Cheyenne slept hard. She dreamt of the attack again, looking up at the sky. But this time it wasn't silent, there was the sounds of people all around, walking by, talking in strange voices.
She woke disoriented. It took her several minutes to place where she was. The last couple of days had passed in such a blur, the banquet and the flight to Shin blurred in her mind.
She floated the surface of the tank and found Janda on watch. "What time is it?" she asked.
"Late afternoon, local time. We arrived early this morning. Both you and the kids slept most of the day. Understandable."
"You and Lana?"
"Lana has been napping. I, I don't know. I am back on a deep space station. I guess I didn't realize that I'd missed it. Been too keyed up to sleep. You ready to get up for awhile?"
She nodded yes. Janda called for assistance. The two healers appeared. Before they had finished patching her legs, Lana was there. She looked like she had just risen but worked deftly. With four healers the process of getting out of the tank went quickly. With each day the patches over her face were smaller. The ones on her fingers and legs were longer, as the tissue regrew down the length of the clackers. She was starting to believe she would heal fully one day, her body at least. The dream and the memory of that day might stay with her forever.
She stood, still covered in the remnants of the gel. She looked around for shower facilities. "You are going to love this," Janda promised, handing her a robe.
Lana led her out from behind the screen. Janda stayed behind and the other two healers departed. To one side of the bungalow was a short passageway. Two small toilets in there own private stalls were along the side along with a laundry facility. At the far back the passage turned and Cheyenne heard the sound of running water. The bathing nook was an open air pool, sunk into the ground. At the back a waterfall sent water cascading down into the pool.
"It's lovely," Cheyenne said.
"We thought you'd like it. I'll leave you to bath. I think you can manage."
"Oh no," Cheyenne replied coyly, "I think I am going to need help. A lot of help."
Lana laughed. "Perhaps you are right," she said, shedding the gown she had slept in. She pushed Cheyenne gently towards the tub. "Come'on Miss Cheyenne, let's scrub you clean."
Some time later, they climbed out and redressed. Mackenzie was awake, looking on the verge of tears again. James was still snoring. Neither Janda or the other healers were anywhere to be seen. Mackenzie's eyes darted to the passage and to Lana, as if remarking on the fact that the two of them came out together.
Cheyenne went and sat next to her, gathering her daughter on her lap. "What's wrong, honey?"
"My friends at school," Mackenzie said. "I am never gonna see them again, am I?"
"Don't say never," Cheyenne replied. "When I am better we'll visit home. Get some of your stuff and see some people. In the meantime, we can try to message some of them on Skype or something."
"Can we do that?" Mackenzie asked.
"Of course," Lana said. "There are hyperlink relays. We can communicate with Earth in realtime from almost anywhere in this system."
"And school?" Mackenzie said. "What about school?"
Cheyenne rocked Mackenzie and reassured her as she went through a long litany of things she wouldn't see or do again. It was clearly going to be a hard transition for the girl.
James on the other hand... there was a rustle in the upper bungalow and then his head peeking out from behind a curtain in the open doorway. "I slept way up here, Mom," he said. "It was awesome. I can see the tops of other bungalows for miles, miles, Mom."
Cheyenne laughed. "Miles is probably an exaggeration, but this place is amazing. Doesn't seem like we are on a space ship."
"Wait till you see the bowl," Janda said from the doorway. He was back with another man in tow. The man had dark complexion and wavy gray hair. He was broad and had been athletic in his youth. Now he had a slight belly. He wore a thickly decorated uniform.
"Capal Turik," he said, bumping his chest, "Sub-magister of Shin station."
Cheyenne startled. Had the authorities caught up with them already? Were they going to be ordered back? "Is there a problem?" she asked. She felt Mackenzie stiffen in her lap.
"No, no," Capal said with a laugh. "In fact I am not even here on official business. We heard that the honored war hero Cheyenne Walker was onboard our station. But I sought you out for my own reasons."
"He wants to take us to dinner," Janda supplied.
"Indeed, I have a proposition for you. But first let us eat and be friends," Capal said.
Capal had his own personal transport. He let James sit in the front with him and he graciously answered the hundreds of questions that James spouted almost continuously. The rest of them rode in the back and Cheyenne mostly listened.
He drove them to a large lift built to accommodate transports. They rode up a long time, nearly a half hour. Finally the lift stopped. They drove out and started down a long passageway. It was wide enough for two lanes of motorized carts and ample foot traffic on both sides. There was plenty of other traffic as well, especially on the foot paths. The passageway began to rise and ahead Cheyenne could see a dim light.
