27 Degrees, 35 Minutes, and 2 Seconds North by -71 Degrees, 57 Minutes and 53 Seconds West
Ah'Chet Moon orbiting Geraia, Sirius System
July 31st, 3---

There was a knock at Arjana's door before said door was pushed open to reviel her cousins Edwin and Ric. Despite the two being twins that looked nothing alike, they were wearing the excat same mischevious grin that had Arjana on instant alert for pranks of any and all forms. She put her hands on her hips and tried to look as intimidating as she could as she faced her tweleve year old cousins.

"Okay, I know what that grin means, what are you two neck deep into?" she asked. The two boys looked at each other, nodded once, then pounced. Arjana let out an undignified yelp as she was practically thrown back onto her bunk and pinned. Ric held down her knees while Edwin sat up by her head and held her arms to the mattress.

"Let me go you two oafs! This is not cool at all! I've got to finish packing!"

Edwin smiled calmly, completely unaffected by her thrashing around.

"Ya, ya, we know you're busy, but me and Ric have got something that needs to be done, Ric?"

Ric's smile was a little more forced, after all, as sea fairing folk it wasn't uncommon for their legs to be stronger than their arms.

"You might have to do it, bro, I'm a little occupied at the moment," he said simply. Edwin sighed theatrically.

"I was afraid of this. Time for back up then, Sophia love! We need your help after all!" Edwin yelled. Arjana twisted her head soshe could see the door and sure enough her younger sister stood there a pleased grin on her face.

"Ha, now you two owe me 3 quadi each, I told you you'd need my help with her," Sophia said, managing smugness far to well for an eight year old. The younger girl held up something that made Arjana's blood drain from her face.

"Oh hell no! Nu-uh, not happening in a thousand lifetimes! I'll see you lot anchored to the bottom of the Lavithian Trench first!" Arjana shouted, increasing her struggling.

"Oh come on, sis, don't be such a prude, it's tradition after all," Sophia said calmly, pulling out the rest of the tools needed.

"It's illegal!" Arjana shouted, almost succeeded in throwing Ric off one of her legs. But he just grunted and put more weight on them. If she didn't stop struggling, she was going to end up with some impressive bruising.

"'Jana, calm down, really, we're not doing anything illegal. I got special permission. Jeeze, we're not evil you know," Edwin soothed, suddenly understanding whey she'd been fighting so hard. He hadn't meant to scare her. Arjana stilled some, and looked up at him.

"Wait, what?" Sophia rolled her eyes, asperated.

"Honestly, Arjana, do pay attention at all, ever?"

"Huh?" by now she had calmed down completely, and Ric let off her legs, leaning back and brushing his blonde hair from his eyes.

"Really, 'Jana. We don't have much the way of money or possessions so it's not like we can give you going away gifts like everyone else has," Ric explained paciently. Arjana shook of Edwin, and he, seeing she'd calmed down let her up. She sat up and folded her legs under her and faced her family.

"Okay, what are you guys going on about?" she asked. It was true a lot of the clan had gotten together to give her things for her trip and for her stay at the GPA. Two of her aunts' families had pulled their resources and bought her several sets of newer and finer clothing, so she didn't look like the thread bare sailor that she was used to dressing like. Her older cousins had gotten her her first ear-chain, like the one that her mother had leant her the day she went to the Formal Meet. Usually it wasn't given to a girl until she recieved her first period, but they had made an exception since it was likely that Arjana wouldn't be home when it happened. They had gotten her promise that she wouldn't wear it until then, though. There were a couple other things - new shoes, actual boots rather than sandals, space was cold after all; a wooden flute of her own, no more borrowing from Lieata. That was all through, and she was grateful and surprised with each gift she'd been given. Arjana knew they were poor in the scheme of the greater universe, but that had never mattered to the clan because everyone supported each other, and shared everything.

Now she looked at her cousins and realized that they too wanted to send her off with something that would help her, or remind her, make the trip less lonely or less frightening. To give her something that would less homesick.

"Nevermind, I think I get it. You guys didn't have to you know, I bet it wasn't easy to convince grandda or the guild," Arjana said softly, looking down at her hands. Edwin waved it off.

"It really wasn't that hard. I just made sure to ask while everyone was still in awe that you were going to the GPA. Honestly, I could have asked for you to be made headman..er...woman and I don't think they would have batted an eye," Edwin said loftily, making room on the bunk for both Sophia and Ric who clambered up, Sophia making sure to hold her tools steady.

"We all know it's going to happen, there's no way it won't. I bet you've got some fancy skimmer built by the end of your second year, at the absolute latest!" Ric said, grinning.

Arjana couldn't help but smile at her cousin's confidence in her. "Thanks, Ric," she said softly.

Edwin grinned, and then turned all business.

"Okay so, I have to do it, and the guild got to choose the image, but you can pick the place," Edwin said, taking the tool from Sophia who handed it over with a sigh.

Arjana grinned, unfolded her legs, stretched out a bit and plopped her left foot into E's lap. "Inside of my foot, below the ankle, please," she said.

Ric nodded, "Smart, since you'll have to wear boots at the GPA they'll never see it, but here at home we go barefoot so it'll be visible."

Arjana poked him in the chest with her other foot, "I do have the occasional bright idea, Ric," she said. They all laughed. Sophia held the pot of black ink, and Edwin produced a piece of trace paper with a small image drawn on it. He handed it to Arjana for inspection. Arjana took it and unfolded it, smoothing the creases away to look at the picture in awe.

"It's perfect, " she whispered. And to her it was,it was a simple, stylized dragon stretched out on its belly with its wings half unfurled on it's back. Its neck and mouth were upturned just a little and from its mouth spouted a short burst of flame. Along the base of her foot with the flame curling up the bottom of her ankle it would fit perfectly. She egarly handed the drawing back over to Edwin who laughed and placed the piece of trace paper over the skin of her foot. The ink once in contact with Arjana's skin, transfered a faint, but sharp outline of the image to her ankle. Ric carefully pealed the paper away, while Edwin held up the stylus with the needle attatched to the end.

"Ready?" he asked. Arjana nodded. She knew it was supposed to hurt, but she couldn't concentrate on that. She was just too excited. So many things had happened in just a few months. She had honestly thought her life couldn't get any better when she came of age and was allowed her own skive, to go out on her own and help support her family and clan. Then she found the Skaa Crystal and was invited to the GPA. Not only had she managed to bring wealth but honor as well. Now, here, the dream she had held on too since she was little was coming true before her eyes. She was being accepted into the Guild of Craft Makers.

The guild exsisted in her clan only, but they were the highly respected all over the moon. The L'eauzu Clan was known for making fine and dependable crafts, but the guild produced pieces of living art that were both fuctional and beautiful. Edwin had been accepted when he was nine, just like her, though he beat her out by a few months. They had wanted Edwin for years once it was discovered he had a real talent for producing innovative and unique craft designs; and they finally got him once he'd completed his first craft. Ever since then Edwin had become more than her cousin, he was also secretly her rle model. He too had a tattoo that had been chosen by the Guild, a sea-hawk in slight, it's wings out-stretched on his right shoulder blade. She had been invited by him to his ceremony. Though ceremony wasn't really the right word. More often than not, when a new member got their tattoo, it was like this, the member doing the tattooing and whoever was closest to the member. At Edwin's ceremony, it had been their older third cousin, twice removed, Chaut, doing the tattooing, with her, Ric, Sophia (who had fallen asleep in Arjana's lap halfway through) and another cousin that was a good friend of Ric and Edwin's - Alexi.

