Chapter 31
Path to Restitution
Marina was perplexed as to why she was summoned alone to Melissa's room. She found Terri and Bastila standing outside the door almost like sentries on duty. Melissa gave her a smile and a short wave before pointing her to a chair set close to the bed. Melissa waited till she was seated before speaking
"Ba'buir, what I am about to tell you will sound impossible and I swear on my honour that it is not a prank or a sick joke." Melissa stated
"That does sound a bit ominous, what is it that you wish to tell me."
"My father asked me to get your caf cake recipe, he has been trying for ages to copy it but can never quite get it right."
Marina rocked back in her chair in surprise
"My caf cake recipe?" She said in shock
"He did say that he misses you all and can not wait to see you all again as long as it is in the distant future. The caf cake recipe was an introduction phrase to prove the validity of what I am saying." Melissa replied
"How did you meet him? Is it a Jedi thing?" Marina demanded
"I nearly crossed over and I met him on the edge. Believe me, that was a great surprise."
Melissa smiled happily
"We did get to spend some time together and he taught me how to cook and bake. I believe it was his secret hobby."
"A poorly kept one, he always did pester me for that recipe." Marina happily reminisced
" He did keep on referring to it, some of my happiest times there was spent in the kitchen, I was a complete disaster when I started but he always made it fun. Though he did tease me a lot as well."
"I can believe that." Marina grinned
"Though him giving me The Talk, I could have done without." Melissa shuddered at that cringe worthy memory
Marina laughed happily at that. Melissa gave a slight savage grin
"He did give me a lot of information to prank the twins and Anaka with."
"Why not bring them in as well?" Marina asked
"I will tell them after a great prank first, that was by his wishes. But mostly I wanted to let you have this moment first."
Marina leaned forward and kissed her cheeks and then her forehead.
"That was a wonderful gift, bu'ad. Thank you" Marina said
"He also said there is a way for me to take up my correct name after I messed up at the forging." Melissa continued
"You did not mess up, we all assumed you knew and never bothered to check. What is this way he talked about?" Marina replied
"He called it the Rite of Restitution and told me to ask you about it." Melissa said
Marina sat back in her chair and looked thoughtfully at the ceiling
"That can actually work." She mused
"What does this Rite entail?" Melissa asked
"It is used to let someone who has become Dar'Manda to regain their clan name and honour. The penitent is judged by a group of clan heads not part of his or her clan nor its allies to see if the penitent is worthy to regain their name. Though in your case the rite will have to be tweaked a bit as you have not dishonoured yourself. I will have to discuss it with the others on the next sitting of the clans. Luckily the next one is close." Marina explained.
Melissa nodded at that, a knock before the door opened and the twins came in. Xena mock saluted Marina
"Reporting for baby sitting duty, can you show us where the baby is?" Lillith said
"Oh my gosh I cannot believe it! I have the Wren sisters in my room." Melissa gushed
"Yes, niece we know we are awesome, contain yourself." Xena replied
"How can I? The most famous singers on Mandalore is in my room, please can you sing two blasters in the night for me? I know you don't have your instruments here, but still please?" Melissa kept on gushing
The two went stock still at that
"Or if you don't want to we can always try to brew tihaar if you don't want to, the refresher is right over there, or I know of an orchard where we can go play blind mans grope, I just hope I can get a kiss as good you did." Melissa went in for the kill
The twins backed up. Marina was looking at them calculatingly.
"What Jettii nonsense is this?" Lillith gulped
"Never mind that, what is all this about?" Marina demanded
"Nothing! Our poor niece must be having a very bad fever." Xena tried stalling
Marina looked at Melissa
"Explain."
"The singer thing died when they got stage fright at an open stage night on Keldabe at the Hanged Man tavern, they choked on stage. The tihaar brewing guest bedroom East wing refresher. Though the best was the blind man grope incident." Melissa ratted them out, an innocent look on her face
"Please continue." Marina invited
"Krownrest in the orchards, they had a great idea for a game while they were on leave from the Academy. They and their friends got drunk, then naked. They decided to run around blindfolded, and well what happened in the orchard stays in the orchard. Am I right girls?"
