On the independent Side Six colony called Libot, Dr.Sayla Mass was gazing
at herself in a mirror. Her green, black, and gold officer's tunic bore
officer's tabs and the gold caduceus pin of the Medical Corps. She wasn't
on duty though, as evidenced by her jeans and sneakers. Kai Shiden walked
into the room.
"Trying that thing on again?"
Sayla undid her belt and unzipped the tunic. She hung it up neatly and put on a civilian shirt. "I'm a lieutenant in the Jion armed forces. I'm still trying to absorb it."
"Are you going to tell the others?"
"No. I've thought about it, but I think I'm just going to say I'm assigned to a military hospital and leave it at that. Not all doctors at First Veterans are military themselves."
"Tell the truth, that the military doctors, specifically the ones who took care of your brother, are the best you've ever seen and you wanted to work directly with them."
"I'd rather avoid that for now. Bright, Mirai, and the others aren't going to be easy to face just with us having deserted on them."
Kai crossed his arms defensively. "Look, we've got a damn good excuse, Sayla. You got arrested after a year of solid heroism and I was supposed to just smile nice and serve the guys who did it. I'm not sorry, and if I lose friends over that, I'll deal. You should too."
Sayla walked up to Kai and put her arms around him. They hugged for a moment before Kai said, "C'mon, we can't put this off any more."
"I never dreamed I'd be afraid to face my friends," Sayla confessed as they left their hotel room.
The White Base crew, including the three children and Wolf the dog, had assembled in a wooded park. Conversation came to a halt as Kai and Sayla arrived.
"Hi," she said, nervously.
Bright stood with his hand on Mirai's shoulder. Hayato paused over the barbecue. Even the children were still.
Finally, Sayla said, "We're sorry. We did what we felt we had to do. That decision has put us in exile, and we miss you all."
Frau came over to them. "You know Amuro's dead, right?"
"We were watching it on tv when it happened," Kai said. "Neither of us was involved. Except for when we fled Side 7, we never took up arms against the Earth Federation."
"That was a pilot named Anavel Gato," Sayla continued. "We suggested this weekend to meet with all of you because he's getting married on Side 3 today and we didn't want to be around."
The atmosphere relaxed a little. Frau came over and gave them cautious hugs.
Mirai joined them. "So how are you lovebirds? Sayla, congratulations on finally getting your M.D. Is Kai freeloading off you?"
"I'll have you know that I've pulled in a sizable advance on a book about the One Year War," he told her, accepting a beer from Katsu. "While she's off at the hospital saving lives and getting all the glory, I'm at home slaving away over a hot keyboard so that the truth will be known." He took a swallow of beer. "I imagine the Jion and Federation editions will be different, so I'll make sure you all get contraband copies."
At first, Sayla was afraid he might just have stuck his foot in it, but there was a little bit of laughter. Sayla looked down at Mirai. "So what's happening here? What are you, about seven months along?"
Mirai smiled and put her hands on her belly. "Six and a half. It's a boy; we're going to name him Hathaway."
Bright came over to hug Sayla and shake hands with Kai. "So what's this I hear about you and Mirai being parents?" Kai asked. "Every guy I know wanted to do nothing but sleep after the war, and here you are, running out for pickles and ice cream at 2 a.m."
"We decided we didn't want to wait any longer. Life is too uncertain. So Kai, are you planning on making Sayla an honest woman?"
"Ask her. She's the one bringing home the doctor's salary, let her buy me a ring."
Sayla wrapped an arm around Kai's waist. "We're pretty happy just the way we are. Besides, this way if I get tired of him, all I have to do is kick him to the curb. It keeps him in line."
The laughter became less nervous, the smiles more genuine. Hayato put the burgers on the grill and Kai played with the children. Sayla listened attentively to Mirai's list of symptoms. Being an expectant father had melted away much of Bright's reserve; he couldn't keep his hands off his wife. Frau watched them all pensively, thinking about their lost friends. Still, with a second generation of their community--their family--on the way, it was easier to look to the future, even though the memories would be forever treasured.
