GUNS OF WAR - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

         Alaina could smell and feel the richness of the star as soon as she stepped from the transport, and wondered if it had anything to do with the double moon she saw barely visible in the sky.

         Braddock turned to her.  “You smell it don’t you?”

         Alaina sniffed the pungent aroma of the soil.  “Yes.  It has a high content of metals and minerals.  The vegetation is lush.  You could grow anything on this star.  Question – Is it natural or manmade?”

         “Both.  The star went through the terraform process at the end of the twenty-first century along with the other constellations and planets in the galaxy awaking the seeds of both plant and animal from its dormant state.  You could say that it also awoke the natural mineral and metal content in the star.  You will also find a large number of trees and plants not common to earth, along with the animals found here.”

         Alaina took another deep breath of the sweet pungent aroma and longed to dig her hands in the dirt and feel the texture of the ground.  “It’s wonderful and beautiful.”

         “It’s one of the reasons I located a plant here.  I wanted to nurture the natural resources and find all the benefits they have, not only for Calypso, but also for the other stars in this constellation.  What I didn’t realize until I read the report was how rich the metal and mineral content was.”

         Alaina looked around at the beauty.  She longed to take her shoes off and feel the grass and dirt between her toes.  Excitement grew as she cultivated the many possibilities Calypso had to offer.  “It is much better than Vega.  Vega has its possibilities, but even terraformed it doesn’t have the rich mineral and metal base this star does.”

         “Not many do.  For the ones that come close to this star I have located plants to develop their rich resources.”

         They watched as a hovercraft came toward them.

         “Our transportation has arrived,” Braddock said.

         The vehicle stopped in front of them and a man in a black suit got out.  “Mr. Sheffield, I wasn’t aware you were bringing a guest to look over the damages.”

         “Mr. Neilson, thank you for meeting us.  I hadn’t asked Miss Magarain to join me when I sent you the communiqué.  She is also a biotech engineer and astrophysicist, and very interested in what we have here.”  He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head to dispel the sudden sharp pain.

         A frown crossed Mr. Neilson’s face at the news, before he smiled at them.  “That is wonderful, Mr. Sheffield.  I can take you right to the site and you can see what we’re up against.”

         “If the hotel is still standing we would like to go there first.”

         “Of course.  Yes, it is, though it was almost knocked out at the same time the plant was.”

         “How many people did we lose?”

         “When you rebuild you will need to hire on a full staff.  Everyone who was in the building at the time of the attack is gone, a hundred and fifty people.  The whole second shift.”

         “Never mind the hotel.  Let’s go to the plant site.”

         Braddock helped Alaina into the hovercraft and they were soon on their way.  What they saw left them in little doubt of survivors.

         An area the size of two city blocks had been gouged out leaving the terrain without vegetation.  The plant was a pile of rubble, stones and beam supports, joists, and twisted metal.  Alaina could see the evidence of the different laboratories as lab coats, cabinets, broken glass, even a microscope laid on its side among the debris.  She swallowed the nausea the site evoked, as she turned her attention to Braddock and Mr. Neilson.

         Braddock looked grim as he took in the site.  “This is worse than I imagined.  Have all the families been notified?”

         “Yes.  We set the memorial service for tomorrow.”

         “What about the people?” said Alaina.

         “They’re under all the rubble, Miss Magarain,” said Mr. Neilson.

         “You haven’t tried to dig them out?” said Braddock.

         “We considered it, but the consensus was that it was a fitting burial place for them.”

         Braddock was quiet for some time as he surveyed the site, his lips a tight line, his eyes hooded.  “I agree.  Do you have a list of all those we lost?”

         “Right here.”  Mr. Neilson took a list from his pocket and handed it to Braddock.

         “We’re going to need to get this rubble cleared away.  I want this turned into a memorial park as soon as possible.”

         “We are already working on that.  The excavating equipment will be here first thing in the morning.”

         “I want to talk to the person in charge of the project.  I don’t want any of our people desecrated.  I want this leveled out and the debris taken care of.”

         “I will send him to you as soon as he arrives.  I expect they’ll start on it before the ceremony tomorrow.”

         Braddock looked over the list of people lost in the attack and handed it back.  “Can you tell me why the force field didn’t protect the plant?”

         “It was a surprise attack, no warning.  We were in the middle of it before we knew what was coming.”

         “I wasn’t aware they had cloaking technology that would block out our radar to such attacks.”

         “Nobody was, but one of the scientists said it was the only explanation.  He was asleep at the time of the attack, and lucky to be alive.”

         “If they have cloaking technology, we’re going to need to develop a way to know they are about to attack long before the attack reaches us.”

         “Simon Gallagher is already working on it at least he’s trying without a lab to work in.”

         “Thank Adonai he survived.  I want to talk to him and take him back to Vega to work there.”

         “I’m sure he’ll be ready the moment you ask him.  He prefers Calypso, but without a lab it makes working difficult.”

         “Understandable.  Tell him to meet me at the hotel in an hour.”  Alaina stood by his side a look of shock on her face at the devastation.  He took one look at her and turned to Mr. Neilson.  “We’re going to need to get to the hotel now.”

         “Yes, of course.  I knew this would be a shock.  There was no better way to explain this than to show you.”

         “Understandable.”

         Braddock ushered Alaina back to the hovercraft.  She couldn’t get the images of the destruction out of her mind.  She could tell it had been a building of tremendous size.

         Braddock had a look of concern on his face.  “Are you all right?”

