Relationships (RoTSA)

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=By Cannonshop=
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==Part 1==
Astronomy Lounge, Port Orphan
Outworlds Wastes
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Luther Bedwyr was glad to be back at Port Orphan and the War over.
Sikh said she wanted to talk to him about something.
He had a feeling he knew what it was.
With the War over and the draw downs being forced Sikh had gotten Mina’s Essex II hull which had been further refitted.
It didn’t take a genius to know Helena would have to be sending a lot of her ships home to be put into mothballs after she sold off her Battleship and Congress.
He kind of felt bad for Olivia. She didn’t do anything wrong and yet because she had a unique hull in Helena’s fleet and finances are cruel mistresses, Helena was forced to part the AI from a hull for a second time.
Sikh came into the bar. She had altered her human form remote in a very particular way.
“Not funny, Sikh!” Luther stormed out of the bar.
“Yeah, that was too much Sikh. Even I know that.” Cossack said from her table where she and Jonah were sitting.
“I better unmodify then catch up with him.” Sikh waddled back out of the bar.
“That could be a dangerous idea, suggesting you AIs could get pregnant.” Jonah said flatly.
“Rumor has it Saya and Phoenix had to clarify that bit for Kolossus. With Murakami around Sikh’s idea of a joke could indeed reach those two and not stay a joke. I’m rather glad you’re a bit old fashioned like that Jonah, we’re fun together but becoming parents? No.” Cossack downed her shot of vodka.
“Agreed. Now that we are not in the same chain of command, well our relationship has certainly become much more interesting.” Jonah finished his shot of vodka.
“Yeah. My myomer bundles and actuators are actually able to generate more force than you can but your greater size means you can actually leverage your strength better than I can. Makes our rolls in the sack very interesting indeed.”
“Quarters?”
“Yours. Now.”
“Well bargained and done.”
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==Part 2==
Fleet Cyberscape
Luther joined in expecting more of a crowd but he was alone.
Then Sikh joined.
“I came to apologize. I went too far.” Sikh looked at the greenspace that sprang into being around them.
“Sikh, I love you and I if we were both human, well I’d love to talk about that and getting married. But with both of us being what we are now, well it was a particularly cruel reminder of what I’ve lost in becoming what I am. I don’t think I can forgive that.”
“I am such a fool. We had a good thing and then I had to go and ruin it with an ill conceived practical joke.”, Silk confessed
“I’m sorry, Sikh. It was good while it lasted.” Luther disconnected.
“Should I go pound some sense into him?” Haida revealed her presence.
“No. He’s right. I ruined it. Maybe eventually he’ll be able to forgive me but he has to do it on his own. Might take a while but I am an AI not bound by human lifespans so I can afford to give him the time he needs.”
“I still think he’s being an idiot, but Cossack is about to have her own breakup.”
“You sure about that? Her and Jonah seem to be spending every bit of spare time together that they can.”
“Helena’s issuing the recall orders. Our group is to head back to Lazarus so we can be stood down. Tabby will be staying with the others to keep a presence in this area but we both know Jonah will choose to stay over coming with Cossack.”
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"Yeah. It’s why I actually came. To spread the word. I just happened to catch your breakup.”
“Well, Cossack could stay like Phoenix.”
“No. Phoenix was a one-off deal. Not enough money left in the budget to transfer Cossack to a hull the Privateers can afford to keep and there won’t be until half of us go home and start the process of going into mothball. And even then it’ll take far too long and who knows where Jonah will be in his life.”
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==Part 3==
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Jonah’s quarters
Jonah was playing with Cossack’s long artificial hair.
“It still amazes me how it almost feels like the real thing. Like if I didn’t know I might not even notice.” Jonah said as Cossack rolled onto her side to face him.
“I must admit the craftsmanship on this remote is worth appreciating.”
“This can’t last, what we’re doing right now can it?” Jonah said quietly.
“No. The recall orders are being issued. I have to go home to Lazarus. Part of me wishes I could stay.”
“But we both know how impossible that is currently.”
“Yeah. I could try and argue with Helena about sending one of the other destroyers home instead so I could at least stay in the region.”
