THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
A Star Blazers short tale
By Frederick P. "Freddo" Kopetz
Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Jamie Tucker, "Yuki Wildstar", Tom Szcepkowski, and “Anonymous Reader” for support and ear-bending.
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ACT NINE: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY
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Planet Alpha Sirius V
The City of New Allentown
June 1, 2214
1300 Hours: Earth Time
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After returning from the Governor-General’s office in Southport, a call came in on the Argo urgently requesting the presence of the Argo, North Carolina, and Arizona in the bay facing the smaller city of New Allentown because the Mayor there wanted to present the three senior commanding officers present for the Earth Task Force the Key to the City and also wanted to have them check into a large hotel in their little city which the Mayor’s aide said was nicer than the hotel in Southport because it was newer.
So, after some arguing between Derek, Mark and Nova over comm channels, it was agreed to move the space battleships up the coast to New Allentown. The officers didn’t mind that much, but as Derek walked the passages of the Argo, he heard a lot of good-natured Naval-style bitching from the enlisted men and women about pulling up anchor and moving the ships because some local dignitary wanted to give them a better dog and pony show than the other city on the planet.
Wildstar smiled a little and rolled up his eyes as he stood outside the general mess, and heard the bitching.
“What’s with the old man? Does he have some burr up his ass?”
“We anchor the damn ships now we have to friggin’ move ‘em again.”
“Heard Wildstar got some crazy-ass offer for a better dog and pony show in town number two someplace!”
“The coffee here is really bad this morning!”
“Yeah, heard Wildstar had the skipper of the Showboat aboard at 0500 and she made the coffee.”
“Is that why it sucks?”
“Yeah, because Commodore Peppermint Patty made it!”
“I was to Iscandar and back with everyone. That lady never learned to make a Goddamn decent cuppa joe!”
Derek rolled up his eyes until he heard some female yelling, “Stop picking on her, Yoshi…she’s nice!”
“We gonna get invites to the big victory ball?”
“Probably not. Section chief wants me here to chip rust and paint crap.”
“Same shit different day,” someone groaned.
Derek then popped into the mess.
“SKIPPER ON DECK!” someone yelled.
Everyone snapped to attention. Wildstar waved his hand and said, “As you were, people! I heard some grousing about the Victory Ball. It’s going to be in two days unless more garbage pops up out there. Everyone is going to get to go on liberty for it except the duty crew for that watch. You will all be expected to be on good behavior that night because we’ll have Pellians and Bolars at the victory dance, too. We should be on station here after that until we get relieved by Task Force Twenty-Five in a few weeks.”
There were a few groans, but Derek said, “Guys, ladies, you have my sympathy. I want to be home sleeping by the swimming pool and cutting the grass just as badly as the rest of you and I miss my kids! It sucks to be out here around Valor Week. But we all knew what we signed up for, so, let’s make the best of it. I do have to say we earned that Victory Dance, great job from all of you! We’ll talk later! Have a good one,” said Derek as he took off his cap and stepped out, aware from both old experience and his link with Nova that she and Mark were giving the same pep talks to their crews.
A
while later, the three vessels cruised up the coast with local harbor pilots on
board to guide the 
massive space warships into the Bay.
Anchor was dropped and stations were secured and the gangplanks went down on
all three ships.
When things settled down, Wildstar went out on deck above the wave motion gun to catch some more real fresh salty air. He smiled as a brisk, warm wind blew at his hair so he took his cover off.
The ocean smells the same as it does on Earth, Derek thought. I wonder if the water’s warm enough for swimming details if we’re going to be stuck here?
Wildstar then heard IQ-9 coming up behind him.
“Hey, IQ, how goes it? Happy to be visiting?”
“Ha ha ha ha, I live here, Captain!”
Derek shaded his eyes. “Hmm…looks like someone is coming out on deck on the Showboat, wish I could see more clearly. This sun is in my eyes!”
“Let me look,” IQ-9 said. “Captain!” he screeched as he began to jump up and down. “It’s Nova! Look! Look at her long hair! The skipper of the North Carolina is far prettier than you, Wildstar!”
Derek smiled a little, raised his hand, and waved, yelling” AHOY, North Carolina! What are you doing out there, Captain?”
“What are you doing out there, Admiral?” Nova yelled back.
“I want to challenge your ship to a race!” Derek laughed. “Loser buys the winner dinner tonight!”
“Sounds fair, even though you know I’ll win!” Nova cried back. “An Andromeda class can beat the Argo any day! Sorry, I love her too, but that’s reality!”
“They souped up our engine, Nova!” yelled Derek. “We’d smear your peacoat right off!”
“Too bad, Derek! I think we’d win! And tell Sandor to give the Argo a new paint job! When you see her close up like this, she looks grungy!”
“Get over here in a bikini and help me wax the ship, Peppermint!” Derek yelled.
“In your dreams, Cowboy!” Nova yelled back, laughing. Then, Nova sent into Derek’s mind. Give me a moment…we have to discuss something a little more serious!