Xena was tugging at her collar under Marina's stare. Lillith was trying to hide herself from view behind her sister
"I just need to know one thing. How does it feel to slip your sister some tongue? The best kiss you have ever had, right Xena?" Melissa ended with a smirk
"How do you know that? We swore never to speak of it." Lillith demanded.
Marina pointed them to the armchairs close to the bed
"We will be having a discussion about the last two incidents later. But first Melissa has something to tell you."
The twins were bawling in tears after hearing the tale and glomped Melissa in a crushing hug. Regaining control of their emotions took a few minutes.
"You know you just declared war, beloved niece." Lillith said, wiping her nose
"There are plenty more where that came from. As your poor innocent niece I have to tell my grandmother if my aunts try to lead me up the wrong path with graphic details if necessary." Melissa retaliated innocently
"You can only have so much blackmail material, sooner or later you will run out and sweet revenge will be ours." Xena warned
"The thing with blackmail material is there is always one more to what you think the limit is." Melissa said sagely
Marina stood up from her chair and looked at the twins.
"It is late, I am going to turn in. Girls look after your niece. She is till fragile."
"Of course, buir, she will not gain a single bruise while in our care." Lillith replied dutifully
Marina walked to the door and the twins shared a single smirk as they looked on their victim, no patient.
"I think I don't need nursing tonight." Melissa coughed
"I think she is still feverish. Maybe a nice cold bath?"Xena suggested
"Ba'buir, you can't leave me here with them." Melissa pleaded
"First rule of pranking and blackmail, always have an exit strategy." Marina stated exiting the room
Melissa looked at the twins and gulped
"You know this was all in fun, right"
"Of course, dear baby niece." Lillith said soothingly
"I am so screwed." Melissa muttered
"And finally we have a show of wisdom." Xena said, closing in
Carth blinked at the sight before him. Melissa was being assisted into the lounge by the twins. Her hair was shorn short with four multi coloured pigtails as the only longish hair
"What the hell?" He muttered
"Carth, help me" Melissa pleaded
Xena and Lillith placed her in a chair and voluptuously strolled over to Carth, and leaned forward while stroking his shoulders
"Just a bit of sibling bonding. No need to get involved." Xena purred
"After all do we look like the nefarious type?" Lillith pouted
Carth had to shake his head to initiate a reboot. Twins versus jailbait, no contest there, but on the flip side she is crew and family. He had another flash back to the wisdom shared by grandfather Onassi
"Son if women get in a spat with one another there is only one thing to do, don't get involved and get the hell out while you can, you run boy. You run"
Considering Grandpa Onassi lived well into his eighties before dying in a tractor race accident, just maybe the old man was on to something.
"Nope, not getting involved. I saw nothing, I heard nothing, I know nothing. I believe I have to check on the altimeter calibration."
He got up and walked to the cockpit, Canderous and Akana walking in from outside took one look and went about face to go inspect the loading area. Zaalbar looked up, grunted and helped himself to Carth's abandoned plate of food and was unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Melissa decided two doses of payback was in order for her being abandoned to the two she devils she called aunts. Terri strolled in and took one look
"I don't want to know what she did to deserve that but we need her presentable. We have been summoned by the council."
"When are you to see them?" Xena asked
"Immediately, of course. So after breakfast and her physiotherapy. I will go see if I can find a hoverchair somewhere in the meantime." Terri replied
"There should be one on the Dawn Strike, just ask Benny, he should be able to get one for you." Lillith remarked
"Did not think to ask him, thanks for the idea." Terri nodded
Melissa briefly considered being thankfull to the Council for her reprieve and actually be polite to all of them. Then Vrooks face to mind and she decided that it is a step to far. Maybe she should stop at a pharmacy for some laxatives and leave the bottle where Ellia could find it, maybe add a note to how to effectively dispense it.
The full council was in meeting when they entered the council chamber. Vandar took notice of them and pointed to the middle of the room.
"How is your recovery progressing, young one." Hissk asked Melissa
"I am getting better rapidly thanks to the assistance of my friends and family, thank you for asking master Hissk." Melissa replied
Hissk sat back with a satisfied nod. Vandar took over the lead.
