Chapter 41 Since you Went Away

The Captain and Chief Branak caught me up on what had been going on since I had been gone, transporting VIP's turned out to be a big pain, "They pissed and moaned practically the whole time we were in transit," said Gerrith, "Cha'Nara and their teen-aged daughter were on the verge of really getting into "it" commented Chief Branak, "The daughter called Cha'Nara something, she still won't say what, but Cha'Nara demanded she apologize, she said something else, Cha'Nara slapped her, the girl pulled a knife on Cha'Nara, Ijale here stopped it just in time, no telling what would have happened if he hadn't happened on them," said Captain Irnay. "On top of all that, Cha'Nara tells me we're missing some chems, which by the way were kept under lock and key, by law, I had to give Cha'Nara a drug test, she came up clean, the parents refused to let their daughter take one, and that's where things ended," said Ijale, "I think that's why your girlfriend is still so hyper, I think Cha'Nara thinks we think she took the drugs, nobody is accusing her at all, but for the fact that you being left on Fallaria and the situation with this girl have her still pretty upset."

We spent another couple arns in the "Freelancer" before heading back to the ship, along the way I said to Chief Branak "You know Chief, I've been quite impressed by your "people" Varla, Jaralt, the military people I met on the Destroyer, I like 'em!" Chief Branak just smiled and shook her head. Back onboard, I headed straight for Cha'Nara's room, however she wouldn't open her door, I ended up doing a whole lot of sweet-talking before she opened up. I told her I knew all about her problems with the girl and the missing drugs, but it required another session of love making to calm her down, she wouldn't tell me what the girl called her, so I let it go. Cha'Nara was still upset about the fact that I could have been killed, but I explained that we all led a dangerous life out here in space, I don't know how much convincing I did, but eventually she returned to her "old self" so I took what I could get and let it go at that.

The next morning I was back at my old job checking the ships system, Gerrith stopped me while I was running a test and said, "Charka asked me to get you some weapons training, so as soon as you're finished I'll take you to the training center. I reported to the chief who released me to go with Gerrith who then took me to the Cassylia training center. They stuck one of those "crown" things on my head, and while I thought I was standing out in the desert with no hat knowledge was flowing into my brain. Gerrith made me take a short nap, and then we went to the range where I shot several Plaser weapons including a couple "assault" type rifles very similar to what Deak used to carry. We spent around four arns at the training center, in the end I shot 284 out of 300 which was apparently considered pretty good, not long after we returned to the Melori, we began to make preparations to leave.

Things soon settled down to the usual routine, Chief Branak and I kept the Melori running smoothly, from time to time Ha'Rok took a break and made me cook, which having done it on earth I really didn't mind. One time Captain Irnay had me sit in her chair and quizzed me on what the various instruments indicated, and the proper sequence procedures. She didn't say anything as she dismissed me but it looked to me she was smiling. The days and weeks went by, for about three mourns all we did was haul high priority cargo, then one afternoon as the chief and I were replacing a condenser we felt a "bump" "Somebody must be docking?" said chief Branak, "I wonder who?" We soon found out, "Chief Branak, Ben Miller, report to the bridge." Enterinng it bridge, I could see an enormous spacecraft in front of us, but the window was blocked by the Captain, Cha'Nara, and Prax talking to somebody dressed in a black spacesuit, holding a helmet of some type. As I approached the individual turned around, it was Varla Vormak, a big smile lighting up her face. She set her helmet down and turned to Cha'Nara, "Cha'Nara, do I have your permission to give your boyfriend a big kiss?" Cha'Nara shrugged and said, "Fine by me, don't make it a habit though." Varla came up to me and put her arms around me and planted a very passionate kiss on my lips and held it, until I heard Cha'Nara clear her throat.