#####
Kishiria sat in a side pew of the church, aware of the congregation's eyes on her. She ignored them, hoping only that her presence wouldn't steal attention away from the stars of this production. Kishiria felt stare- worthy, though. Being ruler was a heck of a lot easier than being a wartime general in terms of hours and stress. She was getting enough sleep, eating right and exercising every day to the point that Kai Shiden had a hard time peeling his eyes off her when he and Sayla visited. Today, Kishiria was dressed in a slim-line lavender suit, the skirt cut well above the knee, one of the diamond tiaras she always wore on formal occasions tucked neatly into her long red tresses.
In front of the altar, Anavel Gato looked utterly terrified, as did most men in the minutes before their wedding. Even so, it was no secret that he and Iserina (who couldn't wait to shed the last name "Estenbach") were mad about each other. Love gave them a distinct advantage over Kishiria and Char at the beginning of their marriage. Nonetheless, it seemed to have worked out all right. Almost two years after their bare-bones wedding, the Deykun-Zabis were quite comfortable being Jion's most recognizable family. Ti-Cas was a year old and already a media hound.
Char had transferred Gato to the teaching staff at the Academy. Iserina continued to work, although when her enlistment ran out she intended to enroll at the Academy as a cadet. As long as she didn't take any courses from Gato, Char didn't think it would be a problem.
The minister appeared, the wedding march started and Kishiria saw Gato gulp visibly. Escape while you can, doll, she thought to herself jokingly. Not that she really wanted him to run away. Life had too few happy endings as it was. Besides, he calmed right down as he saw Iserina coming down the aisle, her white dress and flowers contrasting against the crimson of Char's uniform. They'd had to rehearse quite hard for her to adjust her walk to his limping step. It paid off, and Kishiria amused herself slightly by imagining her as the girl-child she hoped to have eventually.
Char kissed Iserina on the cheek and passed her to Gato, who looked stunned. Char joined Kishiria at the side of the church, taking her hand in his own.
"Someday our own daughter," Char whispered to her, echoing her own thought. Kishiria nodded and smiled.
Char watched the wedding without paying much attention. His mind was elsewhere. I know you're at peace, Garma, he thought to himself. I've made sure your beloved is in the arms of a good man who'll take excellent care of her. Rest easier, my friend.
Kishiria found her mind wandering to the night before, when she'd visited Cima at her new house. The place still looked plain, since Cima was still in the process of choosing paint and wallpaper and having a marvelous time. They'd knocked back white wine and giggled like schoolgirls while Kosell hid from them in the basement, playing with power tools. Kishiria wasn't sure if she'd be attending the Garahau-Kosell nuptials anytime soon, but she fully counted on them sharing an address for many years.
Iserina and Anavel said vows and exchanged rings. He turned her veil back and kissed her when indicated. Kishiria took her hand from Char's sleeve and applauded.
The champagne chilling in the newlyweds' boudoir and the rose petals in their bed were paid for from Char's pocket. The reception was a gift from the Royal Family to Commander and Mrs.Gato, and was expensive and restrained. Despite the ample amounts of liquor served, the omnipresence of officers' uniforms served as a constant reminder to behave. Not that it was a mood-killer, quite the reverse. The combination of repression, booze, and dancing made for an atmosphere of "just wait till I get YOU home" which, if any New Type bothered to trace it, originated with the bride and groom.
Hours later, the Queen and Prince Consort stumbled tipsily into their own room, laughing. Kishiria pulled the crown from her head and put it in its velvet-lined box, leaving her hair touseled. She kicked off her shoes and left them on the floor. She felt happy and fuzzy from good wine and emotion. Watching a girl from Earth and a boy from the Sides get married was a very nice way to spend a post-war afternoon.
"I didn't know a New Type could get high off other peoples' joy," she said.
Char turned on the sound system to a jazz station and sat down to pull off his boots.
"They're a good couple," Kishiria went on. "I liked seeing them get married. The best of the kingdom, marching together into the future."
"You talk too much," Char complained, smiling. He rose from his chair and disappeared into his dressing room, emerging again with their own ice bucket and chilled champagne. He popped the cork and poured two glasses.
"I know we didn't have much of a wedding of our own," he said, "and you weren't drinking then anyway because you were pregnant. So I now confess, I only bought Anavel and Iserina the second best bottle of bubbly in the store." He handed a champagne flute to Kishiria. They clinked their glasses together. "To Her Majesty and His Highness."
"To Kish and Char," she corrected.
