here's another one for all you readers out there in the fanfiction verse if you like then drop me a like or if you want you review it.
Chapter five
At last we made back to our special quarters. Of course once I enter Johanna was the first to speak up. "Hey there Marty, you know Gabe was looking for you." But once Gabe made his presence known Johanna just acknowledge to him silently.
"So you were talking about a dinner date," Marty said slowly.
"Uh yeah I forgot about that for second" Gabe said.
"So what do you mean by that?"
"Ok Marty just hear me out on this, because it was sort of a last minute arrangement by ONI."
"What arrangement are you talking about Gabe; don't tell me that you're making dealings behind my back, "as Marty started to get bit serious.
"It's not what you think Marty it's just that it was arranged at the very last minute," Clark insisted.
"What was arranged at the last minute?" Gabe finally came clean about it up front with Marty.
"Ok it's just that you got to attend a dinner with the Captain of the Ship, mostly for publicity."
" What do you mean by dinner and publicity?"
"Well you are to go to have dinner with the Captain of the ship, publicity wise it's mostly for a photo op for ONI. "
"Let me guess, this was a last minute deal by those ONI guys again right?"
" Pretty much, look I fought this kicking and screaming all the way through, but you know how they are they want what want."
"Actually Gabe I don't know how these guys are or much less how they operate," as Marty was getting cross with Gabe. "Can't I just take rain check on this one?"
" No."
" Well maybe Johanna wants to go, have you asked him."
"Hey Marty don't drag me into this."
" No Marty they specifically asked for you and you alone." Marty just gave up after that.
"Fine I'll go, when do I have to be there?"
" In about three hours from now, which is plenty of time for you to get ready?"
"So this Captain of the ship, please tell me that at least she's nice?"
" Well actually Marty, the Captain of the ship is actually a guy."
"Awe come on man, I'm not that kind of person to go out to dinner like that you know me."
"Yeah I know Marty, but trust me I'm pretty dame sure that the Captain is just as annoyed with this idea as we are."
"What do you mean?"
" Well ONI hasn't really broken the news to this guy just yet."" But not to worry Marty I'll come along with you to make sure you don't feel too uncomfortable."" And not to worry once ONI is done with their photo op; the dinner is to be held on a private deck from prying eyes."
"Ok fine, let's just get this over with."
"Good to hear Marty, I'll contact ONI with your approval, till then get a bit of rest, shower up, and please dress appropriately." Marty just shrugged his shoulders to Gabe as he made his was to his room.
Meanwhile on the other side of the ship in the command deck Captain Lasky is going about his day with the ever so constant demand a keeping a tight ship in order. As usual he goes over the days operations within the ship, till the Ships AI Roland notifies him that he has an incoming call from ONI on Earth.
"Captain sir your getting a call on a personal secured line from General Lynch from ONI on earth sir."
"Go ahead and patch him through Roland on the main com."
"This is Captain Lasky. "
"Ah Captain Lasky, how was your trip on the other side of the galaxy?"
"Satisfactory I would guess sir."
" Well then I guess since we've exchanged pleasantries, I'll get down to business."
" So is the package secured for the troops?"
"If you're speaking on those civilians sir, then yes they are aboard and secured."
" Good then, I think your men and crew will be most please when they perform tomorrow night."
" If you suppose so sir."
"Why Captain Lasky, do I sense doubt from you."" I assure you these individuals know how to put on a great show."" After all they are one of the most popular bands playing in this universe not only amongst your men, but also by the insurrectionists as well."
"With them we will surely win hearts and minds with the public at large."" But this is not why I called you for. ""In fact I have in need you for a mission of publicity."
" A mission in publicity sir, I don't know what you mean by that."
"Well then let me explain it then."" You will be participating in a photo op with the lead guitarist of Sol Space and then afterwards you'll have dinner as well." Of course once General Lynch announced this any officer on the bridge that was in an ear shot just heard this bombshell of news then and there.
