Two months after completing the age reversal procedure, Lübeck felt his body had recovered sufficiently to handle routine tasks. Yet he couldn't shake the turmoil within him after coldly dismissing Brittany, who had cared for him all along. It seemed he simply couldn't accept any woman besides Ruth.
On his desk lay the delivered roster and photos for him to select his companion for this Saturn orbital mission. Due to the mission's extended duration, all crew members were required to be in committed relationships, with no arbitrary changes permitted once the mission commenced.
The roster had sat on his desk for two days. Lübeck doubted he could find Ruth within its pages. Ring-ring, ring-ring, ring-ring. The phone rang. He answered it—another call urging him to choose a partner. This place was strange: the phone was from the 60s, the computer from the millennium, the desk and chairs cheap 90s Chinese knockoffs—a hodgepodge project. The same issues plagued the personnel: NATO members, naturally dominated by Americans.
Lübeck flipped through the roster. The first woman was a pilot—dark eyes and hair, fair skin, middle-aged and composed, likely Hispanic. The second woman was also a pilot—golden hair, delicate features and eyes, appearing gentle and ordinary, probably Celtic. The third was a Marine—light brown hair, broad forehead, deep-set eyes, a stern face. The fourth was a biologist with brown hair and a high forehead, clearly intelligent. The fifth was a military police officer, tall and lean with high cheekbones and a gaunt face, looking like a tough character. The sixth appeared to be a second-generation African American, a mechanic. The seventh seemed to be Latin American, lacking femininity and appearing almost masculine, a cook. The eighth was, surprisingly, a man.
The search for Ruth had turned into a gay revelation. Lübeck snatched the phone in a rage.
“No male homosexuals on my ship. Remove every crew member with questionable sexual orientation and transfer them to other units.”
“But that violates gender equality.”
“I don't want them killing someone. Carry out the order.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why isn't Captain Brittany on the roster you sent?”
“Captain, she's already reported for duty at another unit.”
“Oh. Fine then.”
Though he said nothing, a vague sense of loss stirred within Lübeck. Distracted by troubled thoughts, he began packing his meager personal belongings, preparing to leave the medical facility.
His new assignment was as captain of an airspace carrier, the CSNL-30 San Jacinto. This light orbital airspace carrier was equipped with antigravity engines but lacked interstellar travel capability. Designed solely for gravity-orbit navigation between planets within the solar system, it served as a relay supply point for fighter craft on missions.
Taking the orbital transit to his starship's base, he tidied his quarters, visited various offices to familiarize himself with the senior officers he would be working alongside, and then joined them for lunch, exchanging polite pleasantries over the table. Lübeck disliked such socializing, but there was no better way to build rapport for future collaboration.
After a hurried lunch, he stepped out of the officers' mess. Just as he turned to head back to his quarters, he caught sight of a familiar figure pacing before the observation window in the corridor outside the dining hall.
Lübeck could scarcely believe his eyes. His feet seemed to take on a life of their own, carrying him step by step toward that figure until he stood directly behind her.
Just as she turned to face him, Brittany—it was her.
"Ah, What a coincidence, Captain Lübeck," she seemed startled, a mix of delight and surprise evident. Her gaze flickered between meeting Lübeck's eyes and averting them. Her hair swung dramatically with the twists of her head. Her arms seemed poised to express something through body language but halted, tugging at her shoulders.
“Lieutenant Brittany, it's good to see you again,” "Lübeck extended his hand to shake hers.
"Ah, yes, " Brittany extended her hand in return, glancing at Lübeck as they shook before lowering her gaze again, seemingly unsure what to say next. Only when she tried to withdraw her hand did she realize Lübeck had no intention of releasing it.
Brittany slowly lifted her head to meet Lübeck's eyes, opening her mouth to speak but unsure where to begin.
"What are you doing here? Lübeck spoke first, taking a step closer while still holding her hand.
“Ah, I—” Brittany lifted her head, brushing aside the hair that partially covered her face with her free hand before continuing,
“I thought... I thought I might run into you here,” her eyes flickering with timidity and shyness. She lowered her head again after speaking.
“Do you come here often?”
“Ah, yes,”
“Then what about your lunch break?”
“Ah, it's fine. I'm dieting.”
Hearing this, Lübeck couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl. She had sacrificed her lunch hour to come here, searching for him. So he asked,
“Then may I invite you to a simple lunch today?”
“Hmm, that's fine.”
Before she could finish, Lü Beck took her hand and led her forward, his left arm gently supporting her waist as they walked back toward the cafeteria. He didn't release her hand until he opened the door for her. This time, Lü Beck accompanied her throughout the entire process of serving her food. Even after they sat down, he didn't take his usual seat across from her. Instead, he sat beside her, his left arm still resting around her waist. He sat quietly by her side, accompanying her until she finished her lunch.
As they walked side by side out of the dining hall, Brittany paused, turned to face Lübeck, and looked into his eyes.
“I have to...”
“Come with me,” Lübeck interrupted.
“I'm transferring you to my unit immediately. You're a medic—there are machines waiting for you to fix, ones that aren't smoking yet.”
Brittany smiled. She said nothing, only gazed at Lübeck with a warm smile.
Lübeck pulled her into his embrace, his mind racing through every day of the past month—her tender care for him.
The bustling crowd in the corridor seemed to pass by them in silence. The two embracing figures existed in a world of their own—peaceful, serene, free from the constant turmoil and unease of life. A wandering soul found its harbor, finally anchored.
Of course, there were always curious onlookers. Among the passing crowd, a few stopped to watch. Slowly, whispers began to stir. Who? Who could it be?
Some snapped photos, immediately sharing them with friends for discussion. It happened to be lunchtime, and rumors spread faster than bullets. Soon, more people flocked here, drawn by the gossip.
“The captain fell for the medic,”
“Oh, she walked into my life,”
“Is this the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime?”
“Oh, we're all just passing through. They've found their shore, ha ha,”
Only then did Lübeck and Brittany awaken from their own world. They smiled, scanning the crowd, then saw themselves reflected in each other's eyes.
Someone in the back recognized Lübeck. Unable to push through, they shouted from the outer circle,
“Hey, Lübeck! Lübeck fell for the medic—who is she?”
Lübeck glanced back and told the crowd,
“He's my life,” then gazed sweetly at Brittany.
Hahaha! The onlookers roared with laughter.
“Kiss her!”
“Yeah, kiss her!”
“Yeah, kiss her already!”
“Yes!”
“That's right!”
“Way to go!”
“Yeah, kiss her! Hahaha!”
...
...
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