Author's note:  Please feel free to post this story to any free site, as long as the following conditions are met. It shall not be posted to any site charging a fee for reading it, either direct or indirect (avs), the story remains fully intact, and the original author shall be credited in entirety.
This story contains harsh language and scenes of a frank sexual nature and is not suitable for younger readers. Also if you are offended by Transgendered, Gay, and Lesbian themes, please be gone...this is not the story for you (unless your morbid curiosity gets the better of you (*grin*), but consider yourself warned).

This story is dedicated to my beloved friend and soul mate who passed away in November of 2002. Dana, I will always miss you terribly.
I would like to thank those that helped me with the proofing and structure of the story.
I would love to hear any and all constructive feedback. Please feel free to post or Email me with your comments.

--Lisa Grey Lcaitlingrey@aol.com

 

The Serendipity of Freedom

by Lisa Grey

 

Part 1: The Naval Academy

Prologue

 

It was the twilight of humankind's solitary existence in the galaxy. Scientists had broken the Faster-Than-Light (FTL) riddle and engineers had built starships with this technology. Humans began to spread from their ancestral star system like a virus. In the hundred years since the first FTL-capable ship was built humans had explored and colonized thousands of star systems.

As exploration and colonization progressed, facilitated by FTL travel and new worlds full of resources, the numbers of people didn't keep pace with expansion. So the realm of humans became over extended and the glut of wealth that developed from this too rapid expansion destabilized the economy. Inflation rocketed out of control and the Terran credit, the standard form of currency, became nearly worthless. The whole scene brought to mind the post WWI picture of the child with the heaping wagonload of German marks going to the baker to buy a single loaf of bread. As the economy further destabilized, so to did society.

100 years after the development of FLT travel, midst the clamor for government action to shore up the failing economy and put down the civil unrest, a new party came to power. Playing on the fear of the people, they swiftly overhauled the ineffective democratic government into a committee-controlled totalitarian regime. This party brought about many changes, restoring order by sharply limiting expansion and taking control of all the resources. Government forces dealt with civil disturbances swiftly and harshly.

In addition to all this, this new party saw non-breeders, such as Gays Lesbians and Transgenders to be useless burdens on society and a historically non-conforming class of people threat to the harmony of Human space or at least their control there of.

Initially a huge and terribly effective propaganda machine began to "educate" the people on this evil in their midst. At first it was very low key. The statements issued contained just enough truth in them to make them appear on the surface to be reasonable. They played on people's natural preservation of the species instincts, and as more and more people began to buy in, the statements became stronger and harsher.

Over a period of years, public sentiment turned against the GLBT community. It was made a crime to be homosexual or transgendered, and those known to be such were swiftly and quietly rounded up everywhere.

The Terran Government had planned for this and had secretly designated an area on the edge of human explored space as a form of penal zone. During the years that the propaganda machine had be turning the public against the "non-breeding" community, the Terran Government had been using it's huge labor force to build a sensor net that enclosed what to someone living before FTL travel would have seemed an impossibly large area of space, containing thirty to forty star systems.

After the initial internment of "non-breeders", they were gathered together in hundreds of the largest and oldest FTL freighters available and sent across the sensor net under the guns of a fleet of naval dreadnaughts. The destruction of one "non-breeder" ship when it broke formation was enough to convince the others that compliance was the best course of action.

It was here when the cabal's formidable planning and organization broke down inexplicably. For some unknown reason, when cordoning off this region of space, they failed to do an in-depth survey of the planetary systems it contained. They knew next to nothing about what the internee's would find once they got in. However, they did give the "non-breeders" a chance for survival. In addition to the billions of outcasts, the freighters contained a limited amount of supplies and advanced terraforming technologies.

This was largely a propaganda measure to ease the public conscience by saying look, we didn't send them to their deaths. The Terran Government , however, gravely underestimated the spirit of these people and dismissed their chances of more than a couple of generations at the most before they dwindled out. It was expected that harsh living conditions and the fight for survival without any outside assistance would take it's toll, and because these people were non-breeders, the death rate would most certainly out pace any sort of birth rate.

