Chapter 8
Mark acknowledged his orders mechanically, saluted, turned on his heel and left. In a daze, he almost stumbled upon Princess, who was waiting for him in the corridor.
"Mark? Are you okay? What did Anderson want?"
"I...Princess...I'm sorry for shouting at you on the Phoenix. I shouldn't have done that".
"Oh, Mark", she smiled at him. "I know you're under a lot of pressure. Don't worry about it".
"I ...I don't..." he stumbled, not knowing what to say. He desperately wanted to share the burden Anderson had dumped on him. But he knew he couldn't.
"Mark, is everything okay? You were very quiet in there".
"No, Princess. Everything is not okay. But let's go and get Jason back, and then everything will be better".
Princess squeezed his hand, then ran down the corridor to the Phoenix's docking bay.
During the long flight to Spectra, Mark turned over and over again in his mind what the Chief had told him about Jason. His suspicions that he was a defector, a traitor. It was true that the ambush was either the result of treason, or an extreme coincidence. Yes, it was possible it was a coincidence. But was it? Jason had refused to obey a direct order given to him during combat. But it wasn't the first time. And he had indeed given the others time to get back to the Phoenix. But were his actions necessary? On one level, yes. His staying behind covered his own retreat with Princess. But on another level, Mark was sure Jason could've retreated with them in time. But maybe Jason hadn't calculated it like this, and maybe he felt that he didn't have time to go back to the Phoenix.
Mark squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head. No. He had to remain firm in his belief that Jason was innocent. Not of insubordination, perhaps, but of treason. Otherwise, he would not be able to keep his focus on the mission. He would enter the base, and find evidence that Jason was innocent.
To be continued
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