SWNOVELS Chapter 4
“Lottie?” I called softly.
“Yes Sandra?”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Two hours, fifteen minutes and thirty-nine seconds.”
“You could have woken me sooner or at least stopped me from falling asleep.”
“And what would you have done with the time? You needed the rest.”
I couldn’t really answer that. “Ok I’m awake now,” I murmured grumpily, “where are we?”
“Approaching the airlock of our destination.”
I heard the engines change note again we were definitely slowing. “How long before we dock?”
“Two minutes.”
I removed my fingers and pulled my sidearm from its holster and checked the weapon. Whatever was waiting for me at least I was armed. I slid the weapon back into its holster and took a deep breath. I felt the shuttle slow again then it slowed further. The engines powered down. I felt a gentle bump as the shuttle landed and the docking clamps were applied. I tried to work out the distance trying hard to remember speeds and maximum ranges. Numbers tumbled through my brain and finally I gave up and I wasn’t going to ask Lottie for an answer. I sat there waiting, listening to the sounds around the shuttle of what could hear which was virtually nothing at all.
The door hissed as the internal and external pressures equalised.
The door rolled open to reveal two people standing there. A dark haired middle aged looking male T’Arni in civilian clothes consisting of a green shirt and blue pants the most glaring of combinations. His companion was an Ezaran female at least she was in uniform. Her skinnies like most Ezarans looked baggy on her. The one thing I noticed about her was that her striking brunette hair was longer than I’d seen on any Ezaran. She pushed past the T’Arni and climbed into the shuttle ignoring me. She paused long enough to key in a code to open the door to the cockpit and disappear inside.
“My apologies Major Locke,” the T’Arni said politely, “when Specialist Vorra’s got as you humans put it a bee in her bonnet she acts before she thinks.”
“Bee in her bonnet?” I wasn’t familiar with the term. I noted that the T’Arni had bulky metal bangle on his wrist which looked to be an old-fashioned wrist comms unit.
“She thinks someone’s been trying to hack the system on the shuttle.”
“Hacking the system?”
“Someone or…” he paused, “something tried to slice the encryption on the shuttle’s remote controls.”
“What do you mean there was no pilot?” I cried out pretending to be enraged. I owed Com Ops for making me leave without a change of underwear.
“I’m sorry we thought you knew. The shuttle was keyed to pick you up and fly back to the ship.”
“I shoulda guessed that. That take off could have crushed me.”
“We’re sorry about that the dampeners should have cut in earlier I’ll tell her,” he held out his hand, “I’m Ocynca the ship’s counsellor and Doctor Nathan Brown’s medical assistant. I saw the tattoo on the hand he held out to me the U and the upside down U with the line that horizontally intersected them both as the sign of the Confederacy.
“You’re a Tepe,” I remarked bluntly. It explained the civilian dress and the tattoo Ocynca was a telepath.
Telepaths couldn’t hold a military rank and weren’t officially accepted into the service. The only ones that I knew had Tepe’s was Military Intelligence and then only in a civilian capacity. M.I often used Tepe’s in their interrogations or ‘de-briefing’ as they rather it be referred to. Which was why they had approached Olga. I briefly wondered what she would make of all this. At least with her on Aurelis Prime the academy would keep running efficiently until they found my replacement.
“Only an empath. I can sense emotions.”
“And my emotion?” I said directly.
“Anger, resignation and beyond that an unusual calm,” he sounded puzzled.
The anger and resignation I could relate to but the other I didn’t know where that came from, I‘m sure it wasn’t me.
“Leave your gear here I’ll show you to the briefing room the captain wants to see you ASAP.”
“I never had the time to grab anything. I was bundled straight into the shuttle. All I have is what I’m wearing.”
“Ok we’ll sort something out from the stores. What do you need?”
“A change of clothes at least and a few bathroom essentials like tooth brushes and a hair brush.”
“Noted, but the captain wants to brief you on the mission.”
As I exited the shuttle the lights dimmed. “I see your captain isn’t wasting time.”
We had jumped to hyperspace there was no turning back now. He just nodded and gestured me to follow. Like I had a choice in the matter.
The elevator up to the briefing room as just outside the shuttle bay. Entering the elevator Ocynca spoke into his wrist comm.
