Voyages of the Solar Wind 1: A Fire in Heaven by Michael Erickston Page B

open fire. Raise shields immediately!"
    "Royal to Solar Wind. Already done, Dex." Rick's voice came back. Yes!
    "Thanks, Rick. If she fires, please don't return fire unless she fires more than three times. Solar Wind, out." I answered, relieved.
    I switched back. "Jen, listen to me. You and I weren't meant to be, ok? As much as I wanted it to work out, we are just too different."
    "You were fucking that alien whore, Dex! The entire fucking time!" She was screeching now. Then her first salvo hit the shields over the hangar, and the entire place shook.
    "Shit, Jen! You're fucking insane!" I shouted back over the com.
    Rilar nudged me out of the way. "Jen, this is Rilar. Dex is telling you the truth. We didn't start our relationship until after your Marine wounded me the other day."
    There was silence from the com. Utter and complete silence. She turned and slipped her arms under mine and up my back as I wrapped mine around her. She laid her head on my shoulder and we just held each other close.
    "Solar Wind, this is CSS Grant. Do you copy?" A new voice said.
    "Dex here. Who's this?" I asked.
    "Ensign Jonas Braedon, sir. Captain Cardwell just took her own life." He said with a choked up tone.
    "How, son? Did you see her do it?" I asked. I had to know.
    "She... She just sat there after First Officer Rilar told her about your relationship. Then without warning, she drew her dagger and sliced her own carotid artery. She bled out in seconds, sir." He lost it as he said that last part. I felt for the kid.
    "Easy, Ensign. Take it easy. Can you get the Grant back to CFC?" I asked.
    "Ye..yes, sir." He said, finally.
    "Good. Son, I need you to turn that warbird around and get out of here before the station opens up on you. There's been enough death today." I said it as evenly as possible, fighting a lump in my own throat.
    "Will do, Captain. CSS Grant, out." He replied, and I could tell he was in tears. The ship pivoted in place and went into slipstream. Rilar and I breathed a joint sigh of relief.
    She held me as I collapsed into my seat. I cried for a woman I'd once loved and called a friend, who had lost her mind over an obsession. An obsession with me. When I'd broken it off with her, I'd done so as gently as possible.
    "Why, sweetheart? Why would she risk her ship, kill her crew, and then kill herself over me? I don't understand!" I was in shock. I was horrified by the thought that I had somehow driven her to it all.
    "Dex, baby. It wasn't your fault. She thought she was in love with you, but she couldn't handle the breakup. I know how she was. Very possessive. Extremely jealous. That isn't real love, honey. She wanted to own you body and soul. She was obsessed from the first moment you gave in to her." Rilar spoke softly, holding me.
    I heard her words finally. I understood. "Ri, you are the only woman I've ever really loved." I realized the truth of it as I said it. Even before we became lovers, I loved her.
    "I know, baby. As long as we've known each other, I knew there was something about you under that dense skull." She said, and I chuckled.
    "Yeah, I'm dense. I know I'm dense. I'm a guy with a severe denseness disorder." I laughed with relief and to let out the rest of my grief.
    We got the call from Jeka after a little while, and she told us we could come up. I said we'd be right there, and I changed into my usual clothes.
    We walked in and sat down, and recounted the events of the morning to her. Jeka shook her head sadly.
    "She was batshit crazy, Dex." She shrugged.
    "Yeah, I know." I replied.
    "I've forwarded your evidence to CFC, and just waiting on a reply. Care to stick around?" She smiled at us.
    "Sure. We got nothing better to do." Rilar said.
    We sat and talked until Jeka's com beeped with the call from CFC. "Administrator Jeka here."
    "This is Admiral Conroy at CFC. The Grant just pulled into dock and Ensign Braedon has reported the circumstances surrounding the attacks on the Solar Wind, Port Royal Station, and the