We made a couple more stops, nothing too important, and in an hour, we were heading back to the base for the second-to-last night before the colony ship left for Proxima b.
TWELVE
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Mary said between big fake smiles.
“Don’t blame me. Blame Magnus. It’s their last night, and he wanted a send-off. Our engagement was the perfect ruse for it,” I said, instantly regretting that phrase.
Instead, she just visibly calmed and slid her hand into mine. That meant all was right in the world. We walked into the hangar, where a couple of the ships had been moved out. It was lightly decorated, and half a dozen folding tables had been placed inside, covered by some obviously borrowed tablecloths from what looked like an Italian restaurant from the seventies. LED lanterns were draped across the room, giving it a cozy backyard patio feel. It was perfect.
Mary was wearing her ring, and the other Earth Defense members flocked around her, asking for a look, and I realized something like this was a great distraction for the whole base. It was an event that could make them forget for a night that Earth had been invaded, and that we were now fighting for our lives.
Even President Patrice Dalhousie was there, with General Heart at her side. Slate, the oversized ED sergeant, loomed beside them. They waved at us, Heart sipping what looked like a Scotch while he stared at us over the edge of the glass.
Natalia walked in wearing a sleek black dress, the skirt slit to the thigh. I let out a low whistle, getting an elbow for my efforts. Nat was smiling widely at the beautiful setting, pointing at the lights and decorations. Magnus stood tall and wide beside her, filling out what could only be a custom tuxedo. I laughed, knowing how much the man hated confining clothing on his large frame.
“Congrats, you two lovebirds,” he said giving us a wink. “Dean, let’s go get a drink.”
“Nat, you look beautiful,” I said, before being pulled away by Magnus. Mary and Nat were hugging and chatting. I hadn’t told Mary about the surprise engagement.
“Change in plans, buddy.” Magnus shifted side to side, either nervous or excited about the proposal.
I didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean? Don’t tell me you’re not going through with it. She loves you. You guys are perfect for each other.” I looked back, getting a wave from Mary, who was beaming at all the attention.
“I really hate to do this at your engagement party, but just remember it was all my idea,” he said.
The bartender walked up to us, and I ordered a beer, getting Magnus a double Scotch, and wine for the ladies.
“Spit it out,” I said, tired of the drama.
“I’m not just asking her to marry me.” He paused, a big grin cast over his face. It was infectious, and I was smiling now too. “I’m asking her to marry me tonight.”
“Yeah, that was the plan.”
“No. I’m asking her to marry me, then getting married tonight.” He was almost jumping up and down in joy, and I put my hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. Only then I noticed the white-collared young man leaning against the far wall, chatting with Clare.
“Congrats to you, then. Don’t mind us. We’re the last people worried about wanting to be in the limelight. Take the spotlight. Take all of it!” I yelled the last bit, the room looking my way like I was crazy.
Lowering my voice, I told him he had my blessing. This got him laughing, and we hugged, quickly brushing it off as the room’s many eyes once again looked to us.
“You will be my best man, right?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, as if he had to ask.
“Only if she says yes,” I replied, and got a light shot in the arm.
Mary and Nat crossed the room to join us, and I passed them each their wine glasses. I raised my beer glass, the other three following suit. “To us. May we find new happiness in our new worlds.” We all clinked glasses and took a drink.
“Where’s Mae?” Magnus asked, and I felt a fool for not having noticed she wasn’t there.
“I haven’t seen her. I think she’s getting her stuff together for the trip. I have seen her canoodling with a guard, so maybe she’s having her own little love connection,” Mary said, trying to divert how upset she really was by Mae not being there.
The night was getting on, Dalhousie gave us a nice speech about love and hope, and we drank to it, me starting to get a little lightheaded with all the liquor and ambiance.
Music played through some speakers, the hangar becoming a dance hall, and couples and friends alike paired up, slow-dancing to some nice music. This was when Magnus did his business.
