Love on the Rocks - 4. Chapter 4

I was back in my cubbyhole quarters working on my plans when I got the Link notification that my parents had returned to the station. I smiled as I hopped up to head next door to talk to them. I walked in and Mom gave me the look as she spoke.

“I hear you have a boyfriend.” I just looked up at the ceiling and took a few deep breaths through my nose and out of my mouth.

“I really hate living on this station. I have a new friend. He is not my boyfriend. He is a consensual playmate.” Dad covered his mouth to hide the smile I know was forming there at my mother. She pressed on, though.

“Really? I heard you went to meet his parents.” My eyes rolled in true teenager fashion.

“Mom.” It was drawn out and full of exasperation.

“What Marc. We would like to meet him too.” Now Dad was picking up on my not so happy looking face.

“Dorothy. Maybe they’re not really dating, and they are just friends.” She turned on him with eyebrows raised.

“You’ve heard the rumors just like I did. Do you really think that is what’s going on?” Dad got one of his interesting looks he gets when dealing with Mom.

“What I think is our son is getting mad at this line of questioning. That would indicate to me he probably is not dating, but rather found a nice playmate for a night or two.” I smiled my thanks to dad, and he gave me a sly wink. That told me he wasn’t sure what to believe, but he was going to let me decide what they should know. Directly from me.

“Did you still want to head up to ‘77 early, Marc?” He asked to sort of change the subject. Mom might put two and two together on the reasoning for that before the night is over, but at least he’s trying to steer her in a different direction, which I can help solidify.

“I wanted to take an Ice Miner out again. Thought I would head up early and get things set up, then sail out for a few days of Ice Chopping after Tammi’s Ceremony before coming back down. Cousin Randy was coming up with the ship and said he’d stick around a few days if I could tell him at least a week in advance. But more time is always better than less time.” Mom nodded.

“I don’t see why not. We're coming back the following week. You could ride back down with us. Comm Grandma Barb and ask when they are going up. Dad thought they mentioned something about going up early.” I looked at dad.

“I just remember they said something about going up early. I don’t know the time frame involved. They had a few stops planned for the trip, so it might be a week or two to get there. You could work on your Watch Stander and Helm qualifications under Robert and Peter or work on the Engineering under Grandpa.” I thought about that.

“Yes. I could.” I said as I thought it over. I need just a few more qualifications to add to my list to get my ‘All INDUSTRIAL VESSELS ANYWHERE’ Certification added to my Captain’s Credentials as well as my Blockade Runner Qualifications. Dad caught my train of thought and smiled as Mom had been distracted from the original conversation with the talk of qualifications. I guess I really can’t be too upset with Mom. It was her idea I take the 12 week Officers Candidate Course with CONFED Navy. I didn’t need to join the Navy, just like many people didn’t. Just add the course to my credentials, and if I should work with them at some point, it would be a plus on my side of the negotiations. Besides, I got to stand Bridge watches on Cruisers and Battleships. I sighed internally. She just wants the best for me. It was probably just the thought that I was seeing somebody and went to meet their parents first while she didn’t even know I was dating anyone.

After I dropped a few messages around, including asking my cousin Randy when he was going up. My Grandparents the Armstrongs, were the first to inform me I was going up with them on their Blockade Runner. I smiled as I liked that ship, but it would have been cool for me to arrive on Nova Provider too, as Grandma Alexander said I could, and that they were arriving two days earlier than my other grandparents. That made me check Sasha’s schedule. Then I tapped him off a message.

“I’ll be at the station before you arrive. Tell your dad there is no need to stay an extra day if you don’t need to. We could still have three nights together. Then I have the Ceremony on Sunday and the day after I have an Ice Miner I am taking out into the fields for a few days, then I head back down.”

Almost an hour later before Sasha texted a reply. “Dad says it is all right. He just took a day off at another stop. It will not be a problem, and I would like an extra day with you.” I tapped out a code and waited.

“Hey Marc. How are you?”

“I’m good Sasha and you.” He smiled.

