GUNS OF WAR - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

         Alaina approached the table at the outdoor café with a huge smile on her face, twirling for her approval, wearing the engagement outfit Braddock had gotten for her and carrying the box she picked up the night before outside her door.

         Lynneayia stood up as she approached the table.  “You look fabulous!  I take it that’s the engagement ensemble.  What’s in the box?”

         “The dress I ordered for my date with him.”  She took it out of the box and held it up for her.  “What do you think?”

         “I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again.  You know how to dress.  That dress will look perfect on you, and your engagement tunic is heavenly.  He didn’t just look at you and guess your measurements.”

         “No, he admitted he went online and got the measurements from this dress.”

         “I know that didn’t set well with you, which is why you didn’t check him out first, though everyone else does it.”

         “You’re right, and he promised me he wouldn’t be so underhanded again unless it was necessary.”

         “So tell me all about it.”  Lynneayia took a bite out her sweet roll.

         “First, he’s a believer.”

         “That’s a plus.”

         “He is so nice.  He helped get me through the attack on Calypso just before the service was to start.”

         “So you don’t need me anymore.”

         “I won’t go that far.  You’re my best friend.  When the sirens sounded just as we were starting to eat breakfast, well almost, the waiter brought our food, and the sirens went off at the same time.  You know I was scared out of my mind.  When we got to the fallout shelter, he showed me how to pray and I learned the importance of it.”

         “So how was it he proposed in the first place?”

         “We were on the transport, talking about his work, mine now too, and yours, since you’re now with the company.”

         “Yes, I got the official call from him after the memorial service.  I know you told me, but to hear it in person was just the most incredible experience.”

         “He said he would call, he never said he did, though we’ve been so busy for the past week searching out a new place for the plant.  You’ll love it.  It’s near a lake and a quarry, just a little away from the town.  It’s not a huge town, nice sized.  I met his head physicist.  He’ll be here sometime today is my reckoning.  He’ll be working here while they get the new plant built, though Braddock did lease a vacant office space for the time being.

         “You have been busy.  So what’s this guy’s name?”

         “Simon.  Simon Gallagher.”

         “So what else?  I can see you’re bursting at the seams.”

         “I was able to get my hands dirty just a little bit.  The metal and mineral wealth on that planet is phenomenal.  I knew he was pleased that I lived up to my résumé.  He had data sheets on the composites of all the minerals and metals, vegetation and animal life.  It was intoxicating, like breathing for the first time.”

         “I can see that.  So what else?”

         “His transport is fabulous, equipped with bedrooms and shield technology.  I’m just so excited we’ll be working together.”

         “So did you tell him?”

         “I sorta had to when the first siren sounded, but I also mentioned it on the trip out.  He’s very exacting.  He knew there was a reason behind my rash behavior, which also seems to be something he’s been doing lately.”

         “What do you mean?”

         “Well, he admitted he’s never done anything like proposing on a first date to someone he hardly knew.  At times it looked like he struggled with himself, but then he would just smile, shrug it off and carry on like it was old habit for him.  The only way I could tell it affected him was all the headaches he has.  Some were mild, some no more than a sharp pain, while others lasted hours and the painkillers he had didn’t seem to have any effect on him.”

         “He should have those looked into if they’re that bad.”

         “He said he has, but the doctor never found a cause for them.”

         “Imagine you’ll be my boss.  I never expected that.”

         “I was your commander during the war, remember?”

         “Yes, but you never really seemed like a commander.  You were more a friend, though you did know how to get everybody moving when the enemy was close by.”

         “All part of the training.”

         “You’ll do well I know it, because I know you.”

         “Thanks.  I got a call from my future mother-in-law this morning.  She needs me to be at her house by mid-afternoon.  She’s planning on a family thing.  I’m to meet the family, without Braddock.  It will be very strange.”

         “Why won’t he be there?  I know he didn’t go back to Calypso.  You’re getting joined in tomorrow.”

         “I know, it all seems like a fairy tale somehow.  It’s happening so fast.”

         “Not if you knew your future mother-in-law.  She wanted your joining as soon as you got off the transport.”

