by Joseph O'Day
But I’m more whole now than before my injury, he reflected. My physical wholeness has been enhanced by spiritual wholeness, and soon I’ll become emotionally whole. Brogan was thinking of his reunion with Adriel when he arrived on Cirrus. It’s funny how wholeness can be a present reality and still be something to be attained. No matter how fulfilled or whole I feel at any given time, I will feel more so as time goes by. He shook his head in amazement.
The visitor tone sounded, and he went to the door expecting to see the men who were going to take his luggage to the space shuttle. But when he opened it he was greeted by Manazes, dressed in his Fusilier uniform.
Manazes had served with Brogan in the Imperial Guard for only a few months, then Brogan had ordered him back to CIO School. Because of his extended break, Manazes had only recently graduated.
“Hey, Guv! Say, I hardly recognized you in civvies. How’s it feel?”
“Feels great, I guess.”
“Well, I hope you make up your mind soon,” he joked, looking around the room. “I would say that you’re taking just a smidgen more than I am.”
“Sure,” Brogan replied sarcastically. “And maybe I’m going to regret getting you an assignment on Cirrus.”
Manazes smiled. “Hey, you think maybe Adriel has any good-looking girl friends?” he asked, changing the subject abruptly.
“If she did, you think she’d want to introduce them to you?”
Manazes straightened up and tried to look important. “Of course. I served with the famous Timothy Brogan, who is soon to be the most important man on Cirrus.”
Brogan made a face and groaned. “Now I know I’m going to regret taking you along.”
“Oh, quit moaning, and let’s go,” said Manazes. “We’ll leave a message about the luggage.”
“Only if you promise to stop with the jokes.”
Manazes grinned mischievously. “No promises,” he said, then turned on his heel and left.
On the way to the shuttle port, both men were quiet and pensive. Brogan was reflecting on all the changes that had taken place since he arrived on Earth and all that had been accomplished in two short years. He thought, for instance, about how Mizpala had talked the Emperor into accelerating the North American resettlement program. Hundreds of thousands of lower-level noncitizens were flocking to the recruitment centers, eager to start a new life in the vast stretches of the North American plains.
Brogan took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. Yes, Brogan reflected, it has been a satisfying two years. But thank God I’m going home!
Their taxi arrived at the shuttle port, and the two friends got out to walk to their terminal. Brogan felt himself walking faster as they went along and chastised himself for being so foolish. They were early, and the shuttle was not due to leave for another couple of hours.
But the time passed quickly. When it neared time for take-off, Brogan inquired about his luggage and was assured that it had been loaded. Satisfied that all loose ends had been tied up, the two men settled back to enjoy the ride.
When the shuttle docked, Brogan led the way aboard the Turpin, their home for the two-month trip to Cirrus. As they began heading for their quarters, Brogan surprised Manazes by finding an ensign and saying, “Excuse me, Ensign. Would you be so kind as to inform the captain that a Timothy Brogan wishes to pay his respects.”
“Certainly, Mr. Brogan. Right this way, please.” The ensign led them to a lounge, where he asked them to wait.
Manazes looked askance at his former commander. “What gives, Brogan?”
Brogan smiled secretively. “You’ll see.”
Presently the captain burst through the lounge door. “Hello, Captain Dar Unger,” Brogan said with a smile. “We’ve come a long way in ten years, haven’t we?”
