by Dave Lemel
The three of them took the same seats they had occupied earlier that day. Lombargnor leaned forward and began. “There is much to consider when making this decision. Unfortunately, there is not much time to mull it over. This is a distress call from a fugitive with potentially useful information stranded on a planet very far away. I would like to get this assignment underway as quickly as possible. There are many reasons I would like to have you on this assignment, Marshal Jordan. ”
“And there are many reasons that I want it,” said Todd.
“Yes,” responded Lombargnor. “And there are also many reasons I am not comfortable putting you on it.”
“No! Come on!” Todd shot out of his chair and ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he walked to the back of the room.
“Marshal Jordan, please remain calm. I did not say you were not getting it. Sit down and allow me to finish.”
Todd spun back toward the table. “I’m sorry, I just thought…’cause of the way you said… I’m sorry.” He ran back over and sat down, attempting to appear calm and collected.
“As I was saying,” continued Lombargnor, “there are also many reasons I am not comfortable putting you on it.”
“What can I do to alleviate your concerns? Anything. I’ll do it.”
“This is why I am glad to see that the Cains joined us for this meeting as well.”
Todd looked at Simon and Sasha, and they shrugged in unison back at him.
Lombargnor looked at Simon now. “The only way I can trust the decision to send Marshal Jordan on this assignment is if you are with him. I realize this is asking a lot. Unfairly so. It is, however, non-negotiable.”
The color rushed out of Simon’s face. He felt like he was going to be sick. “Do you know how hard this has been for me?” he said, leaning toward Lombargnor with a look of exasperation on his face. “I didn’t come to the decision to stop going on O.E.A.s easily. It was torture. Not just for me, but for Sasha and even Todd. How can you put this on me?”
“I do understand how unfair this is,” Lombargnor responded. “Truly I do. I feel horrible for what it means for you, your family, and your relationship with Todd. It is, unfortunately, the only way I see possible for me to trust sending Marshal Jordan on this assignment.”
Todd stared at Simon in anticipation of his decision. Simon could feel Sasha staring at the side of his head from the seat beside him. He pushed his chair back, stood up, and walked to the front corner of the room. He leaned into the corner and buried his head in his hands. The heat from his breath was just becoming too much to take when he felt a hand placed gently on his back. Simon parted his own hands and turned to find his wife looking back at him.
“I can’t do it,” Simon half whispered as his eyes dropped to the floor. “I was so close to not coming home this time. Too close. I just,” he looked back up and gazed into Sasha’s eyes, hoping to escape from this room, this moment, this ten-ton question pressing down on him.
Sasha leaned in and put her arms around Simon’s neck. She looked deep into his eyes. “Simon…you have to go with him,” was all she said. At that moment, Simon knew. He would be going on one more O.E.A. with Todd Jordan .
