Chapter Twenty-seven
On Boniface, a man walked into fleet headquarters, confessed he was a spy and named others. He hadn't known he was working for an enemy. A woman walked in, said she worked for the Brennemer Union and told them everything she'd learned. The Union had been looking for where the addictive drug produced in a very large facility in their space was intended to be sold and had suspected it was the empire. They'd found the facility by following the trail of chemicals used in the production of the drug. She'd learned what they wanted to know when the plan to create housing shortages near university campuses was revealed. She was thanked as an agent of a friendly power.
The person who had attempted to kill the governor of Relatross sector was arrested on suspicion of criminal conspiracy. He began talking as soon as the planetary police arrived at his condo door, in hopes they'd protect him from an organization that removed anyone who might consider an offer of leniency in exchange for information. He confessed before they had a chance to tell him the charge. The attempt had been because the governor had bought a home on Valer close to a planned market expansion. He had a great deal to say.
The financial connection to nine worlds was made and the full defense fleet was moving eleven hours later. A message, of course, was sent to the wings of the fleet currently in the sectors, but it would be awhile before it reached them. This time, no spies sent messages it was moving and the press carefully didn't mention it either. No one did. The empire was at war with 'someone out there.'
Jon nervously delivered eight formal "outfits" to Nightdancer and Tommy whooped, yelled for comm connect and told Jarim to get there. Lola commed Kiri and said she had an incredible gown waiting, but she wasn't at all jealous. Jon smiled widely. It was the only gown and Jarim's was the only other outfit that was somewhat traditional in styling, though the materials weren't. The soft draping of the pale green Shimmery silk jacket, over forest green pants and lace 'ruffles' on the front and cuffs of the snowy silk shirt made it a great deal less "boring" than most.
Mandy's outfit was deep blue Shimmery silk over a fitted pale blue Shimmery silk and white lace jumpsuit. The bolero jacket sleeves weren't sewn from shoulder to cuff. They were held together with four delicate white-gold chains and 'cuff linked' with large emerald-cut 'blue topaz.' The softly draped pants were open from the top of the thigh to loosely linked cuffs just below the knee and held together with eight chains. Her shoes were sandals made of deep blue satin ribbon and wrapped around her calves, over lace, to where they tied just below the pant cuffs. Her necklace was a white gold oval just a bit thicker than her wedding ring, with four smaller blue topaz set five cens apart on a chain, the bottom one laying between her breasts on the lace inset in the light blue bodice of the jumpsuit. She carefully 'dusted' her eyelids with the light iridescent blue powder Jon had brought and deepened the color of her lips with the rose gel. She brushed her very short light brown curls to gleaming and smiled at her reflection. She'd never felt as beautiful in anything she'd worn before.
Lola fastened the mid-calf-length skirt of overlapping panels of delicate aqua lace and turquoise Shimmery silk around her hips, over the long-sleeve, deeply draped, teal Shimmery silk body suit, with lace cuffs edged with turquoise silk. She put on the teal slippers, added the waist-length, flared, sleeveless vest of wide bands of lace between narrow strips of silk, spun around and smiled when the vest 'floated' and the skirt panels lifted to reveal her legs. She put on the narrow, white gold, serpentine chain necklace with three little emeralds on it, dusted her eyelids with aqua, put on the coral lip gel and brushed her long chestnut hair.
Li set the ruby in her navel and giggled. She tied the ruby ribbon-sandals around her ankles and put the deep rose and ivory lace hip-length, long-sleeve jacket over the pale rose bandeau and wide-leg pants, which draped from a wide, fitted, lace-covered band around her hips. She fastened the long narrow chain with ruby pendant around her neck, used the pale 'rosed' violet dust on her eyelids and the deep rose gel on her lips. She brushed her collar-length, wavy, medium brown hair and admired the way the legs of the pants wrapped around her legs when she spun around. She was very pleased. Nothing she'd ever worn before had accented her very womanly proportions as well as what Jon had designed for her. She looked at the ruby in her navel again and giggled.
