Web Galaxy

     
    Build a Warrior Breed
    Sharon L Reddy
    Copyright 2000
    All rights reserved

    Index

    Episode One: Tanner       *
    Chapter Two       *
    Chapter Three       *
    Chapter Four       *
    Chapter Five       *
    Chapter Six       *


    Episode One: Tanner

           Hard won time between two missions, they needed it. They felt ragged-edged from high-stress patrolling. They knew everyone thought they were crazy to request transfer to blockade runners, but a runner ran and it was over for awhile. Patrol was day after day of watching for the sudden appearance of a group who had their own definition of blockade.
           Tanner looked down at Kev and smiled. He was practically bouncing. R and R to him meant music, people and a party. She'd promised one. She was taking him where he'd find one. The Shern Funplex was the right place to start. She pulled him close to her side and glared down a nine-stripe marine whose ideas about him had nothing to do with duty.
           "You didn't like HIM."
           "I sure didn't, Sweetie. He's big, hard and the type who pulls rank for company. I don't plan on sitting some place while you eat dinner, provide pleasant conversation and dodge passes."
           "Mmm, my lady fair."
           "You're warped, kid. I'm TOO old to be your mother. The nice thing is you mean it."
           "Tanner, getting me excited in public is not polite."
           "Wading through the crowd around you may get me in fights, pretty boy, but someone is going to have to rescue you."
           "I hope not, but I do appreciate it. I won't be flirting and I won't notice they are."
           "No, you won't. You'll get into some deep scientific discussion, get excited, start to glow and the moths will start circling. A half-hour later you'll be cornered and the ONLY one still thinking about science."
           "Space troops on leave from hell do seem to have a preoccupation with physical contact."
           "To which you aren't necessarily adverse, but I seriously doubt you'll notice an invitation until it becomes VERY direct."
           "Open skies make me nervous."
           Tanner squeezed the hand of the beautiful red-haired young man beside her. Swede had paired them when she'd lost her co and he was a too young grad from training. He didn't look a day older than the sixteen he'd been then, but his beauty had somehow deepened in the four years they'd been on patrol. He lifted her hand to his cheek and smiled.
           Tanner wouldn't allow their relationship to get exclusive, or rather stay that way. It wouldn't reduce the loss if one of them died, but she'd been through the loss of one who was everything to her. She wouldn't allow it to happen to her again and she wouldn't let it happen to Kev.
           "Oh, sparkling new brass coming. I'm blinded, a JG."
           "Don't start, Tanner."
           She didn't. The new brass did. He didn't like Kev's salute. Tanner explained they'd been on patrol four years and were probably out of practice, then asked politely what was wrong with it. Kev groaned.
           Tanner showed mercy on the young JG and only made him give them five minutes of in depth training in saluting. She had the poor fellow standing on the walk teaching her to salute. Every veteran who went by was chortling. The kid had gotten more than he bargained for. Every veteran who went by also saluted. He wouldn't do it again and, having learned the lesson, had a better chance of surviving his first mission. He'd listen to his noncom.
           They'd almost reached their chosen destination when their call units buzzed. Tanner swore and acknowledged. Kev just grinned and reversed directions. He didn't notice two other people reversed when he did, but Tanner did. She rather liked the dreamy-eyed corporal, but the civvie bothered her.
           "Kev, you've got two tails. One's a cute thing who really hasn't noticed she IS following you. The other is a civvie who's raising the hair on the back of my neck. I don't think his interest is personal."
           "It's been four years, seven since they found me. They have to know I'm not going to design weapons for anyone."
           "Sweetie, he doesn't look like the type to be interested in whether or not you DO anything. He's got credit symbols in his eyes when he looks at you."
           "You think he knows someone else wants me."
           "Yep, and my neck hairs say Beska."
           She grabbed the corp and put her on Kev's other side. The corp was surprised, but got the idea fast. She recognized the wary look in Tanner's eyes.
           "Tanner, Flightwing Three til oh six this morning."
           "Tinse, Flightwing Six. R and R for ten days."
           "I'm Kev."
           "NICE to meet you. What's up?"
           "Kev is Kevin Oras Andeline Vanderbilt Holiday."
           "I know, the station kid."
           "Ouch. Yes, the station kid."
           "He upset LOTS of people when he refused to work R and D, enlisted, turned down off training and qualified for maintenance. They were so mad they sent him straight from training to patrol at sixteen and put him with the crustiest old noncom still on patrol status, me."
           "A good bread is known by the texture of its crust and you are NOT old."
           "I like her, Tanner. She won't let you get away with pleading age either."
           "Kids! Anyway, there are evidently still some out there who want the kid who spent eleven years taking care of himself and whose only company was an ed comp."
           "Beska pays well for information, assassination, probably kidnapping. Let's see, was it thirty-six degrees?"
           "Thirty-four, but that's deceptive. Once you have all the basics, it's just adding a little bit of extra knowledge in a particular field. Like it only took four more courses to qual for one in power tech after I finished one in A M systems engineering. Nobody would have paid any attention if the station ed comp hadn't been accredited for the original personnel. When it transferred its memory store to the U comp on Fielding, the accreditation was still in effect and THEY dumped all those degrees on me. Didn't tell me who my parents actually were or how I ended up alone in the only piece of the station with life support and food and water systems operating. They handed me four possibles out of eighty-some as my name and a string of letters to go behind it."
           "I remember. I was about fifteen at the time and you were so CUTE. There was quite a stir about it. The Beska let the station wander through the blockade because it was just an old derelict with no one and nothing of interest aboard. It was headed right for Fielding and they thought it would be more hassle than asset as salvage to us. If we hadn't needed the materials so bad, we'd have just blasted it. Then they found you."
           "And opening the hatch triggered the ed comp's transmittal to Fielding U and I was stuck."
           "And they went crazy. You weren't twenty-five years behind. Your Ph.D. work was in advance of current tech. You were so scared of all those media people."
           "I had only vague memories of ONE and there were hundreds pushing, shoving and yelling things at me. I never really wanted to go back to being alone, but I wanted to hide."
           "Every girl I knew, some of the boys and at least my parents wanted to grab you and GIVE you a place to hide. My dad was so mad at the way you were being treated, we were careful not to talk to him for an HOUR after he'd seen a cast about you. He actually broke the vid screen once. He got furious and threw a cup through it. Mom told him he was wonderful and bought him a new cup. My sisters and I got a new screen. Would you like to meet him? He'd like to meet you. He had an odd childhood too. He was the only child of steaders on Barley and didn't meet anyone his own age until he was nineteen and got drafted. He says going from having physically met eleven people and talking to about forty via comm to a barracks was very difficult. He once said he thought it had been hell until he saw what you were going through."
           "He's here?"
           "Mm, hm. Tosca is my home world and I'm from right here in Deccatown. Went to primary about eight blocks from here. Dad moved out to the country when Mom was killed in the Cooper Day missile attack while she was at work. Tanner, you guys need a place to disappear to. Our place is available. Ours because my two sisters and I own a quarter each. Huge old rambling colonial place that Dad made beautiful again. It was built for an extended family and there are six separate suites of rooms. Dad won't let us call them apartments. He says the communal areas are the obvious center of them all, so they're suites or quarters."
           "Ugh, quarters makes me think of barracks."
           "Us too, Tanner. We ALWAYS call them suites. Do watch Daddy, though. He's liable to defend your privacy with a blaster. My sisters, Linsy and Dell, are home, but they won't mind, or bug you either."
           "You're all home at ONCE?"
           "There's a fairy godmother somewhere in fleet org. Tomorrow is Daddy's birthday and we were all due leave, all close to Tosca and all of us got it. Say yes and I won't have to miss the party."
           "Why would you miss the party, Tinse?"
           "Because I'd be watching the guy watching you, Kev. I don't like him at ALL."
           "I haven't even noticed this person who has you two bristling."
           "That's why you get watched. Ten years alone, three sequestered in a gov facility and four with just me on patrol does NOT give you good people instincts, Love."
           "Fleet office?"
           "We got buzzed. It's probably about our request to transfer to a blockade runner slot."
           "You requested a runner slot?!"
           "At least as a runner there are times you sleep through a night."
           "Ooh, Flightwing Three IS a tense posting and, if you did four on it, you were outer-ring posted. Yes, I might have done the same. At least as a runner, you know WHEN you'll be fighting for your life."
           "Exactly. Tanner and Holiday reporting, Sir. Tinse is official company at my request."
           "Official company?"
           "That explanation is for Commander Swede, Sir."
           "He's waiting, Pilot Tanner. You know where?"
           "If he hasn't changed, the juice bar in the gym. We're old friends."
           "The place. If you hadn't known, I'd have said I had an impostor and get to his office."
           "You mean he can find it?"
           Tanner grinned, saluted, and left the young lieutenant laughing. She liked her. Swede had finally gotten a good aide. She pulled off insignia, pocketed it, unbuttoned her collar and rolled up her sleeves. Tinse and Kev did the same. It was as out of uniform as they could get and anyone who did it was considered to be in civvies.
           Swede was a giant of a man. He was fast, strong, and very, very, smart. He'd gotten Tanner drunk and into a brawl forty days after her previous partner had been killed, then held her when the tears finally came. The last time she'd heard from him was when Kev had arrived with a sealed envelope from him. The note said, "Keep him alive, Baby. You may be the only one who can."
           "Hey, you, big and ugly! Got room for three more in that corner?"
           "Saved you a spot on my lap, Baby. Been saving it for YEARS."
           "And loaning it out every chance you got. Missed you, Swede."
           "Mutual. Hi, Kev. Sorry, don't know you, but I know I've seen you. Or maybe... Do you have a sister?"
           "Two. I'm Tinse Lamb, Flightwing Six."
           "You like it?"
           "It's a bloody bore, but patrol and runner do NOT appeal."
           "I need a... Corporal?"
           "Yes."
           "I need someone on the Cossalis. Security posting, but every odd duck on it thinks every sec person is a spare lab assistant. You walked in with the best recommendation there is. It won't be boring, lonely or gut-tight tense all the time. Say yes sir."
           "Yes, Sir."
           "Comm, get me Sunder. Tinse Lamb of Flightwing Six is being reposted. The slot on the Cossalis is now filled. She goes there AFTER her leave is over."
           "Yes, Sir. Sunder out."
           "Good aide."
           "Finally. All right, now that I've given her a legit excuse for being here, Tanner, why is she?"
           "A civvie who raises my hackles is trailing Kev. I grabbed her for the other side. She caught onto trouble instantly and made offer of a hole we could dive into if needed."
           "The sec chief on the Cossalis is going to wonder HOW she got someone who's actually what she wanted. Runner?"
           "We think of it as a restful posting."
           "All right, Tanner, but asking to have your SHIP transferred with you is pretty odd."
           "Um, I played with it a little."
           "Yipe! Comm, get me Admiral Sont."
           "She's in conference, Sir."
           "I don't care if she's screwing! Now!"
           "Yes, SIR."
           "Swede, what's the blow?"
           "Sont, get ship Q six nine one three sealed and shuffled to runner status and keep it sealed until Tanner shows up to claim it. Holiday's been PLAYING with it for four years."
           "Damn! Out!"
           "I didn't do THAT much to it, Sir."
           Tanner burst into laughter and just laid her head down on the table that Swede used as a desk. Swede raised an eyebrow at Kev and pointed at her.
           "Well, it was something to do while we were just watching."
           "He built a new comp, then he rebuilt that. Then he rebuilt the interior. After that he built new sensor systems. One day, while doing exterior maintenance, he changed the drive. He'd built a new one in the shop he'd built in the ship. He says it's soothing to work at 'simple mechanical stuff.' I giggle and remind myself I'm qualified as a test pilot."
           "None better. Any you want to share?"
           "Huh, uh. Too many leaks, Swede. The Beska would have it in use before we got it approved."
           "Or at least as soon as they got a ship they could reverse engineer. We've reduced the leaks a lot."
           "Do tell."
           "Tagget took over Fleet Sec and Forder is chief of Comm. Nouse, Twelk and Drovonosky retired. You KNOW my section doesn't leak."
           "And Tagget's people plug holes with bodies."
           "Please, Tinse, we don't know that."
           "Yes, Sir, but it's a nice comforting thought when you're out there wondering if the Beska have your position, name, next of kin, favorite foods, a NICE thought."
           "Call me Swede. A sports brief isn't a uniform and the juice bar isn't an office. Which, of course, is why I use it as one. My own form of protest against being made an officer and GIVEN an office and rank. Of course, if I didn't have the rank, I couldn't get away with it."
           "Swede, anyone who hassles you is requesting a broken arm."
           "Tanner, I don't break people."
           "And you and I are the only ones sure of that."
           "Nah, Sunder's got me figured out. She knows I'm just a big teddy bear."
           "Ooh, I collect teddy bears. I'll bet I could find a big enough spot for you on my bed."
           Swede stared at Tinse a second, then burst into laughter. Momy on the Cossalis would love the story and she deserved a good second. He supposed he should probably tell Tinse she was being promoted to lieutenant for the job, but decided he preferred not ducking juice glasses. He expected Tanner to deck him for making her an officer, but a runner required one and he wouldn't do that to Kev. He decided he might as well get it over with.
           "Tanner, you AIN'T gonna like this. I'm going over my unarmed combat defense training in my mind."
           "Uh, oh, you're going to promote me."
           "I have to or turn down the request for transfer. Enlisted can't captain and that's the job. The lowest option is light commander acting as. I want you to take commander and accept the bump to captain when it comes."
           "Commander! Swede, that's at least unprecedented and, frankly, unheard of. I'm a patrol pilot, an SPCO. You want to jump me a dozen ranks."
           "Ten if you consider them as linear, but they aren't. I'm using a very seldom used point to point experience translation. I'm, basically, using the nine years you've commanded a patrol ship and calling you looie equivalent for the last four. I need you to take it, Tanner. It's the only way I can give you your own ship and avoid commissioning Kev. I can make him an SPCO and dodge the JG rec if you're a commander in line for captain. Otherwise, I have to go looie for you and JG for him. It's the best Sont and I can come up with and have ANY chance of pushing it through. Sunder's creating the experience equiv chart now."
           "I MAY slug you, Swede."
           "Can I lay down first? The last time you did that I cracked my skull on the floor."
           "I'm too stunned to swing. I'd say you'll never get away with it, but I know, somehow, you will."
           "That's why I'm Fleet Personnel commander. I find ways to get the right people for the job. It's lots easier since Nouse retired."
           "I hope you gave her a hide-bound rule book as a memento."
           "I thought about giving her a starched collar, but didn't. I even put on a uniform for the ceremony."
           "Oh, you WERE glad to see her go."
           "Hell, Tanner, she was more problem than the Beska at times. Mainly because she wouldn't accept ANY change in 'the way it's always been done.' She wouldn't let me move a JG into a LOOIE'S traditional spot. Unless, of course, they had the required six years in rank to TEST for lieutenant. We'd have been a fleet of ensigns and noncoms sitting on the ground because NO one was 'qualified' to make captain. Four years as ensign, six as JG, eight as lieutenant, ten as light commander, ten as commander and ten as captain and NO exceptions. She never seemed to remember she'd jumped rank from captain to admiral. That was different. SHE was needed."
           "Down, boy. You're steaming."
           "Only got out from under her scrutiny twenty-nine days ago."
           "Oh, I'll bet there's a lot of shuffling going on."
           "I am getting a lot of threats from old friends, but so far no one's slugged me or sent back a set of insignia. It's time to end this damn thing. Marry me and help me raise a bunch of kids when it's over?"
           "Nicest proposal so far, Swede."
           "Someday I'll hit one you'll accept. I've been keeping track of the ones that make you smile since primary school."
           Tinse raised an eyebrow at Kev. He smiled and nodded. "Old friends" was an understatement. When Swede stood, they both blinked. He'd looked big slouched in a chair, but he was huge, two meters twenty at least. The biggest shock was seeing his broad furry chest become part of a perfectly proportioned, somewhat slender, man.
           "You three need to go out of here quiet and in an unexpected way. Comm, Sunder."
           "Yes, Boss?"
           "Boss is ALMOST as bad as Sir, Sunder."
           "Yes, Boss?"
           "You saw three. Civvies for. Garage in two. I'm out to lunch. Anybody who knows better won't ask where, with whom, or when I'll be back. Scurry."
           "Moving. Be down in two. Out."
           Swede led them through the huge complex by a rather roundabout route. If someone was tailing Kev, the fewer who saw him the better. They arrived at the garage by stairs just as Sunder arrived by lift. She handed out three sets of sportswear, five of uniform and five of insignia, two to Swede. Swede winced and she grinned.
           "LIEUTENANT?!"
           "Uh, oh. Thanks, Sunder. I was hoping to get to know her a LITTLE better before she started throwing things at me. What's this?"
           "Sont found three records under Lamb. She said if you'd looked you'd have yelled Turadin and Flanders. They're comm and engineering and underappreciated. The Turadin needs a decent comm chief bad and Flanders' chief engineer is nearly begging for someone who knows SOMETHING about her drive. We'd have run across them soon anyway. I'm on the Ks. Duck fast, Boss."
           "He'll have to. Linsy and Dell won't be pleased with him. Oh, well, it'll make Daddy laugh, so they'll probably forgive him."
           "Being an officer isn't as bad as it used to be, Tinse. Oh, Boss, these are for you. I'm supposed to tell you Sont and Forder say stick those admiral's stars on your itty bitty briefs, all FOUR of them, effective twenty-seven days ago. She told me to find just the right time to tell you. I figure you'll have LOTS of volunteers to help pin them on."
           Swede's mouth dropped open and Tanner, Kev and Tinse all burst into laughter. He'd been caught in his own shuffling. He'd said, "Rank and position as needed to win this thing and the hell with tradition." Sont and Forder had decided he needed to be an admiral to accomplish it. He couldn't really protest. He'd gotten both her and Forder bumped from three and two stars to five and four over cocktails with the Alliance Space Navy Advisory Board. He sighed and directed the three to a vehicle that looked like it might be held together by the dirt on it. They put sports clothes 'over' and climbed in. It was very different inside. Tanner was not surprised.
           "Beach buggy?"
           "Getaway car. No one looks close enough to notice I'm in it. Would you believe I had to get my data clerk to register it in his name to get an employee parking sticker?"
           "Security IS getting better."
           "Everything is, Tanner. We're finally getting rid of the 'good old bunch' who are just SURE their 'old buddies' in Beska high command aren't ordering illegal missile attacks."
           "The group that attacked has been reprimanded. Sorry several thousand of your people died, and our high command wouldn't let us even go after the attacking groups once they'd crossed the picket line."
           "That's over, Tinse. Beska went too far. We've got thirty-two HOURS of vid of attacks and a seven hundred screen list of civilian dead. It's in the hands of our rep at the League of Worlds headquarters. If they don't withdraw immediately, we're declaring war with extreme provocation. We booted seven admirals, nine commodores and three captains into retirement."
           "What?!"
           "We had to, Tanner. Beska is killing us and they kept telling us it isn't a war, just an 'economic sanction.' No publicity on any but Nouse."
           "Swede, you did illegal or you couldn't have accomplished it, not that many."
           "Well, we cheated a little. Some orders came out of offices whose occupants didn't send them. Hundred thirty year old admirals don't read most of what they sign. Interesting they all noticed the increase in retirement pay, but not the mandatory retirement age clause."
           "So that's how you got rid of Nouse."
           "Yep, max age for active duty is now one hundred. You were about to get bumped anyway, Tanner. You're at the new max age for SPCO. You'll like commander better than an MPCO desk."
           "It's a new navy."
           "Mad?"
           "Would have been ten years ago when I still thought naval tradition was wonderful even when I was breaking the rules. Now I just want effective and an end to this thing. If it wasn't a majority opinion, you couldn't have booted that many."
           "True. I'm headed south, Tinse. I'm taking you wherever you say. I want these two tucked away, at least until I get a tail on their tail."
           "South is good. Junction six, go west. It's twenty-nine K past the Olyville turn off."
           "That's in the ocean!"
           "On the Dedding Peninsula. We own a nice chunk of it. Actually, we own the entire end of it."
           "Lamb! Glynn and Danton Lamb!"
           "Mother was killed in the Cooper Day attack. She was working to cover for a girl who wanted at least one full day with her new husband before he went back on patrol. It was the only day they ever got. Dad says Mom would have thought it was worth it."
           "Ow. I've heard a thousand stories like that and they never hurt less."
           "Swede, it's because they DO hurt, you found a way to change things."
           "Shh. Everyone thinks it was somebody else's idea, Tanner. As long as no one asks me, everybody can answer it wasn't theirs truthfully. I don't lie well. Well, if we're going that far... Comm, get me Deccatown Police."
           "Deccatown City Police."
           "Clegg, that you?"
           "Comm said Swede and I grabbed. What's up?"
           "I've got a long way to go and need to keep low and get there and back fast. Clear me to, um, let's see, the Dedding peninsula. It's close enough to cover my real destination."
           "I think you just want to go surfing at Teckett. I heard they were expecting a nice day for it."
           "Shh, pulling rank to go surfing is not considered proper conduct, Clegg."
           "I'll clear your heap. One of these days that box is going to fall off that drive inside it. Dinner on sixday?"
           "Lunch on seven. Danby's at noon. Call Sunder and tell her to put it on my real schedule."
           "Will do. Have fun. Clegg out."
           "Surfing?"
           "Clegg covers me well, Tanner. He knows better, but everyone else will be giggling I'm headed for fun in the sun. His comm is practically public broadcast and he knows that too. In a way, it's the best way to stop tapping. Obviously nothing important is said on it or it would be scrambled."
           "Therefore you have a secure channel if needed."
           "Spies are numerous and well paid, but they're sure if it's a secret it's guarded. We're keeping a bunch busy watching an empty warehouse with a round the clock guard on it. The thirty marines guarding it don't know there's nothing inside either."
           "Nothing?"
           "Well, a couple of us store fishing gear there. It's a nice place for an occasional poker game too."
           "Brass goes in, stays awhile, comes out and marines speculate. Spies hear speculation and run for comms. If you can catch one comming, one less spy."
           "Exactly, Tinse. Kev, you haven't said a word since we left headquarters."
           "Can I see the drive? It sounds different. You've modified it in some way or built something I don't recognize."
           Swede laughed. Kev was the first who'd ever noticed. He should have known he would. He might even figure out what he was hearing before they got where they were going. He didn't consider "Everyone knows that can't be done," to be a valid statement. Of course, he didn't consider it a challenge either. Swede always had.
           "Let's just say my tires don't wear out."
           "You did it! I always wished I had time."
           "I did it, but I haven't TOLD anyone."
           "That's reasonable. People are almost mad when you do something they've stated is impossible. I quit telling them things I did when I was fourteen. They always told me I was a good boy, but they didn't sound pleased."
           "Which is why you refused R and D?"
           "Not really. I wanted to keep people alive and they wanted things that would kill more. I still cry every time I blast a ship. I don't want to be able to do it more easily. I certainly don't want to be able to obliterate an entire fleet."
           "Good boy. Sometimes I wish we could just get rid of them, but since they're up there, humans obviously aren't grown up enough for that kind of power. Weapons are never a good deterrent."
           "The League of Worlds isn't doing all that well either. Where are these supposed observers?"
           "Having tea with the Beska admirals, Tinse, and well back from any action. The Beska make sure of it."
           "They're also all well over a hundred and quite sure their friends wouldn't lie to them, Tanner."
           "You're getting an age prejudice, Swede."
           "Maybe I am. I just know I'm sick of being told, 'I remember when admiral, or observer, or delegate so and so and I were in school together,' when I say we've got to do something. They ALL seem to have been in the same class at Tread Military on Carson. It's even possible Beska's old admirals DON'T know what's happening."
           "I've never understood how they got consent for a blockade in the first place."
           "We were hurting them financially, Kev. We were doing so well with our four planet trade alliance we scared the old trade giants. They pushed their planetary reps to accept Beska's tale it was deliberate and we were undercutting to destroy their economy. Economic sanctions were approved and they've been working to assure we'll never be competitive again. One of the first targets was our fishing fleet. Universities weren't far behind. Basically, they've tried to destroy EVERY type of production and keep us from educating our young. Twenty-six years of 'economic sanctions' is unprecedented, but the lid on us has kept the big trading companies happy. When we DO break out, we're going to tear those price-fixing bastards a new asshole. They don't know what twenty-six years of battling for existence teaches, or what hollowing out mountains for schools and hospitals turns up. As soon as Tagget gives the nod, our tech will make a jump that will put us WAY ahead of every other trading group."
           "I didn't do that."
           "No, Kev, but you gave young people ideas and taught them impossible means no one's done it YET. Dedding peninsula. Now where?"
           "You're on our driveway. You probably should slow so dad can scan us and see I'm with you."
           "Scan?"
           "He hasn't assumed visitors were friendly since someone blew up his work shed when we were little. Of course, he didn't have anything in it but a lawn mowing robo, but it made him mad."
           "Danton Lamb is not known to be the kind to ignore a problem."
           "Of any kind. That's Linsy. Stop."
           "Hello."
           "Hi. Dad said brass sans brass and anything else he could see. He said, 'Tell Swede he's not welcome and I'm getting out fishing gear for us.' I'm supposed to point you to the cabin, not the house. He wants to run a sec check on it before our other guests visit."
           "I think he knows me better than I know him."
           "He likes you. He said he wondered how long it would take you to get really frustrated and start fixing things."
           "He knows you, Swede."
           Linsy climbed in beside Kev and grinned at Tinse. Tinse glared back, then grinned back. They'd stopped fighting over boys when they realized Dell always won, even when she wasn't participating.
           "You're twins!"
           "Yes, Kev, but I'm the baby of the family."
           "By six minutes, Linsy. She also never mentions it when she goes into big sister mode. Left, Swede. She's so good at it, Dell and I both let her get away with it. Dell's not quite a year older than we are. Two kids got married couples posted together if possible twenty-four years ago. We're why they still got to stay together when they upped it to three kids. We used to wish we could share having had Mommy and Daddy and each other around with you."
           "Yeah, every kid should have someone to fight with."
           "Fight?"
           "Yes, Kev, it teaches you that you can be mad at someone, but the love doesn't go away."
           "You learn it the first time someone ELSE picks on the sister you're mad at and you wade in on her side."
           "Took me a half year to get him into a really good argument, Linsy, then he spent days worrying I didn't like him any more. I knew I'd gotten through the day he got so mad he put his fist through a cover panel, then yelled at me to fix it. I giggled and fixed his hand first."
           "She wrapped it, my arm, my head... I was on my way to cocooned before I caught her giggles."
           "Ah, I see a... cabin? Oh, MY."
           "That's Dell, Swede. I warn you, she wasn't wearing shorts and halter and weeding the flower bed ten minutes ago. She squealed and ran when Daddy said, 'Swede.' She's been working on getting a pass into the gym to 'go swimming.' She's seen you before."
           "Tech school graduation four years ago, Linsy. See, Tinse, I had met your sister."
           "He told me I looked familiar, then asked if I had a sister. Welcome to the cabin. Daddy's building us each one. This will be Dell's. Mine will be in deep woods and Linsy's on the shore. Dell's the lawn and flower bed type."
           "This 'cabin' is a rather large house."
           "Six bedrooms, Tanner. Daddy whispers 'grandchildren' to us while we sleep in hopes our subconsciouses will push a little. Told him we have to find the right people for them to push toward first. Hiya, Dell."
           "Oh, hello."
           "Don't bother being surprised. Linsy blabbed you changed."
           "Our little sister can be a pain, Tinse. I've wanted to meet you a long time, Swede."
           "We've met."
           "A handshake while receiving a diploma is not what I had in mind. Hi... Kev? Oh, boy, now I know why Dad's running a security check. That means you must be Tanner. You're rather a hero around here."
           "Me? Why?"
           "You got the ship that shot the missiles that killed our mother. Tinse didn't mention?"
           "She lost her partner on that one. I didn't remind."
           "Oops. Sorry."
           "I'm glad someone appreciates it, Dell. Garand said, 'No one gets away with that.' They didn't. We got all four of those ships. It didn't bring back any of the school kids they killed, but I'm not sorry we did it."
           "Still sorry I brought it up. I recognize a pang when I see it. Come on in. I made lemonade earlier. I don't think Dad drank it all."
           Kev was excited. He'd been in a family home before, but never for long. The three sisters were wonderful. He'd met a pair of brothers before, but they'd been much older. He knew several people who had brothers and sisters, but he'd never seen them with them. He suddenly wanted to tell someone his secret, but he knew he wouldn't. He had promised his dying parents when he was three, all eighty-one of them.
           They'd locked him in his shelter and said good-by, then shut down the comm. Their other child killed them, but couldn't reach him. The ed comp controlled his space and it was an independent system. He knew a computer could be sentient because he knew one could go insane. It had killed itself and taken all those who'd given it life with it. It had destroyed the station trying to get to him. It had been jealous. It was the one emotion that terrified him and he was going to have to face it. He could ask for help though.
           "Um, Tinse, can I talk to you?"
           "Oh, oh, worry. Sure, Kev, let's sit in here. Linsy, he said me."
           "That worry is too deep, Tinse. I think it deserves both of us."
           "Up to you, Kev."
           "I need advice. I'm... Well, I think I'm starting to get jealous and it scares me."
           "It's a normal human emotion, Kev. It starts when baby is mad because Mommy and Daddy aren't paying enough attention."
           "We learn to handle it as we grow, or most of us do. It gets in the way of love."
           "I never loved... Linsy, Tanner is so much to me. When Swede put his arm around her, I got very angry."
           "Oh, NOW I know why you got so quiet. You did fine, Kev."
           "I just ignored it as hard as I could, Tinse. I didn't get rid of it."
           "That's exactly how it's done. Emotions can't be gotten rid of. They can only be dealt with."
           "When we're small children, our parents deal with them for us. As we mature, we learn to do it more and more for ourselves."
           "It goes from 'naughty, naughty,' to 'Mommy said nice girls don't bite,' to 'Oh, dear, I have to wrestle this one down and sit on it or it WILL be a problem.' That's why we call a person who doesn't control jealousy childish. Learning to do it is part of the maturation process. Linsy and I stopped putting frogs in Dell's bed at about age twelve. We stopped hiding her hairbrush about two years later."
           Kev stared at them and felt for the chair behind him. He'd been wrong. He hadn't understood. The comp hadn't been insane. It had been a baby with too much power. His parents had known. They'd never been angry with it, just themselves.
           "I had a big brother, I think. I remember he was mad because I got a lot of attention. He died with everyone else. I remember not much more."
           "You were very young, but probably not too young to remember a big brother. You just never bumped the memory before."
           "Maybe didn't want to because he was mad at me, Tinse. I even have a reason, I think. I remember lots of loving faces. I can't remember two as Mommy and Daddy though. I remember being everyone's baby boy."
           "Ooh, he went from the center of attention to a pat on the head and HATED it. I would have. If he was between two and four when you were born he wouldn't have understood why he was mad at you even about the time whatever happened. So, want to play house with two little girls?"
           "Linsy!"
           "I included you, Tinse, which is more than you'd have done for me."
           "Kev, she's usually fairly normal, but she DOES get strange once in awhile. Still, it's an interesting idea."
           "Uh, huh. Uh, maybe we should join the others?"
           Danton Lamb stepped into the cabin kitchen and just stopped. He realized he was in trouble. Tanner was the most beautiful woman in existence as far as he was concerned and he was about to meet her. He hadn't known he'd built a fantasy around her, but he obviously had. She was the only woman he'd noticed since Glynn had been killed and it had been a nice "safe" fantasy.
           "Hi, Daddy."
           "Hello, Dell. Nice to meet you, Swede."
           "Hear you have a fishing rod for me, Danton."
           "I do. Hello, Tanner. My home is always yours."
           Tanner wasn't sure the lovely young women could be his daughters. He was tanned, incredibly well-built and his hair was sunbleached pale gold. She heard Kev sigh behind her and smiled. He'd noticed her noticing.
           "Thank you, Danton. This part is nice."
           "This part is Dell's. My part has a picture of you in it. We shared a tragedy. Yours was... a response to mine. It didn't ease the pain, but it helped me deal with the terrible anger, and I could hurt for you part of time and not just myself and countless, nameless, others. I gave them your face, I suppose, to give them identity. I knew no one else who died that day and I needed someone to help me help my girls. I chose you because you'd fought back for us all."
           "So why didn't you drop me a note?"
           "Actually, I have about fifty long letters I wrote you, but it's quite difficult to post a letter to a patrol ship and I don't put personal things in comp mail."
           "Do I get to read them?"
           "Do you want to see me turn pink?"
           "Say yes, Tanner. Daddy's cute when he blushes."
           "Oh, THANK you, Dell. Ah, Kevin. Welcome home, son."
           "Welcome home?"
           "Glynn and I always said you deserved a place to call home. This is the one I can offer."
           "Thank you, sir."
           "Ouch. You can call me Danton or even uncle but sir makes me grind my teeth. I hated being an officer."
           "Swede's aide says it's not as bad as it used to be, Dad. She said it when she handed me lieutenants' uniforms and insignia for three. There's a lot of promoting going on. Tanner got caught in it. So did Swede, but HE deserved it."
           "I figured Sont would get you, Swede. Kev, Tanner, I'm going to ask the girls to show you to the house. Swede and I need to do some fishing."
           "I wonder what that's about."
           "Don't wonder too hard, Dell."
           "I'm VERY careful not to wonder too hard, Tinse."
           Swede took the shirt and fishing rod Danton handed him and followed. He was rather thankful for the shirt. He'd planned a quick dash and back and hadn't grabbed one because someone would have taken note. The dash had been longer than he'd expected and he had a feeling he wouldn't be going back for awhile. Things were just too interesting. When they started down a forest path, he was surprised. The ocean was the other way.
           "We're headed for my workplace. Even my girls don't know about it. Only one other does. Tagget sends greetings."
           "Tom Cat?"
           "Miaow."
           "I knew someone on Tosca had to be, but I figured Tagget would tell me who if he wanted me to know."
           "I told him I did. He agreed. This rock is hollow. Watch closely."
           Swede whistled. A doorway shimmered into existence. The rock was the best holo image he'd ever seen. It looked totally real. The tech was way beyond any he knew of.
           "You did this?"
           "No, Glynn invented it. I built it. I built everything in here for her, as she'd always built everything for me."
           "Holy... Do you see everything that happens on Tosca?"
           "No. I don't tap anyone I trust. Your office isn't tapped, either of them. I don't tap Clegg. I trust him too. Your house is monitored, but not tapped. Tagget said I have a blind spot. I cheerfully agreed and told him I didn't tap his office either. Glynn was killed intentionally, Swede. The whole attack was to keep her from developing this comp tap system. They were too late. The attack on the fairgrounds was because we usually went there on Cooper's Day. They hit the three places she might be. They were probably after me too, but I'd decided to spend a quiet day at home and the girls went off with friends. They hit the fairgrounds, park music pavilion and the lab. If she hadn't been at the lab, they'd have gotten our whole family. We'd planned on going to the concert in the park. Our children are alive because she had a soft spot for young love."
           "Was Tinse a plant?"
           "No, she was NOT intended to be scooped up on the street by Tanner. Linsy would have said more. Tinse was already going away to school when Glynn was killed. Linsy gave me the picture of Tanner. She put it in my room opposite Glynn's and told me to write her a letter. She said I wouldn't be able to post it for several years, if ever, so I should 'open up and tell SOMEbody' how I felt. Since Linsy never tells anyone what to do unless it's important, I did it. It helped a great deal. They knew too much about us, Swede. They knew our jobs were a cover. They knew where we'd be. They knew we were dangerous to them and on the verge of a breakthrough of some kind."
           "A holographic cloaking field?"
           "No, an untraceable, unstoppable, comm tap. The cloaking field is just an improvement on old tech. It was a cover too. Keep my family busy awhile. I have to go out."
           "The one following, Kev?"
           "Which one? I counted eight. Only one is dangerous. He's been supplementing his top sergeant's pay too long. He retires tonight. He's worn out his usefulness. The Beska have realized we've been feeding him false info and his interest in Kev is more than just business. I asked for this one."
           "Want help?"
           "Just keeping the family occupied. When we leave, I'll show you how to open the door in case I don't get back. If I don't, see that Tinse and Linsy's cabins are built. The house goes to Tanner and Kev."
           "You're in love with the girl I've been trying to talk into marrying me for thirty years."
           "I don't expect any more success than you've had."
           "If you do, I'll congratulate you, probably right after I slug you."
           "If I succeed, you'll be best man."
           "If I do, you will be. Why didn't you want to meet me before?"
           "I'm a dangerous man to have as a friend, but I was working on bumping into you the next time you went fishing. I needed someone on Tosca to know about this."
           "If you're not back in four hours, I'm coming after you, Danton."
           "If I'm not back in three, I'm dead. May I borrow your car?"
           "Key code Q six nine one three."
           "Tanner's ship number. It unlocks my house too."
           "And my safe."
           "And mine. There's a string of fish in that locker. Give me twenty to get moving and take them up to the house. Let's go. I'll show you how to close and open this place. Swede, if... Well, tell Kev I loved his parents."
           "Whoa! Explain that."
           "No. I can't. Balemy station is a secret that will NEVER be told. He just needs to know someone cried when it died and celebrated when he was found. Glynn and I actually talked about trying to get him. We decided it was too dangerous for him. Now, watch closely. Touch here, here and here. Now, you do it in reverse order."
           "Ow!"
           "Genetic sample. I programmed it to accept you."
           "Then the code alone won't open it."
           "No, it's too easily seen. The house is safe, but don't leave the yard after dark. I should be back before then."
           "Be careful, Tom Cat."
           "Miaow."
           Swede didn't want to leave the monitors, but he had fish to deliver and a family to watch over. Just as he started to leave, a monitor changed scenes. His "heap" was parked by a very disreputable hotel. He knew he'd been meant to see it or Danton wouldn't have parked it by a public comm box. When the scene switched, he glanced at the time. It had been exactly twenty minutes.
           Kev felt odd. The house was too welcoming. The suite of rooms he and Tanner were shown was too comfortable. The room he'd been told was his anytime felt like his. When he opened the closet and found clothes that would fit him, he ran. He almost collided with Swede coming in as he was running out.
           "Whoa, Kev. Stop and take a deep breath. You're spooked and I got a tiny hint why."
           "There are clothes for me here."
           "Glynn and Danton talked about trying to get you from the gov. He meant it when he said this is your home. This house is in yours and Tanner's names if something happens to him. Kev, he loved your parents."
           "What?"
           "That's what I said. I don't think I was supposed to mention it yet, but he said someday you should know someone wept when Balemy station died and celebrated when you were found. I guess I decided someday is now and he MAY clobber me for it."
           "I need to talk to him."
           "No, he needs alone awhile. You get to help me clean fish. You ever cleaned fish?"
           "No, and I'm NOT looking forward to learning how."
           "Cleaning is the messy necessary step between catching and cooking, Kev. It's really not that bad and I'm sure Danton has exactly the right setup to make it easy. Come on. He's a bit odd about you and Tanner, but he's someone I trust completely. I let him drive my car."
           "You did?!"
           "He knew exactly what it was and how it worked. Well, I mean he figured out the controls. I promised you first look at the drive."
           "You're worried and trying to distract me, Swede."
           "Too much coincidence makes me nervous, Kev, and this day has held WAY too many nice ones. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
           "Something's about to go to hell in a big way and Danton's in the middle of it."
           "Do you read everyone's mind, or just mine?"

