by Alan Black
“Do you think that Peebee and Jay will be okay,” Allie asked.
“I don’t know who was happier. Hammer or the girls; they have all of tower one to play in while Hammer and his armored buddies play ball with them.”
Nothing had changed in the class B waiting area.
“It is strange, Allie,” he said as he looked around. “I sort of expected this place to look different than the last time we were here.”
“It hasn’t been that long, Stone,” she laughed. “It has been less than a year since you made Hellfire back down right in this very room.”
Behind them they heard Lieutenant Heller snort, but they both ignored him.
“I know, Allie. In real time, not counting hyperspace jumps, it has only been a few months. But it seems like a lifetime. Okay, look over there.” Stone gestured to the seating area. He glanced behind him as the marines broke ranks, waving and calling to other marines in the waiting area. The marines scattered to talk to friends or gather at the snack bar; flowing around Stone and Allie, leaving them alone. The E.M.I.S. agents had disappeared.
Stone could see men and women from all services staring at him from all over the waiting area. He had been briefed how his story had been carried home by damaged ships leaving the front lines long before the Periodontitis could finish resupplying the ships remaining behind. He had viewed the combat footage of the fleet engagement. He had watched his rescue by Allie and the Hammer. He had been startled to see himself from Allie’s viewpoint; standing in the middle of a pile of bodies, covered in Hyrocanian blood. Peebee stood nearby with a dismembered arm hanging from her tail spike rattling a suit over her head and Jay spiking another suit through the visor. He had even watched himself through the recorder in his helmet. It had been surreal, like he was watching someone else.
Stone took Allie’s elbow and guided her over to a couple sitting in the chairs by the arrival/departure displays.
Stone grinned at the two. “Excuse me, Signore and Signora Aldamani. You probably don’t remember me, but I am Midshipman Stone. We met a while back when you were here to meet your son on his way through.”
The elder man stood and extended his hand. “Of course, I remember you, Mister Stone. You were very courteous to us and defended our honor from the marines, as I recall.” The man’s eyes flicked to Allie and back again. “Our son wrote us from Brickman’s Station that you were doing exactly as expected and again from Tamvor Station that you had met with an accident. But, we haven’t heard from him since. I do hope everything is okay?”
“Oh, yes. Please don’t worry. Your son is in good health, but the Ol’ Toothless did have a bit of excitement,” Stone smiled, shaking the man’s hand.
The woman leaned forward and smiled. “Your picture has been all over the videos about being the hero of the fleet. You have become very well known, you know. However, we would have remembered you even if that had not happened. You were a very pleasant young man the last time we met.”
“Thank you, Signora,” Stone gave a small bow to the woman.
“Do you suppose our boy will be along soon?” She asked
“No, Signora Yassova.” The woman’s smile froze at the sound of her real name, but Stone continued. “I am afraid he will be detailed a bit longer. In fact, he might be detained for twenty years to life depending on whether the charge of conspiracy to commit murder is upheld along with the fraud and theft charges.”
The woman jumped to her feet beside the man.
Stone held up a stalling hand. “Don’t worry. The Navy and E.M.I.S. have worked things out where you will get to see your son very soon.”
The man lowered his voice and spoke calmly. “I am armed, young man. I don’t think we will go all that quietly. Hero or not, I can assure you that you and your lady marine friend will not be able to stop us. I am very fast with this pistol.”
Stone shrugged. “I have no intention of stopping you. However,” he smiled and pointed over the man’s shoulder, “they might.” Heller stood off to the side with three marines. They had pulled rifles out of their luggage and were pointing them directly at the couple.
Stone tilted his head and pointed with his chin at the doorway. It was blocked by another four marines, also pointing rifles at the couple. “They might, too. In addition, I can assure you, Signore Oorta; these people are all combat veterans. You may be fast, but are you willing to bet you can pull out your gun before they can shoot you and the Signora?”
Stone waved a hand casually in Maggot’s direction. “If you would just step over to the snack bar and surrender to the waiting E.M.I.S. agents, please. Who knows, if you get expensive lawyers you might not be found guilty. And you would certainly save the janitorial crew from having to mop up all your spilled blood.”
Without waiting for a reply Stone took Allie’s hand, turned his back on the couple and walked away. The marines in the corridor doorway parted and let them through without losing sight of their targets.
Stone said, “Lieutenant Allison Vedrian, why don’t we go meet my family?”
Allie clenched his hand tighter, “Um, I am still working on that. How about we go get some ice cream first?”
Stone laughed, “I thought you would never ask.”
The End
Table of Contents
Cover Art by Amy Black
Books ByAlan Black
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
EPILOGUE