Shalia's Diary #7

by Tracy St. John

  An all-too familiar scent wafted from him. I couldn’t believe it. I checked the crotch of his pants. Oh hell no. They were tenting. The bastard was getting aroused.

  It was my turn to be shocked. “You disgusting piece of garbage,” I gasped, stepping back.

  He shrugged, not worried about it in the least. “Your disgrace is my delight. Deal with it.” He grinned. “Now that I know how much you hate being humbled in front of others, I’ll be using it at every opportunity.”

  With that, he threw down the gauntlet. For the next few minutes, Resan and I screamed obscenities at each other. Usually we don’t reach that point until the end of the training session. Threats of bodily harm were traded. We ranted and raged.

  While we were at it, we got to work. I have become quite the multi-tasker when it comes to training and cursing at once. I noted Resan kept a close eye when I used weights that were light enough to toss his way. Ha! At least I’d given him something to think about.

  Candy worked doggedly as she always does, letting Resan’s occasional tirades in her direction spur her into doing more. Katrina rolled her eyes at his attempts to put her down, laughed at him, and even once outright yawned in his face as if he bored her. It was their usual.

  Since I was the only one he got a rise out of, he focused most of the abuse on me. That was fine. I looked for a valid excuse to go for bodily harm. Unfortunately, my one chance at surprise had been used. I had no hope of going toe-to-toe with a battle-tested Dramok used to training brutal Nobeks.

  Resan kept pushing, going so far as to keep me longer than Candy and Katrina. He said I owed him for throwing his equipment at him and missing. “Pathetic display,” he snorted. “A Nobek in his first year of training camp would have hit me.”

  But I’d seen the instant of surprise on his face. I’d scored against him for once. I think that was what really made him mad.

  I trained an extra half hour until I couldn’t lift even one pound any longer. Yet he kept dogging me. “Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded as I put equipment away and wiped it down.

  “To see my baby. I’m done.” My voice was ragged after all the screaming.

  “I didn’t say you’re done. But it’s what I expected. You’re a quitter.”

  “Fuck you.” I turned to the door.

  “Not in your wildest fantasies, Earther.” Resan moved fast to stand by the door so I’d have to pass by him on my way out. “But I’ll be glad to make you cry in front of everyone else next time. It will give me something to think about during my ... alone time.”

  He stroked the crotch of his shorts as he said that, smiling in that hateful way of his. I swear, if I had been able to make it happen I would have yanked both his cocks off and crammed them down his throat.

  I stormed out. Instead of going to my quarters, I went to see Oses.

  I am not a tattletale. First of all, I asked to be trained like any Nobek would be. Being belittled by my instructors is part of that. ‘Tear you down, build you back up stronger. Make you mad to prove us wrong,’ is the reasoning. However, I thought Resan had gone too far this time. Never mind the innuendo turned my stomach on a purely visceral level. Resan might have the right to humiliate me, but he was NOT going to talk to me in a sexual way. Even though I knew I did no more for him than he did for me.

  My timing couldn’t have been better. Early morning shift means Weapons Subcommander Ebnad is on the bridge while Oses goes over the night shift’s reports in his office. Oses sat at his desk as I swooped in.

  I was flattered that he put his computer on pause the moment I set foot in the room. The floating monitor winked out, and he folded his arms on top of his large desk and nodded to the chair in front of it. “Door closed,” he ordered. His eyes riveted on me, giving me his undivided attention.

  I flung myself in the chair, too worked up to enjoy sitting after my brutal workout. I raked my fingers through sweat-soaked hair, not caring the mess I looked like. Oses has seen me worse.

  “Resan?” he guessed.

  I blew out a breath. “Look, I don’t want you taking up for me without good cause. It diminishes me in his eyes – ha! As if he could think any worse of me. But there have to be some limits set on certain things.”

  “Like?”

  “Sexual harassment.”

  Oses’ controlled expression darkened. “Explain.”

  I told him about the whole issue with Resan embarrassing me on the promenade, me flinging a weight at him, and then him later touching himself in a sensual manner with the promise he’d be thinking of me. “I hate the humiliation he put me through, but I know that’s not a big deal to you guys. I’m not bitching about that. However, that business of him being lewd—”

  “Out of bounds,” Oses said. He shook his head. “We have certain punishments when it comes to training Nobeks. Some include sexual debasement, which I already told Resan would not be tolerated with you women.”

  “He didn’t get the message,” I said.

  “He may have thought it only meant he couldn’t touch you in that way. Not that he wants to. He’s made that abundantly clear.”

  “Good. I’d rather fuck an Ofetuchan than that asshole.”

  Oses sighed. “I’ll talk to Resan and make sure he knows sexual anything is off limits, including speech. He needs to be tough with you, but I won’t have you feeling insecure in that manner.”

  I couldn’t help but plead a little. “Oses, let someone else train me. I can work hard without that bastard.”

  He considered for a moment before shaking his head. “Resan is too well versed in Earther anatomy and abilities. He had to be in order to train others for fighting during the war. He is the best, Shalia.”