         She started to nod her head then shook it as she buried her head in her hands.  He cradled her against his chest.  “I know.  War is terrible.  We can only pray the promised peace will happen soon.”

         Tears trickled down her cheeks as she tried to brush them away, but Braddock had a handkerchief for her.  “Not soon enough.”

         When they arrived at the hotel a short while later they could see signs of attack there as well.  It was evident the hotel force field was in place at the time of the attack by the way the ground had been dug out by the missile attack all around the hotel.

         They entered the hotel, an ultramodern seven-story building.  Alaina looked around at the marble decor and open lobby.  “Nice.”

         “I had it built when I started construction on the plant.  People needed a place to live during the construction and until their own homes were built.”

         They approached the front desk to see three clerks ready to assist them.  “Welcome to The Majestic, Mr. Sheffield.  Your usual suite?” said the gentleman in the center.

         “No, I want the honeymoon suite, and I want the minister sent to our room ASAP with witnesses.”

         Alaina touched Braddock’s arm.  “No.”

         He turned to her.  “This is best.”

         In a tight whisper, she appealed to him.  “It’s not right.  Tomorrow is the ceremony honoring the people killed in the attack at the plant.  Our ceremony can wait until we get back to Vega, just as you said on the transport.”

         He studied her for a moment longer then turned to the clerk.  “My usual suite and my fiancée will have the one next to it.”

         Alaina watched the reaction of the desk clerks.  If they were shocked, none of them showed it.  Instead, smiles broke out on their faces.

         “Congratulations Mr. Sheffield.  We will get the rooms ready for you,” the same clerk said while the one on the left hurried away.

         “Thank you.  We will be here approximately a week while I get everything taken care of concerning the attack on the plant.”

         He turned to her for a moment and she gave him a wan smile.

         A gentleman hurried their way a short while later and extended his hand to Braddock.  “Mr. Sheffield, a pleasure to see you, though I’m certain it wasn’t a pleasure trip you had in mind.”

         Braddock shook his hand.  “Pastor Bradburn, I am happy to see you.  I want to talk to you about the ceremony tomorrow.”

         “Of course, come to my office.  I was informed there was to be a joining?”

         “I’ve decided to wait until we get back to Vega.  We don’t want to desecrate the memory of those killed in the attack.”

         “I understand.  Congratulations on your engagement.”

         “I want to introduce my fiancée, Miss Alaina Magarain.  We share common interests in work and pleasure.”

         “Then you both look forward to an exciting future together.  Congratulations Miss Magarain.”

         “Thank you.”  Alaina walked beside Braddock as they followed the minister to his office.  She hated that all conversation was directed at him, but she was also aware that men did not speak directly to married or engaged women.  There were so many faux pas when it came to relationships in general.  With her engagement and soon joining, she would have to get used to the fact people would talk around her, just not directly to her.

         Pastor Bradburn opened the door to his office and ushered them inside as he took the chair behind his desk.  “I assume you want to discuss the order of tomorrow’s service.”

         “You have the list of all those killed in the attack?”

         “Yes, I have it right here.”  Pastor Bradburn pulled a paper with a list of names from the center drawer of his desk.

         “Fifteen minutes before the ceremony begins I want the bells to start tolling.  I want the names of every victim read during the tolling of the bells, one name for every three tolls.  When you have read every name, you can give the service honoring each of them.  I will speak last.  I knew most if not all the people on that list, many very good friends who will be sorely missed.”

         “Very good.  Several employees from the first shift volunteered to sing.”

         “Wonderful.  I know that everyone here felt like family.  It should be a good respectful ceremony.”  Braddock stood to his feet and Alaina followed suit.  “I will see you tomorrow.  I know my fiancée is shocked by what occurred and wishes to rest.”

         “Of course, quite understandable.”  Pastor Bradburn stood and shook hands with Braddock.  “Until tomorrow.”

         They left the office and Braddock collected the keys to their rooms on the way through the lobby and ushered her to the bank of elevators.

“I’m sorry, I know I was out of place to interrupt you, but as much as it would be nice to be joined right away, it wouldn’t look right to any of the survivors if you announced that I am your wife so soon after the attack.”

         “There is nothing to be sorry about.  I wasn’t thinking.  I thought you might want to get joined right away.”  The door opened on their floor and he led her to her room.  “It’s not the honeymoon suite, though you’ll think it is.  Get some rest.  You look like you could use it with the shock on our arrival.”

“I might not know the people who died in the attack, but I’ve seen so much of what war can do.  I just wish it were over and life could take on a new meaning – peace.”

“I agree.”  He opened the door for her and ushered her through.

         She looked around at the spaciousness of it and the windows that overlooked the countryside.  “It could have been beautiful if there weren’t so much devastation all around.”

         “The land will heal and it will be beautiful again.  You smelled it when we arrived.  It will fill with vegetation soon and the craters will become part of the landscape or we’ll fill them in as best we can.”

“Yes, the land will heal, but it won’t bring back the dead.”

“Get some rest.  I’ll knock when it’s time for dinner.”

“Is it possible for me to contact Lynneayia from here?”

“Yes, the hotel comes equipped with satellite communications.”

“Good.  I’ll let her know what happened and that I expect her to stand with me when we get back to Vega, and I won’t forget about your job offer.  She’ll be excited.”

“She sounds like a good friend.  I look forward to meeting her.”

“She is a good friend, and I know you didn’t make a bad decision hiring her.  She knows the field as much as I do.”

“Since she knew who I was more than you did, I would say she is probably better informed.”

