The story from 'Things Unsaid' from the girls point of view
I couldn’t believe it. I’d only been gone a couple of hours and he was part-way drunk. I’d not seen Dave like this for a long time. I was disappointed and I told him so. That upset him and we argued, culminating in him telling me if I was that offended I should go. I slammed the door behind me excessively hard as I stormed out. Once in the cooler air outside I stopped. I leant against the wall and began to cry. I thought back over our long relationship.
---
Dave was the older brother, by just over three years, of my best friend at school. He was a shy, tongue-tied boy who was reasonably good-looking. At first he barely seemed to notice me, I was just some friend of his sister. I think he started to look at me differently after I began to develop. I believe the first time I really caught his eye was when I was invited on a family day out by his sister. I was feeling a little self-conscious now I had gained a bosom and hadn’t helped myself by wearing my new bikini which seemed a little skimpy now I had it on outside. I decided to hide myself by swimming in the sea. Finally getting up the courage to go back up the beach I waded through the surf. I saw Dave staring at me from the rock pools and then looking away. That was the first time I had felt that boys might actually find me attractive. I half expected Dave to say something to me but he didn’t. In fact he hardly spoke to me at all for a while, although he always seemed to be around when I called to see his sister, until finally he asked me to the cinema. I think he was worried about dating a schoolgirl when he was about to go to college.
That summer flew by and then Dave went off to college. We had been out a few times, but I don’t think either of us took it seriously, we were just someone to go out with. While Dave was at college I lost touch with him, not even seeing him during the holidays. I left school early when I was offered a full-time job at the shop where I worked part-time at weekends. It seemed I had a natural aptitude for shop work that they liked. In fact they liked it that much I was made assistant manager of our branch within a year, a position I held when Dave called me out of the blue.
He was just back home after finishing college and wanted to know if I was up for a movie and a meal. It briefly crossed my mind to wonder how he knew I didn’t have a regular boyfriend still before I agreed. After the cinema we went to a nice little restaurant and filled each other in on the past couple of years. Things were fine until the bill came and I asked him if he could afford this, just being back from college and without a job. I was only offering to pay my half, but Dave reacted badly. He threw the money onto the table and stormed out. I was surprised to say the least but as I made my own way home I realised that I possibly could have made my offer in a better way and not hurt his male pride. Maybe I should have said we’d go halves before we started.
Dave phoned early the next morning, before I was out of bed let alone before I was ready to go to work, and apologised profusely; saying as soon as he’d left he had realised that I was only trying to help out as a concerned friend and could we still be friends. I could practically hear his smile when I said of course we could. Even after that I still didn’t see him for a couple of weeks. I found out later that he’d taken a few jobs, now of which he stuck at for more than a day. And then he turned up at the back door of the shop where I worked, making a delivery in a van. We chatted for a while until he had to go and make another delivery. I was so pleased when he turned up again a day or so afterwards, at a later time. He told me this was his last drop for the day, so we could talk as long as we wanted. It seemed he really liked this job and he was going to be our regular delivery driver from now on. This meant we got to see each other three or four times a week. For a couple of weeks I waited for him to ask me out again but he didn’t. It occurred to me that the embarrassment of our last outing was holding him back, so I asked him out to get us over this hump. He accepted with alacrity. After that whenever we were both at a loose end we’d go out together. Even if we didn’t make a date we would call one another and talk. On one of our outings he asked me why I never seemed to have a boyfriend. I told him that I tended to put my career first and it scared them off after a couple of dates. I asked him why it didn’t bother him. He laughed and said it would take more than that to put him off, he’d known me too long. This state of affairs went on for well over a year, neither of us thinking of the other as anything but a friend.
And then I was promoted to the manager of a problem store in our chain just before Dave’s second Christmas as a delivery driver. For some reason until we were at a New Year party a couple of days before I left. I have never been able to understand why I left it so late before I told him. When I did I could tell he was pleased for me, but that pleasure was tinged with sadness. He knew straightaway that we would find it difficult to continue our ‘almost’ relationship. That night he drowned his sorrows and I had to see him home. It was the first time I had seen him drunk.
We did try to keep in touch. Dave would phone most days and try and get over to see me for the first month or so but it rarely worked out; I was nearly always busy at the shop. After he was promoted himself, to dispatcher, we both found that we both had even less free time so the visits and then the phone calls tailed off until they stopped. When I did have any spare time I found myself wondering what Dave was up to. It was silly, but even the sound of his voice just talking banalities had been enough to make me feel good for the rest of the day and I missed that, but it was gone now and neither of us could do anything about it except shrug and carry on.
I managed to get my problematical branch sorted out and it slowly became profitable again. This must have caught someone’s eye as I found myself head-hunted to become the manager of a new superstore back in my own town. This happened several months after Dave and I had lost contact. The store was partly finished when I arrived to take over. As I hadn’t had much time to find a place to stay the new chain put me up in a hotel. I was happy to be here, but I didn’t relish the thought of spending my first night back in a hotel room, so I decided to treat myself to a drink. I tried to phone Dave but got the disconnected signal and figured he’d moved on. I went to a little bar we had sometimes gone to and ordered a drink. I’d barely begun to sip it when some guy came up and tried to hit on me. I told him I wasn’t interested and turned my back on him to emphasise the point but he kept pulling at my arm. I was on the point of leaving when my unwanted companion was pushed against the bar and I voice I knew so well told him to push off or he’d get hurt. It was Dave.
The other guy quickly scurried off and after exchanging pleasantries Dave asked if I was up for a meal. I smiled and said of course. As we ate, we once more caught up with each others news, something we had seemed to do a lot and I wondered why. The rest of the evening was a blur as I got a little drunk, partly on the wine we were drinking, but mainly on Dave. Just being with him again was so akin to intoxication. I hadn’t realised how much I missed him. He seemed to spend a lot of the time just looking at me and I didn’t mind at all. He saw me back to my hotel room and as we stood looking at each other in the doorway I couldn’t help but stare at him, willing him to say something.. He asked me if he’d ever told me I was beautiful. I blushed and smiled and kissed him on the cheek, telling him no, but I had sort of gathered how he felt. And then the world changed: He told me that he loved me. I was momentarily stunned. In that moment I knew that I loved him too, that I probably always had, so I smiled again and kissed him, a kiss that had been waiting to happen for a long time.
From then on, for the first time, we saw ourselves as a couple, and for a while things were better than ever, but Dave was not quite as I remembered him. After our last parting he had sought to replace me and had done so with alcohol. He drank a little more than I was comfortable with and was a lot grumpier with it. I finally managed to pry out of him that the company he was working for was having a rough time, but I was having trouble making him see that he had a drink problem. I knew I was going to have to shock him to get him to realise.
---
I leant back against the wall beside Dave’s front door, all cried out now. That was what I’d been trying to do this morning; shock Dave into seeing what was happening. Instead it seemed I’d made things worse and turned him against me. But I still felt I couldn’t give up on him. Suddenly Dave’s front door was jerked open and he strode out purposefully towards where the bins were. I watched as, swaying a little, he unscrewed the bottle he was carrying and poured out its contents. Then, with a satisfied grunt, he hurled the empty bottle into the bin. Maybe the shock tactics had worked after all, albeit not in the way I’d intended.
I crossed my arms and, still leaning against the wall, spoke.
“Dramatic. Any reason?”
He span around, nearly losing his balance, and saw me. I concentrated on his face, staring into his eyes.
“My temper and alcohol don’t make a good mix.” He said. “No alcohol, no temper, simple.”
I continued to stare him down, trying to draw words out of him that I suspected he’d always wanted to say, but never had.
“We’re supposed to grow old with someone, not because of them.” Still I stared. “I’ve realised that I can do without almost anything, except one precious thing.”
“Only one?” My eyes dropped from the survey of his face.
“Yes. You.” He stepped over to me and lifted my chin with his finger.
“Me?” I questioned, tears forming in my eyes again as I knew he meant it.
“Don’t tease me Kim. I can’t take back what I’ve said; all I can ask is that you forgive me and come back.”
I smiled and hugged him.
“Fool. I never went away. I just hoped that you’d realise that you wanted me more than a drink and that I wanted to be with you” I kissed him gently and led him back indoors. “But the drinking will have to go.” I warned
“I promise. Just as long as there’s something to replace it.” He joked, kissing me again.
“I’m sure we’ll think of something.” I grinned, hugging him.
Epilogue
Dave swore to me that day that he’d never drink again and he hasn’t, even when the company he worked for went bust and he lost his job. I was proud of him that day, when he said that one drink was too many. He replaced alcohol with being with me, and coffee. After he had spent a couple of months unemployed there was a vacancy running the warehouse at my store that I knew Dave could do, so I got him an interview. I asked the chain’s personnel department to conduct the interviews, telling them of my involvement. To my delight and Dave’s apparent surprise he got the job. To celebrate he took me out to dinner this evening. We look across the candlelit table at each other and his hand reaches across to hold mine.
“Kim.” He says. “I’ve been dry now for thirty months now thanks to you.”
“That’s your doing, not mine Dave.” I reply.
“No Kim, it’s you. You gave me the strength and the reason. You stopped me before it got bad and now I want to ask you another favour.”
He looks so serious I want to laugh but don’t.
“Ask.”
“Kim, not only did you probably save my life, you are my life. Without you I’d be nothing, have nothing.”
“Dave…?” I say, blushing, wondering where he was going with this.
He slips from his chair and goes down on one knee, a ring suddenly in his hand.
“Kim, will you marry me?”
I’m so surprised that I can’t speak. Dave takes this for indecision.
“You don’t want me. I’m damaged goods; I’m still too high maintenance.” He starts to look away.
I grab the hand still holding out the ring and grin.
“No Dave, I just never thought you’d get up the nerve to ask me. I thought I was going to have to wait for leap year,”
“You can do better than me.” Now he sounds like normal.
“No-one has stuck with me like you.” I say, looking into his confused eyes. “I think I need you as much as you need me.”
“So will you?”
“Marry you? Yes.” I say and kiss him.
Sunday 6 November 2011
Friday 9 September 2011
Asteroid Patrol: Timid Hero
A sort of sequel to Asteroid Patrol using some of the same characters. Less romance, more musing on the nature of a hero.
Sergeant Michelle Elizabeth (or Emmy to her friends) Baldwin looked up from her desk at the knock on her door. She had been in command of the Space Police hub here on the ‘Boonies’ for nearly three years now.
“Come in Stace.” She called.
Acting Senior Pilot Stacey Grainger entered the office.
“What’s up Sarge? Traffic Control said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. I’m sorry Stacey; I’ve got some bad news.”
“You’re cancelling my Senior Pilot proficiency test again?” Stacey sighed. The sergeant had been trying for weeks to find the time for the exam, but being in charge of the hub meant that other things kept getting in the way.
“No. You’re still taking the test tomorrow, but neither Dave nor I can come with you. Dave’s appeal hearing against his permanent reprimand has been moved forward to tomorrow too.” Dave, or ‘Big Dave’ as the residents of the ‘Boonies’ called him, was Emmy’s husband.
“Exactly why did he appeal?” Stacey asked. “He always gave the impression it didn’t bother him.”
“It doesn’t. But the Captain and I both think that it’s a waste of his experience and abilities.”
“And you both feel guilty about it.” Stacey smirked.
Emmy reddened slightly.
“And we both feel guilty about it.” She admitted.
“Okay, but why can’t you take the test?” Stacey asked.
“Because there’s going to be a full inspection in two days time. I have to make sure everything is ready for that.”
Stacey nodded in resigned understanding. Despite the fact that she had everyone doing the right things, Emmy worried a little too much at times.
“So, who is testing me?”
“Sergeant Joe Winters from the Academy Flight School will be taking the test. And I’ve assigned Paul Todd from the front desk as your flight crew. He’s a good officer, but a bit timid like you are, or were.” Emmy gave a little smile to herself. Stacey was nowhere near as timid as she used to be. In fact some of the more recent probationers had admitted that she scared them!
“Oh well.” Stacey sighed. “At least if I pass now I’ll know it was on merit.”
“What are you implying Officer Grainger?” The sergeant asked sharply.
“C’mon Sarge. You know everybody outside of the ‘Boonies’ would think you passed me because we’re friends.”
“And you?”
“It would have been at the back of my mind I suppose.”
“Sit down Stace.” Emmy sighed. “Do you really think Dave or I would compromise the integrity of the force, even for one of our best friends?”
“No, not really.” Stacey sighed too. “But the possibility was always there. Now all I have to do is get it right.” She smiled.
“That’s all you had to do anyway.” Emmy smiled back. “If anything, it might be easier for you. Dave and I would have been tougher on you precisely because we are friends.” She looked at her former bridesmaid. “You don’t think much of yourself as an officer of the law do you? Why not?”
“Because like you said, I’m timid. I nearly made things worse during the Lafarge incident when I panicked and called in the special squad.”
“No. That was the right thing to do. And your shyness has made you methodical, a good thing. And you’re not so timid now I hear. Some of the newbies are actually scared of you.” Stacey looked astonished at this. Emmy carried on. “You don’t think Dave would have let you take over flying ‘Juliet’ if he didn’t trust you do you? And me? I keep you around for the entertainment your on-off thing with Nobby provides do I?”
“I suppose not.” Stacey said sheepishly. “Sorry Sarge. Thanks for the pep-talk. I won’t let you down.”
“You’d better not. And I want your impressions of young Toddy too. Now buzz off and leave me to my admin nightmare.” Emmy suddenly gave Stacey a quizzical look. “How is the thing with Nobby going anyway? I haven’t seen you together for quite a while now.”
“It’s off again. My fault. Again. And probably permanently this time.”
“Perhaps you should have tried methodical?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” Stacey laughed as she closed the office door.
Officer Paul Todd nervously shuffled his feet as he waited outside the airlock of the patrol ship ‘Juliet’. He had asked Sergeant Baldwin for a more active assignment a couple of weeks before, more to show enthusiasm than for any great desire to get away from the front desk. She had said she would see what was available. He had thought that was it, that he wasn’t going anywhere. And then yesterday he had been told to report here to act as co-pilot to the Acting Senior Pilot for her proficiency test! And the test was to be taken in JHU, the most renowned patrol ship in the force! He wondered what he had let himself in for. He kicked at the ground again.
“Officer Todd?” A female voice behind him asked. He nearly leapt out of his skin.
“Yes ma’am.” He replied, spinning around and trying to salute at the same time. In doing so he managed to knock his cap off. The officer in front of him giggled as he scrambled to pick it up. He felt his face going red. This was not a good start.
“It’s okay.” She said comfortingly. “I’m Officer Stacey Grainger.” She held out her hand. “I believe you’ve been assigned to me and ‘Juliet’ for a while.”
“Yes ma’am.” He said, shaking the proffered hand.
“Call me Stacey, or Stace.” She said, still trying to suppress an amused smile.
“Yes ma’am. Errr…Stacey.” Paul felt hopelessly confused and out of his depth. He looked into her hazel eyes and pitying expression and was immediately smitten.
“What’s the matter?” Stacey asked, noting his attention. “I haven’t got something on my face have I?”
Guiltily Paul broke his stare and shook his head.
“No. Nothing is wrong with your face. I’d just never noticed your eyes before.” He said, blushing.
“My eyes? What about my eyes?”
“I’d never realised how pretty they were before.” He answered, shrugging helplessly.
“Spend a lot of time looking at girl’s eyes do you?” Stacey asked with a mischievous grin.
“Can we change the subject? I’m embarrassed enough already.” He pleaded desperately.
“All right.” She gave in. “What do you know about Sergeant Winters?”
“He always shows up at an interesting point in the conversation.” A third voice joined in. They span around to see Sergeant Winters beaming at them, his hands on his hips. “Shall we get started?” He asked, still smiling. “That’s if you’ve done gossiping.”
Stacey, the more experienced of the two grinned back.
“No problem Sarge.”
Paul just turned bright red, but managed to stutter.
“I’m ready Sergeant.”
Stacey began by explaining to Paul that ‘Juliet’ had a second cargo airlock that should be checked before take-off, and then went on to tell him that the ship could be flown from either of the pilot seats, but that she personally preferred the right hand one as that was where she had sat when Big Dave had shown her how to fly ‘Juliet’. Sergeant Winters said nothing at all throughout the pre-flight checks, just nodding or smiling and occasionally making a note on his computer pad. Stacey had practically forgotten what he was there for to be truthful. She called up Traffic Control.
“Control, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform requesting clearance to depart.”
“Juliet Hotel Uniform, this is control, you are cleared to depart. You have a message from Sergeant Baldwin.”
Stacey sighed and turned to Paul.
“I bet she’s just wishing me luck.” She grinned and then replied. “What is the message control?”
“Message reads: Unusual activity in asteroid field near Station Six. Investigate if possible.”
“Oh!” Stacey said in surprise. “Message acknowledged control.”
There was a snort of suppressed laughter from Sergeant Winters who had overheard her aside to Paul.
“There is an addendum. It reads: Good luck.”
All three of them laughed now.
“Thank you control. Juliet Hotel Uniform departing. Tell the boys I’ll bring her back safe. JHU out.”
For the next couple of hours it was pretty much like a normal patrol for Stacey. The proficiency test was designed mainly to confirm her day-to-day piloting skills and to assess her instructional ability. Sergeant Winters could find no fault so far.
Officer Todd spoke.
“Stacey, we’re nearing Station Six. Sergeant Baldwin asked if…”
“…If we could check on the asteroid activity.” She finished with a grin. “I remember, but thanks for the reminder Toddy.” She half turned to the sergeant behind her. “I’m about to enter the asteroid field sir, so if you’d buckle up I’d be grateful. And an extra pair of eyes is always useful in the field.” She added hopefully.
“Carry on Officer Grainger. And if I see anything I’ll shout.” He smiled and then added something else onto his computer pad.
“Station Six; this is Juliet Hotel Uniform informing you we are entering the asteroid field in your sector.” She reported on the radio. She got a short acknowledgement from the local station. “I’ll take her in Toddy.” Stacey said, her face set hard in concentration. “You keep an eye on the shields and a lookout for anything coming our way.” She took a deep breath. “Hold tight, here we go.” With that she picked a spot and deftly flicked ‘Juliet’ into the asteroid field. She was confidant of avoiding the larger lumps of rock and the smaller ones would be deflected by the shields, but they had to keep alert to the possibility of a counter-moving rogue.
Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary as Stacey wove through the asteroids and none of the three of them could see anything unusual about the way the rocks were moving. After twenty minutes or so of nothing, Stacey spotted one of the larger asteroids. She spoke over her shoulder to Winters.
“Sergeant. Is it all right if I let Toddy make a landing on this big one? The experience will do him good.”
“It’s your mission Officer Grainger. I’m only a passenger.”
Stacey took that as a yes.
“Okay Toddy. I’m handing control to you. Just remember; although it doesn’t look like it, that rock is moving, so compensate a little.”
“Are you sure about this Stacey? I’ve never done it before.” He asked in a concerned voice.
Stacey just grinned.
“No-one has the first time they do it. Besides, I have confidence in you. See?” With that she took her hands and feet away from the controls, crossing her arms.
“I said you’d be fine didn’t I Toddy?” Stacey smirked at a limp Paul. “That was a pretty good landing wasn’t it Sarge?” She turned to Winters.
“Not bad.” He agreed. “But I’m here to assess you not him.”
“Just making use of your experience to bolster his confidence.” She shot him another grin. She was really enjoying herself.
“You’ve got very cheeky these days Officer Grainger. Not at all like the timid girl I recall back at the academy.”
“You weren’t my pilot tutor?” Stacey asked, puzzled.
“No I wasn’t. But I remember you at the passing out parade, looking small and more than a little scared. Half the spectators I spoke to commented on you.”
Stacey blushed.
“I really looked scared?”
“You did. But you seem to have got over it. Big Dave’s doing I suspect.”
“Him and Emmy. They trusted me and gave me confidence.”
“They’re good at that.” The sergeant sighed. “We need a few more tutors like that at the academy, but I suppose they’re more use on station.”
“And I can’t see either of them wanting to leave the ‘Boonies’.” She grinned.
“No. Neither can I.” He grinned back.
Paul was looking at Stacey oddly, trying to picture her like him, all timid and worried, but he couldn’t. He looked away as she turned around, blushing again. He thought of an unrelated question.
“Stacey, I get the feeling that us landing here wasn’t just so that I could nearly crash in the attempt. What is the real reason?”
“Paul, I told you the landing was fine. And yes I did have an ulterior motive for us being here. From here we can get a good look at the field without having to keep an eye on everything else at the same time. So have a good look at those asteroids and we’ll see if we can spot whatever it is Emmy was on about.”
“That’s good thinking.” Paul replied, impressed. Sergeant Winters grunted in agreement and made another note on his pad. Stacey would rather like to see what it was he was putting down, but knew she’d have to wait until the test was over.
“How long are we going to keep looking?” Paul asked Stacey after about half an hour of fruitlessly scanning the scene above them.
“Around another 30 minutes. If we’ve spotted nothing by then I’ll feel justified in filing a negative report.” Stacey replied. She looked around at the others. The sergeant was tapping away at his computer pad while Paul was apprehensively looking up, obviously not sure what he was supposed to be looking for. In truth she didn’t know either, it had been a vague report, but after three years out here she knew she would be the one to notice any anomaly. Just as she was thinking that something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked with renewed interest. There it was again; a glint of light off metal! Stacey pointed and asked if the other two could see it. After a couple of minutes of concentrated staring they both confirmed her observation.
“What is it Stace?” Paul asked.
“I think it’s a mining vessel of some sort.”
