After psychology class the trio headed back to the Cowffee Cup. Erin closed the store and the girls helped her clean up and mop the floors. Ben and Vivo closed the Kookie Mart.
“You guys ready?” Erin asked, and walked into her office.
“Not to make light of the situation, but one thing for sure, this is the easiest I ever got dressed for a funeral.” Ben said, after walking into the office and having his Space Sailor armor appear around him as he activated his ring.
“I think Buck would have liked that comment, and thanks girls for hanging the picture up. That was a pleasant surprise.” said Erin, before she stepped into the closet elevator with Vivo. Ed entered the elevator last, he wished Buck was there to ride it with him, it was less fun being an old man by himself.
David had Erin’s ship prepped, with extra jump seats. He was still repainting Therese’s purple ship. Erin’s armor was as black as her ship with the red diamond of a Captain, but everyone else wore white armor, although Therese had a red stripe indicating her promotion to Senior Space-Girl, and Ed wore a chief’s anchor on his. Erin readied the controls, as Vivo, a rare Space-Boy, took the engineering controls and prepared the cloak. The ship could be controlled by one but flew easier with two.
David walked in last, shutting the hatch, he wore Space Sailor armor with a blue stripe indicating he was a petty officer. Everyone sat in silence, and the hum of the engines increased as Erin hit the throttle and launched the ship into high speed. Erin punched past Mach1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5 and 6, echoing the land in a big boom as she accelerated. Vivo titrated a frontal deflector shield reducing the air resistance and maintaining cloak integrity.
Very quickly, the UFFPS Don-E appeared ahead of them. The ship was uncloaked and hovered a hundred yards above the ocean. The massive armored clad cruiser spread out over 600 meters and was covered in guns. “Shadow flight requesting permission to land.” transmitted Erin.
“Rodger, docking bay Bravo is clear and open to you. Erin spun the ship around and landed as easily as she poured a cup of coffee or scratched her nose. She followed the landing guide’s direction who used batons with lights on them to direct her and then powered down the ship. The passengers waited for Erin to debark first.
Erin stepped out and saluted the deck officer. “Space-Girl Captain Erin requesting permission to come aboard with passengers.” said Erin.
The deck officer returned the salute and said “Granted, we are honored by your presence.”
Erin looked around in the landing bay, it had been a long time since she was on any fleet vessel and the Don-E was exceptional in itself. The banners of over a hundred free worlds hung in the bay, the ship's awards flew from streamers, and a company of Space Marines snapped to attention.
The Captain saluted Erin. “The 10th Space Marine Expeditionary Unit welcomes you.” said the Captain.
Erin stood to attention and returned the salute. “The honor is mine.” said Erin. The unit was at one third strength, but the men stood ready.
“At ease.” ordered the captain to his men, who shifted to a relaxed stance.
Erin’s group caught up with them, and she walked them over to Buck’s casket. The casket was made out of high-grade alloys and weighted heavily so it would stay sunk. The metal was anodized the same blue as the hood of Buck’s truck per Erin’s suggestion. His space ring sat on top, and a picture of Buck was on a stand behind it.
“We’ve been burying thousands of men, but he was the greatest we lost from our planet.” said Space-Girl Michelle to Erin. Buck had also given his life to save their team, and Carmella, the new Space-Girl Michelle, was doing this for Erin.
“Attention on Deck!” Yelled the Captain, and the Marines again snapped to attention. Erin stood at attention, and her crew did their best.
Space-Girl Michelle walked up to the front where the picture of Buck was on display and began speaking. “Buck Allen, in accordance with the highest traditions, is awarded the Medal of Valor for sacrificing himself, against overwhelming odds to save his shipmates. A resident of planet Earth, Buck Allen served the galaxy well and his name has been added to the honor rolls of time. He saved the life of a crashed Space-Girl, fought off a Vax infiltration when he was in the Navy and again helped fight off a Vax infiltration later, before coming out of retirement to fight off the recent Gopher invasion of Haremar and gave his life so his friends could live.” said Michelle, taking a medal from a case and draping it over the corner of his picture. A platinum cross hung on a black ribbon.
“Father Silva will say the blessing before, in accordance with Buck Allen’s wishes, he is to be buried at sea. Full honors of the galaxy will be rendered.” said Space-Girl Michelle stepping away from the picture, and stepping aside for the priest.
