by Chris Hechtl
“Have a seat fellas,” Ryans said pointing to the bench. The boys looked at each other then sat. “As you know Perry and the military contingent are heading out soon. That means we're at a crossroads.”
“Yes my lord,” they both nodded. They glanced at each other. Neither was sure where this was going.
“Coji, you're um, eight? That's sixteen standard on Patria?” Perry asked.
The young man looked a little confused and then nodded slowly. “In a month my lord if my reckoning is right.”
“That's about as close as Terran standard as you can get with a five day week and the longer year,” Perry grimaced. “And you still want to be a knight? Or an officer?” The young man paused, and then nodded again.
“Okay, since we've got the time we've extended the boot camp to the full seventeen weeks it was supposed to be too begin with. We've also set up the additional training and a six month OCS training course for those who have leadership potential. Right now it's doing double duty training officers as well as noncoms,” he said and then grimaced thoughtfully. There were a hundred and one million things left undone and they were about to leave. Somehow it didn't feel right to go. Ryans nodded.
“Since you've proven yourself kid, I'm going to give you an early shot at the shortened boot program, with a straight shot to advanced and OCS if you can hack it. Think you can?” Perry asked.
The young man nodded. “Yes sir.” He gulped a little though. He had seen the courses the trainers had put the men through. The physical part would be tough.
“All right then. You're in,” Perry said simply. He nodded and then glanced to Ryans.
“Answorth, your fifteen Terran standards so we can't exactly get you in right now. You still have a bit of growing to do before you're ready. So, you've got a couple of choices,” he said.
The young man nodded but looked a little crestfallen. “Have you decided on what career path you want?” Perry asked. “I mean military, engineering, or whatever?”
The young man paused, looked thoughtful for a moment then shook his head.
“All right, since you aren't sure we're going to send you to college,” Ryans said. Perry smiled. “One year of college with a general education. If anything strikes your fancy you can talk to your counselor to take that career path. Once the year is up you can decide to follow in Coji's footsteps or take a different path. The choice will be up to you.”
“Thank you Dominus,” Answorth nodded. “My father... I mean Duke Emroy expects me to have squire and knight training. As well as training in management though.”
“Me too,” Coji said, hand upraised.
“Well, you've done a good job handling our schedules and keeping up with us despite all we threw at you. I'll say you've got the mindset. As far as squire is concerned... that and being a knight are in a state of... confusion I guess you could say. At least for the moment, you know how things are changing,” Perry explained. Both teens nodded. “Times change with new technology, and the roles in society must adapt or be left at the wayside.”
Ryans nodded. “There's a management course Answorth, and there are a few courses you can take that go along with that, including history. Also, let’s see, law, and a course on agriculture. Mary is handing that off to her TA before she leaves I think.”
The boys nodded. “We've both taken the law courses sir.”
Ryans nodded in response. “Good, good to know. All right, Coji, once you’re out of OCS you can take a couple of college courses, or you can take a couple before going into OCS, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Suits?” Ryans asked.
“You're not staying lieutenant?” Coji asked, turning to Perry.
Perry shook his head. Both boys’ faces fell in disappointment. “Sorry son, I've got to go back. My orders are clear.” He sighed. This was one time he wasn't sure he wanted his deployment to end. “To be honest I'm not looking forward to going.” He shook his head as Ryans smiled at him.
“Not looking forward to the endless debriefs, dog and pony shows, talk show circuits and quarantine?” Ryans asked with a slight grin.
Perry wrinkled his nose. “Oh hell no. Medical is going to be a...” Perry grimaced.
“Pain in the posterior?” Ryans asked grinning outright now. He could just imagine what everyone who returned was going to go through.
“That and other places,” Perry sighed. “But yeah, we have to go. You know the nature of duty and following orders,” he said returning his attention to the young men.
Reluctantly both men nodded. “I'm sorry to hear that,” Coji said quietly.
