Tabitha shrugged. “All of us are suffering, Ecaterina. It has been a long time since we left Earth.”
Tabitha’s eyes flitted around the room from person to person as she continued her thought. “Some of us are in long-term relationships that help us cope. Some of us have enjoyed a weekend, a month, or even two-month-long flings, depending on our jobs or our needs.”
Ecaterina raised an eyebrow at Tabitha.
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “I haven’t had a weekend fling in a long time!”
Ecaterina smirked, then elbowed the Ranger. “Whose definition of ‘a long time’ are we using?”
A small smile played on Tabitha’s face as she bit her lower lip. “I always use my definition, of course.” She winked at her friend. “I am well aware that there are at least four systems where a weekend fling is equivalent to approximately thirty-seven minutes of Earth time.”
Ecaterina raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that you are not a lawyer? You seem to be very precise with your syntax.”
Tabitha shrugged. “It’s my programming background. When you type words into computers, they must be very specific.” She reached up to tap her head. “Plus, once you get trained in logic, and how to weave in and out to make a computer do your bidding, it is very hard to put down.”
The ladies were interrupted by Barnabas’ striding into the room. “Okay everyone, let’s grab some refreshments and sit down.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Darryl and Scott have some updates to provide so that we can try to figure out how to find our Empress.”
Barnabas walked over to the refreshment station and took his own suggestion, grabbing a drink before stepping over to the dark wooden table and sitting on Tabitha’s other side. He nudged her with his left arm and she pushed back, grunting with effort.
“What have you been eating? You’re as heavy as a ship. Didn’t I tell you to stop with all those carbs?”
Ecaterina shook her head as she watched Tabitha try harder to push Barnabas. Barnabas had grasped the table with one hand and had wedged one foot against the floor to help him stay put. Tabitha however, had come six inches out of her seat in her attempt to push Barnabas. “Dammit, how many times do I have to try and make my point with you?”
Barnabas chuckled. “Young one—”
He didn’t get another word in before she erupted, “Young one? I’m damn near two centuries, you old fart!”
Ecaterina moved her chair farther away to give her friend more room.
Tabitha faced Ecaterina and used her back to start pushing her chair against Barnabas, and the next thing Tabitha knew Barnabas had grabbed the back of her antigrav chair and flung her away from the table toward the wall. A small “Shit!” slipped out of Ranger Two’s mouth before she swung her legs around and used them to brace her feet against the rock wall before she slammed into it.
There were chuckles in the room as Tabitha pushed off the wall to slide back toward the table. She stuck one foot down and tapped the floor, turning her chair in half a circle to slide gracefully back into her slot. She leaned toward Barnabas, who likewise leaned a little toward her as her eyes narrowed. “This isn’t finished!”
Barnabas raised an eyebrow. “I never thought it was.” He nodded and smiled as he leaned back in his chair, adjusting himself while he looked around the table.
He was in the middle, with Tabitha and Ecaterina and then Nathan on his left. On his right were Bobcat and William, and on the other side of William was Peter. Darryl, Scott, Frank, Barb, and Stephen rounded out the attendees.
Barnabas nodded to the people across the table from him. “Okay, let’s get this meeting going. Darryl?”
Darryl nodded to Barnabas as he took a swig of water, then set the bottle down and looked around the table. “Since John and Eric are with Lance at the meeting, Scott and I took the time to see if we could find any rumors related to Baba Yaga—”
Bobcat interrupted, “Any success?”
Darryl shrugged. “It depends on your definition of success. With a character such as Baba Yaga, there is more rumor floating around out there than truth. In fact, with so many parents using Bethany Anne’s alter ego to scare their children at night, it is almost impossible to find any fire amongst all the smoke.”
Frank, to Scott’s left, furiously wrote in his notebook as Darryl continued.
“Out of the countless number of tips we received, we believe only two of them were accurate. Given Bethany Anne’s new ship, the only solid clue is the occasional picture with the rather iconic vampire on the side. I’m surprised she hasn’t covered that up.”
Frank looked up from his notebook. “I imagine she is either consciously or subconsciously providing us clues to her whereabouts.”
Barb turned to ask her husband, “What do you mean, ‘subconsciously?’”
Frank took his pen and tapped it against his lips for a moment before he answered, “Remember, Baba Yaga was originally supposed to be an avatar for Bethany Anne so she could go out amongst the people and accomplish operations while keeping the Empress herself out of the action.”
Barb nodded. “Okay, I get that.”
She was very aware that sometimes you had to lead her husband to the next point or Frank would continue explaining until everyone grew old and became dust.
“In hindsight it is obvious Bethany Anne prefers to be active and out in the field.” There were a few chuckles and snorts around the table.
Frank moved his head left and right, and a small smirk played on his face. “Okay, all of us here knew that back on Earth. Unfortunately, we forgot that salient fact.”
The mood of the table had darkened a bit so Barnabas reminded them, “Folks, there shouldn’t be any self-blame here. Trust me when I tell you that Bethany Anne is just as responsible for the situation as the rest of us. This isn’t about us failing her or her failing us. We are a team, and we will find and bring our friend back. She will need our support when she gets here because she will be just as harsh on herself as you are being on yourselves.”
