"My ID is authentic!"
   
    Theo schooled herself to calmness, thinking the dance moves rather than dancing them, recalling Asu saying she was always ready to fight, feeling the aches that meant she'd just been in a fight.

    The Anlingdin student ID wasn't the problem; that checked out. That she'd need to show any ID to get into her own hearing, accompanied by well-known staff member, was on the far side of enough, already. But the demand had clearly been for "All academic and professional ID, please", and that had surely meant her Guild membership card, which she'd also trumped with the Huggelans Rotating Staff ID card. That card had been accepted at face, but the Guild card was another matter.

    The guard in the unfamiliar uniform scanned the unmarred ID again, shaking his head.

    "It does appear authentic. But it wasn't issued on Eylot, by the registry office here.     It didn't go to the planet registry for approval. This one was processed elsewhere, so it didn't have local approval, and it is so recent that..."

    "For approval?"  It had taken her a moment to catch that and Theo fought hard to keep her face and eyes turned away from yos'Senchul, still in line behind her.  "Local approval?  Aren't all pilots eligible?"

    Theo saw the guard lose concentration as looked elsewhere for guidance and finally found it in a man in a business outfit who lounged nearby. He moved forward, speaking firmly, and to the assembled.

    "Yes, that has been the process here; any pilot with credentials and training might go to the local guild office and join.   Of late, however, an additional step has been added for those from Eylot – they must meet piloting standards, of course, but they also must first have a job offer or a job and to get that they must be --"

    The guard pointed to Theo's left hand, where the card bearing the crest of Howsanda Hugglelans was clenched firmly against her Anlingdin Academy credentials.

    "Guide, the pilot does carry..."

    "You were correct in scanning her credentials, and correct that they are somewhat – out of the ordinary for a student here. We shall make a note of that.  As we should not start proceedings without her, you will admit her."




    She walked, but it was more than that.  She strode. An eager calm infused her, dance was her being.  The world went on all around her, voices and sounds, and as in a half-watched but well-known play. The theme of this play was an old one: Theo Waitley, threat and menace. 

    This episode was perhaps better scripted than the play as seen in her early days, when it was her hapless clumsiness that was cited.  Now it was her pure potency that mattered  -- Theo Waitley, trained in unarmed combat, Theo Waitley, with a history of at least four violent incidents since she'd arrived on campus ...

    Four?  There was her riot, of course, and then the incident of the stolen flight-hours.  But ...

    Somehow, for the purposes of this exercise, her infamous sailplane flight was linked to the general unrest being brought under control throughout the continent by the new policy rectifying the disadvantage and self-disadvantage Eylot  had been laboring under.  Then there was the recent incident, also linked to general unrest, in which a senior faculty member had intervened.

    And now, of course, it was well-known that this person with a history of violence was carrying a gun.  True, as a pilot she might be permitted a gun, and clearly, she'd had the gun with her during the riot. What if she, in her desperation --

    This time, the Commander was absent.  In her stead were three Guides, just this week assigned to the Academy to insure that the best interests of Eylot and the Eylot born were always kept in mind.

    This time, all evidence was read, and no discussion was allowed.  She sat in her chair while the Guide spoke, telling the room that in times of unrest it was necessary and purposeful to regard the precincts of academia as central to the future of the planet, and in particular, the precincts of any place producing pilots, who are the core of commerce.  Acknowledging the speeches by the Guiding Council as authorizing immediate action by Guides in place ...

    "This hearing is to announce and confirm the decision of the Guides of Purpose on the immediate suspension of  academic privilege, residence, and attendance of Theo Waitley at Anlingdin Academy, on the grounds of a history of her continued association with violent activity. Given the state of unrest facing Eylot we must act to make and keep Anlingdin an orderly institution.  This suspension is to remain in force until the student can demonstrate two years of clean, non-violent civil behavior records, after which reinstatement to the start of the equivalent semester may be considered  upon proper application through recognized channels, assuming the state of unrest and threat is resolved. Failure to leave the premises on time or in good order will be considered a violent breach of the peace "

    After that, they'd read the incidents, explained that in uncertain times order was necessary, and ...

