Orbiters

The Bump

…Shout out to Mary Tabor, our fellow Substacker whose novel, Who By Fire, has been issued by the feisty independent publisher Empress Editions, and is available HERE. I like EMPRESS EDITIONS. I’m Empressed. I mean Impressed. Nah, Empressed sounds better…

Regulations were explicit. While on mission, intimate relations are strictly forbidden. No hugging tolerated. No kissing. Even handshakes must be suspended for the time being. Only a salute, and a very brisk one at that, is allowed. Of course, such restrictions only whetted appetites to an almost unbearable edge. One could hardly open a broom closet without some couple tumbling out.

To anyone with eyes, Spaceship One swam with illicit activity. None of this bothered Jennifer Tate. Actually it did. She had never had a boyfriend. Now, with a thousand eyes watching her, with every word and gesture scrutinized, it was unlikely her romantic life would improve. At least until the mission ended, and she returned to the Moon. And who knew when that would happen?

“Did you hear about Lt. Kalikio?” said Amber Stollwell, breathlessly. The petty officer had rushed to the bridge in search of Jennifer. Amber Stollwell was one of those people who cannot keep a secret. Who literally cannot sit in one place for five minutes without blurting it out.

“What about her?” Jennifer put aside some charts.

Amber checked first this way, then that. Satisfied, the dam burst. “She’s got the bump!”

“You don’t say!”

The bump was crew-speak. It meant someone had been especially negligent, and managed to get themselves pregnant. Jennifer’s first reaction was envy, well hidden. Someone had been having plenty of fun. Her second was to see Kalikio immediately. The bump got you sent back to the Moon, and in short order. Kalikio had borrowed Jennifer’s gold Hermes necklace.

Amber leaned close. “Who do you suppose bumped her?” She could barely contain her enthusiasm.

Jennifer certainly didn’t know.

“I’ll bet it was Commander Kern!”

“Mr. Kern?” Jennifer’s voice rose in surprise. “I’m sure it can’t be him.”

“Why not? He’s got the eye. I’ve seen him with Kalikio a lot. And I mean a lot. He made her cry the other day.”

This was likely true. Kern made everyone cry. Or want to. But Kenneth Kern was no lady’s man. He was all about duty, first, second, and last, and those beady black eyes had nothing to do with flirtation. Quite the opposite. He was forever opening doors and jumping into rooms with an “Aha!” or “Gotcha!” Catching someone in flagrante would have delighted him.

“It’s not Mr. Kern,” said Jennifer.

“Well,” Amber enthused. “Then maybe it’s the captain!”

“Petty Officer Stollwell! Why would you think such a thing?”

“Why not? Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

Jennifer admonished her. “Ms. Stowell, Such speculation is unacceptable.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t you think he’s handsome? Why, any woman on this ship would fall on her back with her legs in the air if he so much as winked.”

Jennifer stood. “That is enough! This borders on insubordination. You will not discuss these issues in such a way with me or any crewmember. Do you understand?”

The Second Mate, suddenly alarmed, closed her hands in anxious little fists and pressed her lips tightly together. She looked away. “Yes, Sir. I mean, Ma’am.”

She bolted off the bridge, doubtless for the commissary and a chance to continue broadcasting information. Some people are like that. As it happened, she nearly collided with Captain Rollhagen, who walked in with his typical, brisk assurance. Gasping in apology she rushed away, red-faced. He picked up charts and glanced at the door. “What’s with her?”

“Stollwell? I had to talk to her.” Jennifer duplicated the captain’s efficient manner. “She’s a terrible gossip.”

“Well, here’s some gossip. And it’s not gossip. Lt. Kalikio is headed back to the Moon. She’s pregnant.”

“I see.”

“Her boyfriend is going back, too,” said Rollhagen. “Robin something-or-other. One of the engineering mates.”

“That’s unfortunate,”

“It was Kern who got to the bottom of it. Said the mate was always running into the engine room and locking doors, saying the turbines were overheating. They were overheating, all right.”

Jennifer didn’t know whether to laugh or not. She decided not.

“Do you know something, Ms. Tate? The whole crew knew. And for quite some time.” He looked up from the charts. “It seems you and I are the only ones who miss these things.”

“It seems so.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Oh, no Captain.” She watched him consult the orbometer. Then return to his charts. There was little reason for this activity. The ship’s computers set navigation better than they could. Still, he checked and double-checked. He was never still, leaving nothing to chance. “We can’t be concerning ourselves with gossip,” Tate continued. “We’re much too busy with the ship.”

“I suppose.” The captain had his nose in a chart.

Lt. Tate walked next to him. She began to re-calibrate the orbometer. Unnecessary as this was, it gave her a chance to stay on the bridge. The captain, absorbed in his work, ignored her. Examining charts and using a clipboard, he made frequent entries with a pencil, which he kept behind his ear. She could not love him more.