Cheyenne had to leave the kids when they arrived at the banquet hall and join her crew for the presentation of their medals and accommodation. The ceremony past in a blur for Cheyenne. She might have been at the center of attention, but she felt out of the loop entirely.
This was the last time she would wear this uniform. She knew that. There was no way she could go back.
All she could feel was fear, fear for her kids. Mom's behavior today... she wasn't sure what worried her more, that it was so erratic or that it was so typical. She was terrified that now the authorities, in the State Department, had seen her behavior, they would have to inform Child Services of it. What would the courts do? Award custody to the temporarily clean and sober father who was there, or send the kids to the stars? She knew what an American court would say.
She hadn't heard from her ex in days. Maybe he was off the wagon already. It wouldn't surprise her. In which case, would she get the kids or would they put them in foster care?
The only thing that could pull her mind away for even a short time was the Princess Sarasvat. After the President had pinned her medals on her chest, the Consortium leader gave each of them medals as well.
In the news the princess appeared to be a bubbly nineteen, twenty year old woman. She was beautiful, as Lana said, she was someone who simply was attractive, regardless of your own sexuality. But in person she was so much more. In spite of her human appearance, she had an aura of being something more. In spite her youthful appearance, she felt old. In still pictures, her eyes were gold flecked. In person those flecks moved and flowed, like you were staring at a clockwork or a tiny galaxy of stars.
She presented an overawed Cheyenne with a gemstone medallion. As she leaned over to place it on Cheyenne's neck, she whispered in her ear, "a small personal gift as well." She placed her palm on Cheyenne's and a fluid rush of Consortium flowed from her lips. There was a flash between their palms but Cheyenne had no clue what had actually occurred.
Then it was over. Lana helped her pack the medals in the small suitcase she had picked up at the market on the base ship. She changed back into her civilian outfit and rejoined her kids, who were being watched by Jack, Janda and Zeta.
The majority of the guests were serving themselves, buffet style from a half dozen tables throughout the hall. The tables groaned under the weight of food, a blend of Consortium style dishes of grains, vegetables and fish, American style foods and, to honor the newest base addition, a collection of Native American dishes.
The crew, as guests of honor, were seated on a low platform and servers bearing large trays moved throughout. She accepted a small plate but barely picked at it. She stayed close to her kids, trying to enjoy what time she had with them.
James was sitting on Janda's lap, playing with his toy. His excitement about the toy spaceship was rekindled when Janda showed him a small button on the back. When pressed the ship hovered and a holographic display of controls appeared. He was now flying the ship, the toy ducking and diving in place in response to his motions.
The rest of the crew was there, Jensen with his daughter on his lap and his wife beside them. He was in Earth-side civilian clothes and looking happy. Dan had his mother with him and Bakala. Would they continue their relationship long distance? Cheyenne hoped so.
But she felt a disconnect with all of them. Many would take the elevator down tonight after the feast and stay in hotels in Denver. Others would stay tonight on the station and go home tomorrow. Either way they would be back on Earth by tomorrow and she'd be stuck here.
"You are sad?" Lana asked, putting her arm around Cheyenne. The feast was slowly breaking up. James was asleep on a couch next to her and Mackenzie was looking tired. Mackenzie watched Lana's affection cautiously, like she knew something was going on but wasn't sure what.
"I don't want to let them go," Cheyenne said, on the verge of tears. "I want them here."
"We're working on it," Jack said quietly. "We haven't heard if he's filed anything about custody. You have the better claim. It's just a matter of time. Especially after grandma's behavior today."
"Don't," Cheyenne gasped, "please don't let anyone know. If child protective services got involved and I wasn't there. What if they sent them to foster care?"
"From the Consortium's point of view, we would respect Cheyenne's right as custodial parent, if this is what she wants," Zeta said.
"But if someone back home contests that?" Jack asked. "We don't want to create an international incident."
"I know," Cheyenne said with a sigh.
"Are you talking about us living with you?" Mackenzie asked. James started awake suddenly.
