Wilma retrieved the coffee from the Serviceportal and poured it into a mug. She turned to get her own breakfast drink when Buck emerged from the bedroom. He walked over and kissed her good morning. Wilma handed Buck his coffee, took up her breakfast and sat down at the small table the she used for eating where Buck joined her.

"So, what do you think the counsel will do about your case?" he asked after a while.

"I really don't know" she replied. She had almost forgotten the trouble she was in.

"Worst case, I guess, would be to recommend a Court Marshall. At least that way I could have a better chance to present my case. But even if I am not judged in the wrong, it would be on my record. Or best case they could do nothing and let it drop."

"Unfortunately, I don't see them saying 'Oh never mind' do you?" Buck replied

"No, if they've gone this far they will want something to show for the trouble" Wilma said. "It could anything in between"

"I still don't understand why they have the rule in the first place"

"It is a remnant of the past, back when the computer counsel was first set up. Don't forget at that time the different orgs that existed were starting to come together to fight the war. There were hardly enough warriors and pilots available, none to spare at all. And it reinforced the notion that nobody was more important than anybody else. Everybody was needed in some capacity if terrain society was going to survive. Luckily that's in the past, but the policy remained. There's probable a couple of other odd ones out there."

Buck shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I understand, but weren't the policies updated"

Before Wilma could answer him, the Vid screen signaled an incoming message. She rose and went to the wall where the vid screen hung and said "screen on"

"Attention, attention the counsel has arrived at a decision in case LM8595B. Attention, attention. It is the considered opinion of the counsel that Col Wilma Deering and all other officers at that level are never off duty and always considered representative of their directorate. Therefore, and in consideration of Col. Deering position within the ruling council, Col is hereby sentenced to 30 days of suspension. She is barred from all Defense Directorate physical property and data portals. "

Wilma was stunned, she hadn't thought that she would be suspended, a reprimand in her file maybe but a thirty-day suspension.

Buck on the other hand was smiling broadly when she looked at him. "what's so funny" she asked somewhat petulantly.

"This is perfect"

"What do you mean perfect, I'm barred for working for 30 days"

"Look, in 30 days the directorate will really miss you, and realize just how important you are, but it's still not enough time for things to really go bad. And in the meantime, I have you all to myself for 30 whole, wonderful, beautiful days. Boy are we going to have fun" he told her as he moved over to where she was standing in front of the vid screen.

Wilma didn't appear to agree with him.
"What other recourse do you have besides accepting the judgement and moving on. Look I know you're not happy with this, and I wouldn't be either if it were me, but I think we can make the best of this situation." He told her. "Think of it as a 30-day vacation with me!" By this time, he had her wrapped in his arms and was nuzzling her neck. "we are going have a great month together!"

Neither Buck nor Wilma were the personality type to remain idle for very long. They used the free time to travel around, first New Chicago, then other terrain cities Buck had to yet to visit. There was so much Buck wanted to see and Wilma was happy to be his tour guide, showing him both the good and bad sides of the 25th Century. They took time to visit some of the outlying terrain settlements on other planets including the garden planet of K130. Buck had wanted to visit and there was now time. They spent hours in conversation, about just about everything, getting to know each other.

Originally at the beginning of their month together Buck hadn't wanted to accept any requests from the directorate, but Wilma convinced him that he really didn't have an excuse not to take the green squadron on a training run. He was an important part of the defense directorate even if he wasn't official a member. So, during the 4 weeks Buck took a couple of assignments.

One evening towards the end of their "vacation" they were both reading quietly. Buck laying with his head on Wilma's lap. He reached up and took the device from her hands.

"Hey, I was using that" she protested.

"I know but I want to ask you something." He paused then said "So what is going to happen at the end of the 30 days. To us I mean. Do I have to go home?"

"Home?"

"Back to my unit"

"Do you want to?" she asked. Wilma was a caught off guard. "I guess I hadn't really thought about the end of my sentence. That's not like me I usually have things planned out well in advance." She paused and looked down at Buck, reached down and tweaked his side. "All that's all your fault Mr. Buck Rogers. So much of this is uncharted for me."

"My fault? You're the one that started all this!" he said with a grin. But, looking up at her, he got serious. "No, I don't want to go back to my own unit. I think we will have to adjust to our schedules etc. but I think we should at least try it." Buck wasn't the type of guy who analysis his feelings, but he knew that he hadn't been this comfortable and happy in New Chicago before.

Wilma was quiet for a few minutes, she was trying to process what this all meant. Was Buck saying they would be together for a long time. As she told Buck this was uncharted territory for her, but she knew she didn't want their relationship to end.

Before she could answer, Buck said "how about this; we take it one day at a time. No long-term decisions just worry about today"

After a moment's thought Wilma said "Okay" and she snatched her reading device back. Buck settled himself on her lap and went back to reading also.

Her month was almost up, just 5 more days and she could go back on duty. She was itching to get back to her office. While the computer counsel could bar her from physical property they couldn't stop her from thinking about things. And she and Buck had a number of conversations about the way flight squadrons were assembled, about staggering the flight academy graduations and all kinds of other issues. And Buck had agreed to undertake a mission for the defense directorate that would keep him away from New Chicago for 2 days, maybe 2 and a half.

So, Wilma walked Buck to the flight deck, stopping just outside the doors. They moved into a nook and Buck took her into his arms to kiss her goodbye. "I'll be back before you

Kaboom!