         “I know, but Braddock is at his place sleeping, and with all the headaches he’s had over the past week it’s probably best.  He said he wants to sleep for twenty-four hours, and he’s not getting joined before then.”

         “So back to your engagement that totally blew me away when you told me.”

         “We were just talking about how I didn’t know anything about him, and you did.  I told him how you told me who he was.  He was intrigued to say the least.”

         “See, I told you that would interest him.”

         “I guess it did.  We were talking about the soil content on Calypso, and he just suddenly proposed.  It was such a strange proposal, and took me completely by surprise.  I think I made an idiot of myself before I finally accepted.  I know he was laughing at me.  We were both laughing.”

         “Why does that not surprise me?  You like dirt.  I bet you played in it as a kid.”

         “Of course.  What kid doesn’t play in the dirt at some point, and don’t tell me you didn’t.  I know you had just as much fun in college as I did.”

         Lynneayia held up her hands.  “Guilty.  I confess.”

         “Braddock told me they have snow on Calypso.”

         “I’ve heard that.  It gets very cold.  They call it winter.”

         “How is it you know all this stuff before I do?”

         “I do a lot more than my job on the computer.  I study different places, different things, read magazines that interest me.  Keep in touch with what’s happening in the world.  Now that you’re going to be Mrs. Braddock Sheffield, I suggest you get ‘in the know.’  He’s going to want a wife who can keep up with him in every area of his life.”

         “I know.  It was so relaxing this morning not to have to check in with that Data Entry job.  I checked out the latest news.  Checked on the war, something I haven’t done in a very long time.  Looked at some magazines, and I looked into some furnishings for our home.”

         “And you’re getting out into the sunshine.”

         “Yes.  Did you know that Calypso is a natural star?  It was terraformed of course, but it only helped to bring the natural mineral and metal content out.  It is so fabulous!”

         “And if I say yes, I knew that?”

         “Why do I bother to tell you anything?”

         “Because there are some things I don’t know, and that was one of them.”

         “Really?  You didn’t know Calypso was natural?”

         “Really.  Well, if you’re going to meet your mother-in-law, we best get on the move.  I hope you haven’t unpacked, because she’s expecting you to stay until the joining.”

         “I had to unpack and get all those clothes cleaned, some were pretty grimy, let alone gamy with all the work we’ve done in and around both sites.  It’s really tragic to think of all those people buried under that pile of rubble that used to be the plant.  It was quite large by the look of the site.  They clean-up crew had it almost cleaned up before we left yesterday.”

         “Let’s get up to your apartment and get you packed.  I would say that since you’re staying until after the joining that you pack as much as possible.”

         “Are you going too?”

         “Of course.  I’m your maid of honor.  I have to know what that whirlwind of energy has up her sleeve.  I’m already packed and have my cases in the hover mobile.”

         “Let’s put this in there and then get up to my apartment then.  I wonder if I should take anything else I might want in my home.  I have a lot I’m particularly fond of.”

         “You’ll have plenty of time to come back after you’re joined or after your honeymoon to collect anything else you want.  I’ll keep an eye on it for you.”

         “Thanks.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.”  A short time later Alaina had two suitcases of clothes in the back of Lynneayia’s hover mobile and headed to the Sheffield home.  “I take it you’ve been there a few times.”

         “We’ve had our ‘talks’.  Mary is marvelous.  You’ll simply love her.  She wanted to know all about you, so don’t be surprised if she takes you aside for a little chat, and since I’m part of the company now, she wanted to know as much about me as possible as well.”

         “I hope I pass inspection.”

         “I have no doubts you will.  You’re as much an expert in your field as I am, and you proved that on Calypso over the past week, from what you’re telling me.”

         “Yes, I did.”

         Alaina and Lynneayia arrived at the Sheffield home just before lunch.  She was impressed with the spry woman who looked no older than her son was, but she knew she must be at a minimum twenty-six earth years older.

