Chapter Text
Bobbie stirred from her sleep, awoken by a sound she couldn't quite identify. Taking a breath in, she rolled to her back and stretched out across the soft sheets. She lifted her arm to rest above her head and resisted the inevitable opening of her eyes. The back of her other hand lazily stroked the bedsheet. The sheets on her bed on Mars were so rough, though she'd never noticed it until she was in Chrisjen's bed on Earth.
She had always been an early riser on Mars, up before the rest, ready to prove herself at whatever the task of the day may have been. It must've been her military training. However, the mornings always seemed to come much too soon these last several weeks. Maybe she was simply adjusting to waking and sleeping with the daytime and nighttime. But part of her was pretty sure it was these damned sheets.
Moving to her stomach, Bobbie pressed her cheek into the fluffy pillow, allowing the smooth case to caress her skin. Just then she heard the sound that had roused her again, an unmistakable and far away pop, pop, pop. A tiny smile formed on her lips and she was suddenly awake, the sheets forgotten.
Dressing quickly and pulling her hair back, Bobbie made her way downstairs as the sounds continued in the distance outside. Coming to the double glass doors that led into Chrisjen's expansive backyard, Bobbie glanced around toward a particular direction. She made her way outside and followed the sounds.
She came to a long clearing with targets set up from ten to two hundred yards away. It was one of the best ranges she'd ever used. She'd been shocked to discover it one day. After hearing random gunfire on the property, Bobbie had run straight toward the sounds, fearing the worst, only to find Chrisjen engaged in target practice. It had been a happy surprise and the two had spent several hours here in the weeks that followed.
Drawing closer, Bobbie observed Chrisjen's stance as she took aim at a twenty yard target. Feet planted wide, giving her stability, and arms straight out front with no bend in the elbow. Not bad, Bobbie thought, as the older woman landed one, two, three, four shots squarely in the target's chest.
"Taking target practice without me?" Bobbie asked happily, walking up beside Chrisjen.
Her hair was pulled into a simple ponytail. She hadn't put on any makeup yet and she was clad in a t-shirt that had to have come from Bobbie's closet. Somehow she still hadn't managed to move into the apartment that Chrisjen had set up for her and neither one of them brought it up. Bobbie loved seeing her like this, a way no one else got to see her - casual and not done up. That's not to say she didn't love seeing Chrisjen done up because she did, but seeing her dressed down was something rare and she appreciated it every time.
Chrisjen turned to her with a smile. "I was hoping I would wake you." With that, she walked over to the table and changed the clip in her pistol.
"Mission accomplished," Bobbie replied easily. She glanced to the target her companion had been decimating. "That's a good cluster."
"Thank you," Chrisjen said. "But I'm still having problems with the rapid fire."
"Oh, yeah?" Bobbie welcomed what sounded like an invite to a lesson. "Show me."
Chrisjen stepped to stand in front of a closer target. Taking her stance, she aimed carefully. Then she pulled the trigger in quick succession, unleashing the entire clip. Suddenly, the accuracy she'd had with the previous target that was farther away completely fell apart. Bullet holes riddled the entire target, and Bobbie was sure a couple hadn't even hit.
Shoulders slumping, Chrisjen lowered the weapon and looked to her with an annoyed expression. Walking back, she reloaded again.
"The kick is throwing you," Bobbie said, matter of factly.
"How so?" Chrisjen asked.
"Well," Bobbie began, "Each shot kicks backs and if you don't control the kick, your aiming point will be different with every shot."
"So how do I control the fucking kick?"
Bobbie grinned. Chrisjen really couldn't handle being bad at anything.
"Take your stance," Bobbie told her. Chrisjen lifted the weapon and leaned it, arms set and eyes focused. Bobbie immediately saw the tension in her shoulders. She set her hands gently on them. "Shoulders down," she told Chrisjen and the woman listened, rolling her shoulders back and down. "Now, don't absorb the kick with your wrists. Absorb it with your shoulders."
"How?"
Bobbie smiled to herself, beginning to catch on to the game that probably started the second she walked up. Stepping behind Chrisjen, close, until the front her body brushed the back of the one in front of her, Bobbie slipped her fingers up Chrisjen's arms until her hands gripped her wrists lightly.
She said quietly, lips at the shell of Chrisjen's ear. "Don't let your wrist pop back like this." She shifted Chrisjen's wrists to simulate the weapon popping back and the muzzle moving upward. "Rather, lock your arms and let your shoulders move back." When Chrisjen did lock her arms, Bobbie pulled slightly, straight back so she could feel how her shoulders took the movement and, consequently, also pulled them closer.
Moving away, she caught the closed lipped smile on Chrisjen's lips. "Alright then," Chrisjen said.
"Try it."
