I\u2019ve seen people come and go in my lifetime.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people change.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people become better.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people become worse.\u00a0 Life goes ever on and on in all its forms and we all change.\u00a0 And now that the average human lifespan has gone past one century, the vast majority of people try out numerous jobs and lifestyles.\u00a0 But trying something new is always scary.\u00a0 It\u2019s always a gamble.\u00a0 We might succeed.\u00a0 We might fail.\u00a0 But you know what?\u00a0 Life is worth the pain.\u00a0 Life is worth the joy.\u00a0 Life is worth everything.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Aneerin\u2019s long and thin shuttle breached the hangar bay\u2019s energy curtain and drifted into open space.\u00a0 It hovered for a few moments before rotating to point towards the distant Guardian Light<\/em>.\u00a0 The shuttle\u2019s engine ring came to life and the shuttle shook off the remains of the air still trapped to its hull.\u00a0 It came off as ice crystals flash frozen by the cold of space.\u00a0 The shuttle rocketed away towards the mothership, sun and engine light glittering off the shards.<\/p>\n Aneerin was leaving again.\u00a0 Jack had expected to spend a more time in at least the same star system with the man back when his squadron had been recruited.\u00a0 Now it was officially a full wing and he hadn\u2019t seen Aneerin in months except for the last few minutes.\u00a0 And now Aneerin was leaving again.\u00a0 After Jack had gone to the trouble of dressing up in his dress whites.\u00a0 Life just wasn\u2019t fair sometimes.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it too much to ask to actually serve<\/em> with our commanding officer?\u201d he asked in tone of voice that sounded more like a whine than he wanted to admit.<\/p>\n \u201cFunny.\u201d\u00a0 Charles emitted a dark chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cI would have expected you to enjoy the freedom of being on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 But\u2026why all this penny packet stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCommanding these \u2018penny packets\u2019 as you call them is a position of trust, you know,\u201d Charles said in a lecturing tone.<\/p>\n Jack laughed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did I ever do to earn his trust?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI ask myself that every day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFunny.\u201d\u00a0 Jack glared at Charles who responded with an innocent smile.\u00a0 Jack shook his head and turned away from the stars.\u00a0 The hangar spread out before him, full of partially disassembled spacecraft.\u00a0 Hellcats and Avengers filled one side of the bay, while Marine craft filled the other.\u00a0 Anything that could fly or be lifted off the surface in something resembling repairable shape was up here, and the mad cacophony of repair work echoed off the hanger bay bulkheads.\u00a0 \u201cSo, did you want that report or not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat depends.\u201d\u00a0 Charles studied the busy bay with a careful gaze.\u00a0 \u201cCan you find the juvenile delinquent who is supposed to give it to me?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack laughed again.\u00a0 \u201cI might be able to hunt him down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen track away, oh Great White Hunter,\u201d Charles ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d Jack acknowledged and turned to guide him out of the hangar bay.\u00a0 \u201cHave you ever been on a Los Angeles<\/em> class?<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 Charles\u2019 tone betrayed awe as Jack led him into the rabbit warren of corridors.\u00a0 \u201cShe is the forerunner of her class,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Jack frowned.\u00a0 \u201cAneerin mentioned that too,\u201d he said with a shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did not know?\u201d Charles asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I did,\u201d Jack said with another shrug.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve seen her commissioning plaque,\u201d he added in a tone that said it wasn\u2019t a big deal.<\/p>\n Charles looked at him like he was a Big A Alien.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that is not a big deal?\u201d<\/p>\n Jacks shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cNew ships are a dime a dozen.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles frowned at him and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou did not follow Pre-War naval procurement procedures did you?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack projected a horrified shudder.\u00a0 \u201cWhy would I do that?\u00a0 I\u2019d miss out on time I could spend on useful stuff!\u00a0 Like partying.\u00a0 With girls!\u00a0 What do you take me for?\u201d he finished with a wink.<\/p>\n Charles just shook his head again.\u00a0 \u201cObviously not a monk,\u201d Charles said under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard that,\u201d Jack growled just as quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were supposed to.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack snorted and stopped Charles as a hatch opened before them.\u00a0 Two crewmembers walked out, saw him and turned to go the other way with furtive looks.<\/p>\n \u201cPopular?\u201d Charles asked.<\/p>\n Jack snorted.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the first stranger they\u2019ve seen in months.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles raised an eyebrow at him.