First Goodbye
Even on that first evening, it became clear that events were conspiring against Washu and Zulian getting to have that dinner. There turned out to be an enormous amount of paperwork involved in the purchase of a starship and her classes were still in session and couldn't be skipped.
Washu stayed in her natural form, though. The change back to her juvenile shape wasn't difficult exactly, but now that she'd gotten tall again for the first time in centuries, she decided to keep it up for a while. Admittedly, the stir when she stepped into the classroom the next morning was gratifying.
Washu stepped into her lecture hall after the bell rang and her TA had handed out the day's outline. The babble from the tiers of student seats always died down quickly when she entered but now there was a shocked silence to see the same pink spiky hair gliding into the room but on that very different physique. This Washu wasn't short and child-like while managing to be sharp and commanding. This Washu was nearly six feet tall, long legs and a sizable bust clad in a professor's robe over an Academy uniform tailored to show these attributes off. She wore makeup for the first time in a normal human's lifespan as well, red lips standing out in her fine-featured face.
The silence persisted so long that her heels could be heard clicking on the floor and the slither of papers on the lectern fairly echoed in the room. A young Wau boy dropped something small and Washu's vivid green eyes flicked up to regard the class as a whole. There was a ripple of reaction to that as well.
A moment later she launched right into her prepared lecture. If they thought that this Washu was any less of a hardass when it came to classwork they were quite mistaken. By the end of the period the shock had worn off and things seemed mostly normal again- until the dismissal bell rang. Instead of the usual burst of loud chatter about the topic or their next class, most of the students were talking in that tone one uses when the subject of conversation is standing a few feet away. Because she was.
Stubbornly Washu behaved as she always did; a little banter with her favorites, a demand for a missing assignment from the class slacker. Scientifically speaking it was interesting to note who among them looked at her differently. She entertained herself identifying emotions and speculating about reasons. Jealousy, attraction, even hostility. The young are so easy to read, she mused.
The little drama was repeated twice more that day, even though the first class had spoiled the surprise a bit. It amused her that her last class of the day, more a small discussion group on chemistry and its effects on micro-robotics that focused on grad students and the work they were doing, was full up. Obviously the bulk of the attendees were looking for an excuse to stop by and see the famous professor's change in person.
Just to get the point across that she was still a professor, she gathered the names of all in the room and gave a lecture on the topic at hand, complete with a test at the end. Even if they weren't in the appropriate programs, she made it clear that the results would be shared with advisors of all present. Also no one was allowed to leave once she got started.
At the end of all that, Noral, her TA, stayed behind to gather the papers so Washu could grade them. He grinned at her over the sheaf of tests. "They were hoping for a question and answer session, you know."
"Oh I know they were," Washu sighed, putting her feet up on her desk. It was easier with long legs. She leveled a gaze at Noral. "I suppose you want to know too, hmm?"
"Of course I do, but I know better than to ask. If you were interested in sharing you would." His naturally red and slightly reflective eyes were dancing with mirth. "Life is never dull around you, Professor."
Washu grinned at him. He hadn't changed his attitude towards her at all, which was a relief. There were parts of today where she regretted not reverting to childhood immediately after leaving the shipyard but she stuck it out. Why? She still wasn't sure.
"I do have a question, Prof. Does this have something to do with the sabbatical you've been planning?" Noral's question was casual and artfully phrased.
"You mean the rumors are true? I really am leaving?" Washu feigned surprise. "That would explain the ship I just bought."
Noral whistled a low note. "Wow. That's gonna suck for me, I've got the sweetest gig on campus." He looked around wistfully. "I may have to finish my thesis and get a real job."
The scientist laughed. "You've been hanging around me long enough; maybe you should take mine while I'm away." She laughed again at the shocked look he gave her.
"Prof, if you aren't around, can't nobody teach this stuff. It'll be madness! Besides," and he looked a trifle irked, "Professor Lark is dying for the chance to try."
