A Care Givers Company story

The Song of Corazon

by Maggie Finson

Author's Note: Lyrics for The Ballad of Curtis Loew copyright  Allen Collins - Ronnie VanZant

I

Corazon Isabella Maria Gutierrez watched her new posting grow in the view port with an almost jaded indifference.  The Pride of Eire was a well made vessel, and new.  She had studied the ship’s specs once the transfer had come through shortly after her last contract had finished up and her ship retired with the crew sent to other vessels. She had been a Ship Mother for a long time, so had learned the basics about her new posting.  At least as far as engineering and statistics went.

Three hundred meters in length, with huge Pratt and Whitney engines that made Pride one of the fastest vessels in space at the time, and the huge steering, cooling vanes to dissipate the excess heat from those engines tipped with engines themselves large enough to give a significant addition to the boost capability already there, she was a beautiful thing to see.  From an engineer’s standpoint, anyway. 

Lumps and protrusions on her long, cylindrical hull were communications gear, boats and shuttles, gravitic lassoes, and Corazon noted with a slight frown, weapons emplacements.  The necessity for those was something that grieved her, but she understood the reasoning for making them part of the beautiful piece of human engineering she was looking at.

War between an overcrowded and resource poor Earth and the growing Spacer culture was a fact even if it hadn’t been officially declared.  There were rumors that Apollo Freight and the Mars military authorities actually had an ISP, International Space Police, vessel in their hands that had not only been designed to kill other ships, but had done so.  It was not a rumor that ships had been going missing for quite awhile in and around the Belt, or that some had been found, holed, with dead crew, and no reason evident for the attacks.   Pirates, and there were some out here, would have taken cargo, and some of the crew for slave labor.  None of that had been done to the drifting hulks found recently.

Cabrones!  She thought in sad anger.  Merde!  There is enough out here for dozens of worlds to use and not run out for an eternity.  Why start a war to get all of it when sharing is the better way?

Pride of Eire would house 400 crew, who would be her responsibility to see remained happy and as free of stress as possible.  The Caregivers Company took that responsibility seriously, probably more so than providing more than competent crew for the ships they contracted to.  Mary Yotori, founder of the company had early on seen the need for female companions to accompany the men in space, and founded Caregivers in the Geisha traditions of Japan to provide that service.  Caregivers were not ship’s whores, or just female companionship in space.  The company made certain it’s employees were also well educated in the types of technology and skills needed in space.  Corazon herself held advanced degrees in Environmental systems, Power systems, and Computer and Information Systems.  Others were pilots, navigators, engineers, or specialists of other kinds that made them valuable as crew members aboard any ship in space.  

Stroking the case of her ancient guitar, she thoughtfully stared into the reaches of space.  More than competent crew, entertainers, friends, and sometimes lovers to the men out here; we have become much more than simply those things.   Mary Yotori, I hope you can see that from where you are now, and can forgive us the foolishness of this damned war.  I think you would be proud of your children overall.  I know I am.

Her wandering gaze passed the area of space where Earth would be visible if not for the glare of the station and docking lights and recalled the skinny, smart kid who had applied to Caregivers in July 2030, nearly a century ago with a small shake of her head. 

Aiie!  Long way from El Barrio now, Chica.  she thought with a half forlorn smile.  Long time gone, too.  Maybe too long, eh?

That scrawny kid’s name had been Eduardo Gutierrez, and he had signed on with Caregivers, who only hired female employees for space, knowing the he was also agreeing to undergo the newly devised DeCorvin process that would not only enhance his immune system, nervous system, and intelligence, and increase his life span, but would alter his body’s physical sex.  His family had been against it, but even in that time, before women were to become a short commodity and bone of contention between Earth and Spacers, a rough edged boy from the barrios, no matter how bright, had very limited potentials for careers that would amount to something.

So he had gone in with open eyes, and emerged as Corazon, meaning Heart in his native Spanish, with her eyes turned to the heavens.  And she never looked back.

Until recently.  But now, going home, even for a visit, was out of the question.  First the United States, then the U.N. had adopted The Protection of Women Act, which made it illegal for any female of child bearing age to work in space in any capacity.  Oh it had been carefully worded to make it appear as if it was only to protect the dwindling number of precious females in the population from undertaking dangerous employment that could result in the loss of their lives.   But anyone with enough sense to come in out of the rain, or vacuum, knew it was meant to deprive a new and vital spacer culture of females and the ability to reproduce.  That alone would have been enough to ignite a war.

Too many postings, too many people gone in my life.   Corazon morosely thought as she returned her attention to the nearing bulk of the Pride.   How many must I say goodbye to in this overlong life?  How many more must I come to love, just to leave them again?  Can my own heart take that again without breaking?

Not really thinking about what she was doing, her hands opened the well used guitar case and removed the instrument it protected.  The ancient wood, polished as much from her own body oils as by intent was comforting as she settled it into her lap and absently began tuning, then playing it.

Minor keys and chords.  she mused while strumming the taut strings gently.  All I can get out of her now.  I used to make people laugh for the sheer joy of living, and dance that joy with this instrument.  What has happened to me?

She realized she had been singing softly as she played when conversation around her halted and faces of her fellow passengers turned in her direction.

The song had been old when she was young, a lament for things lost and never found again.  Too mournful for the occasion, but she couldn’t stop playing or singing until it reached its soft, heartbreaking finish.

“That was beautiful.”  One of the attendants, a young Caregiver, told her with tears glinting in her lovely, young eyes.  “What was it?”

“An old, old ballad from Spain, before the New World was even opened up to Europeans.”  She answered with a slow smile.  “It has been called by many different names, but none of them really seem to fit it quite right.  An old woman‘s remembrance of things long past, and lost to her.”

“Oh.  I hope she knew that things lost can be found again, or at least replaced.”  The girl answered with more wisdom than her years should have allowed.

“I’m sure she did.”  Corazon managed a smile that wasn’t a sad grimace and carefully wiped the strings then gently set her instrument back in its case.  “But there is also a time when mourning is needed, before one looks ahead.  It clears the soul for new things, and readies it for new experience.”

The boost warning sounded in the cabin as she stowed the precious guitar in its hard shell, energy resistant case then safely in a compartment, and settled back into her seat to strap in.  The young attendant gave her a friendly nod, then moved off to check on the other passengers.

Now if only my soul can shake the weariness and look forward.  she thought ruefully.  Why do I dread this assignment so?  Because Pride is obviously a ship made for war?  Or is it the new intimacies I’ll have to forge once I’m aboard?  All I know now is that I’m tired beyond mere weariness of the body, so very, very tired, God.  Give me strength to give these people the attention they deserve.  And keep us safe out there, I beg you.  This war is a thing that frightens and saddens me, but it is not something I can stop.  The ones who could have done that made their decisions years ago.  So the rest of us must live, or die, with the events those decisions have brought about. 

     She closed her eyes, settled more deeply into her couch, and awaited the long familiar pressure the braking and steering boosts would bring while attempting to clear her mind of the doubts that plagued her so unmercifully.  

II

Disembarking from the long range shuttle was something that had become routine long ago, and Corazon made certain her ceremonial kimonos in their special bag were being handled with the proper care, while seeing to her precious guitar herself.  The rest of her luggage was the kind of thing that could take a direct blast from high explosives and survive, so she didn’t worry about that.

There was a small group waiting at the dock as she halted in the entry tube from the shuttle.  She could tell most of those gathered were ship’s brass, and the woman was likely the senior Care Giver aboard.  Giving them a smile, she spoke in her mellow contralto.  “Ship Mother Corazon Isabella Maria Gutierrez requesting permission to come aboard.”

A tall, rather thin man with his short cut hair graying at the temples but otherwise a brilliant red, with Captain’s insignia on his shoulders moved forward and bowed formally before returning her smile.  “Permission granted, with pleasure, Ship Mother.  Welcome to Pride of Eire.”

“Thank you.”  She returned with a formal bow of her own, then stepped into the docking area of the ship that was to be her home for some time to come.

“I’m Liam Hendrikson.”  The Captain informed her with another smile and a twinkle in his eyes that showed a wicked sense of humor lurking close to the surface, then turned to introduce his companions in order. 

“Larson Chen, my second officer.”  Chen was a short, bulky man who looked out of place in the company he was with, but his grin and nod of acknowledgement was warm, while he radiated the confidence of one who knows his business well.

“Bing Chavez, our Chief Engineer.”  That man was lanky like his captain, but lacked the other’s height.   His answering grin at the introduction was a flash of white teeth and crinkling at the corner of his eyes that showed he was used to laughing a lot.

“Ricardo Van Bloom, Chief Nav officer.”  Van Bloom was an ebony skinned man who was every bit as tall as his captain, but had the bulk to make that size more deceptive.   His nod was quick, as he appraised the newcomer with the thorough intensity of an academy instructor judging the strengths and weaknesses of a new student.

“Maria Lang, Chief Pilot.”  The woman was going gray, but was still trim, and lovely in her graceful aging.  The insignia of XX Flight was on the breast of her uniform, but she gave Corazon a friendly smile and nod of welcome in spite of working for the only real competition for providing female crew that Care Givers had in space.

“Finally, we have Mai Mitterand, your own second here.”  Mai was a mix of Asian and European that had always been prized for their beauty and grace.  She gave her new Ship Mother a welcoming, encouraging smile, and bowed formally in response.

