"They got caught again."
"Of course they did. The AI knows exactly what's going on in her ship at all times. Gotta have a place to go straight to." I thought about it for a moment. "Or an Andromedan. Chara's not up yet, is he?"
Caine shook her head. "Nope."
"They're screwed for now. Did you get the updated Nav. info before they interfered?"
Caine nodded. "We're now 65 light years from home. I figured out the planet we're headed to and got its profile."
"Sixty-five light years away and we have a profile?" I glided off the slid-in bed and looked over her shoulder. "Admaru. Looks like a very high-tech world."
"Higher than ours." Caine agreed. "They've reached about twelve on the scale, compared to our nine. The dominant race looks like a bunch of hairy mongrens on two feet and their favored animal seems to be a sub-species of redwe."
I had to agree, sort of. Mongrens were ugly lizard creatures that were on the Mercurian's home world and often used for food. Now, I personally would never eat a lizard unless my life depended on it. Redwe were a furry dog-like animal on the Saturnian world. I think they were used for coats and leather and tribal possessions. Both species were killed off in the war that drove our ancestors from their home system.
There was a note written in a form of Basic I was not entirely familiar with. "Does that say three down, two to go?"
"Looks like it. That dialect is more common in Bases rather then planet side-what's this?"
"What's what?"
"'Meeting for all personal of the ship at 16:00, and that includes nosy little alien-cubs, in the Conference Room for a reschedule due to unforeseen events.'"
"We've been upped to personal?" I asked. Better that than prisoners!
"No, I think we're now cubs. What's a cub?"
I shrugged. "Must be some alien term. What time is it now?"
"14:40; we have some time to spare."
"Good. Let's try to hack some more before we get guilted out of it." Who said my priorities were out of order? Caine shook her head, but went back to typing.
Over the past three days, I learned that she was much better at the computer thing than I was. She was part of the Defense Council of Mercury Colony 1a23d as an apprentice computer guard-person. Personally, I thought the job sounded even more boring than long lectures on physics, but what did I know? It was certainly helping us now.
How was I helping? I was being prophetic. Not that anyone paid me any attention; after I told them all I knew of the ship (not much), I was ignored. Caine was sweet enough, and I didn't need to worry about any backstabbing from her, as I had to do around some of my friends at home.
Home...I needed a new train of thought. What was this meeting to be about? Apologies, considering they locked us up? I didn't think so. Finally informing us on how we've traveled almost more then our allotted lifetimes in mere hours? Nope, probably not that either.
I got lost in my trains of thought as Caine typed. 16:00 grew nearer faster and faster without either of us realizing it until one of the weird `droids walked in. I jumped on my fast return to my head, while Caine just nodded and put away the compupad.
We followed the `droid, which I had always mentally categorized as female. I mean, she had breasts! What use were they on a machine? It was just another of the mysteries of the Christa. We didn't use the jumptubes, to both our disappointments. They looked awfully fun.
We were lead to a large square room with a huge gray table in the center. It was an oval and surrounded by comfortable-looking gold and silver chairs. A group of adults were already seated, as were the boys.
Radu the meanie Andromedan was near the farther end, conversing with a Mercurian woman. On the other side was a Saturnian, though she had the oddest haircut. It was a high braid that twisted every which way with nearly no visible rhythm. It had to have some rhythm to it though; it was a cool look. Each of them was in the gray-pants-and-gross-yellow-shirt outfit I was wearing when I woke up. Well, they weren't wearing the yellow shirt, so it didn't look so bad anymore. Wouldn't give it up for my more...creative outfit I designed myself. I had a lot of designs stored in the main computer now.
Caine was looking decidedly cautious as we sat down. I didn't focus much on that; I was trying to capture a little memory of something that was fluttering right in front of me. It seemed very important and obvious, but still it eluded me. I did not appreciate that much.
"Welcome to the Christa." The Saturnian said, smiling. I nodded distractedly; Rigel and Baraki both had the same face as Caine. Chara looked somewhat normal, as he was the only one to really reply to the Saturnian's greeting.
This was important. Why?
"My name is Catalina-" Baraki gasped, interrupting her, as it finally clicked.
Catalina and Radu, the Christa. Father. I was on the Christa, the same one my Father was on for about ten years after he stole it away from the Academy and disappeared through a white hole. I raged at myself while I stared at the smooth tabletop. This should've became clear the second I heard Christa. I didn't write a ten-page report on the whole incident for nothing, or did I?
