The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters

by C. A. Newsome

  “We've not much to offer, but your crew and yourself are more than welcome to stay and share a meal with us,” the official said as Dylan turned to go.

  “Thank you for the invitation, but we cannot stay. The sun is about to set here and our ship is in dire need of recharging. We were attacked three times on the way over. If we don't leave now with the energy we have, we will be stuck here until this time tomorrow.” Dylan allowed the man to shake his hand again and thank him for the fifth time since arriving and said goodbye.

  Although it felt good to help people and normally he enjoyed spending time off on a planet, he wanted to put the trial and the mess with Auraylia behind him. He also suspected she wouldn't be able to stay awake much longer, as he'd found out from Thomas that she still wasn't allowing her body to rest.

  On the way back to his cabin he ran into the Thorian.

  “Can you gather the officers. I want us to perform the trial as soon as we're stationary and re-charging.”

  “As you wish, Captain.”

  “And, Varl, do you know something more about this?” Dylan tried to read the Thorian's face for signs of information but the features remained impassive.

  “She told me something, but I don't think it is my place to speak of it. I brought her to you because she led me to believe she wanted to tell you as well, but she chose not to. It is her choice.”

  Dylan nodded, pleased there was more to the situation. If she would reveal it on record they might be able to stop her being dismissed. It surprised him that the desire to keep her was less tied to the money he'd lose otherwise and more about her long-term success.

  *

  The soles of Auraylia's feet ached as she continued to move them across the brig floor. She'd lost count of the hours she'd been pacing, but despite how much it hurt her, she knew she couldn't stop. Thomas sat in one corner of the room. There were bars between them but there might as well have been nothing considering how vulnerable she felt.

  Every time she paused and allowed her body a moment to try and catch a standing power nap, the memories of her uncle flooded into her head and jarred her awake again. Sleeping would have to wait until she felt safe, if she ever did again.

  She jumped when the door clattered open and the Thorian came in.

  “We're performing the trial,” he said at Thomas, not even looking at her. Within seconds she was being escorted by the pair of them towards the main canteen of the ship.

  When she arrived she noticed most of the tables were moved to the sides and almost the entire crew sat at them awaiting the proceedings. The officers sat along the back wall. She was taken to a solitary chair in the middle of the room and asked to sit in it.

  She did as she was asked and sat as still as possible. The room was hushed but she could hear the odd whisper from amongst the crew to her sides, and knew they were talking about her. To stop herself from shivering and becoming emotional she looked down at the ground in front of her feet and focused on the pattern on the floor.

  If she'd been on land she'd have considered running from the room but on a spaceship there was nowhere to go. She had to face this.

  Dylan took his place amongst the officers and spoke, “Auraylia Mellarn, you have been called here today to answer charges put to you of unauthorised weapon possession, assault of a senior officer and indecency.”

  “Indecency?” Beth queried.

  “Yes, I found her in my cabin, not wearing any clothing. She tricked one of our officers into thinking she wished to talk over these charges.”

  “And you were the witness in all of these cases, and the officer attacked?” Beth asked.

  “Yes, which is why I shall be abstaining from any voting today. I am not unbiased.” Dylan said this directly to Beth but loudly enough the whole room could hear. Auraylia wished the chair could swallow her up at the murmurs this extra charge created. Never had she expected him to mention it and she had to fight to keep herself calm under everyone's watchful gaze.

  She sat unmoving and mortified as Dylan recounted in detail for the whole room to hear, everything from her disobedience and reluctance to sleep, to the Thorian encouraging him to see where she did finally sleep, to the attack, and finally her strange behaviour that led to her being naked in his bed. Several of the crew sniggered at this last part and she flushed red. None of the officers spoke in response and she finally dared to look up. Dylan stared at her, but he wasn't the only one. Ben, Thomas and many of the other crew were concentrating on her every reaction. A shudder ran through her at the things they might be thinking and she quickly lowered her gaze to the patterned tiles, trying to lose herself in its swirls.

  “Are there any witnesses to any of these events?” Trell asked. “It sounds like you were alone with Auraylia every time.”

  “He was, but I was nearby every time. I heard the sounds of fighting and I also saw the weapons she was relieved of. I'm also the officer responsible for taking her to the Captain's quarters and she did indeed do as the Captain said.” The Thorian spoke up, although he didn't look pleased about it.

  “As is customary at this point, the person being charged can now tell her version of events. I understand you only have me as the primary witness. Perhaps with explanation from both parties everything can be resolved without needing to find further evidence or witnesses.” Dylan turned from the officers to her and she looked up again. It made sense that she would have to speak but she had no idea what to say. “Auraylia, what do you have to say regarding these events and charges?”

  “It is all true. I did as the Captain described. There is nothing I can add to what has already been said, except that I am sorry for my actions. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. Since being on this ship I have learnt that I am not cut out for life in space.”

  She stared straight forward, knowing she couldn't look down at this point but not wanting to look at the Captain's face either. Her brain felt like it was trapped inside a swamp. No defence would form and she knew she couldn't say the real reasons in front of so many people. They could never know what had happened to her.

