"Go ahead. I'm anxious to meet our new friends." Jon replied.
They had been monitoring resistance activity in this sector for a few months and had spoken with their leader a few times but this was to be the first "face-to-face" encounter. Jon figured they would be staying at least three days to get the relief supplies in place and the equipment set up. He heard some good things from Cypher about this group and was looking forward to meeting them.
Their leader, Rynn, was there to meet them when they stepped of the ship. "Captain Power and his team, I'm happy to meet you, Sir."
"Likewise. It's always good to add another ally to our ranks. This is Hawk, my first officer……"
As they exchanged pleasantries and introductions Jennifer tried not to roll her eyes and smiled politely when it was her turn to be introduced. She was always wary of strangers and couldn't understand why people were inclined to make "small talk" so often instead of getting to work. She scanned the gathered crowd, there were a good many here, to see what shape they were in. All in all, they seemed clean and the leader was actually speaking proper English. Trying to understand what some of these humans considered speech was often difficult. As she was examining the crowd she caught the eyes of a familiar face. Her heart caught in her throat when she realized it was someone she had known from the dread youth. Then she became excited. She had known this boy all her life! They grew up together in the Dread Youth.
His name was Tommy and he had been her best friend, as far as one could have a best friend in the Youth. They were in the same unit and had always worked together well. They shared a lot together while growing up….projects, missions, and even a laugh or two when they were still too young to control all their emotions. She immediately assumed he had defected too. He was too good a person to be here as a spy. He beamed when he saw her and winked. As soon as things settled down they would have a chance to talk.
Jennifer felt a joy that she couldn't describe. Although she dearly loved her friends that she found when she left the Youth, she never felt she could really talk to them. They were always kind and taught her well but they also had a habit of….well, acting like she was a naïve child. Maybe she was…in some ways…but she did have life experience as a soldier and some idea how the world worked. Even if she felt free to talk to them about herself, how would they understand? She was pretty sure they wouldn't want to hear her Dread Youth stories and besides, she knew they would just listen and smile at her in that "you poor thing" kind of way.
She couldn't wait to talk to Tommy. She wanted to know everything that was happening with him and she wanted to tell him all she's experienced. What was life like for him with the resistance? What things did he find incredibly silly or strange? How was he dealing with the "new world" they were both submerged in? Later that night, she had her opportunity….
"Captain", Rynn called as he and Tom came up to Pilot and Jon after the evening meal, "I have someone I want the two of you to meet. This is Tom Rennen, he's one of my best men. He's from the Dread Youth too. I thought maybe you two might know each other."
Tom extended his hand and exchanged a firm handshake with Jennifer. "Hmmmm….I think I do remember you…..Chase, right?" She saw the mischievous gleam in Tommy's eyes and decided to play along. "Yes, that's right, Jennifer Chase. I remember you too."
"Well, isn't that nice!" Rynn exclaimed, obviously pleased with himself. "Why don't you two go talk while I go over some things with the Captain here?"
Jennifer glanced up at Jon for permission. "Go ahead. I'll see you later." He gave her a pat on the shoulder and hoped she didn't mind going off to talk to this fellow. He knew she didn't like to socialize but he didn't guess she'd mind to much." They walked away together as their leaders got down to business.
They didn't speak until they reached a small private room where they would be free to talk. Tom turned to Jennifer with a look of utter joy on his face.
"Jen, I can't believe you're actually here! I knew you were with Power's team but I wasn't sure I'd ever get to see you."
He raised a hand to gently stroke her hair, which was uncharacteristically hanging loose around her shoulders. She wasn't sure what to say, where to start.
"Tommy, how did you get here? When did you leave? I've missed you so much. You're the only thing I've ever missed from that place." She took his hand from her hair and held it to her cheek for a moment.
He stared at her, the only friend from his past. Maybe she would have been more than that had their situation been different.
"I left a few months after you did, Jen. I figured if you had the guts then so did I. I tried to look for you but I didn't know where to start."
They went on talking for hours. Jennifer thought she had never spoken so much in her life. She just had so much to tell him and so many questions.
It was getting late and Jon was worried. If she were hurt….he went off in the direction they headed earlier in hopes of finding some sign of her. He only had to search a short while when he heard her voice.
Was it her voice?
It sounded….different. And she was laughing. He walked up to the door that the voices were coming from and gently pushed it open. She was there. He breathed a sigh of relief, not aware he had been holding his breath.
But what was going on?
She was sitting with that man he had met earlier and they were both laughing and talking. Her hand was in his and he was occasionally reaching up with the other to push the hair out of her eyes. She seemed like a different woman. She was radiant. He eyes were bright with joy and she was smiling more than Jon had ever seen her. The two spoke freely. They were apparently reminiscing about the times they spent together in the Dread Youth and discussing what life was like for them now. He watched them for a long while, mesmerized by this young woman who he thought he knew.
Why has she never opened up to me this way?
Thoughts of regret ran through his mind. Maybe he never gave her the opportunity to be free with him. It had simply never occurred to him that her life was more than that of a stoic robotic-like existence. It pained him to think of all he had missed by assuming that. Something else also pained him….what was this feeling? Jealousy? He found himself wishing with all his heart that he was the one sitting with her now, talking about the good times they've shared, holding her hand, stroking her hair…..
Jennifer caught sight of him as he was closing the door to go. "Oh, Captain!" She jumped to her feet startled, feeling as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't.
"I…I'm sorry", Jon stammered, "I was…just..um..worrried. It's late. You've been gone a long time."
Jennifer drew in a breath and looked at the floor, "Oh, I didn't realize…I should be getting back to the ship."
"No, no, don't leave on my account!" Jon insisted, sorry that he had interrupted them.
"No, it really is late. Tommy, I'll see you tomorrow. We'll talk some more."
"Okay, Jen. Good night." He rose from his chair and squeezed her hand in goodbye. "I can't wait to see you again."
"Me too. Goodnight."
She hurried to the door where Jon was awkwardly waiting. "I'm ready, Captain."
"Goodnight Tom," Jon said quickly, "It was nice meeting you." Jennifer looked back at Tommy and they shared a last quiet giggle. Such social niceties was one of their topics of discussion tonight. With that, she slipped out the door and Jon followed.
"Did you have a nice time tonight?" Jon looked at her curiously. Her face was already slipping back into the "serious" Jennifer that he knew so well.
"Yes, it was good to see him again." She replied without meeting his eyes. With that, they walked back towards the jump ship…in silence.
The End