Any moment now.
Grimthorn flicked his eyes over to Kinnit. She was fully engrossed in her work. Carefully controlling his features, he reloaded his messages.
A new one popped up. He suppressed a small smile and opened it.
Admiral Stonefist,
Thank you for your attention to the matter of fuel supply disruptions at Fort Zenith. Per your request, I'd be happy to meet with you in my office tomorrow afternoon to discuss ways to correct the distribution of fuel resources.
Regards,
Deputy Commander Connor Kopos, Central Command
Grimthorn nodded to himself in satisfaction. The first part of his plan was in place.
He ran through some more commands on his console, and his satisfaction grew.
Deputy Commander Kopos was famously chatty and hard to escape from. If Grimthorn and Kinnit went to this meeting, nobody would expect them back for hours.
Fortunately, Grimthorn had learned years ago how to escape a meeting with the Deputy Commander, and his office was located on Techterra. Once done with work, they'd be free to roam the city. They'd have plenty of time to have a fancy dinner, take in a play, and maybe do some dancing.
He'd already made reservations at the La Celestion, one of the finest restaurants in Techterra. There was a waitlist, but with a quick message, the famous Admiral Stonefist was moved to the front of the line.
For the play, he bought tickets for "Echoes of Earth," a long-running production that was quickly becoming a cultural touchstone in the Imperium.
For later in the evening, he found an open ballroom dance club. They could resume their dance that had been interrupted aboard the Ophir.
He finished setting up reservations, transportation, and all the particulars.
Ever since he and Kinnit had become an item, he hadn't been able to take her to the kind of lavish outings he wanted to. But now, with the advent of Deputy Commander Kopos' problem, he had an opportunity to bring her out on a proper date.
Admiral Stonefist allowed himself a small, smug smile as he glanced over at Kinnit.
This was going to be a perfect evening.
He steepled his fingers and openly smiled at his Assistant.
"Tell me, Kinnit, how would you feel about joining me for a meeting downplanet on Techterra tomorrow?"
"Yes, sir. Is this about the fuel disruption? I'll get the reports together for that."
"Please do." He cleared his throat. "You make also want to pack your ballgown."
Her eyebrows rose.
"Sir?"
A mischievous smile played on his face as her excitement visibly grew.
"Grimthorn, do you have plans?" she asked, beginning to bounce in her seat.
"I might," he said.
Kinnit squealed lightly and tapped her feet in a quick rhythm on the floor.
"I'll go get everything ready!"
Grimthorn laughed.
"No need to rush. It's not until tomorrow."
He couldn't help chuckling at her evident excitement.
Admiral Stonefist was still feeling a bit smug as they walked into Deputy Commander Kopos' office the following afternoon. The portly and jovial Deputy Commander stood as Grimthorn and Kinnit entered.
"Grimthorn, Grimthorn, good to see you," He shook Grimthorn's hand enthusiastically. "Excellent work on catching out that fiend Denth. I've re-read the report three times already. Glad to have traitors out of the service and in the hands of the authorities. Come, sit."
"Certainly." Grimthorn took a seat. "Though it was more my Assistant's work that led to his capture than anything I did."
"Sure, sure, but who hired the Assistant? No need for false modesty here."
Grimthorn gave him a stiff smile.
"Shall we get down to business?" he said.
Kopos roared with laughter.
"Always so serious, Admiral! Right to business, then, eh? Well, we'll get the needful out of the way, then we can chat."
They discussed the fuel issues at Fort Zenith, and with a few suggestions from Kinnit, they developed a new plan for using a nearby outpost as a transfer point and storage depot for fuel, to prevent the erratic supply from causing shortages.
Deputy Commander Kopos leaned back as they wrapped up their discussion.
"Well, that's a good plan. I see you've still got a sharp eye for talent, Admiral. That's quite an Assistant you've got."
"I know," Admiral Stonefist said with quiet satisfaction.
Kinnit blushed and lowered her head, uncomfortable with the praise.
"Now that that nonsense is out of the way, catch me up, Grimthorn. What's been going on out there? I'm stuck in this office all day. Take me to the stars for a bit."