"Come to a decision, the council has. Time to pursue the map found it is." He spoke
"What resources are we being allocated for this assignment? Beyond the four of us I mean" Terri asked
"A ship you already have, as for funds you will have access to the covert funds account set up by republic intelligence, the same one you had access to on Taris." Zess Kai Ell answered
"Your ship will be granted an upgrade to the holocom system you have to be able to directly contact the Enclave if you discover anything, apart from that this will be a covert assignment. We believe that a small group would have the best chance at success." Zhar continued
The four nodded at that, having expected that to be the answer they would receive.
"Any other instructions apart from locating the other maps and where it leads to?" Bastila asked
"No. It is a simple enough instruction that even you three should not be able to mess up." Atris snapped
They fought against the urge to snap back and merely turned and walked from the room, a few of the council members showing their disapproval at them leaving before being dismissed
"A moment, please." Kavar spoke.
They sopped and turned. Kavar bent over and picked up Melissa's helmet where it had been standing on a small table next to his chair. He strode over to where she was sitting in her chair. He handed it over with a small bow
"I apologise for not returning this sooner and also for the council not acknowledging the bravery you and your companions had shown on Lothal." He stated
"Thank you, Master Kavar. The gesture is greatly appreciated and respected." Melissa replied with a small bow of her own
Melissa nodded to Vandar, Hissk, Kai Ell and leaving the room and Dorak before turning around again. Terri let loose a small breath she had been holding in
"Is it just me or was that a very chilly reception." She remarked
"All the ice on the floor not enough of a clue for you?" Bastila replied
Juhani frowned for a moment
"I saw no ice… Oh sarcasm." She stated
"Before long you will be as sarcastic as the rest of us." Melissa replied. "How about lunch at the cantina before we head back?"
"You have a strict diet that you have to follow." Bastila objected
"Just one cheat meal will not do any damage." Melissa wheedled
Melissa looked in horror at the meal she was being served instead of the nerf steak she had ordered. Mrs Webster held up a hand to forestall her protest
"Doctor Watson had anticipated that you might come here so she provided me with strict instructions, only food approved on your diet. No soda nor alcohol is to be allowed."
The four sensitives felt a sudden lurch in the force and Mrs Webster dropped her hand to her stomach, a sudden wet spot appearing on her dress.
"Oh dear." She gasped
"Misses Webster, what is wrong?" Melissa asked
"It seems the baby has decided to make her appearance." Maria said, biting back a small hiss of pain
Terri was already on her comlink
"Fay! Get over to the Last Round now. Medical Emergency!" She ordered
"No need for panic dears, I am fully capable of making it to the doctors rooms on my own."
"Not without a medical specialist with you. Take my chair." Melissa stated
She pulled herself from the hoverchair and dropped down into the booth seat, recently vacated by Bastila who was pushing Misses Webster into the vacated hoverchair. She grabbed Terri's comlink to make a call, making a note to get a new comlink as soon as possible
"Benny, please grab your kit and get over to The Last Round."
She handed the comlink back and gave a sharp whistle to draw the attention of the room
"Sorry people we are closing early today; all meals and drinks on the tables and already ordered are free. So kindly vacate as quickly as soon as possible so we can deal with a slight emergency." Melissa called out
Fay arrived at roughly the same time as Benny came jogging in from the airfield riding a swoop bike, her kit balanced behind her seat. They sighed at the slightly panicked pointing to the hoverchair where an amused Maria was kept in place.
"First timers, always so panicky." Benny muttered
"Tell me about it." Fay groused
She pulled her comlink from her pocket and contacted doctor Holloway. She spoke to her collague for a few moments before putting her comlink back. She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Right, listen up. Going to the clinic is out as Holloway is dealing with a case of andorean flu. I need you three to go clean the manager's quarters and get a plastic cover on the bed."
Fay turned to Melissa
"You get hold of your partner and run your business for a change as of now Maria is on leave for the next three weeks, paid leave."
"Actually I already offered her two months at full pay And Croaker's girlfriend will take over as temporary manager tomorrow. I already called last round for the day."
"Good, in that case stay where you are. I expect Lance and Ellia will be here shortly. Keep her occupied."
