“That’s the trick, isn’t it? Easier to see what you don’t want than to know what you do. If my nephew continues to rule, millions will die. He would see worlds destroyed before he would let the empire change. I know this. I have witnessed it.” For t…
I raise an eyebrow at the vehement display from Mixter Archebelloch and regard xir mildly for a moment. Slowly I turn to study the captain’s reaction. His silence is, in some ways, as full of meaning as his companion’s outburst.
“No, my dear,” I …
I smile at my guests, perhaps a little distantly, and take a sip of tea, using the cup to hide the slight movement of my mouth as I speak into my subvocal mic. “Jun, please confirm all security and privacy measures are intact. Protocol: Grouchy Aunt…
For the last few days, I have reached out to personal contacts–rebellion and otherwise–in an effort to understand why the Council of Free Suns felt it necessary to attempt capturing Rei. I have always believed we could sucessfully court her into joi…
I watch the silent exchange between Xuan and the Captain. Between Xuan's use of rebel tech and my knowing Taru to an extent for which afternoon tea can not quite account, I'm afraid we have just outed ourselves in spectacular fashion.
This...unple…
“Commander Taru: stand by. Negotiating surrender. Evaluating possibility of maximal success on all mission parameters.”
“Pardon me,” I say, my eyes returning focus to the captain. “I had hoped that capture of the ship itself was Taru’s top priorit…
“Of course, Captain. Right away.” I move to an available crash couch and strap myself in with an efficiency and familiar ease that one does not expect from someone of my age and station. Indeed, the good captain has scarcely finished attending to th…
With the sickness lifted, the Tax Patrol out of business, and the other gangs put on notice about the protected nature of the route between Safeco and Pike, trade has flourished. The extra income has made some improvements possible. I have fixed up …
“Continue session: authentication and access assertions as established. Detail: nature of intelligence from Lord Kaluga. Extrapolate: motivation for current objective. Extrapolate: justification for acceptability of termination of targets in solutio…
I am startled by the shimmering form, but curious too. I start to reach out with my mind towards this other when Cujo takes my hand. My concentration wavers, and the form is gone. had it been someone else, I might have been angry, but Cujo…in tears.…
“Commander,” I respond. “Assert access level: privileged. Auxiliary authentication device role and destination: channel, Jun-Shi.”
I will be interfacing with Taru at the highest level of privilege available to my identity, authenticated by my ali…
"If you will excuse me, Lord Soyinka..." I say as I abruptly turn to leave. Then, on sudden impulse, I turn back to him. "Give her space. But not too much."
Then I'm off, moving through the corridors at a brisk pace, the walking stick held like a…
Watching the kiss, I walk to Nobu, and putting my hand on his arm, I say in a low voice, “It would seem that Her Imperial Highness has need for a private conversation with the captain of your guard.”
It is hard, allowing Aunt Zooz' words to carry me back to that time. Her account of things is overlaid on my own memories. The relief is almost overwhelming as she talks about Momma's plans for getting me out. I have carried this story with me all t…
When Aunt Zooz says she has something to tell me about Mamma, my heart clenches. For a while, I forget to breathe. I am not sure I want to know–but now, knowing that there is something, something else of Her, and that it is about to pass beyond reac…
When Tin Girl came to fetch me, she interrupted my very important business of staring at the broken golden ear, turning it over and over in my hand and replaying the last words Cujo said to me. I heard the approaching h-bike, though even my untraine…
I have decades of experience hiding my emotions, and yet, I find I must expend considerable effort to remain impassive under Rieva's glare. I do not know how much she knows and how much she suspects, but that glare makes it clear she does not hold m…
Seeing Rieva again saddens me. I can't bring myself to regret my part in her dismissal...but I have often wished that things could have been different.
I have never told Xuan. I am sure that in her youthful certainty of my overblown sense of deco…
Sensing that Xuan has had enough of my meddling for one afternoon, I join Rei.
“I’m very glad to have you still among us, my dear,” I say to Rei while giving the captain a look of mild rebuke. First thing's first. The woman nearly killed herself a…
I give Xuan a slight bow of approval--not much more than an inclination of my head. I look at Rei with the same bow. I do not smile. A smile in this context is too dangerous a thing. Xuan would see it as patronizing, and Rei would think I'm gloating…
"Oh, my! I really have missed all the excitement, haven't I? It has been quite some time since I have traveled with a group so...diverse in their understanding of social norms." I walk toward the assembled group, clearly taking my time, my walking s…
I look at Rain, at the others. "The Forest's thoughts did not include anything about keeping us here. It even would allow these two to leave," I say, gesturing at Riesling and Arkansas.
Pull Gates' strings? If it were someone other than August, I might think it was only an expression. But August has seen me do exactly that. The night she called upon me for help with Millions flashes through my head. My ability to turn someone into …
Thank you, Jun, I say, rising from my chair, momentarily forgetting to use my walking stick. “I believe it is time for ‘Private Johannesburg’ to get to a shuttle.” I straighten my hat as I walk out the door. "Oh, and Jun? Do see if you can route Rei…
My lips compress into a thin line, and I am about to launch into a discussion about propriety and the obligations to one's creator, but Jun's discussion of this other crew member sounds an odd note. It is unlike Jun to make observations without a go…
I am most afraid of losing my mother. Since that terrible night of thunder and rage, I have carried her memory like a secret treasure. It has sometimes been my only companion. I have let it fuel my hatred of my father, her murderer, and my desire fo…
Evacuating the ship? I rather hope not. I was beginning to like it here.
I grip my walking stick and rise from my chair. Crossing to Xuan's door, I rap on it with the head of my walking stick. "Excuse me, Lady Xuan" Getting no answer, I rap again…
"The Forest says they are here of their own free will and that they can leave anytime," I say to August.
"As to whether there is no part of them that wants to come back with us?" I shrug. "Who can say? Is there not some part of you that wants to …
I continue to back away from Arkansas, a little less hastily, now that I have felt the Forest's mind. I am still cautious, but my fear of being overwhelmed by the Forest's mind has melted away. My eyes flick between Riesling and Arkansas, and I wipe…