Aja and Mara strolled along the boardwalk, headed for home after a dinner out with Trevor. They came across a group of people having a disagreement. That was getting rather loud. They stopped to listen, but Mara was intently watching her mother as she casually made a slow progression closer to the group arguing. It seemed to be a disagreement about who was dating who.

A man started to pull a knife and before it cleared the sheath, Aja fired a shot into the air gaining the groups attention.

“Problem here, folks"” Aja stepped down off the boardwalk holstering her gun as she got in between the two men that were about to fight. She reached out, taking the mans hand off his knife. “No need fer dat, is there"” she said more than asked of the guy and he shook his head.

“No, Captain. There isn’t.” the man said and backed up a step away from the other man he had been quarreling with, shooting the man a hard look.

“Now, as flatterin as it is fer a couple of fine lookin fellas ta be competing for a lovely ladys’ hand, there is never any call fer it ta come ta weapons bein used in said competition. It’ll only frighten the lady in question.” Aja motioned to the young women who was looking now at Aja. She nodded looking relieved to have someone stepping in. “For all it makes her think is that if yer willin ta use violence ta gain her hand, ya may use that same violence against her. And that, boys is no way to woo a woman.” Aja looked between the men. “Agreed"”

“Agreed.” they said in unison, looking for all the world like scolded school children.

“Alright then.” Aja turned to the couple that were standing with the young woman. “Ya two, if ya’d be so kind as ta escort this young lady ta her home.” Aja motioned then to the two men. “These two gents will be departing now ta think about what they were about ta do.”

“Yes, Maam.” The man of the couple said, then motioned the women down the street and away from the two men.

“Thank ya.” she gave them a warm smile watching as they made their way down the street away from the two men. Once they were far enough away, she turned back to the men, her expression had hardened. “Ya two, knuckleheads will be goin home alone. And ya’ll come see me in da morning where we shall discuss decorum on city streets. Ya hear"”

“Yes, Captain.” they said in unison again.

“In da meantime, I want you to think very hard about the way ya frightened that young lady tanight and ask yerself if that is what ya intended ta do.”


“Yes, Captain.” again a in unison response. Aja raised her arms, each hand had a finger pointing at each man then she widened her arms to indicate that the men should take separate paths home. “Now scoot. ‘Fore I change mah mind, and make ya work all night scrappin barnacles off da hulls.”

“Aye Aye Captain.” they saluted and went in the directions she indicated. Mara saw her mother give a nod to a guard not far down the street who then followed one of the men.

Aja sighed and went back up on the boardwalk, rejoining Mara.

“Well, dat was a little after dinner excitement, wasn’t it.” she smiled putting her arm around Mara’s shoulders and squeezin her to her.

“Mom"”  Mara said after a moment. “How do you do that"”

“Do what"”  Aja asked looking at Mara confused.

“Decide how to handle things like that.”

“Huh.” Aja started, it had never occurred to consider her how she came to decisions she made regarding her handling of the crew. It was second nature at this point. “well, it takes time to be in a position where ya can handle a situation like that one in da way I did. I happened ta be their captain, and they have ta listen ta me if they want ta keep their jobs.”

“But how did you know they would listen"” Mara asked sounding confused. “Both men looked like they were ready to kill each other.”

“Ah, but dat’s where da gun shot came in handy.” Aja grinned. “Got their attention off each other and to the more dangerous person in the general area.”

“Gun trumps knife"” Mara asked with a smile.

“Not always. But in a situation like that' Yeah.” Aja thought about a second longer before continuing. “Ya notice, I only used it ta gain their attention. After that, I relied on their loyalty to me as crew members ta keep their tempers in check.”

“And the choice to send them home"”

“Oh...well.”  Aja motioned for her and Mara to continue their walk towards home. “That, was years of Tanner teachin me about non violent ways ta broker peace between people.”

“Diplomacy.”

“Aye. Da very same.” Aja nodded. “I could’ve jist shot them both, but that would be an over reaction and no better than what they were about ta do. Right"”

“Yes.”

“So. Sending each man ta his own place seemed to be da correct way ta end the night in a non-violent way. Give them time ta think about their own actions.”

“How do you know they’ll do it the right way next time"”

“I don’t.” Aja simply said. “I can hope they took this incident to heart, and that they will learn something from it. But ya can’t make people think what ya’d want them ta think. They have to come ta their own ways of handlin themselves.” Aja looked at Mara then. “This is where ya have ta learn ta step back, let other people figure themselves out. Because ya can only do so much. Even if I am their boss. End of da day, they are their own people. They have ta be able ta look inta da mirror and decide if da person starin back is someone they can live with.”

