Light From Uncommon Stars(116)

“But Mother, how? The power requirements alone—”

“It uses antimatter.”

“Antimatter?”

“Don’t question it. Just say thank you. And try not to drop it.”

“Yes, Mother! Thank you, Mother!”

“M-Miss Satomi, are you okay? Can you hear me? This is Katrina!”

“I know, dear. I can see you. Yes, I’m fine,” Shizuka said. “The stargate was a little bright, and tingly … but, to be honest, it was kind of fun.”

“I’m glad. I was so worried that shooting through a giant donut would be disorienting, even for you.”

“So you knew about this?”

Katrina nodded. “I’m sorry, Miss Satomi, but we were afraid that if we told you or Miss Astrid the plan, Tremon Philippe would have sensed it.”

Shizuka was flabbergasted. How could her student have fooled her so thoroughly? Then she smiled. Of course. Katrina’s life had depended upon keeping secrets, too.

“I stowed Martha and your other favorite violins and bows in the cargo hold. Your laptop is there, too. And, um, Miss Satomi, I also packed you an escape bag. Clothes, emergency money, spare glasses, ID.”

“Thank you, Katrina.”

“Mommmm!” The twins pushed themselves into view.

“Windee, Edwin. You remember the talk that we had, right? I know it’s sudden, but Mom has work to do.”

“Yes, but—” Windee looked as if she were about to cry.

“Windee Tran. Your tectonic calculations were brilliant. I could not have done any better. Your work saved the stargate and your captain, as well. Therefore, I hereby promote you to second lieutenant and appoint you assistant technical officer of Starrgate Donut. Please continue to study hard, so one day I can recommend you to Star Patrol.”

“Yes, Captain!”

“And, Edwin Tran. Thank you for helping us finally perfect our donut recipes. Aunty Floresta says that she could not have completed the kitchen without you. Therefore, I hereby promote you to second lieutenant and appoint you assistant chef of Starrgate Donut. Please continue to make Starrgate the finest donut shop in the galaxy.”

“Yes, Captain!”

“And now, to the both of you, I give my final orders. Lieutenant Windee! Lieutenant Edwin! No more running through the halls!”

“Yes, Mom…”

“Now, is Aunty there?” Lan asked.

Aunty Floresta peeked onscreen and gave a thumbs-up.

“Right here, Lanny,” Floresta said.

“Thank you, Aunty, for everything.”

“Of course, Lanny. Be careful out there, okay?”

Lan cleared her throat and saluted. “Commander Floresta Lam, I hereby promote you to captain and turn command of Starrgate Donut over to you.”

Captain Lam straightened her back and returned the salute. “I shall take good care of her, Captain Tran.”

“Thank you, Captain Lam. And, although it’s the new captain’s prerogative to select her first officer, might I recommend Shirley Tran? She is an exemplary scientist, a brilliant tactician, with impeccable character.”

Aunty Floresta laughed. “Of course she is. She’s your daughter, after all. Safe travels, Lanny. And please allow Starrgate Donut to be the first to wish you good luck on your mission to heal the Endplague.”

“Thank you, Aunty. I shall do my best to succeed.”

Why build a stargate, anyway? She had never answered Aunty Floresta, had she? To be fair, at the time, she didn’t know. Even as she performed calculation after calculation, simulation after simulation. Even as her family worried about her, even as her crew must have doubted her—something in her must have known that another mission was yet ahead.

After all, wasn’t there a galaxy to save?

“I thought you said the Endplague couldn’t be healed,” Shizuka said.

“I was mistaken,” Lan said simply. Lan reached for Shizuka’s hand. “I’ll explain along the way. But I know that you can no longer play your music on your world. So, Miss Shizuka Satomi, would you be okay with playing it to the stars, instead?”

Lan flipped a switch. And as they reached full power, the ship’s engines began to sing.

Of course, the Endplague could not be avoided. Life could not be avoided. Death comes for everyone. But that did not mean one could not be healed.

That did not mean one could not be saved.

Lan winked like a purple Han Solo.

“Hold on tight. It’s time to see what this runabout can do.”





38


“Good night, Mom.”

“Good night, Andrew. Save some lasagna for me.”

“Sure thing!”

The day had been busy. Joaquín Elias Zacatecas de Córdoba was now playing with three different ensembles throughout Southern California, and one of them was even playing to an English-speaking crowd at a summer festival in Santa Monica. Thanks to his testimonials, and those of others, demand for the La Maestra line was growing. In fact, Andrew was talking about offering not only violins, but violas, cellos, and even double basses.

Also, schoolchildren were streaming in after school, excitedly whispering that Katrina Nguyen herself came here to service both her Stradivarius and her beloved Aubergine—wasn’t that her picture on the wall? So, once again thanks to Andrew, the store was beginning to stock rhinestone tailpieces, rainbow-colored tuners, sparkling cakes of rosin, polar bear violin mutes—and of course, books and sheets from video games and anime.