Enigma: A Far From Home Novel Read Online Free PDF

She’d not had a chance to get down there, but the desire to do so had burned within her. She couldn’t believe it had been as long as it had. It only seemed yesterday she’d been given her posting as Captain of the Defiant and sent on her way into uncharted territory. In a way, the ship had been her inheritance. Shortly after getting under way, she’d learned that Andrew Singh was her Father and it had made the words on the memorial plaque fixed to the bulkhead in munitions a lot more meaningful.
    She turned a corner, and there it was:
    IN MEMORIAM
    CAPTAIN ANDREW SINGH
    FATHER TO MANY
    Now she looked around, located the place where he’d perished in her arms. The recollection of that day, now a year past, came racing home. It caught in her lungs, made her eyes sting. He’d been there. At that very spot. Right there, looking up at her…
    * * *
    She spotted Singh straight away. He lay on the floor, his helmet off. Two medics worked to keep him alive. They looked up as King approached.
    Doctor Clayton stood. Jessica went to fall at Singh’s side, but the doctor stopped her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, held her at arm’s length.
    “Commander, look at me. Look at me ,” he said.
    Her eyes locked onto his.
    Dr. Clayton’s eyes were full of regret, his voice firm, but tinged with sadness. “He’s dying. The explosion tore him apart. There’s too much… there’s nothing I can do for him now…”
    Jessica looked over his shoulder. She saw the blood that covered the Captain and coated the floor around him. Her hand went to her mouth.
    “I’m sorry,” Dr. Clayton said. “He doesn’t have long.”
    He let go of her, dug his hands into his jacket pockets.
    She walked past him and knelt by Singh’s side. He looked up at her and smiled. He was burnt all over. She fought to hide her horror. Jessica knew the Captain needed to see all the strength she could muster.
    The mangled mess of his legs. The blood pooling from his midsection. His face grey, washed out. Tears streamed down her face.
    Her voice cracked as she spoke. “Please don’t go, please.”
    Captain Singh shook his head slowly. Smiled. “Jess… We each have our time. My own is at an end…”
    “No…” she managed to say.
    Singh reached up, stroked the side of her face. “Now it is your turn to do as much as you can with the time you have…”
    He smiled again, then his eyes seemed focus on something far away. The light in them faded. Singh’s hand fell away from hers and the sound of his last breath issued slowly from between his lips.
    “No…” she whispered as she cradled him in her arms.
    * * *
    “Excuse me, Captain? Are you all right?”
    She turned around to find an Ensign standing there, a look of concern on his face.
    “Huh?” she asked, taken aback. She’d been certain there wasn’t anyone down here.
    “I didn’t mean to startle you. I . . . it’s just I saw you standing here…” he stammered.
    Jessica smiled. She was well aware her eyes were moist, her face red.
    “It’s okay, Ensign. Just having a look about. I thought I was alone down here,” she said.
    “You would’ve been, but I didn’t much fancy drinking tonight with the others. I’m very much looking forward to our next assignment, Ma’am,” the Ensign said.
    “Well, I am too. But don’t be afraid to let your hair down a little,” Jessica told him. “We all deserve a little break now and then.”
    The Ensign nodded. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”
    As Captain King left the munitions section, she thought, As will I.
    * * *
    Master At Arms Eisenhower peered up. “Haven’t you got anything better to be doing with your time, sonny?”
    Dollar grinned. “Nope. Hand me a wrench, will yuh?”
    Eisenhower sighed, dug out a wrench and watched as the gifted pilot worked on his ship. He’d been slowly piecing together the antique star fighter for months, and it was nearly done.
    “What did you say you’re going to name this thing, when