Laughs of the Present, Pain of the Past

Part 3

By Yuki Wildstar

5^th of December, 2224

Deep Space

EDF Battleship Argo

Observation Deck

Standing on the observation deck Derek held her hand and breathed a sigh of relief that they were heading home. He managed to keep Nova in the dark about what happen with Mariposa and their son. Now that they were heading back to Earth he needed to tell her before DJ blabbed about what happen. “Okay Derek what’s going on? You’ve been keeping me at distances and have kept DJ busy. Too busy that he comes to his room and passes out from the work. What did he do? Did he blow up something?”

“No he didn’t blow up anything, not that I know of. But I do have to tell you something. Please wait till I’m done before saying anything.” Nova stood there confused what could have gone wrong. “Nova, DJ, well how am I going to tell you this.”

“Just say it Derek. Its best to say it like you would anyone else.” She tried to encourage him.

“Nova, DJ did take a tour on his own in hopes to see Namir ship. but his delay wasn’t that he was into something. Mariposa was with him.” He blurted out.

“WHAT!”

“Listen to me, Julie found him with her. Julie was taking DJ to Namir to call us when she pulled a gun out to Julie. She managed to knock the gun out of her hand and keep her down long enough for Namir to keep her from hurting DJ. I don’t know why she took him. And I don’t want to even know what the outcome would have been if Julie didn’t find them. I’m sorry about not telling you sooner but I thought it best to wait until we left.” He watched her face turn from fear to anger and knew that she was going to rim him out. “Nova I’m sorry. I never wanted this to happen. I guess your fear of her taking Miku was off. She took DJ instead. Baby, please say something.” He reached for her and she pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me. Not now Derek. You could have told me sooner. My god why DJ? Thank god Julie found them. Here I kept thinking it was Miku and it turned out to be DJ. Or maybe DJ was the only one she could get her hands on. My GOD! She had our son Derek! Am I going to have to worry about her trying to get a hold of my children?” her questioning turned to anger. She turned to her husband and slapped him hard across the face. “This is your fault! Had you not slept with her she wouldn’t have taken our son. If something happen to him I would never forgive you. NEVER! Leave me alone. I need time to think.” She said and raced off the deck leaving him standing there alone.

Alex heard her door slam harder than usual. “Mark watch Miku for a few will ya. I just want to check on something.”

“No problem Alex.” His brother said back as he pulled on his sister’s hair.

“Ouch!”She yelled.

“Mark, really, be serious for a once. PLEASE!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll be good. Sorry Miku.”

He knocked on the door and waited until he heard her voice. “Mom, it’s me Alex. Can I come in?” He heard her unlock the door and open it. She step away from him and tried to wipe the tears from her face. “Mom what’s wrong? What happened?”

“I’m okay Alex. Just tired,” she said then cleared her throat. “How is Miku? Where is she? You didn’t leave her with your brother, did you?”

“She’s just fine Mom. I’m worried about you. What happened?”

“What are you my father? I said I was fine. So don’t you worry about me.” She forced a smile.

“Nov, can I come in please.” They heard him say as the door opened slightly. “Hey Alex, can you give me and your mom a minute. I need to talk with her.”

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER NOW?!” he yelled at his father.

“You lower your voice right now Alex. This is between your mother and me.” He snapped back at his son.

“I’m not going to let you hurt her. Not this time.” Alex yelled then took a swing at him hitting his father in the jaw.

“OH MY GOD! ALEX! NO!” Nova ran in between them. She pushed him back as Alex lunge at him again. “Stop it!”

“You’re not hurting her again. Hurt me, you’re such a man hurt me!” he screamed at his father.

“Alexander, Enough! Go, I have this.”Nova said as she pushed her son out the door. “Oh gosh Derek, are you alright?” she ran into the bathroom and brought out a cold towel for his face. “I didn’t think he would do that.”

“It’s alright Nov. He was only protecting you, although it took a heck of a lot to not hit him back.” Holding his chin he moved it from side to side. “He has a hell of a punch. Damn that hurt.”

“I’m so sorry.” She gently rubbed his face.

