"Of course you will, my boy! I shall insist on you and no other."
Polov shook Morris' hand with less vigor but equal sincerity.
"Stay persistent, Mister Polov, and don't let yourself believe for one milli that you can't accomplish something. Set your goals high; I know you will attain them."
Eisley skipped the handshake, threw her arms around Morris and hugged.
"I'll miss you, sir. I'm so glad I got to study under you."
"You're a fine student and an excellent hand at fixing things, Ms. Eisley. Set your goals high as well and don't forget what you learned. I enjoyed working with you, too."
"Is there any way we can convince you to stay here a while," asked Jena simply.
"No, my dear," said Rackwell, "We are sorely tempted but the League offered us the chance to study at the University of Metropole on Driikar. The semester is starting soon and I don't want us to miss it."
Morris smiled to himself. He'd already written the Tech Guildhall on Driikar with his recommendations for Polov and Eisley, and Rackwell if he so desired. He knew his fellow Techs would take care of his friends.
***
The shuttle dropped slowly toward the starport where this had all started... how long ago? Morris didn't bother adding up the days. For him it was a lifetime.
Morris and Jena parted company with Blakeschiff and Harper in a lounge that might have been the one from which they started. After a few last kind words a clerk brought a message that reps from Jena's company and Guild officers were en route.
"You have my combo," said Jena.
"Yes, and you have mine."
"I don't want to lose touch with you, Morris Taylor!"
"You won't. I don't have so many friends that I can just lose one. Besides, I promised you an introduction."
"You did! To a Tech who would answer my questions. Make it soon!"
Jena's people arrived then. After a brief introduction to the president of the company branch on Dracos and his executive assistant Morris found himself briefly alone with Jena.
"This is not goodbye," she said, "This is to make sure you really do call me!"
Morris had his hands open for a hug but Jena stepped in and kissed him. Hard. Squarely on the lips. With his lips still tingling Morris hugged her back.
***
Jake Reichsson hadn't changed at all. He had a few more white hairs and he looked even more solid. He still had a power-vise grip and the smile he gave Morris warmed him in a way he didn't know he missed. With him stood a tall and lanky man wearing senior coordinator tabs.
"Holy heaven's flames, Morris. You've been through hades and back, lad." After engulfing Morris' hand in his own Reichsson held him at arm's length and examined him. "Good to see it didn't break you."
"What," asked the other man, "One of our own break? That's blather and plenty of it." He offered Morris his hand. "I'm Ted Paoly, Senior Coordinator for this sector. It's an honor to meet you."
"And you, sir," said Morris. He felt the calluses on the hand he shook. Paoly hadn't forgotten his toolbelt!
As they walked Reichsson and Paoly talked.
"We powered up your apartment," said Reichsson, "but you may want to stay at the Hall a day or three. The media got word and they're already swarming our doors."
Just what Morris did not want to hear.
"Relax, Morris," said Paoly, "This is one of the things I handle. With your permission I shall take the press release the Navy so generously furnished, add what details you deem necessary and release it as our official and only word."
"Thank you, sir," said Morris, "I would appreciate that, truth pure and simple."
Reichsson chuckled. "Six sigmas on the beam, lad. We'll see to it you have an uneventful arrival 'till things settle down."
***
When Morris arrived at the Guildhall he found a surprise waiting. Reichsson told the truth but certainly not the whole of it! Reichsson the Unfailingly Blunt, Unsubtle and Straightforward tricked Morris cold. As soon as Morris cleared the door the lights came on and Kelven threw himself toward Morris.
"Great mother nebula," said Kelven with a hearty clap on the shoulder, "It's plain wonderful to see you, pure truth and no blather!"
Thrusting words aside Morris embraced Kelvin like a long lost brother. He couldn't speak over the cacophony of all the others in the room cheering: every Tech on the planet he'd trained, several more who had worked with him, many who could claim some connection and more who could not.