Frank nodded to Barnabas before continuing, “Bethany Anne is a responsible person. With her change to Baba Yaga, I believe she is—in her mind—shirking a responsibility due to grief. This has been exacerbated by how many years she has been forced to stay on the throne. However, Bethany Anne is still operating as her alter-ego and has been for a significant amount of time, so my point related to subconscious was whether Baba Yaga is delivering the hints.” Frank turned to Scott and Darryl. “Or is Bethany Anne providing the hints from underneath Baba Yaga’s persona? We still need to figure this out, but you can bet that at some level she will be providing us clues,” he turned to Barb, “to let us know that she is still alive, at least.”
Nathan asked from across the table, “Did you guys have any trouble with being recognized?”
Scott nodded as Darryl said, “Yes. I am not sure how much the recognition caused us to receive—or not receive—tips.”
Scott added, “Some of those space stations were so large we could have been at the same place as her at the same time and still not run across each other. I was shocked by how big some of those floating cities really are.”
Tabitha nodded her head in understanding.
Stephen remarked, “In my opinion we need to send a new group out, one that isn’t as well recognized as you two.”
Barnabas looked at his brother. “Are you offering?”
Stephen nodded. “She is my Queen. My liege, until the end.”
Peter was across the table from Stephen. “No one would recognize me. I wasn’t in the news nearly as often.”
Stephen raised an eyebrow.
When Tabitha spoke up from the middle of the table, everyone’s head turned to look at her. “I’m going.” Barnabas started to say something, but she jammed her hand over his mouth. “What Barnabas was about to say,” she changed her voice to mimic her boss, “is that it would be a really good idea for Ranger Two to accompany you, considering you two don’t have as much
experience walking amongst the peoples as yours truly.”
Barnabas gently pried Tabitha’s hand from his face as she glared at him. “Amazingly enough, she is right.”
Tabitha looked at him in shock. “I am?” As he nodded she indicated the people around the table. “I have witnesses!”
Barnabas told her laconically, “You would be right more often if you didn’t go off half-cocked all the time.”
She smirked, and he shook his head before turning toward Bobcat. “What ship should they take?”
Tabitha started to speak, but before she got a word out Barnabas’ finger was in her face. Her eyes narrowed, trying to focus on it.
He looked at her. “Not a word.” He left his finger there a moment, and when she opened her mouth to bite it he flicked her nose and pulled his hand back. Tabitha put both of her hands over her nose and tried to muffle the squeal of pain.
Bobcat turned to William. “What about the Scamp Princess?”
William shrugged. “What about Ricky Bobby’s new research vessel?”
Bobcat started nodding in agreement. “That is a ship she doesn’t know with an AI who has been trained in fighter tactics.”
William continued, “It has hidden armament in case Ricky Bobby needs to fight, but it is predominantly a scouting vessel.”
Bobcat finished, “With some of the latest technology we could stuff into it.” The two men turned to Barnabas.
He shrugged. “Will Ricky Bobby do this?”
“I don’t see why not,” William replied.
Bobcat added, “He just wants to get away from everything for a while. That will probably break Julianna’s heart, but she will have to understand. After his isolation for so many decades, he needs time to decompress.”
“This isn’t exactly a moment to decompress,” Ecaterina pointed out.
This time it was Barnabas who provided insight to her observation. “Actually, it might be good for him to work with a few normal people in a low-key operation before he goes out solo into the great unknown.”
“Besides,” William tapped his stylus on the table, “Ricky Bobby appreciated Bethany Anne giving Julianna her blood after their first battle.”
Nathan spoke up. “Bad Company’s spy network can filter out a lot of the smoke. We are pretty good at that. Why don’t we give you the most obvious locations to check? Hopefully it will save you from the difficulties Darryl and Scott just had.”
“That is a good suggestion.” Scott looked at Tabitha. “Trust me when I say that just mentioning Baba Yaga will get you one of three responses.”
Darryl put up a finger. “Abject fear.”
“Cluelessness.” Scott put up two fingers.
“Myths that are far from reality,” Darryl finished, putting up three fingers.
Tabitha shook her head as she listened to everyone. Achronyx, make sure you keep the engines warm. She sent to her ship.
Marquer’s World, Independent System, Allied with the Zhyn
Militarily neutering the Etheric Empire was exactly what Lance suspected most of the other powerful groups wanted.
He continued his discussion with the Ixtali Legate.
“We don’t trust many out there with the ability to create a Federation of equals. Our goals are to integrate our commerce, and support each other with the ability to negotiate with words instead of force. However, there will be no moving forward with an Empire that has lost both its rank in the Federation and its military.”
“I am aware,” Addix replied after a moment, “that humans came into our area of space as warriors. Many people believe you incapable of putting down your weapons, but this is your legacy, not mine, to determine.”
Lance thought about the different ways to deal with this concern and hated all which came to mind.
