Aftermath

Word never came. Instead, four hours later, The Explorer picked up The Marine with the scout ship docked to her side on their periscope screen.

“Mariner to The Explorer.”

“We read you, Mariner. Good to see you all back.”

“Good to be back. Requesting permission to dock.”

“Granted. Proceed to Cargo Bay B. Do you have any injured? We can have a medical team standing by.”

“Negative, Explorer. Commodore Cyborn did receive an injury but is recovering. Have you heard from Crewman Fairfax?”

“We have Crewman Fairfax safely aboard.”

“Roger that, Explorer. We are relieved to hear that.”

Smiling, Carlos wasted no time getting down to sick bay to let Jill know.

Jill and Carlos were waiting when the hatch of The Mariner opened and Captain Moshapa climbed out. Behind him came the crew of the scout ship and The Mariner. They climbed down the ladder that had been moved forward and walked over to Carlos and Jill, who came to attention and saluted. Justice returned the salute and then protocol set aside, Jill stepped forward to hugged each of her crew members while Carlos shook the hands of the scout ship crew and welcomed them to The Explorer. Then he turned back to Justice who was getting a hug from Jill.

“Welcome back, Captain. I understand the mission has gone well.”

“It certainly has been interesting, that's for sure. Crewman Fairfax, well done. The Mariner owes you a debt. Commodore Cyborn wishes you to see her immediately for a debriefing. You'll find her in the infirmary.”

“Yes, Sir.” With relief, Jill smiled a welcome at her crew mates, and then climbed aboard The Mariner. The vessel smelt particularly bad after it had been on limited power for so long and had extra crew aboard. Jill hopped down onto the metal sole, her tread sounding hollow in the now deserted craft.

“Anna?”

She found Anna sitting on a cot looking pale and tired. At the sight of Jill, however, she stood and smiled broadly.

“Jill, I'm so glad to see you. Are you okay? I'm going to kill Justice.”

They were in each other's arms in two steps. “Are you okay?”

Anna nodded. “Thanks to Toda and Sue, I'll be fine. I've got a pretty amazing crew.”

“Justice did the right thing. Don't pick on him. I was out there and somehow a message had to be got to The Explorer.”

“You could have so easily missed your target and have been lost in space.”

Jill stiffened. “Justice trusted my abilities to get the job done.”

Anna looked down at Jill. “I trust your abilities too. It just scared the hell out of me.”

Jill snuggled close. “I was scared too. I knew you were injured by that power surge and I had no idea how bad. Justice did everything to keep that from me.”

Anna chuckled. “Yeah, he managed to keep me in the dark about your mission for as long as he could too.”

“Let's go to our quarters. I think we have some catching up to do.”

The trip back to Gagarin Star Base was relaxed but busy. After a week of R&R, the crew was assigned to repairs, training sessions, and research. Each crew member's data on the Dark Angel had to be verified and coordinated into a major science report. This involved numerous crew meetings to analyse and discuss findings and to help Lt. Wiseman coordinate all the information. Anna and Carlos spent a good deal of their time training the two crews together. As Carlos put it, the DMC was going to go from being eight misfits in a rusty old probe to an elite division 168 strong and with a small fleet of ships. Carlos also had to spend time debriefing the scout ship and making sure they were returned to their mother ship healthy and prepared for duty.

Despite the busy day shifts, Anna and Jill managed to find plenty of time just to be together. Anna delighted in this time. Jill seemed to as well but Anna knew she was worried. Their relationship could end their careers and although Anna had told Jill that she didn't care, Jill felt different. Jill had also brought up in their conversation a few times, the inequality of their positions. Anna was a well educated and a successful senior officer. Jill, was a recruit out of the justice system with only part of a engineering degree. Jill felt that she needed to prove herself in order to be an equal partner.

Anna disagreed. “I'm proud of you. You have nothing to prove to me.”

“I know, love, but I have a lot to prove to myself. I'm just not ready to make a commitment that would result in you having to sacrifice your career.”

Weeks later, Anna stood in her dress uniform flanked by Justice and Carlos. Behind them 167 members of the DMC stood at attention wearing the dark navy blue of their division. In front of them, Crewman Jill Fairfax received the medal of valour from Admiral Ito while the senior officers of Garagrin Star Base looked on. Anna couldn't have felt prouder and she told Jill so as they stood later at the reception.

“Commodore Cyborn, a word with you.”

Anna turned to see Vice Admiral Grover. “Yes, Sir.”

“Alone.”

Jill retreated quickly leaving Anna and Grover to talk.

“My congratulations, Cyborn. You sure have a way of pulling the rabbit out of the hat.”

“I'm proud of the DMC, Sir. They are a fine division.”

Grover nodded. “I have to hand it to you, Cyborn, not many could have a division and a fleet in less than a year. Of course, you've got friends in high places to protect you.” Grover's eyes travelled to where Toda, towering head and shoulders over everyone else in the room, was standing in a group talking.

“Yes, Sir. The Giganteans have been very supportive as has Admiral Ito.”

“You know, Cyborn, I've heard some pretty disturbing rumours about you and a crewman.”

“Really, Sir.”

“Yes. Over looking the major breach of military rules about officers mixing with crewmen, I'm sure a lot of people would have trouble with the idea of a human needing the services of a cyborg.”

Anna barely controlled herself. She ground her teeth and said nothing.

I haven't got any evidence yet but I will and then you'll be out of here so fast your head will spin.”

“Anything else, Sir?”

“No. Dismissed.”

Anna nodded and walked away. She wasn't afraid of Grover's threat. She knew once she had committed herself to a relationship with Jill that this would eventually happen. Secrets like this were impossible to keep for long in the ISC. She was furious though at Grover's remark about Jill needing a cyborg. It was insulting to her and to Jill. Clutching her fists, she promised herself that someday she'd hit Grover so hard his eye balls would pop out.

Anna calmed herself and joined the crowd of DMC crew that surrounded Jill.

“Everything okay?” Jill asked.

“Fine. You know Grover, he had to get a few digs in.”

Toda came to stand beside Jill. “Everybody, please. Everybody. A salute to Crewman Jill Fairfax, who has received the first medal of valour of many to follow in the DMC.” Toda started to beat his fist against his chest. “Fairfax! Fairfax! Fairfax!” Everyone joined in until the room shook with the proud voices of Dark Matter Corps.