“I kept up as much as I could.  My job as Data Entry Clerk was demanding.  The company knew every time I went to a different site and deducted it from my time, even when I was on a break and it was my time.”

“All employers have to be that way, at least knowing when you are not doing your work as expected, though breaks and lunch are your own.  BioTech doesn’t deduct for what you do on your own time, but I’m taking time from your rest.  I’ll be back for dinner as I said.”

He took her hands in his, gave them a squeeze and left her alone.  Alaina found it felt strange to have him gone.  He had become her whole life in a matter of a few hours, and he would be for the rest of her life.

         She needed to contact Lynneayia.  Alaina found the satellite connection and soon had Lynneayia on her view screen.  “I have some exciting news for you!”

“Where are you?”

“I’m on Calypso.  That’s where he had his plant.  It was bombed in an attack.  There’s a service tomorrow.  We’ll be here a week while he gets everything organized.”

         “This war makes me so angry sometimes.  Such a waste.  Any survivors?”

         “Only first shift, they were in their sleep cycle.  From what I heard, we lost one hundred and fifty people.  It was a surprise attack and the force field didn’t get turned on in time.”

         “You know you could have waited to tell me.  I’m in the middle of my sleep cycle.”

         “I’m sorry about that, but I have some exciting news for you.  Mr. Sheffield is hiring you.  I don’t know anything more than that at this time and we being joined as soon as we get back to Vega in about a week, maybe more.”

         Lynneayia looked at her in complete shock.  “Wow!  You know how to lay a bomb on a person, don’t you?  You’ll be there a week with him?  What will people think?”

         “We aren’t sharing a room.  Everything is on the up and up.  The only people who know we’re engaged is the minister who will perform the memorial ceremony tomorrow and the hotel clerks.  He wanted to get joined immediately, but I stopped that.  It wouldn’t look right with the memorial service tomorrow for all the people we lost.”

Lynneayia shook her head as though she was trying to sort out everything Alaina told her.  “Hiring me?  You’re to be joined?  How did you pull that off?”

Alaina could see the shock on her face, and hear it in her voice, and laughed at her confusion.  “Honesty.  He’s very nice, and understanding.  And he’s hiring you.”

“I got that.  I was trying to assimilate it.  I can give my notice to the Data Entry Company.  It’s about time.  What about relocation?  Did he say anything about that?”

“We talked about it on the way here.  He said you would need to have a vested interest in Vega before they will allow you to relocate to another star.  This star is amazing!  You can smell the richness of the mineral and metals in the soil as soon as you get off the transport.  Everything is so lush, and it didn’t need to be seeded, terraformed yes, but everything was already here, just waiting.  I know he’s going to need people here.  The plant took a direct hit, caught by surprise, no one survived.  All that’s left is a crater.  The debris field takes up about two city blocks”

“How awful.  I’m sorry for you, I know this must have hit hard.”

         “Both of us.  I could tell Mr. Sheffield wasn’t expecting the amount of damage we faced when we arrived at the plant site.  They aren’t going to recover the dead, but leave them buried there and turn the site into a memorial park.  I know he’s meeting with a scientist shortly on some new technology.  It seems Sheliak has cloaking capabilities.”

         “Oh?  When did that happen I wonder?”

         “I don’t know, but it had to be recent with the amount of devastation Calypso took because of it.”

         “Sounds like a natural star.  I can’t wait to see it with you.”

         “You can smell it as soon as you get off the transport.  It’s very lush and beautiful.  Mr. Sheffield said the only thing they did was terraform the star.  Nature did the rest.”

         “I can’t wait to see it and get my hands in the dirt just like I know you’re itching to do right now.”

         “I am, but that will have to wait.  I have so much to do in the next few days my head is swimming with all the details.  I’ll need to get a gown.  I should probably get it before we leave here.  I’ll find out about it at dinner.  In the meantime, I have orders to rest.  After what I saw today I really need to.  I feel a pounding headache starting.”

“War does that to you.  Rest and I’ll see you when you get back.”

“I will.  Goodbye.”  Alaina switched off the view screen, cutting her connection with Vega and Lynneayia.  She felt adrift, alone so far from everything familiar.  Alone with a new colleague and most important the man who would soon be her husband.  She was still amazed by how that all came about.  She wondered if he had any second thoughts with how quickly everything happened.  One moment they were discussing the fact sheets for the star and the next he was proposing to her.

Alaina looked at the room.  Braddock said it wasn’t the honeymoon suite, but the luxury of the room was overwhelming.  It had dark cherry wood furnishings – bed, two dressers, and a marble bath with whirlpool.  Her whole apartment could fit inside the two rooms plus sitting area.  The view was amazing.  If she had a choice, she would settle here and never go back to Vega.  She would ask him.

She wondered what it would be like to be in love.  She was certain it wouldn’t have been a mere holding of hands before he left her.  What was she thinking?  He wasn’t in love with her either, though he was very handsome.  He had that athletic look about him, not surprising since he owned two sports teams.  His face was ruddy, with piercing blue-gray eyes, angular nose and a mouth that was just right for his face.  He looked casual and commanding at the same time.  He was used to being in charge of everything, and yet he listened.  That in itself was a nice change.

She pulled the cover back on the king sized bed and soon drifted off to sleep with thoughts about what her married life might be like.

         Alaina woke to the knock on her door, and realized how tired she was.  “One moment.”  When she opened the door, she found Braddock in formal attire.  “What’s the occasion?”

         “I thought we would celebrate our engagement.”

         “You have me at a great disadvantage.”

