Holding Up the Sky - Thuban

(Three)

30, December,2064 (corrected Earthdate)

Saratoga

Procyon System

Nathan emerged from his shower definitely a man on a mission. He called impatiently to Cooper Hawkes, who was ready, waiting, and looking surprisingly pleased with himself. The squadron had only recently returned from perimeter duty and they only had a few minutes to make it to the rec. room before the scheduled phone allotment. Coop's scheduled allotment. Cooper had given Nathan the phone time. If they missed the slot their request would be moved back - again. Cooper didn't think he could stand it - let alone how Nathan felt. They left the quarters moving at double time. Captain Shane Vansen and Lt. Vanessa Damphousse, only recently out of sickbay, followed along behind. They didn't want to miss this either.

Twice a year the crew of the Saratoga was issued these special communication times and until this occasion Cooper had always sold or traded his slots away. Five minutes of phone time with your family was worth quite a bit of cash to a lot of people. Cooper made hay whenever the sun was shining, and he now had a credit balance larger than he had ever anticipated having in his entire life. The only draw back with his business arrangement was that Cooper had to be there to sign on for whomever had paid for his vid/phone time. Cooper wasn't really quite sure why, but he had given this time slot to Nate. The words had come out of his mouth before he could stop them, but it made him feel kind of good. Real good. Nate had jumped all over the offer and Shane and Vanessa had petted and cooed over Cooper like he was a rock-star or genius or something. That had felt really good too. Consequently, Lt. Cooper Hawkes, Kylen's Avenging Angel, was striding through the passageways of the Saratoga in front of Nathan. The look on the face of the young InVitro was one of determination. Certainly not a man to be trifled with - he was a man about to do something incredibly important. People stepped out of his way. Vanessa Damphousse was reminded of Colonel McQueen. Cooper had learned more from their C.O. than he knew or was willing to admit.

Cooper arrived at his assigned console two minutes before the appointed time, seriously bumming out the navy lieutenant who was hoping to jump the line. Ranks below Colonel/Lt. Commander were all equal when it came to holiday communication privileges. Cooper sat and rather imperiously held out his hand to Nathan for Kylen's number. He first typed in his own code, received permission to continue, and then with marked precision he typed in Kylen's code.

The screen flashed blue indicating that the connection had been made. A digital clock appeared in the upper right corner of the monitor. '5:00' It would start to count down as soon as the receiving party clicked in. The Wildcards were all frozen in place, Cooper still seated in front of the monitor, the others fanned around his back leaning in toward the console. The screen flashed into life and the clock started.

"Cooper? Cooper Hawkes?" Kylen's face changed instantaneously from a smile to an expression of anxiousness.

"She knows who I am," Cooper said proudly to the rest of the crew.

"Get out of the chair Hawkes. You're scaring her," Nathan pushed his buddy out of the chair and sat. "Hello, Kylen, Cooper gave me his time. He had to sign on."

"Oh, Nathan, I love you," Kylen breathed softly. She reached out and touched the screen with her fingertips. She knew it was a cliche, but was unable to stop herself.

"Hi Kylen," Cooper called leaning in over Nathan's shoulder.

"Hi Cooper, Thank you," Kylen whispered distractedly. She then seemed to come to. "Wait. Don't go yet. Are all you guys there? You all look so good. Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't know what to say. Captain Vansen? Shane? Vanessa? Look, I'm recording this. Quick, say Hi to the Co.... The Big Guy. I'll see him tomorrow."

Nathan hadn't taken his eyes off of her face - reading her and judging her condition for himself. She looked good. He now glanced up at the clock. "4:40."

"OK, make it quick," he said. Nathan was torn - jealous of the time he had with Kylen and proud of her that she would consider his friends. He knew, of course, that Kylen had been visiting McQueen regularly. It dawned on Nathan as it had on Shane that Kylen had had the presence of mind not to mention Colonel McQueen by name and rank.

Shane and Vanessa leaned in over Nathan's shoulder. They both greeted Kylen then individually said something for Colonel McQueen. Both of them kept one eye on the clock, taking only about 10 seconds each. Nathan then said a quick Hello and thanked the Colonel for looking after Kylen. Cooper leaned in. The bravado - the man in charge demeanor - was gone. Cooper looked very much like what, in a sense, he was - only a boy.

Kylen was astounded by the change. "It's OK, Coop," she gently encouraged.

Cooper looked into the monitor, obviously nervous and very shy. "Hi, Sir. We look out for each other. I try to do like you told me. ....."

"Come on, Coop," Vanessa gently urged.

Cooper looked down. The huge, strong, tough Marine was close to tears. He whispered. "I miss you. I try to make you proud."

"I know that he is very proud of you Cooper," Kylen whispered, comforting him. "Proud of all of you," she added with strength. "I'm proud of you all too."

Shane looked at the clock. '3:30' "CLEAR OUT," she ordered. "Good to see you, Kylen. Bye." The rest of the Cards then instantly disappeared.

