Chapter 1
Reconstituted soup, crackers and dried beef had become the bane of their existence. Their supply of fresh fruits and vegetables had been depleted three months ago. Were it not for their encounter with the Salvage, they might have forgotten the taste of real food in the last few weeks. In their haste to leave Marvenius, they weren't able to replenish any of their food stores, with the exception of water.
"Oh, the pain… when I think about the delicious fruits, delectable meats and delightful desserts that we had the pleasure of consuming on Marvenius I could simply swoon from pleasure. If you hadn't been in such a hurry to leave, Major, we could still be feasting on gourmet meals, rather than this… tasteless fare!"
Don couldn't resist a comeback. "Well, Zach, you know, you could have stayed for a last meal in the Ministry of Exterminations."
"Then again, Major, this meal is much better for the physique. Those rich, sumptuous desserts would simply have been the death of me if I had stayed on that wretched planet."
"Well, I must say that I did enjoy the whirlpool on that 'wretched planet'," Maureen interjected.
"And I loved the facial and message," Judy added.
"Hmmm… I didn't know that," Don murmured. He leaned closer and put his hand on her back. "You know, I might not be as good as Kairon, but, uh, I wouldn't mind giving you a nice…" he moved his hand in a large circular motion, "soothing…" he stroked her neck, "back rub."
"Mmm…" Judy responded by closing her eyes and tilting her head towards her lover.
Her father cleared his throat and Don's hand immediately left her back. Judy opened one eye and peaked at him, then sighed and straightened up.
"You know, we are married, Dad."
John brightly replied, "Which brings up something I've been thinking about."
All eyes turned expectantly on him.
"How would you like to have a real wedding ceremony with me officiating?"
His daughter turned and looked at her husband, who innocently returned the gaze, but then he could see the wheels start to turn in her head. Warning sirens sounded in his own mind.
"Didn't we already have a ceremony?" Don quickly asked before Judy could finish forming her thoughts.
"Well, Dr. Smith thought that…" John started to explain.
Don turned his attention to Dr. Smith, his eyes like daggers on a target. "Smith? I should have known."
Smith defended himself. "Well, Major, I simply suggested that… perhaps… should you choose to, of course… you and your lovely, uh, em… wife… would prefer a true Earth ceremony as opposed to the, uh… ministrations of a… shall we say… alien society."
"As far as I'm concerned, that ceremony was about as real as it could get!"
Don's comment, however, fell on deaf ears. Judy and Maureen were already excitedly discussing details. John leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms in front of him with a rather amused expression on his face. Don knew when he was outnumbered.
"All right, I give up. I have one question, though. Does this mean that Judy has to move out of my room?"
John raised his eyebrows in thought. "Hmm… That would give the ceremony more credence, now wouldn't it?"
Don squirmed under his gaze. John was almost ashamed to admit that he enjoyed watching his son-in-law's discomfort… almost… The part of him that looked upon Don as a friend empathized, but Judy, after all, was his daughter. The father in him couldn't help but still think of her as an innocent young girl, and then he laughed out loud. Whom was he kidding? He knew that they were married in every sense of the word, and there was no going back.
"No, I wouldn't do that to the two of you. Any ceremony we have would only be to celebrate what's already been done."
Don breathed a sigh in relief. It had been damned hard for him to get to the point where he and Judy could share a bed. There was no way he wanted to back track now.
"Thank you, Sir, uh, John."
Several hours later, a solar system came on the Jupiter's navigational scopes. It was a compact system, with the planets rather close together in the realm of space distance. The fourth planet offered the best chance of supporting life. The air was rich in oxygen and the vegetation was lush, with several streams and waterways winding their way through the greenery.
John gave the order to land. "Strap yourselves in," he commanded over the intercom.
"And check it twice," Don added. "This might be a rough one."
John turned to his pilot and asked, "How are we going to get around the landing strut problem?"
"Since we saved the prop that kept her up on the Salvage, I was hoping I could hover long enough for you to hop out with the prop and roll it in place. Then, after you give me the word, I'll settle her down on it as softly as I can."
"Think it'll work?"
"It better, or we'll have a big repair job on our hands. And, John?"
"Yes?"
"Be sure you stay clear. I don't want us to have to do a repair job on you too."
