Starlight Gleaming Ch. 12

"Sir!" She dashed back to her vehicle, started it up, and queued into the line of vehicles exiting the base.

I flipped the power switch, turned around, and drove back to the Commissary.

"Ixma? When we get inside, find a Learning Tablet for small children. Make sure it has music on it, too. I'll meet you back here when you are done." I pulled into the parking lot.

"Sir? Are we going to be okay?"

Helping her get the girls out of their seats, I nodded. "I think so. I hope so." I brushed her cheek with my free hand and she turned and kissed it.

We were ready to go inside when a woman and three children came out. Each child carried a stuffed animal. A rabbit, a bear, and an alligator. The boys growled, waving their animals at each other.

Sisi screamed, "Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" and hid her face in my legs. Mina, carried in Ixma's arms, not only shrieked, but emptied her bladder as well.

Seven hells!

The mother glanced at me and Ixma, saw our uniforms, then hurried her children along.

Once the girls were calmed down somewhat, we took them inside. It was the big teeth on the alligator that had done it. Ixma took them to the latrine to get cleaned up. Using her personal data stored on my phone, I bought Ixma a blouse and skirt, and some sandals. Another dress for Mina. The soiled things were bagged up. For ten credits, the Commissary would have the clothing laundered and delivered the next day. I gave them my work location.

Ixma and the girls shopped for the tablet, and I went to the flower shop. Six dozen flowers, in vases, to be sent to Janetta's room at the Naval hospital this evening. And an order for a flower to be sent to each of them for the next ten weeks, and even if they didn't understand it now, I included Sisi and Mina. Janetta, however, was to get two flowers. With deliveries, it was almost three hundred credits, but I felt it was worth it. Next, I bought half a sheet of orange spice cake, and had them inscribe it. "Happy 22nd Birthday, Captain Tlacotli, 233/6."

Her actual birthday wasn't for two more weeks, but I wasn't going to be here to help her celebrate. Besides, it would be a bigger surprise, being early.

Once we were done shopping, I drove to work. After we arrived, Ixma crawled into the cargo area in the back with the girls, and with the windows opened for air, they snuggled down on the blankets for a nap. I went inside to see what damage control I needed to handle.

I discovered where Sergeant Chita had set up her station. Doing her best to look under control, she informed me that Captain Xotochan wanted to see me as soon as I arrived.

Knocking on his office door, I doffed my cap and stuffed it into my belt.

"Enter."

I went inside, closing the door behind me. "You wanted to see me, Captain?"

"Ah, there's my missing Second. Nice of you to finally show up, Kandikan." He leaned back in his chair, giving me a sour look.

I'd called him this morning, as soon as I knew I wasn't going to be here as planned. Some people don't like their routines shaken up. Captain Xotochan appeared to be one of them. And, apparently, he forgot he told me to handle things at the beach. "You'd probably better pick another Second, Captain."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because sometime in the next few days, I'm out for ten weeks of training."

"I'm not authorizing ten weeks of training, and certainly not right now. I need you here, helping me get things under control."

"I'm not thrilled to leave at this time either. However, I've been told twice in the past two days that my orders are coming." I grabbed a chair and sat down. "I understand you had a front row seat to the little disturbance down at the beach this morning. Well, I was there, in the middle of that disturbance, and I helped get it taken care of. We lost some good men today, and a lot more injured. Both firefights should never have happened, but they did. On the plus side, we managed to neutralize multiple enemy agents and we recovered sixteen children."

"What are you going on about, Kandikan? You were only supposed to deal with those people at the beach. And I didn't tell you that you could sit down."

"As you wish, Captain," I said, standing up, suddenly feeling irritated. "My orders come from higher up. I informed you about my security related duties this morning. You assumed the beach incident was the whole of it. No, sir. Once we secured the beach, we learned that Commander Orchid's Aide had been murdered last night by an enemy agent -- a real, live draconian, Captain -- and that agent impersonated a senior Imperial Security officer and ordered those people into the ocean to die. When we left this morning, forty three had died from exposure. That's what was recovered. Eighty-nine are missing, presumed drowned. What the sharks don't eat will be showing up, up and down the coast, and that will make the Seven Nations ask our government some interesting and possibly embarrassing questions.

