"I
still don't understand why you're being this way."
"Because
I can," Allison said with a roll of her eyes. She knew he was unaccosutomed to not having his own way - and that was reasonable.
Seeing the world move in your direction should be one of the perks of growing
old. Ordinarily, she wouldn't have challenged her friend this way, but... Some
things had to be. She calmed down a bit before she added, "The captain is
the first to board and the last to disembark the ship. That's how it works -
it's about responsibility and accountability."
"Are
you saying I'm not responsible enough to be here alone?" George asked with
fire in his voice.
Allison
tried to soften the blow with a smile. "You know better than that,
George."
He
stared at her - his mind set. Sixty-four and a half years of integrity versus
her twenty-nine of good intentions. In its own little way, it was a challenge,
a battle of will that only one could win.
She
closed her eyes and gathered herself before she looked up at him. "George,
I'm not going to argue with you any more. I'm not going to pull rank on you, or
threaten you, or make this any more of a problem than it's already become. My
friendship with you means too much to me. But you must understand, I am Captain
of this ship, and I have responsibilities that extend past you. So, I'll stay
here myself if you won't leave with me. It's how it's
got to be."
She
stared into his eyes wordlessly, then got up from the table, brushed passed
him, and made to leave the mess hall.
She was
halfway to the door before she heard him say, "All right. I'll pack my
ruddy bag and we'll leave."
Allison's
eyes closed, and she fought to collect herself once more. She was happy and
scared and worried and relieved all at the same time. She brushed a tear away
from her eye before she turned back to face him, and smiled...
George
mustered a smile of his own. "I won't miss the bus if I'm there in fifteen
minutes, will I, Captain?"
"That'll
work," Allison nodded. "I'll go warm things up."
"I'm
not wearing any bloody flightsuit - so don't you try
to quote any more regulations to me, missy," George snapped.
"Of
course not," Allison said. Her smile widened, and she slipped out the
door.
Besides
- She was going home...
Allison
had just stepped out of the pilot's locker room wearing her flightsuit
when George came down the stairway onto the main deck. He carried a thin canvas
bag in one hand, and had a box wrapped in plain brown paper under his other. A
bottle of wine wiggled precariously beneath the box in what looked like a
tenuous grip.
Allsion hurried to his side and took the bottle. She held the
label up and admired it before George said, "It's
only proper to bring something. Do you suppose?"
"They'll
love it," Allison said genuinely. "Where in the world did you find
this?"
"I
know a little place on Alba Station," George said. "I haven't taught
you all of my tricks yet, Captain."
"I
know," Allison nodded in agreement. "You know, we're going to
officially be on leave in like... Five minutes... Can we dispense with this
whole 'Captain' business?"
"No,"
George answered. He climbed the gangway of the closest Tomcat, and hesitated
before climbing into the cockpit. "Which seat do I use? Or do I run along
behind?"
"You
sit up front," Allison said. "I want you to be able to see good."
"Nothing
to bloody see," George said. "You'd think we were visitng
another planet."
"No,
Silly, this is way better. We're going home."
George
'Harumped' and settled into the seat. Allison made
sure he was buckled in properly, and then slid into the seat behind him. She
buckled her own harnesses, and then pushed a series of buttons that triggered
the gangway to roll away from their fighter, and the canapoy
to close, lock, and seal.
"Your
ears will probably pop, George. I'm going to pressurize the cockpit,"
Allison said once she had her helmet on. She adjusted the microphone, and
flicked the necessary switches for the canopy and to open communications.
"Just relax and try to enjoy the ride."
Allison
ignored George's lack of response. She was fairly certain she understood what
was going on, and why... As far as she was concerned, they weren't Captain and
Crewman any more, they were mentor and protege, or...
Just friends... She'd be there for George to get through this... It would be
okay...
After a
few moments of hushed conversation over the radio, the controller's voice
became more official as he said, "Tico Tomcat
zero-zero-one, Earth control has you cleared for departure and descent on flightplan Mackenzie-one. Don't forget to lock the doors up
there."
"We're
gonna put the cat out now," Allison said.
"Happy holidays, control. Give me a shout if anything goes wrong with my
baby."
"We'll
mind the store," the controller said. "Merry
Christmas. Out..."
"All
right George," Allison said, trying to calm herself.
She was fully qualified to pilot the Tomcat, but she'd been out one whole trip
on her own... It was a bit nerve wracking... "Here we go..."
