by D M Arnold
Table of Contents
1 -- Birthday
2 -- Briefing
3 -- The ExoScout
4 -- Planetfall Varada
5 -- Novo Hominids
6 -- Laida
7 -- The Pomma Farm
8 -- The Breedery
9 -- The Green Zone
10 -- Solicitation
11 -- Letter of Intent
12 -- Mystery Cargo
13 -- Mutiny
14 -- Legal Quagmire
15 -- Linguistic Feat
16 -- Dome, Sweet Dome
Epilogue -- Honeymoon
THE LOST COLONY
Volume V of the Earthbound Series
Edition of 22 July, 2004
Copyright (C) 2004, D M Arnold. All rights reserved.
Published by VIRTUALimprint
http://www.virtualimprint.com
1 -- Birthday
Nykkyo Kyhana stepped into the living room of the house in Queens. “Hey, Nick!” he called.
“Hey, Nick,” Nicky answered, laughed and ran toward him. Nyk traded high-fives with the boy, picked him up and kissed him.
“Do you know what day today is?” Nyk asked.
“Birthday!” Nicky replied.
“Whose?”
“Mine!”
“How old are you?”
“THREE!”
“And, what do you get on your birthday?”
“PRESENTS!”
“Come on, buddy -- let's go see Grandma.”
Nyk set the boy down and he climbed into a chair with a booster seat. Yasuko set a cake with three candles on the table. “Blow them out, buddy -- while I take your picture.”
Yasuko cut pieces of cake. “Can you believe three, Yasuko?” Nyk asked.
She shook her head. “I cannot.”
“Here, buddy,” Nyk said and handed Nicky a package.
Nicky ripped off the paper and opened a case containing two child-sized chopsticks. “Nick!” Yasuko exclaimed. “Those for him?”
“They said not for children under three. He is no longer under three. Don't you think it's time for him to start learning to use them?”
“I suppose it is. I can't recall when I learned.”
“You were probably born with a pair in your hand, Yasuko. Let me take a picture...”
Nicky hopped off the chair and headed toward the living room. Yasuko spoke to him in Japanese. He turned and walked to her. She held out her hand and he dropped the chopsticks into it. She said a few more words and Nicky headed back to the living room.
“I think I'm beginning to understand some of what you're saying to him,” Nyk said.
“That's impressive. Japanese is a difficult language.”
“So is English.”
She nodded. “I won't argue you on that. You must have a good ear for languages, Nick.”
* * *
Nyk walked into the building housing his office. “Good morning, Mr Kane.”
“Good morning, Jaquie. Here -- look.”
“Pictures... Oh, how adorable. Three years old! He's turning into such a fine little man. Is that his grandmother?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“She resembles Sukiko.”
“So does Nicky. You can see her features in his face. And, he has her coloring, her black hair and her dark, dark eyes.”
“How is your mother-in-law getting along?”
“Better. She still misses Suki and George, but ... better.”
“That's good. I'll bet you miss her, too.”
Seymor stepped through the door. “When you're done, lad,” he said and headed into his private office.
Nyk followed his boss into the office. “Shut the door, lad.”
“I don't know why we keep up this charade with Jaquie,” Nyk said. “She KNOWS I'm not really Nick Kane, and she KNOWS Suki isn't dead but living on Floran. I know she knows. I don't know if she knows I know she knows.”
“She thinks she's sheltering us. She probably is. I heard you say your mother-in-law is doing better.”
“Yes. Having me home has helped ... a lot. She still has her moments, but overall -- she's doing better.”
“Getting over it?”
“I don't expect she'll ever get over it.”
“How's the long-distance relationship working out?”
Nyk sighed. “It's evolving. I think I'm growing more distant from Suki. I still love her. She's becoming more and more important on the homeworld. When I first took her to Floran I promised her I'd call every day. Now, I'm lucky if I can speak to her once a week. I'm afraid she's found another husband.”
“Another man?” Seymor asked.
“No -- her work. I can't believe how her career there is taking off. Her courses at Sudal University are always full, and she's asked to do speaking engagements. She told me she's been asked to deliver an address at a convention of educators on Myataxya. On Myataxya, Seymor! I've never been there.”
“Neither have I. Myataxya... This must be a bunch of real big-wigs.”
“They'll put her up in one of the resorts there.”
“She should get herself an agent.”
“Do such exist on Floran?”
“Of course they do. No one could keep a speaking calendar straight by themselves.”
“I'll suggest it to her.”
“Pretty soon she'll have her own ax'amfin assistant.”
“She has Andra. I'm happy for her. I know she's more fulfilled there than she ever was here. But -- it's not how I expected it to be.” Nyk held his hand to his eyes. “I miss her so.”
“I'm sorry to open a wound, lad.”
“It's all right. It's the story of my life, Seymor. I'm always surrounded by women -- by people who are more important that I am.”
“You're doing important work here.”
“I know -- and raising Nicky is important. Why did you want to see me?”
“This came in last night after you went home. I'll forward it so you can read it. Executive summary is Illya Kronta wants to borrow you.”
“Borrow me? What for?”
