Four months and three weeks after leaving "Mother of All", still at Hiiliteräs High Port.

Seeker was resting in the cabin she shared with Dyani. The counselling had stretched out to two weeks, but the doctor had given her a provisional all-clear, provided she kept up with the mental exercises she had been prescribed. And took the medications if she needed them.

There was a knock on the door. She got up, and opened it. The engineer, Sparks was there.
"You've been avoiding me" the older woman stated, "even though the Captain would have told you to talk to me."
"I thought it was not my place to intrude."
"Can I come in?"
Flustered, Seeker stepped aside "Sorry, yes, of course."
Sparks grabbed the desk chair, and sat, gesturing at the door.
Seeker closed it, and then perched on her bunk.

Sparks looked at her for a few moments "The counselling has helped, I can see that. But I think you need something more. Scan me. Now."
Seeker started at the sudden unexpected order, and tried to pick up the engineer's mind, only to find - nothing.
"Sparks, you're, your mind, it..." She stuttered.
"Good. It works then," and she pointed to a barely visible comb in her hair, "Now. You've been avoiding me. Why?"
"Your past is your own. The Captain..."
"Seeker, I have known the Captain since we were children. We were separated for about fifteen years, but we're together again now. She would not have offered without me knowing."
"Oh" came the reply in a small voice.
"Now. Here is what you should have asked me about. Much like yours, our home planet is a single polity. Unlike yours it is a democracy - we elect our leaders. About four years after the Captain left on her first voyage as a trader there was a military takeover of the government."
Seeker was staring now.
"They cracked down on any opposition, killing anyone who objected to them. Or that they thought were objecting. For two years they held power, but then we struck back. And we struck hard. The response was brutal. I was working as a grav mechanic, when I saw a family being shot at by a squad of troops. One shot hit a four year old little boy. So I took the grav module I'd been fixing, and drove it into that squad at mach three. Then I picked up their guns, and went hunting."
Sparks looked at the ceiling. "Then I went hunting. When I could not find any more soldiers, I went hunting a bottle. We won. We are a democracy again. And the little boy lived. But. I. Was. Broken."
"What happened then?"
"Annabelle found me. Took me aboard, and showed me how to live again. When she purchased this ship, she named it after me."
After a few minutes Seeker asked "Why? Why tell me?"
"I was never a killer, but I had to become one. To save lives. You are not alone. You can still be a good person, still be worth knowing. Maybe even more so."
"She loves you, doesn't she?"
"And I still don't know why," Sparks replied with a lopsided smile.

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Twenty two years ago, planet Qnzick.

Sparks felt her head pounding. That meant she was getting sober. That meant that she would remember. She must not remember.

A hand grabbed her head, she tried to struggle, but her arms were not working right. Maybe she was still drunk. Drunk was good.

"You stink Athena" came a voice.
Sparks groaned in response. She was trying to say that her name wasn't Athena. She'd lost the right to that name. Lost the right when - she blacked out again.

Annabelle looked down at her old friend. She'd heard the stories - the unstoppable mechanic who had torn through dozens of squads of the dictator's troops. And then, once the revolution was over, she'd vanished.

It had taken her six months to find Athena. And what she found was a mess.

She rolled the unconscious woman onto a cargo gurney, and took her back to the shuttle, guiding the little grav sled up the cargo ramp.

"Doc?" she called.

An older man looked up. "You found her, then?"
"Yep, but she's pretty messed up. Can you have a look?"
"I can look at the physical" he cautioned.
"I know. I'll have to find someone else to help with the rest."
"Are you sure you want to do this? She is not going to be happy with you."
"We agreed fifteen years ago that if one of us was incapacitated, the other would do whatever was needed."
"You have the paperwork?"
"Right here."

The doctor read over the form. It was valid.

"You consent to this on her behalf?"
"Yep."
"Very well. On your head be it."

