Dana Cartwright Mission 1: Stiletto (20 page)

“You are convinced that Commander Xavier Via and Lt. Commander Dirk Skeller did not act alone?”

“Affirmative. They had help from outside of the Star Service. They had financial support and logistical support in their vendetta against the Ambassadorial delegation from Centauri Prime. Four Ambassadors have died, to date. Cray might have been the fifth, if not for the heroism of Colonel Sierra and Doctor Dana J. Cartwright.”

“Not to mention your own,” Inspector Regis piped up.

Kieran looked up at the vaulted ceiling and admitted, “I can take no credit for anything. I allowed myself to become distracted and sloppy. The Admiral has every right to bust me back down to Lieutenant.”

“Nonsense!” Cartwright grumbled, “You nearly died in the shuttle crash. Doctor Garcia has entered a statement that you returned to duty far too soon after such a traumatic event. He recommends at least six weeks shore leave.”

“In six weeks the trail will be stone cold, sir! Xavier Via’s brother, Xeres, could be beyond our reach long before then,” Kieran insisted. “Besides, it’s twenty days travel to Station Nine. I can rest during the trip. That’s three full weeks.”

“He may already be beyond our reach,” Inspector Regis insisted.

“Xeres Via has help. Someone has to find out who and why…I think I am the man for the job.”

“That may be…” Admiral Cartwright reviewed one more recommendation he had on his desk. “Doctor David Cartwright has lodged an ethics complaint against you.”

“He’s hardly unbiased, sir.” Kieran countered.

“Yes, well…neither am I,” the Admiral reminded.
 

“Sir, I could formally request that you recuse yourself. However, with all due respect, I submit that Doctor David Cartwright has no standing in this matter. Doctor Dana Cartwright is an adult. Only she can, legitimately, bring ethics charges against me. And she has not and, I dare say, will not. However, as Doctor Garcia has already entered testimony to the effect, I was under extreme duress and the influence of sedatives and painkillers. My telepathic contact with Doctor Dana was not entirely consensual. That is true. However, she made no request that I cease and desist.” Kieran knew the Star Service ordinances by heart. He heaved a confident sigh as the Admiral was forced to agree with him.

“I will dismiss the charges. However, I still have reservations,” Cartwright grumbled.

Kieran bowed his head. “Sir, I do understand the nature of DOC Cartwright’s claim. I will be away two full years on this new assignment. Isn’t that punishment enough?”
 

The head of the Star Service gave the matter serious consideration. Inspector Regis remained silent.

“Fair enough…” Barrett Cartwright finally conceded, “This hearing is terminated. The matter is closed.”

Inspector Regis rose first and offered his hand to Kieran Jai. “Good luck, Colonel.”

“Thank you, sir.”
 

Kieran was very thankful to the Kentorian for all his hard work proving that Xavier Via and Dirk Skeller had tampered with the landing zone electronics and caused the shuttle,
Stiletto,
to crash.

Melancholy meant nothing to Dana, until she returned home to her apartment after being released from MCE. Being cooped up there, staring at the four walls, was worse than the twenty-four hours in the coffin.

She diagnosed her mood as depression — a residual from the coffin experience and the traumatic events of the last few weeks.
 

Doctor Calagura had commanded she take at least five more days off. She decided to use the time to freshen up the apartment, shop for some clothes at Capitol City promenade, and splurge on the newer, better model padlet with expanded memory, that played music and audio books and even had a flight simulator application.
 

“Sierra should have returned my…” She bit back the rest, wondering if the Colonel would ever fully recover, even with Galaxean doctors attempting to heal him. They had methods she’d only read about.
 

“I may need to pay the Galaxean Science and Medical Academy a visit.” Learning from the Galaxeans directly seemed the most logical choice.

“I also need to learn more about Galaxean T-negative blood. For personal reasons…”

She wasted a whole day at the promenade, but came home with only the new padlet. It was smaller than her old one and fit nicely in her med-kit.
 

The first thing she downloaded to it was Doctor Dengali’s report on her DNA. She disagreed with his findings completely. However, genetics wasn’t her medical specialty.

The second thing she downloaded to her padlet was a video on hang-gliding and a beautiful still image of soaring like an eagle over a majestic, red rock canyon. She searched for an image of Centauri Prime’s Forever Pointe, but seeing it only made the melancholy escalate to the point of tears as she thought of Kieran.
 

She wept — over little things and everything — but especially about waking in the morning alone, and going to the pool to swim laps, expecting — hoping — to see Kieran there meditating.

Finally, having had enough aloneness, she dressed in a new, teal blue tunic with dark pants and transported over to Patriarchs for a drink.

The bartender pegged it. Taylor pointed, “You fell in love with your dream man; and now he’s gone.”

She nodded. “Are you a psych major?”

He gave a big groan. “Nope, but I am a good listener.”

“So, what do I do?” She wondered, “Besides cry in my drink and tip my bartender?”
 

“The cure is easy. Find another dream!” He grinned at the flawless logic and moved away to serve other patrons, while Dana pondered the idea.
 

“Surely it’s not that simple,” she mused. “Find another dream to take Kieran’s place? Is that even possible?”

A uniformed female Star Service officer perched on the stool beside her. “I’m Lieutenant Pace… Andrea.” The woman smiled. “I couldn’t help but overhear. There was a time, a few years ago, when I was right where you are. Had a promising career in a field I hated, and a man who was gone more often than home. Finally,” the tall, slender brunette said with a peaceful smile, “I enlisted in Star Service Academy, trained as a navigator and shipped out for a five-year mission. Was the best decision of my life. I’ve seen the galaxy. It changes your whole perspective. You might want to give it a try.”

Dana stared into the bottom of her glass. “It’s complicated.”

“Life always is,” Pace counseled with a smile then moved on to join a group of fellow officers.

Dana glanced after them, wondering what ship they were from.

“You ready for another drink, Doctor?” Taylor offered, seeing her glass was empty.

“I am.”

He quickly set another Betelgean-Blue mojito before her.

“Say, Taylor? Do you know what ship they’re…”

“Oh,
Navitor
, I would imagine. She’s still at the spaceport.”

Dana nodded. She drank the mojito much too fast. The music, laughter, and casual conversations only made her heart ache all the more. Finally, she left, seeking a quiet place and transported over to the Observatory.
 

No events were scheduled, so the place was deserted. And as Dana had so many times before, she climbed the outer stairs up to the lookout, facing east.

The waning moon — barely a sliver — crept higher, still beautiful, but not nearly so majestic as that harvest full moon a few weeks ago.

Then, as now, she bared her soul. “I should never, ever have become a doctor.”

She mulled Lt. Pace’s counsel. If I joined Star Service, what would I do? Computers? Circuitry? Engineering? Navigation? Certainly not weapons…

She closed her eyes and wept. Who am I without DOC standing there in front of me? I’ve been following in his footsteps… Walking always in his shadow… I don’t know the real Dana Cartwright! And I don’t know what to do when all options are on the table.

The lieutenant’s choice was navigation. How had she chosen? Flipped a coin? Wasn’t that the trusted, tried and true way?

Dana’s heart answered her with something totally unexpected. “I want to fly! I want to soar like an eagle!”
 

Kieran’s wonderful memory had sparked something beautiful deep down inside — a longing.

“I want to fly!”

She took out her brand new padlet and began searching for texts on flying. What would it take? What academy courses? She already had a degree — a science degree. Would Star Service accept that?

Admiral Cartwright would… No! He’d tell DOC and they would surely try to stop me.
 

Dana decided she needed someone else to mentor her.

And then she smiled and tapped her voice-badge. “MAT transfer me to the space docks.”

Dana’s civilian clothing stood out among the sea of Star Service uniforms, but she didn’t care. She searched the information kiosk.
Navitor
was still at space dock. A conference presented by their science team was just ending. She memorized the map and started purposefully toward the second tier conference level.

“Doctor Garcia!” She saw him at the railing and waved.

Arturo Garcia turned her way. He didn’t offer a smile. “Doctor Cartwright.”

“I wanted to apologize to you,” Dana began.

“To me? It is I that should…”

She interrupted, “You did nothing wrong. I’m glad Kieran and Sierra overruled the court martial board. DOC had no right to file such a complaint against you.”

