Try Again & Interrupting Yet Again

Try Again

Month 14 Day 14

16:12 Hours

Bugalu

The door opened to let him in, just like usual. “Mac, are you up?”

She appeared in the doorway to the bedroom in her engineering red uniform. “Of course I am, I work days now.”

“How did your first day go?”

“Very nerve-wracking, actually. I kept expecting Smit to ask a question and my mind to go blank.”

“It didn’t go blank on you?”

“Well... I don’t remember him asking any questions. He just told me to go do things, and I did them. But I don’t think they were busy-work things. I was actually doing engineering!”

“Good for you. And about time, too. Now, before I go have supper, we need to talk. Privately. Is Della here?”

“Been here and gone. Supper, I think. What’s so important? Can’t we talk about it over supper?”

“No, I said privately. And after his reaction when we went to the movies, I don’t think Mr Smythe would appreciate us having supper together.”

Her face paled. “I tried to explain to him that we’re brother and sister.”

“People have trouble believing that kind of relationship can exist. I think we’re going to have cool things until he can accept it.” If he ever can.

“Well, sit down and let’s talk, then.”

She sat on the sofa; he chose the armchair. “I don’t suppose anybody’s ever talked to you about sex, so I guess I’d better.”

She smiled shyly. “Don’t be silly. I know about sex.”

Her pronouncement caught him off-guard. “How?”

“Well, for one thing, I looked it up. A lot of innuendoes and stuff like that started making sense.”

“So you know what to expect on your wedding night?”

“Well, I’ve never experienced it, yet, but I know the basics of what will happen, yeah.”

“What about pa? Is he going to get in the way?”

Pink-faced, she managed to say, “He hasn’t so far. Not with Smit.”

“What does that mean? What have you done with Smythe that might have awakened pa?”

“Kissing. Hugging. A lot of feeling.”

Making out, then. No wonder he’s so anxious to get married. “Has he ever mentioned anything about your being pregnant?”

“No, of course not. ’Cause I’m not.”

“But if he’s heard the rumor, how would he know you’re not?”

“That isn’t possible on a Fleet ship. I got my shot when I came aboard. People would be a fool to listen to that particular rumor. And I don’t think Smit is a fool.”

“He doesn’t normally listen to rumors,” Bugsy agreed. “In fact, he’s a stickler for squashing them whenever he can. How long have you 2 been an item?”

“Don’t play dumb. You know when we got engaged.”

“But how long before that did you start making out?”

“A couple of times. Why?”

“It just seems to me he hasn’t got much reason to ask you to marry him. Unless he thinks you’re pregnant.” Would Smythe see that as a reason to marry her? Maybe, because unwed mothers don’t last long in the Fleet, and he might think it worth it, to keep her in. Side-lined, for sure, but still in. She could get a job on the ground somewhere, and still be able to use her skills and knowledge.

“Maybe he loves me.”

Is that wishful thinking? Or is this Pa’s method of getting her back on track with his plans for her? Time to open her eyes. “Based on what? A couple make-out sessions? That’s not love, that’s lust. And that isn’t a good basis for marriage.”

She jumped to her feet, angry at this possible disruption to her plans. “Ha! This coming from a great make-out artist, himself! I don’t care what Smit’s reasons are, I’ll take him however I can get him!”

“But, Mac, if he believes you’re...”

“I don’t care! Now get out!”

“You heard the lady,” said a gruff voice, and Smythe glared at him from the bedroom doorway. “Get out. And don’t bother my fiancée again.”

How long has he been here? When I asked about Della, why didn’t Mac tell me she wasn’t alone? Well, he’s obviously not in any mood to listen to me. And neither is she. I suppose retreat is the word for the day. “If that’s what you want, Mac”.

 

 

Interrupting Yet Again

Month 14 Day 14

16:20 Hours

Smythe

 

   525   536   528   495   words

 

The door opened to let him into the bedroom, which was a bit of a surprise. Still, it meant nobody was in the midst of getting dressed, and entering beat the alternative of waiting for permission to enter, and possibly being seen. But we’re engaged now, so that shouldn’t be a big deal.

There was no one in the bedroom at all, but he could hear Colleen talking to someone in the living room. “You know when we got engaged.”

“But how long before that did you start making out?”

Bugalu’s voice. What an impertinent, nosey question.

