Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode 9: Asha-Tanga #10

The place was called Off the Clock. As they entered the lounge, Dan Oleson called out, "I'm off the clock."

His boyfriend, Bakala, was not a diplomat, but he too called out, "I'm off the clock."

"It's custom here," Zeta said. "I'm off the clock."

Jack shrugged as he echoed the sentiment. The lounge was quiet, at least compared to the street, decorated in red velvets and featuring deep booths for privacy. This was where diplomats and bureaucrats came to hash over the day's events and unwind.

Cheyenne and her partner, Lana, were the next in, and the six of them found a booth to share and slid in.

"What did you think of Davas's speech?" Cheyenne asked after they ordered drinks and a platter of appetizers.

Bakala shrugged. "I couldn't talk Dan into skipping it for dancing," he joked without any real ire. "But it wasn't bad. Wasn't as good as an hour and a half of dancing with my boy."

Dan just laughed. "You'd wear me out with dancing, and I'd be good for nothing else."

"Which is why I didn't insist on dancing," Bakala replied. "I am rather fond of something else."

"The Mars crystal," Dan said, changing the subject. "That was pretty interesting."

"I stopped and booked a hotel for the arrival already," Cheyenne said. "Not going to miss that."

"I bet they're already booked by now," Bakala said.

Cheyenne nodded. "Yeah, they said they were filling up fast. Unveiling a crystal—how often does that happen?"

"Shaiva's made four or five, I believe," Lana said. "Not many, though." She looked away and then addressed the elephant in the room. "Davas should not have endorsed the new regulations on medical eggs, though." She looked at Zeta. "I'm sorry."

Zeta nodded. Jack put an arm around her.

"I . . . I should have said something," Zeta said, her voice small. "I fear I failed."

"What? Just interrupt his speech?" Cheyenne said.

"I know, but I just feel . . ." Zeta began.

Lana reached across and put a hand on her shoulder. "Cheyenne is right. What were you supposed to do? Interrupt his speech to voice your protest? Don't blame yourself."

"I know," Zeta admitted. "It just hit me so hard." Jack hugged her close. "He shouldn't have, and now that he's said it, they will move quickly. The committee will read this as Sarasvat's opinion as well."

"But is it?" Lana asked. "Just because he works for her, doesn't mean he knows for sure. Maybe she'll make a statement on her own."

"It doesn't seem like her," Jack said. "She's been supportive in the past. Of you, Zeta. Of Squids in general. And besides those two, however important, aren't the Consortium. You've said it yourself. The Consortium is all of you. And this isn't the opinion of everyone. The bioethics committee is independent. If push comes to shove, they answer to local councils as much as to the bureaucracy."

"Yeah, you're right," Zeta agreed.

"And you will have time to make your own opinion known," Jack finished.

"Yeah, aren't you giving a speech too?" Cheyenne asked. "Day after tomorrow?"

Zeta pinked. "About US/Consortium relations. I don't think my boss would appreciate me adlibbing about medical eggs. Anyway, the rest of Davas's speech went well."

The conversation drifted to other topics. Jack could tell Zeta was still bothered by Davas's statement. They left early, both saying they had stuff to do early the next day. As they walked back towards the US embassy, Jack wished they had a place, just because he thought Zeta could use some time to talk about this in private. But they didn't.

He left her at the entrance to the embassy; he watched her heading back toward her own quarters. "Back on the clock," he whispered to himself as he made his way inside.