by C. R. Daems
“Time to eat. I’ve added some spices to make it taste better.” Obrist laughed. Next, it was Lonzo.
“Sex for a meal, bitch.” I could hear several others chanting, “sex, sex...” I had nothing to keep my mind off the madness. I was afraid to answer the door or to take the food for fear it had been tampered with or it would be a ruse to gain entrance. Obrist was the most consistent visitor.
“Time for your food, bitch. You and your parasite will never reach Saipha. Open the door, I brought you poisoned food to make it quicker. Nobody believes you. You’re alone. Eventually you’ll have to open the door or starve to death.” He laughed and banged on the door before leaving.
* * * *
I staggered out of bed and fell. My legs wouldn’t support me. I spent a few minutes rubbing them until they began to tingle, showing signs of life.
“Reese, open the door. It’s Terril.”
I managed to crawl to the door and attached the wires to the locking mechanism. The lock clicked open. Terril stood there with the entire Si’jin class, armed with shard guns.
“Nadya, I’m sorry I’m so late, I didn’t know what was happening until today. I knew you’d been confined to quarters, but I thought you’d be safe. I tried contacting you several times over the past three days but your SID wouldn’t answer. I thought you had it turned off. When I looked at the area we set up to copy activity from yours, it was full of abuse, which I’d bet is being erased immediately afterward. I’m sorry. I should have known. Those lieutenants can’t take the chance they’ll be discovered if there’s an inquiry. You’re going to be the guest of the Scorpions. Navy personnel will now be restricted from entering our area.” She dragged me out of the room. Two of them supported me as we marched down the hall. I felt fine, but my legs felt like rubber. As we continued toward the army area, Obrist came walking down the corridor with a tray of food in his hands. When he saw me, he dropped the tray and ran towards Terril.
“Sergeant, release that woman. She’s under arrest and confined to her quarters by order of the XO. I’ll take her back.” He grinned, his eyes filled with excitement. He then reached in to grab me. I cringed. I was too weak to resist and I could imagine the hell I’d endure if he ever got his hands on me. Terril stepped forward before his hand could reach me and drove her shoulder into his chest. As he spun around, her foot slipped behind his foot, and her head drove into his nose. It was so smooth that unless you understood the move, it looked like she had just bumped him. He slammed into the bulkhead headfirst. To a bystander, it would look like he had tripped awkwardly. Blood gushed from his broken nose.
“Sorry, Lieutenant. You’re interfering with a security detail. Reese has violated her confinement to quarters order by leaving her room and is being taken to the ship’s brig.”
“Gunny, he attacked you,” Corporal Engin said.
“No, he was reaching for the Gunny’s gun,” Staff Sergeant Udell added.
“I think you should report him for striking you, Gunny,” Engin said, barely able to avoid laughing. As we passed Obrist, he was lying on the floor moaning, his face covered in blood. When we reached the Scorpions area, Terril turned to Udell. “Make up a schedule, no navy personnel enters this area without Colonel Seng’s or my permission. No one!”
“Yes, Gunny. No one.” Udell pointed to Engin and another man and then to the door. They trotted off smiling. Just then, Seng appeared.
“Gunny, what’s up? I heard Commander Reese was confined to quarters. Leaving her quarters would justify her arrest and brig time but why have you assigned an armed detail to the entrance to our area?” He looked at me then back to Terril.
“Yes, sir. It’s for her protection. Half the navy personnel want to kill her, and the Captain and his senior officers refuse to help her.”
“Gunny, you’re walking on dangerous ground. The Captain’s in charge of this ship.”
“Sir, trust me. When this ship reaches Saipha or Eden, there are at least four lieutenants who are going to do hard time at the penal colony, Cerberus. And Vice Admiral Zann will see to it that the Captain and his staff’s careers are over. Anyone who supports Reese will be protected and rewarded. As for Reese, I was just obeying the XO’s orders. She told her that if she left her room she would spend the rest of her time in the brig. I caught her outside her cabin and arrested her.”
“How do you know that? Were you there?”
“In a way.” Terril pulled out her SID, typed in a few commands, and a hologram sprang to life. It was the first of the incidents after she and I had set up the copy algorithm.
“Gunny, taping the Bridge is—” He stopped in mid-sentence as the scene unfolded before him. He continued to watch until about halfway through my three-day confinement “Enough, Gunny.”
“Gunny’s order stands. I want the guards armed. Use whatever force is required. No, repeat no exceptions. Gunny, get Reese fed and find her temporary quarters until she can be safely...rescued.” He looked pissed. Terril was smiling.
A couple of hours later I sat with Terril, feeling better, having had a small meal and plenty to drink.
