“Lieutenant Commander Grant?” The light seemed beckon. In Jeff’s delirium a familiar face coalesced before him. More ghosts to taunt me, he thought bitterly. The vision quickly glanced over its shoulder calling something Jeff couldn’t make out. It returned its attention to him again saying, “Lieutenant Commander Grant.” Is this real? There was a jarring sensation in his shoulder. That hurt. Licking his cracked lips, he tried to focus on the vision. “Lieutenant Commander Grant,” a deeper, more forceful voice now called. Something pulled back an eyelid. God the light was so bright.
***
“Captain Miller!” a young marine called grabbing his attention. Turning to gaze down the passage the captain saw him kneeling over a slumped form against the wall.
“What is it Private?” Miller said jogging over.
“It’s Lieutenant Commander Grant Sir and by God he’s alive. Winced when I grabbed his shoulder. I’m no corpsman but I’d say it’s broken or dislocated.”
“Lieutenant Commander Grant,” Miller said hunkering down and thumbing back an eyelid. “Sir, can you hear me?” Jeff’s only response was a ragged breath, his eye’s listlessly wandering. An icy feeling dropped into the pit of his stomach. “Kobbs!” he hollered, “Get your corpsman ass over here.” Jumping to his feet he turned hollering again, “Corporal Shields status!”
“Just got off the horn with Sergeant Beaumont and the area’s secure,” a lithe corporal announced trotting over. “There’s no activity at either crash site. In fact, site B is nothing but a field of scrap. As to this.” Shields indicated the darkened walls. “From the looks of things somebody napalmed the passage trying to set off the sprinklers.”
“I don’t care about damage Shields, what about the med bird?”
“Can’t say Captain. I imagine they’d be launched by now.”
Growling Miller turned to the marine still kneeling by Jeff, “Private, go find out when that bird is getting here.”
“Aye-aye Captain,” the private said darting off.
Crossing his arms, Miller ground his teeth as he surveyed the scene. Black sooty walls, dead or dying people everywhere. This was a pure catastrophe. “Why fire the hall?” he mused to himself, “The sprinklers use chemicals.”
“Who knows what’s going through the mind of a desperate man,” Shields commiserated.
Miller hadn’t even realized he spoke aloud. Sighing, he motioned the woman to follow making for the main hatch. “Has the unit completed the sweep?”
“Yes Sir. Everyone left alive, at least everyone that was alive after this,” she said gesturing about, “seemed to be centered around here. Found a score of body bags and, for lack of better words, a big ugly ass thing in cold storage. Lance Corporal Saleem thinks it’s a Drac.”
Miller laughed at that. “I highly doubt they bagged a Drac on this mission. They don’t leave bodies behind.”
“Whatever it is sir, it’s a sight.”
Miller crossed his arms musing over the news. “Leave it,” he said finally. “We don’t have time to be dragging dead aliens with us. Is everyone accounted for?”
“Saleem is currently IDing and staging the dead for transport—”
“One moment,” Miller interrupted spotting the young private he’d dispatched moments ago.
“Captain Miller,” the private reported, “ETA five minutes on the med bird.”
“Thank you Private,” Miller returned. Turning to Shields he said, “How long until we’re ready to leave?”
“Ten minutes? Give or take?”
“Right, get back to Saleem and double time it. Private,” Miller said turning back to the young man, “Please assist Corporal Shields.” The captain barely registered their formalities as he called loudly, “Kobbs, is it safe to move these people?”
“Yes Sir!” the corpsman answered from across the hold. “In fact the sooner the better.”
“Get too it then people,” Miller ordered loudly to all within earshot, “I want off this rock posthaste.” As the marines stepped up their effort to evacuate the building Miller began marching back towards the landing field. His mind wandered a moment imagining the harsh conditions of Jeff’s exile on the moon. A slight smile, more of a smirk actually, turned up the corners of his mouth. He couldn’t help thinking of when the brash then lieutenant first sauntered onto Victoria’s bridge to give Captain Styles a colorful piece of his mind. The man was quite the character and Miller was happy to have found him alive. Now he could only pray he stayed that way.
