Sharon Lee - - Prologue

Commander Ronagy had not been absent at the hearing; nor had there been anyone Theo knew in the room. Evidence was read by the man in the suit—the Guide—and no discussion was allowed. She sat in her chair while the Guide spoke, telling the room that in times of unrest it was necessary and purposeful to regard the precincts of academia as central to the future of the planet, and in particular, the precincts of any place producing pilots, who are the core of commerce. Acknowledging the speeches by the Guiding Council as authorizing immediate action by Guides in place . . .

"This hearing is to announce and confirm the decision of the Guides of Purpose on the immediate suspension of academic privilege, residence, and attendance of Theo Waitley at Anlingdin Academy, on the grounds of a history of her continued association with violent activity. Given the state of unrest facing Eylot we must act to make and keep Anlingdin an orderly institution and cannot countenance the existence of an ongoing nexus of violence. This suspension is to remain in force until the student can demonstrate two years of clean, nonviolent civil behavior records, after which reinstatement to the start of the equivalent semester may be considered upon proper application through recognized channels, assuming the state of unrest and threat is resolved. Failure to leave the premises on time or in good order will be considered a violent breach of the peace."

After that, they'd read the incidents, explained that in uncertain times order was necessary, and . . .

Dance. Thoughts of bowli ball, and a vague understanding that she'd really be needing a place to sleep. Tonight. She wondered if there was some kind of a rebound from the interrogation drugs that made her feel like this.

She'd been distracted several times during the proceedings, wondering who the Guides would report this to. Certainly they should report it to Captain Cho, who had seen her enrolled—so she would need to be informed, and of course Win Ton, once she was settled, somewhere. She would have to tell Kamele—and that was something Theo wasn't looking forward to. Father had worked so hard to bring Kamele around and—Father. She couldn't start to imagine what Father would say.

But there, that was later. Father would be fine; Kamele would—she would make Kamele understand. Just like the times with her mentor and the silly problems on Delgado. She'd get through this.

She would.

For now, she walked, with a single goal: get out. There was a shuttle flight in an hour; the Guides having preempted the first two jitneys to show up after the hearing.

Before her, there were footsteps. A lot of footsteps, being not at all quiet, and now, voices.

"There she is!"

She turned, calmly, ready, feeling the weight in her pocket as well as the energy in her arms, anticipating that the first move would be—

"Kara!"

As calm as she'd been about facing potential hostiles, she was unnerved to find a half-dozen members of DCCT.

"You're all going to get in trouble!"

"We're all in trouble already," Kara said, grimly, "every one of us in DCCT. They've tagged us with association with recent violent activity , and with association with a known nexus of violence ."

They were walking rapidly, away from the hearing room and in the direction of the space field and dorms.

"Nexus of—"

Theo's temper flared.

"Someone brings a riot to DCCT and it's your fault? And I'm the nexus? I am the nexus?"

She stopped suddenly, eyes closed, the pause so rapid that several of the DCCT members jostled her.

"What are you doing, Theo? Are you going to be able to walk or should we call a cab?"

Kara was right next to her, looking intensely into her face, eyes grim when Theo opened her own.

"I was remembering names, Kara. Faces and names. I swear I will not forget this!"

Kara bowed, very formally.

"Yes, we have the names as well. The whole thing was live on the admin channel, you know!"

"Double," Theo said. "Double! I have their faces. They think I'm going to want to come back to this—"

"That is much Balance, Theo. Do not take on—"

Overhead a rotary wing was sweeping by, search beam bright.

"There, they said they were going to start security sweeps on groups of three or more."

That was Bova, echoed a heartbeat later by Freck.

Theo spun—"I'll be able to do this, just go. Don't get into more trouble on my—"

Kara turned as well, hands moving purposefully: Split return careful I cover and report.

A flutter of assents, and the two of them strode on alone, the sound of the rotary thrumming in the distance. When they reached the path leading toward the field Theo veered in that direction, while Kara strode on toward the dorms until realizing with a start that Theo's path had diverged.

"Theo," she half whispered after catching up at a run, "where are you going?"

"I've got to be out of here, so the field . . ."

"But your things! In the dorm!" Kara's hands enumerated shirts jackets bags jewelry letters.

Theo stood quiet, considering, did a quick pat of her person, felt the wings on her collar, made sure the necklace was around her neck, checked on pockets, marked the gun's still unusual presence.

"I'm set. I have most of what I need on me."

Kara uncharacteristically stamped her foot.

"And you are going to give them your belongings!"

Theo swallowed against a sudden urge to tears, and shook her head.

"Hug me," she said, "and then go get the stuff. Keep it, dispose of it as you will, start a legal fund, anything!" Theo thought for a moment, recalling the signs Kara had made, shirts jackets bags jewelry letters.

Letters.

"Wait, there is something else! Letters, Kara—two letters from Win Ton yo'Vala. Send them to me care of the Pilots Guild at Codrescu. They'll hold them for me. Do that, and all will be well for me. The rest, do as you see fit!"

Kara froze a moment, and then bowed, very deeply and with flourishes.

"If you are certain, Theo Waitley, I will do this. I will be the instrument of your will."

Theo felt her smile fade, heard the sounds of the night include the shuttle's tow machine.

"Yes, Kara. I'm sure. I give you my key, and my word."

They hugged quickly, and Kara made her repeat the statement into her comm, so she had Theo's word, and tucked the key away. She hugged Theo again, then bowed one more time.

"Pilot, good lift!"

Theo nodded. "And to you," she said, "safe landing."

THIRD LEAP

Thirty-One

Hugglelans Planetary

Conglomeration of Portcalay

Eylot

Theo slept on the shuttle, content for once to have someone else do the piloting; waking groggily at touchdown. Eyes closed, she listened to the sounds of her fellow travelers—ten or twelve students including three part-timers she knew from the repair bays who had taken seats together at the front, willfully ignoring her, never once overtly looking at the single passenger in the last row in the rear. The ship also carried a double training crew of her classmates. Asu could be among them for all she knew, but Asu was not among those who inspected the interior of the craft before liftoff, nor was she among those departing the craft ahead of her on landing.

The angry energy that had seen her through her hearing and its immediate aftermath had deserted her entirely; and she considered simply going back to sleep. But no, that wouldn't do, would it? The shuttle would be returning to the academy and she was banned from the grounds. Eyes still closed, she fingered the chair's controls, sighing as it folded out of its recline.