"David, it really wasn't about beating you. I wish this hadn't had to happen. I'm glad the espionage has been stopped, but I wish Pullman had never started doing it."
His brother nodded. "Yeah. Ugly stuff. Cases like this don't generate a lot of happily-ever-after endings. I wanted to tell you something, though. I've got to admit, from what I've seen up here, you've really got your stuff together. Very impressive, little bro."
Paul considered his brother, then nodded. "Thanks."
"I can't imagine driving that ship of yours around. You really do that?"
"Yeah, I really do that. Did that, rather. I detach the day after tomorrow and I won't be driving any ships again for a while."
"Oh, yeah. You'll have to tell me what Mars is like. As for Alex Carr, try to keep her up here, okay? I don't need challengers like that practicing law in my city."
"I don't think I'll have much control over that. When are you going back?"
"Two days. I couldn't book a seat on an earlier shuttle because of uncertainty about the end of the trial. Why?"
Paul hesitated. Get over it. "You know Jen and I had to move up the wedding on very short notice. It's tomorrow. Most of the guests and members of the wedding couldn't make it."
"Yeah. Raw deal. I'll be there, though."
"I know. The point is… I'm looking for a best man."
David frowned. "Are you asking me?"
"Yeah, I'm asking you."
"Well, damn it all." David made a fist and punched the nearest wall. "I was thinking it was past time we stopped acting like kids with grudges and was planning on making the first move. You beat me again."
"I'll try not to make a habit of it."
"What, you think you have to go easy on me?"
"No."
"Good." David smiled broadly. "To properly answer the question put to me, I'll be proud to be your best man. I understand this Jen of yours makes even an Alex Carr pale by comparison."
"Now that you mention it, she does."
Jen had, to Paul's surprise, chosen to wear a white wedding dress instead of a dress uniform. She looked like a dream come true, he thought, as she came down the short aisle of the Interdenominational Religious Worship Facility on the arm of Captain Kay Shen, and never mind that the phrase was a cliche because that was how he thought she looked. Captain Shen was staring straight ahead as he walked. Jen had discussed not inviting her father to the wedding, but Paul had talked her into it, insisting she'd regret it for the rest of her life otherwise. In the end, the argument that cinched it was that watching his daughter marry Paul would be a worse ordeal for Captain Shen than missing the wedding.
But Captain Shen managed to refrain from yelling out objections and the ceremony went off without a hitch.
There wasn't room for a sword arch outside the chapel, which was just as well considering that officers didn't carry their ceremonial swords along into space, and considering that Jen had threatened to murder anyone who carried out the traditional slap on the butt of the bride with the flat of one of the swords. Everyone held up small party favors which broadcast holographic images of butterflies flitting around the couple. Paul flinched as he discovered that the realistic images of insects had a tendency to appear to fly straight at his face, which was particularly disconcerting after spending three years in pretty much insect-free environments. Jen rolled her eyes at the butterfly display but laughed and chatted with friends who crowded around them.
"Paul! Congratulations!" Pam Connally was there, hugging him again. Paul stared at her, then at Jen.
Jen smiled back. "I just had to invite an 'old friend' of yours to the wedding, Paul."
"How did you-?"
"I knew where she worked." Jen and Pam exchanged high-fives.
Paul grinned, watching the two women talk. How do you like that? It looks like Jen and Pam Connally are going to be friends. Maybe having a cop for a friend will help keep Jen out of trouble while I'm gone.
Paul's mother stepped close, eyeing him suspiciously. "What's going on?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are you and David getting along? What are you two up to?"
"Oh, that. We just wanted to see if we could freak you out."
"You're succeeding." His mother sighed. "I've hardly seen you for three years and now you'll be gone for another four."
"You've got a new daughter-in-law who'll be a bit closer."
"That's true. What a woman you chose!"
"She reminded me of you."
His mother laughed. "That's a compliment even if you didn't intend it that way! Be careful and try to stay out of trouble."
Paul smiled reassuringly. "I have no intention of getting into any kind of trouble on Mars, mom."
"Sure you don't. Jen, did you hear that?" Jen stepped closer and nodded. "Do you believe it?"
"That Paul will stay out of trouble? No. Not a word."
"Good," Paul's mother replied. "I'm glad you're not entering into this marriage with any illusions. As for you, Paul, remember that Mars is full of two kinds of people; idealists who want nothing more than to conquer a new world for the rest of humanity, and malcontents who want nothing more than to get away from the rest of humanity. Try not to get caught in the middle."
"I promise."
The next day, Paul stood on the dock, gazing at the quarterdeck of the USS Michaelson. He'd stood in much the same place three years ago when he'd first laid eyes on the ship.
"What're you thinking?" Jen asked.
"That I had no idea what was waiting for me on that ship when I crossed that quarterdeck for the first time. If I'd known everything that was going to happen I would've run screaming in the other direction."
Jen gave him a sharp look. " I was one of the things waiting for you on that ship, Mister Sinclair."
"I remember. You scared the hell out of me."
"I did not."
"Everything scared the hell out of me." He smiled despite the sometimes painful memories. "I guess I learned a few things."
"You done good, Paul. Now, stop thinking about the past." Jen waved Paul onward. "Go ahead."
He gazed back at her. "You don't want to come aboard? Are you sure?"
"Yeah. You don't need me tagging along while you do your final check-out, and I figure you've got the right to make any farewells alone. Besides, there's nobody left on the Merry Mike that I know anymore. I'll catch you back at our quarters."
Paul smiled at the thought of "our quarters." That was official now, though they'd be shoehorned together into Jen's single person compartment. "I be back as soon as I can."
"Damn straight. We've only got forty-eight hours for a honeymoon and I intend making the most of every minute. I'm trusting you not to get involved in any trouble for the short period of time before you get back to me. Can I count on that?"
"Me? Get involved in trouble?"
"Yeah, you." She leveled an index finger at him, then smiled back. "I love you, Lieutenant."
"And I love you, Lieutenant."
She laughed and headed away as Paul turned to board the Michaelson.
He raced through the few remaining items on his check-off list. When he got to the item requiring him to see his department head, Paul used a trick Ensign Taylor had taught him to make the block turn green even though he hadn't actually seen Commander Moraine. He wasn't in the mood to deal with her this morning.
Commander Kwan, busy with something else, barely looked at Paul as he tapped Paul's data pad and sent him on his way. No love lost there.
Last but certainly not least, Captain Agee greeted Paul with a smile, then explained that since he'd only been aboard a short time, far too short a time to independently evaluate Paul, he was giving him a less than ninety days fitness report, thereby extending the marks on the fitness report Captains Hayes had given Paul to cover the rest of his time on the ship. Barely suppressing an urge to dance with joy over avoiding a fitness report with marks set by Kwan and Moraine, Paul shook Agee's hand as he wished Paul the best.