Leave: Miranda's Story

To my sister Genesisemo got married , a little bit late. March 6, 2005 although it was intended to be a 2004 Christmas Present.

“You are on Leave, Lieutenant,” the commander barked at me.

I stared straight ahead, not making eye contact with my commander. “Yes, sir,” I snapped in reply, “but I would like to request permission to join the search, sir.”

“And why would you like permission to join the search, Lieutenant?” the commander demanded.

I took a deep breath. “Captain O’Neill is my uncle, sir. I would like to help find him. I know he disappeared while on Leave himself.”

“All the more reason not to let you go. Your emotions are libel to get in the way.”

“Sir, twenty years ago Captain O’Neill risked his life to remove my mother and me from behind The Wall. He set us up in an apartment and paid for my schooling. I’m in the Service now because of him. I owe it to him to be involved in the search.”

There was compassion in his eyes as he studied me. “I cannot officially sanction you or your wingman participating in the search due to your relationship with Captain O’Neill. I can’t even officially provide you with the information I have on his last known whereabouts. I do however have a meeting with the Commodore in about five minutes. I am not responsible for your actions when I am no longer in this office.” He lay a hand on a disc on his desk. “If a copy of Captain O’Neill’s last location and some other information were to disappear, who am I to say I didn’t misplace it?” Knowing he was directing me with his comments and not actually intending for me to respond, I continued to stand at attention as I had for the entire meeting. He glanced at the chronometer on the wall, then back at me. “I trust you can return yourself to quarters and depart for your Leave without further incidents?"

"Sir. Yes, sir," I snapped.

"Dismissed then. Enjoy your Leave." I saluted him, which he returned before stepping around me and proceeding me out of the room. "Oh and Lieutenant?"

"Sir?"

"Good hunting."

I paused in the doorway, confused for a moment. "Sir?" I repeated.

"I've heard that there's good hunting near Lieutenant Carter's home this time of year. I hope the two of you enjoy your hunting while on Leave and that it is a successful hunt." With these words, he left me alone in the doorway to his office.

My spirits lifted at the mention of my wingman's name. The commander had given his permission as best he could for me to include my friend in my search. Ducking quickly back into the office, I snatched up the disc the commander had indicated and secreted it away in one of the pockets of my flight suit. Quickly I scanned the other objects on the desk but didn't see anything else that might be helpful. On my way back to the flight deck, and my wingman, I liberated a palm sized disc reader from one of the storage units.

My arrival on the flight deck netted me the far from unusual sight of my wingman perched atop my fighter, a panel open and his hands elbow deep in the components. “Galen,” I called up to him, “we have mechs that do repairs. I would like the frelling ship to start the next time we get scrambled to fly.”

Lieutenant Galen Carter grinned good-naturedly down at me, his barely regulation blond hair falling into his eyes. Sometimes on the ground, my wingman reminded me of an overgrown puppy who couldn’t quite figure his feet out. Put something mechanical or a flight stick into his hands though and he instantly lost that innate clumsiness. “The frelling ship,” he mimicked me, “will start when you want it too and it will start thirty seconds faster from cold than it did before. I tested the mods on my ship first.”

I nodded, remembering that he had been a half-beat ahead of me all week during cold starts. “Are you finished?”

He handed the reader he had been using off to the mech who had been observing him and gave him a few low voiced instructions. When he had finished this, Galen walked out to the end of the wing closest to me and swung down, bending his knees to absorb the impact as his heavy boots hit the steel deck with a loud clang. “Yes, my darling wingmate, I am finished tinkering with your ship.”

“Walk with me,” I invited. He nodded and fell in step with me as I walked towards our quarters. “Ya know its comments like that that cause our Service mates to think we’re having sex,” I told him when we were out of earshot of most of the hanger.

Galen shrugged, unconcerned like always about what others thought. “How did your meeting with the commander go?”

“About the way we figured it would.” I stopped to key in the code that unlocked our door, then let Galen proceed me into the room. Galen was spastically forgetful of the combination and couldn’t remember even the simplest of number sequences.

He waited until the door slid shut before hugging me tightly and kissing the top of my head. Although it wasn’t unusual for wingmates to also be bedmates, Galen and I were not. Galen did come from a physically demonstrative family though and was content to show me affection in the privacy of our quarters so that more rumors did not spread about us. “So what do you plan to do next?” he asked over his shoulder as he walked into his room, stripping off his dirty flight suit as he went.

I followed him as far as the door, enjoying the sight. I figured we weren’t far from tumbling into bed together, my only worry that it would somehow ruin our flying partnership. “I have a disc,” I began.

Galen looked up from choosing a shirt. “A disc you shouldn’t have?” he questioned. I nodded in reply. “And you’re trying to decide if you should involve me?” I nodded again. “That shouldn’t even be a thought, ‘Randa. I told you we were in this together. Go change into civilian clothes and get your duffle, we’re heading after your uncle.”