In the middle of a song, everyone walked away, circling the couple. Nat didn’t seem to notice, her eyes closed, her head nestled on his big chest.
He stopped moving, got to his knee and held her hand.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and the room was silent for a moment.
“Nat, baby. I’ve loved you for years. The second I saw you…” He stopped, probably not wanting to ruin it by reminding her of her capture at the hands of Russian mobsters all those years ago. “My heart loved you even then. A scared young woman, who took that negative part of her life and turned it from a scar to a badge. You are the single strongest person I’ve ever known, and the most beautiful soul I can imagine. I know I’m just a big oaf who sometimes speaks before thinking, and shoots before negotiating, but I’ll be there by your side for the rest of your life. You may think that I rescued you all those years ago, but the truth is, you rescued me. I’m forever in your debt. Will you make me the happiest man on Earth, New Earth, and Proxima b, and marry me?”
Natalia was openly crying by then, but so was the whole room. I unashamedly wiped a few tears from my face alongside everyone else, knowing how much the two of them had been through. Mary squeezed my hand tight.
“Of course I will,” Nat said, letting him slip the ring on her hand. He got to his feet, picked her up, and spun her around in a hug.
“One more thing, baby,” he said. “How about tonight?”
Music started up again, and the partygoers rushed to line up their chairs on the empty dance floor. The priest stood at the front of the rows, smiling widely.
Natalia blushed but shrugged. “Let’s do it!”
Soon Magnus and I were at the front of the group, Mary opposite us as the maid of honor, and when the here-comes-the-bride music kicked on, Natalia was there looking resplendent on the arm of General Heart, who was walking her down the aisle.
The setting was beautiful, and I took it all in, knowing everything was about to change with them leaving us here and going on a crazy adventure to another world. It didn’t seem real.
They went through the process, quick but classic nuptials. Mary was dabbing her eyes as they kissed, and the whole room stood up and cheered them on.
It was official. Natalia and Magnus were married.
Before the noise died down, Mae came into the room, bleeding from the face and limping. Her clothing was torn, and when she was close enough, I saw her eye was swollen.
I ran to her, the crowd spreading apart. “What happened?”
Mae pointed toward the sky. “They got away. Terrance and Leslie escaped.”
_____________
We sat in Dalhousie’s office, discussing what to do. Leslie and Terrance had somehow gotten free from their cells, stolen a ship we’d moved from the hangar, and gotten out the ceiling.
“How did this happen?” The president sat with her hands on her face. I’d never seen her so flustered. “They just happened to get out when we had the ships outside, and conveniently escaped as the hatch up top was opened for a nighttime test flight.”
Heart assured her the pilot was one of his best and wasn’t involved. They must have had secret information, and someone on the inside. That didn’t bode well for the base’s security.
“We need to go after them,” Mae said, repeating the same thing for the tenth time. No one seemed to be listening. Sh
e was right.
“If they left, as you say, and aren’t hanging out at Earth, hell-bent on blowing shit up, then we need to go after them before they get word to the Bhlat, or anyone else for that matter.” I would be the voice of reason and back Mae up on this. She looked at me, her eye covered with ice, and her smile quickly turned to a grimace as the pain of moving her mouth registered.
“You’re right.” Dalhousie looked over to me and Mary, and I got that almost-regular sinking feeling in my gut. “The colony ship must go now as planned. It’s even more imperative. As for the hybrids, we need to tail them, stop them at any cost. They’re in the original, unaltered model of ship. Ours will be able to track it anywhere, and they won’t even know you’re coming.”
“Wait. You’re coming? Who do you mean when you say ‘you’re’?” Mary asked.
“I need the best on this. We can’t take any chances. Mary, you’ve flown the ships before, and have experience in fighting on Earth in jets and out there in space. Plus, you’ve been practicing these last few weeks. You know that ship. And Dean has the kind of mind that will keep you guys on top of them, one step ahead.” Dalhousie sounded much more confident about our chances than I did.
