Dylan stepped out of the Maru's airlock ready room and into the passageway that connected the forward and aft portions of the vessel. He had some things he wanted to discuss with Beka, and Andromeda's core self had informed him that Beka was aboard the Maru. As he entered the passageway he heard familiar voices coming from the direction of the common room
"Are you sure Beka?" it was Rommie. "There's no chance it was a mistake."
"Positive, answered Beka. "I asked for confirmation and it came through. There was no mistake."
He heard a clapping sound, then Trance's voice. "I can't wait. It will almost be like Aurora having a sister."
Like Aurora having a sister, thought Dylan. Are you sure there wasn't a mistake? It couldn't be, but what other explanation was there? He decided to take the bull by the horns and walked into the room. His eyes confirmed what his ears had told him, Beka, Rommie, and Trance were all sitting together at the common room table. Trance's infant daughter Aurora was on her mother's lap, her tail wrapped around her mother's, playing with some sort of object Dylan didn't recognize. There was a palpable air of excitement hanging over all of them.
"It sounds like congratulations are in order Beka," said Dylan trying to sound nonchalant. "Do I know the father?"
Three heads turned in his direction. The expressions of the women's faces ran the gamut from total confusion to total shock. Beka's jaw actually dropped. Trance looked as confused as if she had just been asked 'how high is up', while Rommie gave Dylan a look as if she was wondering if she should call for a medical team.
"Uh, I'm not pregnant Dylan" said Beka after she had recovered from the idea of Dylan thinking she was. "Nothing like that. The Takahashi family has asked me to take one of their youngsters on as an apprentice."
"The Takahashi's?" asked Dylan still looking at Beka while trying to switch mental gears. "Aren't they the family that helped you and the Abrenathy's hunt down Bellamy's Belle? Why would they be apprenticing one of their children to you?"
"They are, and it's the custom of the Salvagers Guild to apprentice our children to another Guild family when they get old enough to start learning a ship trade," explained Beka.
"It's really quite an honor" added Rommie. "The Takahashis are one of the richest families in the Guild." She picked up the toy Aurora had dropped on the table and handed it to the little girl. Who promptly dropped it again.
"I see" said Dylan still trying to come to grips with the situation, "You ladies do realize don't you that Andromeda is a warship. Children have no business being on a warship."
"Oh, "said Beka and Rommie simultaneously, giving Dylan looks that could have frozen water.
"Really?" said Trance. If the other women's looks could have frozen water Trance's look would have frozen the oxygen out of the air. "Are you telling me you don't want Aurora aboard the Andromeda?"
"Uh," muttered Dylan realizing that not only had he stuck his foot into his mouth, but that anything else he said would only get him in deeper trouble with the women..
"The bottom line, Dylan," said Beka, "is there WILL be another child aboard the Andromeda."
Dylan felt a sudden need to sit down, but decided against it on the grounds it would look un- captainish
"Actually we'll be getting another youngster as well," put in Rommie. "Well not a youngster exactly. The Stalwart Shield is finishing up construction. Her AI is awake but hasn't settled in yet. She still needs to go through her mentoring period."
"And," said Dylan.
My sister selves and I have been selected to be her mentor. She'll be sharing our central processor for an indefinite period of time learning her job.
This time Dylan did sit down.