    Dance. Thoughts of bowli ball, and a vague understanding that she'd really be needing a place to sleep.  She wondered if there was some kind of a rebound from the interrogation drugs that made her feel like this, wondered if Asu had known more than she said in her warning.

    She'd been distracted several time during the proceedings, wondering who the Guides would report this to.  Certainly they should report it to Cho, who had seen her enrolled – so Cho would need to be informed, and of course Win Ton, once she was settled, somewhere. Cho though, Cho might feel it incumbent to tell Kamele... and that was something Theo wasn't looking forward to.  Father had worked so hard to bring Kamele around and --

    But there, that was later. Father would be fine Kamele would understand.  Just like the times with her mentor and the silly problems on Delgado. She'd get through this, and get on...   

    And now she walked, with a single goal: get out.  There was a shuttle flight out in an  hour and the Guides had preempted the first two jitneys to show up after the meeting. 

    A sound of footsteps. A lot of footsteps, being not at all quiet, and now, voices.

    "There she is!"

    She turned, calmly, ready. feeling the weight in her pocket as well as the energy in her arms, anticipating that the first move would be --

    "Kara!"


    As calm as she'd been about facing potential hostiles she was almost unnerved to find   a half-dozen members of DCCT.

    "You're all going to get in trouble!"

    "We're all in trouble already," Kara said, "every  one of us in DCCT. They've tagged us with association with recent violent activity, and with association with a known nexus of violence."

    They were walking rapidly, away from the hearing room and in the direction of the space field and dorms.

    "Nexus of viol... "

    Now temper flared.

    "Someone brings a riot to DCCT and it's your fault?  And I'm the nexus? I am the nexus?"

    Theo stopped suddenly, eyes closed, the pause so rapid that several of the DCCT members jostled her.

    "What are you doing Theo? Are you going to be able to do walk or should we call a cab?"

    Kara was right next to her,  looking intensely into her face, eyes grim when Theo opened her own.

    "I was remembering names, Kara.  Faces and names. I swear I will not forget this!"

    Kara bowed, very formally.

    "Yes, we have the names as well. The whole thing was live on the admin channel, you know!"

    "Double," Theo said. "Double! I have their faces. They think I'm going to want to come back to this ..."

    "That is much Balance, Theo.  Do not take on --"

    Overhead a rotary wing was sweeping by, search beam ...

    "There, they said they were going to start security sweeps on groups of three or more..."

    Unexpectedly, this was Bova speaking ...and was echoed by Freck.

    Theo spun – "I'll be able to do this, just go. No need to ..."

    Kara turned, hands waving:

    Split, return, careful I cover and report

    A flutter of assents, and they strode on alone, with the sound of the rotary thrumming in the distance, and when they reached the path leading toward the field Theo veered in that direction, while Kara strode on toward the dorms until realizing with a start that Theo's path diverged.

    "Theo," she half whispered after catching up at a run, "where are you going?"

    "I've got to be out of here, so the field..."

    "But your stuff in the dorm!" Kara's hands enumerated shirts jackets bags jewelry letters

    She stood quiet, considering, did a quick pat of her person, felt the necklace, checked on pockets, marked the gun's still unusual presence....

    "I'm set. I have what I need on me."

    Kara uncharacteristically stamped her foot.

    "Are you going to give them your stuff!"

    Theo put hand to face, seeing the point, and seeing the look on Kara's face.

    "Hug me," Theo said, "and then go get the stuff. Keep it, dispose of it as you will, start a legal fund, anything! I will not forget and I will be in touch when, when, when... I'm not a nexus of violence."

    Despite herself she burst out laughing. 

    Kara froze a moment, and then bowed, very deeply and with flourishes.

    "If you are sure, Theo Waitley, I will do this. I will be the instrument of your will."

    Theo felt the smile fade, heard the sounds of the night include the shuttle's tow machine.

    "Yes, Kara. I'm sure.  I give you my key, and my word."

    The hugged quickly, and Kara made her repeat the statement into her com, so she had Theo's word, tucked the key away. And hugged her again before bowing one more time.

    "Pilot, good lift!"

    Theo nodded. "And to you, and safe landing."

    Then she hurried, not wishing to be a moment longer than necessary in Anlingdin's airspace.