"King of Wishful Thinking" by Karen
 

         Commander Goddard slid out from underneath the scanner console too quick and
       groaned in pain as his head made contact with the metal shelf that extended from it.
        He inched all the way out then set aside the magnetic wrench he had used to tweak
        the image resolution interface.   He stood up and absently brushed dust off his uniform.
        After that, he combed his fingers through his sandy, crew cut hair.
        You'd think I was getting ready for an inspection by a superior officer;
        not running general belated maintenance checks on the ship" he absently thought.

         "Thelma," he called, no longer jumping when the ship-board android puttered
        up out of nowhere when she was summoned.

     "Yes, Commander," Thelma replied, standing at stiffly erect attention.

     "Run a diagnostic on these systems and check the phase variance," he paused to
        check the notations on his Compupad, "by 111.87 millimetres."

     "Acknowledged," Thelma responded and bent over the scanner console, her eyes
      rolling back until the whites showed.  Her interface with the Christa's computer systems
     allowing her to filter the information required in a matter of minutes and process the
     results.

        "What does that work out to?"
    While I appreciate not having to repeat instructions to Thelma several times over.
    Was it worth it?  I wonder if that Ahmed character was scamming us," Goddard reflected.

    With the repair to her logic crystal by Ahmed on Barril  IV; the download took only about
    30 seconds.  Having completed the scan, Thelma straightened up, her pale blue irises
    shimmered with a new alert spark in them,  "Thelma, are you all right?"

         " I am fine, Commander.   And the to answer your first question,
          in the order it was received, the phase variance has been modified to fit within
        established parameters," Thelma replied.

        "I guess that does it for now," Goddard replied, smiling inwardly at Thelma's rare
        attempt at making a joke.  Whatever Ahmed had done to improve her logical crystal.,
        now that it was whole,  apparently hadn't done anything to increase her
        understanding of either humor or sarcasm.
        However,  he determined to worry about it later.
 
 

     Goddard absently noted that the smudge made a wonderful contrast to her red hair, that
        haloed her face, hiding her blue eyes. Those eyes were probably her best feature..
    Good thing I'm not one of her students.  No wonder Bova squirms every time he gets
    pinned with  TJ's disapproving teacher, icy blue gaze,"  Goddard inwardly smiled
    to himself,  at the image and mentally rehearsed the short  speech he had
    composed on the way to the Team Room.

         "Miss Davenport," Goddard began, trying not to laugh when he noticed that she had
    a smear of blue paint  on her chin.   He crossed the room and tried to unobtrusively peer
    over her shoulder to get a glimpse of the picture that was taking form on the canvas.
 

    She glided to one side,  then struck a meditative pose, one finger on her chin,  getting
        a different perspective .

    "Hmm, perhaps I should have used acrylics  instead of oils.  What do you think?"

            He came around  and looked at her work,  apparently she  had been trying to recreate
            the lake they had found on the planet  they had jokingly referred to as the 'pinball';
            mentally laughing at themselves for taking Harlan's description for the official
            ship's logs,:

            And that was only after the Laume had agreed to restore the Christa back to its
            original form after giving it a humanoid avian form.

          Aside from that,  she had been working on a landscape of the lake where they'd had
            enjoyed a rare of moment of rest and relaxation, and shared a picnic together.

        The lake was enclosed by a shallow valley, done in a soft beige, lined by a ring of trees.

        The sandy beach that encircled the lake was a sparkling white that she had used
           a gypsum paste to recreate with lifelike detail.  In the foreground was two people
            on a red and white chequered blanket.  Their faces were turned away from the viewer.

       She had painted the water a navy blue, but apparently wasn't quite satisfied
       with how it had turned out;  if the evidence on her smock and on the smudge
       on her left cheek was any indication.

        "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like, and just as a rule of thumb;
        go with what works," Goddard grinned, indicating the painting, "and that works."

    "Commander," she replied, "I have given  your suggestion, that the crew take advantage
    of our down time.  Now that I think about it, makes sense given that we will aboard this ship
     for a long time. After talking to Rose,  I have discovered painting is a very soothing
    form of relaxation," she remarked.

        "That isn't what I wanted to talk about, but it does lead into it.  Why don't we sit down, "
            Goddard invited, seating himself on the circular couch.  She placed the paintbrush
             on the bottom tray of the easel, then sat down across from him.

