ALTERNATE
TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS—RADNAR’S
GAME
Being the sixth part of THE
NEW COMET--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz
This Act is being completed with the
Cooperation and Assistance of Derek A.C. Wakefield (as usual)---Freddo
ACT FOUR: STRANGERS IN
THE NIGHT
I.
FREEDOM
Planet
Earth
The
Great Megalopolis
April
26, 2207
1130
Hours: Earthtime
In what was now a familiar ritual, Nova was lying in bed in her
room in
She hoped this would be the last one for a little while, because,
as Derek stood there beside her bed holding her hand, she was hoping she would
get the word that she could be released today.
“Hmmmh,” said Doctor Sane as he ran a portable scanner over her
bare stomach. “This is very good. The babies are now completely out of
distress.”
“I could have told you that,” teased Nova. “I’ve been feeling them
kicking away in there again today.”
“Everything we’ve been picking up indicates that you shouldn’t
have any more problems with your pregnancy…as long as you don’t catch more
poisoned daggers in your shoulder, that is,” said Dawn.
“”You’re now five and a quarter months along in that pregnancy,”
said Doctor Sane. “And, your shoulder wound is fully healed now, thanks to our
plastic surgery techniques and growth factors, along with your generally
healthy constitution,” he added as he poked Nova’s bare shoulder.
“All I can see there is a small dimple,” said Derek. “That’s
really amazing.”
“I’m going to discharge you today,” said Doctor Sane as Nova
smiled. “I will want to see again you in two days on an outpatient basis. For
the next week, just be careful, Nova, about lifting heavy loads, and I’d wait
about two more days until I resume being physicially initimate with the
Commodore, just to be safe,” he added.
“Okay,” she said as she began to get dressed in her undergarments,
followed by a sailor-style maternity dress her mother had dropped off for her.
She finished off by stepping into a pair of sandals and putting on a cute
wide-brimmed hat.
“You look good enough to eat,” teased Derek as he gave his wife a
kiss after he helped her zip up her dress.
“The papparazzi are out by the main entrance,” said Homer as he
came in with Wendy Singleton. “I found a side door that we can slip out at.”
Commodore Wildstar pulled his flight jacket on over his white
turtleneck sweater and jeans. “Well, let’s get home before they get wind of
us.”
“Good idea,” said Nova.
The press was either tipped off by someone else, or they were just
good at finding their quarry, because a bunch of photographers and reporters
were waiting for the Wildstars, Glitchman, and Singleton on their way out of
the hospital with Doctor Sane.
This was the media’s first sight of Nova pregnant, so a lot of
pictures were taken. The questions were equally silly.
“Mrs. Wildstar, how many children are you having?”
“How far along are you?”
“Were the babies geneticially enhanced?”
“Will they be born in space?”
“No comment,” said Nova. “I really don’t want to talk now…thanks…”
Their security helped push away the reporters as the two couples
squeezed into a borrowed EDF staff aircar that Wildstar had brought. Soon, they
drove off.
The Wildstars were going home.
Later, at home, with their shoes kicked off, the Wildstars were
looking over both their paper mail and e-mail with their guests sitting in
their living room.
Nova’s eyes went wide as she found an envelope with the return
address: EARTH FEDERATION CENTRAL MEDICAL COLLEGE.
“I wonder where this
came from?” said Nova. “I don’t remember applying there…or writing them…I was
going to apply there when the war hit…but never did it.”
“Isn’t that the Federation’s top medical school?” said Homer.
“It is,” said Derek as he looked at the envelope.
“That’s my fault,” said Doctor Sane with a toothy laugh. “Nova,
while you were in that sleep tube, I transmitted an application, your test
scores from a year ago, and letters of recommendation for you. You might like
the answer…open the envelope!”
Nova did so, and she read:
Lt.
Cmdr Wildstar:
We
are pleased to inform you, after a due consideration of your application, that we
are offering you admission to the Class of 2211 of the
You
admission is contingent upon your acceptance of this offer, and also upon your
availability for duty, pending a release from your Commanding Officer. This
offer may also be deferred for one year, placing you in the Class of 2212, upon
your request, given the current war emergency…
Nova looked at Derek. “I have no idea what’s going to happen next,
so, I’ll have to defer the offer.”
“Defer it?” said Derek.
“Yes. After our leave, aren’t we going out again on the Argo? I can still serve…”
Derek had to think hard about this. Finally, he said, “Nova, if
you feel well enough to serve…”
“Thanks,” said Nova as she kissed her husband. “But, for now,
while the Argo’s in refit, I’m
looking forward to a vacation.”
“Where were you going to go?” said Wendy.
“Maybe
II.
Space
Battleship
Saturn-Titan
Space Station
April
27, 2207
2130
Hours: Earthtime
The
While the ship was on Titan, Deke Wakefield couldn’t wait to get off
the ship to get to a comm booth.
When he found a comm booth, he called Lynn Westland.
As he waited for the connection to be established,
Lynn Westland came through on the screen a moment later. She
looked surprised to see Deke on the screen.
“Deke?” said
“You look shocked,” said
“Where are you?”
“Saturn-Titan. We’ll be back on Earth sometime tomorrow. How are
you?”
“I’m fine. You look even more mature than ever. How’s the service
been treating you?”
“Fine. I’m a squadron leader now, Lynn. Where’s Dawn? Is she in
“No, Deke.”
“No?”
“She’s not in
“I thought she wanted to work at
“No. She went into military training, Deke.”
“Military training?”
said
“She was sent to Pensacola Space Naval Station to learn how to fly
medical boats to become a flight nurse.”
“How did that happen?”
“She was drafted, Deke,”
sighed
“Okay,” said Deke, who shook his head as he took all of this in.
“Where did she get assigned?”
“I’m not sure, honestly,” said
“So, where is she?”
“I have no idea,” said
“Thanks,” said Deke as they shared some more small talk and then
cut off while he hoped that her hunch was correct.
III.
THE BEST OF TIMES: THE WORST OF TIMES
Space
Battleship
The
April
28, 2207
0800
Hours: Earthtime
Deke
He and the rest of the crew were mustered for one last time on the
foredeck, looking up at Captain Mark Venture, who stood up on top of the Number
One main gun turret. The ship was already docked under the lights in a huge
underground spacedock right next to the Argo,
which also sat there under the lights undergoing a refit.
Venture was speaking to the crew about what a fine crew they were,
and what a great job they had done in the past few months, and how much he
looked forward to serving with them again. But,
Part of him was thinking of Sasha and meeting up with her again.
Another part of his mind was thinking about Dawn and what they
might have to say to each other when they finally met again, as he was sure
that they would.
Part of him was just thinking of getting out of the Megalopolis
ASAP (after staying in the BOQ overnight) to get “home” to San Diego for
several days’ or weeks’ worth of leave in the sun, waves, and surf. Deke heard
cheers as his mind switched to listening to Venture for a moment.
“In light of your fine service,” said Venture. “All of you are
granted four weeks’ worth of leave, commencing now. Ladies and gentlemen, it
has been a tough cruise, and we have earned
it. You are free to go as soon as we are mustered off the ship. All in all, I’d
like to say…”
Applause filled the docking bay as the crew couldn’t wait to get
off the ship.
Ninety minutes later,
He took an airbus to the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters, checked in, and
went to get a late breakfast as he thought about
If only he knew what Dawn was up to that afternoon….
Dawn Westland couldn’t quite beleve where she was at 0800 Hours on
the previous day, local time in
She was in
The sun and breeze blew against her legs as she appeared before
Hardy and the preacher in a long white wedding dress, wide-brimmed hat, and
pumps. She took Hardy’s hand as he stood there in his blues and his navy blue
peacoat, smiling as he squeezed close to her before the priest.
“Do you, Jefferson Davis Hardy, take this woman to be your
lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, until death do you part?”
Hardy gulped a little and then said to Dawn and the priest, “I
most certainly do.”
“Do you, Dawn Westland, take this man to be your lawfully wedded
husband? To have and to hold, until death do you part?”
“I do,” said Dawn with a shy smile as Jeff slid a wedding band
onto one of her fingers.
“Then, with the power vested in me by the State of
Jeff smiled at Dawn, and the two of them shared a long, sweet,
searching kiss. The little group of waiting couples applauded. Then, Dawn and
Jeff left, running hand in hand to a waiting aircar. They got in, and then drove
off together to a hotel-casino at the city limits where they would enjoy a long
lunch as the first part of what would be a wonderful honeymoon.
Dawn was incredibly happy. And Deke Wakefield hadn’t crossed her
mind once today.
Considering her attentive new husband, it wasn’t hard to see
why…until it crossed her mind, just briefly that…
It
was five years ago today I broke up with Deke, she thought. And I thought we were going to get married
like this, sooner or later. Well, that never happened…and it never will happen,
now…
“Dawn?” said Jeff. “What was on your mind?”
“Nothing,” said Dawn. “Nothing at all…”
Early that afternoon, after they had visited Doctor Sane together
(and Nova had gotten the OK from him to resume all of her normal activities
“within reason”), Derek and Nova sat eating lunch together at an outdoor café’
in the Megalopolis to celebrate her recovery and the beginning of their shared
leave. Derek wore his peacoat, Command whites, and brown boots, while Nova wore
a pink and white sundress and exercise sandals.
“I have a lot to do today, Derek,” said Nova as she smiled at her
husband over a cup of tea and a dessert that Derek noticed was a bit larger
than her usual after-lunch dish. She’s
eating for three, he remembered.
“I know. I’ve got a lot to do, myself,” said the Commodore as he
finished up his pie.
“When are you meeting up with Mark?”
“Within the hour by Headquarters,” said Derek.
