Final Words

 

Final Words             post on 10/19

Month 17 Day 30

1342 Hours

Captain Jane Burke

Jane entered the transpod room and glanced around. Smitty stood at the controls. Normally, he'd be overseeing the transfer of cargo; he must have Wilson doing that. Bugalu and MacGregor were standing nearby. No surprise there. Of course they'd want to say good-bye. 2 pods waited with their doors open… and there was no sign of the redhead. “I don’t think she gets to change her mind, at this point,” Jane stated. “She’s still pregnant, isn’t she?” She asked Drake.

“Yes, and don’t even joke about it being otherwise,” he responded.

He's right. It was a heartless thing to say. “No, that wouldn’t be a joking matter,” Jane agreed. But where is she? Is she having difficulty packing?

The door opened and MacDowell entered, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder. She looked different out of uniform, wearing low shoes, pants and a long-sleeved turtleneck. She looked young, small and vulnerable, despite the duffle bag she so easily carried. She seemed surprised to see her captain there. “Captain.” She actually saluted, despite not being in uniform.

“You seem to have forgotten something, lieutenant,” Jane told her with a gentle smile. “Which of these 3 men have you decided to marry? As soon as you name him, I’ll perform the ceremony, and the other 2 can act as witnesses.”

“She decided to marry me,” Smitty stated. “We’ve made plans.”

“I don’t remember receiving a transfer request for you, Smitty.” Actually, I haven’t gotten a request for any of them. Have her plans somehow hit a stumbling block? Why didn’t anybody tell me about it? “MacDowell?” She asked, and everybody turned to look at her.

The redhead developed red flags on her cheeks, and then her face went white as tears started down her face. “None of them,” she answered curtly, and moved forward, towards the transpods.

Smitty’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Colleen!”

MacDowell whirled to face him, pain obvious on her face, her tears flowing even faster. “I thought you understood! I have to go to Gaelund! When I join you in a year, then I’ll marry you. But I can’t do it before that. If my family discovers who got me pregnant, they’ll declare war! I don’t even plan to tell them I’m engaged, for the same reason. Which reminds me, don’t try to contact me, not any of you." She glanced at MacGregor and Bugalu to include them. "If they find I’m communicating with men—I don’t even want to think about it! I’ll send messages through Abdulla and Yellow Dog. Once I’ve determined it’s safe, then we can exchange occasional messages.”

Smitty was obviously in as much pain as she was. “Then, how do I tell you where to meet me? How do we discuss the possibilities I discover? How do we… keep our love alive?”

Her duffel bag hit the floor with a muffled thud, and she was in his embrace, kissing him. After a moment, she ended the kiss, but still clung to him. “Okay. We'll have to risk it. Tell your communications crew that I will send messages to you addressed to Joe George. I know there’s nobody aboard with that name. If there is, I've never met them, which would be highly unlikely. In that case, have Abdulla send me another name to use. When you get a message from me, and it sounds like garbage, put it through the Yukosk translator. Nobody on Gaelund will know a word of Yukosk, so that should be safe for me to use. Okay? And never forget that I love you.”

“And I love you,” he returned, his voice gravelly with emotion. “Forever and ever. But you have to marry me, now, before you go to Gaelund. That way, the Fleet will send half my paycheck to you, as my spouse who's living separately. I'm afraid your pension won't be nearly enough to support you.” 

She gave him a watery smile and caressed his cheek. "Oh, that's sweet." She sniffed and went on. "But I've got some vacation time and sick leave saved up. I'm sure all that will get me through."

She's wrong. It won't be enough, and soon there'll be 2 of them. I thought they were discussing all the possibilities? But they somehow didn't discuss the finances of living separately? With the financial demands of taking care of a baby as well? What have they been talking about?

"It's my responsibility to see that you and the child have everything you need," Smitty argued. "Just a 2-minute ceremony and it'll be done."

She reached up and placed a finger over his mouth. "I can't do that, and I told you why." She gave him another long kiss.

Eventually, a buzz sounded from the control board, and the couple broke their embrace. Looking bewildered, Smitty needed a moment to identify the source of the noise. He cleared his throat. “The station’s getting impatient for you to debark,” he told the redhead. Moisture gleamed in his eyes.

He reluctantly let her move away from him. Turning, she pulled a crumpled paper from her pocket and turned to Jane. “Captain, this is my letter of resignation.”

Jane was having her own emotional reaction, which she was trying hard to hide as she took the letter. “I wish we could have found a better solution for you than to send you back to Gaelund for a year.”

“I’ll make it work,” MacDowell stated huskily, and coughed. “I’m in a lot better position now than I was when I left at 17.” She turned and gave MacGregor a hug. “I’ll miss you, Uncle MacG. You’ve taught me so much.”

“I insist you put me in contact with your obstetrician,” he answered. “So I can keep track of you and the baby.”

“I will,” she promised, and transferred her hug to Bugalu. “My best brother ever.”

