really kept his cool and his onboard computer reads that he killed more enemy fighters than any of us. He went in guns blazing. It wasn’t until Red got killed that Jack...fell into his current state.”
Commander Kelley became frustrated and angry at the mention of Red’s name.
“It’s Styler’s own fault! That insubordinate, reckless, stubborn fool!” April was sorry Red was gone, but she was still very angry about the circumstances of his death.
“Red was a character,” said Trey. “If it hadn’t been for that ego and attitude of his he would have been a great combat pilot. What a waste.”
“People like that don’t belong in the Space Force. I don’t know how he made it. And as for Jack, we all lost shipmates out there.”
“Red was more than Jack’s shipmate.”
“So, they were friends at the space academy.”
“No Commander, they’ve been best friends all their lives. They’re both orphans that grew up together in the same orphanage. Red may have been immature and pig headed at times but to Jack, he was like a brother. He was the closest thing to family that Jack had.”
April was stunned.
He’s an orphan? She knew that in the Space Force, you inevitably lost comrades, especially during times of war. But this was a much deeper loss. She now spoke in a calmer softer voice. “So how long has he been in there?”
“Hours,” said Trey. “Jack Thunder is the best pilot I’ve got, I need him out there with us at one-hundred percent. He’s got to pull through this.”
“Let me talk to him,” said April.
She turned to hit the door buzzer, but decided just to knock slightly and slowly slide open the door. Jack was free floating close to the ceiling.
“It’s me, Jack” said April as she slipped into the room. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine” said Jack in a distant, sorrowful voice. She reached up and put her hand on the side of his face. It was wet from where he had been weeping.
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I know losing Red is very hard for you, things like this always are.”
“I know you all saw him as overbearing, egotistical and irresponsible... and I know he could be, but... at heart he was a good guy. When we were kids I was always the little guy getting picked on and Red was always the guy who stuck his neck out to help me.”
“Red, had his flaws,” said April. “But he died a hero. He died to defend our planet and our entire species. That is honorable. His sacrifice will be remembered, and if we are to honor his memory, you must carry on the fight.”
He looked at her with tear filled eyes.
“I’m truly alone, now…”
She again put her hand on his face.
“You’re not alone, Jack,” she said. Then she kissed him tenderly on his forehead, gave him a smile, and slipped out.
“Do you think he should go back out there?” she asked Trey.
“If at all possible, yes.”
“Just...” her com-link beeped. “Kelley here.”
“Commander, your needed in the CIC.” said the voice.
“On my way.” She gave Trey a parting glance and said, “Take care of him.”
After April left, Jack just continued to stare at the wall. His whole body hurt. He felt it coming and he knew there was no stopping it. Whereas before a few tears had forced their way out of his eyes, now the flood gates opened. He buried his head in his arms while floating and cried openly. His sobs could be heard throughout the nearby corridors. He sniffled and tried to wipe his eyes dry and in doing so sent some of his tears floating off in the cabin.
He tried to remember the good times. He thought of when they were kids. He thought of when he and Red flew had flown their trainers in orbit above Earth and pretended to be fighter pilots. He remembered the summer trip when he, Jennifer, Red and one of Red’s girl friends went to the Moon. He and Red had roamed the surface for hours outside the habitat in rented space suits. Red had taken Jack to his first Moon ball
Commander Kelley became frustrated and angry at the mention of Red’s name.
“It’s Styler’s own fault! That insubordinate, reckless, stubborn fool!” April was sorry Red was gone, but she was still very angry about the circumstances of his death.
“Red was a character,” said Trey. “If it hadn’t been for that ego and attitude of his he would have been a great combat pilot. What a waste.”
“People like that don’t belong in the Space Force. I don’t know how he made it. And as for Jack, we all lost shipmates out there.”
“Red was more than Jack’s shipmate.”
“So, they were friends at the space academy.”
“No Commander, they’ve been best friends all their lives. They’re both orphans that grew up together in the same orphanage. Red may have been immature and pig headed at times but to Jack, he was like a brother. He was the closest thing to family that Jack had.”
April was stunned.
He’s an orphan? She knew that in the Space Force, you inevitably lost comrades, especially during times of war. But this was a much deeper loss. She now spoke in a calmer softer voice. “So how long has he been in there?”
“Hours,” said Trey. “Jack Thunder is the best pilot I’ve got, I need him out there with us at one-hundred percent. He’s got to pull through this.”
“Let me talk to him,” said April.
She turned to hit the door buzzer, but decided just to knock slightly and slowly slide open the door. Jack was free floating close to the ceiling.
“It’s me, Jack” said April as she slipped into the room. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine” said Jack in a distant, sorrowful voice. She reached up and put her hand on the side of his face. It was wet from where he had been weeping.
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I know losing Red is very hard for you, things like this always are.”
“I know you all saw him as overbearing, egotistical and irresponsible... and I know he could be, but... at heart he was a good guy. When we were kids I was always the little guy getting picked on and Red was always the guy who stuck his neck out to help me.”
“Red, had his flaws,” said April. “But he died a hero. He died to defend our planet and our entire species. That is honorable. His sacrifice will be remembered, and if we are to honor his memory, you must carry on the fight.”
He looked at her with tear filled eyes.
“I’m truly alone, now…”
She again put her hand on his face.
“You’re not alone, Jack,” she said. Then she kissed him tenderly on his forehead, gave him a smile, and slipped out.
“Do you think he should go back out there?” she asked Trey.
“If at all possible, yes.”
“Just...” her com-link beeped. “Kelley here.”
“Commander, your needed in the CIC.” said the voice.
“On my way.” She gave Trey a parting glance and said, “Take care of him.”
After April left, Jack just continued to stare at the wall. His whole body hurt. He felt it coming and he knew there was no stopping it. Whereas before a few tears had forced their way out of his eyes, now the flood gates opened. He buried his head in his arms while floating and cried openly. His sobs could be heard throughout the nearby corridors. He sniffled and tried to wipe his eyes dry and in doing so sent some of his tears floating off in the cabin.
He tried to remember the good times. He thought of when they were kids. He thought of when he and Red flew had flown their trainers in orbit above Earth and pretended to be fighter pilots. He remembered the summer trip when he, Jennifer, Red and one of Red’s girl friends went to the Moon. He and Red had roamed the surface for hours outside the habitat in rented space suits. Red had taken Jack to his first Moon ball
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