In the Blink of an Eye

by Mark Dutkiewicz

  Joanne laughed at him. “I think you’re done Knight.”

  “Pfft,” Jeff blew out his lips. “You’re done.” Turning back, he continued to pester Curtis. “Spanky,” he drew out. “Just one more, then we’re done.”

  “I’m telling you Jeff, I just want to hit my rack.”

  “One more drink. One more drink. One more drink,” Jeff began chanting.

  Leaning over James looked at Curtis. “He’s not going to take no for an answer,” he said with a smile. “Might as well just get it over with.” Reaching out he slid a glass before Curtis before taking one himself.

  “One more drink. One more drink,” Jeff continued to pressure.

  “Fine! One more and that’s it,” Curtis finally gave in. Jeff hooted in pleasure lifting his glass high. James followed suit throwing his own back, the harsh liquor burned his throat. Jeff was quick to grab the bottle hastily pouring another shot before Curtis wrestled it away earning him a disappointed grunt. “You said, ‘Just one more, then we’re done.’ I’m holding you too that. Besides, in case you have forgotten we still need to file reports.”

  “That’s no excuse for ruining the party,” Jeff said wagging a finger at his friend. “You used to be fun!”

  Curtis laughed, “I’m just not drunk.” Standing up a little unsteadily the big man corrected, “Well, not as drunk.”

  Jeff swallowed his last shot and stood even more unsteadily than Curtis. “Okay, we’re done,” he said before an impish grin split his face. “Want to have some fun?”

  “Oh shit, I know that look,” Curtis groaned.

  “We all know that look,” James agreed. “What do you have brewing in that devious mind of yours?”

  Jeff said with a juvenile giggle, “I think it’s time we pay Kami a visit and vent her cabin.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea Knight,” James tried to dissuade looking him up and down. “She might be in there; it is kind of late.”

  Blowing out a raspberry Jeff emphatically declared, “Nonsense! Thomas is a vampire,” adding in a near whisper, “She doesn’t sleep!” Failing to wait for a reply he was already moving, just shy of full on stumbling really, for the passageway. James could see he was certainly on a mission and wouldn’t be deterred.

  Curtis laughed. Smiling, the large man shook his head saying, “He’s right,” he sighed looking at James himself, “she’s probably still on the bridge.” Crossing his arms, he followed the squadron leader promising to make sure he didn’t go too far.

  “Sometimes I don’t see how he could possibly be Russell Grant’s son,” James said in amusement. Looking at Joanne he smiled.

  “He’s a character all right,” she agreed still watching the hatch. “But underneath that childlike persona is one of the finest pilots I’ve had the privilege to fly with. And he’s got a cute butt.”

  James choked on his drink erupting into a painful coughing fit. Joanne slapped him on the back a few times saying something he couldn’t make out. Gasping for air he finally wheezed, “Since when did you get an eye for him?”

  “Who said I’ve got an eye? I just appreciate good merchandise.” Joanne smiled and rubbed his shoulder.

  “Well, it’s getting late,” he said scraping his chair back. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your cabin.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Taking their time, they strolled about the labyrinth of passages chatting about how far they’d come in so short a time. It felt like yesterday James had first met Jeff on that shuttle. Wide eyed, impressionable, and just as willing as ever to step up to a challenge.

  “He’s the only thing that really hasn’t changed that much,” James was saying. “Sure now he’s got a command of his own. But he still acts the class clown just itching to leave his mark.”

  “Can you blame him?” Joanne asked. “His father was a decorated veteran. It’s a hard thing to live with.”

  “I don’t know. I think I’d jump at the opportunity a legacy like that would offer me.”

  “Being held up to extraordinary standards, constantly being compared to a legend,” Joanne offered. “Not to mention being accused of using that recognition to coast through the ranks rather than be promoted on merit.”

  “Joanne, we both know Knight isn’t the type of guy to pull bullshit like that.”

  “Tell that to the XO. She pushes him harder than anyone else on this ship. Why do you think he’s taken a special liking to tormenting her? He’s trying to prove a point.”