Now 350 years after the development of FTL travel, The Terran Government 's efforts were bearing fruit. The economy stabilized, as did society. The Terran government held complete control of all shipping lanes and boasted a huge naval force that maintained this control. Though not terribly harsh for a totalitarian regime, people were beginning to speak of a return to a democratic form of government. Things were better now. The population was up and people were confident now and they were beginning to want a voice. The people weren't angry yet but the stage was set...

 

Chapter 1

 

Space. Space is an awfully cold and lonely place to be drifting around in. I looked around me at the 40 faces that were the tattered remnants of the more than 2000 officers and crew aboard the ship, my ship, the Serendipity. We were adrift, dead in space, trapped in the three decks, Fire Control, Navigation, and Tactical, which had comprised the operational center and bridge of the ship. As I looked at the fearful visages around me, waiting for me to give an order, some order that would save our lives, I thought back to what had brought us to this moment...

-=^=-

I stepped off the shuttle into the cool sterile air of the Terran Space Academy. I was a fresh-faced 15 years old and had just enlisted in the Terran Space Navy as an Officer Candidate. I was the grandson of an admiral. My grandfather had been very persistent through out the standard 4 years it had taken me to earn my Masters degree in Physics and Engineering with minors in Sociology and Psychology.

I loved my grandfather, but he never missed a chance to pressure me about joining the navy. It was always assumed that I would follow in his footsteps. My grandfather felt I had the makings to continue the family naval traditions as a career officer. My father had chosen a different life after a single hitch. He had decided to settle down and have a family and he didn't want to leave his children and wife for long stretches that would be required by naval life. My brothers and sister, though each as intelligent and potentially successful as I was, lacked the combination of intelligence, charisma, and tactical genius that I had and it was clear early on that they were mediocre naval material, so my grandfather had hung his hopes on my small shoulders. He had begun grooming me quite early for life as a career officer of flag rank. Taking me on long cruises on his yacht, he taught me to be a pilot and taught me the strengths and weaknesses of many naval vessels.

Consequently, I loved space. It represented freedom to me and its call was like a siren song. Personally, I didn't think I would flourish in such a structured environment as the military. I knew this would crush my grandfather so I kept these thoughts to myself. Yet as my graduation from college grew near and more and more opportunities in the private sector presented themselves, I became increasingly troubled. My grandfather sensed my growing reluctance and he knew of the fantastic opportunities I had outside of the military. He decided to hedge his bets, to solidify my resolve to follow in his footsteps. He had intended to retire as soon as I entered officer candidate school and he offered me his Yacht as a reward when I became a naval officer, as long as I signed on for a ten-year tour. That's what made me do it. That and a feeling of something missing in my life I couldn't quite define. I hoped the adventures I would have in the TSN would satisfy whatever this need was.

As I lined up with the other Officer Candidates on the line indicated, my mind returned to the present. The other recruits were all eyeing each other appraisingly and I was no different. To my right was a huge slab of hard muscle. Though he was only about 5'11, such was his bulk that I could practically feel the deck plates under foot straining to hold him up. He had close-cropped blonde hair and a cold intelligence lurking behind his ice blue eyes. I immediately didn't like him but I was wise enough to know that this was someone to watch out for. To my left was...well, she was a goddess was all I could think. She towered above my 5'6 at about 6'2 and her body was perfectly and athletically proportioned to that height. Her unruly ash blonde hair fell to just above her shoulders in an attractive way that proclaimed her a free sprit. For all her obvious physical prowess, what struck me most about her was the gentle compassion I saw in her emerald green eyes when they met my own steel gray. When she smiled and nodded to me I think my heart skipped a beat.

Our evaluations were interrupted by a booming military voice shouting, "Attention on deck!" A tall man with white hair, dressed in an ornate uniform, strode into the room as we all tried to assume some form of attention, most failing miserably. The man paused dramatically as he surveyed us before walking down the line scrutinizing each individual. Some Candidates he nodded and smiled at, others seemed beneath his notice. The Neanderthal to my right got a smile before the man came to me. I got a scowl, but that's not all.