“I’ll be meeting Holly downtown,” said Nova with another little
smile. “Then our little conspriracy will start up.”
“I like conspriacies,” whispered the Commodore.
“So do I…when we’re helping out our friends,” said Nova. She waved
to the waitress robot and said, “Check, please?”
“Of course,” said the “female” robot.
A little later that afternoon, just as Deke Wakefield was
beginning to settle down to read a book in his room at the BOQ, someone began
banging at his door.
“Whatthehell?” he cried,
startled as he dropped his book. “I’m coming!”
The banging came again as Deke got to the door. An annoyed-looking
“Uh…what brings you two here, sirs?” said
Derek and Mark grinned at each other.
“What’s going on?” said
“This,” said Wildstar as he handed
Deke did so, and he pulled out an elaborate invitation marked with
the Presidential Seal that read:
To Lieutenant Deke Wakefield
Greetings
Your presence is requested
tonight at the Presidential Palace for a reception at 2100 Hours with the
Federation President and his staff.
Uniform of the Evening will be
full Mess Dress Whites for male military personnel, and appropriate formal
dress and Mess Dress White jacket for female military personnel.
Appropriate Formal Dress for
civilians, please.
Please RSVP our automated
telephone system at 2-(673)-802-5533 by 1600 Hours.
I anticipate your arrival.
Best wishes,
James R. Mendellsohn, President
of the Federation of Earth Governments
“Dress Whites?” said
Derek said, “We can take care of that. And bring your medals and
decorations. You’ll be buying a dress uniform today.”
“I don’t know if I can afford to lay out that much, sir.”
“I’m buying,” said Wildstar. “It is very important that you be
there tonight…for more reasons than one…”
“The conspiracy,” whispered Mark.
“Conspiracy?” said
“Something interesting,” said Wildstar. “Get your medals, Deke.
Don’t make me make this an order.”
Then, to his shock, Nova showed up in her civvies and she said to
Derek, “My preparations are almost complete at my end, Operation Princess is
about to be initiated.”
Derek kissed her and said, “Good job.”
Nova winked at
Deke found himself in front of an tony-looking store known as
“Marks and Westland”.
Marks
and
A while later, after a robot tailor worked on him, Deke found
himself in a new set of Mess Dress Whites. The men’s version of the uniform
looked a bit like a white tux, with his medals worn on the small white
high-collared tux-like military coat that had a bright red collar and lining.
“How do I look?” said
“You look good,” said Venture. “I didn’t own that kind of uniform
until recently, myself.”
“And I didn’t own this kind when I married Nova,” said Commodore
Wildstar. “I got mine after I got my flag rank in late 2202. Mark, did you
reach Holly, yet?”
“I did,” he said as he put away his portable phone. “She says that
Nova is there and the operation is going well.”
“What kind of operation is this?” said
“You’ll find out,” said Wildstar as he dialed a number again on
his phone. “Venture, I still can’t reach Hardy. I have no damn idea where he is.”
“Things’ll work out, Wildstar. Chill out,” said Venture.
“Well?” said the proprietor of the uniform shop.
“Wrap it up, we’ll take it,” said Wildstar. “I’m paying, of
course.”
“Yessir,” said the proprietor.
Sasha found herself surprised that morning when Nova Wildstar and
Holly Venture showed up at her dorm room inviting her to go shopping. Nova also
gave her an invitation to attend the reception at the Presidential Palace.
“How did I get invited?” said Sasha as she looked over the
invitation.
“You know why,” said Nova with a wink. Fortunately, her roommate
was not around to hear this, and Nova had just let Holly in on Sasha’s “secret”
with Derek and Mark’s permission. “We need to get you a formal uniform jacket,
gown, and shoes today, along with a facial, manicure and pedicure, and we need
to do a little something with your hair.”
“Do you have any medals?” said Holly.
“Yes, this Good Conduct Medal; that’s it,” said Sasha.
“Bring it,” said Nova as Sasha got up from her desk in her dorm
room; she had on shorts, a t-shirt, and was padding around in her socks. Nova
said, “The shorts are OK, but put on a nicer top, and take your socks off and
put on a pair of sandals.”
Sasha nodded, getting the necessary things out from her locker.
Finally, after putting on a sailor-style top and a pair of white sandals she
had just bought the other day, she said, “This is OK?”
“Sure is,” said Holly. “Let’s go.”
“But I was supposed to go to class today?” said Sasha. It was a
Tuesday, so this was a legitmate concern for Sasha.
“I’ve arranged for you to have an excused absence from class and drill
today,” said Nova. “Let’s go…”
Sasha was then dragged to a number of places; she was taken to a
hairdresser’s place, first, where her long hair was washed, trimmed,
blow-dried, and carefully brushed out while Nova and Holly also received
similar treatment. Next, Sasha was taken to another place for a careful facial
and manicure and pedicure; she sat laughing as she got her nails polished.
Then, she was taken to another shop where Nova and Holly purchased long ball
gowns and matching heels for themselves and Sasha.
Finally, Sasha was taken to Marks and
When she was finally dressed up in her blue ball gown, matching
high-heeled sandals, and dress jacket, Sasha looked at herself in the mirror
and thought, I really look like a
Princess, now, while Nova and Holly look like royalty with all those medals. Nova
and Holly had similar outfits, with Nova wearing a pink gown and heels and
Holly clad in a green gown and shoes.
On the way out, Nova ran (running as fast as she could run in her
heels) into a jewelry store nearby and came out a few minutes later, smiling to
herself like a cat that ate the canary with a very small bag.
Nova then left them for a time to meet Derek at home while Holly
took Sasha to the Ventures’ house in her gown, where she and Mark met and
prepared to go.
Sasha wondered why she was tagging along (even though she had an
invitation like the others) but Holly caught the quizzical look on her face and
told her “Sasha, you are here tonight for a very good reason.”
“Oh,” replied Sasha. “What is it?”
“You will find out soon enough,” said Holly. Then, Holly and Mark
smiled at each other, but Sasha’s senses were weirded out. Even a
half-Iscandarian like her had no idea what to make of this.
A few minutes later, Sasha was driven to Presidential House. When
she arrived there, she had to pass through many checkpoints before reaching the
East Room of the Presidential Palace, where an elaborate ball was in progress.
Sasha gave up her invitation to a uniformed Special Services
Guard, who scanned it and let her pass. Sasha looked around. Most of the people
here were far older than she was, and the women looked (to her) even more
elegant than she did. It seemed to Sasha that she was the youngest one there.
Sasha again looked down at her outfit; blue gown, open-toed blue
heels, white dress jacket. I feel weird
in this, she thought. I feel like a
fish out of water here tonight. Why am I even here? I wish I knew why I was
here tonight…
Then, she looked over. Derek and Nova had come in together, followed
by another young man who was also in Dress Whites like her uncle was. Sasha
looked at him, and then she realized who it was.
Deke?
Sasha thought in confusion. You were
going to be here tonight, and you didn’t even tell me? You didn’t call, or anything?
What is going on?
IV.
THE DARKEST OF PLANS…
Pariantha
House
Planet
R’Khelleva
April
28, 2207
2045
Hours: Earthtime
Piper Sandberg, long-time traitor to Earth, had been living on
R’Khelleva for about five years now.
It was his adopted home, since he knew he could never return to
Earth under the current government without being arrested and then put on trial
for his life…but he hated the place.
R’Khelleva had been, for many centuries, the home of the priestly
caste of Ekogaru, fanatical psionics, fanatical warrior-priests as cruel as the
harsh, stinking air of the planet.
Sandberg knew that R’Khelleva had once been a pleasant, green
world like Earth. But, many centuries worth of mining, building, and fleet
production on this world when it had been a cornerstone of the Rikashan Star
Empire had defiled the air and water of the place.
It had become even worse in the five years since R’Khelleva had
refused to listen to the Rikashan edicts that banned the Cult of Ekogaru and
had decided to simultaneously secede from the Rikashan sphere of influence and
to declare itself the true capital in exile of the Rikashan people, which it
had then declared a holy war upon. The R’Khells considered the now
somewhat-peaceful Rikashans of the Rikashan Federation heretics and traitors
since they had broken free from Ekogaru’s influence, and the Rikashans
considered their terroristic one-time brothers enemies and killers of the worst
sort.
Sandberg sat with Marshal Lecha Voton, leader of the R’Khells, in a
meeting in Voton’s
What he heard was quite interesting.
Voton said, “I have a unit on its way to Earth now to join up with
the Josiahite cultists to assassinate some people.”
“Earth?” said Sandberg. “Who’s leading this mission?”
“The clone of Yvona Josiah created by the Lord Ekogaru. His son,
Erugar, is the second-in-command of the mission. Arrogant lad. I wish he had
died at birth.”
“That is a vile wish, Marshal.”
“He, Sandberg, may grow enough in power to supplant us.”
Voton mused into his cup of wine and said, “I wish we had an assassin
there to assasinate the assassin, Sandberg.”
“These things have a funny way of playing out, Voton,” hissed
Sandberg. “See how the boy does in this mission. If he survives, maybe I could
arrange an…accident for him when he comes home?”
“An accident,” hissed Voton. He laughed and said, “Aye, Sandberg.
I like that! An accident! Ha ha ha ha
HA…”
V.
A NIGHT OF HOPE AND DESPAIR…
Presidential
House
The
April
28, 2207
2105
Hours: Earthtime
Sasha continued to sit mystified as Deke Wakefield and Nova
Wildstar walked up beside the President’s podium together.
There, Deke finally had his Navy Cross pinned to his jacket by the
President after he pinned the Federation Medal on Nova’s dress jacket. Both
officers saluted the President as the dance orchestra played the EDF March and
everyone applauded.
A few minutes later, Deke and Sasha were dancing together.
