{"id":108,"date":"2009-04-13T17:30:19","date_gmt":"2009-04-13T21:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=108"},"modified":"2009-04-13T17:30:30","modified_gmt":"2009-04-13T21:30:30","slug":"vong-war-annals-before-debriefings-before-leave-takings-4132009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=108","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals – “Before debriefings, before leave-takings” 4.13.2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She leaned in the doorway, arms crossed across her chest, watching him as he rolled up articles of clothing, stuffing them into his duffle bag.\u00a0 Even after so many years after he quit being a pilot, he still carried the long, cylindrical duffle bag meant to fit neatly into the small cargo compartment of an X-wing.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhen\u2019s your transport leave?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCouple days,\u201d he answered, stuffing another shirt into the bag before looking up at her.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re in uniform.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy nodded slowly, not bothering to straighten from her lean.\u00a0 \u201cGeneral Skyy got in yesterday afternoon.\u00a0 I need to debrief her today.\u00a0 I owe her that much.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mike stared at her for a long moment, evidently picking up on what she left unsaid.\u00a0 She owed it more to someone who would never sit still to be debriefed ever again, because he never could.\u00a0 Mike shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cDo the details really matter that much?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She considered that a moment before shaking her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 I suppose they don\u2019t, not really.\u00a0 He\u2019s dead\u2014by all accounts we can gather, for good this time.\u00a0 But we\u2019ll see.\u00a0 Tag made noises about looking into it, or having someone look into it.\u00a0 I wonder if she really meant it, though.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd the kid?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI never rode anyone\u2019s ass about the Dark Side until more than a couple people died.\u00a0 Not about to start looking hypocritical now.\u201d\u00a0 I never threw you in the brig for very long for any of that.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026like being temporarily insane.\u00a0 You\u2019re not wholly responsible for what you\u2019ve done, in that state.
\n<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He managed to smile at her.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2026that thing that Tag and Nylan did, with the ashes\u2026that was nice, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She finally straightened, moving over toward the corner of the bed and sitting down next to his bag, which he was still packing.\u00a0 His pace had slowed, his brow had furrowed.\u00a0 There was something eating at him, and she knew it.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, it was.\u00a0 Not what I would have chosen for him\u2014or for me\u2014but it was fitting enough, given what we had.\u201d\u00a0 Indy smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cWas good of Teke to do what he did.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTeke always was a good man,\u201d Mike murmured, turning away from the bed to get something from the closet.\u00a0 A glimmer caught Indy\u2019s eye.\u00a0 She reached into her husband\u2019s duffle and carefully pulled out a painstakingly crafted model of a starfighter, built of scraps of this and that. \u00a0She turned it over in her fingers slowly, shaking her head slightly.\u00a0 Mike startled as he turned, staring at her with the model in her hands.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a ship that actually existed.\u00a0 It had been born of a thirteen-year-old brain some six years before.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She held it up.\u00a0 \u201cDavil made this for you before you shipped out to take your command in the Sixth.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded, tossing his jacket over the foot of the bed and sinking down next to her, taking the model gently.\u00a0 \u201cI know,\u201d he said quietly, staring at it.\u00a0 The beginnings of a tear shone in his organic eye.\u00a0 \u201cBeen thinking about it a lot lately.\u00a0 Going to do some sketches on the flight back.\u00a0 Give me something to do.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou left it here, when you left.\u00a0 Davil was upset.\u00a0 I was going to ship it, but you kept telling me not to.\u00a0 You\u2019d remember it the next time you came home on leave.\u201d\u00a0 She put her arm around him, resting her head against his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou kept on forgetting it.\u00a0 What\u2019s different now?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mike hesitated, staring at the model in his hands.\u00a0 He took a long, slow, deep breath, finding himself unable to meet her gaze.\u00a0 \u201cIndy\u2026when I came home this time\u2026I\u2026this was going to be the last time.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She felt a pang, somewhere deep.\u00a0 \u201cWho is she, Mike?\u00a0 Or was she?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He startled, gaze snapping up toward her.\u00a0 \u201cYou knew?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI always knew,\u201d she said quietly, stroking his cheek and managing a wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cI always knew I wasn\u2019t the only woman in your bed.