“It won’t be for a while yet. We've still got a bit of work to do in the meantime. You've got a day before you have to report to boot Coji; you better get your stuff sorted out. Go on,” Perry said, waving. The young man snapped to attention and gave him a salute. It was a Terran salute, almost perfect in its execution.
Perry nodded, and then returned the salute. “Dismissed,” he said, voice a little rough with suppressed emotion. The young man turned smartly and walked out.
“Answorth, you've got three days until the next semester at the college starts. I suggest you go over the syllabus with your counselor and fill out all the necessary paperwork. If you've got any problems talk to him or see Sydney or me,” Ryans ordered, nodding to the young man.
“Yes sire,” the young man nodded, bowed, and then and left.
“Think they'll be okay?” Perry asked quietly.
“Yeah, I'll be around to keep an eye on things,” Ryans answered equally softly.
“Good.”
<==={}------------>
“You're doing what??? You're going?!” the woman practically shrieked. “This is unheard of! Preposterous! I won’t have it!” the new minister of immigration shrieked. She threw her hands up in the air, totally out of it.
“Do calm yourself,” Deidra replied with a slight sigh. She'd expected hysterics but not so soon. “There's no need to shout in this room.” She waved to the meeting room. She now regretted selecting and nominating Mira for the new position. She was young and determined to do a proper job but she was extremely grating. Unfortunately she couldn't take the nomination back since parliament had recently reconvened and the House of Lords had voted to acknowledge her for the ministry.
Things were still shaking up with all the changes from the epidemic and her mother's untimely passing. Most of her interim appointments had been approved readily. The house was still debating the yearly budget; hopefully they'd have it sorted soon. The spring repairs were underway and as expected the border lords had screamed for help with their new lands. Zara had left a week ago but was firm in stating that she planned to cut the trip short and return before the gaijin left. Deidra had reluctantly nodded, knowing better than to disagree.
“Like it or lump it lady, I've got my marching orders. We're going,” Perry said stubbornly. “We've got a few kinks to work out, but once we do we'll go.” Which was true Ryans thought. The crews were setting up the walk and Faraday outfits. It would be interesting to see how well they worked with the people going through the vortex on foot instead of in an insulated vehicle. If the native's ancestors had survived without protection then they should be fine, he thought to himself, putting his worry aside.
“Relax Mira,” Deidra sighed. The thin woman was excitable. Unfortunately her predecessor had died during the influenza outbreak. It was a pity; the old nearly blind lord had been a rock.
“Relax your majesty?” The woman said throwing her hands up in the air. “We've got twelve people leaving, the first new people the Imperium have seen in nearly five centuries! You have to stop them!”
“Why?” Ryans asked. “I'm staying. So are a few others I think. And a few have hinted about returning with their families.”
“Returning?” the woman stopped pouting and blinked at him owlishly in wary confusion.
“Yes, coming back. With their families,” he said pointedly. “And of course other people will come too if
they can. It will take some time; we can only use the vortex once a year.”
“How many?” the woman suddenly asked, eagerly intent.
Ryans shrugged. “Anywhere from ten to forty, it all depends on variables I'm not going to bother to discuss now.” He shrugged again. He really didn't know how many could come, or if the vortex would work only one way a year or what. They'd have to find out.
“Will they be impotent like these?” she asked, turning to the Queen. She looked to Deidra, giving Ryans a disdainful sniff.
“I wouldn't say impotent,” Deidra said, pursing her lips as she fought a smile. Perry looked amused.
“You better not,” Ryans growled, giving the immigration minister a dirty look. “And no we're not. We've taken medication to prevent pregnancy. When it wears off we'll be fertile. Max has already had the procedure reversed. He's fathered a child. Mine is chemical so I've got to wait a while for it to wear off.”
“Not soon enough for me,” Deidra murmured huskily. They smiled at each other.
“Ah?” the minister asked, breaking into their shared smiled. “Again, they should stay then to produce a new generation with as many as possible!” she spread her hands. “We lost so many in the unpleasantness last year! First the war and then the epidemic and then the winter!”
