The Lost Star's Sea

by C. Litka

  02

  I took a monorail car that swung and soared along a cable line that snaked through the trees and rocks of the little cluster of islands to metro Tanjenree the following round.

  Hissi stayed back. I found her sleeping outside on a thick branch and she only gave me a sleepy low growl when I said I was going across the islands to the office, after which I'd likely visit my new ship.

  'Yes, I'm sure you'd find it boring. You can stay here, if you like. Sleep. Play with the children. Explore on your own. You should be grown-up by now, I'd think...'

  A low, menacing growl.

  'And I can certainly find my way around without you at my side...'

  A dismissive hiss.

  'Right. If you get hungry, don't wait for me. Buy your own?'

  A low, menacing growl.

  'Right. You shouldn't starve. I'll see you when I get back. Have fun!'

  A sleepy bark of agreement.

  This proved to be how we operated throughout our stay on Tanjenree. I went to work, Hissi slept and played, and who knows what else. She may've found a gambling den for all I know. But she stayed out of trouble, or at least avoided getting caught. It was, perhaps, a slightly new phase in our relationship. She had grown up, and had been in human society long enough that she didn't need me as her keeper. And I didn't need her as mine, though she'd disagree with that with a long, suffering hiss.

  The S&D Line office was located in the upper levels of one of those whimsical buildings that a gravity free environment seems to inspire. It offered a view up to the crowded small boat harbor overhead between other such structures.

  The receptionist greeted me with a smile 'Ah, Chief Engineer...' she said glancing at the badge on my uniform cap, 'Wil Litang, is it?'

  'Correct,' I replied returning her smile.

  'Excellent. We noted that you had arrived with the Caves of Jinlopar. I expect that you'd be eager to inspect your new ship. I'll tell Mr RahJen that you're here.'

  I was promptly shown into RahJen's spacious, mostly screened-in office, 'Welcome to Tanjenree, Chief Wil. All settled in?' he asked, stepping around his tall standing desk to greet me in the customary Saraime style.

  'Aye, we found a nice R&M on Taira Island.'

  'Excellent, excellent. I expect you're eager to inspect your new charge.'

  'Am I?' I asked with a grin.

  He smiled and shrugged. 'Well, take a seat and I'll fill you in on her,' he said, indicating a tall stool set before the desk. 'I don't want you to get too discouraged.'

  Free fall chairs in the Saraime tended to be close to standing height and had claws on their feet to keep them attached to the thick carpet with arm rests and a bar to hook your feet under to keep you from drifting off. I settled onto it, as he returned to his side of the desk.

  'To be fair, I will remind you that you still have 21 rounds of leave before you have to report aboard the Lora Lakes. I am not sure what your reaction will be once you've laid eyes on the old Lora. You may well decide to use your 21 rounds to rest up to the challenge of getting her up to snuff, or you may decide to tackle it now, rather than later. I assure you, the choice is yours. If you choose to tackle it now, I will put you back on active duty, but you need not feel an obligation to do so. You've earned your leave and are entitled to it.'

  'You're scaring me, RahJen.'

  'It's Jen, and I'm just being up front, Chief. You'll see her soon enough. The fate of the Lora Lakes has been hanging in the balance for something like 300 rounds now. She's a good solid ship - we're still building improved versions of her class. But current trade conditions have made her redundant. For too many rounds we kept her running as long as she could show even a marginal profit, which, I'm afraid, came at the cost of skimping on routine maintenance. And I fear that with the last 300 rounds of idleness, you are going to find a great deal of work to do to get your engines reasonably reliable.'

  'I had heard rumors that she was going to be scrapped. So why the change of heart, especially given her condition?' I asked warily.

  'Ah, I wish I knew, but I haven't been told. I don't see any uptick in trade that would explain it. I trust Captain KimTara will be able to help us out in that regard. We expect her aboard the White Gull from Saraime in three rounds.

  'And, just between you and me, Kim is a pretty important name in the company. I'm not sure where Captain KimTara fits into the big picture - I didn't care to appear to be too curious by asking too many questions - but the Kim family is a major stockholder in the Line. There's a Kim on the board, along with a brother-in-law, a Val as well, so I think there's more to the story than appears to the eye.'

  'Can you tell me anything about Captain KimTara?'

  'I've seen her service records, of course. Like you, this will be her first command. And like you, she has an excellent record as a bridge officer, moving up through the ranks as rapidly as one might expect a Kim to advance.'

  I considered that with a sinking feeling. 'It doesn't add up. If she is important, why would they give an excellent officer and a Kim such a second rate ship?'

  'Exactly. We're missing a piece somewhere. But, as I said, I suspect Captain KimTara will know all, so we won't have long to wait. I'm still busy today with the Caves of Jinlopar in port, or I'd take you out to see her myself. But I can give you a note to the Lora Lakes' watchman, and directions, if you care to give her a look.'

  'Aye, I think I better.'

  'Excellent. Stop back after you've had your look and we'll compare notes. You can count on me to do everything I can to get the old Lora up and running again. I suspect, Chief, between you and me, we'll be doing ourselves a favor if we look sharp and active - no matter how far down the family tree Captain KimTara is from the director.'

  'Aye, I've spent my life pleasing owners.'

  'And you're excellent at it. Going from oiler to Chief Engineer in under 2,000 rounds in the S&D Line is something to be proud of. Whatever they have planned for the old little Lora Lakes under a Kim, it will likely do great things for your career. Trust me on that.'

  I did. Not that it made me especially happy. Great things have a way of turning into great disasters.