TITLE: Solstice Rituals
AUTHOR: Michael J. Gallagher/MikeJoe/mikejoe@odyssey.net
SUMMARY: Answering an SSBBS challenge for the crew to go someplace “hot” for Christmas.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own it but I think I can celebrate Christmas with 'em
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"Now, this is a place to celebrate Christmas," Commander Nadya Ratmansky said, leaning back in her beach chair and rubbing sun tan oil on herself. She also wore a straw hat, wraparound shades, and a one-piece bathing suit.
"Yeah," Beka said, from the chair on Nadya's right, not taking her eyes from the ocean, "Infinity Atoll is one of the few planets I can stand."
Nadya frowned. "You don't like planets?"
"Beka was born and raised on the *Maru* -- " Rommie started from the chair on Nadya's left.
"Oh, that's right! I forgot. But you *hate* planets? I hadn't realized that."
"Can't stand 'em," Beka said. "Wind, weather, dirt, GERMS. Gimme filtered air and a solid metal deck any day."
"Well .... ok."
"Wait -- don't tell me *you* hate space ships?"
"No, but after being the *Bellerephon's* first officer for twenty years, I made up my mind that if I ever got off that, I would get on a planet as soon as possible. Any planet. Especially at Christmas. This is ok, but next year, I want to see snow. *Have* to."
"Well ..... feel free to count me out. Nothing personal, Commander."
"No problem, Beka. Still, at least we can agree gravity is a good thing, right?"
Beka just smiled at that.
"You prefer zero g?" Nadya asked.
"Well," Beka said, "I used to love it when I was a kid and my dad would turn the gravity off so we could play. Couldn't figure out why he would turn it back on; didn't realize until I was 18 that some people get motion sick."
"You don't!?"
"Nuh-huh."
"I guess that's evolution for you."
"And something we have agree to disagree on."
"Not necessarily. When I was in training in the Astronaut Corps, the best week of my life was spent training on the *Endeavour,* one of the original space shuttles. It was still in service after almost two hundred years for training missions."
"Weren't they chemically powered?"
"Yup. Stage-and-a-half to orbit, strap on solid boosters and LOX/LH2 main engines. And *no* artifical gravity or inertial dampers."
"Wow." Beka was genuinely interested.
"Oh, yeah," Nadya said, grinning. "I still remember ignition. The vehicle actually rocks back and forth when the main engines start because the thrust is off center, right? Just imagine the *Maru* sitting on a *huge* fuel tank, and you get the idea. Then, when the mains are at about 105%, the solids light and they fire the explosive bolts holding the vehicle to the pad, and you know you are going somewhere in a *big* hurry."
"Wow."
"Then, eight minutes later, you're in zero g, and you stay there for a week. And yeah, you get sick for the first day or two, but after that, it was *fun.* We made up all sorts of games; sometimes had to be reminded we had work to do. I made some great friends on that flight." Nadya's face clouded over. "They're all dead, of course ..... long gone ..... "
"I know, I know. I'm good, I'm good .... So, uh, after the holidays, we're pulling into El Dorado drift? Anything pressing you'll need the crew to do when not seeing the sights?"
"Well ..... hadn't thought about it," Beka said. "What do you think?"
"Well, what matters is what *you* think," Nadya said. "As the *Andromeda's* XO, you are my boss. So I *have* to ask *you.*"
"Huh. I've been wondering how you were adjusting to that, taking orders from a civilian."
Naday leaned back in her chair and smiled. "Well, I was going to say something like how Andromeda is Dylan's ship and it's his decision, blah blah blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda, but truthfully? After nursing an ulcer for twenty years, I'll gladly let someone else have one."
"Ha! Well, I guess Dylan and I will have to -- "
A shadow fell across them. Beka, Nadya, and Rommie looked up at it, slightly annoyed.
"Ladies," Harper said, smiling, swaggering even while standing still. He pointed to the green garland hanging from his neck. "Anyone knows what this means?"
"You'll have a rash for three weeks?" Beka hazarded.
"No," Harper said, nonplussed, "it means, I get to be kissed by any and all available lovely females! So, who goes first?"
Beka and Nadya rolled their eyes; Rommie thought for a moment, then sprang to her feet, smiling. "All right! I'll do it!"
"What!?" Beka, Nadya, and Harper chorused. "You will?"
"Of course," Rommie said as Harper put his hands on her waist, still smiling. "Assuming, of course, you want to complete the ritual."
"Oh, yeah?" Harper said lewdly. "And what does that involve?"
Rommie's smile didn't waiver. "Well, after we kiss, you get fed a three course meal. And then we go to the highest point, say that outcropping over there, where I cut out your heart, thereby completing the ritual of human sacrifice that garland is a part of."
Harper turned pale.
"Do you wish to proceed?" Rommie asked sweetly.
"Uh ... no. In fact, I think I hear Dylan calling. 'Oh, Mr. Harper!' Yep, that's him now." He took off the garland, dumped it in Rommie's hands, and ran for it.
Once Harper was out of earshot, Nadya pulled her hands from her face, revealing she'd been laughing. "R-R-Romm-ee-ee-ee! Who you been talking to, girlfriend? Among my crew?"
"No one. Why?"
"You heard that 'sacrifice' stuff before?" Beka asked.
"Yeah," Nadya said, "back in Mexico, three thousand years ago, and it was an 'ancient aztek ritual.'"
Beka leaned back in her chair, smiling. "I guess some things never change."