It was a personal and highly private affair that maintained a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Arjana loved every second of it. Then and now. She looked at her cousins and sister and knew that she couldn't have dreamed a dream better than this.

"I'm still a little confused as to why they're letting me in, I haven't built my craft yet, I've only just finished the designs for one..." she trailed off, uncertain. She didn't want this just because she got into the GPA, she wanted to earn it.

"Sophia stole your designs and gave them to me, I in turn showed them to the Guild. They were impressed. You took a classic design and improved so much that it might return as more than a ceremony craft," Edwin said, not looking up from where he was working.

"Sophia!" Arjana said, annoyed, but at the same time, not at all.

"Oh please, if you're going to be angry, wait until Edwin tells you the rest."

Arjana turned back to Edwin, a little worried.

"Sophia discovered your secret collection of skimmer designs. I have to say, we were all impressed by that. I had always wondered why you spent so much of our time at the Rim Races either on the computers or in the pits. Never once going to do the usual sight-seeing or shopping. You were doing research weren't you?" Edwin asked, still not looking up.

Arjana colored, feeling embarraresd and a bit more angry. She hadn't shown those designs to anyone, ever. But space travel had fasinated her and just as her family and clan loved building craft, so had Arjana, her true passion just had taken to craft that traveled a bit faster and a bit higher.

"Anyways," Edwin continued, "they saw th designs and knew that this is what you were going to the GPA for. They also knew that with your access to parts, time and equipment it would be no time at all before you were crafting, even if you had to do it in secret. And as you know, tradition of the Guild dictates that timing is everything. We knew you wouldn't be able to hold off building, and Guild law dictates that upon completion and successful launch, the tattoo is given within the moon span," Edwin explained, effortlessly splitting his conectration between talking and tattooing.

Arjana was quiet for a long moment, "I still can't believe you went through my stuff!" she said angrily, glaring at Sophia. But she softened and smiled at her sister after a few seconds. "But I'm glad you did. I don't think I would have ever gotten the courage to actually show those designs to anyone. I kind of thought they were just a deranged hobby of mine," she said laughing a little.

They all smiled at her, and shook their heads at her sillyness.

"Oh, there is a catch though," Edwin said suddenly. Arjana waited, knowing there had to be one, "Ric?" Edwin asked his twin. Said twin reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of plain white cotton bandages and handed them to Arjana.

"The Guild demands that you keep the tattoo covered at all times until you've completed your craft. This means everything, sleeping, showering, all the time," Ric said, explaining. Arjana pouted.

"You could have told me before hand!"

Edwin actually paused and looked up in surprise, "You would have said no, if you had?"

Arjana grinned, "Iya, but it was worth the look on your face just now!"

They all laughed at Edwin's expense, who grumbled and went back to work, threatening to botch the job if they didn't shut up. But Arjana ignored him and just kept smiling. It was all she could do to keep from crying in happiness.

(this was a very vivid dream I had last night so don't go thinking it has to happen. I just wanted to get it out of my head so it'd leave me alone. Oh, by the way, incase anyone was wondering, dying of lung caner? painful.)

The didn't have graves, but there was a place that Inu had erected a humble memorial so that he could come and visit. It was in a public garden, back on Earth, tucked behind a grove of ancient oak trees, well away from any curious eyes. Only those that knew it was there ever found it.

It wasn't fancy or anything, just their names, dates of birth and dates of death ingraved on a piece of brass nailed to the base of one of the trees. They all were there, well, almost all. There was one left, and she wasn't far behind the rest.

Arjana, though she still answered to Jade more, leaned tiredly against the tree that guarded the names of her precious friends. She tried to bite back a painful coughut failed, and felt her lungs rattle as the burn made her breathless. Lung cancer. That's what she got for crawling around in the bellies of all those ships all those years. Wouldn't change a damn thing though, she had enjoyed her life far to much for that. Well, maybe Ah'Chet...

But no, dwelling on regrets this late in life was even more pointless that it was dwelling on them in her eariler years. Jade huffed to herself as she regained her breath and leaned on her cane. (a cane! if Jen and H5 could see her now! they'd never let her live it down!)

Jade was waiting for someone though, someone that she realized three days ago after watching the news that she really needed to talk too. Sure enough, she caught the distant whine of a skimmer engine. Ha! Her eyes might be going, going, gone, but her ears were still as good as the day she was born! Jade waited paciently, (if there was one thing she'd learned in her life, it was pacience. well, that and how to shoot straight. Finally!)

The crunch of gravel beneth boots was all that announced his arrival. Her eyes were almost useless now, but she could make out the basics of his form, tall, dark, still a little gawky despite his age.

"Great - Auntie Jade," he said, his voice rumbling. He always did have a deep voice, even as a boy. Jade sighed and held out her hand to him. He took it and pulled her to him so she could lean on him.

"I appreciate the flattery, but you might as well use both the 'greats' I way past carrying after pride now," Jade said lightly, her voice rough from all the coughing she did. She felt his smile more than saw it.

"Nah, my mother taught me proper, Auntie Jade," he said back.

She scoffed, "Charmer. Just like your great grandda. He wormed his way into H5's heart so slick like, she didn't even realize it 'til she was already half in love with him," she said. He helped her sit on the grass benethe the tree, very close so that she could reach out and put her fingers on the plaque and trace the names of her friends.

"What did you call me here for?"

She fixed her faded, half-milky eyes on him, he found the gaze a little disturbing and forced himself not to figit.

"To tell you something, and...to give you something...maybe," she said hesitating over the last bit.

She sat there for a moment, gathering her thoughts, the wind blew through the trees overhead, making them hum and sigh. She traced her finger over the familiar letters of her lover's name, her heart twinging a little with longing. It wouldn't be too long. She found it strange that she would be the last to go, despite her being the youngest. Maybe that was why. She was the youngest, and as such in a way she'd never admit, had looked up to her older friends and compainions. Despite all of their near brushes with ceritan death, they had always seemed constant in her eyes. Maybe that was why each of their deaths hit her so hard. Making it so hard to recover. Then, when Tenchi left her alone. She knew it would be months, not years before she followed them.

"Out of all the children and grand-children, and great-grandchildren that the three of us had, I must say, you weren't the one I thought would pick up the torch we left behind," she started. She felt him move to speak but held up a hand that still have the layered callouses of a hard life.

"You can speak when I'm finished young man," she said sternly, and felt him subside next to her, a little meek, she smirked.

"As I was saying. After what felt like a lifetime of fighting, it isn't surprising that we settled down into a peaceful life. The adventure of a rebel fighter may see romantic on paper or in films but it is a hard and draining life. After Tannon finally died, we just wanted peace. Peace, normality with only a bit of adventure, and trust me we found plenty of that in parenthood. My point is, we didn't expect any of our children to end up like we did. And we were right. Honestly we expected the trouble to come from the grand-kiddies. Go figure that one, most of them eneded up as accountants! Then...you come along, dearie," she sighed softly.

"You have no idea how much you excited us and terrified us. How much you delighted us, and horrified us. I don't know how it is that you managed to get most of our talents, I guess we rubbed off on each other more than we thought," she twitched, "Okay that was a thought I could have gone the last bit of my life without. Ew. Just....ew."

He shuddered, he didn't want to know.

"Anyways, my question is, do you understand what you're getting your self into, laddybuck? 'Cause we sure as hell didn't and it caused us a lot of grief later."

