Free Escape to Earth-Living Legends by Saxon Andrew Page B

anger got the better of me. Now I’ve lost everything and I really have no one to blame but myself. I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you and I will testify in your defense.”
    Josey fell back on her cot and Jan said, “I don’t think you’ll be able to help us.”
    “Why? Why are you here?”
    “Jan, don’t tell her!”
    Jan looked at Josey and shook her head, “They have figured it out.” Jan looked at Katy and said, “Once the Admiral gets her legs back under her, she’ll see it as well.”
    Katy’s eyebrows came together and she tilted her head, “Figure what out?”
    Jan sighed, “You did watch that video?”
    Katy looked at her and then started nodding, “What the two of you did isn’t possible.”
    Jan looked at Josey, “See! I told you.”
    “How could the two of you do those things? You’ve never done well in any of the Fleet Competitions.”
    Jan sighed, “That was intentional.”
    “What?”
    “We made a pact that we would only do enough to not be noticed.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    “We did not want to be promoted to command other pilots. We agreed to do what was needed to simply remain pilots. Our efforts worked and we haven’t been noticed until Josey was caught clearing the way for that heavy.”
    Katy stared at them and laughed. She fell back on her cot and had to hold her ribs. Josey looked at Jan and they shook their heads. Josey said, “What’s so funny!”
    Katy fought to catch her breath and finally sat up, “Every one told me I was insane to trade Johnson and Benning for the two of you. And now you tell me you are better than they are.”
    “We didn’t say that.”
    “Are you better?”
    Jan smiled, “We could kick their backsides six light years across space.”
    Josey shook her head, “More like ten.”
    Katy blew out a breath and said, “I’ve always considered myself lucky and if I hadn’t been so stupid I would have had the two best pilots in the fleet. Now, I guess my luck has run out.” Katy looked at them, “Have either of you ever been in love?” They looked at each other and then nodded. “Well, I think you know how love can make you do some pretty ridiculous things. I apologize for what I’ve done to you; you really didn’t deserve it. I was acting insane.”
    “From what I saw, you lost all your chances to ever get the First Commander’s attention.”
    Katy looked at Jan and nodded, “I don’t want it anymore.”
    Josey’s head went back, “What? Why not?”
    “He just scared me enough that I don’t want to be anywhere near him ever again. I saw his eyes and whatever I felt for him is gone. I think I finally pushed him too far.”
    Josey looked at Katy, “What have you done?”
    “For starters, I intimidated every girl in our classes to stay away from him all the way through graduation.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
    “It gets worse.” The three relived all the things Katy had done along with all the mistakes Josey and Jan made growing up. When they finally went to sleep, they knew each other in a personal way that is extremely difficult to achieve. Josey and Jan agreed that they now understood why Fifth Fleet loved their Commander. She was more than either of them thought.
    • • •
    Ten days later, Michael and Audrey entered the brig and Michael stared at Katy, “I have gathered the Senior Officers necessary to conduct your Court-marshal. You should choose an officer to defend you.”
    Katy saw Michael was still angry. Audrey looked at her and then turned to Michael, “Sir, Fleet has received a petition from every sailor in Fifth Fleet asking that Admiral Greenwall be returned to command them.”
    Michael looked at Audrey, “They don’t like how I’m treating their Admiral?” Audrey shook her head. Michael’s rage was immediate, “Notify Fleet Personnel to issue dismissal orders to everyone in that fleet. I want all of them washed out of the service.”
    Katy fell to her knees in front of him, “PLEASE