Scene 1: The Tiny Vessel

Narrator:

The vessel was minuscule, not much larger than lifeboat. It moved purposefully along, ignorant of any series of hazards that may have conspired against it.
The first sign of danger was a faint glitter, thirty degrees above and coming in on the five. It may have been an anomaly: some star that flickered through a passing gas-cloud, or the light refracted off another ship that had passed this way once before--or would pass this way some years future. But, that the glittering object changed vector—-and grew larger—-quickly dismissed that theory. As the proximity sensors went off, the individual piloting the vessel took evasive maneuvers: stalling the engine, firing retros, jumping forward.
The glittering object got larger. Now that it was in visual range, it was obvious that the object was actually five small, star-shaped ships. The engines circling the rear-assemblies of each spurted rapidly as the attacking acrobats spun around each other. They fanned out: the fingertips of some giant grasping hand.

SOUND: radio--the sound of singing: five notes in quick succession, scaling over each other, in rounds

Narrator:

The individual manning the weapons array of the vessel started to fire; but even with the computer-assisted  system, it couldn't hit the spinning and circling targets....they dodged the clumsily fired bolts with ease and started to dive, osprey-like, towards the vessel. The glittering ships opened fire...

SOUND: Harmonic of singing rises

Narrator:

Becca pushed tight fists against her stomach as the vessel fell to pieces. The singing over the radio had stopped.

iDana started to pack up her remote-control gear.

Idana:

Even at half their size...

Imala:

I'd say that was pretty good.

Ilyssa:

oDele, how was the lag on the sensors when you fired?

Odele:

(radio) Wasn't bad. Didn't drag the burn too much.

Olathe:

(radio) We'll adjust the tune so the instrument can play it.

Ilyssa:

Try coming in at bay twenty-eight. I want to see if we can do a half-spin recovery.

Idana:

Let's wait on that. The full-spin deployment was a success, but there's no hurry on recovery. Come in at bay thirty-four. We're still at dead-spin there.

Ilyssa:

Let's go see what the recorders said.

SOUND: they leave

Imala:

You didn’t ask for any clarification this time. Does Doctor-Doctor suddenly understand everything?

Becca:

Your sisters get annoyed anytime I ask questions. I’m just trying to stay out of the way.

Scene 2: Evie's Lab

Narrator:

Evie was in an ancillary lab working on a larger version of her mechanical mantis automaton. She was wearing a pair of thick safety glasses and had a small screwdriver in her mouth. The mantis rocked back and forth on four legs.

Becca:

How’s it coming along?

Evie:

It’s OK. It just feels so primitive.

NARRATOR:

Evie pushed back her safety glasses and rubbed the back of her head. Her hair was getting longer and dark roots were coming in; it had an odd, mottled look.

Becca:

It looks fine to me. What’s so primitive about it?

Evie:

Watch out, I need to try something.

SOUND: Evie knocks over the mantis. it rights itself.

Becca:

You fixed the arms. It can right itself now.

Evie:

Yeah, that had always bothered me. What good is it if it needs a minder?

Becca:

Does it learn?

Evie:

It’s only using a basic set of commands. I just have to pare it down to the essentials. Simplicity is elegance....

Becca:

I suppose this thing needs you more and that’s why you spend time with it. The girls don’t seem to need you much.

Evie:

They’re very independent. I guess that’s a bit of my own childhood in there. I probably wouldn’t have asked anyone for anything if things had been...normal.

Becca:

I’m sure your parents still loved you.

Evie:

I don’t think it really had anything to do with love after a while. I wasn’t really there for them, you know?

Becca:

But they were always there for (her voice breaks)you

Evie:

You want to talk to me about something?

Becca:

How long do you think we'll be out here?

Evie:

Why?

Becca:

I know you don't have anyone back home, but I... (she starts to sob)

Evie:

Hey hey hey... What's all this about? What's wrong? Why are you crying?

Becca:

(still crying) I have to get back. I never should have come out here. I don't want to miss her growing up.

Evie:

Don't want to miss who growing up?