“Ships aren’t supposed to be in the asteroid field.” Sergeant Winters said.
“Some are, but they’re supposed to inform the local station like we did.” As she was saying this Stacey was reaching once again for the radio. “Station Six, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform, are you reading me?”
“Loud and clear JHU. What’s up?”
“Have you been informed of any other ship in the belt?”
“Only you JHU. Why?”
“We’re observing the belt from ‘Big Blue 7’ and can see a ship that appears to be moored to a non-mover. I think it’s out of your line of sight.”
“Can you check it out for us? Our ship has only just got back, she needs refuelling.”
“Will do Six. Out.”
“Stacey, there’s another one.” Paul nudged her and pointed. “Just above us and much closer. It’s just moved out from behind that meteorite.” His voice squeaked urgently.
Stacey looked up and went white.
“Emergency take-off! NOW!!” She commanded, dropping her hands to the controls. Paul copied her immediately. “Somehow they’ve launched that meteorite at us.” She explained as her hands prepped ‘Juliet’ for engine start.
“How much time?” Winters asked as he strapped in.
“Not a lot.” She said, glancing up. “Skip the check list Paul, fire up the main engine. We need to get off this asteroid fast.”
“She’s too cold.” Paul cried as the engine failed to ignite.
“Hit the injectors, the reheat and the ignition simultaneously.” The still calm voice of Winters came from behind them. “It’s not a recommended procedure, but it will work, I promise.”
“DO IT!” Stacey yelled. She and Paul pushed all the required buttons at once and the engine burst into life. As they began to move they could all see the approaching meteorite getting closer. It would hit behind them “Buckle up. Rear shields to maximum.” Stacey said, knowing it could be too late. And then the huge piece of space rock smashed into ‘Big Blue 7’.
The shockwave caught the barely airborne ‘Juliet’ and flung her skywards amidst a rain of fragmenting rock as the two asteroids impacted. The occupants were flung around in their seats despite being strapped in. Stacey was barely in control of the bucking space craft, just enough to guide them clear of the flying debris, but ‘Juliet’ had been hit and hit hard by more than one piece of the exploding rock. Several alarms were going off as she regained control.
“We’re losing air from a puncture in the hold, and we have a leak in one of the fuel tanks.” Paul reported as he extinguished a tiny electrical fire on his console.
“Seal the hold and pump the tank into one of the others.” Stacey ordered as she looked around for an escape route from the mushrooming debris cloud.
“On it.” Despite his fright, Paul was reacting well to the situation. He did as he was told, sealing the hold off and beginning to pump fuel from the leaking tank into one of the sound ones.
“Sergeant, we have our hands full. Can you get in touch with Station Six and tell them we need to dock to make emergency repairs?”
“I’m on it too Stacey.”
“Sorry to have to ask.” She threw a grin over her shoulder. “Bit different to a normal flight for you, eh Sarge?”
“Flights in the ‘Boonies’ always seem to offer something new.” He grinned back.
Stacey finally managed to get ‘Juliet’ out of the way of the following rock cloud by slipping behind another of the larger asteroids. She breathed a sigh of relief and began to look around. Her eyes were drawn to where Station Six was.
“Sergeant, have you been able to get through to Six?” She asked in a dead voice.
“No. Only hiss and crackle.”
“I’m not surprised. They have problems of their own.” She pointed. “That second meteorite, the one we spotted first, must have been launched at them.”
The other two looked and saw that the station seemed to be damaged quite badly.
“If that second one had hit them, there would be nothing left at all.” Sergeant Winters said hopefully.
“Then it must have hit something smaller into them.” Stacey said.
“Like a pool shot?” Paul said quietly.
“I suppose.” Stacey shrugged, in despair for a moment. Then she straightened her shoulders. “They’ll need help.”
“Yes, but we’re damaged too.” Paul said. Winters said nothing.
“We’re here!” Stacey said forcefully. “And we’re close enough to help. We help.”
“Of course Officer Grainger. I didn’t mean we shouldn’t, just that we are leaking air and fuel and need repair as well.”
“I understand Paul. Let’s go.”
Stacey deftly clamped onto the one airlock that was vacant, the other had a wrecked ‘Sierra 4’ scout ship hanging from it. Thankfully the airlock was still operational.
“Good. That means they still have power and air.” Stacey said. “Paul, I want you to find the crew and get some ‘Space-seal’, they’ll know what you mean. Bring it back here and then go back and help in whatever way you can.”
“Yes ma’am.” He went, not daring to question her.
“Sergeant, go find the radio communications. One of them should be trying to get through to Emmy. Take over so he can help the others. When you get through, tell them to send Nobby and a repair crew ASAP.”
“Yes ma’am.” Winters said wryly. “What are you going to do?”
“Well ‘Juliet’ has the same systems the station has. I’m going to set her up to keep them going until Nobby gets here. And when Paul gets back with the ‘Space-seal’ I’m going out to patch our leaks so if we can’t save the station, we can save the crew. Now go. Time is of the essence.”
“I’m on it Stacey.” As he reached the airlock he turned back once more. “Big Dave and Emmy will be proud of you.” He said and then he was gone, before she could ask him what he meant.
About three hours after they had docked and two after Winters had got through to the hub Nobby arrived with his repair crew. Paul and Stacey had managed to jettison the wrecked scout so he docked on the now vacant second airlock. The moment they had cleared the scout away Stacey had donned her space suit and gone outside to begin fixing the damage done to ‘Juliet’. She was just finishing when Nobby arrived. She hurried back to the airlock so that they could dock.
Stacey had only removed her helmet when Nobby came through the airlock, a big grin on his face as ever.
“Watcha darlin’” He smiled. “Bin for a wander?”
“Patching ‘Juliet’. She answered.
“We coulda done that.” He said a little reproachfully. The rest of his crew had passed them and gone to assess the current situation of the station.
“Didn’t know how long you’d be.” She said, a little shortly. For some reason Nobby always wound her up these days.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Nobby looked more subdued than she could remember.
“What is it Nobby?”
Nobby shuffled his feet and looked embarrassed.
“Well I…The truth is…I…I’ve found another girl.” He finally managed to say.
“You have? I’m happy for you. Who is it?” Stacey asked with a smile.
“That new nurse, Heather. We sort of just clicked. I’m sorry babe…” He tailed off again.
“It’s okay Nobby, I understand. I’m not the girl I used to be, not the girl you first met. We just grew apart.” They looked at each other for a moment and then Nobby kissed her on the cheek.
“Gotta get to work. Emmy wants you and your lot back at the hub pronto. Take the injured bod with you. Now scram cutie!” He smiled. “The boss don’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Going now.” She smiled back. “As soon as I can get unplugged from the station.”
“You remembered how to do that?” He whistled in awe. “Good girl.”
“You taught me, remember?”
“I weren’t sure you’d remember.”
“I remember lots of things.” She smirked naughtily, waggling her eyebrows. Nobby went red and then scuttled off to do his job.
With a sigh of relief Stacey docked ‘Juliet’ back at her berth in the hub. She let her body sag tiredly for the first time since the emergency take off on ‘Big Blue 7’.Then she pulled herself back together one more time. She called Toddy in the cargo hold with the injured officer from Station Six.
“Paul, help them get our guest to the infirmary. When you’ve done that, get a drink and a bite to eat and then report to Sergeant Baldwin, she’ll want your version of the events too.”
“Okay Stace. See you later.” He sounded perkier than at any other time since she’d met him. Then she realised that had only been this morning.
Next Stacey turned to Sergeant Winters who had acted as co-pilot back to the hub.
“Sorry for disrupting your test Sarge, and I’m really, really sorry for ordering you about on Six.”
“I told you before.” He smiled. “I was just a passenger. It was…Interesting, shall we say? And it made me realise that I need to get out more.” Stacey gave a weak smile. Winters held out his hand. “It’s definitely been educational Stacey.” She took his hand and they shook. “Now I think I’d better go and make my report.” With that he left, leaving Stacey sitting alone. She placed her hand on the control panel in front of her.
“Well, I busted you up pretty good old girl. I hope they think you’re worth saving, because you saved us.” She patted the panel affectionately before squaring her shoulders and leaving the pilots seat of ‘Juliet’ for what might be the last time.
To her utter astonishment Stacey was greeted by a round of applause as she stepped out of the airlock. She stopped still, unsure what was happening. Big Dave walked over to her, clapping, a smile on his lips.
“What’s this for?” Stacey asked.
“Appreciation for the return of a hero Stace.” He continued to grin, amused by her puzzlement.
“A hero? Me? But I nearly got everyone killed with my clever ideas. And ‘Juliet’… ’Juliet’ could be finished.”
“Stacey, everyone’s alive because of you. And you don’t think we’re going to let them scrap ‘Juliet’ because of a couple of dents.”
“A couple of dents? Dave, she’s been hammered: the engine misfires and the electrics keep shorting…”
Big Dave held up his hand.
“She needed upgrading anyway. They are NOT going to take her away, I promise.”
“And I made a mess of the test.” Stacey continued to protest.
She looked so downcast that Dave put his arm around her shoulder.
“We’ll see shall we? Come on, Emmy wants to see you.”
Still unsure she was deserving of being called a hero Stacey was surprised by the number of handshakes and back-slaps she got while following Big Dave up to Emmy’s office. Sergeant Winters was just coming out as they arrived. Stacey stopped to speak to him.
“Sergeant, I hope they assign you to my re-test.”
“What re-test?” He appeared puzzled.
“No re-test? I blew it that badly?”
“Officer Grainger!” Sergeant Baldwin called out. “If you’re done gossiping…” Emmy sounded unhappy, so Stacey went in quickly.
This meant she missed the exchange between Big Dave and Joe Winters.
“Thanks for feigning ignorance Joe; I know Emmy wants to tell Stacey herself.”
“No big deal Dave, although I did have a problem keeping a straight face.” They shook hands. “You can tell Stacey that if she ever wants a change, we can find her an instructors post at the Flight School.” He thought of something else. “And remind her that a Senior Pilot needs to be able to fly all the craft under their jurisdiction, not just their favourite.”
“Will do Joe. See you around.”
Stacey falteringly finished her report to the hard-faced Sergeant Baldwin. While she had been worried before, seeing her friend looking so stern increased her anxiety ten-fold. Emmy leant her elbows on the desk and peered at Stacey over steepled fingers.
“So Officer Grainger, you are assuming responsibility for everything that went on out there?”
“Yes ma’am. I entered the asteroid field when I didn’t have too; I caused Officer Todd to land on an asteroid on a whim; and I initiated an unauthorised engine start-up procedure.” Stacey replied, deflatedly. Although she blamed herself for the damage ‘Juliet’ had suffered, she hadn’t thought that Emmy would too.
“I’m glad.” Emmy suddenly smiled. “It means Dave and I were right about you.” Stacey looked bewildered now. “Stacey, who was it that asked you to enter the field?”
“No-one ma’am.” She replied, still unsure about what Emmy meant about being right.
“Wrong. I did. I knew what you’d do when I made the request.”
“You did?”
“Of course. In any case, we now think the initial report was a fake. Someone wanted to destroy a patrol ship and a station at the same time for some reason and the report was a lure. We don’t know why yet.”
“Wait a second. You mean you don’t blame me for any of this?”
“I do not. Why would I?”
“Why all the serious looks then?”
“My dear Stacey, I’m just trying to make you realise that you are one of the best and most responsible officers I have. Do you honestly think anyone else could have done better out there?”
“They might have got airborne quicker.”
“They might not have got airborne at all.” Emmy countered.
“Sergeant Winters didn’t think that highly of me. He said I couldn’t have a re-test.”
“Why would you need a re-test? He passed you.”
“So he was in on this wind-up with you too?”
“All three of us.”
“Paul as well?”
“No silly. Big Dave. You don’t seriously think there’s anything going on around here HE doesn’t know about.”
“No.” Stacey said. Then realisation hit her. “I passed? I’m a Senior Pilot?”
“Indeed you are. Sergeant Grainger.” Emmy smiled at her friends’ excitement.
“Sergeant? I’m promoted as well?” Stacey was amazed.
“Goes with the job.”
“But…but I can’t order Big Dave about.”
“Why not? I can.”
“You’re married to him.”
“Just don’t worry about Dave. There are going to be a few changes around here shortly.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not at liberty to say at the moment. Anyway, here are your orders.” Emmy handed a file over. “You are now in charge of everything pilot-related. You get an office and an admin assistant and why am I telling you this when you’ve been doing this job for me for a couple of months? And wipe that smirk off your face.”
“Sorry ma’am.” Stacey said, now unable to suppress the smile, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.
Emmy looked down at a list on the desk. She too was having trouble keeping a straight face.
“Oh yes. What are your impressions of Officer Todd?”
“I think Paul has the makings of a fine officer.” Emmy smiled at the ‘Paul’. “He has the intelligence and ability, but he lacks confidence.” Emmy smiled again. “A little responsibility could do him good.” Stacey finished.
“Then it’s up to you to give it to him.”
“What?”
“I’m assigning him to you. You need a partner or a co-pilot, or whatever you decide.” Emmy said this last part with a twinkle in her eye.
“What do you mean by that? ‘Whatever I decide’. Why are you smirking?”
“See you later Stace, when you’ve worked it out.” Emmy practically pointed at the door. “And if Officer Todd is out there, send him in please.” She called out as Stacey left the office somewhat bemused.
Big Dave was still outside, talking quietly with Paul. Stacey recognised the tone; it was Dave’s confidence-building small-talk voice, the one he had used so often with her when she had first been posted here. Toddy looked up as she closed the door.
“Me now?” He asked nervously.
“Yep.” Stacey grinned.
“But why does the sergeant need to see me?” Paul looked worried.
“She doesn’t NEED to see you, Officer Todd; She WANTS to see you.” Dave explained. “Emmy likes to get as much input as possible.”
“Too much at times.” Stacey added.
“But what do I say?” He wailed.
“Just answer her questions.” Stacey told him. “All Emmy wants is your account of the incident. She’s not trying to catch you out or anything, I promise.” She paused. “Oh! And she’s got a new assignment for you. Now get in there.” He went.
Stacey smiled to herself.
“You like him don’t you?” Big Dave asked suddenly.
“I do. Even though he was scared he did everything he was supposed to do. And he did them right.”
“Sounds a bit like someone I remember from three years ago.” Dave grinned.
“Was I really like that?” Stacey asked blushing.
“Yes, you were. A timid new probationer that I was never going to let out on the streets on her own.” He smiled and tousled her hair. “Until you got ‘Juliet’ that is. She gave you what you needed, confidence.”
“Ahh, ‘Juliet’.” Stacey sighed and then frowned. “They wouldn’t really scrap her would they?”
“Stace, even if she’s too far gone for them to rebuild her, she’s not going to the scrap yard. We’ll keep her as your office or something.” He hugged her as her face cleared. “By the way, Joe says you should make yourself familiar with all the ship types on the hub. It helps if the Senior Pilot knows what their subordinates are talking about.”
“I was thinking that, especially now that my ship is in dock for repairs.” She gave him a big smile. “Send Toddy down to my office when he’s done here. I need to go and see what ships I’ve got available for tomorrow.”
“Will do.” Dave paused, a look of devilment on his face. “Sarge.” He finished. Stacey turned to go, her face crimson with a mixture of embarrassment and pride.
Stacey went down to what was now officially her office and began to look for the files on the available ships stationed at the ‘Boonies’. She had just found them on the system when Paul came in.
“Sergeant Baldwin told me I was assigned to you. She said you needed an assistant or whatever you decided. What did she mean?”
“I’m not sure, but I do need an assistant, someone who’s better with the paperwork than me. How are you with files?”
“Not bad I suppose. I’ve been on the front desk since I arrived here, so I’ve got a reasonable idea about the system.”
“Good.” Stacey turned the computer over to him. “I need to know what types of ship and in what numbers we have here, and which ones are operational.”
Paul tapped away and found what she wanted.
“There are four ‘Sierra’ class 4 scouts, and three class 4A’s, all available. There is the repair ship which is a modified ‘Uniform’ transport, but that’s out at Station Six still. Central are sending a ‘Whiskey’ model B to cover for ‘Juliet’ that’s due to arrive in two days. Each of the seven outlying stations has a scout ship assigned to it. Three ‘Sierra’ class 3C’s and two more class 4’s. Station Two has a class 5 and Station Six will get something sent from the central pool when it’s operational again.”
“That’s everything is it?” Stacey asked. Paul nodded in reply. “Well, I’ve flown Nobby’s ship and a ‘Whiskey B’ and a ‘Sierra 3C’ so I’ll need to get into a ‘Sierra 4’ and the 5 sometime soon.” She stopped and thought. “Are the 4’s and the 4A’s the same?”
“I’ll check.” Paul punched up the schematics for the two classes of scout ships. “The only difference is in the weapon. The 4A’s have a more powerful blaster.”
Stacey sat back and hummed to herself.
“Still, it might be worth taking a 4A out as well.” She sat up. “What are you current on?” She asked Paul.
“Well, I was taught on a 4 and I’ve flown a 5 as well. No time in a 3C or any of the transport types.”
“Except ‘Juliet’.”
“Yes. But she’s not exactly a transport is she.”
“One of a kind. But the basics are pretty much the same in the larger ships. I want you up to speed on all the types too, that way I’ll have no qualms about sending you out on trips without me.” She smiled.
“That means that between us we need to fly every type on the hub.”
“Looks like it. What’s available tomorrow?”
“To you? Everything. You’re in charge, remember?”
“I meant what isn’t scheduled for a mission tomorrow, dummy.”
“Oh. Okay, there are two scout patrols tomorrow, no specific ships assigned. The station scouts come in once a week; tomorrow it’s Station One, a 3C.”
“We’ll start with a 4 and a 4A then. When the 3C comes in we’ll borrow that too.” She smiled at Paul. “We’ll have a go at the others when they become available. Now let’s go and have a drink to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Not getting run over by a meteorite?” Stacey grinned.
“Why not?” Paul smiled and stood up, holding his hand out to his new boss and hauling her upright.
Throughout the next week an investigation into the ‘Meteorite Incident’ got underway. A detective from central came over and went through everybody’s statement until he had a picture of the events. At the same time a team of specialists went into the asteroid belt to see if they could find the two used as weapons. ‘Big Blue 7’ had been split in half and the smaller rock totally disintegrated, but they did find pieces of a space engine which had been used to propel it. They had better luck with the other meteorite. It had indeed hit another rock into Station Six and then it had halted, the engine on it having failed with the shock. It matched the other pieces they had found. Station Six had survived because it had been hit by the second rock, travelling at a slower speed. They reported their findings to the detective, who began to investigate the ‘who’ now that he had the ‘how’.
Emmy and Big Dave came down to Stacey’s office a day or so after the detective had returned to central. She stood up to greet them.
“Hello you two. What’s up?”
“Why do you think something’s up Stace?” Dave grinned as he plonked himself in the spare chair in the office corner.
“Because you’re both here at the same time.” She smiled back.
Emmy sat herself down at what was now Paul’s desk, looking preoccupied.
“The thing is Stacey; we’d like your advice about the changes I told you about earlier.”
“The ‘I’m not at liberty to discuss these’ changes? And why me? I’m the most junior sergeant here still.”
“Yes, those changes.” Emmy gave a little smile. “And we’re asking you because you’re our friend. We’d liked to have asked Nobby too, but he’s still busy on Six.”
“Okay then, I’ll try and help. Fire away.”
“Stacey, they’re going to expand the ‘Boonies’ hub even more, up to sector size, which will mean more work for you as well as me.” Emmy explained.
“I can manage a few more ships I suppose. And they’ve already asked you to be in charge?” Emmy nodded. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I feel I’m losing touch with the ‘Boonies’, the people that is. I was wondering if I should turn them down and go back on patrol.”
“That’s just silly boss. What’s stopping you doing an occasional patrol anyway? Apart from your strange desire to do all your own paperwork?”
Dave laughed.
“That’s what I said.”
“All you need is a competent admin assistant.” Stacey said.
“Lieutenant’s don’t do that sort of thing.”
“That’s only because they want to stay behind their desk’s love.” Dave said. “You don’t have to conform to them. You can be a new kind of Lieutenant.”
“There’s a promotion in it too? And you’re asking me if you should take it? I would; like a shot. And like Dave says, it’s a new position. You can do it how you like.”
“I could I suppose.” Emmy said thoughtfully.
“Now, what’s Dave’s problem?”
“Hey! Who said I had a problem?”
“Why are you here then?” Stacey asked sweetly.
Dave went a little red.
“Well, I’m sort of worried about my new role in this set up.”
“Which is? Come on, don’t drag it out.”
“They want me to become Senior Sergeant and oversee the ‘Boonies’ while Emmy looks after the rest of the sector.” He said quietly.
“That a new rank? Just so you don’t have to call me ‘sergeant’?” Stacey grinned broadly. “Any way, isn’t that what you do anyway? Apart from the paperwork.”
“Don’t get cheeky with me young Grainger.” He wagged his finger in mock admonishment. Emmy grinned too; remembering how scared of Big Dave Stacey had been at first.
“Look ‘Senior Sergeant’, the same thing that applies to Emmy applies to you. It’s a new position, a new role. You can make it what you want.”
“I can, can’t I?” He mused.
“What are the alternatives? Teach at the academy, or, if you don’t want to leave the ‘Boonies’, resign and do something else? I can see neither of you doing either to be honest. And it wouldn’t be the same here without you to keep an eye on us.” They both laughed. “I mean it. I’d miss you keep popping in to check up on me.”
“All right Stace, I’m convinced.” Dave said. “What about you boss?” He turned to Emmy.