“Don’t you guys have people for this kind of thing?” This from Magnus, who didn’t look very happy to have his wedding night interrupted.
Heart spoke up finally. “We do. That’s why Slate’s going with you, and Clare. Slate is as big as an ox and will be your feet on the street, should it come to that. Clare will be your engineer wizard, able to fix things, and adapt the ship’s needs to yours. The longer we talk about this, the farther they get from Earth. You’re Earth Defense now, so do your job. Defend Earth!” He was red-faced by the end of it, and so was Magnus. He looked like he wanted to punch the older man. Hell, so did I.
“Look, no one is questioning your integrity. We need you guys again. Earth needs you.” Patrice Dalhousie stood up now, looking Mary right in the eyes, then me.
“We better get going, then. Dean, you can stay back if you like,” Mary said, breaking my heart a bit.
“You don’t want me to go with you?” I asked.
“Of course I do! I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” she said, grabbing my hand.
“Nothing’s going to happen to either of us. We can go stop them and be back sooner than you thought possible.” I said the words but didn’t believe them even as they left my mouth.
“Then it’s settled. You guys leave now,” Dalhousie said, a tired look in her eyes.
It was midnight by the time we packed up our few belongings, and the crews at the base loaded the ship with enough supplies to last a long time. Heart never did tell us how much food they loaded on, but the storage area had a lot of crates in it. He told us Slate knew what it all was, and since we didn’t have time to go over the itinerary, we trusted they were prepared for this.
“I can’t believe you guys are leaving. And before us!” Magnus said, walking with us to the ship. He was still in his tuxedo, the tie conspicuously missing.
Carey followed alongside us, wagging his tail. I couldn’t believe that after all we’d been through, I had to leave him. I couldn’t bring him on the ship with us. It was a dangerous trip, not one for my new best friend to tag along on.
I had an idea. “Magnus, would you take Carey with you?” I hated to ask, but I had to.
He looked at me, his features softening. “Dean, are you sure? He could stay here. I’m sure you’ll be back in no time.”
“But what if we’re not? What if something happens to us out there?”
“It won’t. I know you guys.”
“But what if? We could be following them a long way. To God knows where. Just take him, please.” My heart was freezing up at having to pawn off the little guy. He meant so much to me.
“Of course I will, buddy. We love the little rascal too. When it’s all over, come to Proxima, and he’s all yours again.” Magnus clapped me on the shoulder. His words rang a finality over my mind, and I worried I’d never see Carey again. That I’d never see any of them again.
I took a knee and Carey rubbed his face into my stomach. He loved it when I got down to his level. He licked my face, and I laughed, giving him one last big hug before I left. At that moment, I told myself I would get back, stop the Bhlat threat, and make it to Proxima to see my friends again and get Carey.
Mary walked up, pack slung over her shoulder. She seemed to get the sense of what transpired, and she gave Carey a big hug, letting his sloppy tongue give her a lick before leaving.
“Nat, I also need you to watch over my sister. She was supposed to get here today for the party, but they were delayed. I still can’t believe my little sister is going with you guys. Take care of her. Please,” I said, wishing I could see her just one last time before leaving.
“Of course. If she’s anything like you, we’ll have a lot to pick on her about.” This from Magnus. “Dean, take these.” He passed me a small cloth bag covertly. I snuck a peek and saw some of the green gem jewelry used to counter the Kraski beams. “You never know when you’re going to need them.” I spotted my pendant in there and wondered how he’d managed to pilfer them.
“Goodbye, guys,” Mary said, and everyone got in for a last hug.
Mae approached, and I went in to give her a hug.
“What are you doing?” she asked. I shrugged, taken aback. “I’m going with you.”
“Did Dalhousie approve this?” Mary asked.
“I don’t give a damn. I’m coming with you. They’re hybrids, and that makes them my responsibility. I know them, can understand their motives. So I’m going.”