“What?” Derek yelled back as Nova promptly vanished like the Cheshire cat’s grin.
“Hey, where’d you go?” Derek said, shaking his head around.
“BOO!” Nova yelled as she appeared behind her husband and tapped him on the shoulder.
“You know I hate it when you do that!” Derek barked as he did an about face to face his smiling wife.
“Oh? Do you mind if I do this?” Nova teased as she threw her arms around her husband and kissed him. He kissed back.
“Yeccch…MUSH!” burbled IQ-9. “Get a room, you two!”
“So what did you want to discuss?” Derek said.
“Good news, actually. Remember when I told you that to accept this assignment, they made me take a temporary promotion to Commodore to lead the Task Force, but that I said I wanted to be demoted back to Commander when I was done?”
“Yeah,” said Derek.
“That’s still the arrangement when we get back, except that when we get back, I won’t be going back down to the permanent rank of Commander…I’ll be going down just one grade to the permanent rank of Captain! They promoted me, Derek!” Nova sang.
“Oh, yeahhh…that’s great!” Wildstar said with a laugh as he hugged Nova again. Then, he saw she was carrying a bag. “What’s that?”
“Mark gave me some White Zinfandel after I saved his ship,” Nova said. “I kept some, and we can open up this bottle and finish it up for lunch before we go see the Mayor at 1600 for that Key of the City ceremony. Then, we’ll check into our hotel…have some more quality time,” Nova whispered, “Then we’ll get dressy for dinner later on…”
“Then?”
Nova shrugged but winked at her husband. Then, she said, “Although I have an idea. Tomorrow morning would be the best time to teleport to get the kids, given that we’ll be sort of…”
“…busy…?” said Derek.
Nova nodded.
HALF AN HOUR LATER…
“So what the heck are we looking for?” said Holly Venture as she walked down a sunny street in downtown New Allentown under the shadow of a smallish art-deco office tower that nevertheless was the tallest building in the small colony city of about sixty thousand. She was in a white and green Star Force top, white skirt, white summery shoes, and her navy and red regular officers’ peacoat which contrasted with her husband’s black and red peacoat. She was holding hands with Mark, but she was wondering when the heck he was going to give her the bottle of wine he had promised her. She was affectionate with her husband, but not too affectionate, unlike the Wildstars, who were walking with their lower arms around each other’s waists. Holly vaguely thought it was funny when Nova stopped here and there to get Derek to look at something or another in a shop window.
“What we are looking for, Holly, is a little sidewalk café’ where we can open up a bottle of wine I’m carrying,” Nova said. “We can have our wine over a late lunch, like we’re in Paris or something!”
“Yeah, okay,” grunted Holly.
“I’m buying,” said Derek. “We can go a little expensive today…because of our victory, and because we have something else to celebrate!”
“This sounds interesting,” said Mark. “Does it have to do with one of our friends getting promoted?”
“Maybe,” said Derek as Mark noticed that Nova blushed and looked very embarrassed. “Did you get Daily Dispatch Bravo Day Number 166?”
“Oh, the Headquarters Scuttlebutt sheet. That! Yeah…I saw the promotion list…I will say no more,” said Mark.
“Am I getting promoted and you’re being cagey about it?” teased Holly.
“Maybe,” lied Mark, who suddenly began to feel bad as he thought that one person here would be celebrating a promotion and he didn’t think it was Holly. Did she get on the promotion list? Mark thought, wracking his brain to see if a “VENTURE, H.” was listed in the promotion list for the rank of Commander.
“Here’s a place!” Nova said, motioning everyone towards a place known as “LA BRASSERIE” on the awning over the outer sidewalk court of the restaurant. There were a few tables, and some were occupied.
Derek directed the party to a table. It was in the shade, but some sun came through, reflecting off their officers’ braids, their belt buckles, Derek and Mark’s boots, and Nova’s black patent leather pumps.
A waiter robot came by and said, “Would you four like a menu?”
“Yes, we would,” Derek said. “A member of my group brought a bottle of wine that was opened and carefully resealed. Is there a corkage fee?”
“There is, and I can add it on the bill,” he said.
“Thank you,” Nova said as she opened her bag and set her two-thirds full and chilled bottle of White Zinfandel on the table. The waiter left and came back with a corkscrew, glasses and menus. He opened the cork, and poured wine for each of them. There was plenty left over after that for at least another glass for everyone.
“That wine brand looks familiar,” said Holly as she stared at the bottle. “Nova, did you know that’s my favorite brand?”
“I’d like to make a toast in a moment,” Derek said as he raised his glass. “I’d like to toast to the success of our mission, a safe trip home, and a special toast to the newest Captain of the Earth Defense Fleet, her temporary grade of Commodore notwithstanding…I would like to raise a toast to our own Captain Nova Wildstar, the great lady who played a big part of pulling a victory out of our back pockets! To our Nova!”
“To Nova!” cried Mark…with Holly yelling out a little softer. Nova herself blushed like crazy, and she stammered, “Uh…thanks…” before she clinked goblets with everyone and drank.
