Previously...

Into the escape pods and headed for who knows where... 

Suggested soundtrack: You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones

-- C. 

MERIDA ST. MARIE

What they don't tell you when you enter an escape pod is that some models don't have artificial gravity. What they also don't tell you is that zero gravity can make your insides feel like they are in a washing machine. And I can tell you right now, no one wants that. Even if you have the stomach of a test pilot, there are ten other people with you in this tin can, and chances are that at least one of them is not nearly so blessed. There were suction straws attached to the harness, meant to capture vomit, but not everyone was quick enough to make use of them.

By the time we landed at the nearest spaceport with a friendly designation, we were filthy and woozy, and could hardly find our legs. 

"Well, that was something!" I said, trying to maintain my optimism. The kids weren't feeling it. 

Jori stumbled out of the hatch and just decided to stay down on the ground.

"I'm done," she said. We were the last to exit, besides the porter, so that was fine.

Will picked what looked like Alterran root vegetables out of his hair. 
"Please say we never have to do that again."

"No promises," I said, "but I'll do my best." I looked around, but all I could see was the platform we were on, and a door that led inside. "Let's go figure out where we are."

"My legs don't work," Jori mumbled. I scooped her up off the floor and Will grabbed her bag. 

No one had taken a shot at us. We were allowed to leave the transport ship peacefully in our escape pod. I told myself that whatever happened next would only be a minor inconvenience by contrast.

Then we entered the concourse. And there were people covering every square inch of space, and a woman standing on a counter with a megaphone flanked by armed security, shouting, "Please do not come to the desk. We are doing all we can. Remain where you are and we will keep you informed." 

Someone pushed someone else, and suddenly the crowd surged forward as if to rush the desk.  And just as suddenly, the guards trained their weapons on the crowd. There were screams and gasps. 

And that's when I knew this was going to be more than a minor inconvenience.  

WALT KAZPIAN

I was filling out my log book, my least favorite thing to do, when a call came over the communicator. Row picked it up.

"This is the starship Celeste Blue."

"Woodrow, tell your brother I want to talk to him." It was Glori. She sounded angry. Or, well, it was hard to tell. She kind of sounded like that all the time, actually. 

Row looked at me, questioning. I shook my head vigorously.

"I'm sorry. He's up to his arms in wiring at the minute. Can I take a message?"

"Oh, you can take a message," she said. "You can tell him he better not come back to this planet again if he knows what's good for him.  My father is not pleased, and will make sure he doesn't get off alive next time for this dishonor."

"Okay, I'll tell him. You have yourself a good day, there, Glori."

"Go screw yourself."

Row flipped the switch. He studied a couple of screens nonchalantly, before finally launching into it. "So...," he said, dragging it out in sort of a sing-songy way. "What happened on Zartos?"

"Nothing," I said, not really wanting to talk about it. I went back to scribbling figures in my book.

"Hmm. Doesn't sound like nothing."

"Ugh. Fine," I relented.  I knew he wasn't going to drop it.  "I took Glori on one date.  One date! She wanted to go to this festival, so I took her. Her dad was there and I met him. Everyone was so happy to see me. A little too happy."

Row was already starting to laugh.

"Turns out it was a betrothal festival." I stopped my story. "You knew about this, didn't you? Why didn't you warn me?"

"I knew about Zartos betrothal festivals. I didn't know you would go to one."

"Why have I never heard of this?"

"Maybe you should try reading up on planetary customs," he said in that smug way, like when were kids, that made me want to punch him. 

"Well, needless to say, let's not accept any jobs on Zartos for a while."

"I think we can manage that." He scrolled through a few more screens. "You weren't even a little tempted, though?" he asked, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.  "To settle down and raise some kids?"

"To be tricked into an arranged marriage.  No temptation whatsoever.  Besides," I said, "I'd miss out on all of this." I swept my hand dramatically before me. "Two brothers, exploring the galaxy, sharing adventure..."

"Hauling cargo," he added in, and we both laughed. "Glamourous." 

"It's not a bad life, though," I said.

"It's a living," he admitted. 

 I went back to my log book.

"Hey, did you see the score on the – "

The communicator vied for attention again. 

"If it's Glori, tell her I've shot myself out the airlock."

Row answered it. "This is the starship Celeste Blue."

"Woodrow, is Walt there with you too?"

It was Naci. She didn't usually call. We communicated often enough, but mostly she just sent us dispatches. She sounded worried. "Is everything okay, Nace?" I asked. "Mom and Dad alright?"

"Everything's fine at home. It's Merida. She's in trouble." 

"Merida?" The mention of my old friend conjured up images of her in some sort of galactic domestic bliss.  What kind of trouble could she get into?

"Yeah, she and the kids are stranded at the spaceport on Sota. Their transport was attacked by pirates and she's alone and can't reach Xander. There are no transports to be had, and no accommodations. She doesn't have clearance, so she can't leave the spaceport. She's just stuck, waiting for the authorities to do something. I was just calling her to see how she was doing. I had no idea any of this was happening. She sounded so desperate and stressed out. Is there anything we can do?"

"Row, how far are we from Sota?"

Row consulted the charts. "It's not bad. We could make it in a day and a half. Wilkerson's not too bad to deal with. I could buy us some time on the delivery. He likes me." 

"Tell her to hang on," I said. "We are on our way."