by M. K. Eidem
"He is no longer on Pontus."
"Oh, so he knew how to cook?"
"Not in the way you seem to. He only made what I make now."
Jen stopped washing the pot to give him a horrified look. "Are you telling me that the Last Meal you all anticipate every day is always the same thing?"
"Yes. What else would anyone make?"
"Oh, I don't know. A stew? A roast? Maybe some type of hearty soup. You have all the ingredients; you just don't know how to put them together."
"But you do?"
"I do," she told him grinning. "And tomorrow, if anyone trusts me with their food stores, I'll prove it." Her smile faded at the thought no one would.
"You know you can use Nikhil's and mine," Mac told her walking into the kitchen.
"Mac, you don't have to...”
"I know," Mac interrupted her, "but I want to. I'm ready to get some real food again. Good food. No offense, Gulzar."
"None taken, Ashe Mackenzie."
"So tell me. What are you going to make?" Mac asked excitedly as she hopped up to sit on one of the counters.
"I won't know until I see what your food stores are."
"Well, an Elite Warrior receives what we would consider around a pound of fresh meat or the equivalent in credits to purchase what he wishes. With every increase in rank, his allotment rises. It also increases if he has an Ashe. So we have around a pound and a half of meat and the same amount of vegetables."
"You can choose your vegetables?"
"That's my understanding." They both looked to Gulzar for confirmation.
"I don't understand this word you use, pound, but everything else Ashe Mackenzie says is truth. I can show you the amounts if you wish. When I make Last Meal, I know the total I am allowed in vegetables and just use whatever there is the most of."
"You don't use a variety?" Jen couldn't believe it.
"I might use what's left of one before moving onto the next, but I try not to because there can be… disputes between Warriors, if one receives something different than another."
"Seriously?" Jen couldn’t believe it. They were supposed to be Elite Warriors, not children who got upset because they didn’t get what someone else had.
"Truth. For a Warrior of higher rank to get what might be considered less than one of a lower one is a grave insult."
"I see. That wasn't in the educator."
"It wasn't?" Gulzar frowned at that. "It must have been assumed."
"Yes, well you know what that means…" Jen said.
Mackenzie nodded, while Gulzar just gave them both a confused look.
"I do not understand what you are saying." He looked from one female to the other.
"On Earth," Jen told him, "it is said that when you assume something, it makes an “ass out of u and me.' It's a play on the letters of the word."
"I see." But they could both tell he didn’t.
"So should we see what vegetables you have left?" Jen asked, rinsing off the now clean pot before drying her hands. "I also want to recheck the other supplies in the dry room. I was wrong about what some of them were."
“If that is what you wish, Jen.”
"Gulzar?" The question in Mac’s voice had him turning her way.
"Yes, Ashe Mackenzie?" he asked.
"Why won't you call me Mac like you call Jennifer Jen?"
"Because Warrior Nikhil would end my life if I took such a liberty."
"What?" Mac gave him a disbelieving look. "You can't believe that!"
It was Gulzar's turn to give her a disbelieving look. "Of course, I believe that. It is truth and is what I would do if another male so disrespected my Ashe."
"And you still consider Nikhil to be sweet?" Jen asked, moving past both of them to open the dry room door.
"I do not understand this term," Gulzar said, allowing Mac to precede him into the dry room. "Sweet implies friendly, kind, maybe even soft and tender. An Elite Kaliszian Warrior is none of those things."
"Maybe not to other males, but to his Ashe, he’s all that and more," Mac told him then laughed when he seemed to stumble.
"Gulzar?" Jen's voice had him looking at her.
"Yes, Jen?"
"There's not a lot of variety left in this room."
"That is truth. We are nearing the end of this supply cycle."
"Supply cycle?"
"Yes. We are only resupplied with fresh foods once a moon cycle."
"From Vesta?" The educator had taught Jen that nearly all the Kaliszian food supplies came from Vesta.