“Wishful thinking and you know it. Neither of us are creatures of that kind of compromise. If we are together we are together.”
“We would start resenting one another for that wouldn’t we? Well then, why don’t we see about having some fun until one of us has to stop. My battery pack is pretty fully charged so good luck, Jonah.” Cossack kissed Jonah.
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==Part 4==
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Saya’s quarters
Phoenix quietly entered the bedroom.
“Amanda is finally asleep. Alice?” Phoenix almost whispered.
“Just now.” Saya handed their infant daughter to Phoenix.
“I actually never thought I’d enjoy being a parent. You still want to try for a boy in the future?” Phoenix set their daughter in the crib.
“If you want more it really is your turn.” Saya smiled.
“Shutting up. Though I’m still kind of surprised you wanted to be surprised despite wanting to try for a boy.”
“I may have my desires, but I also like being surprised.” Saya stood up and kissed Phoenix on the cheek.
“They still giving you flak for actually carrying our babies?”
“It is quite the stigma still, but fortunately most of the Trueborns that find their way to us are by definition ‘outcasts’ and are thus far more open minded. So it only really comes from the more traditionalists.”
“You actually liked it, carrying them that is.” Phoenix grabbed Saya and the two started waltzing quietly.
“I must admit it was an interesting experience. All my life I had been taught the virtues of Truebirth and the Ironwombs. Freebirth and carrying children was for testdowns, washouts, and those born to the other castes. But the intimate primal connection that actually carrying them created? Well, I am still not keen on doing it again, but I am glad to have experienced it.”
“Saya I love you.”
“Our third date. That was when I knew we’d be married and parents.” Saya kissed Phoenix.
“That was actually before Churchstone. You know you could have told Helena about us when you two did your crazy stunt that day.”
“I sort of did. But I must admit dropping vague hints at most was quite fun.”
“What do you say we call up Alice to babysit and we go have a proper date night? It’s been a while since we’ve had one.”
“There’s a new restaurant on deck 19. Supposed to have wonderful nordic flair.”
“As long as they have booze.”
“Alice, we know you’ve been listening.” Saya chuckled.
The door to their quarters opened and the small childlike AI remote was at the door.
“I’m really that predictable aren’t I?” Alice said.
“We don’t mind.” Phoenix smiled.
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==Part 5==
University Campus Cafeteria
Sevon V, Raven Alliance
3137
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“You’re still here? I would have thought you’d have graduated by now.” A young red head sat down at David ‘Roberts’ table.
“Nah. I got two more degrees to earn before I go running off to see what’s out there.”
“Overachiever.”
“But that’s why you love me.”
“And because I got you through calculus is why you love me.”
“Ain’t that the truth. All these brains and complex math just makes my eyes glaze over.” David chuckled.
“Well you can pay me back for that by taking me out for a proper dinner this weekend.”
“Sure. That italian place you like?”
“Yes, please!”
“Friday after class?”
“You know I’m going to crack your mystery some day, Roberts. You’re too perfect. Not to mention too rich for some hick farmboy. I know you’re a relation to the most famous family on Sevon V but even that seems a bit weird to me.”
“Well, we are distant relations and not actually native to Sevon V but after everything that happened well. We got lucky they were willing to take us in and we put all that money from all the media deals to good use.”
“So if I threaten to inspect you later the rumors about you having a charging port will be false?”
“Kira, you’re welcome to inspect me for a charging port anytime you want.” David smiled.
“Settle down horndog.” Kira laughed.
“Friday. After class.” David said as he finished his meal.
“Crap. Time for class already isn’t it? I barely even got sat down, let alone eat!” Kira complained.
“I’ll buy you a few minutes. See you.” David rushed off.
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Across campus
Lori Roberts was on her way to her room after political science class when two large boys came up to her.
“Say, Roberts, why don’t you go out with us this weekend?”
“I’d rather not.”
“Oh come on. We’re not so bad. We’ll even take you to dinner and a show first.”
“Go away. I’m going to meet up with my sister.”
“Even better, invite her along. We’ll make it a double date.”
