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Love
Central Hospital; Great Island, Japan
October 1, 2199; 23:24 JST
"Jito!" Miki shoved the summons into her pocket and dashed over to her husband as he struggled out of bed and collapsed. She leaned over him; her dark bangs swept into her eyes.
"I'm going," Seiji insisted. He tried to stand but wobbled and fell again. "I have to." He hauled his feeble body up using the metal hospital bed frame as leverage. He grabbed his jacket from the back of a nearby chair and started for the door. Two steps later, he staggered and tumbled again.
"No." Miki knelt and looked into his pleading brown eyes, the same color as hers. "Think of Hiroshi." She nodded toward their four-year-old son.
Seiji shook his head. "What kind of life does he have now? Earth… is dying. If I don't go–"
"Shh." Miki laid a finger over his lips. "Here." She slipped under his arm and helped him up. Her slight frame bent but held.
"Okasan*…?" Hiroshi set aside his video game and slid out of the plush chair, worry in his wide, dark eyes.
"It's okay, Hiro-kun." Miki smiled at her son. "Otosan* just needs more rest."
"Okay." Hiroshi turned his chair toward the window and sat on his knees. He propped his elbows up on the sill and stared out at the underground cityscape.
Miki helped her husband ease back into bed and took his jacket, which she draped over the end of the bed. She pulled the covers up over his cold, sweaty arms and whispered, "You're not going… because I am."
"What?" Seiji sputtered. "No. It's a volunteer mission; you don't have to go."
"Yes, I do." Miki took his hand. "You and I trained together for four years. If there's a way I can help save our home… then I must." She looked over at her son. He still stared out the window. "I have to make sure he never worries about whether he'll live long enough to learn how to drive or tie his shoes. He wants a puppy, Jito. Did you know that? We can't keep a dog—not during this." Tears blurred Miki's vision.
"I just want you to be safe." Seiji patted the bed.
Miki sat. She pulled out the crumpled summons and held it up. "I have to be there in four days. In five, the ship launches."
Seiji took her hand and squeezed. "Okay…" He drew in a sharp breath. "Promise me you'll come home, Mi-chan."
Miki stared at the wrinkled paper and re-read the last sentence of the fifth paragraph. Should any member of the crew fall in the line of duty, their surviving family will be reimbursed for all funeral or memorial expenses incurred in the internment process.
"Take care of Hiroshi," Miki said. "And… if I don't come back… make sure he knows I did it for him."
Argo 's dry-dock; Great Island, Japan
October 6, 2199; 11:21 JST
Miki kept to her line as she paraded through the streets of the underground city, bags in hand. She craned her neck every block. The men and women around her blocked Miki's view of the crowd.
She sighed and followed the man in front of her. He wore an air corps uniform. A Staff Sergeant's patch decorated his arm. Miki saw uniforms from at least twenty countries represented, as well as several private institutions, but most of the people going on this mission wore clothes just like hers, plain.
The woman next to her slipped out of line and rolled a red suitcase up to an older man and woman. She hugged them and gave a tearful goodbye before she ducked back into the procession.
Miki walked on tiptoe as she peered into the crowd. Her eyes darted from face to face, but she didn't see Seiji's warm smile or Hiroshi's tousled black hair.
The lump in her throat grew as she ascended a short ramp into the massive ship. Her briefing material called this section the "Third Bridge." The extension jutted out from the bottom of the ship's hull and hovered two feet off the dry-dock floor.
As Miki waited in line to check-in, she stared at the pristine paneling that lined the room. A line of machines stood ten feet behind the tables. The ques wandered in a short maze from the top of the boarding ramp to a row of tables two-thirds of the way to the wide door at the other end of the room.
"Name, please?" The man at the check-in table tapped an icon on his tablet computer.
"Saijo, Miki," she replied.
"Please, place your hands on the screen one at a time." He scooted the tablet a little closer to her. "Then hold up the tablet and look at the blue square for three seconds."
Miki logged her prints and retinal pattern.
"Hold out one index finger, please," the clerk instructed.
Miki extended her left hand and caught the sharp smell of rubbing alcohol.
"You will feel a small sting."
She closed her eyes and looked away as the man pulled on a fresh glove and tapped her finger to draw a blood sample. He ripped open a band-aid and stuck it over the prick mark.
"Please, proceed to a kiosk to complete your check-in process."
Miki nodded and followed the roped line to the first open machine. She placed her right hand on the screen. A flash startled her. The machine whirred and spit out a hard-plastic ID card.