Emerging from the complex, Miller spotted Sergeant Beaumont who immediately started toward him. Average of build, Beaumont had a surly look that seemed at odds with his cadence when speaking. “Captain Miller,” he said with a rolling drawl. “Med bird should be here shortly. We can begin loading the wounded soon as they’re down. Captain Styles said he wants to make sup-loom ASAP.” What would be a wry smile on any other face came off as more of sneer on Beaumont. “Told me to light a fire under your ass,” he added in jest.
Miller spared the sergeant a short laugh. “Shields reports the area’s secure. Have you brought everyone in yet?”
“All save Batista and Vaughan. They followed the firefight Captain Butler’s team engaged in upon landing.” Beaumont turned indicating a ridgeline on the far side of the landing field. “There was a shit ton of brass on the deck and…” The sergeant paused a moment as if collecting his thoughts. “Well, I’m not sure how to say this so I’ll just come right out. It looks as if Captain Butler fell in the line up there. Said there’s an epitaph on the site. Something about being laid where he fell. Thought I’d leave them out there until I reported to you. I don’t like the idea of leaving any man behind.”
The roar of the medical shuttle landing a short distance away kicked up a small sandstorm. Miller leaned into the sergeant yelling for him to hear, “Leave him. We might not leave men behind. But we also respect their final request.” Looking back at the outpost, his unit was already fast at work hustling litters out of the building. Gazing back at the tattered complex he shook his head in disgust. “Let’s get the hell out of here Sergeant,” Miller said sullenly, “I’ve seen about as much death as I can stomach for one day.”
CHAPTER 24:
HOMECOMING
Licking his lips Jeff awoke to the sound of a rhythmic beeping. His mind hovered for a time at the threshold of consciousness. His shoulder was stiff and a steady hum filled the ambient air. In a minor struggle he slowly wrenched his eyes open, blearily squinting at his surroundings. The light in the room was dim but painfully bright to his unadjusted eyes. With some effort he lifted his head a scant few centimeters attempting to look around. He succeeded only at awakening an enflamed ache that permeated every conceivable part of his body. With a groan he abandoned the effort letting his head flop back onto the pillow.
“You’ve got the Devils own luck Jeff,” a familiar voice said quietly. “And for once I thought it’d finally run out.”
The fogginess of sleep began clearing, recognition where he was, who he was talking to, started to settle in. Attempting weak smile he rasped, “Curtis?”
The familiar rumble of his best friend’s deep chuckle answered. “I’m here,” Curtis’ voice reassured followed by a gentle squeeze of his arm. “And damn happy you are too.”
“How,” Jeff started, pausing to swallow. “How long?”
“Three days since we picked you up. You had us worried there for a while. Doc said you were hours away from organ failure not to mention you royally fucked up your shoulder.”
“That explains that,” Jeff grated a harsh sounding laugh before coughing. Fumbling to find the beds control panel, Curtis must have read mind. The mattress began raising him to more of a sitting position. Jeff allowed his head to loll to the side, vision coming more into focus. “Thirsty,” he gasped at Curtis who was quick with a cup of water. Jeff latched onto the straw drinking greedily from the vessel.
“Slow it down buddy,” Curtis said compassionately. Regrettabl
y his friend pulled the straw away. “You’ve been through a lot. Don’t want to overdo it.”
“You going to feed me too?” Jeff laughed. He still sounded raspy, but the ache in his throat had retreated somewhat.
“Naw, I think I’ll let the nurses do that,” Curtis rumbled in amusement. His laugh was short lived. For a long moment Curtis paused, the sound of the EKG punctuating the silence. In a somber voice he quietly asked, “What the hell happened down there?”
The memories of Euphrates flooded back at the question. Inhaling sharply, Jeff wheezed, “Hell…hell happened down there.”
“You don’t have to go into it Jeff,” Curtis said quickly as if sensing his mood. “I’m sure the ships counselor will be grilling you soon enough.”
“No,” Jeff sighed, a tear trickling from the corner of his eye. “No, I’d rather tell you than some shrink. I didn’t think I’d make it off that moon.” Jeff waited for Curtis to make himself comfortable before reliving the adventure. He had to stop multiple times during the yarn, shuddering at the horrors of the ordeal. Every sordid detail of the doomed mission poured from his soul leaving him emotionally spent.