         “Alaina, it’s so good to meet you, and Lynneayia you’re here as well.  Wonderful!  I’m glad you’re early.  I have your dress.  Lynneayia already tried hers on so I know it’s a perfect fit.  With the ceremony tomorrow we don’t have any time to do any adjustments if they need to be made.”

         “Lynneayia told me you had them,” said Alaina.

         “I had them overnight expressed so they would be here in plenty of time before the joining.  I just wish I could have talked Braddock into joining right away.”

         “That would not have been possible.  He’s been plagued with headaches, I think from the stress of the site damage.  It was devastating.”

         “Yes, it’s a real blow to BioTech Engineering, but he’s already started the rebuilding, so that’s good.”  Mary looked down at the suitcases they carried.  “What am I thinking?  Let me show you where you’ll sleep so you can put your clothes away.  I see Lynneayia told you that you would be here until after the joining.  It’s too bad you missed his father.  He was called out by Colonel Latimer late yesterday before you got back, so he’s out there patrolling the heavens.”  Mary waved her hand at the ceiling as she opened the door to show them where they would sleep.  “Just set them anywhere for now.  I want to make certain your dress will fit as well as I believe it should.”

         Alaina felt a bit rushed as she set her suitcases on the floor of a good-sized room with beautifully carved furniture and accessories, and then followed Mary out the door.

         Mary showed them into a room where both dresses hung on a clothing rack.  Alaina stared at the creation in shimmering chiffon and silk overlaid with lace and tiny seed diamonds woven into the lace making it sparkle and shimmer in the light.  She didn’t want to think what it cost since Mary didn’t blink when she ordered it.  Lynneayia’s dress was also the same in a powder blue to match her eyes.  The difference between the two dresses was that Lynneayia’s dress didn’t have the tiny seed diamonds.

         “It’s more beautiful than on the Internet,” Lynneayia said.

         Alaina couldn’t stop staring at it.  “I agree.  It’s the most fantastic dress I’ve seen.”

         “You and me both.”

         “Gorgeous aren’t they?  With your coloring it should look very good on you.  Lynneayia’s is perfect.  I want to see both of you together in your dresses.”

         Mary soon had both girls zipped in their dresses.  Alaina was afraid to move, but Mary had no qualms about it.  “Perfection, on both counts.  It will be a spectacular wedding.  You’re sure you don’t want a larger wedding?  We could invite Brad’s business associates.”

         “Braddock and I both wanted a small wedding.”

         “Brad never knew what he wanted.  I’m sure inviting his business associates would be good for both of you.”

         “Mary, I must insist on what Braddock and I decided.  We want it small, family only.”

         “I’ll talk to him.  I’m sure he’ll understand.  He is the oldest and will inherit quite a bit when his father passes.”

         “Which I’m certain will be a long time from now.  Mary, I have no family, and nobody else I could invite besides Lynneayia.  Think about how that will look for me.  My parents died a couple years ago in one of the worst attacks on Vega.”

         “How would you feel about just his immediate associates?”

         “Mary, if you invite a couple, you’ll want to invite them all so they don’t feel slighted because they didn’t get an invitation.  This way it’s only family and nobody is slighted.”

         “You were a Major in the war, I understand.”

         Alaina was thrown sideways by the comment.  “Captain.  I was promoted when I came back here after my last campaign.”

         “And you were a good one, I understand.”

         “The militia thought so.”

         “All right only family.  It is yours and Brad’s joining after all.  I’m sure you’ll make him a very good wife.”

         “I hope so.”

         “My children should be here soon.  They are eager to meet you.”

         “Braddock told me he had a brother and two sisters and lots of nieces and nephews.”

         “Five of them.  I’m proud of every one of them.”  Mary turned her attention to Lynneayia who had listened to the exchange between them.  “I understand you will be the new second shift supervisor on Calypso.”

         “Yes, I’m excited to get started.  I’ve worked at Data Entry since I got my degree, with no hope of getting into the field without relocating off world.”

         “Yes, I’ve been after the counsel to open up other skills, but they insist we are overmanned in the skill areas, and the field that needs it most is Data Entry.”

         “Braddock told me he’s going to open up the plant to be friendlier to people looking for work on Vega,” Alaina said.

