by F. E. Arliss
“Tastes like crap,” she muttered, then remembered no more.
Chapter 13
Reassurance and Romance
Chloe woke up groggy and sore, lying limp on her bunk unwilling to move. “Oh man, do I feel like shit!”, she mumbled. “Why are my eyelids so sore? Why is my shoulder killing me? And why does my throat feel on fire?” she muttered. “Oh God, right, alien ship attack. Tried to see though and breathe acid smoke and got burned by melted slag. Dead girls. Creepy alien spider man,” she moaned. “Ahhh, the joys of life on the frontier, Gram. What have I gotten myself into. Misery might have been slightly better than this,” Chloe sighed. “Nah, probably not. Not much is worse than Misery, I’m still alive. Poor girls aren’t though.” With that thought, Chloe stood and struggled into the small shower unit, sobbing softly during the blue, chemical, port-a-john similar downpour. It’s likeness to outhouse sanitizer, just made her cry harder.
From the cubicle, she heard her door ping and then slide open. The only person with the override to enter her quarters was Leo. Shutting down the timer on the shower, Chloe blotted herself with the large towel and wrapped into around her torso. Stepping out into the main room, she saw Leo sitting at the small table where he did his reports, his face completely impassive.
“Hi,” Chloe said, looking at Leo from beneath her lowered eyelashes. There was more silence as he continued to look her over. “What are you staring at?” she snapped. “I’m fine. I’m not dying or broken. Just sore and tired, and grumpy!” Chloe said challengingly.
Leo glanced up and met her eyes. “Yes, you’re alive, and still sassy, I see,” he murmured. “Your burns look like the treatment salve I used on them is working. We’re going to have to come to some sort of agreement about incidents like this. You can’t keep endangering yourself in the line of fire. The women are here as backup staff, not as troops. You and I need to work together to get clear on your roll here,” the Colonel stated.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I understand that you want us little women in the background making things cozy for you men!” Chloe snapped. “But we’re perfectly capable of doing more when the situation demands. You and I talked about this when we agreed on this deal! I told you I needed to be an equal and to be in this together, and you agreed! Don’t renege on me now when we’re making good headway, and I just killed a freaky monster to protect us!” she wailed. “I did very well! Don’t make me feel like it was a aberration or something! That’s not what I need right now!” she said with a tremble to her voice. “I need you to support me. I need you to back me up. And, I really need a hug,” she said sniffling.
Leo stood and opened his arms to her uncertainly. She flew into them causing them to stumble backwards into the chair with a plop. He caught them both deftly and settle into the chair, allowing her to curl against him. Brushing her wet hair behind her ear, Leo sat quietly for a moment, then slowly began to pat her back softly. “I like that,” Chloe whispered. “My mom used to pat me like that when I was upset when I was little.”
Thirty minutes passed before either of them stirred. “Thank you,” Chloe whispered to Leo. “I really needed that. Sometimes a girl just needs a hug. And, in case you’re wondering, Its really nice to just be supported, no matter what, too. That’s what I need in a relationship. It’s not about what you think I should do. It’s about what I think I should do. I don’t want you to try to protect me and keep me from things. You wouldn’t do that yourself, and I don’t want you to try and make me do that. I want to protect the women here, in whatever way I feel I’m strong enough for at the time. Does that make sense?” she asked, looking into Leo’s eyes.
Leo sighed. “Yes, it does make sense. It’s not what I’ve understood typical relationships to be like. And, it’s probably not what I would have chosen for you, us, whatever this is. But I understand and respect that type of thinking. It’s what makes a good command officer.”
Leo stared into her eyes, “I also want you to be aware that if you choose to go down this road, where you act physically instead of just being in command from afar, that you could be injured or even killed. Commanding troops from afar, and commanding them at the front or in battle, are two totally different things,” he stated. “I just want you to be aware of what you’re getting into when you dash into action like you did with this incident. We are setting a precedent for all the women who come after you. Is this what you want for them?” the Colonel asked. “I just want you to think about it for a while before you push more for this.”
Chloe slumped against Leo’s chest. “I didn’t even think, really, I just acted on instinct. I knew without even thinking that it was the right thing to do.”
Leo rumbled an abrupt chuckle deep in his chest. “If all the officers in the Guard acted that way, my life would be a lot easier. I’m glad it was instinctual for you. Stay with your gut feelings and you won’t be steered wrong. I can’t say I like this turn of events, but I’ll support you in it,” he stated. It would be hard for him to see her in more danger in the future, but he also had to admit that her hutzpah in today’s action had really made him proud. Her ‘go getted-ness’ also reflected well on them as a couple, as that was what he’d made his reputation and advancement on. He supposed it was karma or some such thing that had landed him with this feisty woman. What was the saying? Karma’s a bitch! That was the one.
Chloe raised her eyes to his, “Thank you Leo, you’re such a wonder to me. I’ve never come close to meeting any man who had your strength of character. You really are a wonderful fiance to me.”
Leo cleared his throat nervously, “It doesn’t seem fake anymore, does it?” he asked.
