The Glory Star Project

TEN

Three days later, Glory found herself daydreaming about Captain Richards when she should have been paying much closer attention to Lieutenant Bartholomew Nerys as he walked her through all the functions of the fancy holocomputer she was learning to use.

Although she and Xav had spent two days tramping all over the ship so she could have a look around, today he'd assigned Bart the task of beginning her training.

"Almost every system on each of the four ships can be reviewed from this device when the links are engaged," Bart explained. "When they aren't, of course, the only systems shown here would be those associated to Nautilus I. Heating and cooling, the radiators, navigation and ship's systems, and most importantly all of the cryonics gauges are monitored. You can even monitor the kitchen and all the latrines with just the touch of a button, right here."

"That's pretty useful," she replied as she stepped forward and started testing out some of the functions. "But I sure hope you don't use this thing to actually look into our rooms."

Bart chuckled. "Not officially, no. And don't worry, you have nothing to fear from me. I'm a very old man, you know. A hundred and eighty next month, in fact. And I'm not the sort who would overstep my bounds."

Glory snickered. "Oh, come on. You don't look a day over sixty."

Grinning, he said, "Well, that's what cryo can do for you, eh?"

"I only see one navigation grid powered on," Glory said after a few moments.

"Good eye," he agreed. "When the four ships are connected into their square formation, the main ship's navigation is the only one that's needed. The other three captains have given over navigation, piloting, and even the command of their vessels to Captain Richards. In effect, right now he ranks as the Commander. Other times, when we go to planets he's meant to negotiate with, they'll tend to refer to him as Ambassador."

"So Xav wears a lot of different hats."

"Well, sure, and I ought to know," he said with a nod. "I've known that man since he was a young boy, and I was working for his father. Always knew he'd grow up and take over the family business someday. Most determined kid I ever saw, and now he's built up his company into something his father never could have dreamed of. He uses a computer just like this one to help him keep all of the data he needs to know straight."

"Really?" Glory exclaimed.

"That's right, I do," the man himself agreed as he stepped through the access doors, and they slid back into place behind him. "I see Lieutenant Nerys is telling you all my secrets already. Hey, you do know this is just the first day of training, right, Barto? She needs to be up and running on that computer ASAP. Maybe you should save the history lessons for later?"

"Sure thing, sir," he agreed.

"The two of you will also need to get all the mechanoids ready to monitor and control the ship while everyone is on ice for the next six months during our approach to the Gamlin Quadrant. Don't know if he got around to telling you that part, Glory, but six months is the time it takes to travel through the wormhole and then from its exit to the Gamlin Space Station. That's always the first stop we'll make whenever we enter the sector."

"Sounds like a party," she commented dryly.

"You know, the computer is great for an overview, especially when you first start to look over those cryotanks, but it's not enough. Each tank is going to need a visual inspection before giving the all clear. Still, it's great that the lieutenant has you working so hard to learn all the systems. You seem to be picking it up really fast, too."

"Thanks," Glory said with a little smile. "I like to keep on my toes. It'll be interesting to see a real space station though. Sure, I know I've seen my little colony on Regulus, and I've seen the huge lunar base as well, but even putting the two together only fills about one fifth of Gamlin's station, right? And it's just out there in the middle of nowhere, no planets or moons to influence it at all. I'm really keen on getting there and tramping, to tell the truth."

Xav laughed. "Not sure we'd have time to tramp that all in one go. But yeah, I can understand the appeal. Just remember, though, Glory, that place is really big on decorum and rules. Especially since you're my independent hire at the moment, you want to make sure you don't piss them off."

"Are they really that bad?" she asked, her tone worried.

He shook his head. "Not all the time. But that's not what I came in here to talk about anyway. I suppose I was thrown off by all the flirting going on in here. Come on, Barto, you're way too old to be trying for a girl who's still wearing her first blush. See, she's even blushing right now."

Bart laughed. "Sir, she's hardly blushing for me."

Xav gave her a little wink. "Perhaps not. So, what d'you say, kid? Wanna be my dinner date tonight? I want you to take a break from all this work and join me in the officer's mess."

"But we always eat in the officer's mess," she pointed out.

He bumped elbows with her. "Tonight will be different. Now that the ships are fully integrated, I'm keying up a hologram interlink to each of the three other mess halls and we're all dining together like that. It might seem a little weird at first, but the computer does a great job making it feel like we're all in one huge banquet hall together."

"Weird," said Glory, cocking her head to one side as she wrinkled her nose.

"A little," he agreed. "But listen, Glory, be careful what you say to the other officers, all right? They're probably going to try to seduce you, so everything you tell them might easily get turned around later for that purpose. If I were you, I'd mostly just observe until you have a better idea what's really going on."

"Great, now I'm really stoked," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"Well, if that's so then maybe you should knock off work early and go head for your quarters," he suggested with an amused glint in his eyes. "That whole banquet is going to be formal. If you go check your bed you'll find something waiting there that I ordered up special."

"A fancy gown?" she guessed with a knowing smirk.

"Yeah, but not just any gown," he said with a shrug. "This one's been made just for you."

*****

Note...it felt like this was a little short so I decided to describe the dress here...4-20-23)

Glory found herself humming the song that she and her friends sang at the lounge as she reached the door to her quarters. Her thoughts were curiously excited as she wondered what sort of a dress Xav would have had made just for her.

On the bed, laid out so she could see that it had a bit of a scooped neckline, was a gorgeous, knee length gown covered with shiny gold sequins. Her jaw dropped, and she lifted it to her nose. The light scent of flowers she’d picked up on appeared to be infused into the fabric itself, and it reminded her even more of Xav. Had he embedded something in there that brought him to mind on purpose, or was she just falling hard for the man faster than she’d ever thought possible?

As she contemplated the idea, she found it really didn’t matter. She’d already pledged to spend her life in his company, so developing some feelings for him could only be a plus. Remembering the necklace her father had given her on her last birthday, she smiled. It would be the perfect thing to wear nestled in the dip that was just a little deeper than anything she’d ever worn before.