As usual she was already waiting beside the rose arch in the park. He saluted, grinning, then held out his arms.

‘Bea, it’s so good to see you.’

Her reply was lost in the folds of his coat. As they kissed, she muttered in his ear. ‘Are you mad, travelling in your uniform?’

‘I didn’t have any choice. Leaving in civvies would have looked more suspicious. This coat covers most of my tunic anyway. Come on, let’s go.’

‘Have you got a kiss for this old soldier, darling?’ They had not noticed the bearded man sitting on one of the park benches watching them. They tried to ignore him, but the man heaved himself to his feet and stared at them more closely.

‘Lost your lapel badges, soldier?’ Then in a more belligerent tone. ‘What unit are you?’

‘Communications unit, sir,’ he improvised, hoping that a deferential reply would mollify the man and prevent him attracting attention.

‘He’s not on duty today.’ Bea flashed the man a dazzling smile. ‘He’s just arrived home on leave. You wouldn’t want to take up any more of our precious time now, would you?’ Unsteadily the man turned to face her, she moved one elegantly high-heeled foot and neatly tripped him up. As he crashed heavily onto the path, the couple fled.

Once they were safely out of earshot, Bea began to laugh. ‘I thought no one would dare come close enough to us to notice you’re not wearing your lapel badges. Where did you get that coat? It’s filthy. You look like a tramp who’s been on the road for weeks, and you smell like one too.’

‘Charming. I’ve half a mind not to give you this now.’ From one of the coat’s cavernous pockets he brought out a crumpled paper bag. ‘Look, I remembered you like burgers.’

Opening the bag, he was horrified to find the bread rolls were blackened around the edges. Bea took one.

‘Thank you. It’s delicious.’

The meat filling tasted charred.

‘Liar. You’d better bar me from the kitchen once we’re married.’

‘Don’t.’

‘Sorry. I promised not to mention the ‘M’ word, I know, but I hate having so little time with you. I just want this ghastly war to end.’

‘So do I. But how do you know things will be any different when it does end?’

‘I don’t, obviously. But we can hope so, can’t we? The latest news bulletins sound promising.

‘True. Your father is working hard on a peace deal.’

‘Yes, but there’s little point in the Admiral of the Fleet putting his weight behind the peace talks if your uncle’s lot aren’t in agreement.’

Bea sighed. ‘Uncle Kay has been like a father to me since I lost my parents early on in the war. I don’t know what it will take to change his mind. Let’s not talk about that now. I’m just so glad you’re here at last. It’s been torture not knowing where you are or if you’re safe. Let’s get out of here. We can go to my place. My flatmate is on duty, so we won’t be disturbed.’

They returned to the park at sunset. A buzzing alarm sounded. He gently disentangled himself from Bea’s arms and glanced at his wrist. ‘We’re here. Bring me up in five. Slower this time, Yarrid.’ He cupped Bea’s face in his hands and kissed her.

When he reached the rose arch, he turned and waved. For a few seconds he could see Bea clearly, waving back.

‘Welcome aboard, sir.’ Yarrid saluted with a smirk which earned him a punch to his right shoulder.

‘Yarrid, you joker. I got covered in space dust on the way down and the ham breads got burned. If you weren’t my brother, I’d put you on report.’

‘Oh, yeah? And what would a report inquiry panel think of a starship captain using his leave to fraternise with the enemy? If it wasn’t for me, Darrid, you wouldn’t be meeting her at all.’

‘Shh, keep your voice down. You’re forgetting, we weren’t enemies when the three of us joined the interplanetary communications team.’ Darrid raised his voice a little. ‘Dad says hi and everyone at home is well. I’ll be glad when that journey takes less than 48 hours crammed into a transporter hub.’

‘We’re working on it,’ replied Yarrid.

‘Good. Now, what’s been happening here while I’ve been away?’

Darrid sat at his monitor, intending to check his messages before taking a shower and changing into a clean uniform. ‘Normal programmes have been interrupted to bring you a special announcement from Imperial Command,’ a news reporter was saying. ‘The peace talks have been successfully concluded. As from twenty hundred hours today we are no longer at war with Rebel Earth and her allies.’

Darrid froze in his seat. The buzz of work around him on the bridge of the Starship Endeavour halted abruptly. Everyone stared at their monitors in awed silence.

‘After the death of Commander Kay’s niece, Captain Beatrissa Kay, in an air battle over the Planet Earth yesterday, the Commander has conceded enough blood has been shed. In a moving speech he paid tribute to his niece and his brother, commending the bravery of combatants on all sides.

‘Rebel Earth Commander Kay and his allies have signed a peace treaty with Imperial Command, headed by Admiral of the Fleet Keelan, Lord of the Outer Ring Planets. After the official celebrations, there will be a three-day period of mourning as a mark of respect to all who have perished in eight years of interplanetary conflict.’

A sudden clamour of cheers and excited chatter broke out on the bridge. The news reporter continued outlining the planned mass celebrations, but Darrid was no longer listening.

By Denise D'Souza

From: United Kingdom