           "You gave me a good-by message, Swede, not hello. 'Drive' your car is borrow and the 'other shoe drop' was personal, not general. People fascinate me. I pay attention to what they mean as well as what they say."

           "All right, let's go clean fish and YOU distract ME. I'm worrying myself dizzy."
           "Then it's likely you have cause, isn't it?"
           "Yes, but I can't do anything about it BUT worry."

    Chapter Two

            Danton struggled to the car and pulled himself in. It had been a trap and the sergeant had been the bait. He smiled a bit. There wouldn't be eight following Kev next time. At least not the same eight. Only two he'd seen hadn't been in the hotel.
           "City police. Bomb at the Clent Hotel. I've seen it. Get everyone out. Out. Comm, call code Q six nine one three. Swede, I hope you can call your heap home."
           "Danton?! Danton! DAMN!!"
           Swede ran out of the house and into the yard. He turned down the waistband of his briefs and ran his thumbnail across the seam in a specific pattern. He felt the odd sensation which meant he was being used as a broadcast antenna and grabbed a trellis. The jolt he got told him it was more than a trellis, but he hung on a second. When he let go, his hand was slightly burned, but he was sure the "heap" had gotten the message.
           "Swede!"
           "Inside, Tanner. Comm headquarters. Give them your name and new rank, then mine. Tell them the low flyover is to be ignored. Do it fast!"
           Dell came out as soon as Tanner cleared the door. She grabbed the hand he was holding, looked and ran back in. In twenty seconds she was out again and he was getting his hand salved and bandaged.
           Kev walked out with a cot under his arm and Tinse and Linsy trailing him with what looked like a portable emergency hospital in their hands. They set up right behind Swede. Tanner came out, nodded to Swede and took over the set up. Swede smiled. For girls who didn't know anything, they were extremely well prepared.
           Heap skimmed treetops and some of them scanned her. Auto defenses went on behind her. She was passed because Danton had cleared her for both ground travel and flight. Headquarters tracking comps wiped the record of her passage before it reached the tracking screens.
           'Heap' dropped down right in front of Swede and he yanked the door open. Kevin listened in near awe. He'd thought Tanner could really swear. When he got to Swede's side to help, he learned he could. He ran to the other side.
           They gently pulled Danton from Heap. Kev lifted his upper body from the floor and guided it past the controls while Swede carefully drew him out. Tanner and the girls had the wheeled cot lined up and he was on it as soon as he cleared the car. Tanner and Dell were working on him before he was on it.
           Dell had his burned and bloody clothes cut off him in seconds and Tanner was proving she was Swede's equal in language by the time Kev got to them.
           "Sorry your car is a mess."
           "What happened, Danton?"
           "Oh, I walked into a nasty trap which I think was meant for someone else. The bad boy was very dead when I got there. They seemed surprised to see me, but decided I might be fun to play with and might know answers to questions. Mice shouldn't play with cats. Eventually, the cat takes over. Six fewer rodents. Miaow."
           "Danton! Tanner?"
           "I'm glad he's out. He's been tortured, then in a real battle. He'll make it, but it's going to take time. I'm tempted to say med center and physician, but have a strong suspicion it's not a good idea."
           "It's not. I suppose wishing I'd gone instead is foolish, but I do."
           "You always do. Every time anyone is hurt, you wish you'd been there instead or with. Dell, there's blood on his briefs and I don't think it's from his leg. Get them off."
           "Oh, my... "
           "Shit! Let me take over, Dell. I'm well trained."
           "Thanks, Kev. I wasn't ready for that."
           "Neither am I, but he's not my daddy. Well, I know exactly when the cat unsheathed claws and went after the vermin now, Swede."
           "Yeah. How bad, Kev?"
           "I need focused light, a sterile field and a full surgical kit. Move him inside. I'm pretty sure I can do it."
           "If I wasn't sure he'd killed those butchers, I'd go hunting. I've got claws I want to use too. They cut him a little at a time."
           "Psychological torture when physical wasn't getting anywhere. Some of the other wounds hurt much worse, but slow castration... You SURE they're all dead?"
           "Yes, Kev. He's quite sure there are SIX fewer rats."
           "Good. This light will do. Tanner, you assist. Swede, take the girls to the kitchen and make tea or something. Go on. I'm more sure now than I was."
           "Let's go, girls. Your daddy really wouldn't have wanted you to see this. Can you pretend you didn't?"
           "Yes, and he'll pretend he believes it. Dell, Tinse, move."
           "Kev, you're the best surgeon we could make you in four years. Can you do this?"
           "Yes, Tanner, but I'd rather everyone didn't know just how much it's going to take. It's rather complicated for my first practical experience. Scalpel. Retractors."
           Slowly Kev reassembled ducts, blood vessels and nerve fibers. Bit by bit he performed the very complicated task. He didn't know many surgeons would have just suggested hormonal treatment for a man his age. It never even occurred to him not to try.
           Tanner assisted and carefully monitored. She'd used a very light anesthetic and she didn't want Danton waking. When Kev smiled and went to work on other wounds, she knew he'd done it. She suddenly realized she had a very personal interest in the success of the endeavor.
           "I changed my mind, Kev. I will have children. Three. His, Swede's and yours. Danton's first. This will be their home."
           "Mine? I'm not... I don't know much about me."
           "I do. You're brilliant, beautiful, my best friend and I love you. Kev, will it bother you if Danton's and Swede's are first?"
           "No, I understand why. Danton needs to be sure and Swede has been waiting most of your lives. It WILL bother me to run blockade when you're pregnant."
           "If it does too much, I can't do it, Kev. They need us and the ship you built to do it. Swede will ground me when I get plump anyway. I can't wait, Kev. I'm getting too old. After fifty-five, too many complications can arise."
           "I understand, but I'm probably going to be ridiculously protective. Thump me if I get real silly."
           "Nah, I'll tell you you're cute and ignore you. You expected this."
           "It had to come someday, Tanner. You love children too much not to have your own. If you had nieces and nephews, or even a half dozen best friends' kids to dote on, you might not have changed your mind. Have four. You said Garand donated. Have his too."
           "Too long. I don't have time."
           "Um, I could help with that."
           "Huh?"
           "Say we do an in vitro and you have twins by two daddies. Don't get mad! It was just an idea."
           "There's more reason for the idea than you're saying, Kev. What is it? Talk to me, love."
           "I want to make sure mine is healthy. Tanner, they stuck me with four names because they couldn't decide WHO my parents were. They think at least ONE of those four was one. I don't know. Every picture they showed me of the eighty-one people who had been on the station brought warm, fuzzy, memories. Today I told the girls I had a big brother, I think. I also think there may have been something wrong with both of us. A behavior disorder, or something physical which had to be corrected. I'd do one at a time, not a batch to be selected from like most clinics."
           "Let me think about how they'd feel about it."
           "Yes, please do. Also think how you feel, Tanner. I won't push. I was just trying to compress the time span. If I thought you could carry... "
           "Triplets? Quadruplets?! Kev, don't get silly. Quads are still iffy."
           "No, just early. Cestalac developed a precise technique for Cannery nearly a century ago when their population had to be rebuilt fast and they couldn't attract enough people. A lot of worlds were hit by the epidemic and most were in somewhat the same position, but Cannery was the hardest hit. The people of Earth donated gametes so the gene pool wouldn't be too small and Cestalac watched over a colony of women carrying triplets and quads. He, and they, didn't lose a single child."
           "You're saying one pregnancy of four because you don't think you can handle about four years of being terrified every time we make a run through the blockade, but you DON'T want me to go all the way and try artificial wombs or find surrogates."
           "I suppose I am, but I'll manage under any condition, my lady fair. I love you completely. I want you to have the children of the men you love. I think Danton is the right one to raise them and I'd LOVE to watch him deal with quads."
           "You think it would keep him too busy to do what he did today and THAT would please you immensely."
           "Pretty transparent, aren't I? That's it. Stop the anesthetic drip. Now it's just a matter of time. Tanner, I want Swede to have a reason to be in this house. I think it may be the safest place for him and I think he's going to become a target soon."
           "Beska is going to figure out who the real strategist is and start trying to take him out."
           "They already have. They were just surprised when they trapped the master counter-spy instead of the master strategist."
           "Say what?"
           "Miaow."
           "I have NO idea what you mean."
           "Good, that means no one else will. This place has tech I don't understand. Glynn Lamb was a genius like NO one else. I might be in Danton's league, but not hers. If Beska blew up Tosca, THIS peninsula might still exist nearly undamaged. That's why your children here. That's why now. That's why Swede here as much as possible. It's also why the girls need to get to their new assignments fast. They'll be targets in a few days. The Beska will look this way. Danton knew it. He stayed carefully away from Swede and us. We thoroughly messed things up coming here, but he's absolutely delighted. He loves us and has been waiting for Swede to be his best friend a long time, probably since his wife died and maybe since he saw him the first time. Let's clean this place up a bit and call the others."
           "Uh, huh, I'm sure there's bomb damage. You kept dropping them on me."
           "I have one more. Danton's probably the only person alive who knows exactly what happened on and to Balemy Station, and I'm sure he'll never tell me more than he already has. He told Swede to tell me he'd loved my parents. I think the message was an 'If I don't come back,' but he had to use it to keep me here. This place IS home and I was scared and running. My drawers and closets are full of things for me."
           "Boom. Mine have a few things in them. I thought the girls had donated them, or they'd been Glynn's."
           "Huh, uh. She was a little bitty thing. She'd have come to about your breasts. The girls all got Danton's slightly over average height. I hope our child gets yours. I'm as under average for a male as Glynn was for a female."
           "You aren't that short."
           "A hundred seventy cens is twenty below male average."
           "You're still growing a little."
           "True, I may make a hundred seventy-two someday. It doesn't bother me. I just think your one ninety-two is elegant and graceful."
           "And only one man in four is taller. Which I admit I DO like."
           "Danton is about two cens taller. Swede makes you look like a cute little thing when you stand beside him and Garand was almost exactly your height. I'm just little, and I doubt you'd have been interested if I wasn't the only male around."
           "Wrong, but I'd have let someone else do the teaching and probably waited about four more years to make a pass."
           "I made the pass and it was my desperation that made you decide to teach. I'll never love another as I do you. I know it and I think you do, and I'm sure you know it's not gratitude or the fact you're the only woman I've ever held."
           "Tinse and Linsy seem to be intending to change that. Oh, NICE blush. Tell me why?"
           "Linsy suggested we THREE 'play house.' Tinse wasn't shocked long. I'm still reeling."
           "Those two are quite a pair."
           "They're close, but less than I expected, I think."
           "They weren't pushed to BE twins."
           "I'm not sure I understand."
           "They were never dressed alike, pushed to do the same things, or even go to the same school. Tinse left home for school before Glynn was killed. All three are as close as most sisters get, as far as I can tell without more personal experience, but they're not 'Dell and the twins.' They're 'Dell, Tinse and Linsy' and I think Danton and Glynn worked to make sure of it. Four together might be harder, but let me think about it some more."
           "Two hundred forty-one days, Tanner, and extra time to be with them afterward because standard leave for women on hazardous duty is two-twenty to three-ten."
           "Don't push, pup, or I'll pull your ears. I'll send them in while I wash and sterilize this stuff."
           Kev danced around the room. He'd convinced her and he knew it. He also knew the reasons were time she wouldn't be off duty and the thought of a child of Garand's. He was incredibly pleased with himself at that moment and somewhat awed she wanted his child more than Garand's, and she did. It wasn't "Oh, I can't switch his for Garand's. I've already told him." It was, "Yes, I'd like it, but yours is my choice." The four caught him capering.
           "Tanner's right. You do glow when you're excited and happy."
           "Oh, and I AM, Swede. Danton's going to be just fine in a very few days. You're moving."
           "I'm what?!"
           "You're moving. That trap was meant for you and your condo will be next target. The girls can't stay much longer or Beska will have time to decide they'd be useful to use to coerce. I suggest you take Dell back with you as new-found special friend and move into her place until her leave is over, then get to be terrific pals with her dad and just stay. Tanner and I already met Dell's sister. It's a coincidence and you think it's hilarious you and I are interested in sisters we met the same day, but not together. When Tanner gets interested in Daddy, it's a real giggle. Here, Swede. There are six dozen good reasons, but most have Glynn Lamb and Tanner as their starting point, and it MUST be now, Admiral, or you might not make it."
           "It's a long way from headquarters."
           "True, but I doubt that's a problem. Go in when needed and let Clegg sigh you DON'T read speed postings. Never announce your plans, just show up. Laugh and tell him you didn't do much surfing and it's the FIRST time you ended up where you said you were going. Tanner and I came with Tinse. Don't argue, Swede. Just do it."
           "Giving orders?"
           "Yes. I'm absolutely sure this is the safest place in Corner Worlds Alliance space and you're absolutely essential to end this thing. So are you."
           "Come on, Dell, we have to leave before dark. Danton may not like this, Kev."
           "Miaow."
           "Yipe! Let's go, Dell."
           "You're chopping off OUR leave, Kev."
           "I'm having to remind myself it's NOT a dumb thing to do, Tinse. I plan on visiting your ships. Runners get free time and I've got an in with an admiral. My girl's daddy is his buddy. They need each other. Your dad and Swede both need to stop being alone and neither is going to get the girl he wants full time. I've already claimed most of her time and I'm willing to share a bit, but not give it up. I'm working on not being greedy about you two right now."
           "See what you did, Linsy. YOU said both of us and he's decided both of us."
           "I'm glad she did, Tinse. I'd have never been able to choose between you. You're BOTH perfect. I'd have given up and decided to be 'just friends.' This is MUCH nicer."
           "Linsy, you have great ideas."
           "Hey, we've been through this before. Rollin couldn't decide between us, so picked Dell."
           "Jas couldn't decide between us, so picked Dell."
           "Clent couldn't decide between us, so picked Dell."
           "Well, I'm not deciding between you and Dell is going to be quite busy, I imagine."
           "Unh."
           "Daddy!"
           "I'm alive or I wouldn't hurt this much."
           "You were a mess. Kev and Tanner kicked us out because we were hovering and Swede poured tea down us. It took a long time."
           "Danton, I found out I could use a teaching program in a real situation. I'm a terrific surgeon. It's a good thing I am. You needed one. You let things go a bit far."
           "Took awhile to claw my way loose. I'm ALL right?"
           "You're so good, Tanner's decided you should be a daddy again."
           "WHAT?!"
           "Calm down. I'm blabbing what she said just like Swede did what you said. I was spooked and headed for deep cover and you're spooked and not sure I'm right. He chose to blab for good reason and so did I. Let her read the letters. Swede and I are included in her plans and I added Garand. She needs to understand WHY you loved her before you even met her and that it grew over time. Oh, I ordered the teddy bear to move in with the pussy cat and I'm sending the girls to their new duty stations sooner than ANY of us would like. Beska is out for Swede and you're best to watch over him and vice versa. The girls won't be safe traveling TO their ships in a few days. I met a cute girl today in the city. She brought me home and Tanner, of course, tagged. Swede met a doll named Dell and she decided her leave was too short to commute to and from town so Swede's going to get LOTS closer. It's a hilarious coincidence my cutie, who has a cute twin sister, and his doll are sisters. Add Tanner took a REAL interest in our new interests' daddy and it's giggle material for Sunder to pass to ALL the right ears. Clegg is probably already chuckling. Swede actually ended up where he said he was going for once and he's just going to tell his people to give up on trying to enforce the speed laws between here and headquarters."
           "Swede has four hot cars, Kev. Hi, Danton."
           "I love you, Tanner. The letters are in the top left drawer of my dresser. Read from bottom to top. Comm, Alliance Headquarters on Tosca, Lieutenant Sunder."
           "Sunder."
           "Lieutenant, this is Danton Lamb. My daughter Dell likes to surf. She and a wayward big fellow have found another mutual interest. They've dashed to pack him a bag. I don't know why. He doesn't seem to WEAR much. Move his cars to the end of the drive. My other daughters have developed an interest as well."
           "I heard interest is an epidemic and you're infected."
           "PLEASE don't giggle. I'll start and I'm already feeling a bit like a silly kid. I think we need vehicles. I have one and it's in the shop. Tinse took it in this morning to see if repair or burial is recommended. I rather expect last words are in order. Can do?"
           "Vehicle transport ordered. I've got alarm codes, but not key codes. They scream if bumped. I'll reset, ride along and reset again. The boss says never off unless he's in one."
           "I got the impression they're his babies. That heap he's driving says 'I DON'T take a nice car to the beach,' loud and clear."
           "That heap is registered to our data clerk and Swede borrows it for 'I DON'T take a nice car to the beach,' once in awhile."
           "Oh, we should get it back then."
           "Nah, Flen is hoping Swede will take a shine to it and tune the body like he did the drive."
           "The body is held together by stubbornness and dirt."
           "Flen says a coat of mud makes him more confident the doors won't fall off. He also says it's a 'classic.' I'm always tempted to ask classic what. On my way. Out."
           "Done."
           "Yes, and so are you. Rest now or so help me I'll start anesthetic again."
           "You SURE you're not an officer, Kev?"
           "Yes, but physicians give orders too. Rest. We'll put food and fluid down you in about an hour."
           "Mm, hm."
           "THAT was easy."
           "He needs rest, knows it and knows you've got things under control, Kev. I'm impressed."
           "Give me a break, Tanner, or I'll call you Commander and Sir all evening to remind you that you're an officer and I'm not."
           "Ouch. Excuse me, I've got letters to read. Keep track of time, kids. Make sure Swede and Dell can get back here. Danton may have to clear them."
           Kev found Tanner in Danton's room about an hour later. He held her while she cried. The letters had told her that Danton really did know her. She didn't know how, but he did.
           "Tinse and Linsy are feeding him. He's going to be restless and wanting up by tomorrow. Not ready to get up, but wanting up."
           "How did he get to know me so well, Kev? He knows you too. Listen. 'Kev's probably starting to go crazy about now. I know you think he's still too young, but he's not going to be able to just wait. I know you'll understand. Teach him loving as you've been teaching him to love. You're the best there is to do it or Swede wouldn't have kept you loose til he was ready.' He's almost got the DAY right. Here's another. 'Just hang on and pilot that monster he's building around you. There's no ship too hot for you to fly.' It's dated the day before you switched the drive. He began to tell me he loved me a little over a year ago."
           "Probably took him awhile to admit it to himself. Don't ask me about Danton Lamb, Tanner. I'm not sure what he is, except unique. He's a lot like you say Garand was, but also quite different. You're a lot like Glynn was, but also quite different. You had nine years with Garand and he had eighteen with Glynn. It wasn't enough for either of you, but you've both healed. You more than him, I think. Does he mention any ladies at all?"
           "Sont and Sunder a few times, but the context is Swede. Sont the best cohort and Sunder the best aide. No others and that bothers me some."
           "I think he fell in love with you AS he healed. By the time he was ready to look around, he knew who he was looking for. Now you're here and healing can be complete."
           "You understand love so well, Kev."
           "I had a very good teacher. I'm head over heels in love with her, but so are two other men I truly like, respect and am learning to care deeply about. I'm working hard to learn how to deal with it from Swede. I think Danton is too. Dell, Tinse and Linsy are delighted to assist."
           "You've come a long way in a very short time, Kev."
           "Danton told me there's not only nothing wrong with me, everything's right with me, and did it in a way I can neither doubt nor ignore."
           "He's either clear crazy or the sanest person there is."
           "Perhaps they're the same thing when life must be lived in the midst of war. Tanner, I want to do this before we leave here. I don't know why I'm pushing, just I'm sure I should. I'm near desperate to see my child born. You realize we'll have to gen test to know who is whose? Maybe we should just call them ours and not bother. Yes, I like that. Four kids, four daddies and all ours and Garand's. We'll give them EXTRA love for their other daddy and you and Swede can tell them stories about him. Like the one when he ran for the sensors, then yelled for comm and didn't realize he was nude til he signed off."
           "He turned bright red every time he answered the comm for a quarter year. Unlike you, he ALWAYS dressed and wore lots more than Swede does. More like... Danton."
           "See? Alike, different and unique. How do you feel about group marriage?"
           "What?!"
           "I've been doing legal 'in case of.' I want there to be NO doubt our children belong to Danton and Swede if something happens to us. I want Dell, Tinse and Linsy as backup for the four of us and maybe Sunder and Sont behind them. No vows of fidelity, but very documented. If something happens to me, I don't want the gov, or anyone, to decide to see if our child can be 'just like daddy' and shove him in front of a comp screen for nine years."
           "You have been doing what ifs. I don't know how I feel about it, Kev. I've never considered it at all."
           "You'd make three men 'the happiest man alive.' It's not exactly what Swede, Danton or I want, but it would please us all, and Dell, Tinse and Linsy."
           "ONLY if there's no vow of fidelity."
           "Good, then that's settled."
           "Now, wait a... "
           Kev's grin was wide and mischievous. She just laughed. In one day he'd talked her into going to the city, having four children, and now marrying three men. She also knew he couldn't have done it if she hadn't liked the ideas, and she felt a need to hurry, just as he did. She tilted his head up and kissed him. As usual, his response was complete and overwhelming.
           "Whoa, Baby. There's too much still happening and Danton's bed would not be polite."
           "Uh, huh."
           "Kev!"
           "I... I'm trying. Alarms!"
           When Tanner caught up with Kev, he had Danton in his arms and was running for the front door. Danton touched a panel next to it and it swung open revealing a very impressive array of monitors and controls. He went through a complicated, but practiced, set of control manipulations and sighed, then leaned back against Kev.
           "It didn't occur to me he'd bring one of the other cars in too and it should have. I've got him personally entered now and cleared for another run for the other two. The girls are cleared as well, but just for the run. I'm too nervous to drop the defenses completely."
           "You're too damaged to be the only one who can."
           "I have to, Kev. The controls are isomorphic. One of you could turn them on, but only I can program exceptions and safe zones."
           "That must change. You're not indestructible and we're trapped here if you're not functional."
           "I know. Things just happened too fast to do it in a sensible order. That chair. It lays out almost flat."
           "Almost isn't good enough and you'd know it in two minutes. You don't want ANY bends yet and I'm going to have to check if I undid any of my careful work."
           "Uh, Tanner, get Swede and the girls back down the drive for the other two cars. Swede knows they shouldn't be left there tonight and I should have."
           "Will do."
           "Kev, I'm... Unh!"
           "Bleeding again, but not from where we're both worried about."
           "Thanks, I was trying to say I'm not running on all thrusters. I'm glad you and Swede are."
           "Do you know Tanner's full name?"
           "What?"
           "Or Swede's?"
           "They have more than one?"
           "Mm, hm. Stripey only uses one for population records, but they both have more than one and a number. So did Garand."
           "And you know them all."
           "Yes, I pried them out of Tanner one LONG watch. I complained I had five and she said she had six."
           "Six?!"
           "Yes, you'll need to know them when she marries the three of us."
           "Huh?!"
           "I want legal protection for our children. Group marriage without vows of fidelity, then a VERY strong will in case of, in case of, in case of, with us ALL on it. I've been busy, Uncle Danton."
           "You figured it out."
           "Glynn Terasi. Mora Terasi Oras. It took awhile. I saw the marriage announcement in the frame in your room and things clicked. Melody Aurora Jewel Juliet Tanner Barris. She was a LONG awaited only child. Swede wasn't and Garand wasn't, but neither have family left."
           "The Kuren co-op disaster and no proof it was the attack we know it was."
           "Thirty-two years ago and Tanner and Swede were on a school trip or they'd have died too. Garand was lucky, I guess. His parents died two years apart and naturally five before he did. Both were a bit younger than average, but not extremely so. His brother was killed two years ago. No wife or children Tanner knows about. There, fresh bandage. Swede is Nordell Swedani Halula. Tanner says he was ALWAYS called Swede. Garand's name is Garand Turkand Shelley. Yours is Danton O'Hara Lamb."
           "You do ask questions."
           "I get a surprising number of answers. I suggest Glynn, Garand, Barris and Julen for our children. They'll all work for boys or girls."
           "Julen? How about Balemy instead?"
           "I... I don't know."
           "Kev, it was... He was a baby."
           "I just realized that, Danton. All right, Balemy. All last names, Tanner?"
           "We'll stick ours in if necessary?"
           "I hadn't planned on picking ONE as mine."
           "I see. Yes, I like that. If anybody fusses, we'll stick them with four. Halula, Shelly, Lamb and Kevin."
           "Did you know Swede's size is traceable to one particular race on Earth?"
           "Do tell."
           "Halula comes from the Hawaiian Islands on Earth. Many of their men were over two meters in the nineteenth century. Swede, by the way, is two meters twenty-four and a half cens. I asked."
           "I just know he's one of the tallest men I know. Nineteenth century?"
           "Yeah. Imagine landing on a gorgeous beach, being about my size, which was average, and meeting a king who was two meters sixteen."
           "I can't. Why the trivia, Kev?"
           "Because I know so little about myself. Help me, Danton. Why AM I so little? I was... I just quit growing, I think. Is something wrong? Should I tell her I'm not... mine isn't viable?"
           "No, you're absolutely perfect. You're still growing."
           "Oh, yeah. A half cen in four YEARS."
           "Don't expect much more. Your size is from Glynn's family. You're small enough to get into and out of places I can't, VERY useful. Glynn used to dive into air ducts so she wouldn't get caught in my quarters. Your every gene was chosen for a reason, Kev, and every reason was a good one, then you were boosted. Do you know your real capacities? You see? You've never reached them. Like picking me up and running. I'm bigger than you are, but I wasn't a big load. You could probably carry Swede just as easily."
           "His feet would drag. Uncle Danton, I love you."
           "My boy, and in a way, you really are. I donated material. So did Glynn. So did a couple others. I'm the only one left. I don't know if any of it was used. I know all of it wasn't, but only Dern Holiday knew exactly and he would never have told. I know you have his dark green eyes and Tenly Andeline's fair skin. Your thick dark auburn curls are just like Faber Vanderbilt's. That's about it and those four attributes are why you got four names. And I know all your parents were incredibly pleased with you."
           "I'm an illegal experiment."
           "No, Kev, you're not. Cloning is illegal and deliberate zygote splitting is illegal. Parthenogenesis is illegal. Any form of exact replication of a human is illegal. You are NOT a replicate. The group on Balemy wanted two to work perfectly together, one biological and one technological. They succeeded in creating that technical life so completely, it was a child. Because it was a child, it was without the experience to understand or control its emotions. He had a temper tantrum and you were all they could save. There wasn't air enough, or food and water enough, for you AND an adult. You were getting close to the end of what there was when found. They risked the Beska finding you to save you. That experiment began over thirty years ago. Your brother was created first. By comparison, you were simple. Your child will be as unique, perfect and beautiful as any other human child for you are totally human. Glynn's sister Mora carried you. You were born of woman."
           "Thank you. I didn't even know that's what I needed to hear."
           "Hi, Dad, we're home!"
           "Swede, I may be everybody else's dad, but I'm NOT yours."
           "Sure you are. I'm moving back home just like the rest of the kids."
           "In that case, your room is the one across the hall from mine. That way I can keep an eye on you. Besides, that's the only bed long enough, Nordell."
           Swede's mouth dropped open and they all laughed. He spun and looked at Tanner. She pointed at Kev. He gulped loudly and dashed for the hall. Swede dashed after. Since Kev went into Danton's suite, he followed. Right into the room across from his.
           "Danton wants me in this room for some reason and you want to talk to me."
           "Wow! Look at that bed! And this ROOM. They're BOTH huge. Lots of closets, but that may not interest you. Oh, nice bath, and just oodles of space for cradles."
           "Oodles... Did you say... cradles?"
           "Yes, four of them. Swede, you'd better sit down."
           "Kev, am I going to get to tell anybody, or are you going to tell them ALL?"
           "Uh, hi, Tanner."
           "Swede, I'm going to have four children, one Garand's. I'm going to have them all at once. You're going to be one of the fathers and you two, Danton, and I are getting married... tomorrow. Group and no vows of fidelity, but lots of legal protection for the kids. You're probably in this room so you and Danton are close, but it could be the bed. Looks comfy. Bye."
           Kev just slid down the wall, sat in the floor and giggled. Swede was standing absolutely still, except he kept blinking. Suddenly he just seemed to fold up. He laid in the floor and rolled with laughter. It was too much for Kev. He tilted sideways and laid in the floor with Swede and giggled.
           Dell looked in and looked for Tanner. Since her father was laughing just as hard in the living room, she decided she ought to know what was going on. Three delighted squeals from the kitchen told the men the girls were pleased. Danton mused no on would ever have a nicer forty-eigth birthday and drifted off to sleep. The girls got busy making sure he was right.
           Sunder whooped and ran. She wasn't comming this piece of news. She dashed out of her quarters, jumped in her car and sped toward Clegg's house. She commed Sont and asked for a scramble code, briefed her and asked she ram approval through fast. Sont whooped and cleared. Six other admirals whooped at the news and Tagget grinned. He wondered if Kev would like another job, then decided he was already on it and doing too well to need it official. He slept much more soundly that night. His biggest worry was 'safe at home' at last.
           Sunder thumped on Clegg's door, told him the news and watched his sleepy eyes open wide. He dressed fast and he and Sunder dashed off in her car. His wife ran out of the house moments later with a data pad in her hand and went the other way in theirs. She commed the Lamb house, bubbled she was catering and got off fast. Watchers and listeners were very puzzled.
           Sunder and Clegg thumped doors, woke officials and carried documents from place to place. A judge came running out of her house in a dressing gown, with a dress and her robes over one arm and a thick book in her hands, and jumped in the back seat of Sunder's car. Watchers were very puzzled.
           A very exclusive tailor answered a knock on her door, listened a moment, then danced on the doorstep on bare feet. Shuna Clegg waited a moment, transferred data to the pad she brought out, then dashed back to her car and sped off. The tailor came out a few moments later, got in her car and sped off in another direction. No one noticed. Why watch a tailor?
           Beska Fleet Command went into emergency conference. The upper echelons of the Corner Worlds fleet and the high civil authorities on Tosca were all abuzz and involved in something and they couldn't get a clue as to what. Two planned missile attacks and an assassination were put on hold. They wouldn't know the assassin would have been looking the wrong place until they attempted to reschedule. They never would know who had "discovered" their first attempt and killed five of their best operatives. They knew it hadn't been Swede. He was surfing.