Then, Sasha finally got the opportunity to speak with Deke as they
danced close in each other’s arms.
“Deke, why all the secrecy? Why didn’t you let me know you’d be
here?”
“I wanted you to be surprised,” he replied.
“Well, you sure did surprise me,”
said Sasha. She stumbled a second.
“Are you all right?” said Deke.
“Sorry, I’m not the world’s best dancer,” she replied with a
blush.
“Neither am I,” said Deke.
They smiled at each other and laughed as they continued dancing.
Not far away, Derek and Nova were dancing sweetly with each other;
Nova had removed her dress jacket, and was dancing in her husband’s arms with a
protective hand of his on one of her bare shoulders.
“This will be a night to remember, Derek,” whispered Nova as she
snuggled close to her husband.
“It sure will be. You were decorated, honored in public for your
sacrifices at the conference…sacrifices that almost cost me your life…” said
Derek with a hitch in his voice. He stroked Nova’s pregnant chiffon-clad
stomach as they danced. “I’m so glad they’re fine…”
“Me too,” said Nova. “But…this gown…it’s beautiful, but it is
feeling too tight. I just want to burst out of it when we get home tonight…”
“And?” whispered Derek.
Nova just smiled back as she kissed Derek on the nose. “I think
you can guess what I want tonight…”
“Me too…about time I gave you a very belated birthday present…”
Nova then blushed and whispered in Derek’s ear. “Yes. The kind I
can accept only in my birthday suit…” Then, Nova kissed Derek’s earlobe and
nibbled at it.
The feeling of his wife’s sweetness made Commodore Wildstar
shiver. He responded by sliding his hand down his wife’s back to her bottom as
she danced. The touch of his hand there sent shivers down her spine that made
her toes curl up with delight as they danced.
And so it went as the song played on…and another one began as Deke
and Sasha and Derek and Nova danced again…
After their dance, Deke was surprised again when Nova grabbed him
and led him off to a far corner of the room through a crowd where high
Government officials and legislators, judges, bureaucrats, and industrial
bigwigs were smoking, laughing, and drinking wine, brandy, sake, and other such
refreshments. Nova was avoiding those; she had a glass of fruity punch in her
hand (although it was garnished with a little paper Japanese umbrella stuck in
a pineapple slice).
“Nova, why did you drag me away from Sasha like that?”
“I have something to give you,” she said as she quickly put a
small box into his inner dress coat pocket. “Derek and I were hatching a plot
while we danced.”
“What is it?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just a gift from us to give Sasha?”
“Sasha?”
“Of course. You were away…we could spare it….and…well…I think you
and Sasha have a future together. A very bright one.”
“I…the….”
“Deke.” Nova said. “She is crazy about you. Don’t deny it. You
feel the same way about her. I saw the way you were holding her when I was
dancing with Derek. Getting a little harder to dance for long because..mmm…”
Nova paused to pat her stomach. “They’re throwing me off balance a bit tonight.
And they’re letting me know they like the music. Anyway…I have a vested
interest in you and Sasha. After all, Sasha and I are related, so….”
“Related?” said Deke.
Nova blushed and put up her hand. “Oops. You weren’t supposed to
know that….uh….she’s a distant relative on Derek’s side of the family. Very long story, but I’m sure Sasha will
tell you soon..if she hasn’t already. Has she told you where she’s from yet? Just say yes or no…”
“Uh…no….not really….she said something about it being interesting,
but…there’s some mystery involved. Nova, what is she keeping back from me?”
“Long story….nothing really bad….just….different.”
“Nova, is she gay or something?”
Nova Wildstar looked at Deke with a look similar to the sort she
might have given her Federation Medal if it had started talking to her. “No,” said Nova, who then hid her face in
her hands and giggled nervously. “It’s not that at all. I swear, you and
Derek…you should get together sometime…”
“Uh?”
“I had a talk somewhat like this with our dear Commodore back in
2199 when he could not figure out I
was wishing on the Voton Star that he’d fall in love with me! You men, you
pilots, are so dense at times! No, Sasha
is very attracted to you.”
“And I’m dating Derek Wildstar’s ninth cousin to the nth degree?”
Then, Sasha turned up. “Nova, Deke, my ears are burning. Like mad. Are you talking about me?”
“Yes, but it’s good,” said Deke. “Just weird..”
“Weird?” said Sasha. “Deke, what are you and Nova talking about?”
“You,” said Nova. “All right, Sasha, the cat?”
“Yes.”
“He got out of the bag.”
“What?” said Sasha, who was looking very annoyed. “Nova, do you
have brandy in that damn drink?”
“Can’t, I’m pregnant. I slipped because I’m getting stupid in my
old age.”
“What old age, you’re just twenty-nine! You were sort of asleep
when it happened…”
“You’re not much older than I am, and you know what I mean,”
snapped Nova. Deke was feeling like he was at a tennis match as the two young
women argued.
“I may be younger than you but I have more sense, even if my mind
feels that this whole night is weirder than my dress,” said Sasha. “Nova, how
much does he know?”
“That you’re Derek Wildstar’s ninth cousin to the nth degree or
something like that and I think you’re not from either
“Derek has relations all over the place, scattered to the four
winds,” said Sasha. Then, she decided to use the “Purloined Letter” tactic
(expose the truth in plain sight but do not point it out) as she said, “I have
family in St. Petersburg, the Tokyo Megalopolis, Boulder, Colorado, Seattle,
Washington, Iscandar…”
“Iscandar?” said Deke. “Whaaat?”
“A relative of hers is assigned to Iscandar,” said Nova in a
smooth voice. “It has to do with scientific research and diplomatic relations.”
Sasha giggled hard at that one. “Liar liar, pants on fire!” she said,
sticking her tongue out at Nova for emphasis.
“I’m not wearing pants, I’m wearing a gown,” snapped Nova.
“Sasha…remember…”
“Oh…yeah,” said Sasha. “Trying to…”
“What is going on?” said Deke.
“Lots,” said Sasha as she grinned at Deke. “Want another dance?”
Deke nodded dully as Sasha pulled him away from Nova, who was
shocked and surprised to see her own father there. Nova and Karl Forrester
began an animated talk while Derek Wildstar showed up to listen as Deke and
Sasha danced again.
Sasha and Deke ended up back at a table a few minutes later.
Whatever apprehension and strangeness Deke had been feeling about Sasha’s
possible distant relationship to the Wildstars was alloyed a little by her
talking with him and using the sweet spell of her eyes on him as she held him
close while they had danced. Deke felt intoxicated by just looking at his
girlfriend as they sat there talking while Nova and Derek showed up again at
their table. Mark and Holly followed, while Sasha said to Deke, “I will take
you where I come from…not too long from now. There’s beaches there with lots of
white sand. I think you’d like it.”
“Is there surfing?” said Deke.
“Plenty of it, although the idea is still catching on,” said Sasha
as she felt something digging hard into her toes under the table (the heel of
Nova’s dress sandal as she tried to get Sasha to stifile it). “Uhh…what about
our future together, Deke?”
“You mean?” said
“Possible early graduation at the end of the semester or sometime
in the summer,” said Sasha. “They haven’t made it clear yet. I’m supposed to be
doing my summer cruise aboard a space battleship with part of the Fleet, and
when I know which ship it is, we can and will keep in touch. And you?”
“I think I’ll probably be reassigned back to the
“None of us do,” said Derek. “We have no idea where the war is
taking us…although it seems to have slowed down…”
“Maybe the war will just end with a whimper, not a bang?” said
Sasha.
“I hope so,” said Nova. “I’d love to have my children at home on
Earth, maybe after a short patrol cruise with Derek. I’ve been feeling…romantic
lately…”
“Me, too,” said Sasha as she looked at Deke. She smiled at him and
looked over as Venture was about to say something but shut his mouth.
“Sir?” said Sasha.
“You were going to say something to
“Yes…” said Sasha. “Deke, I love you…lots…and lots…and lots…”
“Sasha,” said Deke as he stammered a little. He put his hand in
his pocket and felt a small box. It was covered with velvet. He immediately had
a good idea what he was being set up to do. He held Sasha’s hands and just
looked into her eyes as the table went quiet with anticipation.
“I….there’s….something….something I want to ask you, Sasha.”
“Yes?” said Sasha in a sweet, quiet voice. “What is it, Deke?”
“Sasha…I wanted…I wanted to…just,” he said as he fumbled with the
box. Sasha’s eyes lit up when she saw him beginning to pull it out.
“Sasha…Midshipman Sasha Petrovksky…I wanted…it is my duty to…I wanted to ask if
you’d…”
“yes,” said Sasha in a very small voice, completing his thought
for him as she unabashedly read his mind and helped him.
“…what?” said Deke.
“I’m good at guessing things, Deke…I said…”
“But, Sasha, I never got to finish…I want to ask you if you’d want
to…”
“I said yes,” she whispered again. “I can guess what you’re
fumbling with, Deke. Not loose change…” she said with a smile.
“I…” stammered Deke as he struggled with the box.
Then,
“I…?” said Deke. “Who..?”
“Lieutenant,” said the voice of Commanding General Hiram Singleton
as Deke flipped around and immediately saluted.
“SIR?” said Deke. He knew he couldn’t say anything to the
Commander for interrupting things…when he had been about to propose to Sasha.
Deke also thought, Why did
she say yes before I got all the words out? Or even the ring? Or did I hear
that right?
“Sir,” said Sasha in a tremulous, angry, and close-to-tears at
once voice. “You’re interrupting something important, with all due respect. Can
it wait?”
“No,” said Singleton. “Lieutenant Wakefield, I must discuss
something with you alone, in confidence. I am sorry for the bad timing, but
what we must discuss requires an answer by 2300 Hours if it is to be
implemented. Would you come with me, please?”
