Chapter 11

By the end of the journey, after nearly two months on board the Isaac Newton, everybody was starting to get excited; we were finally approaching our destination. Another few days and we'd be in-system - within the heliopause of the Soloat system: a few more days at slow sublight speeds to get into orbit, and then ten days or so in orbit. It had never occurred to me to ask why the system was called Solo, but a few days before we arrived, Siân told us, just in conversation, as we were at our evening meal.

"It's called Solo," she told us all, "because there is only one true planet in the system. It's a fairly new star, about one billion years old compared to Sol which is about four-and-a-half billion, so there's still a lot of debris in orbit around the star. In a way the whole sun has a ring system like Saturn's, except it's more like our asteroid belt, just extends a lot further in and out. The planet Solo is a huge gas giant, bigger then Jupiter, but not quite the distance from its sun as Mars is from our sun. We are going to be on a moon of Solo, Solo Fifteen, that is about seven percent larger than Earth."

"Why's it called Solo Fifteen?" asked Branwyn.

"Because it's the fifteenth moon out from the planet."

"Out of how many?" I asked.

"Ninety-six. Well actually, hundreds, but only ninety-six that are officially called moons. Most of them are small, barely a few dozen kilometres in length. A couple get up to closer in size to Earth's moon, and a few are bigger again." She glanced down at some scribbled notes she'd made. "The biggest moons are fifteen to twenty-one, plus eighty-one. The rest are all quite tiny in comparison. Solo sixteen and twenty are both somewhat smaller than the Earth's moon, seventeen is slightly bigger than Mars while eighteen is slightly smaller, nineteen is closer in size to Pluto and twenty-one a bit bigger than Mercury. Fifteen is the largest at just bigger than Earth. Eighty-one is slightly smaller than Earth's moon.

"There are three: fifteen, seventeen and eighteen, with atmospheres though none are breathable, and our planet," she shrugged slightly as she realised she'd slightly mis-spoken, "moon, is going to need massive terraforming before the surface could ever become habitable. All the remaining moons are much smaller, no bigger than a few dozens of kilometres across."

"Nothing smaller? Or in between?" Although she'd compared them to planets in our original solar system, since I didn't actually know how big most of those planets were anyway, I couldn't compare any of them for size.

Siân shook her head, grinning at me. "Anything smaller than about two hundred kilometres across is likely to be just an odd shape. The effects of gravity should make anything bigger form a sphere. It was decided a long time ago, well before the Confederacy came to Earth, that nothing smaller than fifty kilometres in diameter will be classed as a moon. Technically this means Mars' two moons Phobos and Deimos wouldn't be classed as moons either, but hey." She grinned at us. "Anything smaller than fifty km here is not counted as a moon, but as a boulder in orbit."

"Ah, does that mean it has rings, like Saturn?"

"Solo does, yes. Our moon, Solo-15 sits in a big gap just within the outer edge of the main ring system. It's hoped the rings'll make it harder for the Swarm to find the colony if they come into the system. Whether or not they do, there's so much natural resource in the rings and smaller moons, both the asteroids and stuff around the star and the rings around the planet, that the navy are investigating putting a manufacturing base in there somewhere. Most likely, I would suspect, out on Solo eighty-one as that is a tiny bit smaller than Earth's moon, and is well outside the planet's rings."

"Interesting," said Roger. "That could mean jobs for the concubines as well. Keep them out of mischief."

Siân smiled slightly and shook her head. "It's too far for sensible commuting, in any case 81's orbit is sixty-seven degrees off the plane of the ecliptic, millions of kilometres further out, and has a highly ellipsoidal, retrograde, orbit that between them would make getting to and from it a real pain." She shook her head. "No, if you wanted to do that, twenty-one would be better as it's the largest without an atmosphere that's within the plane of the ecliptic." She noticed Branny's look utter confusion. "Retrograde just means it orbits in the opposite direction." She used her hands to approximate what she meant, and Branny nodded her understanding.

"But surely the rings are just flat planes, like Saturn," I objected. "You just come in off the plane of the ecliptic."

"What does ecliptic mean?" asked Branny.

I smiled slightly, and let Siân explain, which she managed to do simply and succinctly, and even Branny understood: Branny wasn't stupid, far from it, she just normally had little interest in learning. Siân looked at me. "Yes, they could, and that's also true for getting between moons. Move outside the ecliptic, travel parallel to the rings, then back in again. In any case, only the first fifteen moons are within the rings, so it's a bit irrelevant anyway." She looked around at all of us. "A lot of the outer moons and moonlets orbit at very odd angles, so they were almost certainly captured later. From about Solo-50 out, so that includes 81."