“I expect to send you messages,” he told her. “What fake name do you want me to use?”

Initially startled, she answered, “Oh, Bugalu is fine. If anybody asks, I’ll just tell them you’re from Africa. They’ll never know Bugalu isn’t a woman’s name.”

“Good.” The buzzer sounded again, and he released her. “You’d better go.”

“Yes,” she acknowledged, her voice strained. She retrieved her duffel bag and placed it in one of the transpods, then stepped into the second and waved good-bye. "It's only a year, Smit. Not even a Gaelund year." Tears streamed down her face as she stared at Smitty while the pods sealed themselves and started on their journey to the station.

I’ll still be losing Smitty, but that’s put off for a year. I had my misgivings about that one when she arrived, but she settled in and became an excellent member of the crew. Takor is grateful for his yeoman, Yellow Dog, who has also fit into the crew. The only one that hasn’t is that nurse that arrived with them, and I don't understand why she's still with us. “Duck, with me,” she instructed, and glanced at the other 2 men. “You 2 take the rest of the day off.” She turned and left, trusting her Chief Medical Officer to follow.

The End

A Moment of Concern

Month 17 Day 21

10:48 Hours

Drake MacGregor

Drake closed his medical scanner, which hadn't revealed anything about the redhead was amiss. “I don’t find anything wrong,” he stated quietly to the young woman who sat in a chair in front of the captain’s desk. “You say you got dizzy. What were you doing?”

“Talking to the captain,” Mac answered, and her face flushed a bit. “If this is a normal part of being pregnant, then I’m sorry to have caused such commotion.”

“It can be a normal occurrence during pregnancy,” he told her. “But I’m glad to check you out whenever it happens, just to be sure.”

The door to the hall opened and Smitty hurried in. “Captain! Colleen! What happened? All I was told was that they sent for MacGregor and I should get here right away!”

The redhead turned a delicate pink. “MacG just gave me a clean bill of health, Smit.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Drake told her drily. “I’d still like some information on what you were doing just before you got dizzy.”

“I told you, I was talking to the captain.”

“We were talking,” Jane agreed. “I gave her a piece of news that got her excited, and she stood up quickly, talked eagerly, then suddenly stopped and turned absolutely white, looked ready to faint. I wonder if she got over-excited for her condition.”

Smitty squatted down to look beneath Mac’s chair, took one of her hands in his as he did so. “She got up quickly, did you say?”

“Yes,” Jane confirmed.

“Well, she’s got Gaelund gravity on her chair, so as she rose, she would have gone from Gaelund gravity to Earth gravity in short order. Would that have any bearing on it?”

“That definitely could have started the process, yes,” Drake stated. “And excitement could have complicated her reaction. Mac, you need to be a little more careful about going from one gravity level to another. I wouldn’t want you to fall because you lost your balance.”

“Is there some reason why it's necessary for her to install Gaelund gravity under every chair she sits in?” the captain asked.

“That's what I understand,” Smitty answered before Drake could. “She’s got to build up the strength in her internal muscles before the baby comes. She works out in Gaelund gravity, sleeps in Gaelund gravity, and now she sits in Gaelund gravity. We’ve been trying to work on gravity units to attach to her boots so that she can walk and stand in Gaelund gravity, but that hasn't been going so well.”

“What do you mean?” Jane asked. "What's the problem?"

Mac sighed, sat up straighter and answered. “If we put a small unit on each boot, I feel myself moving from Gaelund to Earth gravity every time I take a step. And if we enlarge the dimensions of the units’ area of effect, I move from Gaelund to higher-than-Gaelund gravity every time I take a step. Either way, it’s very disorientating.”

"That's not the effect I was hoping for," Drake stated. And I don't think either one is going to do her any good.

"I would find that terribly disorientating," Jane agreed. "Perhaps it would be better to reassign her to quarters where you could install Gaelund gravity in the whole thing."

Mac sighed. "There would still be all the time I'm not in my quarters. On duty or with my friends."

"So you've already considered that," Jane stated. "Of course you have."

“What was the news that got her so excited?” Smitty asked, his forehead wrinkled.

“Hold that thought a moment,” Jane told him, and moved to the door to the bridge. “Lt Bugalu, would you step in my office for a moment?” She moved back to her desk and waited for the helmsman to join them. He gave a quick glance around the office that was the only indication he was surprised by the occupants, and then stood slightly behind MacDowell. “Alright, now that you all are here. I pulled some strings at headquarters, with good results. All 3 of you have been approved to marry Lt MacDowell. Without her having to leave the Fleet. Obviously, you can’t all marry her, but I stand ready to perform the ceremony, once she decides who she wants. Now, Dr MacGregor, since she nearly fainted when I told her that news, what are your instructions for her at this time?”

