CHAPTER TEN
28, March 2454 Aboard the Tenacious 0230 hours.
Kate rolled out of bed. She'd taken a timed sleeping pill so that she was up in time. She had to prepare the Trauma center for surface action. Her shuttle wouldn't have to launch for about twenty minutes after the assault group. She then went up to the observation deck. As angry as she was, with Rick, she couldn't stay away.
The Marines boarded the shuttles. Two groups stopped and conferred. She could tell by the size of two of the officers, that they were the command groups. The officers boarded. Kate switched to the command channel. She could hear Rick 's voice.
"Flight ops, this is Strike Sierra Tango six, all systems are nominal, prepared for launch. All Sierra Tango units form on me after launch." The bay doors opened and the shuttles slid out into space." The first strike group assembled and their drives flared into life.
Then she heard Del's voice.
"Flight ops, this is Papa Lima six, all systems are nominal, prepared for launch." The second group repeated the actions of the first.
Although the shuttles were aerospace craft and no marines had done a ship to shore landing on a surface ocean in several centuries, the landing crews still used a traditional phrase.
"This is landing operations. All assault craft are launched. Now hear this: "Away All Boats!"
Kate hadn't heard Captain Wayne come up beside her. She put an arm around Kate 's shoulders. "Most of them will come back Commander, hopefully, all of them.
All we can do is pray. I've been doing this for twenty-five years. It never is easy watching brave men going in harm's way. You'd better get to your shuttle."
28, March 2454. Outside the prisoner camp on Placida. 04:50 hours
"Sir, all guided weapons teams are in position, locked on their targets.
APC's are in position to take out the wire."
"What about the roving patrols?"
"Four groups of three Sir, one with a long arm, one with a sidearm and one with a neural whip and a stunner."
"Have the designated marksmen take out the guy with a long arm. Save the snipers for officers."
04:58. "Sir, I have the ready signals from teams two and three."
"Very well, transmit start the music. Guided weapons, commence firing! APC's advance. Infantry, FOLLOW ME!"
The guard towers, headquarters building, guard's barracks, mess hall and fuel dump all were caught in a rain of Hellfire 25 missiles. The fence went down under the bows of the APC's. None of the Crovanians or their human thugs had any chance at all. Those who survived the initial barrage were cut down in a hail of individual weapons fire.
Commander Maggie Hito, Commonwealth Survey service, sprang out of her bed, wearing only a short, threadbare shift. Awakened by the thunderous impact of the missiles, she ran to the barred window. Her executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Toc Van Minh was right beside her. "What's going on out there?" She asked.
"To coin a rather trite phrase, He said, I think that the Marines have landed! Those damn cats are screwed, now!" (The Crovanians, were bipedal humanoids, generally the size of humans but obviously evolved from a feline genome)
It took a few minutes for the firing to die down, then an authoritative voice said;
"In the barracks, stand away from the door and windows." There was the brief hiss of a laser torch cutting through the hinges and the lock, then the door fell in.
A man stepped through the door. Maggie was looking up at one of the biggest men she'd ever seen. The man took off his combat helmet.
"Who is your commanding officer?"
Maggie stepped forward.
"I am. Commander Margret Hito, Survey Service."
"Major Rick Castle, Commander. Are all your people in this one building?"
"Yes, they are."
"Okay, Commander, get them moving. Shuttles are coming in in 15 minutes. When you're out of here, this place will be a crater." Maggie was blushing, as the slight smile on the man's face told her that he appreciated the figure that her shift didn't do much to conceal. He spun about. "Captain Delacroix, how is the other barracks?"
"We're clearing it Sir, They're all Centauran men over here, no females." "Any casualties over there?"
"No Sir."
"Very well, rig for demolition."
Commander Hito had quickly slipped into her old, battered uniform. "Do any of your people need medical attention?
"Not here, Major." A couple of the women were abused but I'd like a female doctor to treat them, aboard ship."
They had just finished getting everyone outside and organized when they heard the roar of the inbound shuttles."
"Good Luck Commander, I'll see you aboard ship."
"You're not coming up?".
