008: Reunion at Collace

[joertexas]

“We can use it at any distance, but we have to be aboard the ship to walk through it.”

"This is quite real, I assure you, and it's opened up new opportunities, and new problems, for us. You will see what I mean. If you can get ready to come with me for a couple of hours, I will show you what I've gotten myself into, and introduce you to more of my friends."

They look uncertain, but as you are family, they agree.

I forget, is the ship landed, or in orbit?

[terrymixon]

“We can use it at any distance, but we have to be aboard the ship to walk through it.”

"This is quite real, I assure you, and it's opened up new opportunities, and new problems, for us. You will see what I mean. If you can get ready to come with me for a couple of hours, I will show you what I've gotten myself into, and introduce you to more of my friends."

They look uncertain, but as you are family, they agree.

I forget, is the ship landed, or in orbit?

Hmmm. I believe it is in orbit.

[joertexas]

Hmmm. I believe it is in orbit.

I found the answer in the first post for this thread. We put it in a docking bay and used a shuttle for the orbital drop afterwards.

Jaelah leads the way to the Lost and Found, and configures one of the portals for their home on Farm World. "Okay, are you ready to see our new home?"

[terrymixon]

Jaelah leads the way to the Lost and Found, and configures one of the portals for their home on Farm World. "Okay, are you ready to see our new home?"

They aren’t configurable; they are paired. The personal sized one to your place is inside your quarters on the Lost & Found. There were discussions of doing a second one to nearby, but that hasn’t been completed yet.

They aren’t configurable impressed at your ship. They don’t have much experience with ships—and none for your sibs—and are impressed at how roomy and well appointed it is.

Your father shrugs. “It’s a nice ship, but is it really much of a home?”

That’s when Metz come out of the workshop area. “Oh, we have visitors. Hello.” Bilis comes out a moment later.

[joertexas]

They aren’t configurable; they are paired. The personal sized one to your place is inside your quarters on the Lost & Found. There were discussions of doing a second one to nearby, but that hasn’t been completed yet.

They aren’t configurable impressed at your ship. They don’t have much experience with ships—and none for your sibs—and are impressed at how roomy and well appointed it is.

Your father shrugs. “It’s a nice ship, but is it really much of a home?”

That’s when Metz come out of the workshop area. “Oh, we have visitors. Hello.” Bilis comes out a moment later.

Got it

Jaelah smiles at her father's comment, but the others arrive before she can answer. "Oh, Doctor Metz, Bilis, this is my family. Roscoe and I are taking them to our new home, but we will be back later for formal introductions." Jaelah opens the door to her quarters. "Step this way, please. Roscoe, would you mind leading the way?"

[terrymixon]

They aren’t configurable; they are paired. The personal sized one to your place is inside your quarters on the Lost & Found. There were discussions of doing a second one to nearby, but that hasn’t been completed yet.

They aren’t configurable impressed at your ship. They don’t have much experience with ships—and none for your sibs—and are impressed at how roomy and well appointed it is.

Your father shrugs. “It’s a nice ship, but is it really much of a home?”

That’s when Metz come out of the workshop area. “Oh, we have visitors. Hello.” Bilis comes out a moment later.

Got it

Jaelah smiles at her father's comment, but the others arrive before she can answer. "Oh, Doctor Metz, Bilis, this is my family. Roscoe and I are taking them to our new home, but we will be back later for formal introductions." Jaelah opens the door to her quarters. "Step this way, please. Roscoe, would you mind leading the way?"

To say that your family is getting more and more confused is understating things. After all, your quarters are nice for something on a ship, but small by any other comparison.

Roscoe stepped over to the teleportal and brought it to life, revealing your living room on Farm World.

“A picture of another place, Jae?” your father asked. “I really think…”

He trails off as Roscoe steps through the teleportal and walks toward the large window overlooking the river and mountains beyond.

[joertexas]

To say that your family is getting more and more confused is understating things. After all, your quarters are nice for something on a ship, but small by any other comparison.

