Twin Stars 1: Ascension

by Robyn Paterson

  Tysen gave him a pained look, then sighed. “Am I really so…?”

  “Anal? Inflexible? Self absorbed? Boring?” Kip listed. “Shall I go on?”

  “No. No, that’s quite enough.” Tysen said and took a long drink.

  “Al,” Kip counseled, saying what he’d obviously wanted to say for some time. “I like ya. You’re a good guy. But, it just ain’t so great for you to be inside your head all the time. You need to live a little- get out and actually experience the world for once! The Universe isn’t rules and regulations- it’s wild and fun and crazy and you’re gonna miss it if you don’t learn to loosen up.” Then the ginger haired man leaned in and grinned at his friend. “C’mon, you’re a Noble and you’re gonna be around for another five hundred years, you want to spend them all trying to organize your dress socks better?”

  “I don’t organize my dress socks.” Tysen answered coolly.

  “No, you re-organize them, which is even worse!”

  “Everything has its place, Kip.” Tysen said. “If everything is where it belongs, then everything will function properly.”

  “Spoken like a true Noble.” Kip shook his head. “But like I said, the Universe is a messy place. Everything falls apart sooner or later. What’re you going to do then?”

  “That’s what we need to keep from happening.”

  “See, Al? That’s your problem- you try to control everything. Sometimes you gotta take chances- be flexible. Nothing good comes without a little risk, right?”

  Tysen looked at his friend a moment, he didn’t have to ask where this came from. With so much going on, he’d been especially hard on the crew in recent weeks, and it seemed like his crew had found a spokesperson to speak on their behalf. No wonder they’d disappeared so quickly after arriving at the cafe.

  It had been so hard not to worry- most of the best men had already deserted, and the ones who remained seemed to grow less interested in following orders by the day. With the social unrest going on in so many places, the Star Guard needed ships more than ever, and ships needed crews. Tysen might not be able to control other ships, but as third-in-command of the Crystal Leaf he could control her, and he would see that she was ready to meet any situation- as was his duty.

  However, there was wisdom in Kip’s words. As Kip had just said about him, if a man is pushed too hard he could break things, and Tysen needed to keep what crew he had left. Perhaps a little flexibility in his approach to command was called for. Perhaps he could change his command style…a little.

  Yes, Tysen considered. He might try that.

  “Kip…I…” He began. Then he noticed that his comrade’s eyes were glassy, and fixated on something on the street behind him.

  Annoyed at being ignored, Tysen turned to see what was so damned important that…And caught his breath…

  “Beautiful…” The words escaped Tysen’s lips without him even being aware he’d said them.

  “You can say that again, buddy.” Kip agreed. “You can say that again!”

  There were many ways to describe women, and Tysen had used most of them in his time, but the only word he could think of to describe the woman that walked near them was- perfect. Slightly above average in height, with a slender form that wasn’t slender in the right places, she had the elfin beauty to her face that Tysen had always found attractive. Her hair was a simple light brown bowl cut, and her clothes a nondescript form fitting powder blue bodysuit and boots, but the way she wore them still made the men around her stop and stare in wonder as she passed. On another woman they were clothes, but on her- style.

  Tysen drank in her beauty, even the act of breathing forgotten for a moment, and then his senses returned and he became aware of something- she was not alone.

  “Forget it, Kip.” He cautioned his friend. “Take a look who she’s with.”

  At first, Tysen almost mistook him for one of the street performers; he looked like a stilt walker who was several heads taller than the beauty who walked beside him. He wore an odd dark blue military dress uniform with a white ribbon tie that was strange even in these festive surroundings, but once Tysen focused upon the too-tall man, all doubt was gone as to his manner or his origins. His face distinguished, and he was older but not old, with graying temples and a manner that made Tysen feel like this was a man who was used to being in charge. Despite his size he moved with a grace that made it seem like gravity had blessed him with only the lightest of her touch, and had a fluidity to his stride that only increased his presence.