She
pushed one more button, and the launch gantry rolled their fighter into an
airlock, which closed soundlessly behind them. The bulkhead in front of them
parted to reveal a starfield, and their craft slipped
gracefully into it. As soon as they were clear, Allison turned the fighter
one-hundred and eighty degrees on the horizontal, so they looked back at the
As soon
as the beacon started flashing, a computerized voice came over Allison's
headphones, "U-P-E Ticonderoga is in hibernation mode. Do not attempt to
board, do not approach unless authorized. Violators will be fired upon by
automated weapons systems. Repeating... U-P-E Ticonderoga is in hibernation
mode. Do not attempt..."
With a
flick of a switch, the cockpit was completely quiet.
"Goodnight,
pretty lady," Allison whispered after a moment. More loudly, she asked
"Ready to go, George?"
No
answer came, but she hadn't expected one. With a little nudge, their fighter
rotated back away from the
George
was silent for a long time during the trip down, and Allie wasn't about to
speak and ruin it for him. A view out a window - such a simple thing, and yet
so important to her that he be allowed to see this. As they dropped closer to
the mountains of the Northwest, the starscape gave
way to a more conventional view of night - but it was no less striking for its
simplicity. A full moon hung just beyond reach, illuminating the snowscape below them. Trees, rock, and snow mixed together
to paint a canvas more beautiful than any artwork she'd ever seen.
Allie
considered telling George she'd have to switch over to manual control, but she
supposed he really wouldn't care. With the flip of a few switches, the display
on her helmet's visor lit with computer enhanced imagery, ruining the view for
her, but allowing her to make it all the better ride in for her passenger.
She
eased way back on the throttles, allowing their craft to glide much more
gracefully along down the side of the
"Slow
the bloody thing down," George said gruffly as they passed over the
Allie
smiled, and wordlessly cut in compensatory thrusters to keep them aloft as
their craft slowed even more.
Pine
Creek flowed around ice and snow in its channel below, defying all that mother nature had done to halt its progress. The pine trees
were starting to give way to leafless Aspens - still striking, but more
austere. Allie had never seen it from up here, but from the surface she always
imagined bear trudging through the woods, or elk bugling into the night when she'd
passed through here. It was beautiful, but just not as warm as the Valley
they'd left.
As if
understanding their need for something warm and familiar, the pass soon gave
way to another valley, this one more broad and open
than the first. Off to the left, the little town of
She
nudged their craft to the right, and made a sweeping turn to fall in over the
She
realized that all of her life, she'd wanted to follow the river and see what
lay between this valley and her parent's home, but never had taken the time.
The moon hung in front of them lighting their way, so she slowed further still,
raised her visor, and saw the landscape with her own eyes for the first time on
their trip.
It took
her breath away... She searched her mind for words, found none, and settled for
the warm feeling it brought her.
All too
soon, it was time to finish their journey. Allie slid the craft up and out of
the canyon, and onto the flats of snow that covered the farmland that had grown
her. The snow was fresh and light - stirred up by the Tomcat's engines, it made
a glittering cloud in front of them before settling back down. They passed over
two abandoned farmsteads before a small structure, warmly lit, popped out if its hiding place behind a hill.
The end
of the journey came almost too suddenly as she brought the Tomcat down onto a
patch of bare ground her father had cleared with the tractor. She could already
see her mother and father standing in the light of the open door, waiting for
their visitors. She shut down the engines, opened the cockpit and deployed the
ladder in a flurry - her heart screaming for a hug from Mom.
"We're
home, George," She said happily as she tossed her helmet aside.
She was
out of the cockpit, down the ladder, and two steps away from the fighter before
good sense caught hold and turned her around to help George. She held the
packages he handed down to her, and held her breath as he descended the
all-to-steep ladder. Once he was on solid ground, she handed him back his bag,
and fell into step beside him. Still the ever-quiet George, he didn't say
anything as they walked.
They
were about a quarter of the way to the house when a wave of light illuminated
them from the Tomcat, and a warning klaxon broke the stillness of the night.
Allison
turned to look back at the fighter, and instinctively, she knew... She just
knew...
"George,
I have to go answer that," she said calmly as she handed him the box and
bottle of wine she'd carried. "Head for the house - I'll be there as soon
as I can."
