1
Craig stared at the people he had been working with for the past year; people who were his friends. He sat on the corner of a desk in the main room of the Agro-offices and addressed them.2
"Most of you know that I won’t be here after next week…and I’m saying ‘screw it’ to this week. Anyone wants a transfer, file out the paperwork, and I’ll approve it…no questions asked." Craig paused slightly. "What you don’t know is that starting next week, operations of this planet will be supervised by Military Operations." He paused to let that sink in. "They evoked protocol thirty seven, which basically says that due to political, military, or security issues, that the Armed Forces can…and will…become a presence."3
"But…the crops?" someone asked.4
"Day to day operations should remain intact," Craig said. "It’s just a…management change." He motioned to Mark. "Any transfers can be submitted to Mark…I’ll authorize…he’ll sign them…since I’m pretty sure…" he paused as he noticed shadows outside the door, "…that…" He stopped and stood straight as the door opened. 5
6
Six men bearing uniforms of the Armed Forces walked in and looked around. "Craig Greybourne?"7
"That was fast," Craig said as he stepped forward. He watched as the military personnel fanned out in the room. He looked at the person who had spoken. "That would be me. Can I help you?"8
"No."9
Craig sighed, and I watched as he turned, walked behind the closest desk, and started typing at a computer. When what he was looking for appeared, he motioned the Military Captain as he turned the screen around. "Read that please."10
I glanced beyond a few people and saw that Craig had tapped into the Military database and had called up his Service Record.11
The Captain straightened after reading. "I was not informed of this, Major," he said. "But I have orders that…"12
Craig stared at him for a heartbeat, then stood quickly. The Captain snapped to attention, the others in the room following suit, but clearly not understanding why. Craig slowly walked around the desk. "At ease," he said in a hard voice. "You may have orders…but my orders state that Military control starts in one week. Correct?"13
"Sir, yes sir!" The Captain barked.14
Craig smiled slightly, and on some perverse level I could tell he was enjoying this. "Nothing personal captain, but I’ve had a helluva week, and I’m not in a very good mood. It would be wise for you not to add to that." He waited a few moments.15
"Sir, no sir!"16
"Grab your men, your gear and get back to your transport," Craig ordered. "If I see one uniform in this office before the end of the week," his voice dropped to ominous levels, "then it will be very unpleasant." He paused for a couple seconds. "Dismissed." He returned a salute from the captain, and watched as he turned said a few things to the other Army members, and left.17
There was silence in the office…then it suddenly erupted in applause. Craig smiled slightly as he keyed himself out of the military database, and his record disappeared from the computer screen.18
~~~~~~~~~~19
Craig seemed fine that afternoon as he tried to concentrate of finishing up what work he had, but his mine kept wandering to the future, and to what was going to happen to us in the next week. He spent most of the afternoon behind closed doors in a conference call with his company. 20
For me, it hadn’t sunk in yet, and I didn’t even want to think about having to pack up in such a short time.21
Passage had to be secured on a transport, but since we were not travelling as ‘settlers’, we could send our belongings separately, and travel on a cruise shuttle. Unfortunately(or fortunately, depending how one looked at it), the only passage I had been able to locate would leave a week after Craig’s tenure ended. We had to be out of our ‘home’ by then, so I also had to search for alternate accommodations for that time.22
I walked into the bedroom to get my personal notepad, pausing when I saw Craig leaning back in the chair, his eyes closed and a half bottle on beer on the small table beside him. I quietly grabbed what I had come in for, not sure if he was asleep or not. I frowned as the stylus from the notepad rolled behind the dresser and I tried to fish it out quietly.23
"I’m not asleep," he said, eyes still closed.24
"You felling all right?" I asked as I continued looking under the dresser. I glanced up in time to see him run his hands over his face, leaving them there for a few moments.25
He sighed. "Yep."26
I finally felt the stylus, and grabbed it out from below the dresser. I got to my feet and sat on the bed in front of the chair. I watched him for a long while before finally asking, "What happened this afternoon…?"27
He took a drink from his beer then stood. "I’m sorry, Cali…but…I don’t…I don’t want to talk about this right now."28
I nodded to his back as he walked out of the room.29
Craig didn’t come to bed with me as usual that night, opting instead to site in the ‘backyard’ in one of the chairs, and drink beer. Around three that morning, I peeked out the bedroom window to see if he was all right, and sighed to myself as he sat there, sketching in his book. He looked at the picture, frowned in disgust and tore the page out of the book, letting it fall beside him in a crumpled heap. He finished off his beer, and added the bottle to the growing pile by the chair. He stared at the sky for a few moments, then got up and entered the building.30
I jumped back into bed moments before the door opened, and he walked in. I could hear him undress, then feel him slip into bed beside me. An arm went over my side, and he snuggled in close.31
"Baby," he whispered into my hair. He waited a few moments as I remained silent. "I love you."32
I could hear his breathing change, and knew he was asleep. I kissed the top of his head and stared at the ceiling until I slowly closed my eyes.33
~~~~~~~~~~34
I jumped, startled as the alarm clock sounded. Craig quickly rolled over, slammed his fist against it and rolled back. I looked from the now broken alarm clock to the top of his head as he lay on my chest, and sighed.35
"What?" he asked.36
"Nothing."37
"Good."38
I glared at the top of his head, but decided to let him have his bad mood for a while. He rolled back over, punched a button on the bedside phone and waited.39
"Yeah?" a sleepy voice answered.40
"I’m pulling a sick day today, Mark," Craig said. "Anyone really needs to get hold of me, tell them I’ll call them back in five minutes."41
"Fine," Mark replied, still sounding half-asleep. 42
Craig hit the button again to disconnect the call, and stared at the ceiling. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, and sighed. "I just don’t wanna deal with it today."43
"Mmm…" I paused. "Tell me…are you going to use that snarky voice with me all day?"44
He blinked and looked at me. "It’s not snarky…hell, I don’t even know what snarky means!"45
I laughed suddenly and leaned down to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. "It means," I said against his lips, "that your tone is gonna earn you a night on the couch."46
"You’re such a bitch," he laughed.47
"You know it."48
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Comments
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Oh great piece never read one like which is a good thing because this is the best poem i've for like 3 days great job you're a very talented poet
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ahhboooyeah! Nice transition from the last chapter, and hopefully you'll follow some sort of path quickly to the end of this tale
Can you tell I've been anxiously waiting for you to finish!!!
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A wonderful story, you have me hooked. I shall have to go and read them all now.
Keep it up.
♥ Eve
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