            "Yes, Commander," she replied.

            "T.J, this is strictly off the record, and the kids are all busy elsewhere.
            You can call me Seth."

              "Very well, Seth," she smiled, then blushed.

              "You see,  I've been thinking,....don't laugh," he said mock severely when
            he saw her blue eyes crinkle up around the edges,  "I do that occasionally..."

        "Oh,  and here  I thought it was 'make it up as I go along," she said.

            "Like I was saying, and well,  it's like this, "he paused a moment and fished
        around in the numerous pockets of his uniform, looking for something.

        "Hang on, it's here somewhere," ignoring the puzzled look on her face.

        When he finally locked onto the small box he had bought on Baril IV.
        He looked up at her again.  It was a small glass box which fit snugly
        into his palm.  He handed it to her, hoping that his nervous feelings
        did not reflect on his face with some foolish grin.

        She undid the ribbon that he'd tied around the glass box and watched with
        his heart beating double time as she lifted the lid, and removed the ring from its
        velvet resting spot.

        She nearly dropped the box when she saw the ring. Then glanced up at him,
        her surprised first blush eventually giving way to a smile.
 

        Okay, here goes,"  Goddard stood up from the couch, and sank down on
        one knee. "Theresa James Davenport.... will you marry me?"

            "Seth," she whispered, placing the ring on her finger, "I, never, I mean, of course..."
            she trailed off.

            "I take that's a yes?" he replied.

            "Oh, get up. Of course that's a 'yes,'" Davenport laughed, and extended a hand to
            help him to his feet."  Funny isn't it? It's usually you who are keeping me from fainting."

             "Well, I guess it works both ways," he replied. He nodded, then looked her in the
            eyes, seeing an answering gleam in them he landed a kiss on her lips, as light as
            a butterfly, which she returned.
 
 

            Unnoticed by either of them, was a figure standing at the door to the Team Room,
            Bova had impatiently waited for them to finish whatever they had been discussing,
            but from what he had overheard, it sounded dull, and therefore sleep inducing.
            So, he had dozed off.

            However, when heard that last exchange he jerked upright, and whirled around
            to tell the rest of the crew. Whatever it was that he had to come to ask Miss Davenport
            about their last pop quiz had been completely lost.   Stunned and just about bursting
            to tell someone, anyone, Bova whirled around to find his friends.

         "You'll never guess what happened!" Bova gasped, as he burst into the girl's
            bunk room.  Despite himself, he was enjoying a rare moment of happiness;
            a change from his usual pessimistic outlook.

        I wouldn't even have known what this emotion felt like if it hadn't been for
        Rosie. If  anyone would understand it would be her.

        "Bova," Rosie cried, alarmed, and jumped out of bed. She rushed over him.
        She brought an arm up and placed it on Bova's forehead, worried that
        her pessimistic friend was flushed and running a fever.

       "You're not warm, so I guess you're okay," Rosie muttered, then yawned.
        She checked the the readout on her chronometer on her wrist.
        She looked up at him,  a puzzled frown forming around her mouth.
        She was about to ask what he was doing up so early, when Bova started in
        on his explanation.

        "No, no, nothing like that," Bova waved a hand in the air in Rosie's general vicinity,
        then paused a few minutes to regain his breath, having winded himself running from the
        Team Room. He narrowly missed colliding with Harlan and Radu, who were on their
        way to take watch in the Command Post.

          "What's going on?" she added, stuffing her gloved hands into the pockets of her
            grey jump-suit. She glanced over at the other bunk where
            Suzee was still sound asleep.

        "Do you think we should wake her up, she just came in from an all night session
        with a really stubborn fuselage in engineering."

        "Are you kidding? This can't wait? Bova said, marching over to Suzee's bunk and
        yanked the sheets out from underneath her. Rosie failed to stifle a giggle as she
        watched Suzee roll off the bunk and onto the floor.  Her rainbow streaked hair fell
        over her face in tangled snarls.

            Always wanted to try that with a tablecloth, I guess sheets will work just as well.
           and grinned inwardly, the Great Bovalini, that's me

        "Grrr. "Suzee said, waking up. "Whoever did that will,,,," she muttered to herself.

        "Suzee, wake up," Bova urged.

        "Why?" Suzee growled.