But then where was Father? I looked up again. Chara still looked rather lost, but I managed to recall that Andromedans don't know their parents anyway, so this didn't affect him as much. I looked at Caine and realized she knew it as soon as she heard Christa. No wonder she looked so cold, for a Mercurian, when we walked first walked in. It sure made me feel stupid and slow.
She looked friendlier now, chatting seriously with ...erm, Rosie. Baraki and Catalina were arguing over something. I managed to catch the words `khirnari' and `Vysucha' before tuning out. I hated family squabbles. The rest (rest being Rigel, Chara, Radu, and me) of us were sort of quiet. Radu was being patient, I realized after a moment, and letting the more family-oriented races get accustomed to being with each other again. Chara was watching them intently, like it was a lesson to be learned. Rigel was staring at the wall, as if he half-expected his father to jump out and scare the life out of him.
And what was I doing? Getting impatient. I turned to Radu and tried to ignore everyone else in the background. "So, while they're getting reacquainted, what's up? What's with this sudden change of heart?"
"Those two told me it was inhumane to keep you locked up." Radu replied. "It took us this long to figure out how to break it to you guys what was happening."
"And what is happening?" I pressed.
"War." Radu said flatly. Rigel and Chara were both paying strict attention to what Radu was saying now. "The Formori have a new ally, Apepnu, and he has his eyes set on the United Planets. We need to head back and, hopefully, head off the larger wave of warriors they're sending."
"Formori?" Rigel looked thoughtful. "Isn't that what the meeting with the Lumanians was about?"
Radu nodded. "They were able to get there much faster than we were. In fact, we still need to pick up two more people."
"Just two?" What about Suzee, or Elmira? That is, if I assumed wrong and we weren't picking up Harlan and Father. A ship that flies lightyears in seconds shouldn't have a problem with dimensional barriers.
"Yes, just two." Radu glanced at the still conversing/arguing family members. He sighed and turned to Rigel. "We're picking up your father next, even though we have yet to reach him, Ryanen."
Ryanen? I sneaked a glance at Rigel. He looked scowly, but didn't correct Radu. How interesting. Makes more sense than naming a human kid Rigel.
"After that, we're headed to Tel-Adjari to pick up Bova." Radu said, this time directed at me.
Hm. That may give me enough time to get used to the fact that I was probably going to see Father. If we decided to take the scenic and slow route, that is. I think both Rigel and I had the same look on our face, a `you better be kidding me' look.
Then again, we were already looking at three living legends and sitting inside a fourth. I glanced over at Baraki and Catalina. They had finally ceased fighting and now just looked sullen. Rosie and Caine looked slightly uncomfortable talking to them.
"You explained to them?" Rosie asked. I liked her voice; it reminded me of sweet and thick honey.
"Enough."
Telling moods had always been a specialty of mine, but I don't know how accurate it would be with aliens. Radu seemed a bit short and annoyed with the Mercurian. Maybe it was an Andromedan thing. Or it was a Mercurian thing. That was worth some studying into.
Catalina rolled her eyes. "Fine, be like that." She seemed pissed too. What was with these people? Inner politics? "Harlan's at Admaru, of course, but he has yet to respond to any of us. We're going to have to search for him and we're going to need everyone here to do it."
"Why?"
"Everyone has a specific ability, even the five of you." Rosie explained patiently. "You just have yet to discover yours."
"How do you know?" Yes, I'm nosy. So shot me.
"You got into the Umbra, didn't you?" Rosie nodded as if that settled it. "After a bit of training, we'll see where your inclination leads."
"How?"
"'Ris was right. You are nosy." Catalina said approvingly.
"On the computers? No, that was Caine. She's on the fast line to hacker-dom." Caine rolled her eyes tolerantly.
"But you were the one that sneaked out so many times, ending up finding me." Radu said. I shrugged.
"I stopped. Anyway, what's Admaru like?" Changing the subject was always good.
"Dark, blue, and flashing. It's like the ultimate techno-idiot's tree house." Catalina explained. "Also humid. Unpleasant."
"To those who love the stars." Radu said, smiling. Apparently, he got over his pissy-fit. "Especially close ones."
"What's wrong with that?" Rosie asked.
"Nothing at all. It was just a point. Now, when are we going to start training the cubs? And, more importantly, who is going to train them?"
"All of us." Catalina said firmly. "I'll take Ryanen and Chara."
"I'll take Baraki and Caine." Rosie said after a brief pause.
Radu looked at me with a sort of apologetic look on his face. "I guess you're stuck with me."
