bees the real Infantry around here.  The threat is internal. I'll establish a defensive perimetre near the hives.
          
          Madoa: Please don't weaponise the insects, Scout. Just follow the scent trail to the labelling machine.
          
          *Vitani fingers the name badge pinned to her jumper.*
          
          Vitani: So we're living here for 12 Months, are we?
          
          Madoa: *Nods* If all goes well. That means you need to be on your best behaviour ~ no pouncing on toddlers, no calling the Real Estate appraisers 'Agents of The Shadow Buyer,' and absolutely NO cross ~ threading the garden hoses.
          
          Vitani: I can maintain the discipline, big sis. The financial independence is worth the restraint. 12 Months labelling honey pots will help secure my financial independence and University placement.
          
          Madoa: Good, 'cause I'm not bailing you out, 'Tani, I'm just your trainer. Let's make sure we both survive to see the contract through.
          
          Vitani: The perimetre is secure, Madoa. I will not fail the mission.
          
          *Vitani and Madoa enter the Castle Foyer*
          
          Vitani: Tiba's intelligence brief has been

Can I just ask you something, how does Vitani working as a Mechanic or a Handyman as a side job sound to you?
          
          I've named the three Auditors Mr. Crane [The Lead Auditor] and Mr. Miller and Mr. Henderson for now because I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
          
          *Kion's Interview, Part One*
          
          *Kion is sitting perfectly still in the waiting area in charcoal pants and a sleeveless jumper when Tiba comes in.*
          
          Tiba: You've been sitting there for 20 minutes without checking your phone even once. Are you that disciplined, or just that frozen?
          
          Kion: Neither, Mr. Mtaalamu, I was simply Auditing the foot traffic. You have an average of about 4 entries every 10 minutes, but the conversation rate is lagging because the greeting is too slow. I'm here to fix that.
          
          Tiba: I take it you're Kion?
          
          Kion: Kiongozi Abioye, but, yeah, everyone calls me Kion.
          
          *they shake hands*
          
          *very long gap as Kion is escorted into Tiba's Office, just as Sarabi, Vitani and Fuli were.*
          
          Tiba: Your Dad and me used to spend our dinners arguing over the City's textile taxes. Now you're asking me for a minimum wage job and a staff discount. May I ask why, Kion? Half the stores in the City would just love to get their hands on you.
          
          Kion: Well, yes, but anywhere else I'm either a "Mayor's Boy," or a "Fallen Abioye." Here, I'm the one standing between the World and the people at the till. I want a post, not a career.
          
          Tiba: I see on your resume you have experience in "providing daily structure and emotional support for high ~ needs peers and younger family members," and you "facilitated educational goals and 'stabilised' domestic environments during transitional periods.""
          
          Kion: Yes, Sir. It means I'm the one who watches the clocks so the others don't have to. For Vitani, it means I'm the one who makes sure the lights are dim and the room is clear before the tremors take over. I provide the rhythm she can't find on her own.
          
          Tiba: And the younger ones? Kila and Funuga?
          
          Kion: With them, it's

I seem to be on a bit of a roll as far as new chapters for "Rival's Love" are concerned, and I've written in two new OCs, Funuga, aka Fluffy, and his sister Kila, who I am having as Kion and Kiara's younger siblings.
          
          I was watching a cat watching a bird flying in and out of a bush; I thought the cat might pounce, but it didn't.
          
          *The Commoner's Audit, Part 4*
          
          Zuri: Phones in Airplane Mode. Now. Any signal leaking from this Foyer will be logged as an Unauthorised Redevelopment Interest. We cannot have a conflict of interest while establishing Miss Vitani's suitability as Special Advisor.
          
          Lead Auditor: Are you joking? It's a secure device with a direct line to Pridelands Redevelopment. I'm not going to pause my life for a breakfast table.
          
          Zuri: It's not your life, Auditor, it's for our sanitised environment. If it stays on, it stays in the Foyer, and that means you stay with it.
          
          Kion/Kabili: It's a simple request, Sir. Unless there's a Data Variable on your phone you're afraid we'll find?
          
          Shaun: Don't worry, Sir, the signal in this room is already being chaffed. Putting your phone in Airplane Mode simply saves battery.
          
          *The Auditors grumble as they put their phones into Airplane Mode. Vitani notices Mufasa's shadow directly behind Zuri, and realises Zuri is acting as the dead Mayor's mouthpiece.*
          
          *The Auditors examine the walls, while one focuses on the 'decor.' 
          
          Zuri: Be careful with the placement, Mr. Miller. That's an Oakenstead original. If you move it even a milimetre out of its Visual Alignment, then I'll report a breach of Cultural Asset Integrity.
          