“Yessir,” said Deke after a moment. “Sasha…I’ll be back…I’m
sorry…”
“That’s all right,” said Sasha as she bravely tried to smile.
When Deke left, Sasha put her head on the table and began to cry
her eyes out as Nova came up behind her to put a comforting hand on her
shoulder.
“What a moment for a damn Command meeting!” wept Sasha. “Nova, why
couldn’t he have waited…for one minute….? Mother, why could he have NOT
WAITED???” she cried as she shocked Nova by balling up her fists and looking up
at the ceiling. “Mother, why?”
Nova sighed, “Sometimes…things…have to wait in a war…”
“But why?” wept Sasha. “WHY?”
Suddenly, outside, there was a thunderclap. Lightning came from
nowhere outside, and the noise of the clap of thunder from a clear night sky
made the whole large hall go silent for a moment. Then, the conversation slowly
cranked back up when they realized that Earth was NOT under some strange
attack…
…as Sasha just sat there and cried and muttered strange things under
her breath in some unknown language.
Only Nova caught it. She knew at once that Sasha was so upset that
she was openly sobbing in Iscandarian to her Mother.
And far away, in the Great Magellenic Cloud, her mother had been
roused from sleep because of her daughter’s psychic pain. For a terrible
moment, Queen Starsha’s rage and pain had actually touched Earth, too far away
in itself to harm anything, but enough to terrify many partygoers with
lightning from a clear sky at night.
“This is horrible,” said Derek as he came over and tried to hug
Sasha, only to be pushed away.
“You’re right,” said Nova after a long moment. “Absolutely,
positively, damn straight right!”
Nova then banged her fist on the table in a gesture of rage that
shocked everyone there, even Derek.
“Derek,” she snapped. “We have to fix this.”
“Fix this?”
“Fix this so they don’t have to wait?” snapped Nova. “Derek, how
do you think I would have felt if I’d been interrupted when you had proposed to
me? Even if it was on the bridge of a
burning space battleship?”
“You’re right,” said Derek as Holly tried to console a crying
Sasha. “We can’t leave them here like this. They should have at least been able
to finish proposing to each other…”
“I’d love to just…I like the Commander…but that was just…horrid,”
stammered Nova as she began to cry. She went to Sasha. “Sasha, what do you
want? You count more than the rest of us…”
“What I’d want…” said Sasha…”Is for him to put that ring on my
finger and then marry me tonight. He’ll be leaving tonight, won’t he?”
“Sasha, how do you know that?” said Holly.
“I just know,” said Sasha. “I can practically hear and see that
Commander giving Deke some new damn emergency assignment to some squadron or
something. Okay, maybe he has to go. Can’t this suspense end and can’t he
become my husband?”
“How do we set this up?” said Nova. “Go…to…”
“…the President,” said Derek. “It may screw my career, but
decisions can be changed. We know that, Nova, Mark….don’t we?”
Nova and Venture nodded. “You’ve done it before, Wildstar. Why not
do it again? Because if it won’t work out…”
“We can steal the Argo
again and shanghai you and Deke into space and marry you aboard the ship!”
laughed Commodore Wildstar. “If we have to…”
Nova clapped her hands and said, “I’m in…”
“Have all of you just gone stark raving mad?” said Holly Venture.
“I need an assistant pilot if Eager won’t come along,” said Mark.
“Holly?”
“I..guess…” said Holly. “But shouldn’t you see the President
first? And who’s gonna perform a wedding at short notice? I don’t think you
have a preacher in your purse, Nova…”
“Was I called?” said Father Likanski, the genial priest and
chaplain in his EDF greens and clerical collar who had married Derek and Nova
as he came up with Karl Forrester in tow.
“Oh, thank you, God!”
laughed Nova as she jumped up and hugged and kissed the priest and then her
surprised father. “You are an answer to an unspoken prayer, sir! Up to some
work tonight, Father Likanski? Dad, up to a party?”
“Is it for a good cause?” said the priest.
“Is this some madcap scheme of my daughter’s, Derek?” said Karl
Forrester as he adjusted his glasses and noticed that something good had to be
happening if that blonde girl named Sasha had suddenly stopped crying and
wiping her eyes. In fact, she was beginning to smile.
“Sure is,” said Derek over the music of the band. He noticed the
time was now twenty-one forty hours. “Let me explain…”
Unaware of the change of course outside, a seething and shocked Deke
Wakefield sat drinking a cup of coffee alone in a small side office in the huge
Presidential House with Commanding General Singleton. They had ended up there
after a long, silent walk down many corridors.
Singleton said, “I hate to have interrupted things, Mister
Wakefield, but what I have to talk about is important.
Earth and Iscandar are both in dire need.”
“Why?” said Deke.
“We have received intelligence from the Gamilons that the Cometine
forces are trying to organize some sort of offensive in the Great Magellenic
Cloud, and that, even stranger than this, they seem to be at war with each
other.”
“I thought that Invidia person had an iron hand over them,” said
Deke, who felt both guilty and angry as he thought of Sasha crying out
there…because of this war. “Why does this affect me, sir?”
“Please, Mister Wakefield. Patience,” said the Commander. “Our
scientific colony, and the security of Iscandar, are guarded by several Gamilon
and Earth Federation fighter groups. Desslok has to withdraw one of them in the
next month to supply two new carriers, and another one will have to soon be
reassigned to Gamilon. This has created a danger to Iscandar and a political
crisis of sorts between Iscandar and Gamilon that we have to step in to fill
up. To fill this gap, two Earth Fighter Groups are being reassigned to Iscandar
to complement the Groups already there. These Groups are in need of a
commanding officer. One of them is scheduled to leave Earth tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Aboard the Spacecraft Carrier Wasp,
Mister Wakefield. Of course, she will just be ferrying this Group there. This
first Group is a Group of twenty-four Cosmo Tiger IIB all-purpose strike
fighters/recon planes known as the Trojans,” said Singleton as he pushed a
folder at
Deke sat and thought hard for a moment. Finally, hoping he wasn’t
burying his career, he said, “Yessir. I am considering accepting. Upon three
conditions.”
“They are?”
“Sir…,” said Deke as he struggled to keep his temper in check.
“First, sir…I ask to be permitted to finish
proposing to Midshipman Second Class Sasha Petrovsky.” Deke pulled out the
box and opened it. “This was purchased for me to give to her, and I accepted
the idea and she seems to have accepted the notion as well. Let me, for the
love of God, not leave here without putting that ring on her finger.”
“Granted,” said Singleton in a quiet voice with his eyes closed.
“Second?”
“That I be permitted some time alone with Miss Petrovsky to soothe
her feelings tonight. Especially since if I am going to Iscandar, God knows
when I will see her again.”
“Granted,” said the Commander. “Third request?”
“Find me Lieutenant Jere Marrable, if you can. If I ship out
tonight, he goes with me, damnit, if he wants to. I need a second flight leader
I’d trust with my damn gonads, and that man, well, he fits the bill…”
“Granted,” said Singleton as the door burst open and the President
burst in. “Hiram,” he said as he shut the door hard. “The
“Sir?” said
“Everything,” said President Mendellsohn. “Singleton,” said the
President. “
“what is going on?” said Deke, who was feeling as if he had just
stepped into a big pile of something that smelled very nasty. “What does this
have to do with Sasha and I? She is some cousin of Wildstar’s…I think…”
“How much did she tell you,
“That she was related to the Wildstars,” said Deke. “What does
this have to do with Iscandar? She said she had family serving there, at the
base, I think, but…”
“God,” said Singleton. “One thing at a time! Mister President, how
bad is the diplomatic rupture?”
“Bad. The Princess herself, who is here, communicated with Her
Highness through her link, and she is very upset. Her Highness communicated the
news to her husband and Gamilon. Desslok knows of this, too. Desslok is
outraged. He has warm feelings and regards for both Petrovsky and
“Because I should have kept my big mouth shut for two minutes?”
said the impressive figure of the Commander before his President. “Sir, if that
is what I have done, I hereby tender you my resignation and my retire…”
“Don’t fall on your sword yet,
Hiram!” barked the President. “The Wildstars propose fixing this by letting
things just play out. He is not going anywhere until tomorrow, right?”
“Yessir,” said the Commander.
“Then he can stay here a bit longer. Good. Hiram, get Petrovsky in
here and leave her alone with
“I’ll have Nova bring her in, sir,” said the Commander. “I am not
sure I want to show my face around her for a while, and…”
“Oh…sorry,” said the President. “Minor matter. Does
“Yes….that…,” said Singleton. “
“I guess,” said Deke. “Okay. Will Sasha explain to me what she has
to do with Iscandarian bloody Princesses and Royalty and diplomatic protests? Did
some love-struck alien Princess out there see our proposal and get mad when it
was interrupted?”
“No, it is far worse than that,” said Singleton. “You are about to
discover the truth about what you’ve dared to play with.”
The Commander left, slamming shut the door.
VI.
SECRETS
Presidential
House
The
April
28, 2207
2200
Hours: Earthtime
Deke waited. He had no idea how long.
It was only nine minutes. A clock in the room chimed twenty-two
hundred hours, as Deke abstractedly thought. Five years ago tonight, at this very moment, Dawn began to formally
break it off with me after a very bad day together. Is this the night I lose
Sasha, too? What is going on?
The door opened, and Sasha came in. holding hands with Nova, and
looking very sheepish.
“Sasha?”
“hi, deke,” she said in a very tiny voice. “Your President just
ranked me out in his office. But…I couldn’t help it?”
“Help what?” said Deke.
“There is a lot going on,” said Nova. “Sasha, he’s cleared. Tell
him everything…He has to know.”