She took aim again and, once again, fired fast round after fast round, at least a dozen altogether in only a few seconds. Bobbie's jaw dropped when every shot landed within a couple of inches. Satisfied, Chrisjen gave her a smirk.
"You sandbagging me?" Bobbie asked, exasperated, though the answer was clear.
"Maybe you're just a good teacher." Chrisjen walked past her and set the weapon down. Bobbie followed. "Or maybe I'm just hitting on you." She smiled up at Bobbie.
Unable to resist her, Bobbie casually rested her hands at Chrisjen's hips, drawing her nearer. "You with a loaded weapon is certainly a turn on."
With a small chuckle, the shorter woman leaned up to place a soft kiss at Bobbie's lips. One kiss was never enough for Bobbie. She stole a second and a lingering third. Chrisjen was usually go, go, go in the mornings, anxious to get the day moving, so Bobbie thought it odd when she simply laid her head at Bobbie's chest, arms wrapping around her. Markp
Realizing that a thousand things had to be on her mind, Bobbie asked, "You ready for today?"
"No," Chrisjen answered, not relinquishing her hold. Finally she looked up at Bobbie. "But the day will happen anyway."
"I'll be with you every minute," Bobbie told her.
"Promise?" When Bobbie nodded, she gave her a look of warning. "You might regret that."
Pulling out of Bobbie's embrace, Chrisjen gathered her weapon, clips, and ammunition and tucked them into a bag. Taking Bobbie's hand, they began walking back toward the house.
"What got you into shooting, anyway," Bobbie asked.
The corners of Chrisjen's lips lifted with an affectionate expression. "A promise to an old friend." She looked at Bobbie. "He insisted I be able to protect myself. After the protomolecule shitstorm, I decided he was right."
Bobbie knew instantly. "Cotyar?" Chrisjen nodded, and Bobbie told her, "I think he'd be impressed."
Making their way back inside, they both went upstairs to prepare for what would surely be a long day. Before each one went to their own bathroom to shower, Bobbie asked, "What do you need from me today?"
Turning to her, Chrisjen quipped, "Are you registered to vote? Because I think I'm going to need every single one."
*******************
The next eighteen hours had been a roller coaster as the closest election in the last two hundred years played out. Each candidate led the way multiple times throughout the day, resulting in cheers then subsequent frustration inside election headquarters at the UN.
Chrisjen had run the entire gamut of emotions from confident to insecure, angry to resigned, and cheerful to fuck everyone. Bobbie had done her best to keep up, offering a drink when she thought it best, shooing away her scurrying aides, or simply a gentle hand on her shoulder.
But nothing she did could stop the outcome of the election. Nancy Gao had won by the slimmest of margins and Chrisjen had lost. As the final news reports confirmed it, the current UN Secretary General had gone silent. People spoke to her, but she didn't respond. Bobbie saw it written plain as day on Chrisjen's exhausted features. Chrisjen was shocked and completely caught off guard. Though she covered it well, Bobbie knew she was afraid that if she engaged with someone, anyone, the mask would fall and the regal persona would break. So she shut everyone out.
That's why they were here, now, having retreated to the sanctuary of Chrisjen's office. The first thing she'd done was pour two drinks and offer one to Bobbie. The younger woman took it wordlessly, feeling the weight of Chrisjen's sad demeanor. She watched as the always stoic and resolute woman meandered around the room, grazing her fingers over various awards or photographs around the space, seeming to take each one in as if it were the first time she'd seen them.
Making her way to the large window, Chrisjen set her glass down and gazed over the cityscape. Reaching up, she pulled the tie from her impeccable bun. Bobbie observed, as she had so many times before, as Chrisjen leaned her head back and ran her fingers through her dark locks. Next, she began to unwrap her sari and Bobbie realized that the weight of the wrap was even more than she could handle tonight.
Before Chrisjen could even pull the fabric from her around her back, she dropped her hands and rested them on the window sill, leaning forward with slumped shoulders. Hanging her head, she released a deep sigh that wrenched Bobbie's heart.
Walking slowly up behind Chrisjen, Bobbie slipped her arms around her waist and pulled the small body into her, back to front, holding her securely. When Chrisjen covered Bobbie arms with her own, they stayed that way for endless minutes, staring out the window over a planet that had chosen a new leader, rejecting the one who had brought it back from the brink of ruin time after time.
Wanting nothing more than to help, Bobbie released her grip and moved to assist with the heavy wrap. She gently lifted it over Chrisjen's shoulder, undoing the pin she knew was there. Next, she shifted it around her front and under the other arm, thankful that the steadfast woman was letting her help. At this point, Bobbie was holding yards of fabric. She draped it on her arm and removed the larger pin at Chrisjen's hip. Tugging lightly, she loosened the multiple pleats that were tucked into the silken skirt. Unwrapping it one more time from around her body, Bobbie stretched the fabric out on the floor behind Chrisjen.
