Battlestar Andromeda Part 4
Commander's Quarters
Duo's Bedroom
The dream started like it did every night. It was always the same, never changing. He was in the elevator, bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting impatiently for his stop. He couldn't wait to tell Heero the news. He looked down at his watch; perfect just enough time to get things ready. Tonight would be the best night ever. For starters it was their anniversary, two years ago today they were married and life couldn't get any better. Then today he was called to the base and given his new assignment, Commander of the Battlestar Andromeda, the biggest best ship in the fleet. He knew Heero would be just as excited as he was and the best part about it was that he could take Heero on board to live with him while on extended missions. No more time apart from each other like on his old ship, the Pegasus. The ding of the elevator brought him out of his thoughts and he raced down the hall to their door.
Once inside their apartment Duo started towards the kitchen to make a special dinner for tonight. He stopped suddenly when he heard a moan coming from the bedroom. Thinking that Heero had come home early he started to worry. The only time that Heero was early was if he was sick. Changing directions he walked towards their bedroom, his hand had just touched the door handle when he heard another moan. Frowning he listened for a second, this one sounded different, slightly higher. Turning the handle he slowly opened the door and the sight before him took his breath away. There on the bed was the chocolate hair man that was his husband, and the person he was thrusting his body into was none other than his assistant..... Relena. He must have made a noise because at that moment Relena turned her head and saw him standing there. There was no remorse in her eyes, no guilt, just a satisfactory gleam and a sly smirk on her lips.
"No!" he yelled as he sat up straight in bed. Running a shaky hand through his hair he took a deep breath and willed his heart to beat normally. Throwing back the covers he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He sat there for a few moments with his head on his hands, thinking about the dream that woke him up. Taking one more deep breath he rose from the bed and grabbed a pair of jogging pants. Once dressed he walked into his living quarters, going to his coffee machine he pressed the button and the smell of fresh brewed coffee filled the air.
Cup in hand he walked over to his couch and sat down. Taking another deep breath he lay his head down on the back of the couch. He remembered the first time he had ever seen Heero. It had been at his graduation from the Space Military Academy. Heero's father was supposed to be there but had to cancel at the last minute, so Heero had stepped in to help hand out the diplomas. Heero had stood there in his dark grey suit with the white sash with a stripe of tyrian purple across his chest, denoting his position in the Councils office.* Duo thought he was the most handsome man he had ever seen.
Duo had spent the whole ceremony watching Heero on the stage. Heero had the look of someone who wanted to be anyplace other than on that stage. When Duo's name was called to cross the stage, he had to take a deep breath to still his rapidly beating heart. As he walked closer he saw Heero's eyes widen slightly and his heart once again raced. However, it was when they shook hands that Duo felt the shock go through his body. Never before had he felt that tingle from a mere touch. After he had returned to his seat he continued to stare at him, but he also noticed that Heero would look back at Duo out of the corner of his eye.
After the ceremony there was a luncheon for all of the graduates and their families. He was surprised to see that Heero was also there. Taking a chance Duo walked over to the corner that Heero was standing in and struck up a conversation. They spent the rest of the luncheon alone in their own little world, talking to each other for hours. For Duo it was the day he fell in love.
The next few months were the happiest of Duo's life. He spent all his time with Heero, going to dinner, the movies and sometimes just for walks around the park. Four months later Heero surprised him with dinner at his apartment. There was candlelight, soft music and after dinner Heero got down on one knee and gave Duo the most beautiful ring he had ever seen. The slim gold band had three stones set in it, one violet for the color of Duo's eyes set in the middle and two prussian blue stones set on each side for the color of Heero's eyes.
Duo smiled as he remembered how nervous Heero had been when he asked for his hand in marriage. He hadn't realized until then how old fashioned Heero really was. Two months after Heero proposed they were married and the next two years were like a dream. Until that day, their anniversary, the day that would change his life forever. Gone was the happy go lucky Duo and in its place was the heart hardened man he was today. He had vowed as he ran from their apartment that day to never fall in love again, it hurt to damn much. He had immediately filed for a divorce and then left to start his new command on the Andromeda. He took any mission that came his way, preferring to stay in space, to give himself time to heal.
Taking a deep breath, Duo looked down at his now cold cup of coffee. Now Heero was here, on board his ship along with Relena. He had understood the message that she had sent when she grabbed Heero's arm, the one that said hands off he's mine now. It made it blatantly clear that they were now a couple. The pain Duo felt in his heart intensified when Heero make no attempt to remove Relena's arms from his.
"They can have each other, he's means nothing to me now." He thought to himself. Maybe if he said it to himself long enough he would begin to believe it. Deep down inside though, he knew he was lying to himself.
Looking down at his watch he saw that it was time for him to start his day. Getting up from the couch, he placed his cup in the little sink beside his coffee machine and went to his room to shower and dress.
An hour later, Duo strode on deck noticing that his XO was already there conversing over the intercom with Lt. Schbeiker, the chief engineer. He sat down in the commanders' chair and waited for Dorothy to finish her conversation before calling her over.
"Good morning Commander." Dorothy said as she walked over to Duo.
"Morning XO. So what's the status this morning?"
"We're right on schedule sir. We should be at the first gateway within the hour." There were many gateways scattered throughout the system. Each gateway led to a different system and was run by a command center and it was they who allowed any ships through. Without proper authorization no ship was allowed to pass. No one was sure how the gateway worked but as soon as you passed through you would be in a different system.
"Excellent XO, carry on. Lt. Bloom."
Lt. Catherine Bloom, Chief Communications Officer, turned in her seat to look at her commander, "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"Call Captain Merquise to the deck." Duo ordered.
"Right away sir." Lt Bloom said.
Ten minutes later, Captain Zechs Merquise walked into the command deck. He saw his commander reading some papers in his hand so he stood quietly by, waiting to be noticed. While watching his commander he remembered his first day on board. Zechs had been worried what the Commander would say about his long silvery blond hair. Many commanders before had tried to order him to cut his hair but he had refused; his long hair was in memory of his dead father, the last King of Sank. Though Sank had long since joined the World Council, his father had maintained his royal status even though he had been a Council member. That is until the day a bullet from a crazed young man had taken his life. Since that day he went by the name Zechs Merquise, burying Milliardo Peacecraft along with his father. His new commander however, had assured him that his hair would not be problem, pointing to his own long braid as an example.
"Captain Merquise." said Duo interrupting Zech's thoughts.
"Yes Commander." said Zechs.
"In less than an hour we will be going through the gateway to our first destination. Since we do not know what we will find when we cross over, I want you to set up round the clock patrols. I will leave it to you to schedule the squadrons as you see fit but make sure that I have a copy as soon as you are finished."
"Yes sir. It will be taken care of."
"Good. By my calculations once we are through the gateway it will take us two days to reach the planet of Aloria. I want you and ten of your best pilots to be the Ambassadors escorts. You will be staying on the planet so make sure they understand that they are representing not only earth but the military so they will need to comport themselves properly. I will also need that list as well. That is all."
Zechs snapped to attention with a salute. "Yes Commander." he said and then he turned leaving the deck. Walking down the hall he pulled up his wrist communicator and typed in the command for all his squadron leaders to meet him in the ready room in five minutes. There were six squadrons on the Andromeda, each with twenty pilots and one squadron leader. These were the best of the best, the most elite pilots in the fleet. One thing Zechs could say about the Space Military Command, they made sure that only the best officers were on board this ship. As he walked into the ready room five minutes later, he saw all six leaders waiting for him. 'Yes.' Zechs thought to himself, 'They were the best of the best.'
"Good morning gentlemen." he said to the group seated before him. "The Commander has just informed me that we will be going through the gateway in less than an hour. As soon as we are through we will be starting round the clock patrols. Each patrol will be four hours long. This will keep the pilots from getting tired and missing something important. Beta squadron you will be the first up with gamma relieving you after your four hours. I expect each squadron to report to their assigned position five minutes before the proceeding squadron is due back in. Until we are given new orders there will always be a patrol on duty."
Zechs walked to the middle of the room and pressed a button on the center table. Immediately a 3D hologram of the Andromeda rose from the table. Using a laser pointer Zechs continued. "We will split the squadrons in half with ten fighters in the front and ten behind flying in formation. Should a fighter have to break from formation, make sure that another pilot follows. Under no circumstances should a fighter break off without a wingman. Anyone who does not follow these orders will be dealt with severely." Pressing the button again, the hologram disappeared.
"Now, in two days time we will be stopping at the planet of Aloria. I along with ten other pilots will be acting as escorts for the Ambassador. Lt Barton, Lt Winner you will each be in charge of four pilots. I want two pilots from each of the remaining squadrons, to be chosen by their leaders. Keep in mind that they will be on Aloria until the Ambassador leaves, so chose wisely. The remaining four squadron leaders will also take turns at leading both the beta and gamma squads. This means that each leader will run eight hour days instead of four. I do not know at this time how long we will be on Aloria but I will still be in constant contact with those left here. As soon as I get more information I will let you know. Any questions?" Zechs looked around his group and all shook their heads. "Good. Dismissed." he said with a nod.
On deck, Duo started pacing. This was the tricky part, getting a ship this size through the gateway. One wrong move could case severe damage to the ship. He had heard horror stories about commanders who had tried to go through the gateway and never made it. This would be the first time that he attempted to go through and he prayed his calculations were correct. Glancing at his watch he saw that they were ten minutes from the gateway and he was waiting for clearance from gateway command to proceed.
"Commander Maxwell." said Lt. Bloom. "I have just received clearance from gateway command. We may proceed when ready."
"Thank you Lt." Duo said. Sitting in his chair, he brought up a view of the gateway on the screen beside him. Pushing another button he said, "Lt. Schbeiker, we have clearance to the gateway. Are all systems a go?"
"Yes sir. All systems are a go." Lt. Schbeiker replied over the speaker.
"Maintain speed. We will start through the gateway on my mark, 5...4...3...2...1...mark." Duo watched on the screen as the four points of the gateway lit up. Looking closely at the screen he watched as they passed through the gateway right on target.
"Commander, gateway command says pass thru complete. We are now in the Zeneron System."
Duo felt the air leave his lungs. He wasn't even aware that he had been holding it. "Thank you Lt. XO you have the deck. I will be in my office if you need me." he said. Giving the screen one last look, Duo left the deck.
TBC...
* The sash that Heero wore to Duo's graduation is a play on the togas that the Roman Senators wore during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The color Tyrian purple was a stripe that was down the side of the toga. The size of the stripe would depend upon the office. I have always been fascinated with this era and when I thought of what the Council would wear as a uniform I thought a sash with different size stripes for different offices would look better than robes or just plain suits.
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