Main Street Market,
Proxima City Proxima 3
1624 Hours GST-Z
Dr. Jennifer Lasiter smelled the pot of geraniums on display in the market. She had come down to Proxima 3 for a few hours of liberty, deciding to use the time to get off the ship. She sorely needed one day free from lugging crates and cataloging and organizing medical stores.
"Hey, Doc, what ya doin'?" Corporal Robert Rourke strode up to her. He was dressed in a red polo-style shirt and dark blue denim jeans. The simple civilian clothes made him look younger, less like a Marine and more like the man behind the uniform. He dressed simply, a man of simple tastes. Lasiter thought he looked good in a pair of blue jeans, though.
"Are you following me?" Dr. Lasiter's coy expression and raised eyebrows spoke volumes about her playfulness.
"Well, no, ma'am, I am not. But since I am your security for the infirmary, I will claim I was just doing my job."
"Is that what we are calling it these days?" she smiled, stepping away from the geraniums.
"Honestly, Doc, they gave me an eight-hour liberty pass. I wanted to come down, get some sun, and buy foodstuffs for my barracks. A man can't live off cafeteria rations forever."
"I understand that. I want to find some items for my crew cabin. Just a few decorative things to make it feel more like home."
"Planning to spend a lot of off-time there?" Rourke asked.
"As a doctor, I am on call twenty-four hours a day, but I also know the dangers of not slowing down. I've never been an out-and-about person on any ship I've been on."
"How many have you been on?"
"Two. This one and my last posting. I did not make many friends on the last ship." She cast her head down a bit. It was hard to make friends when the command staff looked down on you and your team.
"Hard to believe. You have been perfectly pleasant to me." He smiled, and it was disarming. Rourke had a charm about him. She liked how at ease he made her feel. He was protective of her, and she liked that too. A far different experience than that day seventeen years ago.
"Robert, I was going to go over to the Market Cafe and get some lunch before I head back up. Would you care to join me?" She looked up at him, her eyes hopeful. She would enjoy the company.
"You buyin' Doc?"
"How about we go Dutch?"
"Okay, but I thought that since you make officer pay, Commander..." He emphasized her rank, drawing it out. He was a Marine non-com, so there was a significant pay difference. Even though he had asked her to pay, she knew he would never allow her to do so for him.
"Oh no, you know my pay is not that much more than yours. Now my stipend for being a doctor and psychiatrist, that's where the real credits come from." She laughed sardonically.
"Doesn't matter what side of the Corps you draw a check from. It all underpays the same." They both laughed.
They walked over to the cafe. It was a plain little place, but the smells of grilled meats and fresh vegetables made her mouth water. Star cruisers took on fresh food when they could, but deep-space ships also served their fair share of flavored protein, synthesized foods, and protein pastes. Veteran crews always seized the opportunity to disembark and savor actual food.
Dr. Lasiter ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, while Rourke ordered a hamburger with onion rings and a root beer to chase it down. She drank iced tea with a splash of lemon. They ate in silence for a while, just enjoying the good food and good company.
"Unit commander says we will receive new orders soon."
"How come? Don't we still have more shakedown trials to do?"
"Yes, but the Marine side of the Corps likes to give us a heads-up on the next mission. If it looks like a terrible assignment, you have time to prepare or request a transfer." He gave a quick laugh but knew from the look in her eyes he should have kept that to himself. No, she deserved to know. She might actually like you, he thought.
"My one friend on the ship is going to be leaving me? I guess I thought you'd stay on after the trial cruise." She finished the last bite of her sandwich and drained her tea.
"Doesn't work that way, Doc. We go where people need us. I tried to put in for detail on Galaxy, but the lottery decided assignments. My number didn't come up. But I can put in again in about six months. Who knows?" His voice trailed off. He was having a hard time convincing himself it was going to be okay.
"Well, I will be sorry to see you go, Robert."
"Me too, Doc. Look, I shouldn't have said anything. I didn't want to ruin your nice day. Can I buy you an ice cream cone and make up for it?" he smiled, pointing at the ice cream vendor across the street.
"I'll have to hit the gym for it, but sure." They got up, and he offered her his arm as they walked across the street.
This was nice. She could almost get used to it, she thought. Rourke made her feel safe, but not quite safe enough. Maybe that would come in time, but if it did, it would have to do so soon. He was shipping out in a few weeks, and she would be off to adventures with Galaxy's rightful captain. Today, though, she would simply enjoy the company of a charming man and a few quiet hours before duty reclaimed her.