“Jesus,” Curtis whispered. And I thought we had it bad.”
“It was a nightmare,” Jeff said weakly. Looking at his friend he added, “So what’s your story?”
“It’s not important right now,” Curtis deflected. “I’m sure Commander Thomas will get you caught up during debriefing.”
“Yeah,” Jeff rasped. “I’m sure she’ll have a list of ways I fucked up as long as her arm.”
“You’d be surprised.” Curtis smiled at him. “She was pretty mellow there for a while. Sure she used your name a few times lambasting me about fleet support and pilot performance when things got a little hairy. But as the week’s stretched on I got the distinct impression she was worried about your safety.”
“I’ll bet,” Jeff scoffed.
“I’m serious,” Curtis almost cried in mock determination. “She’s stopped in here at least once every day since we hauled your sorry ass back up here. She seemed very concerned about your wellbeing.”
Wrenching his head back in laughter Jeff rasped, “Laura would call you a fool if she heard you say that.”
“She might,” Curtis said disconnectedly, “But it’s the truth.”
It took a minute for Jeff’s mirth to die down. Looking at Curtis, he found a hurt almost brooding look on his face. “Oh, get off it Curtis. That act won’t work on me and you know it,” he said in disbelief. “We both know the day TAT shows concern for something other than the rule book, or this ship, will be the day I kiss her.”
“That’ll be a cold day in hell!” Kami barked stepping through the hatch as if being summoned by the conversation.
“Commander Thomas!” Curtis yelped jumping to his feet.
“At ease,” she sneered stopping at the bedside. “Now, what was that you were saying Grant?”
“Just that I was hoping you’d be as happy to see me as I’d be to see you Kami,” Jeff cooed nonchalantly.
“Well, that’s very nice of you to say, Jeff.” Squaring her shoulders, she locked her hands behind her in parade rest. Turning to cast Curtis a sidelong glance she bit, “You’re dismissed Lieutenant.”
He shared a brief look with Jeff before saying, “Thank you Sir,” and retreating from the room.
Kami waited for him to clear the hold before crossing her arms tightly under her breasts. “Lieutenant Commander Grant,” she began. “I’m happy to find that your trying experience on Euphrates did little to dampen your…sense of humor? I mean, I would expect someone of lesser stock than you to hide behind regulations to avoid any confrontation at such a crossroads.” Fixing him with a heated glare she continued, “But you seem to relish in pushing the boundaries. Would you care to repeat for me what it was you were saying? It sounded a lot like, the day TAT’s concerned about something other than this ship I’ll I kiss her, or some such crap.”
“Do we have to go over this right now Kami? I’m really tired.”
“That’s commander!” Kami squeaked. Looking at her, Jeff imagined that if she were a child, her pose would have been petulant, squeezing tiny fists and stomping to punctuate her argument. Closing her eyes, she cocked her head to the side until her neck popped. When she opened them again, one would swear they were the same fiery red as her hair.
“So, Jeff.” The way she caressed his name screamed murder. “How long are you going to milk this?” she said accusingly, adding a flourish of her hand for emphasis.
“Well,” Jeff began hoping to get rid of her, “I thought I might spend a couple days here letting the nurse’s fawn over me. After that I’ll probably spend some time in the pilots lounge. You know, between rehab and seeing the shrink. I suppose you’d want me in the best shape I can be before climbing back in a razor so I’m sure I’ll be hitting the gym—”
“Funny Grant!” Kami cut him off with a glare. “Or shall I call you Jeff? You apparently feel we’re on a first name basis now. Or do you think this is some kind of game?” Her eyes took on a coldness, their azure pools replaced with hard steel. “I’ll have you know that while you were on your camping trip, this fleet has been in an almost constant struggle. Whatever was going down, the Drac were hell-bent on keeping everyone too busy to check on all the targets they hit. By the time we were able to regroup we’d been pulled through the wringer. The only thing that probably saved you from that was the remoteness of Euphrates. So cut the woe-is-me act. We’ve all suffered.
