The crew was aboard--Emily had spent the last few days doing this and that; Sci trusted her enough to not worry about what she did. Bethany had been training and was even now practicing her skills on the Gaia's computer systems. Probably going for my files, Sci thought humorlessly. It would be a futile effort, of course.
Syl and Arrek had, on the other hand, been through massive emotional wringers. Sci didn't even want to dwell on what they were dealing with; he was almost afraid to.
It was enough to dwell on what he had been dealing with. Sci's mood had started the day "bad" and gradually gotten worse. "Too valuable to us" was probably the most painful admission of his life. "Your best friend was in your place two years ago, but I refused to listen to her when she explained about personality conflicts and she ended up getting killed. Now, you're in her place, but I'm not going to tell you she had it, because I know you'd leave, and I can't have that. That work for you? Wait, you don't have a choice." He could almost kick himself.
Then, after dropping the other bombshells, he had taken the coward's way out and left. He hadn't even gotten to his destination when he had been called to General Cracken's office.
"Major," Cracken began, "It appears we have a problem."
Sci wanted to ask him which one, but Cracken was still talking. "I discovered today that a second special NRI agent had been dispatched to Terra to find and recover the shield."
"A special agent? But I wasn't informed..."
"Nor was I. I only recently found out. The agent is recalled."
As if my day hadn't been long enough already. "Did you want anything else from me?"
"No, but I thought you should be aware of developments of that nature."
"General, granted that sometimes it feels like my life has been one long bad day since I first accepted this post; but I have been having a really bad day since about yesterday evening; so if I seem a little short here, please forgive me. It seems you have the situation well in hand; I appreciate this heads-up, but as you have no particular assignment for me, and if there is nothing further...?" Cracken shook his head. "Very well. Thank you, General. I'll stay in touch."
So, thought Sci to himself as he left, toying with his rank insignia, To be frank--not that you have a choice--you're feeling guilty about Alison, guilty about Sylvana and Arrek, blind like you don't know what's going on under your nose, and generally like whatever duct tape and sealing wax is holding the universe together in the first place is dissolving before your eyes.
And that's about par for the course.
The day had not improved. Sci had given up on his prior destination and went through the other events, gradually feeling worse and worse, and then he'd been at the meeting with the Skywalkers.
After that disaster, of course, he couldn't be done for the day. Oh no...
Sci shook himself out of his reverie, forcing himself to stop playing with his rank badge. "Nat, are we all set to go for a departure?"
"Reasonably. I would suggest we hurry, however."
"Hurry? Why?"
Suddenly Emily and Syl ran into the cockpit. "Sci, can we get moving?" Emily asked quickly.
Sci carefully looked back at her. "Why?"
"Um..."
"Perhaps," offered Nat, "the five angry Wookiees that are sprinting towards the ship have something to do with it."
Sci turned to the controls and activated the repulsorlifts and thrusters, sighing slightly. "You wouldn't happen to know why there are five angry Wookiees sprinting towards the Gaia?"
Syl gave a disarming smile. "They want to come to Terra?" Sci ignored her and looked at Emily, who just whistled innocently.
Well, that did nothing to improve my mood, thought Sci, reaching into his bag and removing a copy of C. J. Cherryh's Downbelow Station. "Let's get home. As fast as possible."