* * * * * *

Without exactly knowing how it happened, I quickly found myself off the Cabot, the Service ship we were assigned to, and onto the space station we were docked at, my duffle slung over my shoulder as I followed Galen’s weaving body through the crowds. A quick stop in a shadowy shop netted us both blasters and holsters with two spare power packs each. Galen tucked a rifle and extra power pack into his duffle as I watched. Another stop and we had the command codes for a small ship and a docking bay number. The ease with which all this was accomplished led me to believe that Galen hadn’t spent all his free time lately tinkering with our fighters.

It wasn’t until I was seated behind the controls of the ship and awaiting take off clearance that I realized how easily Galen had manipulated me. He grinned at the glare I sent his way and fished the disc and reader out of my duffle. “How ‘bout I see where we’re going, Miranda love?” he suggested.

“You, Galen Carter, are a manipulative bastard,” I told him as I sent the ship soaring gracefully out of space dock.

“Manipulative, yes,” he agreed with me. “Bastard, no. My parents were very married when I was born. There’s five ahead of me, remember? You on the other hand.” He grinned at me and ducked the smack I aimed his way. “I didn’t mean to bully you into doing this. I just figured it would be easier if we could move quickly.”

I sighed, not really upset with him. “It was, Galen. I was just caught off guard by how quickly everything moved.” I motioned to the reader he held in his hands. “Where are we going?”

A few minutes later, he looked up from the reader, a maniacal grin on his face. “My darling wingmate, we are heading to where there be pirates.”

“What?” I demanded, spinning my seat around to face him.

“It seems your uncle disappeared while at a spaceport. The port he was last seen in is frequented by some space pirates. In particular one Ariana Wildwing.” Galen punched some keys on the computer. “Whew. She’s definitely worth our time if we can get close to her. Carriers, fleet ships, museums. If its not nailed down, she’s stolen it. I’ve got your uncle’s last known location here.”

“Punch it into the navcomp and let’s get going.” I put the idea of pirates out of my mind. We would deal with that when we got to Uncle Michael’s last known location not before.

Long standing practice allowed us to work in silence. Galen coded in the coordinates while I programmed the autopilot. The hop, I saw, was not long enough to require cyro but it would take us a couple of days to get there. Galen fed the coordinates to my computer and I double checked them before activating the autopilot.

* * * * * *

I studied the disc over and over as we flew towards to last place anyone had seen Uncle Michael. The station he was at before he disappeared was on the edge of settled space, not far beyond it no one sane ventured. Galen and I would brave it if we had to.

Galen wandered into the cockpit as I eased the ship out of hyperspace. He was barefoot, clad only in a pair of jeans and an unbuttoned red shirt. He placed an absentminded kiss on my head, glancing at the instruments at the same time before dropping into the co-pilot’s seat. “Any idea how you want to play this?” he asked.

”Other than thinking we shouldn’t advertise that we’re Service? No. No ideas.”

“I don’t think you should advertise your last name either.” He held a simple silver band out to me. “How do you feel about being married?”

I stared at him in shock, unable to figure out how exactly to respond to him. While I had contemplated a physical relationship with him, I had never considered an actual commitment like he was now suggesting. He must have figured out my confusion pretty quickly because after only a few moments of silence, broken only by the chirruping of the computer, he hastened to explain, “Oh, not for real, of course, ‘Randa, but that would give us a reason to have the same last name and allow you not to go announcing the same name as Captain O’Neill.”

I agreed with him so took the ring from him and slipped it on the correct finger. It fit perfectly. My fingers were particularly long and slender so I normally had problems finding rings that fit, so I looked at him in surprise. “Why do you have a wedding band in your pocket that is perfectly sized to my hand?” He flushed bright red, stared at the floor, and mumbled something that I couldn’t make out, even by straining my ears. “What did you say, Galen?”

He sighed but looked me in the eye. He spoke louder this time, but the blush still stained his cheeks and the tips of his ears. “I didn’t intend for it to be a wedding band. I didn’t think you’d marry me even if I asked but I was hoping you would wear it, even if just on a chain, if I asked to make love with you. I sized it from one of your gloves and made it myself. There’s actually a stone chip in it; from one of my earrings.” He touched his left ear where a small stud glittered in the light of the monitor next to him.

I twisted the ring around on my finger until I located the small sapphire embedded in it. I instantly recognized the stone. It was from a pair of earrings I had bought for Galen. Although he only had one piercing, the maker had not been willing to split up the pair so I bought both intending to borrow them from Galen when I wanted to. When I had asked to borrow them a few months prior, he told me he told me had had misplaced one of them. He had obviously used one of the stones from the earrings to make the ring. “Why didn’t you ask me?”

“I just wasn’t sure how to ask you. I didn’t want to ask you to wear matching rings either so I only made the one ring. I figured I could wear the my earring, you could wear the ring, and only we would know the feelings behind them.”

I turned around and shut the engine off, allowing the ship to drift in space. Somehow I felt this was a conversation we had to have before we set foot on the space station that was our destination. We needed to be working together on this, not working at cross purposes. “What feelings would be behind them?”

