Zonama Sekot, Monday Evening Fandom Time

[weetuskenraider]

Another long day of sorting out arguments and soothing flared tempers, playing translator, writing up reports and transmitting them back to the Council, and all the dozens of little yellow-tape things -- all of that was done, thankfully, and Tahiri finally had a chance to get some alone time

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender hadn't checked in on Tahiri's progress on Zonama Sekot for a while, though he'd been planning to. Now, just back from work (and clearing some minivan stuff with Warren) seemed like as good a time as any.

Hence, he was calling.

[endsthegame]

Ender raised his eyebrows - not that she could see it. "Tell me about them?"

[weetuskenraider]

"Oh, boy. How long have you got?" she asked, only partly kidding. "Name anything you can do with technology: communication, lighting, infrastructure. The shapers have, over the centuries, learned to breed something to do the exact same job."

A pause, then, ruefully: "I don't recommend trying to infiltrate any Yuuzhan Vong-occupied stronghold through the sewer system."

[endsthegame]

That... was definitely a burst of chuckles on the other end of the line.

"Jedi," Ender said, like that explained everything.

It kind of did.

"I don't suppose you have any research I could tempt you to send me." Of course he was interested.

[weetuskenraider]

It really did explain everything, and Tahiri snorted in amusement.

"Only once," she felt the need to emphasize. Yeah, it explained everything.

"And I'll see what I can do; I don't think Tekli and Danni will mind terribly. Actually, I'd guess they wouldn't mind any comments you might have, either, although," she cautioned, "how much I can get for you will depend on what the shaper caste is willing to allow." She had a feeling he'd understand that.

[endsthegame]

"Don't go start borrowing trouble on my account," Ender said, with a little smile. "I take it that caste is looked up to."

[weetuskenraider]

"Oh, I think they'll be more cooperative now than they would have been, say, a couple of years ago," Tahiri replied dryly. "They're more . . . relied on than looked up to, but with the warrior caste, um -- not as busy these days, it may be interesting to see how that changes."

[endsthegame]

Ender digested that information. "That's going to prove to be interesting," he mused. "How are you fitting into the whole thing?"

Being what she was and what she was doing.

[weetuskenraider]

"I'm still figuring that out," Tahiri admitted. "I get the feeling this would've been a much harder adjustment if I hadn't spent so much time in Fandom the last few years, though."

[endsthegame]

"Just as many different people screaming at you from all sides?" Ender guessed, wryly.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri burst out laughing. "And all of them coming from completely different points of view, yes. But I was thinking about how being in Fandom meant I'm not coming from several years of nothing but galactic war. It makes the . . . unique position I'm in far less overwhelming."

A beat.

"If lacking in Fandom whimsy, but the jury's still out on how good a thing that is."

[endsthegame]

"Well, I for one have nightmares about turning into a five-year-old in the middle of a two-year interstellar journey," Ender supplied, "Or, god forbid, while helping colonists set up houses or something..."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri groaned. "I was trying not to think about those things!" she pretended to complain, although she was still laughing through the protest. "Bad enough Jaina put it in my head that we might go back for Homecoming and turn five."