Seng opened his office door and spoke. “Gunny, the Captain called and claimed you assaulted an officer. I informed him that the lieutenant attacked you in the performance of your duties. You merely bumped into him to get him out of the way. And that you have several witnesses and are considering pressing charges. I also notified him that Reese was under arrest, per the XO’s order, for having left her room. He seemed upset.” Seng closed his door.
“Gunny, Commander Wang is asking to see Reese,” Udell said with a smile. Terril looked to me.
“After you make sure she has no weapons, you can let her in.” Terril stayed by my side.
“Master Sergeant, is it necessary for you to stay?” Wang’s stare was meant to intimidate Terril. Under other circumstances, I would’ve laughed. It would be easier for her to intimidate Admiral Plimson.
“It’s Master Gunnery Sergeant, Ma’am. And yes, it’s necessary. She’s under arrest and my prisoner.”
“Reese, is this necessary? You are causing a great deal of trouble, when we should be hunting the raiders. Because of you, five cruisers, which should be hunting raiders, are being diverted to Saipha.”
I felt genuine laughter vibrating throughout me. The old Thalia, the clown that I love, was alive and well. The past several weeks had strained even her outrageous sense of humor. I couldn’t stop a laugh, which caused Wang’s face to tighten in anger.
“I’m confused. Commander Panella told me that she had talked to you about my performance, and you stated I had contributed nothing since I joined the Leopard. She also stated that you attributed the previous successes to your team. I won’t argue with either statement, but by your own evaluation, I’m not needed to find the raiders.” I shrugged.
“I guess Panella could have interpreted what I said like that, but what I said was not intended to minimize your contribution. Now that I think about it, her questions were phrased strangely.” Wang’s eyes turned down in thought—or embarrassment.
“Even you, Commander Wang, are prejudiced against the Riss-humans.”
“How can you say that, Reese? I always treated you fairly,” Wang said in genuine shock.
“You and your team have been tracking the Riss-humans for years. You knew of the abuse yet you did nothing. Why? Because we are specimens not humans.” I paused, realizing the raw truth of my statement. No one helped
. I managed to hold my temper in check and continued.
“As for the diversion of ships to Saipha, you and the Captain should take that up with the Admiralty. Even when I was a Lieutenant Commander, I had no authority to divert the Leopard—anywhere. You need to talk to the Captain. He’s in command of the Leopard—not me. As for diverting six cruisers, that’s ludicrous.”
“Reese, you could help us. Instead you’re aiding the raiders with your attitude,” Wang said. Her face had turned red, and she looked like she wanted to stamp the floor.
“You are a senior member of the Intelligence branch. I would suggest you tell the Admiralty the Leopard has better things to do than whatever they have in mind. I’m just a civilian wanting to go home.”
I felt Thalia’s agreeing grin.
“You could have helped me. Instead, you stood aside, while four lieutenants, a Captain, and his staff leveled false charges against me. They want me and the other Riss-humans gone. They’ve won. Blame Captain Wuffraat, all the other Captain Gebauers, and people who are driven by blind prejudice, not me. The Riss are a gentle, civilized people. I will not see them subjected to any more hate and abuse. The Riss tried to help, you rejected it.” I turned and walked away.
* * * *
The next day the Captain stormed into the area, after Gunny gave him permission to enter.
“What the hell’s going on, Colonel Seng? I don’t need a Sergeant’s permission.”
“That’s a Master Gunnery Sergeant, and she was acting under my order to restrict access, since Reese’s life has been threatened. I’m sure you wouldn’t like her killed on your ship, especially after having been told her life is in danger.” The Colonel held Wuffraat’s eyes. Wuffraat was first to break contact. Having failed to intimidate Seng, he turned back to me.
“Reese, you and your kind are causing more trouble than any one of you are worth. I’ve had messages from Admiral Plimson, and Vice Admirals Zann and Youell. They’re calling all ships with Riss-humans to Saipha. Who the hell do you think you are?” He shook his fist at me, spittle spurting from his mouth.
“I’m a civilian. You and the other Captains like Gebauer have finally succeeded in destroying the Riss Project and getting rid of the Riss-humans. I would think you would be happy. Never mind that the SAS has lost a valuable ally. As for the Admirals, you’re a Captain and should have a much better idea of what they want. Perhaps you are going to get that inquiry you want. Personally, I’m not interested. I repeat, I’m a civilian.” I shrugged.
The Captain turned back to Seng. “I want her returned to her quarters. That’s an order, Colonel. No one is trying to kill her.”
“I respectfully decline, Captain. She’s in my custody under arrest and will remain so until transferred to the authorities on Saipha.”
“I’m your superior and order you to return her to her quarters.”