  “Huh,” James thought out loud, “I just thought they were stupid for each other.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “It’s certainly no secret what Commander Thomas’ opinion of his father is. And every crewman who was on Victoria when he was executive will attest to her deep admiration of the man. Some would probably say she loved him. And remember what Spanky said the night before he took over the Yellow Jackets?”

  “‘Your type is anything with a pulse that wants nothing to do with you,’ ” Joanne laughed. “I think you’re right. You think something will happen there?”

  “Yes…no…well yes, but not until one of them transfers. Knight’s too smart a guy to get mixed up with a superior.”

  “Mmm,” Joanne cooed slipping an arm around his. “You’re a pretty smart guy too you know. How long have we served together now?”

  “It’ll be five years next month,” he said, a touch surprised by her sudden affection. He wondered if it was the talk of Jeff and the commander. Whatever it was, he kind of liked it. They spent the final moments of their journey in silence content with enjoying each other’s company. Upon arrival at Joanne’s cabin an announcement signaling shift change echoed through the passage.

  “I’m happy I don’t have to go out there tonight,” Joanne said opening the hatch. “What Knight and Spanky said about those toads today.” She visibly shuddered.

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about it,” James encouraged. “Besides, we have plenty of birds onboard to handle anything that little fleet they have out there can throw at us.”

  James was about to say his goodbyes when Joanne stopped him. “Would you mind coming in and staying a while longer?” she asked. “I don’t quite feel like being alone right now.”

  “Sure,” he said following her into the cabin. The hatch hissed closed leaving the corridor empty and silent save for the constant hum of the ships engines.

  ***

  Curtis nervously scanned both directions of the passage. Leaning against the wall he attempted to appear casual. He wasn’t sure he was pulling it off either and grumbled in irritation. What’s taking so long Jeff? And that was the shift change announcement just now. For possibly the hundredth time he’d wished he was wrong about Kami’s whereabouts. The announcement practically guaranteed the commander was on her way there at that moment. It only heightened his paranoia.

  Thankfully the hatch finally hissed open and Jeff slipped out giggling like a school kid. “We can leave in two minutes,” he said mirthfully lurching down the passage to a nearby terminal. Curtis continued casting a wary eye about as Jeff disabled the atmospheric alarm and began venting the chamber. Time seemed to drag, the indicator descending at a painfully slow pace. Curtis whipped his head around peering down the hall. Were those footsteps? A maintenance hatch being closed? He counted the seconds down in his head and was startled when Jeff clapped gleefully when the pressurization gauge turned red. Wasting no time he grabbed Jeff by the arm all but dragging him from the scene of the crime.

  Jeff attempted to protest, “We have to stay close. I want to see the look on her face.”

  “Not gonna happen Jeff,” Curtis whispered. They were almost to the turn when Kami’s unmistakable voice called them both down.

  ***

  “If it isn’t Lieutenant Commander Grant, and his ever present lackey Lieutenant Johnson,” Kami spat. The men froze in their steps slowly turning to face her. Stalking up, she crossed her arms stopping before them, “And what
pray tell are you gentlemen up to tonight?”

  “Commander Grant and I were just retiring to our cabins Sir. Had a late planning session for tomorrow’s patrols—”

  “Cut the crap Johnson, I can tell from right here that Grant’s shit faced!”

  “Well Sir, about that—”

  “Shut it!” she admonished firmly. Clasping her hands behind her back, Kami leaned into Jeff’s face and took a deep breath. Grinding her teeth, she shot a glare at Curtis. “Get this piss poor excuse for a squadron leader out of my sight Mister Johnson.”

  “Sir,” Curtis replied smartly before grabbing Jeff’s arm and guiding the drunken pilot down the passage.

  Kami simmered in anger at Jeff’s wretched state. “And Johnson,” she called stopping them cold. Stopped Johnson at least, Grant continued to sway. She must have put some kind of fear into the lieutenant as he rigidly turned to look at her sideways. “Make sure he knows I expect to see him, early mind you, in my office tomorrow.”

  “Aye-aye Sir.”