If he were in their shoes, would he trust a Federation member that was the eight-hundred-pound gorilla? He needed a way to give them what they asked for without giving them what they wanted.
“There is one last thing you might not be pleased to hear,” Addix said as the van doors closed and the vehicle started the trip to the conclave.
—
When Lance heard the final request, he wished he could find his daughter and rip her a new asshole.
Gott Verdammt! He wasn’t sure if she had known this was coming, but he suspected she might have foreseen the possibility.
If she had?
Then no wonder she was off searching for Kurtherians.
It would take Lance the whole conference and another week and a half to simmer down and realize there really wasn’t another person for this challenge if he wanted a Federation to exist for the Etheric Empire.
He was fucked.
—
Two weeks after his meeting with Addix, Lance smiled to himself in the bathroom mirror as he got ready for work after his shower.
He was the right man for the job, and working with his daughter for so many decades had honed his skills at subterfuge to a new level.
The other species wanted to play politics? Well, they would learn to never fuck with the Etheric Empire in that arena.
Because no one could be more devious than he was. He would work to make this Federation better and safer for humanity, for the Yollins, and for those who had signed on when the Etheric Empire was just an Empire, not the Etheric Federation.
Everyone else who wanted to play games had better learn that you never fucked with a Reynolds.
The daughter, or the father.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Above Planet Devon, QBS Shinigami
The planet arrayed beneath the ship looked like a black and white diamond in the middle of a black velvet cloth. Baba Yaga gazed at the viewing screens on the bridge. “I didn’t realize how large the city was the last time we were here.”
I believe you and Stephen were discussing Nathan’s contact, TOM replied.
Baba Yaga tapped her lip. “Yes, but I would have remembered a city this large.”
Shinigami said over the speaker system, “We did not actually show anything on the view screens as we approached last time. I did not have enough experience with security to confirm whether they could hack anything of mine until we connected with the spaceport.”
Baba Yaga shrugged. “Oh, that makes sense. Well, as the Mistress of the Planet, it’s time that I get busy one way or another.”
Deciding whether to give up the title? TOM asked.
“No.” She looked at the tall structures jutting from the morass of buildings below. “It actually excites me to realize that the infrastructure from hundreds of years of effort is ready to take it to the next stage.” She turned around and headed toward the armory. “Time for the Mistress to get dressed and meet her people. Shinigami, take me to the location on the planet where we intend to build the military spaceport.”
>>It is not a very large planet.<<
Baba Yaga nodded in agreement as she walked down the passageway. “I think I am done trying to go large. Baba Yaga is happier dealing with just one small planet and making a difference. You know how it is—I would rather be a large frog in a small pond than a small frog in a large pond.”
>>As opposed to being a large frog in a large pond?<<
Baba Yaga pointed at the video screen inside the armory when she walked in. “Right there! Shinigami, take us through that canyon and make a couple passes around this location. I think we can do some terraforming right here to hide even more ships and activity from space.” She tapped her lips. “We are going to need a justifiable reason why this planet is unimportant.”
>> Well, you could try erasing the knowledge of the planet. You could make the planet have a reputation so horrible that people stay away from it, but it will be impossible to accomplish much unless it is in the vested self-interests of a lot of people to hide the facts.<<
Baba Yaga nodded in agreement. “I think you’re right. It’s almost like I would need to accomplish all three at the same time. We would need to implement softwar
e updates to ships that arrive here, and try to selectively delete any information they put into the ship’s computers before they leave.”
>>Do you have any idea how difficult that would be?<< He sounded a bit shocked at her suggestion.
She started donning her armor. “Yes, and that is why I’m going to leave that task to the most experienced artificial intelligence I know.”
>>Wait a minute, how did I get involved in this?<<
She locked her armored waist-piece in place. “Who said I was talking about you?” she asked, grabbing the midriff piece.
>>Well, if you are not talking about me, tell me what other artificial intelligence you believe has more experience?<<
She grabbed her armored jacket and pushed her right arm into the sleeve. “None. I just wanted to know what made you think I was talking about you,” she replied, swinging her other arm into the sleeve and lifting it to settle on her shoulders before she started to lock it in place.
>>Because I am the most experienced artificial intelligence you know, that was the most logical conclusion.<<
“What is going to happen when you find an artificial intelligence who is superior to you?” Baba Yaga questioned as she grabbed her armored pants and locked them to her waist, then started folding the armor around her legs and locking the pieces into place.
“You know there is a fairly good chance we will eventually meet quite a few who are,” she remarked. She marveled at how the suit showed no seams when she was finished with the latches.
ADAM used the speakers this time. “What should happen? It won’t be any different than me meeting a different alien species.” There was a pause before he added, “I suppose.”
Shinigami said over the speakers, “I am finished with my research. I have enough topographical information to support the next stage of development at this location.”
Baba Yaga grabbed her weapons and left the armory, and she heard the door close behind her.
It took her a little while to walk back to the bridge and then to her couch, where she slid into her pre-conformed captain’s chair. “Take me into the city, but choose a small landing spot out of the way. I don’t want it known that I’m here yet.”
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