“Captain I’m on my way to the briefing room with Major Locke. Varro’s little experiment was success.”
“You risked my life on an experiment?” I fumed, “you put my life in unnecessary danger!”
“I must apologise again Major Locke. It was thought best that if you were captured you would know nothing about our mission.”
“What about the Rhosani? Com Ops already briefed me on that.”
“That’s only part of it the captain will fill you in on the details.”
The doors opened and we stepped out into another corridor.
“This way please major and as soon as I leave you with the captain I’ll get down to stores and find you something else to wear.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“This way.”
We stopped outside a door. The ship was larger than the Sovran whose briefing room was the deck above the shuttle bay. This briefing room was a deck beyond that.
“Captain Yanik’s waiting for you,” Ocynca said pressing on a button beside the door, “I’ll head down to the stores and get you what we can.” He was gone without a further word.
There was no putting it off. I walked into the briefing room and halted. A pair of ice blue eyes regarded me. I stared at the captain disbelieving what I was seeing. A statuesque blonde sat at the opposite end of the briefing room. A terminal sat on the table in front of her and her back was against the screen on the wall. The room was a copy of the one on the Sovran only larger. Her long blonde hair was plaited either side of her head and her tall frame muscular. I knew from experience that most Enari or Valkyrie as they like to be called stood at over 195 centimetres and the captain even sitting looked taller than that. On the collar of her tight fitting skinnies stood two gold eagles indicative of her rank.
I saluted. “Major Sandra Locke formally 43rd Division Confederacy Ground Forces.” It looked like my hoped for re-instatement had flown out the window.
Captain Yanik’s return salute was just as formal as mine was.
“Captain Marsha Yanik commander of the Havok,” there was an odd edge to her voice.
I had to ask the question seeing the captain sitting there. “You’re the first Enari, sorry I mean Valkyrie I seen as a ship’s captain especially with a mixed race crew?”
The first humans who had encountered them had called them that, a word from old earth mythology. The Enari liked the name and it became the name everyone called them even amongst their own kind. The Valkyrie are a female dominated society closely related to humans, so close that only a few strands of DNA differentiated them from us. Valkyrie weren’t good at taking orders from males of any race. We had Valkyrie units within the GF but their own officers led them. Fierce warriors the Valkyrie were the sworn enemy of Orsini their diametric opposites. The only similarity between the two races was that both formed into clans. Whereas the Valkyrie were a matriarchal society. The grey skinned, bald headed Orsini were male dominated. The Valkyrie code of ethics allowed an enemy to surrender. Orsini did not make that distinction. Anyone that surrendered was classed as lower than dirt and was treated accordingly making no distinction between non-combatants and military. To them it was kill or be killed that included their civilian population. A wounded Orsini wasn’t necessarily out of action as the GF often found to their dismay. Which was why wars like the Orsini Incursion had been so bloody.
“And who are you judge me by my race!” Captain Yanik sounded quite angry with me questioning her fitness to command. Valkyrie could be quite touchy if they thought something impinged on their honour.
“Apologies captain my words were out of context. I was just surprised to see you.”
“Accepted Major Locke,” she pointed to the bench next to her.
“Please sit we have much to go through.”
I slipped onto the bench beside the captain feeling dwarfed by the taller woman. “General Pitney from Com Ops was hardly forthcoming about my mission,” I explained as much as I was told.
“Com Ops told you as little as they could a bit over cautionary if I say so. I take it they only told you the basics.”
“They showed me the images of what they assumed was a Rhosani warship and that a world in the Ocato system had vanished. I assume they still think they’re connected.”
Captain Yanik frowned. “That’s less than I expected,” she sighed, “I suppose Com Ops had their reasons.”
“They are afraid the Comms Net has been compromised.”
“I doubt that’s true the codes are based Fandaren algorithms.”
“Someone I know said the same.” Not wanting to mention Lottie.
Captain Yanik nodded thoughtfully and tapped the terminal on the table. A holographic image appeared above the table showing the face of a young looking brunette haired woman that seemed vaguely familiar. If I hadn’t known better I would have said that there was a family resemblance to my father just by looking at her chin.