  Kami’s brow furrow in fury watching the two men stumble down the hall. Trying to expel them from her thoughts she turned stalking towards her cabin. A loud boom thundered through the passage upon opening the hatch almost blowing her from her feet. It didn’t quite drown out her vexed curse. Quickly shooting a glare up the corridor she ground her teeth. “The little shit vented,” she seethed turning her attention back to the shambles of her cabin. Absentmindedly she pulled her hair back from her face. Just wait until I have you in my sights tomorrow Grant she thought bitterly examining the mess. Simmering with anger at the task she jumped barking, “What!” at the address of a young yeoman.

  “Dispatch from Captain Williams Sir,” the young man nervously stammered.

  “Dispatch,” she grunted to herself snatching up the message. “What’s wrong with the Goddamned intercom?” she mumbled scanning the paper. Distress call, SD Two Six, request assistance, she quickly picked out before turning to the yeoman. “Why in God’s name is Williams sending this crap to me?”

  “The captain didn’t specify Sir. I did overhear something about consigning a ship to check it out.”

  Rolling her eyes, she re-read the message. It’s a little supply depot at the ass edge of nowhere, she mused. Probably nothing more than a downed transmitter, there wasn’t much in the distress call to go on and the station was also well inside of UE space. She thought about the situation a moment and a wicked smile began curving her lips. This is perfect, she thought. Kill two birds with one stone. Send Grant on a wild goose chase and get him off the ship to boot.

  Looking at the crewman she said, “Tell Captain Williams I’ll get him a ship and that Lieutenant Commander Grant will check it out.” A couple of weeks of peace without him causing trouble is just what I need right now.

  CHAPTER 15:

  RESCUE MISSION

  Sipping a cup of coffee and gingerly rubbing his temple, Jeff sat with slumped shoulders in the dimly lit ready room. Leaning back with arms crossed next to him Curtis looked tired and irritated. He never was a morning person. Thankfully the meeting with Kami his friend told him about had been canceled. It was a small conciliation considering the hour.

  “Why are these things always so damned early,” Jeff groaned. Pinching the bridge of his nose he exhaled a regretful sigh.

  “Don’t bitch at me,” Curtis rumbled. “If it weren’t for you I would have been in my rack hours earlier last night. You just had to have ‘one more drink.’ Just had to go messing with the XO. I’m surprised she didn’t have us strung up right then and there.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Jeff groaned again. Continuing to pinch his nose he blindly searched the desktop for his coffee. He gave up his quest at the sound of the hatch slowing moving to stand.

  “As you were gentlemen I’m going to make this quick,” Williams barked striding for the podium. He dropped—loudly—a stack of reports down in front of him. The racket seemed to bore a hole through Jeff’s skull.

  Dimming the lights, the captain activated the room’s large projector screen. “Around twenty-three hundred hours Victoria received a distress signal from outpost SD Two Six a small supply depot located on the moon Euphrates in orbit of Gliese Eight Seven Six C approximately eleven parsecs from our current position. It’s a remote installation primarily serving as a rest stop for deep space reconnaissance or exploration vessels based out of Tiryns.

  Transitioning the viewer through photos and sensor readings he continued, “The installation is well outside of the combat zone. In fact, we’ve never recorded enemy activity in the vicinity.”

  “So what does that have to do with us?” Jeff asked in annoyance.

  “I’m getting to that,” Williams grated. “At about the same time several forward listening posts also sent out distress signals or went completely silent. Command is worried about the possibility of a Drac incursion, however unlikely, into occupied territory. However, due to our counteroffensive pressing the enemy out of Epsilon Eridani we can’t afford to commit anything more than a few ships to this operation.”

  “I don’t get it Jazz. You said yourself this shit hole is out of the way. Let civil defense handle it.”

  “It’s a military instillation Knight; therefore, it falls under our jurisdiction.”

  “More like another case for the galactic coast guard if you ask me,” Jeff muttered at what he saw as a waste of time.