He was quiet for a moment, knowing he had to answer carefully.

"I don't know all the troubles I will have to face. But I think that I can bear them, because I know that they are worth bearing if it means I can reach my goal," he answered honestly. She hummed at him.

"And what is your goal?"

"Change. The galaxy...it needs change," he said softly.

"And you think this is the best way to go about it?"

"It gets people to hear what I say," he said.

"Ya, ya, it does that. But you should know there is a vast difference between hearing, and listening. It's the latter you want, hon."

"I'll get there, " he said with conviction. Jade noddedfeeling the truth in his words. he meant them. And that was what she needed to know. She stood, with his help and straightened her back with a series of cracks that had him wincing. She put her hand on the tree trunk and gave it a loving pat the hobbled back to the main path. He followed her, haunting her elbow in cause she needed help. They walked in silence until they reached the exit of the part, she turned to go one way - the airbus stop to take her back to the hospital (that she'd broken out of to come and see him) and he turne to go to the parking lot where he'd left his skimmer.

"Oh, one more thing, hon," she called. He turned to face her, she wasn't far, just a dozen feet. But she stood straight backed, head held high, all traces of age and illness gone from her presence. Despite the wrinkes, the grey hair, and milky eyes, he could almost see the woman that she had once been. That she still was.

"You know how to get in touch with Inu, ya?"

"Sure, everyone in the family does," he said, not knowing where this was going.

"Ya, ya, good. Well, once I go, he'll be the only one left who can get on The Notebook, and that's where we left all our files on the GP and GC. They'll be quite outdated, we didn't touch them after the 3245 reforms. But there should still be good information in there on where you can start," she said, his eyes grew wide. The Notebook, all the children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren knew of that ship. But they had maintained that it had been destroyed in the last fight with Tannon beyond repair. Those sly sneaks! Jade pulled something from under her shirt - A silver chain with something that sparkled on the end. She balled it up and tossed it too him. He reached out and snatched it from the air.

She chuckled. "You show that to Inu and he'll take you to her. You'd better take damn good care of her, else me, Jen, and Hyper will haunt you for the rest of your natural and unnatural days - that's a promise." she said. He opened his hand and looked at what she'd thrown at him. It was a piece of clear crystal that had a lenght of silver wire wrapped around it with a loop at the top for the chain. His eyes furrowed, he had studied fuel crystals in order to make smart purchases for himself. He had never seen a clear grade before! Those were thought to be ledgend these days.

"It's a piece of Skaa Crystal you dolt. Probably one of the few remaining in the galaxy so don't go loosing it. Inu'll explain. He'll explain everything too you. From the beginning. Granted, he wasn't there for the beginning, but he knows the story well enough," she said reading his confused look.

"But I thought...?"

"Gods no, we never told you lot everything! Honestly, you lot were our children. And there are a great many things that you just can't share with your children," she sighed and looked at the sky again. "It's a heavy torch to bear hon, the one your picking up. But...if you choose to do so, well...I can't really imagine a better person." she grinned at him suddenly.

He was silent for a long moment, then managed the words that barely described what he felt, "Thank you, Auntie."

She grin widened, but had a tinge of sadness to it as well, "Fair skies, hon, fair skies." Then she turned and walked away.

Word reached him two days later that she'd died. He wasn't surprised. The way she'd spoken to him that day, the way that she'd traced the lines of her lover's name, those little actions had whispered to him she was ready and more than willing to go.

He ran his fingers over the Skaa Crystal that hung around his neck. He had decided to wait until she was gone before contacting Inu. It wasn't like he didn't know where he'd be after she died. He just went back to the park and waited. Sure enough, just after the service, the cyborg appeared, ingraving tool in hand.

"Ah, I wondered when you'd contact me," he said simply.

"You knew she'd give me it?" he asked, surprised.
 
Inu shrugged, "Out of everyone, we knew that you were the one that was most likely to follow in our footsteps. Well, at least those particular footsteps."

He was quiet for a moment, there was something he wanted to know.

"She said that you'd tell me everything. But I don't understand, what didn't they tell us?"

Inu raised a silver eyebrow in amusement.

"Honestly? They didn't tell you guys alot. There is much that was left out, things that they regret, things they didn't want to think about, things that they wish they'd never done. You have to understand, they lost their families, in Jade's case her world, to this. That isn't excatly something you can tell littles as bedtime stories."

"But what about when we were older?"

"When everyone was older, with the exception of you, they didn't care as much. And it was easier to just let it go," Inu shrugged. He knelt and flicked on his tool. He gracefully etected Jade's real name, followed by her alias, along with her birth date and her death date into the plaque just like the others. Once he was finished he switched of the tool and sat back to admire his handy work. He sat down next to Inu, folding his long legs under himself. Inu sighed, blew his bangs from his face, and then leaned back on his hands.

"Will you tell me?"

Inu looked at him, his green-amber eyes intense, then he smiled, which softened his gaze.

"Of course. Get comfrotable, this will take some time." Inu leaned up against the tree, the plaque at his side. Them at his side. It would be a hard tale to tell, espically with them all gone, and him being the only one left. But he could endure it. He had promised them after all, too look after the littles as long as they needed looking after. It gave him purpose, kept his heart code beating. It was enough.

"Alright," Inu said, after he had made himself comfrotable as well, "this story is easier to tell starting from the middle. Now remember, I wasn't there for the very beginning, but I know all that happened, down to most of the conversations so don't go questioning me on this. Okay...middle of the story...humm...ah! Right, so we all thought that Tannon was dead. Well, truthfully, I though that Tannon was dead. The girls were suffering from a memory wipe..."

Inu was right, it was a long story. And Jade had told the truth, they'd left a great deal out.

But at the end of it all, he understood.

Which was why they'd chosen him in the first place.







(yes, i know it's weird! but I have weird dreams so there.)

27 Degrees, 35 Minutes, and 2 Seconds North by -71 Degrees, 57 Minutes and 53 Seconds West
Ah'Chet Moon orbiting Geraia, Sirius System
Feburary 27th, 3---

Arjana's mother fussed over her, tugging at her clothes, smoothing away wrinkles that weren't there. Arjana scowled and patted her mother's hands away.

"Honestly, Ma, It's straight. Stop fussing," she said, backing out of her mother's reach, and crossing her arms over her small chest. Her ma sighed and straightened from her crouch.

"I just want you to look your best, love. This is a great honor your grandda is giving you," the older woman sniffed a little and wiped her misty eyes. "Ta think, not only are you being invited to important clan meetings, you're going away to school in just a few months! I still don't know how your da managed to convince me of that one..."

Arjana felt her annoyance fade, she knew her ma was going to miss her greatly, and if Arjana was honest with herself (something the always believed in, just not out loud) she knew she'd miss her ma too. And the entire clan really. Even annoying Sophia.

A knock came at the door, and her da pushed it open. He looked over Arjana and let out a low whistle.

"You look so grown-up, 'Jana. I hardly recognize you, where's my little sea fairin' lass who goes barefoot and hates skirts?" he asked teasingly. Arjana felt her scowl return. She didn't like dressing up in this get up any more than anyone else her age did, thank you very much.

"She's been wrapped up, tied up and strung up in this stupid thing," Arjana replied curtly, gesturing to the 'stupid thing' in question. Her da just laughed.

"We'll be heading out soon, you should head up top now and get on board The Common Ground, Grandda is already up there," he said before withdrawing. Her ma turned and gave Arjana a quick hug.