         “Good, though the plants here don’t have any positions available at the time.”

         “Alaina and I graduated together five years ago.”

         Mary nodded her head.  “I had a look at your records and both of you were outstanding students, with the highest GPA you could achieve.  Impressive.”

         “Thank you, Mary,” Lynneayia said.  “I’ve also kept up to date on all the latest technology.”

         “I can see we will be gaining two worthy employees for the company, as well as a daughter-in-law.”

         “Hello?  Mom are you here?”  A woman’s voice rang through the house.

         Mary hurried to the door.  “As soon as you’re changed come meet the family.”

         With that, Mary exited the room leaving Alaina and Lynneayia looking at each other smiles on their faces.

         “I really didn’t think you were going to win the point of just family for the joining.”

         Alaina turned her back so Lynneayia could unzip the dress.  “You and me both.  Help me out of this, will you please?”

         They heard sirens at that moment.  Alaina shook with fear even as she tried to pray, but found it difficult.  There were multiple alarms indicating a major attack on Vega, something that hadn’t happened in a couple years.

         “Alaina, Lynneayia, hurry, we need to get to the fallout shelter.”  Mary came into the room to hurry them out.  “The others are already on their way.”

         “Are all your children here?”  Alaina asked as she focused on Mary, Lynneayia by her side, as she put the tunic on she had worn for her engagement dinner.

         “No, only one of three transports landed before the attack started.”

         “That means you have two children on route here, and Braddock at home, sleeping,” Alaina said, suddenly fearful for Mary and her future in-laws.

         “Yes and my Sherman too, out there somewhere.  I pray Adonai they are safe.  I should call them and make certain they’ve safe.  Though Braddock will have his force field on, and I won’t be able to get through to him.  He’s safe at any rate.”

         “Do you have a force field on?” said Alaina.

         “Oh my, yes.  You’re right.  I wouldn’t be able to get hold of anyone until this attack is over, sounds like a bad one with all the sirens.  Adonai, I just hope they’re safe.”

         Mary shepherded them to the fallout shelter, there Alaina met one of Mary’s daughters, her son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

         “This is my oldest daughter, Adreanna, her husband Eugene, and their children Tabitha and Rikki.”  Mary introduced her family.

         A missile landed near the house causing the shelter to shudder from the explosion.

         “The house!” exclaimed Adreanna.

         “Is fine.  I turned on the shield defenses as soon as the sirens went off,” said Mary.

         “What about your other children?” said Alaina.

         “All have the best shield technology available, they’re fine, and if they were on their way here, their hover mobiles and transports are also equipped with shield technology,” Mary said.

         “Oh yes, I remember Braddock saying something about that on our way home yesterday.”  Alaina tried hard to remain calm, but it became increasingly difficult as the missiles continued their barrage.  She wondered if there would be anything left of her home when they came through this.

         The house shuddered as a missile made a direct hit.  Alaina screamed, but she wasn’t alone.  Lynneayia clung to her, while Mary, Adreanna, and Eugene did their best to calm the children.

         “They’re trying to rip the star apart,” Eugene said.

         “I’ll have none of that kind of talk.  The children are frightened enough,” said Mary.  “We’re safe.  We have Adonai to protect us.”

         “They’re not the only ones,” Alaina said.

         “We’re all frightened,” said Adreanna.  “I for one would like to see the end of all these attacks.  We’ve lost a lot of people, and no doubt with this attack we will lose a lot more.”

         “We tried to have peace negotiations again, but Sheliak refused to negotiate,” said Mary.

         “Emperor Terhana is a firm believer in Adonai.  He won’t let any of the citizens of Vega become subjected to implantation,” said Eugene.

         “What happens when he dies and we get an emperor who isn’t a believer?” said Lynneayia.

         “We won’t even consider that question.  Emperor Terhana is a young man, thirty-six earth years old.  He has many years ahead of him,” said Mary.

         “Given that he will survive these attacks,” said Adreanna.

         “Let’s play a game to take our minds from the attack,” said Mary.

