Deep Space Endeavor 3 Death Match (39 page)

“That’s what Bessa is for.” They looked at each other and laughed as they walked into the restaurant for breakfast.

Jesse was training in the landing bay. He felt like he had been studying the galaxy drive so much, that he had been neglecting his training. He was going pretty hard at the heavy bag with combo after combo. Tanna was watching, amused by the noises he was making with each strike.

“Something I can help you with, Sergeant?” Jesse asked, pretending to be annoyed.

“Actually there is, Colonel,” she replied, pretending not to notice. “Josiah tells me you are planning a return trip to this galaxy, whether it is with your galaxy drive or by the four and a half month route you and Collin have worked out.”

“To be fair, Tanna, I may never be able to make it back here. As much as I may want to, there are just too many variables at this point, but that is the plan. Why?”

“I would like to accompany you to Earth. Not just me, my mother would like to send some
Battle Hammers
to explore with the Hyperians. Chief of State Enosal has already agreed to let us go if I could convince you. What do you think?”

“So that’s what you and Josiah were doing yesterday. Alright, I’ll tell you this. You, Tanna, are always most welcome aboard
Endeavor
no matter where we go. I’ll sit down with your mother and tell her the same thing I told King Dominus. It won’t be an easy trip and there’s no guaranteed return. If she would still wish to send the ships, then they are most welcome to join us as well. I have a feeling that if they send ships, Kaldor will also wish to send ships. My people are likely to think I am trying to invade them.” He smiled and began hitting the bag again.

“Thank you, Colonel.” Tanna called as she was walking away, presumably to tell the Admiral.

Five minutes later, Jesse had found a good groove. His shots were landing with the force he was used to. His kicks had their power back and he was enjoying himself. While executing a windmill kick he noticed Kimi standing nearby, studying his every move. He stopped his workout and walked over to her.

“Kimi, is everything alright?”

“Yes, Jesse. I mean, no. I am not sure.”

“What is it., Kimi?”

“I wish to talk about us.” She looked nervously at him.

He guided her over to a bench against the wall and said, “Alright, what about us?”

“These last couple months have been beyond a dream come true for me. We have not had battle, you are making strides on your next invention and everyone seems settled. Collin and Bessa will marry soon, and everything seems to be in place.

“But?” he prodded as she looked nervously around.

“Where do I fit in now? Now that the battles are over, and everything has settled, where do I fit?”

“I’m not sure I understand, Kimi.” He still looked puzzled and then it hit him.
Of course, she doesn’t feel like she fits, everyone still has something to do, to look forward to except her. Kimi could never settle for just being my girlfriend and I wouldn’t want her to. I’ve been so wrapped up in my galaxy drive, I failed to notice.
“Kimi, you are a very valuable member of this crew. You may not be busy now, but that doesn’t mean you’re not needed.” He paused to let it sink in, and then continued.  “And I’m not just talking about how much I need you.”

“Jesse, you don’t have to placate me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You are the ship’s security officer. You could rewrite the protocols, monitor the progression of Bessa, Xanu and Tanna’s training, or reprogram the remaining bots to assist with ship security. There is work to be done.”

“Could I set up a meeting with the Chief of State and suggest some security protocol’s for his fleet?” She looked apprehensively at him as she waited for an answer.

That’s what this is about; with my working on the drive, Collin and Bessa getting married, Josiah coordinating the fleet we will likely be bringing home and Suzy working on recovery pods, she wants something more big picture to do.
“I think that’s a great idea, Kimi, now that Ginderbar is unified, their ships should have coordinated protocols.” Jesse stood up and she stood up with him. He leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips and lingered there for a moment. He looked at her and replied, “Let me set up a meeting with Enosal. We’ll go to lunch soon and you can pitch him on it. Are you up for that?”

She looked up and smiled. She was stunning when she smiled. “I am up for that, I cannot wait, Jesse.” She squeezed his hand and began to walk away, but she turned back with a smile and said, “You are dropping your left when you go from your knee into your windmill.” Then she walked away.

He smiled at her and watched her go. She was so perfect and so talented. He knew she wasn’t looking for recognition, just meaningful work while everyone else was so engaged with their responsibilities.

______

The big day had arrived. One of the most talked about social events on Ginderbar in recent memory: the wedding of two heroes from the famous ship
Endeavor
. Chief of State Enosal was very pleased they had chosen to wed on his world. He was also pleased with the suggestions Kimiko had given him. He planned to let her begin implementing them in the fleet immediately. The high council of Kaldor was here. The Royal family of Hyperia had just landed and the ruling delegation of the planet Qualoosh would be arriving shortly. Enosal was hoping to dovetail this event into a strategy session for the new alliance. They were fairly certain the Zinnebailan-backed, pirate-led aliens were no match for them, but it wouldn’t hurt to have the backing of the Hyperian Royal Navy. King Dominus was still predisposed to help them as thanks for their part in saving his daughter, so he hoped to take advantage of that. Now, however, he was about to watch a friend get married. The ceremony was to be a traditional Earth wedding. Bessa didn’t know what a traditional Qualoosh wedding looked like, and she didn’t care. She wanted Collin to be happy. He had kept telling her that this was her day. He wanted everything to be perfect for her. She loved that about him, but she could also see it meant a lot to him that she had chosen his world’s custom. Enosal was looking forward to a most interesting ceremony. Then again, it seemed everything was interesting once the crew of
Endeavor
got involved.

