Fear and Aggression (48 page)

The visor went up and revealed a handsome
young man with blond hair and blue eyes.

“
Steve,” he
said.

“
Mark!” and the two men
embraced. Tears were slowly running down Aspiria’s cheeks. “You’re
okay…you look great…you’re in the Space Force.” Steve was now
emotional.

“
Are you coming back with
me?” asked Mark, trying to hold back the emotion.

“
Yes, I’m coming back with
you.”

Steve turned to Aspiria. “Be safe,” she
said. Then, looking at him directly in the eyes, she said, “Thank
you, with all my heart. Thank you for everything,” and she gave him
a warm embrace.

“
I thank
you
for everything,”
said Steve. “Please tell Roloff and Caryell goodbye for me. I wish
I could say that in person.” This he said in Aspiria’s alien
language. Mark looked at him with a quizzical expression. Steve
looking at him smiled and said, “Com’ on, kid. Let’s go
home.”

Aspiria stood and watched as the three men
walked towards the woods. Part of her wanted to walk behind them to
see the ship. She had never been conscious, or alive, when she had
made her previous journeys to and from the ship. But she wasn’t
that curious, and she definitely didn’t want to somehow end up back
on the ship. From the time that she had been taken until now her
life had been changed. She had not had her family back, just as
they had been. She now had Steve in the home with them. It had
changed the dynamics. She had had a constant reminder of her
captivity with him there. Caryell loved Steve and that made her
happy. Caryell truly enjoyed the companionship. She would be sad as
she told him that Steve was gone. Roloff was never quite the same
since the event. He never seemed to be himself, or as comfortable
in the home. She hoped that family life might get back to normal
for her. She would miss Steve as well, but just like Steve, she was
ready for him to go back home.

The journey back to earth was relatively
uneventful. Steve and Mark spent every waking hour together. Steve
asked question after question and was able to catch back up on many
things. He mostly asked about Mark and their grandfather. Marks
life had been very good since the incident. Steve’s pay had been
given to them. He was still on the payroll of the Space Force, and
it had been increased to hazard pay. So, Gramps could retire and
they lived in a comfortable home near to the Gilmores. Gramps had
maintained his friendship with them, and had become acquainted with
some of their older friends and neighbors. He was as happy as could
be. He hardly watched television because his social life took up
too much of his time. Marks girlfriend Tess was quite the beauty.
They had been friends for many years, but things had gotten
romantic over the past year. Mark could have talked about Tess all
day, so Steve had to keep nudging him towards other topics. Steve
smiled as he heard Mark talk.

Danny and Steve found some time to talk,
also. Steve was thoroughly proud of Danny. After getting
reacquainted with Danny, Steve began to enquire about the other
crew members. Kenny was now a distinguished Captain in his own
right. James was still at it as a technical guy. He and Kenny were
together on a mission. No other inhabited alien worlds had yet been
discovered, or if they had the info had not been declassified or
leaked. James was probably itching to find another one by now. “And
how is Mike,” asked Steve.

Danny explained that he had taken a
promotion with command. He was no longer flying missions, but was
working on the command station. “I don’t think he wanted any more
action,” Danny said with a wry smile. Danny was still serious and
stoic most of the time, but not so much as he used to be. Being in
charge suited him better than being on the bottom rung. He seemed
to be more relaxed, now.

“
Well, what’s Bob up
to?”

Another, even larger smile crept across
Danny’s face. “Bob stayed on with the Space Force for a couple of
years—enough to finish out his enlistment requirements. I don’t
think he did any further navigation. Anyway, he opened up a
restaurant in New York City. It is doing quite well, from what I
understand. His menu is based on Aspiria’s cooking methods. I’m not
sure if it is so popular because of that, or if the food is just
that good. Either way, you should go when you get the chance. He
would love it. On my next leave, I am definitely checking it
out.”

Steve sat there smiling. What else could Bob
be doing? Steve had been eating Aspiria’s actual cooking for the
past few years. Bob couldn’t mimic what she did with her actual
recipes—the vegetables and spices were so different—but he was
curious about it. He thought about the words, ‘when you get the
chance;’ what did Danny mean by that? He had said it offhandedly,
but it still seemed to carry some significance.