She knelt in front of the hoverchair and smiled up at Maria.
"Doctor Holloway will send me all your records to have a quick look at if you agree to it. Now I believe this is your first child?"
Melissa was sneakily eating Bastila's and Terri nerf steaks as they had yet to return from clean up duties. Ellia was seated opposite her as they were designing her next sets of armour. The two were locked in vigorous debate as to why shocking pink is not an appropriate colour for armour. Mission was busy cleaning the cantina. Owner or not, she had been put on punishment duty for her part in the first bar fight of the Last Round. Zaalbar and Canderous had returned from hunting and was busy processing their kills in the kitchen. Carth commed frequently for updates. Melissa looked up as the door to the cantina opened
"We are closed for the day." She called out.
"So we have heard." Daria answered.
Marina and Daria settled in the booth with Daria pointedly taking the plates away, leaving only the diet approved meal on the table. She looked over the design Ellia had produced on her datapad
"You sure you have enough mounted guns on there? Though the colour is perfect." Daria stated
"See I was right. Pink is the perfect colour for armour." Ellia gloated
"Fine I was wrong. If you are old enough we will make your first set pink." Melissa capitulated
Marina cleared her throat.
"The council of clans have agreed to meet earlier, I will host them at the Wren citadel and they will entertain your request for Rite of Restitution." She said
"So when do we leave?" Melissa asked
"As soon as Fay is ready to go. It will only be you, Fay and Ellia being allowed to go. The others will either have to wait here or meet up somewhere else. There is still a lot of resentment towards the Jettii and the republic." Marina answered
"The council gave us our marching orders as well so we have to start moving. Maybe meet up on Dxun?"
Marina pondered for a moment, before she and Daria shared a glance.
"That would be best, they can look for an old supply cache while they wait for us. We will need more beskar to forge new armour."
"What does the two have to do with each other?" Melissa asked
"Towards the end of the war it was decided to stockpile items on Dxun. One of the stockpiles was a load of beskar ore. The data to the cache has been corrupted, but we have narrowed it down to four locations." Daria explained
"The caches had been heavily trapped to prevent them from falling into republic hands should the locations become known."
"What type of traps?" Terri asked behind them
"That data has also been corrupted, we were going to start reclaiming the caches later, but our schedule seems to have been moved up. One of the reasons we met on Dxun last time was to start scouting for the major caches."
"We can look into it while we wait, but we get first shot at anything usefull we find, agreed?" Terri stated
"Of course. Though any armour or documents have to be seen by us first, for return to their rightful owners." Marina qualified
"Deal. How long does this council meeting last?" Terri asked
"At most two weeks. This will give everyone enough time to achieve their goals, I believe." Daria stated
"I believe so, the council is rather insistent on us leaving soon." Bastila replied
"How insistent?" Terri asked
Bastila lifted her comlink up
"I have had three messages enquiring as to when are we leaving." She replied
"Clearing traps can be useful practise for our mission." Juhani pointed out
"Good, you can land at the outpost, we have left a small detachment there. They can provide you with the locations. If you do find more caches feel free to explore them. Just be wary of the cannok population." Daria concluded
Krownest was a contrast of green and white. Evergreen forests ticked into the valleys of mountainous snow covered terrain. Melissa subconsciously braced as the light cruiser was approaching a mountain with no intention of slowing down. A hologram flickered and a square cut opening appeared and the cruiser entered the mountain docking area. The first thing she felt as she exited the cruiser was the cold. The fur lined clothing she was given making a lot more sense now
Ellia had her nose plastered to the window of the transporter they were travelling in, seemingly oblivious to the cold, transfixed by the white snowscape. Having never seen snow before having only been on temperate planets and two at that, she could not get enough of the view
"How long is day again here?" She asked
" Fifteen hours of daylight, seven of darkness, three hundred and sixty six days precisely in a year." Lancelot answered her
"And it is always covered in snow?" Ellia continued
"We have two months when it does not snow that we call summer, sometimes you even see the brown of the ground." Marina told her
"What type of animals live here?"