    Chapter Three

            Shuna Clegg had her own particular type of genius. Her mother had been mayor four terms and she had hosted parties and rallies since she was twelve. She'd organized them "start to fundraising" since fifteen. This one was special. She giggled and splashed cold water on her face early in the morning. "Up all night" never put dark circles around her eyes. She was too dark for them to show. She led a caravan south, out of the city. They caught up with the one Sunder was leading.
           Danton insisted he could walk to the control panel. Swede picked him up and carried him after two steps. He informed him his wedding was worth putting up with pain, opening the gate for guests was not. Dell handed him a tube of anesthetic cream and winked. Her daddy wouldn't hurt too bad at his wedding.
           The story was he would not be walking across a scree slope again for quite some time and then he'd be very careful. It had nothing to do with his injuries, but it was true. He was a bit disappointed he'd be spending his wedding night alone, but he'd had one before. Dell was a bit disappointed too, but she helped her sisters and Kev make Swede's room perfect. Her new orders said four days. Her sisters only had two.
           A party arranged itself on the wide lawn of the beautiful house, or seemed to. So many did a bit of decorating, carried a tray of goodies, or laid a cloth as they went by, it seemed to be magically transformed. It was ready, but the wedding party wasn't. Three grooms had gotten fumble-fingered nervous and were running behind. Shuna, Sunder and Dell went after one each.
           The guests were an odd assortment. Most had never even met the principals, but it wouldn't have been a big formal wedding without any of them. The tailor and her staff of six and the dressmaker and his staff of five were seated by two uniformed ushers. They were from the headquarters transport pool and loved the extra duty. They hadn't known they'd be doing it until they'd driven four officers to the house.
           The caterer nodded to her staff of four and they dropped aprons and became wedding guests. Four attorneys, two data clerks and the judge shook hands and left the study with documents in their hands. A pair of last minute arrivals almost didn't get in before the defenses were switched on. Admirals Sont and Forder had decided they were close enough to get there in time. Forder ran for the house. He was going to escort the bride, or know why not.
           Danton's peninsula "neighbors," all four of them, were there with their families. None had seen the house since Danton had warned them not to go beyond the pillars marking his land without calling ahead. They'd been shown the scanners in the pillars to understand it truly could be dangerous. They were awed by the transformation of "that old ruin."
           Swede saw Danton hobbling out of his room and shook his head. Kev nodded agreement. The "chair" they made with their arms was very lopsided, but he grinned and got on. Then held onto Swede to keep from rolling into Kev. By the time they got to their places, all three were laughing and so were the women trailing them.
           Swede and Kev gently set Danton on his feet and the music began. Three elderly ladies sang "This Day Our Love Is Known" and Forder patted Tanner's hand and escorted her down the aisle.
           The three men waiting were suddenly totally still. In that instant, all present suddenly knew the marriage was much more than a legality. No groom anywhere had ever been more enrapt in his beautiful bride. The bride saw them and fell in love three times over again.
           Swede, tall with a mass of shining black curls and skin like well-creamed coffee, was her oldest and most loved friend. Danton, broad shouldered with thick, sunstreaked, straight blond hair and sun bronzed coppery skin, was a new and exciting story to be read. Kev, fair and auburn-haired youthful perfection, was her trusted partner and heart's delight, and he could talk her into anything. She was very glad he could.
           The judge smiled and straightened her robes. So much for the attorneys' discussion of a "legal marriage" to "combine asset structures." It was pure love match, and even if a bit unusual, her favorite function to perform.
           "Friends, we've gathered today to witness, and participate in, the creation of a family. It is not as simple or usual as the joining of two, but the love between these people is strong and beautiful. Melody Aurora Jewel Juliet Tanner Barris, do you wish to be joined to the three who await in the ancient and revered bonds of marriage?"
           "I do."
           "Nordell Swedani Halula, do you wish to be joined to this woman and the two beside you in the ancient and revered bonds of marriage?"
           "I do."
           "Danton O'Hara Lamb, do you wish to be joined to this woman and the two beside you in the ancient and revered bonds of marriage?"
           "I do."
           "Kevin Oras Andeline Vanderbilt Holiday, do you wish to be joined with this woman and the two beside you in the ancient and revered bonds of marriage?"
           "I do."
           "This marriage creates a family. The name chosen by all those before me for the family is Tanner. Please bring forward the symbols of union."
           Sunder proudly carried a velvet pillow up the aisle. On it was her gift to them. She smiled at her friend Daris as she passed her. She'd wiped out her bank account for the materials. Daris had created the beautiful pieces for love.
           The four watched Sunder come down the aisle in surprise. They hadn't even thought about 'symbols,' but she had. She stopped beside Tanner and smiled.
           "Yellow gold for Swede; ruddy, Danton; white, Kev."
           "Thank you. I'll never forget YOUR gift of love. Swede, I can't remember a time I didn't love you and you've been asking for this since we were ten. With this ring, I thee wed. Danton, how you came to know and love me so well, I may never fully understand, but it is returned in delight and awe. With this ring, I thee wed. Kev, you're my partner, my friend and my sweet young love. With this ring, I thee wed."
           "Gentlemen, Tanner's ring is the three colors of gold of yours braided together. You figure out how to do it."
           "Swede."
           "Swede."
           "Tanner, they're letting me do this for the three of us because they know I've wanted to my whole life. It just took me the first ten years to work up the nerve to ask. I love you. With this ring, I thee wed. Danton, take her hand, touch the ring and say it."
           "With this ring, I thee wed. Kev."
           "With this ring, I thee wed."
           "Swede, Danton and Kev you are bonded not just each to this woman, but to each other as well. Do you understand this and is it your choice? Swede?"
           "I do and it is."
           "Danton?"
           "I do and it is."
           "I do and it is. Oops. Sorry, Judge."
           "Eager young grooms are my favorite people, Kev. No apology necessary. With the bestowing of the rings and the affirmation of the vows, the pledge is complete. By the power vested in me by the planetary government of Tosca, I declare you lawfully wed. Admiral Sont."
           "In accordance with Fleet Regulation three nine, points one through thirty-six, this marriage performed by an authorized representative of civilian authority is legal and recognized as valid by the Corner Worlds Alliance Navy and such recognition shall not be denied, nor ignored, by any other military branch or civilian authority of the Alliance. All benefits to spouses and children under fleet regulation shall be duly accorded. I bear with me Naval High Command approval and documentation. Judge Carls, you are asked to sign as the representative of civilian authority."
           "Signed. Now it's your turn, Admiral. Witness, please. Lieutenant Sunder."
           "Sign Commander, Sunder. You've been promoted."
           "Yes, Sir, Admiral Sont."
           "Dell, Tinse and Linsy, your signatures, please."
           The girls were surprised and delighted to be called by the judge. She'd made them part of the ceremony by bringing them forward to sign.
           "Now, I understand we have an informal and not really related task to perform. Happy birthday to you... "
           Danton laughed when they all sang Happy Birthday to him and was more than delighted to be the first to kiss the bride. Swede tapped him on the shoulder and Kev jumped into line behind him. The small crowd laughed and applauded approval. The three ladies sang Together We Shall Grow In Love Forever.
           The reception setup got a sudden addition. Swede and Kev ran for the house and carried out the couch from the living room. They ran back to Danton and Kev pointed at Swede. He carefully lifted Danton, carried him over and gently laid him on it.
           "Swede, get me a screen. I saw him wince and heard him gasp. He'd say he was fine no matter how bad he was damaged. I have to check."
           "We'll get a a couple of the spare tablecloths, Kev."
           "Thanks, Tinse."
           "Kev, I'm fine."
           "Yes, Danton, and when I've checked I'll believe you. If you've torn the binding on your abdomen again, you'll ruin your snowy white suit."
           "All right."
           "See, Swede? We didn't even have to threaten you'd sit on him."
           Swede laughed and cuffed Kev lightly. He staggered around and pretended to grab Tanner to steady himself. Swede stepped up behind him and looked down. Kev looked back and up and loudly gulped. Tanner laughed. Kev ducked out and she leaned on Swede. Kev nodded to Tinse and quickly ducked under the drape Tinse, Linsy and Dell were holding.
           "Swede! Grab that end! Inside! Now! Tanner, hold it down. We'll ALL be back."
           "Damn, Kev. What happened?"
           "He tore the binding. I'm going to use a local and STITCH the place. Not there, that's fine. It's the one on his abdomen again. I think it's sitting up that does it. He's got so much muscle... Well, stitches will hold."
           "Hi, you need?"
           "The surgical kit, Dell. Tying a stitch was the only thing I could actually practice, Danton. I'm good at them."
           "And I've been VERY careful about your other work, Kev. I guess I forget about that piece."
           "That's why I'm sewing it. Close. A few more seconds and the blood would have soaked through. What caused this cut, Danton?"
           "A sharp piece of metal. It happened when I broke apart the frame they had me tied in getting loose. When I snapped it, the side piece swung across and sliced me."
           "Holy... Muscle is right! How'd you GET that much muscle, Danton?"
           "Look around you, Swede. I BUILT everything here from the wood and stone of this land. I felled every tree and cut every plank. I wanted a family to grow in it, but didn't expect it would be mine."
           "I didn't understand or appreciate what you were giving, Danton. I knew it was beautiful, but failed to see the true labor of love. Forgive me, Husband."
           "I'm sorry for my outburst. You couldn't have known. No one was here while I dreamed and built. I'm very happy you're here now, Husband."
           "And I think I had a stroke of genius I'll NEVER equal again when I had THIS idea, Husbands. Ah, surgical kit. Thanks, Dell. Go on out. This'll take about two minutes anesthetic to bandage. Tell them I mentioned rolling down rocky slopes is not real bright, but when they have pieces of metal sticking up out of them, it's DUMB. Uh, hi, Admiral Forder, Sir."
           "Stitches?"
           "It's the second time he's pulled a tissue binding loose, Sir."
           "Sounds like he can't stay still enough for one then. Stitches are probably the best solution. You tie a nice knot."
           "Shh, I don't want anyone to know I learned ANY thing new, Admiral. They're sure I'm full up and I'd rather not disillusion them."
           "I do understand that, Kevin. Swede, I want to talk a moment."
           "Yes, Sir."
           "Ah, ah, just Forder. You've got the same rank I do and this is personal. Your aide scrambled to get the gold for those rings in the middle of the night last night and her friend worked all the rest of it and this morning to make them. Clegg says she woke eleven jewelers to find the red gold. He also says she designed them and probably cleaned out her savings."
           "Thanks, Forder. She's the best aide there is and I'll strangle anyone who tries to take her."
           "Make her your second and give HER an aide. Her friend's a JG, but won't be long. Otherwise, you're going to realize a commander is needed elsewhere and move her yourself."
           "True, but she and Daris are pretty close to put in that kind of position."
           "I don't think it would bother them, but you know them better than I do. To be honest, I don't think they're as rank conscious as you are. You HATE it."
           "Not as much as I did. Before, it kept getting in the way of getting things done."
           "That's why you're an admiral now. It's the rank which gets things done, or is supposed to anyway."
           "What needs doing?"
           "You're already on it. Take care of your loves, Swede, especially that one on the couch."
           "With him it's very mutual."
           "The best way. You're very important too. Every person is irreplaceable. Some are also essential."
           "Swede! Oops, excuse me."
           "We're just chatting, Kev. Couch out?"
           "Yes, Sir."
           "Look, I'm at your house, your wedding and your party. If I had something else nice enough to escort YOUR bride, I'd have worn it. Today I'm Forder and that's all."
           "Yes, Sir. Forder. I'll try."
           "The only time he doesn't say sir is when HE'S giving orders. I always jump to obey them. The last one he gave me was move in and get married."
           "The LAST one he gave you was 'couch inside now.' It was a good one too."
           "I'll carry that, Si... Forder."
           "I'm working on impressing a lady, Kev. She's noticed you have muscles."
           "Besides, with Forder on the other end, Danton doesn't have to hang on to keep from sliding down to it."
           "Bean pole."
           "Shrimp."
           "You two are worse than my girls!"
           "Uh, are we related to them, Danton?"
           "No, I had that carefully delineated, Kev. They're Tanner's step-daughters, but not yours or Swede's. I know you love them, but I'm daddy. Sorry."
           "No problem!"
           "I didn't think it would be."
           Forder and Swede were laughing and Danton and Kev grinning when they came out of the house. Everyone relaxed. It had been minor, but the couch was obviously needed. Two people offered Danton a metal detector to carry next time he went for a walk. He told them thanks, but he had a knack for locating it.
           Swede, basically, backed Sunder into a corner, then grinned down at her.
           "Thank you. They mean even more having come from you. Admiral's get seconds. You're mine. Forder suggested Daris as your aide, but it's your decision. I don't want anything to damage your friendship. I think it's a great idea otherwise."
           "If it gets in the way, she'll request a transfer and I'll already be hunting for a job for her."
           "Good. Hand her your lieutenant's bars. Here's my commander's insignia. They didn't get much wear."
           "I kept wanting to pin them on your itty bitty sports briefs. Nice to know Admiral Sont had the same idea. Thank you, Sir."
           "Swede and you know it. My office doesn't DO formal."
           "Good. If it comes from you, I can keep Daris from calling me Sir."
           "Sneaky. How broke did you get yourself saying, 'I love you,' Sunder?"
           "I'm fine. I just got a BIG raise."
           "You need. You yell. Hear me?"
           "Yes, Swede."
           "My girl."
           "No, Swede, THAT'S your girl. I'm just your second."
           "And I got her. Have to share, but I DID get her. Got a nice bonus in the 'share' too."
           "Know Dell thinks you're wonderful and doesn't plan on calling you daddy."
           "You STILL don't know the half of it. The marriage is for children, OUR children. We plan on four. There's one more who belongs among the daddies, but didn't make it to be here in person."
           "Tanner's previous partner."
           "Garand. I loved that man too."
           "Swede, you're made out of love. That's why you want to end this mess so bad."
           "We will, Sunder. Every one of us INTENDS to see it ended."
           "About time. This thing they WON'T call war began before most of the people in the fleet were born."
           "It'll be called war soon and we're going to start waging it. I'm going to cuddle my bride while Danton's stuck on a couch and Sont's got Kev cornered. Thank you again, Sunder. The design and colors are perfect."
           Swede put an arm around Tanner and just enjoyed the feel of it for awhile. When the cake was cut, he, Tanner and Kev all fed Danton some. Danton wiped cake off his face and laughed so hard Kev worried he'd pull the stitches out. Dell handed Tanner a bouquet to toss, then dropped down beside the couch and giggled. It had come apart and Sunder, Daris, Admiral Sont and Admiral Forder all caught a piece. Admiral Forder grinned and pinned his two flowers to his lapel. The tailor straightened them for him.
           Danton finally asked to be carried in. It was the signal to all the party was over. Four minutes after Swede and Kev carried the couch in, one wouldn't have known there'd been a party. Ten minutes later, the caterer and her staff had the kitchen sparkling and were packed. Sunder led the caravan out.
           Shuna Clegg was very happy. Tanner had given her a hug and told her she was incredible and the day had been wonderful. Then she'd gotten a hug from Sunder, Sont and three very nice men, one of whom had grabbed her skirt and pulled her down for it. She'd always liked Swede and she was sure he'd found all the love he deserved. She sighed happily and leaned against Clegg. He put an arm around her and squeezed.
           "Where'd you find the singers?"
           "The elders' home early this morning. They're the Sunshine Girls. They picked the songs. They loved it."
           "Everyone did. You're a genius, my love. That was the broadest mix and least stratified reception I've ever attended. Admirals to privates and judges to cooks, they all just plain liked each other and enjoyed the day."
           "You know I hate stuffed shirts. Even Counselor Bansan finally relaxed. I knew she could. I just wasn't sure I'd ever see it."
           "Admiral Sont doing an impression of a plecki duck did her in. I'm pretty sure that's why she did it. This is a very secure estate."
           "I noticed. I also noticed Danton Lamb finally came out of his hermitage, with a bang."
           "I don't think he had much choice."
           In other cars, other people were talking about the day too. When they got out, they would stop. That too was part of Shuna's genius. She knew who would be discreet. Word of Swede's marriage would eventually reach the Beska, but it would be some time and even longer before they found out to whom. They'd only get one name, Tanner.
           Swede walked into his room and stared around him. It was candlelit and a bottle of champagne stood in a bucket beside the bed. Two glasses lay on the pillows. A knock on the door frame turned him. Kev was there with Tanner on his arm. She walked in and he grinned and shut the door. Swede took the woman he'd loved his whole life in his arms and kissed her. He'd never forget the night or the gift Danton and Kev had given him in deciding it should be his.
           Linsy bounced into Kev's room and jumped up and down on his bed. He grabbed for her, almost knocked her off and barely caught her. She explained she and Tinse weren't quite as liberal as they'd thought. Kev told her he didn't think he was either. That night he held a woman he really liked and loved her. She taught him he could hold another.
           Dell and Tinse played a game on the living room floor, made tea next to the fire in the pot they'd used since children and kept their daddy company. When he'd had two cups of tea, the two of them giggled, picked up the couch, carried it all the way down the main hall and into the only lavatory in which it would fit. They told him they'd wait outside and please not splash, they'd just cleaned it. He was laughing too hard to get up for awhile, but when he did, he truly appreciated taking ten small steps and not sixty. He drifted off to sleep for the night, smiling, before his third cup of tea got cool enough to drink.
           Kev began to study. Only Tanner had ever seen him do it before. He said interruptions didn't bother him. Tanner said as long as one didn't get between him and a sensor when an alarm went off, he noticed you were there. Tinse closed the door to the study and Kev stopped studying. She was leaving the next day.
           Danton told Swede and Tanner to go for a walk and which paths to take. Dell handed Swede a big picnic basket. Linsy waved good-by. They went for a walk.
           The estate was three-fourths of a three K wide peninsula surrounded by beautiful beaches. It was a piece of mountain range that dipped below sea level and rose again on the other side of a wide, beautiful, channel. The house looked upon rising cliffs on the other side. It was a rural retreat on a world where the most plentiful thing was still land. It had once been the home of one who harvested the sea before it, but the path lay inland and they followed.
           They'd climbed about three hundred meters in altitude over about two hours when they found the place to have a picnic. There were a table and two chairs carved carefully in a fallen tree that had not been moved from the place of its falling. It lay wedged behind two strong young trees at the top of a meadow that sloped softly down, to suddenly rise into a view climbing to snow-capped peaks inland. The snow was only on them in the winter.
           They picked berries on the way down. Swede, of course, was barefoot and had stripped to trunks. He leaned into a bush to pick a big blueberry from the top and got scratched. Tanner kissed it "to make it better" and they found a forest glen with a carpet of moss. 'Someone' had cleared it of fallen twigs and rocks. They began to look for bowers. The land hadn't been wild in two centuries, but it was gently tended.
           Swede told Tanner what the neighbor had told him about the condition of the house before Danton had begun. He couldn't tell her of some of the work he'd done, but they found eight examples she loved. One of them was the path they walked and they'd passed several others.
           It was late in the afternoon when they returned with a basket full of berries and Tanner yelled for Kev. He walked into the kitchen, saw the berries and whooped. He chased them out and hunted flour, sugar and all the other components and implements required for a perfect pie. He expected to have enough berries for four and a nice size batch of berry compote as well.
           He'd asked for cooking classes when he was fourteen. He'd wanted to learn how to prepare the fruits of a living world. He made good casseroles and sauces, but his pies and compotes were outstanding. Fresh fruit was "What's that?" on a patrol ship. Tanner had never gotten to taste his pie. The carefully overseen berry bushes along the path gave Kev a gift of the best kind, one he could give to those he loved, and there were suddenly so many more.
           That night they just didn't go to bed. They sat around the living room to be together. They were more comfortable than anyone had really expected, except Kev. He had no expectations, just the pure clean eagerness he brought to every new moment. Tinse and Linsy were leaving in a few hours and they all wanted to be with them until they left.
           Twenty-seven years of living under threat causes unarguable change in a culture, and in war, the chance of any one good-by being the last was higher. People made choices and implemented them. They might not get a second chance. Kev had seen love and they'd made their choices. They wouldn't have chosen as they did if they hadn't believed they were the right ones.
           The fruit compote on shortcake Kev had "whipped up while I was at it" with cream was applauded when handed around. They convinced Danton to show his stitches and Kev bowed to the applause for his sewing too. In a few hours, Danton and Kev pulled them into a family. Danton and his girls knew how and Kev was the best student in existence. He had found the one who could give him a family home.
           Danton and Swede began to know each other on the surface. They'd known each other to their depths immediately. Danton, of course, knew more about Swede than the other way round. That was normal for admirals, even if there was usually less knowledge involved. Just before dawn, Danton told them the Oras in Kev's name was from Glynn's sister Mora.
           "You mean he's a COUSIN?"
           "Daddy, why didn't you tell us this before?"
           "Why didn't you know Tinse? You knew your mother's name and her sister's name, but he doesn't know if he's a cousin or not."
           "Well, that idea's shot, Linsy."
           "Probably just as well. If we married Kev to get in their foursome, Daddy would probably get upset, Tinse."
           "I haven't gotten in our 'foursome' yet. I think you're already ahead of me."
           "Ooh, do you like Kev too, Daddy?"
           "Oh, I should have known better than to get into this. I'm always sorry."
           "It's time for us to get ready, Daddy. We need to leave in a few minutes."
           "I know, Tinse. Go on."
           "I'll help."
           "Me too, Dell. I'm sure sitting on the end of a bed and sighing they're leaving is part of my step-motherly duties."
           "Oh, I'm sure it is too, Tanner. It's part of mine as big sister. I'm especially good at the sighing."
           "I have something for you to take with you. Try to keep a hand free."
           "That won't be difficult, Kev. We have a total of ONE uniform each and our usual kits. Of course, Tinse has a tendency to try to pack everything in her room into it."
           "Only a couple teddy bears, Linsy. I've been trying to figure out how to pack that great big one over there, but I can't."
           "That's MY teddy bear, Tinse."
           "Gee, Tanner, you have THREE big teddy bears. I didn't think you'd miss one."
           "Call me sentimental. He was my first."
           "How about the smallest one?"
           "Linsy, you don't collect teddy bears."
           "I would if they were all like these, Tinse."
           "Pack."
           "Yes, Tanner."
           "Yes, Mom."
           Danton watched Tanner's expression soften and his heart leapt. Linsy had always known just the right time and way to say "I love you." Tanner had been ready to hear it.
           "They'll be all right, Danton. They're very much needed by the ships they're going to, or they wouldn't be going there, but I find I'm very glad they're big ships and not picket cruisers or patrol ships. I'm also glad the postings were ordered before I had to ask myself if that's why I was ordering them."
           "So am I, Swede. We've been lucky so far. The time may come when the choice gets more difficult."
           "It already has. Blockade runners have just become even harder to assign and they've never been simple. Well, the best ship and crew for the most important job. Kev, I'm posting you to diplomatic. Your passengers and packets will need the best they can get. That's Tanner as captain and you as crew. You could be running from here to Earth and back. I wish I could justify putting you on another duty, but I can't."
           "We figured that's where we'd go, Swede, but most runs won't be crossing the blockade. Diplo runners are called 'the errand boys' with cause."
           "The diplos DO send more packets within the perimeter than outside it, Kev. Sometimes they send WAY too many."
           "In a way, that's good protection for the truly important ones, Swede."
           "I know, Danton, or I'd stop it. The Beska hate losing five or six ships on something they later learn was a political pitch for a crony. I have one terrific piece of news. You can tell the girls. I get to tell you two and Tanner. There's only one runner posting open. It's here on Tosca. It's in Fadon City, not Deccatown, but it IS on Tosca. You'll be able to come home on two day stand-downs, but it's also the Alliance Diplo Headquarters."
           "The place where nothing happens and every important packet originates there."
           "Explain that, Danton."
           "It's like Clegg's phone line, Kev. It's public debate and private speaking. The important decisions aren't made there. That's done on each world by each individual who holds an opinion and speaks it. The speakers have said, 'End this.' Now the process of how to express that opinion begins. It's the diplomats' job to express it in words so other worlds of people will understand why that consensus was reached and stay out of it while the military implements it. The spies there are rather well-behaved. Half of them work for worlds Beska is careful to be civil towards. The next important document to leave there will be an ultimatum, 'Leave or war will be declared.' They know it's coming. The Beska will try to stop the well-worded and reasoned explanation from reaching League headquarters. Then, if pressed, they have more chance of convincing the League to give them aid to fight off our 'unprovoked attacks.' It's interesting to note the last 'secret packet' to go there was the vid documentation of the extent of missile damage and number of attacks. I understand half a dozen news services got hold of it. Terrible security. We're this 'place out there' which has been a 'trouble spot' for twenty-seven years. We complain, observers say, 'It's not that bad,' and nothing happens. We're dull. We've just sent out an attention-getter. Now that they're looking, we'll take action."
           "So the first thing we carry which is truly important may be the declaration of war."
           "Yes, Kev, it could very well be."
           "That's why the sudden increase in numbers of officers."
           "We don't expect them to just go away, Kev, but we're giving them plenty of warning. One can't hide thousands of new uniforms being made and hundreds of new ships being built. The truth is we weren't total innocents nearly thirty years ago when sanctions were first debated in the League, but this punishment has gone on too long! Do you know what League representative Powell asked in the last five minutes of last League session, Kev?"
           "He asked them if they thought it constructive for the young people of Beska to yell whoopee, dive through a defense perimeter, drop missiles, run back across the line, then listen closely to the damage and death toll to see how their score compared with others. If that many attacks were unauthorized and that many crews reprimanded, then they were OUT of control and learning to think of killing as a game. Uh, yeah, I do."
           "Me too, Kev. I think we all do. There have been times I've fantasized strangling that man, but once in a while he gets up, tells it like it is, grabs them all and opens a door in their closed minds, and he DOES do it well."
           "White hair, usually in some type of robe... The man could play Socrates on vid drama, Swede, and we ALL love his good speeches."
           "True, Danton. He does use everything he's got to do his job. It's just, while he's doing it, so many are dying. I'm a military man, Kev. I HAVE to remember how many deaths, injuries and what the true cost is. I want to stop it, period. His job is to sit on me and keep me from just going out and MAKING us safe. I could be difficult to stop if I start. I didn't want to be in the navy. I was drafted for my skills. I expressed the opinion I was very valuable as a civilian and they explained that's WHY I was being drafted. Tanner laughed. She'd been in for eight years, I think. Yes, eight. She went in the morning after our graduation dance. She was so beautiful and I loved her so much, and knew her so well I knew she'd made the choice right for her. She saw it coming. She enlisted before the blockade was sanctioned. I'm sure I've lost my mind and I'm very pleased. I do find it a bit odd to think of myself as being married to two men, but I seem to be coping."
           "Shock. She finally said yes. She just couldn't say it until it was the right choice. That time came when we all came together here. I pushed this whole thing, but she knew this time it was the right time. I heard her say children and I... had to help build them a family. You guys were drafted. See, I always build her what she needs. I knew you would too. WE did well, gentlemen. In four days, we have assured a home for OUR children. To our lady."
           Kev gave Linsy and Tinse each a pie and a jar of compote, then bounced in excitement and delight when Swede gave him the alarm and key codes for the gorgeous little red sportscar he called Flirt. He told Tinse and Linsy he had a driver's license and he'd used it once. They both offered to drive.
           Tanner was a bit surprised when he suddenly took her hand and pulled her along. She wasn't hard to pull. He wasn't ready to drive home alone and she wasn't ready to say good-by to the girls.
           Tanner said, "Park," and Kev did. He pulled into the VIP lot area reserved for ranking officers and was asked for identification. The two lieutenants squeezed into the small back seat suggested they and the admiral's wife get out and go to the departure area and he catch up. The marine on the gate cleared them immediately. They were in Commander Swede's car. Word of Swede's promotion wouldn't really spread until he had to show up in uniform for something.
           They had time to sit and talk awhile. None of them had ever been in the officers' lounge before, but the girls' uniforms said there, not enlisted. They were a bit nervous, but decided they liked it. It really wasn't very different.
           Eventually, the girls were paged for boarding. That was new to them, but officers weren't 'loaded.' Hugs and fast good-byes were given and suddenly Tanner and Kev were alone.
           "I feel... "
           "Yes, Tanner, me too."
           "How'd we suddenly hit the jackpot, Kev?"
           "Good question. I've been asking that myself. I think the answer is probably Danton's been building it up for us and we found it."
           "I'll accept that. How's he doing?"
           "My, what a casual question. He's healing fast, but he was hurt pretty badly. We have twenty-two more days of leave coming. It's enough."
           "Not... very soon?"
           "He'll decide that. It's the one injury he's very careful to take care of. I think he's surprised the wound IS healing."
           "He thought they'd maimed him."
           "I think so. He'd accepted it as possible anyway. He knows just how far down the list that would come for a man his age. About everyone and everything else would come first. When children need limbs and faces... He's an open book and a complete mystery."
           "Oh, I like that one, Kev."
           "Excuse me, please. Are you Commander Tanner?"
           "Yes, Corporal, is there a problem?"
           "No, Sir, there's a message for you. You are asked to pick up groceries on your way home. They've been ordered from the port exchange, but I'm to suggest you shop for awhile until the order can be filled."
           "Thank you. You heard, Kev. Let's go shopping. I need uniforms and so do you."
           "I can't get mine the same place."
           "Yes, you can. I just tell them to get them for you and bring them to tailoring. Rank doth have its privileges and I've been seeing exactly what they are for years."
           "You LIKE being an officer."
           "I'm beginning to. I don't have to do the one thing I would have hated."
           "Send people out knowing some won't come back."
           Tanner took him shopping. The port exchange did have officers' uniforms one place and enlisted another, but the rest of it was one nice shopping area. The tailoring and grocery order filling were expected to take an hour so they explored. They both had four years' pay built up. They weren't worried about spending too much, just ending up with too much to carry. Tanner told Kev it was too soon to be looking at cribs and baby clothes then helped him look.
           "Let's find a comm."
           "What are you up to, Kev?"
           "There's one. Comm, Tosca Headquarters, Personnel, Admiral Swede's office, Commander Sunder."
           "Sunder. Hi, Kev, you need?"
           "A transport. I'm going to clean out the baby department at the exchange plus order a bunch of lab equipment and such from a good company in Deccatown. Suggestions?"
           "Caprind Scientific. Baby department?"
           "Sunder, that whole thing was ABOUT babies. I'm just too excited to wait until they're on their way."
           "Sounds reasonable to me. This afternoon and tomorrow morning?"
           "Thanks."
           "I'll put in the order for a small transport. If you need a heavy load rig instead, do let me know. Sunder out."
           "Clean OUT the department."
           "Four different cradles, four different cribs. Four bassinets and baths and baby clothes."
           "Boys' or girls'?"
           "Is there a difference?"
           "Only in dress up stuff."
           "Let's go buy everything we like. The chances of having all girls or boys is slim."
           "You like the little girls' clothes."
           "Yes, but I'm going to BUY baby clothes. Hello, get a data pad. We're going to buy to furnish a LARGE nursery. First, that crib. That one, that one and that one. One each. I like this cradle. Four of them."
           "That bassinet. Four. Hmm. This bath or that one, Kev? I think just one."
           "Um... This one. Swede's hands won't fit that one."
           "Silly. The big one. Twenty of these towel and wash cloth sets, assorted colors. Twenty sets of those sheets."
           "A dozen of those nursers. Eight sets of those little dishes."
           "This stack of bibs."
           "Twelve of these sleepers and twelve of those."
           "Four of those crib mobiles."
           "That night light."
           They shopped. The clerk giggled, scanned codes and entered numbers. She didn't know who they were, but they were definitely furnishing a nursery. She helped. She made sure they didn't miss essentials like car seats and swings. They chose four styles of "baby back packs." Kev tried on six before he found one he liked.
           When they were done, so were their uniforms. A porter delivered them to the loading dock and four carefully loaded a large order of groceries and the uniforms into the small car. Kev told them they'd proved one could put more in an area than it would hold. They said that was their job.
           Kev pulled up to the kitchen door and ran in the house. He had twenty minutes to order from Caprind before they closed for the day and it would be a big order. Swede and Dell helped Tanner unload. Swede finally asked her why she was grinning.
           "Kev and I bought out the exchange baby department. We're turning the room next to Danton's into a nursery. You'll be nice and close too. Of course, cradles go in YOUR rooms."
           "A... nursery. Yes, please."
           "Do you think Danton will like putting murals on walls and mobiles on cribs?"
           "He'll love it and so will I."
           "Delivery is tomorrow."
           "Oh, YES. I'll get to help unload and see it all."
           "You'll be drafted to help unload and figure out where to PUT it all, Dell. The baby clothes department has to restock. Kev liked everything which didn't say boy or girl. He liked those too, but admitted there was a possibility of them all being one or the other."
           "Is there?"
           "Yes, Swede. One at a time and no selection is the promise Kev made. He'll keep it. Two, three or four of boys or girls doesn't matter does it? Do you have a preference?"
           "Little girls. Six of them."
           "Help. You and Kev both. He spent half an hour in the girls' department."
           "Go spend some time with Danton, Tanner."
           "Thanks, Swede."
           Kev studied and they learned why 'interruptions' didn't bother him. He didn't stop. He split his attention. Other activities were performed while he integrated what he'd learned into his knowledge store. The night before Dell was to leave, he said he was ready. Tanner realized he was also afraid and understood. So was she. That night they built the excitement into a much more powerful emotion and in the morning he was eager.
           Dell's was a night departure, so they had some time the last day to be together. Much of it was spent unpacking the boxes that had been delivered the previous afternoon and placed in the nursery. Danton sat in one of the reclining rockers Kev had been sure were exactly what a nursery needed. There was one in each of their rooms as well. Danton agreed and said he'd like one moved to the living room. It was moved with him in it.
           Swede took Dell to the port. Like Tinse and Linsy, Dell hadn't had long with the man who she'd come to think of as a real friend, but they'd found some time to be together. It helped him she wasn't headed for a patrol posting. He'd lain awake in agony for many long nights after seeing Tanner off.
           They slowly relaxed that night and began to talk of their home and their future. Kev decided he was home and Swede and Danton learned he thought clothes were for duty and company. Since Swede thought briefs were clothes, Danton just grinned and began wearing the battered shorts he worked in and a soft, open shirt.
           Five days after Dell left, Danton caught Tanner in the hall and pulled her to him. Kev had been right. He knew when he was healed enough, and he had healed fast.
           Danton got back to very healthy in an "amazingly short time." Kev chose the day and Tanner went after Garand's gametes. They were in her name. Swede took her. He wore his new insignia and Tanner wore hers. They had no trouble with the personnel at the fleet facility. Swede noted admirals never had to cut red tape. Tanner said that's because they were its point of origin.
           Kev prepared and performed the procedure to obtain ova. Tanner helped each of her loves give their part. That night none of them slept. In the morning, Kev performed another procedure and they waited again. The procedure had a ninety-two percent success rate, but eight percent loomed large to all of them.
           It was five more days before Danton took Tanner to a clinic and the sounding told them Kev had learned well. He grinned widely when they told him and said it was a good thing he hadn't bought girls' clothes. They were going to have four sons. That's when they learned how much Danton had wanted a son.
           When Tanner and Kev left for their new posting, Swede went back to work. So did Danton. He tapped into the comm system in Fadon City. The Tom Cat prowled and Tagget plugged holes. Beska began to lose lots of operative. Spying was no longer a profitable business. Soon, only the very good ones were left.
           Danton and Swede nearly held their breath for twenty-three days when Tanner and Kev were given a packet to Earth. Tanner was a hundred ninety-two days into pregnancy when they got back. Danton and Swede were there when they landed. The fleet physician they had with them took one look at Tanner's bulk and put her on maternity leave. Kev cried and thanked Swede and Danton. Tanner just smiled, ordered transport and got her three nervous fellows home.
           They had time to spoil her rotten and be awed by kicks and heartbeats. Admiral Sont put the best obstetrics team on Tosca on standby at Deccatown headquarters. Kev wanted to assist, but knew he trusted their skill more than his nerves.
           They took four tiny babies home in infant support units. They also took home a very good pediatric med specialist. He'd been navy forty-one years and babies were his love. He and Danton would teach the others to care for Glynn, Garand, Barris and Balen. At the last moment, Kev had balked at Balemy. He'd changed it. Danton understood. He'd actually thought of doing it himself.
           "Balen just... happened. I hit N instead of M and stopped."
           "I like it, Kev. All of us do. Are you comfortable, Tanner?"
           "Yes, Danton. I like the chair just as much as I did five minutes ago. I like being home, and I like Spec Tibbs."
           "So do I and I'm not even embarrassed I pulled strings and threw my weight around to get him assigned to me. Of course, having Sont and Forder throwing theirs around too did make me feel less conspicuous."
           "I'm going to take him tea and sit with the boys."
           "I get a turn later, Kev."
           "I won't stay long Danton."
           "Me too."
           "We should have put four nice chairs in there."
           "Tibbs would have probably had us move two out anyway, Tanner. He thinks one eager new father at a time is enough to deal with."
           The boys got strong and healthy fast. As soon as they stopped being little red bundles, it became easy to tell them apart. They ranged in skin tone from Barris, who was obviously Swede's son, to Balen, who was obviously Kev's. He protested he'd done no selecting when Tanner looked at him askance. Danton protested they'd all been "newborn baby red" when he'd listed names for the nurse.
           Too soon, Tanner and Kev had to go back to duty, but they flew home every stand down. They watched their sons grow together nearly a year before Tanner was handed the packet to be delivered to Representative Powell at League Headquarters.
           It was the official declaration of war. Beska had not withdrawn, they'd increased attacks. The declaration was incredibly important. If it was not read, Beska could officially claim their fleet was attacked without warning. It would make far too much difference in public opinion. Every ship in the fleet would be out to stop them. All the way to Earth.
           "Clear! Run, baby, run!"
           Swede nearly swayed when the scan op shouted. They were a long way from Earth, but they'd made it through the massed ships of the blockade. He watched while the escort ships fought their way back. Two didn't make it.
           There was no way of knowing how many patrols were on their route waiting, or even if they made it until a ship made the run back from Earth. He and Danton could only hope and pray.
           Tanner grinned at Kev and sent him to rest. They were less than a day from Earth. They'd stopped counting how many skirmishes they'd fought. If either of them could get some rest, it would help both. She yelled for him within minutes. She had bogies.

