Chapter 38: Launch Date

NSS McDivitt, December 17, 2141
Launch Date

Hilde opened her eyes and Alan was sleeping next to her, strapped into the recliner. She sought his hand that was floating near her as always and clung tight to it. She was in so much pain, but what caused the most pain was the memory of the shock on Alan’s face as her legs were sliced from her body. That sorrow and concern will haunt her dreams for the rest of her life.

She was still coming to the realization that her legs were cut off. She didn’t even feel it, just a jolt and then she saw a leg ... and then she saw Anna ... the pretty, funny Russian was sliced in half, both halves fountaining blood ... there were blobs of blood floating everywhere ... and there were two legs floating around ... and she knew she was going to die. Then a terrified lieutenant JG, at the edge of panic, screaming for help, saved her life...

She bit a lip to keep from crying out and looked over at Alan and he suddenly looked so young! The oak leaf cluster took so much weight off his shoulders, a young lieutenant JG given so much authority, it was killing him! When she lost her legs, she actually felt sorry for him! His big mission, her squadron was fucking up by the numbers and now he had to care for an invalid. She couldn’t bear to look at him and his sad, sunken eyes. But when she opened her eyes, he was a Lieutenant Commander with even more authority, but he was eating it up and enjoying the game.

He had the authority, and now he had the rank to back it up ... and now she’s going to hold him back. She grabbed a sick bag as the thought of being an anchor on his career caused her breakfast to come up. Her retching woke Alan, which gave her more to feel guilty about. Imagine waking up after a long mission and your woman is puking because she was thinking of you. Alan immediately sprang to action and started cleaning her up. He held the bag for her and was patting her back, then took a cloth and wiped her face.

“Stop ... stop ... stop helping me!” she cried.

“This is what I’m here for.”

“Why don’t you and Anna run off together? You seem to do ok with your back seater.” She was referring to the months when she flew back seat with him.

“She’s a lesbian, she may not like it so much.”

“So, you’re going to spend the rest of your life cleaning me up?” demanded Hilde.

Alan looked at her like it was the most stupid question he has ever heard. “Of course ... that’s what I’m here for.” He finished cleaning her up and said, “If this is the card I’m dealt, then this is the hand that I play.” He gave her a kiss and said, “I love playing with you.”

“You want to teach a baby and a grown up to walk at the same time?” asked Hilde.

“You don’t teach babies to walk, they figure it out themselves.”

Hilde stared at him hard, then she finally said in a small voice, “They do?”

“It’s monkey see, monkey do with them. We’ll have to teach them what your boobs are for, but once they catch on they won’t let go.”

Again, Hilde was dumbfounded. “How do you know this stuff?”

“Christa babysat everyone’s kids, and as she got more popular, she brought me on as a partner. I was babysitting at six.”

“Newborns?”

“A few. One years old is the best age,” said Alan. “They’re learning everything and they want to be so independent. They’re so much fun to watch as they figure things out.”

“What’s the worst age?” she asked.

“Thirty two.”

As Hilde gave Alan a series of smacks (she’s 32) there was a tap at the door and a yeoman peeked in. “Commander Scarlett? Good, you’re awake. This is your one hour call.”

“Flying again?” asked Hilde.

“Yep, I’m going to go bomb Mars.”

“You’re leaving two days early?”

He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “We still have an info leak. The Obshchiy Bogdanov is paralleling us to Mars. We have to sneak out and get there first.”

“You’re going to be in that cockpit for over two days?”

“Something like that ... but honey listen. If I do this for Mars, for a lifeless rock just brimming with people I don’t know, imagine what I will do for you, the woman I love.”

“No,” she whimpered.

“When you are up and about I’m going to cheer you on. When you’re down I’m going to be there for you twenty four seven. I’m thinking of getting a Luna Prime to Armstrong Station cargo run so I can make two runs in a day and be home in time to make you and Yin dinner.”

“Alan! You’re a combat pilot! You can’t give that up and fly a shit wagon!”

“Hilde, dear, when at the end of a flight, you’re waiting for me, that’s all I need.”

“I can’t ask you to drive a truck for me!”

“I’m twenty one and I’m tired of getting shot at. Maybe a nice box van route on Luna’s surface! God that sounds peaceful.”

The yeoman was holding Alan’s dinner tray, but she was watching the interaction between Hilde and Alan. Her eyes flashed side to side as the couple verbally sparred until the yeoman realized there was one person in the room that didn’t know what Hilde was hinting at, and it wasn’t Yeoman Thomas. “Sir, your dinner. I don’t want to launch you with two MREs and an empty stomach.”

“Which MRE’s did you choose?”

“The sausage lasagna and the chicken stew. I packed two of each.”

“Awesome. I hope I have enough air on board to open my helmet. Thank you, Darla.”

“I will be back in thirty minutes,” said the yeoman and closed the door behind her.

Alan lifted the cloche. “Salsbury steak and Mac and cheese! I love this! In Annapolis, we sat in satellites for weeks and ate high protein paste from a tube and drank exactly one and a half liters of water a day and called ourselves spacemen. Then we moved to Camp Schmidt and this was my first meal, and I can’t get enough.”

“What is so good about it? It’s just ground beef...” Alan stuck a forkful in her mouth. It was good!

“It’s the nutmeg. Nutmeg and beef just goes together.” He ate another bite, then said, “I’m going to take you and Yin to Fiji 2. It’s beautiful there. My grandparents had a condo there and Uncle Ray inherited it. He has a big beach right there; we can sleep next to the ocean and swim all day long. He’ll let me use it if we pick up the empty beer cans when we’re done. I hope you and Yin love it.”