She turned back to the group as a whole. "Soloat, the star that is, is marginally hotter than Sol, four percent hotter, and about six percent larger in overall mass," she frowned. "Or is that size?" She shook her head, obviously unsure. "Well anyway, while it would feel cooler if you could stand on the surface of Solo fifteen, it wouldn't be a lot cooler, and the sun won't be a lot smaller."

"I'm slightly confused," said Branny. "Solo-15 is a moon? Yes?"

Siân nodded. "Soloat is the sun, the star. Six percent bigger than our sun, and slightly hotter. Solo is the planet, which looks a bit like Saturn, but is eight percent bigger than Jupiter; Solo-15 is the fifteenth moon around the planet Solo and it is seven percent bigger than Earth. I'm not sure how much us being on a moon, and therefore in orbit around a planet, will affect things, but I'm sure we'll find out when we get there."

"Ah," I said, suddenly realising I hadn't mentioned this to anyone. "I'm not sure that that's where we're stopping. In fact I'm pretty certain it isn't. Problem is, no one can tell me where we are heading for, and by the sound of it, we could end up back at Earth."

"Oh. Well that seems a bit of a waste of a trip," said Roger in astonishment, and, it had to be said, irritation.

I raised my hands in frustration. "I'm trying to find out. That's all I can tell you as of this moment."

At the next meeting with Jack and Melissa, a few days later, we finally found out what was to happen to us. We had hardly got to the office, when the AI interrupted our deliberations.

"Attention. It has now been determined where you are to be posted. Jack Power will be remaining on Solo. Melissa West and Llewelyn Carter will be returning to Lipskiy Base."

"Where's Lipskiy Base?" I asked.

"Luna."

Melissa and I stared at each other, puzzled. "What's at Lipskiy Base?" asked Melissa.

"Unknown. You will be given that information when you get there."

"That's not helpful," she muttered sourly. I agreed, but said nothing.

"Well, that's strange," said Jack. "I wonder why I'm staying here if you're going back. AI?"

"No information," responded the AI.

"Well, is it worth us continuing with what we've been doing?" I asked. "I was sort of assuming we'd all end up in the same place."

"Yeah, and me," said Jack. "Hey, you know, I think we should have a get together, a social get together. We've been working together for two months now, and I think it's time we had some down time together. Just once."

I shrugged, but Melissa just looked irritated.

Jack frowned, disappointed.

"One of the refectories? Tomorrow afternoon?" I suggested.

"You can all come to my pod. I have the room," suggested Jack. "I know my girls would like it. It's been just the five of us for the most part. The people around us are all marines and most refuse to have anything to do with us. Look down on us."

"You should have asked to be moved then," Melissa said tartly. Then she relented very slightly. "Okay. Three PM tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"Red thirteen," Jack told us. It didn't seem worth carrying on our work, so we brought the meeting to an early end and went our separate ways.

"Beyond making them all the same height," Jack told me proudly the following afternoon, "I made practically no serious changes to any of them."

I had arrived with my family at Jack's pod a few minutes earlier and we had all been introduced. Jack's girls had all been a little desperate, it seemed to me, to make sure the 'party' went well. They were lonely. Yes they had each other, but that was all they had. He and I were chatting briefly about our concubines.

"None at all?" I asked, amazed.

Jack and I were sitting talking, while the rest of them, his and mine, were off elsewhere talking, laughing, and eating.

"None that would be visible. Got rid of cellulite, fixed medical problems, and as I said made them all five seven."

"Wow. That's amazing. They must have been stunning looking girls."

"They were. They are. That's partly why I consider myself so lucky. But you know, girls that are gorgeous and know they're gorgeous, often end up being real bitches?" I nodded. "Well these girls weren't. Sparky, feisty, but not actually bitches." He chuckled gently. "It probably helped that I've known all four of them, through my daughters, since they were all about four or five."

"I guess it also helped that they were all friends first?"

"Almost certainly. And from what I can make out, two of them may even have been lovers before hand. But they're not saying, and I don't think it's important enough to push it."