As they drained their glasses, a smoky, saxophone-heavy piece came through the speakers. They set down the glasses and Char took his wife in his arms. Kishiria rested her head on her husband's shoulder, and they began to dance.
-FIN-
"Trying that thing on again?"
Sayla undid her belt and unzipped the tunic. She hung it up neatly and put on a civilian shirt. "I'm a lieutenant in the Jion armed forces. I'm still trying to absorb it."
"Are you going to tell the others?"
"No. I've thought about it, but I think I'm just going to say I'm assigned to a military hospital and leave it at that. Not all doctors at First Veterans are military themselves."
"Tell the truth, that the military doctors, specifically the ones who took care of your brother, are the best you've ever seen and you wanted to work directly with them."
"I'd rather avoid that for now. Bright, Mirai, and the others aren't going to be easy to face just with us having deserted on them."
Kai crossed his arms defensively. "Look, we've got a damn good excuse, Sayla. You got arrested after a year of solid heroism and I was supposed to just smile nice and serve the guys who did it. I'm not sorry, and if I lose friends over that, I'll deal. You should too."
Sayla walked up to Kai and put her arms around him. They hugged for a moment before Kai said, "C'mon, we can't put this off any more."
"I never dreamed I'd be afraid to face my friends," Sayla confessed as they left their hotel room.
The White Base crew, including the three children and Wolf the dog, had assembled in a wooded park. Conversation came to a halt as Kai and Sayla arrived.
"Hi," she said, nervously.
Bright stood with his hand on Mirai's shoulder. Hayato paused over the barbecue. Even the children were still.
Finally, Sayla said, "We're sorry. We did what we felt we had to do. That decision has put us in exile, and we miss you all."
Frau came over to them. "You know Amuro's dead, right?"
"We were watching it on tv when it happened," Kai said. "Neither of us was involved. Except for when we fled Side 7, we never took up arms against the Earth Federation."
"That was a pilot named Anavel Gato," Sayla continued. "We suggested this weekend to meet with all of you because he's getting married on Side 3 today and we didn't want to be around."
The atmosphere relaxed a little. Frau came over and gave them cautious hugs.
Mirai joined them. "So how are you lovebirds? Sayla, congratulations on finally getting your M.D. Is Kai freeloading off you?"
"I'll have you know that I've pulled in a sizable advance on a book about the One Year War," he told her, accepting a beer from Katsu. "While she's off at the hospital saving lives and getting all the glory, I'm at home slaving away over a hot keyboard so that the truth will be known." He took a swallow of beer. "I imagine the Jion and Federation editions will be different, so I'll make sure you all get contraband copies."
At first, Sayla was afraid he might just have stuck his foot in it, but there was a little bit of laughter. Sayla looked down at Mirai. "So what's happening here? What are you, about seven months along?"
Mirai smiled and put her hands on her belly. "Six and a half. It's a boy; we're going to name him Hathaway."
Bright came over to hug Sayla and shake hands with Kai. "So what's this I hear about you and Mirai being parents?" Kai asked. "Every guy I know wanted to do nothing but sleep after the war, and here you are, running out for pickles and ice cream at 2 a.m."
"We decided we didn't want to wait any longer. Life is too uncertain. So Kai, are you planning on making Sayla an honest woman?"
"Ask her. She's the one bringing home the doctor's salary, let her buy me a ring."
Sayla wrapped an arm around Kai's waist. "We're pretty happy just the way we are. Besides, this way if I get tired of him, all I have to do is kick him to the curb. It keeps him in line."
The laughter became less nervous, the smiles more genuine. Hayato put the burgers on the grill and Kai played with the children. Sayla listened attentively to Mirai's list of symptoms. Being an expectant father had melted away much of Bright's reserve; he couldn't keep his hands off his wife. Frau watched them all pensively, thinking about their lost friends. Still, with a second generation of their community--their family--on the way, it was easier to look to the future, even though the memories would be forever treasured.
#####
Kishiria sat in a side pew of the church, aware of the congregation's eyes on her. She ignored them, hoping only that her presence wouldn't steal attention away from the stars of this production. Kishiria felt stare- worthy, though. Being ruler was a heck of a lot easier than being a wartime general in terms of hours and stress. She was getting enough sleep, eating right and exercising every day to the point that Kai Shiden had a hard time peeling his eyes off her when he and Sayla visited. Today, Kishiria was dressed in a slim-line lavender suit, the skirt cut well above the knee, one of the diamond tiaras she always wore on formal occasions tucked neatly into her long red tresses.
