{"data":{"id":18184,"title":"A Gift for Baba (Part 3)","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/18184-A-Gift-For-Baba-Part-3","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/18184","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/18184","channel":"Feedback","category":"Undefined","series":"None","images":[{"id":27279,"name":"Gift-For-Baba-3-Cover-Clean.png","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/07hbv8q37iht4r\/source\/Gift-For-Baba-3-Cover-Clean.png","alt":"","size":7535864,"mime_type":"image\/png","last_modified":"2021-06-07T19:55:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27279","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27279\/similar"},{"id":27280,"name":"Gift-For-Baba-3-Expanded.png","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/aitkopblrrqz2r\/source\/Gift-For-Baba-3-Expanded.png","alt":"","size":522800,"mime_type":"image\/png","last_modified":"2021-06-07T17:19:11+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27280","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27280\/similar"}],"images_count":2,"translations":{"en_EN":"A Gift for Baba\n06\/08\/2021 - 5:01 PM\n\nBy: Will Weissbaum\n\nWriter's Note: A Gift for Baba (Part Two) first appeared in Jump Point 5.10. Read Part One here and Part Two here. Original artwork by Sean Andrew Murray.\nPart Three\nDaymar, by far the best with knots, had been put in charge of tying the unconscious smuggler to one of the rear utility seats on the bridge. It had taken all three of them working together to move the rather large and limp Rose into position. Yela had sympathetically cringed every time they had bumped the woman\u2019s head or limbs as they dragged her along, but there was no time to be overly careful and as Cellin pointed out, the woman had held them hostage aboard her ship, so a few bumps and bruises seemed only fair.\n\n\u201cI think this mutiny is going really well,\u201d said Daymar as he finished securing Rose\u2019s hands.\n\n\u201cNow all we have to do is comm someone to rescue us,\u201d said Yela, striding towards the control terminal.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re supposed to ask my permission,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cIt was my mutiny, so I\u2019m the captain now.\u201d\n\nCellin had been quite brave and daring during their escape, though Yela. Maybe she deserved to be called captain for a little bit. \u201cPermission to use the comms, Captain?\u201d\n\n\u201cPermission granted.\u201d\n\n\u201cActually, I don\u2019t think it is,\u201d said Yela. She tapped repeatedly on the terminal, but it remained dark. \u201cThe comms, flight controls. None of the external control terminals are responding.\u201d\n\nDaymar and Cellin rushed to the console and tried to activate it themselves, but nothing worked.\n\n\u201cDid leaking the air break it?\u201d asked Daymar.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d said Yela. \u201cOtherwise Cellin wouldn\u2019t have been able to use the security controls to free us from the cargo hold. Plus, you can see the processing lights on the side activate when I press on the surface. No, I think the main screens must be locked.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat a dirty trick,\u201d said Cellin, pounding her small fist angrily against the terminal.\n\n\u201cCareful! You might break \u2014\u201d Yela paused mid-sentence as she noticed a small hatch shake loose on the side of the main terminal. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d\n\nCellin lifted the cover on the hatch. Inside was a number pad.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s just like on the crates down in the cargo bay,\u201d said Daymar. \u201cYou think the computer leads to a secret treasure too?\u201d He looked down to the furry sniblet perched on the shoulder of his pressure suit. \u201cHear that, Rodin? Maybe there\u2019s another sculpture for you to eat!\u201d\n\n\u201cTry using code 2380 again,\u201d instructed Yela.\n\nCellin carefully entered the digits, but all that happened was that the little light on the pad flashed red.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand. Why didn\u2019t it work this time?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause a good smuggler is a paranoid smuggler,\u201d a deep, raspy voice informed them.\n\nThe children turned to see that Rose had awoken. The woman glared at the children with a pained expression on her face. \u201cI\u2019ll give you the atmosphere thing. It was a good trick. Gave me one beast of a headache.\u201d The large woman pulled on her restraints, testing their strength. Thankfully, Daymar\u2019s knots held. \u201cBut fun times are over. There\u2019s no way you\u2019re gonna figure out how to unlock the main ship controls, and even if you did, it wouldn\u2019t do you any good. Do you even know where we are? Look out there,\u201d she said gesturing with her head to the cockpit-glass.\n\nOutside was darkness and a spattering of twinkling stars, but little else.\n\n\u201cYou know why I chose this spot? Because it\u2019s thousands of klicks from the closest anything in Croshaw. No one\u2019s going to find you out here. Trust me. My specialty is flying under the radar. Plus, since you all decided it would be such a good idea to completely vent the atmosphere, I\u2019d say we only have a few more hours of breathing left. Think you can find help by then?\u201d\n\nYela crossed over to the life support monitor. Rose was telling the truth; their oxygen supply was severely depleted. So much for her brilliant plan to free her siblings.\n\n\u201cSee? Your best bet is to untie me right now. You do that and I promise I\u2019ll take you back to Sol. How about it? We have an accord?\u201d\n\n\u201cMaybe we should,\u201d said Daymar. \u201cI don\u2019t want to run out of oxygen.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, the sniblet,\u201d said Rose, noticing the small creature on Daymar\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI was wondering how you got out of the hold. Smart. I definitely underestimated you three. Now untie me before I lose my patience.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re underestimating us again if you think we\u2019re going to untie you just like that,\u201d said Yela, stepping protectively in front of Daymar. \u201cTell us the code first, then we can discuss the terms of your release.\u201d\n\n\u201cSee. That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. Smart,\u201d said Rose. \u201cBut I\u2019m smart, too. I know my negotiation history. The Helberg Treaty. The Ealing-Lester Moot. All the same. I tell you the code and then you have no reason to let me go. So, why would I do that?\u201d\n\nCellin stepped over to the alcove in the back of the bridge and pulled out the formidable rifle Rose kept stored there. Though it was almost as long as she was tall, she managed to hoist the end of the barrel up so it was aimed squarely at their captive. \u201cBecause I\u2019m the captain now and you have to do what I say.\u201d\n\nYela almost couldn\u2019t believe what she was seeing. Cellin was always quick to take action, but this? Daymar summed up Yela\u2019s feelings succinctly when he said, \u201cWoah.\u201d\n\n\u201cTell us the code.\u201d\n\nRose\u2019s response was not what Cellin was expecting. The smuggler grinned down at the little girl and the massive gun. \u201cNice try, little girl, but that rifle\u2019s nothing but a family antique. My great-grandfather brought it home from the Unification Wars. Hasn\u2019t worked in centuries. I just keep it around to scare people like you. Don\u2019t believe me, give it a squeeze.\u201d\n\nCellin had thought to just scare the smuggler with the gun, but now the woman was taunting her. Rose had kidnapped them, threatened their lives, and even though she was tied to a chair, was still acting like they were just some kids she could boss around. Cellin hated when adults thought they could do whatever they wanted just because they were bigger and older. If she had to follow the rules and be nice, why didn\u2019t they?\n\nWhether the gun was broken or not broken \u2014 Cellin didn\u2019t really care. One way or another she was going to make Rose listen.\n\n\u201cFine! I will!\u201d Cellin aimed the gun at Rose\u2019s left boot and reached for the trigger. But before she could attempt to fire, Yela put a hand on her sister\u2019s shoulder.\n\n\u201cCellin, wait.\u201d\n\nCellin didn\u2019t want to wait. Her brother and sister\u2019s lives depended on getting that code. She had to protect her family. \u201cWe have to get the code. It\u2019s the only way.\u201d\n\nFor what seemed like a very long moment, Yela thought about stepping back and letting Cellin do things her way. With the atmosphere running out, the stakes were dire. Shouldn\u2019t they do anything in their power to get the code? But then she thought about what would happen afterwards. What would her brave and bold sister be like then? She thought about the time they were visiting Baba and had found a credit-chit on the floor of the market.\n\nAfter they found the money, they had wanted to keep it at first, but Baba asked them, \u201cDo you know who TipTop Tupper is?\u201d The children hadn\u2019t, so Baba explained that TipTop Tupper was the best, most kind, most brave, most clever Human that ever lived or ever would. \u201cWhenever I\u2019m not sure what to do, I try to guess how TipTop would do it. Figure if it\u2019s good enough for the best Human, it\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe can get out of this, and we can do it the right way,\u201d said Yela. She turned to her brother. \u201cDaymar, what do you think TipTop would do if they were trapped in a ship losing air?\u201d\n\nDaymar thought for a second before answering, \u201cWell, I\u2019m not sure. TipTop probably wouldn\u2019t hurt someone. Definitely not someone tied to a chair.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you think, Cellin? What would TipTop do?\u201d\n\nCellin hesitated. It had been years since they first learned about TipTop and returned that nice woman\u2019s lost money. For the most part, they had outgrown the game, but the hours they spent guessing and arguing about how the best Human in the universe would tackle life\u2019s problems came back to her. With a sigh, Cellin lowered the gun. \u201cTipTop would figure out the code using smarts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what I think, too. Want to help me?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re not untying her, though.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgreed. Not even TipTop would trust her.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey!\u201d protested Rose, but the children ignored her as they left the bridge and headed into the adjoining crew quarters. \u201cWho the heck is TipTop?\u201d\n\n* * *\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re looking for four numbers that would be important to her. Something like her birthday or the last four digits in her registration,\u201d instructed Yela as she and her two siblings began searching through Rose\u2019s quarters. \u201cSee if you can find anything that stands out.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow do we do that in this mess?\u201d asked Daymar, lifting up a discarded bag and peering at the small piles of coins scattered underneath. \u201cThere\u2019s numbers everywhere.\u201d Daymar picked up a hexagonal coin with a hollow center, and inspected it. Seeing that the only number on it was a five, he fed it to Rodin. The small creature hungrily munched on the metal; clearly it was starting to get its appetite back.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re wasting your time,\u201d shouted Rose from the bridge, \u201cand oxygen. Four-digit codes have thousands of possible combinations. You\u2019ll never guess the right one.\u201d\n\n\u201cNine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!\u201d returned Daymar. \u201cWe already tried one.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd anyway, we don\u2019t need to guess. We\u2019re going to figure it out.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook for stuff that\u2019s out in the open,\u201d suggested Cellin. \u201cI know at home, the things I care about usually wind up on top of all the other garbage. Like this.\u201d She held up a small glass sphere that had a holo-image frozen inside. \u201cIt looks like Rose standing in a hole.\u201d\n\nCellin handed it to Yela so she could take a look. \u201cShe\u2019s at a dig site. The label says \u2018Graduate Thesis, Kolkata.\u2019 No number, but if she graduated from school, that year could be the code. See if there\u2019s a diploma or something around.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re way off track!\u201d shouted Rose from the other room. \u201cIt\u2019s just four random digits. Impossible to guess. Very secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot likely,\u201d said Yela as she sorted through the contents on the desk. \u201cOur father taught a series of classes on xeno-cryptology and I know that most passwords are inspired by personal significance. Truly random passwords are almost non-existent. In fact, almost 73% of four digit codes are years. Your other code, 2380? Probably a meaningful year.\u201d\n\n\u201cWrong!\u201d\n\n\u201cOh yeah? Then why is there a 2380 on that book?\u201d asked Daymar, pointing to the shelf.\n\nYela grabbed the volume in question. October 20th, 2380: A Step Too Far. \u201cIt\u2019s about the Stanley Mutiny. 2380 was the year that the Unification War began.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou said she had a lot of books about that, right?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, more than any other. Seems like it\u2019s one of her favorite periods in history.\u201d\n\n\u201cCoincidence!\u201d yelled Rose.\n\n\u201cShe said that the rifle was from the Unification War, too,\u201d said Cellin.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re right! Her great-something brought the gun home when the war was over.\u201d\n\nAll three children\u2019s eyes went wide with realization at the same time. \u201cWhen the war was over!\u201d\n\nYela quickly flipped opened the book and scanned for the date she was looking for.\n\nRushing back to the console, past a protesting Rose, Yela keyed 2-3-8-4 into the number pad, the year the Unification War ended.\n\nAlmost as if by magic, the main terminal sprang back to life as readouts and ship status alerts flooded the screen.\n\n\u201cIt worked!\u201d\n\n\u201cWe did it!\u201d\n\nThe three siblings embraced, celebrating the moment and feeling a sense of relief for the first time in what seemed like a very long time. Yela laughed as her cheek accidentally brushed against Rodin\u2019s furry body, and Cellin grinned widely at the sight of Rose\u2019s displeasure.\n\n\u201cBut we\u2019re not in the clear yet. Let\u2019s send out that distress comm and get rescued.\u201d\n\nYela brought up the comm screen and began to scan for open channels in the area. Almost immediately, a ship popped up on the notifications. \u201cI\u2019ve got a contact! There\u2019s a ship flying right towards our coordinates.\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course it is,\u201d said Rose. \u201cI\u2019m the one who told them to meet us here.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nYela, Daymar and Cellin stared through the cockpit-glass at the small speck of light in the distance that marked the ship rapidly approaching their location. Yela\u2019s head swam. To go from being so happy one moment, to being so full of dread, was a lot for her heart to take.\n\n\u201cHope you three are ready to spend the rest of your lives aboard a Banu ship shoveling reactor fuel or whatever it is they do with their Human servants,\u201d crowed Rose with obvious delight.\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s lying again,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cThat could be any ship.\u201d\n\nDaymar checked the scan info for the approaching vessel. \u201cIt\u2019s a Triptaker. That\u2019s a Banu model.