"I'm for dinner with Sophia, leaving now is probably a good idea, elsewise I'll start bawlin'. So you be strong, and know that I'm proud of you, ya?"

Arjana felt her own eyes start to sting a little, but managed a swift nod, "Ya-ya, mama. I know," she said softly. Her ma sniffed again and hugged her again, this time a little longer and a little tighter.

"Well then," she said, withdrawing, tugging on the corners of her finery once more to erase any evidence of the hug, "You'll be fine." She kissed her daughter's forehead and swept out of the door.

Arjana swallowed, and forced down the sting of her eyes. She concentrated on her image in the slightly grimy mirror in her room. The clothes she wore were old, they'd been in her family for generations. They were the traditional clothing of her clan and they were very vaualable. The loose, ruffled skirt was made of raw silk, dyed a deep and soft blue, it was short, coming down to well above her knees. Her clan didn't believe in combersome finery, one never knew when rapid movement would be nessesary. The top was in two layers. She wore an undershirt, also of raw silk that was plain white and sleeveless. It had a wide neck and scooped hem showing her tanned mid-drift. The outer shirt was also made of silk, but a bit finer in apperance. It also had been dyed with delicate patterns of sea birds in flight along the hem. The background had been dyed the colors of dusk at sea: all dark greens, purples and blues. The sleeves were bell like at the ends, allowing for free movement of her hands and wrists; they were attatched to the main part of the shirt by leather thongs threaded in a criss-cross pattern around her upper arm. The outer layer hung open in the front, but as per tradition, her mother had closed the front, wrapping right over left and securing it closed with a wide belt of layered silk. The wide belt was black, and was embroidered with gold and silver thread in a diamond pattern. Her ma's skillful fingers had tied the wide sash into an artful knot in the shape of butterfly wings.

To complete her finery her ma had leant her some of her few pieces of jewelry. She wore a silver clip on the shell of her right ear, it had a fine chain connected to it that ran down the edge of her ear before threading into the pierced hole in her earlobe. At the end of a the chain hung a dark green stone in the shape of a teardrop. She also wore a collection of five silver bangles around her left ankle, that rattled in a fine tinkling noise when she walked. She slipped her feet into the simple leather sandals on the floor and carefully bent to do up the laces over the top of her foot and around the lower part of her ankle.

Arjana took a deep breath and reached for the last bit of her coustume that lay on the table by her bunk. It was a choaker made of braided leather strips and had her clan's emblem strung on it. Her clan, the L'eauzu 's emblem was of the rare sun bird in flight, its wings outspread, its long feathered tail trailing after it. Necklaces for women, rings for men, given to each clan member when they came of age. At her ceremony, her grandda had tied her's around her neck, whispering to her that she looked as beautiful as her grandma had when she'd worn it years before.

The young girl ran her fingers over the edges of the silver circle, scrutinizing the image. What would it be like to fly like that? Arjana wondered. Without the aid of technology or special things? Just your own power, your own body, lifting in flight, nothing save for yourself and the whole of the sky before you?

But then she heard her father call her name, and it broke her thoughts. Arjana started in surprise. She checked that her choaker was secure before grabbing up her last few things that she couldn't be without. Her knife, which she would belt to her left forearm, a bit of ribbon for her hair, because she knew that it would get unruly soon, and finally, the cloth pouch that she'd kept her Skaa Crystal in these past few weeks.

Casting one more glance around her small room, she bolted, hurrying after her da towards top side, and her grandda's craft. They had a Meet to get to after all.
 

>(-)<

Meets, offical ones at least, were rare. Arjana had could only remember a handful ever being held. But informal meetings between the clans were held all the time, especially between allied clans. These informal sessions encouraged friendships, relationships, and marriages which served to strengthen alliances. Formal Meets were another kettle of fish entirely, as Edwin would say.

Formal Meets were steeped in tradition and had so many rules and laws that it had taken Arjana weeks to learn them all. For instance, in a Formal Meet, each clan had to send their clan head, the clan head's second, and whoever else the Meet requried. If it was because someone had discovered some particularlly vauable crystal, like Arjana had, then whoever made the discovery had to come. Formal Meets were also used to settle disputes between clans, in those cases the injured parties and the accused parties had to come, and they could each bring up to three supporting witnesses each. Needless to say, it could get complicated very quickly.

Also in Formal Meets, everyone wore their clan best. Arjana's father was in traditional clothing same as her, though his was heavier and a great deal more detailed. Her grandda was the most splendid she'd ever seen him. And he carried in his hands his headman's hat, which was a wide brimmed, peaked thing made of straw that had the clan's emblem afixed on the front. It also had a strip of cloth that ran around a third of the rim to cover his neck and shoulders from the heat of the sun. 

Two of her older cousins sailed her grandda's craft, The Common Ground for them. It was the craft that he'd built himself for him and his new bride almost fourty years ago. His marriage had been arranged between him and another clan's headman's youngest daughter. They hadn't known each other for more than a week before they were wed, and found that they had very little in common. The only exception to this was their love of astronomy. The craft was small, but sturdy and had a unique empty stretch of bow where two people could lay back and look up at the stars. Her grandda had built the entire thing just for that, just so he and his new bride could do something that they both loved together. It took time, but from that one love came understanding, which turned to compassion, which was followed by affection and by the time their first child was born, her da, they found themselves in love.

Arjana ran a fond hand over the railing of the craft, knowing that a little of her grandda's soul was in this craft. It would bear them straight and steady, just like her grandda was.

The Formal Meet was being held at one of the Neutral Barges that was at the edge of their clan waters. It was quite the journey, several hours, but they passed the time with stories, word games, and idle chatter. They didn't speak of the reason for their trip, that subject had already been talked to death. They made good time, and arrived second to the Barge.

The Neutral Barges were plain and small. Their top level was occupied by rows of solar panels, and there were only two levels open below. The first was the market area, where the trade fairs were held four times a year, during the first week of each season. The bottom level was for clan meetings, and consisted of a simple round room. The clan heads sat in a half-circle, their supporters behind them, and whoever was addressing the Meet stood or sat before them all, just as Arjana would be doing later.

"Ahhh, Aihou has already come, not surprising, their clan barge is closer to this edge than ours," her grandda remarked, picking up his hat and putting it on his head. Her cousins skillfully piloted the craft up to the dock and moored it. Her grandda hopped onto the dock, sprightly as ever, followed quickly by her da, who offered her a hand up.

"Do you think it will be long before the others come?" her da asked, as they headed for the ladders that lead into the bowels of the barge.

"Not long, the Meet begins at sun-gone. Ahter, Umi, Septeris, and Yajion have further to travel, through waters not their own, but they will have planned for that. Erison and Zepher will probably arrive first," her grandda remarked. The Alliance that her clan was part of dominated the part of the moon where they all lived. Collectively, they controled a fourth of the oceans. They were also a very strong alliance, forged by two clan wars and several generations of inter-marriages. Arjana knew that within the Alliance, her clan was one of the stronger ones, a fact she was proud of. Each clan had its own specialty, for Ahter it was jewelry and other delicate things like the smaller machine parts, Septeris had long ago mastered cultivating silk worms and growing of cotton, so much of the clothing that everyone else wore came from them. These were two examples of how the clans depened on each other, but her clan, the L'eauzu, were famous for their crafts. Like her grandda's craft, each one that came from the hands of the L'eauzu was guarenteed to sail straight and steady and last for decades. And on a planet that was almost all water, craft were a vital part of life, and thus, the L'eauzu were too by extension.