Becca:

My daughter, Huri. She's only nine-years-old, but... When her father died....

Evie:

(surprised) I didn't know you were married.

Becca:

I was. Huri was only three when he finally.... succumbed. After so long, we were practically bankrupt. I took up these flights because...You can't raise a child properly with that kind of debt.

Evie:

What kind of debt?

Becca:

It's a lot.

Evie:

Well, how much is that? I mean, I might be able to—

Becca:

They froze our accounts! There's nothing you can do!

(pause)


Evie:

Say, why don't you write her a letter?

Becca:

Evie, that's not funny.

Evie:

I'm serious. You spent all that time writing a letter to your cousin. Why not send a letter to your daughter? The Vencume can send it.

Becca:

Are you serious? I don't see anyone being too open on passing along a Vencume message to a nine-year-old child...

Evie:

Why not? Isn't that proof that you're you? (full scheming mode now) Look, Becca, it's not just you saying...whatever it is you want to say...it's politics, right? I mean, you could write several letters. I'll help! I'll write a couple—one to the Wainwrights and one to the Shipping Authority—and we can say, 'Look, there's no war. We're just a couple of kooky chicks in space, kicking around on an alien space-craft but we're still Human, right?' Tell me what's wrong with that plan.

Becca:

The words 'kooky chicks', for one.

Evie:

Listen. Write a letter to your daughter. Sure, the Shipping Authority will read it first, but who cares? That's what we'll do. We'll tell everybody everything and maybe by the time we get back, it will all be OK.

Becca:

How can we send a message from here? The Vencume don't understand our language...

Evie:

Maybe not, but they can take images of things and send that. Will that work?

Becca:

(internal) It's preposterous, but so is everything else that's happened up to this point.

Scene 3: Becca's Letter

Narrator:

It had taken a while for Becca to write the letter; her right hand did not move as smoothly as she had expected and the fine motor skills involved in writing weren't there. She eventually worked out the text in square, compensating letters.

Did the Shipping Authority have any examples of her prior handwriting? Surely, that would be something they would try to use against her. Nonetheless...

Becca:

My most precious Huri,

I remember the day you were born. I was so happy, but at the same time, I was scared. You were a tiny, naked, little life that was solely dependent on me and I knew I could not let you down. On that day, I experienced what it was like to love someone completely and unconditionally. And, from the moment of your birth—even before you were born, when I talked to you in the womb, or when I first felt you roll over inside me—I’ve always loved you without conditions. I knew then, that no matter what would happen to us in life, I would always love you. I still do.
I remember your first day of school; you were so excited, but you didn't cry. I did, however, because my baby girl was growing up. I know I couldn't protect you from getting hurt as you grow, because that is part of growing up. Even as an adult, you will find pain in life. Please, take those lessons and be a better person.
When I left you with Popo Sefer and Nana Fatma, you cried and begged me to look at you. I couldn't turn my head and let you see my tears. Daughters have to know their mothers are strong, but my heart ached more than when you waved bye-bye to Daddy on that bright, sunny day. Do you remember the flowers everyone brought? You were so happy around those bright colors, while we adults were dressed in black and dabbed our eyes. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but everything was gray for me except you. Any pain I felt leaving the cemetery then was nothing compared to the day I had to leave you behind and the regret gnaws at my heart.
When you are older, you'll understand. I don't want you to grow up angry at me. Everything I did was for you. I miss you more than life itself and you are always in my dreams. Take as many pictures as you can so if I get back I can watch you grow up. I look forward to your tales.
You are a lucky girl that we have such a good family and I am a lucky woman to have had you in my life. People might say terrible things about me, but please know that what I did was in your best interests. When I realized I could not be there and provide for you at the same time, I was torn in half. I have always wanted you to have choices and I blame myself for not being a good example on that front. I want you to be able to be yourself in the world. Be clever, be strong, be graceful. Above all, be a kind and loving person. If you grow up happy and well-adjusted, then I know that everything I have given up is not in vain.
My heart is aching, my family is waiting, my love for you will never die,
Your Mother

Narrator:

Becca had just finished the letter and was wiping her eyes when Evie stuck her head in. She waved some papers she had with her.

