{"id":176,"date":"2012-05-20T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2012-05-20T04:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=176"},"modified":"2012-05-19T09:31:49","modified_gmt":"2012-05-19T13:31:49","slug":"chapter-twenty-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=176","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Twenty-One"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The waiting is always the hardest.\u00a0 Don\u2019t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.\u00a0 They\u2019re lying, or they\u2019ve never had to wait for something they really gave a damn about before in their lives.<\/h3>\n

— Adam Windsor, circa 5240<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

7 Novem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>\u201cHave we heard from them yet?\u201d\u00a0 Lindsay slipped into operations, a light jacket hugged tightly around herself.\u00a0 Dark circles ringed her eyes, circles that were mirrored by those under Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n

He shook his head, taking a long swallow of coffee that was stronger than usual.\u00a0 He\u2019d given an order about that when he\u2019d walked into operations twelve hours ago.\u00a0 \u201cNot yet.\u00a0 Have you felt anything from him?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head slowly, sitting down at one of the unmanned consoles.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 But I haven\u2019t tried reaching, either.\u00a0 Aunt Rachel and Marshal Rose told me I\u2019d know if he was dead, though.\u201d\u00a0 I hope they\u2019re right.\u00a0 God, do I hope they\u2019re right.<\/em><\/p>\n

If any of the staff on duty were listening to their conversation\u2014and undoubtedly a few were\u2014they didn\u2019t let on, didn\u2019t react at all.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care if people start finding out about him and I.\u00a0 It\u2019s time they knew.\u00a0 It\u2019s time everyone knew.\u00a0 I should have told the Council a long time ago, fallout or no fallout.\u00a0 It\u2019s my life, and we love each other.\u00a0 It\u2019s none of their damn business.<\/em>\u00a0 She licked her lips.\u00a0 \u201cWhen can we expect to hear from them, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head slowly, staring at the starplot.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure, Lindsay.\u00a0 Could be hours.\u00a0 Could be days.\u201d\u00a0 He scrubbed a hand over his face.\u00a0 \u201cYou want some coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

She started to shake her head and hesitated.\u00a0 It sounds like it might be good.\u00a0 Haven\u2019t had it in a long time.\u00a0 <\/em>She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I\u2019ll have some.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded and gestured to a young officer\u2014no, that wasn\u2019t right, the uniform was the wrong color\u2014who was apparently doing nothing important.\u00a0 \u201cGo get Consul Farragut some coffee, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The blonde girl nodded and slipped out of the room.\u00a0 Adam watched her go.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s one of Brendan\u2019s cadets,\u201d he said, almost absently.\u00a0 \u201cBright girl.\u00a0 She\u2019ll make a good officer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay nodded slightly.\u00a0 She licked her lips.\u00a0 \u201cDo you really think they can do this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too late for me to say no now, Lindsay.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cYour honest opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared at the starplot for another few long moments, then nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 They will.\u00a0 And they\u2019ll be home before you know it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd until then, I get to sit here and worry about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled wryly.\u00a0 \u201cNow you know what your aunt went through for a few years, Lindsay.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019d barely stopped himself from calling her Linny-pie.\u00a0 She could hear it in his voice.\u00a0 She smiled back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAunt Rachel\u2019s stronger than I am in a lot of ways.\u201d\u00a0 I wish I had her strength, sometimes.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t have to go through what she did, though, to develop that strength.\u00a0 Really, really glad.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve still got a lot to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re young.\u00a0 You have time to learn those lessons\u2014in the due time that it takes to learn them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cadet returned with a mug of coffee.\u00a0 Lindsay smiled, nodding in thanks.\u00a0 The cadet smiled back and withdrew back to her position near the door, where she seemed to be watching everything.<\/p>\n

