Changing Winds

Part 11

By Yuki Wildstar

 

 

Good day fans. And thank you everyone for your dedication in continuing to write and read this fan base site. Our dearest friend Fred work effortlessly to keep it going until his passing in October 2023. Fred was a true fan to this site. His knowledge of Star Blazers / Space battleship Yamato was endless. He kept this site going for all these years and we want to continue his passion and legacy. We all miss you, Fred. And we want to make you proud of the site that you created. I remember coming across this site when the internet blew up and had ideas as to my take on after the show ended. I reached out to him and asked if he was so kind to look at a story I was writing, thinking no one would answer. But Fred did! He emailed me back and told me he would love to add my story on this site. He pushed me to keep writing. After my first story, he would either call or email me with ‘So what’s next’ they want more. What an amazing friend. It was great to finally meet him and Gail a year or so later. His stories and everyone that writes here will remain time stamp for all to read. Keep writing he told me. So here you go Fred. You will always be missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nova ran to the door. It was late and she wasn’t sure who it would be. She opened the door and was surprise to see him standing there. “Stephan, what are you doing here?”

 

“Can I come in?”

 

“Of course. Come in. What’s up?”

 

“I need a favor.” He said, “Derek is going through a really bad time.” She just nodded and stared. “He needs you, Nova. I’m afraid that with this investigation that he will fall apart. He acts strong and acts like nothing is bothering him. But I see he is holding on a thread. Can you please reach out to him?”

 

“And what would you like me to say?”

 

“Anything. Let him see Alex, he always puts a smile on his face. Let him escape into being a father. It can be very therapeutic for him. Before you think he sent me, he doesn’t know I’m here. I told him to reach out, but he doesn’t want to drag you into this. He is too a shame.” She continued to stare. “Please think about it.” He stood up and began to walk out. “It would make his day.”

 

She walked him out and said, “I’ll think about it. Thanks for stopping by. Good night.” She watched as he got into the elevator and went back into her apartment. It’s been a few days since she closed the door to him and now their friend was asking to put things aside. She went to her son’s room and peeked in. He looked so much like his father it was un-canning. She didn’t sleep well that night and needed to get up early to get her son ready to head to work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a long day at work and all he felt were the stares and mumbling behind his back. Sandor called to tell him that the council just finished interrogating Commander Poe and they would call him to let him know when and if they would be calling for him. He was happy to be home where no one can bother him. He shut himself away from the rest of the world. He focused on his work and watched a movie. He avoided the news for sure. He didn’t want to hear anything about himself. He didn’t even care if he hadn’t heard from Nova. The shame he brought on their marriage made him feel horrible to even talk with her. She texted him once so he could see their son at day care, but he didn’t want to hear the snickering behind his back and the stares. He feared going to work every day and he was relieved that it was Friday, and the weekend was his chance to take a breather. He packed a bag and was ready to leave. He needed to get away and he was going to the country to a cabin he bought a few months ago to get away from everything. He opened his door to stare her in the face. He looked surprised and then concern. “Nova? What are you doing here? Is Alex alright?”

 

“He’s fine. Can I come in?” she gave him a slight grin.

 

“Um, yeah, sure. I have a few minutes.” He said as she walked into his apartment.

 

She looked at his bag and said, “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that you were going somewhere.”

 

“Um, I was just going away for the weekend. Please have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”

 

“No, I’m fine. Listen the director told me you haven’t come to see Alex at daycare.”

 

He took a tiring breath and said, “I thought it would be better to not bring this mess with me to his daycare. Until I know what’s going to happen, I don’t want to put him in the middle of all of this.”

 

She frowned, “he is your son Derek. You can’t shut him out. He doesn’t understand, all he wants is to see his father. This is the time to cherish him. In a blink of an eye, he will be a man and you won’t have any memories of him and you together when he is this age.”

 

“Don’t you think I want to be in his life. Let’s face it, I fucked up! With you, with him and my career. And now I have to sit back and wait to see what their gonna give me. And the last thing I want to do is drag you and Alex into this mess. You both deserve better.”

 

“So, running away is going to make it better?”

 

He gave her a small smirk, “I just need to go and clear my head. I need to prepare myself as to what they are going to hand down.”

 

“And again, running away is going to make it better?”