Evie:

How's it going? I finished mine, so whenever you're ready.

Becca:

It's done.

Evie:

Wow, you really are a doctor. You have terrible handwriting.

Scene 4: Mess-Hall

Narrator:

After handing their letters to the Vencume, Evie went to work on her mantis some more.
Becca went to the mess-hall and ran into the pilots. They were round, golden children with large eyes and small hands and feet; their minuscule extremities only made their well-padded torsos look the rounder. Becca remembered Evie in her silly, yellow jumpsuit; however, the duck-like quality the limping engineer had was not present in these girls.

She had not interacted with them much, but had learned to tell them apart; only occasionally did she confuse their names. oFira had the darkest hair; oRiana, the lightest. oLathe was a little taller; oVida was a little rounder. oDele had the strongest voice and was usually the first to speak.
The five girls were practicing some song and the harmony rose and fell. As Becca entered the room, oDele made eye-contact with her and sang a little off-key.

Odele:

Hi, Becca.

Becca:

Hello...oDele. You girls trying out some new maneuvers?

Odele:

She remembered my name.

Oriana:

But she had to think about it.

Ofira:

One of the bolts from the test almost hit me. We have to space ourselves out a bit more.

Ovida:

Were you coming here for something to eat? That’s not for a while yet.

Becca:

No, I was looking for something to...everyone here is healthy, so what’s a doctor to do?

Oriana:

She’s bored. (laughs)

Olathe:

Let’s take her to the garden.

SOUND: the others laugh and agree

Becca:

What garden?

Olathe:

The Vencume have a couple gardens on the ship, for food and oxygen. Well, the one for us makes oxygen....

Ofira:

Should we use the pod or the bridge?

Others:

The bridge! The bridge!

Scene 5: the bridge

Narrator:

They left the mess-hall and went to the long walkway where Evie had said she kicked Gordon over the railing. Half-way across, the lights flickered and the spin stopped. Becca scrambled in the sudden loss of gravity.

Becca:

Why...does this do this?

Odele:

The section with the garden doesn't always spin at the same rate. This section stops to catch up with it.

Ofira:

Or to slow down.

Narrator:

Becca was getting used to zero-gee maneuvers but she still kicked too hard or found herself spinning out of control. The pilots, meanwhile, had no trouble at all; but then, they danced when they walked and sang when they spoke. Everything about them had a lush grace to it. As the group glided across the bridge, the girls laughed at Becca's awkward attempts to swim across.

Ovida:

It's not like in water. You're not going to get that kind of resistance.

Olathe:

Quit fighting it. You have to offer as little resistance as possible when you’re moving.

Oriana:

If you can find a natural air-current, like a vent, that helps too.

Ofira:

She'll never be comfortable in the air.

Narrator:

The lights came back up and spin resumed; Becca was happy to feel the weight in her feet again. They walked the rest of the way across the bridge where oLathe pressed her hand against a small panel next to a door and...

MUSIC: Neotropic "The Man Who Catches Clouds"

Scene 6: the garden

Narrator:

Becca squinted in the sudden light. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw a large room with planters and trees and a pond and Oh! This is what they should have had on the station! Trees stretched up to the incredibly high ceiling studded with huge, bright floodlights.  Becca felt its warmth on her face. oDele called out to a redhead kneeling by one of the planters.

Odele:

Hi, aNnora! Can we leave Becca with you while we practice?

Annora:

Do I have a choice?

Ofira:

Just be a dear. The poor woman is bored out of her mind and looking for something to do. You can use another set of hands.

Annora:

And you golden girls want her out of the way while you practice being the star of the show.

Ofira:

That is so kind of you. I'm so glad that you're such a team-player.

Becca:

(internal) Reminds me of the popular girls' clique in school. Why am I embarrassed?

Annora:

And I am so happy that you would trust me enough to leave me such a huge responsibility. You must think so much of me.

Ofira:

I knew we could trust you.

