Vathion returned to the bridge.

Li'Codas paled, quickly turning back to his station.

Ma'Gatas, standing next to Vathion's seat, crossed his arms. "Cinnamon wasn't finished with repairs."

"The ship's minibots are repairing the remaining damage. That doesn't require being in dock. Besides, Cinnamon's frame is borked from the battle six years ago. We'd have to go to Marak to fix that, and it would take disassembling the ship entirely to fix." He'd written a whole analysis on how much it would take to repair the Natan Fleet a while back. It was on the hard drive he had brought, but he doubted anyone would be interested in reading it.

Jathas helped me write that...

He quickly pushed that thought aside. Vathion missed Jathas as much as he missed his mother and the time when his biggest worry was getting his hacking project done for Hell-Razor without his high school computer programming teacher knowing what he was doing. The terrible part of it all was that he kept thinking of things to tell Jathas or Mirith.

:Sorry,: Paymeh said, :Couldn't wait.:

:Shut up.: He'd not realized he'd relaxed his hold and closed his connections again. "Anyways, I'm taking a pocket comm and escort and going out. Crew not on duty can have station leave."

He had a nagging suspicion that they could tell he wasn't an adult yet. After all, they were quite intimate with Natan's scent, and he'd been taking blockers without Hasabi's knowledge for a few years.

It's just like acting class. I'm playing the Hero, he told himself, meeting their eyes. Forcing a straight face, Vathion turned and left the bridge before Ma'Gatas could think of something else to object to. Or before the silence got awkward.

It was odd. Ma'Gatas had always been a bit of a prick in the show, but he'd not constantly questioned Natan's decisions. Probably because he knows I'm just a kid. He saw my mom. Mate Deprivation should've killed her three years ago.

Vathion reached the lift and paused. "Kiti, call Se'Zandre and... uh. Whoever else."

"Already have, sir," Kiti said.

Blinking at that, Vathion stepped into the lift as the doors opened. Initiative. Sure, I did some modifications on the house AI, and he did a few extra things around the house unasked for, but... odd.

He rode the lift down to the airlock. Se'Zandre and another man were already there, waiting. The new man immediately saluted. Vathion cleared his throat. "You are?"

 "Se'Logos." He and Zandre were of similar height and weight, which was reassuring. Hopefully, no one would get past them. Logos had dark blue hair and eyes, a square face, and a wide, flat nose.

Zandre was broad-shouldered, with silver-streaked maroon hair tied back in a tail at the back of his neck. His face was built on rounded angles with a strong slanted nose. His eyes were icy blue, and Bondstone was bright green.

Setting his shoulders, Vathion started for the airlock.

Zandre's outstretched arm barred his way. "Ha'Vathion, you didn't eat yesterday, did you?"

Pausing as he thought about it, Vathion realized he hadn't eaten anything since leaving Larena. Now that he was reminded, he flinched.

"And you haven't had anything yet today, have you?" Zandre asked.

"You are not my mommy," Vathion said sourly, then shot a glare at Logos as the man coughed suspiciously behind his hand.

Zandre shook his head. "Natan forgot to eat a lot, too," he explained.

Vathion's irritation simmered. He forcefully swallowed it.

"You're going out to make a scene. Get some lunch while you're at it." Lowering his arm, Zandre turned to take the lead out into Baelton's docks. Logos stepped out after.

Vathion paused briefly to tell his stomach to leave him alone before fixing a smile on his lips. Playing the Hero, as Dad called it. Zandre has a point. I can multitask.

Immediately, he squinted as cameras flashed. He hadn't specifically called for a dock-side press conference, but word had gotten out that the Xarian was docking, so people had gathered in hopes that Natan would make an appearance.

I'm famous now. This is my life. Vathion held onto his smile. I hate it.

"Ha'Natan!" people shouted.

One person's voice got above the din, "Is it true that you've got a mate and son? How did you keep them secret?"

