{"id":359,"date":"2013-05-05T00:00:56","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T04:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=359"},"modified":"2013-05-04T23:32:46","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T03:32:46","slug":"seventeen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=359","title":{"rendered":"Seventeen"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s not about what we want to do, but about what we must do.\u00a0 It is the greatest among us that realize this and take it to heart.<\/h3>\n

— Erich Quizibian, c. <\/i>5071 PD<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

12 Decem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to go back to work just because Uncle Adam said he needed you, Brendan.\u201d<\/p>\n

He paused in buttoning his uniform jacket, head dipping for a moment before he turned to look at her.\u00a0 Lindsay sat on their bed, knees drawn to her chest, chin resting on them.\u00a0 She was watching him, eyes bright but fearful.\u00a0 He smiled to cover the nerves they both knew he was suffering and shook his head very, very slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d he agreed.\u00a0 \u201cBut how can I not when the galaxy is about to go to war with itself again and we\u2019re about to be\u2014somehow\u2014on the front line?\u00a0 Those pilots we need aren\u2019t going to train themselves, Lin.\u00a0 Even if I don\u2019t have to because Marshal Windsor asked, I have to because the Foundation needs me to.\u201d\u00a0 He went to her and kissed her gently, one thumb brushing against her cheek.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got to do it for us, for you and the baby, so you can be safe\u2014so we can be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay exhaled a quiet sigh, watching him for a moment before she shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make it easier, Brendan.\u201d\u00a0 She turned her head to kiss his palm lightly, her eyes never leaving his face.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re actually up to it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He considered the question for a moment, then nodded again.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just have to be careful, that\u2019s all, and no simulators for me.\u00a0 I should be all right in the classroom, though, and programming the next few simulations for the cadets shouldn\u2019t be an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as you\u2019re sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

I have to be.<\/i>\u00a0 Brendan smiled and kissed her again.\u00a0 \u201cI am.\u00a0 Now get dressed.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have breakfast in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if I don\u2019t want to?\u201d she asked softly, looking up at him.<\/p>\n

He tried to smother his disappointment.\u00a0 Is she teasing, or is she serious?<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cThen we don\u2019t have to have breakfast,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll head into town myself.\u201d\u00a0 Maybe check on Alana and Ezra on my way.\u00a0 Alana won\u2019t like that, but she may <\/i>appreciate it.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Brendan.\u201d\u00a0 Lindsay sighed again and got up from her curled position on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t take it that way.\u00a0 I\u2019d love to have breakfast with you this morning, but I just don\u2019t want to leave the house just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you still upset over D\u2019Arcy?\u201d\u00a0 Brendan asked as he resumed dressing.<\/p>\n

\u201cConcerned,\u201d she corrected.\u00a0 \u201cNot upset.\u00a0 Concerned.\u00a0 Aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0 D\u2019Arcy\u2019s sudden change of heart over Rachel becoming the new Speaker had left more than a few of them rattled in the wake of the Council meeting.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know what kind of game he\u2019s playing, but he\u2019s got something up his sleeve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we won\u2019t know what it is until it hits us on the blind side,\u201d Lindsay said quietly, massaging her temples.\u00a0 \u201cUnless we somehow get lucky and figure it out before it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can only hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay\u2019s arms slid around his waist as he finished with his jacket.\u00a0 She adjusted his lapels and his few service decorations.\u00a0 \u201cYeah,\u201d she said as she reached up to cup his cheek against her palm.\u00a0 \u201cBrendan, tell me somehow everything\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled at her and brushed some hair back from her face.\u00a0 \u201cEverything\u2019s going to be okay,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way to make it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded slowly, giving him a weak smile.\u00a0 \u201cThanks,\u201d she said in a whisper.\u00a0 \u201cWhen you say it, I can believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d\u00a0 He kissed her again, then exhaled.\u00a0 \u201cAll right.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got to get going.\u00a0 Are you going to be okay while I\u2019m out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as you\u2019re okay at the base,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll probably go over to Aunt Rachel\u2019s later, try to sort out what the hell D\u2019Arcy\u2019s up to.\u00a0 I think Frederick\u2019s making it his mission to sort all of that out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frederick.<\/i>\u00a0 Brendan shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI still almost can\u2019t get over that.\u00a0 Frederick Rose has been alive all these years\u2014here<\/i>, hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know, either,\u201d Lindsay said.\u00a0 \u201cEven Aunt Rachel didn\u2019t know.\u00a0 Just the Marshals, I guess, and Ezra.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Ezra knew and we didn\u2019t somehow find out?\u00a0 That\u2019s still vaguely mind-blowing.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cHopefully that\u2019s some kind of advantage to us,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Even he\u2019d heard of Frederick Rose, even when he was still training.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t known what to make of the man then and he was only slightly more certain of what to think now.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my hope, at least,\u201d Lindsay said quietly, leaning into Brendan\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cDaddy and Mom seemed really happy that he was still around.\u00a0 He was happy to meet me, too, which\u2026I don\u2019t know what to think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it\u2019s not worth worrying about right now,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 He kissed her temple and stepped back.\u00a0 \u201cNow I\u2019ve really got to get going if I want to eat anything before I get to teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay gave him a lopsided smile.\u00a0 \u201cI guess I can let you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be here when you get home, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d\u00a0 He gave her one last kiss before he headed for the door.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see you this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t dare look back as he walked out the door because he knew that the tears she\u2019d been trying to hold back had finally broken through the dam.\u00a0 If he looked back, he wouldn\u2019t be able to leave, to get back to work.<\/p>\n

