Starlight Gleaming Ch. 19

My first sock was in my hands when she screamed.

Even down the hall, around a corner and a hundred feet through a two-way door I heard her. She screamed again. Louder this time.

Yeah, they were making sure I heard. Bastards.

Bare feet were better on the slick tiles. Reaching into my pocket, I confirmed I had a bundle of zip-ties. Then I strode back to the showers.

Grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall, I popped the tab keeping the hose flush with the metal cylinder. Ducking below the safety window so they didn't see me, I shoved the door open with my butt. As soon as I spied kitten-two and Jaguar-man, I sprayed fire suppressant point blank into their faces. Both of them yelled in surprise, hands going to their eyes and coughing.

Dropping the hose, kitten-one came in from my left, trying to clip me from the side. I grabbed the bottom of the cylinder and lifted. His fist slammed into metal and he howled. Shifting right, I shoved the cylinder and clocked kitten-two's face. Kitten-one shoved at the door, the edge clipping me, but I was already bringing the hefty metal cylinder at Jaguar-man. His fist, too, collided with the extinguisher. As he swore in pain, I spun the cylinder around and clobbered him hard. Kitten-one jumped for me. I jumped back, but he latched onto my legs, trying to overbear me. I introduced him to my new friend, Fire Safety. Two more greetings to the top of his head with the redoubtable cylinder and he fell away, bloody and moaning.

Keedro and Franjomma abandoned torturing Sovansi and rushed at me.

I tossed Fire Safety at Keedro. Dodging Franjomma's blow, I grabbed his arm, twisting it, forcing him to whirl about and come in close. One punch to the throat, then a second for effect. As he fell away, choking for air, Keedro landed two solid hits into my kidneys. I spun, but my blow mostly caught air.

Keedro blocked the next punch to his face, but my left pushed his arm away and the second punch hit him square in the mouth. Knee to his groin and he doubled over, exhaling with a whine. Both of my hands coming together in a doubled-fist, I smacked him down. He fell onto his belly, stunned. Jumping onto his back, I repaid his kidney shots in kind, then doubled his investment by visiting the other side.

Panting, I rolled off, scanning for the others.

Just in time, too.

Kitten-two had recovered enough for another go. Yelling, he was almost on me. Rolling off Keedro, I reached up I snagged a wrist and brought both my legs together. Kicking out while rolling backward, I tossed him behind me. Flailing about, he flew through the air, crashing hard into the line of sinks and mirrors.

Rolling to a crouch, Kitten-one was still holding his head, moaning. Jaguar-man was up, holding his hand, glaring at me. Kitten-two also cradled his hand. On the ground, Franjomma wheezed for air.

"You broke my hand, fucking cock-sucker!" Jaguar-man accused. Then he saw my grade and his face turned sullen.

Walking over to him slowly, I growled out, "Are you going to give me any more trouble?"

He shook his head.

"About fucking time, shit-for-brains," I said.

I moved behind Kitten-one. Pulling out a zip-tie, I pulled both hands behind his back and cuffed him.

Going back to Jaguar-man, I barked out, "Sit down, feet together."

"What are you going to do with us?"

"I'm still figuring out all the regs you five have broken. At the least, I intend to express my intense displeasure in a face-to-face with your CO." I zipped his feet together.

"You're Air Service," he protested. "You've got no real jurisdiction over us."

I showed him my unit shoulder patch. "What does that say?"

"Fuuuck."

I thumped his forehead hard with my knuckle. "So beside being a moron, you can't read either? No, that does not say 'fuck.' That says Air Security. Whoever told you that someone of a superior grade in a different service branch has no jurisdiction did you no favors. Circumstances make a hell of a difference. When you are obviously not on duty, you had best listen to a superior officer regardless of service branch or be prepared to pay the consequences. You are all going to have very short military careers unless you do a lot of groveling and turn things around."

He winced. "Yes, sir."

It didn't take long for me to cuff the others. Then I turned my attention to Sovansi.

Pale, she leaned against the wall, her elbow obviously broken, the injured joint purple and swollen. A black eye and a split lip, a thin line of trickling blood down her chin. Tears spilling down her cheeks. Seeing me approach, her eyes tracked me, accusing me with her silence.

"I'm sorry they hurt you, Sovansi." I crouched down. "May I examine your injury?"

"You're... a Medico?"