“Welcome aboard, Ship Mother, it is an honor to meet you, as I’m sure serving with you will be.”  The Young woman, with her glossy black hair done in the semi-formal braid most Care Givers preferred on shipboard, looked up with her strong, but lovely featured face almost glowing.  “If you will allow it, I would be pleased to show you to your quarters and assist in getting you settled in.”

“The honor is mine, Mai - San.  Any help I can get just now will be most gladly accepted.  Thank you.”  Corazon returned the formal greeting, then let out a little sigh while turning to give the rest of the small gathering a smile.  “Thank all of you for the welcome and the honor you do me here.”

“It would have been an insult to the ship, and an unforgivable one to you for us to do less, Mother Corazon.”  Hendrikson responded with a grin before his expression turned serious again.  “It’s 0945 ship time now, and I have a briefing for all senior staff scheduled at 1300.  Sorry to rush you, Ship Mother, but we’ve taken on a cargo of medical supplies and foodstuffs that Ceres colony needs very badly just now.  Since the Pride is the fastest ship in this part of space presently, we got the job whether we wanted it or not.”

“I understand, Captain.”  Corazon nodded then shrugged.  “As always, the needs of the many supercede the desires of the few.  I’ll be there.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing you then.”  He answered then waved the gathering away.  “All right, we’ve done what we came to do.  Pride boosts in five hours, and we all have jobs to do now.  Let’s get on with it.”

Corazon watched them disperse, heading in different directions, then looked to Mai, who shrugged and grinned.  “That’s our Captain for you.  Sees to the formalities when there’s time, and is a good man to serve under, but you’d better have your own duties seen to or else.”

“That’s why he’s Captain.”  Corazon grinned back at her own second, who also wore the insignia of a Mother.  “So I suppose I’d better get to my own duties, which at present are getting settled and getting to know my second here.  Oh, call me Cora if you like.  Everyone else does.”

“All right, Cora.”  Mai smiled while leading her new boss through the rather cramped companionways.  “You’re quarters aren’t exactly palatial, but for a ship like this, they’re very good.  Not even the Captain has better.”

“Right now I’d settle for a 3x4 cubicle with a cot and desk for my reader.”  Corazon chuckled while following the other.  “Give me a place to sleep, and a place to read or study in some kind of quiet, and I’m generally very happy.”

“I hear you’ve served on a lot of ships.”  Mai answered with an almost question.  “Even some of the really early Ford models.”

“Oh yes.”  Corazon nodded with a slow smile spreading across her face.  “I’m a fossil for sure.  Was in the first class of Care Givers who had taken The DeCorvin Process back in 2030.”

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”  Mai winced as she ran what she had just said back through her mind.  

“Not a problem, dear.”  Corazon actually let out a short, musical laugh.  “I’m used to it.  And yes, I’ve had accommodations that were considered good ones aboard ship that made a 3x4 cubicle seem like a luxury suite.”

“I can imagine.”  Mai recovered her own composure with a wan smile.  “I’ve seen the vids from the interiors of some of those ships.  Not much room to burp, let alone move around in any kind of comfort.”

“That’s the truth.” 

“Well, here we are.”  Mai stopped in front of a closed door and touched a palm to the access plate.  “Your things should be here already.  If they aren’t, they’ll arrive soon.”

“Good, and thank you for getting me here.”

“No problem, Cora.”  Mai gestured to another closed door across the companionway.  “That’s your office, by the way.”

“Close to home, then, isn’t it?”

“Easy commute, they used to say.”  Mai nodded with a chuckle.

“It is that.”  Corazon agreed, and then glanced in the direction they had been travelling.  “Officer’s country up there?”

“Yes, and the bridge just beyond that curve there.”

“Good.  I’ll need the computer codes for room and system access.”

“They’re inside.”  Mai assured her.  “It’s only a basic set, you’ll probably want to put in your own once you get things to accept your input, though.”

“That will do fine.”  Entering the cabin, she noted that it was spacious, and with more than enough room to pace comfortably.  A bed instead of a bunk, a large desk, and shelving were the first things that came to her attention.  “Oh, now this is better than I’ve had since Yotori Station.”

“Yotori Station.”  Mai nodded half sadly at mention of the destroyed headquarters of Care Givers that had orbited Earth.  “May I ask you a rather personal question here, Ship Mother?”

“No, I wasn’t there when the IPS took it.”  Corazon answered softly.  “I was aboard a long hauler out among Saturn’s moons when that happened.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to ask so baldly.”

“Yes you did.”  Corazon chuckled as she flopped almost bonelessly on the bed.  “But that’s all right.  Most of us lost friends and loved ones in that mess.  Rei Yotori got all the Care Giver’s off in time, but I understand it wasn’t a comfortable trip out here to Mars.”

“I’ve talked to some of girls who were aboard that one.”  Mai nodded with a grimace.  “If Heinlein hadn’t been in position to catch them, it would have been a lot longer trip than it was, too.”

“Yes, it was a combination of luck and skill that got them all here safely.”  Corazon nodded.  “But that’s how things tend to work out here in emergencies, isn’t it?”

“True enough.”  Mai glanced at the chronometer mounted on the wall and let out a long sigh.  “I have some admin stuff to get to here, so you won’t be inundated when you walk into your office.  If you’ll excuse me now?”

“Of course, dear.”  Waving at the door with a slight twisting of her mouth into a rueful grin, the newly arrived ship mother nodded.  “I think I’m going to have my hands full, literally, anyway.  Once I get going.  New ship, new crew, we all have to take time getting to know one another, won’t we?”

“That’s a sure bet.”  Mai cheerfully responded, then headed for the door.  “If you need anything my comm number is on the desk and already in your comp.  Just key in my name and it will reach me.”

“Thanks again.  I need a good cleaning up, and some time to get some of this stuff stowed.”

“I cold get some of the girls to come help if you’d like.”

“Thanks, but there isn’t really all that much here.”  Corazon gestured to the hard shelled cases neatly stacked in the center of the cabin.  “The crates are actually most of the bulk there.  I’ll see you later, then?”

“Yes, at the briefing.”  Mai smiled and closed the door once she was out, leaving the other to stare at the luggage and sigh.

“No, not all that much for over seventy years of life.  A shame when you stop to think about it.”

Smells of fresh welds and paint on bulkheads accompanied her on the short trip to the bridge.  Crew bustled past and around her on errands that were common to any ship, but especially a new one like Pride of Eire.

A crewman saluted at her entrance.  “Welcome aboard, Ma’am.  If you’ll follow me, I’ll get you to the briefing room.”

“Thank you, Ericson.”  She replied, getting the young man’s name from his uniform without appearing to read it.  A skill acquired from long practice.

So young.  She thought almost mournfully.  All of them are so damned young and eager.  How am I supposed to keep them going through what is coming?  Do any of them at all have the slightest conception of what war really is?  Or how it twists and breaks the young of every generation it touches?

Such thoughts were not for the present, she knew, as the crewman halted beside a hatchway, pressed the access, and saluted again.  Truthfully, such things were not good to think about at any time, let alone when she was settling into a new berth on an equally new ship.

Yet they lingered insolently as she thanked the young man and entered the somewhat cramped cabin it opened into.

“Welcome, Ship Mother.”  Captain Hendrikson arose from his seat, as did the others gathered there.  She recognized most of them from the previous introductions in the docking bay.  “Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you, Captain.”  She replied with a formal bow even though she was clad in the snug pink ship suit that was a Care Giver’s usual uniform.  “Forgive me for my lateness, and improper attire for a first formal meeting, but I was made to understand this involves something of importance?”

“It does, Ship Mother, it does.”  Hendrikson answered with a sober look on his long face.  “No forgiveness needed from us, indeed, I hope you can forgive me for rushing you.”

“I already have, Captain.”  Came her answer with a smile that was far warmer than she felt inside.  “Besides, you are the Captain of this vessel, and even ship mothers obey those.  Most of the time.”

“Just so, Ship Mother.”  Hendrikson chuckled as did the others grouped around a small table.  “Though that most of the time promises some interesting times ahead for us.  I’ll look forward to them.”

“I’m sure you will, Sir.  Now, all of you, please return to your seats.  I’ve held things up long enough as it is.”  Corazon agreed, beginning to think she liked this gangly fellow in spite of her reservations with the posting she had been given.

Hendrikson remained standing to hold the thinly padded chair that was meant for her, and assisted her getting seated with an almost antique gallantry that she found strangely charming in the hard, new surroundings she had found herself in.

“All right, let’s get started.  We don’t have a lot of time left before boost.”

Mai gave her an encouraging smile and subtle hand gesture as the briefing began, and Corazon returned it.

“To begin things here.”  Hendrikson nodded to Corazon with a smile.  “I would like to formally introduce our Ship Mother, Corazon Isabella Maria Gutierrez.  She brings over seventy years of experience in space to us, along with advanced degrees in a number of specialties.  She is expert with Environmental systems, Power Plants and distribution through a closed system, and Computer and Information Systems.  Needless to say, she is an engineer, not bridge crew.”

That brought more than a few chuckles from around the table and Corazon grinned as she put in.  “And I have the grease under my fingernails to prove it, too.”

Hendrikson returned the grin with a glint of real humor in his gray eyes before they turned serious again.  “I’m sure all of us will both appreciate and benefit from our Ship Mother’s sense of humor.  But now there are other matters at hand.”

“Pride is a new ship, and from the test runs done following her initial launch, she’s the fastest thing in space for now.”  The Captain needlessly informed the command crew of his ship.  “But we also have a new crew.  Many of us have worked together before, but slightly less than half our number are relatively green.  I know we can make not only a good crew, but an exemplary one in time.  Unfortunately, we don’t have the time necessary for letting that jell.”