"The dangerous kind. Most are omnivorous if not carnivorous, so never go out alone and never without a few weapons." Xena warned them
"Always watch where you step on the ice, if you hear crackling or see cracks, spread your feet apart and move back slowly, again, never be alone. Make sure you carry a tracking beacon on you at all times" Lillith added
The driver looked over his shoulder.
"Duchess, we are a mile from the summer residence, shall I stop?"
"Stop here." Marina ordered
The driver stopped and kept the vehicle above the ground by increasing the power to the repulsorlift coils. Marina looked at the three new residents.
"It is a tradition that new member to the clan make their way by foot to the residence. However since Melissa is still recovering and young Ellia is still a bit young, we will give you the option to ride to the residence or take the walk."
Melissa palmed the door control. The frigid air streamed in, sucking all the relative heat from the cab.
"I believe I can manage a little stroll, need to get more active anyway. Just give me the directions."
"We will walk as well." Fay decided
"We will come with you." Lillith spoke for herself and Xena.
"As will I, I have not taken the walk in some time." Canderous spoke from the rear of the cab
Anaka shook her head and snuggled deeper into the blanket she had over herself. Melissa braced herself and dropped through the door and landed
in a snow drift covered up to her chest. Ellia seeing this jumped out immediately afterwards. Canderous, the twins and Fay stepped down the extendable ladder and settled on the surface. Ellia burst through from where she had landed and shook her head, sending snow flying
"I am doing that again." She declared enthusiastically
The adults chuckled and pulled them to the surface. Before starting to trudge after the departing transporter. After a few minutes, Xena dropped to one knee to examine some tracks.
"We got a bunyip close."She reported.
Lillith pulled her rifle from her back.
"I know, I am looking at it."
Melissa scanned the treeline, hand on her blaster pistol butt. Ellia pointed up.
"In the tree."She said
The bunyip was the size of a grown man. Grey and white fur with four elongated ears. Its claws were settled deeply into the tree branch it was crouching on. Xena gestured to Ellia to move back, but she shook her head and pointed at Xena's rifle instead. Xena looked to Fay who gave a nod of permission.
"She wants to learn the way and I will let her." She said
"You will feel the backlash from the Force." Melissa warned Ellia
"I know, Zaalbar has taken me hunting before." Ellia replied
"I will be talking about that later with him when we catch up." Melissa promised
Xena unshouldered her rifle and sat down behind the girl and helped her steady the weapon. Melissa prepared to give a force push if necessary and saw Fay prepping her lightsaber underhanded. She felt the warning the moment Ellia fired her shot and swung left, drawing her blaster. The shot hit the ambushing bunyip dead between its eyes, she heard Canderous firing to the rear and snap-hiss and thrum of a lightsaber being swung along with a salvo from Lillith to the right.
The attacking pack of six did not stand a chance and fell well short of the group. The twins were teasing Canderous for wasting meat with very little remaining of the rear attackers. He merely shrugged and pointed out that the three remaining bunyips were more than enough for a few meals. The three carcasses were being pulled behind them with the aid of of micro ropes, the force sensitives having been advised to not overtly use the force if they could prevent it.
Melissa gratefully sank into a soft chair in front of an actual fireplace and looked out the tall windows as snow was drifting gently down, feeling a bit exhausted, letting the chatter of the room flow over her as she sat in a corner. Ellia was in constant motion with a group of Mandalorian children with her. Having dragged a kill in with her, with Fay's aid, had given her somewhat of a hero status among the children. The willing eagerness of the three newcomers to learn and abide by the customs had erased a lot of the hesitance from the long term residents. For a moment Melissa felt saddened and slightly angered at having been denied the opportunity to grow up in group like this.
Marina sat down opposite her and studied her for a moment
"It is better to live in the moment than wallow in what could have been." Marina eventually spoke
"I know, just idle thoughts running around." Melissa replied, shaking it off.
Marina pointed around the room.
"Enjoy the relative silence while you can. When the clans arrive this place will be packed to the brim."
"When are they arriving? And anyone in particular I should look out for?" Melissa asked
"The Ordo's should arrive early tomorrow. I suspect the Kryze and Vizla clans later in the day. The Fetts, Djarin and Beltan clans will be travelling together so the day after for them. The Martell, Brevin and Tollay clans should be tomorrow night at the earliest. The others I expect two to three days. The twins will be by your side to handle the introductions and protocol for you and Fay. Ellia and the other children will be excused due to their age. Anaka will be acting as the Senechal for the duration."