“Well, she makes some good points. I think I’m convinced too.” She smiled at Stacey. “At least until Stacey can take over.”
“ME! You’re kidding!”
“No I’m not. You’re very good at this. Look how quickly you’ve got your section working properly.” Emmy said.
“It’s only eight ships and pilots.” Stacey said meekly. “Not an entire sector of space.”
“We’ll wait and see shall we.”
“By the way ‘Senior Pilot’, how are you getting on with familiarising yourself with all your types.” Dave asked.
“Paul and I have flown everything we’ve got here, except Paul hasn’t got to fly in the repair ship yet.”
“Find anything you like?”
“The ‘Sierra 5’ is quite nice to fly, but I still want ‘Juliet’ back.”
“How is she coming along?” Emmy asked.
“Still some time away.” Stacey sighed. “The ‘Whiskey B’ just isn’t the same.”
“I heard you gave her a name though?”
“Paul calls her the ‘Boozy Bee’.” She grinned a little.
“Chin up. ‘Juliet’ will be back.” Big Dave smiled. “Thanks for the chat Stace; it’s helped us a lot.” He and Emmy both stood up.
“Yes, thank you.” Emmy kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll leave you to it.” She turned and followed Dave out.
Despite the Baldwin’s hesitation over accepting their new roles the expansion of the hub into a fully-fledged sector went smoothly, mainly due to their meticulous planning. Stacey would soon gain five extra pilots and craft for them to fly. The new ships would be four ‘Sierra’ 4A’s and another ‘Whiskey’’ class transport, a ‘C’ this time. After only a couple of weeks everything was ready for the big day when the ‘Boonies’ hub was renamed the ‘Boonies’ sector. There was to be a formal ceremony to mark it.
The increase in traffic was easily handled but then some of the incoming ships began to report sighting unidentified craft operating in the asteroid belt in close proximity to the ‘Boonies’. Stacey decided to act on those reports in light of the attack on Station Six a month earlier and set up a constant patrol overhead. Emmy and Big Dave concurred with her thinking and in consequence there was always a ‘Sierra’ class scout patrolling the immediate vicinity of the ‘Boonies’.
For the day of the ceremony Stacey put an extra scout up on a hunch. With two regular patrols off in the belt, that left her with four scouts in case of trouble. Just before the start of the activities Traffic Control received reports from both scouts and passed them to Emmy and Stacey. Unidentified craft had been spotted approaching two fair-sized meteorites. Stacey instructed the patrols to try and apprehend or chase off the intruders and then ordered three of the scouts into the skies to help them, taking the fourth ‘Sierra’ herself even though she was supposed to be attending the inauguration. Pretty soon Big Dave and Emmy were calling her from Traffic Control.
“Stacey, what the hell is happening?” Emmy demanded.
“We’re under attack, I’m sure of it. They’re going to use meteorites again. I’ve got the two scout patrols trying to scare them off and launched the other four scouts to help them.”
“And you’re in one of them?” Dave asked.
“Yes. Sorry boss, can’t let someone else do the dirty work.”
“What can we do to help?” Emmy sighed.
“Cross your fingers?” Stacey suggested.
“Already doing that. Good luck. Out”
“Thanks.” Stacey turned her attention to the disposition of her ships. “Sierra Foxtrot Zulu, Sierra Golf Bravo, assist Sierra Charlie Tango. Sierra Bravo X-ray, you and I will help Sierra Poppa Whiskey. We must stop them igniting those engines.” They all acknowledged her, and sped to their assigned tasks.
It wasn’t more than five minutes later that Stacey received another call.
“Sierra Tango Zulu, this is Charlie Tango. We have secured Runaway 1. Am standing by until someone arrives to take possession. Foxtrot Zulu and Golf Bravo are pursuing suspects.”
“Good work Charlie Tango. Confer with Control over possession. Out.” By now Stacey and Bravo X-ray were bearing down on the second meteorite, the furthest away of the two. To her dismay it had already started to move, the second crew obviously made of sterner stuff than the first. She thought fast. “Poppa Whiskey, Bravo X-ray, you go after the ship. I’ll handle this.” ‘Though I have no idea how,’ she thought. “Control, this is Tango Zulu. Runaway 2 is mobile, repeat, mobile. Am attempting to stop it. Out.” With that she snapped off her radio, knowing it would be full of well-meaning but useless advice.
Stacey realised she had to stop the engine. That would keep the meteorite from accelerating and give her more time. With that decision she flicked her slim craft into a low swoop over the space rock and pulled into a hover near the engine. After a long burst of blaster fire it exploded. Stacey noted that the explosion altered the course of the meteorite slightly. That gave her another idea. Maybe she could use her ships engine to further deflect the trajectory of the rock, at least enough to miss the ‘Boonies’. As it was the only thing that had occurred to her she began to look for a suitable spot to land near the front of the meteorite where the effect would be greater. She glimpsed a flattish surface that was facing the way she wanted and looked more than big enough to accommodate her scout ship. Stacey gingerly set Sierra Tango Zulu down on the rock. She locked everything down, pointed her manoeuvring jets to keep her on the meteorite and then unleashed the power of her engine. The little scout shook horribly, like it was threatening to tear itself apart, but Stacey persevered. She looked at her radar scope. It showed that she was altering the course of the meteorite relative to the ‘Boonies’, but not by enough.
Suddenly Stacey heard the sound of another more powerful ship setting down alongside her. She looked up and around and saw it was the ‘Boozy Bee’ landing. Switching her radio back on she called it up, assuming that they had landed on the wrong meteorite.
“Boozy Bee, you are in the wrong place. You should be on Runaway 1.”
“Tango Zulu; No, we’re not. Are we Officer Todd?”
“Certainly not, Senior Sergeant Baldwin. Runaway 2 needs stopping, so here we are.”
“Will you two clowns buzz off? This is dangerous.”
“Sorry Stace, you don’t outrank me anymore. We can see what you’re trying to do, but you need more power. We’ve brought it. Now shut up and let me concentrate.” Big Dave said. Now he powered up the larger engines on the ‘Boozy Bee’. She started to shake like Tango Zulu. Stacey again looked at her radar scope. Bit by bit they were pushing the path the rock was taking away from the asteroid occupied by the ‘Boonies’. But it still wouldn’t be enough. They needed one big push. With a sudden realisation Stacey knew how to do it.
“Big Dave, I know what to do now. When I say ‘go’, get the hell out of here.”
“What are you going to do Stace?” Dave asked.
“If I tell you, you won’t let me do it. Just wait for me to tell you ‘go’.”
“I know what you’re planning.” Paul said.
“How?”
“I read the tech manuals at the same time as you Stacey. Don’t do it, please.”
“Get going, I’m overloading the engine and the weapons system, and I’m doing it…” She waited momentarily until the power peaked. “…NOW! GO!!!”
“Get over here now Sergeant Grainger. That is an order. We are not leaving until you are on this craft.” Big Dave spoke gruffly, meaning it.
“There isn’t time.” Stacey replied.
“EJECT NOW! We’ll catch you.” Paul cried, after explaining something to Dave.
Stacey fired the last ditch rescue ejector. It blew the cockpit of the scout ship away from the fuselage. As she flew upwards she saw ‘Boozy Bee’ leave the meteorite seconds later, matching her trajectory. Stacey watched in amazement as Dave flicked the cargo ship over onto its side above her, the open cargo bay covering the path she was on. The cockpit of Tango Zulu clattered into the hold and the doors snapped shut behind it.
“Stay strapped in Stace, it’s about to get rough.” Paul called.
He was right. Tango Zulu exploded on the surface of the rock. The shockwave pushed the meteorite well away from the ‘Boonies’. Then it hit the ‘Boozy Bee’ before carrying on to shake the whole area. The ship bucked and shook, but Dave retained control. ‘Boozy Bee’ levelled out.
“Sergeant Grainger, are you all right?” Dave asked.
“It’s hard to tell, I’m sort of upside down.”
“Toddy is on his way to get you out.”
Another voice cut in.
“Whiskey Bravo Bravo, this is control; what the hell do you think you’re doing up there? Land at once, before I have another heart attack.” It was Emmy.
“Yes dear. Sorry.” Dave replied sardonically.
“The Lieutenant sounds annoyed.” Paul said nervously.
“She’ll get over it.” Big Dave said simply. “She’s just upset I grabbed you as co-pilot instead of her. Now go and see how Stacey is. She sounds stuck.” Paul made his way to the cargo hold. After making sure it was airtight he went in.
Stacey was definitely stuck. The ejected cockpit section had come to rest on its side, leaning towards the back wall of the cargo hold of ‘Boozy Bee’ in such a way that the canopy wouldn’t open. She was dangling from her harness nearly upside down and couldn’t unclip herself. After a couple of minutes of trying she had given up and just hung there, waiting for the assistance she knew was coming. Suddenly she could see Toddy through the scratched windshield. He gave her a little wave and a tight smile and then stood scratching his head as he tried to work out a way to free her.
Officer Todd took in the situation. Stacey’s canopy couldn’t be opened in the position the cockpit had ended up in. He knew he’d never be able to smash his way in; the canopy material was too tough. Maybe he could find a way to right the broken cockpit section? He scanned the cargo bay for something to assist him. The manual hoist secured near the airlock caught his eye. If he could find a way to attach that…
He went to work, unhitching the hoist and manoeuvring it closer to Stacey. He secured the lifting chain to one of the locking bolts which had secured the cockpit to the rest of the scout ship, and then he hammered in some cargo locking pins into the floor, holding the side of the cockpit was resting on in place. In theory he should be able to pivot Stacey far enough up so that she could get the canopy open. He went to the hoist controls and began to wind in the slack. As the chain tightened the cockpit came away from the hold wall. The hoist was starting to burn out with the effort as the cockpit reached ninety degrees to the floor. Suddenly, the locking bolt he’d attached the chain to sheared off. The cockpit teetered momentarily and then slammed onto the cargo hold floor the right way up.
Paul rushed across to find Stacey already unstrapping her harness and cranking the canopy open at the same time.
“That wasn’t the best landing I’ve ever made.” She grinned as he helped her out.
“I’ve had worse.” He grinned back. “Come on, we need to get to the flight deck. We’ll be docking soon.”
They scampered into the cockpit just as Big Dave received docking clearance.
“What was that big bang?” He asked.
“I had to get her the right way up.” Paul explained.
“In that case, you need to lose some weight Stace; I felt that up here.”
She gave him a friendly slap across the back of the helmet and then glanced out of the flight deck window.
“There are an awful lot of people on the dock again.” She said dubiously. “You don’t think they’re going to cheer me again do you?”
“Very probably, Miss Timid-But-Heroic.” Paul said with a smirk as Big Dave gently docked ‘Boozy Bee’. “Now it’s time for you to meet your admirers. Again.”
“Oh No! You two are coming with me. If I’m a hero, so are you.”
The Scout ships were applauded too as they returned. Charlie Tango came in after Nobby and his crew had arrived to collect the meteorite engine, and was warmly cheered. Both of the pursuing pairs arrived towing a captured ship and received hearty congratulations. Dave, Stacey, and Paul didn’t see them bringing in their prisoners though; they were in Lieutenant Baldwin’s office. Paul felt seriously outranked. In addition to the lieutenant and the two sergeants, the Captain and the Commissioner were there as well as Arnie, the erstwhile Mayor of the ‘Boonies’.
Emmy hugged Dave and then Stacey. And then with a shrug that said’ why not?’ she hugged a surprised Paul.
“I feel I should be berating you, but that would be churlish.” Emmy said.
The other three dignitaries came forward and shook each of the three non-plussed officers by the hand. The Captain was especially pleased with Big Dave.
“We are recommending all three of you for awards.” He said.
“We just did what we had to sir.” Dave replied.
“What about my scout ship pilots sir?” Stacey asked. “They were magnificent.”
“Indeed they were Sergeant Grainger. Have no fear; they will get their rewards as well. Because of them we should be able to track down whoever is behind this attack now. But you three, particularly you Grainger, saved the ‘Boonies’ from certain destruction and we want to show our appreciation.”
All the medal recipients were sat in a line in front of the audience at the award ceremony a week or so later. Every one of them looked anxious except perhaps Big Dave; he just seemed amused and more than a little proud of his protégés. If anything Paul and Stacey looked the most nervous, edging towards terrified, their natural timidity reasserting itself.
One by one the Scout Ship pilots stepped up and received their awards, and all the time Stacey got more and more apprehensive. She felt her new Sergeants Dress Uniform was itching and she couldn’t sit still.
“How much longer?” She whispered to Dave sat beside her.
“Why ask me? I’ve never been to an awards ceremony before.” He whispered back.
Stacey looked at him in surprise.
“You haven’t?”
Emmy looked around and gave them a look that said ‘BE QUIET’. Stacey lapsed into silence. Paul stood to accept his medal, and then Big Dave. That left only Stacey.
The Commissioner, awarding the honours, cleared his throat.
“And now for the final award to Senior Pilot Sergeant Stacey Grainger, whose recent service has been beyond exemplary. From her cool piloting of the patrol ship Juliet Hotel Uniform, or ‘Juliet’ as she is known, away from an exploding asteroid, to her decisive actions that resulted in the stabilisation of Station Six, and finally to her bravery and willingness to sacrifice herself to divert the recent attack here on the ‘Boonies’. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to announce the award of the Armstrong Cross for conspicuous gallantry and meritorious service to Sergeant Grainger.”
Stacey’s jaw dropped open while everyone else cheered and applauded. The Armstrong Cross was the ultimate space service honour and the two additional clasps made it practically unique. The audience was standing, clapping, waiting for her to step forward and receive her medal. But her legs had turned to jelly. Big Dave reached down and hauled her to her feet and then gently nudged her in the right direction. Still in a daze, Stacey stumbled up to the dais and allowed the Commissioner to pin the simple cross to her tunic. He pointed at the microphone. They wanted her to make a speech as well? Stacey found Emmy standing beside her, whispering encouragement. The cheering died away as Stacey fiddled with the mike.
“I…I…I truly don’t know w…what to say. Obviously I wasn’t expecting this.” She fingered the shiny new medal. “I didn’t set out to be brave or heroic; I was just there and did what had to be done. I’m sure any of you would have done the same.” She stopped, unsure about how to carry on. “I wasn’t thinking about being a hero, I was thinking of you, my friends, and the people of the ‘Boonies’, who it’s my job to protect, and how to save them.” She tailed off again, running out of words. “Any way, thank you all.”
Stacey went bright red as renewed applause thundered in her ears. She sat back down and Emmy took her place at the mike.
“Thank you Stacey. That was quite eloquently put.” She said to the deeply blushing sergeant. Then she turned to the rest of the audience. “Sergeant Grainger, Stace to some of us, sets us all an excellent example. We should all endeavour to be like her. I don’t mean blow up our ship to save others…” There was a ripple of laughter. “…I mean we should all be as caring and conscientious. It’s something we all forget from time to time. So our thanks for reminding us of one of the tenets of our service Sergeant.” She turned to face her friend and gave her a big smile. “On a personal note, I’d like to say ‘good work Stace’.” Stacey gave a beaming smile in return. “Now, let’s get to the party at McLeary’s.” Everyone started to stand. “Just remember if you’re on duty later, I’ll be checking on sobriety!”
Stacey slipped away from the party after half an hour or so. Despite being awarded a medal for gallantry she still couldn’t see herself as a hero. She had been terribly frightened through out the entire episode; not for herself, but for her friends and colleagues and the innocent denizens of the ‘Boonies’. So she made a quiet exit and went to her office overlooking the dock. She leant on the rail outside, looking down at ‘Juliet’ and the goings-on around the ships coming in and going out. There was nothing happening around her ship, but because she had been so busy for the past few days she had no idea whether or not the ship was fully repaired yet. It looked as if she was. A voice hailed her from below.
“Hey sarge, what’re you doing up there?”
Stacey looked down. It was Paul.
“Avoiding attention. What about you?” She replied.
“I’m looking for you.” He grinned. “And avoiding attention. You look incredibly pretty in your dress uniform you know?”
“I thought you looked at peoples eyes?” She laughed. “And you don’t look to shabby either. That medal suits you.”
“Couldn’t let you grab all the headlines could I?” He laughed back. “Come on down here, I’ve got something to show you.”
“Bring it up here then.”
“I can’t, sorry. You’ll have to come down. It’s worth it, I promise.”
Sighing heavily, Stacey made her way down to Paul. He smiled.
“Okay, what?” She said.
“Close your eyes.” He smirked.
“Paul! Stop mucking about.”
“Come on Stace, humour me.”
Grudgingly Stacey did as he asked. She let him lead her a short distance and stopped impatiently when he told her to.
“This better be good.” She grumbled.
“Open your eyes and tell me.” He said.
She did so and saw the newly painted artwork next to the airlock of ‘Juliet’. It was a picture of a semi-clad girl riding a meteorite which trailed the words ‘Just Juliet’.
“It’s lovely.” Stacey said, leaning forward to get a closer look at the picture. “Hey! Is that supposed to be me?”
“Maybe.” Paul smirked again.
“I’m not that curvy.”
“I couldn’t possibly comment on the state of your curves without closer inspection.”
Stacey blushed and then asked.
“When did they do that?”
“Last night, after they’d finished her.”
“She’s ready to fly?” She looked at him in surprise.
“Returned to operations pending a shakedown flight it says on your computer.”
“Right! Find our helmets and we’ll take her out.” Stacey’s eyes were shining.
“Already on board.” Paul smiled.
“You thought of everything, thank you.” In her excitement she kissed him on the side of the face and then entered ‘Juliet’.
“Well, maybe not everything.” He murmured in surprise, holding his hand to his cheek and then following her into the cockpit.
“Control, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform requesting clearance for a shakedown mission.” Stacey called on the radio.
“This is control, clearance granted Juliet Hotel Uniform. It’s good to have you back.”
“Thank you control, it’s good to be back. Juliet Hotel Uniform out.”
Another voice broke in.
“Juliet Hotel Uniform, this is Lieutenant Baldwin. Where do you think you’re going off to?”
“Hi Emmy! Sorry, but this can’t wait.”
“I suppose it can’t.” The Lieutenant sighed. “All right, you are authorised to take a couple of days to test her out, but no sneaking off and getting married without telling me and Dave. Got that Officer Todd?”
“Still working on that Lieutenant.” Paul grinned at Stacey who was looking slightly shocked. “Juliet Hotel Uniform Out.”
“Baldwin out.”
Stacey looked thoughtful throughout the departure, finally speaking again when they left the hub behind.
“Did you mean that Paul? The marriage thing I mean.” She asked.
“Of course I did. I am still working on it.”
“But I thought you weren’t interested in me.”
“Stacey Grainger, I’ve been in love with you since we first met outside that airlock. What’s the matter? Don’t you like me?”
“Actually I do, a lot as it happens. I just didn’t think you’d be interested in a timid girl like me.”
“What’s not to like? And who are you calling timid? Timid girls don’t get gallantry medals.” He gave his broadest ever grin.
“Paul, you don’t think that’s what Emmy meant by ‘whatever I decide’ do you?”
“Probably, she’s a lot more observant than we are obviously. Do you think we can make it work?”
“We’ve a couple of days to find out!” Stacey grinned.
Sergeant Michelle Elizabeth (or Emmy to her friends) Baldwin looked up from her desk at the knock on her door. She had been in command of the Space Police hub here on the ‘Boonies’ for nearly three years now.
“Come in Stace.” She called.
Acting Senior Pilot Stacey Grainger entered the office.
“What’s up Sarge? Traffic Control said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. I’m sorry Stacey; I’ve got some bad news.”
“You’re cancelling my Senior Pilot proficiency test again?” Stacey sighed. The sergeant had been trying for weeks to find the time for the exam, but being in charge of the hub meant that other things kept getting in the way.
“No. You’re still taking the test tomorrow, but neither Dave nor I can come with you. Dave’s appeal hearing against his permanent reprimand has been moved forward to tomorrow too.” Dave, or ‘Big Dave’ as the residents of the ‘Boonies’ called him, was Emmy’s husband.
“Exactly why did he appeal?” Stacey asked. “He always gave the impression it didn’t bother him.”
“It doesn’t. But the Captain and I both think that it’s a waste of his experience and abilities.”
“And you both feel guilty about it.” Stacey smirked.
Emmy reddened slightly.
“And we both feel guilty about it.” She admitted.
“Okay, but why can’t you take the test?” Stacey asked.
“Because there’s going to be a full inspection in two days time. I have to make sure everything is ready for that.”
Stacey nodded in resigned understanding. Despite the fact that she had everyone doing the right things, Emmy worried a little too much at times.
“So, who is testing me?”
“Sergeant Joe Winters from the Academy Flight School will be taking the test. And I’ve assigned Paul Todd from the front desk as your flight crew. He’s a good officer, but a bit timid like you are, or were.” Emmy gave a little smile to herself. Stacey was nowhere near as timid as she used to be. In fact some of the more recent probationers had admitted that she scared them!
“Oh well.” Stacey sighed. “At least if I pass now I’ll know it was on merit.”
“What are you implying Officer Grainger?” The sergeant asked sharply.
“C’mon Sarge. You know everybody outside of the ‘Boonies’ would think you passed me because we’re friends.”
“And you?”
“It would have been at the back of my mind I suppose.”
“Sit down Stace.” Emmy sighed. “Do you really think Dave or I would compromise the integrity of the force, even for one of our best friends?”
“No, not really.” Stacey sighed too. “But the possibility was always there. Now all I have to do is get it right.” She smiled.
