Poly and I looked away so Max wouldn’t see us grinning. I leaned in close to my business partner and paramour.
“Pattéo?” I whispered. “Real cousin or honorary cousin, do you think?”
“Real,” she said quietly. “Relatives of the royal family seem to get preferential treatment in Dauushan culture.”
“I wonder if there are any species where rank does not have its privileges?” I asked.
“In all the years I spent visiting planets with my mother, I never found one,” said Poly.
She gave me a quick hug, then the two of us had fun making sure the restraint system would allow us to cuddle together. As I’d suspected when I’d recognized the material forming the hold’s surface, the shuttle used the latest Orishen technology to keep us from bouncing around in flight. Parts of the floor below us became selectively concave—small dips for humans, deep depressions for Dauushans.
When we sat down, spider-like webbing automatically extruded itself around us, leaving our limbs and manipulating trunks free. I’d read about this stuff on Orish and knew that if the pilot turned off the equivalent of the Fasten Seat Belts sign, which would be unlikely on such a short hop, the webbing would be reabsorbed by the smart floor and ready for future deployment. It was a very efficient system, especially when you didn’t know how many individuals of what different species you were transporting.
Poly and I were enjoying our restraint system cocoon, though I could sense her elevated pulse rate through her hand.
“There’s nothing to worry about. My mom’s nice. You heard her voice on the phone when I called her. She told me to give you and Pomy hugs.”
“I remember,” said Poly, “and your mom did sound nice. But I’m still nervous. Weren’t you worried when you met my mother and father?”
“That was different,” I said. “After all the buildup you’d given me about them being ogres…”
“…which turned out to be an understatement…”
“…how could you expect me not to be nervous about meeting them?” I asked.
“Yes, but it’s different when you bring a girl home to meet your mother for the first time.”
I protested. “You’re not a girl, you’re…”
Poly moved my hand strategically.
“I am too a girl,” she said, proving her point.
We both giggled, but nobody looked our way. We were covered in webbing, so we weren’t being indiscreet.
“As I was saying,” I continued, “You’re a highly competent, well-educated woman and my business partner, not just my girlfriend. My mom knows about you and even seems to know your mother…”
Poly’s eyes widened. “I hope they haven’t been comparing notes!”
“I doubt it,” I said. “Mom doesn’t have much time for gossip. She’s an engineer—a power systems engineer at that. If it’s not relevant to congruent electric generator couplings, she’s not interested.”
“What’s she like?” asked Poly.
“She’ll like you,” I said.
“No,” said Poly, poking me in the ribs with a finger, then regretting it because she’d forgotten about my Kevlar-like Orishen pupa silk shirt. She nipped my earlobe instead. “That’s not what I meant. Describe her, please.”
“Mom’s tall, like me. She’s got Welsh-auburn hair almost the same shade as yours…”
“You only love me because I remind you of your mother?” teased Poly.
“That, and other reasons.”
“Keep talking.”
“She’s smart. Smarter than I am.”
Poly shook her head when I said that. I appreciated the vote of confidence in my brainpower.
“She’s no nonsense on the job, but has a great sense of humor when she’s one on one with you.”
“Is that where you got yours?”
“Mostly,” I said. “Though my step-dad has a dry wit that I learned to appreciate when I got older. Mom’s the sort of person who would laugh at a pratfall—so long as she knew it was staged and not a real accident. I think she had too many years of workplace safety training drilled into her to see it any other way.”
“What doesn’t she like?” asked Poly.
“That’s easy,” I said. “Phony people. Just be your wonderful self and she’ll love you.”
“Uh huh,” said Poly.
That earned my earlobe another nip.
“How does she feel about children?”
Now it was my turn to feel my pulse racing. I’d been suppressing the fact that I’d soon be introducing my mom to Max. I had no idea how she’d react. I knew she loved me, but also appreciated that she’d liked me a lot more when I was older and could talk about serious engineering matters with her, not cartoons and coloring books. She was particularly pleased when I learned how to put things back together, not just take them apart.
I was optimistic that she’d embrace Max with open arms, but finding out Max existed would be almost as big a shock to Mom as it was to me. I suspected I’d also get the third degree about how it happened, and saying, “in the usual way,” wouldn’t cut it. I felt a bit like a kid being sent to the principal’s office, an analogy that was even more apt because I’d been home schooled by my mother.
“Ch-children?” I stuttered. “In favor, I think?”
Poly shook her head back and forth in a what am I going to do with this guy way.
“Did you at least send her a text to let her know we were headed up to the Charalindhri?”
I tapped my phone. Maybe it had exercised initiative. It stayed silent—coward.
“No…”
I must have sounded younger than Max.
“Then do it now,” said Poly. “You don’t want to just show up in Engineering and surprise her.”
Now that I thought of it, that idea didn’t sound so bad. I could take Max and Poly down to Mom’s domain and introduce her to both of them with all her colleagues around, so she couldn’t overreact.
Before I could share my plan with Poly I was interrupted by a clank from the airlock and another cheery announcement from Cousin Pattéo.
