Pico's Crush

by Carol Van Natta

  Once they got out and he’d let the stacker take his flitter, he stood with her while she waited for the autocab. It wasn’t worth arguing with him that she’d be fine. “Would you like a mega pain patch or two? I have some in my backpack.”

  He started to say something, then frowned. “The gunnin in me wants to tell you ‘no, I can tough it out,’ but the truth is, my thigh is killing me, and who knows what Pico’s got.” He snorted. “And Valenia’s room terrifies me.”

  Andra smiled as she opened the first-aid pocket in her backpack. “Frilly?”

  “You have no idea. I think she owns every body and fashion appliance known to humankind.”

  She handed him the patches, then resealed the pocket. “Do anything that requires brains beforehand. They pack a punch.” She stood side by side with him and looked up at the starry night sky. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of me, but I’m not sorry you were there to have my back. Thank you.” His solid presence relaxed something inside her.

  He was silent for a long moment. “It’s what I’m good at.” He seemed to be conflicted about that.

  “It’s not the only thing you’re good at,” she said. “You’re a brilliant sniper. You’re a great cook. And you’re the best father I’ve ever seen.”

  “Thank you for that, but I’ll never be father of the year on anyone’s planet. I spent more time away from her and her mother than not, even after I left the service. I transited in and out of their lives, and missed practically every milestone she had. Dhorya got stuck with the day-to-day work of raising her. Hell, we were practically children ourselves.”

  “It’s good that you recognize your mistakes, but give yourself some credit. Pico’s a smart young woman. She wouldn’t love you so much if you didn’t deserve it.”

  A warm gust of wind stirred up a thin cloud of dust.

  “No wonder Pico says you’re a great teacher.” He put his hands in his pockets and gave her a crooked smile. “You’re good at knowing exactly what people need.”

  She was tempted to just accept the praise, but she didn’t want him to think she was a miracle worker. “I try different things and see what takes. I think most teachers do.” She edged closer to him and nudged his shoulder with hers. “Finding people you mesh with, like compatible neural nets, is special. You and me, we’ve always been… simpatizamos mucho. Very sympathetic. It was like that with Da’vin, too. You have it with Pico.”

  He nodded. “We think alike. When Dhorya left, it’s probably what saved us.”

  “You miss her, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I do. She’s the best daughter anyone could have.”

  “I meant Dhorya.”

  “Oh,” he said. He looked at her, and then away. “Yes, and no. I miss the younger woman she used to be, when we were both happy. I miss being part of a family. Not her nasty family, but the one we made with Pico.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t miss the angry, bigoted, hateful woman she became. I can’t forgive how she ripped Pico’s heart out.”

  “And yours, Jerzi.” She nudged his shoulder again, as a sorry substitute for hugging him like she wanted, like he needed. “She ripped your heart out, too.”

  “And mine.” His voice was quiet, but not despairing. “It took a long time to stop bleeding for her.”

  Tears threatened, and she looked up to the canopy of a million stars. “Losing someone is never simple. It’s always messy.” She was glad her voice sounded steady.

  An autocab descended from the heights at the same time as her percomp notified her of its arrival. It saved her from the temptation of telling him how much she wanted him right then, because it was a bell that couldn’t be unrung. Still, it was beyond her willpower to resist the chance to stay in his orbit another day.

  “You should come by the central commons area at the university tomorrow. According to the schedule Vestering approved, we’re having a domestic lunch.” She winked and pointed to the sky while making a rocket sound effect.

  He loaded her heavy backpack into the cab’s storage net, then gave her a wide smile. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Chapter 17

  * Planet: Nila Marbela * GDAT 3241.149 *

  Jerzi squinted in the noonday sun as he walked the center part of the path across the campus commons and wished he’d brought his sniper’s cap with its fold-out visor. He’d look like a dorf, to use Pico’s current favorite word, but it’d be easier on his eyes. Winter in paradise was still hot enough to make him glad he’d worn a red sleeveless knit shirt with his cargo pants and boots. His favorite gold-and-ruby earrings made him more dressed up than most.