"No, but I have basic first aid skills. I make all my troopers learn it, so it was only fair to take the class myself. I'm also pretty good with anatomy."

She winced as I gently felt along her arm. No other breaks, but it definitely needed a splint.

Just then, three Air Security troopers burst into the room. Two, armed with assault rifles at the ready, parked by the door, weapons and gazes sweeping the room for any active threat.

Mack holstered her pistol and lifted her visor as she strode to me. "Are you all right, Commander?"

"I'll be fine. Sovansi here needs a splint and medical attention."

Mack looked relieved, then scanned the room. "Haytam, get on the horn and call for an ambulance. Notify Ground Security, too."

"Yes, Sergeant!" The trooper pushed through the door and disappeared.

"Sovansi, I'm flying out tomorrow, and things will probably be rough for you if you stay in your current billet. What I told you before was true. I can get you transferred to High Guard War Base. You can stay in the Ground Service if you like. There's also a lot of open slots with the Air Service if you're so inclined."

"In my MOS? Not bloody likely. This is the worst day of my life."

"I don't know. Maybe? Just what is your Military Occupational Specialty?"

"Materials engineering. I'm two years into the program, and because of you, it's all gone to shit. My pussy and ass hurt, my arm's on fire, and I'm pretty sure my career is dead. Thanks for nothing. Sir."

I couldn't help myself. I grinned. "Sorry. I'm really not laughing at your injuries, just at the irony of it all. Were you looking to apply to the Weapons Research Division here in Copán?"

She wiped her face and glared angrily at me.

"I don't have any pull for a placement at Copán. However, if you're any good, I could put in a word for you at Tohingo Defense Research." I pointed at the aiguillette on my left shoulder. "I'm just a Level One Researcher myself, but Tohingo is always looking for new talent."

"Damn, that hurts." She swallowed and I saw her focus a moment. "Prove it. Shock resisting steels should have low wear resistance, low hardness, low tensile strength, or toughness. Which is correct?"

"Toughness." I looked at my watch. "Look, the offer's on the table, but I don't have a lot of time to spend trying to convince you."

"Wait a minute! This is my life you're being so casual with!" she insisted. "There were four choices and you could have made a lucky guess. What is dye penetrant method used for?"

"To locate surface defects. Are you satisfied, Lieutenant?"

She nodded thoughtfully. Finally seeing my name tag, her eyes widened. "Your name's Kandikan? As in Arjun Kandikan? You do sort of look like him, but I thought you'd be older in person."

"Arjun's my father."

"He's brilliant," she blurted out, then winced as Mack examined her elbow.

I laughed. "Yes, he is. Interested?"

"By all the gods, yes!" Then her lower lip trembled and she burst out in new tears. "Is this really happening?"

"Sorry, Sovansi. I'm afraid so." I stood up and exhaled.

Trooper Haytam returned, carrying a towel and two legs from a coffee table under one arm. Mack took the towel, and using her belt knife, cut it into long strips. Haytam moved next to Sovansi. "Sorry, but I have to move this. I'll be as gentle as I can."

Taking strips from Mack, Haytam wrapped the strips around the table legs together in three places. Satisfied, Haytam gingerly lifted her arm and Sovansi hissed out a whimper. More strips around her upper arm and forearm, securing the injured limb to the makeshift splint. Next, she pulled out a mid-size Nu-Skin patch from one of her belt pouches. Yanked off the backing, then gently laid it over the swollen joint. Reaching beneath her vest, Haytam then pulled out a small pill container. Taking out three, she held them to Sovansi.

"Just pain blockers," she explained. "Take them. It'll help."

Sovansi took them dry, swallowing the bitter pills.

Haytam stood. "Sorry, Commander. These staff vehicles are really lacking in emergency preparedness. There's not even a first aid kit in the boot."

"We'll have muddle through, then, won't we. Good work, Trooper Haytam."

She gave me a short nod and brief smile at the praise.

"What do you want done with these others, Commander?" Mack asked.

"Stockade for the moment, once Ground Security gets here. Get their names. Start with him." I pointed at Jaguar-man. "Find out their unit and their CO's name. I'm going to finish getting dressed."

"Yes, sir. Laylandi, you stay with the commander, and I mean like a tick on a dog. If anything happens to him, after Lieutenant Tchanoonka gets done with us, the captain and the senior sergeant will each take a bite out of our asses as well. Come on, Haytam. Let's find out who these filthy scum are."