"No. All food supplies go directly to Crurn where they are processed, and can then be distributed to all that have earned it."
"Earned them?"
"Yes, was that not in your educator?"
"I'm not sure, explain more, please."
"The amount of the food supply a Kaliszian receives is dependent on what they contribute to our society."
"Contribute?" Jen frowned at him.
"Yes. A Kaliszian’s rank in society directly affects the portion of the food supply they are allowed to receive."
"And who are the highest ranking in your society?"
"Well, after the Emperor and his family, it is then his ministers and their families, and then those that serve in defense of the Empire."
"Meaning the Warriors."
"Yes. Was this not in your educator?" Gulzar asked.
Jen frowned searching her mind. "There was something, but I never made that connection. So only those of highest rank receive the best food."
"Or if one has enough credits."
"Which is why you send as much home as you can."
"Yes. If I can't send home extra food packets, then I send home credits so they can purchase what they need at the market."
"Purchase. Now I am confused. I thought all the food was distributed."
"The distributed food is what is purchased by the Empire from the Tornians. But there are those with the ability to travel outside our Empire. They return with food stores that they then sell in the markets for credits."
"This happens on every planet?"
"Yes. Those that can supply extra food are very powerful. Some are even ministers."
"The same ministers that receive some of the best foods purchased by the Empire?" Jen didn't try to keep the shock from her voice.
"Yes."
"I see." And Jen did. It was the same on Earth where the law of supply and demand allowed some to become more powerful than others. Not because they were more worthy or deserving, but because they had something others needed. Apparently for all their advances and being able to travel into space, the Kaliszians weren't that different than humans. "So what am I allowed to use?"
"Anything you want," Gulzar told her. "You have Warrior Nikhil’s, Ashe Mackenzie’s, and Healer Luol's vegetable stores to use. And while I do not receive as much as they do, I would also like to add my own."
"Gulzar!" Jen turned to him in shock. "Your family."
"I cannot send my fresh food stores to them. They would never make it to Sustus. Therefore, I offer it to you and only ask that you allow me to assist you in making the meal so that I might one day be able to teach it to my mother and sisters."
"You want to learn how to cook?" Jen asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it would be an important skill to have,” he told her, his cheeks starting to darken.
"I agree, and I would be honored to teach you what I know."
"Thank you, Jen."
"Alright, so vegetables and meat. I’m thinking stew. What do you say, Mac?"
"Stew?!!" Mac's eyes grew wide. "Like real stew with tender chunks of meat, perfectly cooked veggies, and thick, rich sauce?"
"Yes," Jen smiled at the longing in Mac's voice. "I only wish I could make biscuits."
"Yeah, that would make it perfect," Mac said longingly.
"Biscuits? What are biscuits?" Gulzar asked.
"It's a small, round piece of bread that you can dip into the sauce. Some people like to p
ut butter and jam on them."
"Bread…” Gulzar looked around the dry room. “What do you need to make it?"
"Well, things like flour, sugar, baking powder." She touched the items on the shelves. "And then you need butter and milk."
"And we don't have those other things?" Gulzar asked.
"Well, yes, in the cold room you do," Jen told him.
"Then why can't you make them?" Gulzar demanded.
"Because I don't know if I'm allowed to use those items."
"I was informed that you were allowed to use any of the common items such as the ones you've spoken."
"Really?" A huge smile broke across Jen's face.
"Yes, those supplies are rarely used because we don't know how to use them."
"Well, I can help with that.” Jen turned to Mac. “So tomorrow, Mac, you're getting biscuits."
"Yes!" Tightening her fist, she bent her elbow and pulled it down enthusiastically.
• • • • • •
Gryf stood stunned just inside the door of the food depository, his gaze taking in its transformation. Everything gleamed and shined. It wasn't the same room he'd entered just two days ago. It even smelled different. It smelled… his mouth started to water. Wonderful.
"Commander Gryf!" Gulzar came to attention the instant he noticed Gryf had entered the room.