  The original plan had been to launch from the Materials Science building’s loading dock, but it appeared the event had locally trended, because fifty or sixty students had found various reasons to be in the area. Vestering’s corner office had a clear view of the loading dock, so Andra told everyone to head to the Math building’s loading dock instead, across the floater and well away from disapproving eyes. As a bonus, the dock wouldn’t be busy until construction resumed. The university had explained it as “permit issues”; they still hadn’t admitted the third-floor construction area had been a crime scene.

  From what Andra had said, it was a light day for classes, which was why she chose it for the launch. There were still several hundred people on the floater, and more seemed to be joining the launch party. The cluster of buildings and people made the one by one-and-a-half kilometer floater seem small. He could see why Andra thought it was overbuilt.

  Up ahead, a flash of color caught his eye. Andra’s short gold and white jacket over green pants with gold detail stripes stood out in a sea of more casually-clothed students as they walked along. He liked the suit because it was tailored tight enough to highlight her beautifully muscular figure. He told himself that just looking was fine; it was touching that would cause trouble.

  Jerzi’s left thigh felt surprisingly good after the morning’s visit to a different medical center that had a minder healer on staff. Bone regenerators were all right, but he’d take a good healer any day.

  The walk afforded him his first good look at the building exteriors on the floater from the ground level, this time without the rain. The designers had created a pleasing blend of engineered curves and tropical flora. The repeated architectural theme of roundness made a dramatic and exotic impression, though he suspected it was aggravating when trying to hang something on the wall. Still, the Math building’s abundant glass reflected the equally abundant glass of the three-story Materials Science building and five-story Chemistry building behind him, which in turn reflected and multiplied the lush trees, vines, and big-leafed flowering plants. The multiple light and heavy flitters in the air over the taller building looked like big, lumbering hummingbirds. Some of the flitter paint jobs made his sparkling red Pazorbaal look dull by comparison.

  Out of habit, he’d been keeping an eye on Pico as she walked with the launch team, even though he knew she’d call it hovering. She wore a sleeveless white-and-red jumpsuit. Her hair was now cherry red and silver, but pulled back in a clip to hang down her back. She’d added a dashing red-and-white checkered resilk scarf. It was an homage, she’d told him, to the first space exploration suits, except for the self-contained environment apparatus, lasers, and armor.

  He’d been surprised to see Sojaire Celeyron had shown up for the launch, since he was supposed to be working. He’d even dressed in nice boots and a slant-hemmed tunic and pants for the occasion. Jerzi knew Pico had once had a teenage crush on him, right after space camp, but she’d stopped talking about feelings once their family began disintegrating. Looking at them together, he wondered if they might be seeing each other differently, now that they were young adults. He snorted to himself. The last thing she’d want from her father was advice on her love life, considering how badly his tanked.

  Andra, who had been leading, dropped back to speak to Pico and the rest of the team, who were carrying the rocket parts.
Jerzi had met them earlier, when he and Pico had arrived at Andra’s office after stacking his flitter on the Materials Science building’s airpad. In addition to Ms. Grien, of the watery-native body mods, the team included Ms. Dortief, of Doomreaper robot fame, and two others. Andra pointed toward the Math building’s doors. The team, plus Sojaire, veered off and headed in that direction.

  Andra looked around until she saw Jerzi, then waited for him to catch up. “I sent them through the building so they could get to the dock first and set up a perimeter. We’ll take the rest of the horde around the long way.”

  “Good idea,” he said. “Who are all these people?”

  “Romila’s Chemistry students, the Practical Applications class, and most of my classes.” She shaded her eyes with her hand and blinked once as she focused on the Math building entrance. “I think we have Ms. Grien to thank for the impromptu audience. The PR business lost a shining star when she opted for the sciences.”

  “Speaking of Romila, I thought she’d be here.” He’d heard one of the launch team express disappointment that Romila wasn’t there to witness the success of his homemade rocket fuel.

