Episode 28. The Last to Leave

Docked at the NATO starbase, the Mercator is now firmly attached to the access ramps of dock A.

The rescue teams deploy quickly aboard and begin taking care of the refugees... then my crew.

On the bridge, the lighting suddenly comes back. As if by magic.

I take a few seconds to realize this is not a last surge from the vessel.

It is real.

I turn toward Charlene, Eric, and Emilie. Three days without sleep. Three days holding the impossible together.

I feel the need to say it.

My officers pass in front of me one after another.

A nod. A look. Nothing more. Nothing necessary.

They disappear into the elevator.

When the doors close, only Angie and I remain.

I stay seated in my chair, suddenly drained of all energy.

Angie approaches without a word, settles onto my lap, and wraps her arms around me. She rests her head against my shoulder.

I hold her in turn.

For the first time in a long time... I have nothing left to decide.

Nothing left to anticipate. Nothing left to contain.

In that silent embrace, the tension finally gives way.

And we fall asleep. Together.

A few minutes later, a rescue team finds us on the bridge.

We are evacuated to a room on the starbase, where we finally receive the care we need.

Forty-eight hours pass.

When I open my eyes, a silhouette is standing in front of my bed.

The admiral leaves the room.

I lift my head slightly and let my gaze move across the room.

Angie is lying in the second bed. Eyes closed. Breathing steady.

She is asleep.

Well... apparently.

And now, dear readers, I can see where your minds are going.

You are probably wondering why Angie holds such a stubborn grudge against Admiral Michaux.

So we may as well clear things up right away.

Let us go back nine years.

At the time, Angie and I were colonels in the Air Force.

At the same time, we were following intensive training programs to join NATO's Special Fleet, which was recruiting as fast as it could.

We met all the requirements.

Too well, even.

Our names were added to the list of potential candidates for several sensitive assignments.

Including a post within the starbase.

And, above all... one aboard the future Enterprise, still under construction.

The trials followed one after another.

We passed them brilliantly.

Then, at the very last minute, the ax fell.

Angie was removed from consideration.

Official reason: too impulsive. Too immature.

A judgment signed by Admiral Michaux himself.

For Angie, it was a shock.

A real one.

As for me...

Rather than accept a promotion alone, I refused advancement.

We returned to Earth together.

A few years later, Admiral Hamilton entrusted us with command of the Mercator, buried in the bunker beneath Brussels.

The rest...

You know it.