She blinked away tears as the Vid-doc lids closed on her children. “This is your world to claim. Make the most of it.”
Devon, Interdiction, QSD Baba Yaga, Top Deck
Bethany Anne returned to the ship ahead of Michael. She needed some space to process the reality of being apart from her children again.
Saying goodbye to Gabriel and Alexis, however temporarily, was harder every time she had to do it.
The tears Bethany Anne had held back in the vault burned behind her eyes. She allowed them to fall at last in the sanctuary of her bedroom.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it while the excess emotion escaped in silent, heaving sobs.
Her babies would be fully grown the next time she laid eyes on them. All she could do was accept it while another huge chunk of their time as a family unit was sacrificed to the cause of protecting them from the life she had birthed them into.
It was almost more than her heart could bear. The flood abated eventually, but the gaping void Alexis and Gabriel’s absence left inside Bethany Anne never left her when they were apart.
Bethany Anne pushed the wet strands of hair out of her face and headed to the bathroom to splash water on her puffy eyes.
The mirror showed her the same reflection as always. She ran the cold water, thinking that for once, maybe there should be some wear on her face to mark the defining moments of her life.
She tried it—slowly, since it was painful as all hell to force-age herself—adding worry lines for her children’s exploits, then laughter and love around her eyes and mouth, finishing with twin dimples where her eyebrows met from two centuries of frowning at bare stupidity, greed, and politics.
>>Is this your latest avatar?<< ADAM inquired. >>That makes it a full house.<<
I thought you were busy on QT2? she returned, avoiding the question.
>>Just checking in before you leave,<< ADAM told her.
And you decided to give me shit?
TOM chuckled as ADAM departed in a huff. You always did remind me of one of the multi-aspect goddesses from Earth’s mythology.
Bethany Anne raised a still-perfect eyebrow. Is that supposed to be a joke about my personality?
No, TOM protested. It was a remark on the faces you have chosen to wear. The mother, which is your own, the witch, Baba Yaga, and this would be the crone.
Bethany Anne hissed away the pain of dropping the mask. Pity. I would have laughed at the crazy lady joke.
TOM sniffed. You sucked at being a vampire, is that funny enough for you? Try to give a human a compliment. Sheesh!
Bethany Anne flashed fangs at her reflection. It could always suck to be you…
TOM, wisely, refrained from replying.
Mood lifted a little, Bethany Anne left the bathroom and headed for the elevator, opening her HUD to read her messages as she walked.
The first message was from Michael, informing her that he had returned from the vault and would meet her in Transport Bay One when she was ready. There was another, this one an urgent request from Tabitha.
Bethany Anne frowned. “Where the hell is she, then?”
The door to the living area flew open and Tabitha burst in. “I'm here! I made it!”
Bethany Anne sidestepped to avoid being swept off her feet by the hurricane. She folded her arms and gave Tabitha a stern look. “Only just. What was so important you couldn’t call?”
“Sorry!” Tabitha leaned on her knees for a moment, speaking between gasps as she got her breath back. “Problem. Federation.”
Bethany Anne waved her hand. “Tell me about it on the way. Michael is waiting to give the order to leave.”
Tabitha followed Bethany Anne to the outer hallway, where Izanami had the elevator waiting for them. “Barnabas got an alert from your Dad. The Leath are sniffing around the Interdiction.”
Bethany Anne frowned at the closing doors, opening her internal HUD to check that her Interdiction remained untouched by Federation hands. “I’m not seeing any alerts on the early warning systems. Who exactly is sniffing?”
Tabitha shrugged, leaning back against the handrail. “The message from Lance mentioned the Leath trade secretary.”
“Yeah, on behalf of the representatives, no doubt.” Bethany Anne’s lips curled in a snarl. “I knew it. I fucking knew it would be the Leath who pulled a stunt like this as soon as I was out of mind.”
Tabitha winced when the air around them tightened. “Don’t kill the messenger, okay?”