"I want to live with mom," he declared. "In space. Please? Please, Mom."
"I do too," Mackenzie declared. "I want to live with Mom."
Cheyenne wrapped her arms around her kids, overwhelmed by their support. "That's what I want, too. I don't care where or how. If I could come home right now, I would, just to be with you guys. But I can't. If they'll let us, I'd have you up here with me. But I don't know. Grandma doesn't want it and neither does your dad."
"We haven't even seen dad in months," Mackenzie said, pulling away. "Months, Mom."
"But he's clean and sober now, he said so." Cheyenne said.
"He still hasn't been to see us," Mackenzie replied.
"I just don't want to have an incident, if someone challenges the move legally," Jack repeated.
"Oh come-on," a voice protested. It was Barry, the state department liaison they met on the base ship. "We haven't had a good international incident in days."
"Weeks even," it was Badu, Barry's consortium counterpart. They had seen him once or twice on the base ship. He was an even match for Barry, two broad shouldered men, with good natured faces.
"Where's Mrs. Walker?" Zeta asked.
"Sleeping on a couch down on ground station. All the excitement and pills caught up with her. She's snoring like nothing. Got security keeping an eye on her, so no worries," Barry said. "Now to this situation..."
'You guys don't understand the whole situation," Jack said.
"Exactly," Barry interrupted. "And don't tell me. Trust me, it's easier that way. All I know is this, right this moment, she's the custodial parent. If I were to show her the way upstairs, maybe help her get a ticket off station, she'd be in her rights to take the kids with. What the court wants to decide tomorrow, would be a problem for tomorrow."
"But what if they decide the father has a case?" Cheyenne asked.
"Here, the base is under joint command. They'd probably have to honor that. On another station, a true Consortium station like Shin? Unless they deemed you incompetent as a parent, it is unlikely they'd honor any request to take the kids back."
"Shin?" she asked, "that's a deep space station."
"A deep space station?" The kids said together. James' eyes glowed excitedly. Mackenzie looked scared.
"Yeah, a bunch of dignitaries came from Shin for the feast. But they have to get right back," Badu said. "There is a class C civilian system transport leaving within the hour. You could be arriving and settling in before anyone has a chance to raise a stink back here."
"I want to be with you, Mom," Mackenzie said, though the fear was still in her eyes. "Even if we have to live on space ship."
Cheyenne hugged her. "Let's do it," she whispered. "Can we do it?" she said, looking at Lana.
Janda figured out what she was asking first. "It's been awhile since your last tank session, but I think so. You'll be pretty tired by the time we arrive, and maybe sore, but nothing will be lost that we can't fix."
"Are you sure," Jack asked Barry. "You're gonna be in so much trouble, maybe even fired."
"Aww, no," Barry joked. "Blumenthal is too mean to fire me. He'll keep me around and punish me with bullshit assignments for the next ten years. Get's you off the shit list, I guess."
"Yeah, that it will," Jack replied. "I owe you one."
"Who's going to break the news to Grandma?" Badu asked.
"I will take great pleasure in that," Jack said. To Cheyenne he added, "anything you want her to know?"
"Tell her I love her. If she wants to get off the pills and be a responsible adult, she's welcome to visit us. But I won't let her raise my kids like that."
Cheyenne turned to the kids. "Are you both sure about this? I don't want to do this if you don't want it."
"Of course, Mom," Mackenzie protested, "we want to be with you." James was pumping his head in agreement.
Cheyenne thanked Jack and Zeta for their help and followed Barry away from the banquet hall through a series of passage ways. "Are you sure about this," she asked Barry as they went.
"Oh yeah, they are making too big a deal of this anyway. Before the Consortium arrived and saved me, these incidents were my daily hell. A Saudi man takes the kids back home for a visit and announces they will stay. Fill out a form, but bad news Miss, ain't much the State Department can do. Next day it's some poor Bangladeshi woman saying her husband is abusive. Fill out a form and good news, not much some guy in Bangladesh can do. Bottom line, you have the kids and that's unlikely to change."
They reached an elevator and went up a deck.