Ovida:

You'll be OK here. We have to get back to practice.

Becca:

(internal) I've just been dumped. They're treating me like pretty-girl's friend.

Narrator:

The pilots danced away to the door, giggling amongst themselves.

aNnora was transferring seedlings from a pallet to a prepared bed and her square hands and broad shoulders worked in a smooth pattern. Becca was nervous being left alone with her. She knelt next to the child and took a seedling.

Becca:

Do you need some help?

Annora:

If you like.

BECCA:

Where did these come from?

Annora:

Those are beans. iLyssa brought some on board and the Vencume multiplied them.

Becca:

Did these come from the Tong Dizhou?

Annora:

I don't know. Maybe? I was told that the ones from the ship wouldn't give us any viable seeds. Like they had been neutered?

Becca:

(internal) If they were designed new seeds, the company that made them wouldn't want them to make anything but foodstuff. If you keep the farmers from replanting, they have to buy more.

Annora:

I think the Vencume did something to them. We'll save some from this crop and make more.

Becca:

Aren't you like a new seed?

Annora:

No. We're intact. Ulan already had her period.

Becca:

Oh...you know about that.

Annora:

We're neotenic for now.

Becca:

(internal) The Vencume want to keep them as children. This is still an experiment for them.

Annora:

It's distracting. We're taking injections for it.

Becca:

Which are those?

Annora:

I think these are squash.

Narrator:

They started planting the next bed. It was a mindless endeavor with a Zen quality to it. Becca was happy to handle something alive and dependent again.

Becca:

Do you all work in the garden?

Annora:

The pilots don't. They tire too easily. And it's too bright in here for Cerberus.

BECCA:

The three-headed dog from hell? (internal) She must mean the three designers.

Annora:

They're nothing but heads. What else would you call those gray-haired freaks? It's like a hydra or a....King Ghidrah or something. No, the light in here is too strong for their eyes.

Becca:

But not the redheads? So you all work in the garden?

Annora:

We've always done it. The Vencume can't; they dry out or something. They work their own garden, but Vencume can't stay in the dry like this and some plants don't do well with hydoponics; they don't get the same immune factors unless they have soil.

Becca:

Where did this dirt come from?

Annora:

(laughs) Living things produce a lot of waste.

Evie:

I heard you were in here!

Narrator:

Evie came in with the twins closely behind her. The twins were chasing and tickling each other.

Evie:

They discovered tickling today. They can't get enough of it. I've already told them not to—

Annora:

Knock it off!

Becca:

Girls, hey, personal space, OK?

Evie:

(singing) Tickle so and force a laugh
It causes less harm; less than half
Halting action easily
Without a broken arm or knee.

Annora:

If one of them does that again
I'll do far worse than "tickle" them.

Evie:

Becca, I wanted to let you know that our letters have been sent. No response back, but it might help to put a human face on this little diplomatic tiff.

Becca:

That's good. We'll see.

Evie:

Listen, when you come to...restricted areas like this...make sure you use your right hand to open the door, not the left.

Becca:

What would happen if I use the left?

Evie:

It won’t work. It’s missing the mitochondria or something.

Becca:

They didn’t grow a clone for this hand, did they?

Evie:

Oh, no. (laughs) Not for just that. You wouldn’t grow a whole one for parts; you'd start with a framework and build up from there.

narrator:

The twins ran out and started to tickle Evie. She laughed loudly and returned the favor before they ran off. Becca pointed at Evie's mid-section; a band of bright white belly stuck out.

Becca:

You're gaining it all back.

Evie:

I can't help it. I'm predisposed to packing it on. I have a slow metabolism or something.

Becca:

(internal) Well, that much is true. She always did have a slow heart-rate and low blood-pressure. But still... (external) That's not healthy, Evie. You have to get some exercise. Maybe there's a wave-tank or—

Evie:

I never want to be in a tank again.

Becca:

No, no, no tank. I'm sorry...I...I forgot.

Evie:

(hurt) How could you forget?

Becca:

I'm only thinking of your health...