I looked at him and laughed. "You have fallen on your feet." I nodded at what they were wearing, which on Earth I might have referred to as 'smart casual'. "I've seen some slaves walk around with clothes that make it obvious they are slaves. I see you don't?"

"God no. Wouldn't dream of it. I want them to be people. Happy people. Slaves, by definition cannot truly be happy."

"Yet when you think about it, all of them really are slaves."

"I know, but I don't want to rub it in. Very occasionally I have to remind them to be careful, but they're good kids."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I happen to agree with you. Mine all wear just skirts or jeans with tee-shirts."

Jack nodded, looking at my family. "I do like the artwork on their shirts."

I smiled proudly. "Those are all Branny's work. She and Imogen, between them, do all the decorating, and the artwork. Sometimes Siân comes up with a puzzle or with a simple design, and Imogen turns it into art. Most of them Branny comes up with from scratch. She's a really talented and imaginative artist." I watched as two of Jack's girls, I had forgotten their names already, were admiring some of the designs.

"You should get them copyrighted and published," Jack told me.

I thought about it. "You know, perhaps I will. There's very little true clothing selection, maybe we can set up a trend. A market."

Jack laughed. "Well I'll be your agent on Soloat."

"Done," I laughed and we shook hands on our daft deal. Not that either of us, I thought, ever really expected anything to come of it.

"AI," I asked in my head, "do you still have all the designs that Branny or Imogen have created?"

"No."

"Hmm. In that case," I started slowly, "will you please ensure that in the future all designs are remembered."

"Confirmed."

"That includes the current ones."

"All previous designs have been erased from memory. However when these tee-shirts are recycled, the designs will be re-extracted and stored."

"Great. Can I copyright them on behalf of Branny or Imogen?"

There was a long pause.

"Yes, however it should be pointed out that the copyright will be in your name as the owner of those slaves. If they were to ever become sponsors in their own right, then you could re-assign the copyrights. Further, even if you did copyright these designs, there would be no income from them."

"Just acknowledgements."

"Correct."

"Understood. Do it anyway."

"Confirmed."

I nodded to Jack. "I've set up my side. They're all now copyrighted, but sadly there's nothing currently available as the AI didn't bother remembering the designs."

"Oh no," said Jack. "How disappointing."

"Yeah, I know. However, I've just had an idea. If they throw them through the recycler now, it will remember those patterns, then," I paused. "BRANNY?"

When Branny came over, I told her what I'd done, and, with Jack's permission, suggested she go and make some more designs for Jack's four. She looked pleased. It was obvious that she liked being thought of as an artist worth copyrighting.

"Alice was wanting one just like mine."

"Unfortunately the AI no longer has the design. Nor of any you have done in the past." I told her what the AI had told me, and she quickly asked permission to use Jack's recycler.

With amusement he gave it, and within twenty minutes Jack's girls were also wearing some of Branny's designs. I saw with interest that in fact they were not the same. Branny had come up with four new designs just for them and in just a few minutes, to their obvious pleasure and delight.

"It's a real shame we're splitting up," Jack told me. "I really wish we could have got our families together before this. Look how happy and excited mine are now."

"Request a transfer," I said almost without thinking.

Jack paused and looked at me. "You know ... okay."

He looked up and I knew he was communing with the AI. After a few moments he looked down again and shrugged. "The request has gone out, but it'll be weeks before there's an answer."

"Well you never..."

The door chimed. "Visitors," intoned the pod's AI.

Jack and I stood. "Open," said Jack as we walked towards the entrance.

Melissa looked ill at ease. Behind her stood a middle-aged man and a young, possibly still even teen-aged, but very pretty girl. Both were naked and holding hands.

"Come in," Jack said. Melissa entered, obviously not really happy to be here. Her two concubines entered nervously. Melissa wasn't intending to introduce her concubines, but after first Jack, then I, had introduced ours, she grudgingly introduced hers as David and Joanne.

"Why are yours all in clothes?" asked Melissa. "They're slaves. I thought they were always supposed to be naked or near naked."

We shook our heads, but it was Jack who answered. "No. Whatever gave you that idea? I've seen some males dress their concubines up to look like some sort of slave, but I think it's just mean to rub it in." He nodded briefly in my direction. "Neither of us like slavery so we don't dress our concubines as slaves. There's some limitations, but that aside, they can choose to wear what they like."

"Oh. Oh. Right. Um."

"There's the replicator," Jack said, pointing, "please just get them both to pick a set of simple clothes. Maybe to match what ours are wearing."