"I was wondering why the Ordo's did not come with us or why Fay and Ellia did not go with them?"
"Daria had some business to take care of on their estate and by coming separately later there can be no allegations of collusion or treachery. As for Fay and Ellia, they are technically part of your house, that is till Lance can gather his courage again." Marina smiled.
The twins and Anaka came closer and seated themselves, by some unseen signal the others in the room edged away from that corner. Melissa gave a wry grin.
"Well you have me cornered. Just be gentle please." She quipped
"Just a bit of clan business first before we get to the real pain of sector politics." Xena airily replied
Marina sat up straight and the four gave her their undivided attention
"As you all know, Melissa will be petitioning the council for the Rite of Restitution to gain the clan name. Anaka, Xena, Lillith as the primary heirs do you have any objection to this?" Marina asked.
"None." Annaka replied, promptly
"None." The twins chorused.
Marina gave them a minute to really think about their answers.
"With that settled it brings up the line succession should she be granted permission." Marina continued.
"I believe it should still be the twins." Melissa stated
"Your father was the primary heir, as his daughter it falls to you." Anaka pointed out
"But is that what is best for the clan?" Melissa objected
"Explain your statement, please." Marina said
"Akana would have been next if not for the fact as she is married to Canderous, that their children is the primary heirs to clan Ordo, making her ineligible. The twins have been brought up and trained in the responsibilities to the clan, something I lack and having to constantly need to ask advice will undermine the image of the clan to outsiders and can cause dissension within. They are the best option for the security of the clan. Tradition is all well and good and should be preserved, but not to the detriment of the clan. Plus having a "Jettii" as a clan leader will only bring enmity from other clans."
"She has a valid point." Anaka stated, pensively.
"Just being part of the clan and family will already be more than enough for me, more than I could ever hope for."
Marina sighed and looked at the twins who nodded in assent.
"Fine I will announce your abdication to the clan and to the council. Remember if you abdicate there is no reclaiming primacy short of murdering everyone in the room."
"I know. And I accept that." Melissa solemnly stated
"To be perfectly clear, is this your final answer?" Anaka asked
"Yes, the primacy must go to the twins." Melissa answered
Xena slugged Melissa in the arm
"Thank you for giving us extra work, runt. Be warned it will come back and bite you in the ass." Xena said, with a smile
"I won't mind if you both are doing the nibbling." Melissa replied
"Ah, incest, a game for the whole family." Anaka remarked, drily
"Children. Don't make me send you to your rooms. We are not Death Watch." Marina groaned
"Speaking of, are there any of them coming? I really want to use the helmet question." Lillith asked innocently
"What helmet question? On second thought I do not want to know." Marina stated
The table groaned under the weight of the edible offerings placed on it. As the head of a minor and hopefully short lived house, Melissa was at the bottom of the table. She threw a mocking wave at the twins where they were seated at the right hand of Marina at the head of the table, trying not to alternately look bored or irritated. As single unattached heiresses to a powerful clan their marriage value had tripled the moment the news had come out.
"You know you can admit it, you stepped aside to miss all this courting nonsense." Karana remarked
"Then can you explain why I still received offers for my hand." Melissa replied
"Who made offers?" Karana eagerly asked
"I am not sure I can answer that." Melissa hedged
"Sure you can. Would your primary tutor lead you in the wrong?" Karana replied
A delicate snort came from the left. The voluptuous blonde haired girl pushed her hair back from her face
"Karana, we all know you will do anything to get some gossip." She said
"Astrid, you wound me. After all the years you have known me, you say such hurtful things." Karana, mock sniffed
"Nice try, I taught you that trick." Astrid scoffed
Melissa extended her hand
"Name is Melissa, seems my aunt is to busy being herself to do the polite thing."
"Astrid Aliit Kryze, Melissa Aliit Wren Aliit Ordo. Now spill."
"A few offered some minor sons, and no I will not give you the names."