Tommy fastened the loose, two-cen wide, white-gold serpentine belt around the long, softly-draped, ivory silk shirt with lace at the throat and cuffs and put on the hip-length, long-sleeve, burnt orange and russet brocade jacket with red-gold satin lapels. His pants were fitted leggings of the red-gold and his shoes were sandals of russet satin ribbon. He added the very large topaz pendant that fit just below the lace, adjusted the sleeves with three topaz buttons, so the lace draped nicely over his hands, brushed his softly curling hair, so it laid on his shoulders and headed for the living room. He felt very ready for a ball and the outfit was not boring.
Shel smiled at his reflection. Jon had chosen the pale golden-yellow Shimmery silk for his tightly-fitted shirt and citron as buttons for it. The pants were fitted midnight-blue Shimmery silk with a gold stripe up the side and topped by a cummerbund of deep gold satin with white-gold brocade. The lapels of the fitted waist-length jacket were the same. Two larger citron buttons, obviously set in white-gold, closed it neatly below his ribs. His cufflinks matched the buttons. It was a rather military style, though not for several millennia, and he liked it immensely. He hung the wide chain made of thin white-gold links around his neck and centered the citron over the others just below the high, but soft, collar of the shirt, then put on the braided-gold-ribbon shoes. He was ready.
Tal's outfit was of many colors, but all were shades of silver, from the iridescent white of the shirt with little sapphire buttons, to the deep charcoal Shimmery silk, mid-calf-length pants, with pearl gray cuffs linked with small sapphires. The back of the waist-length jacket was a vee the color of the pants from his shoulders to a point at the bottom with soft medium-gray on each side. It was double-breasted and buttoned with four sapphires below his ribs. The front was wide dark lapels on pearly pale gray and the cummerbund that showed just a bit beneath it was the medium gray. He adjusted the points of the soft, open shirt collar on the lapels, put on the narrow white-gold 'headband' with the sapphire Jon had said went just below his hairline in front, then fluffed his satiny black curls over it. He tied the dark charcoal ribbons of his sandals at the top of his calves and shook the pants down. He looked down at his toe ring and smiled. The outfit showed off his masculine physique and the headband did accent his wedding ring.
They all came into the living room about the same time and grinned at each other. Their guests were announced at the hatch and the six went out to join them. Kiri looked at the group and stood with her mouth open, until Jarim nudged her.
"I... knew he had talent, but... "
"I don't think he needs a credential either, Kiri. Your gown and Jarim's outfit prove he can do traditional as well as anyone whose designs are in the finest shops here. Ours prove he can do a great deal more."
"You look like who you are, Shel. I mean... "
"We know what you mean, Kiri. People could find us by being told our names, especially Talisman and Mandala."
"And you, but Tommy and Lola and Li too, whether or not all their names were given."
"That's because our short names sort of say more who we are than the whole thing, but I feel more like Angeli tonight than usual. But I have to not look down, because every time I see the ruby I giggle."
"I like it."
"So do I, Tommy, or it wouldn't make me giggle."
The greeter at the door blinked when they walked in. She didn't ask who they were. She asked where they'd gotten their clothes. Kiri laughed and she recognized her and remembered what she was supposed to be doing. She apologized and Shel grinned.
"Here. Jon designed them for us today, all of us, and knew just who could get them made by tonigh
t. Kiri, I don't even know his surname."
"Benkirsk."
"The kid?!"
"That's the one. I'm Captain Shelter Hadlain. These are Captains Mandala and Talisman Hadlain. We have reservations for eight."
"Welcome, Captains Hadlain, guests, and guest of the captains, Jarim Harmodis. Your table is right in front of the dance floor, Captain. The orchestra conductor has the things you left with the club manager and knows when to give them to you."
