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The wental voice was silent for some time.The war is over, and all factions have survived, it said.That is our victory. Then the voice was gone.
Jess and Cesca rode in a small Roamer ship that had been given to them, since they could no longer fashion a water-bubble craft whenever they needed it; nor could they survive in vacuum or stroll across the terrain of an airless planetoid. Now they were just average people again, real people. A man and a woman.
How Jess had longed for that. I wouldnt change a thing. He reached over to stroke her long dark hair. And our work isnt over its just going to be different.
The work of a Roamer Speaker never ends. Isnt that what Jhy Okiah used to say? She was a smart woman.
Cesca gri
As they approached the Rendezvous site, Jess and Cesca identified themselves, got clearance, and docked their small ship in a complex where the ambitious workers had established a rugged living dome. Tanks of spare fuel, water, air, and packaged supplies had been set out in a metal-walled oasis. After cycling through the airlock, they met several dozen men and women who had come back, working on a quixotic scheme to put all the pieces back together, as if that would make everything as it had been.
Cesca swept her gaze around, smiling at the people. I recognize you clan Rudyear, isnt it?
An older woman nodded. Three teenaged boys stared at the two visitors. One short, stocky man paled as he recognized them. Dont let them touch you! He hesitated. Can you two come in here? Is it safe?
Laughing, Jess stepped forward and clapped the man on the shoulder. Nothing to worry about. The wentals are gone from our bodies.
Were nothing special anymore, Cesca added.
I beg to differ, said the older woman. Weve heard plenty about the two of you. Even without wentals inside you, nobodys going to argue that Speaker Peroni didnt do what was necessary for clan survival during our hardest times.
Cesca hugged the old woman, who flinched from the embrace, despite her assurances. Jess threw his arms around two of the other people inside the dome. I hope you dont mind. Its been so long since we could actually touch another person, weve really missed it. He shook the hands of the perplexed teenaged boys, who didnt seem to understand what the problem was.
Speaker Peroni, are you going to return to Rendezvous when we have it completed? said an obviously pregnant blond-haired woman.
Id like that, Cesca said. The clans will always be independent, but we probably dont want a separate governmental center from the Confederation.
I was just thinking of it as a nice place to live, said the short-statured man.
Well help spread the word, Jess said.
Good. We could use any help the clans can spare, the old woman said.
For a percentage, of course, the short man added.
For asmall percentage. She and the man eyed each other, and finally he backed down.
Who knows, one of the workers suggested, once we get finished here, maybe well figure out a way to reassemble Earths Moon, too.
Ridiculous, the woman said. It would be easier just to haul in a new one from a planet that doesnt need it.
Okay, we can do that, then.
Jess didnt think either plan sounded particularly easy. But then again, Roamers specialized in solving problems, regardless of the complexity.
He and Cesca stayed long enough to have a meal, and then flew onward. Their next stop was the Osquivel shipyards, and then Theroc, where King Peter had called a great meeting to relaunch the government of humanity.
Reveling in being among people again, he and Cesca took every opportunity to shake hands or exchange embraces with friends, family, or new acquaintances, relishing the human contact.
They also relished their time alone in their journeys between destinations. We have a new start, Cesca said.
Im glad we wont be starting at the begi
As the ship flew onward, Cesca gave him a kiss. Youre right. I dont ever get tired of feeling human contact. close human contact. Especially contact with you.
He glanced at the autopilot and the chronometer. We do have several hours before we get to our destination. How do you propose we occupy our time?
For that, Jess Tamblyn, I suggest you follow your Guiding Star.
King Peter
The great gathering of civilizations occurred on Theroc.
Condorflies buzzed overhead, as if trying to compete with the numerous Roamer ships that landed in a constant stream in the worldforest clearings. Celli and Solimar acted as the official green priests, and through them the messages and news spread everywhere throughout the telink network.
The representatives of Confederation colonies had used their own green priests to call for ships, so they could attend the convocation. Rlinda Kett, Branson Roberts, and Nikko Chan Tylar delivered as many visitors as their ships could carry. Those ambassadors who could not appear in person sent messages through telink, which were delivered and read aloud so that every attendee could hear the widespread and unwavering support across the Spiral Arm.
Sarein, dressed in the same ambassadors robe that ancient Otema had worn years ago, acted as a liaison with the former Hansa bureaucracy. Deputy Cain was also there, along with Fleet Admiral Willis, General Conrad Brindle, his wife, Natalie, Robb, and Tasia, all in seats of prominence.
Patrick and Zhett scolded Del Kellum, who continued to scribble messages, passing them to green priests for transmission as he waited through tedious delays before the final ceremony. Now that his skymining business and the gigantic shipyards were operating without hindrance, Kellum couldnt tear himself away from his administrative duties, but his daughter and her husband made him sit up and pay attention.
Overhead, forty-nine Ildiran streamers raced back and forth, creating sonic booms and leaving a crosshatched pattern of exhaust trails. Though reluctant to leave Ildira again himself considering what had happened on his last i
Next to King Peter, Estarra held baby Reynald in her arms. She didnt care that this was a formal government ceremony: She intended for their baby to witness the birth of a truly unified Confederation. Proud grandparents Mother Alexa and Father Idriss wanted to watch the child, but the Queens word was final.
OX never allowed himself to be more than a few steps away from the King and Queen. His synthetic skin was polished and all his systems up-graded especially his memory capacity, to accommodate the data that Deputy Cain had saved in the archives, as well as the new experiences he had accumulated since escaping from Earth with Peter and Estarra.
Now I can store several more lifetimes worth of memories, the Teacher compy had said when the restoration upload was complete. His optical sensors gleamed gold with excitement.
You have a lot more work ahead of you, OX, Peter had said. You taught me so many valuable things that I was hoping youd teach our son, too.
Will you be Reynalds Teacher compy? Estarra asked.
OX did not hesitate. I would be honored.
After the Ildiran skyparade wrapped up overhead, the streamers raced back to their warliner in orbit, and King Peter called for attention. People of Earth and Theroc, people of the human race whether former Hansa colonists or Roamers and representatives of the Ildiran Empire. He looked around to see rapt attention on the faces of the large crowd that sat shaded under the green canopy of leaves. Endings are often sad, begi