  “Care to speak up Lieutenant Commander?” Williams said harshly. The man leaned threateningly on the podium driving his hard knuckled stare into Jeff’s head. Even that seemed to hurt. Clearing his throat Williams continued, “The marine carrier UES Pegasus will be dispatched with a pair of escorts to investigate. She’s a smaller ship, recently re-crewed and hasn’t seen much action. Commander Thomas thought it wise that some seasoned pilots accompany her on the operation. That’s where you two dingle berries come in. Your job will be to fly cover for a landing party with the marine squadron onboard Pegasus. A marine strike unit will investigate the site and carry out any rescue operation. Pegasus only has two available slips so the rest of the squadron won’t be accompanying you.”

  Bringing up the lights Williams tossed a pair of thumb drives at Jeff and Curtis. “All the relevant information regarding the outpost and Euphrates are on those.” Fixing his eyes on Jeff he added, “Any more questions?”

  “Just…one more,” Jeff said sarcastically, “How long are we going to be stuck on that boat of jarheads?”

  “Sassy as always aren’t you Knight?” Williams said with a shake of his head. “That attitude hasn’t endeared you to the XO, and I’m getting a little tired of covering up for you. It’s a thirty-five light year jump from our present position. That will be stretching the limits of their SLD so probably a week, two at the most, depending on what the conditions on Euphrates are.”

  “That’s a relief,” Jeff said through a painful smile, “I was worried I’d have to do some actual work.”

  A hint of a wry grin touched Williams’ lips. Stepping around the podium he pressed his fists into the desktop before Jeff. “Just get your ass cleaned up and on the flight deck Knight.” Quickly gathering his things, the captain marched up the aisle leaving Jeff to his headache. He was just beginning to sigh when Williams cut it off calling back, “By the way Knight. This is the last time you’re showing up for a briefing hung over. Next time I’m feeding your ass to Thomas without the benefit of softening her up.”

  Jeff waited for the hatch to thankfully hiss closed before turning to Curtis saying, “ ‘Next time I’m feeding your ass to Thomas without the benefit of softening her up,’ ” in an impersonation of Williams. “All the rosy talk pomp and circumstance in the world couldn’t soften that bitch.”

  “One of these days Jeff, that mouth is going to get you in trouble that it can’t get you back out of,” Curtis said with a smile.

  “Bah, Jazz is full of hot air.”

  Curtis chuckled. “You’re full of something too.”
>
  Waving a dismissive hand at Curtis, Jeff began to stand only to immediately flop back down in the chair holding his head. For what felt like the hundredth time that morning he wished he had listened to Curtis and went to his rack. Curtis. Why would they want the both of them going on this mission? It didn’t make sense to send both of them; the Jackets would need someone with experience to assume command. Gathering his composure, Jeff willed himself to his feet intent on catching up to Captain Williams. “You have command until I return. Teak will come with me on this one. Have him meet me back here in twenty minutes. Now I’m going to find some aspirin.” Picking up his coffee, Jeff gingerly made his way from the briefing room.

  “Right…Teak,” said Curtis absentmindedly as he stifled a yawn. His head didn’t hurt, not terribly anyway, he was just more tired than anything. Pushing himself to his feet while stifling another yawn, Jeff’s last order hit him in a flash of sudden realization. “Wait just one damn minute,” he yelled rushing from the room.

  “Jeff!” he yelled scanning up and down the passage. “Son of a bitch is like a ninja,” he muttered while jogging to the nearest intersecting corridor. Nothing, not a soul in sight, the ship might as well have been a ghost town. Growling a curse, he punched a hallway monitor putting a large crack in the screen.

  “I don’t think maintenance is going to like you breaking monitors Lieutenant,” Emily’s voice announced from behind him.

  Startled, Curtis spun about. The hallway swam in his vision briefly. Maybe his head did hurt a little more than he thought. “Where’d you come from?”

  “The elevator?” she quipped throwing a thumb over her shoulder. “What’s got you in such a mood?”

  “Doesn’t matter, have you seen Jeff?”

  “Sure, he got off on deck fifteen. He didn’t look ve—”

  Curtis didn’t let her finish. Grabbing her head he said, “Thank you,” before planting a kiss on her lips and rushing towards the elevator.

  “You forgot to buy me a drink!” she called after him with a smile, Curtis never heard her. Jabbing the call button repeatedly, he practically jumped through the doors as they opened almost bowling Kami over in the process.