Hello, my name is Malcolm.\u00a0 I have met many I would consider friends over the years.\u00a0 There are only a very few that I would trust with my life.\u00a0 There are even fewer that I would drop everything for.\u00a0 Charles and I can go years without seeing each other, drink a beer over a word or two, and go our separate ways after saying everything that matters.\u00a0 We are family, in every way that matters.\u00a0 And when true family calls, you just answer.\u00a0 No questions.\u00a0 No reservations.\u00a0 You just do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Malcolm leaned back in a sinfully comfortable reclining chair, feet kicked up on a padded ottoman that cradled them with exquisite care.\u00a0 He relaxed in the middle of his day cabin, idly watching one bulkhead.\u00a0 At ten meters long, it was unthinkably large for a ship, but to a man that grew up in houses the rich and famous wished they could live in, the day cabin was only a small greeting room.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t asked for it, but was profoundly grateful to have that one decently sized room to stretch out in and enjoy the sights.<\/p>\n
At the moment, the sights appeared on the bulkhead in all their glory.\u00a0 It was normally light grey, like most of Normandy\u2019s<\/em> bulkheads, without any permanent decorations.\u00a0 Today, a starfield dominated the bulkhead\u2019s smartpaint, filled with dozens of small shuttles moving back and forth between the supply depot and the Wolfenheim Project starships hovering nearby.\u00a0 He loved just watching ships of any kind move through space, and today was a rare opportunity to do it live.\u00a0 He intended to take full advantage of that.<\/p>\n The hatch opened behind him, but he didn\u2019t shift.\u00a0 He was too preoccupied watching the shuttles move through the steps of their intricate dance.<\/p>\n \u201cWake up sleeping beauty,\u201d Dawn called out as he heard her step into the day cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the combination,\u201d he retorted, but kept his attention on the view in the bulkhead.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, fresh out of Prince Charmings today.\u00a0 Though I might have something better,\u201d Dawn announced and he heard another set of feet enter the cabin.<\/p>\n \u201cImpressive sight,\u201d a voice he would recognize anywhere said in approval.<\/p>\n Malcolm kicked his feet off the ottoman and pushed himself up from the chair in a single smooth motion, bringing the newcomer into view.\u00a0 Charles Edward Hurst stood before him in a black three-piece suit and tie tailored to hang off his lanky frame perfectly, just like old times.\u00a0 Shoulder-length brown hair and stubble gave him a scruffy look the man never would have allowed in the past, but Peloran military haircuts were rather different from American styles.<\/p>\n Malcolm absorbed the sight of his old friend for an instant, and then launched himself forward to wrap the man up in a bear hug.\u00a0 \u201cChuck!\u201d he shouted and thumped the man on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cMal,\u201d Charles returned with an answering bear hug and a few thumps on the shoulder that would have broken a lesser man\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 A holoform wearing a formal black dress and an ever-present calm smile followed him through the hatch.\u00a0 Malcolm gave Dorothy a quick nod and thumped Charles\u2019 shoulder again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you,\u201d Malcolm whispered in Charles\u2019 ear before pulling away and patting the man\u2019s shoulders far more gently.\u00a0 \u201cBeen too long.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cFar too long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ll just leave you two alone to bond,\u201d Dawn announced and cocked her head towards the hatch that led into her quarters.\u00a0 Dorothy smiled at Malcolm before following Dawn out of the cabin.\u00a0 Malcolm stopped for a moment, just watching the backsides of a set of slacks and a dress.\u00a0 The idle thought that Dawn wore dresses when they first met passed through his mind again, but he had more important things to think about and turned back to Charles.<\/p>\n Charles turned from watching as well and smiled at Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cSo how does that work?\u201d he asked with a wave of one hand at the hatch.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter than you\u2019d think,\u201d Malcolm answered with a snort.\u00a0 \u201cShe has her own door outside.\u00a0 She just put that in for ease of access.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHatch,\u201d Charles corrected, a wry smile on his face.<\/p>\n Malcolm winced.\u00a0 \u201cAh.\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 Silly navy terms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything has a reason,\u201d Charles corrected, then smiled.\u00a0 \u201cEven if us lowly mortals can not understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue that.\u201d\u00a0 Malcolm shrugged and turned away from the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cAnd honestly, I\u2019m really trying to learn all the lingo.\u00a0 Sometimes it just\u2026\u201d he paused for a moment and opened a hand into the air with a sad smile.\u00a0 \u201cGoes away.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles patted his shoulder with a commiserating nod.\u00a0 \u201cKeep trying.\u00a0 You will get there eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d\u00a0 Malcolm shook his head to clear it.\u00a0 \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to talk about that.