"We did find that murdered Imperial Security officer," I continued. "A man that I'm told served the Empire with integrity. And from there, we discovered a second plot, run by two more draconians and a dozen humans. Trafficking in stolen children. The Dependent's Office isn't far from here. Didn't you hear the gunfire around lunch time?"

I folded my arms. "Look, Captain. The draconians have made two attempts to kill Captain Tlacotli, and one attempt on her Flight Crew, just because they are important to me. Last night I learned that I am a target of theirs. Today, an Air Service sergeant that I'd never seen before, heard my name and tried to knife me. If you want things to settle down, you should be happy that I'm going to be out of your hair for a while."

"You aren't being very helpful, you know." He rubbed his mustache and fiddled with his pen. "There's an alert out for a Second Sergeant Innati, and you are named as a known acquaintance. You know anything about that?"

"And she's supposed to have killed Commander Orchid? Well, last time I saw her, Commander Orchid was alive and well. Sleeping, but alive."

"What am I going to do with you, Kandikan?"

I frowned. "Let me do my job. And while I'm gone, let Lieutenant Lovyanchiti do hers."

"Two days ago, she was a buck sergeant. You are confident in her?"

"I am. Twice she has disobeyed orders, and both times it was a right call on her part. The orders were good -- until the situation changed. Her reasons for her actions were good, too, and today, her decision saved three lives."

"Disobeying orders is not something I wish to encourage."

"Nor do I. However, when the situation changed, she adapted, and when it was necessary, she made the correct decision. I stand behind her actions. Her scores say she's average all around, but she thinks on her feet."

"Where is she now?"

"On special assignment, one I'm not at liberty to discuss. Hopefully, she'll be back tomorrow. If she's gone longer than three days, I'll have to get Sergeant Yalcamara and try and track her down."

"Because?"

"She's either dead or in serious trouble. And then I will have to put the hurt on whoever did it to her."

"You know, I used to think you were so quiet and peaceful," Captain Xotochan muttered. "You're not that way at all."

"See how you are, Captain, when people start trying to hurt your family."

He gave me another sour look. "No, thank you. I like mine safe."

"The past four days have been non-stop for me. People I care about have either been hurt or threatened, and I'm starting to get pissed."

"I will do my best to work with you Kandikan, and with your Second. I do hope she returns safely. And, I will consider those training incentives. Commander Orchid seemed to like the idea, in any event."

I raised my eyebrows.

He nodded. "She sent me a note this morning endorsing the idea. Greater skilled warriors could only be an asset to the Empire, she wrote. So how can I oppose you? Oh, and the first of the building inspectors will be here tomorrow. Since I apparently have no control over you, I will take your suggestion of a new Second under advisement."

"Is that all, sir?"

He sighed grudgingly. "Go attend whatever Security Oversight attends to. Dismissed, Kandikan. And for what it's worth, thank you for helping at the beach this morning."

I saluted and exited.

For the next two hours, I worked with Sergeant Chita, reviewing work plans that she'd sketched up. I also informed her of my own upcoming training, and that Lieutenant Lovyanchiti would depend on her a great deal while I was gone.

"Make sure she makes time to take some of the training classes herself," I told her. "They do have some classes available here that are related to command. Maybe once I get back, she should get some time at the War College at Tikun. I'd like her to not only stay an officer, but have the training so that she can advance. And I will depend on you to help keep her from trying to do too much by herself."

"Yes, sir. I will do whatever I can. And thank you for the chance to work here as well as for the promotion."

I shook my head. "Thank Lieutenant Lovyanchiti when you see her. She recommended you and believes in you."

"I will, sir," she replied, digesting my words.

* * * * *

At dinner time, I grabbed a clipboard with two forms fresh from the printer on it, and my satchel. Putting on my cap, I headed out to my vehicle.

Ixma and the girls were awake. The girls had apparently awakened before Ixma and had sampled the cake. Ixma was very apologetic, but I shushed her.

"Sisi and Mina, that cake is a present for someone else. While I doubt she will be upset, when something doesn't belong to you, you need to ask first. Sisi, since you are the older one and supposed to be helping take care of Mina, I expect you to help Ixma and not let Mina get into trouble and to help keep her safe."

Contrite, Sisi nodded at me. "Okay, 'Tenant."

I handed Ixma the clipboard. "Fill it out and sign it. I'll take it inside for processing, and you will officially be Mina's Mama. The second form is for your mama to fill out and sign."