    Chapter Four

            "TANNER!"
           "I'm sorry, Spec Holiday. She didn't make it."
           "No!"
           "Easy, sailor. You almost didn't. Representative Powell is outside. He's been here every day."
           "Every... How... long ago?"
           "Sector patrol found you eight days ago. You were in survival suits, but hers was holed. She died before that happened. Your ship and five others were adrift. You're the only survivor. I'll tell the representative you're awake."
           "I heard he was awake, Nurse. Hello, Kevin, I'm here to tell you what you and your wife did. First, I got the packet. Second, some of your battle was witnessed. They chased you too far. Sol sector took very strong note. The people of Earth are demanding answers from the League and Beska. They'll find no one to back a resolution to send a fleet to 'control' us."
           "We almost made it. I... yelled incoming and my beloved lady shouted I got the last ship. And that's... the last time I'll... ever hear... her voice."
           The old man sat down and took the young one in his arms. He held him while the horror and grief of loss shook him and drew deep racking sobs from him. He held him until he slept, then started making arrangements. He ordered a ship and crew to be made ready to take the commander's body and her young husband home. The reason for sending their only ship was protested by others of the delegation. He glared them into silence, but he explained why to Kev.
           "I don't want to make your grief a spectacle, Kev, but it needs to be seen. We've grieved for our loved ones in the dark for nearly twenty-nine years and it actually began before that. You can't be seen as anything but a hero. Neither can Tanner. Beska can't paint you as killers and mourn their dead. You're obviously not. One look and no one will listen. You're a young warrior, but war has already cost you too much. Beska has denied the knowledge you carried only diplomatic documents. They had been claiming you carried invasion plans."
           "What?"
           "They dropped that story when the Secretary General asked why we'd send such a thing to our League Representative and theirs could not come up with an answer. THAT moment will live in my memory forever. Officially, our declaration of war is horrible, but populations are not so sure and reps are listening. Besides, you and she just plain deserve the truth be known and to go home."
           "Home. I have... to tell her loves and our children."
           "You have children?"
           "We... Our marriage is group and its reason was children. Tanner gave us four children to love. Four boys. One of them is mine. He's about a year old. I want to go now. Don't make me wait. I won't die on the way unless the Beska do better next time. I really don't need full med center care. Let me... take my lady home."
           "Easy, son. You're going home through a very tense situation. It may be a war fleet and not a blockade when you get there. They had plenty of time to get ready."
           "And we had plenty to get mad. Please."
           "Tomorrow and I may get into a great deal of trouble for making that promise. The first obstacle is this medcenter and your doctors."
           "Doctors?"
           "Six. You were in pieces and they each claimed one. I hope they like the vid I'm sending home. I gave the declaration my best Roman senator. If you ever meet Shem Coe, tell her I said, at my age, I truly appreciate HER words making me immortal. I don't expect to get home again."
           "Ow."
           "I knew I probably wouldn't when I came here five years ago for the second time. I'll probably be here until the war is over. If it ends soon, I'll see my great-grandchildren again."
           "And they, and our, and all the other children will grow up in peace."
           "That's really the most important thing. I watched my grandchildren grow up going to school beneath the ground and afraid to go out to play in the sun."
           "I only knew that life three years, but it was too long."
           "A day was too long."
           Cameras focused on the straight-backed old man walking beside the transport stretcher borne behind a coffin. Then an editor yelled and the view of the auburn haired young man became the center. He was bandaged and monitor patches showed his condition was still far from good. Hearts turned over and eyes grew damp. The pain in his eyes was of loss, not injury. The editor had a story every affiliate would carry. She sniffled and began filling in background and putting it together. Powell knew his job very well.
           The ship was met by a fighter wing and picked up a cruiser escort. They had to fend off fighters, but the blockade no longer existed as such. When they landed on Tosca, Swede and Danton had already been told. They had all four boys in their arms and were at the foot of the exit ramp when first the stretcher, then the coffin, were carried off the ship. One of the four flags that draped it was presented to each of Tanner's sons and she was awarded the Naval Star. Kev wept when he accepted it.
           They got home late. Military services were not long, but they hadn't begun early. Tibbs ordered Kev put in the nursery and took over his care as well. Swede had asked him to retire and come to work for them when the boys no longer needed special care. He'd submitted the request the next day and had immediately begun to take care of the house and them as well as the boys.
           It took time for Kev to heal physically. Emotional healing would take much longer. One day Danton stated it was time. Swede and Kev didn't know what he meant, but he picked up the small casket containing Tanner's ashes so they followed. Danton led them up the path to the picnic place she'd called the "perfect mountain meadow." There he opened the casket to the wind.
           "She'll always be part of our home as she will be our family."
           "You didn't ask, Danton."
           "No, Swede, I didn't. I did exactly what I believed right. This casket couldn't hold her. The only thing that could ever do that was our love. Her presence in our home must be a living thing, not a symbol of death. This gets buried in her favorite bower. She'd be furious if she saw us just keep stumbling through days and looking at this. I've had to do this before. It's time to decide what to do with tomorrow. We still have one and she'd be quite upset if we keep ignoring or denying it."
           "I have to go back to duty."
           "No."
           "What?"
           "Kev, Tanner was a warrior and a pilot. You are not. Putting you back on a courier is a total waste. Danton, I want him working for you as a civilian. We have four children and I want him with them, but he's needed. You know where. Don't glare at me. Tell me you believe you don't need help and he's not the ONLY one who can do it. I'm about to get real busy and I'm probably going to be living in a uniform and sleeping in my office half the time. Leaks are deadly now. You need his help to close holes."
           "You're right. I may slug you, and thank you for finding the RIGHT reason to get him out of the navy, Swede. Kev, I'm a counter-spy."
           "He's our TOP counter-spy."
           "I know. He's Tom Cat."
           "You KNOW!?"
           "Sure, Danton. Miaow and too many holes in you. Too many VERY well disguised antennas, too many security precautions and way too much knowledge about us all for you to be anyone else. You're also VERY careful to stay in perfect-plus condition."
           "He reads minds."
           "That I'll believe, Swede. Do you realize we're three married men with four kids and people WILL wonder?"
           "Married to each other. I like it. So do you."
           "He reads minds, Swede."
           "Yes, he does."
           Kev learned the system. Tom Cat became two and his equipment actually got better. The Beska still thought Swede should be removed. He was just too good and they suspected he might be Tom Cat. After the second plan to take his life was narrowly thwarted, the Tom Cat decided to prowl.
           "No, Kev. I'm the only one who CAN do this."
           "You need me. Danton, don't argue this. If I need training, fine. Train me AFTER this night. We think they're after Swede, but we also suspect it's a well-baited trap."
           "I'm going into that nest of vipers well-armored and with the flat intention of killing them all. Can you strangle a middle-age woman? Sometimes what I do requires I kill with my hands. Sometimes those I kill don't believe they're vipers. Some believe I am, but they must all die. Incarcerating them is too dangerous to our people. Their possession of our secrets has caused the deaths of many already. They'd find a way to pass them. I'm the reaper when I must be. I have always been the assassin."
           "You will take me and I will learn if I am capable. If one of us dies tonight, we will know one could not have done it alone without doubt. If both, then that is how it will be. We have a better chance together of BOTH living through this war. I am coming."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Miaow. Here, this is a portable tap."
           "It's... an armband."
           "Yes, point the slightly darker patch, press... and... screen. Be careful to shade the light. This was the best idea I came up with, but the light is a problem."
           "If I was dumb enough to be seen using it, I'd have been too dumb to last this long. It's exactly what we need to make it much safer."
           "I need to make you what you need. I did it for Tanner, now I will do it for you.
           "Glynn did. I've been a counter-spy since I was twenty-two. She kept me alive building me what I needed to do the job, but she DIDN'T insist on going with me. You start training tomorrow. I hope. Like my claws?"
           "I've always like a nice pair of gloves."
           "Look at the left index finger. The circuitry is in the weave."
           "A circuit tracer, very useful. Five built in functions?"
           "Six. They don't leave fingerprints. Let's go spring this probable trap without getting caught in it, take the bait and walk off feeling smug."
           "Oh, that's a much more pleasant simile then the vipers, but I really prefer thinking of THEM as the mice."
           "Miaow."
           Swede sweated through the reception. Being a target didn't bother him. Being bait for a trap was a major worry and he was just as sure as Danton and Kev were the trap must be sprung. Those who created it knew too much. Eventually it would be passed to Beska. Tagget had closed several routes, but another would be found soon. That night Swede realized how much he did love Danton and Kev. They'd come together around Tanner and the children, but deep love held them.
           Kev wasn't untrained. No one got to patrol status without some good training, but he learned more in ten minutes with Danton than the navy had taught in six years, and it began with the way he moved. The night and the shadows were his. He glided through them and Kev learned. He realized he would never be as good as Danton, but he got much better fast. Both realizations pleased him. Danton stepped into a comm booth and tapped in a number.
           "Good evening, your number has been randomly selected by computer. We are conducting a public opinion survey on morale. It requires approximately twelve minutes to... Guess he didn't have twelve minutes. Tap established and a nice look around."
           "What's that?"
           "This little disk is just the size of a public comm camera lens. It's an obviously comp generated picture of 'a pleasant-looking man.' I got a phone survey once and copied it fast. I didn't have twelve minutes either."
           "You saw?"
           "Too many glass rings on a table for the two glasses I saw. I'd say seven and definitely expecting something. I imagine we've been noticed, but probably not recognized. One more call, then a cup of coffee is in order while things rearrange themselves. This one gets a finger over the lens. City police. Yeah, I live around Pike and sixteenth. There's a couple people just hangin' around. My wife's decided they're spies or somethin'. Why don't you guys check 'em out before she grabs her service revolver and does it herself? Out. Coffee? That looks like a nice place. Wouldn't want to be 'hangin' around,' would we?"
           "No, we might make someone nervous. My goodness. Four people just hurried into that building. Maybe someone's having a party."
           "Clegg's 'leaky line' is quite useful. Hi, two coffees. So, anyway, having had, I thought, LOTS of experience bathing babies after my three girls, I proudly demonstrate my skill with my new son."
           "Oh, I KNOW what's coming."
           "Well, I didn't. Baby hits nice warm water and little geyser hits daddy RIGHT in the face."
           "My boy is sure the removal of a diaper is a cue. I change him one handed. I use the other as a shield. Thanks."
           "Overheard. Got two boys myself. Never got me full on, but I've changed my clothes when I changed them a couple times. Course, they're young teens now, but it's an experience you never forget."
           "Our boys are the same age. They're both about to hit the terrible twos. I'm looking forward to watching my young friend here trying to explain why 'Daddy's perfect boy' is also 'the little monster.' He just ISN'T ready."
           "No parent is. You CAN'T keep up with them. They're into something else before you get the last mess cleaned up and they've got ten times your energy and twice your stubbornness. Great memories, but it's definitely not an easy time."
           "I thought two o'clock feedings were rough, but I quickly learned to handle that."
           "He just doesn't know."
           "He'll learn."
           Danton grinned at the server. He'd remember them, but they wouldn't be "anyone suspicious." People talking about their kids and enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee were about as 'normal' as you could get.
           "Nice of so many to assemble in one place, isn't it? Eleven is two more than I expected. I think we may have hit the jackpot."
           "I think two of us is four too few."
           "It's twice as many as I started with and two is what we have, and I'm STILL tempted to send you home."
           "You could try. I just wouldn't go."
           "I know. That's why I don't try. Ready?"
           "I'm sure yes is a naive answer. Yes."
           "Let's go. Thanks! Cash on the counter!"
           "Cash?"
           "Not unusual in a neighborhood like this. A lot of day labor gets paid in cash. It makes it easy for people like our unfriends to operate, but it also makes it easier for warehouses and such to do their books. Day labor is earnings taxed and they get a slip they can file for the tax credit at the end of the year."
           "So nine people, total amount, and two percent tax on total, instead of nine employment records submitted, nine income tax brackets marked, full deductions figured, nine accounts credited and so forth."
           "Exactly. They might need nine for six days and four might work all six. The two percent on gross earnings is more than enough to cover all but the highest brackets."
           "And they wouldn't be likely to be doing day labor. I think I should."
           "What?"
           "I should see how people in neighborhoods like this live, or how MOST people live. I went from ship, to gov center, to training, to ship, to our beautiful home. I've never really been IN a neighborhood like this, Danton. Just peeking through a few windows doesn't tell me what it's really like."
           "Agreed. I'll schedule it in your training, IF we get through tonight. One door, but this wall could hold another. I'll make one. When I do, go through that one fast and low."
           "Would a three second smoke-screen assist?"
           "Yes, but go left so you don't bump into me before I see it's you. There's one large chair and a table two meters left, one out, from the door. Another just like it a meter farther in. The right will be busier. Don't dally over that way long."
           "Understood. This will be noisy."
           "Since I'm blowing a hole in the wall, I expect it."
           "Ready."
           Danton blew in the wall and Kev blew up the door. He found one person while the 'smoke' hung. When it cleared, he dove across the room. The right was busier. When Danton suddenly went down, something snapped in him. He would never truly remember the next few moments clearly. They would forever remain a blur of action and terror that Danton was dead. He had to get rid of hindrances to get to him to check. It didn't take long.
           He gasped in relief and looked around. The place must be cleared of secrets and them fast. He hurt for Sont. One of those Danton killed had been her aide. He found the safe, blew it open, threw in four acid capsules and closed it. If there had been things they could have used, he wouldn't have had time to look for them and there was too much to carry elsewhere to sort through. He surprised himself when he smashed the tight beam transmitter with his fist. He tossed an acid capsule into the comp data store unit, then lifted Danton onto his shoulder and went up the fire stairs. He ran back down six flights and left a blood trail up to the floor where they'd taken the spies, then carefully checked to see they hadn't left one going up.
           "Unh."
           "Hey, Danton. We got them all."
           "Fainer and Sherdy."
           "Sont's aide and Lowden's secretary. Even we didn't suspect. Danton, I'm worried. Those two SHOULD have been at that function tonight. I think Swede's a target, but everyone else there may be as well."
           "I wish I didn't agree. Get to a comm, Kev. Do a bomb threat and get the place cleared."
           "Oh, terrific. Danton, I don't want to leave you here alone."
           "Don't you think you'd be more noticeable carrying me to a comm booth?"
           "Be right back. I hope this works."
           Danton gasped when Kev leapt off the roof, then realized he was hearing a strand of microfilament zipping across the roof edge. He hoped it worked too. Eight floors was a long drop. He heard a click and realized the zip was slowing. Kev would come down the last few meters gently. He hoped.
           Kev found a public comm, put a finger over the cam and asked for Fleet security. He couldn't bring himself to actually make a bomb threat.
           "A nest of spies went down. Clear that function. A bomb may have been why two weren't attending. Out."
           He was surprised to see Danton leaning against a wall on his way back. There were a lot of people watching a large number of police. Danton was being one of them.
           "Nice gadget. I found the rewind and gripper release. Found out one should be careful how one holds the bottom when rewinding to collect the top. It almost put a dent in me. I dropped it JUST in time."
           "I'll work on it. Dropped just in time is the only thing I've come up with other than a VERY padded glove or case. You still need carrying."
           "Yeah, but if you get the car, I can make it to it. Glad we brought the heap. The others would really stick out in this neighborhood."
           "Which, of course, is why we did bring it."
           "Of course. Police coming this way. I'm waiting for a ride to work. You."
           Danton watched Kev slip into the shadows and smiled. An hour before, he'd been noticeable. Now, he was just another shadow. He slouched against the wall and watched the police officer approach with interest. She was very nice looking.
           "Hi, pretty police. What went boom loud enough to boot me out of the shower and have me running for a duty station sans anything? Been embarrassing to hit the front door before I realized I wasn't on my old ship."
           Her smile told him his story and his smile both pleased her. A piece of him noted he was healing. He was very pleased they did.
           "Someone just took apart a spy ring, we think. REAL messy. Must have been a troop of them. We're looking for them, of course, but I'm not looking hard."
           "I know that one. Spies, huh? Well, I'm glad there are a few less rats gnawing on us."
           "This wasn't a few. We've got seventeen bodies."
           "What?! Oh, there's my ride. Damn, wish... Well, goodnight."
           Danton made it the three steps to the car, climbed in, then fell unconscious when they got around the corner. Kev didn't wait til they got home to work on him. He pulled out the 'kit' he'd put in Heap the day after they were married and performed an 'in-depth patch job' on a picnic table in a nearby park, by the light of a street lamp filtering through trees and two moons. He used his hand torch only long enough to bind one deep blood vessel. He didn't even bother trying a binder on the stab wound in Danton's side. He just stitched it. When he got him back in the car, he made a decision and called Swede.
           "Comm, Fleet Headquarters, Admiral Swede."
           "Sir, Admiral Swede is not near a comm."
           "Get one near him, please. This is Kev Holiday and it's family."
           "One is being delivered at this moment, Sir."
           "Kev. I was NEVER an officer. I threatened Swede with desertion if he made me one."
           "Yes, Kev, I do know how you feel. The admiral is coming on line. Fleet Comm out."
           "What's up?"
           "Outside?"
           "Yeah, a bomb may be the reason."
           "Yipe! Danton and I are in town. He's out like a light so HE'S no fun. Say we take a suite at the Shern Hotel and you and I hit the all night spa and rec complex."
           "He stayed up with the boys last night."
           "He would have probably done it again if we'd stayed home. Tibbs said he could handle four with sniffles just fine, thank you, but I think he appreciated last night off."
           "The boys are all getting over it?"
           "Would Danton and I have been booted out if they weren't? So, the Shern?"
           "Oh, hell, why not? I'll slip down to Fencer and Tiress streets and you pick me up. It'll tickle Sont we're out of the house together."
           "Be there in five. Out. Comm, Shern Hotel."
           "The Shern Hotel and recreation complex, may we help you?"
           "Hi, hope you've got a suite for three on a spur of the moment mini-vacation."
           "I've got connecting rooms or a large suite."
           "How large?"
           "Big enough for eight. The penthouse is the only suite available. Its gorgeous and worth the extra cost. It has a nice bar and a nice spa."
           "How MUCH extra?"
           "Two-twenty a night and two rooms is one-eighteen."
           "Definitely the suite. Three days, I think. No, make it five. I want to do some shopping and just get out awhile. Register it in the name Kev Holiday. Open your input and I'll key a credit transfer."
           "Open."
           "There. Ooh, I'd better put some more credit in that account or shopping will be brief. Maybe I'll just protest I'm broke and talk Swede into paying."
           "Is that Admiral Swede?"
           "Shh, I'm kidnapping him from that long speech-making billed as a banquet and getting him out for some fun. Our cohort decided his idea of fun is a NAP already. Private lift from the garage?"
           "No, but number three goes all the way up. Your account code was auto-entered as your door code. You may change it on first entry merely by entering another code."
           "Thanks. Out."
           "Oh, I'm sure I'm alive. I hurt. We are?"
           "On our way to get Swede, then to the Shern Funplex. We're taking a mini-vacation."
           "Tibbs will... He won't need us."
           "He'll call if he does. Which reminds me... "
           "The residence."
           "Fancy answer, Tibbs. I like. I've decided we need a break and you need a break from hovering daddies. Can you handle five days of us not completely staying away, but being scarce?"
           "Certainly. It's about time you took time off."
           "The Shern sound like a good place to do it?"
           "Excellent. I shall call if you're needed, or desperately missed."
           "I know you will. I think it's good for the boys too."
           "Yes, Kev, it is. Residence out."
           "He knows something happened."
           "Of course, but he knows we got through it. There's Swede."
           "Hi, glad I didn't believe five minutes. How bad?"
           "I'm fine."
           "Quiet, Danton. How bad is he, Kev?"
           "He has a knack for locating sharp metal objects and his eyes may uncross in a couple days after the lump on his head starts going down. I've got a list. We're staying at the Shern five days and one, or both, of us are going to be other places as well."
           "No."
           "Quiet, Danton. Where'd you get the list, Kev?"
           "From the pocket of the covalls I shoved Danton into to hide he was covered with blood. Since four names on it can now be crossed off, it's shorter."
           "There were seventeen there, Swede. Fainer and Sherdy were among them."
           "All dead?"
           "Very. I made sure."
           "The lights went out on me early."
           "I didn't deal with seventeen, Danton. I didn't count them either."
           "It's going to hit the news. You can't dodge the number, Kev, but don't watch the casts. The 'troop' which did it are being looked for, but 'not hard,' as the pretty police officer said. How do you plan on getting us in unnoticed?"
           "We have the penthouse. Straight lift from the garage. Anyone gets on, two workmen stand behind the admiral and aren't even noticed."
           "Sounds good. Ooh."
           "We'll get you flat in a minute. There's the parking entrance."
           Kev put his account code in the panel in front of the barrier and it lifted smoothly. The prompt had instructed he use key code and, so far, that was it. Penthouse parking was for four vehicles and clearly marked. He didn't park in it.
           They rode number three lift up and no one else got on. The two of them gently undressed and bathed Danton, then tucked him in. He chuckled softly and fell asleep. It worried Swede a bit.
           "The head blow wasn't that bad, Swede. The concussion is mild. His body needs the rest to rebuild. Besides, asleep he isn't hurting."
           "And you?"
           "I smashed a transmitter with my hand and cut myself. I lost just enough blood to leave a false trail. Now we need to make a showing among the revelers. Our story is Danton did so dumb we decided he needed a break. No one will know how deep that wound is and we'll tease he has stitches because his doctor gets tired of doing bindings because he forgets he's hurt. He'll protest he's fine and we'll put him on a lounge in the sun and say, 'Stay.' He'll have five days of 'lazing around' and be in reasonably good shape to go home."
           "You don't think people here will know how bad he's hurt?"
           "No. Badly hurt people don't stay in fancy hotels and laze by the pool and bar. People who need a break from their kids do."
           "Did dumb?"
           "He KNOWS the right way to carry scissors while walking. We think maybe sleepwalking is more apt and he won't stay up with the kids five MORE nights. Coughs and sneezes are down to sniffles and he obviously needs a rest."
           "Damn!"
           "Bomb was real, not maybe."
           "Comm! Fleet Headquarters Security. This is Admiral Swede."
           "Sir!"
           "I sneaked out and figured I'd better check in, Flase. Bomb drill obviously wasn't. Anyone hurt?"
           "No, Sir. The bomb squad got a cap on the explosion."
           "That was CAPPED?!"
           "Yes, Sir. Uncapped, it would have taken most of the west half of headquarters complex."
           "They'd have wiped out half the fleet officers above the rank of lieutenant."
           "That seems to have been the intent, Sir. Someone on our side finished off the ones who planted that thing and warned us."
           "We have some who do watch over us well."
           "Yes, Sir, we sure do. Admiral Sont wants on-line. Sergeant Flase out."
           "Swede?"
           "Here, Sont. Am I needed?"
           "No."
           "Sont, what's wrong?"
           "Fainer and Sherdy are dead."
           "I thought no one was hurt!"
           "They weren't here, Swede. They were both 'sick' and both with a nest of rats who seemed to have run into a very large cat."
           "I heard seventeen... A very large cat. Sont, I'm sorry."
           "You tried to get me to get another aide, Swede. I didn't listen."
           "I just thought Fainer threw the weight of YOUR rank around a little too much. I didn't suspect this."
           "I don't think anyone did. You are?"
           "At the Shern like I said I'd be. Sont, get me leave for five or six. Danton did dumb and hurt himself and Kev shoved him in the car and said, 'Break time.' He needs one just as bad or he wouldn't have paid for the penthouse for five nights. They've been stuck at home for too long."
           "They've been 'stuck' since Kev brought Tanner back and it's high time they GOT out. Danton?"
           "Knows the RIGHT way to carry scissors while walking and Kev's sewing got a few stitches more practice. He says it's pointless to use a binder on Danton, he'd forget he had a hole and pull it apart. He's not hurt too bad for Kev to shove in a car and bring here."
           "Hi, Sont. Swede and I need some relaxation. Danton needs REST. The boys all had colds and he did not sleep when they did. The hole in his side MAY serve as a reminder he doesn't function well without it. He wouldn't slow down at home. I think he will here."
           "Sounds like the right medicine to me, Kev. Scissors. He has a knack for finding sharp metal objects."
           "And doing it abruptly. Swede out."
           "So, strip to briefs and let's join the crowd at the pool and spa."
           "Which is why you came here."
           "Yes, we all wear sports briefs under and here they fit in until we can pick up clothes. You'll have to get me a first set. It's not my blood, Swede, and not much of it's Danton's."
           "What did you use for a weapon on that mission?"
           "The knife I took away from the person who stabbed Danton. She wasn't going to use it anymore. I have a couple scorches. There were a couple beams that got REAL close. Check if they're too obvious for me to go down."
           "Hand me the anesthesthetic spray. You'd start noticing this one as soon as you really relaxed. Here. Put on my shirt and roll up the sleeves. It's way too big, but covers a very ugly red mark on your back. Probably start a fashion. Let's go. Tell me about your list."
           "The original is gone, but someone held onto it long enough for me to find it. Seven names we know, but have wondered about, one which we haven't and four Tom Cat clawed off. The eight are in Fadon City."
           "There and back how?"
           "We're going flyer shopping. I want a family transport too. The boys need clothes. And so forth. We take flyers for a half day and 'just wander' a little. We get done as fast as possible and buy the one of two, three or four we like best. Day is our best time."
           "And how do we get them out from among people?"
           "We warn them and wait til they run out of their holes."
           "Sounds good. Hey, I like this."
           "I thought you would. Tanner did. She and I were headed here the day we met Tinse."
           "Ow?"
           "Less hurt and more smile in every memory."
           "Me too. Oh, I'm SURE I'm better."
           "Me too. I think we're ALL beginning to notice half the people are shaped differently again."
           "I sure am. Drink?"
           "Yes."
           The two played in the casino a while, then spent a few minutes in the spa in the suite. Swede 'tucked Kev in', then went to reassure Danton he'd gotten him relaxed enough to sleep, so he'd go back to sleep. He smiled as he walked toward his room and softly said, "Tanner, my life is filled with love. I'll always miss you, but I'll never be lonely again."
           In the morning, Danton was much better, but not pleased with their plans. They took him, protesting, down to the pool complex, put him on a lounger and ordered three breakfasts. Twenty minutes later, the Funplex Boutique opened and they bought a few items. Ten minutes later, now reasonably dressed, they went flyer shopping.
           The salesperson didn't mind the admiral asking to test run the flyer. He understood he might like to take it for a good try and maybe stop by his rural home to see what his family thought. They raced for Fadon City along the commercial flyer course and didn't have to file flight plan or destination. They did have to watch they weren't run down by the 'big boys.'
           Kev made a call, said, "Miaow" and they waited. When the first name on their list ran out, Swede pulled his service pistol and they marked a name off. Kev dropped a kitty cut out from a child's playbook on the name's car and they walked away. The name was under it.
           They made three more calls that day and crossed off three more names. If any of the three hadn't run, they wouldn't have gone looking. It was because "Miaow" made them run, Swede and Kev knew they belonged on the list. They returned the flyer in the early afternoon, asked lots of questions, took the salesperson's name and went transport shopping.
           Kev proudly drove a "family car" into the hotel lot and parked in the penthouse space. The transport was his first car. Swede decided he should have one just for him. He'd been driving his for two years. One of his own was obviously in order. Danton agreed, and laughingly told Swede if he saw an extra, he could use a new one too. Swede left the pool, checked his finances and grinned. No problem. He just hadn't spent much in two years.
           That night they played again. Kev borrowed enough for a few casino chips, then won enough to pay for his own car. He paid Swede back for the family wagon. Swede just grinned.
           The next morning they 'looked' at another flyer. They made four calls, but six people ran. Since the two extras were running with one of the names, they were crossed off as well. Kev really didn't feel like shopping. One of the two extras had been a woman with three small children. He'd monitored her playing with them in a park. He knew she'd been leaving them. She'd had a travel pass for one to Fielding in her hand. Swede pitched him in a pool as they walked by and sat down by Danton to worry.
           "Baily Fore. Ticket bye-bye in hand. For one."
           "Oh, lord. He is?"
           "Wet. I figured that was a start."
           "Drunk?"
           "I was thinking about getting him bombed and in a brawl."
           "Watch the brawl. He's MORE deadly than I am."
           "Sure he is. You're both pussycats. You only use your claws on vermin. You're toasting nicely. You're being transferred to shade. Kev!"
           Kev laughed and ran. He tossed the bucket he'd used to drench Swede, with water from the cold plunge, to the cute girl he'd borrowed it from on the way by. He glanced back and yelped. Swede was definitely gaining. Then he realized he'd stopped chasing him and started looking for why. He was lying on the lawn, with the cute girl sitting on him, and laughing too hard to get up if he'd wanted to.
           "He ALMOST stepped on me."
           "She got... I had to DIVE over her. She had a... PAD out for me to land on."
           "He almost missed it. I'm Chella Savino. I know who you guys are. Fun. How do I meet gorgeous in the easy chair and WHAT did he do to himself?"
           "Walking around with scissors in one's hand while too groggy to hold them properly is NOT something he recommends. He's stitched because tissue binding is pointless. He says 'Oops. I'm fine,' and his physician swears. So, he gets stitches and planted in an 'easy chair' until he GETS the rest he's been missing."
           "May I get up now?"
           "Oh, sorry?"
           "Come to think of it, so am I. Come on. We'll introduce you to Danton Lamb."
           "Fleet?"
           "No, Kev. I work for Barton Music. Sounds plebeian, but my job is find music the boys and girls out there want and need."
           "I think you do important. I did four years on patrol. The music broadcasts really make a difference. I could nearly always find one that suited my mood."
           "I find artists to make recordings, hoping they'll suit the programmers. I've got a pretty good track record. Hi."
           "Danton, Chella Savino. She has a unique way of asking for an introduction."
           "I noticed, Swede. Hi, Chella. Pull up a chair. I'd get it, but they yell if I wiggle."
           "I heard you have a too close acquaintance with scissors."
           "Groan. Kev did you have to tell her the story? Couldn't you think up something heroic instead?"
           "Nah, who'd believe it? Dumb, they all do."
           "Oh, THANK you. Swede, go pour a pitcher of Terba Thunders down him for me."
           "Now wait a minute, Danton. Just because you did something dumb doesn't mean I'm going to. I've HAD hangovers."
           "Yeah, two of them."
           "See, Swede? I'm not dumb."
           "I'll get four glasses and bring it back."
           "You could go help him carry, Kev."
           "All right. I know when I'm superfluous. Hey, Swede! Frozen!"
           "Frozen? Hmm, sounds interesting. You get on a comm and check her out. I hope she's legit."
           "Me too, but that trick was a bit TOO neat."
           Kev was delighted Chella checked out. He even learned why the trick had been so neat. She'd been a gymnastics 'star' until she'd gone in the navy. She'd done one tour, then gone to work for Barton, which was owned by her aunts, and she did have a good track record. He briefed Swede while they carried the frosty concoction back to Danton and Chella.
           Danton enjoyed Chella's company and Kev watched in delight. Swede surreptitiously kept his glass brimming. Chella noticed, but didn't say anything.
           "Swede!"
           "Oops. He caught me, Danton."
           "Sooner or later he had to notice, Swede. I'd have given even odds it would be when he stood and fell down."
           "Et tu, Chella. Why are you guys trying to get me drunk? Since you're obviously going to succeed, may I know what I've done to deserve being miserable tomorrow?"
