by L M Lacee
Stronger than most men, Melody and a very large Warrior seized the slight woman by her arms. With no great effort they lifted her feet inches from the floor and marched her from the room. A Warrior escorted them and another brought up the rear as they moved through the building.
They all could hear Marta screeching. ‘Call Commander Roeah! I demand you call him. On what charge are you arresting me?’
Even though Melody was not yelling, they heard her say. ‘Shut up Skank. The charge is you are a liar and an instigator and I do not like you. Commander Roeah wouldn’t sleep with you if you were the last skank on Earth. Oh look you are, and he didn’t. And what woman calls her lover Commander. Now move!’
Peyton was grinning by the time they had cleared the building, she addressed the remaining women.
‘Ladies we need you for the new world, you are not too old. We need your experience, your love and understanding. You bring balance and guidance to us all and that is a good thing. The Warriors we are taking with us have never before met or had woman like us or you in their lives, they are so very out of their depths. Most of you were married or in relationships at one time, so you have an understanding on how to navigate this man, woman thing. Please don’t remain behind, there is nothing here for you besides fear and a slow death… Shit that didn’t come out right!’
They burst out laughing as Peyton blushed then started to laugh as well, eventually her voice turned serious again as she said. ‘Come on ladies, if for nothing else we need your cooking, especially on the ships.’
Helen broke the tension as the most senior chef she asked. ‘How bad can it be?’
A Warrior moved forward and threw a small wrapped brown log on the counter, it thumped as it settled. ‘That ladies, is what we eat on board our ships or just about any time, they are what General James calls rations.’
The women all moved closer as he drew a knife and shaved off slices, which they all tried, making horrified faces as they spat it out. Helen stated as the women all murmured their agreement. ‘This is outrageous!’
He nodded and told them. ‘One slice is supposed to sustain a Warrior for eight of your hours.’
Brenda asked him kindly. ‘And does it?’
‘No, Lady Brenda it does not, all Warriors know hunger as I did until Lady Helen.... Chef Helen, I apologize, cooked me a morning food.’
Helen whispered. ‘He means breakfast!’
‘At her dynner, it was the first time in a long time that my stomach did not talk to me. I liked it as do other Warriors. So please Chef Helen, Lady Brenda, and Lady Esther.’ He looked over all the females present. ‘Ladies come with us, teach others to cook like you do. So Warriors know what it is like not to have their stomachs talk to them.’
Tears ran freely among the women as Lukkas stepped back next to Peyton, who smiled at him with a touch of pride. It gave him pause, other than his brother, he could not remember a time someone had looked at him like that. The other male Warriors looked horrified at the crying women, then they looked accusingly at Lukkas who felt his heart start to thump in worry. If he did not fix this, his brother Warriors could harm him for upsetting the females or worse tell Kerol, and that he knew would not be good.
He asked Peyton. ‘Why do they cry?’ He then told the women. ‘I am very sorry ladies to have upset you. I will leave!’
He turned to go, sad that he had upset the females with his truth. Helen sniffed and wiped her eyes, then ordered. ‘You will not leave, you will come here, all of you, sit down. We will make sure you are fed before we leave this room. Heavens knows what we will find on board the ship.’
TWENTY-NINE:
The women all bustled around the makeshift kitchen setting plates down in front of the Warriors. Thirty women falling all over themselves to feed Warriors who probably weren’t hungry but appreciative of the attention and caring shown by the women.
Someone placed a cup that looked a lot like hers, in Peyton’s hand as she tapped on her new comm` link and started speaking. It was a peculiarity of the links that when in use, only the one using it could hear the other person speaking. Peyton was half-way through dismantling hers to find out why, when Jean saw her and threatened to one; tell Darby and two; not give her a new one.
Which Peyton thought was harsh, but she did not take the new one apart, even though Jean had not told her how it worked. Jean was a little intense, Peyton decided it was the accent as well as the frown, she could wear when she was displeased.