“Actually, Captain, you are not my superior. You are the Captain of his ship and I’m here to support you; however, you have no authority over my men or me. Furthermore, I believe you have given me an illegal order in as much as it recklessly endangers an individual’s life.”
“I’ll see you and Reese in Cerberus, Seng,” Wuffraat screamed, which would have attracted everyone’s attention in the area if they hadn’t already been watching. Wuffraat turned and stormed out of the area, muttering to himself. Seng stood silently, watching the Captain leave, then turned back to me.
“Reese, aren’t you a bit interested in knowing why the Admiralty is diverting six ships to Saipha? I am,” Seng said, frowning.
“I would assume they are returning the Riss-humans to Saipha, since the Riss Project has been terminated.”
Chapter 8
In a way, I was sorry to see the Leopard reach Saipha. Although I was officially under arrest, I had my own cabin, was free to wander the army area, eat in their dining hall, and work out with my friends. I’d miss the good friends I’d made, like Terril, and my life in the navy. It had been very stressful at times and even dangerous, but I loved the life. Worst of all, I’d failed the Riss and crushed their dream of going to the stars. They would have made good allies for the humans and had already demonstrated their potential contributions to the alliance. Unfortunately, humans did not appear to be good allies for the Riss.
* * * *
I was sitting with Terril and several others from the Si’jin class eating lunch, when Colonel Seng approached the table.
“Gunny, the Captain has informed me that he has been told to deliver Lieutenant Commander Reese to the Heavy cruiser, Bateleur. He has a shuttle ready. I would like you to get a detail together and deliver our prisoner to the Bateleur.” He smiled at me. “Commander Reese, I hope you were treated well during your incarceration.”
“Colonel Seng, Thalia and I owe you our lives. You’ve risked your career and more to protect me. If I can ever do anything for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.” Gunny had rescued me, but Seng could have sided with the Captain. Refusing to obey his order to release me could result in his court marshal. It still could. I returned to my temporary cabin and packed my few belongings Terril had salvaged from my assigned cabin. By the time I’d finished, Terril stood ready, dressed in combat fatigues and armed with a Scorpion side arm—a multifunctional gun with laser sights, fleches, and explosive cartridges. Her detail surrounded me and marched me like any prisoner to the shuttle bay. There the Captain and the XO stood along with Obrist.
“Your contract may allow you to quit, but you committed a criminal offense against Lieutenant Obrist, and I’ll see you do prison time for it,” Wuffraat shouted. Obrist didn’t seem all that happy about his Captain’s confidence.
“Ma’am, welcome aboard the Bateleur. Vice Admiral Zann sends her regards and asked me to escort you to your quarters. Petty Officer Geralo will take care of your luggage.” He turned to Terril. “Gunny, I’ll take the Commander from you. She is no longer under arrest.”
I winked at Terril and followed the lieutenant to level one where he showed me my temporary quarters.
“Ma’am, before you get settled, I’ve been asked to take you to the conference room.”
When I entered the room, four of my Riss-sisters were sitting around a long oval table loaded with food. Damion was apparently still on Saipha. Before I could recover, I was mobbed, hugged, and dragged to the table. It was glorious. I could see the exchange of vids between Thalia and the other Riss, and knew she felt the same.
“Nadya, I can’t believe you resigned,” Jaelle said. “I would’ve thought you’d be the last of us to quit.”
“I’ve resigne
d a total of three times.” I laughed. “Non-Riss humans have from the very beginning tried to force us out by discrediting us and the Riss. Our companions and you have endured more than any human should, to prove the Riss would be outstanding allies. I’ve come to the conclusion that they’ll win. There are too many. If they didn’t kill us, they’ll slowly break us down. We can only survive so much. Our contracts are good, but as Wuffraat has proved, with care they can subvert them. We haven’t lost. We are just changing tactics. We, you and me, will help our Riss-sisters create an environment that’ll enable us to attain the stars. It may take a bit longer, but we will succeed.” When I finished, I heard clapping coming from the head of the table. An elderly Riss with graying hair stood projecting a vid I translated as Tranquil mountain-lake in the morning sun. He had been the leader of the Riss’ volunteer entourage for the Riss project.
I felt a strong sense of hope.
I felt no amusement. She was right. I was Riss and like every Riss, I had a position. My previous position had been to navigate between two worlds trying to bring them together. I’d failed. But I hadn’t given up the vision of going to the stars. They wished to go to the stars but didn’t know how to achieve it. They felt I did. Therefore, my position had changed. Alena was the first to speak.
“Will we have to give up our Riss?” Alena asked. From the look on the others faces, I knew she was asking for the group.
“No. Each of you has proved you are high-Riss as well as human. You wouldn’t have lasted this long if you and your partner weren’t committed.” That seemed to relax everyone and the discussions turned to other topics.