Chris smiled faintly as he watched General Powell hand out bottles of water to his unit under Hattie's direction.

"Life is easier if I only buck Hattie on the important things," Powell admitted manfully.

Chris introduced Buck, who easily settled on a seat next to Hattie. "Junior seems to think you'll be our grandmother."

"You need one," Hattie answered seriously.

Nathan and Josiah were introduced and made welcome.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Hattie Thomas. You have made quite an impression on our Vin," Josiah smiled warmly.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Thomas," Nathan greeted.

JD shyly approached with Cassey peeking out from behind him. "Hi"

"This is John Daniel Dunne and Cassey . . . ?" Chris introduced. Hell I don't even know the kid's name.

"Cassey, what is your full name?" Chris asked softly.

"Cassandra MacLeod of the clan MacLeod . . . of clan Larabee," Cassey corrected herself hesitantly obviously uncertain about claiming Larabee as her own clan.

"Hattie, this is Cassandra MacLeod, first daughter of the Larabee clan," Chris introduced while laying a comforting hand on the anxious girl's shoulder.

/Yah done good, Cowboy./ Vin 'said' approvingly.

Cassey straightened proudly and looked up at Chris. "May dishonor never come to your clan, Guardian."

/Guess this means I've claimed her?/ Chris looked over at his bonded.

/Did that at Sydni. This . . . just made it official like./ Vin radiated contentment.

Vin stiffened slightly almost feeling Hattie's contemplative gaze. A faint grin twitched his lips at her obvious curiosity. She asks and I'm gonna lie like a dog. Hope mah Ez lessons have paid off.

Old wives tales claimed that some bondeds could speak mind to mind . . . Well this old wife is a believer now. A book could be written on what hasn't been spoken here. Too public, even if I was dumb enough to ask. Grandfather Sandberg didn't raise any stupid children. Hattie smiled warmly "Sit down so we can get to know each other."

"This here is Ezra P. Standish," Vin introduced. Troubled sapphire eyes met Hattie's trying to apprise her of the sentinel's concern with this special member of his pack.

"Come here child," Hattie ordered firmly. Hattie reached out and tugged Ezra closer when he didn't move fast enough. Poor boy, how did he survive like this? First order of business is to heal this boy. Where was his mother to let this kind of thing happen?

Vin gently pushed down on Ezra's shoulders until the damaged guide sat on the floor. "Just relax Ez."

"Now then tell me a little about yourselves," Hattie ordered her new grandchildren softly. Ezra supressed a flinch when Hattie's hand came to rest on his head and began to card his hair.

So vulnerable . . . I should be afraid. Gradually Ezra inched closer, leaning into the comforting fingers sliding through the silky strands. No wonder Vin's people only allow someone they're close to access to their hair.

7777777

Almost 2 hours later the conversation was drawing to a close. Hattie smiled down at the sleeping Ezra, his head lying on her lap; one of his fine fingered hands was clutching a fold of her skirt tightly. "Do you know what happened to him?"

"Ain't my story," Vin answered firmly.

Hattie sighed sadly but nodded in understanding. "Faith comes hard to this boy. When he's ready he'll give me his story."

"Time for me to go to bed. Josiah, will you move Ezra? I'd really rather not wake him now," Hattie whispered.

"Better let Buck do it. Ezra will be shielded that way," JD suggested.

"No! You wake him. So's he knows he ain't been abandoned," Vin strongly suggested.

Hattie studied Vin's eyes before looking down at the peacefully resting Standish. Hesitating a moment she began gently stroking Ezra's shoulder encouraging him to wake. "Time for this old woman to go to bed. Ezra, you need to move child."

"We kin make room fer yah both," Vin offered.

"I'll sleep better in my own bed, child." Hattie answered.

"I gave my word Gavin Tanner. I'll see that Hattie is safely returned to her quarters," Gen. Powell yawned widely.

"I will see you tomorrow," Hattie said looking down into a pair of sleepy emerald green eyes. Vin was right it would have been a horrible mistake to have left without telling Ezra. "You promised to teach me how to play poker." Hattie reminded. Not trusting but at least he's considering the idea that I might not abandon him.

"Good Night and pleasant dreams dear lady," Ezra stood up and smiled.

Someday I will see a real smile on your face Ezra Standish. Hattie promised herself.

After a chorus of good nights Hattie left for her quarters with General Powell in close attendance.

"Well?"

"A deep subject Col. Larabee," Ezra responded.

"Are we gonna keep her?" JD asked hopefully.

