Old Friends, Epilogue: The meaning of
love
The two
crews assembled in the airlock so say goodbye: the Shoulder of Orion had an
urgent cargo of medical supplies to deliver, and had to leave immediately.
Dylan
shook Mark's hand, "Good luck captain." Mark smiled, "Thank you
sir. When you've gotten the Commonwealth back together, let us know: I'll be
happy to help." Dylan nodded, "I will. You're a good officer, just
what the High Guard will need." Mark's smiled broadened to a grin, "I
look forward to that day Captain."
Orion
took Rommie to one side, their backs to the others, "Now, three-hundred
years ago you once told me you had feelings for Captain Hunt over there. Do you
still?" Rommie blushed, "Is it that obvious?" Orion smiled and
put an arm round his friend protectively, "If it was that obvious, he would
have recognized his own feelings for you, and this discussion would be
moot." Rommie was about to say something, but Orion stopped her, "I've
had five-hundred years of watching people develop feelings for one another, and
I'd like to think that I'm pretty good at knowing when they will. Hang in there:
he'll come round one day." Rommie hugged her friend, "Thank you."
Harper
and Mary stood in each other's arm, unwilling to part. Harper looked at Mary,
"You can still stay: I've asked Dylan, and he says it's ok." Mary
shook her head, "I wish I could, I really do, but I need time to think
things over. I can't go on like I have: picking fights with every Nietzschean I
meet. I've got to come to terms with that part of my personality, of who and
what I am. I'll come back to you Seamus, I promise. I'll probably complicate
your life incredibly, but I do love you." Harper kissed her, "And I
love you to." Mary broke away from him, tears filling her eyes.
The airlock closed, cutting of the crew's view of their friends. Harper and Rommie stayed while the others walked off. Rommie put an arm around her chief engineer, "She'll be back. Orion told me that she's never been like this about anyone before. She loves you." Harper nodded, "I know, that's why it hurts so much."
Harper
stood alone on the observation deck, looking out the window. In the distance,
the Shoulder of Orion entered slipstream. He looked down at the photo in his
hand, his only record of Mary: she was stood against the wall of his quarters,
her light brown hair just reaching her shoulders, a few strands hanging over her
face, and she was smiling. God he loved that smile! Just thinking about it made
his stomach ache with the want of her. He knew she'd be back, but still the
parting hurt.
The hatched opened, and Harper smiled through the tears, "I was wondering when you'd turn up." Rev Bem nodded, "It seems that my station on this ship to mend peoples hearts as much as their body's." Harper nodded, "We all have our places in the universe, and mine is with her. But she had to leave. I know she did, and I know she'll be back, but it still hurts." Rev Bem smiled, "Maybe that's what love is: that felling for another. Goodnight, Mr. Harper."
Rev left Harper
alone with his thoughts.
The End