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou should have heard how excited they were when I told them I had three little kiddies for sale. Who knows, maybe I\u2019ll sell them that gift you were so worked up about since you won\u2019t be seeing your \u2018Baba\u2019 ever again. \u2019Course, it\u2019s so nice, maybe I\u2019ll go ahead and keep it myself.\u201d\n\nSuddenly, the comms lit up. A hail was coming in. It was the Banu ship.\n\n\u201cAnswer it,\u201d encouraged Rose. \u201cI want to say hi to my old friends.\u201d\n\nThe comms chimed again. By now, the speck in the distance had begun to take on the rough form of a ship. They were getting closer.\n\n\u201cWe still have the rifle,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cWe could fight if they try to board.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut Rose said the gun didn\u2019t work,\u201d pointed out Daymar.\n\n\u201cShe probably just wanted us to think that, and even if it is broken, the Banu don\u2019t know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat if I fly us out of here?\u201d suggested Daymar. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be a pilot and I\u2019m pretty sure I could learn how to do jump points. Maybe there\u2019s a manual Yela can read.\u201d\n\nThe terminal rang once more as the Banu continued to hail their ship.\n\n\u201cI think we should answer the comm,\u201d said Yela with a surprising confidence.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause it won\u2019t matter to them that Rose is tied up. All they\u2019ll want to know is who is in charge now, and that\u2019s us.\u201d Yela paused before admitting, \u201cPlus, I\u2019ve always really, really wanted to meet a Banu.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt would be pretty fun to meet a real alien,\u201d agreed Daymar.\n\n\u201cAnd I guess if they take us prisoner, we could always do another mutiny,\u201d mulled Cellin.\n\n\u201cWe are really good at them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay, let\u2019s do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, I trust you.\u201d\n\nWith a deep breath, Yela pressed the controls on the terminal and answered the hail.\n\nOn the screen, a Banu appeared. Leaning in too close to the camera, the alien\u2019s elongated and deeply ridged face filled the image. Dark eyes twinkling, mouth spread into a wide grimace, the Banu said, \u201cHello!\u201d\n\nBefore Yela could respond, Rose strained forward against her bindings and shouted to get the Banu\u2019s attention, \u201cDraffa, these little monsters kidnapped me! You have to help. I\u2019ll give you anything you want!\u201d\n\nDraffa noticed the smuggler in the background, \u201cOh, hello, Rose! Much sorry for your kidnap. Much luck to you.\u201d The Banu turned their attention back to the children. \u201cYou are little monsters? Owners of ship now?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cExcellent! I will tell Partu to have three doniyo ready for our negotiations.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait! Draffa, you can\u2019t be serious?\u201d demanded Rose.\n\n\u201cOh, yes, servant Rose. Very serious. Every negotiation needs doniyo.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nHelmets locked in place, and Rodin safely stored inside Daymar\u2019s suit, the three children waited for the docking tube to pressurize. With a hiss, the hatch slipped open and Yela crawled forward onto the ladder inside. Soon, she was less crawling and more pulling herself along as they left the gravity of the hauling ship behind. Daymar, who had entered the tube second, gently bumped into her, after using a bit too much force to propel himself. \u201cSorry!\u201d\n\nPast the halfway mark, the pulling turned to climbing as they aligned with the ship above. A few seconds later, Yela knocked on the hatch overhead. The bottom of the tube sealed, the pressure changed again, and the top dilated open. A grinning Banu face leaned over the hole and reaching down with a longer fingered hand, assisted Yela in pulling herself up and out into the grand main chamber of the Triptaker. Her heart raced as she touched an alien for the first time. Even through a pressure suit, it was exciting.\n\nYela immediately noticed the intricate, detailed work of Banu craftsmanship glowing in the room\u2019s warm lighting. Different materials and patterns combined in a patchwork along the curving, sweeping walls which met in a high pointed arch.\n\n\u201cYela, you\u2019re in the way,\u201d said Daymar, waiting for his turn to climb out of the hatch.\n\nNearby, Draffa, so tall that the crest on their head nearly touched the ceiling, stood proudly in intricately woven robes waiting to greet the children. \u201cWelcome to my ship. I am Essosouli Draffa. That is apprentice Partu,\u201d said Draffa, pointing to the other Banu who had helped them. \u201cIt is an honor of fortune and luck to have you. May we all be rich today.\u201d\n\nTaking off her helmet and stepping forward, Yela swept outward from her chest with an open hand and carefully pronounced, \u201cThank you. I am Yela. This is Daymar. And Cellin. Ged-anu mas-sama.\u201d\n\nDraffa repeated the motion and responded, \u201cMas-sama. You speak Banu very well, yes?\u201d\n\n\u201cOnly the little bit my father taught me,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cA little bit is always good place to start. Partu only speaks a little Human, but that is why apprentice. Partu will learn.\u201d\n\nPartu murmured something to Draffa in Banu. It was too fast for Yela to pick out any of the words.\n\n\u201cOh, yes. Sloma is nearly ready. Follow, we will drink and talk.\u201d Turning from the docking port, the two Banu led the way towards the narrow end of the chamber, where a lavish table surrounded by thick cushions waited.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s sloma?\u201d whispered Daymar once the Banu were a few steps ahead.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a tea that Banu drink when making trades,\u201d answered Yela.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t have to drink it, do I?\u201d\n\nBefore Yela could respond, Draffa paused and brought their attention to a display of dozens of objects of varying shapes and sizes. \u201cBehold. These are the treasures of my souli. Each a rare and useful item. We have made much wealth and are very good at trading. It is lucky fortunate for you to be trading with a souli like ours.\u201d\n\nYela leaned in to take a closer look. Some sparkled and some bristled with spikes, but what most of the items were was beyond her knowledge. Daymar pointed to a small machine on one of the lower shelves, \u201cWoah. That\u2019s a GX-MicroComp. They stopped making those years ago.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes. That is the first trade Partu made. Very good apprentice. Bad at talking Human, but Partu is excellent at appraising. Won\u2019t be apprentice long.\u201d\n\nCellin ignored the display and looked around the rest of the room. \u201cWhere do you keep the slaves?\u201d she asked, still thinking about what Rose had said.\n\n\u201cOh, little one, we do not have any.\u201d\n\n\u201cIs that why you were so eager to buy us?\u201d\n\n\u201cCellin!\u201d Yela scolded, but Draffa just shrugged.\n\n\u201cThe truth of it is slaves are not our market, but Smuggler Rose had talked of having Humans to trade, and there is a slave souli in possession of a shield generator that I would very much like have. I considered making a deal to trade with them, but no terms had been finalized.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou good trade,\u201d said Partu with a big smile.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d demanded Cellin.\n\n\u201cPartu is appraising you. Thinks that we would be smart to have traded for you.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you,\u201d said Yela.\n\nCellin roughly yanked her older sister aside, \u201cThank you?! They\u2019re talking about owning us!\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry. You heard Draffa. They\u2019re not slave traders. Partu was just complimenting us by saying that we\u2019re valuable people.\u201d\n\nBefore Cellin could utter the snarky response that came to mind, Daymar excitedly asked, \u201cWhat is that?\u201d\n\nThe sisters looked over to see that their brother was pointing at a small transparent cage with what looked like a purple crab with tentacles instead of claws perched inside a silvery nest.\n\n\u201cAh. That is nalagerd. Very rare. Very useful. See its web. Stronger than diamonds.\u201d\n\nDaymar took Rodin out and held the sniblet up so it could see. \u201cLook Rodin, a new friend for you.\u201d\n\nPartu grew very excited upon seeing the creature in Daymar\u2019s hand. Ridge-nostrils flared, the Banu leaned in to look more closely.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a sniblet. They are also very rare and useful,\u201d said Daymar, gently stroking Rodin\u2019s fur. \u201cThis one\u2019s called Rodin. He saved our lives.\u201d\n\nPartu gave a wide grin and said, \u201cVery good.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nSeated on a thick comfortable cushion, Yela inspected the small cup that Draffa had given her. Intricately carved and decorated with inlaid shell pieces, she had been excited to learn that it was called a doniyo.\n\nCellin sat next to her kicking her legs against the cushion, the formalities and pleasantries of negotiating with the Banu burning quickly through her short supply of patience. Though she did appreciate how nice it was to finally be out of that pressure suit.\n\nPartu placed a burbling, meter-tall, shiny metal urn in front of them. Steam slowly rose from the spigots that adorned each side, releasing a woody fragrance into the air.\n\n\u201cAh, the slomaddon. Wonderful. In honor of your first time on my Triptaker, I have something special to brew.\u201d Draffa pulled out a little embroidered bag from their waist binding and withdrew a bundle of dark petals bound into a little sachet. \u201cThis is the flower of a black rose. I have tied it into a little bundle. Appropriate, yes? I think you will like very much.\u201d\n\nPartu twisted open the slomaddon\u2019s hinged top and Draffa carefully lowered in the leaves.\n\n\u201cDo you have anything you would like to brew?\u201d\n\nYela couldn\u2019t believe she hadn\u2019t planned ahead. She knew that Banu liked to drink tea and that it was customary for guests to bring something, but with all the excitement it had slipped her mind.\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d said Daymar holding out a can of bitter melon drink that he had saved just in case. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to drink it anyway.\u201d\n\nIt struck Yela in that moment just how much she depended on her siblings. I don\u2019t think I could have gotten through any of this without them . . . Then again, I probably wouldn\u2019t have gotten into this much trouble in the first place, but still . . .\n\n\u201cThis bitter melon drink represents that difficult path we took to get here, and our happiness at meeting you.\u201d Standing on her toes, she poured the contents of the drink into the slomaddon.\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d said Draffa as Partu closed the lid. \u201cNow, raise your doniyo.\u201d\n\nFollowing the Banu\u2019s lead, Yela, Daymar and Cellin held their cups beneath the spigots. Partu pushed down on the top, and piping hot tea poured out, filling all their drinking vessels at once.\n\n\u201cGrasyo asan-sloma thunad,\u201d Draffa toasted. \u201cDrink deep of me as I drink of you,\u201d and then tilted the cup back, tasting the mixture.\n\n\u201cGraysa,\u201d replied Yela, and then did the same. She nearly spit the sloma out, but managed to swallow the mouthful. \u201cZesty,\u201d she managed to sputter.\n\n\u201cThis is an interesting brew,\u201d reflected Draffa. \u201cI do not like, but I am very glad to know the taste.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt kinda tastes like that medicine Baba gave us when we all had shrivens,\u201d said Cellin, taking another sip.\n\nDaymar scrunched his nose unhappily as the smell wafted towards him. \u201cIt smells like our cleaning bucket.\u201d\n\nYela whispered to him, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to drink all of it, but you have to try it. Do you want to tell Baba that you were aboard an actual, real live Banu ship, but didn\u2019t try their alien drink?\u201d\n\nDaymar stared down at the doniyo, before closing his eyes and taking a tentative sip. \u201cHuh. It\u2019s sorta like that dangshen soup Dad gets us during the winter.\u201d Drinking more he added, \u201cBut sort of sweeter. I like it!\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have shared sloma, now share with me what it is you want,\u201d said Draffa.\n\n\u201cWe need a ride back to Sol,\u201d responded Cellin.\n\n\u201cYou have a ship. Why do you not take this?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know how to fly it,\u201d explained Daymar.\n\n\u201cAh, I see. Then Rose, your servant, can take you, yes?\u201d\n\n\u201cShe couldn\u2019t be trusted if we untied her,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cAh, yes. Yes. That is a problem,\u201d considered Draffa, stroking a long finger along their ridge. \u201cYou really want to go to Sol, you do not have any way of going there. You know, I could get to Sol with my Triptaker. Very good ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe were hoping you would take us.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is good. Trade us the sniblet and we trade you transport to Sol.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t have Rodin!\u201d protested Daymar, grabbing the sniblet from his shoulder perch and holding him tight.\n\n\u201cBut it is the sniblet that we have come all this way for. Very rare. Very useful.\u201d\n\n\u201cDaymar, I\u2019m sure they would take very good care of Rodin.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, yes. I take very excellent care. Look at ship. Look at clothing. Look at Partu. This is a good souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo. Rodin isn\u2019t something you can just trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut we could get back to Baba,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s part of our family now. If we go to back, he\u2019s coming with.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s got to be something else we can trade,\u201d said Cellin.\n\n\u201cYes. Yes. It is bad you do not want to trade sniblet. It was a fair trade. See, you want us to fly to Sol. Trip to Sol is very risky for my souli. See, not everything on the Triptaker allowed in Sol by Humans. We would have to be very careful. It is a very expensive thing you want.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou could have Rose\u2019s ship,\u201d suggested Yela.\n\n\u201cYes. If I was a ship trader, that would be good trade. But I am not a ship trader. I only have one pilot. No one to fly that ship. Plus, much work to sell the ship. It is old ship too. Parts not worth much. No, ship is bad trade for my souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about the other treasures?\u201d asked Daymar.\n\n\u201cTreasure?\u201d repeated Partu with a grin.\n\n* * *\n\nThe very tall Banu could barely fit inside the cramped secret smuggling room beneath the hauling ship\u2019s cargo bay. Partu held the pair of ancient goggles and inspected them closely, holding them in front of one eye and then the other. \u201cNo work.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow is it that there\u2019s a room full of rare items and you don\u2019t want a single one?\u201d asked Cellin.\n\n\u201cYes, maybe rare items. But they are not useful. What good to me are goggles that don\u2019t work? What good is painting of man with one ear? This map could be useful, but Partu says the city doesn\u2019t exist anymore. Why would my souli want any of these things?\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s got to be something on this ship we can trade,\u201d said Yela.