Distant Reality Epilogue Two
GRID Traveler Trinity: Distant Reality
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Epilogue Two
Epilogue 2
Just before going to the Johnson, Sean read a message sent to him from Kirkland. It said “eyes only to Commander Blakemore.”
Kirkland knew what it was and he had leaked some of the contents out to the command staff. The common crew didn’t know yet. There were three messages. One to Loggar, one to the Commander, and the third addressed to Captain Robin Spaarin.
Now Sean held a hardcopy addressed to him in his jacket pocket. He and Robin entered the shuttle and he flew it to the Johnson. He was amused by the contents, but considered it just one more thing to affirm that it was okay to like himself.
Dawn met them at the shuttle dock. She had this lopsided smile on her face. He knew that she knew. He figured Kirkland decoded the message and informed the entire command staff.
That evening Robin, Dawn, Sean, Kirkland and Foster were having mess in the Captain’s dining room. The conversation was light. No one really said anything of importance. Dawn was going to wait until Sean was alone before she asked him the actual specifics and not the damned cover-up report. Then Top Deck called.
Sean said, “Yes.”
The computer said, “Captain Spaarin, the Webster is here. They are ready to receive you.”
Sean reached under the table and pulled out a hard copy printout and handed it to Robin.
Kirkland watched with anticipation. He read all three messages. The message sent to Loggar read: Situation rectified. More messages to follow.
The message sent to Sean read: To one Sean Blakemore. After revisiting past issues, it has been decided that past decisions were not in the interest of GRID Command. The Quail family has made a public apology and admits that a mistake had been made. The Quail family gives you its deepest regrets for the entire misunderstanding. GRID Command message follows - GRID Command has reviewed past decisions and has hereby made changes to the status of Sean Blakemore. Sean Blakemore is now promoted to Captain, status and back pay are retroactive to five years 23 days.
The message to be given to Robin read: Commander Blakemore, under review has been promoted to Captain, retroactive five years 23 days. The Johnson is under Captain Blakemore’s command. Nothing follows.
Robin read the message more than once. She looked up at Sean.
He nodded and took a sip from his soup. “I want you off my ship, Captain.”
Riker in security won the pool. Three months’ pay!
She nodded, wiped her mouth, and said, “Computer, get me the Webster.”
The computer beeped, then, “This is the Webster, Commander Rogers speaking.”
Robin said, “William, send a shuttle to pick me up ASAP.”
The voice said, “Captain Spaarin. Of Course, immediately.” And the connection broke. The Webster received the same message that Robin read. The shuttle was seconds away from docking. Captain Spaarin’s promotion was set at five years two days ago. Sean was now her senior.
At the end of the day Sean felt pretty good. He got his Captaincy – damn time, was bonded to a very beautiful, intelligent and influential woman and escaped death, all in less than 24 hours. He smiled at the “gift” he left the Necronians. It was something small and he hoped it would make them think about it for many years after he was long gone and dead. They left Randals, Davis and Martin in the main chamber with Agegi, motionless, still statues. Sean had a box placed just at Agegi’s feet. Within the box was an invoice. It read:
- For a waste of time: 3,000,000,000,000 credits
- For human life lost: Unpayable
- For starting this entire mess: Unforgiveable
- Terms to be negotiated: Upon arrival in the known here and now space-time continuum or until the Human species decides to occupy Necron ::in mass.
- Have a nice epoch!