  I slouched in the chair, dispirited to know I wasn’t going to get out of working with my hated enemy. “If I didn’t feel like I needed this training so bad...”

  “It’s because you need it that I won’t shortchange you by giving you someone less than our finest.” Oses smirked. “I would have paid a year’s wages to see his face when you threw the grav-bell at him.”

  I grinned back. “It’s worth the hell he’s putting me through in retaliation. I hope I get another chance to scare him.”

  Oses narrowed his eyes. “Next time, you’d better hit your target. I’m not training you in combat techniques for you to miss your enemy when you get the chance to strike. If you hadn’t scored the kick, I’d punish you.”

  I looked forward to my next lesson with Oses. We had moved beyond self-defense. Real fighting skills were being taught now. Between that and knife training with Nobek Idow, I’d found enjoyment to counteract the misery of Resan’s work. Well, almost.

  I sighed. “I hate him so much.”

  “Use that hatred to prove him wrong. Make it your tool. You’ll need it now that you’ve given him something to use against you.”

  “What, the humiliation? Damn Oses, even Betra would have wanted to crawl into a hole and hide from that level of debasement.” I shriveled a little inside. Being called down so loudly in front of everyone had hurt more than I wanted to admit to myself. Resan had found my weakness.

  Perhaps Oses saw that. He switched the subject to nicer things. “Are you ready for the club opening tonight?”

  My heart lifted to think of it. “Dance the night away like I don’t have a care in the world? You’d better believe it.”

  “Who’s keeping Anrel?”

  “Tep and Megan.”

  Oses frowned. “I thought his clan was seeing Sonia?”

  “That was last week. I wear a pair of panties longer than Sonia sticks to a man or a clan.”

  Oses shook his head. “I used to know everything that happened on this ship. With you women, things move too fast.”

  “Yeah, having freedom to enjoy sex after so many years of repression is turning us into bunnies. Almost every woman on the ship is a bit of a sex maniac now.”

  Oses smiled at me. “You are one of the very few who doesn’t swit
ch partners every few days.”

  I wiggled my brows at him. “When a girl finds perfection, she sticks with it.”

  He snorted, as if to say he wasn’t buying the flattery. “I’m surprised you found anyone to keep Anrel. Everyone has been talking about the club opening for weeks.”

  “It’s not big enough for everyone to go at once, especially since a lot of the women attending tonight are bringing guests. Megan drew lots to get in tomorrow night. She volunteered to keep Anrel for me for the grand opening.”

  “So Tep jumped at the chance to help watch her since his clan is currently romancing Megan.”

  “He says he’s in baby withdrawal. And it’s only been a day since Anrel was released from Medical.” I chuckled. “Megan accused Anrel of being ‘the other woman’. All in fun, of course.”

  We had a few more minutes of chitchat. I was aware Oses had work to do, so I soon excused myself. I was in a much better mood than when I’d shown up ranting at his door. I was free of Resan for the rest of the day and I had a fun night ahead of me.

  The best revenge on Dramok Jerkface Resan is to enjoy myself despite his bullshit. I will make it my mission to have a wonderful dance club grand opening.

  August 22, later

  Anrel was such a good baby while I got ready for the dance club. And by good baby, I mean she slept for most of it.

  I love how Betra set up my vid and com as a monitor. It allowed me to take a nice, long shower while still keeping an eye on Anrel in the other room. I am enjoying this stage of her babyhood. Once she starts crawling and walking, taking time for myself is going to be another matter entirely. I don’t mind. I like being wrapped around her tiny little finger.

  I was dressed and made up in time for Candy to come in and work her magic with my hair. I can’t do a thing with it, and Candy seems to be a born hairdresser. A lot of women ask her for tips. It doesn’t matter the length or texture; the woman can style like a pro.

  I’m hopeless as always. Candy did this really cool thing, giving me a messy braided bun that was a fun break from me just ignoring it or pulling it back into a pathetic ponytail.

  “There,” she said, standing back to view her handiwork. “It’s the type of look that you can sweat your ass off dancing and it will still look good.”

  “Terrific,” I said, turning my head this way and that to enjoy each angle in the mirror. I liked how the untidy ‘do contrasted with the sleek dress I wore. “Just the thing for a night out on the transport.” She’d put a sparkling barrette next to one temple which went well with my sleeveless silver dress. I wore no other jewelry since I already looked like walking bling.

  “You look hot,” Candy grinned. “Look at those guns, girl! You’ll have to thank Resan for those awesome arms.”

  I shot her a dour look and she burst into giggles. What a butt.

  Candy was insanely gorgeous as always. Her hair was caught up in a high curly ponytail. Her dress was daring and flouncy at once. The ruffled neckline of her black dress plunged daringly halfway to her navel. The inner curves of her breasts were a tease without quite crossing the line into sleazy. She had the ‘girl next door gone bad’ look down to a tee.

  “You’ll be lucky if Ama and Mihi let you dance more than one song,” I commented. “They’ll trip over their tongues.”