The others only nodded at that, making Corazon wonder what had happened.

“Our little milk run inwards to Earth orbit and back to shake things into place isn’t going to happen.”  Hendrikson went on.  “For a number of reasons. First, Ceres colony has had the beginnings of a virulent flu epidemic, a particularly lethal strain of the stuff, and they are running out of the vaccines they need to handle it.”

“Second, the colony has missed receiving shipments in the past months, and has a critical shortage of foodstuffs and algae cultures that will become disastrous within several months if their present stocks and cultures aren’t bolstered with a new shipment.  We’re a new ship with empty holds and containers, and the capacity to handle the amount of goods Ceres needs so badly.  So we’ve been handed the contract to deliver it.  Within six weeks.

The good news there is that Ceres will not only pay for the delivery at urgent rates, the colony will add a bonus of fifty million in gold for delivery on schedule.  I don’t need to tell you what the shares on that would mean for any of us, do I?”

There was a round of nods at that.  Fifty million in gold, even after the company took it’s 50 percent share, would make every crewman at least very well off once it was divided up and distributed.

“And lastly, those shipments weren’t missed because of poor handling.”  the Captain put in with a heavy note to his vibrant tenor voice.  “As you know, ships have not been making it to port -- at all -- recently.  Now one or two could be chalked up to unfortunate accident, but not the number of ships that have gone silent and missing within the past year.   Something is interdicting those shipments, and not leaving witnesses.”

That brought a murmur of agreement from the gathering, and Corazon felt a thrill of something very like fear when she heard him say that.

“All of you have heard the rumors of ship killers lurking in the belt, I know.  I have.”  Hendrikson told them with a grimness that showed the rumors were more than that.  “Well, they aren’t rumors any longer.  Apollo Freight brought in a ship of heretofore unknown type that had committed an unprovoked attack on one of their long range shuttles.  The shuttle had a mining laser, and the crew was both very good and very lucky.  They managed to kill the thing through some miracle and Mars Command now has possession of a ship that is obviously designed expressly to destroy other ships.  With a U.N. registry and listed as a long range exploration vessel.”

That brought on a round of curses and looks of unsurprised anger.

“Worse.”  The Captain went on.  “There were fifteen of these things built in Earth orbit and none of them are presently accounted for except the one that Mars has under wraps now.”  

“Commerce raiders.”  The exec spat out like it burned his tongue.  “Built a long time before things between Grounders and Spacers went to Hell.”

“Yes.”  Hendrikson nodded.  “But that isn’t the salient point here.  There are still fourteen of those things on the loose, probably with support ships to keep them supplied, and they are working to interdict trade between Mars and the major colonies in the belt and outwards.  Chances are good that they’re camping on the major trade routes waiting for the bigger haulers to come within their range.  Which means we may run into one of them on the way out.”

“Shit.”  Came from somewhere in the group.

“Yeah, that pretty well covers it.”  Hendrikson agreed, gave them all a nasty grin.  “But we have teeth and claws of our own, which should be a rather nasty surprise for them if they pick on us .  We just need to be ready for when that confrontation is going to happen.  So, in that vein, let’s have your individual status reports.”

Corazon closed her eyes and thought about things.  She’d seen what appeared to be mass drivers mounted on the hull, and the clear domes that housed laser emplacements.  No wonder Rei Yortori, CEO of Care Givers had posted someone with her experience on this ship.  It was the single fighting ship the Spacers possessed at the time, apart from some pirates who acknowledged no authority but their own.  But why her?

Haven’t I already given up, lost, enough?  She thought in a flash of anger.  Why was I chosen to watch children die in this undeclared war of fools?  I have no comfort to give those who have watched friends and lovers gasp out the last of their lives on bloody decks.  I have none of that left for myself.

“Mr. Ross?”  The Captain questioned the Bos’n after the routine reports from the rest had been delivered.

“Weapons can go hot any time you need them, Sir.”  The man, stocky, and round faced with his gray shot hair cut in a burr that showed his scalp, responded.  “We have three TN’s aboard and secured as well.”

“Nukes?”  Corazon spoke up at that.  “Is that what you’re talking about here?  Nuclear weapons aboard this ship?”

“Yes Ma’am.”  The Bosun agreed uncomfortably at a quick nod from his Captain.  “Low yield tactical nuclear weapons designed primarily to penetrate armor and deliver a crippling EMP to the target.”

“I see.”  Corazon vented a  soft sigh and let it go for the time being.  It would serve no purpose to start an argument at this juncture.  And would probably be detrimental to whatever influence she would have on these men and the other crewmen of Pride.

Nukes.  She cringed inwardly.  Once either side starts using those the other will retaliate in kind.  I pray someone uses sense in this, but that is too much to ask given what seems to be happening already.

Also the memory of an older brother who had joined the military and been sent to a so-called brush-fire war somewhere in Africa returned to haunt her.  Julian had never been the same once he returned from that and had continued having nightmares that he refused to talk about until Eduardo left to join Care givers and become Corazon.    Doesn’t anyone understand there are no winners in a war?  That someone only loses less?

Mai shot her a sympathetic, equally horrified glance, but said nothing.

There was nothing to say if things had reached the stage where ships were carrying weapons at all, let alone ones of that type.  Nothing that would change things, anyway.

“All right people.  Be ready for a lot of drills, otherwise, that’s all. ”  Hendrikson gave a brisk nod.  “We leave Mars orbit in one hour.  Full boost in seventy-five minutes.  Stations everyone.”

III

Corazon found herself in the unusual, and unfortunate, position of having nothing to do during the preparations for boost.  It was certainly not the time for poking around or asking questions of anyone, she knew.

She busied herself with emptying the travel containers and getting her things stowed away or arranged as she wished them to be.  The last of those were a few precious holos and photos.  One frame held flat photos of what at first appeared to be a brother and sister.  Actually, they were photographs of her before and after undergoing the DeCorvin process.

That girl looks so eager and happy.  She thought while carefully setting the framed set within a recessed shelf.  I still look like that, but the eyes are so tired now, so full of experience and time. 

Ahh, Mama.  she sighed internally while holding another framed photo, this one of a middle aged Hispanic woman who still retained the beauty of her youth, though there were the beginnings of gray streaking her long, midnight black hair.  I miss you so much these days.  What do you think, I wonder, of your little Duardo now?  I hope you are proud, I’ve always done my best.  Just as you always taught me.

Her old family photo, still glossy thanks to the plastex covering on it, was carefully put into place to one side of her mother’s photo, as the before and after of Corazon was on the other side, making the whole of that grouping.  Staring almost absently at the family shot, she idly wondered how many of her siblings still lived.  Along with what they had done with their lives since she had left them for the insistently beckoning heavens.

“Ah, Corazon, there is no profit in thoughts like that.”  She chided herself gently.  “You have children of your own now, fine daughters and a son making you very proud of them.  That is the family that is important now, and the one you have here aboard this ship.”

Holos of those children, seven women every bit as lovely as their mother, and one strong featured man who now operated one of the largest and most successful mining companies in space, were almost reverently placed on another shelf.  That cheered her some, thinking of those lives that had formed so close to her heart, and come into existence through her. 

Ahhh, so many things to be proud of, you prideful old woman.  She chuckled.  So many accomplishments and the ones you treasure most are these eight lives you brought into existence and bullied, cajoled, and loved into becoming such worthwhile individuals.  ’Duardo, you had not the least idea of what you were getting into when you applied to Care Givers, did you?

But you learned, through laughter, tears, and hard won experience.

“And now.”  She told herself while activating the computer deck on her desk and working through the codes to access the files in the office she had not yet entered.  “It is time to learn about the new children I must teach, and nurture here, along with the ones who will help me do it.”

By the time Pride of Eire boosted out of Mars orbit, she hardly noticed, she was so engrossed in the personnel files she had accessed.

Her first few days aboard were spent largely circulating among the crew and different sections of the Pride.  Corazon had been aboard larger ships, but never one that was so new, or had so many technological advances incorporated into its design.

“Hello, mind if I watch for a while here?”  She greeted and questioned the crew chief in the engine room while giving the massive Pratt & Whitney engines, at least the parts of them visible in the forward engineering section an appreciative looking over. 

Bing Chavez glanced up from his desk, and the screen he had appeared to be nearly hypnotized by with a quick grin, then gave her a friendly wave.  “Oh, hi Ship Mother.   Admiring my babies are you?”

“Yes, they’re magnificent, Mr. Chavez.”  She nodded, then noticed that work had nearly halted with her entrance.  Shaking her head and giving the engineering personnel a wide smile, she introduced herself.  “I’m Corazon, your new Ship Mother, please don‘t let me interrupt your duties.  There will be time for more personal meetings another time, I promise you all.”

“A more softly couched ’Get your lazy butts back to work’ I’ve never had the privilege of hearing, Ship Mother.”  Chavez chuckled as he moved to stand beside her while his ratings and officers returned to the jobs they had been doing.  “Would you like the half Yen tour of engineering, Ma’am?”

“If I’m not taking you away from things you should be seeing to just now.”  Corazon smiled then added.  “My name is Cora, Mr. Chavez, please feel free to use it.”

“Well, just about everyone -- even these grease and power monkeys in here -- calls me Bing.  And no, you aren‘t interrupting anything that can‘t wait for a while.”  Chavez answered.  “Well, come on then, Cora, and I’ll show you all the bells and whistles in this place.  There are quite a few of those, actually.  Be warned, and don’t hesitate to stop me if I get to spouting too much engineerese at you.”