  “So you are not going to explain yourself, why you attacked me and why you refuse to sleep, even now when you have been awake for almost two days straight?”

  She shook her head.

  “If there is a reason, and something is wrong, we will help you, but if you don't tell us anything we will be forced to find you guilty. You will be stripped of rank, employment, and money, and left on the next planet where we make port.”

  “I understand,” she replied and wished the Captain would stop talking and let her be taken back to the brig. Pain fluttered in her heart at being unable to defend herself, at him thinking she'd let him down, but she couldn't tell him the truth. Allowing the others to think she was weak and an easy target, yet remain in the crew would be a thousand times worse than having just one person think of her as a liar and a cheat, no matter how much she liked that one person. Whatever happened this ship could no longer be her home. She wasn't safe here, and this might as well be the way she left it.

  “Then, officers, with no evidence to the contrary, it is put to you all to decide whether Auraylia Mellarn is guilty of the charges as described,” Dylan said as he put his back to her.

  “I would like to put forward some evidence that might explain events.” The Thorian stood up and her eyes went straight to his, begging him to keep silent, but he also presented his back to her and faced the rest of the officers.

  “Auraylia told me something when I first found her disobeying orders and not sleeping. I believe it explains her actions, all her actions, and would change the outcome of this case.”

  “Then why hasn't she presented it to us herself?” Beth asked. More mutters and whispers rippled around the room. Auraylia wanted to scream, to yell at them all, but nothing happened, her body stayed fixed, frozen to her chair with her hands limp beside her and her mouth glued shut.

  “I don't think she finds it possible to say to the crew or even th
e Captain alone, but she told me how she used to live with someone she trusted, someone who was evidently attracted to her, but she rejected him as she didn't see him that way. This person tied her up while she slept and she woke, unable to prevent him from raping her.” Gasps filled the room and she saw Thomas grin in delight. She stared at the Thorian, knowing it would seal her fate to react. She had to stay impassive. If Thomas or Ben saw that it might be true, they'd assume they could do the same.

  “She woke, completely powerless. I think if I were her I'd be scared of sleeping too,” the Thorian said, finishing up and sitting back down again. Dylan looked at her, pity on his face, but she had to deny it. No part of her could own up to the tale.

  “Is this why you attacked me? When I woke you up?”

  “I...” She tried to speak, but her mind struggled between a lie and the truth. After the opportunity Dylan had given her she didn't want to lie, but she knew she had to stop Thomas and the others from thinking it was true.

  “When the Thorian found me and I wasn't sleeping, I had to tell him something. I knew he'd be the protective type and wouldn't report me if I provided the right story. He had picked up on my fear of being aboard the ship and I told him that was why.” As she said it she tried to look at the Captain, willing him to believe it and let her leave the room, but a small part of her hoped he wouldn't, hoped that he'd understand why she had to deny it.

  “So you lied to Varl?” Anger flashed through Dylan's blue eyes. She dropped her head, hoping it would signal her guilt. The words to confirm it didn't want to leave her mouth, but he took her slump how she intended it, as did the rest of the room. Conversation erupted all around her and the Captain had to call everyone to order again.

  As the room quieted the Thorian stood up and spoke, “As Auraylia Mellarn has admitted to the charges and no solid evidence has been found in defence of her actions, she is hereby dismissed from Fleet staff. From this point on she is stripped of rank, and uniform and a record of this trial will be attached to her official citizen reports.”

  “Thomas, have Auraylia taken to the brig until we reach our next planet,” Dylan said as soon as the Thorian had finished speaking. She stood up as panic filled her.

  “M... m... may I have a final request?” she stammered out. The Thorian raised an eyebrow but no one spoke. They all went silent waiting for her to voice it. “Can you be the only person with a key to my cell, Captain?”

  “Why?” He stared at her and she tried to plead with only her eyes.

  “I would prefer it.”

  “No, I have far more important matters to attend to than be bothered with minding you.”

  “Then the Thorian... Please?”

  “No, unless you can explain your request.”

  She looked away again, trying to find the words, but he motioned for Thomas to fetch her, and the officers all left before she could think of a way to ask without arousing suspicion. Lifting her head, she tried to look unfazed and emotionless about the decision. Despite her best efforts, by the time Thomas reached her and took her arm to escort her back to the brig she shook so violently she had trouble walking.

  Innocence Unravelled

  A headache threatened to overpower Dylan's thoughts as he tried to look over the reports Doug had sent him. The bots had repaired almost eighty percent of the damage since the last battle and the fuel cells were already over half full after only four hours in the intense sunlight, but there were a few anomalies in the level of power use. Doug suspected something hadn't been repaired quite right and was draining extra energy. Until he could figure out what it was, he recommended they stay near the star.

  Reports had never been Doug's strong point, however, and it had already taken Dylan an hour to get half way through the information. Someone needed to give the Engineering Officer a dictionary and show him what the words he was using actually meant.

