"Devin, you will need to find the toilet again if you drink any more of that juice!" Maranno called, scolding her son a little "I know it is good juice… but too much is not good for you, especially when it is not your eating time!" Devin stuck his tongue out briefly, but threw the empty carton in the recyc chute barely a microt before Rulok knocked on the door.
"We have arrived at our home" Rulok told them "No matter what it might look like, it is actually a very large ship. Our commander will need to talk to you and our doctors will likely want to give you all at least basic medical examinations".
"Are they nice doctors like Darrek?" Devin asked, staying close to his father "Darrek is nice, he helped Lirak – but I have not seen these others before".
"Nor have we, Devin" Feltano told his son "We will all go together. I expect Lirak will come beside you if you ask him nicely".
"The whole crew live here, Devin" Rulok explained "I'll call them all and we'll head out together" before comming everyone and getting them to come down to the drop deck.
"We will go there too" Rulok said "Get your bags and follow me".
Once all three of them had shouldered their packs, they followed Rulok down to the drop deck – only halted momentarily when Devin ran over and hugged Lirak before taking hold of his hand.
"You seem to be much better now" Devin asked him, smiling – Lirak nodded and smiled back before saying "Our best doctor, Doctor Nrakal, will need to examine me just to make sure I am well – but I think he will not restrict me to the sick bay, even though I may not be going on missions for a while".
Outside, Talannah told Caseya "Your family are aboard the Switchblade, Caseya… but let them come out and let the doctors examine them before you run over and talk to them. I expect they will be healthy but it is good to let professionals make sure".
Caseya just hugged Trannak tightly, and he rumbled back as encouragingly as he could – as did Amara before she whispered "Papa an' 'Mara rum-blings for you, mama…you all goodgood now…"
Devin and his father both looked around the flight deck in amazement – after which they both started pointing out where maintenance areas, or different kinds of small craft were or should be, or where they thought they could see levelators. Maranno just smiled and sat on the edge of the ramp until her husband and son ran back to her – she hugged Devin when he mentioned all the things he had seen, telling him "I do not know if we will be living here permanently, Devin… but it will be good to stay for a while. I am sure there are things we can do to make ourselves useful until we resettle somewhere more permanent".
"There are so many small craft, mama…" Devin replied happily "…that even if we only fix half of them it will take ages!"
Three doctors did come over with their medical bags – neither Feltano or Maranno or Devin liked seeing them there, but they were much more relieved whe they were told they could be scanned where they were.
"We just need to make standard scans and tests" one of them explained "Nothing you wouldn't have done before where you were from. More important here since a ship's a closed system and everyone might get something if it got loose in here".
Darrek watched, which got Devin asking him if he saw anything interesting – but Darrek just shook his head and said "Blood's not testing positive for anything – just scan their bones and organs and they can be on their way".
"There doc-tors there, mama" Amara said, pointing "I seen them. They do scan on people. Nice doctor not scan his friend 'Mara for longlong time, mama – he do that 'gain soon? He do it when we go an' see auntie 'Rana an' auntie 'Ronna an' black hat captain in tanks?"
"He might" Caseya told her, thinking she spotted someone familiar.
"I am going to see who is there, Amara" Caseya added after a few microts, as she passed her to Trannak "If there is anyone new I will talk to them to see if they are nice – if they are, I will call for you and your papa to come".
At first Amara wanted to come and see with her, and wasn't happy at being made to wait until Trannak rumbled a bit and told her "Calm down, Amara… your mama is going to make sure it is safe before she lets you come and see these new people. That's all".
"We watch, papa" Amara decided, only griping a little bit "We watch an' if mama need you an' her 'Mara then we go an' help".
While Trannak and Amara watched Caseya, Nrakal and Tareg saw to carrying the stasis coffin to the sick bay and Harrigan went ahead to the ramp and told the three Kalish "You prob'ly guessed this by now… your daughter Caseya is here as well. Not far off by now, either".
"Big sister is here?!" Devin asked, tugging on Harrigan's hand "Where? Can I see her? Is she coming here?!"
"She's coming here, big man" Harrigan laughed, lifting Devin up above his head briefly "Just wait a few… she'll be here…".
"Little brother?!" Caseya called as soon as her changed eyes let her see Devin more clearly "Is that you?! Are mama and papa there? Have you been good or making a mess in your room again?" before running over to him before he could say anything.
"Big sister!" Devin called, running over and leaping into her arms – only after a few microts did he notice her change and ask about it, poking her skin a bit.
Caseya just held him close for a half-momen or so before putting him down, where he stuck his tongue out at her and ran off – Caseya laughed and chased him around the flight deck a bit before he ran over to Lirak.
"This is Lirak" Devin told his older sister "He kept me safe and carried me to this ship while bad people were shooting at us. Once the doctor had fixed him, I helped him eat and helped him drink and pushed him places in a mobile chair until he was well enough to walk again" before he leaned against Lirak and took hold of Lirak's nearest hand.
"This is my little brother, Devin" Caseya told Lirak, bowing slightly and briefly "I cannot thank you enough for making sure he stayed safe – especially since he says you suffered so much making sure he did stay safe…".
"He is a good boy, Caseya… " Lirak replied, rumbling softly "…and he has been very helpful to me as I recovered – I think he helped Shellek fix a few things on the ship as well, as it happens".
"Papa and I did that, big sister!" Devin said, nodding happily "It was lots of fun!" before taking her hand and trying to drag her over to where their parents were.
Caseya ran over to them anyway, once she saw they were there. Both her father and mother did poke her changed skin and ask her questions to verify her identity – which saddened her more than a bit until Devin chattered on at them.
"It… is really you, dear daughter?" Maranno asked hopefully "You look so different to when we saw you last…"
"It is me, mother…" Caseya assured her, wanting to go and hug her but staying where she was for now "I know I do not look the same, but we can talk about that later – right now I just want to see you and father and Devin".
Feltano came over and looked as well, before smiling – when Caseya smiled back, he hugged her and lifted her slightly off the deck, calling "My daughter… my dear daughter…".
