I knew she was speaking hypothetically; she meant she'd dedicate some time exclusively to me. I could feel the disappointment swell inside me, because I so wanted to hold her next to me, look into her eyes and— "Honey," I said slowly, "I can't begin to tell you how I've missed you. I look forward to being with you for the rest of our lives."
"Today, then, is day one," she said in a voice that cooed the words in the sultriest of ways. "We must have patience, and remember, we have an estimated thirty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty days ahead of us."
I had always known that officers got the fast track in certain areas. We had a special orientation, separate from the enlisted personnel, and the civilians received yet a separate orientation from everyone else.
To my surprise, all the officers in this class were SUBs. Granted, there were only five of us, but all SUBs. The plan was to eventually replace all the Bios in the LCDD with SUBs. We were all provided the briefing as downloadable information over Ismay. The real reason for the meeting was to meet our new Commander, Colonel Autry; it came as no surprise that he, also, was a SUB.
He had commanded a Battalion in Oceania. On his way home, his plane ran into bad weather and crashed. Pulled from the wreckage, he was found to be a perfect candidate for the SUB program. He underwent an interesting beta test. As a SUB, he was sent back to Oceania, where he commanded a brigade for a year. No one was informed and no one suspected what he was. Of course, his command of the brigade was superlative.
After the briefing, which only lasted half-an-hour, a world record for military briefings, he called me aside. "Yes, sir," I said, snapping to attention.
"As you were, Lieutenant. I pulled your file, watched your downloaded account from the JPL, and that of Lieutenant JG Susan Myers, of the events here."
"Pardon me, sir, did you say Lieutenant JG?"
"Yes. A decision of the Department of the Navy."
"Damn."
"Lieutenant?"
"Sorry sir, it's just that she outranks me again."
The colonel smiled. "As I said, I read your file. You displayed both technical and tactical proficiency, courage and except for one event, intelligence."
"Which event was that, sir?"
"Going alone aboard the enemy lander. A one-way trip is seldom the right choice."
"Well sir, at the time it seemed my only option. Besides, sir, it didn't turn out to be a one-way trip."
He smiled again. "You were lucky. You went in there without a plan."
"Sir, have you never taken a foolish risk to save your people?"
He gave me an odd look, his lips curled up at the corners and he squinted at me. "We're talking about you, Lieutenant," he replied.
I smiled a gentle knowing smile. "I thought so."
"So, you were with the 617th in the Blood Archipelago?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, sir."
"I'm pleased to have you here, Lieutenant." He offered his hand and I took it. "Tomorrow will be soon enough to explain your assignments. Get settled in and I'll see you later."
"Thank you, sir."
As I was exiting the briefing room, I received a call on Ismay. "Lieutenant Strum, please meet your party at the Crater House restaurant not later than 17:00."
The voice sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. "Who is this?" I asked.
"Please meet your party at the Crater House restaurant not later than 17:00." The voice repeated. It must have been an automated message; still, I felt sure I should know it.
The time was 16:35, so I started moving toward the restaurant. The jeep that picked me up was driven by a young SUB I did not know. His identifier read, "JILL - CYB - 1711 - Spec Sanderson, Olaf."
"Where to Lieutenant Strum?" He was of course reading my identifier.
"Crater House, please."
"Sir?"
"The Crater House restaurant," I repeated.
"Yes, sir, but—ah, we don't eat, sir."
"I know that, Specialist, I'm meeting someone there."
"Sir, I'm sorry, but the manager doesn't let SUBs in his place. If he finds out you're a—"
"What's he gonna do, Specialist? Bend my dog tags and send me to the Moon? Drive on Olaf,” and I shot him a smile.
As we drove along, I was amazed at how much progress had been made repairing and rebuilding the domes. In dome one, the place was completely rebuilt back to its original, beautiful appearance. The fountains were again flowing with virtual water. The wonderful sculptures in metal, and stone, though new or repaired, were back in place. New paintings, murals, and photographs replaced those destroyed. The floors were clean, rubble free, and again covered with beautiful rugs. New chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and new furniture adorned the lobby.