“Doc say’s you’ll be out of here in a week. Also says you’ll be fit enough, at least physically, for flight duty. I expect you to be ready in two. And don’t give me any bullshit about psych eval’s. I know you’d never let a little thing like some dehydration and a broken shoulder slow you down. So far as I’m concerned, you got a nice holiday at the expense of some very good people. You get me Grant?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Jeff breathed, tiredly rolling his eyes.
“That's yes sir Mister!”
“Yes Sir!” he responded mockingly with a surprising amount of force. Her lecture injected him with some vigor and he asked, “Permission to speak candidly Sir?” Before she opened her mouth, he had no intention of letting her answer anyway, he pressed her with a childish grin. “You're awfully cute when you're angry.”
If the anger in Kami’s eyes could have been weaponized, the glare she threw at him now would have struck him dead. Slowly leaning into his face, she braced her arms on the bed rail. Jeff could almost feel the heat of her stare, her brow drawing down in fury. “Two weeks Grant. Unless Doc says otherwise.” Pushing herself off the rail, she turned on a heal stalking from the room.
Closing his eyes and resting his head on the pillow, Jeff said under his breath, “I’m happy to see you too Kami.”
***
“Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?” Captain Styles asked while lounging on the sofa in his cabin. Taking a sip of the drink he was holding he added, “The man’s just been through hell and back. No matter how rough we’ve had it doesn’t change that.”
“He’s insubordinate and reckless,” Kami said obstinately pacing across the room. “Oh, I thought I’d play with the nurse’s then go get drunk,” she mocked Jeff’s comments. “And where does he get off calling me Kami? We’re not friends! He’s a brash, cocky, downright lazy fighter jock that needs to grow up. And now you’re promoting him to CAG? Gunther, I’m seriously questioning your judgment.”
“He’s a good pilot and a born leader. Name anyone else on this ship that could have gotten those people through that calamity.”
“Captain Miller,” Kami was quick to respond.
Smiling, Styles chuckled under his breath. “Yes, Captain Miller could indeed. But he’s not a pilot and is already chief of security. That’s not exactly what I have in mind for commander air group.”
“Faugh,” she spat. “You just have a soft spot because of his old man.” St
epping up to the liquor cabinet, she poured herself another drink before resuming her pacing. “If you hadn’t been friends with Russell Grant you’d probably see this differently.”
“You were friends with Russ too.”
“That’s different,” Kami defended. “And he wasn’t a jackass!”
Captain Styles roared in laughter at her answer. “Let me tell you a thing or two about Russ Grant,” he said smiling at his XO. “When he was young, he had what some call a death wish, and was so arrogant about his skill he boasted he could win this war single handedly.”
“Everyone’s heard those stories Gunther.” Kami waved a dismissive hand at the notion. “And there’s a difference between being boastful and an insubordinate ass! Russell Grant was a model officer. He showed me how to Command better than my father did and he didn’t take crap from anybody.”
Covering his eyes, Styles shook his head with a smile for Kami’s obvious display of hero worship. “With age comes wisdom Kami,” he said quietly, pausing to take a sip. Pointing at her, he continued, “You think Russ was a model officer, and he was, but he didn’t start out that way. He was as cocky and arrogant as any other pilot. He pulled my ass out of the fire more times than I can count and never let me forget it. It wasn’t until after his first son was born that he began to mellow.” Standing, the captain strode across the deck to gaze through the viewport. “Russell,” he said in reminiscence, “had…a talent. A natural instinct. He could think two, three steps ahead. The people he commanded loved him and he somehow just…knew what needed to be done. I see the same things in Jeff. Yes, he’s a little rougher than Russ, but he has that same spirit. He possesses a skill few men have and the attitude to back it up.”
Noticing a tickling itch, he swiped at his cheek finding a lone teardrop. Clearing his throat in a loud harrumph he turned back towards Kami. “Anyway, the decision’s made. And I can’t have my XO and CAG at each other’s necks. I want you to fix this.” Kami opened her mouth, maybe to argue, but he didn’t give her the opportunity. “I don’t want to hear any excuses. He’ll be on his feet in a few days and out of sick bay. Just in time for the ceremony at that. Sounds like the perfect place for you to get to know our new CAG as something more than the pig headed fighter jock you’ve labeled him as.”
In the Blink of an Eye Page 25