George
looked stricken, but then he nodded in understanding. She'd get whatever it was
done more quickly by herself - and if only tonight, he
understood the importance of that. He nodded again, and said, "You be
careful."
Allie's
smile was genuine as she handed him her comm unit. "Merry Christmas, George."
"Merry
Christmas, Captain," George said in return. "Now... Shoo!"
Allison
raced back through the snow to the Tomcat, and George trudged on toward her
parents' home. Once he was close enough he introduced himself somewhat akwardly.
"What's
going on, George?" Mrs. Mackenzie asked, concern
evident in her voice.
George
turned with her gaze to see the Tomcat still lit up, and the cockpit canopy
closing and locking. Seconds later, the engines started to spool up, and George
knew as well.
"Something
must not be quite right," he said gently. He flipped a toggle on the com
unit Allison had given him. "I'm sure it's nothing too serious, but
perhaps we can find out..."
"Control,
Tico Tomcat Zero-Zero-One has engine start,"
Allison's voice said though the com's tiny speaker.
"Tico Zero-Zero-One, cleared for
max angle departure. Technicians have been dispatched and will rendevous with you on ship in one-five minutes. They'll
throw the switches and have you home for egg nogg."
"Confirmed
control... I appreciate the help... Tico Tomcat
Zero-Zero-One has a go."
Nothing
else could be heard over the speaker as the engines wound to full intensity. A
cloud of snow blew forward from the fighter, but George and the Mackenzies could see it was no longer resting on the Earth.
Once off the ground, the landing lights disappeared, and only red and green
running lights blinked through the flurry of snow in the backwash.
The
lights arced in a graceful turn over and then away from the house. Huddled near
the door, they watched as the lights gained speed, gliding toward the hills to
the North. They seemed to tilt upward, and with a dull but firm
"Boom", the lights rocketed skyward and quickly disappeared.
George's
predicament washed across him in the silence that ensued. A glance toward the Mackenzies didn't help matters, either. Here he was, in the
cold, middle of nowhere, standing in front of people that he didn't even know,
on Christmas Eve, of all nights.
He felt
like a fool - an old fool - for having let the Captain force him into this. The
quiet abandonment of being left alone on an empty spacecraft suddenly seemed
very appealing. He wanted to damn her for getting him into this, but in reality
he damned himself for letting it happen. Funny how he could feel more alone
with people around than he could when he was off on his own.
"George,
where are my manners?" Mrs. Mackenzie bustled as she wiped at her eyes.
"You must be frozen, and hungry. How about some nice
warm tea?"
Allison's
father warmed as well when George stepped closer. "George, I'm Alan - it's
a privelege to meet you. Allie has told us good
things about you. Come in... Come in..."
George
stepped hesitantly through the threshold, and Alan followed him, closing the
door. Mrs. Mackenzie helped George with his parcels, and Alan shook his hand
warmly. "Sorry about keeping you out in the cold there, it's just...
Well... We were a little surprised to..."
"I
understand," George said easily. "Thank you for having me."
"Will
Allie be long?" Mrs. Mackenzie asked. "We'd hoped to take in supper
and midnight Mass in town."
"It's
hard to say," George said. "They wouldn't have called her back if it
wasn't serious. She might be a bit - she'll stay until everything is
right."
"Of
course," Mrs. Mackenzie beamed. "We're so proud, but... Come in...
Come in... Is Earl Grey to your taste?"
"Why,
yes ma'am," George answered. As he stepped through the main door into the
kitchen, the smells, sight, and comfortable coziness of their home was the most
immaculate warmth he could remember walking into. He smiled in spite of
himself. "Earl Grey is just fine."
*****
George
was beginning to feel a bit more comfortable by the time the ride to town came
along. He wasn't particularly comfortable, or uncomfortable with the thought of
going to church with the Mackenzies, though. It had
been a long time - and he wasn't sure he was ready to celebrate this particular
occasion at all. Time doesn't heal all wounds, actually. Some burn, and fester,
and change who you are in the world. And that suited
him fine. He didn't want to forget, start over, or believe that what had
happened had happened for a reason.
It
seemed it had been just as long since he'd last heard it, but he was fairly
certain it was Elvis Presley on the radio singing "Silent Night." It
really was beautiful music, and it suited him fine to look out the window, and
up, mostly. Toward home...