Evie:

Maybe...(her jaw is clenching)...maybe that extra weight was what kept me alive, huh? Did you think about that? How long were you on that lifeboat, huh? How well do you think I was doing at feeding myself when I didn't have any hands?

Becca:

Evie, I'm sorry. I'm sorry it happened, but that was the past and--

Evie:

It's not the kind of thing you just get over!

Annora:

I'm done and I'm leaving. This isn't my fight.

Narrator:

The redhead marched to the door and let herself out.
Becca watched the child leave and looked at Evie's back. She could tell by the sound that Evie was holding back tears; the engineer would breathe hard and rakingly through her nose. Her shoulders had risen to her ears.

Becca:

Evie, I don't think I'll ever understand what you went through. I'm proud of you for being able to walk upright after something like that. I'd probably still be curled into a little ball and screaming. I always knew you were smart, and kind, but I never knew how strong you were until all this happened. You've been through so much, and not just on the Tong Dizhou, but before that and after that. Back at Peg-51, everyone talked about how great you looked and you seemed so happy...like you finally had a little self-confidence. I'd like to think that—

Evie:

If I recall, you did curl into a little ball and scream.

Becca:

(pause) That isn’t fair.

Evie:

Nothing is fair.

Scene 7: kitchen

Narrator:

Becca was in the kitchen attached to the mess-hall, preparing a dinner with the redheaded aLima and aRlene. The girls reminded Becca of the Pegger steward, Franz, with their broad hands, short legs, and heads of thick, red hair. They even had gruff voices—-oddly deep for their age.
One of Evie's cooking devices was in the kitchen, along with the regular induction-style plates that used a magnetic field to heat steel pots and pans. The fact that there were pots and pans of any kind made Becca wonder if that was what the Vencume had been bought that had upset the portmen back at Peg-51.
The three of them were making dolmas of various kinds: zucchini, aubergine, tomato, and pepper. aLima enjoyed coring the vegetables and aRlene was fluffing a pot of rice. Becca was mincing an onion and some parsley.

Arlene:

How can you stand that onion? It's like a weapon.

Becca:

Maybe...It's so good to have a garden. It's nice to have fresh things to eat.

Arlene:

Putting the garden in advancement helps.

Becca:

Advancement?

Alima:

We take it out of field. Just to send it ahead a few months. Like how they grew us.

Becca:

Oh...So, you have a constant crop in circulation. That must make things much easier.

Alima:

The Vencume developed it.

NARRATOR:

aLima finished coring the last tomato and set the bowl of seeds to one side. These would be saved for re-planting. aRlene had finished preparing the rice and took the pot off the plate.

Once the rice had cooled a bit and they mixed in the onion and parsley with their hands. Once it was at a consistency that satisfied Becca, they started to stuff the cored vegetables.

BECCA:

I don't remember seeing any rice in the garden.

Arlene:

Vencume can grow that themselves.

Becca:

Do you think this will be enough for everyone?

Alima:

We'll get by. We don't have to eat or sleep much.

Becca:

We'll steam these. It won't take long.

Alima:

What if there's stuffing left over?

Becca:

(knowingly) Well...We'll just have to eat it.

SOUND: The two girls laugh.

Idana:

(in another room) Doctor-Doctor! Come out here!

Scene: 8: mess-hall

Narrator:

Becca wiped her hands and left the kitchen.
iDana was pacing, counting something on her fingers.

Idana:

You! We have a situation. (pause) Who's in the kitchen with you?

Becca:

aRlene and aLima. We were getting dinner together.

Idana:

That can wait. aRlene! aLima! Get suited up!

Alima:

What's going on?

Idana:

The Shipping Authority is here! They've been chasing us this whole time. Go get ready!

SOUND: the two redheads run off

Becca:

The Shipping Authority? Why would they—

Idana:

Your sappy sentimentality led them right to us! This is all your fault. You and your stupid letters home!

Becca:

But we only wanted to let them know what was going on.

Idana:

And they traced the signal. They found our location!

Becca:

Wouldn’t the Vencume be dealing with this?

