DEL KELLUM
Del was going to miss his spunky granddaughter, and he had even grown fond of the studious Howard Rohandas. More important, he envied them their opportunity to study at Fireheart Station. The energy-membrane farms, the exotic-materials harvesting, the power-block manufacture—that was the epitome of what Roamers had once been.
After they got settled in the central Fireheart complex tucked in a quiet backwater of the roaring nebula gases, Del called the station manager. As a former Speaker of the clans, Del knew everyone, and Station Chief Beren Alu still owed him a few favors. Del hoped the man remembered that.
Del took Shareen and Howard up to deck six to find the manager, only to discover that Alu’s office was dark and cluttered, apparently dedicated to storage more than administration.
“Doesn’t look like he ever even uses his office,” said Shareen. “What kind of manager is that?”
Del hooked his thumbs at his waist. “Take it as a good sign, by damn. That means he’s out doing productive work, rather than playing with red tape.”
A small skinny man in his mid-fifties moved briskly down the metal-walled corridor. He had shoulder-length hair and a drooping gray mustache that resembled a pair of rodent tails on either side of his mouth. Though he looked harried, Beren Alu managed a grin. “Del Kellum, I hear you brought me a pair of competent employees who’ll work for free!”
“You’re in charge of getting your own workers, Beren. My granddaughter and her friend want to serve as apprentices to Kotto.”
“Everyone wants to serve as apprentices to Kotto, but he hasn’t accepted anybody before.”
“We’ll be good workers,” Shareen said. “Best he’s ever seen.”
“And we do appreciate the opportunity, sir,” Howard added. “We’ll earn our keep.”
“Oh, it’s not that,” Alu said. “Kotto’s just a terrible manager, doesn’t know what to do with help. He dabbles by himself.”
Del patted Shareen on her shoulder. “You two will have to be independent, prove yourselves to Kotto.”
“We will, sir,” said Howard. “I’m sure Kotto Okiah must have some busywork for us to do.”
Alu tossed an unidentifiable wrapped packet onto the desk clutter, which slid and toppled to the deck. He didn’t seem to care where it landed. “Come with me. Kotto’s doing an orientation lecture for a group of visiting Ildiran scientists. They want to see the keystone stars and the nebula light. It’s some religious thing for them.”
Del put his beefy hands against Shareen’s and Howard’s backs. “Let’s go, then. Make a good impression.”
The skinny station chief guided them down to a docking ring suspended beneath the headquarters complex. Next to an inspection ship, twenty Ildiran scientists stood in a group, all wearing similar alien clothing. An uneasy-looking man in his sixties with tousled hair and squinting eyes—Kotto Okiah—paced as a holographic projection played in the air. It was a standard PR orientation loop in which a well-dressed Beren Alu gave a presentation.
“Here at Fireheart Station, we survive and profit from the worst the universe throws against us. We are Roamers. Our clan history is fraught with accidents and tragedies, as well as daring successes. Turmoil? Hardship? We’ll catch it and throw it back in their faces. Fireheart Station epitomizes the Roamer mindset. It is a place where we manufacture and also conduct research. It’s a place where we work miracles. Thank you.” Alu’s face dissipated as the projection ended.
Kotto Okiah gestured at the air, as if glad he didn’t have to deliver the basic speech himself. “Well, that gives you the background about this place, though I suspect you already knew most of it. Our most important current project is the Big Ring, my gigantic physics experiment that will reveal fundamental details about the very fabric of space-time itself. We’ve been building it for five years, but we’re reaching the final stages now. So much to do!”
Without waiting for Station Chief Alu to introduce them, Del came forward, extending his hand. “And I’ve brought two people who can help you out, Kotto. All that work you couldn’t get finished, all those prototype projects—here’s the brainpower you need.”
The scientist took a moment to recognize him. “Del Kellum! I didn’t know you were coming here.”
“You should have received my request.” Del gave a quick sidelong look to Alu, who shrugged. “My granddaughter and her friend are here as your new lab assistants. Geniuses in training, by damn. Put them to work.”
Kotto looked around as if harried. “Sorry, I didn’t get any request … or maybe the message is still in my inbox.” He pointed to two compies who stood at the side of the inspection ship. “But I already have assistants. KR and GU have helped me for years.”
“You need some fresh blood,” Shareen said, and Del smiled. His granddaughter wouldn’t take no for an answer. “And we’re determined to help you finish all those projects you don’t have time to do.”
Howard added, “We’re really looking forward to this, sir.”
Before the scientist could respond, Del added, “And thank you, Kotto—you’re doing me a great personal favor. They’ve both been instructed to impress the hell out of you.”
Kotto looked indecisive. Before he could answer, one of the Ildiran visitors interrupted, “Can you please explain more about your Big Ring structure? We intend to build our own light-gathering and concentration apparatus, which may allow us to study or detect the Shana Rei.”
Beren Alu gestured toward the ship. “Better yet, we’re about to depart on an inspection tour. Let’s all go aboard so we can see the Fireheart facilities firsthand.”
Unable to find a proper response for the two young assistants being foisted upon him, Kotto seemed glad to let someone else make the decision. “Yes, of course, everyone take seats. I believe the pilot has a schedule.”
As the Ildiran visitors filed through the entrance hatch, Howard stepped up to the Roamer scientist. “Shareen and I are very pleased to meet you, sir. We won’t let you down.”
“Yes, thank you. The ideas just come to me. It’s not something that requires a team effort. I’m not really sure…”
“Ideas are the easy part,” Shareen said with a glint in her eye, “but there’s a lot of work to take the germ of an idea to a finished product. Give us a chance.” Her voice dropped. “Please.”
“Well … if Del Kellum vouches for you, then I suppose.” Kotto looked as if he wanted nothing more than to hurry back to his own quarters and dabble in peace. “I have quite a backlog. Maybe you can help me clean up the files.”
Once they were aboard the spacious inspection ship, the pilot took them out into the sea of ionized gases. The Ildirans pressed their fingers against the windowports, reveling in the bright light from the cluster of hot blue-white stars. “Nothing can be as glorious as Mijistra,” said the leader of the Ildirans. “But this comes close. Very close.”
Their destination was an enormous ring being constructed edge-on to the blazing central stars. An interlocking grid of superconductors and high-energy accelerator channels made it look like a promise ring for a planetoid. The circumference was nearly complete, with less than twenty-five degrees remaining to close the loop. Suited construction workers and assembly vehicles darted around the ragged ends, building more and more each day.
Del knew this was one of the most expensive research projects the Roamer clans—or the human race—had ever attempted, but Kotto Okiah had achieved so many remarkable successes over the years, saved so many clans, and delivered such enormous profits, they were willing to invest whenever and whatever this man requested. Now, Kotto just stared and said quietly—mostly to himself, but Shareen and Howard both heard him, “This nebula, those stars … it’s like a masterpiece painted by God himself. The Big Ring will be the grandest experiment in my entire career.”
“But, what is it supposed to do?” Shareen asked.
Kotto dismissed her question. “It would take me hours to go through the calculations and the physical basis. Very few people can follow it.”
“We are your lab assistants,” Shareen said. “You’ll have to teach us. That’s why we’re here.”
Howard added, “What Shareen means to ask, sir, is what sort of results do you expect? What will happen when the Big Ring is completed and activated?”
Kotto’s eyes sparkled with wonder, and he answered in a very quiet voice. “I honestly don’t know.”