Roscoe stepped over to the teleportal and brought it to life, revealing your living room on Farm World.

“A picture of another place, Jae?” your father asked. “I really think…”

He trails off as Roscoe steps through the teleportal and walks toward the large window overlooking the river and mountains beyond.

"This is a bit of Ancients tech called a teleportal," Jaelah says as she steps across into her living room. "It works both ways, as you can see." She steps back into the ship. "Now, if will you join me, I will show you around our new home. We just finished it, although we're still settling in." She steps back through to the house, turns, and waits for her family members to step though.

[terrymixon]

To say that your family is getting more and more confused is understating things. After all, your quarters are nice for something on a ship, but small by any other comparison.

Roscoe stepped over to the teleportal and brought it to life, revealing your living room on Farm World.

“A picture of another place, Jae?” your father asked. “I really think…”

He trails off as Roscoe steps through the teleportal and walks toward the large window overlooking the river and mountains beyond.

"This is a bit of Ancients tech called a teleportal," Jaelah says as she steps across into her living room. "It works both ways, as you can see." She steps back into the ship. "Now, if will you join me, I will show you around our new home. We just finished it, although we're still settling in." She steps back through to the house, turns, and waits for her family members to step though.

Hesitantly, your father stepped through. He stopped just inside, looking around until your mother pushed him out of the way and came through with your brother and sister behind them.

“This is,” he started to say before Peytor interrupted him. “Absolute zero!“

He stared at his son who blushed. Then he looked back at you. “Unbelievable. That’s what I was about to say. How is this possible? Where are we? How does this even work?“

[joertexas]

Hesitantly, your father stepped through. He stopped just inside, looking around until your mother pushed him out of the way and came through with your brother and sister behind them.

“This is,” he started to say before Peytor interrupted him. “Absolute zero!“

He stared at his son who blushed. Then he looked back at you. “Unbelievable. That’s what I was about to say. How is this possible? Where are we? How does this even work?“

"I don't really know how it works, but it even functions when the ship is in jump. Come outside and look. The air here is good, so you don't need masks." Jaelah walks out onto the deck over looking the river. "I love it here, which is why we picked this place to build." She waits for them to walk outside. "We are on a planet we named Farm World. The whole planet belongs to Roscoe and me. Well, it belongs to our demesne. Roscoe and I have Imperial nobility titles. We are Count and Countess Vincenzo."

[terrymixon]

Hesitantly, your father stepped through. He stopped just inside, looking around until your mother pushed him out of the way and came through with your brother and sister behind them.

“This is,” he started to say before Peytor interrupted him. “Absolute zero!“

He stared at his son who blushed. Then he looked back at you. “Unbelievable. That’s what I was about to say. How is this possible? Where are we? How does this even work?“

"I don't really know how it works, but it even functions when the ship is in jump. Come outside and look. The air here is good, so you don't need masks." Jaelah walks out onto the deck over looking the river. "I love it here, which is why we picked this place to build." She waits for them to walk outside. "We are on a planet we named Farm World. The whole planet belongs to Roscoe and me. Well, it belongs to our demesne. Roscoe and I have Imperial nobility titles. We are Count and Countess Vincenzo."

Your mother puts her hand over her mouth. “Gods. We’ve been in a terrible accident and this is some kind of hallucination, isn’t it? That explains why nothing makes sense.”

[joertexas]

Your mother puts her hand over her mouth. “Gods. We’ve been in a terrible accident and this is some kind of hallucination, isn’t it? That explains why nothing makes sense.”

"I still feel that way myself if I stop and think about it," Jaelah admits. "Let's get something to eat, while we sit and talk." She points to an enclosed sitting area that overlooks the river valley, and leads everyone to it. "Roscoe and I will fix food, and then we can answer more questions." With the assistance of their serving robots, Jaelah helps her husband prepare a light meal and sets the table for her family.

Once everyone is seated and has a chance to eat and drink something, Jaelah sits back with her drink in hand and smiles at her parents. "So, fire away. What questions do you have?"