Bethany Anne didn’t hear her. She stalked out of the elevator and along the short corridor to the hangar doors, her heels beating a sharp staccato that left no doubt as to her mood. “‘Bethany Anne, give them a break,’ you all told me.” She turned and pointed at Tabitha. “I’ll give them a break. I’ll break their faces, then their spines, and then maybe I’ll break the Federation treaty, since nobody else seems to be fucking sticking to it.”
Tabitha folded her arms. “You can’t polish a turd. I don’t know why you would expect anything different from the leading supporters of your exile. Do you want me to take care of it?”
Bethany Anne sighed and paused at the hangar door. “No. I’ll take care of it. I need you on Devon, protecting my children.”
Tabitha threw her arms around Bethany Anne and squeezed. “That goes without saying. The vault stays sealed until you get back.” She released Bethany Anne and held her at arm’s length. “Jean and the Admiral have got the defenses while you’re gone. Barnabas is keeping an eye on things at the far reaches of the Interdiction. Go be awesome on Qu’Baka. Give the Seven another well-deserved shafting from everyone on Devon.”
Bethany Anne grinned when Tabitha demonstrated. “I can’t believe you hug your son with those hands.”
Tabitha snorted as she pulled the hangar door open. “I had a baby, not a personality transplant. Kick ass. You’ve got this.”
Devon, QBBS Guardian, QSD Baba Yaga, Transport Bay One
Bethany Anne left Tabitha to her departure and made her way up the metal staircase that let out at the upper-level access hatch to watch the last of the loading from the station to the ship before they left for Qu’Baka.
She spotted Michael on the right-hand side of the perforated metal walkway and walked over to join him at the railing where he leaned, observing the activity on the bay floor below.
Michael turned at the sound of heels on the walkway and smiled at seeing Bethany Anne approach. “Tabitha is just leaving. Almost everyone who’s coming aboard has checked in with Izanami. It’s time to leave.”
“I know.” Bethany Anne joined him at the railing, and together they watched Tabitha’s Pod exit the translucent barrier beyond the bay doors. She still felt her children’s absence, despite the influx of unasked-for passengers who had all found last-minute reasons to tag along to Qu’Baka. “Does the ship feel empty to you?”
Michael looked at Bethany Anne incredulously and waved a finger to indicate the large number of people crowding the bay with their belongings. “You can see them, right?”
Bethany Anne waved her hand to dismiss everyone below for the moment. “I mean, without the children around.”
“It will be much longer for them than it is for us,” Michael reminded her gently. “Remember that, and write to them whenever you miss them.”
Bethany Anne touched her head to Michael’s shoulder. “I intend to. Why are all these people coming with us, anyway?”
Apart from Mahi’Takar and three of her brothers—who were planned—their wives and sworn fighters were also boarding the Baba Yaga, which Bethany Anne could have complained about had they not been accompanied by John, Eric, Peter, Gabrielle, and Addix, along with six squads of Guardians and all of their support personnel.
“It’s hardly the minimal expedition we had planned,” Michael agreed in amusement. “However, I expect we will be glad of the extra numbers once the fighting begins. I am more than happy with your choice of captain for our flying continent.”
&n
bsp; “You’re exaggerating. The ship isn’t any larger than a large city. It would be ridiculous to waste resources on some behemoth that sat mostly empty.” Bethany Anne’s gaze drifted to the man directing the six armored trucks carrying Peter’s Guardians. I’m glad Paul answered my call.”
“He was always your best pilot.” Michael remembered Paul Jameson from before his decision to play hot potato with a nuclear device that took him out for over a century. “He’s going to make a fine captain.”
The new captain of the Baba Yaga dashed around the transport bay with Izanami’s white-armored avatar in tow. Bethany Anne and Michael watched for a moment while Paul directed the complicated ballet of guiding Peter’s trucks into a neat row while avoiding any clashes with the antigrav pallets stacking themselves neatly into every available space under the watchful eye of Izanami.
Bethany Anne smiled, turning from the railing as the external doors closed with a clang of finality to seal the bay. “I have to call my dad,” she murmured, mostly to remind herself. “As soon as we get underway.”