"We've got a couple of things to do here, and a limited number of shuttles."
Maggie sighed as the shuttle's ramp closed. "They don't make enough of that kind to go around."
"Captain Carlson, take first platoon from Bravo Company, under Lieutenant Cassian on shuttle 3 and escort the teams to the ship. You, with your remaining platoons stand ready in case we need reinforcements. I'll remain with Alpha and deal with the response team."
"Yes Sir."
"Signals, to me."
"Yes Sir?"
"Contact the medical shuttle."
"Sierra Tango six to Mercy Bird, over."
"Mercy Bird."
"Mercy Bird, Sierra Tango team sustained zero, I say again zero casualties, none among Sierra crew." Shuttles are boosting for space. You are released. Sierra tango six, out."
Back at the staging area, Kate was fuming. "Released? He can't release us!"
The escort commander said, "With all due respect, Ma'am, yes he can. He's the ground force commander. Button her up Ma'am."
Rick said;
"Captain Delacroix, get the men set up in the woods, just where the road makes a turn.
There's a police post about ten kilometers away. They're bound to come investigate.
I plan to ruin their whole week". It took about ten minutes to get the men deployed.
"It appears that the enemy is reacting slowly."
It took more than two hours before engine sounds could be heard.
"Scouts report 4 vehicles, Sir, a gun truck leading, two troop carriers and a trail gun truck, they're about five minutes out."
"Okay, we use classic tactics, Guided weapons take out the lead and tail.
Road is blocked, we hit the main body. Remember, no one fires until I order it.
A few minutes later, the lead gun truck made the turn. Inside the lead truck, the sensor operator said;
"Sub-prefect, we just lost all our sensor readings. I don't understand…"
He never finished his sentence, as a missile slammed into the cab. The truck overturned.
The second gun truck simply vanished in an explosion as the missile detonated its' ammunition storage. The two troop carriers were also hit but Crovanian security police bailed out of both of them and using the trucks as cover, began returning fire.
"Lieutenant Wang, take first and second squads of second platoon and flank them from the right. Sergeant Fuller, take third and fourth squad left and flank them. First platoon will maintain the base of fire." The Marines quickly flanked the enemy position and poured fire into them. The Crovaniaians broke and ran. "Up and at them!" Rick roared.
The first platoon surged out of the trees, firing as they came. One desperate Crovanian turned and fired back.
Rick felt a hammer blow on his thigh and went down. The Crovanian should have kept running. More than a dozen rounds tore him apart.
"Medic! Six is hit! Medic!
By the time the medic got to him, Rick was sitting up, cursing.
"Let me see that, Sir."
"It's not that bad, Sergeant, a through and through."
"That's not your call, Sir. Let me see it."
The medic slit Rick 's trousers.
"You're right Sir. Let me get an anesthetic in you and I'll irrigate the wound, give you a broad spectrum anti-biotic and some blood builders and bandage it."
The medic quickly accomplished his tasks then helped Rick stand.
"Okay men, let's get these bodies back into the vehicles, incinerate them and get out of here."
The shuttles lifted off as the fires burned themselves out.
28 March 2454 Sick bay aboard the Tenacious 13:00 hours.
The medical teams had just finished checking out the survey crews' Kate had checked the two abuse victims and turned them over to the psychiatric specialists. She stood, stretched and checked the report logs. She realized that Rick 's team hadn't checked in.
"Chief, there must be a mistake here. I don't see a report from Major Castle's team."
"Just a moment, Ma'am, I'll check with operations. Commander, Major Castle's team is not back aboard."
"What did you say Chief?"
"I said operations reports that major Castle's team has not returned." Kate blanched.
"Computer, patch me through to Marine operations."
"Marine Operations."
"This is Lieutenant Commander Beckett. Is Captain Kevan available?"
"Just a moment Commander."
"Captain Kevan."
Her anger and frustration making her icily correct, Kate said;
"Captain Kevan, where is Major Castle?"
"He is with the landing force, Commander."
"You know that is not what I am asking, Captain."
"With all due respect, Commander, you don't have the need to know. I cannot break operational security."
"You are trying my patience, Captain."