"Now let me show the true glory of Shin Station," he announced, "the bowl." They crested out of the passageway onto a street. The bowl spanned several kilometers and from their vantage on the edge, they had an incredible view of it. A couple of larger roads ran through the city. They branched off at intervals into narrow cobblestone streets lined with two and three story villa styled houses. Cheyenne could see open air markets at intervals, parks and coliseums. Trees lined the road.
Capal parked and then pointed out some of the major sites. "There, that's the Omezaa Zoo, one of the finest anywhere."
"A zoo? In space?" Mackenzie asked, astounded.
Capal chuckled. "Young lady," he chided. "When you live on a planet maybe you can take nature for granted. But in space you have no such luxury. We cultivate nature as much as possible on the station, and encourage our children to experience it. It is good for the soul." He sat back down and resumed driving.
They parked on the edge of one of the market places. Capal's wife, a slender woman with matching complexion but long dark hair, was waiting for them at the entrance. Stores lined the lower level of three story buildings on both sides. There was a fountain a block down. The open space between was filled with benches and people selling food or other items from small carts. Capal stopped a woman pushing a flower cart and ordered, "one for each of the ladies," including a beautiful white carnation for Mackenzie, which caused her to blush fiercely. And then he ordered three more red tiger lily's to be pinned to his lapel, Janda's and James junior.
The restaurant was a sunken affair on the edge of one of the marketplaces. The front was brick lined and had the look and feel of being an old place.
Across the plaza was a theater. The doors were open and a crowd was making it's way in. "It's good timing," Capal's wife commented. "When the play lets out, every restaurant will be packed."
The place was noted for its open faced sandwiches, cooked to perfection in a brick oven that dominated the back to restaurant. They ate a long leisurely meal before Capal got around to his proposition.
"In addition to being the fourth highest administrator onboard this station," he said with obvious pride, "I am on the board for Jinta Tribe. Are you familiar with our tradition related to tribes?"
"I think so," Cheyenne said. "People can form tribes for many reasons, similar cultures, similar interests, or simply to help raise children together."
"Indeed," he said waving her explanation away, "Jinta is one of the oldest and most prestigious tribes on Shin. We were formed for a simple purpose, to give our children the best foundation in life and the best chance to make the most of their unique gifts. We do this by surrounding them with role models, people who exemplify the best traits of the Consortium."
"Intelligence, creativity, productivity," his wife listed off, "honor, education..."
"And of course, bravery," Capal finished. "By attracting adults who exemplify these traits, we give our children a lifetime to imbued these same traits themselves. That, plus the best school and enrichment areas and activities have created an ideal childhood, one that helps the kids succeed."
"It is a theory that works," his wife insisted. "Jinta raised kids go into the world and rise high in the meritocracy, just look at my husband here, a product of our lifestyle."
"And many come back, as I have, to repay the gift to the next generation," he said.
"That sounds wonderful," Cheyenne said.
"And I think you can see where this is going," he said. Cheyenne couldn't. She stared at him blankly. "Your heroism, your attitude, I think you would make a great addition to our tribe, if you are willing to consider it."
"I am no hero," she replied. "I just did what I had to, what anyone in my situation would have done."
"So you've said in interviews," he said, leaning forward and resting his chin on his knuckles. "And if you had said anything else, we would not be here now. True bravery is not egotism. It's not bravado or daring do. True bravery is doing what has to be done in the hardest of situations. And despite your protest, most would not have willingly done what you did. You have proven yourself to have real mettle."
"And your recovery," his wife said. "It can't have been easy. Even now, it can't be easy. Yet you have shown such grace. All we want is for our children to hear your story from your lips, to see your attitude, how you face life. Few are offered such a high honor."
"It does sound like a great honor," Cheyenne said quickly. "I just don't know..."
"It's not a decision to jump into," Capal said. "I understand. I am proposing only this, be our guest. For a while. See what it's like for yourself. As I have said, I am on the board. My word carries weight, but I don't make the final decision anyway. You will be my guest, and I will introduce you to others on the board. If they feel as I do, and you like what you see, we will talk about more permanent membership."
Cheyenne looked to Lana. "I am honored, but I think... I've had enough of being a hero. I just want to be a mother, now."
Capal nodded, accepting her rejection gracefully. "Of course. The invitation is open, if you change your mind."
Cheyenne nodded and thanked him again.