\n\nTogether they walked through the ship as Partu carefully appraised and evaluated. The cargo in the hold was worth enough, but the Triptaker did not have enough room to carry it. The engine, the jump drive, the gravity generator, all could be removed and sold, but Draffa\u2019s souli did not have a mechanic who could remove the parts carefully. Finally, they ended up back in Rose\u2019s quarters, but none of the historical artifacts held appeal for the Banu. \u201cWhat good are books that talk about dead Humans?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause if you don\u2019t study history,\u201d said Rose as she stepped into the room holding the rifle, \u201cyou are doomed to repeat it. Now all of you put your hands up.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou said that gun didn\u2019t work,\u201d Cellin pointed out.\n\nRose revved the charging plate and the gun let out a highpitched whine as the tip began to glow red. \u201cI lied. Last warning. Get your hands up.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow did you untie my knots?\u201d asked Daymar as he raised his arms.\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t. My ship just happens to be old and rusty. Wasn\u2019t too long before enough pushing and pulling broke the chair.\u201d\n\n\u201cBad trade,\u201d nodded Partu.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not kidding bad trade. Still can\u2019t believe you double-crossed me like that, Draffa. Guess there\u2019s no such thing as thief\u2019s honor with you cragheads.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are wrong. My souli has most honor. Every trade we have done has been fair and I have always kept my word. It is you who disgrace yourself. Do you not see that we are in the middle of negotiations? If you wish to free yourself, do so on your own time.\u201d\n\nRose shook her head in disbelief. \u201cOh, that is it. I want all of you off my ship right now. First things first, though.\u201d She swung the gun at Daymar. \u201cYou. Give me back my sniblet.\u201d\n\nDaymar looked down at his furry friend before looking up to meet Rose\u2019s gaze. \u201cYou want him. Here, you can have him.\u201d Daymar held the sniblet out.\n\nRose reached down to grab him, but before she could, Daymar stepped forward and put Rodin onto the barrel of the rifle. Before Rose even had a chance to realize what had happened, the gun sparked and released a cloud of dark smoke. The sniblet had chewed through the metal!\n\nThe smuggler squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened.\n\n\u201cGuess you weren\u2019t lying about the gun not working after all,\u201d happily taunted Cellin.\n\n\u201cWhy you little \u2014\u201d Rose threatened as she menacingly stepped forward, but before she could do anything, Partu interposed and drove the palm of their hand up into her jaw. Just like that, Rose collapsed into a pile on the floor, unconscious for the second time that day.\n\nDaymar dropped to all fours and quickly found where the sniblet was still happily munching away on the rifle. \u201cYou saved us again, Rodin!\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was quick thinking, Daymar,\u201d said Yela. \u201cYou were right that we could never trade Rodin away.\u201d\n\nCellin looked up at Partu in awe, \u201cCan you teach me to fight like that?\u201d\n\nThe Banu grinned down at her. \u201cTrade? Help teach Partu Human?\u201d asked Partu.\n\n\u201cDeal!\u201d replied Cellin.\n\n\u201cI am happy that one trade has been made. I think I see another. If you give us the smuggler Rose, we shall take you to Sol. She knows much about finding rare items and would be a good addition to my souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou mean make her a slave?\u201d asked Yela.\n\n\u201cYes, until she can earn her freedom. She is good at treasures so it will not take her long.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be awesome,\u201d said Cellin, \u201cbut we can\u2019t. Humans aren\u2019t for trading. Even ones like Rose. It\u2019s not the TipTop way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen I am afraid the negotiations are almost over,\u201d said Draffa sadly. \u201cIt is bad that the weapon was destroyed. That would have been worth a trip to Sol. Rare and useful. Except against sniblets apparently. But there does not seem to be anything left on your ship to trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is one thing,\u201d said Yela. Quietly she strode over to her sister. \u201cBut I will only trade it if you and Daymar say it\u2019s okay, Cellin.\u201d\n\nYela had been bracing herself for an argument, but to her surprise, Cellin simply opened up her backpack, removed the gift for Baba, and handed it over.\n\n\u201cDaymar?\u201d\n\n\u201cI think Baba would want us to come home more than she\u2019d want a gift, no matter how perfect it is. And I\u2019m pretty ready to go home.\u201d\n\nYela held the gift out to Partu, who leaned in to inspect it. \u201cOh, this very good trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cMay I see it?\u201d asked Draffa, taking the gift from Yela. \u201cOh, yes. Very rare. Very useful. We take this, we take you to Sol. Fair trade?\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nThe ride back to Sol felt much quicker than the jump to Croshaw. For one thing, now that they had jumped once before, they didn\u2019t feel as sick this time when they went through. Though what really helped is that there was plenty to keep them busy aboard the Triptaker.\n\nCellin stuck to her deal and gave Partu Human lessons, teaching the different words for the body parts that the Banu was teaching her to hit.\n\nYela spent the entire trip back with Draffa, going over each and every item in the Banu\u2019s collection. She learned quickly that the Essosouli couldn\u2019t answer who made something or when it was made, but that Draffa could describe in minute detail how each of the rare and useful items worked. Yela could not wait to tell her dad everything she learned.\n\nDaymar tried his best to get Rodin and the nalagerd to be friends, but in the end, since the two kept hissing and spitting at each other, decided his efforts would be better spent trying different sloma brews.\n\nBefore they knew it, they were back at Transfer Station Banaru where their adventure had started. It was strange for Yela to see the station again. She remembered when their transport had approached Banaru and it had seemed so impressive, but now, as the Triptaker pulled into the approach vector, it seemed so different. Yela thought about how in the third book of House of Ashen Grey, Lord Falton returns home after the Battle of Hammerforge, surprised to find that life has continued on just the same while he was away.\n\nWhen they requested docking permission, they got stopped and scanned by the local authorities. Draffa was worried that some of their more illicit items would be discovered, but as soon as Yela mentioned her name, they were granted priority clearance.\n\nIt turned out that Baba had everyone on high alert looking for her missing grandchildren.\n\n* * *\n\nThey didn\u2019t take two steps into the station before they were scooped up in a big hug. Baba squeezed each one of them so hard that they couldn\u2019t breathe, and then she did it again. Tears ran down her weathered cheeks and soon all four of them were crying together, so happy to be reunited.\n\nBut after wiping away their tears with the soft sleeve of her thick sweater, the smile melted from her face. She stood up to her full height, which though it was only a little bit taller than Yela, seem a lot taller thanks to the stern expression etched into her face. \u201cYou all had me worried something pretty terrible. The security cameras clocked you going onto that ship, but it turned out the registration had been faked. No one had any idea where you could have wound up. And everyone seemed to think that space is too big to go running all over it looking for three lost young ones. I was about to buy my own ship and start hunting for you myself when you turned back up with those Banu.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re sorry,\u201d said the siblings.\n\n\u201cSave the sorries \u2019till after you tell me what the \u2019verse happened to you three.\u201d\n\nAnd so they did. They told her about the mean man on the shuttle, and losing the chocolates, and sneaking off to find a new gift, and almost solving the lockbox, and about getting lost, and then getting kidnapped, and then finding the treasure and the sniblet, and then launching the mutiny, and cracking the computer code, and then negotiating with the Banu, and then Rose escaping, and then how they eventually traded the gift, and finally flying back home to Sol. All in all, it took them almost two hours and a very large ice cream sundae to get through the full tale.\n\nThrough all of it, Baba just sat there, watching each one of the children take over part of the story from their perspective, a slight smile on her face, until they were done.\n\n\u201cBaba?\u201d\n\n\u201cI won\u2019t lie and say that I\u2019m not mad at you for sneaking off in the first place, but you three acquitted yourself quite well when things got tough. You were clever, brave, loyal, and I couldn\u2019t be more proud of you.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re sorry we had to trade away your gift,\u201d Yela replied.\n\n\u201cBut don\u2019t you want the other gift we got you, Baba?\u201d Daymar reached under his shirt and pulled out Rodin from where he had been staying warm.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re giving me your sniblet?\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, he\u2019s part of the family now, and you\u2019re always saying about how you wished family visited more. Plus, I figure he could help you at work by eating scrap metal and stuff.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea, Daymar!\u201d said Yela. \u201cRodin would be very happy living with Baba.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd we can visit Rodin when we come see Baba,\u201d said Cellin.\n\nDaymar reached out and the little furry creature eagerly crawled from his hand to Baba\u2019s.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, he\u2019s perfect. Thank you!\u201d Baba stroked Rodin\u2019s back. \u201cBut you know, you didn\u2019t need to get me anything. Getting you back safe and hearing all about your adventure is just about the best gift I could\u2019ve asked for.\u201d\n\nShe hugged her three clever, brave and loyal grandchildren.\n\n\u201cNow, what say you three to us getting out of here and heading home to Europa?\u201d\n\n\u201cActually, there\u2019s one more thing I have to do before we can go,\u201d replied Yela, her mind once more thinking about the Banu lockbox waiting at Vasko\u2019s stall and all the new tips Draffa taught her.\n\nThe End","de_DE":"Ein Geschenk f\u00fcr Baba\n08.06.2021 - 17:01 UHR\n\nvon: Will Weissbaum\n\nAnmerkung des Autors: Ein Geschenk f\u00fcr Baba (Teil Zwei) erschien zuerst in Jump Point 5.10. Lies Teil 1 hier und Teil 2 hier. Original Artwork von Sean Andrew Murray.\n\n\nTeil Drei\nDaymar, der bei weitem am besten mit Knoten umgehen konnte, war damit beauftragt worden, den bewusstlosen Schmuggler auf einem der hinteren Sitze auf der Br\u00fccke festzubinden. Sie mussten alle drei zusammenarbeiten, um die ziemlich gro\u00dfe und schlaffe Rose in Position zu bringen. Yela zuckte jedes Mal zusammen, wenn sie sich den Kopf oder die Gliedma\u00dfen der Frau stie\u00dfen, als sie sie mitschleppten, aber es war keine Zeit, \u00fcberm\u00e4\u00dfig vorsichtig zu sein und wie Cellin betonte, hatte die Frau sie als Geisel an Bord ihres Schiffes gehalten, so dass ein paar Beulen und blaue Flecken nur fair erschienen.\n\n\"Ich denke, diese Meuterei l\u00e4uft wirklich gut\", sagte Daymar, als er Roses H\u00e4nde fertig fixierte.\n\n\"Jetzt m\u00fcssen wir nur noch jemanden finden, der uns rettet\", sagte Yela und schritt auf das Kontrollterminal zu.\n\n\"Du solltest mich um Erlaubnis fragen\", sagte Cellin. \"Es war meine Meuterei, also bin ich jetzt der Kapit\u00e4n.\"\n\nCellin war w\u00e4hrend ihrer Flucht ziemlich mutig und wagemutig gewesen, dachte Yela. Vielleicht hatte sie es verdient, ein wenig Kapit\u00e4n genannt zu werden. \"Darf ich die Comms benutzen, Captain?\"\n\n\"Erlaubnis erteilt.\"\n\n\"Eigentlich glaube ich nicht\", sagte Yela. Sie tippte wiederholt auf das Terminal, aber es blieb dunkel. \"Die Comms, Flugkontrollen. Keines der externen Kontrollterminals antwortet.\"\n\nDaymar und Cellin eilten zur Konsole und versuchten, sie selbst zu aktivieren, aber nichts funktionierte.\n\n\"Hat das Entweichen der Luft sie kaputt gemacht?\", fragte Daymar.\n\n\"Ich glaube nicht\", sagte Yela. \"Sonst h\u00e4tte Cellin nicht die Sicherheitskontrollen benutzen k\u00f6nnen, um uns aus dem Frachtraum zu befreien. Au\u00dferdem kannst du sehen, wie sich die Verarbeitungsleuchten an der Seite aktivieren, wenn ich auf die Oberfl\u00e4che dr\u00fccke. Nein, ich denke, die Hauptbildschirme m\u00fcssen gesperrt sein.\"\n\n\"Was f\u00fcr ein schmutziger Trick\", sagte Cellin und h\u00e4mmerte ihre kleine Faust w\u00fctend gegen das Terminal.\n\n\"Vorsichtig! Du k\u00f6nntest kaputt gehen -\" Yela hielt mitten im Satz inne, als sie bemerkte, wie sich eine kleine Luke an der Seite des Hauptterminals l\u00f6ste. \"Was ist das?\"\n\nCellin hob die Abdeckung der Luke an. Darin befand sich ein Nummernblock.\n\n\"Das ist genau wie auf den Kisten unten im Frachtraum\", sagte Daymar. \"Meinst du, der Computer f\u00fchrt auch zu einem geheimen Schatz?\" Er blickte hinunter zu dem pelzigen Schn\u00fcffler, der auf der Schulter seines Druckanzugs hockte. \"H\u00f6rst du das, Rodin? Vielleicht gibt es noch eine weitere Skulptur f\u00fcr dich zu essen!\"\n\n\"Versuch es noch einmal mit Code 2380\", wies Yela an.\n\nCellin gab vorsichtig die Ziffern ein, aber alles, was passierte, war, dass das kleine Licht auf dem Pad rot blinkte.\n\n\"Das verstehe ich nicht. Warum hat es dieses Mal nicht funktioniert?\"\n\n\"Weil ein guter Schmuggler ein paranoider Schmuggler ist\", informierte sie eine tiefe, raue Stimme.\n\nDie Kinder drehten sich um und sahen, dass Rose aufgewacht war. Die Frau blickte die Kinder mit einem gequ\u00e4lten Gesichtsausdruck an. \"Das mit der Atmosph\u00e4re muss ich dir lassen. Es war ein guter Trick. Hat mir ein Biest von Kopfschmerzen beschert.\" Die gro\u00dfe Frau zog an ihren Fesseln und testete deren St\u00e4rke. Zum Gl\u00fcck hielten Daymars Knoten. \"Aber die lustigen Zeiten sind vorbei. Du wirst auf keinen Fall herausfinden, wie man die Hauptsteuerung des Schiffes entriegelt, und selbst wenn, w\u00fcrde es dir nichts n\u00fctzen. Wei\u00dft du \u00fcberhaupt, wo wir sind? Sieh mal da drau\u00dfen\", sagte sie und deutete mit dem Kopf auf das Cockpit-Glas.\n\nDrau\u00dfen herrschte Dunkelheit und ein paar glitzernde Sterne, aber sonst war nichts zu sehen.\n\n\"Wei\u00dft du, warum ich diesen Ort gew\u00e4hlt habe? Weil es Tausende von Kilometern von dem n\u00e4chsten Ort in Croshaw entfernt ist. Hier drau\u00dfen wird dich niemand finden. Vertrau mir. Meine Spezialit\u00e4t ist es, unter dem Radar zu fliegen. Und da ihr alle beschlossen habt, dass es eine gute Idee w\u00e4re, die Atmosph\u00e4re komplett zu entl\u00fcften, w\u00fcrde ich sagen, dass wir nur noch ein paar Stunden zum Atmen haben. Denkst du, du kannst bis dahin Hilfe finden?\"\n\nYela ging hin\u00fcber zum Lebenserhaltungsmonitor. Rose hatte die Wahrheit gesagt; ihr Sauerstoffvorrat war stark ersch\u00f6pft. So viel zu ihrem brillanten Plan, ihre Geschwister zu befreien.\n\n\"Siehst du, das Beste ist, wenn du mich jetzt losbindest. Wenn du das tust, verspreche ich dir, dass ich dich zur\u00fcck nach Sol bringe. Wie sieht es aus? Sind wir uns einig?\"\n\n\"Vielleicht sollten wir das\", sagte Daymar. \"Ich will nicht, dass mir der Sauerstoff ausgeht.\"\n\n\"Ah, der Sniblet\", sagte Rose und bemerkte das kleine Gesch\u00f6pf auf Daymars Schulter. \"Ich habe mich schon gefragt, wie du aus dem Laderaum herausgekommen bist. Clever. Ich habe euch drei definitiv untersch\u00e4tzt. Jetzt binde mich los, bevor ich meine Geduld verliere.\"\n\n\"Du untersch\u00e4tzt uns schon wieder, wenn du glaubst, wir w\u00fcrden dich einfach so losbinden\", sagte Yela und trat sch\u00fctzend vor Daymar. \"Sag uns erst den Code, dann k\u00f6nnen wir die Bedingungen f\u00fcr deine Freilassung besprechen.