"Sorry about that, Commander, but I'd rather have you mad at me than him."
Kate went to see Captain Wayne. "Captain, do you need me right away? I'd like a couple hours of personal time."
"We're good. Go ahead take the rest of the day."
"Thank you' Captain."
"What's with her?" Commander Jenna Faye, Chief of Nurses asked.
"What do you think, Jenna? Has it been so long that you've forgotten what young and in love looks like?"
Kate went to the chapel and said a prayer for the safe return of the team, then went to the observation deck to wait. It wasn't too long before she heard, "Flight Ops this is Sierra Tango one-six requesting docking approval." Kate tensed up. It wasn't Rick 's voice. "Roger Sierra Tango you are cleared on a straight in vector, pick up the guide beam."
"Thank you, Flight Ops, further request, a litter at docking."
"Flight Ops, this is Sierra Tango six. Belay that request for a litter."
Rick didn't know that the circuit was still open. "Damn it, Warrant, I told you not to make that request! It's only a damn flesh wound. I can walk."
Kate was shocked, then angry all over again. "Oh, I am so going to give you hell, Rick Castle! What the hell is your idea of careful?"
She stayed, watching, as the shuttles docked. She couldn't see any evidence of blood, but even with its camouflage cover, the bandage was obvious on Rick's leg and he was limping.
Rick went to Marine OPS and called Admiral Petrofsky.
"Sir, Major Castle reporting. All missions were successful. Only one minor casualty on Sierra Tango. My after -action report is on disc, already filed. With your permission, Sir, I'm going to clean up and rest. I'll be available for debriefing in the morning, if there is anything that I haven't covered in my report."
28, March 2454, Major Rick Castle's quarters on the Tenacious 17:30 hours.
Rick 's door com sounded. "Come in."
Del walked in and raised his eyebrows at the scene in front of him. Rick sat on his bunk, wearing shorts and an undershirt. His leg was propped up on his desk chair. There was a large bruise surrounding the bandage on his leg. Del walked over to get a better look. He shook his head and eyed Rick.
"You'd better get to sick bay and let them use some dermal regenerators on that thing."
"Why bother? It will heal on its' own in a few days."
"It will heal faster with the regenerators."
"True, but those med techs are the worst gossips in the fleet. It'll be common knowledge on the ship within hours."
"It already is," Del said with a small grin. When Rick looked at him in confusion, he smiled wider. "The circuit was open when you reamed Warrant Jankowski."
"Oh, crap."
"Yeah, oh crap. You're going to catch hell."
"For what? And from who? I didn't really do anything wrong."
Del rolled his eyes at the word "really." It was clear that Rick was very aware that his actions were not those of a careful man.
"You told Kate that you would be careful."
"I was careful. We didn't lose a man or one of the prisoners, either."
Del casually tapped the edge of Rick 's foot, the shock of it running up Rick 's leg. Del met Rick's hiss of pain with raised eyebrows.
"That leg won't look like 'careful' to her. You're also going to catch hell from Captain Wayne for not immediately reporting to sick bay." He watched in no small measure of satisfaction as Rick busied himself with lowering his leg to the ground.
"I am not required to. The regulations only call for immediately reporting a life-threatening or disabling wound. This is neither."
"You of all people are going to play guardhouse lawyer?"
"I'm not playing guardhouse lawyer. I will remind you that regulations are for the guidance of the commander. I was the commander at the time and place of the wounding."
"You were also the wounded party." Del pointed out, gesturing towards Rick 's leg.
"That makes no difference, at least it's not spelled out in the statutes."
Del's eyebrows rose even higher, and then he sighed and clapped Rick on the shoulder. He made sure to catch Rick 's eyes.
"Don't say I didn't try to warn you."
Del no sooner said that then Rick 's com went off. Rick threw Del a look, and then reached for his communicator, wincing slightly as the movement pulled his leg. He tapped it.
"Major Castle."
"Captain Wayne, Major. I want you to report to Sickbay as soon as possible."
Rick grimaced, more at the tone of the Captain's voice than any pain on his part. "I'm a bit indisposed at the moment, Captain."
