Chapter 17
Kerran scratched at the still healing scar on her arm. It would show, she hadn't been able to get proper medical attention at the time. It didn't really bother her except it itched. She sipped the drink in front of her. Her current stop was a large space port and she was taking the time to relax. The past eight months had been fairly busy. She had managed to get regular freighting runs, all legal. In between she had begun to do more smuggling.
She had found Del Grant on a small backward planet helping a resistance group, training the fighters. He felt he was getting too old for a more active part in the constant rebellion but this much he could still do and do well. He had hugged her tightly upon her return and they had sat up late into the night talking, more her talking, him listening. She had stayed there for a few weeks but knew this sedentary life wasn't for her and so left. But this stop had reinforced her resolve to support the rebellion against the Federation, a resolve that had never been overwhelming, and had wavered considerably under her personal quest. But now she was a courier and smuggler for the rebellion, wherever it may be. Only a few key leaders had her code signal, none knew her real name or real ship ID, so even if any of them were captured the chance of the Federation tracking those codes to her were remote. And she was very careful.
She took another sip and scratched again. Stupid thing, she thought. A moment of carelessness when carrying out repairs and this was the result. Serve her right. She reached the bottom of her glass and was contemplating whether to get another when a full glass was placed in front of her. She looked up in surprise.
Regin's smiling face greeted her. "You looked thirsty." he said, taking a seat and setting his glass down. "And you can take you hand off your gun now."
She almost blushed. She had automatically gone for her gun, just in case. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Orac told me you were here."
"Orac?"
"He picked up my transmission and replied. Said you were planning on staying a couple of days here. You've been busy lately.' He took a sip.
She raised her brows. "Keeping tabs on me?" she queried.
"Now and then." he admitted. "Could never pin you down before."
"Best to be that way." she said.
"Guess it is." They both drank in silence.
"What have you been doing?" she asked him
"This and that." he replied.
"More this, than that?" she asked.
He quirked an eyebrow. "About even. You?"
"Same." she answered. Silence descended again.
"Anyone would think this was a funeral." a cheery voice said to one side. Regin and Kerran both looked up, half turning in their chairs and both dropped hands to weapons.
They were confronted by the smiling visages of Veril, Zev and Calan.
"Peas in a pod." Zev said to Calan, indicating Kerran and Regin's mirrored actions, using the archaic expression.
"Very much so." Calan agreed.
Kerran's jaw dropped. "I don't believe this!" she exclaimed, and surged out of her seat as Veril laughed gaily and they hugged joyfully. "What are you all doing here?" Kerran demanded as she went on to hug Zev and Calan also. Regin had got to his feet by now and was shaking hands.
"We got bored." Zev said lightheartedly, snagging chairs from empty tables nearby so they could all sit. Calan motioned a waitress over and ordered drinks for them all before turning back to the conversation.
"Be serious." Kerran said, slapping his arm.
"Actually I was. In a way." he said, draping an arm over the back of Veril's chair. Kerran was pleased to see they were obviously still together. "We went back to Veril's home, and stayed there for a while. Really lovely place, almost completely unspoilt."
"But it was hard to settle down." Veril said now. "We both found we were restless after a bit so we left. We wandered around for a bit, that's when we ran into Calan."
"What's your story?" Kerran asked.
"Much the same." he said in his quiet way, smiling. "Went home, stayed for a while and came to the realisation that you can't ever go back to the way things were. Not after everything we had done. So I left. I picked up freighter duty for a while, to get further in to the star systems. Then Veril and Zev were picked up as passengers on one of the trips."
"Imagine our surprise to see Calan." Veril put in. "We couldn't believe it."
"So we started to look for you, see if you wanted a crew again."
"Course I do!" Kerran said enthusiastically.
"Orac was helpful." Zev said. "We'ld never have found you otherwise."
"Orac?" Kerran asked. "What's he been up to?"
"Said he picked up it was us looking for you and so told us where to meet."
"Orac's been very busy meddling. I think I might just have to have a word with him about that." Kerran said, scowling.
Calan looked questioning, and Regin explained. "He got me here, too."
"Ah." was Calan's reply. "But that's not a bad thing, is it?" Calan asked Kerran.
"Of course not!" Kerran replied firmly. "But he never said a thing to me that he had been in touch with any of you! He could have at least told me."
"What's it been like with Orac?" Veril asked with curiousity.
Kerran let out a deep sigh. "Exasperating! You have no idea!"
"We will soon enough." Zev said. "So we're all crewing again?"
"If you're up to it." Kerran said.
"Got a berth for one more?" came Regin's startling words.
"What of your ship?" Kerran queried surprised.
"Almost totalled. It was a rust bucket anyway and so I sold it this morning for scrap. So I need passage out."
"That's wonderful!" Veril said, almost clapping her hands in delight.
"Look, you're more than welcome, Regin. You know that."
Regin smiled, "Thanks."
Kerran then looked at the others and dropped her voice a little. "You need to know that I'm not exactly doing everything legal."
The three of them glanced at each other and Zev spoke for them. "That's fine by us."
Kerran nodded, relieved. She raised her full glass, the others following suite. "Then, to us!" she said in toast.
"And confusion to our enemies." Calan put in .
"Amen!" added Zev fervently, and they all clinked glasses and drank.