"I'll design you tee's just for yourselves," Branny announced, dragging Joanne off. David just looked bemused as Roger and Imogen took him off to the side. They were all of an age, though Roger and Imogen looked so much younger.

Melissa's presence made our conversation harder, as she seemed edgy and unsure of herself, but that was explained when she suddenly said, "okay, when's the orgy? I suppose you are intending to have one aren't you?" She sounded bitter, even angry.

"Er, no. We hadn't planned to," Jack said slowly. "Why?"

Melissa's look of relief was almost comical, however she didn't acknowledge her relief. "Because that's what always seems to happen. Nobody just wants to go and sit and talk. Everybody just seems to want sex. Sex, sex and yet more bloody sex. Can't you males ever get sex out of your heads?"

We both looked at her startled. "Well yes," I said. "That was the whole purpose of this gathering. Just to relax and have fun."

"Well too often that means sex."

"Well not here it doesn't," Jack said shortly. He was irritated. More so than I was.

"Well good then."

The rest of the afternoon went better, though Jack did bemoan the lack of a decent red wine. "Or indeed any red wine. Even a rough red would do me right now."

"There's none in the replicators," Dad said.

"Yeah, dunno why." There was a pause. Jack looked up. "AI. Why is there no alcohol in the replicators?"

"Because the captain of the ship does not permit alcohol on board."

"Oh. Why? Is it a Confederacy law or something?"

"No."

"So has there been trouble in the past?"

"No. The captain is a teetotaller, and objects to the very existence of alcohol."

"Oh. Now that I wasn't expecting. Is he a Moslem or a Sikh or something?"

"No. He is a practising Christian."

"So it can't be a religious thing then, 'cos Jesus drank wine."

"It is a religious belief, yes."

I frowned. "Then he can't be Christian, surely. The Bible explicitly allows wine. Doesn't it?"

The AI didn't answer, but it left us all dissatisfied.

"Maybe there'll be beer on Solo," I said consolingly. "AI?"

"Unknown."

"Rats," muttered Jack. He turned to Melissa. "You ever let your hair down? Get drunk and disorderly?"

"No."

"Oh dammit woman, just relax will you. You're acting like a scared little virgin."

Melissa jerked. "I will..." she started angrily, then with an effort swallowed whatever she had been about to say. "I don't like the taste," she said simply. Both Jack and I knew that was a cop-out, but we didn't feel like pushing it, or her.

"Oh. Okay."

"Let's go see if the others have sorted out food and new clothes," I said despairingly.

Both Jack and Melissa nodded with relief.

David and Joanne were now dressed to match the rest of the gathering, but they too had new and unique designs courtesy of Branny. She and Alice, one of Jack's concubines, had their heads together over a piece of paper.

"Designing more patterns," Siân told us with a smile.

I laughed. Jack and his girls had come up with a wonderful spread. Even if it wasn't one, it looked, and for the most part tasted, of a summer barbecue. Pork and red pepper kebabs. Spicy lamb chops. Pork and leek sausages, barbecue grilled tomatoes, and loads of different salads. And no chicken. It was wonderful, and even Melissa had relaxed by the end. She still didn't say much, but she looked happier and more at peace.

"Are we gonna see Alice and Toby and the others again?" asked Branwyn when we got home.

"I doubt it. They're getting off at our next stop. We're heading back to the moon."

"What moon? Luna? Earth's moon?" asked Roger.

I nodded. "Found out yesterday. Jack's staying here, Melissa and I are heading back."

"David's a nice bloke," Roger said. "Bit unhappy, but that's because Joanne is his daughter and she's pregnant. By him."

I sighed. "Yeah. I heard."

"Jack isn't the father of any of his concubines," Branny told me, "and none of them are sisters either."

"I know. It's the way he wanted it. But he knew in advance what was happening, and managed to arrange it that way."

"Would you have done that?" Siân asked curiously.

"Would you have wanted me to?" I asked, lying back on the chair. Both my sisters were at that moment cwtched up on either side of me. There was nothing particularly erotic about it, and it was only vaguely romantic, but it did feel relaxing.

"Not now," said Siân."

"Nor me," added Branny.

"Nor me," I heard Mum murmur.

I looked up, startled.

Mum gave me a relaxed smile. "I'm happy and I'm safe, that's all that matters. The rest is just details."

"Are you still in touch with that huge black corporal?" asked Branny a few moments later.

