Chapter Eight
Garrison Reeves
With all the papers signed and the deal done, Garrison arranged for the sixteen prefabricated modules to be carried aboard an Iswander Industries vessel flown by Elisa Enturi. She wanted to be there in his triumphant moment when he delivered the modules to Rendezvous. The large, versatile structures could be used for habitation, industry, or even storage.
As Garrison got to know her, he found that he and Elisa had much in common. Elisa had no great love for Roamers (with the exception of Lee Iswander), considering them backward and unruly, but Garrison managed to convince her that he was also an exception, and fundamentally different from his father. In Elisa’s eyes, Olaf Reeves represented everything that was wrong with the clans, and Garrison could not disagree.
“Things will change when I am clan leader after him,” Garrison promised. “These modules will help us finish our grand project—a project that no other clan believed we would ever complete. That way I’ll demonstrate to my father, my family, and all Roamers exactly what kind of leader I will be.”
He flew the Workhorse alongside her ship into the Meyer system, arrowing toward the asteroid cluster. Garrison felt proud, although he could not deny a flutter of anxiety. Despite his bold discussions with Elisa, he worried his father would not react well. Olaf was determined not to do anything the efficient way, the practical way, the “easy” way, because only he understood the “right” way.
Elisa maintained comm silence, while Garrison transmitted loudly on all bands. His brother Dale’s face appeared on the screen. “We expected you back four days ago, Garrison. Did something happen to you?”
Garrison smiled. “Nothing happened to me, Dale. But I brought something that will save us far more than a few extra days of time—it’ll change Rendezvous. We might actually see this project done in our own lifetimes.”
Olaf’s bearded face crowded out Dale as he brushed the younger man aside. “I’ll be the judge of that. We’re detecting two incoming ships. Who is with you?”
Garrison chose his words carefully. “A woman representing … another Roamer clan.” Lee Iswander was indeed a Roamer, but he knew his father wouldn’t like this. “I purchased some equipment that will help our work.”
The older man looked skeptical. “It’s about damn time other Roamers saw their Guiding Star.”
“We all do, Father,” Garrison said, then signed off the comm.
As they had planned ahead of time, Elisa’s ship dropped off the sixteen modules at one of the satellite asteroids just outside the main cluster. The structures floated free in space, anchored to the surface of the satellite asteroid with monofilament tethers. Led by the chief mechanic, Bjorn Elkand, ten curious members of clan Reeves arrived at the satellite asteroid. Bjorn sounded delighted when he realized the potential of the modules.
Both ships headed to the central asteroid complex, landing inside the main bay. When he and Elisa emerged from their respective vessels, Garrison was nervously smiling. Dale looked shell-shocked and silent, joined by beautiful Sendra Detemer, who had made up her mind she wanted to marry Garrison someday. Sendra’s face showed a flare of jealousy when she spotted the exotic Elisa Enturi traveling with him. Elisa came to stand by him, clearly satisfied with her large business deal.
Garrison strode forward. “Did you see the modules, Dale? That’ll save a year’s worth of work right from the outset, and we can build upon that. Once we show real progress, I can convince additional clans to chip in. We’ll remake Rendezvous with an even brighter future.”
The smile froze on his face when Olaf entered the chamber like a walking storm, and all hope dwindled from Garrison’s heart. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Thank you, Father.” He felt like a fool for thinking the man would welcome any change to his grandiose plan. “This is Elisa Enturi, a representative from Iswander Industries.”
“Iswander? What the—”
Garrison continued talking, intentionally ignoring his father’s reaction. “With the clan Reeves line of credit, I secured these sixteen advanced modules manufactured by Iswander Industries on Earth.”
“How did they get here from Earth?” Olaf demanded.
“We brought them,” Elisa said in a stony voice. He realized with some embarrassment that she had expected exactly this reaction, even though she didn’t even know Olaf Reeves. “Contracted and delivered. Your son came to our headquarters, negotiated with Lee Iswander to reach a mutually beneficial deal. If you wish, I can supervise the installation of these modules and instruct your clan members in their use.” Her tone held cool sarcasm.
