In a very unusual move, Dad opened a second bottle of wine and we sat and talked late into the night. It was wonderful to listen to him tell stories about his trip to the west with Mum. He doesn’t talk about her very often, although I’m now sure that he would if I brought the subject up more often, and it’s obvious that we both still miss her.

I’m clearly not used to even this modest amount of alcohol and when I finally surface, I have a dry mouth and a pounding headache. Luckily, I don’t need to be anywhere or do any work, just get ready for the party tonight.

Once I’ve managed to get myself rehydrated and forced down a little breakfast, I decide to head off to the gym again. I’m not sure how much exercise I’ll manage on the ship and want to put a few sessions in the bank before I leave. I’m guessing that, as long as I don’t get any major aches and pains, there’s no such thing as too much exercise.

When I finally get a chance to check my terminal, my inbox is full of documentation and details for my travels. I’m booked on the Morning Star, one of four ships that regularly travel a loop around the Equatorial Sea. They are big, even by the standards of Earth and consumed a ridiculous quantity of scarce metals. They are, however, vital to the continued expansion and well-being of our colony.

I’m lucky that one is leaving so soon. They take almost three months to make a complete loop, meaning one only leaves Sevrin City every three weeks or so. Even at almost 50km/h the trip to Eastleigh, with stops at Last Bay and Land’s End will take fifteen days, almost 12,000 kilometres in total distance at sea. The ships are powered by their own fusion generators and have been running the route for more than thirty years.

Looking at a modern map of Sevrin, it’s quite surprising to see just how far apart our main towns are scattered. Almost ninety percent of us live within 50 kilometres of the Equatorial Ocean and almost all those that don’t are in the town of Eastleigh.

I’ve never been to either Last Bay or Land’s End, but it doesn’t look like we will have time for me to play tourist as each stop is little more than a cargo and passenger stop and go. The ship does, however, carry more passengers than I had at first surmised. There can, apparently, be up to five hundred people on board.

A little further investigation shows that the cabins are small but comfortable and food is served in a large onboard restaurant. There is a gym and I should have no problem getting all the exercise I like. A walk around the deck is almost a kilometre and passengers are encouraged to take full advantage of the open air.

All in all, it sounds like a pretty good way to spend a couple of weeks and I’m now actually looking forward to it.

 

“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” Louisa tells me when I walk into the party almost half an hour late.

“Hi Lou,” I reply with a sigh. “It’s been a long day and, honestly, I had a bit of a hangover from a bit too much wine last night with Dad. Good to see you Gavin, how’s the party going so far?”

“I think it’s barely getting started yet. Don’t worry about being a bit late, dozens of people haven’t arrived yet.” 

Gavin is standing close to Lou, managing to maintain a little physical contact at all times, even as he shakes my hand in welcome.

“Why’s it been a long day?” Lou asks. “What have you been up to?”

“I’ll get us all a drink,” Gavin says as he turns towards the bar. “Anything in particular, Aidan?”

“Just a soda, please. Any flavour.” I tell him as he gives us a few moments to catch up.

“You do look a little tired,” Lou tells me once we are alone.

“I’ve just been really busy sorting out my stuff for my new job.”

“What? You’ve got a job already?”

“Yes. It’s complicated. I’ll tell you what happened, but I don’t want you to get too loud about it.”

“What are you talking about. Did you talk to the Employment Centre AI?”

“Yes, Lou, of course I did. Stay cool. I got a single suggestion.”

“You’re fucking kidding me?” Lou whispers. “I know your family history, but you are joking, right.”

“No, it’s no joke. I even got called by Nexi to make sure I wasn’t freaking out.”

“No shit! You’re a celebrity now.” Lou giggles.

“Just stop. It really was blowing my mind. Anyway, as you might have guessed, it was the perfect job for me, I’m really looking forward to it.” I tell her, noticing that Gavin is on his way back towards us with drinks in hand.

We take our glasses and are lucky enough to find an empty table that we can sit at. “So, what’s the job and when do you start?” Lou asks once we are all seated.

“I’m going to be doing physics research on Singularity Communications.”

“Wow, that’s deep,” Gavin mutters. “I’m always surprised at just how much of a science nerd you are. You’re such a good player on the team that I forget sometimes how smart you are.”

“As for when I’m starting, it’s complicated.” I tell them.

“Why should a start date be complicated?” Lou asks.

“Well, I’m going to be working in Eastleigh. I don’t start for almost a month, but I’m leaving on Monday.”

“Eastleigh?” Gavin asks. “You couldn’t find a job any further away?”

“I know. It’s a two-week boat-ride just to get there. I’m just glad we have our implants. I’ve spent half the day trying to get everything organised and working out what to take and what to leave behind.”

“Well,” Lou tells us both. “I always thought you’d be the one to end up somewhere other than in the city. I just didn’t expect you’d be off to the ends of the moon before most of the rest of us even have jobs worked out.”