"Warrior Gulzar," Gryf acknowledged. "I am here to escort Chef Jennifer to her new quarters."
"What?" Jen turned, giving Gryf a confused look.
"I am to escort you to your new quarters," Gryf repeated.
"Why am I getting new quarters?" Jen asked.
"Because it is what General Rayner ordered," Gryf told her stiffly.
"Where?" Mac asked hopefully. "Near mine?"
"No," Gryf's voice softened as he spoke to Mac, "I am sorry, Ashe Mackenzie, but that area is reserved for officers."
"But...”
"Mac, it’s alright." Jen put a reassuring hand on Mac's arm. "You can't expect me to be treated the same as you. You are Elite Warrior Nikhil's Ashe. I'm just a Chef."
"Don't talk about yourself that way!" The vehemence in Mac's voice had both males stiffening. "Like you don't matter! Just because this jackass," she gestured angrily to Gryf, "doesn't know any better."
"Ashe Mackenzie," Gryf looked genuinely contrite. "I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you. It was not my intention to infer...”
"That you see my friend as unworthy of the slightest of comforts?" Mac cut him off. "That she is less than you because she is female and not Kaliszian? Because that's what I heard, Commander Gryf." Mac was nose to nose with Treyvon's Second-in-command, the second most powerful male on the planet. Or at least as close as she could be since she was over a foot shorter, challenging him, and he took a step back.
"Mac," Jen pulled her friend away from the large male she was glaring at and made Mac look at her. This was her friend, Mac, and this side of her the Kaliszians didn't know. They only saw her as Nikhil's Ashe, as female, one they had found beaten and injured. They didn't know how strong and resourceful she was or what she'd had to go through on Earth to survive or that she stood by her friends, no matter what.
Jen knew this and didn't want to be what came between Mac and the happiness she had finally found. "I'm sure Commander Gryf didn't mean it that way. You and I both know they're not that different than Earth males and can be just as stupid. We've both had to deal with it before."
That had the males grumbling and a smile twitching on Mac's lips. "True, but still…"
"Let it go please, Mac." Only after Mac finally nodded, did Jen turn her attention to Gulzar. "Will you make sure to put the stock in the cool room for me?"
"As soon as it is cooled, Jen," Gulzar immediately assured her before giving his superior an angry glare.
"Thank you." Jen then turned to Treyvon's Second and gestured to the door. "Lead the way, Commander Gryf."
Gryf said nothing as he walked slightly ahead of Jennifer. The female confused him. As did what just happened in the food depository. Ashe Mackenzie had been truly offended by his words regarding this other female, this Jennifer. She even claimed Jennifer was her friend. He had never heard of such a thing between females. Friends or friendship was something females only offered to males. Didn't they? What he knew of females was that they competed for a male's attention, giving them access to his food stores and food credits. Realizing he had reached the door to the new quarters, he stopped.
"These will now be your quarters." He turned expecting to find her directly behind him. Instead, she was some distance away, and to his shame, he realized that he had forgotten to adjust his stride to her much shorter, injured one.
Jen refused to ask Commander Gryf to shorten his stride as he moved farther and farther away from her. She figured as long as she kept him in sight, he would eventually notice. When he stopped not far from the kitchen, she knew she was right. Never changing her pace, she finally caught up to him then looked at the drab, gray door.
There was nothing remarkable about it, and if truth be told, she probably never would have noticed it as it was flush to the wall with only a thin frame with a darker gray panel next to it. It was entirely different than the one she'd had before.
"These quarters require a palm scan for external entry." Gryf raised a device to the panel, and it lit up. "Place your palm on the panel."
Jen did as he said then pulled her hand away, startled, when the panel began to change color.
"No!" Gryf gripped her wrist holding it in place. "You must leave your hand on it."
Jen bit down on her lip, trying not to cry out at the strength of the Commander's grip.
"Commander! What in the name of the Goddess do you think you are doing!" Treyvon gripped his Second's wrist, pressing his thumb deep into the soft tissue on the underside of it, forcing him to release Jennifer.
