Until she’d become aHuman ship, aside from a couple of Qauilu specialists.
Another fighter blurredpast the loading door. Captain Billy Hennessy, AKA Thruster,was probably eager to get started on the plan that would turn hisship into a proper carrier.
But first, there was acolony to build.
The light representingRagnarok seemed to be moving away from the system’s single star. Ittook a moment for Frank to realize what he was seeing. The Kupharwas approaching far more quickly than anything his brother had everbuilt in that fancy lab of his.
Now the planetwas growing in size as well. Frankhad lost track of time as they watched but the fact that his leftleg had fallen asleep indicated they’d been watching for a longtime.
He shifted with agrimace, hissing as the pins and needles came.
Trishatook a quick look around the cargo bay and then set to work with herright hand, kneading the muscles of his leg. “Does that help?”
“Mmm. More thanit should,” he said in a low voice.
She gave his leg afinal squeeze and took her hand away. “Soon,” she told him.
The holoprojection outside of the shielding updated witha new line and a series of overlapping circles, each indicating aship. They resized to dots and the list arranged itself into a tableon the right side.
Their lord was alreadyhere with his fleet.
“I thought they weretaking some time to get married?” Terry turned back to Frank andTrisha. “How are they already here?”
“This freighter’sfast,” Frank told him, “But those ships all have military-gradeengines in ’em. John says they can slip through path at twice ourspeed. Plenty of time to get married, have a reception and then offto Ragnarok for the honeymoon.”
Not for the firsttime, he wondered why his brother hadn’t come up to the Kupharbefore they left Earth. It was hard to be angry, though, since hehadn’t noticed John’s absence until after they’d left.
If he had to choose,though, he felt more secure knowing a lord of the republic was herewith his warships. He doubted he’d ever lose the feeling of beingexposed out here but he was fairly certain he’d learn to push it tothe back of his mind. For now, he was happy to see all those ships.
“Frank McAdam,” avoice boomed from somewhere up in the overhead structure of the bay.“This is the captain. Please stand up and sing out; you’re wantedon this call.”
He looked atTrisha but she looked as surprised as he felt. “How do I…” Hepressed his lips together, shaking his head at the weirdness ofknowing something because it had been placedin his head.
He hopped off thepallet and found a clear space on the decking. “Captain, this isFrank McAdam.”
A holo-node in therafters scanned him and projected the call. The other nine members ofthe council were either there or a place in the ring awaited theirinclusion.
Frank still felt he hadno business being on the council but Sushil had left him littlechoice. The man had campaigned for Frank on his own initiative andhe’d managed to get both Frank and himself chosen.
Sushil shimmered intoview next to Frank.
“Mr. Chairman,”Frank nodded politely.
Sushil grimaced andnodded back, then looked around the ring. A last straggler arrivedand Sushil turned to Captain Hennessy. “That’s all our people,Captain.”
“Thank-you, ChairmanKawle.” Hennessy turned to the side for a moment and then four newattendees came into view.
Gleb and Lunawere flanked by a Quailu that Frank assumed must be Lady Bau (thoughhestill couldn’t tell one Quailu from another)and by his brother, John. He wasso surprised that he almostgreeted him before rememberingthis was a meeting with the lord of the entire species.
“Councilors,” Glebsaid, “welcome home!”
Frank felt abreath catch in his throat. This is home for us now!There’s nothing but wild planet down there but we’re going toland on it and make a place for ourselves.
“We’re all new atthis,” Gleb continued. “I suppose we should have come up withsome sort of ceremony, something that would stick in our memories…”
“A ceremony, yousay?” Sushil asked.
Frank looked over athis holographic friend with alarm. “Sushil…” he began.
“One of our councilmembers is getting married, as it turns out,” Sushil waved a handtoward Frank.
“You’re gettinghitched?” John blurted. “How long have you been waiting to tellme this? Who’s the bride?”
“We met in Earthorbit,” Frank said, “and things moved along pretty quickly fromthere, given circumstances. Not that I’m complaining,” he addedquickly, knowing Trisha was sitting behind him, watching theconversation.
“I think I can relateto that,” Luna told him.
“We can help,” Glebsaid. “I’ve got recent first-hand experience in this kind ofthing. I’m kind of an expert now,” he added, clearly mockinghimself.
“An expert?” Lunaleaned back to look up at him. “My family think there’s somethingwrong with you, you know. Like something involving repeated impactsto the head or something.”
“And your dad stillgave me his blessing. Gotta be doing something right.”
Frank turned to Trishabut she dashed his hopes with a shrug. “I don’t care how big orsmall our ceremony is,” she told him. “Most of the colonistswould probably enjoy a wedding at the start of our new world.”
“There you go, bigbrother,” John’s voice sounded clearer – suspiciously clearer.“She’s ok with it and what better start could you possibly wantfor a new world?”
Frank spun in surprise.John was standing to his right. He learned how to do that? It’sonly been a few weeks… He suddenly remembered Luna’s jibefrom their send-off. Manners first, questions later.
“John,” hesaid, smiling like an idiot, “this is Trisha Seshan,from Kerala. Trisha, this is my brother, John McAdam.”
She scrambled down fromthe pallet, tucking in a stray wisp of hair and looking a littlefreaked out. “Hello, Mr. McAdam.”
“Ms. Seshan,please,” he offered his hand. “That’s what folks called ourdad. It’s just plain old John.”
Her eyes relaxed alittle. “Then it’s just plain old Trisha as well.”
“Oh I wouldn’t saythat,” John let her hand go, “not by a long shot!”
How in hell does he do that?Frank wondered. Does he just have a repertoire of phrasesthat maneuver him into a place where he can drop a clever compliment?
All of a sudden,he was back in California, embarrassed but still accepting help fromhis little brother on how to get a date for the senior prom.