As he was driving, the young specialist kept looking at me, over and over again. At last, he said, "Sir, are you any relation to the Sergeant Strum that fought here last year?"
I just smiled at him.
"He was a hell of a soldier. He's given all us SUBs something to be proud of," the specialist said.
"I thought that information was classified."
"Well sir, we SUBs are here for life and we know it, so command let us in on it."
The jeep pulled up to the restaurant, but before I could hop out, Specialist Sanderson stopped me. "Sir, may I shake your hand?" We shook, and he smiled and drove away.
I entered the restaurant into the waiting area and was surprised to find Walker sitting there. He started to rise from his seat as he saw me. "Walker, don't get up," I said, more loudly than necessary.
The smile left his face. "I ain't seen you in over a damn year, and that's how you greet me, don't get up?"
"Well, your leg."
"Oh, that?" He lifted his leg and slapped it. "Jasper, I lost that leg, they cut it off above the knee. I now have a cybernetic leg and a BCI in my head to control it. I'm well on my way to catching up with you!" Then he stood, leaned forward, and embraced me in a bear hug. "Don't you squeeze me; I don't want a broken back," he said, chuckling.
As he released me, I heard a voice behind me, "Lieutenant Strum, please meet your party at the Crater House restaurant so you can show off your new rank."
I spun around to see Bill, Marc, Jan, Mitch and Cassie. Mitch and Cassie were in civilian clothes and holding hands. Bill was the one who had spoken, modulating his voice as he had done on Ismay. I cracked a big smile. "Hey, guys!"
The five of them snapped to attention and saluted. In one voice, they all replied with, "Hey, sir!" This was followed by slaps on the back, and hugs all around.
Just then from behind the group, Sanyo rolled around. All the battle damage he'd suffered was gone and he looked brand new.
"About time you got back here," he said, looking up at me. "Whoever heard of a SUB taking a year's vacation on Earth?"
I squatted down in front of him and gently placed a hand on the side of his visual sensor housing. Over Ismay I told him, "Sanyo, there is only one other I missed more than you."
"Oh, stop it," he responded also over Ismay, "you're gonna make me blush!"
The eight of us continued to share our greetings aloud for Walker's sake when behind our little celebration, I heard the voice of our hostess. "How many in your party please?"
"Eight," I said.
Our hostess glanced down at Sanyo and was about to say something. "Miss," I said quickly, "just show us to a table—right now."
She did, but the table was near the door. She then rushed off, no doubt to inform the manager. The place was very crowded; perhaps this was the only table available.
I hefted Sanyo onto the bench seat and sat next to him, Walker was on my other side.
Walker leaned in to me as we watched the hostess disappear and said, "This ain't gonna go well, you know that."
"So," I said aloud, "did everyone here get a trip back to Earth afterward?"
"Yes, everyone," Mitch said. "But Sanyo only got to stay there for a week before he was sent right back."
<
br /> "I was needed here to help start the recovery because I have knowledge of many of JILL's unique systems," Sanyo said. "As soon as Doc got back with all the repair parts, he started fixing everyone up. I asked Doc to put my original right wheel back on. See the bullet hole in it? It's my souvenir."
Across the restaurant, we all saw the manager headed for us and at a pretty good gait, considering his weight. The low lunar gravity allowed him a great deal more mobility than he’d have had back home. As he approached, I could see his face was red. He was clearly angry.
As he came near, I asked Walker to slide out so I could stand.
"Let me," he said.
"No, I'm the officer." He slid aside and I stood up.
The manager approached me and pointed at Sanyo. "Get your robot, and the androids, and get out of my restaurant! This place is for—"
"This place," I said rather loudly, "would not be here were it not for this bot and these people."
He looked down at my friends. "These are all androids, aren't they? I want you out, or I'll report you to the Commander of the LCDD and I'll notify the base administrator!"
Before I could respond, a man in a nearby booth rose to his feet and shouted, "Hey, asshole. You, Mister Manager. Why don't you shut the hell up and leave those people alone?" It was Hartly.