“I do not wish,” Olaf growled. “And I do not wish you here. This is a Roamer place. Lee Iswander turned his back on his heritage, but you were never a Roamer at all, were you, woman?”
“No, sir. And I was never a bigot either.” Her eyes flared. “I am what I’ve made of myself. I rose above the disadvantages and prejudices of my upbringing.”
Olaf recoiled; no one had ever spoken to him like that before. Then she drove in the knife further. “I’m pleased to see Garrison is rising above his family prejudices as well. Visionary people can break free of the chains that hold them back. By bringing you these modules to improve your construction project, he’s demonstrated that he will be a forward-thinking clan leader.”
“We don’t want your modules,” Olaf said. “Take them back and return our money. We don’t need any favors from Earth.”
“It’s not a favor—it’s a business deal,” Garrison said.
“It’s from Earth!” Olaf roared. “The Earth Defense Forces destroyed Rendezvous, and I will not accept their help as a way of forgetting what they’ve done. Take your modules away.”
“No. I refuse.” Elisa crossed her arms over her breasts. “It was a business deal, duly executed by an authorized representative of clan Reeves. The modules are paid for, and I’ve delivered them as requested. Our business is completed.”
Garrison felt furious, on Elisa’s behalf as well as his own. “Father, how dare you treat her that way? The Roamer clans operate on a basis of honor.”
“We—she is from Earth. She has no honor!” Olaf snapped.
“Obviously, neither do you,” Elisa said. “I no longer require any further hospitality from Rendezvous. Thank you for your business, Garrison.” She returned to her ship in the landing bay, leaving Olaf Reeves defiant but impotent behind her. She hadn’t even entered the main complex. Now she sealed her ship behind her.
Sendra Detemer wore an amused smirk on her face, pleased to see the clan leader put in his place. Dale’s expression was full of horror.
When the Iswander ship’s engines roared, Elisa didn’t even request clearance. She simply departed through the atmosphere-containment field and dodged away from the broken asteroids.
Olaf looked furious enough to suffer a stroke. “We will not touch those modules. They have nothing to do with us.”
“Then you’re a fool, Father. They are viable equipment. Roamers always make use of any available resources.”
“Not resources from Earth,” Olaf said. “Earth destroyed this place.”
After Elisa’s shocking defiance, Garrison felt his own increasing anger. “You are the one destroying this place, Father. You are not focused—you’re blind.”
Olaf strode over to the wall intercom and called the chief engineer. “Bjorn, withdraw your teams and cease operations with those modules. We will not use them.”
Bjorn’s voice came back. “But they’re perfectly adequate. I’ve already figured out how we can expand asteroid number six. It’ll allow us to reopen operations within a month, and from there we can—”
Olaf shouted into the intercom. “I issued my command! Disengage the tethers and make sure the modules drift far enough from Rendezvous that they don’t pose a further navigational hazard.”
The other end of the comm remained quiet for a long moment. “You certain, Olaf? It seems such a waste.”
“It’s for our own protection. I’m the clan leader. Do as I say.” He switched off the intercom without waiting for a response.
Garrison stood simmering, so angry he couldn’t speak. Olaf gave him a haughty glare, as if he had just achieved some kind of victory. Those efficient and expensive Iswander modules would soon be drifting loose, wasted, a symbol of Iswander’s innovation as well as the stubborn ignorance of clan Reeves.
At the breaking point, Garrison stepped forward. “That was a stupid thing to do, Father. I’m trying to lead this clan, to show the rest of the Roamers that we aren’t as foolhardy as they all say we are. Now we won’t achieve success because of your stubborn arrogance.”
Olaf didn’t speak. He simply reached out and struck Garrison across the face, slapping him hard. Garrison stood strong, felt the pain burning on his skin, but he would not back down. His father had tried to grind him under his heel too many times, had stifled him again and again. This time, Garrison responded. He slapped his father back.
Astonished, Olaf’s eyes flared wide. Dale gasped out loud.
Garrison stepped away. “Don’t treat me like a fool, Father, when you’re an even bigger one.”
Without another word, Garrison climbed back inside the Workhorse and activated the engines. He felt no regrets as he flew away from Rendezvous.