“Yes, Auntie Nova,” said Sasha in a tiny voice as Nova kissed her
on the cheek and left.
“Auntie Nova?” said Deke.
Sasha nodded. “I’m surprised you didn’t start putting two and two
together yet, Deke. And I’m so scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared of what you will think when I tell you…”
Deke knelt before Sasha, hugged her, and rocked her for a long
time. “Shhhh…I can’t stay mad at you.”
“You will be. Okay. They made me do it.”
“Do what?”
“Lie. You’ll see. Deke?”
“We have unfinished business, first, Sasha. I mean to finish
this.” Deke swallowed hard and took out the box. “Sasha, if my temper, my
warlike actions, my rage, my hatred for the Gamilons, and my contempt for Queen
Starsha for using Earth and the lives of our race and my family as a toy to
make a point…if that does not scare you away, I, Sasha Petrovsky, humbly ask
you if you will become engaged to me for…for the purpose of marrying me?” Deke
then opened the box and said. “Sasha…this ring…”
“I already told you that I accept…out there,” said Sasha as Deke
slid the ring onto her finger. Deke dropped the box, and they embraced. Soft
music came up from outside as Sasha said, “Deke, your anger does not scare me.
You have every right in the world to be angry at my mother. She should have had
Astra come here sooner and offer you more help. And I have argued hard with her
about it…where I come from.”
“Wait?” said Deke. “How did your mother have anything to do with
Astra of Iscandar, the first one…?”
“Astra was my mother’s sister. My mother is Queen Starsha of
Iscandar, Deke,” said Sasha in a small monotone. “I know you hate Iscandarians.
Please do not hate me. I am half-human. My father is Prince Consort Alex
Wildstar, Commanding Admiral of Iscandar’s Royal Defense Forces. Derek Wildstar
is my uncle. Nova Wildstar is my aunt. I am not Sasha Petrovsky, but Sasha
Wildstar, Second Princess of Iscandar, Midshipman Second Class of the Earth
Defense Forces. I am half-Iscandarian, Deke. And I am only about three of your
Earth years old. I am a member of the Iscandarian Royal Family. I was so upset
tonight when Commanding General Singleton interrupted us that I could not help
myself and I cried out to my mother through my psionic bond with her. I have
offended her. I should be put to death for offending her. And you should have
this ring back.”
Deke said, “Sasha, I’m sorry. You are NOT giving that ring back,
unless you really want to. I don’t want to break off anything.”
“You don’t? I lied to you..” she said as she looked down at her
toes. Deke, only then, noticed she had taken off her sandals and went barefoot.
Somehow, it made her look very small and forlorn.
“You couldn’t help it, I guess. But why?”
“The Earth Government ordered me to keep this a dire secret from
everyone…even you, Deke. Even you. I have been pleading with them and my mother for months to tell you the
truth. But they didn’t let me. Until now. Mother finally relented.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me in here, silly,” she said as she pointed to her own
head. “Any more questions about your lying, freaky, weird Iscandarian fiancee’
you want to know, Deke?”
“Yes. How can you be just three years old?”
“Iscandians grow to maturity in their first year, Deke. In one
year, I developed from babyhood to the equivalent of sixteen or seventeen of
your years old. Then, the rapid aging gradually slowed down and stopped. I am
the rough equivalent of twenty-one Earth years old now, if you are wondering.
And I’m not a virgin.”
“Why do you seem to loath yourself for that? A lot of
women..experiment. Like men do.”
“I slept with two men. One was an Iscandarian I fell in love with
named Talva. He was a sweet young man. He died later in a swimming accident on
Iscandar, but I was with him several times. About five. The other time was with
a Gamilon.”
“Sasha…how and why?”
“It was on Iscandar,” sobbed Sasha. “He gave me a drugged drink.
The so-callled honorable Gamilon was an officer named Baron Harmen Rizak. He
used words, flattery, and a spiked drink to lure me into bed with him. When I
woke up, he was doing the most disgusting things to me in bed while I was
waking up! It would have made you sick. I ran away from him naked and ran home
like that down the beach. Nudity on the beach is not that uncommon amongst Iscandarians.
Our beaches are warm, isolated, beautiful, and the surfing is great. When I was
very small, Aunt Nova taught me how to swim like that. What upset my father was
seeing me crying and naked. He spoke with Desslok. I heard later Desslok
slashed Rizak’s vile face with a saber for this violation…”
“Never thought I’d say this, but good for
Desslok,” said Deke as Sasha smiled a little.
She continued with, “And then, Desslok put one of his eyes out and
exiled him to a battle area at the edge of the Empire someplace for that. I
never saw him again, thank the gooddess. At the space school, I got harassed a
lot. Teased, just for having long hair and being female. You have some good
people on Earth, and some vile ones. A few other midshipmen played roaming
hands with me on so-called dates. You never did. I love you for that, Deke.
And, yes, I want to marry you. If you’ll have me. If you’ll have a freak of an
Iscandarian ditz who can see into the future and acts weird…”
“I sure will,” said Deke. He gulped and said, “I’d marry you
tonight if I could.”
“You would?” said Sasha as tears of joy ran down her cheeks.
“I would…but…where do we get a religious figure or…?”
“That can be arranged!”
laughed Sasha. “Tonight, then?”
“Yeah, if Brew can be here to be my best man,” said Deke.
Then, a knock came at the door. “Are you two done yet?” said
Nova’s voice through the door. “I hope you two are decent…”
“We sure are!” laughed Sasha as Nova peeked in. Nova then opened
the door and Sasha got up and hugged her as Deke was shocked as a stunned Brew
walked in behind her.
“Uhhh…something about a wedding, Deke?” said Brew. “What the hell
is up?”
“Well, Brew, I am leaving tonight. Mind being assigned as a flight
leader and second XO of a Flight Group they’re giving me?”
“Not at all. Who’s getting married?”
“Us, we think…” said Sasha. “Brew, he wants you as best man…”
“Uh…okay,” said Brew as he fixed his blue and red peacoat. “It’s
about Goddamned time you got married! Is she your
squirrel for good now, Deke?”
“Yes, she is my squirrel. Forever and ever,” said Deke.
“Hollleee shit,” laughed Brew.
“What is this squirrel business?” said Nova.
“Long story,” said Deke.
“Mind me as matron of honor?” said Nova as she hugged Sasha.
“Not at all, Auntie. You’ve been like Mom to me here on
Earth…who’ll give me away?”
“You father, silly,” said Nova. “We’re agreed, then? You two are
no longer upset?”
Deke and Sasha nodded, and then they kissed.
“I’ll go tell the President,” said Nova.
“Thanks,” said Sasha. “And please ask Desslok and Mother to
withdraw those silly diplomatic notes?”
“I sure will try,” said Nova as she ran off.
“Mother?” said Brew. “Girl, who’s your mama?”
“Another long story,” said Sasha. “I’m really a Princess and my
mother is Queen Starsha of Iscandar and my father is Alex Wildstar…”
“Sheeeit,” said Brew.
“It goes like this,” said Sasha as she began to explain.
Five minutes later, as President Mendellsohn stood in his office
with Singleton beside him waiting as he faced down General Kalnaz, a Gamilon
Consul from the Embassy in full uniform, and, of course, Alex Wildstar, who
stood there in his black uniform and red and black peacoat that looked somewhat
like the coat he had worn a long time ago as the Captain of the missile
destroyer Paladin. Nova ran into the
office and said, while catching her breath. “Mister President, Commander, Deke
Wakefield and Princess Sasha have agreed to their engagement, with their
marriage to follow as soon as it can be arranged. Princess Sasha asks the
Governments of Iscandar and Gamilon to withdraw their protests against the
Earth Government for upsetting her and her mother.”
Kalnaz and Alex looked at each other in shock and then, Kalnaz
said, “I will ask Leader Desslok to withdraw the protest.”
Wildstar shut his eyes and said, “Very well. I withdraw our
protest pending word from Queen Starsha.”
Commodore Wildstar came in, saluted, and said, “Iscandar is on the
line, Mister President.”
Mendellsohn nodded and flicked on a small panel on his desk. “Ah, Queen Starsha…greetings.”
Starsha said, “Alex, I have just picked up your thought. You would
withdraw our protest?”
“Yes, Starsha. Apologies
are being made; Sasha is now betrothed to the young man, Deke Wakefield.”
“He is the one I have been having dreams about,” said Starsha.
“The one from whom the Shadow is slowly withdrawing.”
“Yes,” said Alex.
“I hope they marry tonight,” said Starsha.
“That is being arranged, Your Highness,”
said Singleton.
“Nova, is she ready for this?” said
Starsha. “You know I have charged you with her care.”
“Yes, Starsha,” said Nova. “She was upset. I was remiss in letting
things be interrupted. But, things are working out. The future, I think, will
be bright.”
“Good. The future is not clear,” said Starsha. “But, one possible
path of the futire I see…I see our child a year from tonight, on a bed, naked,
pregnant as you are, Nova, about to deliver Deke Wakefield his child. Now it
makes more sense to me. Please let them consumate their marriage tonight, as
well.”
“I will arange that,” said Nova. “Mister President?”
“The rooms I thought I had are not available, after all. Have you room
in your home for them tonight?”
“We do. And Alex is staying with us,” said Nova.
“That makes it better,” said Starsha. “Nova, I know you know how
important peace, quiet, and seclusion are for a wedding night.”
“I sure do,” said Nova with a deep blush. “They will spend the
night at my home, then. After…uh…Derek and I enjoy our night of seclusion..uh….I will even
get up to make them all breakfast.”
“I like that,” chuckled Alex.
“Good,” said Mendellsohn. “Singleton, when was the Wasp scheduled to lift off for
Iscandar?”