         “How’s that?”

         “You’re prepared with some formal attire, where all I have is casual attire.  It will look very unbalanced at dinner.”

         He bent to retrieve something against the wall near her room, and produced a long rectangular box.  “I took some liberties.  I hope you don’t mind.”

         She took it from him; the shape of it told her it contained a gown.  She looked from it to him again speechless.  “Ah, thank you.  Come in.  I’ll just be a few minutes, if you don’t mind waiting.”

         “I don’t mind at all.”

         She took the box into the bathroom and unveiled it.  What she found was unexpected.  She knew the box would contain a gown, but the exquisite nature of the gown was beyond her expectations.  The dress was a two-piece long tunic with wide leg flowing pants in burnt orange and gold lamé woven into the fabric.  Made of the finest silk type material combined with a fabric she was unfamiliar with, giving the outfit a smooth, soft feel.  She could also see when she hung it on the back of the door that it would fit perfectly.

         When Alaina opened the door to the bathroom a short while later, she could see admiration in his eyes as he stood to his feet.  “It’s perfect.”

         “It certainly is.  You look enchanting.”

         “How did you know?”

         “I cheated.  I looked up the order you made for the gown for our date, saw the measurements and went down to the boutique and picked this out.”

         “I should be angry, but since all you need to do after we’re joined is ask, I’m not going to worry about your underhanded ways regarding me.”

         “It bothers you doesn’t it?”

         “Yes, it does.  I hate the lack of privacy.”

         “I promise I won’t invade anyone’s privacy after we are joined unless it’s for the good of the company.  How’s that?”

         “Will I have a place in your company?”

         “How does Vice-President sound?

         “Don’t you already have a Vice-President?”

         “That was Mom before Dad stepped down.  The position has always been held by the spouse.”  He led her from the room.  “Shall we?”

         “Yes, of course.”

         Dinner was in the hotel restaurant, an elegant affair with strolling violinists, candlelit tables, and an intimate atmosphere.  The waiter seated them and handed them a menu.  “Will you have something to drink with dinner?”

         Braddock looked at her, but she shook her head.  He directed his gaze at the waiter.  “Nothing for the lady.  I’ll have the house specialty.”

         “Very good, Mr. Sheffield.”

         The waiter departed and Alaina looked over the menu.

         “If you will allow me.  The gemu steaks are very good, and accompanied by the broiled fish, I guarantee a taste like you have never experienced in your life.”

         “I know you’re right.  All right.  I’ll give it a try.  I’ll also have a tall glass of soda.”

         “Flavored or plain?”

         “Plain.  The flavors give a bad after taste.”

         “I’ll remember that.”  When the waiter returned he ordered for both of them and gave the menus back to the waiter.

         “Now while we are waiting for our dinner, I have something for you.”

         She looked at him curiously, wondering what else he had done while she was asleep.

         He pulled a box from his pocket.  “To make this official.  Would you Alaina Magarain do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

         Alaina looked at the single diamond solitaire with smaller diamonds on either side halfway around the band.  “It’s beautiful.”  She looked up at him, remembering the question.  Y-Yes, I’ll be your wife.”

         Braddock took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger, and raised her hand to his lips as the stringed quartet came to their table and played a romantic melody.  Alaina blushed scarlet at the attention.  As soon as they finished, their food arrived.

         “The restaurant sends its compliments on your engagement with this bottle of champagne from Old Earth,” the waiter said.

         Alaina watched as the waiter uncorked the bottle and poured a glass for Braddock, who swished it around in his glass, sniffed at the aroma before he tasted it, and gave a nod to the waiter.  The waiter then poured a glass for her.  She would have protested, but it wouldn’t have been wise.

         When the waiter departed, she looked down at the succulent gemu steak and fenda with locally grown vegetables.  Her mouth watered before she could take a bite, and when she did, she thought she was in heaven.  “This is superb.”

         “I knew you would like it.”  He took a bite of his own steak.  “So, my dear, we need to get to know one another.”

         “Aside from the background check I take it.”

         “Yes.  Background checks don’t tell anything about the person.”

         “What would you like to know?”

         “Who are you?  What do you like?  Do you have any hobbies?”

         She set her fork on her plate as she contemplated his questions.  “I like collecting things from Old Earth.  I have a large picture in my living room of theatre masks.”

         He continued to eat as he took an interest in her.  “How did you afford something like that on your wage?”

         “I saved and looked for deals.  Sometimes I was able to find some incredible deals on collectibles.  That picture had a huge price tag on it.  The seller knocked it down to just a few credits.  The person just wanted to get rid of it.”

         “So you are frugal with money.  My guess is with time management as well?”

         She started to eat again, commanding herself to relax.  She would be joined to him in the not so distant future.  “I multitask as much as I can.  With my work that wasn’t always possible, I got deductions for everything, so I only multitasked when it was important to do so during work hours.”

         “I’m sorry you lost your job because of this trip.”

         “I’m not, and neither is Lynneayia.  She was excited when I told her about your offer.”

         “I looked her up after I left you today.  Finding the spelling of her name was the most difficult.”

         “I’m sure it was.  I should have told you how to spell it when you said you would hire her.  And?”

         “I’m impressed with what I found.  She will be a big asset to the company.  I want to bring her here as soon as possible to get her familiar with the star and the day staff.  She’s going to be part of the second shift, and from what I read about her, she’ll work well as a supervisor.  If we weren’t joining, so would you.”

         “I might take you up on that.  I’m not sure I want to be Vice-President.”