"Yes, and I know why. Get dressed. I will have a floater with two orderlies there in five minutes." Rick bit back a frustrated sigh.
"That's not necessary Captain. I have my own unit medics." He heard Wayne huff out a breath.
"Yes, and if Warrant Officer Jankowski had done his job properly, you would be in here now. Don't bother arguing with me, Major. I've been doing this since you were in diapers. I can make it an order, if I have to. Don't worry about your supper. We'll feed you here."
"Very well, Captain," Rick said, not quite managing to hide his irritation with the (to him) unnecessary action. He heard Captain Wayne let out a small chuckle.
"By the way, Major. I've heard about your legendary temper. It doesn't worry me." She closed communication, leaving a very put-out Major staring at a smirking Del.
True to her word, five minutes later, the floater and orderlies arrived. Rick let them help him on, and they went on to Sickbay. Captain Wayne met them at the entrance. "Put him in five. I'm handling this one personally." She turned to Rick with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Take off your tunic, trousers, and boots, and sit on the bed." Rick complied, settling on the bed and gingerly stretching out his leg. It wasn't hugely painful, but it was throbbing.
Captain Wayne removed the bandage neatly and efficiently. "Ten centimeters from that old gash." She paused and glanced at Rick. "What's the matter, you don't like that leg? At least it's clean. Hold still." Even with the injections of synthetic muscle tissue and dermal regenerators, it took Wayne a good hour to repair the wound. She finished and straightened up with a sigh.
"You're going to be stiff and sore for a couple of days and limp a little, but you'll be as good as new in a week. Still, I am going to put you on limited duty for ten days."
Rick 's jaw dropped. "You can't do that, Captain, I have too much to do!"
"I can and I am. It's that or I have you confined to Sickbay. In this case Doctor trumps Major. What's the matter? Isn't Captain Kevan a good officer?"
"He's a fine officer, the best."
"Then he can handle the active part while you oversee it." She stepped back to let Rick gingerly test out the leg, nodding as he put some weight on it, before gesturing him back to the bed.
"Now, my dinner is late, as is yours, so instead of feeding you here, you can escort me to the mess hall and we're going to have a discussion." Rick dressed quickly and was able to walk with her, though they went slowly on account of his stiff, sore leg. Their dinners came, and then Wayne said;
"You don't seem to be a cruel man or one who enjoys hurting people."
Rick frowned. "I'm not and I don't."
"Then why do you do it?"
"I don't see where you're going with this."
Captain Wayne searched his confused face for a moment before her eyes widened in surprise. "You really don't, do you? I'm told that you are a brilliant commander and a fine engineer, yet you can't see what's obvious to almost everyone else."
Rick gave her a quizzical look. "What are you talking about?"
"You're hurting a fine, sensitive young woman."
"I am? How?
"Didn't you promise Commander Beckett that you would be careful?"
Rick felt like dropping his face into his hand, but resisted that temptation. "I was careful. We didn't lose a man or a prisoner or even sustain any serious casualties."
"I don't think that she thinks you were careful when you got a hole in your leg."
"It didn't even disable me, so what's the big deal?"
"The projectile missed your femoral artery by three centimeters! You were that close to bleeding out!" Her fingers emphasized the tiny distance.
"She won't know that." Even as he said it, Rick wasn't sure. He wasn't going to tell her, but she could still find out…
"Of course, she will." The doctor's words confirmed his suspicion. "Everything we do is recorded for teaching purposes. She's a DOCTOR. She will check! Then she's going to be mad as hell at you. She probably already has and is!"
"I still don't understand why she should be. I'm doing my job, the best way I know how!"
"Don't you all, all you damn heart-breakers!" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She opened them, fixing Rick with her gaze. "Let me tell you a couple of stories.
I know how Commander Beckett feels." Rick was surprised, but let her continue.
"Twenty-five years ago, I was a young doctor on my first ship. I loved a pilot. Not handsome and dashing like you, but a good solid man. But since he was an ensign and I was a full lieutenant I was too proud to tell him. One morning he came to me and said he wanted to talk to me, as soon as he got back from a simple supply mission. He never came back. He was shot down." Rick blinked. He thought he'd known the background of the officers on the ship, but he hadn't known that.