         For the next couple hours while the star rocked from the attack, the seven occupants of the Sheffield household tuned out the war and had fun playing the different games Mary had on hand for just such occasions.

         Later that night they heard the all clear sirens.  Everyone left the fallout shelter and went to see the extent of the damage from the attack.  Alaina stared wide-eyed at the landscape with huge craters where businesses and houses or apartments had once stood.  “I wonder how much damage we did to them.”

         “We won’t know until the news comes out,” said Mary.

         “Let’s get the children to bed,” said Adreanna.

         “Yes, it’s a good thing I insisted you stay the night,” said Mary.

         Alaina was ready to agree to anything.  She didn’t want to go out and find she didn’t have a home anymore.  With the damage, she didn’t think it was possible.  She knew the apartment complex did not have a shield defense and wondered how many had survived in the underground shelter.  She was also glad she had brought as many clothes as she could with her, or she would be stuck in what she had on until she could get more.

         The video phone came to life as Mary followed Adreanna with the children.  Mary hurried to it to find Braddock on the viewer.  “Brad, praise Adonai you’re safe.”

         “Yes, the house took a shaking, but I’m safe. I know when we talked you said Dad had been called to report for duty.  Have you heard from him?”

         “Not yet, but I’m hoping he’ll call soon.  You will be here first thing in the morning for your joining?”

         “I’ll be there.  I have the news on and it says we won a major defensive.”

         “From where I’m standing it doesn’t look like anybody won anything.  It’s a good thing we have the defense shield.  We got a shaking up, but we’re all fine.  However, the landscape is marked up real bad from the missile attack.”

         “Here as well.  I’m going to have to check on the plants before I come by the house.  Have you heard from Adreanna, Lindsey, or Daniel?"

         “Adreanna is here with Eugene and the children.  I haven’t heard from anyone else yet.”

         “Have you heard from Alaina?”

         “She’s here.  She came just before lunch.  She was here through the attack.”

         “I would like to speak with her, please.”

         Alaina stepped to the viewer.  “Hi Braddock.  You’re all right then?”

         “Yes, I’m fine.  How are you holding up?”

         “You’re mother is wonderful.  She had a way of focusing everyone’s attention away from the attack.  I’ll be staying here tonight.  I’m almost afraid to know if I have a home left.  This was a bad attack.  I haven’t seen one like this since I was in the militia.”

         “I agree.  I haven’t either, but it makes sense with all the recent attacks coming right after each other.”

         “I heard you tell your mother we won this defensive?”

         “Yes, the damage might be bad, but we were able to get the upper hand with their fleet.  They lost a lot of airships, which is why the attack is over so soon.  It could have lasted a lot longer.”

         “It lasted quite a while as it was.  I’m glad it’s over.”

         “So am I.  I’ll be there first thing tomorrow.  I know mother won’t want to wait any longer with this last attack.”

         Mary stepped in front of the viewer.  “You’re right about that.  I’ll expect you here then around the time we have breakfast.”

         “I’ll be there.  I’ll clear this line so others can get through.  See you tomorrow.”

         “Tomorrow,” said Alaina, as the viewer went black.

         A moment later, the video phone lit up again.  It looked like it would be a busy night, Alaina thought as she followed Adreanna up the stairs to a bedroom, only to hear Mary start to wail and hurried back to find out what had happened along with Adreanna and her family.

         “What happened,” said Adreanna.

         “Mrs. Sheffield, I’m sorry to be the bearer of such news.  Your husband served the Militia with honor.  His loss will be felt throughout the constellation.”

         Alaina could see Colonel Latimer on the screen.  It had been a few years since she had last seen him, and thought he had retired.

         “Thank you.  Will there be a body?” asked Mary.

         “I’m sorry, no.  Again, I’m deeply sorry for your loss.”

         “Thank you Colonel Latimer.”  The video screen went dark and Mary broke down completely as she fell into Adreanna’s arms.  Adreanna was also in tears with the news about her father.

         “We need to get in touch with Daniel and Lindsey as soon as possible, and call Brad back to let him know.  He should be here,” Adreanna said.