“A couple of times. Why does it matter?”

“It just seems to me he hasn’t got much reason to ask you to marry him.”

Who is he to question my reasons for wanting to marry her? Unless he’s got an interest he hasn’t admitted to!

“Maybe he loves me.”

“Based on what? A couple make-out sessions? That’s not love, that’s lust. And that isn’t a good basis for marriage.”

“Ha! This coming from a great make-out artist, himself! I don’t care what Smit’s reasons are, I’ll take him however I can get him!” Smythe could hear the anger in her voice.

There, that should put him in his place. What does she mean, ‘however I can get him’?”

“But, Mac, if he thinks you’re...”

“I don’t care! Now get out!”

I’ve had enough. He stepped into the doorway to the living room. “You heard the lady,” Smythe said, glaring at the helmsman. “Get out. And don’t bother my fiancée again.” He stepped forward and put his arm around Colleen’s waist.

“Mac, is that what you want?” Bugalu asked.

Smythe fumed, but Colleen turned, making the hand on her waist more of an embrace. “We’re getting married, Bugs. Get used to the idea.” Finally, the man left, leaving the couple halfway in an embrace. “I didn’t hear you come in, but I’m glad you did,” Colleen said, rose up on her toes to give him a kiss.

He pulled her tight against him and gave her a deep kiss, which only made him hungry for more. Later, he told himself, and had to think why he had to wait. He finished the kiss, and held her loosely, which didn’t begin to satisfy his desire for her. Can I hold out another 12 days? “We should probably go and have some supper before we carry on more tests with Joe and George.”

“Hmm. How about going to the privacy dining room?”

Can I behave myself in the privacy dining room? We’re both in uniform, ready for our session with Wilson and Abdulla, so if we were seen kissing and so on... Well, that is why it’s called a privacy dining room, because it has a modicum of privacy. We’ll just have to sit on opposite sides of the table and be happy with holding hands. Just in case.

He took her hand in his and they started for the doorway. “I do wish you’d stop seeing Bugalu. Especially in private. I don’t think he approves of our engagement.”

“I suppose you’re right. Though he’s got to get used to it.”

Family Time Interrupted

 Month 14 Day 10

1857 Hours

Bugalu

 Bugalu directed Mac to a pair of seats in the theater, and they sat down. They were later than he liked to arrive, and their choices of seats were limited, so they were a little too close to the screen, and off to the left. Better than no seats. “How have you been sleeping?”

“Fine. Why?”

“So it really was just that one day?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, in light of the stunning news I got during supper that day, we really need to have a private talk.” She’s got to be made aware of what to expect on her wedding night. Or before, because Smythe might not have the patience to wait that long. Haven’t seen much of pa lately, but we can’t have him come out in full force and have her beat up her husband.

The lights dimmed and the movie started. They lowered their voices to slight whispers. “How long do you need? I’ll have to figure out when to fit it in.”

“What do you mean, fit it in?”

“Well, I have things I do almost every evening, and when I don’t, then Smit finds something for us to do together.” Her face went pink at this mention of her betrothed.

They’re having dates? Well, I don’t know why that surprises me. Funny thing, I never hear anything about them doing things together. “I don’t know how much time I’ll need. It all depends on...”

“That’s enough of that,” said a gruff voice, and Mac was pulled out of her chair and up the aisle toward the exit.

“Smit!” Mac hissed, identifying her abductor. “What are you doing?” The crowd in the theater was divided between shushing her and watching her being pulled from the room by Smythe. Although, it wasn’t as if she were resisting.

Surprised, not knowing if he should be alarmed, Bugsy got up and followed. Smythe seemed to have an uneven temper when it came to Mac, and Bugsy might have to intervene.

Outside the theater, he followed the pair down the hall to a privacy room, and managed to slip his fingers in the doorway before it closed all the way. He’d listen, for now, and only intervene if he needed to.

“Sit down, Colleen,” Smythe told the redhead.

He’s not yelling. That’s good. If he yelled, that might remind her of pa, and that could really spell trouble.

“What’s the problem, Smit?”

And she seems fairly calm, too, for having been pulled out of the theater in front of everybody. Just a slight quiver of nervousness in her voice.

“I didn’t think I’d have to remind you—again—that you’re engaged to me.”

“You don’t need to remind me. I am very much aware of it, ever since you confirmed it last week.”

