'SEE YOU MORNING' 103 The Warmth in the Embrace

In low Martian orbit, the San Jacintocould circle the planet in less than two hours. During this time, it was constantly launching and recovering fighter craft, conducting combat command communications system tests, calibrating sensor detection equipment, and running system operation drills for crew members at every post.
Each day proceeded with clockwork precision according to the schedule, and for three months now, everything had gone smoothly without a hitch—the ship’s systems seemed to be in excellent condition. But compared to the mechanical and electronic systems, the personnel were far less reliable. In the crew mess, Brittany’s favorite pastime was sitting in a corner with Lübeck, eating while filling him in on the latest gossip among the soldiers.
“That one, the blonde, Gasley—pretty, right?”
“Mm,” Lübeck glanced over and nodded.
“She’s already had three boyfriends. Averages one a month.”
“Aren’t we supposed to stick with the partner we choose?” Lübeck asked, puzzled.
Brittany let out a little snort of laughter, turning to look at Lübeck with a proud expression.
“They’re not like me—I have good taste. I chose someone steady like you. They’re all like dry tinder meeting fire.”
“Oh,” Lübeck replied, smiling. Seeing her face full of satisfaction, he felt a quiet sense of relief that he could bring her happiness and peace of mind.
“Besides, I’m loyal too. Don’t you think we’re a perfect match?” Brittany pressed, looking at him.
“Yes,” he said, setting down his fork and giving her hand a gentle touch.
Lübeck always carried himself with an unassuming calm, never making grand declarations of love. Yet whenever he looked at his partner, his gaze was so focused and deep that Brittany couldn’t bear to miss those moments of connection.
“So… doesn’t that cause problems among the soldiers?”
“It’s manageable. Though I heard there were fights over it. They’ve got too much testosterone—nothing can be done about that,” Brittany said, taking another bite before breaking into a grin.
“I don’t like people who are that rough.”
“Why not?”
“They’re unreliable. I just feel they’re not dependable,” she said, chewing as she gazed at Lübeck with a pleased expression. “You’re reliable, aren’t you? In my heart, I mean,” Lübeck asked with a smile.
“Yes,” she answered firmly and happily, chewing with closed lips, her eyes narrowing into slits from smiling.
“Did you know that from the start?” Lübeck asked, curious.
“Well…” Brittany hesitated, rolling her eyes as she thought for a moment.
“No, back then I didn’t know what kind of person you were either.”
“Then how did you end up choosing me?”
“Hmm…” She thought for a bit.
“Can I say… love at first sight?”
“Alright then. Thank you for loving me,” Lübeck said, giving her thigh a gentle pat.
“At first, I wasn’t sure either. I just wanted to be near you. I didn’t know what kind of person you were.” Later, I realized you must be a good man.
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Because you’re different from the others,” Brittany blurted out, then caught herself, realizing she might have said too much. She quickly explained,
“I mean, you’re not frivolous like those other guys. You have no idea—we medics get harassed by male soldiers more than anyone. They’re always showing up at our department for no reason, saying all kinds of sleazy, flirtatious things. I hate those guys.”
“Oh, I see,” Lübeck said, putting an arm around her waist and giving her backside a playful pinch as he smiled at her.
Seeing that Lübeck wasn’t bothered by her earlier comment, Brittany’s joy remained written all over her face.
After their brief midday break, Lübeck returned to his post to oversee bridge operations. That afternoon, routine fighter launches and recoveries continued. Lübeck had never piloted the San Jacinto’s Interceptor craft. He knew those fighters possessed time-travel capabilities, likely derived from secret space program technology—possibly even extraterrestrial in origin. He knew the U.S. government had signed certain agreements, but that was the extent of his knowledge. The deployment and recovery of these fighters came from higher-level orders. Once the pilots flew out, they had to navigate not only space but also time. Lübeck could observe the disturbances their movements caused in the ship’s spatial field through electromagnetic and gravitational sensors.
The Interceptor pilots were all young men and women, brimming with energy and curiosity for the unknown. Their mission directives were classified even from the ship’s captain. Whether they followed orders could only be confirmed by comparing data after their return. Usually, though, they would offer explanations for any deviations, and no one was ever held accountable.
Today was no different. Like homing pigeons released into the wild, no one knew where they had gone or when they would return. There was always someone on duty, so Lübeck simply clocked out when his shift ended.
His evening walks with Brittany were no longer about enjoying the scenery—though the ship did have some artificial landscapes. Since the vessel was about to deploy into deep space, Lübeck held her hand and walked along the passageways of each deck level. He wanted Brittany to become familiar with these routes so she could evacuate correctly in case of an emergency. In the past, his wife Ruth had stayed safely behind at home, waiting for him to return. Back then, he hadn’t felt any pressure—Lübeck had confidence in himself. But things seemed different now. He had grown more sensitive and cautious. Beyond taking care of himself, his thoughts were filled with concern for Brittany.
The upper decks were relatively normal, with standard facilities like conference rooms, crew recreation areas, and living quarters. The hangar bays for the carrier-based fighters were on both sides of the central spine. Lübeck led Brittany inside, greeted the mechanics working on the aircraft, and briefly explained the procedures for launch and recovery, including the operation of the airlock doors. But she didn’t seem very interested. With matters of life and death, women… Lübeck figured he would explain it to her slowly later. After all, in an emergency or conflict, as a medic, she might need to go anywhere on the ship. Compared to Lübeck’s careful explanations of the ship’s layout, Brittany seemed far more entertained by the way soldiers snapped to attention and saluted the captain beside her. Out of the corner of his eye, Lübeck noticed her expression—looking at him with such delight, even a hint of admiration, and perhaps just a touch of pride at standing by his side.
Maybe it was a common flaw among young girls—this blind reverence for authority. Or maybe it wasn’t a flaw at all. Perhaps it was simply a woman’s nature.
Back in their quarters, Lübeck asked, somewhat curiously,
“Brittany, if I weren’t the captain, would you still have chosen me?”
She was momentarily stunned, not expecting the question.
“Not sure,” she said, pushing Lübeck down onto the bed and personally removing his outer uniform. Standing there, she looked at him.
“Now you don’t have your rank anymore,” she said, observing him for a while.
“Ah, I still can’t answer that. It feels different now. We’ve already…” She paused awkwardly, then lifted her chin, resting her jaw in her hand as she tilted her head upward, thinking.
“When I first saw you—was it your looks? No. Your rank? No. Before I even met you, during the mission assignment, I heard your name. For some reason, I just responded and accepted the task.”
Listening to Brittany, Lübeck pulled her close, seating her beside him and wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Back then, seeing you didn’t feel particularly special. It was only through later interactions that I gradually realized you were someone dependable.”
“Dependable enough to be a partner for the next twenty years?” Lübeck asked softly.
“I wasn’t sure back then. And you were so infuriating—you didn’t choose me. It broke my heart for a long time,” Brittany said with a hint of playful complaint.
Lübeck gently drew her into his embrace.
“Thank you for appearing before me that afternoon.”
“Mm,” Brittany murmured, glancing up at Lübeck before pressing her cheek against his chest, savoring the warmth of his embrace.