Karana laughed delightedly at that
"Talk about getting your nav points wrong." She snickered
"I am missing something here." Astrid remarked
"My niece plays for the home team and is in a relationship." Karana clarified
"Single again, I am afraid things did not work out." Melissa sighed
Astrid placed her hand on Melissa's in sympathy
"I am sorry to hear that." She said softly
"You are also recently single I hear." Karana remarked
"Yes, but I am not looking for a rebound now." Astrid firmly stated
Lancelot leaned forward and pointed down the table to corpulent bearded man
"Remind me to introduce you to Yagamat later. He works for Mandal Motors. He is the one I showed your ship designs to." He said
"What did he say about them, I kind have forgotten about them." Melissa replied
"He said they had promise, but not viable to build." Lance shrugged
"Wait. You showed the plans to Yagamat?" Karana asked
"Yes." Lance replied confused
"In precise words how did he reply after the evaluation or better show me the report." Karana demanded
"There is no report. He said to build the ship engines would require several steps back in technology. The body designs would be doable" Lance answered
"Did you show the designs to anyone else at Mandal Motors?" Karana insisted
"No after what he said I thought it would be pointless." Lance replied defensively
"Lancelot you are a di'kut." Karana groaned
"Now I am missing something." Melissa said
"He is head of ancient ship technologies at Mandal Motors, a job given to him by his cousin." Astrid explained
"If we had archeologists he would have been the first one. If it is not ancient he does not care." Karana continued
Astrid turned to Lance
"Really, Lance. You could have come to me. I am a ship designer after all."
"I did not want to impose on you after the incident." Lance tried to dodge
"Incident, is that what we are calling it now?" Astrid raised an eyebrow
Lancelot hurriedly looked down the table where Fay and Ellia were sitting at the bottom.
"Please not here." He begged.
Astrid followed his look and smirked
"Has the great philanderer been tamed? Be still my beating heart."
He sighed.
"She is the one. Fine it was not one of my proudest moments and I should have apologised to you sooner. But how do you apologise for something like that. I did not want to take the chance to screw up a friendship even more, so I avoided you. I am so sorry" Lance apologised
"You owe my sister an apology and me a new bed. I burned the old one. But okay, you are forgiven" Astrid replied
Karana leaned close to Melissa's ear and whispered
"She caught him in her bed with her sister and her roommates, one may have been her girlfriend, They were six in one bed."
Astrid turned to Melissa
"Any chance I can see those designs?" She eagerly asked
"I have them on one of my datapads." Lance replied
He shuffled between identical pads and handed one over after opening the files
"How do you know the difference between seven pads?" Melissa asked
"A slicer knows his equiptment backwards and forwards." Lance replied
Astrid went stock still as she read from the datapad. She kept going forwards and backwards for several minutes
"We lost her for the night." Karana remarked.
Astrid looked up after rereading the file again
"Karana is right, you are a di'kut. I need to show this to my father and the board. These designs are unlike anything I have ever seen." Astrid remarked
"Again I am lost." Melissa said.
"Astrid works as her father's adviser at Mandal Motors, when she is not designing ships. He is the vice president of the company." Lancelot explained
"Excuse me, I will be right back." Astrid said, jumping up.
They saw her approaching a man higher up the table and excitedly showing the man the datapad, interrupting a serious looking conversation in the process. The man looked at the datapad in initial annoyance then like his daughter stilled. Holding up a hand to stop his conversation partner from speaking he kept reading. A question later had Astrid pointing Melissa out to him
"I see more credits coming your way soon." Karana predicted.
The two came rapidly down the table to where they were seated. The man addressed Melissa
"Clan Head Carpenter, I am Malik Aliit Kryze, representing Mandal Motors, can I have a moment of your time?"
"We are at a welcoming feast." Karana pointed out.
"As soon as the main meals have been served, I believe it is imperative that we speak."
"If the Duchess allows it, of course." Melissa replied
The man nodded and returned to his seat. Karana leaned closer
"Have both Buir's with you during that talk, they will make sure you get the beast deal possible." She whispered.
Atrid hurriedly sat down as Marina stood up to address her guests. Melissa turned her attention to the front table, something telling her she was going to be in for a long night.