"Is it true you left your son in charge of the Fleet?" another added.

His eyes scanned the crowd. There were only six reporters. The rest were adoring fans of Ha'Natan. He brushed invisible dust from his uniform. Se'Zandre and Se'Logos stepped up beside him, looking tall, dark, and dangerous.

"Is it true that you were wounded and are planning to leave the Fleet to your fourth cousin?" asked another reporter. Prickly must have been busy in the last hour.

The third reporter was shouting, "I heard that you'd stolen a Ferret and were planning to go back to Victory station and live there as a hermit! How did that get started?"

"Someone told me that you took a religious vow and were planning to go to Datanna and live there as a celibate priest for the rest of your life!" There were shrieks and hisses of displeasure from the fans behind the reporters.

"I heard that you ran around the Xarian in the nude, cursing the Emperor! What about that?" the fifth asked.

Number six was the loudest of them all, "I heard that Ha'Natan had died! Obviously not true, but how did that rumor get started?" And there was his first hint that someone already knew the truth.

Lifting a hand for silence, Vathion was shocked when he got it. It was eerie. "I'm not sure where you heard those odd stories, but I'm afraid they're all quite wrong. I am Ha'Vathion, Ha'Natan's son. My father decided that I was old enough to take over the Fleet. He retired two days ago and took my mother on a trip. Please respect their privacy."

Vathion's overly charming smile felt plastic on his lips even as he continued, "But never fear!" Abruptly, he turned and leaped atop a nearby box. Grinning, he drew his command baton to strike a pose. As if they'd rehearsed this a million times, his escort took places on either side with simultaneous salutes.

In a loud voice, Vathion declared, "The command may have changed, but the goal remains the same! For the Empire, the Natan Fleet continues to fight!"

He remained where he was for a second longer to let them take their pictures. A couple of cute girls had made their way to the front, catching his attention. He gave them a wink before dropping down, sheathing his baton in the loop on his belt. The girls swooned with happy squeals. They looked to be in their twenties.

Despite usual procedure, the reporters pressed in closer. "So none of those rumors are true?" one asked. "Why did Ha'Natan leave so suddenly? Is that why the Fleet has been hanging around Baelton for so long?"

"Who's your mother?" one reporter asked.

Another pushed her microphone forward. "How old are you? What are your stats?"

Clearing his throat in embarrassment, Vathion said, "I'd rather not discuss my mother. Just know that she and my father are deeply in love and been together for twenty years. Yes, a lot of it was long-distance. As for how that works, it's Natan. Rules just don't apply." He shrugged as if that explained everything. "If Natan wants to say anything more, he'll tell you himself." He grinned again, hoping that he wasn't as transparent as he felt. "As for my stats, I'm a Six, Silver, Cinnamon Rolls, and Cider."

"Will you be expanding the fleet?"

Vathion nodded to that last question. "More than likely."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Where are you going next?"

"When are you leaving?"

Vathion shook his head. "I don't have time for a girlfriend. As for where I'm going? I think out to lunch."

The reporters laughed in surprise.

"I meant, where will you be taking the Fleet next?"

Vathion flashed a smile at the girls when he realized he was starting to get a bit too stern-faced. "Ah, haven't decided! But when we move out, you'll know."

:You've already answered more questions than Natan ever did. It's time to strut off and get some lunch. There's a good fish-bar on the third level,: Paymeh told him.

:Shut up, stupid lizard,: Vathion snarled back at the Hyphokos.

Unfortunately, he did have a point. With a smile, Vathion stepped closer to the reporter that was directly in front of him. She opened her mouth to ask something else. He put a finger to her lips lightly and gave a mysterious smile.

Before she could recover, he slid past her.

Zandre and Logos immediately opened the way for him.

Once beyond the crowd, he asked, "Shall we go to the fish-bar on level three?" People trailed behind, of course, but they hung back some distance, knowing better than to provoke Vathion's guards.