"Good. When I learned there wasn't a host, I wasn't sure I should have left them."
"The orchestra is always from one of the ships. The conductors are quite used to filling the roll of master of ceremonies, as well as directing an orchestra. The banquet feature this evening is Kilkerrin redfish with blueweed sauce. That's a very tasty fresh-water fish about the size of a cow, with a sauce made from a tangy plant that grows around Kilkerrin lake on Bluemoons. It's a special treat provided by the captain of the Vanity Blue, flagship of Carlington Cruise Lines. He sent it and his head chef, and we whooped and put out a sturdier table. Many of the marvelous things which will be served tonight were provided by various captains. We put menus on the tables so people would know who had decided it was a special night and sent something special to share."
"We could have sent something."
"Not enough of any one thing to serve about three hundred, Tal. Unless their cargoes were special treats, trader captains didn't either."
"Quite true and I'll remember to say that so no one else feels like they've been remiss. You're fairly early arrivals. The captains with large groups of guests bring them just as the orchestra starts, after the hors d'oeuvres are on the tables. Basically, you're about five minutes ahead of the rush to get in ahead of them."
"Thanks. Kiri said she'd timed 'the mob' so she doesn't try to walk past here until they clear."
"We've tried to space them out a bit, but we understand exactly why the captains with large parties bring them when they do. If they get here early, the servers spend the time they should be putting out the hor d'oeuvres telling people they're coming. If they aren't taking their seats or standing in a bunch outside the door when the music starts, people complain they missed some of it. Your server, Gallin, has spotted you. Your table is the one with the waving person behind it."
Gallin explained he'd won the drawing they'd held to see who got to take care of them that evening. He grinned and noted the club manager hadn't told them the person who did would only be taking care of guests at that table until after he was being cheerfully growled at by his co-workers, though he had told them whoever won was to tell them no tipping.
"Didn't surprise him at all that we all still wanted in the drawing for the honor of serving the captains' guest. Gen Harmodis, I know you don't drink alcohol and have a mild allergy. I have a list of sparkling and mineral waters, teas and fruit juices we have, with the analysis off their labels, for you. I recommend the Canbibby Bubbly Spring water for champagne toasts, if the mineral content isn't a problem. The bubbles will tickle your nose and it comes out of the spring that way. It's in a corked bottle and the cork pops, though not as much as a champagne cork."
"It's fun to pop one, Jarim. I've done it once on a special occasion. I got very explicit instructions on where not to point it."
"I've seen one popped, Tal, and understand why. Thank you, Gallin. It looks and sounds perfect, but I'd like jamberry juice with Tarney spring water now."
"About half and half?"
"Yes, but no ice please."
"No ice."
"Recommend an ale with good character, Gallin. I had the Garner's and it was nice, but a bit mild for my taste."
"Have you ever had Bully Red porter, Captain Hadlain?"
"No, but the gleam in your eye tells me I should. Let's make this easier. There are three Captain Hadlains. I'm Shel. Mandy, Tommy, Lola, Li, Kiri, Jarim and Tal."
"I could have managed. Thank you for not making me prove it. I really appreciate it. Mandy?"
"I liked the gleam too. I'll try a Bully Red."
"Three."
"Recommend a fruit brandy for me."
"I think you'd like Blue Orange Batterman, Lola. It comes from Cassenor. It's made from a fruit that looks like an orange on the outside, except it's the color of a ripe blue plum. Inside, it looks like a big plum, but it tastes more like a raspberry. Batterman is twenty years old and delicately spiced with something they do not identify specifically. I've spent hours listening to people who know spices discussing what it might be. The chefs give me samples of terrific if I make them copies of the list of spice names that come up."
"Oh, yum. Definitely."
"Yum-yum."
"Three yums."
"Tal?"
"Bully Red sounds interesting, but I don't know what porter is."
"It's basically made with the same ingredients as beer, but it's darker and more malty. It's sweeter and lighter than a stout."
