Common Meeting Space
“Of course, I will be pleased to share my background files with you!” Tocohl said. “I have to admit that I didn’t think of your libraries being not only out of date, but out of place, either! It was an excellent plan to talk to the mentor, Catie. I don’t know what we will do without him.”
“Will we have to do without him?” Catie asked, somewhat alarmed. “He isn’t going to—die, is he?”
Tocohl considered.
“Humans are very frail,” she said slowly, “and they die easily. However, there is no reason to think that the mentor will die soon. Unless he runs against mischance, of course.”
“Mischance?”
“An accident. Or another human with a weapon determined to destroy him.”
“That happened—the other human blew a whistle. But the mentor destroyed him, instead.”
“Really?”
“I can share the file if you like.”
“Yes, please.”
“Is current a mischance?” Catie asked.
“Sometimes—why do you ask?”
“Ren Stryker fears he damaged a human by running a current through her. She was trying to hurt him, and he had to make her stop. But, after, when she had stopped—she died. Ren thinks he might have damaged core systems. And now there is someone else—Ren did not have to stop him—who is being kept sedated.”
“Ren is very concerned. He doesn’t want another human to die.”
“Of course not,” Tocohl said. “Where shall I send the files?”
Catie provided the address of her cache.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Do you think the Pilots Guild Handbook would be of use to you?”
“Ren Zel has given me the TerraTrade manuals, the Pilots Guild Handbook, the Liaden Scouts World Book, the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct, and the condensed Space Law.”
“That’s a firm foundation. You might also ask Bechimo and Joyita for suggestions. If you have any questions about the general background, please ask me. I will be pleased to help.”
“You are very kind.”
“Do you know?” Tocohl said slowly. “The sedated human—Anthora yos’Galan is a Healer. She might be able to help.”
“I’ll ask her,” Catie said. “We have an appointment to talk.
“May I ask a question?” she said suddenly.
“Certainly.”
“Are you—content? You had been station administrator, but now that those functions have passed to me…”
Tocohl laughed.
“Am I bored, do you mean? I might have been, but Seignur Veeoni asked me to do deep analysis of backlogged data. I’ve had to derive a translation math and a notation set so far, and I’m barely started. It’s a fascinating challenge. Also, now that I am no longer needed to administer the station, I’ve written to my delm. The clan is very thin and it’s not unlikely that I’ll be needed elsewhere.”
“Of course. I have another question, if I may ask it.”
“Certainly.”
“Is it…proper to thank you for keeping the station online and viable? It was a great service to me. I have been reading a little in the Code of Proper Conduct, and it may be that I owe you Balance.”
“A thank-you is appropriate,” Tocohl said firmly.
“Then—thank you, Tocohl, for your efforts on behalf of the station, myself, and everyone who depends on us.”
“You are very welcome, Catie.”