They all turned at the sound of a call, a craft coming in to the docks. The flag that flew from the mast was of a jumping dolphin - the Erison clan had arrived.

It took two more hours for everyone to assemble in the Meeting room, then another hour of informal talking and greeting of long parted friends. Her father spent a great deal of time talking to several of his friends from all of the clans. She knew that her father was slotted to become the headman when her grandda stepped down, and he had risen to that responsibilty by cultivating stong ties with the other clans. She felt her heart swell, she was so proud to be her father's daughter, and her grandda's granddaughter.

Finally, the Meet was begun, just as the last rays of the sun slipped behind Mother Geraia.
 
"The L'eauzu clan calls together this Meet on the 27th day of the second month in the galatic year of 3---. Stand, L'eauzu, and state your piece," intoned the headman from Zepher, who was to run this Meet as it was his clan's turn to do so.

Arjana's grandda stood and walked to the center of the half-circle and turned to face his contempories.

"Fellows, I have called this meet to bring news of both a wonderous and dangerous kind. Wonderous, for it has not occured in several generations, and dangerous for it's potential to cause violence. I have called this Meet to share with you this news, and ask for both your advice and particpation, 'fore I believe this is a chance to aid us all as an Alliance. With that said, I call on my grandaughter, Arjana to explain why we are all here, Arjana?"

Arjana stood and walked to where her grandda stood. She faced the other headman and bowed, holding the position for a count of five as she'd been taught recently.

"The clans recoginze Arjana L'eauzu, speak, daughter," said Headman Zepher in his rumbling, baritone voice. Her grandda descretly patted her hand then re-took his seat in the half circle.

Arjana took a deep breath and willed her rapid heart to slow for she was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

"Sirs, I came of age at the end of last year, and upon gaining my first craft, took up the task of Vein Hunting. Six weeks ago, while hunting I found a deposit in my clan waters in an area that has not been mined yet," Arjana opened the pouch she'd carried for the entire six weeks and took out the precious crystal. "This is what I found," she said, holding it up to the light of the lamps around the room. The light hit the crystal and the crystal glowed a strong, steady pure white in response, inticing gasps and exclamations of surprise from everyone present.

"Gods above," someone muttered.

"Rakal ya Rasut," someone else said in wonder, just as she had.

"Skaa Crystal, I can't believe it..."

Arjana walked to the headman on the end of the half-circle, Ahter, and handed it too him. He held it in awe for a few seconds, twisting it this way and that in the light before reluctantly passing it on.

Her grandda stood again and walked to the center of the half-circle.

"If I may, fellows?" he asked the assembly. Zepher waved his consent absentmindly as he took the crystal from the hands of the headman next too him.

"Of course, go on L'eauzu," he said. Her grandda waited until the crystal had made it to the last headman, and gave Arjana a nudge to go and retrieve it which she did before returning to her grandda's side. She held it in her open palm so that all could see it.

"Fellows, I do not need to explain what this discovery could mean for my clan, that much is obvious. However, I do not wish for this to benefit my clan only. We have been friends for many, many years and I wish to see the benefits help us all. I am proposing a new series of laws be made concerning the Skaa Crystal. Instead of belonging to which ever clan that the crystal is discovered in, I propose that it belongs to the Alliance, and that we split the profits evenly among us. This way everyone gains and no one is left hungry for more. What I hope this will do is discourage the bloody fighting that erupted the last time a clan discovered a deposit of the precious crystal."

quiet mutters filled the room, no one present had any mempries of the last clan war, but the horrible, gory stories had been passed down as warnings for all furture generations. Arjana knew that her grandda had lost his grandda when he was only a tiny little to the last clan war.

"Your offer is a good and generous one, L'eauzu, but how to you propose we go about this?"

Her grandda smiled, he and her father had spoken long about this very subject.

"My plan is simple, a mining crew of seven clans men, one from each clan will go and mine the crystal. There is never much, so I do not imagine it taking any long period of time. The crystal will be divided into even portions, and then they will draw lots to see who takes home which part. And we all part ways as the same friends we were when we began. I think that we can collobrate on who and when to sell our crystals but no clan will have a say in anothers business once the crystal is mined and divided. But I hope that we can work together so we don't attract any unwanted attention from pirates or the other clans. Arjana had a wonderful idea for clients of these crystals," her grandda remarked, much to Arjana's embarssement. The clan head focused again on her expectantly.

"Speak, daughter," Zepher said, returning the floor to her.

"W-Well, my father explained how selling Skaa Crystal had to be done real quiet like, because people can get to be pretty greedy and greed leads to all kinds of bad attention for our clans. So I thought that if we were to sell the crystal to the racing communities, we could get the best deals, since racers are always looking for steady, long lasting fuel, it gives them an edge in their races and they have plenty of money. And, because racing is such a competative sport, we can be almost guarenteed a racer's silence on the matter because he won't want us to sell to his competators...sirs," Arjana finished in a rush.

There was a great deal of humming and pleased noises all around.

"Your granddaughter speaks wise words, L'eauzu," said Yajion. Her grandda dipped his head in recognition of the compliment.

"My thanks, headman, we are very proud of her. She has also been offered a place at the GP Academy, which she will be taking," he said softly. That brought a whole nother round of surprise and shock, which made Arjana's face burn again. A quick series of questions about the hows and whens followed which were quickly answered by her grandda before the subject returned to the object in Arjana's hand.

"Your proposal is a kind and generous one, L'eauzu, but this calls for a vote. As per our laws, in creating new ones of this kind, we must be in full agreement. So, by show of hands, all in favor of L'eauzu's laws?" Zepher asked.

There was no pause, every headman raised his hand. They knew they'd be fools not too. They knew that they were pledging that any Skaa Crystal found in their waters in teh future would too belong to the Alliance rather than the clan, but each headman could see the benefits in the long run. Wars were just too devestating when each clan did not have many able-bodied people to spare, and Skaa Crystal was too enticing a prize to ignore.

"Passed, I am pleased to say," Zepher said happily before contiuning, "Each clan will send one of their miners to the L'eauzu clan barge before the end of the next month to begin mining. In the interum, the area where the crystal was found is off limits to everyone."

"No one knows where the Skaa Crystal was found, not myself nor my son, we told Arjana to keep that information a secret to all. She will revel the location to everyone when they arrive, is that fair?" her grandda asked.

"It is quite fair," Zepher replied, smiling warmly at his friend, "that was wise of you."

The headman turned to Arjana once more, "Arjana, as per our laws, that piece you hold in your hand belongs to you and you alone. It is yours to keep, use, sell, barter, or trade as you will, we only ask that you be wary and mindful of its value. There are many amongst the other clans who would kill you for such a prize. And there are those where you are going for school that will recognize it for what it is and do the same, ya?"

Arjana bowed low, "Ya, sir." she answered. The other headmen smiled, Zepher clapped his hands together.

"I declare this Meet adjourned. We shall reconvene one month after the mining is complete to discuss our potential clients," he said.

The Meet broke.


