Yeah, I'm late. Apologies all around; between work and school, my fun has got to slip. Polly Pengelly Pendragon is a new character; she actually started out as a series of sketches I've been working on, when I asked myelf, "o.k., good sketch, but what does she do?"
"They should put gravity out here," said Polly Pendragon, to no one in particular. She floated in a full lotus position, a meter above the floor.
"Who is 'they'?" came a question from her left.
Polly turned her head slowly; she was not fully adjusted to zero gravity conditions and didn't want to send herself spinning. Her eyes cut to slits as she sighted the floating globe beside her; her governess had followed Polly up to the observation deck.
"'They'," said Polly slowly, "is the 'Mayor'. The Mayor should have gravity installed on the observation decks."
"Thank you, Ms. Polly. Precise language is an essential requirement for a young lady of your stature."
"You mean 'six foot three tall' young ladies?"
"I mean as a Daughter of the Collegium."
Polly shrugged and returned her gaze to the view bubble before her. Zania, her home moon, was at the absolute edge of the Earth Latency. Within the sweep of her vision, she saw all: The Moons, artificial satellites, spaceships and, of course, the Earth. Though most of the Collegium Libraries and Research facilities resided on Earth, the intercourse between the Moons of Earth and the Earth itself were limited.
Not much happened on neolithic, prehistoric Earth. At least, nothing that would interest a Daughter of the Collegium.
"I will graduate soon," said Polly.
"Yes, your majority is in twelve days. You will be sixteen." said the governess.
"I think I shall become a pirate," Polly said, looking sideways at the governess for her reaction.
The governess remained a neutral silver.
"If you wish to study work, there are some equally honorable, but less dangerous, alternates to piracy: wire fraud, extortion, racketeering or even politics. Perhaps..."
"I will be a pirate," said Polly, with finality.
"A thief. A pirate is a thief with a means of escape."
Polly smiled. She'd been a student of the school on Zania since before she could remember. Her governess, which she had never named, had been with her since she could first verbalize commands, since her earliest memories. A respect of sort had developed between the two; not love, as some other Daughters claimed towards their governesses, merely respect. A governess is many things towards their bonded Daughter: a teacher, a guardian, a guide and an adviser. Mostly they where basic silver balls, less than a foot across. Daughters could customize them; Polly never had. Governesses looked like metal, but had the soft feel of a marshmallow. The Daughters, from time to time, would debate whether they were alive, robots or both.
The governesses were the gentle representatives of the Collegium, and they were never far from their Daughter.
"A pirate is free." countered Polly.
"Are you not free here at the school?" asked the governess.
"Am I?" questioned Polly.
"Ms. Polly is disturbed," said the governess, retreating to the third person. "Perhaps she is disturbed by her coming majority?"
"Perhaps," agreed Polly.
"All Daughters feel the same, when leaving the school for the first time. Exploring the Latency on their own, with only the guidance of the Muses to rely on..."
"Meh. Not the Muse Melpomene, I hope."
"Should you choose piracy, I am afraid Melpomene will be your constant guide. She is the Muse of Tragedy."
Polly rolled her eyes. "I will do well on my own, thank you very much."
"I must remind Ms. Polly that now is the time for her meeting with the Proctor."
"Doctor-Professor Melton. Yes. Last time i'll see her, thank the goddess."
"Excepting your graduation, then perhaps."
Polly unfolded her legs a touched against the floor; she sprung herself up towards the open portal above her.
"Let's go," she said to her governess, as she entered the Moon proper.
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