Spring Break on Berea, part 1
a University Story
by Tal Greywolf

------

"Ok, so what are we going to do for break?"

The Mardaran University Social Club and Cappucino Appreciation Society was in
high gear in the cafeteria.  There were six of us around a table, alternately
discussing plans and testing the coffee replicator for something approaching
real.  Besides Shara and Jarin, there were Mirana and Fariss, as well as two
others, new arrivals to the University.  Keiria was a Foelrini, a low gravity
world where the main species were genetically engineered from old Terran
raptors.  Her arms doubled as wings, and she was just as graceful walking as she
was gliding through the air.  As for Tamiv, he was from Aelis.  He looked just
as graceful as she did, considering his ancestors were originally river otters.
Both got along well with each other as with the rest of us, and Tamiv had one of
the most wicked senses of humor I've ever seen.

Keiria took a sniff at her cup, then sighed.  "I really don't have any plans for
the time.  I would have planned a trip back homewards, but there wasn't any
transports for a week."

Fariss nodded.  "Same here.  It would have been four days in transit for me to
go back home.  And by then, I'd have to turn right around and come back."

Taking a sip from her cup, Shara made a face at her coffee.  "Remind me not to
pick the dark Kava blend again."  That drew some chuckles from around the table,
then she sighed.  "Well, I could be home a day after leaving, but I'm about the
same.  I don't really want to leave here."

Everyone nodded in agreement, then Tamiv spoke up again.  "So that leaves us
right where we started.  What are we going to do for break?"

Jarin cleared his throat.  "Well," he said slowly, "I could make a suggestion."

That got everyone's attention.  "You got an idea?" Mirana asked.

Jarin nodded.  "My uncle has a place just outside of Berea.  He's travelling
outsystem, but before he left he sent me email saying that if I wanted to stay
there that it would be ok.  It's not a large place, but it should be fine for
all of us."

Shara blinked in surprise, and mentally touched him.  <* Love? *>

>> Yes? <<

<* You didn't tell me this earlier.  *>

>> Forgot to.  Want to stay there? <<

<* Let's see what the others think.  *>

"Berea is a resort city, isn't it?" That was from Tamiv again.

"It is.  Mostly caters to tourists, but there's a sizable trade done through the
spaceport.  But there's enough there that anyone won't be bored, and because
it's also a spaceport virtually every world is represented there."  Jarin
chuckled softly.  "It also happens to be close to Festival down there, so
there's going to be a lot of activity."

Everyone nodded again at that.  "Sounds like it would be a great time for
everyone," Fariss said.  Mirana giggled a bit, causing Fariss to give a mock
glare at her.

"All right," Jarin said, "we've agreed to going?"  At seeing everyone's nod, he
continued.  "Then how about we all take the morning shuttle down to Berea the
morning after the final exam?"

A general sound of agreement met that suggestion.  "Good..." Jarin noted, then
drifted off as he spotted someone entering the cafeteria.  "Niall! Come over
here!"

The person Jarin called out to stopped, then slowly walked over to the table.
"Ummm.  Hi, everyone," he said in a quiet voice.  He looked rather nervous, but
then again no one really blamed him.  Niall's people had cut themselves off from
the rest of the Confederation several hundred years ago, and it was only within
the last 20 years that they had reestablished contact with the other
Confederation worlds.

Jarin smiled warmly, helping put the human at ease.  "Niall, we were talking
about what to do during break. Do you have anything planned to do during break
at all?"

Niall shook his head.  "No, I didn't have any idea what to do during break.
There's only one ship between here and my homeworld a month, and it left four
days ago.  I was thinking of just staying here on the satellite and studying."

Keiria made a soft snorting sound.  "You can't stay in your room for two weeks,
Niall.  This place is going to be abandoned except for the support folks who
have to stay here.  Even most of the instructors are taking off."

Fariss nodded.  "Besides, you ought to get out and see what the rest of the
universe is like.  That's what you're here for, right?  To learn about things
and how better to learn than to experience them?"

Niall gnawed on his lip and looked apprehensive.  "I won't lie to any of you.
I'm scared about being out among others.  Our people," and his voice trailed off
a bit, "still have problems dealing with some races.  You know that."

Shara placed her hand on his arm.  He blinked, but didn't pull his arm away from
her.  "Niall, I know.  We all know.  But we wouldn't have asked if we didn't
think you'd have a good time, no matter what."

