The Epherium Chronicles: Embrace

by Wilson, T. D.

  The address on the package led him to the third door on the left of the hall. He walked quietly to the door, placed the package under his left arm and pressed the chime on the door’s keypad.

  “One second!” a muffled voiced came from inside.

  McGregor looked briefly down the hall while he waited. He spotted something on the side of the door that made his eyes grow wide. Deep within him, McGregor could sense the peril of the moment to come, but it was too late to change his mind about his assignment. He heard footsteps coming closer to the other side of the door. Gathering his composure, he snapped his head forward and waited.

  “Riley, how many times do I have to explain to you that morning status reports can wait until I have arrived at station command,” a female voice blurted out as the door hissed open.

  McGregor stared silently in shock at the woman now standing before him.

  Colonel Regina Becker, dressed in her EDF uniform pants and an EDF Academy T-shirt, was still holding a foaming tooth brush in her mouth, when she opened the door. She slowly scanned McGregor with her eyes and lowered the toothbrush from her face. “Arlen?” she asked, her voice slightly muffled from the toothpaste.

  McGregor collected himself. “Lass,” he said softly.

  Becker swallowed the toothpaste still in her mouth, and a frown began to form on her face. “Arlen, what the hell are you doing here?”

  McGregor didn’t answer, but slowly held out the package to Becker, who took it from his hand and opened it.

  Becker reached into the package and removed its contents, a single card. Puzzled, she looked up at McGregor then back at the card. Neither one spoke, so she opened the card and read it silently.

  Rifts in our lives serve as goals for us to overcome and bring closure. Time and space serve to widen the rifts and prevent us from achieving what we know we must. When the opportunity presents itself to bridge the gap and close the rift, we must seize it. Failure to take hold of the moment allows the rift to widen, and often this can cause even more stress and pain in our lives. It will fuel anger and despair and worst of all, a sense of hopelessness to ever completing the task.

  Take charge of the moment, eliminate the barrier and close the rift. Doing so will bring a sense of joy and completeness to your life and in the end, your decision may benefit more than just yourself.

  Words to live by.

  Your Friend,

  J. Hood

  The muscles in Becker’s face clenched and her face turned a fine shade of red. “Hood, you manipulative son of a...” she muttered under her breath.

  She stammered for a few seconds, but quickly calmed herself and looked up at Arlen, who was patiently staring at her, almost waiting for the coming storm that he was so accustomed to see. “I see you’re out of the brig.”

  “Aye,” McGregor responded. “Admiral Grant came to spring m’ himself.”

  Becker folded her arms in front of her chest. “Went off half-cocked again and took measures into your own hands instead of letting the Corps handle it.”

  McGregor’s face turned his own shade of red. “Bloody hell, woman. That blaggard got exactly what he deserved. He caused the death of a lot of good Marines,” McGregor explained as he threw his hands in the air. With a much more relaxed tone he continued, “I made m’ peace with what happened. That young captain put it into a good perspective for m’, and I agreed with him.”

  “So, I take it that Hood set your release in motion with the brass. Has he told you about the mission?” Becker asked.

  “Aye,” Arlen again responded without taking his eyes off hers. “He told m’ about those colony ships, and that the Marines are needed to help protect ’em if necessary.”

  Becker nodded her head slowly and moved her hands to rest on her hips. “I assume that he has also convinced you to go with him?”

  “Regina,” McGregor started as he leaned one burly arm on the edge of the doorway. “I reviewed the files and the risks of what would happen if the Tikis find those people. He needs the best to fight ’em, and I’m it, lass. You and I know it.”

  “Damn it, Arlen. This is your problem. You run from once crisis to another, and you don’t have any time for yourself. Then when things go bad, you have no outlet and you self-destruct.”

  “I’m a Marine, lass. I go to fight when the fight is called. Yes, ’ften I’m first in and last out, but I always came back. ’Course after that dustup on Titan, you weren’t there when I came home.”

