“Of course not. Like us, he’s not anyone who needs to know. He just happened to see the latest navigation plots last time he had duty on the bridge.”
Sprague’s smirk faded and he scowled down at the meatloaves waiting to go into the oven. “Dirty Kalqs eating all our food. Captain Walker had better be getting a good price for them.”
“I suppose that might make sense, trading slaves for provisions.” Elisa felt ill. Would the captain, such a kind-seeming soul, really sell the prisoners into slavery?
Sprague kept on talking, spewing bile that only furthered her despair. “Personally, I’d rather see the Kalquorians poisoned. But then, that might be a kindness if they’re destined for Bi’is. Those Grays go through slaves pretty damned fast, I hear, even tough bastards like Kalquorians.”
With that he walked off, leaving Elisa shaken and frightened for Zemos’ clan.
* * * *
Her cart clattering, Elisa entered the general population brig where the Kalquorian destroyer’s surviving crew had been incarcerated. The guard office was much like the one in the maximum security wing with a table, chairs, and a blank-screened vid.
The lone guard on duty was playing solitaire with a tattered deck of cards. He looked up at Elisa with little interest as she guided the food cart into the room. His name tag read ‘Larsen’.
Usually there were two guards on duty for general population detention. Elisa wondered if the missing man was out sick or had escaped the ship.
She met Larsen’s eyes and nodded a hello. Larsen had never given her any trouble. She had the impression he simply came in, did his job, and faded into the background as soon as he was able. He was young, probably still in his early twenties. Yet today his eyes were almost as blank as a dead man’s. Once, about a month ago, Elisa had walked in on Larsen as he rubbed his reddened eyes. She was pretty sure he’d been crying.
With his far-off gaze, Larsen stood and put a blaster and his field disruptor on his belt. He led the way through the door.
As Elisa stepped into the block, Larsen said in a voice as dead as his eyes, “Mind the puddles, miss. The two guards on morning shift hosed them down. They said the prisoners were starting to stink.”
Elisa kept her expression as noncommittal as Larsen’s tone. She felt bad for the Kalquorians as they approached the first small cell.
Ten men were packed in each tiny space. Elisa thought they must sleep in shifts, since there was not enough room for the crowded aliens to all lie or sit down at once. Today, they were all dripping wet in the chilly cell block.
Helpless anger filled Elisa to see the big Kalquorians reduced to such uncomfortable circumstances. The brig was not large enough to accommodate all the crew that had been captured, so conditions were already untenable. She had the feeling Captain Walker wouldn’t approve of the hosing. Knowing the majority of the guards, they’d sprayed the prisoners with high pressure, for no reason except to make the Kalquorians more demoralized than they already were. Even the bit of bedding in the cells looked soaked through.
Despite the treatment they’d received from her fellow shipmates, the men in the first cell bowed respectfully to her, as they always did. They even nodded at Larsen, though he stared at the floor with his blank gaze. With the young guard determined to keep his eyes averted, Elisa offered the prisoners a quick smile of sympathy.
She made her small opening in the containment field and handed in their lunches. The sodden bunch all broke into delighted smiles at the sight of meatloaf. The first to receive their food dug in hungrily and nodded at her, making appreciative noises as they ate.
“That meatloaf sure does smell good,” Larsen said, so quietly Elisa barely made it out. His voice was listless, as if he couldn’t summon the energy to speak.
“Give him a slice of mine, Matara,” one prisoner urged as she started to hand him a tray. “The boy is losing too much weight and needs it. You should take a slice too.”
Larsen hunched and shuffled back. Emotion flooded into his eyes at last, an ocean of pain as he looked up at his would-be benefactor. He shook his head. “We’re not allowed, and I don’t deserve it. Thank you anyway, Nobek Kom.”
Kom sighed and took his tray with a shake of his head. “You couldn’t stop them from hosing us, youngling. If you had tried, it would have gotten you into a lot of trouble.”
Blinking hard, Larsen turned away. Kom moved back, eating and watching Larsen with pity, as if the Earther was the one imprisoned. Other Kalquorians looked sympathetically at the guard as well.