“0800 hours tomorrow morning,” said the Commander.
“Hold them until 0900 or 1000, to give
“Yessir,” said the Commander.
“I forgive you, General Singleton,” said Starsha. “I know now you
acted only in the trouble of your heart in wanting to assign Deke to his post.
I thus consider this matter closed. I…”
Then, another signal came in, and the screen split slightly as the
image of a familiar blue face appeared. “Ah, General Kalnaz?” said a
mellifluous, somewhat mocking voice. “Has the matter of this little insult to
Iscandar and to the pilot
“It has, Leader Desslok,” said Kalnaz. “The Earthlings’ mistake
was not intentional. It was more of a matter of timing than anything else.
Starsha is now calm, and her daughter is well, as is, I understand, the
Earthling boy
“Is this true, Starsha?” said Desslok.
“Yes, it is,” she replied.
“Desslok,” said Alex. “Once again, my little brother and his wife
have set things up and smoothed over the rift in the
Desslok laughed a low chuckle. “It appears young Wildstar and young
Nova may have missed their true calling. They should have been diplomats. But, no. Derek Wildstar is too much like me. A warrior
filled with honor. That is why he can do it. Very well,
President Mendellsohn. Gamilon considers this matter closed if you do.”
“We do, sir,” said the President. “The first squadron leaves for
Iscandar tomorrow morning so you can recall your 189th Squadron when
they arrive.”
“My thanks.
My best wishes to you,
“Thank you, Starsha,” said Alex. He bowed his head as her image
faded away.
“So what do we do now?” said the Commander.
“No more thoughts of resignation, Singleton. We need you, and it
is forgiven,” said Mendellsohn. “Get my staff in here. We have a wedding to
arrange.”
2300
Hours…
The lights were dimmed in the President’s office as Deke Wakefield
stood nervously before the President’s desk with his heart pounding.
Behind the desk stood Father Likanski, who had put a blue stole on
over his shoulders. He held a small book and stood in silence. Beside him, stood the President.
Nova had cleared a space to the right of the great desk of the
President, and she stood there in silence, with an acoustic guitar strapped on
over her gown, her feet bare, and with her eyes closed with Singleton and her
father beside her. Derek stood near Brew, and behind them stood Mark and Holly
Venture.
Then, as Deke whispered, “Brew, this waiting is driving me
nuts…we’re breathing air way above our pay grades…” two knocks came at the
door. “Enter,” said Singleton.
The door opened, and IQ-9 came in, carrying a small cushion with
what Deke guessed were the rings. The small robot came up in relative silence
and then said, “Mister President, Nova, when the second set of knocks comes, it
is them. Nova, begin the music then.”
“Thank you,” said Nova in a soft voice.
A long moment passed, and there were two more knocks. Singleton
barked, “Orders, HUT!”
Everyone executed an about-face and faced the doors as Nova
strummed a few chords, and then began to quietly play a simple, sweet solo
guitar version of Mendellsohn’s “Wedding March,” as tears ran down her cheeks
as she played her gift for her niece.
The door opened, and to the guitar music, Sasha entered, walking
on her father’s arm.
Deke was shocked and pleased. They had found Sasha an appropriate
white gown from somewhere that looked almost Iscandarian. She walked holding a
tiny bouquet of flowers, and had no veil, but there were a few flowers in her
hair. The gown was simple, unadorned, and stunning. It clung to every curve in
an almost innocent fashion, leaving Sasha’s arms bare. The gown went down about
to her ankles, and Deke saw her toes showing with each step; she still went
barefoot, but she no longer looked very forlorn.
Sasha looked solemn, but then she began to smile through her tears
as she came up beside Deke. Nova then finished her song as Sasha and Deke
turned to face each other before Father Likanski and IQ-9. She and Derek and
the Commander, accompanied by her father, then stood behind Sasha and Alex
while Brew, Mark and Holly Venture stood behind and beside Deke.
Finally, Likanski said, “This is a happy but somewhat out of the
ordinary occasion. This is the second member of the Wildstar family I have had
the honor of attending at the wedding of. For those who do not know, I
officiated at the wedding of Derek Wildstar and Nova Forrester in 2201. It also
looks as if, if we come through this war all right, by God’s grace, I will have
the honor of attending at the baptism of their children. Mister President, has
the Marriage License been issued?”
“Yes, under special emergency dispensation, the normal examination
procedures and blood tests have been waived, Father. I have also briefed all
parties to the true identity of Miss …Petrovsky. There will be two marriage
licenses…a public one for the normal records with the “Petrovsky” name on it
and a birthplace of “St. Petersburg, Soviet Federal Union,” and the true
license, with Princess Sasha’s true name, title, and birthplace, which will
remain a classified and sealed court document. Karl Forrester has notarized
both documents under Court Rule 825. The Commandant of the Space Fighters’
Training School also agreed to waive Cadet Conduct Regulation 625 and has
agreed to a PRP waiver for both Mister Wakefield and Miss Wildstar
countersigned by Commanding General Singleton. Miss Wildstar is also granted
twenty-four hours worth of compassionate leave for a “family emergency”, and
Mister Wakefield has been granted ten hours’ liberty.”
“Very well.
We apologize for the legalities and delay,” said Likanski. He cleared his
throat and said, “Dearly beloved, we stand here assembled in the sight of men
and God in order to consecrate the love of Senior Lieutenant Deke Wakefield and
Midshipman Second Class, Her Royal Highness, Sasha Wildstar into the bond of
holy matrimony. Marriage is an honorable and holy estate, not to be undertaken
or entered into lightly. Have you two agreed to consider the needs and wants of
the other in this marriage?”
“We have,” said Deke and Sasha together as they held hands.
“The traditional Church posting of the banns of marriage in public
for two weeks has been waived by me tonight. However, we need witnesses who
will testify to the good character of the marriage candidates. Captain Mark
Venture, do you swear and stand forth for the good character of Liuetenant
Wakefield?”
“I swear to his good character,” said Venture as he cleared his
throat.
“Commanding General Hiram Singleton, do you swear and stand forth
for the good character of Midshipman Wildstar?”
“I swear to her good character, Father,” said the Commander.
“Very well.
If there be any man or woman present who has just cause
why these two should not be married, let him or her speak now or forever hold
his peace.”
There was only silence. Thank
God, thought Deke, who was irrationally afraid of Dawn somehow bursting in
and putting a stop to the whole thing.
“We shall proceed. They look like they want to get out of here,
and this office is very stuffy,” said Likanski as the others chuckled.
“Lieutenant Deke Wakefield, do you swear to have and to hold, to love, honor,
cherish, and obey Sasha as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” gulped Deke as he wiped away his tears and Sasha’s and
looked into her beautiful eyes as she began to smile.
“Midshipman Sasha Wildstar, Your Royal Highness, do you swear to
have and to hold, to love, honor, cherish, and obey Deke as your lawfully
wedded husband, in sickness and in health for greater and for lesser and for
richer and for poorer, until Death do you part?”
“I do,” said Sasha as she wiped away Deke’s tears with a flower
she had plucked out of her hair.
“The rings,” said Likanski as IQ-9 raised his arms and presented
the rings.
Sasha took the first ring, a silver ring that fitted Deke
perfectly, (and which symbolized the diamonds of Iscandar) and she slid it onto
his finger, repeating after the priest as she said, “Deke, with this ring I
thee wed…in sickness and in health, for greater and for lesser and for richer
and for poorer, until Death do us part…and…well…you know…” She just gave up and
smiled at him.
Likanski nodded, and Deke took a smaller silver ring and slid it
onto a ring finger occupied only by an engagement ring that Sasha had worn for
maybe ninety minutes. With the priest’s help, he stammered, “Sasha, with this
ring I thee wed…in sickness and in health…for…for…greater and for lesser
and…and… for richer and for poorer, until Death do us part…and all that stuff…”
Then, Likanski smiled at them. “It is my happy and sacred duty to
pronounce you man and wife. Mr. Wakefield, you may now kiss Her Royal Highness
Mrs. Wakefield.”
Deke and Sasha stared at each other, embraced, and kissed as
everyone applauded. Then, a staffer of the President’s came in and said, “Sir,
Senator Garrison wants that meeting now, and demands to know what the damn
hold-up was.”
“Tell him it was personal business,” said Mendellsohn. “Oh. By the
way, what just happened here now is classified. You may now leave…”
“See you back on the ship…Dekesticks!” laughed Brew. “Man, you are
sure one lucky dog! Gonna do the deed tonight?”
“What do you think?”
said Sasha with a big wide grin through her tears. “We have a spare room
waiting at the Wildstars’ tonight.”
“Man, you’d better not screw this up!” laughed Brew.
“I do not plan to,” said a blushing
Then, the group began to clear out of the office of the President
as the business of State went on.
April
27, 2207 (at the same time)
1950
Hours
“Well, what do you think?” said Jefferson Hardy as he hugged Dawn
against him in bed. They had a suite in a casino in
The bedclothes were rumpled, their clothes were strewn about the
place, and Dawn lay totally naked (having even taken off her star pendant for
once) sweaty, achy, and yet very satisfied on Jeff’s naked stomach like a cat
as she lifted a bare leg slowly, wiggling her toes as she felt both a blessed
combination of a little pain and much pleasure in her body; the usual portion
of a newlywed wife…a young woman who had not been initmate with anyone for many
years.
“I think you gave us a great time tonight,” said Dawn.
“The feelin’s mutual, Missus Hardy,” said Jeff as Dawn traced a
little figure 8 around his navel. “Hey…that tickles!”
“I like making you smile,” said Dawn. “Aches a little…no one’s
been through that particular pair of gates for a few years…”
“And…?”