"So you're the Callaway brat," he said with obvious distaste. His eyes traveled up and down my body before meeting mine squarely. "You don't look like much," he said dismissively. "Make no mistake, Mr. Callaway, I intend to make you prove your worth. Your name means nothing here. Your scrawny ass will earn the right to be in my Navy." With that he turned and moved on, smiling at the Amazon to my left. It seemed he was impressed by physical stature. After he reached the end of the line, he stepped to the front of the room.

"I am Commodore Turpitz, the commander of this training facility," the white-haired man proclaimed. "You are all here because you are the best and the brightest your generation has to offer. Your talents and abilities are, the Navy has deemed, adequate to train you for the honor of being an officer of a Terran Naval warship. It's my job to either mold you into competent officers, or send you back to mommy and daddy to find a new career." Turpitz was looking right at me when he said that last part. It gave me a warm fuzzy feeling to know the Academy Commander had it so in for me...not. "Now, when you hear your name called, approach the table and get your packet. It contains your quarters' assignment and your training schedule. You will report immediately to your quarters where you will be given 2 hours to settle in, get cleaned up and into your new uniforms, already located in your quarters, before reporting to Orientation. Some of you will not enjoy your time here, some of you will not graduate, but those that do will have the honor of being officers in the TSN, the most powerful Navy in colonized space. Good luck to you all. That is all." With that Turpitz turned on his heel and stalked out.

"Andrews, Brian Waylan!" the officer seated behind a stack of envelopes called. A tall red-blonde young man broke ranks and approached the officer, who handed him an envelope and called the next name. And so it proceeded until he got to me.

"Callaway, Brock Lee!" There was a general chuckle up and down the line at this. I steeled myself, and ducking my head, I broke ranks. I got my envelope and left the room, but as I went through the hatch, I heard someone call, "See ya later, Broccoli." That warm fuzzy feeling was back. Yeah I was really going to enjoy myself here. Just had to keep thinking of that yacht at the end of it.

Once out in the hallway, I looked at the directions to my new quarters, printed on the envelope. They seemed simple enough, so I set off. I entered another hallway and discovered to my pleasure that one wall was nearly all window from floor to ceiling. I was immediately transfixed by the beautiful vista before me; the window provided a view of space. As I watched, ships moved through it on various business. Never had I felt the siren's call so acutely, and I knew I was meant for space.

I don't know how long I stood there mesmerized by the spectacle, but someone yelling, "Hey Brock!" from right next to me startled me out of my reverie. I looked to the side and saw the lovely Amazon that stood beside me earlier.

After seeing that she had my attention, she said, "I said, it's beautiful isn't it?"

"Yeah," I agreed, ever the adroit conversationalist.

"Brock Lee," she said, with a small grin of amusement. I nodded ducking my head again, waiting for the standard jokes that generally occurred anytime someone heard my full name. "Hey, no, I didn't mean to make fun of you. It's just, I have never met anyone would could understand what that's like."

"Huh?" I said, cleverly.

At this point, the large guy that had stood on the other side of me passed us. "Hey, it's Broccoli and Cauliflower, the class vegetables," the brute scoffed as he went by. The Amazon girl stiffened and seemed about to cause the swine some serious damage, until I placed my hand on her arm. The look in her flashing emerald eyes softened as they met mine.

"So now you know," she said with a tight grin. "My name is Miriam Kali Flowers, Miri to my friends. Are you my friend, Brock?"

"Yeah, sure," I agreed.

"Well, don't sound so enthused about it," she said, pouting. Again I stood there stupidly, berating myself for offending this girl, that is until I saw her eyes dart over to see what effect she was having, then my brain kicked in, and I got a clue.

"Lady Miri," I began, formally, "I would be honored beyond all comprehension for you to consider me your friend. Surely, were it not so, the sun would fail to rise, and the heavens would open up deluging me for the rest of my days."

Her eyes grew wide and she laughed a hearty musical laugh. "You dolt," she said as we resumed moving toward the living quarters, "there is no sunrise or rain in space."

Our quarters turned out to be directly across the hall from each other, so we parted ways when we reached them. "See ya at orientation, Brock," she called over her shoulder as she entered her domicile.

"Later, Miri," I called to her back as I entered my own quarters.

 

Chapter 2

 

"Dude! You don't waste any time makin' inroads with the babes do you?" commented one Brian Andrews, my newly discovered roomie.