He remembered back to that first night at Sector Steaks. Garrinoras’ men had gotten the drop on him and both he and his family were in danger. If the pirate had his way, he would have left that encounter with many
Battle Hammers
. When it looked as though nothing would save him, Colonel Jesse Marcos showed up. Two months later, Jesse presented him with the Sword of Targon, making him the legitimate ruler of the entire planet. He united the mercenary tribes into one, very powerful fleet. Then, along with Governor Valinor from Kaldor, he had begun to put together an alliance of planets that now stood nineteen planets and five races strong. Hopefully, after the galaxy watched a human marry a non-human on his world today, that alliance would grow.

Bessa couldn’t believe this day had finally come. Today, she was to marry the first and only man she would ever love. She was so thankful. A year ago, she could never have imagined a day like this. She could never have imagined people like this. Jesse was to walk her down the aisle in the traditional Earth custom of giving the bride away. It was supposed to be the father of the bride, but her own father had sold her into slavery when she was a small child. She didn’t even care to know who he was let alone let him take part in a ceremony this important. Jesse was a much better choice. He was the reason all of this was possible. Her bridesmaids were all wearing their light lavender dresses, thin strapped and sleeveless with a low, yet modest neckline. The dresses were form fitting and came down just below the knee. They matched the color of her skin perfectly. She was honored that her bridesmaids had chosen to wear them. Standing with her would be her maid of honor, Suzy, along with Kimiko and Tanna. Picking them had been an easy choice as they were the only female friends she had. The ceremony was only an hour away and she couldn’t wait. The man she loved was only two rooms away, but another Earth tradition prevented her from seeing him until the ceremony began. She found that she was not quite as fond of that one.

Colin was a bundle of energy. He felt like he could power a small city with all of the nervous energy that had built up inside him. He never liked the center stage. He felt it was important to put Bessa there, so he was willing to endure it. Josiah put his arm around him to settle him down. He was glad Josiah had agreed to be his best man. It probably would have been Manny had the ceremony taken place on Earth or Polisia; Josiah knew that, too and still agreed to stand with him. Jesse, Reece and Xanu would also be standing with him. The entire crew was part of the ceremony. Jesse was to walk Bessa down the aisle, which was fitting since he was the one that saved her and brought her to
Endeavor
. Reece and Xanu had no clue what was happening, but they were happy to be a part of it. Being soldiers made it easy for them. He simply told them stand here until the end and they did, no questions asked.

Collin’s heart began pounding as the music started playing. He walked out to the sight of hundreds of people seated and waiting. He would have preferred a small gathering of friends, but he wanted Bessa to be seen by the whole galaxy. He stood at his place in front of the man that would conduct the ceremony with Josiah, Reece and Xanu next to him. Jesse would take the end spot after walking Bessa down the aisle. Then the music stopped and the bridal march began. He looked up to see the most beautiful woman in the galaxy coming towards him. He was transfixed and she was stunning with her long white gown, and her light purple skin. Her hair, styled by one of Ginderbar’s best, looked perfect. She was lovely, but the thing that he couldn’t take his eyes from was the smile. He didn’t deserve someone that looked at him with that much love and that much joy. She finally made it to his side. Jesse lifted the veil and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He took his place and then the ceremony began.

After the ceremony had ended, Collin walked with his beautiful bride through the reception hall greeting friends and strangers. He loved every second of the smile on his wife’s face.
Wife, I could definitely get used to that
. He was also looking forward to a week alone with his wife. No one but them at Ginderbar’s most exclusive resort. No engines, no battle, just them, and he couldn’t wait. After a famous singer named Arianna gave an inspiring performance, he stood up, thanked everyone for being there and took off with his still smiling bride. The party was to continue on for quite some time, but he no longer cared about what was going on there. He held his wife’s hand as they boarded the air speeder and their new life together had begun.

As the party was winding down, all of the delegates had sequestered themselves into one of the meeting halls to talk about their alliance. They were excited about the possibility of becoming official allies with Hyperia. Jesse found Kimi and took her to a quiet corner to talk. She had the look in her eye that many girlfriends get at weddings and he knew he had to address it. She looked beautiful in her light lavender dress, but then again, she looked beautiful in anything.

“That was a perfect ceremony, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.” The look in her eye told him she was hoping for a ceremony like that someday.

“We only have another month before we get back home and then everyone will know we are together. Your mom and Sun, Nina and Serge; Manny and Zoe, Jason, Raina and Ariel, everyone, I can’t wait to tell them all. I know how happy they’ll be for us. I guess I’m telling you this because I want you to know how much I love you.”

Kimi looked at her boyfriend with hope-filled eyes.
Please, let him be going where I think he’s going with all of this
, she thought. “Jesse,” she smiled and his eyes were drawn to hers. “What exactly are you saying to me?”

He laughed at her bluntness. She had always been that way. “I’m saying that I want to be with you more than I want anything. I can even imagine a day like today for us in the not too distant future, I just want to get home and get settled before we take that next step, but I promise it won’t be long. I’m not gonna be stupid enough to let you get away.”

She was a little disappointed, but didn’t show it. He was right, it would be better when they got home, and all of their friends and family would be with them through the whole process. “I won’t be stupid enough to let you get away either,” she replied.

He took her other hand and gently pulled her close. He leaned in and kissed her gently at first, then with a little more passion. She kissed him back and they stood locked in their embrace for an eternal moment. He then took her hand again and began walking with her. “I know you won’t, Kimi.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked and smiled. She still couldn’t believe it had happened, after almost seven years, she was with the man she loved.