able to sleep, but he could rest his body. The morning might bring more of the creatures or even a lynch mob from the town, out to kill him for what he’d done to the Pope. Either way, he would need his strength.
18
COMMANDER DAVID PICKETT shook the hand of the woman in front of him.
“Hello, Commander,” she said. “I’m Dr. Chen. Please come in.”
Pickett followed Dr. Chen into her office and sat down in the chair she indicated. She sat across from him, a tablet on her knees.
“Thank you for coming to see me.”
“I was ordered to, Doctor.”
“I know. But you understand why this is important, don’t you?”
“I understand,” Pickett said, raising his voice slightly, “that valuable time is being wasted. I could be in a simulator right now, going over what we know of the alien ships’ capabilities, their weaponry….”
“But if you have a breakdown in the middle of a dogfight, what good will all that preparation have done you? Consider this just another way of preparing, Commander.”
Pickett took a deep breath. “Look, I know things have to be done by the book, even at a time like this. I know there are other pilots running simulations, people who can take my place if need be. But I have to be out there, Dr. Chen. We have a lot of inexperienced pilots who’ve been reassigned to the Vigilant . They need me to direct the attack. Admiral Long wants….”
“Admiral Long wants you back, yes. But he’s also instructed me to make sure you won’t be a liability. You’re not here just because of protocol. The admiral spoke to me directly.”
“I won’t be a liability.”
“Look, all we’re going to do is talk for a bit, Commander Pickett. I just want you to tell me about the battle, about your feelings. That’s all.”
Pickett nodded. “Where do you want me to start?”
“The battle. You were hit and ejected fairly early, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“But your report says you watched the whole thing unfold as you awaited rescue. You saw what happened when the alien ship exploded.”
Pickett nodded.
“All you comrades, your friends….”
“Yes. I saw them die. Saw their fighters consumed by the exploding alien ship.”
“Have you properly dealt with your feelings?”
“I’ve… I haven’t thought about it much. I’ve been focusing on preparing for the next fight.”
“What do you feel right now, though? Do you feel their loss?”
“Of course. But… I’m kind of numb, too.”
“That’s certainly understandable. How are you sleeping?”
“Fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve never had trouble sleeping.”
“And do you feel rested when you get up in the morning?”
“Sure.”
“And you’re eating?”
“Yes, Doctor, I’m sleeping and eating, I’m having regular bowel movements. I’m all right. Don’t you understand that there isn’t time for me to think about myself right now? What happens to me is irrelevant as long as the Earth is safe. I can’t go around feeling sorry for myself or the people who died. I don’t have time for it. I don’t have time to cry.” Pickett put his head in his hands. “Can we cut a deal?”
“What’s that?”
“When this is all over, if I come out of it alive, I’ll come see you. I’ll work through everything the way you think I need to, I’ll come every week, twice a week even. I know you’re concerned about my mental stability. I… I don’t deny that I’m going to have to deal with this properly at some point. But please , not now. Let me do what needs to be done, Dr. Chen. We don’t know when the aliens will return. Every hour counts, every minute counts. An extra hour in the simulator could give me some crucial insight into their tactics. And if, before they attack again, I reach a point where I don’t think I can learn anything more, then I’ll come see you. But not now .”
Pickett looked up. Dr. Chen was tapping something onto the tablet. “Are you reporting that I’m combative?
18
COMMANDER DAVID PICKETT shook the hand of the woman in front of him.
“Hello, Commander,” she said. “I’m Dr. Chen. Please come in.”
Pickett followed Dr. Chen into her office and sat down in the chair she indicated. She sat across from him, a tablet on her knees.
“Thank you for coming to see me.”
“I was ordered to, Doctor.”
“I know. But you understand why this is important, don’t you?”
“I understand,” Pickett said, raising his voice slightly, “that valuable time is being wasted. I could be in a simulator right now, going over what we know of the alien ships’ capabilities, their weaponry….”
“But if you have a breakdown in the middle of a dogfight, what good will all that preparation have done you? Consider this just another way of preparing, Commander.”
Pickett took a deep breath. “Look, I know things have to be done by the book, even at a time like this. I know there are other pilots running simulations, people who can take my place if need be. But I have to be out there, Dr. Chen. We have a lot of inexperienced pilots who’ve been reassigned to the Vigilant . They need me to direct the attack. Admiral Long wants….”
“Admiral Long wants you back, yes. But he’s also instructed me to make sure you won’t be a liability. You’re not here just because of protocol. The admiral spoke to me directly.”
“I won’t be a liability.”
“Look, all we’re going to do is talk for a bit, Commander Pickett. I just want you to tell me about the battle, about your feelings. That’s all.”
Pickett nodded. “Where do you want me to start?”
“The battle. You were hit and ejected fairly early, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“But your report says you watched the whole thing unfold as you awaited rescue. You saw what happened when the alien ship exploded.”
Pickett nodded.
“All you comrades, your friends….”
“Yes. I saw them die. Saw their fighters consumed by the exploding alien ship.”
“Have you properly dealt with your feelings?”
“I’ve… I haven’t thought about it much. I’ve been focusing on preparing for the next fight.”
“What do you feel right now, though? Do you feel their loss?”
“Of course. But… I’m kind of numb, too.”
“That’s certainly understandable. How are you sleeping?”
“Fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve never had trouble sleeping.”
“And do you feel rested when you get up in the morning?”
“Sure.”
“And you’re eating?”
“Yes, Doctor, I’m sleeping and eating, I’m having regular bowel movements. I’m all right. Don’t you understand that there isn’t time for me to think about myself right now? What happens to me is irrelevant as long as the Earth is safe. I can’t go around feeling sorry for myself or the people who died. I don’t have time for it. I don’t have time to cry.” Pickett put his head in his hands. “Can we cut a deal?”
“What’s that?”
“When this is all over, if I come out of it alive, I’ll come see you. I’ll work through everything the way you think I need to, I’ll come every week, twice a week even. I know you’re concerned about my mental stability. I… I don’t deny that I’m going to have to deal with this properly at some point. But please , not now. Let me do what needs to be done, Dr. Chen. We don’t know when the aliens will return. Every hour counts, every minute counts. An extra hour in the simulator could give me some crucial insight into their tactics. And if, before they attack again, I reach a point where I don’t think I can learn anything more, then I’ll come see you. But not now .”
Pickett looked up. Dr. Chen was tapping something onto the tablet. “Are you reporting that I’m combative?
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