“I don’t want to talk about my prior lovers anymore, Jeff. They
don’t exist. Only you exist now.”
“That’s good,” he said as he kissed Dawn’s hair again.
“That’s…very good….”
And, at that, they kissed again. They would rest tonight, but not
sleep…
2346
Hours
Nova Wildstar was crying with utter happiness under the warm water
of the shower in the bathroom in their master bedroom.
She and Derek and the others had been home for maybe ten minutes.
In the privacy of their bedroom, the young lovers had shed their formal
clothes as quickly as they had been able to without tearing them off.
Then, they had ducked into the shower, where they had decided,
that with Doctor Sane’s permission, they would begin re-consumating their
marriage.
Their passion had been quick, insane, and breathtaking. Nova had
read about how pregnant women became more…responsive…because of the hormonal
changes, but she would have had her socks knocked off (if she had been wearing
any) by the sudden intesnity of her responses as Derek stroked and caressed her
under the warm water. She reciprocated with him, and there was barely enough
time for him to take her standing up in the shower before their dance ended
with an explosion of pleasure that almost knocked them over.
They were weeping with pleasure a minute later as they dried off.
In the meantime, unaware of the goings-on in the Wildstars’ master
bedroom, Deke Wakefield was taking a new look at the Wildstars’ living room as
Sasha walked him around. (Through her senses, Sasha had a better idea what was
going on; she was feeling enough of Uncle and Auntie’s passion to drive her out
of her mind, as if being with Deke and awaiting her wedding night was’t bad
enough…)
When they had gotten here, Nova had asked them to wait for a
moment. When they were allowed in to one of the spare bedrooms, they found a
sweatshirt and sweatpants of Derek’s laid on the bed for Deke, and Sasha found
a shorty white bathrobe trimmed in baby blue with a blue belt for her; it was
actually some of Nova’s wardrobe. Sasha had excused herself, going into the
small bathroom in the corner of the bedroom while Deke had taken the hint and
changed into the battered but comfortable white sweat outfit.
Deke and Sasha held hands as they looked at things, stopping every
now and then to kiss or hug. Deke was interested in the curios, but he found
Sasha’s long bare legs to be somewhat more interesting. She was showing a bit
of cleavage at the neckline of the robe, and while they had embraced at one
point, Deke had run his hands under the robe at the hem just far enough to find
out that beneath the robe, Sasha went naked in a fashion that seemed almost
startlingly innocent.
A vidscreen was on, and not far away, Alex Wildstar sat in a large
recliner in a t-shirt and jeans, holding a beer in his hand and watching some
late-night video talk show comedian or host give a dumb monologue he didn’t
seem very interested in.
“Where’s the man of the house?” said Deke as he and Sasha looked
at Alex.
“Derek’s getting Nova ready for bed. Little brother did say he’d
be out with Nova to give you a few good wishes as you launch the ship of your
marriage. Then they have business of their own to tend to…”
Then, a moment later, Derek Wildstar came into the room holding
hands with Nova. Derek had on sweatpants and a t-shirt, while Nova wore a robe
similar to Sasha’s, except that hers was trimmed in pink with a pink belt.
“Well,” said Nova as she ran a hand through slightly damp hair.
“It looks like we won’t be long…just wanted to say…good night…and good luck to
the newlyweds…”
“Thanks,” said Deke who noticed that Derek’s hair was also wet.
“Auntie, are you all right? You’d better sit down,” said Sasha.
“Sorry, just a bit..shaky…long, long day,” lied Nova as she swayed a
little on her bare feet, stretched, yawned…and then, her robe popped open for a
moment.
“Fudge,” said Nova as
she fumbled around for her belt. Derek ran up behind her and covered the worst
of the damage with his hands while Deke gallantly looked down at the floor for
a moment. Still, he had seen enough to recognize that even with a baby bump, Mrs. Wildstar still made a rather nice image of
femininity.
Alex looked at Nova’s stomach and said, “Hmmmm…you know, sis, you
remind me a bit of Starsha like that?”
“Oh? I’m flattered…I didn’t think I was as tall as she was,” said
Nova in a sleepy voice as she yawned again. “Got the other end of the belt,
Derek?”
“Uh-huh,” he said as he helped her. Sasha grinned when she saw her
Uncle looked more embarrassed than her Auntie did!
Alex looked on like the older brother he was and said, “It looks
like you’re carrying the babies high like Starsha always did. Sasha, your
mother looked a bit like that when she was carrying you. I wonder what you’ll
look like, when…”
“When what?” said Sasha while Derek gave Nova a quick kiss. He finished
helping her with her robe while she shook her wet hair.
“When your husband makes you pregnant, Princess? It is bound to
happen sooner or later…”
“Oh…,” said Sasha as fear ran through her like cold water while
Nova and Derek prepared to leave the room. Then, Nova stumbled and fell against
a chair, banging her hip against it and falling to the floor abruptly. Nova
looked shocked and angry…she had landed rather hard on her butt when she fell. She
punched the cushion with a sudden abrupt fist, and then, she just gave up and
put her face into the cushion and began to cry while Derek ran to her side.
“Is she all right, Derek?” said Alex.
“DAMNIT, DO I LOOK ALL RIGHT?” Nova screamed in a voice that made
Deke jump.
“You’ll be okay,” said Derek as he kissed her.
“Sorry, just landed hard,” said Nova
“Yeah…” said Derek. “Just
really tired. Nova, I’ll take you back to bed…c’mon…,” he
said as he helped her up.
Then, they kissed again, and then they vanished, not to be seen
again until after dawn.
Deke and Sasha then looked at each other and looked at Alex. “I’m all
right,” said the older Wildstar. “I’ll finish my beer and get to bed in about
half an hour. We have to be up early tomorrow morning. And this is where I butt
out. I’m sure you two know what to….do. Now, I strongly recommend, Sasha, you
get in there and do it.”
“Yessir,” she said, saluting her father.
As Deke left, holding Sasha’s hands, Alex winked at him and gave a
thumbs-up. Deke did the same, sending back the near-universal pilot’s signal
for “have a good mission.”
He was sure they would have one.
In their bedroom, Deke and Sasha faced each other with the door
closed and the curtains and shade at the window drawn. Deke had removed his
socks, and he dug his toes into the buff-colored carpet, surprised at its
thickness as Sasha gently kissed his cheek.
“What a quiet place,” he said.
“This is my room here when I stay over on liberty or leave and get
away from the Academy,” said Sasha. “It’s always been quiet. There have been
times I’ve had this whole house all to myself when Auntie and Uncle are away in
space. I sort of house-sit for them. Uncle Derek has a
beautiful house. I hope ours will be just as beautiful.”
“I’ll do my best…my salary…well…it’s not the greatest…”
“Don’t worry; I’ll buy it for us here on Earth after the war’s
over,” said Sasha as Deke’s eyebrows went up.
“I thought you said once you were barely getting by…”
“With what I have, it’s true,” said Sasha. “In theory, I have
several million credits in some kind of Trust Fund in some bank or something
set up by the Royal House. I really don’t know how it works, but I’m very rich
on paper. In actuality, it’s very hard for me to access it. I mostly get by on
my cadet stipend and a little allowance Nova gives me. Of course, I couldn’t
tell you that…but now you know…”
Deke smiled. He noticed one sound; the ticking of a small clock up
on the simulated-walnut wall of the bedroom near a built-in bookcase. The
nautical-looking clock chimed midnight with soft, sweet little bells.
“I think that’s our signal,” said Sasha. “Untie my robe,” she
whispered.
Deke, with shaking hands, undid the bow on Sasha’s robe and let
the velvet tie slip to the floor.
He finally looked at her naked body for the first time as the
clock stopped chiming and April 28th ended at last. A new day had
just begun, in more ways than one.
Sasha, naked as he had guessed she was, simply popped out of the
robe a moment later as she went up on her toes and stretched.
Deke looked at her with utter disbelief; he had seen her form many
times, swathed in her skin-tight Midshipman’s uniform, but he had never guessed
how elegant, long, and curvy she was. Her breasts were firm, round, and quite
pert; she had a flat, well-defined stomach, a navel like a doll, hips that
curved just right, and thighs and legs that seemed to go on forever.
“I’m hot in this,” she whispered as Deke noticed she was
trembling. “Please make me naked, Deke…”
Deke laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek, and
then her neck, going over to her mouth as he stripped the robe off her
shoulders and let it fall to the carpet.
Deke was feeling as if he was going to burst out of his sweat
pants when Sasha pulled them down with one hand like a drowning woman.
“Those must have been driving you mad,” she said in a soft voice
as she beheld him exposed for the first time. “You’re beautiful, Deke…”
“Uh…thanks…”
“Shirt off, too,” said Sasha as they both worked to strip Deke of
his shirt. “Good, good,” she whispered as she cuddled against his well-defined
chest and kissed it. “Now carry me to that bed…please…”
Deke did so, and as they fell into bed together, they noticed they
were shaking.
The way Sasha fell on the bed, her legs
were natually open for him without an ounce of shame. He lay beside her and
began to stroke and tickle her inner thigh as she
shifted her leg, shut her eyes, and wiggled her toes. Sasha kissed Deke, and
shocked him a little as she touched his most sensitive spot and let her hands
wander.
“I hope I’m not hurting you,” she said. “I’m really clumsy at
this. Kind of…out of…practice…”
“Am I hurting you?” said Deke as he finally caressed her most
tender parts and saw her gasp. “I’m not exactly in practice, either. Hell, I
haven’t been with a woman for five years ago as of today.”
“Exactly?”
Deke nodded. “My old girlfriend…right before we broke up that day,
let me sleep with her one last time in the afternoon. She took it like she was
getting a flu shot. I knew then something stank in
Sasha gasped, “Deke, what you’re doing to me, does not feel like a
flu shot!”