"It's not like that," I said blushing. "Hi, I'm Brock Callaway."

'Damn, he's friggin tall,' I thought as he took my proffered hand. 'Is everyone here going to be like a head taller than me?'

"Hi, I'm..." he began.

"Brian Waylan Andrews," I supplied smoothly.

"Brian to my friends," he said without batting an eye, and then grinned an infectious grin that had me returning it. I liked him immediately.

"So you're the infamous Brock Callaway," Brian said looking at me appraisingly. "Some how I expected you to be more...er...imposing. In any event, I guess I should feel honored to be rooming with the guy expected to be the star of our class, and destined for Admiralty."

"Oh please," I said, snorting, "I am not 'all that', and I certainly won't be the star of the class if Commodore Turpitz has anything to say about it. He doesn't seem to like me very much."

"Yeah, well, I hear Turpitz is one of those dyed in the wool military types that thinks it's everyone's duty and honor to serve in the TSN. I hear Admiral Callaway promised you your own private ship to get you in. Turpitz is just pissed because you didn't fall all over yourself to sign up to be an officer in his glorious Navy."

"Well, I had more attractive prospects in the civilian world," I explained. "They just had to make the Navy seem more convincingly attractive. Besides, I'm not sure I'm suited to the military way of life. Too oppressive."

"I know what you mean," Brian said. "But some of us really are honored to be here. Some of us have worked our whole lives to get here and they will resent you because to them you had to be bribed to be a part of something they see as a privilege. Personally, I just see the Navy as a stepping stone to get into what I really want, command of a cruise ship, where the real credits are."

"I see," I said. "I am kinda getting the impression that this isn't going to be a pleasant experience for me."

"Don't sweat it too much," He advised. "I can tell you're not the type to be all superior and in their faces about things, so I expect most will come around after they get to know you."

Brian and I continued to make small talk as we got settled in and dressed out in our new uniforms. These consisted of trousers and a tunic-like shirt that zipped up the front. They were made from an elastic azure blue material and were very form fitting for two reasons. One was so that if the artificial gravity failed they wouldn't drift about and get in the way and the other was to facilitate emergency donning of a pressure suit in the event of pressure loss. Still, though they fit very snuggly they didn't restrict movement at all.

I was making the finishing touches on my uniform in the mirror when I noticed Brian staring at me. I turned and asked him why, but he just looked embarrassed and mumbled something about me having the look of command or something. I was prevented from pressing the issue by a tone sounding followed by a command to report to the assembly area.

As I exited the room, Miri was coming out of hers, we both froze when we caught sight of each other. At least I did until Brian ran in to me, shoving me stumbling out into the hallway, not having expected my sudden stop.

"You like?" she asked, twirling around in front of me.

"Oh yeah," I breathed, my mouth suddenly very dry. She was gorgeous; a knock out really, the way the uniform hugged her curves while displaying her hard muscled form.

"You're looking awfully cute yourself," she said, smiling, then snapped her fingers in front of my face to bring me back to reality. "So are you going to introduce me to your new friend?"

"What? Oh. Yeah," I said intelligently. "Brian, this is Miri Flowers. Miri, meet my roommate, Brian Andrews."

"Pleasure to meet you, Brian," Miri said, smiling.

"The pleasure is all mine to be sure," Brian said smoothly, also smiling.

"Well, lets get going, we don't want to be the last ones out there," Miri said before shoving me in the direction of the assembly area and then following.

We entered the assembly area to see most of the candidates already there, milling about in groups, getting to know each other. As the last of the stragglers trickled in, a tone sounded from one end of the open room. Two men and a woman stood there, dressed in dark gray uniforms similar to our own. When they had our attention, the man in the middle began speaking.

"Listen up, people," he said. "When you hear your name and number proceed to the corresponding number you see on the deck." The woman began reading names and numbers from a list. I turned out to be eight, so I went and stood on the eight I found on the floor. It was behind the number one, which Brian was standing on. Miri was fifteen and was standing behind me, followed by another girl who was standing on the number 22. There were 28 of us in all making four rows of seven.