It made sense, and to be honest, I was happy to have her along. Mae had proven herself invaluable many times over.
Clare was on board and called to us from the top of the ramp. It was time to go.
Dalhousie was nowhere in sight, and when I spotted Heart arriving on his cart, I pushed Mae forward onto the angled ramp. “Get on the ship,” I said through clenched teeth.
She didn’t argue or say anything, just ran up the length into the ship, limping on her left leg ever so slightly. I guessed it hurt more than she was letting on.
Magnus stood at the base of the ship, arms crossed, looking like a guard.
Heart’s cart stopped, the soldier staying in the driver’s seat.
“You have a monumental task ahead of you. Take heed in knowing we’ll do what we can to protect Earth, should anything go wrong on your mission. The colony vessel will be leaving tomorrow, and that brings new hope into our situation. Sorry for the speech.” He rubbed his temple with his hand. “This is all just so important. I couldn’t ask for better people to call on. And I mean that.”
His words touched me, but at the same time, I wished he were speaking to someone else.
“We’ll do what needs to be done, General,” Mary said.
“Joshua. Call me Josh,” he said before turning around and heading back to the cart. “Slate, take care of them for me. For all of us.” The big man emerged from the ship a few steps and saluted his general before heading back inside.
Dust was kicked up and the general was off, leaving a few people milling about, loading the last of the supplies.
“I guess this is goodbye. See you on the other side.” I scratched Carey behind the ear one last time, and when he started to follow me up the ramp, Natalia grabbed his collar, pulling him back and crouching down with him. His head turned sideways, wondering what was going on.
Mary was in front of me, and she patted me on the arm. We turned around, waving at our friends while the ramp lifted. Before it shut completely, I heard one last bark from Carey, and I wanted nothing more than to get back out and tell them to hunt the hybrids down themselves.
“We’ll be back soon,” Mary said, the ever-caring fiancée. If she was okay with it all, what use was there in me moping about?
“You’re right.” And just like that, we were loaded and in one of the new sh
ips, heading back out to space on another impossible quest.
THIRTEEN
We were gathered on the bridge for pre-flight: Mary, me, Mae, Clare, and Slate, as well as Doctor Nick Ellis, whom none of us had met before, though I had seen him around the facility over the past month. We were sure to have enough space on board, especially since the ship slept a dozen.
Slate stood tall, intimidating as he silently seemed to assess each of us, his military-trained mind looking for value or weakness. He wore a black vest, holding what I could only assume were multiple dangerous and deadly devices on it, overtop of his Earth Defense uniform. We were all wearing the body suits, and it actually felt like we were a trained team about to head into space rather than a rag-tag group of survivors who’d just met, looking to stop escaped hybrids from camp.
I wondered who was in charge of the mission. After a few moments of dead air, all eyes ended up on me. They were looking to me to lead the charge? How was that even possible?
I cleared my throat, hoping someone else would speak, but when no one did, I began. “I don’t have any idea how I ended up here, on the bridge of a human altered Kraski ship, about to go back to space, the one place I truly have no desire to ever see again. But here we all are. Leslie and Terrance have left us no choice but to stop them. We can’t have the Bhlat know where we are. This is imperative at all costs.” I stopped, coming to accept the facts I was saying. “We’ll sacrifice ourselves, if necessary.”
The doctor fidgeted with his sleeve and kept his eyes to the floor as I spoke.
“Everyone good with that?” I asked.
One by one, everyone agreed. The last was Nick, who finally met my eyes, and I was happy to see resolve in them. He nodded once, firmly.
“Good. Mary, let them know we’re ready to go. Mae, on screen, please,” I said, sitting down in a chair. Not the one in the center, which I could only assume, from years of Star Trek watching, was meant to be the captain’s chair. I hadn’t earned that spot yet.
The Survivors: Books 1-6 Page 33