Idana:

The Vencume.... (a laugh that sounds like a gag) They’re too busy navel-gazing or whatever it is they do. We have radio contact and we’ve set-up an ad hoc bridge. We’re handling this.

NARRATOR:

iDana grabbed Becca's sleeve and started to pull her out of mess-hall. Becca obliged.

Scene 9: ad-hoc bridge

NARRATOR:

Evie was already waiting on the "bridge". Becca recognized it as the room where she had given the Vencume the Human anatomy lesson. The three-dimensional display sat in the center and iMala was making some adjustment to it. iLyssa was attaching a lead to a speaker.

Evie:

Where were you? Playing Space-Mom?

Becca:

At least someone is.

Narrator:

The display clattered to life, the tiny balls clicking into position to form a rough human figure. Only the front of it was well defined; the back was a vague blob. iLyssa waved dismissively at the image.

Ilyssa:

We have to make do. The Vencume can see, but not that well, so they don't really have anything like we're...like you're used to.

Captain Deng:

(radio) This is Captain Deng Xueshen of the destroyer ZhengYang. You have an escaped prisoner on your ship and we are requesting her return.

Idana:

I'm turning the imager on. Let's see what they think.

Narrator:

Becca watched the male figure move its head to one side, looking at something. The eyebrows shot up.
iLyssa approached iDana carefully with her hands behind her back. Another figure came into view: a woman.

Ilyssa:

You will cease your pursuit of this craft and its inhabitants. This is a peaceful ship and you are well into Vencume territory.

Rosemary:

(radio) Let us see her.

NARRATOR:

iDana passed iLyssa and focused the imager on Becca.
Becca held up her hands.

Becca:

I'll answer any questions to the best of my ability, but please call off your attack.

Rosemary:

(radio) We want to see Dr. Tabib. I want to see that horrible little spy.

Becca:

I am Dr. Tabib. See? I...I still have the mark...here. I hit myself with the block when you brought me in. It scarred. It was never looked after, so it...(internal)
I have both of my hands. I lost a hand when...(external) The Vencume have stem-tech. They grew or built a new one...the hand. We mustn't go to war with them. This has all been a big misunderstanding.

Rosemary:

(radio) We want the prisoner returned to us. We also request the body of--

Evie:

I'm not dead, Rosemary.

Becca:

(internal) It is her! She must really hate Evie to chase her this far.

Evie:

I'm sorry for everything that happened between us, but you should have understood it was me. You could have checked my medical history. You assumed I wasn’t who I said I was and I'm sorry.

Captain Deng:

(radio) We want the...prisoners...returned. If you put them aboard a lifeboat, we'll pick it up. If you do not comply in the next fifteen minutes, we will deploy our fighters.

Ilyssa:

If you deploy your fighters, we'll deploy ours. And ours are better than yours.

Imala:

We don't want a fight. We have a schedule we're trying to keep. Please, just let us go. You can have them later, when we're done.

Narrator:

There was some minor discussion between the two Shipping Authority figures. Rosemary's hand was out of view, possibly covering a microphone with her hand.

Rosemary:

(muffled) I outrank you. (clear) You have fifteen minutes.

Narrator:

The display clattered to a flat pool. The signal had been cut.

Idana:

We need a proper video system. I don't think that the hand-held really did anyone any justice.

Imala:

We're losing a lot of non-verbal communication. Forcing a 2-D image into 3-D doesn't work.

Ilyssa:

Very off-putting...oDele, go ahead and do a full spin launch. I think we’re going to have to prove something to these people.

Evie:

You’ll want to see this.

Narrator:

The two women went down the hall to an observation deck. Past the stern of the ship was a Shipping Authority vessel. Evie pointed to a bay door that was opening three sections down. They were rotating at the same rate, so the launch was never obscured. The five golden attack-fighters flung out of the bay in an easy arc; and, after turning around each other a few times, they circled the Shipping Authority vessel.
Becca and Evie went back to the bridge.

Ilyssa:

Get them on the line. They need to know we aren't kidding.