  “I moved on Arlen. I had my career as well,” she said as she leaned closer and started to glare.

  “I can see. Station commander. Impressive. You have done well for yourself, lass. I’m proud to see they recognized your talent.”

  Caught slightly off guard, she pulled back and let her hands drop to her side. “What? How did you...?”

  “The sign outside your door told m’.”

  “Oh... Well, you would have noticed if you had been around. I needed you around. But it was always the next assignment for you. The Corps gave you time off, but you refused it. Why? Was I so horrible to come back to?” Becker asked as the slight hints of tears began to swell in her eyes.

  “Nay,” McGregor answered solemnly. He paused for a few moments, still not sure what to say. He felt hollow, and his voice echoed it. “To be honest, I couldn’t let y’ see m’ after some of those missions. Often times, I had close mates die and losing ’em, well, it really started to tear at m’. It got so I...” McGregor paused and lowered his head.

  “What Arlen? You have to tell me,” Becker said.

  “I just couldn’t have you see m’ like I was, when a mission was over. I felt almost crazed. Early on I would run to the Rec rooms to work out, trying anything to ease the feeling, but after a while it didn’t help. The only thing that did was the next mission.” He lowered his head again and shook it slowly. “After you left, I just stopped. Stopped missions, drills, everything. Hell Regina, I almost quit the Corps.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Becker replied softy.

  “But then I got help and I got it sorted,” McGregor said with a slight laugh. He looked up at her face and stared into her eyes now full of tears. “The prideful man I was then couldn’t tell you how messed up I had become. I’m sorry for that. I shouldn’t have put you through it.”

  Becker wiped the tears from her face and sniffled slightly. “So, Hood asked and you’re still going to go.”

  McGregor moved close to Becker and gently took her face in his hands. “Aye. I’ve got a lot of young Marines to look after, lass. Most have never seen combat, let alone the kind of fighting the Tikis can throw at us. If anywhere I’m needed, it’s with him.”

  Regina straightened herself, but her lips still quivered with worry. “Do me a favor then, don’t get killed out there.”

  McGregor smiled at her. “Take a lot more than what the Tikis have to bring m’ down. We’ll get the job done and be back before you know it. I promise.” He pulled her closer and gently kissed her forehead. “I have to go, lass. Got lots to do before we leave.”

  Becker took his hands in hers, squeezed hard and slowly let them go. She watched as he walked out the door. “Give ’em hell, Marine,” she blurted.

  “That’s m’ girl,” McGregor said. He smiled at her again and hit the controls to close the door. After the door closed, he lowered his head and sighed. He figured Hood had wanted him to take care of a few of his ship-out details before they left, but he hadn’t expected to see Regina again. If anything, when he noticed that it was her, he expected a quick punch in the face.

  McGregor chuckled at the thought and turned to head down the corridor, but the door quickly opened again, and Becker yanked him back inside.

  Becker kissed him hard on the lips, but then pulled back and pointed a finger right at his nose. “Not a word to Hood, you underst
and?” she said flatly, and the door closed behind them.

  EDF Armstrong

  Sunday, January 19

  Earth Year 2155

  8 Hours to First Jump

  Hood moved at a quicker pace to keep up with his companion as they walked down the corridor after leaving the Command Deck. Although Maya Greywalker’s gate was graceful and easy, Hood felt a little pressed to keep up. “All the command quarters are on these two levels, Lieutenant. Yours is down the hall closer to the lift on the left, Commander Sanchez is right across the hall, and mine is right here.”

  Maya turned to Hood and extended her hand. “Thank you for the tour, Captain. I look forward to working with you. If you don’t mind, I want to wander on my own for awhile and familiarize myself with the ship.”

  Hood shook her hand and looked directly into her eyes. He could feel the weight of her gaze as if they almost looked into his soul. He shook off the feeling and smiled. “It was my pleasure, Lieutenant. If you get a chance, I would like your assessment of the ship’s security team. I know it’s not the same as on a station, but I want to know that we have the right people in place.”

