Chapter 27

Hearing about forced service, Bill asked, "Wait, so there's forced conscription? But what's stopping them from just escaping the ship?"

By this time, dinner was over, and the three of them were simply talking at the table. When Bill asked about forced conscription, his mother and Miss Angie exchanged looks before his mother replied, "Son, if a criminal were skilled or strong, they wouldn't commit a petty crime. Since they aren't skilled or strong, they simply have nowhere to run. They'd either get on the ship or end up in the open ocean," she said confidently.

Nodding in agreement, Miss Angie added, "And trust me, they're given a choice, but they always choose the ship."

Bill: "So unskilled and weak individuals are forced to work on ships if they commit petty crimes, but what about the skilled or strong ones?"

With a casual shrug, Miss Angie said nonchalantly, "It depends on the crime and varies depending on the criminal, but typically a strong person is executed, while a very strong one is sentenced to life imprisonment."

Recalling how his father had thrown a giant counter admiral, Bill wondered: wouldn't that qualify as a "truly strong person"? Why would such a dangerous person be imprisoned while a less dangerous one is executed?

Bill: "Why are very strong people imprisoned but not those with ordinary strength?"

Dina: "Because those who possess true strength need to be considered," she said, getting up from her seat.

Following her example, Miss Angie also got up and began clearing the dishes. Seeing Bill lost in thought, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm sure your Fruit Ninja won't cause any trouble for you or the junior sheriff. And if he does," she added with a wink and in a quiet voice, "I'll handle him!"

With these thoughts, Bill rose from the table and headed to bed early, still unsure if he wanted the Fruit Ninja kid to turn out to be skilled or not.

Waking up early the next morning, Bill got out of bed, stretched, and did his usual ten minutes of push-ups.

Today, his goal was clear: he would meet Rance sometime in the morning. Then they would patrol, watching for any troublemakers, until a few hours after noon when they would sit and wait at the fruit stand that the ninja always chose for his thefts.

After getting ready, Bill left his room, had breakfast with his mom and nanny, and was prepared to leave.

"Oh, William," Miss Angie called to him as he was already at the door.

Bill: "Yes, ma'am?" he replied, unsure what else there was to say after their morning conversation.

Miss Angie: "Be careful and remember what I told you yesterday," she said with a smile, then added in a more serious tone, "And if in doubt, dodge and retreat!"

Imagining his nanny "dodging and retreating," Bill just shook his head and laughed: "Yes, ma'am!"

Leaving the apartment, Bill headed to the officer's elevator. The elevator was relatively close to the hospital, but due to the vast size of the base, it took more than ten minutes, even with a few turns.

Rounding the last corner, Bill saw a familiar figure running vigorously.

Bill: "Hey, Ricky! "Great job!"

Hearing Bill, Ricky turned around and ran over to him. Jogging in place, he said, slightly out of breath, "huff Hey, Bill, want to swim today?"

Shaking his head, Bill replied, "No, I can't. I'm meeting a friend in town."

A bit surprised, Ricky asked, "Wait, are you allowed to go downtown now? I thought you had to wait until you turned ten."

Bill: "I thought so too, but yesterday they told me it's allowed. Then I met a boy named Rance, and we became friends."

Hearing this, Ricky stopped jogging, looked at Bill in surprise, and said, "Rance? Rance McGrew?"

Responding instinctively, Bill said, "Yes, that's him. Do you know him?"

Laughing, Ricky replied, "Let me guess, that boy made you wear what you have on right now to work on some 'case' as a deputy sheriff?"

"Well, that's pretty much how it went," said Bill, slightly irritated by Ricky's tone.

"Let me tell you something," Ricky continued with a smirk, "That kid is annoying and makes everything up. When Sasha and I first went to town to play, he found us and got suspicious. Then, to prove our innocence, he made us his deputies."

Rolling his eyes, Ricky went on, "At first, I thought it might be fun, but can you imagine how Sasha felt about putting on that hat you're wearing now?

But that wasn't even the worst of it! The kid made up that he was investigating a case where someone was scattering giant worms over lumber stacks."

Now gesturing, Ricky continued, "We spent three whole days checking woodpiles and keeping an eye on random people, all the while looking ridiculous. For what? Nothing!

And then," he concluded, "on the third day, Rance and Sasha got into a fight. He had the nerve to accuse her of letting the criminal get away!"

Listening to Ricky's story, Bill thought that no matter what, Ricky would probably side with Sasha, even if she was in the wrong.