Select a uniform style (s). The screen instructed.
Miki tapped a fitted top and loose pant ensemble, much like she'd seen the man at the check-in desk wearing, but her uniform was black and gold instead of green and white.
A waist-level panel opened.
Take your weapon and communication device. Your room assignment, duty schedule and other pertinent information has been loaded onto your device. Your uniforms will be delivered to your room within thirty minutes.
Miki took the comm and checked her room number before pocketing it. She eyed the sleeved astro-automatic. Its silver glint sent a shock of unease up her back. She took the holster and carried it out in front of her as she left check-in.
Miki found the third crew quarters block near the common area. She stepped into the small room. On one wall, two bunks hung, one four feet above the other. Miki headed for the three-step ladder up to the top bed, but the instant her nose crested the mattress she saw someone else's bag already there, its contents spilled over the plain white sheet and small pillow.
She backed down the rungs and set her bag on the lower bunk before turning around. A small desk occupied a third of the opposite wall. On it sat a red coffee mug with the words "Manchester United" ringing the middle. Near it sat a small coffee-maker. Three stainless steel thermoses huddled in the back corner of the desk, and a long, tri-colored scarf draped over the desk chair. Miki raised an eyebrow at the assortment and then shook her head and unzipped her bag.
Seiji's and Hiroshi's faces peeked out of a holo frame. Miki anchored it to a foot-long shelf set into the wall beside her bunk. Beside it she laid a set of colorful headbands, her journal and pen, and Hiroshi's favorite stuffed bear from his toddler days.
Tears blurred her vision as she stared at the toy. Her lips trembled as she petted its brown fur and adjusted its little blue bowtie. As she sank onto the thin mattress, she heard a knock at the door.
When she answered it, a woman with a friendly smile held out a vacuum-sealed bag. "Uniforms are ready."
"Thank you." Miki took the clothes. She fished out one garment and tossed the rest onto the bed. The yellow and black reminded her a little of the old school bus parked in the lot near their old house—before they moved to the underground city.
Water resistant, fire retardant, insulated, breathable. The tag made a lot of promises. She tossed the uniform onto the bed and started to change. The instant she zipped up her new shirt, she heard a faint buzz.
Her comm screen lit up, and she tapped it. Captain Avatar's name topped the message. "Come to the captain's cabin."
Uncertainty ate at her stomach, but she swallowed her nerves and made the jaunt up to the small room atop the bridge tower.
Outside the door, she hesitated, fist poised to knock. As her heart raced, she rapped twice.
"Come in."
Miki turned the wheel that served as a door handle and stepped inside, eyes down. Her heart thudded in her ears as she waited for the captain to scold her for coming in her husband's place.
"Now that everyone's here," the old captain began.
Miki's eyes shot up. Ten others stood shoulder to shoulder in the cramped cabin.
"All of you came in place of someone else." Captain Avatar stood with his white-gloved hands folded behind his back. His kind eyes roamed the group. "I admire your courage, but you aren't obligated to go on this journey. While all of you are highly qualified to be here, I won't ask any of you to stay. This could be a one-way trip for all of us. If you choose to leave now, no one will think any less of you."
A young woman, tall and thin, stepped out from the middle of the group, a silver thermos in hand. The aroma of fresh espresso wafted from the popped lid. "Captain, respectfully, Sir, that's stuff and nonsense. None of us are going anywhere." Her British accent filled the tiny room, and Miki noted the girl's uniform colors matched hers. "Erin Watts." The young woman offered the captain a fist-to-heart salute. "We're here to make sure no one has to live in this beastly nightmare anymore. If we've got to make a sacrifice to do that…" She looked at every face. "We're ready."
Captain Avatar nodded to Erin and then asked the group, "Is that a fair summary?"
Everyone nodded and murmured agreement.
"All right. Get settled in. We launch at twenty-one fifteen. You're dismissed."
As everyone filed out, Miki waited. When Erin headed for the door, she followed.
"Erin Watts?" Miki called after her.
"Yes?" The girl took a sip of her coffee and turned around.
"I'm… Miki Saijo." She held out her hand. "Radar, second shift."
Erin shook it. "Radar too—on graveyard duty; and auxiliary nursing staff, and occasional KP."
"Oh my," Miki said. "When will you sleep?"
Erin laughed and held up her thermos. "Caffeine, aye. Makes the world go round. I'd be absolutely knackered without it. So, who're you here for?"
"My husband…" Miki slipped her hands into her pockets.