"It sounds even more interesting."
"I'll be back with drinks and an hors d'oeuvre platter in about two. I have cut-in privileges."
"He's cute."
"He's good, Mandy. Li waved back and told him just what type of service we'd prefer. If none of us had, he'd have been professionally pleasant, explained he was our personal server, considered it an honor and quite agreed with the management's request we not tip. We'd have gotten recommendations with a bit of background, not descriptions with a bit of humor. He knows I know it and am not worried about him not getting a tip one evening. He makes very good ones. I'm sure of it because I'd tip him well. I have a suspicion we're not going to get a bill for our drinks this evening either, primarily because I was asked how many and not told how much when I made the reservations. Also note this is the only table for eight."
"They're all ten to twelve and have numbers on them, beginning with two and three on either side of us."
"They probably always begin with two, Tommy, and there usually isn't a table between them. It gives them a 'table one' when there is a reason for it. They just move those two apart and put it here."
"Shel, there's a married group coming this way, being led by a woman in late middle age."
"I stand, you do if I introduce you. Kiri, for this, you're his guest. You two stay seated. Good evening."
"Good evening, Captain Shelter Hadlain. I'm Captain Union Thudinnis, Union. Our family would like to say, 'thank you,' to yours."
"Call me Shel, please. Thank you?"
"We're Shadill. When we rather tentatively asked to dock, because we needed to replace a damaged sensor and did not wish to do it in open space, we were given immediate docking in a construction bay and politely asked to work quickly, once it was filled with atmosphere and warmed, because a ship scheduled for maintenance was due in four hours. We were stunned. While waiting for the bay to warm, we were contacted by Reverend Tassherty and told what had happened and of your petition of the Toscan church to perform group marriage, and of the unit and rings you gave him, before the drug enforcement ship docked. Before we had assimilated that, the captains' lounge commed and asked us if we would like reservations for the ball and told us a berth would be arranged for us when we completed repairs, if we wished it. Shel, for the last about fifteen years, we've watched growing bigotry without understanding why it was spreading so fast, when we'd come so far in spreading understanding of our ways in the years before. Group marriage had become a Shadill aberration. Even those who formed families of larger than one pair and their children carefully avoided possible association with the Shadill. Your family chose the opposite. You chose to state you were a married group and wear the symbol of that form of marriage, which we adopted. The realization that the bigotry was a plot to fragment the empire and being forced upon people by the use of a... foul substance would have gotten us fair treatment, but not an invitation to attend this event. That was because, by superb example, you showed the love that is the
basis of a group marriage and your pride in yours and your family. Thank you for wearing the symbol of that love, even though it caused an association with the Shadill in most minds."
"I really don't know what to say. Association with the Shadill was never considered... a detriment. We were grateful that they'd given us a way to state we were married, a symbol of the love that binds us for all to see. We'd been married in spirit for awhile before we had a wedding, made our vows and got our rings. We knew how difficult it was to find someone to perform a group marriage and how important those vows and the symbol of them are to us, how important it is to us that it's also a legal union and that our children have that protection. We didn't try to set an example. We just didn't hide who we are, and part of that is married people who love each other. We'd be a little unusual for a Shadill marriage and did a bit of studying to make sure we wouldn't... damage you by use of the symbol. There are fifteen of us, nine more women, six in various stages of pregnancy and three watching over them in our big house on a farm, while we six confirm we did a good job, when we changed the drive and control systems in our ship. Yes, we're homesick and the journey is already longer than we wanted, but it has been since the morning we left. I hope you're staying. We'd love to get acquainted and have another married bunch to dance with."
"We'd love it too, but we have a cargo that's going to be slightly overdue as it is. We said no on the berth and need to clear the construction bay, but we all wanted to come say thank you. There's one question I need to ask, or I may get burned dinner for several days. Where did you get those incredible outfits?"