“Since you are engaged to me, I shouldn’t have to point out that it is not acceptable for you to have dates with other men.”

“Of course not.”

“And yet you went to the movies with Bugalu.”

Woops. I should have thought that through a little better.

“Yes, we go every Friday. But it’s not a date.”

He heard the engineer sigh. “Two people have a meal together, go to the movies and then have pizza, as well as... Well, that sounds like a date to me.”

And with any other man, it would be. But not with me. Or MacGregor, I suppose.

“Not with Bugsy. That’s just... family time. We adopted each other back at the Academy, so it’s the same as if we were brother and sister.”

“But you aren’t brother and sister.”

Now Mac sighed in frustration. “I just told you, we’re the same as brother and sister.”

Careful, Mac. Some people have trouble believing that’s possible.

There was a pause, and apparently, Smythe was gathering his thoughts, because he tried a new argument. “You say your Friday nights with him are family time.”

“That’s right.”

“But you and I are about to form a new family unit. A family consisting of me, you, and, uh, any children we have.”

“Oh!” She made a gurgling sound, paused to clear her throat, and got out, “That’s right.”

Why did he mention children? Fleet marriages seldom involve children.

“That family unit won’t have room in it for adopted brothers.”

“But... he’ll be your, um, brother-in-law.”

“Not in the eyes of the Fleet. Or in anybody else’s eyes.”

Wow. That’s rough. Trying to remove me from her life already. Instead of slowly letting us drift away from each other. Don’t know how well she’s going to take to that.

“But... it’s just Bugsy,” she protested softly. “And MacGregor.”

Probably should have left that unsaid for now, Mac.

“MacGregor!”

“He’s adopted me as an uncle. I mean, he’s an adopted uncle to me.”

“Colleen, you have to understand that I want you. Only you. At least for a while. No brothers, no uncles, no friends to get in our way of learning to know each other.”

“Yellow Dog, too?” she asked in dismay.

There was a pause before he said, “I suppose I can’t begrudge you some time with your female friends.” Then he went on, more briskly, “It’s why a couple traditionally goes on a honeymoon together after the wedding; to get to know each other without the distractions of extended family and friends. It’s one reason why I don’t want a long engagement. And why I’ve been disappointed by all the distractions you have, practically every night. And especially movie night with Bugalu. I tend to see that as my time to be with you.”

“We’re together on Monday nights.”

“Yes, working on a project together. Technically, we’re on duty for those 3 or 4 hours. And last time, afterwards, you and I were together. It’s that kind of togetherness I’m looking for, Colleen.”

They were together after the Monday night project? Doing what? He can’t mean what it sounds like he means.

“Well, that’s... fun,” she stated softly. And then, more firmly, “I won’t have sex until we’re married, Smit.”

Yikes! It sounds like...

Smythe gave a little groan. “Then marry me quickly, before you completely drive me out of my mind.”

“Fine. 2 weeks?”

2 weeks? Why is she in such a hurry?

“I think I can wait that long.”

“Okay. Since you interrupted my non-date with Bugsy in favor of us time, what do you want to do?

“I’ll make sure the door is locked,” Smythe stated.

Bugsy pulled his fingers free from the doorway and ran down the hall and around the nearest corner. If Smit objects to me taking Mac to the movies, he’ll for sure object to my listening in on a private conversation. And if that’s the kind of activity they’ve been doing during their ‘us’ time, no wonder I haven’t heard anything about it.

Rumors

 Month 14 Day 3

1612 Hours

Bugalu

 Bugalu rang the doorbell for Mac’s living room, and the door opened for him to enter. There was no sign of anybody in the living room. “Mac!” he called out. “Are you up yet?”

There came a grunt from the bedroom. “Ahh, not really.”

“Well, get up and let’s go eat.” Been hearing rumors about Mac, one of which is true, and we need to do something about it. One I hope is true, and one that’s just plain unbelievable. Still, as naive as she is, I’d better check it out.

She appeared in the doorway in a pair of pajamas, her hair mussed, her face white with dark smudges under her eyes. “Rain check?” she asked and yawned. “I only just nodded off an hour or so ago.”

“Get dressed, let’s go eat, then you can come back and sleep. Are you having trouble sleeping again?”

“Not usually,” she answered, and turned back into her bedroom, presumably to get dressed. “Just today,” she called back to him. “Things have happened.”

