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CAG's Arrival

Posted Sept. 27, 2021, 10:17 p.m. by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commander Air - Space Group) (Jerome Davis)

Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commander Air - Space Group) in CAG’s Arrival

Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) in CAG’s Arrival

Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Commander Air - Space Group) in CAG’s Arrival
Cal and Boomer enjoyed their journey, but were happy to leave the Liner upon arrival at OED’s Spaceport. As he walked through the tube to the Orbital Installation where he had once worked, Cal looked through the windows down to the Dome itself. The Marine chuckled to himself Damn thing looks like Yorktown ran into a planet! and then exited into the terminal. There was the standard crowd to the Transporter pads… but Harris was a traditionalist and preferred taking a shuttle down.

15 minutes later, Cal and Boomer stepped out of the Shuttle and into the late morning air of OED. At well over 50km across at the widest point, the Dome was huge and the sheer tech that went into it always amazed Cal.

That was when he looked across the sea of people and saw the distinctive red ballerina bun of his other half. He looked down for Boomer but the old lab was already on his way. Moments later, the greying yet smiling face of the old lab that had grown so fond of Molly rubbed his head against her hip, his tail happily beating anyone to death that got too close.

Molly had been too absorbed in the contents of a PaDD she had brought with her, to notice the shuttle that had just arrived, and the new influx of new arrivals.

In fact, it was only when Boomer reached her that, startled, Holloway looked up. With a smile, she quickly stowed the PaDD back into her pocket and crouched to pet the old dog.

That meant, if Boomer was there, his owner wouldn’t be far behind.

“Hey Molls…” Harris said as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. “… it’s good to see you again Baby.” With that came the kiss and an even tighter hug. He didn’t give a damn. He’d missed her and he was glad the time had come for them not to have to play they weren’t together in public anymore!

Cal

Standing up from her crouching position, Molly returned the kiss and hugged Cal back tightly. She wasn’t one for emotional displays, but the truth was, with the Captainship gone there was a weight lifted off her shoulders, and Molly had truly missed him.

“Hey Calvin.” She greeted him with a smile and an enamored gaze in her eyes, in the same tone he had uttered her name just moments ago.

“How was the trip?” She finally asked after a moment of silence, as they started walking out towards the busy streets. “I see someone is happy to be back planetside.” Molly motioned for Boomer with her chin as she helped Cal with his luggage.

Molly

Cal laughed as he adjusted the larger of his two duffles, now that Molly had taken the smaller one. “Honestly, the old boy loves being with us but I don’t thing he ever got used to the hum of the Core.” He began, scratching the Lab’s head with one hand as the other naturally enjoined with Molly’s. “Not a ton of personnel make the choice to keep dogs… probably for that reason. He had been with Vicki for over a year and a half when I took him to the Dresden. But the truth is… I think we’re both happy to have solid ground under our feet for a while.” He paused and then looked down at Molly. “The trip was good… Jersey was bitching about having to redo my office all over again but she’s excited to be heading out here. She was still in Tech School when I was CAG here the last time and didn’t get to join me till I was Instructing at the Flight School. I just…” Harris stopped mid-sentence, both speech and stride. Turning to Molly, his eyes were misty as his blue eyes starred down from behind visibly graying eye browns.

“I’m tired Molly…” Harris said softly, his voice cracking softly. “… I… I don’t want to do this anymore.” He closed his eyes and took a slow breath. “If the ACC hadn’t let me follow you here, I would have resigned right then and there. I…” A single tear rolled down his cheek as Boomer nuzzled his leg in obvious concern. “… I think after this tour I’m hanging up my Wings. Fly a desk for a decade or so then call it a career.” The Marine looked away for a moment, thankful no one really walked the way they had left the Arrivals terminal.

He looked back, looking more tired than Molly had really noticed before. “Look… I watched my little girl grow up in pictures. Ali will be 23 her birthday and I…” He scuffed softly. “… I spent two years out of the better part of two decades with her. Sure… Dad’s going to take the Commandant’s post when Maxwell retires… but he’s Old Corps… a dozen Combat Commands under his belt, including three major Commands before he got his second star and 1st Division. But… but he was never in a fighter seat Molly… never a half goddamn second from not coming home to Mom.”

Cal squeezed Molly’s hand. “I don’t wanna be away from you…” He looked away again, now clearly fighting back tears. “… if I stay in the ACC, they will take me away. I wanna build a family with us… even if it’s ever just… us. You deserve better… Ali deserved better… hell, my Mom deserved better! Is… is that OK?” For the first time in a long time, Molly Holloway saw something in Calvin’s eyes that she’d seen only twice before. Calvin Harris was afraid… afraid of what she would say and more importantly… afraid of a lifetime without her.

Cal

BUMPITY


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