"About a year after that, in one of those meaningless border clashes, a Marine officer was brought into the ER, a hard charging young lieutenant much like you. My twin brother died on the table, in front of me. It nearly broke me. But I had one consolation. My brother married his sweetheart on the day he graduated and left a son behind." She leaned forward slightly, bringing Rick in closer. In spite of himself, he leaned in as well.
"Commander Beckett cares for you. In fact, I think she loves you. You should apologize to her and do something nice for her."
Rick 's eyes widened, and for several seconds nothing came out of his astonished mouth.
Finally, he stared at the Captain and said, "She loves me? That's ridiculous, Captain! She has no reason to love me! And she's too intelligent to love me. I'm a very bad risk."
Captain Wayne bit back a laugh as she took in the nearly sputtering young man. "Intelligence and risk have nothing to do with a woman's emotions, Major, you should know that. You do have a sister." Rick threw her a look, and then checked to make sure no one was nearby. He leaned in even more.
"You could always delete the record, Captain. It's a common enough procedure. You don't really need it." Captain Wayne's eyebrows nearly met her hairline at that.
"And make it easy on you, Major? I don't think so. You need a lesson in humility and consideration."
"I'm trying to be considerate. If she doesn't know about it, it can't bother her."
"Like I said, she probably already knows about it."
"Not the severity."
Captain Wayne raised just one eyebrow this time. "How much would you like to wager against her already having checked the records. How long do you think you could keep it quiet?"
She tilted her head to the side and regarded Rick. "I know Marines and crewmen. I can even give you a fairly accurate prediction. A conversation something like this: 'Man, you should see our division officer, Old Iron Ass Bill. He's one tough SOB!
"Oh Yeah? Man, he's a pussy compared to our Major. The man took a round in the leg, bounced up and kept right on going.'"
She folded her arms. "Would you like to give odds on how long it would take her to hear about it?" Rick sighed, but conceded.
"Okay, Captain. Let's say I apologize to her and don't get too much of my ass handed to me. We're on a warship. In space. Last I checked the gift shop had a long way to go. How do you
propose I do something nice for her?"
"That's fairly simple. You're not going on any missions until I release you, which will be at least a week, maybe ten days. We may be in space, but this ship was equipped for a voyage of unknown duration. The ship's store has a very good selection and since a large part of the crew is female quite a few things to remind us that we are women.
"I'll even help you on this. First you apologize. Then you will purchase something that a beautiful woman would appreciate. I suggest a nice perfume. Finally, although you usually ignore it, there is a section of the officer's mess that is reserved for senior officers. As ground force commander, you qualify. You will ask Commander Beckett to dinner and you will wear dress uniform, all of it, Major Richard Castle. You needn't worry about arrangements. I'll make them." She leaned back in her chair with a satisfied look on her face. Rick frowned as he mirrored her pose.
"Why are you going to all this trouble, Captain?"
"Commander Beckett is my best surgeon and a very good clinician as well. I want her relaxed and happy, even if it's only for as long as it takes you to get into it again." The rest of the meal was quiet, Rick lost in his thoughts, and Captain Wayne smiling to herself as she watched him working it out in his head.
Kate, you so owe me, she thought.
29, March 2454 Medical Officer's Quarters on the Tenacious 10:00 hours.
Kate 's com chimed. She tapped it wearily. "Commander Beckett."
"Kate, it's Rick. May I please come in?"
Her jaw clenched, all weariness evaporating in a sudden burst of emotion. "What do you want?"
Rick flinched. He could hear the anger in her voice, emphasized by the terse response.
"I just want to talk with you."
"Why?"
She really is pissed, Rick thought.
"I owe you an apology. I want to make things right with you."
"I'll hear what you have to say, but it had better be good." She opened the door. Rick was looking at a beautiful but angry woman, her arms crossed, her expression doing little for his peace of mind. "Well?"
"Kate, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I didn't think I had."
Kate looked directly into his eyes, tears sparkling in her own.
"You lied to me, after claiming you never would. Don't you think that hurts?"
