Chapter Twenty-two
Four grinning people, three of them in resplendent uniforms, came into the bar. One winked at Ballin and they headed straight for the booth.
"Got to be them. Took that test fifteen years ago and still remember how hungry I was when I finished, but I don't think I was that hungry."
"You also weren't that young, Myrlee. We're a self-appointed escort group. Who's Talisman?"
"The one they're holding up between them. His brain is sludge and his body is numb."
"Shelter Hadlain, Shel. Members of my family, Tal, Tommy, Mandy, Lola and Li."
"Lasser Thimichi, Joremba Noomin, Myrlee Harthicor and I'm Parkin Moschvy, captains all. You told them they couldn't talk about it, huh?"
"Everyone doesn't have someone to compare notes with. I told them no talk and worked at radiating confidence in them, in lieu of mutual reassurance."
"I feel kind of dumb for not being sure there was something wrong. I was just sort of upset that I hadn't studied the right stuff well enough. I knew what the right answer was most of the time, but I knew I hadn't really studied it. Shel, I can still be your operations officer if I'm a captain, but I'll take the test if you think I should."
"You don't have to take the test, Tal. Captain covers it just fine, as far as I'm concerned. We were working to be two three-person crews. We evidently team studied a bit more than we realized."
"I asked myself what Shel would do, a lot."
"I remember asking myself what my captain, at the time, would do several times. Joremba bought a one person ship and a study guide. We think of that as doing it the real hard way."
"Knew what I wanted to do with my life and had saved up the down payment."
"What study guides did you use?"
"The most recent edition we could find. The Imperial Fleet put out new ones about a half-year ago. They're available from the Imperial Library."
"Not you too? Why is everyone so surprised an organization that has been operating more ships than any other for about eight hundred years, and recruits with the promise of useful training for civilian careers, puts out good study guides for ship position licenses? There was stuff in the hands-on part of that test that wouldn't have been in a two-year-old study guide because it wasn't patented then, which is, of course, why Lola looked for the most recent edition for us. Hospinny Corp flow regulators became the industry standard the day they produced the first one using their newly patented sensor. It was very interesting rebuilding one, considering that none of them have failed in use and probably won't without external cause for about twenty years yet."
"I believe she set a new record."
"So do I, Jo, but I'm still working on she just moved things out of the way."
"Captain Harthicor, she may weigh more than you do. She's a little thing, but packed with muscle. She weighed about what Lola did before I started dragging her to the gym for workouts. Now Lola weighs more and looks sleeker. The reason I did it is obvious. Captain Noomin is very muscular. He probably works on his ship himself and moves his cargo himself. In space, he takes care of himself. That muscle translates as stamina when he needs it. A three-person ship is less dangerous because there are three, but we won't have cargo handlers and crews on rotation in engineering. He keeps him and his ship in shape and he stays alive and makes a living."
"You're right. You're also about to be a captain, Mandy. First names. I'm Jo."
"I'm only Captain when I'm on the ship, run into passengers other places or looking down my nose at someone. You look done."
"I suppose ten empty plates does make that obvious, Myrlee. We need to pay Ballin for what was on them and get our ship bags."
The captain's lounge was a very pleasant place with a beautiful view of Silvern out large observation ports. They'd been there about an hour when a woman who had just come in walked up to the table and smiled, somewhat maternally, at Tal.
"Hello. I was told the person who got my test was in here. I'm complaining. An operations console would have been easier for me than a gravity generator with a faulty regulator. I wouldn't have been holding my stomach down with one hand. Aster Lee, about to be captain, I hope."
"Talisman Hadlain, about to be captain, they tell me. I'm still a little confused about how I feel in general about it, but I am sure I'd have rather worked on the console than the gravity regulator too. If I was supposed to work on one, which I'd have known I wasn't, if I had. I don't think I can make that make sense."
"Under the circumstances, that's reasonable."
"Aster, if you're like we were, you'd like polite short and food fast. I'm Mandy. Sit down. I'd be delighted to get you a plate of snacks to get you to the point where not moving too fast to catch becomes prefer from the menu."
"Excellent description. Please. They are, literally, giggling down there. I walked out of the testing area, two people started to talk, started to giggle and motioned me on. Geery did get all the way through the explanation, but I wasn't sure she was going to make it. She said she didn't think she'd be far behind me with your credentials, but wasn't sure. The young fellow who operates the plaque printer is giggling so hard she may have to do it. She also said tell you she found a copy of one in the library, it's organized much better and they're changing their study guide recommendations."
"Lola may have, probably, checked organized. I wanted most recent because Li rattled off three things in engineering making the companies that came out with them in the last two years a great deal of credit."