Two days later, Sparks was sober and screaming at Annabelle.
"Let me fucking die! Just let me go! I'm a fucking mass murderer."
"Nope. You are coming with me" was Annabelle's calm reply.
"Where? Where are you taking me?"
"To get you the help you needed. The help you should have got after the fighting stopped."

Annabelle pushed the float chair Athena was strapped into through the city. People stepped aside as her screaming continued until her voice was too hoarse to be heard. They turned into the hospital. At reception she said "I have a consent grant in the case of incapacitation. And a confirmation from a doctor." She showed them the paperwork.
Sparks whispered "No, just let me rot, please."
"No way. I am getting you back, and then we are leaving. Together. I never should have left you behind in the first place."
"I deserve to be forgotten."
"Not by me. Get well. I will visit as often as they let me."

The next six months were terrible for both of them. Sparks refused to see Annabelle, and yelled at her when she insisted. But, gradually, the yelling stopped. Then there were tears. Then the ghost of a smile. Eventually, Sparks looked forward to seeing her.

A year later, Sparks walked out with Annabelle on her arm, and onto a trader ship. They never returned to Qnzick.

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Four months and eight days after leaving "Mother of All". At Hiiliteräs High Port.

The Captain had called everyone into the mess for a meeting. It was a little cramped, but they all fit.

"Alright everyone, I'm back from the inquest. They are accepting our version of events, and the surviving hijacker is being charged with attempted piracy. In this system that is 25 years, no parole."
There were nods around the room at that.
"Further," she continued, "the system has sent word back to Silver notifying them, and sending an invoice for repatriation of the other hijacker. Seeker?"
"Yes, Captain?" Seeker's voice was unusually subdued.
"The inquest has found you acted appropriately. I am adding a note to your file that you have been combat tested, and reacted with appropriate force. On a personal note, you almost certainly saved lives. Thank-you."
"Captain - "
"I am recommending you for a one week post-combat counselling course here on-station. The ship will cover it."
"Yes Captain," she spoke softly, and started to retreat to the back of the mess, head held low.
"One question, Seeker."
"Yes Captain?"
"I know you've been scanning everyone who comes aboard. How did they get past you?"
"There are some people, Captain, who can just block a casual scan. But in this case they had a device. Our scientists have discussed the possibility of one, but this is the first I've actually seen that can block a scan completely."
"How did you find it?"
"Dyani did. When she took everything from the", her voice hitched, "the survivor, it included a hair ornament. As soon as it was taken, I could hear him. I thought she told you."
The Captain turned, "Dyani?"
"I thought Seeker had told you" the gunner replied.

The Captain shook her head, "Always double check who has passed on what, OK?"
"Yes Captain" the three junior members of the crew said together.

"Now, do we have two of them?"
"Yes Captain" Dyani replied.
"Good. Hand one over to Sparks. Sparks?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Figure out how to make more. I am certain that the folks back on Mother of All will want to know how to make one."
"Aye!"
"Back to your duties. Alaine, Seeker stay put."

The crew dispersed to their duties. Alaine and Seeker waited.

The Captain looked at them both. "Seeker, you are relieved of duties until you have completed the counselling." She started to object, but the Captain rolled over her, "Alaine? Your job is to make sure she goes. You will escort her to the session, and escort her back."
"Yes, Captain."
The Captain turned back to Seeker "It is not that I don't trust you, but things like this get under your skin, and make you think of doing all sorts of stupid things. After your first couple of sessions, have a talk to Sparks. She knows."
Alaine straightened up "I'll make sure, Captain."
The Captain looked them over "I'm certain you will. You've both got a map on your PDUs. The first appointment is in one hour."

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Two hundred and fifty five years ago:

Lorn looked out at the conclave of clan elders, all in their distinctive clan finery. And the scattered shamans amongst them, all in black.