Rick grimaced, Kate 's expression driving home the extent of her pain. He took a step forward.
"I didn't intentionally lie to you. I see how you could feel that I did, but I didn't mean to. I was careful, by my standards. Look at the record. No serious casualties, no deaths. I really thought I did well. I was doing my best."
Kate shook her head. Rick was still trying to minimize the impact of his actions.
"No serious casualties? Then why are you limping?"
"It really was minor. Sergeant Kerr dressed it and I was on my feet in less than five minutes."
Kate gave him a very hard look.
"On your feet in less than five minutes." She threw up her hands. "Don't you realize how dangerous that was?"
"It came out okay, but I guess you could say I did make a mistake."
"It was almost a fatal mistake! Three centimeters to the right and we wouldn't be having this discussion! Three centimeters! Even if you didn't lie to me, Del did. He said he had your back, yet he was 200 kilometers away."
Rick had the grace to look a little sheepish.
"All right, I didn't correct him, but I'm so used to him backing me up that I didn't really notice it."
Kate gave him an incredulous look before she settled on a stern glare. She pointed at the seat next to him.
"Sit in that chair and be quiet until I'm finished. For once in your life you're going to listen to someone other than your C.O."
Rick sat, astonished at the forcefulness Kate was displaying. Her anger and frustration had dried up the previous tears.
"Julia was right. When you decide to do something, away you go and do it unless it affects your men or mission, the consequences be damned. Sometimes I think a fleet tanker full of adrenaline wouldn't satisfy you! No thought for Julia, or the duchess or me! Grow up, damn it!
"I was at the ceremony, remember? Don't you remember what the Empress said?
She said that you are needed and loved by her people. Not just those close to you.
Did you forget about them?"
Rick opened his mouth, but her words ran right over his half-formed protest.
"I thought that I was just furious with you and I am. But I'm hurt, too. I can't even imagine how many tears Julia's shed through the years."
Rick passed his hand over his face.
"And you're not doing the best job you can, Major Rick Castle. You're not a platoon leader or company commander anymore. Nobody doubts your courage or leadership. But you have a wider range of responsibility. Many of your young officers want to emulate you, but they don't have your abilities. They simply can't do what you do. But they'll die trying." She folded her arms again and settled herself across from Rick. She unfolded one arm to gesture to him.
"Now you can talk. Convince me that I'm not wasting my time."
Rick looked up at her and took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly to rest his forearms on his legs. As he spoke, she could hear the sincerity in his voice.
"Kate, your being hurt is worse than you being angry. I never meant to hurt you. You know I never would, willingly."
Kate sighed and leaned back in her seat. "Yet you did. And not just me. How do you think Julia is going to feel when she sees another cluster on your Purple Heart or even worse, if you don't come home?"
"You're right, Kate, in all of it. And again, I'm sorry. So how do I go about making amends and putting a smile back on that lovely face of yours?" He reached out to take her hand, and she regarded it thoughtfully before deciding to keep her arms crossed.
"Are you trying to charm me, Rick?"
"Honestly, yes, I am, but I mean it too. I don't like to see you worried or sad."
"So, you do care how I feel?"
"Yes, or I wouldn't be here."
She let out a breath and shook her head before leaning forward herself to take his still outstretched hand. "I may forgive you but you're going to have to work to get back in my good graces." He nodded and squeezed her hand slightly as she continued.
"First, I want you to understand what I mean by being careful. I don't want you to stop being who and what you are. I don't think that you could. I just want you to not be so careless with your own safety. Secondly, don't keep me in the dark. I know that some things I can't know, but let me know those things I can. Third, don't ever lie to me again, even in small things. Think very carefully how you phrase things. Not even a lie by omission."
Rick gave her a little smile. "You're going to be tough on me, aren't you?"
Kate nodded. "Yes, I am, but it's your own fault and for your own good."
Rick let go of her hands and lifted his in a placating gesture.
"All right, I agree to all of it. Now, I have a question for you. Would you like to have dinner, Saturday night? I promise that it will be special." He raised his eyebrows hopefully.
Her face softened and her beautiful smile appeared.