Garcia looked puzzled. “You don’t mind?”

“Doctor, a great deal has changed since I last saw you. Suffice it to say, I still want to find my birth parents. You gave me a lead. You said your adoptive brother and I had characteristics in common. Would he be willing to meet me?”

Garcia sighed. “He used to teach at the Galaxean Science Academy. He vanished without a trace several years ago.”

“That’s odd…” Dana commented.

 
Garcia told her about meeting March at Station Four.

“Even stranger.” She stared at the Star Service Surgeon. “Did you know there used to be a genetics lab there? DOC Cartwright’s second wife was on staff.”

Garcia nodded. “Shut down many years ago.” His eyes widened at the implication. “Do you think…?”

Dana nodded.
 

“There are conferences at Station Four all the time. I may go there and poke around in the old records archives,” she decided. “But… The reason I’m here, right now… I’ve decided to leave the medical profession.”

“What? You’re a brilliant doctor.” Garcia pulled her by the arm to a cafe table so they could sit and chat.

“My heart is not in it… Never was.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And where is it?”

“I want to fly.”

Garcia smiled. “I’m the last person to give you advice on that subject. I hate flying, especially in those little shuttles, like the one Colonel Jai crashed. I do know someone who can help.” Garcia stood abruptly and waved to someone amid the crowd exiting the conference center rooms. One man stood out and separated from the others, crossing to join them.

“Captain Akihiro Ensoto, may I introduce Doctor Dana Cartwright.”

Dana stood bowing her head in respect. “Captain Ensoto.”

“Hello, Doctor.”

“Please join us, Captain,” Doctor Garcia invited.

Dana nodded readily.

Ensoto’s face held a wry smile. “That misunderstanding is all resolved?”

She nodded.

“Good! I didn’t want to lose Arturo.”

“Sir? I’m contemplating a career change. Doctor Garcia suggested…”

“That you speak to me?” Ensoto grinned. “I’m no doctor.”

“I want to fly!”

Captain Ensoto’s eyes gleamed. “That’s exactly what I told the Star Service recruiters when I signed up.” He chuckled. “Are you any good?”

Dana’s face betrayed her.

“So you’ve never… Not even a personal craft?”

“Not even…”

“I started out as a sailor, but in my teens, I flew every hover vehicle and aircraft I could get my hands on.” Captain Ensoto was kind. “If you have no hands-on experience, perhaps you should start with the basic flight training. Pay a visit to the Star Service Academy Coronado. I can transmit a letter of recommendation for your application, but you’ll have to pass the entrance exam.”

Dana nodded, but sighed. “I doubt Admiral Cartwright will allow that.”

“No relation?” Ensoto wondered.

“I was adopted by David Julius Cartwright…no relation.”

Captain Ensoto’s grin returned. “Star Service frowns on nepotism. Used to be if you knew someone in Star Service, it was an automatic in. Times have changed, somewhat. With your medical degree, you can surely challenge all the standard science and history portions.” He gave her another name to mention on her application. “Doctor Jake Ankara.”

She laughed. “I know Doctor Ankara.”

“See… You’re all set. And good luck.” He offered his hand and she clasped it.

“Thank you, sir.”

“My pleasure.” Ensoto turned to Doctor Garcia. “
Navitor
shore leave ends at midnight local, Doctor. Last chance to join us at The Viewery for a late dinner.”

Garcia shook his head. “I’m not staying out that late. Thank you.”

Captain Ensoto stood and offered a parting smile, before walking away to join other members of his crew.

Doctor Garcia gave Dana Cartwright a smile as well. “It’s always good to have a mentor — in your chosen field.”

For the first time in her life, Dana agreed.

On the final day of Dana’s medical leave, she MAT’d to the Star Service Academy. Admissions shuffled her all around the huge campus. The day wore her out.

It just happened to also be the last day for applications for the next class. Testing would commence the following month.
 

She was surprised to learn the academy already had her medical school transcript. Captain Ensoto had already sent it along with a letter of recommendation suggesting they waive all history and science classes “
if
” Doctor Ankara approved.

She went in search of Ankara. His office yeoman gave her directions to his favorite place. Dana found him as the sun was setting over the Coronado Bay Bridge.