Finder detached herself from the mass, and leaned against Lorn "A sight isn't it?"
"You have no conflicts between the clans?"
"Many! All the time!" Finder grinned at the stranded explorer "But that is what we are for. We are members of our clans, but we also mediate between the clans. It can be a bit tiring sometimes."
"But what about conflicts of interests?"
"Simple! If the conflict is between the Copper Diggers and the Horse Clans, a sender and listener from maybe the River Clan would mediate."
"So the clans never fight?"
"Some clan members might fight, until a sender puts them in their place, but no, the clans do not fight."
Lorn looked at her friend, "So you are pacifists?"
"Amongst ourselves," Finder paused "But if we have the chance to strike at the raiders, we take it. That is a rare event, and their weapons can be a devastating reprisal."

"Crime?"
"Oh, it happens. Jealousy, greed, all the rest, we have them all. And there are not so many of us that we can be everywhere."
"But you hunt them down."
"Hence my name. Finder of Unnoticed Details."
"One part diplomat, one part detective?"
"And one part psychologist. And a bit of relationship councillor as well," Finder added.
"But what happens when one of you has the problem?" Lorn wondered.
"Then we find them, and do what we can to heal them. But, as with all people, sometimes that can be hard. Even with our gifts."

Lorn looked out at the conclave again.

Finder gave her a hug from the side, grabbed her hand and dragged her forward "Come, let me introduce you! You can tell us of your people,."

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Four months after leaving "Mother of All", in jump.

Alaine and Seeker were in the crew mess, both working on interstellar navigation problems. This had been a busier than usual jump, as they had taken on three passengers at Silver, after leaving the neighbouring system of Brass. They were now heading to Hiiliteräs.

Alaine looked at the corner of his PDU "Hm, Dyani is taking a while delivering food to the passengers." Dyani was around the same age as Alaine and Seeker, but had been a part of the crew a while longer than Alaine.

Seeker looked up, and then got to her feet and ran the few steps to the cabin she shared with Dyani.
"Seeker?" Alaine called after her, but then the hatch to the passenger area opened, and he turned to greet Dyani.

Instead there was one of the passengers, wearing light infantry armour, and holding a strange automatic pistol. Behind him was another of the passengers, unarmoured, but holding a similar weapon to Dyani's head.

"Hands where I can see them!" the passenger hissed, emphasising her words with a wave of the gun.

Alaine dropped his PDU, and lifted his hands slowly. Then, to his surprise he heard a voice in his head - Seeker - saying "Make him focus on you. Now, please."

"You won't get to the bridge, you know. The Captain will see you and lock it down."
The hijacker grinned "Then she'll get to watch you die one by one."
"That won't matter to her. We're first year apprentices - a dime a dozen."

Alaine saw Dyani suddenly go limp in the grip of the second hijacker, like she had fainted.
Then he saw a feathered rod appear in the other arm of the second hijacker, and a spread of blood around it. The one in front started to look past him, and another short rod appeared in her eye, and she dropped like a sack of rocks.

Dyani had twisted out of the grip of the second hijacker, and grabbed his gun. "On the floor! Now!"
He sat.

Alaine looked behind him, and saw Seeker holding her tiny bow, staring back at him. Then she dropped it and threw up her lunch.

He could hear Dyani on the ship comm to the bridge, and vaguely head her saying that the third passenger had been locked in her cabin by the hijackers.

He stared at the dead hijacker, then back at Seeker. Then he went to the sink, got a wet cleaning cloth and a cup of water, and took them over to her. "Here, rinse your mouth" he instructed after wiping her face.

The Captain then entered, took in the scene - Dyani holding the injured hijacker at gunpoint, the mess in front of Seeker, and Alaine cleaning her face.

"Alaine, take Seeker to her cabin. Sit with her. Don't let her be alone." Alaine nodded, helped Seeker stand, and took her to her cabin.

They sat on her bunk, and he handed her the glass. "You saved the ship, Seeker."
She just stared ahead.
He gave her a small shake "Look at me."
She looked at him.
"You saved me, thank-you."
Then she started to cry.

