by Tim Marquitz
Randall sighed. “Well, when you say it like that…”
Albion laughed. “Let’s just do this and see what we find. Then we can worry about how screwed we are, yeah?”
The crew grunted something that sounded relatively affirmative, so Albion took it as such. He motioned to Choi to get the helmsman’s attention. “Set course for the Viridian 6 Outpost.”
The entire crew turned to look at him. He raised his hands and shrugged.
“We’ve got some preparations to make before we fly into hostile territory. Who says we can’t make those preparations at an entertainment outpost?”
Not surprising to Albion, the crew agreed.
Ten
Viridian 6 Outpost
Sector 053, Allied Space
The Excalibur settled at the Viridian 6 Outpost, and Albion made sure the crew had credits to burn. While every transfer he made set his pulse to sputtering, he knew they needed this far more than the Excalibur needed upgrades. That didn’t stop him from whining under his breath as the crew left the ship to explore the outpost, only Crate remaining behind to prepare the Excalibur for their mission.
Albion had covered the cost of the crew’s rooms and meals, too. He’d never seen them so happy, the group hurrying off, full of smiles and laughter, desperate to enjoy themselves.
“You did the right thing,” Mara said
“Did I?”
She grinned and took his hand. “You did. They needed this. It might not matter in a couple of days but, right now, this is what’s best for them. Let them blow off some steam and get ready to face whatever it is they have to face.”
“And what about you and Cole?” he asked. “Might be best if the two of you stuck around here while we do this.”
Mara smirked. “Not likely. I’ll offer Cole the opportunity, but I’m most certainly not jumping ship,” she said. “This is as much my fight as it is anyone’s. More so, in fact. The bastards stole and murdered my crew. I’m in this until the end, whatever that is.”
Albion nodded. He completely understood and, while he wanted to see her safe, packed away on the outpost until he figured out what was going on, he knew that wasn’t in the cards. She was as much a warrior as Lyana. There was no telling either of them what to do, and he’d just have to accept that.
“Good,” he said, offering her a sly grin. “Then, while we still can, let’s get a drink. I sure could use one.”
Mara agreed, and the pair headed off to find the nearest, quiet tavern. The evening crowd spilling from their rooms in search of the same made it take a while, but Albion and Mara found their hole in the wall, at last, a tiny tavern stuffed near the far end of the station’s entertainment district.
As simulated night fell over the station, they settled in, Albion sparing no expense…on their booze, at least.
Albion round after round, despite not knowing whether he was celebrating or commiserating, both pretty much the same after the first five or six drinks. Mara kept pace with him, likely thinking the same things. If the bugs had infested Dev-ji 482, they had no idea what they were walking into. Just the two ships they encountered had shown Albion how hard the fight ahead would be. While they’d won out easily enough, taking no damage, their victory was more luck and surprise than it was power. They’d be heading the planet alone, without the military at their back, and he doubted the trick with the mines would work more than a few more times before they realized what he’d done and countered it.
He raised his glass, toasted Mara, clinking their glasses together, and took a deep swallow of the smooth whiskey, eyes closed as it burned its way down his throat. Albion let out a loud sigh as it settled in his belly.
“Looks like fun,” a blurrily familiar voice asked. “Can we join in?”
Albion eased his eyes open to see Mara patting the chair beside her. Lyana slipped into the seat, a wide smile splitting her face nearly in half. Choi shrugged and plopped down next to Albion.
“Hiya, Captain.”
Albion raised an eyebrow, wondering why the hell they were there. “Commander. Lieutenant.”
“I feel like royalty, hanging out with two universe-renowned star captains such as yourselves,” she said, grinning.
“Yes, Lyana, I’ll pay for your drinks,” he told her. “Just stop greasing me up before I slide out of my seat. Same goes for you, Choi.”
“You looked pretty well-greased before I got here, Captain.”
Mara chuckled, attempting to discreetly hide her nod of agreement. “He does, doesn’t he?” She straightened, her nose scrunched. “No, wait. He did, didn’t he? Is that right?”
Lyana chuckled. “Seems you’re not too far off yourself, Mara.”
“Tenses are hard.” Choi grinned, clearly enjoying their inebriation.
It took a moment for Albion to realize Lyana had used Mara’s first name. His eyes narrowed, and he caught the commander reaching over to lay her hand over Mara’s, fingers entwining. The two giggled and lifted their drinks, toasting one another, smiling over them. Lyana tactfully scooted her chair closer, leaning over the table. He glanced underneath to see their legs butted against one another.
Albion grunted and sunk in his seat a little, then raised a hand and called for another round. “Bring three, no, four more of each,” he called out. “Please.”
“Make mine a double,” Choi called to the server.
Lyana cast a sideways grin Albion’s direction. She knew damn well what she was doing. He sneered at her, and she just laughed. The server came over then and set their drinks on the table, walking off with a smile.
“So, you planning on sticking it out with us, Mara?”
She nodded. “Definitely. To the end.” They clinked glasses again, and Choi joined in, though he didn’t try very hard, barely raising his glass.
Albion reached out tapped his glass against theirs a moment later. “Here’s to second in commands knowing their place.” He winked at Lyana, knowing how much she loved it.