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you weren\u2019t a stranger two weeks ago?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTouch\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack stepped forward and waved a hand towards the open hatch.\u00a0 Beds, cabinets, and blinking lights filled the small bay.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s sickbay.\u00a0 She takes care of us good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs?\u201d\u00a0 Charles aimed an evaluative gaze at Jack.<\/p>\n Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI got pretty busted up.\u00a0 Spent almost a day in here after the battle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA day?\u201d Charles asked in a disbelieving tone.<\/p>\n A redheaded holoform flickered into view with her arms crossed and a frown on her face.\u00a0 \u201cHe should have stopped moving when he crashed his fighter.\u00a0 But no, he had to go out and be a fraking gropo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey Gabbi,\u201d Jack said without a hint of guilt.\u00a0 \u201cHave you met Charles before?\u201d<\/p>\n Gabrielle pursed her lips at Charles and narrowed her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 Then she turned back to Jack.\u00a0 \u201cAnd no changing the subject.\u201d\u00a0 She waved a finger at him.\u00a0 \u201cNext time remember that a sucking chest wound is nature\u2019s way of telling you to slow down.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack laughed and cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that bad.\u201d\u00a0 Charles cocked his head to the side in a wordless question.\u00a0 \u201cNo sucking.\u00a0 Honest.\u00a0 Don\u2019t think anything even broke the skin.\u201d<\/p>\n Gabrielle\u2019s frown deepened.\u00a0 \u201cThen where did all that blood we cleaned out of your cockpit come from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy the time I woke up there wasn\u2019t a mark on me,\u201d Jack explained.\u00a0 Skin healed pretty quick so that was an easy statement to make.<\/p>\n \u201cHe broke or fractured most of the bones in his body,\u201d Gabrielle hissed.\u00a0 \u201cThen<\/em> went gropo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Every Marine is a rifleman,\u2019\u201d Jack quoted the old saying and turned to Charles.\u00a0 \u201cI could move.\u00a0 I could shoot.\u00a0 Would you have stopped?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles examined him for several seconds before letting out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarines,\u201d Gabrielle spat.\u00a0 Then she rounded on Charles.\u00a0 \u201cAnd what are you doing on my decks?\u00a0 I thought I told you not to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Jack\u2019s turn to aim a questioning look at Charles.\u00a0 Charles just sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou did.\u00a0 But that was a different world.\u00a0 Different rules.\u201d\u00a0 He waved at his Marine insignia.\u00a0 \u201cI have changed.\u201d<\/p>\n She narrowed her eyes at him.\u00a0 \u201cHave<\/em> you?\u201d<\/p>\n A raven-haired holoform flickered into view with a hand on Charles\u2019 shoulder.\u00a0 She leaned forward and glared right back at Gabrielle.\u00a0 \u201cHe has<\/em>,\u201d she said in a tone that dared the warship\u2019s brain to disagree.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Dorothy,\u201d Jack said in a bright tone.\u00a0 \u201cHow you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeachy,\u201d she answered with a brief smile and warm eyes before glaring back at Gabrielle.\u00a0 It was an impressive staring contest.\u00a0 It lasted almost two seconds.\u00a0 Jack was suitably impressed by it, even if he intellectually knew they\u2019d probably come to a decision on the matter before Gabrielle had even mentioned the issue.\u00a0 They\u2019d probably talked about it before Charles even landed actually.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t be here right now if they hadn\u2019t agreed.\u00a0 But Jack was pretty certain their current stances reflected the argument they\u2019d had when they first met.\u00a0 However many microseconds it had taken for them to compare notes.<\/p>\n Now they were just playing for the humans that thought seconds made for quick decisions.\u00a0 Well, not playing actually.\u00a0 They were acting human where other humans could see, and Jack was perfectly happy to watch them do that.\u00a0 He\u2019d also be perfectly happy watching them get in a catfight over the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cJack,\u201d Betty\u2019s voice said in his ear with a warning tone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Jack subvocalized for only her to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t say anything,\u201d he protested.<\/p>\n \u201cYou thought it,\u201d she said and he couldn\u2019t argue.\u00a0 She wouldn\u2019t believe him if he tried.\u00a0 She knew him too well.<\/p>\n Then Gabrielle blinked and turned away from Dorothy.\u00a0 \u201cYou may continue,\u201d she said in a tone suspiciously close to an order, spun on her heals, and walked into the sickbay.\u00a0 The hatch closed behind her.<\/p>\n Charles cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cNo tour of that compartment I see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess not,\u201d Jack agreed and started walking again.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2026you\u2019ve been here before?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 \u201cMy family was involved in the design of this ship,\u201d he explained.\u00a0 Then he chuckled and sought to change the subject.