Elisa sighed too. Despite all they suffered, the Kalquorians were kind to those who treated them as well as possible. Even Larsen was not despised for the indignities his fellow guards inflicted on them.
She and Larsen moved down the cells. Over and over she was greeted by respectful bows and murmurs of “Hello, Matara.” Polite nods were accorded Larsen. No one subjected her to rude catcalls and no one bared fangs at the man keeping an eye on them all.
Back in the guard office, Elisa rearranged her cart as she always did, readying for her trip into maximum security. Larsen took off his field disruptor and blaster. He sank into his chair at the table and stared blankly at the card game he’d been playing.
“They aren’t monsters,” he whispered.
“No, they aren’t,” Elisa said. “But you can’t go around telling people that.”
“I knew it was fine to tell you. You’re all right.”
“Just be careful, okay? You can’t allow others to see how much you hate this.” Elisa feared for the young man. In his anguish, Larsen was losing the ability to hide his feelings.
“You know as well as I do that we should have given up at the end of the war.” Larsen looked up at her. “You do realize that if there really is a Hell, we’re going there, right? For our part in this?”
“Stop it,” she urged, terrified by the hopeless look in the young man’s eyes. “You can’t start thinking and saying such things. Next thing you know, Chase or Robards will be beating you ... or worse.”
“We’re the monsters,” Larsen insisted, as if she hadn’t spoken. His gaze went blank again, as if he had vacated his own body in the desperate need to escape.
Elisa left him staring unseeing at his solitaire game. Her thoughts were on what Sprague had told her, that they might be selling the Kalquorians into slavery. All those kind, respectful aliens who didn’t hold her or Larsen accountable for what had befallen them were destined for their own hell if that was true.
Larsen’s right. We are as much to blame for whatever happens. We’re allowing it, and that makes us just as guilty as the rest, she thought.
Elisa paused between the two brig areas to gather herself so she didn’t start sobbing.
Chapter 5
Elisa recovered before moving on, only to feel ill again at the sight of Remington on duty in maximum security. He grinned up at her as he played solitaire, his eyes crawling over her body. It was like the two guard offices were mirror images, with this side showing a brutal parody of the other.
Elisa kept her features as indifferent as possible, though she had the urge to run screaming. Her fingers itched to clutch the spray bottle of vinegar in her pocket. Her nerves were raw right now.
Remington didn’t note any tension, because his tone was easy as he gloated. “Well, well, here we are again, despite all the efforts of Captain Kalq and his butt buddies.”
Not really caring whatever it was he alluded to, Elisa asked indifferently, “What do you mean?”
His grin only got bigger as he stood. His chest puffed out as if he’d accomplished something worthy of a trophy. “I scared the big cowards yesterday. The Kalqs made a plea to Captain Walker to get me re-assigned. The captain tried to do as they asked, but Lieutenant Commander Robards said to keep doing my shifts as usual. He told me to keep up the good work.”
Robards had countermanded the captain’s order? Elisa knew that wasn’t a good sign. The tactical officer in charge of ship’s securi
ty was a hardliner, worse than even Commander Chase. Robards ordered beatings for the smallest of infractions. He was the one rumored to be secretly executing those attempting to escape.
The ramifications of Robards’ actions paled in the here and now as Elisa remembered what Remington had alleged yesterday to Clan Zemos. How was she to look them in the eyes when they thought she slept with this disgusting little shit? If only Robards had re-assigned him!
Her teeth clenched together, Elisa said, “I need to get back to the kitchen. Can we get this done?”
Remington put his blaster and field disruptor on his belt. “Sure, sweetheart. Anything you say.”
His smirk made Elisa want to punch him in the face. Or spray her vinegar. Watching Remington try to claw his eyes out would be a delight.
Her heart drummed as she followed him into the cell block. Despite the humiliation of what Remington had told the Kalquorians, Elisa couldn’t help but look forward to seeing them again. Just the few seconds she would look at them would make getting through the next hours worthwhile.