"Yes, I would, but you're not even close to being forgiven, yet." Rick grinned at her, and she proceeded to unceremoniously hustle him out of her quarters, letting him know that he could tell her the details of their dinner at a later time.
3, April 2454 Medical Officer's Quarters on the Tenacious 19:00 hours.
Kate put the finishing touches on her makeup and checked herself in the hologram.
She wore her dress uniform, her hair shining and her unicorn earrings in place.
Lanie came in.
"Wow! Where are you going? You've been secretive, all week!"
"I'm having a special dinner with a very handsome man."
"Who are you talking about? Lanie asked.
"I'm having dinner with Rick Castle."
An incredulous expression crossed Lanie 's face.
"After what he did? I thought that you were going to give him hell!"
Kate smiled.
"I did. And he made the nicest apology imaginable."
"You believed him?" Lanie crossed her arms. I'm not sure that I would."
Kate looked at Lanie. You weren't there
"Yes, I did and I do believe him I don't think he meant to lie to me, he didn't think he did.
His idea of careful was a very loose interpretation."
"Loose? More like non- existent!"
"
"Quiet Lanie, he'll be here any moment now."
She no sooner said that, than her com chimed.
"Yes?"
"Are you ready, Kate?"
She opened the door. Rick was resplendent in dress uniform, even the emblem of knighthood sparkling on his chest.
"Kate, you take my breath away."
"As you do, mine, Sir Knight." Lanie 's mouth hung open. Rick held a small gift-wrapped package.
"A peace offering, I don't know much about these things, I hope that you like it."
Kate unwrapped the gift. It was a vial of perfume, black cut glass with an 18-caret gold cap. It was marked "Enchantress" in gold leaf letters.
"For someone who doesn't know much about it, you have remarkably good taste, I'll be back in a minute."
She seldom wore perfume, but she wasn't going to waste this opportunity. She quickly dabbed some behind her ears and at the base of her throat.
It was a very erotic scent, elusive and pervasive at the same time.
She came back out. "Shall we go?"
Every head turned as they walked into the mess.
Captain Rogers and Captain Wayne, also in dress uniform were waiting at a table.
"I hope that you won't mind sharing a table with us, for a few minutes." Captain Rogers said,
"We're honored, Sir. Rick said.
Rick seated Kate. After they ordered, Captain Rogers said, "Another reason that we're here Major, is at special request."
"Special request, Sir, whose?"
"Ours, Count Richard."
Rick looked up. A rather gaunt Centauran officer stood with Commander Hito.
Rick started to rise.
"Please keep your seat, Count Richard. I am Captain Dalen Delaun of the Centauran Survey Service. Commander Hito and I want to express our gratitude for our freedom, probably our lives. Your brilliant planning and daring execution of the mission, along with Captain Kevan's execution of your orders were incredible. I also wanted to see the man who hold s our empire's highest award for courage and is a Lord yet who was not born among us. Captain Kevan has told us much. It was hard to believe until I saw the evidence."
"Thank you, Sir, but I think that most of this is over reaction. I simply did my duty as I saw it."
"That, I don't believe, Sir Richard. I know the Emperor, personally. What you have, you have more than earned."
Commander Hito said, "I want to add to that. I saw you in action, Major. Captain Delaun is right. I can tell you this, Major when we get back, all of Alpha Centauri will know of our rescue. "We'd better leave you to your dinner. Thanks again.
"Kate I'm sorry. I wasn't aware of any of this. I just wanted you to have a nice dinner." "That's true, Commander. He was ambushed." "We'll leave you two, now." Captain Wayne said. We actually have our own table."
"Those two have their own table? Do you think? No way!"
"Why not?" Kate asked "They're not old and they're both very attractive."
"Yes, but she comes on like the dragon lady. She even threatened to have me confined to sick bay if I didn't agree to limited duty! Damn it, I'm a line officer!"
"Yes, you are. One who promised me to be more careful and up till now, haven't done a very good job of it. Look at it this way, one of your duties is developing your subordinates.
You have a series of raids planned. With you sidelined, they are going to have to step up.