Michael continued watching for another moment before following Bethany Anne along the walkway. “You’re feeling daughterly because of the children?”
Bethany Anne lifted a shoulder, switching to their mental link as they entered the bustling corridor. That, and I want to find out what the Leath are playing at.
Michael repressed a sigh. What makes you so sure they’re playing at anything?
Bethany Anne didn’t need to hear the sigh to know he was thinking it. The warning Dad passed on through Barnabas. They’re poking around outside Federation borders, she informed him with a touch more heat than was strictly necessary. Partly due to the rapid rise in demand for certain components we’ve been ordering a shit-ton of.
They paused to give way to a shipbot shepherding a line of antigrav carts filled with galley supplies.
We fudged the economy? Michael was only mildly surprised by the news.
Bethany Anne lifted a shoulder. Fudged it, fucked it, same thing. It wouldn’t even be an issue if it wasn’t for the fact that I was planning to move production to High Tortuga and QT2. Withdrawing now will cause their economy to crash.
Michael pressed his lips together, considering their options in the wake of the development. If I’m honest, I fully expected some consequences from the pullout now that we have the Silver Line company as a facilitator to legitimize bulk purchases from the Federation. What are you going to do about it?
Bethany Anne threw up her hands. What am I supposed to do? Prop up their economy indefinitely? I didn’t ask every Leath with start-up ability to switch industries. Besides, there’s nothing I can do without breaking the treaty. They haven’t ventured out of the Federation. Yet.
Michael saw the predicament. Which means our hands are tied by the treaty.
Effectively. Bethany Anne held up a finger. Until they get greedy and cross the line.
Devon, QBBS Guardian
Rickie wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve while he waited for his commanding officer and oldest friend to react. He hadn’t felt this nervous since he’d told his ma he was leaving to join the Queen Bitch and make a life for himself.
Tim sat on his side of the desk with his fingers laced on the cool, dark wood, giving Rickie a minute to squirm.
Rickie broke, unable to take Tim’s stoic expression a second longer. “C’mon, dude. Just spit it out.” He clasped his hair in his hands. “Am I crazy? Chasing my tail to the other end of the Interdiction on a feeling?”
Tim dropped his head onto his arms, unable to resist laughing at the loaded weapon he’d just been handed. “Buddy, you’re batshit, and we all know it.” He lifted his head to fix Rickie with a serious look, not a simple thing when he was still laughing. “Look, if you’re thinking to chase Nickie Grimes across the Interdiction, I’m not going to be the one standing in your way.”
He held up a hand to forestall Rickie’s interruption and pulled a folder from the desk drawer beside him. “I’m not done yet. I can’t have you getting killed out there.”
“What makes you think that’s going to happen?” Rickie flushed. “You know I’m no clown.”
Tim nodded to appease him. “That’s not even a question. There’s nobody I’d rather have at my back, but it’s time for you to do something on your own. I get it.”
Rickie folded his arms. “You could be happier for me.”
Tim gave that statement all the merit it deserved, which was none. “I’m arranging your transfer. No dicking around off the reservation, Rickie. I’m serious. Barnabas has requested a QBBS be built to defend Waystation and the other Federation-side depots on the Silver Line routes. Congratulations, you just got promoted.”
Rickie slumped in his seat, the color draining from his cheeks as his mouth worked soundlessly.
Tim waved a hand in front of Rickie’s face. “Earth to Asshole. I know you didn’t run out of shit to talk. Don’t you want the commission?”
“Shit a brick,” Rickie spluttered. “Fucking right, I want the commission. Do I look like a total dumbass?” He ignored Tim's cheerful grin and reached over to clasp the man’s hands briefly. “I thought you were gonna laugh me off. For real? Wow, what can I do to thank you for this?”
Tim grinned, getting up to clap Rickie on the back. “Don’t thank me just yet. The first thing you have to do is oversee construction of your station.”
“Station Commander Escobar. If only my ma could see me now.” Rickie knuckled his eyes to clear the shine and grinned at Tim. “I’ve only got one question. How the fuck did you get Bethany Anne’s permission for this?”
