| |
“And this controls the power output for the stabilizers?”
“Yes,” Jeck replied. “Well done, Lii.”
The Dawnstrider was in hyperspace, en route to deliver cargo to a bazaar on a platform in the Doolar Kitermnal Een sector of space.
Lii Aeshar was seated at the controls of the Dawnstrider, Jeck standing over his shoulder. It had become the morning routine of the past few weeks, especially when they were in hyperspace.
Lii pointed to another screen. “This here is the manual control for the anti-grav systems, so you can use them to alter flight.”
“Exactly,” Jeck agreed.
Ashira sat in the copilot’s seat, normally occupied by Lu. Jeck glanced her way. She was grinning.
“So, if anti-grav and the stabilizers are automated,” Lii asked, “why would you need manual control?”
“Several reasons,” Jeck replied. Lii turned to look at him as he explained. “First, if one system fails, the others act as backup. You might need to adapt the flight manually to optimize that without doing damage or losing control. Second, when you are doing complicated maneuvers, these systems can be manually operated to increase the ship’s performance. The Dawnstrider might be an older starship, but she can be flown a lot like a starfighter.”
“Really?” Lii asked, the incredulity on his face belying his ten years of age.
Jeck chuckled. “Really. But as cool as that might sound, it’s not pleasant. Starfighters have better dampeners and compensators to handle the g-forces and other rough parts of high-velocity flight and precise maneuvers. When you’re a bit older, I’ll show you the video of this ship in action.”
“Cool!” Lii said. He turned back to the controls and touched the flight stick on the right. “So, this controls yaw, pitch, and roll, as well as engine output?”
“It does,” Jeck agreed. “You’re really getting the hang of this, Lii. Next time we make port in Human space, we’ll look into getting a hyperspace control disengage simulator installed.”
“That would be so cool!” Lii exclaimed. “How old do I have to be to get flight certified?”
“You’re old enough now,” Jeck told him. “Be patient, kid. I’ll teach you everything I can.”
“This is so awesome!”
“All right young man,” Ashira cut in. “Flight lessons are over. Go take a shower, and I will meet you in the galley for your classroom lessons.”
“Okay,” Lii agreed. He climbed out of the pilot’s seat and threw his arms around Jeck’s waist. “Thanks, Captain!”
“You’re welcome,” Jeck said with a grin.
Then Lii went to his mother and hugged her. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, Lii,” she replied.
Lii practically bounced away from the flight deck.
“I really do appreciate you teaching him flight,” Ashira said, not for the first time.
“I don’t mind at all,” Jeck assured her once again. “He’s really smart, it won’t take long at all to be able to pass the written test.”
“He is truly old enough?”
“Yes,” Jeck said. “I got flight lessons as an eleventh birthday present—because I started begging my parents when I turned ten and knew I was able to then.”
Ashira thought for a moment. “I still wonder if Lii being here is an imposition.”
“Ashira,” Jeck began, “the Dawnstrider is your home and, by extension, Lii’s home. I can pretty confidently speak for Lu and Ervik when I say we are all happy to have him here.”
“Thank you,” Ashira replied. “He does seem to be adjusting well.”
Jeck recalled when he, Ashira, and Ervik had left the throne room. As soon as they’d opened the door, the Cosmic Security Agency forces had stormed in to arrest Aneera Golmar, Erit Palto, and Ashira’s brother Lon Comaer.
“Are you alright?” Ervik had asked as they’d made their way into the living quarters.
“Ask me that again after I have my son,” Ashira had replied.
They reached a room where Ashira paused a moment. She took a deep breath before continuing. Jeck had taken a quick look and concluded that Ashira had just passed the room she’d shared with her late wife.
Ashira reached a door and tapped in a code. The door slid up and open, and she’d led Jeck and Ervik inside.
Sitting at a desk, his back to them, using a digital pen on a datapad, was Lii Aeshar.
He turned. “Yes?”
It took a moment before the recognition crossed his face. “M...Mom?”
“Lii!” Ashira cried. In a blur of motion, she was on her knees, and her son was in her arms, both crying.
Jeck and Ervik had taken up positions flanking the open door. Though the palace had been secured by the Council and the CSA, they were taking no chances.
After a moment, holding her son at arm’s length, Ashira had said, “You have grown so much!”
“They told me you were dead!” Lii had exclaimed.
“Yes,” Ashira had sighed. “And I am so, so sorry I could not let you know that I was not. What did Mommy and I always tell you?”
“That sometimes protecting those you love requires sacrifice?”
“Exactly,” Ashira had said, hugging him tight once more. “If I had let them know I was still alive, they might have hurt you, my love. And I would not let anyone ever hurt you.”
“Is Mommy also still alive?” Lii had asked.
At that, Ashira had begun to cry again. “No, Lii. Mommy is gone.”
Jeck and Ervik had both edged closer to the doorway, not wanting to leave the room, but wanting to allow Ashira and her son some privacy for their reunion.
After a time, Ashira had said, “Lii, we need to leave here. I will explain everything, but we need to get you packed. And we will need to leave things behind.”
