Intrepid

by Nate Johnson

  The officer nodded slightly at Erik, letting him know this was not some joke, some silly prank. They were rescued. And, Nora wasn’t Nora.

  “Damn,” Erik cursed, as he turned to check on his people.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Erik lay in his bunk, his hands folded behind his head, and stared at the bunk above him. An Imperial cruiser. They sent a friggin Imperial cruiser, not another discovery vessel. Not even a destroyer. A full on cruiser. But, what would you expect for the daughter of the Minister of Defense? Daddy’s little girl deserved the best.

  The anger that boiled inside of him wouldn’t go away. Two weeks, and he was still pissed.

  Why?

  Why had she lied to him? Her father was his boss’s boss’s boss’s boss. With a couple of extra bosses thrown in there. Damn.

  Sighing he turned over and tried to sleep, but it wouldn’t come. They’d been nice enough to give him his own stateroom. But then, it was a cruiser, they had more room than some small moons.

  He still couldn’t believe it, moments away from death, and now, ensconced in safety. It was getting hard to adjust.

  First, the medical checks. They shot everyone full of new Nanos, then the questioning. The constant probing and second guessing. And, every time, they started by reminding him there would be an official Board of Inquiry, and that the Board would determine if a Court Martial was to be convened.

  The daughter of the Minister of Defense. If they knew how close he had come, they’d forget about the trial and string him up in the Imperial Courtyard. The Minister of Defense. The second most powerful man in the galaxy and Erik Tanner is making the moves on his daughter. Not smart. Hell, the Minister was a Duke for Christ sake, a cousin of the Emperor himself. That meant that Nora was related to the Emperor. Hell, he’d be lucky if he made it to the gallows.

  Punching his pillow, he grumbled to himself. This sucked on so many levels.

  He wondered how they were doing. His people. As soon as he’d cleared medical they’d shuffled him back here. Everyone else was up in officer country of course. Somewhere they could keep an eye on them. The last thing they wanted was these privileged youths mingling with the enlisted men. Not right, unacceptable.

  Erik had been quietly informed that his presence was not needed up forward. It was best that he use his time to prepare his case. He’d be given a lawyer when they got back. But, for now, stay in his cabin, shut up, and disappear.

  What made it even worse, was the looks of the crew. That haunting judgement. He was the sole survivor. He could see it in their eyes. “How had he screwed up?” or “Why did he live, and the rest of the Intrepid crew die?”

  A soft knock at the door brought him back to reality.

  “Yeah?” he barked, as he swung his legs over the side of the bunk.

  The door slid open to reveal Nora. His Nora. She was dressed in some kind of soft, glimmering fabric. About as far away from Navy coveralls as you could get on a starship. His heart lurched, and he had to swallow a groan.

  She looked at him with sad puppy eyes, as she hesitated to come into his room. Glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching, she entered and quickly closed the door.

  “You probably shouldn’t be here Lady Lexington,” he said, barely keeping the anger from his voice.

  She stared into his eyes for a long moment, then down at her hands folded before her. Taking a deep breath, she looked up again and said, “I am sorry.”

  Her words sent a bolt of pure pain to his heart. As if three little words could fix things.

  “I had to check on you. Are you all right?” she asked, as she pulled a chair from his desk and sat down.

  He almost chuckled to himself. See, that’s the difference. She doesn’t wait to be invited to sit. He was only a lowly petty officer. Manners didn’t matter.

  “I snuck away from the guard. He thinks I’m visiting Jo.”

  “Guard?”

  “They’ve got a Marine at the end of our passageway.”

  “Why?” he asked. “Do they think you’re going to take over the ship?”

  She laughed, “No, I don’t think that is it. He’s not really a guard, more an escort, I guess.”

  Erik shook his head. “What do you want Lady Lexington?” he asked, resigned to her presence and the disturbing feel it created inside of him.

  She flinched, then said, “I wish you’d call me Nora.”