Coming to stand next to her, she laid her hand over the older woman's. "I wish I knew what to say," Bobbie spoke quietly.
After a moment came an equally quiet response. "You don't have to say anything," she said, finally breaking her silence. "I'm just glad you're here."
Soon, Chrisjen pulled her hand away and stepped back from the window. She walked over to her desk, the old world mahogany one that she loved. Sitting down, Chrisjen tapped the clear glass monitor screen on the desk, then she tapped the record button.
"Nancy," she began, "by the time you see this, you will be Secretary General." Bobbie's ears perked up, anxious to be privy to the private message. "This will be your chair and the system will look very different. This isn't a job I wanted. I didn't seek it out." Her voice remained soft, almost encouraging. "Once I had it, it was hard to think of letting it go. It won't be easy for you either, it won't be simple and I'll be rooting for you. If there is anything I can offer that will help, any wisdom I can pass on, it is this. This chair is not a throne, we're not queens. The work we do here is critical, but it is not all that we are. Don't forget the rest of yourself while you do this."
Her eyes glanced to Bobbie and the young Martian thought her heart would stop with the honesty of the words. "Your time will end too, and you will want a life to return to once this is done." Bobbie looked away, understanding the vulnerability taking place before her as Chrisjen continued. "As for policy, and the direction you're taking Earth and all her peoples. Well, we disagree. One of us is wrong. I think it's you." Bobbie couldn't help the quirk of her lips at that. "But I hope it's me. Good luck. Our future is in your hands now." With that, she tapped the button ending the recording.
She stood, coming back over to where Bobbie was at the window. Unexpectedly, Bobbie was met with arms slowly coming around her torso and Chrisjen's head resting at her shoulder. It was a languid embrace that they settled into, each relaxed exhale bringing them closer. Bobbie could've held her forever, her adoration for this woman increasing tenfold at such a display of selflessness and grace as she was showing Nancy.
Looking up at Bobbie with tired eyes, Chrisjen said, "Let's go home."
Bobbie simply nodded and helped her gather the long yards of fabric from her sari, careful not to disrupt the beading and elegant embroidery. They made their way back out of the office and down the hall, met by a solemn UN marine. He tapped the button to the elevator for her, saying into his radio, "Archangel is on the way down." Then he looked to her as they entered the elevator. "It should've been you, ma'am." Chrisjen only gave him a weak smile.
They rode silently down. When the elevator dinged their arrival, both sets of eyes widened at the sight they were met with. The entire first floor of the UN building was packed and cheers erupted as the UN staff, military personnel, ambassadors from across the system, as well as other politicians gathered to give Chrisjen the send off she deserved.
The rough exterior finally gave way and Bobbie saw tears gathering in Chrisjen's eyes. How she kept them from spilling over, Bobbie would never understand. She coaxed Chrisjen out of the elevator with a hand at the small of her back. As they moved through the crowd, there were choruses of, "Avasarala forever," and "It should be you," along with many simple, "Thank you"s.
She shook hands with people she worked with, constantly disagreed with and always managed to make amends with. These were the people that had walked with her through Earth's darkest days. They'd made each decision together, and Chrisjen would never have been able to accomplish the historic era of peace they now lived in without each of them.
Finally coming to the security exit, Caleb met them. He spoke into his radio, "This is Eagle One. I've got Archangel." As the security team opened the door to escort Chrisjen Avasarala out of the UN, she turned back to the still cheering crowd. A thousand things were written across her face. She was speechless. Lifting her fingers to her lips, she kissed them and gently extended her hand out, the only goodbye she could muster. Then they were gone.
********************
Back at the house, it was late, middle of the night late, but Chrisjen couldn't sleep. She would have thought that tonight would be the best sleep she'd gotten in ages. After all, the election would be over and the next course of her life laid out, be it at the UN or somewhere else. She should be exhausted, spent, and unable to stay awake.
Instead, she had quietly made her way out of bed and stolen a blanket from the guest room. Bobbie didn't need it. She hadn't slept in the guest room for weeks. She'd made her way through the home office window and outside onto the roof, her favorite spot on the entire property.
The sky was so bright tonight, the moon was in shadow allowing stars to stand out all the more. Chrisjen could see some stars and celestial beings that had been hidden behind haze as of lately. She found herself wondering if it really had been a hazy sky clouding her view or simply stress. Either way, the chaos of life seemed to slow each time she came out here. Even more so tonight.
Wrapped in the warm blanket, Chrisjen sighed. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel, but amid all the feelings one stood out above the rest. Relief.
