The Orbitals : The Call.
04 Jul 2020Maggie Oz
Conversion, Achenar 6, AchenarMonday, 2nd of February 3125
"All aboard for Cap-i-tol! " I called
The reply was "Coming Mummy!". An excited stampede and flurry of voices tumbled down the stairs as the three children made their way noisily to the ground car.
It was the end of the summer, school and university were to begin again tomorrow morning on Capitol, Achenar 6.
With a deep joy and wonder, I watched my three darlings run to the car.
First and most excited to the return to school was, John. The youngest at just 14, the spitting image of his father. He was right at that age where the bonds with me, his mother, were weakening and the desire to follow his father was coming to the fore. He had his hopes and dreams of the stars just like the both of us but right now it was friends and football that held is attentions, girls weren't too far away either.
Next was my eldest, Lauren. God, what a beauty. She was everything I had always wanted to be and more. Where my red hair was curly and unruly, hers was long with a natural wave that fell below her shoulders with a life and shine of its own. Where my face was harsh, hers was soft and shapely with a beautiful smile and her father's blue, blue eyes. She was tall but well proportioned and the sharpest mind of anyone I had ever known. Now 20 she was heading to Achenar U, School of Medicine for her first year of study.
And Caitlan. Middle child to a T. Popular without being the "top girl", pretty without being stunning but a kinder soul you would never find. She was 17 and just beginning to blossom into the woman she would become. Still unsure of her calling but whatever she chose she would be a Saint none the less.
As they hustled by and into the car I kissed and hugged each one. The drive to the spaceport was not a long one. We all chatted along the way and spoke of our plans for the coming year. The children would all be boarding at their schools, it made their education a more engaging experience and also enabled their father and I to continue to ply the trade routes.
"Papa and I will call in from time to time" I assured them all, "So be sure to keep us up to date with your schedules."
They assured me they would. I dropped each of them off in turn, leaving Lauren until last.
They each parted with that dilemma of returning to their own lives and all the new adventure that promised while still clinging to the family life they were leaving behind. Whatever trials and tribulations our family had experienced we were all knew the solid place we each held in each other's hearts.
"Will you and Dad be OK, Mummy?" Lauren asked me at our parting
"Yes, of course, Laurie" I replied and searched her eyes for the real question, I saw it. "Baby, I love your father very much, even after all this time and the amount of time we spend apart. Don't be concerned that we might split up or anything. In fact, as soon as he gets back from this latest run we have a little interlude planned."
That seemed to assure her "Ha! Sneaking out now the kids are off your hands hey? "
"Yes, more or less," I laughed and kissed her and sent her on her way. With pride I watched her walk through the grounds to the dorm. Her gait was just like mine, confident and steady, unhurried but with purpose but she was able to carry herself with much more grace and style.
I returned to my ship and headed back to Conversion.
Returning home to an empty house was always a melancholy thing, but I reframed my thoughts to be of a house in readiness for the return rather than one abandoned and went about preparing for our holiday.
The key to surviving 20+ years of marriage, children and a busy lifestyle that led to long periods of separation, was to make each homecoming as special as possible. On the rare occasions Peter and I could meet up we took every effort to make it special.
This time we would "pick each other up".
We made our way separately to Akualanu and had arranged to "happen" to be in the same Italian Bistro. It was such a thrill, knowing but not knowing. Going through all the old moves and lines we had used all those years ago when we first fell in love, rekindling the flame.
I recalled the handsome and kind man who I knew the day we first met I wanted to father my children, he saw again the firey and independent redhead that had caught his eye and just for a while, took his attention from the stars.
We ate and drank and danced, we walked the beaches in the moonlight and made love on the sand. It was a tonic more powerful than any progenitor cell.
Like all things though, we all too soon had to return to our every day, albeit recharged.
When we returned home there was a message on the house comm for me.
I opened it.
"Oh," I said out loud.
"What is it?" Peter asked.
"I've been called up ... to serve on Emerald"
"What? You're a civilian pilot you can't be sent to a war zone!"
"I've been tasked to fly as a co-pilot in an Orbital CasEvac Flotilla"
"Oh ..... well I guess flying medical evacuations isn't a frontline posting."
"Yes, they don't shoot at ambulances "
- do they? -