  “Is that a command?” he asked abruptly.

  She flinched again. “It isn’t like that,” she said. “It was never like that between us. You know it wasn’t.”

  “I don’t know anything anymore,” he said.

  Her eyes grew sad as she slowly shook her head.

  “Please Erik, please understand. I couldn’t tell you. When we first began the trip. Captain Freeborn would have turned around and taken me back.”

  “And, they’d all be alive today if he had,” Erik said. He saw the pain in her eyes and knew that he had hurt her. His heart eased a bit, as he realized he didn’t want to hurt her. Not anymore.

  She swallowed hard and squared her shoulders. “I came to warn you. There is going to be a Board of Inquiry.”

  “Yes, I know Navy regulations, Lady Lexington. There is always a Board when a starship is lost.”

  “Yes, but, I also think there is some question as to our shares. Because we were rescued and didn’t return on our own. Some kind of obscure Imperial law that says the Empire gets the whole thing.”

  Erik studied her for a moment. Was she really that upset about losing her share? Her father had more money than God. Why did it matter?

  He remained quiet and waited for her to continue.

  She took another deep breath and said. “Also, Professor Combs, he’s getting very friendly with Commander Blair.” She paused for a moment. “I think he wants to bring you up on charges of assault. For that fight, remember?”

  Erik slowly nodded his head. “I assumed as much. They may also try to pin the deaths of Professor Creshington and James on me. Hell, they probably should.”

  “Don’t say that,” she pleaded. “We wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you.”

  Erik didn’t respond. He continued to sit on the edge of his bunk, looking at the girl he had loved, and hating his life.

  She looked up and for a moment, they were back on the plains of Intrepid, walking together across a new world. Discovering new things, laughing, smiling.

  It was gone, he realized. The new world, and this woman. Gone from his life.

  “Everyone is doing fine,” she said, as if she could read his mind and wanted to change the subject. “Dean’s ankle has been fixed. Brenda’s cough disappeared as soon as they loaded her up with new Nanos. All our cuts and bruises are gone. Scars removed.”

  She glanced at his forehead at the three fine stripes left by the Yarks in their last attack. Her eyes grew misty, but then she looked away. As if afraid she might say the wrong thing.

  “They’ve put us girls all on the same passage way. All except Jo, of course.”

  He raised an eyebrow, “Why not Jo?”

  Nora laughed, “They tried to separate her and Billy. You should have seen it. She threw a royal hissy fit. No way were they keeping her and Billy apart. She threatened them with everything she could think of. It wasn’t going to work until Billy pulled some kind a lawyerly wizard stuff. He told them about the ceremony you made them go through. Remember, under that huge tree, witnesses, words, promises.

  She stopped for a moment, as she remembered. Erik thought back to their conversations about why it was important.

  “It seems under Naval regulations Billy told them, a married couple can share a cabin. And, under Imperial regulations, each planet establishes its own marriage customs. As such, they are married and deserved their own cabin.”

  “I imagine Commander Blair wasn’t happy,” Erik said.

  “You should have seen Captain Hawthorn, he was livid. Blair is only here because of me. He isn�
��t even part of the ship’s Officer Contingent.”

  “Your father’s representative?” Erik said with more sadness than accusation.

  She looked down at her hands and nodded.

  An awkward silence fell over them like a heavy blanket. Erik could tell she didn’t know what to say. And, neither did he. He wasn’t angry anymore, though. He couldn’t stay angry at her. Hell, if he hadn’t fallen in love with her he’d have admired her for breaking away.

  “Thank you for coming,” he said, as he stood up to open the door. There was no need for her to get in trouble by staying there longer than necessary.

  She looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. “Can you ever forgive me?” she asked.

  “There is nothing to forgive, Nora, really, you didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have done in the same situation.”

  A flash of hope lit up her face. “But you’re still mad at me, I can tell.”