  She tossed her head, making the gazillions of loose curls sproing. “I am going to dance for hours whether they like it or not. But I will promise them extra special consideration for patience.”

  Her wink was too wicked for a cutie like her. I nearly fell over laughing. I ended up waking Anrel with my loud mouth.

  That was our cue to coo and make silly faces as I cradled my little girl. When my door announce went off, we were still carrying on with high-pitched baby voices and getting our lipstick on Anrel’s happy face.

  The sound of someone at the door made Candy glance at the time. “Oh no, I should have been out of here ages ago! See you at the club, Shalia! Love you, Anrel!”

  She ran at the door. It opened for her. In her haste, Candy nearly ran over Clan Dabil and Megan.

  “Oops, sorry,” she yelled as Tep and his Nobek Kegad made room for her to pass. “Sorry, I’m late; have a good night!”

  “Opening night jitters?” Dramok Dabil asked, his broad face breaking into a wide grin.

  “No, that’s just Candy,” Megan laughed. She stepped in and gave me a hug. “You look amazing, Shalia.” Her voice went up a hundred octaves. “Hi Anrel. Hi, pretty girl.”

  Tep already had his arms out to hold her. “Let me see this little lady. Medical is so quiet without you, Anrel.”

  Megan made a face, but it was good-natured. “If I get to hold her for one second, I’ll be amazed. No, go ahead Tep. But if you’re going to hog her all night, you’ve got diaper duty.”

  “Sounds right to me,” Kegad muttered to Dabil. His teeth flashed behind a heavy mustache and beard. “Thank the ancestors they never covered that in training camp.”

  I grinned at the Nobek. “You’re one of the heads of ship’s discipline. You can assign diaper changing duty as punishment. I wouldn’t mind.”

  That made him and Dabil laugh. Meanwhile, Tep took Anrel over to the lounger and sat down. “Don’t listen to them, pretty baby. You are precious no matter what you do or how it smells.”

  “So why did you always have an orderly take care of such business when it happened in Medical and I wasn’t available?” I told Megan and the rest of his clan, “If Tep’s changed the first diaper, then I’m a Tragoom.”

  My announce went off again. “Enter,” I called.

  Betra and Oses stepped into the room. They exchanged bows with Clan Dabil. “So many people to take care of one tiny baby,” Oses smirked, his gaze challenging Kegad.

  “We were just discussing the diaper changing. With the stories I’ve heard, it seemed appropriate to have backup.”

  “I had not considered that. I wish you well tonight. Remember Kegad, sometimes retreat is not so dishonorable.”

  The rest of us chortled over the deadly serious way the two Nobeks discussed the issue. I swear Kegad only partly joked.

  I handed Megan the bag I’d prepared as Oses fussed with the door’s lock. “If I’ve forgotten anything, Oses is programming the door to allow you back in here. And you know you can com any of us if you need me.”

  “We’ve got it, Shalia. Go have fun.” Megan’s eyes twinkled. “Com when you’re headed back and we’ll meet you here with Anrel.”

  Tep stood and came over. “She’ll be fine. Have fun and don’t worry.”

  I smiled up at him. “With you taking care of her? Not a worry in the world, Doc.” I replaced the lipstick kisses that had disappeared from Anrel’s face while in his care. “Good night, Anrel. I love you. Be a good girl and I’ll see you later.”

  We all headed out together, splitting up as Clan Dabil, Megan, and Anrel headed one way and Oses, Betra, and I went another. I walked between my two sweeties, my arms in theirs as we headed for the promenade. I wore a big smile. Anrel was taken care of, I got to go dancing, and I was in the company of the best men on the ship. It was going to be a great night.

  We arrived on the promenade to see a huge crowd clustered at the door to the dance club. I swear, it was like the red carpet at an awards ceremony! Kalquorians lined up to wave and cheer the women going in. Jeez, what a commotion. I knew they’d gotten a kick out of seeing us dance at the club on the Xniktix station, but this was unexpected. After each woman and her escort (or escorts) entered the wide opened double doors, the Kalquorians craned their necks to see inside.

  “Big turnout,” Betra laughed as I gasped. “You should have set up a vid feed from the inside so everyone could watch.”

  “This is crazy,” I said. “All this fuss over us dancing!”

  Oses snickered. “It can be exciting to watch. Especially when you women wear certain things.” He ogled my dress, which covered everything it needed to while being formfitting.

&nb
sp; Thinking about all those eyes on me, I looked down at myself to see if my gut was sticking out. That stubborn bit of pooch was disappearing, but not fast enough to suit my vanity. There was a little curve, but I supposed I wouldn’t die of embarrassment over it. Besides, I had a very good reason for having it. I refused to begrudge my Anrel even one stretch mark or bulge.

  The shouts of approval as we walked through the throng to the dance club shored up any issues of shaky esteem that might have lingered. I heard my name yelled along with compliments on my appearance and dress. Aw shucks, guys. You know how to make a girl feel good.