\"\n\n\"Siehst du, genau das habe ich gemeint. Klug\", sagte Rose. \"Aber ich bin auch schlau. Ich kenne meine Verhandlungsgeschichte. Das Helberg-Abkommen. Das Ealing-Lester Moot. Alles dasselbe. Ich verrate dir den Code und dann hast du keinen Grund, mich gehen zu lassen. Also, warum sollte ich das tun?\"\n\nCellin trat hin\u00fcber zu der Nische im hinteren Teil der Br\u00fccke und zog das gewaltige Gewehr heraus, das Rose dort aufbewahrte. Obwohl es fast so lang war, wie sie gro\u00df war, schaffte sie es, das Ende des Laufs hochzuziehen, so dass es direkt auf ihren Gefangenen gerichtet war. \"Weil ich jetzt der Kapit\u00e4n bin und du zu tun hast, was ich sage.\"\n\nYela konnte fast nicht glauben, was sie da sah. Cellin war immer schnell zur Tat geschritten, aber das? Daymar fasste Yelas Gef\u00fchle kurz und b\u00fcndig zusammen, als er sagte: \"Woah.\"\n\n\"Sag uns den Code.\"\n\nDie Antwort von Rose war nicht das, was Cellin erwartet hatte. Der Schmuggler grinste auf das kleine M\u00e4dchen und die massive Waffe herab. \"Netter Versuch, kleines M\u00e4dchen, aber das Gewehr ist nichts weiter als eine Familienantiquit\u00e4t. Mein Urgro\u00dfvater brachte es aus den Vereinigungskriegen mit nach Hause. Es hat seit Jahrhunderten nicht mehr funktioniert. Ich behalte es nur in der N\u00e4he, um Leute wie dich zu erschrecken. Wenn du mir nicht glaubst, dr\u00fcck mal drauf.\"\n\nCellin hatte gedacht, die Schmugglerin nur mit der Waffe zu erschrecken, aber jetzt verspottete die Frau sie. Rose hatte sie entf\u00fchrt, ihr Leben bedroht, und obwohl sie an einen Stuhl gefesselt war, benahm sie sich immer noch so, als w\u00e4ren sie nur ein paar Kinder, die sie herumkommandieren konnte. Cellin hasste es, wenn Erwachsene dachten, sie k\u00f6nnten tun, was sie wollten, nur weil sie gr\u00f6\u00dfer und \u00e4lter waren. Wenn sie die Regeln befolgen und nett sein musste, warum nicht auch sie?\n\nOb die Waffe nun kaputt war oder nicht - Cellin war es eigentlich egal. Auf die eine oder andere Weise w\u00fcrde sie Rose dazu bringen, zuzuh\u00f6ren.\n\n\"Gut! Das werde ich!\" Cellin richtete die Waffe auf Roses linken Stiefel und griff nach dem Abzug. Doch bevor sie versuchen konnte zu schie\u00dfen, legte Yela ihrer Schwester eine Hand auf die Schulter.\n\n\"Cellin, warte.\"\n\nCellin wollte nicht warten. Das Leben ihres Bruders und ihrer Schwester hing davon ab, diesen Code zu bekommen. Sie musste ihre Familie besch\u00fctzen. \"Wir m\u00fcssen den Code besorgen. Es ist der einzige Weg.\"\n\nF\u00fcr einen sehr langen Moment dachte Yela dar\u00fcber nach, ob sie zur\u00fccktreten und Cellin die Dinge auf ihre Art erledigen lassen sollte. Da die Atmosph\u00e4re ausging, stand viel auf dem Spiel. Sollten sie nicht alles in ihrer Macht stehende tun, um den Code zu bekommen? Aber dann dachte sie daran, was danach passieren w\u00fcrde. Wie w\u00fcrde ihre tapfere und mutige Schwester dann sein? Sie dachte an die Zeit, als sie Baba besuchten und einen Kredit-Chip auf dem Boden des Marktes gefunden hatten.\n\nNachdem sie das Geld gefunden hatten, wollten sie es zun\u00e4chst behalten, aber Baba fragte sie: \"Wisst ihr, wer TipTop Tupper ist?\" Die Kinder wussten es nicht, also erkl\u00e4rte Baba, dass TipTop Tupper der beste, freundlichste, mutigste und kl\u00fcgste Mensch ist, der jemals gelebt hat oder jemals leben wird. \"Immer wenn ich mir nicht sicher bin, was ich tun soll, versuche ich zu erraten, wie TipTop es tun w\u00fcrde. Ich denke, wenn es gut genug f\u00fcr den besten Menschen ist, ist es auch gut genug f\u00fcr mich.\"\n\n\"Wir k\u00f6nnen es schaffen, und wir k\u00f6nnen es richtig machen\", sagte Yela. Sie wandte sich an ihren Bruder. \"Daymar, was denkst du, w\u00fcrde TipTop tun, wenn sie in einem Schiff gefangen w\u00e4ren, das keine Luft mehr hat?\"\n\nDaymar dachte einen Moment nach, bevor er antwortete: \"Nun, ich bin mir nicht sicher. TipTop w\u00fcrde wahrscheinlich niemanden verletzen. Auf jeden Fall nicht jemandem, der an einen Stuhl gefesselt ist.\"\n\n\"Was denkst du, Cellin? Was w\u00fcrde TipTop tun?\"\n\nCellin z\u00f6gerte. Es war Jahre her, seit sie TipTop kennengelernt und der netten Frau das verlorene Geld zur\u00fcckgegeben hatten. Im Gro\u00dfen und Ganzen waren sie dem Spiel entwachsen, aber die Stunden, die sie damit verbrachten, dar\u00fcber zu raten und zu streiten, wie der beste Mensch des Universums die Probleme des Lebens angehen w\u00fcrde, kamen ihr wieder in den Sinn. Mit einem Seufzer lie\u00df Cellin die Waffe sinken. \"TipTop w\u00fcrde den Code mit Hilfe von Smarts herausfinden.\"\n\n\"Das denke ich auch. Willst du mir helfen?\"\n\n\"Wir werden sie aber nicht losbinden.\"\n\n\"Stimmt. Nicht einmal TipTop w\u00fcrde ihr trauen.\"\n\n\"Hey!\", protestierte Rose, aber die Kinder ignorierten sie, als sie die Br\u00fccke verlie\u00dfen und in die angrenzenden Mannschaftsquartiere gingen. \"Wer zum Teufel ist TipTop?\"\n\n* * *\n\n\"Wir suchen nach vier Zahlen, die f\u00fcr sie wichtig sein k\u00f6nnten. So etwas wie ihr Geburtstag oder die letzten vier Ziffern ihrer Registrierung\", wies Yela an, w\u00e4hrend sie und ihre beiden Geschwister begannen, Roses Quartier zu durchsuchen. \"Schaut, ob ihr etwas findet, das euch auff\u00e4llt.\"\n\n\"Wie sollen wir das in diesem Chaos machen?\", fragte Daymar, hob eine weggeworfene Tasche hoch und schaute sich die kleinen Haufen von M\u00fcnzen an, die darunter verstreut waren. \"Hier sind \u00fcberall Zahlen.\" Daymar hob eine sechseckige M\u00fcnze mit einer hohlen Mitte auf und untersuchte sie. Als er sah, dass die einzige Zahl darauf eine F\u00fcnf war, f\u00fctterte er sie an Rodin. Die kleine Kreatur knabberte hungrig an dem Metall; offensichtlich begann sie, ihren Appetit wieder zu bekommen.\n\n\"Du verschwendest deine Zeit\", rief Rose von der Br\u00fccke, \"und Sauerstoff. Vierstellige Codes haben tausende von m\u00f6glichen Kombinationen. Du wirst nie den richtigen erraten.\"\n\n\"Neuntausendneunhundertneunundneunzig!\", gab Daymar zur\u00fcck. \"Wir haben schon einen ausprobiert.\"\n\n\"Und \u00fcberhaupt, wir brauchen nicht zu raten. Wir werden es schon herausfinden.\"\n\n\"Such nach Dingen, die im Freien liegen\", schlug Cellin vor. \"Ich wei\u00df, dass zu Hause die Dinge, die mir wichtig sind, meistens oben auf dem anderen M\u00fcll landen. Wie das hier.\" Sie hielt eine kleine Glaskugel hoch, in der ein Holobild eingefroren war. \"Es sieht aus wie Rose, die in einem Loch steht.\"\n\nCellin reichte sie Yela, damit sie einen Blick darauf werfen konnte. \"Sie ist an einer Ausgrabungsst\u00e4tte. Auf dem Etikett steht 'Graduate Thesis, Kolkata'. Keine Nummer, aber wenn sie ihren Schulabschluss gemacht hat, k\u00f6nnte das Jahr der Code sein. Schau mal, ob es ein Diplom oder so etwas gibt.\"\n\n\"Du liegst v\u00f6llig daneben!\", rief Rose aus dem anderen Zimmer. \"Es sind nur vier zuf\u00e4llige Ziffern. Unm\u00f6glich zu erraten. Sehr sicher.\"\n\n\"Unwahrscheinlich\", sagte Yela, w\u00e4hrend sie den Inhalt auf dem Schreibtisch durchsuchte. \"Unser Vater hat eine Reihe von Kursen \u00fcber Xeno-Kryptologie unterrichtet und ich wei\u00df, dass die meisten Passw\u00f6rter von einer pers\u00f6nlichen Bedeutung inspiriert sind. Wirklich zuf\u00e4llige Passw\u00f6rter gibt es fast gar nicht. In der Tat sind fast 73% der vierstelligen Codes Jahre. Dein anderer Code, 2380? Wahrscheinlich ein bedeutungsvolles Jahr.\"\n\n\"Falsch!\"\n\n\"Ach ja? Warum steht dann eine 2380 auf diesem Buch?\", fragte Daymar und zeigte auf das Regal.\n\nYela griff nach dem besagten Band. 20. Oktober 2380: Ein Schritt zu weit. \"Es handelt von der Stanley Meuterei. 2380 war das Jahr, in dem der Vereinigungskrieg begann.\"\n\n\"Du hast gesagt, sie hat viele B\u00fccher dar\u00fcber, richtig?\"\n\n\"Ja, mehr als alle anderen. Es scheint eine ihrer Lieblingsperioden in der Geschichte zu sein.\"\n\n\"Zufall!\", rief Rose.\n\n\"Sie sagte auch, dass das Gewehr aus dem Vereinigungskrieg stammt\", sagte Cellin.\n\n\"Du hast recht! Ihr Gro\u00dfvater hat das Gewehr nach Hause gebracht, als der Krieg vorbei war.\"\n\nDie Augen aller drei Kinder wurden gleichzeitig gro\u00df vor Erkenntnis. \"Als der Krieg vorbei war!\"\n\nYela klappte schnell das Buch auf und suchte nach dem gesuchten Datum.\n\nSie eilte zur\u00fcck zur Konsole, vorbei an einer protestierenden Rose, und tippte 2-3-8-4 in den Nummernblock, das Jahr, in dem der Vereinigungskrieg endete.\n\nWie von Geisterhand erwachte das Hauptterminal wieder zum Leben und Anzeigen und Statusmeldungen der Schiffe \u00fcberfluteten den Bildschirm.\n\n\"Es hat funktioniert!\"\n\n\"Wir haben es geschafft!\"\n\nDie drei Geschwister umarmten sich, feierten den Moment und f\u00fchlten zum ersten Mal seit einer gef\u00fchlten Ewigkeit ein Gef\u00fchl der Erleichterung. Yela lachte, als ihre Wange versehentlich Rodins pelzigen K\u00f6rper ber\u00fchrte, und Cellin grinste breit beim Anblick von Roses Unmut.\n\n\"Aber wir sind noch nicht in Sicherheit. Lass uns den Notruf aussenden und gerettet werden.\"\n\nYela rief den Komm-Bildschirm auf und begann, nach offenen Kan\u00e4len in der Umgebung zu suchen. Fast sofort tauchte ein Schiff auf den Benachrichtigungen auf. \"Ich habe einen Kontakt! Da fliegt ein Schiff direkt auf unsere Koordinaten zu.\"\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich ist es das\", sagte Rose. \"Ich bin derjenige, der ihnen gesagt hat, dass sie uns hier treffen sollen.\"\n\n* * *\n\nYela, Daymar und Cellin starrten durch das Cockpitglas auf den kleinen Lichtfleck in der Ferne, der das Schiff markierte, das sich ihrem Standort schnell n\u00e4herte. Yelas Kopf schwirrte. Von einem Moment der Freude zu einem Moment des Grauens zu wechseln, war zu viel f\u00fcr ihr Herz.\n\n\"Ich hoffe, ihr drei seid bereit, den Rest eures Lebens an Bord eines Banu-Schiffes zu verbringen und Reaktortreibstoff zu schaufeln oder was auch immer sie mit ihren menschlichen Dienern machen\", kr\u00e4hte Rose mit offensichtlicher Freude.\n\n\"Sie l\u00fcgt schon wieder\", sagte Cellin. \"Das k\u00f6nnte jedes Schiff sein.\"\n\nDaymar \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte die Scan-Informationen f\u00fcr das sich n\u00e4hernde Schiff. \"Es ist ein Triptaker. Das ist ein Banu-Modell.\"\n\n\"Du h\u00e4ttest h\u00f6ren sollen, wie aufgeregt sie waren, als ich ihnen sagte, dass ich drei kleine Kinder zu verkaufen habe. Wer wei\u00df, vielleicht verkaufe ich ihnen das Geschenk, \u00fcber das du dich so aufgeregt hast, da du deinen 'Baba' nie wieder sehen wirst. Nat\u00fcrlich ist es so sch\u00f6n, dass ich es vielleicht auch selbst behalten werde.\"\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich leuchtete das Funkger\u00e4t auf. Ein Rufen kam herein. Es war das Schiff der Banu.\n\n\"Geh ran\", ermutigte Rose. \"Ich will meine alten Freunde gr\u00fc\u00dfen.\"\n\nDas Funkger\u00e4t l\u00e4utete erneut. Inzwischen hatte der Fleck in der Ferne die grobe Form eines Schiffes angenommen. Sie kamen immer n\u00e4her.\n\n\"Wir haben noch das Gewehr\", sagte Cellin. \"Wir k\u00f6nnten k\u00e4mpfen, wenn sie versuchen, an Bord zu kommen.\"\n\n\"Aber Rose sagte, dass das Gewehr nicht funktioniert\", wies Daymar darauf hin.\n\n\"Sie wollte wahrscheinlich nur, dass wir das denken, und selbst wenn es kaputt ist, wissen die Banu das nicht.\"\n\n\"Und wenn ich uns hier rausfliege?\", schlug Daymar vor. \"Ich wollte schon immer ein Pilot sein und ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass ich lernen k\u00f6nnte, wie man Sprungpunkte macht. Vielleicht gibt es ein Handbuch, das Yela lesen kann.\"\n\nDas Terminal klingelte erneut, als die Banu weiterhin ihr Schiff riefen.\n\n\"Ich denke, wir sollten auf das Komm antworten\", sagte Yela mit einer \u00fcberraschenden Zuversicht.\n\n\"Was?\"\n\n\"Warum?\"\n\n\"Weil es f\u00fcr sie keine Rolle spielen wird, dass Rose gefesselt ist. Alles, was sie wissen wollen, ist, wer jetzt das Sagen hat, und das sind wir.\" Yela hielt inne, bevor sie zugab: \"Au\u00dferdem wollte ich schon immer mal eine Banu treffen.\"\n\n\"Es w\u00e4re ziemlich lustig, einen echten Au\u00dferirdischen zu treffen\", stimmte Daymar zu.\n\n\"Und ich denke, wenn sie uns gefangen nehmen, k\u00f6nnen wir immer noch eine Meuterei veranstalten\", \u00fcberlegte Cellin.\n\n\"Darin sind wir wirklich gut.\"\n\n\"Okay, dann machen wir es.\"\n\n\"Ja, ich vertraue dir.\"\n\nMit einem tiefen Atemzug dr\u00fcckte Yela die Kontrollen am Terminal und antwortete auf den Ruf.\n\nAuf dem Bildschirm erschien ein Banu. Zu nah an die Kamera gelehnt, f\u00fcllte das l\u00e4ngliche und tief geriffelte Gesicht des Aliens das Bild. Dunkle Augen funkelnd, der Mund zu einer breiten Grimasse verzogen, sagte der Banu: \"Hallo!\"\n\nBevor Yela antworten konnte, stemmte sich Rose gegen ihre Fesseln und schrie, um die Aufmerksamkeit der Banu zu bekommen: \"Draffa, diese kleinen Monster haben mich entf\u00fchrt! Ihr m\u00fcsst mir helfen. Ich werde dir alles geben, was du willst!\"\n\nDraffa bemerkte den Schmuggler im Hintergrund: \"Oh, hallo, Rose! Es tut mir sehr leid, dass du entf\u00fchrt wurdest. Viel Gl\u00fcck f\u00fcr dich.\" Die Banu wandte ihre Aufmerksamkeit wieder den Kindern zu. \"Ihr seid kleine Ungeheuer? Besitzt ihr jetzt ein Schiff?\"\n\n\"Ja\", sagte Yela.\n\n\"Ausgezeichnet! Ich werde Partu sagen, dass er drei Doniyo f\u00fcr unsere Verhandlungen bereithalten soll.\"\n\n\"Warte! Draffa, das kann doch nicht dein Ernst sein?\", forderte Rose.\n\n\"Oh, doch, Dienerin Rose. Sehr ernst. Jede Verhandlung braucht Doniyo.\"\n\n* * *\n\nDie Helme aufgesetzt und Rodin sicher in Daymars Anzug verstaut, warteten die drei Kinder darauf, dass die Andockr\u00f6hre unter Druck gesetzt wurde. Mit einem Zischen glitt die Luke auf und Yela kroch nach vorne auf die Leiter im Inneren. Bald kroch sie weniger, als dass sie sich zog, als sie die Schwerkraft des Schleppschiffs hinter sich lie\u00dfen. Daymar, der als zweiter die R\u00f6hre betreten hatte, stie\u00df sanft mit ihr zusammen, nachdem er ein wenig zu viel Kraft aufgewendet hatte, um sich vorw\u00e4rts zu bewegen. \"Sorry!\"\n\nNach der H\u00e4lfte der Strecke wurde aus dem Ziehen ein Klettern, als sie sich mit dem Schiff dar\u00fcber ausrichteten. Ein paar Sekunden sp\u00e4ter klopfte Yela an die Luke \u00fcber ihnen. Der Boden der R\u00f6hre versiegelte sich, der Druck ver\u00e4nderte sich erneut und die Oberseite weitete sich. Ein grinsendes Banu-Gesicht beugte sich \u00fcber das Loch und griff mit einer langfingrigen Hand nach unten, um Yela dabei zu helfen, sich hochzuziehen und in die gro\u00dfe Hauptkammer des Triptakers zu gelangen. Ihr Herz raste, als sie zum ersten Mal einen Alien ber\u00fchrte. Sogar durch einen Druckanzug war es aufregend.\n\nYela bemerkte sofort die filigranen, detaillierten Arbeiten der Banu-Handwerkskunst, die im warmen Licht des Raumes leuchteten. Verschiedene Materialien und Muster verbanden sich in einem Patchwork entlang der geschwungenen, geschwungenen W\u00e4nde, die in einem hohen Spitzbogen zusammenliefen.\n\n\"Yela, du stehst im Weg\", sagte Daymar und wartete, bis er an der Reihe war, aus der Luke zu klettern.\n\nIn der N\u00e4he stand Draffa, so gro\u00df, dass der Scheitel ihres Kopfes fast die Decke ber\u00fchrte, stolz in kunstvoll gewebten Gew\u00e4ndern und wartete darauf, die Kinder zu begr\u00fc\u00dfen. \"Willkommen auf meinem Schiff. Ich bin Essosouli Draffa. Das ist Lehrling Partu\", sagte Draffa und deutete auf den anderen Banu, der ihnen geholfen hatte. \"Es ist mir eine gro\u00dfe Ehre und ein gro\u00dfes Gl\u00fcck, dass ihr hier seid. M\u00f6gen wir heute alle reich sein.\"\n\nYela nahm ihren Helm ab und trat vor, strich sich mit einer offenen Hand \u00fcber die Brust und sprach vorsichtig: \"Danke. Ich bin Yela. Das ist Daymar. Und Cellin. Ged-anu mas-sama.\"\n\nDraffa wiederholte die Bewegung und antwortete: \"Mas-sama. Du sprichst sehr gut Banu, ja?\"\n\n\"Nur das bisschen, das mir mein Vater beigebracht hat\", sagte Yela.\n\n\"Ein kleines bisschen ist immer ein guter Anfang. Partu spricht nur ein wenig Menschlich, aber daf\u00fcr ist er Lehrling. Partu wird es lernen.\"\n\nPartu murmelte etwas zu Draffa auf Banu. Es war zu schnell, als dass Yela eines der Worte h\u00e4tte verstehen k\u00f6nnen.\n\n\"Oh, ja. Sloma ist fast fertig. Folgt mir, wir werden trinken und reden.\" Sich von der Andockstelle abwendend, f\u00fchrten die beiden Banu den Weg zum schmalen Ende der Kammer, wo ein \u00fcppiger Tisch, umgeben von dicken Kissen, wartete.