  He paused for a long moment. “No, I’m not Nora, really, I’m not. We come from two different worlds. If ... Never mind. No, I’m not mad at you, I promise. Two different worlds and we are returning to reality; me back to the Navy - if they don’t keelhaul me - and you, back to your father’s house.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Two different worlds,” she said as his words sank in.

  His insides tightened up. This would probably be the last time he was ever alone with this woman. He needed to say something that would stay with her.

  Smiling slightly, he said, “Nora, I need you to do me a favor.”

  “Of course, anything.”

  “I need you to remember, no matter what, remember, you survived. You overcame everything and survived. No matter what happens in your life, hang onto that. It is something to be proud of. All of you should be proud.”

  Her eyes searched his, as a tear slowly fell down her cheek. She knew this was their last time together. Suddenly, she threw herself at him and hugged him with all of her strength. He felt his arms instinctively embrace her, as she cried into his chest.

  “You are a part of me,” she said through blubbering gulps of air. “You will always be in my heart.” With those final words, she stepped back and then ran through the door. Back to her world.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Nora sat on the veranda of her father’s house and stared up into the night sky. The homecoming had been so different than she had imagined it would be. Two weeks ago she had stepped off the Cruiser’s shuttle expecting a stern lecture, possibly even some yelling.

  Instead, her parents had refrained, both of them standing slightly away from all the other parents and welcomers. Her mother had silently cried, her father had stood quietly, an arm around his wife’s shoulders and waited.

  Everyone, all of the students, had gathered in farewell hugs. Everyone, but Erik, she thought. He was still up there on the cruiser. His absence sent a bolt of pure pain to her soul. He should be here. None of them would be here if it were not for him.

  Nora watched her friends, her fellow survivors, and smiled. Johnathan’s parents were shocked at the change in their son. The boy had become a young man, she watched as he shot Brenda a look. The girl returned his look with a secret smile.

  Jo’s parents had already been informed of her situation. Her father had looked at Billy, as if he wanted to send him back up on the shuttle, but at last, he had broken down and shaken the boy’s hand.

  Crying, laughing, pats on backs, and quick hugs. Then, they were gone, and it was just her and her family.

  Her father had approached. His two bodyguards staying back, their eyes constantly scanning the distance. He slowly walked towards her, she bit her inner lip and waited. He stared down at her for a long moment, then pulled her into a deep hug.

  Nora sank into his embrace. She was home. For the first time since Commander Blair had rescued them, she felt that it was real.

  “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said. He deserved at least that.

  “Shush,” he whispered, as he rubbed her back. “You’re home now.”

  Now, here at that moment on the veranda, Nora was still trying to get a grip on what being home meant. Things weren’t the same. Her room felt small and cramped. Her brothers and sisters treated her differently. As if she were a stranger they barely knew. A distant relative maybe.

  Her mother would look at her as if she were looking at a terminally ill patient, afraid she was going to lose her at any moment.

  That morning, at breakfast, her brother Travis had watched her eat, then shook his head.

  “I think that is the first time I’ve ever seen you finish everything on your plate,” he said.

  Nora had glanced down at her now empty plate, then back at her older brother.

  “I can’t stand the idea of wasting food,” she said and realized it was right. The mere idea seemed abhorrent to her.

  He had simply nodded, as if unable to fully comprehend, but willing to let his sister have her silly ideas.

  Her clothes felt different, silly somehow, too frilly. The warm baths were nice. She couldn’t get enough of them. But, she couldn’t rest, couldn’t really relax. Not now. Things weren’t right, and they might not ever be right again.

  One thing hadn’t changed. Her father was busy. The man never stopped working. It was almost as if he was avoiding her. The one person she felt like she could talk to, wasn’t there for her. The one person other than Erik that is.

  Oh, how she wished Erik was there. He would understand. He might tell her to forget about it and keep moving. But, he’d understand.

  Her heart broke once again, as it did every time she thought of him. Where was he now? She wondered. Was he alone, did he have anyone to share things with? The thought troubled her deeply. Sighing, she began to rise and saw her mother standing in the shadows watching her.