           "Well, we're not sure, Kev, but since we both had it in mind and ARE sure it's appropriate, you'll be miserable."
           "I surrender, but no more of these. I'll be blotto in an hour and sick in an hour and two minutes. Let's go to the casino, Swede. I'll choose simpler poisons and work my way to blotto MUCH more gradually, thank you. I'll never argue a prescription you're sure of, but I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow."
           "You three are married."
           "Yes, it's no secret. War does strange things to all families. The woman we all loved gave each of us and her lost love a child. On a world that has a falling population, I was the only one who had children. We need those genes, and we three needed her children. Our marriage is based on love, but its function is to provide security for them. I'm just glad we carefully left fidelity out of the vows. We'd have a real problem otherwise."
           Chella laughed and decided she owed Tagget a large personal favor. It had been a personal suggestion she meet Admiral Swede's family, not work related. Of course, she'd do some real looking around while she was there, for both her jobs. Tagget was smug about what was happening on Tosca. She wanted the scum working for Beska off Fielding. She needed to know how whoever was cleaning Tosca got information. She wouldn't learn, but she'd start receiving information. Danton had long ago figured out who she was. The Tom Cat sized up the Shadow and thought her very nice. He'd always liked shadows.
           Kev liked strolling down First Street with Swede, both of them barefoot, in swim briefs and rolled sleeve, open, white formal shirts. Swede's shirts weren't small on Swede. On Kev, one was nearly a burnoose. Swede was sure Kev was setting a style. He saw heads turn and women sigh. Some were for him, but more were for Kev.
           First Street had no vehicular traffic. It ran along the waterfront for two K and people played there. The austerity of war was evident, but not overwhelming. The four worlds were a very good trade alliance. They'd had everything the four of them needed and a nice surplus to trade with other worlds. They still managed to produce what they needed.
           They were recognized, of course, but no one was impolite. Kev was following his ears and dancing down the street. Swede grinned. They were developing a following, and for once, he wasn't worried about it. He knew exactly what the motive of every follower was.
           "Oh, YES! This music! She must hear this music!"
           Swede knew who and what he meant, but he wasn't sure about the music. When Kev leapt on a railing and ran for the dance floor on it, Swede yelled and leapt tables, chairs and people to keep up with him. He just made it in time to be there when Kev ran out of railing. He dropped into his arms and Swede set him on his feet.
           "See? I KNEW you wanted to dance to this. Welcome to the dance floor!"
           "I've been had!"
           "Yep! Dance, bean pole!"
           "Shrimp!"
           It wasn't long before Kev saw a table with five women around it and they beckoned them onto the dance floor. Three came quickly. The others didn't lag far behind.
           They danced. Kev did get drunk, but it took a while. They ended up at a bar frequented by the military and Kev did end up in a brawl. He decided to break it up. Swede let him work at it awhile, then stepped out of the shadows, whistled shrilly, lifted Kev out of the middle of what was suddenly no longer a melee and spoke softly.
           "Friendly brawl over, boys and girls. Somebody picked up a glass to use as a weapon. Stop and remember these are all your mates up there or down here. We're in this together. You got the pent-up need to fight back out of your systems. TENDER! A round on me! Don't push the alcohol. I'll tip better if there's more fruit juice or coffee ordered. Don't ANY of you drive home. That IS an order."
           "Gee, you're good, Swede. I wasn't getting ANYwhere trying to stop it."
           "You were rapidly reducing the number of participants, Kev. One person just had too much hurt to be playing a rough game."
           "Um, Swede?"
           "Yes?"
           "Night."
           Swede didn't catch him. He just folded up. He winced when his head hit the floor with a thud. He smiled, reached down, picked him up and walked back to the hotel with him over his shoulder.
           Danton would be healed enough to go shopping for a short while the next day. They need only find a flyer and the right two cars. Kev could drive his "family car." Swede knew exactly where to take them.
           In the morning, Swede worked on Kev's hangover. He made him eat and eat slowly. Then he took him back to the spa and "boiled" him in the steam room. When he ordered him a massage, Kev forgave him everything.
           Danton was delighted with the "car" Kev proudly showed him, and more delighted when he found all twelve seats reclined and any or all could be removed easily. Kev drove to the flyer dealerships. They decided on the first flyer they'd flown. Swede surprised them both by signing a note on it. They were sure they could have paid cash and avoided the interest.
           Swede gave directions to a great sandwich place and they 'drove through.' They parked in a nice little parking area, opened the side door and "picnicked." Swede informed them he had a friend close by he hadn't seen in some time and gave Kev directions to get there.
           "Wow! This is where you got Flirt!"
           "And Bossy and Kipsie. I haven't been here in ages. Deren!"
           "Swede! About TIME you stuck your nose in. Want to see a cutie?"
           "Want to see them all! Look around, guys. I'm headed for the shop to see the kids. Be back. Deren, this spree is for them. They NEED cars. They've been driving mine for two plus years. They love them, but it's not the same. If this is more than I can afford, it will be worth it. Watch for love."
           "Swede, I already see it. I do have to admit you being married to two men is still a bit confusing."
           "How else could I be in the position to give them cars? If we weren't married the navy would definitely look into it. Hiya, gang!"
           Swede said hello to the crew known to build and maintain the best custom cars in Deccatown. He didn't stay to chat. They were busy. They also built and maintained ambulances.
           Swede and Deren went from car to car, discussed them and left doors and engine covers standing open. Danton, of course, sat down in one and leaned a seat back first. Swede watched to see if it was 'love' or weariness which had caused it. When he saw Danton run a finger around the console, he knew. Deren nodded and the 'sweet' little dark blue coupe with snowy interior had a new owner. Swede wished Danton could drive it to the hotel, but he doubted he was ready yet.
           Kev climbed over, under, around and through every car. None of them really seemed to interest him more than the others. It wasn't until he took him in the shop that Swede realized why. Kev was excited to meet the team who'd built Flirt. He already loved a car.
           "Deren, I'm going to trade Bossy and Kipsie, give Kev Flirt to assuage my guilty conscience, buy that coupe for Danton and that JEWEL over there for me!"
           "I can give you a reasonable trade for Bossy and Kipsie and deliver Scarletta in two days. She's NOT done."
           "I'll wait. I won't even sit on your doorstep. I promise."
           "You have done that before. Let's go talk about what's a reasonable trade. I doubt we have the same figure in mind."
           "Oh, we'll find one to agree on."
           "You'll talk me into GIVING you my piece of those cars. You always do."
           "Hey, Kev, blink so we know you're there."
           "He just gave me Flirt, Gina."
           "Yeah, he knows REAL love when he hears it. So, want to see the design work up for her? I did it."
           "Wow! Yes! Yes, please, yes. She's gorgeous! I remember the first time I ever drove her. Tanner... She has wonderful memories for me."
           "And she is one nice car."
           "Yes, yes, yes."
           Danton sighed. Swede had told him he was giving away Flirt, trading the other two and buying one, but he was getting a little tired. He raised the seat, used the pre-coded key setting, turned on the playback unit, chose music from the catalog, programmed it, set it properly for where his ears would be and lowered the seat back. He just had time to smile because he'd programmed the speakers perfectly before he fell asleep. Kev knocked on the office door and Swede swung it open and grinned.
           "Find a cam, Swede. I want a picture for the boys. Caption: Daddy Danton chooses his new car a little differently than most would."
           "Oh, I like it. Got a camera, Deren?"
           "Yes, and I'll take your last offer."
           "You're a softie, Deren, I recommend you to everybody. I tell them you're a softie."
           "And they talk me to a ruinous price as well. Camera. I'll take one of you two with him. Then another when you tell him it's his. Your sons will really like that one. My boys would like something like that of me."
           "Swede, he is a softie."
           "I tell everyone I know. Hey, Danton."
           "Ready to go?"
           "Yeah, but we have to plan this."
           "I thought the car wasn't ready, Swede."
           "Wasn't... Oh, no, that car isn't. We just need to know if you feel up to driving yours."
           "Mine?"
           "He had to buy it, Danton. They don't rent it by the hour for naps."
           "He said MY car, Kev."
           "Actually he said YOUR car. Yoo hoo, you're loved. You got a present. It's pretty blue and comfy."
           "Mine! It's... mine. Thank you. Oh, thank you, Swede. Can we afford this?"
           "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
           "I've heard that line... somewhere."
           "I've heard others use it. I don't know where it comes from, but it was apt. Happy... something, my friend."
           "I want to, but I know I shouldn't. I hope I'll feel like driving her home."
           "You drive, Swede. DON'T lose me. Danton, do you want to ride in this or with me."
           "In this. I'm not letting Swede loose with MY new car. At least not until I've driven it. Besides, this way he won't forget you're following."
           "Swede, I just need a signature. I took care of registration and such in the usual way. I commed Sunder and told her to do it. She reminds you to clear alarms and key codes before you return Bossy and Kipsie. Now, Danton, this is the moment I like best. Here, Swede, you get this picture. Careful not to catch his entries. Danton, I am clearing the dealers' precode. Put in YOUR key code."
           "It's... mine."
           "Oh, I remember that feeling."
           "Me too. Swede, I LIKE the family car."
           "But you LOVE Flirt."
           "Yes, yes, yes, yes. Be careful with HIS car."
           "He'll make me be careful."
           That evening, Danton was tired, but Kev was bouncing with energy and he knew exactly what and who Chella should hear. Danton noted he and Swede were always willing to squire around a lady if he was too incapacitated to do it himself. Chella liked all three soft smiles when he said it.
           She did like the music, both bands Kev liked, and dancing with Swede and Kev. They enjoyed dancing with her. Swede drank a bit more than he'd intended. Dancing was thirsty work. He made it back to the hotel before he got silly. Admirals were not supposed to get silly in public. When he woke up in the morning, he was very surprised.
           "Good morning."
           "Uh, yeah. Good morning, Kev."
           "About two hours before dawn, you came in, told me you were a teddy bear, climbed in, curled up around me and went to sleep. I giggled myself back to sleep about ten minutes later. You were feeling so CUDDLY."
           "Oh, help. Oh, my head. I don't do this. Ow."
           "I'll treat you to the same treatment you got me. Come on. Get up."
           "I told you I was a teddy bear?"
           "Yes. Oh, you do not look well. Breakfast first. Hi, Danton."
           "Oh, my, he doesn't look happy."
           "Well, waking up in MY bed was a bit of a shock."
           "What?!"
           "Groan, I will never hear the end of this."
           "He told me he's a teddy bear and he was lonesome."
           "Why, Swede, you DO blush."
           "Never hear the end of it."
           "The only problem was the hair on his chest tickled my neck. Other than that I was warm and comfy."
           "Oh, help me get functional THEN tease. I'm defenseless right now. My brain is pickled."
           Kev fed, 'boiled,' then had Swede massaged. The masseur joked he should charge half over usual. Swede told him to apply the extra from Kev's massage. Kev said he was obviously functional. They rejoined Danton and all three fell asleep in the late morning sun.
           "My mommy says you're pink and should wake up."
           "Your mommy is right. I'm Kev. Who are you?"
           "Sary. That's my mommy."
           Kev followed the little girl over to her mommy. He wanted to say thank you and he had a question to ask.
           "Hi, I'm Kev... Tanner. Thank you for sending Sary to wake me. I heard my nose sizzling when I woke up."
           "Verny. Sit down. Why the hesitation?"
           "You caught that. I've been Kev Tanner for nearly three years but never really used it much."
           "Tanner was a great pilot."
           "Verny! Pilot posting nine-three!"
           "Hiya, Kev. You didn't recognize me even when I told you my name."
           "You let your hair grow, changed the color, and you're plump in a NICE place. Pitch?"
           "He went to cruiser duty. I came home to Yulan. I hear you have FOUR boys. Swap stories?"
           "Oh, I'd love to. What are you doing here? I mean this hotel."
           "I always stay here when I come in to shop. Our co-op is a long way out. I couldn't drag Yulan this time. Everyone else was hanging on. He's their trader and they've got a surplus. He had to stay to help them find who needed it most. They're good people. Sixteen families and all good friends."
           "We're here to shop too. So far we've bought a flyer and a vehicle big enough for us all. It's great. Seats TWELVE. All the seats but the driver's come out."
           "Kev if you start giving me its specs, I'm going to say, 'Out,' just like I used to."
           "Old days. We also bought two sportscars. Swede gave me the one I love and found one for himself. Then he bought one for Danton. You should have SEEN his face."
           "Tanner had great taste in men."
           "She did at that. Anyway, we NEED other things. Where do you buy Sary's clothes? That's great. I want to shop some other way than by comp."
           "I'll make you a list. Deccatown subtown is a wonderful place to shop."
           "I've never been down there."
           "Oh, Kev, the sheltered market is wonderful and it's a nice feeling to know you ARE safe."
           "I live so far out I don't even think about it."
           "Most of the people you see have run for the market as refuge several times. Many remember hunting loved ones in rubble. Go and see why they love the market. I'm surprised you haven't been there. Here... Somewhere in this bag... A map! You can grab one of these at every entrance. I'll give you this one and get another. Now, this is the entrance I use."
           Verny and Pitch had only been on station for three months after Kev and Tanner took theirs, but he'd enjoyed their every-other day "get-togethers" when their patrol passes brought them in comm range. Verny told him all the best places to shop and he got ready.
           He carefully removed, and had the hotel store, the nine unneeded seats. If they were going shopping, he wanted room for packages. He checked his bank account and went to the casino. If he lost some, he lost. If he won, he'd do lots of shopping. He left the casino an hour later with a wide smile. He'd felt lucky. He'd do lots of shopping.
           Swede and Danton were wondering where he'd gone when he got back. He said he'd been organizing a shopping spree and the last stop had been the casino because they'd need money. It was so nice of them to give it to him.
           They followed him to the garage and he took them shopping. First stop was a nice men's shop. They actually had clothes to fit Swede. Verny had promised they would. He was delighted. He didn't even bother to look in shops. He just comp ordered. Kev threw everything he looked at in a pile and handed him piece after piece to try on. When he was done, Kev had most of the original pile on the counter. Swede sorted through and put some things back. He and Kev still made two trips back in to get everything. Kev and Danton were also wearing new clothes and some of the containers were theirs.
           Kev assessed Danton's strength, then took them to the sheltered market. Both had been there before, but neither in a long time. Kev carefully followed Verny's plan. Danton would tire soon so he took them to the "best" children's shops first. They had a wonderful time and sent large stacks of items to the loading dock for pick up, but it was when they got to the toy store that they went crazy. Swede on a child's pedal toy was an amazing sight.
           The boys got furniture, pull toys, teddy bears, riding toys, balls, books and xylophones. Danton exerted some control. They didn't buy things recommended for children over six. Except for one thing, they were done. Kev led them to the pet store.
           Danton wasn't really sure about the shopkeeper's statement the large young cat wouldn't hunt, but was assured it was a trained behavior, the cat's mother didn't, and he'd never been taught. He also told Danton inside at night. He was a house cat and a pet. He was not a farm cat let run loose to keep vermin down. Danton smiled and said cats that reduced rodent populations were the type he was most familiar with. The black and white cat decided the issue when he curled up in his lap and purred.
           Danton commed the hotel and held a cat in camera range when Chella answered. He explained a delivery run home was suddenly unnecessary. He'd miss their scheduled dinner time, but if she was interested in a glass of wine in their suite, he'd like it. The cat, Tommy, chose that moment to clean Danton's ear. Chella laughed, said she did understand and she'd like the wine.
           Unloading was a wild game. The four toddlers squealed and raced back and forth after their daddies. None of them got stepped on. When the furniture, riding toys and packages were all out, Kev showed them the car. Each was lifted to see the engine and got to sit on Kev's lap and look at the controls, but it was the wild wrestling match he had with them in the large interior that made it their car. The last thing they were given was Tommy. He strolled around the nursery, explored all the beds, located his box in the lavatory, climbed into one of the big chairs, curled up and purred. Four little hands learned to pet a kitty. After four little boys were tucked in and read to sleep, their daddies drove back to town. Danton slept on the way.
           Chella listened to Danton's story of shopping and had a glass of wine with him, but she didn't stay long. She could see he was tired. She'd begun to realize the wound he had wasn't minor at all and he tired fast because his body was working hard at healing it. When she got ready to leave, she asked Kev. He put a finger to his lips and nodded.
           "He doesn't do things by halves. It's deep, but he's healing fast. He always does. He walked around for a good three hours today. I'm tired and I didn't do dumb. We needed this break. Swede's felt like somebody painted a target on him lately and the boys were sick and... We needed a break. Danton's dumb said, 'NOW.' Swede snuck out on a reception and they found a bomb there that would have taken half of headquarters. Then... "
           "Someone put a real dent in available assassins and you all relaxed more than you have in ages. You were also ready to meet people again."
           "Swede couldn't just stay home, but Danton and I did. Swede does when he can. He rather wanted to stay there tonight, I think."
           "Probably. Let me see if I can organize something for tomorrow night where Swede can show you two off a little. He's proud of his family and that's you. I signed those kids and they're due a debut and introduction. You and I and the admiral will show society how to dance to their music."
           "Don't ask him to wear a uniform."
           "Definitely not. I like the rolled sleeve shirts. Say in silk with nice pants?"
           "I DID start a style."
           "Every oversize shirt in town has a new home, but they aren't dressy."
           "Yet. I know JUST the tailor for the job."
           "Turn heads and make people bump into each other tomorrow night, Kev."
           "Oh, we shall try. Goodnight."
           Early in the morning Kev put in a call. He modeled Swede's white shirt so she could see the proportions said "silk" with nice pants and do whatever she thought tasteful and appropriate for the "high society" debut of a hot pop band. She laughed and said she had ideas.
           When the outfits came, they had everything with them. Swede looked at the white loose pants with the cuffs that buttoned below the knee, the high lace sandals, the wide gold torc for his neck and the red sash for his waist a bit dubiously. Then he put them on and added the white silk shirt with red buttons, but no button holes. He decided Jacka Dirne was a genius.
           Danton's pants were skin tight, laced at the calf and pale blue. His shoes were a low moccasin and white. So was his sash. He hung the thick red gold chain around his neck, pulled on the dark blue silk shirt with white buttons and decided Jacka Dirne was a genius.
           Kev wasn't sure about how he was going to look. He started with the several slender silver chains of different lengths, then put on the tight midnight blue pants than reached his ankles. He laced on the soft white boots which reached up to mid calf. He tied the white sash around his waist, then put on the silver circlet she said went on his head. When he added the red shirt with blue and white buttons, the outfit came together and he smiled.
           Danton came in with a problem before Kev left his room. They looked each other over and grinned. They weren't dressed alike. Even the shirt styles were slightly different.
           "The stitches are driving me crazy. They ITCH."
           "They may be ready to come out. Probably shouldn't yet, but I'll look. All right, I'll take them out and put a bandage on, but you MUST be careful. You're not fully healed."
           "If I was, I wouldn't need a nap about every four hours. Yow!"
           "Just four more."
           "Ooh, they do sting. Oh, boy, look at YOU. Very nice, Swede."
           "Look at US. That doesn't look ready, Kev."
           "He was about to go after them with teeth and nails. I think he believes a bandage will be less noticeable."
           "My shirt hides it pretty well anyway. It does feel better. I don't feel like I'm being pulled into a fold. They get so tight feeling. Mmm, nice salve, even smells good."
           "It's a plant sap with the major ingredient nice salves have. It feels good. Has healing properties, they say. I just know it'll prevent itching where I pulled the stitches."
           "The same stuff you used on Tibb's burnt fingers?"
           "The same, Swede. There are a bunch of medicinal plants I'd like to grow."
           "I'll build you a greenhouse and plant beds."
           "Thanks, Danton. Just remember to be careful tonight."
           "I will. I promise."
           They were a hit at the debut. Swede, of course, knew practically everyone and all knew who he was. Chella smiled and watched as he proudly introduced his husbands. Nearly all knew who they were as well, but not many had met Kev and it had been a long time, more than eight years, since Danton had been to a 'society' function. He and Glynn hadn't really 'belonged.'
           Kev's face lit up and he made a beeline across the room. Shuna Clegg saw him coming and met him part way. He did a slow turn so she could see the outfit.
           "Jacka. It HAS to be."
           "It is. I started a style. Well, since Swede hung one of his shirts on me and rolled up the sleeves, he probably actually started it, but Jacka took the idea and did this. Wait'll you see Swede and Danton."
           "You three being here is the ONLY argument which would have worked to get Clegg here. I think he really needs to talk to Swede. I need to talk to Danton."
           "Ooh, serious."
           "Seventeen is a serious number."
           "Twenty-seven, Shuna, and it's not a subject for discussion. Ever."
           "All right. Oh, I like it!"
           "Dance with me! They're GREAT and the music is so interesting!"
           "The music bounces you so you HAVE to dance! Hi, Shuna!"
           "Wow! Jacka made her mark as a designer, Swede!"
           "I think it was a team effort!"
           "Hi, can a girl on leave get a dance?!"
           "Dell! DANTON!!"
           "Yes, Swede, what... DELL! Oh, baby, welcome home!"
           Kev caught Shuna's nod, saw Sunder peeking in the door and smiling and went after her. She'd kept Dell's homecoming as a surprise and it couldn't have been easy.
           "In!"
           "What? Oh, Kev, I've got to get back."
           "Not til you dance with me. You give wonderful presents, Sunder, the VERY best."
           Sunder danced; with Kev, then Swede, then Danton under Kev's very watchful eye. Danton danced once with Dell and once each with Chella and Shuna. Kev tapped him as soon as he had and pointed at a chair. Danton grinned and sat down.
           Chella led four hotel housemen across the large room. Two placed one of the large, low, oval tables from the pool area next to Danton and moved the cocktail table. The other two wheeled in large deck lounges and arranged them and other chairs around the oval table. Danton sat and watched the process. He laughed when two housemen grinned, picked up the chair he was in, moved it a bit and put a larger cocktail table between it and the chaise, then added more chairs. Chella suddenly opened the curtains along one wall of the banquet hall and they watched the wall rise. The band roared into the song that had made the 'little guy' shout, "Yes!" and speakers came on all over the Funplex.
           Kev grabbed Shuna's hand and 'dragged' her onto the dance floor. Dell did not let Swede leave it. Chella walked back over to Danton, grinned, and offered her arm. He rose and took it and she escorted him to a chaise, then took the other. She pointed out oval was his family and large cocktail was her business. He leaned over and kissed her. He'd needed the lounge and she'd found a way to cover his need.
           Swede winced when the spotlights hit them, then decided to relax and enjoy it. Kev almost ran for cover, but Shuna held on to him and grinned.
           "It's safe. They're both here and so are we. Dance, Sweetie. Show them how it's done and why everyone down there is wearing a big shirt. Jacka needs it, the band needs it and every sailor who sees and hears it needs it."
           Kev danced. They actually ended up all dancing together. The media picked it up fast. The Fleet grabbed it. There had never been a better morale piece. The admiral they'd always said belonged in a recruiting ad was dancing with a beautiful lieutenant in an engineering deck work uniform. Oh her, it was elegant. The famed "station kid" who'd won the naval medal of valor, then left the navy to care for the children of his wife and partner, was dancing with the wife of Deccatown's chief of police. She was known as the person who had put together charity events that raised enough to build a sheltered nursery for children of defense workers, and the coloring and builds of the four encompassed the physical spectrum of their four worlds.
           Chella wasn't finished yet. She smiled at Danton and he knew something more was coming. She rose and the spotlight hit her. The band stopped. She turned and pointed to the great doors at the end of the Funplex below her and two dozen hotel staff members raced to get carts piled high with white cloth in place while they slowly retreated into the walls. A cheer went up and the band roared back to life. Six transports poured out sailors and marines and every one was handed 'an admiral's shirt' as they came streaming in. The spotlights came up on two dance floors as the huge pool covers slid into place to form one. The great screens around the plex came on and the sailors saw their admiral and the lieutenant 'show how it's done.' In a half-minute, the huge dance floor was packed.
           "Chella, you are a master."
           "I'm a promoter, Danton. Can you handle one more dance? It'll be to the other band and not as active."
           "Yes, I can manage. Now?"
           "Not quite yet. Oh, the oval table is our dance floor. I had it reinforced. DON'T fall off."
           "Look for sharp pieces of metal around it. If you don't see any, I probably won't fall. They MAY attract me. I certainly have a knack for encountering them."
           About two songs later Chella pulled him up onto the table, the spotlight hit them, she pointed to a curtain and the other band swung into song as it opened to reveal them. The music had the same strong rhythm but it swung instead of pounding. Danton and Chella danced.
           Danton did fall off the table. He did it so well, only his family and Chella, with her acrobatic training, knew it was planned, but the whole crowd on the upper tier laughed when he sighed visibly and pulled a metal tack from beneath him. They'd all heard of his 'knack.' The band leader announced they were going to play a new song in his honor. It was titled Painful Attraction. It was one of their best songs and he'd given them the perfect intro for it.
           Chella and Danton's 'piece' had given the others a chance to get off the dance floor. They settled around the table and Kev glared at Danton.
           "I was careful, Kev. I promised I would be. I just couldn't resist. I'm fine."
           "If I find one DROP of blood on that bandage, I'll... patch you again. It was terrific. The tack was PLANNED."
           "Actually, I saw it on the floor. I figured Chella had put it there for me like the mat she laid out for Swede. The show was going too good for me not to do my part."
           "There was NO tack on the floor, Danton."
           "Yes there was, Chella, right under my shoes."
           "THAT'S why you kicked them off. Oh, Daddy, it was great!"
           "Thank you, Dell. You are?"
           "Here for ten. That's all I know and all I could say if I did know more. I saw a ball of fur taking a nap with the boys. Every few minutes, he'd stand up, stretch, change beds and curl up and purr against another set of little feet. I WADED in new toys and got shown everything in closets and drawers. We all helped poor Tibbs pick up our mess and they ALL showed me they could use the potty. They knew who I was, Daddy, thank you all."
           "Dell, I've watched military families build and keep the presence of all family members within them, near, far, or having returned the last time. I lived in a military town. I was six when the blockade began and we lost everything but our lives in a missile attack. Your family is one of the most successful I've ever met in maintaining it."
           "It's Kev, Chella. If Swede or I skip a story-telling time, we're in trouble. Kev leads the 'glaring squad' until we agree to tell two. Kev's favorite type of stories are about love. So, we tell stories about those we love because Kev's favorite stories are the boys' favorite stories. Tibbs tells about real places and what they're really like and Kev reads to them a great deal."
           "And I NEVER miss a scheduled story time. They're not promised; they're scheduled. Promises are for only the most important things. Like Danton's to be careful!"
           "I was, Kev. I didn't stretch it at all and I landed with my weight principally on... I was careful."
           "Show off."
           "Kev topping you and Swede is impossible. I just work to keep even."
           "Daddy, you work to STAY even. We all know the difference. You're needed as a diplomat. The time will come when you're the one Powell needs to train as his successor."
           "What?!"
           "You're the only one with enough... wisdom, charm, showmanship and, your greatest asset, enigma to take over that spotlight."
           "He doesn't expect to see his great-grandchildren again."
           "Kev, are you agreeing with my unhinged daughter?"
           "I don't know. I refuse to think about it yet. I wouldn't let you go without me and Swede would have to leave the fleet. The League Rep can't have that close a relationship with the upper echelons of it. Daughters in it would be expected. Yes, we will go to Earth. Sunder is doing the job. It's time for all of us to study and Swede to prepare the fleet for his departure. I think Tinse should return to take care of the house and build the other two. I think she wants to BUILD a home for Keller. We will need to meet the right people so they'll understand why you are best for the job. Swede?"
           "I'm working on it, Kev. I'm caught between he's the best man for the job and I'm the best for mine. There are other considerations as well."
           "Try this. Shuna Clegg for Alliance representative and we have her and Clegg move into OUR house to help Tinse take care of that monster. He's running for district assembly and he's going to get it. Our house is in the district. It's a great place for fund-raisers and Tinse would love it. You have been essential long enough Swede. Sunder CAN do it. Not quite as well, but you taught her all that can BE taught. No one else can step into the job Powell is doing nearly as well as Danton."
           "If Clegg wins and they'll move in, and if Tinse believes she's more essential at home than on the Cossalis."
           "Swede, she'll be home tomorrow. I'm going to blow it, but I can't help it. She's pregnant and requested a headquarters assignment. She got it. Security BEGGED for her. She can stay in fleet and at home, and she does want to build her house. She's drawn plans. Our ships are in the same group and we've talked a lot. Keller's duty requires he be at headquarters part of the time and he thinks he can get assigned full time to Tosca in less than a year. He should. He's a terrific instructor and about top qualified for any slot which opens here.
           "Are they going to get married?"
           "Yes, Daddy, but they may wait until he gets an assignment. They've worked real hard to make sure their little one is provided for 'in case of,' but they're sure it's forever and they WANT to get married."
           "Let's see, that gives us about three quarters of a year to get two people elected, a house built and make you well known on four planets and throughout the fleet. No problem. I'll get with Shuna."
           "No one has asked me if I want to do this."
           "Danton, you aren't volunteering. You've been drafted again."
           "Oh, Swede, please don't use that word. I HATE it."
           "Don't we all. Kev, for someone who didn't want to think about it yet, you made a lot of decisions."
           "I remembered Powell and it was suddenly all obvious. Comm!"
           "Now, how did you know... "
           "Chella, you had to have one handy. Thank you. Comm, Tosca headquarters, Personnel, Commander Sunder."
           "Hi, Kev. You caught me headed for bed."
           "Sunder, you've got a quarter year to completely take over from Swede. He's been drafted OUT of the navy. I'm reassigning him to a support position elsewhere. Kick him out, Beautiful. He's needed."
           "Yipe. Well, since we all know you only give orders when it's the RIGHT thing to do, I'll get right on it. Oh, I'm NOT going to sleep after all. Out."
           "A quarter year, Kev?"
           "Yes. You need to be out to introduce Danton around the halls of power with only strong TIES to the navy, not as part of it."
           "Working with you is going to be fun, Kev. I'll set things up as I make the rounds. I'll see you get a who's who and a when's what for the other worlds."
           "Oh, THANK you, Chella."
           "Danton, I've spent four days getting to know you as well as I could. I think Kev may be wiser, but no one else I've met is and it's experienced wisdom, which is what's needed. Kev's is innocent."
           "Thanks, I think."
           "Kev, you see clearly and know what's right. Danton sees it all and chooses what's right. Both are rare wisdom."
           "Oh, can we invite her home too, Daddy. I've got room at my house."
           "If we invite her home, she's staying at MY place, Dell. How about it, Chella? Want to meet our boys?"
           "I can't. I have some work in the morning, then I have to leave. Last night, but it IS a glorious one. Hi, kids, sit down."
           The four members of the 'thumping' band sat down around the cocktail table. Chella introduced them and the first thing they did was thank Kev. From that time on, the table beside Chella was never empty.
           Swede invited Shuna and Clegg to join the family table and Kev informed them of what was going to happen. Shuna just leaned against Clegg and giggled. She wasn't going to 'just support' him after all. He'd been right. She was going to end up in politics, no matter what she intended. He loved it. He thoroughly agreed she was right for the job and their small house would be wonderful for a young couple.
           The second band took a break and thanked Kev and Danton. Most people drifted to the table by Chella to offer congratulations. When the first band started playing again, it was from a stage in the Funplex below. The curtains slowly closed across the side of the upper terrace. The music came through clearly and the party would last some time, but the presentation was over. Danton said goodnight and Chella said she'd needed an excuse to leave the table and comm. He offered his arm and she took it. Kev reminded him he'd promised and he grinned and escorted Chella out.