“Ladies and gentlebeings, I am pleased to announce that we have successfully docked with the Charalindhri. You may now disengage your restraint system and feel free to move about the cabin. Thank you for traveling with Royal Dauushan!”
Chapter 8
“Mothers are inscrutable beings to their sons, always.”
— A. E. Coppard
I’d hoped to have ten or fifteen minutes to prepare myself, but my mother was waiting for me in the docking bay. I walked off the shuttle holding Poly’s hand, with Max and Rosalind right behind us. Poly saw Mom—a tall, auburn-haired woman in grease-stained engineers’ coveralls—and correctly assessed her identity. She dropped my hand and stepped away from me, her face turning red like the two of us were teenagers who’d just been caught necking on the living room sofa.
“Jack!” shouted my mom, her arms outstretched.
We came together and she gave me a maternal hug, using muscles powerful enough to lift massive congruent power couplings without mechanical assistance. Having the breath squeezed out of me by her strong arms made me feel like I was home. Nobody gave hugs with more solidity and enthusiasm than my mom. I hugged her back and realized I should have made time to get up to the Chara to see her sooner. The pressure of Mom’s embrace squeezed parts of my body that had been damaged earlier in the week. I tried not to wince, but Mom noticed anyway, ending her hug to hold me at arms’ length and giving me a What have you been up to young man? expression that I knew quite well. I’d have to give her a complete rundown on my injuries later. Then, following family tradition, Mom gave me a not entirely unexpected compliment.
“You’re looking great, son!”
“Thanks,” I said. “You, too.”
Mom made a wry smile and turned her palms up in a silent “Who, me?” gesture. Then she saw Poly and her eyes got big. Mom seemed so happy, the corners of her mouth turned up and kept clim
bing. She pulled Poly in and gave her a hug with every bit as much enthusiasm as she’d given me. Poly was so surprised she squeaked—a sound I’d never heard her make before. I didn’t need to worry. After a few seconds, Poly started to hug her back. I could see Mom smiling and looking relieved.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Buckston,” said Poly when the hug ended.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Poly,” said Mom. “Call me Nory. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Who’s Poly?” asked Poly with a grin. “My name is Julia.”
“Oh, you!” said Mom, giving her another tight hug and prompting a second squeak.
“I give, I give! I’m Poly!” said my partner when she could draw a breath again.
“I knew it!” said Mom.
She extended her hand to Poly and the two women shook, smiling all the while. After the hugs they’d just exchanged, the handshake was a mere formality.
“Talented, smart, and beautiful,” said my mom, appraising Poly. “Don’t let this one get away, Jack.”
“We’re together as long as she’ll have me,” I said.
Poly smiled. This was going better than I’d expected. Then I remembered Max. And Rosalind.
I looked around the docking bay. There weren’t any chairs, just empty space. Mom couldn’t sit down if she wanted to.
Max was keeping close to Rosalind. I waved him up beside me. He moved hesitantly, his eyes big and curious as he stared at the woman I’d just hugged.
“Mom,” I said, figuring I’d just have to plow forward. “This is Max. He’s your grandson.”
My mother spared a beat to look at me, her eyes as big and curious as Max’s. Something in her expression told me that my chance to explain could wait. She made me proud by kneeling next to Max and giving him a grandmotherly hug that looked as enthusiastic as the hug she’d given me, with the intensity of the squeezing recalibrated for the frame of an almost five-year-old.
“Great to meet you, Max,” she said when she released the boy. “I’m your Grandma Nory.”
“Like the fish?” asked Max.
Mom looked puzzled, so Rosalind interrupted with a clarification.
“No, Max, the fish is Dory.”
I had vague memories of seeing bits of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory on television when I’d flipped through channels, but had considered myself far too old to watch a children’s movie when Disney and Pixar had released the second installment in the series.
“I knew that,” said Max, enjoying the attention. “I just meant Nory sounds like Dory. I’d never confuse a blue tang fish with my grandmother.”
He spoke so earnestly Mom and Poly and Rosalind and I laughed. Mom gave him another hug and Max sniffed, inhaling deeply.
“You smell funny!” he said.
I jumped in to do my part for civilizing the next generation.
“Max! It’s not polite to say things like that.”
Rosalind looked at me and raised an imaginary flask to her lips with a questioning expression. I shook my head. Mom didn’t drink.
“That’s my special perfume,” said Mom. “Do you like it?”
“Uh huh,” said Max. “What is it?”
“Machine oil,” said Mom.
“Cool,” said Max.
I made a mental note to pick up an extra tin of mechanics’ hand cleaner when we got back to Atlanta. I had a feeling my son would be needing it.
Mom stood up and faced Rosalind.
“Who’s this?” she asked. I think she’d already put the cube root of eight and the first even integer together to get four.
“Rosalind,” I said. “Max’s mom.”
My mother was better at dealing with heavy machinery than human body language, but even her limited interpersonal radar could sense that Rosalind got a handshake, not a hug. She extended her hand and Rosalind shook it.
“A pleasure to meet you,” said Rosalind.
