Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Four: Meteors #12

Dan and the others ate at a fancy restaurant that night. As they headed out, he found himself walking with Cheyenne and Kleppie. "So the recovery's going well? The kids are adjusting?" he asked Cheyenne. "And how are you doing in general?"

She nodded. "The recovery . . . goes. Not as fast as I would like most days, but every day is better. James, not surprisingly, loves it here. Mackenzie's had a harder transition, but she's found a friend on Jinta, and she likes one of her teachers a lot, so it's starting to smooth out for her, I think."

She wrapped an arm around Dan's and leaned past him to speak to Kleppie. "And you will be glad to know that I am also not stupid."

"We knew you weren't," Kleppie said. "Your ed potential? How did you do?"

"They were amazed," Lana said from somewhere behind them. "Advanced potential and great neuro-kinetics."

Cheyenne blushed. "It wasn't that great. But yeah, I'm smart enough to take any advanced training once I do some basic remedial education."

"Not great?" Dan scoffed, pulling his arm free and putting it around her shoulder. "Just any advanced training you want. Nothing amazing about that."

Cheyenne giggled and blushed even more.

"So what are you going to do?"

She shrugged. "Not sure. I mean I have plenty of time. I have remedial education, language, a bunch of other stuff. Besides I'm not sure if I am quite strong enough to go full time. And there's the kids."

"All excuses," Dan said. "Out with it, what's the dream now?"

She paused, looking almost embarrassed. "Well, I have the reaction speed, neuro-kinetics for pilot. It's a long, hard training process, but—"

"But piloting a ship would be so cool," Kleppie hooted. "Wow! I know a space pilot."

"Other than Tellki," Dan joked.

"And I'm not a space pilot yet, not by a long shot," Cheyenne added. "You also know an important diplomat." She added, "You've really come up in the world, Dan. And how did you manage to get time off so quickly? You've only been on the job for a couple days."

"Yeah, well, it's a bit of joke, isn't it?" he deflected. "Security on Saras Station? Hardly any crime, not violent crime anyway. It's a cushy job."

Cheyenne looked like she was going to contradict him but she let it drop. "So how long are you guys staying for?"

Dan shrugged. "Bakala will have to go day after next, to get back to work. I suppose I should too." Not to mention I need to report back in to Blumenthal.

"Well, I'm glad that you two took time out of your first trip together to visit me. Kleppie?"

Kleppie shrugged. "My time is my own for the next couple months. Kavi has an assignment next week. That gives us several more days. Then I might take a hotel up on the bowl, see the sights. I've got to study, too. Lots of that. After she leaves for her next assignment, I might head back to Shoshone. Find a place and hole up to get my basic ed done." He made a face. "And refill my bank a bit. Kavi keeps saying she can give me some credits, but it doesn't feel right. Besides from what I hear, I can get some basic day labor job almost anywhere."

"Lannister won't be able to put you on his official crew, since you are technically on leave from the Navy, but I'm sure he has plenty of civilian positions," Dan said.

Sarvin and Ashain had gone ahead to reserve them a seat. They greeted them at the entrance of the restaurant and led them inside. The place was built with low, round tables, each inset between low walls brimming with plants to give each group as much privacy as possible. One long wall was glass and faced a giant aquarium. A small pod of dolphins swam past as Dan watched.

"Cheyenne, have you met Shin's second most famous Earth immigrant?" Sarvin asked with a smile at Cheyenne.

"No, though I saw the news," she replied. She gestured at the tank and spoke to Dan. "Eee-chi-chi-aa, or that's as close as our vocal cords can come. The dolphin with the scar on its dorsal fin. See it? They found her in a zoo in Africa, in captivity. The Consortium can translate their language. Offered her a choice, to be let back into Earth's seas, free. Or to join the civilized world of Consortium dolphins."

"Civilized dolphins?"

"Of course. The pods that live in this aquarium level aren't captives; they've chosen of their own free will to live here." She walked over and pressed her face to the glass. "It's a huge section, and the dolphins say they are quite happy with the arrangement."

They sat on cushions on the ground around the table. The waiter arrived with a large pitcher of water and glasses. He introduced himself and explained that the fish they served were raised and herded by the dolphins in the tank and shared as part of their contribution to the station. It was considered quite an honor, and he hoped they enjoyed the meal.

"Speaking of news," Sarvin said as they settled in. "May I?"

"Of course," Dan said.

Sarvin brought up a display, where Dan could see his own president on the display. A newscaster spoke over what was going on the screen. "After days of rumor and panic, today on Earth, the leader of the America collective called upon Sarasvat and her people to convene a Council of Orbits and Objects to begin the process of mapping this system and removing rogue bodies that could damage the planets within. Sarasvat is expected to respond first thing tomorrow morning, but sources within her administration have already indicated their willingness to host such a council. Other Earth leaders were quick to echo both the president's concern and willingness to cooperate on this."

"Well, I guess that is that, as they say," Dan remarked. "I'll need to book a flight back the day after tomorrow as well. Blumenthal will no doubt have his hands full with this." He was saddened but relieved as well, to be leaving so soon after arriving. At least he could complete his mission, and the next time he came back, it would truly be on his own terms.

"That settles it," Janda said from across the table. "I will take the kids back to Jinta later tonight. But not before booking a spa package for all six of you." He pointed across at Lana, Cheyenne, Dan, Bakala, Kleppie, and Kavi. "Or I should say, three separate spas. You can have your breakfast together and supper. Plenty of privacy in between."

"And you?" Kavi said.

"Don't fear," Cheyenne said. "He's got his eye on some student at Shin University anyway. He'll not be too lonely. I'll bite, but Dan, you've got to come see Jinta the first chance you get. And Kleppie, you will stay with us in the guestroom as soon as Kavi's gone. As long as you want."

One of the other members of Kavi's creche arrived with Cheyenne's kids in tow. Mackenzie was as animated and excited as Dan had ever seen her. While they had been at the Data Center, the kids had gone to one of the few public connection points at the aquarium's surface level.

"We talked to her even," Mackenzie gushed. "The dolphin from Earth. We got to talk to her. Through the translator, of course. I tried without, but she just laughed at me." Mackenzie giggled. "Jala will be so jealous. She's been wanting to see her forever."

"She's only been on the station a few weeks," Cheyenne said. "Hardly forever." She hugged her daughter, looking happy. She pulled Mackenzie onto her lap, and they sat together as the waiter arrived to take their orders.