To her surprise, Aiden and his adult companion were already on the ship when she arrived. The captain seemed to read her decision on her face at a glance, because he looked relieved as he pulled her aside. “You're staying behind, then?”
No! Lana nodded. “Thank you for arranging it.”
“Good.” He patted the bulkhead they stood beside. “I didn't name this lady the Last Stand to impress anyone. I named her that because I fully intended for it to be just that, for me and my crew. That we'd go down fighting in the name of our cause. I expected it to happen years ago, but it still will, someday.”
He rested a heavy hand on her shoulder, expression solemn. “I'm sorry to see you go, but I'm glad you decided to leave, if that makes any sense. You don't have to go down with us. You have a chance for something better, and I'm glad you're taking it.”
On impulse, Lana threw her arms around him. “Just because you named your ship that, doesn't mean it has to come true. You need to survive so you can come back for visits as often as possible.”
After a few surprised seconds, the captain chuckled and hugged her back. “Deal.”
Lana hugged Ali next, then the companion accompanied her back to her cabin to help her pack her few things. When they arrived, Lana was surprised to find a satchel leaning against her door. It turned out to be full of clothes and items that would probably be useful living on a colony world.
“A care package from me and Aiden,” Ali said. “I altered some of my good, sturdy work clothes and cute outfits to fit you, so you don't have to borrow any.”
Lana hugged the beautiful woman again. “Are you sure you're a robot? Because you're the nicest person I've ever met.”
The companion chuckled. “We'll miss you, Lana. Even Aiden, although he might not be good at showing it.”
Lana gathered her things from her room, then headed to the galley. She didn't feel right taking any of the food the crew would likely need, even though they now had plenty, and of high quality, that they'd restocked from the colony. But purely for nostalgia, she snagged one of Dax's cans of bland processed meat.
She wasn't about to eat it, but she'd think of him every time she looked at it; something to remember her friend by.
Although she would've liked to take a last tour through the ship, the clock was ticking on when the Last Stand would take off to continue their adventures in the galaxy. So she followed Ali back to the cargo bay and down the ramp to the green.
Lana was surprised to find the crew waiting for her there. Aside from Fix, of course, although she didn't see herself having any tearful goodbyes with the combat android.
Belix immediately pulled her into a crushing hug, surprisingly fierce for such a petite woman. “I'll actually look forward to visiting this backwards rock, knowing you'll be here,” she said. Lana almost could've believed she saw a tear or two in the Ishivi's ice blue eyes.
Barix was next in line. Lana wasn't quite as happy to be hugged by him, especially when the slight man went for a grope. “Just remember,” he said with a wry smile as she hastily stepped back, “when you inevitably let yourself be courted by one of these yokels, and find yourself married and pushing out his inferior babies, you could've had someone with far better genetics.”
“Thanks for making my decision to leave the ship that much easier,” Lana told him with complete sincerity. Aiden snorted, and Belix snickered.
“You'll always feature prominently in my thoughts and dreams,” he replied sarcastically as she moved on to Aiden.
She'd already given him a hug, but she gave him another one. And he was apparently content with the goodbyes they'd shared earlier, because he just gave her his best wishes as Lana reluctantly moved on to hug Ali again.
That just left Dax, who'd waited patiently in his military posture and blank face, as if he couldn't have cared less if she actually said goodbye to him. But when she threw her arms around him he hugged her back without hesitation, strong arms encircling her protectively.
Lana held the hug for far longer than she had for Aiden, not caring if the young man was embarrassed. “Be safe out there,” she murmured. “I hope to see you again soon.”
“Me too,” he agreed quietly. She finally let him go, and he stepped back, shoulders straight and posture tense. “I'll miss you, but I'm glad you chose to stay.” After a slight hesitation, he drew the small, sleek cauterizer he always wore on his belt and offered it to her.
She stared at it in confusion before hesitantly accepting it. “You think I'll need this on a world where the worst crime is the occasional pie stolen off a windowsill?”
“Maybe not. But I'd feel better if you were able to defend yourself, even if you'll never need to.” Dax shifted slightly, although his stance had seemed pretty balanced; was it possible he was uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassed? “Jorroc can show you how to use that, so you don't accidentally shoot yourself or anyone else. It's locked until he releases it, just to be safe.”
Lana nodded and slipped it into her satchel, then leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Goodbye, Dax.”
Heart breaking, mind screaming for her to turn back, she hefted her satchel on her shoulder and turned towards where Jorroc and his family, along with a few others, were waiting a hundred or so yards away on the green. Velsie ran ahead to meet her, throwing her arms around her and then taking her hand and walking with her.
A quick glance over her shoulder revealed the crew of the