"I'm sort of tech crazy. My mother said it was my first word and I had something apart when I said it."
"I know the man who set the old record nine years ago and he's like that. I'm going to console him with the fact you're at least ten years younger than he was when he took it and point to his son, now twenty. I get out of breath listening to him talk."
Tommy and Lola laughed and Tal and Shel grinned. Li smiled and said they obviously knew exactly what she meant. Tommy told Aster that Li wasn't 'talkative' and he'd decided it was like knowing what she could and couldn't lift in engineering. She knew how long it would take to catch your breath and process what she'd said and waited until you were done to give you the next burst, about four days. Geery walked in, held up plaques and the captains cheered. She brought them to the table.
"Linlola Hadlain, Operations Officer. We're submitting all your recommendations for procedural changes to the Imperial Space Safety Commission. Thomin Hadlain, Chief Engineer. You beat the old record too, by about six seconds. Angeli Hadlain, Chief Engineer. The whole station is saying 'Thirteen twelve?!' Expect to be swamped by chief engineers. They're looking for you and captains will probably be getting comm calls to get them in when they figure out where you have to be. They asked how you scored and got a giggle for an answer. Mandala Hadlain, Captain. You did very well. One of the best scores we've had in a long time. Shelter Hadlain, Captain. You got the best score period. I won't say what or by how much because policy is pass or come back and try again. Your answers to the command decision questions were... perfect. I will say you didn't miss any of those. Now this one. It feels strange to be handing someone a very much earned captain's license, a much better than average score, and feeling like we owe that person an apology. Since that's the highest credential there is, and we do owe the apology, we're resolving the conflict with a champagne toast. I saw you drinking an ale and you're not about to take a ship or shuttle out of dock, so I won't check if you'd prefer non-alcoholic. Aster, we don't have much doubt you're going to pass, so do celebrate with them with either type."
"I'm not driving."
"Keniddy, a bottle of the best, please! Captains, this is on the bunch giggling downdeck because the joke is! We know we're going to be teased! We beg mercy! It's hard to get any work done when we're all blushing and giggling!"
"Non-alcohol on the left, Captains! It's more expensive than the strong stuff, so drink lots of it!
They deserve the bill!"
"Oh, thank you, Ken. Talisman, would you open the bottle, please? Is it cold enough to pop safely, Ken?"
"Too cold for champagne. Point the cork up at an angle so it doesn't hit anything til it starts dropping. Of course, if you want to hit Geery with it, as long as it's not in the head, she can handle it."
"Oh, thank you again, Ken."
"I'll be ready to catch champagne. When cork pops, it follows. Push it up with your thumbs, Tal, about a forty degree angle that way."
"Move a little, Shel. I've never shot one of these before and you may be sure I'm not going to hit you, but I'm not. Just push."
"Yes, Captain Talisman, just push."
The cork popped, captains cheered and Shel caught overflow. There wasn't a great deal. The champagne was too cold for champagne. Tal poured for them all, then Shel handed him the first 'overflow' glass and raised his. Geery smiled. She thought it appropriate he give the toast. His deep resonant voice was very nice for it too.
"Captains! Our family is very proud of each member of it. One of those not here said she suspects there's a fairy who's not sure Tal isn't one of them and keeps him sprinkled with fairy dust just in case. I'm beginning to wonder if 'sprinkled' is an understatement. I think he's coated in it and it rubs off on everyone around him in smiles and giggles. Captains, our Talisman. Captain!"
"CAPTAIN!!"
The shouted chorus was a challenge to the sound dampers and they surrendered. Geery was sipping champagne when she suddenly realized Shel had dodged giving their surname when everyone was paying attention. She nodded to Mandy and she tipped her head down to hear quiet words.
"Perfect. We'll say there is one and the captain finished more than six under, but not who. We'll also say it wasn't a kid. I'll steer the bunch to 'lucky charm on the bridge and Angel in engineering.' Most who hear it won't remember it's Angeli. It will decrease recognition on Talisman a bit too. We'll talk about the sweet kid who still looked a bit bewildered when I handed him the champagne bottle. He'd studied very hard and he didn't get what he had worked for, but the celebration did seem appropriate."
"Thanks. People who want to congratulate others are very nice, but they can slow down the cargo loading."
"I'll tell them you said that. Shadill?"
"Time to ask Tommy. Hey you, with the pretty red hair, lean in. She has good ideas, but neither of us know whether to push, muffle or not worry about Shadill."