  Giving up, Dylan put the data pad down and sat back. He needed more sleep, but most of all he wished he could reverse time. In his career he'd made a few mistakes and chalked them up to lessons learnt along the way, but this latest one left him feeling sour and unhappy. It wasn't even that buying a slave had cost him so many credits, but her betrayal had hurt. Trusting her and then finding she was deceitful and manipulative made him feel like someone had smeared slime on the essence of him.

  A knock on his door disturbed him from his thoughts and a second later Beth and Varl walked in. They both looked at each other before Beth took the plunge to tell him whatever bothered them both.

  “We think there's still more to this case with Auraylia.”

  “I think I've had enough of dealing with her.”

  “Yes, I kinda thought you might, but... I think I've found something important.”

  Dylan sighed and motioned for the two of them to have a seat.

  “I didn't remember it earlier but after our Thorian here said his bit about her not wanting to sleep, I remembered some strange behaviour of hers from before.”

  “We know she's been behaving strangely for a while,” Dylan said, interrupting.

  “Bear with me, Captain. I am going somewhere with this.” She put her hand up and gathered her thoughts. “A while back I explained how a person could override the lock on any door if they ranked higher than whoever locked it. At the time she seemed understandably curious about it but not long after I'd explained she asked what rank she held. When I told her she was on probation, she got a little funny and practically ran off.”

  “Is that it?”

  “I did some searching on the database. It seems every night since being on the ship she's gone to a small cargo hold on the bottom deck and locked it with herself inside, at least right up until I told her that wouldn't work to keep out anyone higher ranked. Since then we don't think she's slept.”

  “So she is scared of sleeping unless she's alone?”

  Beth nodded.

  “I went to the cargo hold. There's a blanket there and one of her spare uniforms. She's been sleeping in there.” The Thorian grimaced. “I think what she told me was true, but it makes no sense for her to have denied it in front of you.”

  Dylan thought over this information for a few seconds, wondering how they could confirm her odd behaviour, before he remembered that there would be video evidence. Grabbing his pad he used his Captain's access to pull up footage of the cargo hold Beth had mentioned.

  With it on the desk in the midst of them, they sped up the footage and watched the first three days on the ship. Each night she did as Beth suggested, bringing the blanket on the first night and everything else on the second. Then, as suddenly as the behaviour began it stopped and she never visited the hold again.

  “All right. She's definitely scared of sleeping. We need to find out why for sure.” Dylan gritted his teeth, cross with himself as much as her.

  “I've got an idea, if you'll let me try it?” the Thorian said.

  *

  It didn't take long for Thomas to express an interest in the trial and the story the Thorian had told. She ignored the first three questions and sat on the bed with her back to him, but he didn't give up.

  “Slave, I'm talking to you. Did some master really rape you?”

  “No! It wouldn't be rape if it was a master, would it? And I'm not a slave, not anymore,” she snapped back. “If you don't mind, it's been a long day and I'd like to get some sleep.”

  She curled up with her head against the wall and her back to him so he couldn't see her eyes were still open and prayed she could stay that way until someone else came to watch her. Thomas couldn't be awake all the time just like she couldn't. She hoped whoever relieved him would be someone she could trust, although she knew it wouldn't be the Thorian or the Captain.

  If Thomas was planning anything, he decided not to act on it right away, and for an hour she was left to fight off sleep. A couple of times she drifted off, but the image of her uncle's face soon woke her again.

  When she got up to pace once more Thomas raise
d his eyebrows but didn't ask any annoying questions. She only stopped when the Thorian burst into the room. He dismissed Thomas and settled into his usual position, leaning against the door post.

  The anger in his face was only reinforced when he crossed his arms. She backed up and sat on the bunk, not knowing what to expect from him. After Dylan's final words she hadn't expected to see the Thorian again.

  He continued to stare at her and her mind came up with reasons why he might be there, things he might intend to do with the anger he felt. She'd admitted in front of the crew that she'd taken advantage of his protective nature and it occurred to her that he might be there to teach her a lesson.

  “I'm sorry,” she said, no longer able to cope with the silence.

  “Don't... I forgave you once for lying to me and making me look the fool in front of the Captain, but a second time. You made me look a fool twice!”

  “I've not lied.” She couldn't tear her eyes away from his face, watching for the first sign that he might do something to hurt her.

  “Either the story you told me is a lie, or you lied during your trial.”

  “I never said I lied, I just didn't answer when I was asked if it was a lie. The Captain assumed I was admitting it was a lie.”

  “That's the same as lying!” He rushed forward towards the bars and slammed his fists into the door, making it rattle. She shrank back against the far wall and tucked her legs underneath her. “You've done nothing but lie, since the moment you got on this ship. You either lied to me to get me to protect you or you lied in trial.”

  “I couldn't let the crew think it was true.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Didn't you see their reaction? Whenever I have told someone what happened to me, they've always reacted in one of two ways. Either like you, as I said in the trial, with the desire to protect me, or like the rest of the crew, with the intention of using that information to get what they wanted. If I'd let them think it was true and gone back to work, at least two men on this ship would have taken the opportunity to do exactly what my uncle did. Finding out I'd been weak once, just makes people see me as weak now, and unlike you, and maybe Dylan, they'd have taken advantage of that. I never lied!”