Galen looked at me and in his eyes, I saw all the love that he had carefully hidden from me. “Love,” he answered simply.

I sighed. “Galen, I don’t think I can just give you the answer you want or deserve. I need time to consider my answer. I’m not saying no, just that I need time to think about what you’ve told me. For now I think your idea of saying we’re married is a good one. Do you have the earring with you?”

He nodded and dug the earring out of his pocket. “I have some semi-permanent body paint too. I’m pretty sure I remember Clan symbols well enough to paint them on both of us.”

I made a face. Clan women were notoriously submissive to their men and I wasn’t sure I could properly portray one. Like every cadet I had learned about the Clans in a class at the Academy. It seemed like Galen knew a lot more than what we learned in class. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Galen eyed me for a minute, then grinned. “Strip. I’ll get the paint and your clothes.” He bounced up and left the cockpit.

“This is not how you get into my bed,” I called after him as I began to undress.

Galen stuck his head back into the cockpit and grinned appreciatively at my half-naked body. “Who says it’s your bed I want us in? Maybe its mine.”

“Personally I think they’re both too frelling small,” I muttered. His laugh floating back to me told me that my comment hadn’t been as quiet as I meant it to be.

When Galen returned a few minutes later, I was naked and standing on top of my clothes. My wingmate might be able to tolerate the cold deck under bare feet but I found it unbearable. In one hand were the gauzy fabrics that the female Clan outfits were made out of. The other hand held the one pair of casual boots I owned. They were knee high and had spike heels. I liked them because the heels could do a lot of damage all on their own. In the hand with the clothes was also a small can of body paint to make the Clan symbols.

I took the top from Galen, trying to remember how to put it on. I couldn’t really call this a shirt. First of all the only part of it that wasn’t made from gauzy material was the part that covered my breasts. Secondly the whole thing ended about an inch below my breasts, leaving my midsection bare from there to my hips. The skirt, I knew, would ride low on those same hips. The skirt itself was made from four different colored gauzes that somehow matched the top. The skirt fell to my ankles in a cascade, each color getting progressively shorter. Any modesty I had was just preserved. Despite how virginal Clan women were supposed to be, they still dressed like the tawdriest prostitute I had ever seen behind The Wall. My clothes were made in varying shades of blue; colors I knew would complement my skin color and bring out the blue of my eyes. As I sat down to pull on my boots, a soft blue leather that matched one layer of the skirt perfectly, I realized one very important fact that had almost escaped my notice. Galen had these clothes waiting, exactly my size and also had my own boots with him. I paused while lacing up my second boot. “Galen, why do you have clothes my size and my boots?”

“For the same reason I had the ring and my earring. ‘Randa, don’t read anything into it. I was pretty sure you would get the information either officially or unofficially so I planned ahead. I have a couple of other costumes in case you didn’t agree to the Clans as well. Now hold still while I paint the Clan symbols on you.” I held still as he painted around my clothes with small brush strokes. It was extremely hard to hold still as the bristles tickled me, but I did my best. “Okay,” he said after what seemed like an inordinately long time, “I’m finished.”

I sighed and decided not to question him further. “Go change so we can go look for Wildwing. I really want to find Uncle Michael and get out of here.”

Galen nodded, spun on his heel, and left the cockpit. I turned and began to guide the ship into space dock, acknowledging the tower, piloting it into the berth we were assigned. I registered us as the Clan ship Peregrine. By the time I had secured the ship in the berth and finished powering it down, Galen was back in the cockpit, dressed in his Clan outfit. Although normally I would not dock the ship, I did it while Galen changed to save us time. Most of the docking procedures were automatic and just required a person to make sure nothing went wrong. This was something a Clan wife would know.

Galen’s outfit consisted of a vest made out of the same gauzy material as my skirt, although his was a deep blood red. He also wore a pair of black leather pants that clung to his skin. I had seen the pants before when we were off-duty and knew he didn’t wear anything under them because they were so form fitting. A pair of short black boots completed his outfit. The color of his vest marked him as a breeding male, one who had been chosen because of his genetics to add children to the next generation. Color played a big role in Clan clothing, the blue I wore marked me as Chief Wife. Around his waist was a gilded belt from which hung two vials which proclaimed that he was on Search. Breeding Clan men were allowed as many wives as they could support but were not allowed to take them from their family group. Therefore the men would pack up their wife and children and leave to find other wives. The vials contained a serum that tested genetic markers and fertility to be sure that the woman or women chosen would not contaminate the gene pool. I nodded at his choice of outfits, it gave us a legitimate reason to be away from the Clans alone and no one would even question us looking for a pirate. Pirates were often consulted when Clan members were on Search since they often went to planets and stations that others didn’t.

“Are we docked and ready to hit the station?” he asked.

“Everything is set. We just need to stop and pay the station fees.”

“Yes and we certainly can’t use our Service IDs for that.” He tossed me a wristband that contained a Link and grinned at me. “I think you’ll find I’m a generous husband.”

