Bechimo
Dock A
They’d gone through another batch of maize buttons, and supper, too, by the time they were all up-to-date on the day’s doings, and had made a plan, going forward.
Chernak, Win Ton, Kara, and one of Bechimo’s remotes would be the core remediation team. The plan was to clear the upper level first. When that was done, Win Ton, Kara—one or both as space allowed—would go into the lower core. Queried, Light Keeper Lorith allowed as how there were work sleds they could use to remove the old racks and tiles. She had offered Repair Bay Three as a temporary dumping ground.
“Somebody needs to get a sample to Ren Stryker, so he can see if he can render them,” Theo said.
“I will make contact,” Bechimo said, “and discuss how he would like the material delivered, and what constitutes a useful sample.”
Theo blinked.
“You’ll do that?”
“Certainly,” Bechimo said, and there was a hint of a sniff in his voice. “We are all partners in the task of bringing the Light online.”
“All right, then,” Theo said, not meeting Kara’s eye. “Stost will be with Seignur Veeoni. If she doesn’t need him, he can join the fun at the old core. I’ll ask Jen Sin to show me the interior seals on the damaged section, but we really need eyes on the exterior.”
“Light Keeper yos’Phelium states that the Light has no work boat,” Win Ton murmured.
“One does wonder how that could be possible,” Kara said, apparently picking up something from his tone that had eluded Theo. “However, it would hardly do for us to call the light keeper’s integrity into question.”
“As much as this station’s seen, an’ as old as it is, I’d say misplacing a work boat—or a fleet o’work boats—isn’t outside o’possible,” Clarence put in.
“That’s right,” Theo said, frowning. “Bechimo can do an inspection, but if there are repairs to make…”
“Seignur Veeoni is affiliated with the research station that made the Light its study,” Stost said, surprisingly. “It may be that they have a boat to lend.”
“Good idea,” Theo said. “I’ll talk to Jen Sin about asking Seignur Veeoni to help us there.”
She sighed, and looked around the table.
“Anything else?” she asked, pretty sure there wasn’t.
She was wrong.
“One more point o’bidness, Captain,” Clarence said.
She nodded at him. “Go.”
“We got a perfectly fine small trader sitting in the hold,” he said. “Might be a reasonable thing to have her out at dock.”
Theo frowned at him. “Show of force?”
“Show of occupancy,” Win Ton said, surprisingly.
Clarence nodded at him.
“Lookin’ a little sparse o’company, for a working station.”
“The Free Ships might not want to come in, if we’re too occupied,” Theo pointed out.
“Maybe. But I’m thinking I heard Aberthaz Ferry hail Spiral Dance as a little bit of a hero in her own right.”
“That is correct,” Chernak said. “He knew her name.”
“I remember,” Theo admitted, “but we’re not going to be looking for anybody close to as old as Aberthaz Ferry—”
Clarence clucked his tongue.
“Captain Theo, I’m surprised at you. Unless you think the Old Ones didn’t tell stories to the youngers they met, who then told them over ’mong themselves.”
Theo stared at him.
“That’s—unsettling,” she said after a moment.
“But not unlikely,” Joyita said.
Theo looked back to Clarence.
“So you think having Spiral Dance at dock would send the message that there really has been a…change of management?”
Clarence put his hand flat over his heart, his face solemn and sincere.
“Captain, I do.”
“Right then, that’s yours. Get her out of the hold and docked. Clear it all with station admin.”
Clarence managed to look hurt.
“O’course, Captain.”
Theo looked around the table.
“Anything else, now?” she asked.
Nobody said anything. She pushed back from the table and stood.
“Fine, then. Everybody get some rest. Busy day tomorrow.”