The Ballard of Cairo
Part twenty: Hearts and Minds
DropShip Wataru
Out-boundIdlewind
The Draconis Combine
Cairo found O'Brien in the observation lounge. She was staring out at the JumpShip that was going to take them into the Ghost Bear Domain. He floated over to her. "Hey, how's the new Mech working out?"
O'Brien turned to him. "The Mech is fine, but what I don't get is why I got it. It's more powerful and faster than your Orion, but you gave it to me. Why?"
Cairo leaned back against the handrail. "Several reasons. One, you don't have a Mech. Two, I like my Orion. Three, you're better at using jump jets than I am. Apart from that I like having you around. If you had no Mech you would not be able to keep up the pretence that you're here to help me and the Dragoons would call you back. I don't want that...do you?"
As an answer, O'Brien leaned forward and kissed him.
DropShip Wataru
Nadir Jump Point, Idlewind
The Draconis Combine
When Cairo woke up the next morning, it was not from his normal nightmare. Instead he was looking up at the ceiling of the captain's cabin and as this was the only single-occupancy room on the ship, it had been given to O'Brien. He turned his head to the side and saw her smiling at him.
"I was wondering if you were going to have a nightmare, but after last night, you were probably too tired". She leaned over and put an arm across his chest. "You know, this changes everything. Most militaries have rules against commanding officers having this kind of relationship with their subordinates".
Cairo smiled. "Well, since my army is a few hundred light-years a way and you are not technically my subordinate, they can go whistle Dixie for all I care". He leaned over and kissed her.
The com-system beside the bed chimed. "Lt Cairo to the bridge please. Lt Cairo to the bridge please".
Cairo stared at the speaker. "That was a direct message, not a general announcement. How did they know where I was?"
O'Brien laughed. "Steven, I think Paul would have realised you weren't in you quarters last night, given that he's in the bunk above you and all. Word travels fast when it concerns personal matters in a space as small as a DropShip, with so few people on board. Now go get dressed - you're wanted on the bridge". With that she kicked him in the ribs, sending him floating across the room.
"That was not nice!" Cairo said in mock protest, grabbing his clothes. "And, as you said, I'm your commanding officer, and I say you have to report to the bridge too". He dodged the pillow that was hurled at him and ducked through the hatch.
Jackson was outside the bridge when Cairo arrived. "Have a quiet night, sir?" he asked with a smile on his face.
"Shut up Paul", replied Cairo, also smiling.
As he went to open the hatch to the bridge, Jackson put an arm out to block his path, his voice suddenly serious. "Just ask yourself one thing. Is she doing this because she wants to, or because she has orders from Outreach; don't forget, she received a HPG message from them just before we took off".
That made Cairo think - and he didn't like what his instincts were telling him...
To Be Continued...