“Likewise,” said my mom, keeping her guard up.
The adults exchanged looks worth a hundred thousand words, laden with subtext. Max stood between his mother and his grandmother, smiling.
All of us were walking on eggshells, trying to avoid the elephant in the docking bay, when Terrhi and Spike charged in to say hello. The little Dauushan girl stopped in front of my mom and hugged her around the waist with her outer trunks.
“Miss Nory, it’s so good to see you again!” she said. “Isn’t Poly pretty? And smart? And fun—just like I told you? Her sister Pomy is like that too, but Jack only has eyes for Poly. Spike thinks they’re great together—don’t you Spike?”
Terrhi was on a roll, words bubbling like cheese on a pizza hot out of the oven. Which reminded me—I’d skipped lunch.
I was also pleased to clear up a mystery. I now knew who’d told my mother about my romance with Poly and the injuries I’d sustained back in Atlanta when Poly’s family was in town. It wasn’t a little birdie—it was a little girl.
Mom started backing away from the shuttle entrance and heading for the far side of the docking bay while she listened to Terrhi bring her up to date on our adventures over the past week. Spike graciously allowed Max to ride—or attempt to ride—his broad back and even permitted a few undignified ear-tugs before gently shaking him off and pinning him down with one plate-sized forepaw. Max giggled as the tri-sabertooth licked his face.
Then I realized what Mom had been doing—getting us out of the way. Cornell and Sally and Winfield and Johnson followed her lead and moved with us off to the side. Shepherd and Martin soon joined them.
A fanfare of deep Dauushan brass instruments played over the ship’s speakers and Queen Sherrhi and Tomáso stepped off the shuttle. With the queen and her consort, plus three members of her royal guard close behind, the docking bay was getting crowded. I hoped Chit was smart enough not to get underfoot, then remembered she was with Rosalind the last time I’d seen her.
Soon there was even less room in the docking bay when yet another adult Dauushan entered through the door to the ship and joined us. She had a pattern of five interlocking dark pink circles painted on her shoulders. They looked like rank insignia of some kind.
“Captain Auntie!” shouted Terrhi.
The girl wrapped her trunks around the new arrival’s front legs and made gleeful noises like preteens gushing over the leader of a boy band.
“Welcome, Your Matriarchal Majesty,” said the newcomer.
“Hi, Sis,” said Queen Sherrhi. “How’s the Charalindhri checking out on its shakedown cruise?”
Sis? I didn’t know the queen had a sister—but it made sense. Royal houses always needed an heir and a spare.
“It’s performing quite well,” said the newcomer a bit coldly.
Poly leaned close and whispered to me.
“The five circles on her shoulders mean she’s the ship’s captain.”
“And apparently Terrhi’s real aunt,” I replied, softly.
“Except for that fortuitous heat beam failure last Sunday,” said Sherrhi, smiling.
“Except for that,” said the newcomer, glancing at my mother, but not returning the queen’s smile.
Tomáso nudged his regal mate.
“Where are my manners?” said Queen Sherrhi. “Everyone, this is my sister Lüzhiulterianne, next in line in the royal succession after Terrhi and the best starship captain in my family. Lüzhi, this is everybody.”
I nodded. Max waved and the rest of our party made various gestures of acknowledgment. From Lüzhi’s reaction, I had the sense she’d been fully briefed on our identities.
Terrhi released her aunt and looked up at her mother.
“I thought you said Aunt Lüzhi was the best starship captain in Dauushan-controlled space?”
Queen Sherrhi smiled at her daughter indulgently.
“Whatever may or may not have been said about my sister Lüzhi’s ship-handling skills, a princess must learn discretion. You shouldn’t repeat everything you hear, even if it is meant as a compliment.”
“Can your ship make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?” asked Max.
That’s my boy!
I looked over at Rosalind and made a thumbs-up sign to thank her for raising Max right. An education in the classics is important.
“The Charalindhri can make it in nine and a half, young man,” said Captain Lüzhi. All three of her large eyes danced with amusement. Then her expression turned serious and she addressed us all.
“I know you need to get to Atlanta in a hurry, but do you have time for lunch and a tour of the ship?”
Lunch sounded great to me, but Poly squeezed my hand anxiously.
“I’m sorry, Captain,” said my partner, “but we really need to get home as fast as we can. I’m concerned about my sister.”
“And we need to get on with identifying and neutralizing The General,” said Cornell.
His tone had a note of bloodthirsty determination.
“The sooner he’s no longer a threat, the sooner we can get on with our lives,” added Sally.
“Or get off planet,” whispered Johnson to Winfield.
I wished I was a Dauushan, so I’d have three eyes to keep watch on that pair.
“Some sort of food would be nice, though,” I said. “Maybe sandwiches?”
“It will take the ship fifteen or twenty minutes to reposition itself over Atlanta,” said Lüzhi. “You do want us overhead, don’t you, Your Majesty?”
“Yes,” said Queen Sherrhi. “Having you closer would be a good idea.”
For some reason, I was reminded of the old maxim about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, but decided I was imagining things.
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