13 Degrees of Separation (94 page)

“This will let others know who you are until you get
chipped. Keep it on you at all times and whatever you do don't lose it. Now,
the tablet has some tests, quizzes, sims, and other material for you to go
over.”

“Yes sir,” she bobbed a nod.

“Do it all. Find the time. Got it,” he said waggling a
finger at her. “No excuse.”

“Yes sir.”

He looked over her shoulder to her parents. “Any
questions?”

“Where will she be staying?” her father asked.

“I'm looking into that. Mrs. Valdez has an open room, her
family just expanded and her sister and brother in law just moved to better
quarters next door. So she has several spare rooms. And yes, she said her
husband is interested in testing you.”

“Thank you sir,” Jane said with a smile. She had a hard
time not tearing up.

“We've got her gear with us. MM is leaving shortly. I'm
supposed to talk with some of your people about taking on goods and passengers.
In fact I'm running late,” Wendy sighed, looking at her gold watch pendant.

“You'd better run along then mum,” Jane said.

“I'll see you settled young lady. The rest of the universe
can damn well wait until then,” her mother growled, eyes flashing.

The recruiter snorted in surprise at that vehemence. He
glanced at Jane who squirmed a little. “If you have half the spunk you mom has
you'll go far. Who do you need to tell you're running late ma'am?” he asked, turning
to Wendy.

“A doctor Thornby,” she said with a shrug.

“Lieutenant Commander Thornby? I'll shoot her an e mail,”
he said with a curt nod. His fingers wiggled as if he was typing then he
smiled. “Done.”

“You... like that?” Wendy asked. She looked at her siblings
and then to her husband.

“Implants, got to love them,” the Lieutenant replied with a
slight grin. “Come on, I'll show you to the Valdez compound. It's in a rough
part of the station. We're getting better, but it's still a problem sometimes
with the gangs and all. There was a mugger one deck down so...” he saw Jane
shaking her head no and pointing to her mom.

“But as long as you stay in the lit corridors and don't go
wandering you'll be fine,” he finished lamely. Jane sighed, looking at her mom.

“You heard the man Jane,” Wendy growled. “Now, let's go get
you settled. I've got an appointment to get to.” She nodded to John who was
holding Jane's duffel. The girl took it with a smile.

“I've got to get back, we're getting underway soon and the
chief is chewing the bulkhead,” he said by way of apology. Jane hugged her
uncle and nodded.

He turned and left. Michael hugged her and then hurried to
catch up with his brother.

...*...*...*...*...

At the Agnosta jump point there was a flash as a ship
emerged from hyperspace. Static energy bled off in a dazzling display of
pyrotechnics as the ship drifted forward out of its own event horizon. As the
energy discharge cleared a signal was sent to the nearest ships, first
identifying the Navy courier, and then sending another signal to the orbital
fort under construction nearby.

Logan got the news from the tachyon relay in the fort
stationed at the point and swore viciously. The Lieandra, he noted, the ship
the admiral had sent out with supplies. She'd run into pirates in Protodon and
it looked like Antigua had just run out of time. The ship carried word that
Firefly was moving out to the rescue.

“Well, this well and truly sucks,” Logan sighed, shaking
his head as he briefed the rest of the senior staff. Lieutenant Commander
Harris frowned.

“Can they really do any good?”

“Who knows. If they make it in time, big IF, they might be
able to bounce the pirates out, or even set up on the jump point if the pirates
were slow to get to Antigua.”

“Doubtful. Prime is an El Dorado,” Harris replied.

Logan nodded. “Exactly. Which is why we can't let the
pirates have it. We've got to get there and stop them.”

“Which we're doing. Whether the Governor likes it or not,”
Thornby replied with a nod. She looked over her shoulder. “Finally,” she
murmured. “I've got a rather late appointment here. The emissary from the
Mariah's Mischief is here. Do you need me for more on this?”

“No doc, we've got it covered. We'll give you a high point
later,” Logan said with a wave.

...*...*...*...*...

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Doctor Thornby said, coming
into the small conference room.

Wendy turned with a hint of a smile. “Not at all. Fair's
fair. I kept you waiting first.”

“Did it go as planned?”

“Jane? Yes. I suppose so. It's just hard giving up on your
only daughter, knowing you won't be around to see her every day,” Wendy sighed.

“I'll check on her for you,” Doctor Thornby offered.

Wendy smiled. “Please do. Though I believe Mrs. Valdez will
mother her quite a bit. Jane is an only child, living in a household that large
will definitely give her something to think about,” she said grinning.

Doctor Thornby laughed softly. She indicated they sit down.
“So, the terms?”

“Acceptable. And we have room for passengers as well.”

“Good. You see, we're not only setting up one of our first
recruiting stations, we're also forming an attachment to the medics in the
system. It's hoped that the liaison effort will further good will there and
elsewhere.”

“Good,” Wendy replied with a nod. “I'm giving you a
discount for both since you've done so much for us. And,” she smiled. “As a
parting gift to my daughter.”

“That's nice of you,” the doctor replied with a nod.

“Just don't tell my boss,” Wendy whispered
conspiratorially. That got a surprised laugh out of the doctor.

“Okay I won't.”

“Are all the passengers for Seti?”

“No, three are. The others are going to Halced 6, New
Haven, and Airea 3 as recruiters and government liaisons. We're hoping to jump
start things along that chain.”

“Good for you,” Wendy said. “For all of us.”

“Each will have care packages. We're hoping they can make a
difference in each system, and that they'll be serving as examples. Each will
also carry tablets and materials for recruits.”

“Good,” Wendy smiled, making a note. “Any special problems
or dietary issues?” she asked as a matter of routine.

The doctor shook her head. “I doubt it. I believe all are
standard. No special medical issues. I do have a request, sort of a reward. If
you find any military equipment, or alien uterine replicators, please make note
of them or pick them up and pass them on.”

