Chapter 13

The doors cracked and I could feel a breeze rush past me as the air pressure normalized. When they finally opened fully, Admiral Utkin stood front and center. Her blonde hair was cut short and close to her head, but unlike my sister and me hers was loose. Her round head framed strong features with green eyes. Her wrinkled face spoke of years of concentration and undying focus. Her perfectly pressed and fitted black uniform identified her as Fleet Admiral and brought all your attention back to her face. She had a presence about her that demanded attention and respect.

Flanking her were two commanders. The woman on her right had black hair in a high-and-tight, her caramel skin and dark slanted eyes showed with age and wisdom. On her left stood an unbelievable short man, probably barely clearing a meter, which had bright white hair and sharp features that all but hid his eyes completely. Both were attired similarly to the Admiral.

“Admiral on deck!” I yelled, and Erika and I snapped to attention. I spun backward to my left, Erika backward to her right, so our heels were touching the walls on either side of us. As one we whipped are hands up in a solute and held them there. I heard more than saw both cadets mimic us maybe a half beat behind, positioned at our sides.

The Admiral stepped in and looked at each of us in turn. Even though I was looking at nothing, I saw her take close notice of our facial features. She saluted sharply. “At ease,” she said in a calm tone and we did. The Senator stepped up and she hugged him. If I hadn’t been standing at ease, my jaw may have fallen open. I didn’t know he even know the woman. “It is good to see you, Jim.”

As they pulled away from one another, the Senator halted the motion and kissed her cheek. “You as well, Elsa. Always is,” he said. “May I introduce my Chief of Staff, Celina Lacy?”

Celina stepped to his side and very professionally bowed to the Admiral and then took her hand. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Admiral and put a face to a voice.”

The Admiral smiled – smiled – at Celina and shook her hand amiably. “Yes,” she agreed, “you have been answering your grandfather’s calls for so long now and we have never talked more than a word or two. Perhaps on your visit here we can extend that to at least a whole conversation.”

Celina smiled back. “I’d like that very much.”

“As would I,” Utkin replied amiably. “Maybe you can tell me what lead your grandfather to make his Chief of Staff also do all his assistant duties.”

Celina laughed and nudged the Senator. “I think Senator Lacy will have to be there to explain that one.”

“And these two cadets,” the Admiral said turning toward Gekido. “Are you dropping them off?”

Celina laughed again. “No, Admiral. They were turned over to me to serve their detention. They’ve been doing so on our ship today.”

“And?” Admiral Utkin prompted.

“And,” the Senator cut in, “both Cadet Ito and Cadet Esparza have acted with distinction. How they ended up with enough marks to deserve detention, I’ll never understand.”

Utkin nodded sharply. “Commander Lin!”

The female commander stepped forward casually. “Sir?” she asked in a calm but respectful voice.

“Bring these two to the Mess. They both look hungry and we need some test subjects for the food.”

Lin saluted, again casually, and said, “Sir.” She then looked at each cadet and yelled, “Cadet’s! Disembark on my heels!”

They both saluted and fell in. I’ve never been one to have a lot of difficulty with the whole military side of serving in the Senatorial Protectorate, but at that moment, all I wanted to do was watch them march off the ship, no doubt bursting with pride. I did, however, stay right where I was.

Utkin stepped in front of me and calmly said, “You can relax, Captain.” I relaxed completely and looked down at her. “I understand I have the two of you to thank for saving my best friend’s life?” she asked and extended her hand to me.

I let a grin creep onto my face and took her hand firmly in mine. The calluses of hard work met my touch and for the fourth time since the Admiral stepped onto my ship I was surprised. I decided it was better to stay quiet then to embarrass myself. I figured it would be better to let my sister take that honor since, really, she was the biggest part of saving the Senator every time.

Sure enough, the Admiral turned to Erika, said, “Forgive me. Relax, Captain.” She put her hand out to shake.

My sister took it and said, “Jim makes it easy on us.”

I waited, but no, she was done.

The admiral became more and more stiff. My sister picked up on it when the Admiral’s hand stopped shaking and looked over head at me in confusion. I mouthed “Sir” to her and she quickly said, “Sir!” Her cheeks erupted into red. “Jim makes it easy on us, Sir! Oh, Sol, I can’t believe I gretted that up!”

I dropped my head into my hands, both out of embarrassment for my sister and to keep her from seeing my huge smile. I may have done it to keep from bursting into laughter as well.

It was the Senator’s turn to step in and save Erika’s butt. He took a long step up to the Admiral, touched her shoulder and said, “Elsa, time is pressing, perhaps we should get moving?”

Utkin tore her eyes from Erika and looked at the Senator. I could see that the corners of her eyes were fighting of a smile. “Yes.” She looked back to Erika and released her hand. I couldn’t see all of Erika’s face but the look of utter humiliation in her eyes told a story all its own. “Perhaps if we get moving we will be better off.” Still looking at my sister she called out, “Mother!”

A woman’s disembodied voice responded. “Yes, Admiral?” It was unlike the computerized voices I had heard before. Instead of being slightly off regular speech, it sounded exactly like a human voice. I even mistook it for that until the Admiral continued.

“Please welcome the two captains and Celina aboard and help them on their way,” she requested. “Whatever they need.”

“Yes, Admiral,” the voice replied. “Welcome to the Protostar, Miss Lacy, Captains.”

At that, Admiral Utkin turned, took the Senator by the arm and the two walked out talking quietly, the other commander fell in behind them.

I looked over at my sister, face still red as I’ve ever seen it, though embarrassment was not usually what made it so. “I can’t believe you gretted that up either.”

She glared at me. “Shut it.”

Celina stepped up between us and said, “All right you two. We don’t need any injuries on either of you and I don’t want to be collateral damage.”

Still glaring at me, Erika said, “You are so lucky your girlfriend is here to save you. If she wasn’t, the fight would be gretting one sided.” Then she winked at me.

I lifted my eyebrows at her, ignoring the girlfriend comment. “Is that a challenge, Captain?”

“Stop!” Celina said, stamping her foot. “You two are worse than children.”

Glancing down at her, I noticed that her cheeks were pink as were the tips of her ears. Obviously she hadn’t been able to ignore Erika’s comment as easily as I had. Right then Erika stamped her foot and playfully complained, “Are Not!”

I laughed lightly. “Mother?” I called.

“Yes, Captain,” she responded smoothly.

I looked up toward the direction of the voice and fought off a shiver. The perfect mimicry of human voice was completely unnatural. “Can you get us to flight suits proper for the fighters we’ll be in?”

“With pleasure, Captain,” she replied.

Celina shivered. “Is it just me or is that the creepiest voice you’ve ever heard from a computer?”

Erika and I replied together, “Home-Two,” and started to chuckle.

In the corridor beyond, thin blue lights appeared in the middle of the walls. Mother’s voice returned. “Please follow the blue lights to your destination. And Miss Lacy, if there is anything I can do to be less creepy for you, please let me know. I hate the idea that I make you uncomfortable.”

All three of us just stared.

Celina was the first to speak. “Um. Did a computer just ask me to help it be more human?”

Erika snorted and instantly put her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

I cleared my throat. “I, uh,” I stammered. “I guess we should get moving,” and stepped forward.

Next Chapter: Chapter 14