#SF #SFF #SciFi #Tootfic #Microfiction #Microfic #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Two months after leaving "Mother of All", in jump.

Seeker was in the mess when Alaine got off duty from the engine room. She was hunched over her PDU, with an actual paper notebook next to her.

"Hi there" he greeted her.
"Mmmph" was the distracted reply.

He shrugged, and grabbed a tray from the rack, and added hot water to it. Waiting for the meal to rehydrate, he tried again. "How is it going, Seeker?"
"Mmm"
OK, time for the big guns "There's a space whale looking for the telepath making all the noise."
"Mmm? They can sod off."

OK, she was well and truely gone. He stuck the tray onto the induction element, and brought it back up to full heat, and then carefully carried it over and started eating. Some sort of noodle sheet interleaved with a sauce. Not bad.

He was about half way through when Seeker suddenly looked up.
"Alaine? Who enforces contracts that span systems?"
"Ah. You're studying trader contracts?"
"Yes. And nowhere does it say anything about what happens if you break a contract, it makes no sense!" she complained.
"Right. Well. It depends. If the contract is with one of the interstellar banks or one of the big conglomerates, they will enforce it themselves by sending breach notices to any system in range, along with a bounty. Further, they will notify the Trade Board, who will issue a blackball notice against the ship and crew."
"What is to stop one of them just doing that to someone they don't like?"
"That's the second level of things. Any trader, big or small, lives by their reputation. If you break a contract, the person or group you cheated will tell everyone about your despicable behaviour, and very quickly no-one will let you trade. Sometimes even down to not selling fuel."
"So a big conglomerate picking on someone?"
"Word would get out that it was a setup or tarjob, and the big boy would be out of business very fast."
"So it all just runs on reputation?"
"Pretty much. Naturally there are still con men out there, but eventually they get caught."
"So is there an actual government?"
"Kind of. There is a thing called the Confederation, that many systems belong to, but it has no real power, and mainly offers individual planets something to blame for whatever. The Scouts, the Trade Board, the other bureaucracies, they all run independently of the Confederation."

Seeker shook her head slowly "Smoke and mirrors. It is all just smoke and mirrors."
Alaine grinned "Yep, but as long as everyone pretends not to look behind the curtain, it works."

#SF #SFF #SciFi #Tootfic #Microfiction #Microfic #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Three months, two weeks and one hour after departing "Mother of All". Low port, planet "Brass".

The crew were making the most of the banquet that the Captain had put on.

Being stuck in a closed environment for over a week at a time, and often not being able to obtain fresh food at the ports - especially the high ports in orbit - meant that they had a somewhat different view of what constituted a banquet to planet dwellers.

Plates of exotic fresh vegetables accompanied by dips were a popular starting point. The crunch of the sticks of green, red, and purple was suddenly interrupted by gasps of surprise as the rich umami flavours of the vegetables washed across the crew's mouths.

Dyani looked at the purple stick in her hand and sniffed it. A faint earthiness greeted her nose. She bit into it again, and the snap of the vegetable gave way to a bold meatiness. She looked over at Engel "Sir? How well do these preserve?"

He grinned "Sadly, not very well at all. Not even flash freezing. It does mean that Brass makes a pretty penny out of food tourism, though."

Everyone started sampling all the other offerings - the meat filled pastries, redolent with a spice that seemed to combine cinnamon with pepper proved to be sweet, like spiced tarts.

The bowls of berries, to the surprise of all, tasted just as they appeared - like small sharp, sweet, fruit.

The breads had a trick hidden under their crusts, though. Although they steamed and broke like a normal bread, in the mouth they cooled and dissolved like mist, with even the crust disintegrating before it could be chewed, leaving a cool creamy taste behind.

There were no leftovers.

#SF #SFF #SciFi #Tootfic #Microfiction #Microfic #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

One month after leaving "Mother of All", in jump.

Alaine finished his breakfast unexpectedly alone. Normally Seeker would be on the same shift cycle, and they would share meals. He made his way aft, heading for the engine room and another lesson from Sparks.