“Okay,” Lii had said. As he’d stepped back from his mother, he’d noticed Jeck and Ervik for the first time. “Mom?” he asked in alarm.
“It’s all right,” Ashira had assured him. “These are my friends.”
It had taken Ashira and Lii less than half an hour to get all the things he cared most about packed up. Both Jeck and Ervik had taken baggage to help.
When they had reached the Dawnstrider, Lii had exclaimed, “Cool, a starship! Where are we going, Mom?”
“I will explain more once we leave here, honey,” Ashira had said, “but this is going to be home.”
Lii had been thrilled to meet Lu, since he’d never seen an android before. Ashira had once told them that none were in the employ of Shardaelia’s government or the crown. Lii had clearly loved experiencing takeoff from the command deck: he’d talked about it for days after.
Ashira had explained much of what had passed, in far more detail than Jeck would have expected to be shared with a ten-year-old. But the boy was extremely bright, and since he had been raised a prince, his understanding of politics, strategy, and death was quite advanced.
Soon they had established a routine. Lii spent an hour every morning with Jeck, learning about flying. He showered, then spent an hour with his mother going over schooling materials. A break, lunch, and then he spent the afternoon with Lu. They would do more classroom learning, as well as stellar cartography and other activities.
Depending on who was free, for an hour every afternoon, Ervik, Jeck, or Ashira spent time teaching Lii martial arts and how to use his sword and dagger both as blades and laser weapons.
After dinner, Ervik would play games with Lii. Sometimes they were skill and chance, sometimes video games, sometimes tag or hide-and-go-seek.
Lii might have been raised as a prince, but Ashira and her late spouse had always worked hard to keep him well grounded. He wanted for very little, but neither was he simply handed anything.
Jeck had learned Lii was expected to pick up after himself, help clear the table, and keep his room clean. It had been ingrained in him all his life, and even his guardian had continued that in Ashira and Petra’s absence.
Ashira had pulled no punches in explaining to Lii why she had taken him from the palace. She made it clear that his uncle Lon and the others had actually been a danger to him and had been a part of the conspiracy the cost him his other mother.
Though Lii was a child, his presence did not interfere with how the crew operated. He understood why he needed to remain on the Dawnstrider until they concluded business and determined if it was safe. He did not argue, and Ashira allowed him to listen in to their final negotiations. Jeck believed it was part of his upbringing that made him so understanding.
Jeck, at ten, had been extremely precocious and curious. He had wandered off more than once when told to stay put and had caused his parents distress a few times. Lii was curious and smart too, but far better disciplined and respectful of authority.
Returning to the moment, Jeck asked, “How are you adjusting to mothering again?”
Ashira chuckled. “I cannot deny it is not how it was. Petra and I always shared our duties when it came to Lii. Also, having you, Ervik, and Lu helping out as much as you are is easing it all considerably. He has really taken to you.”
“Not to be presumptuous, but we are family now,” Jeck remarked.
Ashira paused, apparently considering that. “You are correct. We are. I think that has made all this a great deal easier on both myself and Lii. It is not something to be taken for granted.”
Jack grinned. “So now maybe you’ll stop talking about leaving?”
Ashira sighed. “You truly believe this is an appropriate place to raise my child?”
“Of course,” Jeck replied without hesitation. “You have all the resources necessary to educate him, both with schooling and practical matters like flight, science, defense, and so on. Lii gets to see the galaxy and learn ultimate diversity firsthand. You have three companions who are happy to assist with educating and raising him. You are not on your own. Which also means both you and he have that safety too.”
Ashira frowned a moment. “I do have some worries about the Raja. He is still ruling his sector with no consequences.”
“Not according to Alvon,” Jeck pointed out. “Apparently the Raja is having a difficult time answering questions about his involvement, and the Council has managed to get the leadership of the Karvama Union and those connected to Aneera Golmar to give their full cooperation.”
“Not to mention,” interrupted Ervik, approaching them, “that Lkahn Am is showing signs of being rather unhinged over the threat of the Ditufgne.”
Alvon had reported to the whole crew, one night after Lii had gone to bed, all of this and more. The Raja was having something of a struggle with some of his own advisors, and the loss of his associates in Shardaelia had impacted him considerably.
“Ashira,” Ervik addressed her directly, “Lu sent me to ask if you still wanted to swap with her, to run that diagnostic on the power couplings for the Multi-Phasic Universal Source Shield Generator.”
“Ah,” Ashira said, standing. “I nearly forgot I had wanted to do that today. I shall go and tell Lu myself. Thank you.”
Ashira left the flight deck. Jeck arose and faced Ervik.
Ervik said, “Is she still considering if this is best for her and Lii?”
“Yeah,” Jeck replied.
Ervik shook his head. “I think she knows. She just wants reassurance. Face it, Jeck: she hasn’t been a mom in three years, her co-parent is dead, and as much as she was okay with giving up the throne and that life, this is taking a little getting-used-to for them both.”
“I know,” Jeck agreed. “Which is why I keep offering her the reassurance.”
Ervik chuckled. “Never thought I’d enjoy being an uncle quite this much.”
“Me either,” Jeck agreed.
Saying nothing further, the pair left the bridge to join the rest of their family in the galley.