"Beka is reporting that the Maru has landed in the landing bay, Captain," said Andromeda's core self from the wardroom viewscreen "My avatar is waiting to meet them."
"I suppose I should go down as well," said Dylan, almost slumped in one of the wardroom chairs, resigned to the fact that there was going to be a second child aboard. He started to get out of his seat only to be stopped by Harper.
"Not so fast, Boss.," said Harper. "You need to stay here and wait for Rommie to bring Chernavaka to us."
"Why?" asked Dylan wondering what sort of obscure Salvagers Guild protocol he would have broken.
"Would you greet a junior enlisted person at the landing bay when they arrived aboard for the first time?" asked Tyr.
"Ah," said Dylan as comprehension dawned. "I see. The junior is presented to the senior."
"Exactly, "said Tyr. "Let the ship's avatar bring her to you. And when she is presented to you please try not to growl at her. It would be embarrassing if you had to tell the Takahashi family that you frightened one of their children to death."
"Most likely it would be fatal," put in Andromeda's holographic self as she materialized herself in the wardroom. "By Salvagers Guild laws the Takahashi family would be well within their rights to declare blood feud with Andromeda and as Beka's patron family is a client family of the Takahashis, Beka would be expected to assist in their efforts to have you killed"
"Uh," said Dylan once again wondering why it was that dealing with totally alien species like the Pryians was easier than dealing with a bunch of semi piratical would be merchant princes.
"I wouldn't worry," said Trance in a voice that was just serious enough to make Dylan wonder if she was teasing him or being honest.. "I'm sure Beka would be able to convince the Takahashis to accept weregild instead of your death. They'd probably be satisfied with three, maybe four, Four Freedoms class freighters, and your discharge from the High Guard."
"Maybe," said Andromeda's holographic self. "But I have ten thrones that says if it happens Beka will shoot him anyway. Just to retain her reputation within the Guild." With those not so comforting words she blinked out of sight.
While Dylan was receiving a lesson in protocol Rommie was greeting the new arrival. Without details of her heritage and background Rommie couldn't be sure of the girl's age, but she appeared to be approximately twelve years old, average in height, but just a bit underweight. Her hair was brown and she was either well tanned or not all of her family originated from wherever the majority of the Takahashi family originated. She also looked positively terrified. She was pressed into Beka as if she was trying to hide inside the older woman, and was clutching a small vid player the way a drowning man might hold on to a life preserver.
Rommie hoped the fear was simply that of a young girl leaving home for the first time, and not because of the Andromeda's reputation. Dylan's attempt at Hephasitos to destroy Andromeda rather than have her captured had been good military strategy, but it had been a huge propaganda victory for the Nietzscheans. Their later involvement in the replacement of the Sinti IV government when it was revealed that several high members of the government were directly involved in a piracy operation had not improved her reputation. The people who mattered knew the truth behind the stories, but to all too many people Dylan Hunt and Andromeda were considered the harbingers of doom.
"Captain Owner Rebecca Valentine House of Valentine here to present Chernavka Mochizuki House of Takahashi to Captain Dylan Hunt, Captain New Systems Commonwealth High Guard," said Beka as she gently pushed Cherna forward.
Rommie curtsied to the young lady and responded with the greeting she had learned from Beka "Welcome, Lady Mochizuki," she said returning the traditional response. "Captain Hunt bids you welcome and extends to you the hospitality of the Andromeda Ascendant. If you will accompany me, I will take you to the wardroom where you may meet the Captain."
A few moments later the trio entered the wardroom. Dylan and the others all rose to their feet and Dylan stepped forward to meet the new arrival
"Captain Hunt," said Rommie still acting in her role of ships representative, "may I present to you Chernavka Mochizuki House of Takahashi currently apprenticed to Captain Owner Rebecca Valentine House of Valentine."
"Uh, hello Miss," said Dylan completely unsure how to greet the girl. "Welcome aboard"
Chernavaka crossed her ankles then curtsied so low that her she was practically sitting on Andromeda's deck, as she reached the lowest point of her curtsy she bent over to touch her head to the deck. She began to straighten up, and as she did she lost her balance and had to uncross her legs to keep from falling. Her face turned red in embarrassment and her lower lip began to tremble.
"Cherna," said Beka quietly. "Don't you have something to tell Captain Hunt?"
"Oh," said Cherna, "I'm sorry, Lady Rebecca. I forgot." She turned back to look at Dylan and began to recite something that was obviously a formal greeting she had memorized. "Greetings, Captain Hunt," she said. "I wish to thank you for accepting me as an apprentice. It is my hope that I will prove worthy of your trust and that my actions will bring honor to both House Andromeda and House Takahashi."
She turned her head towards Beka awaiting her reaction.
Beka nodded in approval. "Good enough," she said. "But I'm not Lady Rebecca. I'm Beka. Rommie, will you continue the introductions?"
The introductions to Trance and Harper went smoothly, mostly because they had met Cherna earlier. Trance, in an effort to ease some of Cherna's tension, spent a moment asking about other members of her family.
Andromeda's holographic and core selves manifested themselves. Chernavaka gasped in surprise as Andromeda's holographic self appeared. "Are you a ghost?" she asked.
Andromeda's holographic self smiled while her core self answered. "I can assure you that she's quite real." She gave her sister self a glare which made Dylan wonder if he was going to have to referee another dispute between sisters and what it was about this time, and then continued her introduction. "Sometimes I think she's too real."
Rommie's attempt to present Cherna to Tyr was interrupted when Cherna blurted out, "You're a Nietzschean," she said staring at Tyr's bone blades.
"So I've been told," said Tyr dryly wondering how this conversation would play out.
"My grandfather says that the Nietzscheans started the war and it's their fault things have gone to hell."
"And what do you think Lady Mochizuki?" asked Tyr keeping his voice carefully neutral
Beka held her breath waiting for the girl's answer
"I think that you weren't even born when the war started. It's silly to blame people for something that happened before they were born."
Tyr gave the girl a formal bow. "My lady you show more wisdom than your grandfather. Welcome aboard the Andromeda Ascendant."
"What about me?" asked Shira as she materialized herself.
Rommie and her sister selves spent a millisecond discussing Shira's behavior. She should have waited to be asked to appear. Deciding that they could deal with Shira's breach of manners later and in private, Andromeda's core self made the introductions.
"Cherna, you won't be the only apprentice aboard me. This is my apprentice, Shira. She's learning how to be the command and control entity of a High Guard group defense frigate."
The two girls, one electronic and the other organic, stared at each other for a moment, then Shira's eyes focused on the vid player Cherna was carrying, and her face broke into a smile. "What's your favorite band?" she asked