Chapter 26

November 7th, 1925 P.D.

At two in the morning, after a vigorous bout of lovemaking, the newlyweds lounged in bed with bowls of spaghetti leftover from supper. Hipper was asleep in the bay window, unconcerned about their nighttime activities. On the wall across the room, the HD viewer replayed the last game of last week's Grayson World Series. The Elway Eagles defeated the McKenzie Knights by winning four straight games.

"I was so caught up with the wedding, I forgot about the games," Rachel said.

"Me too, shame on us," he chortled. "I went to high school with one of the Elway players."

"Who?" she asked.

"The second baseman," he replied.

"So, what do you think of the latest wedding gift?" she asked.

"It's a fine gift. You love playing piano, and I like to hear you play," he replied.

"Aunt Honor's going back to Manticore on Monday, I need to see her and thank her before she leaves."

He set their empty plates on the bedroom bench, settled the bed covers over the two of them, and pulled her close to settle in for the rest of the night.

—

He woke and discovered that she wasn't in bed. He glanced at the 8:07 a.m. on the clock, slipped into track pants and t-shirt, and left the bedroom. He went downstairs and saw Hipper rolling billiard balls around the billiard table. Nate and Robert greeted him and returned to whatever they were doing. He was about to ask Hipper where Rachel was and heard music from the basement. Hipper hopped off the table and trotted down the stairs. He followed and there was Rachel, jogging on the treadmill. She saw him and smiled. He glanced at the pedometer and saw 2.6 kilometers on the display. He shook his head and poured a cup of water from the nearby pitcher.

"I don't know how you do that."

She pressed a button on the display and the machine slowed. She slowed to a walk and took a deep drink of water. "Conditioning."

"Breakfast?" he asked.

She nodded and stepped off the treadmill. "I like staying fit, and running is a good time to think."

They sat down to pancakes, eggs, sausage, and toast and discussed the weekend. "And don't forget, your new armsman is arriving this morning. I know Nate and Robert will get him settled in, but you should have a sit down with him. He's going to be with you a while."

He grunted and took a bite of sausage.

"Welcome to the family," she sang.

"My brothers, my armsman brother especially, are never going to let me down about this," he fussed.

At 10:00 a.m. a Palace car arrived and an armsman sergeant emerged from the car with a briefcase, duffle bag, and garment bag. He stopped, looked at the front porch, and Nate opened the front door to let the newest member of the team inside. He extended his hand. "Sergeant Ashton? Pleased to meet you, I'm Captain Tucker."

Robert extended his hand. "Sergeant McDonald, welcome."

Matt stepped forward. "Matt Goodson."

Rachel waved from the couch, brushing out Hipper. "I'm Rachel, and this is Hipper. Welcome to the team."

Sergeant Ashton nodded. "M'lady, m'lord."

Robert showed Sergeant Ashton to the room they would share and was given a tour of the home. Nate and Robert were showing him their office, containing all the cameras and security systems for the manor. The security comm and Rachel's uni-link alerted at the same time, so she answered it.

"Good afternoon, dad," she said.

"I just wanted to let you know that Palace Security uncovered a threat directed at Jeanette," Ben said.

"So that's what they're looking at," Rachel said of the armsmen team focused on the console. "How's she doing?"

Ben sighed. "She just shrugged, sighed, and mumbled again? She's not bothered."

"Does Palace Security know who did it, or a motive?"

"They believe it's the fallout from that exhaust travesty," Ben said. "There's a lot of money involved in drugs."

"Is she in her office?"

"Yep."

"I'll give her a call."

Rachel ended the call and sighed.

"What's happened?" Matt asked.

"Jeanette's received another threat," Rachel replied.

"Another?"

She shrugged. "All steadholders get threats every now and then. Mayhew more than others, and those who support Mayhew."

"Why?"

"Who knows? They're crazy, or they want to bring attention to their grievance, or don't like Mayhews… there's dozens of reasons."

"What'll happen?"

"Whoever did it will be tracked down, they usually are, and the Steading Magistrate will get to the bottom of it."

After lunch, Nate admitted Honor Harrington into the manor, with Nimitz, two other treecats, and a kitten in tow. Matt met her in the foyer, pool stick in hand.

"M'lady, welcome."

"I hope it's all right, they wanted to see where Hipper lives," Honor said.

"Of course it's okay," Rachel assured and the kitten hopped into her arms. "Have you had lunch?"

"Yes, I have, thank you. I see that the piano fits right in," Honor said and gestured to the upright piano now occupying a space on the formerly empty wall.

"The music it came with is beautiful but challenging. I've never played a Hammerwell piece," Rachel said.

"I'm returning to Grayson in February, I expect a performance," Honor requested.

Rachel gave off a playful curtsy. "Yes ma'am."

She cuddled the kitten when it rubbed its face against her cheek and nudged her nose.

"Does he have a name?" Rachel asked.

"She, and not yet. There's so many cats at the habitat, I haven't come close to naming them."

"Can I give it a shot?"

"Sure."

Rachel brought the kitten's little brown face level to hers and pursed her lips in thought. The kitten patted her lips with a little playful paw and started gnawing on her hand. "Hmm...you shall be known henceforth and forever more as Kayla."

The kitten flicked her ears and tail, purring in agreement. The visiting treecats rubbed against her legs, purring furiously. Hipper chirped and signed, Is good name for the kitten.

"Is there anything I can pick up for you while I'm on Manticore?"

Rachel shook her head. "Thank you, but no. Just take care and bring yourself back."

Honor gave off a playful curtsy. "Yes ma'am."

—

That night, the newlyweds were greeted by their friends at Starlight Billiards and Dance. Matt entered the billiards tournament and they chatted with their friends. Charlie Conway introduced a couple new to the scene.

