On Anubis, there was no defined time for any business to open or close. You could keep the doors open all day and night if you wanted. But Gus didn’t want anything to do with being open around the clock. He opened at nine and closed at two in the morning. He was sweeping around all the tables when a beautiful woman in a sundress walked in and sat in the last booth along the wall facing the door. The kitchen was directly behind her. Gus was wondering what was going to happen today in his quiet little bar. First a brawl last night, and now this. He had never seen her before and he would have remembered a woman like her.
“Good morning Ms. Can I get you anything?” he asked.
“Is your coffee any good?” She figured that was an easy enough question.
“My coffee is the best on the planet,” Gus said, puffing out his chest a little.
“Well sir, in that case please bring me a cup please. Is it okay if I sit and read?”
“It is no problem at all. If you want I will make that your personal table from now on,” Gus joked.
The major could not help but laugh a hearty, friendly laugh and touch Gus lightly on the arm as she did. Gus thought it was the sweetest sound he ever heard. He walked away and got her a cup with some cream and sugar on the side. He started his sweeping again, thinking how he wished he were 30 years younger.
The local patrons started drifting in for coffee. Andrea sat there sipping hers, which seemed to magically stay filled. She noticed the bruising on Cindy’s arm and neck. You wouldn’t know by her attitude and good humor that someone had tried to strangle her the night before. Some of the locals were talking about the excitement from last night. Two men sitting close by were recounting the events. Although Andrea had heard a lot of it, she did not get to see any of it.
“Did you see how fast old Gus wrapped his towel around that man’s neck?” one man commented. “He was choking the shit out of him. It was great.”
“But that young man Ben, he moved like the wind. He punched the big man in the ear and broke his leg. He had him down in seconds, and that was a big son of a bitch,” the man added. “I’m glad there were six of those assholes.”
His friend looked at him, confused.
“If there had been just a couple it would have been over so quick, it would have been no fun to watch,” the man explained with a chuckle.
“What you smiling at, missy?” Gus asked Andrea as he approached her.
“It sounds like you had some excitement in here last night,” she commented, nodding in the direction of the men she’d been listening to.
“Aww, it was no trouble,” Gus said. “Some trash blew in the door off the street. A friend and I had to clean it up and take it out.”
She remembered seeing some men dragging the spacers out in front of the bar by their feet and arms for the sheriff to pick up. “Do you think there will be any excitement like that again today?” she asked innocently.
“No,” Gus said. “This is a quiet little establishment. That was the first trouble I have had in years. I don’t expect there will be any more.”
About that time, Ben was coming down the back steps. He walked in the back door and through the kitchen, past the booth Andrea was sitting in, and sat down at the farthest end of the bar. He didn’t see her. She messaged for Matt and Bill to come in, telling them he had arrived. They said they were a couple blocks away and would be there in a few minutes.
Cindy was behind the bar. He asked about Gus and she said he was in his office doing paperwork. He looked at the clock — it was 1030. He had slept like the dead. His lip was a little swollen and his cheekbone hurt to the touch. He had no idea what he would tell the Vander Hoyts when he got home. Ma would be all over him like a mother hen and Pa would give him a lecture — at least in front of Ma. Later he would want all the good details of the fight.
He asks Cindy for some coffee and asked whether the kitchen was open for food. The cook heard him and walked to the bar. He said he had instructions to cook him anything he wanted at any time. He had no problem with doing that for Ben. He loved old Gus and Cindy; they were like family, and Ben had protected that family.
Cindy had been smiling at Ben since he walked in. He said, “You’re in a good mood.”
“Yes I am,” she replied. “Ben, honey, what are you wearing?”
Ben looked at his homemade shorts, the shirt that was too small for him, and the old sandals. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s all a little tight, sweetie,” Cindy replied with a chuckle.
He had put his clothes in the dryer before he walked down, so he was just wearing the things he got from the apartment. The cook was still standing there waiting, so he asked for some eggs with toast and bacon. He heard a voice say, “Could I get some toast with butter please?”
The cook said “yes ma’am” and walked to the back to start on the food. Ben sat dead still for a minute, not saying anything.
“What’s wrong honey?” Cindy asked.
Ben relaxed and said, “It’s nothing.”
Cindy shrugged and walked down the bar to the first booth, which Ben couldn’t see because the end of the bar blocked his view. “Would you like some coffee, dear?” she asked the voice in the booth.
“No thank you, but I would like some juice if you have some, and where is the ladies room?” the voice answered.
“Go to the other end of the bar and down the hall; you’ll see the sign, dear.”
“Thanks Cindy,” the voice said.
Ben closed his eyes. He heard Cindy move away to the kitchen and could hear someone walking in his direction. The whole room got quiet. The locals just now we’re seeing who had been sitting in that booth. The jet-black shoulder length hair, the flawless skin. The ice blue eyes and the sundress that fit perfectly. She moved quietly with the soft-soled shoes, but Ben could hear each step. He heard a pause in her steps as he felt her lips on his ear.
