Bightmares

Chapter Seventeen

Ford and Caph took care of cleaning up the worst of the mess in the hydro lab. They couldn’t repair all the damage, especially the cosmetic issues, but they did their best. The next time Emi went down there, Ford and Caph went with her.

It would take a while for her to regain her sense of security and serenity when working there, but she’d damn sure try. As it was, she couldn’t leave their crew quarters area, between the bridge, their cabin, the rec area, and galley, without one of the men with her. Nerves on edge, despite repeated scans to reassure herself they were alone on the ship, she couldn’t bring herself to do it at first.

She spent several private conversations on the com with Donna, as a fellow doctor, not just as a friend, trying to talk out her fear.

After two weeks, Emi forced herself to return to the hydro lab alone.

As she stood inside the inner doorway and stared at the few visible scars of Eckhart’s attack, her nerves twisted and churned, but she forced herself to remain still and calm.

After a few minutes, she walked into the lab and overrode the decontamination chamber, forcing both doors to remain open. Her peace of mind was worth more to her than losing a few plants.

She picked up a pair of small pruning shears and set to work. An hour later, she jumped when the com whistled.

“Emi? Are you okay, babe?” Ford’s voice sounded tinged with worry.

“I’m okay.” She realized what time it was, and while she wouldn’t say she felt happy, she was glad she’d lost track of time. “What’s up?”

“Need any company?”

She suspected Ford had been tracking her throughout the ship. It was his turn on watch, but Caph would be coming up for duty soon. Aaron was catching up on his sleep in their cabin.

“I’m okay. But if you want to come help me cart some of these veggies up to the galley when you finish watch, I won’t refuse the help.”

He sounded relieved. “I’ll be there as soon as the big guy shows up.”

She smiled and turned to look at her progress. Weeds weren’t an issue, thankfully, and she’d pruned back the plants needing it while picking everything that had ripened.

Ford arrived a few minutes later.

“Did you wake Caph early?” she chastised.

He grinned. “Won’t hurt him.” He glanced at the walls and ceilings where they hadn’t been able to erase all evidence of Eckhart’s attack. “We’ll get the retrofit crew to take care of this as soon as we get back to Mars, babe. You’ll never know anything happened.”

She let him pull her into his arms. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me about Aaron’s nightmares?”

She felt his body tense. “Oh.”

“Uh, yeah. Oh. You are in sooo much trouble, buddy.”

“He didn’t want me to worry you. Captain’s orders.”

“I’m going to put up an official crew medical decree that he can’t use that excuse anymore.”

“Did he tell you everything?”

“Yeah,” she quietly said. “Everything.”

They stood there for a moment in each other’s arms. “Are you mad at me?” he asked.

“Irritated.”

“Oh.”

“You ever withhold information like that from me again and I’ll set your chip so you can’t have any sex for a month.”

He laughed, squeezing her harder. “That would deny you too, babe.”

She evilly grinned. “I didn’t say I would stop you from being able to go down on me and the other guys, just you couldn’t get your rocks off.”

His grin slowly faded. “Um, you’re kidding, right?”

She turned away and picked up one of the baskets of veggies. “Maybe not.”

He grabbed the other two baskets. “I mean, you are kidding, aren’t you?”

“Who says?” She headed for the door.

“Babe, seriously, ha ha.”

“Fair warning, Ford.”

She fought hard to stifle her laughter at his softly muttered, “Oh, fuck,” as he followed her.

Ford helped her throw together a large pot of soup that would be ready in a few hours. They left it to simmer on the galley stove and joined Aaron in their cabin.

Aaron awoke as they climbed into bed with him. “What time is it?”

“Not time for you to get up yet,” she said.

“Oh, good.” He cuddled an arm around her and reached for Ford. “I didn’t want to get up yet.”

“She threatened me, Cap,” Ford snarked.

Aaron arched an eyebrow at her. “What’d you do to make her threaten you?”

“I told him the truth, that the next time he withholds important information about other members of this crew, I’ll set his chip so he can’t have an orgasm.”

Aaron snorted. “Well, Ford, she is the medical officer—”

“Man, this is so unfair! I thought you’d at least back me up on this, Cap.”

He kissed Ford. “Well, I am the one who ordered you not to tell.”

“Yeah,” Emi said, reaching between Aaron’s legs and grabbing his package. “About that. We need to have a little talk, mister.” She squeezed, a little, enough to gain his firm interest.

“Oh, really?”

“No more holding stuff back and hiding behind ‘because I’m the Captain, that’s why’ bullshit.” She squeezed harder.

He flinched. “All right, uncle.”

She kissed him. “That’s better.”

“And we joked about Rob and his grunts being pussywhipped?” Ford snarked.

When they returned to Mars and docked, this time at the Galileo base in Utopia Planitia, there were officials from both the ISNC and DSMC waiting to claim Eckhart’s body.

Including Admiral Bill Eckhart.

He looked on sadly as security guards removed the body case from the Tamora Bight’s cargo hull. “Captain Lucio, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am about all of this.” Emi felt a keen wave of grief and sadness wash from the older man. He truly had loved his nephew. “I thought once that bastard was dead and gone that maybe James would break the cycle. Make something of himself.”

Emi laid a gentle hand on the admiral’s arm. “You did all you could, Admiral. No one holds you accountable.”

The man’s eyes looked moist. “No, I am responsible for this. I should have paid attention. I’d signed off on him going on assignments before. I didn’t think anything of this. I should have looked into the details.” He shook his head. “To think of how many innocent people might have died…” His gaze dropped to the ground. “If you want to lodge a formal complaint against me, Captain, I won’t fight it.”

The twins stood behind Aaron, both of them remaining silent, their arms crossed. Emi felt their indecision. They would abide by whatever Aaron wanted to do.

Aaron looked at Emi and pulled her to him. “No, Admiral, it’s time this insanity finally dies for good. I’m sorry we couldn’t bring him back alive, but he attacked us. He nearly killed Dr. Hypatia. If it wasn’t for the fact that she’s an empath, she might not have realized he was there with her.”

Admiral Eckhart nodded. “I understand.” He offered his hand to Aaron, who shook. “Again, I’m truly sorry for everything you and your crew had to endure.”

When the four of them were alone again in the cargo bay, Emi, followed by Ford and Caph, put her arms around Aaron. “That was a good thing, Aar,” she said.

She felt him relax as they all held him. “I meant it. It’s time this is behind us for good.” He kissed the top of her head. “It doesn’t change the past, but I want to live for our future together and quit letting ghosts ruin my life.”