Oret stood front and center near the containment field as Elisa brought the lunch cart close. Miragin and Zemos stood a couple feet behind him. All wore welcoming smiles for her and pointedly ignored Remington. Her tension eased.
The guard didn’t like being treated like he wasn’t there. He sneered at the three Kalquorians. In his most strident tone, Remington declared, “Here you go, you freaks. Food and a female to make you salivate. I wonder which one they’d take if given the choice, huh Elisa?”
Elisa’s face burned as she got the first dish ready to hand in to Oret. She remembered all too clearly the things Remington had told them yesterday. What must they think of her?
Well, she hadn’t done anything even slightly untoward with the nasty little bastard. Not with any man for that matter, no matter what they had whispered in her small hometown. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
Elisa squared her shoulders and looked Oret right in the eyes as she opened the small window in the field. His smile was gentle, completely at odds with his strong features. The Nobek’s expression said he didn’t believe anything Remington said for one second. The icy cold that had settled in Elisa’s stomach thawed in his regard. The corners of her lips twitched up as she handed in the food tray to him.
Oret offered a bow before taking the dish. Behind him, Miragin and Zemos did the same, their features also warm and welcoming. They chorused, “Good afternoon, Matara.”
Oret added, “Ah, Miragin’s favorite meal. Thank you for the kindness.”
Elisa’s face heated to match the warmth spreading from her stomach to her chest. Even if she’d dared to speak in front of Remington, she’d be too tongue-tied to do so right now. Oret, as bestial as he appeared, had a level of graciousness that Remington could never aspire to. His gratitude for something as simple as his clanmate’s preferred Earther food was a wondrous thing.
Miragin’s face lit with delight as Oret gave him his lunch. “I could eat this every day, Matara. Thank you.”
Zemos chuckled and added, “He talks about it all the time. I can’t blame him; your meatloaf is delicious.”
Remington, of course, had to ruin the moment. “Meatloaf? Your favorite is meatloaf? It looks like dog food to me. Then again, dog food is exactly what you Earth killers deserve.”
Elisa followed Oret’s example and acted as if the guard wasn’t yelling in his efforts to have them acknowledge him. She wished Remington would get bored and go away.
She handed Oret another tray. Heavens, the man’s hands were so big and powerful. He had knots for knuckles and thick veins ran across the backs. She bet the pads of his fingers were harsh with callouses. She imagined them touching her naked flesh. It was all she could do to not shiver.
Remington kept right on talking. “Stupid Kalqs. You wouldn’t know good food if it shoved itself in your mouths. This is military chow, not upscale. It’s not like she’s giving you filet mignon or lobster. It’s just meatloaf!”
Elisa handed in the last dish with real regret despite Remington’s presence. As slow as she’d been to hand them their food, it was already time to leave. Clenching her teeth against the sigh that wanted to escape, she closed up the food cart.
“The best meal of all doesn’t come from the kitchen. The tastiest flesh is what little Miss Chef there has cooking down below. Now that is some sweet stuff.”
Elisa jerked her head up to stare at Remington. Horror and disgust twisted her guts as he leered at her.
Miragin laughed. The Imdiko’s derisive snickers, uttered around a mouthful of food, drew both Earthers’ attention. His clanmates looked at him too, warning expressions on their faces.
Miragin ignored the other two Kalquorians, staring at Remington instead. He swallowed so he could speak. “What’s that saying you Earthers have? Oh yes, I think it’s ‘in your dreams’.”
Remington’s lip curled back in a mutt-like snarl. “You think I haven’t had her?”
“I know you haven’t. I doubt you’ve had any woman. You’ve only had yourself, judging from how remarkably toned your right arm and hand are.”
Despite their obvious concern, Oret and Zemos burst into laughter at that. Remington shrieked in wordless anger.
Miragin grinned at Elisa and tipped her a wink. He shoved another mouthful of meatloaf in and groaned in delight as he chewed.
Elisa couldn’t help herself. A smile flashed over her face before she could gain control. Unfortunately, the red-faced Remington glanced at her just as it happened. She ducked her head to hide behind her hair, but it was too late.
He got in her face in an instant. “You think that’s funny? You think the Kalqs are humorous, you tight twat?”