“No I’m sorry about everything.” He took hold of her hands and brought them closer to him. “I guess this set us back a few huh? Please Nova, please forgive me. I want to make it back to Earth in one piece and still married.”

“Oh Derek, don’t worry. We will make it back to Earth still married. But in one piece, Hmm I think you should watch your back with your son.” She lean in and kissed him where her son hit him. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He reached for her and brought her closer to him. Kissing her back he slowly pushed her down onto the bed and began to take off her clothes. Within seconds they were making love in her room.

Breathing heavily she covered herself and laid her head on his chest. “Captain this is SOoo not in the regulation. You may get into trouble for this. What will your superiors say?”

“Well this is something I may not put into my report. Nova I don’t want to lose you I love you too much to lose you.”

“I love you too Derek. But I think you should straighten things out with your son. You’re not on his best side right now. Him taking a swing at you is something I never thought he would do.”

“You thought. I never thought that either. To be honest I was ready to knock him on his ass. But I had to stop or else I would have really hurt him. I have to admit had it been someone else hurting you I would have been proud at him for standing up for you.” He held her tighter and then kissed her. “I should go and talk with him.” He dressed and kissed his wife one last time.

“Good luck Derek.” She said before he left.

“YOU DID WHAT!” Mark said in shock. “Boy Alex, is dad going to kill you. And if he does can I get your room?”

“No you’re not getting my room. And dad isn’t going to kill me if he knows what’s good for him.” He said as he punched his fist into his other hand.

“Good for who?” he heard his father said. Alex turned around and Mark excused himself out the door taking his sister with him. “Alex we should talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. Where is Mom?”

“She’s still in her room. Alex, sit down so we can talk.”

“I said I don’t want to talk with you. I don’t even want to be in the same room with you.” He said and started to walk out the door.

Grabbing him by the arm he pulled him back into the room and threw him on the bed. “You’re going to sit down and we are going to talk!” Alex stood up and took another swing at his father missing him. This time his father was well prepare and ducked then pushed him down and said. “You listen to me right now you little punk! The next time you swing at me be prepared to make it your last! You want to be a man then I’ll hit you like a man! Now fighting is not going to solve any problems. To be a good officer you have to sit down and discuss things. You have to weigh things out and be ready to say that you were wrong.” He paused and continued. “Alex, I’m sorry. I was trying to protect your mother. When DJ disappeared he was not totally at fault. The queen tried to kidnap him. Your Aunt Julie found them and called me. I decided to wait until we were out in space before telling her. I didn’t need your Uncle Deslock knowing what was going on. I know your mother would have gone straight there and wringed her neck. Just like you she can be very protective of you guys. When I told her she was pretty pissed off. But I wanted to give her a little space to calm down. But understand sometimes you have to let us work it out before jumping the gun.”

“She was crying. I don’t like to see her cry.” He whined.

“As much as I hate to make her cry sometimes it happens. You know had your mom and I hadn’t got together. I’m glad that you would be there for her. Alex.” He put his hands on his shoulder. “We are always going to work things out. Please don’t think that we want to hurt each other because we don’t. We love each other and it killed me that she had to get put into that situation. But we are getting through this.”

“Can I go now?” Alex asked his father. He was still a little mad at him and he wanted to check on his mother.

“Alex, don’t take my calmness for patients. I don’t need an attitude from you! I have enough headaches with being a Captain, running a ship let alone a fleet and your brother that seems to be in constant trouble. I’m afraid that there is not enough punishment on ship to give him. He just seems to make his way to my Cosmo fighter.” He rolled his eyes. “So give me a break when things don’t work out the way you think they should with me and your mother. I don’t want to hurt her, she’s is your mother and my wife and I love her with all my heart. Just let us handle this, alright?”

Alex stood there and listened to his father. All he could think of was making sure that his mother was alright. “I get it Dad, now can I go.” He said in a low tone.

He looked at his son and could tell that he was still upset with him. I don’t know what more I can say to him, he thought. Taking a deep breath he said. “Um, sure, I have to head to the bridge and check things out.” They both walked out the door and Derek went towards the bridge as Alex went to his mother’s room.