Jarin nodded, giving Shara a smile that warmed her.  "Niall, you're not the only
one with problems.  That's why we have friends," and he smiled at everyone at
the table, "and why we should rely on our friends to help when we need it.  I
think you'd have a fun time."

Niall took a deep breath, and looked at everyone.  Smiles and nods of agreement
greeted his eyes, causing him to blush slightly.  "I'll... I'll go." He blushed
again when everyone cheered him and gave him hugs and slaps.  "I just won't know
what to do there."

"Just find something you like," Tamiv said.  "Do you like swimming?"

Niall blinked at the question.  "I used to swim all the time when I was back
home.  We had a small lake and my father would let me spend afternoons there
when I didn't have anything else to do."

Tamiv grinned.  "Then I'm sure you're going to love it there.  White sand
beaches and a freshwater ocean to swim in all you want."

A soft smile creeped across Niall's face, making everyone chuckle.  "Ah, I knew
we could find something you'd like," Mirana giggled.  "Now tell us you're going
to back out given the chance."

Niall gave a soft laugh.  "I hate to say it, but given spending two weeks here
or two weeks in the water, I'll take the water."

-----

Walking into his room, Niall noticed that the comm panel was flashing.  He
touched the receive bar, and one of the school operators came on the screen.

"Niall Jertha?  You have a request for a real-time link from Kadira, from Tregan
Jertha.  Do you wish to establish the link?"

Niall blinked in surprise.  A call from his father?  "Ummm, yes, please."

The operator nodded, and a random moire pattern filled the screen as the link
was established.  Niall wondered to himself what the call was about, then the
screen cleared to show the face of a middle-aged male human, his hair touched
with gray.

"Niall, hello son."  Tregan's voice was warm, making Niall blink in surprise a
second time.  "How's the schooling going?"

"It's going well enough, father."  Niall reached back to grab a chair, and sat
down.  "It's not like the schools on Kadira, but everyone here is patient and
willing to help me."

"That's good, what I want to hear."  Tregan reached back with his hand, running
the fingers through his hair then sighed.  "I just heard that you've got a break
coming up.  Did you want to come home for a short while?"

Niall hesitated.  "I would," he said slowly, "but the last transport left a few
days ago and there isn't one scheduled for a month."

"I know.  I could arrange for a courier to come and pick you up, though.  You'd
spend two days in transit, and could enjoy the rest of the time here."

"That's. . . not necessary, father," he said softly.  "I don't really want to
leave right now.  And," he paused, trying to put it simply, "some friends want
me to join them down on Mardara."

Tregan suddenly looked thoughtful.  "And you promised them you'd go with them,
is that it?"

"Yes."  Niall looked a bit worried, but instead his father's image nodded and
smiled.

"I think," he said firmly, "that it would be a very good idea that you don't
break your promise.  And you really should go and enjoy yourself once in a
while.  If you want I can send you some extra credits so you can buy yourself
some new clothes or whatever you'd like."

Niall looked surprised, a look that made Tregan laugh.  "What, you think I want
you to be so proper and serious?  Son, I want you to learn about people, and you
can't learn that from books.  Go have fun."

"Oh, I will!"  Niall almost looked ready to cry in joy.  "Tamiv says there's
beaches and that I'll be able to swim all I want."

That got a hearty laugh out of Tregan.  "You always did like swimming over
schoolwork."  He smiled and winked, then a look of seriousness caused Niall to
be quiet.

"Does anyone there at the university," he asked, "know about you?"

Niall shook his head.  "No one knows what I am, father.  I've been doing my best
to keep that information secret.  As much as I've found some of the others,
well, interesting.  But I haven't told anyone about me or my... abilities."

"Trust your instincts there.  I never liked what the scientists did to you, even
if it was in the name of the government.  And I've made sure they didn't do it
to anyone else.  You're special, and you're my son.  I worry about you, Niall.
I worry a lot."

Niall swallowed the lump in his throat.  "Dad, I'll be ok.  I promise I won't
let anyone else know.  About me or my gift."

Tregan nodded.  "I know you will, son.  Take care, enjoy yourself during
vacation.  I'll have those credits transferred to you by tomorrow."

Niall waved to his father, then the moire pattern appeared again.  He turned off
the screen, and let out a long sigh.

"Lords, I hope things don't get any worse."

---

copyright 2018, Tal Greywolf
all rights reserved