  “Certainly, Captain. But I must add that criminals and mischief exist everywhere, not just on a station. Admiral Grant stressed a need for me to take this job. I never asked for his reason why, but I want to make certain that I don’t disappoint.”

  “Admiral Grant has great faith in your skills, Lieutenant, but I hope we don’t have to use them. Minor dustups and lapses in disciplined behavior can happen aboard ship from time to time, but I have never encountered a criminal element on board any of my vessels before.”

  “I understand, Captain. If you don’t mind me saying, there is a great deal of apprehension on this ship. Most of what I have sensed could be driven by the undisclosed mission, but it is definitely affecting the majority of the crew. Apprehension fuels anxiety.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant?”

  “Anxiety can often overwhelm rational behavior and degrade even the most disciplined individual. Irrational people make mistakes and often act outside their nature,” Greywalker stated flatly.

  “And you have sensed this just in the short time on this ship?”

  “Yes, but mostly from body language and demeanor, Captain. To determine how much more the crew is affected will take a deeper investigation, and thus my need to walk alone with no distractions. I will include what I find in my security assessment.”

  “Yes, please do, Lieutenant, and thank you for your candor.”

  “Thanks again for the tour, and I will see you on the Command Deck for the briefing.” Maya turned and walked down the corridor to the elevator lift.

  Hood keyed his door to his quarters, walked inside and immediately paused. He looked around the room and noticed that several items had been moved. His previous day’s jacket was now pressed and hanging with a clean uniform on a hook outside his closet, items were neatly arranged on his desk, and fresh pot of coffee was brewing on the counter to his right.

  Hood heard a noise, and a man dressed in an EDF enlisted uniform walked slowly out of his bathroom. Hood cleared his throat.

  The man looked immediately at Hood and quickly snapped to attention. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t realize you were back.”

  Hood looked at the man. He was slightly shorter than Hood and he could tell by his almost baby face look and short brown hair, that he wasn’t much more than twenty years old. “Who are you and what are you doing in my quarters?”

  “Petty Officer Jared Martin, sir. I’m your new aide, sir.”

  Hood shook his head and walked over to Martin. “This is all a big mistake, son, I don’t have an aide. Who assigned you this post?”

  Martin lifted his chin slightly and answered Hood with a bit stronger sense of resolve. “Admiral Tramp, sir. My orders stated that all flag officers require an aide, and that I was to perform any and all duties to support you in that role.”

  “Flag officer?” Hood said skeptically. Normally all EDF Command staff members were given that title, but he had never had held that association. “Stand easy, son,” Hood continued as he sat down on the bed.

  Martin spoke up again. “If I may, sir, Admiral Tramp said that you wouldn’t understand, but he prepared a message for you concerning my posting. I have it loaded on your system, if you would like to view it.”

  “By all means, let’s hear what he has to say,” Hood said. He stood, moved to his desk and activated his computer system.

  Admiral Tramp’s image came into view on the screen. “Hello, James. By now, you have noticed your new aide has arrived. Command instituted a new regulation stating that all EDF Dreadnaught commanders will now be designated as Flag Officers. I must have forgotten to mention it to you.” Tramp smiled purposefully then continued. “As such, each will be assigned a personal aide to assist with smaller mundane tasks. I know that this may seem to be a burden, but aides often times can be a good sounding block for commanders. Great generals and field commanders like Rommel, Patton, Anderson and Nagumo all relied on aides to keep them focused and relaxed for the tough tasks ahead.”

  Tramp’s face tightened slightly. “I want to be frank with you, James. Command needs some good news right now. We’ve been seeing a lot of discontent back home with the lack of progress in colonizing new worlds. Everyone wants to branch out, carve their own ‘kingdom’ for themselves. Decades of promises, the war notwithstanding, are taking their toll. Terraforming isn’t moving fast enough, and if these worlds are viable and safe, finding ways to communicate that to the masses could jumpstart morale.” Tramp gave a quick laugh. “Look, James, I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you. Get your ship in order, and give me an update after you make your first jump. Take care, Tramp out.”

