Supernova Blitz

Chapter 12: Relentless Pursuers in the Stars

Captain Long watches from the damage control and crane ops loft that overlooks the hangar. Chief Grey is still running the squad through exercises. Jessica is trying, but it's obvious that she's nowhere near the physical readiness Angelica was at her age. The younger sister brings up the rear in most exercises, and Chief Grey or Chief Tachibana spend a healthy amount of time yelling at her.

The Captain closes her eyes and focuses. She KNOWS the other recruits are getting similar treatments to her little sister. She just notices it more with Jessica because she's watching more closely.

Someone enters behind her. Kane's voice requests, "Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

Long sighs, replying, "Go ahead, Lieutenant."

Kane steps up beside her to watch the training. He asks warmly, "Buyer's remorse?"

Long sighs again. She finally steps away from the window, retorting -more displeased with herself than anything-, "No." She softens, reiterating, "No. I couldn't be more proud of her. And, I couldn't be more thankful to Chiefs Tachibana and Grey. I just... She's my little sister. She's... all I have now. And, I'm all she has. I don't NOT want to be the 'parent', for her sake, but... I have no idea how to be."

Kane nods, still watching the training. He remarks, "She's seventeen, yes? Technically, she's almost to the point that she doesn't need a 'parent', legally."

Long jokes, "Oh, I can have THAT changed, believe you me."

Kane chuckles and replies, "I believe it. But, the young woman I saw with you during our flight from Earth... I don't know your full situation, but you're doing a good job. A GREAT job, just as a big sister. I think that's enough. Both Grey and Tachibana, as well as their squad mates, are amazing soldiers. They'll make Spaceman Long an amazing soldier as well. YOU just need to let them handle that, and you help her become an amazing woman. She may not want to walk in your footsteps exactly, but she'll always know a strong, caring sister who can help her keep her footing when she stumbles."

Long smiles, and she replies warmly, "I appreciate that. And, I'm trying, of course. I can see why people become corrupt... It's easy to look after your own interests from a place of power."

Kane chuckles, "Tell that to God."

Long scoffs, replying, "I imagine he knows better than anyone." There's a pause, and she asks, "Must seem stupid now, more than ever..."

"What?" asks Kane politely.

"Religion. We're supposed to believe God created us in his image, but... who created the Grodurns then?"

Kane smiles sympathetically. He replies gently, "If I may, Captain. It seems you're overcompensating with your sister to make up for your shaken faith."

Long gently clutches the cross on her shoulder, replying softly, "Maybe I am..."

Kane continues gently as he looks out over the hangar at nothing in particular, "Forgive me, Captain, but I think it's rather arrogant to believe 'image' might not have meant 'imagination', or 'mental image'."

Long looks up, surprised. Kane adds politely, gesturing distantly, "People can believe God assembled a whole world, or the solar system -'let there be light'-, or the whole universe in a single week. Let's say he did a world at a time. He has still had an eternity." Kane looks at Long, asking, "Why would God, creator of all things, stop at any one creation?"

Long stares at him for a moment, stunned. Kane adds one more thought, "People too zealously take meaning from translation after translation of the 'word of God', while so quickly losing the core message; be decent. We didn't have to hate each other, and we don't have to hate the Grodurns. But, we do have a right to survive, and we have a responsibility to be decent."