 

She was persistent and he loved that about her. “I just need to get away, Nov. It’s not like we are speaking again. You text me to see Alex and I only see him at daycare. So maybe I want to take time for myself for once.” He was starting to get agitate with this and he wanted to go. “Listen thanks for stopping by but I have a transport plane waiting for me. I’d like to get out of the city before it gets too late.”

 

She stayed sitting down. “You’re not going anywhere, now sit down.” Her tone caught him off guard. Was she using a tone as if he was a child? “I said. Sit down.” Her tone was a little harsher. Slowly he sat down and looked her in the face. “Now, first thing. You will take the time to see your son, our son. He needs his father. Second, when you go to face the council. I will be there by your side. We have to show them that we are both united in this. If they see that we are standing strong they will rethink their decision. Third,” she looked around the apartment and said, “You’re moving back in with me. Get rid of the place. Now, grab your bag and let’s go.” She got up and began to walk towards the door. She turned around. “Well, let’s go!” she snapped.

 

He stood up and stared at her. “I’m sorry, you have me confused here.”

 

“Derek Wildstar let’s go home. NOW!” she yelled. Then gave him a smirked. She walked back and snatched his bag and headed out the door. He followed suit.

 

 

 

 

Commander Derek Wildstar sat in front of five men. All high-ranking officers within EDF. Their questioning went on and on for hours. Nova sat behind him and his lawyer.

 

“Commander, did you have a physical encounter with a Commander Poe while on duty?” General T Stone asked.

 

Wildstar looked over to his lawyer and he gave him a nod. “Yes sir, I did.”

 

“And you know that fraternizing while on duty is one of our rules and orders.?” Stone asked.

 

“Yes sir.” Wildstar said.

 

“I’ve read your reports in your captain’s log and there is no mention to an affair. Why is that?” Admiral Donaldson said.

 

“Sir, at the time I believe it was personal issue and we were both off duty when the incident occurred. It was something that we both regretted and agree to maintain professional for the ending duration of our mission.” Wildstar could feel his hands shake. He knew that Nova would hear the details of what happened, and it pain him that she would hear it all. She deserved better.

 

Senior Admiral Yamamato looked down to the report and then looked up to Wildstar. “Commander please explain the details of what accord.”

 

Wildstar swallowed back and then turned to look at his wife. She nodded and got up from her seat and walked out of the room. He wasn’t sure if she was mad or hurt. But it was sure that she didn’t want to know the intimate details of his affair. All she wanted to do was move forward and leave this all behind. “Can you check in on her.” Wildstar asked his lawyer.

 

“As soon as you’re done, I’ll go check on her.” He told him. He wasn’t about to leave his client in the hands of these old geezers. As far as he was concern, they were all hypocrites. For them to put him on trial for a mistake that they have done many times, was wrong.

 

“COMMANDER!” Yamamato snapped.

 

Wildstar looked back and sat straight. “Sorry sir, I, my wife. Um, never mind.” Then he began his story as to how it happened.

 

Nova sat outside fuming that they would want intimate details of their encounter. What pigs! She thought. And while I sat there. Her eyes filled with tears of anger and frustration. Pigs all of them! She sat waiting for his lawyer to come get her. It was an hour later when she saw the doors opened and Mr. Fujimoto walk out. He waved her over. Before entering she pulled him to the side. “Put me on the stand.”

 

“Mrs. Wildstar, this is not technically a trial of that sort.”

 

“I said put me on the stand, I would like to say something.” She said with authority.

 

“Very well. I will ask the panel if they will listen.” They walked back into the room and Wildstar stood up. She walked over to him, and he took her hand and squeezed it. “Sir’s, Mrs. Wildstar has asked to speak on behalf of her husband.”

 

“This is not a formal trail.” Admiral Garrett said. “This is a closed hearing. She is only here for moral support.”

 

“I do believe Mrs. Wildstar has a right to speak.” They all looked up and saw Councilman Singleton standing in the entrance of the door. They all stood at attention, and he walked towards the front of the room. “Mrs. Wildstar is still a commission officer in EDF, and she has a right to speak considering it is her husband that had the affair. And as far as I am concern, she has not yet brought charges toward him or Commander Poe. Which would be her right.” They all looked at each other and agreed.