Privately Washu agreed with his unspoken assessment of Lark. "You'll definitely have to hang around, then." It was as close as she'd get to badmouthing the thin, hyperactive adjunct professor who taught robotics at the lower levels.
They both began walking to the door, but Noral had one last question while she was in this mood. "How soon?" His tone was wistful again.
"A month, maybe a little less. And you *will* be taking some of my classes between now and then." She was pleased to see him straighten a bit with pride. "Have a good evening, Noral."
"You too, Professor Washu."
Washu tossed a long pink lock of hair over her shoulder as she made her way across the campus to her quarters in the teacher's sector. After a certain amount of pointing and staring though she dipped into an alcove and teleported the rest of the way to her own doorstep. Her door recognized her and swished open so she could slip inside. It was almost exactly the same as it had been, what, how many thousands of years ago when she made the first change?
She dropped wearily onto her couch, noticing again how different her place felt now that she was tall again. A wave of melancholy passed over her. "What the hell am I doing?" she muttered to herself. The reasons for her regression to childhood rang loud in her mind now that the quiet of her empty home surrounded her. Standing up, Washu walked to her kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine, paused, then brought the bottle to the table. The stack of tests waited for her but first she brought up her screen.
There were a couple of messages waiting; one reminding her of an appointment to finalize the purchase of the ship and another. From Zulian. A genuine smile lit up Washu's face at that. So the captain wasn't just being polite.
She sipped at her wine and settled in to read the message, which was surprisingly lengthy for someone she'd only met the day before. It read:
Dear Washu-
I hope you forgive the informal address but I'm feeling very kindly towards you at the moment. Thanks to the generous gift of your quick wit I am able to be a lot choosier with my next contract. I don't know how much you know about a hauler's life but it's such a relief not to have to take the first cargo that comes along just to pay for repairs and docking fees. My crew is also ecstatic that they will get to keep flying. I threatened to make them all get jobs waiting tables to finance the upgrade. They took me seriously, bless them.
Since I'm spending my dry-dock time at the bargaining table I won't be able to buy you that dinner, and I'm literally heartbroken by the fact. I find you fascinating on every level imaginable and would love to get to know you better.
I'm not a woman easily thwarted so I'll find a way, but for now I'll settle for inviting you to the re-launch of my ship at that bore of a shipyard. One week from tonight, I'd be pleased to give you a ship's tour and introduce you to the motley bunch of spacers you've unwittingly become a patron saint to.
Do tell me you'll come and we might even discuss a way to have our ships cross paths in the endless night.
-Z
Addition: Wear whatever body you are most comfortable in.
Washu read it again, smiling at the way she could practically hear the woman's voice, as if she was in the room. There was something so warm about the message and it lifted her mood a great deal. Dwelling on the past and the change she'd made in that shipyard had threatened to make this a very gloomy night.
Sipping at her wine instead of gulping it, she dashed off a reply promising to be there and expressing amusement at being considered a saint of any kind. Once that was done, she realized that she was terribly disappointed that the dinner wouldn't happen but there were her own preparations to make. As to that addition- well, she'd see how she felt about being a grown-up again in the meantime. Something in her wanted to be able to look this space-faring bunch in the eye but time would tell.
For the time being, she graded the tests and thought about space, but the message from Zulian was still up on the screen.
The week passed too slowly. Routine wasn't much interrupted by her 'new' look once the novelty wore off. There were only one or two at the Academy who knew the story and Washu was pleased that they were keeping it to themselves. Even after millennia it was painful. Thank Void that Clay had taken himself off to the private sector some time back or she'd never have heard the end of it.
She wouldn't have admitted it to anyone but Washu re-read the note from Zulian at least once a night. Just as on that first night it staved off sad remembrances. She read it again on the fourth night when she woke herself out of a dream to find she'd been crying in her sleep.
When the day came she found herself inexplicably nervous. Washu even dithered about what to wear. What would be appropriate for a tour of a freighter? For meeting the crew? For spending time with Zulian? In the end she went with slacks and a black blouse, her Science Academy insignia tastefully displayed. She had a dark moment, thinking that her association with the school was all the status she had, but she reminded herself that the captain and crew of a freighter would hardly care about such things. That was a point in their favor, in her eyes.