Job shadowing?<\/em>\u00a0 Lindsay wasn\u2019t sure.\u00a0 If she was one of Brendan\u2019s cadets, she was supposed to be a pilot.\u00a0 Wonder if we\u2019re preparing for the worst\u2014making sure everyone can do whatever job needs doing at any given time.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cWhen do you leave to go claim that ship?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cPlans changed.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be meeting with their representatives in the asteroid belt in two days.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t seem prudent to leave with the operation that we\u2019re running right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay agreed with that, and she knew that Adam realized that even without her saying a word about it.\u00a0 She cradled her mug in both hands, staring at the starplot.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir?\u201d\u00a0 One of the technicians turned away from his console, fingers pressed against the earpiece of his headset.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re getting a transmission from Omega team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam made eye contact with Lindsay, then nodded to the technician.\u00a0 \u201cPut it through.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Alana\u2019s voice that came crackling over the speakers.\u00a0 Lindsay swallowed hard as her heart dropped.\u00a0 Oh god, please.\u00a0 Please.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cQuebec Operation control, this is Omega team with the halfway status report.\u201d\u00a0 Her voice was firm, professional\u2014cold.\u00a0 Colder than Lindsay had ever heard it.<\/p>\n

Things went poorly.\u00a0 Oh no.<\/em>\u00a0 She bit her lip, hands tightening, knuckles going white around the mug.\u00a0 They were wrong.\u00a0 He\u2019s dead\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cThis is Quebec Op control.\u00a0 Go ahead, Omega team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have her, Marshal.\u201d\u00a0 That was all Alana said.<\/p>\n

We knew that already.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t she know that we knew that already?\u00a0 Brendan let me <\/em>see her.<\/em>\u00a0 Lindsay swallowed hard, looking at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cUncle Adam\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Her voice was quiet, desperate.\u00a0 Please.\u00a0 I need to know.\u00a0 I need to know!<\/em><\/p>\n

He touched her arm.\u00a0 \u201cCasualties?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was an agonizingly long pause.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re all still alive, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay leaned against Adam, knees weakening.\u00a0 He\u2019s alive.\u00a0 But he\u2019s not\u2026flying the ship?\u00a0 Or is he?\u00a0 Is that why Alana is on the comm?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about your pilot?\u00a0 Is he at the controls?\u201d\u00a0 It was as if her uncle had heard her thoughts\u2014and Lindsay wasn\u2019t sure he hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Another pause.\u00a0 \u201cNo, sir.\u00a0 Dr. Grace has him sedated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sedated?<\/em>\u00a0 She bit her lip.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave Dr. Grace wake him, please, and get him on the comm.\u201d\u00a0 Adam looked at Lindsay for a long moment, then looked toward the girl who\u2019d brought her coffee.\u00a0 \u201cFind Consul Farragut a headset, Tomasi, and get her a console ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan\u2019s cadet nodded.\u00a0 Lindsay squeezed her uncle\u2019s arm, stomach flip-flopping.<\/p>\n

Please let him be okay.\u00a0 Please.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0 \u25cf\u00a0\u00a0 \u25cf<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The pain had ebbed only slightly as he came around, apparently more slowly than Ezra wanted him to.\u00a0 Brendan groaned softly, waving a hand impotently in an attempt to ward him off.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlana says Marshal Windsor wants you on the comm.\u00a0 You need to sit up, man.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got the headset here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thought of sitting up wasn\u2019t very appealing.\u00a0 Brendan swallowed.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to need a patch or something to make it through sitting up, I think.\u00a0 Probably more than a patch.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cHow long since my last pain patch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be good for another half an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan swallowed again, squeezing his eyes shut.\u00a0 \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0 Deep breath.<\/em>\u00a0 He slowly pushed himself up on his elbow, keeping his eyes closed.\u00a0 His head swam; the pounding increased for a moment.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t seem like it was going to ebb anytime soon.\u00a0 He stayed propped on his elbow, leaning slightly against the bunk\u2019s back wall, and held out his free hand for the headset.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be able to get much more upright than this, Ez.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ezra nodded a little.\u00a0 \u201cI think that\u2019ll work.\u00a0 Here.\u201d\u00a0 He handed over the headset and straightened up, looking toward Alana.<\/p>\n