She took the pen I handed her and quickly completed it. She pressed her thumb onto the ID section, then handed it back to me. As she settled the girls back into their seats for travel, Ixma grinned from ear to ear at me and at Mina.

I took the form back inside. On impulse, I made a slight change to Mina's new name, adding in Ixma's House name as another middle name. Sergeant Chita was collecting her gear to leave, when I stopped by her desk. I set the form and clipboard down and she looked at it.

"Tomorrow, not tonight," I told her. "Where's your stunner?"

"Top drawer of my desk," she answered. "I'm heading home."

I frowned. "It's supposed to be on or near your person at all times. For everyone in the Unit. Not just on duty. That's for your protection, Sergeant. A stunner is non-lethal defense."

She looked chagrined. "Yes, sir. I'm just not used to carrying a weapon."

"As things settle down, the auditing portion will probably be a majority of our duties. But security actions are also in our purview. Please make sure you have your weapon with you, at all times. As Senior NCO for our Unit, if you are not proficient now, you need to become proficient with a projectile weapon as well."

She nodded. I barely knew her, but I thought she was unhappy with me.

"Look, we're heading to the Commissary Diner for dinner. Would you like to join us?"

Sergeant Chita looked surprised. "Sir?"

"A meal, Sergeant. My treat. You can meet my new girls, too." She looked puzzled, so I continued. "Sisi's family died last night. Sergeant Zinja and I are taking her on as our own. That paper I gave you is for Mina, a girl we rescued this morning."

A lot had happened today, and as my new Senior NCO, she needed to be kept in the loop so that she could do her job. I gave her a brief run-down on the child trafficking we'd stumbled upon this morning. When I finished, she flushed, looking away.

"What's the matter, Sergeant? Speak your mind."

"I was surprised at all the chaos this morning, wondering what kind of officer I had signed on with, one who couldn't even be here to meet me, and everyone here with no clear objective or duty to attend to. Now I know."

She powered up the scanner and fed the form into the feeder tray. It zipped through and, typing out the instructions, the digital copy was forwarded to the Dependent's Office. Then she made notations for my personnel jacket as well as Ixma's, using the data from the form. It took ten minutes, from start to finish. Once that was done, she stamped and initialed the hard copy with a routing slip, putting the form into the Outgoing box.

"Done," she announced. "You are officially Mina's father now."

I raised my eyebrows at her.

"I wondered what kind of man would send me, and two strangers, to try and save two women officers he didn't even know. I see now it was the same man who would go after people trying to feed children to monsters. I wasn't going to accept the offer of dinner, sir, because I was angry at you. But now I would consider it an honor. If the offer is still open." She retrieved her stunner from the drawer and clipped it to her belt, then grabbed her satchel.

I nodded, smiling at her.

* * * * *

The five of us sat around a table in the diner. Sisi sat in a chair with a booster seat. Mina sat in Ixma's lap.

Ixma thought a birthday celebration for Janetta to be a wonderful idea. Sergeant Chita gave me an odd look, but said nothing. Adult men, as heads of households, had birthdays, and sometimes older boys as heirs to the family. Women and girls, as a rule, did not.

I could tell something was on her mind. "What are you thinking, Ixma?"

"Adoption is kind of like birth, isn't it?" She wiped Mina's chin and cut up a few more bite-sized pieces of food for her.

"I suppose so," I agreed.

"Can we make today their birthday, sir? Sing to the Captain, and then later, sing to our girls? I mean, next year, we'll celebrate the Captain's birthday on her actual birthday, so today can be for Sisi and Mina."

"Sounds perfect." I looked at Sisi and Mina.

I had children now. So easy to decide that, sure, we can add them in and take care of them, but only now were the ramifications settling in. My mother had been after me to have children. Calia, too, though Calia wanted me to help her make them. Zinja's desire to take on Sisi had fitted neatly into solving my own family issues. Sisi and Mina were people with feelings, and would have every right to expect me to make time for them and be a part of their lives. To care for and love them.

With just a little encouragement, Ixma bought a card for us to sign. I bought three more pairs of Captain's diamonds for Janetta. They had four more boxes of the flechettes in stock. I grabbed all four. On a whim, I also bought five baskets of fruit.

After dinner, we said goodnight to Sergeant Chita, and I sent a basket home with her. Before she left, she reminded me that in two days, she and Lieutenant Lovyanchiti had their appointment in Capisco. "Yalcamara has seniority after you," I reminded her. "I expect to be here, but just in case, bring her up to speed tomorrow."

