10.

When there is nothing to distract his attention and when his mind is as strong as it can be, Brandon still likes to venture out on one of those walks he had enjoyed daily back on Earth. Of course, he had more time to himself back then before the World Council had come knocking and he had the great or perhaps not so great outdoors to travel back on Earth too though here on this colossal vessel there is still so much to explore.

On occasion, Brandon's Pathfinder walks have taken him down towards one of the ship's wing walkways and on more than one or two occasions he has taken notice of a young man who stands at a view port approximately halfway down this particular walkway and on each of these occasions the young man does the exact same thing and that is to just stare right out into space.

With his mind very much intact, Brandon is reminded of himself at a time when he was himself coming of age and in an uncertain frame of mind. Brandon as a young man himself had been at a point where he had no idea where his life would go, what path he might take, he may even have thought that he had no paths to choose from. All it took was a few choice words and a moment of time from someone he respected to make him realize that a little focus and determination could go a long way.

These walks of his, both here on The Pathfinder and indeed on Earth, were moments to take time out, time out moments away from anything and everything that life and all it holds can throw at him or upon him. They were and are moments where Brandon Michaels could be carefree and in general just be ... free. Now in this moment however, Brandon may just take a time out from his time out, venture down that wing walkway and be the one to impart a few choice words to a young man in the hopes that the young man may be willing to listen.

His walk is slow but determined, Brandon, in any situation, could be thought of as an imposing figure, possibly no more so than with what is about to come. The last thing he would want is to frighten the young man he is about to approach. He moves up to, then stands alongside to tower over the young fellow he stops next to and then takes a moment to stare out into the vastness of space, taking in the unending sight of darkness speckled by an infinite collage of freckled light.

'It is a wondrous sight, isn't it?' asks Brandon in a manner which almost immediately commands respect while also in no way coming across as uncomfortable despite the height and age differences between the two.

'That it is' responds the young man almost as if he can feel that a particular moment is coming his way.

Indeed, he had been coming to this spot to have himself a moment though the moment with which is coming is to be one the young fellow could not have anticipated. Whatever does come his way he will accept it and even run with it, and this is definitely what Brandon hopes to impart despite the fact he had not anticipated the moment either for it is an observation that has himself running so to speak with this moment.

'Pardon my assumption, I know we do not know one another, and it is not my place to make an assumption, but I take it that you do not come here just to observe the beauty and vastness of space.'

'You run this vessel; you pretty much can assume anything you like.'

'Yeah, you can say that ...', Brandon is surprised he is recognized and at the same time he knows he shouldn't be surprised. There are murmurs and looks when he is walking, either alone or with others. People, even those he may never have any contact with, are gonna know who he is.

'You are right though' continues the young lad. 'I am nineteen, here alone aboard something that is quite crazy all things considered. I have no family here, no friends. Growing up at home I wasn't necessarily expected to succeed or anything of the likes though I did have a need to contribute, you know, not to earn my keep so to speak but to be part of something, to be a part of life ... maybe to even lighten the burden of others ...'

'I can understand and respect how that goes.'

'Up here I have no role, I do not have anything to occupy myself, I don't earn my keep. I want to, I need to do something and if I can do something then I want to lighten the burden of others.'

'I have to admit, I am quite impressed with what you have just said. I'm going to ask something of you, you do know who I am, right?' – obviously something he didn't need to ask but does anyhow.

'Yes sir.'

'If you are willing, I may just have a challenge for you.'

This young fellow has not only turned his head towards Brandon, but he has also turned his whole body towards him. If he is to be lucky enough to be set a task he sure as hell is going to take it and give it one hundred per cent of his attention.

'I would like that.'

'Alright, I will shortly be looking into setting up a full-on security presence for the ship as a whole. Whomever I put in charge of such a thing I would like you to find a way onto the team, I'd like you to listen, learn and take in as much as you can and then perhaps, who knows where your future may take you?'

'Yes sir, I will give it my all and I won't let you down.'

'What is your name son?'

'My name is George, George Jones.'

'Well George' Brandon says as he offers his hand. 'We will be doing well if we have more like you aboard this ship.'

'Thank you, sir, thank you so much' George says grasping the hand offered to him with gusto.

'And oh, don't call me sir, call me Colonel.'

George smiles while resisting the urge to accidentally utter the word 'sir'. He might just have properly claimed his spot aboard The Pathfinder. There could have been unintentional intimidation in all this, how nice it was that intimidation played no part in the coming together.

***

After several rounds of talks, meetings, and interviews Kyle and Jinder Owens are the two men enlisted to take charge of a full security division. After all, this ship could be home to its inhabitants for quite some time, the potential is there too that all current inhabitants may even see out their lives aboard the ship therefore they could possibly be relying on future generations to see out the main mission so a physical security presence will be something of great importance.