“The same. Dad said it’s OK to stay another day and they want to know if you want to join us for lunch or dinner again.” I raised my eyebrows as my lips puckered. He saw my expression. “No. We are not boyfriends. Just friends that sleep together.” He said with a smile.

“Still want me as a boyfriend?” I gave him a mock sigh. “OK. My boyfriend wanna be. I’ll come.” His face lit up.

“Thanks Marc. Can I ask a question?” I looked into those inquisitive eyes.

“Yes Sasha. What do you want to know?” He blushed a little before he asked.

“Could I top you this time, or are you strictly a top?” I tilted my head to one side as I responded.

“If you feel you need that. Then yes. I will let you top me one night. I don’t always find it enjoyable, but I will let you.” He looked at me strangely again.

“You don’t like it, but you will let me?” I nodded.

“You are loved Sasha. Not the way you want me to, but loved nonetheless. I would let you, to make you happy.” He smiled.

“I have trouble believing you are not my boyfriend.”

“Would it be better if we didn’t see each other?” His eyes went wide as he shook his head no. “Then that’s all you need to remind yourself. Yes. I love you. You are not my boyfriend. As long as you can deal with that, we can have a lot of fun together. Your mate is still out there, just like my mate is. We will find them one day, Sasha. I am sorry that thought hurts you. But that is the way it is.” He looked sad and spoke softly.

“I know Marc. Sometimes when I think about it, I am sad. Other times, I am very happy.”

* * *

“Is there a reason you have two gravtrunks?” My hand shot up in the universal sign for stop. “Wait. Let me guess. Shoes for every occasion. Walking shoes, Watch shoes, eating shoes, running shoes. Throwing at me shoes?”

“Brat. No. I brought stuff I wanted to transfer up to Joshua Seventy-Seven Station.”

“I see.” I drag out. “So it is shoes?” And she smacked me before I could jump away.

“Are you going to be like this the entire trip?”

“Only when you’re not standing Bridge Watches with me.”

“I’m not standing Watches.”

“You are now. Price you pay for me, arranging your escape.” She let out a huff.

“Fine. Brat.”

“That’s Captain Brat to you.”

“You’re not the Captain of this ship.” She said triumphantly.

“I am a member of the owning family, shareholder of Alexander Industries, and the Senior Officer of the Family Presently Aboard or SOFPA. That puts me up in Admiral Country.” And I got huffed at again, which made me smile as I leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

“Love you too, vicious little sister.”

“Love you too, Captain Brat. I still don’t want to stand Watches. But I will with you.”

“I thought you would see it my way. Besides. I have a 12 pack from Aris in my Armor Trunk.” She beamed up at me. Chocolates. The ultimate little sister bribing tool used for all negotiations that I want to win.

“Thanks Marc.”

“You’re welcome, Jessica. How much atmospheric entry have you got completed in a shuttle?”

“Seventeen hours. Most at Aris.” I frowned as I worked that out. Not anywhere near what I would like her to have.

“OK. We’ll see if I can get you out at Burning Rock and Icicle. Maybe even see if Grams will let us chase the sunrise or sunset again.” That put an obvious bounce in Jessica’s step as we approached the Lock to board ANS Victory.

We were informed that our grandmother had already arrived and was waiting for us in the Wardroom with the senior staff. Being led to our staterooms first and then off to the Wardroom. I took my seat to Grandma Alexander’s left and Jessica sat on her right. Jess felt a little left out as Grandma filled me in on what they had talked about before we arrived.

“As I mentioned to everyone, Marc. You are SOFPA this trip and would probably spend time on the Bridge as well as conducting training aboard.”

“Correct Grandma.” I started before I looked around at everyone. Winking at Uroda. “For the duration of this trip, since I don’t feel like taking a Brevet Promotion. That being the case, I will forgo the Captain’s title and use Sa Alexander instead.” I glanced around the table to receive the nods of acknowledgment. “Captain. With your permission I will stand Watches and also taking temporary Command occasionally. My sister Jessica will join me frequently as I teach her basic Watch Standing.” I looked at her and she gave me a small smile as grandma gave me an arched eyebrow with her lopsided grin. That told me she would speak to me later about how I pulled that off.

