“We’ll postpone the strategy meeting until tomorrow,” Hoban said, after Valeria apologized for her prior outburst. “I’ve already sent Vidal to look into something for me while you were away.”
“Anything we need to know about?” Valeria asked.
“Not currently,” he said, pausing. “I suggest you use this time to go over the information Captain Vidal prepared for you both.” He pointed to the tablets they’d left lying.
Bradigan watched as Valeria reached down and took hers from the floor where it had landed when, as she’d jumped up in her anger, it had slid off her lap. He imagined Thorne would have went to pick it up but Hoban probably told him to leave it for one reason or another.
“We’ll do that. Thank you,” she said before turning to the door.
Bradigan bade a hasty, “Excuse us,” before following her onto the bridge. They walked through the corridors, deciding to go back to the canteen, and fell in with station staff who were getting a late breakfast. Bradigan followed her back to the same table and sat down across from her once more.
“Well, that went better than it could have,” he said in an attempt to lighten the mood, but something else would have their attention. At that moment, the door to the canteen opened and Major Thorne stepped through followed by the bound Locke and the same attendant guard as before. Bradigan watched as they approached the counter; many of those who were already in line allowed them to go before them and many more silently disappeared into the hallway. Thorne saw them there by the window and nodded a greeting in their direction. They waved back to him.
Bradigan leaned closer to Valeria and whispered, “Everyone’s leaving.” Those that hadn’t left sat eyeing Locke with indignation.
“Can you blame them?” she said.
“Maybe we should go?” Bradigan asked.
Locke spotted them now too, smiling as Thorne picked up both their lunch trays. He took a couple steps toward a table but Locke stopped him, pointing at Bradigan and Valeria.
“Too late now,” she said.
Thorne and Locke talked back and forth for a moment but, eventually, Thorne nodded and the three of them came over for a greeting. Bradigan and Valeria stood up as they approached.
“Hello again, Doctor. Ms. Davis,” Thorne said. He bowed a little while still holding the two trays.
“Hello, Major,” Valeria said. She took the initiative. “I want to go ahead and apologize for getting so angry earlier.”
Thorne seemed surprised but reassured her, “Don’t worry about it. I’ve already spoken to Captain Vidal about his tone. We’ve all gotten used to him but he can seem abrasive when you first meet him.” He paused and looked slightly behind his shoulder where Locke stood before turning back to them. “If it’s alright, I’d like to introduce you.”
Bradigan and Valeria looked at each other uneasily but felt they couldn’t say no under the circumstances.
Thorne stood to one side and let Locke approach them. “This is Charles Locke,” he said. “Charles, this is Dr. Daniel Bradigan and Ms. Valeria Davis.” He pointed at them in turn with one of the trays.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Locke said with a bow, his chains jingling as he did. “I was actually the one who asked Will if he’d introduce me but he wouldn’t agree to it until I informed him I already knew you were from our future.”
“Yes,” Thorne agreed, “But after considering it, I thought it might be good for his rehabilitation.”
“How did you know who we were?” Valeria asked warily.
He laughed. “Those that pass through the brig are not as tight-lipped as Captain Heidler would like, and the station so rarely gets visitors. May I?” He reached out with his chained hands. Valeria stood firm and his fingers gently grasped her identification badge, holding it with both hands as to read it. “Cycle 23,” he said. “It humbles me that humanity has survived so long.” He released the badge and looked up at Valeria. “You’re an ambitious business owner, free to seek your own riches. And you,” he turned to Bradigan, “are one dedicated to learning about the human race and its past.”
Bradigan was surprised at the extent of Locke’s knowledge concerning them. He looked at Thorne and found the same questioning look but Valeria seemed unfazed.
“The group I was…” he continued, glancing at Thorne, “coerced into devoting myself to…lived in fear of the A.S.R. They believed granting all power of time travel to a single entity would doom humankind to a future of oppression under a regime with near godlike power.” He paused in contemplation. “I’m happy to see you still have the freedom to pursue that which you desire.” He looked again at Thorne. “All the conflict in Reeba really was meaningless, wasn’t it?”
Thorne smiled at his old friend and turned back to Bradigan and Valeria. “Well we’d better get to work on our meals before they get cold,” he said. “Thank you both for your time.”
As Thorne led Locke away to a table on the fringes of the canteen, Bradigan leaned over again to Valeria saying, “Maybe he’s not so bad.”
Valeria was deep in thought. “I still don’t trust him,” she said. “I’ve met enough snobs and opportunists at corporate parties to see the signs.” She picked up her tablet and skimmed over it quickly. “He did give me an idea though,” she said. “I’m going back to the room to do some…independent study. Will you be alright on your own for a few hours?”
Her question ruffled him a little. “I’m not so helpless, Ms. Davis,” he said.
She grinned at him and quickly left the room, dodging past a couple officers on the other side of the door. Bradigan couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed at being left behind but he took his tablet and quickly made his way to the archives again. He’d memorized the directions to it from anywhere on the station, as was his nature. Hours later, after losing himself in his research, he found himself again shut out of the room after the closing announcements. When he returned to their quarters, Valeria was already asleep. He had no idea how late she’d been up the previous night but he was glad to see her catching up on some rest. He lied down himself and thought of their schedule tomorrow before drifting off to the same unusual dreams.
Writer by Grace 