To think of the Pathfinder as it is, it is as much as good as a small city which essentially is being transported through space so people will have a need to feel safe. So much of the unknown is on its way that any assurances which can be set in stone can only put positive feet forward. With all that has already occurred and with the population size of the Pathfinder one could be quite positive that there would be trouble to come, trouble which would require a security presence.

There is a security presence though it way undermanned and it is not regulated. There is no patrol of the ship and any security action that currently can take place is at the behest of Brandon or anyone in need of assistance, this is about to change.

Both men, Kyle and Jinder, have plenty of experience in security and are experts in many forms of the martial arts. Being brothers, they obviously know each other well and they trust one another completely so they are the obvious choice to head what they are being tasked with.

Fun, to some degree, would begin almost straight away for the brothers as they would begin rounds of interviews of their own, recruiting a security team to work under them from the hordes of people aboard the ship who had arrived on the vessel without any specific task to perform other than to survive.

And fun indeed is what these interviews would be, for as it seemed, those who applied for positions really came out of the woodwork. First in for an interview was a young man, nineteen years old, no taller than five foot three inches and no more than a hundred and forty pounds in weight soaking wet.

First impressions of the young man certainly that of him appearing more than a little odd with his short-ish blond hair which harbours a quaint quiff at the front. Add to that a dress sense most unusual for a guy of his age. Not much to look at though the Owens brothers know better that to judge a book by its cover and in their opinion, everyone deserves a shot at whatever they may like to aim for. So, an interview it would be. Might as well see what the young man has to offer.

The interview room itself was chosen for a reason, to gauge reaction if any from those who enter. It is a rather large room, empty except for a single chair all alone in the center and two desks over twenty-five feet away and down towards one end of the room where the recruiting brothers would sit.

The young man who enters the room does so quite confidently, speaking an 'hello' almost in a manner where he is fully expecting to be offered a position. He knows he has to earn a position and then prove himself once he does though as it is he is certainly up for the challenge.

Being as professional as they are and taking their role seriously, both brothers return an 'hello' before one suggests that the young man takes the seat in the center of the room. With his confidence or perhaps determination remaining on display, the first interviewee moves quickly to that seat, sits, and makes eye contact with the men he has come to see.

'So ...' speaks Kyle, 'you do know of the purpose of these interviews we are hosting here today?'

'Yes sir, I do.'

'And what makes you think that you are a suitable candidate for what we are looking for?' asks Jinder.

'To be honest, I want to be more than just a passenger. I want to earn my passage; I want to better myself, learn and become part of something big and honourable. I want to lighten the burden of others and prove that no matter what one may appear to have to offer more is certain possible and achievable, and without a doubt, I want to learn.'

'That is an impressive answer' speaks Kyle definitely having not expected to hear what just had. 'Before we go any further, tell me, what is your name?'

'My name is George Jones, and I am ready to take my position right here on The Pathfinder', if his confidence and or determination hadn't been showing, which it was, then it really has been put out there by his words.

'Oh, you are, are you?'

'Yes sir.'

'Do you have any experience in security?'

'No sir.'

'Do you know how to defend yourself should a need arise?'

'No sir, probably not in the way you may imply with your question, but I am a quick study and I am very eager to learn.'

The two brothers look at each other briefly before Jinder speaks. 'Well young man, thank you for coming here today, we see you are eager to learn. We will take your eagerness to learn into consideration when we make our decision. Successful candidates will be informed almost as soon as we make a decision.'

'Thank you for considering me and when you choose me, I will not let either of you down. Anything you may require from me I won't hesitate with making myself available to you.'

'Good day to you, young man.'

A quick and interesting start to say the least and things kinda went somewhat downhill for the most part from there. Among those who came for an interview were strangely enough, a pregnant lady, a clown who so happens a children's entertainer coming directly from a party to the interview in full costume, and a former fashion designer who wanted more to design a uniform for potential recruits than anything else.

So many people yet so few worthy of consideration, the day would not be a complete disaster, a team would be assembled, building on what already exists and as it would happen this built team would also include a young man by the name of George Jones.

Despite his age, size and apparent lack of experience, the Owens brothers would take on the challenge of training the young Mister Jones while seeing no reason as to why they couldn't or shouldn't offer him a position he could aspire to grow into, all this too with no assurance being made by Brandon on the young man's behalf, Brandon kinda believes himself to be a good judge of character.

Over the next few weeks George turned up on time and to where he was supposed to, he took direction and everything else offered to him. He would continue to train hard and do whatever was asked of him. Indeed, he has his position on the ship and he in no way wanted to ever let anyone down.