Brendan eased the headset into place, taking another deep breath and exhaling it slowly.\u00a0 He gestured slightly to Alana, who nodded and tapped a control.\u00a0 Brendan closed his eyes, sagging against the wall.\u00a0 \u201cThis is Cho.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrendan?\u00a0 You sound terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay.<\/em>\u00a0 He exhaled, breath catching in his throat for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d he managed to say, knowing his voice sounded strangled, rough at more than just the edges.\u00a0 \u201cI will be, anyway.\u00a0 Are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m
\nall right.\u00a0 Worried as hell about you<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 She still sounded more than a little relieved despite her words.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

He swallowed hard.\u00a0 So sorry, Lin.\u00a0 I\u2019m so sorry.<\/em>\u00a0 His head swam a little and he squeezed his eyes shut a little more tightly.\u00a0 \u201cThey were trying to take control of the ship.\u00a0 I had to stop them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey shot<\/em> you?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was all he could do not to start laughing.\u00a0 I <\/em>wish they\u2019d shot me.\u00a0 It\u2019d probably hurt less.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cNot quite like that, no.\u00a0 Through the implant.\u00a0 It\u2026didn\u2019t have an off switch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Brendan.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Lin.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a trace of faint, rueful humor in her voice.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to kill Ezra.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo me a favor and wait until after<\/em> he patches me back together again when we get home, okay?\u00a0 He said I\u2019ll make it that far.\u201d\u00a0 Brendan cracked an eye open and looked up at Ezra, who was giving him a dirty look.\u00a0 He smiled a little up at his friend.\u00a0 \u201cRemind me never to get another implant, Lin.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed weakly.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m never going to let you out of my sight again.\u00a0 Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan laughed a little, too.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s going to get a little awkward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care.\u00a0 I miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss you, too,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you, too,\u201d she said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cCome home safe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I have anything to do with it, we will.\u201d\u00a0 He licked his lips.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUncle Adam said if we talk longer, someone may be able to track the transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uncle Adam?\u00a0 She knew.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t we?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI love you,\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome home to me,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 The words were like her fingertips against his face, gentle, almost ephemeral.\u00a0 He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

I promise.<\/em>\u00a0 He might have breathed the words.\u00a0 There was no way to be sure.<\/p>\n

The transmission cut off and he took off the headset even as he heard Alana start talking at the console.\u00a0 Brendan sank back down to the mattress, groaning softly as Ezra relieved him of the headset.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s angry at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan snorted softly, then winced as he realized that had increased the pounding in his head, too.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to ask, Ez?\u00a0 She\u2019s worried about me and probably more than a little aggravated at what I had to do to myself.\u00a0 It\u2019s not your fault, though.\u00a0 You had no way of knowing, and I never told you that they could do that.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t cross my mind.\u201d\u00a0 Brendan slowly pulled his blanket back up over his shoulder, shivering a little.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll run interference for you, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Brendan said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to keep anything down right now.\u00a0 Pain makes me nauseous and I don\u2019t want to puke all over the deck.\u00a0 We\u2019d never get rid of the smell.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other bunk, America stifled a quiet laugh.\u00a0 Brendan tried to wink at her but found that it was more a long blink.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething tells me that you know what that feels like, Meri.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled a little.\u00a0 \u201cYou could say that.\u00a0 Lots of things used to make me nauseous.\u00a0 War\u2014and other things\u2014help strengthen the stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan grunted.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, but some things never change.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t eat for a week the last time I did this to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA week<\/em>?\u201d\u00a0 Ezra stared at him.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026generally a bad thing, Brendan.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you say something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI kept those rations you gave me earlier down,\u201d Brendan mumbled, closing his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s a good sign.\u00a0 I\u2019ll eat a little more later.\u00a0 Just\u2026let me handle this the only way I know how.\u201d\u00a0 By sleeping as much as my body will let me.\u00a0 This shouldn\u2019t be too much longer, right?\u00a0 We\u2019re at the halfway point.\u00a0 Alana just has to do her part, then we go home.\u00a0 Easy.\u00a0 My part was harder.\u00a0 Alana\u2019ll just go in and kill anything that gets in her way.\u00a0 She\u2019s good at that.<\/em><\/p>\n