She was relieved. Relieved that the burden of Earth's security and prosperity no longer lay on her shoulders. Relieved that she no longer had to make the call on whether or not to send hundreds of soldiers to their possible deaths. Relieved at the idea that maybe her life could be lived on her own terms now. Smiling slightly to herself, the realization settled in. She could do anything she wanted.
That's not to say that the sting wasn't deep. She'd given Earth everything and it seemed like none of that mattered. It boiled down to one thing - those goddamned Ring Gates. If it hadn't been for the Ring, Chrisjen would have won the election, no question. But the Ring was here to stay and if she couldn't get on board with that, maybe she wasn't the right one to lead after all. She couldn't take the results personally. It wasn't about her, she told herself, it was about the Ring. She would have to cling to that mantra for a long time to get through the feelings of rejection she knew were coming.
Still, Chrisjen couldn't shake the idea that this may be exactly the way things were meant to happen. She thought her sense of purpose would be lost if the election was lost. On the contrary, anticipation hung in her mind, like something was coming.
Just then, her thoughts were broken when a familiar voice said an exasperated, "I've been looking all over for you!" She turned her head to see a nearly breathless and worried Bobbie, head popping out of the window. "I woke up and you were gone. I couldn't find you anywhere."
Smiling, a little amused, Chrisjen said, "I'm sorry."
Bobbie crawled out the window and came to sit next to where she was laying. "You could have told me where you were going."
"I didn't want to wake you." Chrisjen would never tell the former marine, but she was absolutely adorable when she was asleep. She could never stand to wake her.
Bobbie shivered a bit against the cool night air, running her hands up and down her bare upper arms. Shifting, Chrisjen pulled the blanket from under herself, spreading it across the rooftop. "Come here."
Bobbie instantly accepted the offered blanket, lying down next to Chrisjen. They wrapped up in it, close together, and looked up to the night sky, black and dotted with tiny twinkling white lights. Save for one that was a different color.
Turning her head to the east, Chrisjen pointed to one particularly bright spot. "Look there." Bobbie followed her finger. "If you squint, you can almost see the reddish halo around it."
Bobbie sat up again quickly. "Mars?"
"Yes," Chrisjen confirmed. She didn't need to see Bobbie's face to know the intensity with which she looked at the far away planet.
"It's so small," Bobbie said. After a moment, she commented, "Can you imagine what they must've thought of it hundreds of years ago?"
"It was a pipe dream to even get there," Chrisjen answered. "Now it's the greatest military power in the solar system." With a hand in Bobbie's back, she asked, "Do you miss it?"
Coming to lay back down with her, both women on their backs, eyes to the sky, Bobbie said, "The Mars I loved is gone." She met Chrisjen's gaze. "That's the Mars I miss."
Chrisjen nodded her understanding. She looked back to the heavens, eyes wandering across the expanse. "You know, before the protomolecule, everything was about Earth," Chrisjen said. "Earth first, no matter what, it didn't matter what we had to do, or how far we had to go." Her eyes slipped closed with old, painful memories. "I did a lot I'm not proud of."
"We've all done things we're not proud of," Bobbie told her.
"I told myself it was alright because it was for Mother Earth," Chrisjen went on. "But now I realize that I was only keeping us isolated, and the peace I wanted so much would never happen if I didn't learn to include everyone, keep everyone safe."
Rolling to prop on an elbow, Bobbie rested her head against her hand. "And now?"
"On the Roci, with you, with the others," Chrisjen said. "We were all people from different backgrounds, different planets and places, working together for one goal. That's what this system should be. Earth, Mars, and the Belt, working together."
"Sounds wonderful. Do you really think it's possible?"
"I do," Chrisjen responded quickly. "But not when everyone feels they are entitled to a bigger piece of the pie. Earth feels entitled because it came first. Mars feels entitled because it created a habitable planet from scratch. The Belt feels entitled because they've been marginalized for their entire existence. But we need each other if we're going to make any of it work," she finished, looking to Bobbie.
The younger woman reached over to lightly trace Chrisjen's hairline, from her forehead to her temple, gently pressing a lock of hair behind her ear. Chrisjen was often still caught off guard at how tender Bobbie could be. She was such a powerful force and Chrisjen had a feeling she may be the only person who'd ever received these kinds of touches from her.
Bobbie let her hand come to lay at Chrisjen's neck, grazing her thumb across Chrisjen's strong jawline, eyes wandering over her features. "I used to think Mars was the best of all of us," she said softly.
"What changed your mind?" Chrisjen wanted to know.
One corner of Bobbie's perfectly full lips turned up slightly. "You."
Chrisjen smiled slowly at the compliment, thinking how fitting it was as Bobbie had been the one to turn her own thinking about Mars. She couldn't help but determine that they were supposed to cross paths, meant to come together, for a reason.