SOUND: singing over the radio

ILYSSA:

Are you getting this? We've launched our fighters and it will be another couple of minutes before you can launch yours. Are you going to turn around now?


(pause)


Ilyssa:

I need to know you can hear me...and that you aren't just ignoring us.

Captain Deng:

(radio) We hear you.

Imala:

We don't want to attack you. But we really do need for you to stop chasing us. Please stop.

Captain Deng:

(radio) Call off your fighters.

Ilyssa:

Once we see you turn around, we'll bring them back. This is not negotiable.

narrator:

iMala switched the clattering display to a view of the Shipping Authority vessel. It stood on a thin stalk and five antenna-like spines came off it, each terminating in a model of one of the fighters.

Idana:

We're installing a proper display once all this is over. This is ridiculous.

Captain Deng:

(radio) Call off your fighters. We are not moving until they are gone.

Ilyssa:

Turn around and go home. If you halt a bay for launch, they will open fire. You have ten minutes. We're not going to sit around in a stupid stand-off!

SOUND: Alarm over the radio. singing on the radio.

NARRATOR:

The display exploded into many fine spikes coming from the Shipping Authority ship. The models started to turn on the ends of their stalks.

Evie:

Is there a fault in the...?

Idana:

They've opened fire on us.

BECCA:

Why can't we hear...?

ILYSSA:

There's no sound in space. (pause) Halt your fire! You understand? You can't hit them. We're going to open fire if you don't...

SOUND: The singing over the radio changes to a new harmonic. rattle of the display.

Narrator:

Now, the fighters grew thin spines that reached back to the large mass of the vessel. Tiny metal balls rushed from point to point. There was a burning smell.

Idana:

It can't handle this kind of image. We're going to loose the picture.

SOUND: rattle


Ilyssa:

Turn it off! We'll continue this on the observation deck.

Narrator:

The group piled out of the ad-hoc bridge to the observation deck. The battle rose and set under the ship.

Ilyssa:

Cease firing on us! They will tear you apart!

Narrator:

Again, the battle rose over one side of the ship with the spinning sections waving between them. It looked like a war on some distant shore.

Ilyssa:

How am I supposed to direct this if I can't see what the hell is going on?

SOUND: singing on the radio falls in descending scales over the receiver.

Imala:

I'm trying the display again, but on a lower resolution.

Narrator:

They stormed back onto the ad-hoc bridge. An amorphous blob grew and shrank before them.

Idana:

We can follow the battle better from the song.

Ilyssa:

One of the most important tests we've ever faced and we can't even get a proper view of it.

Narrator:

Becca glanced at the shifting display. The blob adjusted with the singing over the radio.

SOUND: static. Singing changes

(pause)

Becca:

What just happened? What was that? Why is it a different shape now?

Ilyssa:

(coldly) oDele, bring them home.

Ovida:

We’re coming in. Full spin recovery.

Ilyssa:

Adjust the display.

Narrator:

iMala changed the settings. The Shipping Authority vessel came into clear focus.
The three girls stood, staring, silently at the tiny model of a ship. iMala rubbed her right eye.

Evie:

What just happened?

Idana:

We've lost a pilot. Not sure who, yet.

Narrator:

Becca ran from the bridge back to the observation deck. The Shipping Authority vessel rose under one end of the Vencume ship—-a glittering debris field next to it. She watched it until it set.
Back on the bridge, iLyssa and iDana were arguing.

Ilyssa:

The Reds can tear them apart. We have the buzz-landers. Even if we don't launch any ground-troops, we can still put holes in their ship.

Idana:

I don't want to risk any more of us. It was only a matter of time. We haven't had a proper test.

Imala:

I might have something...

Ilyssa:

How the hell did they..?

Idana:

They got lucky! They were firing blind! Who knows how many bolts they put up before—

Ilyssa:

We are not going to let this pass. We made a big enough mistake when we let the first one go.

Idana:

They might still have communication. They could still call for help and give their location.

Ilyssa:

I want everything on that ship destroyed.

Imala:

I have something. I...I was just toying with it.

