* * * *
The Captain was happy now that this distasteful episode was over but he could not stop thinking about what Beani-Poohs had said to his future self. He tossed and turned that night and could not sleep. Finally he walked to Lieutenant Beani-Poohs quarters and activated the buzzer.
“ Gus are you alright?” She asked as she opened the door. She was dressed in a flowing oyster pink garment and her hair was attractively mussed and hung down to her waist.
“ Beani, let’s not wait to get married. We can get Mr. Sook to perform the wedding for us.”
Beani was a little blurry eyed. “ What? What are you talking about?”
“ I don’t want to wait to get married. Let’s just do it. I am ready to commit to you wholeheartedly and I want no further delay.”
I thought you wanted to wait till we were back in the Alpha Quadrant?”
“ I did, but then I thought, why are we waiting? I love you and want to be with you. We will most likely be travelling for a numbers of years before we make it home. Let’s be happy now and make this journey as husband and wife. What do you think?”
She stared at him and he was charmed to see her blush. She pulled him into her quarters and into her arms and looked steadily up at him.
“ I’m not dreaming am I?”
“ No my love, you are not. I am serious. I wish for us to be married.”
“ Okay, I would like to marry you now, but when exactly?”
“ As soon as you can get your dress made and I can arrange a nice reception for us. How does that sound? It should take about two to three days.”
She smiled up into his eyes as his arms tightened around her.
“ Whatever you say is fine with me. I’m not the one who wanted to wait.”
“ I know. But you have always had the right of it. You probably know more about these things than I do. I just know I want to be your husband and I want you as my wife.”
“ That’s all I have ever wanted Gus. Now are you going to kiss me or not?”
Smiling he did just that. A few very satisfying moments later she said musingly, “ Hmmm. There is just one thing. As your wife I’m going to be Mrs. Hemorrhoid.” She paused. “ Sorry but will keep my maiden name I think. I just can’t live with a handle like Beani-Poohs Hemorrhoid.”
They both laughed their arms still wrapped around one another.
Later after the Captain exited her room he noticed the three cadets walking toward him.
“ How are you three settling in?”
“ We are fine thank you Sir” replied Scout.
“ No problems at all Sir,” Flip said.
“ I realise you three were supposed to go back to Star Fleet to continue the next level of your training but events have meant we are all on this ship for the next foreseeable years. If you have any difficulties with adjusting to life on board, my door is always open to you. Do not hesitate to contact either myself or another office with any problems which may arise.”
“ Thank you Sir. We shall remember.”
“ Good, I hope you do.” Satisfied that all was well, he returned to his quarters.
As he lay back on his bed he allowed himself a smile. There was something to be said for being forewarned about the future. He was going to commit wholeheartedly to Beani-Poohs. He never again wanted to feel what he felt when he watched her leave him in the hologram projections in the courtroom.
He also looked forward to the adventures he and his crew would face in the coming years. There were bound to be plenty more.
But his goal and his mission was to get everyone home.
There was no other choice.
The End.
Star Yawns Episode 7. A Few Good Cadets by David & Sabine Williams Smashwords Edition Copyright 2014 Page 17