\u00a0 \u201cShe broke careers you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack considered delving further for a moment.\u00a0 Then he gave a mental shrug and decided to let Charles have that secret as he led them around another corner.\u00a0 \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded in thanks and followed in Jack\u2019s wake as his eyes studied the bulkheads.\u00a0 \u201cEvery congressman had line items in her development.\u00a0 Pocket projects that would enrich the corporations funding their campaigns and digging up dirt on their opponents.\u00a0 Every system on this ship was a kickback to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0 Jack raised one hand to forestall Charles\u2019 response.\u00a0 \u201cI mean\u2026I can understand why a company would want in on the action but\u2026it\u2019s not like the navy is saying \u2018no\u2019 to ships.\u00a0 And there\u2019s not a company on Earth<\/em> that could produce enough of anything<\/em> to keep us with all the production coming out.\u00a0 There\u2019ll always be another ship.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles laughed and looked around the corridor.\u00a0 \u201cWow.\u00a0 You really do have a War mindset, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u00a0 Jack\u2019s voice had a dangerous tint to it.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like war.\u00a0 He\u2019d be perfectly happy going home and never fighting again.\u00a0 But he had a mission to do.<\/p>\n Charles rubbed his brow and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI am sorry.\u00a0 You are right.\u00a0 There is not a company on Earth that can keep up with the pace of construction.\u00a0 Even my family can not print money fast enough to keep up with the new technologies, the new designs, and the new ships coming out of the yards.\u201d\u00a0 Charles stopped and placed a hand on a bulkhead.\u00a0 \u201cBut this girl was built Pre-War.\u00a0 You have no idea how rare that was, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack examined his commander for a long moment before answering.\u00a0 \u201cNot really.\u201d\u00a0 New ships were common after all.\u00a0 But it made sense that they\u2019d built less before The War.\u00a0 They should have seen the threat and built a navy that could face it though.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t mean they had though.\u00a0 And the Pre-War fleet was smaller than he would have been comfortable with.\u00a0 Smaller and older now that he thought of it.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019m beginning to though,\u201d he finally said.<\/p>\n Charles nodded at him in approval.\u00a0 \u201cCan you tell me when the last new heavy cruiser class was built before this girl?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked towards Betty\u2019s holoform and she just raised her hand in protest.\u00a0 \u201cTraitor,\u201d he mouthed.\u00a0 She just smiled and shook her head, telling him that he was on his one in this trivia contest.\u00a0 \u201cFine\u2026obviously it had been a while,\u201d he hedged and turned back to Charles.\u00a0 \u201cA few years at least.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles pursed his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cOr longer,\u201d Jack said under his breath and started chewing his lip.\u00a0 Nearly ten percent of Third Fleet had been War construction, but the others were\u2026Pre-War.\u00a0 He tried to remember how many American cruisers there had been.\u00a0 Washington<\/em> had been another Los Angeles<\/em>.\u00a0 But St. Paul<\/em> was\u2026a Charleston<\/em>.\u00a0 There\u2019d been a couple others but he couldn\u2019t remember the names.\u00a0 Then there\u2019d been Dallas<\/em>.\u00a0 She\u2019d been the only one of her class there.\u00a0 And then the Monterreys<\/em> had been there too.<\/p>\n Four classes of cruisers, and we was pretty certain the Dallas<\/em> was War construction.\u00a0 That left three classes, and one of them had come out just before The War started.\u00a0 So two classes had history. \u00a0\u201cFrak,\u201d Jack said in realization and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cDecades.\u00a0 It had to have been decades.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded very slowly.\u00a0 \u201cThe first Charleston<\/em>-class cruiser was launched in 2263, and design work on her replacement had already begun.\u00a0 It took over four decades<\/em> for them to get the Los Angeles<\/em> in space.\u00a0 Four decades<\/em> of congressional oversight, line item additions, and lobbying from hundreds of companies to get in on the one<\/em> new heavy cruiser class they knew was going to be built.\u00a0 And do you know what happened when she set sail?\u201d\u00a0 Charles raised one eyebrow at Jack with the question and waited.<\/p>\n Jack swallowed and nodded.\u00a0 Gabriel had told him what happened once.\u00a0 Just once.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t something the ship\u2019s brain liked to think about.\u00a0 \u201cShe broke her back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe systems didn\u2019t work together,\u201d Charles confirmed.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a major scandal.\u00a0 Careers died on the altar of congressional outrage that their pet line items were on a failing project.\u00a0 That their<\/em> names<\/em> were on it.\u00a0 It\u2019s a miracle this ship ever worked.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack nodded in understanding.\u00a0 \u201cAnd it was Captain Wyatt that made that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Charles confirmed.<\/p>\n Jack rubbed his jaw and stopped at an intersection for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cHow did she do that?