Dylan walked into the kitchen after awakening from a short nap. He was
surprised to see their host munching on what appeared to be a bagel.
Although it looked good, Dylan just wanted a warm cup of coffee.
"Dylan," John addressed the starship captain.
"John," Dylan replied politely.
"That coffee," the king indicated the brown liquid Dylan was pouring, "is decaf."
Dylan sighed and dumped the cup out in a nearby sink. He pulled chair up and sat. The stress was evident on his face.
"How's your friend?" John asked.
"He was awake for awhile but he fell asleep. Beka's with him."
"I'm glad he's okay."
"Yah, about that. How much do I owe you in medical fees?"
John smiled, "It was nothing."
"W-what?" Dylan was taken aback. At the least, he had expected to reimburse John.
"It's payment enough to be graced by the presence of such nice and honest people."
"Mr." Dylan trailed off when he realized that John had never told him his last name.
"Har, Ha, Hawkings." John lied.
"Mr. Hawkings, paying for my chief engineer's medical care is the least I can do especially after you've been so hospitable to us."
"Captain, I'm. Who, exactly, do you think I am?"
"A diplomat? Someone who inherited some cash?"
"Close," John answered solemnly, "but not exactly accurate. Dylan, you do know that this system is a sovereignty?"
Dylan nodded. He was more than a little confused.
John continued, "Well, I am the king of this system and my daughter has been telling me about your Commonwealth. She's very interested in it and I must say it intrigues me. As a matter of fact, I think I may want to join."
Dylan's eyes were wide and his mouth hung down. He had not been expecting that.
"Now I know it's somewhat of a democracy but I've actually been looking for an excuse.a reason, to change our form of government. I was thinking that it could be my last act as king. We have the fifth largest fleet in the known worlds and many different resources. We would be a good addition."
"Yes," Dylan replied, still a little shocked. "You would be an excellent addition."
John dug a pen out of his pocket and clicked it on, making his point very clear. Ali had been pushing him to do this and she'd finally given him good reason to.
"You know as well as I do that Luke, Harper, whatever his name is, is never going to accept his inherited role as king. I'm not fit to rule a whole system and unless you p.an on getting married and having another kid soon, I think this is your only option. It's the best thing for you, me and Harper."
"You could do it."
"Maybe, but I really don't want to. I want to be able to pursue my own interests and dreams like Harper's doing now."
The king blinked away the image of his teenage daughter and the conversation they had had earlier.
More like debate, John thought to himself. Regardless of what she may think, she'd make a very good queen.or a salesperson. I really hope she doesn't want to be the latter.
John didn't want to prevent Ali from being who she wanted to be. He didn't even have any idea what field she wanted to go into.
I'm a bad father, but that's going to change soon. This Commonwealth thing is looking better and better.
"Where do I sign?" he asked Dylan.
"Dylan," John addressed the starship captain.
"John," Dylan replied politely.
"That coffee," the king indicated the brown liquid Dylan was pouring, "is decaf."
Dylan sighed and dumped the cup out in a nearby sink. He pulled chair up and sat. The stress was evident on his face.
"How's your friend?" John asked.
"He was awake for awhile but he fell asleep. Beka's with him."
"I'm glad he's okay."
"Yah, about that. How much do I owe you in medical fees?"
John smiled, "It was nothing."
"W-what?" Dylan was taken aback. At the least, he had expected to reimburse John.
"It's payment enough to be graced by the presence of such nice and honest people."
"Mr." Dylan trailed off when he realized that John had never told him his last name.
"Har, Ha, Hawkings." John lied.
"Mr. Hawkings, paying for my chief engineer's medical care is the least I can do especially after you've been so hospitable to us."
"Captain, I'm. Who, exactly, do you think I am?"
"A diplomat? Someone who inherited some cash?"
"Close," John answered solemnly, "but not exactly accurate. Dylan, you do know that this system is a sovereignty?"
Dylan nodded. He was more than a little confused.
John continued, "Well, I am the king of this system and my daughter has been telling me about your Commonwealth. She's very interested in it and I must say it intrigues me. As a matter of fact, I think I may want to join."
Dylan's eyes were wide and his mouth hung down. He had not been expecting that.
"Now I know it's somewhat of a democracy but I've actually been looking for an excuse.a reason, to change our form of government. I was thinking that it could be my last act as king. We have the fifth largest fleet in the known worlds and many different resources. We would be a good addition."
"Yes," Dylan replied, still a little shocked. "You would be an excellent addition."
John dug a pen out of his pocket and clicked it on, making his point very clear. Ali had been pushing him to do this and she'd finally given him good reason to.
"You know as well as I do that Luke, Harper, whatever his name is, is never going to accept his inherited role as king. I'm not fit to rule a whole system and unless you p.an on getting married and having another kid soon, I think this is your only option. It's the best thing for you, me and Harper."
"You could do it."
"Maybe, but I really don't want to. I want to be able to pursue my own interests and dreams like Harper's doing now."
The king blinked away the image of his teenage daughter and the conversation they had had earlier.
More like debate, John thought to himself. Regardless of what she may think, she'd make a very good queen.or a salesperson. I really hope she doesn't want to be the latter.
John didn't want to prevent Ali from being who she wanted to be. He didn't even have any idea what field she wanted to go into.
I'm a bad father, but that's going to change soon. This Commonwealth thing is looking better and better.
"Where do I sign?" he asked Dylan.