PROLOUGE

REASONS

Howard and Sohpie's Home

Another message from Axion waited for him. Howard didn't even bother opening it. Again and again, they had tried to get him to be the captain for a new colonial mission. Again and again, he'd turned them down.

'What's wrong Howard?' asked his wife, Sophie, looking over his shoulder.

'Axion again. They won't relent.'

Howard set his datapad down on the table and reached behind him, pulling one of her hands onto his shoulder. He gave it a squeeze, and she squeezed back.

'They must want the best man for the job,' she said.

'I'm not the only man for the job though.'

'No, but you've got a lot of experience under your belt.'

Howard turned in his chair. The dining room was bright with sunshine, and their quaint country home beamed with warmth.

He looked at his wife and realised how much more frail she looked. It was especially noticeable this spring, as though the winter had sapped more of what little remained of her life.

'I've been gone enough,' he told her gently.

She shuffled over to one of the other chairs, Howard made to get up and help her, but she waved him back down.

With a lump in his throat, he watched her slowly take a seat, the effort clear on her face.

Once she was settled, Howard relaxed a little and watched her. She had something on her mind, he could tell that much. Something she didn't want to say.

Outside the window, a bird lighted on their apple tree and chirped. Howard looked at it with a mix of contentment and bitterness. How many such moments had he already missed with his wife because he'd been gone to space so much already.

'I know what you're thinking Howard,' Sophie said.

He looked at her and smiled sadly. 'What am I thinking my dear?'

'You're thinking that you wished you hadn't been gone so much. I saw the way you looked at that bird.'

Howard nodded. 'You're right my dear.'

She raised a finger towards him and shook it slowly. 'Don't think like that Howard Friedrick. If it wasn't for your times out there as a ship captain, I never would have lived as long as I have. Treating me hasn't been cheap you know.'

Howard leaned his head back and sighed. 'I know that. I'm still not happy about it.'

'I've had a good life you know.'

Howard shook his head. 'Don't talk like that, you aren't dead yet.'

Her face flashed with frustration. 'I know that. I don't plan on changing that fact any time soon either.

'Sixty-six years old, and you still don't know how to talk to your wife,' she said.

'I'm still figuring it out. It's an ongoing project,' he replied.

She nodded.

They sat there in silence for what seemed like a long time, just living the moment together. Finally, Sophie broke the silence.

'I think you should accept Axion's offer.'

Howard frowned, feeling a twinge of anger.

'What? How can you say that?' he asked.

Sophie looked equally frustrated at his reaction. 'It's not such a bad idea. The offer is a great one, and we both know that I'm going to need more attention. Our insurance won't cover everything on its own, but Axion will. They know the situation. They offered it themselves. I read the offer last time you showed it to me.'

Howard raised a hand, ready to say something, but couldn't find the words. Slowly he lowered his hand down.

After a moment, he said, 'I don't want to be gone anymore.'

'Doctor Patel has an experimental treatment he wants to try, something cutting edge, but because it's not a mainstream treatment, our insurance won't cover it,' she said.

'What? When did you find this out?'

'Just this morning. I... didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want to get your hopes up.'

Howard couldn't help but smile. 'I appreciate that, unfortunately, it didn't work. My hopes are up.'

'You could take the mission and come back home when it's over,' she offered.

Howard nodded, 'I could. What if it doesn't work though? Then that's more time we don't have.'

Sophie smiled. 'But we'd have a chance at more time together.'

'Alright. I'll send them a message.'

***

Howard sat at his home computer, a much more comfortable place to have a discussion than with his tablet at the table. Sophie was seated in the room too, out of view of the camera but well within earshot.

'Axion Data Systems, Landon Richards speaking.'

'Landon, it's Howard Fredrick speaking.'

'Captain Fredrick!' the face on the screen smiled at him warmly, 'I hope this means you've reconsidered our offer.'

Howard nodded quickly. 'I have actually. I've decided to accept.'

'That's wonderful news! I can send you the documenta-'

'However, I do have some conditions.'

Landon's face shifted into a more serious and focused expression. 'That's fine, let's talk conditions then. Axion is very eager to have a man of your experience leading this mission.'

'Glad you're willing to hear me out. Firstly, I will need to be paid half my mission compensation now, and half upon completion of the mission.'

Landon leaned back in his seat. 'That is an unusual request given what I've read about your employment history, you don't usually work that way.'

'I have certain obligations that I have to meet before I can leave Earth again, I'm sure you understand,' Howard said.

Landon nodded. 'I'm sure we can work with that. Anything else?'

'I need my wife to be covered under the Axion Medical plan, despite a preexisting condition.'

Landon pursed his lips. 'I'd have to run that past our underwriting department, and corporate benefit office. Please understand that since you'd be listed as a contractor, that will be harder to pull off.'

'I understand, but I hope you can make it work. Even if it's only partial coverage, anything is better than nothing,' Howard offered.

'Anything else you need?' Landon asked.

'I'll need passage back to Earth after the mission is over.'

Landon let out a low whistle. 'You are driving one heck of a hard bargain here Captain. There won't be any regular liner's for months after the colony is set up.'

'I will ride back in a cargo barge if I have to, I just can't afford to be away for as long as I normally would.'

'You do understand that normally the Captain takes part in colonial administration after the mission is completed. This is a colony mission after all.'

'I do understand that, and I wish I could be more accommodating than this, but I have extenuating circumstances.'

Landon nodded again. 'Well Captain Fredrick, I know how much we were hoping to have you lead this mission. While I can't promise you any outcomes, I can promise that I'll try. I can try and get you an answer for the first and third conditions right away, but the second will take more doing.'

'I would appreciate it.'

'I'll call you back then,' Landon said.

'Thank you.'

'Talk to you later.'

'Goodbye,' Howard said, switching off the call.

He turned to his wife, 'I guess we wait now.'

'I guess so. What if they don't bite?'

'We'll see how much they come back with, something is better than nothing,' Howard offered.

'I was hoping you'd say that,' she said with a smile.