Morris felt a wash of kinship, of camaraderie he'd never felt before. These were his brothers and sisters, his family, and now he felt it. After a while he managed to isolate himself with Kelven.
"So how have you been," asked Morris.
"Good. Nothing exciting happens here."
"Not a bad thing. Excitement isn't worth its hype. So how is Ty doing?"
Kelven shook his head mock-sadly. "Alas, we are no more. We parted friends not long ago. I still have your combo if you're interested."
Morris chuckled. "Not right now, but maybe later. For now I have someone I want you to meet. She's looking for a Tech to answer her questions."
That startled Kelven.
"You've changed, Morris. I remember when the sight of this many people would send you to a far orbit." He looked at Morris appraisingly. "I've read part of the report. Was it... that way?"
Morris shrugged. "Kel, when you've stared down the barrel of the blaster that's going to kill you being mobbed by friends just isn't scary. I'll talk later, no blather. For now I just want to relax."
"Slib double-plus. Shall I call Sylvie?"
"Only if she has leather and oil and knows how to use them."
Morris and several others laughed at the stunned look on Kelven's face.
***
After a quick look outside the next day Morris decided not to leave the Hall. Media sharks, hawks and aces swarmed every entrance, all hoping for a glimpse of The Tech. After he grew restive in the library Morris rose and started walking. Before long his feet took him to the 'prentice workroom. Apprentice Techs sat at benches and tables there and worked to repair small and not-so-small items people brought them. Morris mentally kicked himself for not thinking of this: here was the rebuttal to the high prices the Guild charged! The people who brought the items knew the 'prentices would be working on them, possibly with uncertain results, and the Guild didn't charge for the service.
All the 'prentices recognized him. A murmur washed the room, only to quiet wherever his gaze rested. Finally one of the 'prentices stood up and walked over.
"Good morning, sir," said the young lady, smiling brightly, "Are... Are you here to inspect us?"
Morris examined the benches and tables and tools and equipment and other paraphernalia scattered through the room. He looked at the eager and sometimes anxious young faces, all staring back at him with expectation or sometimes worry. Most had their toolbelts but visibly lacked the skill with them they'd develop before long.
"For truth," said Morris, "if you don't mind I'd like to join you."
After a few long moments of silence one of the 'prentices cleared space. Morris sat, picked up an item, read the tag and started working. Before long conversation resumed and the people sitting around him started to relax. Then one of them came up to him with a question. The mildness of his answer and the thoroughness of the explanation impressed the 'prentice asking it and further relaxed the others.
After that first 'prentice returned to his seat another came with a question. Conversation resumed and more and more of the soon-to-be Techs brought Morris their questions. The confidence he saw in the ones he helped filled Morris with a satisfaction he normally associated with completing a truly difficult repair.
***
The next day fewer sharks swam around the Guildhall. Perhaps some other sudden sensation captured their interest. Morris cared not about the why, he simply enjoyed the what. Kelven finished his assignment early so they met for lunch.
; Morris told Kelven everything. He talked of Lydia, Kody, Harper and Harkin. He talked about Delroy and what he did. He talked about the last few hours with Jena, of teaching his class and of killing a man. Kelven listened through it all and it helped Morris to unburden himself, finally.
"Thanks for listening, Kel."
"That's what friends do, Moe. Just don't forget it."
Midafternoon Morris received word from Jena that Delroy decanted and was doing well. As Jackson said her injuries, while extensive, responded perfectly well to treatment. She also wrote of several official-looking men present when Delroy revived.
***
The next morning Morris received a message summoning him to a particular conference room. When Morris arrived he saw Paoly, several Coordinators he didn't know, a handful of Senior Masters and R. Drew Poltano, Senior Arbiter for the Unified Guilds.
Morris' heart sank. Reichsson mentioned the likelihood of a board review but Morris hoped he'd not face one. After a brief execution of formalities and introduction of the review panel they began questioning Morris.