That same desk clerk, Berteous, was on duty at the shipyard when Washu arrived. His eyes widened and he nearly tipped his chair over in his haste to stand and greet her. "Professor Hakubi, how nice to see you. Again." His already florid face was even redder as he apparently wondered if she would take him to task for his previous behavior.
"Thank you," Washu smiled at him a little distantly. "Can you direct me to Captain Zulian's ship?"
"Of course! You're expected! Right this way, we have a platform-" He made as if to escort her.
"Just point me to it, I can make the trip on my own."
"Right." He flushed again even though her tone was nothing but polite. "Just through there, Platform Four."
Washu murmured her thanks and stepped along to the teleport platform. 'Dry dock' was a bit of a misnomer- there was an orbiting station that could do extensive repairs on no-atmosphere ships. That's where Zulian and her crew was, ready to get the vessel afloat again and fill its hold with whatever needed moving from one system to another.
To Washu's surprise, Zulian was waiting for her in the teleport room on the other side. "Ah! There you are, and just as tall as I remember!" This fact seemed to please Zulian enormously and she embraced Washu warmly. The move almost startled Washu, who was suddenly reminded of how long it had been since she'd had such contact with anyone.
This seemed to register with Zulian as she parted from Washu. "Don't mind me, I'm always a bit excitable before putting out to space."
"I don't mind a bit, Captain. One should never pass up such a kindly reception." Washu smiled, feeling slightly awkward for a reason she couldn't quite name.
Zulian grinned, a mysterious twinkle in her eye again. "Since I couldn't have an entire evening with you I thought I'd steal a few moments before the party got going." She winked at Washu. "And prepare you to meet the rough bunch I fly with."
Washu laughed. "I'm a glorified school teacher, Captain. If I can't handle rough people after a few thousand years of freshmen, I don't know that I could be trusted to leave the house."
"Well," Zulian conceded, "they aren't that bad. But don't tell them I said so." Once again Zulian wrapped herself around Washu's arm and led her down the corridor to the pressurized dock that held the ship.
There was a great deal of activity beyond the door; a party was in full swing but there was also work being done. Zulian called out in a language Washu couldn't place right off and a man and woman set down the crates they were carrying and came over.
"Kel, Rannel, this is Washu Hakubi. Washu, this is Kel, my second in command," the stout green-haired woman bobbed her head, "and Rannel, my logistics officer." The man, dark-skinned and thin, nodded with a huge grin.
"I can't tell you how pleasant this has been, Professor Hakubi. We may not have to eat the kitchen help on this haul." Rannel joked.
"He can joke about cannibalism all he wants because he knows he's too skinny to feed a hungry cat." Zulian said with a grin.
"I'm glad my little gesture has done you any good at all," Washu said, a little overwhelmed at the aura of relaxed friendliness all around.
"It certainly has!" put in Kel enthusiastically.
"I'm also just happy to meet you in person," Rannel added. "If I hadn't met this wandering soul when I did, I'd probably have been in the first row of all your classes." Rannel looked at Kel fondly. "She made flying through space sound so good I couldn't help but follow."
"Little did he know…" Zulian said in a fake aside to Washu, who smiled.
The fast-paced banter of people who were very familiar with each other went on like that as Washu was shown the ship. Many in the crew stopped by to offer thanks and by the time the night was nearly over Washu was feeling quite embarrassed. She'd known that haulers lived from cargo to cargo but she'd requested that discount so cavalierly that the accolades seemed wildly out of proportion.
Zulian rarely left Washu's side the entire night, although she didn't cling to her arm the whole time. The captain made an entertaining host and did her best to make Washu feel at home among all these strangers.
They were all so open and free with jokes and teasing that the scientist couldn't help but relax and enjoy herself. She even offered some advice to Caffrey, the chief engineer, on his engine efficiency. Instead of getting territorial or defensive he started discussing the various approaches with her. They passed a very pleasant twenty minutes while Zulian was off taking care of some last minute business.