"I am heavier due to these new things, father…" Caseya told him, tears running down her face but smiling happily "…so do not lift me for too long…".
Her mother hugged her as well after that, both of them crying happy tears for a momen or two before both Maranno and Feltano thanked each of Rulok's teams in person and at length for bringing them here.
"Who is the very big grinning one, big sister?!" Devin asked, smiling "He lifted me up above his head! He is very big and very happy and very strong!"
"He is our commander, Devin" Caseya told her brother "This ship is his. People living here go and do missions for him and in return they get money and food and good quarters to live in".
"Have you done a mission, big sister?" Devin asked "Did you get money for it?"
"I have" Caseya confirmed "But I think that is all I will tell you about it" before she remembered Trannak and Amara.
"Mother… father…" Caseya called, getting their attention "There are two people I especially want you to meet. I could not have even survived this long without them… they have done so much for me and with me. Come and see, mother and father – come and see".
"Good, you are the curious young lady we remember" her father replied, smiling "We will come and see these people since they mean so much to you".
"Look, papa!" Amara called "Mama coming back! New people with mama – there two big people an' ONE SMALL PER-SON!"
"I don't think the small person is that small…" Trannak laughed, stroking Amara's brow ridges until she rumbled "But they are not grown up like your mama or like me. Should we go and see, or wait for your mama to bring them here?"
"We go an' see, papa!" Amara insisted happily, clapping "We go an' see!"
"They are coming towards us" Feltano said "At least one person is – I only see one adult" – until Trannak came closer, when Feltano added "-who is a Scarran, and a high-caste male as well….".
"Do not be afraid, mama and papa…" Caseya pleaded "Do not be angry! He has helped me so much and treated me well at all times – certainly far better than I deserve!"
"We will see" Maranno replied "We will see him and talk to him, since you ask us to – but we will decide for ourselves what he is like".
Trannak walked right over and hugged Caseya immediately, rumbling softly until she calmed down and relaxed.
"Who are these three new people, my love?" he asked quietly "I see two adults of your people along with a young boy – who are they?"
"The young boy, my Trannak…" Caseya replied "…is Devin… and he is my younger brother. He is 7 cycles old now".
Trannak knelt down to a more comfortable height for Devin, where he asked "Are you Devin, young man? I am Trannak" in the Kalish language.
Both his mother and father put an arm on his shoulder to hold him back, but Devin just looked for several momens before asking "Do you know Lirak? He is nice to me and lets me help him".
"I know Lirak" Trannak confirmed, nodding "He does not work with me, but he is a friend".
Devin looked at Trannak again, then at Caseya, before he said "She is my big sister, you know" and calling for Lirak to come.
"Captain…" he greeted Trannak on arrival, before he told Devin "This is Captain Trannak, young man. He is one of the three senior officers on this ship. You can trust him".
Devin took hold of Lirak's hand and the two of them walked over to Trannak, where Devin said "You are a high-caste Scarran. I have not been close to a high-caste Scarran before. Papa and mama would not let me".
"You, Devin…" Trannak assured him "…and your mama and papa… are safe with me, just like your big sister is safe with me".
Devin looked up at Trannak, then stroked his facial scales a little bit and listened as he rumbled back.
"I think he is nice, mama and papa" Devin decided "Come and see".
"Lirak told us you are an officer, sir" Feltano said, nodding "Perhaps this is why you are more diplomatic than many are, irrespective of species. Either way, we thank you for keeping our daughter safe – though I wonder what your motive would be in doing so"
"Caseya is my wife" Trannak revealed without a microt's hesitation, wrapping his arms around Caseya and rumbling again "I love your daughter very much indeed. Not only have I made sure she is safe, but I help her learn new skills and make friends among the other crew. She knows she has value just for being herself now, and not just for who or what she knows".
Neither of Caseya's parents were entirely sure what to make of Trannak's revelation, but Caseya just leaned against him.
Well then… she thought to herself Now mother and father know. Now my brother knows. I cannot tell if they are pleased, angry, or just surprised. What will they do? Will they turn away from Trannak and I? Will they accept our marriage?
"I am here…" Trannak assured Caseya, rumbling softly in her ear and making her smile "Amara is here as well, of course. I don't know if she is talking in your head at the moment or not…".
"Not at the moment, Trannak" Caseya replied, smiling "But it does feel amazing when she mindtalks to me, I know that".
"I do not know how much this family know of the old culture of your people, Keyah Kamara…" Juroch said quietly "…but perhaps a ceremony of welcome and friendship would calm them and help them feel at ease. Protocol would dictate you lead such a ceremony as the highest ranking Master aboard… though, at least as this is practiced on Sholphaur, protocol would also allow you to delegate parts of the ceremony to others should you wish to…".
Keyah smiled and nodded "I think I would do that in any case, Master Juroch…I remember little of those ceremonies, unfortunately".
"Then I will tell you how to start the ceremony…" Juroch replied, nodding "…and then, with your permission, assume leadership of it myself".
"Do we have what we need on board?" Keyah asked, to which Juroch nodded and said "We do – or at least I do, in my quarters. Near the door, on the sideboard. A bag labelled in your language. It has ceremonial items in it which I either made or found in the stores. The ceremony can be done with tea, grangacha is not required".
Keyah walked over to Caseya's mystified and amazed parents before announcing herself and telling them that the ceremony of welcome was being prepared.
"I do not know how much you know of the old customs and observances of our people…" she told them "Whether you know of the ceremony or not, though, it will be good for the young boy here to see it and be a part of it".
"I remember a very few things" Maranno replied "Grandmother told me, many cycles ago… and yes, Devin should see some of the old things at least once".
Devin looked up, not entirely sure what was going on – Feltano just smiled and told him "I know little enough myself, Devin…but your mother is right, and it will be good for us all to take part as a family. Which, as far as I know, is how we are supposed to participate – together".
"OK, papa…" Devin replied, still sceptical – Feltano asked where the ceremony would be held, and when Keyah passed this query to Juroch he told her "In the PTR, by the bridge…on the bridge, I think".
All three Dulenos were amazed at the news about there being a PTR on the Havoc, even more so that they would be permitted to go in it.