"Matt, Rachel, meet Senior Lieutenant Pat Stratton hailing from Elway Steading. This is his wife, Ensign Natalie Stratton, hailing from South Landing, Manticore. She's in your shop. They reported in Thursday."

Rachel was astounded. Another female officer in the Grayson Navy? In her shop? She smiled hugely and shook their hands.

"I'm especially pleased to meet you!" Rachel exclaimed. "Are you part of an officer exchange?"

Natalie shook her head. "I took up service with Grayson when we married."

Her husband pulled her close and kissed her. "A miracle, I know."

"I apologize if I don't remember you from the academy," Rachel said.

Natalie waved away the concern. "I commissioned through OCS."

"Why don't you two talk over there? The tournament's about to start," Pat suggested.

Beers in hand, they sat down nearby, so they could watch the tournament and talk. Hipper sat with them, tail waving, watching the goings-on.

"When Pat told me that you were the only female officer on Alvarez Field, I thought he was joking. Turns out, it's true. There's a fair few female noncoms and ratings, but you and me are the only female officers at the field."

"A lot of female officers returned with Aunt Honor when she escaped that prison planet, but I don't know where they are now."

They were startled when Hipper flew from their table.

"Hipper? What are you—"

A commotion at Matt's table got her attention. A man swung a pool stick at Matt, but he grabbed it mid-swing and tossed it away. Rachel rushed from the table and she saw Matt slam the man face down on the billiards table in a move he probably picked up from her. Hipper hopped on the table, and in comic timing, flicked the offender in the face with his tail.

"...alright, alright, I'm sorry!" the face down man yelped.

Lew, Charlie, and Sergeant Ashton patted Matt on his shoulders and tugged on his arms, urging him to let the man go. Matt stepped back and straightened his clothing, glaring at the man. Rachel got between them and took Matt's face in her hands. Hipper hopped on her shoulder, and from the corner of her eye, she saw the man storm from the scene, mumbling under his breath. In all the time she had known him, she rarely saw Matt get so angry, much less lay hands on anyone! He was usually the one to calm her down!

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"That jerk said something nasty about you," he answered, closed his eyes, and took calming breaths.

"But it's all over now, right?" she asked.

His nostrils flared and he nodded. She gave him a soft kiss. His eyes warmed and he calmed.

"You've been practicing for this tournament. Surely you'd like to continue?" she asked.

Lew poked his head forward and gave Matt a pointed look. "Yes, he would. I've got a lot of money riding on this tournament."

"Fighting and gambling, just another Grayson Saturday night I reckon," Rachel said, straightened Matt's right sleeve, and went back to her table.

November 9, 1925 P.D.

Ready to return to work, Rachel snagged her bagged lunch from the kitchen and wished Gillian a good day. She had already sent Matt off, his new armsman in tow. As she was putting on her jacket, her uni-link rang.

"Hello?"

"Um, this is Natalie Stratton. Am I speaking with Rachel Goodson?"

"Yes, good morning, how are you?"

"I understand you live at Harrington Steading?"

"I do, yes. I was on my out the door."

"I hate to impose, but can we get a ride? We missed the shuttle going to Alvarez Field."

Rachel chuckled. "It's not an imposition, where do you live?"

She told Rachel where she and her husband lived.

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

Pat and Natalie Stratton were waiting in front of their apartment complex when Rachel's car pulled up. Nate activated the back doors to open and the waiting couple got in.

"Thank so much for this; we just reported in and being late would be embarrassing," Pat said. "We just missed the shuttle, and hiring a car might not get us there on time."

"And expensive," Natalie added. "We need a car. Where did you get this one?"

"It was a gift, an older one from the palace fleet," Rachel said.

"How does your husband get around?" Pat asked.

"Commercial shuttle to Austin City," Nate answered.

"So there's two shuttle services here at Harrington?" Natalie asked.

"Yes, the public transport and commercial shuttles," Rachel answered.

"What's the difference?" Natalie asked.

"The cost," Pat and Rachel chorused.

"But the commercial shuttles get you there faster," Rachel said.

"There's no commercial shuttle to Alvarez Field," Pat said.

"That sounds like a good business idea," Rachel mused, and jotted a note on her memo board.

"We need to get a car, so that we don't have to worry about getting around," Natalie concluded.

"There's no title tax on cars bought in Harrington," Rachel offered.

"Good to know," Pat said.

—

At 0807, Commander Kimbrell addressed his division gathered in the division auditorium. He started his memo board and began his Monday morning briefing.

"I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I'm sure we all extend our congratulations to Ensign Goodson on her marriage. In case you weren't here, I'd like to you all to welcome Ensign Stratton to D&P, who reported in this past Thursday. She's a Manticore native who married a Grayson, took service with our proud Navy, and moved here. Please help make her feel welcome, not only to our division, but to Grayson."

He cleared his throat and continued.

"Ensign Stratton and the other division newcomers will start their dome training today. Lieutenant Commander Purcell will be in the observation shuttle, while Lieutenant MacLeod, Ensigns May…. pardon me, Goodson and Cordell, and Chief Pearson will accompany the newbies as they ascend the dome."

"I have news from the head office as well... Ensign Goodson's scrubber idea is going forward. We're sending a team to oversee the installation, which will be taking place at Yanakov Station. Mission details will be forthcoming within the week. Congratulations, Ensign Goodson."

"The revision of tech manuals is coming along well, better than expected. I know it seems like a lot of busy work, but it really is important, so thank you for your diligent work on the project."

"Finally, it's that dreaded time of year for volunteers for the McKenzie cadet tours of Alvarez Field, and familiarization walk-throughs of various ships at Yanakov Station. Relevant details and sign-up rosters will be sent to you, so be on the look out. If there's nothing else, let's get to work."