Something was happening. No, Jena corrected herself, Some Thing was happening! A few of the Golden Boys she'd graced with a dance hinted at a grand pinnacle of entertainment for the evening but none gave any details. Then, with an electric thrill through her, she noticed people quieting down and disappearing by pairs and small groups to the back courtyard.
The crowd's attention centered around a small cluster of bushes ideally placed for pairwise personal pleasure. Jena smiled at the phrase, even though she kept it to herself. By the sound of things another couple had the same thought and acted on it. Jena looked around for Crystal; she probably shouldn't miss this.
Suddenly the man in the foliage gave the Golden Yell!
Floodlights burst to life, flooding the area with harsh revelation. She was naked, he nearly so. Whooping and yelling he began to dance around her as she searched in vain for her clothes.
"Ho-ho yi-yi, vix! See what you almost missed!!"
With a jolt that shocked her to sobriety Jena realized just who was there.
***
"It was awful," said Jena, "Awful! I... I tried to get to her. I was too drunk to get there fast or straight. By the time I did she realized someone had stolen her clothes. I tried to wrap something around her but she shoved me away." She wiped her eyes. "Bastards. They were laughing. Those bloody swine-raping bastards were laughing! They thought... They thought it was hilarious."
Jena drew a long, shaky breath.
"That was the grand joke of the next semester. They called it 'The Incident' and before long I swear there wasn't a person on the planet who didn't know about it. Crystal filed a grievance of course. Nothing came from it. No. Nothing against their precious Golden Society. They said they'd consider it and waived her tuition for a year. And they laughed about it in their offices.
"She moved out of the dorms after that. I saw her once or twice and I tried to talk to her. I tried to tell her... The truth? I don't know. That I was sorry? I was but she acted like she didn't even see me. Flames, maybe she didn't.
"Crystal graduated with highest honors a year and a half early. I was at her graduation but she left before I could see her. The university president was in the middle of reading all her honors when she walked across, ignored the holocaster and got her diploma. She didn't even shake his hand. That torqued him off but she had what she needed."
Jena wiped her eyes again.
"That was the last I saw of her until this mission. I didn't even know she was on Dracos 'till she recommended me for it. She's pretty high in Mollover-Thisk. High enough that when she talks they listen and when they talk even the Navy listens."
That impressed and surprised Morris. Then, as he thought on it, it wasn't that much surprise.
"When I found out," said Jena, "I thought all was forgiven and that we were back to being old friends again. That wasn't the case. I was wrong. She changed. All I could see was the surface. I was so wrong, Morris, and I didn't find out the truth 'till almost too late."
Morris took and patted her hand.
"I understand," he said, "I'd hate people too if that happened to me."
Jena shook her head.
"You don't understand at all, Morris. Neither did I. She doesn't hate people. Ask Greg or Tina or any of her other students. As long as they do their best she's with them 'till they break. She loves people, Morris, she just doesn't trust them."
"Heaven's flames!" When that sank in the sheer magnitude of what Morris did hit him hard.
Jena saw it in his face.
"Yeah. I can't ever like what you did to her, Morris, but I understand why you did it. So will she." Jena balanced on the verge of saying more. "Just remember that, Morris. Promise me you'll remember that. She will understand."
***
Later that day the air recycler sounded an alarm and died. Morris and Jena donned respirators and he examined the unit. He patched as best he could and it hummed to uncertain life. That night they both slept with their respirators close.
The next day Morris used a precious 'lock full of air to go outside and scavenge. He looked for any batteries he might have missed, spare respirators, air tanks or any other thing that might help him filter the air. Jena looked askance at the collection of barrels and tubing he brought in but said nothing.
That evening Jena slipped into a brooding silence. In an attempt to pull her out of it Morris recounted some of the more interesting experiences he had, either by himself or interning a trainee. Jena's eyes shone with sudden animation.
"Morris! The vacc suits have..."
Hating himself for doing it he held up one of the vacc suit packs. He thought of that too.
***
Later that night the recycler died again. The alarm woke them both and they donned respirators quickly. Try though he might Morris simply couldn't fix the LS unit. He did get it started briefly but it died again even before he could seal the casing. He looked at it critically.
"It's gone." Then after a pause, "There's nothing more I can do."
Jena nodded with resignation.
Morris shrugged. By his calculation they had respirators for another day or so.
***
Morris and Jena ate their rations in silence. Now, with decent sunlight, he took the recycler apart and dissected the filters thoroughly. With Jena's help he assembled his tubing, buckets and barrels into a gravity-fed vacuum pump and filter. He filled the appropriate vessels with water and the thing slowly came to life. He attached the recycler's oxygen-pass and CO2-pass filters so they had basic scrubbing and water-based filtration. That would help but it still let in some of the deadlier trace elements and compounds.
"We need to keep the top tank full," he explained, "The downward water flow is what drives the rest of it."
Jena smiled at the contraption and spent quite a while watching it move, pump air, bubble it through the water and force it through the filters.
"I don't know what it'll do for the air," she finally said, "but the sound is relaxing."
Morris smiled at that. "I'm glad you like it. My vote is on 'annoying.'"
