Free Faring Soul - Science Fiction Romance by Tracy Cooper-Posey Page B

don’t.”
    “Federation ships don’t, but they’re
all monstrous great vessels, built in space and not meant to
withstand atmospheric maneuvers. Some of the really big ones are
more than a kilometer long, so one end would be in zero gravity
while the other is pulled down toward the surface as soon as it
hits the gravity well. It would snap like a circuit board.”
    “So this ship can land?”
    She leaned against the server and cross
her arms. “It was probably built in gravity. Once upon a
time, all ships landed. All the colonial ships are designed
to land because new worlds don’t have their own station yet. The
ones that can’t land dock with a ship kept in orbit until the world
gets its act together and builds a proper dock.”
    She spoke with a tone of authority that
said she knew what she was talking about.
    “You’ve pioneered?” he asked, confused.
Bedivere had said that Lilita was very young.
    “I’m thinking about it, so I spent a
year or so researching.”
    He drew in a slow breath, absorbing
once more the long-life viewpoint of most people. “To spend a whole
year just finding out….”
    Her expression sobered. “I guess a year
is a long chunk out of your time, isn’t it?”
    “I’m content with my lot,” he said
quickly.
    “Really? Why did you leave Gry if
you’re so happy with the Staffers’ creed?”
    “It’s the administration of the
doctrine that I wasn’t happy with.”
    “So Cat said. But you don’t
proselytize. If you’re such a believer, why don’t you try to
convince others?”
    Brant almost laughed. “I don’t have
to.”
    Lilita frowned again.
    “How many children have you had?”
    She looked indignant.
    “I’m demonstrating a point,” he said
gently.
    Lilita grimaced. “Five.”
    Brant hesitated. “You don’t look that
old. Not to have had so many and learned engineering, too.”
    “I’m seventy-five, little one.” He
could hear the laughter in her voice.
    “All your children are College-raised,
yes?”
    “Of course. What children aren’t?”
    Brant raised a brow.
    “Staffers. Stupid me,” Lilita
muttered.
    “You’re already living within the
precepts of Glave of Summanus,” he pointed out.
    “I’m College-bred myself,” Lilita said
gently, as if he was particularly stupid. “Having babies goes with
the territory.”
    “Exactly,” Brant agreed. “And look at
you. You’re full of flesh and life, a natural beauty.”
    She smiled, accepting the compliment,
but she didn’t pursue it, which supported her age. Someone younger
and less experienced might have read more into his comment than was
there.
    “Did you know that before the
Interregnum, humans were barely human anymore?”
    “Ancient history.”
    “But quite true. There are records and
images from those times that I have seen. Humans modified
themselves back then. They added plug-ins and enhancements, they
adapted themselves in ways that distorted the race. Humans were
unrecognizable.”
    “And they stopped breeding,” she
added.
    “Of course. Your college education
would not have neglected that part of it. Humans stopped breeding.
They were living longer. Rejuvenation for women, the body
regeneration for men…people put off having children because, well,
what was the rush?”
    “Until the number of humans declined
nearly to the point of extinction, which was when Glave stepped up
and started preaching about saving the human race,” Lilita finished
impatiently.
    “The largest danger to humans were the
modifications,” Brant said. “Many humans had modified and adapted
themselves to the point where they could no longer breed. But now,
children are plentiful and good citizens like you add yearly to
their number. The human race is unmodified and pure.”
    “Just like Glave insisted…” Lilita said
slowly.
    “Except for the longevity therapies,
which humans are incapable of giving up.” He gave her a small
smile. “I don’t need to proselytize. You’re already living