“Oh I’d just throw it back to you.”  Corazon laughed.  “I speak that language very well.”

Lost in thought, and idly working the strings of her beloved, and ancient Martin through a soft, light melody and chord progression that was more an exercise of habit than real practice, Corazon mused at a more difficult exercise than mere guitar work.

They are all good people, the crew of this ship.  she thought to herself with a small pang of guilt at her own reluctance to allow them any closer than the working relationships she had started making with those within her ranges of expertise.  But so many of them are so damned young, like children to me in their energetic youth and unconscious verve for living.  When, I wonder, did I lose that quality?  And the capacity to enjoy it in others?

Still thoughtfully playing as her mind drifted to other memories, both happy and sad, she worried away at the most difficult problem she had ever been asked to deal with like a dog that has found a particularly annoying flea biting in a hard place to reach.  Herself.

A  soft chime indicated someone was outside her door and requesting entrance.  With a long sigh, she keyed her intercom.   “Come.”

Mai, wearing a concerned, but determined expression on her lovely Amer-Asian face entered, then stopped as her mouth formed a small O of wonder at the mellow, beautiful sounds filling the cabin.  “My god, Cora, that’s a lovely instrument.”

“Thank you.  It’s a Martin, made in 1969.  It was my grandfather’s, he had it from his grandfather.  My family has cared for this guitar like one of their children.  I am no exception to that, either.  We call her Imelda, my great, great, great grandmother‘s name.”  Corazon gave a soft smile as she went through the guitar’s lineage, then held it out.  “Would you like to take her for a spin?”

“Oh, I couldn’t.”  Mai protested.

“Of course you can.”  Corazon answered, gently pressing the ancient instrument into her visitor’s hands.  “Guitars are made to be caressed, stroked, and loved, like a good woman, my Grandfather used to say.  Most importantly, they are made to be shared.  Go ahead.”

Mai held the warm, polished instrument almost reverently, then seated herself and carefully settled it in her lap before experimentally strumming a few chords.   They didn’t sound nearly as beautiful as what Corazon had been getting out of the guitar when she had entered.

“Imelda is old, Mai, not decrepit.”  Corazon laughed.  “Make her sing, she’ll respond to someone who knows how to do that.”

The other woman nodded, letting herself simply play, and was soon lost in the bright, lively melody she pulled from the Martin.

“She sings very well, no?”  Corazon questioned with a shine in her eyes while dropping back into the idiom of her youth. 

“She is Magnificent!”  Mai enthusiastically agreed while carefully handing the guitar back to Corazon.  “I’ve never played a finer one in my life.”

“Imelda likes you, too.”  The older woman grinned.  “Otherwise you would not have been able to coax such lovely notes from her on your first time.”

“Thank you for letting me play her.”

“It was good for both of us, dear.”  Corazon smiled, then sobered.  “It has been awhile since such a happy sound came from that guitar.  Hearing it again was very, very good.  Thank you.”

“You could do even better, I’m sure.”  Mai answered with a small hesitation in her voice.  “I - I don’t want to pry, Ship Mother, but are you having a problem here?  With us aboard Pride?  You don’t have to answer, I know I’m being presumptious in asking, but you’ve been distant and cool since you arrived except for when you work with the crew.  Do you not like us?”

“Ahhh, Mai, it is no such thing.”  Cora answered slowly as she considered the problem yet again.  “I am very old, you know.  I knew Mary Yotori personally, and played with her daughter Rei, who now owns and operates the company we work for, before the child was out of primary school.  I have known so many people in my life, loved so much, and lost enough to have become cautious, I fear.”

“There is no need for that, Mother.”  Mai let out a long, unhappy sigh.  “We would love you for the capacity to love that I know is in you.  But you have to let us do that, you know.”

“I know, I know.”  Corazon nodded while carefully putting her guitar back in its case, then looked up at the younger woman with a small, rueful smile on her lips that slowly spread to her eyes as she tapped first her head then her chest.  “In here, but my heart refuses to believe that just yet.  I have loved so many;  nurtured them, held them when they were in pain, hugged them when they were happy, and said goodbye to all of them.  It is -- difficult to make new connections with people after a time, something I hope you live long enough to understand but never find out.”

“All right, I can understand a time for adjustments to new people and surroundings, Mother.”  Mai tilted her head and offered a smile to her new boss.  “Just please remember that there are people here well worth knowing, and who would love to know you.  Don’t miss out on something special that might come along simply because you don’t feel ready to make that effort.”

“I think I’ve already started that effort, if I may be bold enough to say that.”  Corazon gave her subordinate a serious look.  “I just need to take small steps to get there at first right now.”

“Small steps reach a destination, too.”  Mai agreed while rising from her chair and bowing formally.  “I am glad that I initiated the first one you have taken here, Mother.  Please don’t wait too long to take the next one, for your own good in addition to the ship’s?”

Corazon stared at the door, not really seeing it, while allowing thoughts and emotions to settle into a clearer pattern following her subordinate’s visit.

The young ones.  She smiled to herself at the idea.  Are not necessarily lacking in wisdom, are they?  Especially not that one.

IV

There were 67 Care Givers aboard Pride of Eire, the 5:1 ratio was somewhat better than the 6:1the company insisted on as a minimum for contracts, but Pride was an important ship to the spacers and her builders could afford to pay extra to get the smaller ratio.  With that number of Care Givers aboard it would be impossible to meet with each one individually for some time, she knew while wishing that were otherwise, but it was important for them to meet her.

So they gathered in the combination mess hall/recreation area in answer to her invitation -- or summons, depending upon how one looked at things while Corazon waited with the appearance of a serenity she hadn’t truly known in years.  Arranging the folds of her best, and favorite formal Kimono, shimmering golden silk with intricate floral patterns in contrasting silver, she watched as ‘her’ girls entered, and got their first real look at their new ship mother in her official capacity.

At a nod from Mai that signified all were present, Corazon gracefully arose from the chair she had been seated in, offered a warm smile to the hall in general, and pitched her voice to carry throughout the place.  “My greetings to all of you.  It is my honor to have been posted to this ship and 
with you in these uncertain times.  I am Corazon Isabella Maria Gutierrez, but prefer shortening that to Cora in conversation.  My own qualifications are open for all to see, which I am certain the majority of you have already taken at least some peeks at.”

That, along with her knowing, rueful expression brought a few chuckles and giggles from the group and she nodded.  “To start, thank you all for coming, I know I have interrupted free time, and some duty time for this so will make it brief.  Read my file, I am notorious for hating long winded speeches and meetings that go in useless circles.”

There actually were a few private reprimands in that file for her bringing that to someone else’s attention during such meetings, and she knew most of those gathered had already read all they could find about her.  As she had with them.  “I have introduced myself formally, which was necessary, but won’t delay you much more.  I am smart enough not to tinker with a system that works, and all of you appear to have worked one out that does.  So I will simply tell you that I will get to individual meetings in time, and that my door is always -- well almost always -- open.” 

That last was accompanied with a shrug, a lift of one eyebrow and a subtle hand gesture that drew understanding laughs from the gathering.  

“I will tell you now that I do not deal kindly with deliberate violations of what our charter says we are here to do.  Other than that, I tend to be reasonably laissez faire when it comes to my own command role, though I do take my responsibilities very seriously.  As should we all.”

“Well this is a busy time and I have kept all of you from your normal activities long enough for a first time.”  She smiled, gave them a deep, formal bow, and finished.  “It is a true honor to be among you.  please return to what I interrupted now, ladies.”

Those who were on duty stations left while others milled around for awhile, talking and many approached Corazon to offer their own personal greetings before taking leave of the mess hall. 

“Overall I don’t think that went too badly.”  Corazon told Mai once the gathering had dispersed.

“No, actually it went very well.”  The younger woman agreed.  “They got a look at you, you got a look at them, and neither side of it appeared to be uncomfortable with the other.”

“But?”  Corazon questioned with a small grin.  “I know there is one of those in there from your tone of voice.”

“You’re as bad as my mother.”  Mai chuckled.

“I am a mother, Mai.  Now out with it, please.”  Corazon widened her grin into a real smile then gave the other an expectant look.

“Well, I think most of us actually expected a more social type of gathering here, is all.”  Mai shrugged.  “You kept it too short for that to really get going, you know.”

“And socializing is an important part of being a Care Giver, I know, dear.”

Corazon nodded.  “This is a new ship, with a new crew, and that will be very important in the coming weeks, I realize that.  But just now it isn’t a good time to keep anyone from their duties for any longer than absolutely necessary, or from much needed rest.  I will organize a social meeting for us, and the rest of the crew in the very near future, I promise.  This was simply to let all of you know that I’m not hiding in my cabin or office with the intent of remaining there through the entire voyage.”

“All right, Ship Mother.”  Mai nodded with a slow smile.  “I’ll hold you to that promise, though.  I can’t wait to actually hear you perform with that beautiful guitar.”

“Well, I can show you a bit of that in an hour or so.”  Gesturing at her kimono with a chuckle Corazon added.  “This comes off very quickly, but getting it properly hung and stored is a rather involved operation, as I’m sure you know.”

“Oh I do, I do.”  Mai grimaced, then laughed.  “Okay, I’ll call you in an hour to see if you’ve finished wrestling that lovely thing back into it’s proper storage mode, or if you’ve given up and want help with it.”

