"This woman is insane!" The Maru's crew had gathered in Beka's cramped room and were staring aghast at a vid of a regal young woman reprimanding one of her bodyguards. "I think I'm gonna have /way/ too much fun with this."
Onscreen, a human woman with brown eyes and Cleopatra-style black hair screamed at a burly man in a dark uniform. "I could have been /killed/, you incompetent meathead, and you just /stood/ there and smiled at the crowd! Are you really that /brainless/ and /vapid/ and /dimwitted/?! Or… or are you in league with the rebels? Ha! I'll wager that's it! Captain! I want you to take this /useless/ heap of stinking /blubber/ piled on my /best/ silk rug and question him for /treason/!"
Beka paused the vid. "Wow. Useless heap of stinking blubber. This Aricia would make a great captain if her crew didn't mutiny within the first hour."
Trance, as always, tried to make the best of things. "Maybe… she was just cranky that day."
"That day?" Harper laughed and pointed to a stack of vids three feet high. "Try that /decade/. I don't think even you can save this one, Trance. She's royally certifiable. Hey, Tyr, if she's just some duchess, how come she's ruling this system like the lovechild of Hitler and Ivan the Not-so-Great?"
Tyr was carefully studying the enraged figure frozen on the small screen. "She isn't a duchess in the traditionally hierarchical sense of the word. It's a title bestowed upon their government's ruling authority." Now he looked over and smiled sardonically. 'The people of Merriam-Webster felt that the usual terms—king and queen—might go to a leader's head."
Beka choked on her juice. "Yeah, we wouldn't want that. I don't know, guys, do you really think I can pull it off? Oh, and remember, there's no right answer to that."
"Don't worry, Beka. If you put your mind to it, I know you can do it," Trance piped up.
Beka laughed. "Gee, Trance, if you were talking about anything other than convincingly portraying the part of a psychotic, raging bitch, I'd be flattered." She continued the vid, leaned back on her bed, and passed the popcorn to Harper as the Duchess Aricia went off on another maniacal harangue.
~~~~~~~~
"So /I/ get to be captain of the Maru??"
Beka rolled her eyes. "Only for a very, /very/ short while. Aricia's 'secretary'," she emphasized the last word with finger quotes, "me, and Tyr worked it out. I would've called you and Trance, but FTA guys were out in full force, looking for some big-shot thief they think stopped by here a few days ago. They tiptoe around Isolde Francon, but some zealous up-and-comer might've recognized you and especially Trance. They're usually too lazy around here to check every ship and every crew for every wanted criminal, but they called in some slightly more alert people to nab this guy.
"Anyway, we got everything planned out. Tyr will go down to the planet for two weeks before the extraction, you get to captain my ship, Trance bonds with the locals and gauges the rebels' power and support, and I get to be Her Royal Spoiled Brat."
"As we learned at the Marathon of the Medusa," Harper finished. "So… Tyr's gonna be gone, huh?"
Beka ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah. He's leaving at the end of next week, and we'll meet back up with him on the day of the operation. He has to get in with Aricia's bodyguards—only she and her secretary slash spy know what's going on."
"Are you… um, you know, you guys are…"
"We're fine." Awkward silences were rare between the two friends, but now one hung heavily in the air. "Uh, how's my ship? Did you get everything you need, or do I need to flout my diplomatic prowess again?"
Harper looked up and shook his head. "Oh no, we're good. The parts dealers are only too happy to work for a favorite of ol' Cereal Bowl." He made a face. "I've sworn them to secrecy, Beka, but I wouldn't trust those guys as far as a Perseid could throw them."
Beka sighed deeply. "You're telling me the choice is between staying and being tracked by Jaguar Nietzscheans or leaving and running into the T'dalimar again?" Her smile was tight. "Great."
~~~~~~~~
"Laura? I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I have some important news of our employers I must share with you."
Trance turned and looked at Beka. Outwardly, the captain looked calm enough, but worry and irritation sparked from her. News of their employers? Supposedly the crew of the Valinor was working for Charlemagne Bolivar… so they'd heard something major about the Jaguars. And if it were good news, Beka would've waited until that evening to tell her while they ate together.
Dr. Leeter stepped forward, completely unaware of Beka's inward agitation. "Ms. Francon? May I say how delighted I am to meet you!"
Trance smiled at the doctor's enthusiasm. "Oh, I'm sorry—I didn't introduce you guys. Dr. Leeter, this is Isolde Francon, captain of the Valinor. Isolde, this is Dr. Leeter. He maintains this garden all by himself."
Beka nodded courteously. "It's most impressive, Doctor." Now that she saw it up close, it really was a beautiful place. "I hope you're very proud of yourself for creating such a lovely haven." This haute speech was difficult to sustain for very long, and Beka had to concentrate not slip into her usual mode of discourse.
"Thank you, Ms. Francon, thank you. I know you have pressing business, but I must comment on the names of you and your companion, Tristan d'Anconia."