"I think this is a part of the ceremony, in a way" Maranno told her husband, smiling "Inviting us there shows a desire for friendship as well as a degree of trust being placed in us".
"What is this PTR like?" Devin asked, as Keyah escorted them to a transit car "What kind of climate types are in it? Might we see them all?"
"I do not think anyone in the ship knows how many climate zones there are" Keyah told Devin "Captain Lazarus and Senior Command Specialist Koronna discovered it, and your elder sister and her husband have explored it most often – and even they do not know. Not yet, anyway".
Trannak waited for their car to leave – Juroch commed in and told him "You and your family, Captain, should be here before the Dulenos. A proper route can be plotted without seeing them and will be effective providing you go at fastest safe speed".
"We go fastfast in car?" Amara asked hopefully, smiling "We see new people in PTR? What they like, papa? They like your 'Mara?"
"That will be a surprise, Amara" Trannak replied, smiling "But I think they will like you. I think they will be surprised that you are part-Scarran and part-Kalish, Amara – but they are Kalish themselves, so will probably ask you a lot of questions about that".
"Heeheehee!" Amara laughed, clapping, as Caseya carried her to where another transit car had arrived – once the three of them sat down, Caseya told her "We will be going very fast, Amara… so shift onto me, as I will shift to the seat. Your papa is a big Scarran and will be strong enough to stay on his seat, I think".
"You right, mama" Amara agreed, nodding "Papa a big nice Scarran so he stay on seat an' not fall off".
Amara loved going fast in the transit car, and she called out loudly and sang when she wasn't laughing.
~happinessexcitementanticipation of new things~ Amara told both her adoptive parents in their heads, which got her hugs from each of them and happy rumbles from Trannak – Amara looked up at Caseya, then smiled and rumbled softly, after which Trannak pointed outside the car and said "There – we are at the PTR! We need to be inside the PTR where Juroch is before the others arrive, Caseya… so I will carry Amara and we will run…".
Amara loved that as well, calling out excitedly as Trannak and Caseya ran to the bridge – Juroch was there when they arrived, with Keyah arriving not long afterwards from a concealed tech tunnel. Amara loved seeing her climb out of what looked like a hole in the ground and got her to tell her about the tunnels several times before Caseya called "They are coming… they are walking this way!"
Juroch told everyone where they should sit and laid out a number of things in front of him on a small collapsable table – he put the heating unit behind him and started the water boiling, which made Amara coo happily, more so when she smelled Juroch pouring it onto the tea leaves and letting it brew.
"It smell all nice, mama an' papa…" Amara said surprisingly quietly "Whisper Scarran all happy too, mama – your 'Mara see it in his head. Auntie Keyah happy in head too, mama an' papa".
Juroch smiled when Amara spoke, telling her "There is a part for you as well, Amara… I do not know if you will be able to read my surface thoughts and find out for yourself when that will be, but I will nod in your direction. When I do that, you will tell everyone your name and who your mama and papa are".
"I do that, whisper Scarran…" Amara replied happily, after which she said "There special bit for your 'Mara, mama…". Caseya just smiled and stroked her brow-ridges, getting a soft rumble before everyone else arrived.
"On behalf of War Commander Harrigan and all the crew, we welcome you to the HMS Cry Havoc – this ship, our home" Keyah announced in Kalish "I am Master Rank Three Keyah Kamara, the senior Master of the art of our people – on my hammond, Master Rank One Juroch, the other Master of the art of our people".
Juroch bowed slightly in thanks for being spoken of well and his art ranking being announced alongside other Kalish, after which he said "I know you will have questions… I will set aside time to answer them after the ceremony…" and took over from Keyah.
He led the ceremony with more respect than even Keyah expected of him, making her smile as he spoke the words with a very slight smile on his own face.
~You right, auntie Keyah confirmation~ Amara told Keyah ~Whisper Scarran lots happy. He like doing Ka-lish spee-kings~.
Trannak smiled when he was singled out to introduce his family – he smiled and rumbled as he named himself and his own parents, along with their work postings (even Caseya had no idea they held positions of status and were rich) before he happily named Caseya as his wife and gave a brief history of their life together so far.
~Now, whisper Scarran? curiosityinteresthope~ Amara asked, and Juroch smiled and nodded every so slightly.
"I called 'Mara" Amara said, just a little worried and afraid "This my mama an' my papa. Auntie Keyah my friend. Whisper Scarran my friend. Big funny
co-man-der man my friend an' lots more people on big home ship my friends too", pointing to Caseya and Trannak and each of her other friends present at the right time, identifying each one.
Both of Caseya's parents leaned forward to look at her, which made Amara lean back a bit against Trannak in mild fright.
"You do not need to be frightened of us, young Amara…" Maranno assured her "I am your mama's mama, did you know that? The boy sitting next to me is your mama's brother".
Amara didn't quite know how to process that new knowledge, so she just asked "You like 'Mara, new people?" before looking up at the three of them – she flinched a little as Maranno reached out towards her, but smiled and rumbled quite loudly when she felt her brow-ridges being stroked.
"That nice…" Amara said happily "I do rum-blings 'cause I bit Scarran, you know. It mean I bit like papa".
Juroch whispered to her for a microt or two, and Amara lifted the small teacup very carefully in both small hands before carrying it to Maranno and Feltano, who drank from it in turn – after Devin got a quick explanation, along with a warning to do his part correctly the first time, he drank from it as well. Once Caseya and Trannak (and Amara as well, much to her delight) drank from the cup, Juroch and Keyah smiled before Keyah closed the ceremony.
Amara promptly broadcast a burst of excitement and happiness loudly enough for everyone to feel it, which got even more questions from Maranno and Feltano and Devin – Amara laughed and clapped and readily told the three of them about her mentalism and what she could do, which made Caseya's father smile at her pride in her accomplishments.
"You are very Kalish to talk about your accomplishments that way… Amara?" Feltano told her, smiling when Amara nodded confirmation of her name "Neither my wife or my son Devin have ever seen anyone like you before… would you like to come and sit with me so we can look at you? We will not take you away, your mama and papa will still be here…".
