Then the heard the words.“You may now kiss the bride, and under the eyes of the Chalice and the Holy Ghost, be married from now until death.”Every...ne was looking at Lou. His mother and his father, seated at their comfortable chairs. The combat robots. The cameras in floating drone bodies. The curious AnComs who had come down to the surface. Even the hellgaunts. To his credit, the Priest was looking as if he was reconsidering what he had just said – as if he had done this kind of service so. ”I sat back and smiled, “The whole company?”She nodded as she sat at her desk, “I do not know how they expect us to train new soldiers if they coddle them.”I grinned, “want me to ask the commander to change our assignment?”She snorted, “I used your name already and she said you are a trouble magnet and did not need the headache.”I shook my head and handed her two resignation forms, “Two more dropped out.”Top Sergeant Brenda Davis was hard as battle steel but had a soft spot for trainees. She. Maybe, next time I am in harbour. Lord Desson has given me the Medusa,” he added and his pride showed. “Listen, I need to be on board. I’ll be back tonight.” He left her with a kiss and hurried back to where his gig was waiting.Later that evening, after a whirlwind of activities, as he was rowed ashore by his gig’s crew, he thought about Rose. She had proven an invaluable help in the last years, easing the hardships of a sailor’s life. Always ready for him, always bringing happiness into his. Sut thought "how long has it been since I was lastawakened a decade, a century, or a millennia no matter life as a slaveis still life which is better than non-existence."Matt looked at the encrusted bowl shaped object that he picked up on thebeach, turning it over in his hands he saw it must made of copper orsome other metal that did not rust. Matt then thought of the article hejust read about how the state North Carolina had claims on any treasurefound on its shores and it was a crime to keep.