Neither of them\u2014nor their world\u2014could afford that right now. <\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCommander Cho?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan glanced up from gathering his notes and smiled at the familiar face.\u00a0 \u201cTomasi.\u00a0 Congratulations on your promotion to ensign.\u201d<\/p>\n

The teenager flushed, her faint freckles vanishing under the pink.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, sir.\u00a0 I understand that I have you to thank for the recommendation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was my pleasure to pen that letter,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re talented and you deserve every opportunity to develop those talents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshal Windsor does seem fairly adept at tactics,\u201d she said as she edged a little closer.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll probably learn a lot, but it\u2019s different from flying.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded slightly.\u00a0 \u201cOf course it is.\u00a0 Nothing\u2019s quite like flying.\u00a0 Take advantage of what you can learn from the Marshal, though.\u00a0 It\u2019ll serve you well.\u201d\u00a0 In some ways, I wish I\u2019d been able to learn more from his experiences over the years.\u00a0 Maybe if he and Rachel had stayed together\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

\u2026then again, if they\u2019d stayed together, I\u2019m not sure I\u2019d still be breathing.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s actually why I\u2019m here,\u201d she said, scuffing a toe nervously against the floor.\u00a0 \u201cThe Marshal needs you.\u00a0 He sent me to come get you, since you weren\u2019t answering your comm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI left it at home,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 \u201cAn oversight.\u00a0 Is it an emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cAt least I don\u2019t think it is.\u00a0 But he did say that I should yank you out of class if I needed to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan smiled grimly.\u00a0 Not an emergency, but important.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cIs he at headquarters?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in operations,\u201d Tomasi said.<\/p>\n

Operations was at the other end of the base\u2014a long walk, but not an insurmountable one.\u00a0 Brendan nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cAll right.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a skimmer waiting,\u201d Tomasi said.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019ll come with me, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLead on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Together, they headed out to the small skimmer that waited outside of the training center.\u00a0 A few cadets waved to either he or Tomasi on the way.\u00a0 Brendan gave a few of his colleagues brief nods, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his slacks against the chill that was starting to settle over the base.<\/p>\n

Tomasi noticed and smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cA cold front\u2019s coming through.\u00a0 My father was complaining about his arthritis this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does realize that we can fix that these days, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her smile grew as she opened the skimmer door for him.\u00a0 \u201cOf course he does.\u00a0 He just doesn\u2019t see a point in wasting the resources to fix something he can easily treat with really strong willowbark tea.\u201d\u00a0 As he got settled in the passenger seat, she slid in on the driver\u2019s side and got them underway.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s old school like that, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery much so,\u201d Brendan said.\u00a0 \u201cIs he from here, or is he the side of your family that\u2019s Guard stock?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of my parents are, actually.\u201d\u00a0 Tomasi steered them around a group of technicians on their way to their duty posts and threaded through a pair of machine shops on her way across base.\u00a0 \u201cMy mother\u2019s been here since she was a kid.\u00a0 My father came after the war.\u00a0 He was actually part of Commander Channing\u2019s resistance on Mimir after the fall.\u00a0 He\u2019s\u2026kind of looking forward to seeing him again.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll try to arrange something for him, if you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarshal Windsor already offered,\u201d Tomasi said, smiling back.\u00a0 \u201cI think they\u2019re trying to organize something for all the survivors of the resistance that made it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n

They lapsed into silence until they drew closer to operations, at which point Brendan wet his lips and glanced toward her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know what he needed me for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir,\u201d Tomasi said.\u00a0 \u201cIf I knew, I\u2019d tell you, but I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

That could be very good or very, very bad.<\/i>\u00a0 Brendan swallowed the bile suddenly rising in his throat.\u00a0 Why the hell does my gut tell me it\u2019s very bad?<\/i><\/p>\n

Because you\u2019re becoming more and more paranoid every minute of every day, that\u2019s why.<\/i><\/p>\n

Tomasi pulled the skimmer to a stop in front of the operations building.\u00a0 \u201cI have to get this back to the motor pool,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cYou should head in.\u00a0 Marshal was down in the cave when he sent me to get you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cave.\u00a0 Fantastic.<\/i>\u00a0 The cave was the colloquialism they used when they were talking about the master control center, two floors below ground level.\u00a0 If Adam Windsor was down there\u2026<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t know until you head down there and find out.<\/i><\/p>\n

Brendan took a deep breath, climbed out of the skimmer, and headed into the lion\u2019s den.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, it\u2019s not about what we want to do, but about what we must do.\u00a0 It is the greatest among us that realize this and take it to heart. — Erich Quizibian, c. 5071 PD 12 Decem, 5249 PD \u201cYou … 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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two-ashes-to-ashes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p25yjF-5N","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359","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=359"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":360,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359\/revisions\/360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}