Instead of his cyber-suit, the captain wore a uniform; black pants with a white, band collar shirt, its shoulders adorned with epaulettes and shoulder boards. It was the closest thing to formal wear that he had aboard. She had never seen him in it, but hoped that he would make a habit of wearing it; the uniform was cut in such a way as to make the already dashing man look truly elegant and authoritative.
The crew was assembled in the chapel to bear witness to the affair, Mun standing by the captain in the capacity of best man and Lena standing behind Fiona’s wheelchair in the capacity of maid of honor. Heather, was Fiona’s lone bridesmaid and Cyrus was the captain’s lone groomsman, with Amanda and Terri the only guests.
Fiona felt that her heart would burst, so filled was she with joy at the moment. And the best is still yet to come, she thought as she looked at her soon to be husband.
“You know, I do love a man in uniform,” she whispered.
Fiona was relieved; it seemed that her aphasia had been steadily diminishing since she had awakened and she had regained full use of her right arm, though it had no strength; and partial use of her left. Her legs still had no strength. She could move her feet and toes, and could make her knees bend only slightly, but there was no strength in her limbs whatsoever.
Kendrick nodded in response to her comment, smiling back at her with uncontained joy, but before he could say anything, Ronan began the ceremony.
“Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Kendrick Royce and Fiona Kinsale, formerly Joyce Keane. Let us call upon God to be with us today as we celebrate this union of two into one. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Fiona said, “Amen,” as the rest waited for the priest to continue.
“Peace be with you,” Ronan said.
Surprisingly, the entire congregation responded, saying, “And also with you.”
“Let us pray,” Ronan continued. “Almighty God, hear our prayers for Kendrick and Fiona, who have come here to be united in the sacrament of marriage. Give them your blessing and strengthen their love for each other. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.”
Everyone seemed to know to say, “Amen.” Fiona presumed that elements of a Catholic wedding were fairly embedded in popular culture, enabling even non-Catholics and nonbelievers to follow along.
All sat but Lena, who remained standing. At a nod from Ronan, the Gynoid went to the ambo and read the Old Testament reading that Kendrick had selected. Fiona thought her heart would melt as she heard the words.
“A reading from the Book of Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16.
Blessed the husband of a good wife,
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the Lord;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.
A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the Lord is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste soul.
A holy and decent woman adds grace upon grace;
indeed, no price is worthy of her temperate soul.
Like the sun rising in the Lord’s heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
The word of the Lord.”
Lena read the entire reading without needing to read from a book; as an Ai, she could memorize and recite it perfectly. She then bowed toward the altar and took her seat. Fiona and Kendrick both responded, saying, “Thanks be to God.”
Fiona had selected the New Testament reading, one she felt most appropriate given recent events. At Ronan’s nod, Kang stood, went to the ambo and read the New Testament reading. Unlike Lena, he read from a Bible opened to the appropriate page with the reading marked.
“A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word of the Lord.”
Unlike Lena, the gunner needed the text in front of him, though he read well and put more feeling into the words. The gunner followed Lena’s example, bowing toward the altar before taking his seat. Again, Fiona and Kendrick both responded, saying, “Thanks be to God.”
Finally, Ronan went to the ambo and read the Gospel reading.
“A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:6-9
Jesus said:
“From the beginning of creation,
God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
The Gospel of the Lord.”
The priest then came down and stood before the couple.
“This is a marriage that I am personally honored to celebrate. I have personally witnessed the closeness that has developed between Fiona and Kendrick. When I first came aboard, I found that the two were often at odds, Fiona’s goals frequently clashing with the captain’s orders. But as our voyage proceeded, I saw them become closer and closer to each other, each sacrificing for the other, their love growing and blossoming.”
“On this voyage, we have endured tremendous hardship and near constant danger. Death nearly separated them before they were united in matrimony, but even death could not keep them apart. The hand of God has guided them, and brought them together, as His hand has brought us all together. Now, Kendrick and Fiona will come together, not as fellows aboard this ship, but as husband and wife, to join together as one flesh.”
He then motioned for the congregation to stand. Lena helped Fiona to her feet, the couple now standing again before the priest.
“Kendrick and Fiona, you have come together here today so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the Church's minister and this community of your family and friends. In this way, you will be strengthened to keep mutual and lasting faith with each other, and to carry out the duties of marriage. And so, in the presence of the church this community of your family and friends, I ask you to state your intentions.”
