by Alan Black
Hammermill laughed, “You know our Lieutenant Vedrian better than that. Before she met you, she was ready to bed any swinging dick. You changed that. She didn’t want to rush into anything with you.”
Stone said, “But Hammer, I never looked on her as a … a …”
Escamilla said, “A one night stand?”
Stone said, “Of course not, I may be young, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t treasure her from the first day. Just because a guy stumbles on a gold encrusted diamond on his first day at the mines, doesn’t mean he can’t recognize a gem when he sees it.”
Hammermill glanced at Escamilla, “That’s what I said. Just because a guy spends years digging for diamonds, doesn’t mean he’s too much of an idiot to keep digging once he finds his jewel.”
Escamilla laughed, “Okay. I get the point. But, you just keep your drill out of my shaft until I say different.”
Hammermill laughed at her continuing the crude analogy. “You know you love me and want me. Speaking of that, Ensign Stone, may we borrow your little shower gazebo?
Stone reached behind him. The windows were already set for opaque, but with a few flicks on the controls, the gazebo lighting changed from a bright daylight glare to a gentle dusk-like shadow. Extra waterfalls and fountains gushed from the walls, splashing and tinkling into pool-less piles of river rock. A variety of flames leapt to life, from tiny candle flickers to twisting flares that seemed to climb the waterfalls. A gentle chime of fairy music harmonized with the water’s jingle.
Stone said, “The door locks on the inside for privacy. You two have fun. I’ll be gone in a few minutes, as soon as I get dressed. I’ve got a meeting in engineering.” A few minutes later he was dressed and on his way to engineering.
He and Allie were a couple and had been for quite some time. Their relationship had progressed nicely once she’d gotten back from her trip to Lazzaroni Station where they’d repaired her broken back and given her a new eye. He’d not filed any forms and she’d not asked him to. He’d just pressed her to grow their relationship into more; not more of this or more of that, just more.
He had received a message from Grandpa and his father telling him to avoid any relationship with a subordinate. He’d kept it along with the message from his grandmother and Mom telling him to go after her, if he truly wanted her. Somewhere in his personal assistant, he had the recording of a meeting with MAJ Numos, Allie’s direct supervisor, where he’d asked the major’s opinion. The major said that if he knew what he was getting himself into, then he should follow through. He remembered Numos saying that a man can’t swim in ankle deep water.
He was fuming. Allie — or someone — should have told him there was a form he could’ve filled out that would’ve cut through all of the crap. Just because he’d been in Allie’s chain of command didn’t mean he loved her any less. There wasn’t anything he could do that she couldn’t stop him from doing. He almost grinned. She could stop him with extreme violence anytime she felt harassed or pressured. He didn’t grin. He was mad at her and wanted to stay that way for a while.
“Hey, Governor.”
“Oh, hello Corporal Tuttle. You’ve got to stop calling me that. I’m just an ensign now.”
She fell into step with him as he continued toward engineering. “You will never be a just anything, sir. You were never just a freighter’s kid. You were never just a regular midshipman. You were never just a governor. Major Numos wouldn’t have volunteered his company for this snafu’d assignment if you hadn’t volunteered to go. Don’t you think he’s following you, whether you’re a civilian, a governor, or an ensign?”
Stone shrugged. “How do I know? Maybe Major Numos knows something I don’t.”
Tuttle laughed, “The major knows a lot of things both of us don’t. That’s why he is a major and we ain’t. What are you referring to?”
“A while back he called me a trouble magnet.”
She slapped Stone on the back. Stone had muscled up quite a bit and his thicker skin protected him, but her bio-mechanical hand still stung. He barely managed to keep his feet.
Tuttle said, “Well, he’s right there. I’d say that about half of this command is good at finding trouble. The thing is, Ensign Stone, this command can find the trouble, but we’re also good at taking care of what we find. That’s why we’re here, right?”
“That’s correct, Corporal. I find the trouble and you get me out of it.”
