'I'm not sure,' she admitted. 'I've been waiting for some tests and forms and stuff.'
Over the whuff of the floor suction came Asu's 'Hunh, guess that's something.' She handed over a water tube and scrunched her nose. 'Theo, will you get some antisep on that hand? That's blood!'
It was blood, but not much of it, and the game had still been going strong when Theo left. She'd been vaguely trying to get out for some time, but they'd been keeping it five strong all day and it seemed rude to break it just to go back to the room. If she'd had a class to go to, it would have been different. But coming off the interview and a session reciting from memory what anyone could read in the history files, each new charge at the ball had felt as necessary as the last.
'Not dripping. I'll clean it.'
'So is something going to happen now? About the math?'
Chaos!
'Asu, will you let up? Didn't I say there were forms and tests and stuff? I don't know about the math yet.'
Asu laughed. 'Most days I can't stand between you and that screen in there when you get in, first thing you do is check for mail. Today . . .' The laugh came back. 'You must think they're here already!'
Theo let her glance drift toward the ceiling, and sighed quietly. Sometimes Asu was just too good.
'I got the shower,' she said.
Theo usually didn't take long showers, so today she did. After, she made a cup of tea and unsealed the last of the chernubia she'd discovered in the school store, for a quiet one-girl snack in the common area, lights low while Asu fussed about some sports thing in the other room.
Not nearly as good as the fresh ones served by a luxury cruise liner, the snack still bore a passing resemblance to something Win Ton had smiled over, and that in turn made her smile and absently adjust the wings on her collar.
And there, a second cup of tea, and she was standing with cup in hand wondering if requesting an image from Win Ton would be bad form. Not like Asu's pet athlete's image, but . . . well, maybe, actually . . .
Asu peered into the common area, began mimicking a terminal announcer.
'Attention. Control to Pilot! Blink-blink-blink, attention, Theo!'
Asu's voice was not quite as emotionless as a good warning mode was. She waved her hands impatiently toward the desk.
'Message waiting light here, First Bunk.'
Theo sighed. Sometimes it felt like things were changing too fast, and that all the messages were about her doing something more.
She took her cup with her and slid into the seat, 'I hear you, I hear you.'
The incoming message was from Scout Captain Cho sig'Radia. So was the third. Theo slapped the privacy button, effectively limiting the view of the screen to someone sitting in the spot she sat in.
Behind her, Asu made a sound like a harrumph.
'Must be expecting something else from the bestboy,' she hazarded as she headed for the joint room. She paused. 'Aren't you?' she insisted, but Theo was already twisting her thoughts to hear Cho's voice behind the words on the screen.
You have not been at all 'silly' to pass the news of your recent flight to me; indeed, it is exactly the type of news one could hope for: success in flight! Being some Standards away from a sailplane run I discover the sim a joy; I hope you will not feel overburdened with the information that I, like your academy, have been pleased to share copies with several pilots. Win Ton professes a lack of surprise in your abilities, but promises his own commentary.
Theo relaxed into the seat, nearly losing the sight circle of the screen when she did. Then she sat straight up.
He hadn't been joking, she thought. If Win Ton's packet had gotten to her before Cho's message, he must have sent it immediately, by courier! Someone, some pilot, had been standing by, on her account!
Too, Cho went on, you have followed the forms precisely. I need to know these things not only for the reinforcement of my judgment on your ability, but that we make no errors in dealing with your future.
My role as sponsor requires that I take an active interest in the affairs financial attending your schooling, and in this case, with only a small and not unseemly amount of prompting, your academy and I have reached an accord on the value of your lessons for the school, and for yourself.
Following in a short while will be the contracts I have entered into on your behalf, as well as a document transferring practical control of the finances accruing to you from income derived from various uses, transformations, and recordings of your flight. Pardon that these are dry and filled with complexities well beyond the complexities of piloting equations, but such are Liaden contracts, as you will no doubt be told many times in your career. For your enjoyment, the contract in Liaden is appended to the Trade version. In short form, we have arranged for your earnings to be set against your expenses, with a 25 percent share coming direct to your spending account until all expenses are met. Please follow the instructions about passwords, account controls, and the like exactly. Once accessed the account becomes yours.
Theo leaned toward the screen. Contracts?
I have passed a copy of the sim to your mother in the hopes the pilot who trained you may see it, and rejoice in your flight.
Oh no! Kamele would not be happy. Surely, Father would—
The letters on the screen blurred slightly.
