Happy Birthday, Captain Ashford

“You have an incoming message, Captain.”

Maya’s synthetic voice echoed throughout Lookout Station Nyx-12.

Like all stations of the Nyx designation, it was small and utilitarian, fulfilling the most basic of needs of the single person that was posted there in their duty to “Observe. Report. Defend.”

Thankfully, Captain Ashford had only had to involve himself in the latter three times in the past year: twice against Aalus scouting parties, and once against Drod scavengers.

He didn’t count attacks by non-intelligent creatures.

Ashford wiped the steam off the mirror and locked eyes with the tired face that stared back at him.

“Captain...”

“Acknowledged, Maya. Thank you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ashford finished drying himself off, pulled on his issued brown pants and brown t-shirt, and made his way to the communications room.

He sat down and eyed the blinking green button, slowly encircling it with his index finger.

With a deep breath, he pressed the button, and watched as the Com-Circle at the center of the room lit up.

The three-dimensional recorded image of his wife appeared and smiled.

“Hi, honey,” she waved. “Hopefully you are getting this in time for your birthday. I never know what the delays is on these messages are, so I’m sending this a little early just in case. But anyway.” She shook her head gently, her brown curls dancing on her shoulders, and chuckled at her own rambling. “Happy birthday.” She smiled and her hazel eyes brightened. “Hope you like this dress.” She did a few half turns in either direction to show it off. The skirt of the black with pink flowers, sleeveless shirt dress swayed at her knees. “Simple and cute, just how I know you like it.” She laughed. “Someone else wants to say happy birthday too.” She happily beckoned to someone off to the side.

“Hi, daddy!”

The young boy entered into the message, the stretched strands of his image snapping into place as he fully entered the circle.

“I drew this for you for your birthday,” the boy said as he held up a crudely drawn picture of two people fishing at a dock. The larger figure was labeled “DAD” and the smaller, “ME.” The artwork was very much in the average skill and style of a child his age.

“When you get back, can we go fishing every day?” the boy continued. “I want to catch the biggest fish in the lake, and I won’t have to draw it anymore. I love you, dad. Happy birthday. See you soon.”

The boy waved, looked up at his mother, who smiled and nodded, and the boy, after another wave goodbye, turned and ran with all his youthful energy, and his image streaked and disappeared from the circle.

“He talks about you all the time, you know,” she smiled. “Says he wants to join up and be a captain just like his dad.” She tried to smile again, but sadness weighed the edges of her lips down, and, even at this image resolution, the growing moisture in her eyes was apparent. “We are all so proud of you. Out there, keeping everyone back home safe. But… We miss you. I miss you. I keep counting down the days until you come back home. So please stay safe and come back to me.”

Ashford swallowed hard, and quickly dispensed of the encroaching tear with the back of his hand. Even though she couldn’t see him, he didn’t want to cry in front of her.

“I love you so much, baby,” she continued. “Don’t stop thinking about me, because I don’t stop thinking about you.” She blew a kiss. “Love you. Miss you. Will send another message soon.” She wiggled her fingers in a cute wave goodbye, smiled, leaned forward to stop the recording, and the image disappeared.

Ashford sat for a moment, coughed, and, when he regained control of his emotions, exited the communications room and made his way to the observation deck.

After a few minutes, Maya’s voice chimed in.

“May I ask you something, Captain?”

Ashford took a deep breath and sighed.

Maya systems had always had a flaw, or benefit, depending on who you asked, of curiosity.

“I took the liberty of perusing your files, both service and as a private citizen. There is no record of you being married or having children.”

Ashford shifted in his seat and flexed his jaw.

“That’s correct,” he finally responded.

“Is that why you took on such a remote assignment?”

“In part.”

“May I also ask why you pay for those generated messages to be sent to you?”

“I…” Ashford stared at the monitors and readouts without seeing them.

“I’m…” he continued. “Lonely.”

The word struggled, but forced its way out of Ashford’s throat, and a few moments of silence followed.

“There’s one more thing, if I may,” Maya said.

“What is it, Maya?” Ashford shook his head, finding himself growing ever so slightly more amused than annoyed with her questioning.

“Happy Birthday, Captain Ashford.”