          *He backs away as if his hand has been burned. Every time an Auditor clicks a pen or opens a briefcase, Shaun makes a note on his tablet, mapping their anxiety levels.*
          
          Fuli: You guys are breathing pretty heavily for a hallway tour. Is the Atmospheric Pressure of our house getting too much for your lungs, City Boy?
          
          Lead Auditor: Miller, what do we have here? A breach in the Structural Integrity of the flo

I have another book underway in addition to "Safi's Legacy;" I've given it the name "The Shadow Guard," and am working on the Introduction at the moment.
          
          I saw one of our cats watching a bird flying in and out of the bushes; I thought the cat would pounce, but it didn't in the end.
          
          *Vitani and Madoa are in Tiifu's car driving down the street. Vitani is at the wheel and Madoa is acting as instructor.*
          
          Vitani: Madoa, my back is starting to hurt.
          
          Madoa: So's mine. That's why we're going where we're going in the first place.
          
          Vitani: It's just as well Tiba owns a bed shop.
          
          Madoa: Yes. You know, if I have to spend one more night on that 'temporary' fold ~ out sofa in my apartment, I'm going to start sleeping on the kitchen floor. At least the tiles don't have a metal bar that stabs you in the kidneys.
          
          Vitani: The floor is for Scouts in the field, Madoa. We are 'Retail Specialists.' We require high ~ density memory foam to maintain our operational readiness. Tiba promised us the 'Imperial King' model, *gap.*
          
          Madoa: Just focus on the road, lil sis! You're drifting towards the median, and stop trying to 'Scout' the traffic ~ just follow the blinkers!
          
          Vitani: I am not drifting, I am in the racing line! And, after we buy this bed, Kion is going to have to move the wardrobe ~ I'm not lifting anything until I get eight hours of 'orthopaedic alignment.'
          
          Madoa: Deal. Just get us there in one piece. If you crash Tiifu's precious car, we'll both be sleeping in a Jail Cell and I hear those mattresses are even worse than yours.
          
          Vitani: I've seen the blueprints for the local precinct. You're right, the thread count is abysmal. I'll keep us on the tarmac.
          
          Madoa: Oh, here we are, "Dream Depot."
          
          Vitani grips the steering wheel, her knuckles white, toggling her Cybernetic Eye to its "proximity sensor" mode, projecting a series of translucent red and green lines on the windshield.
          
          Vitani: Scanning the perimetre. Obstacle detected at 6 o' clock. Distance: 14 metres. Wind speed:

Can I just ask, are you back from University yet?
          
          I'm also curious if you have any ideas what courses the Guard might be studying; I have Vitani in Industrial Art and Aesthetic Design so far.
          
          *The Commoner's Audit, Part 3*
          
          Vitani/Victoria: *cont.* I will accept no Guardianship other than Simba's. If you want to Audit my life, then you'll do it on my terms in my own home, otherwise you can explain to Princess Nirmala why you're ignoring her seal.
          
          *long gap*
          
          Vitani/Victoria: Actually, sir, my name is 'Victoria.' 'Vitani' was a Declaration of War against the Pridelands by Zira. 'Victoria' was a gift from my Father, Simba, to protect me against a certain Black Sean which has been stalking me for six months now ~ a Black Sedan which, I believe, was sent by your firm.
          
          Lead Auditor: That is an administrative absurdity, Miss...
          
          Zuri: It's factually documented, Auditor. If you refer to her as 'Vitani,' then you are addressing her by a name which no longer exists in the Abioye Probate Files, meaning every document you prepared this Morning is legally unenforceable. You have no right to move her without her consent, or the consent of her legal Guardian, Simba.
          
          Vitani/Victoria: Meaning you've spent the last three hours Auditing a ghost. If you want to continue, you will address me by my full legal name ~ Miss Victoria Vitani Caroline Abioye. If not, you can explain to your employers at Pridelands Redevelopment why you failed to perform even the most basic due diligence on the woman you've spent the past six months trying to possess when you had no legal claim to me.
          
          Sarabi: The truth is an inconvenient thing, isn't it, Auditor? It appears the 'High Risk' girl you've been trying to bury has outgrown your system. Do you want to start over, or shall we move on now to the disavowal of the Lion Guard now?
          
          *long gap*
          
          Zuri: Phones in Airplane Mode. Now. Any signal leaking from this Foyer will be logged as an Unauthorised Redevelopment Interest. We cannot have a conflict of

I'm working on three books at the same time, so I am having to alternate between writing three different scenes.
          
          The chapter for "Rival's Love" I'm writing appears to have changed into a bus ~ car chase. 
          
          At last, our Villains make their grand entrane.
          
          *The Commoner's Audit, Pat 1*
          
          Kion/Kabili:  Four. There's twelve of them, nine clerks and three Auditors, carrying briefcases like shields.
          
          Sarabi: Masks on. The Commoners are ready to meet the King's men.
          
