A Day Off

Graduate Interplanetary Mission Primary Yad Retsey walked through the door of his Superior’s office and saluted the Captain cleanly. The sun was throwing its first darts of light through the Captain’s portal view of the assembly field. Yad could see his ship gleaming against the morning sky.

"Yes, Sir, what can I do for you?"

Captain Wor Romot regarded the lanky young corpsman with a pleasant, almost fatherly smile. "Sit down, Yad. I wanted to make sure you’re satisfied with your preparations for launch tomorrow."

A day away! It was going to happen, but he still thrilled with the knowledge that he was finally going to get his jets. He and five others were blowing atmosphere tomorrow on a mission to the seventh planet, Synaria. The gravity storms originating there were growing larger, and he was a part of the team going to investigate. It had been a long and uncertain path, but Yad had finally qualified and been assigned. The kid from backward Brasser.

"And I have a favor to ask you." The Captain’s gray eyes and craggy face was somber.

The corps generally feared Romot’s shifty way of dealing with them. It was rumored that he had a lot of power to influence mission selections. But Yad sensed that he was truly on his side now. "Anything, Sir."

"Yad, I want you to take today off. I know it’s not standard, but your crew is absolutely ready. I’m confident of that." The Captain pursed his lips and seemed to wait for his confirmation. There was a subtle concern in his eyes.

"Absolutely."

"You’ve worked hard. You deserve it."

"Well, it’s not necessary...."

"I’ve cleared it with Command. The General agrees. You and your crew are free to go today. I’ve already notified the otherss. I suggest you get some quality R and R, son." The Captain winked. "It’s a long mission. Just take it easy and keep your com on."

Yad thought briefly about declining. Maybe it was even expected of him. But Romot seemed earnest. "Very well, Sir. When should we report back?"

"O-eight hundred in the ay-em, Son. That’ll give ‘em plenty of time to rig you fellows up."

Yad’s chest swelled. "Thank you. Thank you, Sir!"

"Get out of here, corpsman."

"Sir."

Corpsman Yad Retsey certainly wasn’t expecting that. Maybe things were finally starting to go his way. It was true: he had been working hard, and commendably, during the last busy months of mission training. Maybe his launch tomorrow was the beginning of his life of reward.

Twenty-four hours surprise leave. What to do? Perhaps he should not spend the day with his crewmates. He and Nole, his bossy co-engineer, needed a little cooling down after their brief tussle yesterday over the rations schedule.

Captain Romot had mentioned R & R. He probably meant women. But Yad wasn’t the type that had any luck with short-term approaches. And he would be broke until he returned to his bonus salary. His last girlfriend had left him four months ago when things started getting crazy at the base. The uneasy implications of the gravity storms on Synaria had put all of them on an emergency schedule. She was one of the casualties on the path to tomorrow.

Yad walked quickly to his locker and changed into his civilian garb. His loose grey pullover helped him relax, and he let out a deep breath and stepped outside.