The board reviewed every aspect of every action Morris had taken. They probed the why, the why not and the what else of everything he did and did not do. Morris showed himself no mercy. He knew his career, his life, perched on a balance and the Board would brook no evasion or diminution of responsibility. His good actions he defended as such and to his bad ones he posited possible alternatives. He did not overstate the former or understate the latter.
Through it all Poltano sat, stone-faced and impassive. Whether Morris spoke with passion or simple explanation Poltano's expression didn't change. Once or twice he nodded.
When they finished with Morris one of the Coordinators rose.
"We have here a document that the court martial did not. It is the sworn and witnessed statement of one Doctor Crystal Anne Delroy."
Morris braced himself. She would condemn him, of course, and rightly so. He felt badly, not for the punishment he would receive but for the brutal way he'd certainly earned it. What he did to her was unconscionable and nothing the Board could legally do to him would make things one milli better.
Then Morris listened to the words.
"... and in conclusion, though I do not agree with the actions Technician Taylor took I can see how his erroneous conclusions were drawn. What he did was reprehensible but given the factual errors, incorrect assumptions and misinterpretations his conclusions were unavoidable. He was not responsible for the physical injuries I sustained and he did in fact work diligently to repair them. It is my earnest hope that in the future he will endeavor to be absolutely certain of his facts before acting upon them. Signed, sealed, Delroy, Crystal A., PhD, ScD."
Morris couldn't believe what he heard. When he glanced down at the datapad before him the official transcript said exactly the same thing. That mattered little, though, since Morris still faced a plethora of bad decisions. The Arbiter called a recess pending decision and isolated the review panel.
Morris picked at his lunch. The range of possibilities of what the Board could decide flowed through his mind. He tried not to dwell on the worst and partly succeeded. Every Tech in the Hall knew the board had convened. Some knew why. It heartened Morris to see encouragement, defiance and calm certainty in the faces around him. Though all respected his silence they still managed to voice their confidence in him.
The panel signaled a decision two and a half hours after Poltano sequestered them. The board reconvened minus the arbiter, who conferred with them concerning their findings. Twenty minutes later the panel entered the room followed by Poltano, still wearing his stone face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, come to order please," said Poltano.
Morris rose and faced Poltano, his face expressionless. Regardless of the outcome he'd shown himself honestly. He determined to face his judgment without flinching.
"Technician Taylor. It is the duty of this Review Board to uphold the high standards of quality, integrity and ethics required of every member of the four Unified Guilds. These standards were established at the founding of our League and have been honed over the many years of its existence.
"The purpose of these standards is to ensure that every Guild member on any planet within or outside of the League performs the duties required of him or her in a proper, ethical and exemplary fashion."
Morris steeled himself.
"Over the course of your testimony you admitted to making more than a few erroneous choices with less than optimal results, some of which subjected both League and Halcyon citizens to dangers that could have been prevented. Is this correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Indeed." Poltano consulted his datapad. "During the time in which your review panel members were isolated they were allowed access to certain classified documents prepared by League Intelligence. These documents detailed the extraordinary measures the Consortium took to place its agent in our midst. They also postulate the degrees to which this abhorrent individual was trained. Suffice it to say that both were quite extensive and chilling.
"Ultimately, Technician Taylor, the question I posed myself and the members of your review panel was 'Could you have done better?' The answer to that question was a unanimous 'No.'"
Morris felt a thread of surprise but clamped it down quickly.
"In simple fact, Seigneur Taylor, if I restrict myself to only the standards set forth by the Technical Guild your performance was excellent. I, however, choose to apply the full measure across all of the Guilds.
"By those standards, Technician, your actions move from merely excellent to truly outstanding. The situation into which you were thrust was well above anything for which you were trained and certainly anything within your experience to date.