“Speaking of trouble, you’re headed to engineering, right?”
“Right, Barb. How’d you know?” They were marching in step along the corridor leading to engineering, but he could have branched off anywhere.
“I saw Peebee and Shorty heading that way a few minutes ago. I’m not just some grunt trigger puller you know. I is a corporal.”
Stone laughed. “That you are. You headed that way?”
“No, sir. I had a date a while ago and thought I’d head off to the gym some of the marines built on level twenty-nine.”
“Had a date? Did you get stood up?” Stone couldn’t imagine anyone standing up Tuttle, but the needs of getting the ship ready to reach the system ahead of them and ready to jump home had interrupted more than one of his dates with Allie.
Tuttle shook her head. “Nope. Date went fine — just over is all. Poor fellow got confused. He thought that just because he got a little taste of the Barb it meant we were soul mates.”
Stone said, “Sorry, it didn’t work out.”
Tuttle gave a little shudder, “Getting exclusive now doesn’t sound reasonable to me. I mean, if we aren’t ever going to get home again, what does it matter? Um … are we going to get home again, sir?”
“Of course we are.” He reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to a stop beside him. He was surprised that her bicep was as taut as steel cables. Her natural muscles were no weaker than the metal under the skin on her bio-mechanical hand. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well, we’ve been stuck out here in normal space for months. Some of the people aboard are getting jumpy because we can’t … you know, jump.”
“We have to move through normal space to reach a navigation point where we can jump. Trust me, Barb. We are going to get home again.” He hoped he hadn’t just lied to a friend.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Stone was back on the bridge sitting next to Doctor Wyznewski, but instead of LTSG Missimaya on the other side of him, Shorty had claimed that seat. The little piglet had stopped wearing his handmade strawhat, but his sunglasses still reflected the overhead lights. Jay lay behind them both, having won a game of dodge ball against Peebee and the daughters to earn the spot as bridge interpreter. They all wanted to be here — all except Ell and Anne, who were more than happy to suit up with the marines — but there wasn’t room for more than one drasco at a time on the bridge.
Glancing around Stone didn’t see Missimaya anywhere. He leaned across the table and spoke quietly to Major Numos. “Sir, we’ve passed through this system’s Ort Cloud, the heliosphere, and their Kyper Belt. We’re getting ready to enter communications range for the solar system with the repulsar technology. Shouldn’t the third watch commander be here?”
Numos said, “This morning, the lieutenant senior grade made a formal complaint to Captain Butcher. He claimed aliens shouldn’t be given access to a UEN bridge, the UEN was for humans only.” The major looked pointedly at Shorty and Jay.
Stone shook his head. “UEN bridge? This tangled equipment mess is half-human, half-Hyrocanian, and half who-knows-what. For all I know, Shorty understands this technology better than I do.”
“I hope he understands it better than I do,” Numos added. “Missimaya made his complaint formal, insisting it be on the record. The captain relieved him of bridge duty, putting him in charge of waste disposal.”
“Sounds like a good place for him. Even so, Butcher should have replaced him and the commander of third watch should be here.”
Numos smiled. “He is here, or rather, I’m here.
Captain Butcher asked me to take over as third watch commander.”
Stone gaped in surprise. “A marine in charge of navy personnel on a navy ship?”
Numos nodded, “Well, you just pointed out that this isn’t your traditional ship, right? Besides, we all know that third watch is really just a bookmark with the watch commander trying not to let anything happen until the captain or the XO can get back to the bridge.”
“That’s crap. No one would ever accuse you of being a bookmark.”
“I didn’t say I was. I said that was what Missimaya was. I’m a marine. The gods help any aliens who attack my ship during my watch.”
Stone pointed at the planet on the monitor. The glowing orb was too far away for close up visuals, but their optics were able to pick up the planet clearly. They still couldn’t see any signs of civilization, but all four of the rocky moons were bristling with energy signatures, huge factories, and spaceports. “It almost looks like the aliens here have abandoned the planet in favor of their moons.”