Amara looked up at Caseya and Trannak for permission – Caseya smiled before reminding her to give Devin a special hug, which she promptly did first by running over to him and leaping into his arms.
"New un-cle Devin…" Amara called, rumbling loudly and happily " 'Mara got new un-cle…goodee…" – at first she didn't want to leave Devin, but she clapped anyway when Maranno lifted her up and brought her to her shoulder for a hug.
"I am your new grandmother, Amara…" Maranno told her, looking at her with much amazement – Amara smiled and reached out to test her face just as Maranno did the same with her.
"All good…" Amara called softly "New orange grandma… 'Mara happy…".
"I am your grandfather, Amara…" Feltano added, lifting her high so she laughed and clapped "… and your laughter just then was very much like your mama and your uncle Devin! They both laughed when I held them up much as you do!"
"Heeheehee!" Amara laughed again, clapping as well " 'Mara do lar-fings like mama an' un-cle Devin! Yaaaayyy!"
"We thank you for your welcome…" Feltano said "Even more so that you did so in the traditional ways of our people… but we should address current issues as well. Namely the more important one – where are we to live now you have brought us here?"
"For now…" Juroch said, bowing slightly and briefly "…you will be quartered on board this ship. I understand arrangements will be made for a more permanent solution to this issue …but I do not know what solution that might be at this point. Be assured that there will be one and that you will be safe".
"We do not expect hand-outs" Feltano replied "We will gladly use our skills to earn our keep here for however long we stay. I, of course, can assist in technical matters… my wife is a very fine chef indeed… when Devin is not studying he can assist me".
Amara jumped up and down and clapped, hugging each of the three Dulenos and asking where their quarters would be – when neither Feltano nor Maranno could say where their quarters were, Amara asked several times if they could be quartered near their own family quarters.
"This can be arranged" Juroch confirmed when asked "This way, Caseya can assist you in learning your way around the ship and you can spend as much time as you wish to together when Caseya and the Captain do not have duties to attend to".
Amara looked over at Juroch for several microts before calling ~Heeheehee excitement~ to him and adding "There more new people who come an' live here, too! There big red man who do sto-nee trick an' who a men-tal person just like me. He from same pla-nit as whisper Scarran".
Everyone smiled as Juroch explained about Amara's nickname for him and about Captain Tareg's unusual but interesting nature – Devin almost shrieked in excitement, but Juroch just smiled and said "If you come to the galley next mealtime, you will see him – despite his being quite large he is friendly to your people, as Scarrans from my homeworld tend to be, and can speak your language".
"It is not eating time for us just yet…" Maranno replied "…but we will come. Perhaps the galley is a place for more general social gathering as well as simply a place to eat?"
"That's true" Trannak replied, in his own language this time "Now, I think, we should see you all settled in quarters of your own. Since you are my wife's relations, we will take you to quarters near our own".
Amara immediately grabbed Devin's hands and tried to drag him off the bridge, towards the main doors – Devin just lifted her up, getting loud shrieks and claps from Amara and amused looks from both Trannak and Caseya.
"Thank you for accepting Trannak, mother and father…" Caseya said quietly, while Amara and Devin played "I was worried that you would not, simply because he is Scarran. I am more thankful even than that for your acceptance of Amara…" before explaining how she came to live with them. Both Maranno and Feltano were horrified at the nature of the Hierarchy project, but smiled at how Trannak and Caseya accepted her as their own.
"I think she finds it easier knowing that one of you is Scarran and one is Kalish…" Feltano suggested "…when she sees herself in a mirror or some other reflective surface. She does not know yet, I think, which of her features come from what caste of Scarran… and if all goes well she will not do so until she has such a great love for you that her own origin will not matter. She will just be amazed and happy that she has the two of you, and that you both love her".
Conversation stopped as they came to the doors and within Amara's hearing range – everyone grinned as they watched Amara show Devin how to open the doors and to summon a transit car.
"I not know stuff 'bout cars, un-cle Devin" Amara said as she pointed to where she wanted people to sit "Mama an' papa know that. Mama or papa tell car where home quarters are an' then it move an' we go there".
"I know how they work, Amara" Devin replied happily "I could fix them and papa could fix them… but we do not know where anything is in this huge ship yet!"
"Heeheehee!" Amara laughed, pulling Devin's hands around her to hold her steady "You learn soon, 'Mara know it!"
Amara sang all the way back to the transit stop close to her own home quarters, which Caseya's parents loved to hear – they told Amara about how Caseya sang when she was very little as well, which Amara loved to hear even though Caseya blushed a little and hid her face against Trannak's shoulder.
"Devin does not sing so much" Maranno explained "He is often covered in all kinds of technical things, because he loves to help take things apart or fix them". Devin took that as permission to tell a few stories of his own about repair commissions he had accompanied his father on – Feltano laughed several times, correcting his son's wilder exaggerations, but Caseya and Trannak smiled and praised him anyway while Amara smiled and laughed and clapped.
"We here!" Amara called when the car came to a halt "This car place near mama an' papa an' 'Mara home quarters! We show you home quarters first, then we find quarters for you!"
All three of them were amazed at the comforts and appointments inside the quarters, with Maranno asking if they were so richly set due to Trannak being an officer.
"They are not" Caseya replied "Master Keyah Kamara's quarters are the same, Master Juroch's quarters are the same… any of the general troopers have quarters much like these. To the best of my knowledge, only Commander Harrigan's quarters are larger since he has the Captain's quarters for his own".
Maranno looked for a few more momens, but decided "We should find our own quarters. If those are like these quarters, we can look in detail when our few possessions are put away".
After looking at a couple of different locations, they settled on one whose door was on the corner to hammond of Caseya's and Trannak's. Once inside, both Maranno and Feltano smiled as they looked at the fixtures in detail – Devin did as well, though mostly to see what they were made of or to see if he could identify what type they were.
"We will need to bring in another bed for Devin" Caseya said, smiling a little at her brother "Until then, the lounge can fold out into a bed". Devin watched as Trannak demonstrated how the lounge folded out to a bed and back again, after which Devin clapped and did that himself – Amara clapped and sent Devin praise and happiness in his head, which got Devin to turn and face Amara in amazement.