It was Kel and Rannel who kept Washu company after Caffrey had to excuse himself as well. The pair were married, it turned out, and had stories to spare about other voyages aboard other ships.
"Yes, when Zu retires, hopefully a long time from now, we'll find some dirt to stick to as well," Kel said. "You just can't top this crew for hauling companions."
"Too right!" Rannel agreed. "The captain doesn't tolerate slacks or backstabbers just because they work cheap. That ain't true of many. Remember that Seniwan ship?"
Kel groaned. "Do I ever! Good enough crew, except for a few, but you wouldn't know it by the attitudes of the officers. All but calling us low-born scum to our faces- while we did the heavy lifting they wouldn't dirty their hands with! And those noble kids we carted around-"
"I think our guest would rather not learn *too* much about the seedy lives of haulers," Zulian had returned, and noting a slight shadow of distress on Washu's face, redirected the conversation. "We don't want to spoil the illusion of romantic wanderers, always free and happy as birds." She winked at Washu then turned to Kel. "I'm ready to see if she floats, how about you?"
Kel bounced to her feet. "Aye Captain!" She took off at a run. Rannel followed a moment later after nodding a goodbye to Washu.
Zulian looked after them fondly then turned back to her guest. "I told you they were rough spacers. No manners at all."
Washu smiled a little faintly. "Unless you have a mind-reader among your crew I could hardly expect them to know what's a touchy subject." Immediately Washu regretted these words; now Zulian would ask about the touchy subject and the good mood would dissipate altogether.
But Zulian did nothing of the kind. "Come along my dear! You can help me get my tub back into vacuum. It will be practice for your own launching." The bright blue eyes of the captain were full of joy and Washu couldn't help but respond.
Washu took the hand Zulian offered and stood. "I'd like that very much." It was very pleasant to have Zulian's hands on her arm to lead her to the console. It was the equipment that would actually launch the ship.
Zulian made a raucous speech about some of their past voyages and the pirate battle that had necessitated this overhaul. She made some outrageous predictions about the future that set the crew roaring with laughter. She made a mention of Washu's hand in the deal that was made and they gave the scientist a rowdy cheer, complete with wolf-whistles.
At that Washu blushed but she felt Zulian's hand at the small of her back, so she raised her chin and smiled winningly at the assembled, even giving a little bow. They approved, and Zulian wrapped up. She flipped the switches to trigger the launch.
Everyone fell silent as the ship lifted clear of the clamps. The deep belly of the ship hung below them, empty now but able for nearly any sort of cargo. Washu was suddenly reminded that the ceiling they'd been standing under was actually the living and working area of the ship, a great dish that was all the world these folks felt they needed.
There was a puff of energy from a small temporary booster and the whole mass of the ship slid towards the atmosphere shield. Pressurized and tested, of course it would be fine once it slipped into true vacuum. Even so, Washu found she was holding her breath with everyone else. Somehow, something as plain as a deep space freighter managed to look dignified as the little boosters flashed silently to line up the main hatch with the normal dock.
"Hoo-Rah!" Zulian's wild cheer was the trigger; bedlam erupted as the entire crew celebrated. The captain caught Washu in a close embrace. The dark-haired woman leaned in close to speak into Washu's ear. "Maybe you should just sign on with me! Fly the stars with us, won't you?"
Wrapped up in the moment, Washu nearly agreed at once. The offer was obviously a joke she thought, just over exuberance. Still, for just a second, it was tempting. "I don't think your ship could carry mine," Washu teased back.
Zulian laughed. "It might be fun to try!" she said, leaning in close even though the noise had died down. Zulian turned back to the crowd and shouted, "Alright spacers, let's get moving! That ore ain't shifting itself!"
"And if it did, we wouldn't get paid!" Some wit in the back called out as the happy crowd broke up into groups to do whatever tasks needed doing. Zulian grasped Washu by the hand and drew her off to the side to say goodbye.