"Roland."
" Yes sir."
"Switch this com channel to my private office now. "
"Yes sir."
In an instant Roland switch coms to Lasky's private office next door to the bridge. "Sir I didn't hear you quite clearly, did you just say that I have to do a photo op and attend a dinner with one of these civilians?"
" Yes you heard me correctly Captain."
"Look sir I'm rather busy at the moment however I can assign someone else to go in my stead as a reprehensive from the ship to entertain this civilian."
"That is quite alright Captain, however Fleetcom did approve of this request by ONI."
"So in a way you're going weather you like or not."" Also I suggest you bring along a female counterpart to accompany you, mostly to take the edge off."
" Is that a suggestion or an order sir?"
" I'll let you decide on which is which, unless your unable find someone."
" I can make a suggestion for you if you need me to."
" No sir that is quite alright, I'll find someone to accompany me."
"Now that's the spirit Captain, well then I'm glad we've been able to come to an understanding on this matter."" Now it is fifteen hundred hours and your photo op will at eighteen hundred hours followed by dinner at nineteen hundred hours."" Also before I go Captain, you will be welcoming to this civilian is that understood?"
" Yes sir I do, by the way what is the name of this civilian if you don't mind me asking."
"Well I guess I owe you that much I suppose, but the civilians name is Mr. Marty Mcfly the lead guitarist of Sol Space." In a small instant the conversation was over. As for Lasky he is now more agitated in the fact that he was order to entertain a civilian, much less a musician. The thought alone sicken him for a short because he now has to find a date for this new event. In an instant he orders Roland to get in contact with commander Palmer to get her to his office asap. Within a span of ten minutes commander palmer enters Lasky's office sporting her Mjolnir gen2 armor.
"Did you summon me sir?"
" Yes Palmer, don't worry this won't take long."
" Is there something wrong sir, you don't seem too content today."
" Wow how do you guess," Lasky sounding rather sarcastic there. "All right I'll just cut to the chase."
"I being order to do a photo op today with one of those civilians we have on board."" And I'm also being order to attend a private dinner for said individual."
" I see sir, why you?"
" Well ONI has decided to do so at a whim."
" Well it's just a few photos for propaganda, but I don't understand why you have to do a dinner."
" I don't know why ONI wants me to do a dinner, but I have no choice in the matter."
" Well then sir all I can say is good luck."
" Well there is one more thing before you go Palmer."
" Yes sir."
" ONI has suggested that a female should come along with me."
" Come again sir."
" ONI has order me to take a female along with to this photo op and dinner."
"Sir do you want me to find you a female officer for you?"
" No that's quite all right, I've already have someone lined up."
" I not quite following you sir."
" Palmer I would like you to come along as my female cohort for tonight's event."
"That's quite all right sir, I don't think I would make a cohort for you."
" Ah don't sell yourself short palmer I'm sure you would like to come along with me."
" Sir do I have a choice on this matter?"
" At this very moment, no."
"I'm sorry sir but I must object to this idea."
" Dually noted now, I need you to come back to the bridge before seventeen thirty hundred hours, is that understood?"
" Yes sir."
" Oh by the way be sure to dress in something nice, other than your armor is that understood?"
" Yes sir I understand."
" Good you are dismissed, and I'll see you at five thirty."
Later on that very same day or night or something, heck I'm in space everyday looks like night, as Marty was looking out of the window. He checked his watch letting him know that he had about fifteen minutes to reach courtyard area of this ship with Gabe so that he can do his mandatory photo course before he left, Clark looked over Marty while straightening out his three peace Gucci solid black suit with light grey pinstripes." Wow Marty you really do clean up pretty well if I have to say so myself," Clark added.
"Thanks Clark, I normally don't wear a suit and tie."
" None the less you do look really good." Everyone else in the band was there to see me off. Even Fay and Anna mouths were slightly gaping open as they saw me.