         “You could be a field operative.”

         Alaina’s eyes lit up.  “You mean it?  Take samples, study the star, and get my hands dirty?”

         “You really want to don’t you?”

         “Since I got my degree.  Learning everything I can about a star, how it works with the solar system, it’s fascinating.”

         “I can see it in your eyes.  Once we join, and that will be in a few days, your official title will be Vice-President, but you can do whatever job you want.  How’s that?  As long as you report to me all your findings.”  He rubbed the back of his neck as the dull pain made its way across his shoulders and the back of his head.

         Alaina looked concerned.  “Are you all right?”

         He looked up at her.  “It’s all the stress from the attack.  I wasn’t expecting to hire a whole new crew.”

         “I’m sure your job is very stressful, and I’m about to enter it with you.”

         “You needn’t worry.  I’ll do that for both of us.”

         “One thing.  Will they talk to me?  I am a woman after all, and men don’t speak to a joined woman directly.”

         “Vega is very strict.  Calypso isn’t as strict, but they still adhere to the protocols.  I can advise the people here to address you directly.”

         “Can we relocate here?”

         “It would entail my traveling back and forth a lot between the two stars.  The plant on Vega is the original plant, and the government insists that I keep it open at all times if I’m to have plants on other stars.”

         “Then it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

         “No, it’s an excellent idea.  I have to travel a lot to Calypso and the other plants in the galaxy.  Calypso is actually more centrally located.  Travel time to the other stars would be cut in half of what it is now.”

         “You said it’s summer here, and it is beautiful weather.  A light breeze with the scents of the different wildflowers and terrain smells makes this a delightful place.  Vega is so dry it has no natural aroma.  This is pleasant.”

         “Yes it is.  Vega might only have one season, but Calypso enjoys four seasons, much as some places on Old Earth did – summer, autumn, winter, and spring.  In about six weeks the season will change and you will see the glorious colors of autumn.”

         “I’ve seen pictures of autumn from Old Earth and winter too.  It sounds beautiful.”

         “It is.  I can teach you to snow ski.  I think you might enjoy it.”

         “Snow ski?”  She furrowed her brow.  “I saw some pictures from Old Earth, but somehow it looks dangerous.”

         “Can it be any more dangerous than mountain climbing?  I know you enjoy that sport.”

         “I do, um; okay I’ll give it a try.”

         “Good girl.  How old are you?”

         Surprised by the sudden question, Alaina responded, “I’m twenty earth years this past month.  And you?”

         “I’m twenty-five earth years.  I have two sisters and a brother, of which I am the oldest.  My brother and sisters all work for the company, but not on Vega.  They are also married with children.  I am the proud uncle of three nieces and two nephews.”

         “Wow!  I’m coming into an instant family.”

         “You could say that.  Dad stepped down so he and Mom could have time to enjoy their grandchildren.  However, Dad is still in the militia.  They will be surprised when they find out about you.  They never thought I would be joined.  First born, last joined.”

         “I’m an only child.  I wished I had brothers and sisters, but Mom and Dad married late, so I’m the only one.”

         “Are your parents still alive?”

         “No.  They died in one of the bombing raids a couple years ago.”

         “Another reason to hate this never-ending war.”

         “I have Lynneayia.  She’s like a sister to me.”

         “Then we will need to relocate here since she will be my second shift supervisor.”

         They finished their dinner and sat back with their champagne.  Alaina was not used to hard drink of any kind and the first sip was a surprise as she coughed at the bitter strong taste with its bubbles that went up her nose.

         “I can see you are definitely not used to alcohol.  I will be certain to have a clear soda for you when we have dinner parties.  People won’t raise their eyebrows at your lack of after dinner drinks as many alcoholic drinks are clear.”

         “I never paid attention to them before.  I suppose you have a liquor cabinet.”

         “I have a bar for family and friends when we get together at the house.”

         She was quiet about that fact.  She had never grown up with a bar in the home.  Her parents didn’t entertain, so that would be a big difference in her life.

         “I can see by the intense look on your face that you disapprove.  Don’t worry.  The only time the bar is stocked and open is when I entertain.”

         “How often do you entertain?”

         “A couple times a month and special occasions, like our joining for instance.  I’ll need to let everyone know before we leave here.  We’ll join as soon as we’re back, how’s that?”

         “So soon?  I don’t know if I can get a gown in that time.  Will that be enough time for the rest of your family to plan to attend?”

         “My brother told me to name the day and time and he would be there.  Mom on the other hand needs some kind of advance notice.”

         “Then maybe we should wait until the following week to get joined.  It would give your family time to get their plans organized.”

         “Mom will like you.  She’s an organizer too.  You’ll get along well together.”

         “Yesterday it was just a thought about getting joined and now I’ll have a full family besides.”

         Braddock laughed.  “Yes, you will.  We’re through here.  Let’s take a walk outside in the gardens.  The hotel has some really fragrant and beautiful gardens.”

         “If it hasn’t been destroyed by the last attack.”

         “Granted, there was a lot of devastation, but it will still be beautiful.  Especially under the two moons.”

         If the gardens had been devastated by the attack, the gardeners had already repaired the damage.  Alaina couldn’t see a flower out of place in the intimate garden they walked through, and the fragrance was heady.  “It’s beautiful.  Do you come here often?”

         “If by your question you are asking if I’ve been in the garden with another woman, the answer is no, but I do enjoy walking in the gardens.  It’s relaxing, and even though I’m not actively involved in my job at the moment, I can sense the soil makeup, and I would hazard a guess you can too.”

