Turn 141

    Rigol: The "ibn" Debate
    Val considers what the Zakharan says for a moment. He is only mildly annoyed that the half-elf did not answer the question put to him. So much for any compassion he was working at; ibn Hassan is no different from the ibn Fadil Val had come to know.
    "Do not make it a habit to answer my questions with questions. My plans regarding the Hextorians are yet to be decided," Val tells him flatly. "It seems enough of the crew are determined to see this through, though I do not see immediate... profit in it for us. Revenge makes for poor cash flow."
    "But asking questions *is* my answer, sir," ibn Hassan protests hurriedly, appalled that he has managed to annoy the young man *again.* "I mean, I'd ask questions until I had all the information I needed to decide whether the present affront is outweighed by needing to use all the resources at hand to deal with this other problem. That is," he adds, clearly struggling to formulate a real response, "if I felt the Hextorian problem is extremely important, which I do, enough even to place myself in jeopardy over it, then I'd use anything I had at hand that might help solve it, whether it was unwelcome or not. Including myself." He comes to a full stop, looking remarkably unhappy. "I'm sorry, but I've spent years avoiding questions about myself, or making people think I've answered them when I haven't. It's a way of avoiding actually telling lies, you see."
    The captain stands up and moves to stand directly in front of ibn Hassan. "For the time being, I do not intend the Distraction to return to Bral. But your... suggestion of Abbarille is still on my mind. Consider how this might affect your... investigation. Until then, stay out of trouble. You are dismissed."
    After the door closes, Val sits down and takes a moment to clear his head. Everything about the Hextorian situation screams at Val that this is dangerous and he should stay away. Yet, his friends are willing to pursue this. It's all a far cry from their initial mission to seek out new trade lanes! And yet...
    And yet he's willing to see it through. He's tired of running for his life. Time to turn this around on the Hextorians and find out just what they're up to. This information is vital to Three Trees' success, whether they realize it or not.
    Time to get the Distraction underway and bid Rigol a long overdue farewell....
    As the weeks pass, the Rigol sphere and all that happened there falls farther and farther behind. Ibn Hassan continues to be busy and helpful, and seems to be making an effort not to enter every conversation as if it were an undeclared contest that he's trying to win. He hangs around with Nyala, tells Lynden about the spheres he's visited and heard of, plays cards with Emil, admires the griffin, and doesn't speak to Valarin unless it's necessary.
    Finally Val has to take him aside again. "Look," he says, "I'm sorry I got so mad at you. But you've put me in a difficult position, and I don't like it."
    "I understand," the half-elf answers. "I'm not happy about it either. When I imagine the look on my uncle's face when he hears about this, I almost want to go back to Rigol."
    "About your uncle," Val begins, unsure of how to ask, let alone *what* to ask. "What kind of trouble are you in? I mean, what can he do to you?" For the past few days, Val has been thinking a lot about the Zakharan, and how similar their backgrounds actually are...
    "Other than let me know how disappointed he is in me?" Ibn Hassan grimaces; clearly this uncle's opinion means a lot to him. "He might ship me home in disgrace. Without Nyala." He contemplates that possibility gloomily for a moment. "He's not going to kill me or anything," he goes on, "but he might assign me to some job that makes me wish he had. I think I can talk him around, but he'll have had years to work up a temper about the whole thing."
    And it again strikes the captain how different they are still; Val never had any relatives (that he knew of) whose opinions or approval mattered. But he suspects there's more to it than just that for ibn Hassan.
    "If you don't go back, is your uncle going to come looking for you?"
    Ibn Hassan nods. "Certainly. Not himself, but he'll send people. That's another reason I suggested Abbarille. I figure as long as he hears from me now and then, he might not issue any orders for me to go back or send anyone after me." He smiles ironically. "And as long as I keep moving, such an order might not catch up to me for a while, so I'm not actually disobeying any orders. I'm not really supposed to be haring off on my own, you know, but I hope that being his nephew will make a difference.
    "I might even get approval for all this after the fact, which would be nice. One step toward that would be convincing the factor on Abbarille that this Hextorian problem is important and getting *his* approval. I'll have to pull rank, take full responsibility, and probably owe him something, but I plan to get him to negotiate the loan of my services to Three Trees." He grins at Val's expression. "It'll fall apart if my mother gets wind of any of this and calls me home, but that order'll still have to catch up to me."
    * * *
    Wildspace: Griffin
    "Gear?" Inez looks faintly dubious, cocking her head. "I think he has more personality than that."
    Emmett looks down again at the beast. "Gears have lots of personality... but I can see your point. Too cute. Right.
    The next day Lynden attempts to converse with the griffin, but disappointingly the griffin is only interested in nibbling the young priest's fingers. "I'm sorry Emmett, but it seems I was wrong. He's not responding to me. Either he's just not interested or he's just not affected." Shrugging Lynden continues, "Do you want to continue with the ceremony now?"
    "Later today, once we get his ceremonial family together." Emmett responds.
    * * *
    Wildspace: Emmett and Lynden
    Flushing Lynden turns his head away slightly. "I can't say. It's complicated. More complicated than you could imagine..."