[terrymixon]

Your mother puts her hand over her mouth. “Gods. We’ve been in a terrible accident and this is some kind of hallucination, isn’t it? That explains why nothing makes sense.”

"I still feel that way myself if I stop and think about it," Jaelah admits. "Let's get something to eat, while we sit and talk." She points to an enclosed sitting area that overlooks the river valley, and leads everyone to it. "Roscoe and I will fix food, and then we can answer more questions." With the assistance of their serving robots, Jaelah helps her husband prepare a light meal and sets the table for her family.

Once everyone is seated and has a chance to eat and drink something, Jaelah sits back with her drink in hand and smiles at her parents. "So, fire away. What questions do you have?"

Your father starts to say something, but your mother holds up a hand. “I think the most important thing right now is to take a step back and focus on our daughter. I can’t pretend that I understand anything that we’ve seen thus far, but it’s obvious that something has happened and we need to get to the bottom of it.“

She looked out over the river valley and shook her head. “It’s so beautiful. I’m looking right at it and I can’t believe that it’s real. Even after just saying that we need to get to the bottom of things, it’s hard to ignore the evidence right in front of my face. What have you gotten yourself into, Jae?

“It’s easy to say that you found something but I think you need to begin at the beginning and tell us what has happened to you. Forget all this technological mumbo-jumbo. I want to know what has happened to my daughter to bring her home with a man that we’ve never met as a husband. What does this mean for the future? What does this mean for all of us?“

[joertexas]

Your father starts to say something, but your mother holds up a hand. “I think the most important thing right now is to take a step back and focus on our daughter. I can’t pretend that I understand anything that we’ve seen thus far, but it’s obvious that something has happened and we need to get to the bottom of it.“

She looked out over the river valley and shook her head. “It’s so beautiful. I’m looking right at it and I can’t believe that it’s real. Even after just saying that we need to get to the bottom of things, it’s hard to ignore the evidence right in front of my face. What have you gotten yourself into, Jae?

“It’s easy to say that you found something but I think you need to begin at the beginning and tell us what has happened to you. Forget all this technological mumbo-jumbo. I want to know what has happened to my daughter to bring her home with a man that we’ve never met as a husband. What does this mean for the future? What does this mean for all of us?“

Jaelah sighs and looks into her drink glass for a moment. "I didn't choose this, Mother, I promise. A group of us entered an Ancients base in the Aki System while investigating our employer's murder. At some point, the base's computer and medical system grabbed us and modified our bodies, making us effectively immortal. We are powerful psions, even more so than the Zhodani nobles. We now have access to unlimited wealth, and technology that even I don't quite believe yet. You've experienced the portals, but that's just the beginning. There is a whole tech base that is far ahead of the Imperium, the Darrians, and everyone else. We have ships that can jump across the Imperium in a single week, and incredible weapons that make the Imperial Navy ships look like toys."

"Moreover, the Imperial Crown Princess has also been enhanced. We have visited her parents, the Emperor and his wife, in Capitol using the new ships and the portals. Right now, you are sitting in a pocket universe of about two hundred planets. The only people here besides us are some Imperial Scout Service people. The portal for this universe is located in the Reaver's Deep Sector. We have secured the protection of the Imperuim, since what we have access to is beyond price."

"I asked Roscoe to marry me because he is a good, kind, and just man, and because there is no one else for either of us. The others have mostly paired up with each other, including the Grand Princess. I came home to see you, of course, but also to use my wealth to help the people in Collace and the District to improve their lives. Beyond that, we are all trying to organize all of this to do good and to not hurt anyone. As to what it means, I don't really know right now." She sighs again and dabs at her eyes. "They fixed my tear ducts so I can cry again."

[terrymixon]

Your father starts to say something, but your mother holds up a hand. “I think the most important thing right now is to take a step back and focus on our daughter. I can’t pretend that I understand anything that we’ve seen thus far, but it’s obvious that something has happened and we need to get to the bottom of it.“

She looked out over the river valley and shook her head. “It’s so beautiful. I’m looking right at it and I can’t believe that it’s real. Even after just saying that we need to get to the bottom of things, it’s hard to ignore the evidence right in front of my face. What have you gotten yourself into, Jae?

