I waited quietly.I waited quietly. The door opened. Politely, the crowd parted to make room for the departing crew. I simply sat, waiting. As the second shift crew departed, I watched the wonderful blur of species walking past, looking for Kathy. Uncia, Centaur, Tindals, Tellakelvars, Humans, Felinzi, Mephits, Markals, Ssphynxs, Satryl; a screech of *Into the air!* as two Dolphins, assisted by gravity-control bodystockings, vaulted across the ceiling, stopping at the door from the receiving room to the hallway with almost contemptuously simple flicks of their tails. Starship pilots. I shook my head, smiling. Oh lord, Alexander Bell's first transcontinental telephone call was so right. In the blur of fascination, watching them all go by, I almost missed the blonde. "Kathy!" I shouted. She turned, looking for me. "Ken!" she shouted when she did. She turned and ran towards me, through the crowd, disturbing people, stepping on feet, vaulting over the Gerion in her way, into my arms, her lips on mine instantly. The kiss was deep and friendly and familiar and I returned it happily. She broke the kiss and stayed there, in my arms, her forehead against mine. "Or should I have said, 'Master?'" I laughed. "Ken is fine, sweetheart. You're looking good. How was your first trip out as Captain?" "Oy-flipping-vey, as Kurt would say. I'm not sure it's exactly what I wanted." We began to walk back to the station center, arms around each other. "It was... difficult. It's less being an engineer and being more of a commander. I might want to go back to being senior engineer, and let someone with more decision authority do my job." "You mean they don't listen to you?" "No, no, it's not that. I mean... Well, Pendorian starships aren't like Terran starships, if what I've seen on documentary is accurate. People in my department listen to me because I am the best engineer on the ship; problem is, I don't really know when to tell people to do their jobs. |