He reached the airlock to the main hold, checked that the telltales were double green, and opened both doors. As the second door opened, he heard Seeker call out "Hold!" and then after a moment "Clear, come on in!"

"Missed you at breakfast," he said entering the hold. Down the length of it there was a corridor between the shipping containers and pallets. Except at the far end was a wall of compressed fibre pallets, and a target.

Seeker turned around "Sorry, I really needed to get in some practice."
Alaine then saw the strange device in her left hand. It was a short framework, with a grip in the middle and a complex system of pulleys and cords at either end. Then he saw the long rod in her right hand an realized that it was some sort of bow.
"You are combat trained?"
"Grandmama and Charlie made sure of it. Plus there is a tradition in the family of archery. Lorn became an expert hunter after she was stranded."

"That looks a little clumsy in a fight shipboard," Alaine frowned.
"The arrows will go through light armour."
"Still tricky to carry around."

Seeker put the arrow back into a quiver by her hip, and opened a pocket on her ship suit. "That's what this is for." In her hand was a miniature version of the bow, barely a handspan across. "This won't go through armour, but it will take out a faceplate at ten metres.
Alaine shook his head "OK, that is scary."
Seeker grinned "Thank-you!"

They heard the far hatch open "Alaine, you out there" Sparks called.
"Yes, Sparks, coming!", he started down the corridor, and called over his shoulder "Don't shoot me in the back!"
Seeker laughed "If I do shoot you, you'll see it coming! After all, you are a friend!"

#SF #SFF #SciFi #Tootfic #Microfiction #Microfic #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace

Three months and two weeks after departing 'Mother of All'. Low port, planet Brass.

Alaine stepped through the main hatch into Athena, and was immediately showered with beer.
The Captain stepped forward, and shook his hand "Well done, Alaine!" she congratulated him, "you not only passed, you passed with honours! You are now a certified Class 2 Pilot! You know what that means?"
Alaine looked puzzled "No Captain, what?"
"You are now stuck with all the boat handling duties."
"Yes, Captain." Although it was going to be an extra responsibility, it was one Alaine was looking forward to. As pilot of the small shuttle, it would mean that he would be in command of it. Effectively Captain. Albeit of a tiny in-system boat, but still, it was a command of sorts.

Sparks shoved a bottle of soda water into his hand "Get ready!"
Alaine turned back to the hatch just in time to see Seeker enter. He shook his bottle and popped the lid open, spraying her with soda water.

After the shower subsided, the Captain stepped forward "Congratulations Kid! You passed both exams with honours. You are now a Class 1 Cargo Handler, and have a Class 1 Contract Drafting certificate."
"Thank-you Captain. But, please, that was soda. So why does it smell of beer in here?"
"That was for me," Alaine explained, "Soda for Class 1, Beer for Class 2 and Class 3, and sparkling wine for Class 4 and above." Sparks pressed two bottles of beer into Alaine's hands, and he handed one to Seeker.

Dyani stepped aboard, and was also showered with beer. "Congratulations Dyani!" the Captain said stepping forward "You passed your Class 2 Navigation certificate. Only just, mind, but you passed. Well done!"
"Thank-you Captain. I'll make sure I keep studying."
"Good to hear. Alright, Sparks! Engel! Clean up in here. You three piles of soggy fabric, go get cleaned up, and join us in the mess. 10 minutes."
All five chorused "Yes Captain!"

Ten minutes later the entire crew was in the mess, where the Captain had obtained some high-end fresh food from the local suppliers. "Right. I'm not going to give a speech. Dig in. Everyone is off duty until first shift tomorrow." The crew cheered, and dug in. Food prepared by actual cooks from fresh supplies was a rare treat, and one none of them was going to pass up - especially if the Captain was paying.

#SF #SFF #SciFi #Tootfic #Microfiction #Microfic #IAmWriting #ShamanSpace