Everyone was frozen inplace until Kayatennae, overcome by the rising tension, barked –once. The entire horde of jaw-snakes instantly flew back inpanic.
Con turned towards Decker.“Did they just back-off because of Kay or because—” The dog barkedagain and the flotilla of amber ribbons increased their rate ofretreat. Kay, unable to resist the chase, ran after them, barkingthe whole way, until the creatures were once again nothing morethan a yellow smudge on the horizon.
Decker walked down the rampand stood next to Kennedy. “Did that really just happen?” Sherecalled Kay to the shuttle with a sharp whistle. “The fearsomecreatures that terrified the mighty Carraiks, are afraid – of abarking dog?”
As the proud, pantingcanine rejoined them, Con said, with a bemused smile, “Sure looksthat way.”
Several hours later, Conand Decker watched as a second crew of Engineering personnelemerged from the L1 shuttle. They converged on the trove ofkiatilium like ants on a candy-apple, using plasma drills to prythe dull gray-metallic stone out of the ground. Kennedyhailed Lovelace and asked how many more could be expected. Commander Ramseyreplied, “I think that’s it for now. Why?”
“I just want to ensurethat I have enough Tactical personnel to cover them.”
Ricci broke in to observe,“Sounds to me like Kayatennae could cover the entire lot of you.Right?” It was true that if any of the alien snake creatures gotwithin sight of the Lovelacecrew, Kay went to work and chased them away witha few menacing barks. The exuberant dog was having the time of hislife.
With a resigned sigh,Kennedy admitted, “Yes, sir. Pretty much.”
***
Two days later,Lovelace was on its wayback to Uniterrae with a colossal haul of kiatilium. It was wellinto gamma-shift when Decker and Kay quietly slipped into herdarkened quarters. After whispering an order to VICI, the AI unit,to set lights to thirty-percent, she stripped off her navy-blueuniform, removed her moonstone necklace, and loosened her hair fromits crown of braids. While watching Kay settle onto his bed, Naichetried to ascertain whether the other occupant of the room, TalakoJacoway, was sound asleep in the bunk or merely dozing.
Her question was answeredwhen she slid in next to him and Tal turned to face her. “Welcomeback. How was the midnight drill?”
“It went as well as couldbe expected. After such a dull mission, Tactical personnel arebound to be a little sluggish.”
“Only you could term amission as ‘dull’ when you nearly ended up as a silicon stain onthe surface of an alien planet.”
“That was three minutes ofexcitement in a three-week mission. So, yes, dull.”
“Dull butsuccessful. UDCEngineering will be thrilled with all that kiatilium we’re bringingback.”
“Yeah, a whopping hundredkilos. I guess that’s worth the journey to the Aurigasystem.”
“Of course, it is. That’smore than has been found on all the other missionscombined.”
Rather than responding tosomething she had little real interest in, Naiche pulled Talagainst her. When he rolled over, she spooned behind him, idlycombing her fingers through his thick, shoulder-length hair. Since,like her, he usually wore his hair in braids, she relished anyopportunity to feel it loose and free. “I love your hair,” shewhispered.
“I know. You say that allthe time. Sometimes I worry that’s the only thing you love aboutme.”
“You have nothing to worryabout there.” She cupped his left buttock lightly and laughed. “Notwith this ass, anyway.”
Tal snorted with amusementbut answered drily, “That’s my girlfriend – always the romantic.”His pronouncement carried no sting since he followed it up bypulling her arm more tightly around him.
Naiche nuzzled her noseinto his neck. Sighing with contentment, she asked, “How amI ever going togo back to sleeping alone?”
“What does that mean?You’re not breaking up with me – are you?”
“No! I meant that Petrovićwill presumably return from her leave at some time. And then youget to go back to being a test pilot. And I have to go back tosleeping single on missions.”
Rolling over to face heragain, Tal asked, “What if she doesn’t come back? Or doesn’t wantto come back to Lovelace?Would it be okay if I requested permanentassignment here?”
Naiche sat up in surpriseand excitement. “Okay? That would be awesome.” Her conscience immediatelynagged her and she said, “But I can’t ask you to make that kind ofsacrifice for me.”
“What kind of sacrifice?Getting to spend more time with you?”
She smiled warmly at hisassertion but remonstrated, “You know what I’m talking about.Giving up being a test pilot to permanently sign on with a Commandship – the dullest piloting job in existence.”
He pulled himself uprightand leaned back against the bulkhead explaining, “I don’t see itthat way. I’m not quite the adrenaline junkie you and Conare.”
“We’re not adrenalinejunkies!”
“Uh, you just categorizedfinding yourself at the controls of a dead shuttle as ‘exciting’.And are you telling me that you two scheduled anarbitrary midnight drill because it wasnecessary? And not because you’ve both been completely bored?”
“Not absolutely necessary, but sometimesit’s good to…umm….” After failing to find an honest refutation ofhis point, she conceded with a grin, “Maybe we leana little bit on theadrenaline-seeking side. But you gotta admit – hauling rocks is notexactly what Command ships were designed for.”
“Haulingvery valuable rocks. Andfinding them in half the time they originallypredicted.”
Yawning, sheabsent-mindedly quipped, “Don’t remind me.”
“What does that mean?”Since her complaint had slipped out inadvertently, Naiche remainedsilent, hoping Tal would let it go. Perceptive as ever, after amoment of thought he said, “Oh, I see. You’re not so muchdisappointed that this mission was dull, as you are that this missionwas short.” WhenDeck still didn’t respond, Tal prodded, “You were hoping to missthe Cadet Orientation Sessions – weren’t you?”
With a sheepish shrug,Naiche said, “Okay, yeah, I was.” After contemplating the horriblefate which lay before her, she complained, “I don’tunderstand why Commander Lieu insisted on meleading a session.”
“Who better than you tolead the session for cadets from IndependentCommunities?”
“Someone who wants
