*Backstory* Flight from Titan: Part 2

When: 2103
The communications console pinged, and Sandra answered it. “Alexandra
Middleton speaking… oh.” She looked up at Birdie, and stood away from the
console. “It’s for you.” The other girl took her place. “Jessica Carter
here…”We regret to inform you that Ryan Carter is missing in action,
presumed dead. As his sole surviving relative…Her world began to fall apart, and tears fell silently, pooling
unnoticed on the floor. Oh, father, father. It couldn’t be true.
It couldn’t. I have nobody left, nobody… He said he’d come back…
You promised me when you left that you wouldn’t let those pirates get
you… He always kept his word… now I’m all alone… No. As
long as she had Nick, she would not be alone.Oh, father…The admiral ran his pen down the page, ticking
boxes as he went. It was only a formality, a ceremony even. All of this
was done by the computer now, but this was traditional. He came to the
last box, paused a moment, and – with a rare smile at the nervous cadet
standing in front him – signed it. He pulled open a drawer, and took
something out of it, then stood up and walked around to the cadet. And he
pinned, to her collar, the coveted badge of a fully qualified pilot, as
she stood proudly to attention. This is for you, father…“Sandra!” Jessica ran down the corridor, appearing, breathless and
excited, at the door of their room. “Where’s Nick? Oh!” she exclaimed,
for the person she found there was not who she’d been expecting. “Right
here,” he replied. “Nick! How did you know?” Nick smiled affectionately
at her. “Know what, my darling Birdie?” “Oh, don’t be ridiculous!” She
sat down, and patted the bunk for Nick to join her. “I passed! I’m a
pilot now!” He hauled Jessie to her feet and whirled her around the room
joyfully. “Why do you think I’m here?” he asked her. She caught her
breath. “You mean… you passed too?” “With flying colours! And I kept
myself in one piece – just for you.”
<Part 3 - coming soon...>