As I passed him, Jaguar-man snarled out at Mack, "Watch it, Sergeant. We are noblemen and officers. Speak with respect or I'll see you get the lash."

Mack scoffed. "You laid hands on my CO. That makes you filthy scum. He's an Air Security officer and he's of higher grade. He told you to stop hurting that woman behind you. Yet you and your loser friends chose to keep at it. That makes all of you insubordinate assholes as well as losers. Injuring someone of junior grade necessitating medical assistance during or after a demand for sex is felony violation 78.139 of the Imperial Military Code of Justice. Yeah, I'm not the one who's going to be crying for his mamma before this is done. Full name and grade, filthy asshole scum."

Go, Mack! I thought, barely suppressing a grin. That's worthy of sharing with Yalcamara and Doyya later. Seven hells, I'll share it Chita, Jay, and Pen, too.

With trooper Laylandi following, the door swung closed behind us as we exited. Back at my locker, I sat down. Stiffening, I exhaled, feeling the ache start in my lower back. I hate getting hit in the kidneys.

Laylandi lifted her visor. "Are you injured, Commander?"

"Just a couple of punches. I'll be fine."

"With all due respect, sir, you were involved in a fight, and are still running on adrenalin. I'm the field trooper. Let me make the assessment. Where were you struck?"

I pointed. "Right there."

"Lift your shirt. I need to assess the site."

I paused a moment. She had the right of it. That was indeed post-conflict protocol. I pulled out my shirt and lifted it. She checked the safety on her rifle, then leaning back, she carefully laid it upright against the lockers.

"He hit you pretty good. Looks like it's starting to bruise. Let me put on a Nu-Skin, sir. Just to be sure, you should get it checked out later, especially if you have any pain or difficulty urinating later or if you pass any blood." Reaching into her belt pouch, she pulled out a bandage. The backing was pulled off, activating the healing cocktail, and she gently smoothed over cool gel patch over my bruised flesh. "That should help, sir."

"Thank you, Laylandi."

"A privilege, Commander." She retrieved her rifle and stood back up, giving a quick scan of the area.

Turning so I no longer straddled the bench, I put on my socks. "I understand duty and appreciate your loyalty. How is it a privilege?"

She grinned at me indulgently. "My daughter and I both owe our lives to you. My father planned to sell my girl and marry me off for two hundred credits to a fat merchant's son -- because being an unmarried woman with a bastard child, my father says I am tainted goods. Unfortunately, Haytam lost her son before your offer came. She shares her milk with those of us with infants. She was destitute and ready to end it all when Sergeant Chita's phone call came. Playing with our kids and feeding them is helping her with her grieving. We all know what you did for little Tambo. Cooma and Akama, their kids had problems, too, but they're both doing better. The baby blankets? The milkers and the doctor visits for us and our kids? A big house so we could all live together and support each other? You cleared our records and not only gave us back our home in the Air Service, you made it a hundred percent better. A privilege. Llam nuqan, Commander."

"Llam nuqan, indeed. Thank you, Laylandi. I have the best Air Security regiment in the Empire."

"Yes, sir!" She grinned even wider at me.

I put on my shoes. Stood and tucked my shirt back in. Put on my neckerchief.

We heard a group of men approaching our position, but hidden by the line of lockers. A Ground Security trooper peered around the corner, then called out over his shoulder. "There's someone here, Lieutenant!"

Laylandi lowered her visor and snapped to attention. I transferred keys, lanyard, phone, and stunner from my kit into my pockets. My stomach rumbled and I looked at my watch. Forty minutes past zero-eight hundred.

Seven hells.

If I wasn't careful, this day was going to get away from me and be a disaster for Cholan.

A Ground Security lieutenant accompanied by a sergeant and two troopers came around the corner, quickly closing the distance. "Excuse me, are you involved in this altercation?"

Recognizing the voice, I turned and smiled at him, holding out my hand. "As I live and breathe, Lieutenant Janoose!"

A look of astonishment turned to laughter, and he pumped my hand vigorously. "Ranji? Sorry. I meant Commander! Three months ago, you were a senior lieutenant, reminding all of us quite forcefully what a Warrior stands for. Now, here you are, a damn field commander, and I find that doesn't surprise me in the slightest! Holy gods, you are a pleasant surprise!"

"Yes, I'm involved."

Suddenly all business, he nodded. "Tell me what happened, Commander."

