J Mauldin - Final Solution

She smiled and stuck out her tongue.

“Question.”

“Yeah?” She paused.

“Was Lank Hair, I mean,” I shook my head, “was Graham who you thought had beaten me up?”

She peered off to the side, attention focused idly in the middle distance. “Yes,” was what she said, but I wasn’t convinced.

“Good enough for me.”

The ship was relatively quiet as we made for the forward end, narrow halls empty of crew. We passed through weapons storage and control, trying not to pay the former captain or Lank Hair any attention. They were each in their own tiny cells, furtively watching us as we passed. William Fryatt was reading an old copy of War and Peace , ironically enough, while Graham stared at a section of the wall, peeling off the paint. Griffin held her breath till we were safely back in the hall on the other side.

“Awkward,” she mumbled in singsong. What an understatement.

Just like the mid-journey turn, all crewmembers were gathered outside the bridge. However, this time, the doors were open. Liberty wanted everyone to hear what she had to say.

I sidled through the crowd, making a path for us, and found a place standing beside Dour Face just inside the bridge.

Griffin took a seat against the wall. “Anyone seen Kelly?”

“I haven’t,” Smith replied. “How about you, Rosaleigh?” Her name might as well have been pronounced sweetie by the inviting tone of her words.

“I saw him a few minutes ago. He wanted to check and see if Graham had done any damage in the maintenance core. I told him it was a waste of time given what the captain had said, but he persisted. So I let him in with my code.”

I leaned in to Dour Face’s ear and whispered, “Speaking of being in the core, I found your little doodles all over the ship.”

“I guess you would have had to by now.” He produced the black marker and held it up with reverence. “What good times we’ve had. Too bad I think she’s almost dry.”

“So, you just like vandalizing the ship?”

He shook his head and coughed. “No, I… Damn it, I draw when I get nervous or really stressed out. It helps me decompress, always has, like art therapy. In grade school my desk looked like an ancient Sumerian tablet for all the writing it had on it.”

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of. I go running.”

“Running would be the better option, but I hate that shit. You’re the only person in this cramped joint who actually seems to like it, other than Jack.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. It’s just better than sitting still.”

He put the pen away and crossed his arms, scanning the room to see if he thought anyone was close enough to hear. “You know, when you gotta be a tough guy all your life because you’re big and imposing, dealing with feelings by drawing pictures sounds pretty damn weak. So, I guess by putting those lines in places I’m not supposed to be makes things a bit edgier, a little more macho, right? Makes me feel…”

“Like a rebellious badass?”

Dour Face frogged me in the shoulder and chuckled. “Exactly.” It was hardly a tap, and so I fought not to rub away the pain, but it wasn’t mean to be cruel.

“I don’t think you have anything to prove.”

Full disclosure, my shoulder throbbed with every heartbeat.

“We always have something to prove, hot shot. That never ends. And by the way, I heard your little nickname for me.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s say you call me Brix from now on.”

“Alright, but that’s not your name.”

“No it’s not, but it’s what people I like call me.”

“Alright then, Brix.”

“That, and,” his features turned dark and he cracked his fingers, “if I hear you called me Dour Face one more time, I might just have to use your face to make my next picture. Understand, Davie?”

I swallowed. “We’re on the same page, friend.”

Liberty raised a hand to get everyone’s attention. “Hello, crew. Thank you for gathering. Goddard, are we back on track?”

“We are, captain.”

“Very well, master engineer.” She turned to face the audience, her back to the main display, hands clutched together in front. “With the help of our talented XO, I have devised a plan which will give us the best chance of success. We are, as we speak, making navigational corrections to put Mars in our path until we reach orbit. This will cut off the Razor’s chance to eliminate us en route. It will also give us a period of time, about two months, to rest and recuperate. All restrictions will be lifted on communications to loved ones back on Mars. Say whatever you must, spend whatever time you can with them by proxy. I wish to see you home so you can be with your families in person, but can make no promises.

“This mission, as any combat detail, is a risky one. We have about a fifty fifty chance of success. What I can say, however, is that it has been a pleasure to serve with each of you. When I came aboard this ship I was looking for something, something I thought I’d lost. I have found it in all of you. The Axis might be our enemy for today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? My father’s desire to end the lives of those living on Europa are not mine, and I will not see them through. XO stands with me. We must find a diplomatic solution in the near future, or our species will be blind, reaching into the dark and finding nothing but more emptiness. This is humanity’s finest hour. The one where we decide, where we say, no more. If we can destroy the Razor and survive, we can broker a peace. They will be in a position more apt to accept diplomacy with no standing military. But before that lofty future can be realized we must survive. Live your life. You have two months assured. See us to our final showdown breathing.”

The majority of the crew began to cheer, waving fists in the air and slapping bulkheads. Kelly loomed at one of the doorways, a mixed expression on his face. Griffin waved him over, smiling, and gave him a massive bear hug. He looked just as uneasy as I’d been. I gave him a wink.

“Finish your shifts,” Liberty said, the room going silent. “Then return to your quarters for a surprise. Dismissed.”

Everyone dispersed, idly chatting with one another as they left, leaving only the bridge crew and myself behind. Liberty whispered something in XO’s ear and he snapped to attention and saluted. She immediately came to me, back straight in her role as Captain. She was wearing a new coat with a new set of rank on her chest and shoulders. She was beautiful, like cold steel sharpened to a razor’s edge placed in the hands of a master.

“Goddard,” she said.

“Captain.”

“There are a few matters I’d like to speak of in private.”

Rosaleigh Head cleared her throat and nudged Smith with her foot. Smith raised an eyebrow while tonguing the edge of her lip ring, suppressing a chuckle.

“Of course.” I sidestepped and swept a hand through the air. “Lead the way, ma’am.”

Liberty took us to her new quarters. She closed the hatch and leaned against it, hands behind her back. She plodded across the room, taking a whole five steps to reach the other side. There was so much space in here it was almost nauseating.

I waited for her, standing at attention. “Quite the upgrade, ma’am.”

“Isn’t it?” She ran her fingers over the desk and military ornamentation, the small, wall mounted bookshelf with one book missing, and the shadow box filled with trophies. Her open palm froze in front of a silver trophy, a skimmer mounted on top, the number one engraved on its base. She let her hand fall, coming to rest at her side. “Mmm. No matter. Drink?”

“I’d love one.”

“Then you’re in luck.” She leaned over without bending her knees, her pressed uniform pants taking on the wondrous curve of her backside as she reached under the bed. After giving me the chance to visually map her shape and commit them to memory once more, she produce two square bottom bottles of honey brown liquid and set them on the table beside me. “At ease, Davie.”