\u201d\u00a0 Then he made a decision and turned right to follow that corridor.<\/p>\n Charles shrugged as he kept pace with Jack.\u00a0 \u201cBy being stubborn enough to stand up against pressure.\u00a0 She pissed a lot of congressmen off by trimming the line items.\u201d\u00a0 He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cShe got the worst systems reassigned to shuttles or other companion ships to the class so they could still be in on the pork, but she and Gabrielle clear cut the ship herself, stripped everything down, and rebuilt her from the frame up.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack examined Charles for a few seconds, weighing everything the man had said in his mind before saying anything.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s an awful lot of people to be pissing off if you don\u2019t have someone backing you up.\u00a0 Mighty lonely position to be in.\u201d\u00a0 He raised both eyebrows towards Charles and wondered if the man would confirm his suspicions.<\/p>\n Charles chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cMy family intervened.\u201d<\/p>\n And his suspicions were verified.\u00a0 Jack kept his cool though.\u00a0 No need to jump and down and crow that he was right.\u00a0 \u201cYour family,\u201d he said instead and left the floor open for Charles to add his two cents.<\/p>\n Charles nodded and patted the ship.\u00a0 \u201cWe came to investigate the situation.\u00a0 That was the first time I saw her in person.\u201d\u00a0 He turned towards a hatch and it opened for him.\u00a0 Jack smiled and followed Charles into the ship\u2019s bar.\u00a0 \u201cWould you believe this used to be a cargo compartment?\u201d Charles asked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n Jack chuckled and studied the compartment.\u00a0 It was long and narrow, with round tables running up one side of it.\u00a0 A long bar ran down the other side until it met the end of the compartment.\u00a0 The far bulkhead ruled over a small dance floor that was empty at the moment.\u00a0 Most of the crew was still too busy repairing damage to spend time in the bar.\u00a0 Though it was rarely full if he wanted to be fair.\u00a0 Between shift work and the very good virtual bars operated by Los Angeles<\/em>\u2019 mainframe, this physical bar was quickly becoming a remnant of an older world.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I guess you don\u2019t actually need the penny tour,\u201d Jack said as he slid up to the bar next to Charles.<\/p>\n The older man gave him a knowing smile.\u00a0 \u201cI thought we might be able to find this juvenile delinquent we are hunting for around here.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou know him well.\u201d\u00a0 He looked around with an approving gaze.\u00a0 \u201cHe does appreciate the many good things that usually inhabit this place.\u201d<\/p>\n Gabrielle\u2019s holoform stepped up to the bar and asked, \u201cThe usual?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes Ma\u2019am,\u201d Jack and Charles said in unison.<\/p>\n Jack turned to Charles in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a usual?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right back,\u201d Gabrielle said and walked away.<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI was here for six months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Jack said and paused to consider that revelation.\u00a0 There was so much about Charles that he didn\u2019t know.\u00a0 But this was more thing he could file in the small mental file cabinet of things he knew about the man.<\/p>\n \u201cIron Butterfly,\u201d Gabrielle interrupted his ruminations and placed a tumbler in front of Jack.\u00a0 \u201cOn the rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Jack said with his best smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd an Astronaut.\u201d\u00a0 Gabrielle placed the drink in front of Charles.\u00a0 \u201cNo spit.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack blinked and looked at their drinks in confusion.\u00a0 \u201cNo spit?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cShe was unhappy with me the last time I was here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Jack looked at his drink with a calculating stare.\u00a0 \u201cGabbi?\u201d<\/p>\n Gabrielle aimed a sweet and innocent smile at him.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you ever been unhappy with me?\u201d<\/p>\n She just chuckled and stepped away from the bar.<\/p>\n Jack eyed his drink doubtfully.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Charles said and picked up his drink.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s enough alcohol in that to kill anything that isn\u2019t good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Jack returned and lifted his drink.\u00a0 He took a sip and the Irish cream went down smooth.\u00a0 He relaxed and they began to talk.<\/p>\n They spoke about how amazing Enterprise<\/em> had been.\u00a0 Hopefully still was.\u00a0 They talked about Admiral Bainbridge and just how bad Epsilon Reticuli had been.\u00a0 They talked about Los Angeles<\/em> and anything else that came to mind.\u00a0 They talked about their favorite rock bands.\u00a0 Jack\u2019s was obvious.\u00a0 Even if they weren\u2019t rock.\u00a0 Charles mentioned his appreciation for Springsteen.\u00a0 They talked until they were all out of things to talk about.\u00a0 Then they sat in silence and finished their drinks.\u00a0 It was a good talk.\u00a0 It was a good silence.<\/p>\n They left an hour later and walked back towards Jack\u2019s quarters, two friends that didn\u2019t really need to say a thing as they moved through the corridors.<\/p>\n \u201cJack?\u201d Betty interrupted their companionable silence as they approached his quarters.