"You know my policy about forced sex. I was taking a shower, and I heard some men come in and tell a woman she was going to submit to sex. Despite her protests, they started forcing her. There were six of them, and they all wanted a piece of her. I heard her say they were hurting her. I told them to stop and they told me to mind my own business. I never identified my rank or security status, but I did challenge them to a series of single-combat duels. Their response was to rush me. So I stunned them. I told the woman if she wanted a new billet, to be out in the dressing area within ten minutes. After rinsing off, I left.

"It was about three, maybe four minutes later that I heard her scream. Then she screamed again, louder. I heard her from clear out here. They broke her elbow and punched her in the face a few times. Mean, shitty stuff unworthy of officers. I warned them I was armed and to not to hurt her, but it's like they were born stupid. They deliberately hurt her to to lure me back, no doubt intending to beat me up. Well, the lure worked, but not the way they expected. I called my escort and then I went back to the showers and subdued them. My team arrived and rendered first aid to Sublietenant Sovansi. I haven't confirmed her ID, but that's the name I heard used."

Grinning, he shook his head. "Man, oh man, this I have to see. You took on five at once? You'll pardon me if both my nuts twinge in sympathy. I remember you giving me a hard punch to my junk once. Then I learned who you are and because of that, remembered who I was supposed to be."

I did recall the incident in question. The eyes of his men widened, but they remained circumspect. I'm pretty sure the muffled snort came from Laylandi. However, with the visor down, I couldn't be sure.

Janoose continued. "You're Air Service, but you're also Air Security and a ranking officer. What you say has a lot of import, and not just with me. What kind of charges do you want laid on them, Commander?"

"Take them to the stockade, charged with violating Article 78.139, felony injury of a fellow service officer. Also, I want them liable for any damages to the facility."

"The JAG court here will probably let them off with fines," he warned.

I shrugged. "It is what it is. Real change takes time. In the meantime, they can cool their heels in a cell and think over their stupidity. Maybe next time they will remember they are supposed to act like officers and not like street thugs. I also want to see their CO. I want him to sign off on Sovansi's transfer."

"Done. Sergeant, let's round up the riffraff."

The sergeant looked dubious, but nodded at his officer.

Laylandi quietly collected my kit, checked the locker, closed it and secured the key. I gave her a nod. I followed Janoose and his men back to the showers.

As we walked side by side, Janoose lowered his voice. "I heard there was an Air Security Commander in town, making trouble near the state courthouse yesterday. I take it that was you, too?"

"Guilty. I came to pay off my aide's contract. I paid a Ground Service JAG officer to review it, and he found some things that were legal but of unethical practice. He also found some things he was obligated to report to the Commerce Ministry. Such as filing forged amendments to the contract, including jacking up the interest rates, as well as breaking a few other Imperial commerce laws along the way. Over forty-one thousand credits. I paid the discharge costs for both my aide and his father. I'd rather them be free now and file suit for monetary reimbursement afterward. I fully expect to win, just not right away. Instead of releasing the father, they tried to kill him after his contract was paid. Remember those little presents we got from Captain Stryker during our training together? They were using those devices on civilians."

He looked at me sharply, but said nothing, letting me continue.

"The fraudulently derived fees were paid in full, witnessed by a licensed barrister, and deposited into the company safe along with the court stamped documents recording the transaction. The manager was a free man, but all the rest of the office staff were slaves, openly practicing financial business and transactions in violation of Imperial law. I arrested the manager and secured all the slaves on site. Then we locked the doors and left. Imperial Security is looking into the matter."

"Your life sounds way too busy for me. Copán War Base is wild, but not that wild." He glanced at me, then nodded. "Jay and Pen said they were going to High Guard. Do you hear anything from them at all?"

I laughed. "I lured both of them over to the Air Service and made them company commanders. Pen is Shift Commander for Company A, and Jay runs Company C."

Janoose laughed ruefully. "I thought I was doing good as deputy shift commander. I'm sure there's a tale to tell. Will you have time to share some of it?"

"Maybe over breakfast? At the least, we can exchange email addresses and phone numbers."

"Can you stay longer? I'd like to hear more about what you've been up to."

"My flight back to High Guard leaves early tomorrow morning."

"Then we'll catch up as much as we can, and it'll have to do."

When we entered the shower area, Sovansi had her bra, trousers, and shoes on. Haytam stood next to her, carrying Sovansi's shirt and gear bag.