"Of course we are," Buck answered.

"I believe any choice has already been determined by the lady herself." Ezra looked bemused.

7777777

"What happened with our quarters?" Chris asked Ollie as he walked over to join the security team.

"Team 9 took 3 men into custody . . . one of them is that section's steward. Easy to enter since he had a pass key. The other two are claiming to be council aides. The Captain said they'll stay in the brig until it's cleared up. We're pressing charges. I'm assuming you'll want to press charges as well?"

"Yeah, not that it'll do any good if they are really council aides."

"Somehow I have a feeling Council isn't going to want to admit their people are breaking and entering. They'll leave these boys hanging in the wind." Ollie growled in disgust.

Won't stop the next bunch though. Larabee sighed. "Any damages?"

"We didn't find anything but we'll let Vin tell us for sure," Ollie answered.

"Larabee . . . we've been hearing about Vin's music all night. Do you think you could get him to play something for us?" Ben asked hesitantly.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Chris suggested.

"Didn't want to offend him or something," Ben explained wistfully. "One of the waiters managed to record him at dinner. The music seems awful . . . personal somehow."

"Vin's pretty straight forward. If he doesn't want to play, he'll simply tell you so." Chris gestured Vin over.

"Vin . . . everybody has been talking about your music. I . . . the guys . . . we were wondering if maybe you'd play your guitar for us sometime?" Bob dithered.

"What kind of music would you like?" Vin uncased the guitar and began to tune it. Curiously Bob and the rest of their security squad moved closer.

"Doesn't look like much," Nathan remarked softly.

"He sure had people talking that heard him earlier," Ollie responded in an even softer tone trying not to disturb the human.

Vin settled onto the floor. Cocking his head he looked up. "So what do you want to hear?"

Confused looks were exchanged among the Centarians. "What kinds are there?"

"If you can think of it there's most likely a song about it," Cassey chuckled and dropped to the floor beside Tanner.

"We don't have any idea. Could you pick something for us?" Bob asked quietly.

"Sit down why don't ya. Towering over a man till he cain't breath." Vin ordered. Talented fingers began to move over the guitar strings shifting through cords as Tanner considered his audience.

They have no concept of just how good Vin truly is. He's actually plucking a twelve string. I doubt there's a dozen musicians in existence that can do so. Ezra stayed perfectly still so as not to disturb the artist's concentration.

"This'n is called Dust in the Wind." A melody began to emerge, after a long introduction Vin's smoky tenor lifted into song.

I close my eyes
only for a moment
and the moments gone
all my dreams
pass before my eyes a curiosity
dust in the wind
all we are dust in the wind

Same old song
just a drop of water
in the endless sea
all we do
crumbles to the ground
though we refuse to see
dust in the wind

Now, don't hang on
nothing last forever
but the earth and sky
it slips away

And all your money
won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind
all we are dust in the wind
dust in the wind
dust in the wind

Once the song came to an end gusty sighs were heard as held breath was expelled from the rapt listeners.

"Play something fun," JD urged softly.

"Heard ya'll got a ghost in engineering," Vin remarked.

Centurion faces flushed and dismayed looks were exchanged as the ship's 'secret' was so openly remarked on.

"Not a real ghost just some kind of imbalance in engine 3. Nothing to be concerned about. Figure some of the boys have been drinking again to be honest," Ollie snorted looking a bit embarrassed by such superstitious behavior on his ship.

"Need a rumba beat," Vin looked over at JD.

JD hurried over and carried Hattie's small table back. After testing the best way to bring out sound JD began to drum out a catchy rhythm.

Carmen Miranda's ghost is haunting Space Station Three.
Half the staff has seen her, plus the Portmaster and me.
And if you think we've had too much of Cookie's homemade rum,
Just tell me where those basket-hats of fruit keep coming from.

Don't go down to the cargo-bay when there's no ship in dock.
You just might hear maracas clack and get a nasty shock
And if you hear a rumba-beat, don't pass the messroom door;
You just might see a tangerine come rolling down the floor.

We sometimes catch a glimpse of her, by station night or day,
But when we try to catch her, she just laughs and fades away.
The station's chief headshrinker takes his notes and drains his cup.
We get rotated often, but she still keeps showing up.

We don't know why we're haunted here, or why it's her that haunts.
We've got a betting-pool for all who wonder what she wants.
The best odds say she likes the rhythm of the station's drive;
They didn't have phase-generators while she was alive.