          *A black SUV pulls up outside the house and three Auditors get out, followed by only one Clerk. They meet Vitani, Sarabi, and Simba in the Driveway.*
          
          Minor Clerk: We are here to examine the status of the Asset, the Minor, the Scout, and the Guardian. *He points at Vitani, Kion, Fuli and Sarabi as he speaks.*
          
          Bast the Cat: Hisss!!!
          
          Lead Auditor: This environment is high stress. It is unsuitable for someone of the Asset's unique needs. She is to be moved immediately to a more secure facility for a private interview.
          
          Simba: *Clears his throat* You want to talk about safety? This is the original Court Order separating Miss Victoria from Zira. Look at the signature at the bottom. Any attempt to move Miss Victoria against her will is an attempt to override a Royal Medical Decree from Tree Kingdom. If you take her from this house, not only are you arguing with me, you are inviting a Diplomatic Crisis with a Royal Family which doesn't believe in 'Assets,' only 'Patients,' and they will protect their own. Her FND isn't a 'glitch in our system,' it is our failsafe. Her mind works faster than her body can keep up ~ that's why she sees patterns in your ledgers that your 'healthy' accountants missed. As for her health? Mtaalamu Industries has World ~ class physiotherapy facilities on site ~ she doesn't need a secure facility, she needs her family.
          
          Vitani/Victoria: I'll give you your interview. Heck, we can do it right now in the Boardroom. However, let me be clear: I am not a piece of equipment to be recalibrated. I

We now have two ducklings in addition to the lambs and there's talk of goslings on the way. [That's Baby Geese.]
          
          Here's part two. Next part involves the villains' big entrance.
          
          *Simba's SUV pulls up into the drive outside of Sarabi's house, Oakenstead Manor. Vitani and Sarabi are outside, waiting to greet him.*
          
          *Simba greets Vitani with a warm hug.*
          
          Simba: You'll do an amazing job as Special Advisor. *To Sarabi* Mother.
          
          Sarabi: She will do more than an 'Amazing Job,' Simba. She has already found the cracks in the Audit that your Council missed. She doesn't just advise; she sees.
          
          Simba: I can see that. You look...formidable, Vitani. The Board won't know whether to hand you the ledger or run for the lifts.
          
          Vitani: *Her FND hand finally still* Let them run. It'll make the 'Foot Traffic' report more interesting. Thank you...Dad.
          
          Simba: 'Dad.' I like the sound of that. It's better than 'Mr. Abioye,' or 'Mr. Mayor.'  But, remember, the Lead Auditor is looking for a reason to call this adoption a conflict of interest. He thinks Oakenstead is a hiding place.
          
          Sarabi: Let him think that . A hiding place is just a fortress they haven't recognised yet. Shall we go, Simba? The 'Special Advisor' has a Schedule to keep, and I believe you have a Boardroom to set up.
          
          *Long gap.*
          
          Sarabi: *To Kion* Kabili, dear, please escort Fuli to her new bedroom and help her unpack her bags when her belongings arrive.
          
          *Simba takes a leather folio in the backseat of his SUV and slides it towards Vitani.*
          
          Vitani: *Reading aloud* "Victoria Caroline Abioye, Aged 15 years, Special Advisor to Mtaalamu Industries. Preferred Name: Scout. Religion: Areligious." That's it? No "Princess?"
          
          Simba: No 'Princess,' we don't need the fanfare, Victoria. The name itself isn't for a Crown, it's for the Lawyers. It's a Legal Shield. By making you one of us, I am making you a part of the Mayor's Private Household. The Auditors can't subpoena your past, they can't search your room, and they can't touch you

Well, the next chapter of "Safi's Legacy" is going very well and I am planning new chapters and characters for it.
          
          This chapter has Kion after a night with his Grandmother, Sarabi, waking up in her house.
          
          *Kion gives a long, loud yawn as he stretches his arms, the first rays of sunlight creeping in through the drawn curtains*
          
          Vitani: Morning, big bro. You're just in time for breakfast. Mum says it's omlette and orange juice today.
          
          Kion: *Realising he has, quite literally, NOTHING to wear* Breakfast? Vitani, what time is it? The patrol...oh, my God, I missed the Sunrise transition! Fuli is going to...
          
          Vitani: Fuli is fine, Kion. She's in the pantry, auditing the eggs. As for the time, it's 'eat ~ your ~ breakfast' O' Clock. There's no Patrol today, no transition. There's just you, me, and a very determined Grandmother who will probably make you eat a second helping if you keep looking at the door like that.
          
          *Kion's tattoos glow in the morning light* Kion: I don't have anything...my belt...my jacket...it's all gone! My supplies, even the undershirt...
          