"It me that do that, un-cle Devin" Amara said, nodding "I do that 'cause you my un-cle an' you nice an' you like mama an' papa an' me an' you do bed stuff all goodgood".
"Amara likes to praise people that way, Devin" Caseya told her younger brother with a smile "She knows you like her and she tries to do her best to make you happy". Devin hugged his sister first, but hugged Amara after as well before putting his bag beside the lounge and immediately seeing the large screen on the wall and turning it on.
"Devin has found the screen, I see…" Trannak said with a laugh "On that you can read general messages, which are sent to all occupied quarters; personal messages, which will usually be keyed to someone's ident; and archive information. For that last one, you will be able to access general information that is unrestricted only at this point – from our own archives and from public sources down on the planet below, Talzenadar IV".
"The screen is also the communications hub for the quarters" Caseya added "From it you can place comm calls to anyone else on the ship – or to people whose comm codes you have on the planet below us. You could access the hyperwave comm as well, but that is ident-locked from what I hear – usually the Commander or Sub-Commander must give permission to use hyperwave comms".
"What about a study program for Devin?" Maranno asked "I know he will love to assist his father on technical tasks, but he must study as well".
"There is a network available for those who live permanently at Tal IV…" Trannak replied "…which we can access here. I believe a senior tutor oversees this and lives, if not on Tal IV, close by. There are more general teaching archives based on the ship, I think. Should Devin show any aptitude for subjects for which we have specialists in the Irregulars then I expect they will teach him if they are not required for missions".
Devin loved the idea of people on the Havoc helping him study, so he jumped up and down and clapped before running up onto the ceiling. Amara shrieked and clapped before following him up there and the two of them chased each other until Maranno persuaded Devin to come back down – Amara showed off a little smugly and simply released her shift when she was directly over Trannak, so he caught her and tickled her until she started shrieking with laughter again.
"We will give you time to examine your quarters, mother" Caseya told her mother before hugging her tightly once more "One of us will send you a message on your quarters' comm – so you can practice using the screen to answer the call and read the message".
"I think we will all rest for an arn or two, dear daughter…" Maranno replied, smiling "It is so good to see you once more… both your father and I are very surprised to hear about both Trannak and Amara, but you all seem to be a well-adjusted family and your young one loves you both" – before turning her head slightly to treblin as Amara climbed up her back and giggled at everyone.
"It me 'gain!" Amara called "Heeheehee!", after which she leaped off her grandmother's shoulders into Trannak's arms.
"Just there, Captain Tareg…" Nrakal said, once the pair of them were in the sick bay "Not in the secured area for the tanks, around the back of it – there should be power and other medical feeds I can connect to the tank to ensure the subject within remains alive and healthy".
Tareg shifted back to Scarran form, which Nrakal watched and made a few notes about, before pointing to where he saw plugs and fittings on the wall nearer the floor.
"Those are the ones" Nrakal confirmed, before checking Darrek's preliminary scans – he murmured and muttered and zoomed in on a number of separate places over Reganto's body before using the coffin's internal scanning heads to make as detailed a scan as he could over the next half-arn.
"What is so interesting?" Tareg asked.
"The subject inside the coffin has been given a number of modifications, Captain Tareg" Nrakal explained, pointing to where he considered the most notable ones were "These have been performed by means of bioloid augmentation… and those augmentations were designed by at least one genius in the field. To be able to draw the amount of power required for at least one of those augmentations from a subject without the program I designed affecting them is a major undertaking and one not without risk to the subject themselves".
"Can you replicate these things?" Tareg asked "I don't know what I'm seeing, I don't have combat medic training - let alone anything more specialised in bioloid augmentation or genetic reconstruction".
"But you are clever in your own way, Captain" Nrakal reminded him, nodding "You would not have been raised to officer rank otherwise – even less so permitted to come here". Tareg just smiled and rumbled softly at that, clearly pleased others thought well of him in his new home.
"As for replicating this… to any degree…" Nrakal thought aloud " I will deep-scan the subject… take flesh and blood and marrow samples… after I see to his medical problems. Doing that will, in itself, let me learn many interesting things on how his augmentations react to both being damaged and to medical reconstruction. But I will start that after Third Meal – even surgeons like myself need to eat, after all…".
Tareg headed back to crew quarters after that.
I will rest in my quarters he decided and comm my fellow Sholphaurans. They will be interested to hear about my status here, and pleased to know I have a position of authority. When it is mealtime I will collect them and we will move to the galley together.
When he reached the quarters assigned to him, he looked at the door briefly before his eyes glowed very slightly and he disappeared – reappearing inside his quarters without needing to open the door.
Good he decided happily I can use my mentalism here unhindered. There are no mind static generators or other inhibiting devices placed around the quarters' sectors to protect the crew.
He thought about that for a few momens before deciding Partly this is because of the child mentalist, Amara… but I think it also shows some trust towards me as well.
Tareg placed his weapons carefully in the small safe in his bedside cabinet before taking his boots off and then putting his uniform in the clothes refreshers – he stood under the personnel refreshers for some time, letting the steaming water both get him clean and relax him, before using the drying mode. Once dressed again, he commed the others from the Tanglethorn's crew aboard at the time and asked them what their opinions of the Havoc and its crew were.
"They are people of the Kingdom…" the Stryker pilot said practically "…but above and beyond that they are welcoming to us. The sole Sholphauran has a position of importance, he is the Command Specialist for the skulker corps detachment here. I and the others have only talked to one of the two Kalish based here so far – will there be an opportunity to speak to the other one?"
"If you come to the galley for Third Meal there should be" Tareg replied "The other one you speak of is the wife of the Captain of the skulker corps here. Her child is the hybrid with mentalism you may have heard about".
That did stir interest, enough so that every Sholphauran decided to eat in the Havoc's galley at Third Meal.