“And in the context of them being your employees"”

“My, such elegant phrasin.” Aja chuckled at Mara and patted her shoulder. “Dat school I’m sendin ya too is doin a better job teachin ya than I am.” Aja paused then continued. “In the context of them being mah employees" Well, dat’s another Tanner taught trick. He expected all his guys ta not only work hard, but treat each other with respect. He also expected them to behave accordingly when off his ship as their actions reflected on the entire crew as a whole.”

“Why is that important"”

“Reputation. If ya get known fer bein a pain in da arse or being overly violent, den very few people will want to deal with ya. And that hurts business ya need ta conduct ta get by. See"”

“Yes, I think I understand.”

“Mara, all through your life, yer gonna have ta decide how yer gonna be at any given moment.” Aja said while they walked along in the night air. “Da best way is ta ask yerself how do ya want ta be seen by others. Da ya wanna be respected" Thought of as smart' Or do ya want people to think ya are nothing more than a mindless twit who can’t use anything but a weapon ta settle differences"”

“Well, I don’t want people thinking I’m stupid.” Mara said.

“Good place to start.” Aja smiled. “The rest, is all situational. Every situation provides a unique set of obstacles that ya will have ta navigate.”

“What about power"”

“What about it"” Aja asked as she looked at Mara.

“You have it, yet you don’t really flaunt it at all.” Mara said surprising Mara. She wasn’t aware that her daughter had even paid that much attention to the way Aja handled herself day to day.

“Would ya respect me if I did"” Aja asked lightly.

“No. I don’t suppose I would.”

“Yeah. I kinda figure a lot of people feel dat way.” she smiled easy enough. “I’d rather they want ta be around me cause I’m a good person, rather than they fear me.” she paused again, to clarify a certain point that she had just demonstrated earlier. “I mean the crew, has ta fear me a little. They have ta know I can and will take action they won’t like if they step outta line. But. Ya have ta be very careful not ta come off as a tyrant. No one follows dat guys lead willingly.”

“With great power, comes great responsibility"”

“Exactly that.” Aja said with a smile. “There will be people, ones in power, pragmatists and idealists, that you will have to deal with along da way. Usually, it’s a king, queen and a church of some sort.” Aja waved a hand. “They take different forms, the pragmatists and the idealists, but they will always fight each other for control. And with them, the best thing to do is to just stay outside the line of fire and let them battle it out.”

“Why"”

“It’s narrow minded thinking. Boxes a person in, changes them to a mob mentality.” Aja shrugged and looked out at the stars and sea as they made their way into the ship yards lot. “Maybe some people need that, to feel as if they have ta fit in. And that’s alright. If that’s what gets ‘em through a day. Then that’s their choice.”  Aja stopped then and looked at Mara seriously. “Here’s where what you do changes. Every now and again, one group or the other acts like a spoiled child and tries blowin up da whole world, jist ta get their own way.  When dat happens, Mara, you can’t just stand there on the sidelines anymore. Ya have ta pick a side. Ya have ta stop them.”

“How"”

“Every situation will be different. But ya’ll know. Remember when I said to make a lot of different types of friends"” Mara nodded. “Dis is where that wide circle of friends with different skill sets comes in handy.” Aja looked at Mara with a smile. “Never doubt that a small group of people with good hearts can make a difference. Da ya know why"”

“Cause it’s the only thing that ever has"”

“Exactly right.” she kissed Mara on the head. “Yer a good girl with a good brain inside that pretty head. And that will be yer greatest weapon on any given day. Not a gun or a knife or a sword. But that amazing brain of yours.”

“Mother.”

“Whut"” Aja laughed. “Tis da truth. Yer a pretty girl, and that with a little charm will get ya by fer about fifteen minutes But after that...ya best know something.” Aja stopped by the cart they used to go back and forth from the house and yards. “or ya wind up jist bein a pretty face. No one takes dat chick seriously. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen in RhyDin City.”

“Really"” Mara asked as she got into the cart.

“Yeah. Pretty is a dime a dozen in RhyDin, but ta be truly beautiful"” Aja climbed into the drivers side. “That comes more from the inside of you, how you treat those around you. Strangers and friends alike.”

“Like you are?”

“Now now...let’s not go all crazy with da cheese whiz.” Aja laughed. “I will admit to being cute with a large dose of witty charm who treats her friends well.”

“You’re the prettiest person I know, Mom.” Mara said. “I want to be just like you one day.”

For once, the gypsy pirate was speechless. She just sat there for a long moment, tears pricking at her eyes and a sense of complete awe at what her daughter had just said. She now understood what Tanner had meant when he said to her all those years ago, about Aja being his greatest achievement in life. If Aja was Tanner’s greatest achievement, than Mara was hers.

She took a moment to gather herself before cracking a wide smile.

“I’m so raising yer allowance.” she ruffled Mara’s hair and started them for home.