“I need to give you this,” he said, handing her a folded paper.
She took the paper and opened it, quickly glancing over the words. “This is a letter of resignation.” What the hell had gotten into him? He was one of the most valuable members of the Mralan crew. In spite of any discomfort he may cause her, she needed him in the command.
“Yes,” he said. “I think it’s the only appropriate thing to do.”
“Appropriate? Are you crazy?”
“Ma’am,” he said, holding up a hand to stop her from saying that she needed him here. And she had no doubt he sensed what she was thinking. “I’ve committed a… well, if I had been under your system of rules … what is it called? Your legal rules that make everyone obey?”
“You mean the UCMJ?”
“Exactly. And if I had been subject to the UCMJ, I would have committed a crime. Therefore, I have to resign.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I never saw you do anything wrong.”
“But I did. And, you saw it.”
“If you’re talking about trying to smuggle plans for building a ship—”
“It doesn’t really matter what it was,” he said. “I just have to leave.” He pointed to the paper. “Please sign the bottom.”
She looked down at it, then shook her head. “We need you here.” Then she looked back up at him and saw his eyes sparkle in a way she had never seen before. Tears.
He turned away from her, brushing a hand over his face and biting his lower lip. “I can’t stay here,” he said. “I can’t function.” He looked back at her, eyes pleading. “If you have any compassion for me, please let me go.”
Damn, he knew how to get to her. So maybe it was better this way. She pulled a pen out of her sleeve pocket and scribbled her name on it.
“No! Stop!” Aahliss said from the door. “You can’t …”
Mehta slipped her pen back into its slot and handed the paper back to Trel. “I’m sorry,” she said to Aahliss. “I didn’t want to let him go.”
“Then why did you sign that?”
She thought for a moment. She didn’t have to justify all her personnel decisions to Aahliss. Not to mention she didn’t know if she could articulate exactly why she had capitulated, except to say that she was in love with him, and she couldn’t bear to hurt him or see him miserable, even though they only had a 47% compatibility rate.
“Never mind,” Aahliss said, waving a hand at them. She looked at Trel and smiled, then slipped out of the room.
Trel folded the paper and slipped it into a pocket. Then he smiled. “Now that that’s taken care of, can I consider myself a civilian?”
“Technically you’re not civilian yet, but close enough.”
His smile broadened, and the gleeful sparkle in his eyes returned. “I have a question I need to ask.”
“Okaaaay.” This sounded ominous.
“I’ve been doing some research, asking around about how this is supposed to go,” he said. Then he reached into a pocket and pulled out a small object and dropped to one knee. His hand came up, and in it, he held a diamond solitaire ring. “Will you marry me?”
“What? Forty-seven… you lied to me?”
He blinked, eyes turning wet again. “That was my crime.”
And then, for some strange reason, she wanted to laugh, little giggles pushing their way up into her throat. She had known all along, had sensed their strong affinity, their great compatibility. And now, she didn’t have to expect a life of loneliness, a life without Trel. Damn, it was like the gravity had been turned down to nothing, and she could float.
She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” he said, as he hugged her, his big hands sliding gently over her back.
“Yeah,” she said, pushing herself away from him. “Why did you do that?”
“It was necessary. I was distracting you and making it difficult for you to do your job.”
She nodded. “Yeah. And unfortunately, you were right.” She looked at the ring, still in his hand. “May I?”
He slipped it onto her finger, and then she gave him a wry smile. “Well, you know you’re still not allowed to distract me too much. And I do have a lot of work to do.”
“I’ll meet you after you get off duty,” he said with a crooked smile, then got to his feet. Still staring into her eyes, he stood there, motionless. Then, he leaned in to her, caressing her lips with his.
One long sigh, and he left the room.
About the Author
LeAnn Robinson has been writing since she was in the first grade, and she sold her first book to a school-mate for ten cents when she was in the third grade. Always making up stories, she has written tons and read tons more.
She also spent thirty years in the service, 2 in the U.S. Air Force (enlisted) and 28 in the U.S. Army (officer). She retired as a colonel.
She now lives in Little Elm, Texas, just a little north of Dallas, where she spends time with her family, her writing, and her friends.
CONNECT WITH LEANN ROBINSON
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OTHER BOOKS BY L. D. ROBINSON
This is the first book in a series. Each new book will follow a different character through their major adventure. Watch for them to come out soon.
Samurai of the Stars
The Children of Stone
A Tale of Two Warriors
No Plan Survives Page 30