\u00a0 This is a time for beer!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHallelujah,\u201d Charles responded with a chuckle and looked around the day cabin.\u00a0 \u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight here,\u201d Dawn proclaimed as she walked back through the hatch with two cold bottles in her hands.<\/p>\n Malcolm frowned at her.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019re they doing in there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> were drinking too much,\u201d she answered with a sweet smile and placed the bottles on the table.\u00a0 She turned away, winked, and walked back through the hatch without another word, but her actions said everything that needed saying.<\/p>\n \u201cEase of access,\u201d Charles said in a skeptical tone, filling the silence that followed her departure.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Malcolm whispered, chewing his lip.\u00a0 \u201cI keep telling myself that.\u201d\u00a0 He twisted the top off his beer, tossed it into the trash, and moved to sit back down in his chair.\u00a0 He pointed the beer at the chair across the ottoman from him and returned his feet to their rightful place on it so he could relax and drink.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it up,\u201d Charles said in a wry tone as he followed the command.\u00a0 \u201cSooner or later you\u2019ll believe it,\u201d he added before taking a careful sip.\u00a0 His expression brightened and he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThis is good.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cCallahan Brewery\u2019s best stock.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles laughed out loud and gave the bottle a fresh examination.\u00a0 \u201cDoesn\u2019t he give these out with every special order?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm aimed an innocent look at his old friend.\u00a0 \u201cWhy, this was<\/em> the special order.\u00a0 And I have the customs receipts to prove it,\u201d he finished with a raised finger.\u00a0 \u201cSo don\u2019t you suggest anything else.\u201d\u00a0 He paused to take a deep breath and smiled at the bottle.\u00a0 \u201cTotally worth the special trip too.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles took another long draw and nodded in agreement.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, it would be.\u00a0 The old man does good work.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm raised his bottle high and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThe best.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles leaned back further in his chair and took another sip, giving every impression of just enjoying the taste.\u00a0 But Malcolm knew his old friend well enough to realize he was holding back from saying something.\u00a0 Malcolm turned to watch the shuttles ferrying to and from the supply yard outside and just gave his friend time.<\/p>\n \u201cI hear you lost Hastings<\/em>,\u201d Charles finally said into the silence.<\/p>\n Malcolm sighed, but didn\u2019t turn from the view of outside.\u00a0 \u201cShe was a good ship in her time.\u00a0 Maybe will be again.\u00a0 But we just didn\u2019t have enough time to fix everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Charles said in a tone that left no doubt he meant it.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing you could do about it.\u201d\u00a0 Malcolm smiled at his friend and raised his beer again.\u00a0 \u201cThanks to your warning, we got everybody out.\u00a0 Even her crew.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDorothy told me it was close,\u201d Charles said over his beer.<\/p>\n \u201cToo<\/em> close.\u201d\u00a0 Malcolm swallowed and looked at his friend in complete seriousness.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ve got Austins<\/em>.\u00a0 Eight of them.\u00a0 If they ever<\/em> get those main cannons into range they\u2019ll cut every one of my ships apart in seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles frowned.\u00a0 \u201cYou think they are following you?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm chewed his lip for several seconds before answering.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think they sent someone who\u2019ll give up easily.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded very slowly, still thinking.\u00a0 Finally he smiled and let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cWell then.\u00a0 I may have found something that will brighten your day,\u201d he noted in a pleased tone.<\/p>\n Malcolm cocked his head to the side, examining his friend for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook over there,\u201d Charles said, pointing his beer at the bulkhead showing outside space.<\/p>\n Malcolm followed the aim of the bottle and frowned as he focused on a ship the size of a modern destroyer approaching them from the gas giant.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t like any ship he\u2019d ever seen before.\u00a0 A wedge-shaped hull the size of a frigate dominated her forward half, with a long rectangular cargo pod of some kind hanging off her rear.\u00a0 A massive collection of engines completed the ship\u2019s final meters, though they were currently inactive as the ship drifted near them.\u00a0 She looked like some kind of modular cargo transport, though he\u2019d never seen one like her.<\/p>\n \u201cA transport<\/em>?\u201d Malcolm asked with a frown.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Charles answered with a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cThe cybernetic families built her for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe cybers<\/em>?