After they took their sip, Holly said, “Nova, I’d love to know how you knew about my wine brand? Your uncanny powers? I also hear that you’re Pellian Royalty or something. That true?”
“I didn’t know about your wine brand from my powers…” Nova said. “And, as for my being…Pellian Royalty, no comment for now! Although it sounds like I have to talk to the Pellian officers on my ship. They’re spreading rumors,” Nova said.
“Mark, where’s the bottle of this brand…New Arbor Mist…that you said you were going to get me?” said Holly.
“I have a confession to make,” Mark said. “This is it. I’m sorry, Holly…but I opened it up for Nova after she saved my flotilla from certain death a few days ago. I gave her the bottle and she obviously sealed it up nicely and kept it chilled on her ship for us.”
“Hope you’re not mad,” Nova said, giving Holly a shame-faced look. “I’m really sorry…I should have replaced it. Had a lot on my mind lately.”
“Oh, I’ll bet you have,” snapped Holly. “You and Mark have always been tight! Mark, why didn’t you go off and marry HER if she’s such a close friend?”
“Because I was already with Derek and Mark knew it!” Nova snapped. “The three of us have been friends since May of 2199! Are you so jealous of Mark that he’s not supposed to have a single female friend?”
“Well, he dreams about Trelaina all the time,” Holly snapped.
“I can’t control that!” said Mark.
“Yeah, I bet!” barked Holly. “You dream about Trelaina and you hang around with Little Mrs. Perfect Genius here! I’ll bet the two of you get drunk together all the time!”
“Holly, you’re acting like a child!” Mark yelled.
“Looks like she never heard of a Platonic Friendship, Derek!” Nova snapped.
“What’s that? Something perverse?” said Holly. “Some monkey wrench you are throwing in my marriage to Mark because YOU dig him so damn much!”
“Why, you uneducated little drip!” Nova yelled. “PLATONIC, ADJECTIVE (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual. Read it in Webster, Holly! As for what you were just…insinuating, Holly… What...the...living...heck is wrong with you? GREAT HONK! I'd sooner shoot myself than interfere in anyone's marriage OR cheat on MY husband!” Nova glanced at the menu and said, “Derek, I think you know what I want. Excuse me, guys. I have to go off and powder my nose!” Nova said as she got up and practically slammed the chair in, looking daggers at Holly as she took off with her high heels clicking angrily on the sidewalk. This surprised Mark to no end. He knew Holly had a hair-trigger temper, but now he saw that if you pressed her buttons the wrong way, the usually kind Nova was perfectly capable of blowing a gasket herself if anyone hurt someone close to her, as Mark had heard second-hand about her facing down Desslok over a wounded Derek after the incident had occurred.
“You like that, Holly?” Derek barked. “You got her upset!”
“Yeah, and no one cares about getting ME upset?” snorted Holly as she banged her fists on the table.
“Derek, I think I’d better take Holly and go to a different restaurant,” said Mark. “Like a fast-food place!”
“What? I’m only worth a hamburger to you and not worthy of foie de gras or whatever sort of snooty damned French food Derek and Nova like?” Holly said as she banged her fists on the table again.
“Mrs. Venture, as your commanding officer, I order you to calm down and act like a professional officer!” Admiral Wildstar said.
“Hell no, I’m not on your bridge now!” said Holly.
“Holly, please stop acting like a bull in a China shop…people are looking at us!” Mark said. “Derek, I hope Nova’s okay! She looked fit to be tied. I feel horrible for sticking her in the middle of this by just trying to be a gentleman and good shipmate to her.”
“There you go, concerned about her again!” screeched Holly. “It’s always ‘did I hurt Nova?’ It’s like you are better friends with her than you are with your own wife! Idiot!”
“For your information, Nova’s crying, and when she gets her composure back, she wants to leave with me!” Derek said.
Then, Nova came out, wiping her eyes with her hanky. “Derek, like I just thought, let’s go. Holly, you can keep the rest of the wine; here’s forty credits for the cost with interest if you’re so concerned about the money,” Nova said as she threw two twenty-credit notes on the table. She was still pretty angry. “Mark, I know you and Holly are having financial issues with her gambling debts. Here’s two hundred credits for your lunch; my treat. Just whistle if you need more money! Neither Derek nor I will ask you to pay it back. Derek, let’s find a steakhouse where we can have a lunch in peace. See you guys at City Hall later. Good day,” Nova said as she grabbed Derek’s hand and she and the Admiral left.
Holly
looked at Mark and looked sick.
“Thanks for messing up our friendship,” snapped Mark.
“I want a transfer off the Argo!” barked Holly.
“Can’t be done; you’re needed there,” said Mark.
“I want to be transferred to your ship, Mark.” Holly said. “Please!”
“I’ll think about it,” Mark said. “I have to arrange it with Wildstar.”
“Pretty
please,” said Holly.
“We’ll see,” said Mark. But then, he got a great idea.
He grinned to himself. He hated to do this to Holly, but she needed to get a
better handle on how to serve in the EDF and be a better wife.
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TO BE CONTINUED…