"Is that you Marty," Fay said to me in here Kenyan accent.
"I have to admit you look really handsome in that suit," Anna added.
"Well all I can tell you Marty, is to knock them dead," Hiro suggested. Soon enough Gabe came by looking me over with much approval. While Gabe himself sported that same all black uniform when we first met little over a year ago.
"Ok Marty are you ready to go?"
"Uh yeah I think so, but wait a minute."
" Yeah what is it this time?"
"Well since we are the guest here on this ship, shouldn't we like maybe present something to the captain from us?"
"Like what do you have in mind Marty," Clark asked.
"Well why don't we get one of our albums out and sign our names on it."
" You know Marty that does sound like a really nice idea," Gabe insisted. In about a quick few minutes, we as a band chose our first album that we did in a retro style sort of way.
Even though most of the music is now done on these data crystal cubes, that didn't mean that we often would option for one of those old LP vinyl covers. Of course our first album picture was really of the whole band standing together with smiles with earth and the rest of the planets from the sol system in the back ground. So we signed our names under our own selves on the album. The only one that looked different was Hiro who wrote his name with some Japanese text form.
"Hey thanks guys, I think this will make a nice gift for the Captain of the ship."
" Ok just grab it, because we got to go now."
Once again we were off. As far as I know the walk was a bit long, but not too bad. For the most part we took elevators to go up on the many decks of the ship. We finally make it with a couple minutes to spare. The venue that was chosen was actually kind of nice and tranquil. For one it looked like a court yard to me, with plenty of benches to sit and lots of plants in the area.
The plants were mostly of small shrubs with small ornamental trees. I mean they don't look that big to climb on, but none the less they were nice to look at. Of course the ceiling was made up of glass and metal, in case you wanted to see stars I suppose. Of course the press corps for these military types were already there ahead of time including some civilian ones as well.
"All right Marty you're about to go on, now all they're going to do is really just take a few pictures."" They are not suppose to ask you any questions, but if they do just respond in a nice and courteous manor. ""Oh one more thing, the Captain's name is Thomas Lasky, and he's that guy over there in the navy all white dress uniform."" As for the lady that's with him, I believe is someone named commander palmer and she looks like she is dressed in a standard Marine dress blues uniform."
"Dress blues are you sure looks black to me," Marty said confusingly.
"Trust me it's called dress blues don't ask me why that's just what they call them." I take a quick gander and look back to Gabe in an instant.
"Gee Gabe they don't look too happy."
" Trust me Marty they are stone hard cold military types, so they look that all the time."
"Well aren't you coming along with me to greet them?"
" I really don't want to Marty."
" Awe come on man you got me into this and you're going to suffer just as much as me."
" Oh all right I'll come along." Just like that I was introduced by Gabe to the Captain and his lady friend.
As always we shook hands as we greeted one another. As for me it was rather odd, I mean everyone here is so tall and big. Even the Captain was about a few inches taller than me, not to mention Mrs. Palmer who I can only imagine is about six foot or like Gabe had put it we took our photos for the Press Corps, usually in a greeting and friendly fashion. That didn't mean that I didn't have fun with it. Every so often I would flash the rock sign, which I could tell that the civilian press really liked.
At first I didn't think that they actually wanted us to do an hour long photo op, but yup that's how it was. They actually spent a full hour doing this. I mean it was fun for the first ten minutes, but after that I could tell that my host was really getting annoyed by it, and I don't blame him for it either. At least his lady friend was able to get out of it for the most part, but I could tell that they really wanted this day over with.
But once we were done, my host along with his female cohort led me and Gabe to the private deck area to where I was going to have dinner. To me it looked rather nice; I mean it had a nice over view of the solar system. The dish for the night looked like some kind of mystery meat or meat loaf to me along with some steamed veggies. Once the stewards served us they were gone.