I rolled my eyes at him but strapped the band on over my Service chip. Even if a Clan woman earned her own money through work, her husband still controlled the money in the family. Most Clan men gave their wives accounts for their own use and also a household account. “Let’s get going.”

I stayed behind him as we crossed the berth we were assigned too. I wouldn’t speak in public unless he spoke to me first or gave me permission. I would allow him to walk in front of me. Many people felt that the women were being submissive by walking behind the men but in actuality the reason was so the men could protect their women. Clan women in private had a lot more autonomy than many people suspected.

Galen paid for our berth and spoke quietly to the man in charge. It was unusual for an actual person to be in charge of payment for a space station but neither of us blinked. Apparently the stationmaster here preferred a human touch.

Our first stop after the docking bay was accommodations for the two of us. Galen rented a suite, an extravagant choice on a space station but exactly what a Clan man on Search would choose. He made arrangements for our baggage to be collected from the shuttle and indicated we would return later to our suite. He was expansive with tips and kept talking about how he was Searching for new wives. The concierge recommended several places to consult on Search and also a restaurant for dinner that catered to Clan families.

We spent the day wandering the station, dropping into the places the concierge had mentioned, and some other places Galen thought looked interesting, and just generally being seen. Galen left word that we were looking for a pirate to consult for the Search. Both of us were hoping that since Ariana Wildwing had last been seen here, she would be the pirate to contact us.

Once Galen was apparently satisfied that he had spread the word enough, he led the way back through the station to the restaurant that the concierge had recommended. I gasped as we entered the entryway. I hadn’t been expecting anything opulent on the space station but this surpassed anything I had even seen on the various planets we had been to. The restaurant was nestled between two spas which should have given me my first clue. Behind the maitre de’s stand, I could see a huge window, laced with metal beams that held it against the vastness of space. Through the windows I could see the stars in all their glory. Somehow the owner had managed to get a spot that prevented any other part of the station from being shown through those windows. The maitre de welcomed us to Wigan Curry and then led us to a table against the window.

The tables were spaced out so that each one was afforded the privacy the diners would want. No two tables were close enough to overhear the low voiced conversations at each and many of them only seated two people. We were led to one of those. The chairs were upholstered and well padded for the comfort of the diner. Galen seated me in the chair facing the window as I stared about me. The tablecloth was a stunning burgundy with a centerpiece of white calla lilies. I was surprised to find fresh flowers on the table but supposed that they could be easily grown in a small section of the hydroponics lab. Above our heads, a chandelier hung down, casting a soft glow over our table.

I wasn’t handed a menu but wasn’t really surprised, a Clan woman would expect her husband to order for her and therefore wouldn’t need to consult a menu. I turned slightly in my seat to study the restaurant some more as Galen decided what we would eat. I trusted my friend enough that he wouldn’t order me something I would refuse to eat. Much sooner than I would have guessed, Galen raised a discrete finger to summon the waiter and ordered for us. I toyed with my wine glass full of water as he took his turn studying the surrounding tables.

Our first course was some kind of cream and cheese soup that I couldn’t identify but loved. I wished we could have something like it on the ship but knew it wasn’t possible to recreate it. The soup was followed by a very fresh salad with crumbled cheese over top. Galen grinned at my blissful expression over the fresh food. So much of our Service food was dried and processed, we normally only saw fresh foods when we were docked somewhere. “If you think that’s good, wait for the main course,” he told me. I hadn’t heard what he ordered for us because I was watching the people and wasn’t listening to his conversation. I sat back in my seat as the waiter took my salad bowl away and places my dinner plate in front of me. A thick cut of vat grown steak rested on a bed of rice pilaf. Around the top of the plate, tucked under the steak, was a fan made up pf asparagus stalks. Galen had obviously remembered how much I loved the steak I had tried at his home while on Leave one time.

When our dessert and chocolate arrived, I was almost too full to try any of it. Coffee had proven particularly hard to grow in an artificial environment so chocolate had replaced the drink of choice among the elite. The coffee that was grown was still used by the Service, and nasty, bitter stuff it was, in some misguided belief that pilots could not fly without it. The chocolate was melted, thinned with a special compound, and then flavored. I inhaled the rich scent of it, identifying raspberry as the flavoring in my cup before setting it aside and turning my attention to the dessert. I immediately realized I didn’t recognize what was in the dish before me. I looked up at Galen, who was watching me with an unreadable expression, and asked, “What is it?”

The answer came not from my dinner companion but from behind me. “It is crème brule.” I turned to see who had answered me. “May I join you for a moment?”

The woman before us was younger than either of us by at least five years. She wasn’t exactly dressed for the restaurant but didn’t seem to care. A leather jerkin hung on her frame over top of trousers, tucked into shiny black boots, and a tank top. A leather belt hung off slim hips, weighted down on one side with a pistol and knife. Her short black hair was spiked on top and buzzed in the back. One cheek was tattooed with a small black diamond that was very dark against her café au lait complexion, which I assumed was the symbol of her pirate group.