She lifted a hand to cover Bobbie's cheek, cool from the night air. "My beautiful Martian," she said quietly. She'd wanted to tell Bobbie the breadth of her feelings many times before, but it never seemed like the right time and the words always stuck in her mouth. But tonight, with every bit of pressure finally off them, the words came with ease. "I do love you so much."
Bobbie's lips parted and her brow knit with emotion that was always just under the surface, but rarely expressed. She didn't say it back and Chrisjen knew she wouldn't. She didn't expect her to. Words were easy for Chrisjen, words are what she did. They didn't come as naturally to Bobbie. However, Bobbie had already told Chrisjen the same thing a hundred times, because actions were what came easily to Bobbie. Soft touches reserved only for her, kisses that made her melt, holding her on difficult days, not to mention that Bobbie would go to the ends of the Sol to protect her. She didn't need to hear the words from her Martian, she already knew.
Bobbie's only reply was to whisper her name, "Chrisjen," before leaning in to capture her lips.
Shifting closer to one another, they settled into soft kisses. After only a moment, Chrisjen felt warmth spread through her. Her arms moved around Bobbie of their own accord, pulling until she was on top of her, propped on an elbow at each side of Chrisjen's ribcage.
Chrisjen had always been preoccupied with Bobbie's lower lip. It was always begging to be kissed. Chrisjen nipped at the plump bottom lip, her tongue coming out to roll over it, seeking to deepen their contact. Bobbie obliged, parting her lips. Their tongues touched, only for a second before Chrisjen kissed her bottom lip again. Then it was Bobbie's turn to ask for more. She gently pressed her tongue to Chrisjen's and their mouths began to move together, a dance of exploration and intimacy.
Neither of them pushed any farther, content to simply learn the other. In the weeks that Bobbie had been on Earth, they'd had sex multiple times and each time they learned more of the other's body. They learned each other's likes and dislikes. They learned what made the other ache deep inside. They also learned the sweet touches that kept them both clear headed while still able to get lost in affection.
That's what these kisses were. She could kiss Bobbie like this for hours. It was deep and tender and completely perfect, but enough that Chrisjen knew the slightest movement could ignite a spark into a raging inferno. She loved walking that line with Bobbie. How far could they take it before they couldn't take it anymore and the need became overwhelming.
But tonight was different. Tonight all Chrisjen wanted to be close, to be held. She didn't have much left to give, so she laid happily on her roof, allowing every touch of Bobbie's mouth to soothe her weary spirit.
Finally, it was Bobbie who reduced the contact to light kisses at Chrisjen's neck, then her jaw, her temple, and finishing at the corner of her closed eye before shifting to lay her head at Chrisjen's chest, tucked under her chin. Chrisjen loved the opportunity to wrap the young woman in her arms, for it was too often the opposite. The shorter one of the two of them rarely had the chance to feel the sensation of warm breath across her skin as she held the other tight.
An idea began to form in Chrisjen's mind, something she'd been wanting to do for a long time, but put off again and again, waiting until the timing was perfect. Now all they had was time.
"I have something I want to give you," she told Bobbie.
Bobbie hummed in reply, not wanting to move. "Oh, yeah?"
"It's something I've been keeping for you for a while."
That got Bobbie's attention. She propped herself up once again with a curious expression. "What is it?"
Chrisjen smiled, suddenly feeling a little excited. "Let me show you."
********************
Almost an hour later, they were driving back through the city toward the UN. It was the wee hours of the morning and Chrisjen had been up all night, but she felt sharp nonetheless. The anticipation was almost more than she could bear. She wanted to spill the beans, but she wanted to see the shocked look on Bobbie's face even more.
"I can't believe you made me do this." Bobbie's tired voice sounded from the passenger seat as she rubbed her eyes. Chrisjen only grinned in response. "How are you even awake right now?"
"Because for the first time in decades, I don't have to go to work at the crack of dawn," Chrisjen answered.
Bobbie chuckled softly. "Well, thank goodness for self driving vehicles."
The car was headed toward a UN facility near the water. Bobbie had never been there. The surprise shouldn't be spoiled. Turning off the freeway, the car directed itself while Chrisjen scrolled through her data pad, looking for the correct document. She found it and slipped the pad back into the pocket of her fashionable leather jacket. She'd wait for the right moment to reveal it.
They had dressed quickly, Chrisjen doing her best to still look presentable, lest she see any colleagues, was clad in slacks, a blouse, and a form fitting leather jacket that Bobbie had said she liked once. It had become Chrisjen's favorite jacket immediately following the compliment. Her companion, on the other hand, had opted for a t-shirt and her usual tactical pants.