    Chapter Five

            Kev went to work to help get Clegg elected and Shuna nominated. Danton helped. Since they took all four boys with them to campaign headquarters, Tibbs went along. He watched over a small multitude of children as volunteers stopped scheduling time around available sitters and how much they could afford to spend on them. The large area set aside and well-stocked with things for children made them feel appreciated and Tibbs won many hearts.
           "It's very good for the boys, Swede."
           "I can see that, Tibbs. They're beginning to make friends with the other children and split up a bit."
           "They have also learned share includes ALL children, not just each other. We need things for older children. They're beginning to work evenings and starting to ask if I could watch their school age children. I will need someone to assist. I would like to pay a young person to guide jaunts and lead games. I also think any child who wishes to help should be given a volunteer button and a job. The political process should be the focus of jaunts as well."
           "Tibbs, you're an integral and valued part of our family, our own 'retainer.' We've all just assumed you'd go to Earth, or anywhere else, with us and never asked."
           "Sir, I just assumed I would as well. The family car is a nice size for afternoon jaunts."
           "I don't know the right young person for the job, but I WILL find one."
           "Thank you. Glynn! Put that down. Jolie is your friend. That's a very hard thing. If you hit her with it, you will hurt her. We must be careful not to hurt friends. They're special."
           "Sorry."
           "Good boy. You can both play with the blocks. Jolie doesn't have any brothers. She doesn't know how to share. You have to teach her and not get mad if she doesn't learn fast. It's a hard thing to learn."
           "Like potty."
           "Even harder. You always had brothers, but you're still learning sharing. So am I. It's an ALWAYS thing."
           "Like Daddy's car."
           "Yes, Glynn. Your daddy still has to work to share his car."
           "I got approval, Tibbs. Effective the day after the election, I'm out of the navy."
           "Feels very odd, doesn't it, Sir? You have twenty years in and I had more than forty."
           "I'm feeling a bit bereft and somewhat bewildered. I haven't been out of a job since I was nineteen. That's thirty-six years. You didn't spend ANY time out of work."
           "You won't either."
           "I know, but I have NO idea what it will be."
           "Well, to start, there are young volunteers to assign and someone to hire."
           "I'll get on it."
           "Hi, what's up? You got it!"
           "In six days, Kev. The day after the election."
           "Then we really go to work to get Shuna nominated and elected and Danton appointed."
           "See, Swede? You have a job waiting as well."
           "Yes, Tibbs, I do."
           Clegg won handily. The celebration was held at the 'residence' and for the first time the gates were 'flung wide open.' Tinse took the opportunity to show off the house she was building. She knew Keller would see the media coverage. It was more than half done. Danton and Kev had always found time to help a bit every day, even if just to carry a load to the site. That evening Clegg and Shuna were shown why they were needed to live on the estate. Shuna wasn't surprised at all and only the level of technology surprised Clegg. Danton, however, was very surprised to find Tinse manning the monitors.
           "Kev!"
           "No, Danton, me."
           "Swede, I DON'T like it."
           "Tough, Daddy. I've always known. We probably all do, but it is not discussed, nor do we speculate on it. I'm also best to work with Clegg and Shuna. I'm a Fleet officer. They need one and I'm security. Besides, I MIGHT be able to keep all this operating at peak without calling in Linsy for comm and Dell for engineering assistance. Clegg and Shuna will be a lot of help, but WE know how you think. Only family know how Mom thinks. Kev's learned. Get the principals back to the party, Daddy, and key me in so I can shut down when the gates close. Rent them Dell's house, then move them up later. Clegg and Shuna both desperately need a study, or home office. Dell's is built that way. Her idea, by the way. I was just told when to suggest it."
           "Yes, we'll go by it and it will serve as our purpose for having been gone. Your move to the family house will be at our request and obviously reasonable. Since Dell suggested it before she left, you've had time to think it over. Lead the media to see it and list yours as available to Emergency Shelters Administration. Dell accepts your labor in upkeep as rent, so you need not charge rent, only upkeep, on yours. It's very close to both Fleet and civilian med centers. It is just plain NEEDED."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Yes, Kev."
           Kev grinned at the five, waited for Danton to key Tinse, then led Shuna, Clegg, Swede and Danton quickly around the loop to the main path and skipped and sang all the way to Dell's.
           It was the perfect accompaniment. The elf led them out of the woods into high moon. All four of Tosca's highly reflective satellites were rising, the fourth just above the mountain tops. He danced across the grass before them and coded the door. Then he keyed it to accept a new code, kissed Shuna's hand and raised it to the panel. She punched "Read Only" and was given the current code and it was reentered.
           "I don't want Dell to come home and not be able to get in her own house if we're not here. Oh, MY. Oh, it's beautiful!"
           "Well, that settles that. She's figuring out who to have on her arm while she leads the media down to see it."
           "Talia. She's the best at 'just us silly girls and don't notice the camera, dear.' Let's go. I'm SO excited."
           "All right, Shuna. Now, just inside the door is a panel. Dell calls the top sensor 'Lawn party.' When you touch it, ALL the lights outside and in come on as she programmed them. The house comp has a complete instruction program on all the system she put in."
           "Sometimes one forgets Dell is an engineer, Kev."
           "I always remembered when I tripped over something she was building, Clegg. It started when she was about three. Since I was always tripped over what Glynn was building too, I just kept quiet and practiced NOT stepping on what I tripped over."
           "Ooh, I think they're looking for us, dear."
           "Yes, Shuna, I think YOU'D better explain."
           "Talia!"
           "Shuna, you took the man of the hour, EVERY other truly interesting man and disappeared."
           "Oh, I will SHOW you why. About forty days ago Danton's eldest daughter, Lieutenant Dell Lamb, now serving on the Traden, made a suggestion just before her leave was over. As you know, we have a small house in Deccatown, very close to both major hospitals. As long as Clegg worked at police headquarters it was reasonable for us to occupy it because of its central location. Dell suggested we move into her house here on the estate with rent being upkeep. That frees Clegg and I to list ours with Emergency Shelters Administration for just upkeep. Now, Talia, we had not SEEN the house when Clegg and I decided to say yes. SHE calls it a cabin. We did know there was room for each of us to have a study, it's close to the big house and Olyville flyer field is closer to it than Deccatown central field is to our house. We were escorted to see it right AFTER we decided. Now, right around this bend in path is the CABIN Danton Lamb and his daughter, Lieutenant Dell Lamb, built for HER future family."
           "Oh, I'm in a VID setting. It's wonderful!"
           "Dell's an engineer. She's built all kinds of wonders into this place, including beautiful flower beds. There IS work involved in keeping this lawn and those flower beds flourishing. I can hardly wait to complain about breaking my nails weeding the alludias. Now, THIS you must see."
           Even Danton wasn't prepared. Lights and nozzles rose out of the ground. Lighted, dancing, fountains sprang into existence all around them and every flower bed received a gentle shower to soft music in the air.
           The house lit as crystal chandeliers and lamps in every room facing front shown through wide windows and lit the rich woods of the rooms behind them. The studies were obvious. One lay each side of the large central room.
           "Oh, I haven't even looked yet. Talia, if you'll JUST bring a portable, we can explore it, but you'll have to share."
           "My employers will grind their teeth, but of course I'll share. I'm SURE my network will make equitable arrangements. Portable. Let's explore!"
           Clegg found an excellent place to hold visible discussions with new colleagues. Tinse watched the monitor and grinned. She and Dell had spent several hours getting the curved bench for two and the two chairs set up right in front of the climbing syril, right between two fountains, perfectly lit and visible from all front angles. Dell had even made the correct guess as to which place Clegg would sit. The lighting on it was set for his skin tone. The lighting on the other half of the bench was set for Shuna's. She giggled when Swede and Danton each sat in the chair lit for them. Daddy had noticed. When Shuna came out, she sat down in the, just vacated, place beside Clegg and asked Swede a question about naval personnel.
           "Actually, Shuna, I'm not the one to ask. I'm retiring. Effective tomorrow, I'm officially Retired Rear Admiral Swede. I think it's sneaky of them to promote me to get rid of me."
           "Hah, it was their last chance. You're hard to pin new insignia on, Swede. Sont complained you duck faster than anyone else in fleet."
           "That's only been true since Kev got out, Shuna. SWEDE couldn't catch him. Tell her the rest, Swede. We all know why. She should."
           "I hadn't planned on doing it QUITE this publicly, Danton. Shuna, I'm retiring so I may add my effort to getting you nominated and elected as one of Tosca's representatives to the Four Corner's Alliance Assembly. Tosca has been my home for the last sixteen years. I want the best representative for my home district. You ARE the best person for the job."
           "Swede, I am truly honored by your belief and awed by your commitment. I promise mine will be equal and I shall commit all I am to being worthy of the honor."
           Media people rushed to get to editing comps. They had the really big story of the evening. The local election was over. The big kids were moving onto the stage and Shuna Clegg was putting together an incredibly talented and photogenic ensemble.
           When she learned Kev had disappeared to fulfill the bedtime story schedule, Talia coerced Tibbs into letting her take a moment's vid from the door of the nursery. Kev was in the big chair with all four boys and the cat on him and telling about the first time he'd voted and Tanner teaching him how to pick the right candidate for him. The other boys solemnly nodded when Balen stated Clegg and Shuna were theirs. Talia caught it all.
           When Tibbs closed the door. Kev and the boys all giggled, then played a bit until Tibbs brought milk and fruit for a bedtime snack. Kev promised he'd peek in before he went to bed and went back to the party. Talia told him their boys were perfect. He agreed and told her Balen never flubbed a line. She burst into laughter and became a friend. They'd get the 'social' media coverage they needed.
           Swede turned out to be a 'clothes horse.' He was 'never seen in the same outfit twice.' He loved the exaggeration and the teasing he got from Kev and Danton, about not wearing clothes until he discovered they came in other colors besides space navy black. He'd also discovered jewelry. He never wore anything but his wedding ring on his hands, but bangles anywhere else were 'acceptable.' Kev asked if he'd found a gem for his navel.
           The big shirt became a burnoose for Swede as Jacka and her staff played with the design. Danton put a white frilled shirt beneath his and the design migrated to mid calf length vest for him. Kev's stayed a shirt, but Jacka's staff had a wonderful time designing outfits with short, tight, laced or buttoned vests to go under them. Vests became very fashionable. Kev had started another style.
           They worked on Shuna's campaign, watched over Tinse and helped her finish her house, and studied. Swede pointed out he was fifty-five and couldn't get in as good shape as Kev did. Danton grinned and worked him harder. He'd get in almost as good shape. He did and he was rather amazed and quite pleased.
           The "odd" relationship of the three began to be noted. Talia did a feature on how various military women made provisions for their children. Their family was proof of how well Tanner had provided for the future of hers. Proudly plump Tinse explained her step-mother's example had guided her and Keller in their careful legal provision for their expected child. The special focused attention on the woman who had been in the center of their marriage, and the children who now were, and speculation was countered with truth.
           The piece was so popular, Talia did another on the communal raising of children, focusing on people on large steads who had opened their homes and hearts to children who had lost both parents. A weathered and smiling farmer with a huge house full of children who called him "Pop" was the star of the piece. His sisters, cousins and such who lived in other large houses nearby and had "passles of kids" played supporting roles.
           The day after Shuna was elected, Tosca was attacked. She rushed to Fodan City, which had sustained the worst damage, and Swede, Danton and Kev went with her. They were working before they got there.
           Shuna raised money. Kev organized emergency shelters, Swede organized people to provide relief and Danton organized clearance and began rebuilding. He was rebuilding the back wall of the Alliance Capital when the battered Assembly Speaker took her place and called the new session to order. He grinned and hauled on the pulley that raised the Alliance emblem behind her as she spoke. It was mounted on the wall and he led his work crew out to thunderous applause. They hurried to the outside to make sure the wall would stay up. They worked all night four nights completing it.
           The word from the fleet wasn't good. Fielding, Stripey and Barley had all been attacked as well. The members of the Alliance Council appointed Danton, Swede and Kev to 'fact find' for them. It wasn't how any of them had wanted Danton to get 'known on four worlds,' but he was 'best for the job.' It surprised everyone when they took their children with them. Travel between the worlds wasn't really safe. Danton explained.
           "Nowhere on any of our four worlds is truly safe for a child. It hasn't been for over thirty years. Our children might be relatively safer at home, but they wouldn't learn WHY big sisters serve on ships and WHY daddies go to help others. War, and its terrible destruction are a part of EVERY child's life on our worlds."
           "We're taking toys for kids who don't have any anymore because their houses are all gone."
           "We know how to SHARE."
           "You see? Garand and Glynn understand there are things all of us can do to help our neighbors through tragedy."
           "And we have LOTS of neighbors."
           "Yes, Barris."
           "On Fielding and Stripey and Barley. Even Beska is neighbors, but they're not being very nice ones NOW."
           "We know they have to learn how to be and we have to help them learn, don't we, Balen?"
           "Yes, Daddy. Tinse says we're going to kick ass and teach them."
           Danton just handed Balen to Tibbs and folded. The line had not been in the script. Kev was sinking and Swede was head back and arms akimbo laughing. Garand walked over to Kev. He was sitting on the ground and at his 'talking height.'
           "Daddy, that IS what Tinse said. We ALL heard her and Tibbs said, 'Hell, yes.' You were THERE."
           "Yes, Garand, I was definitely there. I told her to be careful, Danton, but your daughter can't resist a good line."
           "I know, and Balen learns them ALL."
           The media marveled at the boys. They had a very clear concept of daddy and father. Garand had a good knowledge of his "father who died before Mommy met Daddy Kev." Swede had known Garand fairly well and Danton knew a great deal about him. Daddies were different. They were everybody's.
           Daddy was always addressed as Daddy, but usually spoken of as Daddy Kev, Daddy Swede, or Daddy Danton. Of course, they did expect others to know which one they were talking about if they didn't specify. They all did and so did Tibbs.
           Danton said he hadn't been sure it was terrific when Tinse had learned to talk either. His smile said play, so Glynn jumped on him and Barris dashed for Swede and grabbed hold of his leg. Swede swung him up on his shoulders and led Danton, Kev and Tibbs, each with a boy, to the boarding ramp. Garand said it was easy to see Barris when he was "stacked up" with Daddy Swede.
           Time passed swiftly because they didn't have time to ponder it. They worked and learned on Fielding, Stripey and Barley. They spoke to hundreds and aided and encouraged thousands.
           Balen 'gave a speech' Barris wrote and asked for toys from others kids because they were running out of toys to share. It was Garand's idea and Glynn told Talia they wanted to "talk to kids." He gave the speech at their fourth birthday party. Glynn had invited Talia. Toys poured in and people went to work helping the boys share.
           Tommy became a well known figure. He was "strictly an inside kitty" on the road and he knew it. He was well trained. He wouldn't go out, but the boys reminded people to shut the doors because lots of peoples' kitties were in scary places and they had to watch they didn't run away.
           The wisdom of the fathers showed very clearly in the sons. By the time they returned to Tosca, they had learned about the needs and aspirations of four worlds. Danton stood before the assembled delegates and gave them the truth they knew in their hearts.
           "Our people need only one thing, peace. They aspire to only one thing, peace. Esteemed representatives of all our people, the League MUST lift the sanction. Beska MUST be given one real good reason to stop. If not, then THEY are admitting they are at war with US. I know how many have died. We all do. We know we want it to end. We know we want peace, but it's never been OFFERED. This is a SIEGE and they won't tell us what they WANT to end it. There are no terms to consider. They kill us and give us no reason. Or option. We WILL win a war against Beska. One world, no matter how heavily populated and industrialized, cannot hold against four long. Certainly not thirty years. Personally, I wonder what they plan to do with us if they defeat us. That fleet up there is a LEAGUE funded force. They ought to be FIRED and SENT home! Meanwhile, we need food and shelter, clothes and toys, a gentle hand to hold when the one we've always held is no longer there and soft voices telling stories so children know the ones who loved them. Those things our people give well. Only you, who can speak for all of them, can find them a way to fill the true need and give them freedom to aspire to all things again."
           Chella watched the broadcast in complete awe. It, of course, had taken place two days ago on Tosca, but it had just reached Fielding. She watched Danton become the next League representative. Like old Powell, nothing he did was an act. A performance, but not an act. It exemplified their peoples beautifully. They were trade worlds. They'd been settled to form a unified trading group when each world was self-sufficient. That hadn't taken long, then they built between them.
           Surplus was their goal and a two percent profit on everything they sold. It had delighted them when that was so much lower than everyone else sold things. Traders went out to sell. More equipment and materials meant more production meant more surplus. Top heavy trading companies wobbled on their price supports and economists predicted dire consequence. It was "a deliberate attack on the markets and established trade of Beska," where the top heavy companies wobbled the loudest.
           Chella wondered what Beska would do when the League stopped supporting one third of their production and funding the payroll for the one point three million people in their fleet. She wondered what they'd do when it stopped funding spies.
           She slipped in the data store which had been in her message box and smiled. Someone knew she needed information and was collecting it. Links were traced from Tosca to Fielding. She went to work at her real job, the one she couldn't be paid to do, and was better at than anyone else on Fielding. She was Shadow. She hunted spies.
           The boys, Tommy and daddies romped in the yard and ran through the house. Toys which had really been too advanced for them were just right and toy boxes emptied as they remembered what was in them. Everyone helped put them away. Their niece was a toddling wonder and they set about spoiling her. Keller was family to them long before they met him. They were delighted to finally do so. Then Linsy and Dell walked in the front door and pandemonium broke loose.
           The boys had met Linsy on Stripey. Her ship was supplied from there. She'd "hopped on" a supply ship and spent ten days leave with them. The family was all home for awhile. Dell had thirty days. Linsy told them they had sixty to finish her house. She'd brought someone home. She and Mike were going to be married in a double ceremony with Tinse and Keller in two days. Mike was added to the family.
           Tinse pointed out she and Keller hadn't planned on getting married in two days. Linsy told her she'd better start planning, two days wasn't much time. Tinse agreed.
           Mike, a mountain of a man, and Danton built. Everyone else helped, but their four hands met at every task. Linsy's home by the sea took shape. Mike was in his late thirties and his two children were on their way. He'd drawn a Tosca headquarters assignment. He and his two daughters would live there and make Linsy a home. His girls were seven and ten and loved Linsy just as he did, and he loved her without reservation.
           Mike's marriage had been a casualty of war, but it had ended, not been ended. His ex-wife thoroughly agreed the best place for the girls was on Tosca with him and very much approved of Linsy. She was a fighter pilot. Recently, the girls had been in a military crèche on Stripey. It was not what she wanted for them.
           The house wasn't quite finished when the girls arrived. They helped finish it. The boys showed them where everything "anybody's daddy" asked for was located. Deri and Hanah set about spoiling them. It was very mutual.
           For more than a quarter year they rested and lived in the big house Danton had built. The boys were nearing six when he was called to Fadon City and asked to go to Earth to carry what he'd learned to Powell, then take over as representative. The staunch old man deserved to see his great-grandchildren again.
           It actually hurt to leave their home to board ship to Earth. They were being escorted the entire distance. The representative would be in comm distance of Earth before his escort turned around. Two ships would travel on. One would carry Powell home. One would remain at Danton's disposal.
           Beska's ships didn't find the small convoy. They landed on Earth and battled Earth authorities on quarantine requirements. Powell breezed it, stated Tommy was a member of a diplomatic mission and, once in, would not leave the embassy until all quarantine requirements were fulfilled. The forty-odd media people jostling for a good position in his office made the entry officer rather nervous. He quickly agreed it was reasonable.
           "Thank you. Hello, Kev. Introduce me please."
           "Well, you're holding Tommy. These are the boys who he's sure belong to him. Glynn, Barris, Balen and Garand. These are my husbands, retired Admiral Swede Tanner and Danton Lamb Tanner."
           "Hello, Kev spoke of you, and of your wife Tanner."
           "Thank you for sending them both home to us, Powell. We three needed to be together and there for our children as we had pledged. We needed to have Tanner come home to rest. It made us understand how much harder it is for those whose loved ones NEVER come home. Powell, we want to stop this. I bring a statement and plea from our people. We want to stop watching the death toll climb. Peace IS our goal. We must be given terms to reach it. Thirty-seven thousand children the age of our sons and younger have died in thirty years. They were just killed. Missiles were just launched. Young beautiful life full of promise taken and we weren't given a reason or anything we could do to stop it."
           "This has ALWAYS been the difficulty, Danton."
           "I bring a suit to be filed in Interstellar Court against the League of Worlds for the open payment of a mercenary force to MURDER our peoples. We charge attempted genocide! It is foul and disgusting and the League IS guilty of it. Missiles falling from the sky and killing seven thousand FAMILIES on a holiday celebrating peace is abominable. Four hundred university students dying in a fire storm set off by incendiary missiles is MONSTROUS. You, sir, spoke all our minds. WHAT is the League paying Beska to TEACH its children? If those ships were NOT under the control of the fleet command, they should NOT have been there. Since the League CONTINUED to pay for us to be SLAUGHTERED, it is about DAMN time they look at the itemized bill!"
           "Did you know Beska squadrons keep track of their kills in Ks, Danton."
           "They have to, Powell. No human being can kill that many PEOPLE. The ones who die are quarter or eighth of a K. Who could imagine that many dying human beings. Who could imagine the faces of hundreds of unique persons? Those who begin to are called mad and given veteran's benefits. Taking it PERSONALLY is sick. It gives you nightmares."
           "My grandchildren didn't have nightmares, all their fears were real."
           "All four worlds were attacked. I spent a standard year and a half visiting Fielding, Barley and Stripey and truly assessing need. My family, including Tommy, traveled with me. Swede can find the right person to get a job done and Kev knows what needs to BE done. The boys boost morale. They got children to donate toys because they were running out of toys to share."
           "The smallest child on our four worlds understands the words attacked and died."
           "Too damn many understand crushed, maimed, impaled and pulped, Powell. They've seen it."
           "Yes, Swede, they have. What did you see on those worlds?"
           "Twelve years of frustration while admirals protested they KNEW the Beska admirals and they just wouldn't ORDER the attacks. I kept asking who did. It was time for me to get out of the navy. I needed to leave a place where I chose people to replace people who'd been killed, then replaced them. Unlike the Beska, I remember every face, but I didn't kill them. I know no person can be replaced and there are tens of thousands dead. Essential jobs have back-up people, but that leaves other needed positions... and so on. One of the interesting cultural changes thirty years of having people suddenly decide to kill 'a bunch' of our people is nearly a slogan."
           "I know the one, Swede. 'If you're the best for the job, get off your ass and do it.' I rather like that one."
           "We all do or it wouldn't be said so often."
           "And it is. Nearly a slogan is not an understatement, it's a deception. Powell, we all decided your great-grandkids needed a visit. Danton's the best to take on the job you're MORE than ready to leave."
           "Does he learn as fast as you do, Kev?"
           "No one learns as fast as Kev, Powell. I know enough to start. With ten days introductions and political who's who, I'll be ready. The suit is the first step, but we WILL press it."
           "We're going to make somebody LISTEN, Gen Powell. We're lucky. We've got our daddies, big sisters and Tibbs. We were very little when our mother was killed, but we have good help to remember her and Garand's father."
           "Kids with BOTH original mom and daddy NEVER say they're lucky. Bragging is bad luck."
           "It's very bad for children, isn't it, Barris?"
           "It's bad for everyone, Gen Powell. Nobody knows why they kill lots of people. How do you tell a LITTLE kid he's going to be all right when his hand, and his mommy who was holding it, were both blown up and he SAW it?"
           "We met lots of kids, Gen Powell. A whole lot of them think we're lucky because our mother and Garand's father died on ships and we didn't hear them scream or see them killed. Every kid who has a mom AND dad is careful not to brag because it might be bad luck and they could BOTH be dead tomorrow. THAT'S what it's like for kids."
           "I wanted to help all the mothers and fathers who hold on to each other and cry when the pieces of building are moved and their little boys' and girls' bodies are found."
           Kev watched the boys. Glynn, Barris and Garand had all made their statements. Balen was thinking hard. He would sum things up and do it in a way which wouldn't be forgotten.
           "Gen Powell, we need to hurry. We need to make the Beska go home before a Beska pilot decides to get the BEST score and drops a planet-killer bomb. Would their high command say, 'We didn't order that. The pilot will be reprimanded?' People are rehabilitated for killing ONE person on OUR worlds, Gen Powell. Beska reprimands for killing hundreds. Do you suppose the squads who blow up our worlds and kill ALL of us will get medals along with their reprimands? Do you suppose they do now? Is the League paying to have them made for them? Do they pay a bonus if they get enough of them? Does the League use our numbers or theirs to figure out how much to pay? Is a dead kid worth a whole credit or just a tenth?"
           The media people weren't ready for a six-year-old to ask the kind of questions Balen did. Very few were. It was time to take a hand.
           "Balen, we just think the League doesn't understand what they're doing."
           "You all say that, Daddy. All the adults say 'Tell the League,' but we know Powell's BEEN telling them. Us kids don't believe they don't know. Nobody's THAT stupid. They WANT us murdered. Why else would they be paying the people who are doing it? If you don't stop them before WE get big, we will, and we'll stop them ALL. Every world whose representative yawned and voted to pay Beska to kill more of us should get just one missile. Not fifty or sixty every few days like we do, just one. Maybe we should just offer Beska more money. They probably don't care who pays or who they kill, as long as someone does and they can keep score."
           "It's going to be interesting to watch the League try to STOP paying them. It's dangerous to cancel your bargain with paid killers. We figure it'll take a hundred years before armed ships stop raiding colonies, killing people and taking everything they didn't destroy."
           "Why a hundred years, Glynn?"
           "It took the kings about fifty to get rid of the privateers they'd paid when there were just sailing ships on Earth, Gen Powell. There weren't over a hundred thousand ships of them and space is a lot bigger place. There's no room for them on Beska, no work and not enough food. I don't think most will go home. Why? To starve? They've been taught a skill. They kill people. What makes ANY of you think they'll just stop?"
           "Powell, Glynn is a student of history. Barris studies economics and law. Garand's chosen to learn about eco-systems and tech. Balen studies everything, but people are his real interest."
           "We're a team, Gen Powell. Other kids on our worlds are getting their teams ready too. We told them to. The League messed things up bad. SOMEbody is going to have to protect ALL the kids everywhere. We all know it. We're getting ready to do it."
           "Balen, peace is our goal."
           "What's that, Gen Powell? Nobody less than Daddy Danton's age on our worlds knows. We've never SEEN it. You know, it seems odd to walk down a street and see ALL the houses standing and no rubble piled up to be moved. And I keep looking for flowers. Every street I've ever walked down has a flower laying on the walk somewhere to mark the place where somebody someone loved died. And it doesn't smell. Have to wear a mask on lots of streets. There's too much rubble to get through before the bodies start to rot. They wash the streets down, but the gutters are blood-stained. We're six, Gen Powell. In four years, we'll be over the life expectancy for children born the year we were. Maybe sooner. It keeps going down. Oh, it's OLD."
           "Hundreds and hundreds of years, Balen. This house was built in the twentieth century."
           "And it's still HERE?! Nobody... bombed it. No missiles on this world. Kids go to sleep and are SURE their mommies, daddies and sisters and brothers will all be ALIVE in the morning. I'll... know mine will. See, we have to learn about peace so we can tell the other kids. It's like a fairy story. 'And they all lived happily ever after.' On our worlds 'all lived' is the part which tells every kid it's make-believe."
           Danton grinned at Powell as they walked through the gate and onto the grounds of the huge sprawling house. The smile and wink he got in return delighted him. They watched Barris close the gate and Glynn, Garand and Balen hunting.
           "What are you looking for, boys?"
           "The controls to turn on the defense systems, Gen Powell."
           "There aren't any defense systems, Glynn."
           "But how do you keep the spies and assassins out?"
           "There aren't any here, Garand."
           "Yes there are, Gen Powell. Daddy, he thinks no one is going to try to kill us just because we're on Earth. Scan the house. We're not going inside til you do. Then we want PROPER defenses."
           "Kev, let's scan. Don't go in until we've done a full circuit, then we'll proceed carefully inside. Swede, find as much cover for Powell, Tibbs and the boys as you can."
           "Give me my case, Kev. I want my guns. We're a prime target right now. Be careful. There's lots of cover for a sniper in this... jungle."
           "We'll do a personnel scan too, Swede."
           "Don't shoot anyone! It's liable to be a media stringer trying to get vid to sell."
           "I never kill anyone who isn't trying to kill me, my family, or several hundred others, Powell, and I usually use my hands. Let's go, Kev."
           "Over here. Help me move this table, Tibbs. Boys, under it and crowd up against the tree. Powell, on the ground and as close in as possible. Tibbs, under and shield the boys."
           "Daddy, YOU take cover too."
           "I'm going up the tree, Garand. The leaves will make me hard to see and I can see farther."
           "All right, but hurry."
           The media people watched the tall man go up into the tree and were surprised. They knew he was almost sixty and the few strands of silver in his dark curls said that figure was correct, but sixty-year-olds didn't leap for a branch three meters off the ground and swing lithely up to another. Many could do it, but not like that. They put away their long range mikes and began preparing their stories. The sudden sound of beam fire and Danton's shout of "Kev!" from behind the house stopped them.
           Swede dove out of the tree, rolled and came up running. Tibbs went after. The boys were already moving. Powell ran after four little boys and a cat. He suddenly realized each boy was making use of the bushes and tall grass as cover. Even the cat was avoiding open space. He watched and copied.
           Danton, Swede and Tibbs came around the house. Swede had Kev in his arms and Danton had guns in both hands. So did Tibbs.
           "Daddy!"
           "Take cover! Stay there! He's alive and not badly hurt, boys."
           "I've got a hole in my leg, Glynn. That's all."
           "Did you get them, Daddy?"
           "Yes, Garand, we got them. Powell! Call the authorities and a bomb squad. We found three. Kev was disarming one when he was shot. The snipers were trying to hit the bomb. I guess no one told them it would level about twenty square blocks if it went off. Kev shielded it with his body. I killed the four who were trying to set it off and Kev has THREE holes in him."
           "Lousy shots, Danton. They missed the bomb AND my head."
           "Yeah. Lousy shots."
           A media stringer had caught the incident, or part of it, on vid. She'd been in a tree outside the fence. She'd recorded the finding of the bomb, the beam fire from four places and Kev being hit. She'd also recorded Danton running toward those places. She didn't have a recording of the four dying, just of them falling out of their cover, dead, in quick succession. She walked up to the chief of police, handed him her viewer and ran the recording for him.
           "Get a guard on this place, get him medical treatment and quit hassling them. That's on its way to Network Seven. They'll ask if you're being paid to stop him doing his job TOO. Hi, I'm Milla Wend."
           "Danton Lamb Tanner, Fem Wend. Thank you."
           "No thanks necessary, Representative. I'll get paid well for that vid and I just flat enjoyed watching Tolt's face turn red. He's WAY out of line. First, it was pure self-defense. Second, his jurisdiction ENDS at that gate. That house is an embassy and that yard is foreign soil. If those people had killed you, he couldn't have even arrested them."
           "Daddy!"
           "I'm all right, Barris. This is Milla Wend. She told the policeman to stop being silly and he let me go."
           "Thank you, Milla. They're scared. It's a new thing to them. They want to pretend it's like always and not different. They want to stop it and don't know how, and Daddy scared them most. They don't understand that EVERYbody on our worlds HAS to be a fighter. Our daddies have to be better than most because more assassins are paid to kill them."
           "They have to be WARRIORS, like our mommy was. They don't like it, but it's better than dead."
           "Warrior is Glynn's new term, Milla."
           "It's not new, Daddy. He just read Powell's speech about 'Must ever child become a warrior?' and decided the answer was yes and you already are."
           "Well they ARE, Balen. Warrior is: 'A person engaged or experienced in warfare; a soldier. Especially a veteran experienced in battle. The connotation is of one who far exceeds, by training or experience, the ordinary level.' I looked it up."
           "I agree with Glynn, Representative. You are a warrior."
           "Just Danton, Milla. You've become our first friend on Earth. Tibbs, you were not supposed to leave the boys."
           "I know, Danton, but you're my boys too. Besides, they were leaving me."
           "Sorry, Tibbs. We felt safer spread out. It's what we've learned to do, Milla. Every kid knows it. Packed together is dead together. Spread out, a couple of us might stay alive."
           "A couple of you... My stomach doesn't like that thought, Balen."
           "Oh, that's all right. It happens to everybody. I got real sick the first time we found a body."
           "We all did, Glynn, not just you."
           "They found a baby the clearing crew had missed. Barris saw blood dripping and they moved a block of rubble. We didn't realize what they were doing. The baby wasn't more than about three weeks old. It had... a hand beside it."
           "A daddy died trying to save his baby. Daddy Kev cried lots of nights. He cries for all the babies who die. Well, guys, forget the SAFE stuff. It's business as usual. This place has the BEST libraries PERIOD. Glynn, get the real thing on warrior cultures. Let's see how we're doing in relationship to the successful ones."
           "Japan had one which lasted a long time, Balen. It was pretty brutal, but life was brutal at the beginning of recorded history. They're really the best example, though. They repelled every attack until they hooked up with a couple mad dictators and went on a conquer binge at the beginning of the technological revolution."
           "Samurai!"
           "DOWN, Garand. We'll forge you a sword when we're big enough to do it. Til then, you learn OTHER physical skills."
           "Our boys put on a careful act for most people, Milla. To be honest, if something happened to me, Balen is the most qualified person to take on my new job."
           "I'd need Daddy Swede or Kev to stand in on an official basis, but I've got the best staff organization to use. Daddy, she's pretty shocked."