"This is how you are to line up each time we have an assembly. Remember your number. I will be your chief instructor," the first man announced. "You will address me as Instructor Kazanski. The gentleman to my right is Instructor Marshal and the Lady to my left is Instructor Hewitt."

"Your training here will be heavily team oriented. You may have noticed that you are standing in a line with three other people. These will be your teammates. You will have to watch out for them and be responsible for them. If one of them is doing poorly it will impact your team score, which will impact your personal score, so it's in your best interest to help your teammates out how ever you can."

"The first thing we will do today is take you all on a tour of the base to familiarize you with the various places you will need to know. I will take teams A, B, and C. Instructor Marshal will take teams D, and E. Instructor Hewitt will take teams F and G. You will now have about fifteen minutes to get to know your teammates before we start the tour."

Strangely, and I am not sure how this worked out, I already knew two of my teammates. Our forth was a short oriental woman. I turned to her and put out my hand.

"Hi, I'm Brock Callaway," I said. "This giant here is my roomie, Brian Andrews."

The dark haired woman took my hand and said, "Pleased to meet you, Brock. Your reputation precedes you. I'm Kim Li and I am Miri's roommate. It's an honor to be on your team. I know we shall finish well."

"Oh, please," I said, just a bit embarrassed. "I am not better than anyone else and if OUR team does finish well, it will be a team effort."

"Ooo, and he's modest as well as cute. You forgot to mention that when you were telling me of him, Miri," the woman smiled. I looked sharply at Miri who glared at Kim while trying unsuccessfully to suppress a blush. Kim just laughed a light musical laugh. Brian was looking back and forth between Miri and me, with a thoughtful expression in his face.

The tour of the station was awesome. Especially the simulators, they were totally immersive, a mixture of a moveable room and holographic technology. The real thing would be routine after the simulators. Other sites of interest were the recreation deck, the docking bays, and the Observation dome, a huge transparent dome under which were lounge type seats that one could sit in and relax while looking out into space. At the end of the tour we were given our computer logins and our instruction began; we were taught how to stand correctly, at attention, at ease, etc. Then they released us for the evening, with a reminder to check the schedule for our next class.

As soon as we said good evening to the girls and the door was shut, Brian said, "Damn, you poor sod."

"Huh," I said, ever with the quick wit.

"You're a marked man you know. Really, you don't have a prayer," Brian continued cryptically.

"What the hell are you talking about," I demanded in exasperation.

"Miri, you dope," Brian explained. "She is way into you. Have you noticed how she's always walking behind you? She has her eyes glued to your butt. Oh, I'm sure you could try to fight it, but she is bigger than you, and I'm not sure why you'd want to anyway. She is hot, after all. For supposedly having this high powered intellect, you sure are thick."

"Whatever, dude," I dismissed. "I'm sure you're wrong. Anyway, I'm probably too short for her. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. It's been a long day."

 

Chapter 3

 

The next day I awoke to the sound of the TSN anthem being played over the station PA system. It was far too early for me. I groggily dragged myself out of bed and into what the Navy personnel referred to as the "head".

After I had showered and cleaned my teeth I was feeling much more alert as I reentered the main room, towel wrapped around my middle. I kicked Brian's bed on the way by and told him the shower was free. He mumbled some unkind remarks but got up and moved off to the head. As I dressed I looked over my schedule once again. I had class this morning, presumably with the rest of my team. The subject was "general information". Sounded thrilling.

"I'm headed to the cafeteria," I announced to Brian as he reentered the room.

"Great, I'll be along directly," he said as I left the room.

I sat down in the cafeteria with my breakfast and began going over the material we would cover in class today. A few minutes later I felt a hand slap me roughly on the back, almost causing me to choke on the bite of food I had in my mouth.

"Well, well, if it isn't the star of the class, Mr. Broccoli," the huge blonde cretin said as he sat down next to me. I had found out yesterday his name was Olaf Johansen, and he was on team E.

"My name is Brock, Olaf," I told him levelly.

"Whatever you say, Broccoli," he said. "See, here's the thing. I don't like you. I think you're a snotty little queer with delusions of self-importance. Imagine, giving you your own personal yacht for the privilege of being here. My mind boggles at that. To me you are a waste of space who is only here because of your grandpappy, the Admiral and I plan to make sure you don't become an officer. You don't deserve it." He grabbed the prized real bacon off my tray and ate it, saying something about, "not deserving this either", as he chewed.