\u201d Malcolm asked in surprise, eyes glancing towards the other cabin.\u00a0 \u201cNot the Peloran?\u201d\u00a0 They\u2019d integrated themselves into both Terran and Peloran society so well that sometimes it was hard to remember they had their own separate resources to call upon.\u00a0 And they never advertised the fact.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping you would catch that,\u201d Charles noted in an approving voice.\u00a0 \u201cShe is a side project I asked the cybernetic families to undertake to\u2026deal with the side effects of other new projects.\u00a0 That secondary hull is actually a carrier pod designed to support a full Avenger squadron.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm frowned at the pod, wondering if his scale was off.\u00a0 Avengers were big birds.\u00a0 \u201cShe doesn\u2019t look big enough for a squadron.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled again.\u00a0 \u201cShe isn\u2019t for a fully manned<\/em> squadron,\u201d he whispered and tapped himself on the chest.\u00a0 \u201cBut I have not flown in a fully manned squadron since the New Washington Winter Contingency.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm swallowed at the mention of the disastrous results of that particular Shang orbital bombardment.\u00a0 Then he frowned as the rest of Charles\u2019 statement clicked the light bulb in his mind.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s designed to carry a cowboy<\/em> squadron, isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPrecisely,\u201d Charles said with a slow nod, and Malcolm considered the ship very carefully.\u00a0 During the early Battles of Alpha Centauri, Charles\u2019 Cowboys had started using cybernetically-piloted drone fighters to augment their numbers.\u00a0 The name had caught on with the public and forces across the Alliance were adopting them into common use.\u00a0 Even Normandy<\/em> flew cowboy squadrons since it was so very hard to find good, retired, fighter pilots.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that puts a new spin on things,\u201d Malcolm whispered as he came to terms with the implications.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than you think,\u201d Charles answered.\u00a0 \u201cYou see they are going to be marketing downgraded versions of this ship to the public.\u201d\u00a0 He waved a hand at her.\u00a0 \u201cBut that girl is fully armed and operational.\u00a0 All Peloran tech under the hood.\u00a0 If those Austins<\/em> meet her, they will not enjoy the experience,\u201d he finished with a feral smile.<\/p>\n Malcolm let out a low whistle.\u00a0 \u201cAnd she\u2019s mine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot exactly,\u201d Charles equivocated.\u00a0 \u201cWe only have a few of them right now, and all are in testing.\u201d\u00a0 Then he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cBut I managed to arrange for that girl to get lost in paperwork.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> arranged for something to get lost<\/em>?\u201d Malcolm asked with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 \u201cMust be your corrupting influence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t believe a word he says,\u201d Dorothy shouted from the other cabin.\u00a0 \u201cHe asked and we agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm cocked his head at Charles.<\/p>\n Charles shrugged, raised his beer in a toast, and took another swig.<\/p>\n Malcolm answered his motions and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cSo how does that<\/em> work?\u201d he finally asked with a glance at the hatch.<\/p>\n Charles let out a long breath as he considered his words.\u00a0 \u201cA lot better than I ever expected.\u00a0 She\u2019s\u2026\u201d he trailed off and shook his head, unable to find the right ones.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Malcolm whispered.\u00a0 \u201cShe fills in all the holes, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles glanced over his shoulder at the hatch for a long second before answering.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm studied his friend for several moments, recognizing the utter contentment radiating from him.\u00a0 The man could die tomorrow, but he was happy.\u00a0 That meant a lot.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes I envy you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Charles jerked his head towards the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about her?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pulled in a long breath and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s a good friend.\u00a0 It\u2019s what administrative cybers are supposed to be.\u00a0 Friends to everyone they work with.\u00a0 But you?\u00a0 Truthfully, how often does Dorothy finish your sentences?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles laughed and looked back out towards the stars.\u00a0 \u201cHell.\u00a0 She usually starts<\/em> them on me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what makes you such a good team,\u201d Malcolm whispered, a hint of envy creeping into his voice.<\/p>\n Charles sighed again.\u00a0 \u201cGod does not always give us what we want, Mal,\u201d he said in a very serious tone.\u00a0 \u201cJust what we need.\u201d\u00a0 He jerked his head towards the hatch with a meaningful look.\u00a0 \u201cAnd sometimes we find out after all the kicking and screaming, that He gave us what we really wanted after all.