Steve did not inquire about Tammy, and Danny
didn’t offer anything up. It was not out of any spite—Steve simply
did not think to ask. He had not reflected on her at all over the
past five years.

“
Captain Jenners, we will
be arriving early tomorrow. I think that you should get some good
rest, and be looking sharp in your full Captains uniform,” said
Danny, more as Captain Wang.

“
Who will be debriefing
me?”

“
The
President.”

“
The President will be on
the Command Station?” asked Steve in shock.

Danny smiled again. “No, Captain Jenners,
the President will be in the White House, and so will you. We’re
not docking with the Command Station. We are landing in Washington
D.C., just a short drive to the White House.”

“
What about
quarantine?”

“
I am told that it isn’t
necessary.”

Danny left, and Steve was alone. If Danny
wanted him to get some good sleep, that wasn’t the information to
leave him with last. As Steve lay in bed, his mind raced over many
things. He awoke early, and was not tired, but that was more due to
his adrenaline rush, than to having had a good or peaceful sleep.
Mark was tearful as he said goodbye to Steve. He would be on leave
soon, and he expressed his hope that Steve would be available at
that time. Danny offered him a full salute, which Steve returned,
and then he walked off of the ship.

There were guards awaiting him. Again, he
wondered if he would be strong armed. But no, they treated him with
dignity and deference. “Sir, if you would, our car is right this
way. We will be heading directly to the White House. The President
is awaiting you.”

It was a hot summer August
day in Washington D.C. The humidity was nearly unbearable. D.C. was
practically a ghost town this time of year. It was surprising that
the President was even in town.
Why wasn’t
he on vacation, or somewhere else, when congress and everyone else
seemed to be away
, Steve reflected. The
car ride was less than ten minutes. The men, who sat in front, did
not say a word to themselves nor to Steve. D.C. never changes
thought Steve as he looked out the window. They entered the gate at
the White House, and then walked inside. The men handed Steve off
to the staff woman, and then left. The White House was expecting
him. He and the staff woman walked alone to the Oval Office; he did
not appear to be under guard or surveillance.

“
Have a seat here, Captain
Jenners,” said the staff woman in a courteous tone. She was about
fifty years old, and wore a cream skirt and jacket suit. She was a
little plump with mid-length short white hair. Steve took the seat,
and the woman asked if she could get anything for him.

Steve didn’t answer immediately, he was
mentally distracted. “I don’t know what time it is, or what time I
am meeting with President…I’m sorry, I don’t know what his name
is,” said Steve somewhat befuddled.

The woman looked at him curiously and
smiled. “You have been away, sir. It is not Mr. President, it is
Ms. President and she will be with you in just a few minutes. Can I
get you something to drink, or would you like something to
read?”

Steve’s eyes widened and he nodded, more to
himself than to the woman’s question. “Uh…no, I’ll just wait for
her…for the President. I’m fine.”

“
Very good, sir.” The
woman walked into the Oval Office and shut the door behind her.
Within about two minutes she came back out. She did not say
anything more to Steve. She nodded at him as she left the office,
and then walked back to towards the way that they had come. Steve
could hear muffled voices from various offices, but all-in-all the
west wing seemed very quiet. Steve felt very alone, and he was used
to that.

His wait was about twelve minutes, but to
him it seemed much longer. There were a number of things that were
bothering him, and he began to consider them. No one was surprised
to find Aspiria alive. In fact, no one had asked anything about
her, or her world, or anything else. He was never even asked by
Mark how he was doing. Steve asked anything he wanted of Mark and
Danny, and they answered with ease and comfort. Yet, not one
question was addressed to him. He had lived for the past five years
on an alien planet, with an alien species, and no one seemed a bit
interested in any of it. He was taken directly to earth, with no
quarantine, and the first person he would see is the President of
the United States. He had not received a psychiatric assessment or
any physical at all. He was left unguarded, and supposedly going to
meet alone with the President. Nothing seemed right, and he was
beginning to feel particularly uncomfortable. Finally the door to
the Oval Office opened and a strangely familiar voice said,
“Steve.”

