“There’s not a word yet
For old friends who’ve just met.”

–Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams, “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday”

Tig sprinted through the corridors of Titan Station as fast as her legs could carry her, which in this case was approximately 300 miles per hour. She was heading to Hangar One, where the Gyfjon had landed. She intended to get there as soon as she possibly could.

She didn’t have to run; he was fine. So was Hala. They’d been brought safely aboard the Gyfjon, and they were in good spirits. Navarchos Bass had told Captain Gwenn to relay the station’s status to them. She could walk, meet him at a leisurely pace. Heck, she could play it cool, act a little bit shy, a little bit coy, like she hadn’t fallen head-over-heels for someone less than a day after meeting him.

But Tig had always trusted her feelings. And her feelings were telling her that she didn’t want to wait an extra picosecond. After all, while Imperator Tam had been quite kind about not arresting her so far, there was no guarantee that would hold. Her time with Ted could end at any time. She was not going to waste a moment.

She only slowed as she reached the hatchway to the hangar, and then only because it was sealed; two of the Gyfjon’s security officers, a Titan and a Ler, were standing guard in heavy armor, trying to ensure that no more chaos intruded on the day.

“Permission to enter the dock,” she said, breathlessly.

“Denied. Dock’s open to officers and crew personally approved by Captain Gwenn only,” said the Titan. Tig noted with surprise that she had an artificial hand and ocular implants. “Orders of Navarchos Bass.”

“Can I request approval, ma’am?”

“Sorry, Decanus, the Captain and the Navarchos put together a very short list of base officers approved to enter. I can check against the list, but if you aren’t on it, you’re out of luck.”

“Can you check the list for Tigoni Belfsec?” Tig asked, stretching out a slight cramp.

“I’m not going to say yes or no. Hand over your keypass, and then give me a thumbprint.”

Tig complied, making sure that the keypass was hers, and not Ulala’s – she had a feeling that would not allow her to sneak by this bunch. The woman ran the card, and an eyebrow shot up. “How’s a Dec-2 on this list?”

“I’m a good friend of Lt. Col. Martínez.”

“Oh – oh! Yeah, Izzy mentioned you.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Izzy told Captain Gwenn you needed to be approved. Sorry, Decanus. Didn’t realize. Go on in, I think they’re in the observation lounge.”

“Yes – yes ma’am.”

Tig walked into the hangar, and smiled at the sight of the glittering Gyfjon. Every pilot in the Imperial military had a soft spot for Kuklopes-class starships – they handled almost like a shuttle – and the Gyfjon was still a beauty, even after more than fifty years of service.

“Permission to come aboard,” she said, as she reached the gangway.

“Granted,” the security officer said, waving her by. Tig moved up the ramp as quickly as she could without breaking once more into a sprint.

* * *

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Xú said, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. “If you’re on 80-some hour days, feel like we should make a concession to it.”

“Absolutely not,” Aerti said. “One, you’ve made enough concessions for a century. And two, biology is what it is. Insectoids don’t sleep at all, unless they go dormant, and then they’re asleep for months. We couldn’t do that. Don’t worry – tonight when we’re sleeping 20-some hours straight through, you’ll get to feel like your constitutions are superior. Frankly, I’m not sure they aren’t.”

“I know, I just feel like we should be, I don’t know, holding high-level meetings and exchanging diplomatic niceties.”

“Clearly,” Aertimus said. “But…well, evening watch starts in about three hours, and then another 28 until night watch. If you and your crew get six or seven hours of rack time, you’ll give me time to put together a gala reception.”

“All right,” Xú said, yawning again. “Should I tell my crew to remain in dress uniform?”

Aertimus grinned. “Well, depends. If you want that type of gala reception, I’m game. However, if you want the kind of gala reception where we all swap stories and share a drink….”

Xú yawned once more, and then broke into a wide grin. “Navarchos Bass, that is exactly the type of gala reception I’m in the mood for, and I think my crew will agree. Should we bunk in the Lem?”

“You certainly can, but I just got a message from Pryvani Tarsuss arranging for lodging here on the station.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You’ll get to know the name, trust me,” Aerti said. “She’s paid for a guest suite and paid for us to print out human-sized bunks. In fact, if you want to get me your uniform specs, I can print out some spares too. Of course, you can bunk on the Lem too, if you’d prefer.”

“That’s fine, as long as we can get into it later. And that’s extremely kind of her. I hope it doesn’t set her back too much.”

“Near as I can tell, that’s impossible,” Aertimus said. “Now, go get some sleep, Shang Xiao. I’ll have Princeps Ix show you to your quarters. And she’ll have a pad with her – if you need anything, let me know immediately.”