She snarled. “And here’s to captains who know when to quit.” She raised her glass again.
“What are you two going on about?” Mara asked.
“Nothin—”
“Just a running bet we’ve got going on, that’s all,” Albion told her, taking her other hand and gently tugging it his direction. She glanced at his hand, then back to Lyana. She squinted, nose scrunched, then pulled her hands loose from both of them and wrapped them around her glass. She shook her head, Choi chuckling as he watched the drama unfold.
“How long has the Excalibur been out this time around?”
“Too damn long,” Lyana answered, and Albion had to nod his agreement.
“So, to be blunt, it’s been a while since either of you have gotten laid, huh?”
Albion burst in laughter. Lyana, still playing the game, did her best to look shocked. Mara clearly didn’t buy a bit of it. She laughed, shaking her head at the pair of them.
“Seriously, Marek, you need to carry sex bots with you,” she told him. “It would seriously cut down on…” she wiggled a finger between Albion and Lyana, “this.”
“I’m in total agreement with the captain, Captain,” Choi said.
Albion laughed and downed his drink while Lyana held her poker face for a moment longer before breaking out into laughter.
“So, this ain’t happening?” she asked, pointing to Mara.
Mara grinned and leaned in, planting a soft kiss on Lyana’s cheek. “Not this time around, sweetheart.”
Lyana grinned, swallowed her drink, and hopped to her feet. “Then I’m out. Come on, Choi. We have women to find.” She returned the kiss on the cheek, and then flipped off Albion as she and the helmsman walked away laughing.
Choi shrugged. “I go where I’m told,” he called back, offering a lazy wave.
Albion and Mara watched them go, though Albion suspected his interest in Lyana’s departure was far different than Mara’s was.
“You’ve some crew there,” she said.
> “I do indeed.”
She spun in her seat to face him. “Now, do you seriously have a bet as to which one of you can bed me first?”
He laughed. “I could only wish I were that creative or that brave,” he replied. “She caught me checking her out when we were suiting up recently, and the subject of sex came up.” He shrugged. “Guess I’m not the only one who’s lonely.”
Mara chuckled and clasped his hand, squeezing. “Nothing wrong with admitting it.”
Albion muffled a laugh behind his drink. “Yeah, there is. Now I remember just how long it’s been.”
“That long, huh?”
“Since you,” he said, realizing too late what he’d just admitted. He sneered at his glass for making him tell the truth.
“Really?”
He nodded. “Happens when you’re a workaholic asshole with no friends outside of your crew. Not to mention the one woman aboard is not only my second in command, which makes relationship things sticky in a non-fun way, but who is also not into men.” Albion shrugged. “What’s a guy to do?”
Grinning, Mara finished her drink and set the glass down with a thump. “Well, if you want honesty, it’s been the same with me,” she said, turning her violet gaze on him.
Albion met her eyes and just stared, holding her hand and hunting for his courage in the booze. Fortunately, she found hers first.
Mara got to her feet, swayed a little before catching her balance with the table, then tugged him to his feet. “Unlike the storm the future holds, this problem is one that’s easily solved.”
Hands entwined, the pair weaved out of the tavern and started off down the street. Albion held tight to Mara, thinking this was the first time he’d been happy in a long time. She leaned into him as they walked, and Albion smiled. The moment was as close to perfect as it could be. It’s only missing one thing, Albion thought.
Too bad Lyana isn’t seeing this.
Eleven
Viridian 6 Outpost
Sector 053, Allied Space
Morning rolled around far too bright and cruel.
Albion groaned as he rolled over in the unfamiliar bed and bumped into someone. Brain little more than mush from the booze he’d downed the night before, it took him a few moments to realize, not only where he was, but who was there with him. The minute she rolled over, her violet eyes taking him in with a look he much imagined he shared, he remembered.
“Uh, morning?”
She grunted, trying to blink away sleep and her hangover and clearly having little success. Mara stared at him for a silent moment, then reached out and touched his bare chest. She lifted the sheet and looked underneath, before letting it settle.
“You’re naked,” she said, then lifted the sheets off her. Albion caught a quick glance of her breasts before the sheet covered them once more. “I’m naked, too. Hmmmm.”
“That a bad thing?”
She shook her head, wincing as soon as she started. “No, not entirely.”
One of Albion’s eyebrows rose of its own accord. “Not entirely?”
Mara met his eyes and offered a crooked smile. “Don’t go looking for sense or validation right now.” She rubbed her temples. “My skull feels ready to explode, and I’m not completely sure how we ended up here.”
“Yeah…” Albion thought for a moment but he only caught snippets of their night together, the last cohesive memory being then settling in at the tavern. “Ugh. Lyana.”
Mara looked under the sheets again. “Whew, no Commander stashed under there anywhere. I didn’t think we drank that much.”
Albion chuckled. “Now that I would have remembered.”
Mara replied with a careful nod and drew in a deep breath. He knew she was making ready to kick him out. They’d had a few one-night stands after their marriage officially dissolved, and they always ended the same way. They always started the same way, too. Lots and lots of booze.
