Startling awake, Josh rolled out of bed, jumped into the shower, and jacked off while scalding water poured over his skin. After that, he wanted to go back to bed, but he forced himself to dress, mold his face into his own mask of affable neutrality, and get coffee in the mess to counteract his lassitude. When he returned to the bridge, Paris did not appear to have moved.
“Nothing to report,” he said when Josh sat down.
Josh took a chance. “Are you all right?” he asked, not using his command voice.
“Yes, sir.” Paris replied like an automaton.
Josh sighed and buckled himself in. Everyone was nervous. It had never taken this long to find the gate that would take them home.
Another agonizing twelve hours passed before Paris gave Josh the signal that his calculations had resulted in the c