Carmen Miranda's ghost is haunting Space Station Three.
Not that we're complaining, since the fresh fruit all comes free.
But now and then we wonder what it means for the human race
That ghosts of generations past are taking off for space.

The Centurions laughed softly recognizing a connection with other spacefarers even if they were human.

"It's getting late," Chris reminded softly.

"One more please," A chorus of voices begged.

Chris looked around in disbelief. There had been less than 40 people in the room when Tanner had started playing. Now there must be close to 200. "Just one more, the kids have had a long day."

"Do you know Seven Bridges Road?" Vin asked the humans softly.

"Yes."

"Let's show 'em some harmony then." The guitar thrummed softly as Tanner took lead while JD, Ezra and Cassey added harmony.

There are stars
In the Southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight
And moss in the trees
Down the Seven Bridges Road

Now I have loved you like a baby
Like some lonesome child
And I have loved you in a tame way
And I have loved you wild

Sometimes there's a part of me
Has to turn from here and go
Running like a child from these warm stars
Down the Seven Bridges Road

There are stars in the Southern sky
And if ever you decide
You should go
There is a taste of time sweetened honey
Down the Seven Bridges Road

An awe struck silence continued long after the last sweet note fell silent. Vin carefully let the tension off the guitar strings and wiped it down before locking the instrument safely in its case.

"Thank you, that was beautiful," Bob said huskily.

"Yer welcome." Vin stood and slung the case over his shoulder waiting to be escorted back to quarters.

7777777

After carefully examining the quarters upon their return Vin and Buck declared the rooms 'safe'.

Vin carefully opened the case and lifted the guitar out. Laying it on the chair he began to examine the case's contents.

"Mistah Tannah show more concern." With a pained gasp Ezra hurried across the room and began to place pillows around the exposed 12 string and stood protectively between it and his sometimes rambunctious teammates.

"It's certainly a beautiful thing." Josiah knelt down so he could examine the instrument more closely. Wonder what kind of wood that is? I've never seen that type of grain before.

"Why's it worth so much?" Nathan scowled at the 'toy'. I admit the music was special but Ezra said he could have bought a guitar for 1,500 solars. All that money could have sent a lot of medicine into the poor quarters.

"There is enough silver in the strings alone to buy a controlling interest in this vessel, Sergeant Jackson," Ezra snapped.

"Silver?" The Centurians stared in disbelief at the innocent looking guitar.

"Best tone comes from silver," Vin answered distractedly. "Looks like theys over a dozen sets of strings here. Let you have any of the wore out ones ta sell." Vin promised.

"Of course that isn't the real value of the piece." Ezra enthused.

"What's so special about it?" JD asked curiously.

"It belonged to Ziva Gibbs," Ezra answered softly.

"The BARD?" JD gasped.

"I'm certain it was hers, the instrument is quite unique."

"Wonder what happened to her, she disappeared a long time ago," JD mused.

"Was that her name?" Vin's hands trembled as he opened another compartment to reveal several beautifully embroidered sacks.

"Yes, Vin."

"Never knowed, ever'body jist called her Lark." Vin's 'centari' slipped revealing his emotional state.

"You knew THE Ziva Gibbs?" JD blurted.

"I knowed her." Vin sighed before opening a sack and pulling out a dismantled flute.

Cassey snorted at JD's lack of understanding something that was so obvious to her.

"Wait a minute here, I don't understand. How about explaining things to us dumb Centaurians," Buck suggested.

Reaching in the case Tanner removed another sack and opened it. "They's over a dozen loose solarstien here. Ez, you do what's best with 'em," Vin ordered. "Didn't know what the silver was worth. Need ta give Captain Fielder some more solars didn't know I'se cheatin' tha man."

"Real solarstien?" Josiah blurted in amazement.

"They's real." Tanner tossed a thumbnail size gem to the stunned Centari. Josiah turned white as he juggled the stone trying to keep from dropping it.

"Does that mean they're something special?" Buck asked curiously.

"They were a . . . common crystal on old Earth. They've never been found on any other planet. They're incredibly rare . . . you could buy a planet with only one of these things." Josiah gasped.

"I'm not sure I want to know . . . those crystals on the outside of the case . . . are they solarstien too?" Buck spluttered.

"Not all of them," Vin answered.

"Certainly not," Ezra agreed. "There is quite a variation of precious stones."

The Centaris stared at each other as just how much wealth Tanner had been casually toting around sank in.

Tanner ignored the men. Closing the case he turned it over, gracefully his long fingers danced over another pattern of stones, to open yet another compartment. Reaching in he gently lifted out the instrument revealed. Simple in design even the Centarians could tell it came from a master's hand.