When Trannak sent the message and commed in to Caseya's parents' quarters, they were both still resting – but Devin's grinning face appeared on the screen and made Trannak laugh, which got Caseya and Amara running over. Devin loved that and laughed, after which he said "I will wake mother and father! I know none of us are at eating time… but it will be good to see the other crew in the galley! Perhaps some of them will talk to me or tell me stories? How many other techs are there? Will your commander mention our presence?"
"He might" Caseya replied "Do not call out or make noise until he has finished, Devin – however funny his manner is, he leads here and should be treated with respect".
Devin stuck his tongue out before Caseya saw her father stirring in the background, so she called out to him.
"We are awake…" he replied, smiling "We have looked at all the amazing things in these quarters and washed and dried all our clothes in the clothing refreshers – if Devin and I are to assist in technical work, we will need tech coveralls from the ship's stores along with suitable tools".
"For that…" Trannak told him "…you will need to talk to Karroch – he is in charge of the stores if he is not out on a mission or doing officer training. He will take you to one or other of the store depots and find you what you need".
"We will come and collect you, father" Caseya told him happily "We will all go to the galley together as a family" before giggling a bit and adding "An unusual family now, but a family nonetheless".
When they arrived in the galley, both Caseya's parents as well as Devin gasped in surprise at the size of the room as well as the number of Scarrans there. Caseya's mother pointed out the food serving counters while her father pointed to the light fixtures and the two wall screens and other things.
"It's a very good galley" Rekketh said from his chair, turning to look at them "Moratha's a very good head chef as well, as are the rest of the staff in there – which includes me, of course…" before rumbling in laughter.
"What do you cook?" Maranno asked, excited enough at all the new things and people that she didn't address him as Organisation protocol required "Do you prepare a number of things or just one?"
"I do a few of the meats" Rekketh replied "Nothing amazingly complicated, but definitely very tasty" before he realised who he was talking to and added "There's Kalish food as well, if you're at eating time – not everyone eats that, of course, but enough do that Moratha always makes sure there's some on hand".
"Our food is here?" Devin asked in delight "Which foods? How many Scarrans eat it regularly? Do you have any non-Scarrans who eat Kalish food as well? Is there fureen?!"
Rekketh laughed again before telling Devin "Just the basic three, from what I can tell – and fureen. Moratha may well be able to make some of the others if we got the stuff for it, but she'd need a bit of notice to get stuff ready if you want anything unusual".
Devin happily passed this news on to his parents, and while he was doing that other people started coming in
"Greetings once more" Juroch called softly in Kalish "I see you are all sitting with us. Good – many of the non-Scarran species whose people live here are part of our unit"
"There are two humans…" Juroch told them "and even one Nebari. The only Sebacean is in Tactical Command and will be sitting with his informal mate alongside Rulok's teams when they arrive".
It wasn't too long before Hellbolt did arrive and Liz as well, and both of them got bombarded with questions by both Caseya's parents and Devin.
Tareg and the other Sholphaurans watched.
"Good" one said quietly "The Kalish are being welcomed. I don't know who they are, nor why they are here – but they are treated well and no one seems to mind them asking questions".
"Our fellow Sholphauran in green is there" another added "He is close to the Captain. There is a small child climbing onto his lap".
Tareg explained about Amara, which got more than a few questions aimed his way – he just smiled and said "Go and talk to them if you like – I expect it will be as it is on Sholphaur, getting Kalish to stop asking questions is harder than getting them to start".
Caseya noticed the new smells of the Sholphaurans first, with Amara doing so soon afterward, and turned around to face them.
"New people, mama!" Amara said excitedly "New people come to see us, mama! They sit here an' eat, mama?"
"They will be sitting with the new man, Amara…" Juroch replied "… the stonewalker, Captain Tareg, who will be teaching Karroch interesting things he needs to know. They are from the same planet I am from, Amara" before turning to greet them as well.
All of them leaned a little closer to look at Amara, who climbed up Juroch's chest a little so she could look over his shoulder and see them more clearly.
"I 'Mara" Amara announced to them "Whisper Scarran my friend, new people. You my friends too? You like mama an' papa an' me?"
"The one you call whisper Scarran…" the Stryker pilot told her "is from our world. He is very good at moving around in the trees and bushes and around the wild places".
"Trees all nice" Amara replied, nodding "I seen real trees 'fore, an' I like them. I seen real ri-ver too, an' it got fish in it. I not catch fish an' eat them, friends say small people like me not do that".
"Let adults go fishing" another Sholphauran agreed "You can do the fun part, little child, and eat the prepared and cooked fish. Do you eat fish? Do you like it?"
"Like fish lots" Amara replied, nodding "Fish go in nice Ka-lish food thing called treel – grandma 'Ratha tell me that". The Sholphaurans watched Amara and a few of them talked to her and all of them asked about her skin.
"That a special bit" she replied "I got that 'cause mama got it. If you want special bits you ask big funny man an' he talk to nice doc-tor an' then they say if you get them".
Troll called out to everyone as soon as he came in – Amara clapped and laughed and ran over to him for a hug, which she got before he threw her a short way up in the air.
"That 'mazing an' fun, nice Troll man friend!" Amara told him "You try new stuff yet? It all good? It fun?"
"Tried a little bit" Troll replied "Gonna need a bit more practice" before grinning and asking "Wanna see me use one of the new things? It's one I think you'll like…".
"See new thing! See new thing!" Amara shrieked insistently, clapping "You show me an' friends, Troll man!"
He put her down on the floor, waited until Amara had walked a little further away… and disappeared!
"EEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Amara called, clapping and jumping up and down – before, much to Tareg's interest, looking around from side to side with a very faint glow in her eyes. Tareg mindtalked to her and told her ~What you are trying to do, Amara, is called hypersense – in this case, it means you can see more things. I don't know if you will be able to see your friend while he is cloaked… but you should try. I will help you~
With a litle careful advice from Tareg, Amara looked back and forth more and tried to focus a little further – she could not see Troll in detail, but gladly and happily reported a very faint outline which she knew was his face and body.
"Nicely done!" Troll told her, decloaking "Didn't know you'd be able to see me when I did my special hidin' trick!"
" 'Mara not know till now, Troll man friend" Amara replied "You like that I do that? You not mind I see you when you do sneaky trick?"