"Shadill is an assumption. You've heard the Toscan chapel on Gerridy may be performing non-Shadill group marriages because people want them. The Shadill proved they provide well for children. If not already, soon. A wedding ring is a wedding ring and the Shadill borrowed putting it in the ear from a bunch of service techs on Asnear Station. Many groups of three or four stable relationships ready for kids, or singles who have kids and can handle vowing fidelity with six or seven good friends, may be saving for passage. The tax break they'll get if they run any kind of family-owned business will pay for it in a few years if they're coming from Empire Sector. Rumor is the church is looking at the idea of marrying several married couples together, to give their kids the same stability and get the tax breaks. If there are individual vows of fidelity within the group marriage, they certainly aren't worried about being able to keep the one for that one. Remind people we didn't actually say we were Shadill and catch yourself making the assumption a couple times. The others will make the effort and spread the word so people know the chapel may be doing it and 'everyone' who wears a group marriage ring isn't immediately assumed to be Shadill. I'm too happy in my big marriage not to be sure there are others out there who would be. In this case, if we can't do something about it, the imperium will. Those people want to protect their children financially and 'protect' is a word that gets action. Clue Ballin the idea is spread the word there is, or will be, a place if they're looking. Whether they want fifteen or three doesn't matter, group is over two. Tell him we'll talk, but Li is sure somebody should and we may be paying for a personal letter to the emperor if they say no. Considering recent events, we're rather sure he'd end up reading it if we addressed it 'the guy at the palace.' He'll help. The assumption will still be made, but it will be known to be one and might help someone. It may also slow the push to discriminate against the Shadill a bit, at least here."
"Very nice, Tommy. The Shadill want all kids protected, not just theirs. They obviously agree with the Toscan church that marriage means fidelity. Both think it's a good way to prevent people, who just want the tax break, from advertising for others with small businesses with mutual tax reduction as goal. I hope the church does say yes, for specifically that reason. They can require it. A secular agent can only ask if they want to give it. I think you're all going to be surprised how many group marriages already exist in spirit and want to make it legal. Most of those will be small, three to five people. You probably know of one."
"Yes, Mandy, I do, but I think of group marriage as Shadill and they don't do three. I know a woman and two men who deserve to be able to state their stable relationship of sixteen years is a marriage, with a little ring in their ears."
"We'll take the church a tool just for the purpose that includes welder and heat sinks and a doctor to teach how to use it if she thinks it necessary. We don't need it anymore. We'll supply a small stock of rings, but people should bring their own. Size and placement are fixed, but material is their choice. The Shadill picked how big and where for safety reasons. A big hoop with a big stone might be an attractive idea, but a tiny one of each is safe and that's more important in the long run."
"I have three tiny rubies. I've had them for years and never decided how I wanted to use them. I guess I was waiting for the right suggestion."
"A millimeter thick, seven-point five in diameter. They'll probably hang at, or near, the bottom so design not to scratch cheek. Shouldn't be hard."
"I know just the jeweler to do it. She'll probably have a case full of designs on display in ten days. She can do tiny, no scratch, elegant in more than one way. I'll tell her make sure she has some of the simple elegant without the cost of stones too."
"Remind people 'silvery' is for Silvern, not Shadill, because Silvern gave the idea a chance. Ours are white gold because wedding rings and gold go together in Shel's mind."
"You had no trouble with that, did you?"
"With... Oh. We amazed ourselves, but it's so much the feel of him. It's not just us. People who'd been battling a half-year to at least remember the right title if they couldn't remember to say the name suddenly had no trouble. All of them just fit. Mine was a real surprise. It's like it was what my mother really intended, but she didn't find the exact word. They're legal changes. We just filed them a bit more directly than most do the day after their wedding. Ow. Suddenly missed the others."
"I'll tell a friend you get the only copy of the security record to take home. Log entry: 'Geery was telling me about it and I was giggling. Must have hit move, not copy. A bit aggravating I can't give it to her at her retirement party in about fifteen. Would have been great.' She understands 'can slow down cargo loading' too. I'll tell her she does."
"Mandy, more? You got your captain's license too."
"Definitely, Tal. Shel, the bottle is about empty."
"Keniddy! I want to celebrate officially belonging here by buying two more bottles! Give me a receipt please! I may have it framed!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The captains present laughed and Aster asked him where they were going after they left Silvern. He grinned and told her to buy formal wear. She didn't have any difficulty identifying the reference.
"Actually, it's about the most sensible place for us to go first. They'll tell us all about where the silks, satins and brocades came from and who made them into what where. Trade figures don't tell you if the satin from a particular textile maker shimmers and the brocade makes it difficult
to pull your gaze away. The artist in cloth who uses it does and no words are needed to know if it will be profitable at any... reasonable price."
