“Everyone on Inneeko can access the education system free of charge,” Han said. “Not all places in the Ilgorian Federation dothis, but most do. It’s highly encouraged for children to attend and get at least the Base 1 level education. I got to Base 3 before I got bored. There’s no upper-level education on Inneeko, but our sister planet has three upper-level institutions to study at.”
“It isn’t required for the children to go to school?” Rensom asked.
“No,” Han said. “ It’s up to the family. Some of the schools work hard to accommodate the families by setting attendance hours different for different ages.”
Sandar let out a surprised rattle. “The children don’t live at the schools?”
“Not unless it’s a special type of school,” Han said. “Some programs are immersive, but even then it’s usually for a limited number of days.”
“That’s so different from our empire.” Sandar rubbed a hand over her belly. “I look forward to being in this child’s life.”
“This child and any other children you decide to have,” Han agreed.
“If only that was true,” Sandar said with a sad rumble.
Rensom reached over and placed his hand over hers. “I know you want to collect Rishmun and Lirsum, but we can’t risk it.”
“Who are Rishmun and Lirsum?” Tumoro asked, his ears perking up.
“Our children,” Rensom said. “They’re in a cresh on Blish Colony within the Talin Empire. We could easily pull them out under the guise of moving them to a closer colony cresh, but we can’t risk Sandar being seen.”
Han tilted her head. “You both have to show up to get the children?"
“It’s required for this type of move,” Sandar said. “The empire doesn’t like it when children are moved from one cresh to another. They would want to interview both of us for the records.”
Han shifted a little in Zeph’s lap. “There’s got to be a way around that. We can’t leave your kids behind!”
Rensom sounded a negative rumble. “We talked about it at length last night. There’s no strategy that doesn't put us in danger. We’d have to wait until the baby is born and old enough to be without us for several marks at a time. By then we’d have been living on Inneeko long enough for the empire to have discovered we’ve abandoned our research post and are no longer in the empire. By not registering our move, we’d be under suspicion. Picking up the children would only make them investigate us further. It wouldn’t take long for them to realize we’ve scent-bonded. There’s no hope of getting Rishmun and Lirsum.”
Han crossed her arms over her chest. “No, I don’t accept this.” She pointed at the rest of the people present. “You’ve got us now too. That means there’s no way we’re letting Rishmun and Lirsum stay in that cresh. We’re breaking the kids out; I just have to figure out how.”
Zeph
After talking with Sandar and Rensom for several marks, Han came up with a plan to get their children.
Zeph sounded a negative rattle. “Normally I’m impressed with your unrepentant determination, but this is a bad idea.”
Han shook her head. “It's not perfect, but I think it’ll work. Especially with how distracting it will be for everyone if I’m there.”
“You’ll have to wear a collar,” Zeph warned her. “And the wrap garment the Committee of Pet Welfare recommends for humans.”
“I wear all kinds of things when I’m home on Inneeko, so a wrap doesn’t bother me.” Han made a face. “The collar, though, ugg! Can we pretend none of them fit me or something?”
Rensom sounded a negative rumble. “I’m afraid wearing a collar is something the Committee of Pet Welfare is adamant about. The collars have trackers. If a human gets lost, they can be found before they get hurt.”
Hope that he could dissuade her from this rose up in him. “Yes, I read that. There is a suggested collar type.”
Unclipping his Ident, he searched the information the Committee for Pet Welfare had sent out. When he found the information about collars, he displayed the type they suggested in a holo and held it up.
“This is what you’ll have to wear.”
Han’s expression twisted into deep distaste. “That looks industrial.”
She touched her throat as if feeling an imaginary collar there. This was it! Zeph was sure she was going to back out. He felt bad for Sandar’s children, but they would be raised by the cresh and adopted by another family in their clan after Sandar and Rensom disappeared. They’d be at a disadvantage, but they wouldn’t be orphaned.
“We could program the collar to your biosignature,” Sandar said. “That way you could take it off any time you felt uncomfortable. If they catch you with it off, Rensom can claim the locking mechanism failed.”
“Yes! I read that’s been an issue with the first collars brought into the empire from Vicper manufacturers,” Rensom said.