Looking as surprised as the other men, Drake quickly pulled his thoughts together. “I’d like for her to go to her quarters and lay down for an hour,” he answered. “Then, so long as she feels okay, she can return to her usual schedule. If she doesn’t feel okay, I want her to summon me again.”

“Good. That should allow her to have lunch with Mr Smythe, or whoever. Whoever she picks, they have things to discuss, and time to do it is limited. How does that sound to you, Lt MacDowell?”

“I don’t feel like I need to lay down for an hour, but I will follow the doctor’s suggestion. And I appreciate having lunch with Smit. We do need to talk.”

“I’ll walk you back to your quarters on my way to engineering,” Smitty volunteered, and took hold of her arm to help her stand up. Bugalu bent over to grab the gravity unit and handed it to her as she turned toward the door.

After the couple left, Jane turned to face the remaining 2 men. “She seems to have made her choice.”

“Probably,” Drake agreed. "It may depend now on the possibility of finding a place that needs a pair of engineers, but can wait a year for the 2nd one.”

“And how does that make you 2 feel?”

“Whatever makes her happy,” Bugalu stated at once.

“And you, Duck?” The captain asked.

“Oh, I agree with Bugalu,” he said. “But if they can’t find appropriate positions, then maybe physician and engineer positions will be easier to find.”

“Well, yeah, with that caveat,” Bugalu added. "Helmsman and engineer."

The captain didn’t frown, but Drake had the feeling she wasn’t exactly happy with their answers. “Very well. We’ll see how things play out from here. Dismissed.”

Righting a Wrong

 

Month 17 Day 21

10:28 Hours

Jane Burke

The door to the hallway opened, and Lt MacDowell walked into the captain's office. “You wanted to see me, captain?”

“Yes, come in, lieutenant. Take a seat.” Jane watched the redhead put something under the indicated chair and then sat. She noticed a faint fuzz poking up from behind her red curls. “It looks like your hair is growing back in.” I hope she’s not sensitive about that. I’m trying to be her friend. Jane, I do believe you’re going to miss her.

“Yes,” MacDowell agreed, and smiled. “It tickles when a hand is run over it.” The smile faded. “But it isn’t red. I’ll have a streak up the back of my head.”

A small price to pay, when she could have paid with her life. “Well, that will make you even more unique.”

MacDowell gave a quick grin. “That’s right.” She folded her hands in her lap, apparently ready for whatever she’d been called here for.

Jane sighed mentally. They always expect something bad. “I wanted to catch you up on some recent developments. Regarding your desire to get married.” Now she really looks worried. Afraid I’ll tell her she can’t marry Smitty for some arcane reason, even if she does resign from the Fleet. Keep going, Jane, don’t keep her in suspense any longer than you need to. Jane opened her top desk drawer and pulled out a few sheets of paper. “I did something for you, lieutenant. I spoke up on your behalf. I did even more. I asked others to send in a letter commenting on you.”

“Others?” Her eyes were round and worried.

“I asked Captain Valentine and Chief Engineer Facchini of the St Elmo to send their thoughts on your skills and professionalism. I don’t know what they said, but I hope they were suitably impressed by you. For my own part, I sent a lengthy reply to the refusal for Smitty to marry you. In that reply, I pointed out the various discrepancies in your personnel, discipline and medical files from your time on the tugs, and the fact that all the ’trouble-making’ in your Academy files completely disappeared during your senior year, when Cadet Baker was no longer at the Academy. I also sent in your records from the time you came aboard, and pointed out that the only time you were in the brig was while security investigated your fight with Mr Winthrop. Which they determined was self-defense on your part.”

“That… was a lot of… work for you to do.” She seemed stunned that anyone had done so much on her behalf.

“You haven’t been treated fairly since you arrived at the Academy,” Jane pointed out. “The denial of Smythe’s Request to Marry was a further compounding of that disservice. If I allow such behavior to stand, unchallenged, then I am condoning it, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. So I objected, with every reasonable point I could find. It took some time, but I was able to make some headway.”

MacDowell’s stunned expression had started to look hopeful, but that light in her eyes now faded. “Oh, some,” she repeated quietly.

Jane selected one of the papers she had removed from her desk. “I have here a Request to Marry form that has been approved. The one Lt Bugalu submitted, listing you as his intended bride. It has been approved. You may marry him without having to resign from the Fleet, if you wish to do so.”

“Oh. Bugalu. Well, that’s good. I guess.”

Not a lot of enthusiastic passion in that response. Sorry, Lt Bugalu, I don’t think you’re going to be chosen. Not that I think you’ll be heart-broken if she doesn’t choose you. She selected another form. “Here is the Request to Marry from Dr Drake MacGregor, also listing you as his bride. It has been approved also.”

“Okay. MacG—MacGregor. Kind of unexpected, but okay.”

Nope, no passion in that response, either. Only one left to tell her about. Jane picked up the final form, the one that  had come back with the note, ‘We’re dying to know which one—if any—this woman wants to marry.’