“No, no it doesn’t,” Chloe whispered. Slowly she lifted her lips to his, brushing them softly over the scarred side first and then lingering longer on the fuller side. That was all it took. Leo swooped her up and fell onto the bunk with her. “Shall we take it for real now?” Chloe murmured.
“Yes,” Leo growled, and that was the last talking they did for a long, long time.
Chapter 14
To Be or Not To Be
Three weeks later Chloe woke feeling full of energy and the happiest she’d been in years. Things were going well for her and Leo, the women had settled in nicely, and most of the soldiers she was counseling had either improved or been shipped home for deeper therapy than she could provide at the front. She’d given a number of seminars on the EFT method to both the women and the men and she’d even seen a few of the guys using the method silently in the bay while waiting to load before a combat jump. Chloe felt like she’d been more useful here than she ever had been in her life before.
Her door binged and then slid open allowing Leo to appear in the opening. “Good morning, handsome,” Chloe flirted, flying into Leo’s arms. He snuggled her close and inhaled the scent of her hair and neck. He wasn’t much of a talker, but his actions always made her feel warm, comforted and desired. She always marveled that she’d been ‘assigned’ such a great man. School assignments had always sucked, but this guy wasn’t an assignment she was letting the dog eat. She was keeping him.
A few more seconds of holding her and Leo got down to business. “I’ve come to tell you that we’re launching a forward fleet to pursue one of the Arachnian's forward flight outposts. Some of our intelligence reports have trickled back with information that they were specifically targeting the women’s deck. If that’s so, they had to have inside information on where the women were being housed. I think they were actually supposed to take the women back with them as stores for the fleet, but got distracted by hunger on the first few cabins. It allowed the other women to flee towards you. As a morale crippler it was effective, and would have been more so, if you hadn’t gotten those women out of there while the troops were fighting them back.”
“Do you have any idea who the leak may be?” Chloe asked, wide eyed. “That is what you’re saying, right? That someone told them where we were housing the women!”
Leo held her gaze
steadily. “Yes. I think we have to assume that. We’re giving out a false location to the troops that are assembling for our next sortie. They’ll be given the real one once we’ve launched,” the Colonel said. “We hope that will help flush out the traitor. We’ve also got an ethernet trace going on any outgoing transmissions ship wide. Let’s pray we catch the bastard in this net we’ve stretched.” he growled, then slid both hands down to palm her hips. “Now to the point,” he said firmly, releasing her. Chloe pouted a bit, but grinned back at him. “Distracting you from your duty, was I?” she quipped.
“Yes, yes you were!” he sighed reluctantly, disengaging his last hand that had settled on her slim hip. “We are short medics, mechs, and support engineers. Since we’re launching a two-tier approach to this thing I could deploy a handful of women with the troops. So, it looks like you’re getting your wish for us to deploy some of the women in forward positions. I’ll let you make the announcement and ask for volunteers?” Leo asked, looking at her with serious eyes.
“Thank you, Leo,” Chloe whispered. “It’s a big step, but I believe it’s the right one. I’m scared about it and nervous, but also elated. Thank you.”
Two hours later, a serious Chloe had made the announcement and gotten a list of women willing to go on a forward mission. There was only one medic, the same one that had volunteered and been refused before. In addition, to Chloe’s surprise there had been a line cook, a housekeeper, and two engineering assistants that had volunteered as well. Chloe had listed their names, positions and ranks, and was on her way to talk to the Colonel about it.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about the whole thing to be honest. It was one of those ‘To be or not to be’ scenarios. On the one hand, she truly believed women were able to serve on the front lines and should be given the chance. On the other hand, she was terrified for the women that had volunteered. As ship’s counselor, she’d taken the time to talk privately with each woman and caution them about the dangers involved. In her assessment, all the women knew what they were getting into and truly believed they could be of value on the front. It was a powerful thing to be the first women into battle in the Orbit Guard and she respected and envied them in equal parts.
The fact that she envied them startled her a bit to be honest. She’d been shocked and appalled when she’d unthinkingly lasered the Arachnian in the utility closet in two. But after twenty-four hours had passed, she didn’t have any residual guilt or anxiety over having done it. Chloe supposed it was because the Arachnians were so insect like. It felt less like killing a person and more like killing a gigantic bug. Gross, but necessary. She supposed she should feel worse about it, but the truth was, she just didn’t.
Chapter 15
Conscripted
Chloe held her breath as she knocked on the Colonel’s office door. It was one thing to interact with Leo when they were alone together, but now she’d have to respond to him in an efficient and concise manner. She’d just have to go back to going with the flow like she had when she didn’t know who he was, she reassured herself. Taking a deep breath, she entered.
The Colonel sat at a small conference table along one side of the office. Three other officers sat in other chairs along the sides of the table and one chair was empty at the end. “Please sit Lieutenant Sedgwick,” Leo stated brusquely. “This is Major Torrence,” he nodded toward the tall, knotty muscled, string-bean of a young man on his right. Chloe recognized him from her first introduction in the loading bay when she’d arrived. “He is in charge of Tiger Guard. Next to him is Major Schlipp,” he nodded to a sullen faced officer in the middle. His dark, narrowed eyed never flickered from her face. “He’s commanding officer of Rhino Guard. To your left is Major Donji of Razorback Guard,” the colonel motioned to the round-faced man that had smiled at her when she’d first taken her seat. “For you Majors, this is Lieutenant Sedgewick, the Women’s Corps Commanding Officer. She’ll be accompanying us on this mission in charge of volunteers from the Women's Corp.”