Grimthorn regaled the Deputy Commander with a few of the tales of combat that the Swordheart had seen recently. Though Grimthorn's tone was dry and factual, Kopos' eyes shined as his imagination gave flesh to the bones of Grimthorn's stories.
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As they trailed off, Deputy Commander Kopos sighed, staring wistfully off into space.
"Worst mistake I ever made," he said, "was letting the Navy stick me behind a desk. Titles aside, I should have fought to stay on board a warship." He sighed again. "I should have fought."
Grimthorn nodded, trying hard to hide his satisfaction. His plan was working perfectly. Deputy Commander Kopos had a bad habit of talking about the good old days when he'd been on board a Navy destroyer. He'd rattle on for hours, and was nearly impossible to escape politely.
Years ago, though, Grimthorn had discovered that the Deputy Commander had a soft spot for stories of adventure and combat, and Kopos had discovered that Grimthorn had a deep store of such stories. After a few stories, rather than prating about the past, Kopos would grow pensive and quiet.
Now, with Kopos' hunger for stories sated, Grimthorn and Kinnit could break away to begin their date. Grimthorn looked at her, and an uncontrollable goofy grin spread across his face.
"I need to head out now," he said, standing.
"Of course, of course. Busy man, protecting the galaxy. It was good to see you again. Good to see you." Kopos cocked his head. "You look awfully happy, Grimthorn. As happy as I've ever seen you. What's got you so perky?"
"Ah? Oh. Oh, I--" Grimthorn stammered, glancing sidewise at Kinnit. He could in no wise let Deputy Commander Kopos know why he was so excited. "I was just... well, I was thinking of trying that restaurant, La Celestion? I've heard good things."
Kopos' face lit up.
"That's perfect! I've been there lots! I'll take you, I know the manager. You'll get the best service while I'm around!"
"Oh, oh, I couldn't possibly impose--"
"I insist! Come, Admiral! Let us away!"
Deputy Commander Kopos marched out the door. Admiral Stonefist reached out, his face filled with anguish. Then he sagged, gave Kinnit an apologetic shrug, and followed the Deputy Commander out the door.
They walked out of the main building. Rain rattled down outside, drumming on the roof and sending sheets of water down the street.
Grimthorn's face fell. He hadn't considered rain. He spent most of his life on board the ISS Swordheart, where the weather was dictated strictly by the thermostat.
Deputy Commander Kopos guffawed.
"That's Techterra! If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes!" He flagged down a passing shuttle and bundled the reluctant Grimthorn and his Assistant into the vehicle.
Grimthorn sat glumly in the back with Kopos. Kinnit sat on the other side of the Deputy Commander. Kopos kept up his high-spirited chatter all the way to the restaurant.
They debarked in front of the Art Nouveau entrance of La Celestion. The smooth lines of the architecture spoke of class and high wealth.
Kopos led them in, full of talk about the good old days. He talked throughout the meal, then leaned back and kept going. Grimthorn surreptitiously checked his watch, trying to find a point in the conversation to politely break away, but Kopos was on a roll, blindly oblivious to Admiral Stonefist's distress.
Grimthorn watched as the time of the play approached, arrived, passed by, and sailed off into the distance while Kopos rolled on.
He did like Deputy Commander Kopos, but right now he just wanted the man to shut up and go away.
At long last, Kopos wrapped up the conversation, graciously paid for their meal, and departed, back to CenCom.
Admiral Stonefist and Kinnit stood outside the restaurant under the awning. The rain had not slackened; if anything it was coming down harder than before. The shuttles had started to thin out, so they had to wait nearly thirty minutes before one would stop for them. Grimthorn's disposition was becoming as stormy as the clouds overhead.
He checked his watch again. The play was already two-thirds over. By the time they got there it would be nearly done.
"I'm sorry, Kinnit," he said. "I'd hoped we could... enjoy a meal together."
She smiled warmly, her sunny disposition undented.
"I did enjoy it, Grimthorn. Even though it wasn't quite what you'd had planned."
He gave her a tired smile. A shuttle finally pulled up and stopped for them.
"There's one more thing I want to try," he said. He gave the driver the address to the ballroom dance club.