What can I tell you other than Christ all mighty it was silent in here? I mean when you hear the expression that you could hear a pin drop, that's what it was like. Just from the looks of my host and hostess I could really tell that they didn't want to be here. Like I said before I don't blame them at all. I don't want to be here either. Me and Gabe literally sat on one of the table while they sit on the other just to make it even more awkward than already is.I mean how could I let that douche bag General Lynch talk me into this, much less Gabe as well. That's it I had enough I got voice my opinion out loud, then get the hell out of here. So I asked a bit out loud for some more water.
To the point that Gabe looked at me all of sudden. "What was that Marty?"
" I just wanted some water that's all." I could see my host pick up the pitcher of water while handing it over to me as if it was a chore to him. I mutter a bit softly to him saying, "Thanks." I quickly pour myself a generous amount and then gulped it down in one shot.
"Hey Gabe let's just call it a night ok."
Gabe looked up at me again and asked," what was that Marty?"
" I said let's just call it night ok."
" Why what's wrong," Gabe with much concern in his voice. By the time I was about to explain my case again to Gabe, both my Host and hostess stopped eating and looked up at me with a little bit of concern in their eyes.
"Look Gabe let's just call it a night and leave ok."
" Why is there something wrong?" As if Gabe couldn't get it then and there I literally started to rant out loud.
"Dude how could you be this blind?"" Do you have any idea how awkward this is?"
"God dame Gabe, this is really weird ok, I mean I don't know how I let you talk me into this, even though that giant douche General Lynch is to blame." I then turn my attention towards Mr. Lasky." Look Captain I'm really sorry for all this, this was not my idea at all."" I don't how I let that Douche bag General Lynch talk me into this much less my Liaison over there as well."
"Marty calm down," as Gabe insisted.
"No I'm not going to calm down, this isn't right."" Coming here was such a huge mistake man."" I should've said no to that Lynch guy then and there."" But then again I know what you're going to say that it's not about me or the band."" It's about the troop's right; I mean they deserve everything and more."
" That's the only reason why I'm even here and it's for them."" But come on man I mean the Captain of the ship shouldn't have to do this."" Its fucking retard Gabe, I mean he's the captain of the ship he shouldn't have to entertain me like this."" I mean his duty is to the ship, if I was in his position I would consider this so beneath me."
"And Mrs. Palmer over there looks like she wants to ring somebody's neck for making her do this, hopefully not mine. ""From all the ribbons and awards she has on her chest, could only tell me that she commands a lot respect here."
I then turn my attention once again to Captain Lasky." Captain sir again I apologize for the lack of judgment by that Lynch guy."" You shouldn't have to do this."" Me and my band we are going to put a great show for your crew, and then we'll get out of here fast and out of your hair."" And hopefully we can forget that this ever happened."
I quickly turned around leaving Gabe where he was at as I started to make my way to the elevator. Gabe on the other mutters out loud saying shit. He then turns to both Captain Lasky and commander palmer apologizing to them in a frantic mood, while getting up quickly to stop Marty.
"Marty,…..Marty… come back man." For Lasky however he could tell that Palmer was eyeing to him a bit as to what just happen. Yet to him, he could see now that this Marty character though young as he is, shows such responsibility and respect within himself and others.
At first he thought that he was nothing more than a rich kid wanting to play soldier. Yet from the way he spoke about showing respect and in way giving his time towards others show him, that he was something rather different, but in a good kind of way.
In that moment he decided that he had to set things right between himself, palmer, and Mr. Mcfly. He stood up calmly and said," Mr. Mcfly." At first he didn't think that he was loud enough, but then continued on." Mr. Mcfly, please Mr. Mcfly."
As Marty went on about wanting to leave then and there that's when Gabe started to hear Captain Lasky calling out to Marty. So in that instance he motioned to Marty that someone was calling to him. "Hey Marty I think the Captain wants to say something to you."
As Marty looked very unsure about this he still turned around to see what the Captain wanted. Probably to tell him how right he is about this whole mess. He came a bit closer since the Captain was motioning to come forward.
