by Chris Mills
“You couldn’t have known.”
“I cried more because I was right.”
“Kim, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to be here anymore than you should.”
“We made a choice,” Kim said, slightly shaking her head. She sniffled. “I stood in that shuttle knowing that it would leave. I wanted you off, and I did nothing. I could have pulled. This isn’t where I should be, but I am.”
“I’m sorry.”
“This is not your fault, Stephen. I admit, I thought some horrible things when we got back about you. I wanted to shout at you and Herald. I wanted to scream. I only cried, and I hate it.”
“I wish you didn’t have to cry,” Stephen said. Kim pulled a chair from a table. She finally rested her back. She had been here a while without rest. “If I could get you back, I would.”
“Let me ask you this. Would you change your mind, knowing what you do now?”
“Would I change my mind?”
“Yes,” Kim said with a nod. This very question she had asked herself in different ways. “Be honest.”
“When haven’t I been with you?”
“I saw you drift from yourself, Stephen. I didn’t want to see you after the first couple visits to your home. You seem better, but -”
“But what?”
“Answer the question.”
“No,” Stephen said. His voice dropped. “I hated what happened, and I’m glad I can be me again. All this happened, and I feel like I have to be here still. My dad - well, he’d want me to fight. There’s a lot I need to learn and more than I could ever do. This really was my birthright, and I think my dad would have quit his job to come with me if he was alive.”
“I miss your dad.”
“Me too.”
“Then the right choice was made,” Kim said. She took a breath. “I don’t think you’d ever had been yourself again or at least to where you need to be. I was afraid Gabe would eventually push you away with the way you treated us.”
“I, I wasn’t myself.”
“I know, Stephen.”
“This still shouldn’t happen in order for -”
“You speak as if it is you who this is about,” Kim said. “You got better, and you found answers. We came because we chose to, and we have to deal with it. I don’t like, nor would I ever in my dreams find myself saying that I must come to terms with it, but I do.”
“You’re very strong, Kim.”
“I can be when I need to be,” Kim said. She wiped something from her eyes. “I miss my mom. She’s searching for me. I want to tell her I’m okay.”
“You’ll see her again. I’m sure of it.”
“Are you?”
“There is still hope.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t help now, Stephen,” Kim said. She could see her mother posting flyers and on the phone. She wouldn’t stop until she exhausted herself. Kim was her baby girl, and no one messed with her cub. “I’m supposed to get married in two weeks. I still have cake to try because Gabe got mad with the last baker, my dress needs a final fitting, and I still have to figure out how to deal with all of Gabe’s sisters.” She sighed easily.
“For someone who should be upset, you seem relieved there.”
Kim smiled. “I do want to get married,” she said. “I love Gabe. The wedding planning is tough. It was easier when we had months. This has been a break, and now, it seems that has to be postponed. I remember talking to Gabe the night before we left about how nice it would be to skip the wedding. All I want is his last name, a ring to show our connection, and to live with him as his wife.”
“Gabe wanted to go all out for your wedding,” Stephen said.
Gabe’s parents never had much of a wedding. The next day after Kim accepted his proposal, he talked venues. There had to be one to accommodate everyone. She had thought it would be nice for the ceremony to be small and the reception to have more. She was used to simple things, and Gabe didn’t need to go all out for her. He always did, and a lot of times it really made her feel warm.
“Are you going to be okay?” Stephen asked.
“I think so,” Kim said. “For now. I don’t want any more tears. They will come. I don’t know what’s next. I haven’t even thought to ask about you, and how does that make me sound?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“See?”
“See what?”
“This is the Stephen I remember,” Kim said. She managed to smile. “I hope you don’t fall back.” Stephen stared for a bit and finally nodded. “You’re it then? What he was after this whole time?”
“Yeah,” Stephen said.
“Darn,” Kim said. “I don’t get it.”
“Me too,” Stephen said. “Now’s not the time. We should try to enjoy this sunrise.”
“One of my professors used to tell me that when he went through a difficult time with his wife, he’d use to come out before the sunrise to remind himself the day really was new. He’d try to forget the previous and work hard.”
“What happened?”
“They divorced. I’d have too.”
“Huh?”
“She was having an affair,” Kim said. “I don’t care the reason. If Gabe were to ever have one, I don’t care where we were in life, kids or home, it would be over. My professor tried, and while he tried to look forward, she didn’t.”
“So, he says to start a day anew?” Stephen said.
“I guess that sums it up. He needed the sun.”
“Do you think we can do that now?”
“I want to try,” Kim said. “I really do. It’s different when you don’t have a clue what will be new. I don’t have a home to go to or a job. All I have are you three and Herald. For the first time, I really feel lost.”
“Me too,” Stephen admitted.
“Tell me one more thing and we can watch it,” Kim said.
“We can talk as long as you want.”
Kim smiled. “Stephen,” she began, “do you miss anything about home?”
“To be honest, Kim. I haven’t had a lot of time to think on home. Sure, my dad comes to mind and my mom, but there’s too much to think about ahead.”
“Maybe you should take some time before too long and remember.”
