Free Black Dawn by Morgan Brautigan Page A

Tenetian ship. Coy went on board and oversaw the hostages being
settled into yet another medical department. Everywhere it turned people were thanking it for averting the war that surely would have been
the outcome had things continued. Coy was persuaded to accept a
modest monetary compensation (over and above the Favor), and was
headed back to the Blackbird for rendezvous with the Raven .
    The combat squad sat silently in the passenger area watching
their hands and feet and waiting for a word from Lamont. The captain
itself sat across from Butler, staring ahead, but seeing who knew what.
    Eventually, it blinked, noticed it was looking at Butler and
nodded. Remembering the payment, it also pointed to a minicomp
clamped near Butler’s seat. He handed it over wordlessly. Coy stuck
the token in, read the amount and raised one eyebrow. After pulling up
some other notes and files, it switched off the scanner and returned it.
    Coy leaned back in its seat and closed its eyes. “I have never,”
it began quietly, “seen a mission go so well. I was very proud to be a
member of the BlackFleet.”
    There was no cheering. Only a lot of held breaths being released.
As usual, Pierce was the first to speak up. “Shouldn’t we celebrate or something? All those party rooms on the Raven should be for
something.”
Lamont opened one eye and peered at her. “I want people to
stay functional.”
“Oh,” she frowned, thinking seriously, “I suppose we could
manage that.”
Coy closed the eye. “All right. Go for it.”
“Yes!” she clenched her fist in victory. “Thanks, Mom. Or
Dad. Or Whatever.”
Coy resisted the temptation to glare at her. It was probably
what she wanted, anyway.
When at last they reached the Raven , Bon and the others did
greet them with a cheer as the first trooper stepped through the hatch
onto the
mother ship. Bon personally clapped Butler on the back and shook his
hand.
“Well, done, Commander!”
Last of all, Captain Lamont emerged from the Blackbird, cool
and silent. Bon started over to repeat his congratulations, but at Lamont’s expression he wisely tampered down his enthusiasm.
“You’ve trained a good team, Skipper,” he said, sincerely.
Coy nodded. “I understand there’s to be a victory celebration.
It may commence as soon as helmet recorders are collected and troopers are debriefed.” Coy turned to Butler. “I’ll be in my quarters,” it said
quietly and strode off.
    Butler caught up with Lamont before it reached the cabin door.
Coy glanced in his direction but continued palming open the door lock.
“I don’t need any hand holding, Commander.”
    “I heartily disagree, Captain,” he returned cheerfully. “As
your next in command, your emotional health is extremely important
to me.”
    Without a word, Coy entered the cabin and brought the lights
up only about halfway. But it did not stop Butler from following. Ken
went to a chair by the desk and made himself comfortable.
    Coy paced for only a moment , then sank down on the seat
behind the desk. It sat, looking at its hands, which trembled very
slightly. “That was .....so hard,” Coy’s voice was almost a whisper.
“I kept waiting for the automatics to kick in, but they never did. I had
to think about each step. Doing it all on sheer will power. I could’ve
gotten us all killed.”
    “But you didn’t. Autopilot
or manual, you got the job done. I
think that’s what counts.”
Coy shook its head. “Not to me. I have to know. I used to
know...I,” it stopped and gave a long sigh. “...am so tired.”
After a long silence, Butler took the hint and stood. “Remember something, Captain. There’s a whole ship of people here that believe in you. Run on that for awhile if you have to.” Lamont didn’t
answer. Butler remained were he stood, waiting for some sign that
Lamont would be all right. He had to admit, his CO’s continued depression concerned him.
“You haven’t asked what we got paid,” Coy said, suddenly.
“You