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the source of our anger. You understand; you will be fair, whatever happens."
She smiled, as she offered to shake hands, the smile transforming her features
into someone Sass hoped very much to have as a friend.
Other times, more relaxed times, followed. Sass learned much about the
heavyworlders' beliefs. Some reacted to the initial genetic transformations
that made heavyworld adaptation possible with pride, and considered that all
heavyworlders should spend as much time as possible on high-gravity planets.
Others felt it a degradation, and sought normal-G worlds where they hoped to
breed back to normal human standards. All felt estranged from their
lighter-boned distant relations, blamed the lightweights - at least in part -
for that estrangement, and resented any suggestion that their larger size and
heavier build implied less sensitivity or intelligence.
Cadet leave, at the end of that first session, brought her home to Abe's
apartment in uniform, shy of his reaction and stiff with pride. He gave her a
crisp salute and then a bear hug.
"You're making it fine," he said, not waiting for her to speak. Already, she
recognized in herself and in his reactions the relationship they would have
later.
"I hope so." She loosened the collar of the uniform and stretched out on the
low divan. He took her cap and set it carefully on a shelf.
"Making friends, too?"
"Some." His nod encouraged her, and she told him about the heavyworlders. Abe
frowned.
"You want to watch them; they can be devious."
"I know. But - "
"But they're also right. Most normals do think of them as big stupid
musclemen, and treat them that way. Poor sods. The smart ones resent it, and
if they're smart enough they can be real trouble. What you want to do, Sass,
is convince 'em you're fair, without giving them a weak point to push on.
Their training makes 'em value strength and endurance over anything else."
"But they're not all alike." Sass told him all she'd learned, about the
heavyworld cultures. " - and I wonder myself if the heavyworlders are being
used by the same bunch who are behind the pirates and slavers,"
she finished.
Abe had been setting out a cold meal as she talked. Now he stopped, and leaned
on the table. "I dunno. Could be. But at least some of the heavyworlders are
probably pirates themselves. You be careful." Sass didn't argue; she didn't
like the thought that Abe might have his limitations; she needed him to be
all-knowing, for a long time yet. On the other hand, she sensed, in her
heavyworlder friends, the capacity for honesty and loyalty, and in herself an
unusual ability to make friends with people of all backgrounds.
By her third year, she was recognized as a promising young cadet officer, and
resistance to her background had nearly disappeared.
Colonial stock, yes: but colonial stock included plenty of "good" families,
younger sons and daughters who had sought adventure rather than a safe seat in
the family corporation. That she never claimed such a connection spoke well of
her; others claimed it in her name.
Her own researches into her family were discreet. The psychs had passed her as
safely adjusted to the loss of her family. She wasn't sure how they'd react if
they found her rummaging through the colonial
databases, so she masked her queries carefully. She didn't want anyone to
question her fitness for Fleet. When she'd entered everything she could
remember, she waited for the computer to spit out the rest.
The first surprise was a living relative (or "supposed alive" the computer had
it) some three generations back. Sass blinked at the screen. A great-
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great-great grandmother (or aunt: she wasn't quite sure of the code symbols)
now on Exploration Service. Lunzie ... so that was the famous ancestor her
little sister had been named for. Her mother had said no more than that - may
not have known more than that, Sass realised.
Even as a cadet, she herself had access to more information than most
colonists, already. She thought of contacting her distant family members
someday . . . someday when she was a successful Fleet officer. Not any time
soon, though. Fleet would be her family, and Abe was her father now.
He took his responsibility seriously in more ways than one, she discovered at
their next meeting.
"Take the five-year implant, and don't worry about it. You're not going to be
a mother anytime soon. Should have had it before now, probably."
"I don't want to be a sopping romantic, either," said Sass, scowling.
Abe grinned at her. "Sass, I'm not telling you to fall in love. I'm telling
you that you're grown, and your body knows it. You don't have to do anything
you don't want to do, but you're about to want to."
"I am not." Sass glared at him.
"You haven't noticed anything?"
Sass opened her mouth to deny it, only to realise that she couldn't. He'd seen
her with the others, and he, more than anyone, knew every nuance of her body.
"Take the implant. Do what you want afterwards."
"You're not telling me to be careful," she said, almost petulantly.
"Stars, girl, I only adopted you. I'm not really your father, and even if I
were I wouldn't tell you to be careful. Not you, of all people."
"My ... my real father . ."
"Was a dirtball colonist. I'm Fleet. You're Fleet now. You don't believe all
that stuff you were taught. You're the last woman to stay virginal all your
life, Sass, and that's the truth of it. Learn what you need, and see that you
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