“Look at it this way, dear.”  Corazon gave an evil little laugh then winked.  “At least I’m not asking you to take care of that for me.  Yet.”

“I get the hint, Cora.”  Mai raised her hands in mock defense at that.  “See you in an hour, then.”

Another good one, Mary, my old friend.  Corazon thought as she watched Mai leave the room with a little hurry in her step, but not enough to show that she was actually trying to get away from her Ship Mother’s presence.

You must be so proud of them all, I am.

   It actually took no more than ten minutes to get the kimono arranged on its special hanger and back in the storage area designed to hold things like that.  The rest of the time, Pride’s Ship Mother worked her way through more personnel files then pulled up some music files she had always loved.  When Mai entered her cabin she was playing along with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ballad of Curtis Loew.

Mai seated herself at the other’s nod and listened as Corazon’s fingers brought forth the rich bluesy lead patterns and chords of the old song. 

Once she’d finished, the younger Care Giver clapped her hands and smiled.  “You’re very good, you know, but do you ever play anything but sad songs?”

“Sad?”  Corazon laughed, then shook her head.  “The Ballad of Curtis Loew is anything but sad.  It is a remembrance, a celebration of a man who spent his entire life doing what he loved most.  From the perspective of a child he shared it with.”

“But the child bought that with the wine, didn’t he?”

“Sharing is not a one sided affair, Mai.  Neither begrudged the other what was given, and appreciated what was received very much.”

“But no one else knew the man was so good.”  Mai countered.  “That’s sad, and he died with most people thinking of him as useless.”

“He knew, and so did the child.”  Corazon put in.  “So he was remembered along with what he did.  That is not sad.  Being forgotten would have been, but the child gave him a sort of immortality with the memories and telling of them in the song.”

“I suppose that could be true.” 

“It is for the purposes of this discussion.”  Corazon answered with a grin.

“Pulling rank on me here, are you?”

“Damned right I am.” 

“My God, you are my Mother, in disguise and here to torment me even more.”

“Someone has to keep you young ones in line, and don’t disparage your Mother.  It isn’t nice.”

“I surrender, I surrender!”  Mai laughed back. 

“Good sense prevails at last.”  Corazon smiled.  “I see that you brought your own guitar with you, by the way.”

“Of course I did.  You said you’d show me a few things to do with it, didn’t you?”

“Why yes I did.  Shall we get started then?  I believe I have the next hour free.”

“Why do I think you had this planned all along?”

“Because you’re a bright young lady.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment and leave it at that.”

“It was.  Now get that instrument out of it’s case and show me what you can do with it.”

V

Lt. Commander Stefan Ling read the printout his communications officer had just handed him and nodded, turning to his bridge crew with a grin.  “We have another target.”

“What you got, Skipper?”  His exec asked while watching the ongoing fueling from the gas hauler they had just taken and avoiding a close look at the floating debris near them.

“New freight hauler, Pride of Eire, left Mars orbit carrying pharmaceuticals, algae cultures, nano packs, and foodstuffs.  Good haul for us and it would save another stop at the George Washington to resupply for a while.”

Mention of missing a stop at the Tender ship with its pseudo-women and other entertainments brought out a few groans, but those were short lived.  Every kill their ship made meant more bonus money, and a longer stay on Earth when their tour was over with and each man of the crew knew that very well.

“Here’s her course.”  He handed a small disk to the nav officer.  “Plot us an intercept about a week out of Ceres.”

“Aye, sir.”  The nav officer answered, inserting the disk into his comp and beginning to run the numbers.  “Have it for you in about five minutes.”

Fifteen minutes later, the ISP Corvette Widow Maker left the ravaged hulk of an independent gas hauler she had destroyed, then looted, and turned her lean, bristling black shape towards another part of the Belt and another victim.  She left no witnesses behind.

“Able Bodied Spacer Henry Livingston reporting as ordered Ma’am.”  Corazon’s door speaker carried the young man’s voice and his nervousness through its circuits and speaker system quite well.

“Come.”  She answered with a small internal sigh.  Things like this were always coming up, and had to be taken care of, but she always hated laying down the law, so to speak, to the men she was charged with caring for aboard ship.

She glanced at the complaint again, then looked up from her desk as her office door opened and Livingstone entered.  The man was young, around twenty or so, she judged, and was obviously very frightened at having been pulled from his own activities to see the Ship Mother.  Perspiration was evident in his dark, short cut hair, and its sheen was on his face as well.

“ABS Livingstone.”  She began with a smile meant to put him at ease.  “I understand that your crewmates call you Hank, do you mind if I do that, too?  This is an informal meeting after all.”

“Not at all, Ship Mother.”  The man replied, still nervous in her presence, not so much because of her presence, or rank, but because he knew what this was about.

“Fine, Hank.”  She tapped the file lightly, then waved to a chair on the other side of her desk.  “Sit down.  Can I get you something to drink before we start?”

“No, thank you Ma’am.”  He replied, but taking the offered chair gingerly, as if he expected it to shock or grab him with some sort of restraints.

“You know why I called you in here, don’t you?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Want to tell me things from your side of it, then?”

“Will it make a difference, Ma’am?”  He let out a long sigh as if the whole thing was a chore he really didn’t want to do at all.

“It could.”  Corazon answered, then dropped her smile.  “If you knock it off with the attitude here.  I don’t have the time to waste on idiots, Hank, if you’re one of those, I’ll simply pass this complaint on to the Captain and let him handle it.  I’d rather not if we can reach some kind of understanding.  Clear?”

“Yes, Ma’am, sorry.”  He looked up from staring at his lap and shrugged.  “I just love her.  Margie, I mean.  I can’t really say anything else about it.  Seeing her with other guys just drives me nuts.”

“I see.”  Corazon rose from her chair and moved from behind her desk to stand beside the young man.  “How old are you, Hank, and how many berths have you worked so far?”

“I’m twenty-two, Ma’am, and this is my first real berth since training runs at the Academy.”

“All right, now tell me what you know about Care Givers, please.  Take your time, get it all told here.”

   “You’re here to be companions for us, help-mates, ship mates in a lot of things, and to just generally ease things for the men working in space.”

“Ahh.  You are aware that part of our jobs is sharing with more than one man at a time, aren’t you?  That a Care Giver isn’t expected, or even allowed, to be exclusive to one man?  That doing so is a violation of her contract with the company and could end up with her penalized a substantial sum of money on top of losing her job?”

“Margie explained that to me, Ma’am.”  The boy nodded, then shook his head.  “I understand it intellectually, but my gut just doesn’t agree here.  I love her, and she returns that.  Why can’t she be exclusive?”

“Could you afford to buy out her contract, Hank?  It runs for five years and she makes something a little better than twice your pay rate, plus her contract has just started with this run.  Buying her contract out would be about the only way you could lay any claim of exclusivity with her that would have a chance of sticking.”

“Uh, no way I could come up with that.”  He answered with an angry look.  “And she’s no Whore to be bought and sold!”

“No, she isn’t.”  Corazon smiled gently while seating herself in a chair beside the young man.  “She is a Care Giver, though and that’s a job, Hank, even if she does come to love some of her companions.  How would you react if someone interfered with you performing your duties?  Especially if that lack of performance would not only get you dismissed, but heavily fined?”

“I’d be upset, and probably get in a fight over it.”

“Good answer.”  Corazon chuckled.  “Now Margie could knock you on your ass and sit on you, she has the training to do that, but won’t.  Unless you keep interfering in her relations with other crewmen.  She doesn’t want to do that, and was even hesitant to file this complaint with me, but knew she had to do that much.  Margie doesn’t want to see you hurt, Hank.  But she also can’t afford the interference you’re causing with her duties here.”

“So now what?”  He questioned.

“So now I can either order her to avoid you, or pass this along to the captain, or…”  Smiling, she gave him a soft pat on the shoulder.  “Convince you that there are other women out here too who are worthy of that love.  I’d really hate to see you with something like harassing a Care Giver on your record, Hank.  We need to do something to prevent that one way or another here, don’t you think?”

“How do we do that?”

“Have you been with any other of the girls aboard?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Well, that says something for you if you’re willing to be monogamous while demanding that a woman be so for you.”  Corazon chuckled.  “All right, come with me.  I’m going to show you a few things that I’m sure Margie, good as she is, hasn’t learned as of yet.”

“Do you mean… Sleep with you?”  He almost looked outraged by the thought.

“Only if you’re one of those guys who shoots and turns over right away.”  She laughed while pulling him carefully to his feet.  “Now come on.  Mama Corazon is going to show you a few things that I think you’ll really enjoy.”

“Bu -- but this isn’t right.”  He started to protest.

“In space.”  Corazon placed a light finger to his lips to stop the protest.  “Monogamy is not practical or healthy.  I’m going to show you that it’s better to have variety, anyway.  Coming?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You always have a choice, dear one.”  Corazon laughed as she led him across the companionway to her cabin door.  “But trust me, this one is going to much more fun than doing detention or getting dressed down by the Captain.”

She pulled him into her cabin, then pressed the ’Do not disturb’ tab beside the door.

There was a pretty good sized gathering in the mess hall area, though the evening meal was over an hour gone.  Most of the people were simply socializing, playing one form of game or another, or hanging around just to be somewhere with other people.

Corazon gave those she passed a smile while carrying her guitar case towards the slightly raised area in the forward section of the mess hall that was used for a stage when one was needed, pulled an unoccupied chair up with her as she stepped onto it, and began getting the ancient Martin out and tuning it.