Ryans shook his head firmly. “Nope, not happening, I made a promise to them that those who wish to leave can,” Ryans said, breaking his glance with Deidra. “All part and parcel of the program lady. Better get with it and accept it.”
“No, this is wrong!” she said. “I'll...”
“You'll do nothing. You don't have the authority in this matter,” Ryans said smiling a firm smile as they locked eyes and wills. “Besides, we've got other plans.”
“Well, we shall see about this. Good day your majesties,” she frowned and stomped out.
“What makes you want to bet she's heading to the House of Lords to try to put a stop to this?” Ryans asked, turning to his spouse.
“If she does she's sadly mistaken. You rammed that provision through with father and the lords in that treaty,” Deidra answered. “Besides, I bet a few of the lords are happy to see the others go.”
Perry nodded. “I can't stay. I know a few of our people wouldn't mind, but the majority want to go home to their families if possible. We're making it possible.”
“Yeah well, I can't exactly complain if they're eager to see our backsides I guess,” Ryans frowned.
“It'll be all right,” Deidra smiled and patted his hand. “We'll make happily ever after work, one day at a time.”
He chuckled at that then turned to the steward. “Okay, who's next?”
<==={}------------>
The debate raged in the house for several days. Bills were drafted, only to die in committee. Threats of kidnapping the gaijin were floated and ultimately rejected.
Ryans knocked the debate of letting the gaijin go by pointing out a clause in the gaijin treaty. He then stunned the House of Lords when he announced Doctor Carter and her medics were getting ready to implant the first gaijin seeds they had brought along. He explained the embryos to a stunned crowd and when he was done the house broke up into thunderous cheers.
“That should take care of that,” he said, dusting his hands and smiling slightly to Deidra. She snorted.
<==={}------------>
As time drew near to return they talked about what they would do. Some were eager to return, eager to see what they had missed. Others weren't sure. “Hey at least politics isn't so damn permanent there as it is here! Yeah they bitch, piss, and moan and its gridlock but I don't have to worry about someone killing me!” Newman said shaking his head. “Sorry Ryans,” he said, glancing at Ryans. Ryans held up a hand briefly to signal he took no offense.
Doctor Carter stood. “I'm staying,” she told the group and then sat down. Charlie and Wanda looked stunned like a few of the others. Ryans snorted softly, glancing at Perry. Both had pretty much worked out that Sue would stay. Charlie and Max the machinist also announced that they were remaining. The others were surprised by Charlie but not by Max. “Max, yeah we kind of figured you and well, you're married now, you've gone local but Charlie?” Corporal Patterson said, turning in shock to the biochemist.
“Someone's got to keep the ball rolling,” Charlie said, and turned to Ryans. “Besides, I like it here. Getting better every day.”
“Doc?” Ginger asked uncertainly, looking at Sue.
Doc told them that here she was not just a country doctor, she was the country doctor, and saving lives was what she wanted to do, not just make money and live comfortably. “What the hell am I going to do to compete with this? I go home then spend the rest of my life doing plastic surgery? Wiping some rich snots ass and treating hangovers? Or working for an HMO? A TV celebrity Doc? No, here I can make a difference. A real difference for a lot of people,” she said. She shook her head.
Charlie nodded. “She's right, which is why I want to stay. I know I can help,” she said firmly. She looked over to the machinist.
He grinned, hand sheepishly tugging on the brim of his grease stained ball cap. “Well, here's the deal, I got me a girl now, and well...” He shrugged helplessly. “I kinda like building stuff here. It's neat seeing them all wide eyed over stuff we take for granted, or stuff we dug out of the history books.”
Ryans chuckled. “What about you?” Doc asked.
He froze. “I don't know yet. I said I'd cross that bridge when we came to it.” He squirmed under her intent gaze and the sudden icy silence.
“Well, hell, it's coming up pretty damn fast! Best make up your mind before someone makes it up for you!” the machinist drawled, making them all laugh. “I got me a turbine to finish, see you later,” he said, getting off the stool and walking off.
“I'm staying too. I mean, if it's okay,” Mary said blushing.