\n\n\"Was ist Sloma?\", fl\u00fcsterte Daymar, sobald die Banu ein paar Schritte voraus waren.\n\n\"Es ist ein Tee, den die Banu trinken, wenn sie Handel treiben\", antwortete Yela.\n\n\"Ich muss ihn aber nicht trinken, oder?\"\n\nBevor Yela antworten konnte, hielt Draffa inne und lenkte ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf eine Auslage mit Dutzenden von Gegenst\u00e4nden in verschiedenen Formen und Gr\u00f6\u00dfen. \"Seht. Dies sind die Sch\u00e4tze meiner Souli. Jeder ein seltener und n\u00fctzlicher Gegenstand. Wir haben viel Reichtum geschaffen und sind sehr gut im Handel. Es ist ein gro\u00dfes Gl\u00fcck f\u00fcr euch, mit einem Souli wie dem unseren zu handeln.\"\n\nYela beugte sich vor, um einen genaueren Blick darauf zu werfen. Einige funkelten und einige waren mit Stacheln besetzt, aber was die meisten Gegenst\u00e4nde waren, entging ihrem Wissen. Daymar zeigte auf ein kleines Ger\u00e4t in einem der unteren Regale: \"Woah. Das ist ein GX-MicroComp. Die werden schon seit Jahren nicht mehr hergestellt.\"\n\n\"Ja. Das ist der erste Handel, den Partu gemacht hat. Ein sehr guter Lehrling. Schlecht im Reden mit Menschen, aber Partu kann sehr gut einsch\u00e4tzen. Er wird nicht lange Lehrling sein.\"\n\nCellin ignorierte die Anzeige und sah sich im Rest des Raumes um. \"Wo h\u00e4ltst du die Sklaven?\", fragte sie, immer noch in Gedanken bei dem, was Rose gesagt hatte.\n\n\"Oh, Kleine, wir haben keine.\"\n\n\"Ist das der Grund, warum du uns so eifrig kaufen wolltest?\"\n\n\"Cellin!\" Yela schimpfte, aber Draffa zuckte nur mit den Schultern.\n\n\"Die Wahrheit ist, dass Sklaven nicht unser Markt sind, aber Schmuggler Rose hatte davon gesprochen, Menschen zum Tausch zu haben, und es gibt einen Sklavensouli, der im Besitz eines Schildgenerators ist, den ich sehr gerne haben w\u00fcrde. Ich habe in Erw\u00e4gung gezogen, einen Handel mit ihnen einzugehen, aber die Bedingungen waren noch nicht endg\u00fcltig festgelegt.\"\n\n\"Ein guter Handel\", sagte Partu mit einem breiten L\u00e4cheln.\n\n\"Was?\", fragte Cellin.\n\n\"Partu sch\u00e4tzt dich ein. Er denkt, dass es klug w\u00e4re, wenn wir f\u00fcr dich gehandelt h\u00e4tten.\"\n\n\"Danke\", sagte Yela.\n\nCellin riss ihre \u00e4ltere Schwester grob zur Seite: \"Danke?! Sie reden davon, uns zu besitzen!\"\n\n\"Mach dir keine Sorgen. Du hast Draffa geh\u00f6rt. Sie sind keine Sklavenh\u00e4ndler. Partu hat uns nur ein Kompliment gemacht und gesagt, dass wir wertvolle Menschen sind.\"\n\nBevor Cellin die schnippische Antwort aussprechen konnte, die ihm in den Sinn kam, fragte Daymar aufgeregt: \"Was ist das?\"\n\nDie Schwestern blickten hin\u00fcber, um zu sehen, dass ihr Bruder auf einen kleinen durchsichtigen K\u00e4fig zeigte, in dem etwas sa\u00df, das aussah wie eine lila Krabbe mit Tentakeln anstelle von Klauen, die in einem silbernen Nest hockte.\n\n\"Ah. Das ist Nalagerd. Sehr selten. Sehr n\u00fctzlich. Sieh dir sein Netz an. St\u00e4rker als Diamanten.\"\n\nDaymar holte Rodin heraus und hielt den Schnabel hoch, damit er ihn sehen konnte. \"Schau Rodin, ein neuer Freund f\u00fcr dich.\"\n\nPartu wurde ganz aufgeregt, als er das Gesch\u00f6pf in Daymars Hand sah. Die Nasenfl\u00fcgel flackerten, der Banu beugte sich vor, um es genauer zu betrachten.\n\n\"Es ist ein Schnabeltier. Sie sind auch sehr selten und n\u00fctzlich\", sagte Daymar und streichelte sanft \u00fcber Rodins Fell. \"Dieser hier hei\u00dft Rodin. Er hat uns das Leben gerettet.\"\n\nPartu grinste breit und sagte: \"Sehr gut.\"\n\n* * *\n\nAuf einem dicken, bequemen Kissen sitzend, begutachtete Yela den kleinen Becher, den Draffa ihr geschenkt hatte. Aufwendig geschnitzt und mit eingelegten Muschelteilen verziert, war sie begeistert gewesen, als sie erfuhr, dass es ein Doniyo genannt wurde.\n\nCellin sa\u00df neben ihr und strampelte mit den Beinen gegen das Kissen, die Formalit\u00e4ten und Annehmlichkeiten der Verhandlungen mit den Banu verbrannten schnell ihren knappen Vorrat an Geduld. Obwohl sie zu sch\u00e4tzen wusste, wie sch\u00f6n es war, endlich aus diesem Druckanzug heraus zu sein.\n\nPartu stellte eine blubbernde, meterhohe, gl\u00e4nzende Metallurne vor sie hin. Dampf stieg langsam aus den Zapfh\u00e4hnen, die jede Seite zierten, auf und entlie\u00df einen holzigen Duft in die Luft.\n\n\"Ah, der Slomaddon. Wunderbar. Zu Ehren deines ersten Mal auf meinem Triptaker habe ich etwas Besonderes zu brauen.\" Draffa zog ein kleines besticktes S\u00e4ckchen aus ihrer G\u00fcrtelbindung und entnahm ihm ein B\u00fcndel dunkler Bl\u00fctenbl\u00e4tter, die in ein kleines S\u00e4ckchen gebunden waren. \"Dies ist die Bl\u00fcte einer schwarzen Rose. Ich habe sie zu einem kleinen B\u00fcndel gebunden. Passend, ja? Ich denke, es wird dir sehr gut gefallen.\"\n\nPartu drehte den Klappdeckel des Slomaddons auf und Draffa senkte vorsichtig die Bl\u00e4tter hinein.\n\n\"Habt ihr etwas, das ihr gerne brauen m\u00f6chtet?\"\n\nYela konnte nicht glauben, dass sie nicht vorausgeplant hatte. Sie wusste, dass Banu gerne Tee trank und dass es \u00fcblich war, dass G\u00e4ste etwas mitbrachten, aber bei all der Aufregung war es ihr entfallen.\n\n\"Hier\", sagte Daymar und hielt ihr eine Dose mit bitterem Melonendrink hin, die er f\u00fcr alle F\u00e4lle aufgehoben hatte. \"Ich hatte sowieso nicht vor, es zu trinken.\"\n\nIn diesem Moment wurde Yela klar, wie sehr sie auf ihre Geschwister angewiesen war. Ich glaube nicht, dass ich das alles ohne sie durchgestanden h\u00e4tte... Andererseits w\u00e4re ich wahrscheinlich gar nicht erst in diese Schwierigkeiten geraten, aber trotzdem...\n\n\"Dieses bittere Melonengetr\u00e4nk steht f\u00fcr den schwierigen Weg, den wir genommen haben, um hierher zu kommen, und f\u00fcr unser Gl\u00fcck, dich zu treffen.\" Auf den Zehenspitzen stehend, goss sie den Inhalt des Getr\u00e4nks in den Slomaddon.\n\n\"Gut\", sagte Draffa, w\u00e4hrend Partu den Deckel schloss. \"Jetzt hebe dein Doniyo.\"\n\nDem Beispiel der Banu folgend, hielten Yela, Daymar und Cellin ihre Becher unter den Zapfhahn. Partu dr\u00fcckte auf den Deckel und hei\u00dfer Tee floss heraus und f\u00fcllte all ihre Trinkgef\u00e4\u00dfe auf einmal.\n\n\"Grasyo asan-sloma thunad\", stie\u00df Draffa an. \"Trinkt tief von mir, so wie ich von euch trinke\", und kippte dann die Tasse zur\u00fcck, um die Mischung zu probieren.\n\n\"Graysa\", antwortete Yela und tat dann dasselbe. Sie spuckte den Sloma fast aus, schaffte es aber, den Bissen hinunterzuschlucken. \"Pikant\", schaffte sie es zu stottern.\n\n\"Das ist ein interessantes Gebr\u00e4u\", \u00fcberlegte Draffa. \"Ich mag es nicht, aber ich bin sehr froh, den Geschmack zu kennen.\"\n\n\"Es schmeckt irgendwie wie die Medizin, die Baba uns gegeben hat, als wir alle Shrivens hatten\", sagte Cellin und nahm einen weiteren Schluck.\n\nDaymar r\u00fcmpfte ungl\u00fccklich die Nase, als ihm der Geruch entgegenwehte. \"Es riecht wie unser Putzeimer.\"\n\nYela fl\u00fcsterte ihm zu: \"Du musst nicht alles davon trinken, aber du musst es probieren. Willst du Baba erz\u00e4hlen, dass du an Bord eines echten, realen Banu-Schiffes warst, aber ihr au\u00dferirdisches Getr\u00e4nk nicht probiert hast?\"\n\nDaymar starrte auf den Doniyo hinunter, bevor er seine Augen schloss und einen zaghaften Schluck nahm. \"Hm. Es ist so \u00e4hnlich wie diese Dangshen-Suppe, die Papa uns im Winter bringt.\" Er trank weiter und f\u00fcgte hinzu: \"Aber irgendwie s\u00fc\u00dfer. I like it!\"\n\n\"Wir haben Sloma geteilt, nun teile mit mir, was du willst\", sagte Draffa.\n\n\"Wir brauchen eine Fahrt zur\u00fcck nach Sol\", antwortete Cellin.\n\n\"Ihr habt ein Schiff. Warum nehmt ihr das nicht?\"\n\n\"Wir wissen nicht, wie man es fliegt\", erkl\u00e4rte Daymar.\n\n\"Ah, ich verstehe. Dann kann euch Rose, eure Dienerin, mitnehmen, ja?\"\n\n\"Man k\u00f6nnte ihr nicht trauen, wenn wir sie losbinden\", sagte Yela.\n\n\"Ah, ja. Ja. Das ist ein Problem\", \u00fcberlegte Draffa und strich mit einem langen Finger \u00fcber ihren Kamm. \"Wenn du wirklich nach Sol willst, hast du keine M\u00f6glichkeit, dorthin zu gelangen. Wei\u00dft du, ich k\u00f6nnte mit meinem Triptaker nach Sol kommen. Ein sehr gutes Schiff.\"\n\n\"Wir hatten gehofft, du w\u00fcrdest uns mitnehmen.\"\n\n\"Das ist gut. Tauscht mit uns den Sniblet und wir tauschen mit euch den Transport nach Sol.\"\n\n\"Ihr k\u00f6nnt Rodin nicht haben!\", protestierte Daymar, schnappte sich den Sniblet von seiner Schulterst\u00fctze und hielt ihn fest.\n\n\"Aber es ist der Sniblet, f\u00fcr den wir den ganzen Weg hierher gekommen sind. Sehr selten. Sehr n\u00fctzlich.\"\n\n\"Daymar, ich bin mir sicher, dass sie sich sehr gut um Rodin k\u00fcmmern w\u00fcrden.\"\n\n\"Oh, ja. Ich k\u00fcmmere mich sehr gut. Sehen Sie sich das Schiff an. Schau dir die Kleidung an. Schau dir Partu an. Das ist ein guter Souli.\"\n\n\"Nein. Rodin ist nichts, was man einfach tauschen kann.\"\n\n\"Aber wir k\u00f6nnten zur\u00fcck zu Baba gehen\", sagte Yela.\n\n\"Er ist jetzt ein Teil unserer Familie. Wenn wir zur\u00fcckgehen, kommt er mit.\"\n\n\"Es muss doch noch etwas geben, was wir tauschen k\u00f6nnen\", sagte Cellin.\n\n\"Ja, ja. Es ist schlimm, dass du nicht mit Sniblet tauschen willst. Es war ein fairer Handel. Siehst du, du willst, dass wir nach Sol fliegen. Die Reise nach Sol ist sehr riskant f\u00fcr meine Souli. Siehst du, nicht alles auf dem Triptaker ist f\u00fcr Menschen in Sol erlaubt. Wir m\u00fcssten sehr vorsichtig sein. Es ist eine sehr teure Sache, die du willst.\"\n\n\"Du k\u00f6nntest das Schiff von Rose haben\", schlug Yela vor.\n\n\"Ja. Wenn ich ein Schiffsh\u00e4ndler w\u00e4re, w\u00e4re das ein guter Handel. Aber ich bin kein Schiffsh\u00e4ndler. Ich habe nur einen Piloten. Keiner, der das Schiff fliegen kann. Au\u00dferdem ist es viel Arbeit, das Schiff zu verkaufen. Es ist auch ein altes Schiff. Parts not worth much. Nein, das Schiff ist ein schlechter Tausch f\u00fcr mein Souli.\"\n\n\"Was ist mit den anderen Sch\u00e4tzen?\", fragte Daymar.\n\n\"Sch\u00e4tze?\", wiederholte Partu mit einem Grinsen.\n\n* * *\n\nDer sehr gro\u00dfe Banu passte kaum in den engen Geheimschmuggelraum unter dem Frachtraum des Schleppers. Partu hielt die uralte Brille in der Hand und inspizierte sie genau, hielt sie erst vor das eine, dann vor das andere Auge. \"Keine Arbeit.\"\n\n\"Wie kann es sein, dass hier ein Raum voller seltener Gegenst\u00e4nde ist und du keinen einzigen haben willst?\", fragte Cellin.\n\n\"Ja, vielleicht seltene Gegenst\u00e4nde. Aber sie sind nicht n\u00fctzlich. Was n\u00fctzen mir Brillen, die nicht funktionieren? Was n\u00fctzt ein Bild von einem Menschen mit einem Ohr? Diese Karte k\u00f6nnte n\u00fctzlich sein, aber Partu sagt, dass die Stadt nicht mehr existiert. Warum sollte mein Souli etwas von diesen Dingen wollen?\"\n\n\"Es muss doch irgendetwas auf dem Schiff geben, das wir tauschen k\u00f6nnen\", sagte Yela.\n\nGemeinsam gingen sie durch das Schiff, w\u00e4hrend Partu es sorgf\u00e4ltig begutachtete und bewertete. Die Fracht im Laderaum war genug wert, aber die Triptaker hatte nicht genug Platz, um sie zu transportieren. Der Antrieb, der Sprungantrieb, der Gravitationsgenerator, alles konnte ausgebaut und verkauft werden, aber Draffas Souli hatte keinen Mechaniker, der die Teile vorsichtig ausbauen konnte. Schlie\u00dflich landeten sie wieder in Roses Quartier, aber keines der historischen Artefakte hatte einen Reiz f\u00fcr die Banu. \"Wozu sind B\u00fccher gut, die \u00fcber tote Menschen sprechen?\"\n\n\"Denn wenn man die Geschichte nicht studiert\", sagte Rose, als sie mit dem Gewehr in den Raum trat, \"ist man dazu verdammt, sie zu wiederholen. Und jetzt nehmt alle eure H\u00e4nde hoch.\"\n\n\"Du hast gesagt, dass das Gewehr nicht funktioniert\", wies Cellin darauf hin.\n\nRose drehte die Ladeplatte und das Gewehr stie\u00df ein hochfrequentes Wimmern aus, w\u00e4hrend die Spitze rot zu gl\u00fchen begann. \"Ich habe gelogen. Letzte Warnung. Nimm die H\u00e4nde hoch.\"\n\n\"Wie hast du meine Knoten gel\u00f6st?\", fragte Daymar, w\u00e4hrend er seine Arme hob.\n\n\"Das habe ich nicht. Mein Schiff ist einfach nur alt und rostig. Es hat nicht lange gedauert, bis durch genug Schieben und Ziehen der Stuhl kaputt ging.\"\n\n\"Schlechter Handel\", nickte Partu.\n\n\"Das ist kein schlechter Handel. Ich kann immer noch nicht glauben, dass du mich so hintergangen hast, Draffa. Ich sch\u00e4tze, so etwas wie Diebesehre gibt es bei euch Cragheads nicht.\"\n\n\"Du irrst dich. Mein Souli hat die meiste Ehre. Jeder Handel, den wir gemacht haben, war fair und ich habe immer mein Wort gehalten. Ihr seid es, die sich in Ungnade bringt. Siehst du nicht, dass wir mitten in den Verhandlungen sind? Wenn du dich befreien willst, dann tu es in deiner eigenen Zeit.\"\n\nRose sch\u00fcttelte ungl\u00e4ubig den Kopf. \"Oh, das ist es. Ich will, dass ihr alle sofort von meinem Schiff verschwindet. Aber eins nach dem anderen.\" Sie schwenkte die Waffe auf Daymar. \"Du. Gib mir meinen Sniblet zur\u00fcck.\"\n\nDaymar sah auf seinen pelzigen Freund hinunter, bevor er aufblickte, um Roses Blick zu treffen. \"Du willst ihn. Hier, du kannst ihn haben.\" Daymar hielt den Sniblet hin.\n\nRose griff nach ihm, aber bevor sie es konnte, trat Daymar vor und setzte Rodin auf den Lauf des Gewehrs. Bevor Rose \u00fcberhaupt die Chance hatte zu realisieren, was passiert war, spr\u00fchte das Gewehr Funken und setzte eine Wolke aus dunklem Rauch frei. Der Sniblet hatte sich durch das Metall gefressen!\n\nDer Schmuggler dr\u00fcckte den Abzug, aber nichts geschah.\n\n\"Ich sch\u00e4tze, du hast doch nicht gelogen, dass die Waffe nicht funktioniert\", spottete Cellin gl\u00fccklich.\n\n\"Warum du kleiner -\" Rose drohte, als sie bedrohlich nach vorne trat, aber bevor sie etwas tun konnte, ging Partu dazwischen und fuhr ihr mit der Handfl\u00e4che in den Kiefer. Einfach so brach Rose zu einem Haufen auf dem Boden zusammen, zum zweiten Mal an diesem Tag bewusstlos.\n\nDaymar lie\u00df sich auf alle Viere fallen und fand schnell die Stelle, an der der Schnibbler immer noch fr\u00f6hlich am Gewehr knabberte. \"Du hast uns wieder gerettet, Rodin!\"\n\n\"Das war schnell gedacht, Daymar\", sagte Yela. \"Du hattest Recht, dass wir Rodin nicht weggeben k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\nCellin sah staunend zu Partu auf: \"Kannst du mir beibringen, so zu k\u00e4mpfen?\"\n\nDie Banu grinste zu ihr herab. \"Tauschen? Helfen, Partu Mensch zu lehren?\", fragte Partu.\n\n\"Abgemacht!\", antwortete Cellin.\n\n\"Ich bin froh, dass ein Handel zustande gekommen ist. Ich glaube, ich sehe einen weiteren. Wenn du uns die Schmugglerin Rose gibst, werden wir dich nach Sol bringen. Sie kennt sich mit der Suche nach seltenen Gegenst\u00e4nden aus und w\u00e4re eine gute Erg\u00e4nzung f\u00fcr meine Souli.\"\n\n\"Du meinst, wir sollen sie zur Sklavin machen?\", fragte Yela.\n\n\"Ja, bis sie sich ihre Freiheit verdienen kann. Sie ist gut im Sch\u00e4tzen, also wird sie nicht lange brauchen.\"\n\n\"Das w\u00e4re gro\u00dfartig\", sagte Cellin, \"aber das geht nicht. Menschen sind nicht zum Handeln da. Selbst solche wie Rose. Das ist nicht die Art von TipTop.\"\n\n\"Dann f\u00fcrchte ich, dass die Verhandlungen bald zu Ende sind\", sagte Draffa traurig. \"Es ist schade, dass die Waffe zerst\u00f6rt wurde. Sie w\u00e4re eine Reise nach Sol wert gewesen. Selten und n\u00fctzlich. Au\u00dfer gegen Sniblets offenbar. Aber auf deinem Schiff scheint es nichts mehr zu geben, was du gebrauchen k\u00f6nntest. rade.\"\n\n\"Es gibt eine Sache\", sagte Yela. Leise schritt sie zu ihrer Schwester hin\u00fcber. \"Aber ich werde nur tauschen, wenn du und Daymar sagen, dass es in Ordnung ist, Cellin.\"\n\nYela hatte sich auf einen Streit eingestellt, aber zu ihrer \u00dcberraschung \u00f6ffnete Cellin einfach ihren Rucksack, nahm das Geschenk f\u00fcr Baba heraus und \u00fcbergab es.\n\n\"Daymar?\"\n\n\"Ich glaube, Baba w\u00fcrde mehr wollen, dass wir nach Hause kommen, als dass sie ein Geschenk will, egal wie perfekt es ist. Und ich bin ziemlich bereit, nach Hause zu gehen.\"\n\nYela hielt Partu das Geschenk hin, der sich vorbeugte, um es zu inspizieren. \"Oh, das ist ein sehr guter Handel.\"\n\n\"Darf ich es sehen?\", fragte Draffa und nahm das Geschenk von Yela entgegen. \"Oh, ja. Sehr selten. Sehr n\u00fctzlich. Wenn wir das nehmen, bringen wir dich nach Sol. Fairer Handel?