The manager focused his anger on Hartly now. "Look buddy, I don’t know who you think you are, but this is my place—"
"I'll tell you who I am," Hartly shouted, and approached the fellow, "I'm head of Local 717 here. How would you like it if we started a boycott of this greasy spoon?"
"Gentlemen." Another voice joined the chorus and two men approached from the other direction. Every eye in the place was on us, now. I recognized one of the Bios as he approached the manager, and in a calm, low voice said, "Mr. Charloton isn't it? Yes, I thought I remembered you. I'm Harry Linderman, head of security."
"Good, then you can—"
"I can have you arrested."
"What?"
"Your bigotry and policies here are obviously causing a situation not conducive to the harmonious spirit of unity and cohesion we demand on JILL. Fix it. Do you have any questions?"
"No," Charloton said, and departed the dining room. Harry Linderman approached me with his hand extended. "We meet again," he said.
"Thank you for that, sir."
"You know, I've disliked him for a very long time. Now, I remember why. Lieutenant, I'd like you to meet Doctor Badrani Magobie, the new Chief Administrator of JILL. Among other things, Dr. Magobie is a theoretical physicist."
Dr. Magobie was from Nigeria, but spoke with a very pronounced English accent. He, too, extended his hand. "Leftenant, it is entirely my pleasure to make your acquaintance. Mr. Linderman, here, was kind enough to tell me of the harrowing adventure that I assume all of you were involved in. You know, of course, you did more than save a base on the Moon's surface? Your actions may have turned the war in the favor of the allies." He gave a wide grin. "Did you know…we have named that particular battle, Leftenant? Oh, not officially, of course…but I imagine that, sooner or later, it will become official. We call it The Battle of Broken Moon.”
“We, Doctor?” I asked.
He again gave me an enigmatic smile, spreading his hands wide. “Everyone here on the Moon, Leftenant. The Battle of Broken Moon has become a part of the vernacular here…and also on Earth.”
I must have had a questioning look on my face, because he chuckled. “I see this is the first you have heard of it. You are quite famous. You will forevermore be known as a hero, Leftenant. The Commander of The Battle of Broken Moon.”
"Lieutenant," Linderman said, "we'll speak more in a day or so. You folks enjoy your evening here, and please, stay as long as you like."
The two turned to leave, and as I was about to resume my seat, I caught Hartly’s eye. We nodded at one another, and he smiled.
As Walker and I sat back down, Walker waved our hostess over. "Miss, over here, please."
She advanced with some trepidation.
"Miss, you may have figured out that my friends here don't eat, but you see I'm only a third android and I'm hungry. Send the waiter over, please." She scurried away.
"Say, where's Dolph?" I asked.
"Dolph is back in Germany," Walker explained. "He's teaching other Germans how to compete at the IIEA in order to get selected for assignment to JILL."
"Is that something he wanted? To go home, I mean?"
"Oh, hell, no. He wanted to stay here with us, wait for you. He still had a good year and some on his deployment contract."
"Well, then, he's in breach of contract. I'll talk to Colonel Autry."
"Matt," Cassie said, "I know you’ve spoken to Susan?"
I smiled at her. "Of course. She said she'd speak to me again when I get settled in my billet."
"Why isn't she—" Mitch nudged her and she seemed to remember the situation. She looked embarrassed, and then asked, "Ah, why isn't she speaking with us all?"
My guess was that Cassie was about to ask why isn't she here, or something like that, and Mitch wanted to ensure she didn't say something I might find painful.
"She's been very busy with the recovery effort, Matt," Jan said. "In fact, we don't even get to talk to her very much."
Everybody had some small comment in agreement with Jan, and all spoke at the same time.
"Okay, I get it," I said. "She's very busy. But speaking of couples," I looked at Mitch and Cassie, "you two seem very close."
"Yeah, Matt," Mitch said, "we have an affection for one another."
I smiled back at them. "Is it serious?"