Ilyssa:

What were you just toying with?

Imala:

(a whisper) The field....

IDANA:

We can do this.

SOUND: they leave

Evie:

They killed one of my girls. The Shipping Authority killed one of my girls.

Becca:

Where are the Vencume? Why are they not involved in this?

Evie:

We can make more. And we will. We will. There will be more.

Captain Deng:

(radio) We have lost stability on four sections. Sensors out. Multiple injuries.

Becca:

He's not talking to us. He's sending out a distress signal on all channels.

Captain Deng:

(radio) Engines at forty percent...three-five-seven. Two-four-six.....

Becca:

He's giving the location. They aren't going to survive.

Evie:

(muttering) Three eight three two seven nine five zero...

Becca:

Captain Deng! We can pick you up. Please, hold on. Get your people evacuated to lifeboats. No one has to die because of this.

Narrator:

The clattering display shifted behind her; something had attached itself to the model ship. There was a flicker.

Becca:

Please, Captain Deng Xueshen, come in! Launch your lifeboats. I can talk to the Vencume. They'll understand. They're children. They were just children. No more people have to die. Please, they don't understand. The children don't understand. Launch the lifeboats...

Narrator:

The device that had attached itself to the vessel bloomed, long fins extending and spinning.
Becca ran to the tiny observation deck and waited for the ship to come into view.
What rose over the nose of the Vencume ship was surrounded by a shimmering bubble. Inside that, a vessel crumbled under its own weight. The implosion was silent and slow.

Becca:

Captain Deng! Please come in! Captain Deng!

Narrator:

Becca ran back to the bridge. The clattering display showed the ship folding in on itself.

Becca:

Please, Captain Deng. Rosemary. Someone? Come in!

Evie:

They starved to death decades ago. They can't hear you.
(pause) They collapsed the field, Becca.

Becca:

They...advanced it?

Evie:

The borrowed time field slows us down during travel, but if the field collapses, or if the snapback fails, or if the MOUS doesn't make the correct observation...I knew the Vencume were doing something like that, but iMala really figured it out. (pause) She's using our mode of transport as a weapon against us.

Scene 10: Mourning that is not mourning

Narrator:

It was oDele who had been killed.
Evie had tried to explain the situation to the twins, but they had not been the most sympathetic audience and called oDelle a "silly pilot". Evie complained to Becca about it later that day.

Evie:

They don't seem to care much about death. I don't think the others are even phased. It's like they're less upset about the death and more upset at being bested.

Becca:

Well, you said they would make more. Why would anyone care about death if there was an inexhaustible supply?

Evie:

You're handling this rather well.

Becca:

Have you ever had someone close to you die?

Evie:

I guess. I don't know...well...I guess I felt like it served them all right. I know that sounds weird. But...uh...it was like...I don't know.

Becca:

You're not talking about Rosemary.

Evie:

I don't know how I feel about that. I never...I never wanted to hurt her, but...even back at Peg-51, I knew she was trying to do her job. I never...I don't think she deserved that. No one really deserves that. I don't think we were really close. I bet it's different if it's someone you really care about.

Becca:

It's...devastating. And people see you and they don't recognize you. They're so used to seeing that other person there that looking at you is like seeing a face without glasses. And you go to bed and it's empty....it's cold. You lose an arm or a leg and you can't stand up right or function, but you know you have to keep going.

Evie:

But you were close. And if you care that way, then it feels like that. It's iMala's formula for the value of a thing. It's effect over effort. I suppose that if you can replace a thing easily, it has no great effect on its own. The effort is valueless.

Becca:

Do you feel that way about Ulan and Uma?

Evie:

I don't want them to get teased. They don't really understand people and I worry that...if they ever meet other children...as long as they have each other, it should be OK.

There is protection from most everything,
from fire and storms to frosts that sting,
add whatever blows may come to mind
but there is no protection from mankind.

There's nothing more cruel than other children. I don't want them to face anything like I did. They aren't twisted and weird like that.

Becca:

(internal) No, they're twisted and weird in their own way.