Now that is all the military talk, I want to hear. I want the sweetness and light you promised me."
Their food came and as the meal progressed, Rick proved, again, that when he wanted to, he could be the most charming of men. Kate relaxed, basking in his attention.
As they finished desert, Kate said, "I would like a nice drink and to listen to some soft music do you think that you could arrange it?"
"Saturday night? The lounges will be hopping."
"I know that, that's not what I asked."
"We could go to the Star Lounge,
They don't serve anything but coffee or tea there but I can have one of my orderlies bring Scotch and Drambuie to the lounge. I'll input my playlist into the computer in the booth."
Kate was a little disappointed, she'd hoped for something more private but she would take what he offered. As for Rick, He'd been too tempted the last time she was in his quarters. He wanted her but was unwilling to just use her for sex.
Rick was in falling in love with Kate as much as she was with him but he wouldn't admit it. He still felt that a woman loving him was asking for pain. He had loved Celienne, in his way but not enough to stay with her.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, let's go." The star lounge was located near the surface of the hull. It featured a large transparent dome that was normally covered by armor. Tonight, the covers were retracted, allowing a magnificent view of the stars. Placida floated in space, a beautiful blue and white ball. They slid into the booth and Rick ordered coffee for them. A few minutes later, his orderly showed up with two bottles and two glasses.
"Have you ever been on Tolvar, Kate?"
"No, I haven't."
"There's a place called the Fire Falls. Waterfall goes over a cliff that's loaded with natural gemstones. When the sunlight hits it, just right, the water looks like it's afire."
"Have you seen it, in person?"
"Yes, I have. It's beautiful."
Rick gave the orderly a credit slip to go and buy himself a drink. He mixed drinks and handed her a glass. "What shall we toast to, besides a wonderful evening?" He asked.
"To promises kept." They toasted, and then he said;
"I'm afraid that my play list is mostly from the twentieth century. I'm fascinated by their music."
"Choose one for me."
She put a set of ear buds in place. The strains of "Moon River" Came through, followed by Canadian Sunset and Lara's theme. Then Unchained Melody. Kate sipped her drink
Listening and relaxing. Rick touched her hand. "Would you like another drink?" "One more, please." Rick made another pair of drinks and chose They're never be another you. "I understand why you like these, they tell a story.
So much of modern music doesn't or it's so abstract that it's hard to follow."
"We let our coffee get cold, let me order some more."
"Get it to go, please I'd like to sip it as we stroll through the garden." The ship was large enough that it had a decorative garden that covered several hundred square meters. The psychologists knew that fresh greenery soothed many people's nerves. The plants and miniature trees were all hydroponic varieties but the nutrient tanks were cleverly disguised with a covering of a type of moss.
"I haven't been here, before. It is beautiful."
"Why not?"
"Time, mostly."
They settled on a bench and finished their coffee. She leaned in against him.
Kate, I…
"Shhh, Rick. QUIT TALKING." Rick slid an arm around her and gently stroked her hair. She sighed and snuggled in. Rick cupped her chin, gently lifting it then kissed her.
She responded eagerly, seeking his mouth as much as he sought hers. It was a timeless moment for them.
Rick said;
"I'd better get you back. Now I know why they call that stuff Enchantress!"
Walking back, they didn't know that they were being spied on. They stopped outside her door." Thank you for a wonderful evening, Rick."
"You're welcome, I had a great time, too. Am I forgiven now?"
"Not yet, I'm going to need to test you, some more."
She lifted her face to him. He kissed her again, nothing held back.
Kate 's mouth opened and he responded. Kate 's hands cupped his face,
Caressing, not wanting to let go. He broke away. "Good night, Kate. I'll try to join you for lunch, tomorrow. I can't promise, the first of the station raids goes out Monday. I won't be on it but I have to finalize the plans."
Do your best."
"I will."
Cristobol smiled. It wasn't a sweet smile. "Oh, you frigid little girl, you had the perfect opportunity and you didn't use it. You should have taken him in. That's why he's going to end up in my bed, not yours!"
Rick stopped in the Star lounge to pick up his bottles, which he'd left with the attendant.