Stepping Up (25 page)

We chat while I take measurements.  She gives me her
comments then asks, “How’s the captured Rupert doing?”

“Viggo Sardone. He comes across as knowing his stuff.  I
haven’t read his dossier in detail yet, but he seems to be pretty
knowledgeable.”  There’s a bump in the undergarment about seven inches below
her navel.  I touch it and it rolls around slightly inside.  Sherri flinches
slightly.  I look up to her eyes.  “Is that a piercing? Is the suit pulling on
it or pushing it around?  We may want to make it SOP to pull those out before
donning the undergarment.  Why do you ask about my apprentice engineer, do you
need a new toy boy?  He’s cute in a Nordic sort of way, isn’t he?”

“It is a piercing, and it only hurts when you push it too
far.  Your new guy doesn’t really tickle my pickle. But Shawna will be on him
like stink on poo. That tart will do anyone. But she’s a damned hot pilot, so
she gets a certain amount of latitude, provided she’s discreet of course. I
respect her and I’d recommend the same.”

“Oh, I do respect her.  But if she tries digging her claws
into
my
man, I’m going to go Highlander on her.  I may not walk away
victorious, I may not walk away at all, but she’ll know she’s been in a scrap.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.  If she has a redeeming
quality, it’s that she only chases the unattached. Besides, young Doctor Dreamy
won’t associate with sluts. Notice I didn’t say ‘doesn’t.’  His laces are
pretty straight. I think he takes after his Dad more than his Mom.  She’s
almost as bad as Shawna.  If ‘bad’ is the right word.”

“Was I the only person that didn’t know they were related?”

There’s a knock on the door.  A tall dark skinned Trooper is
there, holstered pistol on her hip. “Chief Soh Nee Ah Mac Tagg Ert, I am
Shanella. I’m here to keep an eye on Veeego.” She has a thick but
understandable accent.  Viggo is standing behind her, at ease. His translator
hangs around his neck.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shanella.  Viggo, if Shanella
questions you or tells you to do something, I’d recommend immediate
compliance.  The command climate set up by the Captain is one of immediate and
unquestioning obedience.”

“Of course, ma’am,” Viggo responds.

“Excellent.  Shanella, Viggo will be working with Gorb in
the maneuver drive room for the time being.  If you would, please escort him
there and introduce them.”  She nods and they head off to Maneuver.

At the end of our first day, Sherri and I have four things
worked out: The suit needs to accommodate boobs, guts, butts, and hair; an
inner liner separate from the Armor would make it easier to slip into and out
of; fine adjustments of the gloves, boots, and helmet need to be made, ideally
by the Trooper, but a buddy should be able to help; and if the Trooper is in
the suit for any significant time, bio-waste disposal will be necessary.

“Excellent,” I tell Sherri, as she reaches for the
fastener.  “Take the undergarment with you, then come back tomorrow in it, and
we’ll start on the weapons interfaces.  I have Freddie’s input, but I want
yours too.”  She nods and pulls her coveralls over the undergarment.

Viggo knocks on the LEO door several hours later.
Shanella leans against the opposing bulkhead. “I beg your pardon, Chief,” Viggo
says, “but that retarded fellow, can you really trust him with starship engines?”

I fix an icy stare on him. Were it not for Shanella, I’d
tell him to shut the door and gnaw on his backside for an hour. “More than I do
you.  If you have a complaint, let’s hear the specifics.  If you lack
specifics, don’t mention this again until you do.  I have absolutely no
misgivings that Gorb could build a working Transit engine using a pocketknife,
duct tape, the rusted hulk of a gemvee, and a rotting duck.  Anything else on
your mind?” 

The tension is palpable.  Shanella’s hand moves to the butt
of her pistol.

“I see. I am sorry. I will start listening to him right
away.”  His contrition is evident.  I have never seen anybody back pedal so
fast.

“See that you do.  A word to the wise:  if you mistreat him,
I’m not the only person to whom you’ll answer for it.  If you want to stay on
his good side, which isn’t hard to do, share a candy bar with him from time to
time.  He’s very fond of chocolate, but don’t overdo it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He walks away looking embarrassed, with
Shanella hot on his heels.

I check my chronometer.  My 14 hours are up. I call the
Captain’s office and get an appointment with Friday. Tomorrow morning.  Aria’s
android will have to wait.