“It’s easy to say that you found something but I think you need to begin at the beginning and tell us what has happened to you. Forget all this technological mumbo-jumbo. I want to know what has happened to my daughter to bring her home with a man that we’ve never met as a husband. What does this mean for the future? What does this mean for all of us?“

Jaelah sighs and looks into her drink glass for a moment. "I didn't choose this, Mother, I promise. A group of us entered an Ancients base in the Aki System while investigating our employer's murder. At some point, the base's computer and medical system grabbed us and modified our bodies, making us effectively immortal. We are powerful psions, even more so than the Zhodani nobles. We now have access to unlimited wealth, and technology that even I don't quite believe yet. You've experienced the portals, but that's just the beginning. There is a whole tech base that is far ahead of the Imperium, the Darrians, and everyone else. We have ships that can jump across the Imperium in a single week, and incredible weapons that make the Imperial Navy ships look like toys."

"Moreover, the Imperial Crown Princess has also been enhanced. We have visited her parents, the Emperor and his wife, in Capitol using the new ships and the portals. Right now, you are sitting in a pocket universe of about two hundred planets. The only people here besides us are some Imperial Scout Service people. The portal for this universe is located in the Reaver's Deep Sector. We have secured the protection of the Imperuim, what we have access to is beyond price."

"I asked Roscoe to marry me because he is a good, kind, and just man, and because there is no one else for either of us. The others have mostly paired up with each other, including the Grand Princess. I came home to see you, of course, but also to use my wealth to help the people in Collace and the District to improve their lives. Beyond that, we are all trying to organize all of this to do good and to not hurt anyone. As to what it means, I don't really know right now." She sighs again and dabs at her eyes. "They fixed my tear ducts so I can cry again."

“That’s so much to take in,” she said slowly. “Almost all of it is going over my head, but I hear one very important thing. How did it change you? Not that immortal nonsense, but anything else. If it changed your eyes, then it could’ve changed you and other ways. I need to know.“

[joertexas]

“That’s so much to take in,” she said slowly. “Almost all of it is going over my head, but I hear one very important thing. How did it change you? Not that immortal nonsense, but anything else. If it changed your eyes, then it could’ve changed you and other ways. I need to know.“

"As far as I can tell, the Ancients tech took what I had and improved it. I'm stronger, quicker, my memory is better, and so on. My eye surgery was done later, using an advanced autodoc to regrow what I had before, again with some additional abilities. The psionic abilities are new, as is the computer implant that allows me to access datanets without a comm. I can also learn new things temporarily with downloaded apps, which is really weird. I did an orbital jump using some new skills like that, and it's not something I'd want to do all of the time. It's one of those nice to have, but not for everyday use things. All of this is just advanced tech - we have the ability to do some things now, but people generally shy away from cybernetics and psionics. There are good reasons for that, because what we have would be terrifying in the wrong hands. My first instinct was to hide all of this. However, the Grand Princess was involved, and so that option was out. The next instinct was to ally with the most powerful people we could to protect all of this from the wrong people. That's what we did, and now we are setting up governance, under the Emperor's authority, to manage it all."

"So, yes, I am changed, because all of this crap got dropped on me. If I'd known what was going to happen, I would have stayed far away from that base." She smiles at Roscoe. "Roscoe is in the same situation, where he's proven himself to be a good and moral man in these circumstances, and so I reached out to him as my partner. In that regard, I'm not sorry it all happened. Now, I have to play the hand I've been dealt. No matter what, we will bring disruptive changes to everyone sooner or later. I am dedicating whatever lifespan I now have to make damned sure those changes help the regular people, the ones who've been stomped on by SuSAG, and who've been caught up in all the wars, petty dictatorships, and the general misery of not having the basic resources to make their lives better. I won't do things for people, and I won't just hand them advanced tech on a silver platter, but I will use the unimaginable wealth I control to do *something*. "

Jaelah stops and takes Roscoe's hand while she dabs at her eyes again. "This would be easier if I have support from my family. I highly suggest that you think most carefully about taking any upgrades, and I'm not even sure if the Ancients tech is still running to give more people full abilities. This immortality thing is terrifying to me, and we're not sure if that's literally the case, anyway."