“This is Elspeth Broaden an expert on the Rhosani Empire. Com Ops believe she is the key to understanding the Rhosani.”
“She looks a little young?” I admitted.
“She’s the only lead we have. There is another but he is inaccessible.”
“Inaccessible?”
“Our last report put him on Earth.”
“I see and Elspeth Broaden?”
“A dig site out on the rim.”
“The rim?”
“Anwa Padak to be precise.”
I vaguely recalled of hearing of ruined cities on Anwa Padak.
“Wasn’t that part of the Rhosani Empire?”
“Correct.”
“We’re heading to Anwa Padak to find what Elspeth Broaden knows about the Rhosani. Then what?” I asked.
“Hopefully persuade her to help us?”
“Why would she not?”
“We are at war with the Terran Empire.”
“A Terran?” I couldn’t have sounded more surprised.
“More than just a Terran she’s a noblewoman a high ranking one at that.”
That explained a lot no ordinary Terran would be able to travel as far as the rim.
“And my input?”
“You will land and secure the services of Miss Broaden. Be diplomatic your father was a consular was he not? He must have passed on some of his knowledge to you?”
That surprised me a Valkyrie mentioning my father when they’d rather not mention any male.
“You know about my father?”
“He negotiated a very favourable deal for my clan against the Red Feathers.”
I hadn’t heard about that. The Red Feathers were a T’Arni trading company. One that didn’t have a very good reputation.
“My father didn’t say a thing and we were close,” I replied unsure how Captain Yanik would react to that.
“It was a few years back before Anoxi. Our Clan Mother named him clan friend. But we were forbidden to mention it to anyone. Why did Com Ops pick you, I wouldn’t have thought it was suited to a person like you. I’m not casing aspersions on your suitability. ”
Speaking about my father was an unusual honour even amongst the Valkyrie. Her offhand comment surprised me.
“Com Ops said they ran a program and my name came up?”
“I didn’t know that?” Captain Yanik shrugged, “you will land and talk Miss Broaden into giving us the information we need.”
“Just me on my own?”
“You’ll have a marine squad to back you up. In the interim get to know the crew and your squad.”
“How long before we reach our destination?”
“Just over five hundred hours.”
That was a long time even at hyperspace speeds.
“Anything else?”
“One more thing,” Captain Yanik said as she touched a button on her terminal. Almost immediately the table and bench began to sink into the deck.
“Hey!” I yelped scrambling out of the way as the furniture recessed into the deck.
A panel slid over the top of the desk and benches replacing the furniture with a padded mat. Captain Yanik took a fighter’s stance.
“What’s this all about?” I knew the Valkyrie could be volatile but I didn’t know what I did to offend her.
“Fight!” she growled.
I held up my hand. “I’m not dressed for this!” I protested, “I’ve only got what I’m wearing!” I could see the captain wasn’t going to be moved. “Damn! I’m not ruining my uniform,” I moaned.
Hastily I stripped dropping to my bra and panties the dark red synthetic material was not military issue. For once I was glad I wasn’t wearing anything frilly. My frillies like my uniforms and civvies were in the closet in my room at the academy. Captain Yanik gave my near naked body an appraising look and removed her combat boots. I folded my dress uniform and placed it in the corner noting Captain Yanik do the same with her boots.
“Now we are even,” she remarked taking up her position.
I stood ready I could see from her skinnies that she was correct. She couldn’t take off any more clothing, like some T’Arni she wore nothing underneath. I watched her carefully waiting for her to make the first move. Her feet shifted giving me the briefest warning of her attack. Her foot lashed out aiming for my hip. A crippling move if it had connected. I shifted with barely enough time.
“Damn it you’re fast,” I returned her opening gambit with a move of my own.
I struck out with my fist but she was too quick for me. Dodging out of reach and striking back with a scissor kick to my stomach. I felt myself fold over her heel as the breath was knocked out of me. Gasping as I went down onto my rear. My foot shot out connecting with the back of her knee while her other was still completing its arc. Yanik crashed to the mat and rolled. I rose to my feet scrabbling to get my breath back. She leapt her fist smacking into my jaw. Reeling from the attack I grabbed her outstretched arm and threw her over my shoulder. Momentarily stunned I had my chance I punched out wincing in pain as my fist hit her face. Again her feet came into play kicking my legs out from under me. I saw the floor come up to meet me and I felt a weight across my back. I jerked my elbow back hearing a crack as flesh met flesh and heard grunt. Suddenly the weight was off.