‘Darby hon’, I need a techie at the away station please. Oh yes, they are... Let the rest know, Helen, Brenda, Esther, and the Ladies club are definitely going. I put Marta Aude in jail, can you make sure she can’t communicate with anyone... oh, she can’t... no, I did not doubt you... because she’s a big-fat liar... well technically she’s not fat, but she is a liar... she said she was sleeping with Commander Roeah... I know... see a liar... yeah, I know she is... okay talk later.’
She tapped her link off and noticed the room had become quiet, and everyone was looking at her.
‘What? Darby said she was a skanky-ho-bag. Darby is not very good a cussing.’
Helen asked. ‘Who are you letting know what?’
‘Oh that! Another seven hundred women, who would not go, if you, Brenda, Esther and these nice ladies did not board. You all have a big fan base, which is not the reason I want you to come. We really do need you, apparently for your cooking as well as other things. The Warriors need that, but we need women who have a more practical way of looking at life. There are going to be some hard, tough decisions to make and some revelations that may make some people uncomfortable. Also, there are some other reasons which I don’t want to get into now. I’m just asking you trust me for a little longer. When we are under way, I will explain everything.’
Helen placed a sandwich filled with yummy things in her hand and said. ‘Like, why you can glow and things like that?’
‘Or the fact everyone calls you Madam, and you can jail someone and no one says anything?’ Brenda asked as she placed a bowl of food in front of Lukkas, who grinned as he dug in.
‘Maybe, it could be the fact she needs body guards?’ Esther said from behind her.
Peyton sighed as she mumbled. ‘Yeah, things like that!’
Esther grinned as she gave her shoulder a pat. ‘Well why didn’t you just say so?’
Peyton mumbled again around her food. ‘No idea!’
Laughter and quiet conversations filled the room, as the food was consumed and happy Warriors relaxed, with the women, when a young Warrior walked in holding a tablet. ‘Madam Peyton, you asked for me?’
Peyton looked at him and smiled. ‘Willian, I did. I need your help to make sure Chef Helen, and the other ladies will have everything on board they need, supplies and equipment. I realize it is last minute but…’
Willian looked down at his tablet and frowned saying. ‘Madam Peyton, the supplies and equipment have already been sent to all the Battle and Warships for Chef Helen and the other chefs. All I need to do, is find out who is going where, that is what Lady Darby said. Was that incorrect?’
‘Sneaky Darby.’ Peyton muttered as she smiled at the young Warrior. ‘No Willian, it was not, Lady Darby is quicker than I am.’
He smiled. ‘That is something I have also found to be true Madam. Lady Darby is very fast.’
Peyton shared a grin with one of her favorite Warriors, then she asked. ‘Helen, can you help Willian, if I am not mistaken? I heard his tummy talking.’
Brenda grabbed the young Warrior and sat him in a chair. ‘Helen dear, food for the boy.’
If Peyton wasn’t mistaken Willian was one of the women’s favorites as well. A bowl of food was placed in front of him, and a glazed look filled his eyes.
Peyton asked Helen. ‘So you will work out what ship the ladies are going on with Willian. You have not forgotten you Brenda and Esther are with me?’
‘We will Madam!’ She smirked as she uttered the title. Peyton groaned ‘No... Absolutely not!’
Helen laughed a deep belly laugh and in her British accent it sounded funnier to Peyton for some reason.
Brenda asked Peyton. ‘So what ship will you be on?’
A large Warrior with scars walked into the room and answered in his deep voice before Peyton could.
‘That is classified Lady Brenda.’
Brenda paled as she hurriedly said. ‘Of course, my apologies?’
Peyton growled. ‘Really Kerol! Don’t growl at our ladies. They feed us.’
‘Yes Madam, Willian knows what ship you will be on, just tell him, who you desire on board with you and he will make it so. That is why he is here.’ He looked over at the food William was shoveling into his mouth. Raising an eyebrow at the young Warrior, then at his brother who was just finishing his bowl of food.
Peyton grinned at Kerol as she told the women. ‘Ladies, I know you have not actually met Kerol. Commander Roeah’s second, but you have all heard us talk about him.’ She flipped her hand toward Kerol as she introduced him, ‘This is Kerol Naihal, Lukkas’s brother.’
