Maddie and Keiko arrived at Hakuoh Jogakuin at 8:00 am sharp on Monday morning, and made their way to the administration office. As expected, they found Lynn sitting in the corridor outside the principal's office, having been summoned for an 8:30 "meeting". They motioned Lynn to stay put as they entered the principal's office anteroom. The secretary looked up at them and asked, "Excuse me ladies, but do you have an appointment?" "No," Keiko said sweetly. "But I'm sure she'll make time for us." Miss Holland stepped out of her office, looking somewhat defeated. "I know why you're both here," she began, "so let me assure you that Miss Lambretta isn't being expelled, or suspended, or even disciplined, for that matter. But she's not getting away without knowing fully just what she has cost this academy! Obviously, Miss Doolittle is well connected, so it seems that I don't dare impose upon her or even her friends any sense of right and wrong!" Keiko spoke softly. "Miss Holland, could we just speak to you in private for a few minutes?" Miss Holland sighed, and gestured them in, and closed the door.
They seated themselves, and Maddie addressed the principal. "Miss Holland, please know that Miss Jenny has absolutely nae knowledge of any pressure being exerted on her behalf. Lady Takeda and I were the ones that kept James Doolittle apprised of the developments in this matter. That was our job, and that's what we were paid to do, but we never intended to interfere with nor undermine yeer authority." "That being said," Keiko chimed in, "Lynn already feels terrible about what's happened, but scolding her or brow-beating her or even shaming her in front of the whole school is counter-productive. And she's not the only guilty party, here, but I'm sure the families of those seniors would rather not have their darling little daughters implicated in this mess."
Miss Holland managed some indignance, even though she knew it was futile. The Board of Regents had called her in on Sunday morning and reamed her for four hours over the Nebula Cup ban, and the implied consequences that Hugh and Doolittle had promised if things didn't get handled delicately. "You both realize that Hakuoh Jogakuin has been banned from the Nebula Cup for FIVE YEARS! Do you even grasp what a disgrace that is? You're telling me that little ragamuffin shouldn't at least be scolded for what she's done?!"
Keiko stayed calm. "If you feel that's what has to happen, that's your call, Miss Holland. All that we're saying is, she's not going to be scolded alone. We will see to it that if there's blame to be had, it's going to be had equally. Lynn is a good girl. She never meant to hurt anyone or even mess up the race. If you're going to shove a guilt trip down her throat, it's going to be a trip for everyone involved, and it's gonna take the scenic route."
Miss Holland finally bowed her head and sighed heavily. "Fine. That's fine. And I know that she's a good girl. But know this: if she does anything like this again, I promise you…I guaran-damn-tee you, she will be expelled. And by the way, ladies, just how exactly do you propose to tell the yacht club that they're banned from competing for the next five years? We train our girls hard for that event, and they put their little hearts and souls into the simulations and the live flights. All three of our dinghies are wrecked! How will we even be able to compete when the ban is lifted?"
Keiko smiled over at Maddie, and then turned to the principal. "I have a feeling that once those two trouble makers graduate in the spring, the next president of the yacht club will find ways to occupy the club so that they don't even worry about the Nebula Cup; but I'm sure she'll train them hard for the day when the ban is lifted. As for the dinghies, Hugh and Doolittle is shipping out three new dinghies to the relay station, and they'll be delivered this week. You can scrap the old ones or use them for spare parts."
Miss Holland seemed puzzled. "And exactly who is this new club president you're speaking of?"
Maddie chuckled. "Why, the girl who was able to land a crippled dinghy from a thousand meters up! I canna imagine the yacht club electing anyone else…and she'll be a first year next semester, so she'll be eligible to run for club president!"
Holland scowled. "You're not going to rig the club election are you?"
Keiko laughed out loud. "Absolutely not! We have much bigger fish to fry than worrying about high school club elections! Jenny will be a great club president, and with Lynn at her side, the yacht club will be unstoppable when the ban gets lifted. Have some faith, Miss Holland! Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got places to be, and if you'll excuse Lynn, it's almost time for home room."
Miss Holland wearily waved them away. Keiko and Maddie stepped into the corridor, as Lynn looked up anxiously. Jenny had also heard the announcement summoning Lynn, and had stopped by and waited with her. "You girls are going to be late for home room if you don't hurry," Keiko chided. Lynn wrapped her arms around Keiko. "I don't know what you did or said," she said in a muffled voice, "but thank you…" She turned to Maddie, tears pouring down her face. "Thank you both…and thanks to whomever it was that sent you.." Maddie ran her fingers through Lynn's tresses, and hugged her tightly. "T'was a pleasure, lassie. By the way, Jenny, your father said that it was high time for you to have a room-mate, so we've made arrangements to have Lynn's things moved to your bungalow…unless you had someone else in mind…" Jenny grinned, tears welling up in her eyes, as she put an arm around Lynn's shoulders. "There's no one else in this galaxy I would choose!" Keiko gently kissed each on the forehead, as did Maddie, and they waved their goodbyes as the girls headed blissfully off to class.
As Keiko and Maddie waited for a city transport to the spaceport, Keiko brooded. "This isn't going to sit well, you know." Maddie nodded somberly. "Aye, lassie, the haggis is in the fire for sure. But I wouldn't have it any other way…even a charred haggis is still edible…" Keiko made a fake gag with her index finger. "Ick..Haggis…you didn't actually make Kane and Shane eat that, did you?" Maddie nodded vigorously. "Of course! Ye canna be a sailor if ye canna stomach haggis! And those boys are gonna be the best sailors ever!" As she was finishing her sentence, the transport pulled up. Keiko stepped in after her, managing her best Scottish accent. "Aye, General, that they'll be!"