I laughed. "Danny? Are you still wanting him?"

She blushed slightly. "He's cute."

I roared with laughter. "Danny? Cute?" I couldn't begin to imagine what he'd say if I told him that. "He's huge," I laughed. "Cute? Babe, you are completely bonkers!"

Everyone was chuckling now, even Branny, though she did look embarrassed. I hugged her to me. "Haven't spoken to him in absolutely ages. Shall I get in touch with him?"

She blushed even harder. I knew she desperately wanted to say yes, and for me to say yes she could have a tryst with him, but she wasn't going to admit it.

"Maybe," I said at last. "We'll see. We've got Hank and the girls coming over tomorrow don't forget. It's the last time we see them before they disembark. How about doing what we've just done with Jack and his girls?"

There was general agreement, and when I contacted Hank, he too agreed. "Bring the rest," I told him. "There's no orgy, so for once let them out of their cage."

"Maybe."

"Well Branny and Siân have met the four younger ones, so it would be nice for them as well."

"Yeah, sure, why not. Six PM?"

I took Siân to bed that night, but although we made long and passionate love, Siân still wasn't sure she was ready for pregnancy.

"You're the only one now, love."

"I know." She looked at me, her eyes downcast. "All of Jack's girls are pregnant. All of Hank's are too. We see some of the other women in the refectory occasionally. Every single one is pregnant." She shrugged. "Not that you can tell though, not after barely two months, less for some of them." She paused. "I know you can force the issue if you want to."

I nodded. I could indeed. "Mum's just over two months gone. She got pregnant before we even left Earth orbit. Branny was a couple of weeks later. Stacy about two weeks after that, and Janine might have been even before Branny. They're all weeks ahead of you babe."

"I know. And having Janine's two boys running around is fun. Most of the time. Peter is a little cutie. James, probably just 'cos he's older, can get very serious sometimes, but he's also fun to be around as well. It's not the children that I mind. I'm just nervous about being pregnant. The pain and stuff. You know how Mum always said she had problems carrying me and Huw."

I nodded. "I know babe, but you know what the nanites and the med tubes can do. I wouldn't worry. In any case, Abby and Claire are pregnant, and they're about the same age as you, aren't they."

She shook her head. "They're two years older 'n me. Not yet, please Llew? Please?"

"All right. But we can't leave it too much longer."

She looked down. "I know," she said softly. She looked up at me again. "I know I said right at the beginning that I would, and I will. Honestly."

I didn't press her any more that evening, but she was very passionate and loving. I adored making love with my baby sister.

Abby introduced the rest of Hank's extended family to us the following afternoon. Hank had been delayed by his training, but would be along a little later. I frowned slightly. Only one of the two older women, and only one of the two older boys were there. It took me a few moments, but then I remembered Abby telling me a couple of weeks earlier that one of the boys had been sent to the spares pool. One of the girls looked a little pale, almost ill. "Jennifer still can't talk," Abby said as she introduced the one older concubine who was there, "but Hank has her booked in tomorrow to get that fixed. Apparently she's 'been good'. This is her daughter Ellie and her younger son Mike," she smiled down at him. "He's almost seven aren't you?" The young lad just nodded.

Abbey pointed to the older boy. "That's Jennifer's son, Jacob. He turned fourteen the day before yesterday, but Hank has agreed to his request to delay his CAP test." I then learned that the slightly pale girl, Lauren, was the daughter of the missing woman, while the missing older boy was her brother. The youngest child, six year old Louise, was Lauren's sister.

"So where is Lauren's mother?" I asked

Abby just looked downcast. "Sorry. That's private."

"No worries. If it's not your place to say, then I'm not going to pester."

She looked at me relieved, and gave me a quick kiss.

When I asked Hank later, he initially gave me only vague details. "See that slight bruise on Claire's face?"

I nodded.

"Well, let's just say they won't ever be able to do that again."

I could see that he too was a little upset, so didn't push. "All right mate. It's not really any of my business, so I apologise if I've upset you."

Hank looked at me and shook his head, a slightly grim smile on his face. "That's Jacob over there. He's just turned fourteen and I've granted his request not to send him for a CAP test until we've landed. If he doesn't get a good score he and his mother are going to the CS. If he does, he leaves and will take his mother with him. Either way I get rid of them both. He's calmed down a lot since ... Now he's just surly rather than nasty."

"Will you get two more to replace them?"