Like transferring to engineering? “What kind of things?”

“Oh, let’s wait until I get some food in me. Maybe then I can wake up and talk coherently.”

Well, I can’t fault her for that. I’d like some coherent conversation with her. “Well, don’t take too long getting dressed; I’m hungry.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” And before long, she came out of the bedroom in a red shirt and blue slacks. For once, she didn’t have the shirt tucked in. Her hair was still looking messy, but was confined in a mass of curls at the nape of her neck. “Okay, I guess I’m ready,” she said, pulling on her 2nd shoe. “Let’s go.”

They spoke of trivial things until they got their food and found a seat on the edge of the mess hall. Once seated, he lowered his voice. “I’m been hearing rumors about you.”

Mac stirred sugar into her oatmeal, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know if I should say, ‘after all this time?’ or ‘again?’. Because there’s usually always rumors about me.”

“And most of them I ignore, but today’s batch needs some discussion.”

“Well, that can’t be good. Which one is first?”

“That night you were written up, you were seen coming out of my bedroom.”

Her forehead furrowed. “Not exactly a rumor.”

“Yeah, but you know what kind of meaning they’ve attached to it.”

She sighed. “Does this mean we can’t see movies on Fridays?”

“No, but if somebody says something to your face, or you overhear it, you have to have a response ready.”

“I have the truth. I was late reporting for duty, and I stopped by your place to get dressed.”

“It may be the truth, but it hardly sounds innocent. And the more you explain the circumstances, the less innocent it sounds.”

She buttered her toast. “So I can’t tell them the truth? Then what do I say?”

“The only thing I can see is to deny it ever happened. Both of us deny it, if it ever gets mentioned to us. Just flat out deny it.”

“That’s not the truth.”

“The truth doesn’t sound like the truth.”

She frowned. “Alright. But nobody’s ever mentioned it to me, so I doubt I’ll have a chance to deny it. What’s next?” She piled a spoonful of oatmeal on the corner of her toast and bit the corner off, began chewing.

“That you’re transferring to engineering.” He cut a bite off his meatloaf.

“That one’s true, too,” she stated, and then hesitated. “At least, I requested to. I haven’t officially heard whether or not I get to.”

“I got that one from Abdulla, so I would say it’s going through. Congratulations!”

A big grin took over her face. “I’m going to have cake tonight! To celebrate!”

“It came faster even than I imagined. I mean, I knew Ivy’s good at her job, but I didn’t know how much you’d learned on your own.”

“I think I surprised her,” Mac stated in embarrassment.

“Don’t be embarrassed by it. It’s a good thing. Now you have thoroughly upset all your father’s plans for you.”

“Oh. I guess I have, haven’t I?”

“Now, the next rumor I heard is hard even for me to repeat.”

“That sounds ominous.” But she shoved a spoonful of oatmeal in her mouth without concern.

Bugalu looked around, then lowered his voice even more. “Somebody has spread the rumor that you’re pregnant.”

She choked on her oatmeal and hurriedly washed it down with half her glass of juice. She leaned close to him and uttered, “Absolutely not!”

He leaned closer to her, his voice barely a whisper. “Are you sure? I’m no expert, but the symptoms can be—”

“I know the symptoms! I had half a dozen sisters-in-law getting pregnant almost before I knew what the word meant! I don’t have any! And I haven’t done anything to get that way, either!” But as she said this last sentence, her face went pink.

“Maybe we should—”

“Let’s sit here,” a voice said gruffly, and a tray was set on their table next to Mac’s. They looked up in surprise to find Smythe sitting down on the corner next to Mac. Capt Burke and MacGregor took the other 2 sides of the table.

“Good evening, lieutenants,” the captain greeted them. “You don’t mind if we join you, do you?”

But it was too late to do anything but greet the newcomers graciously. “No, of course not,” Bugalu replied. Blast! There goes any chance of a private conversation now. “We were just discussing Mac’s request to transfer to engineering.”

“That’s gone through,” the captain said with a smile at the redhead. “But it’ll take a few days to get the schedules rearranged.”

“I’ve explained it all in an e-message,” Smitty said, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m surprised you haven’t gotten it yet, since it looks like you haven’t gotten any sleep.” MacGregor was staring in surprise at Smythe’s hand on Mac’s shoulder, but he couldn’t have been any more surprised than Bugalu.