Tim winked. “I didn’t bother her with it. I cleared it with Tabitha instead.”
Rickie snickered along with Tim. Inside, however, his thoughts were on how he was going to prove he was worthy of his new responsibility once their Empress returned from war.
8
Federation Space, Red Rock, House of Arbitration, Lance Reynolds’ Personal Quarters
Bethany Anne’s call came late into the night, long after Lance’s book had slipped into his lap and his EI assistant had dimmed the lamps.
Lance sat bolt upright at the chime from his desk. His paperback fluttered forgotten to the floor when the holoscreen activated, flooding the room with gray-blue light.
He scrubbed his eyes and focused on the human-shaped blur on the screen until his vision adjusted enough for him to make out his smiling pride and joy. “Pumpkin, hey.”
Bethany Anne rolled her eyes at the nickname. “Hey, Dad. Sorry I woke you. We just got away from Devon. How are things on Fed Rock?”
Lance waved the nickname off and got up to retrieve his book from the floor. “Don’t worry about waking me. I’m here past time anyway.” He returned his paperback to its place on the shelf and walked over to switch on the coffee maker. “You got my message?”
Bethany Anne nodded, her face set in stern lines. “About the Leath nosing around near my defense line? Yeah, and that’s not going to fly. You made sure they’re going to keep away from the Interdiction, right? The last thing I need is a shipload of dead Leath in my backyard.”
Lance lifted a tender shoulder, thinking he had to either stop falling asleep in his chair or switch it out for one with better support. “Not sure what I can do, beyond the clear warning I gave the Secretary to stay away.” He stretched, unable to keep from smiling at Bethany Anne’s reaction. “You’ve got that look. What aren’t you telling me?”
Bethany Anne leaned back in her chair and laced her hands behind her head. “This isn’t working for me anymore.”
Lance groaned internally when the displeasure Bethany Anne had shown a moment before was replaced by the willful smile he loved and dreaded in equal amounts.
He was either still half-asleep, or his daughter had taken a dislike to something and was building up to spreading her temper around. “What’s not working?” he inquired, hoping it was something that could be solved with minimal disrupt
ion to the rest of his night’s sleep.
“The Federation sitting out the war,” Bethany Anne stated, leaning forward again as the stormfront Lance had predicted broke. “The treaty forcing me to stay in exile. Fucking fighting nonstop to protect it all without anyone knowing there’s a war going on outside their windows. I’m done taking from the people out here in the Interdiction to defend the Federation when there’s nothing coming back to throw at the Seven.”
Lance couldn’t hide his shock. He leaned forward to scrutinize her face for any sign this was a squall that would blow over but found none. “Bethany Anne, you agreed to that treaty for a reason. It maintains political stability. Are you seriously considering breaching it?”
Bethany Anne lifted her hands, her face impassive. “So what if I am? Dad, there’s not going to be anything of the Federation left to keep stable if we don’t act. If I don’t act. The Seven aren’t going to suddenly decide they’ve wasted enough resources on trying to destroy us and go home.”
Lance rubbed his jaw as the sense of her words sank in. “I see your point, but there’s still the risk of your reappearance sending the Federation into a tailspin it can’t recover from. You can’t ignore the devastation that comes with the Federation breaking up. There’s a huge likelihood that the council will dissolve the treaty and run home to their people. Do you want to go back to the days of planets battening their hatches at the first sight of you? Of every species for themselves? I know I complain, but we’ve made huge progress in improving the lives of our people.”
Bethany Anne waved off his concern. “I have no intention of ignoring anything. Neither am I going to waste my time speaking to the Federation. I left you in charge for a reason. I’m done with bureaucracy. Now, how to turn the problem with your nosy Leath into an opportunity rather than a reason to panic? Their need for raw materials is mainly down to my demand for the components they can produce.”
Lance activated his desk holo and pulled up the economic reports for the last quarter as they pertained to Leath and its subsidiaries. “They’ve mined themselves almost bare to meet your quotas. I had no idea the situation was that acute.”
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