“I’ve also talked with Admiral Tenisoo. We will conduct some Asteroid Jump training and Pirate Interdiction during this cruise.” I said as I forwarded several files from my tablet to the senior staff. I waited as they took time to preview them before I continued.

“I have nothing else at the moment.” I said as I looked at grandma and then the Captain. “I believe if the ship is ready in all respects, we can get underway?” Captain Allen Butler was informed of my plans before I came aboard and had the ship prepared for immediate departure once we were aboard.

“We can depart at your command, Sa Alexander.”

“Grams. Ready?” She nodded to me.

“OK. Captain Butler. Let’s head for our first stop on the list. I believe that should have us there by lunch tomorrow.”

“That would be correct, Sa Alexander. Will any of the others be joining us?”

“Later, I think. None of them could make it back in time and the entire family is on a schedule at the moment that we couldn’t delay.” He nodded, and I turned to Jess. “Let’s head for the Bridge, Jess.” The look she gave me almost had me laughing as we all stood.

“Now?”

“Yes. You can stand by me as I explain what is happening as it happens. While we cast off and get underway. We’ll stay until the first Jump and then we can go unpack.”

“Fine.”

“I thought you would see it my way.” I said as grandma chuckled behind us.

* * *

I was standing the Officer of the Deck Watch and had Jessica standing with me. She was spending her time between standing with me as I instructed her on what was going on and sitting with the Electronics Officer as she ran scans and signals intercepts. I smiled as I had my arm over her shoulder and she leaned into me. She only stifled one yawn so far today, and I congratulated her on that. Which earned me a Brat. A few people on the Bridge chuckled as I smiled on.

“Why don’t you take a seat when you are on Watch?”

“Me personally?” I asked as I looked down at her. She nodded in the affirmative. “Because I like to move around. I’ll go from my station, to the Holotable, to the Helm, possibly over by Engineering or Weapons. Basically, I am wandering the Bridge as I guide us to our next destination. It also gives me time to learn each person on the Bridge. How they may react to different situations. I do actually sit once I am comfortable with everything going on around the Bridge. While you are here, we will stand.” Jessica took a few minutes to ponder that answer.

“You just don’t want me to fall asleep.” I smiled, and she gave me a huff before she moved back over to her seat as I worked from my standing position by my holotable station.

I took a Comm’s from Admiral Tenisoo during one of our transits of the Pipe as we moved through the third sector of five en route to Weissman Station.

“Good evening, Admiral.”

“Hello Marc. Glad I caught you on the Bridge. Are you aware of the latest rumblings out of the Versaran Sector? Specifically, from Vestas Station.” I had motion for Captain Butler to join us standing just outside of the Holocamera’s pickup. I glanced at him, and he shook his head no with an interested expression.

“We have not Admiral. Trouble brewing?”

“Possibly. I am allowing you and Captain Butler to make a swing through the sector. We will have other assets arriving about an hour behind you. But the local defense force is already working on the problem that a few of the large freighters operating in the area are concerned about. Namely, being shadowed. No actual threatening moves, but it’s like they are tracking the ships coming and going.” I ran my fingers through my hair before I started tapping out an idea into the holotable station I was standing at. Captain Butler pointed, and I double checked the line of code I entered and made a change before we were looking at an overhead view of the traffic routes from the station to the Jump area and beyond to the Sector Jump Gate. Admiral Tenisoo knew I was studying the problem and waited patiently as I worked through it. Captain Butler called over the Weapons Officer as I rotated the view and highlighted some of the freighters in the area. Two names out of the seven caught my interest. Sara Maru and Naomi Maya.

“I believe we’ll make a few course changes and pay the sector a visit. Don’t bother informing the Versaran Defense Force. I’m not sure they would be a help or a hindrance.” The Admiral smiled.