People were stopping their own activities to watch these preparations and she gave them a brilliant smile while continuing to get her instrument tuned properly.  “Please go on with what you were doing everyone.  I just thought a little background music might be nice this evening, and Imelda here was getting tired of only being played in my cabin.”

Some few did as she had advised, but most kept watching with a halfway expectant air.  Shaking her head, she nodded to the gathering.  “All right then, since I seem to have attracted all this attention I’ll introduce myself informally to all of you.  I’m your Ship Mother Corazon Isabella Maria Gutierrez, but usually go by Cora.  I’m very pleased to see all of you, and hope my small contribution to the evening will be appreciated.  This song is and old one by a late twentieth and early twenty-first century musical group named Lynyrd Skynyrd.  It‘s called The Ballad of Curtis Loew.”

With that, she began with a few wavering, bluesy notes, that slowly swelled into the music for the song she had chosen to play that evening.

As the guitar’s sound filled the area, her rich contralto voice joined in.

She finished the song with the lead notes and a small flourish with her eyes closed and a soft smile on her face.  When she opened them it was to see everyone in the mess hall raptly watching.  The silence was unnerving.

Then the applause began.

Someone joined her on the stage, and she turned to see a smiling Mai with her own instrument out, and several other girls with theirs as well.  “We don’t want to steal your show, but how about some accompaniment with the next one?”

Noting that one girl was getting a standing bass out of a case nearly as tall as she was, and another was setting up a small set of drums, while the last was putting a keyboard up, she nodded with a grin.  “Why not?  We may as well have some fun here.”

Once the setting up and obligatory tuning was finished, Corazon looked at the others, grinned a wicked ’follow me’ kind of smirk and launched into Sweet Home Alabama.

Requests started trickling in, asked for hesitantly at first, then with more confidence as the musicians managed to handle each one without seeming to mind at all.  Tables were folded into their recesses, and some couples began to dance.  The warmth, and happiness in the room enfolded everyone, including Corazon.

Ahh, to hear the sweet joyful sounds Imelda is capable of again.  She thought happily as she played, and sang for the gathering.  I had feared that I would never be able to get them to come back.  I’m so glad I was wrong.

Just as the warmth of the gathering reached her, the music reached out to the others.  Letting out a laugh of sheer joy, she felt the beginnings of the connection with those others that she had feared would never happen finally forming.  Ohhh, this feels wonderful, to be happy again, to make others feel that too.  How could I have ever forgotten this feeling?  Or avoided it like I was trying to do?

She was not all that surprised to find that hours had passed by the time they stopped. 

Mai hugged her almost fiercely once the instruments had been put away.  “It was so good to see you laugh like that, Cora.”

“Like what?”

“In the simple joy of doing something for only its own sake.”  The younger woman answered.  “You are so much more beautiful when you’re happy, do you know that?”

“All women are that way, dear.”  Corazon returned the hug.  “But it did feel really, really good tonight.  I hadn’t done anything like this for too long.”

“Then I am honored to have been a part of your reawakening, Mother.”

“The honor, in this case, I think.”  Corazon replied thoughtfully.  “Is that one so wise for her years chose to do this thing for me.  I had meant to play one or two songs, make sure all present knew who I was, then leave.  I’m glad I didn’t now, though I’m sure to be sleepy tomorrow.”

“What’s a little sleep lost compared to finding something precious again?”  Mai questioned with that unsettling wisdom she was always showing.

“Nothing, dear.”  Corazon chuckled.  “Nothing at all.  Thank you.”

Turning to the others, who were still gathered around on the stage, she bowed.  “Thank you all, from an old woman who had forgotten a few very important things.  You helped me remember.”

“Ahh, you aren’t old, Mother Corazon.”  The small one, Sheila, who had played the standup bass countered.  “”You wouldn’t be that hard to keep up with if you were.”

Over the next few days, she simply circulated when her duties allowed that, and worked at making the more personal connections a working Ship Mother needed to do her job properly.

Three days following the rather gratifyingly popular concert, her office door was buzzed and Captain Hendrikson’s voice came over through the pickup.  “Would you have a few minutes to spare, Ship Mother?”

“Of course, Captain.”  Corazon answered.  “Come in.”

Once Hendrikson had settled his lean, lanky form into a seat and appeared comfortable, he gave her a quick grin.  “I always like to check and see how my section heads are doing off and on in their own bailiwicks.  Gives me a better feel for how things actually are running.”

“A good policy, Captain.”  She nodded, beginning to respect this man and his command abilities even more.  “May I offer you some refreshment while we talk?”

“Coffee if you’ve got it, would be good just now.”

“Well, given the number of crewmen usually coming through an office like mine I’d better have some on hand, even if I didn’t drink it myself.”  She chuckled while rising to open a sliding panel behind her desk that revealed a coffee maker, a small fridge, and an elaborate tea set.  “I do, however, make use of it quite frequently, so not only do I have it available, it’s ready.”

“Ahh.”  He nodded with another quick grin as she poured mugs of the steaming brew for him and herself, then passed one to him.  After a cautious sip, he widened his eyes, gave an appreciative smile, and took a longer, but still slow drink.  “This is not from the galley stores, is it?”

“No, it’s from my personal stuff.”  Cora smiled.  “Blue Jamaican exported from Earth.  I don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to get it though, with the way things are going politically now.”

“Well, there are still Pro-Spacer and Free Trade factions alive and well down there.”  Hendrikson answered quietly.  “Japan, Brazil, and South Africa pulled out of the UN and haven’t been talked, cajoled, or bullied into rejoining since the Protection of Women Act was passed worldwide.”

“Yes, I know.”  Corazon let out a sigh.  “It seems that business will go on, even in a war, doesn’t it?”

“Always does, Ship Mother.”  Hendrikson nodded then shrugged.  “If not officially, then through other channels.  Nothing to be done about either thing at this stage, I’m afraid.”

“So am I, Captain, afraid, I mean.”  Cora nodded then brightened.  “And my name is Corazon, Cora for short, Sir.”

“All right, Cora.”  Hendrikson agreed.  “You may as well call me Liam when we’re in private, too.  I think you and I are going to be working very closely during this voyage.”

“I would imagine so, with a new crew and ship there would be a lot of details needing smoothed out and firmed up with everyone, wouldn’t there?”

“Yes there would, one of which I’d come to discuss with you in particular, though things that have gone on recently make that less of a worry for me now.”

“Go on.”

“Well, at first it appeared as if you having trouble adjusting to being with us here, and that you were purposefully keeping your distance from just about everyone aboard.  I was getting more than a little concerned over that, Cora.  We both know a Ship Mother needs to be more ’hands on’ in her duties and you just weren’t managing to get that part done in my opinion.”

“I have to agree with you on that point, Sir.  Liam.”  Corazon quietly responded.  “I was having some difficulties when I came aboard.  None of them your, or anyone’s here fault.  I’m afraid I carried them with me when I came.”

“I know, I read your file.”  Hendrikson nodded.  “You lost a husband just before coming here, didn’t’ you?  Forgive my bluntness there, but it is something that could, and was, coloring your entire outlook aboard Pride.”

“Yes, Samuel Xiang, the father of my son, Geraldo.”  Corazon’s expression turned mournful for a few moments as she recalled the man.  “He was CEO of Outer Planets Mining and Gas.  They had developed a new type of gas scoop making use of charged ions to draw the gas in.  It was supposed to be a real advantage over just skimming the giants.  The system was planned to take in more gas, faster, thereby making the whole thing more efficient and profitable.  It was fitted to one of Apollo Freight’s gas haulers in a partnership sort of deal.  Sam was aboard that ship to make certain his system did work properly.  The ship’s name was Halcyon.”

“Yeah, I know.”  Hendrikson nodded soberly.  “I’m sorry, but had to wonder why you were posted here so soon after that happened?”

“My posting here had been confirmed long before the Halcyon and Glory Road incident, Liam.”  She gave a small shrug and a wan smile.  “I loved Sam, but we had not seen much of each other for a long time.  My other husbands and son were there to handle the details, and I did get to the memorial service.  At least I know what became of him, unlike so many others who have lost loved ones out here.  It seemed rather pointless to just sit and stew over something that was done, and Rei Yotori was nearly adamant about my taking this particular posting even after that.”

“Why was that?”

“My experience and areas of expertise in the tech fields.”  She answered.  “We all knew that Pride of Eire was a very special, a very different type of ship from any built by spacers before.”

“Then you know what Pride really is.”  It was a statement more than a question.

“How could I not?”  Corazon answered softly.  “Pride of Eire is bait, a warship very thinly disguised as a trader.  Anyone with eyes, and a little time to look could tell that much, given all the armaments that were visible on her hull when I first saw her.”

“They really aren’t that obvious.”  Hendrikson countered.  “To a trained eye, yes the signs are there, and the ones we hunt are trained, but they’re also used to hitting defenseless victims.  We’re going to be a nasty surprise for some of them.  Is that why you came, for revenge?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Captain.”  Corazon actually appeared shocked at that concept.  “War of any kind is often cruelest to those left behind to wonder.  The men aboard those UN ships may not deserve mercy or any other such considerations from us, but they do have families back on Earth, I know it.  No, Captain, revenge is not my motive for being here at all.  That would leave a very bad taste in my mouth, one I would never get rid of, I think.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To keep your crew, and you, sane once the fighting does start.”  She answered with a shudder.  “You didn’t see the crew of the shuttle that killed the UN ship Halcyon ran into.  I did.  Those three were in near shock, and clearly required a lot of tender loving care, and counseling after what they had to do.  I only hope they’re getting it.”  

