We had numerous officers among our crews with many more years of service than Elian and I, and they had never debriefed this way. Despite that, it worked well with the many small, mixed crews we had, and it also served to not only weld us into a close knit family, we all knew exactly what was expected of each Hawk, of each crew member.
We concluded the debriefing that afternoon and I cajoled transportation for all my crews down to the planet surface. It was time for a night out on the town.
I contacted Nastya, who was in system and could meet me. My first date was fast approaching.
The admiral on the Netherlands had been hammered on his first attempt to attack and was nearing completion of a revamped attack. He commed me and requested a meeting before he went back out. I responded and told him that I would like to discuss the possibility of a joint effort. Elian grinned and said, “Here you are, a jumped up lieutenant, getting asked by admirals to help plan their attack. Next thing you know, you’ll be going on a date, getting your first kiss. Oh, ye Gods, that’s happening too! The sky is falling!”
I was impervious to his barbs, which I barely even registered, finding myself intensely anxious about the forthcoming date.
I dressed carefully, and Elian made sure that my uniform was on correctly, buttons buttoned, medals polished, and so forth. He told me something that totally surprised me. He said, “Roberto, my friend, you are a very lucky man. I envy you.”
I stared at him and thought of Carolyn. They served on the same tiny ship, so they had had to keep strict controls on what would have been an otherwise seriously romantic relationship. For the first time, I thought about Elian as being lonely. I said, a little incautiously, “Carolyn will get transferred, and then you won’t be lonely.”
He grinned, weakly, and said, “No Roberto, we’re friends.” I said, “No Elian, you’re not just friends.” He turned away and I realized that I should have left unsaid what we all knew to be true. He was right – I’m a super idjit with a big, incautious mouth.
We took the shuttle down and I asked Elian to go with me. He laughed very hard and said, “Just remember that she sees you as you really are, not as you see yourself. Lucky that.”
We parted with casual waves, but we both felt the intense bond between us. I was to meet Nastya in the lobby of a modest hotel that catered to the military. I went to the front desk and had myself announced and moments later she appeared, wearing a perfectly fitted uniform. She was not a stick. In fact, she kind of bounced a little, despite being slender. Not everywhere, and not very much, but, you know.
I was struck dumb, a not uncommon occurrence with me when around women, but she somehow knew what to do to cure that particular affliction. She stepped up to me, went up slightly on her toes and kissed me full on the lips. She stepped back a little, her eyes smiling at the effect her lips had just caused. I forgot to blush. Instead, I reached out instinctively and took her hand in my two hands. I looked at her hands, with long delicate seeming fingers, and then I looked up at her face and said, “Nastya, I love you.”
She was startled, although not as much as I. She looked searchingly at my eyes, hers no longer laughing, and asked in a soft voice, “Are you sure?” I had said it, I hadn’t planned it, but I knew as soon as the words slipped out that it was the truth. “Yes, I am as sure of my feelings for you as I am that the sun comes up in the east.” I had a panicky thought that perhaps on Lubya the sun rose in the west. Fool.
She looked deeply into my eyes for a moment without speaking, then said, very quietly, “Robert, I am not an easy woman to love. I require all of a man’s heart, not just the little he thinks I might need. I want my man to be strong, but not try, ever, to dominate me. I want my man to excel in whatever he does, and to help me excel. Can you be that man?”
I looked deeply into her eyes. Six months ago I could not have been that man, but now I knew, without a shadow of a doubt. I said, “I am that man, Anastasia.”
She paused, looked down, then back up and said, “Robert Padilla, I love you.” I stood, rooted to the floor and she said, shyly, “Robert, you are supposed to kiss a woman after you ask her to marry you and she accepts.” I heard the ‘kiss’ portion of her sentence immediately, but the later part took a brief moment.
I bent down, slightly, and kissed her lightly. That had been my thought - a light kiss I mean - but the moment our lips touched, lightning shorted out all thinking processes, all awareness of the universe, save for those amazing eyes, those wonderful lips. I kissed her again and she kissed me back, equal to my passion. We parted our lips, and then I heard a quiet cough. The world returned suddenly, and I found an admiral standing near by. I had a sinking feeling that I knew that admiral’s last name.
Nastya took my hand in both hers and turned back, pulling me along. She looked up at me with a strange mixture of shyness and of belonging. I was lost in those eyes, but of course that ended when she said, “Robert, I would like to introduce you to my father, Admiral Alexi Tretiakov. Father, I would like to introduce you to Lieutenant Robert Padilla, of the 513 Squadron. Oh, that is wrong. What are you now?”
I looked at her a little blankly, then my mind reengaged, “I am in charge of the Hawk squadrons and also, uh, the Dresden project. It’s a little vague right now, but I work for Admiral Lee.” Admiral Tretiakov said, “It is a pleasure to meet you. I have met the Admiral Lee. I thought him to be an honorable and intelligent man. Is that what you have seen?”
By now, my attention was returning to semi demi normal. I said, “Sir, my best friend, Lieutenant Turner said to me that he would give his life for Fleet, but for Admiral Lee, he would give his life three times.”
