Finity's End

1997

On Pell station in the long ago, there was a ship born lady who had to be left as her ship headed out into the Deeps against the Manziani raiders and Union forces, in support of the Carrier Norway. But now a truce has been declared and it's time for the ship to collect it's waifs and strays. The lady had died soon after birth leaving her son to the mercy of Pell courts and foster parents though those aboard the ship had tried to reclaim the boy every time they had put into dock. Claiming protection under wartime rules, Pell had refused to let him be taken but each time Fletcher found his life disrupted.

He felt little loyalty to either ship or station but nearing his majority, he gradually found a place amongst the native Pells. When Finity's End returned at the end of the fighting, though, he's at the Downside research post and unable to fight his case so finds himself subject to shipside recall. Exceptionally ticked off, he is bundled aboard and bunked with his age mate, the youngest child to have been born aboard the Finity's End. Due to relativistic warp his age mate is physically only about twelve and had been alone for most of his life. Both are people looking for a place to fit and while it seemed that things might work out well initially, Fletcher's unfamiliarity, and his unwillingness to become familiar, with ship routine make enemies amongst all classes of people aboard the ship. In particular, he is resented by those who are physically his age, but are five, or more, years his senior for his physical development means that he has to be granted privilidges similar to their own.

Can Fletcher be persuaded that he is a valid part of the crew or will Finity's End be forced to dump him? Follow his development and see for yourself whether he adapts or is thrown away as a waste of time.

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