He reached the doorway when Fairbanks spoke, “How old will she be when you get back?”
“Sir?” Trent said confused.
“Your daughter. How old will she be when you get back?”
“Oh. If all goes right, the mission will be twelve years Earth time. She’ll be twenty when I see her again.” He fought hard against shedding a tear.
Fairbanks walked over to Trent, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s not fair, Major. I’m sorry.”
“I know, sir. I know.”
Chapter 6: Good-byes
“A
bandonment.”
Trent knew the word accurately described the situation, but it still stung as he read the divorce paper’s stated reason for the dissolution of the marriage in question.
There was no reason to re-read the details. The agreed upon settlement couldn’t be more in Madison’s favor. Under normal circumstances, a lawyer would have tranquilized him before allowing a client to sign papers sealing such a one sided divorce settlement. These were not normal circumstances. Trent had no worries forfeiting the house, all of their savings, and granting Madison full custody of Anna.
If he did make it back alive, he would have twelve years of salary waiting for him. Even after the automatic thirty percent deducted for child support it, would still be a nice bit of change.
He sat there at his kitchen table in Naperville, staring at the word, abandonment.
Madison slapped a hand down on the table. “What’s the problem?”
Her harsh tone, which he didn’t fault her for, startled Trent out of his daze.
“No problem. I—”
“What? Just sign the damn papers will you. Let’s get this over with.”
“I just wanted to say...I’m sorry. I’m sorry for abandoning you. I would have been happy spending the rest of my life here in this house with you. But I have to go. I hope one day you can understand that and forgive me.”
The sincere words thawed her temperament somewhat.
“I know you would have stayed here forever. Despite the fact you were never really meant for this life. I mean, seriously, you, an insurance salesmen?”
They both smiled.
Madison continued, “That just never seemed right. If it were any other war, I imagine Anna and I would have been enough to keep you tethered to this suburban life. This is different, isn’t it?”
“Never been anything like it. The stakes have never been higher.”
Trent signed the papers and moved in front of Madison.
“Then if you must fight,” she said, “if I must lose a husband, and my daughter must lose her father, then fight like the devil himself. Make them pay for starting this war, make them pay for tearing my family apart. Promise me that much.”
“I promise. I won’t rest until those responsible have paid the butcher’s bill in full.”
“Good. Now go spend what little time is left with your daughter.” She stepped forward, taking his face in her hands and gently kissing his forehead. “Wherever you go from here, remember that I love you.”
Tears fell like rain when they embraced one another.
“I love you too, no matter where I am.”
***
Trent placed the car on autopilot in order to watch Anna sleep all curled up in the passenger seat. So much beauty and innocence wrapped in such a small package. The thought of leaving her was almost unbearable.
She knew that her father was going away for a long time, but like many children she lived in the moment. Soon it would be time for crying but not now. These final days together were a final chance to bank enough happy memories to last them through the approaching drought.
Whatever she wanted for the next few days she would get. Ice cream sundaes for breakfast, no problem. Staying up past bedtime, sure. It all would be small consolation for finishing the remainder of her childhood fatherless.
It’s all I have to give her. Is it enough?
Anna stirred when the car’s wheels made contact with the gravel coating her grandfather’s farm driveway.
The car came to a stop. She rubbed her eyes, letting out an adorable yawn.
“Are we there yet?”
“Yes, honey. It’s late. I’ll carry you inside. Okay?”
She closed her eyes and curled back up into a little ball, melting his heart.
***
Trent sat on the back porch, looking up at the stars. The creak of a wooden plank gave away his father’s approach.
“Care for a beer, son?” Dad slid the cold bottle down a shoulder.
“Thanks, I could use one of these.”
The old farmer slowly lowered himself into the chair next to Trent. Even with all of the automated equipment, it still took a lot out of a man to farm 10,000 acres with just his brother to help. The years of hard work under the hot Iowa sun had taken their toll on Edgar’s body. He had slowed down considerably as he knocked on eighty.
“Lovely night isn’t it?” Edgar commented.
“Sure is.”
“That little spitball finally wore out?”
“Oh, yeah. I had to carry her in again. She should sleep well tonight.”
“I would imagine so, given the way you’ve been running her into the ground every day. You’re trying to spoil her as best you can.”
“Just trying to make up for lost time. Want her to remember that her daddy loved her.”
“I know, and I’m sure in time she’ll realize as much. Going to be hard on her for a while though.”
Trent finished a long draw from his beer.
“Of everything coming my way, that’s what scares me the most. It isn’t fair to her.”
“Well you know what I’ve always said. Life has never been nor will it ever be fair. Life just is. You’re a soldier, and you have a job to do, an important job at that. I haven’t got much of this world or life figured out, but I can pretty much guarantee you that one day she’ll understand.”
“I pray you’re right. How are you holding up?”
“Oh...don’t be worrying about this old timer with all you have on your plate. I am going to miss the hell out of you, but it’s more natural for a father to say good-bye to his grown son. Just make it home. I’ll either see you then or you can visit my grave. That’s the natural order of things.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Never doubted that for a second. When you two heading out tomorrow?”