Admiral Tretiakov said, “I hope that your friend does not have to pay off on that promise. I assure you that the second and third lives will be difficult to provide.” I grinned at his somewhat old fashioned and even courtly manner. I said, “Sir, I would agree most whole heartedly with that statement.”
Admiral Tretiakov looked at his daughter and me with suddenly serious eyes. “Sir, it is my understanding that you have feelings for my daughter. Are they honorable?” I knew what he meant, and said, looking sideways at Nastya, “Yes sir, my feelings for your daughter are as honorable as it is possible for me to be. I hope that she returns those feelings in some small way.”
I heard a giggle, my first experience with that particular expression from Nastya. She said, “Well, father, as I just told Robert that I will marry him, I expect that his hopes have been realized. Will be realized that is.”
I was stunned, I had no idea if this man would pull out a whip and have at me, or what. Instead, he asked, “Sir, would you please come with me to a somewhat more private location so that we might discuss this momentous event?” I said, “Yes sir.”
Thank God for military training.
The admiral turned and led the way towards an alcove. We went through an arch and I discovered a nicely decorated sitting room with two sofas separated by a small and delicate coffee table. The admiral took a seat on one of the sofas and Nastya helped me decide to sit on the other. She sat close at my side, our shoulders touching, and took my hand firmly in hers.
The admiral looked at the two of us and asked, “Sir, may I call you by your given name?” I started; my attention having been distracted by her shoulder, her hands, and a just realized faint perfume that wafted past my nose, further decreasing any higher mental functions that may have survived the aforementioned hands and shoulder.
I nodded a little jerkily and agreed as how that was fine. He paused, then asked, “Robert, what are your religious affiliations?” Ouch. I said, “Sir, Admiral Tretiakov, I believe in religion, uh, in divinely revealed Religion, but after reading and studying the holy books, I see not much difference in them, except that the later books are more, um, advanced in their teachings. I am not a practicing member of any church, but I believe in God, and I pray and fast.”
Admiral Tretiakov smiled and said, “Robert, please call me Alexi, at leas
t now. Of course, later, you will call me Admiral Tretiakov.” I agreed, no surprise there.
He asked, “Robert, please tell me a little about your family, where you come from.” This question at least I expected. I told him briefly, perhaps too briefly, or perhaps at too much length, about my family, my brothers and parents, and how my lifelong passion to join Fleet had turned them away from me. I finished by saying that I had not heard from even my sister in almost two years.
Admiral Tretiakov, excuse me, Alexi said, “Robert, I admire your courage to take such a big step, despite your family’s um, resistance to it. You seem to me to be an honorable man, and I accept your proposal to marry my daughter. Anastasia is my older daughter. I have two sons, both in the Fleet of course, and one younger daughter, who has entered the Academy. I ask you one further question. Do you wish to remain in the Fleet? Do you wish to make of it a career?” I answered truthfully, “Sir, it is my life. Or, it was until your daughter threw that man onto the mat.”
The admiral smiled and asked, “Do you know the martial arts?” I said, “Sir, I am a brown belt in Xin Tou, and a blue belt in Kendo, a form that does not suit me now that I have grown.” The admiral replied, “Yes, I can see that Xin Tou would suit the man who would take such a small craft as the Hawk and alone attack the bug flotilla. Tell me, do you think that we will persevere against these unknown beings?”
I was surprised by such a question, but of course, I answered, being hopelessly rash. “Yes sir, I believe that with men such as Admiral Lee, and the men and women I serve with, that we will survive the bug onslaught. We will survive.”
Admiral Tretiakov nodded his head thoughtfully, then picked up his cap and stood. The interview was apparently over. He said, “Robert, it has been a pleasure to have met you. I expect to learn very soon of your wedding plans. I think that a man in your profession might well wish to wed sooner than later. I know that I did, and I have not regretted my decision, my choice in all these years.” I started, realizing that he had asked me, obliquely, a question for which I had not the slightest answer.
By now Nastya and I were standing, she still in possession of my left hand. I said, “Thank you sir, thank you very much. I promise to give Nastya all that she has asked for, all that I am able to give.” He grinned and said, “A grandson or two would be adequate.”
I gulped, and he smiled widely, He stepped around the table and pulled me into a bear hug. He then kissed me lightly on one cheek, then the other and said, “Son, welcome into our family. I hope that your love for my daughter survives all that God and man throw at you. I promise, as your future father-in-law, that I, that we will do all in our power not to hinder your marriage. Hah, a son-in-law! Who would believe that my shy Anastasia could produce such a miracle?”
It was now Nastya’s turn to stutter. She said, “Father!” This was not something one often hears a lieutenant say to an admiral. He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder, “Now go, you have but this one night, so make the most of it. But, you understand, not the most of it.”