“I need to return to the kitchen,” Elisa quavered, frightened by the raw anger in Remington’s eyes. She grabbed her cart and tugged at it, ready to flee down the corridor to get away from the irate guard.
He seized her upper arm with one hand, his grip punishing with force. She cried out and the three Kalquorians shouted in anger as Remington yanked her close.
He ignored the noise they made. Spittle flying in his furry, he snarled, “Let’s see how fucking funny you think this is!”
Remington’s free hand moved from his belt. When he brought up his frequency disruptor rather than the blaster, Elisa nearly fainted from relief. Then she was suddenly hurtled towards the cell’s containment field. Remington had shoved her too hard for her to stop her momentum. She tensed as she braced to crash against it.
Instead, Elisa flew into the cell, heading straight for Oret. The startled Nobek had only enough time to drop his food tray before she smashed against his iron body. His arms wrapped around her and he automatically gave a little against the collision, cushioning the blow and keeping Elisa from being hurt.
For an instant, their gazes met. Elisa stared into the face of the Nobek, feeling his breath on her face. His arms tightened around her, molding her against himself. Their bodies crushed to one another’s, and Elisa felt the strength of the man holding her. Her knees buckled as her senses drowned in the sight, smell, and feel of the Nobek.
The next moment, Oret released her, simultaneously swinging her to one side and leaping at Remington. The containment field was already restored, however, bouncing the Nobek off with enough force to send him to the middle of the cell, where he landed on his ass.
Elisa’s legs somehow found their strength. She stood frozen and stared at the Kalquorians, terror stealing over her. She was locked in the cell with the three aliens. Remington had trapped her inside with men that the Church had warned would rape any Earther female they could lay their hands on.
Remington laughed maniacally on the other side of the containment. “That’ll teach you, you bitch. Hang out with your friends, have a few more laughs.”
The Kalquorians stared at her, Oret still sitting on the floor where he’d landed. Elisa shrank back, taking slow steps until her butt met the field behind her. It hisse
d a warning at the contact, but she barely noticed. Purple eyes filled her gaze, along with monumental bodies possessing strength she could never hope to overcome. She was trapped inside with alien men who had no women of their own, who had flirted with her, and who she had brazenly flirted back with. She had nowhere to run from them.
Zemos recovered from the shock first. He blinked slowly and his tensed shoulders slumped a little as he made himself relax. He offered Elisa a slight smile.
His tone cautious, the Dramok said, “It is all right, little one. We are not going to hurt you. We will not even touch you.”
As if awakened from a trance, Miragin shook his head. He gave Elisa his own gentle smile, bowed, and sat down on the bunk.
“Well, that was exciting,” he said to no one in particular. With that, he went back to eating his meal.
Oret dragged his gaze away from Elisa’s face. He swallowed hard. The Nobek stood up, looking more gargantuan than ever to Elisa’s terrified stare. However, he only brushed himself off and looked with regret at his food, lying in a mess on the floor.
“Share with me, my Nobek,” Zemos offered. “The portion is generous enough.”
“Thank you,” Oret said and joined his Dramok. The pair went about eating the tray of food, passing the plastic fork back and forth.
Zemos winked at Miragin. “I notice you did not offer to share with him too.”
The Imdiko gave him a pathetic look. “But it’s meatloaf, Zemos.”
The three men cracked up. Grinning, Miragin lifted his plate towards Oret. The Nobek and Zemos both shook their heads, chuckling.
Oret said, “Enjoy it, my Imdiko. I know how much you like this dish.”
Miragin nodded and turned his beaming face to Elisa. “Delicious as ever, Matara. If this is indeed dog food as your crude admirer says, then I envy dogs.”
Elisa gaped at him, at all three men as they continued to eat. They seemed intent on their meal, barely glancing at her as the food disappeared from the trays.
They weren’t going to attack her. She felt ashamed that she had expected them to. Fearing they would harm her told Elisa that she was no better than assholes like Remington who saw the Kalquorians as animals instead of men. Hadn’t she known deep inside that these three could be trusted?
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