        "Get dressed, I want to tell everyone at the same time," Bova replied.

        "We'll wait for you outside," Rosie added.

            "Okay, okay, This had  better be good," Suzee muttered and began
            gathering up her things.

        *******
        Later

        "Hey, guys, how's it going?" Suzee remarked, emerging from the jump tubes
        onto the bridge.

        "Glad you asked, a whole lotta of nothing and more nada on top of that," Harlan yawned,
        wondering if someone had used one of his classic practical jokes and glued his
        palms to the helm.

    They probably did too. Usually I'd be mad, but it's the only thing holding me up
        right now.  Why does Goddard  have to assign us watch so early?

        "HI," Radu replied, taking his eyes of the navigation console to wave to the
        newcomers, not even bothered by Harlan's sour comments, having had to endure
        them for the last three hours.

            "Well, Mr. Sourpuss, this ought cheer you up, "Suzee grinned.

            "I found out, so I get to tell everyone," Bova added.

            "You'd better let him tell, Suzee, Bova has a very low threshold of happiness,
            and if he doesn't let it off soon, he'd probably burst."
            Rosie giggled and ignored Bova's scowl.

        "Well,..this is gonna blow your mind," Bova began..

        "Let'em have it, Bova.  They're in no danger of having their minds
        spontaneously combust," Suzee teased..

        "Oh, you," Rosie blushed.

            "I was just kidding," Suzee blushed, dropping her gaze to the floor.

           "Well, as I was saying, before I was interrupted, is that," Bova sucked in lungful of air,
            is,  Commander Goddard proposed to Miss Davenport today!"  Bova rattled
           off all in one breath.

            "He did what?" Harlan gasped, and tore his hands  away from the helm,
            which caused the ship to swerve abruptly to the left.
            It sent everyone, except Radu, caroming around the bridge.

            "Harlan!"

            "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Geez, lighten up," Harlan griped.

            "You mean,  Miss D, she's going to be, Mrs. Goddard," Rosie gasped
             after the shock wore off.

            "Yup," Bova said and leaned up against his station, and crossed his arms
            over his chest, with the knowledge that his news had been delivered.
            Now he could relax.

            "Okay, here's what we do," Harlan remarked, rubbing his hands together.

            "This had better not be one of your schemes," Suzee said, glaring at Harlan.

        "Look who woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Bova complained.

            "Come on.  Cut me some slack here," Harlan griped.  "This calls for a celebration,
            and I'm talking the works.  A full blown surprise party!  With cake and decorations
            and tinsel, and presents, " he cocked his head to one side as if thinking
            something through,
 
            Then he  glanced at everyone,"  Okay maybe not presents, since we don't have
          any money and it's not  like we can just  go somewhere and find some.
          Anyway, If we start right away, we can have everything done by 1600 hours!"

            "That's a great idea!'"  Rosie exclaimed, "And instead of buying presents, we could,
            make some handmade cards or something, I  think silver and white with maybe the
       Star Academy symbol would be the perfect color scheme.   I mean, we could all
        pitch in, and assign each person one area to cover for the party!"

            "You'll use any excuse to have a party," Bova yawned.

             "That makes sense,"  Radu said, leaving his station,  adding "I was referring to
              Rosie's suggestion that we all take one area to cover," when he saw Harlan open
              his mouth ready with a half formed protest.

             "In that case, I'll be in charge of catering, stuff like food, drinks, and the cake,"
                Suzee remarked

            "I'll help Suzee with the catering," Radu said, "for set up and supply stuff.".

            "You can't bake,  Suzee."  Rosie giggled, winking at Bova, "Remember that time we
            made a cake for Miss Davenport, and you drank all the vanilla extract.  And we used
            glue by accident as a substitute?"  Bova winced, recalling the instant, and not fondly.

            "It's not engineering, it's just following a recipe.
            How tough can it be?" Suzee shrugged.

            "I'll handle the decorations, and Bova can help me," Rosie said, she nudged
            him with her elbow as Bova rolled his eyes and yawned.

            "Since it was my idea, I'll be in charge of supervising," Harlan announced.

            "Yeah, right," Suzee complained.

            "Well, we can't stand around here arguing about it, "Radu said.

            "Radu's right, I can't wait to get started on the decorations and the invitations!" Rosie
            exclaimed, dragging a reluctant, tired Bova by an elbow and she half
            tugged him through the juimptubes.

