Last Holiday on Terra

43

I walked into the simulator room and saw that there was already a queue. The instructor saw me enter and wanted to move me to the front of the line and I refused, then asked a young Ensign how long she'd been waiting. She didn't want to tell me at first, as she looked toward the harried instructor. "I'll wait my turn, Sir. Thank you."

"Of course, your Grace."

After a forty-five minute wait, the line seemed to have barely moved and I wondered if my brother was even aware of the bottleneck in the sim-room. People had to train and since we weren't able to do real drills, this was the next best thing.

I left my place in line and approached the instructor whose face registered impending doom. "Sir, is this normal? Having so long a wait?"

"No, your Grace, it isn't. We picked up a bug whilst having been docked and I've asked Drogo to quarantine them—everyone comes through here and we are available for all shifts. Don't want it spreading more than it already has."

"I understand. How can I help?"

"Your Grace?"

"These are Third-gen sims. I can run them in my sleep. I'm actually surprised that we have these on board to be honest. Allow me to help you while your staff is convalescing. Besides, it'll give me something to do and I'll get a chance to actually get to know the crew a little bit."

"Oh your Grace! It wouldn't encroach on your schedule?"

"If it does, so what? At the risk sounding fluffy, we are at war and these people must train."

"Thank you, your Grace! I'll buy the brew for afterwards!"

"You're on!"

"Let me see if anyone else can render assistance." I called on Cee and explained the situation and asked if he was available to leave the bridge, or perhaps Captain Clover to come help?

"I was aware that a few trainers had been quarantined, but not all of them! I'll be over momentarily. Clover is better utilized on the bridge. She's grown far more comfortable with the crew."

"Excellent! Thank you, Captain."

"Of course, your Grace."

The crew appeared much relieved as did the instructor. And before too long, the doors whooshed open and my brother entered the cavernous room. All eyes were on him and he didn't look happy. He tapped his communications badge and ordered all department heads to the sim-room immediately.

I ambled up to my brother and his staff. He was directing them to pick the three best people who were knowledgeable enough as well as patient enough to tutor the crew in combat situations. They could rotate shifts and even do half shifts when the regular staff-members were released to go back to work. He also requested that the engineering team construct at least one more sim-pod.

Cee dismissed his department heads and turned to face me. Then, he actually grinned at me. I looked him over and grinned at him as well. We both had a quiet chuckle as he slapped my back...seems we both were new husbands. We each took a crewman and walked toward the sim-pods classrooms. After an eight-hour shift, I was relieved by Crazy Maisy. Her eyes literally twinkling when she looked up at me.

"You're hereby relieved, your Grace," she said.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Actually, it's Admiral now. Retired of course."

"Oh my god! My apologies!"

"It's alright Commander. But I'd still rather be a Captain, definitely way more fun. You know, you really ought to be given a field commission of Fleet Admiral, especially given your station. So many things we all need to discuss and now is not the time—" She looked toward the next crewman in line and I have to say, the poor kid looked absolutely terrified.

I gazed sympathetically into the young crewman's eyes. "It's alright. She doesn't bite."

"Yes I do! Come on, chop chop! We don't have all day, you know!"

"Be nice," I hissed.

Once the crewman skirted by her, she turned toward me and giggled. "This is going to be so much fun!"

I wasn't sure if I should have felt sorry for the kid or not. The last crewman that I had worked with was waiting for me by the door. She mentioned that she was heading toward the mess hall to grab a coffee and asked if I was heading in that direction...She thanked me for the lesson and requested permission to speak freely. I gave her the go ahead and she mentioned that she thought all crewmen be given the same chance as junior officers to tour the ship to find out where they're best suited. I too thought it was a good idea, but I reminded her that we found ourselves at war and that the luxury of time wasn't ours to be hard.

She nodded. "That's what father says."

"Oh? Who's your father?"

"Your brother." She looked up and noticed that we were being stared at. From the entrance to the mess hall. "The Queen, your Grace," she whispered. "Thank you again for the lesson, Uncle!"

It took a few moments to process what she had disclosed to me and I sat motionless as Kia approached the table. "Did she just call you uncle?"

I nodded, still in shock.

"There's a story there."

"I'm sure there is."

"She doesn't carry any rank, Rowann," she replied quietly.

"No, she doesn't, does she?" I was quite certain that she could feel my discomfort and she thankfully changed the topic of conversation quickly.

"I heard you were teaching sims today? How was it?"

"It was fun. Don't know that I could do it all the time, but it went alright. How was your day?"

"I can serve a proper tea now,"

"Oh my! How lovely!"

"Shaddup."

I chuckled. "Who was your instructor?"

"None other than Azreal himself."

"Ohhh! La de da!" I watched her right eye twitch as her left eyebrow raise. "Okay! So Azreal is your secretary?"

"No, he isn't. Not officially. I haven't met with them yet."

Now it was my turn: I felt my brow raise and my eye twitch. "Who is it, then?"

"All I know is that she had been scheduled for sim-training this morning."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"How much you wanna bet that my niece is your secretary?"

"Really?"

"Yes. In order to be a secretary, they need an intimate knowledge of life at court. They need to have all their little ducks in a row, you know?"

She nodded and I watched her eyes stare off into the distance. "Should I have her over for tea? I mean, as a family member?"

I smiled at her. "I think that's a great idea!"