“Good morning,” she said softly, before moving on to the ladies room. She really did have to go; she must have drunk a pot of coffee since 0600 a.m. Not everything is smoke and mirrors, she thought as she messaged Matt and Bill to come in and sit in the first booth at the front door.
The bar was still quiet. Ben opened his eyes. He hadn’t seen her so he wasn’t prepared when she walked back out and turned towards him and her booth. This time, as she walked by she put her hand under his chin and lifted, closing his mouth which must have been hanging open. She was gorgeous and so different than last night, when she looked more like a warrior princess. Everyone in the bar was watching and busted out laughing as she moved on past him to her seat. The tongues started wagging.
He had to come up with a plan and get the hell out of there. The doors opened behind him and he heard two people sit down. He didn’t turn and look. He just listened. Cindy walked over to see if the customer wanted to order.
“What can I get you fellas?” she asked.
“How’s the food here, ma’am?” one of them asked.
“It’s great,” she said, smiling. “We don’t have a big menu. I would recommend the double cheeseburger to you two. You look like you could do it justice.”
“That sounds great. Bring us each a double with everything, some fries and two waters.”
“Two doubles loaded, coming up,” Cindy replied.
“Ma’am,” the man continued, “have you seen six spacers in here lately? My partner and I are colonial rangers and we’re looking for five men and a woman.”
All ears perked up at that revelation.
“You can ask anyone in here about what happened last night,” Cindy replied as she walked away to put their order in with the cook.
Ben heard people moving around and chairs scraping the floor as the locals gathered around the Rangers to tell their current favorite version of the story. Ben decided to turn around and see what they looked like.
Damn it, it’s the major’s goons. They’re just fucking with these people. They know what happened in here last night.
Cindy came out with a tray. It had his eggs and bacon and toast, and another plate with just toast. She walked to take the major hers first and then came walking back with an empty tray.
She looked at Ben and winked. “The pretty lady says for you to come and join her in her booth.” She leaned in a little closer, winking again. “I would be all over that and I don’t like women,” she added. Just saying. Now go eat your breakfast and don’t screw it up.”
Ben walked over and sat down in the booth across from the major. He was staring at her and she was staring right back. She was chewing something and making a face like she really liked what she was eating. Toast isn’t that good, he thought. He looked at his plate; an egg and probably half his bacon was gone. He looked up at her and she was smiling innocently. She must have hoovered it. He looked around the room quickly and saw everyone was engrossed with the fake rangers. He turned back to her.
“Lady, did you eat my damn food?”
“Nope.”
“Bullshit. I had three eggs and three pieces of bacon when this passed by me at the bar. Now I have two eggs and one piece of bacon. Don’t you know you don’t steal a man’s breakfast?”
“You just eat. I will order you more food,” she said. “I want to talk to you, so I will talk and you listen. Cindy dear, would you get Ben another egg and some more bacon? Seems that some of his has gone MIA.”
“Yes ma’am,” Cindy replied, heading to the kitchen.
Ben just sat there looking at her. “What do you want with me?” he asked.
The major looked at him and said, “just eat and I’ll explain.”
Ben put his fork to the eggs, picked up a piece of toast with his other hand and dug in.
“I know what happened to you, Ben,” Andrea said.
He made a noise with his mouth full of eggs to indicate he was hearing her.
“I know you were railroaded and set up for a fall on that drug charge,” she continued.
He swallowed. “Tell me something I don’t already know.”
“Colonel Thomas disbanded your unit after you were gone and sent them all over the galaxy to different units.”
Ben stopped chewing and with a mouthful of food said, “Why would he do a stupid thing like that?”
“Your unit, more than anyone else in the Corp, knew there wasn’t an ounce of truth to the charges and that you were innocent,” she replied. “We believe he knew he didn’t have their loyalty and never would. He probably was worried he would get a stray bullet someday if they were ever behind him.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ben said.
“Well the general found out about all the transfers and has been moving your old unit to my command in the background. I have Sam, Jeff, Thad, Buddy, and Veronica all working for me now. Their orders were top secret and once they were moved all their records were transferred to my office so they can’t be checked out and viewed by anyone,” she said. “When I met with each one face to face like we are doing now they all said the same thing. They would come and work for me if I got you reinstated.”
Cindy was walking up with a plate that had six pieces of bacon and two more eggs. Ben’s plate was empty so she took it and set the new one in front of him. She walked away thinking things seemed tense in that booth.
Ben started cutting up the two eggs and saw a hand dart in and steal a piece of bacon. He looked at her with his meanest look and she just smiled as she munched on it.
“So the reason why I am here is to offer you a job. Put you back with your team,” she said.
Ben sat and thought for a few seconds. “I have a couple of conditions and need some answers before I can give you a final answer,” he said finally.
Andrea smiled. She was thinking she had him. She knew his old squad being on board would help bring him over. He didn’t think about it too long. She hoped he was serious. “Tell me what they are and if it’s within my power I will answer you right now. If it’s not I will forward them to General Grey and he will make the decision.”