* * *

Navir Salus was cold, bitterly cold. Not freezing – his thermsuit protected him from freezing to death – but he’d been out in the titanian air long enough that the bitter wind left him shivering.

He sat up woozily, trying to shake off the aftereffects of being stunned. He looked over at his two compatriots; they were just starting to come to as well. He noted that the power pack had been removed from the disruptor cannon, and the rifles were nowhere to be seen.

He looked over at their target, and saw blood on the ground, but no sign of the Earth vessel. Well. Solis wouldn’t be happy about this.

He turned and stood up, and that’s when he saw them. Five security officers – naval, from the look of it – coming straight for their position on a dead sprint. He started to turn, and look for a way out, but there was no way he’d get around them, and heading into Titan proper was suicide.

“Down on the ground! Down on the ground!” they were shouting over the open comms channel. He could see the insignia of the Minatar on their therm suits. That was odd.

“Hey, you’re making a mistake!” Navir said, as he complied with their orders. “I was acting on orders from the Navarchos Imperii. You can’t arrest me for that.”

“Really? Boran, you hear that? He was working for Navarchos Solis.”

“Caln, you don’t say! Well, that changes everything then.”

“See?” Navir said, starting to get up.

“On the ground,” Boran shouted.

Navir froze in place.

“If you were working for Solis, then you’re not just under arrest for murdering an Imperial officer; we’ll add treason to the list.”

“What? Treason? I’m a loyal officer!” Navir said, panicked.

“Who just admitted to working with the greatest traitor since Syon Fand,” Boran said. “Solis was removed by the Emperor’s personal orders. If you’re willing to testify, you might be able to just get sentenced to Rura Penthe, rather than death. Might.”

“I didn’t even fire the cannon! They did!” he said, gesturing to his allies.

“Gorram, Navir, you were the one Solis talked to! You practically begged us to come with!”

“You can all talk this order with the imperators,” Boran said. “Minatar, this is Security Team Ashay, we’ve found our targets, bringing them in.”

 

* * *

Tig entered the observation lounge of the Gyfjon just in time to hear Ted laughing.

“Now that is impressive. So they woke up okay?”

“None the worse for wear. Captain Bass had a migraine for three days afterward. Titan days. Took him a while to be properly grateful. So the translator is working?”

“Much better than the one I was using, thanks, Izzy.”

“Don’t mention it. Oh,” said the woman, looking up, “hello, Decanus, you must be Tigoni.”

“Um…yes,” Tig said to the elderly human at the table, who was clearly relishing the chance to regale a new audience with tales of derring-do.

“Hey, Tig,” said Ted, who was clearly fighting the urge to try to leap for her from halfway across the room. “This is Corporal Isabel Ibanez; Izzy, Decanus Tigoni Belfsec.”

“Oh, stop being formal Ted,” Hala said, half-jeering.

“Really. Not the time and place for decorum,” Izzy said with a grin.

Tig had been edging into the room, trying not to return to a sprint, but with that encouragement, she half-jogged over to the table, and caught Ted clean in her right hand as he jumped for her. She brought him to her lips and kissed him, urgently; she wasn’t entirely sure if Ted was trying to kiss her back or fight her lips off, and frankly, neither was Ted, but he had no complaints as the kiss broke.

“I don’t know if you heard…we all almost….”

“I did,” Ted said. “I just…if I’d gotten here and the crew of the Lem and you were gone…I don’t know what I would have done. I don’t even want to imagine. Of course, we almost didn’t get back. If not for the Gyfjon…”

“I heard. You were gonna try to skip the shuttle? Brave little guy.”

“Well, it was that or burn up. Besides, between you and Hala the bar’s been set so high, I had to do something to catch up.”

Tig kissed him again, softly this time. She pulled back, and they just stared at each other for a moment.

After the moment lasted a bit longer than was comfortable, Ted said, “Damn it, this is when it would be nice to be able to hug you.”

“You can,” Tig said, and carefully brought him to her chest. She held him against her gently with one hand, and he spread his arms wide as if he could take her in completely. And in every way that mattered to either one of them, he could.

“All right, I can’t take it,” Hala said after a few minutes of this. “You two are too damn cute! It’s ridiculous.”

“Oh, hush,” Izzy said, with a grin. “Let them enjoy it.”

They held each other for a good long time, and might have forever, had Tig’s pad not chirped. She sighed, and picked it up with her off hand, taking care not to move the one that held Ted. “Belfsec,” she said.

“Decanus, this is Opito Starati.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tig said, standing a bit straighter for the base’s CAG.

“I understand you’re on the Gyfjon. Shang Xiao Xú has requested that you pick up two members of her crew and bring them to their quarters on station at your earliest convenience. I’ve sent you the location of their quarters.”