         Alaina inhaled the fragrance and noticed as he said the pungent aroma of the soil and her training told her the rich composition she inhaled.  “You’re right.  I can, but I just want to enjoy what my senses bring me.”

         “And that’s why I like it here, for the enjoyment and the relaxation.”

         “I’ve been thinking about where we’ll live.”

         “I know you want to live here on Calypso.”

         “Yes, I really would like that.  This is a beautiful star, what I’ve seen of it.”

         “Like all stars it has its low points, but even in those places the soil is rich.  It has deserts, oceans, tropical oases, rain forests, and places like this.  It’s a good mix with different seasons as well.  For instance, where we are now has a full range of seasons, as I mentioned.  It’s summer right now, but in a few weeks it will start to get cold and soon snow will cover the ground.”

         “Snow.  That will take some getting used to after the desert quality of Vega.”

         “It will, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.  As I said, I can teach you to snow ski.”

         “You know, that wasn’t part of your bio.”

         “I hadn’t skied yet when I put in my information on the mating site.”

         “Are there any other things not mentioned in your bio I should know about?”

         “A bio is a brief sketch of a person, a teaser to find out if you want to know the person.  I’m sure there is a lot in my bio not in that brief sketch of my life, and I’m sure the same could be said about you.”

         Alaina looked around the garden, the moon in the sky, and felt the peacefulness it evoked.  She knew what she had included in her bio, only the basics.  She looked back at him.  “You’re right.  It can’t tell very much about a person with the limited space they give you.”

         “So now we get to know each other.”

         “And when you find out about me, will you still want to join with me?”

         “Are you giving me the opportunity to back out of my proposal?  After all I have proposed twice now.”

         Alaina looked down at the ring on her finger.  So much had changed in just a few short hours.  Her life had taken a complete change.  So much had happened and the ripple effect of what she agreed to would go on for quite a while.  Did she want to back out of the agreement?  She shook her head, as she looked up at him.  “So what happens when I find out you’re really a monster of a person?”

         He smiled at her.  “I locked the monster up a long time ago and threw away the key.”

         A smile escaped her lips.  “What?  You didn’t destroy the monster?  What happens if he escapes?”

         “Then I’ll banish him to the abyss.”

         “You should probably destroy him so he won’t destroy your life.”

         “You’re assuming I had a monster in my life.”

         “Well didn’t you?  You said you had been a prisoner of war, and escaped.  I’m sure that would leave enough scars for a lifetime and cause you to act in a manner not always for the best.”

         “What my experience did was make me aware of the deviousness of people.”

         “It made you cynical, which is why you had so much trouble with any woman you went out with before me.  I’m surprised with your cynicism that you even asked me to join you.”

         “Are we fighting?”

         Alaina paled.  “No, of course not.  I didn’t mean to delve.”

         “You know the laws as much as I do.  I asked you to join me, once you agreed to the joining there is no turning back.  It’s the same as the marriage.  It’s for life.  It would take more than my saying it wouldn’t work at this point.”

         “There were no witnesses when you asked me.”

         “Not at the time, but Pastor Bradburn is a witness now, since we did discuss our future with him.”

         “He is only one witness.”

         “Didn’t you also talk to Lynneayia about our joining?  That makes the necessary two.”

         She nodded her head.  “Yes, I did.”

         “There you see; we have a solid engagement nothing on Vega or the solar system can break.”

         “And there was the scene in the restaurant.”

         “Solidifying our engagement.  It’s a fact, and if I know anything about people, it will be all over the news before the sun rises in the morning.”

         Alaina looked at the flowers around her, grasping the enormity of her situation.  Had he been just another man, it wouldn’t be broadcast throughout the constellation, but with his celebrity status as one of the wealthiest men in his field, she paled with her thoughts.

         “Is something the matter?”

         She looked up to see him studying her.  “I never realized.  I guess I should have checked out who you were first.”

         “Would it have changed anything?”

         “I would have been better informed about you.”

         “And then you wouldn’t have been natural.  You would have done everything you could to impress me, and I wouldn’t have asked you to join me, not in marriage or on this trip.”

         Alaina was quiet for a long time as she listened to the buzz of the insects in the garden and smelled the heady aroma of the flowers.  “I would have missed out on so much.”

         He brought up her face to look directly at her.  “None of that happened.  It was conjecture.  You are a beautiful woman, a bit naïve, but genuine, and I like that about you.  It will be fun to share my life with yours.”

         “I hope you can say that a year from now.”

         “We will take each day as they come, and if there are any monsters that need banishing or vanquishing, we’ll do it together, how’s that?”

         Her smile was timid, even a bit shaky as she nodded her head.  “Okay.  So where will we live?”

         “In the beginning it will be on Vega until we can get a home built here, and get the plant up and running.  I know living here will be a big change as far as the weather is concerned, but it will be worth it.”

         “It already is.  I love it here.  What kind of home, I mean I know what I would like.”  She sputtered to a stop not knowing how to voice what she wanted.

         He placed his hands on her shoulders.  “You don’t need to be afraid of me.  I won’t bite.”

         She looked up at him and tried to smile.  “I think I know that.  It’s just we’re planning our future and I don’t really know anything about you except what we just learned at dinner.”

         “Tell me what kind of home you want.”

         “Have you seen pictures of Greek homes from Old Earth?”

         “Yes, I’m aware of them.  You want a Greek style home?”

         “I want a home that is open and airy like that.”

