Free In the Company of Others by Julie E. Czerneda Page B

“Hang around long enough and you’ll hear even wilder ones. Maybe you’ll find one more to your liking!”
    Gail steepled her fingers on her desk. “Administrator, I’m many things, but I am not a fool. The Survivor Legends are just as widespread in Sol System as here.” A minor exaggeration. For Tobo, she added, “The details vary, but all revolve around a brave hero who lands on one of the contaminated worlds and returns with the secret of how to withstand the Quill Effect. Some versions include the establishment of a hidden colony. Some have the Survivor forgetting the secret and wandering from station to station trying to find it again, only to fail. Others have him—or her—becoming the savior of humanity.” She raised an eyebrow. “Do I have the essence of it correct, Administrator Forester?”
    Mirth forgotten, Forester nodded, tight-lipped.
    Gail hardened her voice slightly, tapping her fingers on the desk in emphasis. “So, perhaps you can accept that we are here for something other than chasing myths, that Earth might have financed this state-of-the-art ship and my considerable expertise for something other than daydreams, and that if I require this individual, Aaron Pardell, perhaps—just perhaps, Administrator—” this with sudden sharpness, “you and your station should bend every resource to my aid instead of offering obstructions.”
    Her attack drove the red from Forester’s face, but he didn’t back down. This was , Gail reminded herself, an individual who kept order among thousands of rightfully frustrated people. “Perhaps, Dr. Smith,” he countered almost smoothly, “you and your—scientific—staff should share your reasons with us, if you expect our help.”
    If? Gail repeated to herself. She’d come a little too far to tolerate an “if” from a man like Forester. “I expect you to obey orders,” she snapped. “Or have you forgotten who runs this station?”
    â€œOrders?” He snorted derisively. “Oh, you mean TerraCor Limited? Or Earth? If you think either of them has any authority left here, you’ve been badly misled, Dr. Smith. Thromberg’s independent—”
    â€œIs that so?” Gail put her hands flat on the desktop and pushed herself up so that she leaned forward, straight-armed, and stared right at Forester. “Since we are being so frank with one another, let me be totally clear with you, Administrator. I have all the ‘authority’ I need to give any orders here I choose. With one comm signal from me, the food supplements ready to unload from the dozen or so Earth transports docked alongside us stay in their holds. A word to that man beside you,” a nod at the ominous Grant, “your station comes apart at the seams. If you have any doubts I’d do the one—or am capable of the other—try me now.”
    Gail waited for Forester’s reply, carefully not looking at Grant—who in all likelihood could do what she said, given the crates locked in the Seeker ’s hold, but wouldn’t—or at Tobo, who was likely completely surprised by all this, but would keep a straight face. If you want something , Gail told herself, claim it first and loudest.
    â€œNone of that will be necessary, Professor,” Forester said heavily, first to break their mutual glare. “I don’t doubt your authority or willingness to exercise it.” He met her eyes again, no defiance left, only a strange wistfulness. “We’ve been abandoned to fend for ourselves, you understand. Having Earthers assume we’ll merely smile and ask how high to jump after all this time—well that’s not going to sit easily with some, that’s for sure.”
    Gail seated herself and nodded graciously. “I have no intention of demanding the impossible, Administrator. My needs remain very