He nodded. "It's already been agreed, one for each of the women. Ellie and Lauren want to be my concubines but they're too young yet. Ellie doesn't turn thirteen for another six months yet, and Lauren turned thirteen just before we boarded ship. I've agreed to keep them, and Jennifer has agreed to transfer both Ellie and Michael to me permanently." He smiled. "I think both Ellie and Lauren are sweet on me, and they seem to be good kids, but were repressed by their older brothers and even by their own moms."

I just smiled. "Okay. So what did," I paused. "You know," I said surprised, "I don't think I know the names of the others."

"Margaret and Thomas."

"Okay, so what did they do?"

"Well you know Thomas got a 4.4? I'm sure I tol' you that?"

I nodded. "He got nasty. Said it was my fault. He started trying to hurt Abby and Claire, so I tol' him if he din't calm down I'd boot him to CSS, to spares. He din't, I did."

"Yeah, I got that a couple of weeks ago."

"Uh huh. After four days he got recycled 'cause no one wanted him."

"Oh shit."

"Yeah. So then Margaret got real nasty an' beat up on my sisters. I gave her the same deal. Calm down or git. She did calm down for a while, but then kicked off again five days ago and smacked Claire around, so I had her recycled. If I'd sent her to CS she'd'a taken Lauren and Louise, just to be nasty, and I din't want them to go through that. They're under age and as their mother, even though she was legally a slave, Margaret still had some rights to a say in what happened to them."

"Oh god. So what did they say about her being recycled while pregnant?"

"Din't. I just asked for her to be recycled. Gave my reasons, they conferred and agreed. She's gone."

"How do Lauren and Louise feel about it?"

"Little Louise is a bit upset, I think she misses her mom a bit, but I think Lauren has always been far more of a mother to her than her real mom ever was. I know Lauren is a bit shocked, but she doesn't miss her mom in the same way. I think she loved her more, you know, sorta simply 'cause she should. Ya know?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I know. May I suggest, if possible, get an older 'mother' type. A woman in her mid thirties, but one with a strong mothering score."

"Yeah. I checked Margaret and Jennifer's scores. When it was too late. Did you know it's possible to have zero mothering scores?" He sounded aghast. "They were moms with no mothering score to speak of."

"What were their scores?"

"Margaret had one point something and Jennifer two point something."

"But high sex scores?"

"Yeah. But only for young lads. I was nearly rolled. Woulda been but for the med tube upgrading me. I was real lucky I managed to hang on to my sisters. I nearly lost them in the pickup. I think it was Margaret who tried to make me get rid of 'em. I was so surprised at what was happenin' I nearly did at that." He gave a slight whistle of relief.

"Well, you got two wonderful concubines out of them. You should be proud of them."

He just grinned. "Yeah. I am. I reckon both could be sponsors if they wanted it, but they don't want it. Both say it's their mission now to look after me."

The party went smoothly after that but shortly before they left, Hank dropped a bombshell.

"Will you get one of my sisters pregnant?"

"What? I thought they already were?"

"They are. They want yours next."

"Why?"

"They like you, and to be honest, I think it would be good all round."

Dad, Roger, who was standing not far away, overheard. "In theory that wouldn't be a bad idea. Especially if Hank also got one or more of your concubines pregnant. Spread the genes around a bit."

Hank nodded. "Yeah. Will you?"

"How? When?"

Hank looked puzzled.

"Oh god," I said as the penny dropped. "You didn't know. We're not staying here. I think we were put on the wrong ship. We're heading back to Earth. To the moon actually."

Hank's jaw dropped. "Oh. I see. That's why the party. Oh no. Oh, they're gonna be so," he stopped and gave me an odd smile. "Ne'er mind. I won't tell them now. I'll tell them when we're on Solo. They're having too much fun at the moment." We looked over towards where the rest of the party was. Claire and Abby were having a whale of a time, and I knew that my women would be as saddened by their departure as they would. Janine's two boys were playing happily with Hank's two youngest adoptees, as they had regularly over the last few weeks. Whenever Hank had brought Claire and Abby over, whether just for an evening of talking, or for a sexual get together, Janine's two had gone there. Sometimes with Janine, sometimes with Stacy, and sometimes with Imogen. Even Lauren and Ellie appeared to be having fun. Jacob and Jennifer just sat quietly, calmly, watching, saying nothing unless spoken to, but always friendly and polite.