"Mr. Mcfly, please comeback," Lasky asked. Marty did as he asked while standing there a bit unsure as to what the Captain wanted. "Mr. Mcfly I apologize to if you if felt any discomfort in the way that I myself or palmer may have acted in front of you."
"You don't have to apologize to me Captain, it's quite all right I mean I would have been upset myself if I was forced to do this."
"I guess what I'm saying to you Mr. Mcfly is that I should've been a little bit more humble and welcoming to you, after all you and your band are guest on this ship."" So Mr. Mcfly if you please come back and join us."
"Are you sure you want this Captain sir?"
" I am quite sure Mr. Mcfly."
" All right lets go back Gabe." I started to sit back down again at the table across from the Captain. I guess in a way the Captain was the first to break the ice with me.
"I guess the first thing I should've ask you Mr. Mcfly is, are you well accommodated?"
" Ok first off Captain, um you don't have to call me Mr. Mcfly all the time ok, just call me Marty."" As for your first question are you asking me in general?"
"Um yes Marty I believe so."
" All right then, I'll give you best honest answer I can give."" First off I just have to say this is by far the biggest ship that I have ever been in."" I would ask you what you use this ship for, but I guess that's classified which is ok if you don't want to tell me."
"The next thing is that when I first got here in one of those gigantic landing bays, all I can say is whoa."" I never knew that this many people where even on board."" Which is cool for the most part, I mean they did come over usually in droves to get either a photo or a couple of autographs."" I'm a cool guy so whenever the fans ask for autographs and I'll never turn them down."
Gabe himself was about to interrupt Marty letting him know that Captain really didn't ask him about his arrival here, but was asking him about his dorm accommodations. In that insistence, he decided not to, after all the captain did look like he was rather enjoying this type conversation with Marty, so he said nothing.
"Then the next thing I did was something kind of childish which was a knee slide just to have some fun with the smooth metal floors on that docking bay."" I mean I did get a few cheers until it was silent in the room."" And that's when I ran into some guy here that really commanded a lot of respect."
"Let me see what was his name something Armstrong I think."
Lasky then interrupted ,"you mean executive petty officer Armstrong?"
" Yeah that's the guy," Marty said out loud. "Yeah that dude really scares me I mean he looked like one of those stone cold hard types that take's no shit from anybody."
"Well Marty I do apologize for Armstrong; he is a rather dedicated individual."" But please continue on."
"Well that's when he led us to our respective dorms I would say. ""I mean it's nice and all and it does feel cozy in there."" So I guess as far as accommodation wise, I can speak for everyone in my crew that we are comfortable, so thanks for asking Captain."
"You know Marty you don't have to keep calling me Captain, if you want just call me Lasky."
" Actually I would really prefer to call you Captain; I mean its ok for you to call me Marty because I'm a civilian and all."" But if I started to call you Lasky that just sounds really disrespectful to me."
" Very well then Marty, if that's what you want."
A few minutes pass on by as I drink a little bit off water and ate a little bit of meat loaf. Then another burning question came inside my head. I tried to get Gabe to answer me, but who better than the captain of the ship. I'm pretty dame sure he would know what those robots were. And who knows when I'll get another chance like this ever again.
"Hey Captain can I ask you a question?" He looked up to me as asked him and with a nod of approval. "Ok so later today after I got here."" I ran into this marine called PFC Davis."" Now I asked him to take me to a nice and secluded spot on the ship which he did."" Of course all he wanted was an autograph on his helmet."
"So back to my short story, so he takes me to this secluded spot so that I can get some boarding done."
"I'm sorry what was that Marty?"
" You mean the secluded spot sir."
" No that other thing you said. "
"You mean the boarding?"
" Yes that's it Marty what is boarding?"
"Oh well I was just getting some Skate boarding in."
" What is Skate boarding Marty," Lasky asked.