“Around lunch, we’ll drive over to Mason City and hop on a shuttle to DC. Madison is meeting me there. They’ll spend the night and see me off the next day. The orbital shuttle is taking off at Andrews’. Going to be a media circus, I’m sure.”
“I can’t tell you how proud of you I am. I never really understood your compulsion to join the Army. Especially since we knew it was a doomed organization. I guess the good Lord knew better and made you a soldier from the get-go.” Edgar chuckled and pointed at a large oak tree. “Some days, I swear I see you reading a military history book in the shade. It’s like you prepared your whole life for this moment.”
“It does feel like that way.”
“Say, do you know what star you’ll be at?” Edgar looked up at the sky.
Trent thought hard for several seconds before laughing.
“You know what...I don’t have the slightest idea.”
***
“Daddy, why does everyone keep staring at us? Aren’t they being rude? You and Mom always tell me not to stare.”
Even before Anna’s observation in the main lobby of the DC shuttle terminal, Trent regretted the decision to wear his Legion blacks on the trip to DC. In a world of nine billion people, only a handful wore the uniform. In a short time, it would be an all too common sight, but those who wore it now were a chosen few.
“Don’t mind them, honey. They’re just curious about my uniform. That’s all.”
“They still shouldn’t stare. It’s rude,” she said in a huff.
“Hi, guys
.” Madison came out of nowhere.
“Mommy.” Anna leapt into Madison’s arms, “I missed you.”
“I missed you, sweat pea.”
“Look what daddy got me. It’s a Legion bear.” She proudly displayed a teddy bear wearing the black uniform.
“Oh, it’s cute. Where did you get it?”
“I had it specially made at one of those bear places. The uniform was the special order part. Thought it might help her remember me.”
“It is...”
A group of reporters pounced on the unsuspecting family. A young and eager female lunged forward, sticking her thumb, which contained a recorder chip under the nail, in front of Trent’s mouth.
“Major, Susan Daniels with the World Broadcasting Corporation. Do you have any comments about tomorrow’s launch?”
“Ummmm. I…I’m sure everything will go fine. The Fleet has been preparing for months.”
Anna wrapped herself around his leg. He placed a hand on her head to sooth her fear.
“Do you guys mind if we do this later, at the scheduled press conference. I’m with my family.”
“One more question, Major,” Susan Daniels begged.
He nodded.
“What do you think your odds are of returning home alive? Some say this mission is too dangerous to attempt. What do you say to those critics?”
“Daddy! What’s she talking about? You might die on your trip?”
Trent looked down at Anna’s wide open eyes and quivering lip. Madison swooped down low to hurry her away.
He shot a murderous gaze upon Susan Daniels. The bothersome reporter slithered away.
“What the hell is wrong with you? That’s my little girl. This whole thing is hard enough without you scaring her.”
“I...”
“Your credentials for today’s press conference are revoked,” Trent spat the vengeful words before stomping away to catch up with Anna and Madison.
***
A soft knock, knock, knock yanked Trent’s attention away from the files he was reviewing while relaxing on bed.
The knocking came from the door connecting his room with Madison and Anna’s. Madison thought it best to start the separation process.
He slowly opened the door to find her standing there in the hotel bathrobe, holding a bottle of wine. She had her index finger pressed against her puckered lips.
Her wavy red hair flowed seductively down to her shoulders that were somewhat exposed by the loose fitting robe. The entire scene thoroughly confused him.
“Shhh, she’s sleeping. Can I come in?”
“Umm, yeah, sure.”
She headed directly for the wet bar where she preceded to uncork the wine. Trent watched, not sure what to make of it.
With the door closed, she spoke at a normal level, “Anna went down early. I was bored just sitting over there by myself. So I ordered a bottle of wine and thought we could sit around and have a drink. You know, a final toast to our marriage.”
Unsure how to respond, he muttered, “Sorry.”
“I know. I’ve started to make my peace with it. It is what it is. Right?” Madison turned around, revealing two full glasses of red wine.
“That’s what they say.”
She approached Trent, handing him a glass and raising hers.
“To a short but happy marriage. May we both find love again.”
They touched the glasses together. The clink when they met reminded him of their wedding, of the promises they’d made that day, of what he was losing.
Madison downed her wine in one gulp.
“Easy there sailor. This isn’t a race.”
She flashed him a mischievous grin.
Trent stepped behind Madison to grab the bottle. He was about to turn around to refill her empty glass when a soft, barely audible thud reached his nano enhanced ears.
He turned to find Madison standing completely naked, the robe a half circle of white cloth pooled around her feet.
Her piercing eyes radiated lust.
“Ummm...ma, Madison, what are you doing?” Trent struggled to say through his suddenly dry mouth.
She didn’t say a word. Her body’s seductive movements, and the look in her hungry eyes said more than any words could.
She pressed her exposed body against his and reached around his neck to bring their lips together. Trent lost himself in the moment when she pushed on his head to walk his mouth down to take one of her waiting nipples, causing her to tip her head back and exhale with pleasure.