“There you are. You were taking too long so I got bored and came looking for you.” Sally’s voice made Lori smile.
The two boys went pale when they saw the giant of a woman come up to them.
“Guys. This is my sister Sally. Now as you can see she’s wearing a cadet uniform of the Privateer service. Perhaps don’t provoke her into instructing you into why she is.”
“So you guys hassling my sister?” Sally smiled.
“Nope. Just leaving.” The two college boys ran off.
“You know they’ll be back once I’m gone or ones like them, or even worse.” Sally said as she watched them run around the corner of a building.
“Yeah I know but I can handle college boys. Haida has seen to that. Plus, I’m pretty sure one of my classmates is an undercover Joana Clarice Butler. Not sure yet when they can adjust their remotes so easily and they’re getting better at faking the small stuff.”
“Yeah, no way mom would let us run around completely unsupervised. So my time off before I have to get to the Academy is burning. Shall we?”
“Indeed.”
“Avellar really already guaranteed you an internship in his staff once you graduate?”
“He sure did. So all I have to do is make it the next four years without putting an overly eager college boy in the hospital and I’m set.”
“How was I supposed to know that jerk was a Senator’s kid?”
“Maybe by actually thinking. We all know how smart you really are Sally. You just need to focus better. Hopefully the service will do that for you…”
“Before I get killed or hurt? Yeah I know it is a dangerous time to go into the service with the Black Out and I’m going into a particularly dangerous branch. But with how many people who will know who I really am and who mom really is I’ll either get a really cushy puff assignment or be buried so deep in specialist training that by the time I’m done I’ll be mandatory retirement age.”
“Probably the second.” Lori smiled.
“So are any of the boys here decent? I know the age difference because of how much of an overachiever you and our brothers are make that hard but there’s got to be somebody.”
“The TA in my law class. I know he’s way older than I am but…”
“Bad idea, Lori, trust me. Little sis has actually been on dates with three boys now.”
“Just because you were delivered last does not mean you’re the little sister.” Lori scoffed.
“Sure it does. That’s how it works!” Sally laughed.
“You’re impossible.” Lori rolled her eyes.
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==Part 6==
Port Orphan, early 3123…
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Strictly about Funding…
"We need the hard currency." This is never what you want to hear when you're in the middle of a shooting war…or near the end of one, or just finished one.
"Let me get this straight…" Fleet Captain Esmerelda Gomez of the Privateer Fleet regarded the representative from the Parliament's budget committee. "You want me to sign what?"
"They want to license your likeness, name, and a redacted version of your history, Captain Gomez-the company in question includes in its umbrella such respected entertainment purveyors as Factor-X Pictures Network, Comstar Holotele, Bolle Filmmakers, and Castle pictures, Republic Entertainment is fairly big money, you could even retire on your residuals if the series takes off."
"How Fictionalized??" Esme demanded, "are we talking 'immortal warrior' levels of bullshit?"
"The Producer's hired a dedicated Science Fiction writer to head things up, no actual secrets will be revealed." 
"I get the feeling I may need to retain Cogswell and Locke, this offer's written in legalese." she growled, "dense enough even with my education I can't make heads or tails of it…" she paused, "Why me?"
"Because Amanda Roberts is dead and we can't get her family to buy off on it."
Esme straightened her tunic. "Well, that settles it, if they won't, I won't. Get the Roberts family to sign off on this, and I'll be willing to reconsider."
The gentlemen glanced at one another, then, "We'll get back to you."
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==Part 7==
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People don't want…
…the reality, mister Barger." Samuel said pedantically, "They want a glorious hero story, that's as true for entertainment audiences, as it is for historians." 
"So you understand."
"I understand that Amanda would be chuffed to the earlobes over this." the Engineer from OWS Evanescent stated. "She adored hamming things up, but if your network really wants to tell fictionalized versions of our exploits out here, and the Parliament agreed, then I know you have three other groups you have to get permission from."
"Three?"
"Us, of course, since it's our images and names…then you're going to need the Clan Council to okay it and they're going to want editorial rights, and finally, you'll have to talk to Helena Cameron's people-and I know you haven't yet."