“Mom, can I come in.” he announced as he walked in. Nova raced to her robe and threw it on. Blushing he turned around and said. “I’m sorry Mom, I thought,”

“It’s alright Alex, you can turn around now.” She said as she closed her robe. “Are you alright?”

His embarrassments turn to anger when he realized what happened after he left them alone. “Did you two sleep together?” he asked annoyed.

“That’s none of your business young man. That’s between your father and I.”

“How can you sleep with him after what happen?”

“What happen, Alex? Your father and I had a fight, something that would have been straightened out without you stepping in. For God sakes Alex, taking a swing at your father? You’re lucky that he didn’t react and knock you on your ass.”

“I’ve could have taken him on.” He said in a low tone.

“I don’t think so. You don’t have combat experience. Anyway, as much as you think you can he would have hurt you and then he and I would have been fighting again. I know him enough that he would have felt horrible for months. He loves you more then you know.” She sat down on the bed and blew the hair out of her face. “Look Alex, we already worked it out and we may have to work a little more, but we will get through it. I can’t blame everything on him for someone else’s action. Though I wish it never happened. It did. I’m just glad that DJ is here safe with us. Now I need a favor.”

“A favor?”

“I need you to apologies to your father.”

“What! I don’t think so.” He said shocked.

“Geese you’re just as stubborn as he is. Alex I’m asking you to please work it out. I can order you and threaten you but it wouldn’t come from your heart. So I’m asking you for a favor and work it out with him. It’s going to be another 3 weeks before we get back to Earth and it would make the trip back home easier for all of us if you spoke to your father.”

He looked down to the floor and said. “Alright I will. But if he makes you cry again, I’ll give him another punch in the face.”

Nova giggled at her son and ruffled his hair. “Thank you. You know your father was very proud of you trying to protect me. Now go, I need to get dress and find your sister and brothers. Which reminds me, which chore is DJ doing today?”

“I think Dad has him scrubbing the heads in the crew’s quarters.” Making them both laugh.

Alex left and thought about what his mother said. He didn’t feel any guilt for what he did but thinking more he was feeling guilty in getting into their fight. His mother was right in order to keep peace for the duration of the mission he had to clear the air with his father. He walked onto the bridge and looked around. His father stood next to the communication officer and Deputy Captain Lee looking over a message that was sent to them from the Bolar Planet. They looked up to see him enter the bridge. He looked at his Dad and nodded “Sir a word with you in private, please.” Alex said to his father.

Wildstar looked at his son and knew it was important. “Captain Lee, would you mind taking over. Also, Lieutenant Kazumi, please reply with ‘will be there in one week once I get clearance from headquarters.’ Thank you. Captain Lee if anything else comes up I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Yes sir,” Lee replied. It must be hard for him to run a ship and deal with his family. How does he do it? Lee thought to himself.

“Come with me Cadet Captain Wildstar.” Wildstar said as his son follow him up to his room. Walking into his room he threw his cover on the bed and sat on the window ledge. “What is it?” he asked annoyed. He wasn’t in the mood to have another fight with him. After the request that came from Namir and Julie.

“Dad I’m sorry about what happen. I just hate to see Mom cry.” He said quickly. He waited for his father to say something but he just sat there and waited. “I’m sorry that I took a swing at you too. It was uncalled for.” His stare made him unease and he stood more at attention then began to sway back and forth. “Dad?”

“I heard you Alex, I accept you’re apology. Let’s just forget about what happen. You were only protecting your mother and I respect that. I guess if I were in your shoes I would have done the same. Listen I have some really bad news that I will have to tell your mother. You think that you can help me out in this one?”

“Sure Dad, anything. What’s up?”

“It’s not that I am happy about us clearing the air. But Namir and your Aunt Julie are requesting for us to go to Zazba. Something I really don’t want to do, but I know once he contacts EDF I will have no choice. Lucky me I am the only one that can deal with Deslock and Namir. I wish that there were someone else that can deal with them. It would make my life a lot easier. So are you in?”

“Sure Dad. When are you going to tell her?”

“I was thinking after dinner tonight after everything is calm and she’s not expecting it. Not that we will be able to pull it over her. Let’s just cross our fingers and hope that she doesn’t find out before then. How does that sound?” he asked his son.