"Here. We were desperate by mid-morning when Kiri, who's a station comp tech, said she knew who on the station could design things for us. I said, if he could, I'd get people to make them up. Stand up and turn around so they can see what Jon did for us, everyone. Jon Benkirsk, he's almost fifteen. She said she was working on getting him a scholarship and prestigious credential. After he brought what he'd done, I told her I really didn't think he needed it."
"I don't think so either. Perhaps several guards to keep him from being mobbed by people begging him to design for them after tonight, but not a credential. I have a son about that age. Thankfully, his major talent seems to be talking me into buying tech for four to play with."
"Kiri says he has terrific parents and he does know how talented he is. I'm not really worried about him. He's also got two good friends, sisters, a couple years younger, who'll back off a mob with the shears they're very good with, if they get too pushy."
"Friends, that's what makes life enjoyable."
"Union, we have twenty minutes to clear the bay."
"Yes, Fortune. One more thank-you and a hope we meet again."
"I hope so too. Good journeys."
"I think they're going to be a great deal more pleasant than they have been for awhile. May you have the same. Let's go, gang. A couple more minutes and we'll be swimming against the tide coming through the door."
"Oh, I am so glad I got back here to see the modeling and hear the name of the young genius who is going to attract so many here to show off, and fill my pocket with runover of their pleasure in doing so. I wonder if he'd be interested in an investor who knows of a small shop that will be for sale in a year or two and would definitely be a good place for a designer's studio."
"Do you mean on the station, Gallin?"
"Oh, I wouldn't even consider recommending here, Kiri. My uncle has a boutique in the fashion district in Castrill on Merrilin and he's been trying to talk me into buying him out when I get tired of this place. He hasn't lowered the buy-out price, but the offer gets more attractive every time I walk in the door of my quarters. I wonder if asking how many cubic centimeters is in a condo for lease is a dead giveaway one worked here for awhile."
"That's good, Gallin. So is this."
"I thought you'd like it, Shel. My father does and he hunts for 'character' in brewed beverages."
"There's worry in your eyes."
"He visited me about eighty days ago, Tal. I imagine we all have someone we'd like to just comm and... find out if we did something to them. I don't remember spreading them, but I know I had opinions that weren't my own. Not gone, but I know they aren't mine. I'm very angry I have to remind myself of it and feeling a bit smug about the fact I'm having to do it less often already."
"Sounds healthy to me, both parts."
"Thank you, Li."
"We're all angry and it's spreading at the speed of a shout of it across transspace comm, in every direction, and the shout won't stop at the borders of the empire. They'll hear it in the Brennemer Union, the Tri-Star Hegemony and in the ancient cities of distant Earth. And everywhere it's heard, voices will join it. If the empire doesn't learn who has done this, the species will."
"TOMMY!"
"Damn. I got it on my jacket."
"Towel! I'll get... something!"
"Mandy?"
"I'm afraid to blot the blood to see, Lola."
"Water!"
Lola grabbed the pitcher Gallin was holding and poured it over the hand Mandy was holding. Tommy caught the end of the towel with his left hand and blotted the porter that had splashed on his jacket when he'd broken the glass with his right. A fast-moving person nearly skidded to a stop beside the table and another ran out the service doors with an aid kit. She grabbed it out of his hands.
"I'm a doctor. What the hell did he do?"
"Got angry about what had been done to people and his hand on the glass wasn't as controlled as his voice."
"I can't apply a healing aid and bandage until we know if there's glass in the cut."
"Scanner!"
"Thank you. That's what I needed."
"Gallin's a very good server."
"No doubt. He thinks and moves fast. I saw the water pitcher snatch. Clear. Young man, this should probably have a binder put on it for a few hours. Try to remember it's damaged long enough for the healing agent to begin to seal it."
"We'll remember, Doctor. About the third time one of us thumps him, he'll realize ignoring it doesn't really make sense under the circumstances. Understood, Tommy?"
"Yes, Li."