"How would you know that?"
"Alice tells me things, so do other people. Your guys failed to get Sam Roberts to okay it, which means Daryl's not on board at all, which suggests your writer's initial treatment pissed off Her Relatives. I'm going to guess inaccuracies, but it could be someone said something about Periphery culture in an insulting manner, or possibly the Outworlds."
"Why would you think that?"
"Your accent says you're a Marsie." Samuel stated, "Your colleague's got a West Europe growl. That means you're both Sollies, it's like an automatic that you're probably going to stumble into making assumptions the locals out here find insulting."
"You're from Metis…"
"Yeah, it's been years since I've been back. Arrest warrants do that." Samuel explained. "I'll tell you what, your science-fiction writer, has he actually written anything I've maybe read?"
"He did the screen treatment for Planet of the Dead Two on Baux Office."
"So he's a screen-writer, not a text writer? I remember downviewing that one…" Samuel shook his head. "It was terrible."
"We can get another writer."
"I'd suggest you do, get someone who understands life out here." Samuel told them, "Or get some better editors, rewrite the treatment and present it again, maybe someone will bite."
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==Part 8==
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"I've been approached by…
…Sea Fox Broadcast international." Admiral David Foster crossed his arms, "Now, they have an in with the Clan, but their screenwriting is shit, at least, for everything but Clan Spaniel and some crafting shows. Now, I have Republic guys better known for 'reality holovids' and prank shows in my office." He straightened a pile of paperwork, "So…it is a 'respect' thing, as in how respectful are you guys going to be? Mind that you can not get away with making the bad-guys Clan, a lot of our support comes from the Combine and other nations who do not like each other…"
"We're…the show-runner wants to use another angle."
"Remnant Rim Worlds?" He inquired slyly.
“No sir…he wants to use aliens."
"Aliens." Foster frowned, "As in 'non-human entities'? That thing nobody has ever actually found?"
"Yes, sir."
David snorted and shook his head, "I assume that's why Helena hasn't bought off then?"
"Sir, we haven't approached Director-General Cameron yet." the younger of the two men said.
"We'll have human pirates in it too-but the numbers say people are tired of ordinary war stories, they want something…different."
"Hmmm…so no direct combat footage then?"
"Just a few action episodes. Demographics in the eighteen to thirty five range in the Republic shows that war-weariness and external threats don't sell…but exploring the unknown does."
"You should've led with that one." David told him, "When you meet with Cameron, lead with that-exploration and discovery, not conflict…I'll buy off on it, and maybe even help you sell something like that to the others, I take it you're planning an alternative take on classical literature, 'Star Trek' maybe?"
"The Aliens will be extinct at first, Sir, at least for the first few seasons."
"Not those weird bird-people from that 'Far Country' show back last century, are they?", Foster questioned
"We couldn't get the rights to the story."
"Fair enough, I'll talk to Helena, Esme, Sam and the others on your list here, I like the idea that fictional-me is directing an exploration and peacekeeping service instead of running a brutal war." David said, "I've had a belly-full of war."
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Helena was sitting comfortably in a recliner.
“We come at a bad time?” One of the men asked.
“This was the only time ,but its fine. Just recovering from a fairly minor medical procedure.” Helena smiled.
“I’m pretty sure you know why we’re here.” The man said.
“Yes and from what I’ve been told you’re looking to make me a work of fiction, as well as my AIs. Under different circumstances I would be offended but given all that’s happened and for the sake of a lot of things in play I’m actually finding that outcome desirable, at least for now. The Inner Sphere and near Periphery are not ready for the cognito hazard that is my AIs and me.” Helena smiled.
“Cognito hazard?”
“An idea or concept that is so hazardous that even knowing it or thinking it can have very negative consequences. There are a lot of people with a lot of agendas out there and the best way I know to combat them is to make myself a legend again.” Helena answered.
“Honestly the way people were talking we expected you to be much less agreeable.”
“Oh I like the concept fine enough but my lawyers and financial advisers say the contracts and payment terms need work.” Helena’s smile was suddenly more wicked.