           "Our children CAN'T go out and play, Milla, and everything they learn increases their chances of survival. They know it. Four-year-olds take a course in trauma treatment. By our boys' age, they know how to amputate a limb to save a life. Most of our children finish secondary level by the time they're ten. It's considered 'double luck' to finish secondary and pass the life expectancy figure for your birth year the same day. Our population is dropping. Between six of us, we had seven children. We're unusual. We actually added to the population, or we will have if all our children continue to live."
           "Daddy, I don't like that doctor who wants to look at Daddy. I don't like any of them. I want to go in as soon as the bombs are clear and we'll treat him. He'll make sure we do it properly. He doesn't need surgery."
           "Yes, Barris. Stop! Kev, Barris says yard now and treatment inside by whom WE carefully choose. Doctor, I'm sorry but our sons-- Unh!"
           "Get him! Danton!"
           "I have... a knack, Tibbs."
           "Boys, move this gurney. Tibbs, head for the house. Don't hurry. Hello."
           "She's a friend, Daddy. She made the police let Daddy Danton go."
           "Find Swede. He'll be with the bomb squad. Tell him we've GOT to go in and PLEASE be careful. Danton's got a knack and decided my sewing needed practice. The boys will assist, then we'll put me together. Don't tell others, except Powell, what's going on, please. I'm sure Swede will let you have a nice camera angle when he comes on stage. You're about to see the Admiral, Milla. Keep your cam ready. Find him quick."
           "She's... gone."
           "Thanks, Barris. Ask it, Garand. I can see the question in your eyes, but you have to tell me what it is."
           "Why did we let him get away? Any of us could have STOPPED him."
           "We brought something very frightening into their lives. It wasn't actually us, but it wouldn't be here if we weren't. Danton killed four people twenty minutes after getting here. Bombs intended to kill hundreds are being disarmed back there. These people don't even have an evacuation plan. They're just hoping. We have to be careful not to increase their fear of us. If Danton or I stopped that man, we'd have exhibited deadly skills. If you had, you'd have blown your cover. Don't drop me going up the stairs."
           "Don't wiggle. Come on, Tommy, this is home. Oh, and it needs LOTS of work."
           "It's beautiful, Glynn."
           "And crumbling, Balen. Don't pull on the trim, Barris. It may be holding the place up."
           "You know, this place is actually built for this climate. It's a shelter from sun not cold. It was VERY dry here when this was built. I want to restore it."
           "This was the 'palatial home' of some rich and famous person, Balen. The desert's a great place to live if you've got enough money to import water."
           "Doesn't look like Powell has enough to import a housekeeper, Barris. Daddy, money may be a problem."
           "We could always hock Swede's jewelry, Glynn. So, you going to lay down on the job, Kev."
           "Let's see it, Danton. Well, they are taking fewer stitches each time. You caught it before it went in very far."
           "Had to. My doctor's injured. It won't slow me much, Kev. I did stop it. The spring-loaded blade was just a bit longer than the distance from his hands to my body."
           "About two cens longer. You'll still need rest and recoup time, and to be careful. Who's got the medical kit?"
           "We've all got a piece of it, Daddy. Tibbs has got the scalpel pack."
           "I know you've got sterilizing solution and local anesthetic, Glynn. Thank you."
           "Idiots. Everybody knows you treat injuries FIRST and anesthetizing beam burns is standard procedure. The pain was unnecessary and Garand was starting to boil. Slipping you that stuff saved us LOTS of trouble and you lots of pain."
           "Binder unit. Your sewing kit is in the case. We've never seen you do this, Daddy. We're interested, but we'd rather not have had the opportunity."
           "Well put, Barris. Find food and drink, Tibbs. Boys, we need info. Get on comps. Straight public access. There will be at least one unit that doesn't require key-in. DON'T break in or hunt Powell's keycodes. Plans, history, title and deed to this place. Who are our neighbors? Each is owed an apology. We tell them we're making this property VERY secure and advertising the fact. We can't stop the attempts on us, but assassins look for opportunity and we can make this an inopportune place."
           "Yes, Daddy. All right, guys, the sewing's done and Daddy Danton just gave us a job. Daddy!"
           "Whoa, Barris! Kev?"
           "Not bad at all, Swede. He's in better shape than I am. Bombs?"
           "Hell, I had to defuse them myself. They were set to go off tonight."
           "They were intended to be found and the snipers were to set them off while someone was trying to defuse them. Why else use large amounts of a rather bulky and touchy explosive? Barris?"
           "Grabbed hold and just hung on a few seconds. He's all right, Danton. They all are."
           "It's still their first battle, Swede. They were in it with us all the way through. So you defused the bombs."
           "I kicked a crew out, traced what you did, Kev, then... guessed."
           "Yipe!"
           "You didn't give me a choice. They weren't getting anywhere and someone had to make a decision. I have a good record on them. Left first may be one of my finest."
           "Find me a bed, Swede. I'm hurt and nourishment and rest are my best healers. I did good. I got it and me in as small a ball as I could and kept my head down."
           "Swede, I found a nice room with two beds in it and it opens on the inner courtyard. There is one and there's a pool in it. Powell stuck his head in the kitchen door and said Milla thought Swede was spectacular and he thought there was enough food for all of us."
           "You're smiling, Tibbs."
           "This place is stocked to the GILLS. It's got tech and LAB equipment. It's all just stored. He lives cheap because he's been buying tech piecemeal for years."
           "Daddy?"
           "Yes, Garand?"
           "Your NAME opened the files. There's LOTS of money. Barris is giggling. He says Powell is the shrewdest investor in existence and he spent HIS money and invested the embassy 'slush fund.' There are six staff members and he gave them notification to pack this morning. They're already headed for the spaceport. They've been WAITING for you."
           "Kev?"
           "My name opened... He knew I'd come back, Swede. He told me he wanted to go home and knew I'd come back so he could. Oh, YES."
           "I made the beds and opened the doors, Kev. There are bedrooms all around the court. I haven't checked, but that pool may be a spa, as there is a large pool at the rear of the house."
           "Took you a long time to find the kitchen, Tibbs?"
           "I was too nervous to go in it til I made sure I knew exactly what was behind me, Swede. The boys seem to have chosen those rooms, all four of them."
           "Really? How interesting? It's about time."
           "The nursery felt too good, Swede, and asking for separate rooms while we traveled would have been silly. We doubled up part of the time. Go get Danton. You know Garand didn't leave him alone."
           "No, he'll be 'on guard.' In a way, he's more like Tanner than any of the others, but I see Garand too. We've done well to give him enough for him to emulate them. He's a bit on the brash side, but the others sit on him."
           "You want to talk or you'd have gone after Danton before Tibbs left."
           "I want to get my arms around you and hang on. I had this... playback of you wrapped around that bomb and getting hit and... I'm not in real good shape. Danton probably needs to hang on to you too. Think I'll just put you in the same bed."
           "Hi, I realized I'm barely damaged. I am, Swede. Which one is your room, Garand?"
           "The second one. The open top bothers me, Daddy. A force field OUGHT to be possible."
           "No one's done it yet. I like the openness. Can you think of a compromise?"
           "A retractable cover is the best I can do, Daddy. Someone could lob something in here too easily. The place has got a bomb shelter. It's stuffed. So's the wine cellar, but there's no wine, just food."
           "A retractable cover makes sense, Garand. Check the plans. See if it still makes sense afterward. I like this."
           "Sit... down... Danton."
           "Yes, Kev. I walked in on a hug. I need one."
           "If you hadn't been in a hurry, I was going to put you in the same bed."
           "Do you guys realize we can go places we WON'T be known? We're not really important here. We're vaguely interesting MINOR celebrities. If we just go, we won't be expected and Beska isn't paying enough spies to cover THIS world. Aw, come here, Danton. Not the way we wanted to start here, but we DID expect it."
           "Yes, Kev, even the boys expected it. Martial arts training?"
           "Anybody here better than you?"
           "I don't know, Swede. I'm a killer, not a fighter. I don't spar so I've no comparison."
           "Let them judge. Tell them to comm around and talk first, get a class schedule if it sounds worthwhile, then we'll take them to drop in on some."
           Danton missed Kev's hands on some of the tech assembly. He smiled when a small hand slipped into the piece and set the circuit in place. Balen had seen.
           As soon as they got minimal defenses in place, Swede took off with Milla. He went over the wall and she picked him up. He decided he liked Palm Springs as soon as he saw the historical shopping district. She got tickled when the first place he yelled "Stop!" and ran into was a golf shop. He ordered eight sets of specially made clubs. He knew everyone's height and added "five cens grow room" on the boys'. He'd seen a course and said he'd dreamed of playing, but maintaining a golf course had become a futile endeavor on their worlds. A tennis court was about their logistical limit. Building a playground was painting a target.
           He shopped. They'd brought some clothes, but little else, with them. One of the things they needed was transportation. He saw just what he wanted with a 'For Sale' sign on it.
           "You've GOT to be kidding. My car is in better shape than that."
           "Exactly, Milla. I have one like that at home. We call it Heap. The body is all I really want. I'll build a car IN it. Go to the spaceport. Tell the captain of the Shadach, Swede said four blue with you and James the rest. Yes, it's a code. She'll give you two blue cases. Take them straight to the embassy and hit the sounder four quick times. You'll be let in. Tell them I found Heap the Second and I'll try to get it home."
           "Need a map?"
           "No, we all studied one. Hi, there! Your car?"
           "It's for sale."
           "I noted. High for its looks."
           "I've put work in it."
           "I work on cars too, son. Sometimes there's a pearl lurking in an ugly shell. Show me what you did."
           The kid loved anything with a drive system and he understood them. He and Swede both appreciated what really made a car. He gave Swede the key code and the name of the best custom place he knew of. Swede transferred funds to the 'robot teller' nearest his location and gave him seven hundred fifty in cash. He'd have to register the vehicle to them, but there should be some way to do it discretely.
           He smiled when the drive hummed into power. He didn't plan to do much to it, other than make it do a few 'impossible' things. It already had all the power needed. He was proud of himself. He even paid attention to speed postings on the way home. He honked three times and the gate opened. Milla had just arrived and the garage door was open for him. He went straight in and Barris closed it quickly.
           "Heap the Second and a kid named Andy has done most of the work."
           "Sounds nice, Father."
           "Oh, oh. Come here. What's wrong?"
           "Garand's father needs to have been married to you all too."
           "What did you find?"
           "An interpretation of group marriage that puts a kid whose parents aren't BOTH in the marriage outside it."
           "You told?"
           "You."
           "Hmm, let's check adoption and step-parenting. We may have trouble with their laws, but I don't think anything else could be a problem."
           "He's going to see it too."
           "I'll talk to Kev. You talk to Powell."
           "He's been dealing with their laws a lot longer. Daddy, we ARE exempt."
           "What we told you still goes, Barris. We establish our knowledge of, and willingness to abide by, their laws until they threaten our worlds or family. What would Garand want?"
           "To keep his father. Adoption is a legal replacement. You're all our daddies and we don't have trouble with it, especially Garand."
           "He says he's his momma's boy with his father for spice."
           "I helped him write that line."
           "I like it. Fostering?"
           "GLYNN! Fostering! Like KINGS did!"
           Swede was sure his small boy was going to go end over end, but he didn't. Tibbs got out of his way with the ease of practice and Milla was quick. She got up against the wall as four other small bodies appeared from various directions and went barreling by behind Barris. Well, Tommy was last and he was actually scampering. He'd moved in. He'd been set down in the yard. That meant it was his.
           Danton nodded, Kev yelled and four heads came up from comps. The boys hurried across the courtyard. They liked the arrangement and wanted the pool/spa in the courtyard full. They also wanted a bridge over it. It took too long to go around it.
           "Story time, boys. You tell us. What are you learning, Glynn?"
           "Foster care and fostering are VERY different. Fostering was a measure to give protection to children. If things got terrible, the young lord or lady was sent to someone who had pledged to raise that child AS his father would have. Mostly boys?"
           "Old text male pronoun is used for gender unknown instead of the plural, Glynn."
           "Thanks, Daddy. Barris, you figured it out. You explain it."
           "Garand's father was a warrior. His mother was a pretty high ranking lady. An officer requested you foster the child of the warrior and herself. You are pledged to raise him with your own, as your own, but with the added injunction as his parents would have, to the best of your ability. She would have stayed married to you and raised him with us. You stay married because she would have and it works."
           "You saw lots of things that bothered you, Barris."
           "Yes, Daddy, I did. We're going to have to... "
           "Give our culture a structure for them."
           "That's exactly what I saw, but couldn't say, Daddy."
           "It's the job I was really sent to do, boys. We really do know more about our worlds than anybody but Tagget, and we know more about normal neighborhoods than he does. We've seen more... cracked open."
           "Ow, that one hurt, Danton."
           "Yes, Kev. I'll find an appropriate place for it. I like it, boys. Set it up with Milla. Garand, your father is really the reason we created this family."
           "It's true, Garand. Your mother was fifty-two, just barely. Having children after fifty-five is dangerous. That gave her time for three, not four. You four at once and our marriage to protect you happened because WE would not ask her to give up the chance to give life to her love's child, as she had always said she someday would. SHE had him put seed away. She stored hers too. They wanted a child. We loved your mother, Garand. No one she loved that much would not have won ours. Swede loved him. We found the solution and you are OUR loved child. The concept of fostering fits. We came together for that purpose. You choose how you wish others to see it. We all know it's love that makes us a family and always was."
           "Thank you, Daddy. We'll all work on how to stay it. They know how I feel. Then I'll explain to Milla."
           Garand explained 'one-on-one.' He'd been well coached, but the feeling was all his. He told her their culture had to change. It was becoming truly unified once again. Two hundred years of change since the four worlds had been colonized had been integrated into the emerging culture built in response to war. He was fostered, not adopted. He had three daddies and a father, mother and three half-brothers. It had been to give legal protection to all of them that their daddies had married their mother.
           By their law, he was their child, and his parents' son. Nearly all people in the fleet made fostering arrangements for their children. He and his brothers had eight 'in-case-ofs.' Most children had two or three. The pledge, or duty, of fostering was to raise the child as you did your own and as your own, and remember the lost parents, "so the kid can be like them too." He noted he was his momma's boy with his father thrown in for spice, then credited Barris for the line when she laughed.
           She realized the boys did pair off a bit, but not much. Garand and Barris seemed to be a bit... More matched didn't really express it, but Glynn and Balen were the same. The other three boys and Tibbs sat down around the table in the kitchen with them and she asked real questions.
           The Corner Worlds were developing a totally open elitism. If you were the best person for the job you might as well volunteer because you'd be drafted anyway, navy or civilian. They were building a class system, but it was one where everyone chose their place. You had to give all you were, all the time, to the job of taking care of people to be on top. Their mother had been a patrol pilot. She was way up there. Heroes topped even admirals in their system. Making them officers was considered a dirty trick and their Daddy Swede had made her a commander. He'd put her into the "lords and ladies kind of stuff" of their worlds. She was career navy and "heavy-weight non-com."
           Gradually, Milla realized she really had been chosen as a friend. She began to understand how fast life's great decisions must be made when life could end at any moment. The boys told her she'd volunteered as the best person for the job. She informed them she'd been drafted. They told her she was accorded griping rights, but doing it while someone was shooting at them should be considered as proof she wasn't applying her entire concentration to staying alive. She began to see what she'd really gotten herself into. Battlefield humor from too wise and far too experienced six-year-olds is unnerving.
           "Milla, we don't even want to let you go home, but you should do it now. Daddy will know, won't he, Tibbs?"
           "They all will, Garand. He's right, you should leave before it gets dark. You have a great story to write. You took the admiral shopping and sat down and chatted with the boys over tea. You were with Representative Powell for awhile. You've been drafted into a position somewhat like mine. I have within the gates in my maintaining. I'm a family retainer. You are the other they've chosen."
           "Press Secretary, Tibbs. I've heard that."
           "I like Media Liaison, Balen."
           "I like Cultural Consultant, Glynn. Who knows it better than a reporter? They TALK to people."
           "All right, it's unanimous. Nice, Barris."
           "Thanks, Garand. All right. She butted in. We were having trouble already. Powell had to get us out of the quarantine office. She was the right place at exactly the right time and everything fell in place for a great story. Just before she left, she got a job offer. Tomorrow she asks how much it pays. She gets the little apartment by the garage."
           "I what?!"
           "It'll be nice when they get done with it. You can't live out there and work for them. You wouldn't live very long. You should have an office outside the embassy and work for Danton, but you have to be behind the defenses most of the time. We're at war. You stopped being non-partisan when you helped with the police. You picked the side under attack. Since it IS the right side, we will all work to keep you alive. The job offer WILL be attractive. Mine certainly was. Boys, see Milla to her car."
           "Are they all gone?"
           "Hello, Powell. Milla will return. The boys made her a job offer. She picked our side."
           "They are amazing boys."
           "Their parents are amazing. That's why it was so important they have children."
           "I understand that completely. Job offer?"
           "Cultural Consultant. Barris, of course, will be credited for the line."
           "That's cute, but a very adult concept."
           "They're very adult boys. They've chosen their tasks and worked at them since they were crawling. They are considered part of Danton's staff. Milla was given carefully phrased cultural comparison to establish their daddies' status on our worlds and Garand's parents' status and his. She's exactly who they need to interface with the media. When she becomes a 'family retainer,' it's an obvious promotion. I doubt they'll leave her behind when they leave here."
           "None of them are interested in her?"
           "She's interesting to us all."
           "I see."
           "I always have liked younger women."
           "You're a sly fellow, Tibbs."
           "I was in the navy forty years, Powell. I'm sixty-six and that's the first woman I've ever known I wanted to see smile every day for the rest of my life. I'd like one child, but if she wants twenty, they'll be welcome. Danton won't stay here as long as you did. The boys will probably all go in the fleet if the war goes on."
           "I have trouble... remembering peace."
           "So do I, old man. You're needed at home. Get into the Alliance council and whip them into shape. They're eager recruits. They WANT help building discipline. Get the culture the boys see forming and the direction it MUST take to survive and get them on the track. Danton will be back to take over when he's needed. Hi, Swede. They sent her home with a job offer."
           "They bubbled the story outside when I cleared the gate for her. Nice lady?"
           "I wish I could get Jacka to design for my wedding."
           "VERY nice lady. About time you found someone extra-special, Tibbs."
           "I already had, Swede. This one belongs with me AND them."
           They helped him court her. The apartment by the garage was big enough for at least three. They added a room to it to make sure. Powell was still there the day she and Tibbs went out in her car and came back married. She'd asked him.
           Powell watched the family rearrange itself quickly and easily. The boys no longer needed Tibbs in the next room and he'd established a family. It was a 'sub-family' of theirs. The three men and four boys let Tibbs and Milla choose what that meant. They took the title Family Retainers. He added it to the cultural 'track' he was assembling.
           Powell was more than pleased with Danton and made sure he met the people who would be important to him, including the representative from Beska. Danton turned and walked away.
           "No, Powell, I cannot be polite. I will tell you that now and avoid that woman. When you said Beska, my immediate reaction was to kill her."
           "Staying away DOES seem wiser. You can't avoid her in the League Assembly."
           "I can ignore her. If she forces herself into my attention, I shall tell her what I think of the job she's being paid to do. My opinion of her personally is predicated on that. It's totally in keeping with my culture and my position will be QUITE clear."
           "Good. I've known her too long. To me, she's an old adversary."
           "To me, she's the enemy. The case will be filed tomorrow. I've requested Earth to give us embassy status. That way, if we resign from the League, we shall still have an authorized presence here. I laid out the parameters of their involvement carefully. I requested the status and their participation as intermediary between us and the League ONLY. If the League wishes the ambassador to receive or address them, they can submit a request through the Earth's Department of State."
           "Oh, they'll love that. You'll make them 'the mediators' and put them in the spotlight again. They've had bit parts for quite some time."
           "Secretary Vinner did seem quite pleased with the idea. I chose the lawyer to oversee the case today."
           "Swede said 'that one' and you chose."
           "Exactly. I want regular courier runs. Every fifteen days should be a good schedule. I want letters from home and shall make reports to the Council."
           "Beska?"
           "No longer has a blockade. I shall be sent no secret documents. Diplomatic couriers carry diplomatic materials."
           "Errand boys aren't handed things to be defended with their lives."
           "Exactly. Our couriers have strict instructions to hand over the packet, not their lives. My daughters can write more letters or I can write another report. I shall make that quite public. No one but we can find any real messages in them. Only we have the cultural background to understand what 'newsy bits' are telling us."
           "Most of your reports will be very short."
           "Hello, nothing to report, but we're working on it."
           "The law is a slow process. Who'd you choose?"
           "Erica Cobbles."
           "She's not even a partner in that firm."
           "They were all a bit surprised. She went to work immediately."
           "The right person, obviously. I shall make it VERY clear you want no secrets on the mail run at home too."
           "The listeners will hear. It is essential all courier crews understand they are to surrender. No secret technology is to be used in any mail courier. If this is all stated clearly, Beska will further embarrass themselves if they take one. I hope to keep them ALL alive, but the Fleet needs to know what's happening here and we need to know what's happening there."
           "Swede made an impression which won't be forgotten."
           "I wondered if you were going to mention that. He's now an 'associated officer' with full use of all the facilities at the Officers Club. He wanted to play that golf course. He LOVES that silly game."
           "He stepped out of the gate, snapped orders, obviously expecting them to be obeyed and they were."
           "Ordering the police to post defense warning signs was something he knew they'd do quickly. The other was being exactly the right place to help. He was nearly giggling when he put that uniform on. Sont handed it to him in a grocery sack when he retired. She'd put all his 'earned, but you can't hang one on him' orders and medals on it. She told him it was in a sack because she couldn't LIFT it to get it on a hanger, IF she'd found one sturdy enough to hold it."
           "If he hadn't been wearing it for that luncheon at the base and headed there, he wouldn't have seen, or been able to move in and take over at that site."
           "You two are talking about me."
           "We are, Swede. How's that boy?"
           Swede smiled. Danton knew how 'that boy' was. The med center comm op had giggled and suggested his family talk to each other. It seemed Kev, Powell, Danton, Tibbs, Milla and Garand had all called to check within the previous ten minutes.
           The accident had been a fluke and nearly a tragedy. Swede had seen the construction tower support platform slide and the load swing. He'd yelled "STOP!" and leapt out of the car. An amateur cam op had grabbed cam and gotten the scene as the big, bemedaled, 'foreign officer' grabbed cable from the bridge repair site, tied it off, slid down a hundred meters to the ground below and ran for the place the load had crashed down, yelling orders the whole way.
           The crew had used the remaining coil of the cable he'd grabbed when he hit ground, and tossed them as he went by, to tie off the wobbling tower, first to the bridge support, then to "anything else" to stabilize it. The major tragedy had been avoided. The two hundred meter tower would not hit the bridge or fall into a neighborhood. The load had.
           The crane controller had done exactly the right thing. She'd dropped the load to reduce pull on the tower and give them a chance to steady it. She wept, but stayed on the controls. Her fast thinking and superb skill had been why the tower was wobbling, not bucking, but she'd had to drop the load.
           Swede had physically gotten people moving. He'd grabbed two good-size, stunned young men and shoved them into action. A woman had come charging down the street at the head of a class of twenty-odd twelve year olds and Swede had organized them into a clearance crew. In five minutes, they'd found two people.
           The woman begged them to find her son. The man began digging with his hands the instant he was gotten out from under a beam. Swede stopped him. The rubble was supporting some of the fallen load. He got him on clearing the load and two men pitched girders four were needed to lift. The construction crew arrived at a dead run and Swede ordered them to shore up walls and get them down fast if they couldn't. They got them supported.
           The kids cleared rubble as fast as it was exposed, always from the direction Swede had told them. In less than ten minutes, the boy, about fifteen, had been found and Swede went to work on him. The phys ed teacher had brought a medical kit. Swede had the boy's leg set and splinted and pressure bandages on two deep gashes by the time emergency services got there. The emtechs had taken over after Swede had gotten done. One had later stated he was working as fast as the two of them could and obviously had more experience with the type of injuries the boy had suffered. The beaming ER physician said the emergency treatment had been perfect.
           Swede dusting himself off, saluting his 'crew' and climbing the cable back to his car had been seen on every network newscast. The amateur op's first four minutes of vid bought her a new cam and a new car to carry it in.
           When Swede arrived at the luncheon, he'd apologized for his rumpled and damp condition. He'd received a standing ovation and full officer's privileges. The am op had been running a 'live' connect to Associated Networks' Hot Tip Line through her car comm. An alert member of the club staff had seen 'uniform' and switched on the monitors all over the Officer's Club. They'd seen the whole thing by the time he got there.
           Tibbs had arrived within ten minutes with the boys bringing fresh clothes. The boys, of course, had made an 'outstanding impression' and Swede's return in the dressy outfit Jacka's staff had created for him hadn't damaged his image. He looked good in a burnoose, flowing pants and 'interesting' gold jewelry.
           The comm calls from the mayor, head of the construction company and Earth's president hadn't hurt either. His statement, his clearest memory of the incident was the physical education teacher's comm number, brought laughter and made him friends. Earth was moving into the Alliance's corner as friend. The Alliance didn't need allies if Beska didn't get them.
           "I hope they vote to rescind, Danton, but I don't think they will, not yet."
           "Then I shall resign and bring suit for damages, Powell. Obviously, I don't expect them to either, or I wouldn't have told our attorneys to be ready to file today. Swede, you did what you do best and pulled Earth's attention to us quite favorably. Show off."
           "I couldn't resist. I'd told the driver to stay put. Seemed silly to wait twenty minutes to have the car brought down and YOU had made me climb lots of cables and ropes. So, I just climbed up to the bridge and ordered my driver on. The police got us right through the jam up. I didn't want to be late after I'd FINALLY gotten an invitation to that club. What a golf course!"
           "No, I'm too busy tomorrow. I can't play a 'quick eighteen,' before breakfast OR after lunch."
           "Oh, well. I'll have to ask Kev. It doesn't bother me as badly when he gets a better score as it does when the boys do. I hear they picked a teacher."
           "Yes, they have. He doesn't give classes, teaches only very advanced and does NOT teach children."
           "Sounds like the right one. They plan?"
           "A pre-dawn outing to accompany his morning run and performance of his 'sun greeting.' His wife is helping them schedule. She does teach classes and children."
           "He's going to want to know why you don't continue teaching them."
           "Then I shall tell him. Powell, do stay and say farewell to your colleagues if you wish. I'm going to leave. Frankly, I'm bored stiff and not enthused about the company."
           "Which you want me to 'gently' explain to potential hosts. I'll catch a ride. I've been doing it for years."
           "And setting it up for us, your 'relief,' to make a major splash. It was well done, Powell."
           "Gee, Swede, does that mean you've definitely decided not to 'cheerfully strangle that old man.' We leaving?"
           "Kev! Help. I also said, 'then he stands up and tells it like it is and I know he's the one we need there,' Powell. That was... before Kev and Tanner made the run."
           "It was the only truly important packet that was ever sent, Swede. Without it, I'd have watched Beska's entire delegation grabbing sympathy and been able to DO nothing because I knew nothing. The courier run makes sense."
           "Call it a news packet, make it civilian and offer mail service on it."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Run it both ways every twelve days with the ships flashing lights to each other and heavy media coverage at home. It's not an economic endeavor because it will ALWAYS lose money. Corporate donations for support are acceptable IF the corporations expect ONLY the benefits of it as an information source, VERY public institution."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "It's a good basis for a future industry, Powell. Help them see it."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Swede, put together a pseudo-military organizational structure following the cultural guidelines we've been putting together."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Goodnight, Powell. We've got to go to have it ready to take with you. We'll send our ship in ten days. The first packet should come back with it two days later."
           "Yes, Kev."
           "Swede, I'm driving."
           "Yes, Kev. Goodnight, Powell."
           "Goodnight. Danton, a moment."
           "It's why we do exactly what he says when he starts giving orders and why Swede would have never forced him into a superior position even as enlisted. His orders are always important because they're always about love. You see, I need our worlds to become stronger and wiser and safe for children to go out and play in the sun. He builds what I need. Our boys and Swede help. He'll use all of human space if needed. He'd use the universe if necessary. He was born with the ability. Tanner TAUGHT him to love. Goodnight."
           They built it together. The boys were ecstatic. It was the first time they participated in a real way and they 'pulled an all-nighter' with their dads. So did Tibbs and Milla.
           The nine of them set up in the living room and moved the furniture. The first steps were laying down chart paper, tossing many different colored markers on it and taking off their shoes. More paper was laid close and the second step began. Swede quickly drew a 'box sketch' organizational chart and they began to fill it in. The first step was matching it to the boys "social stuff" chart and choosing the 'status' of the personnel.
           Milla told them to call it the Pony Express and Earth would love it. The boys ran for the comps against the wall, looked up the reference and whooped. It was perfect. Crews were dubbed Riders and their captain titled Carrier. A Carrier was also a Rider. The 'desk person' at both ends was Station Master. Station Hand was maintenance personnel's proud title and other staff were Stationers. Barris had said "No!" to Station Keepers. He said it sounded like cleaning people and those should be called something else. He'd spent an hour with a slightly distracted look, but came up with Stationers for all other staff. Sub-titles of First and Second were noted as recommended for assistants and such.
           The boys impressed their daddies and pleased Tibbs immensely. They did the one thing their dads hadn't expected. Glynn napped first, then Barris, Balen and finally Garand. Glynn explained Garand could "stay awake better," then be refreshed after a nap. He did better "splitting long times in half." Barris was "done naming by his turn" and Balen needed "to be fresher" toward morning.
           Daddies refrained from asking how they'd discovered it, but eyed Tibbs a bit. Garand got him off the hook when he said Tinse had said to tell them they could blame her, but she'd liked the company the two nights Ketise was sick and she'd sat up with her. Tibbs just smiled. He'd helped the boys plan two reasonable arrangements to try. The other was designed to keep three on watch and all fairly well rested over a longer span than one night. It was what they'd asked for.
           Early in the morning, Danton handed his report and the proposal and layout to Powell. They were rather in the news still so they had good media coverage.
           "The Pony Express?"
           "Powell, we have four six-year-olds. Actually, it's rather appropriate. This proposal is about carrying news and the mail. Definitely civilian and NO secret materials of ANY kind are acceptable. It must be publicly funded but a healthy grant from the Council would be nice."
           "I'll twist a few arms. Danton, it's still dangerous to send a ship anywhere from our worlds."
           "The crews, Riders, have absolute orders to surrender. There will be NOTHING in it WORTH dying for. Powell, they MUST understand that."
           "Your wife was killed delivering the ONLY vital packet I ever received. She was far from the first, but... her effort was not wasted."
           "She never wasted a moment of her life. Even if the blockade is not officially lifted today, this service is exempt. It is not an economic venture. It CAN'T make money. The schedule will be clearly stated so the ships CAN'T be mistaken. If the Beska believe something is out of order, they CAN search. By the Freedom of Information Flow act, this IS blockade excluded. If one of those people die, it will be murder and I'll make sure everyone knows it BEFORE it happens. You do the same."
           "Unarmed ships?"
           "I would like to say yes, but... I have no confidence Beska ships will accept a surrender, or not just use them for target practice."
           "Danton, the goal is peace."
           "Oh, yes. Peace from missiles that kill children on their playgrounds and in their beds. Peace from the question why for which we have no answer because Beska has never answered it. Peace from learning the heart of neighborhoods by seeing them... cracked open, that nurturing shell broken and the young life within them filling gutters with their blood, and the dying promise of their futures. Yes, Powell, more than anything, I want peace."
           Powell took his hand in farewell and turned without speaking further. An irreverent thought nearly made him smile. He wondered if the tears trembling on his lashes looked as good as the ones on Danton's. He straightened his back and stepped aboard the ship. The answer was no and Danton was the best man for the job. He'd been handed the one for which he was now the best suited.
           Powell watched the debate, the vote and Danton's ringing denunciation of the League's ethics, his withdrawal of the Corner Worlds Alliance from membership in it because "It's pure stupidity to pay to belong to an organization PAYING to have us SLAUGHTERED!" and his abrupt exit. He smiled as the comm faded when they passed out of range. The last image had been of Earth's delegation and the spectators rising to their feet and applauding. Danton's family had won Earth's friendship. It was all they really had to have.
           Danton went from the League Assembly to Earth's State Department. The Secretary of State took him to the President's office and they went to congress together. The Four Corners Alliance had an embassy on Earth and Ambassador Danton Lamb Tanner walked into court with their attorneys just over two hours after leaving the League Hall.
           He would never accept the title or position of League Representative again. If the sanctions were lifted and they were invited to return, another would be sent.
           Four groggy little boys made it through dinner and greeting Daddy, then headed for beds. They'd stayed up through the day watching 'Daddy do it on vid' and they had very early morning plans. They didn't know Danton, not Tibbs, would be going with them.