"You'll make a good luxury goods trader, Shel. You understand both parts of it."
"I've lived on a budget and operated on one before, too. The family has enough for good equipment and time for us to learn. Like any family of any size, each of us bring what we have to it. If that's nothing but a willingness to work, you bring equal value, all you are and all you have. It's more difficult for a person with much greater assets. That person knows the value of what the others bring and large assets swamp the small savings account proudly and carefully built. I knew a wealthy woman. Not many knew she was. She fell in love and married a working man. She told me she spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to 'sneak it in' before they got married. She finally just handed him the account record about twenty days before the ceremony. He said he wanted a new car, a new set of tools and a very, very nice ten-day honeymoon before he took them to show them off at work. He'd already scheduled the vacation time, but he was sure they had time to find some place very-very, before it started. With a large marriage, it's a bit easier to sneak things in. I'm still sure I know who brought it, but I'll probably never learn if I'm right. One day an account with a surprising amount of credit just appeared in the budget workup. No one who helped is talking either. The result is we're looking for the right cargo to start with in a ship that we know is good because we refitted it and did most of the tech work ourselves."
"If you decide you want a liner berth, let me know. I have the feeling they really wanted to stick little silver stars all over that plaque."
"I studied very hard. It's been a very long time since I've taken a test. Since I did, they did."
"No study guide can teach command. It's something that can be learned if one has a wide responsible streak and true respect for the opinions and abilities of others. You command. You command your marriage. That didn't make you wince because you completely understand the difference between giving orders and command."
"Shh. I was once a military officer. I won't say in what service. I had good commanders who taught me that by very good example."
"You're not Shadill."
"Uh... "
"I won't say that to anyone else, but I'm sure of it because I'm sure your marriage formed around you."
"It just... happened. Finding someone to perform a group marriage isn't easy, an extreme understatement. We could function as a family, but that isn't enough. We wanted to make vows of love and fidelity as well as give our children the protection of legal marriage. The Shadill have thoroughly demonstrated the value of both. We bought a farm with a big house on a semi-agra world and there, one who saw it was true marriage, a neighbor, heard our vows and gave us our little rings. Several more of our neighbors witnessed. Her husband said he'd find a way to get it filed. He managed to do it, pulled years of experience doing record searches into play and found a way. Group marriage isn't illegal. It's just damn difficult to find someone to perform it. Li has decided that will be corrected. The Toscan church has no requirements, but a vow of fidelity. We're going to talk to them about how much love there is in our marriage and how important that recognition we are a family is to us. There will seldom be a big marriage like ours, but there are hundreds of functional families of three or four on every world, who have been together for years. They should have the legal recognition and protection of marriage for their children. They should be allowed to state they are married in the true definition of the word; lifelong love, fidelity and legal, damn it, recognition. She thinks they might be able to marry marriages, so couples who have been friends and worked to build futures for their children together for years can take advantage of the lower tax on family businesses, because that's the purpose of it."
"Good."
"You know someone too. I think most people do. You're going to be a liner captain. Would you perform a group marriage?"
"No, because I couldn't back it up. The word 'couples' appears too many places. One being in the explanation of my authority to marry them and how I file marriages I perform that the company gave me. However, some liners stop at Gerridy and I'd certainly be delighted to order the same treatment for a group as I would a couple who chose a special place to be married on the cruise."
"Would you do that for homosexuals?"
"It aggravates me that question caused me to hesitate before answering. I would if I didn't think it would cause them difficulty."
"It's a command decision. They can only be made when the situation is known. Would it have required a command decision a hundred, even fifty, years ago?"
"Well, I remember fifty. No. No, it would not have."
"Someone is paying for the spread of bigotry. I overheard two people discuss the fact a person can't possibly afford the shuttle trips from the planet and all the drinks bought, as a way of getting people to listen to what one called a 'hate campaign,' today. How many times have you heard the word 'unnatural' said by someone buying people drinks? Someone is paying for it."
"Agreed. I didn't see it, but I have seen it. I'll point it out to some others who haven't and have."
"Hopefully, enough will see it that the imperium is not forced to step in."
"What?"
"Read the treaty. I did. Empire citizens are being attacked and their rights infringed upon. The treaty this sector signed with the imperium requires it to stop that. There's too much money paying for hate for any hate group to be doing it. The goal is make the imperium step in and Yarrow sector, or at least planets in it, refute the treaty in anger for the interference. Someone is preparing for a campaign of conquest and the empire fleet is in the way. There's no other explanation that fits too many things being paid for. Believe me, I looked for one. If any world says no person whose authority to perform marriages comes from the government will marry homosexuals, the imperium will be forced to take action. The world won't like it. They aren't 'normal' people. Everyone knows you don't want them around children. If the imperium was truly protecting people, they'd do something to prevent that, not tell you the things you were doing to assure it must be stopped. We're being manipulated by someone who has made a very thorough study of history and human psychology."