"You did good" Troll assured her, lifting her up and tickling her a bit "Do like the big funny man says, practice every day – then you get better. You might even be able to see in the dark, Amara, or look through walls!"
~She may do confirmation~ Tareg told Caseya ~I can't tell one way or another yet – but hypersense is something she'll just need to practice. She should practice seeing Troll when cloaked, as he was then, now she knows she can do that – seeing in the dark as well, even when it's pitch-black. Leave seeing through walls alone for now – not everyone's that good anyway, and if she is then she can learn that later~
Caseya smiled at hearing Tareg's different mental voice – it does not sound like Amara, or like Deress, or like any of the other young ones I know there she decided Is that because Tareg is Scarran or because he is older or because he is a stonewalker? I do not know.
~Mostly because I am Scarran laughter~ Tareg replied ~A little because I am a stonewalker~ before walking over to her and adding "Your own thoughts are quite loud for a non-mentalist… but both unshielded and fairly unfocussed. That's why I could hear your surface thoughts just then" vocally. Amara stroked his brow ridges a bit and rumbled for him, after which he returned to his table.
"OK…" Harrigan announced, bringing a halt to the chatter "I'm sure you seen we got guests right now… there's a few in from the Reaver off to one side someplace, they're from where Juroch's from" before he turned to face the skulkers' table and added "Rulok's guys an' girls got back a bit dented an' hammered, but they got back – and brought a Kalish family with them. Caseya's parents and brother".
"That's me!" Devin called, unable to restrain his desire to make himself known or keep his speech clear "I am Caseya's brother! My name is Devin!" before calming down just enough to introduce his parents as well.
Lirak smiled and rumbled at him, after which Harrigan grinned and said "You lot can talk to them a bit as well if you like, just don't smother 'em".
"Despite you speaking out of turn…" Maranno told Devin, frowning a bit "…it does seem that our presence here is an interesting event to many aboard, Devin. If people come over to see us and talk to us, be calm and keep your speech clear – I know they may be able to understand Kalish but you should practice your Scarran as well"
It took a little while… but, with Tal's negotiating and a good deal of Caseya's spare money, the Duleno family got settled planetside in a pretty decent shop. Wasn't real huge, but it had a good amount of space to start out with and a dwelling on the back – Caseya had just enough to get a smallish private blast pit added on the back complete with wall.
For all I can tell looking back on it now, they started out pretty well… sure, there were a few potholes on the road to progress but it seems to me that was just the local movers and shakers deciding if the Dulenos would move and shake or be moved and shook. Feltano turned out to have a good head for business… he made sure he didn't step on too many toes until he'd built up a decent base of mostly-loyal customers, and once people knew the shop he started offering repair services for ships and went well with the customers – a few other shops had a few words to say at first, but eventually came to an informal arrangement giving each of them certain areas to work in.
Politics was still as murky as it ever got in the UT's then, and probably a bit more so than most times, too – sometimes we had enough evidence to pin it on one of the majors or minors, but a lot of the time no one had a clue except that stuff happened. We did managed to get three from the Peacekeeper's place repatriated without too many problems – mostly cause their own leaders were embarassed they got caught is my guess.
Oddly enough, the Nebari stayed pretty quiet… or maybe it wasn't quite so odd. Never can tell with those guys.
- extract from War Commander Harrigan's personal log, HMS Cry Havoc
"It is a special day today, is it not?" Caseya asked, to which one girl answered "Very special, mama!" and one boy answered "Special day…I like special days…".
"Amara's seventh birth anniversary" Trannak added, smiling before lifting Amara up for a hug – she poked and prodded her adoptive father's now-changed skin with some interest before hugging him back and reminding him "Your Amara loves you lots, papa – even though I cannot mindtalk to you now you are changed".
"I know that, Amara" Trannak replied happily, rumbling a little "It's why I put that off for quite some time, because I knew that while you were small and while you were learning the earliest mentalism you would need to be able to talk to me that way".
"You have done well at that, Amara" Caseya added, nodding "as well as at swimming and other exercises – and you have been part of the study program for children for almost two and a half cycles as well".
"That is fun" Amara replied "I like study. The more I learn, the sooner I can be a doctor like my friend doctor Nrakal".
"How about you, my son…?" Trannak asked after putting Amara back down, turning to face the younger boy "Are you happy as well, dear Feltano?"
The younger boy, about four and a half cycles old, smiled up at his father and rumbled before raising both arms – Trannak gladly lifted him up to his shoulders, hugging him and listening to his tiny rumbles before Feltano said "I happy, papa. I good" and looked around – when he saw the clock on the quarters' screen he stared at it for a few microts before saying "Eating time. Eating time for papa".
"Eating time for us all today" Caseya reminded her son "You and Amara and your papa and I. Special young person's food today, because it is your sister's birth anniversary".
"See…" Feltano replied "See an' eat. See big stone cap-tin. See whisper Scarran. See all my friends. See, mama an' papa. See…".
The other children on the Havoc were being very loud indeed when Caseya's family arrived at the galley – Harek and Anton junior were rolling around on the floor play-fighting while Troll's three girls were either shouting at their father and demanding to be fed or complaining that their siblings were making too much noise.
"Awwwriiight…" Harrigan shouted – after which the adults stopped talking and the children clapped happily and praised Harrigan for his loud shouting "Now we got all the little kiddies quiet… it's one particular little kiddie's special day today. Anyone know whose?"
"AMARA'S!" Sherenka bellowed, before quietening down just a bit and calling "It's Amara's day. Mama tell me 'fore we come here. Papa tell me there young person food. I smell it but not see it".
"That's right, Sherenka" Harrigan told her, getting a clap for remembering her name "That's why we put barriers over there – so you young eating machines won't get to it before everyone can have some".
Talannah looked around, eventually calling for the lights to go out – once they were out, and once the changed children stopped calling that they could still see quite well, a huge cake was wheeled over in front of Amara with lit candles on. She clapped and laughed when it turned out Harrigan had put trick candles on that relit after being blown out – but Amara's eyes glowed very briefly before she put them out fully and everyone sang for her.