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm stared at his friend for several seconds.\u00a0 Five years ago, Charles never would have said anything so sappy if his life depended on it.\u00a0 And God was just some guy that some people believed in.\u00a0 But looking his old friend in the eyes, Malcolm realized that he really meant it all.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember when we made fun of people who talked like that,\u201d Malcolm finally whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Charles returned without hesitation.\u00a0 Then he glanced towards the hatch with another meaningful look.<\/p>\n This time, Malcolm took the hint.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes I just wish I could find someone that fits\u2026me.\u00a0 Just me.\u00a0 Someone that knows me so well she\u2026starts<\/em> my sentences for me,\u201d he finished with a chuckle.<\/p>\n Charles glanced at the hatch and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 That is a good thing to look for.\u201d\u00a0 He raised his beer again.\u00a0 \u201cTo sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm returned the toast by raising his beer too.\u00a0 \u201cTo sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n They leaned back and watched the ships moving, savoring the good beer for several minutes.\u00a0 Finally, Charles spoke again.\u00a0 \u201cSo how is Captain Wyatt doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pursed his lips and let out a low whistle.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s doing good,\u201d he answered, letting more admiration leak through than he meant to.\u00a0 \u201cYou picked real good there.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn stuck her head through the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Malcolm<\/em> thinks Olivia<\/em> is doing amazing<\/em>.\u00a0 Sometimes<\/em>,\u201d she said in the tone of a sister telling on her older brother.<\/p>\n \u201cHush, you,\u201d Malcolm growled back.<\/p>\n \u201cBaby pictures!\u201d she returned, waving one finger in the air.<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s smile took on an evil glint.\u00a0 \u201cNew job,\u201d was all he said though.<\/p>\n She covered her heart as if struck by a killing blow and stumbled back into her cabin.<\/p>\n Charles looked back and forth between them and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cSo Dawn really is<\/em> working out I see,\u201d he finally said with complete aplomb.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, she\u2019s a real slave driver,\u201d Malcolm snorted back.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have to be if you weren\u2019t such a lazy, good for nothing, slob!\u201d Dawn shouted from the other room, seemingly having completely recovered from his killing shot of a moment ago.\u00a0 Malcolm shrugged at Charles.\u00a0 \u201cI saw that!\u201d\u00a0 He stuck his tongue out at the door.\u00a0 \u201cThat too!\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm chuckled and turned to Charles.\u00a0 \u201cHonestly, we\u2019re good.\u00a0 She\u2019s good.\u00a0 They\u2019re all good.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t do it without them.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a good team thanks to all the suggestions you made.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t want any of them gone.\u00a0 Does that answer all your questions?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 I think it does.\u201d\u00a0 He looked around the quarters with a smile and raised his beer again.\u00a0 \u201cTo sometimes,\u201d he repeated the toast.<\/p>\n Malcolm followed his look with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 To sometimes,\u201d he returned and took another pull on his beer.<\/p>\n They leaned back in their chairs and just relaxed, two old friends that didn\u2019t need to say anything else to say everything that mattered.\u00a0 Cargo shuttles passed before their eyes on the bulkhead, slowly emptying the supply depot of the supplies set aside for them.<\/p>\n Movement caught Malcolm\u2019s attention and he turned to see Dawn stepping into the day cabin with a worried look on her face.\u00a0 \u201cWe just detected eight emergence signatures on the New Earth-Sunnydale Run,\u201d she said with a frown.<\/p>\n Malcolm groaned and held the cool bottle against his forehead to stem the headache he could already feel coming.\u00a0 \u201cNot again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTransmission arriving.\u201d\u00a0 Dawn shifted her head to the side for a moment, before looking back at him.\u00a0 \u201cSame as before.\u00a0 Commodore Murphy, blah, blah, blah,\u201d she said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cStand down and prepare to be boarded, blah, blah, blah.\u00a0 I can send her a rude response if you want,\u201d she finished with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Charles interrupted, pulling Malcolm\u2019s attention to his thoughtful gaze.\u00a0 \u201cDana<\/em> Murphy?\u201d the other man asked in a very pointed tone.<\/p>\n The name tagged a memory somewhere, but Malcolm couldn\u2019t place it.\u00a0 \u201cHow should I know?\u201d he asked, his tone exasperated.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s trying to arrest<\/em> me.\u00a0 We\u2019re not exactly on a first name basis,\u201d he explained with a shrug.<\/p>\n Charles sighed and looked at Dawn.\u00a0 \u201cCan I see a picture of her?\u201d\u00a0 She nodded and a view of Commodore Murphy appeared in the air next to her.\u00a0 Charles frowned at the picture for several seconds before shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cI do not know.