"How'd you know about that?" Se'Zandre asked.

"Paymeh suggested it," Vathion admitted.

Zandre shook his head slightly, sighing. "You're really giving the crew Déjà Voodoo, Ha'Vathion."

Vathion gave a sad smile. "I don't mean to." He picked his chin up again and set his shoulders, remembering belatedly to walk as if he had confidence and ego to spare. It was difficult. "Can't be helped. So, tell me the truth, what's everyone saying below decks?"

Logos said, "They're upset that Natan has abandoned us, but bridge crew accepts the cover-up. It does no good to anyone for us to blab. How did those reporters know anything?"

Logos and Zandre had been close friends with Natan over the years, having served with him in Ha'Huran's ship. Their candor with Vathion reassured him. They weren't going to make his life hell on purpose.

Briefly, Vathion flashed a grin. "I had Kiti call them from an unlisted number. Can't hide the truth forever. But if someone does spill it, the waters'll be so muddy no one will know what's real and what's not. So long as I keep the Fleet on course and killing Rebels then everyone'll remain calm."

He sighed softly and wiped his forehead as they got to the lift. He'd stopped taking the hormone blockers a few days ago. He could already tell it was going to be awful.

When the doors opened, the lift was full. Vathion had to wait for the lift to empty. The crowd immediately recognized the uniforms and Vathion's dark violet hair. He gave a polite smile, then stepped into the empty car with Logos and Zandre hulking beside him.

Logos nodded. "Sounds like something your dad would come up with," he observed.

"I should make a personal report to the emperor, though. He needs to know the truth," Vathion added, pursing his lips as he got lost in thought.

His escort silently nodded in agreement, and the lift doors opened again on the third level. Zandre stepped out, Vathion following and Logos taking the rearguard. Looking back once, Zandre led the way to the fish-bar, and over to a seat in the back corner. The grill was dimly lit, with a specialty of Baelton seafood, prepared Serfocile style, which meant that much of it was raw. There were even some alien dishes called Sushi, which Vathion had tried a few times but simply could not quite get into.

"So, what's good here?" Vathion asked as he took a seat, tucking one foot under him as he did so.

"Natan always had the Tapae platter and water," Logos supplied helpfully.

Chuckling, Zandre smiled, albeit sadly. "I still can't believe he's gone..."

Straightening, Vathion smiled and slapped his palms on the tabletop. "Come on, lighten up, you two. Dad would be disappointed if you let this get you down. Besides, I'm supposed to be the one who always looks like his pet got kicked." This got a startled laugh from his guards. Quickly, he shoved aside the pang of depression as he was reminded of Jathas.

The waitress appeared then, eyes bright and smiling, as she looked over the men at the table. "Hi, I'm Liiza. Can I take your orders?" Her question seemed to imply that if they wanted a side dish of Liiza, that would be on the house.

"Tapae platter and water for him, Sushi surprise for me with green tea, and the barbeque with a ginger ale for him," Zandre ordered.

She pouted, wrote the orders on her datapad, and sashayed off. Vathion leaned over slightly to catch a better look at her long legs from beneath the short frilly skirt she wore. Zandre laughed again, and Vathion flushed lightly as he straightened.

"Gonna start 'Tasting the Delicacies of the Universe' like your old man, eh?" the maroon-haired man teased.

Brushing nonexistent lint off his coat, Vathion pretended mature innocence to cover his embarrassment. "No clue what you're talking about." Natan had at least three official girlfriends on every station and a one-night stand or two to spare. He already knew his attention to the younger ladies at the dock-side interview would bring more of that age range around the next time he made a public appearance. "Anyway, my whole day is free unless there's an emergency. I want a grand tour. It's my first time here, after all."

Once more, Logos and Zandre laughed, "Sure, boss," Zandre agreed, a smirk lurking at the corners of his lips. "We'll take you to all the sights."