I show up early, clean and well rested.  “Sir,” I say and
sink into my curtsy, “Chief Engineer Sonia MacTaggert reporting.”

“Come in, Sonia. Sit down.” The Captain is in a black
athletic jacket, his hood covering the top of his face, sitting in his throne
style chair. There is a cup of tea waiting for me. “I am most pleased with your
performance and willingness to take on new projects. Your report will show
‘Exceeds Standards’ in all areas. I am giving you a raise to thirty thousand
credits per month. How is my android coming?”

“Thank you, sir. This position is more than I could have
hoped for on my first trip.  Aria and I will begin work on the plans for the
android later this morning.”

“Is the prisoner working well?”

“Viggo Sardone, the BaineRa’ahian—yes, sir.  He’s having
some minor growing pains, but so far it’s been nothing I don’t think I can
handle.”

“Would you consider killing someone for me?”

Where the hells did that come from?
It brings me up
short.  “Would I...kill
for
you? I...er...that is...I would certainly
kill to
protect
you, sir—you or any other shipmate.  But that’s not what
you mean, is it, sir? I...I’ve never...if you insist on an answer, sir, I have
to say no.  I’m not a Trooper. I’ve had no official military training, and I do
well to remember which end of the barrel the bullets emit from.  I’m an
engineer, sir, not a killer.”

“A well thought out answer, Sonia, considering I sprung it
on you.  But I may have a special mission…” His head tilts oddly, like he’s
searching for a word, and he makes an odd gurgling noise.  I am about to ask if
he’s okay when the Captain clears his throat and resumes: “Anyway, about the
special mission I mentioned. My son and I have degenerative mental diseases. I
fear my torture experience damaged the genetic material I eventually passed on
to him.  How that happened, I will probably never know or understand.  When the
time comes, I may ask you to ease his passing, and I may need you to do the
same for me as well. This will earn you twenty percent of my sizeable fortune
as a reward. Bear in mind, you will not be rewarded for killing your commander,
but for doing your duty under very difficult circumstances.  You will be
treated or regarded no differently if you refuse. When can I expect your
answer?”

“Oh dear Gods of the Earth and Air!  Kill Gorb? I don’t know
if I
can
.  But if the alternative is him suffering...honestly, I care
too much for him to let that happen.”  I can feel the tears on my cheeks now
just thinking about killing him.  “Yes, sir, when the time comes, I’ll...I’ll
minimize his suffering…and yours.  I do have some concerns.  How am I to know
when those times come?  And how do I avoid retribution?  Does Aria know you are
asking this of me?”

“Aria knows
everything
. But her programming prevents
her from acting in a manner that will be harmful to me.  And I have never
relied completely on machines. You will know because Aria will tell you.  When
I am gone, you will also gain my assistant, Anya, as your personal assistant
and bodyguard.  Captain Dane, an old trusted friend, will replace me as
Night
Searcher
Actual.”

“As you wish, sir.  I realize this has been a difficult
interview for you, but I must ask: Have you made any progress with Gwen?”

“I make daily progress with her. She must be cared for and
properly raised.  She is dangerous in inept hands.  Soon you may see a
demonstration of this, if the time is right. You may see her when you wish.
Anya’s room is just adjacent to hers, room 25B.”

“I would very much like to see her.  If that is all, sir?”

“That is all, Sonia. You are…you are...so” There’s an odd
twist in his voice, his tone creeps up and sounds a bit strangled.  I wait for
him to finish the thought.  But instead the zipper that keeps my suit together
in front starts to come down by unseen means. I hear and feel the clasp for my
bra shatter. My loins quiver in sexual ecstasy. My conscious mind wants to hold
my clothes together, but my hands are busy holding my lapels in place. I can
feel my animal nature rising though, demanding surrender.  I feel desperate for
a man, any man. 
Right now!
Invisible hands roam all over my body. I can
feel my arousal building, but I have no idea why.  My knees are suddenly pulled
forward and apart, each is pushed back over an arm of the chair.  It’s as if
there are cables attached overhead running to my knees. I let go of my jumpsuit
and grab the arms of the chair to keep from falling into the floor.  The top of
my jumpsuit flies open. The hem of my tee shirt crawls towards my chin.  I can
feel my panties creeping down my hips, the material covering my bottom strains
beyond its breaking point.

“Captain!”  I mean to shout, but it’s more of a moan.