(~I like this part best, mama (happiness, amazement))~ Amara told Caseya ~I like it when everyone sings this human song… whether it is my birth anniversary or someone else's… I can feel happiness and approval from everyone without a stage two or higher change…and I can see it on their faces if not in their heads, mama~
"I can tell by the look on your face, Amara" Caseya reminded her "I remember the birth anniversaries your friends have had… and your brother. You liked singing for them as well".
"Sing Scarran song, papa?" Tabitha asked Troll, surprising everyone "We sung human song, papa – we sing Scarran song now?"
"It would be good to sing the royal anthem…" Captain Tareg said, before Troll opened his mouth "It will be good for the children to hear, as well as the rest of us… so with the War Commander's permission…".
The royal anthem was sung by everyone as well, with the nearest adults smiling and encouraging the children as they did their best to sing it.
"Sing Scarran song" Sherenka said "We done that, papa. We eat now, papa? There food now?"
Though Urana did growl a little at her eldest daughter, Troll waved a finger in front of her face before telling her "Not so greedy, little miss… but if you can walk over to Big H there, and if you ask nicely, then he might open the counters and take the barriers down so we can have party food and normal food. How about that?"
"I go and do that, papa" Sherenka replied, nodding before sliding off the chair down to ground level "You watch me, papa".
Sherenka walked slowly over to Harrigan, her small boots making tap-tap-tap noises as her feet hit the floor, before she looked up at Harrigan and asked "We eat now, un-cle? We eat, please?"
"I think, Sherenka…" Harrigan replied, grinning and making Sherenka laugh "…that you can help me put the barrier poles and rope around the party food away".
"I do that, un-cle" she replied, nodding "I do it an' everyone see. Then we eat till we go bang".
Sherenka helped drag some of the poles to one side, after which all the children ran over to help her – even Feltano wanted to take part, so Amara made sure he could and that no one hurt him even accidentally.
"Fel-tano smallest" Martha said "We help him. He not be hurt then".
Once the barrier poles and rope were cleared away the children were sent back to their parents, with Amara holding Feltano's hand as the pair of them returned to the skulkers' table together.
"I here" Feltano announced " 'Mara here. We back now".
As it turned out, the celebrating family got to go at the head of the queue with all the other children after that – every child was clearly hungry and pleased to be allowed to get food before most of the adults.
Even the skulkers, who had seen a lot of Kalish eating times before, were amazed at Feltano's appetite for both normal food and party food – he just thought they liked to look at him, so he smiled back at them and rumbled before holding up whatever he was eating for them to see and getting back to eating the rest of it.
"Little brother is very hungry this eating time!" Amara replied, watching him "I think he eats even more than I did when I was his age!"
"Scarran boys do at that age, Amara" Trannak told her "Feltano will be a little more like me than you were, so he needs more energy to become big and strong than you do since most boys are bigger than girls".
Harrigan loved telling his own son about the party food – Harek rumbled happily and loved both hearing his father talk to him as well as going to get plates with all kinds of human food as well as things he was more used to. Every child loved the carbonated fruit drinks, with Harek trying to burp the entire first verse of the royal anthem at one point.
"Don't worry about that, Commander!' Sturk laughed "He's not the first narl to try that and won't be the last either!"
To Amara's surprise, all the children came over after the meal to help soothe her digestion pains – Amara loved that and rumbled loudly before hugging each of them, though she also reminded them "Little brother Feltano is eating too – can you help him? He will like that. He will see you are his friends too".
"We do that" Sherenka replied, nodding "I go first. Sisters help next. Harek and Anton sleep".
"We watch and help!" Harek insisted, young Anton agreeing "You go first an' then it our turn!"
Feltano smiled and clapped at seeing the other children, more so when he saw they were all taking turns to soothe his digestion pains – and he laughed when Anton and Harek went back and got some of the remaining party food for them to eat as they helped him.
"I sleep now, friends" Feltano announced "You eat more. You not gone bang yet" before he climbed onto Liz's lap and curled up before starting to snore. The girls stayed and watched him sleep while the boys finished off the party food – all of them eventually found one of the skulkers to sit on and have their after-Meal nap with while the adults helped clear the kitchens.
"Look, papa" young Anton said when his own father came to collect him "Feltano is sleeping, papa. He is sleeping on big sister's lap, papa".
Liz smiled at how young Anton considered her his sister before stroking his ridges briefly and telling her father "Feltano's been good, Dad – out like a light. Snores a bit, though – but not too loud".
"He's a happy little guy" Lazarus agreed "So's your brother if it comes to that. Give him time playin' with Harek and plenty to eat in here and he's eager to help with anything and everything".
Harek climbed across various people's laps until he too could see Feltano sleeping – he smiled and clapped and called out to his own parents about it, with Feltano not even stirring when Talannah and Harrigan arrived except to smile a bit.
"Haha, you do that too Harek!" Harrigan told his son "You like it most when I'm on the bridge in the big chair – you climb up my legs and' go to sleep on my lap so I can't move without waking you!"
"Heeheehee!" Harek laughed, clapping "Big chair nice, papa – it big enough for you an' me!"
"We have been watching the Irregulars' forces as requested".
"Good, good… and have you learned anything?"
"The majority of their membership is Scarran, Ambassador – though we did see one of our people wearing their uniform as well. Only two times so far".
"A Nebari is among them? Can you identify them? Are they a wanted fugitive – or are they one of the very few who live outside the protection of our Establishment by choice?"
"We do not know for certain, Ambassador. He was on arbitration patrol with a female of Sebaceanoid appearance as far as we can tell – their manner suggested they are either close friends or mated".
"The Establishment has no law in that regard, you know that. While many think it a little odd, our people are much more accomodating to personal and recreational preferences like that than Sebaceans ever have been".
"We should continue to watch their forces, then?"
"Better your Enforcers than the Night Watch. I have a certain amount of trust with your Enforcers – but I never can tell whether the Night Watch will obey my orders or react in ways only their own officers know about. For now… watch them as previously directed and make a special effort to watch this Nebari you saw. I should find out about that one before the Night Watch do".
