Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Five: Adam #5

Lannister pulled up the Skype app on the slate's portal. He'd become so used to the floating holographic heads the Consortium system projected that he found it weird to be staring at a flat screen. He placed his finger against his sister's contact. There was no pressure, the screen was only projected, but it was enough, and Skype placed the call.

His sister, Linda, picked up on the third ring. She was sitting in their family room at an old desktop computer, coffee in her hands. It was not yet seven a.m. here on the station, but the East Coast was two hours ahead. Still it looked like both he and she were on their first cup of coffee for the day.

"Good morning, sis," Lannister said. "How are you?"

"Good, and you?"

"Fair enough. I thought I'd checked in, see how things are going and how preparations are coming for your visit."

"Good on both counts. Dad seems almost spry lately."

Lannister chuckled. "I'll let you in on a little secret, but don't tell. Peeta tricked him. When he toured the healer's facility last time, to see how they healed my injuries, they did a little work on him too. Just a demonstration, you know. Not sure how we will get him to his next checkup, but I'm sure Peeta will think of something."

"You've gotten used to having a page?"

"I have," Lannister admitted. "He does so much more than attend to my personal needs. He handles all the official functions, I'd be lost without him. I've been teasing him that Mom's visit is his present, someone to really boss him around."

Linda laughed. "You're developing a sense of humor up there," she said, which made him blush. "We're all looking forward to the visit. We barely got to see anything last time. And they say that court thing is open. From what I've seen on the news, it looks spectacular."

"It is; the view is awe-inspiring. We will take little Frank to eat on the edge, the first chance we get. He'll love it. You all will. If you don't get too dizzy."

"Everybody's excited. I just wish . . ." She trailed off suddenly, her face sad.

"Yeah, about that," he said, leaning in. He didn't have to ask her what had made her sad. "There is something you should know. Adam is here."

There was a pause. "Adam? You mean Brooke."

"They go by Adam now."

"What do you mean she's there?"

"Showed up yesterday."

Linda looked flabbergasted. "She's there. Safe?"

"Yes."

A look of relief crossed her face, and she appeared on the edge of tears. "I've been so scared. Bad things could happen to a girl on her own."

"Zie's been living with a friend," Lannister said. "Zie wasn't homeless. About a week ago zie decided zie wanted to move to the Consortium, pursue a career here. I let hir move in, on the condition zie complete hir education."

"Zie? What's that?"

"It's the proper address for someone whose gender is indeterminate."

"Some new Consortium thing?"

"Not really," he replied. "It's from our own language. We just never used it much. Guess we didn't respect people like that before they got here."

"The liberal media, those friends of hers . . . the things they've gotten her into," Linda muttered.

"It's not like that, and you know it."

"Remember when she was young and wanted to be a Navy Seal so badly? Then an astronaut. Then a vet. Changed her mind every day."

"Gender isn't quite the same as career choices," Lannister chided. "Besides, she, zie has always been rather masculine."

"A tomboy. That doesn't mean she should take drugs that will scar the body God gave her. What if she decides it's all a mistake and wants to go back. Can she?"

"Up here, yes," he replied. "The technology is good enough. I doubt zie will. Besides what zie wants now, it's a bit more complicated than being transgender."

"You said she's been there for a day? You didn't call?" The tone was accusing.

Lannister sighed. "I know. I was hoping zie'd make contact, let you know. But zie's really afraid."

"Of what?"

"That you will reject hir."

"Why would I reject my own daughter?"

He had hoped that Linda might have come around by now. "Because zie doesn't identify as a 'she' anymore."

"But she says she's not transgender now?"

"I didn't say that," Lannister replied. "The issue is a bit more complicated up here. They have more distinctions then we do. Adam isn't planning a medical transition right now. But zie is still the same person zie's always been. Call it tomboy or masculine, that part of isn't changing. Zie goes by the name Adam."

"I'm glad she's safe at least. I don't think I can call her Adam."

"You can, and will," Lannister said. "Zie will be here over Christmas. You are happy zie's safe?"

"Of course," Linda flared.

"Then you will agree to disagree about the whole gender thing. But zie goes by Adam, whatever you think of what that means. And I'm not hiding hir away for Christmas. Zie is family."

"I know. And I will be glad to see her." She looked less glad and more terrified, but Lannister kept that comment to himself. "But what about Mom and Dad? They are a whole different generation, you know? If she's bound and determined to live her life like that . . ."

"All I'm asking is that you all respect that zie's made hir choice," Lannister said. "Mom and Dad will have to understand that. And Frank."

Linda looked away and wouldn't meet his eye. "He's not happy about this whole thing."

"He doesn't have to be happy," Lannister snapped. "I don't expect him to be thrilled or anything. All I expect is civil behavior while he's here."

"I'll talk to him," Linda promised. There wasn't much else to say, a few mundane details to address. He let her go after discussing their flight and trip to the ground station. He sat back and sipped at his coffee and found it cold. He was exhausted suddenly, and he still had a full day ahead of him. With a sigh, he heaved himself up and went to get a fresh cup of coffee. It was going to be a long holiday season.