Galen motioned to a hovering waiting, who quickly added a chair to our table. She waited until the waiter had retreated before introducing herself. “I am Ziza.”

“Clansman Galen Carter, Golden Eagle Clan. My first wife, Miranda.”

“You are looking for more wives, yes?” she asked.

Galen nodded. “I’m beginning my Search.”

“Captain Wildwing requests the honor of dining with you tomorrow evening on her ship, the Kobayashi Maru at seven ‘port time.”

“We would be honored in return,” Galen replied.

“I’ll tell her to expect you shortly before seven then. Enjoy your dessert, First Wife.” She returned to her feet and swirled away from the table.

I waited until she was out of sight before asking Galen, “Was that the contact you were hoping for?”

“Yes. Thank you for keeping quiet during the invitation.”

“I kept quiet now but don’t expect me to do it tomorrow night. That’s not who I am and you know it.”

“Claiming Clan affiliation is the best way for us to find your uncle. I know it’s hard for you but once we have a better lead, we can drop the act.”

“And what if our better lead takes us with the pirates?” I demanded, already feeling the restraints of the role Galen had had me don.

He shrugged, unconcerned. “You’re First Wife, it wouldn’t be out of character for me to grant you Libertas.”

I nodded, knowing he referred to the freedom to act. Only highly trusted and respected wives were granted that freedom but it would allow me to speak and not be so dependent on Galen. “I will not wear these clothes if we end up traveling with the pirates.” I licked my spoon, cleaning off the last of my dessert. “Let’s get out of here.” He murmured his assent and discretely called the waiter over, paying for our meal.

As we strolled back to the hotel, Galen rested his arms across my shoulders, drawing me tight against him. “How do you know so much about the Clans?” I asked softly.

“My first year roommate at the Academy was a member of the Golden Eagle Clan. I saved his life on a training mission and he made me an honorary member of the Clan. When I traveled with him to his Clan for a visit they inducted me into the Clan in thanksgiving for his life. I spent some Leaves and vacations with them after that. I’m on their rolls as a Clansman so if Captain Wildwing contacts them they will confirm it. Although I’m probably going to catch hell next time for not telling them I married.”

I laughed as we entered the suite. “Maybe you should call and tell them then.”

He shuddered. “Umm, no. I don’t think so. Christopher’s mother is downright scary. She’d skin me alive for not introducing my future wife first.”

“You really love the members of the Clan, don’t you?” I questioned.

He nodded. “You’ve met my family. With ten kids and a working farm, there just wasn’t much concern. Oh I love my family and they love me, don’t get me wrong, but they were perfectly happy when I joined the Service. One less mouth to feed and the guarantee of money coming in once a month since they knew I’d feel obligated to send money home was enough for them to cheerfully send me on my way.”

“Oh, Galen.” I felt for my wingman. Goddess knew my life had been far from easy but at least my mother had cried when I joined the Service. I doubted from what he said anyone had even noticed when he left.

“I’ve come to terms with it, ‘Randa. I have the Clan and you and it’s been enough. I learned to love and to touch physically from the Clans who are very close knit group. Now come on, into bed with you. We need to do some shopping tomorrow for our role and to get the clothes you want.”

I went into the bedroom, assuming he was following me. I stopped when I realized there was only one bed. “Hey, Galen? We have a slight problem.”

He came up behind me and peeked over my shoulder. “I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s wider than our bunks shipboard. You can have the bed.”

“I can sleep on the couch,” I replied.

“That will just look bad. If the maid notices I’m sleeping on the couch it will just be assumed that I stayed up late working and fell asleep. If you are sleeping on the couch, I’ll be a bad husband and we might lose our meeting with the pirate.”

Rather than argue with him, I let him push me closer to the bed. “Night, Galen.”

“Good night, ‘Randa. Sleep well.”

* * * * * *

We spent the next morning and afternoon browsing the local shops and picking up items Galen decided we needed. I let him lead on clothing and other accessories, while trying to remember how the Clan wives I had seen acted. If something caught my eye, I pointed it out to him and he would consider buying it. Sometimes he gave in and bought whatever had caught my eye.

As we strolled back to the hotel about an hour before our meeting with the pirate captain, I laughed over our purchases that day. “What do you intend to do with all the junk we bought?” I asked.

He touched the necklace I wore now, a simple silver charm in the shape of a heart. “Well, I like the way this one looks on you so I hope you’ll keep it. Otherwise, what we don’t use as gifts along the way I figured I’d send to my Clan. The women will have a good time with the trinkets.”

I nodded. “That would be a nice way to thank them for their help. Do I really have to wear that dress tonight?”

“A dress, yes, but not the one you were wearing last night. Somehow I think that one won’t be appropriate. I don’t want to risk losing my wife to pirates.”

I giggled over his concern. “So are you going to pick out my clothes again, my husband?”

“Now there’s the proper respect you should be showing your husband.” Galen teased. We were both laughing as we entered the hotel. We stopped short at the sight of Ziza waiting for us in the lobby. Galen recovered first and, smiling, asked, “What can I do for you, Pirate Ziza?”

