“He won’t be allowed back on Mars,” Quin said. “For Todd, that’s plenty punishment.”
“He’ll ping-pong between new victims: two churches, two statelets, two Moon companies.”
“The last could put him in greater hot water. But maybe he’ll behave better if he isn’t faced with a provocative game of charades three months into a nine-month voyage.”
Allec was too busy fuming to hear Quin’s implicit rebuke. “Todd never behaved well on Mars. He looks for ways to get offended.”
“As opposed to having those ways shoved in his face,” Quin said and gave Pan a steady frown.
Allec’s preferred approach to political bullshit was to snipe. Quin took a longer view.
Political know-how 101: Flexibility is the goal. All approaches have their gains.
Quin gave Pan one more glare, then shrugged.
He said, “I’m more concerned with Todd’s friends showing up on the Earth Space Station.”
“They won’t be the only group,” Allec said.
“The captain is discussing possible disembarkation scenarios with Rhys.”
“I don’t want to go without you,” Pan said.
He didn’t want to arrive at Queen Artia’s court without his—
Entourage?
—family and Kaiden, his—
Knight?
—friend. And he wanted to wait for Rhys and Lider to complete their investigation. He wanted to have answers, to approach the queen—
From a position of strength?
—without looking like an idiot.
“Of course, we’ll go with you,” Allec said.
Quin frowned, arms folded, hooded eyes on the cabin floor. Pan could guess why. Lider’s first life extension took place on the HG Wells during his voyage to Mars. He was in a coma for several months.
The latest procedure would hopefully extend Allec’s life at least another ten years. Researchers and doctors speculated Allec would be under for about a week.
Quin wanted to remove Allec to the facility as soon as the ship docked. The procedure was being funded by a pro-clone society run by an acquaintance of Allec’s, a loud reformer type who had supported Allec undergoing the first procedure. (Reformers like Todd thought Allec should have been “allowed to die naturally”). But loud opinions didn’t equal good science. Dr. Tomas was in contact with the society. Quin still wanted to check it out.
“We can wait. Return to Mars on the Lovecraft,” Allec said when Quin mentioned the time frame.
 |
| Digory |
Now that the Space Program ran two ships, each spent more time at each station for repairs and to allow travelers to return within the month rather than wait for the next ship. Digory wanted to get home, to die on Mars and be buried there.
Allec grunted acknowledgment. Digory was his mentor, one of the first Mars’s citizens to fully accept him. He met Digory on the same voyage he met Quin. Pan become Allec’s ward four years later. Pan figured Digory came first.
“There’s never enough time,” he heard Allec say ruefully to Quin as Pan left the cabin.
Kaiden was waiting, back against the corridor wall, ankles crossed. He straightened when he saw Pan and cocked his head.
He said, “You hear about Todd being banned from space travel?”
“Yeah.”
“Bet Allec is thrilled. You know Todd assaulted him that first voyage.”
Pan had heard the stories. “Bet Allec said something to piss him off.”
Like father-figure, like son.
Kaiden said, “Where are we going?” as Pan loped to the right.
“To find Rhys. Any ideas where he might be?”
“Lider is collecting complaints.”
All passengers accepted jobs during the nine-month voyage. Lider was assigned to talk to crew and colonists about cabin conditions, laundry malfunctions, toiletry needs. He could do it alone, so long as he kept to general areas, such as the mess hall and the observation deck. Wherever Lider was, Rhys eventually showed up. Pan chose the observation deck.
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