“Yes. I thought that I’d maybe end up doing research or support, but right here in the capital. I’m going to miss you all, but I am looking forward to starting out in a totally new place.”

“Do you have accommodation sorted out yet?” Gavin asks.

“Yes, everything is included in the package. It doesn’t pay the best, as it is nominally a training position, but I get an apartment and more than enough spending money. Eastleigh’s not much of a town; more like a collection of different research campuses bolted together alongside the extensive port facilities that serve half of the Far Ocean.”

“You’ll stay in touch, won’t you?” Lou asks after we lapse into silence.

“Yes, of course I will. You’ll need to keep me up-to-date with all the gossip.”

“What. You barely show an interest even now.” Lou giggles.

“True. I’ll need something to keep me sane when I’m on my own 10,000 kilometres away from my home.” I tell them both. “We’ll have to make a regular thing of it. Have a Nexima dinner once every week or two?”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Gavin adds. “I keep forgetting just how easy it is to do stuff virtually now we have our implants. We can plan to have the same food and it’ll be just like sitting at the same table together.”

“Oh,” Lou exclaims when something comes into her mind. “I just thought of something. Hang on a moment.” She goes blank for a few seconds, clearly messaging or talking to someone.

“What’s up, Lou?” Gavin asks.

“I just remembered that Sarah is going to Eastleigh. They’re on their way over,” Lou tells us both. “Sarah was talking about it the other day, worried about being in a long-distance relationship. Liz is staying here in the city.”

Sarah and Liz always seem to be the most permanent of couples. They’ve been an item since middle school and never seem to fight or quarrel. That may just be a front, of course, but they seem very happy to be together whenever I encounter them. I can’t say that we have been friends, but we have always been friendly and Sarah has shared a few classes with me over the years. I’ve had very little to do with Liz, she’s always been interested and good at very different things.

“Thank God,” Sarah tells me after we have all said hello and pulled a second table over to make space. “I feared I’d not know anybody on the way to Eastleigh. Are you booked to leave on Monday, Aidan.”

“Yes, It’s all a bit last-minute feeling. I only got the job yesterday,” I tell her.

“Well, I’ve known for a couple of weeks, so I’ve managed to get a bit more organised. If you need any help, please let me know.”

“I should be fine, but thanks for the offer. I’ve hardly anything to pack apart from clothes. I’m looking forward to the trip and to work, actually.”

“Well,” Sarah tells us a little sadly, “I’m looking forward to the trip as well and I know that work is important. I’m just not looking forward to being away from this one.” She reaches out to take Liz by the hand across the table.

“The feeling is very much mutual,” Liz adds with equal wistfulness. “We’ve never been apart since we first got together.”

“Will you both manage a long-distance relationship okay?” I ask.

“Yes, I think so.” Sarah tells us. “Now we have our implants, it won’t be quite so hard. Liz has to work in the city, at least for the first few months. We’re hoping she can get a transfer to Eastleigh before the end of the year. What about you, Aidan?”

“Oh, no, I’ve no such worries. Maria and I decided it wasn’t working out for either of us before this all happened. What job have you found, Liz?”

“I’m going into city administration. It’s not as exciting as scientific research, but it should be easy enough to get a position in Eastleigh once I’ve had a few months of my training.”

“Well, Lou, Gavin and I were talking about having regular Nexima dinner dates to catch up. Now we’ll have to make them for five instead of three. Spread the gossip around more that way.” I tell her.

Sarah and Liz look at each other and both nod in appreciation. “That sounds like a great idea. It will help keep us all grounded as well as in touch with our school lives a little. We can always add friends as we find them.” Sarah tells me.

“Was that aimed at me, as I appear to be the only single member of this loose association?” I ask her with a grin.

“Maybe. There will be single people in Eastleigh, you know.”

“I’ll just be glad to get out there and start working, to be honest.” I tell everyone with a sigh. “I’ve already told Lou a little about this job opportunity, but we’re going to be a team now, so I’d like you to know. Just don’t – please don’t – tell anybody else about the circumstances.”

When I get three very puzzled expressions out of them, I tell them all about the Employment Centre AI and even about my very brief talk with Nexi. The listen in silence, just the odd look of surprise towards one another.

“I knew you were related to Michael Quilliam and, by extension to his father, but what is it with your family?” Sarah eventually asks after a long period of silence between the five of us.

“Honestly, I wish I knew. Nexi went to great pains to try and convince me to not read anything too serious into it, but there’s still this nagging feeling that I’m somehow important. Dad was sure that it’s just that the AIs take a little more interest in the descendants of Grandpa Nick and that includes me.”

“But there must be dozens of descendants by now. It’s been three hundred years,” Liz points out.

“Well, not so many here on Sevrin. We are a fairly slow-growing colony. Dad was an only child and so am I. Dad does have an uncle though. There are quite a few on Earth, though I don’t know any of them, of course.”