Imagine living in the equivalent of the US Midwest in the 1890s or maybe 1910. Internal combustion is familiar and maybe you’re heard of flying machines. Then some madwoman shows up, makes off with one of your children, shows back up with yet another crazy woman, talking about other worlds, and your son is off again. Got to hand it to this family: they roll with all this pretty well. Their neighbors down the road would likely be firing shotguns at this point.

Pai and Alix are, slowly, getting more comfortable with one another. I think that their last exchange, about Graf, is telling. In the world of the Change, everyone, human, Machine, knows things are different and to trust their hunches. They both have a hunch about Graf. I just hope they tell me, at some point.

Let’s go to Russia, next.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

“Uh, well…” Graf had no idea how to explain all this.  His sister solved the problem by tossing the bucket and diving into his arms.

“I knew you said you’d come back, but I’ve been so scared, so scared…” she cried into him.

“It’s okay, Em,” he said, using her child’s nickname.  “And this, here, is Spacer Alix Jones, from the imperium.  She’s been to the moon a few times!”

“Huh?” His sister shook her head before putting her hand out.  “Miss Jones.”

“Please, call me Alix.  After all,” she moved into Graf’s left, “your brother is my boyfriend.”

“What!” she shouted.  I need to do something before this turns into a bloodbath.

“What she means, Em, is that…” he started.

“We’re considering tearing him in half, so we each get a part,” Pai said, from his right, making it worse. “Androids are very strong, you know.  Oh, hell.”

The last was when Mindy burst into tears, howling

“You two!” he hissed, pushing them away and hugging his sister.  It was this scene where Mister Winstead made his appearance from the farm behind their house.

“What in the hell is goin’ on here?” he demanded, only mollified to see his two children holding onto each other for dear life.

“Future father-in-law!” Pai called, taking Alix’s upper arm so strongly that had she not walked, she would have been dragged.  Her right hand was out.  “I am so happy to see you again, and so soon, too.  May I present a rather unimportant human from the imperium, down south?”

Confused, he briefly shook her hand before turning to the other.  “And you are?”

“Alix Jones, Spacer First Class of the Imperial Space Navy,” she said with a steady voice, also with her hand out, which he took.  “While on the ground, I am ordered to supervise these two children.”

“Children?” he seemed puzzled.  “But you can’t be much more…”

“I am the oldest of the three of us.  I was given this charge by the Empress, herself.”  She essayed a smile.  “Life comes at you fast in the imperium, sir.”

“If you’re in charge, why is my little girl crying?” he asked.

“Miss Mendro, here, and I, enjoy verbally sparring about your very talented son.” She dipped her head.  “We did so in front of Miss Mindy.  I apologize.”

“Well, I always knew he was a bright boy,” he said, walking over to his kids now that Mindy was under control.  He took one into each arm.  “But how is he suddenly is the center of two empires?  And, are y’all staying for dinner?”

“I’m afraid not, sir,” Pai spoke up.  “We need to be in St. Petersburg, Russia, not Florida, in a bit over two hours.  Some of the government wants to talk to Graf.”

He tilted his head right to his son.  “What have you gotten yourself mixed up in, boy?”

“And,” not to be left out, Alix said, “he is also under consideration for the imperium’s Martian colonies.  Our lands are all in the south and heavily irrigated.  We need all the farming expertise we can get.”

“Dear God, you are not joking,” Graf’s father whispered.  “My boy, our family, on Mars?”

“Forgive me,” she pressed on, “but you are too old.  However, if your daughter, Mindy, finds a suitable husband with the proper skills, I will personally add them to the list for consideration.  So, yes, sir, your family could be on Mars.  Your grandchildren would be Martians.”

“And you came back here, on your way to Russia, just to through all this in my lap?” he demanded.

“No, Dad,” Graf said, not wanting his only remaining parent to have a heart attack, “we did it to keep you totally informed.  My marriage…”

“Hey, there!” Alix yelled.

“…all this politics.  Mars was only brought up an hour ago.  I have no idea what’s going on, either, Dad.  But we’re family and we’re going to see this through, together.”

“Well said, my Intended,” Pai smiled.  Mindy started sniffling again.  “Speaking of, we must leave now.  Oh, if that’s all right with you, Minder?”

“We may,” Alix said primly.

They moved to the ship’s door and watched the young man they loved say another goodbye to his father and sister. 

“What are we doing with Graf?” Alix whispered.

“You and I are mere tools for him,” Pai barely nodded, “to fulfill a great destiny.”

“You’re not going to elaborate?”

“No.  Here he comes.  Let’s get aboard.”