\"\n\n* * *\n\nDer Ritt zur\u00fcck nach Sol f\u00fchlte sich viel schneller an als der Sprung nach Croshaw. Zum einen f\u00fchlten sie sich, nachdem sie schon einmal gesprungen waren, dieses Mal nicht so krank, als sie durchgingen. Was aber wirklich geholfen hat, ist, dass es an Bord des Triptakers viel zu tun gab, um sie zu besch\u00e4ftigen.\n\nCellin hielt sich an ihre Abmachung und gab Partu Menschenunterricht, indem sie ihr die verschiedenen W\u00f6rter f\u00fcr die K\u00f6rperteile beibrachte, die die Banu ihr beibrachte zu treffen.\n\nYela verbrachte die gesamte R\u00fcckreise mit Draffa und sah sich jeden einzelnen Gegenstand in der Sammlung der Banu an. Sie lernte schnell, dass die Essosouli nicht beantworten konnte, wer etwas hergestellt hat oder wann es hergestellt wurde, aber dass Draffa bis ins kleinste Detail beschreiben konnte, wie jeder der seltenen und n\u00fctzlichen Gegenst\u00e4nde funktionierte. Yela konnte es kaum erwarten, ihrem Vater alles zu erz\u00e4hlen, was sie gelernt hatte.\n\nDaymar versuchte sein Bestes, um Rodin und den Nalagerd dazu zu bringen, Freunde zu werden, aber am Ende entschied er, dass er seine Bem\u00fchungen besser damit verbringen sollte, verschiedene Sloma-Br\u00e4u zu probieren, da die beiden sich st\u00e4ndig gegenseitig anfauchten und anspuckten.\n\nEhe sie sich versahen, waren sie zur\u00fcck in der Transferstation Banaru, wo ihr Abenteuer begonnen hatte. Es war seltsam f\u00fcr Yela, die Station wieder zu sehen. Sie erinnerte sich daran, wie ihr Transport sich Banaru gen\u00e4hert hatte und es so beeindruckend gewirkt hatte, aber jetzt, als der Triptaker in den Anflugvektor einfuhr, wirkte es so anders. Yela dachte daran, wie im dritten Buch von House of Ashen Grey Lord Falton nach der Schlacht von Hammerforge nach Hause zur\u00fcckkehrt und \u00fcberrascht feststellt, dass das Leben w\u00e4hrend seiner Abwesenheit genauso weitergegangen ist wie zuvor.\n\nAls sie um eine Andockerlaubnis baten, wurden sie von den \u00f6rtlichen Beh\u00f6rden angehalten und gescannt. Draffa war besorgt, dass einige ihrer illegalen Gegenst\u00e4nde entdeckt werden k\u00f6nnten, aber sobald Yela ihren Namen erw\u00e4hnte, wurde ihnen eine Sondergenehmigung erteilt.\n\nEs stellte sich heraus, dass Baba alle in h\u00f6chster Alarmbereitschaft hatte, um nach ihren vermissten Enkelkindern zu suchen.\n\n* * *\n\nSie machten keine zwei Schritte in die Station, bevor sie in eine gro\u00dfe Umarmung verwickelt wurden. Baba dr\u00fcckte jeden von ihnen so fest, dass sie nicht atmen konnten, und dann tat sie es noch einmal. Tr\u00e4nen liefen ihr \u00fcber die wettergegerbten Wangen und bald weinten alle vier zusammen, so gl\u00fccklich, wieder vereint zu sein.\n\nAber nachdem sie ihre Tr\u00e4nen mit dem weichen \u00c4rmel ihres dicken Pullovers weggewischt hatte, schmolz das L\u00e4cheln aus ihrem Gesicht. Sie richtete sich zu ihrer vollen Gr\u00f6\u00dfe auf, die, obwohl sie nur ein wenig gr\u00f6\u00dfer war als Yela, dank des strengen Ausdrucks, der in ihr Gesicht ge\u00e4tzt war, viel gr\u00f6\u00dfer wirkte. \"Ihr habt mir alle ziemlich gro\u00dfe Sorgen gemacht. Die Sicherheitskameras haben gefilmt, wie ihr auf das Schiff gegangen seid, aber es stellte sich heraus, dass die Registrierung gef\u00e4lscht war. Keiner hatte eine Ahnung, wo ihr gelandet sein k\u00f6nntet. Und alle schienen zu denken, dass der Weltraum zu gro\u00df ist, um \u00fcberall herumzulaufen und nach drei verlorenen Jungen zu suchen. Ich war kurz davor, mein eigenes Schiff zu kaufen und mich selbst auf die Suche nach euch zu machen, als ihr mit diesen Banu wieder aufgetaucht seid.\"\n\n\"Es tut uns leid\", sagten die Geschwister.\n\n\"Hebt euch das Bedauern auf, bis ihr mir erz\u00e4hlt habt, was mit euch drei passiert ist.\"\n\nUnd das taten sie. Sie erz\u00e4hlten ihr von dem b\u00f6sen Mann im Shuttle, dem Verlust der Schokolade, dem Wegschleichen, um ein neues Geschenk zu finden, dem Beinahe-Aufl\u00f6sen des Schlie\u00dffachs, dem Verirren, der Entf\u00fchrung, dem Finden des Schatzes und des Schnabels, der Meuterei, dem Knacken des Computercodes, dem Verhandeln mit den Banu, der Flucht von Rose, dem Tausch des Geschenks und dem R\u00fcckflug nach Sol. Alles in allem brauchten sie fast zwei Stunden und einen sehr gro\u00dfen Eisbecher, um die ganze Geschichte durchzugehen.\n\nDie ganze Zeit \u00fcber sa\u00df Baba einfach da und beobachtete jedes der Kinder, wie sie einen Teil der Geschichte aus ihrer Perspektive \u00fcbernahmen, ein leichtes L\u00e4cheln auf ihrem Gesicht, bis sie fertig waren.\n\n\"Baba?\"\n\n\"Ich werde nicht l\u00fcgen und sagen, dass ich nicht sauer auf euch bin, weil ihr euch \u00fcberhaupt weggeschlichen habt, aber ihr drei habt euch ganz gut geschlagen, als es schwierig wurde. Ihr wart klug, mutig und loyal, und ich k\u00f6nnte nicht stolzer auf euch sein.\"\n\n\"Es tut uns leid, dass wir dein Geschenk eintauschen mussten\", antwortete Yela.\n\n\"Aber willst du nicht das andere Geschenk, das wir dir besorgt haben, Baba?\" Daymar griff unter sein Hemd und zog Rodin heraus, wo er sich warm gehalten hatte.\n\n\"Du schenkst mir deinen Sniblet?\"\n\n\"Nun, er ist jetzt Teil der Familie und du sagst immer, dass du dir w\u00fcnschst, dass die Familie dich \u00f6fter besucht. Au\u00dferdem dachte ich mir, er k\u00f6nnte dir bei der Arbeit helfen, indem er Schrott frisst und so.\"\n\n\"Das ist eine tolle Idee, Daymar!\", sagte Yela. \"Rodin w\u00e4re sehr gl\u00fccklich, wenn er bei Baba leben w\u00fcrde.\"\n\n\"Und wir k\u00f6nnen Rodin besuchen, wenn wir Baba besuchen kommen\", sagte Cellin.\n\nDaymar streckte die Hand aus und das kleine pelzige Gesch\u00f6pf krabbelte eifrig von seiner Hand zu Babas.\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df gar nicht, was ich sagen soll, er ist perfekt. Ich danke dir!\" Baba streichelte Rodin \u00fcber den R\u00fccken. \"Aber wei\u00dft du, du h\u00e4ttest mir gar nichts schenken m\u00fcssen. Dich sicher zur\u00fcck zu bekommen und alles \u00fcber dein Abenteuer zu h\u00f6ren, ist so ziemlich das beste Geschenk, das ich mir h\u00e4tte w\u00fcnschen k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\nSie umarmte ihre drei klugen, mutigen und treuen Enkelkinder.\n\n\"Also, was haltet ihr drei davon, wenn wir von hier verschwinden und nach Europa zur\u00fcckkehren?\"\n\n\"Eigentlich gibt es noch eine Sache, die ich erledigen muss, bevor wir gehen k\u00f6nnen\", antwortete Yela, wobei sie noch einmal an die Banu-Schlie\u00dfkassette dachte, die in Vaskos Stall wartete, und an all die neuen Tipps, die Draffa ihr beigebracht hatte.\n\nDas Ende","zh_CN":"A Gift for Baba\n06\/08\/2021 - 5:01 PM\n\nBy: Will Weissbaum\n\nWriter's Note: A Gift for Baba (Part Two) first appeared in Jump Point 5.10. Read Part One here and Part Two here. Original artwork by Sean Andrew Murray.\nPart Three\nDaymar, by far the best with knots, had been put in charge of tying the unconscious smuggler to one of the rear utility seats on the bridge. It had taken all three of them working together to move the rather large and limp Rose into position. Yela had sympathetically cringed every time they had bumped the woman\u2019s head or limbs as they dragged her along, but there was no time to be overly careful and as Cellin pointed out, the woman had held them hostage aboard her ship, so a few bumps and bruises seemed only fair.\n\n\u201cI think this mutiny is going really well,\u201d said Daymar as he finished securing Rose\u2019s hands.\n\n\u201cNow all we have to do is comm someone to rescue us,\u201d said Yela, striding towards the control terminal.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re supposed to ask my permission,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cIt was my mutiny, so I\u2019m the captain now.\u201d\n\nCellin had been quite brave and daring during their escape, though Yela. Maybe she deserved to be called captain for a little bit. \u201cPermission to use the comms, Captain?\u201d\n\n\u201cPermission granted.\u201d\n\n\u201cActually, I don\u2019t think it is,\u201d said Yela. She tapped repeatedly on the terminal, but it remained dark. \u201cThe comms, flight controls. None of the external control terminals are responding.\u201d\n\nDaymar and Cellin rushed to the console and tried to activate it themselves, but nothing worked.\n\n\u201cDid leaking the air break it?\u201d asked Daymar.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d said Yela. \u201cOtherwise Cellin wouldn\u2019t have been able to use the security controls to free us from the cargo hold. Plus, you can see the processing lights on the side activate when I press on the surface. No, I think the main screens must be locked.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat a dirty trick,\u201d said Cellin, pounding her small fist angrily against the terminal.\n\n\u201cCareful! You might break \u2014\u201d Yela paused mid-sentence as she noticed a small hatch shake loose on the side of the main terminal. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d\n\nCellin lifted the cover on the hatch. Inside was a number pad.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s just like on the crates down in the cargo bay,\u201d said Daymar. \u201cYou think the computer leads to a secret treasure too?\u201d He looked down to the furry sniblet perched on the shoulder of his pressure suit. \u201cHear that, Rodin? Maybe there\u2019s another sculpture for you to eat!\u201d\n\n\u201cTry using code 2380 again,\u201d instructed Yela.\n\nCellin carefully entered the digits, but all that happened was that the little light on the pad flashed red.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand. Why didn\u2019t it work this time?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause a good smuggler is a paranoid smuggler,\u201d a deep, raspy voice informed them.\n\nThe children turned to see that Rose had awoken. The woman glared at the children with a pained expression on her face. \u201cI\u2019ll give you the atmosphere thing. It was a good trick. Gave me one beast of a headache.\u201d The large woman pulled on her restraints, testing their strength. Thankfully, Daymar\u2019s knots held. \u201cBut fun times are over. There\u2019s no way you\u2019re gonna figure out how to unlock the main ship controls, and even if you did, it wouldn\u2019t do you any good. Do you even know where we are? Look out there,\u201d she said gesturing with her head to the cockpit-glass.\n\nOutside was darkness and a spattering of twinkling stars, but little else.\n\n\u201cYou know why I chose this spot? Because it\u2019s thousands of klicks from the closest anything in Croshaw. No one\u2019s going to find you out here. Trust me. My specialty is flying under the radar. Plus, since you all decided it would be such a good idea to completely vent the atmosphere, I\u2019d say we only have a few more hours of breathing left. Think you can find help by then?\u201d\n\nYela crossed over to the life support monitor. Rose was telling the truth; their oxygen supply was severely depleted. So much for her brilliant plan to free her siblings.\n\n\u201cSee? Your best bet is to untie me right now. You do that and I promise I\u2019ll take you back to Sol. How about it? We have an accord?\u201d\n\n\u201cMaybe we should,\u201d said Daymar. \u201cI don\u2019t want to run out of oxygen.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, the sniblet,\u201d said Rose, noticing the small creature on Daymar\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI was wondering how you got out of the hold. Smart. I definitely underestimated you three. Now untie me before I lose my patience.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re underestimating us again if you think we\u2019re going to untie you just like that,\u201d said Yela, stepping protectively in front of Daymar. \u201cTell us the code first, then we can discuss the terms of your release.\u201d\n\n\u201cSee. That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. Smart,\u201d said Rose. \u201cBut I\u2019m smart, too. I know my negotiation history. The Helberg Treaty. The Ealing-Lester Moot. All the same. I tell you the code and then you have no reason to let me go. So, why would I do that?\u201d\n\nCellin stepped over to the alcove in the back of the bridge and pulled out the formidable rifle Rose kept stored there. Though it was almost as long as she was tall, she managed to hoist the end of the barrel up so it was aimed squarely at their captive. \u201cBecause I\u2019m the captain now and you have to do what I say.\u201d\n\nYela almost couldn\u2019t believe what she was seeing. Cellin was always quick to take action, but this? Daymar summed up Yela\u2019s feelings succinctly when he said, \u201cWoah.\u201d\n\n\u201cTell us the code.\u201d\n\nRose\u2019s response was not what Cellin was expecting. The smuggler grinned down at the little girl and the massive gun. \u201cNice try, little girl, but that rifle\u2019s nothing but a family antique. My great-grandfather brought it home from the Unification Wars. Hasn\u2019t worked in centuries. I just keep it around to scare people like you. Don\u2019t believe me, give it a squeeze.\u201d\n\nCellin had thought to just scare the smuggler with the gun, but now the woman was taunting her. Rose had kidnapped them, threatened their lives, and even though she was tied to a chair, was still acting like they were just some kids she could boss around. Cellin hated when adults thought they could do whatever they wanted just because they were bigger and older. If she had to follow the rules and be nice, why didn\u2019t they?\n\nWhether the gun was broken or not broken \u2014 Cellin didn\u2019t really care. One way or another she was going to make Rose listen.\n\n\u201cFine! I will!\u201d Cellin aimed the gun at Rose\u2019s left boot and reached for the trigger. But before she could attempt to fire, Yela put a hand on her sister\u2019s shoulder.\n\n\u201cCellin, wait.\u201d\n\nCellin didn\u2019t want to wait. Her brother and sister\u2019s lives depended on getting that code. She had to protect her family. \u201cWe have to get the code. It\u2019s the only way.\u201d\n\nFor what seemed like a very long moment, Yela thought about stepping back and letting Cellin do things her way. With the atmosphere running out, the stakes were dire. Shouldn\u2019t they do anything in their power to get the code? But then she thought about what would happen afterwards. What would her brave and bold sister be like then? She thought about the time they were visiting Baba and had found a credit-chit on the floor of the market.\n\nAfter they found the money, they had wanted to keep it at first, but Baba asked them, \u201cDo you know who TipTop Tupper is?\u201d The children hadn\u2019t, so Baba explained that TipTop Tupper was the best, most kind, most brave, most clever Human that ever lived or ever would. \u201cWhenever I\u2019m not sure what to do, I try to guess how TipTop would do it. Figure if it\u2019s good enough for the best Human, it\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe can get out of this, and we can do it the right way,\u201d said Yela. She turned to her brother. \u201cDaymar, what do you think TipTop would do if they were trapped in a ship losing air?\u201d\n\nDaymar thought for a second before answering, \u201cWell, I\u2019m not sure. TipTop probably wouldn\u2019t hurt someone. Definitely not someone tied to a chair.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you think, Cellin? What would TipTop do?\u201d\n\nCellin hesitated. It had been years since they first learned about TipTop and returned that nice woman\u2019s lost money. For the most part, they had outgrown the game, but the hours they spent guessing and arguing about how the best Human in the universe would tackle life\u2019s problems came back to her. With a sigh, Cellin lowered the gun. \u201cTipTop would figure out the code using smarts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what I think, too. Want to help me?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re not untying her, though.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgreed. Not even TipTop would trust her.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey!\u201d protested Rose, but the children ignored her as they left the bridge and headed into the adjoining crew quarters. \u201cWho the heck is TipTop?