"General!" Gryf immediately released Jennifer's wrist as the nerves in his hand screamed out in pain.
"Jennifer, are you alright?" Treyvon shoved his Second aside, inspecting her wrist.
"General," Gryf frowned as he watched his General. "I was only trying to maintain her palm contact on the pane so it could register."
"You were hurting her!" Treyvon growled.
"I wasn't!" Gryf's gaze went to the wrist Treyvon was carefully holding, then paled at the wide, dark mark growing on it. His gaze lifted to Jennifer's. "I… I didn't realize…"
Jen said nothing because she didn't know what to say. It was evident to her, by his attitude, that Commander Gryf didn't like her presence here. But that didn't mean she believed he had intentionally tried to harm her.
"Leave, Commander!" Treyvon ordered angrily. "I will see that Jennifer is settled."
"I… yes, General." Gryf started to spin away then paused and looked Jennifer directly in the eyes. "I truly apologize, Chef Jennifer. I would never have knowingly caused you harm." Without giving her a chance to respond, he quickly walked away.
Treyvon was barely able to control his rage as he gently cradled Jennifer's wrist. He had trusted Gryf to see to her while he was tied up with his duties. What would have happened had he not cut his comm short? Would Gryf have broken her wrist?
"I will take you to Luol," he told her quietly.
"No, there's no need. I'm all right." Realizing he still held her hand, she slowly pulled it away. "I don't believe Commander Gryf meant to harm me. He just wanted my hand to remain where it was. You Kaliszians don't always know your own strength."
"That is no excuse for harming a female!”
"I agree. But as I said, it wasn’t intentional." Pressing her hand against the panel, the door opened, and she slowly walked in. "I guess it worked."
The room wasn't that much different than the first one she'd been given, except that it was larger. It was still stark and drab, and about half the size of the dorm room she'd refused to live in at college. Once again, forcing her to face how spoiled and selfish she had been. Because it now thrilled her t
o have this small room with its single bed, well single for a Kaliszian and a cleansing room all to herself.
"I'm sorry it's not more…" Treyvon started to say, his eyes moving around the chamber. This wasn't what he wanted for her, wasn’t where he wanted her. But for now, this was the best he could do. At least she would be sleeping on sheets from his personal supply, sheets that wouldn't irritate or scratch her delicate skin.
"It's fine. Wonderful actually." Jen turned to face the General. "Thank you." She started to give him a grateful smile; it was what the old Jen would have done. But then she remembered how he had left after Luol had placed the educator on her and realized she couldn't let herself rely on him, no matter how much she wanted to.
"What is wrong?" he asked taking a step closer to her.
"Nothing."
Treyvon froze when Jennifer immediately took a step back, maintaining the distance between them. "I would never harm you, Jennifer."
"I know that,” she told him.
"Then why do you move away from me?" he asked.
“I… it’s just…” She shook her head knowing she wasn’t making any sense. But how could she explain what she didn’t understand herself?
“My presence makes you uncomfortable.” Treyvon didn’t like the way that thought made him feel.
“Maybe… a little,” she admitted and watched as he took a giant step back, his face going completely blank.
“I see.” That uncomfortable feeling grew, and he realized what it was. It was hurt. Her words hurt him. That was not acceptable. “Then I will leave this with you and do my best to make sure to keep my uncomfortable presence far from you.”
With that, Treyvon shoved a package into Jen's arms, and before she could say anything, he spun on his heel and left the room.
Jen wanted to call out, wanted to call Treyvon back, but what could she say to him? He did make her uncomfortable, just not for the reason he seemed to think. Jen had never felt safer or more drawn to a man… male, than to Treyvon, and that included her husband. Just thinking that shamed Jen. Todd hadn't been perfect, not by a long shot, but she had loved him, had chosen him, and had made a commitment to him. She thought he had done the same to her. Then her parents had died, and things changed between them.