Later, after rations, as Jena watched the filter Morris sensed a change in her mood.
"Morris, I want to tell you how much I've enjoyed working with you."
That chilled him. "We're not dead yet, Jena. Unless you..."
"No. No! Not that, Morris. Never that. I just... Flames! Without you here I'd have given up days ago. I've never been so scared in my life but you're always there. You've helped me through so ruddy much and I just wanted to thank you while I still can."
"I'm frightened too, Jena."
She smiled wanly and shook her head.
"Only when you can afford it, Morris. Mallory picked well. You shed fear the way you ignore sleep when there's work to do. You use whatever tools you have to fight 'till the very end... To keep us alive a few more hours."
***
They didn't bother with rations the next morning. The gauges on all the respirators read empty and had for a long while. Morris knew they could live on the air in the room a while but not for the two more days he'd calculated as the earliest possible arrival time. They could live off the air and it would nourish but they'd also receive a hefty dose of the bad chemicals. Morris had no idea what the gruesome compounds would do to them, then he realized he'd soon find out.
He gave Jena the last semi-good respirator hours ago. She curled against him, breathing as shallowly as possible. Occasionally she squeezed his hand and he returned it but they didn't speak.
***
A double-boom of supersonic thunder threw Morris off the seat and dumped him on the floor. He fought to balance himself, failed and grunted when Jena landed on top of him.
"What the... Why can' they lea... us 'lone." Jena slurred the words badly.
Morris fought to concentrate. This was important!
Then, with the voice of angels and the power of the one microscopic battery Morris didn't touch the 'comm came to life.
"Atten
tion F37A base. This is the LNCN Saffron Snow. We are approaching your location, make no hostile moves. Do not establish contact past basic voice. No data, no hires uplink. We have your perimeter covered and we will meet hostile action with equal or greater force."
"They're here!" Excitement washed away Morris' stupor. "Jena! They're here! We're safe. Burn it all we're safe now!"
Whether Morris threw his arms around Jena or she him neither knew. Giddy from lack of oxygen they held tight until they heard the ships circle again.
"Attention Saffron Snow. This is Technician Morris Taylor. Please bring oxygen, we're out of it."
"Saffron Snow acknowledge. What is the status of your mission?"
Morris looked at Jena.
"Negative, Saffron Snow. That will take more air than we have here."
Morris would have said more but Jena lifted her respirator and his and kissed him long and hard and squarely on the lips. When she finished he was giddy from more than lack of oxygen.
In a move that surprised Morris as much as it did the hapless rating Morris threw his arms around the man who brought them oxymasks. Out of courtesy and consideration he stepped aside to allow Jena to do the same.
Packing personal effects took little time given their concentration in one building. Naval ratings assisted by a pair of midshipmen supervised the loading while another group entered the burned-out ship. They loaded the stasis pods quickly and efficiently and a squad of Marines in full formals gave Kody's body due honor. Even as Morris' and Jena's shuttle lined up to take off Morris saw other TACBoxes waiting to land.
The Saffron Snow surprised Morris: she was a light cruiser complete with complements of tacfighters and patrol boats. She was also not the usual class of boat sent on rescue missions.
***
Morris sat outside an office and waited. One Lieutenant Caleb Grimley scheduled interviews first with Jena and then with Morris. He spoke with Jena a long time and still showed no sign of releasing her so Morris sat and waited. He had no secretary which left Morris with nothing but a reader and a stack of journals. He finally chose one and began reading.
Morris' interview with Grimley left him exhausted, drained and certain he should have waited before seeing the ship's medic. Grimley had a good idea from Jena what all happened and he questioned Morris on it nanoscopically. He finally terminated the debriefing after Morris gave details he didn't even remember knowing. In triplicate.
"I have one question," said Morris, "How were you able to respond so quickly? Even under RFP with over four days for the drone to reach you you should have..."
"We received the drone six days ago," interrupted Grimley.
Morris did a quick calculation.
"That's impossible, sir. That would be before we..."
Grimley held up his hand. "I said six days. Jena Lace was muzzy enough to have lost track of a day or three. Are you?"
Morris considered that. He'd heard rumors of a much faster beacon drone...
"Yes sir," he said, "Six days. I'm glad you were able to act so quickly, I wish it had been sooner."
"Very good, Technician. We'll be a long time traveling back to Dracos. I look forward to some interesting conversations."
They made the trip in multiple stages. Morris never quite managed to debark whenever they stopped. Grimley or a Navy rating informed him they replenished in orbit or they just stopped for a nav fix or several other things he didn't bother to remember. He also suspected orders from on high to keep himself and Jena apart. He wanted to talk to her but whenever that happened one or more Navy personnel found something to do exactly where they happened to be. Apparently the Navy didn't want them together, which left Morris a lot of time to think.
The Saffron Snow had just started her second link when the medics decanted Harper. They worked on her over six hours then pronounced her days away from health. The second day they allowed Morris to visit her.
"Morris," she said raspingly, "It's ruddy good to see you."
Morris considered saluting but gave her a hug instead. She smiled a moment then her expression turned serious.