            "I think we should profit by example," Suzee laughed, "Come on, Radu," as they left
            the Command Post also.

            "Hey,! Guys!  Wait up! You can't just leave me here, I'll need Thelma to cover helm..
            and...." Harlan muttered as he found himself addressing the metal wall of the bridge.
            "How am I supposed to be in charge of supervising, huh?"

       Meanwhile,

     "How long have we been at this?" Reaver complained, breaking the silence on the
     bridge where he had been inspecting a recent shipment they'd 'acquired' on trading
    planet that had proved easier to get into then get off it.

    As a result, Reaver had been forced to do a complete retrofit of the ship's systems.

 "You could lend a hand,"  Reaver grunted, adjusting a manifold on conduit
    that linked up the bridge with the exhaust manifolds in the engine room.

     Ubi didn't comment, since the feline like metamorph and partner, was busy
     doing handstands on the armrest of the captain's chair.

     "Long enough," a woman's voice interrupted.  She swivelled around in the navigator's
       chair, her long legs crossed.  She'd been observing the moving star field outside the
        ship's view screen.

        She wore her black hair in a simple braid held up with silver stays, and a
        close fitting lavishly embroidered jacket.

        "You should have thought of that before we went in for the gel packs," she commented,
            lunging forward in the chair and snatching Ubi's tail where it dangled within reach.
           The rings on her hand glinted in the dim interior lighting, the hoops in her ears jangled.
           She kept one hand on Ubi's tail, with the other she reached for one of the bone
        handled knifes she kept in her boots.

     Ubi screeched in feline indignation and promptly telemorphed back to his quarters.

     "Would it help if I got out and pushed?" she coyly asked, arching one
    golden brown eyebrow..

 "Antonia," Reaver warned. "Put that away," he gestured towards the knife.

    "Save your energy. Once the ship's repaired we can both have our revenge."

    Reaver got up off the floor where he'd been consulting the owner's manual for the
    Barillean ion glides they'd recently 'acquired' and added to his pirate ship.

    When I'm through with you, Goddard, you won't even know what hit you. he grinned,
     baring his broken, but still gleaming white teeth. Chase me halfway across the Galaxy.
    Almost start a war;  and all your superiors did was slap your wrist, make you promise to
    be a good boy from now on.  Then they demote, you; and saddle you  with teaching
    a bunch of Star academy reject kids.   Well, the worst is yet to come!

 "Very well," Antonia replied, and shrugged. "I'll go check the engine room,
    signal me via the intercom when you've finished running the diagnostics."

    Reaver, you think I'm helping you get revenge on Seth, just because I like you and
    your devil-may-care ways, which I do, but this is personal and if you  think you
     can cut me out of the deal, you're wrong, dead wrong

     "I trust you have other methods of making a point without resorting to sharp objects,"
     Reaver half joked half warned her, as he watched her retreating figure pass
    through the mechanical door that slid apart to permit her exit, and then
    closed with a soft whoosh.

 gate crashers

         Goddard and Davenport entered the Team Room, nearly tripping over the silver
        streamers that Rosie and Suzee had strung up over the entryway.  Harlan and Bova
        stood behind a table loaded with a punch bowl and  about ten platters of
        a variety of food and drink; although Bova was hovering over the cucumber
        sandwiches and Harlan was trying to hold him back.

        Radu and Suzee stood in front of the computer screen in the wall trying to
        coax piped in music from the ship's computer and arguing in low voices over the
        merit of Earther songs that were appropriate for the 'occasion.

        "Maybe it would be better if we asked  Harlan since he's from Earth".
        "Anybody have any idea what Miss D likes in instrumental music?" Radu added.
 

        "Maybe we could have the computer list some titles we could use instead," Rosie said.

       "Oh NO!"  Suzee cried, "Not the recordings of Rosie's zither practices!"

        Rosie looked up from the table where they had finished laying out the presents, and
        involuntarily bristled when she heard the comment on her brief venture into music.
        However,  her sunny Mercurian nature shrugged it off.  She went back to
        straightening the tablecloths she had draped over the tables and chairs
        Radu and Harlan had arranged.

        "Seth, would you look at this place? Are you sure we're in the right place?
        The note did say 1600 hours?" Davenport laughed.