“This is the request from Lt Cmdr Smythe…”

The girl sat a little deeper in her chair, looking defeated. “The one they denied.”

“It has been approved.” Jane watched her carefully.

MacDowell suddenly sat forward, hope in her eyes and a faint color in her previously white cheeks. “Approved? I can marry him?”

“Yes.” Definitely interested now. Not any great display of passion, but maybe she’s afraid it will be snatched away from her. Like she feared her first shore leave with us would be cancelled at the last minute.

“And I don’t have to leave the Fleet to do it?”

“That’s correct.”

“Oh! We’ll have to look at transfers for Smit! And for me!” She surged to her feet, grabbed Jane’s hand and shook it strongly. “Thank you, captain! I can’t begin to thank you!”

Okay, enthusiasm, and passion, too. It’s not a completely one-sided affair. Good. I will report that to Admiral Longview. I could still wish I wasn’t losing Smitty. And MacDowell. But it’s not fair to keep them apart. “You don’t need to thank me too profusely, lieutenant. I’ve heard a good deed is its own reward.”

“Not in this case, because you’ll be losing Smit.”

“From the sounds of it, I was going to lose him anyway, as well as you. Now, I’m sure you want to go tell him the news. Tell him I don’t expect him to join me for lunch today. I’m sure you 2 have things to talk about, now that circumstances have changed.”

“We do! I wonder if he’d rather—“ Her face suddenly drained of color, and her hands clutched the desk top as her upper body wobbled.

Jane hurried around her desk and took hold of the girl’s upper arms, trying to steady her. “Sit down, MacDowell, before you fall down. The chair is right behind you, just bend your knees slowly and I’ll steady you.” Once she got the young woman seated, she realized MacDowell’s eyes were closed, and her body limp. “Blossom, call MacGregor, get him up here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Take a deep breath, lieutenant,” Jane told the redhead. “Are you feeling sick?”

MacDowell took a breath, but it wasn’t very deep. “No,” she answered. “I suddenly got… dizzy.”

“That can happen to women in your condition,” Jane told her calmly. “Just breathe deeply. I’ve sent for MacGregor, just to be safe.”

Gentle Warning

Month 17 Day 6

12:27 Hours

Drake MacGregor

Drake and Jane disposed of their lunch trays and headed for the mess hall’s exit when Drake noticed Smitty and Mac sitting down at a corner table, ready to start their lunch. “Excuse me, Jane, I’ve got to explain something to MacDowell.”

“Remind Smitty that the girl has friends who will miss her once she’s gone, so he might not monopolize her for every meal.” There was a hint of disapproval in the captain’s voice. “He hasn’t even left yet, and I already miss him at our meals.”

“I’ll try to get that inserted at some point,” Drake promised, and walked over to the couple at the corner table. “Having lunch a little late?” He asked as he approached them.

“We prefer to eat alone, Drake,” Smitty stated flatly.

“I’m not staying,” Drake stated, but pulled a chair from another table to sit down. “Captain says you both have friends who will miss you when you’re gone. And you’ve got your entire rest of your lives to be together, so could you please consider spending some time with those other friends?”

Mac’s face went pink, while Smitty frowned at his lunch tray. He sighed and looked up at his fiancée. “Yes, alright, we’ll make time for them. There’s just so much to do, to… get ready to go.”

“Good. Now for the reason I’m here.”

“You mean, that wasn’t it?” Mac asked in surprised.

“I was feeling rather forgotten,” Drake admitted, “but I probably wouldn’t have said anything if Jane hadn’t instructed me to.”

“Then why are you here, Drake?” Smitty sounded genuinely interested.

“I have some instructions for Mac, concerning her pregnancy.” Mac looked up from her salad, looking almost alarmed. “Nothing too awful, but I haven’t seen you in the gym recently.” Not since before the St Elmo, in fact.

“It’s hard to fit in everything, Mac stated. “Just the paperwork to get all my projects submitted…”

“We can work on that during my days off,” Smitty promised her, and turned his attention to the doctor. “So what are your instructions, Drake? Surely you aren’t telling her to work out with Tall Bear and Ferguson again.”

“Actually, I am,” Drake stated. “And to spend time on treadmill C as well. They don’t have to be hard workouts, just enough to keep your Gaelund muscles toned. If you don’t keep your muscles toned to Gaelund gravity, childbirth could be much more difficult. It’s probably a good idea that you’ve got Gaelund gravity installed on your bed.”

“Oh,” Mac said flatly, and her face went pink again. “I haven’t been sleeping in my bed. Much.”

“As I suggested, I can install variable gravity in my bed,” Smitty said softly.

So my suspicions are confirmed. Drake accepted the import of that simple statement, and then he thought about what that suggestion would mean to Smitty’s body. But I can't let him do that. “Smitty, I can’t recommend that. Tall Bear and Ferguson spend a few minutes every 2nd day in Gaelund gravity in order to spot for Mac’s weight-lifting. They’re younger than you, and they’re weight lifters, so they can handle it. If you tried to sleep under Gaelund gravity, your system would be working harder while you were sleeping than during the day under regular gravity. That wouldn't be good for you.”

