Destined From the Start

Chapter Fifty - Time to Say Goodbye

May 2288

They had all gathered in Grayson and Pete's room, sitting on the floor, leaning against the walls, a few on the beds or in the chairs. The room was full of people, all waiting to hear what their summer internships would be. While they waited, PADDs ready, they talked, and drank beer, and sampled the snacks they had brought with them. For most of them, this would be the last gathering of the year.

At exactly 1800 hours, the PADDs began to buzz. Quickly each of the cadets raised their PADD and keyed in the personal identification that would allow them to open the file and find out what their next assignment was.

Grayson let out a loud whoop as he read what was on the screen of his PADD. "I'm going to be on a medical ship! Out in space with a real assignment!" His friends sitting near him punched him in the shoulders and grinned at him, while Jilly, sitting between his legs and leaning back against his chest, smiled up at him while waiting to find out what her own assignment was.

Joey was the next one to exclaim out loud. He was going to one of the new listening outposts, way out on the edge of this sector of space. He would be manning a communications console there and was completely overwhelmed by his good luck.

Sh!ss was not far behind. His summer would be spent on a planet being prepared for colonization, helping to catalog all the flora and fauna. His narrow blue tongue flicked in and out, while his neck patches puffed out a glorious bright gold.

To Shron's absolute delight, he would be helping to set up a power grid on an ice planet in a newly developed system. Grell would be assisting in research into a new metal for landing skids for shuttlecraft. Pete was off to explore the dynamics of personal interactions on a new planet seeking admittance to the Federation.

One by one they got their assignments, first the juniors, and then the sophomores. When Jilly's PADD chimed at her, she could hardly punch in her code, her hands were shaking so. Grayson was peeking over her shoulder, watching to see what would appear, and when he recognized the name of the ship that appeared there, he hugged her tightly. They would be together all summer, serving on the same medical ship. There was no way that either of them had anticipated this development. Their joy simmered through their bond, expanding and filling them both so that neither of them could talk at all. The happy chatter around them receded as they shared the happiness they felt, knowing that they would not be separated, but would have that three months together, seeing each other every day.

When Annie and Sally realized that Jilly's assignment was to the same ship as Grayson, they were astonished, and envious. "You are one lucky girl! I've never gotten an assignment with anyone that I knew, much less my boyfriend!" But Annie was smiling at Jilly as she said it.

When everyone had gotten their assignment, and knew when and where to report, it was time for celebration. They all trooped off to the Galaxy Pit for one last night of loud music, dim lights, beer, and dancing. And if some of the dancing took part in the dimly lit areas, and the people involved never moved more than one or two steps away from the position they started in, no one paid any attention at all.

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Author's Note: This is the last chapter of Part One of 'Destined From the Start'. Part Two will start soon and will be rated M.