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” Stephen said.
“You should try, Stephen. Your therapist orders it.”
**
Herald rubbed his neck. He needed a good massage or a relaxer. He had done too much with the pool volleyball game that Kim showed him. There were a few pools here. Some other guests took interest and joined. All that, and he remembered his age. Keeping fit at his age should be essential. There had been no holo-chamber on the Explorer C or gym to use.
The selection in the store inside the main lobby had a lot to get if you were hungry or forgot something while traveling. A dome shaped droid floated behind the counter. It had two hands. Herald tapped a small screen, triggering the droid to take a small packet of painkillers. The robot said nothing as the payment processed. Herald stepped out, looking back once. In some places, simple was needed. He didn’t agree here.
“Mr. Zumerkrin,” the pretty girl at the desk called. She wore a sleek black coat with a nice red ascot. “I received a package for you.” Herald neared, popping two pills under his tongue. “Would you prefer it taken to your room?”
Herald pulled out his handheld. “Who sent it?” he asked.
“Councilman Wallace. Would you like it here?”
“Sure.”
The seal of the empire adorned the long white envelope. Herald thanked her and took his time to the lift. He pressed his finger to the seal. The little reader came to life. The seal’s grip fell. He reached in and found a letter and five blue, transparent tickets with each of their names. An eyebrow rose. Herald read over the letter. His eyes grew large.
Chapter Twenty-One
“The Celestial?” Kim questioned. She thought Herald would invite them out again when he visited. Herald nodded. Stephen k
ept to the door of Kim and Gabe’s hotel room. “And?” Her eyes met Gabe who wouldn’t move from the bed. A shield could easily be around him with those arms crossed. “He wants us to join?”
“That’s what he said,” Herald said. The package had come this afternoon. Time wasn’t on their side. They’ve been here two days since the council ruled, and three of them weren’t going to be on Galat II much longer. “It’s up to you. Jim is willing to try and work something out for you.”
“So, he wants us to do this,” Gabe said.
“I said -”
“Cut the crap,” Gabe said. “The letter urges us to. What else are we to do? Will he offer us to be stuck on some station? Of course, we have to do it.”
“That’s not true,” Kim said.
“Yes, it is.”
“Gabriel.”
“Kimberly.”
Kim groaned. “Here,” Herald said. “I made a copy for you. I have these if you want them.” The neat, transparent tickets had her and Gabe’s names on it. She had liked how they made things pop like that. Kim reached for them. Gabe cleared his throat. She took them and quickly eyed them over. “I’ll let you discuss it. Send off party is tomorrow at eighteen hundred.”
“Six?” Kim questioned. “Do they use time like that here?”
“When it comes to duty, yes.”
“Oh,” Kim said. “Thanks.”
“I’ll talk to you two later.”
Kim closed the door taking a breath. Gabe was up and already pacing. “Gabe, please,” she said.
“How are you okay with all this?” Gabe questioned.
“I’m not.”
“You seemed cheery this morning. Oh, it’s not like our wedding is put on hold or anything.”
“Stop.”
“Don’t you want to see your mom again? We have jobs. What are we supposed to explain if we get back now? The more time, the worse. Like hell anyone would hire me. We’ve made plans, Kim. Hell, we talked about trying for a kid after we get married. We can’t raise one here.”
Kim took a deep breath. “I never said I was okay with this,” she said. “I’m not. I’m facing reality, Gabriel.”
“Stop calling me that.”
Kim sat down on the bed. She placed their tickets for the party on the bed and tried to read over the letter. Someone kept hovering over her. “He says he’ll work with us,” she said. “He didn’t expect this to happen to us.”
“And you want to journey into space?”
“We have a choice.”
“We should be home. Don’t you care?”
“Stop acting like I don’t give a damn!”
Gabe backed with that. He paced once more. “How can you be okay with this?” he asked. “You were in tears the other day.”
“If I were to stay that mess, I’d hate myself. My mom raised me better. I have to try and put a foot forward. This ruling was not fair, but you have to see we did have a choice.”
“We weren’t going to leave.”
“That made it a choice,” Kim said. “I know we made the right one. I’d hate to think what we’d have done if we left. Could you have slept at night?”
Gabe flopped down on the bed. “He’s my best friend,” he said. His tone came to what he had most times. “I didn’t want him to leave like that. He wasn’t in his right mind. Everything happened way too fast.”
“I know. We made the choice, Gabe. As unfair as this is, don’t you want to try and move forward?”
“I don’t want this.”
“I know,” Kim said. “I don’t like the idea of going to space, but if the council sees us attempting to make progress in our situation and not, um,” She sighed. “Mope.” It felt like the right word. “Then maybe when they reconvene, we’ll get another vote or more.”
“What gives them the right to control us?”
“It’s an empire,” Kim said. “They have to make tough choices. How would you feel about someone tampering with the past?” Gabe sighed, rubbing his face a little hard.
“It’s still not fair. We’ve done everything right. All that shi -, crap that happened should be plenty.”