  “So did I.” She frowned. “She’s not answering pings. It’s not like her.”

  He glanced at her, catching worry on her face before she smoothed it away. “You’re afraid she might also be a target.”

  “I should have thought of her last night.” Her voice was quiet, with a subtle thread of guilt.

  He shook his head. “You and me both. I’m the one with the suspicions.”

  “She’d never forgive me if I sent the police to check on her, even if I could convince them to do it.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “All we can do for now is wait.”

  The pathway curved to the left of the Math building, and was more shaded. Signs at the fork up ahead pointed left to the public transportation dock and right to the loading dock. The group veered to the right, completely ignoring the notice that the dock was closed to non-construction traffic. Like students everywhere, he supposed.

  They rounded a sharper, southward curve, and the edge of the floater, the loading dock, and the sea beyond came into view. The spectators were spreading out up ahead, but so far staying behind the makeshift barrier of chairs and lengths of flexible fiber conduit that he suspected might have been lifted from the unattended construction supplies in the lobby.

  Andra deftly separated her Materials Science students and set them to guarding the perimeter and the food. Jerzi and Sojaire hung back with the crowd until Andra found them and sent them forward to help the launch team if needed.

  The dock turned out to be ideal, with not even a pontoon to get in the way. As the team set up the rocket, Jerzi took the opportunity to examine the setup. As he’d remembered, it was built from salvaged household items—a sink hose, a kaffa machine cone, and a child’s toy—and ignited by a standard wirekey. The fuel was a mix of household and garden chemicals.

  He stepped back again, closer to where most of the team and Andra were now standing. Truòng, a nimble and wiry man, was using a telescoping wand with a mirror at one end to help him attach a cable to the bottom of what looked like the naked control cube for a holoviewer. Dortief, a short, muscular woman, was hammering a stake into the self-healing surface of the dock. The attached tie line would prevent the stand from flying into the crowd.

  Jerzi smiled at his daughter. “I’m looking forward to seeing this. How do you know you have the right energy ratio for the lift? Did you test it?”

  Pico and Grien exchanged glances. Andra looked up to the sky and whistled nonchalantly, the picture of not hearing what was about to be said.

  “Oh, no,” said Grien with wide-eyed sincerity. “That would have been against the project rules. Adams did the math, and the team verified it. The launch will be the proof of concept.”

  Pico shook her head. “No math needed. I just looked stuff up.” Pico sidled closer to him and lowered her voice confidentially. “Theoretically, the exhaust smells like burned green coffee.”

  “Oh, good… uh, I mean, a plausible working theory,” he said.

  Truòng and Dortief finished their tasks nearly simultaneously and rejoined the team, and Andra stepped closer. “We’ll save the speeches for later. Ms. Adams, if you’ll do the honors.”

  Pico looked to Truòng, and he nodded. “Three… two… one…” She pointed at Truòng. He pressed the button.

  The wirekey on the rocket lit up. The chemical propellant hissed loudly, and after a momentary hesitation, the little rocket zoomed upward.

  Some of the students cheered immediately, but most were still watching the rocket’s trajectory. Though they’d launched at an angle toward the sea, the prevailing higher breeze had already straightened it. The rocket wobbled as a gust of wind blew it toward the Math building’s south wing, then continued its upward trajectory.

  Pico alternated between watching the rocket and a readout on her percomp. “The winds are killing us.”

  Andra swore quietly. Jerzi glanced at her, and saw she was tracking the rocket with her oculars. “The trim fin is about to… there it goes.” The rocket started spinning and losing altitude, and another gust of wind knocked it sideways, directly toward the Math building’s roof.

  “Phien, destruct. Now!” ordered Pico. Truòng didn’t argue, he just pressed a third button on the controller. After a heart-stopping moment, the rocket exploded with a fiery orange bang. Several bigger pieces plummeted down into the water, but the rest blew farther along with the wind, depositing debris like confetti.

  The spectators cheered, like it was a Founder’s Day fireworks show.

  “That’s it,” said Andra. “Better get to your classes before we all get in trouble.”