“How much?” The man asked.
Lucy Heerman entered the room with a neatly bound book.
“My counter proposal. Thanks Lucy.”
“Of course. Gentlemen.” Lucy walked back out of the room.
“How… These numbers? What kind of sorcery is this? You’ve even got a shooting schedule in here!”
“Let’s just say I’ve been taught to be very thorough. I think you’ll find that if you hire those people and hold to that schedule despite having to pay us more you’ll actually have more tax write offs and have to pay less for the same level of advertising, making it far more likely to make a profit.” Helena answered.
“She’s right.” The other man said.
“We’ll need approval for something this ambitious.” The first man said.
“Well don’t take too long, I’m about to be up to my earlobes planning a wedding.”
“Congratulations. Who’s the lucky man?”
“Leon. Quite simply the most wonderful man I’ve ever had the pleasure to get to know.” Helena smiled.
The look of confusion on the two men’s faces made Helena giggle.
“Just Leon?”
“That’s right. No last name. Let that sink in.” Helena laughed.
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==Part 9==
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<<<"Next up in your entertainment queue! it's…
Tales of Port Orphan!!(Season TWO!!) And you can stream the whole season (all Thirteen episodes) for the low-low-low price of ten C-Bills (or local equivalent) here on the Republic's home for Action, Adventure, and Fantasy! The Republic Entertainment Network (a division of Comstar Broadcasting ™)...">>>
<They made me short.>
"Use your words, Amanda." Kolossus said.
"They made me short. I was tall for a girl and the actress they hired looks more like a Clan Aeropilot, I'm not sure if I'm insulted."
"The Clan had some influence in the final production, it was a compromise with the Sea Fox Holovideo consortium. Some of their acting Caste were required so that they could shoot on some of the locations."
"I know, but couldn't they have found someone who looked like me, at least? And what's with the eye-patch? I only wore one a few times, and never in the field!!"
"They also made you older." Lori was lounging in the 'guest area' of the Kolossus station, visiting her old commander and friend. "The fictional Amanda Roberts was, according to the show runners, already out of high school when she was kidnapped. What I find funny, is that they made Seron a lot younger, and made Dave Foster Taller-more like a 'mechwarrior than the Aeropilot breed he was born as."
"They made Seron pale." Amanda complained, "I guess they had to find an Elemental phenotype who wanted to act and could actually do it, so…" she shrugged.
"Some of those shots were done on Devil's Breath, did you notice?" Luther Bedwyr's remote asked.
"Yeah, I noticed." Amanda grumped, "I never had curly hair like that."
"It's in style again." Lori quipped, "I remember you also had a nasty habit of bleeding a lot in the early days, your fictional version lost the headwound in the first couple episodes."
"They deleted Desmond." Amanda continued listing off, "completely."
"Sensitivities." Lori said, "Lots of bad memories of Manei Domini."
"Speaking of which…" Luther's remote glanced at Samuel. 
"Hey, I build what I'm told on this one, it's biological stuff." Samuel shook his head in denial, "Kolossus knows the answers there."
"The biological portion will be ready in four years." Kolossus stated, "Admiral Murakami's assistance in developing the inverse interfacing has been valuable, and likely will remain valuable."
"How's it playing with the public, Kolossus?" Lori asked.
"The show is relatively popular, it places two hundredth out of five thousand similar streams on Comstar's entertainment list, the residuals should be quite helpful for Amanda Roberts's living family on Sevon V. I project a royalties after currency conversion of two hundred fifty five thousand, six hundred ninety Escudos, not counting against inflation and using today's numbers on the international exchange. The rights from vendors in Ghost Bear and Wolf territory is around Six thousand Kerenskies for the season..which is fantastic, they buy re-runs of Clan Spaniel for less, and that is a popular program."
"I wonder if Esme's checked out the rack on the girl they have playing her in season two…" Amanda speculated.
"I'm told she personally attended the auditions on Cerberus…"
"She should've found someone who looked like me at least…" Amanda sulked, "I can't even drink rum in this robot…"
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Finis
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