“He needs your linguistic skills -- someone fluent in the Esperanto tongue. Something about a diplomatic initiative involving a lost colony.”
“Hmm... It's Probably the Abo -- that primitive colony on Lexal.”
“He doesn't say. He wants you in Floran City day after tomorrow for a briefing with the special envoy.”
“I'll tell Yasuko I'll be away for a few days... I wonder if I'll have time to visit Suki.”
“Play your cards right and you will,” Seymor replied. “Go show your woman her first choice in husbands was her best.”
* * *
Nyk climbed the steps to the house in Queens and opened the front door. “It's Nick,” he called to the back.
“We'll have dinner in the dining room,” Yasuko said to him from the rear of the house.
“The dining room?”
“Yes -- remember? We agreed that, when Nicky started using chopsticks, we would resume using the dining room.”
“I remember... I didn't remember it being an agreement.”
“Dinner is nearly ready.”
“Nicky!” Nyk called. Nicky ran toward him. Nyk held out his hand. “Hey, Nick!”
“Hey, Nick!” Nicky retorted and slapped Nyk's palm.
“Let's have dinner.” Nicky headed toward the kitchen. “No, buddy.” Nyk pointed. “Over there.”
Nyk approached the low table. Woven reed mats were set at three places, and pairs of chopsticks. The child-sized ones Nyk had given Nicky were set at one place. He adjusted a thin cushion and kneeled on it. “Like this,” he said.
Yasuko brought a tray with three bowls and set them on the placemats. Nyk picked up his own ch
opsticks. Nicky fumbled with his.
“Like this, buddy...” He looked toward his mother-in-law. “Obaasan, I need some help here.”
Yasuko attempted to show Nicky how to use the sticks.
“I'm going to get the camera,” Nyk said. “This is too precious.”
He returned with the camera and snapped photos of Yasuko and Nicky with the chopsticks. “I'll bet Suki would get a kick out of these,” he said.
“I'll bet she would,” Yasuko replied. “Truth be known, there's no right or wrong way to use these.”
Nicky put down the sticks and began picking food from the bowl with his fingers. Nyk took more photographs. “Hey -- when Suki taught me to use those things -- she never told ME that fingers are an acceptable alternative.”
“Give him time. In no time he'll be using them like a native. Like you do, Nick.”
“I hardly use them like a native.”
“You do very well with them.” Yasuko gazed into his face. “You're right, Nick. We should do things Sukiko would enjoy -- and things George would, too. Let's honor them -- day to day.”
“A wonderful idea, Yasuko.”
“I remember what you said about your experience losing your parents. 'Life goes on and happiness returns.' Those were your very words.”
“It doesn't mean we ever forget them, Yasuko. But, it's not written anywhere that we're obligated to mourn them for the rest of our lives.”
“After dinner -- we have some things to discuss.”
“All right, Yasuko.”
“After Nicky's in bed.”
“Whatever you say.”
* * *
Nyk stepped into the kitchen and began stowing bowls in cabinets. “Nicky's down. What did you want to discuss, Yasuko?”
“Nick... As the mother of the woman you married, I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but... I think ... you should consider ... bringing another woman...”
“Oh, is that it? I'm sorry, Yasuko -- I forgot the check the calendar.”
“Calendar?”
“Yes -- we seem to have this discussion every six months or so. I am not interested in marrying another woman. I'm not even interested in dating another.”
“But -- for Nicky's sake...”
“Nicky is doing just fine.” He stepped to the calendar and began flipping over leaves.
“What are you doing?”
“Marking the calendar so we'll remember to repeat this discussion in six months.” He took a pen from his pocket and annotated the calendar. “There -- Discuss woman for Nick.”
Yasuko smiled. “If you really don't want to -- I won't play match-maker.”
“I hope you didn't have someone in mind.”
“Well... My friend Linda Tsukasa has a niece -- a very nice girl...”
“Yasuko -- there is something we do need to discuss. Something's come up at my office and I'll need to be away for a while.”
“Oh... Not too long, I hope.”
“Possibly three to four weeks.”
“You go and do what you need to do, Nick. I have no claim on you. You haven't had too many of these assignments lately, and I've been thankful for that. I suppose once in a while comes with the territory.”
“Yes -- I'm afraid it does.”
2 -- Briefing
Nyk gazed out the viewport as the interstellar packet drew near the transport platform -- a village-sized space station in permanent orbit around his indigo homeworld. The packet had picked him up from the comm relay station his people had installed near Earth. By now he knew the drill by heart -- Shuttlecar ride from Earth's surface to the relay station; a diverted packet to take him to Floran and a shuttle ride to the surface. It was as routine for him as an airliner flight was to an Earth native -- and, about as pleasant.
The packet made its approach and docked with one of the tunnels with which the platform bristled. He filed through the tunnel and into the arrivals lounge. A middle-aged man wearing official insignia approached him. “Nykkyo!”
“Illya -- what are you doing here?”
“It's been a while, Nyk. I thought I should meet your flight. Come -- we can fly my private shuttle to the surface. Do you have accommodations?”
“No -- I'll find a room at the hostel.”