"So where is Miz Cauliflower and the rest of Team Vegetable," the bully asked after he swallowed my bacon.

About that time, a hand appeared around his throat and pulled him off his seat backwards, dumping him on the floor.

"I'm right here," Miri said from above him. She was practically vibrating with rage. "I believe you were in my seat," she said tightly. "If I ever hear those comments from you again, YOU will be the vegetable. If you don't think I am man enough to do it, try me, you pathetic worm."

Miri stared him down coldly as he got up. "We'll continue this some other time when your girl friend here is not around to protect you," he said looking at me. Miri took a step towards him and he turned quickly and walked away fast, trying unsuccessfully not to look like he was fleeing.

"Well, now that was interesting," Brian said from behind me, where I didn't realize he and Kim where standing.

"Are you okay, Brock?" Kim asked.

"I'm fine," I said before slamming my fist down on the table. "Dammit, I knew this was a mistake," I said, on the verge of tears.

"Hey," Miri said, putting her hands on my shoulders, massaging my neck, "Don't let one asshole get you down, Brock. We can handle him. If he bothers you again, I'll rip his nuts out and keep them in a jar as a souvenir."

I began laughing at the imagery her statement had evoked. "There, that's better," Miri said leaning down and hugging me, her head next to mine.

"You two, get a room would ya?" Brian grinned.

My time at the academy was pretty much routine. Olaf pretty much left us alone after that, but there was one incident about three quarters of the way through during combat training where unfortunately he and I squared off against one another with pugel sticks. This was the moment he had been waiting for; to show what a weakling I was...

His eyes almost glowed in anticipation as we squared off. He was lightening quick as his first thrust knocked me on my butt before I could even react. I knew I was way over matched and I was about to be pummeled viciously. He evidently wanted to punish me cause he backed off and let me regain my feet. I landed the next blow on his shoulder, which he shrugged off, taunting me.

"You hit like a little girl, Broccoli," he jeered. "Is that what you are, one of those sissy Faggots?"

The gathered spectators gasped and then fell silent because those were very serious charges. Accusing someone of being a homosexual was tantamount to accusing some one of being a communist during the McCarthy era in the 20th century United States. For the last 150 years the Terran Galactic government HAD made it a law that it was a crime to be homosexual or transgendered. Such folks, once discovered, were invariable sent to a sort of penal colony far outside the mainstream and there blockaded. With such charges being made, I had to respond.

"No, I'm not a 'sissy faggot', O-laughable," I jeered back. "Why do you ask? Looking for a date?"

The spectators began to laugh as Olaf's little ploy had backfired on him. Olaf began to glare at the laughing people around him and I saw my chance. With a vicious upward blow, I nailed him in the crotch with all my strength. Miri swore his feet came off the ground. Even with the protective equipment on that blow hurt him. As he doubled over, dropping his weapon and clutching himself, I brought my stick up again in another brutal upward blow, this time catching him squarely in his face, mashing his nose and actually flipping him over onto his butt.

He lay on his side in fetal position, blood trickling from his nose and clutching his crotch; it was obvious the fight was over. I squatted down beside him.

"Never take your eyes off your enemy, Oh-laughable," I advised him, twisting the knife in the wound. "Never underestimate your enemy. And finally, MY...NAME...IS...BROCK." I stood and stalked out of the combat area to the cheers of the other trainees.

This incident was not without it's repercussions. Some were good. Olaf got reprimanded for unofficer-like behavior. This cost him and his team their second place position, bumping them back to fifth. Turpitz finally got off my case and even began to respect me for being cold and ruthless in dealing with my enemies – for being willing to fight dirty if that's what it took. Some were bad. I got officially reprimanded for hitting Olaf in the off-limits crotch area despite the unofficial pats on the back I got from the instructors and Turpitz. This cost me and our team our first place slot, bumping us back to third place.

"Guys, I am really sorry," I said for the fifteenth time as we sat at the table in the cafeteria.

"For what?" Brian asked.

"For knocking us out of first after all the hard work we've done to get there," I said.