\u201d\n\n* * *\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re looking for four numbers that would be important to her. Something like her birthday or the last four digits in her registration,\u201d instructed Yela as she and her two siblings began searching through Rose\u2019s quarters. \u201cSee if you can find anything that stands out.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow do we do that in this mess?\u201d asked Daymar, lifting up a discarded bag and peering at the small piles of coins scattered underneath. \u201cThere\u2019s numbers everywhere.\u201d Daymar picked up a hexagonal coin with a hollow center, and inspected it. Seeing that the only number on it was a five, he fed it to Rodin. The small creature hungrily munched on the metal; clearly it was starting to get its appetite back.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re wasting your time,\u201d shouted Rose from the bridge, \u201cand oxygen. Four-digit codes have thousands of possible combinations. You\u2019ll never guess the right one.\u201d\n\n\u201cNine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!\u201d returned Daymar. \u201cWe already tried one.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd anyway, we don\u2019t need to guess. We\u2019re going to figure it out.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook for stuff that\u2019s out in the open,\u201d suggested Cellin. \u201cI know at home, the things I care about usually wind up on top of all the other garbage. Like this.\u201d She held up a small glass sphere that had a holo-image frozen inside. \u201cIt looks like Rose standing in a hole.\u201d\n\nCellin handed it to Yela so she could take a look. \u201cShe\u2019s at a dig site. The label says \u2018Graduate Thesis, Kolkata.\u2019 No number, but if she graduated from school, that year could be the code. See if there\u2019s a diploma or something around.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re way off track!\u201d shouted Rose from the other room. \u201cIt\u2019s just four random digits. Impossible to guess. Very secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot likely,\u201d said Yela as she sorted through the contents on the desk. \u201cOur father taught a series of classes on xeno-cryptology and I know that most passwords are inspired by personal significance. Truly random passwords are almost non-existent. In fact, almost 73% of four digit codes are years. Your other code, 2380? Probably a meaningful year.\u201d\n\n\u201cWrong!\u201d\n\n\u201cOh yeah? Then why is there a 2380 on that book?\u201d asked Daymar, pointing to the shelf.\n\nYela grabbed the volume in question. October 20th, 2380: A Step Too Far. \u201cIt\u2019s about the Stanley Mutiny. 2380 was the year that the Unification War began.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou said she had a lot of books about that, right?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, more than any other. Seems like it\u2019s one of her favorite periods in history.\u201d\n\n\u201cCoincidence!\u201d yelled Rose.\n\n\u201cShe said that the rifle was from the Unification War, too,\u201d said Cellin.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re right! Her great-something brought the gun home when the war was over.\u201d\n\nAll three children\u2019s eyes went wide with realization at the same time. \u201cWhen the war was over!\u201d\n\nYela quickly flipped opened the book and scanned for the date she was looking for.\n\nRushing back to the console, past a protesting Rose, Yela keyed 2-3-8-4 into the number pad, the year the Unification War ended.\n\nAlmost as if by magic, the main terminal sprang back to life as readouts and ship status alerts flooded the screen.\n\n\u201cIt worked!\u201d\n\n\u201cWe did it!\u201d\n\nThe three siblings embraced, celebrating the moment and feeling a sense of relief for the first time in what seemed like a very long time. Yela laughed as her cheek accidentally brushed against Rodin\u2019s furry body, and Cellin grinned widely at the sight of Rose\u2019s displeasure.\n\n\u201cBut we\u2019re not in the clear yet. Let\u2019s send out that distress comm and get rescued.\u201d\n\nYela brought up the comm screen and began to scan for open channels in the area. Almost immediately, a ship popped up on the notifications. \u201cI\u2019ve got a contact! There\u2019s a ship flying right towards our coordinates.\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course it is,\u201d said Rose. \u201cI\u2019m the one who told them to meet us here.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nYela, Daymar and Cellin stared through the cockpit-glass at the small speck of light in the distance that marked the ship rapidly approaching their location. Yela\u2019s head swam. To go from being so happy one moment, to being so full of dread, was a lot for her heart to take.\n\n\u201cHope you three are ready to spend the rest of your lives aboard a Banu ship shoveling reactor fuel or whatever it is they do with their Human servants,\u201d crowed Rose with obvious delight.\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s lying again,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cThat could be any ship.\u201d\n\nDaymar checked the scan info for the approaching vessel. \u201cIt\u2019s a Triptaker. That\u2019s a Banu model.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou should have heard how excited they were when I told them I had three little kiddies for sale. Who knows, maybe I\u2019ll sell them that gift you were so worked up about since you won\u2019t be seeing your \u2018Baba\u2019 ever again. \u2019Course, it\u2019s so nice, maybe I\u2019ll go ahead and keep it myself.\u201d\n\nSuddenly, the comms lit up. A hail was coming in. It was the Banu ship.\n\n\u201cAnswer it,\u201d encouraged Rose. \u201cI want to say hi to my old friends.\u201d\n\nThe comms chimed again. By now, the speck in the distance had begun to take on the rough form of a ship. They were getting closer.\n\n\u201cWe still have the rifle,\u201d said Cellin. \u201cWe could fight if they try to board.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut Rose said the gun didn\u2019t work,\u201d pointed out Daymar.\n\n\u201cShe probably just wanted us to think that, and even if it is broken, the Banu don\u2019t know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat if I fly us out of here?\u201d suggested Daymar. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be a pilot and I\u2019m pretty sure I could learn how to do jump points. Maybe there\u2019s a manual Yela can read.\u201d\n\nThe terminal rang once more as the Banu continued to hail their ship.\n\n\u201cI think we should answer the comm,\u201d said Yela with a surprising confidence.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause it won\u2019t matter to them that Rose is tied up. All they\u2019ll want to know is who is in charge now, and that\u2019s us.\u201d Yela paused before admitting, \u201cPlus, I\u2019ve always really, really wanted to meet a Banu.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt would be pretty fun to meet a real alien,\u201d agreed Daymar.\n\n\u201cAnd I guess if they take us prisoner, we could always do another mutiny,\u201d mulled Cellin.\n\n\u201cWe are really good at them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay, let\u2019s do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, I trust you.\u201d\n\nWith a deep breath, Yela pressed the controls on the terminal and answered the hail.\n\nOn the screen, a Banu appeared. Leaning in too close to the camera, the alien\u2019s elongated and deeply ridged face filled the image. Dark eyes twinkling, mouth spread into a wide grimace, the Banu said, \u201cHello!\u201d\n\nBefore Yela could respond, Rose strained forward against her bindings and shouted to get the Banu\u2019s attention, \u201cDraffa, these little monsters kidnapped me! You have to help. I\u2019ll give you anything you want!\u201d\n\nDraffa noticed the smuggler in the background, \u201cOh, hello, Rose! Much sorry for your kidnap. Much luck to you.\u201d The Banu turned their attention back to the children. \u201cYou are little monsters? Owners of ship now?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cExcellent! I will tell Partu to have three doniyo ready for our negotiations.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait! Draffa, you can\u2019t be serious?\u201d demanded Rose.\n\n\u201cOh, yes, servant Rose. Very serious. Every negotiation needs doniyo.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nHelmets locked in place, and Rodin safely stored inside Daymar\u2019s suit, the three children waited for the docking tube to pressurize. With a hiss, the hatch slipped open and Yela crawled forward onto the ladder inside. Soon, she was less crawling and more pulling herself along as they left the gravity of the hauling ship behind. Daymar, who had entered the tube second, gently bumped into her, after using a bit too much force to propel himself. \u201cSorry!\u201d\n\nPast the halfway mark, the pulling turned to climbing as they aligned with the ship above. A few seconds later, Yela knocked on the hatch overhead. The bottom of the tube sealed, the pressure changed again, and the top dilated open. A grinning Banu face leaned over the hole and reaching down with a longer fingered hand, assisted Yela in pulling herself up and out into the grand main chamber of the Triptaker. Her heart raced as she touched an alien for the first time. Even through a pressure suit, it was exciting.\n\nYela immediately noticed the intricate, detailed work of Banu craftsmanship glowing in the room\u2019s warm lighting. Different materials and patterns combined in a patchwork along the curving, sweeping walls which met in a high pointed arch.\n\n\u201cYela, you\u2019re in the way,\u201d said Daymar, waiting for his turn to climb out of the hatch.\n\nNearby, Draffa, so tall that the crest on their head nearly touched the ceiling, stood proudly in intricately woven robes waiting to greet the children. \u201cWelcome to my ship. I am Essosouli Draffa. That is apprentice Partu,\u201d said Draffa, pointing to the other Banu who had helped them. \u201cIt is an honor of fortune and luck to have you. May we all be rich today.\u201d\n\nTaking off her helmet and stepping forward, Yela swept outward from her chest with an open hand and carefully pronounced, \u201cThank you. I am Yela. This is Daymar. And Cellin. Ged-anu mas-sama.\u201d\n\nDraffa repeated the motion and responded, \u201cMas-sama. You speak Banu very well, yes?\u201d\n\n\u201cOnly the little bit my father taught me,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cA little bit is always good place to start. Partu only speaks a little Human, but that is why apprentice. Partu will learn.\u201d\n\nPartu murmured something to Draffa in Banu. It was too fast for Yela to pick out any of the words.\n\n\u201cOh, yes. Sloma is nearly ready. Follow, we will drink and talk.\u201d Turning from the docking port, the two Banu led the way towards the narrow end of the chamber, where a lavish table surrounded by thick cushions waited.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s sloma?\u201d whispered Daymar once the Banu were a few steps ahead.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a tea that Banu drink when making trades,\u201d answered Yela.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t have to drink it, do I?\u201d\n\nBefore Yela could respond, Draffa paused and brought their attention to a display of dozens of objects of varying shapes and sizes. \u201cBehold. These are the treasures of my souli. Each a rare and useful item. We have made much wealth and are very good at trading. It is lucky fortunate for you to be trading with a souli like ours.\u201d\n\nYela leaned in to take a closer look. Some sparkled and some bristled with spikes, but what most of the items were was beyond her knowledge. Daymar pointed to a small machine on one of the lower shelves, \u201cWoah. That\u2019s a GX-MicroComp. They stopped making those years ago.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes. That is the first trade Partu made. Very good apprentice. Bad at talking Human, but Partu is excellent at appraising. Won\u2019t be apprentice long.\u201d\n\nCellin ignored the display and looked around the rest of the room. \u201cWhere do you keep the slaves?\u201d she asked, still thinking about what Rose had said.\n\n\u201cOh, little one, we do not have any.\u201d\n\n\u201cIs that why you were so eager to buy us?\u201d\n\n\u201cCellin!\u201d Yela scolded, but Draffa just shrugged.\n\n\u201cThe truth of it is slaves are not our market, but Smuggler Rose had talked of having Humans to trade, and there is a slave souli in possession of a shield generator that I would very much like have. I considered making a deal to trade with them, but no terms had been finalized.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou good trade,\u201d said Partu with a big smile.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d demanded Cellin.\n\n\u201cPartu is appraising you. Thinks that we would be smart to have traded for you.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you,\u201d said Yela.\n\nCellin roughly yanked her older sister aside, \u201cThank you?! They\u2019re talking about owning us!\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry. You heard Draffa. They\u2019re not slave traders. Partu was just complimenting us by saying that we\u2019re valuable people.\u201d\n\nBefore Cellin could utter the snarky response that came to mind, Daymar excitedly asked, \u201cWhat is that?\u201d\n\nThe sisters looked over to see that their brother was pointing at a small transparent cage with what looked like a purple crab with tentacles instead of claws perched inside a silvery nest.\n\n\u201cAh. That is nalagerd. Very rare. Very useful. See its web. Stronger than diamonds.\u201d\n\nDaymar took Rodin out and held the sniblet up so it could see. \u201cLook Rodin, a new friend for you.\u201d\n\nPartu grew very excited upon seeing the creature in Daymar\u2019s hand. Ridge-nostrils flared, the Banu leaned in to look more closely.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a sniblet. They are also very rare and useful,\u201d said Daymar, gently stroking Rodin\u2019s fur. \u201cThis one\u2019s called Rodin. He saved our lives.\u201d\n\nPartu gave a wide grin and said, \u201cVery good.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nSeated on a thick comfortable cushion, Yela inspected the small cup that Draffa had given her. Intricately carved and decorated with inlaid shell pieces, she had been excited to learn that it was called a doniyo.\n\nCellin sat next to her kicking her legs against the cushion, the formalities and pleasantries of negotiating with the Banu burning quickly through her short supply of patience. Though she did appreciate how nice it was to finally be out of that pressure suit.\n\nPartu placed a burbling, meter-tall, shiny metal urn in front of them. Steam slowly rose from the spigots that adorned each side, releasing a woody fragrance into the air.\n\n\u201cAh, the slomaddon. Wonderful. In honor of your first time on my Triptaker, I have something special to brew.\u201d Draffa pulled out a little embroidered bag from their waist binding and withdrew a bundle of dark petals bound into a little sachet. \u201cThis is the flower of a black rose. I have tied it into a little bundle. Appropriate, yes? I think you will like very much.\u201d\n\nPartu twisted open the slomaddon\u2019s hinged top and Draffa carefully lowered in the leaves.\n\n\u201cDo you have anything you would like to brew?\u201d\n\nYela couldn\u2019t believe she hadn\u2019t planned ahead. She knew that Banu liked to drink tea and that it was customary for guests to bring something, but with all the excitement it had slipped her mind.\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d said Daymar holding out a can of bitter melon drink that he had saved just in case. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to drink it anyway.\u201d\n\nIt struck Yela in that moment just how much she depended on her siblings. I don\u2019t think I could have gotten through any of this without them . . . Then again, I probably wouldn\u2019t have gotten into this much trouble in the first place, but still . . .