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t been since the kids were born.\u00a0 Service is lonely\u2026and you can\u2019t stand to be alone.\u00a0 You never could.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His mouth worked, but no sound came out.\u00a0 He squeezed his eyes shut, and now the tears did<\/em> escape.\u00a0 He bowed his head, shaking it slowly.\u00a0 \u201cAnd yet\u2026you\u2026you wouldn\u2019t let me go.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere were moments when I hated you, Mike,\u201d she murmured in his ear, resting her chin on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cBut I always, always<\/em> loved you more than I hated you.\u00a0 And I knew for all the mistakes you ever made, every\u2026every character flaw I had to live with, you loved me, too.\u00a0 There\u2019s a reason we survived those first few months, the first few years.\u00a0 I always knew that.\u00a0 Somewhere\u2026you knew it, too.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He lifted his head and stared at her for a long moment before resting his forehead against hers.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re still more than I\u2019ve ever deserved.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled at him, running her fingers through his hair.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you\u2019re the only one I\u2019ve ever wanted.\u201d\u00a0 Indy leaned in and kissed him gently.\u00a0 He shivered, hugging her tightly, almost crushing the breath from her.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cArilyn\u2026is afraid I\u2019m going to go out there and die.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She leaned back, staring at him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not planning on it, are you?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He managed a smile.\u00a0 \u201cWith you waiting for me to come home to you?\u00a0 Of course not.\u201d\u00a0 He kissed her again and closed his eyes, hold loosening slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t hurt you\u2014or them\u2014like that anymore.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to be that stupid, or that blind.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cSo that\u2019s why you\u2019re taking the model with you?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He smiled a little, picking it back up again from where he\u2019d dropped it, next to them on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a brilliant kid, Indy.\u00a0 He\u2019s always been a brilliant kid.\u00a0 I\u2019ve\u2026I\u2019ve always just been too wrapped up in other shit to see it.\u00a0 And this\u2026?\u201d\u00a0 He turned the model over in his hands.\u00a0 \u201cThis could work.\u00a0 It\u2026it could be real.\u201d\u00a0 He carefully slipped it back into the bag.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to make it real.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She ran her fingers through his hair again and he shivered, sighing.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure you can\u2019t delay that debrief an hour or two?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy smiled, tousling his hair.\u00a0 \u201cAfter lunch, maybe, I can scrape together a few hours.\u00a0 Definitely tonight\u2026but I\u2019m sitting in on a briefing at 0600 local tomorrow.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s giving a briefing at 0600?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCarlos, at Golgan III.\u00a0 We have a holocom uplink that\u2019s going to let me sit in real-time.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mike frowned.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on out there that he\u2019s going to have you on a real-time uplink?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled that same, coldly knowing smile that had earned her the calsign Frosty during her flight operations days.\u00a0 \u201cClassified, for now.\u00a0 Strategies and tactics.\u00a0 Nothing for you to worry too much about.\u201d\u00a0 She pecked him on the cheek.\u00a0 \u201cHe may not be my XO anymore, but sometimes\u2026\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded a little.\u00a0 \u201cHe keeps you updated.\u00a0 I know.\u201d\u00a0 He grasped her gently by the back of her neck.\u00a0 \u201cIf something does<\/em> happen to me\u2026I\u2019m glad you have friends like him.\u00a0 To help.\u00a0 Look out for you.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her throat tightened and she nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNothing\u2019s going to happen to you, Mike.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He kissed her forehead.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 Nothing\u2019s going to happen to me.\u201d\u00a0 He let go of her reluctantly.\u00a0 \u201cTake care of that debrief.\u00a0 Sooner that\u2019s done, sooner you get home tonight, right?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u201d\u00a0 She kissed him again, standing and straightening.\u00a0 \u201cTake Ari to breakfast or something.\u00a0 Time\u2019ll pass faster if you keep busy doing something other<\/em> than packing.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood call.\u201d\u00a0 He caught her hand and squeezed it as she was turning to go.\u00a0 \u201cI love you, Indy.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI love you, too, Mike.\u00a0 Call me for lunch, okay?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded, grinning slightly.\u00a0 \u201cAye ma\u2019am.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She grinned back and headed out to face the day.<\/p>\n

~ Erin<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>