“For somebody that hates the politics and meetings, you remain well informed. I don’t trust them either and actually wonder if they are part of the problem.” He sighed. “I’ll let you and Captain Butler plan out your response and attend to it. Let me know if you think we need to post more active patrols in the area.”

“Of course, Admiral. Thank you for the heads up.” I said, as we disconnected. I tapped out a few keys and waited for Grandma to answer.

“Yes Marc.”

“Going to be a delayed. We are dropping in to Versaran Sector to check out some rumblings the Admiralty has heard.”

“OK. How long do you think?”

“Possibly 8 stanhours. Shorter if I can get two of the Comet Class in sector fast enough.”

“I’ll inform Weissman Station of our impending delay. Keep me updated, please.”

“Of course, Grandma.” I said, as I disconnected. The Captain smirked at me.

“Guess you’re not getting out of that meeting.” He said teasingly. It’s well known I hate meetings.

“The death spasm of the universe wouldn’t prevent me from being dragged to a meeting.” I laughed to myself. “At least I get to have some fun on the way up the Pipe.” All the while, I was tapping away as I produced the course I wanted.

Twenty minutes later, I ordered our Jump through the Jump Gate into Versaran Sector. Popping out the other side, we arched up and headed for the main shipping corridors. It didn’t take long for our arrival to be noticed. As I watched the holotable with several Officers at my sides and a very miffed Jessica. We saw the two suspected ships peel off in diverging courses. Knowing we can’t chase both, but not knowing, I didn’t want to.

“We will not hunt them down?” asked Jessica.

“We are not. Yet. Do you know why?”

“Because they went different directions?” She asked, not sure of her answer. I rolled my fingers in a gesture to continue. Which made her scoff at her foot. “You’re waiting for other ships to arrive.”

“Precisely.” I said as I hugged her to my side as I continued to observe and give orders.

We maintained our course as I had the Comm’s Officer reach out to each ship individually. Telling them to maintain their course and normal operating speed, either towards the Gate or the Station. Whichever way they were going. Releasing Jessica to return to her cabin, I had a personal Comm opened to Naomi Maya first.

“Hello Marc. That’s you that just came through the Gate and ordered all of us to maintain courses and speed.” Asked Camile Malachi as she sat in the Officer of the Deck seat.

“Hello Cam. Yes. I am here now. How are you and Roman?” Just as I said it, his head popped in the view.

“Hi Marc. Thanks for stopping by with a Cruiser. It had the desired effect.” Which I laughed at.

“Hello Roman. I take it you two are both doing good?” I asked. They both nodded, and Roman held up his hand to display the new ring. I looked back with a smile and raised eyebrows.

“Who proposed? You or Zack?”

“They both did Marc. I’ll send you the holovid.” Said Camile, which made me smile.

“Congratulations, my love. I still expect an invitation to the ceremony.”

“You will Marc.” Said Roman. “You were actually the first person we added to the list, but we haven’t set a date yet.” I sat back and smiled. I liked Zack. I thought they made a good couple.

“And what about you Cam. Anyone threatening to place a ring on your finger?”

“I’m dating Geric Kinsdale now.” She paused, and I tilted my head as my lopsided grin displayed itself. She took the hint and continued. “We’ve been discussing it. Mom and Dad are surprised we are talking so soon, but I think he’s the one, Marc.”

“What she means is. He is the closest to being you,” she smacked him as he laughed, “and they are good for each other.” Roman continued as he winked. So she found my replacement. That was good and expected after she fuck me out of her system with other people. Roman took longer to date again, but found the one he wanted his first try. I was looking forward to watching that holovid of the bonding proposals.

“I am glad the two of you are happy and continuing on in life. I’ll talk to you in a few weeks to catch up. In the meantime, I need to chase some possible pirates.” They both blew me kisses before we disconnected.

I took a few moments to relish the moment that my ex-loves were very happy again. That made me happy too. I got back to work as I monitored the locations of the two ships we were watching, waiting for other ships of ours to join us for the hunt.

“Making them think we are disinterested?” Asked Uroda as she stood next to me.

