The Black

Mac and Lyrian walked, hands entwined, into the Mess…. Straight into a cheering whoop led by a serving spoon wielding Martin. Lyrian’s auburn skin patterns flushed brightly, and Mac gave Martin a mildly reproachful look before dissolving into a laugh as Martin feigned his innocence.

“Alright! alright, we had our fun.” Martin finally bellowed over the din, waving away the last of the crowd as they went back to their meals.

Dinner went by with a blur. Mac sat with Lyrians family, and was joined by a grinning Tristen, and a somewhat more subdued Bryton. Everyone chatting excitedly, except for Ma’ Tili. She just watched, clutching Docs Left hand.

Mac’s mind spun. It was obvious that the news of him and Lyrians engagement was not universally positive. About a third of the mess had not reacted or just watched with diverting levels of either disapproval or apathy.

lyrian snuggled closer to him throughout the evening. Their friends had slowly peeled off as the evening wound down until it was just the four of them.

Mac took a sip of what had turned out to be a kind of Delmaracian light Beer, “well Doc, I guess we are family. So, what happens tribally and legally now. “

Doc gave a smile, “Well, you would take on the Tribal Name, as you are the one marrying in. your sir name will become both of yours middle name of sorts. You would take on our family name at the end, and Lyrian would take your family name in the middle. In this case, you would become James BigMac Mackenzie Grarzia, and Lyrian would become Lyrian BigMac Mackenzie Grarzia...”

Mac tried to hold it in… he really did… then Lyrian looked up at him confused wrinkle of her nose and he lost it. Mac roared in laughter, wheezing for air between bouts. By the time he had wrangled himself back into composure his ‘fiancée’ and her parents were just staring at him. Tili was looking Particularly incensed.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Mac got out through heavy breathing.. “It’s just… BIGMAC. HAHAHAHAHA oh boy, explanation time”

“It is your name is it not? It’s what we found on the suit we cut off of you.” Doc Icario rather pointedly was not amused.

“Oh, I’m sure it was on there.” Mac said, wiping a tear from his eye, “but it’s not my real name, at least not the ‘Big Mac’ part." Mac took a deep breath, lifting his hands in a patting placating motion.

"Humans have a tradition, Specifically Humans that ended up in my profession. It started many, many centuries ago. when the age of single crew fighter aircraft. We call them 'call signs' and it was a way to both obscure your name from the enemy, and good-natured ribbing comradery. In my case, my real name is only 'James Mackenzie', and BigMac is my call sign. Each call sign is given, you cannot give yourself one. It must be given by someone in your profession, a fellow pilot, a commanding officer, ect.." Mac explained.

Doc's eyes scrunched. Then he began to chuckle, "Oh I see. So, no need to give my daughter the name 'big mac'. what a profound relief." Lyrian started giggling and her mother tried and failing to keep her angry face on.

Lyrian finally got control of herself, "So, why BigMac."

"I liked a human dish, burgers. These specific “BigMac” burgers come from a quick food place called 'McDonalds'. That alone would not be enough to garner me a call sign... but when you eat two of them... then go on a surprise simulated dogfight sortie.. uh.. mission... then proceed to spray the contents of your stomach, said two bigmacs, into your G suit.. in zero G... 40 seconds into your first Set..." Lyrian's eyes widened then Lost to the proper laughter as Mac turned green recounting the story of having to clean out Concord after he had to open his helmet in zero G so he could see to get himself and Clint home.

"......I couldn't get the smell out for 3 months.. and 'BigMac' was born." Mac finished up, "Its been my Callsign ever since"

"I will go correct the paperwork then" Doc stood to leave, "After all, it must all be filed in the morning."

"Please do." Mac responded with a Chortle.

Doc and Tili stood to leave and Lyrian pulled away to get up, Mac stood quickly, looking a concerned question at her as he stood.

She just smiled and gave him another intoxicating full body embrace with that little humming sound she had made before, up against his neck, "I have to go with them, to pack. You may be marrying into my family; but by tradition, The female moves into Her Mate's lodgings once 'paired'." she purred as she released him, "We may use the modern names of 'husband' and 'wife', but we Hold our older traditions close." She pulled away from him just far enough to look him in the eyes "But I can get used to new things too, like these." and she leaned in for a quick kiss, and got one. As she pulled back, Mac could see a hurricane of emotions boiling in Her mother’s eyes. Her father just smirked.