  “Yeah,” said Kip, disappointment clear in his voice. “I see him. Think he’s a real Noble, or that’s just for show?”

  “Oh, he’s for real. There…” Tysen gestured to the long curved scabbard that the man had hanging from his hip. A weapon in a place where weapons were outlawed, and carried so openly as to display the power required to bear it. “And take a look her, don’t you think she’s a little too perfect?”

  The pair were passing the café now, close enough to see not only the woman’s flawless skin, but also to see the dark jeweled choker she wore around her neck. A collar that marked her as a bioroid- one of the inhuman companions that tended to the needs the nobility.

  “She’s a Squire.” Kip said, shaking his head in disappointment. “Must be nice to be a Noble.”

  “Yes,” Tysen said absentmindedly, watching them go.

  “You’re a Noble, Al. Why don’t you have one of those?”

  Tysen looked at his friend, considering what lay behind those words for a moment, then, deciding that it was just momentary frustration, he smiled. He was used to prejudice by standard humans against the post-human species to which he belonged, but not from someone so close. “I’m not a ship captain, nor a captain of industry, Kip. A Squire is as much a sign of status as that sword he’s carrying, and I’m just an enlisted man like you are.”

  “Not for long,” Kip said dryly. “You’ll be captain in no time, with a Squire to tend to your every need, and I’ll still be Lieutenant James Kipps- caveman officer.”

  Tysen decided not to let this mood continue. “Don’t be jealous, Kip. Being a Noble isn’t always pleasant either- it comes with a huge number of duties and responsibilities. Besides, despite their near physical perfection, nobles still fail to use their brains just as often as everyone else. Just look at me.”

  That broke the growing tension, and both laughed.

  “So, they’re just as stupid as everyone else.” Kip said finally.

  “Exactly,” Tysen nodded, and then stood up. “And, on that note I shall meet you when this festival has become a little less family oriented.”

  This caught Kip by surprise. “Hey! Where are you going?”

  Tysen pointed across the square. “They have a colonial museum I thought I’d check out.”

  “A…museum?” Kip said slowly, then sighed. He clearly felt he hadn’t made as much progress with his crewmate as he’d thought. “Well Al, if that makes you spin, go ahead. But, if I find some fun, I’m not sharing.”

  “And, you are most welcome to it,” Tysen pulled his mask down over his face. “Link to me if anything comes up.”

  * * *

  Ping An ran, but not fast.

  Well, not as fast as she could go. If she did, then she’d easily be able to out-pace their pursuers, but she’d also lose her two crew members. She might not like them, especially at the moment, but she was responsible for them, and where Ping An came from, duty to others was not something that was taken lightly.

  “Leederman!” The name was spoken like a curse over the Linkspace network between their implanted neural links. “What part of ‘not attracting attention’ don’t you understand?!?”

  "But...But...." Leederman stammered as they dashed around a street vendor’s stall, nearly knocking over patrons as they scrambled past. Ping An had to pause and help Justin avoid falling as he nearly tripped over a small dog.

  "Getting into fights is not inconspicuous!"

  While Ping An and Justin
had been doing their best to get information from some local security officers at an outdoor beer garden, Leederman had found himself the target of a local girl’s interest. It was harmless flirting by someone who seemed bored, and Ping An had been inclined to let it slide. Leederman was the least skilled at what they were doing after all, and it kept him busy. The problem was that this local girl also happened to be waiting for her local boyfriend and his buddies, and when they’d arrived the boyfriend had begun berating the girl for her unfaithfulness. Again, not a big problem- until Leederman decided to go all White Knight.

  One brawl later, the very station security officers Ping An had sought out were trying to arrest Leederman for starting a fight, and all three of them had been forced to flee into the festival with two security officers in hot pursuit.

  They were just lucky the station hadn’t decided to deploy the security bots in such a crowded and chaotic environment- yet.

  “Geez Ping-An, I’m sorry!”