\u00a0 Her holoform stepped beside him and he paused to look at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n She pursed her lips.\u00a0 \u201cNatalie is still in there but she isn\u2019t responding to me.\u201d<\/p>\n That was odd.\u00a0 Jack frowned as something occurred to him.\u00a0 \u201cIf she\u2019s not responding, how do you know she\u2019s there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe has a Do Not Disturb sign up,\u201d Betty said with a patronizing smile.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s there and she\u2019s active but she\u2019s not talking.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned at the nearby hatch.\u00a0 \u201cDid you tell her we\u2019re coming?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack scratched his jaw and considered the situation.\u00a0 \u201cStill no response?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d\u00a0 Betty shook her head in a helpless gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cShould I go?\u201d Charles asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 Jack shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s been through a lot lately, but it would do her good to socialize a bit.\u201d\u00a0 He waved for Charles to follow him to the hatch and walked to it.\u00a0 Then he smiled at Betty.\u00a0 \u201cOpen wide.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty crossed her arms, nodded, and the hatch slid open.\u00a0 It slid shut a moment later and no one said a word for several seconds.<\/p>\n Finally Jack cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cBetty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you tell her we were bringing company?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty winced at his last word.\u00a0 \u201cI may have left that bit out of the update.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell.\u201d\u00a0 Charles cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cI think this is my queue to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t what it looks like,\u201d Jack protested.\u00a0 \u201cShe doesn\u2019t\u2026I don\u2019t \u2026we\u2019re not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed and placed a hand on Jack\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cRelax.\u00a0 I should have realized this would be a bad time for her.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head ruefully.\u00a0 \u201cWe can talk later,\u201d Charles finished and walked away without another word.<\/p>\n Jack watched him leave and let out a long breath.\u00a0 He glanced at Betty and she smiled back at him.\u00a0 Then he turned back towards the hatch and pulled in a deep breath.\u00a0 He stepped forward, the hatch opened, he stepped in, and the hatch to closed behind him.\u00a0 A skirt and blouse lay on one end of his bunk, a mix of blues and blacks spiraling through the outfit.\u00a0 A beautiful flowery scarf brightened the ensemble.\u00a0 On the other end of the bunk lay her dress whites, identical to his except for the knee-length skirt.\u00a0 Natalie stood with her back to him and he had to concentrate real hard to keep his eyes pointed above the neck.\u00a0 There was an awful lot to look at below it.<\/p>\n Jack cleared his throat and stepped up behind her.\u00a0 \u201cHard to choose isn’t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm?\u201d\u00a0 She didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n Jack frowned and looked at the two outfits.\u00a0 He was pretty certain he knew what they symbolized.\u00a0 \u201cWhich life to lead.\u00a0 Military.\u00a0 Civilian.\u00a0 Hard choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d she said and still did not move.<\/p>\n He placed his arms on her bare shoulders and leaned in close.\u00a0 The smell of chamomile filled his nose.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever you do.\u00a0 Wherever you go.\u00a0 You\u2019ll always be one of us,\u201d he whispered in her ear.<\/p>\n She placed a hand on his and leaned her head into his.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t care what they say,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re a dear.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned at the statement he couldn\u2019t decide was a compliment or an insult.\u00a0 \u201cWhat who say?\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie laughed.\u00a0 It was a good laugh.\u00a0 Jack would have liked to hear more of it, but Natalie hadn\u2019t been laughing like this since Louis died.\u00a0 \u201cEveryone who falls for your ridiculous \u2018Jack of Harts\u2019 routine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d\u00a0 Jack smiled and shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell it\u2019s a good routine.\u00a0 Comes from some of the best heroes in literature.\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck as she shook her head.\u00a0 He wanted to look down.\u00a0 He wanted to look down.\u00a0 He really<\/em> wanted to look down.\u00a0 He met her gaze and she smiled.\u00a0 \u201cBatman does not qualify as literature.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSays you,\u201d Jack retorted and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her in close.\u00a0 That made it much easier to keep from looking down.<\/p>\n \u201cYou aren\u2019t going to talk me out of leaving,\u201d she whispered into his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d he said into her chamomile-scented hair.\u00a0 \u201cBut if you\u2019re going down to Serenity anyways, maybe we could go together?\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie laughed in his arms and shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cDelaying the inevitable?