“My captain sent me to escort you to the Kobayashi Maru, Clansman” she replied. She smiled at me. “Greetings, First Wife.”

I smiled in return and whispered to Galen, “I’ll wait for you upstairs.”

Galen nodded. “Your clothes are on the bed. Why don’t you change while you’re waiting?”

I nodded and left for the room like the good little First Wife I was pretending to be.

* * * * * *

When Galen entered our suite a few minutes later, I was standing by the bed, naked, staring at the clothes. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“How do I put this stuff on?” I gestured at the clothes in front of me.

He held up the piece I had been looking at. “This is a meriwidow, it will cover you under the dress. Your stockings attach to these clips so they don’t fall down. The dress goes overtop.” He kissed my cheek. “I need to get ready. Will you be okay now?”

“I think so.” I waited until he had shut the bathroom door and I heard the water turn on before I muttered, “I think I liked yesterday’s outfit better.”

I wiggled into the meriwidow, then pulled the stockings on and clipped them up. All that was left was to pull the dress on and slip into the shoes. The dress, I had to admit, was gorgeous. Beige silk was covered by some type of incandescent netting. Pink roses were embroidered into the netting across the top and bottom of the dress. They climbed on green vines up from the bottom and down from the top. The under dress ended at my knees while the netting fell halfway to my ankles. Surprisingly, the netting against my silk stockings didn’t itch.

Galen came out of the bathroom, a towel slung low around his hips. He gave a long, low whistle when he caught sight of me. “You look gorgeous, ‘Randa. And your short hair goes perfectly with that dress. Don’t do anything with it, just let it settle itself.”

I sat down at the vanity and ran a brush through my hair while Galen slipped into his clothes; a navy blue double breasted suit with a pale blue shirt and a slightly darker tie. I grinned at him as he used the mirror in front of me to adjust his clothes. “You look good yourself, Galen. Ready to go?”

“Yes.” He offered me his arm and we took the elevator to the lobby. Ziza led us through the space station to one of the shuttle docks. I studied the ship as we approached by shuttle. The pirate ship was all sleek lines and glittery lights and looked very unlike our Service vessels that were utilitarian ships. Wildwing was a successful pirate and actually had two ships under her control. This was the larger of the two.

I covertly admired Ziza’s skill as a pilot, but was careful to keep my look slightly wishful. As a First Wife I might be allowed to pilot once I had children but there was no way I would know anything now.

As we exited the shuttle, Galen stopped and offered, “I might consider a pirate as a wife if you were interested.”

Ziza laughed heartily. “Clansman, you couldn’t afford me.”

Galen smiled and I shuddered inside. That was not a nice smile. “You’d be surprised at what I can afford, Pirate, and you’d do well to remember that.” He swept past her in a move that showed he considered her beneath his notice.

I took his arm as another pirate appeared to escort us. Why did you offer her marriage? I tapped out in Morse code with my fingertips on his arm.

He covered my hand with his and tapped back, Because it would have looked odd if I didn’t. Remember to follow my lead while we’re here.

Arm in arm, we swept into the stateroom.

I took a good look at the pirate captain as Galen settled me in a seat at the table. I was surprised to see that she had waist length brown hair pulled back into a high and tight ponytail. I had expected her to have short hair like the rest of the crew we had seen. Her lithe figure was encased in brown leather, leather boots, pants, and vest with what appeared to be a linen shirt underneath. A cutlass hung from one hip in a ring sheath that bared the blade to the air. A holster on the other hip held a pistol that was tied down to her thigh for quick draws. Her skin was pale from the artificial light that lit the ship. One ear had studs and hoops that started at her lobes and moved all the way up the ear, the other held only a stud and hoop in the lobe. Like the other pirates, she had a black diamond tattooed on her cheek, underneath it though was a second diamond with a small blue circle in it. The only thing I could think of was this was her sign of leadership. “Welcome to the Kobayashi Maru,” she said in a throaty voice. “I am Captain Ariana Wildwing.”

“Greetings, Captain Wildwing. Thank you for inviting us to dine with you,” Galen replied.

Wildwing joined us at the table and motioned for the man standing by the other door to the room. “First Wife, Ziza said you had never had crème burle. I hope you enjoy what I’ve chosen for dinner.”

Remembering my instructions, I looked first to Galen for a nod before answering, “I am sure I will find your choices interesting.”

The man returned with a tray with three bowls on it and served each of us. I took a taste and was surprised to find the soup cold. When I turned a confused look on Galen, he explained, “It’s gazpacho. It’s supposed to be cold. What do you think of it?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Well, let me know when you’ve decided,” Galen told me.

I concentrated on the tomato taste and texture of the soup while Galen chatted with Wildwing about ports the pirates had been in recently. Although most spaceports didn’t allow pirates to dock, some ports welcomed any trade and the pirates were safe at these.