'Old man has stories, got it.' Mac Thought as Lyrian pulled away and left with her parents.

Mac walked back to his Cabin and took a very, very cold shower. Afterward, he Frantically started cleaning up. He had spread out quite a bit and had not yet fully unpacked due to some of the more... sensitive items he had buried in with his clothes...

It was early morning before Mac could get his brain to turn off enough to sleep.

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Tristen and Bryton walked into the Rec room at 0700, to see Mac and Lyrian Just finishing up their running. Mac had taken to doing his 'pushups' and 'sit-ups' and other 'calisthenics' in the Rec room with the others and he was finishing up on one of the Bars he had ordered from the Fabricator,

"You two are up early…" Tristen gruffed, still not completely awake.

"Paper work.... first... thing... no time... before shift otherwise" Mac gasped between pull ups he finished his set and dropped off the bar.

"Right, the Big day" Bryton remembered. "When do you have to meet with the captain?

Lyrian checked her wrist unit. "20 minutes or so" she huffed, finishing up her last lap, and headed to the Female’s Showers.

Mac huffed, "Don't worry, we will go back to joining you guys tomorrow."

Tristen returned a smile, they were nervous. he recognized Mac's mannerisms from when He was a Paired.

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"That should Do It"- Captain Silu finished tapping his Data Pad. "James Mackenzie Grarzia; Lyrian Mackenzie Grarzia a mated pair in good standing of the Helyon Tribe of the Delmaracian Confederation. He gave a slight bow to the both of them, "Congratulations" he turned to Mac and accepted the outstretched human’s hand and shook it, "I'm not sure what your culture does for pairing, but we hold our celebrations as a tribe, on tribal land during the years end refit/upgrade cycle. That way no one is left out. Until then," Silu took a deep breath, "I'll have Lyrians things brought to Your room. Mackenzie, it was explained to you?"

"Yes, I take the name of the tribe as the one marrying in. and Lyrian Moves in with me as a sign of being paired" Mac responded with a nod 'whelp, when in Rome'.

"Good. Lyrian, I'll see you at the con in 5. Mac, we are entering the window that the Convergent Dawn may make her intercept. I have sent the Information Packet announcing yours and Lyrains tribal status ahead to the Data Hub at our destination. It will get there inside the Hour. Be ready to Launch in case we need some... Frontier Diplomacy" Silu finished then turned to leave.

"UH...." Mac started. then paused. and took a deep breath, "I am a member of Helyon, correct?"

Silu nodded,

Mac continued carefully, "And everything in my possession is now a combination of protected and quasi-Helyon Property/Recourses?"

Silu nodded again.

Mac locked eyes on the Captain, "What are the limits of what a tribe of the Confederacy is allowed to have."

Silu considered Mac’s tone for a second, "Lyrian, I'll see you on the bridge in a moment" he dismissed her. his tone allowing no acceptions.

Mac gave her hand a sqeeze and she left.

"I may get court martialled for state secrets, but I won’t put your family, my family now, at risk. what can and what can’t we own as a tribe" Mac's tone was deadly serious.

"There is Very little we cannot own outside of Biological weapons and Boarding specific tools. Those are the trappings of pirates and Cowards" Silu began,

"Atomic weapons?" Mac asked. Very, very quietly. holding Silu's eyes with his own icy blue's.

"Rare but allowed, why would.........." Silu stopped short as the implication hit home, "you have Atomics on board..." he said fatly.

"5 of them" Mac said flatly, "And the reactor that powers Concord.. is two reactors. of a plasma Based Nuclear Fusion type pioneered by a company with an ironically similar name to your Tribe."

Silu sank to his chair, "5 Atomic weapons, In your Small ship... How... The smallest of such devices ever produced was the size of Traveler.. and so unwieldly for its low destructive potential that The Unity moved on to plasma."