Therese was glad to see the priests. The priests had a proud history of serving the Space Fleet since the conversion led by Saint Thomas Aquinas when space explorers first visited earth in 1274 earth time. Since then, they had remained one of the closest guarded secrets of the Vatican.
“Let us bow our heads, In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” said the priest. Everyone bowed their heads.
“Lord Jesus Christ, by your own three days in the tomb, you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection even as it claims our mortal bodies. Grant that our brother, Buck, may sleep here in peace until you awaken him to glory, for you are the resurrection and the life. Then he will see you face to face and in your light will see light and know the splendor of God, for you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, send your holy Angel to watch over this grave. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.” Finished the priest, who walked over and touched Ed on the shoulder. The Space Navy doesn’t like burying strangers and it was appreciated to have someone present introduce their lost comrade.
“Chief Shank, was Ed’s best friend, please speak of Buck, so we may know who we take to rest.” said the Chaplain.
“What can I say more than he saved my life, he sacrificed himself in defense of a world he did not know. Buck served our home country, the United States honorably in the United States Navy. He served as a corpsman in the field, keeping a lot of guys alive, and later he became a plumber, a career he carried into retirement. He was a simple man, who would wake up every morning and sit eager to begin his walk, so he could be at his favorite coffee shop right when it opened. He found his solitary lifestyle and gruff exterior defeated by the kindness of a young girl and our friend, but he told me, that being in our little family gave him a happiness he had never known, and I know that is also why he used his life to shield us with no hesitation.” said Chief Ed Shank.
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“Marines. Prepare the chief to depart.” ordered Space-Girl Michelle. A group of Marines walked over to the casket. The leader, a seasoned man of scars took the ring off the casket and handed it to Michelle, saluted her, and then turned and faced Buck.
The Marines slid the heavy casket on the casket to a prepared ramp that led over the side of the ship. When they reached the end of the ramp, they stopped. A Boatswain blew into his whistle, which echoed over the ship's intercom. A loud sound came as sailors banged a giant gong near the bulkhead of the ship. The gong echoed in the hangar bay, a tradition unique to the space fleet.
“Chief Buck Allen, United Federation of Free Planets Space Navy, and United States of America Navy Departing.” Echoed over the intercom. The Deck officer saluted Buck, and said “Permission to depart granted.” Buck’s casket slid over the side of the ship and into the deep water below.
High-powered cannons fired off charges, large blasts echoed the sunset. Large cannon after cannon fired, and fireballs filled the night as 21 cannon were fired out of respect for earth’s custom, then 100 shots were fired out of respect for Buck having earned their medal of valor. Then as quickly as it started, the shots stopped.
“Dismissed.” said Space-Girl Michelle, who then walked over to Therese, who was doing her best to stay upright crying, supported by Peter. Michelle patted her on the shoulder and told her she was sorry for her loss, but Therese could not look up from her tears. The team were all shocked at learning Buck’s history of saving earth from the Vax, but Space-Girl Michelle told them she could not discuss it.
“Walk with me.” said Space-Girl Michelle to Erin, who was also tearful, but standing on her own. Erin fell in line with their leader, and they walked to a quieter area of the ship than the hangar.
“How are you all?” asked Michelle.
Erin shook her head and began. “Well, obviously we all hurt from losing Buck. The girls, Peter and even my Vivo have never been through anything like this before. Ben hurts, but he has been through enough to cope, and Ed he went through a lot in the past, but yeah, he hurts from having his best friend ripped from him, those two guys quickly became best friends, and encourage each other’s orneriness. Me, I’m ripped open, I don’t know how many thousands of those beasts I killed, but every part of my body wants to kill a thousand more, I wake up at night wanting to go kill any of those bastards I could hunt down anywhere in the galaxy.”
“The Shadowbird calls you, but it’s not you.” Michelle reminded Erin.
“I don’t know if I want to carry that burden anymore, it makes my heart heavy.” said Erin.
“And I don’t know anyone else I would trust with it.” Space-Girl Michelle reminded Erin. The Space-Girls had historically viewed the shadow ring as a blessing and a curse. “You’ll improve, as you have before.” said Michelle.
“I hope.” said Erin.
“You all need time to heal, I’m placing your unit on training and recovery only. Your defeat of the Gopher King and the return of the Shadowbird has caused our enemies to retreat, for now, I think we need to enjoy the peace.” ordered Michelle.
“Thank you, we need that.” said Erin.
