DT 2021: Between Stars, Hey Again

:Corporal Viktoria Kearsarge
:28 July 2540
:Between Slipspace Transits
[Sound of starship cafeteria]
“—Alright, I got a brief break over lunch… Ready… And live. Hey, it’s me again. You know I don’t exactly have a video-will prepared, so hey, another deployment over and I’m not dead! Again.”
[Sound of metal tray hitting table]
“Oh hey, give me a sec—vid here. We didn’t land on Kholo yet again. Covenant already owned the world as soon as they were in-system. And no matter how many times we drop back in, that doesn’t change.  We spent a few weeks picking up stranded or hiding civilian craft among the outer planets. It still doesn’t feel like we’re helping much coming all the way out here just for stragglers. You got your usual malnourished and that can be dealt with—"
[Background conversation spikes briefly]
“Sorry, its crowded in here. Typical Leathernecks. But yeah, for the dead or dying, by the time we got to them they were-well… Dead. There’s not much else really to express. Anyway, enough about my situation. I hope you’re okay and the job’s keeping you busy and all that? Did the Office send you anywhere interesting or you still stuck on Sigma Octanus? Let me know, my ship is back within ‘free-speak’ territory so I can say more without causing much shit over the comms buoys. I hope you haven’t found some sad Navy sag to fill that lonely bed of yours. Bye for now Nev~!”
• • •
:Lieutenant Junior Grade Neville Bradford
:11 August 2540
:Enfield, Sigma Octanus IV
[Quiet hum of a computer, clicking of keyboard]
“You’re a cruel mistress, Corporal. Joking aside. I am glad you’re safe. Always am. You don’t begin to know how much it frustrates me when your name pops up in my comms analytics. ‘Yeah! Go for gold! Killed another three Elites and carved out their brains for Section III.’”
[Hand knocks on tabletop]
“That’s cool and all, but I’d rather see you safe here at home than out there in some foxhole. Eh… Who am I kidding? We’ve been dating for how long now? Three years? You never take my lectures seriously. Whatever. Enough of my shitty soapbox—I’m just happy to hear your voice again. You never send me anything while you’re on the front. Just do me this solid; let me know when you get back planet side. Let’s meet up, as usual. And… That should do it—”
• • •
:Corporal Viktoria Kearsarge
:29 October 2540
:Between Slipspace Transits
[Distant hum of starship reactor]
“I see your bedside manner hasn’t improved. Lecturing a woman about keeping some excitement in her life? You’re a damn prude. You should travel more. You also didn’t answer my question – so I’m going to take that as a ‘no’ for all the above? Fair enough, my point stands even more now.”
[Chuckle elevates into brief laughter]
“Send me something interesting from dear old civilization – Yo know how much I prefer my poor little foxhole to that bed of yours but it doesn’t hurt to hear things from home. We’re probably another two weeks from the next colony, this mid-war initiative to drop Slipspace buoys in intersystem space is an interesting program but are you sure they’re secure? That’s more your world than mine, I guess. I’ll probably be home in two months; we’ll see from there. And by the way, I do take your lectures seriously—when they’re about anything but my job. Though you’d probably have to wrestle me down to get me to listen to any of them to begin with."
[Laughter elevates into cackling, nearby hiss]
"Oh, sorry—I’m interrupting their sleep. Talk later, but yeah. Just send me something interesting."
• • •
:Lieutenant Junior Grade Neville Bradford
:13 November 2540
:Enfield, Sigma Octanus IV
[Quiet hum of a computer]
"Don’t quote me on the buoys. I don’t know anything, and I probably couldn’t say even if I did. But on another note, the number of sex innuendos you slip into your messages my cubicle AI is flagging your messages as possible porn adverts. Might want to tone that down. Though I appreciate you spicing up my 'nonexistent' love life. See, I got to keep myself faithful for this sweet little monster that introduced herself as 'Miss No Bullshit' at the officer's club. I still remember that little thing you were wearing, not so much that poor Air Force officer you were hanging off of. Or was he one of those Maritime-types? I can't really remember; alcohol was already keeping my attention."
[Quiet typing of keyboard]
"I sent you some news clippings and a couple books I read between assignments. Figure you might get a kick out of them when you're not in the freezer. What's it like, those prolonged naps? Do you dream in there? Never really got a chance to find out. You can laugh on my behalf here, by the way. Har har, the Naval Intelligence officer whose never left the ground. At least I can still drink you into the ground. Let me know when you get back. Seriously, don't suddenly pull that silent treatment on me again and appear on my front porch without at least fair warning. I might not be home. Later Vik, see you soon."
• • •
:Corporal Viktoria Kearsarge
:12 January 2541
:Nearby...
[Automotive traffic passes by]
"Hey, I left a message this time. I'm out front. Open up, its fucking cold outside."
• • •
Category:The Weekly
Category:Short stories