Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, "Love Is Many Stars" 10/11
We're following the Ellie Doall/Todd Ahndmor romance in my SFF/Star Trekish parody. This episode is more romance than adventure.
Ah, the big “I love you!” scene. I did base this on real-life experience.
I’m only giving the Toddlie sections on Substack. You can find this story in its entirety in Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 4.
Ellie and Todd walked down the corridor. Since it was empty, and she wasn’t in uniform, he reached out to take her hand. She squeezed it, smiling. It made his heart skip, and yet…
“The captain seemed really concerned,” he said.
Her smile slipped just a little. “Well, music has been an advantage. The Cybers have never processed it well. But don’t worry. We’ll come up with something. We’re HuFleet. We’re spunky and innovative.”
When they entered the lazivator and its doors closed, he leaned against the wall with an exaggerated groan. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“It’s two in the morning. I think we’ve had six hours’ sleep in the last forty-eight. My brain is mush.”
She giggled. “Oh, my poor Toddybear.”
He ignored her to continue whining, “And my feet hurt, and my legs feel like we’re in heavy gravity. I don’t want to walk back to my hotel room.”
“So don’t. Stay with me. My couch is plenty comfy.”
“Won’t people talk?”
She snuggled against his arm. “Pulsie can vouch for us. I’m sure there’s a betting pool going on. It’s important to be accurate.”
“On your virginity? Your ship is so weird.” But he let her walk him back to her quarters, get him a pillow and blanket, and tuck him in with a kiss.
He closed his eyes and dozed.
Later, he woke up and tiptoed to her door. He peeked in. She was curled up in her sheets, hugging a pillow, sound asleep. A katt was snuggled against her knees. He opened one eye to peer at Todd, then dismissed him as not a threat.
Todd crept back to the living room, turned on Ellie’s computer, and pulled up the ship’s records of the Impulsive’s past fights against the Cybers.
* * *
Todd awoke to the smell of hot coffee and someone poking him on the shoulder. He rolled over to blink blearily at a perky and made-up Ellie. He glanced at the chronometer. 0800
“How long have you been up?”
“A couple of hours. You were sleeping so soundly. I went to the bridge to get some things organized for our leaving tomorrow, then came back to see if you wanted breakfast before our last janbot briefing. I also replicated you some fresh clothes.”
“You’re amazing!” He snagged the outfit folded on the table and ducked into the bathroom for a quick shower. When he returned, she’d laid out a standard Europan breakfast of muffins and poached eggs on a bed of kale. He dug in, but she watched him, chin resting in her hand.
“Did you learn what you needed to last night?”
A protest of ignorance rose to his lips, but she looked at him with seriousness, yet no scolding. He set his fork down. “How’d you know?”
“Pulsie told me. I’m not mad. Pulsie would never have let you see classified information. Those logs were need-to-know, and you needed to know. So…?”
“Music wasn’t just an advantage. It was the advantage. It played a decisive role in every victory.”
She shrugged. “We were getting into a rut. We’ll find another strategy.”
“Because you’re spunky and innovative?”
She grasped his arm. “Because we have too much to protect.”
Their eyes met. The silence filled with the words they wanted to say.
Finally, Todd dared to voice them. “Ell, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say, and I know it’s crazy—”
“Omigosh! Me, too!”
His heart leaped joyfully. Their words tumbled over the others:
“Really? Because it seems too soon.”
“It’s only been five days.”
“But every moment has been so…”
“And I’ve never felt like this!”
“I can’t let you leave…”
“I can’t go without you knowing…”
They finished in unison: “I love you!”
They paused, absorbing what just happened. Then they broke out into giggles.
Ellie gasped, “The time!”
They snatched last bites of muffin and dashed out.
When the coast was clear, Pipes, the ship’s katt, slinked out of the bedroom and hopped on the table to finish the eggs.
* * *
Todd didn’t know how he managed to act normal when he was swimming in a sea of light and joy. Ellie loved him! But somehow, he managed to make his way through the outbriefing, giving his presentation to the main officers of the Impulsive and the HuFleet and Union admirals who had teleconferenced in. His own boss was there, as was Keh Renn from Legal. His mouth moved on automatic while he concentrated on not blushing and keeping a serious expression. All seemed pleased at whatever he said, but he didn’t remember a word of it.
Afterwards, Commander Smythe and Captain Tiberius pulled Ellie aside, so he waited by the door.
Commander Smythe told her, “Ensign Smirnov needs some leadership experience. I’d like him to handle preparing Ops for our departure. Ensure he knows what needs to be done. Mr. Ahndmor can wait for you here.”
How she could say “Yes, sir,” with such aplomb baffled him and made him love her more. When she left through the door to the bridge, the two men turned to him.
“Have a seat,” the captain said.
He did so, smirking, “Just so you know, Security has already said what they’d do to me if I ever hurt Ellie.”
The two officers exchanged glances.
“Were you going to threaten bodily harm?” the captain asked his first officer.
Smythe replied, “I wouldn’t think it necessary or appropriate.”
Todd felt his face redden. “I’m sorry! I thought… Is this about the janbots?”
“Oh, no. This is about our lieutenant,” the captain replied. “We just want to be sure you understand what you’re getting into.”
He gulped. “Sir?” He thought he’d be having this conversation with her father. Somehow that seemed less intimidating.
Smythe steepled his fingers. “Lieutenant Doall is the amazing officer—the amazing woman—that she is, not just because of her genius and ability to think outside the box. She’s driven.”
“Loyal and dedicated,” the captain added.
“And has an insatiable need to be useful on a grand scale. She won’t be happy with anything less. If you want a relationship with her, you’d better be ready for all that implies.”
“Absolutely, sir!” But what did it imply?
These were not the people to ask.
Before he could figure out what else to say, Ellie stepped into the briefing room. “He’s all set, sir, Captain,” she told them as she moved to take a seat by Todd. She gave him a curious glance. “Did you want us to work on the Cyber issue, Captain?”
He waved toward the door. “I don’t think I can stop you from working on it but do so in the backs of your minds. I want you to take a day off.”
“Sir?”
Todd saw how her brow knit just slightly in confusion, and how she stiffened, as if about to protest. The captain’s advice hit home.
But the captain pointed at the door. “Git. Just don’t forget the variety show tonight.”
“No, sir! Of course not, sir. Thank you!”
Once the door closed behind Ellie and him, she let out a squeak of joy. “Is there anything you have to do today?”
“I have to pack, and I promised I’d bring home souvenirs. Shoot! I was going to ask the Captain to sign something for my little brother. He’s crazy about starship captains. He collects the cards.”
“That’s easy. We can ask after the pageant. Let’s replicate one for Captain Genoa, too. Who else?”
“That’s the problem. Mom’s a freighter captain. She’s got a pretty steady route, but when she goes someplace new, she always brings back something cool. I never go anywhere, so I have to outdo her.” While he told her about the other siblings at home expecting trinkets, they made their way to the lazivator.
Meanwhile, Jeb and Phineas went to the Bridge.
“Do you think he understood what we were saying?” Phin asked.
“He’d better have, ‘cause if he hurts her, I’ll kick his butt,” Jeb answered.