“You know, I’m not sure this was—”
He cut her off with a chuckle, which he regretted before it was even halfway out. “Don’t worry, I’m leaving,” he told her, purposely flipping the sheets back and sliding out of bed where she couldn’t help but see his naked ass.
She chuckled as he got dressed, struggling to get his clothes back on, and then he slumped back onto the bed to pull his boots on. Mara groaned at the movement.
“Oooooh, you’re a bastard,” she muttered, sitting up and holding herself still as if the world was spinning around her. It probably was, seeing how it was for Albion, too. He was just more accustomed to waking up this way, minus the beautiful woman in his bed.
He eased off the mattress and turned to her. “See you at the ship later?”
She offered up a weak wave, and Albion took that as his dismissal. Without another word, he stumbled out of the room and out into the hallway, trying to find his bearings.
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.”
He turned at the familiar voice and grinned. “Morning, Commander. How’d you sleep?”
She growled at him and fell in line as he walked. “Just woke up in Choi’s room,” she said, shuddering. “He’s not a big fan of blankets, or clothing…or grooming.” Lyana rubbed her eyes. “There are some sights that will never go away.”
Albion laughed.
“You obviously had a good time last night.” She looked him up and down, pointing out that he’d missed several buttons on his shirt and it sat crooked on him. “What’s a girl got to do to have a night like that?”
“Get her drunk apparently,” he answered with a broad grin. “Just be prepared to get kicked out as soon as she wakes up and realizes you’re still there. Seems to be her modus operandi.”
Lyana broke into laughter. “I’m not seeing a downside to this, Captain.”
Clearly still drunk, he pulled her in and gave her a companionable hug. “I’ve got work to do. How about you go get breakfast and bring me a stim-caf when you’re done. No, make that two.”
“Breakfast on you?”
“Isn’t it always?”
She grinned. “A girl’s gotta be sure.” Lyana hugged him back, clearly also still drunk from the night before, and peeled off to go find food.
Albion, after a number of wrong turns, finally found his way back to the Excalibur. He clambered inside and ran into Crate, working in the bridge. The engineer looked up from the small device splayed out before him, which Albion thought was the signal generator from the alien ship they’d boarded, and nodded.
“Rough night?” he asked.
“More a rough morning, but I’m not entirely certain as to what all happened last night so it might have been.” He grinned, thinking of Mara, once more, flickers of his evening came back to him. “No, I’m pretty sure it was good now,” he told the engineer.
Crate, however, had already tuned him out and gone back to work.
“Thanks for listening.”
“He hasn’t come back yet.”
“What?”
“Randall,” Crate said. “Didn’t you just ask where he was?”
Albion sighed. “Yeah, sure, that’s what I asked. Thanks.”
“Anytime, Boss. I’m here for you.”
Rather than debate the man, Albion shuffled over to his chair and sat down. He watched Crate work for a while, Albion letting his brain settle, and then tapped the screen of his scanner to bring it online. He pulled up the information Randall had uploaded from the alien craft and was glad someone had already thought to have it translated. While he could tell a click from a clack when a Xebedon spoke, he was surprisingly fluent in their written language. He’d studied it for countless hours with the help of Ares, but the last thing he wanted to do right then was attempt to pick through the strange scratching that comprised their language.
With no real purpose behind digging through their logs and files other than to find a correlation between the abandoned planet Dev-ji 482 and the aliens, he dug in without much hope. Experience, the Excalibur’s original logs an
absolute cluster of chaos, he’d learned that, not only do the Xebedon organize data differently, they think completely different. There were no obviously logical trails to follow in their information and even Covenant Command had failed to make heads or tails of the bulk of the information he’d given them over the cycles.
If it hadn’t been for Crate, none of the renovations of the Excalibur would have been capable. But even he worked with the data on a more intuitive level, his alien half clearly better at grasping the concepts of Xebedonian science.
The man whistled as he worked, off key and at a volume that stabbed Albion in the ears with every note shift. But the captain said nothing. Crate did what he did, and it was best to leave him to it. Right then, he was sat in front of several of the same type of mines they’d ambushed the last alien ship with, so Albion figured now, more than any other time, he’d simply suffer through the engineer’s shrill quirk.
Albion went back to work, thumbing through files on his scanner and, occasionally, realizing he’d stared off into space. He caught himself several more times and was just about ready to quit when Lyana walked onto the bridge. In her hands were two, large stim-cafs. She headed straight for him.
“Oh, I could so kiss you right now,” he told her. She stuffed one stim into his waiting hand and set the other beside his chair.
“Please don’t,” she said, waving her hand in front of her face. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Captain, you smell an awful lot like the insides of the bugs we killed earlier.”
He shrugged and popped the cap on the stim, sucking down the warm beverage, heedless of the damage he was inflicting on his tongue. He sighed as the drink went to work, adrenaline firing his veins.
“That’s okay,” he answered a moment later, you’re not my type anyway.
Lyana chuckled. “I’m everyone’s type,” she said while heading for the transit shaft, “but the only type I’m interested in right now is my bed.” She waved goodbye and disappeared.
“That was nice of her,” Crate said, gesturing toward the stim-cafs. “You pay for those?”