 

“Mrs., I mean Commander Forrester Wildstar please have a seat.” Admiral Garrett said.

 

“Thank you.” She sat straight and avoided her husband’s stares. “Thank you, gentlemen. I would like to say a few words if I may?” She pulled her shoulder back and stare straight ahead. “Commander Wildstar has been a devoted officer to EDF. If anything, he has put EDF ahead of his own family. When we were called to go to Iscandar he didn’t hesitate to go. Even after his brother was pronounced dead in battle. He takes his position with pride and will follow orders no matter what. Believe me he has suffered enough when I found out about his affair. He has made a mistake and he has regretted every little bit of it. Gentlemen, I am not blind as to this witch hunt. Yes, he made a mistake. A minor one, to the whole bunch that sit on this panel. Admiral Garrett wasn’t you that got nurse Akio Nakamoto pregnant. And convinced her into having an abortion and then had a little fling with Nurse, Amy Chan? Hmm, I wonder what the misses would say to that? Nice lady, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her.” She stared over to Yamamato and narrowed her eyes. “General, your son is an excellent officer. Although his indiscretions have raised eyebrows, especially his ongoing affair with a young ensign. By the way, isn’t he married to Admiral’s Garrett’s daughter? Now gentlemen I can go on and on about each and every one in EDF. But that will take a few days. So, I ask you, who here would like to cast the first stone? I would hate to see all these little situations hit the press. Thank you all for your time.” She stood up and smoothed out her skirt. “Good day gentlemen. I have a meeting with the world press newspaper.” She turned to Wildstar and his lawyer and winked. They sat there with their mouths opened and shocked. She walked out the room with grace. The panel of men all turned to one another and began to whisper. All covered their mics to talk amongst each other.

 

 

Nova sat outside and waited. It felt like hours before the door opened and each member of the panel stepped into the hall. All 5 men talked to each other then stopped talking as they saw her sitting there waiting. One of the officers walked over to her as the others walked down the hall. “Mrs. Wildstar,” Colonial Bianchi sat down next to her. He was a tall man with grey hair and long face. To her he looked like a slim Santa with the long white beard. He had kind eyes and from rumors she heard he was a sweet man who lost his wife during the planet bombs. She never heard anything about him sleeping with anyone. He was a devoted father and loved his deceased wife very much. It saddened her that he lived the life of a monk since his wife died. “I want to apologize to you and your family. I know that this opened old wounds to you and Commander Wildstar. It was unfair knowing now that most of the men on that panel had many indiscretions. And are continuing to have those extra-curricular activities. One cannot cast a stone into a window without sin. I hope that you are the woman I see you are. A graceful, classy lady. Indeed, Commander Wildstar is a lucky man. It was a pleasure to meet you.” He took her hand into his and squeezed. “You remind me of my dear Maria. She would’ve love you.” He got up and walked down the hall, disappearing into the elevator.

 

Singleton walked causally to her and sat down. He sat silently and then grinned. “I have to say, you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. I knew that if I allowed you to speak you would put them in their places. I’m sure that they will leave Wildstar alone for a long time to come, if they don’t want their little secrets to come out in the press. I do believe most of their wives will make out like bandits if they ever file for divorce. Although a lot of those extra side chicks? As my niece would say. Would have a field day in the press with their stories. Good luck commander. And please try not to be too hard on the commander. He is a really good guy and officer. My best to your family.” He shook her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze with his eyes smiling. She wanted to giggle to what he told her. For Singleton fill her in most of the affairs she didn’t know about.

 

Derek walked out with his lawyer. They shook hands and he looked around to see her sitting on a bench waiting. “Thanks again.” He told his lawyer. He walked over to his wife and sat down next to her. “Well, your full of surprises.” She stared ahead and said nothing. “Nov, are we going to be alright?”

 

Slowly she stood up and reach for him to take her hand. “We should go,” she said.

 

He stood up and slipped his hand into hers. She didn’t talk all the way back home and he sense something was wrong. What if this was the last straw? Bringing up his past in detail made him cringed. It made him nervous when she walked out of the room. To his surprise she walked back in and spoke. Arriving at their apartment, she took hold of her husband and gave him a passionate kiss. She pulled at his clothes, and they worked their way to their room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued . . . . . ..