Missing in Action (13.2)

Laurie went back to the engine rooms to check on their status. After repairing a few minor damages incurred during the latest attack, she retreated to her quarters.

'That was quite strange indeed, the Guild warship didn't pursue us,' Laurie thought, collapsing in her chair.

She stared through her window into the deep stellar night. Think I'll call Chris again, she thought. Hmm, he won't pick up. That's odd.

Laurie peered at her MTD a moment longer before closing it and set it down on the small table beside her. She drummed her fingers on the table as she slowly looked around her small room.

"Perhaps I'll go and get some dinner." Laurie said to herself.

Laurie picked up her MTD and headed to the mess hall.

"Hey, Laurie," Eli called as she walked through the Mess Hall door.

"Hi, Dad," Laurie answered with a smile.

She walked over to a wall with many metal drawers and doors on it. She opened a door and pulled out a small clear vacuum-sealed pouch containing what looked like a compressed salad. Opening another door revealed metal shelves holding cups, silverware, bowls, bottles of vinegar and light dressing oils, and little packets of salt among other things. Laurie pulled out a set of dinnerware and a small bottle of light dressing oil. Setting all of this on a green tray, she opened a third door and pulled out another clear vacuum-sealed bag, full of clear liquid.

Resting her tray on the low shelf that ran the length of the wall, she slid the tray down to the end of the counter. She arranged her tray so that the vacuum-sealed bag with the clear liquid in it was in her cup and the compressed salad bag in her bowl. Lifting the tray and laying it inside a metal cubby that was level with her head, she pressed a few buttons on the flat panel below it, and a frosted window shut automatically. When the window opened once again, Laurie's meal selection was no longer dried, and the vacuum-sealed bags were gone. The salad in her bowl was crisp and fresh, and cool, clear water filled her cup. Taking her tray, she joined her father and sat next to him as he quietly drank warm tea.

"You seem quiet; is something wrong?" Her father asked.

"Nothing much, just that I can't seem to reach Chris on the MTD."

"Perhaps you should call his mom; she should know where he is," Eli suggested with a smile.

"Yeah… I should have thought of that," Laurie laughed.

She took out her MTD; pushed her tray slightly to the side. After pressing a few buttons, Angela Hagan's face appeared on the screen.

"Mrs. Hagan, Hello!"

"Hi Laurie,"

"I just called to ask if you might know where Chris is; I can't reach him on my MTD."

"Oh, he left a week ago. He went to volunteer with an organization on Earth seeking to train more pilots to protect Exandra and the EC ships on their journeys. Word travels fast and after what happened to the EC 20 ship, most pilots are afraid to come out here unarmed, and unescorted."

"I've heard of that program. Chris was talking about it a few days before I had to leave."

"It was only an idea at that time, but shortly after you left to follow up on the distress call the program went into high gear."

"So Chris is in flight school; why can't I reach him?"

"He told us that he wasn't supposed to contact anyone outside of the training program until after graduation. It's for security reasons."

"OK. I can talk to him when he gets back; our last conversation was interrupted abruptly when I was crash landing the Star Traveler on Platonia. Do you have any idea when he'll be coming back home?"

"No idea, we're supposed to be notified around the time of his graduation. Sorry, Laurie."

"That's okay, thank you anyway, Mrs. Hagan."

"Over and out," Angela replied with a smile.

"So Chris is at flight school, huh?" Eli asked. Laurie shut her MTD and put it back onto her belt, then finished the last few bites left of her salad.

"Yeah. Thanks for your suggestion, Dad."

"Sure. Hey, where are you going now?"

"I've some work I need to do; besides, I've finished my salad."

She walked over to a metal rectangular box and set her tray and its dishes on top of it. The tray was lowered out of sight to be cleaned and restocked.

"See you later, Dad. I'm going to see if I can repair the MH suits."

"Okay, see you later, dear," Eli replied as Laurie left.

Eli went back to his tea.

For the next two days, Laurie spent most of her time in her room with her door wide open, which was how she preferred to work. She had all the MH suits piled neatly beside her bed. One by one, she set them in the middle of the floor, so she had space to work on them. Hours passed as she worked. Laurie was so focused she didn't realize the passing of time.

It was early morning when an alarm sounded and woke her. Laurie's shoulders were hunched, her head resting on the side of the bed—she had fallen sound asleep. Her head jerked up as she woke in confusion, finding herself sitting on the floor cross-legged beside the finished pile of the MH suits. The last of the suits lay partially in her lap now functional. She took a quick assessment of her surroundings. Seeing nothing wrong near her, she stood and dashed to the main deck. Gorioshi stood at the doorway looking expectantly down the hall.

"It was my turn to keep watch;" Gorioshi stated apologetically, "Captain Mitchell told me to sound the alarm once we were near Exandra."

"I don't think he meant literally, but at least we won't have to waste time waking everyone up," Laurie said with a giggle of relief, as one by one the rest of the crew, groggy with sleep stumbled into the room.

"Ah, we are coming in on Exandra. Good job, Gorioshi," Captain Mitchell stated as he and the rest of the crew took their seats.

"On second thought, Laurie, would you like another try at landing the ship? This time in safer conditions?" Captain Mitchell asked, standing once again.

"Yes sir!" Laurie answered.

Laurie began putting the Star Traveler through its descent to a planet surface. Moments later, Laurie gently landed the Star Traveler on Dirin City's landing field, between two other EC ships.

"Good job, Laurie!" Captain Mitchell exclaimed as the rest of the crew clapped and Dr. Kingston hugged her as she stood.

"Do you think anyone's up?" Laurie asked her mom.

"If they aren't, they'll be awake before long," Captain Mitchell answered.