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLiving in the moment,\u201d Jack corrected.\u00a0 \u201cYou should wear the dress whites.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your current attire would get you arrested?\u201d he tried.<\/p>\n Natalie laughed again.\u00a0 \u201cWhy the uniform?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d\u00a0 Jack chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cPurely selfish reason there.\u00a0 The bars haven\u2019t started accepting money from people in uniform yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie laughed into his neck.\u00a0 \u201cAlways so mercurial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI prefer penny pincher.\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie stiffened and he felt her look behind him.\u00a0 He blinked a command and his contacts showed him the person standing behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Jazz,\u201d Jack said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking,\u201d Jasmine answered and he sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell that\u2019s never good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush you,\u201d Natalie and Jasmine chorused and Jack had to chuckle.<\/p>\n He patted Natalie\u2019s back and extricated himself from her arms before turning to face Jasmine.\u00a0 He pursed his lips in momentary thought before saying anything else.\u00a0 \u201cAre you leaving too?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack heard the holoemitters in the room pulse to full power and Jasmine\u2019s hands reached out to pull his face back up to meet her gaze.\u00a0 Her eyes didn\u2019t betray even a hint of hurt.\u00a0 They showed only determination.\u00a0 \u201cNot happening,\u201d she said in a voice that matched her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cIn fact, I was thinking I want to get a real body.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s eyes flicked over to Natalie for a moment and caught a smile on her face.\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u201d was all that came out of his scrambled brain.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re going to need someone<\/em> to knock some sense into you,\u201d Jasmine said in a wry tone.<\/p>\n Jack shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThe joys of concussive psychotherapy?\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine nodded vigorously.\u00a0 \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sucked in a deep breath and felt his confidence return.\u00a0 He smiled and stepped out of Jasmine\u2019s hands with a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cWell, that settles it.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced at Natalie.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re wearing the uniform.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised one eyebrow at him.\u00a0 \u201cI am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d he said with a wry smile and turned back to Jasmine.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019re coming down with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d Jasmine asked with crossed arms.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen did I agree to going down with you?\u201d Natalie added to the discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at Jasmine.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going down to do some body shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine blinked.\u00a0 \u201cRight now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Jack repeated.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not going to miss the chance to see you trying on new bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d Jasmine said with a knowing smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, I could just order one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Jack asked in a scandalized tone.\u00a0 \u201cOnline?\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine crossed her arms again and raised an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack expanded his smile into something more akin to a used car salesman on the prowl.\u00a0 \u201cI will have you know,\u201d Jack began, getting into the act with all his enthusiasm.\u00a0 \u201cA new body is a deeply personal thing and you can\u2019t just order it up and accept whatever shows up in the mail!\u00a0 You have to try different models on so you can get a feel for what you like best!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can do that in the virtual showroom,\u201d Jasmine retorted with a wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cAnd satisfaction is guaranteed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVirtual showrooms are just fine for digital purchases,\u201d Jack said with a hint of pomposity.\u00a0 \u201cBut for a truly analog purchase like this you need to give it a trial run in the world all around us.\u00a0 Go for a swim, feel the wind blow through your hair, watch all the men trip over their own two feet as they see you coming.\u00a0 You have to try out the little things in life to make certain they work the way you want them to.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine gave him a skeptical look.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I suppose you want to help me decide?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled innocently.\u00a0 \u201cI will always be happy to help you find whatever looks good on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine shook her head and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cOf course you will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can I say?