Cassie held up her left hand. "Matt, we were married three weeks ago. We wanted to wait for you, but no one would tell us when, or if, you were coming back."
My jaw dropped. "Oh, hell, don't worry about that." I started smiling like the Cheshire Cat.
"Kinda historic," Mitch said. "We are the first SUBs to get hitched. And ours was the first wedding on the Moon."
"Wow!" was my historic response. "Well, congratulations! May I kiss the bride?"
We leaned over the table and I kissed her cheek. I sat back down and looked back at them just in time to see the two of them kiss. My face must have betrayed my emotions because, as Cassie looked back at me, her face lost its lovely smile. She reached out for me with her left hand. "I'm sorry, Matt. But it's going to be okay."
I took her hand. "That's a beautiful ring, Mitch."
"It's—uh, a Moon diamond," he said. "They find them in the regolith out at the O2 plant every so often."
"You two are very lucky."
"Matt, you are, too. Really, you are," Cassie assured me.
"Yeah, I know Cassie. Thank you."
Walker had gotten his order in and his food arrived hot and in a reasonable amount of time. I was paying attention and was fully prepared to go get the manager again.
"What is your billet number, Matt?" Marc asked.
"I haven't been assigned a BOQ yet."
"Well, of course, all the LCDD personnel are in the same dome. Being a junior officer you'll get a BOQ on the third floor of Alpha section. We NCOs are in Bravo, and the rest, Charlie through Foxtrot are for the enlisted men and women."
"Marc, is it the same dome that—"
"No, Matt. That dome had to be completely dismantled and an entirely new one constructed. It's the same general layout, but looks completely different. They decided we deserved some aesthetics, too, so the new interior structures look like old twentieth-century brick buildings and some of those Cape Cod wooden things, and there's even a Denver-style pyramid, a lot smaller, of course."
"Wait. Mitch, where are you and Cassie billeted?"
"Oh, Matt, Dr. Magobie provided us married housing among the Bios! None of them even suspect."
I chuckled. "Well, after the row in here tonight, I think they will all know by morning."
○O○
At 18:50 I excused myself, I'd already explained
why I had to go. There were more hugs and back slaps and, of course, promises to get together again soon.
I went to the section of the billeting office reserved for SUBs. They ensured all SUBs got the special billets intended for them.
I was assigned Alpha 3-22 and informed all my baggage had already been delivered.
I caught a jeep to the LCDD dome, a journey of some eight kilometers. I saw a number of places where Susan and I had been when she took Hella's form. I recalled the piles of rubble she dragged me over after she knocked me down and kissed me.
My mind switched back and forth between Susan, Mitch and Cassie. I grew quite melancholy. I'd been on the Moon almost a full day, and had only spoken to Susan for a few seconds.
Mitch and Cassie had everything I wanted. Love and a life together—really together. I would never say anything to Susan. But she was no fool. I knew I would be happy as long as Susan was with me. But I had been longing for her touch ever since we agreed to stop fraternizing, as Walker called it, back at the IIEA in Arizona.
I found my room and my COMde sent out the signal that unlocked the door. The lights were off, but a great deal of earth glow was coming in through the porthole. I didn't bother to turn the lights on; I just shifted to passive vision.
The billet was quite nice, a living room, an office, and a bedroom. Of course, there was neither kitchen nor bathroom. I went directly to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. I grabbed my head at the temples. I was not experiencing pain, but the consternation and frustration had built up in me and I was feeling it.
I lay down on the bed and, in my head, a female voice said, and “You do not require a charge at this time."
"Yeah, I know," I said aloud.
I began to recall times as a kid when I would look up at the full Moon. I remembered one Halloween, when we had an almost full Moon and how spooky that seemed to be. I remembered astronomy class in high school and looking at the Moon through the school's large telescope. I remembered that night at the decompression center in Africa, looking up at the Moon and Victor Miles telling me he was getting married. "It's the real deal, buddy," he'd said sheepishly.
"What-a-ya-know? Tiger Miles, in love."
The Battle of Broken Moon Page 32