\n\n\u201cThis bitter melon drink represents that difficult path we took to get here, and our happiness at meeting you.\u201d Standing on her toes, she poured the contents of the drink into the slomaddon.\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d said Draffa as Partu closed the lid. \u201cNow, raise your doniyo.\u201d\n\nFollowing the Banu\u2019s lead, Yela, Daymar and Cellin held their cups beneath the spigots. Partu pushed down on the top, and piping hot tea poured out, filling all their drinking vessels at once.\n\n\u201cGrasyo asan-sloma thunad,\u201d Draffa toasted. \u201cDrink deep of me as I drink of you,\u201d and then tilted the cup back, tasting the mixture.\n\n\u201cGraysa,\u201d replied Yela, and then did the same. She nearly spit the sloma out, but managed to swallow the mouthful. \u201cZesty,\u201d she managed to sputter.\n\n\u201cThis is an interesting brew,\u201d reflected Draffa. \u201cI do not like, but I am very glad to know the taste.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt kinda tastes like that medicine Baba gave us when we all had shrivens,\u201d said Cellin, taking another sip.\n\nDaymar scrunched his nose unhappily as the smell wafted towards him. \u201cIt smells like our cleaning bucket.\u201d\n\nYela whispered to him, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to drink all of it, but you have to try it. Do you want to tell Baba that you were aboard an actual, real live Banu ship, but didn\u2019t try their alien drink?\u201d\n\nDaymar stared down at the doniyo, before closing his eyes and taking a tentative sip. \u201cHuh. It\u2019s sorta like that dangshen soup Dad gets us during the winter.\u201d Drinking more he added, \u201cBut sort of sweeter. I like it!\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have shared sloma, now share with me what it is you want,\u201d said Draffa.\n\n\u201cWe need a ride back to Sol,\u201d responded Cellin.\n\n\u201cYou have a ship. Why do you not take this?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know how to fly it,\u201d explained Daymar.\n\n\u201cAh, I see. Then Rose, your servant, can take you, yes?\u201d\n\n\u201cShe couldn\u2019t be trusted if we untied her,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cAh, yes. Yes. That is a problem,\u201d considered Draffa, stroking a long finger along their ridge. \u201cYou really want to go to Sol, you do not have any way of going there. You know, I could get to Sol with my Triptaker. Very good ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe were hoping you would take us.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is good. Trade us the sniblet and we trade you transport to Sol.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t have Rodin!\u201d protested Daymar, grabbing the sniblet from his shoulder perch and holding him tight.\n\n\u201cBut it is the sniblet that we have come all this way for. Very rare. Very useful.\u201d\n\n\u201cDaymar, I\u2019m sure they would take very good care of Rodin.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, yes. I take very excellent care. Look at ship. Look at clothing. Look at Partu. This is a good souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo. Rodin isn\u2019t something you can just trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut we could get back to Baba,\u201d said Yela.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s part of our family now. If we go to back, he\u2019s coming with.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s got to be something else we can trade,\u201d said Cellin.\n\n\u201cYes. Yes. It is bad you do not want to trade sniblet. It was a fair trade. See, you want us to fly to Sol. Trip to Sol is very risky for my souli. See, not everything on the Triptaker allowed in Sol by Humans. We would have to be very careful. It is a very expensive thing you want.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou could have Rose\u2019s ship,\u201d suggested Yela.\n\n\u201cYes. If I was a ship trader, that would be good trade. But I am not a ship trader. I only have one pilot. No one to fly that ship. Plus, much work to sell the ship. It is old ship too. Parts not worth much. No, ship is bad trade for my souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about the other treasures?\u201d asked Daymar.\n\n\u201cTreasure?\u201d repeated Partu with a grin.\n\n* * *\n\nThe very tall Banu could barely fit inside the cramped secret smuggling room beneath the hauling ship\u2019s cargo bay. Partu held the pair of ancient goggles and inspected them closely, holding them in front of one eye and then the other. \u201cNo work.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow is it that there\u2019s a room full of rare items and you don\u2019t want a single one?\u201d asked Cellin.\n\n\u201cYes, maybe rare items. But they are not useful. What good to me are goggles that don\u2019t work? What good is painting of man with one ear? This map could be useful, but Partu says the city doesn\u2019t exist anymore. Why would my souli want any of these things?\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s got to be something on this ship we can trade,\u201d said Yela.\n\nTogether they walked through the ship as Partu carefully appraised and evaluated. The cargo in the hold was worth enough, but the Triptaker did not have enough room to carry it. The engine, the jump drive, the gravity generator, all could be removed and sold, but Draffa\u2019s souli did not have a mechanic who could remove the parts carefully. Finally, they ended up back in Rose\u2019s quarters, but none of the historical artifacts held appeal for the Banu. \u201cWhat good are books that talk about dead Humans?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause if you don\u2019t study history,\u201d said Rose as she stepped into the room holding the rifle, \u201cyou are doomed to repeat it. Now all of you put your hands up.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou said that gun didn\u2019t work,\u201d Cellin pointed out.\n\nRose revved the charging plate and the gun let out a highpitched whine as the tip began to glow red. \u201cI lied. Last warning. Get your hands up.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow did you untie my knots?\u201d asked Daymar as he raised his arms.\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t. My ship just happens to be old and rusty. Wasn\u2019t too long before enough pushing and pulling broke the chair.\u201d\n\n\u201cBad trade,\u201d nodded Partu.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not kidding bad trade. Still can\u2019t believe you double-crossed me like that, Draffa. Guess there\u2019s no such thing as thief\u2019s honor with you cragheads.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are wrong. My souli has most honor. Every trade we have done has been fair and I have always kept my word. It is you who disgrace yourself. Do you not see that we are in the middle of negotiations? If you wish to free yourself, do so on your own time.\u201d\n\nRose shook her head in disbelief. \u201cOh, that is it. I want all of you off my ship right now. First things first, though.\u201d She swung the gun at Daymar. \u201cYou. Give me back my sniblet.\u201d\n\nDaymar looked down at his furry friend before looking up to meet Rose\u2019s gaze. \u201cYou want him. Here, you can have him.\u201d Daymar held the sniblet out.\n\nRose reached down to grab him, but before she could, Daymar stepped forward and put Rodin onto the barrel of the rifle. Before Rose even had a chance to realize what had happened, the gun sparked and released a cloud of dark smoke. The sniblet had chewed through the metal!\n\nThe smuggler squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened.\n\n\u201cGuess you weren\u2019t lying about the gun not working after all,\u201d happily taunted Cellin.\n\n\u201cWhy you little \u2014\u201d Rose threatened as she menacingly stepped forward, but before she could do anything, Partu interposed and drove the palm of their hand up into her jaw. Just like that, Rose collapsed into a pile on the floor, unconscious for the second time that day.\n\nDaymar dropped to all fours and quickly found where the sniblet was still happily munching away on the rifle. \u201cYou saved us again, Rodin!\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was quick thinking, Daymar,\u201d said Yela. \u201cYou were right that we could never trade Rodin away.\u201d\n\nCellin looked up at Partu in awe, \u201cCan you teach me to fight like that?\u201d\n\nThe Banu grinned down at her. \u201cTrade? Help teach Partu Human?\u201d asked Partu.\n\n\u201cDeal!\u201d replied Cellin.\n\n\u201cI am happy that one trade has been made. I think I see another. If you give us the smuggler Rose, we shall take you to Sol. She knows much about finding rare items and would be a good addition to my souli.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou mean make her a slave?\u201d asked Yela.\n\n\u201cYes, until she can earn her freedom. She is good at treasures so it will not take her long.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be awesome,\u201d said Cellin, \u201cbut we can\u2019t. Humans aren\u2019t for trading. Even ones like Rose. It\u2019s not the TipTop way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen I am afraid the negotiations are almost over,\u201d said Draffa sadly. \u201cIt is bad that the weapon was destroyed. That would have been worth a trip to Sol. Rare and useful. Except against sniblets apparently. But there does not seem to be anything left on your ship to trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is one thing,\u201d said Yela. Quietly she strode over to her sister. \u201cBut I will only trade it if you and Daymar say it\u2019s okay, Cellin.\u201d\n\nYela had been bracing herself for an argument, but to her surprise, Cellin simply opened up her backpack, removed the gift for Baba, and handed it over.\n\n\u201cDaymar?\u201d\n\n\u201cI think Baba would want us to come home more than she\u2019d want a gift, no matter how perfect it is. And I\u2019m pretty ready to go home.\u201d\n\nYela held the gift out to Partu, who leaned in to inspect it. \u201cOh, this very good trade.\u201d\n\n\u201cMay I see it?\u201d asked Draffa, taking the gift from Yela. \u201cOh, yes. Very rare. Very useful. We take this, we take you to Sol. Fair trade?\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nThe ride back to Sol felt much quicker than the jump to Croshaw. For one thing, now that they had jumped once before, they didn\u2019t feel as sick this time when they went through. Though what really helped is that there was plenty to keep them busy aboard the Triptaker.\n\nCellin stuck to her deal and gave Partu Human lessons, teaching the different words for the body parts that the Banu was teaching her to hit.\n\nYela spent the entire trip back with Draffa, going over each and every item in the Banu\u2019s collection. She learned quickly that the Essosouli couldn\u2019t answer who made something or when it was made, but that Draffa could describe in minute detail how each of the rare and useful items worked. Yela could not wait to tell her dad everything she learned.\n\nDaymar tried his best to get Rodin and the nalagerd to be friends, but in the end, since the two kept hissing and spitting at each other, decided his efforts would be better spent trying different sloma brews.\n\nBefore they knew it, they were back at Transfer Station Banaru where their adventure had started. It was strange for Yela to see the station again. She remembered when their transport had approached Banaru and it had seemed so impressive, but now, as the Triptaker pulled into the approach vector, it seemed so different. Yela thought about how in the third book of House of Ashen Grey, Lord Falton returns home after the Battle of Hammerforge, surprised to find that life has continued on just the same while he was away.\n\nWhen they requested docking permission, they got stopped and scanned by the local authorities. Draffa was worried that some of their more illicit items would be discovered, but as soon as Yela mentioned her name, they were granted priority clearance.\n\nIt turned out that Baba had everyone on high alert looking for her missing grandchildren.\n\n* * *\n\nThey didn\u2019t take two steps into the station before they were scooped up in a big hug. Baba squeezed each one of them so hard that they couldn\u2019t breathe, and then she did it again. Tears ran down her weathered cheeks and soon all four of them were crying together, so happy to be reunited.\n\nBut after wiping away their tears with the soft sleeve of her thick sweater, the smile melted from her face. She stood up to her full height, which though it was only a little bit taller than Yela, seem a lot taller thanks to the stern expression etched into her face. \u201cYou all had me worried something pretty terrible. The security cameras clocked you going onto that ship, but it turned out the registration had been faked. No one had any idea where you could have wound up. And everyone seemed to think that space is too big to go running all over it looking for three lost young ones. I was about to buy my own ship and start hunting for you myself when you turned back up with those Banu.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re sorry,\u201d said the siblings.\n\n\u201cSave the sorries \u2019till after you tell me what the \u2019verse happened to you three.\u201d\n\nAnd so they did. They told her about the mean man on the shuttle, and losing the chocolates, and sneaking off to find a new gift, and almost solving the lockbox, and about getting lost, and then getting kidnapped, and then finding the treasure and the sniblet, and then launching the mutiny, and cracking the computer code, and then negotiating with the Banu, and then Rose escaping, and then how they eventually traded the gift, and finally flying back home to Sol. All in all, it took them almost two hours and a very large ice cream sundae to get through the full tale.\n\nThrough all of it, Baba just sat there, watching each one of the children take over part of the story from their perspective, a slight smile on her face, until they were done.\n\n\u201cBaba?\u201d\n\n\u201cI won\u2019t lie and say that I\u2019m not mad at you for sneaking off in the first place, but you three acquitted yourself quite well when things got tough. You were clever, brave, loyal, and I couldn\u2019t be more proud of you.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re sorry we had to trade away your gift,\u201d Yela replied.\n\n\u201cBut don\u2019t you want the other gift we got you, Baba?\u201d Daymar reached under his shirt and pulled out Rodin from where he had been staying warm.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re giving me your sniblet?\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, he\u2019s part of the family now, and you\u2019re always saying about how you wished family visited more. Plus, I figure he could help you at work by eating scrap metal and stuff.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea, Daymar!\u201d said Yela. \u201cRodin would be very happy living with Baba.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd we can visit Rodin when we come see Baba,\u201d said Cellin.\n\nDaymar reached out and the little furry creature eagerly crawled from his hand to Baba\u2019s.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, he\u2019s perfect. Thank you!\u201d Baba stroked Rodin\u2019s back. \u201cBut you know, you didn\u2019t need to get me anything. Getting you back safe and hearing all about your adventure is just about the best gift I could\u2019ve asked for.\u201d\n\nShe hugged her three clever, brave and loyal grandchildren.\n\n\u201cNow, what say you three to us getting out of here and heading home to Europa?\u201d\n\n\u201cActually, there\u2019s one more thing I have to do before we can go,\u201d replied Yela, her mind once more thinking about the Banu lockbox waiting at Vasko\u2019s stall and all the new tips Draffa taught her.\n\nThe End"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":0,"created_at":"2021-06-09T02:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"4 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 20:03:28","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":18182,"next_id":18185}}