Free Salvation by Aeon Igni Page A

his wide stance and powerful shoulders still making him seem to tower over the others. He shouted out orders as he had the first time I'd seen him, but now that I knew him, I could hear the underlying concern in his voice as he watched the crew operate the heavy machinery. How much has changed in a year, I thought.
    I didn't hesitate this time, wanting to be brave and knowing that I would never live it down if I cried in front of him. I marched straight up to him and held out my hand.
    He caught me out of the corner o f his eye and turned to face me. It felt surreal, like a strange, nightmarish kind of déjà vu in which everything was the opposite of how it should be. His face showed compassion, which for some reason I resented. It might have been appropriate if I really was a man, but I just couldn't make myself think that way right now.
    I took a deep breath and reached out to shake his hand.
    "Oh, no, Simmons," he said, shaking his head. "I'm making sure you get to that other ship safely."
    I leaned forward until I was almost touching his chest. "Sir," I said in a pained whisper. "You're already letting me go, let me leave with dignity. Please."
    I stepped back and I could see that concern warred with respect on his face. Finally, he nodded once and said loudly, "All right, Simmons. You've been an excellent translator and I'm sorry to see you go. Please report to dock 2437 and Captain Finn will meet you. I wish you the best of luck in your new position."
    We shook hands formally, and then he clapped his hand on my shoulder one last time. "We'll see each other again, Simmons."
    "I hope so, sir," I replied. Then I turned around, squared my shoulders, and forced myself to place one foot in front of the other. I felt his eyes bore into my back.
    Don't look back . I told myself. Keep walking. Don't look back .

Chapter 14
     
    The port c onsisted of six wide semicircular structures surrounding a central dome. I had seen it the last time we were here and enjoyed the sight; it had been one of the first ports we had stopped in after I'd come aboard. From the air, it looked like a flower with the many crafts coming and going like small bees from the hundreds of landing platforms on the outer edges of the petals. Along the insides of each of the petals were all kinds of restaurants, shops, and bars.
    I knew the way to my new ship, the Atlantis , which was on the next semicircular petal. I walked slowly, wanting to take my time getting there. I guess subconsciously I realized that reporting for duty would be the final proof that he would no longer be my captain. I would be replacing him with Captain Finn, a man I already disliked even though we had never even met.
    I passed ship after ship on my left, and on my right were vendors hawking their wares from the front of their shops, but I didn't see any of them. I pictured the captain's face in my mind, the hardness of his gaze and the way his muscles relaxed when he smiled. The stubble of his beard when he hadn't shaved.
    A yellow sign blinked Cosmo's Bar at me from the right, taking me out of my reverie. I thought back on my evening drinks with the captain. It seemed fitting to drink one now, but the bar looked less than savory and my past experience hadn't endeared me to such places, even midmorning.
    I walked past and then I heard a voice I'd hoped never to hear again.
    "Ssimmonss..."
    I wanted to run, but I saw two of his reptilian slugs step out from behind the building ahead. Squaring my shoulders and widening my stance, I turned to face him. There were two more behind him, which were probably four too many for my limited skill with weapons, so I decided to try to bluff my way out.
    "What do you want, Angorak?"
    "Now, now, is that any way to treat an old friend?" His slitted eyes blinked and he looked around. "And where iss your father? Don't tell me he hass let hiss little runt run off without hiss protection."
    I thought fast. "He disowned me, Angorak, " I said, gesturing to my