“That’s all you had to do anyway.” Emmy smiled back. “If anything, it might be easier for you. Dave and I would have been tougher on you precisely because we are friends.” She looked at her former bridesmaid. “You don’t think much of yourself as an officer of the law do you? Why not?”
“Because like you said, I’m timid. I nearly made things worse during the Lafarge incident when I panicked and called in the special squad.”
“No. That was the right thing to do. And your shyness has made you methodical, a good thing. And you’re not so timid now I hear. Some of the newbies are actually scared of you.” Stacey looked astonished at this. Emmy carried on. “You don’t think Dave would have let you take over flying ‘Juliet’ if he didn’t trust you do you? And me? I keep you around for the entertainment your on-off thing with Nobby provides do I?”
“I suppose not.” Stacey said sheepishly. “Sorry Sarge. Thanks for the pep-talk. I won’t let you down.”
“You’d better not. And I want your impressions of young Toddy too. Now buzz off and leave me to my admin nightmare.” Emmy suddenly gave Stacey a quizzical look. “How is the thing with Nobby going anyway? I haven’t seen you together for quite a while now.”
“It’s off again. My fault. Again. And probably permanently this time.”
“Perhaps you should have tried methodical?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” Stacey laughed as she closed the office door.
Officer Paul Todd nervously shuffled his feet as he waited outside the airlock of the patrol ship ‘Juliet’. He had asked Sergeant Baldwin for a more active assignment a couple of weeks before, more to show enthusiasm than for any great desire to get away from the front desk. She had said she would see what was available. He had thought that was it, that he wasn’t going anywhere. And then yesterday he had been told to report here to act as co-pilot to the Acting Senior Pilot for her proficiency test! And the test was to be taken in JHU, the most renowned patrol ship in the force! He wondered what he had let himself in for. He kicked at the ground again.
“Officer Todd?” A female voice behind him asked. He nearly leapt out of his skin.
“Yes ma’am.” He replied, spinning around and trying to salute at the same time. In doing so he managed to knock his cap off. The officer in front of him giggled as he scrambled to pick it up. He felt his face going red. This was not a good start.
“It’s okay.” She said comfortingly. “I’m Officer Stacey Grainger.” She held out her hand. “I believe you’ve been assigned to me and ‘Juliet’ for a while.”
“Yes ma’am.” He said, shaking the proffered hand.
“Call me Stacey, or Stace.” She said, still trying to suppress an amused smile.
“Yes ma’am. Errr…Stacey.” Paul felt hopelessly confused and out of his depth. He looked into her hazel eyes and pitying expression and was immediately smitten.
“What’s the matter?” Stacey asked, noting his attention. “I haven’t got something on my face have I?”
Guiltily Paul broke his stare and shook his head.
“No. Nothing is wrong with your face. I’d just never noticed your eyes before.” He said, blushing.
“My eyes? What about my eyes?”
“I’d never realised how pretty they were before.” He answered, shrugging helplessly.
“Spend a lot of time looking at girl’s eyes do you?” Stacey asked with a mischievous grin.
“Can we change the subject? I’m embarrassed enough already.” He pleaded desperately.
“All right.” She gave in. “What do you know about Sergeant Winters?”
“He always shows up at an interesting point in the conversation.” A third voice joined in. They span around to see Sergeant Winters beaming at them, his hands on his hips. “Shall we get started?” He asked, still smiling. “That’s if you’ve done gossiping.”
Stacey, the more experienced of the two grinned back.
“No problem Sarge.”
Paul just turned bright red, but managed to stutter.
“I’m ready Sergeant.”
Stacey began by explaining to Paul that ‘Juliet’ had a second cargo airlock that should be checked before take-off, and then went on to tell him that the ship could be flown from either of the pilot seats, but that she personally preferred the right hand one as that was where she had sat when Big Dave had shown her how to fly ‘Juliet’. Sergeant Winters said nothing at all throughout the pre-flight checks, just nodding or smiling and occasionally making a note on his computer pad. Stacey had practically forgotten what he was there for to be truthful. She called up Traffic Control.
“Control, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform requesting clearance to depart.”
“Juliet Hotel Uniform, this is control, you are cleared to depart. You have a message from Sergeant Baldwin.”
Stacey sighed and turned to Paul.
“I bet she’s just wishing me luck.” She grinned and then replied. “What is the message control?”
“Message reads: Unusual activity in asteroid field near Station Six. Investigate if possible.”
“Oh!” Stacey said in surprise. “Message acknowledged control.”
There was a snort of suppressed laughter from Sergeant Winters who had overheard her aside to Paul.
“There is an addendum. It reads: Good luck.”
All three of them laughed now.
“Thank you control. Juliet Hotel Uniform departing. Tell the boys I’ll bring her back safe. JHU out.”
For the next couple of hours it was pretty much like a normal patrol for Stacey. The proficiency test was designed mainly to confirm her day-to-day piloting skills and to assess her instructional ability. Sergeant Winters could find no fault so far.
Officer Todd spoke.
“Stacey, we’re nearing Station Six. Sergeant Baldwin asked if…”
“…If we could check on the asteroid activity.” She finished with a grin. “I remember, but thanks for the reminder Toddy.” She half turned to the sergeant behind her. “I’m about to enter the asteroid field sir, so if you’d buckle up I’d be grateful. And an extra pair of eyes is always useful in the field.” She added hopefully.
“Carry on Officer Grainger. And if I see anything I’ll shout.” He smiled and then added something else onto his computer pad.
“Station Six; this is Juliet Hotel Uniform informing you we are entering the asteroid field in your sector.” She reported on the radio. She got a short acknowledgement from the local station. “I’ll take her in Toddy.” Stacey said, her face set hard in concentration. “You keep an eye on the shields and a lookout for anything coming our way.” She took a deep breath. “Hold tight, here we go.” With that she picked a spot and deftly flicked ‘Juliet’ into the asteroid field. She was confidant of avoiding the larger lumps of rock and the smaller ones would be deflected by the shields, but they had to keep alert to the possibility of a counter-moving rogue.
Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary as Stacey wove through the asteroids and none of the three of them could see anything unusual about the way the rocks were moving. After twenty minutes or so of nothing, Stacey spotted one of the larger asteroids. She spoke over her shoulder to Winters.
“Sergeant. Is it all right if I let Toddy make a landing on this big one? The experience will do him good.”
“It’s your mission Officer Grainger. I’m only a passenger.”
Stacey took that as a yes.
“Okay Toddy. I’m handing control to you. Just remember; although it doesn’t look like it, that rock is moving, so compensate a little.”
“Are you sure about this Stacey? I’ve never done it before.” He asked in a concerned voice.
Stacey just grinned.
“No-one has the first time they do it. Besides, I have confidence in you. See?” With that she took her hands and feet away from the controls, crossing her arms.
“I said you’d be fine didn’t I Toddy?” Stacey smirked at a limp Paul. “That was a pretty good landing wasn’t it Sarge?” She turned to Winters.
“Not bad.” He agreed. “But I’m here to assess you not him.”
“Just making use of your experience to bolster his confidence.” She shot him another grin. She was really enjoying herself.
“You’ve got very cheeky these days Officer Grainger. Not at all like the timid girl I recall back at the academy.”
“You weren’t my pilot tutor?” Stacey asked, puzzled.
“No I wasn’t. But I remember you at the passing out parade, looking small and more than a little scared. Half the spectators I spoke to commented on you.”
Stacey blushed.
“I really looked scared?”
“You did. But you seem to have got over it. Big Dave’s doing I suspect.”
“Him and Emmy. They trusted me and gave me confidence.”
“They’re good at that.” The sergeant sighed. “We need a few more tutors like that at the academy, but I suppose they’re more use on station.”
“And I can’t see either of them wanting to leave the ‘Boonies’.” She grinned.
“No. Neither can I.” He grinned back.
Paul was looking at Stacey oddly, trying to picture her like him, all timid and worried, but he couldn’t. He looked away as she turned around, blushing again. He thought of an unrelated question.
“Stacey, I get the feeling that us landing here wasn’t just so that I could nearly crash in the attempt. What is the real reason?”
“Paul, I told you the landing was fine. And yes I did have an ulterior motive for us being here. From here we can get a good look at the field without having to keep an eye on everything else at the same time. So have a good look at those asteroids and we’ll see if we can spot whatever it is Emmy was on about.”
“That’s good thinking.” Paul replied, impressed. Sergeant Winters grunted in agreement and made another note on his pad. Stacey would rather like to see what it was he was putting down, but knew she’d have to wait until the test was over.
“How long are we going to keep looking?” Paul asked Stacey after about half an hour of fruitlessly scanning the scene above them.
“Around another 30 minutes. If we’ve spotted nothing by then I’ll feel justified in filing a negative report.” Stacey replied. She looked around at the others. The sergeant was tapping away at his computer pad while Paul was apprehensively looking up, obviously not sure what he was supposed to be looking for. In truth she didn’t know either, it had been a vague report, but after three years out here she knew she would be the one to notice any anomaly. Just as she was thinking that something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked with renewed interest. There it was again; a glint of light off metal! Stacey pointed and asked if the other two could see it. After a couple of minutes of concentrated staring they both confirmed her observation.
“What is it Stace?” Paul asked.
“I think it’s a mining vessel of some sort.”
“Ships aren’t supposed to be in the asteroid field.” Sergeant Winters said.
“Some are, but they’re supposed to inform the local station like we did.” As she was saying this Stacey was reaching once again for the radio. “Station Six, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform, are you reading me?”
“Loud and clear JHU. What’s up?”
“Have you been informed of any other ship in the belt?”
“Only you JHU. Why?”
“We’re observing the belt from ‘Big Blue 7’ and can see a ship that appears to be moored to a non-mover. I think it’s out of your line of sight.”
“Can you check it out for us? Our ship has only just got back, she needs refuelling.”
“Will do Six. Out.”
“Stacey, there’s another one.” Paul nudged her and pointed. “Just above us and much closer. It’s just moved out from behind that meteorite.” His voice squeaked urgently.
Stacey looked up and went white.
“Emergency take-off! NOW!!” She commanded, dropping her hands to the controls. Paul copied her immediately. “Somehow they’ve launched that meteorite at us.” She explained as her hands prepped ‘Juliet’ for engine start.
“How much time?” Winters asked as he strapped in.
“Not a lot.” She said, glancing up. “Skip the check list Paul, fire up the main engine. We need to get off this asteroid fast.”
“She’s too cold.” Paul cried as the engine failed to ignite.
“Hit the injectors, the reheat and the ignition simultaneously.” The still calm voice of Winters came from behind them. “It’s not a recommended procedure, but it will work, I promise.”
“DO IT!” Stacey yelled. She and Paul pushed all the required buttons at once and the engine burst into life. As they began to move they could all see the approaching meteorite getting closer. It would hit behind them “Buckle up. Rear shields to maximum.” Stacey said, knowing it could be too late. And then the huge piece of space rock smashed into ‘Big Blue 7’.
The shockwave caught the barely airborne ‘Juliet’ and flung her skywards amidst a rain of fragmenting rock as the two asteroids impacted. The occupants were flung around in their seats despite being strapped in. Stacey was barely in control of the bucking space craft, just enough to guide them clear of the flying debris, but ‘Juliet’ had been hit and hit hard by more than one piece of the exploding rock. Several alarms were going off as she regained control.
“We’re losing air from a puncture in the hold, and we have a leak in one of the fuel tanks.” Paul reported as he extinguished a tiny electrical fire on his console.
“Seal the hold and pump the tank into one of the others.” Stacey ordered as she looked around for an escape route from the mushrooming debris cloud.
“On it.” Despite his fright, Paul was reacting well to the situation. He did as he was told, sealing the hold off and beginning to pump fuel from the leaking tank into one of the sound ones.
“Sergeant, we have our hands full. Can you get in touch with Station Six and tell them we need to dock to make emergency repairs?”
“I’m on it too Stacey.”
“Sorry to have to ask.” She threw a grin over her shoulder. “Bit different to a normal flight for you, eh Sarge?”
“Flights in the ‘Boonies’ always seem to offer something new.” He grinned back.
Stacey finally managed to get ‘Juliet’ out of the way of the following rock cloud by slipping behind another of the larger asteroids. She breathed a sigh of relief and began to look around. Her eyes were drawn to where Station Six was.
“Sergeant, have you been able to get through to Six?” She asked in a dead voice.
“No. Only hiss and crackle.”
“I’m not surprised. They have problems of their own.” She pointed. “That second meteorite, the one we spotted first, must have been launched at them.”
The other two looked and saw that the station seemed to be damaged quite badly.
“If that second one had hit them, there would be nothing left at all.” Sergeant Winters said hopefully.
“Then it must have hit something smaller into them.” Stacey said.
“Like a pool shot?” Paul said quietly.
“I suppose.” Stacey shrugged, in despair for a moment. Then she straightened her shoulders. “They’ll need help.”
“Yes, but we’re damaged too.” Paul said. Winters said nothing.
“We’re here!” Stacey said forcefully. “And we’re close enough to help. We help.”
“Of course Officer Grainger. I didn’t mean we shouldn’t, just that we are leaking air and fuel and need repair as well.”
“I understand Paul. Let’s go.”
Stacey deftly clamped onto the one airlock that was vacant, the other had a wrecked ‘Sierra 4’ scout ship hanging from it. Thankfully the airlock was still operational.
“Good. That means they still have power and air.” Stacey said. “Paul, I want you to find the crew and get some ‘Space-seal’, they’ll know what you mean. Bring it back here and then go back and help in whatever way you can.”
“Yes ma’am.” He went, not daring to question her.
“Sergeant, go find the radio communications. One of them should be trying to get through to Emmy. Take over so he can help the others. When you get through, tell them to send Nobby and a repair crew ASAP.”
“Yes ma’am.” Winters said wryly. “What are you going to do?”
“Well ‘Juliet’ has the same systems the station has. I’m going to set her up to keep them going until Nobby gets here. And when Paul gets back with the ‘Space-seal’ I’m going out to patch our leaks so if we can’t save the station, we can save the crew. Now go. Time is of the essence.”
“I’m on it Stacey.” As he reached the airlock he turned back once more. “Big Dave and Emmy will be proud of you.” He said and then he was gone, before she could ask him what he meant.
About three hours after they had docked and two after Winters had got through to the hub Nobby arrived with his repair crew. Paul and Stacey had managed to jettison the wrecked scout so he docked on the now vacant second airlock. The moment they had cleared the scout away Stacey had donned her space suit and gone outside to begin fixing the damage done to ‘Juliet’. She was just finishing when Nobby arrived. She hurried back to the airlock so that they could dock.
Stacey had only removed her helmet when Nobby came through the airlock, a big grin on his face as ever.
“Watcha darlin’” He smiled. “Bin for a wander?”
“Patching ‘Juliet’. She answered.
“We coulda done that.” He said a little reproachfully. The rest of his crew had passed them and gone to assess the current situation of the station.
“Didn’t know how long you’d be.” She said, a little shortly. For some reason Nobby always wound her up these days.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Nobby looked more subdued than she could remember.
“What is it Nobby?”
Nobby shuffled his feet and looked embarrassed.
“Well I…The truth is…I…I’ve found another girl.” He finally managed to say.
“You have? I’m happy for you. Who is it?” Stacey asked with a smile.
“That new nurse, Heather. We sort of just clicked. I’m sorry babe…” He tailed off again.
“It’s okay Nobby, I understand. I’m not the girl I used to be, not the girl you first met. We just grew apart.” They looked at each other for a moment and then Nobby kissed her on the cheek.
“Gotta get to work. Emmy wants you and your lot back at the hub pronto. Take the injured bod with you. Now scram cutie!” He smiled. “The boss don’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Going now.” She smiled back. “As soon as I can get unplugged from the station.”
“You remembered how to do that?” He whistled in awe. “Good girl.”
“You taught me, remember?”
“I weren’t sure you’d remember.”
“I remember lots of things.” She smirked naughtily, waggling her eyebrows. Nobby went red and then scuttled off to do his job.
With a sigh of relief Stacey docked ‘Juliet’ back at her berth in the hub. She let her body sag tiredly for the first time since the emergency take off on ‘Big Blue 7’.Then she pulled herself back together one more time. She called Toddy in the cargo hold with the injured officer from Station Six.
“Paul, help them get our guest to the infirmary. When you’ve done that, get a drink and a bite to eat and then report to Sergeant Baldwin, she’ll want your version of the events too.”
“Okay Stace. See you later.” He sounded perkier than at any other time since she’d met him. Then she realised that had only been this morning.
Next Stacey turned to Sergeant Winters who had acted as co-pilot back to the hub.
“Sorry for disrupting your test Sarge, and I’m really, really sorry for ordering you about on Six.”
“I told you before.” He smiled. “I was just a passenger. It was…Interesting, shall we say? And it made me realise that I need to get out more.” Stacey gave a weak smile. Winters held out his hand. “It’s definitely been educational Stacey.” She took his hand and they shook. “Now I think I’d better go and make my report.” With that he left, leaving Stacey sitting alone. She placed her hand on the control panel in front of her.
“Well, I busted you up pretty good old girl. I hope they think you’re worth saving, because you saved us.” She patted the panel affectionately before squaring her shoulders and leaving the pilots seat of ‘Juliet’ for what might be the last time.
To her utter astonishment Stacey was greeted by a round of applause as she stepped out of the airlock. She stopped still, unsure what was happening. Big Dave walked over to her, clapping, a smile on his lips.
“What’s this for?” Stacey asked.
“Appreciation for the return of a hero Stace.” He continued to grin, amused by her puzzlement.
“A hero? Me? But I nearly got everyone killed with my clever ideas. And ‘Juliet’… ’Juliet’ could be finished.”
“Stacey, everyone’s alive because of you. And you don’t think we’re going to let them scrap ‘Juliet’ because of a couple of dents.”
“A couple of dents? Dave, she’s been hammered: the engine misfires and the electrics keep shorting…”
Big Dave held up his hand.
“She needed upgrading anyway. They are NOT going to take her away, I promise.”
“And I made a mess of the test.” Stacey continued to protest.
She looked so downcast that Dave put his arm around her shoulder.
“We’ll see shall we? Come on, Emmy wants to see you.”
Still unsure she was deserving of being called a hero Stacey was surprised by the number of handshakes and back-slaps she got while following Big Dave up to Emmy’s office. Sergeant Winters was just coming out as they arrived. Stacey stopped to speak to him.
“Sergeant, I hope they assign you to my re-test.”
“What re-test?” He appeared puzzled.
“No re-test? I blew it that badly?”
“Officer Grainger!” Sergeant Baldwin called out. “If you’re done gossiping…” Emmy sounded unhappy, so Stacey went in quickly.
This meant she missed the exchange between Big Dave and Joe Winters.
“Thanks for feigning ignorance Joe; I know Emmy wants to tell Stacey herself.”
“No big deal Dave, although I did have a problem keeping a straight face.” They shook hands. “You can tell Stacey that if she ever wants a change, we can find her an instructors post at the Flight School.” He thought of something else. “And remind her that a Senior Pilot needs to be able to fly all the craft under their jurisdiction, not just their favourite.”
“Will do Joe. See you around.”
Stacey falteringly finished her report to the hard-faced Sergeant Baldwin. While she had been worried before, seeing her friend looking so stern increased her anxiety ten-fold. Emmy leant her elbows on the desk and peered at Stacey over steepled fingers.
“So Officer Grainger, you are assuming responsibility for everything that went on out there?”
“Yes ma’am. I entered the asteroid field when I didn’t have too; I caused Officer Todd to land on an asteroid on a whim; and I initiated an unauthorised engine start-up procedure.” Stacey replied, deflatedly. Although she blamed herself for the damage ‘Juliet’ had suffered, she hadn’t thought that Emmy would too.
“I’m glad.” Emmy suddenly smiled. “It means Dave and I were right about you.” Stacey looked bewildered now. “Stacey, who was it that asked you to enter the field?”
“No-one ma’am.” She replied, still unsure about what Emmy meant about being right.
“Wrong. I did. I knew what you’d do when I made the request.”
“You did?”
“Of course. In any case, we now think the initial report was a fake. Someone wanted to destroy a patrol ship and a station at the same time for some reason and the report was a lure. We don’t know why yet.”
“Wait a second. You mean you don’t blame me for any of this?”
“I do not. Why would I?”
“Why all the serious looks then?”
“My dear Stacey, I’m just trying to make you realise that you are one of the best and most responsible officers I have. Do you honestly think anyone else could have done better out there?”
“They might have got airborne quicker.”
“They might not have got airborne at all.” Emmy countered.
“Sergeant Winters didn’t think that highly of me. He said I couldn’t have a re-test.”
“Why would you need a re-test? He passed you.”
“So he was in on this wind-up with you too?”
“All three of us.”
“Paul as well?”
“No silly. Big Dave. You don’t seriously think there’s anything going on around here HE doesn’t know about.”
“No.” Stacey said. Then realisation hit her. “I passed? I’m a Senior Pilot?”
“Indeed you are. Sergeant Grainger.” Emmy smiled at her friends’ excitement.
“Sergeant? I’m promoted as well?” Stacey was amazed.
“Goes with the job.”
“But…but I can’t order Big Dave about.”
“Why not? I can.”
“You’re married to him.”
“Just don’t worry about Dave. There are going to be a few changes around here shortly.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not at liberty to say at the moment. Anyway, here are your orders.” Emmy handed a file over. “You are now in charge of everything pilot-related. You get an office and an admin assistant and why am I telling you this when you’ve been doing this job for me for a couple of months? And wipe that smirk off your face.”
“Sorry ma’am.” Stacey said, now unable to suppress the smile, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.