“Not much, not yet,” Mac murmured. “Too excited, I guess. But I tried.”

“She was fascinated with engineering back at the Academy,” Bugsy stated.

“You 2 go back that far, do you?” Smythe asked suspiciously.

“Bugs was my brother’s roommate,” Mac stated. “The 3 of us were nearly inseparable.”

“Is that so?” Smythe asked with a cold grin on his face. Then he reached out for Mac’s hand, brought it up and kissed it. “Just remember, it’s me you’re engaged to.”

“What?” MacGregor exclaimed. “When did that happen?”

“Shortly after she requested a transfer, she agreed to marry him,” Capt Burke stated. “I was a witness.”

Bugsy woodenly turned to Mac. “When were you planning to tell me?”

“I thought it was a dream,” she muttered, and her face went white. She reached up with her other hand and pinched her arm only inches from where Smythe still held her hand. “Ouch! Well, this isn’t a dream.”

“It’s not a dream,” Smythe told her, a bit out of sorts. “You don’t look at all well, Colleen. Perhaps you’d better return to your quarters and get some sleep.”

“Yes, I should,” she agreed, and as he let go of her hand, she got up and left.

“Well, that’s a rumor I hadn’t heard,” Bugalu stated, still stunned.

“It’s not a rumor,” the captain told him. “But it hasn’t gotten around yet. Before now, it’s only been known by Smitty, MacDowell, and myself.”

“And Abdulla,” Smitty added.

“Yes, Abdulla,” the captain agreed.

Black space! Even more reason for me to find a time and place for a serious, private talk with Mac!

Surprise!

 Month 14 Day 3

0815 Hours

Jane Burke

 “She did what?” Abdulla exclaimed in something akin to shock.

“Lt MacDowell, upon being told her cross-training was over, requested a transfer to engineering,” Jane repeated, mildly surprised at the other woman’s shock.

Abdulla raised a hand to brush that aside. “Not that. I’ve been expecting that. It was that other thing Mr Smythe mentioned.”

“Oh.” That makes more sense. There’s hardly ever any hint of Smitty seeing anybody while on the ship, so to have him suddenly engaged—and to an underling—would be a shock. “She also agreed to marry Mr Smythe.”

“Well, who would have guessed?” Abdulla muttered in a daze. “She hardly even dates, let alone—” She pulled herself together and turned to the reason why she had been called into the captain’s office. “She wants to transfer. I won’t stand in her way, but I hope you have somebody better in mind to replace her in communications than Lt Adams. He may be an engineer, but he’s no communications officer.

“No, wait a minute.” She suddenly changed her mind. “Maybe I’m being remiss here. Maybe I should ask where you plan to assign her before I decide if I’m willing to let her go. Remember, I know the kind of mind she’s got, too, and I don’t think I’d be doing her any favor if you plan on starting her in the very depths of engineering, never to be seen or heard from again.”

“She’s got a point, Smitty,” Jane told him.

“All parts of engineering are equally—” He began what could only be his welcoming speech for new engineering recruits, and then stopped. Probably decided it wasn’t appropriate. “Actually, I was thinking of making her my protégé,” he finally said.

I suppose he figures it’s best to get the rest of her training out of the way. Trouble is, protégés are expected to spend a year or two learning the tips and tricks that would normally take them a lifetime of on-the-job work, and then move on. It isn’t intended to be a means for a couple in the throes of lust to spend all their time together. Can they get through it without any more ‘mistakes’ like I saw this morning?

There was a stunned silence in the room for a long moment. It obviously made Smitty nervous, and he continually cleared his throat as he looked for something to say.

Jane ruminated all the possible ramifications, and leaned forward to fiddle with an electronic pen that lay on her desk. “Are you sure you want to do that, Smitty?”

“I’m allowed to have one,” he said defensively. “It’s been a long time since I have had one.”

“Yes, and I, for one, am not surprised that you would choose Mac,” Abdulla stated. “She’s kind of led the way on building that Yukoskian transport machine, so I can only imagine how good she is with human technology. But to spend all day with her... I mean...

Exactly. And she’s not aware of what I saw this morning. If they can’t keep their hands off each other long enough for her to request an intra-ship transfer, then how can they get through 8 hours a day? Of course, they would have 16 hours a day when they could indulge their lust to the fullest.