        "The Christa isn't that big a ship, how do these rumors spread," he sighed, and
        mock glared at the crew, who kept  remarkably straight faces, as if they had been
        caught breaking the rules. A  few seconds of standing at attention and saluting
        broke down when, as one  they shouted, "Surprise!"

           "The kids went to  a lot of trouble to put this together, T.J, I guess the only thing to do
            is humor them and enjoy the party," Goddard grinned. "It's not like I was going to give
            them grief for A, knowing that I proposed, or B, for throwing a surprise party for us."

            "Agreed," Davenport nodded as they both walked around and thanked the
            kids for the party.

            Rosie came over and led them to a table and seated them, then brought over a plate
            that she had prepared with the finger cucumber sandwiches, and cold meats and
            cheeses.  Ater that she went to the punch bowl and brought them two drinks.

            When it subsided,  the last person in the quadrant whom Goddard wanted to be
            reacquainted with strutted through the door's remainders.

            "Reaver," Goddard growled under his breath, glancing towards the entrance.

           "Well, well, if it isn't Reaver the space Pirate, school dropout, and world class
            thief and cheat," Davenport mocked.

       "I still owe you for this, " Reaver said by way of greeting, ignoring her. He stroked
     jagged scar that marked one side of his face; it gave him a perpetual scowl,
     unless that was  his regular expression.

        Behind him was a woman dressed in a what Suzee would call a major
           'fashion alert,'.

          "Antonia," Goddard gasped, nearly choking on his water, causing it to
        splatter on his uniform. When he got his breath back, he began chewing his lip,
        "This, I do not need,,,,
        Wonder where Reaver dug her up.  Probably some penal colony,,,

         "Who is she?" Davenport demanded, indicating the woman. She was cut off
        as Reaver roughly grabbed and tied her to her chair. "No fair, intervening,"
        he mocked her.

       "Someone I never expected to see again.  Someone that  I'd written off as dead."

        "Ah, Man," Harlan griped, "Who knew the Commander was holding back on some
        juicy titbits from his past.  Hey, at least he had good taste," Harlan remarked inspecting
        the woman who accompanied the space pirate and the telemorph, Ubi.

        His remark earned  him a icy glare from Miss Davenport and pinning glare from
        Goddard.

        Harlan cringed and dropped his gaze to the floor, his dusky skin turning a shade
        pale at his occasional ill timed outbursts.
         Harlan nearly choked on his punch, and stumbled forward, causing the liquid to
        splatter onto his jump-suit. He quickly recovered his balance
            Man, since when did Reaver start looking like a parrot, and who's that with him>
            "And today started out a such a 'nice' day," Rosie sighed.

            Bova glanced at the door and noted with interest the the ship's repair systems
            were already at work to repair the damage.

        Suzee brushed a stray lock of hair away, and made eye contact with the space pirate,
        as her own began glowing purple, then tried to sift through the layers of his mind,
        telepathically probing for the reason of his return 'visit.  Her concentration broke when
        the woman shoved past Reaver and glared sidelong at her.

        Reaver swung a back handed blow and knocked Suzee several feet away,
        where she landed in a heap on the floor.

        Rosie immediately rushed over and placed a hand on her throat, checking for the pulse,
        it was faint but steady,  Bova crouched behind the punch bowl, wondering if he
        should get involved, and whether a electric shock was called for. Taking into
        account that 'discretion was the better part of valour,' he decided to adopt a
        'wait and see' strategy.

         Radu  made a grab for Reaver's  out flung arm, but just when his fingers were just
        about to close on Reaver, he felt someone grab him from behind.

        He struggled against the grip, but  he couldn't break free.
        Whoever it was, turned him around so that they faced
        each other, and he found himself staring into the topaz slitted eyes of
        Reaver's companion,  the telemorph, Ubi.

        "Don't bother getting involved, Andromedan.
         This is personal matter of honor," Ubi purred.

        "What does someone like Reaver know about honor?" Radu demanded.

        "Honor among thieves," Ubi purred in reply.

        Goddard took a three sixty inspection of his crew, it only took a matter of few
        seconds to determine that they were reasonably intact.  He felt torn between
        his oath as a Stardog, when he overheard  the exchange between Radu and Ubi.