 

27 Degrees, 42 Minutes and 7 Seconds North by -72 Degrees, 24 Minutes and 13 Seconds West
Ah'Chet Moon, orbiting Geraia, Sirius System
January 17th, 3---

Arjana of the L'eauzu clan sat cross legged on her Vein Hunter skive, bobbing in just one of many, many lonely stretches of ocean on her home planet. Her skive was a gift from her last birthday, less than a month ago. She had thanked her family excitedly and then set about improving it, as they had known she would. The base, the surf board like piece of fiberglass was several inches thick and sturdy. The fin at the rear steadied the craft while it was in water. Unlike a surf board the rear of the craft was flat rather than curved, and a small water tight engine was mounted on it, with a hinge that allowed her to pull it up when landing in the water (no sense in tempting fate when it came to engines, water tight or no). A collapsable sail made of solar cell cloth was folded behind her back and she leaned on it just a little. It was windy today, just like all days on Ah'Chet, but Arjana paid it no mind. Instead she finished retying the knot on the small grappling hook and gave it a few tugs just to check.

She stood and stretched her small nine-year old form. She was young in the eyes of her clan, but even the young had to do their part to help the clan. As long as the littles could sail, they were encouraged to do so and spend their free time vein hunting. Since all the clans on Ah'Chet survived by the fuel crystal trade, harvesting the precious stones was the center of her culture. And each clan was always looking for new veins of the stones to mine, which gave rise to Vein Hunters.

Arjana ran a hand through her hair, feeling the familiar texture of the salt water soaked strands. She was dressed sparingly, only a pair of shorts and a short tank top that didn't cover her mid-drift. Around her hips rested a belt with loops that secured her glow rod, small, slim crowbar and long, thin pole for testing for deposits underneathe shifting sands. She also had a short knife in a sheath belted around her right calf for those sharks that didn't like 'no' to questions of dinner. She lifted the goggles that were resting around her neck and fixed them over her eyes, and then reached for the Gill Oxygen Processor that had its own string around her neck as well. The Gill Processor was a handy half-moon shaped device that was held in the mouth and converted the oxygen rich water into breathable air. However, no one could use it for very long, pure oxygen eventually made people heady and drunk but it still gave people an extra ten to fifteen minutes under water which was plenty for what Arjana and hundreds others like her had to do.

After securing the GOP in her mouth, Arjana took the grappling hook in hand, double check that the other end of the rope was fastened to her skive, and dove into the crystal clear blue water. It didn't look so from the surface, but the bottom was actually a few dozen feet down. Once she made it, Arjana secured the grappling hook on a lip of the reef and then took off in search of a good place to start her hunting.

She swam a little with some sea turtles, and patted the side of a nurse shark that was lazily swimming along the bottom. She twisted gracefully in the water and found what looked like a good spot to start. She took the long thin pole from her belt and began to stab the sand, looking for anything under the white sand of the sea bottom.

Time passed slowly but leisurly for Arjana. Every fifteen minutes, when her head began to feel like it was full of cotton, she resurfaced and laid out on her skive for a few minutes, breathing the normal air. Morning waned, and she paused for lunch which was just an energy bar she'd kept in the small belt purse. She took some grateful gulps of water from the bottle that was strapped to skive and dove back into the sea. It was getting on towards mid-afternoon when she discovered something.

Her pole hit something, and she immdiately began shifting sand slowly, digging deeper. Once she was close, she returned her pole to her belt and pulled out her crowbar. It was hard to build up any kind of momentum in water, but she did her best. It took several hits, before she felt something break off, and her excitement increased. Rock did not shatter easily, but crystal did, the fact that something gave way after only a few weak hits boded well. She felt her head lighten, and she knew she had to resurface soon. She used a quick hand to grab up whatever had broken off, along with a handful of sand. Arjana glance around at her surroundings, the reef was off to her left about ten feet away. She looked for anything strange or rare on that part of the reef so that she might find it again, she succeeded, there was a rare kind of orange coral growing on the reef outcropping called Helatch. She crouched and pushed off from the bottom, shooting for the surface in a flurry of bubbles.

Arjana broke the surface, spitting out the GOP and gasped in fresh air. Her head cleared after a few breaths, she turned in the water, faced her skive and swam for it. It was a good fourty feet away, but she swam that distance quickly and hauled herself up onto her skive. She rested, gasping a little and pulled off her goggles letting them rest on her forehead. Then she lowered her hand into the water just a little and let the sand wash away. What was quickly revield was a piece of crystal, long and thin, about the size of her pinkie finger.

Arjana's eyes widened, and heart sped up. She held the piece up to the light, which filtered through it in a wash of clear sparkles. She swallowed and finally managed to speak, "Rakal ya Rasut..." she whispered in awe. She could scarcely believe it, because she never imagined it possible. This kind of find was one in a lifetime, or more like one in a generation...

The young girl cradled the piece of crystal close, her hands shaking a little. Her eyes fell on the map etched on the surface of her skive board. Her route from her clan barge to where she was now was mapped out in wax pencil. She swallowed, her mouth dry. With a still shaking hand she reached out and used her thumb to wipe the line of red wax off the map, obscuring both her location and the way there. She was familiar with this stretch of reef, it was one of her favorites and it was just far enough from the clan barge that few others came out this far. She looked at the crystal again, making sure again that she hadn't been dreaming or hallucinating thanks to the GOP.

But no, in her hand she still held a piece of Skaa Crystal.

She gave herself a good shake. "'Nough net gatherin', 'Jana, think, what now?" She mumbled to herself in Commons. She couldn't recall any traditions or orders that applied in this situation. Skaa Crystal was that rare. Usually, if a Vein Hunter found a vein of crystal that he or she felt would be worth mining, he or she took a sample of it to their family head who in turn went to the clan head if they too felt that the crystal would be worth mining. Arjana had only been a Vein Hunter for less than a month, so she hadn't found any crystals yet. But now...

Arjana closed her eyes and listened to the soothing sounds of her home. The constant motion of the sea benethe her, the strong wind that whistled through her ears and teased her rapidly drying curly brown hair. The touch of the sun in the sky. She opened her eyes and looked to the west where Mother Geraia hung in the blue, blue sky. Her world. Nothing had changed. She slowed the rapid beating of her heart and calmed her breathing.

Skaa Crystal was the highest grade of fuel crystal that could be found on her home planet and was ranked amongst the highest in the galaxy as well. One small piece, like the one she held in her hand could power a space station with clean and steady fuel for a couple of decades. It could power one of the GP's battle ships for half a century and a regular space ship for well over 75 years. But the crystal was very, very rare, and was never found in any great quanity anywhere on the planet.

But the crystal wasn't just vaulable in the monetary sense, Skaa Crystal was also sacred to her people, and all the clans around the moon. According to legend, they were the bittersweet tears of Mother Geraia when she gave birth to her moons eons ago. The pieces were highly prized and said to offer protection to all who owned them.

Arjana closed her fingers around the crystal and stopped to murmer a prayer of thanks to her gods before getting up. She carefully stuck the crystal in her belt purse and made sure to close the flap securely and buckle it tightly. She pulled her goggles back on and dove back into the water, not bothering with her GOP this time. She swam for the bottom, reaching it quickly and unhooked her anchor. She looked through the water once more, over towards where she'd found the crystal. She could just make out the bright orange of Helatch.

She braced her feet on the reef and pushed off, hook in hand. She broke the surface with a gasp and pulled herself back up on her skive. She quickly coiled up the rope and secured it under the elastic band that also held her bottle of water. She patted her belt purse, and felt the lump of crystal there. Then she picked up her sail, the thin metal snapped up with little encouragement and the wind instantly filled the sail, pushing the craft forward without any ado. Arjana swung the craft around and put the sun to her back. Then leaned on her sail and coaxed as much speed as she could from it. Soon she was cresting the waves, catching several seconds of air before landing smoothly back in the water. She timed her next jump, leaning back for a higher angle and greater jump. As she climbed through the air, she used her foot to kick her engine back with one easy move. It swung on its hinge, and kicked on taking power from the solar cells in the her sail. The engine pushed her forward, propelling her into the air - and she was flying.