“I see.  Will you be up that?”

“Is anyone ever up to something like that, Captain?”  Corazon shook her head and let out a long sigh.  “I honestly don’t have an answer to that one.  Anyone who did would be lying to you.  All I know is I will do my best, and that best is considerable with the experiences I have behind me.  I’m afraid that will have to do for now on that subject.”

“It’s good enough for me, Cora.”  Hendrikson smiled as he shook his head.  “Fred Hastings told me you were a very remarkable woman.  I took his word on it, but now I’m beginning to believe it myself.  By the way, I wanted to let you know that I really appreciated the way you handled that problem with Livingstone a few days ago.”

“He’s not much more than a boy, really.”  Cora smiled a bit.  “Who is still fighting the concepts an upbringing on Earth instilled in him.  He is learning.  I’ve made him one of my regulars just to help that along some.”

“Good, I didn’t want to put a reprimand like that on his record, he’s really a good kid.”

“I know that.”  Cora nodded.  “Otherwise I would have sent him straight to you instead of working to untangle all those misconceptions he was carrying around with him.”

“Good for you, Ship Mother.”  Hendrikson chuckled.  “I see that you are finally getting yourself settled in, then.  That’s good to know.”

“My mother was a wonderful cook, Liam.”  Corazon told him, holding up a hand to forestall the question he was about to raise.  “She always told me that it takes a little time for a truly fine pudding or sauce to become what it was meant to be.  I’ve learned through the years that she was talking about  more than simply working in the kitchen.”

“I see.”  Understanding showed in his eyes.  “Are you as good a cook as your mother was?”

“Maybe.”  She chuckled.  “Why don’t you be the judge of that later on?”

“Oh, I’m sure you are, Cora.” 

“I really can cook as well, you know.  It’s one of the prerequisites in Care Giver training after all.”

“Is that an invitation?”

“Of course it is, Captain.”  she laughed, then gave him a questioning look.  “Have you ever had Fideo?”

“Can’t say that I have.  Isn’t it something like spaghetti?” 

“Pfft!  It has pasta, thin pasta, and sauce.”  Corazon waved as she grinned.  “But no Italian has ever done the combination justice as Fideo can.”

“Then I’ll look forward to making the comparison for myself, Cora.”

“Good.  Would tomorrow evening be a good time?”

“I can make it a good time.  I’m the Captain, after all.”

“So you are, so you are.”  Corazon agreed.  “Then make it around 1700 hours?  That will give me time to get everything ready to serve.  In my cabin if that isn’t too uncomfortable for you?”

“That will be fine, Cora.”

“I’ll expect you then.”  She smiled.  “Bring your appetite and some bicarbonate, I use a lot of spices.”

“I consider myself duly warned, Ma’am.”  Hendrikson nodded.  “I’ll look forward to it.”

“So will I, Liam.”

VI

“Hello.”  Corazon smiled as the cooks turned to look at her as she entered the immaculate galley.  “Might I trouble you gentlemen for a small corner to work in for a while?”

“No trouble at all, Ship Mother.”  A slight, short man with thinning blond hair hidden under a chef’s cap answered while gesturing to an unused part of the galley.  “I’m Herman Brock, Chief Cook here, and this is my assistant Kelly Jones.”

The other man, larger than his boss, though Corazon thought she might be larger than that one, with thick dark hair and a beard that refused to stay shaven nodded with a grin that could be infectious given the chance.  “Hiya.”

“The rest of my crew won’t be in for another hour or so.”  Brock told her while Jones looked over the ingredients she had brought along.  “And we have the next meal pretty well ready to go, it just needs to be cooked, heated, and or mixed.  So Have at it.  I hope you don’t mind if we kind of kibbitz while you do, though.”

“Ahh, not at all, Mr. Brock.”  Cora chuckled.  “One cook will always want to see what another is doing.  Especially when it’s in their kitchen.  Feel free, and ask any questions you like, though I really doubt I could improve on the things you do already.  I rarely see leftovers in the mess hall after mealtimes.”

“Thank you, Ship Mother.”  Brock nodded and beamed.  “My name is Herman, by the way.”

“All right.”  Corazon smiled back.  “I’m Cora, and it ’s good to meet you both.”

“Call me Kelly.”  Jones told her then asked.  “What are you going to make here?”

“Fideo.”  Corazon answered while getting her spices, chilies, and powders arranged. 

“Had it before.”  Kelly nodded.  “It’s good.” 

“Heard of it.”  Herman nodded.  “Mexican spaghetti, right?”

“Yes.”  Corazon nodded while starting to brown chicken breasts in a skillet she had poured a film of oil into while they talked.  “But if all you’ve had is the Italian kind, you’re really missing something.  Italians never made spaghetti like this, I promise you.”

“Well, I guess we’ll at least see how it’s done here, won’t we?”  Herman smiled as she removed the browned chicken breasts from the skillet and added more oil.

“If you two are good.”  Cora grinned back while putting the thin strings of pasta in the oil to brown.  “I might even let you each try some when it’s ready.”

After draining the excess oil from the skillet, she diced tomato, the chicken, onion and peppers, then added cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper, and the cubed chicken.  Stirring that mixture, she added water and covered the skillet.

“Smells wonderful already.”  Herman sniffed the air with obvious appreciation.

“It will be about ten minutes before it’s ready.”  Corazon chuckled while giving the pair a quick look.  “Be patient.”

“We can wait.”  Kelly nodded but was obviously getting very interested in what was in the covered skillet.  “Would you have a recipe for that, by any chance?”

“Yes, I would.”  Cora answered.

“Well?”

“Well what?”  She answered innocently.

“Could we maybe, you know, persuade you to share it?”  Herman put in before Kelly was able to say anything else.

“If you still want it after tasting, yes.”  The woman chuckled.  “I warn you, it is quite spicy, but if you still wish to have the recipe after that, of course, I would be happy to share it with you.”

While the mix was simmering, she put a stack of tortillas into a warmer.  “You’ll probably want one of these to go with it, by the way.  The tortilla will help soak up the spices on your tongues.”

“Oh, bread would work fine for that.”  Kelly answered, while reaching into a cupboard to get a loaf out.

“Not with my Fideo it won’t.”  Cora laughed, reaching a hand to stop him.  Humor me and use the tortillas, I‘m a traditionalist with my meals you know.”

Making sure there was enough water remaining in the skillet, she set the cover back on with a grin.  “Almost ready now.”

After giving each of them a bowl filled with the Fideo topped with grated cheddar cheese, and a couple of tortillas, she placed the rest into warmers, and set those on a small cart.  “Thank you for the use of your galley, gentlemen.”

“Ship Mother, Cora,”  Herman answered after swallowing.  “You’re welcome in this galley anytime at all.”

“Yes you are.”  Kelly agreed as Corazon began cleaning up the little mess she had left behind.  “You can leave that, we’ll get it.”

“Thanks, but no you won’t”  She answered firmly.  “One never leaves a kitchen in a mess after cooking.  Especially not someone else’s kitchen.”

Both men knew better than to argue with someone using that tone of voice.

Once she had cleaned up after herself, leaving the galley as immaculate as she had found it, she gave the two a cheerful wave and rolled the cart out, heading for her own quarters and the preparations she needed to make there.

After showering, and dressing in her best formal Kimono, she carefully set two places on the small foldout table provided in her cabin, and positioned chairs at each place setting.  Then she put on coffee, and made sure her small fridge was stocked with a variety of drinks.   The Fideo was filling the cabin with wonderful smells, and she removed the frozen desert she had made the day before from the cold storage compartment and set it out to begin thawing.  It only needed to be partially thawed, since the thin wafers coated in cinnamon and brown sugar layered between custard was best served nearly frozen.

Once those preparations were finished, she completed her makeup, and put her long dark hair up in the traditional Geisha style, held with a pair long jade pins. 

All things in readiness, she checked the chronometer just as her door chime announced someone outside.  Carefully kneeling in the humble, yet proud posture used by so many others through centuries of such meetings, she softly answered.  “Come.”

Liam Hendrikson, carrying a wrapped bottle answered that invitation, and stopped at the threshold with an almost dumbfounded expression on his face that became a slow, appreciative smile.

“Be welcome in my home, Hendrikson-San.”  Corazon bowed, then smoothly rose to her feet with a warm smile.  “You honor me and these poor surroundings with your presence this evening.”

“The honor, Guiterriez-San, is mine entirely.”  Liam answered with a formal bow of his own.  “Thank you for inviting me this evening.”

“I trust you brought your appetite, Captain?”  She responded with a twinkle in her brown eyes as she gracefully rose to her feet.

“Of course.”  Liam patted a pocket in his uniform and grinned.  “Plus some bicarbonate, just in case.  As you advised me yesterday.”

“Good.”  Corazon let out a throaty chuckle.  “I like a man who can take and follow advice.  Especially when it is good advice.”

“I hope you don’t mind, I brought along a little something from my own private stores for the evening.”  He offered the cloth bag to her and watched as she opened it.

“Thank you.”  she nodded while moving to set the bottle of very old California Zinfandel into a chilling receptacle after reading the label.  “2010, from the Napa Valley.  I’m impressed, sir.  I only hope my efforts at cooking are equal to this.”

“From the wonderful things I’m smelling in here I’d say my offering would come in a poor second, Ship Mother.”

“We’ll see if you keep that opinion in the morning.”  She chuckled and gestured him to a chair at the small table.  “Sit down and I’ll serve dinner.”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

“Men, always concerned for their poor stomachs.” 