They laughed and fell against each other. “Ready?” whispered Deke.
Sasha nodded. “But I’m scared. We didn’t think
of contraception…not at all. I could end up pregnant tonight.”
“Whatever will be, will be,” said Deke. “I’m…scared…too…”
“Let’s be scared together,” said Sasha. She smiled and shut her
eyes as she opened her legs and awaited her husband as, a moment later, as they
trembled with fear and anticipation, he took her with all of the gentleness of
a man deflowering an utter virgin.
The rest…
…was pure bliss….
They barely slept at all that night.
They did not need to sleep.
Nor did they want to.
Deke
The alarm went off noisily at 0530. Deke sat up in bed, covered
with sweat, covered with all sorts of things, and he was shocked as hell to
find Sasha dozing innocently on his chest.
“Is it morning, yet, ddeeeekeee?” said Sasha in a tiny, slurred
voice.
“Then I wasn’t dreaming that part?” he said as he looked at his
new bride’s naked body.
“Oh, it was a dream, but it was very, very real,” said Sasha as she kissed him. She looked at the clock.
“Some honeymoon,” she said with a half-smile and a half-grimace. “0530. That
old clock said 5:30 in the morning. You’d better start getting ready. Nova’s up
already making breakfast.”
“How do you know that?”
“I can sense things…hear things…remember? You get the shower
first…I’ll follow. Your..uniform…is in the bag. Try
not to put your heavy boots on; Auntie doesn’t like us wearing shoes in the
house most of the time. The most she wears are slippers or flip-flops when the
floor is cold.”
“Okay,” said Deke as he kissed Sasha and they parted.
A few minutes later, after which Sasha followed him into the
shower, Deke came out in his EDF blues and socks and he went downstairs to the
kitchen.
He beheld a scene that made him smile a little.
Nova was up, clad in a white minidress and flat pink sandals, and
she was busily frying up bacon with one hand at the large stove built into the
modernistic countertop while she balanced an enormous bowl of cereal on the
counter and attacked it with a spoon as she cooked.
“Morning,” Nova muttered with food in her mouth. “Sorry for eatin’
like a pig. Kids are making me so hungry.”
Deke looked at the counter and saw a small jar of pickles sitting
there. It was empty.
“Sorry,” laughed Nova. “That was my appetizer. This Quisp is my
salad, what I’m making along with the eggs and sausage and pancakes is
breakfast. I made plenty of coffee. Attack the pot. There’s lots of cream and
sugar.”
While Deke was making coffee (and was grateful for how strong it
looked, knowing he had to fly a mission today on little sleep) Derek came in,
wearing jeans and an old striped rugby shirt. He
grinned wickedly and turned on a rock station at full volume.
Nova screamed, abandoned her food, and whipped the nozzle attached
to a hose meant for spraying down dishes out of the sink next to the
dishwasher. While Derek laughed, Nova squirted his shirt and face with the
hose.
“Good morning!” said Derek.
“Good morning, cowboy of outer space!” said Nova with a big smile
on her face. “Why’d you have to scare me like that?”
“How’d you know it was me?”
“Only you put on that
stupid station on the radio,” snapped Nova as she ran over and put on a station
playing sprightly chamber music on violins. After Nova changed the station, she
stuck out her tongue at her husband and Deke looked very amused as he stirred
up his coffee..and then felt very depressed. These two
were on leave and would go back to their simple married life together for a bit
after Deke went on that Godamned Carrier.
Sasha would be here on Earth, waiting for him…by herself.
Deke felt very morose as he sat down at the table and drank his
coffee.
A moment later, Alex Wildstar came into the room; all
approximately 6 feet 4 inches worth of him, dressed in a plain white
button-down shirt, grey pants, and bare feet. To Deke’s surprise, he looked at
Derek and said, “Morning, little brother. Knock knock.”
“who’s there?” responded Derek.
Nova rolled up her eyes, and as she sidled beside Deke, she
whispered. “Those two flag officers are idiots. Ignore them. They’re reverting
to their childhood together.”
“Lettuce,” said Alex in his deep voice.
“Lettuce who?” said Derek.
“Lettuce in, it’s cold out here. Your turn,
Derek!”
“Okay, knock knock!”
“Who’s there, Derek?”
“Isabel.”
“Isabel who?” said Alex.
“Isabel working, I had to knock!”
“BOOO!” yelled Nova. “That one stank!”
Then, Nova ran to her food and flipped it in the pan as she heard
the chamber orchestra on the radio beginning to play a strings’ version of
Bach’s “Passicaglia and Fugue in C Minor.”
“Yuk,” said Nova. “I don’t want to hear that this morning.”
“Why?” said Deke.
“That was Lord Ekogaru’s favorite, played on some mad church
organ-like instrument he built into that Fortress of his. He was very weird,”
said Derek.
Nova finally got a station where some contemporary blues band was
playing “The Night They Drove Old Dixie
Down.” Nova sang along in a cute, sort of sleepy and scratchy alto as Sasha
came into the room.
She was simply dressed in a blue top, white shorts, and white
sandals. She ran over, kissed Deke, and said, “Careful with the hair, it’s
still wet, deekee…”
“Deekee?” said Alex with his eyebrows going up. “That’s a new
one.”
“Should I tell them all what Starsha calls you, knucklehead?” said Derek with a grin.
“You’d never dare!” screamed Sasha.
“Misha,” said Derek with
an evil grin.
Alex glared at Derek while Deke said, “Guys, I’m missing
something. That sounds Russian or something.”
“It’s Iscandarian,” snapped Sasha. “Diminutive
form of rabbit. We have similar animals on Iscandar, called Mishink. They eat the grass on the
hills. I once had a white one as a pet. She also uses the English Terran
variant of it, best translated as…’honey bunny’…”
Deke looked at the tall, imposing form of Alex Wildstar glaring at
them, and was incredulous to learn that the Queen of Iscandar called him “honey
bunny”.
“If this ever gets out in the Fleet,” said Alex. “All of you are
dead. Dead, dead, dead!”
They laughed at that over breakfast.
Deke was very morose when they left the house with his bags and
DJ. His expensive dress uniform and some other things had been left at the
Wildstars’ in the closet in Sasha’s room.
Derek was driving, Nova was in the front seat with him, and Sasha
sat with Deke in the back of the aircar. For security reasons, Alex had
remained at home and said his goodbyes to Deke (his new son-in-law, a fighter pilot like himself..)
privately.
“This is supposed to be a six-month deployment; maybe longer,”
said Deke.
“I have that last year at the Academy to complete…maybe,” said
Sasha. “I’m going to miss you so much, darling…”
They embraced and cuddled. What
a damn short honeymoon, he thought. Before they had left, Nova had taken a
lot of pictures of he and Sasha together, and quite a
few pictures of Sasha alone.
Because things were classified, and because Sasha was still a
cadet, Deke was also not able (for now) to tell anyone except Brew (who already
knew) that Sasha was his wife now. Sasha thought the idea of a secret marriage
was rather cute and romantic, but Deke wasn’t sure he felt that way.
When they got to the dockyards, Deke shouldered his bags and DJ and
began to go up the gangplank. His plane was aboard the carrier already, but
after liftoff, after he checked in on the ship and verified his new Group’s
flight plans as commander, he would have to fly off the Wasp, land at the fighter base, pick up the rest of his squadron,
and then fly them to the ship, which was in orbit. And that would just be the
first of his flying chores this day.
For once, Deke was not looking forward to flying as they walked
down the quay to the Wasp where lots
of other loved ones were being seen off by their wives, girlfriends, parents,
and families.
Sasha held his hand as they walked along in silence. She was
smiling, but tears were running down her face.
“Why are you smiling, Sasha?”
“Trying to cheer you up.
But I don’t feel much like smiling…”
“Me, neither,” said Deke. Sasha saw that he was crying, too, even
though the breeze coming in from the sea was pleasantly cool and the sun was
pleasantly warm.
It’ll
be a beautiful day here on Earth; and the surfing would have been perfect with
Sasha at my side, thought Deke. Instead, I have to go on that damned ship…
When they got to the gangplank, Sasha was openly crying. Deke
looked at her, hugged her, kissed her, and held her.
“I wish I could take you with me,” he said.
“We know that can’t happen,” she said. But, then a vision came to
her mind. “But, I think we will meet again…”
“When?”
“In the next few months…it is not clear. This is goodbye, Deke, my
love, my husband,” she whispered. “It is not farewell…”
He kissed Sasha again and stepped away, as a crying Sasha went to
her aunt’s arms for comfort. Then, Nova, who was crying herself, hugged both of
them very hard, and he got to kiss Sasha on the mouth one more time, and
accepted a kiss from Nova (his Aunt Nova,
now..) on his cheek.
Then, Derek shook hands with him. “We’re going to miss you, Deke.
I hope we can beat them soon so we can all be together again…”
“Yeah, me, too….sir…”
“Oh, cripes,” said Wildstar as he grabbed Deke in a rough brotherly
embrace. “Be a great pilot,” he whispered. “Come back home safe to your wife,
got that…? don’t leave her a widow…”
“I got that, Wildstar,” Deke replied.
“Good flying,” said Wildstar.
Wildstar responded, with his face looking very grim under his Naval cap.
Deke nodded, and did an about-face and didn’t dare look back.
He didn’t know for sure, but he swore when he looked at Wildstar
for the last time that tears were going down his cheeks, too.
The
great hero, the cowboy of outer space, crying for me and Sasha?
Deke thought. Must be his way of saying
he knows this sucks for all of us.
And
it does…
…it
just sucks…
To Return to the Introduction to The New Comet, click here