“Therese can keep her ring, but she is restricted from flight duty, her feedback indicates she has been intoxicated consistently for days. I’m giving her leniency, but she’ll need help, we all know what she has been through but that runs out fast as an excuse.” finished Michelle.
“Therese is drinking all the time? I’m sorry, I have been distracted.” apologized Erin.
“I just don’t want her crashing a spaceship, look after her, and if she doesn’t get better, send her to Haremar to sort stuff out. Go be with your friends.” said Space-Girl Michelle, ending the conversation and walking away. The conversation was cold, but it was the most the two best friends had talked in years. Erin wouldn’t have wanted it any friendlier and Space-Girl Michelle respected that.
Erin was then not surprised when she found Therese in her Space-Girl uniform drinking and toasting with the others, only Kara wasn’t drinking. Erin shrugged, this wasn’t the time to confront the drinking, Therese was simply coping with everyone, and the Space Fleet maintained a wet mess at the Captain’s discretion, and the Hares had sent cases of their best whiskey for refreshment.
“Erin.” Therese said, walking over and hugging her mentor. Erin took that hug and squeezed back, right now, she needed that hug from her little sister, and she could wait to discuss the drinking. Erin didn’t let go for the longest time, they both needed that hug.
The next day, Gina was not surprised when Therese came into class hungover and sweating alcohol from her pores. “She is not touching the chemicals.” Gina told Peter and Kara as Therese slumped back in her chair and thumped her foot against the table.
“It was her grandfather’s funeral.” Peter explained.
“Well it ain’t mine, she does not touch the chemicals.” said Gina, standing her ground.
“Fine, be like that.” said Therese, crossing her arms.
“Thank you for not saying anything. I owe you one.” said Peter to Gina, embarrassed.
“Now you owe me one? If I didn’t know you, I’d say something I’d regret right now.” said Gina, who pulled out her notebook and readied for lab.
“Shh, just sit there.” Kara told Therese. Kara’s wisdom told her to avoid a conversation with Gina right now, who was at the limit of any type of respect she might have for having gone to school together. Peter couldn’t wait for the class to end, and was grateful for when it did, and he helped Therese stumble to his car and drove to the Cowffee Cup. When they arrived, Peter carried Therese into the Cowffee Cup, and straight to Erin’s office.
“What’s wrong?” asked Erin, scared. Therese didn’t look good.
“I’m fine, I just had a little to drink, but I’m OK.” said Therese, standing up and falling back into the couch. Therese pulled a bottle out her purse and drank another swig.
“Stop that.” said Peter, grabbing the bottle.
“Let’s do it in the boss's office.” said Therese, unbuttoning her shirt.
“Young lady, stop taking your clothes off.” said Erin sternly. She was in disbelief at how fast Therese had destroyed herself. Erin knew Therese lived in pain, but she had reached ridiculous.
“Oh crap, what’s Erin doing here?” asked Therese.
“Lay down and take a nap. That is an order.” said Erin.
“Fine.” Therese said, and curled up on the couch. Erin turned the light off and shut the door as she and Peter walked out.
“How long has she been like this?” asked Erin.
“I don’t think she ever drank until we all did that night, but she’s been like this since Haremar, I can’t even trust her with Ana, she’s drinking half the time or more.” said Peter.
“Probably more.” said Erin.
“What’ll we do?” Peter asked.
“Watch the store Kara, Peter come with me.” Erin said walking back into the office. Therese was already snoring. Erin activated her ring and used the added strength to pick up Therese and they carried her to down the elevator, through the tunnel ride, and straight to Erin’s ship.
“Did I miss the after party?” said David, relaxing in the hangar, then reevaluating the situation, he helped Erin get Therese into a seat of the ship.
“Peter, go back to work, David I need you to fly ops for me, we are going to Haremar. I’m sorry Peter, but it is time for her to go home.” said Erin.
“I just want her better.” said Peter. He was helpless to stop her and more of an enabler than he cared to admit.
“I know a rabbit, give him a chance.” said Erin.
“I trust you.” said Peter, who turned and left for the Kookie Mart. David sat on ops and began his sequence and was ready as Erin took off and aimed for the sky. David liked Erin’s flying, he felt she was almost as good as he was.
“Diggie, thanks for going.” said Erin.
“I don’t like seeing her like this either.” said David. Digs looked out the window and enjoyed the view of the beautiful planet below. Erin radioed Captain Lionhead and requested his assistance.