After the salad course which was a Caesar salad, the main course was served. With the main course came a bottle of sparkling apple juice. Clan Members on Search did not drink alcohol so the pirate queen was well aware of traditions of the clan members. I hoped that Galen had enough knowledge to fool her. Their talk turned to the Golden Eagle Clan as the food was served. The main course was salmon with a butter lemon sauce and baby shrimp that rested on a bed of rice. A bowl of baby peas completed the meal. Wildwing was curious how Galen fix into the Clan so he explained how he had saved Christopher’s life and been adopted into the Clan. She was interested to hear that he had completely adopted Clan ethics.

As the dessert of baked Alaska was served, Wildwing finally got to the point of the negotiations, “Ziza explained that you were looking for some pirates to take ship with while on Search.”

Galen nodded. “The Clan is looking for new blood. I’ve heard good reports from outside the Far Reaches, but I know it’s not safe for us to travel there alone. We know you have contacts out there. We’re specifically interested in Hellion Five.”

Wildwing leaned back in her chair and studied us both closely. “I have to admit you two intrigue me. A Clansman not by blood but by honor ties who embraces the tenets of the Clans. A woman who seems to know her own mind and who wears Service tattoos. One might almost think you were something other than what you claim.”

Galen looked at me and at my nod, said, “And what if we were something other than what we claim?”

“I know you aren’t who you claim or at least not entirely because I know your wife has never been married. A mutual friend carries a holograph of her and has told me just about everything there is to know about her. I want to know who you really are and what you’re doing on my ship.”

“My name is Lieutenant Miranda O’Neill. Galen is my wingman. The Service didn’t send either of us. I just want to know my uncle is safe. If he decides to stay away, that’s his decision but if he’s in trouble, I’ll do anything I have to to get him out.”

“Michael is your uncle?” Wildwing questioned. “He never said who you were just that you were someone he knew. That you were someone very important to him.”

I removed the Link that covered my Service chip and showed her the scar that the chip didn’t quite cover. “I think Michael has a similar scar that marks him as born behind the Wall. Most people who get out have them removed but he kept his as a reminder and I did the same in honor of him.”

“You won’t force him to leave if that’s his choice?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I just want to know he’s safe.” I judged it safe to give her a little of my background. “Michael saved my life at risk to his own when I was a child. I can’t in good conscience do any less for him.”

Wildwing nodded. “I’ll tell you this because I know how honor ties work. Michael’s not here. He didn’t want to risk coming so close to Service space. I won’t tell you where he is but I will take you to him and then return you here.”

“We’ll go on one condition,” Galen said before I could speak. “You take our shuttle with us too. I don’t want to risk having any questions raised by it being abandoned.”

“Is it a Service shuttle?”

“Do you think we’re that stupid?” Galen countered. “We rented a shuttle that doesn’t have an connection to the Service.”

“Then I’ll take your deal. I know the Service plants homing beacons and I won’t risk my people by leading the Service right to them. Can you be ready to leave by tomorrow?”

“We can be ready to leave tonight,” I told her. “All we need to do is pack up our things at the hotel.”

Wildwing shook her head. “No. I have some business to take care of in the morning and I’d rather not arouse any suspicions by leaving early. Just be on your shuttle by noon local time. We’ll pick you up on our way out. Meanwhile I’ll have my people spread the word that the Clansman on Search will be accompanying us and you do the same at the hotel.”

Galen nodded, obviously understanding what she was planning. “We’ll do that. You just don’t be late or I’ll call in markers for the local area. Remember I can have the Clans and Service brought down on you.”

“I’ll remember that, Clansman. And you remember that I can disappear and your ‘wife’ will never find her uncle unless he chooses to be found.”

Galen nodded again, sharply this time, and motioned for me to get up. “Understood. We’ll be ready.”

I accepted Galen’s lead and got up from the table, following behind him as he exited the room. A pirate waited outside the room to escort us off the ship. I started to ask Galen a question when we were away from the ship, but he motioned for me to be quiet and escorted me back to the hotel. Every time I started to speak, he would hush me. Even when we reached the hotel room, he wouldn’t allow me to say anything. I waited impatiently until he took something from his luggage and turned it on before allowing me to speak. “Why did you take her deal? I wanted to leave tonight and get to Michael.”

“For the same reasons she refused to leave right away. We don’t want to arouse the suspicions of anyone. If we abruptly left, the Service would be right behind us trying to figure out why the pirates pulled up stakes. By leaving on their schedule and having her pick us up, we’ll attract less attention.”

“I see your point, but I don’t have to like it.”

“No you don’t have to like it but you do have to agree with me. Just face it, I know a little more about skulking around due to my Clan ties.”

I smacked Galen half-heartedly. “You don’t have to rub it in.” Curious now about his gadget, I pointed to it. “What is that anyway?”

“It blocks listening devices. Not only ones planted in the room but also anything within a certain radius.”

“Are you planning on leaving it on all night?”

“No. That would be too suspect so anything you want to say to me that doesn’t fall under our cover say now before I turn it off.”