"Sister," Erin said, taking another drink of her coffee. "Mum and Dad always told me to look out for Emmaline. She wanted so badly to come, but the poor girl could barely stand, much less come along on a walkabout like this."
"I'm… sorry," Miki said.
"She'll be all right. Too stubborn to give up that one. You headed for the room then?"
Miki nodded.
Erin held out her thermos. "Fancy some coffee when we get back?"
On board the Argo ; The edge of the solar system
November 23, 2199; 10:19 GST
Miki fidgeted in the crowded hall. The last of the W's lined up in front of her.
"Hey, Miki," Erin said as she exited the call room, coffee raised high in greeting. "What're you doing down here? S's went ages ago."
"No one picked up the first time I called," Miki replied.
"Ah, tough luck that," Erin said. "You'll get them this time though. Nobody's called twice and come up empty."
"How's your sister?" Miki asked.
"Em's… hangin' on." Erin sipped her drink. "That girl's never been one to stop fightin'."
"I'm sure she'll be all right," Miki offered.
"Yeah," Erin nodded and bit her lip. "Well, off to bed I go. Got to pack in a bit of sleep."
Miki nodded. "Bye."
It was another thirty minutes before the crewman in front of her took his turn. When Lieutenant Forrester, the one supervising the line, called her name, Miki stepped into the comm room.
The door hissed shut, and silence blanketed the dim nook. Miki sat in front of the blank screen and took a deep breath as she laid her hand on the reader. Her name and residential information blinked on the screen. The comm rang four times, then five.
This was her last chance to see them. After today, they would be too far away from Earth for direct communication. Her throat tightened as the comm rang one more time.
"Hiro-kun!" she cried as her son's face filled the screen. He sat on their old couch.
"Okasan!" He hugged the camera. "We just got home."
"Where is Otosan?" Miki asked.
"In bed." Hiroshi leaned away from the camera. "When are you coming home?"
"It's going to be awhile, Hiro-kun. This is the last time Okasan can call you until we get back. Are you doing okay?"
"Yes," Hiroshi replied. "Otosan's still sick…"
"Mi-chan!" Seiji rasped as he settled down next to Hiroshi. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Jito. Don't worry about me. Are you all right?"
Seiji ruffed his son's hair. "The others in my group are doing pretty well. Doc says they'll be up and around in no time."
"Seiji…" Miki stared at her husband, who avoided her eyes.
The timer ticked down to two seconds.
"Go save the world, Mi-chan."
"Jito?" Miki pleaded as the picture winked out.
Iscandar, The Sanzar System; Large Magellanic Cloud
February 22, 2200; 10:16 GST
Miki sat in the lush grass and ran her hands through the wet strands. She missed the rain. It always lulled her to sleep with its gentle patter. Even thunderstorm's harsh gales soothed her nerves.
She looked out over the vast landscape below. A winding river stretched toward the horizon, and a thick forest spread out to the East.
Her shore leave was almost half over, but she already felt much better.
The XO and his team were loading the Cosmo DNA—the machine that would repair the damage done to Earth. Once it was set up, they would head home.
"Got room for one more?" Erin plopped down beside her.
"Sure." Miki smiled. "This place…"
"Cat's pajamas isn't it?" Erin popped the lid on her thermos and took a deep whiff.
"What?" Miki raise an eyebrow at her.
"It's lovely," Erin said.
"Yes…" Miki sighed. "I just wish…"
"We'll be back on Earth before you can say 'bangers an' mash'," Erin encouraged. "Got all the way out here, didn't we?"
Miki nodded.
"Wish Em was here, ya know?" Erin set her thermos down. "She'd have loved this." Erin pointed toward a huge tree looming several hundred miles away. "Especially that."
"My son would be begging to climb it." Miki wiped her wet eyes on her sleeve.
"Are you joking? I'd like to climb it—don't tell me you wouldn't." Erin scooped up her thermos and took a long sip. "One more day, then we're off home."
"One more day…" Miki echoed in a whisper. "Just one more day…"
On board the Argo , inside the jump-gate "Gehenna's Bridge"
July 14, 2200; 21:40 GST
Miki started awake as the ship shook hard. Still five hours until her shift.
"What is going on out there?" she groaned. "I knew the turbulence was supposed to be bad, but this is crazy." The floor pitched again. "You awake up there?" she called to Erin.
Miki's comm buzzed, but before she could check it, Erin clambered down the ladder, comm in hand.
"They're–" Erin choked. "They're here."