They all looked at Lukkas, who nodded his head as his mouth was to fill of food to make a comment. Peyton smiled at the women before saying. ‘Please introduce yourselves, although I would hazard a guess he already knows who you all are. Ladies could you make sure you feed him too. Also, Willian make sure you take some food back for the Commander. I will send you the list of the people I would like on the Warship with me? Oh, Helen can I have a ‘with me’ bag for my pilot please?’
Kerol groaned. ‘Madam, please!’
Unrepentant, Peyton grinned as she was handed a container filled with delicious food. ‘Try the food Kerol it will make you feel better.’
She called out to the women present. ‘See you all later, love yah!’
Then swept from the room, minus Kerol and Willian. Trina was lead now in place of Melody. They walked through the large area which was now nearly empty.
‘Almost fully loaded.’ Said a tall woman in an army uniform as they came even with her.
‘You are?’ Peyton asked looking up at her.
‘Oh, sorry, Netta Howl, under General James.’
‘Hello, I am Peyton. Melody’s friend.’
‘I know.’
‘Oh!’
Netta was tall, almost six foot-one, maybe taller, with short black spiked hair that had dark and light blue tips. She was slim with firm muscles. Her eyes were a startling ghost gray with a ring of amber almost gold around the iris, which in of itself was startling. She was beautiful and had a nice easy voice that reminded you of rain-filled summer days.
Peyton smiled at her. ‘Netta Howl, Melody speaks highly of you. I wanted to thank you, for all the work you have been doing since you arrived. It has helped us enormously. I am also sorry we have not met before, it was unintentional.’
Surprised Netta smiled. ‘I never thought it was, and I thank you for your kind words, it has been my pleasure.’
‘Well okay, are you on duty here?’
‘Yes Madam, we are just finishing the three remaining containers now. That should take another forty-five minutes and as far as I know we are five shuttles away from leaving.’
Peyton placed a hand over her stomach and leaned nearer to Netta. ‘I have butterflies, just hearing you say that. What about you?’
‘Oh, my stars yes, terrified but excited. I just want to be gone, you know?’
‘You bet I do, so make sure you are on board with Melody.’
‘Oh, I think I have to be on…’
‘Pfft!’ Peyton cut her off as she tapped her link. ‘Darby, hi hon’ it’s me again... Yeah, I know it comes up when I call... because I like saying it’s me… it’s friendlier. Thanks for Helen’s stuff... yeah, I know it’s our stomachs too... yeah, I tried it… it's crap... no, you can’t, we might find a use for it... that’s funny, building material... Oh, you weren’t being funny... listen is Melody’s Netta, on our ship... No, can you make it happen... that is not funny... you can, good... yeah, I have a feeling we will need her... If I knew why, I would tell you... yes, I would... Aww! Come on Darby it was one time.’ She tapped her link off and grumbled. ‘Forget to tell her one little thing!’
‘Umm! It was hardly little.’ Trina reminded her. Peyton pointed out. ‘It was just one little slip of memory. I had a lot to think about. Shoot it was a small thing, really?’
‘You forgot to tell her the ships were here!’ Trina laughingly replied. ‘Not really a small thing!’
Peyton griped. ‘Fine, take her side!’
Trina winked at Netta and said. ‘The weirdest family I have ever seen but somehow it works.’
‘It’s because we are all scared of Melody, she yells loud, really loud.’ Peyton countered, which made them all laugh, because it was true. She then focused her attention on Netta. ‘Can you get someone to finish up here?’
‘Yes Madam…’
‘Please call me Peyton, everyone else does.’
At a nod from Trina, Netta agreed. ‘Okay, so as I was saying, Marshall is here and there is very little left to do.’
‘Okay then, go tell her you are leaving and then come on back to me.’
Netta was a little bemused by the turn of events as well as the cryptic comment Peyton had made to Darby. She walked to a container and spoke to a female in uniform, asking her to take over from her. Then she re-joined Peyton, and they backtracked to where the women were still feeding the Warriors.