Numos said, “It looks that way. Let’s not make any plans until we find out for sure. You should know by now that all plans end just as soon as someone gets punched in the nose.”
Stone leaned in closer, although he couldn’t see anything new on the monitor. “That makes sense, Major. I’d just rather be the puncher than the punchee.”
Numos stretched back in his chair. “I’m a marine. You get no argument from me.”
Whizzer patted Emmons on the hand, ending his conversation with her. Obviously having listened to Stone and Numos, he said, “Kat and I agree that these people are more xenophobic than warlike. We don’t know the technology behind their repulsar beams, but exploding mines would be much easier to build. They could have killed us, instead they just sent us away.”
Emmons nodded enthusiastically.
Jay laid her head in Stone’s lap. “Shorty says, he wouldn’t be too sure about these people not being dangerous.”
Stone relayed the message to everyone at the table. He asked Shorty. “You said you know these people. How well do you know them?”
Jay interpreting Shorty reported, “I don’t know the ones in charge. Too much time has passed and too much has happened, to me and to them, to be sure of anything. We will see. I am pribit but the people in charge may not recognize that anymore.” Jay looked at Stone as he relayed the message. “Mama, what is a pribit?”
Stone replied, “I don’t know. Did you ask Shorty?”
Jay said, “I did ask and he used a lot of words that I don’t know. He said it may be good and it may be bad.”
They were joined by Captain Butcher. “Everything still good with our piglet friend?”
Numos said, “Yes, sir. Nothing we haven’t known from earlier conversations with Shorty except he told us he is a pribit. That didn’t translate through Jay. Pribit may be what they call themselves, since I doubt they refer to themselves a piglets.”
Stone said, “Captain, as we’ve reported through Jay, every time we ask Shorty or any other piglet what they call themselves, their response is always “the people”.”
Stone patted Shorty on the shoulder with a friendly gentle tap. Smiling at the piglet, he said, “Pribit may mean that he is a long lost monarch or a leper of some untouchable caste.”
Jay said, “Shorty said, that neither is correct, but anyone touching him as you have would have lost their hand.”
Stone yanked his hand back. “Tell, him I meant no offense.” He repeated what Jay had said to his human companions.
Butcher shook his head. “That doesn’t tell us anything. You could lose your hand touching a monarch or someone from an untouchable caste.”
Shorty slipped the sunglasses down his stubby piglet nose and looked over the top at Stone. His eyes were clear brown with a hint of humor around the edges.
Jay laughed. “Shorty says that he forgives you for touching him. He says he will forgive you one touch for every piglet life you saved from the Hyrocanians.”
Stone laughed, “Wait! Shorty’s been around me for a couple of years. I can’t remember how many times I’ve touched him — or Sissie for that matter. Not to mention we never got a good count on the piglets we saved from the Hyrocanians.”
Jay looked from Shorty back to Stone. “He says not to worry. He’s keeping count and will let you know when you’ve reached your limit.”
Everyone laughed in sympathy at Stone as he relayed the information.
Numos added, “That warning should be a comfort as long as you get a decent countdown.”
Jay added, “He says that you can touch Sissie all you want. He says that since he owns her as a slave, he wants to know if you want her for your own?”
A stunned silence settled around the table as Stone relayed the information.
Jay broke the silence. “What is a slave, Mama?”
“It’s a person who is owned by another person. It’s something that humans have worked to erase from our societies for centuries, but it still exists on a few worlds.”
Emmons nodded, “As a doctor studying behavior, I can say that it exists more often than most humans want to know about. Some world governments put people into slavery over debt, some for crimes. Some can earn their way to freedom, some are given specific terms to serve, and some die as slaves. The slave must do what they are told, when they are told, and can be sent to their deaths at their owner’s command.
Jay nodded and wonked in understanding. “Sissie is like your enlisted navy and marines.”