He effortlessly lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around him. A few hurried strides later, they collapsed on top of the bed, paying no attention to the ad-hoc work station.
They spent the night making love. During which Madison was more than pleasantly taken by surprise at the benefits of a nano-assisted erection.
He wished the night could have lasted forever. At last, the rising sun peeking through the hotel window announced the new day.
The day Trent would leave for war.
***
The legionnaires said their good-byes in an aircraft hangar out of view of the assembled world media. The depressing scene of tearful farewells between parents, spouses, and children would not have made for good PR.
Trent stood between Anna and Madison, holding each of their hands. With each passing second, Anna’s little fingers gripped harder, as if she could keep her father from leaving through sheer will. By now, Madison and Anna’s red and swollen eyes were largely cried out.
General Fairbanks stepped around the corner and stood in the large hanger door. In a booming voice, he declared, “It’s time.”
The unit formed ranks.
Trent knelt down where Anna could throw her arms around his neck. She pulled against him tight and started crying again. Tears rolled down his face as he whispered, “I love you more than you can understand. I’m sorry.”
Her cries downed out his soft words.
After a minute, Trent summoned all of his strength to break free of her hold. Standing, he shared a look with Madison. She wrapped him in a loving, warm hug.
This time she did the whispering, “Remember what I told you. Make them pay.”
He pulled away, nodding as he placed his hand on Anna’s sobbing head.
“I’ll see you both again someday. I promise.” The words bound him to a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep.
Trent took his place at the head of the phalanx and led his unit out into the unknown.
On the way out of the hanger, he caught a brief look of the Kitright Ambassador, mingling with the human political elite. From the moment he saw one as a child when they first arrived, he thought they looked like common house cats on hind legs. Their tan colored fur, amber eyes, and tail left little else for a terrestrial comparison.
For a fraction of a second, they locked eyes. Trent felt a cold shiver run up his spine.
Chapter 7: The Voyage
The orbital shuttle performed a slow flyover of the Commerce. It was an aptly named cargo ship designed to facilitate trade between Earth and her coming colonies. Now she was re-purposed to serve as the tip of the spear in humanity’s first counter-strike.
Soon the sky surrounding Earth would fill with warships of varying types. For now a clumsy cargo vessel was the best anyone could do.
Since any trip in space was long, the Commerce was built huge to maximize its carrying capacity. Compared to ocean going vessels on Earth, she was classified as a behemoth.
Bow to stern, the flying brick measured three-fourths of a kilometer long, four hundred meters across, and one hundred and fifty meters high. Trent thought it looked like a giant black rectangle with the corners rounded off.
How the hell are we supposed to sneak up on anybody in that thing?
***
“Captain Chen, permission to come aboard?” Trent saluted the tall Chinese officer who replied in perfect American English.
“Permission granted, Major. Might I say it’s an honor
for the Commerce and her crew to assist you in your mission. All of your gear has already been loaded. My crewmen will show your people to their quarters.”
Trent walked to the side of the corridor next to Chen, to make way for the others to board.
“The pleasure is all ours, Captain. We did a flyover on approach. She looks like a fine ship.”
“Thank you, Major. Would you care to join me in the captain’s mess this evening for dinner?”
“I would be delighted. When should I be ready?”
“Dinner is at 1900 hours. Which I am afraid is in two hours. We are on ship time here, Earth standard to be specific.”
“Not a problem, I look forward to it.”
“May I personally show you to your quarters?”
“Yes, lead the way. Oh, one moment. Captain Jones?”
The captain displayed her fine British Army training by instantly springing to attention at the sound of her commanding officer’s voice.
“Yes, sir.”
The look of horror on Captain Chen’s face indicated that he hoped the major wasn’t about to invite the hearty woman to join them for dinner.
“Captain, I would like an officers meeting in my stateroom at 2200 hours...ship time. Can you please see to it?”
“Consider it done, sir.”
“Thank you, Captain. Carry on.”
Chen gestured which direction to walk.
Their boots clanked as they stepped on the metal grates covering the walkway.
Once a safe distance, Chen commented, “So your XO...is that a he or a she?”
Trent lightly chuckled and said, “I’m not sure. Just damn glad it’s on our side.”
***
A double beep chimed at his door.
“Enter,” Trent commanded.
He looked at his watch, exactly 2200 hours.
“Please come in. Have a seat in the wardroom.”
“So this is one of the staterooms. I must say...I’m little a disappointed.” The comment came from Lt. Walter Simms, a former U.S. Marine who took part in the beach assault component during the South Africa operation. Dark haired with a youthful appearance, he was a few centimeters shorter than Trent but made up for it with a thick chest and cocky attitude. Born and raised in the snowy peaks of the Colorado Rockies, he developed a taste for extreme sports early on, becoming a full-fledged adrenaline junky. He also happened to be extremely intelligent, holding advanced degrees in engineering and mathematics.
The Last Hero Page 4