Soon, the car parked and Chrisjen climbed out. She shut the door and they began walking toward the gate of the massive facility.
"Where the hell are we?"
She turned to see Bobbie looking straight up, as if trying to see the top of the huge structure, which towered hundreds of feet above them. Her features were etched in confusion.
"A UN holding facility," Chrisjen answered.
"What could you possibly be holding in here?"
Chrisjen understood the questions. This facility was gargantuan. It was even bigger once you were inside and were privy to how deep underground it went. But they didn't need to go too far to get to what Chrisjen was looking for.
"Whatever the fuck we want," she replied nonchalantly, heading toward the exterior office that acted as an entry gate. They stepped inside to see a small crew on guard and alert.
The moment they passed the threshold, the four man team snapped to attention. The one behind the desk spoke. "Secretary General Avasarala, it's an honor, ma'am."
Expression softening, Chrisjen replied, "At ease, all of you." When they relaxed, she added, "I don't believe you answer to me anymore."
Another of them said, "With all due respect, Madam, I don't recall seeing Ms. Gao take the oath of office yet."
With a small nod, Chrisjen swallowed against the lump in her throat, what she knew would be one of the first of many. "Well, I guess that means I don't have to fight my way past you all to get in."
With a smile, the desk guard confirmed, "Of course not." He opened the locked metal door, letting them in. "I assume you want Hangar One."
"Correct."
"I'll unlock it as you go, ma'am."
"Thank you very much," Chrisjen said.
The next door was unlocked and she led the two of them down a long hallway. Taking a turn, another door ahead unlocked as the guard followed their movement on the security cameras. Signage on the walls guided them past Hangars two, three, and four to a smaller one.
She turned to see Bobbie anxiously looking through the windows that allowed a view into each hangar.
"This is amazing," Bobbie commented. "I've never seen so many different ships all in one place. Not even at the shipyard in Mariner Valley." She looked to Chrisjen. "What is this place?"
Giving up part of her secret, she answered, "It's a military impound lot, so to speak." The second to last door unlocked with a metallic clang and they went through to a more narrow hallway. "Small ships, small freighters and frigates even, come here in the instance that the UN must seize them."
They finally came to the last door, marked Hangar One - Security Clearance Level 5. Chrisjen was one of only a handful of people that had the stated clearance. The heavy metal door unlocked and she had to lean her shoulder into it to open it.
"A little help maybe," she said sarcastically.
"Oh, no," Bobbie returned, "you definitely have it."
Chrisjen rolled her eyes as she struggled a second longer with the large door. When they were both inside, she walked along the wall, seeking out the wall plate full of industrial light switches. She turned them on one at a time, revealing her prize.
Hangar One was still huge, though it only contained one ship, one small ship, docked on its belly. Chrisjen turned toward Bobbie, a closed-lipped smile on her face as she waited.
Bobbie looked the small boat up and down, her brow knit. Chrisjen knew exactly what she was thinking. It looked the same, but different. Bobbie took a few steps closer. Slowly, her lips parted and her eyes widened with recognition.
"No way," she whispered. With long strides, she went up to the ship, standing on her tiptoes, she peered through the front window near the pilot's seat. Her head shot around to Chrisjen. "It's the Razorback!"
Chrisjen laughed lightly. "Plus a few modifications," she said.
Suddenly, Bobbie was like a kid in a candy store, unable to keep her hands or eyes off the ship. She ran her palms over the exterior. The trademark red and white paint job had been replaced with a black matte finish, but not just any black matte finish.
"I can't believe it," Bobbie said. "This is Martian stealth tech."
With a nod, Chrisjen confirmed. "Imagine being not just the fastest ship in the Sol, but undetectable as well."
Bobbie stepped back, realizing just how extensive the mods were. "What else?" She asked, gaze glued to the Razor.
"We weaponized it, as you can see." Chrisjen indicated the three small torpedo launchers housed underneath each one of the three long panels that ran the length of the ship, giving it its sleek style and inability to be affected by any type of drag. "These are Series Ten Lithium hybrid launchers. They are light enough not to affect her speed. They hold only one shot apiece though. Here," Chrisjen showed Bobbie a small retractable panel on the side. "Retractable railgun. Small, but it will get the job done. But, the idea is the stealth will keep you from having to use all this." She waved her hand dismissively at the weaponry.
Inspecting the launchers, Bobbie observed, "This must've cost a fortune."
"It did," she confirmed, though the money was an afterthought. She had plenty. "But considering how much trouble you keep getting yourself into, you'll need all the help you can get to stay out of it. The Razorback would be a great help indeed."
Bobbie looked at her, Chrisjen's meaning dawning on her. She hesitated, suddenly drawing back from the ship. "Oh, no," Bobbie said, glancing back at the boat. "I can't."