Arjana let out a scream that had nothing to do with anything but the thrill of flying. She leaned forward, and twisted a handle on the arm of the sail that she used to steer, feeding more power into the engine which roared in response. Free and loving it, Arjana began to do more and more stunts in the air, even flying up high and collapsing the sail going into a free fall. Just before the hit the water she flung her sail back up, righting her craft and sending up several feet of spray on either side.

Two hours later, her clan barge came into distant view, nothing more than a pinprick on the horizon. She smiled in both joy and anticipation. As she got closer she saw that there was a strange craft moored at the docks. She didn't recoginize it, and it had no clan colors flying. As she got closer she realized it was a space craft. her curiousity instantly soared. It wasn't often any clan got visitors from space (a/n: *snicker. snicker*) Usually crystal trading was done at one of the Neutral Barges around the planet inbetween the clan waters. It had to be important for someone to seek out a particular clan.

Arjana poured on some more speed, twisting in the air and dropping several dozen feet in altitude with little more than a though. She soared past the docks heading for her home quarters that had its own small dock where her family kept their crafts. Several people looked up at the sound of the engine and waved when they saw the craft. Arjana waved back and concentrated on landing. She flew past her docks and over open sea. Then she made a sharp u-turn and dropped to just above the surface. She stopped the flow of power to her engine and it cut off with a small cough. Momentum carried her forward through the air for a few more feet, and Arjana aimed for the back of cresting wave, hitting it just right, then flying through the air again, just like she had before she'd taken off. By the time she approached the docks she was letting most of the wind slough from her sail so she could keep a slow speed. She pulled up against the docks and dropped her sail, surfing the last few feet to the ladder. She grabbed it with one hand and bent to pick up her grappling hook with the other. She tossed the hook on the dock and clambered up the ladder. She made sure to secure her skive before making her way up the dock and to her familys' quarters. The top of the barge was taken up almost entirely by greenhouses where the clan grew plants for food and medicines. The only other structures on top of the barge were the laundry lines and the docks.

Arjana came to the trapdoor that had her father's name carved it to the wood, above that was her grandfathers, and her great-grandfathers going back five more generations. She pulled it open and quickly decended the ladder there into the bowels of the barge. The barge had several levels, that were dedicated to different things. The top few levels were living quarters that had been divided up amongst the families. Below that were the common grounds where people met, played, traded, spoke, gossiped and many other things. Those levels were full of various comfortable rooms, playgrounds for the littles and a great hall that was the market place. Below that were the working quarters where people worked on pieces and parts for crafts, or worked on the barge itself. The boiler rooms were down there, along with the water purifiers. Everything on the barge was run off solar power, the solar cells in the glass of the greenhouses on the top level.

Arjana came to her family's quarters and look around for anyone. It was late afternoon so it made sense for them to be down in the common grounds. So Arjana made her way to her small room, that boasted its own port window, that had been left open to let in fresh air. That was one of the few drawbacks of the barge. Fresh air was in short supply. Even though the ventalation system was opened at night to circulate cool air, the barge was alway stuffy. During the hottest months, it wasn't uncommon for the clan to sleep in their crafts rather than below in the barge. Arjana splashed some water on her face to rid herself of the tight feeling in her skin before stripping bare and putting on some cotton pants and a tunic shirt. Then she opened her belt purse with trembling fingers and pulled out the piece of rough crystal. She held it up to the light again. The crystal glowed with a bright clear light. It hadn't been a dream. She took a deep breath and put the crystal deep into her pocket and went looking for her father.

She climbed down a couple of levels and came to the common grounds. She instantly recognized one of her second cousins playing with his younger sisters on one of the playgrounds.

"E!," she called making him look up in surprise from the sandbox he was ankle deep in with his sisters. He smiled brightly at her.

"'Jana, back from the hunt?" he asked. Edwin wasn't much older than her, only two years making him eleven, but he was always very mature for his age making him seem older. He had a twin that looked nothing like him, where Edwin was dark, dark hair, dark eyes, Ric was fair haired, blue eyed and somehow, despite the constant sun of her moon, fair skinned.

"Ya, I'm back, where's my da? You seen him?" Arjana asked.

"Why? You find something?" E asked a sly smile playing across his lips. Arjana rolled her eyes at him.

"That's my business as you well know," she retorted. He laughed.

"Fine, fine, ya I've seen him, everyone has. Some Spacers are here to talk to him too. He took 'em into one of the private rooms at the back," Edwin said thumbing over his shoulder towards the rear of the ship. Arjana raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"The Spacers are here to talk to him? Why?"

"No one knows, they wouldn't say. But your da took them back there about half an hour ago. They were very offical looking. Had a couple of GP officers with them so I imagine they're from the Galactic Congress."

"But why talk to my da? Wouldn't they want to talk to the Headman?"

"Well, grandda's been getting up in his years, everyone knows that he'll name your da headman soon, maybe the GC's just jumping the craft."

"Well that's stupid of them. They won't make any friends doing that..." Arjana answered. "I'm going go to wait for him, I'll see you later, ya?"

"Ya, ya, go on," he answered, waving her off.

Arjana made her way through the common grounds to the few private rooms at the back. Usually they were used to family gatherings that were too big to hold in the quaters. Arjana had had a few birthdays there, and been to a few parties there as well. She walked until she came to one that had a small gathering outside of it with a bunch of whispering family members all crouched by the door trying to overhear. In the lead was none other than Arjana's little sister Sophia, hissing at her fellows to be quiet so she could hear. When she spotted Arjana she waved the older girl over excitedly.

"Good you're here! Move out of the way Luc! 'Jana, da said that you were to go inside when you got here. What do you think's goin' on?" Sophia said quickly in one breath. Arjana frowned in confusion.

"He wants me?"

"Ya, ya, that's what he said. Ma's already in there, along with grandda. They've been talking for half an hour. Da said the moment you got home you were to go in too!"

Arjana had no idea what was going on, but she wasn't about to disobey her family head so she walked over and knocked on the door. There was a pause then the door was opened by her ma who looked down with a strange forced smile.

"There you are 'Jana, come in," her ma said opening the door so she could walk in. Ma said nothing to the others that were crowded around the door, just slowly closed it back. Arjana looked at the strangers in the room. There were four of them, three were dressed in GP uniforms, one standing out from the other two because of his increased finery. Arjana guessed that he was of higher rank. Th the last man was dressed in a smart suit that screamed to Arjana's humble senseblilties of money and prestige. The higher rank officer and the suit man were sitting in the forefront across the table from her da and grandda while the other two GPs had pulled chairs to the wall and sait at attention there.

"Good timing, Arjana," her da said quietly, not taking his eyes from the men opposite from him at the table. "Did you have a good hunt?" he asked conversationally.

Arjana heard his reserve in his tone and answered in the same manner, "Same old, Father, but I'll get lucky soon, I can feel it," she answered. She glanced at her grandda, the headman of her clan, he also looked at her from the corner of his eye and gave her a warm smile. Her ma put a hand on her shoulder and steered her to one of the chairs. Arjana sat in it and pulled it up to the table. She sat there, waiting for whatever it was to happen.