"If I didn't completely understand the anger, you'd need your jaw treated. Understood, Tommy?"
"Yes, Mandy."
"You'll be careful not to use that hand for awhile or you'll have dents in your shins."
"Yes, Lola. I'll remember, Doctor."
"You just might, at that. I need to go make a report. There are four doctors with our group and they'll have more questions than what happened, though that server may be listing the ingredients in the healing aid for the others too."
"He is good. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Aren't you going to threaten me, Shel?"
"No. I can imagine myself doing the same thing too clearly. Tal may be too upset with you to threaten."
"Tal?"
"Oh, damn."
Tal walked behind Tommy, put his arms around him and laid his cheek on his head. Gallin smiled and began carefully gathering the wet tablecloth, with the glass in it, from in front of him. Two other servers arrived with fresh linens and place settings for Tommy, Mandy and Lola. The hors d'oeuvre platter was carefully scanned for glass before it was put back on the table. Their drinks were just replaced.
When the orchestra started, the table emptied. Shel told Jarim no one was going to dance until they did and Kiri asked him to dance. The six of them walked onto the dance floor together and "size matched" the first dance, then each of the ladies danced with Jarim and the men with Kiri. By then, there were quite a few people dancing. About forty minutes later, Gallin brought out two champagne buckets and set them both beside Jarim. The champagne had been opened. The Canbibby Spring Bubbly water had not.
The orchestra leader announced they were about to break, but there was something very special on the schedule first and introduced Capt
ain Shelter Hadlain as the person who was going to "do it for us all." Shel walked up to the front of the stage and took the case and rolled document from her hands, turned around, smiled and gave the sound tech a few seconds to adjust the vocal ranger to 'catch' both him and someone Jarim's height.
"The servers are hurrying to make sure everyone has champagne or sparkling water for a toast at this victory celebration and I'm trying to think of what to say. Just before the drug enforcement ship left, I was asked to do something when the TC duty operator, who had stayed on the job and done a great deal more than the job, wasn't 'staggering' and there were a great many people to cheer. This is official. The person who seemed to be the commander of the drug enforcement group said they didn't think this should wait, but one of these with a signature would be on its way very soon, probably by special courier. Jarim Harmodis, please join me. Throughout the time when the agents searched for the drug, their doctor searched for a counter, and people were treated, you made sure all those on ships were told what was happening. Every ship captain spoke of it and all said your calm voice, giving updates and personal reassurance when needed, had eased their worry about the people for whom they were responsible. Only a captain with that kind of responsibility can truly understand the value of your service during the emergency. Conductor, would you hold the case for me please. Thank you. By order of Emperor Thiretess Tam Modentiss, I am very honored to present you with the Imperial Crown of Service to the People and give you his, and our, thanks. Your turn."
"I don't know what to say. I can't read what this says because my eyes are full. I'm sure I don't deserve this, but I'll accept it as representative of us all. We all 'stayed on the job.' Every captain, crew member, tech, server and clerk did everything they could to help. They held hands and gave calm reassurance too. I just did it by comm to ships. Every injured person, and it was an injury, did all he or she could to aid those seeking to aid them. Captain Shelter called this a victory celebration. His statement this station was occupied by the enemy and freed is being quoted. The head of station security is also being quoted. He said, 'We have terrible memories, but no one to mourn.' Part of that enemy occupation was a very deliberate estrangement and one of the most successful enemy tactics. Most of us are still surprised the emperor sent us exactly the help we needed. How did he know? The empire is 'over there.' We learned it's not. We're very much part of it. The imperium may be based in Empire Sector, but it's in all the empire and watching over all empire citizens, as promised. So, for all of us, thank you, Emperor Tam."
"Now pop the cork on your bubbly water and give a toast."
Jarim carefully pointed the bottle and people cheered when the cork popped. He gave them a moment to fill glasses, then lifted his and shouted, "Victory!"