Emmy looked down at a list on the desk. She too was having trouble keeping a straight face.
“Oh yes. What are your impressions of Officer Todd?”
“I think Paul has the makings of a fine officer.” Emmy smiled at the ‘Paul’. “He has the intelligence and ability, but he lacks confidence.” Emmy smiled again. “A little responsibility could do him good.” Stacey finished.
“Then it’s up to you to give it to him.”
“What?”
“I’m assigning him to you. You need a partner or a co-pilot, or whatever you decide.” Emmy said this last part with a twinkle in her eye.
“What do you mean by that? ‘Whatever I decide’. Why are you smirking?”
“See you later Stace, when you’ve worked it out.” Emmy practically pointed at the door. “And if Officer Todd is out there, send him in please.” She called out as Stacey left the office somewhat bemused.
Big Dave was still outside, talking quietly with Paul. Stacey recognised the tone; it was Dave’s confidence-building small-talk voice, the one he had used so often with her when she had first been posted here. Toddy looked up as she closed the door.
“Me now?” He asked nervously.
“Yep.” Stacey grinned.
“But why does the sergeant need to see me?” Paul looked worried.
“She doesn’t NEED to see you, Officer Todd; She WANTS to see you.” Dave explained. “Emmy likes to get as much input as possible.”
“Too much at times.” Stacey added.
“But what do I say?” He wailed.
“Just answer her questions.” Stacey told him. “All Emmy wants is your account of the incident. She’s not trying to catch you out or anything, I promise.” She paused. “Oh! And she’s got a new assignment for you. Now get in there.” He went.
Stacey smiled to herself.
“You like him don’t you?” Big Dave asked suddenly.
“I do. Even though he was scared he did everything he was supposed to do. And he did them right.”
“Sounds a bit like someone I remember from three years ago.” Dave grinned.
“Was I really like that?” Stacey asked blushing.
“Yes, you were. A timid new probationer that I was never going to let out on the streets on her own.” He smiled and tousled her hair. “Until you got ‘Juliet’ that is. She gave you what you needed, confidence.”
“Ahh, ‘Juliet’.” Stacey sighed and then frowned. “They wouldn’t really scrap her would they?”
“Stace, even if she’s too far gone for them to rebuild her, she’s not going to the scrap yard. We’ll keep her as your office or something.” He hugged her as her face cleared. “By the way, Joe says you should make yourself familiar with all the ship types on the hub. It helps if the Senior Pilot knows what their subordinates are talking about.”
“I was thinking that, especially now that my ship is in dock for repairs.” She gave him a big smile. “Send Toddy down to my office when he’s done here. I need to go and see what ships I’ve got available for tomorrow.”
“Will do.” Dave paused, a look of devilment on his face. “Sarge.” He finished. Stacey turned to go, her face crimson with a mixture of embarrassment and pride.
Stacey went down to what was now officially her office and began to look for the files on the available ships stationed at the ‘Boonies’. She had just found them on the system when Paul came in.
“Sergeant Baldwin told me I was assigned to you. She said you needed an assistant or whatever you decided. What did she mean?”
“I’m not sure, but I do need an assistant, someone who’s better with the paperwork than me. How are you with files?”
“Not bad I suppose. I’ve been on the front desk since I arrived here, so I’ve got a reasonable idea about the system.”
“Good.” Stacey turned the computer over to him. “I need to know what types of ship and in what numbers we have here, and which ones are operational.”
Paul tapped away and found what she wanted.
“There are four ‘Sierra’ class 4 scouts, and three class 4A’s, all available. There is the repair ship which is a modified ‘Uniform’ transport, but that’s out at Station Six still. Central are sending a ‘Whiskey’ model B to cover for ‘Juliet’ that’s due to arrive in two days. Each of the seven outlying stations has a scout ship assigned to it. Three ‘Sierra’ class 3C’s and two more class 4’s. Station Two has a class 5 and Station Six will get something sent from the central pool when it’s operational again.”
“That’s everything is it?” Stacey asked. Paul nodded in reply. “Well, I’ve flown Nobby’s ship and a ‘Whiskey B’ and a ‘Sierra 3C’ so I’ll need to get into a ‘Sierra 4’ and the 5 sometime soon.” She stopped and thought. “Are the 4’s and the 4A’s the same?”
“I’ll check.” Paul punched up the schematics for the two classes of scout ships. “The only difference is in the weapon. The 4A’s have a more powerful blaster.”
Stacey sat back and hummed to herself.
“Still, it might be worth taking a 4A out as well.” She sat up. “What are you current on?” She asked Paul.
“Well, I was taught on a 4 and I’ve flown a 5 as well. No time in a 3C or any of the transport types.”
“Except ‘Juliet’.”
“Yes. But she’s not exactly a transport is she.”
“One of a kind. But the basics are pretty much the same in the larger ships. I want you up to speed on all the types too, that way I’ll have no qualms about sending you out on trips without me.” She smiled.
“That means that between us we need to fly every type on the hub.”
“Looks like it. What’s available tomorrow?”
“To you? Everything. You’re in charge, remember?”
“I meant what isn’t scheduled for a mission tomorrow, dummy.”
“Oh. Okay, there are two scout patrols tomorrow, no specific ships assigned. The station scouts come in once a week; tomorrow it’s Station One, a 3C.”
“We’ll start with a 4 and a 4A then. When the 3C comes in we’ll borrow that too.” She smiled at Paul. “We’ll have a go at the others when they become available. Now let’s go and have a drink to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Not getting run over by a meteorite?” Stacey grinned.
“Why not?” Paul smiled and stood up, holding his hand out to his new boss and hauling her upright.
Throughout the next week an investigation into the ‘Meteorite Incident’ got underway. A detective from central came over and went through everybody’s statement until he had a picture of the events. At the same time a team of specialists went into the asteroid belt to see if they could find the two used as weapons. ‘Big Blue 7’ had been split in half and the smaller rock totally disintegrated, but they did find pieces of a space engine which had been used to propel it. They had better luck with the other meteorite. It had indeed hit another rock into Station Six and then it had halted, the engine on it having failed with the shock. It matched the other pieces they had found. Station Six had survived because it had been hit by the second rock, travelling at a slower speed. They reported their findings to the detective, who began to investigate the ‘who’ now that he had the ‘how’.
Emmy and Big Dave came down to Stacey’s office a day or so after the detective had returned to central. She stood up to greet them.
“Hello you two. What’s up?”
“Why do you think something’s up Stace?” Dave grinned as he plonked himself in the spare chair in the office corner.
“Because you’re both here at the same time.” She smiled back.
Emmy sat herself down at what was now Paul’s desk, looking preoccupied.
“The thing is Stacey; we’d like your advice about the changes I told you about earlier.”
“The ‘I’m not at liberty to discuss these’ changes? And why me? I’m the most junior sergeant here still.”
“Yes, those changes.” Emmy gave a little smile. “And we’re asking you because you’re our friend. We’d liked to have asked Nobby too, but he’s still busy on Six.”
“Okay then, I’ll try and help. Fire away.”
“Stacey, they’re going to expand the ‘Boonies’ hub even more, up to sector size, which will mean more work for you as well as me.” Emmy explained.
“I can manage a few more ships I suppose. And they’ve already asked you to be in charge?” Emmy nodded. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I feel I’m losing touch with the ‘Boonies’, the people that is. I was wondering if I should turn them down and go back on patrol.”
“That’s just silly boss. What’s stopping you doing an occasional patrol anyway? Apart from your strange desire to do all your own paperwork?”
Dave laughed.
“That’s what I said.”
“All you need is a competent admin assistant.” Stacey said.
“Lieutenant’s don’t do that sort of thing.”
“That’s only because they want to stay behind their desk’s love.” Dave said. “You don’t have to conform to them. You can be a new kind of Lieutenant.”
“There’s a promotion in it too? And you’re asking me if you should take it? I would; like a shot. And like Dave says, it’s a new position. You can do it how you like.”
“I could I suppose.” Emmy said thoughtfully.
“Now, what’s Dave’s problem?”
“Hey! Who said I had a problem?”
“Why are you here then?” Stacey asked sweetly.
Dave went a little red.
“Well, I’m sort of worried about my new role in this set up.”
“Which is? Come on, don’t drag it out.”
“They want me to become Senior Sergeant and oversee the ‘Boonies’ while Emmy looks after the rest of the sector.” He said quietly.
“That a new rank? Just so you don’t have to call me ‘sergeant’?” Stacey grinned broadly. “Any way, isn’t that what you do anyway? Apart from the paperwork.”
“Don’t get cheeky with me young Grainger.” He wagged his finger in mock admonishment. Emmy grinned too; remembering how scared of Big Dave Stacey had been at first.
“Look ‘Senior Sergeant’, the same thing that applies to Emmy applies to you. It’s a new position, a new role. You can make it what you want.”
“I can, can’t I?” He mused.
“What are the alternatives? Teach at the academy, or, if you don’t want to leave the ‘Boonies’, resign and do something else? I can see neither of you doing either to be honest. And it wouldn’t be the same here without you to keep an eye on us.” They both laughed. “I mean it. I’d miss you keep popping in to check up on me.”
“All right Stace, I’m convinced.” Dave said. “What about you boss?” He turned to Emmy.
“Well, she makes some good points. I think I’m convinced too.” She smiled at Stacey. “At least until Stacey can take over.”
“ME! You’re kidding!”
“No I’m not. You’re very good at this. Look how quickly you’ve got your section working properly.” Emmy said.
“It’s only eight ships and pilots.” Stacey said meekly. “Not an entire sector of space.”
“We’ll wait and see shall we.”
“By the way ‘Senior Pilot’, how are you getting on with familiarising yourself with all your types.” Dave asked.
“Paul and I have flown everything we’ve got here, except Paul hasn’t got to fly in the repair ship yet.”
“Find anything you like?”
“The ‘Sierra 5’ is quite nice to fly, but I still want ‘Juliet’ back.”
“How is she coming along?” Emmy asked.
“Still some time away.” Stacey sighed. “The ‘Whiskey B’ just isn’t the same.”
“I heard you gave her a name though?”
“Paul calls her the ‘Boozy Bee’.” She grinned a little.
“Chin up. ‘Juliet’ will be back.” Big Dave smiled. “Thanks for the chat Stace; it’s helped us a lot.” He and Emmy both stood up.
“Yes, thank you.” Emmy kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll leave you to it.” She turned and followed Dave out.
Despite the Baldwin’s hesitation over accepting their new roles the expansion of the hub into a fully-fledged sector went smoothly, mainly due to their meticulous planning. Stacey would soon gain five extra pilots and craft for them to fly. The new ships would be four ‘Sierra’ 4A’s and another ‘Whiskey’’ class transport, a ‘C’ this time. After only a couple of weeks everything was ready for the big day when the ‘Boonies’ hub was renamed the ‘Boonies’ sector. There was to be a formal ceremony to mark it.
The increase in traffic was easily handled but then some of the incoming ships began to report sighting unidentified craft operating in the asteroid belt in close proximity to the ‘Boonies’. Stacey decided to act on those reports in light of the attack on Station Six a month earlier and set up a constant patrol overhead. Emmy and Big Dave concurred with her thinking and in consequence there was always a ‘Sierra’ class scout patrolling the immediate vicinity of the ‘Boonies’.
For the day of the ceremony Stacey put an extra scout up on a hunch. With two regular patrols off in the belt, that left her with four scouts in case of trouble. Just before the start of the activities Traffic Control received reports from both scouts and passed them to Emmy and Stacey. Unidentified craft had been spotted approaching two fair-sized meteorites. Stacey instructed the patrols to try and apprehend or chase off the intruders and then ordered three of the scouts into the skies to help them, taking the fourth ‘Sierra’ herself even though she was supposed to be attending the inauguration. Pretty soon Big Dave and Emmy were calling her from Traffic Control.
“Stacey, what the hell is happening?” Emmy demanded.
“We’re under attack, I’m sure of it. They’re going to use meteorites again. I’ve got the two scout patrols trying to scare them off and launched the other four scouts to help them.”
“And you’re in one of them?” Dave asked.
“Yes. Sorry boss, can’t let someone else do the dirty work.”
“What can we do to help?” Emmy sighed.
“Cross your fingers?” Stacey suggested.
“Already doing that. Good luck. Out”
“Thanks.” Stacey turned her attention to the disposition of her ships. “Sierra Foxtrot Zulu, Sierra Golf Bravo, assist Sierra Charlie Tango. Sierra Bravo X-ray, you and I will help Sierra Poppa Whiskey. We must stop them igniting those engines.” They all acknowledged her, and sped to their assigned tasks.
It wasn’t more than five minutes later that Stacey received another call.
“Sierra Tango Zulu, this is Charlie Tango. We have secured Runaway 1. Am standing by until someone arrives to take possession. Foxtrot Zulu and Golf Bravo are pursuing suspects.”
“Good work Charlie Tango. Confer with Control over possession. Out.” By now Stacey and Bravo X-ray were bearing down on the second meteorite, the furthest away of the two. To her dismay it had already started to move, the second crew obviously made of sterner stuff than the first. She thought fast. “Poppa Whiskey, Bravo X-ray, you go after the ship. I’ll handle this.” ‘Though I have no idea how,’ she thought. “Control, this is Tango Zulu. Runaway 2 is mobile, repeat, mobile. Am attempting to stop it. Out.” With that she snapped off her radio, knowing it would be full of well-meaning but useless advice.
Stacey realised she had to stop the engine. That would keep the meteorite from accelerating and give her more time. With that decision she flicked her slim craft into a low swoop over the space rock and pulled into a hover near the engine. After a long burst of blaster fire it exploded. Stacey noted that the explosion altered the course of the meteorite slightly. That gave her another idea. Maybe she could use her ships engine to further deflect the trajectory of the rock, at least enough to miss the ‘Boonies’. As it was the only thing that had occurred to her she began to look for a suitable spot to land near the front of the meteorite where the effect would be greater. She glimpsed a flattish surface that was facing the way she wanted and looked more than big enough to accommodate her scout ship. Stacey gingerly set Sierra Tango Zulu down on the rock. She locked everything down, pointed her manoeuvring jets to keep her on the meteorite and then unleashed the power of her engine. The little scout shook horribly, like it was threatening to tear itself apart, but Stacey persevered. She looked at her radar scope. It showed that she was altering the course of the meteorite relative to the ‘Boonies’, but not by enough.
Suddenly Stacey heard the sound of another more powerful ship setting down alongside her. She looked up and around and saw it was the ‘Boozy Bee’ landing. Switching her radio back on she called it up, assuming that they had landed on the wrong meteorite.
“Boozy Bee, you are in the wrong place. You should be on Runaway 1.”
“Tango Zulu; No, we’re not. Are we Officer Todd?”
“Certainly not, Senior Sergeant Baldwin. Runaway 2 needs stopping, so here we are.”
“Will you two clowns buzz off? This is dangerous.”
“Sorry Stace, you don’t outrank me anymore. We can see what you’re trying to do, but you need more power. We’ve brought it. Now shut up and let me concentrate.” Big Dave said. Now he powered up the larger engines on the ‘Boozy Bee’. She started to shake like Tango Zulu. Stacey again looked at her radar scope. Bit by bit they were pushing the path the rock was taking away from the asteroid occupied by the ‘Boonies’. But it still wouldn’t be enough. They needed one big push. With a sudden realisation Stacey knew how to do it.
“Big Dave, I know what to do now. When I say ‘go’, get the hell out of here.”
“What are you going to do Stace?” Dave asked.
“If I tell you, you won’t let me do it. Just wait for me to tell you ‘go’.”
“I know what you’re planning.” Paul said.
“How?”
“I read the tech manuals at the same time as you Stacey. Don’t do it, please.”
“Get going, I’m overloading the engine and the weapons system, and I’m doing it…” She waited momentarily until the power peaked. “…NOW! GO!!!”
“Get over here now Sergeant Grainger. That is an order. We are not leaving until you are on this craft.” Big Dave spoke gruffly, meaning it.
“There isn’t time.” Stacey replied.
“EJECT NOW! We’ll catch you.” Paul cried, after explaining something to Dave.
Stacey fired the last ditch rescue ejector. It blew the cockpit of the scout ship away from the fuselage. As she flew upwards she saw ‘Boozy Bee’ leave the meteorite seconds later, matching her trajectory. Stacey watched in amazement as Dave flicked the cargo ship over onto its side above her, the open cargo bay covering the path she was on. The cockpit of Tango Zulu clattered into the hold and the doors snapped shut behind it.
“Stay strapped in Stace, it’s about to get rough.” Paul called.
He was right. Tango Zulu exploded on the surface of the rock. The shockwave pushed the meteorite well away from the ‘Boonies’. Then it hit the ‘Boozy Bee’ before carrying on to shake the whole area. The ship bucked and shook, but Dave retained control. ‘Boozy Bee’ levelled out.
“Sergeant Grainger, are you all right?” Dave asked.
“It’s hard to tell, I’m sort of upside down.”
“Toddy is on his way to get you out.”
Another voice cut in.
“Whiskey Bravo Bravo, this is control; what the hell do you think you’re doing up there? Land at once, before I have another heart attack.” It was Emmy.
“Yes dear. Sorry.” Dave replied sardonically.
“The Lieutenant sounds annoyed.” Paul said nervously.
“She’ll get over it.” Big Dave said simply. “She’s just upset I grabbed you as co-pilot instead of her. Now go and see how Stacey is. She sounds stuck.” Paul made his way to the cargo hold. After making sure it was airtight he went in.
Stacey was definitely stuck. The ejected cockpit section had come to rest on its side, leaning towards the back wall of the cargo hold of ‘Boozy Bee’ in such a way that the canopy wouldn’t open. She was dangling from her harness nearly upside down and couldn’t unclip herself. After a couple of minutes of trying she had given up and just hung there, waiting for the assistance she knew was coming. Suddenly she could see Toddy through the scratched windshield. He gave her a little wave and a tight smile and then stood scratching his head as he tried to work out a way to free her.
Officer Todd took in the situation. Stacey’s canopy couldn’t be opened in the position the cockpit had ended up in. He knew he’d never be able to smash his way in; the canopy material was too tough. Maybe he could find a way to right the broken cockpit section? He scanned the cargo bay for something to assist him. The manual hoist secured near the airlock caught his eye. If he could find a way to attach that…
He went to work, unhitching the hoist and manoeuvring it closer to Stacey. He secured the lifting chain to one of the locking bolts which had secured the cockpit to the rest of the scout ship, and then he hammered in some cargo locking pins into the floor, holding the side of the cockpit was resting on in place. In theory he should be able to pivot Stacey far enough up so that she could get the canopy open. He went to the hoist controls and began to wind in the slack. As the chain tightened the cockpit came away from the hold wall. The hoist was starting to burn out with the effort as the cockpit reached ninety degrees to the floor. Suddenly, the locking bolt he’d attached the chain to sheared off. The cockpit teetered momentarily and then slammed onto the cargo hold floor the right way up.
Paul rushed across to find Stacey already unstrapping her harness and cranking the canopy open at the same time.
“That wasn’t the best landing I’ve ever made.” She grinned as he helped her out.
“I’ve had worse.” He grinned back. “Come on, we need to get to the flight deck. We’ll be docking soon.”
They scampered into the cockpit just as Big Dave received docking clearance.
“What was that big bang?” He asked.
“I had to get her the right way up.” Paul explained.
“In that case, you need to lose some weight Stace; I felt that up here.”
She gave him a friendly slap across the back of the helmet and then glanced out of the flight deck window.
“There are an awful lot of people on the dock again.” She said dubiously. “You don’t think they’re going to cheer me again do you?”
“Very probably, Miss Timid-But-Heroic.” Paul said with a smirk as Big Dave gently docked ‘Boozy Bee’. “Now it’s time for you to meet your admirers. Again.”
“Oh No! You two are coming with me. If I’m a hero, so are you.”
The Scout ships were applauded too as they returned. Charlie Tango came in after Nobby and his crew had arrived to collect the meteorite engine, and was warmly cheered. Both of the pursuing pairs arrived towing a captured ship and received hearty congratulations. Dave, Stacey, and Paul didn’t see them bringing in their prisoners though; they were in Lieutenant Baldwin’s office. Paul felt seriously outranked. In addition to the lieutenant and the two sergeants, the Captain and the Commissioner were there as well as Arnie, the erstwhile Mayor of the ‘Boonies’.
Emmy hugged Dave and then Stacey. And then with a shrug that said’ why not?’ she hugged a surprised Paul.
“I feel I should be berating you, but that would be churlish.” Emmy said.
The other three dignitaries came forward and shook each of the three non-plussed officers by the hand. The Captain was especially pleased with Big Dave.
“We are recommending all three of you for awards.” He said.
“We just did what we had to sir.” Dave replied.
“What about my scout ship pilots sir?” Stacey asked. “They were magnificent.”
“Indeed they were Sergeant Grainger. Have no fear; they will get their rewards as well. Because of them we should be able to track down whoever is behind this attack now. But you three, particularly you Grainger, saved the ‘Boonies’ from certain destruction and we want to show our appreciation.”
All the medal recipients were sat in a line in front of the audience at the award ceremony a week or so later. Every one of them looked anxious except perhaps Big Dave; he just seemed amused and more than a little proud of his protégés. If anything Paul and Stacey looked the most nervous, edging towards terrified, their natural timidity reasserting itself.
One by one the Scout Ship pilots stepped up and received their awards, and all the time Stacey got more and more apprehensive. She felt her new Sergeants Dress Uniform was itching and she couldn’t sit still.