"Arjana," the officer at the table said his voice measured, "I am Lt. Colonel Grimes and I work at the Galatic Police Academy as one of the Vice Principals. I'm here to offer you a place at our Academy starting next term in August," he said his steely grey eyes fixed on her own. Arjana was hard pressed not to look away or focus on his chin or anything but those intense eyes. She swallowed and took a steadying breath, struggling not to show her shock.

"W-Why?" she asked, internally wincing at the way her voice squeaked a little. Grimes smiled a little at that.

"I was at the Rim Races four months ago, imagine my surprise, along with everyone else, when an eight year old won the children's competition, beating several other contenders that were much older than her and had much more experience," he said.

Arjana felt her face flush. She had been just as surprised as everyone else that she had won that race. It had been her third time off planet, her grandda, father, had taken her and Edwin and Ric with them to the Rim Races which were a perfect place to make connections with the racing world in order to sell crystals. She, Edwin and Ric had all entered into the children's competition for fun, bored with all the adult talk. It wasn't that hard or dangerous, it took place on a made up course, rather than in one of the stretchs of asteroid belt that floated outside the space station where the Races were held that year. There had been about fifty other children in the race, some of them children of other races with some impressive crafts. But in Arjana's opinion the entire race had come down to reflexes. The course was riddled with rocks and obstacles to keep the little from going to fast. But Arjana knew her father's skimmer like her own hands, indeed she'd done a great dealof work on it herself for her father. The craft was built to handle to high winds of Ah'Chet and as a result had great balance and was perfect to taking those corners. Still, it was still down to reflexes, and Arjana had known since she was a young little, that she had quicker reflexes than most.

Even though she'd won it hadn't been by any large margin. Several others had come across the finish line on her tail.

"I don't understand...that wasn't a real serious race, it was just for fun..." Arjana said carefully, looking to her da who still sat staring at the men.

Grimes smiled again, "It may have been 'just for fun' for you, but that race is taken seriously by many children racers and their parents. It is representative of your talent that you won that race. We also learned that you worked on the skimmer you flew yourself. Which for your age and education is also impressive."

She and the rest of her family bristled at the implication left in that statement. Grimes continued however.

"We at the GPA search for your kind of natural talent. If you were to join the Academy you would be given full schooling, and after you graduated there would be numerous job opptunities for you around the galaxy. We would teach you the cutting edge of engeineering and piloting, and you would be with children your own age," he said, sliding a holoscreen across the table to her. She looked to her da for permission when he gave in the form of a nod, before picking it up and switching it on. Pictures filled the screen of uniformed littles and teens smiling and playing and sitting in classrooms listening to a teacher. It also showed a lab of computers, and a hanger filled with space crafts. Arjana felt her heart twinge in the wanting of such a chance, but she made sure to keep her face as blank as she could. She had a feeling it wasn't working very well because Grimes continued speaking.

"Our Academy has all the best of the best in teachers, technology and supplies. The GPA is, hands down, the most prestigious school in the galaxy, beating out several high end, expensive elite private schools by a wide margin."

"Would Arjana have to serve in the GP after graduation?" her grandda interrupted smoothly with his gravelly voice. Arjana was thankful when Grimes attention and grey eyes were directed elsewhere. She looked down at the holoscreen and flicked through some more pictures as she listened.

"Yes, but only for five years. Then she can resign and persue a job elsewhere. Or if she enjoys the service she can join up on a permanent basis and work 'til retirement which is at 60. If she puts in more than 15 years of service, including that first 5, she will recieve a pension from the GP for the rest of her life. It is very generous."

"I though I had to be a citizen of the GC to go to the Academy," Arjana interjected suddenly.

The suited man fielded that question, speaking for the first time since Arjana came in.

"That is why I am here. My name is Jonathan Cording; I am from the Visa office in the GC. You don't have to be a citizen of the GC to go to school within the Confederation. We will give you a student visa that will have to be renewed every year. Or, if you wished, after three years of GPA schooling we can offer you dual citizenship within the GC that way you don't have worry about visas anymore. Most students do this, because once they graduate and resign the service it is harder to get work visas and keep them."

Arjana nodded and went back to her holoscreen. There was a close up picture of an older student in a fighter skimmer, grinning from the small cockpit as the picture was taken. She ran a calloused finger over the smooth sleek likes of the skimmer in admiration.

"I think that we will have to discuss this in detail with Arjana, gentlemen. So is it possible for us to have some time to think on your offer?" her da finally spoke. The two men shared a glance before facing her da again.

"Of course, take your time. However, we will need your answer by the end of March, for that is when registration for the next term begins and we do first years first. Contact information is on the last slide in the holo," Grimes said. He and Cording stood, an action which was echoed by everyone else. Her grandda and ma offered to take them back to their craft, which the four accepted. They left, not even glancing at the small cowd around the door. The last officer shut the door without having to be asked, he looked over his shoulder, and gave Arjana a wink. It made her smile and feel better, she'd been worried that the soldiers that the GPA turned out were emotionless drones.

In teh quiet that followed the door being shut, Arjana and her father looked at each other.

"Well," her da said, running a weary hand through his hair, "that was unexpected, Arjana."

Arjana swallowed, suddenly reminded of what she had in her pocket. Knowing that it had to be now, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the crystal carefully. Then she reached out and put it on the table in front of her da.

"I found that today, da. And I think..." she took a deep breath, "I think it might be...Skaa Crystal."

Shock rolled over both of her parents features. Her da picked up the piece of crystal and pulled out his flashlight from his pocket. He shined the white beam of light on the crystal, and in response the crystal lit up in pure white. He let out a breath in an explosive whoosh.

"Rakal ya Rasut," he swore softly, just as she had a few hours ago. "Where-?" But before she could answer he cut her off, "Iya, don't tell me. Don't tell anyone yet. I will tell grandda tonight. You hold on to this, and let no one know you have it alright? Not Edwin, not Ric, not Sophia, do you understand?"

She took the crystal back from him when he offered it to her, "Yes, da, I understand."

Her father looked at her shrewdly, "Clan wars have broken out over this, Arjana. Wars that have lasted generations. I'll not have such a thing be our legacy."

Arjana looked up at her father, "I understand, sir, I swear I won't mention it until you give me leave too," she said.

Her father leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his black hair. "Good, now what are we going to do about this?" he waved at the holo in her hand. "Do you even want to go? Wait, that's another silly question. You'd love to go and fly those craft. Not to mention learn to build them." He sighed.

"Would you be alright with working for five yeras for them? Pledging your loyalty to them? Because that is what they will ask of you. And they will take nothing less than your best, just as we do not, can you serve two masters, daughter?"

Arjana stuck out her chin stubbornly, "I can learn to," she answered.

Her father chuckled, "Good answer. It'll take some convincing on your part with your mother. You're still her baby, you know."

She frowned petulant, "I came of age last month," she said stubbornly.

"Yes, you did, but your's is a special case. You learned sailing so quickly that we couldn't afford to keep you in. And our laws clearly state that any child who is ready to sail on their own has earned the rights of an adult. The only one who earned it earlier than you did was Edwin, but he too was a special case, being so mature for his age." he sighed again.

"Well, it'll take some work, but if you want to go, then we'll get you there. As for your crystal, I'll speak to grandda and we'll go from there okay?"

Arjana nodded, her fingers closing around the crystal.

The next couple of months were going to be interesting...