A Day in the Life of Marine Captain Cross before the Zoastra Affair Part Fifteen
Trips to planets never rode fast or smoothly. Atmospheric conditions on every planet had a slight difference in pressure. And time never moved fast. Cross and Newman waited in the back of the shuttle―waiting to land. Major Newman wrung his hands. The man looked nervous.
Cross watched him and wondered. Was he worried about Grace? He should be. Losing one’s wife to the unknown never seemed fair to him. Whoever killed his was never caught. But Cross kept silent. Some things were better left unsaid.
“Where are you from?”
Cross looked up. This line of questioning was new. “We’ve known each other two years, major.”
“And I’ve told you about my life, how I met Grace, how I don’t like gin. But I don’t know your background.”
“Not much to say. I joined the Academy when I was twenty-two.” Cross was not about to tell Major Newman much of anything. He never told anyone. Joining meant he had a chance to shoot every weapon in his arsenal, not relive the memories.
“Grace thought…never mind. Just odd that I don’t know where you’re from.”
“Canada.” Cross felt a need to give in, if telling small details meant building some trust for this trip. Peter’s unending good nature made him one of the few trustworthy men around.
“Canada? That’s all?”
“Yes.” No more of this. Silence would be most welcome.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Marine Captain Cross handle personal questions from colleagues?
Marine Captain Cross deflects personal questions by giving minimal answers and relying on silence. When Major Newman asks about his background after two years of working together, Cross reveals only that he is from Canada and nothing more. He believes some things are better left unsaid, particularly painful memories, and joined the Academy partly to avoid reliving his past.
What is the relationship between Captain Cross and Major Newman in the Zoastra Affair?
Captain Cross and Major Newman have worked together for two years in the Zoastra Affair series. Newman is an open, trusting man who has shared details of his personal life, including how he met his wife Grace. Cross, by contrast, remains guarded. Despite their professional closeness, Cross considers Newman one of the few genuinely trustworthy people around him.
Is Captain Cross more of a closed-off loner or a team player compared to Major Newman?
Captain Cross is decidedly more closed-off than Major Newman. While Newman openly shares personal history and shows emotional vulnerability — worrying visibly about his missing wife Grace — Cross stays silent, reveals almost nothing about his background, and guards his past carefully. Cross values trust but builds it slowly, offering only small details like his Canadian origins when pressed.