"Our names, Doctor?" Beka carefully kept a note of anxiety from creeping into her voice.
"Yes, the story of Tristan and Isolde." At her polite but confused expression, the Perseid continued. "Are you not aware, then? Hmm, perhaps it is merely a coincidence after all, or perhaps I am mistaken."
"Perhaps." Beka doubted that the Perseid was indeed mistaken. "I'm sorry—Laura, can you spare a few minutes?"
"Sure! Bye, Dr. Leeter—say hi to the remuls for me!"
Once they had left the water garden, Beka asked Trance about the remuls. "They're these cute little lizards. One has bright orange spots, and the other is dark red. Dr. Leeter was having a little trouble with them, but I think they'll be okay."
Beka turned and looked closely at her crewmate. "I'm really glad that you've made a friend here, Laura. It must be nice to find someone you can connect with who really appreciates your gift with plants and animals."
Trance smiled up at the blonde woman. "It is fun helping Dr. Leeter, but I'm part of your crew, Isolde. I know that you appreciate me for all of me."
Beka put an arm around the girl and grinned. "Damn straight."
~~~~~~~~
"So that's our situation, kids. I vote we leave and begin rehearsing the mission, but at this point, I'm open to anything."
Harper shook his head. "The old stuck-between-a-rock-and-bunch-of-secretive-extra-creepy-mercenaries. I don't know, boss. Maybe if we stay in the system, our old friends will keep away, and our new friends won't find us. It sucks as a plan, but what else can we do?"
Beka nodded grimly. "Yeah—Laura?"
The purple girl looked around uncomfortably. "I don't know, Isolde. I mean, I really don't know. I'm sorry."
With a small smile, Beka rubbed Trance's shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Laura. Sometimes you just gotta fly by the seat of your pants. Luckily for you guys, that was my best subject in school. Tristan?"
"There's no /good/ course of action available to us." In an uncharacteristic public display of affection, Tyr stroked Beka's hair tenderly. "But I have complete confidence in your judgment and abilities. If you say we leave, we leave."
A flush rose into Beka's cheeks, but the kissy noises from Harper prevented her from getting all googly-eyed and dreamy. She whapped him but couldn't help laughing a little. "So we're agreed? All right. We'll leave tomorrow, after we bid our adieus. We stay in the system—it's mostly abandoned outside of El D, but after their little run-in with FTA security, let's cross our fingers that they won't venture near 'em again anytime soon,." Beka stifled a yawn. "And that's that. Now let's order!" She grinned. "Might as well get something good, cos the bill's on Charley's tab."
Onscreen, a human woman with brown eyes and Cleopatra-style black hair screamed at a burly man in a dark uniform. "I could have been /killed/, you incompetent meathead, and you just /stood/ there and smiled at the crowd! Are you really that /brainless/ and /vapid/ and /dimwitted/?! Or… or are you in league with the rebels? Ha! I'll wager that's it! Captain! I want you to take this /useless/ heap of stinking /blubber/ piled on my /best/ silk rug and question him for /treason/!"
Beka paused the vid. "Wow. Useless heap of stinking blubber. This Aricia would make a great captain if her crew didn't mutiny within the first hour."
Trance, as always, tried to make the best of things. "Maybe… she was just cranky that day."
"That day?" Harper laughed and pointed to a stack of vids three feet high. "Try that /decade/. I don't think even you can save this one, Trance. She's royally certifiable. Hey, Tyr, if she's just some duchess, how come she's ruling this system like the lovechild of Hitler and Ivan the Not-so-Great?"
Tyr was carefully studying the enraged figure frozen on the small screen. "She isn't a duchess in the traditionally hierarchical sense of the word. It's a title bestowed upon their government's ruling authority." Now he looked over and smiled sardonically. 'The people of Merriam-Webster felt that the usual terms—king and queen—might go to a leader's head."
Beka choked on her juice. "Yeah, we wouldn't want that. I don't know, guys, do you really think I can pull it off? Oh, and remember, there's no right answer to that."
"Don't worry, Beka. If you put your mind to it, I know you can do it," Trance piped up.
Beka laughed. "Gee, Trance, if you were talking about anything other than convincingly portraying the part of a psychotic, raging bitch, I'd be flattered." She continued the vid, leaned back on her bed, and passed the popcorn to Harper as the Duchess Aricia went off on another maniacal harangue.
~~~~~~~~
"So /I/ get to be captain of the Maru??"
Beka rolled her eyes. "Only for a very, /very/ short while. Aricia's 'secretary'," she emphasized the last word with finger quotes, "me, and Tyr worked it out. I would've called you and Trance, but FTA guys were out in full force, looking for some big-shot thief they think stopped by here a few days ago. They tiptoe around Isolde Francon, but some zealous up-and-comer might've recognized you and especially Trance. They're usually too lazy around here to check every ship and every crew for every wanted criminal, but they called in some slightly more alert people to nab this guy.