‘Esther!’ Peyton called, going back into the kitchen she noticed Kerol had his mouth fill and his bowl was almost empty. Willian, looked like he was in heaven as he dug his fork back into a bowl of stew.
Esther stopped wiping a pan and asked. ‘What now?’
‘Melody’s friend Netta is staying with you to make sure you get on board okay? Willian, Warrior Netta is also on my ship, make sure you don’t lose her.’
He nodded his head as she turned back to Netta and said. ‘I would like to talk to you when we are on board. Could you please stay here and make sure these ladies all get on the shuttles and try the food it's really good?’
Netta smiled and said. ‘That I can do.’
She moved farther into the room, and Brenda handed her a bowl of stew. Peyton and her guards made their way from the kitchen. Peyton looked back over her shoulder and called out to the busy women.
‘Oh ladies, Netta says we are forty-five minutes and five shuttles away from leaving to board the Warships, thought you’d like to know.’
She then stepped out of the way as she heard orders being issued. Women flew around wiping down counters and packing containers with pots and pans, food and utensils in a flurry of activity. She watched with a bit of satisfaction as Kerol’s plate was whisked away and he made a futile grab for it.
He turned his head and gave her a pathetic look. She laughed and this time when they walked through the emptying warehouse, she did not stop until they were inside her shuttle.
‘Okay, pilot Nikolas, two more stops and then the ship. Oh, and this is for you, from the ladies they didn’t want you to get hungry.’
Nikolas took the thermal container from her and opened it. The container held a large helping of Chef Helen’s stew, his nose twitched at the wonderful aroma. He felt his stomach rumble in anticipation, a little stunned at the kindness of the ladies he said. ‘I will remember to thank them.’
So amazed by the women’s kindness he forgot to say his normal, as you wish Madam Peyton before he powered up and lifted from the ground.
Peyton smiled to herself as she opened her tablet and started entering names. She enjoyed Nikolas; he never seemed to have a problem with what she asked him to do and was always sincere. Also, he was one of the few Warriors who did not defer to her or seemed to be in awe of whom she was. The biggest blessing was he did not act or seem scared of her. He was just Nikolas, always polite and always kind. She imagined if she had a brother, he would be like him. She hoped in the future, the other pilots she had flown with, woul
d also relax and act like Nikolas.
All too soon they were landing on the courthouse lawn. Her first stop was the jail, sadly she had women to advise they would not be traveling with her and her people. She stepped from the shuttle accompanied by Lukkas and several of her guards. Trina was to remain behind at Peyton’s insistence. Unfortunately, Trina knew several of the women in the jail, and Peyton did not want her to be upset any more than she had to be.
Lukkas guided her to the jail under the courthouse not that she needed him to; the screaming and abusive language being yelled by the women was guide enough.
When she entered the jail, she saw food and water all over the corridor walls and cell floors. Several of the women sported black eyes, split lips and bloody noses, fighting had taken place apparently. Melody and the guards already there stood well back from the cells.
Peyton could see Melody was more than just angry, the bland expressions on the Warriors faces made her shake her head. The women became louder and shouted more abuse when they spied her and her guards.
Peyton made a sound between a sigh and a grunt and the women silenced instantly. She looked at the Warriors and dismissed them with a smile. ‘Thank you Warriors. Your ships await.’
They saluted and left, relieved she was sure. Peyton eyed the now quiet women as Melody came to where she stood and asked. ‘What are we going to do with them? They will starve, if we don’t release them but if we do, they will go shouting to the authorities.’
Peyton nodded her head. ‘I know, it will be alright. I’ll take care of this, Take Lukkas and the guards and go.’
Melody and her guards did not take the words for anything other than an order and as the Warriors had done, they saluted and left.
Trina watched as Nikolas spooned up the stew with a look of absolute enjoyment on his face. Melody entering the shuttle after her guards, laughed quietly and asked Trina. ‘Did Peyton feed him?’
With his spoon half way to his mouth Nikolas said. ‘Madam said the ladies gave it to me?’
Trina nodded her head. ‘I know.’
‘Why did she not say she had given it to me? She is Madam Peyton?’