  “Mother,” she said, “you surprised me.”

  Wearing a sad smile, her mother moved to take the seat next to her. “I’m sorry dear. I just can’t get used to you being home. I have missed you so much. I was so afraid.”

  “I know mother, I am sorry. I never wanted to put you through all of this. I just had to get away. You understand.”

  Her mother smiled and shook her head, “No, not really. I never felt the urge to get away.”

  Nora was shocked, she had always just assumed. “What about before father?” she asked.

  Her mother shook her head again, “No, never. I knew from an early age that your father and I would marry. Our families had agreed long ago.”

  “Didn’t you resent that?” Nora asked, the curiosity burning inside of her.

  “No, not really. It was expected. Your father and I were lucky, though. We fell in love after we were married.”

  “Yes, but what if you fell in love with someone else. Someone before father. Would you have been as happy with this life?”

  “I don’t know, Nora, I will never know,” her mother said, as she stared up into the night sky. Pausing a moment, the older woman turned and looked her daughter in the eye. “I can tell you this,” she said, “once I fell in love with your father, nothing in the galaxy could have kept me from him. I’d have moved heaven and three planets, if necessary, to be with him.”

  Nora sucked in a deep breath with shock. She had never seen this side of her mother. What was the woman telling her? A dozen different thoughts and emotions raced through her head.

  “Is father at home?” she asked.

  “Yes,” her mother said with a slight smile. “He’s in his study, working.”

  Nora nodded and smiled at her mother. “Thank you,” she said over her shoulder, as she hurried back into the house.

  Standing before her father’s study, she paused for a moment, gathering herself, she knocked, then entered without being told to do so.

  Her father looked up from his desk, a data device in one hand and a communicator in the other.

  “Nora?” he asked.

  “We need to talk father,” she said, as she marched
to the front of his desk.

  He raised an eyebrow and pointed to a chair.

  She sat, smoothing her skirt and straightening her back. Her heart raced, this was important, maybe the most important thing she had ever done.

  “We haven’t discussed what happened to me,” she said.

  His shoulders slumped a little, as he slowly nodded. “I know,” he said, “but, I can’t, not yet. I am the convening authority for the Board of Inquiry, I have to approve or disapprove their findings. I can’t be swayed by my personal feelings.”

  Nora nodded in understanding. “Be that as it may. I want you to make sure that Petty Officer Tanner is not blamed for anything that happened. The man saved us, repeatedly.”

  Her father looked at her for a long moment, studied her as if she were someone he barely knew. “I can’t interfere, Nora, you know that.”

  Again, she nodded, “In that case, you had better hope things go well. Because if they don’t. You will never see me again. I will disappear from your life. You will never know my children, I will curse you and this family and divorce myself from all of you forever.”

  Her father grimaced and shot back in his chair, as if he had been punched.

  “You can’t mean that,” he said.

  “I assure you, father, I do. The Board’s final meeting is in two days. If anything happens to Erik. That will be the last time you ever see me.”

  He shook his head as if trying to understand what she was saying. “You’d give this up,” he said, waiving an arm to encompassing the room, the house, her life.

  “In a heartbeat,” she said.

  “Really?”

  Nora saw the doubt in her father’s eyes and clenched her fist.

  “Father,” she said. “You don’t seem to understand. If you had talked to me about what happened, maybe then you would believe me.”

  Her thoughts drifted to Erik and what he had told her in his room.

  “I killed to stay alive,” she said with fierce determination. “I slept under the stars of a strange planet for six months. I watched people I loved die long, slow, agonizing deaths. Hell, I named an ocean.”

  She paused for a long moment and looked into her father’s eyes. “I fell in love with the greatest man I will ever know. A man who did everything right. Whose strength, intelligence, and kindness are remarkable. And, I will not allow anything bad to happen to him. Do you understand?”