I clapped Hank on the shoulder. "I'm sorry mate. I only found out for certain a few days ago, though I've known almost from day one that we probably weren't going to be staying here."

He looked disappointed himself, but I was sure his friends in the marines would soon buck him up. It never occurred to me until much later that we were his only friends outside the marines, and he treasured our friendship for that very reason.

We got into orbit around Solo-15 two days later. Screens showing the views outside the ship were on in the refectory areas, as well as many pods. And we were given regular updates by the AI on our progress into the Soloat system.

It was a stunningly beautiful view. We were approaching Solo-15 far slower than we had left Earth, and when I thought about it I realised that it was because of all the debris in the system. Solo was, apparently, just eight percent bigger than Jupiter in diameter, but well over twice the mass. I didn't understand how more than twice the mass meant only a tiny increase in size, but I was sure, if I wanted to, I could find out. I thought I knew the formula for calculating the volume of a sphere from the radius, but I wasn't sure how to work it the other way. Not in my head, anyway. When I asked the AI later to explain the seeming discrepancy, all it said was, "Mass is not volume." This confused me even further, so I ignored it for the time being.

During those two days of in-system flight, we were all confined to our pods. This was, we were told, to prevent unnecessary injuries due to any 'jinking' by the Isaac Newton as it avoided space debris too big to be diverted by the shields or destroyed with its few small armaments.

Once it was over, however, we were treated to some wonderful views from the external cameras. Solo itself looked a lot like the pictures of Jupiter or Saturn, though the 'ring system' was both thicker and less defined than either of those two planets. Solo-15 looked a little like the Earth's moon, pale, grey, highly cratered, but when one looked at the edge, one could see the haze caused by the thick atmosphere. Zooming in and looking closely it was possible to see thin and wispy clouds, but we were informed that these were not water clouds like Earth's, but were clouds of chemical vapours, somewhat similar to Venus, but nowhere near as thick. Viewed like this, the surface no longer appeared to be a single, uniform colour, and in places it was also possible to see liquid on the surface. Again we were told this was not water but various chemicals in their liquid states laying on the surface of the planet.

"Just ready to be scooped up and used," I murmured.

Roger nodded. "Probably very dangerous working conditions though. Worse even than a vacuum."

We watched for a while, eventually seeing pods falling into the atmosphere. We couldn't zoom in close enough to follow a single pod the whole way down to the surface, but we followed about half a dozen, at about ten minute intervals, quite a long way down.

Then the pod deployment stopped. "The landing site is now too far around the moon," the AI told us. "The remaining pods will detach in approximately seven hours."

There were only eighty-seven pods to be detached and sent to Solo-15, and the first seven had now gone. There was about a thirteen hour window out of a twenty hour 'day' when the landing site was in range. Pods dispatched at twelve minute intervals to allow for both manoeuvring around debris, as well as allowing the previous pod to settle before the next pod arrived, so only sixty-six would leave the ship during the next phase. There would then be another seven hour pause with the remaining fourteen pods going in the next two hours or so. During periods when pods were being dispatched, everyone was confined to quarters, but during the two down periods the refectories were open, for those that wanted to use them. Each time there were fewer people. It was quite disconcerting, knowing that people we might have spoken to only minutes or hours earlier were now in a pod that was slowly descending through the atmosphere as we watched. This was a manufacturing colony, and it only now occurred to me that Ameera's chemical engineering skills were exactly what this system needed.

While we had been travelling to the colony, they had been building pods. They were nine short, but the Captain wasn't intending to wait for the balance. Over the next day or so, we connected to the seventy-eight pods waiting in orbit, to be transferred back to Earth for the next batch of colonists.

The last pod had just departed from the ship, when the AI spoke up.

"Information. A delayed message has been left for Llewelyn Carter. It is an open message to all in the Carter pod."

I smiled. Hank.

"Please play it."

"Acknowledged."

A recording began to play, and for a few moments I was confused.

"Llew, thank you," started the soft voice. "You helped me and my friend a lot. More than you might know."

"Ameera," I breathed. Huw nodded.

"Both Rania and I will be having twin sons in a few months time, and we are both very excited about it. Huw, you were very gentle and helpful and thoughtful and exactly what we needed." I could hear the smile as she spoke. "You were lovely in bed. Thank you for helping us, teaching us what we needed to know to survive."

Huw smiled, blushing to the roots of his hair.