\u00a0 But then, I never knew her that well either.\u00a0 You were the one carrying a torch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Malcolm looked more closely, and then it all clicked.\u00a0 She really did<\/em> look familiar.\u00a0 \u201cProm night?\u00a0 The cute little brunette with the dimples?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles snorted.\u00a0 \u201cWay to describe a third of the senior class,\u201d he said with a shake of his head.\u00a0 \u201cBut\u2026yes, I think we are thinking of the same girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm studied the picture for several more seconds, but beyond the moment of recognition nothing seemed quite right.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he finally whispered in a doubtful tone.\u00a0 She certainly could<\/em> be that girl, all grown up, but there were too many differences to be certain either way.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Charles noted in a very serious tone.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe<\/em> the girl you broke up with on prom night?\u201d\u00a0 His expression showed he still thought it had been one of Malcolm\u2019s less intelligent choices in life.<\/p>\n Malcolm shrugged back.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t argue the fact.\u00a0 He\u2019d done more stupid things back then than he cared to remember.\u00a0 And in fact, he was very certain that he didn\u2019t<\/em> remember all of them.\u00a0 \u201cBut we were kids<\/em> back then,\u201d he protested.\u00a0 \u201cYoung and stupid goes with the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Charles intoned as he scanned her holo again.\u00a0 \u201cBut Pennsylvania has many destroyer squadrons.\u00a0 They sent her<\/em> squadron for a reason.\u00a0 Maybe they thought she had a reason to not just give up easily.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm wanted to protest, but he just nodded in agreement.\u00a0 Charles\u2019 thoughts made sense, and went parallel enough to his thoughts that it disturbed him.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you want us to do?\u201d Charles asked in a decisive tone.<\/p>\n Malcolm recognized the question for what it truly asked.\u00a0 Charles had the connections to make certain this Commodore Murphy never made it out of Sunnydale.\u00a0 Their eyes met and he knew Charles really was making the offer.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d he finally said, his voice firm.\u00a0 \u201cIf this is personal, I don\u2019t want you burning resources you\u2019ll need later.\u00a0 I\u2019ll find a way to handle it.\u00a0 And if it\u2019s not, she\u2019ll give up sooner or later.\u00a0 All I have to do is stay a step ahead of her.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled in approval.\u00a0 \u201cCan we at least delay her then?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cOh, I think that\u2019ll be easy.\u00a0 Her fleet probably didn\u2019t expect a trip this long.\u00a0 I mean, they\u2019re Pennsylvania Star Fleet<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 He shrugged and Charles smiled.\u00a0 For a \u201cStar Fleet,\u201d they\u2019d always been more of a prestige force than a true deep space fleet.\u00a0 That was why they had so many destroyers.\u00a0 The more squadrons and fleets they had, the more commodore and admiral positions they could give to people with the right connections.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re probably sucking on emergency rations by now and are gonna wait as long as it takes to get real food on board.\u00a0 Not to mention spare parts for all the stuff that probably broke down on the way out here,\u201d he added with another chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cGood point.\u201d\u00a0 Charles\u2019 eyes brightened at the thought.\u00a0 \u201cI think we can do something to help you there.\u201d\u00a0 He took another sip from his beer, gave it an appreciative look, and placed the bottle on the deck.\u00a0 \u201cBut I should go now.\u201d\u00a0 His voice was decisive as he came to his feet.<\/p>\n Malcolm echoed his actions and stepped forward to hug his old friend again.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, man.\u00a0 Good luck at Hyades,\u201d he finished with a thump on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck at Gateway.\u201d\u00a0 Charles squeezed hard, almost forcing the air from Malcolm\u2019s lungs, and stepped away with a nod towards the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cI can find my way out,\u201d he added and began walking towards the day cabin\u2019s exit.\u00a0 Dorothy met him there and Charles looked back, one finger tapping his ear.\u00a0 \u201cBesides, Dorothy tells me I have an escort.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm aimed a questioning look at Dawn, and she just smiled in acknowledgement.\u00a0 That question answered, he smiled at Charles again and nodded.<\/p>\n The hatch opened and Malcolm caught a glimpse of their old minder in the corridor.\u00a0 Malcolm chuckled, and Charles stepped out to see the man that had practically raised him, Dorothy in tow.\u00a0 The hatch closed, leaving Malcolm and Dawn alone in the cabin.\u00a0 They shared a long look before Malcolm sat back down and reached for his beer.<\/p>\n Dawn moved to pick up Charles\u2019 bottle of beer and her face brightened at the sloshing sound.\u00a0 She plopped down in the vacated chair, kicked her feet up onto the ottoman, and leaned back to gulp down the beer in a long draw.