Joy.
"Of course they did. The AI knows exactly what's going on in her ship at all times. Gotta have a place to go straight to." I thought about it for a moment. "Or an Andromedan. Chara's not up yet, is he?"
Caine shook her head. "Nope."
"They're screwed for now. Did you get the updated Nav. info before they interfered?"
Caine nodded. "We're now 65 light years from home. I figured out the planet we're headed to and got its profile."
"Sixty-five light years away and we have a profile?" I glided off the slid-in bed and looked over her shoulder. "Admaru. Looks like a very high-tech world."
"Higher than ours." Caine agreed. "They've reached about twelve on the scale, compared to our nine. The dominant race looks like a bunch of hairy mongrens on two feet and their favored animal seems to be a sub-species of redwe."
I had to agree, sort of. Mongrens were ugly lizard creatures that were on the Mercurian's home world and often used for food. Now, I personally would never eat a lizard unless my life depended on it. Redwe were a furry dog-like animal on the Saturnian world. I think they were used for coats and leather and tribal possessions. Both species were killed off in the war that drove our ancestors from their home system.
There was a note written in a form of Basic I was not entirely familiar with. "Does that say three down, two to go?"
"Looks like it. That dialect is more common in Bases rather then planet side-what's this?"
"What's what?"
"'Meeting for all personal of the ship at 16:00, and that includes nosy little alien-cubs, in the Conference Room for a reschedule due to unforeseen events.'"
"We've been upped to personal?" I asked. Better that than prisoners!
"No, I think we're now cubs. What's a cub?"
I shrugged. "Must be some alien term. What time is it now?"
"14:40; we have some time to spare."
"Good. Let's try to hack some more before we get guilted out of it." Who said my priorities were out of order? Caine shook her head, but went back to typing.
Over the past three days, I learned that she was much better at the computer thing than I was. She was part of the Defense Council of Mercury Colony 1a23d as an apprentice computer guard-person. Personally, I thought the job sounded even more boring than long lectures on physics, but what did I know? It was certainly helping us now.
How was I helping? I was being prophetic. Not that anyone paid me any attention; after I told them all I knew of the ship (not much), I was ignored. Caine was sweet enough, and I didn't need to worry about any backstabbing from her, as I had to do around some of my friends at home.
Home...I needed a new train of thought. What was this meeting to be about? Apologies, considering they locked us up? I didn't think so. Finally informing us on how we've traveled almost more then our allotted lifetimes in mere hours? Nope, probably not that either.
I got lost in my trains of thought as Caine typed. 16:00 grew nearer faster and faster without either of us realizing it until one of the weird `droids walked in. I jumped on my fast return to my head, while Caine just nodded and put away the compupad.
We followed the `droid, which I had always mentally categorized as female. I mean, she had breasts! What use were they on a machine? It was just another of the mysteries of the Christa. We didn't use the jumptubes, to both our disappointments. They looked awfully fun.
We were lead to a large square room with a huge gray table in the center. It was an oval and surrounded by comfortable-looking gold and silver chairs. A group of adults were already seated, as were the boys.
Radu the meanie Andromedan was near the farther end, conversing with a Mercurian woman. On the other side was a Saturnian, though she had the oddest haircut. It was a high braid that twisted every which way with nearly no visible rhythm. It had to have some rhythm to it though; it was a cool look. Each of them was in the gray-pants-and-gross-yellow-shirt outfit I was wearing when I woke up. Well, they weren't wearing the yellow shirt, so it didn't look so bad anymore. Wouldn't give it up for my more...creative outfit I designed myself. I had a lot of designs stored in the main computer now.
Caine was looking decidedly cautious as we sat down. I didn't focus much on that; I was trying to capture a little memory of something that was fluttering right in front of me. It seemed very important and obvious, but still it eluded me. I did not appreciate that much.
"Welcome to the Christa." The Saturnian said, smiling. I nodded distractedly; Rigel and Baraki both had the same face as Caine. Chara looked somewhat normal, as he was the only one to really reply to the Saturnian's greeting.
This was important. Why?
"My name is Catalina-" Baraki gasped, interrupting her, as it finally clicked.
Catalina and Radu, the Christa. Father. I was on the Christa, the same one my Father was on for about ten years after he stole it away from the Academy and disappeared through a white hole. I raged at myself while I stared at the smooth tabletop. This should've became clear the second I heard Christa. I didn't write a ten-page report on the whole incident for nothing, or did I?