"I've read some reports, Morris. You did a hades of a job. You may be tempted to agonize over things you might have done differently. Don't! Am I understood?"
"Yes ma'am."
Next they began decanting the less-injured personnel. They started with Rackwell and once each was reliably conscious Morris and Jena paid them a visit. Naval personnel swarmed them, of course, but Morris didn't mind. It did his soul good to see them uninjured and safe. The last one out was Garrett. This time a pair of Marine guards joined the others on the visit but he seemed to expect it. He expressed genuine gratitude that Morris and the others chose to see him.
***
With two hops remaining to Dracos and the ship well within the League they decanted Jackson and Blakeschiff. Morris visited the commander with no small trepidation.
Blakeschiff didn't glance up from the datapad propped on his chest. Finally, though, he acknowledged Morris.
"Technician. It's good to see you."
"You as well, sir."
"Won't you sit?"
That was different! Morris snagged a chair and sat. Blakeschiff remained silent a long time.
"I misjudged you, Mister Taylor. People tell me I'm prone to that. You did an outstanding job, Technician, well above any duty or sane obligation anyone could place on you. You have my highest commendation. And, for what it's worth, you have my respect. You acted in an exemplary fashion in handling a situation that was entirely not of your making. Don't forget that."
"Thank you sir." Aware that his Article 27 was still in effect Morris stood at attention and saluted. "You are an outstanding commander and I'm proud to have served under you."
Blakeschiff returned the salute. Then he held out his hand.
"Thank you, Technician."
His grip was firm and unreserved. Then he smiled briefly and nodded toward the doorway.
"Now get out of here before I go sentimental too."
The medics worked a long time on Jackson. They took several hours to decant him plus an initial eight-hour period afterward. His injuries combined with being near death when he entered stasis would leave him in a coma and in an automed for several weeks yet they did save him. Morris felt both glad and sad at this. Although he could be abrasive Jackson was a man Morris was proud to call a friend.
Morris found it more ominous that they would not decant Delroy until they arrived on Dracos with its extensive medical facilities.
When the decanted team members recovered sufficiently the Saffron Snow's captain conducted the service for Kody, Transient-Sparkle-of-Moonlight-From-The-Flower-Beside-A-Peaceful-Pond. Morris wept openly as did the others when they cycled the 'lock. The captain proudly announced Kody's promotion from midshipman to ensign, tradition for gallantry under fire, along with a citation for service above and beyond the call of duty. By custom the duty fell to Blakeschiff to write Kody's family but Harper and Morris handed him letters of their own.
***
The last stage of the trip, just after the Saffron Snow entered link for Dracos the court martial convened. Morris knew about it forty-five minutes beforehand when a young rating brought him his full formal Guild uniform complete with the Navy service tabs worn by enlisted Techs.
Morris sat, impassively listening to the proceedings and the occasional interjection from his advocate. The others were there and showing everything from extreme apprehension to outrage to absolute disbelief. Jena looked at him with worry brimming out her eyes but Morris simply shrugged. He knew and had not forgotten that from the time Harper invoked Article 27, that he was a League Naval officer.
The ordeal lasted two days. Morris listened to testimony and, when asked, answered any questions the court had. He saw and recounted his missed assumptions, bad decisions and all the other things that should have told him of something wrong. Through it all, though, Morris knew and stated that his actions helped keep alive eight peop
le who would otherwise have died. At the end of it he stood by his decisions, both good and bad.
The deliberation lasted seven hours and twenty-six minutes.
"Technician Taylor, please rise."
Morris and his advocate stood.
"Mister Taylor it is the finding of this court that you acted properly and in full accordance with the Naval Articles of the Member Worlds of the New Stars Sovereign System States Trade League."
A murmur started from Morris' friends.
"It is the opinion of this court that you acted in a timely and most exemplary manor in dealing with a situation out of your control and well beyond your experience. It is the recommendation of this court that you receive the League Citation for Heroism for your actions during this time. It is also the privilege of this court to relieve you of the duties and obligations imposed by LNGS Article 27. The Navy is proud of your service."
Relief! Final relief and a warm wash of other emotions flooded Morris. A hundred hands wanted to shake his or clap his shoulder or just touch him.
Afterward they all ended up in a conference room with Grimley and two others who dubbed themselves publicity specialists. Between them they concocted the official story that would be released and that the team members would endorse. Official transcripts and documents would go to Guild authorities and other necessary recipients but those records were sealed. Once they reached the right understanding Grimley worked up the synopsis for the media.
By Morris he received entirely too much credit. He didn't want it, he didn't deserve it and he could find no way to avoid it.
Chapter 17. A Lifetime Ago
Morris watched Dracos grow on the holovee. the Saffron Snow wouldn't land, she couldn't, so no one needed to strap in. The others were there in the lounge with Morris but they chatted quietly and respected his silence. The planet finally grew to fill the screen and the view changed to an approaching shuttle. Morris faced Rackwell, Polov and Eisley.
"I enjoyed working with you, Dr. Rackwell," said Morris, "That's far short of adequate but it's the best I can do. I hope to return and finish teaching my course one day."
Rackwell pumped Morris' hand.
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