Maybe I’m anticipating trouble where there won’t be any. If they spend some time getting their sexual urges out of the way...

Jane gave him a thinly veiled warning. “You would be patron and protégé while on duty, Smitty. Your personal relationship would have to wait until off-duty.”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, of course, captain. I’m aware of that, and I certainly wouldn’t expect anything else.”

Abdulla glanced between them, then sat up straight and straightened her uniform. “Then I guess all that’s left to decide is when she’s switched over, and who will replace her.”

“I’m inclined to replace her—at least temporarily—with Lt Adams,” Smitty stated, and held up a hand to forestall Abdulla’s objection. “I’ve heard that he’s struggling. Therefore, I propose you oversee his training. It will be a good experience for him. If need be, I’ll oversee his testing.”

Jane could see Abdulla was struggling with the idea. No doubt she doesn’t want to be responsible for any mistakes he makes, nor any lapses in good behavior he displays. “That would make Lt Adams your responsibility,” she acknowledged for the younger woman. “In turn, it would be up to you to see to his training, and I’m not just speaking about communications. If he isn’t up to your idea of what an officer should be, it would be your responsibility to guide him to something more in step with what you have in mind.” And includes the ability to discipline him. I hope I’ve made that clear to her.

“So, I not only lose my best worker, but I’m punished for some reason by given the assignment to make her replacement shape up.” She didn’t sound enthused about it.

“It’s not punishment,” Smitty told her. “I like to think of it as an opportunity.” He considered the woman’s frown for a moment. “Alright, yes, it’s a lot of work. Fact is, I could talk to him about treating women with respect until I’m blue in the face, but I suspect it wouldn’t do any good. Hasn’t done any good so far. He needs to see women in a new way. Between you and Amano, I think there might be some hope for him.”

Abdulla sighed in resignation. “Alright. I’ll try. But I’m not sure he’s up to learning. He seems to consider communications beneath him, and he has no respect for women at all. With the possible exception of the captain. So, again, when do I officially lose her?”

Jane broke in before Smitty could answer. “I’ll let you know tomorrow,” she stated. “He’s keeping the schedule as it is for another week, and then we’ll see. I have my own thoughts on the matter.”

“So I need to start preparing study aids for Adams. I’ll get on it right away. If you’ll excuse me, sirs?”

As Abdulla left the office, Jane pulled up a couple schedules on her screen. Once they were alone, she bluntly told Smitty, “I see MacDowell works with Wilson next Wednesday and Thursday. I want MacDowell working communications next Friday and Aday, have her days off on Saturday and Sunday before she joins you on B shift.”

Smitty took a moment to absorb what she’d said. “Ahh, normally, a protégé takes the same days off as the patron.”

“Not this time,” Jane stated firmly. “I want you 2 on opposing days off so you only work together 2 days in a row, understood? Because I won’t tolerate any more slip-ups like I walked in on this morning. Do that sort of stuff on your own time!”

“Yes, captain,” he agreed, and stood up to leave. “I understand completely.”

The End of Lessons, Part 2

 Month 14 Day 3

0810 Hours

Smythe

It must have taken a moment for Colleen to extract herself from the tool locker. But eventually the doorbell rang, pulling him out of his horrified stupor. He told her to enter and swallowed a sudden lump in his throat.

“Sir? You wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes.” She stepped inside and stood beside his desk, a little close for comfort. He was overwhelmed with memories of making out in the jeffries tubes, and his body was eager for a replay. He backed up his chair, but the office was small, and there wasn’t far he could go. “Wilson says she’s taught you all she can teach you.”

Colleen looked disappointed. “I was afraid of that. Came much sooner than I expected.” She gave a deep sigh, her shoulders slumped. “I suppose it’s back to communications for me, then.”

Poor girl is truly disappointed. “Not for another week,” he answered. “To give me time to straighten out the schedule.”

“So, now what do I do with the cross-training I’ve received? Is there any likelihood you’d ever call me down to work a shift or two?”

“What? Well, it doesn’t happen often. It would likely be another epidemic raging through the crew, or some kind of accident or a hostile attack. Something that puts a number of my department out of commission for a while.”

“Oh.” Her chin sank down to her chest, and she seemed on the verge of tears.

“You could always request a transfer,” he heard himself say. What am I doing?