“Sound like a plan Dad.”

“Alright let’s get back to work and go check on DJ please. I’m starting to run out of things for him to do for each time he gets into something.”

“You know Dad he really didn’t care for cleaning out the crapper in the crew’s quarters. Not that he smelled any better before you gave him that job.” He laughed.

Patting his son on the back he couldn’t help but to laugh with him. “Yeah he did smell pretty bad for about a week after that one.” They both laugh thinking of that one day. Derek smiled a little at his son and rubbed his chin. “You know Alex, you throw a good punch.”

“Sorry Dad.”

“Don’t apologizes, I’m proud of you son.”

Later that night . . . .

They had dinner in the mess hall at the captain’s table with the crew sitting and talking around them. Alex couldn’t help but tease his brother in all the tasks he had to do the following work day. “Leave me alone! Alex. I’ve been working all day.” He winded.

“Well maybe if you behave you might get a break. I think cleaning the torrent guns would be a good chore. By the time we get back to Earth the Argo will look spanking new.” He laughed.

“Why don’t you just shut up!” DJ yelled at his older brother.

“Alright guys, enough. Alex, stop teasing your brother. DJ maybe if you stay out of trouble maybe you can get a break.” Derek Wildstar said. “It’s late and looks like you could use some sleep. You have a long day tomorrow. Plus Miku had a pretty busy day helping out in the medical ward. Isn’t that right Miku?”

“I help mommy put on band aids to the big soldiers. Daddy they’re big babies.” She said with wide eyes.

“Yes Miku the big marines can be big babies.” He laughed. “I think we should have some ice cream what do you say Miku?”

“Yum! Can I have banilla?”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.” He said. “DJ can you go get some ice cream for your sister.”

“Why me? Why can’t Mark or Alex get it?”

“Because, I’m asking you! Now go!” Wildstar snapped at his son.

“Derek, don’t you think you’re pushing a little too much. Really he has been behaving.” Nova scolded him.

“Behaving? So putting a cherry bomb into the officer’s head was behaving? He almost had the whole ship on alert thinking that we were getting attacked. I really don’t know what I’m going to do with him. Every day it seems like he is into something. If I don’t keep him busy the Argo will never make it back in one piece. I have no choice then to keep him busy. Nova, there something I need to talk with you about later. After dinner, my quarters?”

“Sure Derek, should I be worried?”

“We’ll talk about it later.” He warned her without saying anything more.

“Alexander, could you stay with Miku until I get back? Your father wants to talk.” Nova asked as she watched her sons jump into bed. DJ was fast asleep from the day’s chores and Mark was snuggling under his covers trying to keep warm. Quietly he left his room that he shared with his brothers and walk back with his mother to her room. Miku slept soundly in bed hugging her teddy bear. “I’m not sure how long this will take. Alex do you know what this is all about?”

“I think it’s best that dad tells you.” He said. Nova frowned at his answer and then nodded. She turned and left to meet with her husband. She knocked on the door and waited until he called out.

“Enter!” Walking in, she found him sitting down and then closed his laptop. “Kids asleep?”

“Yes, so what’s going on? What is it that you have to tell me?”

“Come here.” He said taking her hand and facing her towards the window. Wrapping his arms around her he gently kissed her on the neck. “It’s been a long time since we spent some quiet time together. I’ve missed you very much at night. Just knowing that you are only a few feet away kills me.”

“Quit the bullshit Derek, what’s going on.” She said as she turned and look him in the face.

“Can’t we just have a nice night without having some kind of agenda?”

“I know you better then you know yourself. So what’s up and don’t beat around the bush.”

She is just too smart he thought. “Nova I just got word to head over to Zazba. Namir needs me there and headquarters sent word to go. I know that you want to get back to Earth but I have no choice but to head there.”

“You’re going to Zazba. Will she be there?” she said concerned.

“I don’t know. They didn’t tell me about her. Namir just said that he has a situation and needs me there.” He said holding her tighter. He could feel her shake and looked into her eyes. “Nov, don’t worry Miku will be just fine. And the boys will be alright too. I’ll make sure of that.”

To be continued . . . . .