the death of Liberty

Ros tapped Tak's shoulder and indicated he should leave his helmet on.

Tak nodded.

Then he mimed a gathering motion with his arms and pointed to Tak.  He held up the tools and pointed to himself.

Tak nodded in understanding.

Tak went to the little storage locker in the floor behind the pilot's seat and pulled out his travel bag by the handle.  It was an old government courier bag his dad had seen in the window of a Bond Street shop in London.  "These are great," his dad had said, "The perfect carry on for a young officer coming home on holidays." The military style bag had taken Tak through VMI, officer training, and countless postings. He checked inside and found his neatly folded towel and a pair of soiled underwear.  He pulled the old boxers out and left them in the locker.

He thought that was about all he really wanted until he remembered the coin.  His father had bought the $20 Liberty gold piece shortly after the money started rolling in from the contract.  The whimsical purchase caused a rare fight between his parents. Dad insisted on having the coin mounted on the front panel of the MISC, with the famous lady liberty figure created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, facing outwards.  This was only a reproduction – and still quite valuable, but Tak had no intention of ever selling it.  After the ship, it was one of the few physical reminders of happier times.  

He reached into the side pocket of the pilot's chair and took out the multi-tool he kept for emergencies. Unfolding a flat tool, he wedged the point under the coin and levered until it popped free.  He gathered it in with his free hand and stuffed both the coin and the tool into the zipped pocket on the cover flap.

He could see Ros waiting by the hatch and raised a thumb.  Ros flashed his hand once; 'five minutes'.  Tak held up one finger.  Ros nodded and stepped out, leaving Tak time to say goodbye.

Tak took one last look around.  Each dent and scratch told of a story.  Tak didn't cry for his mother or father, but he felt tears begin to well up in his eyes.  It crossed his mind that he was betraying the ship that had been his first, a ship that had cradled his mother in her grief, when he should have been there.  But he knew Ros had been right.  It was as if the old craft had guided him to this point in his life and was saying goodbye.  "Thanks old girl."  Tak patted the side of the hull and stepped out, shutting the hatch behind him.

He stepped back aboard the big freighter and repeated the motions of stripping off, and stowing his gear. When he got to the galley he could see Ros was at the controls.  There was an almost imperceptible shudder when the tractor beam disengaged and another when the docking ring released.  Tak moved to the bridge and slid quietly into the co-pilot's chair.  Ros made a couple of changes and the big ship turned 180 degrees to face Liberty, the reverse thrusters pulled them away quickly.  The ship grew smaller, finally fading into the distance.  Five minutes later there was a large flash of light.

Five seconds later the com came to life.

"Astraea, Covalex dispatch calling Astraea.  You there Ros?"

"Yes dispatch, Astraea here."

"We picked up an explosion out your way.  Gave us a hell of a fright.  We thought it was you."

"Naw, I came across a MISC a couple of hours ago with complete thrusters failure.  I tethered and removed the pilot.  I engaged the tractor beam to bring the other ship back. On our way my ship's sensors picked up a fire in her engine room.  The pilot wanted to go back and fight the fire but I overruled him and cut the ship loose."

"Good thing you did too.  Astraea is the newest ship in the fleet.  It would have been a poor trade."

"And here I thought you were worried about me.  (loud chuckling could be heard on the other end)  ETA in 2 hours. Tell Mama to set another place at the table. I'm bringin a guest for dinner. Astraea out."

"Roger Astraea.  See you in two.  Dispatch out."

Ros turned off the com and glanced at Tak as he turned the ship back. "You okay?"

The head bobbed up and down slowly.

"It was the right thing to do.  You know that don't you?"

"Yeah, I know," said Tak.

"Well, the course is set now son.  We can drink a toast or two to that Liberty of yours on a stomach full of Mama's cooking.  She's gonna love stuffing a youngster again.