  The crowd laughed and began walking away. Andra had the team put the rocket stand and cables in the box of supplies they’d brought, then promised she’d personally take care of hauling it back to her office.

  Pico ran over to Jerzi for a quick hug. “Sojaire is walking me to the Chemistry building because he wants to talk, but first, I promised Val I’d stop in to see the kids in the childcare center.” She rolled her eyes and pointed toward Sojaire. “Someone told her that Mairwen taught them to play a game, and Val is worried they’ve been traumatized for life.”

  She picked up her bag and slung its strap across her body, then went to join Sojaire, who was waiting on the walkway that would take them around the Math building’s south wing.

  Jerzi picked up the box before Andra could, and looked innocently up at the clear blue sky when Andra raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

  “Burro terco,” she muttered, but a smile hovered around her mouth.

  In her Materials Science building office, a windowless, beige-colored room with odd angles and curves, she had him put the box on a shelf in her supply closet. On the floor, he noticed her backpack and floral gun bag as he stepped back. “Thank you for inviting me, by the way. I’m proud of my kid. Sorry, my adult, has-her-own-life-now kid.”

  “You’re welcome, and you should be.” She closed and biometric sealed the closet’s door. “I’ve been meaning to ask about Ms. Tamheurre.”

  “She’s better. They’re letting her go tomorrow. Her parents came in, which meant Pico finally got a good night’s rest in her own bed last night.” He smiled. “So did I, thanks to that pain patch. That thing could knock a Jumper cold.”

  She waggled her eyebrows and grinned. “Who do you think I got them from?”

  He laughed. Before he lost his courage, he said, “I’m going back to the range after lunch, and I saw your gun case in your closet. Care to come along?” Inside, he rolled his eyes. He probably sounded like a fifteen-year-old asking for a first date.

  Fortunately, Andra only smiled ruefully. “I’d really love to, but I have ten minutes to eat and get to class, and I won’t be done until six. My worldly goods are here because I’m switching hostels tonight. Hopefully, I’ve booked one without chemmed redball fans who have to be rounded
up by the university’s anti-riot squad.”

  “That must have tanked.” He smiled sympathetically to cover his disappointment. “I hope your new one is better.” He couldn’t ask her out tomorrow without sounding desperate. He tried to tell himself it was for the best, since he was leaving the day after, and it would probably be years until their paths crossed again. It made his chest feel as hollow as when he’d said goodbye to Pico.

  He gave her a sharp, proper salute, and she returned it.

  “It’s been a pleasure to see you again, Subcaptain Lightning.” He wanted to smile, to show he was unaffected by the end of their time together, but he couldn’t lie to her or himself. Instead, he memorized her strikingly pretty face and the solid strength in her stance. She was like no one else he knew.

  “Same goes, Commander Crush.” She nodded respectfully, and clasped her hands behind her back.

  He turned and left her office, before he said anything stupid about wishes for a different path or the ache in his chest.

  At the east end of the building, he took the stairs up to the airpad instead of the lift, then walked to the north kiosk and entered his code. Two students arrived moments later and entered their codes. The stacker was noisy, slow, and balky, and an older woman was ahead of him in line, so he crossed a few meters to the north edge of the building and looked out to sea.

  The public transport stop to the west was temporarily idle. The windsocks at the sea gate entrance, where public ferries entered the control channel, were deflated, barely twitching. Hazy lumps of green on the horizon hinted at islands, but clear, blue-green water dominated. He could almost hear the calm water lapping against the floater’s edge. He’d miss that gentle sound when he went back to landlocked Etonver.

  He was startled by the sound of a whining flitter airfoil, and suddenly, a large flitter the color of an oil slick streaked fast overhead as it banked up north and east to turn hard around and bullet toward the east.

  “Farkin’ frybrain!” one of the students waiting in line yelled. Jerzi couldn’t agree more. If he knew who had airspace jurisdiction, he’d ping a complaint. Stunts like that so near an airpad could be fatal.