He got up and turned to look. He stared at
the President in amazement. “Tammy?—are you joining me and the
President?” Emotions immediately began to swell within him. He had
blocked this woman that he once loved from his consciousness. Now
she was standing in front of him at the Oval Office. His feelings
were not those of his last meeting with her, rather they were as
when they first met. Her beauty and charm made his heart pump. She
was unmistakably attractive to him, even now after all these years,
and after all that she had done.

“
Steve, I am the
President. Please come in,” she said while motioning him to enter.
She wore a forest green skirt and jacket with a white blouse. The
skirt was longer than he was used to seeing her wear, cut just
above the knees. Her hair was as brilliant as ever—long, red,
curly, and bright. She had aged some, but not much. She was as
confident—no, more confident than ever. Yet, there was a certain
sweetness in her demeanor. She did not seem as edgy as he
remembered her.

Steve followed her into the office. She did
not wait for him, but walked toward her desk. As he entered the
room, he paused at the door and watched her walking. He had been
through a lot of unusual experiences, but nothing felt more surreal
to him that what he felt at this moment. When she got behind her
desk, she sat down and crossed her legs. “Please, come in and shut
the door. Have a seat right here,” she said and motioned to a seat
across the desk from her. Steve obeyed mechanically, and walked
slowly to the indicated seat.

Steve stood by the seat and stared directly
at Tammy. “You can stand if you like, but I’d rather you sat down,”
she said kindly.

“
What do I call you?
President Rodgers…is it Rodgers? Are you married?—I’m sorry…I
just…uh, I’m just surprised.”

“
Married!” she said with a
laugh. “How could I be married? I thought that we were still going
out. You don’t have an alien girlfriend back on that other planet
do you?”

Steve went white. “Uh…no, I…”

“
Sit down, relax, I was
just trying to break the ice.” Steve did sit down. “Out there, call
me President Rodgers. When we are alone, it’s still
Tammy.”

“
Okay,” he
mustered.

“
A lot has happened since
you have been gone.” Steve nodded, continuing to stare at her as
she spoke. “I take it you haven’t been filled in on much.” Steve
shook his head. Tammy smiled reassuringly. “That’s good, I hoped
that I would be the one to fill you in. The story begins, when last
we met. I had just euthanized Aspiria—I’m told that she is alive. I
really don’t know how that is possible, but we’ll get to that
later. So, you took her body and went to her planet with her body.
Now you are here, in the Oval Office with the President of the
United States, and that President happens to be me. I guess you
would like it if I filled in the gap.”

“
Yes, I would.”

Tammy paused, and looked away momentarily.
“I sat in the lab for a very long time. My boyfriend, whom I loved
dearly, had just left me in a state of fury with the body of a dead
alien that I had just euthanized. I did not know what you were
doing, but I could never have imagined that you would take her dead
body back to her world. I was devastated. I thought that I had lost
you forever. I, too, was upset about having to do that to Aspiria.
I really did think that you had given the command. They showed me a
recording of you saying to do it. Anyway, I was more upset than I
had ever been before. Finally, Kenny comes into the lab and asks
where you and Aspiria are. He can tell that I am upset, and he
looks pretty confused himself. I decide to not say anything. He
doesn’t press, and everyone is searching the ship. When they come
back to the lab, I had figured out what you had done. I was really
worried about you. I figured that you were walking into a death
trap, or worse, by bringing back her dead body after what we had
just done to them. I told everyone that you, as the commander in
the field, chose to sacrifice yourself for the good of the mission.
That you had taken Aspiria back to her world, so as not to further
upset them. To do it as a peace offering, but that you would stay
with her yourself to make sure that she did not give away any of
our secrets. I did not tell them that I had euthanized her. With
how angry you were, I was afraid for my life. Since you were both
gone, I figured it would be better for everyone to think that you
had chosen to guard her alive, rather than sacrifice yourself to
give back a dead body. That would have made you look foolish, or
that you had lost your mind. I wanted you to look wise and heroic.
At least that way we all had a chance of things working out,
eventually.”