         “Well if you want that kind of home, this is a good star to do that on.  You won’t find marble, at least good marble on Vega.”

         “I know, but still I dreamed of that kind of home.  You said there are oceans.  Could we have a home facing an ocean?”

         “Now that might pose a problem.  Where we are is in the middle of the biggest continent on Calypso.  There are rivers and lakes close by where we could locate our home.”

         “When will we have time to look?”

         “After our honeymoon.”

         “We’re taking a honeymoon with all the trouble here?”

         “You don’t want a honeymoon?”

         She heard a chuckle in his voice and looked up at him.  “Well, sure, but with all the work that needs to be done here, I thought –”

         “You told me one of the reasons you wanted to relocate was to help the population.”

         “Yes, but –”

         “You don’t want children?  Mother will be disappointed.  She dotes on all her grandchildren.”

         “Yes, I want children.  I’d like a large family, but –”

         “You’re afraid of me aren’t you?”

         “No!  No, well maybe.”

         “We’ve been together since we left your apartment.  I hope I haven’t done anything to put that idea across to you.”

         “No, you haven’t.  I guess it’s just me.  I just don’t know how to relate to –”

         “Men?”

         Alaina blushed scarlet and refused to look at him.

         “That’s it isn’t it?  You’ve never related to men before.”

         “My commanding officer was a man, and I had men under me in my command.”

         “You know all people in the militia are called sir, regardless of what gender they are.”

         “I know.”  She looked for a place to sit in the garden.  She felt she had made a mess of everything before they even got to the altar.  Lynneayia had warned her.  First dates were crucial with him.

         “Over here.”  He led her to a marble bench and sat beside her, taking her hands in his.  “Alaina, first of all, you have nothing to be afraid of from me.  I would never ever hurt you.  Second, I find it refreshing that you don’t know anything about men.  Vega is so open about relations between men and women.”

         “Adonai’s book says relations between men and women are for after they are made one.”

         “Yes.  It also says that anyone who violates a woman before they are one should be put to death.  Vega is lax in its laws.  They are also talking about communal living arrangements, which would make it worse.  I’m afraid they are becoming a lot like Old Earth before our ancestors left.  Calypso, on the other hand is stricter in regards to Adonai.  They understand the war they fight with Sheliak, and will defend Adonai and Calypso to the last man standing.”

         “When I was on Sheliak, I noticed the people there made public rituals of their religion, which isn’t really any religion and all religions at the same time.  They worship everything, but not one person worships Adonai.  At least none that I saw.  They made no secret about what they believed.”

         “I know.  I was there too.”

         “What is Calypso like?”

         “They have a lot of laws governing nature.  You can’t just dig a hole in the soil for no reason.  They know they are a rich star and want to keep it that way.  They have laws governing animals common to the star.  If you bring an animal with you, it will be subjected to quarantine for one year.  Adonai is taken seriously here.  People are much more open about Adonai than almost anywhere else I’ve visited.  Other stars worship Adonai, but not exclusively.  Calypso was settled less than fifty earth years ago because of religious tyranny on other stars.  They also tried to get away from the four hundred years war.  Calypso was safe for a little while from the war, but that didn’t last, obviously.  In the past ten years they’ve gotten hit more and more.”

         “Do you think it will be attacked again soon?”

         “There is no way to know that.  We can only pray that Adonai will keep us safe, and for the war to end.”

         “Soon.”

         “You know the prophecy don’t you?”

         “Yes.  I remember the scripture from Adonai’s book in Jeremiah which we had to memorize both in school, and in the militia, and the parable which promised we would defeat our enemies.  They would no longer be a yoke on our necks, and peace would reign when Adonai sets up a new ruler for His people.”  She looked up at him.  “I always wondered about that part of the prophecy.  Does that mean Emperor Terhana will die and his son take his place before we see peace on Vega?”

         “Vega has seen many emperors since the prophecy was given.”

         “So then peace might not come yet in our lifetime.”

         “Adonai’s book tells us we are to always be prepared.”

         Alaina had frown lines between her eyes as she thought about the prophecy and what it might mean.  With reluctance, she looked up at him.  “Yes, we are to be prepared.”

         “So then, I take it you want your honeymoon here on Calypso.”

         “I would like a honeymoon where I can see and feel the sand between my toes and fingers.  I want to smell it, test it, and see what it’s made of.”

         “Alaina, honeymoons are for other things, not work.”

         She blushed again as thoughts of what a honeymoon might entail.  “How long will we take for our honeymoon?”

         “I would say until we got to know one another, but Mother said that getting to know each other is a lifetime experience.  We learn something new about each other every day.  So we’re going to have to make it two weeks, no more than a month.”

         “A month?  Can we at least explore if we’re going to be gone that long from work?”

         “We’ll explore.  We might even go to that ocean you want to see.”

         “And I can see how the moons interact with the tides.”

         “And we can play in the ocean.  You do know how to play, don’t you?  It seems I read your profile and it said you like to mountain climb.”

         “I do love to mountain climb.  There is so much to a mountain.  It shows how it was formed, and how old it is.”

         “You can also climb it for fun.”

         “Yes, well that too.”

         “Do you do anything just for fun?”

         Alaina thought about that for a couple moments.  “I collect things from Old Earth.”

         “Ah yes, the collector.  I’m going to take you to a soccer game, and show you how to have fun.”

         “I read about soccer and cricket when I saw your profile.  It sounds like a violent sport.”

         “It’s a fun sport.  You need to have some fun in your life.”

         “My life up to this point has all been work.  I even get my collections online.  I have no time to get out and do anything.”