"Yes, you can." Chrisjen pulled out her data pad. A couple of taps and she swiped toward the pocket she knew Bobbie's own pad was in.
The young woman pulled it out and looked at the document displayed on the screen, the title to the Razorback.
"Chrisjen, it's too much." Bobbie was shaking her head, looking overwhelmed.
"Consider it payment for services rendered." Chrisjen was simply happy to know that she'd thrilled Bobbie with the gift. Voice softening, she added, "You saved my life in this ship."
With a hand leaning against the Razor's hull, Bobbie looked the ship over again, more slowly, taking in every inch. "I almost killed you in this ship," she said, barely above a whisper. Glancing back to Chrisjen, her enthusiasm returned. "How did you integrate the controls for all this into the system?"
Walking around the boat to the airtight bulkhead door, Chrisjen opened it with ease. She'd had enough practice. She ushered Bobbie inside.
The interior was as small as ever, with only enough room for two, and just barely. They moved toward the two interlocked pilot seats, connected by free moving gimbals. The gimbals allowed the two seats to stay stable and in line through high speed maneuvers. Pulling up the holographic control panels, Chrisjen motioned with her hand and spread the lighted panels out in front of them. She had been in here every chance she could, learning from the engineering team. Bobbie slipped up beside her and Chrisjen showed her how to navigate around the new system.
Almost speaking to herself, Bobbie said, as she flipped through the controls, "There's no way I can pilot this by myself with all these mods."
Chrisjen had been waiting for her to say it. It was true, with the new modifications, there was no way anyone could fly the ship alone. That's why she had been undergoing an intense training regimen for months to prepare.
Trying to keep her voice even, she responded, "It's a good thing you have a copilot."
Bobbie looked at her, studied her. "You?"
"You seem surprised," Chrisjen drawled, sarcastic. She knew Bobbie wouldn't believe her.
"You're going to copilot the Razor, are you?" Now Bobbie was being sarcastic. Her expression turning serious, she said, "I recall you stroking out at five Gs and scaring the hell out of me."
Grinning triumphantly, Chrisjen told her, "Then it's a good thing I can pull eight Gs."
Lips parting, Bobbie was incredulous. "Eight?" Chrisjen nodded. "Since when?"
"I've been doing space readiness training with a group of marines," she answered as she casually brushed some imaginary dust from the shoulder of her jacket, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Chrisjen Avasarala," Bobbie replied quietly, "in space readiness training with a bunch of marines."
Chrisjen lifted her hands as if to say 'look at me.' In fact, she was quite proud of her efforts. It had taken all her fortitude to overcome her fear of space travel, or at least launch. The high G training had threatened to kill her, literally, but she didn't give up. She kept being told her body would adjust, and it did. Soon she was taking the Razorback out into orbit completely on her own, pre-modifications.
Bobbie walked the few short steps to stand in front of Chrisjen in the small bunk area, resting her hands at Chrisjen's curves. "I'm impressed," Bobbie said.
It was the best compliment she could receive. "Thank you." She slipped her arms up and around Bobbie's neck.
"You know," Bobbie told her, drawing them closer, "if this is my boat, that means I'm the captain." Their lips were a breath apart when she finished, "That means you take orders from me." She pressed a soft kiss at Chrisjen's lips.
"You might not believe this," she replied, placing another kiss at Bobbie bottom lip, "but I'm okay with that."
One last kiss and Bobbie released her, moving back to the digital consoles. She tapped around, getting to know the systems. Chrisjen watched her, Bobbie in her element. Just then, the young woman turned to her, eyes wide like something dawned on her.
"Hear me out," she said. "Marco Inaros is still out there." Chrisjen allowed a small smile to come to her lips. She loved how quickly Bobbie jumped to the same page as she did. Bobbie must've noticed the knowing look. "You already have a plan," Bobbie grinned.
"Of course I do."
********************
The next afternoon, the Razorback had been moved to the launch pad outside Hangar One. Bobbie was making the final preparations for departure. She looked over the ship's exterior one last time. Her palm ran over the stern bulkhead almost reverently, still unable to believe the Razor was really hers. It was the greatest gift she'd ever been given. Or maybe the woman of her dreams co-piloting with her was the greatest gift.
Moving into the small ship, she made sure everything was secured. Bobbie didn't have many belongings and they fit easily in the tiny storage spaces. She was waiting on Chrisjen to bring her things. She had given the more materialistic woman a lengthy explanation as to why it was so important to keep their gear as light as possible, insisting that Chrisjen needed to keep what she brought to a minimum.
A knock at the airlock door caught Bobbie's attention. It was Chrisjen. "Come get this stuff," she told Bobbie matter of factly.