We fought for several minutes neither of us getting the advantage. I slipped sweat dripping from my body and found myself face down on the floor. The surface of the mat was fast becoming familiar territory. An arm gripped my shoulder hauling me to my feet. I regarded Captain Yanik’s face. She was smiling even with a bruise forming over her left eyebrow.
“I haven’t had that good a workout for a long time,” she said limping over and retrieving her boots, “Isn’t that correct Ocynca.”
I blushed in our rough and tumble one of my bra straps had broken revealing my breast. Hastily I put my hand over the exposed flesh. “Captain?”
Captain Yanik had gone leaving me on my own with Ocynca.
“How long have you been standing there?” my face flushed,
“and what the hell was that all about?”
“Captain Yanik wanted to find your measure. Except you found hers,” he sounded sad, “the last one that did that to her was Thomas Carlton.”
“Who?”
“Commander Thomas Carlton, Martha’s former XO. They were very close.”
“Lovers?” a question I had to ask given that Valkyrie didn’t form attachments to any males and contrary to rumours about their sexual orientation, were ardently heterosexual.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“He was killed.”
“Combat?”
“I think it would have been easier on her if it had. He was killed trying to stop a bar fight that he hadn’t been involved in. Took a knife to his heart the local medics couldn’t get to him in time.”
“So why fight me?”
“She tests every newcomer the same way. You’re the only one that’s come close to besting her.”
“I wish she’d found easier way of testing me.”
“She is Valkyrie do you think she’d behave any differently?”
“I guess not,” I said wincing as I staggered over to my dress uniform.
“I’ve got you some gear here. A set of skinnies and some boots,” he told me.
I hadn’t noticed the stuff he was holding. “Thanks.”
“I’ll just be outside,” he said tactfully placing the clothing on the floor and retreating from the briefing room.
I dressed thankful that the skinnies fitted and the combat boots just about. I felt reluctant to abandon my bra but it was in no condition to wear. With some decorum I exited the briefing room Ocynca was waiting for me. He took my dress uniform from me.
“I’ll carry those for you major, we’ll get you down to the Doc’s and let him give you the once over.”
My stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten today.
“A stop by the mess hall after that,” he said with an amused smile on his face.
“I could do with a shower?” I asked sounding hopeful although I felt like I’d fallen down a cliff. That had happened to me during basic, this felt exactly the same.
“Don’t worry Major Locke that’s all in hand.”
The sick bay wasn’t that far from the briefing room, a thing I was glad of especially in the state I was in. The sick bay was a long room with space for five beds at on end and to beside the door into the corridor at the far end was an upright coffin like cabinet. I knew it for what it was a cellular regenerator. Seeing it gave me a shiver I’d been in one before after Anoxi as it patched up my injuries. It wasn’t hard to remember the feeling of thousands of tiny spiders crawling all over your body. There was a desk and several cabinets along the wall opposite the door. An elderly human male in a white medical tunic looked up as we entered. His wrinkled sun tanned face regarded my beaten up one.
“You must be new?” he said with sigh, “Captain Yanik’s going to go too far one of these days. Come on in and lie on the bed over there.” He indicated one of the beds. An array of vicious looking instruments hung above it looking to the entire world like some mechanical spider ready to drop on my head.
“This is Major Locke,” Ocynca announced, “she gave the captain as good as she dished out.”
“Did she?” the man smiled, “I’m Nathan Brown most just call me ‘Doc’ I’ll handle all your medical needs.” Then turning to Ocynca. “Leave us for the moment you should know the drill by now.”
I hobbled to the bed feeling my body stiffening. Lying down I found myself staring up at the mechanical spider above the bed.
“Just hold still while I run a scan.”
A beam of light swept over my body from head to toe and back again.
“Problems Doc?” I asked after a while. He had stopped his scanning and had said nothing. I looked toward where he stood his eyes on a screen in front of him. It was several moments before he answered.
“Sorry,” he muttered, “there’s an anomaly in your brain.”