"Brock, would you just stop it," Miri said, exasperated. "We have all agreed it was worth it to see you take that prick out." "My god," she addressed the others, "did you see the look on his face when Brock connected with his family jewels? I thought his balls had gone all the way up and were forcing his eyes out of their sockets."

We all laughed and I felt somewhat better.

"Remind me never to piss you off," Kim added, setting off another round of laughter after some sober agreements.

 

Chapter 4

 

By graduation, a little over a year from that first day on the docking bay, our team had regained second place and I had worked back up to third over all. Miri finished fifth and Brian and Kim had both finished in the top ten. Olaf's team finished dead last in the class due to infighting, while Olaf himself faired better, finishing in the upper half of the class.

Each of us got to choose our first ship assignments based on the place we finished in the class. Miri and I both chose dreadnaughts, while Brian chose a heavy cruiser. Kim strangely chose a light cruiser, which had less prestige than the larger vessels. I discovered later that her choice allowed her to attain a command of her own much more quickly.

As we concluded the graduation ceremony and we were sworn in as officers of the TSN, I was told to report to Commodore Turpitz office. Wondering why, and perhaps a little worried that I was in for another reprimand, I entered the Commodore's reception area with trepidation. Soon I stood at attention before Turpitz. He let me stand there for some time before he finally looked up and grinned at me.

"Well, Callaway, I must admit, I was wrong about you. You have the makings of a fine officer and with some seasoning, you will be a fine ship's Captain. But I didn't call you here for that, and I bet you are curious as to why you are here." I nodded. "Please look into the retinal scanned on my desk and place your thumb on the DNA tester." I did as asked, a bit baffled as to what was going on. When the equipment was done, I resumed my attention stance as Turpitz did a few things on his terminal.

"Come with me," Turpitz commanded as he rose and headed out the door. Now I was really perplexed, but as we approached the docking bay I was starting to get a clue. We entered the docking bay and there before me was the most beautiful ship I had ever seen. Her hull was a deep midnight blue and her nose was long and sleek even as her bulk hinted at a spacious interior. My grandfather's Yacht.

"She's all yours, Callaway," Turpitz grinned. "I expect you to make yourself worth this ship, but I can see now that you won't have a problem with that. Congratulations. The entry codes have been keyed to your DNA and Retina prints. I will leave you two to get acquainted, but don't take too long, I believe you have a party to get to."

"Thank you very much, Commodore Turpitz," I said. "Don't worry, Sir, I will do my level best to be worthy of her." I saluted the Commodore who smiled and returned the salute, before patting me on the shoulder on his way out.

Later, after I had examined my yacht from stem to stern, I left to attend the party. It was in full swing when I arrived. Brian saw me come in and walked over to me.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"Oh, nowhere special," I said off handedly. "Just taking possession of one Admiral's yacht." Then I grinned a huge grin.

"Awesome!" Brian said with a big smile.

"Cool," Miri said enthusiastically, as she joined us.

"So what's she like?" Brian asked.

"She is showing her age. Her systems are outdated and she is going to need a tune up," I said solemnly, then grinned a huge grin, "But other than that, she is everything I dreamed of. I think I am going to take her out for the week of liberty we have coming before reporting to our assignments."

"Sounds like fun. Too bad I have plans, or I would go with you, but I want to see her," Brian said, then added when I looked as if I was ready to take him right then, "After the party, dork." I nodded and grinned sheepishly.

I basically mingled with our classmates for most of the night when Miri didn't have me out dancing and eventually the party was winding down. Brian came up and asked if I was ready to show him the ship. I told him I was.

"Give me a half an hour, then meet me at the docking bay, okay?" he said.

"A half hour, gotcha," I nodded.

I went around and said my goodnights to everyone, but I couldn't find Miri. I finally gave up and went over to say good night to Kim. She said she hadn't seen Miri in a while either, but she would pass on the goodnight for me if she did.

"Have a pleasant time," she told me with a strange knowing smile.

I headed down to the docking bay. When I arrived, Brian was nowhere to be seen. I called out, "Brian?" That's when I saw her. She moved sensuously out from behind the landing strut of my ship. What she was wearing was definitely NOT TSN issue.

