SCMR Chpt 23

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==Chapter 23 - Self Configuring Modular Robot==
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"What's that?"
Yvonne asked. Elizabeth looked up from her portable data pad, "Hey Vonnie. You holding up okay?"
"Yes...what'cha working on?"
"Homework." Elizabeth answered.
"Like the science projects?"
"I wish." Lizzie said, "I have to review all the laws surrounding my role as Baroness of Spider Moon, I can't do any of them but I'm supposed to know them. Your mom's harsh."
"Mom's not harsh!" Yvonne defended her mother. "That's mean, you take that back!"
"It wasn't mean, it's good that she's harsh." Lizzie argued, "Your Mom's gonna be the Archon when Katrina retires or dies-she's gotta do on a bigger scale what I have to do for the Outer System of Kowloon-and nice people don't make life nice for their subjects and those sworn to them...at least, Grampa didn't think so...and maybe when you're grown up enough, they'll make YOU be a duchess or a baroness too."
"Make??"
"Make." Liz asserted, "I can't go be a Starship pilot exploring everything, if I have to be taking care of half a billion people-and that's what I'm stuck with now-I have to learn the job, not the fun stuff I wanted to learn."
"But why?", Yvonne asked
"Because it's work, to be done." Lizzie said, "I'm Kowloonese an' I'm Lyran, an' I'm a Ngo, and dad already fu- uhm...He abdicated for Pat, so he can't help me-he wanted to be a 'mechwarrior not a Duke, you get it?"
"no." Yvonne said sadly, "Why can't he do both? MY daddy is a 'Mechwarrior AND First Prince!"
Elizabeth shook her head, "It's different for guys like your Dad." she tried to explain, "MY Dad married his career as a 'Mechwarrior when he got with my mom, and he didn't 'go home' after his Five-he re-upped and made it career. It hurt my Grandfather a LOT when he did that..." She tapped her chest, "right here."
"...but grandmama says your grandfather was a PATRIOT."
"Which is why he didn't disown Dad." Liz stated, "First loyalty is always to those who look to you for leadership, then family, then politics. Dad chose national politics over family and fealty...really, he did what he wanted to do instead of doing the right thing."
''
"Is your Mom gonna be there?"
"I hope not." Liz said, "I really hope not."
"Why?"
"It's complicated." Elizabeth said, "You an' Arthur are really lucky, you've got good parents. Ask Terry what it's like when you don't have those."
"You don't love your Mom?"
Elizabeth sighed. "Vonnie, you'll understand more when you're older, but maybe you should wait to find out about that stuff-just be really happy you've got good parents who love you and don't drink too much or hit you for no reason."
"Did your Mom hit you?"
"There's a reason Grandfather had legal guardianship of me, Henry, and Pat." Elizabeth stated, "if my mom wasn't a noble-blooded, she'd be in the same treatment program Terry's parents are in, and in just as much trouble, and it would've been a lot earlier. as it is, Grandfather Dinh didn't have to ask my parents before he let me go to New Avalon as a guest of your parents, and it's why all my papers name your mom and dad as my legal guardians until I'm eighteen now...so no, I really hope my mom and dad aren't going to be there when we reach Kowloon." Her eyes were hard, doll-like. "And if you never understand why, you'll be in a good place..." Elizabeth shifted her position on the passenger couch, "...now, this, is a population survey, the information is used to determine the tax base, and it's useful for working out what public works are going to be necessary for the year..."
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Later, Yvonne caught up with Arthur. "Hey Vonnie. What's up?" he had a suction-bench laid out with the guts of an entertainment center and electronics tools, and Jess was helping him.
"Lizzie's being all grown-up and stuff." Yvonne complained, "She's doing all this work, and it's none of it fun stuff."
"oh. Yeah." Arthur agreed. "Mom's actually pleased." 
"But WHY?? she's a kid! like US!!"
"She's got responsibilities like we're going to have, only hers came early." Arthur shook his head, "I know, y'know? Victor's having to learn the same stuff."
"But why now??" Yvonne demanded.
"Because she's a Baroness-even if it's technically still 'in waiting'." Penny said from the side, "I think we should go make her remember she can still have fun."
Jess grunted, then, "She's doing right. Leave her be."
"What?" Sierra put aside her magazine, "Doing right? Oh, we have got to fix that! We've been on 'best behavior' for a week!"
"It's too long." Penny agreed.
Arthur looked pained, sighed, and then, "Who's got the plan this time? usually Lizzie's the one who comes up with the scheme, so who's got it this time?"
"Dice?" Terry suggested, "To see who gets to make the plan?"
"You want a go?" Arthur asked.
"No, but I can fetch the dice-roller box and name the winner?"
"Fair. Who wants it?", Arthur asks
"I nominate you, Arthur." Jess said, "Your prank last month was flawless."
"Second." Sierra said.
"THird, we don't need dice." Penny Doons announced. "Vote?"
The others, save Terry, raised hands. "Unanimous." he pronounced. "Arthur gets to figure out how to get Lizzie to stop being a drag."
"Alright, but I want input from my Staff." Arthur stated, "We're goinna do it right, and I'm not eating the whole blame if it goes wrong."
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