  As they dashed around a corner Ping An thought quickly. She could avoid their pursuers easily enough, but the two others couldn’t. That made the choice clear.

  "Idiot! Quick, give me your mask."

  "My mask?" Leederman always was a little slow on the uptake.

  "Yeah, I’ll take your cat mask and you take my...whatever this thing is. Quick! Do it!" She passed him the birdlike mask she’d been wearing, and took his. It smelled of sweat, blood and beer, but she put it on anyway.

  "Now, everyone split up!" She commanded. "I’ll lead them away, and I want you to find other masks and blend into the crowd. Disappear! I’ll call when I think things are okay."

  "But, what about you, Squadron Leader?" Justin asked, feelings of concern leaking into his mental “voice”.

  "I’ll be fine, I’ve done this before. Just go!" She ordered.

  The black and white clad station security men had come back into view behind them, and Ping An slowed down slightly to let them see her while the other two dashed ahead. Then, when she was sure they were onto her, she ducked into a side alley and away, with them in pursuit.

  "Thanks, Ping An!" Leederman’s link echoed in her head. "You’re a life saver!"

  "Don’t thank me yet, numbnuts." She sent back. "I’m still going to tell Camus about this later!"

  That’s when she saw the buzzing security bots overhead, and suddenly she wasn’t so sure she’d be able to tell Camus about anything after all.

  * * *

  And what do you say?”

  Both men bowed deeply to the shopkeeper and his wife.

  “We’re sorry for the trouble we’ve caused.” They said in unison.

  The aging shopkeeper’s wife looked down at the two men in contempt, pulling back to hit them with the stick she carried, but her husband held her in check. He looked at Tysen, and Tysen nodded.

  “You men will each receive a reprimand in your records, and the cost of the window you have broken will be deducted from your pay. Is this understood?”

  Both agreed that they did, although Tysen could detect that the larger of the two was barely holding his tongue- likely a comment about the idea that there was any pay to deduct.

  Tysen had found the two drunken crewmen from his ship threatening the owner of a local convenience store and arguing with his wife, having already broken a window as an intimidating gesture. Tysen’s appearance had put a quick end to the argument, and brought about the current resolution. Drunk as they were, neither had any illusions that Tysen would spare them the harsh punishments of Imperial military law if they fought back.

  After sending the two crewmen on their way, Tysen apologized again to the shopkeeper, whose wife had already stormed off, and then looked up at the dome far above. The lighting system was showing signs of growing dimmer, a convenience to the many planet born inhabitants of the station to help them adjust to station time. A side effect of this was that it made the space beyond the clear dome easier to see, and if he squinted Tysen could just make out the fuzzy image of the Crystal Leaf among the other ships attached to the docking ring.

  For a moment, Tysen considered returning to the peace of the ship, but he quickly dispelled the thought. He had to keep an eye on the crew here, and also he’d promised Kip to join him later for some “fun”.

  He didn’t like parties- they were pointless affairs, and he was poor at small talk. However, after his recent talk with Kip he recognized that with the growing tensions aboard ship, making himself seem more companionable to the crew might bring some benefits. Besides, he honestly liked Kip, and enjoyed the man’s company. They had served as junior officers aboard the Crystal Leaf for over an Imperial Standard Year now, and Kip was one of the few people aboard who he felt a kinship with, despite the differences in background. They had worked hard together, and formed a bond he didn’t take lightly.

  With this in mind, Tysen pulled his mask back on, turned, and began walking towards the area where he’d last left his fellow lieutenant. He didn’t plan to make his way there directly, but to slowly work his way back, checking in on more crewmen- just in case. He had a little AR window up on the edge of his vision that showed him the locations of all the crew members in the area.