“How much longer?” She whispered to Dave sat beside her.
“Why ask me? I’ve never been to an awards ceremony before.” He whispered back.
Stacey looked at him in surprise.
“You haven’t?”
Emmy looked around and gave them a look that said ‘BE QUIET’. Stacey lapsed into silence. Paul stood to accept his medal, and then Big Dave. That left only Stacey.
The Commissioner, awarding the honours, cleared his throat.
“And now for the final award to Senior Pilot Sergeant Stacey Grainger, whose recent service has been beyond exemplary. From her cool piloting of the patrol ship Juliet Hotel Uniform, or ‘Juliet’ as she is known, away from an exploding asteroid, to her decisive actions that resulted in the stabilisation of Station Six, and finally to her bravery and willingness to sacrifice herself to divert the recent attack here on the ‘Boonies’. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to announce the award of the Armstrong Cross for conspicuous gallantry and meritorious service to Sergeant Grainger.”
Stacey’s jaw dropped open while everyone else cheered and applauded. The Armstrong Cross was the ultimate space service honour and the two additional clasps made it practically unique. The audience was standing, clapping, waiting for her to step forward and receive her medal. But her legs had turned to jelly. Big Dave reached down and hauled her to her feet and then gently nudged her in the right direction. Still in a daze, Stacey stumbled up to the dais and allowed the Commissioner to pin the simple cross to her tunic. He pointed at the microphone. They wanted her to make a speech as well? Stacey found Emmy standing beside her, whispering encouragement. The cheering died away as Stacey fiddled with the mike.
“I…I…I truly don’t know w…what to say. Obviously I wasn’t expecting this.” She fingered the shiny new medal. “I didn’t set out to be brave or heroic; I was just there and did what had to be done. I’m sure any of you would have done the same.” She stopped, unsure about how to carry on. “I wasn’t thinking about being a hero, I was thinking of you, my friends, and the people of the ‘Boonies’, who it’s my job to protect, and how to save them.” She tailed off again, running out of words. “Any way, thank you all.”
Stacey went bright red as renewed applause thundered in her ears. She sat back down and Emmy took her place at the mike.
“Thank you Stacey. That was quite eloquently put.” She said to the deeply blushing sergeant. Then she turned to the rest of the audience. “Sergeant Grainger, Stace to some of us, sets us all an excellent example. We should all endeavour to be like her. I don’t mean blow up our ship to save others…” There was a ripple of laughter. “…I mean we should all be as caring and conscientious. It’s something we all forget from time to time. So our thanks for reminding us of one of the tenets of our service Sergeant.” She turned to face her friend and gave her a big smile. “On a personal note, I’d like to say ‘good work Stace’.” Stacey gave a beaming smile in return. “Now, let’s get to the party at McLeary’s.” Everyone started to stand. “Just remember if you’re on duty later, I’ll be checking on sobriety!”
Stacey slipped away from the party after half an hour or so. Despite being awarded a medal for gallantry she still couldn’t see herself as a hero. She had been terribly frightened through out the entire episode; not for herself, but for her friends and colleagues and the innocent denizens of the ‘Boonies’. So she made a quiet exit and went to her office overlooking the dock. She leant on the rail outside, looking down at ‘Juliet’ and the goings-on around the ships coming in and going out. There was nothing happening around her ship, but because she had been so busy for the past few days she had no idea whether or not the ship was fully repaired yet. It looked as if she was. A voice hailed her from below.
“Hey sarge, what’re you doing up there?”
Stacey looked down. It was Paul.
“Avoiding attention. What about you?” She replied.
“I’m looking for you.” He grinned. “And avoiding attention. You look incredibly pretty in your dress uniform you know?”
“I thought you looked at peoples eyes?” She laughed. “And you don’t look to shabby either. That medal suits you.”
“Couldn’t let you grab all the headlines could I?” He laughed back. “Come on down here, I’ve got something to show you.”
“Bring it up here then.”
“I can’t, sorry. You’ll have to come down. It’s worth it, I promise.”
Sighing heavily, Stacey made her way down to Paul. He smiled.
“Okay, what?” She said.
“Close your eyes.” He smirked.
“Paul! Stop mucking about.”
“Come on Stace, humour me.”
Grudgingly Stacey did as he asked. She let him lead her a short distance and stopped impatiently when he told her to.
“This better be good.” She grumbled.
“Open your eyes and tell me.” He said.
She did so and saw the newly painted artwork next to the airlock of ‘Juliet’. It was a picture of a semi-clad girl riding a meteorite which trailed the words ‘Just Juliet’.
“It’s lovely.” Stacey said, leaning forward to get a closer look at the picture. “Hey! Is that supposed to be me?”
“Maybe.” Paul smirked again.
“I’m not that curvy.”
“I couldn’t possibly comment on the state of your curves without closer inspection.”
Stacey blushed and then asked.
“When did they do that?”
“Last night, after they’d finished her.”
“She’s ready to fly?” She looked at him in surprise.
“Returned to operations pending a shakedown flight it says on your computer.”
“Right! Find our helmets and we’ll take her out.” Stacey’s eyes were shining.
“Already on board.” Paul smiled.
“You thought of everything, thank you.” In her excitement she kissed him on the side of the face and then entered ‘Juliet’.
“Well, maybe not everything.” He murmured in surprise, holding his hand to his cheek and then following her into the cockpit.
“Control, this is Juliet Hotel Uniform requesting clearance for a shakedown mission.” Stacey called on the radio.
“This is control, clearance granted Juliet Hotel Uniform. It’s good to have you back.”
“Thank you control, it’s good to be back. Juliet Hotel Uniform out.”
Another voice broke in.
“Juliet Hotel Uniform, this is Lieutenant Baldwin. Where do you think you’re going off to?”
“Hi Emmy! Sorry, but this can’t wait.”
“I suppose it can’t.” The Lieutenant sighed. “All right, you are authorised to take a couple of days to test her out, but no sneaking off and getting married without telling me and Dave. Got that Officer Todd?”
“Still working on that Lieutenant.” Paul grinned at Stacey who was looking slightly shocked. “Juliet Hotel Uniform Out.”
“Baldwin out.”
Stacey looked thoughtful throughout the departure, finally speaking again when they left the hub behind.
“Did you mean that Paul? The marriage thing I mean.” She asked.
“Of course I did. I am still working on it.”
“But I thought you weren’t interested in me.”
“Stacey Grainger, I’ve been in love with you since we first met outside that airlock. What’s the matter? Don’t you like me?”
“Actually I do, a lot as it happens. I just didn’t think you’d be interested in a timid girl like me.”
“What’s not to like? And who are you calling timid? Timid girls don’t get gallantry medals.” He gave his broadest ever grin.
“Paul, you don’t think that’s what Emmy meant by ‘whatever I decide’ do you?”
“Probably, she’s a lot more observant than we are obviously. Do you think we can make it work?”
“We’ve a couple of days to find out!” Stacey grinned.
Monday 27 June 2011
Daydream Believer
This started off as something else, until they knock heads and then this weirdness happened. If anyone can think of any problem I might have missed for either character, get in touch and i'll try and put it in.
I suppose it all began with a daydream. Mandy was new to our office and had been given the desk next to mine. I always found it difficult to talk to girls, and even more difficult to talk to pretty girls. Just passing the time of day with Mandy was nigh on impossible, she was that beautiful. Anyway; the daydream. I was stood here waiting for the tube when I had it, my mind wandering to Mandy. We had actually exchanged more than automatic greetings that day, she had asked me for some help regarding a piece of paperwork. Although it was just work talk it was an improvement on ‘good morning’ and I relished the chance of a conversation with her, even if I couldn’t say what I wanted to say. That was what the daydream was really about; it had made me think. There was nothing sexual involved, such as what she looked like naked. It was simply musing about asking her out for a drink, something I knew I’d never be able to do.
I smiled to myself and opened my eyes.
“Hello Dave. I don’t remember seeing you smile like that before.” It was Mandy, standing next to me on the tube platform with a wry grin on her face.
“M…M…Mandy. W…What are you d…doing here?” I managed to say.
Her grin widened into a smile.
“Catching the tube silly, what else do you do at a tube station?”
I went a bright red.
“S…sorry. S…stupid question.” I was really flustered now.
“Are you always so suave around women?” Mandy laughed, taking pity on my woeful attempts at conversation. I was about to try and make a witty retort when I dropped my briefcase that I had been nervously fiddling with. As I quickly bent to retrieve it so did Mandy. Our heads met with a thud.
“Ow! That hurt.” I said, looking back up and seeing……my own face wearing a puzzled expression!
“What the hell just happened?” The other me said.
Only one thing occurred to me.
“Mandy? Is that you in my body?”
“I think so.”
“Then that must mean…”
“You are in mine. This is surreal, it can’t be happening.”
“But it is. What can we do?”
There was a pause, then the Mandy-me suggested.
“We could try banging our heads together again.”
“Worth a shot I suppose. When you’re ready?”
Mandy nodded my head. We pressed our foreheads against one another, pulled back a little and then smacked into each other.
“Oww!”
“Damn!”
We looked at each other.
“Didn’t work did it?” I said.
“No. Try again, but harder?”
“Okay.”
SMACK!
“Good grief that hurt.” She said. “Anything?”
“Well, I’ve got a splitting headache now, but other than that…” I shrugged.
“No point in me asking for a date now then.” Mandy grinned. Briefly I wondered if I looked like that when I used that face to grin.
“That’s a very boyish thing to say.” I accused instead.
“Well, I am a boy at the moment.” She laughed.
“Well, I wouldn’t say something like that to a pretty girl.” I muttered, forgetting that I was the pretty girl just now. Then suddenly the same thought appeared to occur to both of us. “You’ll see my…” I said, my eyes closing.
“And you’ll see…” Mandy said, her hand going to her/my mouth.
“I think we’d better stay together. Who lives closest, me or you?”
“Fifth stop down the line.” Mandy said.
“Mine is the sixth. So we’ll get off for your place and then have another think. How does that sound?”
“First sensible suggestion I’ve heard from MY mouth.” Mandy smiled. I was sure she was making better use of my face than I ever did.
The tube train arrived, giving me a surprise when a blast of air lifted my/Mandy’s skirt. Luckily I had my hands down already. Mandy silently nodded her thanks. She led me onto the train, grasping my hand amidst the crush of people. We couldn’t afford to lose each other, both having the keys to one flat and the knowledge of the other flats location.
We must have looked like a pair of apprehensive lovers, the way we clung to each others hand as we left the station. Mandy said her flat was only a short distance away, but even that brief walk was giving me problems.
“How do you manage walk in these high-heels?”
“Those? Those aren’t high.” She smiled. “It’s just practice. Relax, that body knows what it’s doing. Try taking shorter steps.”
Grumpily I did as she suggested. It was a little easier.
“This skirt keeps blowing open.”
“That’s the long strides you still keep taking.”
“And these tights…”
“Are you going to criticise my entire outfit?”
“Sorry.” I said shamefacedly. “I’m just not used to girl’s clothes.”
“Do you think it’s any easier for me?”
“Well, you have probably worn jeans or slacks at some point.”
“But not boxers.”
“How did you know about them?”
“I peeked.” She grinned.
“MANDY!”
“Oh come on, face up to it. Sometime soon we are both going to have to get undressed and then we’ll see…well, everything.”
I sighed.
“I suppose I knew that, but I didn’t want to think about it. It’s embarrassing.”
“Why? Got yesterdays boxers on?”
“NO!! And why are you teasing me so much?”
“Must be because I’m the boy.” She gave me another one of those grins that I wanted to try when I got my body back. “Anyway, here we are.” She indicated a front door. Inside was a flight of stairs up to another front door.
It was not a huge flat, but it was a reasonable size, certainly larger than mine.
“Nice.” I said. “Do you think it would be big enough for the two of us, at least in the short term?”
“Why?” She asked suspiciously.
“Because I get the feeling that we both want to keep an eye on what the other is up too with our bodies.”
“Sounds sensible enough I suppose.” She said.
“Plus, I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely going to need some help.”
“With what?”
“Girl things. Make-up for a start; your body can’t go to work looking like some clown is trying out a new face. Same with your clothes; I don’t know what goes with what. And how do you put a bra on? I’ve taken one or two off, but…”
“I see what you mean. How do you go to the lavatory standing up?”
“Well, it’s not actually compulsory.” I smiled. “Just quicker and easier.”
“Oh!” She went red.
“Are we agreed then? We base ourselves here and help each other as best we can? Hopefully we can switch back somehow, but until then we try not to mess up each others life?”
“Yes. That seems to be a plan, for now.”
“Then we’ll need to pop down to my place to get you enough clothes until the weekend at least.”
“Good idea.” She wandered off into the kitchen. “I’m hungry. Do you want a sandwich?”
“I wouldn’t mind. What I’d like most is to get out of these damn shoes and tights and this skirt.”
“There’s a pair of jeans on the chair in the bedroom.” She called out. “Some socks in the top drawer, and trainers in the bottom of the wardrobe.”
“Thanks.” I said, slipping off the shoes before I went into the bedroom. Here I was confronted by a world I’d barely glimpsed; a woman’s boudoir. I took off the skirt and folded it up; it seemed the right thing to do. The tights followed, but other than untangling them I couldn’t work out what to do with them. The other clothes were exactly where Mandy had said. I put them on, thankful for her tidy mind, trying to remember if my flat was anywhere near presentable. In comparison to here, it probably wasn’t, I decided. I picked up the tights and walked back out of the bedroom. “Where should I put these?” I asked Mandy, who was carrying a plate with some sandwiches on.
“Did you ladder them?”
“Err, I don’t think so. I didn’t check.”
“Drop them in the laundry basket for now. I’ll have a proper look later. Have a sandwich.” She offered them to me. I took one, taking a big bite out of it. Mandy nibbled more daintily at hers. I looked at the two of us and couldn’t help smiling at the way we were doing everything back to front. “What are you grinning at?” She asked.
“Just the way we’re eating. You taking little bites and me huge ones. The wrong way round for the bodies we have.”
She stopped for a moment, looking at the sandwich in her hand.
“Old habits I suppose.” She shrugged.
We finished our snack and prepared for the visit to my flat.
“How are we getting there?” Mandy asked.
“I’m not sure which way would be quickest. My place is a bus ride away from the tube station. Perhaps we could get a taxi?”
“Might be expensive.” She cautioned. “The tube and bus might be better.”
“Why not? It’ll give me a bit more practice walking like a girl at any rate.”
“Short strides, remember?”
“I’ll try, I promise. Come on then, before I change my mind.”
My flat wasn’t in quite the state I thought, but it still looked messy compared to Mandy’s. I went and found my suitcase and threw some clothes into it.
“Fold them properly!” Mandy snapped. “I’ve got to wear those.”
“Sorry.” I apologised.
“What else do we need from here?”
“I could use my laptop. And we need my shaver and toothbrush.”
“And some clean boxers.” Mandy grinned. “Why the shaver? I’ve got a razor for my legs and under my arms.”
“Those are specifically for those areas. I don’t think you can shave my face with your leg razor.”
“I could have you grow a beard.”
“I had a beard, but it grows straggly. Clean shaven looks better.”
“You know best.” She shrugged.
“Not always, but in this case I think so.” I smirked. “Anyway, if I’m going to have to shave your legs, you can at least shave my face.”
“Good point.” She giggled. “Got everything?”
“There might be some stuff in the fridge we can use. It’s better than letting it go off anyway.”
“I’ll find a carrier.”
We walked back to the bus stop. Mandy had the case; I had the laptop and the carrier.
“You’re getting the hang of swinging your hips.” Mandy said.
“I’m not overdoing it am I? I wouldn’t want to ruin your image any more than being seen with me will do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Mandy. Everyone at work knows I’m a hopeless dork when it comes to women.”
“Maybe the guys think that, but from what I’ve heard from the other girls, most of them think you’re cute.”
“They do? You mean all I had to do was ask them out?”
“Well, I can’t say for certain, but most of them seem to be prepared to go out on a date with you.”
“You?”
“Maybe, if you’d asked.” She smiled.
“Bugger!” I swore at my own stupidity.
Mandy laughed.
“Why so down on yourself?”
“Low self-esteem mainly. Bad experiences at school, lack of self confidence. Take your pick.”
“You know people are going to wonder why we’re sticking so close together. We’ll have to give them a reason.”
“Like?”
“Like we’re dating.”
“I told you, no-one will believe that. There’s no way that Dave would be able to get Mandy to date him.” I said flatly.
“Rubbish. It’s what I’m telling everyone anyway.”
“I can try I suppose.”
“I told you, some of the girls will actually be jealous of me. Or you as it stands.”
“The guys won’t believe you.”
“Then we’ll have to convince them.”
“How?”
“Good grief, how do you think? You be nice to me and I’ll be nice to you. What did you think I meant? Make out in the canteen?”
“An interesting thought.” I waggled my/her eyebrows. She burst out laughing.
Back at Mandy’s flat we prepared a meal and then sat down to discuss a few things.
“Do you exercise much?” I asked.
“Not really, a three mile jog every morning before I shower is all.” My eyes widened. “Only kidding.” Mandy laughed. “Just a few stretches now and then.”
“But you are a morning shower person, same as me?”
“Right.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“Other than how to dress? I don’t think so. What about you?”
“Nothing that springs to mind. Oh, watch my chin when you shave it. There’s a little scar that sometimes gets caught by the blades.”
“Scar on chin, careful when shaving. Got it.” She yawned. “Time to turn in I think.”
“Where shall I sleep?” I asked.
“The bed of course. It’s that body’s bed, and I’m the guy at the moment, so I’ll take the couch. There’s a nightdress under the pillow.”
“Are you sure? We could share the bed; keep an eye on what the other is doing with our bodies.”
“Why are you so worried about what I might do with your body?”
“I’m not. I’m worried about what you might think I’d do with yours.”
“Idiot.” She sighed. “If it’ll make you feel better, we can share. But keep your hands to yourself.”
“I’m hardly likely to feel up my own body Mandy.”
“Good point.” She giggled.
“The time has come then. Nakedness.” I said nervously.
“We can’t put it off forever. We have to change clothes sometime.” Mandy shrugged.
We went to the bedroom. By unspoken agreement we split either side of the bed to undress. I took off Mandy’s clothes, folded them neatly and then slipped on the nightie before I turned around. Mandy still had her back to me, having donned my rarely used pyjamas.
“Err, Dave, I seem to have a problem.” She looked around at me. Her face, MY face was bright red.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“A certain part of your body appears to have become…aroused. I didn’t do anything, I swear.”
I nearly laughed out loud at her discomfort.
“Relax. It’s just a natural response to being around a beautiful half-naked body.”
“But it’s my body, I’ve seen it before.”
“My body doesn’t recognise that. That secondary brain blokes keep in their pants just likes what it sees and reacts accordingly. With practice you can out-think it.”
“But I need control now.”
“Just think of something off-putting, it’ll get the message.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know; try the smell of new paint.”
“Does that work for you?” She sounded desperate.
“Most of the time. Just sit on the edge of the bed and think of something horrible.”
She perched on the edge of the bed.
“I’m so sorry.” She said turning around.
“I told you, it’s not your fault. Well, not directly. I always felt that way about this body when I had that body.”
“You did? Always?”
“Not exactly always I suppose. But there were times when I didn’t want to move away from the cover of my desk.” I smiled reassuringly.
“You’re not mad at me?”
“I swear.” I said, crossing my heart.
“And it is controllable?”
“Within reason. I mean, you never noticed me like that before did you?”
“No. I can’t say that I did.”
“See? You’ll find something that works. Now get into bed. We have to get up early so you can show me how to do your make-up.”
“All right.”
We climbed into the bed.
“Goodnight Mandy.”
“Goodnight Dave.”
I awoke the next morning, remembering the evening before, hoping that it had all been a dream, or if it wasn’t, then things had returned to normal. I was wrong on both counts; I was still in Mandy’s body. I heard the shower running and realised that Mandy had taken the plunge and decided to wash my body. I got out of the bed and padded into the kitchen to get something to eat. The cupboard was full of healthy eating. I grabbed something and ate it. Mandy came in half-dressed, carrying a shirt for today.
“You didn’t pick up any vests.” She said.
“I don’t own any. If I wear something under my shirt, it’s a t-shirt.”
“Oh! Okay then. I’ll make do.” She suddenly grinned. “Time for you to hit the shower now.”
I looked at her uncomfortably.
“What if I touch something I shouldn’t?”
“It’s all got to be washed Dave. Now go on. And don’t forget to shampoo my hair.”
I went.
To begin with I felt somehow ashamed. Ashamed that I was running my hands over Mandy’s soapy body. Then I realised that they were her hands anyway and that she had already managed to do the same thing with my body without freaking out. After that I relaxed and made sure I did a proper job. It was the least I could do. She was entrusting me with the health of her body, as I was doing with her. I got out of the shower and after drying off, went into the bedroom. Mandy had laid out a set of clothes for me to wear. A white blouse, a trouser suit and simple underwear. Oh, and a pair of socks and some flattish heeled shoes. I picked up the bra and studied it, trying to envision the order you did things to get it on. I thought I could see how it worked and tried it. As it turned out I was right.
“Managed to suss it out then?” Mandy said from the doorway.
“Seemed obvious when I really looked at the thing.” I replied, slipping the matching knickers on.
“It usually is.”
“Why the trouser suit Mandy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wearing it.”
“I prefer a skirt to be honest, but it’ll be easier for you first time out, not having to worry about skirt problems. We can try a skirt or dress tomorrow if you think you’re ready.” I put on the outfit and then Mandy sat me down in front of the dresser with her make-up spread out on it. “I’m not going to do this for you Dave, but I will tell you how.”