"I had an odd thought."
"Yes, it was odd when I had it too. I don't know enough for it to be more. I don't think any current empire sector is under threat of military attack. I think the goal is keep worlds that are from yelling they have a treaty ready to sign and send the fleet as an escort for the signer. So, reduce the size of the fleet by reducing the size of the empire. No war for more than six hundred years has definitely laid a very thick layer of dust on the memory of the reason the empire has two hundred fifty-five worlds and the fleet watches over them all."
"Yes, it has, but I think people feel a threat."
"Of course, that's why the plan to make them suspicious of anyone different is working so well."
"A very thorough study of human psychology."
"We've been assembling the reference materials since the beginning of recorded history and I can't find a damn thing on the psychology of the other three species we've met. That's deliberate. Human 'ologists' collect everything about every culture that's discovered or develops. They have the same amount of information as they did four hundred years ago and that was the official reply to requests for information that would help us understand them. We gave them our libraries and they gave us a pamphlet."
"You're telling me this for a reason. Have you defined it for yourself yet?"
"I've seen it. You see it. It would be odd if the people whose job is watching for threat haven't. The fleet is always here. I think we may start seeing it is a bit more. Not a base or presence, the smile and wave of a station security officer in passing, the stop in for a friendly cup of tea after a shift. The smile and wave in return from a
liner captain will teach many who are surprised by it the right response. They're friendly people doing a good job watching for threats to us. It's nice to know they're there if needed and especially nice to know they'll probably see the need before we need to yell for them, just like the friendly and competent station security people."
"The analogy is very good and it would never have occurred to me."
"You've never been a security officer. You don't realize how much training there is behind that friendly wave. 'Relax. We're here if you need us. We're watching to see you don't. We'll notice if someone makes you hover over the cash drawer, probably before you do.' This whole sector is hovering. The security people will have noticed."
"A rather checkered career before you got married and decided to be a trader?"
"No, just two jobs, but they were both basically the same one the fleet does. Watch over people. Be ready to move fast if they need you. Moving up to a desk did not appeal to me."
"I can see that. The one I'm getting wouldn't appeal to me if there wasn't a great deal more than a desk to it."
"Shel, I've got to get back. Mandy said people who want to congratulate one are very nice but can slow down loading cargo. We'll do what we can to keep from pointing out who to congratulate."
"She's right. Thank you."
"I plan on quoting her. Most of us down there wouldn't have our jobs if we hadn't loaded cargo, or at least watched to see it was going to be done in time for scheduled departure. TC gets real aggravated if you call at the last minute and ask for a reschedule in twenty."
"I'll quote around a bit up here for them, Geery. You know we all understand it. I've been waiting for a large number of chief engineers to start comming and informing captains they're meeting them at the door and bringing them in as guests."
"I think maybe I'll ask for an early shuttle pickup. Tal is edging a bit closer with every congratulation. He's tired and an ale and two glasses of champagne may have several wishing for a pillow and a flat place. I don't yet, but twenty-two-plus sounds like a long time to wait to find one. The very nice people who brought us won't mind at all. Four days to register a ship is a bit more than it really requires."
"Very nice people. TC may not be able to get them in before the scheduled time, Shel."
"Then I may pay a night in a hotel for a few hours."
"Try the Gossamer if you decide to. They'll probably understand few hours and flat place and not charge for six for a night."
"Thanks."
"Welcome. Say hello when you come this way, and good-by before you leave."
"We will."
"I'm going to head that way and spread a quote while I shovel in a great deal more food. It was nice meeting you. I'll remember our chat, even if the rest of the last four days is a bit blurred."
"Thanks, Aster."
"Shel, we should go shopping."
"For what, Lola?"
"For about five-and-a-half hours."
"I was thinking of an attempt at a shuttle reschedule or a hotel for approximately the same time period."
"Shopping. Tommy said."
"Then we shop."
"You looked at your plaque yet?"
"No middle name and renewal is eight years, not ten. Let's obviously sneak out."
They picked up their ship bags and 'tiptoed' toward the door. The captains laughed and applauded. Aster told two Shel thought Tal really wanted a pillow and a flat place, not more champagne, and she thought he deserved a nap if that's what he wanted. They agreed. Five minutes later the comm got busy and a number of captains told disappointed people "Angel Engineer" was probably tucking a very young new captain in for a nap.