"You presented and judged yourself impartially, Technician Taylor, and I commend you for that, but in so doing you totally disregarded the rare and amazing degree of leadership and command you exhibited. You ignored the simple fact that ten people including yourself are alive thanks to your actions and choices. You also dismissed the fact that a potential disaster of interstellar magnitude was prevented by your discovery of the falsity of this Imperium site.
"Technician Taylor it is the finding of this Review Board that you acted in a fashion above and beyond the standards set by your Guild or any of the others. This means, of course, that the vote of this Board is for no censure whatsoever."
Morris sat by virtue of gravity alone. Numb with disbelief he watched as Poltano, the panel members and then the board members signed and sealed the acclamation. No censure. None! The board members, relaxed now, spoke softly with each other. Poltano hadn't finished, though.
"Technician Taylor, will you please rise."
Somehow Morris managed it.
"By prerogative of the office I hold I am going to usurp the privilege of your Guild and your supervisor. When Senior Supervisor Reichsson received your report and the other details of your mission he gave a recommendation. When this board convened he reiterated it in spite of and with no knowledge of any of the details revealed during its course. His recommendation was that you be elevated from Senior Master to Junior Supervisor. Again by unanimous acclaim this recommendation has been approved. Congratulations, Supervisor Taylor."
Poltano eyed the rest of the board critically as they signed and sealed this.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the board, is there any business remaining?"
None.
"In that case this Review Board is adjourned. So let the records show."
At that moment the doors burst open and a knot of cheering, whooping Techs led by Kelven McCrory swarmed in, hoisted Morris onto their shoulders and departed just as loudly. As the jubilant group noised its way through the halls Paoly leaned over to speak to Reichsson.
"There stands a fine man. He'll do us proud."
To which Reichsson responded, "He already has."
***
A week later Morris left and entered the Guildhall with impunity. No sharks
swam at the entrances and no aces lay in wait for a scoop interview. A huge political scandal broke out on the other continent and, like rotflies to a decomposing carcass, the media drones swarmed there now.
Morris felt good on moving back into his apartment. Even better now that he had more furniture and other accessories. On her first visit to see him Jena took one look at his apartment and frowned so hard Morris thought her cheeks would fall off. She then bullied him into agreeing to a change of decor and offered to help him with it. He liked the result. The apartment, always his, was now much more him. Jena's changes, though subtle, made a galaxy of difference.
Now Morris changed into his casual attire, gray cloak and trousers, white shirt, penlaser and minikit, and left for the restaurant. Tonight would be special.
The Respite looked especially good to Morris. He missed the place and the company. Kelven waved from a booth and Morris joined him.
"I'm glad you made it, Morris. I know tonight's your celebration night but you've been known to miss those on occasion." Kelven looked at the menu. "You ready to order?"
"Not yet. I'd like to enjoy the atmosphere a while."
"Polarity!" Kelven winked and ordered nibblers and drinks.
Morris surreptitiously checked his chrono. Right on schedule he saw Kelven's attention wrenched toward the doorway.
"Great mother nebula, Morris! Take a look at her."
Morris turned his head.
Her hair shone like polished gold. A ribbon speckled with gem chips winding through her shining locks only heightened the effect. She wore little makeup but needed none. She walked with an elegant nonchalance that drew every eye in the room to her. She paused a moment to look casually around the room. Then, on spotting her target, she sauntered gracefully to him.
"Hi Morris," said Jena with a quick hug and kiss, "I hope I'm not too late."
"Of course not," said Morris with a wink Kelven couldn't see, "Jena, I'd like you to meet Kelven McCrory. Kel, this is Jena Lace. She is... interested in Techs."
"Charmed," said Jena sincerely.
Kelven's reaction was everything Morris had hoped. He gaped like a fish on sand, tried to speak and finally managed to climb to his feet.
"Likewise, Signora."
"That's Jena."
Morris seated them with Kelven between himself and Jena. When she pulled out a drugstick Kelven fumbled at his pockets. Morris, who finally remembered to buy a lighter, used it to grand effect.