In front of the altar, Anavel Gato looked utterly terrified, as did most men in the minutes before their wedding. Even so, it was no secret that he and Iserina (who couldn't wait to shed the last name "Estenbach") were mad about each other. Love gave them a distinct advantage over Kishiria and Char at the beginning of their marriage. Nonetheless, it seemed to have worked out all right. Almost two years after their bare-bones wedding, the Deykun-Zabis were quite comfortable being Jion's most recognizable family. Ti-Cas was a year old and already a media hound.
Char had transferred Gato to the teaching staff at the Academy. Iserina continued to work, although when her enlistment ran out she intended to enroll at the Academy as a cadet. As long as she didn't take any courses from Gato, Char didn't think it would be a problem.
The minister appeared, the wedding march started and Kishiria saw Gato gulp visibly. Escape while you can, doll, she thought to herself jokingly. Not that she really wanted him to run away. Life had too few happy endings as it was. Besides, he calmed right down as he saw Iserina coming down the aisle, her white dress and flowers contrasting against the crimson of Char's uniform. They'd had to rehearse quite hard for her to adjust her walk to his limping step. It paid off, and Kishiria amused herself slightly by imagining her as the girl-child she hoped to have eventually.
Char kissed Iserina on the cheek and passed her to Gato, who looked stunned. Char joined Kishiria at the side of the church, taking her hand in his own.
"Someday our own daughter," Char whispered to her, echoing her own thought. Kishiria nodded and smiled.
Char watched the wedding without paying much attention. His mind was elsewhere. I know you're at peace, Garma, he thought to himself. I've made sure your beloved is in the arms of a good man who'll take excellent care of her. Rest easier, my friend.
Kishiria found her mind wandering to the night before, when she'd visited Cima at her new house. The place still looked plain, since Cima was still in the process of choosing paint and wallpaper and having a marvelous time. They'd knocked back white wine and giggled like schoolgirls while Kosell hid from them in the basement, playing with power tools. Kishiria wasn't sure if she'd be attending the Garahau-Kosell nuptials anytime soon, but she fully counted on them sharing an address for many years.
Iserina and Anavel said vows and exchanged rings. He turned her veil back and kissed her when indicated. Kishiria took her hand from Char's sleeve and applauded.
The champagne chilling in the newlyweds' boudoir and the rose petals in their bed were paid for from Char's pocket. The reception was a gift from the Royal Family to Commander and Mrs.Gato, and was expensive and restrained. Despite the ample amounts of liquor served, the omnipresence of officers' uniforms served as a constant reminder to behave. Not that it was a mood-killer, quite the reverse. The combination of repression, booze, and dancing made for an atmosphere of "just wait till I get YOU home" which, if any New Type bothered to trace it, originated with the bride and groom.
Hours later, the Queen and Prince Consort stumbled tipsily into their own room, laughing. Kishiria pulled the crown from her head and put it in its velvet-lined box, leaving her hair touseled. She kicked off her shoes and left them on the floor. She felt happy and fuzzy from good wine and emotion. Watching a girl from Earth and a boy from the Sides get married was a very nice way to spend a post-war afternoon.
"I didn't know a New Type could get high off other peoples' joy," she said.
Char turned on the sound system to a jazz station and sat down to pull off his boots.
"They're a good couple," Kishiria went on. "I liked seeing them get married. The best of the kingdom, marching together into the future."
"You talk too much," Char complained, smiling. He rose from his chair and disappeared into his dressing room, emerging again with their own ice bucket and chilled champagne. He popped the cork and poured two glasses.
"I know we didn't have much of a wedding of our own," he said, "and you weren't drinking then anyway because you were pregnant. So I now confess, I only bought Anavel and Iserina the second best bottle of bubbly in the store." He handed a champagne flute to Kishiria. They clinked their glasses together. "To Her Majesty and His Highness."
"To Kish and Char," she corrected.
As they drained their glasses, a smoky, saxophone-heavy piece came through the speakers. They set down the glasses and Char took his wife in his arms. Kishiria rested her head on her husband's shoulder, and they began to dance.
-FIN-