The sensations stop as abruptly as they started. I reseat
myself and repair my clothes as best I can. The Captain sits up and breathes
deeply for a few long minutes.  He won’t meet my eyes.  “Sonia, I am sorry. I
cannot always control my…primitive side.”  We each breathe heavily for a few
moments.  I don’t know what happened or what to say.  After seconds that pass
like hours, he presses a button on his holoCom and says, “Dismissed.”

I leave; I’m too befuddled to make my manners.  Friday stops
me in the outer office and hands me a few adhesive pads to hold my flight suit
together. 
I suppose this has happened before.
I glance into a mirror on
the wall and run my fingers through my hair, trying to restore some semblance
of grooming.  My cheeks are still flushed.  After leaving the Captain’s office,
I practically run to room 25B. 
Everything else can wait; I have permission
to see Gwen!
On the way I send a voice message to Aria: “I need to speak
with you when it’s convenient.”  I fairly pound on the door to 25B.

Anya answers. “Hey, Chief MacTaggert.  Are you here to see
Gwen? She’s in the psi lab right now. You can watch, but don’t disturb.” She
leads me to a room that is offset from theirs. I can see in, but the person in
the room can’t see out, in theory. Gwen is in the middle of the room. Toys,
games, puzzles, dominoes, and blocks—all manner of things are moving around the
room at the same time. “She does this for about two hours a day. She must
‘vent’ her psionic power, or it will vent itself.  And that could be
disastrous.”

Gwen’s head turns towards me, and I “hear” “Hi, Mommy. Why
don’t you come see me? Please come dine with me someday. I miss you. Don’t
worry, I won’t let that man hurt you.”

Is this telepathy? I have no idea how such a thing works.  I
think back to Gwen:  “I only today found out I could come see you.  I have been
off the ship for a while.  I miss you.  Which man is that, sweetie?” If she
“hears” she doesn’t answer.

“What does she do for the rest of the day?” I ask Anya.
“Surely you don’t keep her in a cell or sedated or something like that?”

Anya flushes. “What kind of monster do you think I am? If I
didn’t know you better I’d smack you a good one! She has playtime, school time,
meals, and interaction with other children. Granted, right now the last is done
with SIMs, but we’re working on it.” Her nostrils are flared, she is very
angry. 

“I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to be insulting, but I know that
the Captain can be a bit draconian sometimes.  I was afraid that for the other
twenty-two hours she might be tranquilized.  And that only barely qualifies as
existence and certainly isn’t life.  She’s just deeply imprinted on my heart. 
Would it be possible for me to take a meal with her sometime? Does she ever ask
about me?”

Anya’s expression softens, “She asks about you all the time.
What meal timeframe would you prefer?”

“Oh, I don’t care.  You tell me when and where to be and
I’ll be there.”

“Mornings would be best. She eats breakfast here at 0600.”

“Outstanding, I’ll see you then.”

Aria is waiting in the LEO for me. I’m not going to waste
time with pleasantries.  I shut the door behind me.  “The captain has tasked me
with killing him on your command.  How can I do that? He’s a very powerful
psionic and is sure to know what I’m up to.”

“I was wondering when he would pick someone. Do not worry.
It will be when he is on his deathbed. I will be there. Trust me.”  She stands
to leave.  “Walk with me; briefing in the staff room. Thirty minutes.”

“I swear, you people and your damn briefings!” I slap the
desk with a stack of reports. “I do trust you, I’m just a little uneasy about
the whole thing.”  I start the data gathering script before we leave.

At the meeting, Aria displays a large map of a continent
with huge mountain ranges.  There is a blue circle on the diagram.  “We are
coming into orbit of BaineRa’ah III. For some unknown reason, the child we
acquired some months back, Gwendolyn, has knowledge of the people here. She
says, and I quote, ‘People that map the stars live here,’ end quote. I know it
is a stretch, but we cannot plot an accurate course if we do not know where we
are in the universe. Chief MacTaggert, you will take a team, as well as the
child, and talk to the people. Determine our position by any means necessary.
Are there any questions?”

I raise my hand. “I have one: Is there any reason to believe
this society has space travel? I may be speaking outside of my realm of
expertise, but it seems to me we should approach them from friendship.  I think
I messed up on IV; I don’t intend to make the same mistakes here.  I’ll take
the same team unless someone really objects.”