         “What will I do without him?” said Mary.

         Alaina had never met her future father-in-law, but she felt the loss as her own as she remembered her parent’s death a couple years before.

         “If I haven’t lost them too in this violent attack,” said Mary.

         “Mary, why don’t I make some coffee?  Can you tell me where it is?” said Alaina.

         “I can show you,” Eugene said.

         Alaina followed him back to the kitchen while she took hold of one of the children’s hands and Eugene took the other.  Lynneayia followed.

         “What will you do?  By law you won’t be able to join for at least six months,” said Lynneayia.

         “That’s not correct.  She was engaged before her father-in-law died.  Technically, she’s part of the family.  She can still make it official,” said Eugene.

         “It wouldn’t look right my joining Braddock so soon after his father died,” said Alaina.

         Eugene pushed a button for the coffee maker and soon the smell of coffee permeated the air.

         “With all the devastation it’s hard to see a victory in this attack,” said Lynneayia.

         “You know we don’t have the full picture.  How many times have you pointed out to me that I have to look at everything, not just what my eyes see?” said Alaina.

         “True,” said Lynneayia.

         Mary and Adreanna entered the kitchen.  “I have the coffee almost ready, Mary,” said Eugene.

         “I was able to talk to both Daniel and Lindsey.  They will be here within the hour.  Braddock will be here shortly,” Mary said.

         “We need to get the children to bed,” said Adreanna.

         “You go, I’ll take care of the coffee,” said Alaina.

         Mary turned to her suddenly.  “As soon as Brad gets here we’re going to have to see you two joined.  It has to be done before the memorial service for his father.”

         “Won’t that look suspicious?” said Alaina.

         “Let people think what they will.  You’re engaged which is in your favor.  You don’t have to wait six months before you join,” said Mary.

         The coffee finished and Alaina poured cups for everyone.

         “Mom!”  A woman’s voice echoed through the house.

         Mary was on her feet and headed back to the front of the house along with everyone else.  “Lindsey, you made it, thank Adonai.”  Mary hugged her and the children as they came through the door, followed by her husband.

         “Daniel was landing right behind me.  It was awful.  I thought several times they would blast us out of the air, but then our fleet was all over the place.  I saw dad’s ship at one point, and then lost sight of him as we hurried back here.”

         The door opened again and a young man resembling Braddock came through the door with his family.  “Mom, how are you holding up?”

         “How do you expect.  Your father was my life.  I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”

         “We’re here now, and I’m sure Brad will be here soon,” Daniel said.

         “I talked to him right after I talked to you, he’s on his way.  What do you mean you could have been blasted out of the air?  I thought you were at your homes.”

         “I had something I needed to see to at the southern plant,” said Daniel.

         “And I was on my way home from a short shopping trip to a nearby star,” said Lindsey.  “With Brad joining soon, I wanted to get something suitable, and you know how I like to shop.”

         “Yes,” said Mary.

         Daniel looked at the new faces in the room.  “Who?”

         “Where are my manners?  Lindsey, Daniel, this is Alaina, Brad’s fiancée, and her best friend Lynneayia, she will be standing with her in the joining.”

         Daniel looked like he would hug Alaina, but he changed his mind and took her hands and squeezed them.  “Welcome to the family.  Brad told me about you and your idea of a honeymoon.”  He had a smile on his face.

         “He didn’t!”  Alaina blushed.

         “You know what they say about all work and no play?  It will make Brad a sad boy or man as the case may be.”  His grin was wide and matched the twinkle in his eyes.

         “That is play to me,” Alaina defended herself.

         “She means it,” Lynneayia chimed in.

         “That she does,” said Braddock coming through the door.

         “Brad, thank Adonai, you’re here.  I wasn’t’ expecting you until tomorrow,” said Mary.

         “I know, but with the attack, I wanted to see for myself how Alaina is.”  He noticed the faces on everyone especially his mother.  “What happened?”

         “Your father,” Mary started.

         “Colonel Latimer called to say father was killed in the attack,” said Adreanna.

         Braddock looked like someone had punched him in the stomach.  “You didn’t say anything when I talked to you.”