Smitty stopped chewing his food for a moment, then finished chewing and swallowed. “Are you telling me we can’t sleep together? Ever?”

“No,” Drake answered. “I assume you’ve figured out that Mac can sleep fairly well under Earth gravity as long as she’s got an ‘anchor’ of some sort, and I also assume you work as that anchor. I’m not trying to put a damper on your love life, but I think she should be spending the vast majority of her sleep time in her own bed, under Gaelund gravity. And any other spare moments she can find during her time remaining aboard. The closer she gets to full term, the more time she should spend under Gaelund gravity. That will get in the way of you 2 being together eventually, but not now. Adjust your time together, save sleeping together to once a week.”

“That’s hardly ever!” Mac exclaimed in protest.

Smitty frowned at the cup of coffee he had raised, and put it back on his tray. “This is to help her have an uncomplicated delivery?”

“To help her have a healthy baby as well,” Drake stated. “Delivery is a complicated process, and certain muscles will have atrophied in the years since she was last home for any length of time. She can exercise all she wants, but it’s unlikely she’d actually work the internal muscles that are used during childbirth. Actually being under Gaelund gravity more and more as she progresses through this pregnancy is the only way I can see to get those internal muscles ready to do an effective job during childbirth.”

“That’s not fair,” Mac murmured, her meal forgotten.

“No, life isn’t fair,” Smitty whispered and sighed. “Alright, Drake, we’ll see how much time we can get her under Gaelund gravity.” He patted Mac’s hand and suggested, “Perhaps we can install variable gravity on your desk chair, for when you work on your projects.”

“Where do I find time for those?”

“We’ll ask for help,” Smitty told her. “Abdulla could help with your Yukosk dictionary, and submitting it. Wilson could help prepare the paperwork for the Yukosk transportation beam, both to announce our findings so far, and to submit for a patent.”

“Oh! I never thought of a patent! It was all of us together that built the thing, with some input by Takor, and based on a technual from the Yukosk people!”

“Which makes it complicated, but not impossible,” Smitty told her. “I’ll work with Wilson on that.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Was that all, Drake?”

“The only other thing is I want to see Mac in sick bay, to make sure everything is progressing normally.”

“Already?” Mac asked, and paused before nodding. “When?”

“As soon as possible,” he answered. “Now, if you can manage it.”

“Yes,” Smitty answered before Mac could respond. When Mac gave him a questioning look, he told her, “It’s for the baby. And you. Run along with MacGregor, and I’ll see you in engineering when you’re done.”

Mac sighed, tossed her napkin atop her tray and stood up. “You might as well head for sick bay, MacG. I’ll take a couple Jeffries tubes and probably beat you there.” She turned and headed for the disposal area.

Drake started to stand, but Smitty grabbed his hand so he couldn’t move off. “If you’re trying to drive us apart, Drake, it won’t work. Whatever I have to do to make this work, I’ll do it.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. But given your track record so far, I can’t help wondering how you’re going to feel next week. Or the week after that.” He pulled his hand free.

“The same as I feel now.”

“I sincerely hope so,” Drake told him, and moved off.

Living Together

Month 16 Day 24

20:32 Hours

Jane Burke

Jane entered Smitty’s living room and found him sitting at his desk, probably reading a technical manual. He looked up from his computer screen with surprise on his face, which changed to uneasiness as he recognized her. He sent a quick glance toward his bedroom. “Good evening, captain.”

Has he got a woman in his bedroom? And him out here reading? No, probably not. Well, there’s no easy way to say this. He is not going to be happy when he hears it. “Smitty, I’ve got a response from HQ about your request to be married.”

A guarded look took over his face as he looked at her. “It doesn’t look like good news.”

“Your request has been denied,” she stated bluntly.

His face took a moment to run through disbelief, headlong into anger. “For what reason?” he demanded.

Jane let out a long breath. “They reviewed MacDowell’s records, and decided she’s a trouble-maker. Admiral Longview spoke to me off the record, trying to ascertain whether or not MacDowell had trapped you into proposing by threatening to file some sort of charges against you.”

“Ridiculous!” Smitty snorted. “I hope you explained to him what an asinine idea that is!”

Easier said than done. “I tried to, but all the previous charges she brought against earlier supervisors didn’t work in her favor.”

“You did explain that once I realized how good she is at engineering, I made her my protégé, didn’t you?”

“He was aware of it, but felt that was also probably the product of blackmail.”

“Blackmail!” He swore under his breath and turned off his computer. “Where would he get an idea like that?”

“It turned out her former captain, Nash, admitted that the only reason he approved her for a transfer to the Fireball was because she blackmailed him into it by threatening to file sexual harassment charges against him. By the way, he's been demoted, and his wife has filed for divorce.”