    "OK, I don't mean to push. Besides, the way you hold your drink, a one of these days you'll spill the whole thing to me in any case." The half man's grin is broad and infectious. "Another glass?"
    "Thanks, but I'd better call it a night. I've still to pray and I don't want to oversleep in the morning."
    * * *
    Abbarille: 3T Office
    After asking directions, Val and Lynden make their way from the ship toward the company offices. If feels distinctly odd, after so many months in space and the Rigolian monoculture, to be back in the busy normality of a spaceport, surrounded by dozens of life forms, accents, and modes of dress.
    It is a very welcome change for the captain, but he keeps an eye on Lynden. This must all be quite new to the young man.
    Sticking close to the Captain Lynden soaks up the atmosphere, finding the variety fascinating, while trying hard not to stare at the locals.
    The office is in a house on a wide, dusty avenue shaded by palm trees. It's a foggy morning, cooler than usual, and result is somewhat eerie. Near the gate in the outer wall is a colorful mosaic, a stylized version of the company symbol. Val tugs on a bell-pull, and a moment later a halfling in servants' dress appears.
    "Can I help you, gentlemen?"
    "Captain Valarin Ehrendrin of the Distraction, reporting in" is Val's crisp reply. He is calm and composed, at least outwardly. "And this is Lynden, our newest Pilot," he adds in introduction.
    "Please, enter." He bows them into the entryway, which leads through a thick outer wall into a tiled courtyard with a fountain trickling into a basin of water lilies. From there they pass into a large, low-ceilinged chamber. The furnishings are an eclectic mix suited to hosting a wide variety of species. "Wait here a moment, and I will see if Mister Ferndale is free." He vanishes with the silence of a well-trained servant. A few moments later another halfling appears with wine, bread, and fruit suitable to a light afternoon repast.
    Several minutes after that, Mister Ferndale appears, smiling politely. He is a stout and rather elderly halfling, with a pair of spectacles perched on his nose and a shock of thick white hair, and he moves with a slight limp.
    "Captain, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Otto Ferndale, at your service. You set out from Bral, what was it, more than a year ago now? I look forward to hearing what you have been up to." He accepts the official copy of the log book that Val hands over with evident pleasure -- it will eventually take its place with all the others in the great library at company headquarters. "I hope it was a successful foray?" "We have managed to make quite an impression, at least" Val replies soberly. "The details of our journey are in the log. I am sure Three Trees will be most interested in what we have found at Rigol... Have you a moment that I might give you an abbreviated version?"
    "I should be delighted." He signals to the quietly hovering servant, who brings writing materials. As Val launches into his summary, Otto takes a number of notes, occasionally murmuring in surprise or encouragement.
    "Splendid," he judges at last. "Quite aside from this fascinating Rigol place -- I should like to see the samples you acquired, at your convenience, captain -- a large and populous sphere, previously unknown to us, has been opened. The surveys Mister Alais conducted will prove invaluable, I'm sure.
    "But there are topics you have touched on but lightly, and I sense that you are deeply troubled by some of what befell there... please, make your thoughts plain and I will see if we here can be of assistance."
    "It's the trouble with the Hextorians, sir," Val admits. "My crew and I feel there is much more going on than meets the eye. We'd like permission to look into it. Lynden here has been tasked by his order to investigate further, and I'm inclined to agree it is worth it." He gives the priest a look to indicate the different explanation of Lynden's task was intentional. "We feel this could be quite important to Three Trees in the long run."
    Standing quietly nearby Lynden is impressed by the Captain's skill in managing the interview. He nods discreetly signaling that he'd noted the Captain's choice of words.
    "I see." Otto lays aside his notes and steeples his fingers as he looks at Val thoughtfully. "Captain, the nature of ships such as yours is something of a gamble for the company. A stone tossed into a pool may disturb interesting elements from the bottom. You are free to go where you will, investigate what you wish, and it is the fond hope of those of us who are bound to a world's surface that you will uncover something worth our investment.
    "In this particular matter... I confess I have paid that faith little heed to date, but it does sound as if there is something peculiar going on within the organization. I believe they have a presence here, although a small one. I will of course pass on what you have learned to others. What form would this investigation you wish to undertake assume?"
    The thought had not quite occurred to Valarin yet. What form of investigation, indeed? "A subtle one," he replies with his best poker-face. "I intend to use some... connections we have through one of our crewmen. I do not wish to go into too much detail at this time. But with your permission..." The last is an apparent attempt to make it 'official.'
    Otto waves a hand. "Hardly required, but if you like. I hope however that under the circumstances, you will keep me informed of anything pertinent you discover?"
    * * * Abbarille: The Happy Argos
    He closes his eyes, in deep thought. "No... I shall remain and do as the river would. I will descend and flow towards what I encounter. I will drift around it if it's of no import or crash into it if it resists. I must wait and see what will be." He opens his eyes and awaits to see, or hear, what will happen.
    "I'll take that as a yes. Barkeep, can we get two mugs of your lightest beer to fight off the heat, and two shots of whisky to warm us up?" As the drinks are being delivered, the half man looks over at his companion. "OK, now we just need to chat up a better feel for the lay of the land, and we should probably do Val a favor has start looking for a new navigator to replace the big brain. That ought to make his day easier."
    

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