But then where was Father? I looked up again. Chara still looked rather lost, but I managed to recall that Andromedans don't know their parents anyway, so this didn't affect him as much. I looked at Caine and realized she knew it as soon as she heard Christa. No wonder she looked so cold, for a Mercurian, when we walked first walked in. It sure made me feel stupid and slow.
She looked friendlier now, chatting seriously with ...erm, Rosie. Baraki and Catalina were arguing over something. I managed to catch the words `khirnari' and `Vysucha' before tuning out. I hated family squabbles. The rest (rest being Rigel, Chara, Radu, and me) of us were sort of quiet. Radu was being patient, I realized after a moment, and letting the more family-oriented races get accustomed to being with each other again. Chara was watching them intently, like it was a lesson to be learned. Rigel was staring at the wall, as if he half-expected his father to jump out and scare the life out of him.
And what was I doing? Getting impatient. I turned to Radu and tried to ignore everyone else in the background. "So, while they're getting reacquainted, what's up? What's with this sudden change of heart?"
"Those two told me it was inhumane to keep you locked up." Radu replied. "It took us this long to figure out how to break it to you guys what was happening."
"And what is happening?" I pressed.
"War." Radu said flatly. Rigel and Chara were both paying strict attention to what Radu was saying now. "The Formori have a new ally, Apepnu, and he has his eyes set on the United Planets. We need to head back and, hopefully, head off the larger wave of warriors they're sending."
"Formori?" Rigel looked thoughtful. "Isn't that what the meeting with the Lumanians was about?"
Radu nodded. "They were able to get there much faster than we were. In fact, we still need to pick up two more people."
"Just two?" What about Suzee, or Elmira? That is, if I assumed wrong and we weren't picking up Harlan and Father. A ship that flies lightyears in seconds shouldn't have a problem with dimensional barriers.
"Yes, just two." Radu glanced at the still conversing/arguing family members. He sighed and turned to Rigel. "We're picking up your father next, even though we have yet to reach him, Ryanen."
Ryanen? I sneaked a glance at Rigel. He looked scowly, but didn't correct Radu. How interesting. Makes more sense than naming a human kid Rigel.
"After that, we're headed to Tel-Adjari to pick up Bova." Radu said, this time directed at me.
Hm. That may give me enough time to get used to the fact that I was probably going to see Father. If we decided to take the scenic and slow route, that is. I think both Rigel and I had the same look on our face, a `you better be kidding me' look.
Then again, we were already looking at three living legends and sitting inside a fourth. I glanced over at Baraki and Catalina. They had finally ceased fighting and now just looked sullen. Rosie and Caine looked slightly uncomfortable talking to them.
"You explained to them?" Rosie asked. I liked her voice; it reminded me of sweet and thick honey.
"Enough."
Telling moods had always been a specialty of mine, but I don't know how accurate it would be with aliens. Radu seemed a bit short and annoyed with the Mercurian. Maybe it was an Andromedan thing. Or it was a Mercurian thing. That was worth some studying into.
Catalina rolled her eyes. "Fine, be like that." She seemed pissed too. What was with these people? Inner politics? "Harlan's at Admaru, of course, but he has yet to respond to any of us. We're going to have to search for him and we're going to need everyone here to do it."
"Why?"
"Everyone has a specific ability, even the five of you." Rosie explained patiently. "You just have yet to discover yours."
"How do you know?" Yes, I'm nosy. So shot me.
"You got into the Umbra, didn't you?" Rosie nodded as if that settled it. "After a bit of training, we'll see where your inclination leads."
"How?"
"'Ris was right. You are nosy." Catalina said approvingly.
"On the computers? No, that was Caine. She's on the fast line to hacker-dom." Caine rolled her eyes tolerantly.
"But you were the one that sneaked out so many times, ending up finding me." Radu said. I shrugged.
"I stopped. Anyway, what's Admaru like?" Changing the subject was always good.
"Dark, blue, and flashing. It's like the ultimate techno-idiot's tree house." Catalina explained. "Also humid. Unpleasant."
"To those who love the stars." Radu said, smiling. Apparently, he got over his pissy-fit. "Especially close ones."
"What's wrong with that?" Rosie asked.
"Nothing at all. It was just a point. Now, when are we going to start training the cubs? And, more importantly, who is going to train them?"
"All of us." Catalina said firmly. "I'll take Ryanen and Chara."
"I'll take Baraki and Caine." Rosie said after a brief pause.
Radu looked at me with a sort of apologetic look on his face. "I guess you're stuck with me."
Joy.