I held a hand out to him. “Sleep with me tonight. I need the comfort of another body.”

“What are you asking for, Miranda? Be very certain what you are asking.”

“I’m asking you to love me, Galen. As you yourself.”

He turned off the machine and took my hand, stepping towards me. “I already do.”

* * * * * *

I awoke the next morning to find Galen wrapped around me. I carefully eased myself out of his arms then went to take a quick shower. When he awoke about an hour later, I was just finishing our packing. “Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Yes and we both slept quite late. We have about half an hour before we have to meet the pirates.”

“We’ll have to hurry then. I’ll just grab a shower while you finish packing and then we’ll check out.”

We accomplished our set tasks within the allotted time period and made it to the shuttle with about five minutes to spare. Galen was just locking our baggage into place when the com chirped. I leaned across the console to answer it. Ziza appeared in the screen and said, “If you’ll leave the bay, we’ll pick you up on our way out of the system.”

“Roger that,” I replied as Galen powered up our engines. “We’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

Galen expertly guided our shuttle out of the dock and lined it up to be captured by the pirate ship’s tractor beam. Once we were safely snagged, he powered down the engines and we allowed ourselves to be towed into the hanger. Working in tandem, we locked our shuttle down for the voyage once we were docked.

Ziza was waiting for us when we left our ship. “We’ve had quarters prepared for you so you don’t have to remain on your ship. The captain wasn’t sure if you’d want separate quarters so she said to give you your choice.”

Galen looked to me and got my nod before he answered, “We’ll bunk together. We’re used to sharing quarters anyway.”

Both of us had dressed in jeans and tactical vests when we got up that morning so were quite comfortable and ready for anything. “The captain said to escort you to the bridge after you’ve stowed your gear.”

When we reached the bridge after leaving our gear in the rooms allotted to us, Wildwing was speaking to someone on the com. She motioned me forward and turned so I could see the person she was talking to was Michael. He smiled as I came into sight. “Hello, Mindy.”

I grinned. Michael was the only one who ever called me Mindy and I was glad to hear it from him. That name had become our codeword to mean that everything was fine and he wasn’t in any danger. I knew now that he hadn’t been coerced into staying with the pirates. “Hi, Uncle Michael.”

“I hear you’re coming to visit me.”

“Yes. The Service is a little concerned that you’ve disappeared.”

Michael sighed. “I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

“All right. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mindy.”

* * * * * *

Galen and I spent the first three days in transit trying to stay out of the pirates’ way and not learn anything that we would be forced to report when we returned to the Service. On our fourth day, we rendezvoused with Wildwing’s other ship, the Grisha. The day after that, we arrived at their home base.

As we disembarked from the ship, Michael met us. He opened his arms to me and hugged me tightly. “Hello, Miranda. How’s my girl?”

“I’m good, Uncle Michael. Care to tell me what’s going on?”

Michael steered me away from Galen and the pirates who were exiting the ship behind us. “Let’s go to my quarters and I’ll explain everything to you.”

I was able to hold my curiosity until we were safely behind closed doors. “Now do you want to tell me why you’ve pretty much abandoned the Service and are consorting with pirates?”

“I actually had no idea Ariana was a pirate when I first met her. Bare in mind, I wasn’t looking to find pirates the first time I met her. She was pretty young when we met and not yet captain. I did something that no Service man is supposed to do. I fell in love with the enemy.”

I sighed. “And now you don’t want to go home.”

“You’re right I don’t. I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Mindy. I was planning on sending you a message and arranging to meet you somewhere. I didn’t want you to have to lie to the Service about finding me. I planned to meet you and then disappear again.”

“I’m not here officially. I couldn’t get permission to join the official search because I was related to you. So technically I don’t have to report finding you.”

“What are you going to do then?”

“I’d like to spend a little time with you since I’m probably never going to see you again. Then I’d like you to record a message for mom and I’ll go quietly home and tell my commander that my hunting was unsuccessful. I would like to know one thing though. How did you disable the locator in your tattoo?”

Michael hugged me again. “Ariana cut it out the minute we left the spaceport. I have a very small scar in my tattoo now. I can record a message for your mother before you leave. Now you want to explain your relationship with the man who came with you?”

“He’s my wingman and we’ve recently become lovers.”

“And he makes you happy?”

“He makes me very happy.”

* * * * * *

We spent a total of two weeks with Michael and the pirates the most we could afford to spend and still be home before our Leave was up. I spent the time saying good-bye to my uncle and getting to know my aunt. When we left, Galen and I were comfortable lovers and planning to make our sham marriage a true one. I said good-bye to Michael with tears in my eyes because I knew this would be the last time I ever saw him. I comforted myself with the knowledge that Ariana loved him very much and would take good care of him. I was also pleased with the new facet of my relationship with Galen and glad we had gotten time away from the Service to create it.


Special thanks to dizzley for help with what the pirates should look like. Ziza came directly from that email and conversation.

Special thanks to Aradne for allowing me to use her name for Ariana Wildwing.