"Janine," Ameera continued. "I only met you for a few minutes, but Rania said you were a wonder. Your help with my sons was very much appreciated. Thank you too. Llew, I'm sorry I can't pass on my thanks in person, but if you ever get into the Soloat system, you must look me up." There was a little giggle. "We have unfinished business, you and I."

It was my turn to blush, I could feel the heat in my face.

"To the rest of you, whom I only met for a few seconds when I was covered in blood and not sure what I was doing, thank you. Good luck to you all, and," there was the tiniest hint of a pause, "god bless you all."

"End of message," said the AI.

"Well," breathed Roger. "Good for her." He ruffled Huw's hair. "And good for you son. She'll remember you in a good way."

"They would be my grandchildren," murmured Imogen, a looked of pleased surprise on her face. There was a hint of sadness there too. "But grandchildren I'll likely never see or know." Roger just gave her a hug.

"AI, is there a way to send Ameera a message?" I asked.

"Yes, but it will be delayed."

"That's fine. Can you record?"

"Recording," said the AI.

"Ameera. Thank you for your lovely message and your good wishes. I, we, wish you all good luck for the future." I quickly pointed at Huw, who added a few words of his own, then at Janine who did the same.

"End message and send it please AI," I said.

"Message ended and transmitted."

Before we left for home our pod was moved from Green ring to Blue ring, while we waited in the blue refectory, and became blue-nine. Green, Red, Yellow and White rings were all now unoccupied, just Blue and Black rings were operational. Black ring was now occupied by some of the marines who had spread out from their cramped quarters in the main hull. Blue ring containing just the two occupied pods that were heading back to Earth. Unfortunately of course, that meant my new neighbour in blue-ten had to be Melissa.

We got together most mornings for anything from a few minutes to half an hour, but we didn't really know what we could do, so as much as anything we just sat and chatted. I think she found this as unsatisfactory as I did, because half the time she was complaining, and the rest just staring sullenly into space. I stopped it after just nine days, there seemed no point. However David and Joanne were regularly in our pod, David just talking with Roger and Imogen, and Joanne with Branny and Stacy. Branny and Stacy had really taken to each other, even though Stacy was a good few years older. Only once did I invite Melissa and her family in for a relaxing meal, but it wasn't a very successful evening, and I didn't do it again. She and I would never be friends. Friendly maybe, friends never.

I finally gave in to Branny's silent pleading, and five days into our return journey, I contacted Danny Black.

"Hey son," he said when I finally managed to get hold of him. "How's it hangin'?"

"Fine," I said, chuckling slightly. He seemed to be far more relaxed now. "I have a request for you. That invite you got right at the start of this journey, apparently it's still open."

There was a long pause. "Invite?" he said slowly, clearly confused.

"My sister? And you?"

The pause was shorter this time.

"Er, that invite was from someone who can't make such an invite," he told me severely. "Only you can make such an offer."

"Ah," I told him laughing, "but if you remember, I did."

"I assumed you were joking," he said slowly.

"Well, I was and I wasn't. I was teasing her, and at the same time hoping you would. Unfortunately she ended up getting humungously turned on, resulting in a slight fixation. I've been able to put it off until now because you would have been quite busy."

"Actually, I'm busier now, writing reports and doing our own unit training." There was a brief pause. "Is she sure? This isn't some race kick is it?"

"She's sure, and no it isn't. True, she has never been with a black man before, but that doesn't mean we've never met any. Even we had to go to school, and even that part of Wales isn't immune to immigration and emigration, even if," I stopped. We had been mostly home schooled, but had occasionally had to attend the local secondary school, mostly for tests, exams, and assessments. Branny and I had been in our final year when we were collected. The fact that the 700 pupil school had never had more than fifteen non-whites at any one time during my seven years, from age 11, was down to the area not being exactly hospitable to those of non-Welsh descent, wasn't something he needed to hear. That we had been of English rather than Welsh descent had been far worse at first, until we had managed to integrate.

Fortunately Danny read into my pausing something completely different.

"All right then. If you're sure, I'll ask Joan," he paused and then chuckled. "I know Joan has a hankering fer some honky."

I suppose an insult is only an insult if you know it's an insult. At the time I didn't realise that honky could be as racially insensitive or insulting to some whites as nigger was to a black.

"Fair enough," I said chuckling, "I'll leave it in your capable hands."

I told Branny what he had said, and she nodded, happy.