Page 56 of The Orc's Protection
“No need for that,” the man says quickly. “This is excessive. The orc is overreacting to a parent who got lost.”
“Lost parents don’t carry bolt cutters,” I observe, holding the backpack open toward Principal Winters so she can see the contents clearly.
She completes her call without further comment.
A moment later, she says, “Mr. Vraag, the police are on their way. You can release him now.”
“With respect, maintaining secure containment until authorities arrive represents best security practice.”
Her expression tightens. “That wasn’t a suggestion.”
Integration Protocol 12: Defer to administrative authority in non-life-threatening situations.
I step back. In two strides, I reach the connecting door to the A/V room and pull it shut, then return to position myself between the intruder and the corridor door. One exit. He knows it. I know it. Principal Winters notices the move without commenting on it.
The man immediately shifts demeanor, rubbing his arm where I held him. “Thatthingassaulted me. I got separated from my son’s group and was looking for the bathroom. Next thing I know, I’m being manhandled.”
Principal Winters glances between us. “The police will sort this out. Mr. Vraag, please wait outside.”
“Principal Winters, this individual entered through—”
“Outside, please.”
Integration Protocol 8: Respect chain of command even when disagreeing with tactical decisions.
I exit, but position myself in clear sightline of the door. My hearing tracks the intruder’s continued story and Principal Winters’ careful, neutral responses.
Five minutes pass before footsteps approach from the main hallway. Riona appears, concern evident in her expression.
“Vraag? Janet said there was a situation near my classroom.”
“Intruder apprehended,” I say, keeping my voice low. “He entered through your window. Was heading for the A/V room through the connecting door when I intercepted him. He’s the same one who’s been casing the window for weeks.”
Her eyes widen. “He came through my classroom?”
“Yes.”
She absorbs that—the full shape of it, what it means that he was in her space, moving through the dark at the back of her room. I watch her process it without looking away. She deserves to know the truth of what happened here, not a softened version of it.
“Is everyone okay?”
“No injuries. Situation contained.” I pause. “Though Principal Winters has concerns about my methods.”
Understanding settles across her face. “How contained, exactly?”
“I maintained appropriate physical restraint for human physiology.”
“But you looked like seven feet of immovable orc while doing it,” she translates, her slight smile softening the observation.
“Presence is an effective security tool when properly applied.”
She touches my arm briefly, her hand hidden from view by my position. “You protected my classroom. Again. Thank you.”
The simple words settle into me the way her words always do—without fanfare, without condition. Just true. Before I can respond, police officers appear at the end of the hallway and Principal Winters emerges to meet them.
“Stay here,” I tell Riona. “I’ll need to give a statement.”
The next hour passes in procedural protocol. The intruder, identified as James Andrews, abandons his lost-parent story when officers find school blueprints in his backpack with the A/V storage room and both access points clearly marked. Andrews has prior arrests for burglary and equipment theft.