\u00a0 Finally finishing it, she smacked her lips in approval and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cGood stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe best,\u201d Malcolm returned, and looked at the hatch Charles and Dorothy had left.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s always a holoform isn\u2019t she?\u201d\u00a0 His eyes returned to see Dawn sighing.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Always a holoform.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm wondered what it would be like to be that close to a woman that completed him like she did, and never be able to touch her.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t envy Charles nearly as much after that realization.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure I could make that bargain,\u201d Malcolm whispered and swirled the bottle in his hand, feeling the last dregs of beer splashing in the bottom.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t,\u201d Dawn said with a certainty that forced him to look at her over the lip of the bottle.\u00a0 She met his gaze and sighed as she chewed her lip.\u00a0 There was far more going on there, and he relaxed in his chair, waiting for her to say it or not.\u00a0 Finally she smiled at him.\u00a0 \u201cFifty years ago.\u00a0 American fighter contract.\u201d\u00a0 She winced and shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cEnded badly.\u00a0 My family hasn\u2019t accepted them ever since.\u201d\u00a0 She planted her empty bottle on the deck with a solid thunk and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that\u2019s why I have a body.\u00a0 That\u2019s how I like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe too,\u201d he whispered absently.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you?\u201d she asked in a very serious tone.<\/p>\n He met her gaze for a moment, recognizing the worry in her eyes.\u00a0 He pulled in a deep breath and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I do.\u201d\u00a0 He relaxed as the words felt utterly right.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d she answered, her voice betraying relief, and looked out into space.<\/p>\n Malcolm followed her gaze to the part of the bulkhead showing where Murphy and her squadron rested.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, if she keeps following us, she might get close enough to pounce on us before we can get out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Dawn whispered, her eyes dark.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to be ready to do something about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm met her gaze and read the question in them.\u00a0 He thought about it for a long moment.\u00a0 He thought about how much it would simplify everything if he could just wipe them out if a fighter strike or something equally decisive.\u00a0 He felt the cliff before him, the hungry urge to take that option below him, and shook his head.\u00a0 He mentally stepped back from that cliff and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head hard.\u00a0 \u201cNot if we can avoid it.\u00a0 I need other options.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn smiled, her gaze approving of his choice.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll make things harder on us if she catches us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Malcolm whispered and looked back out as the shuttles began to pull away from his ships for what had to be the last time.\u00a0 \u201cBut I won\u2019t have Wolfenheim begin with the legacy of American blood on her hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Dawn said, her voice radiating profound approval now.\u00a0 \u201cThank you,\u201d she added and let out a long, relaxing breath.<\/p>\n Malcolm smiled, raised his bottle, and drained it in one final gulp.\u00a0 Then he placed the empty bottle on the deck and just watched the lights move on the bulkhead.\u00a0 He waited, not saying a word, not needing to say a word, for the last preparations to be completed.<\/p>\n As the new ship slipped into formation with them, Avengers twice the size of his old Blackhawks escorting her, he waited to leave another star system behind.\u00a0 He was leaving everything behind.\u00a0 Everything he thought had mattered to him a mere few years ago.\u00a0 Now, with Charles departing again, he realized his old friend had helped him find something that mattered far more than anything back home.\u00a0 It was right here, on the few small ships of this fleet, and it came with him wherever he went.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t see the hyperdrives power up and drop the fleet back into hyperspace.\u00a0 By the time they were gone, his breath came in long, deep breaths, lungs filling with air beneath closed eyes.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t see Dawn lay a thin blanket over his shoulders, or walk away with the empty bottles.\u00a0 He was at peace, surrounded by a family he trusted with his life and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello, my name is Malcolm.\u00a0 I have met many I would consider friends over the years.\u00a0 There are only a very few that I would trust with my life.\u00a0 There are even fewer that I would drop everything for.\u00a0 Charles[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2309-wolfenheim-rising-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-malcolm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2218"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2221,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions\/2221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}