Suns (LGBT - Sci-fi - Romance)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

(Twenty four years later) 

Third Lieutenant Nick Connell stood for a moment watching his shuttle depart with mixed feelings. He more than half wished he was back on it, returning to his position on the P108 Tamar, but he knew if he was serious about a promotion to Second Lieutenant he needed to broaden his experience, in short he needed a stint in a Patrol Office. It was only six months after all, and he had been lucky enough to secure a placement on Aykut, the space station in orbit above Isis. At least he would still be in contact with the ships which were his life, not stuck on some mudball, looking at the same unchanging view every day. 

He shouldered his carry pak with effortless ease and made his way out through the passageways of the spaceport buildings into the open streets of Aykut.  

He would check in with Captain Okiro at the Patrol Office before going to his lodgings to unpack and grab a bite to eat. He wasn't scheduled to start his shift until the following day but it would be courteous to drop in and introduce himself in person first. Of course he had communicated with the Captain via the console unit but it wasn't the same as meeting someone in real life.  

Okiro was a large dark skinned man in his mid fifties, with closely cropped grey hair and a heavily lined face. Connell was happy enough to be working with him, he had a reputation for bluff practicality amongst those who knew him in the Patrol and apparently was well regarded by the local civilian population. He had been known on more than one occasion to short circuit a strict interpretation of the rule book to achieve a more useful outcome for the parties before him. He was fond of saying that it was more useful to 'set the punishment to fix the crime' where possible, rather than imposing a crippling fine or prison term, especially in cases of minor theft or vandalism. Thieves found themselves not only returning or replacing the stolen item, but additionally working off the value of the item in community service afterwards.  

Connell entered the small office through the public entrance. When he started duty, his wristcom would be upgraded to allow him entry through the officers' door at the rear of the building. 

"Lieutenant Connell, to see Captain Okiro," he announced to the man on duty at the front desk. 

"Go on through sir," the officer replied with a polite smile, gesturing to a door leading through to private offices at the back. "The Captain's expecting you." 

Connell went through and found the Captain sitting in the first office behind the reception area, his door open so he could see everyone who went in and out. 

To his alarm, Okiro greeted him with a heavy scowl. 

"Sorry sir. Am I interrupting?" Connell took a small step backwards. 

"What? No, no come on in. It's not you, it's this damned transfer." He waved irritably at the console unit in front of him. 

"Sir?" 

"I was hoping to stay here until I retired in a few years," Oriko explained, waving his arms around. "But they want me to move down to Bast, take over the office there. They say Bast needs someone with more experience. Load of rubbish! Yokumi has been doing a perfectly fine job. What they really want is to move Rice in here, give him his first step up on his way up to the top. You'll see, if he does well here, he'll be in line to take over from me in Bast in a few years. Push me out early no doubt," he added gloomily. 

"Still, probably for the best, don't pay any attention to me," he ordered gruffly, suddenly remembering he was speaking to a very junior officer. "Be good for Aykut to have a change, I expect. A younger man, fresh ideas." 

"I'm sure you'll be missed, sir," Connell replied tactfully. "Er, sorry, who did you say is replacing you?"  

"Rice. Captain Rice." 

Connell relaxed, unaware until that moment how tense he had just become, Captain Rice. Of course it wouldn't be the same Rice who had been responsible for his father leaving the Patrol in disgrace. The Rice, who, from his administrative position at Patrol HQ on Capella, had tried to stop him from being accepted for the Academy when he turned eighteen a few years ago. That Rice was a Colonel the last he had heard. And Oriko had said a young man, the Colonel must be seventy if he was a day. Just a coincidence then, thank you god! 

"I have to be out at the end of the week," Oriko was still disgruntled. "I'm afraid I'll have to keep on working to get things in order so I've asked Kim to show you around." He paused as a tall young man with tilted eyes above flat cheekbones came up and halted beside Connell. "Lieutenant Connell, Private Kim," the Captain tossed out an introduction.  

Connell shook the young man's hand and smiled at him, he would be working closely with the small staff and he felt there was no point in standing on formality. Kim gave a tentative smile in return then proceeded to show him around the building, growing more relaxed as they went from room to room. Apart from the reception area and the Captain's office behind it, there were four small rooms to the rear which doubled as offices and interview rooms, all in standard patrol grey and white. Behind them was a small storeroom containing two hoverbikes. 

"They're used pretty much only for special occasions, sir, like escort duty or ceremonies. Mostly we patrol on foot, Aykut is small enough for that, at the moment at least. We have a shuttle of course, but that's kept at the Patrol hangar in the docking bay." 

Connell nodded. 

"The cells are the next floor down in the basement," Kim told him as he led the way down a primitive staircase. "There's an elevator of course, but the Captain likes us to use the stairs. Good exercise."  

There were three cells for the temporary housing of prisoners each containing only a bed and a toilet, both firmly attached to the floor. No pillows, shower cubicle or console unit for entertainment. 

"Pretty basic," commented Connell, glad he would never have to spend any time inside one. 

Kim smiled, "Yes sir, it does the job! We find a night in here works well as a deterrent, gives people a taste of what prison would be like." 

"Have you been here long?" Kim looked barely old enough to have graduated. 

"About a year, sir." 

"So you'd have a good grasp of the type of work you get here. Fill me in would you?" Connell had already familiarised himself with the current caseload but he wanted to hear what the young officer had to say, he would learn a lot more from listening to Kim, not least about how the station operated. He intended to have a similar discussion with the rest of his new team when he met them. 

He had finished the tour and was just about to leave when Kim asked hesitantly. "Have you heard much about the new Captain, sir? Captain Rice?" 

"No I'm sorry, I'm not acquainted with him. The only Rice I know anything of is a Colonel in HQ, on Capella." He spoke matter of factly, careful as always not to let any of his personal animosity show. 

"Oh," Kim nodded sagely. "His father." 

"Pardon?" 

"I understand Colonel Rice is the Captain's father sir."