[terrymixon]

“That’s so much to take in,” she said slowly. “Almost all of it is going over my head, but I hear one very important thing. How did it change you? Not that immortal nonsense, but anything else. If it changed your eyes, then it could’ve changed you and other ways. I need to know.“

"As far as I can tell, the Ancients tech took what I had and improved it. I'm stronger, quicker, my memory is better, and so on. My eye surgery was done later, using an advanced autodoc to regrow what I had before, again with some additional abilities. The psionic abilities are new, as is the computer implant that allows me to access datanets without a comm. I can also learn new things temporarily with downloaded apps, which is really weird. I did an orbital jump using some new skills like that, and it's not something I'd want to do all of the time. It's one of those nice to have, but not for everyday use things. All of this is just advanced tech - we have the ability to do some things now, but people generally shy away from cybernetics and psionics. There are good reasons for that, because what we have would be terrifying in the wrong hands. My first instinct was to hide all of this. However, the Grand Princess was involved, and so that option was out. The next instinct was to ally with the most powerful people we could to protect all of this from the wrong people. That's what we did, and now we are setting up governance, under the Emperor's authority, to manage it all."

"So, yes, I am changed, because all of this crap got dropped on me. If I'd known what was going to happen, I would have stayed far away from that base." She smiles at Roscoe. "Roscoe is in the same situation, where he's proven himself to be a good and moral man in these circumstances, and so I reached out to him as my partner. In that regard, I'm not sorry it all happened. Now, I have to play the hand I've been dealt. No matter what, we will bring disruptive changes to everyone sooner or later. I am dedicating whatever lifespan I now have to make damned sure those changes help the regular people, the ones who've been stomped on by SuSAG, and who've been caught up in all the wars, petty dictatorships, and the general misery of not having the basic resources to make their lives better. I won't do things for people, and I won't just hand them advanced tech on a silver platter, but I will use the unimaginable wealth I control to do *something*. "

Jaelah stops and takes Roscoe's hand while she dabs at her eyes again. "This would be easier if I have support from my family. I highly suggest that you think most carefully about taking any upgrades, and I'm not even sure if the Ancients tech is still running to give more people full abilities. This immortality thing is terrifying to me, and we're not sure if that's literally the case, anyway."

“I believe it is safe to say that there will likely not be any other people going through the full transformation into becoming ancients,” Roscoe said.“So far as the immortality is considered, that is actually two separate things. While I believe that our new condition offers us a significantly expanded lifespan, it is Dr. Metz and his fabrication technology that makes the possibility of doing things over when things go wrong, something that we have access to.

“Everything that your daughter has told you is true, but in some ways, it’s incomplete. There are a lot of moving parts to what’s going on with us and our friends, and while you have learned many of the basic items, there are other things in process that may change our lives even further. Not in a physical sense, but in other ways.“

He looked at Jaelah and smiled. “She should probably mention that because of what we’ve turned over to the Imperium, we were elevated to noble rank. Your daughter, myself, and our friends have become Imperial Counts. if the video of that particular ceremony has not yet made it here, it won’t be very much longer. I suspect until it does.

“That, in turn, may complicate your lives even further. For that, we apologize. I very much fear that SuSag isn’t going to be very pleased with us. Not only is what your daughter doing. Going to upset their applecart, we’ve also purchased some of their property that they recently lost control of. That won’t ease them at all.“

The two adults listened to Roscoe without saying anything. Then your father looks back to you. “Is it safe for the children to be escorted around and see the nature of this place? If so, I’d like to ask if Roscoe could do that for us while we speak more privately.“

“It’s perfectly safe,“ Roscoe said.“I would be pleased to show them the sites and can return when Jaelah calls.“

The children look uncertain, but once your mother choose them out, they accompany Roscoe out onto the patio and then around the house.

