Martina showed up at the PTP station, her determined look enhanced her attractiveness. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail--her usual look. She probably had been fretting over the upcoming meeting with all the anxiety of a child the night before Christmas; so she practically dragged me along to her barracks as soon as she arrived. Her barracks were not too far from mine; the same utility based, metallic walled space station grunt dwelling. Up in the domed city, you might forget where you were; but down in the main space station, we knew we were in a metallic hunk floating around Earth. She was burning with curiosity, but wanted to talk in private. When we got into her apartment, she slammed the metal door shut too loud for her neighbours I’m sure. She pushed me into a chair.
“What is it, what is this surprise meeting and what’s the mission?”
“Nothing much.”
She grabbed me by the shirt. “Tell me Jonz, now’s not the time.”
“My, my, aren’t we emotional.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you Martina. We’re going on a mission to Earth.”
“What do you mean? Going on a mission to Earth—just like that?”
“Pretty much. I had this long-winded virtual training session from Dr. Svoboda; and we’re getting a state of the art vehicle—you, me, Stoneman, and Lloyd.”
“Not Stoneman—geez, I don’t mind YOU being stuck with that numbskull, but now I have to deal with him?”
“Join the club.”
"So tell me Tyler, what's going on? --and no bull--okay!"
"Okay, okay. It's pretty wild actually. They want us going into the safe zone around the Earth dome--and beyond--searching for terrorist cells."
"I thought they were more or less--"
"Yeah, yeah, I thought so too--apparently they exaggerate the security of Earth society to appease the people--the first settlers."
"Great."
"Man, you ain't heard the best part--they got a new ship--it looks awesome."
"Fancy ship is great--I guess. Come to think of it--it's quite a mission."
“When’s your meeting?” I asked.
“In an hour.”
“Okay, you’ll get all your answers then.”
“You can be useless sometimes Jonz.”
“We just have to know how to use it, not build one.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
She got up and looked out her little porthole window. It was perfect timing. The Earth was in full view, shining in all its glory. I stood beside her. I remember doing the same thing countless times. Staring at the beautiful blue water, the landmasses, the swirling clouds of the atmosphere; like I’m sure everyone in the space station did.
“Are you sure there are no officers going?” Martina asked, still staring down at our destination.
“Yeah, I’m sure—just us four.”
“That’s strange.”
“Like I said, they want a fresh approach. Svoboda said he wanted ‘clean slates’.”
“Clean slates eh?” she laughed, “but no officers”.
“Well,” I started.
“Well what?” she looked at me.
“They have to put someone in charge.”
“Unbelievable—you!”
“That’s what they want.”
“Just like I would have figured—general’s son. What a shock.” She paused. “Aw, what the hell. You’re a smart guy and it could be worse. It could've been Stoneman.”
“Why thank you, what a glowing endorsement.”
“It should've been me though.” She looked at me and smiled. “I remember looking out at the Earth when I was a little girl. Right from my first memories you knew it was something special. It drew me in. My parents would take me to the parks in the outskirts so we could all sit and watch it. Sometimes I would forget about playing and just sit there staring. I remember asking my mom why we don’t go back right now. You know children, any waiting at all is an eternity—and this really was a long wait—and my mom—and she used to always say ‘good things come to those who wait’. I always whisper that in my head when I stare at the Earth—good things come to those who wait. We all know it's our destiny to go back, but now that the time is near—it seems surreal—like it can’t be true. When you dream about something so long, when it is part of your fantasies and daydreams since childhood; it’s almost too much for the psyche to try and get it to bridge over to reality. Do you know what I mean?”
“Not a clue.”
She punched my arm. “You’re a truly great comedian Jonz, you missed your calling.”
“I’ll accept that as an honest statement, devoid of sarcasm.”
“Delude yourself if you wish.”
She walked to the other end of the room. She busied herself with preparing her new uniform to go to the meeting.
“Well, pervert, are you going to stand there and watch me get dressed or are you going to get the hell outa here?”
“I guess I’ll get the hell outa here.”
“Good choice.”
I headed for the door. “By the way.”
“What?”
“Thanks for picking me up at the station. I know how much you hate to get up too early.”
“You hooked me in with your ‘information’; you knew I would come”.
“Hey, a little bait always helps with catching your prey.”
“Too bad you didn’t pay attention enough to have any useful information.”
There came that smile again, transforming her into a beauty.