Of course Washu knew it was coming but she still felt a little shocked. It was over so soon! "So, Captain, off on your next adventure!" The smile Washu wore was genuine, but not as wide as it might have been.
The bright blue eyes of Captain Zulian held a kind of sadness too over her cheerful grin. "Listen, Washu. I'd have given anything to be able to spend more time with you before shipping out- I suspect you have no idea just how much we missed out on- but never mind. I'll be back this way in a year-"
"I'll be on my own ship for the next three years-" Washu said miserably. What did Zulian mean by how much they'd missed?
"Then send me letters! Tell me where you'll be and I'll find you!" Zulian pleaded, her hand gripped Washu's as if to emphasize her sincerity. "I may not be able to respond right away but I'll find a way to find you!"
Of course I will!" Washu promised and for the first time in thousands of years, reached out to hug the person in front of her. Zulian wrapped her up in a tight embrace and the scientist felt her eyes burn with tears. How had this happened? She'd met the woman exactly twice and already it was awful to think of her leaving.
Zulian ended the hug and it was strange to notice that her eyes were also shinier that usual. Zulian's finger brushed a loose hair back from Washu's forehead in a strangely intimate gesture. "Maybe it's better this way, or I'd toss you in my hold and carry you away. Or harness your ship to mine." Zulian gave Washu a mock glare. "I mean it, tell me where to find you or I'll have to comb the galaxy top to bottom!"
Washu laughed despite her blurred vision. "I truly will! Now go! Or they'll leave without you!" What was unspoken was that if Zulian didn't go now Washu might not let her go at all.
"Ha, they can't, I have the keys!" But Zulian dashed off finally, leaving Washu alone in the bay.
Washu wiped at her eyes and stayed until the ship moved around the corner and was out of sight. It took her some long minutes to get herself to the point where being seen by that idiotic desk clerk wouldn't make her embarrassed. With as much dignity and poise as she could muster she made her way home.
The scientist fell into bed and slept immediately; a combination of drink and the crowd and the goodbye had taken its toll. It was more than clear that Zulian would be a great friend to have, and it had been a long time since Washu had a true friend without some sort of barrier. There might be something more but it didn't come to the surface; it couldn't. Zulian was gone, off into space.
The last trip she made to the shipyard was for the launch of her own ship; it would take off from the planet's surface. Three weeks had passed; the atmosphere couldn't be any more different. There was only Noral to see her off.
"I shouldn't be the only one here, Professor, you know?" Noral said earnestly. "Why did you pick this time to head out? Another week and mid-terms would be over. The whole class- hell, the whole school would have come!"
Washu smiled at her assistant. "I know, but I don't need much of that sort of attention. At least not these days." She tried to turn it into a joke. "Besides, that would be a bit much for a hermit like me."
Noral looked at her. "So the cure is to head out into space all alone?"
The scientist cocked her head to the side. "Who said anything about a cure for hermitude? I have some research to do that I can accomplish best without distraction, in the places where the reactions are happening. Also, you lot have all but swallowed up my subspace lab and I don't mean to displace anyone just now."
"Yeah, but-" Noral was having trouble expressing something to his mentor. He squared hs shoulders and bulled ahead. "For a little while, it seemed like you might have been trying to find someone." He blushed. "I don't mean to pry, Prof, you know that, it's just-"
"I think I have everything I need, especially with friends to look after me." Not in the least concerned with protocol, Washu put a hand on Noral's shoulder and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Please make sure the school is still standing when I get back?"
"Of course, Professor." Noral straightened up and gave her a salute. "Come home soon, we- I'll miss you."
Washu patted his cheek and stepped onto the lift that would take her up to the hatch. Fully loaded with equipment and provisions, everything was in place. All that was left was to seal herself in and signal the mechanical dockhands to release the clamps. Washu did so then started the atmosphere engines.
It wasn't long before she was in space. The ship, whimsically named Floating Point, set course to one of the nebulae on the periphery of the Jurain empire. That was where her work would begin. Three months there ought to do it, then on to something else.