“Kendrick and Fiona, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”
“Yes,” the couple said in response.
Ronan then asked, “Will you love and honor each other as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?”
; “Yes,” they said in unison.
“Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the Law of Love and Compassion?”
They said, “Yes,” though Fiona had to stifle a laugh, as it was very unlikely that a post menopause woman of fifty-four could have any children.
“Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, with your hands joined, declare your consent before God and his Church, this community of your family and friends”
Kendrick looked deeply into Fiona’s eyes and she could hardly believe that it was actually happening.
“I, Kendrick, take you, Fiona, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
The priest then turned to Fiona, awaiting her response. Blinking back tears of joy, she responded. Her voice was shaky at first, but the doctor found strength as she spoke.
“I, Fiona, take you, Kendrick, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Ronan nodded and said, “You have declared your consent before the Church and this community of your family and friends. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you with his blessings. What God has joined together, let no one separate.” He then looked at them and said, “There are no rings to exchange, but it is not a gold band that makes a marriage. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kendrick, you may kiss your bride.”
Fiona felt faint as her husband pulled her close and kissed her passionately. When the kiss concluded, he exclaimed, “God, I’ve waited for this moment since we sang together on Luna!”
The rest of the ceremony was a blur to her. The last thing after their vows that she remembered was taking communion and as Fiona was the only practicing Catholic on the ship other than the priest, Ronan gave her Holy Communion under the auspices of bread and wine, rather than having a formal line to receive. Thankfully, with such a small gathering, there was not a torrent of guests clamoring to congratulate them.
It was probably the shortest Catholic wedding in modern history, but it did not matter; Kendrick was hers at last; and she was his. All of the challenges and problems that threatened to overwhelm them faded into the woodwork, the joy of the day overpowering them. She felt her legs weaken, but her husband was ready, gently lifting her from her feet and placing her in the chair. As he wheeled her out, her only thought was that she hoped she could make it through the meager reception they were about to have.
The crew met in the Pod Alpha cafeteria for a hastily prepared pizza and beer after the brief ceremony and all welcomed the moment of relative cheer in the midst of the Selene’s turbulence. Somehow, Father O’Carmody had managed to prepare the pizza and have it ready and waiting at the end of the ceremony. The crew spent a solid hour offering toasts to the newlyweds, each more outlandish than the last, and all had a good time. Keyes and Terri were more amorous than usual, caught up in the romance of the wedding in space and Mun was looking longingly at Heather. The engineer, for her part, was friendly with him, but their interactions never became romantic.
“So, Captain,” Cyrus asked, “where do you two plan to honeymoon?”
“Space,” he answered quickly.
“We’ll have a stay-cation,” Fiona added.
Lena raised her glass and said, “Here’s to a happy and passionate wedding night.”
All toasted with Lena, then went back to side conversations and the eating of pizza. The festivities were innocuous, but Amanda Keyes took things in a more serious direction.
“Captain, you know there is a tradition of ship captains marrying passengers. You wouldn’t mind doing that for Terri and me, would you?”
The room got quiet, all waiting on the captain’s answer. Terri, for her part, was shocked, her mouth open and her eyes wide.
Before Kendrick answered, Terri asked, “Amanda, I … do you … mean that?”
Keyes nodded, then got down on one knee. “Marry me, Terri.”
Terri blushed brightly and her eyes teared up. “Yes, Amanda! A thousand times, yes!”
Amanda stood, awaiting Kendrick’s response. The captain, however, gave her a pleasant smile, but shook his head.
“Ship captains can’t really marry people, Amanda,” he explained. “That’s mostly just Hollywood movie mythology. I mean, yeah, I’ll perform a unity ceremony; it won’t be legally binding … but sure, I’d marry you.”
The two women squealed in delight and Amanda hugged Kendrick tightly, kissing his cheek, apparently undeterred by the fact that it would not be a legal wedding.
“You have no idea what this means to us, Kendrick Royce,” she whispered in his ear. “Thank you.”
Kendrick shrugged, smiled and said, “You’re welcome, Amanda.” If a non-legally binding wedding ceremony would make Amanda and Terri happy, why not? He put the question from his mind, however, as he had a more important matter to attend. He and his bride had stayed long enough to satisfy social custom, so he stood and took the brake off of Fiona’s wheelchair, preparing to wheel her from the lounge.
