Heritage (Under Revision)

Chapter 14 - Ethan

I wake up groggily and stare at the clock for a few moments. I sigh as I see the lambent numbers tell it’s well into morning hours already. Elena must know that I’m restless as she slides over and places her head on my chest and wraps an arm around me.

“Memories coming back again?” she asks concernedly.

“Yeah. They’ve been coming and going more often lately,” I reply.

“You remember way too much Ethan. Sometimes the memories just aren’t your responsibility to carry.”

“If no one else remembers, then everyone who died on that station will disappear. If no one else wants to bear the responsibility, then I will Elena.”

“I know...I just wish they didn’t bring you so much suffering.”

Before I can get any more words out of my mouth, our door bursts open and Leon comes in with an excited look on his face.

“Mom! Dad! You are not gonna believe what just happened!” he exclaims to Elena and I. He turns the lights on and it feels like my eyes are burning out of their sockets.

“Leon...I swear to you this better be good or I’m confining you to your Habmod for a week.”

“Okay okay. I’ll tell you. You’re gonna love this!”

“Leon...”

“I need to borrow...”

“Leon...”

“The Hydra because...”

“Leon!” I yell getting his attention finally. “Calm...down.”

“Okay dad...I’m calm,” Leon says taking a deep breathe.

“Good. Now what’s this about needing to borrow the Hydra?”

“Well...I asked Stella to my party, as well as asked her to be my date for the party. Plus, I asked her on a date tomorrow...well...today, and I need to borrow the Hydra since there’s no other way of transportation there.”

I look at Leon for a moment then turn my head to Elena and wait for her reaction. I see a smile creep across her face and she looks at me and nods.

“Alright Leon,” I say keying in his TAPS into the ignition programming of the Hydra from my own. You wreck it though, and I’m literally going to take it out of your ass.

“I know dad. Thanks!” he says leaving the room in excitement.

“I swear to God our kid is one major piece of work,” I say shaking my head.

“Kinda reminds me of his father,” Elena replies with a smirk on her face. I give a small chuckle and look at her.

“Leave me alone, I’m too tired to get you back for that comment,” I say laying back and closing my eyes. Elena laughs herself and lays her head back on my chest resuming the same position she was in, and closes her eyes as well.

*************************************************************

Morning had come all too quickly that day and I once again found myself at my desk filing paperwork in quadruplicates, making sure I have plenty of copies just in case I need to send one to another government official.

Time passes decently quick and I glance at my watch seeing that it’s lunch and time for me to brief the crew on the situation. I grab my jacket and head for the briefing room.

As my hand turns the handle of the door, I hear Elena yell Room, ten-hut!

The whole room stands at attention as I walk to the podium.

“At ease,” I say.

The crew takes their seats and sit ready to listen to my briefing. I give a quick nod to Elena and she presses a button, turning on a 3D projection.

“As you already know, we have spotted an anomaly five hundred miles east of our position. Officials back at headquarters seem to think that it may be Sekrid warships preparing to launch an attack. We have been ordered to monitor and take action if that’s the case. However, in my opinion I believe that we should wait until they start to move in themselves. We have too many liabilities on board this ship for us to launch an offensive.”

An officer raises his hand.

“Sir, what if they hit us with a sneak attack, how will we fend them off then?”

“Well Major, in case you have forgotten, this ship has the most advanced detection systems in the galaxy. Sekrid ships won’t have the cloaking technology to beat our radars for the next twenty years. And just in case, I am going to have complete twenty-four-hour surveillance on all sides of the ship, until this anomaly is taken care of. The watches will be done in shifts. Commander Elena should have that set up by tomorrow morning at the latest. So, any objections?” I ask scanning the room. Every one remains quiet.

“Very well, you are all, dismissed.”

The room stands and salutes me, leaving in an orderly fashion.

“So, do you really think that it’s Sekrid warships out there Ethan?” Elena asks me.

“I don’t really know Elena. I can only pray that it’s not, but we have to stay prepared just in case,” I answer.

“Well, I have a class to tend do Ethan. I’ll talk to you after classes are over, hun.”

“Alright Elena, see you soon.”

Elena gives me a quick kiss and leaves the room herself.

I spent the remainder of the day finishing my paperwork in my office. Just as I’m finishing up the last of my work, I hear a knock at my door.

“Enter,” I say.

Leon steps in wearing his formal uniform, it’s the first time I’ve seen him wear it in a long time.

“So how do I look dad?” he asks, seeking my approval.

I stand up and walk over to him, and begin to fix any minor details that need adjusting.

“Well, I think you look ready for your date son,” I reply with a smirk on my face.

“Awesome. Well, I guess I better go now, I don’t wanna be late for the date I asked for.”

“That’s true. Have fun Leon and show Stella a good time okay?”

“Of course dad.”

Leon then leaves my office with a bit of a happier walk than before.

*************************************************************

A few hours pass, and I still hear no word from Leon about how his date went. I start to get worried and I tap my foot impatiently. Elena sits in the chair across from me with a worried look on her face.

“I wonder what’s taking so damn long,” I say.

“I don’t know, but I hope they get back soon, I’m really worried about them,” Elena responds with concern in her voice.

The Habmod phone then rings. The ring is specific to the infirmary though, and Elena and I both rush to it as fast as we can and I pick it up.

“This is General Blake, what’s the problem Lila?”

“Ah, General Blake, I was hoping you’d still be awake. I just want to let you know that Leon and Stella are down in the infirmary, Cadet Stella has the stomach flu and Leon is insisting on staying down here with her tonight. They’re both sleeping right now so I thought I’d take the time to give you a call and inform you of the situation.”

“Oh, well thank you for calling Lila, we really appreciate it, we were starting to worry over here. It’s alright if Leon stays there for the night, I’m sure it’d be comforting to Stella if he were there.”

“Very well General, you have a good night.”

“And you as well Lila.”

I hang up the phone and inform Elena of the situation and she breathes a big sigh of relief, as we both know that our son and Stella are safe.