“Anomaly in my head?”
He leaned over and touched the side of my head where Lottie resided.
“I had an implant fitted.”
He whistled. “And there’s me thinking it was a glitch in the system.”
“Well Doc?”
“Other from a lot of bruising I find you in full health. I’ve got a hypospray to fix that.”
I felt something jab into my neck. A warm feeling spread through my body. I sat up feeling less in pain. Thank God for modern medicines.
“You can get up now. Sit here and I‘ll ask a few questions while I update your medical reports.”
Grateful I sat in a chair beside his desk while he worked on his terminal.
“That’s the first part done,” he said to me, “now if you don’t mind I need to ask questions.”
“Questions?”
“General medical stuff.”
“Ok go ahead?” I was a little doubtful wondering if he was going to quiz me about my drinking even though I wasn’t doing that any more.”
“Are you regular?”
The Doc’s question floored me. “What?”
“Your cycle is it regular?”
I blushed I hadn’t expected that question. “I suppose so.”
“Good, good. That’s about it.”
“I can go now.”
“Yeah sure.”
My face red I hurried out of the sick bay.
Ocynca was waiting for me. “I’ll show you to the mess hall.”
Dutifully I followed Ocynca memorising the layout of the ship. Luckily it wasn’t far from the sick bay on the same deck. Unlike the most of the ship it was better lit almost light and airy. The tables were set in long lines and were currently empty. Like all ship furniture the tables were bolted to the floor.
“I’ll get you something to eat them I’ll show you to your quarters.”
“You’re being awfully nice to me?” I spoke the words sounding accusatory.
“I’ll do the same for any new crew member its part of my job making newcomers’ welcome.”
“Hey I’m sorry I just think it’s odd?”
“Not to me it isn’t,” Ocynca strode off without a further word.
I had put my foot in it. I sat down and waited. Ocynca returned a few minutes later.
“Standard rations.” he said putting a package in front of me and handing me tumbler of coffee.
I sipped the coffee, knowing what it was as soon as I drank it. The simulated coffee tasted as bland as I had expected it to. I unwrapped the package guessing that it was a preheated freeze-dried meal. I ate washing the food down with the equally bland coffee. Something must have showed on my face.
“Normally the food’s better but this is what I could rustle up in the time I had.”
“I suppose I should get used to it again? I’ve grown soft on academy food. Olga hired only the best chefs.”
“I doubt if we can live up to that?” Obviously he was still a little peeved at my insult.
“Thanks for the food I haven’t eaten all day. My secretary Olga was just going to fetch me a meal but Com Ops changed all that.”
“That’s alright then,” Ocynca said, “I’d think I get a little grouchy if I was hungry and then we threw you in with Captain Yanik. I suppose you would have the right to question as you’ve done. I take no offence from your words.”
Boy I wish I could change moods like that. “If that’s it can you
show me were I store my gear and take a shower?”
“Dump the empties in the compactor and we can go.”
A deck up and we were in another corridor looking no different from any other on the ship. At least the signage on the walls told me where I was. It was a short corridor and there was a door to rest of the ship behind me. At the far end of corridor was another door. Opposite me was a door the sign at eye height beside the entry button read XO’s quarters. Next to it was another door and on the forth wall another door.
“These are your quarters. The door next to it is a communal shower room, that door over there is a storeroom and that door.” he said pointing to the furthest door, “leads to the captain’s private quarters.”
“Ok,” I replied storing the information away in my mind.
“There a reason I’m getting the XO’s quarters?”
“It was that or bunk down with the crew. Captain Yanik thought it better you were quartered here.”
“I suppose that makes sense. As soon as I’ve stowed these way I’d like to review my squad if that’s possible?”
“Plenty of time to do that later major. Take a break and rest you’ll be introduced to the squad at 0600 standard time.”
That would take my body a little time to adjust to. The Aurelis day was twenty-two hours and thirty-five minutes long, standard time ran on a twenty-five hour clock. Which meant I’d have to wait another thirteen hours. Ocynca handed me my dress uniform and the few items he managed to get from the stores.
“I must be going. Good luck major.” Quickly he turned and I was alone.