“Every one of those charges true, most likely,” Smitty bit out. He got up, went to his alcohol cabinet and poured himself a stiff drink, tossed it down his throat. “You tell Admiral Longview that I’m not giving her up! If we can’t get married within the Fleet, then we’ll both resign and get married outside the Fleet.”

“You’re threatening to resign?” Jane asked, just to be sure she had understood what he said. It isn't necessary for them both to resign. If she's a civilian, he can marry her no matter what HQ says.

“It’s not a threat!” He declared. “It’s a promise!”

“No, that’s not necessary,” said a soft voice, and MacDowell appeared in the doorway from the bedroom. She wore a long robe and had her hair in a towel.

Guess I was wrong, Jane thought.

“I won’t be told I can’t marry you!” Smitty declared adamantly.

“But if I resign and become a civilian, then you can marry me, right?” The girl asked. "I mean, if you still want to."

“Yes, but… We wouldn’t be able to work together.” It was plain Smitty wanted to be with the woman every minute of the day. Jane had turned a blind eye to his ‘forgetting’ to take his days off this past week. He had spent them in engineering, where he could be close to his intended.

“Lots of married couples don’t work together,” she stated matter-of-factly. “We’d be together. Surely there’s a place you could transfer that would allow you to have a wife and, and family with you.” Smitty lowered his head to consider possibilities, and she went on. “It looks to be a year before I could work, anyway. By then, we’d figure something out.” She smiled and suggested, “Maybe Kolla and S’thyme would send us another technual, and once I got it translated, we could work on that new project together.”

Jane cleared her throat. “That gets a little tricky, Fleet personnel and civilians working on the same project together. You have to keep flawless records as to who works how much, so the correct amount of credit can be apportioned.”

“We can do that,” Smitty declared, his emotions having quieted somewhat. “Darling, we’ll have to go through those jobs we’ve been looking at and see what are still feasible, if I’m in the Fleet and you’re not.”

“Yes, but at the same time, it narrows down our options, so we have fewer to look through. Makes it more manageable,” she returned optimistically.

“So, recap what your plans are, if you don’t mind,” Jane requested. In any case, I lose 2 engineers. I wonder if Admiral Longview paused to think about that. Probably not.

MacDowell took a deep breath and let it out, walked over to sit on the sofa. “I’ll be resigning, or retiring, rather than accepting a transfer to… where ever they would send me, since I’m pregnant.”

“And I’ll be requesting a transfer to somewhere that will let me have a wife and family living with me,” Smitty stated. "Perhaps you can marry us once she’s resigned and before we leave. Or else we can get married on our way to my new assignment.” He hesitated, looking thoughtful. I’m sorry it’s come to this, captain, but I have to think of my wife and child.”

“I knew I’d be losing MacDowell, of course, as soon as I heard she was pregnant and planning to have the child. It’s only natural that you’d want to make a family. I hate to lose even one of you, but I will do my best to smooth your transition to your new lives.”

“Thank you, captain, that’s very good of you.” MacDowell’s voice trembled just a touch, and she rose to her feet to face her. "Captain, I did force Nash to approve my transfer here, but it wasn't my idea. His wife, who acted as the ship's legal council, had a long talk with me, and told me she'd get me a transfer. Asked if I could go anywhere I wanted, where would it be? Next thing I knew, I was transferred here. I couldn't believe it was real until I got here." Now she turned to Smitty, who stood only a few feet away. “Suddenly, I’m very tired, Smit.”

He walked forward to give her a gentle kiss. “You go to bed. I’ll only be a few minutes behind you, darling.”

Confused, Jane watched as the young woman returned to the bedroom. This is beginning to look like… “Smitty…”

“Colleen’s moved in with me, captain,” Smitty stated evenly, if apprehensively.

“I didn’t hear that,” Jane stated. “And I don’t want to hear it.” She turned to face the doorway. “I can’t condone it, so I can’t know about it. Just be as discreet about it as you can.”

“Frankly, I’m surprised you haven’t heard about it,” Smitty stated. “She’s been here since the St Elmo.”

“Enough! Don’t say any more! Good night, Smitty.” 

On The Way Home

Month 16 Day 14

13:44 Hours

Capt Jane Burke

After a pleasant visit with Capt Valentine on the St Elmo, the emergency was declared over, and the 2 captains continued their conversation on the way to the shuttle bay. As they walked past med bay, they were joined by Drs MacGregor, Davis and Fong, and the Fireball nurses who had been helping. Further along, a lift door opened, and the Fireball's engineering team joined the back of the group. Smitty worked his way through the group to join Drake just behind the captains.

The Fireball personnel had been thanked by the departments they had assisted, and expected nothing further but a quiet shuttle ride home and a return to their regular duties. They were surprised when they entered the shuttle bay and found 3 shuttles waiting, while one section of the bay had been set up for a party, complete with cake and punch.