“First, I want to remain a civilian. I have already had my honor taken from me, at least on paper. I will not put myself in a position to be betrayed again. My destiny will be my own,” he explained. “I will draft a contract outlining rank, pay, position and, if I don’t like working for you I can walk away. There will be more to the contract but you get the idea, don’t you major?” he said, looking her straight in the eyes. She was the first to look away. She felt the good feeling slipping away.
“How much time do I have to put this together?” he asked.
Not wanting to give him too much time, she answered, “I would like your answer Monday morning.”
I need more time, he thought. “Monday evening, close of business. We will meet right here.”
“Done.” That would give her time on Monday to talk to the general about this civilian in the ranks proposition. She didn’t think she would want this with a clause allowing him to walk away or that the general would, but she would try to keep an open mind.
“You said you had two conditions. What’s your second one?” she asked.
Here it comes, she thought. He’ll want his own quarters equal to a captain’s or a steak every day with dessert or some craziness like that. Ben was looking at her. He could see the wheels turning in her head as they sat silently.
“Andrea.” Using her name, he caught her off guard. “Condition number two is that you spend the day with me tomorrow, and you can’t back out.” He smiled as he looked at her face. He lifted his hand from his lap and reached across the table, putting it under her chin and lifting it, closing her mouth. “I believe this is a condition which you can answer without the aid of the general.”
He can’t be serious, she thought. He’s asking me on a date?
Ben continued. “You have until 0800 tomorrow to message me with your answer. I will be at the Vander Hoyts’. If the answer is yes I will see you by 0900. By the way, you look beautiful today —but dress casual tomorrow.” Smiling, he got up and left. She slid to the end of the booth and leaned out to watch him walk away in his cutoffs and sandals.
“He has a nice ass,” Cindy said, walking past.
“He sure does,” she said, smiling.
Ben ran up the back steps two at a time and got his laundry. He locked the apartment door and headed down the dirt road into farm country. The major’s men saw their cue and got up to pay their tab and wait in the car for her.
“Were the customers any help?” Cindy asked them.
“They were very helpful,” Bill said as he took his change and handed Cindy a tip.
“Thanks,” she said. “Come back anytime you’re in the area.”
“Thank you!” Bill said. “We may be seeing you again soon.”
Matt was already out by the car. Bill looked over at the major before walking out; she was staring at the vacant seat where Ben had been sitting. It looked like she was trying to work something out in her mind but wasn’t having any luck. He knew something wasn’t right. She was never confused about anything.
Ben hadn’t walked half a mile when he heard a hover car coming from behind him. He stepped off the road and turned to see the sheriff’s hover car pull up and drop down to about a foot off the ground.
He put down the window. “Your name Ben?”
“Yes sir that’s me. I suppose you want to talk about the fight at Gus’s last night?”
“Yes I do son, can I give you a lift?” the sheriff answered.
“Sure, can you drop me off at the Vander Hoyts’?”
“No problem,” the sheriff said
Ben got in the hover car. The sheriff asked him to recount what happened and said would stop him if he needed clarification of the facts. Ben started talking and the sheriff didn’t interrupt. When he was done, Sheriff Kilroy said his story was almost exactly like Gus’s and better than the customer recollections. Ben laughed and told him not to go to the bar and ask what they remembered. The story would sound like they fought off a wh
ole army with only bar towels.
The sheriff looked as if he was just remembered something serious. “Look Ben, while those spacers were locked up my men heard them talking a lot of shit about tracking you down and getting even with you and Gus. I’ve already messaged Gus to watch his back.”
The sheriff saw Ben’s body tense up.
“If they go after any of my friends or the Vander Hoyts they will regret it for the few seconds they will have left to live.” Ben’s face was like stone, betraying no emotion. “You know they will try to hurt or even kill someone this time.”
The sheriff believed Ben, and he nodded his understanding and didn’t say a word. They arrived at the farm.
“Anything else, Sheriff Kilroy?” Ben asked.
“No son, that’s it for now. Just call us if they show up.”
“I can’t promise you anything,” Ben said, “but I will if I can.”
Ben got out of the hover car and ran up the steps two at a time. The sheriff saw Janet circle her arms around the young man and squeeze him tight as Harold patted his shoulder. God help those men if they come here to this farm looking for trouble, the sheriff thought. The customers had told him what Ben had done and how fast he moved.
Ben went up to his room to change into some jeans and a T-shirt. He put his work boots on and started out the door and then stopped. From under his bed he pulled out a foot locker and removed a Marine fighting knife. It had a heavy blade about a quarter inch thick and was six inches long in a spear point shape. The top three inches of the blade were a false edge but Ben and his team had sharpened all theirs to a wicked double edged point. He slid a leather belt through the belt loops and the knife sheath, positioning it on his right thigh. Then he headed downstairs and outside to the barn.
The major left the bar and got in the hover car with Matt and Bill.
“I’m going to take you two back to the hotel so you can catch up on any reports you need to get done,” she said. “Matt, message the team and see that they’re not all in the brig.” she said. “I have a few things I want to check on before I talk to the general on Monday.”
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: Call Sign Reaper Page 3