He
wondered, breifly, what had happened. The com unit
the Captain had given him was still in his pocket, but it had been completely
silent since she'd docked back on Tico. With no ideas
otherwise, the Mackenzies had left her a way to
follow, and set off into town. Even though he'd have been as happy to be alone,
it wasn't proper to be in their home without them there, so he'd ridden along.
It
really was a beautiful night.
Mrs.
Mackenzie turned in her seat. She watched George for a minute, then asked, "So, how about you, George? Have you ever
been married?"
And
there it was. A knife through the heart, a ton of bricks, a
rocket-ship ride to reality. The one question...
He
turned toward her, and her eyes went wide, "I'm sorry - that was none of
my concern."
George
smiled genuinely to soften the moment. She really did seem to be a good woman -
he didn't want her to feel hurt tonight. "It's all right, ma'am. I was
married once, but I lost her... A long time ago."
"I'm
so sorry," Anna said quietly. "I didn't mean to open an old wound,
George."
"It's
scarred-up anyhow," George said with a grunt. He was quiet a minute, and
went on, "We were high-school sweethearts, just like in the old days, you know?
We'd known each other forever, and been in love a day longer. We never, ever
wondered if we'd get married, and have a family, not for a minute. Two months
after we graduated, we married, and a week later I left for my hitch with U.P.E.. Two years away in the service, to get us on the way
for a lifetime. Seemed like a fair trade..."
Anna
just listened patiently.
"It
wasn't so hard, really. We wrote every day, called when we could,
saw each other when I was on leave. Love can carry you through - if you really,
really believe in it, and she and I did."
He was
quiet for a long time, before he felt Anna reach for his hand in the darkness.
"We
were a long ways from home... I don't remember, maybe it was out around the
asteroid belt, and she got sick. She got sick fast. Too
fast."
"It
was Christmas leave, actually, when we came home. I didn't have any family
except for her, and her family couldn't forgive me for not being there,"
George said. He wiped his eyes gruffly and continued, "I still remember
Captain Samson coming up behind me at the cemetary..."
George
was quiet again, and then he smiled. He smiled with more warmth than even he
knew he had. "The Cap put his hand on my shoulder, and told me it was time
to come back to the
"I'm
sorry for your loss, George. I truly am. If I'd known, I wouldn't have,"
Anna said.
"Don't
even think on it, Ma'am," George interrupted. He still smiled warmly.
"I don't think anyone knows. But it's all right anyhow. I think I want to
be thinking about her tonight."
"She
must have been a wonderful person, George," Anna said.
"She
was the love of my life," George agreed.
*****
George
yawned contentedly. The Christmas Eve Supper Alan and Anna had bought him was
still a pleasant memory. He was warm and comfortable, and the church service
had been beautiful. He'd felt a bit out of place in his duty uniform and
sweater, but no one had seemed to notice. It was hard to pay attention to the pastor
all the time, as he found himself looking at all of the people. Everyone was
enraptured, except, pehaps, for the the little ones who slept snuggled up in their parent's
arms.
The
Gospel reading was one he hadn't even thought on for some time - the Christmas
Story. He knew of the birth of Christ, but somehow, tonight everything felt a
little different, or... Perhaps it was... New??? He
stood with the congregation, listening intently, and realized there was much
for him to think about. Uncertainty in his beliefs had never suited George
well, but he didn't mind so much in this case. It felt good
- good to feel wonder...
It felt
good to believe...
The
pastor's homily was intriguing. George enjoyed the more conversational style.
Ideas, thoughts, and feelings were presented in such a way as to make him
fascinated with the Birth of the Savior.
And
then things took kind of an unexpected turn...
"There
are many and all parts of this day that must not be forgotten," The Pastor
said sincerely. "But one error, one blight upon
our very existence, must never be repeated among all others - the turning away
of people in need by those in a position to offer warmth and comfort. Imagine,
for a moment, the inn-keeper that night...
"Was
his
"I
think it's a true reminder of the reason for this season whenever someone in
need is invited to share this time with family or friends. It's humanity's
little way of making up for the Inn-Keeper's particular sin whenever we, as
people, bring those in need closer to us during this time. Jesus taught us to
treat others as we wish to be treated, and we all remember how much we wouldn't
want to be alone on this blessed day. We remember the teachings of Christ and
praise him as we help each other, and as we welcome new friends into our hearts,
on everyday, but particularly as we celebrate his birth."