Jane turned to her host. "This wasn't necessary."

"A verbal thank you alone seemed insufficient," Capt Valentine returned. "My department heads would never have forgiven me. I realize we took you away from your regular assignment for over a week, so even this seems inadequate."

"It would be bad manners to leave in a hurry when you've gone to so much trouble." Jane turned to her 2 lieutenant commanders. "Mr Smythe, Dr MacGregor, would you be so kind as to cut and serve the cake and punch?"

Looking startled, they moved toward the table. "I'll serve the punch," Smitty decided.

"What makes you think I can cut cake?" Drake asked him.

"You know how to use a scalpel," Smitty pointed out.

"I've never used one on a cake," the doctor returned. But before long, cake and punch were being served.

Various members of the St Elmo's crew entered, to speak with the departing Fireball crew and enjoy the refreshments. But the St Elmo crew had their own duties to get to, so they didn't stay long.

Eventually, those coming to say good-bye slowed to a trickle. Most of the Fireball personnel had already opted to take one of the St Elmo shuttles home. Those were now jockeying into their parking spots. Most of the cake and all of the punch had been served. Jane decided it was enough, and said her final good-bye to Capt Valentine, then followed the few remaining of her personnel into the Fireball shuttle.

She found Smitty and MacDowell sitting together in the back of the shuttle, holding hands. Each sat up straight in their seat, but their eyes were closed. MacDowell had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted. Smitty looked tired, but not as bad.

Jane moved forward and sought out Drake, pulled him into another corner so the two of them could talk. "How's MacDowell?" she whispered.

Drake hesitated before answering. "She's at her rope's end," he admitted. "Between 12-hour days, recuperating, and starting a new life—in more ways than one."

"What do you mean, more ways than one?"

"She's been looking for a new job for when she has to leave the Fireball."

"I applaud her forethought, but where did she find the time?"

"During her meal breaks. She's been eating her meals in the St Elmo's library, using the computer. She's pretty worried about it."

"She has a right to be worried. Does she need some time off from her duties in engineering?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Two days, at least. Being able to sleep in her own bed should help. She is getting some help, looking for a new job, so that should give her time to catch up on her emails about that, too."

"Who's helping her?"

"Smitty. Bugalu. Myself. And Mr Facchini."

"The St Elmo chief engineer?"

"After her injury, they shared the St Elmo Intensive Care Unit. She seemed to impress him."

"Really? I understood his protégé was in the brig, because of her."

Drake sighed. "That's a story. Which you probably ought to get straight from Smitty. He's the one who sent him to the brig."

"Okay. You're sure 2 days will be enough?"

"No, but I don't feel like having a fight with her until I have to. I'll keep an eye on her during those 2 days, and then I'll re-evaluate."

"Sounds good." She let him return to his seat and made her way to the back, turned a seat around to face Smitty. Neither of them moved, but the girl's head was drooping now. Jane touched Smitty's knee and whispered, "Is she asleep?"

"Yes," he answered softly.

"No," MacDowell refuted, and took a deep breath before her eyes managed to open. "What can I do for you, captain?"

"You look exhausted," Jane told her. "It's to be expected; you've got a lot going on in your life, and a week of 12-hour days is grueling. I want you to take the next 2 days off."

"Okay," she agreed readily, a tiny smirk on her face.

Jane studied her suspiciously. "MacGregor didn't think you'd agree so easily."

"The next 2 days are my regular days off," MacDowell revealed. "I just need to get through until 1600 hrs to get to them."

"No, you don't," Smitty broke in. "You've already worked 12 hours today. You're off duty." She opened her mouth to say something, and he ended with, "No arguing."

She closed her eyes and stifled a yawn, or tried to. "Thank you, Smit."

"Does that suit you, captain?" he asked.

"Actually, no," she decided. "Since the next 2 days are your regular days off, I want you to take the next 2 days after that off, also. As sick days. Check in with Dr MacGregor on those days, so he can see how well you're recuperating."

"But—"

"I'll see that she does, captain," Smitty stated.

MacDowell sighed. "Looks like I have to."

"Good. Now, try to rest for the remainder of the trip." Jane got up and moved forward again to find a seat that would afford the lovebirds a tiny bit of privacy. When she glanced back, MacDowell's head was on Smitty's shoulder and her eyes were closed. She looked relaxed.

Interrogation

Month 16 Day 10

08:01 Hours

Bugalu

Bugalu had just accepted the helm from A shift, and was about to ask the captain about piloting the shuttle between the 2 ships for the day when she beat him to it. "Lt Bugalu, before you go pilot the shuttle, I want to see you in my office."

"Yes, sir," he agreed, and followed her to her ready room.

Blossom got up and left as they entered. Captain Burke took a seat at her desk, and indicated he should also sit. "What in blazes is going on with MacDowell these days?"