When he opened his eyes again, he could hear Ezra snoring softly somewhere outside of his vision.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t remember falling asleep, but he must have.\u00a0 America was sitting up on her bunk, staring at him.\u00a0 Brendan frowned.\u00a0 \u201cTrying to read me, Meri?\u201d\u00a0 He rasped.<\/p>\n

She smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cI must be rusty if you woke up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled a little back, shifting uncomfortably on the bunk.\u00a0 His right arm was numb from laying on it.\u00a0 \u201cFor some reason, I don\u2019t think it was your attempts to read me that woke me up.\u201d\u00a0 His stomach growled a little.\u00a0 His head was still pounding, but not as badly.\u00a0 For a moment, he wondered how long he\u2019d been asleep, only to decide a moment later that it didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe awake?\u201d\u00a0 Alana called from the console.<\/p>\n

Now what?<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m awake.\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong?\u201d\u00a0 He started to push up on his elbow, pausing after his vision dimmed for a moment.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to do any more flying this trip.\u00a0 If I do, it won\u2019t be much.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEzra said to make you eat something.\u201d\u00a0 Alana tossed a few ration packets onto his bed with a bottle of water.\u00a0 Brendan stared at them for a few long moments, then exhaled quietly as his stomach growled again.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a good sign.<\/em>\u00a0 He managed to get half upright this time and resumed the lean he\u2019d enjoyed while on the comm with Lindsay.\u00a0 Alana went back to the boards as he ripped open the packet of rations and started in on the dried fruit inside the package.\u00a0 America kept watching him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone helped you get me out,\u201d she said softly after a few long moments.<\/p>\n

He went tense for a moment, then forced himself to relax.\u00a0 \u201cHow did you know?\u201d\u00a0 Brendan wet his lips and took a sip of water slowly.<\/p>\n

America smiled.\u00a0 \u201cA hunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took another sip of water, swallowing hard.\u00a0 \u201cThere was a girl.\u00a0 Maybe eighteen.\u00a0 She said I had to hurry.\u201d\u00a0 His brow furrowed.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s Zaki?\u201d<\/p>\n

America winced.\u00a0 Brendan could almost feel the recoil, his stomach twisting in sympathy.\u00a0 He winced himself and took another long swallow of water.\u00a0 His stomach settled.\u00a0 It was a few long moments before she spoke again, voice quiet\u2014clearly, the only one she wanted to hear her was him.\u00a0 \u201cHe was the scientist in charge.\u00a0 I was trying to undermine him when I could.\u00a0 Who knows whether or not I really did.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled weakly, licking her lips.\u00a0 \u201cI must have, because someone helped you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan shivered.\u00a0 \u201cYou did more than that, Meri,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cThe girl\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He closed his eyes for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cShe said they know the Cullings are coming.\u00a0 They can feel it.\u00a0 They can\u2019t deny that anymore.\u201d\u00a0 He tried to push away the image burned into his brain, of the girl on the rack.\u00a0 He took a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did she mean,\u201d he whispered, almost to himself.\u00a0 \u201c\u2018you\u2019re the only hope we have\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cShe said it, but I don\u2019t know what it means.\u00a0 Maybe that the colony is all any of them have.\u00a0 The only hope for them, only way out.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d America said softly.\u00a0 She hesitated a moment, as if she was going to elaborate, then thought better of it.\u00a0 She took a sip from the water bottle sitting against her knee, took a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d she said softly.\u00a0 \u201cIt must have been that that she meant.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew that she was lying.\u00a0 He just couldn\u2019t bring himself to ask why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The waiting is always the hardest.\u00a0 Don\u2019t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.\u00a0 They\u2019re lying, or they\u2019ve never had to wait for something they really gave a damn about before in their lives. — Adam Windsor, circa 5240   7 … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-last-colony"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p25yjF-2Q","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":177,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions\/177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}