"My world was, and is very rich in radioactive material," Mac began, "From my research, far more than basically anywhere else in your known galaxy.. We use Atomics to power everything. Since the move to Plasma based Fusion, we don't have accidents. What is on Concord, is relatively low yield. 500 ‘Kilo tons’ apiece, or so. During my species civil war, we used these to crack the shields of our bigger capital ships."

"500 'kilotons'... if the translator did its job... that's 50 times more destructive power than anything we ever produced... including the power cores of the biggest military Assault Carriers.... Mackenzie... you bare dangerous gifts."

"And bare a Dangerous burden" Mac responded, "But I need to know what I can and can’t use to scare off an overzealous UGN captain. and what the blow back will be."

"I see... When we are intercepted... I will let you decide... but know this, you cannot reveal your atomics until or unless the Dawn crosses a line. That line is threatening this vessel... I will let you know if he does. but for now, when we heave to. I will launch you. Use this 'stealth' of yours." Silu stood once more, "and pray we do not need you to fire.".

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The rest of the day passed mundanely. Mac had a further discussion with the Captain about Concords True capabilities. at least... some of them. They decided that nothing official was going to be put down until the return to Delmar. Mac spent the day working through the Delmar Language and trying to figure out His next move.

Technically, he was the singular ranking officer inside this part of space. He had no contact with Sol. There was no manual for this... but... 'I need to find out where the frontiers are expanding. I may need to figure out a way to prepare Sol for what's out here.’

"fuck! I need to talk to Marg" Mac cursed out loud, then looked up at the time just as the door to his cabin opened.

"Hey.... uh.. Hi." a familiar voice spoke from behind him. he turned to see Lyrian, in traditional black skin tight void suit and poncho standing at his door way.

"You cleaned up; it’s nice..." She said looking over the rest of the room. Her things had been bought to his room in a 'sea trunk' of sorts. Mac had guessed that she did not really own much considering her whole adult life was spent aboard traveler. He actually had more possessions than she did on account of all the kit he had been required to bring to test the effects of slip-space travel. He had taken the wardrobe closest to the desk, which butted up to the head of the bed. The desk and two wardrobes were on the far side of the door, the bed lay against the far wall to the right. and the right wall had a hook he had hung his G suit on, next to the Delmar equivalent of a shower, which was basically a high velocity mixture of steam and mist contained by forcefields. there was a separate hook on the other side next to Lyrains to be wardrobe.

"Oh hey, you off shift already? I've been.. well.. This.." he pointed to the computer console. She walked over and promptly sat on his lap and leaned up against his chest. He was going to have to get used to her combined height, yet extremely dainty and light figure. She didn't wrap her tail around him. 'Oh right, void suit'.

"Oh, we use these to teach the young ones." She giggled.

"So I gathered... Uh.. Help you unpack?" Mac gruffed before changing the subject. Lyrian gave a nervous wiggle and got up.

"Sure" she whispered.

The next hour or so they unpacked. Mac had to move Lyrians Hook a bit, she didn't like them so close to the shower. She hung a spare void suit on it. An assortment of poncho's and what she called "shore clothes".

Lyrian had been about to call it good until dinner when the door chimed. Mac opened the door to find the captain’s aid, "compliments of the Captain. He figured you two could use some time without prying eyes."

Mac looked over the platters at hand. he could definitely see martins custom touch and chuckled, "Always trust the Chef, my compliments to the captain... and Tell Martin he has outdone himself."

The aid nodded and disappeared after pushing the floating 'cart' into the door. Mac tapped the button to close the door and pulled a card from the middle of the the ensemble.

"May you have the blessings of the gods of the Void- Silu" it read.

Mac took a few moments to pop the tops on the entrees and break open the packing on the cutlery. "Your uncle is a softy at heart", Mac mentioned over his shoulder. "Looks Like Martin is having to much fun with the Human food idea's."

".....James?" Lyrian's voice waivered around the edges

Mac turned around; eyebrows creased with worry then flew wide with in surprise.

Lyrian was standing just inside arm’s length, one arm across her chest, the other wrapped around her waist... her tail was wrapped around her right leg, where it resided when she wore her void suit the tip gave its telltale twitch Mac had learned betrayed her nerves...

With that, Mac's brain came screeching to a halt.... She was NOT wearing her void suit...