A Day in the Life of Marine Captain Cross before the Zoastra Affair Part Thirty Seven
The alien woman gazed coquettishly at Dr Thomas. Something had happened between them. Captain Cross refused to care. She’s going back, no matter what sweet words passed between them.
When the doctor left, Captain Cross told her, “Your fiancé wants you back.”
“Fiancé? I don’t understand?”
“Don’t play games. If I had my choice, I’d throw you out a bay door into space. You lied to my friends about the kitchen and your status. Now you’re going back where you belong.” He touched his gun, to enforce a silent threat.
“I don’t want to live my life with a man who cannot satisfy a woman. Marrying him is not my choice.”
“I don’t care, princess.” Cross shot back. Letting go of the gun and not shooting her in the face took physical restraint. “My people are not your playthings to risk their lives because you don’t want to get married. Prepare yourself.”
He pulled her to her feet, intending to take her to the flight deck for the transfer. The doctor met them at the door of his office, shaking his head. “You don’t have the authority, captain. Major Nelson is your boss.”
Suddenly, Cross smelled an odor he hadn’t noticed before. A perfume filled the air. Had she caused some soft scent to flow into his nostrils?
“Get your nose in order, doctor.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Her smell.” Cross refused to be manipulated. He turned to the alien. “Women on all planets seem to be made of the same thing. Get over yourself. You’re going back.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Captain Cross handle the alien woman who doesn’t want to return to her fiancé?
Captain Cross forcibly tells the alien woman she is being returned to her fiancé despite her objections. He physically pulls her to her feet to escort her to the flight deck, touches his gun as a silent threat, and dismisses her romantic protests, stating his crew’s lives are not to be risked because she wants to avoid an unwanted marriage.
What role does Dr Thomas play in the confrontation between Captain Cross and the alien woman?
Dr Thomas complicates Captain Cross’s attempt to return the alien woman by blocking the transfer. He informs Cross that he lacks the authority to send her back, citing Major Nelson as Cross’s superior. Earlier, something romantic had developed between the doctor and the alien woman, which Cross notices but refuses to let influence his decision.
Is Captain Cross or Dr Thomas in charge of decisions about the alien woman’s fate aboard the ship?
According to Dr Thomas, Captain Cross does not have final authority over the alien woman’s fate. Major Nelson outranks Cross and holds decision-making power in the situation. Despite Cross’s firm intent to return her to her fiancé, the doctor uses this chain-of-command argument to challenge and block the captain’s actions at the office door.