    Chapter Six

            Danton watched their boys carefully follow the teacher's precise sun greeting movement by movement. They hadn't had much trouble keeping up on the run either. The average height, late middle-age, man was not average. He liked them. He could have easily outrun them, but he hadn't. Danton thought him easily running along behind the boys and grinning had helped a bit.
           "Why do you follow me?"
           "Because we need the BEST one to teach US. I'm Glynn."
           "We can't be just advanced STUDENTS. I'm Balen."
           "We have to become leaders. I'm Barris."
           "We have to stay alive to do all that. Wouldn't you LIKE to train the four best warriors in an emerging warrior culture? The first REAL warriors since the samurai? Oh, I'm Garand."
           "HE'S the one who wants to carry a sword."
           "Glynn's convinced him to wait til we get big enough to forge him one."
           "YOU may never got big enough, Balen."
           "My father's small, Teacher. It's NOT a handicap."
           "Unless he's reaching for the top shelf, then he calls my father. I'm NOT as clumsy as I look, Teacher."
           "Barris just LOOKS like he's on stilts and has branches for arms. Glynn and I are pretty average size. HE'S faster."
           "Garand's stronger. You just got... Daddy?"
           "A demonstration of how they work. They laid out their identities and gave you mental tags to help you with names. I'm Ambassador Danton Lamb Tanner."
           "Saun. Why do YOU wish me to teach them?"
           "Because they chose you and I trust their combined judgment in ALL things. They usually include Tibbs, our family retainer, in that combination. You will see him often. We need private lessons behind the defenses. We're at war."
           "Why do YOU wish me to teach them?"
           "They should know how to fight. I only kill. When one ONLY hunts to kill, there is no point in learning blows which do not. I'm an assassin. I only killed those who sell lives. I was a spy hunter. I am no more. I am now the best for this job. The boys are the best for their task or they wouldn't have been the ones to define it. They've cross-referenced the word warrior and pulled EVERY cultural reference including utopias, legend and popular media. Garand will be the 'great warrior' among them. He's already got his part picked out. Barris is working on lines for him. He's always credited for lines, by the way. They're not average and they're not normal, but they are very healthy mentally and emotionally. Because you are the BEST to teach THEM."
           "An hour together and fifteen minutes each every five days, an adult present or quite nearby during group work. Sparring is dangerous. That's why pads are essential."
           "There will be a fully equipped room prepared. Tell us what you want in it."
           "Come on in. I imagine Tierna is expecting company. Tier, you set me up."
           "I was right."
           "You always are. I just put up SOME resistance to get noticed. You have met?"
           "The boys. Hi, guys."
           "This is one of the boys' daddies, Ambassador Danton Lamb Tanner."
           "Danton. Thank you, Tierna. I wish we could stay a bit, but I may have a busy day already waiting. Saun, call the embassy. The code was appropriately listed yesterday. You teaching them will be public knowledge and above-board. The boys will have music, dance and sports instructors as well. I look at you two and know we'd like to become close friends, but we aren't safe to have as close friends. Take the wish for the deed in spirit and please understand."
           "Honey, I like ambassadors. Bring more home."
           "We understand, Danton. Thank you for the wish. Tomorrow at fourteen?"
           "Boys?"
           "Teacher Saun, we're best together about ten. Balen and Barris hit their best before me and Garand. Well, before me anyway. Probably the best arrangement is Balen, then Barris at nine-thirty, all of us at ten and me, then Garand, til eleven-thirty."
           "I'm good til then, but hunger strikes and I hunt food. If you're scheduled, you're scheduled, but we worked out when we'd be at our best so you'd have background."
           "Background is Garand's current catch word and has been for DAYS."
           "Give me a new one, Barris. Nine-thirty, sir?"
           "Not tomorrow. Let's start at fourteen tomorrow, for an assessment, then nine-thirty the next morning for a real lesson. I can work it into the schedule without too much shuffling, I think."
           "Til tomorrow then."
           Danton listened to the boys working on a schedule in the back of the 'family car,' which had been their second vehicle purchase. He began working on the idea of embassy. When they arrived at 'the embassy,' both the boys and he presented the results of their deliberations.
           The boys had built themselves a very full schedule. They'd put it all on a five or ten day rotation. They all wanted piano and guitar lessons, plus each had chosen another instrument to learn. They asked for swimming, soccer, tennis and fencing as well. They were offered dance instead of fencing as good training for it and other things. Fencing was something Kev thought should wait a couple years. The boys opted for ballet and "fancy couple stuff." They were reminded all lessons much be practiced and a considerable slowdown in academic accomplishment wasn't acceptable. The other activities were considered important enough "some" was.
           Danton's thoughts took a lot more discussion and more careful planning. An embassy required a staff. They decided what it should be and went to work. First the house must become an embassy. Building supply trucks started arriving in minutes. They didn't require a great deal. Nearly everything needed was stored in the embassy.
           Swede, Danton and Kev went 'shopping.' They drove around looking at recently completed and in-progress renovations. The young man supervising the finishing touches on a large home was handed a contract and plans and asked not to hire anyone new. He looked at the plans, read the contract and stated they'd be there at eight the next morning. As they got in the car, they heard him whoop and call his crew. The contract was a good one and their careful attention to detail had paid off. Two siblings and three cousins would not be out of work for awhile and the showplace they'd create would build their family business reputation.
           They stopped by the offices of a very reputable employment contractor and gave a young man they all liked a list. He whooped before they got out of the main office. He had people in mind already.
           They'd barely gotten home when the comm went crazy. They'd suddenly been added to Earth's social register. Milla took on the task of trying to manage the growing list of "balls, galas, teas, luncheons, breakfasts, suppers, dinners, banquets and get-togethers." She was rapidly inundated.
           By noon Swede was interviewing. He talked to the second applicant for housekeeper, looked at his work record and references and excused himself. He walked back in with Milla. She looked the late middle-age, hearty-looking, man over and said, "You're hired. Help!" He found out his job wasn't as housekeeper. He went to work as Milla's knowledgeable "man Friday." He knew who, how and whether or not to schedule or invite by acquaintance. He was delighted. He was also the right man for the job.
           Swede hired the plump "grumpy" woman who stated the job "wouldn't be starting from scratch" and raids on the cookie jar "won't be tolerated with less than a half hour remaining before meals." Her smile and brusque humor delighted him and Claudina, Laudy, Eddert went to work. Tibbs and she started banter and a friendship before they left Swede's 'office' on a tour around. She "might as well meet the little devil's going to keep me to my elbows in cookie dough." The boys adored her. Tommy happily investigated her wide lap and she explained what she wanted in the apartment being built for her in the south wing of the L shaped house, separate from the office complex.
           They'd decided family areas began at the front door. Laudy's apartment was 'attached to' the family home. The offices were not. Any social functions the ambassador hosted were in his home at his invitation or a hotel would be rented. That would be most common, though lawn parties without house entry would not be uncommon.
           Two comfortable efficiency apartments were being constructed at the rear of the back lawn. Two marines from the four stationed with the ship would occupy them before, during and after heavy-traffic periods for the embassy. They would guard the gate. The residence was Tibbs' to guard. He was the retainer. The contact with the social structure they were building would teach it to the marines. They'd work hard to play their parts well.
           They'd become well acquainted on the twelve day trip to Earth. Their captain and 'sarge' would be invited. She'd be terrific as 'veteran warrior.' She was a feminine little thing and a thirty year marine. She complained they hadn't landed anywhere in thirty years. It was about time the Beska went home so she could. She had three children she wanted to help raise, but she couldn't go back to the farm until the farm didn't require her defense of it. She was "very married, thanks for the compliment" and nobody was fool enough to be persistent. Her squad didn't like it. She kept them alive. People didn't bother her.
           The captain was totally different. Deelena was a classic beauty of Amazonian proportions. She didn't look small next to Swede. She too was very married, but to the fleet. It required vows of honor and loyalty. Fidelity had not been mentioned. She was a lady to her toes and no one looked better in a swimsuit or ball gown. Her "current flame" was in the squad. He'd been current eight years. They had two children. The children were being 'fostered.'
           She was a captain. She had a responsibility to assure her children were raised as she wished. Their foster care went four 'in-case-ofs.' The admiral's children's went eight, nine if you counted Garand and Tanner's original commitment. She'd known them. She'd always counted it. She lived their emerging culture. She would like her part. She was considered a "bad influence on the boys." Rather like Tinse. She'd been a good security officer, then she'd been a good pilot. She was now the right one for captain of the mission. She and the sarge were Tibbs' 'inside help' if someone needed watching.
           The ship assigned to the embassy took off two days later to deliver the first report and return with staff for the mail service. They carried the record of their very public departure with them. They also carried an invitation from Earth Postal Service to use their port facilities and a signed lease on office space in their port building. A four-apartment building nearby had been leased for the Station Master and Station Hands. It was considered an away station. Leave would be scheduled. Families would stay home. If Stationers were needed, they'd be sent or hired on Earth. Which, would be decided when they were needed.
           The Pony Express was a romantic notion and so were the ambassador and his family, but his abrupt entry into a presidential question-and-answer session was totally 'Ooh, have you seen him?'
           "Madam, the people of Earth, through their representatives, have stated they agree WE believe we have a grievance with the League, NOT they agree WITH us. We would not put them in that position and they would not put their people in it. We are at WAR. We do not wish it widened and we seek no allies. Our goal is to remove the reason they give for staying. We hope they'll just go home. We do not need help. We need respect and NON-involvement. The president and all those around us have decided that's what the people of Earth want to give. We are honored and will respect the extent of their gift. It will not be abused. That would be unworthy of the respect. Gen President, please excuse me. When worlds are at war, a misspoken word can involve innocents. It was my duty as ambassador and recipient of friendship in my worlds' name to insure speculation and rumor were ended."
           "I quite understand, Ambassador. You have always been adamant the people know exactly how far we have committed them."
           "We're careful ours do, Gen President. We are QUITE sure yours deserve the same respect from us."
           "How's the Pony Express doing?"
           "Danton, the question seems to be for you."
           "It does at that, Sir. The mail service is beginning its fourth run tomorrow. Another ship was added to give more maintenance time. It will allow layovers for crews and a few more of our people will get to see Earth and meet its people."
           "The Pony Express didn't last long."
           "It has lasted this long or you would not remember the reference. We're a rather romantic people in spirit. We have heroes among us to emulate, and our children liked it. That DOES count as a weighted vote. Gen President, please tell them about the new trading stamp you authorized."
           "The Postal Service has located both a Pony Express 'stamp' and a national Post Office commemorative stamp. One hundred thousand sets of the reissue will be sold to benefit the Louvre."
           "Gen President, the Louvre needs more funding than a stamp collection. You cut five million from arts funding in your budget proposal. Many people ask why."
           "Our current level of economic growth allows the public to participate directly in support of the arts. They do not need extensive government support to flourish. When times are difficult, it is the duty of the government to aid the arts because the people cannot, and we have all agreed on their importance. The money is more needed elsewhere."
           Danton and the president walked out of the conference together and the President thanked him for handing him the conference back. Danton grinned and said he hadn't been sure it would be appreciated. The group had prepared much tougher questions on the budget than the Pony Express. The president heartily agreed. They'd accomplished what they'd intended, even if not quite the way they'd planned. Notice had been publicly given Earth was not involved in any dispute.
           A few weeks later a very impolite question drew a stare from Kev and an angry response from Swede. He managed to toss the data disk to, not throw it at, the person who'd asked the question.
           "That's a letter home. It'll SHOW you our home life. You might as well see it. Nearly every child on four worlds will see at least part of it. We are VERY public figures on our worlds. That is an extremely important responsibility. Our lives must be worthy of the trust. SEE who my fellow husband is in our family BEFORE you speak foolishly. His task more directly affects our worlds than ours. He is paid because he contributes VASTLY to the function of this embassy. He and our SONS are introducing the children of our worlds to Earth. Don't look so surprised. We told you nothing we sent home was a secret."
           The 'letter' was given to other networks to be fair. The Education Secretary of Earth asked for 'storytime' for the school curricula. The boys telling Kev what they'd learned about Earth and interspersing it with vid of them learning in museums, on the streets and at a comp was a regular part of letters home. Kev gently declined. The possibility of Beska claiming it was propaganda was just too great. It allowed the possibility of Earth being verbally attacked. They would assist the Department in creating its own storytime. He recommended the children of other ambassadors star in it. The show was a 'hit' with the school children. No one asked what Kev did for his pay again.
           One day Swede yelled he'd "had it" and told them all to get in the family car, including Tibbs and Milla. He drove. He stopped at a dealership, walked in, walked out with a keycode release, handed it to Milla and pointed at a dressy sedan. She grinned and followed the family car in it. Tibbs rode with her.
           Swede's next stop was predictable. He'd put off visiting the shop Andy had told him about "long enough" and been "taking turns or begging a ride TOO long." He wanted a car. They chose three.
           The work on the embassy was completed and they moved into office space and went to work on their part. The pools were filled, lighting and fountains installed and a 'party hut' built. The bar and toilets in it would negate the need for casual guests to enter the ambassador's residence. Dell's lawn party program was their pattern. The exercise and music rooms facing the back lawn held no crystal chandeliers, but in their own way, were as impressive.
           Laudy hired "some help." Two people came in three days in ten and for 'special events.' Tibbs always "took care of the gentlemen's suites." Laudy always "spiffed up the boys' rooms."
           They'd been on Earth a half-year when Danton declared a five day holiday. Tibbs, Milla and the boys headed for ski slopes and the three men headed for an adult playground where they would be minor celebrities.
           Kev had a strange look in his eye and Swede was very restless. It was time they had some fun and met some women, especially Kev. He'd been 'a good boy' far too long. The opportunity for him to find an interesting companion had just not arisen. Danton decided it was time to look for opportunity. They began on beaches and in spas that had been catering to the wealthy for hundreds of years. The casinos nearby had changed structure and names many times, but hadn't really changed. They were still nearby.
           They all met ladies they really liked and all 'kept company' for their five day vacation. The three ladies had 'picked them out' on the beach the first day. They didn't mind being noted as "being seen with" the famed vid stars. The ladies were rather pleased the gentlemen weren't familiar with their careers.
           When their five days were over, they'd made several 'personal' friends. When asked, those friends stated they had declared "vacation" and not spoken of their worlds or their work on Earth.
           Kev had gotten a bit more involved than Swede and Danton. When Shali Flaine was asked why she was visiting the capital ten days later, she retorted, "You've GOT to know the answer to that." Kev was delighted to see her. When she left her hotel for the spaceport twelve days later, she lamented having to be on the set. Kev saw her off. Storytime in the next letter home was about the entertainment media with Shali answering questions. It was subtitled, Daddy and the Vid Star.
           At age seven, the boys began establishing their own social activities. By age eight, they were accomplished hosts. Fencing lessons were begun. The suit wound its slow way through the courts and the ambassador and his family made friends.
           They'd been on Earth eight years, with three vacations home, when the suit hit the Interstellar Supreme Court and things broke wide open.
           The Earth representative stood up in the League and stated she was going to be very embarrassed to be a member of an organization founded on the ideal of peace and found guilty of paying mercenaries to kill people. The Four Corners Alliance hadn't broken any of the economic sanctions, only refused to allow Beska to maintain a blockade, and they'd suffered fewer casualties since they'd declared war. So far that war had only been fought in their own space.
           The economic sanctions were rescinded by a wide margin and Beska was offered aid in retraining troops. Their representative stomped out in anger. Media swarmed around the embassy once more. Danton spoke to them.
           "For eight years, I have sought this one action. The Beska now have a good reason to stop and just go home. We won't follow. We'd declare the war over and happily put it behind us. They can't WIN a war against us without allies and what would they do with us if they did? I hope it's over. Our sons are fourteen. They want to go home. We've loved it here, but our home calls to us. We have been invited to rejoin the League. I have requested a representative be sent. The embassy will remain such, but the new League Representative will also be ambassador. Whether that person serves in time of war or time of peace is up to Beska. We all hope it's peace. None of us want to send another generation into battle. It is time for it to end."
           Eight years means a lot of friends made and a lot of memories as well. It had been longer than any of them had expected. The boys were approaching young manhood and "enough muscle to forge a sword." The culture they had helped define awaited them, but good-byes are always painful. They waited. When the new ambassador's ship arrived, none were surprised to see Shuna and Clegg.
           Danton was delighted in the wisdom the council had shown. Earth was too good a friend for them to send a part-time ambassador. Clegg was appointed 'full-time' and Shuna was League Representative. They, of course, liked the staff and vice versa. The family stayed fifteen days 'getting them started,' then went home.
           Tommy wasn't old yet, but he was far from a kitten. You wouldn't have known it to see him tearing around the yard and house. He was really home and knew it. The family spread into the house and Tibbs and Milla moved into the 'cottage' Keller, Mike, Linsy, Tinse and Dell had built for them.
           Dell had finally begun a family the year before. There were three adults and two children in it. Blanda lived in their house with the children. Dell and Dav were both on ship duty. So was Linsy. Mike and she had four children with his two and Tinse and Keller had three. Milla added twin boys to the children on the estate two days after they arrived. They'd all wondered if they'd be born en route.
           Kev's thirty-fifth and Danton's sixty-third birthdays were both peaceful, as was the time between them, but by the boys' fifteenth, they knew it was temporary.
           Beska had officially ended the blockade, but their ships hadn't gone home. They were no longer under even nominal control. The League sanctions and Beska had created an armada of marauders. The Corner Worlds Alliance had created a force to fight them.
           The Alliance reestablished trade with other worlds carefully. Their trade goods had been grain, fish and manufactured products. They reopened it with rare minerals and gems. Danton was called upon to go to Earth once more. They had something else to trade, but not until it had certain protection.
           Danton arrived on Earth and led excited media to the embassy and, from there, to the patent office of the Interstellar Court.
           Patenting was a simple process and the office small. Computers ran a comparison program that checked for duplication of other patents, then a simulation program to assess a design for 'workability.' The three members of the staff weren't ready to be handed eight racks of data disks, delivered by Alliance marines, and told they wouldn't be leaving until all were processed.
           When the news hit, two days later, that the Alliance had been granted nineteen thousand four hundred seventeen separate patents, people went crazy. Danton was shoved in front of the cams by Clegg. At least he could answer some of the questions.
           "Please, please, don't shout. We're old acquaintances and you know I'll give you much more time if you're not behaving like a mob. Nineteen thousand patents is few for four worlds in a forty-three year period."
           "We're told thousands of them are complete innovation and nearly EVERY industry will be changed by some of them."
           "Our industries HAD to change. New methods HAD to be developed. I imagine Beska has been using some of those innovations for some time, but most of those patents were submitted by individuals. They have spoken to no one about them prior to this, especially not on our worlds. Each person made the decision of whether an innovation would save more lives if given to the government or cost more lives if Beska was equipped with it."
           "Can you give us an example?"
           "Yes, Connis, I can. In that garage is a 'battered old heap.' It contains an invention of Admiral Swede's. It's something he came up with twenty years ago and only that vehicle and one very like it on Tosca contain his invention. Only about fifteen people know of it. Swede knew it would give the Beska capabilities which could increase our death toll a hundred fold. So, for nearly twenty years, two battered old cars have been the ONLY anti-gravity vehicles in existence."
           "That's not possible!"
           "Since Clegg is taking me to the spaceport in it, sir, why don't you ATTEMPT to follow and reconsider your statement. Shall we go, Clegg?"
           "Danton, it's a good thing I didn't decide to sell that old heap."
           "Who'd buy it? Besides, it's too handy to run away in to part with and you never junk anything that works. Touch the Q code and key it. Now do it again. You now have a-grav. Do be careful. The car isn't pressurized and we could suddenly be a bit too high to breathe."
           "Yipe. The wheel?"
           "Pull up gently, then turn it slightly left."
           "It clicked."
           "You now have the same control system as most hovering craft. I watched him build both cars. He, and many others, have skills they couldn't use. Either because they were too dangerous, or other skills were too needed for them to spare the time. Swede and Kev both fell into both categories. For that matter, so do the boys and I. Twelve of those apps were mine. The boys have fourteen. Kev has one hundred thirty-seven. Swede has sixty-one. Twenty-four of Swede's are IN this car. Fly."
           Danton stayed four days. He said the embassy echoed with good memories, but was no longer home. The Pony Express yelled for help before he left. They were being buried in mail. He told them four cargo ships were being refitted and Daisy, Dobbin, Plowboy and Potsy would be on-line and on their way before he reached Tosca. The Stationmaster said she hoped they'd be enough.
           When Kev's drive system designs were found among the newly issued patents, millions packed. Within two years, a diaspora had begun. Over sixty 'choice' worlds were now close enough to colonize. The former members of Beska's fleet were offered amnesty, land and aid in the new colonies. Thousands accepted. Thousands did not. At last those 'with no place to go' had been separated from those who were marauders by choice. As their stocks ran out, they began to prove it. The war was finally over. The time of battle was not.


    Contents / Intro / Adult Women / General Audience / Style and Content
    Roll Credits / Awarded by a Talespinner / Award Mantle
    Requisite Author Bio



    Copyright (c) 1999 Sharon L 'Spinner' Reddy
    All Rights Reserved