Welcome back, Ms. Nassa pt. 3

The ship started rattling furiously. Distorted rings began forming around the ship as everyone was scrambling. We were getting close to entering jump space, a form of a middle ground between space and time itself. When a ship prepared to jump, rings would form around it, splitting into different chunks. Each chunk made its own ring and the amount of rings encasing a ship could determine its speed and distance. Moments before jump, these rings would merge together, forming an impossibly bright sphere around the ship and then try to sync with space and time itself. When completed, the ship would then be sucked into the missing void that the distortion field created, leaving behind a blue stream of radioactive material. This part of the trip tended to get rough. Unfortunately, the bridge was located on the top of the ship, and the rattling made the elevator ride up unsettling. As we arrive on the bridge, Phoenix ran to the captain's chair. The rest of the crew were scrambling to complete any last-minute measures that needed to be done before launch.

"Give me something, people!" He yelled.

"Elara tower has cleared us for departure, we are ready to go on your command, captain." Marcus says.

"Alright, let's go. Seven ring jump, put us on red alert."

The bridge started flashing red. Sirens followed, echoing throughout the ship. The distorted rings grew larger, skewing sight lines, stars and planets. They started to multiply too. It started with one, then three, then five, and ended at seven, glowing furiously in the process. The rattle had reached its climax as the countdown began. Everyone was hanging on to dear life. I sat next to Phoenix, gripping to my chair tightly. Marcus started the countdown.

"Entering Jump Space in five...four...three...two...one…"

 Everyone's vision began to stretch forward, like we could see behind our eyeballs. It was a strange feeling. Everyone's senses had gone numb. I could no longer taste the air. The stretch itself grew further and further till we violently launched, watching as space itself warped around them like liquid passing a glass tube. The shaking tapered off and everyone was able to settle down before we exited. It was supposed to take thirty seconds for them to get there. The pilot, Marcus, spun around first to greet me. 

"Commander Demi, welcome back!" He said excitedly.

"Good to see you too, Marcus."

He quickly got out of his seat and ran towards me, reaching out his hand. I meet him on the other side, giving his hand a firm shake. He was quite tall, possibly 6' or more but the height was skewed by me sitting down. His hands were double the size of mine. He had a dark skin tone and his hair on his head was jet black. He kept it short to almost buzz cut levels to minimize as much attention as possible.

"I hope the trainers treated you well.." He said, shaking my hand.

"They did, thank you."

"Can we have a word, privately?"

"Right now?"

I turn to Phoenix who shakes his head in approval. Marcus nods and I follow him to the office in the back hallway. When the door closes behind us, he turns around and faces me. He looks me deep in my eyes. They were dark brown and focused.

"I still haven't gotten a response to my question before you left."

"Was that even appropriate to ask?" I asked.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On whether they drag you to the event for official business or not."

"You know that's out of my control."

"Then what is in your control?"

"Marcus, you know what you want is against the rules."

He takes a deep sigh.

"So what? The answer is no then?" he continues.

"I didn't say that, I need you to understand the position you are putting me in. I'm an officer now. I can't just walk out or take vacation time out of the blue. All eyes are on me now. People will start asking questions. They'll start thinking I'm pulling favors."

"All I did was ask you on a date, you are making it like it's the end of the world."

"You and I both know this promotion was last minute. We…my hands are tied right now."

Marcus doesn't look me in the eye anymore. I could see the disappointment in him and the sadness that follows.

"Demi," He says, shaking his head, "How long will it be then?"

"I don't know."

"Fine."

"Marcus…wait."

He walks out without saying a word, I follow after him. We reenter the bridge where everyone stares at us. I get the feeling that everyone may already know. Everyone except Phoenix, who nods to Marcus as their eyes meet and he returns to his seat. I sit down as well, fighting hard to avoid eye contact with Phoenix.