“A project doctor?” Wendy asked, looking down to note that
odd request.

“Project Resurrection,” the doctor replied quietly. Wendy
looked up in surprise as the name registered. Thornby smiled. “We're trying to
save some species. Two that had been long thought of as extinct have come back,
if only as single members of their species. We've been working hard to try to
bring them back from the brink of death but...” she shrugged helplessly.

“Any help will do. I see,” Wendy murmured. She nodded
slowly. “I'll make sure we keep an eye out and pass the word doctor. I can make
our medical files available to you if you need them.”

“We have them. A perk for repairing your ship's computer
net,” Thornby replied. Wendy nodded.

“We'll give you ten tons of goods, mostly tablets and
supplies for your ship for the transport of the goods, and another five for
each stop with the men.”

“Acceptable,” Wendy replied with a nod. Her boss had wanted
a bit more, but she knew the military supplies would be top notch. “I assume
you accessed my files on systems?”

Thornby nodded.

“Dad's files are on the computer net, but some may have
been hidden. I'm not sure what you are looking for, but feel free to try to
find them. Anything specific? I may not have put it on the computer you know.”

“Extinct species.”

“I gathered that. Which ones?” Wendy asked.

Thornby winced. “Ssislli and Malakian's.” she replied.

Wendy's eyes went wide. “Oh. I thought you were looking for
dolphins,” she said.

“Dolphins? You've seen some?”

“Sure, in Agnosta,” Wendy replied.

Thornby stared at her. “You're kidding.”

“No,” Wendy shrugged. “Aren't whales and orca related to
dolphins?”

“Um...”

“I've seen both there. Dad took me ice fishing when I was
little. We went pretty far north, dad got a little too cute with the landing, I
thought we were going someplace tropical. We saw an orca kill a seal pup.
Freaked me out, big black and white thing with this massive dorsal fin in the
water.” She shivered. “Dad too. I think I pissed myself when I saw them just
work the seal off the ice and then throw it around like a rag doll. The guide
dad hired said that was normal.”

Thornby winced. “I'm guessing these are wild? Not
uplifted?” she asked.

Wendy shrugged. “No idea. I didn't stop to ask. We just got
the hell out of there. This was, oh, thirty years ago. I was six. It was the
last time we came down this way.”

“Oh.” Thornby digested that and then slowly nodded. “Okay,
I'm sending some of that to the intel shop. Thank you ma'am,” she said rising
from her seat. She extended her hand. “You have no idea how much that helps
me.”

“I'm surprised it did, but okay,” Wendy replied, hastily
rising and shaking the woman's hand. “I'll have Knuyuk clear the space for your
cargo if it's not already cleared. We'll expect your people before we leave
dock.”

“Understood,” the doctor replied with a curt nod. She waved
to show the woman out. “Thank you, and I'll remember to check in on Jane.”

“Give her some stick time and she'll be in heaven,” Wendy
replied rolling her eyes. “And she's into boys a bit, girls a bit more. She's
behind in her health and medicine classes. If you could poke her a little there
or get someone to lend her a hand I'd appreciate it.”

Thornby smiled. “I'll make sure we do that,” she said, stopping
in the corridor. A rating was waiting patiently for the doctor. She nodded to
him. Wendy caught the look and slight hint of exasperation and snorted.

“Work never ends,” she said. “Good luck doctor, and thank
you,” she said.

“No, thank you,” Thornby said as Wendy departed. She
watched the other woman go. “You don't know how much that helps,” she murmured.
She turned and held up a hand to stall the impatient rating.

She put a hand to her ear, signaling a call. “Logan? We
just got a hot lead, and our own people are sitting there with it right under
our nose. Get this, remember how the admiral was waxing poetic about dolphins?
Yes well, you'll never believe where there are some still swimming around...”

...*...*...*...*...

Wendy was on hand as the cargo was stored and the
passengers came on board. “Welcome to the Mairah's mischief,” she said nodding.
“Who's in charge?”

A young man with a sharp looking military coverall and
duffel raised a hand. “First Lieutenant Pembroke ma'am. I'm senior, though I'm
a medic. Second Lieutenant Qez is my second.” He indicated the Marine Veraxin
bringing up the rear of the party.

“All right, this way,” Wendy nodded. “My daughter has
departed, as had a few other members of the crew. We were worried about having
you hot bunk in just 2 rooms but we shifted a few things around and we now have
four cabins available.”

“Thank you ma'am.”

“They're tight, you know that right?” she warned.
“Lieutenant, we're going to the wardroom by the way. You can leave your things
with um...”

“If it's all the same to you ma'am, can we drop and run?”

“Good idea. Nearest quarters are this way,” Wendy said,
indicating the way. She had them drop their gear then led them to the galley.
The galley was dead. Pembroke had the ensigns remain behind to eat. He,
Lieutenant Quez, and another junior Lieutenant, this one a human named Lute
followed Wendy to the bridge.

Wendy made introductions on the bridge. The officers nodded
politely.

“It's a long flight,” they were warned. Rose looked a
little vague, the Captain had to remind himself that she was seeing things
through her implants.

“That's what we do, we haul freight. For however long it
takes,” Rodrick said as way of warning. “We're a no frills outfit.”

“No, not as long as before. Remember, we've overhauled your
ship. she can make the B octave of Beta now,” the Lieutenant informed them with
a slight smile.

The Captain was surprised. He glanced around his staff.
Some smiled, others shrugged. “We'll see,” he finally said. “I'm not at all
comfortable taking your word for it. We'll test it.”

“Prudent,” the Lieutenant replied with a nod. “I don't have
a lot of engineering training sir, but if you need someone with implants to
keep an eye on things, I can try.”