  Hood sat back in his seat and looked over at his new aide. “Leave it to Admiral Tramp to keep things fresh and in perspective.” He looked over at his cleaned and pressed uniform. “I see you have my clothes and items here in order. What else do you have for me?”

  “Your schedule is open at the moment. There are no pressing meetings until your scheduled ship-wide briefing at sixteen hundred. I have talked to Lieutenant Wells, and she has reviewed your speech. It’s on the data card laying on your desk for any last minute changes.”

  “Good job, Mr. Martin. Have you eaten?”

  Martin shook his head.

  “Very well, head down to the mess hall and get you something. Bring me back anything that looks fresh and edible. I’m open, so surprise me.”

  “Aye aye, sir. Anything else?” Hood’s aide asked almost eagerly.

  “Do you play chess, son?”

  “No, sir, never learned.”

  Another mind to mold. Hood thought and smiled inwardly. “Alright, get moving, Mr. Martin.”

  Martin quickly left Hood’s quarters, and Hood could hear him jogging down the corridor toward the elevator lift. Hood put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. He knew Admiral Tramp must be having a good laugh in his office back at Command, but he realized he was right. He needed focus and having an aide to help with his duties would definitely come in handy. Hood relaxed for a few more minutes then sat up in his chair, plugged the data card from his desk into his computer terminal, and started to review his address to the crew.

  EDF Armstrong

  Sunday, January 19

  Earth Year 2155

  6 Hours to First Jump

  Commander Sanchez chimed the door to Hood’s quarters and turned to look at the elevator lift that opened down the hall. To his surprise, Maya Greywalker exited the lift car and moved silently to her own quarters, just as Hood replied to the chime.

  Sanchez opened the door, but continued to watch Maya as he entered Hood’s quarters. His distraction turned to embarrassment, when he rammed his shoulder painfully into the door frame and spun into Hood’s quarter
s. Still not sure how it happened, Sanchez quickly recovered and almost lumbered over to Hood’s desk.

  Hood looked up from the book he was reading and silently chuckled at his XO. “Off balance today, Raf?” he asked.

  Sanchez smiled and slightly blushed with embarrassment. “Sorry about that, sir. I lost my balance when I came in. Saw something that distracted me for a sec.”

  Hood noticed the look on Sanchez’s face and recognized what must have happened. “I see you met our new Security Officer.”

  “Saw, more than met, sir,” Sanchez said as he rubbed his shoulder.

  “I could introduce you, if you want,” Hood said sporting an evil grin.

  “No. I’ll set up a meeting and get formally introduced, but thanks for the offer.” Sanchez collected himself. “Anyway, sir, I came to check on the final details of the ship-wide briefing. Have you reviewed your address to the crew?”

  Hood marked his book, closed it gently and moved it to his left. “Yes, I think it will do nicely. Is everything in order down in Engineering?”

  “Mr. Whitaker has been very thorough and able to get his staff to make things happen. I cannot wait to see his new defense system in action,” Sanchez replied.

  “I take it you’re conceding defeat in your little wager?”

  “Not yet, but if things continue to progress as they are, I may have to throw in the towel.”

  Hood sighed, pressed his fist to his chest, tried to clear his throat and cracked a smile at Sanchez. “Is there anything else, Commander?”

  Sanchez looked over at the book Hood had been reading. The book had a slightly aged brown leather cover. The title read, HOLY BIBLE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. “That’s a sight I didn’t expect to see out here, sir. I never took you as the religious type.” He pointed to the book.

  “An evangelist, I am not, Commander, but I was raised in a very close family. Our faith in God was a strong part of what held us together,” Hood explained.