“Everyone, thank you,” the captain exclaimed. “Seriously; this has been … it’s been just what we needed.”
“No problem, Captain,” Kang offered. “Now get that bride of yours back to your cabin for the wedding night! Booyah!” He extended a fist toward Kendrick.
The captain dutifully bumped Mun’s fist with his own, then shared a hearty handshake with a congratulatory Cyrus. After saying their good-nights to the crew, Kendrick then turned to Ronan.
“Thank you, Father. When we get through all of this, I’d like to have a formal ceremony, with all the bells and whistles. Invite my folks too.”
“I would be honored to officiate,” said Ronan. “But, Kendrick, Fiona, I have given you my shortest wedding ever for a reason. I know that you have both waited to truly enjoy each other until after marriage. You are now married in the eyes of God! Go and wait no longer.”
“Happy to oblige, Father,” said Kendrick, shaking his hand.
Fiona hugged the priest with her right arm and kissed his cheek, saying, “Thank you! Thank you!”
Even as Kendrick carried Fiona over the threshold and into his cabin, she still could not believe it. It seemed, at times, that they would never be married, but her husband and the priest had made it happen. He gently laid her on the bed. There was no negotiating a fancy wedding dress; just the plain white shirt dress she had worn for the ceremony. Fiona trembled as he unbuttoned the garment, slowly opening it and sliding it past her shoulders. She was sober this time, with no overage of alcohol to give her confidence or to calm her. This is how it should be, she thought as he removed the last of her coverings.
Kendrick undressed himself, Fiona admiring his toned physique. Her husband bore the scars of his injuries sustained on Venus and in the explosion of the Fujin. These combined with his generous coat of hair to lend him a very powerful aura of masculinity. She thrilled as he joined her in the bed, gently kissing her as he climbed in. He glided one finger from her lips, down her neck, between her breasts, down her abdomen, then past her waist, causing her to gasp in anticipation.
“I love you, my husband,” she whispered in his ear.
“I love you too, my beautiful bride,” he said softly.
He shut out the lights and gently made love to her. Fiona had never experienced love making and with Kendrick, it was everything she had dreamed it would be; and more. Finally married, she could give herself to him fully. She had thought that the experience would be largely physical, but she found that her emotions were just as involved as her body, falling even further in love with the man she was now married to.
When it was over, she lay with him, her head on his chest, listening to his heart beating. It was the strong, rhythmic sound of a healthy heart. She found herself in a euphoric zone between sleeping and waking, enveloped in the love of
her husband. She wished that they could stay here forever.
Chapter 13
Sabotage
Cyrus completed the mobility exoskeleton for Fiona in less than a week. Today, she wore a flight suit, ready to step into the mechanism. The exoskeleton had been placed in a seated position on the table next to hers, its feet planted on the floor. It was far less bulky than the doctor had thought it would be and would attach primarily to her back and the back of her limbs. Cyrus ran through the final checks, as Lena made various adjustments to the attachment points. Kendrick stood with her as she sat on one of the tables, awaiting instructions. Fiona could now sit upright on her own, though it took a great deal of effort. The doctor had regained almost full use of her right arm and some use of her left, but her legs were still limp.
“I think you’ll find this to your liking, Doctor,” Cyrus announced. “The CPU is connected to you via a sensor array that responds to your brainwaves.” He held up a hand. “No implants or surgery, I assure you; I would never make anything so crude as that.”
“Prosthetics … used that tech for years,” Fiona observed, her aphasia having been reduced to a mild stammer. “But you made it so fast!”
Cyrus chuckled. “I developed the software for other robotic applications and this is not the first exoskeleton I’ve built, though usually, I build them for combat applications, not for mobility handicaps. I’ve designed it to allow you to simply step into it. Once your arm strength has returned, you may be able to shuttle yourself from the wheelchair to the exoskeleton unaided. Now let’s get you fitted. Then we can fine tune it for you.”
Fiona nodded and Kendrick lifted her from seat on the table to a standing position. He gave her a kiss and said, “Good luck.” She smiled as he carried her over to the exoskeleton and set her down, her arms outstretched, Lena and Cyrus guiding her feet into the foot pieces.
No Safe Harbor: The Silver Liner Page 16