           Hang honor, Reaver never did know the meaning of the word.
        He badly wanted to sock Reaver right in the mouth, just to see the look
         on his face.  The last time they 'met'  Reaver had  captured the crew and was going
        to hijack the Christa, then sell them to the Spung.  He'd gotten the better of Reaver then,
        but in the back of his mind, he knew Reaver wouldn't let bygones be bygones.

        Goddard figured Reaver was playing a game of one-upmanship; game or not,
        he couldn't afford to lose.  As for Antonia, Damn inconvenient when one's old
        flame shows up at the exact time you propose to another woman.  How did they
        find out? And what's more is some cosmic entity playing some kind of practical
        joke on me? Or is this just more bad luck situation in a long string of bad luck
        situations?

               "I see you've still got those" Goddard commented, " pointing at the daggers,"

            "I don't suppose you recall the moment we got them,: those were the highlights
            of our time together, Seth. It's such a pity that I now have to use them against you."

            "I really didn't think I'd ever see  you again, Antonia.  And if it makes you
             feel any better, I really did search for you after we were separated at
            Palladium ..
 
            I gave up the search after the reports from the war came back that listed you as
            dead," Goddard tried reasoning with her, one hand inching for the dagger that she
           had lowered, and was thoughtfully  tapping against it one leg.

            "Lovely, are we go to wallow in nostalgia, Antonia, or are we here for revenge",
            Reaver interrupted.       I

        "It really is a shame that I'm going  to kill you, Seth. It could've been magic,"  Antonia
        calmly remarked, as the knife leapt from her fingers and hurtled in his direction,
       the blade grazed his shoulder and clattered to the floor.  In a  back corner of his mind,
      he could her Reaver's applause and caustic remarks, as he  kept the rest of the crew
      from intervening. I should've thought of selling tickets. There's nothing quite like an
       estranged lovers' spat.

        "Not today, you aren't," Goddard replied, launching himself, the need to finally have
        closure in their relationship released like a coiled spring.  He barrelled into her and
        both were knocked to the floor.

        "Seth, the years have been good to you.  You have that salt and pepper thing going
        for you,   so distinguished. Such a change from when were an 'item,"  Antonia
        remarked, ignoring Reaver's instructions.. She strode forward with the grace
        of stalking panther, one of her bone handled daggers in hand.
 

        She twisted like a cat, and broke away from his grip.  She stood up and swung
        at him with an upper cut right hook that connected with his cheek.  On the follow
        through  Too bad.  Reaver got to her. She would've made at least captain rank in
        the Stardogs by now.  Note to self, from now on, never underestimate your opponent.
        he thought trying to  use his heavier frame to hold her.
 

        A few moments later, he found himself holding a handful of her hair,
        as she tore away from him and through the door.
 
          Goddard heaved a sigh, and chased her into the corridor, where he cut her off
        around the corner leading the to the jumptubes, where she was pounding on
        the console that wouldn't respond to the corridinates she had been inputting.
    
        He grabbed her around the shoulders and pinned her to the wall.
        "It's over," there's nowhere left to run, and even if there
        were, we'd find you,"  he whispered.

        "What are you going to do? Turn us over to authorities? In case you haven't noticed
           you're only Stardog in the sector," Antonia replied.

        "We're not in 'friendly' space, and I don't acknowledge the Spung as the 'local'
        authorities," Goddard said, as he cocked his head to one side as if thinking
        something through.  "However, if you call this off, I may just be persuaded to
      'look the other way,".  It's not like we cart a few wanted felons around on the
        Christa until we get back to the Star Academy."

        "Ah, Seth, you always could talk your way out of any situation, failing that,
        you could pull a miracle out of your hat at the eleventh hour. All right, you win.
        It IS Over.  Happy now?"  Antonia answered.

        "Good. I'm glad we understand one another," Goddard replied.
 
 
        "Oh, so you're just going to dump us off somewhere, in the meantime we'll be
        cooling our heels in your brig? I don't think so,  " she smiled, as Ubi appeared
        and insinuated his arm between the two of them,
        Reaver was all but treading on his heels, as  three were telemorphed back to  their
        ship a few seconds later.   And here I thought we would actually have some down
        time for a change," Goddard wearily thought, rubbing a hand through his hair,
        live has  a way of throwing you a curve ball.  I'm just glad that's over.  I better go
        check on the crew.  Make sure they're all right.
 