“What if I mess it up?”
“Then we wipe it off and try again.”
“All right I suppose.” I sighed. “Where do I start?”
The end result didn’t look too bad. We’d kept it simple, just lipstick and eye-liner. Mandy’s face was so pretty it didn’t need much enhancement. I certainly seemed to be catching one or two admiring glances on the tube. It made me feel pleased and embarrassed at the same time. This predicament was so difficult to deal with. On the tube we decided on the details of our ‘dating’ story. That was kept simple too. Dave finally mustered the courage to speak to Mandy at the station. Despite his nervousness, perhaps because of it, Mandy agreed to go for a drink. They discovered that they have things in common and agreed to go out again. The elements of truth made it believable and we could add to it as time went on.
From Mandy’s desk I could hear the other guys coming up to Mandy at mine and asking if it was true, had Dave really got Mandy to go out with him? Mandy made a good show of saying all it had taken was the right approach. She kept grinning at me as she said it. The guys kept giving me sidelong glances of disbelief. Most of the girls came and asked me the same question at some point. I copied Mandy’s answer, saying that Dave wasn’t that shy once you got to know him, but warning them off subtly at the same time. I think between us we managed to convince most of them that we were really dating and by the end of the day interest was waning, other gossip pushing this strange new friendship from their minds.
“I can’t believe they bought it.” I said when we got back to Mandy’s flat that evening.
“Why not?” Mandy asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“Again, why not?”
“I wouldn’t believe that dorky Dave had actually got up the nerve to ask the beautiful Mandy out for a drink, let alone get another date out of the deal.”
“You’re doing yourself a disservice you know? And how do you know how I’d have reacted if you had asked me for a drink.”
“Well, would you have come for a drink with me if I’d asked?”
“I might have, depends how you’d asked.”
“Very diplomatic answer.” I smiled.
“What if I’d asked you?”
“I’d probably have thought it was a trick.” I paused. “But I’d have walked into it anyway, on the off chance it wasn’t.”
“You like me that much?”
“Yes. Yes I do Mandy. I’d have gone stark naked into a bar with you if you’d asked.”
“It’s probably a good job I didn’t then.” She grinned. “How about if I’d asked you to dress up as a woman?”
“That too. Why?”
“I was just looking at these legs of yours. With the right clothes they’d look pretty good.” She said, waving a leg in the air.
“You’re teasing, right?”
“Nope. You have a nice pair of legs.” She couldn’t keep a straight face any longer and burst out laughing. I threw a cushion at her.
We spent the rest of that week practising being each other. I became pretty good at applying make-up and Mandy learnt how to shave with out nicking the skin. I learnt how she sat in a dress or skirt and she was able to listen to a dirty joke without blushing, something she was better at than me. That first weekend we went to my flat and collected some more of my clothing for Mandy. I picked up my i-pod as well; I needed some of my own sort of music to listen to. The stuff Mandy listened to was all right, but not exactly what I liked to hear. We grabbed a few DVD’s as well, film’s she’d not seen, to take our minds off the fact that we had no idea how long this situation would last.
On the Saturday night we were both feeling restless.
“Why don’t we go out for a drink?” I said.
“Do you really want to go to the trouble of dolling yourself up just for a couple of drinks?” Mandy asked.
“It doesn’t take that long in the morning.”
“I suppose if we go somewhere quiet and dark no-one will notice.”
“Are you questioning my skills with a lipstick?” I asked jovially.
“Actually, yes. Just this once, I’ll do it for you.”
She sat me down in front of the dresser again. Within minutes she had transformed my face, her face. It had always been pretty, but now it looked stunning.
“Wow!” I said as she finished.
“Pick out a dress while I get changed.” Mandy said.
“Are you sure?”
“I can always tell you to change it.” Mandy shrugged.
Slightly worried I opened the wardrobe and peeked in. There seemed to be a lot of clothes in there. A green shimmering dress caught my eye; I took it out and looked at it. This was the one, I thought. I slipped into it. It was a tight fit and I wouldn’t be able to take my normal long strides, but that was a good thing. Another outfit grabbed my attention. I couldn’t believe Mandy still had one of these!
“This schoolgirl outfit is just right.” I called out mischievously.
“What! You can’t wear that!!” Mandy came rushing in.
I smirked at her, dangling the uniform from its hanger.
“Why have you got one of these? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
She was reddening with embarrassment.
“It’s my old school uniform. It doesn’t fit anymore, but I don’t want to throw it away. Okay?”
“And there was me hoping you had a secret side.”
“This was because of the make-up crack, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Don’t doubt a man and his make-up skills.” I smiled. “Now let’s go and have a drink.”
“What are you going to do if some guy tries hitting on you?”
“I’ll set my boyfriend on him of course.”
“We meeting someone else then?” She laughed.
The next morning Mandy ran her hand down my leg as we sat at the table. Slightly startled, I asked her why.
“As I thought, they’re getting a bit rough.”
“Rough?”
“Stubbly.”
“I need to shave them then?” I asked.
“I think they need waxing.”
“What!!? Isn’t that painful?”
“Not that much.” She shrugged. “The effects last longer than shaving though, so I find it’s worth a little discomfort.”
“All right.” I sighed. “It’s still your body. What do I have to do?”
“I’ll show you.”
I suppose it wasn’t that painful, if you like having hairs ripped from your legs that is, but worse was to follow. Towards the end of that second week I awoke feeling hot and bothered and unaccountably grumpy. Mandy asked me what was wrong while we ate breakfast.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?” I snapped.
“Ahh!” She said knowingly. “I should have warned you; my period is due, you’re suffering from PMT.”
“What!” I snapped. “As if things aren’t bad enough already?”
“Sorry. It’s a natural function of my body.”
“There’s nothing natural about any of this.” I practically snarled.
“Calm down Dave. If women throughout history can get through this, so can you.”
“It’s easy for you to say.”
“Yes it is; I go through it once a month, remember?”
“Sorry. Of course you do. But it’s a problem I could have done without.” I was calming down. “What do I do?”
“If it’s affecting you that badly, I suggest you ring me in sick today, and stay here out of everyone’s way.”
“On my own? What will I do?”
“Shout at the telly? Tell the kettle it’s slow? I don’t know. Get blind drunk perhaps. Unconscious would be good for me.”
“What do you do Mandy?”
“Put up with it; hold my temper in check and suck it up.”
“You do that every month?”
“It doesn’t seem to affect me as badly as it’s affecting you.” She shrugged. “Stay here; look for solutions on the net. Maybe there’s something there that will help you. But stay out of people’s way, please.”
“All right. I don’t want to annoy your friends at work. I’ll find something. Go to work. I’ll call in sick; say I’ve got a bug or something. How long will I be like this?”
“A couple of days at least. Until the period starts.”
“How will I know?”
“You’ll know. Believe me, we’ll all know.”
I can’t say that it was the most enjoyable week I’ve ever had, but I survived. I reasoned if half the population of the world can put up with it, I could too, but it wasn’t fun for me or Mandy. She managed to keep me reasonably calm and told me what to do when the period started. I just wished I’d paid more attention in health education classes.
We were nearly three weeks into our strange experience when I took the phone call.
“Hello sweetie.” A mans voice said.
“Hi… Dad?” I hazarded.
“Your mother and I were just saying we haven’t seen you in a while. Is it all right if we come over for a visit tomorrow?”
“You want to come and see me dad?” I asked so that Mandy would hear. She just shrugged helplessly. I took a deep breath. “You don’t need an invite dad. You know that.”
“We thought we might this time, what with your new boyfriend and everything.”
“Oh. You heard about me and Dave then?”
“Yes. Do we get to meet him?”
“I can safely say he’ll be here. See you tomorrow dad.” The line went dead. I looked at Mandy. She didn’t seem terribly happy. “What else could I say?” I protested.
“It’s going to be a hell of a test for you Dave. No-one knows me like my parents.”
“Then I’d better get it right hadn’t I?”
I thought we’d managed to pull it off. Mandy’s parents seemed more interested in Dave than reminiscing about Mandy’s past. Then her mom suggested she and I go to the kitchen and make some coffee. Helplessly I followed her. She filled the kettle and put it on and then turned to face me.
“It’s Dave in there, isn’t it?” She said.
I went cold, but tried to bluff it out.
“With dad? Yes.” I said, looking towards the other room.
She didn’t buy it, and reached up and tapped my temple.
“No. In there.”
My shoulders dropped.
“Yes.” I said quietly. “How can you tell?”
“Little things really. You’ve got most of her mannerisms down, but, for instance; she holds her cup differently, the result of a childhood accident. And she doesn’t drum her fingers, she uses her thumb.”
“I hadn’t picked up on those. But why aren’t you surprised?”
“Because it always happens sooner or later to women in my family. I should have warned her earlier, but she never seemed serious about any of her boyfriends.”
“But I’m not her boyfriend. We made that up so we could keep an eye on each other. I’d barely considered even asking her out.”
“But you had thought about it. When?”
“I was daydreaming about it about thirty seconds before we clashed heads and switched.”
“That would explain it.” She smiled at me. “It seems to click into action around that point usually.”
“So you and your husband went through this?” She nodded. A thought struck me. “I take it you have swapped back?”
Again she nodded.
“After about four weeks. It’s like you’re given a taste of what it’s like to be the other person, gives you a better understanding of them. It works too. How long have you been switched?”
“Around three weeks now. I’ve known Mandy longer in my body than in hers.”
“Soon be over anyway.” She smiled encouragingly.
“I’ll be glad when it is, but a bit sad too. We won’t need to be together after that.”
“I think you might, but for different reasons.” Mandy’s mom grinned knowingly.
I found out later from Mandy that she was having a similar conversation with her father.
“Mandy? Are you all right sweetie? I know it’s you in there love.”
“How dad? Dave is very good as me. No-one has spotted the difference.”
“He is good at it, but we knew this might happen. We came to warn you and Dave, but saw quite quickly that we were too late. Sorry love.”
“You mean you and mom switched?”
“And back again. It is only temporary. And it only happens with your soulmate.”
“Soulmate? But I barely know Dave. He’s been me for longer than I knew him before the switch.”
“So?”
“He hadn’t even asked me out.”
“But he was thinking about it?”
“Daydreaming about it, he says.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before, but you never seemed to have found the right boy, so we kept putting it off.”
“This doesn’t happen to everybody does it?”
“No. As far as I know it only happens through the female side of your mother’s family.”
“And she’s telling Dave this now I suppose.”
“Yes.”
At this point Mandy’s mother and I came back in.
“She told me.” I said. “You are sure this is only a temporary thing? I don’t want to forget how to be me.” Both of Mandy’s parents nodded. “Good. I believe we were waiting for coffee?” I heard the kettle begin to boil.
“I’ll help.” Mandy said following me.
“So, they saw through me?” I asked her.
“They were half expecting us to be switched anyway. Dad thought you were very good as me.”
“I hope that’s a compliment?”
“Yes it is.” Unexpectedly, for both of us I think, Mandy gave me a quick hug. It’s a very strange thing to be hugged by what you know is your own body. That’s why we quickly broke apart, but it did set me thinking.
The fourth and hopefully last week of our body-swap seemed to drag for both of us, but at least we knew we would soon swap back. We avoided talking about ‘after’ in case it put a jinx, another jinx, on us, but it didn’t stop us thinking. Something came to me on the (hopefully) last Saturday. Although when I’d first seen her it had been Mandy’s looks that had captured my interest, since the switch I had become more and more preoccupied with her mind, the only bit that was still her. She was actually a bit shy, but a lot helpful. She had helped me through this month a lot more than I had helped her, and not just the clothes and the make-up. She had kept me cheerful and supported me through all my whining and bitching. And all I had done in return was show her how to shave my face with cutting it; at least that’s how it seemed to me. But I knew that I’d fallen in love with her and she seemed to like me too. I made a decision, a weird decision.
“Mandy.” I said quietly, unsure how she’d react. “Mandy, can I ask you something?”
She looked up from the magazine she was reading.
“Okay.”
“C…can we k…kiss?” My hesitancy had returned suddenly.
“Why?”
“I …I d…don’t k…know. It j…just seems t…to be the r…right th…thing to d…do.”
She looked directly at me, considering it.
“We never have kissed have we?” I shook my head. “All right. One kiss. Just to see what it’s like.”
She came over and sat next to me on the sofa. I looked into my face and somehow saw Mandy in there, in my eyes. Our lips met. Not many people can claim to have kissed themselves. And I’m not sure I can. As Mandy and I moved apart we both realised that we were back in our own bodies!
“You were right Dave. It was the right thing to do.” Mandy grinned at me, with her own face, lighting up the room more than I ever had. I hugged her and grinned back, trying to replicate the grin she had used so often in the past four weeks. I was about to kiss her again but I stopped suddenly. “What’s the matter?” She asked.
“What if we swap back?” I said.
“I’m willing to risk it.”
“Me too!” I moved back in for the kiss. I kissed her as me and stayed as me. “Thank you Mandy, you got me through this. Without your help I’d have gone nuts.”
“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have got into this at all.” She looked down sadly.
“I told you before; I’d do anything to be with you for even a short time. Maybe this was a little extreme, but we’ve been together for four whole weeks and I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.”
“You mean that?” She said, a tear in her eye.
“Well there were some things I could have done without, but the good far outweighs the bad I promise.”
She gave a watery smile.
“You are a nice person. All you thought about was protecting my image the whole time. You didn’t once say you wouldn’t do something. You are a special friend.”
“I want to be more than that Mandy. I fell in love with the only part of you I wasn’t, your personality, your mind I suppose. You were kind and helpful, fun to be with and mostly sympathetic. Apparently we’re supposed to be soulmates. I think that’s true. What about you?”
“It’s a strange way of getting to know someone, but you may be right. So what do we do now?”
“There are a few things we could do. But right now that school uniform is calling.” A smirk crossed my face.
“I told you, it doesn’t fit any more.” She laughed.
“How about a couple of beers and a takeaway curry followed by ‘Where Eagles Dare’ instead then.”
“A proposition no girl who’s just spent four weeks as a man could resist. You phone for the curry, I’ll get the beers.”
“But first…” I took her in my arms and we kissed again. A proper kiss with no worries about consequences or what the future might hold. A kiss of a daydreamer and a daydream believer. A kiss of soulmates.
I suppose it all began with a daydream. Mandy was new to our office and had been given the desk next to mine. I always found it difficult to talk to girls, and even more difficult to talk to pretty girls. Just passing the time of day with Mandy was nigh on impossible, she was that beautiful. Anyway; the daydream. I was stood here waiting for the tube when I had it, my mind wandering to Mandy. We had actually exchanged more than automatic greetings that day, she had asked me for some help regarding a piece of paperwork. Although it was just work talk it was an improvement on ‘good morning’ and I relished the chance of a conversation with her, even if I couldn’t say what I wanted to say. That was what the daydream was really about; it had made me think. There was nothing sexual involved, such as what she looked like naked. It was simply musing about asking her out for a drink, something I knew I’d never be able to do.
I smiled to myself and opened my eyes.
“Hello Dave. I don’t remember seeing you smile like that before.” It was Mandy, standing next to me on the tube platform with a wry grin on her face.
“M…M…Mandy. W…What are you d…doing here?” I managed to say.
Her grin widened into a smile.
“Catching the tube silly, what else do you do at a tube station?”
I went a bright red.
“S…sorry. S…stupid question.” I was really flustered now.
“Are you always so suave around women?” Mandy laughed, taking pity on my woeful attempts at conversation. I was about to try and make a witty retort when I dropped my briefcase that I had been nervously fiddling with. As I quickly bent to retrieve it so did Mandy. Our heads met with a thud.
“Ow! That hurt.” I said, looking back up and seeing……my own face wearing a puzzled expression!
“What the hell just happened?” The other me said.
Only one thing occurred to me.
“Mandy? Is that you in my body?”
“I think so.”
“Then that must mean…”
“You are in mine. This is surreal, it can’t be happening.”
“But it is. What can we do?”
There was a pause, then the Mandy-me suggested.
“We could try banging our heads together again.”
“Worth a shot I suppose. When you’re ready?”
Mandy nodded my head. We pressed our foreheads against one another, pulled back a little and then smacked into each other.
“Oww!”
“Damn!”
We looked at each other.
“Didn’t work did it?” I said.
“No. Try again, but harder?”
“Okay.”
SMACK!
“Good grief that hurt.” She said. “Anything?”
“Well, I’ve got a splitting headache now, but other than that…” I shrugged.
“No point in me asking for a date now then.” Mandy grinned. Briefly I wondered if I looked like that when I used that face to grin.
“That’s a very boyish thing to say.” I accused instead.
“Well, I am a boy at the moment.” She laughed.
“Well, I wouldn’t say something like that to a pretty girl.” I muttered, forgetting that I was the pretty girl just now. Then suddenly the same thought appeared to occur to both of us. “You’ll see my…” I said, my eyes closing.
“And you’ll see…” Mandy said, her hand going to her/my mouth.
“I think we’d better stay together. Who lives closest, me or you?”
“Fifth stop down the line.” Mandy said.
“Mine is the sixth. So we’ll get off for your place and then have another think. How does that sound?”
“First sensible suggestion I’ve heard from MY mouth.” Mandy smiled. I was sure she was making better use of my face than I ever did.
The tube train arrived, giving me a surprise when a blast of air lifted my/Mandy’s skirt. Luckily I had my hands down already. Mandy silently nodded her thanks. She led me onto the train, grasping my hand amidst the crush of people. We couldn’t afford to lose each other, both having the keys to one flat and the knowledge of the other flats location.
We must have looked like a pair of apprehensive lovers, the way we clung to each others hand as we left the station. Mandy said her flat was only a short distance away, but even that brief walk was giving me problems.
“How do you manage walk in these high-heels?”
“Those? Those aren’t high.” She smiled. “It’s just practice. Relax, that body knows what it’s doing. Try taking shorter steps.”
Grumpily I did as she suggested. It was a little easier.
“This skirt keeps blowing open.”
“That’s the long strides you still keep taking.”
“And these tights…”
“Are you going to criticise my entire outfit?”
“Sorry.” I said shamefacedly. “I’m just not used to girl’s clothes.”
“Do you think it’s any easier for me?”
“Well, you have probably worn jeans or slacks at some point.”
“But not boxers.”
“How did you know about them?”
“I peeked.” She grinned.
“MANDY!”
“Oh come on, face up to it. Sometime soon we are both going to have to get undressed and then we’ll see…well, everything.”
I sighed.
“I suppose I knew that, but I didn’t want to think about it. It’s embarrassing.”
“Why? Got yesterdays boxers on?”
“NO!! And why are you teasing me so much?”
“Must be because I’m the boy.” She gave me another one of those grins that I wanted to try when I got my body back. “Anyway, here we are.” She indicated a front door. Inside was a flight of stairs up to another front door.
It was not a huge flat, but it was a reasonable size, certainly larger than mine.
“Nice.” I said. “Do you think it would be big enough for the two of us, at least in the short term?”
“Why?” She asked suspiciously.
“Because I get the feeling that we both want to keep an eye on what the other is up too with our bodies.”
“Sounds sensible enough I suppose.” She said.
“Plus, I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely going to need some help.”
“With what?”
“Girl things. Make-up for a start; your body can’t go to work looking like some clown is trying out a new face. Same with your clothes; I don’t know what goes with what. And how do you put a bra on? I’ve taken one or two off, but…”
“I see what you mean. How do you go to the lavatory standing up?”
“Well, it’s not actually compulsory.” I smiled. “Just quicker and easier.”
“Oh!” She went red.
“Are we agreed then? We base ourselves here and help each other as best we can? Hopefully we can switch back somehow, but until then we try not to mess up each others life?”
“Yes. That seems to be a plan, for now.”
“Then we’ll need to pop down to my place to get you enough clothes until the weekend at least.”
“Good idea.” She wandered off into the kitchen. “I’m hungry. Do you want a sandwich?”
“I wouldn’t mind. What I’d like most is to get out of these damn shoes and tights and this skirt.”
“There’s a pair of jeans on the chair in the bedroom.” She called out. “Some socks in the top drawer, and trainers in the bottom of the wardrobe.”
“Thanks.” I said, slipping off the shoes before I went into the bedroom. Here I was confronted by a world I’d barely glimpsed; a woman’s boudoir. I took off the skirt and folded it up; it seemed the right thing to do. The tights followed, but other than untangling them I couldn’t work out what to do with them. The other clothes were exactly where Mandy had said. I put them on, thankful for her tidy mind, trying to remember if my flat was anywhere near presentable. In comparison to here, it probably wasn’t, I decided. I picked up the tights and walked back out of the bedroom. “Where should I put these?” I asked Mandy, who was carrying a plate with some sandwiches on.
“Did you ladder them?”
“Err, I don’t think so. I didn’t check.”
“Drop them in the laundry basket for now. I’ll have a proper look later. Have a sandwich.” She offered them to me. I took one, taking a big bite out of it. Mandy nibbled more daintily at hers. I looked at the two of us and couldn’t help smiling at the way we were doing everything back to front. “What are you grinning at?” She asked.
“Just the way we’re eating. You taking little bites and me huge ones. The wrong way round for the bodies we have.”
She stopped for a moment, looking at the sandwich in her hand.
“Old habits I suppose.” She shrugged.
We finished our snack and prepared for the visit to my flat.
“How are we getting there?” Mandy asked.
“I’m not sure which way would be quickest. My place is a bus ride away from the tube station. Perhaps we could get a taxi?”
“Might be expensive.” She cautioned. “The tube and bus might be better.”