         “He called right after you,” said Mary.

         “What are you planning for Dad’s memorial?” said Lindsey.

         “I’m planning to get these two joined first and the next day we’ll do the memorial,” said Mary.

         “Before Dad’s memorial service, but that’s not right!” said Lindsey.

         “It is very right, sister dear.  If we have the memorial service first, Brad won’t be able to join for six months,” said Daniel.

         Lindsey was quiet for a moment.  She looked at Alaina then at Braddock.  “I’m sorry, I was rude just now, and that is unforgiveable.  Forgive me, please, and welcome to the family.  Danny’s right.  It would be best for you to join before the memorial service.”

         “Well, I’m glad you’re all in agreement, though it’s not your decision after all, it’s mine, and Brad and Alaina will be joined as soon as I can get the minister here.”

         Daniel looked at the clock on the mantle.  “You should probably call him.  I know it’s early in the morning, but I’m sure he’s been awake since the all clear sounded.”

         Mary looked at the clock.  “You’re right.  I need to do that right away.”  She went to the video phone and soon had the minister on the screen.  “Minister Lindwood, I’m glad to see you are well.”

         “Yes, praise Adonai!  I trust you have been affected by this attack as well, or you wouldn’t be contacting me at this hour.”

         “Yes, but it is a two-fold request.  Our oldest son Braddock just got engaged a week ago.  We are going to need to have the joining ceremony as soon as possible.  It will be followed by the memorial service for my husband, Sherman, later today.”

         “I am sorry to hear your grave news.  We will need to perform the joining ceremony as soon as possible then.  By law we have to do the memorial service within twenty-four hours.”

         “Brad is already here.”

         “Then we’ll perform it as soon as I get there.”

         “Thank you, Minister Lindwood.”

         Mary turned off the video phone and turned to Alaina.  “It looks like all our plans have changed with this attack.  I will need to find out if the catering company is still in business.”

         “Mother, Lindsey and I are able to take care of the food.  Don’t worry about the catering or anything else.  It will only be us anyway.”

         “Yes, but I should contact them for the memorial ceremony.”

         “Do that after we’re joined,” said Braddock.

         Mary looked at him.  “Did you bring your tux?”

         “I didn’t realize I would be joined so soon.”

         “You have one upstairs,” said Danny.

         Mary looked at the faces around her and burst into tears again.  “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

         Braddock took her mother by the shoulders, soothing her as best he could.

         Mary stood back from Braddock and wiped the tears from her face.  “Before you get ready for your joining, Alaina, I would like a word with you.  Let’s go into the study.”

         Alaina looked first to Braddock, encouraged to see the smile, slight as it was on his face before she turned to Mary.  She looked ready to fall apart, but still a part of her was no-nonsense, as she turned back to follow her.  “Of course.”  She turned back to Lynneayia.  “I’m sure I won’t be long.”

         “She’s in good hands,” Adreanna said.

         Alaina followed Mary through the living room.  Her eyes took in the elegant fireplace and mantle with family pictures across the top, and chairs and sofas situated for easy conversation.

         Mary opened the door off the living room and ushered Alaina in.  Mary looked around at the comfortable room that had been Sherman’s oasis.  Walls of trophy’s and other memorabilia covered shelves and walls.  She turned to look at Alaina.  “Sit down please.  I just want to talk to you privately.”

         “Mary, I want to say I’m so sorry about your husband.  I know what you’re feeling, to some degree.  My parents were killed in an attack similar to this a couple years ago.”

         “Thank you.  I remember that attack.  It will be hard with him gone, but I have my children, and they are a comfort to me.  What I want to talk about, is you.”

         Surprised by the announcement, Alaina said, “Me?”

         “Yes.  I was more than surprised when Brad called from Calypso the night you arrived to tell me about his engagement to you.  I know he told me not to, but I had to know about the woman my son is joining.  I found only good things about you when I did a background check on you, but what I want to know is how you found my son, and what your motives are?”