" Uh well sir, it's a flat board usually made of wood with two pair of wheels attached to it."
" I see."
" Ok captain I could see that you are a bit confused."
" If you want I can go back to my dorm and show it to you if you want?"
" That is quite all right, but please continue on".
"Ok so here I was boarding in that nice spacious secluded area that I was in, and then all of a sudden I got a bit spooked by someone or some random noise."" So I did a power slide almost a drift into a narrow hallway."" As I looked back that when I hit something head on. "
"As I got up Captain that's when I really scared. ""When I came too that's when I saw a pretty intimidating looking robots."
" I'm sorry did you say robots?"
" Yeah that's the question I wanted to ask you about. "
"Can you describe them for me?"
"That I can do Captain."" Well first off they were huge."" I mean they easily towered over like I was nothing."" For the most part I could see the metal parts or plates I would think."" It was like a mixture of black and colored plates I think."" Oh they all had different colors, I mean one I think was red, another was white, and the other two were in either grey or all black."
"But the one they all had in common is that they all had this gold like visor that would be a part of their face, but the weird thing to me Captain was that they didn't have a robotic voice at all." Once I got done I looked up again as the Captain had a very amused look on his face as well as Mrs. Palmer.
"Uh is everything ok Captain?"
" Oh yes uh everything is ok."
" So what were those robot looking things then?"
"Well Marty I believe you ran into some Spartans."
" Spartans, you mean ones from East Lansing?"
" I beg your pardon."
" You know the Spartan's of East Lansing."
" What's East Lansing?"
" What you should know that sir, its East Lansing Michigan."" The home of the Michigan State Spartan's."
"Uh yeah Marty that's not where they are from or are."
" So I'm lost here you called them Spartan's, so what are they then?"
" Well to put in a nutshell for you Marty they are solders, super solders if you want to be more specific. "
"Oh ok so you built them or something. "
"Uh not necessarily Marty they are human."
"Whoa no way there's a person underneath there?"
" Yes Marty there is."
"Huh I guess that's kind of cool after all."
In the next couple of hours we on and off again about life, love, and in my case rocking out. In the end me and the captain hit it off pretty well. Except for Mrs. Palmer who was pretty much silent the entire time. Anyways Gabe checks his clock and tells me that it's getting close to bed I got up along with Gabe as I was about to take off. But before I did, I did share one last thing with Captain Lasky.
"Well sir it was really nice meeting you and Mrs. Palmer, but it's getting late and I have do a little bit of rehearsal with my crew."" But before I go me and the band wanted you have this as a token of our appreciation for you putting up with us and letting us stay on your ship."
I pull out the LP cover with our signatures to hand over to captain Lasky. "Captain sir I wanted to present this to you if you don't mind." As I handed it to him I started to explain," this is the very first album we ever did as Sol space."" The title of the album is called kicking it old school."" If you haven't noticed it yet we all signed with our signatures."
"Well thank you Marty that's really kind of you, I'll be sure to check out some of your songs here perhaps tomorrow."" Now if there's anything you need then just let me know ok."
" Well there is one thing, me and my band are going to do a bit of practice and rehearsals and if you don't mind we could use a nice secluded spot to practice."
" I'll see what I can do."
"Ok well good night sir, and good night to you Mrs. Palmer even thought we really didn't talk much that's ok maybe we'll talk again later." In that instant Marty shook the hands of his host and hostess before leaving with Gabe to go back to his quarters.
As for Lasky he couldn't help but shed a small smirk across his face while laughing a bit.
"What's so funny sir. "
"Oh nothing Mrs. Palmer."
" Uh I don't get it sir."
" Really you had no idea what Mr. Marty Mcfly was talking about."
" Uh no sir."
"He kept calling you Mrs. Palmer, which implies that you and I are married. "
"What why would he say that?"
" I don't know, maybe it's because either you never caught on or you never engaged in any conversation with him."" Any ways let's just call it a night ok."