A start, I had endured worse on combat missions. I pressed the entry button and the door slid open to reveal a square room. In one corner was a bed next to it a desk and chair the rest of the room consisted of dressing table with a mirror and several storage lockers. Putting my gear on the bed I explored the space allocated to me. It was certainly larger than my quarters on the Sovran. The desk had a built in terminal. I sat in the chair and activated the terminal only to close it satisfied that it was working. Turning my attention to the lockers I put away my dress uniform and grabbed a military issue towel I found in the bottom of the locker. The item still in its protective wrapper. Pleased with myself for the first time since this morning I headed for the shower room.
The communal shower room was divided into two sections. Part for the latrines and the other the shower cubicles, three waist height partitions. Quickly I divested myself of my skinnies and stepped into the cubicle. The sensation of water cascading over my body washing away the sweat from earlier eased the troubled thoughts from my mind. I stepped out and dried myself. Wrapped in my towel I washed my panties in the sink and wrung them dry. With my panties too damp to wear I dressed in my skinnies feeling the silky cloth cling to my body. With only a short walk to my quarters I wasn’t too worried about anyone seeing what the skinnies were revealing.
I hung my panties in the locker hopefully they would be dry by the time I needed them. I sat on the bed wondering what my next move was. I wasn’t sure how long I sat on the bed when the chirp of the door alarm roused me. Opening the door I was surprised to see Ocynca standing there.
“Major Locke.”
I blushed seeing his eyes appraising my body. “Yes?”
“Captain Yanik’s compliments she wants to see you in her quarters.”
“What now?”
“Yes Major Locke.”
I frowned stepping through the door and walking to the door at the far end of the corridor expecting Ocynca to follow me like some lost puppy. I turned noting I was alone. I pressed the button beside the door it slid open and I found myself in a short corridor another with a door to my right.
Standing in front of the second door I straightened my skinnies. The door opened before I could react. Captain Yanik towered over me.
“Thank you for coming Major Locke please come in.”
I entered the captain’s quarters my eyes taking in the room. Twice the size of mine the walls were tastefully coloured in lime green. There was a double bed at the far end and a washroom cubical next to the door. Between the bed and the cubical was an L shaped couch with a low table and a desk. Lining the walls both sides of the room were cabinets and above the bed were several shelves stretching from wall to wall crammed with all sorts of items and bric-a-bracs.
“Please sit Major Locke.”
I sat on one section of the couch wondering what she wanted after the bruising she gave me earlier. I didn’t buy Ocynca’s explanation.
Captain Yanik opened a cabinet and retrieved two tall stemmed wineglasses and a black bottle. “I called you here to apologise for my actions,” she said taking up the seat opposite, “I should not have challenged you like that.”
“Ocynca did explain your reasons. He told me about Thomas Carlton.”
“He did!”
I thought she was going to get angry all she did was sigh. “I am Valkyrie I should not have become as attached to Thomas like I did. I still hurt to know he died even though it wasn’t his fight.”
“But he made you feel happy.”
“Too true.” She opened the bottle and poured the liquid into the glasses. I stared at the glass worried. The liquid was a black as the bottle.
“Is it safe to drink?”
“Certainly. My clan on Alfheimir brews this,” she picked up her glass and swigged it down.
Not to be out done I did the same nor did I want to insult the captain. I placed the glass to my lips and swallowed. It had a mild almost liquorice taste. I didn’t think much of it until it hit my stomach then I felt the full kick of alcohol.
“Argh! That was strong,” I gasped my voice hoarse.
Captain Yanik smiled. “An acquired taste.” She examined her empty glass. “I want you to be my XO.”
Still reeling from the effects of the alcohol I said. “What?”
“My XO.”
“Captain Yanik I don’t know the first thing about starships?”
“Please call me Marsha and yes I will teach you. You acquitted yourself well on the Sovran otherwise I wouldn’t have asked.” She leaned across and topped up my glass as well as her own.
“To the future Sandra.”
I took a gulp of the alcohol. Things got kind of dim after that.
A buzzing in my head woke me from a drink-induced stupor. I cracked open an eye trying to guess where I was. My mouth tasted like I had been eating trash and my stomach churned. I knew the feeling the remembrances of former hangovers coming back to haunt me. The buzzing behind my ear continued forcing me into more wakefulness. I slowly became aware I wasn’t alone wherever this was? I couldn’t see, anything beyond arm’s length was blurry and out of focus.