Lifting one eyebrow at her, Bobbie sighed, knowing her advice on the complications of weight distribution and space travel had gone ignored. She came out of the ship and was met with several large suitcases.
Brow raising she looked at Chrisjen. "Are you kidding me?" Waving her hands toward the luggage, she said, exasperated, "We talked about this!"
Chrisjen feigned ignorance. "What are you talking about?"
Bobbie looked at her, frustrated. "We can't stow all this. Leave what you don't need." She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to sound authoritative.
However, Chrisjen only looked thoroughly amused, and mirrored her position mockingly. "We can stow it all," she insisted. "You just have to be strategic."
Not backing down, irritated that her warning had gone unheeded, Bobbie said, "I told you that you could have anything you needed delivered to Luna Station when we get there."
Then Chrisjen smiled at her affectionately and Bobbie told herself not to give in. But when Chrisjen said, "You're adorable when you're angry," something about her saying the word 'adorable' with that perfect accent transfixed her.
Bobbie huffed and proceeded to take the bags onto the ship. She briefly opened each one to see what was in them so she could place them in the best way that wouldn't disturb the Razorback's delicate balance when maneuvering. Three of them were clothing, though with all the fabric of each of Chrisjen's pieces, not many fit into each suitcase. Another was filled with tightly wrapped and packed objects that Bobbie knew held great significance for her. She even found some photographs tucked neatly into a side pocket with several images of her late son.
Chrisjen had spent a lengthy life on Earth and now she was trying to stuff all of it into a few bags. Bobbie suddenly felt a pang of guilt for badgering her. Her frustration subsided and she set about securing the bags without another grumble.
When she finished, she looked around to notice Chrisjen already in the rear pilot seat, glancing over the nav system. She made her way over and placed an easy kiss at the woman's temple.
"Ready?" She asked.
With a deep breath, Chrisjen closed her eyes briefly. When she looked back to Bobbie, she simply nodded. Bobbie gently squeezed her shoulder before moving to the air tight door and pulling it closed.
Next, she moved to take her seat at the front of the ship. She radioed in, "UN Tower One, this is the Razorback. Request permission to launch."
The reply was swift. "Request granted Razorback. You are the only ship lifting off. Take your time."
Just then, Chrisjen said from the seat behind her. "I wouldn't do this with anyone else, you know."
Smiling softly to herself, Bobbie replied, "I'm honored, ma'am." She didn't mean to slip back to the formal term. It just came out, a reflex brought from the memories of the last time they were aboard this boat together. "You sure you're ready for what comes next?"
Bobbie noticed on her digital readout that the navigation system had been initiated, indicating that Chrisjen was now guiding them. "Of course I'm fucking ready," came the answer.
"Alright then." Bobbie tapped several buttons in quick succession and the engines roared to life. A gentle vibration came over the ship. One of the best things about this pinnace was how smooth everything felt from the hum of the engines to the ease of its steering. Bobbie was excited to get it off the ground.
She radioed again, "UN Tower One, commencing launch."
"Roger that, Razorback. Clear skies are above you."
Bobbie grinned. It was a nice day for flying. "Sounds perfect, Tower One. We'll see you again soon."
The tower signed off with a most sacred instruction for Bobbie. "Take care of Archangel."
With a nod, Bobbie replied sincerely, "You all have my word. Razorback, out."
Hands on the control levers, Bobbie slightly pulled backward. She felt the ship lift off the ground and she easily maneuvered them up, up, and up. With their flight path clear to Luna Station, Bobbie told Chrisjen, "I'm gonna open her up."
"Understood."
Tapping a couple buttons, Bobbie took the control stick again and pushed it forward, hard. The Gs instantly pushed them back into their seats. Bobbie couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her throat at the sensation.
"Having fun?" Chrisjen asked behind her.
Bobbie tapped the button to turn on the seat cameras that Chrisjen had installed so the pilots could see each other. She saw that, despite the force of the acceleration, Chrisjen seemed fine.
"You doing alright?"
"Completely," she confirmed confidently.
As they passed through the atmosphere, the friction of Earth's sky gave way to weightlessness. Bobbie pulled back the thrusters. They would be in orbit soon and headed for Luna to meet up with Nancy Gao's transition team. After that was still a mystery to her, though she trusted Chrisjen implicitly and looked forward to kicking ass at her side.
Soon the ship settled into a smooth orbit. The women looked at each other through the camera, each one wearing a small smile. One thing was sure - whatever came next, they would be together.
"Alright," Chrisjen said. She pulled up the entire array of her digital control panels, studying them. "Teach me how to fly this thing."
Bobbie schooled her excitement at the notion. With a close-lipped smile, she let out a confident, "Fuck, yeah."