Your father leans forward and stares into your eyes. “This is an awful lot to take in, Jae. Part of me wants to reject what I’m hearing completely, but it’s hard to argue when at least some of what you’ve said is obviously true. this is going to up and our lives and perhaps put all of us in danger. That doesn’t make me very happy. I’m glad to see you, but I’m not glad to see the trouble you’re bringing us.“

“These are troubled waters,“ your mother agreed. “How do we navigate them? You’ve given us secrets that others will kill for. If you are as wealthy as you say you are, that will also bring trouble to our door. There are many here on Collace they would have no combs about kidnapping your brother or sister, and holding them for ransom. For that matter, your father and I are at the same risk. And that isn’t even including any of the other things besides money.“

She shook her head. “I’ll talk to both of them, but it’s going to be hard for them to keep everything secret. You would’ve probably been better off, not revealing everything to teenagers. Once word of your new position becomes more common, their friends are going to ask questions and they will be hard put not to answer some of them.”

[Tiglath]

Arkar

Arkar

Arkar gets the impression that this might very well be a case of "Greek meets Greek" and either a fight and/or bacchanal of legendary proportions. If he tags in he's likely to wake up in a skip* and need major organ refurbishment therapy.

(OOC: * Traditional end to a "lost" night out (British). A skip (UK) being a roadside portable "bin" for builder's waste / very comfy nest (not!) for a follower of Bacchus ).

Arkar thinks about dipping out, but decides he can tyr and get more info from the Sword Worlders, *You never know what might be useful.*

"Sorry, since I was the virgin jumper, should I not get the first round?"

He will tell the group "I'm out with this Alpha group, I'll keep in touch,"

Arkar determines that both groups are representatives of their faction's Special Forces. Ironically it seems that the role of potential enemies (albeit historical) is overcome by the mutual bond of "Tier One operators". At one stage Arkar muses whether if he respawns as a clone of his current self he might yet dodge the monumental hangover that he can sense is already stalking him. As a professional con man he recognizes that while the ex-Imperial mercs remain steadfastly professional in controlling the information they let out about their work with 4DC he gets the sense that the Sword Worlders, while being equally cagey, are somehow running a practiced con - but he doesn't know what it is.

While admitting nothing more they let it be known that they are "Jaeger" (Sword World spec ops) working with Monoc Securities as a cover while on a "soft bunk" posting as a training cadre for the close protection officers of various local despots who want the "cachet" of having their people trained by "operators". They admit that their mission seems more of the delivery of a diplomatic "sweetener" to allies than anything else and that training thugs apparently selected for both fanatic loyalty and utter stupidity makes for a challenging training environment - which is beginning to chafe but access to "civilization" and invitations to glamorous parties is a plus.

He also has to admire the "mission focus" of "Two" who now appears to be chatting up the big Swordy female Seniorsergent Vanja Torben. He asks "Do you like dancing?" Vanja laughs and states "You have no interest in dancing... and I will break you".

[joertexas]

Your father leans forward and stares into your eyes. “This is an awful lot to take in, Jae. Part of me wants to reject what I’m hearing completely, but it’s hard to argue when at least some of what you’ve said is obviously true. this is going to up and our lives and perhaps put all of us in danger. That doesn’t make me very happy. I’m glad to see you, but I’m not glad to see the trouble you’re bringing us.“

“These are troubled waters,“ your mother agreed. “How do we navigate them? You’ve given us secrets that others will kill for. If you are as wealthy as you say you are, that will also bring trouble to our door. There are many here on Collace they would have no combs about kidnapping your brother or sister, and holding them for ransom. For that matter, your father and I are at the same risk. And that isn’t even including any of the other things besides money.“

She shook her head. “I’ll talk to both of them, but it’s going to be hard for them to keep everything secret. You would’ve probably been better off, not revealing everything to teenagers. Once word of your new position becomes more common, their friends are going to ask questions and they will be hard put not to answer some of them.”