"Are those strings silver too?" Nathan whispered.

"Of course, a lap harp of that quality would be strung with nothing less." Ezra responded.

"I didn't know Ziva Gibbs played the harp," JD breathed.

"Wasn't hers." Vin stood up he cradling the harp close then strode into his room closing the door behind him.

/Vin?/ Chris stood up.

/Leave me be, need some time on mah own./ Gently Tanner muted the link between them to a faint awareness of each other.

"What have I missed? Our young brother is suffering," Josiah asked softly.

"Vin needs some privacy." Larabee sat back down but kept worried eyes on the closed door.

Ezra hesitated a moment before speaking. "Ziva Gibbs was an incredible musician. She disappeared some 20 odd years ago."

"Vin must have met her after she dropped off the grid." JD muttered thoughtfully.

"I hate to sound mercenary but . . . what are you going to do with those stones?" Buck looked over at Ezra.

"Retain them in a safe place until such time we make a decision on their disposal," Ezra answered calmly.

"Vin will want you to give at least two for tithe," Cassey reminded.

"Certainly, now to research how to do so without government vermin getting their sticky fingers in the pot."

"Ezra, I don't want to be dealing with tax evasion on top of everything else," Chris warned.

"It will be handled in a completely legal manner, you have my word," Ezra promised.

"What's a tithe?" Josiah asked curiously.

"It refers one tenth of your profits for a given period usually one year. In Mr. Tanner's definition that which is given for God's work. That tenth is given for charitable purposes or to support the church and its clergy," Ezra explained.

"Humans have to give one tenth of their income to charity?" Nathan blurted in disbelief. They give that much to charity?

"It is voluntary, if one does not contribute there is no penalty," Ezra quickly assured the Centurions. "It is simply something that most feel led to do."

"Seems like a hell of a hunk," Buck growled.

"You can't out give God," JD answered simply.

"How much of your salary goes to taxes?" Buck demanded.

"Never having been salaried or resided under a functioning government… I regularly donated funds for one thing or another but there were no taxes." Ezra revealed.

"Payroll taxes come to more than thirty-five percent," Nathan snapped feeling his world settle back on its axis now that it was obvious that humans really weren't that charity minded. Must have made his living gambling and cheating.

"Here they are," Ezra stipulated.

"How do you support your governments?" Josiah asked curiously.

"That depends on the particular government. Most are taxed no more than ten percent of their income. Sadly there are corrupt governments as well, fortunately most have learned well from the past and police themselves closely." Ezra answered.

"If God gets ten percent, than the government shouldn't expect more," JD laughed.

"I don't see how you can support everything and still take care of people on ten percent." Josiah shook his head.

"To be honest, most human government is minimal, it doesn't require a great deal to support it. Most planets there's no retirement from an elected position. Terms are limited to no more than 16 years of total service, 8 local and 8 planetary. They're expected to go home and make a living for themselves when they're done. They are questioned by no less than two Guardian pairs before taking and leaving office. It's almost impossible to lie to a Sentinel/Guide pair. Graft is severely punished. Public execution for the crook, expulsion for the immediate family. Bribery is treated as graft. Unless it was the family that turned them in, the entire first degree family's assets are confiscated. The family may not profit off of the graft in any form. Doesn't happen very often, government service is a duty, kind of like a time tithe not something you'd make a profit from." JD explained.

"How are those in need taken care of?" Nathan demanded.

"That's what the tithe is for. Most people give more than ten percent. We try to keep it on a local level so that we know it's getting to where it needs to be and not being wasted supporting those who can do for themselves. The accounting is always available for public examination and it's not unusual for the Guardians to check things out when they're in the area." Cassey spoke up.

"I always thought the planet Liberty's tax process was the most fascinating," Ezra chuckled. "They're very, very honest about paying their taxes."

"How's that?" Buck asked curiously.

"You simply pay your taxes on the value of your property. The owner sets the value." Ezra smiled.

"That sounds like a sure fire way to get folks cheating," Buck protested.

"There's a catch. Your property's value is a matter of public record. You must sell your property to whomever offers a higher price than the public record. The only way to prevent the sale is to immediately raise the value of your property and pay 5 years back taxes on the difference." Ezra smirked.

"Damn . . . you know that would probably work," Chris admitted respectfully.

Author's note:

Dust in the Wind by Kansas

Carmen Miranda's ghost is haunting Space Station Three by Leslie Fish

Seven Bridges Road by The Eagles