          Vitani: It's ash, Kion. Sarabi and me burned it last night. You're not the 'Commander' today, you're just a 15 year old boy with a sister who's better at Scouting than you are.  Now, sit down, the juice is fresh and, for once, the only objective is you have to decide if you want pepper on the eggs.
          
          Kion: She really burned it?
          
          Vitani: Every thread. Welcome back to the living, Big Bro. It was the best fire I've seen in all my 10 years living in the Pridelands.
          
          *long gap*
          
          *Fuli enters the room with her usual, high ~ speed energy, ready to deliver a Morning Report. However, she stops dead in her tracks at the sight of Kion in a dressing gown and a relaxed looking Vitani.*
          
          Fuli: Kion? You're still in your robe, and...is that orange juice? I had a three ~ page report on the perimetre fence, but...looking at you...I think the fence can wait five minutes.
          
          *gap*
          
          Kion: Hey, that's my toast!
          
          Fuli: You look...lighte

We're just settling down for the Easter Holidays at the moment. I'm having plenty more ideas for "Rival's Love" and I'm starting a new book.
          
          Here's the latest. This is supposed to be Vitani in hospital after surgery on her eye.
          
          *Vitani wakes up to find herself in total darkness ~ thick bandages stand between her and the life she is tryng to reclaim. For the first time in years, there is no "fogging" or "digital" glitching ~ just a heavy, expectant silence.
          
          Doctor: Easy, Vitani, your Internal Vitals are perfect. You're in a safe harbour now. No more patches or fixes.
          
          Vitani: It's too quiet...I keep waiting for the Data Code to scream at me that the battery is dying.
          
          *long gap*
          
          Vitani: Is the digital feed dead? I can't see anything...it's just...empty.
          
          Doctor: It's not dead, Vitani, it's just powered down. The hardware is still waiting for the graft to take. There'll be no more fogging sensors when we power it up again.
          
          Vitani: *breathing shakily* I'm not used to the Quiet. Back home, you always heard the drones or the vents. Here, I feel...useless. Like, if I can't keep watch, the building will fall on our heads.
          
          Doctor: That's Zira's conditioning talking. You've been on 'Guard' for too long and you've forgotten how to be a patient. Kion and Ono ran an Audit on the new casing for your Optical Implant. It's of the highest Engineering standards.
          
          Vitani: And Easton? Is he...is he still scared of the storm outside?
          
          Doctor: *chuckles softly* He's asleep in the hallway, clutching a half ~ eaten toastie. He told me to tell you that your new eye will be able to see through walls so you can find his lost socks.
          
          Vitani: *smiles softly* Shortish kid...big dreams. He thinks I'm almighty because of  a thing I need to see. I just want to see his face without the old HUD for once.
          
          Doctor: You will. You just need to rest for a few more hours. The Natural Prescription is sleep, not worry.
          
          Yes, Vitani is scared of the dark, just to help you finish the rest of it.

We found one of our chickens has passed away yesterday, and we had a new buggy driving around on the farm for the first time. It's called a "mule," I'm told.
          
          We now know the name of the horses and goats next door: Pumpkin, Bella, Billy and Sidney. I'm guessing Pumpkin only comes out on Hallowe'en.
          
          *Simba is leading Vitani through a heavy, Hydraulic door. The air is chilled to protect the mainframe.*
          
          Simba: I told the Council I brought you down here for a History lesson, Vitani. They think I'm showing you the Digital Archives of the old Kings.
          
          Vitani: *Kicking a stray ethernet cable out of her path* And what do you think? That, if you put enough ozone and blue light between us, I'll forget that I'm still just Ward 004 to your Biometric scanners?
          
          Simba: I think that Ward 004 is a legacy title you've outgrown. But the Pridelands...they haven't outgrown their fear. They want a Firewall between them and the Shadowlands.
          
          Vitani: And you want me to be the hardware.
          
          Simba: I want you to be the encryption. If you can see the Packet Switching of the Country's Security, they can't call you an Outsider anymore. You become the Interface.
          
          *long gap*
          
          Simba: Vitani, the Council doesn't see a leader when they look at you, they see Zira's daughter. They see a Security Risk waiting for a trigger.
          
          Vitani: So you want to turn me into a Mainframe Asset? If I have a serial number inside my skull, does that make me 'safe' enough for their tea parties?
          
          Simba: It makes you essential. If you are the only one who can navigate the Shadowlands grid, they can't afford to Deport you.
          
          *long gap*
          
          Vitani: You talk about 'consent,' Simba, but, if I say no, I'm back on the Transit Bus to the Shadowlands by Morning, aren't I?
          
          Simba: *quietly* The 2013 Peace Protocol is a fragile algorithm, Vitani. I am holding the Firewall open for you with both hands. The Ocular Implant isn't a leash, it's a Decryption Key to a life you weren't meant to have.
          
          This scene making much sense so far?