                  

         Conclusion
 

        "T.J, I don't want you to think that because Antonia showed up,  that it in any
        way changes the way I feel about you.  That was a very long time ago, and that
        part of my past is exactly that, the past," Goddard explained.

        "Chasing Reaver and almost starting  a war, wasn't that the 'incident' that caused
        you to be  demoted and reassigned as a teacher in the Star Academy?
        When we get home,  you face what? A  court- martial, disgrace?" Davenport whispered,
        half wishing in the back of her mind that her proper upbringing would allow her
        to shout at him.

        She didn't know who she was angrier at; him for not telling her about his past;
        Antonia for being his 'old flame', spoiling her happiness, or herself.
 

        "You let me worry about that," Goddard replied. "Besides," he shrugged, "Maybe
        when do return to the Star Academy, the brass will have forgotten all about that
        incident."

        "Reaver apparently haven't conveniently forgotten about it," Davenport muttered.
        "Who know you were such a ladies' man," she laughed, breaking the tense silence
        that had grown up between them.

        "Who knows, some woman like a man in uniform," Goddard laughed.

        " I know you don't want to talk about that asp aspect of your life, especially not
        in front of the kids, but..." she trailed off.

        "It's bad for morale," Goddard tried,

        ""Be serious, Seth," Davenport said.

        "I know,  I know.  It's just like that old saying; those who don't learn from mistakes
            in the past are doomed to repeat them;, as applicable as that saying is, I admit
            I've made my share of mistakes. And Antonia, well, let's just say that it felt right
            at the time, but sometimes we do the wrong things for the right reasons."

            "Are you still carrying a torch for her?" Davenport demanded.
            "You could have told me before the fact, you know?"

            "Don't tell me you're jealous of Antonia?"

            "No, not jealous, just angry she tried to ruin things for us," Davenport replied,
            tugging at the ring band on her finger.
 

           "Not really,:" Goddard shrugged, "Actually, I never expected to see her again.
            Besides there's no point in going backwards. Look it at this way, T.J, I proposed
           to you, I offered you my ring, and at this point, that's all that matters.  If you still
            want to,  no pressure,mind you.  I want you to go forward, and if that's with me,
          then all we have to do is make a promise to each other."

            She leaned forward and placed her hand over his, "To be honest with each other,
            and go face the future together, I promise,  Seth," she whispered, and then
            kissed him which he returned, after making the same promise to her in return.
           

 Lyrics, circa 1992 "King of Wishful Thinking by GO WEST

 I don't need to fall at your feet
 Just cause you cut me to the bone.
 And I won't miss the way that you kiss me
 We were never carved in stone.
 If I don't listen to the talk of the town then maybe I can fool myself..

 I'll get over you,  I know I will
 I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
 And I'll tell myself I'm over you.
 'Cause I'm the king of wishful thinking.
 I am the king of wishful thinking

 I refuse to give into my blues, that's not how's it's going to be.
 I don't want to let you see... no, that you have made a hole in my heart.
 And now I've got to fool myself....

 I'll get over you,  I know I will
 I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
 And I'll tell myself I'm over you
 'Cause I'm the king of wishful thinking
 I'll get over you,  I know I will
 I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
 And I'll tell myself I'm over you.
 'Cause I'm the King of Wishful Thinking

 I will never, never shed a tear for you, I'll get over you.
 I will get over you.
 If I don't listen to the talk of the town then maybe I can fool myself....

 I'll get over you, know I will
 I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
 And I'll tell myself I'm over you.
 "Cause I'm the king of wishful thinking.
 I'm the king of wishful thinking
 I'll get over you,  I know I will
 You made a hole in  my heart.
 But I won't shed a tear for you.
 I'll be the king of wishful thinking.
 I'll get over you.
 I'll pretend my heart's still beating.
 "Cause I've got no more tears for you
 I'm the king of wishful thinking
 I'll get over you,  I know I will.
 You made a hole in my heart.
 And I'll tell myself I'm over you.
 'Cause I'm the king of wishful thinking.

      In the Company of Strangers   Space Cases #1
       Nocturne                                Space Cases# 2
       Diamonds in the Rough           Space Cases # 3
       Glimmerings                            Space Cases #4
       King of Wishful Thinking by GO WEST audio file  You need Real Player to open this file.