Ancient Birthright Read Online Free

the uneaten food had become a test, a way to demonstrate to his friends that he was an adult, a leader, and he didn’t have to follow her instructions.
    Time to do the ‘I’m-sorry-it-won’t-happen-again’ routine.
    “Sorry sir, I literally got tied up and couldn’t answer the all-souls-roll-call. It won’t happen again, sir.” The pink coloration of embarrassment faded to the blue-gray of insincerity.
    “Yes...I saw how tied up you were. Your ‘tied up’ condition seemed to be a direct result of charge number two. Don’t you agree?” Prime Garuu said, leaning forward to confront his son.
    Just shut up and say, “Yes, sir.” Anything else and he’s going to unload.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Due to the seriousness of the charges, I feel a punishment commensurate with the infraction is in order. You will report to waste-recycling Department Lead, Vadd Remoo, at the beginning of each daylight cycle for the next three, thirty-cycles. You will complete all duties assigned without complaint and to the best of your abilities. Department Lead Vadd Remoo will be at your cabin tomorrow at cycle change to inspect your cabin to ensure it meets ship’s standards. Do you have any questions?”
    “Can I still see my friends when Department Lead Remoo releases me?”
    Command Prime Garuu just stared at him in answer. “Have you met Department Lead Remoo?”
    “No, sir,” Saigg said with a sinking feeling.
    “Department Lead Remoo, please step forward.”
    Remoo stepped up beside him and snapped to attention. Saigg took a step sideways to put a little space between them. DL Remoo was the most squared-away soul he had ever seen. His color even matched the starched olive-green sash and razor-crease pressed uniform equipment-pouch shorts he had on.
    “What motto do you have on your crew’s work uniforms, DL Remoo?”
    “Recycling, the life of the ship, sir,” DL Remoo said as he pushed out the sash so Saigg could see the embossed motto.
    “Passenger Saigg Garuu, embrace that motto and learn its true meaning. DL Remoo, passenger Saigg is yours at the start of daylight cycle tomorrow and for the next three thirty-cycles. Inspect his living quarters to ensure compliance with ship’s standards. Deal with infractions as you see fit.”
    “Yes, sir,” Remoo answered with a grin as his coloration transitioned to the deep blue green of anticipation.
    “Passenger Saigg Garuu, you will, of course, continue to attend all classes and required staff meetings. When not in class, you will check with DL Remoo to see if he has additional duties for you.”
    “But, sir…” Saigg stopped when he saw a deep purple-red hue color the frown on his father’s face. “Yes, sir, I understand.”
    “Passenger Garuu you are dismissed from the bridge. I expect to see you at the bridge crew staff meeting in one hundred-truebeats.” Command Prime Garuu flicked his right hand and snapped of his tail at the exit.
    Not another staff meeting, he thought to himself. I’ve had to attend these things since we left Danuaa 3, and I’m sick of it. When’s he going to realize I don’t want to be Command Prime of a spaceship?
    Saigg stumbled from the bridge, his thoughts swirling, trying to grasp what had just happened to his life.
    #
    Saigg returned for the staff meeting. He’d found a clean shirt without a tear and replaced the cut lace in his boot. He walked in and took a seat along the wall directly behind his father’s couch as he’d done so many times before.
    “Command Prime, I have the dropout report from the survey in fuel stores.” Caraa handed her husband a reportpad she’d just finished reading as a deep blue-black color spread across her face.
    His eyes widened at getting the report this soon and from the color of concern displayed by his mate. After reading for several truebeats, his face also shifted color. He handed the report pad to Saigg. Saigg began to read it as Command Prime Garuu continued the meeting.
    Command Prime glanced