"Who's here?" Miki rubbed her eyes and tapped her comm screen. "Gamilons…" she whispered. "They're onboard."
Erin grabbed her uniform and threw it on. She crammed sockless feet into her boots and snatched her holstered weapon from the back of the desk chair. "Get up, Saijo," Erin instructed. "We've got one more fight to pick before we get home."
Miki stared at her.
"Come on!" Erin shook Miki by the shoulders. "Snap to, mate." She pointed to the picture beside Miki's bed. "Get a move on. We let these Gamilons take the ship, and it's our families' lives. We're too close to success to let this be the end."
Miki's paralysis eased, and she vaulted out of bed. As she clicked her astro-automatic's holster in place, she drew a shaky breath.
"Keep a watch out," Erin said as they slipped out of their room, guns at the ready.
Miki stuck to Erin and kept an eye on the hall behind them as they approached the common area. Just before they reached their goal, an enemy soldier burst through the door, weapon poised to shoot.
Miki tried to aim, to shoot down the intruder, but her hand refused to move. She willed her finger to pull the trigger, but no matter how hard she concentrated, nothing happened.
The sharp sizzle of crisp flesh burned Miki's nostrils as the soldier crashed to the deck, felled by Erin's steady hand. Another charged through the open door and fired a round of laser bolts at them.
Erin took aim and brought the second man down atop the first. "Come on," she motioned for Miki to follow as she sneaked into the common area on hands and knees. "Stay quiet," she whispered as she crawled behind a booth.
Miki's breath came in tense, shallow spurts.
Angry wails and the sing of weapons' fire reached out from the kitchen. Erin shot toward the door and Miki scraped together enough courage to follow.
When they ducked in, Miki gasped. Blood spotted the floor and walls. Two ovens were on and enemy soldiers pressed one crewman's back against a lit burner. He screamed and fought hard to escape the scalding heat. One of the cooks brandished two butcher knives and rushed into the fray, and another KP worker swung a skillet at his attacker. The thick gong rang in Miki's ears as he cracked the intruder on the skull.
Erin rushed in and shot down two enemies before they saw her coming. Her bold charge earned four more soldiers' attention, and they converged on her.
Miki raised her weapon to take down one of Erin's attackers.
A hand grabbed her from behind and slammed her into the floor. Her weapon flew under a nearby refrigeration unit, and her blood froze as she felt the full weight of an enemy soldier. He let her go just long enough to wrap his hands around her neck.
Miki struggled, her air growing thin. His steel grip squelched her weak cry for help, and the edges of her vision blackened. She pulled at his hands with blunted fingernails and kicked at his legs.
A silver glint to her right. There! She stretched out a desperate hand and grabbed the broken knife; its partial blade stuck out from a chipped handle. Miki whipped the blade along her attacker's clenched fingers. "For Hiro-kun," she hissed through gritted teeth.
Her attacker yelped and jumped back as blood dripped from his hand.
The instant his grip loosened, she sprang to her feet and plunged the knife into the man's chest. "And for Jito."
The man didn't scream, didn't groan, just fell over in a lifeless heap.
"Miki!" Erin fought off the last of her four assailants. "Are you all right?"
"I'm… okay," Miki managed. She bent over, hands braced on her knees as nausea hit.
The commotion stilled as the last enemy went down.
"Hey—it's okay." Erin patted Miki's shoulder.
Everyone's comms buzzed in unison.
"We won!" Erin held her comm up to Miki. "We're going home now, mate! We're going to make it back!"
Spaceport 2176; Great Island, Japan
August 29, 2200; 9:12 JST
Miki waded through the crowd on the platform. At the edge of the stairs, she peered over the sea of people.
Where were they?
Families thronged crewmen and women. Some wept with joy at the sight of new children or parents now well after a long bout with radiation sickness. Many hugged spouses they hadn't seen in almost a year.
"Mi-chan!"
Miki dashed to the other side of the platform and ran down the stairs. "Jito!" She pushed through the crowd and rushed into her husband's waiting arms. "You're all right!"
"Of course, I am." He hugged her close.
Hiroshi wrapped his little arms around her legs and held on tight. "Don't ever go away again," he instructed. "I missed you a lot."
Miki ruffled her son's hair. "I can't say I'll never have to leave, Hiro-kun, but until then, I'm going to spend as much time with you as I can."
"You did it. You saved the world," Seiji whispered into her ear.
"No, Jito," Miki pulled back and looked out at the crowd. She caught a glimpse of Erin hugging her sister. "We all did it."
* Okasan - mother
* Otosan – father