“They do not know us, only what has been told,” Kim said. “What do you want to do, Gabe? Do you really want to stay in this room and be like this? You’ve had streaks since we got here where -”
“Where what?” Gabe questioned. His eyes kept to her with a hint of fury.
“You’ve snapped at me.”
“You know it’s been hard.”
“It doesn’t mean you have to treat me this way or the others. What do you want to do?”
“I want to go home.”
“Stop it,” Kim said. She rose and took the tickets. “We can do this or figure out something else. We can’t stand still. We must do something.”
“I guess there isn’t a choice in the matter. We didn’t have one before.”
Gabriel! Kim took a breath. A single tear fell. Gabe rose fast. His arms kept around her. “Please,” she said. “I can’t stand you upset. We have to do something. We did right with our actions.”
Gabe’s hold tightened. “I guess we keep moving and see where it takes us,” he said. He pecked her lips and gripped his ticket for tomorrow night. “I hate this, but you have a point. This means we are going to miss our wedding and everything.”
Kim’s heart felt pain when she thought on it. She had a beautiful dress she hoped would wow Gabe and make him lost in her. It may be wrong, but she wanted to see him cry like some men did at the altar. Putting Stephen in the picture before had made her worry. There would be someone in a wheelchair lost in darkness while a pure ceremony took place.
All these thoughts had come and too many tears. Kim wanted to move on with hopes that things will be alright. Gabe and she would marry, and she knew their lives would be good. The thought of not having her loved ones darkened things.
“Kim, I promise, we’ll get home,” Gabe said.
“You can’t make that promise,” Kim said. “It is not in our control. We can only -”
“Kim, I will,” Gabe said. “You will be happy. I will see to it.”
“I’m happy with you,” Kim said. “It’s made things easier to have you here by me.” For a journey, she had been fortunate to be alive and with those who cared for her. She couldn’t have asked more to have Gabe hold her and comfort her.
“One way or another this will work,” Gabe assured.
“I know.”
**
The taxi moved quickly with traffic. Stephen messed once more with his collar. He did like this blue top Kim picked out for him. It had some white spots on it in a nice pattern. What did they expect people to wear at a send-off party? Herald stuck to a sleek blue vest, worn over a black, long sleeve shirt, and some dark brown slacks. Gabe and Andy both chose a similar look to him, while Kim had picked out a gorgeous green dress that had been altered to fit her by a kind woman.
Stephen kept hold of his ticket. It had been in his sharp dress pants, but he feared bending it stupidly. The make of it allowed for good flexibility and didn’t allow creases. His name rested on it in glowing white letters. Some numbers, weird symbols, and the logo indicated something. He only got the empire’s seal.
Jim would meet them at the party and explain things. The letter informed them that the Celestial, a starship, had been chosen for this mission, yet nothing more other than the option that Andy, Gabe, and Kim could join, which came to be in the morning.
Stephen grinned. Andy leaned over the door once more with a smile. “Wow,” he said, “This area is neat.”
They hadn’t left the Galatian Empire Sector. The buildings were newer and had weird shapes and accents to them. He did like the pointed building they neared. The bottom grew round and had many lights making it pop. Of course, the moment they got close to the drop off, the reminder of the area came into focus. Two armed officers kept to the door. Their weapons were small though, and they were dressed down from their normal black armor with the empir
e’s logo on their chest.
“Enjoy your night,” the driver called back. “Miss, may I say once more, you look ravishing tonight.”
“Thank you,” Kim said with a warming smile. Her cheeks had a hint of red. “Thank you for the trip.”
Stephen tried to take it slow towards the officers. Herald presented his ticket. One pressed it to the back of a handheld and eyed over the picture that appeared.
An odd photo appeared of each of them. With all the monitoring in the Morose Center, a picture could come at any time. “Enjoy your evening,” the guard said as he slid the last ticket into a slot on a floating red box behind him. “Head down the hall and try to stay in the main room.”
Lovely smells hit Stephen’s nose as they headed forth. A man with a tray came by and darted into a large kitchen. Stephen took a big whiff. Pork came to mind. He smiled. Something sizzled on a tray. The server moved fast towards the music.
For a party, the music couldn’t be more bland. The main room consisted of two levels. The main floor had a stage in the center, the second looked more like a balcony that circled around. Many were here already, yet Stephen thought hundreds of people served on newer starships. Stephen neared the stage and sighed. All this for a party - and then kicked to a starship in the morning.
A spherical droid floated about the stage. A light flashed. Stephen tried to shield his eyes from another burst. It floated off the stage and neared the other. Flash, flash. Herald swatted at it. It backed and headed towards another. “Damn droids,” Herald muttered. “Don’t mind it. The captain will want to see what it recorded.”
“The little thing is cute,” Kim said.
“Annoying’s more like it,” Gabe said.
“There you are,” a voice rose. Councilman Jim Wallace hurried their way, holding his tie close to his chest. “Let me cover this quickly so you can enjoy the evening.”
Jim took them to the back, past a large table with a fascinating spread. Jim tapped the panel giving them some privacy in a small room. The doors slid closed, ending the odd music one might hear at a fancy dinner gathering. Jim motioned to a round table.