I blushed scarlet and Nastya gasped and repeated, “Father!” He boomed out a laugh and said, “We shall see more of you, my son. You see, I am the captain of the Krakow, an old tub of a fleet carrier, but she is solid, and we have on board one squadron of Hawks. Yes, you are not the only one. I will of course invite you to my ship, as soon as possible, so that my men and women may meet such a famous pilot. Also, I would like to talk to you regarding tactics. Yes, we shall talk, many times, my future son-in-law.”
Nastya took the opportunity to tug on my hand, which she miraculously still held, and we began walking.
I found myself out on the street, walking with Nastya, her shoulder pressing against mine as if it could no longer stand to be alone. I stopped suddenly and pulled Nastya around to face me. “Anastasia Tretiakov, will you accept me as your husband?” She stared at me for only a moment before her face cleared in understanding. I had not actually asked her before.
She smiled widely and said, “Robert Padilla, I accept you as my husband. Do you accept me as your wife?” I said, “Yes.” She moved closer and I felt an unfamiliar pressure against my chest. She pressed her lips lightly against mine. I reached up to touch her jet black hair. It felt soft and silky. I touched her cheek with my rough hands. She captured my hand again and raised it to her lips. She said, “My father said, well, you know. I must tell you; I have not been with a man. It is not any more expected that a woman should wait thus, but I have. I am twenty-five years old. I am yours, from this moment. Do you understand?”
I realized that she was telling me that she was a virgin, and was offering herself to me, now, this moment. I had not thought about this. In fact, I had been behind the curve since the moment I saw her standing in the lobby. I said, “Anastasia Tretiakov, I am, uh, I have not been with a woman. It is not so much that I planned that, but, well, I never found a woman who I wanted to be with. Or, that wanted to be with me. I think, I know, that I want to make love to you, but, I want that we marry first. Is that all right?”
She kissed me lightly, then hungrily, making my brain turn to mush, yet again. She said, “If you want to wait to marry me before you take me to your bed, I suggest that you hurry up. I have waited for you for four months, my love.”
I was intensely surprised that she wanted to go to bed with me, was so open about it, and had wanted to for approximately as long as she had known me. Mind you, not offended, merely very surprised.
I said, “How do...what kind of wedding do...” I failed to finish my question, due to her lips mashing mine. She broke an increasingly hungry kiss and answered, “Tonight is the kind of wedding I would most like to have.” Once again, mush brain.
I asked, “What...? Uh, how...Uh, I put myself into your hands. Tell me how we can get married.” She giggled and said, “That was easy. Too easy. You must make me work at least a little before you give in, my love.” I said, in an increasingly husky voice, “I demand that you inform me as to how we are to get married this very night.”
She immediately pulled out her pad and input a brief question. She looked at the pad and input another query. She waited just a moment for the answer and then she suddenly turned and stepped into the street. An automated people mover was trundling down the center lane and stopped at her gesture. She turned, took my hand and literally jerked me into motion. We stepped into the mover and she said, enunciating carefully, “Katrina Center, please.” The small, open vehicle could carry up to ten seated passengers, and was half empty. She chose a seat and pulled me down next to her. I was not only unresisting, I was dazed, I was confused.
The people mover seemed to have a circular route that it negotiated perpetually. It stopped, as requested, at Katrina Center, whatever that was. We got off and began walking through a fairly large open square. As we walked Nastya said to me, “Robert, if you wish, we can marry this very evening, a civil marriage you see? I think that I would like to marry you in a military wedding, with all your friends, and all my friends. However, it is our only night, and soon we will be back in the war. I want to give myself to you this night.”
I realized dimly that she began by telling me ‘if I wished’ but then went on to assume the sale, so to speak. I found I had no problem with her, um, suggestion, couched in the form of an insistent hand that was practically dragging me along.
We approached a large and somewhat formidable building with Greek columns and such. We ascended the widely spaced steps and entered through an automated entrance. Inside she stopped briefly at a listing of offices, and after a quick glance turned to the right and began striding along with a pair of amazingly long legs. I had to hurry not to get left behind. As if.
We arrived at an office marked ‘Registrar’ and she pushed through an actual wooden door into a large office. There were people in it, some behind the counter, some in front. She stepped, still tugging me along, up to a vacant window and a middle-aged woman looked up. Before the possibility of a polite nothing, Nastya
said, “We wish to marry.” It seemed the woman had been at that window for many years, for she was long past surprise, wonder, or much of any feeling. She grunted and asked, “Name?”
Anastasia said, “Anastasia Tatiana Tretiakov.” My name was asked in turn, and I found myself saying, “Robert David Padilla.”
A few more questions, and then she said, “Twenty credits, please.” I stood stupidly for a moment and Nastya said to me, “I wish to pay half.” She input something on her pad and then she turned to me, “You owe this lovely woman ten credits, my love.” I input the proper amount and transferred it to the city, or county, or something.
The woman said, “Read your pads, please.” I looked down and found a long contract, which seemed to have our names in it, here and there. I looked dumbly at it and turned to Nastya, “This is it? The marriage?” She said, “Robert, is this, well, we can wait, if you want.”
Hawk Seven (Flight of the Hawk) Page 42