“Yes. I don’t want to spook them too much until I have the ships here to chase them. How is Riana doing?” She introduced me to her last night. Nice girl. Not sure what they see in each other, but they appear very happy.

“We are doing fine. Hoping for a new ship together.” She gave me the look as I smiled.

“I’m already looking into it. Don’t tell her, please.”

“That was the information you needed first.”

“Mmm Hmm. Just needed to know who I was dealing with. I’ll come up with something suitable for the two of you.” That made her break out in a wide toothed grin.

“Thank you from both of us.”

“Like I told the others. I expect an invitation to the ceremony if there is one.”

“Of course. You’re the only Prince on the list if it comes to Bonding.” Which made me laugh as she moved away to continue her duties.

* * *

It was an hour later when two more ships from the Alexander Naval Service arrived. I took great pleasure in pointing them in the direction I wanted them to go as we continued on towards Vestas Station. I tapped out a Comm code and waited.

“Hi Marc. How goes the mining?” Asked Sasha.

“Not too good because I’m not mining. Pass to your parents that I am in-sector and continuing to Vestas Station, then a return run to the Jump Gate. I have two other ships that just arrived in-sector and have started patrols to ferret out the shadows from earlier.” His mouth had dropped open, then slammed shut when I finished.

“You’re on that Cruiser?”

“I am. It’s my ride for the next week during one of our tours of our holdings. Admiralty dropped a Comm requesting I order a fly through of the area.”

“So. I have my own personal protector for this trip?” He asked with a look that hoped it was so.

“To the station. Yes. I will reverse course back to the gate after I reach there. This is already cutting into our schedule. I’ll be leaving the other two ships here for a few days. The sector should remain quiet.”

“Then no chance of you dropping in for an hour or two?” His wide puppy eyes were filled with desire.

“I’m afraid not Sasha, but I’ll be up at Joshua Seventy-Seven to meet you in a few weeks.” He didn’t quite pout, but he wasn’t happy.

“I’ll see you there. Thanks for following us in. When will you break off, at the outer limit?” I gave him a dip of my head to acknowledge his correct guess.

“Possibly sooner than we might join the other two ships for a chase.” He nodded in understanding as his mother joined the conversation.

“That sounds good, Marc. We appreciate ANS dropping ships into the sector.”

“We try to help when we can and we have an agreement with this sector.” She nodded her head in understanding. It takes no great feat of math to figure out all that agreement meant was they wouldn’t get upset when we came in and did their job. Since there were so many freighters that we dealt with here, we sent ships to protect them. “I need to return to work. I’ll see everyone in a few weeks.”

“Until we meet again, Marc.” Sasha said, which I returned before I disconnected.

Planet of Icicle. 2 days later.

I watched as Jessica piloted us down into the atmosphere under my guidance as I sat the left seat. Grandma agreed to let us drop her off at the base and then let me take Jessica flying. Which meant we would pop over to check out the Ice Crystal Valley after we achieve orbit and I have her enter the atmosphere again at a different location. Our descent was slightly choppy. And the valley wasn’t as good as we had missed the initial brightening as the sun peeked over the horizon. The last time I brought her, we were perfect. Crystals lit up as the sun crossed the valley, flooding it with a rainbow wave of light.

We were not as lucky when we arrived at Burning Rock. Jessica did OK entering the atmosphere, but I had to step in when a spout shot up in front of us. Pure, red hot, molten rock. She didn’t maneuver fast enough. Thankfully, I was prepared for that, a tap of my finger, and we hopped ten kilometers away. That freaked her out even more.

“I had it.”

“You didn’t. Now you can continue our course. As a warning. We’ll probably see a few more spouts as we are below 1000 meters.” She withheld the brat I knew she was thinking, but understood I was correct.

Top that off with me taking the controls as we landed, before we had to sit for a 90-minute meeting. Followed by me lifting us out of the atmosphere as she talked with grandma. We had three more stops before we returned to Low Point Station 3 days later. I only had the pleasure of one pirate chase as we crossed seven sectors. I had expected more, but Grandma probably told Admiralty not to disturb us anymore after the first delay.