It was a longish drive to the other end of town. Grimthorn's heart sank as they pulled up. The lights were dark.
He stepped out into the driving rain, striding to the door in defiance of the elements. A small sign was taped to the inside.
"Closed for the evening, since Marge is sick"
Grimthorn stood in the rain for a long moment, his dress uniform sodden, with his eyes fixed to the handwritten sign that capped the failure of all his plans. He sighed heavily and returned to the shuttle.
He sat, soaking the seat underneath him. Kinnit laid a gentle hand on his arm.
"Let's go home, Grimthorn," she said.
Grimthorn nodded slowly.
"Driver, take us to the CenCom spaceport."
They made the trip back to the ISS Swordheart without further incident.
Grimthorn and Kinnit were in their little nook. Grimthorn was fuming. He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
His perfect evening had ended up being a perfect disaster. They hadn't gotten to do any of the things he'd planned, hadn't been able to enjoy any of the things he'd been so proud of himself for setting up. They'd been rained on and had to listen to Kopos drone on about old Navy stories for hours.
Grimthorn was profoundly disappointed with himself, and he felt terrible that Kinnit hadn't gotten to have any fun.
"I'm sorry, Kinnit," he said at last, his jaw set. "I had a whole evening set up for us. A play, some dancing, the restaurant, just the two of us..."
"It's okay, Grimthorn. I know it's not what you'd planned, but how about for now we just cuddle up and watch a movie on my scanner?"
Reluctantly, and with ill grace, Grimthorn agreed. They snuggled up on the sofa and Kinnit dialed her scanner over to a new comedy.
It was a ridiculous, juvenile buddy movie. Grimthorn hated it. He didn't often watch movies, but when he did, they tended either toward action movies or heavy art pieces with unsubtle social commentary.
Kinnit, on the other hand, cracked up, laughing incessantly at the dumb jokes and pratfalls. She had to pause the movie at one point just to catch her breath.
As the movie rolled on, Grimthorn softened. It never got any less dumb, but the music of Kinnit's laughter warmed his heart. By the time the credits rolled, she was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, and he'd very nearly decided he liked the movie after all.
Lucy was closing the mess hall. She had finished mopping and cleaning up, and had shut down most of the lights. It was late, and she was ready to turn in for the evening.
She was wrapping up in the back when a clatter caught her attention. Her long, spidery legs carried her to the door, where she peeked out into the dining area.
Admiral Stonefist and his Assistant Kinnit had just burst into the dining area, arms around each other, laughing and carrying on. They reeled over to the coffee pot, which only had dregs left. They drew two cups, took down a couple chairs back down off a table, chatting and laughing. The coffee probably tasted like burnt tire rubber, and the chairs were mess chairs, not designed for comfort but to keep people off the floor.
Yet the two of them were cutting up and chattering as though they were sipping champagne in a grand ballroom.
With a knowing smile, Lucy withdrew, leaving through the back to avoid being seen. Before she did, she flipped a switch on the console in the back.
Grimthorn smiled at Kinnit. Her eyes shone in the dim light, and her voice was high as she repeated some of the jokes from the movie in a funny voice. She laughed and leaned on him and slapped his arm.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said sincerely.
"Of course I did. It was hilarious." She leaned more heavily on him. "You didn't hate the movie, did you?"
Grimthorn was caught between honesty and his heart.
"It... was not one I would have picked for myself. But I enjoyed the company very much."
"Oh, you." She playfully punched his arm. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Strains of soft, rhythmic music began to flow through the dining area. Grimthorn's head came up.
"Somebody must have left the sound system on." He listened for a moment, then stood to his feet. He moved a couple tables out of the way, then turned to her, holding out his hand.
"Do you dance, Miss Kinnit?" he said.
A broad smile split her face and she took his hand.
"A little," she said.
They held each other close and danced a slow dance. With a contented sigh, Kinnit laid her head on his chest. They rocked slowly through the dance.
"Thank you for a perfect evening, Grimthorn," she said.
He pulled her close, drawing in her clean scent and holding her tightly.
What could he say? He had to agree.
March 1st.