Kylen spoke: "Wait, let me change the disk." Nathan could see her fumbling for a couple seconds. "There," she said. "This disk is just for me." Kylen's face beamed at Nathan from light years away. They were once more looking at one another alone. The awkwardness they had experienced at the time of their last good-bye began to resurface. What does one possibly say at moments like this? Other than repeatedly saying 'I love you'? For several seconds it was enough just to look at one another. It was enough to know that at this moment they were both alive and well.

"That was a nice thing to do, Kylen," he said.

"Did you get my package? she asked. "My e-mails and letters?"

"Not yet. Some letters. E-mails are the fastest, but they still take some time." Nathan knew that if he told her the actual time delay that the information would be censored, and in fact, the delays varied in any case.

"Well, expect a package. I didn't know quite what to send. The next one will be better, I promise. The Big Guy gave me some tips. We are all doing well. I've had a couple rough patches, but everything is under control. Honestly - don't worry. I'm finding my way. Eithne is dancing The Nutcracker in Boston. Dad only has one winter grain project cooking at the farm. I talk to your folks a couple times a week. Push may do a clerkship up at Steinbeck's Clinic this summer. Aislen's baby is due on the twenty-first. And I have a new job." There. Finally she had gotten it out.

"A new job?"

Now came the tricky part. She hadn't received any real guidance on this. The fact that Kylen would be in the employ of the United States Marine Corps was not classified. She had told Major Howard she would tell her father that she would be working with Howard, for General Radford. The Major had raised no objections. But Kylen remembered McQueen telling her that the censors kept lists. Lists of 'hot' names and places. Kylen couldn't just blurt out the truth. She didn't want a red flag going up by her own name - or Nathan's name.

"I'm going to work for the Corps - as a civilian employee. I'll be down in D.C." Kylen could tell her news had fallen flat - that Nathan wasn't overly enthusiastic. She attempted to gloss it over. "They should send you home for recruiting, Nathan. You are very persuasive."

Nathan had felt a flash of jealousy. Jealousy and anger. McQueen had spent time with Kylen - had probably been instrumental in her recovery. He had no way of knowing that this was the very same reaction that Kylen had on her first encounter with the Colonel. She had been jealous and momentarily angry that McQueen had obviously been a major influence in Nathan's life. That McQueen had seen Nathan almost daily - that they had talked - that they even knew each other.

"I thought you'd stay at home - in New England.... somewhere. Did 'He' say something to you to get you to do this?" The "he" in the sentence obviously meant Colonel McQueen and it irked Kylen. As if she couldn't make up her own mind - as if Six would try to push her into anything. But now was not the time.

"Relax, Sweetheart. The forever-to-remain-anonymous 'He' tried to persuade me against it."

Nathan visibly relaxed. "Are you sure about this, honey? Are you sure?"

"Nathan, I am absolutely sure. I need to.... to do ...."

It was obvious to Nathan that she was trying to choose her words carefully. He concentrated fully on what she would say next. He was filled with unexpected apprehension. "Go on." He spoke softly. "I'm right here, Kylen. I'm listening." It was not a challenge or a taunt. Nathan was listening with every fiber of his being.

Kylen could see that he understood that she had to speak indirectly. "I've missed you so much, Nathan," she smiled and relaxed a bit herself.

Once again Nathan felt loved and in control. "Go on," he repeated.

Kylen knew she had to hurry. "You know, Nathan, how every now and then the pieces all fall into to place and you discover something? Something about yourself or something about other people?"

Nathan nodded his total understanding.

"Well, my new job isn't just to help protect the planet and our country. I want to do this to protect my family - to protect you and to protect myself."

Nathan knew exactly what she meant and it hit him like a physical blow. Kylen somehow knew the truth behind the start of the War. Aerotech's duplicity. If Kylen worked for the military the same strictures and laws would bind her. She would have to remain silent and her silence would guarantee the safety of her family.

She saw the change in him and rushed to comfort him. "I'm OK Nathan. We are all OK. I just intend to see that it stays that way. Nathan, I love you. Don't be angry."

"I get it. No, I'm not angry, Kylen." The clock read '0:20.' "I love you, Kylen. Did you ever read my note? The one from Tellus?"

Kylen smiled. "If that's what it takes?" she asked, remembering his beautiful note. Kylen had read it right before the attack. She had managed to escape the wreckage with a scrap of the note in her hand. She had managed to save that tiny scrap for almost six months before the AIs had found it.

"I'll see you on the top of the world, Kylen," Nathan whispered.

"I'll keep the ice warm for you, Nathan."

They spoke together: "I love yo........." The clock read 0:00 and the transmission was cut.

Kylen placed a label on the disk for McQueen. She watched the disk of her conversation with Nathan three more times before finally labeling it as well. She then turned on some music - she wanted something life affirming. Kylen chose Vivaldi and returned to her scotch and her knitting. "Maybe I will try a cable stitch. I bet Mom's books are somewhere in the attic," she thought. When the suite and the scotch were finished she moved into the living room and placed McQueen's disk in the branches of the Christmas Tree. "I hope it doesn't take him forever to find it," she said to herself. She grabbed her coat, boots and hat and went for a walk in the snow to gaze at the stars - untethered.

End chapter three