What kind of information is she looking for? Does she know Mac is pregnant? I'm sure MacGregor told her, now that he officially knows. "Well, she's recuperating about as well as one can expect, considering they can't use a healing ray on her burns. She's working 12-hour shifts, but a kind of light duty..."

"I get that much from the daily reports I get from Dr MacGregor," she growled at him, Then she opened a drawer of her desk and took out 3 sheets of paper, spread them out in front of her. "3 Requests to get married," she identified them. "Each of them naming MacDowell as the intended bride. Whose bright idea was that?"

"Three?" I wonder if Smythe thought to renew his request? And was the idea MacGregor's, or did we each think of it on our own?

Burke must have thought he was asking, for she pointed to the papers one at a time. "Smythe. MacGregor. And you." She folded her hands together. "Marriage doesn't seem like a logical step for someone who claims to be her adopted brother."

"Well, she's between a rock and a hard place. I just want to make sure she's got plenty of options to choose from."

"And MacGregor? Is that what he's doing? Making sure she's got options?"

"You'd have to ask him. I don't know his reasons."

She gave a weary sigh and sat back in her chair. "Things would have been much simpler if she'd just married Smythe when they were engaged."

"It became obvious that he believed she was a liar and cheater. She didn't think that made a good basis for a marriage."

"She's right. And as it turned out, he didn't get a response from HQ about his request to marry her, which is why he's asked me to nudge that response along. Has he changed his opinion of her? Or is she willing to marry him anyway?"

Bugalu shook his head. "I don't know. She told me he 'reacted poorly' when he found out she was 'only' 6 weeks pregnant. So poorly that if he did propose to her again, she wasn't sure she'd accept. Then, the next thing I heard, he had done a complete turn-around, acted as if there was no doubt they would marry."

"Let me guess. She still has doubts."

"I think she wants to believe he's completely turned his thinking around, but with her background... her previous experiences... she doesn't know what to do."

"I can't blame her, if he's sent mixed signals." She sighed again. "You can't all marry her."

"Of course not. But on Gaelund, an unmarried mother is ostracized, tossed out of the family. Most turn to prostitution. The rest rely on whatever odd jobs they can find, making pennies to scrape by with. And maybe some help of family members who don't totally blame them for their situation."

"She doesn't have to return to Gaelund. For that matter, she could stay in the Fleet, although her choice of transfers would be curtailed."

"It's all part of her up-bringing, captain. It's hard to change that in a matter of days. And other than me, she doesn't have any family except on Gaelund. Nor friends, either."

"That's a sad story, but not true. She's made a lot of friends on this ship, and she can make friends at whatever position she transfers to." Bugalu frowned, and she asked, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Captain, she has friends here, yes. But how many shipboard friends from when you were a lieutenant do you still communicate with regularly?"

"Alright, you've made your point. But my point remains that she'll need to make friends wherever she transfers to." She looked at the papers, gathered them up and shook them in the air. "And I'm afraid this stunt may backfire. Especially if HQ notices there are 3 requests for permission to marry the same bride!"

That doesn't sound good. "I thought the request was a formality."

"Usually, it is. But MacDowell's record won't show her in a good light. Look how hard we had to dig into her records to understand what had happened on those tugs. And, except for her grades, her record at the Academy isn't much better. Which reminds me, is this Lt Baker on the St Elmo the same Baker who gave her so much grief at the Academy?"

"The same," he confirmed. "Plus, he's to blame for the accident that landed her in their med bay with a burnt back."

"I would have thought Smitty would exert more control over him, if he's such a trouble-maker."

"He laid down rules and gave specific orders, but Baker ignored them. He's in the brig over there, probably saying that he was following Mr Facchini's orders. It worked for him at the Academy."

"Well, we've gotten off the subject," Burke said and laid the papers back on her desk. "I don't want to lose any of you, but if she decides to marry one of you, then I'll happily perform the ceremony. However, since I think multiple requests to marry may only complicate the process, can I at least count on you to rescind your request?"

Bugalu looked at his captain in shock. How can she ask such a thing? No, Mac and I aren't in love, but we have a kind of love, and I won't abandon her in her hour of need. "No, captain, I can't do it. I said I'd marry her, if she needs me to, and I can't renege on that."

"I had a feeling you were going to say that."

"If push comes to shove, can't you simply explain to HQ that we're trying to give Mac as many options as we can?"

Burke shook her head slightly. "I'm afraid they'd be more likely to assume that a beautiful young woman, caught in a bad situation, has convinced 3 officers to give her more options than she's entitled to. And 2 of them old enough to know better than to fall for any such conniving!"

"But that isn't the situation at all!"

"Maybe not. But I'm afraid that's what it will look like to HQ." She tossed the papers back into her desk drawer. "Well, go ahead. Go pilot the shuttle for the day. Don't forget to look in on MacDowell and give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery."

"Thank you, captain. I'm sure she'll appreciate the thought."