The sullen Major Schlipp snorted in response to this announcement. Chloe was stunned to silence. The other two Majors simply nodded at her.
“You’re responding to my request for female volunteers from your ranks?” he questioned, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, sir,” Chloe replied, gathering her scattered thoughts. “I’m happy to state that we have one medic, one cook, a housekeeper and two engineering assistants who have volunteered for this first mission. I’m sure more will sign up after the success of this one,” Chloe said confidently, though inside she was anything but confident.
One of the officers had snorted derogatorily after she’d mentioned the cook and housekeeper. Chloe swung to look at Major Schlipp. “You don’t need cooks or cleaners on a forward mission?” Chloe asked coolly, raising one eyebrow at the smirking Officer. “I assumed someone had to organize the rations for the mission, and having someone to clean and repair armour, can’t come amiss can it? Or don’t you eat or clean your weapons and armour while you’re forward?” she questioned with a smirk of her own.
“Enough,” the Colonel stated, with a hard glare at the offending Major. “Of course, someone has to organize the rations, Lieutenant. It is paramount that weapons and armour are kept in top condition, though soldiers are in charge of cleaning their own ordinance and stocking their own rations. I’m pleased these corpsmen volunteered and want to come on this mission,” he continued. “We’ll need them all,” he stated, to a chorus of indrawn breaths from his officers. “If we take one, we should take all five of them. Women, or so I’m told,” he said glancing toward Chloe, “tend to take care of each other and pitch in to help each other. Both the cook and housekeeper will be assigned to the medic as support personnel. They will be useful cleaning and sterilizing equipment. Both can do double duty as stretcher bearers when needed. The mechanic’s assistants will be kept onboard the jump ship to assist with any equipment repairs. As you all know already, there are never enough hands for that. Any help from the Women's Corp will be much appreciated,” he stated harshly.
Two of the officers nodded thoughtfully in agreement. The scoffing officer just heaved a sigh and nodded curtly. “Lieutenant Sedgewick, you will be accompanying the women as their commanding officer. It will be your duty to make sure they’re on task at every moment. If they’re done with something, get them going on helping the others. Is that clear?” Leo asked, eyeing her with a glacial stare.
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir,” Chloe said. Inside she felt her guts shaking, but outwardly willed herself to show no emotion. Thankfully, her kooky family had been plenty of training in the act of showing no ruffled feathers. She knew that these officers were just as bad or worse than her family. Show weakness or uncertainty, and they’d chew you up and spit you out like a barbeque bone.
“Major Donji, you will schedule a training time with Lieutenant Sedgwick to prepare that Corps for deployment. Is that understood?” Leo barked.
“Affirmative!” the round-faced Major replied with a smile and a wink at Chloe.
“Dismissed,” the Colonel barked. “Lieutenant Sedgewick remain. We need to go over the details of your corps deployment as you will be preparing your Corps with the help of Major Donji,” The other officers stalked out with purpose.
Chloe just sat and stared at Leo for a few moments. “Are you ok?” he asked uncertainly.
She took a shaky breath in, “Yes, yes I’m ok. I’m actually scared, but really glad that I get to accompany my Corpsman. Thank you, Leo. I’m grateful,” Chloe said softly, a tremor in her voice. “Wow. I’m going on a forward mission with my women. I’m honored.”
Leo looked at her long and hard. “I didn’t want to send you on it, you know?” Leo said grimly. “But I knew you’d want to accompany them, and having you with them will keep them from getting bullied by the men. Please let me know if you encounter any unprofessional behavior. It’s someone who doesn’t want you here that’s leaking the information.”
“We
ll Major Schlipp certainly wasn’t fond of the idea," Chloe said with a roll of her eyes. “He’d have barbequed me with his eyes if he could have.”
“No, no he wasn’t on-board with this much, was he?” Leo murmured more to himself than her. “Neither is Ensign Clayton, as his altercations with Helen have shown. Let’s keep an eye on both, shall we?”
Chloe stood shakily. “I best go tell the girls the news,” she said, looking at Leo with a pale face. Walking over to him she placed one hand on his chest and leaned up to brush her lips over his scarred jaw. “Thank you. I could never have found such a wonderful fiance without the Orbit Guard. I’m grateful to have found you, Leo,” Chloe whispered.
Leo hauled her tightly to his chest. “Now if I just don’t get you killed or maimed,” he whispered her ear, relishing the softness of her sweetly scented skin.
Chloe pulled back gently and looked in to his eyes. “Anything that happens to me or to any of the women happens because we want to go on this forward mission. We’re all volunteering with full knowledge of what we’re doing, Leo. You can’t protect us from ourselves,” she stated looking in to his icy blue eyes. She had no idea how she’d once thought them cold, as they showered her with concern right now.