The realisation dawned on me, my thoughts dulled by my hangover that a hand was gripping my right breast and I was naked. Carefully I turned my head my blurry eyes taking in a wreath of blonde hair face down in a pillow and a muscular but feminine arm across my chest. Patiently I removed the hand off my breast and shifted sideways being careful not to disturb at sleeping figure in the bed next to me. Then promptly fell off the side of the bed ending up face down on the carpeted floor. The buzzing in my head ceased and was replaced a splitting pain that pulsed in my skull far worse the buzzing. Gripping the edge of the bed I pulled myself into a sitting position and looked straight in Marsha’s eyes. She was sitting bolt upright in bed clutching the cover to her chest her face red.
“Err hello,” I said trying to be cheerful. Failing miserably when my stomach churned and the taste bile filled my mouth. “Excuse me,” I burbled holding my hand to my mouth my other hand flailing wildly in an effort to get me on my feet.
I don’t know how it did it but I was on my feet. My next objective was to get into Marsha’s washroom without spewing up on the way. Staggering naked I just made it in time. With my head down the head I puked my guts out. The cold metal surfaces of the washroom had a sobering effect on exposed parts of my body.
Still feeling nauseated I turned on the cold faucet and washed my face on the sink trying hard to remember what happened last night or even if there was a last night. My mind was a blank. I remembered drinking Marsha’s home brew after that nothing. I assume something must have happened for me to end up naked in Marsha’s bed.
I looked towards the door to the washroom knowing Marsha was out there. “Time I faced the music,” I said to the reflection in the mirror above the sink. I looked a mess with my wild hair and bloodshot eyes.
Marsha hadn’t moved since I had used her washroom. She just sat in the bed her hands pulling the cover up to her neck, her face red. My vision had cleared enough for me to get a fix on my surroundings. My skinnies were draped over the couch while one of my boots was on the desk the other was under the low table in front of the couch.
“Sorry about that!” I said easily hiding my embarrassment at strutting naked in full view of a stranger.
We had mixed communal showers in the GF but this was different. Valkyrie never used the communal showers they often carried buckets back to the barracks and washed in private even in the field they did the same. I pulled on my skinnies wincing at the effort with my head still pounding. Retrieving my boot I discovered a second black bottle. Did I drink that much? The trouble was the whole incident was a blank.
“Please forgive me?” Marsha’s voice sounded like a child’s.
“For what?” I asked, “I can’t remember anything beyond drinking that second glass.”
“For what I did to you.”
“What did you do to me?”
“You truly can’t remember can you?” she sounded genuinely surprised, “we slept together. I’m ashamed of what I did that to you. I am Valkyrie we do not do that sort of thing.”
“You must have sex to make children? I assume you don’t practice artificial insemination?”
“No we do not. I will be expelled from my clan for what I have done.”
“Did you sleep with Thomas?”
“Yes often.”
“Would you have been expelled for that?”
“Yes?”
Now that did surprise me. “I have to take you word that we slept together, all I know is that I woke in your bed with a blinding hangover. I’m not built that way I like my men.”
“But I committed a sin in the eyes of my clan. No woman may lay with another.”
“We were drunk, we all do stupid things when we are drunk. One time I decided I could fly and jumped out of a third storey window.”
“You did?” she seemed shocked by that.
“Busted two ribs,” I sobered up fast after that once I realised how stupid I had become, “as far as I am concerned we got drunk and we slept it off.”
“If you say so?” There was a kernel of doubt in Marsha’s voice.
“I know so.”
Marsha brightened up looking relieved. “I won’t say if you won’t.”
“My lips are sealed,” I replied, “if you don’t need me any further I’ll head back to my quarters I need a shower.”
“I’m sorry about this mess Sandra I wish things were different but I can’t go back and change the past.”
“Just live with it and move on. I will,” I said as I walked out the door.
I should have never taken that first sip. That was entirely my fault I should have known better. I made a promise never to get drunk again and here I was breaking it. Not matter what had happened last night that shamed me worse that whatever Marsha had said we did. I know I’ve done far worse when drunk.