Read Online Ice and Peace by Clare Dargin - Free Book Online

the doctor was her normal self. She even felt the same. Relieved, she sighed. “That wasn’t so bad.”
    “I hope not,” the woman said amused. “I know most of my patients hate these things so I try to make it as painless as possible.”
    “By the way, what was it you gave me?” She tried to maintain her focus, even though the desire to flee teased her.
    “Just your basic series—flu shots, vitamins, C-2 Space Sickness, vaccine to various foreign viruses we just discovered along with your basic O.S. cryo soup.”
    “Oh no, not again.”
    Caitlin watched as the doctor walked over to the sink and washed her hands. As she observed the doctor, a familiar feeling began to rise in the back of her mind, causing her world to become fuzzy. Anxiety and doubt regarding her purpose in life dissolved, leaving only one purpose. To serve without question.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    “Commander Berger, how go the repairs?” Keegan asked, entering the command deck. He tried to rid his mind of thoughts about his wife.
    Berger checked his watch and then replied, “They are making the last of the system checks, and we’ll be set to go in four hours.”
    “Very well,” Keegan replied, taking a seat in his chair. Feeling some semblance of control returning, he began to relax. “Crew status.”
    “We are topped off and ready to go.”
    “Excellent.”
    Now only if he knew where they were going, everything would be perfect. Once again, Command was being cagey and very silent. In spite of his repeated requests, their only reply was to wait.
    “Are we going to do the standard shakedown?” Berger asked.
    “Looks like we don’t have to. Everything that could have come loose already has.”
    “Yes, sir. Indeed it has.”
    “Cap’n, flash reports coming down from Command,” a Sailor called out behind him.
    “Very well, bring it down,” Keegan replied.
    Flash reports tended to be reserved for initial enemy contact messages or operational combat messages of extreme urgency. Considering they were finally at peace, he wondered what could be the matter. A moment later, the Sailor handed him the scriv.
    Keegan punched his code into the small handheld device and briefly scanned the communique.
    “What is it?” Berger asked
    “We have a request to board.”
    “Who is it?”
    “It doesn’t state.” Keegan sighed, knowing full well what it meant. “But the request comes directly from Command.”
    Berger folded his arms. “Sounds like Halloween came early this year.”
    “Yep, looks that way to me. We got ourselves a spook.”
    The XO chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry about it. After all, what’s one more passenger?”
    Keegan turned to the Sailor and stood. “Send back on general band, request granted. Once he’s on board, have him meet me in the fourth mid-deck meeting room. And alert the security team I need them to do a sweep for bugs. Berger, you have the conn.”
    “Aye sir,” he replied.
    “And get us out of here before someone else asks for a ride.”
    “You got it. And by the way….”
    Keegan paused as he headed for the door.
    “Have fun.”
    He shook his head ruefully. “I know I will.”
    “You heard him, people. Let’s get out of here.” Berger ordered, standing in front of his chair. “Prepare to get underway.”
     
    ***
     
    Hanging around the ship’s briefing room on the fourth mid-deck was not something Keegan was accustomed to doing. But it was better than having an intelligence officer snooping around his personal briefing room. No matter how he tried to shake it, he couldn’t drop the feeling he was being judged. Watched even. Maybe this new person was Command’s way of checking up on him. Either way, he wasn’t eager to meet him.
    He strolled around the room and stopped in front of a logo painted on the wall. The words “Semper Fidelis” was written in large letters. It was the Corps’ motto, and his. Pride filled his heart knowing he was continuing in the tradition of the men and women who