Butcher sputtered, “Of course not. Our military are all volunteers.”
Jay asked, “But they must do what they are told, when they are told, and can be sent to their deaths at your command, correct? What happens if they want to leave or say no?”
Butcher said, “They can be …” His voice faded away.
Numos finished, “Court marshal and a death penalty in time of war.”
Stone said, “She’s got us, Captain. I don’t know how to explain the difference.”
Jay said, “Not me. I’m happy to be Mama’s slave. It’s Shorty asking the question.”
Stone asked, “Did Shorty say if Sissie asked to be his slave?”
Jay interpreted, “I took her by force and claimed her as my slave.”
Shorty put an end to the conversation by tapping the monitor on the table with one of his three opposing fingers. “I know this place and I know these people. Contact them and I will speak with them.” His tapping fingers enlarged the picture.
Everyone could see a trio of massive warships heading toward them. The ships were growing larger with each passing second, their speed in normal space much faster than Rusty Hinges could manage. If pursuit was the warship’s goal, Rusty Hinges couldn’t run fast enough. If a confrontation was the warship’s goal, it didn’t look like Rusty Hinges had what it took against three ships that were each twice their size. If a genial greeting was the plan, the inhabitants wouldn’t have sent warships.
Butcher sprinted back to his seat and said, “XO, sound red alert.” The ship was already at general quarters for the solar system insertion, but the alert would wake up any drowsy personnel. “Tactical, shields up. Navigation, is there a jump point near?”
“XO, Captain. Aye, aye, sir. Red alert.”
“Tactical, sir. Aye, aye. Shields up.”
“Nav, Captain. No, sir. We’ve picked up a few signatures, but we can’t reach them before those ships reach us.”
Butcher said, “Helm, full stop.”
“Helm, Captain. Aye, aye, sir. Full stop now.”
Butcher tapped a finger once on his forehead. “Comms, no message, but keep all channels open for incoming.” He glanced over at the table. “Doctor Emmons, in your opinion, if these aliens are severely xenophobic, what would be their reaction to seeing a human?”
Emmons said, “It could be anything from shoot first to run away. We don’t know enough to even guess, Captain.”
Butcher nodded, “I don’t think run
ning away is their plan.” He pointed at the main monitor displaying three warships bearing down on them. “Do you think they will—”
Jay interrupted him, “Shorty says they will try to chase you out of the system. He isn’t familiar with their repulsar technology, but he thinks they may have their ships built with the same thing. Showing yourself is not a good idea.”
Butcher said, “Comms, keep visual off until further notice.” He looked at Stone. Can we trust Shorty?”
Stone nodded. “He hasn’t cut my hand off yet, Captain. He’s had more than one opportunity to do so over the past couple of years. Maybe he can be our front man?”
Jay said, “Shorty has called for Sissie to come in. She’s been waiting in the corridor. He says that showing his face may be good or it may be prejudicial. What does prejudicial mean, Mama?”
Stone answered “Bad, very bad.”
Jay said, “Play music to them.”
Shorty tossed a memory stick to the Captain. It sailed across the bridge, Butcher caught it, shoved it into a slot in his command chair, and hit play. “Comms, broadcast this and allow us all to listen in.” A tinkling of instrumental music filled the air. There wasn’t any rhythm or beat to the sounds, but the jingling sounded like wind blowing through well crafted wind chimes. Stone thought it was almost like the fairy music he’d piped into the his shower gazebo: restful, calming and soft.
Shorty stood when Sissie entered. He took her by the hand and the two piglets went to stand in front of the video pick up by the main monitor. Both looked at each other, pulled their sunglasses off, looked deeply into each other’s eyes and nodded in agreement. Either they were quiet or Jay didn’t interpret their speech.
“Nav, Captain. The three warships have halted outside of weapons range.”
Butcher snorted, “Nav, do you mean out of our weapons range or out of theirs?”
Nav laughed, “Yes, sir. I mean ours. Sorry, Captain.”