  Making his way down the road, Tysen found himself at the entrance to a park, and he began to follow the winding stone path. Even at this time of day, the park was still filled with children and parents, enjoying the shows of a few buskers and eating the sweets sold at stands scattered throughout the park. A type of sweet rainbow ice seemed to be the treat of choice, and Tysen even briefly considered buying one before pushing such a childish thought away. He was in civilian clothes, but it would still seem too unbecoming to be seen by someone eating such a thing.

  At last the forested path led him out into an open square filled with stone tables and benches. He could see the blue and red glows from the holographic chess pieces which sat atop the tables. Emitters built into the stone generated the pieces so anyone could play, and many old and young had taken the opportunity to do so.

  Tysen nodded to himself. It was good to see so many people playing the old game. He had learned much as a child from playing chess, lessons which still stayed with him until this day, and he revered the game for the mental discipline it taught. Watching the older people teach the young girls and boys to play reminded him of his own days in the town square when he was like these children, at least, until the old men had grown tired of being beaten and refused to play him. At the time he had resented it, but now he smiled at the memory, understanding what had really happened.

  Perhaps…He could spend a little time here before moving on, he decided as he moved among the players. It would be relaxing to watch them play, and he might be able to impart a few tips. With this in mind, he focused on the children’s games, wandering from game to game and looking for one which might need his help.

  He found what looked like a likely candidate pretty quickly. A small sandy-haired boy of ten or so standard years was playing a slightly older and larger boy with darker hair. The sandy-haired boy was losing quite badly, and clearly a very weak player. The game was just in the early moves, and he was quite hesitant while his opponent was pushing him to react.

  “So, you gonna move or what?” Pressed the older boy impatiently.

  As Tysen watched the younger boy, he felt a pang of sympathy for him. He was quite clearly outmatched, and was on the verge of quitting in frustration.

  Well, thought Tysen, perhaps if he gave him a small bit of assistance it might bolster his confidence and speed the game along to the point where Tysen could take a teaching role. Yes, he decided as he moved around behind the older boy, he would take a hand in this game.

  Once he was standing behind the older boy, Tysen began to move his hands to grab the attention of the sandy-haired youngster. That took a moment, and at first the boy seemed a bit confused, but with a few motions of his hands Tysen made it clear that he wanted to offer a bit of advice with the game. Once the boy nodded in acceptance, Tyse
n indicated a pawn and motioned for the boy to move it forward.

  “Y-your move.” Said the younger boy, having made the move Tysen suggested.

  * * *

  Ping An let herself drop to land among the recycling bins in an alley.

  The arrival of the police bots had made escaping a near thing for her, with the small aerial trackers dogging her every move as she tried to keep the station security men’s attention away from her men. Finally, when she’d felt the time was right, she’d broken away from the human pursuers and escaped up onto the rooftops of the buildings as the aerial trackers tried to corner her. A few tricks had lost them as well, but it had taken time and now she was quite a distance away from where she’d started.

  Leaving Leederman’s mask in a recycle bin, Ping An emerged from an alleyway and purchased a new one at a roadside stall before slipping into the crowd and letting it carry her away from the alley and into anonymity. She also stopped along the way to purchase a red skirt and switched her vest for a blue jacket, hoping the change in dress would throw off any attempts to match her profile or clothes.

  Confident she was now safe, Ping An checked her chronometer. Her real mission here was over- the security people had been most forthcoming before things turned sour. She had a few hours to go before the meeting, and her time was her own, but what to do with it?

  She enjoyed the sights while she considered. Miraposa Three’s OTS reminded her of the asteroid colony where she’d grown up. Orbital colonies all had the same smell from the recycled air, and the genetically adapted plants that filled almost every bit of extra space. This one even had a fair amount of dedicated public greenspace, which she admired as she walked through a local park.

  Finally, her wandering took her to something that made her feel really nostalgic- a square in the park filled with places to sit and stone chess boards. Now that brought back memories! As she watched the children play she almost felt like she’d find her best friend Sophie waiting for her at one of the chess boards for their near-daily matches.

  You never beat me, did you Sophie? She reminisced. You never beat me but you never gave up…