The Worlds End is the famed bar resting nestled in the top eight floors of the tallest tower jutting out of Triton station. It enjoys a captivating view of the largest city on Triton station as well as the main space docks and the emptiness of space.
Kallos invited me for a drink as we had heard stories of the place from his father and seized the opportunity to pay a visit. Pei had taken leave and given birth to a daughter named after her older sister Zhao-Yi. The birth was sanctioned and recorded by her mother on Io Station. She would remain with their daughter for 3 years as was custom of the sister marines then resume her duties.
Pei confided in me before she left for Io that she would not be returning to the Grand Traveler and would focus on training her daughter. The first descendant of Karl Knutmudsen destined to become a sister marine. Madam Naoka's dream was achieved and madam Sophia congratulated her. She would love and care for her husband Kallos, but from a distance as her priorities was now with their daughter.
We laughed that he had become his father and the itinerant life of a sailor was befitting and prescient. His mother was also a sister and as soon as she bore a son, she left and remained nameless. As a young child he yearned to know her face, in time he buried those feelings. He never felt alone as he always had the presence of the sisters and became familiar with them as soon as he was 6. It was when he first met Pei and they played in the tunnels.
He never told me until now that he knew Pei was watching over them in the tunnels. He was familiar with her presence and the faint fragrance of her hair. It was when he was holding me that he felt her movement and knew she was upset when Pei led them to the exit. Pei was too young, they were all too young, but the sisters had planned this encounter and she broke their rules and was severely reprimanded.
There is a battle still raging between Io Station and Mars, between the two dueling madams Naoka and Sophia. The descendants of Olivia made their choice, while Naoka in her daughter overruled centuries of tradition. To their surprise it was Anna Three who seemed fated to always intervene on Pei's behalf who vetoed their decision. The rogue sisters had never done that before for anyone and was the first of many conversations that Sophia and Anna Three would share, many centered around Pei.
His head was spinning as the intrigue, counter-intrigue and subterfuge added for good measure made each action taken by the sisters, merely a ruse for yet another greater action that in turn was yet another. I agreed and felt at times it was pure chaos that they let run wild, but somehow could steer in the general direction they so chose.
We talked of both my sister Enya and now our half-sister Felicia who were recently graduated. Enya stationed on Ganymede and Felicia to the Capital Domes. Felicia became the personal assistant of madam Sophia and not permitted to complete the final traditions of the sister marines, penance for her prior crimes. Sophia found it more useful to have her skilled and accomplished as a sister marine, but not known as one.
We overlooked two levels below shrouded by crystal chandeliers Captain Gregor with the Gustafson's. Yuna joined us at our seating, half drunk on the strong Triton liquor. She made a noise as she finished the bottom of her tankard and the Omni-10 in blue stripes cut her off from any more drink.
She commented that she could still disassemble the poor robot and rewire its logical circuits in her current state. The Omni-10 to its credit stood fast and refused her another drink. Yuna surrendered resting her head on her folded arms.
No comments:
Post a Comment