"Anyway, we got everything planned out. Tyr will go down to the planet for two weeks before the extraction, you get to captain my ship, Trance bonds with the locals and gauges the rebels' power and support, and I get to be Her Royal Spoiled Brat."
"As we learned at the Marathon of the Medusa," Harper finished. "So… Tyr's gonna be gone, huh?"
Beka ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah. He's leaving at the end of next week, and we'll meet back up with him on the day of the operation. He has to get in with Aricia's bodyguards—only she and her secretary slash spy know what's going on."
"Are you… um, you know, you guys are…"
"We're fine." Awkward silences were rare between the two friends, but now one hung heavily in the air. "Uh, how's my ship? Did you get everything you need, or do I need to flout my diplomatic prowess again?"
Harper looked up and shook his head. "Oh no, we're good. The parts dealers are only too happy to work for a favorite of ol' Cereal Bowl." He made a face. "I've sworn them to secrecy, Beka, but I wouldn't trust those guys as far as a Perseid could throw them."
Beka sighed deeply. "You're telling me the choice is between staying and being tracked by Jaguar Nietzscheans or leaving and running into the T'dalimar again?" Her smile was tight. "Great."
~~~~~~~~
"Laura? I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I have some important news of our employers I must share with you."
Trance turned and looked at Beka. Outwardly, the captain looked calm enough, but worry and irritation sparked from her. News of their employers? Supposedly the crew of the Valinor was working for Charlemagne Bolivar… so they'd heard something major about the Jaguars. And if it were good news, Beka would've waited until that evening to tell her while they ate together.
Dr. Leeter stepped forward, completely unaware of Beka's inward agitation. "Ms. Francon? May I say how delighted I am to meet you!"
Trance smiled at the doctor's enthusiasm. "Oh, I'm sorry—I didn't introduce you guys. Dr. Leeter, this is Isolde Francon, captain of the Valinor. Isolde, this is Dr. Leeter. He maintains this garden all by himself."
Beka nodded courteously. "It's most impressive, Doctor." Now that she saw it up close, it really was a beautiful place. "I hope you're very proud of yourself for creating such a lovely haven." This haute speech was difficult to sustain for very long, and Beka had to concentrate not slip into her usual mode of discourse.
"Thank you, Ms. Francon, thank you. I know you have pressing business, but I must comment on the names of you and your companion, Tristan d'Anconia."
"Our names, Doctor?" Beka carefully kept a note of anxiety from creeping into her voice.
"Yes, the story of Tristan and Isolde." At her polite but confused expression, the Perseid continued. "Are you not aware, then? Hmm, perhaps it is merely a coincidence after all, or perhaps I am mistaken."
"Perhaps." Beka doubted that the Perseid was indeed mistaken. "I'm sorry—Laura, can you spare a few minutes?"
"Sure! Bye, Dr. Leeter—say hi to the remuls for me!"
Once they had left the water garden, Beka asked Trance about the remuls. "They're these cute little lizards. One has bright orange spots, and the other is dark red. Dr. Leeter was having a little trouble with them, but I think they'll be okay."
Beka turned and looked closely at her crewmate. "I'm really glad that you've made a friend here, Laura. It must be nice to find someone you can connect with who really appreciates your gift with plants and animals."
Trance smiled up at the blonde woman. "It is fun helping Dr. Leeter, but I'm part of your crew, Isolde. I know that you appreciate me for all of me."
Beka put an arm around the girl and grinned. "Damn straight."
~~~~~~~~
"So that's our situation, kids. I vote we leave and begin rehearsing the mission, but at this point, I'm open to anything."
Harper shook his head. "The old stuck-between-a-rock-and-bunch-of-secretive-extra-creepy-mercenaries. I don't know, boss. Maybe if we stay in the system, our old friends will keep away, and our new friends won't find us. It sucks as a plan, but what else can we do?"
Beka nodded grimly. "Yeah—Laura?"
The purple girl looked around uncomfortably. "I don't know, Isolde. I mean, I really don't know. I'm sorry."
With a small smile, Beka rubbed Trance's shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Laura. Sometimes you just gotta fly by the seat of your pants. Luckily for you guys, that was my best subject in school. Tristan?"
"There's no /good/ course of action available to us." In an uncharacteristic public display of affection, Tyr stroked Beka's hair tenderly. "But I have complete confidence in your judgment and abilities. If you say we leave, we leave."
A flush rose into Beka's cheeks, but the kissy noises from Harper prevented her from getting all googly-eyed and dreamy. She whapped him but couldn't help laughing a little. "So we're agreed? All right. We'll leave tomorrow, after we bid our adieus. We stay in the system—it's mostly abandoned outside of El D, but after their little run-in with FTA security, let's cross our fingers that they won't venture near 'em again anytime soon,." Beka stifled a yawn. "And that's that. Now let's order!" She grinned. "Might as well get something good, cos the bill's on Charley's tab."