"It
may be hard for some to accept that help. Perhaps it's easier to believe that
they're alone for a reason, that they've been forsaken, or that their loved
ones have been taken from them by God for a vindictive or vicious purpose. But
to feel this way, and to deny the efforts of others who offer them the
blessings of Christ's teachings, is Sinful. It is difficult to be alone - I
know this in my own life. But to be alone, and to be without family, must mean
that God has called our loved ones to a higher purpose, and that we're left to
share the blessings of friendship offered by others. We who are alone praise
God by accepting the generous love of friends he has sent to comfort us."
"Just
as Jesus Christ brought offered unconditional friendship and love to others,
turn now and offer a sign of friendship to others," The pastor said with
wide spread arms.
George
didn't quite know what to expect at this point. The pastor stepped toward the
congregation, and began shaking hands and exchanging hugs with nearby parishoners. He watched as members of the congregation
turned and hugged family members, shook hands with strangers, and clapped
friends on the back. Anna and Alan Mackenzie embraced in a warm hug next to
him, and then Anna turned to George and met him with a hug and a "Merry
Christmas" as well.
George
had just shook Alan's hand when he felt a rush of cold air on his left side. He
turned toward the aisle, and there stood a rosy-cheeked, shivering Captain
Allison Mackenzie, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Sorry
I'm late," she said with a smile. "Got held up in
traffic."
George
looked to her to be at a loss for words, and to be honest, he was. Their
argument over his coming flashed into memory, along with the feeling of
desertion he'd felt as he stood in the snow watching her fly off and leave him
in the middle of nowhere. And then the rest of it...
He
started to smile... Gruffly at first... But it was a
smile...
"Don't
quite know what to say to you," He admitted.
Allison
tilted her head and offered, "How about Merry Christmas?"
"Merry
Christmas, then, Allie," He said as his smile widened a bit.
"Merry
Christmas to you too, George," she said as she hugged her old friend.
*****
Allison
walked next to George, and behind her parents as they
filed out of the church with the rest of the crowd. A bit of snow was falling,
the moon was out, and stars peeked through the clouds to make an absouletly beautiful evening as they stepped out the door.
"So
what happened, anyway?" George asked.
"The
downlink to Earth gave way when a transmitter went off-line. Ordinarilly, it's pretty simple to switch to another one,
but since the ship was abandoned and the downlink had failed, someone had to go
make the change to a backup transmitter," Allison explained. George, her parants, and she stood in a little circle off to one side
of the doors of the church. "Long way to go to punch a button..."
Allie's
mother wiped at her eyes. "I didn't know what to think when you went
screaming off like that."
"I'm
sorry, Mom," Allie said as she moved and met Anna in another hug.
"Don't be sorry, Little One," Anna said. "I'm so
proud of you. I just worry."
"It's
good to have people to worry about me," Allie said with a satisfied grin. "Right George?"
"Yes
Ma'am," George agreed easily.
"Now
I have two kids to worry about," Anna said as she patted George's
shoulder.
"Where
are you parked?" Alan asked her. "Old blue run okay for you?"
"Not
exactly," Allie smiled. She nodded toward a patch of trees in a field
behind the church and winked at George.
George
nodded. "Is that by-the-book, Captain?"
"I
suppose not," Allison said coyly. "George, I think I owe you an
apology for how I acted this afternoon. I shouldn't have thrown my weight
around like I did." Her head hung down a bit before she added, "I
know what happened to you - it's in your file. I just... Well, maybe I
shouldn't have been so by-the-book then, either."
"I've
seen a lot of skippers come and go in 44 years," George said. "And
you have what it takes to be the best, Allie. Don't apologize for caring about
the people that crew for you. I never once bothered to apologize for looking
after my Captain, and I don't think I'll start now. All comes out fair..."
Alan
smiled. "Shall we adjourn to a warm fire at home, folks?"
"That
sounds nice," Allie said with a yawn. "Coming with me, George?"
"Absolutely
not," George said gruffly. He turned to Anna and playfully added,
"It's been a long time since I've driven a lady home in a car."
Alan
looked utterly bewildered as his wife wrapped her arm around George's and led
him away.
"By the book?" Allie shouted after George.
"By
your book, Captain," George shouted in return. "By
your book!"
Allison
smiled at her father and wiggled her eyebrows. "Up for a
little ride?"