         “Well it’s a good thing you got terminated from that job.  I would have forced the issue when we got back to Vega.”

         “I’m glad I did too.  I hated it, but it’s all they have available on Vega.  The skilled jobs are hard to get.  You have to know someone who knows someone who knows someone to get in the front door.  That’s not saying anything about getting past the reception desk to fill out the application.”

         “It looks like I’m going to have to change some policy of my own where BioTech Engineering and Space Technology is concerned.”

         “Looks like it.  I know Lynneayia is happy you offered her a job.”

         “Tell me about her?”

         “Oh boy, where do I begin?  She’s my best friend.  We were in the war together.  She was part of my command.  She credits me with saving her life on several occasions.  She’s fun and enthusiastic about life.  She always tried to get me involved in whatever she was doing at the time.  Sometimes I was able to, but mostly my job wouldn’t allow me the time to do what I wanted.”

         “And that is sinking your hands in the dirt and finding out as much about it as possible.”

         “Yes, and looking through the telescope I have in my room and studying the heavens, reaching out to the other stars.  I know exactly where Old Earth is, and I’ve watched transports come from there, and often wished I could be part of the journey.”

         “It sounds like there is a lot you want to do.  I think if you’re willing, we can take the time to do some of those things.”  He looked up at the two moons in a sparsely clouded sky.  “It’s time we went in.  The service is early tomorrow.”

         She stood to her feet, tired, happy, relaxed, a smile on her face.  “Thank you.”  She looked up at him.  “We won’t have such a large joining will we?  I know you’re an important man and your position in the community is vast, but I don’t have anyone except Lynneayia.”

         “I hadn’t thought about it.  Mother will be disappointed.  She would invite everyone if she could.”

         She stopped at the edge of the garden.  “This will be our joining.  Shouldn’t we decide who comes and who doesn’t?”

         “It matters a lot to you doesn’t it.  All right, family then, small and intimate.  How’s that?”

         “Fine.  I’d like that.  There will be time enough to get to know all your business associates once I start working for the company.”

         “Then that’s settled.  Just the family.  Now, I must get you inside for your beauty sleep.”

         She looked up into his face, beautiful in the moonlight with his lightly chiseled features that defined his masculinity.  “Thank you.”

         Braddock took her arm and settled it in the crook of his own.  “My pleasure.”

         Alaina let him guide her inside and up to her room.  There she changed into her nightclothes, and sat in front of the window staring up at the double moon as a light breeze wafted through the open window.  She could smell the light fragrance from the garden as she thought about the conversation she had with Braddock.

         She never realized how work oriented she was.  Her idea of fun was getting her hands dirty in the soil, or staring through a telescope at the heavens.  She had heard the laugh in his voice when he told her about their honeymoon.  She began to look forward to it for all the right reasons.

         They would be joined in two weeks.  She gazed down at the ring on her finger.  She would order her gown as soon as she got home, or she could order it right away.  She knew she didn’t have the funds for anything fancy, but she wanted to look nice.

         Her room phone beeped and she hurried to answer it.  The view screen showed Braddock Sheffield.  “Mr. Sheffield.”

         “Alaina we are engaged, you can call me Brad.”

         “I – I’m sorry.  I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”

         “I know you have concerns, but I want to put your mind at ease.  I just talked with Mother.  Told her the good news and that your finances don’t lend itself to getting properly outfitted for our joining.  She told me to have you call her, and she would take care of everything.”

         “Braddock, I just couldn’t do that to your family.”

         “You’re not doing anything they haven’t already volunteered to do.  Besides, you’re almost family and yes, everyone will be at our joining.  Do you have paper and pen?”

         Alaina looked at the desk.  “Yes.”

         “The communications address is Vega TelStar 198-Shef-7645.”

         “You’re sure.”

         “Yes.  Mother is waiting for your call.”

         “Okay, I’ll call her right away.”

         The viewer went black and Alaina plugged in the address Braddock had given her.  She blushed that she called him Mr. Sheffield.  How would she talk with his mother?

         The view screen came alive.  “Sheffield household, Mary Sheffield.”

         Mary Sheffield was a beautiful woman, slender with dark hair the same as her son’s that just touched with a hint of a wave that curled under at the collar of her blouse, and heart shaped face with slim line nose and gracious mouth.  She had on a pair of pearl earrings and a royal blue blouse that matched her vividly blue eyes.  Alaina could not begin to guess her age.  “Mrs. Sheffield, this is Alaina Magarain.”

         “Alaina, my dear.  Welcome to the family.  Brad just told me you and he are getting joined in two weeks.”

         “Yes.  He told me to call you.  I don’t want to impose.”

         “Nonsense.  You are not imposing.  I understand you need to get your wedding planned right from the beginning, starting with your gown.  Step back dear, I want to get a good look at you.”

         Alaina followed all her instructions.  She was stunned to find out the name of the dress company from which her future mother-in-law bought her dress.  She also knew it was stunning and would look wonderful on her.

         An hour later Mrs. Sheffield had the entire wedding planned, right down to the catering company.  Their minister would perform the ceremony on Saturday afternoon in two weeks.  At one point, they had brought Lynneayia online and took care of her gown.

         Alaina sat on the edge of her bed, exhausted by the energy Mrs. Sheffield had, excuse me, Mary had in getting everything taken care of so quickly.  Mary insisted she call her by her first name or mother or mom as Braddock did.  It would take some getting used to, and she better start now.  She was officially if not technically part of the family.