Perry's eyebrows nearly went to the sky in surprise. “Mary? Don't you need to go back? Win the noble prize in botany or something?” Perry asked surprised.
The quiet botanist shook her head blushing. “I can do a lot here, learn a lot too. I can help feed millions, end famine on this world. Besides, if we can, we may go back and forth right?”
She looked appealingly to Ryans who reluctantly nodded. “That's the game plan anyway. It's all dependent on the solar activity of both suns, all three suns I mean,” he said.
The biologist held up his hand. “IF you’re staying I am too. I'll send my work and papers through though,” he said. He smiled. “I'd rather explore a new biosphere and see new animals than sit behind a desk writing papers.”
Sydney snorted. “You're all nuts. ME, I'm going,” he tapped his chest meaningfully. “I've been caffeine deprived long enough!” he said waving a disgusted hand. Several chuckled at that.
“Starbucks!” Ryans snorted. “Don't get too excited. IF this thing pans out then you might see them coming through to set up chains here someday.”
Doc winced theatrically. “Just what we don't need. Strip malls and crap. That starts happening I'm heading to the Sticks.” They chuckled at that. “You go get your Pulitzer. Make sure you only use my good side,” she smiled to the historian. The others chuckled at that once more. Sydney looked offended and then shrugged.
Wanda grimaced. “Give me six months to a year to bask in the glory and close out my stuff then I'll toddle back here,” she said. “I want to pick up a few things and see what we've missed. Maybe get my family to come too.”
“They're welcome. You're all welcome, with your families. I'm sending a note to Perry to tell my people to foot the bill if you do,” Ryans said.
Doc grinned at Wanda. “Knew you'd want to stay. Bring me back a latte while you’re at it.”
Wanda snorted. “Latte machine you mean. I just figure I'd get sick of the lime light after a bit... But that doesn't mean I don't want my fifteen minutes of fame first,” she admitted and then grinned. Ryans chuckled.
<==={}------------>
“What are you going to do? The girls need you now more than ever,” Doc murmured to him as the group split up.
He sighed. “Yeah. I know,” he said softly and then grimaced. “I'm just not a medieval type. I'm a cutting edge kind of guy,” he said plaintively. He waved. “I want to explore, to set up infrastructure, to go into space. Not dig in the dirt, deal with manufactured crises, and people who can't or won’t get along.”
Doc cocked an eyebrow up at him. “And what makes you think you can't do all that and more here?” she asked. She waved her hands. “An entire planet to explore!” She pointed out the window to the factories. “Infrastructure galore to set up. And if we play our cards right, who knows? We just might see a space program in our life time. Stranger things have happened.”
She snorted after a thoughtful pause. “We're living proof,” she said with a sardonic grin. He chuckled at that. “And it doesn't mean we're trapped here. This works out we can go back and forth. Or if things don't work out with Deidra over the long haul, you can always go back. Bridge isn't burnt, at least not that one. At least not yet.”
He nodded as he caught sight of her golden locks in the courtyard. She was wearing a yellow dress, her crown in her silky hair. He smiled, dazzled by the vision of loveliness all over again. Doc caught his look. “Hell, we all talk about our prince charming or rescuing a princess and living happily ever after. Here's your chance bucko! Don’t blow it!” she urged him with a shove in the right direction. He snorted as they walked out into the sunlight.
<==={}------------>
He stood out the next morning, watching the two suns rise. He felt Deidra's hands behind him and he turned, lips puckering in a slight smile as she ducked under his arm so it rested on her shoulders. She hugged herself to his side, silky soft and together they watched the suns rise. His eyes drifted to the castle and the people below, already moving about on their business. He smiled, feeling her warmth. He'd finally made up his mind.
<==={}------------>
Perry led the team back a week later. Months ago they had set up a series of wind turbines along the coast. Electrical lines from the turbines and from the reactor ran to the giant electromagnets at the lode stone cliffs. They could see the effects of the singularity as it rippled the air and water. Space and time were bending around it.