Her head jerked up. “A transfer? You mean an intra-ship transfer? I can do that?”

Now he hesitated, his thoughts scattered. “Well, you can request it. I’d have to find somebody to take your place in communications, at least until we could get a replacement for you. And the Captain would have to approve it.”

“How do I request it?” she demanded with enthusiasm.

“Well, you notify your supervisor, which would be—”

“I want to transfer to engineering,” she blurted out. “Here, on the Fireball. At the earliest opportunity!”

Now I’ve done it. She’s made the request, and I have to consider it, no matter how little I might want it to happen. And to be fair to her, I have to work for its approval. Which is hardly fair to me! He sighed and stood up. “Very well, I’ll speak to Abdulla and the captain, and—”

She surged forward suddenly and kissed him. Surprised, he hesitated only a moment before his resistance melted. His arms went around her to hold her tightly as he returned the kiss with his pent-up fervor.

“Mr Smythe!”

He sprang away as best he could in the small space, knowing even as he did so that it was too late, his base instincts had revealed themselves to... “Captain!”

Capt Burke moved further into the room, allowing the door to close behind her. “I demand you explain yourself!”

How? There is no explanation good enough to forgive my behavior. It was reprehensible. Still, the captain’s expecting me to say something, so I have to try. “We were discussing her cross-training,” he started, and since that didn’t explain such an intimate activity as what they’d been caught in the middle of, he hurriedly went on. “She’s finished it, according to Lt Wilson, and she asked for an intra-ship transfer. To engineering.”

“And you accepted her request, without consulting me?” Burke snapped.

No, that won’t appease the captain at all. If only I had a better reason, but the only thing that might be acceptable is...

“He said he’d consider it,” Colleen stated. She’s trying to get me out of trouble for not consulting the captain. But that only makes our embrace even worse.

“I asked her to marry me,” he blurted out, and hearing himself say it, he felt his face go red in embarrassment. That’s not going to do any good. Colleen will immediately deny that I asked any such thing. He turned to face the young woman, his eyes pleading. If only I could explain to her. There’s some allowances made for people who are actively courting a certain person, as well as for... engaged couples. After a couple weeks—or maybe a month—we could ‘decide’ we weren’t meant for each other, and nothing more would be said. And in the meantime...

But in the meantime, Colleen was breathing hard, her face absolutely white with little flags of red on each cheek. Her eyes were glazed. It was possible she was about to faint. “I accept.”

It was a faint whisper, but the room was so silent, it might as well have been a bellow.

Having seen her coloring, Smitty moved aside and urged her to take his seat. He remembered she was supposedly with child, and wondered if that was the reason for her current coloring. At least this will solve that problem for her. Oh. But only if we go through with it.

“You appear to have surprised her,” Jane muttered.

“Yes,” Smitty agreed. “I suppose I did.”

“Well, I’ll overlook what I seemed to see when I walked in. Although I do hope you 2 can control yourselves from here on out while on duty.”

“Yes, sir,” he agreed. Even on opposing shift, that leaves us 8 hours a day to be together and... get this out of our systems. That will have to be enough.

“Well, I came down here to tell you how well Adams is doing on the communications console on A shift.”

“Ahh... I’d be happy to hear that, captain.”

“He’s struggling. If you plan on leaving him there for any length of time, I suggest a crash course on communications. In fact, since you like your people to be cross-trained, it might not be a bad idea even if he isn’t staying there. Now, in light of MacDowell’s request, give me a plan how you would rearrange your crew members, if that transfer were to go through.”

“Yes, captain. I’ll be leaving things as they are for at least a week.”

“Good to know.” She gave Colleen a long glance. “Why don’t you come up to the bridge and have a talk with Abdulla in my office?”

“Very good, captain. I’ll be up shortly.”

“I suggest you come up now, with me.”

“Of course, captain.” He started forward, paused to look at Colleen, who looked much as before. “Colleen.”

“Yes, Smit?”

“You’re released from duty,” he told her. “I suggest you go home and get some sleep.”

Her eyes snapped back into focus, and her face lost some of its stark coloring. “Sleep at a time like this?”

“Well, try, anyway,” he said.

“Yes, Smit,” she answered, and took a deep, shuddering breath.

He turned to go, knowing that by the time he got back, she’d be gone. He could only hope she got some sleep.