Free Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) by Barry Knox Page B

Understood,” Gideon said.
     
    Captain’s Quarters , SRS Stephen Hawking
    1900 —February 15, 2372
    “ Have a seat, Petty Officer,” Mary told Joseph after he reported to her.
    “ Yes ma’am,” he said as he sat down.
    “ Petty Officer, please address me as ‘Captain’ or ‘sir,’” Mary said with a smile.
    “ Yes, Captain. My great-grandma always scolded me when I didn’t address a lady properly. I’d better just address you as Captain because I’ll always forget to say ‘sir’…if that’s okay?” Joseph said.
    “ Very well, Petty Officer,” Mary said as she smiled again.
    “ Tell me about your family,” Mary said.
    Joseph told his story about the death of his family, about how his great-grandmother had raised him, and about his enlistment after her death.
    “ Your great-grandmother sounds like she was a wonderful person,” Mary said.
    “ She was, Captain. She taught me to work hard and for me to treat everybody like I’d want them to treat me,” Joseph said, then smiled. “She was pretty hard on me sometimes too. She had rules in her house, and if I broke one, she’d punish me. Like if I was late coming home after school and didn’t call her and let her know, she’d make me do extra homework or read to her from her favorite book. I wish she was still here. I’d give anything to be able to read to her again.”
    Mary sat in her chair , listening to how open and honest Joseph was. It was a pleasant change from her normal interaction with other people. She immediately knew she could depend on him, and he’d do whatever she ordered him to do.
    “ Do you like the navy?” Mary asked, trying to change the subject.
    “ Yes, Captain, I do. I love to work, and I love going out of the ship and working on the hull.”
    “ Why is that, Petty Officer?” Mary asked because no sailor liked to go outside a ship into space unless he or she had to. Not only was the task dangerous; it usually made one sick.
    “ The stars, Captain. They’re just so many of ‘em, and they’re all kinds of colors.” He paused, deep in thought for a second, and said, “You know, Captain, it’s funny, but it makes me feel good to be so small and be able to see such a big universe full of stars.”
    They talked for a while longer about his job and what he liked to do in his spare time. He told her he loved fixing things and really didn ’t have a hobby other than reading. Mary thought it odd that he enjoyed reading.
    “ I think we’re done here, Petty Officer. It was good talking with you,” Mary said as she looked at the time on her desk’s holographic display.
    “ I enjoyed talking with you too, Captain,” he said with a big grin.
    “ Do you have any questions for me?” Mary asked.
    “ No, Captain, none that I can think of.”
    “ You’re dismissed then.”
    Joseph stood at attention, saluted, turned , and walked to the cabin door. The door opened, but instead of leaving, Joseph stopped and turned to face Mary.
    “ Captain, I do have one question,” Joseph said, then looked down, put his hands in his pockets and moved his right foot along the deck as if he were pushing around an invisible object.
    “ What is it, Petty Officer?”
    “ I…I…I haven’t been able to make any friends on the ship yet,” he said, paused, then continued. “Is it okay for me to be friends with an officer aboard ship?”
    N ot sure how to respond, Mary hesitated and then asked, “Do you have any particular officer in mind?”
    “ Yes, Captain, Lieutenant Klaxton. I’ve talked with him several times. We’re both orphans, and I think he’s my friend.”
    “ Yes, Petty Officer, that’s okay. But never forget to treat him as an officer and give him the respect he deserves,” Mary said, relieved it wasn’t her he had in mind.
    “ Yes, ma’am!” he said with a big smile and left.
    Mary shot up from her seat as he exited ; she was going to call him back and remind him her title was “Captain” or “sir.” She