Chita nodded. "Yes, sir." Then she left for home.

Loading into the ChoCac, we headed over to the Naval Hospital. On the way over, I thought about the current situation. Two adults packing two small children, four fruit baskets, a chest of food, and a bottle of metl juice. Definitely two trips. Fruit baskets on second trip. Then, in a small flash of brilliance, I called Corporal Sowitwee. He could meet us near the entrance and carry the baskets. I was the officer and he was my aide. Besides, I reasoned, one of the baskets was for him and his wife.

First on our agenda was finding out about Sergeant Zinja. At Reception, we learned she was fine, and she was now recovering in the same room with Janetta and Cholan. Checking to make sure that no one was on any special diets, they let the cake and fruit baskets pass.

Up to the fourth floor we went. When I saw the lack of guards outside their room, I had them wait, set down the cake and drew my pistol, approaching the door carefully.

Janetta and Cholan, busy with their laptops, were startled when I burst into the room. Zinja was asleep, still recovering from the anesthesia and surgery. A quick scan showed everything was all right.

"About time, Kandikan! I--"

"Where are your guards?" I interrupted sternly. Flipping the safety back on, I put it back into my holster.

"Gone," Janetta answered. "They left about noon. No explanation. Just said, 'we're leaving,' and that was that."

"Seven hells."

"Then, two hours later, they wheeled Zinja in here. Again, no explanation except that she'd been shot and is expected to recover. I've sent you several messages asking what's going on and I have heard squat from you. Bring me up to speed. What happened to my mechanic?"

"I will," I promised. "First things, first, though. Be right back."

I gave the all clear to Ixma and Sowitwee, and with Sisi in the lead, they swarmed into the room. I went back to retrieve the cake.

When I re-entered the room, Janetta looked alarmed. "Who are these kids? Why the blazes are they here? You girls be quiet! Quiet, I said! Kandikan! What is going on here! And why, in the name of the Gods of North and South, did you bring a stupid cake? I asked for real food!"

Setting the cake on the counter, I moved over to her bed. "Happy twenty-second birthday, Janetta. I know it's not for two weeks yet, but I will be away at training when your birthday comes around. I wanted to let you know how much I love you."

Naked but for her leg brace, she set her laptop aside and got up, padding over to look at the cake. She turned, her face scrunched up. Then she wiped at her eye. "A birthday cake? You are a shitload of complication, Ranji Kandikan! How can I be upset with you if you do crap like this? My father gave me a special birthday, just before ... his last mission. I was four years old."

"I'm four!" Sisi announced.

Throwing her arms around me, Janetta buried her face in my chest.

"Do you like it?" I kissed her forehead.

"It's beautiful," she sniffed.

"We haven't even sung yet," I countered.

She pulled back, looking up at me. "The birthday song is for men. 'May your wife give you many sons'? No. I'm flying until they put me in my grave. The House of Tlacotli ends with me."

"Ixma and the girls helped make new lyrics. Let us sing for you."

"Um. Okay?"

"Come on, Sisi, Mina." Ixma knelt beside them. "Just like we practiced on the way over."

"Happy birthday, Captain, dear Captain. Happy birthday to you. May each day be fun, with hugs and kisses, too. Happy birthday, Captain, dear Captain. We love you." Sisi and Mina then clapped with Ixma. "Yay!"

Cholan, still wearing the brace on her face to keep her mouth closed, clapped as well. The braces on her ribs had been replaced with tight bandages.

Janetta raised her eyebrows at me. "Fun with hugs and kisses?"

I nodded. "Sisi insisted. I think it's a nice sentiment." I pulled her back into my arms, then kissed her slowly, thoroughly. "You object to hugs and kisses?"

Janetta craned her neck toward Ixma. "I need to hear it again, before I decide."

So we sang it to Janetta again, and she smiled. "All right, I like it. Thank you. I see you remembered to bring the ice chest. Good, because I am sick of this hospital food." She moved to the chest and opened it up. "Plates, silverware, cups. Food. Not enough, but it'll do. And metl juice! Outstanding! Cholan, you can't eat any of the food, but you want some juice in a cup?"

Opening the bottle, Janetta filled two plastic cups. She took one over to Cholan.

Cholan typed on her laptop, and a female voice said, "Thank you, Captain."