"All of that is true whether or not I came to you. Sooner or later, the word will get out. Glisten isn't that far away, and it would be trivial for certain people, like SuSAG, to discover who I really am and trace me back to you. However," Jaelah's voice goes flat, "I promise you that anyone who attempts to do anything to you won't live long enough to enjoy whatever they get from it. As for my brother and sister, they also need to know how things are. I'm truly sorry that things happened this way." She looks down at her hands for a moment.

"If you don't want to see me again, I have the resources to move you anywhere in Known Space with enough money to start a new life, with new identities backed by the Imperium. We are also working with people to set up security on Collace to protect our local agents as they begin the uplift work. You, of course, would be quietly included in those arrangements. What I would prefer is that you join me in the uplift effort in the District. I will probably set up a portal like the one you saw somewhere in the Collace System so we can quickly travel back and forth. Finally, as I said, I think there are two hundred worlds in this pocket universe where you can build a house in complete safety."

[Tiglath]

Walt

”Turning back to Tourmalines: “I may know a way to help. If it works, will you train me and some of my friends?”

Tourmaline replies "I am interested in help but I can not train you here on Collace - not with so many myrkálfar* in attendance. If you hire our unit there is the "time between times". I can not in any way replace the instruction I received and to attempt to do might even be dangerous but it seems you are powerful witches and warlocks all and so it is a matter of honing skills you already have".

(OOC: She probably means "dark elves" (presumably Zhodani) but instead used "dusky/murky elves".

As per the psi focus / can it be repaired like chipped windshield (actually "veneered")?

Yes! But only because the method used is "fabrication" itself...).

[terrymixon]

Your father leans forward and stares into your eyes. “This is an awful lot to take in, Jae. Part of me wants to reject what I’m hearing completely, but it’s hard to argue when at least some of what you’ve said is obviously true. this is going to up and our lives and perhaps put all of us in danger. That doesn’t make me very happy. I’m glad to see you, but I’m not glad to see the trouble you’re bringing us.“

“These are troubled waters,“ your mother agreed. “How do we navigate them? You’ve given us secrets that others will kill for. If you are as wealthy as you say you are, that will also bring trouble to our door. There are many here on Collace they would have no combs about kidnapping your brother or sister, and holding them for ransom. For that matter, your father and I are at the same risk. And that isn’t even including any of the other things besides money.“

She shook her head. “I’ll talk to both of them, but it’s going to be hard for them to keep everything secret. You would’ve probably been better off, not revealing everything to teenagers. Once word of your new position becomes more common, their friends are going to ask questions and they will be hard put not to answer some of them.”

"All of that is true whether or not I came to you. Sooner or later, the word will get out. Glisten isn't that far away, and it would be trivial for certain people, like SuSAG, to discover who I really am and trace me back to you. However," Jaelah's voice goes flat, "I promise you that anyone who attempts to do anything to you won't live long enough to enjoy whatever they get from it. As for my brother and sister, they also need to know how things are. I'm truly sorry that things happened this way." She looks down at her hands for a moment.

"If you don't want to see me again, I have the resources to move you anywhere in Known Space with enough money to start a new life, with new identities backed by the Imperium. We are also working with people to set up security on Collace to protect our local agents as they begin the uplift work. You, of course, would be quietly included in those arrangements. What I would prefer is that you join me in the uplift effort in the District. I will probably set up a portal like the one you saw somewhere in the Collace System so we can quickly travel back and forth. Finally, as I said, I think there are two hundred worlds in this pocket universe where you can build a house in complete safety."

“Of course we want you in our lives,“ your mother said. “Don’t be ridiculous. All we’re doing is trying to adjust to this unexpected situation.“

Your father nodded. “She’s right. Even though I can’t pretend to understand half of what you’ve said, you can’t do anything that would make me Not want you in my life. You’re my daughter.

“What is this uplift work that you’re talking about? What’s going to be happening here?“