“Why not? It’ll give me a bit more practice walking like a girl at any rate.”
“Short strides, remember?”
“I’ll try, I promise. Come on then, before I change my mind.”
My flat wasn’t in quite the state I thought, but it still looked messy compared to Mandy’s. I went and found my suitcase and threw some clothes into it.
“Fold them properly!” Mandy snapped. “I’ve got to wear those.”
“Sorry.” I apologised.
“What else do we need from here?”
“I could use my laptop. And we need my shaver and toothbrush.”
“And some clean boxers.” Mandy grinned. “Why the shaver? I’ve got a razor for my legs and under my arms.”
“Those are specifically for those areas. I don’t think you can shave my face with your leg razor.”
“I could have you grow a beard.”
“I had a beard, but it grows straggly. Clean shaven looks better.”
“You know best.” She shrugged.
“Not always, but in this case I think so.” I smirked. “Anyway, if I’m going to have to shave your legs, you can at least shave my face.”
“Good point.” She giggled. “Got everything?”
“There might be some stuff in the fridge we can use. It’s better than letting it go off anyway.”
“I’ll find a carrier.”
We walked back to the bus stop. Mandy had the case; I had the laptop and the carrier.
“You’re getting the hang of swinging your hips.” Mandy said.
“I’m not overdoing it am I? I wouldn’t want to ruin your image any more than being seen with me will do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Mandy. Everyone at work knows I’m a hopeless dork when it comes to women.”
“Maybe the guys think that, but from what I’ve heard from the other girls, most of them think you’re cute.”
“They do? You mean all I had to do was ask them out?”
“Well, I can’t say for certain, but most of them seem to be prepared to go out on a date with you.”
“You?”
“Maybe, if you’d asked.” She smiled.
“Bugger!” I swore at my own stupidity.
Mandy laughed.
“Why so down on yourself?”
“Low self-esteem mainly. Bad experiences at school, lack of self confidence. Take your pick.”
“You know people are going to wonder why we’re sticking so close together. We’ll have to give them a reason.”
“Like?”
“Like we’re dating.”
“I told you, no-one will believe that. There’s no way that Dave would be able to get Mandy to date him.” I said flatly.
“Rubbish. It’s what I’m telling everyone anyway.”
“I can try I suppose.”
“I told you, some of the girls will actually be jealous of me. Or you as it stands.”
“The guys won’t believe you.”
“Then we’ll have to convince them.”
“How?”
“Good grief, how do you think? You be nice to me and I’ll be nice to you. What did you think I meant? Make out in the canteen?”
“An interesting thought.” I waggled my/her eyebrows. She burst out laughing.
Back at Mandy’s flat we prepared a meal and then sat down to discuss a few things.
“Do you exercise much?” I asked.
“Not really, a three mile jog every morning before I shower is all.” My eyes widened. “Only kidding.” Mandy laughed. “Just a few stretches now and then.”
“But you are a morning shower person, same as me?”
“Right.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“Other than how to dress? I don’t think so. What about you?”
“Nothing that springs to mind. Oh, watch my chin when you shave it. There’s a little scar that sometimes gets caught by the blades.”
“Scar on chin, careful when shaving. Got it.” She yawned. “Time to turn in I think.”
“Where shall I sleep?” I asked.
“The bed of course. It’s that body’s bed, and I’m the guy at the moment, so I’ll take the couch. There’s a nightdress under the pillow.”
“Are you sure? We could share the bed; keep an eye on what the other is doing with our bodies.”
“Why are you so worried about what I might do with your body?”
“I’m not. I’m worried about what you might think I’d do with yours.”
“Idiot.” She sighed. “If it’ll make you feel better, we can share. But keep your hands to yourself.”
“I’m hardly likely to feel up my own body Mandy.”
“Good point.” She giggled.
“The time has come then. Nakedness.” I said nervously.
“We can’t put it off forever. We have to change clothes sometime.” Mandy shrugged.
We went to the bedroom. By unspoken agreement we split either side of the bed to undress. I took off Mandy’s clothes, folded them neatly and then slipped on the nightie before I turned around. Mandy still had her back to me, having donned my rarely used pyjamas.
“Err, Dave, I seem to have a problem.” She looked around at me. Her face, MY face was bright red.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“A certain part of your body appears to have become…aroused. I didn’t do anything, I swear.”
I nearly laughed out loud at her discomfort.
“Relax. It’s just a natural response to being around a beautiful half-naked body.”
“But it’s my body, I’ve seen it before.”
“My body doesn’t recognise that. That secondary brain blokes keep in their pants just likes what it sees and reacts accordingly. With practice you can out-think it.”
“But I need control now.”
“Just think of something off-putting, it’ll get the message.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know; try the smell of new paint.”
“Does that work for you?” She sounded desperate.
“Most of the time. Just sit on the edge of the bed and think of something horrible.”
She perched on the edge of the bed.
“I’m so sorry.” She said turning around.
“I told you, it’s not your fault. Well, not directly. I always felt that way about this body when I had that body.”
“You did? Always?”
“Not exactly always I suppose. But there were times when I didn’t want to move away from the cover of my desk.” I smiled reassuringly.
“You’re not mad at me?”
“I swear.” I said, crossing my heart.
“And it is controllable?”
“Within reason. I mean, you never noticed me like that before did you?”
“No. I can’t say that I did.”
“See? You’ll find something that works. Now get into bed. We have to get up early so you can show me how to do your make-up.”
“All right.”
We climbed into the bed.
“Goodnight Mandy.”
“Goodnight Dave.”
I awoke the next morning, remembering the evening before, hoping that it had all been a dream, or if it wasn’t, then things had returned to normal. I was wrong on both counts; I was still in Mandy’s body. I heard the shower running and realised that Mandy had taken the plunge and decided to wash my body. I got out of the bed and padded into the kitchen to get something to eat. The cupboard was full of healthy eating. I grabbed something and ate it. Mandy came in half-dressed, carrying a shirt for today.
“You didn’t pick up any vests.” She said.
“I don’t own any. If I wear something under my shirt, it’s a t-shirt.”
“Oh! Okay then. I’ll make do.” She suddenly grinned. “Time for you to hit the shower now.”
I looked at her uncomfortably.
“What if I touch something I shouldn’t?”
“It’s all got to be washed Dave. Now go on. And don’t forget to shampoo my hair.”
I went.
To begin with I felt somehow ashamed. Ashamed that I was running my hands over Mandy’s soapy body. Then I realised that they were her hands anyway and that she had already managed to do the same thing with my body without freaking out. After that I relaxed and made sure I did a proper job. It was the least I could do. She was entrusting me with the health of her body, as I was doing with her. I got out of the shower and after drying off, went into the bedroom. Mandy had laid out a set of clothes for me to wear. A white blouse, a trouser suit and simple underwear. Oh, and a pair of socks and some flattish heeled shoes. I picked up the bra and studied it, trying to envision the order you did things to get it on. I thought I could see how it worked and tried it. As it turned out I was right.
“Managed to suss it out then?” Mandy said from the doorway.
“Seemed obvious when I really looked at the thing.” I replied, slipping the matching knickers on.
“It usually is.”
“Why the trouser suit Mandy? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wearing it.”
“I prefer a skirt to be honest, but it’ll be easier for you first time out, not having to worry about skirt problems. We can try a skirt or dress tomorrow if you think you’re ready.” I put on the outfit and then Mandy sat me down in front of the dresser with her make-up spread out on it. “I’m not going to do this for you Dave, but I will tell you how.”
“What if I mess it up?”
“Then we wipe it off and try again.”
“All right I suppose.” I sighed. “Where do I start?”
The end result didn’t look too bad. We’d kept it simple, just lipstick and eye-liner. Mandy’s face was so pretty it didn’t need much enhancement. I certainly seemed to be catching one or two admiring glances on the tube. It made me feel pleased and embarrassed at the same time. This predicament was so difficult to deal with. On the tube we decided on the details of our ‘dating’ story. That was kept simple too. Dave finally mustered the courage to speak to Mandy at the station. Despite his nervousness, perhaps because of it, Mandy agreed to go for a drink. They discovered that they have things in common and agreed to go out again. The elements of truth made it believable and we could add to it as time went on.
From Mandy’s desk I could hear the other guys coming up to Mandy at mine and asking if it was true, had Dave really got Mandy to go out with him? Mandy made a good show of saying all it had taken was the right approach. She kept grinning at me as she said it. The guys kept giving me sidelong glances of disbelief. Most of the girls came and asked me the same question at some point. I copied Mandy’s answer, saying that Dave wasn’t that shy once you got to know him, but warning them off subtly at the same time. I think between us we managed to convince most of them that we were really dating and by the end of the day interest was waning, other gossip pushing this strange new friendship from their minds.
“I can’t believe they bought it.” I said when we got back to Mandy’s flat that evening.
“Why not?” Mandy asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“Again, why not?”
“I wouldn’t believe that dorky Dave had actually got up the nerve to ask the beautiful Mandy out for a drink, let alone get another date out of the deal.”
“You’re doing yourself a disservice you know? And how do you know how I’d have reacted if you had asked me for a drink.”
“Well, would you have come for a drink with me if I’d asked?”
“I might have, depends how you’d asked.”
“Very diplomatic answer.” I smiled.
“What if I’d asked you?”
“I’d probably have thought it was a trick.” I paused. “But I’d have walked into it anyway, on the off chance it wasn’t.”
“You like me that much?”
“Yes. Yes I do Mandy. I’d have gone stark naked into a bar with you if you’d asked.”
“It’s probably a good job I didn’t then.” She grinned. “How about if I’d asked you to dress up as a woman?”
“That too. Why?”
“I was just looking at these legs of yours. With the right clothes they’d look pretty good.” She said, waving a leg in the air.
“You’re teasing, right?”
“Nope. You have a nice pair of legs.” She couldn’t keep a straight face any longer and burst out laughing. I threw a cushion at her.
We spent the rest of that week practising being each other. I became pretty good at applying make-up and Mandy learnt how to shave with out nicking the skin. I learnt how she sat in a dress or skirt and she was able to listen to a dirty joke without blushing, something she was better at than me. That first weekend we went to my flat and collected some more of my clothing for Mandy. I picked up my i-pod as well; I needed some of my own sort of music to listen to. The stuff Mandy listened to was all right, but not exactly what I liked to hear. We grabbed a few DVD’s as well, film’s she’d not seen, to take our minds off the fact that we had no idea how long this situation would last.
On the Saturday night we were both feeling restless.
“Why don’t we go out for a drink?” I said.
“Do you really want to go to the trouble of dolling yourself up just for a couple of drinks?” Mandy asked.
“It doesn’t take that long in the morning.”
“I suppose if we go somewhere quiet and dark no-one will notice.”
“Are you questioning my skills with a lipstick?” I asked jovially.
“Actually, yes. Just this once, I’ll do it for you.”
She sat me down in front of the dresser again. Within minutes she had transformed my face, her face. It had always been pretty, but now it looked stunning.
“Wow!” I said as she finished.
“Pick out a dress while I get changed.” Mandy said.
“Are you sure?”
“I can always tell you to change it.” Mandy shrugged.
Slightly worried I opened the wardrobe and peeked in. There seemed to be a lot of clothes in there. A green shimmering dress caught my eye; I took it out and looked at it. This was the one, I thought. I slipped into it. It was a tight fit and I wouldn’t be able to take my normal long strides, but that was a good thing. Another outfit grabbed my attention. I couldn’t believe Mandy still had one of these!
“This schoolgirl outfit is just right.” I called out mischievously.
“What! You can’t wear that!!” Mandy came rushing in.
I smirked at her, dangling the uniform from its hanger.
“Why have you got one of these? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
She was reddening with embarrassment.
“It’s my old school uniform. It doesn’t fit anymore, but I don’t want to throw it away. Okay?”
“And there was me hoping you had a secret side.”
“This was because of the make-up crack, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Don’t doubt a man and his make-up skills.” I smiled. “Now let’s go and have a drink.”
“What are you going to do if some guy tries hitting on you?”
“I’ll set my boyfriend on him of course.”
“We meeting someone else then?” She laughed.
The next morning Mandy ran her hand down my leg as we sat at the table. Slightly startled, I asked her why.
“As I thought, they’re getting a bit rough.”
“Rough?”
“Stubbly.”
“I need to shave them then?” I asked.
“I think they need waxing.”
“What!!? Isn’t that painful?”
“Not that much.” She shrugged. “The effects last longer than shaving though, so I find it’s worth a little discomfort.”
“All right.” I sighed. “It’s still your body. What do I have to do?”
“I’ll show you.”
I suppose it wasn’t that painful, if you like having hairs ripped from your legs that is, but worse was to follow. Towards the end of that second week I awoke feeling hot and bothered and unaccountably grumpy. Mandy asked me what was wrong while we ate breakfast.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?” I snapped.
“Ahh!” She said knowingly. “I should have warned you; my period is due, you’re suffering from PMT.”
“What!” I snapped. “As if things aren’t bad enough already?”
“Sorry. It’s a natural function of my body.”
“There’s nothing natural about any of this.” I practically snarled.
“Calm down Dave. If women throughout history can get through this, so can you.”
“It’s easy for you to say.”
“Yes it is; I go through it once a month, remember?”
“Sorry. Of course you do. But it’s a problem I could have done without.” I was calming down. “What do I do?”
“If it’s affecting you that badly, I suggest you ring me in sick today, and stay here out of everyone’s way.”
“On my own? What will I do?”
“Shout at the telly? Tell the kettle it’s slow? I don’t know. Get blind drunk perhaps. Unconscious would be good for me.”
“What do you do Mandy?”
“Put up with it; hold my temper in check and suck it up.”
“You do that every month?”
“It doesn’t seem to affect me as badly as it’s affecting you.” She shrugged. “Stay here; look for solutions on the net. Maybe there’s something there that will help you. But stay out of people’s way, please.”
“All right. I don’t want to annoy your friends at work. I’ll find something. Go to work. I’ll call in sick; say I’ve got a bug or something. How long will I be like this?”
“A couple of days at least. Until the period starts.”
“How will I know?”
“You’ll know. Believe me, we’ll all know.”
I can’t say that it was the most enjoyable week I’ve ever had, but I survived. I reasoned if half the population of the world can put up with it, I could too, but it wasn’t fun for me or Mandy. She managed to keep me reasonably calm and told me what to do when the period started. I just wished I’d paid more attention in health education classes.
We were nearly three weeks into our strange experience when I took the phone call.
“Hello sweetie.” A mans voice said.
“Hi… Dad?” I hazarded.
“Your mother and I were just saying we haven’t seen you in a while. Is it all right if we come over for a visit tomorrow?”
“You want to come and see me dad?” I asked so that Mandy would hear. She just shrugged helplessly. I took a deep breath. “You don’t need an invite dad. You know that.”
“We thought we might this time, what with your new boyfriend and everything.”
“Oh. You heard about me and Dave then?”
“Yes. Do we get to meet him?”
“I can safely say he’ll be here. See you tomorrow dad.” The line went dead. I looked at Mandy. She didn’t seem terribly happy. “What else could I say?” I protested.
“It’s going to be a hell of a test for you Dave. No-one knows me like my parents.”
“Then I’d better get it right hadn’t I?”
I thought we’d managed to pull it off. Mandy’s parents seemed more interested in Dave than reminiscing about Mandy’s past. Then her mom suggested she and I go to the kitchen and make some coffee. Helplessly I followed her. She filled the kettle and put it on and then turned to face me.
“It’s Dave in there, isn’t it?” She said.
I went cold, but tried to bluff it out.
“With dad? Yes.” I said, looking towards the other room.
She didn’t buy it, and reached up and tapped my temple.
“No. In there.”
My shoulders dropped.
“Yes.” I said quietly. “How can you tell?”
“Little things really. You’ve got most of her mannerisms down, but, for instance; she holds her cup differently, the result of a childhood accident. And she doesn’t drum her fingers, she uses her thumb.”
“I hadn’t picked up on those. But why aren’t you surprised?”
“Because it always happens sooner or later to women in my family. I should have warned her earlier, but she never seemed serious about any of her boyfriends.”
“But I’m not her boyfriend. We made that up so we could keep an eye on each other. I’d barely considered even asking her out.”
“But you had thought about it. When?”
“I was daydreaming about it about thirty seconds before we clashed heads and switched.”
“That would explain it.” She smiled at me. “It seems to click into action around that point usually.”
“So you and your husband went through this?” She nodded. A thought struck me. “I take it you have swapped back?”
Again she nodded.
“After about four weeks. It’s like you’re given a taste of what it’s like to be the other person, gives you a better understanding of them. It works too. How long have you been switched?”
“Around three weeks now. I’ve known Mandy longer in my body than in hers.”
“Soon be over anyway.” She smiled encouragingly.
“I’ll be glad when it is, but a bit sad too. We won’t need to be together after that.”
“I think you might, but for different reasons.” Mandy’s mom grinned knowingly.
I found out later from Mandy that she was having a similar conversation with her father.
“Mandy? Are you all right sweetie? I know it’s you in there love.”
“How dad? Dave is very good as me. No-one has spotted the difference.”
“He is good at it, but we knew this might happen. We came to warn you and Dave, but saw quite quickly that we were too late. Sorry love.”
“You mean you and mom switched?”
“And back again. It is only temporary. And it only happens with your soulmate.”
“Soulmate? But I barely know Dave. He’s been me for longer than I knew him before the switch.”
“So?”
“He hadn’t even asked me out.”
“But he was thinking about it?”
“Daydreaming about it, he says.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before, but you never seemed to have found the right boy, so we kept putting it off.”
“This doesn’t happen to everybody does it?”
“No. As far as I know it only happens through the female side of your mother’s family.”
“And she’s telling Dave this now I suppose.”
“Yes.”
At this point Mandy’s mother and I came back in.
“She told me.” I said. “You are sure this is only a temporary thing? I don’t want to forget how to be me.” Both of Mandy’s parents nodded. “Good. I believe we were waiting for coffee?” I heard the kettle begin to boil.
“I’ll help.” Mandy said following me.
“So, they saw through me?” I asked her.
“They were half expecting us to be switched anyway. Dad thought you were very good as me.”
“I hope that’s a compliment?”
“Yes it is.” Unexpectedly, for both of us I think, Mandy gave me a quick hug. It’s a very strange thing to be hugged by what you know is your own body. That’s why we quickly broke apart, but it did set me thinking.
The fourth and hopefully last week of our body-swap seemed to drag for both of us, but at least we knew we would soon swap back. We avoided talking about ‘after’ in case it put a jinx, another jinx, on us, but it didn’t stop us thinking. Something came to me on the (hopefully) last Saturday. Although when I’d first seen her it had been Mandy’s looks that had captured my interest, since the switch I had become more and more preoccupied with her mind, the only bit that was still her. She was actually a bit shy, but a lot helpful. She had helped me through this month a lot more than I had helped her, and not just the clothes and the make-up. She had kept me cheerful and supported me through all my whining and bitching. And all I had done in return was show her how to shave my face with cutting it; at least that’s how it seemed to me. But I knew that I’d fallen in love with her and she seemed to like me too. I made a decision, a weird decision.
“Mandy.” I said quietly, unsure how she’d react. “Mandy, can I ask you something?”
She looked up from the magazine she was reading.
“Okay.”
“C…can we k…kiss?” My hesitancy had returned suddenly.
“Why?”
“I …I d…don’t k…know. It j…just seems t…to be the r…right th…thing to d…do.”
She looked directly at me, considering it.
“We never have kissed have we?” I shook my head. “All right. One kiss. Just to see what it’s like.”
She came over and sat next to me on the sofa. I looked into my face and somehow saw Mandy in there, in my eyes. Our lips met. Not many people can claim to have kissed themselves. And I’m not sure I can. As Mandy and I moved apart we both realised that we were back in our own bodies!
“You were right Dave. It was the right thing to do.” Mandy grinned at me, with her own face, lighting up the room more than I ever had. I hugged her and grinned back, trying to replicate the grin she had used so often in the past four weeks. I was about to kiss her again but I stopped suddenly. “What’s the matter?” She asked.
“What if we swap back?” I said.
“I’m willing to risk it.”
“Me too!” I moved back in for the kiss. I kissed her as me and stayed as me. “Thank you Mandy, you got me through this. Without your help I’d have gone nuts.”
“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have got into this at all.” She looked down sadly.
“I told you before; I’d do anything to be with you for even a short time. Maybe this was a little extreme, but we’ve been together for four whole weeks and I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.”
“You mean that?” She said, a tear in her eye.
“Well there were some things I could have done without, but the good far outweighs the bad I promise.”
She gave a watery smile.
“You are a nice person. All you thought about was protecting my image the whole time. You didn’t once say you wouldn’t do something. You are a special friend.”
“I want to be more than that Mandy. I fell in love with the only part of you I wasn’t, your personality, your mind I suppose. You were kind and helpful, fun to be with and mostly sympathetic. Apparently we’re supposed to be soulmates. I think that’s true. What about you?”
“It’s a strange way of getting to know someone, but you may be right. So what do we do now?”
“There are a few things we could do. But right now that school uniform is calling.” A smirk crossed my face.
“I told you, it doesn’t fit any more.” She laughed.
“How about a couple of beers and a takeaway curry followed by ‘Where Eagles Dare’ instead then.”
“A proposition no girl who’s just spent four weeks as a man could resist. You phone for the curry, I’ll get the beers.”
“But first…” I took her in my arms and we kissed again. A proper kiss with no worries about consequences or what the future might hold. A kiss of a daydreamer and a daydream believer. A kiss of soulmates.
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