“Of course, ma’am. I’m talking to them now,” Tig said.

“Very good. And then after that, you are to report to Navarchos Bass, immediately.”

“Ma’am?”

“He has some questions about an incident in the infirmary this morning.”

Tig’s stomach fell. “Yes…yes, ma’am.”

“So hop to it. Starati out.”

Tig just wanted to freeze this moment in time. But she knew she couldn’t. With a heavy heart, she stroked Ted one more time, and said, “Maj. Nejem, may I offer you a lift?”

She was quiet on the walk to the quarters of the Lem’s crew. She had put Ted in her pocket, along with Hala; she hoped that they’d just discharge her. She could stay on station as a cleaner, maybe get a job in a store. Whatever it took to stay here.

As for Ted, he wanted to punch Aerti Bass. Not that he would – he was brave, but not stupid. But he was furious that Tig couldn’t even get a few minutes to enjoy being a hero. Because she was – she was a damn hero, and he intended to say so.

When they finally reached the nice hotel suite Pryvani had arranged for the crew of the Lem, Tig had to fight back tears. She hit the buzzer, and to her surprise, Ulala opened the door.

“Hey, Tig. Shang Xiao, Decanus Belfsec is reporting,” she called. “I’ve been assigned as an assistant to their captain. She seems nice so far; if I was as tired as she is, I’d be unbearable,” she said to Ted and Hala, who Tig was carefully lowering to the ground.

“None finer,” Ted said. “I’d follow her to my death.”

“We all would,” Hala said.

“You all did,” Xú said, stifling a yawn. “Ted, Hala, how’s the Sally Ride?”

“She’s fine, save for being out of hydrogen,” Martínez said. “We took off under duress, kinda burned out all our fuel getting into orbit.”

“It’s hydrogen. There’s always more. We’ll coordinate with the base to get it reattached to the Lem. Hala, I want you to start figuring out where we’re going to be for fuel after reactor restart. All right, you two, go talk to Yelena, she’ll get you to your racks.”

“Aye, ma’am,” said Hala.

“Shang Xiao,” Ted said, quietly. “Permission to remain with Decanus Belfsec for the moment?”

“What?” both Tig and Mùlán said simultaneously.

“Decanus Belfsec is supposed to meet with Navarchos Bass about the actions she took to free Hala. I…I feel like she should have someone with her who’s on her side.”

Xú raised an eyebrow. “I don’t mind, but I was hoping we could have some quiet; Ted, I don’t want you coming in and waking everyone up in three hours.”
“He could stay with me,” Tig said, and then she suddenly blushed. “Um…assuming I’m not arrested. And that Ulala will still let me use her quarters.”

Xú raised another eyebrow at that; she looked over at Hala, who was trying and failing not to giggle. “Well…if Decanus Belfsec is arrested, Ted, please relay that as envoy from Earth, I would request that she be given asylum.”

“Shang Xiao, I couldn’t….”

“You could too, Ms. Belfsec,” Mùlán said. “You’ve saved Maj. Nejem three times now, and Col. Martínez once.”

“No, ma’am; she’s saved me three times, too.”

“Well, you two helped save me at least once, and that’s not counting….”

Xú held up a hand. “We’re not going down that road, I’m too tired, and the main point is that we’ve all done a lot for each other, and we owe each other for that. Ms. Belfsec, we won’t let you go down without a fight; Col. Martínez, your orders are to fight. And when you’re done fighting, I expect you to join the crew in seven hours, sharp, on the promenade level for a reception. Princeps Ix, if we get you Ted’s uniform, can you have it sent to your quarters?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ulala said. “And I’m bunking up here, Tig; they’re yours as long as you want them.”

“Excellent,” said Xú.

Ted blinked. “Ma’am…if this doesn’t work out….”

“Then Navarchos Bass will have to deal with me, so I could use my ops officer on the scene to keep me from getting in too much trouble. Dismissed,” Xú said.

Tig knelt back down, and gathered Ted up. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

Xú glanced back over her shoulder. “Maj. Nejem, are they….”

“Yes, ma’am, they are.”

“Really. Ted’s a brave man.”

Hala looked back at them. “Well, Tig’s a brave woman.”

Mùlán laughed at that. “True. And you’d need to be. Princeps Ix? There’s just one more thing I need….”

* * *

Ten minutes later, Tig stood outside the office of the Navarchos.

“I’m here with you. All the way.”

“I know, Ted,” Tigoni said, breathing deep. “I just….”

“Seriously, the Shang Xiao wasn’t bluffing. And I’ll build a ship to bring you home with my bare hands if I have to. One way or another, Tig. Whatever it takes.”

She smiled, and reached down to the pocket of her uniform, and stroked Ted gently. “As long as you’re with me, Ted…I’ll be fine.”

Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door of the office, came to attention, and saluted. “Decanus 2^nd Class Tigoni Belfsec, reporting as ordered, sir!”

Aertimus returned the salute, though he did not rise from his chair. “At ease, Ms. Belfsec. Have a seat.”

Tigoni sat down in the chair opposite the Navarchos, taking care to make sure that her pocket did not bump into an armrest. As she eased into the chair, Aertimus looked at a data pad with half an eye on her.

“Ms. Belfsec, do you know why I ordered you here?”

“Sir…quite a bit has happened. It could be a half dozen things.”

“Exactly,” Aerti said, leaning back. “All of those things, pretty much. The first one, though, is the most serious matter. There is some evidence that you may have assaulted two guards, a doctor, and a flag officer in an infirmary this morning,” he said, calmly.

“Sir…I….”

“I wanted to let you know, however, that the flag officer in question, Magister-Imperator Tam, has given me a sworn statement saying that you were not the person who attacked her. She described the attacker as shorter and thinner than you, with white hair, wearing civilian clothes.”

Tig simply stared at the Navarchos; she had no idea what to say to that.

“Now, there’s some surveillance video of you near the lab around that time, but Imperator Tam said that you had come down at her request, and that you left before the violence started, and that any indication you didn’t must be due to glitches caused by the intrusion into our computer systems by Navarchos Solis. That’s true, isn’t it?”

Tig stammered out, “Um…sir…I…..”

“’Yes’ is the answer I want, Decanus.”

“…yes, sir.”

“Good,” Aertimus said with a smile. “All right, well, I’d take Rixie Tam’s word over a surveillance video any time, so I’ve ordered this file closed; near as I can tell we’ll never be able to really tell who attacked those guards, too much data has been compromised; I’m just hoping whoever it is learned their lesson, and won’t try such a colossally idiotic stunt ever again, or at least so long as she wears the uniform of the Imperial Guard.”

Tig ventured just the slightest hint of a smile. “Sir…I’m quite certain of that.”

“As am I. Off the record, Ms. Belfsec?”

“Sir?”

Aerti leaned forward just a bit. “Rixie doesn’t stick her neck out for just anyone.”

“Sir, I….”

“No, really. Imperator Tam thinks you’re worth it, and she’s put her pension and her freedom on the line to bail you out. And not incidentally, I am putting my career on the line by pretending to believe her. You’ve got two flags running interference for you. This is a favor that you can only repay in one way.”

“However I can, I will, sir. Whatever I need to do.”

“It’s very simple, Ms. Belfsec,” he said, gently. “Be worth it.”

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Good. I’ve seen your best. If that’s what you do, you’ll be fine. Now, back on the record. We have a welcoming ceremony for the crew of the Lem in about seven hours, you need to be there in six and a half, attendance is mandatory, both for you and for Col. Martínez,” he said, looking directly at Tig’s pocket. “Shang Xiao Xú just sent me a message indicating you two had plans to do a quick tour of the base.”

“Um…yes, sir.”

“Ms. Belfsec, my sister would kill me if I dissuaded you from that, so I won’t, but again, you’re both supposed to be on the promenade deck in six and a half hours. Keep your tour to a reasonable length.”

Tig blushed, deeply, and felt sure Ted was doing so as well. “Yes, sir.”

Aerti chuckled. “Also, one final thing; the Gyfjon is far too large to land on Earth right now; I’ve started preliminary planning for our trip there, and I’m thinking our delegation should go down in the Porfirayon. I think the ship that started this debacle should finish it, don’t you?”

“Definitely, sir,” said Tig, not sure where the Navarchos was going with this.

“Opito Starati is most likely going to command the shuttle, and Decurion Jons should be piloting, but we need someone at comms. Of course, I wouldn’t trust a Decanus, 2^nd Class to run communications on the shuttle taking our delegates down to Earth for the very first time. That officer would have to at least be a Dec-1,” he said, sliding a small box across the desk to Tigoni.

Tigoni looked at the box; she didn’t have to ask what was in it. “Sir, I…I don’t….”

“You do,” Aertimus said, rising and saluting. “Decanus 1^st Class Belfsec, congratulations.”

Tigoni stood – again, taking care not to catch her pocket, and returned the salute. “I promise, sir,” she said. “I’ll be worth it.”

“Good,” he said. “Because if you aren’t, it’s not me you need to worry about; you’ll have to answer to Rixie.”

“Honestly, sir,” Tig said, “I’m a bit more scared of Alex.”

Aertimus laughed out loud at that. “Well, Ms. Belfsec, you may have a point. Remind me to tell you about the time he and my wife nearly started a riot. But not now. You’ve got a tour to conduct. Dismissed.”