"Guess again, sailor," Miri purred, moving closer until she was right in front of me resting her arms on my shoulders with her hands clasped behind my head.

"Miri? Where's Brian," I asked, a little confused and a lot frightened.

"Do you really care?" She asked then planted, I was sure, the most brain-scrambling kiss in the history of mankind, on my lips.

"Who's Brian?" I asked.

"So, sailor, are you going to show me your big sexy ship?"

"I, uh, sure, I can give you the grand tour," I said.

"Great," she said giving me a mischievous grin. "I am dying to see the Captain's stateroom. Let's start there."

The tour started with said stateroom and ended there too. Actually it never left there cause Miri proceeded to turn my world upside down and inside out, taking me to heights of passion and pleasure that defied description by my inexperience. The best part though, was afterward, when we fell asleep in each other's arms, snuggled closely. I remember thinking as I drifted off to sleep that her musky post lovemaking scent was delicious.

When I awoke that next morning, I was alone in the bed and I thought I had dreamt the whole thing. I showered and put my new midnight blue uniform on before heading out to examine more of the ship. I wanted to come up with a list of things to do to her first. When I opened the door I smelled food. I followed my nose to the galley where I saw Miri sitting at a table set for two with breakfast. As I entered, she got up and glided over to me, enfolding me in a warm embrace.

"Morning, lover," she smiled. "I thought you would never get up. I was afraid I had damaged you."

"If that was damaging me, then please, utterly destroy me," I laughed.

"Careful what you wish for, sir," Miri grinned. "You know, I have wanted to do that from the first day we talked in the hallway."

"I had no idea," I said.

"No kidding. For being so damn smart, you were utterly clueless at times," she laughed.

"You know, Brian said the same thing the first day," I commented. "He said you would have me, whether I liked it or not. I enjoyed you having me immensely I might add. He said it was just a question of when you would mount your assault. I think it surprised him that you waited this long. I told him he was being ridiculous. A woman like you couldn't possibly be interested in someone like me."

"Now what kind of crap is that, Callaway?" Miri demanded. "Why couldn't I be interested in you?"

"Well, look at me, Miri," I explained, "I am short, not fat, but not athletic either. I am not exactly the pinnacle of the masculine form, while you...you are beautiful. You are tall, extremely athletic, way stronger than I am. You are intelligent as well as physically beautiful. I just thought you would go for someone built like Olaf, less the cruelty that pervades his attitude."

"Oh please," Miri snorted in disgust, "I do not find men like Olaf attractive, cruel or not. That type of overly male character does nothing for me. I prefer gentle caring guys with good heads on their shoulders, not big muscles in their shirts. Yeah, you're maybe small, but you are not defenseless. Look at what you did to that brute Olaf. The prick is terrified of you now, all because you are smarter than he is and he now knows you are not afraid be very ruthless when you have to be.

"Would it surprise you to know that most men don't find me particularly attractive? It's true. They are intimidated by my strength. Sure, they all say I am attractive and how they want me, but when it comes right down to it they run away as fast as they can. Frankly, I am surprised that you haven't yet."

"Miri," I said seriously, "You have always had my heart for a smile. Ever since that day we stood lined up in the shuttle bay, I knew you were someone I could love. I just never expected that you could actually find me attractive. Trust me, I will never run from you."

"Well good, now that we have that settled, breakfast is getting cold," Miri smiled.

As we ate we chatted a bit more about what we had planned for our liberty. Of course the subject came around to my plan to take the ship out for a shake down voyage.

"So what are you going to call her?" Miri asked.

"Duality," I said, then explained at Miri's expectant look. "Duality, because I'm a free sprit at heart. To cruise around space following my heart while answering to no one; that's what I desire. It's very much at odds with the Naval life I've chosen for myself. Thus...Duality."

"I see," Miri said. "You know, I didn't have any plans for my liberty." She had a mischievous glint in her eye.

 

-=^=-

Hi folks, This will be a very long story (I have been working on it since last December), however, I have divided it into smaller parts, in deference to the readers, since I realize that most readers don't want to sit down and read a novel length story in one sitting. I hope you enjoy my first venture into the realm of Sci-Fi =) --LCG

  

  

  

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