\u201d\u00a0 Jack paused to make certain he was projecting his most earnest side to her.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a helpful guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you\u2019re being helpful, why do I need a uniform for this?\u201d Natalie asked.<\/p>\n Jack turned back to her with a conniving smile.\u00a0 \u201cBecause once we\u2019re done and walking down the street with Jasmine\u2019s new groove, three of us in dress whites will look so much better than two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Natalie raised an eyebrow at him again, letting him know she knew that he wasn\u2019t telling all the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd because it\u2019ll make every man on Serenity jealous of me<\/em>,\u201d Jack added with an innocent shrug.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Natalie said and rolled her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYou never change, do you?\u201d she asked and began taking the dress whites off the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cI try not to,\u201d Jack answered and turned back to Jasmine with a serious look.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded with a soft smile.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be a new world,\u201d Jack said in all seriousness.<\/p>\n She nodded again.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack placed a hand on her holoform, making certain not to push hard enough to break through.\u00a0 \u201cEven the most powerful holoforms are different from a real body.\u201d<\/p>\n She held his hand and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you really want this?\u201d\u00a0 Jack asked and placed a finger against her holographic chest.\u00a0 \u201cFor you?\u00a0 Not anyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n Her smile softened again.\u00a0 \u201cI will admit to having many reasons,\u201d she said honestly.\u00a0 \u201cBut I do want this.\u00a0 For me.\u00a0 And I have for a long time.\u00a0 I\u2019ve just never\u2026\u201d she trailed off and nodded towards Natalie.\u00a0 \u201cWell, seeing her makes me want it more now.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacked turned to see Natalie slipping her dress shirt on and a fresh pang of loss shredded him. \u00a0This would be the last time he watched that.\u00a0 She froze as she registered his stare and turned her head to look at him with narrowed eyes.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Jack said, suddenly feeling like a peeping tom.\u00a0 He turned away and tried to clear his throat.\u00a0 \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no,\u201d Natalie corrected.\u00a0 \u201cThat was not a \u2018nothing\u2019 stare.\u00a0 What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned but didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n Jasmine sighed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on is that he\u2019s going to miss you.\u201d\u00a0 Then she winked as Jack\u2019s frown turned into a glare.<\/p>\n Natalie wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder.\u00a0 Chamomile once more filled his senses.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll miss you too.\u00a0 But we have different jobs now.\u00a0 You need help hold things together here.\u00a0 And I\u2019m going to be helping to build a better future for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sucked in a long breath as his mind made the connection.\u00a0 \u201cCharles recruited you.\u201d<\/p>\n He felt her smile press into his shoulder and knew he was right.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemind me to punch him the next time I see him,\u201d Jack said with a sigh.<\/p>\n Natalie hugged him harder.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be all good, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack put a hand on hers and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was afraid you\u2019d punch him the next time you saw him,\u201d Natalie teased.<\/p>\n Jack had to laugh and patted her hand.\u00a0 \u201cTouch\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou should come see what we\u2019re going to make out there,\u201d Natalie said.<\/p>\n Jack squeezed her hand in promise.\u00a0 \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u00a0 Then I think it\u2019s time to go help Jasmine shop for a new body,\u201d Natalie said and stepped away.<\/p>\n Jack scanned her in appreciation and nodded.\u00a0 Then he turned to Jasmine with a questioning look.\u00a0 She nodded back.\u00a0 \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Jack said and stepped towards the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cTime to make some grown men jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n The two cybers just shook their heads and followed him out of his quarters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve seen people come and go in my lifetime.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people change.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people become better.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen people become worse.\u00a0 Life goes ever on and on in all its forms and we all change.\u00a0 And now that[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2307-angel-strike-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-medron-pryde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758","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\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3758"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3759,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions\/3759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}