“We have to keep our strength up just to keep up with our women.”

“Touche, Captain.”  Corazon let out a rich, musically belling laugh.  “Ah, at last I believe I’ve met my match in wordplay.”

“Thank you for having me here, Cora.”  Hendrikson told her with a smile, knowing the opening formalites had been seen to and moving into a more comfortable style of interaction.

“Thank you for coming, Liam.”  She grinned.  “It has been a while since I cooked for a man.  It is a pleasure.  Now, to business.  Fideo.”

“About time, too.”  Liam grumbled with good humor.  “I had to skip lunch today.”

“Ahh, the drill.”  Corazon nodded while spooning the mix into bowls and sprinkling the grated cheese over it.  She set one bowl in front of him, and the other at her place, then got out the tortillas and set them in the center of the table.  “That makes how many in the past month?”

“Twelve.”  Liam sighed.  “With more to come, I fear.  We need to be ready for trouble if it comes, much as I hate that idea.”

   “All of us do, Liam.”  With a soft sigh, she seated herself and gestured to the steaming bowl of Fideo.  “But for this evening, we leave that worry to others, and simply enjoy ourselves.  Agreed?”

“Agreed.”  Liam nodded, then glanced towards the wine in its cooling recess.  “If you’ll pass that bottle here, I’ll get it open and let it breathe for a while.”

“Done.”   Watching him expertly use a small corkscrew to unstopper the bottle, then carefully set the opened wine on the table, Corazon smiled and gestured to the food.  “Please.  Eat.”

“I don’t have to be asked twice.”  Liam answered, picking up a fork and large spoon then starting to twirl the sauce soaked pasta onto the utensils.

His first bite was a bit tentative, and he slowly worked the mix around in his mouth as he chewed.  Once he’d swallowed he grinned, and nodded.  “This is great.”

“Thank you.”  Corazon began eating as well, in a more delicate manner, but with just as much gusto as her guest was showing.

With the wine, and small talk, the main course lasted over an hour, with seconds for both, and a third helping for the Captain.  Both were enjoying the company and relaxation and it showed in the easy way they bantered across the table.

“I so like a man who enjoys his food.”  Corazon grinned, then pointed discretely to the other’s uniform.  “But you left some behind there.”

“Damn, guess I did at that, didn’t I?”  Liam chuckled as he plucked the piece of pasta off his jacket then examined the stain it had left.  “I like a woman who can cook and isn’t ashamed to show it.”

“Good for you.”

“That’s all you have to say when I’ve complimented you?”

“Oh, that’s what that was.  Then thank you.”

“Are you always this difficult, Cora?”

“Difficult?  Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Oh, only when I like someone, or hate them.”

“I see.”  Liam lifted a questioning eybrow.  “Which category do I fit into?”

“Here, have some coffee and think about that for a few minutes.  Do you really want an answer?”

“Well, if I don’t drop dead after the coffee,”  Liam chuckled, then sipped at the hot, black brew.  “I’ll go with the first option there.”

“I knew you were a smart man.”

“My mother always used to tell me that.”  He sighed a bit too loudly.  “Just before she handed me some kind of whammy.”

“Ahh.  And just what kind of ‘Whammy’ do you expect me to hand you?”

“Ummm.  Uhhh.”  He only stared in almost rapt fascination as the woman pulled the pins from her hair and shook it loose like a sudden torrent of night dark, shining glory, then pulled at a fastening on her kimono to have it slither down her body and pool at her feet.  “Mom never did that with me.”

“Probably just as well.”  with a smile, she moved around the table to stand beside him, filling his senses with her presence and spicy scent.  “So are you just going to sit there and stare, sir?”

“Fine, beautiful things should be enjoyed fully, and looking at them is part of that, you know.”

“I see.”  lifting his chin gently with one hand while the other reached to  his shoulder, she whispered.  “I hope you’ve spent enough time looking.”

“Not near enough, Cora.”  He answered, reaching to pull her into his lap.  “But I’ve done enough looking for one time around, I think.”

“Good.”  She kissed him, softly at first, then with growing passion as he responded.  Once they broke that, she pulled him to his feet.  “Now it’s my turn to have a look, hmm?”

“I never argue with a lady.”  His husky response was accompanied with the thump of his jacket hitting the floor. 

“See?”  Cora grinned up at with with a flash of mischief in her eyes.  “I told you that you’re a bright fellow.”

VII

“Forty hours to intercept, Captain.”  Higgins, the nav officer told Ling as Widow Maker continued to accelerate towards her violent rendevous.

“Good.”  Ling answered, as he hit the battle stations key on his console.  “Another kill will make us rich, Higgins. Especially one like this.”

The drill went as expected, with each man in his proper place and doing the proper thing.  They had all been through the real thing enough times to know what was expected of them.

Ling watched the computer plot of their own course and that of their target with a tight grin.  “Enjoy your last few days of life, you Spacer bastards.  We’re going to put an end to that in less than two days.”

“Another drill.”  Mai sighed while grabbing her pressure suit from the locker in the hall near the bridge as Corazon emerged from her office already in hers.  “The crew is starting to go stale from all of them, you know.”

“I’ve mentioned that to the Captain.”  Cora let out a long sigh.  “He tells me he wishes he could let up on all of us for a while.”

“Then why doesn’t he?”

“Forty-three dead or missing ships in the past three years.”  The Ship Mother responded heavily.  “He doesn’t want us to become number forty-four.”  

Corazon opened the console that allowed her to monitor both Environment and Engineering plus the power allocations for different ship systems, and keyed in the code that brought the information up.  “Better get yourself to sick bay now.”

“Yeah, see you later, and please, try and talk some sense into the Captain, would you?”

“I’ll do what I can, dear.  Now go!  Get to your station.” 

“Captain.”  Corazon approached him on the bridge, feeling the tension there as a palpable force, with all her official, and professional dignity showing once the drill had ended.  “I need a few minutes of your time, please.”

“Can it wait a few hours, Ship Mother?”  Liam questioned a bit shortly while still going over the performance figures from the recently finished drill.

“No, I’m afraid not, Sir.” 

“All right.”  Rising from his command couch, Liam gestured towards his own office off the bridge.  “Do you need privacy for this one?”

“It would probably be best, yes.”  Corazon nodded.

“Come on then.”  With a sigh, he moved towards the cubicle he used for office space and waited for her to proceed him inside.

“I suppose you want to tell me I’m pushing the crew too hard.”  Liam started out while waving her to a chair and taking one himself.

“If you know that, I don’t need to tell you, do I?”  Corazon answered without a trace of a smile on her face.  “Would you care to tell me why you feel it’s necessary?”

“You know why, Corazon.”  His response was tight, and he closed his eyes briefly while running a hand across his forehead.  “You of all people aboard this ship should be able to understand that.”

“Pride is neither slow or defenseless, like Halcyon was.”  She replied while tilting her head as she watched him.  “What happened to that ship won‘t be repeated with us.  You know this as well as I do.”

“They, we, have to be ready.”  Was his answer. 

“We’re all as ready as any crew could be for something like that, Liam.”  She answered softly.  “Pride of Eire is probably the finest ship ever turned out of the Yards orbiting Mars, and she carries a crew that does that potential justice.  But all of us, you too, need a little rest from these constant drills.  There comes a point where practice becomes unproductive, even counter productive.  You’re a fine commander, Liam.  So you know that as well as I do.”

“The welfare of this ship is my responsibility, Cora.” 

“Yes it is, but the welfare of this crew is mine.  That includes you.”  Corazon shook her head.  “It’s a specification in the CGC contracts, and gives me much more responsibility than I really desire, but I have it.  Now I need to use the clout that contract gives me.  I don’t want to do that, Liam.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Page 12, paragraph 7, sub paragraph B.”  She answered, while bringing a copy of the page up on her personal comp and passing it to him.  “Please read it if you need to refresh your memory.”

“I know the section you’re talking about.”  Liam gave her an almost bruised look.  “You wouldn’t go that far would you?”

“If I feel it necessary, I would.”  Corazon flatly answered.  “If I determine that a practice aboard the ship I am contracted to is detrimental to the crew, and the women under my suzerain, I am authorized, no, make that obligated to take whatever steps I deem necessary to remedy the situation.  As of now, Captain Hendrikson, you are relieved of duty for ten hours.”

“Cora!  You know I can’t take ten hours off now!” 

“You can and you will, sir.”  Corazon told him then shrugged.   “If you refuse to comply with that special order then you will be relieved for ten days.  Either way, you will get some badly needed rest, as will your crew.”

“You are a very stubborn woman, do you know that, Ship Mother?”  Liam gave her an almost exasperated look. 

“I know.”  She smiled and tilted her head slightly to the left and even let out a chuckle at a thought.  “Trade notes with Fred Hastings regarding what I did when he was driving the crew of  Prince Albert to distraction while trying to set an idiot record for speed on a run from Earth to Mars.”

“Are you talking about THE FRED?”  Liam swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment.  “Fred Hastings, the owner of Apollo Freight?”

“That’s the one.”  Corazon nodded with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.  “Oh, he was furious when I pulled command out from under him.  But Sally was very happy about it.”

“You stared down THE FRED, aboard his own ship?  And got away with it?  With his wife aboard?”

“Close your mouth, dear.  There are no flies to catch aboard Pride and I am certain you’re eating well enough not to need the extra protein even if there were.  Fred Hastings respects strength and someone with the sense to use it properly.”  She shrugged, then