Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Five: Adam #10

Lannister received a message from Fox a couple days later. "Captain, just wanted to let you know what the cat dragged onto our station," he joked. The image backed up to include a smiling Kleppie.

Lannister returned the smile as Kleppie saluted. "With permission, sir?"

"You're still on leave, no need for formality," Lannister said, but he returned the salute anyway.

"I told you he's really lightened up," Fox said to Kleppie, then to Lannister, he said, "We're on our way to bottom court for lunch. If you would care to join us, we'd be honored."

Lannister nodded. "I'm down in the medical wing. I've a couple things to wrap up and then I'd be glad to."

Being only a level above bottom, Lannister arrived at the same time the other two were climbing off the lift. He greeted them, and they made their way for a food stand near the rim of the court.

"It's a lot more crowded than the last time I came through," Kleppie said.

"Yeah, we finally have the regulations sorted, and day visitors have been flooding up," Lannister said. "Good for the station."

"No problems?" Kleppie asked.

"A handful," Fox said. "Mostly petty things. People trying to smuggle stuff on the station. Scanners pick that up pretty quick. A few cases of petty theft. Stuff like that. Oh, and Captain," Fox looked at Lannister, "we've got a complaint for you to handle. Expected." He rolled his eyes. "Got a formal request from a gun-activist group. They want to know if the station is going to respect their right to bear arms."

"This is a space station," Kleppie said. "They know that, right? It's in space. I mean explosive decompression and all that."

"And yet it's American soil, to the extent that we have soil," Lannister said. "And the right to bear arms is in the Constitution." He shook his head. "This will put us in an awkward place. You're right; it's an incredibly bad idea. But how do we handle that without running afoul the Constitution?"

"For now," Fox said, "we're a joint operation administered by the military. We don't let civilians carry guns on military bases. That's what I said, anyway. But the final call will be yours."

"With the input of the station's own council. Mostly Consortium. I suspect we'll find out who really runs this station." He pulled a face. "Still, we don't need to worry about that today. We're here to celebrate Kleppie's return."

They found a table near the window and sat. "Soma Achai?" the server asked, holding out a bottle.

"On shift," Fox said.

Lannister nodded. "As am I."

"Soma Chaimay," Kleppie said. To the others, he added, "Don't worry, it's just a jasmine tea."

"I can tell you a funny story about Soma Achai, actually," Lannister said. The server sat a different bottle at the table, and Lannister poured three cups. He took a sip; it was smooth with a hint of jasmine. "That's good. Soma Chaimay. I'll remember that. Anyway, you remember how Captain Ganaka thought we poisoned him during first contact?"

"Turned out to be nothing more than a reaction to some food additives," Kleppie growled. "Git."

"Yeah well, Princess Sarasvat unwittingly did the same to our president."

"Really? How?"

"Soma Achai. She brought a bottle from back home, to toast for peace. All this time we've been told it had a 'marijuana-like' effect. Turns out there's a simple reason for that. It contains marijuana."

"What?" Fox spluttered.

"Spent half the morning in council discussing whether the station and the Consortium in general, should respect Colorado's decision to legalize the substance before we figured it out. Had to call in one of the agricultural heads to give her opinion. She says, 'We grow almost six hectares of the stuff. Enormously useful. And who wants to go without Achai?'" Lannister shook his head. "They use it for fiber crafts, oil, and of course, tea. Couldn't for the life of them understand why anyone would smoke it though."

Fox gasped. "So we've been getting baked on marijuana tea all this time?"

"We're in good company. Half the world leaders drank that toast," Lannister said, laughing. "Maybe that explains why I've mellowed out in this new assignment. At any rate, they have a long history with it and don't see it as a danger, so maybe they have the right of it. God, if my dad heard that coming out of my mouth . . ."

"Or mine," Fox said. "Roll over in his grave. But you're right. We don't have half the problems with drinking that bars on the surface have. A preference for various herbal concoctions is a lot of it, especially Soma Achai."

"Anyway, we came to eat," Lannister prompted as he saw the server out of the corner of his eye. "And to welcome Kleppie back to our station." They ordered, and then he turned to Kleppie again. "So what brings you back? Heading for America again?"

"Not just yet. Thought I might hole up here for a month or so. I mean I'll drop down and do some visiting, likely. But I really need to get focused on my basic education, so I can be ready for space camp this spring."

"Didn't want to stay on Shin with Kavi?" Fox asked.

"She's on a three-month assignment. Wanted me to stay at her apartment while she was gone." He shrugged. "I'm not such a traditionalist that I think I have to support her or anything like that, but I should at least take care of myself, you know."

"And Cheyenne."

"I visited them a few days, but it's the same thing. Pride, I guess. I want to get an apartment of my own. My own place, paid for with my own job. Figured this was as good a place as any. I've enough credits left for a couple days. I'll visit the Economics Office this afternoon or tomorrow."

"Why don't you stop by my place later this afternoon?" Lannister suggested. "I might have something."

"I'm still technically Navy, if on leave. Not sure I can accept something official."

"It's not, so don't worry."

Kleppie gave him a look and then shrugged. "Sure, I'll do that."

As they ate Kleppie said, "Oh, I almost forgot. Cheyenne says they will visit too. In a couple weeks, hopefully."

"Excellent. What's the occasion, if I may ask?"

"One of her daughter's friends. Her family will be in Colorado visiting for Christmas. They set up a play date for the girls. I think Cheyenne's hoping her mom will come too, but it's touch and go."

"Really?" Lannister prompted.

"Her mom's not well, mentally. Especially since Cheyenne took the kids. Cheyenne wants to see her, maybe talk her into getting help from the Consortium, but her mom is set against it. Sad."

"It is," Fox said. "But you can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves."

There wasn't much else to say. Lannister finished and checked his watch. "Well, I have a meeting." He called the server over and paid the tab for everyone. "Captain's privilege," he said, waving off their thanks. "Kleppie, talk to you later?" Kleppie nodded. "And Fox, I will see you at the afternoon debriefing."

"Yes, sir," Fox said.