         Alaina knew real fear for the first time.  Mary was tough as nails.  She could see it in her facial features, the expression on her face, yet under it, was softness, a need to know.  She prayed for answers to give her that Mary would accept, and plunged ahead.  “You know from what you found about me that I’m a decorated war hero.  I did nine months on Sheliak, and saw service on other stars as well as here during my four earth year tour of duty.  I would like to say they were the best years of my life, but they weren’t.  It left me shell-shocked and frightened, as you saw earlier in the fallout shelter.  Every time the sirens go off, I see the ravages of war, and feel all over again what I went through when I was in the middle of it.  I’m scared, Mrs. Sheffield, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Your son knows how frightened I am of this war.”

         “How did you meet my son?”

         Alaina related her need to get off world and her methods to do so.  She told Mary she had no knowledge of who her son was until Lynneayia told her.  “I had no designs on your son in particular, Mrs. Sheffield.  I wanted to join with someone, and just get away, far away.  Now, if you feel obligated to turn me in as a traitor, and stop the joining, so be it.  Your son proposed.  I certainly didn’t do anything to cause him to propose with just a few hours of knowing me.  After what Lynneayia had told me about him, I just hoped to have a decent date with him, and that would be the end of it.”

         Mary was quiet for a long time while she absorbed what Alaina told her.  “War is a terrible business.  We all want it to end soon.  I can understand how you feel, and with Sherman –”  She stopped as her voice choked and the tears cascaded down her cheeks again.

         Alaina started to cry too as she remembered not only her parents deaths because of the war, but all the other travesties that had taken place.  She went around and held Mary while she cried.  “I really don’t know anything about your son, but I’m hoping everything will work out.  I don’t want to bring shame on you or your family.”

         Mary looked up at her through her tears and took the tissue Alaina handed her and wiped at her eyes.  “You will not bring shame on this family.  I just wanted to know what brought Brad to this momentous decision.  Sherman and I despaired of his ever joining.  He’s a careful man, and rarely sees anything in the woman he dates.  His focus is his work at BioTech Engineering.  This came as a great surprise to both of us.  Sherman was looking forward to meeting you as well before –”  Again, she dabbed at the tears flooding her cheeks.

         “If you want to call off the joining, I will certainly understand.  I know how sudden it all is.”

         “No, that won’t be necessary, or possible.  Once the proposal is made, and accepted there is no backing out.  I can see some of what Brad saw in you, that’s enough for me, and I will stand behind you and Brad.  By the way, I’m glad you stood your ground earlier about your joining.  I had to know what kind of woman you are.  You did not disappoint me.”

         A smile broke out on Alaina’s face.  “Thank you, Mrs. Sheffield.”

         “And you can stop calling me Mrs. Sheffield this minute.  Call me Mary or mom after all you will also be Mrs. Sheffield in just a short while.  Danny’s wife is Mrs. Sheffield.  We don’t stand on ceremony unless warranted.”

         “Yes, Mary.”

         “Good, now that we’ve got that settled, we need to get ready for your joining.  Minister Lindwood should be here soon.”

         “It’s a good thing it’s so sudden like this.  You won’t have the night before jitters that kept me awake the whole night.  I don’t think Falita, or Adreanna, or Lindsay slept either.”  Mary walked her out of the office and to the foot of the stairs.  “Best hurry.”

         Alaina leaned over and kissed Mary on the cheek.  “Thank you, Mary.”

         “You’re one of my own now, and you’ll find we’re a tight knit family.”

         Alaina climbed the stairs as she watched Mary head for the kitchen, and soon turned into the room indicated and found Lynneayia ready in her dress.

         “What did Mary want?”

         “You know how you said Braddock was careful about the women he dated?”

         “I said he rarely went out with the same woman twice.”

         “Mary wanted to make sure I didn’t have any ulterior motives concerning Braddock.”

         Lynneayia laughed.  “You, ulterior motives?  You had no clue who he was until I told you.”

         Alaina joined her laughter.  “I know.  You know, Mary is really wonderful.  She cares about everyone, not just her own children.  She told me I am one of her own before the joining.”

         “That says a lot about her.  Let’s get you ready.”