“You will do nothing of the sort. You will stay as my guest. Come.”
Nyk followed Kronta to a bullet car that carried them through the platform to the diplomatic terminal. They boarded a small shuttle. It pulled away from the platform and headed toward the surface.
Nyk felt Kronta's palm against his in a traditional Floran gesture of friendship. He spread his fingers and the two men held hands. “Nyk,” Illya said, “over the years I have developed a deep respect for your abilities. In a way, it's too bad you're stationed on Earth. You could have a bright future here on the homeworld.”
“Thanks, Illya. It's important work I'm doing on Earth.”
“I know it is. I wish we could clone you.”
The shuttle touched down and taxied to the private terminal at the Floran City shuttleport. Kronta motioned Nyk to an awaiting skimmer that carried them to a platform on the 100th floor of an apartment tower.
Nyk glanced toward Illya. “Why all the ceremony, Illya? I could've just as easily taken one of the regular shuttles and a tubecar here.”
“I have a surprise for you.” Kronta approached a door and pressed his wrist to a doorscan. The device read the microchip in his wrist and the door slid open. Nyk stepped into the apartment. “This is my humble abode.”
Nyk looked around. “Very nice, Illya.” He noticed motion from the back of the apartment and a middle-aged woman stepped into the room. His eyes met hers. “Daphne! Daphne Wallace...”
“Nick Kane ... Nykkyo Kyhana,” the woman replied.
“How long have you been here?”
“About half a year.” She held up her right wrist. “I have a personal ID chip... I'm now a Floran.”
“How?”
“Illya and I have been corresponding since that day in Seymor's office.”
“And, since your wife has been onworld, I've been pleading with her to come, too.”
“Then, I was let go from my teaching job. After eighteen years on the job -- they said they wanted fresher blood. What they really wanted was cheaper, not fresher. I have no family, so I took Illya up on his offer.”
“I sent one of our enforcers to fetch her,” Kronta replied.
“This very nice young man escorted me here. I stepped into the shuttleport and saw Illya standing, waiting for me... and the decades melted away. I was a young American student in Paris again.”
“And I was a young ExoAgent on assignment.”
“It's been wonderful. We're both so happy.”
“It's a debt I owe you, Nykkyo,” Kronta added. “I only wish Daphne and I could marry.”
“We can't,” said Daphne, “because I have no line here. I so envy you and Suki.”
“We were married in an Earth ceremony,” Nyk replied. “It has no legal standing here.”
“Speaking as a woman, Nykkyo -- it wouldn't matter to me whether it did or didn't. I remember watching you two, standing before that judge and proclaiming your love for each other. It was the most beautiful moment I had ever witnessed.”
“Then -- why not do just that? Invite friends, stand before them and proclaim your love for each other. Afterward you can have a party.”
Kronta looked at Daphne. “That is an excellent idea.”
“I'll bring the champagne,” Nyk added. “Since you've been here, have you seen Suki?”
“No. We've talked on the vidphone but we haven't got together. We will someday, soon. Your wife is a very busy woman. She's the most important Earth person living on Floran.”
“Until half a year ago, she was the ONLY Earth person living here.”
“Now,” Daphne replied, “she is without a doubt the most important. Come -- we'll dine and talk about the old days. I'll show you to your room.”
Daphne heated packaged dinners in the apartment's small kitchen and set them on the table. She produced a bottle and a corkscrew. Illya struggled to extract the cork; then poured rounds into polymer tumblers.
Nyk examined the label. “Chateneuf-du-Pape,” he said. “This was Suki's dad's favorite.”
“I brought a few bottles with me,” Daphne replied, “and a corkscrew.”
“It's a good thing she remembered that,” Illya replied.
“I brought it to celebrate our reunion. Illya said we had to save the last bottle to share with you.”
“I feel honored,” Nyk replied. He lifted his glass. “Then, here's to reunions.” He sipped the wine. “If there are Earth products you'd like -- feel free to give me a list. I'm always bringing cans of tuna for Suki. I can certainly make room for a few bottles of wine...”
“Or, perhaps a tin of foie gras,” Daphne suggested.
“Or some chocolates,” Illya added.
“How are you finding Floran?” Nyk asked.
“It's beautiful -- more beautiful than my wildest imagination.”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Nyk replied.
“Thank goodness for beholders. Without them there would be no beauty at all.”
Nyk smiled. “Suki told me how crucial you were to forming her. She told me over and over how Miss Wallace was her favorite teacher. I can see your influence -- that last remark could've come from her own lips.”
“I love your wife, Nykkyo. She was without a doubt, in all my years teaching, my favorite. Teachers aren't supposed to form favorites, but she was mine. The day she graduated I was so happy for her -- knowing she had gotten her life on track. I was sad to see her leave, but I knew great things were in store for her.”
“You just didn't know where,” Illya added.
* * *
Nyk walked with Illya into an empty conference room at ExoService headquarters.
“Illya,” he asked, “what is this about? Where's our special envoy?”
“She'll be conferencing in from Gamma-5. I should warn you, Nyk -- she's someone we've locked horns with before.”